298 An .Expofition upon Chap, 8 whenfoever the croffc comes, they are liken to Rand to it that bell know and feel their own infirmities; becaufe fòch wil nót relie upon themfelvés but on the power of God. The Rory of Ma- ier Sanders and DoEtor Pendleton,doth rave to declare the truth of this. T i ii. Thus far of the firfi Doctrine, what is the text? S i L. This : That the croffe or aftli &ions for Chrifis fake are like a burthen which cannot be borne but with much firength. T I M. But the Croÿe is Chrifls burthen, and he fait b, that his burthen it ligi t, Mat. i i.30. S i L. Our Saviour in that text, meaneth the burthen of his Do&rine and Commandements,which indeed are not burthenfome to believers in this fuse that the holy Spirit of God can help life, i job. 5.3. He (peaks not of the I them? Croffe and tribulatiorfs, which is foj S I L. He will, becaufe it is the office heavie, as ofour felves we are not able) of the Spirit to help cur infirmities, to take it up, much leffe to bear it, ex- as it is faid in this Text : alfo he can cept the holy Ghoft (like unto Simon well help them , becaufe being the of Cyrene)lay hisfhoulders under it,and mighty God,he is fironger then all that foul again/t the day of aiiciicn. And again, In thy proiperity thinkupon the time of aover- fity, Ecclef.7.vcrf. i 6. Secondly, feting of li &ions is fo hea- vie,Iet men be well advifed, that where no caufe is they ca(} not themfelves in- to troubles, i l'et i.6. For this is great rafhneffe, and will breed no comfort, but late repentance.Thirdly,ifthecrofs ofafili &ions be fent upon you by God, yet defpair not though it be heavie, fu- ipeE ing your own firength, but flye unto the holy Spirit ofGod for aid and ftrength : as men under weighty bur - thens cry for help, fo muff the children of God do, the more heavie they feel the burt hen ofaffiEtians,the more car neftly they muff call to God for help. T i as. But how can .Gods children be help to bear it with us. T t M. Tea,but the ApoJtle Paul cals our affligions light,2 Cor 4. i y. S i L. Paul there fpeaks compara- tively, in comparifon of that weighty glory which followes aft iEtions. See Kom.8. 18. But afi &ions confdered (imply and abfolutely as they are in themfelves, they are grievous and a burthen too heavie for us to bear, For Hezeltiah tinder the burthen of his af- fli &ions mourned, David fainted, job curled the day of his birth, and Peter for fear of the Croffe,denied his-Loi d If the Croffe made filch Champions to ftoop, how should we not fear fuch a burthen? efpeciallywhen it (hall come to the fiery tryall,andChriftians muff be put abundant and manifold comforts pro - to fight again(} fin to blond. vidcd for the faithfull,and beforepro- Ti se. What profit is to be made of air pounded, to encourage them to bear Marine? the croffe patiently. For firft, it is an S I L. Firft, to admonifh Chriftians honcft thing fo to do, becaufe we tuf thaditflandeth them upon,well to pre - fer withlefus Chrift. Secondly, it is pare themfelves againft the time of the very profitable for us fo to do, becaufe Crofs,it being a thing fo burthenfonie. I if we fuffer with C hriff,we (hall be glo- It was good counfell which Solomon rifled with him. Thirdly,our affli &ions gave , My fonce (faith he) prepare thy are farre unequal' to that glory which in is again fl us ; For i f Ged be on our fde,who can be againuì us ? Rom.8.3 i. How weak foever nian be of himfelf, yet he 'can- not be but ftrong enough, fo long as he hath God with him : and therefore we are to look to our own weakneffe and unableneffe to bear, that wemay be humbled, but not difcouraged alfo to fallen the eye ofour minde up- on the firength and might of the holy Ghoft , conldering not what we in our felvcs can fuffer, hut what he is able to make us to fuffer, 2 Cor.i2. 12. Pfal121.2. T i it Now fkew us what this word {Liketrife] muff admonifb us of ? S i L. It doth adnionifh us of the I will be with thee faith God to .bitfn, E,d. 3. God and .Mats, Will be firong enough e- ven,gaieQ Phemh,
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