Sacramental meditations upon divers select places of scripture

There be two things in Repentance, Trouble and Tears. The first is Essential, the last Contingent. The first flows from the influence of faith upon the soul; the last much depends upon the temper and constitution of the body. It is a mercy when our tears can flow from an heart filled with sorrow for sin, and love to Christ; and yet it often falls out that there is an heavy heart, where the eyes are dry. But that there is efficacy in faith to melt the ⟨p. 168⟩heart, by looking upon the sufferings of Christ for sin, is undoubted; and how it becomes so powerful an instrument to this end, I will show you in the following particulars.

There be two things in Repentance, Trouble and Tears. The first is Essential, the last Contingent. The first flows from the influence of faith upon the soul; the last much depends upon the temper and constitution of the body. It is a mercy when our tears can flow from an heart fill'd with sorrow sor sin, and love to Christ; and yet it often falls out that there is an heavy heart, where the eyes are dry. But that there is efficacy in faith to melt the ⟨p. 168⟩heart, by looklng upon the sufferings of Christ for sin, is undoubted; and how it becomes so powerful an instrument to this end, I will shew you in the following particulars.

First: Faith eyes the dignity of the Person of Christ, who was pierced for ¹us; how excellent and glorious a Person he is. In the Captivity, it was for a lamentation that Princes were hanged up by the hands, and the faces of Elders were not reverenced, Lam. 5. 12. We read also the Lamentation of David, 2 Sam. 3. 38. as he followed Abners Hearse. A Prince and a great man is fallen in Israel to day.