Christ inviting sinners to come to him for rest

VII.

Seventhly, The prevailing of Corruption is a grievous Burden, because it is that many times, that shakes the assurance of those that are godly. I know not what those men would make of the Lords Prayer, Forgive us our Sins, if so be that they think whatsoever sin they fall into, yet still they can keep up their assurance as much as before, I say, what would they make of that petition, Lord! forgive us our Sins? at least, to pray thus, Lord! clear up the evidence of the forgiveness of our sins, then it must needs follow, that the falling into any sin, and the prevailing of any Corruption, must needs shake our assurance while we live here in this world, now is not this a Burden to any man or Woman that heretofore had assurance of Gods love, and was able to look in Gods Face with joy, to have this assurance shaken? Yea, Many times, it makes God withdraw his countenance, which made David Cry out, ⟨p. 102⟩Restore to me the Joy of thy Salvation. As if he should say, Lord, I was wont to have joy in thy company, in communion with thee, but thou hast estranged thy self from my Soul, O Lord, restore unto me the joy of thy Salvation. Now is not this a burden, for thee to loose the sweetness of thy Soul in communion with God? That now, though it may be it is through thy weakness or what it will be, yet thou canst not look upon God with that comfort as thou wouldst, but the thought of God comes to be a terror upon thy spirit, is not this a burden? Now then, is there any poor Soul that understands what these things mean? What a Burden the remaining Corruption of the Heart is, either in regard of the sinfulness of Nature, or in regard of the stirring of Corruption, or in regard of the prevailing of Corruption, that now they have no Rest in their souls, but are Laden with such a Burden, and cry out with the Apostle, Oh! Wretched Man and Woman that I am, who shall deliver me? let such a soul know, that this text belongs to them, Come unto me, saith Christ, and I will give you Rest from this Burden, as well as the other Burdens; and our Rest is only in Christ from this, as well as the Burden of the guilt of sin, the Burden of the Law, and the other burdens that have been spoken unto.