which he endured, and that which you are called to struggle with, then surely you will be ashamed to complain. Admire and imitate his meekness; when he was reviled, he feviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; he wept for his enemies, and prayed for his murderers. Let the same mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus. 2. Do you find it hard to walk steadfastly in his precepts, especially in some particular instances, when the maxims of worldly prudence and the pleadings of flesh and blood are strongly against you? Learn of Jesus. He pleased not himself;* he considered not what was safe and easy, but what was the will of his heavenly Father. Entreat him to strengthen you with strength in your soul, that, as you bear the name of his disciples, you may resemble him in every part of your conduct, and shine as lights in a dark and selfish world, to the glory of his grace. 3. Are you tempted to repine at the dispensations of Divine Providence? Take Jesus for your pattern. Did he say, when the unspeakable sufferings he was to endure for sinners were just coming upon him, 'The cup which my Father has put into my hands, shall I not drink it?' and shall we presume to have a will of our own? especially when we further reflect, that as his sufferings were wholly on our account, so all our sufferings are by his appointment, and all designed by him to promote our best, that is, our spiritual and eternal welfare? It is thus by looking to Jesus, that the believer is enlightened and strengthened, and grows in grace and sanctification, according to that passage of St. Paul, We all with open face,' or unveiled face, beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image, from glory to glory, as by the Spirit of the Lord.' The word of God is a glass in which the goodness and beauty of the Lord Jesus are manifested to the eye of faith by the light of the Holy Spirit. In this wonderful glass the whole object is not seen at once, but every view we take strengthens the sight to discover something not perceived before: and the prospect is not only affecting but transforming; by beholding we are gradually formed into the resemblance of him whom we see, admire, and love. All those whom Jesus thus teaches to bear his yoke, find his promise fulfilled; they obtain, III. Rest to their souls. Those who are truly awakened want nothing to make them happy but to be assured they have an inferest in the Redeemer's love. Now this satisfaction is peculiar to *Rom. xv. 3. +John xviii. 17. 2 Cor. iii. 18. those who take his yoke upon them, and are daily learning of him and copying after him. For, 1. This affords the best and most unshaken evidence that he has begun a good work of grace in our hearts; I say the best, because the most unshaken. Many are greatly perplexed to know if they are truly converted; and are kept the longer in suspense, because they overlook the ordinary Scriptural method of confirmation. They expect to know it by some extraordinary sensation, suddenly impressed upon their minds. But, besides that there have been many instances in which this expected evidence has been counterfeited, and a groundless confidence has been placed in a delusion or vain imagination, (to the hurt of many, if not to their overthrow,) even when they are from the gracious Spirit of God, they are, for the most part, transient; and when a different frame takes place, the believer is often tempted to question the reality of what went before. I think, therefore, the testimony of an enlightened conscience, judging by the word of God, aud deciding in our favour, that by his grace we have been enabled to take up the yoke of Christ, is in some respects a more satisfactory evidence that we are his, and that he is ours, than if an angel was sent from heaven to tell us that our names are written in the book of life, 2. The promise of the peculiar manifestation of his love* is made and restrained to those who walk in the path of obedience. If the discoveries the Lord is pleased sometimes to make of himself to the soul, are not the proper and direct evidences of a state of grace, they are, however, exceedingly desirable. Whoever has tasted the sweets of that water of life cannot but long for repeated draughts. When he lifts up the light of his countenance upon the soul, then is love, joy, and peace within, however dark and distressing things may be without. But this desirable presence can only be expected while we wear his yoke, and walk in his steps. If we turn aside into forbidden ways, if we decline, or dishonour the profession of his truth, we grieve the Holy Spirit, on whose communications our comforts are suspended; we give the enemies of our souls encouragement to assault us, and are in danger of falling from one wickedness to another, without the power of withstanding either the greatest or the smallest temptation, till the Lord is pleased to turn again to our assistance. such a situation there can be no rest. But he that walketh uprightly, walketh surely,'† and findeth rest. In And true rest is no otherwise to be obtained. Those of you who refuse the yoke of Christ, well know in yourselves that you are far from rest. Your experience agrees with this declaration in the prophet: 'There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked." In what respect will you dare to pretend that you have the advantage of those who bear the yoke of Christ? We allow the profession of the Gospel is subject to inconveniences; but surely not so many as you meet with who are ashamed, or afraid, or averse, to maintain it. If those who are of your household are not your foes on this account, yet we can see how it fares with those who live without the fear of God. How many, and how sharp, are your trials from disobedient children, unfaithful servants, false friendships, ungoverned passions, and unsatisfied desires! Nor do you save any thing in point of character, not even with those by whom you are most desirous to be esteemed. They cannot, indeed, reproach you with being a believer; but may they not, do they not reproach and despise you for being a drunkard, or a liar, or a miser, or an extortioner? And is this more honourable than to suffer shame for the cause of Christ? Do the precepts of Christ seem hard? Certainly not so hard as that miserable bondage you are under to Satan, the god of this world, who works in you, and rules over you, at his will. He will not allow you to listen to the united remonstrances of conscience, health, interest, and reputation. But you are hurried on in his drudgery, constrained, like a mill-horse, to toil in the same tedious round of folly and sin; though you are aware of the consequences and wages before-hand. How absurd is it for you to boast of your freedom, while you are compelled to rush into present misery, and to dare your eternal ruin, with your eyes open! And how greatly are you to be pitied under the many unavoidable afflictions of life to which you are equally liable with the servants of Christ! When your idols are torn from you, when sickness seizes you, or death stares you in the face, then how do you fret and pine! how many are your fears and alarms! Then you are your own tormentors. The review of the past affords you only shame and regret. If you look forward to the future, you are filled with foreboding fears and distressing apprehensions; you are weary of living, and afraid to die. Why, then, will you continue thus, when Jesus says, 'Come unto me, that you may have rest?' O may he incline your hearts this day to hear his voice! Have you been hardened in your evil ways by a suspicion that your case is desperate, that it is now too late, and that he whom you have so often rejected will refuse you * Isa. lvii. 21. mercy? Beware of such a thought: There is forgiveness with him.'* 'Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.' He is gracious to pardon, and mighty to save; only acknowledge your offences, and throw down the arms of your rebellion. He is mighty to save, and no less willing than able. As yet there is hope; but who can tell how long his patience may bear with you? Take notice of that awful denunciation, 'He that being often reproved, hardeneth bis neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.' If you seek But him to-day, with all your hearts, you shall find him. who can answer for to-morrow? To-morrow, or to-night, your souls may be required of you; or, if your lives are spared, you may be given up to judicial and incurable hardness of heart. If his spirit should cease from striving with you, you are lost for ever. SERMON XIII. THE SERVICE OF CHRIST EASY AND PLEASANT TO HIS PEOPLE. MATT. xi. 30. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. THIS verse alone, if seriously attended to, might convince multitudes, that though they bear the name of Christians, and are found among the Lord's worshipping people, they are as yet entire strangers to the religion of the Gospel. Can it be supposed that our Lord would give a false character of his yoke ? If not, how can any dream that they are his followers, while they account a life of communion with God, and entire devotedness to his service, to be dull and burdensome? Those, however, who have made the happy trial, find it to be such a burden as wings are to a bird. Far from complaining of it, they are convinced that there is no real pleasure attainable in any other way. What the yoke of Christ is, we have already considered. It includes the profession of his Gospel, obedience to his precepts, and submission to his will, under every dispensation. But since ↑ Prov. xxix. 4. * Ps. cxxx. 4. it is confessed that a sinful nature and a sinful world will bring many difficulties, trials, and temptations upon all who walk in this way, it may be worth our while to inquire more particularly what there is in the yoke of Christ, that overpowers all these hardships, and makes such amends for every suffering, that, upon the whole, every believer will subscribe to this as a sure and experienced truth, that the yoke is easy, and the burden light.' has loved Further, We are I. Those who bear the yoke of Christ, act from a principle which makes all things easy. This is love. It is said of Jacob, that when he served a hard master seven years for Rachel, they seemed to him but a few days, for the love which he bare her.* And many of you find it easy to do much for your parents, children, and friends, because you love them. But there is no love like that which a redeemed sinner bears to him who him, and washed him from his sins in his own blood.' love produces the greatest effects when it is mutual. willing to do and suffer much to gain the affection of a person we regard, though we are not sure of success; but when the affection is reciprocal, it adds strength to every motive. Now the believer does not love at uncertainties: he knows that Jesus loved him first, loved him when he was in a state of enmity; and that nothing but the manifestation and power of his love could have taught his hard, unfeeling heart to love him whom he never saw.‡ This love, therefore, affords two sweet and powerful encouragements in service. 1. A cordial desire to please. Love does what it can, and is only sorry that it can do no more. We seldom think much, as I have hinted already, either of time, pains, or expense, when the heart is warmly engaged. The world, who understand not this heart-felt spring of true religion, think it strange that the believer will not run into the same excess of riot with them. They wonder what pleasure he can find in secret prayer, in reading and hearing the word of God; they pity the poor man who has such a melancholy turn, and gravely advise him not to carry things too far. But the believer can give them a short answer in the apostle's words: The love of Christ constrains me.|| His ruling passion is the same with theirs, which makes his pursuit no less uniform and abiding; but the objects are different as light from darkness. They love the perishing pleasures of sin, the mammon of unrighteousness, and the praise of men; but he loves Jesus. *Gen. xxix. 20. 1 Pet. iv. 4. 1 John iv. 19. 1. Pet. i. 8: |