The Prophet Joel in like sort urgeth the same upon those of his time, saying, Rent your harts, and not your clothes, &c. But how must that be done? Verse 12 he had told them in the verse immediately going before; Turn unto the Lord with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: which is thus ⟨p. 52⟩much in effect; use all means to get godly sorrow, and holy remorse for sin: for that is it, that will bruise the heart indeed, 1and make it gentle and pliable. For as worldly grief and heaviness doth harden the heart, and make it like a flint: so spiritual grief doth soften it, and makes it tender as flesh: and a fleshy heart is always a clean heart, as doth appear in that former place of Ezekiel, 2where softness of heart is set down as an effect that ever followeth upon the thorough cleansing of the heart. And as this is commended: so the practise thereof is Prophesied and foretold by Zachery in his 12. 3Chap. and the good issue and effect thereof declared in the 13. Chap. As touching the first, we may read it in the 10.11.12.13.14. verses of the former Chapter. I will pour upon the house of David (saith God) and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace &c. and they shall lament, &c. where we may note first, the grievousness of their mourning, (when once Gods holy spirit hath entered into their hearts) in that they should make such woeful lamentation, as one would do for his only son, and for his first borne: or as the Israelites did for Josiah, their godly, and zealous, and faithful King, and governor, 4when he was slain by Necho King of Egypt, in the valley of Megiddo, where Jeremiah, and all the rest mourned for him with an exceeding bitter lamentation. And secondly, we may note the sincerity thereof, in that they should not weep for company (as an hypocrite may do) but every one apart, and in secret before the Lord. For so it is said, And the land shall bewail, Verse 12 every family apart, the family of the house of David apart, and their wives apart: the family of the house of Nathan apart, and their wives apart, &c. all the families that remain, every family apart, and their wives apart.
The Prophet Ioel in like sort vrgeth the same vpon those of his time, saying, Rent your harts, and not your cloaths, &c. But how must that be done? Verse 12 hee had told them in the verse immediatlie going before; Turne vnto the Lordwith all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: which is thus ⟨p. 52⟩much in effect; vse all meanes to get godly sorrow, and holy remorse for sinne: for that is it, that will bruse the heart indeed, 1and make it gentle and pliable. For as worldly griefe and heauines doth harden the heart, and make it like a flinte: so spirituall griefe doth soften it, and makes it tender as flesh: and a fleshie heart is alwaies a cleane heart, as doth appeare in that former place of Ezekiel, 2where softnes of heart is set downe as an effect that euer followeth vpon the thorow cleansing of the heart. And as this is commended: so the practise thereof is Prophecied and foretold by Zacherie in his 12. 3Chap. and the good issue and effect thereof declared in the 13. Chap. As touching the first, we may read it in the 10.11.12.13.14. verses of the former Chapter. I will poure vpon the house of Dauid (saith God) and vpon the inhabitants of Ierusalem, the spirit of grace &c. and they shall lament, &c. where we may note first, the grieuousnesse of their mourning, (when once Gods holy spirit hath entered into their hearts) in that they should make such wofull lamentation, as one would doe for his onely sonne, and for his first borne: or as the Israelites did for Iosiah, their godly, and zealous, and faithfull King, and gouernour, 4when hee was slaine by Necho King of Aegypt, in the valley of Megiddo, where Ieremy, and all the rest mourned for him with an exceeding bitter lamentation. And secondly, wee may note the sinceritie thereof, in that they should not weepe for company (as an hypocrite may doe) but euery one aparte, and in secret before the Lord. For so it is said, And the land shall bewaile, Verse 12 euery familie apart, the familie of the house of Dauid apart, and their wiues apart: the family of the house of Nathan apart, and their wiues apart, &c. all the families that remaine, euery familie apart, and their wiues apart.
- 1The effect of godly sorrow.
- 2Ezeck. 36.25.
- 3Zach. 12.10. &c.Zache. 12.10. &c.
- 42 Chro. 35.25
