A77983:387
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.
Showeth the Reasons of the Discipline and Government of Christ, and Objections against the same are answered.
Sheweth the Reasons of the Discipline and Goverment of Christ, and Objections against the same are answered.
Well, this we cannot but be convinced of, that the Duties of Religion and the ways of Godliness (all things considered) they are easy, But what will you say to the other two: The ways of God indeed and Religion, and walking in the ways of God we must needs acknowledge to be easy, but there is two other things, as the Discipline of Jesus Christ, and the sufferings that Jesus calls us unto: How will that be made out to be easy to us? Now I verily believe, that Jesus Christ had an aim at these two, as well as to any other, to let them know what Discipline and Government he would have his people come under in the times of the Gospel, and indeed we cannot be the Disciples of Jesus Christ as we ought, except we be willing to put our necks under the yoke of the Discipline of Jesus ⟨p. 688⟩Christ, the Government of Christ as it is in his Church; we must not think it sufficient merely that we profess Religion, and profess Godliness that we keep from the sins of the world, that we walk close with God in our Families, but Christ requires likewise that we should come and submit our selves to what Government he appoints in his Church, and that is a part of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ, as well as his ruling in our hearts, indeed, that is the principal work of Christ, in ruling in our hearts, but Christ hath a Kingly power in ruling in his Church, the main yoke is inward, but there is an outward yoke too, for Christ would not have men live as they list, in a disorderly way, but it is the mind of Jesus Christ that all his Saints though some in one place, and some in another, should join together in exercising such Ordinances as he hath appointed, in the external governing of his Church, and yet so, that all these are very easy to a spiritual heart, though it may seem very difficult to a carnal heart, for I should wrong the Text, and not be faithful if I should not give you what I verily believe is the scope of the Text; I say this yoke is the order of Christ in his Church, if it be neglected by people, it is a great dishonour unto Jesus Christ, and hinders them exceedingly in the ways of Religion, and though it be very hard to carnal hearts, it is very easy to spiritual hearts.