John Bunyan - The Acceptable Sacrifice. The Excellency of a Broken Heart

LET us now, then, make some practical use of this doctrine.

First, From the truth of the matter; namely, that the man who is truly come to God has had his heart broken, that is, his heart broken in order to his coming to Him. This shows us what to judge of the word that is between sin and the soul: to wit, that it is so firm, so strong, so inviolable, as that nothing can break, disannul, or make it void, unless the heart be broken for it. It was so with David; even his new word with it could not be broken until his heart was broken.

It is amazing to consider what hold sin has on some mens souls, spirits, will, and affections. It is to them better than heaven, better than God, than the soul, even than salvation. It is evident, because, though all these are offered them upon this condition, if they will but leave their sins, yet they will choose rather to abide by them, to stand and fall by them. How sayest thou, sinner? is not this truth? How many times have you had heaven and salvation offered to you freely, if you would but break thy connection with this great enemy of God? Of God, do I say? if you would but break this link with this great enemy of your soul; but you never could yet be brought unto it: no, neither by threatening nor by promise could you ever yet be brought unto it.

It is said of Ahab, [He sold] himself to work wickedness; and in another place, Behold, for your iniquities have ye sold yourselves, 1 Kings 21:25; Isa. 50:1.

But what is this iniquity? Why, a thing of nothingness, nay, worse than nothingness a thousand times, but because nothing is, as we say, nothing; therefore it goes under that term where God saith again to the people, Ye have sold yourselves for nought, Isa. 52:3.

But, I say, what an amazing thing is this, that a rational creature should make no better a bargain; that one that is so wise in all earthly things should be such a fool in the thing that is most weighty; and yet such a fool he is, and he tells every one that goes by the way that he is such an one, because he will not break his bond with sin until his heart is broken for it.

Men love darkness rather than light. They make it manifest that they love it, since so great an offer will not prevail with them to leave it.

Secondly, Is this a truth, that the man that truly comes to God in order thereto, has had his heart broken? Then this shows us a reason why some mens hearts are broken, even a reason why God breaks some mens hearts for sin, namely, because He would not have them die in it, but rather come to God that they might be saved.

Behold therefore, how God resolved to save some mens souls. He will have them, He will save them, He will break their hearts, but He will save them. He will kill them that they may life.

He will wound them that He may heal them.

And it seems, by our discourse, that now there is no way left but this. Fair means, as we say, will not do. Good words, a glorious Gospel, entreatings, beseeching with blood and tears, will not do. Men are resolved to put God to the utmost of it. If He will have them, He must fetch them, follow them, catch them, lame them, even break their bones, or else He shall not save them.

Some men think an invitation is an outward call, that a rational discourse will do; but they are much deceived. There must be a power, an exceeding great and mighty power, attend the Word, or it works not effectually to the salvation of the soul. I know these things are enough to leave men without excuse. But they are not enough to bring men home to God. Sin has hold of them, and they have sold themselves to it. The power of the devil has hold of them, and they are his captives at his will. More than all this, their will is one with sin and with the devil, to be held captive thereby; and if God does not give contrition, repentance, or a broken heart for sin, then man will not have so much as a mind in him to forsake this so horrible a confederacy and plot against his soul, 2 Tim. 2:25,26.

Hence men are said to be drawn from these breasts, that come, or that are brought to Him, Isa. 28:9; John 6:44.

Wherefore John might well say, Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us! 1 Jn. 3:1. Here is cost bestowed, pains bestowed, labor bestowed, repentance bestowed, even a heart made sore, wounded, broken, and filled with pain and sorrow, in order to bring forth the salvation of the soul.

Thirdly, This, then, may teach us what estimation to set upon a broken heart. A broken heart is such as God honors, even as God counts better than all external service. A broken heart is that which is necessary for salvation, and to your coming to Christ for life.

The world does not know what to make of it nor what to say to one that has a broken heart. Therefore they despise it, and count that man that carries it in his bosom a moping fool, a miserable wretch, an undone soul. But a broken and a contrite spirit, O God, Thou wilt not despise. A broken heart takes Your eye, Your heart. You choose it for Your companion, and have given Your Son a charge to look well to such a man, and hast promised him His salvation, as has before been proved.

Sinner, have you obtained a broken heart? Has God bestowed a contrite spirit upon you? He has given you what He himself is pleased with. He has given you a cabinet to hold his grace in. He has given you an heart that can heartily desire His salvation, an heart after His own heart; that is, such as suits His mind.

True, it is painful now, sorrowful now, penitent now, grieved now; now it is broken, now it bleeds, now it sobs, now it sighs, now it mourns and cries unto God. Well, very well, all this is because He has a mind to make you laugh. He has made you sorry on earth, that you might rejoice in heaven. Blessed are [ye] that mourn, for [ye] shall be comforted: blessed are ye that weep now, for ye shall laugh, Mt. 5:4; Luke 6:21.

But, soul, be sure you have this broken heart. All hearts are not broken hearts, nor is every heart that seems to have a wound an heart that is truly broken. A man may be cut, yet not into the heart. A man may have another, yet not a broken heart, Acts 7:54; 1 Sam. 10:9. We know there is a difference between a wound in the flesh and a wound in the spirit (A mans sin may be wounded, and yet his heart not be broken.) So was Pharaohs, so was Sauls, so was Ahabs; but they had none of them the mercy of a broken heart. Therefore, I say, take heedevery scratch with a needle, every prick with a thorn, and every blow that God gives with His Word upon the heart of sinners does not therefore break them. God gave Ahab such a blow that He made him stoop, fast, humble himself, gird himself with, and lie in sackcloth, (which was a great matter for a king), and go softly; and yet he never had a broken heart, 1 Kings 21:27,29.

What shall I say? Pharaoh and Saul confessed their sin, Judas repented himself of his doings. Esau sought the blessing, and that carefully with tears; and yet none of these had an heart rightly broken, or a spirit truly contrite. Pharaoh, Saul, and Judas, were Pharaoh, Saul, and Judas still. Esau was Esau still. There was no gracious change, no thorough turn to God, no unfeigned parting with their sins, and no hearty flight for refuge, to lay hold on the hope of glory, though they indeed had thus been touched. Ex. 10:16; 1 Sam. 26:21; Mt. 27:3; Heb. 12:14-17.

The consideration of these things calls aloud to us to beware that we do not consider a broken and a contrite spirit that will not go for one at the day of death and judgment.

Wherefore, seeking soul, let me advise you, that you may not be deceived as to this thing of so great weight.

1. Go back towards the beginning of this book, and compare yourself with those six or seven signs of a broken and a contrite heart, which there I have according to the Word of God, given to you for that end; and deal with your soul impartially about them.