The Tender Heart

This is a portable size, very convenient to be carried in a handbag, perfect for busy mums (or dad) to fill those fragmented time slots in between errands or waiting for children. A Puritan sermon will never disappoint. It always opens our eyes and hearts to new truths in the Bible, and the Puritans bring them to us in such a concise, powerful and eloquent way that we just have to sit back and let the Word administered to us through them. By the introduction, Sibbes was one of the best: he believed that the special duty of ministers was to "woo for Christ, and open the riches,beauty, honour, and all that is lovely in him.' So winsome was Sibbes' preaching to the struggling believers that it earned him the reputation of the 'honey-mouthed', the 'sweet dropper'. A Puritan sermon is clearly structured and the doctrines expounded are clearly listed. This is the age of secularism, and it is important that Christians - laymen or ministers - to rekindle the power of persuasion of the Puritan. This one is a good and digestible example of it.As to the subject matter, it is right to bring our attention to the heart issue rather than the outward compliance of religion. A believer has to go through a heart surgery, and Sibbes is skilled in telling us why this is necessary, what is the difference between a tender heart and a hard heart. Although not explicitly, inevitably we come to God's absolute sovereignty and human responsibility. He presents both sides of the view. Reading this, one will be more aware of our innate depravity, for he says, rather startlingly, All the judgements of God upon Pharaoh were not so great as hardness of heart. He expounds that of the hour ways God hardens heart, God cannot be impeached for hardening our hearts, because all the cause is from ourselves. Today in our society, hearts are hardened to the Gospel message. To those hearts, seeds sown on them will not take effect. I change tact therefore to pray for their tender heart and wait. It is interesting to note that a broken heart is not necessarily a tender heart. Finally I had a eureka moment when reading this book on what it means by that we receive from God 'grace upon grace'.This little booklet is soul-nourishing and we shall be equipped with how to praise God for his work in us, how to watch ourselves from pitfalls, and how to pray for others.

I was directed to this book via an email. I haven't finished yet but he presents a compelling picture of the love of God and his clarity over issues of salvation and process God takes us through is a welcome antidote to modern sloppy preaching about grace.

This little book has much to recommend it. The Putitans had a depth of knowledge of scripture in the way God deals tenderly with those that love. This book by Sibbes will give you much food for thought of Christ our redeemer.

Great book, what a man Mr Sibbes was.

wowza! powerful stuff

Written nearly 400 years ago, yet just as relevant today. A change of heart is what matters to God; always has.

This pocket Puritan book is taken from 'The Banner Of Truth's' paperback Josiah's Reformation.Richard Sibbes in his preaching and writing was not aiming for mere outward reformation,it was directed to the heart(the inner man).In the intro.p.12 "No,hearts must be turned ,and evil desires eclipsed by stronger ones for Christ." The author understood that the strength and vigor of a godly life flows from one that has communed closely with the Lord Jesus and desires an ever closer walk with Him.Speaking of Mr.Sibbes(Michael Reeves writes in the intro.)"knowing God's love he became loving"-love and grace are similar in this way(the more we have experienced the grace of God,the more gracious we can be with our fellow man).The writer gives us one of the essential components of a tender heart-p.52"...a true,tender heart yields to the Word of God,and is fit to run on any errand."-Whatever service the Lord may have for you,a heart that is tender will equip you for that task.Pastor Sibbes gives wise and godly counsel on how to preserve a tender heart-p.28-29 "...by all means take heed of the least sin against conscience,for the least sin in this kind makes way to hardness of heart." A conscience that is seared and not sensitive to sin strikes at the heart of spiritual strength and vitality,it has a crippling effect upon one's spiritual life. Another preservative is to labor for a legal and evangelical faith-p.27 "It is the nature of faith to see things absent as present before us ... so faith setting the day of judgement before our eyes,will make us to tremble." When we read or hear of the Lord's judgements upon the ungodly and impenitent,often these things appear to be far off,like a distant dream but faith brings these realities nearer to us,so that the impression of them upon our hearts and minds are not easily dismissed(this can have a sanctifying effect upon our lives,a preservative against taking sin lightly.That is why we are exhorted in the word of God 'to set our hearts and minds upon the things above'.Richard Sibbes was very influential in the lives of some of the Puritans who would be part of the Westminster assembly and would produce perhaps the finest confession of faith that has been written.His written ministry is highly valued by many who earnestly seek to be godly and useful in Christ's Church.

One of the most beautiful books I've ever read! He is so eloquent. You can feel just feel his love for the Lord on each page. Highly recommend

I just began reading the writings of the Puritans and have really enjoyed them. This is a great little book!

Great book, great author, one of the very best Puritan writers. It will reach your heart. The Puritan writers are closer to the real truth than any I have ever read, except for J.L. Packer who also loves the Puritans.

Great reminder to pursue keeping your heart tender toward God. Good little book to use as a devotional or a study group.

The book is what I expected. I did not expect it to take a month to have it delivered.