Obj. But how shall I know that my mourning is spiritual mourning, when I cannot mourn for sin ? I have abundance of tears for losses, and for crosses, and unkindnesses ; but I am dry, and barren, and tearless, when it comes to matter of sin and offence, and trespass against God. Is this well, that a man should have tears at command for outward losses and crosses, and not shed a tear in prayer, and in repentance for sin ?
Ans. No, my brethren, it is not well ; but how shall we do to amend this ? Surely, even go to God and confess how it is ; complain of thyself, and desire him to amend it ; and, if we condemn ourselves, God is ready to receive us.
Obj. Ay, but the children of God are more plentiful ihiears for sin than for outward things.
Ans. Ay, in what sense ? Not in regard of the bulk, but in regard of the worth, in regard of the value of their tears. One tear spent for sin is worth rivers of tears for outward matters. In the regard of the price and excellency, it is more, because God accepts of a man's endeavour and desire in this kind, and he looks what his desire, and intention, and endeavour is. They are more also in regard of our esteem, that we would gladly weep more for sin than for other matters. Otherwise, the children of God are more plentiful many times in tears for the loss of children, as David was for Absalom ; or for some cross that befalls them, as at Ziklag he wept so much that he could weep no more, than for sin against God, and yet they would weep most for that. They think that a matter of greatest sorrow, and they desire to be more plentiful in tears for it, and then God accepts it, according to that a man would do, and not according to that which he cannot do, and which he hath not.
Obj. Further, it will be said. How shall I know my sorrow to be spiritual sorrow ? I answer in a word :
Ans. 1. First, Look to the object, that it be nniversal. So in spiritual things, he that is spiritually sorry he mourns for the want of goodness wheresoever he seeth it, be it in himself or in other men, nay, be it in his enemies. David saith, Ps. cxix. 53, sorrow seized on him, ' because his adversaries kept not the law of God.' Spiritual mourning, it makes a man sorry for painful evils that fall upon his brethren as well as himself; and on himself as well as them. Do we mourn for other men's faults as well as for our own ? Do we mourn that our enemies do overshoot themselves, and that they disgrace themselves, as well, though not so much, as if our friends had done it ? If our sorrow be universal, then it is spiritual.
A71S. 2. Secondly, Our sorrow will be spiritual and holy, if it be accom- panied with prayer; for holy mourning makes way for prayer. Sometimes
292 SPIRITUAL MOURNING.
a man is so surprised and ovcrv\'belmcd, as David saith, that he is not able to speak a word, notwithstanding there may be a mental real prayer. His eyes may bo towards heaven, he may sigh, and groan, and lament, and bemoan his own estate, that be cannot speak and pour forth himself in prayer to God as he would do, and as he should do. Now, if our sorrow be such sorrow, that it sends us to God, that it brings us on our knees, that it makes us either speak or chatter, as Hezekiah did, it makes a man mourn, groan, as the dove doth, as he saith of himself; if it be such sor- row as this, it is spiritual sorrow. You know that it is said of Jacob, Hos. xii. 4, that he ^\i-estled with the angel with tears, and sued to him with supplication. Tears and supplication went together. He begged apace, and cried apace ; he hanged on him, and would not let him go without a blessing.
Atis. 3. Again, It is spiritual sorrow, when it is accompanied icith thank- fulness. A carnal man, when he is pinched and twinged, and knows not which way to turn himself, he will be glad to cry, when he sees there is no other refuge in the world, but either he must cry or sink. But a man that is a spiritual mourner, he will be thankful as well as prayerful. This is a comfortable kind of mourning. There is hope in it, there is sweetness and comfort in it ; and that man that can so mourn, he blesseth God that he can mourn, that God hath given him time and leisure, that he may set him- self apart to provoke himself to mourn. He blesseth God that God hath given him a word that can work upon him, that God hath given him friends to deal faithfully, that God hath applied this word to his heart, that it hath wounded him and made him bleed ; he is thankful for the mercy, and thinks it a great promotion, when he can shed tears, when his heart yields under the stroke of the word of God, and of the hand of God that is upon him. Nay, he is thankful whatsoever it costs him. The child of God, when he sees his heart is enlarged to weep over Christ for his sins, he cares not how dear he pays for this sorrow, for this moui-ning, though he lose some of his estate, some of his credit with men ; though he lose some of his wealth, some of his comforts, some of his friends ; yet, notwithstanding, if he can weep and mourn, he thinks he hath a good bargain, a good pur- chase. Though God afflict him, though he pain him, though he cross him and cast him down, yet if he, see that his heart can weep for his sin, that he can lament after the Lord, and can take to heart his corruptions, thia man can rejoice in this estate, he can bless God's name, that hath given him an heart to mourn spiritually, though he pay dear for it in regard of outward losses and outward smart.