SERMON XXXIV.

A THORN IN THE FLESH.

"And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong."-2 COR. xii. 7-10.

WHAT is contained in this passage?—I. Paul's wonderful privilege-caught up into the third heaven, and into paradise got a day's foretaste of glory-saw and heard wonderful things. II. Paul's humbling visitation —a thorn in the flesh. He had been in the world of spirits, where is no sin-now he was made to feel that he had a

body of sin-to cry, "O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?" He had been among the inhabitants of heaven-now one from hell is allowed to buffet him. III. His conduct under it—fervent repeated prayer. "I besought (marking his earnestness) thrice". -no answer; still he prayed. Before, he was more engaged in praise, or thinking of telling others; now he is brought to cry for his own soul, lest he should be a castaway. The answer : 66 My grace is sufficient for thee." God does not pluck the thorn away-does not drive the devil back to hell does not take him out of the body. No; but he opens his own breast, and says, Look here; here is grace enough for thee-here is strength that will hold up the weakest. IV. Paul's resolution-to go on his way glorying in his infirmities. He is contented to have infirmities, to have a body of sin, in order that Christ may be glorified in holding up such a weak vessel: That

the

Own

power of Christ may rest continually on my soul-that his mighty hand may have one to hold up to his praise. I take pleasure in all humbling dispensations; for they teach me that I have no strength, and then I am strongest.

I. Paul's wonderful privilege.

He had a glorious foretaste of heaven given to him. It was a wonderful season to his soul. He was caught up to the third heaven, or to paradise. He was taken to the Father's house with many mansions. He was taken up to be with Jesus and the saved thief in paradise. Much he could not tell. How it was whether he was in the body or out of the body, he could not tell. The words he heard -the words of the Father-the words of Jesus-the songs of the redeemed, and of the holy angels-they were unspeakable. Still, he could never forget that day. Fourteen years had gone over his head, and yet it was fresh in his remembrance. The sights he saw-the words he heard -he never could forget. It was just a day of glory—a foretaste of heaven.

Dear believers, you also have wonderful privileges. You also have your foretastes of heaven. You may not have the miraculous vision of paradise which Paul here speaks of; yet you have tasted the very joy that is in heavendrunk of the very river of God's pleasures. If you have known the Lord Jesus, you know him who is the pearl of heaven-the sun and centre of it. If you have the Father's smile, you have the very joy of heaven. Above all, if you have the Holy Spirit dwelling in you, you have the earnest of the inheritance. On such days as last communion Sabbath, are not the joys of a Christian unspeakable and full of glory? "Whom having not seen we love." Are not such days to be looked back upon? Even fourteen years after, when many will be gone to the table above, some will look back to last Sabbath as a day spent in his courts better than a thousand. To those of you who get no joy on such occasions, what can we say, but that you would get no joy in heaven. If you are not made glad at the table below, you will never, I fear, be made glad at the

table above.

II. Paul's humbling visitation.-Verse 7. 1. What was given him.

The thorn in the flesh here spoken of is variously understood by interpreters. (1.) Some understand it to have been a bodily disease-some sharp-shooting pains which given him. Pain and disease are very humbling. They are often used by God to bring down the lofty spirit (2.) Some understand by it some remarkable

were

of man.

temptation to sin immediately from the hand of the devil. A messenger from Satan which was like a thorn in his soul. (3.) Some understand it to have been some besetting sin-some part of his body of sin of which he complains so sore (Rom. vii.)—some lust of his old man stirred up to activity by a messenger of Satan. It seems most probable that this was the thorn that made him groan.

Whatever it was, one thing is plain, it was a truly humbling visit. It brought Paul to the dust. A little before, he had been in the sinless world-he felt no body of sinsaw the pure spirits before the throne, and the spirits of just men made perfect; now, he is brought down to feel that he has a body of sin and death-he has a thorn in the flesh. A little before, he was among holy angels, trampling hell and the grave below his feet; now, a messenger from hell is sent to buffet him. "O wretched man!" Ques. Why was this given him? Ans. Lest he should be exalted above measure. This is twice stated. What a singular thing is pride! Who would have thought that taking Paul into paradise for a day would have made him proud? and yet God, who knew his heart, knew it would be so, and therefore brought him down to the dust. The pride of nature is wonderful. A natural man is proud of anything. Proud of his person-although he did not make it, yet he prides himself upon his looks. Proud of his dress-although a block of wood might have the same cause for pride, if you would put the clothes on it. Proud of riches-as if there were some merit in having more gold than others. Proud of rank-as if there were some merit in having noble blood. Alas! pride flows in the veins; yet, there is a pride more wonderful than that of nature-pride of grace. You would think a man never could be proud who had once seen himself lost; yet, alas! Scripture and experience show that a man may be proud of his measure of grace-proud of forgiveness-proud of humility—proud of knowing more of God than others. It was this that was springing up in Paul's heart when God sent him the thorn in the flesh.

Dear friends, some of you last Lord's-day were brought very near to God, and filled with joy unspeakable and full of glory. Some, I am persuaded, have since then had Paul's humbling experience. You thought that you were for ever away from sin, but a thorn in the flesh has brought you low. You have fallen into sin during the week; or

something has brought you low indeed: "O wretched man!" Why do you thus fall after a communion season? 1. To make you humble-to teach you what a vile worm you are, when you can go to the Lord's table, and yet fall so low; this may well teach you that you are vile. You thought, perhaps, that sin was clean away, but here you see it is again. What constant need you have of Jesus' blood! 2. To make you long for heaven. There we shall sin no more for ever. Nothing but holiness there. No unclean thing can enter. Oh, press forward to it! Do not sit down by the way. Look forward to glory.

III. Paul's remedy—prayer.

answer.

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Here is the difference between a natural man and a child of God. Both have the thorn in the flesh; but a natural man is contented with it. His lusts do not vex and trouble him. A child of God cannot rest under the power of temptation. He flies to his knees. The moment Paul felt the buffetings of Satan's messenger, he fell upon his kneespraying his Father to take it away from him. No answer came. Again he goes to the throne of grace. Again no A third time he falls on his knees, and will not let God go without the blessing. The answer comes: My grace is sufficient for thee." Not the thing he asked. He asked: Take this thorn away. God does not pluck it out of his flesh—does not drive Satan's messenger back to hell. He could have done this, but he does not. He opens his own bosom, and says: Look here. It hath pleased the Father that in me should all fulness dwell; "My grace is sufficient for thee." Here is the Holy Spirit for every need of thy soul. Oh, what a supply did Paul then see in Christ! What unsearchable riches! He had seen much in the third heaven, but here was something more—an almighty Spirit waiting for the need of poor weak sinners. Dear friends, have you found out this remedy of the tempted soul? 1. Have you been driven to your knees by temptation? I said, the week before the communion should be a week of prayer; but if you have had Paul's experience, the week after has been one of prayer also. 2. Oh, tempted soul! be importunate take no denial.

Be like the

If you lie

Men ought always to pray, and not to faint. importunate widow-the Canaanitish woman. down contented under sin, you may well fear that there is grace in you. 3. Take Paul's answer. God may not

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But

pluck out the thorn. This is the world of thorns. look into his breast. There is enough in Jesus to keep thy soul. The ocean is full of drops, but Christ's bosom is more full of grace. Oh! pray either that your lusts may be taken away, or that you may believe the grace that is in Christ Jesus.

IV. Paul's determination.-Verses 9, 10.

"Most gladly." When Paul was caught up into paradise he thought he would never again feel his body of sin; but when he was humbled and made to know himself better, and to know the grace that is in Christ, then his glory ever after was, that he had a weak body of sin and death, and that there was power enough in Christ to keep him from falling. From that day he gloried not that he had no sin in him, but that he had an almighty Saviour dwelling in him and upholding him. He took pleasure now in everything that made him feel his weakness; for this drove him to Jesus for strength.

Learn, dear brethren, the true glory of a Christian in this world. The world knows nothing of it. A true Christian has a body of sin. He has every lust and corruption that is in the heart of man or devil. He wants no tendency to sin. If the Lord has given you light, you know and feel this. What is the difference, then, between you and the world? Infinite! You are in the hand of Christ. His Spirit is within you. He is able to keep you from falling. Rejoice in the Lord, ye righteous; and shout for joy all ye that are upright in heart."

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St Peter's, April 26, 1840.