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1. This barometrical subjection to the depressions and upliftings in life is the token of a noble nature and a big human heart. A cold, selfish man, of narrow views and no sympathies, goes on the calm and even tenor of his way. There is a miserable monotony about him. But wherever there is a generous and manly soul, there is a proportionate capacity for grief and for joy.

2. There is never a rose without a thorn, never a sky without a cloud, so there is never a gladness without a "but," and never a record of enjoyment without a "nevertheless." Oh, those "buts," they are flies in our most fragrant pot of ointment, skeletons at our rarest banquets, cloud-spots in our brightest sky. But that is a matter we can turn round. Suppose we read it thus — There is no thorn without flower or fruit, nor sky without star or rift of blue; so there is never a sadness without an ameliorating "but," and no sorrow without a compensating "nevertheless." This latter is quite as true as the former, and whatever thing we have to carry that has two handles, let us take hold of the easiest and the handiest, for our neighbours' sake as well as for our own.

I. THERE WERE MANY THINGS THAT CONSPIRED TO CAST PAUL DOWN. He had temporal trials of no ordinary magnitude and strength. His own people hated him, the heathen persecuted him; and, worst of all, there were those in the Churches whose conduct caused him sharp and constant pain. Then, too, he had a grievous disappointment. Titus did not turn up until long after he was expected, and in those perilous times Paul was anxious about the young man's safety and about the news he had to bring. He was a good man and true, yet he was "cast down." You don't think that his Lord loved him any less, or had withdrawn from him. The sun shines, whatever be the density of the November fog. Nature's vital machinery is moving, though nature be bare; and so, despite appearances, all through your course, O Christian, be sure that God ruleth all things well. He has but poor confidence in the captain who thinks he isn't on the ship because he can't see him on the bridge.

II. NOTE THE DISTINCTIVE TITLE THE APOSTLE GIVES TO GOD: "God that comforteth," etc.

1. I cannot find any god that mortals worship who is at all given that way. The worshippers of Baal were cast down low enough, but it was cold comfort they got from him. The gods of money, of honour, of show, of pleasure, may delude their worshippers with fancied joys while their devotees are up and about; but I have never heard that any of them are of much use when their worshippers are cast down. Oh no, it's down you go, and down you stay.

2. Neither does the character which Paul gives his God belong to the world. Men as a rule do not trouble themselves with people who are cast down. "All men will speak well of thee when thou doest well by thyself"; that is when thou art lifted up. Nothing succeeds, they say, like success. But let a man be "cast down," he's likely to lie there. Besides, if the world had the best. intentions it cannot minister to a mind diseased, cannot comfort the souls that are cast down.

3. There is but one hand that can lift up those that are cast down — God can, will, does. He will not break a bruised reed.

III. THOSE THAT ARE "CAST DOWN" IS A VERY INCLUSIVE DESCRIPTION. He does not ask who or what we are; nor how far we are down, nor what has cast us down, nor how often we have been down and lifted up before; nor how far we deserve to lie just where we have fallen, nor whether we are likely to be cast down again. No, our prostration is our certificate, and if we will but present that before Him He will lift us up and comfort us.

IV. WHILE THE COMFORTS OF GOD COME TO US DIRECT, THEY ALSO COME THROUGH MANY A MEDIUM. At times the angels have been made the messengers of His mercy, the almoners of His bounty, the comforters of His saints. On errands of comfort ravens were sent to Elijah, a little flower to Mungo Park in an African desert, a little singing-bird to Martin Luther, and the sweet tones of David's harp to the sad and moody Saul. But God specially comforts man by man. So Jethro cheered the heart of Moses; so old Eli gave comfort to sad-hearted Hannah; so the dejected David's soul was strengthened by Jonathan; and here Paul was "comforted by the coming of Titus."

(J. J. Wray.)

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KJV: Nevertheless God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus;

WEB: Nevertheless, he who comforts the lowly, God, comforted us by the coming of Titus;