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
They are his Throne and Footstool but he doth not say They have taken or ravisht his heart No 't is those that are of a Contrite Spirit do this But there is yet more in the words To this man will I look that is For this man will I care about this man will I camp I will put this man under my Protection for so to look to one doth sometimes signifie and I take the meaning in this place to be such Prov 27. 23. Jer. 39. 12. Chap. 40. 4. The Lord upholdeth all that fall and raiseth up all that are bowed down Psalm 145. 14. And the Broken Hearted are of this number wherefore he careth for campeth about and hath set his Eyes upon such an one for good This therefore is a second demonstration to prove That the man that hath his Spirit rightly broken his Heart truly Contrite is of great esteem with God. Thirdly Yet further God doth not only prefer such an one as has been said before heaven and earth but He loveth He desireth to have that man for an Intimate for a Companion He must dwell He must Co-habit with him that is of a Broken Heart with such as are of a Contrite Spirit For thus saith the high and lofty one that inhabiteth Eternity whose name is Holy I dwell in the high and holy place with him also that is of a contrite and humble Spirit c. Isa. 57. 15. Behold here both the Majesty and Condescention of the high and lofty One His Majesty in that he is high and the inhabiter of Eternity I am the high and lofty One saith he I inhabit Eternity Verily this consideration is enough to make the broken hearted man creep into a Mouse-hole to hide himself from such a Majesty But behold his Heart his condescending Mind I am for dwelling also with him that hath a broken heart with him that is of a contrite Spirit That 's the man that I would converse with that 's the man with whom I will Co-habit that is He saith God. I will choose for my Companion For to desire to dwell with one supposeth all these things and verily of all the men in the world none have acquaintance with God none understand what Communion with him and what his teachings mean but such as are of a Broken and Contrite Heart He is nigh to them that are of a broken Spirit Psalm 34. 18. These are they intended in the 14 Psalm where 't is said The Lord looked down from Heaven to see if any did understand and seek God that he might find some body in the world with whom he might converse for indeed there is none else that either understand or that can tend to hearken to him God as I may say is forced to break mens Hearts before he can make them willing to cry to him or be willing that he should have any concerns with them the rest shut their Eyes stop their Ears withdraw their Hearts or say unto God Be gon Job 21. But now the broken in heart can tend it he has leasure yea leasure and will and understanding and all and therefore he is a fit man to have to do with God There is room also in this mans House in this mans Heart in this mans Spirit for God to dwell for God to walk for God to set up a Kingdom Here therefore is suitableness Can two walk together saith God except they are agreed Amos 33. The Broken Hearted desireth Gods Company when wilt thou come unto me saith he The Broken Hearted loveth to hear God speak and talk to him Here is a suitableness Cause me saith he to hear Joy and Gladness that the Bones which thou hast broken may rejoyce Psal. 51. 8. But here lies the glory In that the high and lofty One the God that inhabiteth Eternity and that has a High and Holy Place for his Habitation should choose to dwell with and to be a companion of the Broken in Heart and of them that are of a Contrite Spirit yea and here also is great comfort for such Fourthly God doth not only prefer such a heart before all Sacrifices nor esteem such a man above heaven and earth nor yet only desire to be of his acquaintance but he reserveth for him his chief comforts his Heart Reviving and Soul-Cherishing Cordials I dwell saith he with such to revive them and to support and comfort them to revive the spirit of the Humble and to revive the heart of the Conirite Ones Isa. 57. 15. The broken hearted man is a fainting man he has his qualms his sinking fits he oftimes dies away with pain and fear he must be stayed with Flaggons and comforted with Apples or else he can't tell what to do He pines he pines away in his Iniquity nor can any thing keep him alive and make him well but the Comforts and Cordials of Almighty God Wherefore with such an one God will dwell to revive the Heart to revive the Spirit To revive the spirit of the humble and to revive the heart of the contrite ones Ezek. 33. 10 11. God has Cordials but they are to comfort them that are cast down 2 Cor. 7. 6. And such are the Broken Hearted As for them that are whole they need not the Physitian Mark 1. 17. They are the broken in Spirit that stand in need of Cordials Physitians are men of no esteem but with them that feel their Sickness and this is one Reason why God is so little accounted of in the World even because they have not been made sick by the wounding stroke of God. But now when a mau is wounded has his Bones broken or is made sick and laid at the Graves mouth Who is of that esteem with him as is an able Physitian VVhat is so much desired as is the Cordials Comfots and sutable Supplies of the skilful Physician in those matters And thus it is with the Broken Hearted he needs and God has prepared for him plenty of the Comforts and Cordials of Heaven to succour and releive his sinking Soul. Wherefore such a one lieth under all the Promises that have Succour in them and Consolation for men Sick and Disponding under the sense of Sin and the heavy wrath of God And they says God shall be refreshed and revived with them Yea They are designed for them he hath therefore Broken their Hearts he hath therefore wounded their Spirits that he might make them apt to relish his reviving Cordials that he might minister to them his reviving Comforts For indeed so soon as he hath Broken His Bowels yearn and his Compassions roul up and down within him and will not suffer him to abide Afflicting Ephraim was one of these but so so on as God had smitten him behold his heart how it works toward him Is Ephraim saith he my dear Son that is he is so Is he a pleasant Child that is he is so for since I spake against him I do earnestly remember him still therefore my bowels
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
way for the Womans company the act of Adultry and bloody Murder Take heed therefore Brethren lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of Sin. Heb. 3. 12 13. And remember that he that will rend the block puts the thin end of the wedge first thereto and so by driving does his work 5. Take heed of Evil Examples among the Godly learn of no man to do that which the word of God forbids Sometimes Satan makes use of a good mans bad ways to spoile and harden the heart of them that come after Peter's false doing had like to have spoiled Barnabas yea and several others more Wherefore take heed of men of good mens ways and measure both theirs and thine own by no other rule but the holy Word of God. Gal. 2. 11 12 13. 6. Take heed of Unbelief or Atheistical thoughts make no question of the truth and reality of Heavenly things For know Unbelief is the worst of Evils nor can the heart be Tender that nourisheth or gives place unto it Take heed therefore least there be in any of you an evil heart of Unbelief in departing from the Living God Heb. 3. 12. These Cautions are necessary to be observed with all diligence of all them that would when their Heart is made Tender keep it so And now to come to the Directions 1. Labour after a deep knowledge of God to keep it warm upon thy heart Knowledge of his Presence that is every where Do not I fill Heaven and Earth saith the Lord Jer. 23. 24. 2. Knowledge of his piercing Eye That it runneth too and srow thorough the Earth beholding in every place the Evil and the Good. That his Eyes behold and his Eye lids try the Children of Men. Prov. 15. 3. 3. The knowledge of his Power that he is able to turn and dissolve Heaven and Earth into dust and ashes and that they are in his hand but as a Scrole or Vesture Heb. 1 11 12. 4 The knowledge of his Justice that the rebukes of it are as devouring Fire Heb. 12 29. 5. The knowledge of his Faithfulness in fulfilling Promises to them to whom they are made and of his threatnings on the Impenitent Mat. 5. 18. Chap. 24. 35. Mark 13. 31. Secondly Labour to get and keep a deep sence of Sin in its Evil Nature and in its Soul-destroying Effects upon thy heart be perswaded that it is the only Enemy of God and that none hate or are hated of God but through that 1. Remember it turned Angels into Devils thrust them down from Heaven to Hell. 2. That it is the chain in which they are held and bound over to Judgment 2 Pet. 2 4. Jud. 6. 3. That 't was for that that Adam was turned out of Paradice That for which the Old World was Drowned That for which Sodom and Gomorrah was burned with Fire from Heaven And that which cost Christ his Blood to Redeem thee from the curse it has brought upon thee And that if any thing will keep thee out of Heaven for Ever and Ever 4. Consider the pains of Hell Christ makes use of that as an argument to keep the heart tender yea to that end repeats and repeats and repeats both the Nature and durableness of the burning Flame thereof and of the gnawing of the never-dying-worm that dwells there Mar. 9. 43 44 45 46 47 48. Thirdly Consider of Death both as to the certainty of thy dying and uncertainty of the time when We must dye we must needs dye our days are determined the number of our months are with God tho not with us nor can we pass them would we had we them give a thousand worlds to do it 2 Sam. 14. 14. Job 7. 1. Chap. 1â— 1 2 3 4 5. Consider thou must dye but once I mean but once as to this world for if thou when thou goest hence do'st not dye well thou canst not come back again and dye better ' I is appointed unto all men once to dye and after this the Judgment Heb. 9. 27. Fourthly Consider also of the certainty and terribleness of the day of Judgment when Christ shall sit upon his Great White Throne when the dead shall by the sound of the Trump of God be raised up when the Elements with Heaven and Earth shall be on a burning Flame when Christ shall separate men one from another as a Shepherd divideth his Sheep from the Goats when the the Books shall be opened the Witness produced and every man be Judged according to his works when Heaven Gate shall stand open to them that shall be Saved and the Jaws of Hell stand gaping for them that shall be Damned Acts 7 30 31. Chap. 10. 42. Matt. 25. 30 31. Revel 2. 11. 1 Cor. 15. 51 52. Revel 20. 12. 2 Pet. 3. 7 10 12. Mat. 25. 32. Rom. 2. 15 16. Revel 22. 12. Matt. 25. 34 41. Revel 20. 15. Fifthly Consider Christ Jesus did use no means to harden his heart against doing and suffering those sorrows which were necessary for the Redemption of thy Soul No though he could have hardened his heart against thee in the way of Justice and Righteousness because thou hadst Sinned against him he rather awakened himself and put on all Pity Bowels and Compassion yea Tender Mercies and did it In his Love and in his Pity he saved us His Tender Mercies from on high hath visited us He loved us and gave himself for us Learn then of Christ to be Tender of thy self and to endeavour to keep thy Heart Tender to Godward and to the Salvation of thy Soul. But to draw to a Conclusion The USE LEt us now then make some use of this Doctrine As First From the truth of the matter namely That the man who is truly come to God has had his Heart Broken his Heart Broken in order to his coming to him and this shews us what to judge of the league that is between Sin and the Soul to wit that it is so firm so strong so inviolable as that nothing can break disannul or make it void unless the heart be broken for it 'T was so with David yea his new league with it could not be broken until his heart was Broken. 'T is amazing to Consider what hold Sin has on some mens Souls Spirits Will and Affections 'T is to them better then Heaven better then God then the Soul ay then Salvation as is evident because tho all these are offered them upon this condition if they will but leave their Sins yet they will choose rather to abide in them to stand and fall by them How sayst thou Sinner Is not this a Truth How many times hast thou had Heaven and Salvation offer'd to thee freely wouldst thou but break thy league with this great enemy of God Of God do I say If thou wouldst but break this league with this great Enemy of thy Soul but couldest never yet be brought unto it No neither by Threatning nor by Promise couldst thou
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
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.