Sacred Therapy, Book 3 · Chapter 16
CHAP. XVI.
Concerning the converts suspicion, that his softness of heart is nothing but a natural disposition to weep upon any occasion.
VVHen the Lord hath taken away from the sinner a heart of stone, and hath given unto him a heart of flesh, so that he dar not any more harden himself against the threatnings of Gods Word, but doth tremble at the hearing thereof, as speaketh Isaiah, 66. 2. and in his prayer doth pour forth his heart ordinarily with tears, he may (as experience hath taught) fall in a suspicion of this ordinar or frequent melting of heart, as if it were nothing else but a childish or woman-like temper of body and spirit, and no evidence of contrition for spiritual causes, which the Scripture requireth and commendeth in the penitent.
2. In this case there is danger on either hand, if the convert be not wary and circumspect in this condition; for, on the one hand he is in hazard of making light account of the work of God, who hath taken from him the heart of stone, and given him an heart of flesh. On the other hand, he is in hazard of laying too much weight on his tears, if once he be satisfied about the suspicion he hath of his own tears, and made clear, that they were proofs and evidences of his sincerity in his prayers to God.
That there is a danger on either hand, experience hath taught; for, some sincere converts, having entertained the suspicion, that their tears in prayer proceeded from the soft temper of their natural complexion & disposition of spirit, have resisted their inclination to mourn, and striven against letting forth of tears so far, that they have become so dry for a long time, and have prayed more perfunctoriously then before, that when just causes of grief and tears were given unto them, they were not able to bring forth one tear for easing of their grieved heart. On the other hand, experience hath taught, that some, looking upon the expressions of the Saints in Scripture concerning their tears, have laid so much weight upon their tears, as they have numbered, in a manner, all the drops of their eyes, and from the lesse or more quantity of them, made reckoning of their own better or worse condition, and of Gods acceptation of their prayers lesse or more.
3. This tendernesse of heart, and easinesse to be moved unto tears, for spiritual motives, is a rare gift. Few they are, who with sense of the body of death and original sin bearing them down, do lament their natural sinfulnesse in their best condition with Paul, Rom. 7. 24. Few shall be found so affectionat, to the glory of God and salvation of peoples souls, as to pour out tears both in secret and openly, for promoving thereof, as the Apostle did, Act. 20. 19, 21. and, 2 Cor. 2. 4. Few like Timothy, whose heart was so tender, that the Apostle could not but observe his tears, and remember them, 2 Tim. 1. 4. Yet, we doubt not, that from age to age sundry be, who by the grace of God have this constantly melting heart, according to the measure of Gods free donation, some with tears, some without tears. And therefore, if there be found in such mourners, an honest endeavour to walk circumspectly, let not the suspicion, that their tendernesse is but natural weaknesse of spirit or bodily complexion, be entertained. Only let the giver of the grace of a tender heart be relyed upon, and not their tears, as if they were any more then witnesses of their honest affection in spiritual exercises; for, such prayers may prove sincere and acceptable to God, both when they cannot mourn, and also when their heart seemeth withered, hard and dry.