An exposition with practical observations continued upon the thirty-fifth, thirty-sixth, and thirty-seventh chapters of…

Neither oppression from man, nor affliction from God, can break the pride of mans spirit. These were oppressed, yet proud still. Our estates may be broken, our relations broken, our comforts broken, yet our hearts remain unbroken. The oppressed are many times, as proud as their oppressors, and they who are unjustly dealt with, are •s bad as they that deal unjustly with them. Oppressors (though not all who oppress) are always bad, and the oppressed are many times so too, even as bad as their oppressors. There is no proof of any mans grace or goodness by this, that he is oppressed, or wronged; for he may be wronged, and ground to powder with oppression, yet his heart as hard as a nether Millstone, and his spirit as high, and as much lifted up as Lucifers. There is nothing in affliction, trouble, or oppression, that can humble the heart of man; the Spirit of God, God himself must do it. Outward changes work no inward change; we may be emptied from vessel to vessel, from one condition to another, yet have our sin-sent remaining in us. It was, indeed, said of Moab, (Jer. 48.11.) He hath not been emptied from vessel to vessel, neither hath he gone into captivity, (that is, he hath not been troubled much in his own Land, nor carried into strange Lands, as Israel hath been) therefore his taste remained in him, and his sent is not changed; that is, as he still retains his civil state and strength, so his spiritual vanity, impiety, and impurity, even as Wines that ⟨p. 89⟩have not been drawn off the Lees, and put into other Cask, (to that the Scripture there alludes) retain their first taste and sent or smell, and are not meliorated or made more fit for the palate and stomach of those that drink them. Now (I say) as many for want of changes or afflictions, are not mended, so some mend not though they have many changes and afflictions; nor can any thing or affliction mend us, or work a change of heart and life in us, unless grace work with it.

Neither oppression from man, nor affliction from God, can break the pride of mans spirit. These were oppressed, yet proud still. Our estates may be broken, our relations broken, our comforts broken, yet our hearts remain unbroken. The oppressed are many times, as proud as their oppressors, and they who are unjustly dealt with, are •s bad as they that deale unjustly with them. Oppressors (though not all who oppress) are alwayes bad, and the oppressed are many times so too, even as bad as their oppressors. There is no proof of any mans grace or goodness by this, that he is oppressed, or wronged; for he may be wronged, and ground to powder with oppression, yet his heart as hard as a nether Milstone, and his spirit as high, and as much lifted up as Lucifers. There is nothing in affliction, trouble, or oppression, that can humble the heart of man; the Spirit of God, God himself must do it. Outward changes work no inward change; we may be emptied from vessel to vessel, from one condition to another, yet have our sin-sent remaining in us. It was, indeed, said of Moab, (