A30592:140
Moses his choice with his eye fixed upon Heaven, discovering the happy condition of…
Moses his choice with his eye fixed upon Heaven, discovering the happy condition of a self-denying heart, delivered in a treatise upon Hebrews II, 25, 26 / by Jeremiah Burroughs.
London: printed by John Field, 1650
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Ninthly, afflictions are of great use to mortify lusts, to purge out filth and corruption. Isa. 27. 9. By this shall the iniquity of Jacob be purged, and this is all the fruit thereof. When Physicians purge the body, they purge out that which is good, as well as that which is evil, but when God purges in the sanctified 1use of afflictions, he only purges out the evil, this is all the fruit thereof. As Aloes kills worms, so 2do bitter afflictions crawling lust in the heart. Cold and hard winters do destroy much vermin, which otherwise would be very noisome: so cold and hard afflictions vermin lusts. Violent storms and thunder clear the air, strong afflictions clarify the heart; by them we are as it were poured from vessel to vessel, from whence the ill savour of our heart-distempers comes to be taken away. Jer. 48. 11. Foul and stained clothes are made white by laying abroad in cold frosty nights, so the defiled heart. Salt marshes purge rank humours, so do the saltness of afflictions rank lusts. Men let their armour lye rusting by them in the time of peace, but in the time of war they scour all bright, to make fit for service: so mens hearts in the time of peace grow foul, but in times of trouble, they are then cleansed. It is a great mercy to have the act of sin hindered; afflictions are very useful for this, and therefore, Hosea. 2. 6. they are; as you heard, ⟨p. 57⟩called a hedge of thorns; whereby the ways to sin are hedged up: but to have the inward lusts mortified, this is a greater good. All the Prophets preachings could not purge the Jews from idolatry, so as the Babylonish captivity: it is observed, never since that time have idols been found amongst them.
Ninthly, afflictions are of great use to mortifie lusts, to purge out filth and corruption. Isa. 27. 9. By this shall the iniquity of Jacob be purged, and this is all the fruit thereof. When Physitians purge the body, they purge out that which is good, as well as that which is evill, but when God purges in the sanctified