The beatitudes

Motive. 3 3. The preciousness of tears: [Greek or Hebrew]; tears dropping from a mournful, penitent eye, are like the water dropping from the Roses, very sweet and precious to God; a Fountain in the Garden makes it pleasant; that heart is most delightful to God, which hath a Fountain of sorrow running in it. Mary stood at Christs feet weeping, Luke 7.38. Her tears were more fragrant and odoriferous than her ointment; the incense when it is broken, smells sweetest; when the heart is broken for sin, now our services give forth their sweetest perfume. There is joy in heaven over a sinner that repenteth, Luke 15.7. Whereupon St. Bernard calls tears Vinum Angelorum, the wine of Angels; and sure God delights much in tears; else he would not keep a bottle for them, Psal. 56.8. One calls tears Holocaustum pingue, a fat sacrifice, which under the Law was most acceptable, Lev. 3.3. St. Hierom calls Mourning a plank after shipwreck: Chrysostom calls tears a sponge to wipe off sin; tears are powerful Orators for mercy. Eusebius saith there was an Altar at Athens, on which they poured no other sacrifice but tears; as if the Heathens thought there was no better way to pacify their angry gods, than by weeping: Jacob wept, and had power over the Angel, Hosea 12.4. Tears melt the heart of God. When a Malefactor comes weeping to the Bar, this melts the Judges heart towards him: When a man comes weeping in prayer, and smites on his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner, this doth melt Gods heart towards him. Prayer (saith Hierom) inclines God to show mercy, tears compel him; God seals his pardons upon melting hearts; tears, though they are silent, yet have a ⟨p. 93⟩voice, Psal. 6.8. Tears wash away sin; rain melts and washeth away a ball of snow; repenting tears wash away sin. That sin saith Ambrose^*