An exposition with practical observations continued upon the eighth, ninth and tenth chapters of…An exposition with practicall observations continued upon the eighth, ninth and tenth chapters of…

2. Afflictions themselves are evil. There is no good in them, nor can they do us any good of themselves. The good cometh from a superior work, from those admirable influences and concurrences of God upon, and with corrections. The rod is an evil in it self, and will make us worse, unless the Lord make it a blessing to us. Some are stubborn under the rod: and their hearts are hardened, while themselves are melted in the fire of affliction. As man lives not by bread alone: So man mends not by the rod alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. Tis little less then a miracle that this dry rod (as that of Aaron did natural) should blossom and bring forth spiritual fruit, the fruits of righteousness.

2. Afflictions themselves are evil. There is no good in them, nor can they doe us any good of themselves. The good commeth from a superiour work, from those admirable influences and concurrences of God upon, and with corrections. The rod is an evil in it self, and will make us worse, unlesse the Lord make it a blessing to us. Some are stubborn under the rod: and their hearts are hardened, while themselves are melted in the fire of affliction. As man lives not by bread alone: So man mends not by the rod alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. Tis little lesse then a miracle that this dry rod (as that of Aaron did naturall) should blossom and bring forth spirituall fruit, the fruits of righteousnesse.

3. We may pray for the removing of afflictions, because the Lord often sends afflictions upon this message, to bespeak prayer. Many a soul is sluggish in prayer till awakened by the voice of the rod. When the rod makes the flesh smart, then the Spirit (in whom any thing of the Spirit is) cries mightily unto God, and among the many things about which the soul exercises prayer under afflictions, this is one, that the affliction may be removed. As they always sin, who murmur at and quarrel with God, because ⟨p. 400⟩he corrects them, so also do they, who say, they care not how long he corrects them, or let him correct them, as long as he will. It is as ill a sign when a child will not pray his parent to spare him, when he is about to chasten him, or to stay his hand when he is chastening of him, as it is to resist his chastisement. There may be greater contempt of God in lying under affliction, then in resisting it. Now, as it is our duty to pray for deliverance out of trouble; so it is one end why the Lord casts us into trouble, that we may be engaged to pray for deliverance.