28. and doth all of free Cost of meer Mercy and Compassion But what 's all this to one that neither sees his Sickness that sees nothing of a Wound What is the best Physician alive or all the Physicans in the World put all together to him that knows no Sickness that is sensible of no Disease Physicians as was said may go a begging for all the healthful Physicians are of no esteem save only to the Sick or upon a supposition of being so now or at any other time Why this is the cause Christ is so little set by in the World God has not made them sick by smiting of them his Sword has not given them the wound his Dart has not been struck through their Liver they have not been broken with his Hammer nor melted with his Fire So they have no regard to his Physician so they slight all the provision which God has made for the Salvation of the Soul. But now let such a Soul be wounded let such a mans heart be broken let such a man be made sick through the sting of guilt and be made to wallow himself in ashes under the burden of his Transgressions and then who but Christ as has been shew'd afore Then the Physician then Wash me Lord then Supple my Wounds then Pour thy Wine and Oyle into my Sore Then Lord Jesus cause me to hear the Voice of Joy and Gladness that the Bones which thou hast broken may Rejoyce Nothing now so welcome as healing and so nothing no man so desirable now as Christ His name to such is the best of names His Love to such is the best of Love himself being now not only in himself but also to such a Soul the chiefest of Ten Thousands Song 5. As Bread to the Hungry as Water to the Thirsty as Light to the Blind and Liberty to the Imprisoned So and a thousand times more is Jesus Christ to the Wounded and to them that are Broken Hearted Now as was said this must needs be Excellent in Gods Eyes since Christ Jesus is so glorious in his Eyes To contemn what a man counts Excellent is an offence to him but to vallue esteem or think highly of that which is of esteem with me this is pleasing to me such an opinion is excellent in my sight What says Christ My Father loveth you because ye loved me Who hath an high esteem for Christ the Father hath an high esteem for them Hence 't is said He that hath the Son hath the Father the Father will be his and will do for him as a Father who receiveth and sets an honourable esteem on his Son John 16. 27. But none will none can do this but the Broken-Hearted because they and they only are sensible of the want and worth of an intrest in him I dare appeal to all the World as to the truth of this and do say again That these and none but these have hearts of esteem in the sight of God. Alas the heart of the wicked is little worth Pov. 10. 20. for it is destitute of a precious esteem of Christ and cannot but be destitute because it is not wounded broken and made sensible of the want of mercy by him Fourthly A Broken Heart is of great esteem with God because it is A thankful heart for that sence of sin and of grace it has received The Broken Heart is a sensible heart This we touched upon before It is sensible of the dangers which Sin leadeth to yea and has cause to be sensible thereof because it has seen and felt what Sin is both in the guilt and punishment that by Law is due thereto As a Broken heart is sensible of Sin in the evil nature and consequences of it so it is also sensible of the way of Gods delivering the Soul from the day of Judgment consequently it must be a thankful heart Now he that Praises me glorifies me saith God and God loves to be glorified Gods glory is dear unto him he will not part with that Psal. 50. 23. Isa. 42. 8. The Broken-Hearted say I forasmuch as he is the sensible Soul it follows that he is the Thankful Soul. Bless the Lord O my Soul said David and all that is within me Bless his holy Name Behold what Blessing of God is here And yet not content here with he goes on with it again saying Bless the Lord O my Soul and forget not all his Benefits Psal. 103. 1 2. But what 's the matter Oh he has forgiven all thine Iniquities and healed all thy Diseases He has redeemed thy Life from Destruction and Crowneth thee with loving kindness and tender Mercies Verse 3. 4. But how came he to be affected with this Why he knew what it was to hang over the mouth of Hell for Sin Yea he knew what it was for Death and Hell to beset and compass him about Yea they took hold of him as we have said and were pulling of him down into the deep this â—e saw to the breaking of his heart He saw also the way of Life and had his Soul relieved with faith and sence of that and that made him a thankful man. If a man who has had a broken Leg is but made to understand that by the breaking of that he kept from breaking of his Neck he will be thankful to God for a broken Leg. 'T is good for me said David that I have been Afflicted I was by that preserved from a great danger for before that I went astray Psal. 119. 67. 71. And who can be thankful for a mercy that is not sensible that they want it have it and have it of Mercy Now this the Broken-Hearted this the man that is of a Contrite Spirit is sensible of and that with reference to Mercies of the best sort and therefore must needs be a thankful man and so have an heart of esteem with God because it is a thankful heart Fifthly A Broken Heart is 〈◊〉 great esteem with or an excellent thing in the sight of God Because 't is an heart that desires now to become a receptacle or habitation for the Spirit and Graces of the Spirit of God. It was the Devils hold before and was contented so to be But now it is for entertaining of for being possessed with the holy Spirit of God. Create in me a clean heart said David and renew a a right spirit within me Take not thy holy Spirit from me uphold me with thy free Spirit Psal. 51. 10 11 12. Now he was for a clean heart and a right Spirit now he was for the sanctifyings of the blessed Spirit of Grace A thing which the uncircumcised in heart resists and do despite unto Acts 7. 51. Heb. 10. 29. A Broken Heart therefore suiteth with the heart of God a Contrite Spirit is one Spirit with him God as I told you before covets to dwell with the Broken in Heart and the Broken in Heart desireth communion with him Now here 's an agreement an
Sacrifices of God are a broken Spirit The Demonstration is this Because a Broken and a Contrite Heart God will not despise In the Assertion we have Two Things present themselves to our Consideration 1. That a Broken Spirit is to God a Sacrifice 2. That it is to God as that which answereth to or goeth beyond ALL Sacrifices The Sacrifices of God are a broken Spirit The demonstration of this is plain for that Heart God will not despise it A Broken and a Contrite Heart O God thou wilt not despise Whence I draw this Conclusion That a Spirit rightly broken an Heart truly Contrite is to God an Excellent thing That is a thing that goeth beyond all External Duties whatever for that is intended by this saying The Sacrifices because it answereth to all Sacrifices which we can offer to God yea it serveth in the room of all All our Sacrifices without this are nothing this alone is all There are four things that are very acceptable to God. The First is The Sacrifice of the Body of Christ for our Sins of this you read Heb. 10. For there you have it preferred to all burnt Offerings and Sacrifices 't is this that pleaseth God 't is this that Sanctifieth and so setteth the People acceptable in the sight of God. Secondly Unseigned love O God is counted better then all Sacrifices or external parts of Worship And to love the Lord thy God with all the heart with all the understanding and with all the Soul and with all the strength and to love his Neighbour as himself is better then all whole burnt-Offerings and Sacrifices Mar 12. 33. Thirdly To walk Holily and Humbly and Obediently towards and before God is another Mich. 6. 6 7 8. Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt-Offerings and Sacrifices as in obeying the voice of the Lord Behold to Obey is better then Sacrifice and to Hearken theâ— the fat of Rams 1 Sam. 15. 22. Fourthly And this in our Text is the Fourth The Sacrifices of God are a broken Spirit A broken and a contrite heart O God thou wilt not despise But note by the way that this Broken this Broken and Contrite Heart is thus excellent only to God O God saith he THOU wilt not despise it by which is implyed the World have not this esteem or respect for such a heart or for one that is of a broken and a contrite Spirit No no a Man a VVoman that is blessed with a Broken Heart is so far off from getting by that esteem with the VVorld that they are but burdens and trouble Houses where-ever they are or go Such People carry with them Molestation and Disquietment they are in Carnal Families as David was to the King of Gath Troublers of the House 1 Sam. 21. Their Sighs their Tears their day and night Groans their Cries and Prayers and Solitary Carriages puts all the Carnal Family out of Order Hence you have them brow-beaten by some contemned by others ye and their company fled from and diserted by others But mark the Text A broken and a contrite heart O GOD thou wilt not despise but rather accept for not to despise is with God to esteem and set a high price upon But we will demonstrate by several particulars that a Broken Spirit a Spirit RIGHTLY Broken an Heart TRULY Contrite is to God an Excellent thing First This is evident from the Comparison Thou desirest not Sacrifice else would I give it thou delightest not in burnt-Offerings The Sacrifices of God are a broken Spirit c. Mark He rejecteth Sacrifices Offerings and Sacrifices that is all Levitical Ceremonies under the Law and all External Performances under the Gospel but accepteth a Broken Heart It is therefore manifest by this were there nothing else to be said that proves that a heart rightly Broken a heart truly Contrite is to God an Excellent thing for as you see such a heart is set before all Sacrifice and yet they were the Ordinances of God and things that he commanded but lo a Broken Spirit is above them all a Contrite Heart goes beyond them yea beyond them when put all together Thou wilt not have the one thou wilt not despise the other O Brethren A Broken and a Contrite Heart is an Excellent thing Have I said a Broken Heart a Broken and a Contrite Heart is esteemed above all Sacrifices I will add Secondly It is of greater esteem with God then is either Heaven or Earth and that 's more then to be set before External Duties Thus saith the Lord Heaven is my Throne and the Earth is my Footstool where is the house that ye build me or where is the place of my rest for all these things hath mine hands made and all these things have been saith the Lord But to this man will I look even to him that is poor and and of a contrite Spirit and trembleth at my word Isa. 66. 1 2. Mark God saith He hath made all these things but he doth not say that he will look to them that is take complacency and delight in them No there is that wanting in all that he hath made that should take-up and delight hâ—r heart But now let a Broken-hearted Sinner come before him yea he ranges the world through out to find out such an one and and having found him To this man saith he will I look I say again that such a man to him is of more value then is either Heaven or Earth They saith he shall wax old they shall perish and vanish away but this man he continues he as is presented to us in another place under another character he shall abide for ever Heb. 1. 10 11 12. 1 John 2. 17. To this man will I look with this man will I be delighted for so to look doth sometimes signifie Thou hast ravished my heart my Sister my Spouse saith Christ to his humble hearted thou hast ravished my heart with one of thine Eyes while it is as a Conduit to let the rivers out of thy broken heart I am taken saith he with one chain of thy Neck Song 4. 9. Here you see he looks and is ravisht he looks and is taken as it saith in another place The King is held in the Galleries Song 7. 5. That is is taken with his Beloved with the Doves Eyes of his Beloved Chap 1. 15. with the contrite spirit of his People But it is not thus reported of him with respect to heaven or earth them he sets more lightly by Them he reserves unto Fire against the day of Judgment and Pâ—rdation of Ungodly Men 2 Pet. 3. 7. But the Broken in Heart are his Beloved his Jewels Wherefore what I have said as to this must go for the Truth of God to wit That a broken hearted Sinner a Sinner with a Contrite Spirit is of more esteem with God then is either heaven or earth He saith He hath made them but he doth not say He will look to them He saith
are troubled for him I will surely have Mercy upon him saith the Lord God Jer. 31. 18 19 20. This therefore is another demonstration Fifthly As God prefers such a Heart and esteems the man that has it above Heaven and Earth as he covets Intimacy with such an one and prepares for him his Cordials So when he sent his Son JESUS into the world to be a Saviour He gave him in special a charge to take care of such yea that was one of the main reasons he sent him down from Heaven Anointed for his work on Earth The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me saith he because he hath Anointed me to Preach the Gospel to the Poor he hath sent me to bind up the Broken Hearted c. Isa. 61. 1. Now that this is meant of Christ is confirmed by his own Lips for in the days of his Flesh he takes this Book in his hand when he was in the Sinagogue at Nazareth and read this very place unto the People and then tells them That that very day that Scripture was fulfilled in their Ears Luke 4. 16. 17. 18. But see These are the Souls whose welfare is contrived in the Heavens God consulted their Salvation their Deliverance their Health before his Son came down from thence Doth not therefore this demonstrate That a Broken Hearted Man that a Man of a Contrite Spirit is of great esteem with God. I have often wondred at David that he should give Joab and the men of War a charge that they take heed that they carry it tenderly to that young Rebel Absalom his Son 2. Sam. 18. 5. But that God the High God the God against whom we have Sinned should so soon as he has smitten give his Son a Command a Charge a Commission to take care of to bind up and heal the broken in heart this is that which can never be sufficienty admired or wondred at by Men or Angels And as this was his Commission so he acted as is evidently set forth by the parable of the Man who fell among Thieves He went to him poured into his wounds Wine and Oyle He bound him up took him set him upon his own Beast had him to an Inn gave the Host a charge to look well to him with money in hand and a promise at his return to recompence him in what further he should be expensive while he was under his care Luke 10. 30. 31 32 33 34 35. Behold therefore the care of God which he has for the Broken in Heart He has given a charge to Christ his Son to look well to them and to bind up and heal their wounds Behold also the faithfulness of Christ who doth not hide but read this Commission as soon as he entreth upon his Ministery and also falls into the practical part thereof He healeth the Broken in Heart and bindeth up his wounds Psalm 147. 3. And behold again into whose care a broken heart and a contrite Spirit hath put this poor creature He is under the care of God the care and cure of Christ If a man was sure that his disease had put him under the special care of the King and the Queen yet could he not be sure of Life he might Dye under their Soveraign hands Ay but here is a man in the favour of God and under the hand of Christ to be healed under whose hand none yet ever died for want of skill and power in him to save their Life wherefore this man must live Christ has in Commission not only to bind up his Wounds but to heal him He has of himself so expounded it in reading his Commission Wherefore he that has his heart broken and that is of a contrite Spirit must not only be taken in hand but healed Healed of his Pain Grief Sorrow Sin and Fears of Death and Hell-Fire Wherefore he adds That he must give unto such Beauty for Ashes the Oyle of Joy for Mourning the Garment of Praise for the spirit of Heaviness and must Comfort all that Mourn Isa. 61. 2. 3. This I say he has in the Commission the Broken Hearted are put into his hand and he has said himself he will heal him Hence he says of that same man. I have seen his ways and will heal him I will lead him also and restore comforts unto him and to his mourners and I will heal him Isa. 57. the 15 16 17 18 19 verses And this is a fifth demonstration Sixthly As God prefers such a Heart and so esteems the man that has it as he desires his Company has provided for him his Cordials and given a charge 〈◊〉 Christ to heal him so he has promised in conclusion to Save him He Saveth such as be of a contrite Spirit or as the marâ—nt has it that be Contrite of spirit Psal. 34. 18. And this is the conclusion of â—l For to Save a man is the and of all special Meroy 〈…〉 â—veth such as be of 〈◊〉 Contrite â—irit To Save is to Forgive for without forgiveness of Sins we cannot be Saved To Save is to Preserve one in this miserable World and to deliver one from all those Devils Temptations Snares and Destructions that would were we not kept were we not preserved of God Destroy us Body and Soul for ever To Save is to bring a man Body and Soul to Glory and to give him an Eternal Mansion House in Heaven that he may dwell in the presence of this good God and the Lord Jesus and to sing to them the Songs of his Redemption for ever and ever This it is to be Saved nor can any thing less than this compleat the Salvation of the Sinner Now this is to be the Lot of him thaâ— is of a Broken Heart and the End that God will make with him that is of a Contrite Spirit He saveth such as be Contrite of Spirit He saveth such this is Excellent But Do the Broken in Heart believe this Can they imagine that this is to be the End that God has designed them to and that he intended to make with them in the day in which he began to break their Hearts No no they alas think the quite contrary They are afraid that this is but the beginning of Death and a token that they shall never see the face of God with Comfort either in this World or that which is to come Hence they cry Cast me not away from thy Presence or Now I am free among the Dead whom God remembers no more Psal. 51. 11. Psal. 88. 4 5. For indeed there goes to the breaking of the Heart a visible Appearance of the Wrath of God and a Home-charge from Heaven of the guilt of Sin to the Conscience This to reason is very dreadful for it cuts the Soul down to the ground For a wounded Spirit none can bear Prov. 18. 14. It seems also now to this Man that this is but the beginning of Hell but as it were the first step down to the Pit
yet appears 1. In his Thankfulness for Natural Life He reckoneâ—â— at Night when he goes to Bed that like as a Lion so God will tear him to pieces before the Morning Light Isa. 38. 13. There is no Judgment that has fallen upon others but he counts of right he should be swallowed up by it My Flesh trembleth for fear of thee and I am afraid of thy Judgments Psal. 119. 120. But perceiving a day added to his Life and that he in the Morning is still on this side Hell he cannot choose but take notice of it and acknowledge it as a special Favour saying God be thanked for holding my Soul in Life till now and for keeping my Life back from the the Destroyer Compare Job 33. 22. and Psal. 56. 13. Psal. 86. 13. Man before his Heart is broken counts Time his own and therefore he spends it lavishingly upon every idle thing His Soul is far from fear because the Rod of God is not upon him but when he sees himself under the wounding hand of God or when God like a Lyon is breaking all his Bones then he humbleth himself before him and falleth at his Foot. Now he has learn'd to count every Moment a Mercy and every small Morsel a Mercy 2. Now also the least hopes of Mercy for his Soul O how Precious is it He that was wont to make Orts of the Gospel and that valued Promises but aâ— Stubble and the Words of God but as Rotten Wood Now with what an Eye doth he looâ— on the Promise Yea he counteth a Peradventure of Mercy more rich more worth than all the World. Now as we say He is glad to leap at a Crust now to be a Dog in God's House 〈◊〉 counted better by him than to dwell in the Tents of the Wicked Matt. 15. 26 27. Luke 15. 17 18 19. 3. Now he that was wont ' to look scornfully upon the People of God yea that used to scorn to shew them a gentle cast of his Countenance Now he admires and bows before them and is ready to lick the Dust of their Feet and would count it his greatest the highest Honour to be as one of the least of them Make me as one of thy Hired Servants says he Luke 15. 19. 4. Now he is in his own Eyes the greatest Fool in Nature for that he sees he has been so mistaken in his ways and has not yet but little if any true Knowledge of God. Every one now says he has more Knowledge of God than I every one serves him better than I Psal. 73. 21 22 Prov. 30. 2 3. 5. Now may he be but one though the least in the Kingdom of Heaven Now may he be but one though the least in the Church on Earth Now may he â—e but loved though the least beloved of Saints How high an Account doth he set thereon 6. Now when he talketh with God or Men how doth he debase himself before them If with God how does he accuse himself and load himself with the Acknowledgements of his own Villanies which he committed in the days wherein he was the Enemy of God Lord said Paul that Contrite One I Imprisoned and did beat in every Synagogue them that believe on thee And when the Blood of thy Martyr Stephen was shed I also was standing by and consenting unto his Death and kept the Raiment of them that slew him Act. 22. 19 20. Yea I punished thy Saints oft in every Synagogue and Compelled them to Blaspheme And being exceeding mad against them I Persecuted them â—â—en unto strange Cities Acts 〈…〉 9 10 11. Also when he comes to speak to Saints how doth he make himself vile before them I am saith he the least of the Apostles I am not meet to be called an Apostle I am less then the least of all Saints I was a Blasphemer I was a Persecuter and Injurious c. 1 Cor 15 9. Ephes. 3. 8. 1 Tim. 1. 13. What Humility what Self-abasing Thoughts doth a Broken Heart produce When David danced before the Ark of God also how did he discover his Nakedness to the disliking of his Wife And when she taunted him for his doings says he It was before the Lord c. And I will be yet more vile than thus and will be base in mine own Sight 2 Sam. 6. 20 21 22. Oh 〈…〉 Man that is or that has been kindly broken in his Spirit 〈…〉 that is of a Contrite Heart is a lowly a humble Man. Fourthly The Broken-hearted Man is a Man that sees himself in Spirituals to be poor Therefore as Humble and Contrite so Poor and Contrite are put together in the Word But to this Man will I look even to him that is Poor and of a Contrite Spirit Isa. 66. 1 2. And here we still pursue our Metaphor A wounded Man a Man with broken Bones concludes his Condition to be but Poor very Poor Ask him how he does and he Answers Truly Neighbour in a very Poor Condition Also you have the Spiritual Poverty of such as have or have had their Hearts broken and that have been of Contrite Spirits much made mention of in the Word And they go by two Names to distinguish them from others They are called THY Poor that is God's Poor they are also called the Poor in Spirit Psal. 72. 2. Psal. 74. 9. Mat. 5. 3. Now the Man that is poor in his own Eyes for of him we now discourse and the Broken hearted is such an one is sensible of his wants He knows he cannot help himself and therefore is forced to be content to live by the Charity of others Thus it is in Nature thus it is in Grace First The Broken-hearted now knows his wants and he knew it not till now As he that has a broken Bone knew no want of a Bone-setter till he knew his Bone was broken His broken Bone makes him know it his Pain and Anguish makes him know it And thus it is in Spirituals Now he sees to be Poor indeed is to want the sence of the Favour God for his great Pain is sence of Wrath as has been shewn before And the Voice of Joy would heal his broken Bones Psal. 51. 8. Two things he thinks would make him Rich. 1. A Right and Title to Jesus Christ and all his Benefits 2. And Saving Faith therein They that are spiritually Rich are rich in Him and in the Faith of Him 2 Cor. 8. 9. James 2. 5. The first of these giveth us a Right to the Kingdom of Heaven and the second yields the Soul the Comfort of it and the Broken hearted Man wants the Sence and Knowledge of his â—nterest in these That he knows he wants them is plain but that he knows he has them is what as yet he wants the Attainment of Hence he says The Poor and Needy seek Water and there is none and their Tongue fails for Thirst There is none in their View none in their View for them Isa. 41.
â—7 Hence David when he had his Broken Heart felt he wanted Washing he wanted Purging he wanted to be made White He knew that Spiritual Riches lay there but he did not so well perceive that God had wash'd and purged him Yea he rather was afraid that all was going that he was in danger of being cast out of God's Presence and that the Spirit of Grace would be utterly taken from him See Psalm 51. That 's the first thing The Broken-hearted is Poor because he knows his Wants Secondly The Broken-hearted is Poor because he knows he cannot help himself to what he knows he wants The Man that has a broken Arm as he knows it so he knows of himself he cannot Set it This therefore is a second thing that declares a Man is Poor otherwise he is not so For suppose a Man wants never so much yet if he can but help himself if he can Furnish himself if he can supply his own wants out of what he has he cannot be a poor Man Yea the more he wants the greater is his Riches if he can supply his own wants out of his own Purse He then is the poor Man that knows his spiritual want and also knows he cannot supply or help himself But this the Broken-hearted knows therefore he in his own Eyes is the only Poor Man. True he may have something of his own but that will not supply his want and therefore he is a poor man still I have Sacrifices says David but thou dost not desire them therefore my Poverty remains Psalm 51. 16. Led is not Gold Led is not currant Money with the Merchant There is none has spiritual Gold to Sell but Christ Rev. 3. 18. What can a Man do to procure Christ to procure Faith or Love Yea had he never so much of his own carnal Excellencies not one Penny of it will go for Pay in that Market where Grace is to be had If a Man would give all the Substance of his House for Love it would be utterly Contemned Song 8. 7. This the Broken-hearted Man perceives and therefore he sees himself to be spiritually poor True he has a broken Heart and that 's of great Esteem with God but that is not of Natures Goodness that 's a Gift a Work of God that 's the Sacrifices of God Besides a Man cannot remain content and at rest with that for that in the nature of it does but shew him he is poor and that his wants are such as himself cannot supply Besides there 's but little ease in a broken Heart Thirdly The Broken-hearted Man is poor and sees it Because he finds he is now disabled to live any way else but by BEGGING This David betook himself to though he was a King for he knew as to his Souls health he could live no way else This poor Man cryed saith he and the Lord heard him and saved him out of all his Troubles Psal. 34. 6. And this leads me to the fifth Sign Fifthly Another sign of a broken Heart is a Crying a Crying OUT Pain you know will make one cry Go to them that have upon them the anguish of broken Bones and see if they don't cry Anguish makes them cry This this is that which quickly follows if once thy Heart be Broken and thy Spirit indeed made Contriâ—e First I say Anguish will make thee cry Trouble and Anguish said David have taken hold upon me Psal. 119. 143. Anguish you know doth naturally provoke to crying now as a broken Bone has anguish a broken Heart has anguish Hence the Pains of one that has a Broken Heart are compared to the Pangs of a Woman in Travel John 16 20 21 22. 1. Anguish will make one cry alone cry to ones self and this is called a bemoaning of of ones self I have surely hear'd Ephraim bemoaning himself said God Jer. 31. 18. That is being at present under the breaking chastizing Hand of God Thou hast Chastised me saith he and I was Chastised as a Bullock unaccustomed to the Yoak This is his meaning also who said I mourn in my Complaint and make a noise and why Why My Heart is Pained within me Psal. 53. 2 3 4. This is a Self bemoaning a bemourning themselves in Secret and Retired Places You know it is common with them who are distrest with Anguish though all alone to cry out to themselves of their present Pains saying O my Leg O my Arm O my Bowels Or as the Son of the Shunâ—miâ—â—â— Son My Head my Head 2 King. 4. 19. O the Groans the Sighs the Cries that the Broken-hearted have when by themselves or alone O say they my Sins my Sins my Soul my Soul How am I loaden with Guilt How am I surrounded with Fear O this hard this desperate this unbelieving Heart O how Sin defileth my Will my Mind my Conscience I am Afflicted and ready to die Psal. 88. 15. Could some of you carnal People but get behind the the Chamber Door to hear Ephraim when he is at the work of Self-bemoaning 't would make you stand amazed to hear him bewail that Sin in himself in which you take delight and to hear him bemoan his mispending of time while you spend all in pursuing your filthy Lusts and to hear him offended with his Heart because 't will not better comply with God's Holy Will while you are afraid of his Word and ways and never think your selves better than when farthest off of God. The Unruliness of the Passions and Lusts of the Broken hearted make them often get into a Corner and thus bemoan themselves Secondly As they thus cry out in a bemoaning manner of and to themselves so they have their Out-cries of and against themselves to others As she said in another Case Behold and see if there be any Sorrow like my Sorrow Lam. 1. 12. O the the bitter Cries and Complaints that the Broken-hearted have and make to one another Still every one imagining that his own Wounds are deepest and his own Sores fullest of anguish and hardest to be Cured Say they If our Iniquities be upon us and we pine away in them how can we then live Ezek. 33. 10. Once being at an honest Womans House I after some Pause asked her how she did she said Very badly I asked her if she was sick she answered No VVhat then said I Are any of your Children ill She told the No VVhat said I is your Husband amiss or do you go back in the VVorld No no said she But I am afraid I shall not be saved And brake out with heaâ—â— Heart saying Ah Goodman Bunyan Christ and a PITCHER if I had Christ though I went and begged my Bread wtth a Pitcher 't would be better with me than I think it is now This VVoman had her Heart broken this VVoman wanted Christ this VVoman was concerned for her Soul There are but few VVomen rich VVomen that count Christ and a Pitcher better than the VVorld their Pride
and Pleasures This VVomans Cries are worthy to be Recorded 'T was a Cry that carried in it not only a sence of the want but also of the worth of Christ. This Cry Christ and a Pitcher made a melodious Noise in the Ears of the very Angels But I say few VVomen cry out thus few VVomen are so in love with their own Eternal Salvation as to be willing to part with all their Lusts and Vanities for Jesus Christ and a Pitcher Good Jacob alio was thus If the Lord said he will give me Bread to eat and Râ—â—ment to put on then he shall be my God Yea he Vowed it should be so And Jacob â—owed a Vow saying If God will be with me and keep me in this way that I go and will give me Bread to eat and Rayment to put on so that I come again to my Father's House in Peace Then shall the Lord be my God Gen. 28. 3. As they bemoan themselves and make their Complaints to one and another so they cry to God. O God said Heman I have cryed Day and Night to thee But when VVhy when his Soul was full of trouble and his Life grew near to the Grave Psal. 88. 1 2 3. Or as it says in another place Out of the Deep out of the Belly of Hell Cryed I By such VVords Expressing what painful Condition they were in when they cried Psal. 130. 1. Jonah 2. 2. See how God himself VVords it My Pleasant Portion says he is become a Desolate Wilderness and being desolate it Mourneth unto me Jer. 12. 11. And this also is natural to those whose Heart is Broken. Whether goes the Child when it catcheth harm but to its Father to its Mother Where doth it lay its Head but in their Laps Into whose Bosom doth it pour out its Complaint more especially but into the Bosom of a Father of a Mother because there is Bowels there is Pity there is Relief and Succour And thus it is with them whose Bones whose Heart is broken 'T is natural to them they must cry they cann't but cry to him Lord heal me said David for my Bones are vexed Lord heal me for my Soul is vexed Psal. 6. 1 2 3. He that cannot cry feels no Pain sees no Want fears no Danger or else is Dead Sixthly Another Sign of a Broken Heart and of a Contrite Spirit is It Trembleth at God's Word To him that is Poor and of a Contrite Spirit and Trembleth at my Word Isa. 66. 2. The Word of God is an awful Word to a Broken-hearted Man. Solomon says The Word of a King is as the Roaring of a Lyon and if so what is the Word of God For by the Wrath and Fear is meant the Authoritative Word of a King. We have a Proverb The Burnt Child dreads the Fire The whipp'd Child fears the Rod even so the Broken-hearted fears the Word of God. Hence you have a Remark set upon them that Tremble at God's Word To wit They are they that keep among the Godly they are they that keep within Compass they are they that are aptest to Mourn and to stand in the Gapp when God is angry And to turn away his Wrath from a People 'T is a Sign the Word of God has had Place and wrought Powerfully when the Heart trembleth at it is afraid and stands in awe of it When Joseph's Mistress tempted him to lie with her he was afraid of the Word of God How shall I do this great Wickedness said he and sin against God He stood in awe of God's Word durst not do it because he kept in Remembrance what a dreadful thing 't was to Rebel against God's Word When old Eli heard that the Ark was taken his very Heart trembled within him for he read by that sad loss that God was angry with Israel and he knew the Anger of God was a great and terrible thing When Samuel went to Bethlehem the Elders of the Town Trembled for they feared that he came to them with some sad Message from God and they had had Experience of the dread of such things before Gen. 39. 7 8 9. 1 Sam. 4. 13. 16. 1 2 3 4. When Ezra would have a Mourning in Israel for the Sins of the Land he sent And there came to him every one that trembled at the Words of the God of Israel because of the Transgressions of those that had been carried away Ezek. 9. 4. There are I say a sort of People that tremble at the Words of God and that are afraid of doing ought that is contrary to them but they are only such with whose Souls and Spirits the Word has had to do For the rest they are resolved to go on their course let God say what he will. As for the Word of the Lord said Rebellious Israel to Jeremiah which thou hast spoken to us in the Name of the Lord we will not hearken unto it But we will do whatsoever thing goeth out of our own Mouth Jer. 44. 16 17. But do you think that these People did ever feel the Power and Majesty of the Word of God to break their Hearts No verily had that been so they would a trembled at the Words of God they would a been afraid of the Words of God. God may command some People what he will they 'll do what they list What care they for God What care they for his Word Neither Threats nor Promises neither Punishments or Favours will make them obedient to the Word of God all because they have not felt the Power of it their Hearts have not been broken with it When King Josias did but read in God's Book what Punishment God had threatned against rebellious Israel though he himself was a holy and good Man. He Humbled himself he rent his Clothes and wept before the Lord and was afraid of the Judgment threatned 2 King. 22. â— Chron 34. For he knew what a dreadful thing the Word of God is Some Men as I said before dare do any thing let the Word of God be never so much against it but they that tremble at the Word dare not do so No they must make the Word their rule for all they do they must go to the Holy Bible and there enquire what may or may not be done for they tremble at the Word This then is another Sign a true Sign that the Heart has been broken namely When the Heart is made afraid of and trembleth at the Word Acts 9. 4 5 6. Chap. 16. 29 30 31. Trembling at the Word is caused by a belief of what is deserved threatned and of what will come if not prevented by Repentance and therefore the Heart melts and breaks before the Lord. I come in the next place to speak to this Question But what necessity is there that the Heart must be broken Cannot a Man be Saved unless his Heart be broken I answer avoiding Secret Things which only belongs to God there is a Necessity of breaking
our Tongues we will prevail our Lips are our own Who is Lord over us Psal. 12. 4. Hence they are said to stop their Ear to pull away their Shoulder to shut their Eyes and harden their Hearts against the Words of God and to Contemn the Counsel of the most High Zech. 7. 10 11 12. Psal. 107. 11. They are fitly compared to the Rebellious Son who would not be ruled by his Parents or to the Prodigal who would have all in his own Hand and remove himself far away from Father and Father's House Deut. 21. 20. Luk. 15. 13. Now for such Creatures nothing will do but Violence The stubborn Son must be stoned till he dies and the Prodigal must be Famished out of all Nothing else I say will do Their Self-willed stubborn Heart will not comply with the Will of God before 't is broken Deut. 21. 21. Luke 15. 14 15 16 17. These are they that are called the Stout-hearted these are said to be far from Righteousness and so will remain until their Hearts are broken for so they must be made to know themselves Isa. 9. 9 10 11. Fifthly Man as he comes into the World is not only a Dead Man a Fool Proud and Self-willed but also a Fearless Creature There is saith the Text no Fear of God before their Eyes Rom. 3. 18. No fear of God. There is fear of Man fear of losing his Favour his Love his good Will his Help his Friendship This is seen every where how does the Poor fear the Rich the Weak fear the Strong and those that are Threatned them that Threaten But come now to God why none Fears him that is by Nature none Reverence him they neither fear his Frowns nor seek his Favour nor enquire how they may escape his revenging Hand that is lifted up against their Sins and their Souls because of Sin. Little things they fear the losing of them but the Soul they are not afraid to lose They fear not me saith the Lord Mal. 3. 5. How many times are some men put in mind of DEATH by Sickness upon themselves by Graves by the Death of others How many times are they put in mind of HELL by reading the Word by lashes of Conscience and by some that go roaring in Despair out of this World How many times are they put in mind of the Day of Judgment As 1. By God's binding the Fallen Angels over to Judgment 2. By the Drowning of the Old World 2 Pet. 2. 4 5. Jude 6. 7. 3. By the Burning of Sodom and Gomorrah with Fire from Heaven 2 Pet. 2. 6. Jude 7. 4. By Appointing a Day Acts 17. 29 30 31. 5. By Appointing a Judge Acts 10. 40 41 42. 6. By Reserving their Crimes in Records Isa. 30. 8. Revel 20. 12. 7. By Appointing and Preparing of Witnesses Rom. 2. 15. 8. And by Promising yea Threatning yea Resolving to call the whole World to his Bar there to be judged for all which they have done and said and for every Secret Thing Mat. 25. 31 32 33. Chap. 12. 36. Eccles. 11. 9. Chap. 12. 14. And yet they fear not God Alas They believe not these things These things to carnal Men are like Lot's Preaching to his Sons and Daughters that were in Sodom When he told them that God would destroy that Place He seemed unto them as one that mocked and his Words to them were as idle â—ales Gen. 19. 14. Fearless Men are not won by Words Blows Wounds and Killings are the things that must bring them under fear How many strugling fits had Israel with God in the Wilderness How many times did they declare that there they feared him not And observe they were seldom if ever brought to fear and dread his Glorious Name unless he beset them round with Death and the Grave Nothing nothing but a severe Hand will make the fearless fear Hence to speak after the manner of Men God is put upon it to go this way with Sinners when he would save their Souls even bring them and lay them at the Mouth and within sight of Hell and Everlasting Damnation and there also charge them with Sin and Guilt to the breaking of their Hearts before they will fear his Name Sixthly Man as he comes into the World is not only a Dead Man a Fool Proud Self-willed and Fearless But he is a false Believer concerning God. Let God report of himself never so plainly Man by Nature will not believe this Report of him No They are become vain in their Imaginations and their foolish Heart is darkned Wherefore they turn the Glory of God which is his Truth into a Lie Rom. 1. 21 22 23 24 25. 1. God says He sees They say He seeth not God saith He knows They say He doth not know God saith None is like Himself Yet they say He is altogether like to them God saith None shall keep his Door for nought They say 'T is in Vain and to no Profit to serve Him He saith He will do Good They say He will neither do Good nor Evil Job 22. 13 14. Psal. 50. 21. Job 21. 14 15. Mal. 3. 14. Zeph. 1. 12. Thus they falsly believe concerning God Yea as to the Word of his Grace and the Revelation of his Mercy in Christ. They stick not to say by their Practice for a wicked Man speaketh with his Feet Prov. 6. 13. that that is a stark Lie and not to be trusted to 1 John 5. 10. Now what shall God do to save these Men If he hides himself and conceals his Glory They Perish If he sends to them by his Messengers and forbears to come to them himself They Perish If he comes to them and forbears to work upon them by his Word They Perish If he worketh on them but not effectually They Perish If he works effectually he must break their Hearts and make them as men wounded to Death fall at his Feet for Mercy or there can be no good done on them they will not rightly Believe until he fires them out of their Mis-belief and makes them to know by the breaking of their Bones for their false Faith that he is and will be what he has said of himself in his Holy Word The Heart therefore must be broken before the man can come to good Seventhly Man as he comes into the World is not only a Dead Man a Fool Proud Self-willed Fearless and false Believer but a great Lover of Sin. He is Captivated Ravished Drowned in the Delights of it Hence it says They love Sin delight in Lies do take Pleasure in Iniquity and in them that do it that they Sport themselves in their own Deceivings and Glory in their Shame John 3. 19. Psal. 62. 4. Rom. 1. 32. 2 Pet. 2. 13. Phil. 3. 19. This is the temper of Man by Nature for Sin is mixed with and has the Mastery of all the Powers of his Soul. Hence they are said to be Captives to it and to be led Captive into
with those six or seven signs of a Broken and a Contrite Heart which there I have according to the word of God given to thee for that end and deal with thy Soul impartially about them 2. Or which may and will be great help to thee if thou shalt be sincere therein namely to betake thy self to the search of the Word especially where thou readest of the Conversion of men and try if thy Conversation be like or has a good resemblance or oneness with theirs But in this have a care that thou dost not compare thy self with those good Folk of whose Conversion thou readest not or of the breaking of whose Heart there is no mention made in Scripture for all that are recorded in the Scripture for Saints have not their Conversion as to the manner or nature of it recorded in the Scripture 3. Or else Do thou consider truly of the true signs of Repentance which are laid down in Scripture for that is the true effect of a Broken Heart and of a wounded Spirit And for this see Mat. 3. 5 6. Luke 18. 13. Chap. 19. 8. Act 2. 37 38 39 40 c. Chap. 16. 29 30. Chap. 19. 18 19. 2 Cor. 7 8 9 10 11. 4. Or else Take into Consideration how God has said they shall be in their Spirits that he intends to Save And for this read these Scriptures 1. That in the One and Thirtieth of Jeremiah They shall come with Weeping and with Supplication will I lâ—â—d them c. V. 9. 2. Read Jer. 50. 4 5. In those days and at that time the Children of Israel shall come they and the Children of Judah together going and weeping They shall go and seek the Lord their God. They shall ask the way to Zion with their faces thitherward saying Come and let us joyn our-selves to the Lord in a perpetual Covenant that shall not be forgotten 3. Read Ezek. 6. 9. And they that escape of you shall remember me among the Nations whither they shall be carried Captives because I am broken with their whoâ— rish Heart which have departed from me and with their eyes which go a whoring after their Idols And they shall loath themselves for the Evils which they have committed in all their Abominations 4. Read Ezek. 7. 16. But they that escape of them shall escape and shall be on the Mountains like Doves of the Valleys all of them Mourning every one for his Iniquity 5. Read Ezek. 20. 43. And there shall ye remember your ways and all your doings wherein ye have been defiled and ye shall loath your selves in your own sight for all your evils that ye have commited 6. Read Ezek. 36. 31. Then shall ye remember your own evil ways and your doings that were not good and shall loath your selves in your own sight for your Iniquities and for your Abominations 7. Read Zech. 12. 10. And I will pour upon the house of David and upon the Inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of Grace and of Suplications And they shall look upon me whom they have pierced and they shall mourn for him as one mourneth for his only Son and shall be in bitterness for him as one that is in bitterness for his first-born Now all these are the fruits of the Spirit of God and of the Heart when it is Broken Wherefore Soul Take notice of them and because these are Texts by which God promiseth that those whom he saveth shall have this Heart this Spirit and these holy effects in them Therefore consider again and examine thy self whether this is the state and condition of thy Soul. And that thou mayst do it fully consider again and do thou 1. Remember that here is such a sence of Sin and of the irksomness thereof as maketh the man not only to abhor that but himself because of that This is worth the noting by thee 2 Remember again That here is not only a Self-abhorrence but a sorrowful kind mourning unto God at the consideration that the Soul by Sin has affrontâ—d contemned disregarded and set at nought both God and his holy Word 3. Remember also That here are Prayers and Tears for Mercy with desires to be now out of love with Sin for ever and to be in Heart and Soul firmly joyned and knit unto God. 4. Remember also That this People here spoken of have all the way from Satan to God from Sin to Grace from Death to Life scattered with Tears and Prayers with Weeping and Supplication They shall go weeping and seeking the Lord their God. 5. Remember that these People as Strangers and Pilgrims do are not ashamed to ask the way of those they meet with to Zion or the Heavenly Countrey whereby they confess their ignorance as became them their desire to know the way to Life yea thereby they declare that there is nothing in this world under the Sun or this side Heaven that can satisfie the longings the desires and cravings of a Broken and Contrite Spirit Reader be advised and consider of these things seriously and compare thy Soul with them and with what else thou shalt find here written for thy Conviction and Instruction Fourthly If a broken Heart and a contrite Spirit be of such esteem with God Then this should encourage them that have it to come to God with it I know the GREAT encouragement for men to come to God is for that there is a Mediator between God and men the Man Christ Jesus 1 Tim. â— 5. This I say is the GREAT Encouragement in its place there is none but that but there are other Encouragements subordinate to that and a Broken and a Contrite Spirit is one of them this is evident from several places of Scripture Wherefore thou that canst carry a Broken Heart and a Sorrowful Spirit with thee when thou goest to God tell him thy Heart is wounded within thee that thou hast Sorrow in thy Heart and art Sorry for thy Sins but take heed of Lying Confess also thy Sins unto him and tell him they are continually before thee David made an argument of these things when he went to God by Prayer O Lord saith he Rebuke me not in thine Anger neither chasten me in thy sore displeasure But why so O says he thine Arrows stick fast in me and thy hand â—resseth me sore There is no soundness in my Flesh because of thine Anger neither is there any rest in my bones because of my Sin. For mine iniquities are gone over mine head as an heavy burden they are too heavy for me My wounds stink and are corrupt because of my foolishness I am troubled I am bowed down greatly I go mourning all the day long For my loins are filled with a lothsom disease and there is no soundness in my Flesh. I am feeble and sore broken I have roared by reason of the disquietness of my heart Lord all my desire is before thee and my groaning is not hid from thee My heart panteth my