we are guiltie] Affliction as a rack inforceth the confession of those faults, which otherwise would not be acknowledged, and consequently not pardoned, Prov. 28. vers. 13. 1 John 1:9. Though then affliction be not pleasant, as a banquet, it is profitable, as a medicine, for the recovery of the soule from the sicknesse of sinne; though it have been of long continuance: for the guilt of their sinne was about twentie yeares old, though the smart and anguish of it was not felt untill now, affliction wakened their consciences which before were asleepe; their bonds, and imprisonment were a meanes of freedome to their soules from the bonds of wickednesse, according to the words of Elihu; If they be bound in fetters, and holden in cords of affliction, then he sheweth them their worke, and their transgressions that they have exceeded; He openeth also their eare to discipline, and commandeth that they returne from iniquitie, Job 36. 8, 9, 10. See Hosea 5:15. therefore is this distresse] Here they doe well to entitle their trouble to their sin; though they were no politique Spies, yet they deserved as much and more then they suffered; and herein their present state is answerable to their precedent fault, for they disdained that Joseph should have any preeminence above them, and now they are faine to doe humble homage unto him; they conspired against him, and he hath a plot to perplexe them, they bound him, and cast him into a pit, he commits them to close custody, whence they could not stirre, and binds the chiefe of their conspiracie before their faces; they would not heare him, when he begged to them for mercy, and he sheweth himselfe inexorable towards them; and so is Joseph a minister of divine justice upon them, for God hath said; Who so stoppeth his eare at the cry of the poore, he also shall cry himselfe, and shall not be heard, Proverbs 21:13. See Judges 1:7. Matthew 7:2. James 2:13.