The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1918-11-23

as it's chief boon.
TWO Types Of WEAKNESS.
The words Of Jesus suggest weari-
ness of two types, which may be de-
scribed as active and passive. Some
are weary because they 'labor." The
toll of life exhausts them or the en-
Geavor to live righteously throws them
into despair. They cry, "For that
which / do allow not; for what |
would, that do I not but what / hate,
that do l." Pastor Hsi, notable Chi
nese Christian, tells us that as heath
en- he struggled to fulfill Confucius'
ideal of "the princely man." but final
ly gave up his efforts and solaced him.
self with the opium pipe. Others are
weary because "heavy laden with sor-
row or guilt. Many sing with Fenny-
| son:
And the stately ships go on
| To their haven under the hill;
| But o, for the touch of vanished hand
And the sound Of voice that is still.
George Whitefeld was so oppressed
by sense of guilt that he lay for
hours at time on the floor of the
public house where he worked; and
John Bunyan has pictured himself IN
the 'Pilgrim" with the great bundle on
| his back.
But, no matter what form of weari-
ness may trouble us, Jesus offers resi-
to "alP' who labor and are heavy
| laden.
First he says g ;otne unite % 80
I end viii give you rest" This we
take to refer to that rest OF con-
science which he bestows as a gift
/ on all who come to him. This settles
their position eternally and they are
"safe in the arms of Jesus" What a
great boon this is! John Wesley
found 1t only after he had been an or
dained minister for years. He was on
his way to Georgia as missionary to
the Indians when a dreadful storm
arose. He was frightened, but found
some simple Moravian Christians sing
ing through the storm. Even the wom-
en- and children were not afraid to die.
Wesley discovered they had learned
the secret of peace by trusting in
Christ alone for salvation, and ne be-
came seeker for the same rest OF
soul. He found 1t at last, and as the
result the Evangelical Revival was
born. To come to Christ is to believe
on him, to trust him (John $3.50. To
all who thus come he gives rest of cons
science.
/ But many who have this gift are
still oppressed from day to day by the
cares Of life. To them Jesus speaks
again, saying, stake my yoke upon
you and We shall find rest unto your
souls" This deeper rest, which is
found by taking his yoke, is well
worth our attention.
It may be well to ask the question,
what Is a yoke for? The answer Ia
found in the reference Of the text TO
Burden" The yoke is to enable
an animal to draw its burden. More
over, the burden will be slight" only
when the yoke is "easy" 1t is just
}, as when, amongst us, the horses col
lar is rightly adjusted and well
padded: the animal then finds it easy
to draw it's burden, but otherwise Its
shoulder is CALLED and 1t refuses to pull
the load.
Here now we are coming to the prac-
teal point. Jesus tells us the very
things we need in our Jokes to make
them easy so that the burden Of life
will be light. "Take my yoke upor
you," he says, ''and learn of me, for
am meek and lowly in heart" 1t Il
because we lack meekness and low
, Illness that The yoke gals and thu
burden is heavy.
As we understand 1t, "meekness" Ii
8 our attitude to men, especially, while
. 'lowliness" describes our attitude t.
9 God. Jesus had both graces in. per
. lection. In the very chapter where
our text is found, men call him glut
ton and winebibber, but he is unruf
, fed, saying, "Wisdom is justified o.
her children" Again, God hides hi.
i secrets from the wise and prudent bu
Jesus in his lowliness says: Even 81
Father, for so it seemed good in ihl
sight" When We are thus meek AMI
\ Iowly, it is evident the yoke will b.
p easy and the burden light.
a Yokes are made for two and thos'
i who wear Christ's yoke may assur'
{ themselves that he himself will jour
g ney beside them, contributing his grea
s strength to drawing the burdens tina
D Cypress them.
\ ."In the world We shall have tribula
ton. but in me We shall have peace.