Discourses upon the Existence and Attributes of God

2. It is easy, not like the burdensome Ceremonies appointed under the Law. He exacts not now the legal Obedience, expensive Sacrifices, troublesome Purifications and Abstinencies, that Yoke of Bondage, ^†which they were not able to bear. ^*He treats us not as Servants, or Children in their Nonage under the Elements of the World, nor requires those innumerable bodily Exercises, that he exacted of them: He demands not 1000 of Lambs, and Rivers of Oil; but he requires a sincere Confession and Repentance in order to our absolution; an unfeigned Faith in order to our Blessedness, and elevation to a Glorious Life. He requires only that we should believe what he saith, and have so good an opinion of his Goodness and Veracity, as to persuade our selves of the reality of his Intentions, confide in his Word, and rely upon his Promise, cordially embrace his Crucified Son, whom he hath set forth as the means of our Happiness, and have a sincere Respect to all the discoveries of his Will. What can be more easy than this? Though some in the days of the Apostles, and others since have endeavoured to introduce a multitude of legal Burdens, as if they envied God the Expressions of his Goodness, or thought him guilty of too much Remissness, in taking off the Yoke, and treating Man too favourably.

2. It is easie, not like the burdensom Ceremonies appointed under the Law. He exacts not now the legal Obedience, expensive Sacrifices, troublesom Purifications and Abstinencies, that Yoak of Bondage, ^†which they were not able to bear. ^*He treats us not as Servants, or Children in their Nonage under the Elements of the World, nor requires those innumerable bodily Exercises, that he exacted of them: He demands not 1000 of Lambs, and Rivers of Oyl; but he requires a sincere Confession and Repentance in order to our absolution; an unfain'd Faith in order to our Blessedness, and elevation to a Glorious Life. He requires only that we should believe what he saith, and have so good an opinion of his Goodness and Veracity, as to perswade our selves of the reality of his Intentions, confide in his Word, and rely upon his Promise, cordially embrace his Crucified Son, whom he hath set forth as the means of our Happiness, and have a sincere Respect to all the discoveries of his Will. What can be more easie than this? Though some in the days of the Apostles, and others since have endeavoured to introduce a multitude of legal Burthens, as if they envied God the Expressions of his Goodness, or thought him guilty of too much Remissness, in taking off the Yoak, and treating Man too favourably.