Looking unto Jesus a view of the everlasting gospel, or, the souls eying of…

3. In the Manner of their Worship: In the Old-Testament they were held under the Ceremonial Law; and Oh, What an heap of Ceremonies, Rites, Figures, & Shadows did they use in their Worship! Certainly these declared the Infancy and Non-age of the Jews, who being not capable of the high Mysteries of the Gospel, they were taught by their Eyes, as well as their Ears. These Ceremonies were as Rudiments, & Introductions fitted to the gross and weak Senses of that Church, who were to be brought on by little and little, through such Shadows and Figures, to the true Image, and thing signified: But in the New-Covenant or Testament, our Worship is more spiritual: Our Saviour hath told us,¹ That as God is a Spirit; so, They that worship Him, must worship Him in Spirit & Truth. The Hour cometh, and now is (saith Christ) when the true Worshippers shall worship the Father in Spirit, and in Truth; for the Father seeketh such to worship Him.

1. 1[…]. 4.23, 24.〈…〉. 4.23, 24.

¹4. In the Burden of Ceremonies: Peter calls the Ceremonies of old, A Yoke, which neither our Fathers nor we (saith he) were able to bear. And no wonder, if we consider. 1. The burden of their costly Sacrifices; if any had but touched an unclean Thing, he must come and offer a Sacrifice; as sometimes a Bullock, and sometimes a Lamb: You that think every thing too much for a Minister of Christ, if for every Offence you were to offer such Sacrifices now, you would count it an heavy Burden indeed. 2. They had long and tedious Journeys to Jerusalem; the Land lay more in length than breadth, and Jerusalem stood almost at one End of it;² and thither Thrice a Year all the Males were to go and appear before God. 3. They were tied to the Observation of many Days, the New Moons, and many Ceremonial Sabbaths; and they were restrained from many Liberties, as in Meats, and the like: Oh, What Burdens were upon them! But in the New-Covenant, or Testament, the Yoke is made more easy: We are bound indeed to the Duties of the moral Law, as well as they, yet a great Yoke is taken off from us; and therefore Christ, inviting us to the Gospel, He gives it out thus; Take My Yoke upon you, (saith He) for My Yoke is easy,