Paul exemplifies this by his own case before conversion: "I was without the law once; but when the "commandment came, sin revived, and I died*." He never was strictly without the law; for he expected salvation by obeying it; but he was without the knowledge of its spirituality, demands, and sanction: and while he remained thus, he was alive, that is, his hope remained good, and he was satisfied with his obedience. But when the commandment came, when its extent, purity, and penalty, were brought home to his conscience, sin revived, and he died. He found all his pretensions to liberty, obedience, and comfort, were experimentally confuted by what he felt in himself. The more an awakened sinner strives against his corruptions, the more they seem to increase. This wearies him; for, besides the greatness of the toil itself, he finds himself weak, weak as water, weaker and weaker. And he is not only weary, but heavy laden; for this likewise is a burden which he cannot shake off. He sees that he cannot succeed; yet he dares not desist.

2. Those who are seeking salvation by the works of the law, are labouring and heavy laden, engaged in what is beyond their strength, and baffles all their endeavours. This may appear from what has been already said. It is a hard task to keep the whole law; and nothing less will either please God, if made the ground of justification, or satisfy the conscience that has any true light. Those declarations of the word, that "cursed is the man who continueth not in all

things written in the book of the law to do them †,' and "whoso keepeth the whole law, and yet offendeth "in one point, he is guilty of all, keep them in con

* Rom. vii. 9.

† Gal. iii. 10.

James ii. 10.

tinual anxiety and servitude. The weakness of their flesh makes it impossible for the law to give a ground of hope; yet they cannot lay down their burden, but are compelled to renew the fruitless task. I speak not of mere formalists, who go through a round of external services, without meaning or design; but all who are in a measure sincere, finding themselves still followed with a restless inquiry, "What lack I yet* ?" Endless are the shifts and contrivances they are put to; but all in vain; for, what makes it worse, they always add to this burden many inventions of their own, as though the demands of the law were too few.

3. Those who are under temptation. It is a hard and wearisome service to be in close conflict with the powers of darkness. The leading branches of this exercise are,

1st, When the soul is assaulted, and as it were filled with insufferable blasphemies. When Satan is permitted to shoot these fiery darts, none can express, (not even those who have felt them,) the amazement and confusion that fills the mind. For a person who has received a reverence for the name and attributes of God, to be haunted from morning to night, from day to day, with horrid imprecations, so strongly impressed, that he often starts and trembles with an apprehension, that he has certainly consented, and spoken them aloud with his lips; this is irksome and terrifying beyond description.

2dly, When the foundations of faith and experience are attacked. Many who have thought themselves grounded in the truth, who have hoped that they had

surely tasted that the Lord is gracious, and have in their first comforts been ready to say, "I shall never "be moved, thou, Lord, of thy goodness hast made 'my mountain so strong," have found themselves afterwards at their wits end, when the enemy has been permitted to come in upon them like a flood t. One black cloud of temptation has blotted out all their comfortable evidences; and they have been left to question, not only the justness of their own hopes, but even the first and most important principles on which their hopes were built.

3dly, When the hidden corruptions and abominations of the heart are stirred up. And perhaps there is no other way but this of coming to the knowledge of what our depraved natures are capable. Such things a season of temptation has discovered to some, which I believe no racks nor tortures could constrain them to disclose, though but to their dearest friend. This subject, therefore, will not bear a particular illustration. The Lord's people are not all acquainted with these depths of Satan. As people who live on shore have a variety of trials, dangers, and deliverances, yet know but little of the peculiar exercises of those who go down to the sea in ships; so, in the present case, there are great waters, depths of temptation, known comparatively to few. Those who are brought through them, have more to say of the wonders of God in the great deep than others; and this is his design in permitting it, that they may know more of him, and more of themselves. But while they are under these trials, they are weary and heavy laden; and this burden they must

*Psalm xxx. 6. + Isa. lix. 19.

Psalm cvii. 24.

bear till the Lord removes it. The help of men, books, and ordinances, is sought and tendered in vain, till his appointed hour of deliverance draws near.

These, therefore, convinced, striving, and tempted souls, are the persons to whom Jesus says, "Come to

me, and I will give you rest." The purport of this gracious invitation we are to consider hereafter. In the mean time rejoice in this, Jesus has foreseen your cases, and provided accordingly. He says, Come; that is, believe, as he himself expounds it: "He that cometh "unto me shall never hunger; and he that believeth

on me shall never thirst*." See how his promises suit the state you are in.

1. Are you heavy laden with guilt? The Gospel message is, "The blood of Jesus Christ his Son "cleanseth us from all sint."

2. Are you groaning under the power of indwelling sin? Hear his gracious words: "I am the resurrec"tion and the life: he that believeth in me, though he

were dead, yet shall he livet." And to the same purpose his prophet: "He giveth power to the faint, "and to them that have no might he increaseth strengths."

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3. Are you striving in the fire to keep the law?— "Wherefore will you spend your money for that which " is not bread, and your labour for that which satis"fieth not?" Forego the vain attempt. Is it not written, "Christ is the end of the law for righteousness "to every one that believeth||?"

4. Are you in temptation? He that says, "Come unto me," has been tempted himself**, and knows

* John vi. 35.

§ Isa. xl. 29.

† 1 John i. 7.

Rom. x. 4.

John xi. 25.

** Heb. ii. 18.

how to pity you.

He has power over your enemy, and can deliver you with a word*. Did he not thus dispossess Satan in the days of his humiliation? and if then, surely he is no less able now; for since that time he has gloriously triumphed over the powers of darknesst. And as his arm is not shortened, neither is his ear heavy; he has said, without exception, "Whoso"ever cometh unto me, I will in no wise cast out‡;" and thousands who have been in your distress have successively found that promise fulfilled, "The God "of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly"

SERMON X.

OF COMING TO CHRIST:

MATTH. xi. 28.

Come unto me, all ye that labour, and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

THE dispensation of the Gospel may be compared to

the cities of refuge in Israel. It was a privilege, an honour to the nation in general, that they had such sanctuaries of divine appointment; but the real value of them was known to few. Those only who found themselves in that case for which they were provided, could rightly prize them. In like manner, the Gospel of Christ is the highest privilege and honour of which a professing nation can boast; but it can be truly esteemed and understood by none but weary and heavy laden

*Mark i. 27. Rom. xvi. 20.

† Col. ii. 15. Zech. iii. 2.

John vi. 37.