The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-06-07
REV. DIR. R0BINS0N'S
EVENING SERMON
II Was Based Upon the Text ST.
Matthew xi: rs.
INVITATION OF CHRIST is TO ALL
That Are HEAVY Laden and in Him
They viii Find Rest--No Con-
ditions Are Exacted in the Accept-
auce.-The Invitation Is Particu-
larry Directed to the Fearladen,
Careladen and Sinladen.


Careladen and sinladen.
A sermon based upon a beautiful
thought and text and purposely couched
in simple and homely strain in order
that the Younger hearers might better
grasp its import, was preached last
night In the Second Presbyterian
church by the pastor, Rev. DIR. Charles
f. Robinson. The discourse related to
Christ's invitation to all men to come
to Him without regard to their past
spiritual condition and indicated the
peace that would follow such a sur
render.
Come unto me all ye that labor and
are heavy laden, and I will give you
est."-Matthew XII, 2S, was the text.
DR.. Robinson said:
"'Come is the sweetest word ever
spoken when uttered by the right per-
son, by mother, lover, Jesus. Motive,
however, has much to do with it's
beauty. It's use by the siren, for in
stance, has abused it, has polluted 1t.
But used as ii was by Jesus, and with
all that was back of the utterance,
what could have been more touching,
more beautiful?
Jesus used the word many times,
often, and 1 have wondered at which
time ! would rather have been there
and heard Him. To the woman at the
well His voice must have been more
tender and His bearing and mien more
love-inspiring than we can compre-
hend in Pilates palace with Peter de-
nying Him outside, how noble, how
forgiving, how spiritual, how grand he
must have looked-and we would have
given worlds to see Him then; but what
would have been the picture, the in
spiration, if we could have seen His
look WIN He utters the come which
appears in the text!
do we realize the fulness of the
word as Christ used 1t? He frequently
admonishes us to 'come'-only that. In
the last book of the book of books, al
most the last verse but one appears the
word come
REASON WHY WE SHOULD COME.
"But why should we come to Jesus?
Is there a reason? Are we sore, trou-
bled or in deep sin? In Columbus is
found a striking type of our own he9rts.
There in the prov of his little vessel
with the vast space of unknown before
him, with mutiny about and behind
him he long stood looking, looking for
ward, longing, trusting, hoping. Would
there ever be light ahead? A most pa
thetic type it was, but in the end there
was what had been long looked for.
The coming of Columbus had been re-
warded
There is a careladen race of us, a
race that children know little about,
fortunately for them, but it comes
soon. Many a middle-aged man when
he opens his heart and freely tells
of things he does not wear on his
sleeve will say that life would have no
attraction for him were it not for the
claims of dear loved ones upon him.
To such as him, the invitation of Jesus
has been extended.
I'VE are a sin-laden race, the worst
phase of all. l shall not say there's
no pleasure in sin. There is pleasure
in it, but the pleasure is bad and it
has it's wages, as have all infractions
upon holy law" DIR. Robinson here
related the experiences of several
bright young college men, known to
him, who with everything in their fa-
vor and to encourage them had sunk
to the depths of sin and had been res
cued or died or disappeared in wicked
ness. To those, he said, there came a
bitterness of fate and hardness of soul,
of themselves so severe and of such
torture that the fate cannot be COM
pretended by the more fortunate of
mankind.
THERE IS REASON ENOUGH.
isn't there reason enough then" he
continued, 'to Gomez Isn't there rea-
son for the three classes mentioned, the
fearladen, careladen and snladen 4?
What living man, unless he be crazy,
would say Come unto me all ye that
are heavy laden?' Gladstone with all
his great intellect and the esteem he
enjoys, would appear ridiculous If he
said it; Germany's emperor with his
folly and colossal egotism dare not.
But Jesus in his simplicity spake the
words, and all heaven adds it's testi-
mony Of their truth and crowds in
| to help and bear him out. No other
name is offered us than that of Jesus
| but it is he who will heal us, who will
| blot out our sins.
There is nothing easier than the
| condition. 1t is only come Here we
! are, weak, tainted, troubled but can rid
| ourselves of everything by accepting
| Christ's invitation. There are no noun
tains to climb, no seas to cross, no
price to pay. But we say we trample
| thy law; we deny thee; we sin in word
and deed; we deny thee but in reply
to each He says, sweetly, quietly,
| come
| you who have accepted Him are
| praising God for it. / know it is hard
for some to understand. The way and
| the why troubles them. 1t suggests
my own doubt when years ago in
| Watertown, N. Y, l was revolving the
subject In my own mind. 1t was on
a clear day and had seen no way and
was looking for some intricate means
to be brought to Him when suddenly
1t was communicated to me as though
by flash of sunlight why don't you
come just as you are?' rs that all,
Lord?' Come Just as / am without
one plea o, Lamb Of God, /
come, l come.'"