Christ inviting sinners to come to him for rest

But suppose this man now have his pardon, and you then put him to read, then he can read with delight, he hath freedom ⟨p. 277⟩enough now to read, his eyes that were bound before are loosened. Now suppose he were to read a Psalm of mercy before he had his pardon, and when he had his pardon there is a Psalm of thankfulness for his life given him to read, he could read it then with delight, just thus it is with those that perform duties in a legal way, they stand before God as their judg, and look upon what they perform as that which their souls depends upon, that if I do not do such and such things that is commanded me, my soul lies upon it, alas this straitens the heart, and it is put into a condition of fear. But now when the soul is come to Christ, and the Lord hath granted pardon to it and hath quieted it by the blood of his son, now says God, read, perform duties, and let all the duties you perform be in way of blessing my name, and praising of me, for giving of you your lives. And indeed, this is the principal ground of all that God requires of such as are come to Christ, merely that thou shouldest go out before the Lord in way of thankfulness for pardoning thy sins, and accepting of thee in his Son. And so likewise if so be a man were amongst his enemies, and should be set to do some work and business, and is set so to it, that if he do not do it, he is a dead man, they will have his life if he do not do it, alas, he goes about it with a great deal of dread and fear. But now, if this man should come home to his fathers house, and his father sets him about a work, and he doth it so, that though he would not do the work, yet he should not loose his life, he should go about it with a great deal more freedom of spirit. Thus it is with believers when they come to Christ, they come to their fathers house, and their father sets them about works, but so as he will not lay their lives upon it, their soul doth not lie upon their duties, thy eternal estate doth not lie upon duties; as heretofore you have heard in being freed from the Law, so now make use of it in deliverance from legal performances. That the Lord though he will be strict to mark what is done in every duty, ⟨p. 278⟩he will not be strict to take advantage of thee. It is true, it is said that the Lord spared not his own son, but he will spare thee. In Malachi 3.17.

But suppose this man now have his pardon, and you then put him to read, then he can read with delight, he hath freedom