§. 59. Of the meaning of these words, No chastening for the present seemeth to be joyou•…•…, but grievous.
Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: neverthelesse,* 1.1 afterward it yeeldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousnesse, unto them who are exer∣cised thereby.
THis verse is added to meet with that which flesh and blood might object against all the comforts, and encouragements before delivered, for well-bearing afflicti∣ons: and that is, experience and sense, will say, we find no joy, but feele much grief under afflictions.
To take away 〈◊〉〈◊〉, the Apostle grants that to be true, which sense opposeth, that chastening for the present is grievous.
The grant, as expressed in Greek, is very emphaticall.
For
- 1. It is set down in the most a 1.2 generall term, thus, All Chast•…•…sement seemeth not to be joyous, that is, as our English hath to the sense fully expressed it, no Cha∣stisement. The Hebrew and Greek do oft expresse the generall with a negative, though the Latine and English account a negative generall to be as a speciall.
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2. The Apostle useth the negative, because that which he had said before might seeme to imply that there is pleasures, delights, and joyes in afflictions.
But this he expresly denyeth, in this phrase, b 1.3 not joyous.
- 3. He adds the affirmative, c 1.4 but grievous, because sense feeles it to be so.
- 4. The substantive in Greek is used instead of the adjective, thus, not d 1.5 of 〈◊〉〈◊〉, but of grief. It is matter, not of joy, but e 1.6 of griefe. There is much emphasis herein.
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5. To mittigate, and mollifie the matter, he addeth a limitation of the time, thus, f 1.7 for the present.
Hereby is meant, that time wherein the affliction lyeth upon a man, and wherein he feeleth the smart and grief of it.
- 6. He addeth another limitation, in this word, g 1.8 seemeth: Which is taken sometimes in opposition to truth, and reality. For many things seeme to be what* 1.9 they are not, Luk. 8. 18. 1 Cor. 3. 18. But here it is taken for experimentall sense, as where it is said, the Ship-men deemed that they drew neer, Act. 27. 27. Yet this is here so to be taken, as when sense feels grief, faith may conceive comfort. Afflicti∣on is indeed grievous to outward sense, and in that respect seemeth to be so: but not to faith. Thus it is a limitation.