Richard Sibbes was the Puritan known as the ‘heavenly doctor’ such was his ability to communicate the riches of knowing God. He is very quotable! This quote is taken from Josiah’s Reformation in which Sibbes draws on the example of God’s dealings with King Josiah, who was described as having a ‘tender heart’, to show that true reformation must begin in the heart.

Tenderness of heart is wrought by an apprehension of tenderness and love in Christ. A soft heart is made soft by the blood of Christ. Many say, that an adamant cannot be melted with fire, but by blood. I cannot tell whether this be true or no; but I am sure nothing will melt the hard heart of man but the blood of Christ, the passion of our blessed Saviour. When a man considers of the love that God hath showed him in sending of his Son, and doing such great things as he hath done, in giving of Christ to satifsy his justice, in setting us free from hell, Satan and death: the consideration of this, with the persuasion that we have interest in the same, melts the heart, and makes it tender. And this must needs be so , because that with the preaching of the gospel unto broken hearted sinners cast down, there always goes the Spirit of God, which works an application of the gospel.

pg 10-11