Christ inviting sinners to come to him for rest

Thirdly, The Burden of the Law is this; you may say; though it doth require perfect obedience; but will it accept of no endeavours at all? suppose we do endeavour to obey to the uttermost that we can? There are many men will require things that are hard, and beyond strength, I but when there are endeavours to do that that is required, that will be accepted: wherefore we are to know this; that the Law accepts of no endeavours; though a man, or woman should strive their hearts out to obey, to come to the height of the perfection of the Law, the Law doth not accept of those endeavours: It is true, when the Soul comes unto Christ in the Gospel; when the Soul comes under the covenant of Grace; endeavours are accepted; therefore do not say that God will not accept of our endeavours, and why should we endeavour? Yes, if you come unto Christ your endeavours will be accepted, as we shall show you when we come to discourse the rest that the Soul hath in Christ; But now here is an argument to drive poor souls to Christ; to consider that while you are out of Christ, your endeavours are not accepted, you are not in away of life; for life, and Salvation, it is not to be had in the condition you are now in: for the Law requires obedience, it must have the work done; you can be but either under the covenant of works, or the covenant of grace; so long as you are under the covenant of works, there the work is called for, and not merely endeavours, that will not do; therefore the Apostle saith in the Rom. 10.5. For Moses describeth the righteousness of the Law; that he which doth those things shall live by them: You must either be Righteous by the Righteousness of the Law, or by the Righteousness of Christ; now if you would be Righteous by the Righteousness of the Law; hear what it is; he that doth these things shall live by them; If you do them, Moses doth not say, he that endeavours to do these things; he that strives to do these things; No, but Moses saith he that doth them; he that doth these things shall live by them; it must be doing▪ and not endeavouring, ⟨p. 37⟩that the Law accepteth, and that is the third thing wherein the bondage of the Law consists. Saith Christ come to me and you shall have rest; it is by believing in Christ that you must have rest. There can be no rest but a grievous burden upon the soul till it doth come to Christ; if it doth understand things;