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

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, ³and My Burden light.

¹4. In the Burthen of Ceremonies: Peter calls the Ceremonies of old, A Yoak, which niether our Fathers nor we (saith he) were able to bear. And no wonder, if we consider. 1. The burthen 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 Burthen indeed. 2. They had long and tedious Journeys to Jerusalem; the Land lay more in length than bredth, 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 tyed to the Observation of many Dayes, the New Moons, and many Ceremonial Sabbaths; and they were restrained from many Liberties, as in Meats, and the like: Oh, What Burthens were upon them! But in the New-Covenant, or Testament, the Yoak is made more easie: We are bound indeed to the Duties of the moral Law, as well as they, yet a great Yoak is taken off from us; and therefore Christ, inviting us to the Gospel, He gives it out thus; Take My Yoak upon you, (saith He) for My Yoak is easie,