The good of early obedience, or, The advantage of bearing the yoke of Christ betimes discovered in part, in two anniversary sermons, one whereof was preached on May-day, 1681, and the other on the same day in the year 1682, and afterwards inlarged, and now published for common benefit / by Matthew Mead.

CHAP. XV.

Exhorts to thankfulness to God who in∣clined the heart to this Yoke. The wisdom of taking up this Yoke mani∣fested.

THE last use shall be of Exhortation: and I shall direct it to two sorts of persons.

1. To them that have taken up the yoke of Christ in their youth.

2. To such as have never yet taken up the yoke of Christ to this day.

1. To them that have taken up the yoke of Christ in their youth; that have made it their work to mind Religion betimes; to remember their Creator in the dayes of their youth. There are three duties I would commend to such, by way of di∣rection.

1. The first is thankfulness. Though this contributes nothing to God, yet it is that which he is delighted with. It shews the

honesty and integrity of the heart in ascribing effects to their proper causes. Thankfulness diminishes the creature to himself, and magnifies God. It shews a man looks upon himself as nothing, and God as all. Therefore bless God and be thankful for this great mercy. Is there not a cause? For

1. How came you to take up Christs yoke? Time was when ye were the servants of sin, other Lords had dominion over you. Time was when you were slaves to lust; How came you to take up the yoke of Christ? It was not natural; for by nature we are enemies to grace and holiness. It was the fruit of the wisdom of God im∣pressed upon the Soul; it was he that gave thee counsel to make this choice; and therefore bless him. So David sayes in the like case, I will bless the Lord who hath given me counsel. Psa. 16.7. Counsel for what? to take the Lord for his Lord; and that implies taking up his yoke. O my soul thou hast said to the Lord, thou art my Lord, ver. ••. thou art my Lord; that im∣plies subjection; Thou hast said thou art my Lord, that implyes a Covenant resig∣nation. So that here he chooses God for his portion and chief good, and for his highest Lord; and how he came to make this choice he tells you, ver. 7. It was the Lord that counselled him to this; and therefore he resolves the praise and glory shall be to him; I will bless the Lord who

hath given me counsel. Go you and do like∣wise: bless the Lord who hath perswaded and over power'd your hearts to close with Christ. For no man comes to Christ except the Father draw him. Joh. 6.44.

2. It is the wisest choice that ever you made to choose Christ for your Lord, and to put your selves under his yoke. It may be you think you chose wisely in other matters. In your yoke fellow, in your cal∣ling, in your dwelling, &c. but you ne∣ver shewed such wisdom as in this. When Job asks, (Chap. 28.12.) where shall wis∣dom be found, and where is the place of un∣derstanding? and having told you where it is not, not in Silver and Gold; not in Voyages to Sea; Not to be purchased with all Riches; nor found in the land of the living; He tells you none know what, nor where true wisdom is, but God, ver. 23. God understands the way thereof, and he knowes the place thereof: and it is he that di∣rects us to it. ver. 28. Ʋnto man he said, be∣hold the fear of the Lord that is wisdom, and to depart from evil is understanding. There is no man truly wise but he that fears God and keeps his Commandments. See where∣in the wisdom of this taking up Christs yoke is manifest in six particulars.

1. It is manifest in this, that the best and wisest of men in all Ages have done it: they have rather chosen Obedience to Christ in the meanest services, then to be found in complyance with lust. What

did David mean when he said, I had ra∣ther be a door keeper in the house of my God, then to dwell in the Tents of wickedness? Psal. 84.10. It was a wise preferring the mean∣est service of Christ, before the greatest pleasures that wicked men enjoy. And what meant Moses to refuse to be called the son of Pharaohs Daughter, and to choose ra∣ther to suffer affliction with the people of God, then to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season, esteeming the reproaches of Christ greater rich∣es than the treasures of Egypt? Heb. 11.24, 25, 26.

What was the meaning of this, but on∣ly to shew that he preferred the worst of Christs Yoke before the best of sin? And what made the Apostles forsake all and fol∣low Christ, but to shew that wisdom is ju∣stified of her children; and that they were ready to sacrifice all for the service of such a Master? And what made those primi∣tive Martyrs (Heb. 11.) suffer such mock∣ings, scourgings, bonds, imprisonments, tor∣tures, &c. but their faithfulness to Christ and his ways? And if the best in all Ages have taken up Christs yoke, then this makes the wisdom of this practise manifest: Great reason therefore you should bless God for, and give him the glory of your professed subjection to Christ.

2. The wisdom of taking up this yoke of Christ is evident in that it is such a yoke, all the duties whereof commend themselves to every mans choice. It was

not so in the Precepts of the Old Cove∣nant; a great part of those Laws had lit∣tle in them to commend them to a mans choice, (so long as their symbolical na∣ture was not understood) save what the authority of God in commanding their observation gave to them. Circumcision, legal washings, sacrifices, &c. were but beggarly Elements when the command of God for their observation was taken off; therefore the Apostle calls them a yoke of bondage, Gal. 5.1. Which shews that their observation of them was more because God commanded them, than out of any intrinsecal goodness which was in them. They obeyed them, not out of love of the thing commanded, but out of love to that God who commanded them. But now the precepts of the Gospel, and the things commanded there are desireable for themselves. If they had not been injoyn∣ed, to love God, to fear him, to worship him in Spirit, to be righteous, godly, so∣ber, chast, temperate; to be meek, pati∣ent, and contented, &c. these are amabi∣lia pro se, lovely in themselves, and tend to the peace and satisfaction of the mind; besides their relation to a future happiness. And there is no man that acts up to the dictates of a considering mind but would choose these things, though you should suppose him under no express command thereunto.

3. The wisdom of taking up Christs yoke appears in this, that whatever your work is, your help is greater than your work, and your succour greater than your service. That which makes any duty diffi∣cult and burdensome is, when it masters our abilities for performance. Now this can't be said of any work Christ calls us to; For as thy work is so shall thy strength be. If God calls out one St. to greater services than another, he will furnish him with more strength and help than another. I laboured more abundantly then they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. 1 Cor. 15.10. His work was great, and his help was great. He abounded in la∣bour, and God abounded in grace. He did more than all, and he recieved more than all. And if you would know what helps Christians have in the way of obedience; They are these,

1. They have the help of the Ordinan∣ces of Christ; and it is a great power and strength that is derived from them to the soul that sits daily under them. The way of the Lord is strength to the upright. The Ordinances of Christ are not empty things: though they have no fulness of their own, yet they give out much from the Fountain; They go from strength to strength, How so? Every one of them in Sion appears before God. Psal. 84.7.

2. They have the help of the prayers of all the Saints. For as the prayers of

every Believer are directed to the good of all the Church of Christ; So the prayers of the whole are designed for the good of every member. There is a mu∣tual traffick in Heaven by the prayers of Saints one for another; if one Believer be in temptations, in darkness, in sufferings and troubles, All the Saints of God are wrestling for his relief. So the Church did for Peter when in prison, and their prayers did more to release him, then all jaylers and fetters could do to detain him. Mark that of the Apostle 2 Cor. 1.10, 11. Who delivered us from so great a death; and doth deliver, in whom we trust he will yet deliver us; you also helping together by prayer for us, that for the gift bestowed upon us by the means of many persons, thanks may be given by many on our behalf. The prayers of the Saints are greatly available one for another. We have many a mercy that we never prayed particularly for, but possibly it hath been the fruit of others prayers; and therefore the Apostle calls it a gift bestowed upon us by the means of ma∣ny persons. Others sow the seed, and we enter into their harvest, and reap their labours. And this is one great part of that Communion of Saints which in our Creed we say that we believe.

3. They have a help greater than all this, and that is the help of Jesus Christ: and he is the mighty helper. That is an ex∣cellent Scripture, could we believe it, and

live upon it, Zech. 10.12. I will strengthen them in the Lord, and they shall walk up and down in his name. What, or who can be too hard for such as walk in the ways and worship of Christ with the strength of Christ? Now the Lord Christ helps two ways.

(1.) By his powerful intercession▪ he is ever praying and pleading for you, Heb. 7.25.

(2.) By his Almighty Spirit▪ for how are your sins mortified but by the Spirit? Rom. 8.13. And how are your hearts quickened in duty, but by the Spirit? And how are you guided in the ways of God, but by the Spirit. Joh. 16.13. And how are you taught? but by the Spirit. 1 Joh. 2.27. And who upholds you in your course? but the Spirit. Psal. 51.12. Besides the grace the Spirit works in you at first, you have spiritual incomes and supplies of the Spirit daily. Phil. 1.19.

And is not the Believers help then great∣er than his work? now it was not so un∣der the Law; there was great service but little assistance: but now the Christians help is greater then his work, for it is God that works in you to will and to do. The works of Gospel Obedience are more sub∣lime, more spiritual, and therefore more difficult than any of the works of the Law; but so far as we have Communion with the power and strength of the Spi∣rit to actuate and inable us, they are all

easy and pleasant. Gospel duties may be difficult in respect of divine imposition, but they are easy in regard of divine cooperati∣on. The Father sets the Child a Copy, and bids it write, the Child knows not how, but yet takes the Pen, and then the Father guides the hand, and the Child writes after the Copy. Lord, sayes Au∣stin, give what thou commandest, and then command what thou wilt.

4. The wisdom of taking up Christs yoke appears in this, that under this yoke, though the weakness of your obedience is great, yet the truth of your obedience is accepted. God looks at truth in the in∣ward parts, Psal. 51.6. O the many weaknesses that God passes by in his peo∣ple, where he finds the heart and affecti∣on true to him; though there be much commanded, yet the least you do is accept∣ed. Were it not for this there could be no serving him. If thou Lord shouldst mark iniquities who could stand? But there is for∣giveness with thee that thou mayest be feared. Psal. 130.3, 4. God will not take advan∣tage of your fallings and infirmities. I will spare them as a man spares his son that serves him. O what a sweetness must this put into service! how easie must it needs make the yoke of Christ, when the least we do is accepted; as a handful of goats hair was for the Temple when it came from a willing heart. What reason there∣fore have we to bless the Lord that ever

inclined our hearts to stoop to the yoke of Christ.

The wisdom of taking up Christs yoke is evident in this, that herein true liber∣ty consists. This may seem a Paradox; for sinners do therefore indulge themselves in their lusts because there is liberty: and they therefore refuse Christs yoke because it abridges their liberty; they cannot live as they list. Now you must know there is a twofold liberty.

1. A carnal liberty; wherein a cor∣rupt base heart takes a latitude to it self, to live and act according to its own viti∣ous inclinations, without any restraint or controul. Indeed the yoke of Christ is an enemy to this liberty; and it were not worth the taking up if it should not, for this liberty is only the licentiousness of lust, and no man such a slave as he that is thus at liberty. He is a servant to corrup∣tion, 2 Pet. 2.19. Under the devils rule, led captive by him at his will, 1 Tim. 2.26. He is held in the chains of Hell, and will you call this liberty? are not the Saints at liberty in Heaven? and yet there is none of this liberty there? will ye call this li∣berty, to be loaded with the guilt of sin? to be bound over to damnation? to be vexed daily with an accusing Conscience? to have all the threats of the word lye against thee? to have wrath hanging over thy head every moment? and God ready to throw thee into Hell? is this liberty

when thou art in such a dreadful case, that thou darest not think of dying for fear of hell and damnation? better be the veryest gally slave in the world then thus at liber∣ty. But then

2. There is a Spiritual liberty, which is wrought out for us by Christ; the pur∣chase of his blood: John 8.36. If the son make you free then are ye free indeed. And he that partakes of this liberty may well be said to be free indeed, for he is freed from the curse of the Law. Gal. 3.10. He is freed from the condemning power of sin. Rom. 8.1. He is freed from the Spirit of Bondage. Rom. 8.15. And he is freed from the dominion of sin. Rom. 6.14. And a man never enjoyes this liberty till he comes under the yoke of Christ; and is there not reason to bless God for draw∣ing the heart to Christ?

6. The wisdom of taking up Christs yoke appears in this, that the longer you are under it, the easier you will find it. I will make it out in three things.

1. The longer you wear it, the lighter it will be: it is not so in other matters. A little burden in tract of time is heavy, and the longer it lyes the heavyer it is, be∣cause of a wast of strength by long bear∣ing: but Christs burden the longer it is born the lighter it is, because though the burden is not diminished, yet your strength is increased. They go from strength to strength. He that hath clean hands shall grow stronger

and stronger. And as spiritual strength in∣creases, so spiritual difficulties must needs abate.

2. The more progress you make in obe∣dience, the greater testimony you shall have from conscience of the uprightness of your hearts with God▪ and you can't ima∣gine (unless you ever felt it) what peace this brings in, 2 Cor. 1.12. Nothing gives conscience that advantage to witness aloud to our case, as godly sincerity in our obe∣dience to Christ.

3. Much obedience brings in much com∣fort. The more seed the more sheaves; that Christian is likest to injoy most com∣fort, that walks most close with God in the way of obedience. He hath comfort in the most difficult duties, even in his suf∣ferings for Christ; and they are the most pinching part of his Yoke. And yet as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our conso∣lation also aboundeth by Christ, 2 Cor. 1.5. And therefore Christ bids us rejoyce even in persecution, Matth. 5.11, 12.

He hath comfort in the worst of times, To the upright there ariseth light in darkness, Psal. 112.4. When the figtree doth not blossom, yet then he can joy in the God of his salvati∣on.

Notes

• Exhortat.
• Duty
• Rom. 6.17. Isa. 26.13.
• Job 28.14.15.21.
• Eccles. 12.13.
• Mat. 11.19.
• Gal. 4.9.
• Pro. 10.29
• Joh. 6.63.
• Phil. 2.13.
• Mal. 3.17.
• Psal. 84.7. Job 17.9.
• Hab. 3.18.