(3.) God gives strength to do what he requires. The law called for obedience ; but though it required brick, it gave no straw; but in tl*e gospel, God, with his commands, gives power, Ezek. xviii. 31., " Make you a new heart." Alas! it is a- bove our strength ; we may as well make a new world, Ezek. xxxvi. 26., " I will give you a new heart." God commands us to cleanse oui'selves, Isa. i. 16., " Wash you, make you clean." " But who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean ?" Job xiv. 4. Therefore the precept is turned into a pro- mise, Ezek. xxxvi. 25., " From all your fil- thiness Avill I cleanse you." When the child cannot go, the nurse takes it by the hand, IIos. xi. 3., " I taught Ephraim also to go, taking them by their arms."
III. There is that in God's command- ments, which may make us willing ; they are not burdensome.
1st. For a Christian (so for as he is re- generate) consents to God's commands, Rom. vii. 16., " I consent to the law that it is good." What is done with consent, is no burden ; if a virgin gives her consent the match goes on cheerfully ; if a subject consent to his prince's laws (as seeing the equity and rationality of them) then they are not irksome. A regenerate person in his judgment approves, and in his will con- sents to God's commandments, therefore they are not burdensome.
2d/i/. God's commandments are sweeten- ed with joy and peace. Cicero questions whether that can ])r()perly be called a bur- den which one carries with delight and pleasure : Ulrum onus uppellatur <]iu)d icelitid fertur. If a man carries a bag of money given him, it is heavy, but the delight takes
off the burden: when God gives inward joy, that makes the commandments delighttul, Isa. Ivi. 7., " I will make them joyful in my house of prayer." Joy is like oil to the wheels, which makes a Christian run in the way of God's commandments, so that it is not burdensome.
Mhj. God's commandments are advanta- geous. 1. The commandments are preven- tative of evil ; a curb-bit to check us from sin. What mischiefs would we not run into, if we had not afflicticms to humble us, and the commandments to restrain us? God's commandments are to keep us within bounds; the yoke keeps the beast from straggling; we are to be thankful to God for precepts : had not he set his command- ments as an hedge or bar in our way, we might have run to hell, and never stopt.
2. There is nothing in the commandments but what is for our good : Deut. x. 13., " To keep the commandments of the Lord, and his statutes, which I command thee for thy good." (1.) God commands us to read his word; and what hurt is in this? God bespangles the word with promises : as if a father should bid his son read his last will and testament, wherein he makes over a fair estate to him. (2.) God bids us pray : and he tells us, if we " ask, it shall be given," Mat. vii. 7. Ask power against sin, — ask salvation, — and it shaL be given. If you had a friend should say, " Come when you will to me, I will supply you with money," would you think it a trouble to visit that friend often ? (3.) God commands us to fear him. Lev. xxv. 43., •' But fear thy God." And there is honey in the mouth of this command, Luke i. 50., " His mercy is upon them that fear him." (4.) God commands us to believe, and why so? " Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and yo shall be saved," Acts xvi. 31. Salvation is the crown set upon the head of faith : good reason then we obey God's commands willingly, — they are for our good, they are not so much our duty as our privilege.
3. God's commandments are ornamental : Omnia qiicB prcsiilari jubet Veus, non vmraiU nos sed ornant : Salvi an. God's command- ments do not burden us, but adorn us. It is an honour to be employed in a king's ser- vice : and so to be employed in God's, " by
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whom kings reign." To walk in God's commandments, proclaims us to be wise, Deut. iv. 5, 6., " Behold I have taught you statutes, keep, therefore, and do them, for this is your wisdom." And to be wise is an honour : I may say of every command- ment of God, as Prov. iv. 9., It '• shall give to thy head an ornament of grace."
4. The commands of God are infinitely etter than the commands of sin, these are