Wicked men labour to strengthen and harden themselves all they can, to bear, in opposition to God, and Saints would strengthen and harden themselves all they can to bear in submission to God. Pharaoh hardened his heart to oppose God striking him; he had stroke after stroke, and Judgement after Judgement, yet he would not yield; but at last God made his heart soft in one sense, though he hardened it in another. God appeared at last too hard for Pharaoh, he could hold out no longer. And we find the Lord speaking thus by Ezekiel to his people, who (it seems by the language which God useth concerning them) had, ⟨p. 460⟩as it were, set themselves with unholy resolutions to stand or rather stout it out with God, and bear the worst that he could do unto them; But (saith the Lord, Ezek. 22.14.) can thine heart endure? or can thine hands be strong in the day that I shall deal with thee? When I deal with thee in ways of Judgement, when I take thee in hand to punish and repay thee according to thy works, can thine heart endure? no! it cannot endure, it shall not be able to endure. The Lord doth not mean it of an enduring with submission and patience; So it is the honour of Saints to endure what ever God lays upon them, but to endure with stoutness and resistance; art thou able to stand it out, or can thine hand be strong? no, thy heart and hand will be soft and weak, thou wilt not be able to bear it when I come to deal with thee. It is said of Christ by David his type (Psal. 22.13.) when he was under those terrible sufferings for our sins, that his heart was made soft (and if it were so with the green tree, what must it be with the dry?) I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax, it is melted in the midst of my bowels. Thus the sufferings of Christ our head (who was also the Captain of our salvation, and the mighty God) made his heart soft and melted him. His heart was not melted with sorrow for his own sin, (for he was without sin) but the sorrow that was upon him for our sins melted his heart. Whose heart will not melt & grow soft, (that is, unable to bear it) when God layeth his hand heavy and long upon him? Therefore we r•ad in the Prophet, how the Lord takes notice of this, and condescends to the weakness of man (Isa. 57.16.) I will not contend for ever, neither will I be always wroth.
Wicked men labour to strengthen and harden themselves all they can, to beare, in opposition to God, and Saints would strengthen and harden themselves all they can to beare in submission to God. Pharaoh hardened his heart to oppose God striking him; hee had stroake after stroake, and Judgement after Judgement, yet he would not yeeld; but at last God made his heart soft in one sense, though hee hardened it in another. God appeared at last too hard for Pharaoh, hee could hold out no longer. And we finde the Lord speaking thus by Ezekiel to his people, who (it seemes by the language which God useth concerning them) had, ⟨p. 460⟩as it were, set themselves with unholy resolutions to stand or rather stout it out with God, and beare the worst that hee could doe unto them; But (saith the Lord, Ezek. 22.14.) can thine heart endure? or can thine hands be strong in the day that I shall deale with thee? When I deale with thee in wayes of Judgement, when I take thee in hand to punish and repay thee according to thy workes, can thine heart endure? no! it cannot endure, it shall not be able to endure. The Lord doth not meane it of an endureing with submission and patience; So it is the honour of Saints to endure what ever God layes upon them, but to endure with stoutnes and resistance; art thou able to stand it out, or can thine hand be strong? no, thy heart and hand will be soft and weake, thou wilt not be able to beare it when I come to deale with thee. It is sayd of Christ by David his type (Psal. 22.13.) when hee was under those terrible sufferings for our sins, that his heart was made soft (and if it were so with the greene tree, what must it be with the dry?) I am powred out like water, and all my bones are out of joynt: my heart is like wax, it is melted in the midst of my bowells. Thus the sufferings of Christ our head (who was also the Captain of our salvation, and the mighty God) made his heart soft and melted him. His heart was not melted with sorrow for his owne sin, (for he was without sin) but the sorrow that was upon him for our sins melted his heart. Whose heart will not melt & grow soft, (that is, unable to beare it) when God layeth his hand heavy and long upon him? Therefore we r•ad in the Prophet, how the Lord takes notice of this, and condescends to the weaknes of man (Isa. 57.16.) I will not contend for ever, neither will I be alwayes wroth.