A Body of Practical Divinity

2. The Second Season is, when Affliction hath done its Work upon them: When it hath effected that God hath sent it for. As First, When it hath humbled them, Lam. 3.19. Remembering my Affliction, the Wormwood and Gall, my Soul is humbled in me. When Gods Corrosive hath eat out the Proud Flesh. Secondly, When it hath tamed their Impatience. Before they were proud and impatient, like froward Children, that would struggle with their Parents, but when their curst Hearts are tamed, and they say as Micah 7.9. I will bear the Indignation of the Lord, because I have sinned against him; and as Eli, It is the Lord, let him do what seems him good; Let him hedge me with Thorns, if he will plant me with Grace.

2. The Second Season is, when Affliction hath done its Work upon them: When it hath effected that God hath sent it for. As First, When it hath humbled them, Lam. 3.19. Remembring my Affliction, the Wormwood and Gall, my Soul is humbled in me. When Gods Corrosive hath eat out the Proud Flesh. Secondly, When it hath tamed their Impatience. Before they were proud and impatient, like froward Children, that would struggle with their Parents, but when their curst Hearts are tamed, and they say as Micah 7.9. I will bear the Indignation of the Lord, because I have sin'd against him; and as Eli, It is the Lord, let him do what seems him good; Let him hedge me with Thorns, if he will plant me with Grace.

3 When they are more Partakers of God's Holiness, Heb. 12.10. they are more full of Heavenly-Mindedness. When the sharp Frost of Affliction hath brought forth the Spring Flowers of Grace, now the Cross is sanctified, and God will bring them out of the House of Bondage. Luctus in laetitiam vertetur, cineres in Corollas. When the Metal is refined, then it is taken out of the Furnace. When Affliction hath healed us, now God takes off the smarting Plaster.