It is a supernatural disposition of a true child of God to have
a tender, soft, and a melting heart. I say that a disposition of a true child
of God, and the frame of soul of such an one, to be tender, apprehensive,
and serviceable, is a supernatural disposition; and of necessity it must be
so, because naturally the heart is of another temper — a stony heart. All
by nature have stony hearts in respect of spiritual goodness. There may
be a tenderness in regard of natural things ; but in regard of grace, the
heart is stony, and beats back all that is put to it. Say what you will to
a hard heart, it will never yield. A hammer will do no good to a stone.
It may break it in pieces, but not draw it to any form. So to a stony
heart, all the threatenings in the woi'ld will do no good. You may break it
in pieces, but never work upon it. It must be the almighty power of God.
There is nothing in the world so hard as the heart of man. The very
creatures will yield obedience to God ; as flies, and lice, to destroy Pharaoh ;
but Pharaoh himself was so hard-hearted, that after ten plagues he was
ten times the more hardened, Exod. x. 28. Therefore, if a man have not
a melting heart, he is diverted from his proper object ; because God hath
placed affections in us, to be raised presently upon suitable objects. When
any object is offered in the word of God, if our hearts were not corrupted,
we would have correspondent affections. At judgments we would tremble,
at the word of threatenings quake, at promises we would with faith beheve,
and at mercies be comforted ; at directions we would be pliable and yield-
ing. But by nature our hearts are hard. God may threaten, and promise,
and direct, and yet we insensible all the while. Well, all Josiahs, and
all that are gracious, of necessity must have soft hearts.
- Richard Sibbes (Josiah's Reformation, Sermon 1)
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