"Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I
will give you rest."
"Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek
and lowly in heart--and you shall find rest unto your souls." Matt. 11:29).
This is the sequel to our motto-verse, the expansion of
the rest-saying of the loving Rest-Giver. None who have entered into the
spirit of these words, but must recognize and find in them a gracious
Hospice--a chamber of the "House Beautiful."
"No man," says Luther, "if he were the gentlest and
kindest in the world, could have such a gentle bearing as Christ had." He
further tells of a legend regarding the Apostle Peter, that his eyes were
always red with weeping and on being asked the cause; the reply was--"I weep
when I recall the most sweet gentleness of Christ with His apostles."
Possibly the remembrance of that sweet gentleness and forbearance towards
himself was the most touching of all.
Note the Savior's special message, in the meditation of
today, to His burdened and weary ones. He virtually says--"Exchange burdens.
Part with your own and take Mine. Make trial of My yoke, and bear it for My
sake. It will be heavy without Me; but with My grace and blessing it will be
easy and light. I do not promise in the rest I confer to 'remove your
shoulder from the burden,' to give you immunity from care, and trial, and
exactions; but I will do better--I will impart strength and endurance to
bear."
The existence of many is a pursuit after spurious and
counterfeit rest, misnamed happiness--an aimless, vapid life of pleasure
engrossed with objects which bring with them no sense of satisfaction or
compensation--a dull, weary round in the world's monotonous tread-mill. This
is not the rest Christ promises to His weary ones. Often the world's
burdens, too, are weighted with unworthy accompaniments--wounded pride,
injured self-love, disappointed ambition, the harboring of proud,
vain-glorious thoughts. Here is a recipe for tranquillity of soul which the
gospel may well claim as all its own--"For I am meek and lowly in heart." It
has well been called the birth-song of Christianity--"He has put down the
mighty from their seats, and has exalted the humble and meek."
It was by these principles the new creed won its way on
earth--not by material agencies. The martial spirit, the greatest of the
old-world forces, had its day and its collapse. The serene, gentle spirit,
nurtured among the hills of Nazareth, fought a bloodless war and conquered,
with the sole weapons in His armory--weapons which He Himself
assayed--"meekness and lowliness." Rich and poor, master and slave, owned
the magic of "this new thing on the earth;" they took His yoke upon
them, and, by strange paradox, all who tried found in the bearing of it
rest.
Further--gather from this gracious saying the bliss of
endurance, submission, forbearance, love; lifted above the fret and fever of
the world, the clash of debasing rivalries. Be not aspiring after great
things, or envious of others, tempted to quarrel with outer
circumstances--in other words, showing dissatisfaction with the appointments
of God, making base surrender of duty to self-interest.
The quiet mountain-lake is a beautiful thing, sleeping on
its shadows, no ripple to disturb the placid mirror. But what is more
inspiring and invigorating is the stream which issues from it, hurrying
impetuously onward, battling its way over rock and boulder, to water and
fertilize the plains below. Build your Hospice in the faithful study of
Christ's spotless character and example, in its humility and self-sacrifice,
combined with active consecration in doing His Father's will. "I am meek--I
am lowly." These are the two silver and golden bells--curfew-chimes ringing
to deepest and truest rest. They together constitute the true "patent of
nobility." In the possession of calm, elevated peace in Himself, as on a
mount of transfiguration, the tumults of passion are hushed, and with the
favored disciple on Hermon you are able to exclaim--"It is good for us to be
here." Moreover, included in this is the blessed privilege, taught by the
meek and lowly Master, of helping other weary ones to bear their burdens and
carry their crosses.
"I know we are not here
For our own selfish ease;
The kingliest One the earth has known
Lived not Himself to please.
And they who have truly learned of Him
How a burden can give rest,
And joyfully share the great human care,
Have learned life's secret best."
Beautiful and touching is the plea of the apostle
immediately following--"Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift."
"I beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ."
"This is the resting place, let the weary rest. This is
the place of repose." Isaiah 28:12