they may be, and whatsoever their .past lives — all such are invited to come to Christ.
Mark what a gracious offer Jesus makes. " I will give you rest. — Ye shall find rest to your souls." How cheering and comfortable are these words ! Unrest is one great characteristic of the world. Hurry, vexation, failure, disap23ointment, stare us in the face on every side. But here is hope. There is an ark of refuge for the weary, as truly as there was for Noah's dove. There is rest in Christ, rest of conscience, and rest of heart, rest built on pardon of all sin, rest flowdng from peace with God.
Mark what a simple request Jesus makes to the labor- mg and heavy-laden ones. " Come unto me : — Take my yoke upon you, learn of me." He interposes no hard conditions. He speaks nothing of works to be done first, and deservingness of His gifts to be established. He only asks us to come to Him just as we are, with all our sins, and to submit ourselves like little children to His teaching. •^ Go not," He seems to say, " to man for relief Wait not for help to arise from any other quarter. Just as you are, this very day, come to me."
Mark what an encouraging account Jesus gives of Himself. He says, " I am meek and lowly of heart." How true that is, the experience of all the saints of God has often proved. Mary and Martha at Bethany, Peter after his fall, the disciples after the resurrection, ThoAas after his cold unbelief, all tasted the " meekness and gen- tleness of Christ." It is the only place in Scripture where the " heart " of Christ is actually named. It is a saying never to be forgotten.