The great corruption of subtle self, discovered, and driven from it's lurking-places and starting-holes…The great corruption of subtile self, discovered, and driven from it's lurking-places and starting-holes…

Tribulation draweth forth Grace into exercise, and makes it to grow, which did before much languish, and in a manner lye by; there are several Graces in a Christian, that are not (to say so) in such a capacity of acting, and being exercised, as when they are under the Cross; what hath patience to do, that hath not affliction, and tribulation to try and exercise it? or how shall experience grow without patience? and how shall hope grow strong and shine, where there is little or no experience? ⟨p. 133⟩therefore Tribulation comes and works Patience, and Patience Experience, and Experience Hope; Tribulation not only affords occasion and matter to Patience, but through Gods blessing works it, by taming the Person, bringing low the height and haughtiness of his Spirit, and making him put his mouth in the dust; (and this is one good that comes by afflictions) and Patience again bringeth forth experience, when a man is brought to a suffering Lot, and by suffering calmed, and meekened, he gets many experiences of Gods love, tender care, and vigilant providence; that he would rather have than want his sufferings; he gets the experience of Gods faithfulness, in making good his Promises, in sustaining and bearing through under suffering; and as many troubles as he hath, he gets as many out-gates, neither would he want such sweet experience, whatever his Crosses may be, that he falls under; and this is a Second Good that comes by affliction; a Third Good is, that experience brings forth hope; For when Christians are accustomed to afflictions, and find the good of them, and get fresh experience of Gods faithfulness, and love under them, they scar not so much at them; for the blessed out-gates that they have gotten before, give them ground to hope for moe; and this makes them pleasantly, cheerfully, and courageously to march through all their Afflictions and Tribulations.

Tribulation draweth forth Grace into exercise, and makes it to grow, which did before much languish, and in a manner lye by; there are several Graces in a Christian, that are not (to say so) in such a capacity of acting, and being exercised, as when they are under the Cross; what hath patience to do, that hath not affliction, and tribulation to try and exercise it? or how shal experience grow without patience? and how shal hope grow strong and shine, where there is little or no experience? ⟨p. 133⟩therefore Tribulation comes and works Patience, and Patience Experience, and Experience Hope; Tribulation not only affords occasion and matter to Patience, but through Gods blessing works it, by tameing the Person, bringing low the height and haughtiness of his Spirit, and making him put his mouth in the dust; (and this is one good that comes by afflictions) and Patience again bringeth forth experience, when a man is brought to a suffering Lot, and by suffering calmed, and meekned, he gets many experiences of Gods love, tender care, and vigilant providence; that he would rather have than want his sufferings; he gets the experience of Gods faithfulness, in making good his Promises, in sustaining and bearing thorow under suffering; and as many troubles as he hath, he gets as many out-gates, neither would he want such sweet experience, whatever his Crosses may be, that he falls under; and this is a Second Good that comes by affliction; a Third Good is, that experience brings forth hope; For when Christians are accustomed to afflictions, and find the good of them, and get fresh experience of Gods faithfulness, and love under them, they scar not so much at them; for the blessed out-gates that they have gotten before, give them ground to hope for moe; and this makes them pleasantly, chearfully, and couragiously to march through all their Afictions and Tribulations.