The souls exaltation A treatiseThe soules exaltation A treatise

Secondly, all the punishments and corrections that come upon the godly, the Lord so orders, and tempers, and sweetens them by his saving graces, and by the work of his Spirit, that they all work and turn to their good, the love of God is so far shed abroad into their hearts by the power of Christs merits, and so showed therein, that they procure good and comfort to their souls for ever; but in the punishments and curses of the wicked, they come from under the cross more hardened, and more blinded, and more fierce and rebellious against God and his grace; but the godly come from under the cross more holy, and more meek, and more patient, and reformed in their lives and conversations: as it is with the poison that is taken in hand by a skilful Physician, he knows the nature of it, and knows how to correct it, and to take away the malignant quality of it, either of the cold, or of the heat: so afflictions of themselves are plagues, and judgements, and they are able to ⟨p. 292⟩harden the heart, and to blind the mind: this is that Ahaz, saith the text, even wicked Ahaz; this is the punishment and poison of the wicked; and it bringeth punishment upon them; it blinds their minds, and hardens their hearts; and therefore, whensoever a wicked man doth come forth from under the curse, he is far worse than he was before, his heart more dead and more fierce, and he walks more rebelliously against God and his grace; but when they are laid upon the people of God, the Lord Jesus Christ takes away the malignant quality of them, and all the poison of punishment and poverty, and takes away all the venom of sickness and disgrace, and it is now a preservative, and it is good to be afflicted, as David saith, and to have the poison thus corrected, and to humble him, and to purge him, and to do him good in his latter end; they are the same in nature, that they are unto the wicked, but the difference is in the quality of them: therefore the conclusion is thus much; That all afflictions come from the hand of a loving Father upon the godly, and though they come in anger to their sins, yet they work for their good and salvation.

Secondly, all the punishments and corrections that come upon the godly, the Lord so orders, and tempers, and sweetens them by his saving graces, and by the worke of his Spirit, that they all worke and turne to their good, the love of God is so farre shed abroad into their hearts by the power of Christs merits, and so shewed therein, that they procure good and comfort to their soules for ever; but in the punishments and curses of the wicked, they come from under the crosse more hardned, and more blinded, and more fierce and rebellious against God and his grace; but the godly come from under the crosse more holy, and more meeke, and more patient, and reformed in their lives and conversations: as it is with the poyson that is taken in hand by a skillfull Physitian, hee knowes the nature of it, and knowes how to correct it, and to take away the malignant qualitie of it, either of the cold, or of the heat: so afflictions of themselves are plagues, and judgements, and they are able to