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I. THIS HEART FEELS THAT IT DESERVES TO BE BROKEN, DEEPLY HUMBLED, YEA, CRUSHED WITH ANGUISH. The source of its sorrow is conscious delinquency, undeniable guilt, the abuse of many a mercy, and a heedless indulgence in many an evil passion. The sorrow thus produced is oftentimes unspeakably severe. Poverty may depress, persecution may harass, disease may prostrate, and bereavement produce painful blanks in the domestic circle; but a sorrow, more intense than is felt in all these has a place in the broken heart.

II. A BROKEN HEART IS THANKFUL THAT IT HAS BEEN BROKEN. It feels that a power has been put forth upon it altogether foreign to itself, and apart from any means for this purpose that it could employ; and hence its adoring gratitude for the change effected.

III. A BROKEN HEART DESIRES TO BE MORE AND MORE BROKEN. Washington Irving is represented to have said that "sorrow for the dead is the only sorrow from which we refuse to be divorced. Every other wound we seek to heal, every other affliction to forget; but this wound we consider it a duty to keep open; this affliction we cherish, and brood over in solitude." Such language is, no doubt, very beautiful, and touchingly expressed. But how did this amiable student of the common sympathies of humanity forget that broken heart, of deepest interest, which refuses to be divorced from its sorrow on account of sin?

IV. A BROKEN HEART SURVEYS WITH AMAZEMENT THE INNUMERABLE MERCIES WITH WHICH IT IS ENCOMPASSED. These mercies are like the stars of heaven for multitude; and there stands in the midst of them the gift of God's Son, like the king of day amid the lesser luminaries of the sky. What a mercy is the Word of God! It testifies of Christ, and brings life and immortality to light. What a mercy is a throne of grace! I have sins, and I can go there for pardon; I have a polluted nature, and can go there for purity; I have enemies, and can go there for help; for weakness I can go there for strength; and for sickness, I can go there for health.

V. A BROKEN HEART IS A TENDER HEART — affectionate, forgiving, forbearing.

VI. A BROKEN HEART IS AN ACQUIESCING HEART.

VII. A BROKEN HEART TRIUMPHS IN THE ASSURANCE THAT ALL ITS SORROWS SHALL ISSUE IN RIVERS OF PLEASURE AND A FULNESS OF JOY. Upon what does this assurance rest? It rests upon the fact of its own existence. Why has God broken this heart? That it may never be healed? No, no. Let us not, then, invest it with gloom, and sullenness, and sorrow. Let us invest it with joy.

(Thomas Adam.)

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KJV: The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.

WEB: Yahweh is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves those who have a crushed spirit.