able you to bear it, and brings in that comfortable
supply, which will strengthen and enable you to bear it. Consider what
posture a soul is put into, that lives under the terror of God, and is
filled with the apprehension of the guilt of sin and the greatness of
God's wrath. I say, such a soul, till he have some rest from that grievous
labour, is fit for no other more pleasant labour, until he be something
disburthened of that which is like to press him down to hell. He is not
very capable of any new burden, until the yoke of his transgressions that
is wreathed about his neck be taken off. Do ye think he can find any
vacant room for the yoke of Christ's obedience? When a soul is under the
dominion of fear and terror, under the power of grief and anguish, do ye
think he is fit for any thing, or can do any thing, but groan in that
prison of darkness, under these chains? Such a soul is in bondage, under
servitude, and can neither take up this yoke of liberty nor walk in it.
The strength and moisture of the spirit is drunk up by the poison of these
arrows, and there remains neither attention, affection, nor spirit for any
thing else. Therefore here is the incomparable advantage that redounds
from this way of coming first to Christ, and exonering our cares and fears
in his bosom, and in disburthening our sins upon him, who hath taken them
on, and carried them away, as that scape goat sent unto the wilderness on
which they laid the sins of the people. By this means, I say, you shall
have a vacancy for the yoke of Christ and liberty to all your faculties,
your understanding, will, and affections, (which are no better than slaves
and captives, _non sui juris_, while they are under these tyrannous
passions of fear and horror,) to attend the obedience of Christ and the
drawing of his yoke. This will relieve your souls out of prison, and then
you will be fit for employment. Besides this, there is furniture and help
brought into the soul, which enables it to this; and without which, though
it were not pressed under a burden of sin and wrath, yet it would neither
be able nor willing. There is that supply and strength that faith brings
from Christ, which arises from our mystical implantation in him, from
hence flows that communication of his grace to a believer. The law came by
Moses, but grace and truth by Jesus Christ, John i. 16, 17. Now this
efficacy and virtue that is in Christ the head, is transmitted unto the
members of his body