Christs Love and Affection Towards Jerusalem, Chapter 5
CHAP. 5.
It ſhould be every mans practice to weepe for his own ſinnes.
IF Chriſt wept at the ſight of Jeruſalem, in regard of her preſent ſinne, and future miſery; what then ſhall we ſay to thoſe, who are ſo farre from weeping for the ſinne and miſery of others, that they ſhed few or no teares for their owne ſins? Chriſt himſelfe, hee was without ſinne, yet none more plentifull in weeping and ſhedding teares for it, than he was: Whereas many, though they be full of ſinne and iniquity, and thoſe aggravated by many foule circumſtances, yet can they looke upon them with dry cheekes, and ſhed never a teare at the ſight of them; they ſet themſelves upon a merry pin, they can finde a day and a day, yea many dayes to runne into ſinne; but the day is yet to come, wherein they ever ſhed ſo much as one teare for it. O how unlike are theſe to Chriſt? Although they could weepe out both their eyes, and poure forth teares a thouſand yeares together, it were not ſufficient for one ſinne: But that they ſhould multiply, and heape up their ſinnes, till they be more in number than the haires on their heads, than the ſtarres in the firmament, than the ſands on the ſea ſhore, and yet looke upon them without bleeding hearts, and weeping eyes, that a few teares ſhould not fall from their eyes at the ſight of them; this deſerves a ſharpe and cutting reproofe. Hee that lookes on ſinne in the mildeſt notion of it, hee ſhall finde in it ſufficient matter to fetch teares from his eyes; but hee that waighes it more narrowly in the ballance of the Sanctuary, and takes a view of all ſuch paſſages as adde to the waight and hainouſneſſe of it, what is it that can turne his eyes into fountaines of teares, if this doe it notaCryſol. Anthol. ſac. pag. 219. Omne genus divinarum literarum fletū hominibus indicit &c. pleni ſunt Prophetarum libri, &c. Euangelium quoque totū lachrymis, et imbre illo ſalutari madet.? When the Prodigall conſidered with himſelfe what hee had done, what plenty and abundance hee had forſaken, what want and miſery hee had brought himſelfe unto, what a courſe hee had runne, what extremities hee was now put upon; this made him come unto his father weeping and lamenting, and ſay unto him,bLuke 15.15. Father, I have ſinned againſt heaven, and before thee, &c. And when a man waighes and conſiders with himſelfe, what a righteous law he hath tranſgreſſed, what a gracious Covenant he hath broken, what happineſſe he hath loſt, what miſery he hath wrapped himſelfe in; that hee hath grieved the good Spirit of God, that hee hath provoked ſo mercifull a Saviour as Chriſt is, that hee hath diſpleaſed ſo kinde and loving a Father as God hath beene unto him; how ſhould not this fetch tears from his eyes, if his thoughts were well ſteeped in the meditation of itcAug. enarrat. in Pſal. p. 82. B.C. Sitienti mihi illum fontē quē qua bibere nō dum poteram, avidiùs meas lachrymas mā ducabam, non enim dixit, factae ſunt lachrymae meae potus, ne ipſe deſideraſſe videretur, ſed ſervata illa ſiti qua rapior, ſervata illa ſiti, qua inardeſco, ad fontes aquarum, panes mihi factae ſunt lachrymae meae dum differor.?
When David conſidered whom hee had offended, and againſt whom hee had ſinned, it made him with a bleeding heart, and weeping eyes to confeſſe and acknowledge his ſinne to GoddMoller. in loc. Repetit querelam et cōfeſſionem triſtiſſimis verbis amplificatam: q.d. hoc unicum me cruciat et affligi…, quod fentio me tibi peccaſſe &c. Ille dolor tantus eſt, ut etiamſi totus mundus me abſolvat, tamen me quieſcere non patiatur. Hominum enim levationes, ſi vel parcant mihi, vel adulandi cauſa extenuent ſcelus, vel blanditiis dolorem lenire ſtudeant, adeò nihil proficiunt, ut ſentram peccatum ſubinde fieri gravius., ſaying, Againſt thee, againſt thee onelyonly have I ſinned, and done this evill in thy ſight ePſal. 51.4.. How ſhould it make a mans heart to bleed within him, when hee conſiders how hee hath ſinned againſt God, againſt his neighbour, againſt his owne ſoule, againſt the heavens that are above his head, againſt the earth that is beneath his feet, againſt the meanes of his owne ſalvation, againſt the good motions of Gods Spirit, againſt light revealed, even the light of grace, the light of nature, the light of his owne conſcience, againſt mercies received, promiſes of mercies, experience of mercies, fruits and effects of mercies, againſt the checks and reluctations of his owne conſcience, againſt his owne vowes and reſolutions to the contrary, &c?
When the Angell expoſtulates the matter with the Iſraelites, why they obeyed not the voice of the Lord, eſpecially conſidering the helpes and meanes afforded unto them for that end and purpoſe, it is ſaid, that theyfJudg. 2.3. lift up their voice and wept. And is there not cauſe of weeping, when a man looks into Gods dealing with him, and his owne carriage towards God? when hee conſiders how often God hath called him by the voice of his creatures, by the voice of his Miniſters, by the voice of his mercies, by the voice of his judgements; and all this while he hath ſtopped his eare, and would not heare; hardned his heart, and would not be reclaimed? when he ſees and obſerves, how that no meanes, no mercies, no judgements, no threatnings could prevaile with him; what is it that can melt his ſoule into penitentiall teares, if this doe it not? it hath wrought much upon the ſervants of God in former times; it wrought ſo with David, that he cauſedgPſal. 6.6. his bed every night to ſwim, and watered his couch with his teares hChryſoſt. in N. T. To. 6. edi. graecolat. pag. 962. foreign.. It prevailed ſo farre with Peter, that when Chriſt looked upon him, and put him in minde of what he had done,iMat. 26.75. he went out and wept bitterly. It made ſo deepe an impreſſion upon Mary Magdalen, that ſhe did not onelyonly weepe at the feet of her Saviour, but alſo poured out ſuch abundance of teares, thatkLuke 7.44. ſhe waſhed his very feet with her teares, and wiped them with the haires of her head. And who can looke upon ſuch a cloud of witneſſes, and not wiſh with the Prophet, Oh that my head were a fountaine of teares?
If ye look abroad upon the men of this world, how doe they over grieve loſſes and croſſes in earthly matters? if they bee croſſed in their profits, pleaſures, honours, preferments, or other like deſignes, how neare doth it ſit unto them? If they loſe friends, kindred, wife, children, &c. how doth it goe to their heart, and fetch teares from their eyes? and yet what are theſe loſſes in compariſon of that which a man loſeth by his ſinne? If they ſhed ſo many teares for the loſſe of temporall things, who can refraine teares for the loſſe of ſpirituall things, which are of infinite worth, beyond all price that can be ſet upon them? eſpecially if he conſider that it is the beſt uſe that teares can be put unto*Chryſ. in N. T. to. 5. 2 Cor. 7. foreign., to ſpend them upon his ſinnes; this is the end for which they were made, and indeed they are profitable for nothing elſe. If a man weepe for the death of friends, kindred, wife, children, &c. his weeping cannot make them alive againe: If he ſhed never ſo many teares for the loſſe of houſe, inheritance, lands, goods, &c. his teares cannot reſtore them againe: if he ſhould weepe out both his eyes for the loſſe of his time, or things that are paſt and gone, he cannot poſſibly recall them againe; but if he lament after God, who abſents himſelfe, and hides the light of his countenance from him, this will cauſe him to returne againe: if he weep for his ſinnes which have defaced the beauty of his ſoule, this will wipe them out againe; when a man weepes and ſheds teares for his ſinne, then is the ſtreame of his teares turned into the right channell, then are his teares pitched upon the right object, then are they in their proper place where they ſhould bee: other teares pay no debts, heale no diſeaſes, helpe not to remove the evill that is preſent, or procure the good that is wanting; but penitentiall teares, thoſe ever leave a man better than they finde him: Sinne brought teares into the world, and teares are the onelyonly remedy againſt ſinnelChryſ. in N.T. to. 5. 2 Cor. 7. foreign.; as the aſhes of the Viper that is burned, is the moſt preſent remedy againſt the venomous and impoyſoned ſting of the Viper: even ſo the teares of repentance, ſackcloth and aſhes, theſe are the moſt preſent remedy againſt ſinne. If the wicked turne from his wickedneſſe, he ſhall ſurely live, and ſhall not die mEzek 18.21.. As the Worme that breeds in the woodnChryſoſt. edit. Graecolat. to 1. de poenit. hom. 5. foreign, &c. foreign. conſumes and eates out the heart of it, ſo teares which were bred and brought forth into the world by ſinne, are a ſpeciall meanes to conſume and aboliſh it: Teares which are the daughters of ſinne, devoure and eate out the bowels of their mother. Peter wept for his ſinne, and it was remitted; it could be waſhed out, though it could not be excuſed, and therefore the Apoſtle doth not ſpend words in vaine, to extenuate or leſſen, to defend or excuſe his ſinne, but hee keepes ſilence, and weepes for itoPetrus flevit et tacuit, quia quod defleri ſolet, non ſolet excuſari, & … defendi non poteſt, ablui poteſt. Ambroſ. to. 3. ſerm 46. Greg. Hom. 39. in Evang.; goe thou and doe likewiſe: and for thy better helpe and direction herein,
1 Labour to get a tender and broken heart, that is the leader of the whole man, and in ſuch ſort as that goes before, ſo doth all the reſt follow after: If the maſter mourne pChryſ. to 1. hom. 3. ad pop. Antioch pag 44. Caſſian. Collat 9. ca. 28. Caſſiod. inſtit. divin. ca. 23. Guliel. l'ariſ. de ſacram. poenit c. 5. Qui pungit cor confert ſenſum, propter hoc compūctio nominatur, ipſa poenitudo interior, quae de ſtulto corde ſenſum producit emendationis: vel ideo dicitur compunctio, quia quemadmodū arbores thuris et myrrhae, ſudi bus ferreis vulnerantur, et ipſa vulneratione velut lachrymatae, aromata myrrhae et thuris proferunt: thus enim et myrrha, lachrymae ſunt ejuſmodi arborum, ſed coagulatae, ſic compuncta corda poenitentium, thus devotae orationis, & myrrham internae amaricationis emittunt., all the ſervants are clad in blacke; ſo when the heart mournes, the voyce, the face, the tongue, the hand, &c. all mourne; the head becomes a well of water, and the eyes are turned into fountains of teares, like as it was with Nineveh, when the King himſelfe came from his Throne and put on Sackcloth, all his Nobles, and all his ſervants, and all the people, yea the beaſt of the field lament with him: So when the heart deſcends from her throne, and puts on ſorrow and contrition, it melts the head and eyes into penitentiall teares: and therefore as he that would finde a Well of water, he muſt digge deep in the earth, ſo he that would melt himſelfe into teares of contrition, he muſt ſteepe his thoughts deeply in the meditation of ſinne, that his heart may be throughly humbled in the conſideration of it.
2 Looke often upon ſuch objects as are apt to make the heart to bleed, and fetch tears from the eyesqCornelia Lap com in Pro. 4.25. Magna eſt vis oculorum ad cor et mentem vulnerandam: ſpecies enim viſa per oculos tranſit ad cor et mentem, illiq, ſuam formam, et conſequenter amorem velodium imprimit, quae ſpecies haeret in corde, etiam poſtquam res viſa abierit. Ibid. ca. 23.27. Magna Sympathia cordis cum oculis, ut cor in oculis, et oculi in corde ſiti eſſe videantur: quod enim cor amat, ad illud intuendum dirigit oculos, ut objecto amato per viſum et intuitumſe paſcat., as Chriſt here, he beheld the City, and that makes him to weepe for it: and againe, when he ſaw the multitude hee was moved with compaſsion towards them, becauſe they were ſcattered and diſperſed as ſheepe having no ſhepherdrMat. 9.36.; ſo is it propheſied of the Jewes, They ſhall looke on him whom they have pierced, and lament over him ſZach. 12.10.: ſo it was with righteous Lot, in hearing and ſeeing their unlawfull deeds, it vexed his righteous ſoule from day to dayt2 Pet. 2.8..
When Ieſus ſaw Mary weep, and the Iewes weepe for Lazarus, hee was troubled in ſpirit, and wept with them uIohn 11.35.. God and Nature have made the ſame member to bee the inſtrument of weeping and ſeeing; implying, that hee that would weepe for ſinne, muſt often looke upon it in thoſe circumſtances of aggravation, whereby the uglineſſe and deformity of it may appeare unto him. Hee that ſhuts his eyes, neither ſeeth his ſinne, nor weeps for it; therefore ſaith Salomon, it is better to goe to the houſe of mourning, than the houſe of feaſting, for this is the end of all fleſh, and the living ſhall lay it to his heartxEccleſ. 7.4.. David, till his eyes were opened to ſee his ſinne, hee wept not for it; ſo a broken heart till it looke upon objects which are apt to beget impreſſions of griefe and ſorrow; it doth not bleed within, or ſhed tears without: for like as it is wht the infant while he is ſhut up in the womb, he weepes not; but when he comes into the world, and ſeeth the light, then he weepes: ſo while men are ſhut up in the wombe of ignorance, and doe not ſee their ſinnes, or looke upon thoſe objects that are apt to beget teares, they doe not weepe for them: and therefore hee that would weepe for his ſinne, muſt feed his eyes with the ſight of it.
3 When God begins to worke upon thy ſoule,Chap. 5. and melt thy heart with motions and impreſſions of griefe, now bee ſure to cloſe with God, take that hint, and lay hold upon that opportunity, improve it for thine owne advantage; betake thy ſelfe to ſome convenient place where thy ſoule may freely melt it ſelfe into teares, without diſtraction. As the Husbandman puts in his Plow after a ſhowre, when the ground is ſoft, ſo when God ſoftens and prepares the heart, melts and mollifies it, thenzCic. li. 1. de invent. Occaſio eſt pars temporis, habens in ſe alicujus rei idoneam faciendi occaſionem. ſet thy ſelfe more ſeriouſly about this work, even then when God ſtirres thy heart, and makes it in a weeping caſe; that is, apt and inclinable to ſhed forth teares: ſo did Peter, while hee was in the High Prieſts Hall, hee wept not, hee knew that was no convenient time or place for him to melt himſelfe into teares of contrition; therefore hee firſt went out, and then having found convenient time and place, he wept bitterly. Even ſo doe thou; thou haſt had a time to ſinne in; yea, many times, and many places can witneſſe thy forwardneſſe this way; ô then finde out ſome time and place that may witneſſe thy teares, as well as it hath done thy ſin; finde out ſome time and place to weepe for thy ſinne, to lament after God whom thou haſt offended; to mourne after Chriſt whom thou haſt pierced; to languiſh after the communion and fellowſhip of that Holy SPIRIT whom thou haſt ſo often grieved*Gaſpar. Sanct. com. in Ier. pag. 326. Lachrymae latebras amant, ut liberiùs, et ſine interpellatione fluant. & comment. in Lam. pag. 1046. Tempus nocturnum, maximè oportunum lugentibus: et quia tenebrae ipſae animum aegrū magis ac magis contrahunt, et quia ſilentiū ipſum nocturnum ab ea cogitatione non …init animum abduci, quae graviter excruciat.. The ſilent time of the night, when the ſoule is ſequeſtred from all other ſecular occaſions, is a fit time for penitentiall teares; becauſe then the heart may freely melt it ſelfe into ſorrow and contrition, without feare or ſuſpition of vaine glory, without interruption or avocation from thoſe ſad and ſerious meditations which make his ſoule to bleed within him. And when once thou haſt opened this veyne, ſuffer it not to cloſe and dry up againe,Motives to weep for ſin. but keep the wound ſtill freſh and bleeding. And for Motives to ſtirre thee up hereunto,
1 Looke upon the example of Chriſt; hee did not onelyonly offer up ſtrong cries, with teares and ſupplications, (as here hee wept for Jeruſalem) but he ſhed his own moſt precious blood: Now what compariſon is there betweene a few drops of thy teares, and the ſtreames of his precious blood? If Chriſt thought not much to ſhed many drops of his deareſt blood for ſinne, why ſhould any thinke much to ſhed a few teares for it? The holy Martyrs have reſiſted ſinne, even to ſhedding of their own blood, with which they have quenched the fire of perſecution; and if the ſtreames of blood be ſpared, through the mercy of God, in the dayes of peace, none may thinke much, as Chryſoſtome aChyſoſt. to 5. Grae…o Lat. de ſanct. Martyr. ſ…r. 67. foreign.well gathers, to let a few teares fall from his eyes, wherewith hee may quench the fiery darts of inordinate luſt and affections.
2 Conſider, that God takes notice of every teare that fals from thine eyes; as himſelfe ſpeakes to Hezekia, I have heard thy prayers, and have ſeene thy tears bIſay. 38.5.: ſo David ſpeaks, The Lord hath heard the voyce of my weeping cPſal. 6.8.: implying, that teares have a voyce, which God heares and underſtands, when the ſpeech failes, and the tongue is not able to utter a word; yet if the heart can bleed for ſinne, and the eye ſhed teares for it, theſe ſpeake a language that God is well enough acquainted withall. Mary Magdalene wept, and waſhed the feet of Chriſt; Peter went out and wept bitterly: wee doe not reade of any words they ſpake; but doubleſſe thoſe teares they had a voyce that made earneſt prayer and requeſt to GoddAuguſt. to. 5. de civit. Dei ad Marcell. l. 20. p. 191. Q…ntò quiſque ſanctior eſt, et deſiderit ſancti plenior, tanto eſt ejus in orando fletus ube…ior.: The prayers of the mouth are oftentimes but lip-labour, and falſe witneſſes of a double heart; as the Lord complaines of his peopleeIſay. 29.13.; but the prayers of teares, thoſe are alwayes teſtimonies of a ſingle heart, and prevaile with God. It is ſaid of Anna, that ſhee prayed to the Lord, and wept ſore,*Laurent. Iuſtinian. lignum vitae grad. 12. de orat. c. 9. Nemo ad Deum aliquando fleus acceſſit, qui non quod poſtulavit, acceperit: nullus ab eo, beneficia, dolen…er optavit, qui non impetravit; ipſe enim eſt, qui conſolatur flentes, dolentes curat, poenitentes informat. but her voyce was not heard f1 Sam. 1.10.: ſo that God heares prayers when no voyce is uttered. The ſilent voyce of teares makes a loud noyſe in the eares of God.
3 God doth not onelyonly take notice of thy teares that are ſhed, but he takes delight in them, as ſinfull mirth makes him to weepe as it were: as Chriſt here wept for Ieruſalem, when ſhee was in the height of her voluptuous courſes; ſo penitentiall teares make him to rejoyce; There is more joy in heaven for one ſinner that repenteth, than for ninety nine righteous perſons that need no amendmentgLuke 15.7..
4 GOD doth not onelyonly delight in thy teares, but he will alſo reward thee; for if a cup of cold water ſhall not loſe his reward, much leſſe ſhall thoſe precious teares, which fall from the eyes of the Saints of God, goe unrewarded; not as if there were ſuch worth and merit in them; but becauſe God is pleaſed out of his gracious dignation freely to promiſe a reward unto themhAuguſt. 10.8. in Pſal. pag 325. Dulciores ſunt lachrymae otantium, quam gaudia theatrorum. Bernard. ſuper. Cant. ſer. 30. Lachrymae poenitentium vinum eorum, quod in illis vitae odor, ſapor gratiae, indulgentiae guſtus, reconciliationis jucunditas, ſanitas redeuntis innocentiae, ſerenatae ſuavitas conſcientiae.: They which ſow in teares ſhall reape in joy iPſal. 126.5.: and againe, Bleſſed are they that mourne, for they ſhall be comforted kMat. 5.4.. If therefore thou wilt now weepe and ſhed teares for thy ſinne, God will finde a time to wipe all teares from thine eyes lRevel. 21.4..
5 Is it not better now to weepe for thy ſinnes when thy teares may doe thee good mChryſoſt. to. 3. Graecolat. in Pſa. 125. pag. 454. & in Pſal. 50. pag. 1004., then hereafter to ſpend an endleſſe number of fruitleſſe and bootleſſe teares without any profit or advantage to thy ſelfe? There will come a time when teares will not prevaile with God. When the Bleſſing was gone, Eſau could not obtaine it, though hee ſought it with tearesnHeb. 12.17.. Hee that will not now weepe for his ſinnes here in this world, hee ſhall weepe for them unto all eternity in another world, in that Lake which burneth with fire and brimſtone, where there ſhall bee nothing elſe but weeping and wayling and gnaſhing of teeth: and therefore as ever thou deſireſt to eſcape this weeping, ſo let it bee thy care now to prevent it, by weeping and ſhedding teares for thy ſinnes, whiles the ſhedding of them may doe thee good.