N00800:114
The peril of the times displayed. Or The danger of mens taking up with…
The peril of the times displayed. Or The danger of mens taking up with a form of godliness, but denying the power of it. Being the substance of several sermons preached: / by Samuel Willard, teacher of a church in Boston. N.E. ; [One line from Augustine in Latin]
Boston: printed by B. Green, 1700
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.
3. That so many grow weary of Christ's yoke, and seek for more liberty. The Lord Jesus Christ hath provided a yoke, which he req•i•eth all that will be his Disciples to •ake upon them, Mat. ••.29. take my yoke upon you; and for our encouragement he hath told us that it is easy, verse 30. my yoke is easy, and my burden is light; and it is certainly so to all those in whom there is the power of Godliness: The Apostle tells, us, 1 Joh. 5.3. his Commandments are not grievous; nay, it is so far from being so, that David crieth out, Psal. 119.97. Oh, how I love thy Law! It is burdensome only to the carnal and corrupt part in man; and when it becometh intolerable to any, ⟨p. 98⟩this saith that they are wholly corrupt. That which is connatural will not be burdensome, and love will make every thing which it embraceth, easy. Christ hath taken off the heavy yoke of the Jewish Ceremonies, of which Peter saith, Acts 15.10. neither we, nor our fathers were able to bear it. But he hath not discharged them that are under the Gospel Covenant from duty and subjection. Gospel Liberty is far another thing from •••••tiousness. When therefore men will not Serve Christ, unless they may live as they list, and without any control, they may indeed talk of his Service, but in truth they deny it: and no man of prudence will entertain such a Servant in his Family. But then there is a peculiar yoke of Christ, which he demands of all Christians that they submit themselves unto, viz the Discipline which he hath appointed to be dispensed in his Church, and a subjection to all the Orders and Ordinances of the Gospel. But alas! how many are there who cry out, What a weariness is it? that seek to pluck up the hedges, and remove the wall that Christ hath ⟨p. 99⟩set about his Vineyard, and lay it open in Common; and if they may not be a Lambs in a large place, will stand off from Communion with the Churches of Christ? How many Religious pretences do many make for their neglecting of the known duties of the Gospel, and solemn Institutions and Injunctions of Christ?