II. Look at some of the forms of this burden.—1. There is the burden of being itself. 2. The burden of duty. 3. The burden of imperfection and sin. 4. The burden of sorrow. 5. The burden of dying alone. 6. If a man is lost, he is lost alone; if saved, he is saved alone.—The Lay Preacher.
Every Man has his Own Burden.
I. No man can pay a ransom for his brother, or redeem his soul from death, or satisfy the justice of God for his sin, seeing that every man by the tenor of the law is to bear his own burden, and by the Gospel none can be our surety but Christ.
II. We see the nature of sin that is a burden to the soul.—It is heavier than the gravel of the earth and the sand of the sea.
III. We are not to wonder that sin being so heavy a burden should be made so light a matter by carnal men, for it is a spiritual burden.
IV. The more a man fears the burden of his sins the greater measure of grace and spiritual life he has, and the less he feels it the more he is to suspect himself.
V. The greatest part of the world are dead in their sins in that they have no sense of feeling of this heavy burden.
VI. We are to take heed of every sin, for there is no sin so small but hath its weight.—Many small sins will as easily condemn as a few great. Like as sands, though small in quantity, yet being many in number, will as soon sink the ship as if it were laden with the greatest burden.
VII. Feeling the weight and burden of our sins, we are to labour to be disburdened; and this is done by repentance towards God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.—Perkins.
MAIN HOMILETICS OF THE PARAGRAPH.—Verses 6–10.