1. All fuch as are fenfible of this Load of Sin; because this was the End of Christ's coming in the Flesh, Ifa. lv. 1. S. Matt. ix. 13. 2. Only fuch; because, 1. They only know their Need of Him, S. Matt. ix, 12, 2. They only are willing to come, S. Joh. V. 40. III. How must they come to Him? 1. By Faith in Him, A&t. xvi. 31. S. Joh. vi. 35 2. By Repentancé, S. Mar. i. 15. 3. By Love unto Him, S. Luk. xiv. 16. manifested, 1. In our Defires of Him. 2. 3. 4. Joy in Him. Obedience to Him, S. Joh. xiv. 15. denying ourselves, S. Mar. i. 15. 5. In taking up our Croffes, when thereanto call'd, AƐt. xiv. 22. 6. - following Him, I Cor. xi. 1. in all the imitable Steps and Actions of his Life. IV. What is this Reft that they shall find? 1. In this Life; and that, 1. From the Tyranny of our Corruptions, and the reigning Power of Sin, Rom. vi. 14. 2. The Prevalency of the Devil's Temptations, Act. xxvi. 18. 3. The Terrors of a guilty Confcience, 2 Cor. i. 12. 4. The Cares of this perplexing World, 1 Pet. V. 7. 5. The Wrath of an offended GOD, Pfal. vii. II. 6. The Dread of eternal Fire. 2. In the Life to come; confifting, 1. In a Freedom from all Pain of Body, Phil. iii. 21. 2. From all other temporal Labours and Troubles, and even Death itself, Rev. xxi. 4. and xiv. 13. 3. From our fpiritual Warfare, 2 Tim. iv. 7. 1. With Sin. 2. With Satan, Ephef. vi. 16. 3. With the World. 4. From all our Doubts about our Title to Heaven, and Concern about our future Estate; for then we fhall be no longer under Fears of either. 1. Of our Offending GOD, Ephef. v. 27. or, 2. Of His Afflicting us. 5. This Reft confifts in the Glorification of our Perfons. 6. And lastly, in the Enjoyment of GOD, which is Happiness, above what we are able to conceive. V. How does it appear, that Christ will give us this Reft? 1. Because He hath purchas'd it for us, 1 Tim. i. 15. and it was the End of His coming among us. 2. He hath promis'd it to us. 3. He hath given us already a Pledge of it, Ephef. i. 13, 14. 4. He is now interceding for us, Hebr. vii. 25. I. INFERENCES from hence. Sin is a heavy Burden, Pfal. xxxviii. 4. 2. We have therefore Caufe to be weary of it, Gen. iv. 13. 3. There 3. There is no way to be eas'd of it, but by coming to Christ, Att. iv. 12. 4 None come to Chrift, but they certainly find Reft and Eafe. 5. This Reft is the Gift of Chrift, not the Defert of our Works, Rom. vi. 23. 6. How miferable are they that come not to Him? 1. Slaves to Sin, S. Job. xv. 5. 2. Subjects to Satan. 3. Enemies to GOD, Rom. viii. 7. 4. Condemn'd by the Law, S. Joh. iii. 18. 5. Obnoxious to Hell, 1 Theff. i. 9, 10. 7. How happy, on the other fide, are they that fincerely come to Chrift, and obtain this Reft unto their Souls? 8. And therefore, how many Obligations lie upon us to come unto Him? Confider, moreover, 1. That Chrift came to you, Phil. ii. 6,7. 1 Tim. i. 15. 2. He died for you, and thereby purchased eternal Happiness for you. 3. He calls and invites you to Him, S. Joh. V. 40. 4. Expects nothing from you, but your coming to Him. 5. And yet will give all Things to you. 9. How then comes it to pass, that Men will not come unto Chrift for Reft? 1. They know not their Mifery without 2. Nor the Reft they may have in Him. Vid, the Tenth Vol. of this Author's Difcourfes, Serm. I. S. MATT. S. MATT. xi. 29. Take my Yoke upon you. THAT is this Toke of Chrift? 1. WH 1. Of Doctrine, all that He afferts, fo as, 1. To read and study it. 2. 3. meditate on it, Pfal. i. 2. 1 Tim. iv. 15. believe it, S. Joh. V. 9, 10, 11. 1. Tho' above Reafon, 1 Cor. ii. 14. ་ 2. 3. 4. contrary to our former Opinions, A&. xvii. 23, Óc. againft our temporal Intereft, A&. xix. 24, 25, 26. oppofite to Flesh and Blood, Gal. i. 16. 2. Of Obedience. Taking this Yoke upon us. 1. By doing what He commands, S. Matt. xxviii. 19, 20. 2. Becaufe He commands it. 3. In the manner He commands. 1. With clear Understandings, 1 Cor. 2. 3. 4. 5. xiv. 15. willing Affections, Rom. xii. 8. pure Confcience, 2 Cor. i. 12. fincere Intentions, 1 Cor. X. 31. refolv'd Conftancy. 3. The Yoke of the Crofs. 1. So as patiently to fubmit to all the Pro- 2. Joyfully to endure Sufferings for Chrift's vice, 1 Cor. vi. 20. II. Why II. Why fhould we take this Yoke upon us? 1. We should take the Yoke of His Doctrine upon us; 2. 3. 1. Because it is Divine, 2 Tim. iii. 16. of His Commands; because, 2. Eafy, S. Matt. xi. 30. 1 S. Joh. of His Crofs. 1. Because He did, Phil. iii. 10. 2. Because it is profitable, Hebr. xii. 10. 2. 3. 4. 5. Now, to quickning of Grace. evidencing God's Love to us, Hebr. xii. 6, 7. testifying our Love to Him. raising in us Defires of Heaven. perfuade you to take Chrift's Yoke upon you; Confider, 1. Chrift took your Yoke upon Him. The Yoke of Obedience, Phil ii. 8. of Punishment, 2 Cor. v. 21. 2. If you take not Chrift's Yoke upon you; you must have the Devil's, S. Matt. vi. 24. 2. 3. Chrift's Yoke will free you from That of Satan. 4. It is the Badge of a Chriftian. 5. Take His Yoke on your Shoulders now, and He will fet His Crown on your Head hereafter, S. Matt. xi. 29. 2 Tim. iv. 8. S. MATT. |