“Every sin is like a sword in a penitent man’s bosom, and therefore whilst confessions are in his mouth,
you shall find
either tears in his eyes
or sorrow in his heart.

And indeed, true confession of sin is many times rather a voice of mourning
than a voice of words.

Sometimes a penitent man’s eyes will in some sort tell what his tongue cannot utter.

Many times, the penitent is better at weeping than he is at speaking. Ps.39:12

Penitent tears are undeniable ambassadors,
and they never return from the throne of grace
without an answer of grace.

Tears are a kind of silent prayers,
which though they say nothing,
yet they obtain pardon;
they prevail for mercy,
and they carry the day with God,
as you may see in that great and clear instance of Peter.
He said nothing,
he confessed nothing that we read of,
but he ‘went out and wept bitterly’,
and obtained mercy.”

Thomas Brooks.