莱尔主教upper_room-第18章
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〃labouring and heavy…laden〃 are everywhere： they are a multitude that
man can scarcely number； they are to be found in every climate； and in
every country under the sun。
To what class do the labouring and heavy…laden belong？ They belong to
every class： there is no exception。 They are to be found among masters
as well as among servants； among rich as well as among poor； among
kings as well as among subjects；among learned as well as among
ignorant people。 In every class you will find trouble； care； sorrow；
anxiety； murmuring； discontent； and unrest。 What does it mean？ What
does it all e to？ Men are 〃labouring and heavy…laden；〃 and want
rest。
Now； rest for the labouring and heavy…laden is one of the chief
promises which the Word of God offers to man； both in the Old Testament
and the New。 〃e to me；〃 says the world； 〃and I will give you riches
and pleasure。〃 〃e with me；〃 says the devil； 〃and I will give you
greatness； power； and wisdom。〃 〃 e unto Me；〃 says the Lord Jesus
Christ； 〃and I will give you rest。〃 〃Walk in the old paths；〃 says the
prophet Jeremiah； 〃and you shall find rest for your souls。〃
But what is the nature of that rest which the Lord Jesus promises to
give？ It is no mere repose of body。
A man may have that； and yet be miserable。 You may place him in a
palace； and surround him with every possible fort； you may give him
money in abundance； and everything that money can buy； you may free him
from all care about to…morrow's bodily wants； and take away the need of
labouring for a single hour： all this you may do to a man； and yet not
give him true rest。 Thousands know this only too well by bitter
experience。 Their hearts are starving in the midst of worldly plenty；
their inward man is sick and weary； while their outward man is clothed
in purple and fine linen； and fares sumptuously every day！ Yes： a man
may have houses； and lands； and money； and horses； and carriages； and
soft beds； and good fare； and attentive servant。％ and yet not have true
〃rest。〃
The rest that Christ gives in the 〃old paths〃 is an inward thing。 It is
rest of heart； rest of conscience； rest of mind； rest of affection；
rest of will。 It is rest from a fortable sense of sins being all
forgiven； and guilt all put away。 It is rest from a solid hope of good
things to e； laid up beyond the reach of disease； and death； and the
grave。 It is rest from the well…grounded feeling； that the great
business of life is settled； its great end provided for； that in time
all is well done； and in eternity heaven will be our home。
Rest such as this the Lord Jesus gives to those who e to Him in the
〃old paths；〃 by showing them His own finished work on the cross； by
clothing them in His own perfect righteousness； and washing them in His
own precious blood。 When a man begins to see that the Son of God
actually died for his sins； his soul begins to taste something of
inward quiet and peace。
Rest such as this the Lord Jesus gives to those who e to Him in the
〃old paths；〃 by revealing Himself as their ever…living High Priest in
heaven； and God reconciled to them through Him。 When a man beans to see
that the Son of God actually lives at the right hand of the Father to
intercede for him； he will begin to feel something of inward quiet and
peace。
Rest such as this the Lord Jesus gives to those who e to Him in the
〃old paths；〃 by implanting His Spirit in their hearts； witnessing with
their spirits that they are God's children； and that old things are
passed away； and all things are bee new。 When a man begins to feel
an inward drawing towards God as a Father； and a sense of being an
adopted and forgiven child； his soul begins to feel something of quiet
and peace。
Rest such as this the Lord Jesus gives to those who e to Him in the
〃old paths；〃 by dwelling in their hearts as King； by putting all things
within in order； and giving to each faculty its place and work。 When a
man begins to find order in his heart in place of rebellion and
confusion； his soul begins to understand something of quiet and peace。
There is no true inward happiness until the true King is on the throne。
Rest such as this is the privilege of all believers in Christ。 Some
know more of it； and some less； some feel it only at distant intervals；
and some feel it almost always。 Few enjoy the sense of it without many
a battle with unbelief； and many a conflict with fear： but all who
truly e to Christ know something of this rest。 Ask them； with all
their plaints and doubts； whether they would give up Christ and go
back to the world。 You will get only one answer。 Weak as their sense of
rest may be； they have got hold of something which does them good； and
that something they cannot let go。
Rest such as this is within reach of all who are willing to seek it and
receive it。 The poor man is not so poor but he may have it； the
ignorant man is not so ignorant but he may know it； the sick man is not
so weak and helpless but he may get hold of it。 Faith； simple faith； is
the one thing needful in order to possess Christ's rest。 Faith in
Christ is the grand secret of happiness。 Neither poverty； nor
ignorance； nor tribulation； nor distress can prevent men and women
feeling rest of soul； if they will only e to Christ and believe。
Rest such as this is the possession which makes men independent。 Banks
may break； and money make itself wings and flee away。 War； pestilence；
and famine may break in on a land； and the foundations of the earth be
out of course。 Health and vigour may depart； and the body be crushed
down by loathsome disease。 Death may cut down wife； and children； and
friends； until he who once enjoyed them stands entirely alone。 But the
man who has e to Christ by faith will still possess some thing which
can never be taken from him。 Like Paul and Silas； he will sing in
prison； like Job； bereaved of children and property； he will bless the
name of the Lord。 He is the truly independent man who possesses that
which nothing can take away。
Rest such as this is the possession which makes men truly rich。 It
lasts； it wears； it endures； it lightens the solitary home； it smoothes
down the dying pillow； it goes with men when they are placed in their
coffins； it abides with them when they are laid in their graves。 When
friends can no longer help us； and money is no longer of use；when
doctors can no longer relieve our pain； and nurses can no longer
minister to our wants； when sense begins to fail； and eye and ear can
no longer do their duty； then； even then； the 〃rest〃 which Christ gives
in the 〃old paths〃 will be shed abroad in the heart of the believer。
The words 〃rich〃 and 〃poor〃 will change their meaning entirely one day。
He is the only rich man who has e to Christ by faith； and from
Christ has received rest。
This is the rest which Jeremiah was missioned to proclaim。 This is
the rest which Christ offers to give to all who are labouring and
heavy…laden； this is the rest for which He invites them to e to Him；
this is the rest which I want all who read this paper to enjoy； and to
which I bring an invitation this day。 May God grant that the invitation
may not be brought in vain！
（a） And now； before we part； let me ask if there is any reader who is
inwardly desiring rest of soul； and yet knows not where to turn for it？
Remember this day； that there is only one place where rest can be
found。 Governments cannot give it； education will not impart it；
worldly amusements cannot supply it； money will not purchase it。 It can
only be found in the hand of Jesus Christ； and to His hand you must
turn if you would find peace within。
There is no royal road to rest of soul。 Let that never be forgotten。
There is only one way to the Father；Jesus Christ； one door into
heaven；Jesus Christ； and one path to heart…peace and rest；Jesus
Christ。 By that way all
