The Heart of a Saint compared to an Heart of Flesh.

I. A Heart of Flesh is a tender thing; every small Prick will make it bleed: So every Sin, nay, the smallest Sin will offend, and make a tender-hearted Chri∣stian cry out, much more a great Sin.

II. A Heart of Flesh is a soft Heart; the Philosophers Description of a soft thing is, that it easily gives way to a Touch: So a true Christian, a tender-hearted Chri∣stian will yield to God's Word, to his Reproofs, to his Commands, &c. Lay your Finger upon a Stone, and that yields not; but lay your Finger upon Flesh, and that will yield:* So will a Saint. Josiah's Heart melted, when the Law of God was read to him; his Heart gave way and yielded to God's Word, and trembled at the Judg∣ments denounced; he had a Heart of Flesh, a tender and soft Heart.

III. A Heart of Flesh cannot bear a great Weight, a heavy Burden will crush and mar it exceedingly. Lay never so great a Weight upon a Stone, and that will bear it; you cannot crush that, nor make the least Impression in it, what Weight soever you lay upon it: but a Heart of Flesh, or that which is of a soft Substance, is of another Nature; a Weight will bruise, crush, and mar it immediatly. So a tender-hearted Christian cannot bear the Weight of Sin; he feels the Burthen so heavy, that he is sorely crushed down and oppressed under the Guilt thereof, and grievously bruised. Thus it was with David,* I am sore broken, I am bowed down greatly, &c.

IV. A Heart of Flesh, I mean a living Heart, (for 'tis such a one of which the Text speaks) is a sensible Heart: So a tender-hearted Christian, or a Man or Wo∣man that hath a Heart of Flesh, is very sensible. Such are sensible of their own Vileness, and loath themselves before the Lord, cannot bear the Thoughts of God's Displeasure; it goes to their very Heart, to think that the holy and infinite God should be displeased and offended with them: they are sensible of their own Sorrows, and of the Sorrows and Miseries of others. A tender-hearted Person will grieve for the Afflictions of his Brethren and Sisters; if his Mother, or any dear Relation, is di∣stressed, and in great Misery, O how sensible is he of it, and how sorely troubled and disquieted in his Spirit! And thus it is with a tender hearted Saint, O how is he grieved for the distressed Saints, and for distressed Sion! &c.

V. A Heart of Flesh, i. e. a tender Heart, will take any Impression you please: So a tender-hearted Christian will take any Impression from God: He is like Wax melted, that will take the Impression of the Seal. They are ready to take the Stamp of the Word, the Image of God, which is Righteousness and true Holiness. The Spirit and Word of God can mould these Hearts into any Form or Fashion God pleaseth, &c.