VII.
manifoldness.
I Pet. i. 6. – Manifold temptations.
I Pet. iv. 10. – Manifold grace.
Eph. iii. 10. – Manifold wisdom.
There is an obvious contrast of subject-matter between the first of these quotations and the others. But the idea of manifoldness, variety, appears in all, and this connects them, and suggests important facts regarding the relation between the Christian’s needs, and his Lord’s supplies, and his Lord’s purposes towards him.
i. Manifold temptations. On the word “temptation” I do not dwell at length, only remarking that the original word lends itself equally to denote the solicitations of the great Enemy and the tests of the Eternal Friend; “temptation” and “trial” respectively, in our present parlance. And it is obvious that these things are very often, perhaps always, in the case of the believer, two aspects of the one thing. In the history of Job we see Satan tempting, with resolute and merciless purposes of evil; we see the Lord trying, so as to shew to his “perfect,” his thoroughly genuine, servant more of the plague of his own heart, and very much more of the glory and love of God. And we see the two processes carried on in great measure by the same events and experience.
The double process is one of the normal facts of the Christian’s life. The Enemy is unwearied in temptation, the Friend mercifully perseveres with the touchstone and the probe. And truly to the regenerate soul both processes have to do with pain, with heaviness. Temptation, whatever be the victory of grace over it, has this deep pain in it, that it means the presence of the foe of the soul and of its Lord. Trial, whatever be the secret joy of knowing who sends it, and why, and of learning more of Him through it, a joy on which we dwelt above,* is in its very nature painful. It is intended to hurt, though not to injure. The Lord does not make His people Stoics, but Christians. His blessing does not blunt but refine their sensibilities, while it gives strength to their weakness. They feel the rod, they feel the Refiner’s fire. Not only in view of temptation, but under sense of trial, they understand what heaviness means.
Meanwhile let us remember, though but in passing, that heaviness was not the leading experience of St Peter’s converts. Their characteristic was joy and love. Read over the golden verses which contain this word about “heaviness.” They form a picture radiant with the light of the Lord; with living hope, ardent love, joy unspeakable and full of glory. And St Peter speaks of these experiences as the present and habitual portion of these beloved “strangers scattered.”**
On the other hand, and this is our chief concern now, this picture of light is crossed by a deep, tender shadow; “heaviness through manifold temptations.” It is not easy, perhaps, to dissect the subject and to explain the theory. Solvitur ambulands; it is explained in the believing soul by a walk with God.
“Wouldst thou too understand? Behold I show
The perfect way: Love God, and thou shalt know.” ***
And this experience of “heaviness” is “manifold.” It has to do with manifold temptations, varied trials. Yes, they are varied, indeed. It was so of old. We have but to name the saints of Hebrews xi. to see this in its vivid reality. But it is a fact too close to the human heart of all time to need much illustration. No two of us are fully alike in character or in surroundings. No one of us is free from innumerable changes in the incidence of his surroundings on his character. Age of life, social position, mental and moral education, bodily ease or disease, relationships and connexions, private and public duties, - I designedly mention these things without order, - all these differences, and how many others touching upon the individual spirit within, make up a vast “manifoldness” of temptation, of trial. And we can go only a very little way in helping one another in the multiplicity. We are like enough to another to understand the fact; we are unlike enough to be soon baffled by the details, even when we bring our best sympathy to bear. Only a little can the Christians whose trial is the snare and care of wealth enter into the life whose trial is poverty and straits; and the converse is true also. Only imperfectly can the Christian burthened with public responsibility enter into the difficulties that are bounded by the humble home. Not fully, with rare exceptions, can the strong, in health or in will, appreciate the essence of the temptations of the weak. And, again, such are the intricacies of life and of the soul, that the same man may often find himself tried at once from different quarters, on opposite sides of character. It is a manifold problem.
* Ch. V.
** I well remember a friend’s telling me that he had lighted upon two very different comments on this passage, almost at once. In the one, an expositor maintained that such glowing words must refer to the life to come; that they could only be anticipations of heaven, not experiences on earth. The other comment was an entry in the diary of the late Rev. W. H. Hewitson, a saint who had deep experiences of the Cross: ‘I have been rejoicing all day long with joy unspeakable, and full of glory.’
*** James Montgomery, The Lot of the Righteous.
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