"Whereunto shall I liken the children of this generation?" says Christ. They found fault with John because he came "neither eating nor drinking;" and they now find fault with our Lord, because he came both "eating and drinking:" vers. 18, 19. By this they showed there indisposedness to receive the truth. Christ shows them the punishment which such a conduct will incur: vers. 20, 21.

But, that no true penitent may be discouraged by these threatenings, he says, "Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." Here is a counsellor, in the text, who can fulfil this promise of rest, as well as all others, for time and eternity.

The term "yoke" signifies service-subjection. See 1 Kings xii. 4; and 1 Tim. vi. 1. Here might also be an allusion to the law of Moses. There is the yoke of legal ceremonies. See Acts xv. 10; and Gal. v. 1. They are called a yoke in respect of their variety, and the difficulty of performing them; in respect of their chargeableness and inefficacy, being only shadows of good things to come. Heb. x. 1. Therefore our Lord seems to say to his disciples, "You have been used to a yoke: I am a Master, and have a yoke: the selfdenial, the afflictions, the trials, the conflicts, to which my servants are called, make a part of it; but, in comparison to every other, "my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

"My yoke is easy," i. e. a gracious, reasonable, profitable, advantageous service. It shall not be a grievous, oppressive, heavy burden. If I call you to sustain a weight, I will give you strength to bear it.

How heavy a yoke was contained in that sentence, "Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things that are written in the book of the law to do them!" Compare it with the Gospel rule, 1 John v. 3. "This is the love of God, that we keep his commandments."

The man that knows what a slavish, wretched yoke sin puts upon the shoulders-how it drives peace and comfort from his heart-how it puts him upon expense and labor to seek a little rest, in one vain pursuit after another-will allow that no yoke and service is so heavy as that of Satan. Christ says-I am a Master, and a good Master. You have hitherto served a bad master, and he has put a very heavy yoke on your shoulders.

We are apt to think only of gross sins; and forget the sin of "a stiff neck" and a "stony heart." The text implies that we should not only enter into Christ's service, but learn how to serve him. We should not resist the discipline of God with us. "Jeshurun waxed. fat and kicked:" God had strong hold upon him, but he kicked. When he became submissive-when he learned to wear the yoke-God says, "I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself thus: Thou hast chastised me, and I was chastised, as a bullock unaccustomed to the yoke. Surely, after I was instructed, I smote upon my thigh," Then God says, "Is not Ephraim a pleasant child?" He has now taken my yoke.

In the school of Christ there are certain paradoxes, seeming contradictions which it is our interest to study. The text holds out one, namely, that we shall gain freedom by wearing a yoke, and ease by bearing a burden. There are schools for every science-philosophy, astronomy, physic, &c. Let us never forget the school of Christ, where the scholar is taught this grand lesson, among many others-that by the cross of Christ we

overcome, and obtain all things: that we conquer by submission that there is laid up for us an eternal weight of glory, but that the way to it is through the valley of humiliation.

The true Christian begins with the mind of a little child he goes on like a child that "is weaned of his mother" he proceeds as a submissive child: he takes the yoke. These words imply, Seek rest in my yoke. There is no help under our rising doubts-doubts that rise and spring up like locusts, and devour our green things, but in asking, What does God say? This is the only way to get the mind decided.

Is a man oppressed and worn with pain? Who sends pain? The Lord sends it, as a wise Physician. He could take it away in a moment: but as he will sanctify it, and as he has wise ends for leaving it, he says only, "Take my yoke," and be easy. This is taking it away while leaving it. We may want to choose a way of our own; we may want to go this way, while he is turning us the other: but let us not dispute with our Master, and be like the "bullock unaccustomed to the yoke." Let us believe that his way is the best way.

If any are under the dominion of pride, self-will, "fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind," let them remember, these are fatal to the kingdom of Christ, which is set up for the overthrow of the kingdom of darkness. Christ proposes his yoke that we may wear it; not merely hear of it from the preacher-talk about it-speculate upon it; but, put it on and wear it. This is the characteristic of a true Christian.

Learn of me." If ever we wear the yoke to any purpose, it must be by learning of Christ. Take my cross, says Christ, and bear it to the end, and my cross shall bear you up. This is the grand secret. Nothing else can bear you up.

The conquest as well as the counsel of Christ gives us rest. It is as though he should say, "Be of good cheer-bear up; make a stand; think not to despond; consider who I am; how I have overcome before you; consider the steps I have taken; consider how I spoiled death; remember, I have not only overcome before you, but for you; sin shall not have dominion over you. "Because I live, ye shall live also." Here is a remedy for your depraved nature.

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If there is any pain in bearing Christ's yoke, it is because the wearer has "a stiff neck," a neck unaccustomed to the yoke." You may have been long in the world's and the devil's service; but has it afforded any rest? Christ says, "Come unto me, and I will give you rest;" renounce the former service, accept my offer; is it not freely offered? is it not the "one thing needful?" Remember, if you object to wearing the yoke of Christ, there is no other alternative; you must either have his yoke, or a millstone that will sink you into eternal ruin: "for the wages of sin is death."

If we would be inquiring how our Lord would act in such or such a case, let us hear him saying, "Learn of me;" I am a meek teacher; I can have patience. "Consider him who endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds." "I am meek and lowly of heart." St. Peter, in the second chapter of his first Epistle, shows us how this example of Christ bears on our case: “If, when ye do well and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. . . . Because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example that ye should follow his steps. Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously." We must, all the way we go, be learning of Christ.

"And ye shall find rest to your souls."

"The work

of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance forever." Isaiah xxxii. 17. Ye shall find rest in my blood: "Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God -to declare, I say, at this time, his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him that believeth in Jesus." Rom. iii. 25, 26.

The freedom from slavery which this service brings is a perfect evidence of the truth of Christianity. A man may boast of his freedom-of his liberty-of his wearing no yoke; but, is he not torn by passion? is he not led captive by the love of money? is he not the slave of custom, of pride, of pleasure? is he not the dupe of every folly which the world, the flesh, and the devil can present? And can this man boast of freedom? See 2 Peter ii. 19. "While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption : for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage." The prodigal says, "If I can but throw off this yoke, I shall be free:" instead of which, he rivets the chains of slavery upon him.

The language of the text is confirmed by Christian experience. St. Paul, who was "in labors more abundant in stripes above measure in prisons more frequent: in deaths oft: beaten with rods: suffering shipwreck in perils: in weariness: painfulness: watchings hunger and thirst: cold and nakedness;" see 2 Cor. xi. 23; yet, when his account of the yoke of Christ was summed up, says, "Our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory." And again: "I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy