78 f'. Is The NEW and COMPLETE L IFE of our BLESSED fiall be more tolerablefor Tyre and Sidon in the day ofjudgment; than for you. And thou Capernaum, that art exalted untò hea- vén, (halt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works that have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained unto this day. But I fay unto you, that it fiat be: more tolerable fir the land of Sodom in "the day ofjudgment thanforyou. Matt. xi. 21, &C. After having, in the moll awful, affebling, and awakening manner, pronounced fuch woes on thefe unbelieving and profligate cities, our great Redeemer concluded his difcourfe with thefe gracious and reviving words, Come unto me allye that labour and are heavy laden; and I will give you refl. It is the Son of the eternal God, the Heir of all things, the almighty Judge ofheaven and earth, who kindly condefcends to addrefs poor, loft, undone finners in this affecting language ; having pronounced heavy woes on the rebellious race, whofe haughty felt. fufftciency, inveterate prejudice, pride, and obffinacy, prevented their receiving the truth, the kind and condefcending Saviour of finners gives the molt tender, heart- affeaing invitation to the humble and penitent. Thofe who labour and are heavy laden; thofe who are confcious of their vilenefs and finfulnefs, who are preffed with the weight of their iniquities; whofe . guilt lies upon them like an heavy burden, from the weight of which they ardently defire to be delivered, are here called upon and earneftly invited to come to the only perfon who is able to relieve them. It is, not the great and noble ; it is not the powerful, profperous, and happy; it is not the exulting fons of joy, but the poor, needy, and afflicted, who are labouring, under a fenfe of fin, and burdened with the weight of their iniquities, who are thus invited to come to our great Redeemer. The great Maker of all things, the all -wife and all- powerful Preferver, the fupreme Governor and Judge of the univerfe, gra- cioufly condefcends to call unto, and with the utmoft tendernefs to- invite poor, heavy-ladened, burdened finners to come ; he does not call upon them to come with a defign to punifh their offences ; he does not fummon them to appear before his awful feat of judgment ; he does not call them with a defign toderide or expofe their miferies; he does not call them with an intent to punifh their offences,: but with a defign to releafe them from their afflifions, to releafe them from their burdens, to give them reft and peace, and make them eter- nally happy. Come unto me, fays our great Redeemer, all ye that labour ands areheavy laden ; all you who are fenfible of your vilenefs ; who are humbled under a fenfe of your iniquities ; who fee the dreadful condition to which you are reduced by your fins; who have been long groaning under the intolerable weight of your guilt, and panting for deliverance ; but through- out the limits of the wide creation can find no refuge, no help, no deliverer, Conte unto me, look unto me and be fatted ; truft in me as mighty tofave; venture your all in my hands ; feek no other refuge, no other help, no other deliverer ; but comeunto me andI willgiveyou re/t. It is not my defign to upbraid you with the vilenefs and folly of your conduct; it is not my defign to enter into judgment with you and punifh you for -your iniquities, but to lead you into the paths of peace, truth, and hap - pinefs :.be not afraid to liften to my words and followmy directions, but with a full reliance on my power, wifdom, and good- nefs, take my yoke upon you, and learn of me ; for I'ammeek and lowly in heart; and yefhallfind ref toyourfouls ; for my yoke is eafy, and my burden is light, Can there be a greater evidence of the corruption and depravity of the human heart than the. coldnefs with which the degenerate foes of Adam receive fo tender, fo affecting, and fo important an invitation. The great Creator bath formed them with ffrong defires of happinefs, and they toil out a weary life in the .eager purfuit of every appearance of -good. They are loft in the
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