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

Secondly, Tears that rise from a tender broken heart, are precious, but Tears that flow from constitution of the body (as in most they do) signify little; some have Tears at command. I have known persons of very unbroken hearts, stout wills, who could pour out Tears at their pleasure. I speak of Christians.

Secondly, Tears that rise from a tender broken heart, are precious, but Tears that flow from constitution of the body (as in most they do) signifie little; some have Tears at command. I have known persons of very unbroken hearts, stout wills, who could pour out Tears at their pleasure. I speak of Christians.

Thirdly, Are Tears common with thee for other things? if so, and they be strangers only when you come to sin, this deserves good attendance.

Fourthly, A man may have a more soft, tender, broken heart, who cannot shed tears (at least not in that measure) he may be a better Christian then he that can shed many tears; observation hath made this good. I remember Mr. Thomas Hooker, at a Meeting of about forty Ministers, put that question, What Rules they would go by in admission of Members into Churches? Will you go by the narration of the work of God upon them in Conversion? Or will you look at the frame wherewith they make their narration? One, saith he, comes and makes his narration with many tears; another he tells you plainly what God hath done, but he cannot shed tears as the other, but yet proves the better Christian, said he. To say no more, Tears are common to Hypocrites, and no infallible sign of soundness of Grace: Many are kept humble and poor in their own eyes for want of tears, when some (I fear) are proud of their tears. Mr. Shepherd saith, More are driven to Christ by the sense of the burden of an hard, dead, blind, filthy heart, then by the sense of sorrows; because a man rests in sorrows most commonly, but trembles and flies out of himself when he feels the other. Sincere Convert p. 239.