hath put his own neck under it and
become a curse for us, that he might redeem us from the curse of the law,
and so he hath carried away these iron chariots, these yokes of brass and
iron, whereby Satan kept us in subjection, and now been established our
careful King, not only by the title of the justest and most beneficial
conquest that ever was made, but by God's solemn appointment upon the hill
of Zion, Psal. ii. 6. And being exalted a Prince to give us salvation,
were it not most strange if his kingdom should want laws, which are the
life and soul of republics and monarchies? Ought not we to submit to them
gladly, and obey them cheerfully? Should not we absolutely resign
ourselves to his will, and esteem his commandments concerning all things
to be right? What command should be grievous to that soul, which is
delivered from the curse of all the commandments, and is assured never to
enter into condemnation? If there were no more to say, were it not
monstrous ingratitude to withdraw ourselves from subjection to him, or
yield obedience to any other strange lords, as our lusts are? Would it not
be an unexemplified unthankfulness to requite rebellion to him, for so
much unparalleled affection? Since we are not our own, but bought with a
price, we are not _sui juris_,(446) to dispose of ourselves. All reason
should say, that he who payed so dear for us should have the use of us.
And that is nothing but glory he seeks from us, that we offer and
consecrate soul and body to him, to come under his yoke. As for the gain,
it redounds all to ourselves, and that as the greater gain too.

Now a word to the last thing proposed, for I can only hint at it. The most
excellent and ready way of bearing this yoke, is to learn of him, to
present him as our pattern, and to yield ourselves to him, as his
disciples and scholars, not only to learn his doctrine, but to imitate his
example and practice, "to walk even as he walked." And herein is great
moment(447) of persuasion, Christ puts nothing upon you, but what he did
take upon himself. There is so much more reason for you to take it up,
that it is his own personal yoke, which he himself carried, for he
delighted to do the Father's will. It was his meat and drink to work in
that yoke. Now there are two things especially wherein he propones himself
the exemplar or pattern of our imitation, viz., his humility and meekness
of spirit. He was "meek and lowly in heart." And these graces have the