the people had repented for taking strange Wives they resolved saying Let us make a Covenant with our God to put away all the Wives and such as are born of them So Hos 14.8 Ephraim shall say What have I to do any more with Idols What was the saying of Elihu in Job Is the Language of every man and woman who has a broken and contrite Heart Job 34.32 That which I see not teach thou me If I have done Iniquity I will do no more Ephes John 8.11 4.28 Let him that stole steal no more Act. 8 Finally This broken and contrite Heart consists in an unfeigned weeping of the tears of the eyes caused by the sorrow of the heart for sin All the Night wash I my Bed and water my Couch with my teares Psal 6.6 Ezek. 7.16 It 's said of the Remnant whom God will save They shall mourn like the Doves of the Vallies every one for his Iniquity And Peter when he remembred the words of Christ and his own denial went out and wept bitterly Mat. 26. ult Question Quest But how shall I know that I have this broken and contrite Heart Answer Answ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Tentate probate Examine prove the Apostles Counsel 2 Cor. 13.5 For if a man think himself to be something when he is nothing he deceives himself As the Church of Loadicea (x) Revel 3.17 who said she was Rich and increased with Goods and had need of nothing When she was wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked But let every one prove his own works c. Gal. 6. vers 3.4 I therefore come in the next place to lay down the most infallible Marks and Signs of a broken and contrite Heart by the sight of which you may know whether you have such hearts or no. Oh that there were in us such Hearts A broken and contrite Heart doth repress censoriousness Marks of a broken Heart A truly broken and contrite Heart is most sensible of it's own sin knows most evil by it self judgeth it's own sin greatest and it 's own state saddest Hath neither list nor leisure to censure others The Apostle's Caution and Counsel Rom. 14.13 runs thus Let us not judge one another but judge this rather that no man put a stumbling Block or AN OCC ASION to fall in his Brothers way What an excellent instance have we in Joseph who is called a Just man for his Labour He had look'd upon Mary formerly as a Godly gracious Woman and she being now with Child he knew not what to think of it but having a purpose to leave her being formerly contracted to her that he might not bring Reproach upon himself and to put her away privately that the World might not take notice of any such thing that so he might not bring Reproach upon her Mat. 1.19 Joseph her Husband being a just man and not willing to make her a publique Example was minded to put her away privily That was his Care his Honesty his Righteousness But where shall we find the like Righteousness or Tenderness now a dayes to conceal the Failings and to save the Credit of our Brethren We are glad if we have any thing to paradigmatize them for and say as they did of Jeremy the Lord's Prophet (y) Jer. 20.10 Psal 50. vers 20.21 Report and we will report it That Godly Emperour Constantine was quite of another mind as I find him (z) z Omnis nestra sides pendet ab Historia Owens Epigrams lib. 12. ch 2. upon Record who was wont to say If he should find a Christian-Bishop or Pastor overtaken in any Infamous act He would pull off his Purple Robe to throw upon him to cover him rather then that any should come by his means to hear of it to the scandal of Religion I am sure this is most like to the Example of Christ who casts his Purple Robe upon us that our sins should not be taken notice of 2. A broken is a Praying heart We read Luk. 15. concerning the (a) Vers 17. Prodigal Son that when once he had an humbled Heart and acontrite Spirit he fell to Prayer presently Vers 21. The Son said unto him Father I have sinned against Heaven and (b) Psal 71.4 in thy sight and am no more worthy to be called thy Son And Christ Heb. 5.7 In the dayes of his Flesh offered up Prayers and Supplications with strong cries and tears And Rom. 8.26 We read of sighs and groans that cannot be uttered or expressed Now Where are those Prayers Where are those Cryes Where are those Tears Where are those Sighs Where are those Groans Where are those (c) Jer. 31.18 Moans Thou hast liv'd a great while in the World but oh When hast thou wept with (d) Jer. 9.1 Lam. 1.16 Jeremy for the sins of the times and thine own Transgressions When hast thou poured out thy Soul to the Lord I fear thou art so far from this that thy heart is hardened and if so the Lord will one day break thy heart with the fury of his wrath and hot displeasure that burns to the lowest Hell 3. Mark 3 A broken Heart is an humble low heart Oh very low it can cast it self in the Dust at the feet of Christ and think any thing on this side Hell to be rich Mercy He is (e) Mat 5.3 poor and (f) Mat. 5 7 meek in Spirit You know how Abraham (g) Gen. 18.27 treated with God and pleased him when he addressed himself to him with an Acknowledgment of his Vileness Behold Now I have taken upon me to speak to the great God who am but Dust and Ashes You know Christ lay (h) Mat. 26.39 Mark 14.35 grovelling on the ground all Night I abhor (i) Job 42.6 my self and repent in Dust and Ashes said Job If then thou hast a broken Heart thou hast a low heart thou art little and low in thine own eyes vile and base in thine own sight Psal 34.6 This poor man crieth and the Lord heareth him Give this poor man something before he go away he is such a low Spirit that he is one ready to sink to Hell were it not for the Mercies of God the Merits of Jesus Christ and the sweet Promises of the Gospel Yea remember the Woman of Canaan (k) Mat. 15. vers 23. c. she was called Dog and yet would take no repulse but cried saying Lord I do begg one drop of Mercy one crumb of Comfort One crumb of the bread of Life one drop of the water of Life to satisfie a poor languishing Soul sweet Jesu for thy Mercies sake some drops of the blood of Christ to soften my hard heart and to break it throughly Signe 4 4. If thou hast this broken and contrite Heart that is so acceptable to God thou dost mourn 1. For thine own Sin 2. For the Sins of others 1. For thine own Sins David did so in this Psalm he did
his body in Uriah's Bed and imbrewed his hand in Uriah's blood From the first Verse to the 18 he prayes for himself From the 18. verse to the end of the Psalme he prayed for the Church In praying for himself he desired to be washed and cleansed and purged Vers 2. Wash me throughly from my Wickedness and cleanse me from my sin Vers 7. Purge me with Hysope and I shall be clean Wash me and I shall be whiter than Snow q. d. Saith Junius Wash me more purge me more cleanse me more in the Merits of ‖ 1 Joh. 1.7 Heb. 9.14 Christ's blood from the guilt and from the filth of all my Transgressions Then will I teach Transgressors thy wayes and Sinners shall be Converted unto thee vers 13.9 q.d. O God if thou wilt shew mercy to my poor Soul I that have had my * vers 12. Bones broken shall be an Instrument ‖ 2 Cor. 1.4 to bind up others and will tell thy People that fear thy Name (a) Mal. 3.16 What (b) Psal 66.16 great things thou hast done for my poor Soul Further it will be an occasion of God's glory when he should come to the Lord and offer the Sacrifices of Praise not Tipical but Real not Legal but Evangelical Sacrifices Cor concussum Contritum A Broken and Contrite Heart The Sacrifices of God are a Broken Spirit a Broken and Contrite Heart O God thou wilt not dispise The Text contains two general Propositions 1. Affirmative The Sacrifices of God are a broken Spirit 2. Negative A broken and contrite Heart O God thou wilt not despise In the double Proposition you have 1. The Subject Cor concussum contritum A broken and contrite Heart 2. The Predicate Sacrificia Dei The Sacrifices of God In further handling of these words I shall propose and follow this my wonted Method To speak to you 1. By way of Explication 2. By way of Confirmation 3. By way of Application 1. By way of Explication Heart and Spirit by the former is not meant that fleshly part which is in our breasts which we commonly call so though sometimes the word is so taken in Scripture 2 Kings 2.24 but by both is here meant that which the Scripture sometimes terms (c) Col. 3.16 the Inner-man sometimes the Hidden man (d) 1 Pet. 3 4. of the Heart and that which we ordinarily call the Soul with all it's Powers and Faculties By Spirits here is meant the Seat of sorrow the Spirit * Ephes 4.23 of the mind Doct. If any man will offer acceptable Sacrifice to God let him prepare the Spirit of his mind God himself is a Spirit and they that Worship him must worship him in Spirit and in Truth John 4.24 Psal 51. v. 6. He loves Truth in the inward affections Corpora fecit propter Spiritus Ideoque etiam spiritualia non corporea querit B. Cooper Super. loc saith a Learned Prelate He meant the bodies for the Spirits and therefore seeks he not bodily but Spiritual Worship Some there are Qui sua dant non Seipsos who offer to him not themselves Seipsos but that which is theirs but it is a blind folly to think thou canst please him when thou wilt not give the service of thy Heart and Spirit unto him Prov. 23. vers 26. Mi sili da mihi Cor tuum But lest we should think that every Spirit is acceptable What a broken Heart is he adds this Epethet Broken and Contrite A broken heart is such a heart that is humbled through a sight and sense of sin and wounded and prick't with the fear of God's anger grieving for offending so good and so gracious a God 1. Bathing his eyes in Tears and melting his Soul into sorrow that ever he has offended so good a God that made him displeased so sweet a Saviour that redeemed him griev'd so Holy a Spirit as hath striven with him transgressed so Righteous a Law as was given to him broken so gracious a Covenant as was made with him begging Mercy and Pardon at the Throne of the Almighty's Grace with as much earnestness and importunity as the Hunger-bitten Beggar doth a Morsel of bread or the Malefactor a Psalm of Mercy This is that poor Spirit St. Mathew speaks (e) Mat. 5.3 of this is that Spirit that trembles at God's word which the Prophet Isaiah speaks (f) Isa 66.2 of this is that Heart-rent the Prophet Jonah speaks (g) Jona 2.12.13 of By the Prophet (h) Isa 42.3 and the Evangelist (i) Mat. 12.20 it 's compared to a bruised Reed it 's also in Scripture called a pricking (k) Acts 2.37 of the heart a melting (l) Nah 2.10 Psal 119.28 of the heart and such like All which import the inward unfeigned hearty sorrow which is in a penitent Soul for offending a good and a gracious God And he puts the word in the Plural Number Sacrificia the Sacrifices to shew that a Heart bruised and broken humbled and pricked Note in the sight and sense of sin is Instar Omnium instead of all all Sacrifice is nothing without it all sum'd up in it Let men offer what Sacrifices they will never so many never so costly never so excellent yet if this be wanting 't is but in vain God esteems not of it One broken Heart is more worth than a thousand Sacrifices of great price A man may offer many Sacrifices Pray much Preach much Hear much receive the Sacrament often and give all his goods to feed the Poor yet if there be not this broken Heart and contrite Spirit all 's in vain and to no (m) Psal 1. vers 11.12 13 14 15 16 17. purpose We cannot please God in any thing we do without a broken and contrite heart The Sacrifices of God * Chap. 66.24 The adding God's Name to any think in Scripture gives it an Emminency a Lustre a Glory above all other things As there 's mention made of the Waters (n) Psal 65.9 of God the Mountain (o) Exod. 3.1 of God the Trees (p) Psal 104 16. of God c. And in the New Testament the Peace (q) Phil. 4.7 of God c. And here in the Text The Sacrifices of God most rare and excellent Sacrifices such as God will not dispise A broken and a contrite Heart O God thou wilt not dispise The Phrase is low yet hath a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in it as 1 Thes 5.20 Dispise not Prephesyings and Heb. 12.5 Dispise not the Chastening of the Lord And so imports the choycest way of acceptation A broken and contrite Heart O God thou wilt not dispise thou dost love and like and art well pleased with a broken Heart This broken and contrite Heart is Sacrifice TO GOD most rare and excellent Sacrifice as the Mountains of God are high Mountains and the Cedars of the Lord are tall Cedars So a broken
Penance for his Sin in a * The Robe of Christ's Righteousness Vers 7. Phil. 3.8.9 Revel 19. Vers 8. and 14. white-Sheet he mourned daily for his own Sin scil For the Root of the matter within and for the Fruit of the matter without for his Original Corruption for his actual Transgression for the Sin of his Nature and the Sins of his Life He opens his Soul to the Lord and leaves this Psalm to the Church upon Record wherein he confesseth and mourns for his Sins Mat. 26. ult 2. For the Sins of others Rivers of Tears run down mine eyes said broken-hearted David because men keep not thy Law Psal 119.136 Many walk saith the Apostle of whom I told you often and now tell you even weeping that they are Enemies to the Cross of Christ Phil. 3.18 And Ezek. 9.4 we read of them that sigh and mourn and cry for the Iniquities and Abominations that were committed in the Land 5. Signe 5 A broken Heart is a loving heart if thou hast a broken and contrite Heart thou lovest any thing of Christs any thing that bears his Image and Superscription When thou comest to that glorious Gospel-Ordinance of the Lord's Supper so as to discern * 1 Cor. 11.29 the Lord's Body thou meditatest Oh there 's the Body and Blood of my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ Oh here 's the Son of God that made up the Breach between God my Soul Oh Jesus Christ here 's the Son of God that was incarnate for me And paid a price for my Redemption The Penitant Woman Luk. 7.47 She loved much because her great and grievous sins were forgiven I will sum up the Acts and Signs of a broken Heart in these eighth following Particulars as a famous Divine hath contracted them 1. Eight Signs contracted He that is truly broken will be contented with nothing but Mercy from God in Jesus Christ He hath wounded and he must heal Hos 6.1 2. He judgeth sin the greatest evil and the favour of God the greatest good 3. He had rather hear of Mercy than of a Kingdome 4. He hath mean Conceits of himself And thinks he is not worth the Earth he treads on 5. Towards others he is not censorious as being taken up at home but is full of Simpathy and Compassion to those that are under God's hand 6. He counts them that walks in the Comforts of Gods Spirit the happiest men in the World 7. He trembles at the Word of God and honours the very Feet of these blessed Instruments that brings Peace unto him 8. He is more taken up with the inward Exercises of a broken Heart than with Formality and yet careful to use all Sanctified means for it's attainment And this brings me to the third things premised scil to shew the most propable means to get and keep to attain and maintain such a heart all our dayes 1. Means to get a broken Heart To give diligent attendance to the Word of God read and preached 2 Reg. 22. vers 11. c. Is not my Word a Hammer that breaks the Rock to pieces Jer. 23.29 While Lydia was hearing Paul preach Almighty God opened her heart Acts 16.14 So that if we would have broken Hearts we must wait upon the Preaching of the Gospel where the Holy Ghost usually falls upon the hearts of men 2. Make a Catalogue of thy Sins which thou mayst do either by Memory or by Book By Memory thus Go aside set thy Soul before the Lord as if thou wert presently to be judged of him call to mind particularly whatsoever thou canst remember by thy self consider thy Omissions of good and thy Commissions of evil in Youth or riper Age in Heart or Life in things that concern God or Man or thine own Soul and Disposition Thoughts and Affections Words and Actions By Book thus Procure the Labour of some Reverend Divine that has briefly gathered the sins against each Commandment and from thence gather out so many sins as thou knowst by thy self that thou hast been guilty of lay those sins daily before thy Conscience and consider how many ways thou hast made thy self guilty 3. Consider then the justice of God how he hates all Sin which thou mayest be assured of if thou remember how he plagued our first Parents the Old World Sodom and Gomorrah How fearfully he neglected the Gentiles Cast off the Jews yea how he spared not his own Son Jesus Christ when he became a surety for other mens Sins 4. Force upon thy self the remembrance of thy * Memento novissima Memento quid erit in novissimo Eccius 7.26 latter end and thy appearance before the Tribunal Seat of Christ to receive according to all thou hast done in the flesh Heb. 9.27 2 Cor. 5.10 5. Beg an humble heart a broken and contrite Spirit at the Throne of Grace and sue out God's promise made to those who by Prayer issue out it's persormance Ezek. 36.26 compared with Vers 31. and 37. 6. Remember the Passion of thy Saviour the the Poverty Banishment Ignominy Temptation the Apprehending Forsaking Arraigning Condemning and cruel Death which he suffered for thy sins Look upon him whom thou hast pierced c. Zach. 10.10 7. Lastly Set sometimes a day apart for Fasting and Prayer A day of Fasting was heretofore called a day of Afflicting or Humbling the Soul Levit. 16.29 both because it was the main duty of the day and because the Lord usually did bless his one Ordinance so as he gave an humble Heart to those that sought it of him To break the Stone in thy Heart besides the aforementioned Directions observe this Spiritual Receipt which will under God cure all thy Souls Maladies A Sovereign Cordial against Infection taken out of the Sacred Herbal of the Holy Scripture DRink a good draught of Josiah's Humility next thy Heart then take a Dose of Nehemiah's Repentance soak'd or steep'd in the Vessel of a Broken and Contrite Heart well seasoned with Truth and Sincerity at the bottom then let all these Boyl together in a good quantity of David's Tears and when thou hast done this then spread a Plaister of God's Grace and bind it fast to thy Soul with the Swadling bands of Love and pious Consideration and cast away all thy old infections garments of Sin and Iniquity and put on the Garments of Praise and Thanksgiving Then take a a good quantity of Joshuah's Resolution as thou canst well bear and so walk up and down in these Wholsome and pleasant Fields called Newness of Life and so follow thy Calling in the Fear of God All which being carefully done and truly observed will undoubtedly preserve thee from the stink and danger of all places whatsoever And so I commend you to God and to the Word of his Grace which is able to build you up and to give you an Inheritance amongst them that are Sanctified in Jesus Christ Amen 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Laus Deo AN APPENDIX FOR THE CHRISTIANS CONVERSATION Whosoever will live Well and Blessedly let him follow this Rule by which he shall obtain to that which he desireth Let your Thoughts be Divine Aweful Godly Let your Words be Few Honest True Let your Works be Holy Profitable Charitable Let your Sleep be Moderate Quiet Seasonable Let your Diet be Temperate Convenient Frugal Let your Apparel be Sober Neate Comely Let your Recreations be Lawful Brief Seldom Let your Prayers be Short Devout Often Let your Will be Constant Obedient Ready Let your Manners be Grave Courteous Chearful Let your Memory be Of Death Punishment Glory Ecclus. 7.26 Whatsoever thou takest in hand Remember the End and thou shalt never do amiss FINIS
Cor concussum Contritum OR A PRESENT FOR JEHOVA Shewing The Nature Excellency Acts of a broken Heart And also the Marks to know and Means to procure a Broken and Contrite Heart By George Willington Preacher of God's Word Formerly at Bristoll now of St. Georges in the County of Summerset PSAL. 34.18 The Lord is nigh unto all them that are of a Broken Heart And saveth such as are of a Contrite Spirit The Spirit of God delights to dwell in the Heart of the Humble Man Erasm Humilitas animi Sublimitas Christiani LONDON Printed by Thomas Milbourn for Thomas Wall Bookseller by the Tolzey in Bristoll 1670. To my Endeared Kinsman WALDIVE WILLINGTON of Hurly-Hall at Kingsbury in the County of Warwick Esq SIR DEdications are in Our Times so frequent that it 's now accounted either Presumption or Singurity to appear in Print without it Your Name is here prefixed not only that Custom necessitates me thereto but because an Opportunity is given me to tell the Present and Future Ages how much I Love and Honour your Piety and Prudence And how much I am my self your Debtor for the Constancy of your Favour and the many respectful Acknowledgements I have received from you in an Age when Love waxeth cold even to neer Relations who are extreamly undervalued or held Contemptible if Inferior to them The designe of this present Work is to signifie my Love and Gratitude by the best return which I can make Which is by an Address of the ensuing Discourse to your Consideration Had you all the Accomplishments this Life is capable of yet whilst in the World you cannot be past the need of helps whatever they may be This I commit to your judgment promising it a Covering large enough for the Deficiency of the Author And my self a good Acceptance from him who was pleased to encourage it in the Pulpit with a Christian Respect and Attention Sir This Sermon is your s by many Engagements and my Prayers at the Throne of Grace cease not that these Directions may be Yours in the practical and real Enjoyments of them That the Nature Marks and Acts of a Broken and Contrite Heart may be exemplified in the Conversations of you and yours And that the many publique Exhibitions of Grace and Vertue wherewith you have been eminently Honoured may by the Finger of Gods Spirit be Engraven on the fleshly Tables of your Hearts That the Lord have made you in some measure happy herein I am extreamly confirmed from the Observation of your Zeal for God his Church and the Ministers of his Word and your Humble Temperate and Friendly Deportment towards all to which I might add The Blessings enjoyed by your Religious Beloved Consort in the Comforts of a Well-Govern'd Family And now dearest Sir Because Idespair of opportunity suitable to mine own Wishes and your Merit I have made hold to close with this slender Advantage of testifying to the World my deep sense I have of your personal Worth which with your other Obligations hath merited abundantly more from me to your praise than either your Wisdom or Modesty will acknowledge or for the nearness of my Relation to you may be held convenient for me to enlarge That which was Preach'd with you formerly and now published for the use of all may be especially useful to you and yours And that the Father of Mercies will returne all your Kindness with a Rich recompence of Reward both of Grace here and Glory hereafter in the World to come is the unfained desire of Sir Your most Affectionate Kinsman and Servant in the Gospel Geo. Willington From may Study the 12th of Sept. 1670. A PRESENT FOR JEHOVAH PSAL. 51.17 The Sacrifices of God are a broken Spirit a Broken and Contrite Heart O God thou wilt not dispise SUch is the necessity of true and unfeigned Repentance Introduction that without it even the most Righteous man upon the face of the Earth cannot be Saved in the Day of the Lord. John the Baptist began his preaching with Repentance Saying Repent yee for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand Mat. 3.2 Our Saviour Christ followed on Mat. 4.17 from that time Jesus began to preach and to say Repent For the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand The Apostles followed his Example Acts 2.38 To those who were pricked in their hearts is Repentance preached Repent and be baptized every one of you for the Remission of sins And ye shall receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost But Luke 13.5 our Saviour tell those of Galilee Except ye Repent ye shall all likewise perish Obj. But these were notable Sinners Ans I but the Church of Ephesus Revel 2.5 which had many good things in her is commanded to remember from whence she had fallen and to repent So the Church of Sardis Revel 3.3 Remember how thou hast received and heard and hold fast and repent Thus you see the necessity of Repentance to all notwithstanding which How many be there in our Church seeming-Christians who contenting themselves with the Knowledge of the bare Name of Repentance never seek after the Knowledge of the Nature thereof How many who know the Nature never practice any part thereof Are not our fiduciaries such as those of St. Bernard who tells of many wayes whereby men Irreligous were wont to excuse their Sins Aut non feci quod dicis aut feci quod dic is sed benefeci aut si malé non multum malé aut si multum malé non mala intentione ut sentis Either I have not done that which thou sayest or if I have done it I did well But if 't were evil 't was no great hurt I pray God I may never do worse but if it was great hurt I had no intent to do it as thou thinkest Some stoutly deny their sins and with a Whorish Forehead put God as it were to his Proof for their sins They Mal. 1.6 Wherein have we despised thy Name Wherein have we polluted thee Some with Jonah Jonah 4.9 disobediently stick not to tell God to his Face That Hee did well to be angry unto the Death Some with Abemilech King of Gerar who when he took the Wife of Abraham Gen. 20.5 said He did it with an upright Heart Some put it off upon others as Adam upon Eve Gen. 3.12 13. 1 Sam. 15.21 Eve upon the Serpent Saul upon the People But thus did not our princely Prophet he took the Shame to himself Judged himself Judged himself Condemned himself came with an Halter about his * 1 Kings 20. v. 31 32. Neck as a Condemned Malefactor with his Pecavi Misereri mei Deus Informa pauperis Have mercy upon me O God This Psalm is a perfect Coppy and exact pattern of true and sound Repentance 2 Sam. 12.13 Penn'd by our Royal Prophet The title of the Psalm when Nathan the Prophet came unto him after he had gone in to Bathsheba and had defiled
Heart and a contrite Spirit being the Sacrifices of God are most rare excellent and choyce Sacrifices From the Words thus considered this is the point of Instruction Doctrine 2 Of all Services and Sacrifices to be presented to God A broken and a contrite Heart is most pleasing and acceptable First God will graciously look upon such a Heart Demonst 1 To this purpose speaks Jehovah by the Evangelical Prophet Isa 66.2 Thus saith the Lord Heaven is my Throne and the Earth my Foot-stool Where is the House that ye build unto me And where is the place of my rest For all those things hath my hand made and all those things have been saith the Lord But to this man will I look even to him that is poor and of a contrite Spirit and that trembleth at my Words See how the Lord lifts up himself unto the highest Heavens Heaven is my Throne and the Earth is my Foot-stool Oh! How shall I come and Appear before so great a God a God of such terrible Majesty and mighty Powers Why Be not afraid poor Soul the Lord will cast a look of Love upon thee not only a look of Pity but also a look of Complacency To him will I looke sayes God even to him that is poor 1. Vile and base in his own eyes and 2d Of a contrite Spirit and that trembles at my Word q. d. I have more regard to this poor Trembler at my Word than I have to the great Temple that was built for my Worship Gen. 4.4 God had respect to Abel and to his Offering The Sacrifices of God are a broken Spirit a broken and contrite Heart O God thou wilt not dispise That 's the first reason of God's acceptance of a broken Heart because God will graciously look upon such a heart 2. Demonst 2 The Lord so delights in a broken and contrite Heart that he not only looks on him but also draws nigh unto him To this purpose the Psalmist very sweetly Psal 34.16 17. Psalm 34.17 18. The Righteous cry and the Lord heareth them and delivereth them out of their Troubles The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a contrite Heart and will save such as are of an humble Spirit 'T is a great priviledge that we can draw nigh to God that God does hold out the golden Scepter of his Grace and allow us to come and touch the top of it We might have been in Hell long agoe roaring under an endless Damnation far enough from God had not he spared us Numb 16. vers 9. said Moses there to Korah and his complices Seemeth it a small thing unto you that the God of Israel had separated you from the Congregation of Israel to take you near to himself to do the Service of the Tabernacle Seemeth this a small thing unto you Oh! 't is a great priviledg that we can draw nigh unto God It is good for me to draw near to God saith the Psalmist with a Probatum est Psal 73. ult Now then if this be so great a priviledg for you to draw nigh to God Oh! What a transcendent unspeakable priviledg is it for God to draw nigh to you to delight in your Persons to delight in your Prayers to bottle your tears and to Register your groans And this he doth to broken and contrite Hearts the Lord is nigh unto all them that are of a contrite heart Nigh unto them in all that they call upon him for 3. Demonst 3 A broken and contrite Heart is pleasing and acceptable to God for he will come and dwell in that Soul Thus saith the Holy and Lofty One that inhabites Eternity whose Name is Holy I dwell in the High and Holy place with him also that is of a contrite and humble Spirit to revive the Spirit of the humble and to revive the Spirit of the contrite Ones God has two chief places of residence viz. The highest Heaven and the lowest Heart the one he fills with his glorious the other with his gracious Presence He dwells in the High and Holy place the Cherubins worship him though with covering their blushing Faces and Thousand thousands (n) Dan. 7.10 of Angels minister unto him yet he dwells and holds his Residence in a broken and contrite Heart he will not despise yea he delights to dwell there Demonst 4 Lastly A broken and contrite Heart is pleasing and acceptable to God for he heals a broken Heart To this purpose sweetly speaks Jehovah by his Evangelical Prophet Isa 57.15 For thus saith the High and Lofty One that Inhabiteth Eternity whose Name is Holy I dwell in the High and Holy place with ‖ Note this him also that is of a contrite and humble Spirit to revive the Spirit of the humble and to revive the Heart of the contrite Ones Vers 18. I have seen his Wayes and will heal him I will lead him also and restore Comfort unto him and to his * Mat. 5.4 Mourners He heals the broken in Heart and binds up their ‖ Heb. Griefs Isa 53.5 1 Pet. 2 24. Wounds Psal 147.3 Indeed sometimes the Lord hides his Face and with-draws (n) Isa 54. vers 7.8 the Light of his Countenance then David cries (o) Psal 6.3.2 Heal me O Lord for my Bones are vexed My Soul is also sore troubled but thou O Lord how long Then Job cries The terrors of God (p) Job 6 4. set themselves in Battle array against me the Poyson whereof drinks up my Spirits But then the Lord comes in in due season and he heals the broken in Heart and giveth Medicine to heal their Sickness and bindeth up their Wounds O happy those Sighs those Sobs which sin hath made in thy Soul when Christ himself shall come to bind them up Thus you see that of all services and sacrifices presented to God a broken and contrite Heart is most pleasing and acceptable The Reasons are chiefly two Reason 1 First Because it is a Spiritual sacrifice therefore an Acceptable Sacrifice It is not the Sacrifice of a dead Carkass 't is a living Sacrifice a broken Heart and a contrite Spirit The heart is the best of Man and a broken Heart is the best of Hearts I beseech you Brethren by the Mercies of God saith the Apostle That yee present your Bodies A LIVING Sacrifice Holy acceptable unto God which is your reasonable service Rom. 12.1 where the Apostle very pathetically useth an Obsecration an Obtestation a Compellation an Abjurgation and all to press this duty home upon their Conversations The duty is to present their bodies a living Sacrifice living without the Soul it cannot be For the body without the Spirit is dead John 6.69 James 2.26 Bodily exercise profits little if it be only bodily 1 Tim. 4.8 It is the Spirit that quickens the flesh profits nothing To offer this Spiritual Sacrifice the Apostle abjures them by the mercies of God I beseech you Brethren by the mercies of God The Apostle
might have said there 's a consuming fire there are everlasting burnings There 's a Hell an endless Damnation a place of the Damned and that must be your Eternal estate and condition the portion of your Cup if you present not your bodies a living Sacrifices to God But he doth adjure them and conjure them by the mercies of God to perform it What if Christ were here and said to thee Oh! Sinner come lay thy Heart in my lap and I will bind up the Wounds of thy Soul I will welcome thee and I will save thee Would not this ravish our hearts to hear a tender Saviour so lovingly inviting us so graciously promising us There 's nothing can break a Soul more in an Evangelical way than the sight * 2 Cor. 7.10 Zach. 12 10. and sense of God's mercy in Jesus Christ As Naturallists observe That the warm Blood of a Goat doth soften an Adamant-Stone so doth the serious consideration of the warm Blood of Jesus Christ our scape-goate soften an Adamant-heart But more of this amongst the means and directions * Direction the sixth for getting a broken Heart Reason 2 Secondly Of all Services and Sacrifices presented to God a broken and contrite Heart is most pleasing and acceptable because 't is a Believing Sacrifice Faith and Repentance like Hypocrates Twins are born and bred together in the sacred Womb of a sanctified Soul Zach. 12.10 It was promised concerning Evangelical Converts I will pour upon the House of David and up the Inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and of supplication and they shall look on 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 is in bitterness for his first-born Isa 42.1 Christ is called Him in whom the Father delights God proclaimed him from Heaven to be his only beloved Son in whom he is well pleased Mat. 3. ult Mat. 17.5 not only pleased with him but also pleased in him with all broken-hearted Sinners they must needs then be the delight of the Lord also Thus I have done with Confirmation and come in the last place to Application Use Let us labour to get and keep to attain and maintain such a heart all our dayes And here for Methods sake and your better Understanding I shall endeavour to shew you these three things 1. The particular Acts of a broken and contrite Heart 2. The most infallible marks and signs of a broken and contrite Heart 3. The most probable means both to attain and maintain such a heart all your dayes That your end may be blessed 1. The Acts of a broken and contrite Heart There are eight acts of a broken contrite Heart First A powerful conviction of the heart and conscience of our sinful estate and miserable condition caused by the preaching of the Word outwardly and by the working of the Spirit inwardly when God sets our sins in order before us and makes us know our Abominations Psal 50.21 How many are mine Iniquities and my sins make me to know mine Iniquity and my sins Job 13.23 Act. 2 Secondly an in ward sorrow of the heart in the sight and sense of sin when the eye doth affect the heart Lam. 3.51 when upon the Discoveries of sin the heart is prick'd with compunction and godly contrition Acts 2.37 There is not the least sin we have committed but will fetch a tear from our eyes and a sigh from our hearts if we weigh and consider it as we ought It grieves the Holy Spirit of God it procured the Death of Christ Let us therefore look upon him whom we have pierced by our sins and weep over him Zech. 12.10 Act. 3 Thirdly Humiliation of the inward man in the sight and sense of sin O Lord I am but dust and * Gen. 18 27 ashes said Father Abraham I am less (r) Gen. 32.10 than the least of all thy Mercies said the Patriarch Jacob. I am not worthy to be called thy Son said (s) Luke 15.19 the Prodigal I am not worthy (t) John 1.27 to stoope down and unloose his shooes Latchet said John the Baptist concerning our blessed Saviour Blessed are the Poor in spirit For theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven Mat. 5.3 Oh! How vile and base doth a broken-hearted sinner (v) Job 40.4 42.6 Prov. 30 2. Luke 1.48 seem in his own eyes To such will God be gracious He gives grace to the humble 1 Pet. 5.5 Act. 4 Fourthly An Holy anger and Indignation both against our sins and against our selves for our sins A pregnant place to this purpose is that in Ezek. 6.9 They that escaped of you shall remember me among the Nations whither they shall be carried Captive because I am broken with their Whorish heart which hath departed from me and with their eyes which go a Whoring after their Idols and they shall (w) Be displeased with themselves loath themselves for the Evils which they have committed in all their Abominations And the Apostle speaks of godly sorrow and of the qualities of it amongst the rest he mentions Indignation against sin Indignations 2 Cor. 7.11 What Indignations Such as was in Ephraim bemoaning himself and lamenting his sin who smote upon his Thigh scil in token of Indignation and an Holy Anger against his sin and himself for his sin Jer. 31.18 19. Fifthly Act. 5 An Holy shame of the Soul when the Soul doth blush upon the inward sight and sense of sin A pregnant place to this purpose Ezra 9.6 where that Holy man in his Confession thus speaks O my God I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to thee my God For our Iniquities are increased over our heads and our Trespasses are grown up to the very Heavens Note Another pregnant Scripture to this purpose is Jer. 31. vers 19. I have heard Ephraim bemoaning himself thus surely * Mark the Phrase after I was turned I repented and after I was instructed I smote upon my Thigh I was ashamed yea even confounded because I did bear the Reproach of my Youth Ezek. 16.61 Then shalt thou remember thy wayes and be ashamed Act. 6 Sixthly An inward Loathing and Detestation of sin both in our selves and others We read of Amnon that after he had Ravished his Sister Tamar the hatred with which he hated her was more than the Love wherewith he loved her before 2 Sam. 13.15 So doth the broken hearted-sinner hate sin more than ever he loved it in times past He hates it with an exceeding bitter hatred I hate and abhor Lying Psal 119.163 I hate every false way vers 104. Yee that love the Lord see that ye hate the thing which is Evil Psal 97.10 Abhor that which is Evil c. Rom. 12.9 Act. 7 Seventhly A most strict and firm resolution against all manner of sin for time to come A pregnant Text Ezra 10. vers 2.3 when