II. 1Wicked men are often times worse under adversity, judgements and afflictions that do befall them, the more they are punished, the more they are hardened; there is nothing in adversity and judgements, in sickness and plagues, in poverty and distress, to make an alteration or a change in the heart of a sinner from worse to better, except God sanctify it. The Plague upon the body is not a remedy in it self to cure the Plague of the heart, for men love more the plague of their hearts than they loathe the plague of the body. Possibly outward Judgements ⟨p. 40⟩may put a stop to some mens sinnings for the present, but they will return to them afterwards, except God speak effectually to their hearts and consciences, as well as lay his heavy strokes upon the body. Judgement to a sinner may be as a Bar to a Thief, it may stop him from the present act, but doth not change his heart; or as a storm to a Mariner, may make him cast Anchor for the present, but still he retains his purpose of sailing in his Voyage when the storm is over; they are oftener salve for their eyes to show them their sin, than physic for their hearts to purge them out; sinners in Judgements might declaim against their sin, but without a settled purpose in their hearts to decline their sin; where there is Grace, Afflictions work patience and submission; but where there is nothing but corruption, they often work passion, and repining, not Repentance; the more God sent his Judgements and his Plagues upon Pharaoh and the Egyptians, the more they hardened themselves against God and his people; and by Gods Judgements were not the better but the worse, Exod. 7.19. to 23. Isa. 1.5. Why should ye be smitten any more, ye will revolt more and more. Psal. 78.30. They were not estranged from their Lusts, but while their meat was in their mouths, v. 31. the wrath of God came upon them, and slew the fattest of them. V. 32. For all this they sinned still, and believed not for his wondrous works. And as it was with the woman that had an Issue of blood twelve years, in respect of her bodily distemper, after great ⟨p. 41⟩cost and charge and use of means, she was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse, Mar. 5. 25, 26. so under Gods Judgements it is with most wicked men, in respect of their spiritual state, they are nothing bettered, but rather grow worse. And this appears,
II. 1WIcked men are often times worse under adversity, judgements and afflictions that do befall them, the more they are punished, the more they are hardened; there is nothing in adversity and judgements, in sickness and plagues, in poverty and distress, to make an alteration or a change in the heart of a sinner from worse to better, except God sanctifie it. The Plague upon the body is not a remedy in it self to cure the Plague of the heart, for men love more the plague of their hearts than they loathe the plague of the body. Possibly outward Judgements ⟨p. 40⟩may put a stop to some mens sinnings for the present, but they will return to them afterwards, except God speak effectually to their hearts and consciences, as well as lay his heavy stroaks upon the body. Judgement to a sinner may be as a Barre to a Thief, it may stop him from the present act, but doth not change his heart; or as a storm to a Mariner, may make him cast Anchour for the present, but still he retains his purpose of sayling in his Voyage when the storm is over; they are oftner salve for their eyes to shew them their sin, than physick for their hearts to purge them out; sinners in Judgements might declaim against their sin, but without a setled purpose in their hearts to decline their sin; where there is Grace, Afflictions work patience and submission; but where there is nothing but corruption, they often work passion, and repining, not Repentance; the more God sent his Judgements and his Plagues upon Pharaoh and the Egyptians, the more they hardened themselves against God and his people; and by Gods Judgements were not the better but the worse, Exod. 7.19. to 23. Isa. 1.5. Why should ye be smitten any more, ye will revolt more and more. Psal. 78.30. They were not estranged from their Lusts, but while their meat was in their mouths, v. 31. the wrath of God came upon them, and slew the fattest of them. V. 32. For all this they sinned still, and believed not for his wondrous works. And as it was with the woman that had an Issue of blood twelve years, in respect of her bodily distemper, after great ⟨p. 41⟩cost and charge and use of means, she was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse, Mar. 5. 25, 26. so under Gods Judgements it is with most wicked men, in respect of their spiritual state, they are nothing bettered, but rather grow worse. And this appears,
- 1Adversity makes wicked men worse.
