The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-06-21
THE INVITATIONS.

:. (selected for Tho Dispatch.)
} Come unto Me. all We that labor nh,
are heavy laden, and / Will give 70,
rest."--St. Matthew, xi. 2s
1t is not the worlds way to make eff
forts to attract and draw towards u.
whatsoever may chance to be mos
naturally repugnant to US. We do no
go into tho byways and hedges tc
bring home the hornet and the viper
/ Rather, we flee from such animals ant
/ objects. This Is natural for us. and w,
are too prone to think that the won
derful invitation chosen for the text
for to-day is also only to be expected
But do we realize how heavy laden we
are with SIM how intensely He, the All
and abhors sin, and how our whole
lives-all that we say or think or do
is tainted witt-.it? And yet 1t Is to
those who are most bowed down under
sins burden that He vouchsafes to say
Come unto Me-"
Surely that one word, COME" Is the
most wonderful of all that are written
in the volume of Scripture, from its
first page to its last.
| Had He not come into this world of
sin to assure us Of His love, it Is hardly
possible to see how we could even ven
ture to hope for such a thing or even
believe it possible. Yet into this guilty
world. fallen and rebellious, He came
1T
come to call sinners to repentance; I
come to seek and to save that which
was lost"
More wondrous still, whenever He
bids us come. He attaches some graz
cious promise to the Invitations: Come
unto Me and your soul shall live" "Ho
every one that thirsteth, come ye to
the waters; and he that hath no money,
come We, buy and eat; yea, come buy
wine and milk, without money and
without price" IF any man thirst, let
him come unto Me and drink" Let
him that is athirst come; whatsoever
will, let him take of the water of life
freely" Whosocver! There is no limit,
no restrictions; and yet, because they
who have most need to come, might on
that very ground lose heart. and grow
fearful of approaching Him, He singles
them out especially. and, as 1t were
above all the rest. "Come unto Me. all
ye that labor and are heavy laden, and
l will give you rest" And more than
thls-"Ye will not come to Me. that 20
might have life" Ye--the very crea-
lures whom sin was making SO noXlous,
so disgusting, yet whom, in spite of all,
He so compassionately loved Surely
such love passes understanding. 1t Is
high as heaven; we cannot measure 1t.
He bids us come to Him; and to
whom else should we go? There Is no
help, nor rest, nor peace. nor salvation
ir any other. He invites those that
labor and are heavy laden to come to
Him, and what a miserable condltion
Is QUESTIONED down under a load of
guilt, so much weakness every
where. so many shortcomings, SO
many falls, so many resolutions
forgotten, such broken vows, such
duties omitted. such offenses commit
ted! Nothing within-on which we can
rest, and without where is the stay LOT
our feet? No rest anywhere for our
weary spirits TIL the Voice reaches US:
Come unto Me-" Take my yoke upon
YOU and learn of Me, and ye
shall find rest unto your souls. FOR
My yoke is easy. and My burden Is
flight"
Keep before you, brethren. who 1t is
that has bid you come. No ono ever
vet accepted the Invitation OF CHRIST
and was disappointed Of his hope or
failed to obtain peace and rest unto our
souls. Pray continually that you may
he so taught OF Ills Spirit as that you
may truly learn and resolutely iol-
low tho way to Him. and you VIII cease
TO labor and DO heavy laden. YOU VIII
find His yoke easy, and His burden
light,