The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1898-02-25
WARNING AND INVITATION.


bor bebfuary 81 sr~s
BIASED Upon Peioubet's Select Sofesl
THE LESSON. II -o-3o. keae
the whole chapter. md Luke is:E-ta
GOLDEN TExT.-Come unto me Al ~
that labor and are heavy laden. and VIZ
give you rest--Matt- Ia
IME--Iaiter part OF the summer OF
A. ID. 3
PLAcE.-Galilee. probably IN the vicinity
Of the cities on the shore OF the lake
COMMENT.
After a proclamation of the King
dom. and the call 10 repentance. there
10 now heard a note Of warning and
Of judgment.
From this time onward these warn
ings grow more and more terrible TO the
close of His ministry. See Luke li:5s-
81; l3:i-5: 1915. aud their strongest
and most terrible expression in Matt
Chap. 23.-Abbott.
But al the same time mercy stands
close beside judgment, and the purpose
OF judgment is to persuade men 10 &C
cept OF mercy.
l. Warnings.-Ns. 20-27. A de,ega
ton Of Johns disciples came from
Macherus. where John was imprisoned
TO inquire of Jesus whether lie was tho
Messiah or not. Many things must have
conspired 10 try Johns faith. Jesus die
not come as the expected Messiah was
supposed TO come. with kingly glory.
delivering the Jews from the Roman
yoke-and yet John had heralded him
as the Messiah. There was great d.
versi,y Of opinion among the people.
The work was going on almost imper-
ceptib.y. There were healngs, and
blessed words. and crowds. but no signs
OF deiiyerance.
After Jesus had sent His answer &c
this message. He discoursed 10 the peo-
pie about John. Many objected &c
Johns way of coming. and the same
people criticised Jesus for coming in
another manner. Ike children who
wanted TO dance when the musician
played sad music. and 10 mourn when
the music was cheerful. Nothing would
suit them
Then Jesus began 10 warn the peo-
pie of their danger Every possible mo-
tive must be brought TO bear. He saw
them despising sheir opportunities
binding their eyes, soaring their con-
sciences. rushing headlong to destruc-
ton. when help and salvation were at
hand. They repented not" ". 2o) even
in the presence of the Divine works
whose object was 10 lead them TO re-
pentance. "Woe unto thee. Chorazin.
woe unto thee, Bethsaida. for If the
mighty works, which were done IN you
had been done in Tyre and Sidon. they
would have repented long ago in sack
cloth and ashes"
III. The Invitation The Two Bur
d-ns.-vs. 2s. 30. !. C. Jesus now draws
men by good placed before them. al
He had urged them by the woes that
were behind them He invites all thai
labor and are heavy laden. struggling
under too heavy burdens. moving witt
difficulty and pain. as ship is said ts
labor, when badly ballasted. IN storm,
sea. The burdens are our sins. our bar
habits. cares. sorrows. remorse for thu
past, fears for the future. anxietes
losses, sickness. disappointments. In
ability to find work. debts. business
cares. and all the other things tina
make life a burden. 1t Is often tn
burden Of self-consciousness
Christ's burden is one of duty. of self
denial. Of labor for Him. of the carei
that are needful for our best charactel
and Development IL is a burden o.
faith when we cannot see 1t is the bur
den of love and gratitude. And IL !.
infinitely light compared with the othei
burden. There is no real rest withou
some burden.
Thisrest was % The kind OF rest tha
can be given. Its source was from with
out (2) II is the rest from the burdeI
Of sin. Forgiveness brought peace. g.
1t is the rest Of protection. God keep
irg rs under the shadow of His wing
60 II is the rest in the promise that al
things should work together for good
90 II Is the rest Of new and refreshin.
strength. The burden is light. is ever
an exhilaration and JOY when strength
is given TO bear il. 90 1t is the rest o
love. Of the sympathy and friendship
Of Christ.
III. The Invitation. The Two Yokes
VS.. %. 30. %. Take my yoke upol
you;" The emphasis Is on my. il con
irast with the yoke they have been &C
cusiomed to bear. 4 yoke means 'hre
things. ~ II Is mark Of obedience
and submission. The figure is takei
from oxen. who submissively yield 1
the yoke of their master. (2) IL is tn
means OF service. II enables one TO d
work CD 1t is service with another
Usually two are yoked together.
The Yoke of Satanic one can IS
cape from Bearing yoke OF some kind
The yoke men had been bearing wa
chiefly the yoke Of Satan. They wer
serving with him and for him. And hi
yoke Is always CALLING. The yoke Q
pride. ambition. selfishness. of fashior
OF worldliness. Of sin and remorse. Q
self-indulgence. of sensuality. of cot
etousness. is always heavy. bittel
CALLING yoke. an Egyptian bondage.
is yoke with Satan. going in hi
company and receiving his reward.
costs something 20 be a Christian;
costs much more 10 be a sinner.
The Yoke of Christ Is Easy. 3
For C) il is the service OF good Masts
4 wha Il eeeLfnr ever she heat fo- HE n