Fifthly and lastly, the day of affliction hath oft an evil event and issue, and in this respect proves an evil day indeed. All is well (we say) that ends well; the product of afflictions on the Christian is good, the rod with which they are corrected, yields the peaceable fruits of righteousness, and therefore they can call their afflictions good, that is a good instrument that lets out only the bad blood. It is good for me that I was afflicted, saith David. I have read of a holy woman, who used to compare her afflictions to her children, they both put her to great pain in the bearing, but as she knew not which of her children to have been without (for all the trouble in the bringing forth) so neither which of her afflictions she could have missed, notwithstanding the sorrow they put her to in the enduring. But to the wicked the issue is ⟨p. 356⟩sad, first in regard of sin, they leave them worse, more impenitent, hardened in sin, and outrageous in their wicked practices. Every plague on Egypt added to the plague of hardness on Pharaohs heart: he that for some while could beg prayers of Moses for himself, at last comes to that pass, that he threatens to kill him if he come at him any more. O what a prodigious height do we see many come to in sin after some great sickness or other judgement? Children do not more shoot up in their bodily stature after an ague, then they in their lusts after afflictions. O how greedy and ravenous are they after their prey, when they once get off their clog and chain from their heels! when Physic works not kindly, it doth not only leave the disease uncured, but the poison of the Physic stays in the body also. Many appear thus poisoned by their afflictions, by the breaking out of their lusts afterward. Secondly, in regard of sorrow, every affliction on a wicked person produceth another, and that a greater then it self. The last wedge comes the last, which shall rive him fit for the fire, the sinner is whipped from affliction to affliction, as the vagrant from Constable to Constable till at last he comes to hell, his proper place and settled abode, where all sorrows will meet in one that is endless.
Fifthly and lastly, the day of affliction hath oft an evil event and issue, and in this respect proves an evil day indeed. All is well (we say) that ends well; the product of afflictions on the Christian is good, the rod with which they are corrected, yields the peaceable fruits of righteousnesse, and therefore they can call their afflictions good, that is a good instrument that lets out only the bad blood. It is good for me that I was afflicted, saith David. I have read of a holy woman, who used to compare her afflictions to her children, they both put her to great pain in the bearing, but as she knew not which of her children to have been without (for all the trouble in the bringing forth) so neither which of her afflictions she could have missed, notwithstanding the sorrow they put her to in the enduring. But to the wicked the issue is ⟨p. 356⟩sad, first in regard of sin, they leave them worse, more impenitent, hardened in sin, and outragious in their wicked practices. Every plague on Egypt added to the plague of hardnesse on Pharaohs heart: he that for some while could beg prayers of Moses for himself, at last comes to that passe, that he threatens to kill him if he come at him any more. O what a prodigious height do we see many come to in sin after some great sicknesse or other judgement? Children do not more shoot up in their bodily stature after an ague, then they in their lusts after afflictions. O how greedy and ravenous are they after their prey, when they once get off their clog and chain from their heeles! when Physick works not kindly, it doth not only leave the disease uncured, but the poison of the Physick stays in the body also. Many appear thus poisoned by their afflictions, by the breaking out of their lusts afterward. Secondly, in regard of sorrow, every affliction on a wicked person produceth another, and that a greater then it self. The last wedge comes the last, which shall rive him fit for the fire, the sinner is whip't from affliction to affliction, as the vagrant from Constable to Constable till at last he comes to hell, his proper place and setled abode, where all sorrrows will meet in one that is endlesse.
