The application of redemption

And hence it is this sorrow is compared to such as enter into the very inwards of Nature, and sinks the soul with unsupportable pressures: when that great conversion and return of the Jews to the entertainment of the Gospel shall be brought about by the Lord. The Prophet sets forth the greatness of that sorrow of theirs, under a double similitude. First, Zach. 12. 10. They shall mourn for him, as the mother mourns for her only son, and for her first born: the mourning of a tender hearted mother for her son, her first born, and for her only son, he adds all degrees of grief: if she had possessed many, she might more easily have wanted one, or at least parted with it; or had it been any but her first born which had the first of her strength, and the first of her love, yet she might have born it with more quietness: but when all these meet together, her life and comfort is wrapped up in the life of the Child, the mourning becomes unmeasurable, fills the heart as it were. Secondly, It shall be like the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the Valley of Megiddon, when all Israel lamented the death of their good Josiah, the light of their eyes, the breath of their Nostrils, the comfort of their souls, 2 Chron. 35. 25. Therefore the original words which lay open this work, are of marvellous weight, and discover the overpowering virtue thereof, Isai. 57. 18. The Lord dwells with him that is of a contrite spirit. Isai. 61. 6. The Lord binds up the broken heart. The first whereof signifies to pun to powder, and to bring to small dust; it is so used, Psal. 90. 3. Thou bringest man to the dust of death, again thou sayest, return ye children of men. That as the hardest stone when it's broken all to small mammocks, and powder as it were, it's easy and yielding under the touch of the hand, what ever ruggedness and resistance was in it before. So it is with the soul that is punned to powder, so that there is not any unbroken, or any ⟨p. 361⟩whole part to be found there, no soldering in any secret manner with any retired distemper; but the weight of godly sorrow hath shattered all asunder, distress of Conscience hath brought it to dust, parted all the privy closures with any particular of any distemper, all that knotty stiffness and perverseness of spirit in siding with any corruption is now taken off. The soul comes easily to give way to the Authority of the Truth, that would take any sinful lust away.