courses then our Aduersarie the Deuill 1. Pet. 5.8 who goeth about as a roaring Lyon seeking whom hee may deuoure vnmaskes whatsoeuer formerly he hath kept secret and amplifieth to the full those things which when hee did leaue he laboured greatly to extenuate and value at the smallest rate Come therefore vnto me all yee that labour and are heauie laden and I will giue you rest Esay 61.1.2.3.4.5 because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings to the meeke he hath sent me to binde vp the broken-hearted to proclaime libertie to the Captiues and the opening of the Prison to them that are bound to proclaime the acceptable yeere of the Lord and the day of vengeance of our God to comfort all that mourne in Zion to giue vnto them Beautie for Ashes the Oyle of Ioy for Mourning the Garment of Praise for the spirit of Heauinesse that they might be called Trees of Righteousnesse the planting of the Lord that he might be glorified Fourthly because men to their endlesse and irrecouerable losse should not wrest or peruert that which goeth before in the seuen and twentieth verse No man knoweth the Father but the Sonne and he to whomsoeuer the Sonne will reueale him As if the grace of God were in Christ Iesus offered onely to some few of those that labour and are heauie laden vnder the burthen of their sinnes therefore all are mentioned Come vnto me all yee that labour and are heauie laden Esay 1.18 and I will giue you rest If your sinnes were as red as crimson come vnto me and I will make them as white as snow At what time soeuer a sinner doth repent him of his wickednesse and commeth vnto me though his sinnes be as scarlet they shall be as wooll If tenne Lepers come vnto me although they be euen tenne they shall all be cleansed of their loathsome and filthie disease although your soules be as blinde with the dust and durt of Iniquitie as was Bartimeus the begger come vnto me and yee shall receiue sight If your transgressions be such and so manie that euen a Legion of Deuills torture and torment your soules come vnto me and you shall finde rest If from the Wombe you haue been so lame and cripple that you are vnable to moue one hayre-breadth towards the Kingdome of Heauen come vnto mee and I will enable your ioynts If you haue so long lyen in the puddle of sinne that with Lazarus you stinke in the graue of Iniquitie come vnto me and I will breathe in your face the breath of life whereby you shall be made liuing soules where all are inuited there none is excluded where such as labour and are heauie laden vnder the burthen of Sinne and Iniquitie are willed to come there a secret reason is giuen why the mercie and fauour of God offered vnto all is not by all receiued because all doe not labour and are heauie laden vnder the burthen of their sinnes for Christ came not to saue the righteous but to call sinners to repentance the whole need no Physician but such as are maymed and lame vnder the intolerable weight of their transgressions Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousnesse for they shall be filled To the end then that comfortably and with profit wee may come vnto Christ it is necessary that we labour and be heauy laden vnder the burthen of sinne that our hearts be ready to melt because of our transgressions and our soules standing at the gates of death because of the intolerable weight of iniquity which can neuer sufficiently be effected without a distinct knowledge of the nature quality and condition of sin because the naturall and vnborn 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and selfe loue which deepely lyeth rooted in the heart of man seconded with the malicious subtiltie of the common enemy of mans saluation so duls and darkens the eye and edge of his vnderstanding that he is more then blind in censuring and valuing of his owne actions whence it comes to passe that often he perswades himselfe that he is in a direct straight course or at least meanely to erre when as he lyes deepely plunged in a filthy sinke and lothsome puddle of all maner of wickednes now sinne is knowne by the Touch-stone of Gods Lawe according to that of the Apostle Rom. 3.20 7.7 By the Law is the knowledge of sinne I had not knowne sinne but by the Lawe for I had not knowne lust except the lawe had said Thou shalt not couet for whereas all other learning serues rather to blowe vp the heart of man with an idle opinion and vaine conceit of his owne worth founding nothing els in his eare but shrill and loud blasts of the excellency of his soule the wonderfull fabricke and making of his body the goodly sympathie and fellow feeling which euery part facultie and power hath one with another and the sweet harmonie and concord of the whole compound the Lawe of the Lord is that which bewrayeth and layeth open vnto man the vglinesse of his heart the nakednes of his imaginations and the peruersenesse of his wayes to the Law therefore and to the testimony if they soule spenke and thinke not according vnto this word Esay 8.20 it is because there is no light in it therefore DAVID speaking of this Lawe sayth that it is perfect conuerting the Soule that it is sure making wise the simple that it is right reioicing the heart that it is pure enlightening the eyes that it is true and righteous altogether Psal 19.7.8 9 10. 1.2 more to be desired then gold yea then much fine gold sweeter also then the hony and the hony-combe Blessed therefore is the man whose delight is in the Lawe of the Lord and in his Law doth meditate night and day Secondly because man naturally is so bewitched with the pleasures of sinne and glued to the alluring and entising sweetnes of wickednesse that a bare knowledge of the nature of transgression is neuer able to bring this labour and wearisomenesse vpon his soule therefore after that by the Lawe wee haue attained vnto the knowledge of sinne it is necessary that we vnderstand the value and esteeme which it hath in the eyes of the Lord by himselfe at great length reuealed in his Word sometimes by speeches and words full of dislike and disdaine My people aske counsell at their stockes Hos 4.12 and their staffe declareth vnto them for the spirit of whoredome hath caused them to erre and they haue gone a whoring from vnder their God God saw the wickednesse of man that it was great in the earth and that euery Imagination of the thought of his heart was onely euill continually Gen. 6.5 therefore it repented the Lord that he had made man vpon the earth and it grieued him at his heart your Incense and Sacrifices are abomination Esay 1.15 because your hands are full of bloud sometimes he denounceth heauy
the seed Rom. 4.10 not to that onely which is of the Law but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham who is the father of vs all And in the will faith leaueth an assurance that God is both able and in due time wil make good in our particular the generall promises of Mercie and Grace according to that of the Apostle I am persuaded that neither Death nor Life nor Angles Rom. 8.38 39. nor Principalities nor Powers nor things present nor things to come nor height nor depth nor any other creature shall be able to separate vs from the loue of God which is in Christ Iesus our Lord. Therefore it is that almost euery where the Holy Ghost speaking of things for Christ his sake in due time to be conferred and bestowed vpon vs he speaks of them in the time past as if alreadie we were in full possession thereof Blessed be God the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ Ephes 1.3 who hath blessed vs with all spirituall blessings in heauenly places in Christ Iesus in whom we haue edemption through his bloud the forgiuenesse of sinnes according to the riches of his grace but God who is rich in mercie Ephes 1.7 2.4 5 6. for his great loue wherewith he loued vs euen when we were dead in sinnes and trespasses hath quickened vs together and hath made vs sit together in heauenly places in Christ Iesus Such then is the assurance which faith leaues in the heart that the beleeuer speakes and thinkes of the promises of mercie and saluation as of things present whereof alreadie he is in full possession againe that in faith there is not onely a sure and certaine knowledge of the Historie of Gods holy Word but also an assurance of the loue and fauour of God in and for the mediation of Iesus Christ these subsequent Scriptures sufficiently witnesse Rom. 5.1 Being iustified by faith we haue peace with God through our Lord Iesus Christ Now this is certaine that the knowledge of the Historie of Gods holy Word is so farre from quieting and bringing peace vnto the soules of men that on the contrarie it serues rather more and more to encrease amazement feare and terror in their hearts according to that of S. Iames Iam. 2.19 The Deuils beleeue and tremble they beleeue that is by the Historie they know the wrath of God to be so fierce against Sinne and Iniquitie that it can be expiate and done away by no other meanes but by the death of his onely begotten Sonne by the knowledge of the Historie of Gods holy Word they vnderstand themselues finally and without all hope of redemption wholly to be reiected and cast off by the Historie they know that IESVS is appointed Iudge both of Men and Angels and that for euer they shall haue their abode in euerlasting miserie and torment therefore they beleeue and tremble Man likewise in the knowledge of the Historie what can hee see but euery where manifest tokens of the wrath of God against sinne as Death Disease and diuers other calamities vsually ensuing and befalling vs whilest we liue here vpon earth and which most of all encreaseth our feare that the wrath and indignation of the Almightie is such and so great against all manner of iniquitie that it could by no other meanes be appeased but by the death of his onely begotten Sonne IESVS CHRIST all which bringing rather matter of horror and feare then peace vnto the soules of men there must be something else besides Historicall knowledge in that faith whereby being iustified we haue peace with God which can be nothing else but an assurance of the loue and fauor of Almightie God in and for the mediation and all-sufficient sacrifice of his dearely beloued Sonne IESVS CHRIST by whom also wee haue accesse by faith into this grace wherein wee stand Abak 1.4 To the same purpose makes that of Abbakuk The iust shall liue by faith No man liueth by an Historicall knowledge of the Word of God which as euen now at great length hath been deliuered furnisheth rather matter of horror desperation and feare then of life health happinesse and the like therefore the faith spoken of by the Prophet must besides knowledge be an assent vnto and assurance of the loue and fauour of God in and for the mediation of his Sonne Thirdly S. Paul in his Epistle to the Ephesians so plainely maintaines and powerfully auoucheth the assurance of faith which now we haue in hand that if there were no more this one Scripture may well serue for confirmation of the same Eph. 3.12 In whom we haue boldnesse with confidence by the faith of him and againe Let vs therefore come boldly vnto the Throne of grace Heb. 4.16 that we may obtaine mercie and find grace to helpe in time of neede Who knowing onely the Historie of Gods holy Word dare presume boldly and with confidence to approach and draw neere vnto the dreadfull Maiestie of Almightie God whom as an angrie seuere Iudge he seeth readie to powre downe the viols of his fierce wrath and indignation vpon the transgressors of his Law that faith then whereby with boldnesse confidently we present our selues before God besides knowledge of the Historie must of necessitie haue an assurance of reconciliation in IESVS CHRIST Gen. 4.4.5.24 49.20 This is that faith whereby Abel became more acceptable in the sight of the Lord then his brother Cain Enoch walked with God and was seene no more Iacob dying tooke order for his buriall in the promised Land Luke 7.48 and Marie Magdalene obtained free pardon and forgiuenesse of all her transgressions If therefore yee haue this faith Come vnto me all yee that labour and are heauie laden and I will giue you rest Come From this and other Texts of holy Scripture Psal 50.15 of the same or like nature as Call vpon me in the day of trouble and I will deliuer thee and thou shalt glorifie me Mal. 3.13 Returne vnto me and I will returne vnto you Turne ye now from your euill wayes and from your euill doings Wash yee Zach. 1.4 make you cleane put away the euill of your doings from before mine eyes cease to doe euill learne to doe well seeke iudgement Esay 1.16.17.19 relieue the oppressed iudge the fatherlesse plead for the widow if ye will be obedient ye shall eate the good of the Land The Sanballats and subtle Sophists of these last dayes gather I cannot tell what naturall and imborne abilitie and power in man ex puris naturaelibus as they say to performe obedience vnto the Commandements of God because first it were in vaine to exhort aduise request and beseech such as wholly and altogether are impotent and vnable to hearken and obey againe the large promises of health and happinesse in case of obedience were mockages rather then true promises if there were no power at all in man to performe
and other Scriptures of the same or like nature by some maintained and from hence by others in large and learned discourses powerfully confuted I forbeare in this place so much as to name because the words rightly considered giue not the least occasion of any such discourse challenging rather the conueiance of comfort vnto the most hainous grosse and grieuous sort of those transgressours who labouring and heauie laden vnder the burthen of their sinnes come vnto Christ then any such generall interest in Christs death vnto all For as Sathan the common enemy of mans saluation hath great variety and store of sleights and subtilties to hinder our approach vnto the Throne of grace so this is none of the least that with great inlargement and amplifications he sets before our eyes the sins and offences which formerly we haue committed thereby to make vs despaire of Gods goodnes and mercie this was that Schoole where Cain learned that dolefull doctrine My sinnes are greater then can be forgiuen this was the stratagem which brought wretched Iudas vnnaturally to become the executioner of his owne body to speake nothing of many others who euen in our times by this meanes haue been brought to commit things farre misbeseeming their holy profession therefore for preuenting of so great harme otherwise like to ensue and fall vpon the creature it hath pleased the wisedome of Gods holy Spirit so to publish the riches and great depth of his mercy that Sathans subtilty may preuaile against none how great and grieuous transgressors soeuer in the least measure industrious and carefull of the saluation of their soules for this cause it is that sometimes in the plurall number hee is called the Father of mercies 2. Cor. 1 3 4. Blessed bee God euen the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort who comforteth vs in all our tribulation that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble Psa 103.9 10 11 12 13. by the comfort wherewith we our selues are comforted of God sometimes a mercifull and gracious Lord slow to anger and plenteous in mercie such a one as will not chide alway nor keepe his anger for euer who dealeth not with vs after our sinnes nor rewardeth vs after our iniquities for as high as the heauen is aboue the earth so great is his mercy towards them that feare him as farre as the East is from the West so farre hath he remoued our transgressions from vs like as a Father pittieth his children so the Lord pittieth them that feare him and againe Exod. 34.6 7. The Lord the Lord mercifull and gracious long suffering and aboundant in goodnes and truth keeping mercy for thousands forgiuing iniquity transgression and sinne and sometime he is said to be rich in mercy and grace God who is rich in mercy for his great loue wherewith he loued vs euen when wee were dead in sinnes hath quickned vs together with Christ Eph. 2.4 5. that in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace and kindnesse towards vs through Christ Iesus Rom. 2.4 and in the Epistle to the Romans Despisest thou the riches of his goodnes forbearance and long suffering not knowing that the goodnesse of God leadeth thee to repentance I will spare them saith the Lord by the mouth of the Prophet as a man spareth his own sonne that serueth him Mal. 3.17 There is then no sin so odious and abominable in the sight of God but vpon a true sense and feeling of the lothsomnesse of the same by faith in the Mediator Iesus Christ free pardon and forgiuenesse is assuredly to be looked for and expected from the Throne of mercie and grace Come therefore vnto me all ye that are weary and heauy laden and I will giue you rest though your sinnes be as skarlet they shall be as white as snow though they bee redde as crimson they shall be as wooll for if the wicked will turne from all his sinnes that he hath committed Eze. 18.21 22. and keepe all my statutes and doe that which is lawfull and right he shall surely liue he shall not dye all his transgressions that hee hath committed they shall not be mentioned vnto him in his righteousnesse that he hath done he shall liue Ye that labour 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 such as be skilfull in the original tongues make this difference between 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that the latter generally signifying whatsoeuer labour exercise and trauaile the first betokeneth a paineful wearisome sorrowfull and heauy labour so that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 labour is the cause of wearisomenesse or painefull and tedious emploiment and therefore the Septuagint and other Translations of the olde Scripture into the Greeke tongue haue vsed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in such places of the old Testament where the Originall expresseth such and so great ouerspending of the vitall parts by reason of too much sorrow griefe labour and toile that without present succour releefe and comfort nothing but death and fearefull dissolution is vndoubtedly to bee expected as in that of Deuteronomy Remember what Amalek did vnto thee by the way Deut. 25.17 18. when ye were come forth out of Aegypt how hee met thee by the way and smote the hindmost of thee euen all that were feeble behind thee when thou wast faint and wearie And againe Ahitophel offering his seruice vnto Absalon against Dauid 2. Sam. 17.2 sayth I will come vpon him while he is weary and weake handed and will make him afraid I haue giuen you a Land for which ye did not labour Iosh 24.13 and Cities which yee built not and ye dwell in them What! Did not Israel labour for the Land of Canaan for which they had many sharpe skirmishes and encountred with many seuerall oppositions Yes verily but because of the extraordinary assistance of Gods holy Spirit and vnaccustomed presence of his almighty power and out-stretched arme whereby they subdued those nations with great facility and ease they might well haue 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but they had not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it was vnto them some kinde of exercise but not an ouer-spending and out-wearing of their strength sometimes againe the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is vsed for expressing of those places of the old Testament where the Originall signifieth a coniunction of labour sorrow trauell heauinesse and paine Man is borne vnto trouble as the sparks flye vpwards Iob. 5.7 And againe the daies of our yeeres are threescore and ten and if by reason of strength they be fourescore Psal 90.10 yet is their strength labor and sorrow Thirdly the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is vsed by the Pen-men of holy Scripture for expressing the varietie of tribulation calamity and crosse vnder which in this life the Saints continually groane 1. Cor. 4.11 12. Euen vnto this present houre we both hunger and thirst and
I kept thy word And againe It is good for me that I haue bin afflicted that I might learne thy statutes for as the bitternesse of sowre and vnsauorie things makes the suckling forbeare and refraine the dug wherunto he otherwise he naturally inclineth Iust so the bitternesse of calamitie and tribulation which for Iniquity lieth heauy vpoÌ„ the dearest of Gods children makes them forsake and renounce the pleasures of sinne from whence otherwise they could not so easily be weaned and kept backe And learne of me There is no doctrine more harsh and vnsauoury vnto the naturall man then that of the crosse therefore when as mention is made thereof vsually it pleaseth the wisedome of Gods holy Spirit to subioyne words of encouragement and comfort as in that Prophesie of Israels tribulation in the land of Aegypt Know for a suretie that thy seede shall be a stranger in a Land that is not theirs Gen. 15.13 14. and shall serue them and they shall afflict them foure hundred yeeres and also that Nation whom they shall serue I will iudge and afterwards shall they come out with great substance and againe These things haue I spoken vnto you Ioh. 15.33 that in me yee might haue peace in the world ye shall haue tribulation but be of good cheere I haue ouercome the world as here in the Text which now we haue in hand Christ in the beginning of the Verse hauing spoken of a yoke lest thereupon men should bee discouraged and dis-heartned from comming vnto him he is not content to promise vnto them in the agony greatest heate of affliction rest vnto their soules that though the outward man perish yet the inward man shall be renewed day by day though the body be dead because of sinne yet the spirit shall liue because of righteousnesse though the flesh be destroyed yet the spirit shall be saued in the day of the Lord Iesus but for their further incouragement he addes two forcible and effectuall arguments for begetting in their hearts patience and constancy in bearing of this yoke the first whereof is taken from his own example which ought so much the more to preuaile with vs as he is is more worthy in the fauor of God then we learne therefore of mee that the father in this life will not haue his children free from the yoke of calamity and tribulation for if we be without chastisement whereof all are partakers we are bastards and not the sonne◠〈◊〉 God because the Lord whom hee loueth he chastiseth and correcteth euery sonne whom he receiueth and certainly if we ponder and weigh things in an euen ballance this cannot but preuent euery least beginning of discontent that we taste of no other cuppe then that whereof the Sonne of God hath liberally drunke before there is no other measure giuen vs then that which Iesus Christ hath formerly receiued 1. Pet. 2.21 Hereunto sayth the Apostle were ye called because Christ also suffered leauing for vs an example that wee should follow his steppes and againe Whom he did fore-know he also did predestinate to be conformed to the Image of his Son Rom. 8.29 that as hee in all meeknesse and lowlinesse of minde submitted himselfe to the good will and pleasure of his heauenly Father so by his example wee might learne to doe the same according to that of the Apostle Being found in fashion as a man Phil. 2.8 hee humbled himselfe and became obedient vnto the death euen the death of the Crosse And againe Though he were a Sonne Heb. 5.8 yet learned hee obedience by the things which he suffered Reioice greatly O Daughter of Sion shout O Daughter of Ierusalem behold thy King commeth vnto thee Zach. 9.9 hee is iust and hauing saluation lowly and riding vpon an Asse and vpon a Colt the Foale of an Asse For herein stands the difference between the Godly and the wicked in carrying about the badges of guilt that the one doth it with vnspeakable wrestling repining grudging murmuring and fretting against the Lord but the other with al meeknesse and lowlinesse of minde submit themselues vnder the afflicting hand of Almighty God and why because they vnderstand their afflictions to proceed from a louing and gracious Father who will doe nothing but for their good howsoeuer for the present his proceedings be sowre and vnsauoury vnto the naturall man but the wicked seeing nothing but the fierce countenance of an angrie Iudge fret and fume against him as the enemy and destroier of their being If the Iudgement of God be denounced aâ—â—â—â—st Cain for his offence Gen. 3.13 as an vntamed Heifer hee will kicke against his Maker My punishment is greater then I can beare 1. Sam. 3.18 but let Samuel deliuer vnto Eli neuer so harsh newes the grossest of his carriage shall be it is the Lord let him doe what seemeth him good If Ahitophel be disgraced the Gallowes shall bewray the implacable discontent of his heart but although King Dauid be openly reproued for his sinne humble confession is the worst entertainement that hee giues the Lords message learne therefore of mee for I am meeke and lowly in heart and yee shall finde rest vnto your soules My yoke is easie The second argument which Christ vseth to perswade such as come vnto him with patience and constancie to take his yoke vpon them is taken from the easinesse and facilitie of the taske things light and easie to bee performed are at the command of a Superiour with great patience and constancy cagerly to be taken in hand especially being exceeding profitable and making for the good of the Patient but so it is that my yoke is easie and my burthen light First because of the perpetuall assistance of my holy Spirit whereby you are strengthened in the inner-man the better to beare the afflictions which outwardly you suffer in the bodie according to that of the Apostle 1. Cor. 10.13 God is faithfull who will not suffer you to bee tempted aboue that you are able but will with the temptation also make a way to escape that yee may be able to beare it Secondly it is easie because of the vnspeakable felicity and happinesse which after small continuance it brings vnto the Patient Our light affliction 2. Cor. 4.17 which is but for a moment vvorketh for vs a farre more exceeding and eternall weight of glorie And againe Rom. 8.18 I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthie to bee compared with the glorie which shall bee reuealed in vs. Therefore Saint Paul speaking of himselfe sayth Coloss 1.24 Who now reioyce in my suffering for you and fill vp that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his bodies sake which is the Church And againe Rom. 5.3 Wee reioyce in tribulations my brethren count it all ioy when ye fall into diuers temptations My yoke First because according to my good will and pleasure I impose and lay the same vpon the necks of my followers for afflictions come not vnto the Saints by chance or fortune but from the Lord according to that of Iob Iob. 1.21 5.17 18. The Lord giueth and the Lord taketh away blessed be the Name of the Lord. And againe Happie is the man whom God correcteth therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almightie for he maketh sore and bindeth vp he woundeth and his hands make whole Secondly it is his yoke because in his owne person hee hath deepely tasted the bottome and verie dregges of this Cuppe according vnto that of the Prophet He is despised and reiected of men Esay 53.3 4 5 6. a man of sorrowes and acquainted with griefe surely he hath borne our griefes and carried our sorrowes he was wounded for our transgressions he was bruised for our iniquities the chastisement of our peace was vpon him Thirdly hee calls it his yoke for difference and distinctions sake betweene the afflictions of the godly and punishments of the wicked the one beareth the yoke of Gods fierce wrath and indignation because of their abhominable transgressions but the other the yoke of fatherly correction the one yoke is imposed and layd on for the destruction and ouerthrow of the patient but the other for the chastisement of sonnes that thereby they may learne not to prouoke their heauenly Father vnto further displeasure Fourthly and lastly Christ calls it my yoke in regard of the gracious assistance of his holy Spirit whereby hee comforts vpholds and strengthens the hearts of his children for the more patient and constant bearing of the same For we haue not an High Priest Heb. 4.15 which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities but was in all things tempted as wee are â—hat he might be a mercifull and faithfull High Priest in things pertaining to God to make reconciliation for the sinnes of the people Blessed therefore be God euen the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort who comforteth vs in all our tribulation that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble by the comfort wherewith we our selues are comforted of God To whom the Father the Sonne and the Holy Ghost be all honour prayse and glorie now and for euermore Amen FINIS
Iudgements against the children of disobedience thereby to testifie his great dislike of Iniquity The end of all flesh is come before me for the earth is filled with violence through them Gen. 6.13 behold I wil destroy them with the earth If thine heart turne away so that thou wilt not heare Deut. 30.17 18. but shalt be drawne away and worship other gods and serue them I denounce vnto you this day that yee shall surely perish and sometimes againe hee inflicts exemplary punishments vpon such as delight and take pleasure in the waies therof as the destruction of the primitiue world the ouerthrow of Sodome and reiection of the Iewish Nation sufficiently witnes Thirdly because then commonly men take most to heart offences committed and feare to belch out mischiefes wherein otherwise they could be content at randome greedily to wallow when as they vnderstand their courses to bee odious and displeasing vnto men of great power and might for heerein stands the difference betweene Princes and peasants that all feare to offend or giue distaste to the one whereas no man will restraine or curbe any of the meanâ—st of his desires for auoiding the offence of the other therefore it is requisite and necessary to the end that we may labour and be heauy laden vnder the burthen of our sinnes that we be not ignorant of the vnspeakeable power might and maiesty of Almighty God For this cause it was that at the giuing of the Lawe whereby we come vnto the knowledge of sinne Exod. 19.18 the Lord appeared after so fearefull and terrible a manner that all the people that were in the campe trembled for feare that thereby seeing the greatnesse of his power in whose sight sinne is lothsome and abhorred they might feare to commit iniquity and tremble at the remembrance of by gone transgressions yea commonly when as the Almighty publisheth and proclaimeth vnto the world his dislike and detestation of sinne there are still let fall some flashes and apparant significations of his might maiesty and power Thus sayth the Lord the Lord of Hosts Esay 1.24.20 the mightie One of Israel I will ease mee of mine aduersaries and auenge me of mine enemies If ye refuse and rebell ye shall bee deuoured by the sword for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it Fourthly and lastly because the nature of man is euer to put from him the euil day blessing himselfe in his heart and saying I shall haue peace Deut. 29.19 though I walke in the imagination of my heart to adde drunkennesse to thirst therfore for attaining the effect aforesayd it is expedient that men thorowly bee perswade that the Lord hath appointed a day of recompence wherein euery man shall bee rewarded according to that which he hath done in the flesh Rom. 2.6 whether it bee good or bad Now these things thorowly learned 1. Cor. 5.5 2. Cor. 1.14 cannot but bring vs to a true sense and feeling of the heauy burthen and intolerable weight of sin and iniquitie and consequently to labour and be heauie laden vnder the burthen of our transgressions wherby we come to haue interest in this comfortable inuitation and are made capable of the large and ample promise annexed thereunto Come vnto mee all ye that labour and are heauy laden and I will giue you rest not immunity and freedome from the temptations of Sathan the troubles of the world and crosses incident vnto vs whilst wee liue heere vpon earth No no for through many tribulations we enter into the Kingdome of heauen if wee be without chastisements whereof all are partakers we are bastards and not the Sonnes of God for the Lord whom he loueth he chastiseth and he correcteth euery Sonne whom he receiueth but the words that I speake vnto you are spirit and truth in the world ye shall haue tribulation but in me peace be of good comfort I haue ouercome the world Ioh. 16.33 14.27 15.11 Peace I leaue with you my Peace I giue you not as the world giueth giue I vnto you these things haue I spoken vnto you that my ioy might remaine in you and that your ioy might be full For the rest which Christ here promiseth vnto such as come vnto him must of necessitie be of the same nature with his Kingdome because of temporall felicity he himselfe publikely professed that the Foxes had holes and the Fowles of the heauen had nests but the Sonne of man had not whereon to lay his head Come therefore vnto me all ye that labour and are heauy laden and you shall haue my ioy fulfilled in you howsoeuer as concerning the things of this life Ioh. 17.13 you must resolue to take vp my yoke and learne from the intertainment which I haue had in the world that the Father in this life will not haue his children free from temptation and trouble Verely verily I say vnto you Ioh. 15.16 the seruant is not greater then his Lord neither he that is sent greater then he that sent him if they haue called the Master of the house Beelzebub how much more shall they call them of his houshold if they haue persecuted me they will also persecute you take vp therefore my yoke and learne of me for I am meeke and lowly in heart Ier. 11.11 I was like a Lambe or an Oxe that is brought vnto the slaughter and being in the forme of God made my selfe of no reputation took vpon me the forme of a seruant and was found in fashion as a man humbling my selfe vnto the death euen the death of the Crosse Phil. 2 7 8. learne therfore of me for I am meek and lowly in heart but because I haue sayd these things vnto you sorrow hath filled your hearts neuerthelesse I tell you the truth Ioh. 16.6 7. it is expedient for you to stand in the waies and see and ask for the olde pathes and walke therein Ier. 6.16 and yee shall finde rest for your soules for though our outward man perish yet the inward man is renewed day by day whosoeuer then will come vnto me let him take vp his crosse and follow mee for my yoke is easie and my burthen light because God is faithfull who will not suffer you to be tempted aboue that you are able but will with the temptation also make a way to escape that ye may be able to beare it 1. Cor. 10.16 for the Almightie by the gracious influence of his holy Spirit comforts vpholds and strengthens his children in the time of trouble whereby that becomes easie and light vnto them which otherwise they could neuer possibly bee able to beare according to that of the Apostle Blessed be God 2. Cor. 1.1.3 4 5. euen the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort who comforteth vs in all our tribulation that we may be able to comfort them that are in any trouble by the