he gives peace who can make trouble Job 34.29 All the world cannot give peace to a troubled Conscience Eccles 10.19 Solomon says Money answers all things But it can never answer the doubts and distresses of Conscience It is God that speaks peace there Psal 85.8 Thirdly To distinguish it from the worlds peace which is a carnal peace an outward peace a false peace but the peace God gives is a true peace an inward and spiritual peace John 14.27 2. It fills a man with the most lasting peace Therefore Solomon calls it a continual feast Prov. 15.15 Not a feast for a day as Nabals was Judg. 14.12 nor for seven days as Samsons was nor for an hundred and eighty days as that of Ahasuerus was Esth 1.4 but a continual feast without intermission and without end A Heathen could say 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A good man is always feasting he hath the continual entertainment and delight of a quiet Conscīence He may meet with many troubles and sorrows and afflictions but his peace and joy shall out-live them all His estate may be wasted his name reproached his body burned but his peace and joy cannot be touched It lyes out of the world's reach It is from Heaven and will abide in the Soul till it be consummated by the testimony of Christ in that heart-ravishing Sentence Well done good and faithful servant Mat. 25.21 enter thou into the joy of thy Lord. Thus subjection and obedience to the Yoke of Christ appears to be a pleasant good whether ye look to the matter of his service or to the state in which this service is commanded or to the sweetness with which it is attended And thus you have the truth of it made out positively Secondly That the Yoke of Christ is matter of pleasure and delight may be made out comparatively 1. Compare it with the Yoke of the Law either Ceremonial or Moral First Compare it with the Yoke of the Ceremonial Law and Christs Yoke is much easier than that And this will appear If you look to the observances and impositions of one and the other How numerous and chargeable were the observances of that Law how many and how costly were their Sacrifices Some were gratulatory appointed to express their grateful sense of mercies received these you read of Lev. 7.12 c. Some were expiatory these were appointed to atone for sin to pacifie Gods anger to remove guilt and divert judgment and how many and various were they Some were to be of the herd as oxen and heisers some of the flock as sheep and lambs goats and kids Some of fowl as turtle-doves and pigeons Some were to be of what grew out of the earth as corn and wine oyl and spices And of these some were burnt-offerings some meat-offerings some sin-offerings some trespass-offerings And some of them were to be offered but once a year Levit. 16. Exod. 12. Levit. 23.16 Numb 29.12 Numb 28.11 Num. 28.9 Num. 28.3 4 5. some at their solemn Feasts as the Passover Pentecost and the Feast of Tabernacles Some every New-moon some every Sabbath day some were to be offered every day and that both morning and evening as the daily Sacrifice and some according to special occasions which were very many for if any man did but touch an unclean thing he must come and offer a Sacrifice From all which numerous observances that Yoke of Moses must needs be very burdensom if we now were for every sin to offer a Bullock or a Lamb what a burden should we account it if Conscience did not make sin a burden the charge and expence would and so it did to the Jews therefore it is called a Yoke and that a heavy one Acts 15.10 A yoke which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear In calling these things a yoke too heavy to be born it shews their observance of them was more because God commanded them than because of any intrinsecal good that was in them They bore the Yoke till God took it off but it was a very heavy Yoke But the Yoke of Christ is easie on this account his commands are few and facil not burdensom but beneficial as really our priviledge as our duty And therefore the Apostle Paul comparing the state of the Church then with what it is under the Gospel calls it Bondage Gal. 4.3 when we were children we were in bondage under the elements of the world By the Elements of the world the carnal Sacrifices and Ceremonies of the Law are intended by which as by first rudiments God did then instruct the Church in its minority And accordingly he calls the state of the Gospel-Church a state of freedom Gal. 5.1 Stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free and be not intangled again with the yoke of bondage O how sweet and easie is the service of the Gospel The Covenant of Grace is made with us without those burdens and bonds which became their bondage what a motive should this be to a willing and chearful obedience Christ hath therefore made us free that we should serve him freely Our freedom from bondage by the liberty of the Gospel should strengthen our bonds to all Gospel-obedience Secondly Compare the Yoke of Christ with the Yoke of the Moral Law as a Covenant of Works and it will appear far more easie if you consider five things First The Law requires very difficult service but contributes no assistance so that a mans work is above his strength and where duty is great and strength little it becomes a burden intolerable If a man should be set to remove a mountain to fetch a Star from Heaven to keep out the Tide of the Sea how impossible would this be So is obedience to the Law in our present state of impotency and hence it becomes a bondage and burden Why is the Land of Egypt called the house of bondage to Israel but because they were required to make the same tale of brick without straw as before they did when straw was provided for them So the Law requires the same obedience of fallen man in a state of weakness as it did of innocent Adam in his full strength But in the gospel-Gospel-Covenant there is no duty injoyned but there is a power of performance vouchsafed and no commandment can be grievous where the assistance is suitable to the service That one command of believing is in it self more difficult than any precept of the Law Eph. 2.8 but if faith be the gift of God then how easie is it to believe whatever God wills is easie to be done when he himself works in us to will and to do Phil. 2.13 This makes the Yoke of Christ easie that there is power conveyed with the precept jubet juvat It is with us as with the man that lay at the gate of the Temple who had been lame from the womb Peter commands him in the name of Jesus to rise
Spirits Yoke I would commend to such three things especially First Be perswaded of the necessity of a true and sound conversion Think often of what Christ so solemnly averreth John 3.3 Verily verily I say unto thee except a man be born again he cannot see the Kingdom of God And in order to this think seriously what a miserable state an unconverted state is It is a state of enmity to God it is a state wherein all the guilt of all the sins that ever you committed the least whereof deserves Hell lyes upon the soul and binds it over to eternal damnation It is a state wherein the bloud and righteousness of Christ cannot avail us for he pardons none whom he doth not change and convert 1 Joh. 5.6 he comes whereever he comes by bloud and water It is a state which mingles a curse with all your blessings To the unbeliving is nothing pure It is a state of death for every unconverted Sinner is spiritually dead he cannot do any one act that is spiritually good It is a state wherein the Sinner is not only liable to damnation as an Heir of Hell but he is condemned already John 3.18 36. the Law condemns him though the final Sentence be not yet passed upon him and if he dyes in that state without a real conversion God will most certainly judge as the Law judgeth so that he is as sure to be damned as ever he was born And all this the Word of God plainly attests And is not there a necessity of a sound conversion Is such a state as this a state to be rested in No not for a day Gen. 19.15 17. Arise escape for thy life lest thou be consumed Secondly Hearken no longer to the Devils suggestions and counsels his great design is to keep thee secure in a carnal condition to ward off all serious thoughts of spiritual and eternal concernment and he hath innumerable methods and devices for the carrying on of this design Sometimes by fascination of the senses with carnal pleasures sometimes by incumbring the mind with worldly businesses as in Luke 14.18 19 20. so that we have no leisure for God and our souls How often doth the Spirit knock but cannot be heard how loud doth he call but receives no Answer how freely hath he tendred his counsels Prov. 1.25 but they have been set at nought Satan by the noise of bewitching pleasures or incumbring cares makes the Sinner turn a deaf ear to all the Spirits calls and counsels Or if the Sinner do at any time bethink himself of his soul and salvation then he labours to perswade him there is no danger he is secure as to that by what Christ hath done and suffered for him if he doth sin so do the best that live and if he begs forgiveness God is full of mercy Thus he keeps men from repentance and salvation by perswading them they are safe already and if he can but hide their danger from them which he industriously endeavours to do he knows he hath them fast enough For who will mind the Physician that knows of no disease he hath who will think of turning back that concludes he is in the right way who will stoop to the convictions of the Spirit that is perswaded his sins are pardoned and his condition safe Thus as Nebuchadnezzar put out Zedechiah's eyes and carried him captive to Babylon Jer. 39.7 so doth Satan blind Sinners to their eternal destruction Thirdly Do what in you lies to come under the convictions of the Spirit As you value your souls and would have the way of the Lord prepared into your hearts be willing to be made truly sensible what a lost state you are in For you must know that it is one thing to be a Sinner it is another thing to be convinced of it it is one thing to be lost in our condition it is another thing to be lost in our apprehension There is a great difference between a state of bondage and a Spirit of bondage Every Sinner is in a state of bondage but few come under the Spirit of bondage The state of bondage is a great curse the Spirit of bondage may be a real blessing for the Spirit of bondage is to deliver us out of a state of bondage It hath been so to thousands and therefore why not to thee Therefore do what in you lyes to come under the convictions of the Spirit Object But have you not said that every Sinner is dead in sin by nature And if so then what can a dead Sinner do to obtain the Spirit and the convictions of the Spirit Answ There is somewhat in the order of means that men may do towards the obtaining of the Spirit of God For though every man in a natural state is dead spiritually and therefore can do no spiritual act yet he can do the acts of that life he hath He is a living man though he be dead in sins and God commands us to shew our selves men Isai 46.8 that is by acting rationally though we cannot act spiritually Though we cannot do any thing to compel the Spirit because he is free yet we may use those means in which God is wont to vouchsafe his Spirit As for instance First There is an attendance upon the Word preached And this is the great Ordinance of God for the convincing and converting Sinners the way by which the Spirit doth ordinarily work upon the souls of men Though he is not tyed to means yet God hath appointed them and he will put honour upon his own appointments How many thousands were pricked in their hearts and so convinced to conversion by that Sermon of Peter Acts 2.37 How was Lydia converted but by attending to the things that were preached by Paul Acts 16.14 These weapons are mighty through God to the pulling down of strong Holds 2 Cor. 10.4 The Law of the Lord is perfect converting the soul Psal 19.7 Now this is every mans duty to attend upon the Word and there is no Sinner but is able to do this as well as any other natural or moral action Who is not as able to go to a Sermon as to a Play And to frequent God's House as well as a Drinking-House and to read God's Book as seriously as a News Book Secondly There is a diligent intention of mind to be exercised in attending on the Ordinances of God that we may understand and apply the things revealed as the counsel of God concerning us And this every man that hath the use of reason is able to do In other matters we can weigh things and consider them according to their weight and importance and why not in things that concern our souls and our everlasting happiness Cannot a natural man reason thus Either these truths of the Word of God signifie something or nothing if nothing why hath the wise God ordained them to be thus earnestly pressed If they do signifie any thing why should
close with Jesus Christ In conviction of sin the Soul is pursued with the avenger of blood and if he overtakes him he slays him there is no escaping but by fleeing to the City of refuge So Christ is called Heb. 6.18 the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 there used doth import two things 1 An apprehension and sense of impendent danger putting a man upon flight for deliverance lest the evil feared should overtake him 2 Speed and diligence in that flight to the place where he expects to find succour and safety And where is the place of safety for a sinner under guilt and pursued by the Curse of the Law and dread of the wrath of God but only in the Lord Jesus Christ Hence is that counsel of the Holy Ghost Turn ye to the strong hold ye prisoners of hope Zech. 9.12 O make haste to Jesus Christ so did Zacheus when Christ called him Luke 19.5 He made haste and came down and received him joyfully v. 6. You that are young and have had early strivings of the Spirit early convictions of sin see that ye improve them by an early seeking after Jesus Christ otherwise the Spirit may cease striving and depart and never return again thy convictions may die and never revive again thy day of Grace may be sinned away and then it can never be recalled again Other things a man may lose and recover them again He may lose his health and recover it again he may lose his estate and recover it again but if thy day of Grace be once lost thou canst never recover that again no not for any price thou canst not pray it back again nor weep it back again Esau's tears come too late Heb. 12.17 no sorrow no repentance will recover it and therefore blessed are they that have improved the Yoke of the Spirit into a saving union with Jesus Christ that by being made to feel the burden of sin and the weight of Gods wrath and so seeing their lost and undone state as in themselves have been outed of themselves and made willing to accept of Christ upon Gods conditions and in Gods season and so have believed in him to the saving of their Souls CHAP. V. The Doctrine laid down Christ hath his Yoke What it is The Nature and Properties of this Yoke Why the Commands of Christ are called a Yoke WHen I entred upon these words the last year on this occasion I told you of a threefold Yoke that it is good for a man to bear in his youth The Yoke of Affliction The Yoke of Conviction by the Spirit The Yoke of Subjection to Jesus Christ The Yoke of Affliction I have spoken to and shewed you the good of bearing that betimes I have also spoken of the Yoke of Conviction of sin and have shewed you that every one that would be saved must come under this Yoke of the Spirit and that this Yoke is necessary to prepare the Soul for the Yoke of Christ I now therefore am to speak of this Yoke And the Doctrine upon which I shall found my discourse shall be this Doct. That it is good for young ones to come under the Yoke of Christ betimes I shall speak to the Doctrine in these parts 1. That Jesus Christ hath his Yoke 2. Why are the Commands of Christ called a Yoke 3. Why is it the concernment of every one to take up the Yoke of Christ in his Youth 4. Remove some stumbling blocks out of the way of this duty 5. Bring home all to our selves by application 1. That Jesus Christ hath his Yoke For he is a King as well as a Priest and a Prophet As he redeemed us by his Blood so he rules us by his Power As he is a Priest upon his Throne Zech. 6.13 so he sits and rules upon his Throne And therefore in Revel 1.13 he is described as cloathed with a garment down to the foot and girt about the paps with a golden girdle These long garments were especially used by two sorts of persons Kings and Priests as you may see by comparing Isai 22.21 with Mark 12.38 So that it sets out his Dominion joyntly with his Satisfaction and Intercession These Offices are for ever united in Christ they may be distinguished but cannot be divided He is a Priest to none where he is not a King there can be no sharing in his Mercy but by submitting to his Authority The benefit of his Death and Blood is limited to the acknowledgment of his Scepter Where Christ cannot be a Head he will not be a help where he cannot rule he will not relieve where he can be no King he will be no Jesus Those mine enemies that would not that I should reign over them bring hither and slay them before me Luke 19.27 Slight his Power and you incur his displeasure reject his Authority and you become Traitors to his Crown and that is death without mercy He pardons none whom he doth not rule saves none that do not submit But here are two Questions 1. What is this Yoke of Christ 2. Why is it called a Yoke Quest 1. What is this Yoke of Christ Answ It consists of his Commands especially those Conditions which the Lord Christ puts upon every soul in order to the obtaining of that Salvation and Glory which he hath purchased For Christ hath not so purchased Salvation for any as that they should be saved meerly upon the account of his Death There were certain Terms and Conditions of Salvation agreed upon between the Father and the Son in that Covenant of Redemption that passed between them and none can be saved by all which Christ hath done and suffered but upon these Conditions and they are Self-denial Faith Repentance taking up the Cross Obedience all the necessary duties of Religion These are the unalterable Conditions of Life and Salvation and these Conditions of Salvation are the Yoke of Christ Take my yoke upon you Mat. 11.29 And this Yoke is variously expressed in Scripture sometimes it is called a Way The way of the Lord Prov. 10.29 The way of righteousness Prov. 8.20 The way of holiness Isai 35.8 The good old way Jer. 6.16 The way everlasting Psal 139.24 Sometimes it is called a Burden Mat. 11.30 Revel 2.24 Sometimes it is called a Rule Gal. 6.16 Phil. 3.16 But most commonly this Yoke is called a Law and so points to the Soveraignty of God over man in common with the rest of the Creatures For all Creatures that ever God made are under a Law The most glorious part of the Creation of God was the humane Nature of Christ and yet that was made in a state of subjection to a Law Made under the Law Gal. 4.4 The Scriptures speak of three Heavens the airy Heaven the starry Heaven and the third Heaven 2 Cor. 12.2 called the Heaven of heavens Deut. 10.14 and all the Creatures in each Heaven are under a Law Look into the Heaven of heavens there dwell the Angels
quenched there he never strives again Where it is quenched but partially and gradually it is a very hard thing to kindle it again as you may see Cant. 5.6 but where it is totally quenched it can be kindled no more Alas who should kindle it The Saints can't Call now if there be any that will answer thee and to which of the Saints wilt thou turn as Eliphaz said to Job in another case Job 5.1 Could the wise Virgins kindle the foolish Virgins lamps when they were gone out no they could not Give us of your oyl for our lamps are gone out Mat. 25.8 but alas they had none to spare Not so lest there be not enough for us and you v. 9. Can the sinner himself kindle it no that is impossible he can quench it but he cannot kindle it He may sin away the Spirits motions but he can never recover them again That is plain in Prov. 1.24 25. Because I called and you refused I stretched out my hand and no man regarded but ye have set at nought all my counsel c. Here is the Spirit quenched and see how they strive to light it again but in vain Vers 28. They shall call upon me but I will not answer they shall seek me early but shall not find me The sinner you see can quench the Spirit but he cannot kindle it Can the Ordinances kindle it again no neither Alas how should they when they have no life in themselves but what the Spirit puts into them Pray mind if you at any time quench the Spirit in your selves you do thereby quench it in all the Ordinances and then though the Word be otherwise the word of life yet it is but a dead letter when the Spirit is quenched None can kindle it again but God and he will not Where the sinner doth once totally extinguish it God will never light it again Thirdly If it once come to this you can never come to Christ never take up his Yoke For this is a work that can never be done without the help of the Spirit If he must help the Believers infirmities then sure he must cure the Sinners obstinacies there is a yoke to be broke off as well as a yoke to be put on corrupt habits to be extirpated or obedience to Christ can never be owned And this is a work that none but the Spirit of God can effect The yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing Isa 10.27 Though that be spoken of the Assyrians yoke yet it is typical of sins yoke which none can free thee from but the Spirit of Christ and therefore if the Spirit depart thou art undone there is no possibility of conversion to Christ thou art given up to a perpetual vassalage to sin and lust and to an hardned refusal of all the counsels of God and of all the ways of life So that upon all these accounts it is highly reasonable that every one of you should stoop to the Yoke of Christ betimes The Spirit of the Lord calls you to this the end of all his motions and strivings is to bring you to this And how little while he may strive you don 't know And if he once give over striving the work can never be done Here then you see the reason why every one should take up the Yoke of Christ in his youth because of the Call of God God the Father calls who made thee God the Son calls who redeemed thee God the Spirit calls who was sent to counsel and guide thee to regenerate and change thee to sanctifie and make thee meet for Glory And shall not the Call of God be obeyed This one thing will make it appear to be the most reasonable thing in the world viz. The Covenant you are entred into are not you entred into a Covenant with God the Father Son and Holy Ghost What is your Baptism but a token and pledge of it Hereby God hath owned you for his and hereby you are ingaged to be the Lord's And shall God take me into Covenant and shall I refuse to take up Christs Yoke This is that will destroy your Covenant-interest God expects that so soon as you come to years of understanding to know your interest and duty you should renew the Covenant of God upon your own Souls and take hold of it for your selves as your Parents did for you before Now wherein doth your personal entring into Covenant with God chiefly consist but in your taking up the Yoke of Christ Sure therefore this should be done betimes if you refuse this ye renounce your Covenant with God you cast your selves out by your unbelief and then God will cast you out Rom. 11.20 Because of unbelief they were broken off Secondly Consider what this Call is When you are called to take up the Yoke of Christ you are called from a state of sin and misery to a state of true blessedness from the vilest slavery and drudgery in the world to a work of the highest pleasure and delight Prov. 3.17 No greater pleasure than in duty and obedience where the heart is right with God You are called to holiness 1 Thess 4.7 God hath not called us to uncleanness but unto holiness And a life of holiness is the most desirable life in the world it is the life of God it is that life in which only a man can have communion with God for a man must partake of the nature and life of God that would have fellowship with God contrary natures can have no communion He will not take the wicked by the hand * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Job 8.20 Without holiness no man shall see the Lord Heb. 12.14 It is not meant only of seeing God in Heaven but in this world also for there is a seeing of God fiducially as well as beatifically Mat. 5.8 Heb. 11.27 and the one is as necessary to the present state as the other is to a state of Glory And he that doth not see God in this world shall never see him in the next Now that which fits for present Vision and Communion is holiness And your holiness lies in taking up the Yoke of Christ and conforming to the Law and Will of Christ This is that which you are called to Nay when you are called to take up Christ's Yoke you are therein called to partake of the glory and blessedness of Christ in Heaven For though this Call of God begins in Grace yet it ends in Glory There is a twofold end of Gods Call with respect to sinners the near and proximate end is the conversion of sinners to Christ and a life of obedience the remote and ultimate end is the bringing those to glory who are thus brought home by grace and therefore the Call of God is said to be to glory 1 Thess 2.12 who hath called you to his kingdom and glory And 2 Pet. 1.3 called us to glory and virtue To virtue as the means to glory as
your box of oyntment be never so precious Eccles 10.1 yet this dead fly will spoil it all If once judgment be sent forth to victory over every thing of self then art thou prepared for a full subjection to the Yoke of Christ Nothing a man doth can be called gospel obedience unless it be done from a principle of self-denial for till then all his duties are but a sacrificing to his own net Hab. 1.16 or as the Prophet Hosea calls it a bringing forth fruit to himself Hos 10.1 Our Lord Christ himself acted from this principle for as he did not his own will so he sought not his own glory Joh. 8.50 I seek not mine own glory but the glory of him that sent me A man can never carry it becomingly under the Yoke of Christ nor keep his commandments unless he be acted by a principle of self-denial That is the first thing therefore that you are to look to that the principles of your obedience be right 2. If you would order your conversation aright under this Yoke of Christ see that your obedience be in proper acts and exercises All that is done in Religion is not obedience all that is done with reference to God is not obedience to God There is a building wood and hay 1 Cor. 3.12 and stubble upon the foundation this work must be all burnt It is the vanity of Popery and the wickedness of its teachers to prefer the precepts of men before the commands of Jesus Christ Matt. 15. ◠and so to take up the Yoke of Antichrist instead of the Yoke of Christ This obedience tho done in the name of Christ yet is down right rebellion against Christ Nothing can be obedience to Christ but what is done with respect to the authority of the commands of Christ Not this or that single command but all Many obey Christ in one command and neglect another zealous in some things but must he dispensed with in others The Yoke of Christ doth not consist of any one single observance but is made up of many duties it is as extensive as the preceptive part of the gospel which comprehends in it whatever is in any sense the matter of our duty The whole government of heart and life with respect to God to our selves to others is fully taught by the precepts delivered in the gospel And therefore obedience lies not in some particular observances as to this or that command but it is an intire and full resignation of our selves to the laws of Christ as they are a rule of guidance and government to the whole man We must have respect to all That obedience that is not universal is not real Quod propter Deum fit aequaliter fit I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right Psal 119.128 Whatsoever things are true whatsoever things are honest whatsoever things are just whatsoever things are pure whatsoever things are lovely whatsoever things are of good report if there be any virtue and if there be any praise think on these things Phil. 4.8 But yet there is a preference in the commands of Christ some are greater then others there are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the weightier matters of the law Matt. 23.23 Some commands are more essential to piety others are more circumstantial Some wherein the glory of God and the salvation of the soul are more immediately concerned in others more remotely Some precepts there are wherein the vitals and main parts of religion are contained there are others that are but as fences about these And therefore though every command is to be obeyed yet some are to be preferred Though it is a duty to respect all yet not with the same degree of respect Though the commands are all equal in regard of the authority of the law-giver yet in respect of the things commanded there is a difference and disproportion To love God is a greater duty than to love my neighbour To obey is better then sacrifice and to hearken then the fat of rams 1 Sam. 15 22. I will have mercy and not sacrifice Matt. 9.13 Now then if you would have your obedience manifested in proper acts and exercises then observe these six rules 1. Neglect no duty in its season several seasons have their several duties annexed to them by God which makes them more a duty then any other duty That which is the duty in season is greater than any other duty 2. Where God layes most weight there we are to express most care As for instance I. Where any commandment is called great there God layes great weight Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul and with all thy mind this is the first and great commandment Matt. 22.37 38. Therefore this ought to have our first and greatest observance II. Where God gives forth commands with the greatest sanctions and severest penalties there he layes great weight and there we should express great care So in the second commandment there you have a sanction consisting of a sore threat and a sweet promise Visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generation of them that hate me and shewing mercy to thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments Therefore of all sins we should take heed of false worship and idolatry for this God abhors and keep close to divine institution in all religious performances III. Where two duties come together there the greater is to take place of the less Agendum est id quod est major obligatio In this case that which is the lesser duty ceases for that time to be a duty and the greater duty becomes the only duty Thus positive precepts are to give place to moral precepts Though I am commanded to keep the Sabbath and do no work yet for preserving my neighbours life or house when on fire I may as lawfully work on that day as any other And in moral precepts the less is to give place to the greater Thus when the first and the fifth command meet obey God and obey your rulers the first is to take place The power of a delegate is not to be own'd in competition with the authority of God In praesentia majoris cessat potestas minoris In this case superiours are not to be obeyed For no command of superiours can bind against the command of God who is higher then the highest Again when my own temporal good and the spiritual good of another meet in competition I am to prefer his spiritual good before my own temporal good Therefore Paul would rather never eat meat then offend his Brothers conscience This is the meaning of that in 1 Joh. 3.16 We ought to lay down our lives for the brethren That is our corporal lives for their spiritual As in time of persecution when the death of the strong may confirm the saith of the weak and so be a service to the