Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1904-01-27
ll57fIze 81 POPULAR
lf@ 81 PULPIT

meaning and rest is Immediately given
No one can doubt the sincerity of such
an invitation, there is a consuaining
power in its tenderness that appeals
TO the weary and heavy Laden" to
whom it is extended.
Tired and ovcrweighted" Is anoth-
er meaning of these words, and while
physical troubles are not alone or ev-
en- chiefly intended it would be a mis-
take TO suppose them TO be excluded.
Our difficulties are often complex in
their origin and we do not always know
from what source they arise. There
is a form of soul WEAKNESS which
arises from a deep sense of failure.
No matter what a mans religious
creed, provided it is a creed and not
mere catalogue of opinions, he win
find it no easy matter to live up to it.
To many this is discomaging fact
and the conviction of failure is one of
the hardest burdens to carry. But
that is not the hardest form of re-
ligion which makes us satisfied with
ourselves; indeed, a certain self-dissat-
isfacti1n VIII alone furnish us with in
centiYe 10 attempt TO better our past
The creed that n man can live up to,
and that without half trying, is not
worth the having. 1t is not the sat
isfied conviction 81 have reached my
IDEAL that gives us peace, but the
thought Il am nearer to it than l
was a while ago." The knowledge that
in spite of mistakes we are making
progress means tranquility. Il will
give you rest means l will teach you
how to succeed
However unable we may he to dag
nose our disease. we are always suffi-
ciently aware of the symptoms. Why
we are tired and overweighted we ma,
not always know, but we are never i'll
doubt as to the fact Perhaps times
have been hard aId work is scarce,
whether due to strikes or cold wealth
er, you have struggled hard to support
your families, and have worked as
faithfully as you know now. Your re-
ligious beliefs may be many or few;
perhaps you have never formulated
them clearly in your own mind; that is
not, however, the important point In
regard to this invitation. 1t Is this:
You are discouraged, the call makes
no exceptions; it does not read, Come
We discouraged Christians" or Come
We faithful disciples;' it's a broader
call than that; the invitation includes
you.
Or perhaps health has failed and
you have become disqualified for work
you cannot dig, and you are, of course.
ashamed to beg. Possibly you have
almost reached the point when you
feel it is better for you to die than
to live. You have never subscribed to
any creed" you say; wen, none the
less, the invitation is for you. Often
death visits the home. The son is try
ing to supply the place of the father
or the daughter of the mother. Duties
are many and onerous, yeXatiOns fire.
quent and not always trivial; the bur
den is heavy ON your young shoulders:
it is certain the invitation is for you.
Many hear this Angelus who do not
stop their work to pray. Perhaps you
think you have no time Try it. See
if he will not give you rest After all.
it is not so much what God gives you
as what he is TO you that means rest
to the discouraged heart. In its full
est meaning the Angelus is this:
Come unto me all We discoura ged
ones and l will be your rest