Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1910-06-15
CHRISTIAN ENDEAvoR.
Prayer Meeting Topic For the Week
Beginning June 10, 1910.

These verses are among the most
gracious and comforting ever spoken
by Christ. The invitation Come unto
Ne" was not addressed to all who
bore physical or mental burdens that
were heavy to bear, but to the sinful
burdens of man. Christ was speaking
TO the Pharisees, who were trying to
carry their own burdens of sin, as rep
resented by Christians burden in the
Pilgrims Progress" To these He
would give rest by taking the burdens
Of sin from them by His death upon
the cross. When Christian reached
the cross and looked upon it in faith
dropped from his shoulders and he
was light hearted and free. So may
any one be who will follow his exam
pie and allow Christ to take his bur-
den Of sins, which He is able to do.
because on the cross He paid the pen
atty of mans sin.
When, however we have become
Christians and have lost the burden
Of sin there are still burdens to be
borne We still need spiritual rest.
We are still often weary and lone and
sad" and still need to come to Christ
and find rest In Him. Christ deceives
no one He does not say that burdens
will end with becoming Christians. but
points out the way Of getting relief in
them. not by getting away from them.
These burdens He likens to yoke,
and the figure taken from the Old
Testament refers to the yoke placed
upon cattle
l. He asks us to take His yoke upon
us. Take My yoke upon you" The
yoke Of Christ is double yoke. 1t is
on Him and on US, and under such cir
cumstances it is not so burdensome.
II we walk steadily with Him the
yoke win be easy and He viii bear
the heavier part of the burden. In
carrying the cross with Simon of Cy-
rene Christ bore the heavier part, that
which contained the erossbeam, while
Simon simply held up the bottom of
the upright beam. Such will be our
position If we take Christ's yoke upon
US. THE cross is not greater than His
grace"
In taking Christ's yoke we become
His disciples. for we learn Of Him.
The principal method of learning is
through His example, Learn Of Me,
for l am meek and lowly In heart"
Meekness and humility are examples
Of His virtues which we must copy.
Christ is the greatest teacher the
world ever had, for He taught with
perfect knowledge the greatest things
of hfe-the mutual relations between
God and man. of those between man
and man and especially concerning the
future life. Still, His greatest power
as teacher Of morals and religion
was in the life that He lived. In fol-
lowing His example we are to learn of
Him. Moreover, 1t is in thus becoming
like Him that we have the greatest
success in winning others to Him.
Christlikeness is more winsome than
ability to teach theology. Saintliness
has more power in making disciples
than the power to teach religion from
scientific standpoint. Let men see
Christ in your lives and they win soon
seek the source OF such life
Christ's yoke is easy. 1t is yoke,
and there are burdens with 1t, but it is
easier than any other yoke. We must
bear some yoke-the yoke Of Christ,
"the yoke of the law or the yoke Of
Satan. The yoke Of Christ may seem
hard at first. but it grows easier as we
become more accustomed to walking
with Christ and at death leaves US
forever. 1.-The yoke OF the law"-try-
ing by our own righteousness to save
ourselves is most CALLING, becomes
more so as we advance in life and at
death brings no relief. The yoke Of
Satan seems easy at the start. How
pleasant seemingly to do as we please,
to give free reign to our appetites and
passions, but later on how burdensome
the yoke of Satan becomes. Body and
mind become impaired. Religion has
no power In our lives. We are yoked
indeed. We may try to escape our
dreadful condition, but the yoke in
creases in size and becomes more bur-
densome. almost beyond endurance,
and when death comes we still find
no release. Indeed, torture turns to
torment The rich man when he died,
according to the parable Of Christ, SO
suffered. 'In hell he lifted up his
eyes. being In torment" How differ
ent from the condition of one who has
worn the yoke of Christ in his life
time, To him there shall be no more
death. neither sorrow nor crying:
neither shall there be any more pain,
for the former things are passed
away" Some yoke you must bear in
this world. In the light Of the above
facts how can you do else than take
Christ's yoke upon you?
BIBLE READINGS.
Lev. XVI. 1917; Deut. xviii. Al. 48;
Matt. v, 1-12; Luke xiii, "a; lisa. XVI.
}, 4; John xiv. 1-3; Nv. 1-16; Pet. v. 81.