greatest suitableness to capacitate and dispose every man for taking, and
keeping the yoke of Christ. Humility and lowliness bows his back to take
on the least of his commands. This makes him stoop low, and makes his
shoulders fit for it, and then meekness arms him against all difficulties
and impediments that may occur in it.

Sermon VIII.

Matt. xi. 29.--"Take my yoke upon you," &c.

Christianity consists in a blessed exchange of yokes between Christ and a
pious soul. He takes our uneasy yoke, and gives his easy yoke. The soul
puts upon him that unsupportable yoke of transgressions, and takes from
him the portable yoke of his commandments. Our burden was heavy, too heavy
for angels, and much more for men. It would crush under it all the
strength of the creatures, for who could endure the wrath of the Almighty?
Or, "what could a man give in exchange for his soul"? Nay, that debt would
drown the whole creation, if they were surety for it. Notwithstanding,
Christ hath taken that burden upon him, being able to bear it, having
almighty shoulders, and everlasting arms for it. And yet you find how
heavy it was for him, when it pressed out that groan from him, "Now is my
soul sore amazed, very heavy, and exceeding sorrowful even unto death, and
what shall I say?" That which carried it away from us, hath buried it in
his grave, whither it pressed him down. It gets him very low under it, but
he hath got above it and is risen again, and whereas in vain there was a
stone put above him, and sealed, he hath rolled a stone above that yoke
and burden, that it cannot be able to weigh down any believing soul to
hell; for that weight which depressed his spotless soul, would have
depressed the sons of men to eternal darkness. Now for his burden, we
observe that it is of another nature, to speak properly, than other
burdens. It is not a heavy yoke or burden, but a state of liberty, an
ornament, a privilege. It is a chain of gold about a saint's neck, to bind
Christ's laws about them, every link of that chain is more precious than
rubies or diamonds. If there be any burden in it, it is the burden of
honour, the burden of privilege, and incomparable dignity, _honos_ not
_onus_ or _onus honoris_.(448) This is that which he puts upon us, or
rather that which a believer receives from him. Now I will not have you so
to take it, as if Christ did not propose the terms thus, "If you will be
willing to take on the yoke of my laws,