A77983:389
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.
I am verily persuaded, that one of the greatest things that causeth so much malignity in this Kingdom at this day, it is the fearing of the yoke of Christ, men are afraid of the government of Christ in his Church, they are afraid they shall not have that liberty for their lusts and wickedness as formerly, but that there shall be yokes to restrain and keep them from those loose ways that formerly they lived in, and you may see plainly it is so, who are they that join with the ⟨p. 689⟩malignant party that have such spirits, but such as have loose spirits? they are those that live very loosely, & others that have mere civility, and know little of the power of Godliness, they are afraid of this, and Oh, how is it said by most, we will not have this man reign over us? they even said they will break his bonds asunder, and cast away his cords, that is the controversy that it is come to at this very day, and that Prophecy in Psalm 2. seems to be fulfilled at this day, at verse 2. The Kings of the earth set themselves, and the Rulers take counsel together against the Lord, and against his anointed, saying, Let us break their bonds asunder, and cast away their cords from us, he that sitteth in the Heavens shall laugh, the Lord shall have them in derision, Then shall he speak to them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure yet have I set my King upon my holy hill of Zion, for all this I will set my King upon my holy hill: Certainly, Christ is not set up as King as he ought to be, whatever profession we make, except we be willing to come in, & put our necks under the yoke of Christ, and Oh, what a heavy burden and yoke it is? For instance, That Men and Women should not make a mere verbal profession, and say, I believe, and I hope to be saved by Christ, but should give an account of their Faith, and give an account of some work of God upon their hearts, that God hath called them out of the world, certainly, that is one thing that Christ doth require in his peoples joining together, to set up the Ordinances as they ought to be, that they should have some knowledge one of another, knowledge of some work of the Holy Ghost upon their hearts. You will say, that is secret.
I am verily perswaded, that one of the greatest things that causeth so much malignity in this Kingdome at this day, it is the fearing of the yoke of Christ, men are afraid of the goverment of Christ in his Church, they are afraid they shall not have that liberty for their lusts and wickedness as formerly, but that there shall be yokes to restrain and keep them from those loose waies that formerly they lived in, and you may see plainly it is so, who are they that joyn with the