The real Christian, or, A treatise of effectual calling wherein the work of God…

Thirdly, In sorrow for outward things, we are merely Passives, that is, sorrow comes in whether we will or no, it breaks in upon us, we cannot withstand it; but in sorrow for Sin, we are Actives, that is, we desire it, choose it, call for it, pray for it (as I said before) Whence we see, there is much more of the will in sorrow for Sin, then is in sorrow for outward things; and certainly the will is the great thing in Divinity; this implieth it hath the understanding and judgment with it.

Thirdly, In sorrow for outward things, we are meerly Passives, that is, sorrow comes in whether we will or no, it breaks in upon us, we cannot withstand it; but in sorrow for Sin, we are Actives, that is, we desire it, chuse it, call for it, pray for it (as I said before) Whence we see, there is much more of the will in sorrow for Sin, then is in sorrow for outward things; and certainly the will is the great thing in Divinity; this implyeth it hath the understanding and judgment with it.

Fourthly, The Land-floods of sorrow for outward things, fall again, and sometimes very quickly, unless we have set our hearts too much upon a Creature, which is our Sin; these sorrows wear out; we can speak of such an affliction that now torments us, the loss of such a Relation, three or four years hence, and then sorrow doth not so oppress us; but the little spring of sorrow for Sin, is kept running during a mans life. If a Christian recalls a sin twenty years since committed, and which troubled him then, he doth find his sorrow renew; though ⟨p. 86⟩God hath pardoned him, he cannot pardon himself.

The same may I say for Tears.