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The blueness of a wound, grievous wounds, which make men black and blue, or severe punishments,
cleanseth away evil; are the most effectual means to reclaim a wicked man, and to purge out his corruption.
So do stripes, Heb. and stripes, which answer to the wounds in the former clause,
the inward parts of the belly; either,
1. Which pierce even to the inward parts of the belly; and so we are to understand out of the former branch, cleanse away evil. Or,
2. They cleanse the inward parts of the belly, i.e. of the heart. So this is an addition to the former clause, and the sense of the whole is, Grievous wounds or stripes do cleanse not only the outward man, by keeping it from evil actions, but even the inward man, by expelling or subduing vile affections; which is mentioned as a great and blessed benefit of afflictions.