Proclaimer Blog
The tender heart
I've just finished reading one of Sibbe's sermons kindly sent to me by Mike Reeves (one of next year's EMA speakers). It has been produced by Banner of Truth in one of those little pocket books and its 65 pages have thoroughly warmed my heart. It's one of the sermons that is part of a larger collection "Josiah's Reformation" which might at first sound unpromising, but is in fact a series of expositions on the relationship between God and Josiah because King J had a tender heart towards his people. The little booklet costs £3 full price, but you'll be able to get a discount. Last time Banner produced one of these I bought them as Christmas presents for nieces and nephews. It may be a bit early to think about that – but they do make nice little gifts to pass on. Here's a taster:
How many have melting hearts when they hear God blasphemed and the religion of Christ wronged? How few are there that yield to the motions of the Spirit! We may take up a wonderful complaint of the hardness of men's hearts in these days, who never tremble at the word of God. Neither his promises, nor threatenings, nor commands will melt their hearts…..
…But there may be another question asked, How shall men recover themselves when they are subject to this hardness, deadness and insensibleness?…As when things are cold we bring them to the fire to heat and melt, so we bring our cold hearts to the fire of the love of Christ; we consider of our sins against Christ, and of Christ's love towards us, dwell upon this meditation. Think what great love Christ has showed unto us, and how little we have deserved, and this will make our hearts to melt and be as pliable as wax before the sun.