By the bruised here is not meant those that are brought low only by crosses, but such as, by them, are brought to see their sin, which bruises most of all. When conscience is under the guilt of sin, then every judgment brings a report of God’s anger to the soul, and all lesser troubles run into this great trouble of conscience for sin. As all corrupt humours run to the diseased and bruised part of the body, and as every creditor falls upon the debtor when he is once arrested, so when conscience is once awakened, all former sins and present crosses join together to make the bruise the more painful.

Now, he that is thus bruised will be content with nothing but with mercy from him who has bruised him. He has wounded, and he must heal (Hos. 6:1). The Lord who has bruised me deservedly for my sins must bind up my heart again.

Again, a man truly bruised judges sin the greatest evil, and the favour of God the greatest good.

He would rather hear of mercy than of a kingdom.

He has poor opinions of himself, and thinks that he is not worth the earth he treads on.

Towards others he is not censorious, as being taken up at home, but is full of sympathy and compassion to those who are under God’s hand.

He thinks that those who walk in the comforts of God’s Spirit are the happiest men in the world.

He trembles at the Word of God (Isa. 66:2), and honours the very feet of those blessed instruments that bring peace unto him (Rom. 10:15).

He is more taken up with the inward exercises of a broken heart than with formality, and is yet careful to use all sanctified means to convey comfort.

—Richard Sibbes, The Bruised Reed (Carlisle, PA: Banner of Truth, 1630/1998), 10-11.