The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1912-09-13

will give you rest" Matt 11:2S.
The paragraph mark separating
Verses q and % should rightfully be
removed for that portion is but a con-
tlnuatlon and contrast with what
has gone before. As We see from
Luke's account, Jesus has sent out
the seventy who return boasting OF
what had been accomplished in Jesus
name, only to receive his reproof that
they are not so much to rejoice in
that as that their names were written
"in heaven"
Jesus had made his appeal to Judea
only to be rejected; he has done a
marvellous work in Galilee only to be
rejected there also, and thus it leads
to his appeal to the individual. Jesus
knew that every problem of the
church, financial or otherwise, every
problem Of the body polite, is in its
final analysis one Of the condition Of
the individual heart
We have before us twofold diys'
sion of this lesson:
l. These Who Reject. One can
scarce reconcile the speaker of this
first section with him who spoke the
last words, but is any denunciaticn
| rncre awful than that of outraged
| 1--we? There Is no contradiction here
for his invitation is extended to the
very people whom he has denounced.
Chorazin and Bethsaida, laden with
sin, are urged to break off their yoke
Of bondage, be reconciled with him,
become yoked with him whose burden
is light.
Judgment Inevitable.
These cities had their day Of oppor-
tunity. In like manner We notice that
The measure of the Judgment is the
measure of opportunity. The fate OF
Tyre and Sodom was awful, out more
terrible is to be the fate, In the day
Of judgment, of Chorazin and Beth
saida, because they sinned against the
greater light. The possible exaltation
Of Capernaum as shown by the ques'
tion asked in verse %.
| Again we need to note that judg'
ment is inevitable. 1t is the lot and
portion of us ALL Jesus created a
wonderful opportunity for those cities
and in a like manner has created one
for us as individuals of the city, what
will be cur accounting in the judg
nent? We as citizens are being illt
minated by wonderful revelation Of
truth and righteousness. Shall New
York, Chicago and other large cen
tiers became as ancient Capernaum OF
Babylon, Nineveh and Tyre?
IL. Those Who Come to Jesus
Coming now to the second section Of
our lesson. one can feel the tender
4 pathos of the voice of Jesus as he
turns from the whole to the individ
uals who comprise the whole and
cries-"Hither to re" Not alone
those who are burdened by ceremon
ialism or guilt but more wonderful
scope than that, Gall who labor" His
invitation is, however, limited, for il
is to the laboring, thus excluding the
Ewilfully idle, whether they be idle ma
terially or spiritually.
+ Offers a Life.
( Jesus knew the rest of harmoniou:
relation to the Father, the rest O.
service, and so the climax Of his in
vitation is the test of experience, v
80, For my yoke is easy and my bur
/ den is light" Notice that our labc'
| is to be fruitful, "heavy laden bu
/ the Joy of service far outweighs any
| thought of its becoming duty ant
therefore orerous. A yoke implies
| being attached to a load and with an
other. How may we know If hi:
words be true? There is but one con
dition, Come" Jesus meant JUS
what and all that word implies. Ths
babe sitting upon the knee Of its nurse
! knows what it's mother means wher
| she calls Come" and 30 Jesus ex
/ tends his arms to sorrowful, lade1
| humanity as we'll as to ceremoniail1
/ laden Israel and says Come" No
i to a church or to some religious lead
/ err. but to Jesus himself. The invita-
! ton is very personal both as to thu
{ one who shall come, and the one tt
whom we are to come.
! There is in this lesson a luminous
! suggestion Of Jesus method Of deal
/ ing with the ills of our great cities
/ He does not propose lot Of mega
! lions, but offers life, an energizint
/ power that shall enable company o
! his believers to change these condl
/ tions of Ill. Some one has called at
1 tention to Jesus attitude towards tn
i Roman empire. Not one word O
/ specific rebuke nor denunciation, ye
4 in approximately three hundred year
4 there was a Christian emperor upol
4 that throne.
j These words OF Jesus thrill witt
\ music. They have been a solac'
i throughout the ages. They hav'
brought into his kingdom counties
i thousands.
4 Jesus here assumes, as he Away
4 did. that tho woes OF the impeniten
i na Tho iors Of tho saved are cnnd]