A sermon preached before the right honourable the House of Lords in the Abbey…

1. That is spoken to poor souls that are labouring, and heavy loaden; a metaphor taken from Beasts drawing a full Cart, which both labour in drawing, and are weary in bearing. But my Text speaketh to those that are like undaunted Heifers, and like Bullocks unaccustomed to the yoke: The same Christ is a sweet and meek Christ to some; but a sour and severe Christ to others. 2. Christs yoke is easy in comparison of the yoke of the law, which neither we, nor our Fathers were able to bear. 3. As wisdom is easy to him that understandeth, so is Christs yoke easy, & his burden light to those that are well acquainted with it, and have good experience of it, Prov. 4.12. When thou g•est, thy steps shall not be straitened, and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble: This is spoken of the way of Wisdom; but he saith, When thou goest, not, when thou beginnest, or, when thou enterest. If thou art but once upon thy progress, going and running, thou shalt find the way still the easier, and still the sweeter. 4. Mark Christs own words. Its a yoke though an easy one; and a burden, though a light-one. A yoke to the flesh, but easy to the Spirit: A burden to the old man; but light to the new man. He poureth in Wine and Oil into our wounds. Oil to cherish them, and Wine to cleanse them. He can both plant us as Trees of righteousness, and at the same time lay the Axe to the root of the old Tree. He will have mercy upon the sinner, but no mercy upon the sin. He will save the soul, but yet so as by fire.

1. That is spoken to poor souls that are labouring, and heavy loaden; a metaphor taken from Beasts drawing a ful Cart, which both labour in drawing, and are weary in bearing. But my Text speaketh to those that are like undantoned Heifers, and like Bullocks unaccustomed to the yoke: The same Christ is a sweet and meek Christ to some; but a sowre and severe Christ to others. 2. Christs yoke is easie in comparison of the yoke of the law, which neither we, nor our Fathers were able to bear. 3. As wisdom is easie to him that understandeth, so is Christs yoke easie, & his burthen light to those that are well acquainted with it, and have good experience of it, Prov. 4.12. When thou g•est, thy steps shall not be straitned, and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble: This is spoken of the way of Wisdom; but he saith, When thou goest, not, when thou beginnest, or, when thou enterest. If thou art but once upon thy progresse, going and running, thou shalt finde the way still the easier, and still the sweeter. 4. Mark Christs own words. Its a yoke though an easie one; and a burthen, though a light-one. A yoke to the flesh, but easie to the Spirit: A burthen to the old man; but light to the new man. He poureth in Wine and Oyl into our wounds. Oyl to cherish them, and Wine to cleanse them. He can both plant us as Trees of righteousnesse, and at the same time lay the Ax to the root of the old Tree. He will have mercy upon the sinner, but no mercy upon the sin. He will save the soul, but yet so as by fire.