The Beatitudes, Discourse · Chapter 22
1 JOHN 5.3.
His Commandments are not grievous.
CHAP. XXII.
Containing an Appendix to the Beatitudes.
YOU have ſeen what Chriſt calls for; Poverty of ſpirit, Purity of heart, meekneſs, mercifulneſs, chearfulneſs in ſuffering perſecution, &c. Now that none may heſitate, or be troubled at theſe commands of Chriſt, I thought good (as a cloſure to the former Diſcourſe) to take off the ſurmiſes and prejudices in mens ſpirits, by this ſweet mollifying Scripture, His Commandments are not grievous.
The cenſuring world objects againſt Religion that it is difficult and irkſome. Mal. 1.13. Behold what a wearineſs is it! therefore the Lord that he may invite and encourage us to obedience, draws Religion in its fair colours, and repreſents it to us as beautiful and pleaſant, in theſe words, His Commandments are not grievous: This may well be called a ſweetning ingredient into Religion, and may ſerve to take off that aſperity and harſhneſs which the carnal world would put upon the wayes of God.
For the clearing of the terms, let us conſider:
1. What is meant here by Commandments?
Anſw. By this word foreign, Commandments, I underſtand Goſpel-precepts; faith, repentance, ſelf-denial; &c.
2. What is meant by not grievous.
The Greek word foreign, ſignifies they are not tedious, or heavy to be born; there is a Meiofis in the words, His commands are not grievous; that is, they are eaſie, ſweet, excellent.
Doctr. Hence obſerve, Doctr. That none of Gods commands are grievous; when he calls us to be meek, merciful, pure in heart, theſe Commandments are not grievous. Matth. 11.30. My burden is light; the Greek word there for burden, foreign, ſignifies properly the ballaſt of a ſhip, which glides through the waves ſo ſwiftly and eaſily, as if the ſhip had no weight or preſſure in it. Chriſts Commandments are like the ballaſt of a ſhip, uſeful, but not troubleſome, all his precepts are ſweet and facil; therefore called pleaſantneſs, Prov. 3.17. To illuſtrate and amplifie this, conſider two things.
1. Why Chriſt layes commands upon his people.
2. That theſe commands are not grievous.
1. Why Chriſt layes commands upon his people, there are two Reaſons.
1. In regard of Chriſt; it is ſutable to his dignity and ſtate; he is Lord Paramount, this name is written on his Thigh and Veſture, King of Kings, Rev. 19.16. And ſhall not a King appoint Laws to his ſubjects? it is one of the jura regalia, the flowres of the Crown to enact Laws and Statutes; what is a King without his Laws? And ſhall not Chriſt (by whom Kings reign *Prov. 8.15.) put forth his Royal Edicts by which the world ſhall be governed?
2. In regard of the Saints; it is well for the people of God that they have Laws to binde and check the exorbitancies of their unruly hearts; how far would the Vine ſpread its luxuriant branches were it not pruned, and tyed? the heart would be ready to run wilde in ſin, if it had not affliction to prune it, and the Laws of Chriſt to binde it; the precepts of Chriſt are called foreign, a yoke, Matth. 11.30. The yoke is uſeful, it doth keep the Oxen in from ſtragling and running out; ſo the precepts of Chriſt as a yoke, do keep the godly from ſtragling into ſin; whether ſhould we not run, into what damnable opinions and practiſes, did not Chriſts Lawes lay a check and reſtraint upon us? Bleſſed be God for precepts. That is a bleſſed yoke which yokes our corruptions; we ſhould run to hell were it not for this yoke. The Lawes of Chriſt are a ſpiritual hedge, which keeps the people of God within the paſtures of Ordinances; ſome that have broken this hedge, and have ſtragled, are now in the Divels pound. Thus we ſee what need the Saints have of the Royal Law.
2. The ſecond thing I am to demonſtrate, is, That Chriſts commands are not grievous; I confeſs they are grievous to the unregenerate man, to mourn for ſin, to be pure in heart, to ſuffer perſecution for righteouſneſs ſake, Durus hic ſermo, this is grievous to fleſh and blood; therefore …hriſts commands are compared to bands and cords, Pſal. 2. becauſe carnal men look upon them ſo. Gods commands reſtrain men from their exceſs, and binde them to their good behaviour, therefore they hate theſe bonds, and inſtead of breaking off ſin, ſay, Let us break their bands aſunder, and caſt away their cords from us, Pſal. 2.3. A carnal man is like an untamed Heifer, which will not endure the yoke, but kicks and flings; or like a wilde Bull in a net, Iſa. 51.20. Thus to a perſon in the ſtate of nature Chriſts commands are grievous.
Nay, to a childe of God, ſo far as corruption prevails, (for he is but in part regenerate) Chriſts Laws ſeem irkſome; the fleſh cries out, it cannot pray or ſuffer; the Law in the members rebels againſt Chriſts Law; only the ſpiritual part prevails, and makes the fleſh ſtoop to Chriſts injunctions. A regenerate perſon, ſo far as he is regenerate, doth not count Gods Commandments grievous, they are not a burden, but a delight.
Divine commands are not grievous, if we conſider them firſt poſitively, in theſe eight particulars.1. Poſitively.
1. A Chriſtian conſents to Gods commands, therefore they are not grievous Rom. 7.16. I… conſent to the Law that it is good. What is done with conſent, is eaſie; if the Virgin give her conſent, the Match goes on chearfully. A godly man in his judgement approves of Chriſts Laws*Rom. 7.12., and in his will conſents to them, therefore they are not grievous; a wicked man is under a force, terror of conſcience hales him to duty; he is like a ſlave that is chained to the Gally, he muſt work whether he will or no, he is forced to pull the Rope, tug at the Oare; but a godly man is like a free ſubject, that conſents to his Princes Laws, and obeyes out of choice, as ſeeing the equity and rationality of them. Thus a gracious heart ſees that beauty and equity in the commands of heaven, as draws forth conſent, and this conſent makes them that they are not grievous.
2. They are Chriſts comands, therefore not grievous. Take my yoak, Matth. 11.29. Goſpel commands are not the Laws of a Tyrant, but a Saviour. The husbands commands are not grievous to the wife, it is her ambition to obey; this is enough to animate and excite obedience, Chriſt commands. As Peter ſaid in another ſence, Matth. 14.28. Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee upon the water. So ſaith a gracious ſoul, Lord; if it be thou that wouldeſt have me mourn for ſin, and breath after heart-purity; if it be thou (dear Saviour) that biddeſt me do theſe things, I will chearfully obey. Thy commandments are not grievous. A ſouldier at the word of his General makes a brave onſet.
3. Chriſtians obey out of a principle of love, and then Gods commandments are not grievous. Therefore in Scripture ſerving, and loving of God are put together, Iſa. 56.6. The ſons of the ſtrangers that joyne themſelves to the Lord, to ſerve him, and to love the Name of the Lord, &c. Nothing is grievous to him that loves; love lightens a burden; it adds wings to obedience; an heart that loves God counts nothing tedious, but its own dulneſſe and ſlowneſſe of motion; love makes ſin heavie, and Chriſts burden light.
4. A Chriſtian is carried on auxilio Spiritus, by the help of the Spirit; and the Spirit makes every duty eaſie, Rom. 8.26. The Spirit helpeth our infirmities. The Spirit works in us the foreign, & foreign, both to will, and to do, Phil. 2. When God enables to do what he commands, then, his commandments are not grievous; if two carry a burden it is eaſie; the Spirit of God helps us to do duties, to bear burdens, it draws as it were in the yoke with us; If the Scrivener guides the childs hand, and helps it to frame its letters; now, it is not hard for the childe to write. If the Loadſtone draw the iron, it is not hard for the iron to move: if the Spirit of God as a Divine Loadſtone draw and move the heart, now, it is not hard to obey. When the birds hath wings given it, it can flie. Though the ſoul of it ſelf be unable to do that which is good, yet having two wings given it, (like that woman in the Revelation)*Rev. 12 24. the wing of faith, and the wing of the Spirit, now it flyes ſwiftly in obedience, Ezek. 11.1. the Spirit did lift me up. The heart is heavenly in prayer, when the Spirit lifts it up. The ſails of a Mill cannot move of themſelves, but when the wind blows, then they turn round; when a gale of the Spirit blows upon the ſoul. Now the ſails of the affections move ſwiftly in duty.
5. All Chriſts commands are beneficial, therefore not grievous, Deut. 10.12, 13. And now O Iſrael, what doth the Lord thy God require of thee, but to feare the Lord thy God, to love him, to keep his Statutes which I command thee this day for thy good. Chriſts commands carries meat in the mouth of them, and then ſurely they are not grievous, ſalvation runs along in every precept. To obey Chriſts Laws, is not ſo much of duty, as our privilege; all Chriſts commands centre in bleſſedneſſe. Phyſick is in it ſelf very unpleaſant, yet becauſe it tends to health, no man refuſeth it; Divine Precepts are to the fleſhy part irkſome, yet, having ſuch excellent operation as to make us both holy, and happy, they are not to be accounted grievous; the apprentiſe is content to go through hard ſervice, becauſe it makes way for his freedome; The Scholar willingly wraſtles with the knotty difficulties of Arts and Sciences, becauſe they ſerve both to enoble and advance him. How chearfully doth a believer obey thoſe Laws which reveal Chriſts love! That ſuffering is not grievous which leads to a Crown. This made Saint Paul ſay, I take pleaſure in infirmities, in perſecutions, 2. Cor. 12.10.
6. 'Tis honourable to be under Chriſts commands; therefore they are not grievous. The precepts of Chriſt do not burden us, but adorn us*Omnia quae praeſtari jubet Chriſtus, non onerant nos, ſed ornant. Salv.. 'Tis an honour to be employed in Chriſts ſervice. How chearfully did the rowers row the Barge that carried Caeſar; the honour makes the precept eaſie; a Crown of gold is in it ſelf heavy, but the honour of the Crown makes it light, and eaſie to be worn. I may ſay of every command of Chriſt, as Solomon ſpeaks of wiſdom, Prov. 4.9. She ſhall give to thine head an ornament of grace; a Crown of glory ſhall ſhe deliver to thee. 'Tis honourable working at Court. The honour of Chriſts yoake makes it eaſie and eligible.
7. Chriſts commands are ſweetned with joy, and then they are not grievous. Cicero queſtions, whether that can properly be called a burden which is carried with joy and pleaſure*Utrum onus appellandum quod laetitiá fertur. Cicero.? When the wheeles of a Chariot are oyled, they run ſwiftly; when God poures in the oyle of gladneſſe, how faſt doth the ſoul run in the wayes of his commandments! Joy ſtrengthens for duty. Nehem. 8.10. The joy of the Lord is your ſtrength; and the more ſtrength, the leſſe wearineſſe; God ſometimes drops down comfort, and then a Chriſtian can run in the yoake.
8. Goſpel-commands are finite, therefore not grievous. Chriſt will not alwayes be laying his commands upon us; Chriſt will ſhortly take off the yoak from our neck, and ſet a Crown upon our head. There is time coming when we ſhall not only be free from our ſins, but our duties too; prayer and faſting are irkſome to the fleſh; in heaven there will be no need of prayer or repentance; duties ſhall ceaſe there: indeed in heaven the Saints ſhall love God, but love is no burden; God will ſhine forth in his beauty, and to fall in love with beauty is not grievous. In heaven the Saints ſhall praiſe God, but their praiſing of him ſhall be ſo ſweetned with delight, that it will not be a duty any more, but part of their reward. 'Tis the Angels heaven to praiſe God; This then makes Chriſts commands not grievous, though they are ſpiritual, yet temporary, 'tis but awhile, and duties ſhall be no more. The Saints ſhall not ſo much be under commands as embraces; wait but a while, and you ſhall put off your armour, and end your weary marches; thus we have ſeen that Chriſts commands conſidered in themſelves, are not grievous.
2. Let us conſider Chriſts commands comparatively,2. Comparatively. and we ſhall ſee they are not grievous; let us make a four-fold compariſon. Compare Goſpel-commands.
1. With the ſeverity of the Moral Law.
2. With the Commands of ſin.
3. With the torments of the damned.
4. With the glory of heaven.
1. Chriſts commands in the Goſpel are not grievous, Compari. 1 compared with the ſeverity of the Moral Law. The Moral Law was ſuch a burden, as neither we nor our fathers could bear, Gal. 3.10. Curſed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the Law to do them. Impoſſible it is, that any Chriſtian ſhould come up to the ſtrictneſſe of this. The golden Mandates of the Goſpel comparatively are eaſie. For,
1. In the Goſpel, if there be a deſire to keep Gods commandments, it is accepted, Nehem. 1.11. 2 Cor. 8.12. If there be firſt a willing mind, it is accepted. Though a man had had never ſo good a mind to have fulfilled the Moral Law, it would not have been accepted, he muſt de facto have obeyed, Gal. 3.12. but, in the Goſpel, God crowns the deſire. If a Chriſtian ſaith in humility, Lord, I deſire to obey thee, I would be more holy†;*Iſa. 26.8. this deſire, ſpringing from love, paſſeth for currant.
2. In the Goſpel a Surety is admitted in the Court. The Law would not admit of a Surety, it required perſonal obedience; but now, God doth ſo far indulge us, that what we cannot of our ſelves do, we may do by a Proxy. Chriſt is called the Surety of a better Teſtament, Heb. 7.22. We cannot walk ſo exactly; we tread awry, and fall ſhort in every thing; but God looks upon us in our Surety; and Chriſt having fulfilled all righteouſneſs *Matth. 3.15., it is all one as if we had fulfilled the Law in our own perſons.
3. The Law did command and threaten, but gave no ſtrength to perform; it did Egyptianize, requiring the full tale of Brick, but gave no Straw. But now God with his commands gives power; Goſpel-precepts are ſweetned with promiſes. God commands, Ezek. 18.31. Make you a new heart. Lord, may the ſoul ſay, I make a new heart? I can as well make a new world. But ſee Ezek. 36.26. A new heart alſo will I give you. God commands us to cleanſe our ſelves, Iſa. 1.16. Waſh you, make you cleane. Lord, where ſhould I have power to cleanſe my ſelf? Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? Job. 14.4. See the Precept turned into a Promiſe, Ezek. 36.25. From all your filthineſſe, and from your Idols will I cleanſe you. If when the child cannot go, the father takes it by the hand, and leads it, now it is not hard for the child to go; when we cannot go, God takes us by the hand, Hoſ. 11.3. I taught Ephraim alſo to go, taking them by their armes.
4. In the Goſpel God winks at infirmities where the heart is right. The Law called for perfect obedience; it was death to have ſhot but an hairs bredth ſhort of the mark; it were ſad if the ſame rigor ſhould continue upon us: Wo to the holieſt man that lives, (ſaith Auſtin) if God comes to weigh him in the ballance of his juſtice. 'Tis with our beſt duties as with gold; put the gold in the fire, and you will ſee droſſe come out; what droſſineſſe in our holy things? but in the Goſpel though God will not endure haltings, yet he will paſſe by failings. Thus Chriſts commands in the Goſpel are not grievous, compared with the ſeverity of the Moral Law.
2. Chriſts commands are not grievous, compared with the commands of ſin. Sin layes an heavie yoak upon Compari. 2 men. Sin is compared to a † Talent of lead, *Onera unuſquiſque portas, ſua peccata ſunt. Aug.Zac. 5.7. to ſhew the weightineſſe of it. The commands of ſin are burdenſome; let a man be under the power and rage of any luſt, (whether it be covetouſneſſe or ambition) how doth he tire and excruciate himſelf! what hazards doth he run even to the endangering of his health, and ſoul, that he may ſatisfie his luſt! Jer. 9.5. They weary themſelves to commit iniquity. And are not Chriſts precepts eaſie and ſweet in compariſon of ſins auſtere and inexorable commands? Therefore Chryſoſtome ſaith well, That Virtue is eaſier than Vice*foreign. Chryſ.. Temperance is leſſe burdenſome than Drunkenneſſe; doing juſtice is leſſe burdenſome than violence. There's more difficulty, and perplexity in the contrivement*Micah 2.1., and purſuit of wicked ends, than in obeying the ſweet and gentle preceps of Chriſt. Hence it is, that a wicked man is ſaid to travel with iniquity, Pſal. 7.14. To ſhew what anxious pain and trouble he hath in bringing about his wickedneſſe. What tedious and hazardous journeys did Antiochus Epiphanes take in perſecuting the people of the Jews? Many have gone with more pain to hell than others have to heaven.
Compari. 3 3. Chriſts commands are not grievous, compared with the grievous torments of the damned. The rich man cries out, I am tormented in this flame, Luke 16.24. Hell-fire is ſo unconceivably torturing, that the wicked know not either how to bear, or to avoid it. The torment of the damned may be compared to a yoak, and it differs from other yoaks; uſually the yoak is laid but upon the neck of the beaſt; but the hell-yoak is laid upon every part of the ſinner; his eyes ſhall behold nothing but bloody Tragedies, his ears ſhall hear the groans and ſchreeks of blaſpheming ſpirits. He ſhall ſuffer in every member of his body and faculty of his ſoul; and this agony, though violent, yet perpetual; The yoak of the damned ſhall never be taken off. — Veſtiga nulla retrorſum — Sinners might break the golden chain of Gods commands, but they cannot break the iron chain of his puniſhments*Vincula inſoluta manent. Bern.. 'Tis as impoſſible for them to file this chaine, as to ſcale heaven.
And, are not Goſpel-commands eaſie in compariſon of hell-torments? what doth Chriſt command? he bids you repent; is it not better to weep for ſin, then bleed for it? Chriſt bids you pray in your families & cloſets; is not praying better than roaring? he bids you ſanctifie the Sabbath; is it not better to keep an holy reſt to the Lord, than to be for ever without reſt? Hell is a reſtleſſe place, there is no intermiſſion of torment for one minute of an hour. I appeal to the conſciences of men. Are not Chriſts commands ſweet and facil in compariſon of the unſupportable pains of reprobates? is not obeying better than damning? are not the cords of love better than the chains of darkneſſe?
4. Goſpel-commands are not grievous, compared with Compari. 4 the glo…y of heaven. What an infinite diſproportion is there between ſervice and reward? What are all the Saints labours, and travels in Religion, compared with the crown of recompence? The weight of glory makes duty light.
Uſe 1. Behold here an encouraging argument to Religion, Uſe 1 how may this make us in love with the wayes of God! his commandments are not grievous; Inform.believers are not now under the thundring curſes of the Law, no nor the ceremonies of it, which were both numerous and burdenſome; the wayes of God are equal, his ſtatutes eligible; he bids us mourn, that we may be comforted. He bids us be poor in ſpirit, that he may ſettle a Kingdom upon us; God is no hard Maſter, his commandments are not grievous. O Chriſtian, ſerve God out of choice*Pſal. 119.30.. Think of the joy, the honour, the reward of godlineſſe; never more grudge God your ſervice; whatever he doth preſcribe, let your hearts ſubſcribe.
Uſe 2. It reproves them that refuſe to obey theſe Uſe 2 ſweet and gentle commands of Chriſt, Pſal. 81.11. Reproof. Iſrael would none of me. We may cry out with Auſtin, the generality of men chooſe rather to put their neck in the Divels yoak, than to ſubmit to the ſweet and eaſie yoak of Chriſt*Plurimi duriſſimum peccati jugum volunt ferre, & dulce jugum Chriſti nolunt ſuis humeris imponere. Aug.. What ſhould be the reaſon that when Gods commandments are not grievous, his wayes are pleaſantneſſe, his ſervice PERFECT FREEDOME, yet that men ſhould not vail to Chriſts Scepter, nor ſtoop to his Lawes? Surely the cauſe may be
1. That inbred hatred which is naturally in mens hearts againſt Chriſt. Sinners are called foreign, God-haters, Rom. 1.30. Sin begets not only a diſlike of the wayes of God, but hatred; and from diſaffection flows diſloyalty, Luke 19.14. His Citizens hated him, and ſent a meſſage after him, ſaying, we will not have this man to reign over us.
2. Beſides this inbred hatred againſt Chriſt, the Divel labours to blow the coals, and encreaſe this odium and antipathy. He raiſeth an evil report upon Religion, as thoſe Spies did on Canaan, Numb. 13.32. They brought up an evil report of the Land. Satan is implacably malitious; and as he ſometimes accuſeth us to God, ſo he accuſeth God to us, and ſaith, he is an hard Maſter, and his commandments are grievous; 'tis the Divels deſigne to do as the ſons of Eli, who made the offering of God to be abhorred, 1 Sam. 2.17. If there be an hatred and prejudice in the heart againſt Religion, an enemy hath done this†.Matth. 13.38. The Divel raiſeth in the hearts of men a twofold prejudice againſt Chriſt and his wayes.
Prejudice 1 1. The paucity of them that embrace Religion. The way of Chriſt is but a path-way, Pſal. 119.35. whereas the way of pleaſure and vanity is the road-way; many ignorantly conclude, That muſt needs be the beſt way which moſt go.
Anſw. 1. There are but few that are ſaved, and will not you be ſaved becauſe ſo few are ſaved? a man doth not argue thus in other things, There are but few rich, therefore I will not be rich; nay, therefore he the rather ſtrives to be rich. Why ſhould not we argue thus wiſely about our ſouls? There are but few that go to heaven, therefore we will labour the more to be of the number of that few.
Anſ. 2. What a weak argument is this, There are but few that embrace Religion, therefore you will not? Thoſe things which are more excellent, are more rare: there are but few Pearls and Diamonds, in Rome few Senators; the fewneſſe of them that embrace Religion, argues the way of Religion excellent.
— Non cuivis contingit adire Corinthum. —
Anſw. 3. We are warned not to ſail with the multitude, Exod. 23.2. Moſt fiſh goes to the Divels net.
2. The wayes of Religion are rendred deformed and Prejudice 2 unlovely by the ſcandals of Profeſſors.
Anſw. I acknowledge the luſtre of Religion hath been much eclipſed and ſullied by the ſcandals of men; this is an age of ſcandals; many have made the pretence of Religion a Key to open the door to all ungodlineſſe; never was Gods name more taken in vain; this is that our Saviour hath foretold, Matth. 18.7. It must needs be that offences come. But to take off this prejudice: Conſider, 1. Scandals are not from Religion, but for want of Religion. 2. Religion is not the worſe, though ſome abuſe it. To diſlike Religion becauſe ſome of the Profeſſors of it are ſcandalous, is as if one ſhould ſay, Becauſe the ſervant is diſhoneſt, therefore he will not have a good opinion of his Maſter. Is Chriſt the leſſe glorious becauſe ſome that wear his livery are ſcandalous? Is Religion the worſe becauſe ſome of her followers are bad? Is wine the worſe becauſe ſome are intemperate? Shall a woman diſlike chaſtity, becauſe ſome of her neighbours are unchaſte? Let us argue ſoberly; judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment, John 7.24.
3. God ſometimes permits ſcandals to fall out in the Church out of a deſign.
1. As a juſt judgment upon Hypocrites; theſe ſquintey'd devotioniſts who ſerve God for their own ends, the Lord in juſtice ſuffers them to fall into horrid debauched practices that he may lay open their baſeneſs to the world, and that all may ſee they were but py-bald Chriſtians, painted Divels. Judas, firſt a ſly Hypocrite, afterwards a viſible Traytor.
2. Scandals are for hardning of the profane; ſome deſperate ſinners who would never give God a good word, they would not be won by Religion, they ſhall be wounded by it. God lets ſcandals be to be a breakneck to men, and to ingulph them more in ſin. Jeſus Chriſt (God bleſsed for ever) is to ſome a Rock of offence, Rom. 9.33. His blood which is to ſome balm, is to others poyſon; if the beauty of Religion doth not allure, the ſcandals of ſome of its followers ſhall precipitate men to hell.
3. Scandals in the Church are for the caution of the godly; the Lord would have his people walk tremblingly, Rom. 11.20. Be not high-minded, but fear. When Cedars fall, let the bruiſed reed tremble; the ſcandals of Profeſſors are not to diſcourage us, but to warne us; let us tread more warily; the ſcandals of others are Sea-marks for the Saints to avoid: and let all this ſerve to take off theſe prejudices from Religion; though Satan may endeavour by falſe diſguiſes to render the Goſpel odious, yet there is a beauty and a glory in it; Gods commandments are not grievous.
Uſe 3 Uſe 3. Let me perſwade all men cordially to embrace the wayes of God;Exhort. his commandments are not grievous. God never burdens us,Onerat Deus ut exoneres. but that he may unburden us of our ſins; His commands are our priviledges; there's joy in the way of duty*Pſal. 19.11., and heaven at the end.