A77983:440
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.
And then likewise, though God hath appointed some outward things, yet very few, for the outward part of his worship, What a few things are appointed by Jesus Christ? whereas in the times of the Law, there were multitudes of external things, yea, and how easy are they that Christ hath appointed for the outward part of his worship; whereas in the times of the Law it was hard, as circumcision, what a hard thing was it to have to foreskin of the flesh cut off? and you know it made them sore, when the men of Shechem were circumcised, they were so sore, that two or three men were able to destroy a whole City, now Christ hath required no such hardness of us.
And then likewise, though God hath appointed some outward things, yet very few, for the outward part of his vvorship, What a few things are appointed by Jesus Christ? vvhereas in the times of the Law, there vvere multitudes of external things, yea, and how easie are they that Christ hath appointed for the outvvard part of his vvorship; whereas in the times of the Lavv it vvas hard, as circumcision, vvhat a hard thing vvas it to have to foreskin of the flesh cut off? and you knovv it made them sore, vvhen the men of Sichem vvere circumcised, they vvere so sore, that two or three men vvere able to destroy a vvhol City, novv Christ hath required no such hardness of us.
And truly that may be one thing that may make us much doubt of the ways of many that put people upon such ways, as in the Winter time to go into Rivers, and venture their healths & lives as they do, certainly, Christ requires no such thing, if Christ did require such a thing, I dare appeal to any to give me any one place in the old Testament where there is a harder commandment than that, if that were a commandment then Christs yoke in that one thing is harder than any one thing that Christ required of the Jews, no one Duty so difficult to the outward man as that thing i•, now certainly the yoke of Christ as he himself saith, it is but easy, it is not ⟨p. 723⟩hard to the outward man in such external services, Christ did not change one Ordinance from another to make it harder, there is no Ordinance that Christ did change from the Law to the Gospel to make it harder, and there is no mercy that is allowed in the times of the Law, but is allowed in the times of the Gospel.