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The Tender Heart
Richard Sibbes always sought to get under the superficial layer of his listeners' behaviour and deal with their hearts, affections and desires. In The Tender Heart, he explains that those who are tender-hearted do not simply desire salvation; they desire the Lord of salvation himself. Only when a person is brought to love the Lord with heart-felt sincerity will they begin to hate their sin truly instead of merely dreading the thought of God's punishment of it.
65 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 2011
31 people are currently reading
252 people want to read
About the author
Richard Sibbes
235 books100 followersRichard Sibbes was born at Tostock, Suffolk, in 1577 and went to school in Bury St Edmunds. His father, 'a good sound-hearted Christian', at first intended that Richard should follow his own trade as a wheelwright, but the boy s 'strong inclination to his books, and well-profiting therein' led to his going up to St John's College, Cambridge in 1595. He was converted around 1602-3 through the powerful ministry of Paul Bayne, the successor of William Perkins in the pulpit of Great St Andrew's Church.
After earning his B.D. in 1610, Sibbes was appointed a lecturer at Holy Trinity Church, Cambridge. Later, through the influence of friends, he was chosen to be the preacher at Gray's Inn, London, and he remained there until 1626. In that year he returned to Cambridge as Master of St Catherine's Hall, and later returned to Holy Trinity, this time as its vicar. He was granted a Doctorate in Divinity in 1627, and was thereafter frequently referred to as 'the heavenly Doctor Sibbes'. He continued to exercise his ministry at Gray's Inn, London, and Holy Trinity, Cambridge, until his death on 6 July 1635 at the age of 58.
After earning his B.D. in 1610, Sibbes was appointed a lecturer at Holy Trinity Church, Cambridge. Later, through the influence of friends, he was chosen to be the preacher at Gray's Inn, London, and he remained there until 1626. In that year he returned to Cambridge as Master of St Catherine's Hall, and later returned to Holy Trinity, this time as its vicar. He was granted a Doctorate in Divinity in 1627, and was thereafter frequently referred to as 'the heavenly Doctor Sibbes'. He continued to exercise his ministry at Gray's Inn, London, and Holy Trinity, Cambridge, until his death on 6 July 1635 at the age of 58.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
October 19, 2023
This tiny little book is precious and full of life giving, beautifully communicated, truth.
A few of my favorite quotes/thoughts:
- A tender heart is sensible, yielding and pliable.
- A tender heart is a super natural disposition.
- A soft heart is made so by the blood of Christ
- Speak Lord what you would have me do.
- Its tender to his word and promises.
- Bring our hearts hearts to the fire of the love of Jesus.
- Provoke one another daily to love and good deeds.
David needed Nathan. Let us use each other.
A few of my favorite quotes/thoughts:
- A tender heart is sensible, yielding and pliable.
- A tender heart is a super natural disposition.
- A soft heart is made so by the blood of Christ
- Speak Lord what you would have me do.
- Its tender to his word and promises.
- Bring our hearts hearts to the fire of the love of Jesus.
- Provoke one another daily to love and good deeds.
David needed Nathan. Let us use each other.
October 13, 2025
Really short read but packed full of goodness.
Sibbes shows that the tender heart feels the bitterness of sin, is quick to repent, and is moved by God's word. Then, the hardened heart ignores conviction and clings on to the flesh.
Solid read.
Sibbes shows that the tender heart feels the bitterness of sin, is quick to repent, and is moved by God's word. Then, the hardened heart ignores conviction and clings on to the flesh.
Solid read.
June 17, 2017
Amazing. I would give this very short book 10 stars if I could.
What I love about this book is that it is written on one of the most important topics - that is, the condition of the heart. This is important because as Sibbes explained, sin is merely a symptom of a deeper problem which is the hardness of heart. So if you truly want to overcome sin, we must ensure that our hearts are tender for God. This isn't just important prior to salvation, but it's also important to born again Christians as well. This is because we must continue to have tender hearts for God lest we fall back into continuous and unrepentant sin.
Another thing I loved about this short book is the way Sibbes wrote. Despite the fact that this was written around 400 years ago, the book isn't difficult to read at all! I also love how pastoral Sibbes was in his approach to writing - it's as if Sibbes was my pastor and he was right in front of me giving me encouragement. I also liked how Sibbes was very methodical in the way he listed out the many different issues he discussed; I find that this is a great way to engage the reader and to ensure that the reader isn't confused or lost.
Finally, I loved how Sibbes provided practical application. This isn't just a theology book that makes you more knowledgable about a specific issue. Rather, this book teaches you but also gives room to help you practice what you learnt in real life.
As you can see from the above review, I've used the word "love" too many times, but I really can't stress that enough. I would definitely recommend this short book to everyone. It was extremely short, I'm a slow reader, yet I finished this in around 2 hours. This book is one chapter of a larger book called Josiah's Reformation. After reading this, I definitely want to read the full book!
What I love about this book is that it is written on one of the most important topics - that is, the condition of the heart. This is important because as Sibbes explained, sin is merely a symptom of a deeper problem which is the hardness of heart. So if you truly want to overcome sin, we must ensure that our hearts are tender for God. This isn't just important prior to salvation, but it's also important to born again Christians as well. This is because we must continue to have tender hearts for God lest we fall back into continuous and unrepentant sin.
Another thing I loved about this short book is the way Sibbes wrote. Despite the fact that this was written around 400 years ago, the book isn't difficult to read at all! I also love how pastoral Sibbes was in his approach to writing - it's as if Sibbes was my pastor and he was right in front of me giving me encouragement. I also liked how Sibbes was very methodical in the way he listed out the many different issues he discussed; I find that this is a great way to engage the reader and to ensure that the reader isn't confused or lost.
Finally, I loved how Sibbes provided practical application. This isn't just a theology book that makes you more knowledgable about a specific issue. Rather, this book teaches you but also gives room to help you practice what you learnt in real life.
As you can see from the above review, I've used the word "love" too many times, but I really can't stress that enough. I would definitely recommend this short book to everyone. It was extremely short, I'm a slow reader, yet I finished this in around 2 hours. This book is one chapter of a larger book called Josiah's Reformation. After reading this, I definitely want to read the full book!
November 13, 2021
I have heard of Sibbes for some time, but had never read him. This small work (it appears to be culled from a larger work of his) is a choice morsel. I liked that this book was a short read. However, don't mistake its brevity for lack of depth! Full of questions to ponder, statements to consider, and Scriptures to meditate upon.
In the foreword (written by Michael Reeves), this choice nugget of truth relayed by the editor profoundly impacted me when I read it:
"Again and again in his sermons, Sibbes speaks of both Catholic priests and Protestant pastors who - whatever their professed theology - act as though the root of our problem before God lies in our behaviour: we have done wrong things and we need to start doing right things. Sibbes plumbs much deeper. He knew that the outward acts of sin are merely the manifestations of the inner desires of the heart. Merely to alter a person's behaviour without dealing with those desires would cultivate hypocrisy, the self-righteous cloak for a cold and vicious heart. And, Sibbes would note, ministries that worked like that were invariably cruel, based on brow-beating. No, hearts must be turned, and evil desires eclipsed by stronger ones for Christ."
He then follows up that statement with this: "Only then, when a person is brought to love the Lord with heart-felt sincerity, will they truly begin to hate their sin, instead of merely dreading the thought of God's punishment of it."
Here are some of the more poignant phrases and thoughts from Sibbes in the book which spoke to my heart:
"The words of God coming from the Spirit of God...they are arrows to pierce their hearts; if not to save them, yet to damn them." p.3
"A tender heart, so soon as the word is spoken, yields to it. It quakes at threatenings, obeys precepts, melts at promises, and the promises sweeten the heart." p.14
"All by nature have stony hearts in respect of spiritual goodness." p.16
"There is nothing in the world so hard as the heart of man." p.16
"The apprehension of judgment is only a preparing work, which breaks the heart, and prepares it for tenderness." p.21
"The more sensible the soul is of outward things, the less it is of spiritual...when the heart is filled with the pleasures and profits of this life, it is not sensible of any judgment that hangs over the head." p.31
"Talk of religion to a carnal man, whose senses are lost with love of earthly things, he has no ear for that; his sense is quite lost, he has no relish or savour of anything that is good. Talk to a covetous man, that has his soul set upon the things of this life, he has no relish of anything else; his heart is already so hardened to get honour and wealth, though it be to the ruin of others, that he cares not how hard it become." p.32
"If you will preserve tenderness of heart, take heed of hypocrisy; for it causes swelling, and pride makes the heart to despise others that be not like unto us." p.33
"Lastly, if you will preserve tenderness of heart, consider the miserable estate of hardness of heart. Such an one that has an hard heart is next to hell itself, to the estate of a damned spirit, a most terrible estate. A hard heart is neither melted with promises nor broken with threatenings. He has no feelings of pity to men or to love God. He forgets all judgment for things past, and looks for none to come. When the soul is in this case, it is fit for nothing but for sin and the devil, whereas a tender-hearted man is fit for all good." pp.35-36
"A tender heart quakes when it sees the judgment of God abroad upon others. It hastens to make its peace with God, and to meet him by repentance." p.52
"It will be an unfruitful repentance to repent in hell; for there a man shall get no benefit by his repentance, seeing there they cannot shake off the execution of God's judgment, as they shake off the threatenings of his judgments here." p.64
In the foreword (written by Michael Reeves), this choice nugget of truth relayed by the editor profoundly impacted me when I read it:
"Again and again in his sermons, Sibbes speaks of both Catholic priests and Protestant pastors who - whatever their professed theology - act as though the root of our problem before God lies in our behaviour: we have done wrong things and we need to start doing right things. Sibbes plumbs much deeper. He knew that the outward acts of sin are merely the manifestations of the inner desires of the heart. Merely to alter a person's behaviour without dealing with those desires would cultivate hypocrisy, the self-righteous cloak for a cold and vicious heart. And, Sibbes would note, ministries that worked like that were invariably cruel, based on brow-beating. No, hearts must be turned, and evil desires eclipsed by stronger ones for Christ."
He then follows up that statement with this: "Only then, when a person is brought to love the Lord with heart-felt sincerity, will they truly begin to hate their sin, instead of merely dreading the thought of God's punishment of it."
Here are some of the more poignant phrases and thoughts from Sibbes in the book which spoke to my heart:
"The words of God coming from the Spirit of God...they are arrows to pierce their hearts; if not to save them, yet to damn them." p.3
"A tender heart, so soon as the word is spoken, yields to it. It quakes at threatenings, obeys precepts, melts at promises, and the promises sweeten the heart." p.14
"All by nature have stony hearts in respect of spiritual goodness." p.16
"There is nothing in the world so hard as the heart of man." p.16
"The apprehension of judgment is only a preparing work, which breaks the heart, and prepares it for tenderness." p.21
"The more sensible the soul is of outward things, the less it is of spiritual...when the heart is filled with the pleasures and profits of this life, it is not sensible of any judgment that hangs over the head." p.31
"Talk of religion to a carnal man, whose senses are lost with love of earthly things, he has no ear for that; his sense is quite lost, he has no relish or savour of anything that is good. Talk to a covetous man, that has his soul set upon the things of this life, he has no relish of anything else; his heart is already so hardened to get honour and wealth, though it be to the ruin of others, that he cares not how hard it become." p.32
"If you will preserve tenderness of heart, take heed of hypocrisy; for it causes swelling, and pride makes the heart to despise others that be not like unto us." p.33
"Lastly, if you will preserve tenderness of heart, consider the miserable estate of hardness of heart. Such an one that has an hard heart is next to hell itself, to the estate of a damned spirit, a most terrible estate. A hard heart is neither melted with promises nor broken with threatenings. He has no feelings of pity to men or to love God. He forgets all judgment for things past, and looks for none to come. When the soul is in this case, it is fit for nothing but for sin and the devil, whereas a tender-hearted man is fit for all good." pp.35-36
"A tender heart quakes when it sees the judgment of God abroad upon others. It hastens to make its peace with God, and to meet him by repentance." p.52
"It will be an unfruitful repentance to repent in hell; for there a man shall get no benefit by his repentance, seeing there they cannot shake off the execution of God's judgment, as they shake off the threatenings of his judgments here." p.64
November 21, 2025
Short, sweet, and full of comfort. Sibbes shows that God loves soft hearts that feel sin and want to please Him. Jesus is gentle. He won’t break a bruised reed or put out a tiny flame.
“A hard heart fears nothing but hell; a tender heart fears nothing but offending God.”
Perfect for anyone who feels bruised by their own sinfulness or discouraged in the Christian life. Sibbes will convince you that your tears, longings, and even your fears are precious to Christ. Read it slowly, more than once. It’s medicine for the soul.
5/5 – Essential Puritan devotional reading. Every Christian should own and reread this.
“A hard heart fears nothing but hell; a tender heart fears nothing but offending God.”
Perfect for anyone who feels bruised by their own sinfulness or discouraged in the Christian life. Sibbes will convince you that your tears, longings, and even your fears are precious to Christ. Read it slowly, more than once. It’s medicine for the soul.
5/5 – Essential Puritan devotional reading. Every Christian should own and reread this.
December 24, 2019
Reading this book reminded me just why Richard Sibbes is rightly called the puritan doctor of the soul. More than enlightening, it was a calming, peaceful experience. It's a mixture of an encouraging instruction to maintain a tender heart, warning towards failure to do so and an assurance of how a tender heart is a promise from God himself; all this in a surprisingly appropriate balance. Give it a read; I surely enjoyed it!
January 3, 2021
A short, helpful book that encouraged the examination and cultivation of the tenderness of one’s heart toward’s Christ.
August 27, 2022
Good tonic. Read the Puritans for they will deeply refresh your soul.
September 16, 2021
Can't say this one really grabbed me. Hope it's not because I'm too hard-hearted. 😉 Also, I'd rather publishers didn't put out single sermons and call them books. Surely they could collect three or four, at least. So it was kinda lame on that account.
Can't say the narrator rocked my world.
Can't say the narrator rocked my world.
November 23, 2019
Beautiful. In this sermon Sibbes describes how a tender heart is sensible, pliable, and yielding. I would recommend, however, that instead of reading this little book (72 pages), you read Josiah's Reformation which is the complete series of sermons Sibbes preached on 2 Chronicles 34 -and which includes The Tender Heart.
Currently reading
February 16, 2025Says that God’s promises are conditional, but grants us the conditions by His grace and mercy:
Quest. What! may some say, Is there anything in man that can cause God to do do him good?
Ans. No. One thing is the cause of another, but all come from the first cause. So tenderness of heart may be some cause of removal of judgment; but God is the cause of both, for they all come from the first cause, which is God. So that these words do rather contain an order than a cause. For God hath set down this order in things, that where there is a broken heart there shall be a freedom from judgment; not that tenderness of heart deserves anything at God's hand, as the papists gather, but because God hath decreed it so, that where tenderness of heart is, there mercy shall follow; as here there was a tender heart in Josiah, therefore mercy did follow. God's promises are made conditionally; not that the condition on our part deserves anything at God's hand, but when God hath given the condition, he gives the thing promised. So that this is an order which God hath set down, that where there is grace, mercy shall follow. For where God intends to do any good, he first works in them a gracious disposition: after which he looks upon his own work as upon a lovely object, and so doth give them other blessings. God crowns grace with grace.
By 'heart' is not meant the inward material and fleshy part of the body; but that spiritual part, the soul and affections thereof. In that it is said to be 'tender' or melting, it is a borrowed and metaphorical phrase. Now in a 'tender heart' these three properties concur:
1. It is sensible. 2. It is pliable. 3. It is yielding.
https://www.monergism.com/tender-hear...
Quest. What! may some say, Is there anything in man that can cause God to do do him good?
Ans. No. One thing is the cause of another, but all come from the first cause. So tenderness of heart may be some cause of removal of judgment; but God is the cause of both, for they all come from the first cause, which is God. So that these words do rather contain an order than a cause. For God hath set down this order in things, that where there is a broken heart there shall be a freedom from judgment; not that tenderness of heart deserves anything at God's hand, as the papists gather, but because God hath decreed it so, that where tenderness of heart is, there mercy shall follow; as here there was a tender heart in Josiah, therefore mercy did follow. God's promises are made conditionally; not that the condition on our part deserves anything at God's hand, but when God hath given the condition, he gives the thing promised. So that this is an order which God hath set down, that where there is grace, mercy shall follow. For where God intends to do any good, he first works in them a gracious disposition: after which he looks upon his own work as upon a lovely object, and so doth give them other blessings. God crowns grace with grace.
By 'heart' is not meant the inward material and fleshy part of the body; but that spiritual part, the soul and affections thereof. In that it is said to be 'tender' or melting, it is a borrowed and metaphorical phrase. Now in a 'tender heart' these three properties concur:
1. It is sensible. 2. It is pliable. 3. It is yielding.
https://www.monergism.com/tender-hear...
October 7, 2021
As when things are cold we bring them to the fire to heat and melt, so bring we our cold hearts to the fire of the love of Christ; consider we of our sins against Christ, and of Christ's love towards us; dwell upon this meditation.
This is my first exploration into the writings of the Puritans, and it won't be my last. This is a bite-sized book, and my 21st-century brain gives thanks to the Editors. I found this book good for the soul, as it sinks beneath the top layer of sin and exposes the heart. We will not obey or follow God without a tender heart toward Him.
This is my first exploration into the writings of the Puritans, and it won't be my last. This is a bite-sized book, and my 21st-century brain gives thanks to the Editors. I found this book good for the soul, as it sinks beneath the top layer of sin and exposes the heart. We will not obey or follow God without a tender heart toward Him.
April 4, 2025
Taking the example of King Josiah in 2 Chronicles 34 as a starting point, Puritan pastor Richard Sibbes explains what a tender heart is, how it functions, and how the reader may know he/she has a tender heart -- or, failing that, how a tender heart may be achieved. This is a small but mighty book that, I suspect, will bear multiple readings. From this example, at least, Sibbes would seem to be one of the more approachable and easily understandable of the Puritan divines...
September 1, 2021
First time reading R. Sibbes, "enjoyed" would be a good word but not necessarily the right one, as it was intended not make the reader joyful, but rather cause the reader to reflect on their own hearts. Their own intentions. In that it was great. I recommend it as a good focus on the heart of the Christian, and look forward to reading more from Sibbes.
June 18, 2025
Do sermons that get printed and bound qualify as a book?
Maybe not. But I was encouraged by this quick read.
"It is a supernatural disposition of a true child of God to have a tender, soft… heart."
Maybe not. But I was encouraged by this quick read.
"It is a supernatural disposition of a true child of God to have a tender, soft… heart."
September 13, 2020
This little book is packed with sweet thoughts of the dear Saviour. Read and be very blessed.
May 24, 2021
3.5 ⭐️ This is only a sample (first sermon) of Sibbes’ four-part series entitled Josiah’s Reformation, where he expounds 2 Chronicles 34:26-27.
It’s good.
It’s good.
February 24, 2022
(I listened to this on audiobook.)
June 23, 2022
Excellent.
August 1, 2022
A beautiful picture into the difference between a tender heart and a hard heart.
March 10, 2023
Real real good. Very helpful!
May 10, 2023
Good for the soul. Blessed are the poor in spirit!
February 28, 2024
Excellent sermon from the great Sibbes. If you want refreshed while also being challenged, read Sibbes. And this is a wonderful example of that very thing.
May 27, 2024
Excellent little book on cultivating a healthy introspection of the heart towards God, and how to walk in step with the Spirit.
September 22, 2024
If you desire to have a heart after God, read this little book. It is a book I will be going back to over and over in order to have a tender heart after God.
November 3, 2024
Insightful treatment on keeping a tender heart before the Lord. Appreciated especially the emphasis on Christ's love & blood being the means of softening the heart. Recommended.
June 5, 2025
Great little book on the heart. Helpful in describing the affection and emotion believers should have becuase of their relationship to, and knowledge of, God.
February 15, 2023
Soul piercing.
January 11, 2015
'God has decreed it so, that where tenderness of heart is, there mercy shall follow...'
And so Sibbes outlines the beautiful reason soliciting God's mercy to King Josiah through Huldah in 2 Chronicles 34: 26-27: a tender heart.
This little book is a delight; bringing conviction and comfort to the weary Christian and balm to a bruised soul needful of warming by the fire of Christ's love. A worthy read.
'Think what great love Christ has showed unto us, and how little we have deserved, and this will make our hearts to melt and be as pliable as wax before the sun.'
And so Sibbes outlines the beautiful reason soliciting God's mercy to King Josiah through Huldah in 2 Chronicles 34: 26-27: a tender heart.
This little book is a delight; bringing conviction and comfort to the weary Christian and balm to a bruised soul needful of warming by the fire of Christ's love. A worthy read.
'Think what great love Christ has showed unto us, and how little we have deserved, and this will make our hearts to melt and be as pliable as wax before the sun.'
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews