Softness or tenderness of heart is a special means of upright walking
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| Obadiah Sedgwick |
Truly the hardness of mans heart is wonderful, which will not bow after so many gracious dealings of God, and the patience of God is more wonderful, who will bear so many, and so long affronts from a proud and hard heart.
~Obadiah Sedgwick
If we would compass soft and tenderness of heart, we must then get hearts to love the Lord; Did we love him, we would be tender of his glory, and tender of his love; tender to please him, tender not to displease him, tender to obey him, and tender to honour him.
~Obadiah Sedgwick
Now softness or tenderness of heart is a special means of this upright walking: For
1.
It raiseth in the heart an universal regard to all the Commandments of
God, Psal. 119.6. And ver. 10. would not wander from the commandments,
and to walk in all Well-pleasing before him.
2.
It fills the heart with a hatred and fear of all sin, that it may not
offend the Lord in any thing, nor at any time, nor in any place: Still
seeing him who is invisible: Job 31.4. Doth not he see my ways, and
count all my steps! Prov. 5.21. The ways of man are before the eyes of
the Lord, and he pondereth all his goings.
3.
It lifts up the glory of God; that is the great end, and aim, and
scope, and motive to a tender heart; he doth all to the glory of God,
and so that Christ may be magnified.
4. It
would be a means of promoting the knowledge of Christ, and the power of
godliness, and of casting down whatsoever is contrary to sound Doctrine,
and unto the ways of godliness; for it would fill the hearts of men
with spiritual compassion to souls with zeal, and it would draw out
their graces, and gifts, and powers in a right way for God, and for the
good and salvation of others.
If
Magistrates had but as much tenderness of heart in relation to the
interest of God, as to their own interest, they would be more quick and
active for God than for themselves; they would justify the righteous,
and condemn the wicked; they would countance the faithful in the Land,
and contemn the profane; they would honour and exalt the truth of God
and disgrace and repress the errors and blasphemies against God and his
truths, they would encourage every godly person, and they would appear
against all open ungodliness and unrighteousness of men.
If
Ministers had more tenderness of heart, they would (in their places
also) give all diligence to make Christ known, and the truths of Christ,
and contend for them, and oppose men of corrupt minds, and that which
is Antichrist indeed, and they would exceedingly persuade, and encourage
even to the knowledge of the truth, and to the love of the truth, and
to walk in all manner of holiness and godliness: and they would reprove,
threaten, warn, and declare the wrath of God against all sorts of
wickedness in all sorts of men.
If
Parents, and Masters of Families had this tender heart, they would not
suffer ignorance and looseness in their dwellings; but on the contrary
would study and take pains to instruct and teach their children and
servants, and would reprove and correct, &c. How would they pray,
and strive on the behalf of knowledge, and faith, and holiness, and fear
of God, and of Walking with God! Verily the whole Land would in a short
time, be made an habitation of holiness, a Land flowing with knowledge,
and fear of the Lord, had we more of this tenderness of heart, which
would undoubtedly make us more zealous, and industrious for the glory of
God.
~Obadiah Sedgwick
