A Body of Practical Divinity

First, It would melt us into Tears for our Spiritual Unkindnesses. That we should sin against so sweet a Saviour, that we should be no more affected with his Love, but requite Evil for Good. Like the Athenians, who notwithstanding all the good Service Aristides had done them, banished him out of their City. That we should grieve Christ with our Pride, rash Anger, our Unfruitfulness, Animosities, strange Factions: Have we none to abuse but our Friend? Have we nothing to kick against but the Bowels of a Saviour? Did not Christ suffer enough upon the Cross, but must we needs make him suffer more? Do we give him more Gall and Vinegar to drink? O, if any thing can dissolve the Heart in Sorrow, and broach the Eyes with Tears, 'tis dis-ingenuity and unkindness offered to Christ. When Peter thought of Christ's Love to him, how he had made him an Apostle, and revealed his Bosom-Secrets to him, and taken him to the Mount of Transfiguration, and that he should deny Christ, it broke his Heart with Sorrow, he went out and wept bitterly, Mat. 26.75. What a blessed thing is it to have the Eyes dropping Tears on a Sabbath! And nothing would sooner fetch Tears, than to meditate of Christ's Love to us, and our unkind Requitals.

First, It would melt us into Tears for our Spiritual Vnkindnesses. That we should sin against so sweet a Saviour, that we should be no more affected with his Love, but requite Evil for Good. Like the Athenians, who notwithstanding all the good Service Aristides had done them, banished him out of their City. That we should grieve Christ with our Pride, rash Anger, our Unfruitfulness, Animosities, strange Factions: Have we none to abuse but our Friend? Have we nothing to kick against but the Bowels of a Saviour? Did not Christ suffer enough upon the Cross, but must we needs make him suffer more? Do we give him more Gall and Vinegar to drink? O, if any thing can dissolve the Heart in Sorrow, and broach the Eyes with Tears, 'tis dis-ingenuity and unkindness offered to Christ. When Peter thought of Christ's Love to him, how he had made him an Apostle, and reveal'd his Bosom-Secrets to him, and taken him to the Mount of Transfiguration, and that he should deny Christ, it broke his Heart with Sorrow, he went out and wept bitterly, Mat. 26.75. What a blessed thing is it to have the Eyes dropping Tears on a Sabbath! And nothing would sooner fetch Tears, than to meditate of Christ's Love to us, and our unkind Requitals.