The strong helper, offering to beare euery mans burthen. Or, A treatise, teaching in all troubles how to cast our burden vpon God but chiefly deliuering infallible grounds of comfort for quieting of troubled consciences. By Iohn Haivvard.

CHAP. VI.

NOw we are more particularly to consider of this point of casting our burden vpon the Lord, with particular refe∣rence vnto those rankes of our burdens remembred before.

But before I begin with them, seeing

wee must speake of particulars, I will by way of caueat tell you of certaine parti∣cular burdens, that men doe cast vpon God against his liking: and they are not so much burdens lying heauy vpon themselues, whereof they seeke to be cased by the strength and mercy of God as they are burdens which with pleasure they binde, and cast vpon God to vex him withall. Such burdens wee are not here warranted to cast vpon God.

These burdens are of two kinds, by two kinds of men prepared. The first kind of these burdens is the ceremonious worship of God, not accompanied with true reuerence in our hearts, nor with the conformable practise of godlinesse in our liues. This burden God doth complaine of by the Prophet Esay, say∣ing. Bring no more oblations in vaine, in∣cense is an abomination vnto me, I cannot suffer your new Moones, nor Saboths, nor solemne daies (it is iniquity) nor solemne assemblies. My soule •…•…ateth your new Moones, and your appointed feasts, they are a burden vnto me, I am weary to beare them. And when you shall stretch out your hands, I wil hide mine eies from you They

were formall in the outward seruice of God: therein they did well; but because they wanted the reuerend feare of God, and their hands were defiled with the bloud of their oppressions and cruelties, therefore their dutifull formality was abhorred of him that loueth truth in the inward affections: though the ceremo∣nies of that formality had been appoin∣ted by himselfe.

This burden is the pleasure of hypo∣crites, and by them prepared to weary the Lord withall, by such as feare men more then they feare God: and loue the praise of men more then the praise of God: and draw neare vnto God with their mouthes, and honour him with their lips, but they remoue their hearts far from him, and are like vnto painted Sepulchers, shining without, and stink∣ing within, so they appeare vnto men to be holy, but within they are full of hy∣pocrisie, and in secret commit all iniqui∣ty. This inward and hidden wicked∣nesse is it that disgraceth their (other∣wise laudable) outward and open obe∣dience.

The second kind of these burdens is

an open wicked life, when men cast off both the feare of God, and also mode∣sty, so that they neither make conscience of their doings in regard of God, nei∣their make dainty of doing open euil for feare of the opinion of men. Of this bur∣den the Lord complaineth by the Pro∣phet Amos, saying: Behold I am pressed vnder you, as a Cart is pressed that is full of sheaues. If a Cart be ouerladen, it li∣eth heauy vpon the Axeltree, that ma∣keth a whining and groning noise, and sometime breaketh, laying both Cart and loade in the dust. So presse they God with the loade of their sinnes, vntill hee grone vnder them, and complaine by his Prophets, and at last ouerthroweth them, casting both them and their sins by his iust iudgement into hell.

This burden is prepared by bold and contemning sinners: by men that rise early to follow drunkennesse, and are strong to drinke strong drinke: by men that commit adultery, and assemble themselues by companies in harlots houses, and rise in the morning like fed horses, euery man neighing after his neighbours wife: by men that lay wait

as he that setteth snares, and maketh pits to catch men, and fill their houses with the fruit of deceit as cages are filled with birds: by men that haue two kinds of waights and measures, and vse to sweare falsly: by men that say desperatly, we will doe whatsoeuer thing goeth out of our owne mouth, and our strength shall bee the law of vnrighteousnesse: by mockers that say where is the hope of his comming? and as the Prophet Esay testifieth of them, draw iniquitie with cords of vanity, and sinne as with Cart∣ropes. Of which audacious men that nei∣ther feare God nor man: and are neither religious to regard conscience, nor ci∣uill, to regard good name, the world is full.

These are the two kinds of burdens, the ceremonious worship of God, without truth and piety, prepared and throwen vpon God by dissembling hypocrits: and the bold transgression of all law and order, prepared and cast vpon God by wicked contemners: these are those particular burdens, which by way of caueat I thought fit to warne you of, that you meddle not with casting these

vpon God, least he cast both you and your burdens into eternall destruction in hell.

But our heauy burdens that presse our soules, and breed feare, care, and griefe vnto our mindes, whereof we desire to be eased, those wee may and must cast vpon God, and are, not onely allowed, but allured also to turne them off vp∣on him.

Notes

• To cast our burdens in particular.
• Two bur∣dens not to be 〈◊〉〈◊〉 vp∣on God.
• First is a formality without pitty.
• Esay 1. 13.
• The second is an open wicked life
• Amos 2. 13
• Esa. 5. 19.