Friday, August 25, 2006
"The acceptable sacrifice" by John Bunyan
"A broken heart is the handiwork of God; a heart of his own preparing, for his own service. It is a sacrifice of his own providing, of his providing for himself; as Abraham said in another case, “God will provide himself a lamb.” Hence it is said, “The preparation of the heart of man,” etc., “is from the Lord.” And again, “God maketh my heart soft, and the Almighty troubleth me.”
The heart, as it is by nature hard, stupid and impenetrable, so it remains, and so will remain, until God, as was said, bruise it with his hammer and melt it with his fire. The stony nature of it is therefore said to be taken away of God. “I will
take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and will give you,” saith he, “a
heart of flesh.” ‘I will take away the stony heart, or the hardness of your heart, and I will give you a heart of flesh;’ that is, ‘I will make your heart sensible, soft, yielding, governable, and penitent.’ Sometimes he bids men to rend their hearts, not because they can, but to convince them rather, that though it must be so, they cannot do it. So he bids them make themselves a new heart, and a new spirit, for the same purpose also. For if God doth not rend it, it remains unrent; if God makes it not new, it abides an old one still. This is that that is meant, by his bending men for himself, and his working in them that which is pleasing in his sight.
Zechariah 9:13.
The heart, (soul, or spirit,) as in itself, as it came from God’s fingers, is a precious thing, a thing in God’s account worth more than all the world. This heart, (soul or spirit,) sin has hardened, the devil has bewitched, the world has deceived. This heart, thus beguiled, God coveteth and desireth: “My son,” saith he, “give me thy heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways.” Proverbs 23:26.
This man cannot do this thing: for his heart has the mastery of him, and will not but carry him after all manner of vanity. What now must be done? Why, God must take the heart, by storm, by power, and bring it to compliance with the word; but the heart of itself will not; it is deluded, carried away to another than God. Wherefore God now betakes him to his sword, and brings down the heart with labor; opens it, and drives out the strong man armed that did keep it; wounds it; and makes it smart for its
rebellion, that it may cry; so he rectifies it for himself. “He maketh sore, and bindeth up; he woundeth, and his hands make whole.” Job 5:18. Thus having wrought it for himself, it becomes his habitation, his dwelling-place: “That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith.” Ephesians 3."
Man needs for God to give us a new heart. With our sinful nature we do not desire to do what God wants us to do.
Related Tags: John Bunyan, The acceptable sacrifice, the heart
The heart, as it is by nature hard, stupid and impenetrable, so it remains, and so will remain, until God, as was said, bruise it with his hammer and melt it with his fire. The stony nature of it is therefore said to be taken away of God. “I will
take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and will give you,” saith he, “a
heart of flesh.” ‘I will take away the stony heart, or the hardness of your heart, and I will give you a heart of flesh;’ that is, ‘I will make your heart sensible, soft, yielding, governable, and penitent.’ Sometimes he bids men to rend their hearts, not because they can, but to convince them rather, that though it must be so, they cannot do it. So he bids them make themselves a new heart, and a new spirit, for the same purpose also. For if God doth not rend it, it remains unrent; if God makes it not new, it abides an old one still. This is that that is meant, by his bending men for himself, and his working in them that which is pleasing in his sight.
Zechariah 9:13.
The heart, (soul, or spirit,) as in itself, as it came from God’s fingers, is a precious thing, a thing in God’s account worth more than all the world. This heart, (soul or spirit,) sin has hardened, the devil has bewitched, the world has deceived. This heart, thus beguiled, God coveteth and desireth: “My son,” saith he, “give me thy heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways.” Proverbs 23:26.
This man cannot do this thing: for his heart has the mastery of him, and will not but carry him after all manner of vanity. What now must be done? Why, God must take the heart, by storm, by power, and bring it to compliance with the word; but the heart of itself will not; it is deluded, carried away to another than God. Wherefore God now betakes him to his sword, and brings down the heart with labor; opens it, and drives out the strong man armed that did keep it; wounds it; and makes it smart for its
rebellion, that it may cry; so he rectifies it for himself. “He maketh sore, and bindeth up; he woundeth, and his hands make whole.” Job 5:18. Thus having wrought it for himself, it becomes his habitation, his dwelling-place: “That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith.” Ephesians 3."
Man needs for God to give us a new heart. With our sinful nature we do not desire to do what God wants us to do.
Related Tags: John Bunyan, The acceptable sacrifice, the heart
