ent of a soul from under the yoke, here is
its actual rest and quiet from under the pain of this burden, when a soul
is made to consent unto, and willingly to put over that burden upon
Christ. And this freedom and vacancy from the unsupportable yoke of guilt,
will certainly dispose the soul, and make it more capable of receiving the
easy and portable yoke of his commandments. I or you may easily perceive
how easy love maketh all things, even difficulties themselves. Let once a
soul be engaged that way to Christ, (and there is no possibility of
engaging it in affection without some taste and feeling, or believing
apprehension of his love and sufficiency for us,) and you will see that
the rough way will be made plain and the crooked way straight, heavy
things light, and hard things easy. For what command can be grievous to
that soul who apprehends that Christ hath taken the great weight of wrath
off it, and carried away the intolerable pain of its guiltiness, which
would have pressed and depressed it eternally, without any hope of
relaxation or ease? Hath he borne a yoke bound on by the majesty of God,
and fastened with the cords of his displeasure? And can it be so heavy to
a believing soul to take up that obedience which is fastened with the
cords of love? And besides, how much will faith facilitate this, and make
this yoke to be cheerfully and willingly submitted to, because it delivers
the soul from those unsufferable cares and fears, which did quite enervate
its strength, and take away its courage? For, I pray you, what is there in
a soul under the fear of wrath, that is not totally disabled by that heavy
pressure for any willing or cheerful obedience? The mystery(442) of the
spirit is spent that way, the courage of the soul is defeated, the heart
is weakened, and nothing is suitable to the yoke of Christian love and
obedience. But when once a soul apprehends Christ, this is a reposition of
all his cares and burdens, and comes to exoner(443) his soul in him, and
cast his burthen upon him. Then the soul is lightened as it were for this
journey, then he may walk in the ways of obedience, without the pressing
fear and pushing anguish of the dread of condemnation of the law. To
conclude this head, nothing will make you take up this yoke willingly, or
bear it constantly, except you be delivered from the other yoke that was
so heavy even to Christ, and that made him cry, "My soul is exceeding
heavy and troubled, and what shal