Newport weekly independent., 1902-07-25
THE VACATION REST.
Sermon by the High
 way and Byway" Preacher.
How Jesus Provided NeedfuI Out ing for His Disciples, and HeID- full Lessons Drawn
 TherefrOm,
(Copyright, 1902, by A. N. Kellogg News .h paper Col

yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest awhile.-Mark 6:3l.
 s Vaca tion Rest.-Scripture records at least one instance where our Lord called His disciples aside from the busy activity of the world for pe- riod of rest. The words of our text reveal to us the tender solicitude with which Christ regarded the phys ical as we'll as spiritual needs of His Followers. Doubtless there were other occasions during the three years of the active ministry of Christ when He and His disciples withdrew themselves for the recreation of the weary and exhausted bodies, as we'll as the renewing of their spiritual strength. Certainly the circum- stances which gave rise to the words of our text afford us ample warrant ill making them the basis of vaca- tion-time sermon. As we study the words, and the incidents surround ing them, and dig beneath the sur face for light as to the Divine mind regarding summertime rest and re- creation, we shall spend a helpful {
 The mistake is very often made in supposing that God is a hard task Z master, and that He views with dis approval vacation time and vacation rest. With this thought consciously or unconsciously burdening the heart, many dear and weary child of God steals off, half guiltily, to his vacation rest, almost feeling that he has left his Lord behind to follow him with sad and disappointed look. And in so doing half the joy and blessing of the vacation is lost. An, if we would draw close to the Saviour's side when the burdens of life press hard and the summers heat saps our vitality, we would hear Him say again, as He did of yore: "Come ye yourselves apart into desert place, and rest awhile" And instead of leaving Him behind, we would find the Lord pres ent at our side, making glad every moment and opening up new avenues of refreshing service for Him. Yes, He who draws the shades of night at the close of the busy day, and puts the world to rest; He who rested Himself on the Sabbath day and bids the world to rest with Him, is not unmindful of the further needs of His children. The call, Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" sounds with alluring tenderness from the shaded nook and rippling water side sometimes, and as we draw our selves apart for awhile we find the Lord there awaiting us to soothe our weary bodies and aching brains back to normal vigor again.
 If the declaration, ''The devil never takes a vacation," is not of hel1s own coinage, it is often used by the devil and his minions to put the mark of disapproval upon the vaca- tion excursion of one whom the Lord is calling apart for a season of need full rest. It may be true that the prince of this world never does take vacation. If so, it is only another instance of his hellish excess which is self-destructive. He cannot and will not hear God speak, but you, dear friend, have that privilege.
 If you will read the entire sixth chapter of Marks Gospel, from which our text is taken, you will find that the disciples have been journey ing in bands of two, preaching the Gospel of repentance, casting out devils and healing the sick. They re- turn and relate their experiences to Jesus, while the people of Capernaum eagerly crowd around in their unrest and need. Surely here is opportun- 'fty of further and greater work right at hand. An, if many a struggling disciple of Christ to-day had been there, how he would have groaned and exhausted his energies under that seeming urgent call to duty! But Jesus knew that rest was inn perative, and turning from the crowds for a season He leads His disciples out into the uninha bited but fragrant fields and sloping hill-sides to the northeast of the Lake of Gal flee. How vain it would have been for any of the disciples to tarry be- hind, when Jesus had planned re- freshing lake trip and run in the meadows. And, behold, while fresh lake breezes kiss the color back into their faces and the fragrance of the nodding flowers bring new messages of Gods love and care to their souls; while the tuneful birds sing Natures hymn of praise and restful harmony, and they feel their Tagging spirits reviving; behold, new channels of nd thai, h,.inf is turned into vast picnic, at which