Christ inviting sinners to come to him for rest

Secondly, By coming to Christ, there is rest from outward afflictions, for in him there is the taking away of the curse▪ it is Christ that hath taken away the curse of all afflictions, and therefore there must needs be rest unto the soul t•rough Christ. Faith in Christ •eacheth believers to worm afflictions (as I may so say) to worm them, that is to get out the worm that is there. The trouble that eats the heart in affliction, it is the worm of the Curse, for all afflictions are part of the curse in themselves, in their own nature, as they come unto us, if out of Christ, I say, they are part of the curse. Now the main trouble and burden of an affliction, it is the curse ⟨p. 352⟩the secret curse that is in them, but now, when thou art come to Christ, though the outward bulk of affliction may be as big as it was before, yet the curse shall be taken away, the worm, the trouble that did eat thy heart▪ that shall be taken away, and therefore there must be rest in that way. Suppose there were a Snake that should wind about thine arm, that would affright thee; but if thou didst come to know certainly, that the sting were taken out, thou wouldest be quiet if thou wert a wise man, though perhaps a child, or a weak woman, might be affrighted, but a wise man, that understands what he doth if he knew that the sting is out, would not be afraid, now know O thou believer, that upon thy coming to Christ the sting of all affliction is taken out, there is nothing of the sting in it. Affliction may make a noise, as the Bee doth when the sting is out, though there were never so many bees about your ears, if you knew the stings were out, you might be quiet. The core of affliction is taken out as soon as thou art come to Christ. As some soars in the body do put the body to a great deal of pain, there is some core in a wound, some malignant humour that runs in a wound, that puts a man or woman to a great deal of pain: But now if this core, this malignant humour, be taken out by the Chirurgeon, there will be ease and rest.

Secondly, By comming to Christ, there is rest from outward afflictions, for in him there is the taking away of the curse▪ it is Christ that hath taken away the curse of al afflictions, and therefore there must needs be rest unto the soul trough Christ. Faith in Christ eacheth beleevers to worme afflictions (as I may so say) to worm them, that is to get out the worm that is there. The trouble that eates the heart in affliction, it is the worm of the Curse, for al afflictions are part of the curse in themselves, in their owne nature, as they come unto us, if out of Christ, I say, they are part of the curse. Now the main trouble and burden of an affliction, it is the curse