Christ Inviting Sinners to Come to Him for Rest, Treatise · Chapter 9
CHAP. IX.
Of the Burden of Legal Performances, What it is; With the burdenſomneſs thereof laid open in twelve Particulars. 1. There is no inward principle of doing. 2. In men that are only under the Law, there's a principle contrary to the performance thereof. 3. Such are wearied with doing, getting no ſupply of ſtrength to perform duty. 4. By their performances, they ſtil contract more Guilt upon their Souls. 5. What they do in Obedience unto the Law is only out of fear. 6. And with much ſtraitneſs of Spirit. 7. Nothing comes of ſuch Performances. 8. They that perform Duty in a meer Legal way, never attain their end, which is, peace with God. 9. They know not whether God accepts of them, or rejects them. 10. They are forced unto Duties inſtantly, preſently, and upon the ſudden, though to the hinderance of other Duties of greater concernment▪ which God requireth of them, at the ſame time. 11. Though they go on ioyling, yet know they not whether they ſhal bold out unto the end. 12. Their Humiliation and trouble for not doing what they ought to do, binders them from doing what God requires.
NOw there is one thing more that is as an Appendix unto the Burden of the Law, flowes indeed from, and is tyed unto the burden of the Law, and that is, the burden of Legal performances, not only the burden of the Law in regard of what the Law requires, the perfect obedience that the Law requires, that burden comes from the Law it ſelf, but now there is a burden that many are under, a very heavy and grievous burden, and that is, the burden of Legal performances, and this is that that is to be the ſubject of this Chapter. I intend to go no further then to ſpeak of that burden to open it a little to you, and that as I told you at the firſt opening of the text is the interpretation of Chriſoſtom upon this text, You that are weary and heavy Laden, that is you that are laden with the burden of ſeeking righteouſneſs under the Law. Come unto me and I wil give you Reſt.
Firſt, I wil ſhew unto you what I mean by the burden of Legal Performances.
Secondly, What a great burden this is and how much evil there is in it, and ſo apply my ſelf to thoſe that are under this burden to ſhew to them how Chriſt cals them here in this text to come to him, that they might have Reſt.
Firſt, that which I mean by the burden of Legal Performances is this, the performing of duties that are required by the Law meerly out of conſcience, becauſe conſcience puts men and Women upon thoſe duties, and doing them in the ſtrength that they have of their own, and looking upon what they do as the Righteouſneſs which they muſt tender up to God, as Righteouſneſs for life, now this is a Legal performance; to perform duties in a Legal way is this, to do what the Law requires meerly out of conſcience, becauſe conſcience tels me I muſt do it, and to work in mine own ſtrength though it be that that God gives, yet but a natural ſtrength, and to make account of this to be as my Righteouſneſs, and to tender it up unto God for Righteouſneſs unto life, here is a Legal performance, and this is to performe duties in a meer Legal way, and thoſe that do thus wil find that this will be a very great burden to their ſpirits, it is a burden unto the Spirits of thoſe that do thus, unto the ſpirits of ſuch as are conſcientious indeed, for we look not now upon men and Women as performing Duties out of Hypocriſie to be ſeen of men to make a ſhow of what they have not in their Hearts, we do not ſpeak of ſuch, but we ſpeak of thoſe that have got into a higher form beyond ſuch kind of Hypocrites, ſuch as perform duties out of conſcience, and yet riſe no higher then looking at the Law, that binds them to thoſe duties and ſo tender them up to God as their Righteouſneſs, and do them for life, making account that this is the thing that muſt bring them to life, ſuch as do this and are not acquainted any further with the myſtery of the Goſpel, they do go under a moſt grievous burden all the daies of their lives, I do not ſay that it is a burden to perform Duties that conſcience requires, when we do them to the Honor of God, in the ſtrength of Chriſt, as a work of the ſanctification of this ſpirit, and as a fruit of our thankfulneſs for the Grace and mercy of God in Chriſt to us, that is not a burden, that is no burden at al, but to do them meerly as being forced to them by conſcience, and as our Righteouſneſs for life this is the burden, and though there be no other principles that men and Women have but this, yet they may be very conſcientious ſo as not to dare to commit any known ſin in ſecret, they may make conſcience of ſecret duties, yea they may be aboundant in duties, that is, do perform many duties. In the 6. of Micah, and the 7. what ſhal we do ſay they, Shal we give Rivers of Oyl and thouſands of Rams, and the fruit of our bodies for the ſin of our ſouls, there you have the expreſſions of thoſe that are Legal, they would know what they ſhould do, profeſſing that they would be willing to do any thing for to ſave their ſouls, offer thouſands of rams and Rivers of Oyl for a ſacrifice, ſo one that is meerly Legal may perform many Duties yea he may be conſcientious of every Duty that he knoweth, there may be a kind of univerſal obedience in him, to obey in al, ſo far as he knows, for the outward action, he may make conſcience of every thing that he knows to be the mind of God, and yet do al this in a legal way, and his performance may be rather a burden then that which ſhal do him good in the concluſion and bring him to life: and except he doth come to know furher then yet he doth, to know the evangelical performance of duties, he cannot have true reſt in his ſoul.
Now this (as the other) is a poynt of great conſequence to many, it may be divers that read this book may not ſo cleerely underſtand what this is, they may not feel any ſuch thing in their one experience; but I ſuppoſe I ſhal ſpeake to ſome even to their hearts, and open their conditions to them, whereby they ſhal ſay that they have not taken a right courſe to procure reſt to their ſouls, and to this end I ſpeake that they may hearken to the bleſſed invitation of the goſpel to come unto Chriſt that they might have reſt; as thus you perceive a little what I meane by legal performances, now then we are to come to ſhew the burden of legal performances, that they are very burdenſome to thoſe that are acquainted with nothing but to performe duties meerly from the law.
The firſt Burden of Legal Performances.
1. Becauſe now they are put upon duties that they have no principle to do, to be put upon a work where there is no inward principle; to do the work that muſt needs be burdenſome; conſcience puts me upon the duty and that is right, but I have no principle to do it, yet I must do it, conſcience ſaith ſo, whether I have a principle or no, and though it is true I have no principle to do it ſo as the Law requires, yet I may doe ſome outward performances, now for me to goe about ſuch a work, to endeavour and ſtrive to do al the work that the Law requires; not onelyonly the outward part but the wole worke, and to be put upon to ſtrugle and ſtrive to do that which I have no inward principle to do, that muſt needs be burdenſome. Al motions of nature that are from an external principle are violent and ſo tedious, heavy and troubleſome, ſo this motion to duty that comes not from an inward principle of heart but is meerly legal, conſcience ſtands to put the ſoul upon duty; but doth not put any principle into the ſoul to do it, this is a violent motion, and thoſe that have the experience of this find it tedious, heavy, and troubleſome.
Now here lieth the burden, for it is not according to thoſe vain conceits of men that the duty ought not to be done, becauſe they have no inward principle to do it, but here is the burden that conſcience binds you to do it, you muſt do it though you have no principle in you to do it.
The ſecond burden of Legal performances.
2. Legal performances have a great burden in them, becauſe there is in al men that are but under the law before they come to be true beleevers ſanctified by the ſpirit of Chriſt, a contrary principle, a principle quite againſt thoſe duties, oppoſite unto them, there is a contrary ſtreame in them, they go againſt wind and tide, you know what a burdenſome thing it is for the boatman to go againſt wind and tyde, he muſt put to a great deale of ſtrength, ſo it is heere til the ſoul come to beleeve in Chriſt and to have the ſpirit of Chriſt, having onelyonly conviction of conſcience and being put upon duties, there are ſuch corruptions in the heart, and ſuch evil principles in al men naturally, that are as wind and tide againſt thoſe duties; and yet ſaith concience you muſt do them though you find your inclinations to be never ſo ſtrong another way, yet conſcience tels you you muſt do them, and when God is pleaſed to put ſtrength into conſcience it wil make a man or a woman to go on in duty though it be never ſo croſs to their own nature; you wil ſay if it be croſs to their owne natures why do they not leave it off? No they dare not, notwithſtanding; ſo, it is true, we ſhal ſhow you afterwards, that even godly men and beleivers are burdened with corruptions, they have contrary principles to the duty too, I but they are not ſo prevailing as with unbeleevers that are only legal, It is a tedious thing you know to caſt a ſtone upward, not onelyonly to cauſe a ſtone to move any way, that is ſome trouble, becauſe you keep it from its center, but to put it upon a motion that is quite contrary to the principle, that is burdenſome, becauſe al heavy things have principles in them that work downwards, therfore to put them upon thoſe things that are quite contrary to their natural principles, it is a motion that wil cauſe burden, and that becauſe you keep them from their owne center: ſo conſcience may keep a man and woman from their own center, from thoſe wicked courſes that their natures are inclined unto, and al the while they are kept from the courſe that their natures do ſo ſtrongly incline them unto, it muſt needs be burdenſome to them, until God come and ſanctifie their hearts, they may be a great while without any ſanctification, many whoſe conſciences are convinced may goe on in duties, without ſanctification in them.
The third Burden of Legal Performances.
3. One that goes on in the performance of duties in a legal way meerly, is weary and tired with what he doth, and yet can find no ſtrength comming in unto him, no further ability to perform what conſcience puts him upon, then he had at firſt, nay rather leſs ability. Now this muſt needs be burdenſome. As ſuppoſe a man be put upon a work, and if he have no mind to it, that is tedious, but if it be againſt the haire, quite oppoſite to his diſpoſition, that is more tedious; yet he muſt go on, and he toyls and wearies himſelf, and yet the more he works the more grievous it is unto him, for he finds no ſtrength comming, but ſtrength wearying rather, his ſtrength wears a way, and no ſtrength comes in to aſſiſt him, and yet his work is as ſtrong as it was, that work muſt needs be burdenſome; ſo thoſe that are meerly legal, they go on ſtil in duty, and the work is ſtil as ſtrong, but they are weaker, many a man when he firſt ſets upon a work is cold and benummed, bur when he continues in the work he gets warmth, and then it is not ſo burdenſom unto him, but if he continues in the work, and is colder and colder, this is very tedious, to thoſe that performe duties in a meer legal way, conſcience puts them upon it at firſt, and they go to duty with ſome vigour, but the truth is, they grow more weary, and the work is more tedious, and yet conſcience puts them upon asmuch work as at firſt when a man hath been at work and growes weary and deſires eaſe and a cruel task-maſter ſhal come and tel him there muſt be no decreaſe of your work, nor no increaſe of your ſtrength, this muſt needs be tedious; thus thoſe that performe duties in a legal way, conſcience puts upon them as much worke when they are weary and tired as at firſt; here is the difference between the works of ſanctification & legal performances, though they ſeem to be hard at firſt, yet while the ſoul ſets upon them there comes in ſtrength, and the more work the more ſtrength, they do not ſpend their ſtrength and throw it away, and grow more weary afterwards then at firſt; but the more they have experience of the ways, the more ſtrength they have, they grow warm at their work, and being warm they get further and further ſtrength, and it grows eaſie unto them, but it is not ſo with one that performes duties in a meere legal way, ſome have been ſeven yeares in a profeſion of religion and made conſcience of their duties, yet after ſeven yeares ſpent their hearts no more mortified then at firſt, and they have got no more ſtrength then, at firſt, their luſts are leſs mortified, and their ſtrength is leſs then at firſt, and therefore their work muſt needs be grievous unto them.
The 4. Burden of Legal Performances.
4. Thoſe that performe duties in a legal way meerely, while they are ſtriving to do their duty, they are contracting ſtil further guilt upon their ſouls, they ſtrive to do that that the law requires, and in their very ſtriving they are breaking of the law. You wil ſay, ſo godly men while they are ſtriving to do their duty they ſin alſo, there is imperfection in the beſt, I but yet their ſin is done away in Chriſt, their ſin is not layed to their Charge, but thoſe that are meerly legal, while they are ſtriving, they ſin and contract Guiltineſs upon their ſpirits, and it lies upon them, and they ſtand charged with it. But then it may be ſaid it were better that they did not ſtrive, no not ſo neither, conſcience muſt have them ſtrive, it would be a greater guiltineſs if they ſhould not ſtrive, though when they ſtrive they ſtand charged with further evil then before, now this is a greivous burden; as now if a man were rowling a ſtone up a hil, and as ſoone as he had rolled it up, the ſtone ſhould come down upon him again, it would be a mighty tireſome work, it is ſo with thoſe that are meerly legal, while they are in duty, in working, ſtil corruption brings them down againe, and they contract continually guiltineſs upon their ſoules.
The 5. Burden of Legal Performances.
5. Thoſe that performe duties in a meere legal way; what they do, they do meerly out of feare, they are put upon it in a forcible and rigorous way, they are put upon al their duties in a rigorous way, meerly by force and conſtraint, if you put a man to do a thing meerly by force, it is very tedious to him, and eſpecialy when your forcing of him is with rigor, as thoſe that are ſlaves they are not only exhorted to do their duty, but with blowes and ſlaſhes they are ſet upon their duty, now this is very burdenſom: if indeed they might be put upon it with love, gentle, and fair cariages, they ſhould do as much as they do with a great deale more eaſe, but when al meanes that is uſed is rigorous and forcible this makes their lives burdenſome unto them; ſo it is here, they that are legal, performe duties, but how? the terror of the law, the flaſhes of hel fire in their conſcience, and the fear of the Judgments of God come unto them, except you do this you may fear that the Judgments of God wil purſue and follow you. In the night ſeaſon when they are in the darke they are filled with terror, and when this terror comes upon them then they muſt go to prayer though they have no mind to go to prayer, for their conſcience elſe wil fly in their faces in the day time, theſe are juſt like the Children of Iſrael in Egypt, the taske maſters put them upon their worke with rigor, that their very lives were tedious to them, whereas thoſe that are ſanctified they go to performe duties out of love and ſo their duties are ſweet and delightful to them.
The 6. Burden of legal performances.
6. From hence follows that thoſe that are meerely legal in their performances, they do their duty with much ſtraitneſs of ſpirit, they have no inlargment of heart uſually, very rarely in any thing they do, but they do it (if they do do it) in a dul manner, & a dead way, meerly the work done and no more, their ſpirits are excedingly ſtrait, pray they muſt, ſo much time they ſpend in prayer, but when they are riſen from prayer they find their harts are as ſtrait as ever, I do not ſay but a godly man or woman may be ſo at ſometimes, but when duties are performed in a legal way, this is conſtantly ſo, and Oh what a burden is this to a ſoul, to think that I can never go into the preſence of God but I have ſtil a dead, ſtraight heart, others have enlarged hearts, but I do the duty and nothing comes of it, I feel my heart altogether ſtraitned in the duty and ſo I go on in the rounds, but ſtil am ſtraitened, dead, and dul in the performance of the duty.
The 7. Burden of Legal Performances.
7. Thoſe that performe duties in a meer legal way, find nothing to come of their duties, but are meerly as a horſe in the mil, go the rounds, or as if a man were to rive or cleave a knotty peice of wood, he ſtrikes, but the knottineſs of the wood gives the rebound to the axe and wedges, and he can make no marke of it, though a man ſtrive and work hard, yet if he findes his work goes on, here is ſome comfort, but when he works and works, and it continues ſo ſtil, this is burdenſome. If a man ſhould be ſet to pull a logg out of a ditch, and injoyned to work from morning to night, and he pulls and pulls al the day, and it ſtirs not, is no further on in his work at night then he was in the morning, and he muſt go to it the next day and nothing comes of his work this is very tedious, ſo it is with thoſe that are meerely legal in their performances, they find little or nothing comes of al their performances and this muſt needs be very burdenſome: you that have been thus burdened, know, this very text concernes you, and Chriſt hath thoughts of you and cals you to himſelf and ſaith, Come to me, as if Chriſt ſhould ſay, certainly there is another way for you to have eaſe and reſt to your ſouls, it is true you muſt go on and do your duty; but you muſt come to know me in the goſpel before yo… … have eaſe and reſt to your ſouls.
The 8. Burden of Legal Performances.
8. Thoſe that performe duties in a meer legal way, the the truth is, let them …oll never ſo much in that way, they can never attain to their end; let them …oil never ſo much, performe duties never ſo many, increaſe their duties a thouſand fold, yet they can never attain unto their end▪ Their end what is that? you wil ſay, Their end is, that they might have peace with God, live and have eternal life; it is true, baſe hipocrites look at profit, many wil make a ſhow of religion, get into houſes, and talk of good things, that they may get good cheere, meat and drink, and a little gain, being of a poor, and unworthy Spirit, but I ſpeake of thoſe that are grown higher then thu…, thoſe that performe duties out of conſcience, and yet never attain to their end, nor never wil attain to their end in this way, til they come to know more of Chriſt; I ſpeake of ſuch as deſire reſt to their ſouls, yet in this way of legal performances never gain this reſt to their ſouls, and and therefore it muſt needs be burdenſome unto them.
The 9. Burden of Legal Performances.
9. Thoſe that performe duties, in a meer legal way, they goe on and performe duties, but whether God accepts of them, yea or no, they cannot tel, do them they muſt, but whether God be their enemy or their friend they canot tel, tender up duties to God they do every day, but whether they tender them up to an enemy or a friend they do not know; ſometimes they have perhaps ſome good hopes that God accepts them, but never come to any knowledg of Gods acceptance, they go up and down continually with Jealous thoughts of God, fearing lea… …od wil take advantage of them at the laſt, this muſ… …e burdenſome. Many poor ſouls have gon on in t… …tion, one ſeven yeares after another, and al for th… of coming to Jeſus Chriſt for reſt unto their ſoules, then comes reſt to the heart of a ſinner when it knowes and can ſay upon good ground, though my heart have much corruption, though my duty have much imperfection, yet through a covenant of grace what I do the Lord accepts of me, whereas the other never comes to know that God doth accept them though they performe their duties never ſo wel.
The 10. Burden of Legal Performances.
10. Thoſe that performe duties in a meer legal way, their ſpirits are hurried on to do the work, to do the thing that conſcience requires, although in regard of their weakneſs, the doing of ſuch a thing, at ſuch a time, wil hinder the doing of other duties that God requires of them, but yet do it they muſt, I do not ſay duties are not to be done at this time, but ſuch things as conſcience tels them are good they are hurried on to do them preſently, though in regard of their weakneſs the doing of them now doth hinder them from doing other things of more conſequence: as we find by experience many that are weake, yet under the command of conſcience and are in a legal way, ſuddenly there comes ſuch a thing into their minds, I muſt ſpend ſo much time in praier, ſaith conſcience you cannot do too much for God, and why ſhould you not ſpend ſo much time for God, now by this means they are hurried on to do the duty, though by the doing of it at that time, they ſhal hinder themſelvs in the performance of many other duties afterwards, and I have known by experience many that have been greivouſly burdened this way, what they preſently apprehend to have any good in it, that they think they muſt do, although they by that be hindred in the performance of many other duties afterwards, whereas now if we were acquainted with the liberty we have in Chriſt we would be able to ſatisfie our ſelves this way, though I am weake now, yet I can appeale to God that my heart is upright, and though I do forbeare the doing of ſuch a thing that in its owne nature is good, yet my conſcience tels me, it is not through a wilful neglect of what may glorifie God, nor becauſe I would neglect any duty that God would have me do, but becauſe I know through my weakneſs the doing of this at this time wil hinder me in the Service of God otherwaies: therefore I beleeve that God wil accept of me in Chriſt and pardon my infirmities; thus the Soul can do that is in Chriſt, but thoſe that are Legal, conſcience puts them upon Duties, without regarding their ſtrength, and ſo puts them upon ſtrong Duties when they are in the weakeſt Capacity, when they are weakeſt, conſcience wil put them upon the ſtrongeſt Duty, now this is for the want of the knowledg of their liberty in Jeſus Chriſt, for they have this liberty in Chriſt, that Chriſt accepts of them according to what they are able to do, the Goſpel holds forth this acceptance, that let them go on to do what they are commanded in uprightneſs, and though they cannot do ſuch Duties becauſe they are weak, yet God accepts of them for Chriſt ſake, which one that is Legal cannot do but conſcience hurries him on to do rhe Duty when he is moſt weak, and ſo he doth leſs for God then otherwiſe he would or ſhould do.
The 11. Burden of Legal Performances.
11. Thoſe that perform Duties in a meer Legal way go on toyling but ſtil they do not know whether they ſhal hold out or no; I go on and do my Duty, but what wil become of me God knows, I do not know whether I ſhal hold out or no, I am afraid that when I have done al, labored and toyled what I can, that I ſhal prove an apoſtate, a backſlider at laſt, thus they have many ſuch jealouſies of themſelves, as they are ful of jealouſies of God, ſo of themſelves they are afraid of themſelves, wel, if troubles and afflictions come I ſhal fal off and turn, and manifeſt that I was but an Hypocrite and alwaies unſound, now, theſe very thoughts makes their lives and Duties burdenſome unto them, whenas one that hath the benefit of the freedome of the Goſpel, one that is in Chriſt, he can go on; wel, though I am but weak yet I have an everlaſting principle that wil hold, for I do it by the ſtrength that is everlaſting, though I be weak yet I am faſtened to that that is everlaſting, I am carryed on by ſuch a principle that wil hold on to everlaſting life, and Oh! what a reſt is this, here is reſt indeed, for the ſoul to know that though I am weak yet I ſhal hold on to everlaſting life, whenas one that is Legal he is ever jealous and he thinks, what do I this for, I ſhal fal off at laſt, and ſo goes on heavily and is troubled in his thoughts, and this makes both his Duties and his life burdenſome, ſtil I ſay Chriſt cals upon al theſe to come unto him, ſtil there is a reſt in Jeſus Chriſt, it is impoſſible we ſhould ſpeak of all theſe things at once, but now I would only find out thoſe that Chriſt cals, you that find it thus that are ready to ſay, juſt as it is ſaid in the word, I find it in my heart, I only ſpeak to you to raiſe up your Hearts to attend to what is further to be ſaid afterwards; only remember that of the poor blind man, when Chriſt called him, they comforted him with this, be of good comfort he called thee, ſo I ſay to you that Labor under this burden and long to know the true liberty of ſpirit that the Saints have in Chriſt, Chriſt cals to you and ſaith, Come unto me al ye that are weary and heavy Laden and I wil give you Reſt.
The 12. Burden of Legal Performances.
12. Thoſe that are thus Legal, their conſciences put them upon performances of Duties, but their Humiliation and trouble for not doing of what they ought to do, doth hinder them from doing what God requires, and this is a ſad condition, that when I have not done my Duty, and am troubled for not doing my Duty, that doth hinder me from doing my Duty, whereas thoſe that have Evangelical Humiliation, it makes them more fit to do duty, the other it makes them more unfit, their hearts are more ſullen, fretful, and untoward, and this is a ſad condition, that not only they fail in other Duties, but when they are troubled for this they fail mo…e▪ firſt they fail of their Duties, and their hearts are hardned a great while, and then they Complaine, that their Hearts are hardened and that they cannot be Humbled for their ſin, after this complaint they begin to be troubled for their ſin, and then on the other ſide when they are troubled after ſuch away as they grow ſullen and diſcontented, vexing and fretting of themſelves, and by this they come to be hindered as much in the performance of their Duty as by the hardneſs of their hearts before; ſome are hindred by their hardneſs of heart from performing of Duty, and others by their humility: now this is a very great burden, you may ſome of you find it in your own experience, that the trouble of your Heart hath rather hindered you then furthered you in Duty, as in Exodus when Moſes came to the Children of Iſrael, the text ſaith they did not harken unto him, becauſe of the anguiſh of their hearts, ſo there is many people that have ſuch Legal trouble in their Hearts and that for their ſins, as it doth hinder them from harkening unto the bleſſed ſound of the Goſpel, it makes them more unfit to harken to the invitation of Chriſt to come unto him, yea ſuch kind of trouble they have for their ſin that makes them as it were reaſon away the bleſſed comfort in the Goſpel to their Soul.