SUch is the necessity of true and un­feigned Repentance, Introduction that with­out it even the most Righteous man upon the face of the Earth, cannot be Saved in the Day of the Lord. John the Baptist began his preaching with Repentance; Saying, Repent yee, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand. Mat. 3.2. Our Saviour Christ followed on, Mat. 4.17. from [Page 2]that time Jesus began to preach and to say, Re­pent, For the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand. The Apostles followed his Example, Acts 2.38. To those who were pricked in their hearts is Repen­tance preached; Repent, and be baptized every one of you, for the Remission of sins: And ye shall receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost. But Luke 13.5. our Saviour tell those of Galilee, Except ye Repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

Obj. But these were notable Sinners.

Ans. I, but the Church of Ephesus, Revel. 2.5. which had many good things in her, is com­manded to remember from whence she had fallen, and to repent. So the Church of Sardis, Revel. 3.3. Remember how thou hast received, and heard; and hold fast, and repent.

Thus you see the necessity of Repentance to all, notwithstanding which, How many be there in our Church seeming-Christians, who content­ing themselves with the Knowledge of the bare Name of Repentance, never seek after the Knowledge of the Nature thereof? How many who know the Nature, never practice any part thereof? Are not our fiduciaries such as those of St. Bernard, who tells of many wayes whereby men Irreligous were wont to excuse their Sins? Aut non feci quod dicis, aut feci quod dic is, sed bene­feci; aut si malé, non multum malé; aut si mul­tum malé, non mala intentione, ut sentis. Ei­ther I have not done that which thou sayest, or, if I have done it, I did well: But if 'twere [Page 3]evil, 'twas no great hurt, I pray God I may ne­ver do worse; but if it was great hurt, I had no intent to do it, as thou thinkest. Some stout­ly deny their sins, and with a Whorish Fore­head put God (as it were) to his Proof for their sins. They, Mal. 1.6. Wherein have we despised thy Name? Wherein have we polluted thee? Some with Jonah, Jonah 4.9. disobediently stick not to tell God to his Face, That Hee did well to be angry unto the Death. Some with Abemilech King of Gerar, who when he took the Wife of Abraham, Gen. 20.5. said, He did it with an upright Heart.

Some put it off upon others, as Adam upon Eve, Gen. 3.12, 13. 1 Sam. 15.21 Eve upon the Serpent; Saul upon the People.

But thus did not our princely Prophet, he took the Shame to himself, Judged himself, Judged himself, Condem­ned himself; came with an Halter about his 1 Kings 20. v. 31, 32. Neck, as a Condemned Malefactor with his Pecavi, & Misereri mei Deus: Informa pauperis, Have mercy upon me O God.

This Psalm is a perfect Coppy, and exact pat­tern of true and sound Repentance, 2 Sam. 12.13. Penn'd by our Royal Prophet, The title of the Psalm. when Nathan the Prophet came unto him after he had gone in to Bathsheba, and had defiled his body in Uriah's Bed, and imbrewed his hand in Uriah's blood.

From the first Verse to the 18, he prayes for himself: From the 18. verse to the end of the Psalme, he prayed for the Church.

In praying for himself, he desired to be wash­ed, and cleansed, and purged. Vers. 2. Wash me [Page 4]throughly from my Wickedness: and cleanse me from my sin. Vers. 7. Purge me with Hysope, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than Snow. q. d. Saith Junius; Wash me more, purge me more, cleanse me more in the Merits of 1 Joh. 1.7. Heb. 9.14. Christ's blood, from the guilt, and from the filth of all my Transgressions: Then will I teach Transgressors thy wayes, and Sinners shall be Converted unto thee. vers. 13.9. q.d. O God, if thou wilt shew mercy to my poor Soul, I that have had my vers 12. Bones broken, shall be an Instrument 2 Cor. 1.4. to bind up others; and will tell thy People that fear thy Name, Mal. 3.16. What Psal. 66.16. great things thou hast done for my poor Soul.

Further, it will be an occasion of God's glory, when he should come to the Lord, and offer the Sacrifices of Praise, not Tipical but Real, not Legal but Evangelical Sacrifices: Cor concussum & Contritum; A Broken and Contrite Heart. The Sacrifices of God are a Broken Spirit; a Broken and Contrite Heart, O God, thou wilt not dispise.

The Text contains two general Propositi­ons.

1. Affirmative, The Sacrifices of God are a broken Spirit.

2. Negative, A broken and contrite Heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

In the double Proposition, you have,

1. The Subject, Cor concussum & contritum, A broken and contrite Heart.

2. The Predicate, Sacrificia Dei: The Sacrifices of God.

In further handling of these words, I shall pro­pose and follow this my wonted Method.

To speak to you,

• 1. By way of Explication.
• 2. By way of Confirmation.
• 3. By way of Application.

1. By way of Explication; Heart and Spirit; by the former is not meant that fleshly part which is in our breasts, which we commonly call so, though sometimes the word is so taken in Scrip­ture, 2 Kings 2.24. but by both is here meant, that which the Scripture sometimes terms Col. 3.16. the Inner-man; sometimes the Hidden man 1 Pet. 3 4. of the Heart, and that which we ordinarily call the Soul, with all it's Powers and Faculties. By Spirits here, is meant the Seat of sorrow; the Spirit Ephes. 4.23 of the mind.

Doct. If any man will offer acceptable Sacri­fice to God, let him prepare the Spirit of his mind.

God himself is a Spirit, and they that Wor­ship him, must worship him in Spirit and in Truth. John 4.24. Psal. 51. v. 6. He loves Truth in the inward af­fections. Corpora fecit propter Spiritus; Ideoque etiam spiritualia, non corporea querit; B. Cooper Super. loc. saith a Lear­ned Prelate. He meant the bodies for the Spirits, and therefore seeks he not bodily but Spiritual Worship. Some there are, Qui sua dant, non Seipsos: who offer to him not themselves, Seipsos. but [Page 6]that which is theirs; but it is a blind folly to think thou canst please him, when thou wilt not give the service of thy Heart and Spirit unto him, Prov. 23. vers. 26. Mi sili, da mihi Cor tuum.

But lest we should think that every Spirit is ac­ceptable, What a bro­ken Heart is. he adds this Epethet, Broken and Con­trite.

A broken heart is such a heart that is hum­bled through a sight and sense of sin; and wounded and prick't with the fear of God's an­ger, grieving for offending so good and so graci­ous a God: 1. Bathing his eyes in Tears, and melting his Soul into sorrow, that ever he has offended so good a God that made him, displeased so sweet a Saviour that redeemed him, griev'd so Holy a Spirit as hath striven with him, transgres­sed so Righteous a Law as was given to him, broken so gracious a Covenant as was made with him; begging Mercy and Pardon at the Throne of the Almighty's Grace, with as much earnest­ness and importunity, as the Hunger-bitten Beg­gar doth a Morsel of bread, or the Malefactor a Psalm of Mercy.

This is that poor Spirit St. Mathew speaks Mat. 5.3. of; this is that Spirit that trembles at God's word, which the Prophet Isaiah speaks Isa. 66.2. of; this is that Heart-rent the Prophet Jonah speaks Jona. 2.12.13. of. By the Prophet Isa. 42.3 and the Evangelist, Mat. 12.20. it's compared to a bruised Reed; it's also in Scripture called a pricking Acts 2.37. of the heart; a [Page 7]melting Nah 2.10 Psal 119.28. of the heart, and such like.

All which import the inward, unfeigned, hearty sorrow, which is in a penitent Soul for offending a good and a gracious God.

And he puts the word in the Plural Number, Sacrificia, the Sacrifices; to shew, that a Heart bruised and broken, humbled and pricked, Note. in the sight and sense of sin, is Instar Omnium, in­stead of all; all Sacrifice is nothing without it, all sum'd up in it. Let men offer what Sacrifices they will, never so many, never so costly, never so excellent; yet if this be wanting, 'tis but in vain, God esteems not of it: One broken Heart is more worth than a thousand Sacrifices of great price. A man may offer many Sacrifices, Pray much, Preach much, Hear much, receive the Sacrament often, and give all his goods to feed the Poor; yet if there be not this broken Heart, and contrite Spirit, all's in vain, and to no Psal. 1. vers. 11.12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17. purpose: We cannot please God in any thing we do without a broken and contrite heart.

The Sacrifices of God. Chap. 66.24. The adding God's Name to any think in Scripture, gives it an Em­minency, a Lustre, a Glory, above all other things. As, there's mention made of the Wa­ters Psal. 65.9. of God; the Mountain Exod. 3.1 of God; the Trees Psal 104 16. of God, &c. And in the New Testament, the Peace Phil. 4.7 of God, &c. And here in the Text, The Sacrifices of God; most rare and excellent Sacrifices, such as God will not dis­pise. A broken and a contrite Heart, O God, thou [Page 8]wilt not dispise. The Phrase is low, yet hath a [...] in it, as 1 Thes. 5.20. Dispise not Pre­phesyings, and Heb. 12.5. Dispise not the Chasten­ing of the Lord: And so imports the choycest way of acceptation. A broken and contrite Heart, O God, thou wilt not dispise: thou dost love and like, and art well pleased with a broken Heart.

This broken and contrite Heart is Sacrifice TO GOD; most rare and excellent Sacrifice; as the Mountains of God are high Mountains: and the Cedars of the Lord are tall Cedars: So a broken Heart, and a contrite Spirit, being the Sacrifices of God, are most rare, excellent, and choyce Sacri­fices.

From the Words thus considered, this is the point of Instruction.

Doctrine 2 Of all Services and Sacrifices to be presented to God, A broken and a contrite Heart is most plea­sing, and acceptable.

First, God will graciously look upon such a Heart.

Demonst. 1 To this purpose speaks Jehovah by the Evan­gelical Prophet, Isa. 66.2. Thus saith the Lord, Heaven is my Throne, and the Earth my Foot-stool: Where is the House that ye build unto me? And where is the place of my rest? For all those things hath my hand made, and all those things have been, saith the Lord: But to this man will I look, even to him that is poor, and of a contrite Spirit, and that trembleth at my Words. See, how the Lord lifts up himself unto the highest Heavens; Heaven is [Page 9]my Throne, and the Earth is my Foot-stool. Oh! How shall I come and Appear before so great a God; a God of such terrible Majesty, and migh­ty Powers! Why! Be not afraid poor Soul, the Lord will cast a look of Love upon thee, not only a look of Pity, but also a look of Compla­cency. To him will I looke sayes God, even to him that is poor: 1. Vile and base in his own eyes; and 2d. Of a contrite Spirit, and that trembles at my Word. q. d. I have more regard to this poor Trembler at my Word, than I have to the great Temple that was built for my Worship. Gen. 4.4. God had respect to Abel, and to his Offering. The Sacrifices of God are a broken Spirit; a broken and contrite Heart, O God, thou wilt not dispise. That's the first reason of God's acceptance of a broken Heart, because God will graciously look upon such a heart.

2. Demonst. 2 The Lord so delights in a broken and contrite Heart, that he not only looks on him, but also draws nigh unto him. To this purpose the Psal­mist very sweetly, Psal. 34.16, 17. Psalm 34.17, 18. The Righte­ous cry, and the Lord heareth them; and delivereth them out of their Troubles: The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a contrite Heart: and will save such as are of an humble Spirit. 'Tis a great privi­ledge that we can draw nigh to God, that God does hold out the golden Scepter of his Grace, and allow us to come and touch the top of it: We might have been in Hell long agoe, roaring un­der an endless Damnation, far enough from God, had not he spared us, Numb. 16. vers. 9. [Page 10]said Moses there to Korah and his complices: Seemeth it a small thing unto you, that the God of Israel had separated you from the Congregation of Israel, to take you near to himself, to do the Service of the Tabernacle? Seemeth this a small thing unto you? Oh! 'tis a great priviledg that we can draw nigh unto God. It is good for me to draw near to God, saith the Psalmist, with a Probatum est, Psal. 73. ult. Now then if this be so great a priviledg for you to draw nigh to God, Oh! What a transcendent, unspeakable priviledg is it for God to draw nigh to you! to delight in your Persons! to delight in your Prayers, to bottle your tears, and to Register your groans! And this he doth to broken and contrite Hearts; the Lord is nigh unto all them that are of a contrite heart; Nigh unto them in all that they call upon him for.

3. Demonst. 3 A broken and contrite Heart is pleasing and acceptable to God, for he will come and dwell in that Soul: Thus saith the Holy and Lofty One that inhabites Eternity, whose Name is Holy: I dwell in the High and Holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble Spirit, to revive the Spirit of the humble, and to revive the Spirit of the contrite Ones. God has two chief places of residence, viz. The highest Heaven, and the lowest Heart; the one he fills with his glorious, the other with his graci­ous Presence. He dwells in the High and Holy place; the Cherubins worship him (though with covering their blushing Faces) and Thousand [Page 11]thousands Dan. 7.10. of Angels minister unto him, yet he dwells and holds his Residence in a broken and contrite Heart; he will not despise, yea, he delights to dwell there.

Demonst 4 Lastly, A broken and contrite Heart is pleasing,and acceptable to God; for he heals a broken Heart. To this purpose sweetly speaks Jehovah by his Evangelical Prophet, Isa. 57.15. For thus saith the High and Lofty One that Inhabiteth Eternity, whose Name is Holy, I dwell in the High and Holy place, with Note this. him also that is of a contrite and humble Spirit, to revive the Spirit of the humble, and to revive the Heart of the contrite Ones. Vers. 18. I have seen his Wayes, and will heal him: I will lead him also, and restore Comfort unto him, and to his Mat. 5.4. Mourners. He heals the broken in Heart, and binds up their Heb. Griefs. Isa. 53.5. 1 Pet. 2 24. Wounds, Psal. 147.3. Indeed, sometimes the Lord hides his Face, and with-draws Isa. 54. vers. 7.8. the Light of his Countenance; then David cries, Psal. 6.3.2, Heal me O Lord, for my Bones are vexed: My Soul is also sore troubled, but thou O Lord, how long? Then Job cries, The terrors of God Job 6 4. set themselves in Battle array against me, the Poyson whereof drinks up my Spirits. But then the Lord comes in in due season, and he heals the broken in Heart, and giveth Medicine to heal their Sickness, and bindeth up their Wounds. O happy those Sighs, those Sobs, which sin hath made in thy Soul, when Christ himself shall come to bind them up!

Thus you see that of all services and sacrifices presented to God, a broken and contrite Heart is most pleasing and acceptable.

The Reasons are chiefly two:

Reason 1 First,Because it is a Spiritual sacrifice, there­fore an Acceptable Sacrifice. It is not the Sacri­fice of a dead Carkass; 'tis a living Sacrifice, a broken Heart, and a contrite Spirit. The heart is the best of Man, and a broken Heart is the best of Hearts. I beseech you Brethren, by the Mer­cies of God, (saith the Apostle) That yee pre­sent your Bodies A LIVING Sacrifice, Holy, ac­ceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service, Rom. 12.1. where the Apostle (very patheti­cally) useth an Obsecration, an Obtestation, a Compellation, an Abjurgation, and all, to press this duty home upon their Conversati­ons.

The duty is to present their bodies a [living] Sacrifice, living without the Soul it cannot be, For the body without the Spirit is dead, John 6.69. James 2.26. Bodily exercise profits little (if it be only bodily) 1 Tim. 4.8. It is the Spirit that quickens, the flesh profits nothing.

To offer this Spiritual Sacrifice, the Apostle abjures them by the mercies of God; I beseech you Brethren by the mercies of God. The Apostle might have said, there's a consuming fire, there are everlasting burnings: There's a Hell, an endless Damnation, a place of the Damned, and that must be your Eternal estate and condition, the portion of your Cup; if you present not your bodies a living Sacrifices to God. But he doth adjure them, and conjure them by the mercies of [Page 13]God, to perform it: What if Christ were here, and said to thee; Oh! Sinner, come lay thy Heart in my lap, and I will bind up the Wounds of thy Soul; I will welcome thee, and I will save thee. Would not this ravish our hearts, to hear a tender Saviour so lo­vingly inviting us, so graciously promising us? There's nothing can break a Soul more in an E­vangelical way, than the sight 2 Cor. 7.10. Zach. 12 10. and sense of God's mercy in Jesus Christ. As Naturallists observe, That the warm Blood of a Goat, doth soften an Adamant-Stone; so doth the serious consideration of the warm Blood of Jesus Christ, our scape-goate, soften an Ada­mant-heart. But more of this amongst the means and directions Direction the sixth. for getting a broken Heart.

Reason 2 Secondly,Of all Services and Sacrifices pre­sented to God, a broken and contrite Heart is most pleasing and acceptable, because 'tis a Believing Sacrifice. Faith and Repentance (like Hypocrates Twins) are born and bred together in the sacred Womb of a sanctified Soul, Zach. 12.10. It was promised concerning Evangelical Converts; I will pour upon the House of David, and up the Inhabi­tants of Jerusalem, the Spirit of grace and of suppli­cation; and they shall look on me whom they have pier­ced, and they shall mourn for him as one mourneth for his only Son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one is in bitterness for his first-born, Isa. 42.1. Christ is called, Him in whom the Father delights. God proclaimed him from Heaven, to be his only be­loved Son in whom he is well pleased: Mat. 3. ult. Mat. 17.5. not only pleas­ed [with] him, but also pleased [in] him, with [Page 14]all broken-hearted Sinners; they must needs then be the delight of the Lord also. Thus I have done with Confirmation, and [come in the last place] to Application.

Use. Let us labour to get,and keep; to attain, and maintain such a heart all our dayes.

And here (for Methods sake, and your better Understanding) I shall endeavour to shew you these three things:

1. The particular Acts of a broken and contrite Heart.

2. The most infallible marks and signs of a broken and contrite Heart.

3. The most probable means both to attain, and maintain such a heart all your dayes; That your end may be blessed.

1. The Acts of a broken and contrite Heart. There are eight acts of a broken & contrite Heart.

First, A powerful conviction of the heart and conscience of our sinful estate, and miserable condi­tion, caused by the preaching of the Word out­wardly, and by the working of the Spirit inward­ly, when God sets our sins in order before us, and makes us know our Abominations, Psal. 50.21. How many are mine Iniquities, and my sins? make me to know mine Iniquity, and my sins, Job 13.23.

Act. 2 Secondly,an in ward sorrow of the heart in the sight, and sense of sin; when the eye doth affect the heart, Lam. 3.51. when upon the Discove­ries of sin, the heart is prick'd with compunction, and godly contrition, Acts 2.37. There is not the least sin we have committed, but will fetch [Page 15]a tear from our eyes, and a sigh from our hearts, if we weigh and consider it as we ought. It grieves the Holy Spirit of God, it procured the Death of Christ: Let us therefore look upon him whom we have pierced, [by our sins] and weep over him, Zech. 12.10.

Act. 3 Thirdly, Humiliation of the inward man,in the sight and sense of sin. O Lord, I am but dust and Gen. 18 27 ashes, said Father Abraham. I am less Gen. 32.10. than the least of all thy Mercies, said the Patriarch Jacob. I am not worthy to be called thy Son, said Luke 15.19. the Pro­digal. I am not worthy John 1.27 to stoope down, and unloose his shooes Latchet, said John the Baptist concerning our blessed Saviour. Blessed are the Poor in spirit: For theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven, Mat. 5.3. Oh! How vile and base doth a bro­ken-hearted sinner Job 40.4. & 42.6. Prov. 30 2. Luke 1.48. seem in his own eyes! To such will God be gracious: He gives grace to the humble, 1 Pet. 5.5.

Act. 4 Fourthly,An Holy anger and Indignation both against our sins, and against our selves for our sins. A pregnant place to this purpose is that in Ezek. 6.9. They that escaped of you, shall remember me among the Nations, whither they shall be carried Captive, because I am broken with their Whorish heart, which hath departed from me, and with their eyes which go a Whoring after their Idols, and they shall Be dis­pleased with themselves. loath themselves for the Evils which they have committed in all their Abominations. And the A­postle speaks of godly sorrow, and of the quali­ties of it; amongst the rest, he mentions Indig­nation [Page 16]against sin, Indignations 2 Cor. 7.11. What Indignati­ons? Such as was in Ephraim bemoaning himself, and lamenting his sin; who smote upon his Thigh, scil. in token of Indignation, and an Holy Anger against his sin, and himself for his sin, Jer. 31.18, 19.

Fifthly, Act. 5 An Holy shame of the Soul, when the Soul doth blush upon the inward sight and sense of sin. A pregnant place to this purpose, Ezra. 9.6. where that Holy man in his Confession thus speaks; O my God, I am ashamed, and blush to lift up my face to thee my God. For our Iniquities are in­creased over our heads,and our Trespasses are grown up to the very Heavens. Note. Another pregnant Scrip­ture to this purpose, is Jer. 31. vers. 19. I have heard Ephraim bemoaning himself thus; surely Mark the Phrase. after I was turned, I repented; and after I was instructed, I smote upon my Thigh: I was ashamed, yea, even con­founded, because I did bear the Reproach of my Youth. Ezek. 16.61. Then shalt thou remember thy wayes, and be ashamed.

Act. 6 Sixthly,An inward Loathing and Detestati­on of sin, both in our selves and others.

We read of Amnon, that after he had Ravished his Sister Tamar, the hatred with which he hated her, was more than the Love wherewith he loved her before, 2 Sam. 13.15. So doth the broken hearted-sinner hate sin, more than ever he loved it in times past; He hates it with an exceeding bitter hatred. I hate, and abhor Lying, Psal. 119.163. I hate every false way, vers. 104. Yee that love [Page 17]the Lord, see that ye hate the thing which is Evil, Psal. 97.10. Abhor that which is Evil, &c. Rom. 12.9.

Act. 7 Seventhly,A most strict and firm resolution a­gainst all manner of sin for time to come. A preg­nant Text, Ezra. 10. vers. 2.3. when the peo­ple had repented for taking strange Wives, they resolved, saying, Let us make a Covenant with our God, to put away all the Wives, and such as are born of them. So Hos. 14.8. Ephraim shall say, What have I to do any more with Idols? What was the saying of Elihu in Job, Is the Language of eve­ry man and woman who has a broken and contrite Heart. Job 34.32. That which I see not, teach thou me: If I have done Iniquity, I will do no more. Ephes. John 8.11. 4.28. Let him that stole, steal no more.

Act. 8 Finally,This broken and contrite Heart consists in an unfeigned weeping of the tears of the eyes, caused by the sorrow of the heart for sin. All the Night wash I my Bed, and water my Couch with my teares, Psal. 6.6. Ezek. 7.16. It's said of the Rem­nant whom God will save, They shall mourn like the Doves of the Vallies, every one for his Iniquity. And Peter (when he remembred the words of Christ, and his own denial) went out and wept bitterly, Mat. 26. ult.

Question. Quest. But how shall I know that I have this broken and contrite Heart?

Answer. Answ. [...]: Tentate probate:Ex­amine, prove, the Apostles Counsel, 2 Cor. 13.5. For if a man think himself to be something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. (As the Church of [Page 18] Loadicea Revel. 3.17. who said she was Rich, and increased with Goods, and had need of nothing: When she was wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.) But let every one prove his own works, &c. Gal. 6. vers. 3.4.

I therefore come (in the next place) to lay down the most infallible Marks and Signs of a broken and contrite Heart; by the sight of which, you may know whether you have such hearts or no. Oh that there were in us such Hearts!

A broken and contrite Heart doth repress censori­ousness. Marks of a broken Heart. A truly broken and contrite Heart is most sensible of it's own sin, knows most evil by it self, judgeth it's own sin greatest, and it's own state saddest: Hath neither list nor leisure to censure others. The Apostle's Caution and Counsel, Rom. 14.13. runs thus: Let us not judge one another, but judge this rather, that no man put a stumbling Block, or AN OCC ASION to fall in his Brothers way. What an excellent instance have we in Joseph, who is called a Just man for his La­bour: He had look'd upon Mary formerly as a Godly gracious Woman; and she being now with Child, he knew not what to think of it; but having a purpose to leave her (being former­ly contracted to her) that he might not bring Re­proach upon himself, and to put her away pri­vately, that the World might not take notice of any such thing, that so he might not bring Re­proach upon her, Mat. 1.19. Joseph her Husband being a just man, and not willing to make her a pub­lique [Page 19]Example, was minded to put her away privily. That was his Care, his Honesty, his Righteous­ness. But where shall we find the like Righte­ousness, or Tenderness now a dayes, to conceal the Failings, and to save the Credit of our Bre­thren! We are glad if we have any thing to pa­radigmatize them for, and say, as they did of Jeremy, the Lord's Prophet, Jer. 20.10. Psal. 50. vers. 20.21. Report, and we will report it ‘That Godly Emperour Constantine, was quite of another mind (as I find him (z) Omnis nestra sides pendet ab Historia. Owens E­pigrams. lib. 12. ch. 2. upon Record) who was wont to say; If he should find a Christian-Bishop, or Pastor, overtaken in any Infamous act, He would pull off his Purple Robe to throw upon him to cover him, rather then that any should come by his means to hear of it, to the scandal of Religion.’ I am sure this is most like to the Example of Christ, who casts his Pur­ple Robe upon us, that our sins should not be taken notice of.

2. A broken is a Praying heart. We read, Luk. 15. concerning the Vers. 17. Prodigal Son, that when once he had an humbled Heart, and acontrite Spirit, he fell to Prayer presently, Vers. 21. The Son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against Heaven, and Psal. 71.4 in thy sight; and am no more worthy to be called thy Son. And Christ, Heb. 5.7. In the dayes of his Flesh offered up Prayers and Supplications, with strong cries and tears. And Rom. 8.26. We read of sighs and groans, that cannot be uttered or expressed. Now, Where are those Prayers? Where are those Cryes? Where are those Tears? Where are those [Page 20]Sighs? Where are those Groans? Where are those Jer. 31.18. Moans? Thou hast liv'd a great while in the World, but oh! When hast thou wept with Jer. 9.1. Lam. 1.16. Jeremy, for the sins of the times, and thine own Transgressions? When hast thou poured out thy Soul to the Lord? I fear thou art so far from this, that thy heart is hardened; and if so, the Lord will one day break thy heart with the fury of his wrath, and hot displeasure, that burns to the lowest Hell.

3. Mark. 3 A broken Heart is an humble low heart; Oh very low, it can cast it self in the Dust at the feet of Christ, and think any thing on this side Hell to be rich Mercy. He is Mat 5.3 poor, and Mat. 5 7 meek in Spirit. You know how Abraham Gen. 18.27. treated with God, and pleased him, when he addressed himself to him, with an Acknowledg­ment of his Vileness: Behold, Now I have taken upon me to speak to the great God, who am but Dust and Ashes; You know Christ lay Mat. 26.39. Mark 14.35 grovelling on the ground all Night. I abhor Job 42.6. my self, and repent in Dust and Ashes, said Job. If then thou hast a broken Heart, thou hast a low heart; thou art little and low in thine own eyes; vile and base in thine own sight. Psal. 34.6. This poor man crieth, and the Lord heareth him. Give this poor man something before he go away; he is such a low Spirit, that he is one ready to sink to Hell, were it not for the Mercies of God, the Merits of Jesus Christ, and the sweet Promises of the Gos­pel. Yea, remember the Woman of Canaan, Mat. 15. vers. 23. &c. [Page 21]she was called Dog, and yet would take no re­pulse, but cried; saying, Lord, I do begg one drop of Mercy, one crumb of Comfort: One crumb of the bread of Life, one drop of the water of Life, to satisfie a poor languishing Soul, sweet Jesu, for thy Mercies sake; some drops of the blood of Christ to soften my hard heart, and to break it throughly.

Signe. 4 4. If thou hast this broken and contrite Heart,that is so acceptable to God, thou dost mourn.

• 1. For thine own Sin.
• 2. For the Sins of others.

1. For thine own Sins, David did so in this Psalm; he did Penance for his Sin in a The Robe of Christ's Righteous­ness. Vers 7. Phil. 3.8.9. Revel. 19. Vers. 8. and 14. white-Sheet; he mourned daily for his own Sin; scil. For the Root of the matter within, and for the Fruit of the matter without; for his Original Corruption, for his actual Transgression; for the Sin of his Nature, and the Sins of his Life. He opens his Soul to the Lord, and leaves this Psalm to the Church upon Record; wherein he confesseth and mourns for his Sins, Mat. 26. ult.

2. For the Sins of others; Rivers of Tears run down mine eyes, (said broken-hearted David) be­cause men keep not thy Law, Psal. 119.136. Many walk (saith the Apostle) of whom I told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are Enemies to the Cross of Christ, Phil. 3.18. And Ezek. 9.4. we read of them that sigh, and mourn, and cry, for the Iniquities and Abominations that were committed in the Land.

5. Signe. 5 A broken Heart is a loving heart; if thou hast a broken and contrite Heart, thou lovest any thing of Christs, any thing that bears his Image, and Superscription. When thou comest to that glo­rious Gospel-Ordinance of the Lord's Supper so as to discern 1 Cor. 11.29. the Lord's Body; thou meditatest, Oh, there's the Body and Blood of my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! Oh, here's the Son of God that made up the Breach between God & my Soul! Oh, Jesus Christ, here's the Son of God that was incarnate for me, And paid a price for my Re­demption. The Penitant Woman, Luk. 7.47. She loved much, because her great and grievous sins were for­given.

I will sum up the Acts and Signs of a broken Heart in these eighth following Particulars, as a famous Divine hath contracted them.

1. Eight Signs contracted. He that is truly broken, will be contented with nothing but Mercy from God, in Jesus Christ. He hath wounded, and he must heal, Hos. 6.1.

2. He judgeth sin the greatest evil, and the fa­vour of God the greatest good.

3. He had rather hear of Mercy than of a Kingdome.

4. He hath mean Conceits of himself: And thinks he is not worth the Earth he treads on.

5. Towards others, he is not censorious, as be­ing taken up at home; but is full of Simpathy and Compassion to those that are under God's hand.

6. He counts them that walks in the Comforts of Gods Spirit, the happiest men in the World.

7. He trembles at the Word of God, and ho­nours the very Feet of these blessed Instruments that brings Peace unto him.

8. He is more taken up with the inward Ex­ercises of a broken Heart, than with Formality, and yet careful to use all Sanctified means for it's at­tainment.

And this brings me to the third things premis­ed, scil. to shew the most propable means to get, and keep, to attain, and maintain, such a heart all our dayes.

1. Means to get a bro­ken Heart. To give diligent attendance to the Word of God, read and preached, 2 Reg. 22. vers. 11. &c. Is not my Word a Hammer that breaks the Rock to pieces? Jer. 23.29. While Lydia was hearing Paul preach, Almighty God opened her heart, Acts 16.14. So that if we would have broken Hearts, we must wait upon the Preaching of the Gospel, where the Holy Ghost usually falls up­on the hearts of men.

2. Make a Catalogue of thy Sins; which thou mayst do either by Memory, or by Book. By Memory thus; Go aside, set thy Soul before the Lord, as if thou wert presently to be judged of him; call to mind particularly whatsoever thou canst remember by thy self; consider thy Omissions of good, and thy Com­missions of evil, in Youth or riper Age, in Heart or Life, in things that concern God or Man, or thine own Soul and Disposition, Thoughts and Affections, Words and Actions. By Book, thus: Procure the La­bour of some Reverend Divine, that has briefly gather­ed [Page 24]the sins against each Commandment, and from thence gather out so many sins as thou knowst by thy self, that thou hast been guilty of; lay those sins daily before thy Conscience, and consider how many ways thou hast made thy self guilty.

3. Consider then the justice of God, how he hates all Sin; which thou mayest be assured of, if thou remember how he plagued our first Parents, the Old World, Sodom and Gomorrah; How fear­fully he neglected the Gentiles; Cast off the Jews: yea, how he spared not his own Son Jesus Christ, when he became a surety for other mens Sins.

4. Force upon thy self the remembrance of thy Memento novissima: Memento quid erit in novissimo, Eccius. 7.26 latter end, and thy appearance before the Tri­bunal Seat of Christ, to receive according to all thou hast done in the flesh, Heb. 9.27. 2 Cor. 5.10.

5. Beg an humble heart, a broken and contrite Spirit at the Throne of Grace, and sue out God's promise made to those who by Prayer issue out it's persormance, Ezek. 36.26. compared with Vers. 31. and 37.

6. Remember the Passion of thy Saviour, the the Poverty, Banishment, Ignominy, Temptati­on, the Apprehending, Forsaking, Arraign­ing, Condemning, and cruel Death which he suffered for thy sins. Look upon him whom thou hast pierced, &c. Zach. 10.10.

7. Lastly, Set sometimes a day apart for Fast­ing and Prayer. A day of Fasting was hereto­fore called, a day of Afflicting or Humbling the [Page 25]Soul, Levit. 16.29. both because it was the main duty of the day, and because the Lord usually did bless his one Ordinance, so as he gave an hum­ble Heart to those that sought it of him.

To break the Stone in thy Heart, besides the aforementioned Directions, observe this Spiri­tual Receipt; which will (under God) cure all thy Souls Maladies.