namely by the light of thy Countenance for that is the Plaister for a broken Heart Thou hast put Gladness in our Heart more than in the Time that their Corn and their Wine encreaseth Psal. 4. 1 6 7. O! A broken Heart can savour Pardon can savour the Consolations of the Holy Ghost Yea as a hungry or thirsty man prizes Bread and VVater in the want thereof so do the broken in Heart prize and set an high esteem on the things of the Lord Jesus His Flesh his Blood his Promise and the light of his Countenance are the only sweet things both to Scent and Taste to those that are of a wounded Spirit The full Soul loatheth the Honey-Comb the whole despise the Gospel they savour not the things that are of God. If twenty Men were to hear a Pardon Read and but one of those Twenty were condemned to die and the Pardon was for none but such which of these Men think you would taste the Sweetness of that Pardon they who were not or he that was Condemned The Condemned Man doubtless This is the Case in Hand The broken in Heart is a Condemned Man yea 't is sence of Condemnation with other things that has indeed broken his Heart nor is there any thing but sence of Forgiveness that can bind it up or heal it But could that heal it could he not taste truly taste or rightly relish this Forgiveness No. Forgiveness would be to him as it is to him that has not sence of want of it But I say what 's the Reason some so prize what others so despise since they both stand in need of the same Grace and Mercy of God in Christ Why the one sees and the other sees nothing of this woful miserable State. And thus have I shewed you the necessity of a Broken Heart 1. Man is Dead and must be Quickned 2. Man is a Fool and must be made Wise. 3. Man is Proud and must be Humbled 4. Man is Self-willed and must be Broken. 5. Man is Fearless and must be made to Consider 6. Man is a False Believer and must be Rectified 7. Man is a Lover of Sin and must be Weaned from it 8. Man is Wild and must be Tamed 9. Man Disrelishes the things of God and can take no savour in them until his Heart is Broken. And thus I have done with this and shall next come to the Reasons of the Point namely to shew you Why or how it comes to pass that a Broken Heart a Heart truly Contrite is to God such an Excellent thing That to him it is so we have proved by six Demonstrations What it is we have shewed by the six Signs thereof That it must be is manifest by those Nine Reasons but now urged And WHY it is with God or in his Esteem an Excellent Thing that is shewn by that which follows First A Broken Heart is the Handy-work of God an Heart of his OWN Preparing for his own Service It is a Sacrifice of his own providing of his providing for Himself As Abraham said in another Case God will provide himself a Lamb Gen. 22. 8. Hence it is said The Preparation of the Heart in Man c. is from the Lord. And again God maketh my Heart soft and the Almighty troubleth me Job 23. 16. The Heart as it is by Nature Hard Stupid and Impenitrable so it remains and so will remain until God as was said Bruiseth it with his Hammer and Melts it with his Fire The stony Nature of it is therefore said to be taken away of God. I will take away the stony Heart out of your Flesh and will give you saith he an Heart of Flesh Ezelâ— 36. 26. I will take away the stony Heart or the Stoniness or the the Hardness of your Heart and I will give you an Heart of Flesh that is I will make your Heart sensible soft wieldable governable and penitent Sometimes he bids Men rent their Hearts not because they can but to convince them rather that though it must be so they cannot do it So he bids them make themselves a New Heart and a New Spirit for the same purpose also for if God doth not Rent it it remains Unrent if God makes it not new it abides an old one still This is that that is meant by his Bending of Men for Himself and of his working in them that which is pleasing in his Sight Zach. 9. 13. The Heart Soul or Spirit as in it self as it came from God's Fingers a Precious Thing a thing in God's Account worth more than all the World this Heart Soul or Spirit Sin has hardened the Devil has bewitched the World has deceived This Heart thus beguiled God Coveteth and Desireth My Son faith he give me thy Heart and let thine Eyes observe my Ways Prov. 33. 26. This Man cannot do this thing for that his Heart has the Mastery of him will not but carry him after all manner of Vanity What now must be done Why God must take the Heart by Storm by Power and bring it to a Complyance with the Word But the Heart of it self will not it is deluded carried away to another than God. Wherefore God now betakes him to his Sword and brings down the Heart with Labour opens it and drives out the strong Man Armed that did keep it wounds it and makes it smart for its Rebellion that it may cry so he rectifies it for himself He maketh sore and bindeth up he Woundeth and his Hands make whole Job 5. 18. Thus having wrought it for himself it becomes his Habitation his Dwelling-place That Christ might dwell in your Heart by Faith. But I would not swerve from the thing in Hand I have told you a broken Heart is the handy-work of God a Sacrifice of his own Preparing a Material fitted for himself 1. By breaking of the Heart he openeth it and makes it a Receptacle for the Graces of his Spirit that 's the Cabinet when unlocked where God lays up the Jewels of the Gospel There he puts his Fear I will put my Fear in their Heart There he writes his Law I will write my Law in their Heart There he puts his Spirit I will put my Spirit within you Jer. 31. 31 32 33. Chap. 32. 39 40 41. Ezek. 36. 26 27. The Heart I say God chuses for his Cabinet There he hides his Treasure there is the Seat of Justice Mercy and of every Grace of God I mean when 't is Broken made Contrite and so Regulated by the Holy Word 2. The Heart when Broken is like sweet Gums and Spices when beaten For as such cast their fragrant Scent into the Nostrils of Men so the Heart when Broken casts its sweet Smells in the Nostrils of God. The Incense which was a Type of Prayer of Old was to be beaten or bruised and so to be burned in the Censer The Heart must be beaten or bruised and then the sweet Scent will come out even Groans and Cries
when alas All these are but the beginnings of Love and but that which makes way for Life The Lord kills before he makes alive he wounds before his Hands make whole Yea he does the one in Order to or because he would do the other he wounds because his Purpose is to heal He maketh sore and bindeth up He woundeth and his Hands make whole Deut. 32. 39. 1 Sam. 2. 6. Job 5. 18. His design I say is the Salvation of the Soul. He scourgeth he breaketh the Heart of every Son whom he receiveth and Wo be to him whose Heart God breaketh not And thus have I proved what at first I asserted namely That a Spirit rightly Broken an Heart truly Contrite is to God an Excellent Thing A Broken and a Contrite Heart O God thou wilt not despise For thus say I 1. This is Evident for that it is better than Sacrifices than all Sacrifice 2. The Man that has it is of more esteem with God than Heaven and Earth 3. God coveteth such a Man for his Intimate and House-Companion 4. He Reserveth for them his Cordials and spiritual Comforts 5. He has given his Son à charge a Commandment to take Care that the Broken hearted be healed and he is resolved to heal them 6. And concluded that the Broken hearted and they that are of a Contrite Spirit shall be saved that is Possest of the Heavens I come now in Order to shew you what a Broken Heart and what a Contrite Spirit is This must be done because in the Discovery of this lies both the Comfort of them that have it and the Conviction of them that have it not Now that I may do this the better I must propound and speak to these four Things 1. I must shew you what an one that Heart is that is not Broken that is not Contrite 2. I must shew you how or with what the Heart is Broken and made Contrite 3. Shew you how and what it is when Broken and made Contrite And 4. I shall last of all give you some Signâ— of a Broken and Contrite Heart For the first of these to wit What an one that Heart is that is not a Broken that is not a Contrite Heart 1. The Heart before â—is broken is Hard and Stubborn and Obstinate against God and the Salvation of the Soul Zach. 7. 12. Deut. 2 30. Chap. 9. 27. 2. 'T is an Heart full of Evil Imaginations and Darkness Gen. 8. 12. Rom. 1. 21. 3. 'T is a Heart Deceitful and subject to be deceived especially about the things of an Eternal Concernment Isa. 44 20. Deut. 11. 16. 4. 'T is an Heart that rather gathereth Iniquity and Vanity to it self than any thing that is good for the Soul Psal. 41. 6. Psal. 94. 11. 5. 'T is an Unbelieving Heart and one that will turn away from God to Sin Heb. 3. 12. Deut. 17. 17. 6. 'T is an Heart not prepared for God being Uncircumcised not for the Reception of his holy Word 2 Chron. 12. 14. Psal. 78. 8. Acts 7. 51. 7. 'T is an Heart not Single but Double 'T will pretend to serve God but will withall lean to the Devil and Sin Psal. 12. 2. Ezek. 33. 31. 8. 'T is an Heart Proud and Stout it loves not to be Controuled though the Controuler be God himself Psal. 101. 5. Prov. 16. 5. Mal. 3. 9. 'T is an Heart that wil give Place to Satan but will Resist the Holy Ghost Act. 5. 3. Chap. 7. 51. 10. In a Word 'T is deceitful above all things and desperately Wicked So wicked that none can know it Jer. 17. 9. That the Heart before it is broken is such and worse than I have described it to be is sufficiently seen by the whole course of the World. Where is the man whose Heart has not been Broken and whose Spirit is not Contrite that according to the Word of God deals honestly with his own Soul It is one Character of a right Heart that it is sound in God's Statutes and honest Psal. 119. 80. Luke 8. 15. Now an honest Heart will not put off it self nor be put off with that which will not go for current Money with the Merchant I mean with that which will not go for saving Grace at the day of Judgment But alas alas But few Men how honest soever they are to others have honesty towards themselves though he is the worst of Deceivers who deceiveth his own Soul as James has it about the things of his own Soul Jam. 1. 22 26. But Secondly I now come to shew you with WHAT and HOW the Heart is Broken and the Spirit made Contrite The Instrument with which the Heart is Broken and with which the Spirit is made Contrite is the Word Is not my Word says God like a Fire and like â— Hammer that breaketh the Roâ—â— in pieces Jer. 23. 29. The Rock in his Text is thâ— Heart which in another place is compared to an Adamant which Adamant is harder than Flint Zach. â— 11 12. Ezek. 3. 9. This Rock this Adamant this Stony Heart is Broken and made Contrite by the Word But it only is so when the Word is as a Fire and as a Hammer to break and melt it And then and then only it is as a Fire and a Hammer to the Heart to break it when 't is managed by the Arm of God. No man can break the Heart with the Word no Angel can break the Heart with the Word that is if God forbears to second it by mighty Power from Heaven This made Balaâ—m go without an Heart rightly broken and truly conâ—â—â—te though he was rebuked by an Angel and the Pharisees die in their Sins though rebuked for them and admonished to turn from them by the Saviour of the World. VVherefore though the Word is the Instrument with which the Heart is broken yet it is not broken with the Word till that Word is managed by the Might and Power of God. This made the Prophet Isaiah after long Preaching cry out That he had laboured for Nought and in Vain And this made him cry to God to Rent the Heavens and come down that the Mountains or Rocky Hills or Hearts might be broken and melt at his Presence Isa. 49. 4. Chap. 64. 1 2. For he found by Experience that as to this no effectual Work could be done unless the Lord put to his Hand This also is often intimated in the Scriptures where it faith When the Preachers preached effectually to the breaking of Men's Hearts the Lord wrought with them the Hand of the Lord was with them and the like Mar. 16. 20. Acts 11 21. Now when the Hand of the Lord is with the Word then 't is mighty 't is mighty thorough God to the pulling down of strong Holds 'T is sharp then as a Sword in the Soul and Spirit It stiâ—ks like an Arrow in the Hearts of Sinners to the causing of the People to fall at his Foot for Mercy Then 't
acquainted with that has his Heart Broken. 3. As he Sees and Feels so â—e HEARS that which augments his Woe and Sorrow You know if a man has his Bones broken he does not only See and Feel but oft-times also Hears what encreases his Grief as that his Wound 's uncurable that his Bone is not rightly sett that there is danger of a Gâ—â—green that he may be lost for want of looking to These are the Voices the Sayings that haunt the House of one that has his Bones broken And a Broken-hearted Man knows what I mean by this he hears that which makes his Lips quiver and at the noise of which he seems to feel Rottenness enter into his Bones He trembleth in himself and wishes that he may hear Joy and Gladness that the Bones the Heart and Spirit which God has Broken. may rejoyce Hab. 3. 16. Psal. 51. 8. He thinks he hears God say the Devil say his Conscience say and all good Men to whisper among themselves saying There is no help for him in God Job heard this David heard this Heman heard this and this is a common sound in the Ears of the Broken-hearted 4. The Broken-hearted SMELL what others cannot scent Alas Sin never smell'd so to any man alive as it smells to the Broken-hearted You know Wounds will stink but no stink like that of Sin to the Broken-hearted Man His own Sins stink and so doth the Sins of all the World to him Sin is like Carrion 't is of a stinking Nature yea it has the worst of smells however some Men like it Psal. 38. 5. But none are offended with the scent thereof but God and the Broken hearted Sinner My Wounds stink and are corrupt saith he both in God's Nostrils and mine own But alas Who smells the â—tink of Sin None of the Carnal World they like Carrion-Grows seek it love it and eat â—t as the Child eats Bread. They â—at up the Sin of my People saith God and set their Heart on their â—niquity Hos. 4. 8. This I say they do because they do not smell the Nautious Scent of Sin You know that what is Nautious to the smell cannot be Pallatable to the Taste The Broken-hearted Man doth find that Sin is nautious and therefore cries out it stinketh They also think at times the smell of Fire of Fire and Brimstone is upon them they are so sensible of the Wages due to Sin. 5. The Broken-hearted is also a Tasting Man. Wounds iâ— sore and full of Pains of great Pains do sometimes alter the Taste of a Man. They make him think his Meat his Drink yea that Cordials have a bitter Taste in them How many times doth the poor People of God that are the only men that know what a Broken-heart doth mean cry out that Gravel Wormwood Gall and Vinegar was made their Meat Lam. 3â— 15 16 19. This Gravel Gall and Wormwood is the true temporal Taste of Sin and God to make them loath it for ever doth feed them with it till their Hearts both ake and break therewith Wickedness is pleasant of Tastâ— to the World Hence 't is said They feed on Ashes they feed on Wind sa 44. 20. Hos. 12. 1. Lusts or any thing that is Vile and refuse the Carnal World think â—elishes well as is set out most notably in the Parable of the Prodigal Son He would fain have filled his Belly saith our Lord with the Husks that the Swine did Eat But the Broken-hearted Man has a relish that 's true as to these things though by reason of the anguish of his Soul it also abhors all manner of dainty Meat Job 33. 19 20. Psal. 107. 17 18 19. Thus I have shewed you one sign of a Broken-hearted Man he is a sensible Man he has all the Sences of his Soul awakened he can See Hear Feel Taste Smell and that as none but himself can do I come now to another sign of a Broken and Contrite Man. Secondly And that is He is a very sorrowful Man. Thus as the other is natural 't is natural to one that is in Pain and that has his Bones broken to be a grieved and sorrowful Man. He is none of the jolly ones of the times nor can he for his Bones his Heart his Heart is broken 1. He is sorry for that he feels and finds in himself a Pravity of Nature I told you before he is sensible of it he sees it he feels it and here I say he is sorry for it 'T is this that makes him call himself wretched Man 't is this that makes him loath and abhor himself 't is this that makes him Blush blush before God and be Ashamed Rom. 7. 24. Job 42. 5 6. Ezek. 36. 31. He finds by Nature no Form nor Comllness in himself but the more he looks in the Glass of the Word the more Unhandsom the more Deformed he perceiveth Sin has made him Every Body sees not this therefore every Body is not sorry for it But the broken in Heart sees that he is by Sin corrupted marr'd full of Lewdness and Naughtiness he sees that in him that is in his Flesh dwells no good thing and this makes him sorry yea it makes him sorry at Heart A Man that has his Bones broken finds he is spoil'd marr'd disabled from doing as he would and should at which he is grieved and made sorry Many are sorry for actual Transgressions because they do oft bring them to shame before Men but but few are sorry for the Defects that Sin has made in Nature because they see not those Defects themselves A Man cannot be sorry for the sinful Defects of Nature till he sees they have rendred him contemptible to God nor is it any thing but a sight of God that can make him truly see what he is and so be heartily sorry for being so Now mine Eyes see thee said Job now I abhor my self Woe is me I am undone said the Prophet for mine Eyes have seen the Lord the King. And 't was This that made Daniel say his Comliness in him was turned into Corruption For he had now the Vision of the Holy One Job 42. 6. Isa. 6. 1 2 3 4 5. Dan. 10. 8. Visions of God break the Heart because by the sight the Soul then has of his Perfections it sees its own infinite and unspeakeakable Disproportion because of the Vileness of its Nature Suppose a Company of ugly uncomly deformed Persons dwelt together in one house and suppose that they never yet saw any Man or Woman more than themselves that were Arrayed with the Splendors and Perfections of Nature These would not be capable of comparing themselves with any but themselves and consequently would not be affected and made sorry for their uncomly natural Defections But now bring them out of their Cells and Holes of Darkness where they have been shut up by themselves and let them take a view of the Splendor and Perfections of Beauty that are in others and
oneness of mind now the same mind is in thee which was also in Christ Jesus This must needs be an excellent Spirit this must needs be better with God and in his Sight Then thousands of Rams or Ten thousand Rivers of Oyl But does the Carnal World covet this this Spirit and the blessed Graces of it No they despise it as I said before they mock at it they prefer and countenance any sorry dirty Lust rather and the reason is because they want a Broken Heart that Heart so highly in esteem with God and remain for want thereof in their enmity to God. The Broken-Hearted knows that the sanctifyings of the Spirit is a good means to keep from that relaps out of which a man cannot come unless his heart be wounded a second time Doubtless David had a Broken Heart at first Conversion and if that Brokenness had remained that is had he not given way to hardness of heart again he had never fallen into that Sin out of which he could not be recovered but by the breaking of his Bones a second time Therefore I say a Broken Heart is of great esteem with God for it and I will add so long as it retains its tenderness covets none but God and the things of his holy Spirit Sin is an abomination to it And here as in a fit place before I go any further I will shew you some of the advantages that a Christian gets by keeping of his Heart tender For As to have a Broken Heart is to have an excellent thing so to keep this broken heart tender is also very advantagio us First This is the way to maintain in thy Soul always a fear of Sinning against God. Christians do not wink at or give way to Sin until their hearts begin to lose their Tenderness A Tender Heart will be afflicted at the Sin of another much more it will be afraid of committing of Sin it self 2 King 22. 19. Secondly A Tender Heart quickly yieldeth to Prayer yea prompteth to it puts an edge and fire into it we never are backward to Prayer until our heart has lost its Tenderness â—ho then it grows cold flat and formal and so carnal to and in that holy duty Thirdly A Tender Heart has always Repentance at hand for the least fault or slip or sinful thought that the Soul is guilty of in many things the best offend But if a Christian loseth his Tenderness if he says he has his Repentance to seek his heart is grown hard has lost that Spirit that kind Spirit of Repentance it was wont to have Thus it was with the Corinthians they were decayed and lost their Tenderness wherefore their Sin yea great Sins remained unrepented of 2 Cor. 12 20 21. Fourthly A Tender Heart is for receiving often its Communion with God when he that is hardened tho the seed of Grace is in him will be content to Eat Drink Sleep wake and go days without number without him Isa. 17. 10. 18. Jer. 2. 32. Fifthly A Tender Heart is a wakeful watchful heart It watches against Sin in the Soul Sin in the Family Sin in the Calling Sin in Spiritual duties and performances c. It watches against Satan against the World against the Flesh c. But now when the Heart is not Tender there is Sleepiness Unwatchfulness Idleness a Suffering the heart the Family and Calling to be much defiled spotted and blemished with Sin for a heart departs from God and turns aside in all these things Sixthly A Tender Heart will deny it self and that in lawful things and will forhear even that which may be done for some Jew or Gentile or the Church of God or any member of it should be offended or made weak thereby whereas the Christian that is not tender that has lost his tenderness is so far off of denying himself in lawful things that he will even adventure to meddle in things utterly forbidden whoever is offended grieved or made weak thereby For an instance for this we need go no further then to the man in the Text who while he was Tender trembled at little things but when his heart was hardened he could take Bethsheba to satisfie his Lust and kill her husband to cover his Wickedness Seventhly A Tender Heart I mean the heart kept tender preserves from many a blow lash and fatherly chastisement because it shuns the causes which is sin of the scourging hand of God. With the upright thou wilt shew thy self upright but with the froward thou wilt shew thy self unsavoury 2 Sam. 22. 27. Psal. 18. 25 26 27. Many a needless rebuke and wound doth happen to the Saints of God thorow their unwise behaviour when I say needless I mean they are not necessary but to reclaim us from our vanities for we should not feel the smart of them were it not for our follies Hence the afflicted is called a fool because his folly brings his affliction upon him Fools says David Because of their transgressions and because of their Iniquities are afflicted Psal. 107. 17. And therefore it is as was said afore that he calls his Sin his foolishness And again God will speak peace to his people and his saints but let not them return again to folly Psal. 38. 5. Psal. 85. 8. If his Children transgress my Laws I will visit their Transgressions with a Râ—d and their Iniquities with Stripes Quest. But what should a Christian do when God has broke his heart to keep it tender Answ. To this I will speak briefly And First Give you several Cautions Secondly Several Directions For Cautions 1. Take heed that you choke not those Convictions that at present do break your hearts by labouring to put those things out of your minds which were the cause of such Convictions but rather nourish and cherish those things in a deep and sober remembrance of them Think therefore with thy self thus What was it that at first did wound my heart And let that still be there until by the Grace of God and the Redeemed blood of Christ it is removed 2. Shun Vain Company the keeping of Vain Company has stifled many a Conviction kill'd many a desire and made many a Soul fall into Hell that once was hot in looking after Heaven A Companion that is not profitable to the Soul is hurtful He that walketh with wise men shall be wise but a Companion of Fools shall be destroyed Prov. 13. 20. 3. Take heed of Idle Talk that thou neither hear nor joyn with it Go from the presence of a foolish man when thou perceivest not in him the lips of Knowledge Prov. 14. 7. Evil Communication corrupâ—s good manners And a fools Lips are a snare to his Soul. Wherefore take heed of these things Prov. 18. 7. 1 Cor. 15. 33. 4. Beware of the least motion to Sin that it be not countenanced lest the countenancing of that makes way for a bigger David's eye took his heart and so his heart nourishing the thought made
ever yet be brought unto it 'T is said of Ahab He sold himself to work wickedness And in another place Yea for your Iniquities have ye sold your selves 1 King 21. 25. Isa. 50. 1. But what is this Iniquity Why a thing of nought nay worse then nought a thousand times but because nought is as we say nought therefore it goes under that term where God saith again to the People Ye have sold your selves for nought Isa. 52. 3. But I say What an amazing thing is this That a Rational Creature should make no better a Bargain That one that is so wise in all terene things should be such afool in the thing that is most weighty And yet such a fool he is and he tells every one that goes by the way that he is such an one because he will not break his league with Sin until his heart is broken for it Men love Darkness rather then Light Ay they make it manifest they love it since so great a profer will not prevail with them to leave it Secondly Is this a truth That the man that truly comes to God in order thereto has had his Heart broken Then this shews us a reason why some mens hearts are Broken even a reason why God breaks some mens hearts for Sin namely because he would not have them dye in it but rather come to God that they might be Saved Behold therefore in this how God resolved as to the saving of some mens Souls He will have them he will save them he will break their Hearts but he will Save them He will kill them that they may Live He will wound them that he may heal them And it seems by our discourse that now there is no way left but this fair means as we say will not do good words a Glorious Gospel Entreatings Bseeching with Blood and Tears will not do Men are resolved to put God to the utmost of it if he will have them he must fetch them follow them catch them Lame them yea break their Bones or else he shall not save them Some men think an invitation an outward call a rational discourse will do but they are much deceived There must a Power an exceeding great and mighty Power attend the Word or it worketh not effectually to the Salvation of the Soul. I know these things are enough to leave men without excuse but yet they are not enough to bring men home to God. Sin has hold of them they have sold themselves to it the Power of the Devil has hold of of them they are his Captives at his will yea and more then all this their will is one with Sin and with the Devil to be held Captive thereby And if God gives not Contrition Repentance or a Broken Heart for Sin there will not be no not so much as a mind in man to forsake this so horrible a Confederacy and Plot against his Soul. 2 Tim. 2. 24 25. Hence men are said to be drawn from these breasts that come or that are brought to him Isa. 26 9. Joh. 6. 44. Wherefore John might well say Behold what manner of Love the Father hath bestowed upon us Here is Cost bestowed Paines bestowed Labour bestowed Repentance bestowed yea and an Heart made sore wounded broken and fill'd with pain and sorrow in order to the Salvation of the Soul. Thirdly This then may teach us what estemation to set upon a Broken Heart A Broken Heart is such as God esteems yea as God counts better then all external Service A Broken Heart is that which is in order to Salvation in order to thy coming to Christ for Life The World know not what to make of it not what to say to one that has a Broken Heart and therefore do despise it and count that man that carries it in his bosom a moping fool a miserable wretch an undone Soul. But a Broken and a Contrite Spirit O God thou wilt not despise A Broken Heart takes thine Eye thy Heart thou choosest it for thy Companion yea hast given thy Son a charge to look well to such a man and hast promised him thy Salvation as has afore been proved Sinner Hast thou obtained a broken Heart has God bestowed a Contrite Spirit upon thee He has given thee what himself is pleased with He has given thee a Cabinet to hold his Grace in He has given thee an heart that can heartily desire his Salvation an heart after his own Heart that is such as suits his minde True it is Painful now Sorrowful now Penitent now grieved now now 't is Broken now it Bleeds now now it Sobs now it Sighs now it mourns and cryeth unto God. Well very well All this is because he has a mind to make thee laugh he has made thee Sorry on Earth that thou mightest Rejoyce in Heaven Blessed are ye that Mourn for ye shall be Comforted Blessed are ye that Weep now for ye shall Laugh Mat. 5. 4. Luke 6 21. But Soul be sure thou hast this Broken Heart all Hearts are not Broken Hearts nor is every heart that seems to have a wound an Heart that 's truly Broken A man may be cut to yet not into the Heart a man may have another yet not a broken Heart Acts 7. 54. 1 Sam. 10 9. We know there 's a difference betwixt a wound in the Flesh and a wound in the Spirit yea a mans Sin may be wounded and yet his Heart not Broken so was Pharoahs so was Sauls so was Ahabs but they had none of them the mercy of a Broken Heart Therefore I say Take heed every scratch with a Pin every prick with a Thorn nay every blow that God giveth with his Word upon the heart of Sinners doth not therefore break them God gave Ahab such a blow that he made him stoop fast humble himself gird himself with and lay in Sackcloth which was a great matter for a King and go softly and yet he never had a Broken Heart 1 King 21. 27 29. What shall I say Pharoah and Saul Confessed their Sin Judas Repented himself of his doings Esau sought the Blessing and that carefully with Tears yet none of these had an Heart rightly Broken or a Spirit truly Contrite Pharoah Saul and Judas were Pharoah Saul and Judas still Esau was Esau still there was no gracious change no thorough turn to God no unfeigned parting with their Sins no hearty flight for Refuge to lay hold on the hope of Glory tho they indeed had thus been touched Exod. 10. 16. 1 Sam. 26. 21. Mat. 27. 3. Heb. 12. 14 15 16 17. The consideration of these things call a loud to us to take heed that we take not that for a Broken and a Contrite Spirit that will not go for one at the day of Death and Judgment Wherefore seeking Soul let me advise thee that thou mayst not be decieved as to this thing of so great weight 1. To go back towards the beginning of this book and compare thy self