The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1919-03-08

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 I do I allow not; for what !
would, that do I not, but what I hate
that do l." Pastor Hsi, a 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 Tenny.
son:
And the stately ships go on
To their haven under the hiii:
But, o, for the touch Of a vanished hand
And the sound of voice that is still.
George Whitefield 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 weaTi.
ness may trouble us, Jesus offers rest
to ''all' who labor and are heavy
laden.
First he says, aCome INTO me
end will 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 it only after he had been an or
dained minister for years. He was on
his way to Georgia as missionary to
the Indians when dreadful storm
arose. He was frightened, but found
some simple Moravian Christians sing
ing through the storm. Even the won1-
On and children were not afraid to die.
Wesley discovered they had learned
the secret of peace by trusting In
Christ alone for salvation, and he be-
came a 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 con-
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 we'll to ask the question,
what is yoke for? The answer Is
found in the reference of the text to
a '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
az when, amongst us, the horses coli
lar is rightly adjusted and well
padded: the animal then finds 1T 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. stake my yoke upon
you" he says, "and learn Of me, for !
am meek and lowly in heart" 1t ID
because we lack meekness and low
illness that the yoke gals and the
burden is heavy.
AS we understand 1t, "meekness'' is
our attitude to men, especially, while
sTowliness" describes our attitude to
God. Jesus had both graces in per-
lection. In the very chapter where
our text is found, men call him a glut-
ton and winebibber, but he Is unruf.
fled. saying, "Wisdom is justified of
her children" Again, God hides his
secrets from the wise and prudent but
Jesus in his lowliness says: SEVEN so
Father, for so it seemed good in thy
sight" When We are thus meek and
rowly, It is evident the yoke will be
easy and the burden light.
Yokes are made for two and those
who wear Christ's yoke may assure
themselves that he himself viii jour
new beside them, contributing his great
strength to drawing the burdens that
Cypress them.
ssIn the world We shall have tribula-
tioD. but in me We shall have peace."