Four Books on Matthew 11, Book 4 · Chapter 139
CHAP. CXXXIX.
Divers Objections anſwered. The eaſineſs of the waies of Chriſt; which is the third particular mentioned in Chap. 139.
QUEST.
BUT do we not find that Chriſt hath ſaid in his word, that the way to Heaven is difficult, and the Gate to Heaven is ſtrait and narrow? and do we not find Preachers ordinarily ſpeaking ſo, that the way to Heaven is difficult and ſtrait? according to what is in Scripture, yea, do we not find that the People of God themſelves complain, that there is a great deal of difficulty in the waies of God? and do they not oftentimes complain of the hardneſs of them? Yea, and what though ſome things may be eaſie, yet ſome others are very hard, As, you will ſay to the Diſcipline of Chriſt in his Church: Is that eaſie? Is not that hard? and what will you ſay to the ſufferings that Chriſt requires of his people, Doth it not ſeem very hard?
Anſw. Now to clear the point from all theſe difficulties, either what Chriſt ſaith of the ſtraitneſs of the way to Heaven, or what the Saints of God find, or what may be ſaid in regard of the Diſcipline of Chriſt in his Church, or what in regard of the ſuffering that Chriſt requires, notwithſtanding all theſe, yet we hope we ſhall make it cleer, that yet his yoke is eaſie, and his burden is light, and further we are to ſhew how it comes to be eaſie and light.
But firſt to cleer the Point from all theſe difficulties.
Firſt: That of Chriſt, That the way to Heaven is a ſtrait way, a very ſtrait way, there muſt be crowding, and taking a great deal of pains.
It is true, It is ſtrait, it is a very ſtrait way to men that are but naturall, that are not his Diſciples, it muſt needs be a ſtrait in their apprehenſions, in the eſteem of the world, the way that Chriſt doth propound to come to Heaven it muſt needs I ſay be very ſtrait, and a very difficult way in the eſteem of the men of the world, and that upon theſe grounds.
1. They do not know wherein the true ſpirituall excellenc…es of the waies of Chriſt dorh conſiſt, they do not underſtand what the excellency of Chriſts waies are.
2. The things that are required are unſutiable to them, they are not ſuitable to what there is in their ſpirits, and to put a man upon a work that is no way ſuitable to his ſpirit muſt needs be difficult, muſt needs be tedious, it is not ſuitable to them; Yea, it is contrary to them, contrary to the ſpirits of thoſe that are natural, croſs unto the grain, they go quite contrary to their own ſpirits, when they venture upon doing what is required in the waies of God.
3. They are weak, and have not the ſtrength that ſhould carry them on in the waies of God, indeed it muſt needs be difficult, to think to do that which is ſupernatural & have nothing but a natural ſtrength, it muſt needs be hard to nature that hath nothing but weakneſs, it muſt needs be hard to the men of the world, for they have a great many prejudices againſt the waies of Chriſt, they muſt denie themſelves in many things that are as dear to themſelves as their very Souls, and their lives, and they have nothing to make up their comforts, they muſt denie their comforts, and have nothing to make up their comforts, this muſt needs be difficult and hard, and ſo many grounds might be ſhewn, that the way to Heaven is hard to the men of the world, a hard thing for them to enter upon the way to Heaven, and ſo it is ſtrait to them in their eſteem.
Queſt. I but further. Is it not ſtrait unto the Saints, even to the very Diſciples of Chriſt, Do not they find difficulties in the waies of God?
Anſw. Now for the anſwering of that, to ſhew how the waies of God are eaſie, notwithſtanding what even thoſe that are the people of God find in them, and notwithſtanding all their complaints, thoſe that are Godly, they ſay, they find much difficulty in the waies of Religion.
1. It may be the difficulty thou ſpeakeſt of, it is but in opinion rather than reality, it is but an imaginary difficulty, when thou lookeſt upon a Duty a great way off: Oh! thou thinkeſt it is very hard, but when thou comeſt to it thou doſt not find it ſo hard: I appeal to thoſe that are ac…uainted with the waies of God, Hath it not been ſo with you, that things have ſeemed to be hard and difficult a great way off, but when you have come unto them, & ventured upon them, you have not found them ſo? It is juſt in this caſe for all the world, like as it was with the women that we read of in Mark 16. that went to the Sepulchre of Chriſt, as they were going at verſe 3. O! they were very ſolicitous about the Stone that was rouled upon the Sepulchre, Who ſhall ro…l away the Stone, but now when they came to the Sepulchre the Stone was rouled away. So it is here when there are many Duties to be done, it may be you cry out; Oh, it is very hard, and how ſhall we be able to do ſuch a thing? ſuch a poor weak body as I am, how ſhall I be able to do it? but when you come to the Duty you do not find it ſo, I ſuppoſe there are many, that at firſt thought it a very difficult Duty to keep a watch over their heart, and to pray in their Families and Cloſets, and to keep cloſe to God, but when they have come to the thing, ſomtimes when you have had no heart to pray, when you have thoughts to go to prayer▪ and you have thought it impoſſible for you to make any work of it, but when you have come to it, you have found it before you have done to be a very ſweet and comfortable Duty; you have found a ſtone hardneſs of heart, and indiſpoſition to the Duty before you have come to the Duty, but when you have come to the work, you have found the ſtone rouled away, and the work not ſo hard. As we read of Peter in Acts 12. 10. When he was coming out of the City and thoſe with him, When they came to the Iron Gate in was open, It may be if they had known there had been ſuch an Iron Gate to paſs through, they might have been troubled, Oh, how ſhal we get through, but when they came there, the Iron Gate was open, ſo that the difficulty is before we come to make tryall, rather than when we make tryal.
2. But you will ſay, It is reall, not in opinion, but reall. I but it is ſo but at the entrance, at the beginning, and it may be the greateſt difficulty is but to get the neck into the collar, to get the yoke upon the neck, there lies the great difficulty, when once you are in the yoke, then you will find it eaſie, the greateſt difficulty many find in the waies of Religion it is their firſt entrance, becauſe they have not been accuſtomed to ſuch things. You ſhall have many times ſome kinds of Bullocks that come into their yoke, there is more ſtir to get their necks in, to get their yokes upon their necks, then there is for them to bear it afterwards: So there is with many men and women a great deal of ſtir▪ and a great deal of do to get their necks under Chriſts yoke, to come under the burden of the yoke of Chriſt, but were they come in▪ they would not find it ſo difficult. Somtimes indeed, the work of God in converting of a Soul comes to it ſo, as the Soul finds a great deal of difficulty: The Miniſtry of John by way of preparation comes in a terrible way, to make ſmooth the rough paths, and level the lofty hils, comes in a fiery way to prepare them, many times it is very terrible, and they find a great deale of difficulty, much trouble of conſcience, and terrour at firſt, I but this is but to get …hy neck into the yoke, this is not the difficulty of Chriſts yoke, but it is the bringing thee under the yoke of Chriſt, therfore let not thoſe that God is beginning to ſtir them in awakn…ng their Conſciences, be offended becauſe they find difficulty, becauſe they find the waies of God terrible to them, and conſcience terrible to them, and they find the flaſhes of Hell upon their ſpirits, be not offended becauſe thou haſt more trouble now then before, it is but in getting that unruly ſpirit of thine under the yoke of Chriſt, if once thy ſpirit be ſubdued to Jeſus Chriſt, and brought under his yoke, thou wilt not find it ſo terrible and it may be the more terrour thou haſt now the more ſweetneſs and comfort thou wilt find afterwards.
Thirdly, Thou complaineſt of difficulty that thou findeſt in Gods waies, do not therefore complaine of the yoke of Chriſt, it may be it is from the diſtemper of thine own heart, not from Chriſts yoke, we know that a light yoke to one that hath a ſore neck, ſeemes to be very grievous, but the fault is not in the yoke, but in the ſoreneſs of the neck if the neck were ſound, and made whol, the yoke would ſeem light, ſo it is with many that profeſs religion, and it may be have true grace, they find the yoke very ha…d to them, and they complain of the yoke, and think that which Chriſt requires of them is greivous to them, but truly it is the diſtemper of thy heart, and the unſoundneſs of thy ſpirit that makes it ſo if ſo be thy heart were but healed, if thy hear… were but ſound, thou wouldeſt not find any ſuch difficulty in any way of Chriſt. In 2 Tim. 1. 7. There the ſpirit of power, of love and of a ſound mind are joyned together, where there is a ſound mind a ſound ſpirit, the…e will be power, there will be ſtrength, there will be love and ſweetneſs, but where the mind and the heart is unſound, and diſte…pered▪ there you will find a great deal of difficulty in the yoke of Chriſt, ſo that I ſay, where you find the yoke of Chriſt difficult, do not complain of that ſo much, as of your own heart, and labor to heal your own ſoul, and then it it will not be ſo difficult, and that is the third anſwer I would give to the Godly that yet find difficulty in the waies of religion, it is not becauſe of the yoke, but it is becauſe you are not enough under the yoke, that is the difficulty, if your hearts were under it more then it is, it would not be ſo difficult, and this expreſſion may ſerve to enlighten us into the fourth anſwer which is this.
Fourthly, the yoke of Chriſt may ſeem to be hard but it is becauſe of the diſordered carriage of thy ſpirit when thou art under it, not only from a diſtempered heart, that thy heart hath diſtempers, and habitual corruptions, but now when thou art doing a duty thou doſt behave thy ſelf in a diſorderly way in the performance of the duty, the diſorderly behavior of thy heart in the performance of duty. As now we know it is with ſome Bullocke, ſome creatures that are unruly, when they are in the yoke they keep ſuch a ſtir, and riggle this way and that way, and they are ſo unquiet when they are under the yoke, that they toil and trouble themſelves abundantly more then another that can carry the yoke quietly▪ that goes on quietly with his yoke ſo it is with many Chriſtians when they are in the performance of duty, if they cannot do it as they would, they do ſo vex▪ and frett, and are ſo diſquieted in their ſpirits, and ſo tumultuous in their ſpirits and are ready to caſt it off, Conſcience will keep it on, and they are ready to caſt it off there is ſuch a diſorderlineſs of ſpirit, and ſuch tumultuouſneſs of ſpirit, this makes duties difficult, whereas now, when thou art in performance of duties if thou couldeſt be under the yoke of Chriſt with a calme, quiet Spirit, and carry it in a meek way, Oh! the ſweetneſs that thou wouldeſt find there, how many times ſhall you have many people, that when they go to prayer, if they cannot pray as they would do, then they vex and fret and are ready to think to pray no more, and why ſhould they pray any more? they are ſo diſturbed in the duty, they think it is better to caſt it off, and they begin to have hard thoughts of the duty, and ſo their ſpirits are all in a d…ſtemper and diſorderly working preſently, and there is the difficulty. Whereas another, though he cannot do what he would, yet he hath an humble diſpoſe to God, and thinkes I will try another time, may be God may come in another time, ſtill I love the duty, the law is good, the duty is juſt and good, and though through the untowardneſs, of my ſpirit I cannot do it now, yet I hope God will come at another time, I will do my duty, and leave it to God to come in when he pleaſeth; as you heard before, when the Bullock or the Heifer that beares the yoke,, if he goes on quierly, his yoke is not ſo grievous, but if he flings, this way and that way, and turnes to this ſide and that ſide, every way, he makes his yoke grievous to him, and ſo it is with many Chriſtians, it is the diſorderly carriage of people under this yoke that makes it ſo difficult.
Fiftly Thou complaineſt and ſayeſt this yoke is hard, conſider that the caſting of the yoke off would be a great deal harder, and therefore there is no cauſe to complain, can a man in a rational way complain of a yoke to be hard, whenas the caſting of the yoke off would be a harder thing then the bearing of it? therefore the Hebrew word that ſignifies ſin, ſignifies alſo labor and trouble, there is more trouble if thou ſhouldeſt caſt off the yoke, thou wouldeſt find more diſtreſs of ſpirit, and more difficulty in caſting off the yoke, then to be under the yoke. It is true, thoſe that be carnal and wicked, do not find it ſo, but if thou haſt Grace, if thou ſhouldeſt caſt off the duty becauſe of the difficulty thou wouldeſt find it more difficult to be without the duty, then to perform it. As I will inſtance to your own experiences, you fiend ſometimes that your hearts are loth to come off to prayer in a morning, or if you do pray, you do it ſleightly, now do not you find your hearts off the hooks al the day long after, have not you more trouble all the day long when your conſcience tells you that you ſhould go and ſeek God and pray, I but other things are more eaſy, and that is a hard thing, and therefore you neglect it, now do not you find it more dificult to be with out prayer in a morning, then is in all the labour of prayer? compare one day with another, and ſee which is the eaſyeſt. The yoke of Chriſt that was upon David, might be ſomwhat hard to the fleſh but the caſting off the yoke broke his bones, therefore in Pſal. 51. He cries to God, to reſtore to him the joy of his Salvation and to heale thoſe Bones of his that were broken, That the Bones that thou haſt broken may rejoyce, that expreſſion the Prophet hath, Pſalm, 51. verſ. 8. Make me to hear joy and Gladneſs, that the Bones that thou haſt broken may rejoyce, ſo that it broke the very Bones of David, the caſting off the yoke of Chriſt, the trouble that David felt in his heart, it was ſuch a burden to him as broke his bones, now when did ever any duty that David performed break his bones? though it might a little paine his fleſh, and be a little burdenſom to his fleſh, yet it was not that which broke his bones, the caſting off the yoke of Chriſt is a greater burden, and more troubleſom to a gracious heart then to keep it on.
Sixthly. Thou complaineſt of difficulty in duty, in Chriſts yoke. may be it is not the yoke of Chriſt that is upon thee, that is ſo heavy upon thee, if thou examineſt it again, perhaps thou ſhalt find it is not Chriſts yoke that is upon thee.
1. May be it is a yoke that thou haſt taken upon thy ſelf, perhaps ſomthing that thou haſt put upon thy ſelf that Chriſt never required of thee, then it may be grievous to thee, if we will put that upon our ſelves that Chriſt never required, as Papiſts do that put that upon themſelves that Chriſt never required, who required theſe things at your hands? It may be ſome men have put ſomthing upon you that Chriſt never required of thee, it may be thou putteſt upon thy ſelf a duty at this time, that is not the duty of this time, but is the duty of ſome other time, when thou wilt enjoyne thy ſelf to do ſuch a duty that is not the duty of this time, but the duty of another time, then it may be troubleſom; as many poor Chriſtians are peſtered this way, when God would have them do ſuch a duty, conſcience puts them upon another duty, God calls them to a duty of their calling, but conſcience puts them upon prayer, now that is not the duty it may be of this time, and this is the way of Satan, of the Devil, to weary them, and tire them, by putting them upon duty unſeaſonably, when he cannot by temptation hinder them from duty, then he labors to weary and tire them, by putting them unſeaſonably upon duty, As I have known ſome, they could not be at their work a quarter of an hour, but ſuddenly they muſt leave all and go to prayer, and they thought it was the motion of Gods Spirit, and the dictates of conſcience, and they thought they muſt not neglect it, and ſo made their lives uncomfortable upon that ground; whereas the Spirit of God puts people upon duty ſeaſonably, every thing in its right order, and right way, and in its due time, it will put you upon prayer in a fit time, and put you upon duties of your calling in a fit time, and when it comes unſeaſonably to diſquiet you, it is rather a ſuggeſtion of Satan to diſquiet you, then to make you to obey Chriſts yoke.
2. May be it is not the yoke of Chriſt, but meerly the yoke of the Law, as thus, though it may be the ſame thing that Chriſt would have you do, yet you may have it laid upon you in a legal way, to do it meerly out of fear of the wrath of God, and damnation, and ſo it may be as a ſcourge to force you to it, and ſo to look upon every duty as if your eternal eſtate depended upon it, as if you were to be caſt or ſaved by the meer performance of your duty, this is rather the yoke of the Law then the yoke of Jeſus Chriſt, to be put and hurryed upon duty, as if your eternal eſtate did depend upon your duty, and you were to be caſt in your eternal eſtate by that rather then any thing, here is the yoke of Moſes, not the yoke of Chriſt, Chriſt puts you upon duty for the honor of God, yet ſo, as the hazard of your eternal eſtate is over, and thou art not to be caſt upon the performance of the duty this way or that way, that if thou faileſt thou wert to be caſt for ever to everlaſting deſtruction upon thy failing, he doth not bring you before God as before a ſevere and revenging judg, but puts you upon ſervice, as a Child is put upon doing ſervice by a Father, now it is a great deale eaſyer for a child to do ſervice to a father, then for a ſlave to do ſervice to one that hath him in bondage, that will be continually laſhing him, and beating him black and blue; ſo indeed the yoke of the Law (which we are to ſpeak of afterwards when we come to ſpeak of the eaſineſs of Chriſts yoke) that is greivous, and many Chriſtians they do their duties meerly in a legal way, and ſo it is rather Moſes yoke, then the yoke of Jeſus Chriſt, and ſo it comes to be hard; whereas when thou comeſt to underſtand what the yoke of Chriſt is, and what the duties are that are required by Jeſus Chriſt, and ſo to take them from him by a covenant of Grace, for ſo they are required, there is no duty in the Morral Law, but is required of you in the Goſpel, and in a ſtronger bond then ever it was required upon the firſt Covenant, but in another way, coming unto it in another way in Chriſt▪ and through the hand of the mediatour Jeſus Chriſt, ſo it comes to be a great deal more eaſy, and when duties are taken up in an evangelical way▪ then they are eaſy▪ but ſo long as you take them up in a legal way, then they come to be very grievous, that is the Sixth Anſwer.
Seventhly, Another anſwer is this, that difficulty that you find, it is not the Yoke of Chriſt, if you conſider, That now Corruption is more Stirred then ever it was before, the difficulty is in the diſcovery of corruption, & in the Stirring of your corruption more then before, ſo that your Corruption through this, by means of the yoke of Chriſt comes to be more ſtirred then formerly it was: As thus now (ſometimes I think, I have given you this Similitude) if there be a few embers of fire that is covered under the aſhes, while no body medles with thoſe embers, the aſhes lye Still, but if you come to blow up theſe aſhes, the aſhes fly up and down: So it is with the Soul that hath Grace, while corruption lies ſtil all is at quiet, but when Grace comes and ſtirs corruption, that makes a trouble, you come now to ſee your ſins more, and to oppoſe them more. As when a Phyſician comes to give Phyſick, the ſtirring of the humor makes the Party more ſick, ſhould the Patient complain of the Phyſician and ſay, this Phyſick makes me more ſick, & I wil take no more of his Phyſick? if the Phyſick did not make thee more ſick, it would do thee no good. And ſo when thou comeſt to the practice of Religion, if Grace do not ſtir thy corruptions, it wil not cure thy corruptions, thou comeſt to be ſenſible of thy ſin more than ever, & thou art ready to think that it is the yoke of Chriſt that troubles thee, but it is the ſight and the further ſence of thy ſin that makes thee thus, and thou haſt cauſe to bleſs God for this trouble, there is nothing more ordinary than for Chriſtians that are not wel experienced in the waies of God to think thus, that they are worſe than ever, they never had ſuch thoughts, they never were troubled with ſuch blaſphemous thoughts in Prayer, they never found ſuch ſtirrings of corruption in their hearts as now they have, and they think they are declined, and they are further off from God and eternal life than before, becauſe they ſee more evil in themſelves, & find more ſtirring of corruption than before, be not diſcouraged by this, it is the ſtirring of thy corruption though the thing in it ſelf is evill, yet it is a good ſign, it is a ſign the word of God is working in thee, and God ſtirreth in thee, therefore do not complain of the word of Chriſt, that it makes thee worſe, but it is a meer accidental cauſe of the ſtirring of thy corruption, and it wil do thee good at the latter end.
Eighthly: Another Anſwer is this, The yoke of Chriſt is hard, but to what? It is hard to fleſh and blood, it is hard to the unregenerate part, it is hard unto that that ſhould endure hardneſs, it is fit that fleſh & bood ſhould endure hardſhip, & there is no cauſe to complain that it is hard to them, to fleſh & blood, wo to thee if ſo be the waies of God ſhould prove eaſie to fleſh and blood, it is a ſign that it is the true yoke of Chriſt, becauſe it is hard to fleſh and blood▪ it is hard to that we ſhould beat down, it is hard to that that is our enemy, Is there any cauſe to complain that ſuch a thing is very difficult, hard and grievous unto our enemy? unto one that we ſhould beat down? Now it ſhould be the care of a Chriſtian, to beat down fleſh and blood as long as we live, and therefore that that is moſt hard unto fleſh and blood, that they ſhould rejoyce in, if they find it to be ſo, Should any one complain, if the City ſhould have Rebels and Traitors that ſhould riſe in the City, to have Bolts and Fetters caſt upon them? Is not this an eaſe to a City? Doth a Kingdom or City ſuffer by this, becauſe Iron Bolts and Fetters are upon Traitors, Rebels, and Malefactors? What greater Traitors, Rebels, and Malefactors are there againſt Jeſus Chriſt, our happineſs, and everlaſting good▪ that ariſeth up in rebellion againſt Jeſus Chriſt, than fleſh and blood? and if Iron Bolts and Fetters be upon them which we ſhould ſeek to ſubdue and cruſh, why ſhould we complain of hardneſs there? Wouldſt thou have eaſe to fleſh and blood, that is a curſed eaſe, But now is not the yoke of Chriſt eaſie to the regenerate part in me? In my fleſh (ſaith Paul) there is no good, but the regenerate part finds an eaſe in the waies of Chriſt, and they are very ſweet, and very comfortable to the Soul.
Ninthly: Thou complaineſt of difficulty, it may be it is becauſe thou haſt not learned the former leſſons, Learn of me (ſaith Chriſt) for I am meek and lowly in heart, and you ſhal find reſt unto your Souls, for my yoke is eaſie and my burden is light. Art thou ure that thou haſt learned of Jeſus Chriſt theſe two leſſons that you have heard ſo much of heretofore, Meekneſs and Humility? Have you meek ſpirits, quiet ſpirits? Have you humble ſpirits, lowly ſpirits? Angry fleſh wil not endure any great burden, if you touch angry fleſh, Oh, it is a burden to it, and ſo proud fleſh, a ſwoln Leg, and ſwoln Arm, and Shoulder, and Neck, if the Neck be ſwoln it cannot bear a yoke: So the proud fleſh in thee it is that that makes the yoke of Chriſt ſo grievous, and burdenſom to thee. But now if thou haſt learned throughly theſe two Leſſons, of Meekneſs of Spirit, and Lowlineſs of heart, Oh, how eaſie is every thing that Jeſus Chriſt requi…es to a meek and lowly ſpirit? if once thou getteſt thy heart down, the bladder pricked, to be low in thine own eyes, and thy heart low, then every thing wil be eaſie that Chriſt requires, thou complaineſt that they are difficult, but it is becauſe of pride.
Laſtly, Another Anſwer is this: Though there be ſome kind of difficulty in the waies of God, and the Saints find it ſo yet there is more delight than there is trouble, and more eaſe than pain▪ and compare one with another, and take all together, and then it may be ſaid to be rather eaſie than any way burdenſome, and light than any way heavy. As I wil expreſs it by this ſimilitude, a ſick mans cloaths, the cloaths that a ſick man hath upon him, may be they are ſomwhat burdenſom, a man that is weak, to put on the cloaths that he was wont to weare, he feels it a burden, a paine, I but he finds more good by his cloaths then the burden comes to, his cloaths keep him from catching cold, and keeps him warm from the air, and ſo he finds the benefit of his cloaths more to him than the burden of his cloaths come to: So though there may be ſome burden, ſome kind of trouble in the waies of God to one that is ſanctified, being but in part ſanctified here, yet there is more delight, and more eaſe, and more good that he doth find in the waies of God than there is trouble, and therefore put all together, and then the yoke of Chriſt is eaſie, and his burden light, theſe ſeverall conſiderations will ſatisfie againſt all the difficulties that any of the Saint▪s do find in Chriſts yoke.