A77983:382
Four books on the eleventh of Matthew
Four books on the eleventh of Matthew: viz: I. Christ inviting sinners to come to him for rest. II. Christ the great teacher of souls that come to him. To which is added a treatise of meekness and of anger. III. Christ the humble teacher of those that come to him. IIII. The only easy way to heaven. By Jeremiah Burroughs, preacher of the Gospel at Stepney and Cripple-Gate, London.Four books on the eleventh of Matthew: viz: I. Christ inviting sinners to come to him for rest. II. Christ the great teacher of souls that come to him. To which is added a treatise of meekness and of anger. III. Christ the humble teacher of those that come to him. IIII. The only easie way to heaven. By Jeremiah Burroughs, preacher of the Gospel at Stepny and Cripple-Gate, London.
London: printed by Peter Cole, 1659
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
will do thee good at the latter end.
wil do thee good at the latter end.
Eighthly: Another Answer is this, The yoke of Christ is hard, but to what? It is hard to flesh and blood, it is hard to the unregenerate part, it is hard unto that that should endure hardness, it is fit that flesh & blood should endure hardship, & there is no cause to complain that it is hard to them, to flesh & blood, woe to thee if so be the ways of God should prove easy to flesh and blood, it is a sign that it is the true yoke of Christ, because it is hard to flesh and blood▪ it is hard to that we should beat down, it is hard to that that is our enemy, Is there any cause to complain that such a thing is very difficult, hard and grievous unto our enemy? unto one that we should beat down? Now it should be the care of a Christian, to beat down flesh and blood as long as we live, and therefore that that is most hard unto flesh and blood, that they should rejoice in, if they find it to be so, Should any one complain, if the City should have Rebels and Traitors that should rise in the City, to have Bolts and Fetters cast upon them? Is not this an ease to a City? Doth a Kingdom or City suffer by this, because Iron Bolts and Fetters are upon Traitors, Rebels, and Malefactors? What greater Traitors, Rebels, and Malefactors are there against Jesus Christ, our happiness, and everlasting good▪ that ariseth up in rebellion against Jesus Christ, than flesh and blood? and if Iron Bolts and Fetters be upon them which we should seek to subdue and crush, why should we complain of hardness there? Wouldst thou have ease to flesh and blood, that is a cursed ease, But now is not the yoke of Christ easy to the regenerate part in me? In my flesh (saith Paul) there is no good, but the regenerate part finds an ease in the ways of Christ, and they are very sweet, and very comfortable to the Soul.
Eighthly: Another Answer is this, The yoke of Christ is hard, but to what? It is hard to flesh and blood, it is hard to the unregenerate part, it is hard unto that that should endure hardness, it is fit that flesh & bood should endure hardship, & there is no cause to complain that it is hard to them, to flesh & blood, wo to thee if so be the waies of God should prove easie to flesh and blood, it is a sign that it is the true yoke of Christ, because it is hard to flesh and blood it is hard to that we should beat down, it is hard to that that is our enemy, Is there any cause to complain that such a thing is very difficult, hard and grievous unto our enemy? unto one that we should beat down? Now it should be the care of a Christian, to beat down flesh and blood as long as we live, and therefore that that is most hard unto flesh and blood, that they should rejoyce in, if they find it to be so, Should any one complain, if the City should have Rebels and Traitors that should rise in the City, to have Bolts and Fetters cast upon them? Is not this an ease to a City? Doth a Kingdom or City suffer by this, because Iron Bolts and Fetters are upon Traitors, Rebels, and Malefactors? What greater Traitors, Rebels, and Malefactors are there against Jesus Christ, our happiness, and everlasting good that ariseth up in rebellion against Jesus Christ, than flesh and blood? and if Iron Bolts and Fetters be upon them which we should seek to subdue and crush, why should we complain of hardness there? Wouldst thou have ease to flesh and blood, that is a cursed ease, But now is not the yoke of Christ easie to the regenerate part in me? In my flesh (saith Paul) there is no good, but the regenerate part finds an ease in the waies of Christ, and they are very sweet, and very comfortable to the Soul.