An expository comment, doctrinal, controversial, and practical upon the whole first chapter to the…An expository comment, doctrinal, controversal, and practical upon the whole first chapter to the…

Others from one, who is shut in, in some place, so that he is compassed about, but at last finds a way to get out: Yea the issue is not only to escape, but God will so plentifully come in upon us as that we shall [Greek or Hebrew], more than suffer, more than bear. As a strong man that is not only able to carry his burden to such a place he is commanded, but further also, if need require. Thus the godly have no more laid upon them than they can bear, by this promise; yea they can more than bear it, how then was Paul's above his strength? The Answer is, That this promise is to be understood of the final issue of any affliction, though for the present they may seem even to sink under it: They cry out, they cannot hold, they cannot bear any longer, yet God doth secretly support, and at last will give them strength, not only to bear, but more than bear, even to glory and rejoice in it. And thus it was with Paul; this trouble, though so exceedingly pressing, though for the present above his strength; yet see how much strength he feeleth at the latter end. This trouble did not overcome him, but he overcame by the trouble by the grace of God. For by this he was brought not to trust in himself, but in God, who did deliver him; and thereupon he concludeth, he doth and will deliver him. So that God never suffereth any trouble, though it be for the present never so heavy and burdensome, totally and finally to overcome a man, but at last he proveth even more than a conqueror. These things thus explained, Observe,

Others from one, who is shut in, in some place, so that he is compassed about, but at last finds a way to get out: Yea the issue is not only to escape, but God will so plentifully come in upon us as that we shall 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, more than suffer, more than bear. As a strong man that is not only able to carry his burden to such a place he is commanded, but further also, if need require. Thus the godly have no more laid upon them than they can bear, by this promise; yea they can more than bear it, how then was Paul's above his strength? The Answer is, That this promise is to be understood of the final issue of any affliction, though for the present they may seem even to sink under it: They cry out, they cannot hold, they cannot bear any longer, yet God doth secretly support, and at last will give them strength, not only to bear, but more than bear, even to glory and rejoyce in it. And thus it was with Paul; this trouble, though so exceedingly presting, though for the present above his strength; yet see how much strength he feeleth at the latter end. This trouble did not overcome him, but he overcame by the trouble by the grace of God. For by this he was brought not to trust in himself, but in God, who did deliver him; and thereupon he concludeth, he doth and will deliver him. So that God never suffereth any trouble, though it be for the present never so heavy and burdensom, totally and finally to overcome a man, but at last he proveth even more than a conquerour. These things thus explained, Observe,