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…

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 (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 speciall businesse vvhich affliction hath vvith us, be to humble us, then doubtlesse affliction vvitnesseth that there is pride in us. That vvhich is sent to remove an evil, shews the presence of it.

Thirdly, They are witnesses, by bringing to our remembrance the acting of forgotten sins. Affliction is a help to memory. That which we forget we have done or spoken, witnesses coming in, make us remember; so also do our troubles. When the brethren of Joseph had been put in ward three days, and heard him demand one of them to be left, as an hostage in prison, till they brought Benjamin: This distress caused them to say, We are verily guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the anguish of his soul, when he besought us, and we would not hear, therefore is this distress come upon us (