A30566:397
Christ inviting sinners to come to him for rest
Christ inviting sinners to come to him for rest by Jeremiah Burroughs.Christ inviting sinners to come to him for rest by Jeremiah Burroughes.
London: printed by Peter Cole, 1659
Title page typeset from the transcription.
CHRIST INVITING SINNERS TO COME TO HIM. › Chapter 9 › The 11. Burden of Legal Performances.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
The 11. Burden of Legal Performances.
11. Those that perform Duties in a mere Legal way go on toiling but still they do not know whether they shall hold out or no; I go on and do my Duty, but what will become of me God knows, I do not know whether I shall hold out or no, I am afraid that when I have done all, laboured and toiled what I can, that I shall prove an apostate, a backslider at last, thus they have many such jealousies of themselves, as they are full of jealousies of God, so of themselves they are afraid of themselves, well, if troubles and afflictions come I shall fall off and turn, and manifest that I was but an Hypocrite and always unsound, now, these very thoughts makes their lives and Duties burdensome unto them, whenas one that hath the benefit of the freedom of the Gospel, one that is in Christ, he can go on; well, though I am but weak yet I have an everlasting ⟨p. 63⟩principle that will hold, for I do it by the strength that is everlasting, though I be weak yet I am fastened to that that is everlasting, I am carried on by such a principle that will hold on to everlasting life, and Oh! what a rest is this, here is rest indeed, for the soul to know that though I am weak yet I shall hold on to everlasting life, whenas one that is Legal he is ever jealous and he thinks, what do I this for, I shall fall off at last, and so goes on heavily and is troubled in his thoughts, and this makes both his Duties and his life burdensome, still I say Christ calls upon all these to come unto him, still there is a rest in Jesus Christ, it is impossible we should speak of all these things at once, but now I would only find out those that Christ calls, you that find it thus that are ready to say, just as it is said in the word, I find it in my heart, I only speak to you to raise up your Hearts to attend to what is further to be said afterwards; only remember that of the poor blind man, when Christ called him, they comforted him with this, be of good comfort he called thee, so I say to you that Labour under this burden and long to know the true liberty of spirit that the Saints have in Christ, Christ calls to you and saith, Come unto me all ye that are weary and heavy Laden and I will give you Rest.