The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1879-02-05
For THE CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN.
my GRACE Is SUFFICIENT FOR THEE.

The apostle Paul tella US in the chapter in
which these words occur, that he was caught
up into Paradise and heard unepeakable
words which it is not lawful for man to
utter. Lest he should be exalted above
measure through the abundance of the reVe-
lations, there was given to him thorn in the
flesh, the messenger Of Satan, to buffet him.
Thrice ne sought the Lord that it might de-
part from him, but instead of direct an
swer to his prayer, he received the assur-
ance, SHY grace is sufficient for thee. "
The Scriptures furnish us no clue to salts
factorily ascertain what this thorn in the
flesh was. Some, indeed, have attempted to
show that it was either personal deformity
or an impediment of speech, or Goth. This
opinion is based upon c6tsain words whiCd
the apostle quotes in his second epiatle to the
Corinthians as having been used by falee
teachers to supplaut hin in the respect and
affection of the disciples at Coriuth: His
letters (say they) are Seigbty ard powerful,
but his bodily presence weak sud his spaech
coDtenptible."
Others ascribe it to some visible defect in
his eyes; and for this VieS they allege the
apostles own words in hia epistle to the Ga
la.ians: "Ye know how through infrmity
of the feah 1 preached the gospel unto you
OF the frat. Aod my temptation which was
in my flesh ye dospised not, nor rejected, but
received me 80 au angel Of God, even as
Christ Jesus. Woore is then the blessed
ness ye spako Of? For bear you record
that if it had been possible, ye would have
plucked out Jour owa eyes and have given
thea to me "
Bat it must be admitted that neither of
these explanations furnishes complete 30
luton of the question; and the very reserve
of the Scriptures as to the form of Pauls
temptation, admoni8hes US to be chiefly con-
cerued about the fact and the mode IN Vhtch
he found relief
The il6:mity of whioh the apostle COM
plaiued was not removed II was permitted
to remain as an occasion to Satan to buffet
him. He was not therefore encouraged to
expect deliverance from this source of temp
ta,ion, but to rely u3on the grace Of God to
keep hin from SHINING under the temptation.
That particular form Of trial may have been
necessary to keep hin humble, and to de-
velop and strengthen his Christian character.
The foremost Of the apostles, 80 highly en-
dowed in mind and SO si0guarly favored in
the vision Of uhiaAa Gaats' he was in
danger of becoming pfc and self-sufiO Oient
1t pleased the Lord to- subject him to thil
trial to remind him that he was but a man
poor, weak, sinful man and that all hi
sufficiency was of God.
The same principle is illustrated in th'
dealings of tho Lord with all his children
Trial is the lot of them all The expert
epce of trial is not itself Gin, but the yield
ing to wrong feelings engendered BY temp
tation. Trials furnish occasions of assault
to the Christau's three great enemies men
toned in The Bble--tbe world, the flesh AM
the devil. TRo Of these, the world and tn
devil, are external enemies, the other is in
,ernaI, aud attaches to him wherever be ma,
be-. "Tbe A,sh," is fgurative. term use
in the Scriptures 20 describe the state OF tn
human heart as opposed to God. This 70
dwelIs in tho very citadel of the soul,
privy to all shat lranspires there, and lik
"Parley, the Porter" is ever ready to ope
the door to the two apartments from without
We're it not for this traitor within, the tw
outward asaailants would be bafHed in a
their attempts to enter the sacred enclosure
1t is worthy of especial remark that tn
world, the flesh, and the devil, are the onl
real enemies Of G1d and of man as the sui
iect of his government. The power of d