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…

First, That sin is seated in us, and hath been acted by us. If we had no sin, we should know no sorrow. Though some afflictions are not sent out directly against sin, yet every affliction is both a consequent and a testimony of remaining sin. The bundle of rods at our backs, saith, there is folly and sin bound up in our hearts: and when once we are purged from all sin, we shall hear no more of any affliction, of any rod. We shall be past suffering, as soon as we are past sinning.

First, That sin is seated in us, and hath been acted by us. If we had no sin, vve should know no sorrow. Though some afflictions are not sent out directly against sin, yet every affliction is both a consequent and a testimony of remaining sin. The bundle of rods at our backs, saith, there is folly and sin bound up in our hearts: and vvhen once we are purged from all sin, vve shall hear no more of any affliction, of any rod. We shall be past suffering, as soon as vve are past sinning.

Secondly, They are witnesses in special, of that great sin, the pride of our hearts and lives. If there were not swellings and impostumations of pride in our spirits, we should not feel such lancings. Paul himself acknowledges that they were growing upon him, if God had not taken a severe course to keep them down, Lest I should be exalted above measure, through the abundance of revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me (2 Cor. 12.7.) Hence afflictions are called humiliations, both because an afflicted person is humbled, or laid low by the hand of God, as also, because afflictions are sent to humble, and lay us low in our selves. Now, if one special business which affliction hath with us, be to humble us, then doubtless affliction witnesseth that there is pride in us. That which is sent to remove an evil, shows the presence of it.

Secondly, They are vvitnesses in speciall, of that great sin, the pride of our hearts and lives. If there were not swellings and impostumations of pride in our spirits, vve should not feel such lancings. Paul himself acknowledges that they vvere growing upon him, if God had not taken a severe course to keep them down, Lest I should be exalted above measure, through the abundance of revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me (