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I. THE CAUSES OF THE BELIEVER'S SORROW.

1. The painful sense he entertains of his remaining imperfections, sinfulness, and weakness.

2. The difficulty of maintaining a steadfast belief in the great and essential truths of the gospel of our salvation.

3. The prevalent impiety, the wide-spreading moral wretchedness, with which he sees himself continually surrounded.

4. The natural evil, the physical suffering, which prevails to so wide an extent in the world around him.

II. THE SOURCES OF HIS JOY.

1. The blessed hope that when he shall have accomplished his day, he shall find admittance into that blissful region where "all tears shall be wiped from all eyes, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away for ever."

2. The privilege of drawing near to God in acts of public and private devotion.

3. Christian fellowship with persons of a kindred spirit with his own.

4. Grateful and sincere obedience to his heavenly Father's will — more especially in kindness to those whom our Redeemer calls His brethren.

(C. Townsend, M. A.)

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KJV: As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed;

WEB: as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and not killed;