Thompson (J. R.), Burden Bearing, 7.
Thomson (W.), Life in the Light of God's Word, 299.
Tomory (A.), in Alexander Tomory, Indian Missionary, 109.
Trench (R. C.), Sermons New and Old, 50.
Vaughan (J,), Simons (Brighton Pulpit), vi. (1869), No. 631.
British Congregationalist, Oct. 4, 1906 (J. H. Jowett).
Christian Age, xlii. 34 (L. Abbott).
Christian World Pulpit, xxv. 58 (W. M. Statham); xiix. 49 (R.
Eyton) : xxxvii. 179 (J. L. King) ; xli. 214 (R. I. Woodhouse) ; xlii.
338 (J. Wills) ; 1. 186 (I. Harthill) ; Ixv. 36 (W. T. Davison) ; Ixx.
298 (T. B. McGorkindale) ; Ixxx. 42 (W. McMillan). Church Family Netvspaper, Oct. 11, 1912 (A. Robertson).
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Burdens.
Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.— Gal. vi. 2. For each man shall bear his own burden. — Gal. vi. 5.
The key-note of this Epistle, the key-note of Christianity, is struck in these two sentences. They seem to express a contradic- tion, but it is not really so. If we take them together they are a brief description of the essence of our religion; a definition, in short compass, of the spirit of the Christian life. For the Christian faith is based upon two great underlying principles, which, though not strictly original to it, are yet, in their passionate expression, among the most precious of its gifts to man. They explain at once the mystery and comprehensiveness of its scheme of salvation for the individual soul ; and also the Divine beauty and eternal reality of that great ideal of the Church as the Kingdom of God, a community of souls in which each individual member must bear his own burden, while all the members are bound together, bearing one another's burdens, and united in Him who is the great Burden-bearer of humanity, who is the Head of the body, even Christ.
It is impossible to obey one part of this law without obeying the other; it is impossible to bear our own burden, without at the same time bearing the burden of others ; it is impossible to realize the awful responsibilities of being, without at the same time realizing the claims of our brothers ; impossible to find our own true life without giving up our individual will, without merging our personal interests in those of the human brotherhood.
So we have — I. The Individual Burden. II. The Mutual Burden.
III. The Law that Lightens the Burden.
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414 BURDENS
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The Individual Buedbm.
"Every man shall bear his own burden."
1. When St. Paul says, "Every man shall bear his own burden," he is speaking of the burdens which no man can transfer from his own shoulders to those of another, burdens which from the very nature of things he must bear, and not another. And he uses a word that carries this meaning. It is the word used by classical writers when speaking of a soldier's kit. St. Luke uses it in the Acts when speaking of the lading of a ship. And our Lord uses it when He says, " My burden is light." In all these cases the idea is that of a burden which cannot be got rid of. A soldier on active service must carry his own knapsack, or he is not fit to be a soldier. A merchantman must carry her own lading, or she may as well be broken up. A Christian must bear the burden of Christ, whatever that burden may be, or he cannot be a Christian. There are, then, certain burdens which a man must himself bear, which he cannot transfer from his own shoulders to those of another — which another cannot carry.
^ How many people cunningly and persistently contrive to shift their burden to the shoulders of their neighbours ! They are not particular as to whom they saddle with their duty and care, but they determine to bear as little of it themselves as is possible. In youth somebody must fag for them ; they treat their friend as a valet ; their public life is parasitical ; as husband or wife, they shuffle the whole weight of responsibiUty on their partner. The ingenuity of the ignoble to make themselves comfortable at other people's expense is no small part of the comedy and tragedy of human life. How different the spirit of Christ ! Let me manfully accept my own burden ; and then, by thought, sympathy, influence, and substantial aid, let me lighten the burden of my neighbour. My Master was the great burden bearer of the race. Let me drink in His spirit and follow in His steps.*
2. In creating man God has laid firm and deep the foundations of individual character and of individual life. There is no in- dividuality in the case of a flock of sheep or a herd of cattle
1 W. L. Watkinson, The Gates of Dawn, 24.
GAL. VI. 2, 5 415
Doubtless no two sheep are exactly alike, and the shepherd knows the difference between them, however alike they may appear to the superficial; but there is no individual consciousness and no individual life. One primrose is like another primrose. It is a pity that this one should fade, but another will spring up in its place, and the hedgerow will be none the worse. But in the case of men God has laid firm and deep the foundations of individual character, individual condition, individual responsibility, and individual destiny. So it comes to pass that of two children born of the same stock, playing in the same nursery, brought up very largely with the same education and surroundings, each possesses his own individual character from the outset, sometimes in a fashion which puzzles parents who study their children closely; and, as soon as moral responsibility begins, each one begins of necessity to shape his own character, to choose his own course, to mark out his own path, and very largely to fashion his own destiny. And the burdens each one has to bear are those belonging to his individual lot.