§. Sect. 3 That God the Sonne ioyning with vs, taketh away all diffi∣culty.
Secondly, God the Sonne ioyning with vs in the duties of a godly life, will take away all difficulty, and enable vs to performe them with all cheerefulnes and delight. For being vnited vnto him by a true and a liuely faith, and ingrafted into this blessed & fruitfull Vine, as liuing branches, wee shall receiue such spirituall life and sap of grace from him, that we shall bring forth the ripe grapes and pleasant fruits of ho∣linesse and righteousnes. Being knit vnto him in this blessed vnion, and becomming liuely members of his body, wee shall haue communion with him, and receiue such vertue and vigour, as shall be effectuall, not only for our iustification, but also for our sanctification. From his death we shall receiue vertue & strength for the mortifying of the flesh and the sinfull lusts thereof, so as it shall no longer reigne and rule in vs as in former times, and from his Resurrection such a quickning power, as will enable vs to rise out of the graue of sin, and to walke in the waies of holinesse and righteousnesse, bringing forth the plentifull fruits of new and true obedience. Besides, our Sauiour, who exhorteth vs to take his yoke vpon vs, offreth himselfe to ioyne with vs, and to be our yoke-fellow; and as the taller and stronger Oxe, drawing together with one that is lesse and weaker, easeth him of the chiefest part of the burthen; so our Sauiour so farre exceeding vs in greatnesse and strength, doth free vs from all irkesomnesse and cumbersome tedi∣ousnesse of that burthen which he layeth vpon vs, by bearing it vp vpon his owne blessed necke and shoulders. Neither doth he call vs vnto him to trouble and vex vs, but to ease and comfort vs. Not to op∣presse vs with a burthen aboue our strength, but to lighten vs of the in∣tolerable load of sin, by taking it vpon himselfe, in stead wherof, he lay∣eth vpon vs his sweet and easie yoke of Euangelicall obedience; ac∣cording to that his gracious call and inuitation, Come vnto me, all yee that labour and are heauie loaden, and I will ease you; take my yoke vpon you and learne of me, for I am meeke and lowly in heart, and yee shall finde rest vnto your soules; for my yoke is easie, and my burthen light. So that though it be a yoke and burthen, yet it needs not dismay vs, seeing it is but light and easie, in comparison of that vnsupportable waight of sin, the wrath of God, and curse of the Law, from which he hath freed vs; and not such an one as will toyle and turmoile vs; but a burthen that bringeth ease, and a labour which causeth rest. It is not Christs purpose to sur∣charge and oppresse vs, by imposing a burthen aboue our strength; for he that hath taught vs that a good man is mercifull vnto his beast, will not be hard-hearted and cruell to his yoke, fellowes, yea to his owne body and bowels; but onely he desireth that we would beare him company, promising that if our weight be ouer-burthensome, he will ease vs, if it be irksome and tedious, he will make it sweet & plea∣sant, and if there be any defects & wants in vs, he will supply them by vertue of that communion which we haue with him. If we be dead, and cannot mooue in the actions of piety and righteousnesse, by touching his dead body, he will giue vs spirituall life and motion. For as the Father rayseth vp the dead and quickneth them; euen so the Sonne quickneth whom he will. He is the Resurrection and the Life; he that beleeueth