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
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
the Heart in Order to Salvation because a Man will not sincerely comply with the means conducing thereunto until his Heart is broken For First Man take him as he comes into the World as to Spirituals as to Evangelical Things in which mainly lies Man's Eternal Felicity and there he is as one Dead and so Stupified and wholly in himself as unconcerned with it Nor can my Call nor Admonition that has not a Heart-breaking-Power attending of it bring him to a due Consideration of his present State and so unto an effectual Desire to be Saved Many ways God has Manifested this 1. He has threatned Men with Temporal Judgments yea sent such Judgments upon them once and again over and over but they will not do What says he I have given you cleanness of Teeth in all your Cities I have with holden the Rain from you I have smitten you with Blasting and Mildew I have sent among you the Pestilence I have overthrew some of you as God Overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah Yet have ye not not returned unto me saith the Lord Amos 4. 6 7 8 9 10 11. See here Here is Judgment upon Judgment Stroke after Stroke Punishment after Punishment but all will not do unless the Heart is broken Yea another Prophet seems to say that such things instead of converting the Soul sets it further off If Heart-breaking Work attend such strokes Why should ye be striken any more says he Ye will Revolt more and more Isa. 1. 5. Man's Heart is Fenced it is grown Gross there is a Skin that like a Coat of Male has wrapp'd it up and enclosed it on every side This Skin this Coat of Male unless it be cut off and taken away the Heart remains untouched whole and so as unconcerned whatever Judgments or Afflictions light upon the Body Mat. 13. 15. Acts 28. 27. This which I call the Coat of Male the Sence of the Heart has two great Names in Scripture It is called the Fore-skin of the Heart and the Armour in which the Devil trusteth Deut. 10. 16. Luke 11. 22. Because these Shield and Fence the Heart from all Gospel Doctrine and from all legal Punishments nothing can come at it till these are removed Therefore in Order unto Conversion the Heart is said to be Circumcised that is this Fore-skin is taken away and this Coat of Male is spoiled I will Circumcise thy Heart saith he to love the Lord thy God with all thy Heart and then the Devils Goods are spoiled that thou mayest live Deut. 30. 6. Luke 11. 22. And now the Heart lies open now the Word will prick cut and pierce it and it being cut prick'd and pierced it bleeds it faints it falls and dies at the Foot of God unless it is supported by the Grace and love of God in Jesus Christ. Conversion you know begins at the Heart but if the Heart be so secured by Sin and Satan as I have said all Judgments are while that is so in vain Hence Moses after he had made a long Relation of Mercy and Judgment unto the Children of Israel suggests that yet the great thing was wanting to them and that thing was An Heart to perceive and Eyes to see and Ears to hear unto that Day Deut. 29. 2. 3. Their Hearts were as yet not touched to the quick were not awakened and wounded by the the Holy Word of God and made tremble at its Truth and Terrour But I say before the Heart be touched prick'd made smart c. How can 〈◊〉 be thought be the Danger never so great that it should Repent Cry Bow and Break at the Foot of God and Supplicate there for Mercy And yet thus it must do for thus God has Ordained and thus God has appointed it nor can Men be saved without it But I say Can a Man Spiritually Dead a stupid Man whose Heart is past feeling do this before he has his dead and stupid Heart awakened to see and feel its State and Misery without it But Secondly Man take him as he comes into the World and how wise soever he is in Worldly and Temporal Things He is yet a Fool as to that which is Spiritual and Heavenly Hence he says The Natural Man receiveth not the things that are of the Spirit of God for they are foolishness to him because he is indeed a Fool to them neither says the Text can he know them for they are spiritually descerned 1 Cor. 2. 14. But how now Must this Fool be made Wise VVhy VVisdom must be put into his Heart Job 38. 36. Now none can put it there but God and how doth he put it there but by making room there for it by taking away the thing which hinders which is that Folly and Madness which naturally dwelleth there But how doth he take that away but by a severe Chastising of his Soul for it until he has made him weary of it The Whip and Stripes are provided for the Natural Fool and so it is for him that is Spiritually so Prov. 19. 20. Solomon intimates that 't is a hard thing to make a Fool become wise Though thou shouldest bray a Fool in a Mortar among Wheat with a Pestil yet will not his Foolishness depart from him Prov. 27. 22. By this it appears that it is a hard thing to make a Fool a Wise Man. To bray one in a Morter is a dreadful thing to bray one there with a Pestil and yet it seems a Whip a Morter and a Pestil is the way And if this is the way to make one Wise in this World and if all this will hardly do how must the Foo◠that is so in Spirituals be whip'd and beaten and striped before he is made wise therein Yea his Heart must be put into God's Morter and must be beaten yea Brayed there with the Pestil of the Law before it loves to hearken unto Heavenly Things It is a great Word in Jeremiah Thorough Deceit th 〈…〉 is Folly they refuse to know 〈…〉 saith the Lord. And what follows Why Therefore th 〈…〉 saith the Lord behold I will 〈…〉 them and try them that is wit◠Fire for how shall I do for the Daughter of my People Jer. 9. 6 7. I will melt them I will put them into my Furnace and there I will try them and there I will make them know me saith the Lord. When David was under spiritual Chastisement for his Sin and had his Heart under the breaking Hand of God Then he said God should make him know Wisdom Psal. 51. 6. Now he was in the Morter now he was in the Furnace now he was bruised and melted yea now his Bones his Heart was breaking and now his Folly was departing Now says he Thou shalt make me to know Wisdom If I know any thing of the way of God with US Fools there is nothing else will make us wise Men yea a Thousand Breakin gs will not make ùs so wise as we should be We say Wisdom is
to 2 Sam. 7. 18. But we must still know that this broken tender Heart is not a Plant that grows in our own Soil but is the peculiar gift of God himself He that made the Heart must break the heart We may be under heart-breaking Providences and yet the heart remain altogether unbroken as it was with Pharach whose heart though it was under the Hammers of ten terrible Judgments immediately succeeding one another yet continued hardened against God. The Heart of Man is harder than Hardness it self till God softneth and breaks it Men move not they relent not let God thunder never so terribly let God in the greatest earnest cast abroad his Firebrands Arrows and Death in the most dreadful representations of Wrath and Judgment yet still man trembles not nor is any more astonished than if in all this God were but in jest till he comes and falls to work vvith him and forces him to cry out What have I done What shall I do Therefore let us have recourse to him vvho as he gives the new heart so also therevvith the broken heart And let mens hearts be never so hard if God comes once to deal effectually vvith them they shall become mollified and tender as it vvas vvith those hardned Jews vvho by vvicked and cruel hands murdered the Lord of Life though they stouted it out a great vvhile yet hovv suddenly vvhen God brought them under the Hammer of his Word and Spirit in Peter's powerful Ministry vvere they broken and being pricked in their hearts cryed out Men and Brethren what shall we do Acts 2. 37. And the like instance vve have in the Jailor vvho vvas a most barbarous hard hearted vvretch yet vvhen God came to deal vvith him he Was soon tamed and his heart became exceeding soft and tender Act. 16. 29 30. Men may speak long enough and the heart not at all be moved but The voice of the Lord is powerful the voice of the Lord is full of Majesty and breaketh the Rocks and Cedars He turns the Rock into a standing Water the Flint into a Fountain of Waters And this is a Glorious work indeed that Hearts of Stone should be disolved and melted into waters of Godly Sorrow working Repentance not to be Repented of 2 Cor. 7. 10. When God speaks Effectually the stoutest Heart must melt and yield Wait upon God then for the Softning thy Heart and avoid whatsoever may be a means of Hardening it as the Apostle cautions the Hebrews Take heed least ye be Hardened through the deceitfulness of Sin. Heb. 3. 1â— Sin is Deceitful and will Harden all those that indulge it the more Tender any man is to his Lust the more will he be Hardened by it There is a native Hardness in every mans Heart and though it may be softned by Gospel means yet if those means be afterwards neglected the Heart will fall to its Native Hardness again as it is with the Wax and the Clay Therefore how much doth it behoove us to keep close to God in the use of all Gospel means whereby our Hearts being once softened may be alwayes kept so Which is best done by Repeating the use of those means which were at first blessed for the Softning of them The following Treatise may be of great use to the People of God through his Blessing accompanying it to keep their hearts Tender and Broken when so many after their hardness and impenitent heart are treasuring up Wrath against the day of Wrath. Rom. 2. 5. O let none who peruse this Book herd with that generation of Hardened Ones but be a companion of all those that mourn in Zion and whose hearts are Broken for their own the Churches and the Nations Provocations who indeed are the only likely ones that will stand in the gap to divert Judgments When Shishack King of Egypt with a great Host came up against Judah and having taken their Frontier fenced Cities they sat down before Jerusalem which put them all under a great Consternation but the King and Princes upon this humble themselves the Lord sends a Gracious Message to them by Shemajah the Prophet the import whereof was That because they humbled themselves the Lord would not destroy them nor pour out his Wrath upon them by the hand of Shishak 2 Chr. 12. 5 6 7. The greater the Party is of Mourning Christians the more hope we have that the Storm impending may be blown over and the Blessings enjoyed may yet be continued As long as there is a Sighing Party we may hope to be yet Preserved at least such will have the Mark set upon them selves which shall distinguish them from those whom the Slaughtermen shall receive Commission to destroy Ezek. 9. 4. But I shall not further enlarge the Porch as designing to make way for the Readers Entrance into the House where I doubt not but he will be pleased with the Furniture and Provision he finds in it And I shall only further assure him that this whole Book was not only prepared for but also put unto the Press by the Author himself whom the Lord was pleased to Remove to the great Loss and unexpressible Grief of many precious Souls before the sheets could be all wrought off And now as I hinted in the beginning that what was Transcribed out of the Author's heart into the Book may be Transcribed out of the Book into the hearts of all who shall Peruse it is the Desire and Prayer of Sept. 21. 1699. A Lover and Honourer of all Saints as such George Cokayn THE Acceptable Sacrifice OR THE EXCELLENCY OF A BROKEN HEART Psal. 51. 17. â—he Sacrifices of God are a Broken Spirit A Broken and a Contrite Heart O God thou wilt not despise THis Psalm is David's Penitential Psalm It may be be fitly so called because it is a Psalm â—y which is manifest the Unâ—eigned Sorrow which he had for his horrible Sin in 〈◊〉 of Bethsheba and slaying Uriah her Husband A Relation at large of which you have in the 11th and 12th of the Second of Samuel Many workings of Heart as this Psalm sheweth this poor man had so soon as Conviction did fall upon his Spirit one while he cries for Mercy then he confesses his heinous Offences then he bewails the depravity of his Nature sometimes he cries out to be Washed and Sanctified and then again he is affraid that God will cast him away from his Presence and take his Holy Spirit utterly from him And thus he goes on till he comes to the Text and there he stayeth his mind finding in himself that Heart and Spirit which God did not dislike The Sacrifices of God says he are a broken Spirit as if he should say I thank God I have that A Broken and a Contrite Heart saith he O God thou wilt not despise as if he should say I thank God I have that The Words consist of Two Parts 1. An Assertion 2. A Demonstration of that Assertion The Assertion is this The
compared to the breaking of the Bones but because as when the bones are broken the outward man is disabled as to what it was wont to do so when the spirit is broken the inward man is disabled as to what Vanity and Folly it before delighted in hence Feebleness is joyned with this brokenness of heart I am feeble saith he and sore broken I have lost my strength and former vigor as to vain and sinful courses Psalm 38. 8. This then it is to have the heart Broken namely to have it â—amed Disabled and taken off by sence of Gods wrath due to Sin from that course of life it formerly was conversant in and to shew that this work is no fancy nor done but with great trouble to the Soul it is compared to the putting the Bones out of joynt the breaking of the Bones the burning of the Bones with Fire or as the taking the natural Moisture from the Bones The vexing of the Bones c. Psal. 22. 14. Jer. 20. 9. Lam. 1. 13. Psal. 6. 2. Prov. 17. 22. All which are Expressions adorned with such Similitudes as do undeniably declore that to Sence and Feeling a broken Heart is a grievous thing Secondly What is meant by the Word CONTRITE A Contrite Spirit is a Renitent 〈…〉 one sorely grieved and deeply sorrowful for the Sins it has committed against God and to the Damage of the Soul and so iâ— is to be taken in all those places where a contrite Spirit is made mention of As in Psal. 34. 18. Isa. 57. 15. Chap. 66. 2. As a Man that has by his Folly procured a broken Legg or Arm is heartily sorry that ever he was so foolish as to be engaged in such foolish Ways of Idleness and Vanity So he whose Heart is broken with a sence of God's Wrath due to his Sin hath deep sorrow in his Soul and is greatly Repentant that ever he should be such a Fool as by Rebellious doings to bring himself and his Soul to so much sharp Affliction Hence while others are sporting themselves in Vanity such a one doth call his Sin his greatest Folly My wounds stink and are corrupt said David because of my Foolishness And again O God thou knowest my Foolishness and my Sins are not hiâ— from thee Psal. 38. 5. Psal. 69. Men what e'er they say with 〈…〉 eir Lips cannot Conclude 〈…〉 yet their Hearts want breaking 〈…〉 at Sin is a foolish thing Hence 〈…〉 says The foolishness of Fools is 〈…〉 eir folly Prov. 14. 24. That is the foolishness of 〈…〉 me Men is that they take pleasure in their Sins for their 〈…〉 ns are their Foolishness and 〈…〉 e folly of their Soul lies in their Countenancing of this Foolishness But the Man whose Heart 〈…〉 broken he is none of these â—e cannot be one of these no â—ore than he that has his Bones 〈…〉 oken can rejoyce that he is de 〈…〉 red to play a Match at Football â—ence to hear others talk foo 〈…〉 shly is to the grief of those whom God has wounded Or 〈…〉 it is in another place Their â—ords are like the piercings of a Sword Psal. 69. 26. Prov. 12. 〈…〉 This therefore I take to 〈…〉 the meaning of these two Wordâ— A Broken and a Contrite Spirit Fourthly and lastly As to 〈…〉 I now come more particularly to give you some Signs of a Brokâ—â— Heart of a broken and a contri 〈…〉 Spirit First A Broken-hearted-maâ— such as is intended in the Tex 〈…〉 is a sensible Man He is broug 〈…〉 to the Exercise of all the Se 〈…〉 of his Soul. All others are dea 〈…〉 sensless and without true feeâ— ing of what the Broken-hearteâ— man is sensible of 1. He SEES himself to 〈…〉 what others are ignorant o 〈…〉 that is he sees himself to be n 〈…〉 only a sinful man but a 〈…〉 by Nature in the Gall and Bo 〈…〉 of Sin. In the Gall of Sin is Peter's Expression to Sim 〈…〉 and it is a saying common to 〈…〉 men For every man in a State of Nature is in the Gall of Sin. He was shapen in it conceived in it it has also Possession of and by that Possession infected the whole of his Soul and Body Psal. 51. 5. Act. 8. 23. This he sees this he understands every Professor sees not this because the Blessing of a broken Heart is not bestowed on every one David says There is no soundness in my Flesh. And Solomon suggests that a Plague or running Sore is in the very Heart but every one perceive not this Psal. 38. 3. 1 King. 8. 38. He saith again That his Wounds stank and were Corrupted that his Sore ran and ceased nâ—t Psal. 38. 5. Psal. 77. 2. But these things the 〈◊〉 Man the Man whose Heart was never broken has no Understanding of But the Broken-hearted the Man that has a broken Spirit he sees as the Prophet has it he sees his Sickness he sees his Wound when Ephraim saw his Sickness and Judah saw his Wound Hos. 5. 13. he sees it to his grief he see it to his sorrow 2. He FEELS what others have no sence of He feels the Arrows of the Almighty and that they stick fast in him He feels how sore and sick by the smiting of God's Hammer upon his Heart to break it his poor Soul is made He feels a burden intollerable lying upon his Spirit Mine Iniquities saith he are gone over my Head as an heavy Burden they are too heavy for me He feels also the heavy hand of God upon his Soul a thing unknown to Carnal Men. Psal. 38. 2. Hos. 6. 13. Psal. 38. 4. He feels Pain being wounded even such Pain as others cannot understand because they are not broken My Heart says David is sore pained within me Why so Why The Terrors of Death are fallen upon me The Terrors of Death causes Pain yea Pain of the highest Nature Hence that which is here called Pains is in another place called Pangs Psal. 55. 4. Isa. 21. â— You know broken Bones occasion Pain strong Pain yea Pain that will make a Man or Woman Groan with the Groaning of a deadly wounded Man Ezek. 30. 24. Soul-Pain is the sorest Pain in comparison to which the Pain of the Body is a very tolerable thing Prov. 18. 14. Now here is Soul-Pain here is Heart-Pain here we are discoursing of a Wounded of a Broken Spirit Wherefore this is Pain to be felt to the sinking of the whole Man neither can any support this but God. Here is Death in this Pain Death for ever without God's special Mercy This Pain will bring the Soul to and this the Broken-hearted man doth feel The Sorrows of Death said David Compassed me about and the Pains of Hell got hold upon me and I found Trouble and Sorrow Psal. 116. Aye I 'll warrant thee poor Man thou foundest Trouble and Sorrow indeed For the Pains of Hell and Sorrows of Death are Pains and Sorrow the most intollerable But this the Man is
then if at all they will be sorry and dejected at the View of their own Defects This is the case Men by Sin are marr'd spoil'd corrupted depraved but they dwell by themselves in the dark they see neither God nor Angel nor Saint in their excellent Nature and Beauty and therefore they are apt to count even their own uncomly parts their Ornaments and their Glory But now let such as I said see God see Saints or the Ornaments of the Holy Ghost and themselves as they are without them and then they cannot but must be affected with and sorry for their own Deformity When the Lord CHRIST put forth but little of his Excellency before his Servant Peter's Face it raised up the Depravity of Peter's Nature before him to his great Confusion and Shame and made him cry out to him in the midst of all his Fellows Depart from me for I am a sinful Man O Lord Luke 5. 4 5 6 7 8. This therefore is the cause of a Broken Heart even a sight of Divine Excellencies and a Sence that I am a poor depraved spoiled defiled Wretch And this sight having broken the Heart begets sorrow in the Broken-hearted 2. The Broken-hearted is a sorrowful Man for that he finds his Depravity of Nature strong in him to the putting forth it self to oppose and overthrow what his changed Mind doth prompt him to When I would do Good said Paul Evil is present withe me Rom. 7. 21. Evil is present to oppose to resist and make Head against the desires of my Soul. The Man that has his Bones broken may have yet a Mind to be industriously Occupied in a lawful and honest Calling but he finds by Experience that an Infirmity attends his present Condition that strongly resists his good Endeavours And at this he shakes his Head makes Complaints and with sorrow of Heart he sighs and says I cannot do the thing that I would Rom. 7. 15. Gal. 5. 17. I am weak I am feeble I am not only Depraved but by that Depravity Deprived of Ability to put good Motions good Intentions and Desires into Execution to Compleatness O says he I am ready to halt my Sorrow is continually before me You must know the Broken-hearted loves God loves his Soul loves Good and hates Evil. Now for such an one to find in himself an Opposition and continual Contradiction to this holy Passion it must needs cause Sorrow Godly Sorrow as the Apostle Paul calls it For such are made sorry after a godly sort To be sorry for that thy Nature is with Sin depraved and that through this Depravity thou art deprived of Ability to do what the Word and thy holy Mind doth prompt thee to is to be sorry after a godly sort For this Sorrow worketh that in thee of which thou wilt never have cause to Repent no not to Eternity 2 Cor. 7. 9 10 11. 3. The Broken-hearted Man is sorry for those Breaches that by Reason of the depravity of his Nature is made in his Life and Conversation And this was the Case of the Man in our Text. The vileness of his Nature had broken out to the defiling of his Life and to the making of him at this time base in Conversation This this was it that all to brake his Heart He saw in this he had dishonoured God and that cut him Against thee thee only have I sinned and done this Evil in thy Sight Psal. 51. 4. He saw in this he had caused the Enemies of God to open their Mouths and Blaspheme and this cut him to the Heart This made him cry I have sinned against thee Lord This made him say I will declare mine Iniquity I will be sorry for my Sin Psal. 38. 18. When a man is designed to do a matter when his Heart is set upon it and the Broken-hearted doth design to glorifie God an Obstruction to that Design the spoyling of this Work makes him Sorrowful Hannah coveted Children but could not have them and this made her a Woman of a sorrowful Spirit 1 Sam. 1. 15. A Broken-hearted Man would be well inwardly and do that which is well outwardly but he feels he finds he sees he is prevented prevented at least in part This makes him sorrowful in this he Groans groans earnestly being burdened with his Imperfections 2 Cor. 5. 1 2 3. You know one with broken Bones has Imperfections many and is more sensible of them too as was said afore than any other Man and this makes him sorrowful yea and makes him conclude That he shall go softly all his days in the Bitterness of his Soul Isa. 57. 15. Thirdly The Man with a broken Heart is a very Humble Man or true Humility is a sign of a Broken Heart Hence Brokenness of Heart Contrition of Spirit and Humbleness of Mind are put together To revive the Heart of the humble and to revive the Spirit of the Contrite Ones Isa. 57. 15. To follow our Similitude Suppose a Man while in bodily Health stout and strong and one that fears and cares for no Man yet let this Man have but a Leg or an Arm broken and his Courage is quell'd he is now so far off from hectoring of it with a Man that he is afraid of every little Child that doth but offer to touch him Now he will Court the most feeble that has ought to do with him to use him and handle him gently Now he is become a Child in Courage a Child in Fear and humbleth himself as a little Child Why thus it is with that Man that is of a Broken and Contrite Spirit Time was indeed he could hector even hector it with God himself saying What 's the Almighty that we should serve him Or what Profit shall I have if I keep his Commandments Job 21 15. Mal. 3. 13 14. Ay! But now his Heart is broken God has wrestled with him and given him a fall to the breaking of his Bones his Heart and now he Crouches now he Cringes now he begs of God that he will not only do him good but do it with tender Hands Have Mercy upon me O God said David yea according to the Multitude of thy TENDER Mercies blot out my Transgressions Psal. 51. 1. He stands as he sees not only in need of Mercy but of the tenderest Mercies God has several sorts of Mercies some more rough some more tender God can save a Man and yet have him a dreadful Way to Heaven This the Broken hearted sees and this the Broken-hearted dreads and therefore pleads for the tenderest sort of Mercies and here we read of his gentle dealing and that he is very pitiful and that he deals tenderly with his But the Reason of such Expressions no man knows but he that is Broken-hearted he has his Sores his running Sores his stinking Sores Wherefore he is pained and therefore covets to be handled tenderly Thus God has broken the Pride of his Spirit and humbled the Loftiness of Man. And his Humility
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.
not good till 't is bought and he that buys it according to the Intention of that Proverb usually smarts for it The Fool is Wise in his own Conceit wherefore there is a double difficulty attends him before he can be wise indeed Not only his Folly but his Wisdom must be removed from him and how shall that be but by a ripping up of his Heart by some sore Conviction that may shew him plainly that his Wisdom is his Folly and that which will undo him A Fool loves his Folly that is as Treasure so much is he in love with it Now then it must be a great thing that must make a Fool forsake his folly The foolish will not weigh not consider not compare Wisdom with their Folly. Folly is joy to him that is destitute of Wisdom As Dog returneth to his Vomit so a Fool returneth to his Folly. So loth are they when driven from it to let it go to let it depart from them Prov. 15. 21. Chap. 26. 11. Wherefore there must go a great deal to the making of a Man a Christian for as to that every Man 's a Fool yea the greatest Fool the most unconcerned Fool the most self-willed Fool of all Fools Yea one that will not be turned from his folly but by the breaking of his Heart David was one of these Fools Manassah was on of these Fools Saul otherwise called Paul was one of these Fools and so was I and that the biggest of all Thirdly Man Take him as he comes into the World and he is not only a Dead Man and a Fool but a Proud Man also Pride is one of those Sins that first sheweth it self to Children yea and it grows up with them and mixeth it self with all they do But it lies most hid most deep in Man as to his Soul Concerns For the Nature of Sin as Sin is not only to be Vile but to hide its Vileness from the Soul. Hence many think they do well when they sin Jonah thought he did well to be angry with God. The Pharisees thought they did well when they said Christ had a Devil and Paul thought verily that he ought to do many things against or contrary to the Name of Jesus which he also did with great Madness John 4. 9. John 8. 48. Acts 26. 9 10. And thus Sin puffs up Men with Pride and a Conceit of themselves that they are a a Thousand times better than they are Hence they think they are the Children of God when they are the Children of the Devil and that they are something as to Christianity when they neither are such nor know what it is that they must have to make them such John 8. 41 42 43 44. Gal. 6. 3. Now whence flows this but from Pride and a Self-conceit of themselves and that their State is good for another World when they are yet in their Sins and under the Curse of God Yea and this Pride is so strong and high and yet so hid in them that all the Ministers in the World cannot perswade them that this is Pride nor Grace in which they are so confident Hence they slight all Reproofs Rebukes Threatnings or Admonitions that are prest upon them to prevail with them to take heed that they be not herein deceived Hear ye saith the Prophet and give Ear be not Proud for the Lord hath spoken Jer. 13. 15. And if ye will not hear it my Soul shall weep in Secret for your Pride verse 17. And what was the Conclusion Why All the Proud Men stood out still and maintained their Resistance of God and his Holy Prophet Chap. 43. 2. Nor is there any thing that will prevail with these to the saving of their Souls until their Hearts are broken David after he had defiled Bath-sheba and slay'd her Husband yet boasted himself in his Justice and Holiness and would by all means have the man put to Death that had but taken the poor man's Lamb 2 Sam. 12. 1 2 3 4 5 6. When alas Poor Soul Himself was the great Transgressour But would he believe it No no he stood upon the vindicating of himself to be a just Doer nor would he be made to fall until Nathan by Authority from God did tell him that he was the Man whom himself had Condemned Thou art the Man said he At which Word his Conscience was awakened his Heart wounded and so his Soul made to fall under the Burthen of his Guilt at the Feet of the God of Heaven for Mercy Verse 7 8 9 10 11 12 13. Ah! Pride Pride Thou art that which holds many a man in the Chains of his Sins Thou art it thou cursed Self-conceit that keepest them from believing that their State is Damnable The Wicked thorough the Pride of his Countenance will not seek after God Psal. 10. 4. And if there is so much in the Pride of his Countenance what is there think you in the Pride of his Heart Therefore Job says It is to hide Pride from man and so to save his Soul from Hell That God Chasteneth him with Pain upon his Bâ—d until the Multitude of his Bones stick out and until his Life draws nigh to the Destroyer Job 33. 17 18 19 20 21 22. 'T is an hard thing to take a man off of his Pride and make him instead of trusting in and boasting of his Goodness Wisdom Honesty and the like to see himself a Sinner a Fool yea a man that is cruel as to his own Immortal Soul. Pride of Heart has a Power in it and is therefore compared to an Iron Sinew and an Iron Chain by which they are made stout and with which they are held in that stoutness to oppose the Lord and drive his Word from their Hearts Levit. â—6 19. Psal. 73. 6. This was the Sin of Devils and it is the Sin of Man and the Sin I say from which no man can be delivered until his Heart is broken and then his Pride is spoiled then he 'll be glad to yield If a man be Proud of his Strength or Manhood a broken Leg will maul him And if a man be proud of his Goodness a broken Heart will maul him because as has been said a broken Heart comes by the Discovery and charge of Sin by the Power of God upon the Conscience Fourthly Man take him as he comes into the World and he is not only a dead man a Fool and Proud but also Self-willed and Head-strong 2 Pet. 2. 10. A stubborn ungain Creature is man afore his Heart is broken Hence they are so often called Rebels Rebellious and Disobedient They will only do what they list All day long says God have I stretched out my Hand to a disobedient and gainsaying People And hence again they are compared to a Self-willed or Head-strong Horse that will in spight of his Rider rush into the Battle Every one says God turneth to his Course as the Horse rusheth into the Battle Jer. 8. 16. They say With
namely by the light of thy Countenance for that is the Plaister for a broken Heart Thou hast put Gladness in our Heart more than in the Time that their Corn and their Wine encreaseth Psal. 4. 1 6 7. O! A broken Heart can savour Pardon can savour the Consolations of the Holy Ghost Yea as a hungry or thirsty man prizes Bread and VVater in the want thereof so do the broken in Heart prize and set an high esteem on the things of the Lord Jesus His Flesh his Blood his Promise and the light of his Countenance are the only sweet things both to Scent and Taste to those that are of a wounded Spirit The full Soul loatheth the Honey-Comb the whole despise the Gospel they savour not the things that are of God. If twenty Men were to hear a Pardon Read and but one of those Twenty were condemned to die and the Pardon was for none but such which of these Men think you would taste the Sweetness of that Pardon they who were not or he that was Condemned The Condemned Man doubtless This is the Case in Hand The broken in Heart is a Condemned Man yea 't is sence of Condemnation with other things that has indeed broken his Heart nor is there any thing but sence of Forgiveness that can bind it up or heal it But could that heal it could he not taste truly taste or rightly relish this Forgiveness No. Forgiveness would be to him as it is to him that has not sence of want of it But I say what 's the Reason some so prize what others so despise since they both stand in need of the same Grace and Mercy of God in Christ Why the one sees and the other sees nothing of this woful miserable State. And thus have I shewed you the necessity of a Broken Heart 1. Man is Dead and must be Quickned 2. Man is a Fool and must be made Wise. 3. Man is Proud and must be Humbled 4. Man is Self-willed and must be Broken. 5. Man is Fearless and must be made to Consider 6. Man is a False Believer and must be Rectified 7. Man is a Lover of Sin and must be Weaned from it 8. Man is Wild and must be Tamed 9. Man Disrelishes the things of God and can take no savour in them until his Heart is Broken. And thus I have done with this and shall next come to the Reasons of the Point namely to shew you Why or how it comes to pass that a Broken Heart a Heart truly Contrite is to God such an Excellent thing That to him it is so we have proved by six Demonstrations What it is we have shewed by the six Signs thereof That it must be is manifest by those Nine Reasons but now urged And WHY it is with God or in his Esteem an Excellent Thing that is shewn by that which follows First A Broken Heart is the Handy-work of God an Heart of his OWN Preparing for his own Service It is a Sacrifice of his own providing of his providing for Himself As Abraham said in another Case God will provide himself a Lamb Gen. 22. 8. Hence it is said The Preparation of the Heart in Man c. is from the Lord. And again God maketh my Heart soft and the Almighty troubleth me Job 23. 16. The Heart as it is by Nature Hard Stupid and Impenitrable so it remains and so will remain until God as was said Bruiseth it with his Hammer and Melts it with his Fire The stony Nature of it is therefore said to be taken away of God. I will take away the stony Heart out of your Flesh and will give you saith he an Heart of Flesh Ezelâ— 36. 26. I will take away the stony Heart or the Stoniness or the the Hardness of your Heart and I will give you an Heart of Flesh that is I will make your Heart sensible soft wieldable governable and penitent Sometimes he bids Men rent their Hearts not because they can but to convince them rather that though it must be so they cannot do it So he bids them make themselves a New Heart and a New Spirit for the same purpose also for if God doth not Rent it it remains Unrent if God makes it not new it abides an old one still This is that that is meant by his Bending of Men for Himself and of his working in them that which is pleasing in his Sight Zach. 9. 13. The Heart Soul or Spirit as in it self as it came from God's Fingers a Precious Thing a thing in God's Account worth more than all the World this Heart Soul or Spirit Sin has hardened the Devil has bewitched the World has deceived This Heart thus beguiled God Coveteth and Desireth My Son faith he give me thy Heart and let thine Eyes observe my Ways Prov. 33. 26. This Man cannot do this thing for that his Heart has the Mastery of him will not but carry him after all manner of Vanity What now must be done Why God must take the Heart by Storm by Power and bring it to a Complyance with the Word But the Heart of it self will not it is deluded carried away to another than God. Wherefore God now betakes him to his Sword and brings down the Heart with Labour opens it and drives out the strong Man Armed that did keep it wounds it and makes it smart for its Rebellion that it may cry so he rectifies it for himself He maketh sore and bindeth up he Woundeth and his Hands make whole Job 5. 18. Thus having wrought it for himself it becomes his Habitation his Dwelling-place That Christ might dwell in your Heart by Faith. But I would not swerve from the thing in Hand I have told you a broken Heart is the handy-work of God a Sacrifice of his own Preparing a Material fitted for himself 1. By breaking of the Heart he openeth it and makes it a Receptacle for the Graces of his Spirit that 's the Cabinet when unlocked where God lays up the Jewels of the Gospel There he puts his Fear I will put my Fear in their Heart There he writes his Law I will write my Law in their Heart There he puts his Spirit I will put my Spirit within you Jer. 31. 31 32 33. Chap. 32. 39 40 41. Ezek. 36. 26 27. The Heart I say God chuses for his Cabinet There he hides his Treasure there is the Seat of Justice Mercy and of every Grace of God I mean when 't is Broken made Contrite and so Regulated by the Holy Word 2. The Heart when Broken is like sweet Gums and Spices when beaten For as such cast their fragrant Scent into the Nostrils of Men so the Heart when Broken casts its sweet Smells in the Nostrils of God. The Incense which was a Type of Prayer of Old was to be beaten or bruised and so to be burned in the Censer The Heart must be beaten or bruised and then the sweet Scent will come out even Groans and Cries
and Sighs for the Mercy of God which Cries c. to him area very Excellent thing and pleasing in his Nostrils Secondly A Broken Heart is in the sight of God an Excellent Thing Because a Broken Heart is submissive it falleth before God and giveth to him his Glory All this is true from a Multitude of Scriptures which I need not here mention Hence such an Heart is called an honest Heart a good Heart a perfect Heart a Heart fearing God and such as is sound in God's Statutes Now this cannot but be an Excellent Thing if we consider that by such a Heart unseigned Obedience is yielded unto him that calleth for it You have obeyed from the Heart says Paul to them at Rome that Form of Doctrine which was delivered unto you Rom. 6. Alas The Heart before 't is Broken and made Contrite is quite of another Temper 'T is not subject to the Law of God neither indeed can be The great stir before the Heart is broken is about who shall be Lord God or the Sinner True the right of dominion is the Lords but the Sinner will not suffer it but will be ALL himself saying Who is Lord over us and again say they to God We are Lords we will come no more unto thee Psal. 12. 4. Jer. 2. 31. This also is evident by their Practice God may say what he will but they will do what they list Keep my Sabbath says God I will not says the Sinner Leave your Whoring says God. I will not says the Sinner Do not tell Lies nor Swear nor Curse nor Blaspheme my holy Name says God O but I will says the Sinner Turn to me says God I will not says the Sinner The right of dominion is mine says God but like that young Rebel 1 King 1. 5. I will be King says the Sinner Now this is intolerable this is unsufferable and yet every sinner by practice says thus For they have not submitted themselves unto the Righteousness of God. Here can be no Concord no Communion no Agreement no Felloship Here here is Enmity on the one side and flaming Justice on the other 2 Cor. 6. 14 15 16. Zech. 11. 8. And what delight what content what pleasure can God take in such men None at all No tho they should be mingled with the best of the Saints of God yea tho the best of Saints should Supplicate for them Thus says Jeremiah said the Lord unto me Though Moses and Samuel stood before me that is to Pray for them yet my mind could not be towards this People cast them out of my sight and let them go forth Jer. 14. 1. Here is nought but open War acts of Hostility and shameful Rebellion on the Sinners side and what delight can God take in that Wherefore if God will bend and buckle the spirit of such an one he must shoot an Arrow at him a bearded Arrow such as may not be pluckt out of the wound an arrow that will stick fast Psal. 38. 1 2. and cause that the Sinner falls down as dead at Gods foot then will the Sinner deliver up his arms and surrender up himself as one conquered into the hand of and beg for the Lords Pardon and not till then I mean not sincerely And now God has overcome and his Right Hand and his Holy Arm has gotten him the Victory Now he rides in Tryumph with his Captive at his Charroit Wheel Now he glories now the Bells in Heaven do ring now the Angels shout for Joy yea are bid to do so Rejoyce with me for I have found my sheep which was lost Luke 1â— 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10. Now also the Sinner as a token of being overcome lies grovling at his foot saying Thine Arrows are sharp in the heart of the Kings Enemies whereby the People fall under thee Psal. 45 3 4 5 Now the Sinner submits now he follows his Conquerer in Chains now he seeks Peace and would give all the World were it his own to be in the favour of God and to have hopes by Christ of being Saved Now this must be pleasing this cannot but be a thing acceptable in Gods sight A Broken and a Contrite Heart O God thou wilt not despise For it is the desire of his own heart the work of his own hands Thirdly Another Reason why a Broken Heart is to God such an Excellent Thing is this A Broken Heart prizes Christ and has an high Esteem for him The whole have no need of the Physician but the Sick this Sick man is the Broken Hearted in the Text. For God makes men Sick by smiting of them by Breaking of their Hearts Hence Sickness and Wounds are put together for that the one is a true effect of the other Mark 2. 17. Micah 6. 13. Hos. 5. 13. Can any think that God should be pleased when men despise his Son saying He hath no Form nor Comeliness and when we shall see him there is no Beauty that we should desire him And yet so say they of him whose hearts God has not molified yea the Elect themselves confess that before their Hearts were Broken they set light by him also He is say they Despised and Rejected of men and WE hid as it were our Faces from him he was despised and WE esteemed him not Isa. 53. 2 3. He is indeed the Great Deliverer But what 's a Deliverer to them that never saw themselves in Bondage as was said before Hence 't is said of him that Delivered the City No man remembred that same poor man Eccles 9. 14 15. He has sorely Suffered and been Bruised for the Transgression of man that they might not receive the smart and Hell which by their Sins they have procured to themselves But what is that to them that never saw ought but Beauty and that never tasted any thing but sweetness in Sin 'T is he that holdeth by his Intercession the hands of God and that causes him to forbear to cut off the Drunkard the Lyer and unclean Person even when they are in the very act and work of their Abomination But their hard Heart their stupified Heart has no sence of such kindness as this and therefore they take no notice of it How many times has God said to this Dresser of his Vinyard Cut down the barren Figstree while he yet by his Intercession has prevailed for a Reprieve for another year But no notice is taken of this no thanks is from them returned to him for such kindness of Christ. Wherefore such Ungrateful Unthankful Inconsiderate Wretches as these must needs be a continual Eye sore as I may say and great provocation to God. And yet thus men will do before their Hearts are Broken Luke 13. 6 7 8 9. Christ as I said is called a Physician yea he is the only Soul Physician He heals how desperate soever the Disease be yea and heals who he undertakes for ever I give unto them Eternal Life John 10. 27
oneness of mind now the same mind is in thee which was also in Christ Jesus This must needs be an excellent Spirit this must needs be better with God and in his Sight Then thousands of Rams or Ten thousand Rivers of Oyl But does the Carnal World covet this this Spirit and the blessed Graces of it No they despise it as I said before they mock at it they prefer and countenance any sorry dirty Lust rather and the reason is because they want a Broken Heart that Heart so highly in esteem with God and remain for want thereof in their enmity to God. The Broken-Hearted knows that the sanctifyings of the Spirit is a good means to keep from that relaps out of which a man cannot come unless his heart be wounded a second time Doubtless David had a Broken Heart at first Conversion and if that Brokenness had remained that is had he not given way to hardness of heart again he had never fallen into that Sin out of which he could not be recovered but by the breaking of his Bones a second time Therefore I say a Broken Heart is of great esteem with God for it and I will add so long as it retains its tenderness covets none but God and the things of his holy Spirit Sin is an abomination to it And here as in a fit place before I go any further I will shew you some of the advantages that a Christian gets by keeping of his Heart tender For As to have a Broken Heart is to have an excellent thing so to keep this broken heart tender is also very advantagio us First This is the way to maintain in thy Soul always a fear of Sinning against God. Christians do not wink at or give way to Sin until their hearts begin to lose their Tenderness A Tender Heart will be afflicted at the Sin of another much more it will be afraid of committing of Sin it self 2 King 22. 19. Secondly A Tender Heart quickly yieldeth to Prayer yea prompteth to it puts an edge and fire into it we never are backward to Prayer until our heart has lost its Tenderness â—ho then it grows cold flat and formal and so carnal to and in that holy duty Thirdly A Tender Heart has always Repentance at hand for the least fault or slip or sinful thought that the Soul is guilty of in many things the best offend But if a Christian loseth his Tenderness if he says he has his Repentance to seek his heart is grown hard has lost that Spirit that kind Spirit of Repentance it was wont to have Thus it was with the Corinthians they were decayed and lost their Tenderness wherefore their Sin yea great Sins remained unrepented of 2 Cor. 12 20 21. Fourthly A Tender Heart is for receiving often its Communion with God when he that is hardened tho the seed of Grace is in him will be content to Eat Drink Sleep wake and go days without number without him Isa. 17. 10. 18. Jer. 2. 32. Fifthly A Tender Heart is a wakeful watchful heart It watches against Sin in the Soul Sin in the Family Sin in the Calling Sin in Spiritual duties and performances c. It watches against Satan against the World against the Flesh c. But now when the Heart is not Tender there is Sleepiness Unwatchfulness Idleness a Suffering the heart the Family and Calling to be much defiled spotted and blemished with Sin for a heart departs from God and turns aside in all these things Sixthly A Tender Heart will deny it self and that in lawful things and will forhear even that which may be done for some Jew or Gentile or the Church of God or any member of it should be offended or made weak thereby whereas the Christian that is not tender that has lost his tenderness is so far off of denying himself in lawful things that he will even adventure to meddle in things utterly forbidden whoever is offended grieved or made weak thereby For an instance for this we need go no further then to the man in the Text who while he was Tender trembled at little things but when his heart was hardened he could take Bethsheba to satisfie his Lust and kill her husband to cover his Wickedness Seventhly A Tender Heart I mean the heart kept tender preserves from many a blow lash and fatherly chastisement because it shuns the causes which is sin of the scourging hand of God. With the upright thou wilt shew thy self upright but with the froward thou wilt shew thy self unsavoury 2 Sam. 22. 27. Psal. 18. 25 26 27. Many a needless rebuke and wound doth happen to the Saints of God thorow their unwise behaviour when I say needless I mean they are not necessary but to reclaim us from our vanities for we should not feel the smart of them were it not for our follies Hence the afflicted is called a fool because his folly brings his affliction upon him Fools says David Because of their transgressions and because of their Iniquities are afflicted Psal. 107. 17. And therefore it is as was said afore that he calls his Sin his foolishness And again God will speak peace to his people and his saints but let not them return again to folly Psal. 38. 5. Psal. 85. 8. If his Children transgress my Laws I will visit their Transgressions with a Râ—d and their Iniquities with Stripes Quest. But what should a Christian do when God has broke his heart to keep it tender Answ. To this I will speak briefly And First Give you several Cautions Secondly Several Directions For Cautions 1. Take heed that you choke not those Convictions that at present do break your hearts by labouring to put those things out of your minds which were the cause of such Convictions but rather nourish and cherish those things in a deep and sober remembrance of them Think therefore with thy self thus What was it that at first did wound my heart And let that still be there until by the Grace of God and the Redeemed blood of Christ it is removed 2. Shun Vain Company the keeping of Vain Company has stifled many a Conviction kill'd many a desire and made many a Soul fall into Hell that once was hot in looking after Heaven A Companion that is not profitable to the Soul is hurtful He that walketh with wise men shall be wise but a Companion of Fools shall be destroyed Prov. 13. 20. 3. Take heed of Idle Talk that thou neither hear nor joyn with it Go from the presence of a foolish man when thou perceivest not in him the lips of Knowledge Prov. 14. 7. Evil Communication corrupâ—s good manners And a fools Lips are a snare to his Soul. Wherefore take heed of these things Prov. 18. 7. 1 Cor. 15. 33. 4. Beware of the least motion to Sin that it be not countenanced lest the countenancing of that makes way for a bigger David's eye took his heart and so his heart nourishing the thought made
strength faileth me As for the light of mine Eyes it also is gone from me My lovers and friends stand aloof from my sore And so he goes on Psal. 38. 1 2 3 4 c. These are the Words Sighs Complaints Prayers and Arguments of a Broken Heart to God for Mercy And so are they Have Mercy upon me O God according to thy loving kindness According to the multitude of thy tender Mercies blot out my Transgressions Wash me throughly from mine Iniquity and cleanse me from my Sin. For I acknowledge my Transgressions and my Sins are ever before me Psal. 51. 1 2 3. God alloweth poor Creatures that can without lying thus to plead and argue with him I am poor and sorrowful said the good man to him let thy Salvation set me on high Psal. 69. 29. Wherefore Thou that hast a Broken Heart take courage God bids thee take courage say therefore to thy Soul Why art thou cast down O my Soul As usually the Broken-Hearted are And why art thou disquieted within me Hope thou in God. I had fainted if I had not been of good courage therefore be of good courage and he shall strengthen thine heart Psal. 42. 11. Psal. 43. 5. Psal. 27. 12 13 14. But Alas The Broken-Hearted are far off from this they faint they reckon themselves among the dead they think God will remember them no more the thoughts of the greatness of God and his holiness and their own Sins and Vilenesses will certainly consume them they feel guilt and anguish of Soul they go Mourning all the day long their Mouth is full of gravil and gaul and they are made to drink draughts of Wormwood and Gaul So that he must be an artist indeed at believing who can come to God under his guilt and horror and plead in faith that the Sacrifices of God are a Broken Heart such as he had and that a Broken and a Contrite Spirit God will not despise Fifthly If a Broken Heart if a Broken and a Contrite Spirit is of such esteem with God Then why should some be as they are so afraid of a Broken Heart and so shy of a Contrite Spirit I have observed that some men are as fraid of a Broken Heart or that they for their sins should have their hearts Broken as the Dog is of the Whip O! They cann't away with such Books with such Sermons with such Preachers or with such talk as tends to make a man sensible of and to Break his Heart and to make him Contrite for his Sins Hence they heap to themselves such Teachers get such Books Love such Company and delight in such Discourse as rather tends to harden then soften to make desperate in then sorrowful for their Sins They say to such Sermons Books and Preachers as Amaziah said to Amos. O thou seer go flee thou away into the land of Judah and there eat Bread and Prophesie there but Prophesie not again any more at Bethel c. Amos 7. 12 13. But do these People know what they do Yes think they for such Preachers such Books such Discourses tend to make one Melancholy or Mad they make us that we cannot take pleasure in our Selves in our Concerns in our Lives But Oh Fool in grain Let me speak unto thee Is it a time to take Pleasure and to Recreate thy self in any thing before thou hast Mourned and been Sorry for thy Sins That Mirth that is before Repentance for Sin will certainly end in heaviness Wherefore the Wise Man puting both together saith that Mourning must be first There is a time to Weep and a time to Laugh a time to Mourn and a time to Dance Eccles. 3. 4. What! An Unconverted Man and Laugh Shouldest thou see one Singing merry Songs that is riding up Holbourn to Tyburn to be hanged for Felony wouldest thou not count him besides himself if not worse and yet thus it is with him that is for Mirth while he standeth Condemned by the Book of God for his Trespasses Man Man Thou hast cause to Mourn yea thou must Mourn if ever thou art Saved Wherefore my advice is that instead of shuning thou covet both such Books such Preachers and such Discourses as has a tendency to make a man sensible of and to break his Heart for Sin and the reason is because thou wilt never be as thou shoud'st concerned about nor seek the Salvation of thine own Soul before thou hast a Broken Heart a Broken and a Contrite Spirit Wherefore be not afraid of a Broken Heart be not shy of a Contrite Spirit It is one of the greatest Mercies that God bestows upon a Man or a Woman The Heart Rightly Broken at the sence of and made Truly Contrite for Trransgression is a certain fore-runner of Salvation This is evident from these six demonstrations which was laid down to prove the point in hand at first And for thy awaking in this matter Let me tell thee and thou wilt find it so Thou must have thy heart Broken whether thou wilt or no. God is resolved to break ALL hearts for Sin some time or other Can it be imagined Sin being what it is and God what he is to wit a Revenger of Disobedience but that one time or other man must smart for Sin Smart I say either to Repentance or to Condemnation He that Mourns not now while the Door of Mercy 's open must Mourn for Sin when the door of Mercy 's shut Shall men despise God Break his Law Contemn his Threats Abuse his Grace yea Shut their Eyes when he says See and Stop their Ears when he says Hear and shall they SO escape No no Because he called and they refused he stretched out his hand and they regarded it not Therefore shall Calamity come upon them as upon one in Travel and they shall cry in their Destruction and then God will laugh at their Destruction and mock when their Fear cometh Then saith he They shall cry Prov. 1. 24. 25 26 c. I have often observed that this threatning is repeated at least seven times in the new Testament saying There shall be weeping and gnashing of Teeth There shall be wailing and gnashing of Teeth as Mat. 8. 12. Chap. 13. 42. and 50. Chap. 22. 13. Chap. 24 51. Chap. 25. 30. Luke 13. 28. There where in Hell and at the barr of Christs Tribunal when he comes to judge the World and shall have shut too the door to keep them out of Glory that have here despised the offer of his Grace and overlooked the day of his Patience There shall be wailing and gnashing of Teeth They shall weep and wail for this There are but two Scriptures that I shall use more and then I shall draw towards a Conclusion One is that in Proverbs where Solomon is counseling of Young Men to beware of Strange that is of wanton light and ensnaring women Take heed of such said he Lest thou mourn at last that is in Hell when thou art dead when