Quaker Bible Index: Matthew 11 and parallels

(Mat 8:5-13 | Luk 7:1-10)

[Other texts citing Mat 8:5-13: WPT 128f (2 Pet 1:19)].

(Mat 8:9 | Luk 7:8)

IP1:58 (1658): Learn then, and know in thyself that Spirit of prophecy [Rev 19:10] which spoke in the martyrs. Hear that, come to that, keep to that; feel the union, the fellowship, the spreading of that in thee. When that bids thee go, go; when that bids thee come, come; when that bids thee do this, do it [Mat 8:9 | Luk 7:8].

WPR 48 (1669): [True honour] is manifest from the case of the centurion in Christ's time, who made not the honour and respect due to him from his soldiers to consist in hats, gestures, or vain ceremonies, but in the ready execution of his commands, as when he said to one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, do this, and he doth it [Mat 8:9 | Luk 7:8]; nor is [hat-honour] practiced now among soldiers (as being an effeminate custom, unworthy of masculine gravity), yet they are obedient, and truly honour their office.

(Mat 8:11)

GF7: 150 (1658): be patient, and keep low and down in the power of the Lord God, that there ye may come to enjoy the kingdom of peace, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the same [Mat 8:11]. For blessed are all ye that lie down in the power of the Lord, and rise up in it, and in faith remain; through which power ye come to be preserved and united to the God of life and truth.

RBA 231f (1678, X.2): [from the etymology of ekklesia] the Church is no other thing but the society, gathering, or company of such as God hath called out of the world and worldly Spirit, to walk in his Light and Life.... out of which Church we freely acknowledge there can be no salvation, because under this church are comprehended all ... (though outwardly strangers and remote from those who profess Christ and Christianity in words and have the benefit of the Scriptures) as become obedient to the holy Light and testimony of God in their hearts, so as to become sanctified and cleansed from the evils of their ways. For this is the universal or catholic Spirit by which many are called "from the four corners of the earth [Isa 11:12] and shall sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob [Mat 8:11]".

(Mat 8:11f)

IP1:210 (1659): They shut up the true kingdom [Mat 23:13]; but they opened another kingdom; they opened the kingdom another way [John 10:1] (which was in truth shutting of it); and they had disciples and children of the kingdom, whom they tickled with the hope of life, and fed with promises and comforts; but these the Lord would shut out. "Many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven; but the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness [Mat 8:11f]."

(Mat 8:12)

HPS 134 (Esther Biddle, 1662): Oh then! if you have not done justice, nor loved mercy [Mic 6:8], or did the thing that was just in the sight of the Lord, then shall you be banished from the presence of the King of Heaven for evermore, into utter darkness, where there is weeping, wailing, and gnashing of teeth [Mat 8:12], and you shall be a stink to the ages to come.

(Mat 8:13 | Luk 7:10)

WPR 575, WPT 357f (1694): Seeing upon a serious trial of all things, nothing else would do but Christ himself; the light of his countenance, a touch of his garment, and help from his hand; who cured the poor woman's issue [Mat 9:20-22 | Mar 5:25-23 | Luk 8:43-48], raised the centurion's servant [Mat 8:13 | Luk 7:10], the widow's son [Luk 7:12-15], the ruler's daughter [Mat 9:18,23-25 | Mar 5:35-43 | Luk 8:49-55], and Peter's mother [Mat 8:14f | Mar 1:30f | Luk 4:38f]: And like her, they no sooner felt his power and efficacy upon their souls, but they gave up to obey him in a testimony to his power....

(Luk 7:12-15)

WPR 575, WPT 357f : [Luk 7:12-15, see under Mat 8:13]

(Mat 11:2f)

DFR 26 (17–): Darkness prevailed over me so far at that time, that I seemed to be placed in the situation of John the Baptist, when he sent two of his disciples to inquire of Christ, "Art thou he that should come, or look we for another?" [Mat 11:2f]

(Mat 11:3 | Luk 7:19f)

IP3:10f (1667): And we must profess to the world (as our hearts are drawn and guided by the Lord, to give forth the testimony we have received of him) that we look not, yea, we cannot look, for another [Mat 11:3 | Luk 17:19f]. Whom should we look for besides the Lamb, besides the Word which was in the beginning [John 1:1], besides him who is one with the Father [John 10:30], and hath the eternal life, wisdom, righteousness, and power of the Father, and manifesteth it in us? We look indeed for more of the same, and the more universal and powerful breaking of it forth; but another Christ, another life, Spirit, power, &c., we cannot look for.

HPS 53 (Sarah Blackborow, 1658): there's but one thing needful [Luk 10:42], keep to it, and wander no more as you have done, nor seek for another [Mat 11:3 | Luk 7:19f], for all the hopes that you shall have in any other thing but this, will prove the hope of the hypocrite, which perisheth [Job 8:13], and will set you wandering up and down in the earthly, and that's in Satan's path....

(Mat 11:5 | Luk 7:22b)

[Other texts citing Mat 11:5: IP3:363 (Luke 6:20)]

IP4:41 (167-?): Quest. If this be a new dispensation of the life and power of God, ...why is it not accompanied with outward miracles now, as formerly it was? I say outward miracles, because it is accompanied with inward miracles. For the lame, that could never set step in the path of life, do now walk; the eyes that were blind, are opened, and do now see; the ears that were deaf, have been unstopped, and do now hear [Isa 35:5]; the lepers inwardly, who were all overspread with sin and corruption, have been washed, cleansed, and healed by the pure power; yea, the dead inwardly, have been quickened, raised [Mat 11:5 | Luk 7:22b], turned to him that lives for evermore [Rev 1:18], have received life from him, and do live in him [John 15:4] and with him.

HPS 178 (Katharine Evans & Sarah Chevers, prisoners of the Inquisition, 1662): They said, we were but few, and had been but a little while, and they were many countries, and had stood many hundred years, and wrought many miracles, and we had none. We said, we had thousands at our meetings, but none of us dare speak a word, but as they are eternally moved of the Lord; and we had miracles, the blind receive their sight, the deaf do hear, and the dumb do speak, the poor do receive the gospel, the lame do walk, and the dead are raised [Mat 11:5 | Luk 7:22b].

(Mat 11:6 | Luk 7:23)

IP3:503 (1673): And take heed of being offended, because of any thing, either within or without; for offences will come [Mat 18:7], but blessed was he, that was not offended at Christ outwardly [Mat 11:6 | Luk 7:23] in the days of his flesh [Heb 5:7]; and blessed is he, that is not offended at his inward truth, and inward way of appearance in the day of his Spirit.

(Mat 11:8 | Luk 7:25)

WPR 62 (1669): Jesus tells his followers, that as for soft raiment, gorgeous apparel, and delicacies, they were for kings' courts [Luk 7:25]; implying, that he and his followers were not to mind those things; but seems plainly thereby to express the great difference that is betwixt the lovers of the fashions and customs of the world, and those whom he hath chosen out of it [John 15:19].

(Mat 11:9-11 | Luk 7:26-28)

IP3:265f (1672): Why was John greater than the rest of the prophets? Was it not in that he was chosen to be the immediate forerunner and preparer of the way, and could point with his finger to the Messiah [Mat 11:9-11 | Luk 7:26-28]? And yet, is not this immediate testimony from the excellent glory [2 Pet 1:17] greater than the testimony of John?

(Mat 11:10-13 | Luk 7:27f, 16:16)

GF6:485 (168-?): The law and the prophets were until John, who was the greatest prophet born of a woman, but the least in the kingdom of God is greater than John; and since John Baptist the kingdom of God is preached, and men do press into the kingdom (Mat 11:11-13 | Luk 7:28, 16:16). So the everlasting kingdom of God is the end of the law, and the prophets, and John, for the everlasting kingdom of God stands in righteousness, peace, and joy in the holy ghost [Rom 14:17], which the law, and the prophets, and John called for, and was held forth by them in figures, types, and shadows, and John ran before and prepared the way to the kingdom [Mat 11:10 | Luk 7:27, Mal 3:1]; and they that are in the kingdom are in the substance ... and are in the end of all things that do change; for the kingdom of God is everlasting, and doth not change.

(Mat 11:11 | Luk 7:28)

[Other texts citing Mat 11:11: GFJN 31 (Rom 5:14), GFJN 32 (Luk 3:4f)]

WPR 591, WPT 387f (1694): the Children of the Light [live] by the life of the Word, by which the Word begets them again to God, which is the regeneration and new birth, without which there is no coming into the Kingdom of God [John 3:3]; and which, whoever comes to, is greater than John [Mat 11:11 | Luk 7:28], that is, than John's dispensation, which was not that of the Kingdom, the consummation of the legal, and forerunning of the Gospel times.

(Mat 11:12f | Luk 16:16)

[Other texts citing Mat 11:12: WPR 476 (under Mat 11:28)]

JN1:268 (John Whitehead, 1653): But my brethren, not as unbelieving or disobedient, put on strength in the power of the Lord [Isa 51:9, 52:1?] who hath called you, and press on at the strait gate [Mat 7:13], where the earthly will and wisdom is kept in death; "for the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force" [Mat 11:12].

(Mat 11:13 | Luk 16:16a)

[Other texts citing Mat 11:13: GFJN 31 (Rom 5:14)]

(Mat 11:15 | refrain: many parallels; cf Rev 2:7 etc)

[Other texts citing Mat 11:15: GF5:420 (Rom 5:6)]

IP3:323 (1674): Wisdom is justified of her children [Mat 11:19b | Luk 7:35]; and they that know the voice of the Shepherd [John 10:4], know is present appearance in this our day, which is contrary to the wisdom and knowledge of all other seeds and births whatsoever. "He that hath an hear, let him hear" [Mat 11:15 | Rev 2:7etc]; but he that hath not the true ear, cannot hear the true testimony, though it should ever so often be declared unto him.

(Mat 11:18 | Luk 7:33)

GFT 104 (1675): It is no strange thing now to bear testimony against the truth; they said John had a devil [Mat 11:18]! They must come to the spirit of the prophets that bare testimony to the Light (yet he said he was not the Light, but sent to bear witness to it [John 1:7f]).

(Mat 11:19 | Luk 7:34f)

IP1:196f (1659): If John come neither eating nor drinking, ye reject him for his austereness; if Christ come both eating and drinking, ye reject him for his liberty and freedom in the life. Now what is the reason for this? Christ himself gives the reason. Mat 11:19. "Wisdom is justified of her children." Ye are not the children of wisdom, ye are not begotten of the life, of the Spirit of the prophets, and so cannot justify that Spirit. Ye have got the letter of the prophets, ye are born of that; but ye are not born of the life, ye are not born of the wisdom. And so whoever comes forth in the same birth from the letter with you, him you can own; but if any prophet come forth with that same Spirit, him ye cannot own. He that is born after the flesh, cannot but persecute him that is born after the Spirit [Gal 4:29]. Jerusalem was all along the persecutor of the prophets [Mat 23:37 | Luk 13:34], from the beginning to the end.

(Mat 11:19a | Luk 7:34)

IP4:263f (16–): ...the Scribes and Pharisees ... thought they could prove by the scriptures, that this was not, could not be, He: he was to be a glorious King, and to restore Israel [Acts 1:6]. This was a mean man, a carpenter's son; and so taught, and so behaved himself, that if men believed in him, the Romans would thereby be provoked to destroy their place and nation [John 11:48]. He was an eater, a drinker, a friend of publicans and sinners [Mat 11:19a: Luk 7:34], a frequent breaker of the sabbath, etc. "And shall Christ come out of Galilee? Search and look: for out of Galilee ariseth no prophet." John 7:52.... Thus they read the Scriptures to their hurt [2 Pet 3:16].

(Mat 11:19b | Luk 7:35)

GF frequently associates Mat 11:19b with Jas 3:17, Wis 7:22/8:1/1 Cor 10:31.

[Other texts citing Mat 11:19b: GFJN 175 (John 12:46), IP3:323 (under Mat 11:15)]

GF7:92 (1655): wait for the wisdom of God, that it may be justified of her children [Mat 11:19b | Luk 7:35], and God glorified, and honoured, and exalted, and the preciousness of his truth considered well of, which ye have bought; and do not sell it [Prov 23:23] for changeable things, for things that pass away, and subsist but for a time.

GF8:81 (1675): So, I say, that after people ... come into the light, power, and spirit of God; all such are to make up the men and women's meetings; and in it to feel the wisdom of God, by which all things were made and created [Wis 7:22], and with it to be ordered, and to order all things [Wis 8:1] to God's glory [1 Cor 10:31]: so that wisdom may be justified of her children [Mat 11:19b | Luk 7:35].

GF8:163 (1679): And the wisdom of God from above is gentle and peaceable [Jas 3:17], and justifies and preserves all her children [Mat 11:19b | Luk 7:35] above the unpeaceable wisdom that is below [Jas 3:15]; and this peaceable wisdom preserves above all the unruly spirits, and vain talkers [Tit 1:10] and janglers, such as talk of the wisdom of God, but live not in it, but in the wisdom of the world.

IP2:433 (1666): As the worldly wisdom and spirit could not know Christ formerly; so neither now can it know his church. Many may appear to be churches of Christ, and yet not be so; and that which is so, may not appear so. In this case, who shall distinguish? Not he that judgeth according to the appearance, but he that judgeth the righteous judgment [John 7:24]. Therefore it is not for every man to take upon him to judge which is the true church; but first to wait upon God to be led into that, and in some measure born of that, which giveth ability to judge. "Wisdom is justified of her children [Mat 11:19b | Luk 7:35];" but of others she is condemned for foolishness, and the foolishness justified in her stead.

(Luk 7:30)

MFS 95 (1656, to the Ranters): [quotes Nah 1:9-11] You have made it manifest that you are one of them that took counsel together to put him to death [John 11:53]. You, who crucifies him, rejects his counsel [Luk 7:30]. Your wisdom is carnal, sensual, and devilish [1 Cor 1:19, Jas 3:15]. By the wisdom of God, you and your wisdom shall be destroyed.

(Mat 11:21-24 | Luk 10:12-15)

IP4:34 (167-?): ...greater will the condemnation be upon them, upon whom the Lord hath more abundantly shined; ... even as Christ said, It shall be easier for Tyre and Sidon, Sodom and Gomorrah, in the day of judgment, than for Chorazin and Bethsaida, Capernaum and Jerusalem [Luk 10:12-15 | Mat 11:21-24]

(Mat 11:21 | Luk 10:13)

JN2:248 (1655): Thou asks whether our self-abasing, quakings, tremblings, roaring, crying [Psa 22:1f], going in sackcloth and haircloth, sitting in ashes [Mat 11:21 | Luk 10:13] ... be other than a voluntary humility [Col 2:18], &c. Ans. Herein thou hast showed how little thou knows of the saints' conditions, or being acted contrary to thine own will....

(Mat 11:23 | Luk 10:15)

HPS 515 (Dorcas Dole, 1684): the Lord delights to hear the prayer of the faithful, and it prevails much with him, and it shall reach to heaven and draw down a blessing in abundance, when all Babel's builders shall be thrown down, that have sought to reach heaven in their vain imaginations [Gen 11:1-9], even like Capernaum, who was exalted on high till the Lord cast them down to hell [Mat 11:23 | Luk 10:15]...,

(Mat 11:25 | Luk 10:21a)

[Other texts citing Mat 11:25: MFU 375 (under Heb 13:6), JN1:70 (Mar 10:15 | Luk 18:17), JN1:104 (Mat 23:9)]

GFJN 204 (1655): Praises, praises be to thee, whose glory now shines, whose day ...is hid from the world, hid from all wise ones and all the prudent [Mat 11:25], hid from the fowls of the air [Job 28:21], hid from all vultures' eyes [Job 28:7], and all venomous beasts [Acts 28:4], and all liars, and all dogs, and all swine [Mat 7:6]. But to them that fear thy name the secrets of thee are made manifest, the treasures of wisdom are opened and the fulness of knowledge [Col 2:3]; for thou dost make thyself manifest to thy children.

JN1:259 (1654): And for your discountenancing of blasphemies and heresies, be not too forward herein, since you know but in part [1 Cor 13:9,12]; but consider it is not long since what you know own for truth went generally under the name of blasphemy and heresy, even by those who are now petitioning against others, and by many of them it is holden so yet; and know that God doth not reveal his secrets to the wise and great men first, but to fools and babes [Mat 11:25 | Luk 10:21a].

IP1:241f (1659): Christ's immediate revelation of the nature of his Father is to his babes [Mat 11:25 | Luk 10:21a].... And man receives not these revelations by study, by willing, by running [Rom 9:16], but by being formed in the will of life, by being begotten of the will of the Father, ... and growing up in the will, here the child receives the wisdom which is from above [Jas 3:17], and daily learns that cross [Luk 9:23] which crucifies the other wisdom which joins with and pleases the other will [and] loves to be feeding on the shadowy and husky part [Luk 15:16] of knowledge, without life. Therefore, if ever thou desire to receive this knowledge from Christ, know that eye in thyself which is to be blinded [Mat 5:29], which Christ will never reveal the Father to: read at home, know the wise and prudent there, whom Christ excludes from the living knowledge [Mat 11:25 | Luk 10:21a].

IP3:318 (1674): Oh! it is a strait gate [Mat 7:14] at which the birth enters, at which none else can enter. The wise and prudent knowers and searchers after the flesh (and of the scriptures [John 5:39], as they can put meanings upon them and comprehend them) are shut out in every age [Mat 11:25 | Luk 10:21a]; but there is a babe born of naked truth (born of the pure simplicity) admitted by God, while men disdain and despise it.

JSS 20 (17&8211;): It is hid from the wisest of men except only so far as it is manifested to them in and by this [the testimony of the son]. It is revealed only unto babes [Mat 11:25 | Luk 10:21a], that is, to hisbegotten.

(Mat 11:26 | Luk 10:21b)

EQ 190 (John Banks, 1668): Wherefore, my dear, be encouraged to trust in the Lord more and more, and put your confidence in him in all things; who is alone able to do whatsoever he pleaseth, and seemeth good in his sight [Mat 11:26 | Luk 10:21b]; for he can make all things work together for good to them that truly love and fear him [Rom 8:28], and is concerned for the prosperity of his blessed truth; though we must expect to meet with various exercises in the way, to come to be made partakers thereof.

(Mat 11:27 | Luk 10:22)

[Other texts citing Mat 11:27: GF5:229 (Heb 13:8), MFS 38 (John 6:44), IP1:240 (John 5:25)]

GF3:235 (1659): The Word itself is immediate ... And none know the scriptures but by the spirit that doth reveal them [1 Cor 2:10]. So all that witness the spirit of God witness the revelation, and the revealing of the scriptures to them by it. And the things of God, which are laid up for them that love God, the eye hath not seen [1 Cor 2:9]; but the eye may see the scriptures outwardly. And "none know the son of God, neither knows any man the Father but the son, and he to whom the son reveals him [Mat 11:27 | Luk 10:22]." And so people may have had the scriptures, but not the revelation of the son of God by them.

JN1:293 (1654): And in thy high excelling of the letter thou sayest "That one blessed notion of the gospel is more glorious and ravishing than ten thousand of revelations." Here thou appears to be ignorant of God and that way by which all the saints ever came to know him: for Christ saith, "None know the Father but to whom the Son reveals him [Mat 11:27 | Luk 10:22]." And prove if thou canst that any ever came to know God by notion, or by any other way but by revelation.

IP4:231 (1671?): Now, whose children are they which shall all be taught of the Lord [Isa 54:13]? ... Are they not the children of the free woman, ...of the Jerusalem which is from above, which is the mother of all that are truly living [Gal 4:26]? Now, all her children the Father of life begets, and taketh care to teach them the true, pure, heavenly, living knowledge; so that they indeed know the Lord, being taught by the anointing to do so [1 Jn 2:27]; and they indeed know Christ, the Father revealing him to them; for none knows the Father but the Son, and none knows the Son but the Father, and he to whom the Father reveals him [cf Mat 11:27 | Luk 10:22; quotes Mat 16:17, Gal 1:15f].

WPR 333, WPT 234 (1673): Now the Scripture tells us, that no man knows the Father but the Son, and he to whom the Son reveals him [Mat 11:27 | Luk 10:22]: And as none knows the things of man, save the spirit of man; so the things of God knows no man, but the Spirit of God [1 Cor 2:11]. Hence we may safely conclude, that the creating Word, that was with God, and was God, in whom was life, and that life was the light of men [John 1:1-4]; who is the quickening Spirit [1 Cor 15:45], was he, by whom God in all ages must have been revealed; consequently, that Light or Spirit hath been the general rule of men's knowledge, faith, and obedience.

SBD 19 (1750): But the true knowledge of the coming of the Son of God in Spirit and power is by inspiration from heaven, or the revelation of the Father by the Son [Mat 11:27 | Luk 10:22]; and this is the foundation of the true church and ministry, against which no opposition can ever prevail.

JSS 17 (17–): The world by wisdom never knew God [1 Cor 1:21], and never can know Christ. None can know him, but those to whom the Father reveals him; nor can any know the Father, but by the revelation of the son in themselves [Mat 11:27 | Luk 10:22].

(Mat 11:28-30)

IP2:200-2 (1661) contains an extended meditation on Mat 11:28-30.

(Mat 11:28)

[Other texts citing Mat 11:28: JN1: 228 (Heb 4:9-11), IP2:57 (John 5:8-10), EQ 165 (John 4:35)]

GF3:317f (1659): This sabbath [Exo 20:8-11] was for rest, and they were to rest on that day, and it was given as a sign and shadow, and in the first covenant. But Christ the second covenant, the perpetual and everlasting rest, the soul's rest of his people, says, "Come unto me and ye shall have rest [Mat 11:28]"; and so he is the end, the substance of the sign, and the shadow, who was ... before the day was, in whom is a rest for the people of God.... [more under Heb 2:14]

WPR 476 (1678): ‛Tis true, I once whipped out the profaneness of my Father's temple [John 2:14-16]; but I never whipped any in. I called, I cried to everyone that thirsted to come [Isa 55:1], and freely offered my assistance to the weary and heavy laden [Mat 11:28]; but I never imposed my help, nor forced any to receive me; for I take not my Kingdom by violence [Mat 11:12], but by suffering.

(Mat 11:28f)

[Other texts citing Mat 11:28f: GF3:320 (under Luk 14:5), IP2:201 (Heb 4:3)

(Mat 11:29)

[Other texts citing Mat 11:29: GFJN 35 (John 14:6), GF3:362 (Jas 1:26), GF4:126 ( under Heb 10:20), GF5:114 (Mat 17:5), GF7:43f (1 Pet 2:11), GF7:240 (John 15:4f), GF8:48 (Rev 6:4), GF8:48f (Heb 7:2); MFU 96 | HPS 458 (Luk 14:11), MFU 238 (Jas 1:19), WDS 25 (Luk 17:20), IP2:75 (Heb 10:19f), IP3:17 (Mat 13:44-46), IP3:194f (Mar 16:16), IP4:429 (John 1:29), HPS 288 (Heb 3:1), HPS 305 (Luk 15:8), HPS 370 (John 8:32), HPS 394f (Heb 10:29), WPR 165 (Mat 7:13), WPR 639 (Mat 5:5)

GF7:90 (1654): And take heed of running out, to make conceited ones wise; for then thou wilt consume that which the Lord hath given thee upon their lusts [Jas 4:3], and so give holy things unto dogs, and a pearl to a swine [Mat 7:6] for want of wisdom, and savour, and salt, and discerning. Therefore have salt in yourselves [Mark 9:50], and be low in heart; the light is low in you, and it will teach you to be low [Mat 11:29], and to learn that lesson of Jesus Christ, to the plucking down all the high thoughts and imaginations.

GF7:303f (1667): And all such as cry, "Away with your laws, we will have none of your laws." To such as come to the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus, which makes free from the law of sin and death [Rom 8:2], and puts down that authority; which life was before death and sin were, and remains when they are gone; and in the life in Christ Jesus, is the saints' fellowship, and unity, and bond of peace [Eph 4:3]. All such as cry against laws so much, are the sons of Belial [Deut 13:13], and would be without the yoke of the law of the son of God [Mat 11:29].

GF8:201 (1881): And my desire is, that all Friends may keep low, and meek, and humble, that he that doth inhabit eternity [Isa 57:15] may dwell with you; and that you may take upon you Christ's yoke [Mat 11:29], that you may draw with his heavenly plough, that with it the earth may be turned up, that hath oppressed and grieved the tender seed, and God's holy spirit [Eph 4:30]; so that God's plantations may be minded above the outward, that his lilies and vines may grow [Hos 14:5,7], and bring forth fruit [John 15:5] to his praise , who giveth the increase [1 Cor 3:7].

MFU 265 (1659): Therefore to the measure of the pure eternal turn; & in it wait, to have the pure discerning betwixt the precious & the vile in thee [Jer 15:19], for nothing will stand before the righteous pure God, but that which is pure. And as that moves, & leads & guides, be obedient to it, & be subject, & learn of it which makes manifest the will of God, that which is low & meek in thee [Mat 11:29].

IP2:292 (1662): Most men, that have felt any thing of God, cannot but desire his life and power; but most fly the cross, wherein it hath chosen to appear; and so they can never meet with it, but are still complaining for the want of it. In the power is the ease, the rest of the gospel. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me, saith Christ, and ye shall find the rest which flows from the power [Mat 11:29].

IP4:290 (1675): The church is called into the liberty of the gospel...; and it is not in the church's nature, either to receive or to impose yokes of bondage, but to stand fast, and to exhort her members to stand fast, in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made them free [Gal 5:1]. But where there is any thing unruly, or contrary to the power, that is to be yoked down by the power.... The church also waiting upon God in their meetings together in his name [Mat 18:20], the Lord will discover what is hurtful to the body, and lay yokes upon it [Mat 11:29]; and he that refuseth this yoke keeps alive that which is impure and fleshly, and keeps down the just in himself.

EQ 108 (James Nayler, 1658): His sufferings are free for love's sake, which is naturally in him to the creation, being his offspring. For which cause he becomes meek and lowly [Mat 11:29], that he may bear the infirmities [Mat 8:17] of the creation, which does in no way take from his power, who is equal with the father [John 5:12], but does manifest his power to be unlimited, in that he bears all things [1 Cor 13:7].

HPS 466 (Anne Gilman, 1662): Therefore, my Friends, keep to that which gives you the victory [1 Cor 15:57], and keep to your Dominion, that sin may not reign in your mortal bodies [Rom 6:12], and here you will find peace and rest for your souls [Mat 11:29], as your minds are singly stayed upon the Lord [Isa 26:3]....

JWJM 167 (1772): Oh, that all may take heed and beware of covetousness [Luk 12:15]! Oh, that all may learn of Christ who is meek and low of heart! [Mat 11:29] Then in faithfully following him, he will teach us to be content with food and raiment [1 Tim 6:8] without respect to the customs and honours of this world.

WTG 47 (Susanna Morris, 1725): I thought it safe to dwell humble and low before the Lord that I might be ready to learn of him what to do and what to leave undone [Mat 11:29].

SIW 93 (Sarah Tuke Grubb and Mary Proud, 1782): Be encouraged, beloved friends, to hold on your way, and more fully to submit your necks to the holy yoke [Mat 11:29], that thereby you may be made willing to suffer for the cause of truth.

(Mat 11:30)

[Other texts citing Mat 11:30: IP3:406 (under 1 Jn 5:3), RBA 217 (John 4:34)]

GF7:52 (1653:) Therefore every one keep your habitation [Jude 1:6], abide the trial, and abide the day [Mal 3:2], and stand fast in your freedom, so far as Christ hath made you free; [Gal 5:1] free from man's will and commandments, which imbondageth; free from the fashions and lusts of the world, the fleshly will, which bondageth and burdens the pure. And to you that cannot witness this, wait, and mind the pure, and then the burden will be easy [Mat 11:30] ; and wait for redemption and salvation, to make it so [Lam 3:26f?].

DFR 8: I could truly say that the Lord was my delight, and for some years, as I dwelt in his fear, my yoke was easy, his burden light [Mat 11:30], and all childish vanities were burdensome.

(Luk 7:37-50)

MFS 65f: [Lk 7:37-50, see under Luk 8:1-3]

SBD 10-12 (1750): Now we find this critical temper, that was so apt to judge without judgment and to find fault without cause, our Lord did frequently reprove when it appeared, as may be seen in the instance of the woman, whose penitence and humiliation induced her to wash the Master’s feet with her tears, and wipe them with her hair. Whose demonstration of love to our blessed Lord (when Simon was ready to censor him for admitting) he by a very lively comparison commmended, and in the application thereof smartly reproved the want of judgment as well as charity of that Pharisee, who did so little for him himself, and yet was so ready to find fault with her; and by that means rather brought him to justify what he had before condemned. [Luk 7:37-50] Which is often the case of self-righteous professors, who are so apt...to judge those who from vile and ungodly sinners may suddenly become purified by the work of the Spirit, and by the same may be fitted and required...to come up in public service for God; while themselves, who have not loved so much, not been so zealous to follow divine conviction, are lingering behind in the work.... (more)