Christ inviting sinners to come to him for rest

Seventhly, As the soul doth not perform duties that it might get life thereby, it is not in that way now, so the performance of duties when the soul is come to Christ, is a part of eternal life it self, and therefore there is rest in it, it is so far from getting eternal life by it, as it is rather eternal life, it self, then so much as any way to eternal life, for this may be said, though I perform duty, it is true, God hath taught me so much, that now under the Gospel we must not think to get eternal life by our duty, by our works, this is popery, yet it is the way to eternal life the way that tends to it, it is, via ad Regnum, the way to the kingdom, though not the cause of Reigning. Nay, I will show you a further thing then so, the ways of obedience and holiness in a Christians course, they are rather eternal life it self, then the way to it, they have more excellency in them then being the way to life. It is true, it were a great deal of ease and rest to ones spirit, to consider of holy duties but as the way to heaven, if a man were going a journey, and knew the end of his journey should be very glorious to him, if it were to receive a crown, a kingdom, though it were a boisterous day, and stormy weather, and the way were very foul, he would not be troubled at it, but he would account it very comfortable, to know that he is in the right way, for he thinks this will lead me to my journeys end, and when I come there, that will make amends for all. And the truth is, there were ease and rest enough in the ways of God, if God did reveal no more unto a soul then this, these are the ways that lead thee to life and salvation, that lead thee to a kingdom, to glory; especially considering that before we were out of the way, we were wandering in the ways of death and destruction, and God by his Almighty hand hath brought us into the right way.

Seventhly, As the soul doth not performe duties that it might get life thereby, it is not in that way now, so the performance of duties when the soul is come to Christ, is a part of eternal life it self, and therefore there is rest in it, it is so far from getting eternal life by it, as it is rather eternal life, it self, then so much as any way to eternal life, for this may be said, though I performe duty, it is true, God hath taught me so much, that now under the Gospel we must not think to get eternal life by our duty, by our works, this is popery, yet it is the way to eternal life the way that tends to it, it is, via ad Regnum, the way to the kingdom, though not the cause of Raigning. Nay, I wil shew you a further thing then so, the wayes of obedience and holiness in a Christians course, they are rather eternal life it self, then the way to it, they have more excellency in them then being the way to life. It is true, it were a great deal of ease and rest to ones spirit, to consider of holy duties but as the way to heaven, if a man were going a journy, and knew the ende of his journy should be very glorious to him, if it were to receive a crown, a kingdom, though it were a boysterous day, and stormy weather, and the way were very foul, he would not be troubled at it, but he would account it very comfortable, to know that he is in the right way, for he thinks this wil lead me to my journeys end, and when I come there, that wil make amends for al. And the truth is, there were ease and rest enough in the waies of God, if God did reveale no more unto a soul then this, these are the wayes that lead thee to life and salvation, that lead thee to a kingdom, to glory; especially considering that before we were out of the way, we were wandering in the wayes of death and destruction, and God by his Almighty hand hath brought us into the right way.