How many poor, wearied hearts are at this moment echoing the words of the Psalmist, " Oh that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away, and be at rest " The cry for rest has been the deepest craving in the human soul ever since the fail. Sin announced its presence, even, ere the wages of sin were reaped in the conscience, by this appeal for rest. Rest left the bosom of our first parents when unsatisfied desire took the place of the innocent enjoyment of God's goodness, and their children, in successive generations, have been echoing that cry from heart to heart.
With deepening tones and increasing intensity did that cry send its appeal to the outraged throne of God, till from the bosom of the Father, according to counsels deep and wise, came forth into this world the Son of His love. Then for the first time, in this sad scene, do we hear of rest proffered to man as a present blessing. Jewish Sabbaths had witnessed to a promised rest, and creation waits for that rest. There is too a "rest that remaineth for the pc ogle of God," when the power of God shall have reduced all things in Heaven and Earth again into ordered beauty under Christ; but this present rest, that amid the toiling, groaning, restless scene around, is open now to the weary heart, is the deepest and sweetest rest of all.
It is not the rest of God,-hope's portion in a day to come; but rest in God,-faith's portion now. It is this rest that Jesus offers the weary soul. It is this rest He came to give. " Come," He says, " unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." As another has observed, " It is now no longer a question of' responsibility to accept or receive; it is free sovereign grace that acts from itself and for itself, finding the weary and burdened that it may rest them. Oh, how blessed all this is! He who spoke these words knew what man was, what the world was, what the most privileged were. He knew that in a scene in which God was not, where His name had been dishonored, and His grace was refused, there were weariness and burdens enough, but rest there was none. He Himself stands here as the only One in whom there is a place for the sole of the foot to rest on; and, looking out over all time since, and poor breaking hearts in it, He says, Come to me.' The invitation is world-wide; those to whom it is addressed are found everywhere."
Yes, indeed, " found everywhere." Wherever throbs a human heart, with life that flows alone from Adam, there an aching void is found that never can he filled till He is found, who says, " Come unto me, and I will give you rest." No transient gift for time is offered here, but rest, eternal and divine. Rest, deep and abiding as the nature and throne of Him who sent His only begotten Son into this toiling sin-stricken scene to speak' these wondrous words. These words of heaven-born sweetness. These words that fall upon the soul and wrap it in their own sweetness with noiseless, undisturbing entrance, as softly and as soothingly as falls the dove's light wing o'er the object of its love. The answer of the heart of God to that piteous cry from the desolate, toiling children of sorrow, " Oh that I had wings like a dove!'' for then would I fly away, and be at rest." Not power given to take a toilsome flight to a land of quietness and joy, but the sweet flight of love to the heart down here to give it, without the straining even of one more thought or feeling, the boon it craves. A boon sent, not by the chiefest amid the unfallen angels of light, but by the hand of the Son of God's love. Yes, the mission of Jesus to this poor world is to give rest, rest now; bye and bye He will bring the glory. A rest of circumstances, then shall be added to the gift be-'fore bestowed, that shall lend it fullness but the sweetness of which we already know, for the heart rests in that which no circumstances can touch or change, rests in Him who is " the same yesterday, to day, and forever.
But for the moment let us inquire what is it that makes man so complete a stranger to rest, though so eagerly craving it, and ceaselessly seeking it. Who is there who cannot give the answer? A guilty conscience and an unsatisfied heart. In the vain hope of quieting the one, man goes through the toilsome routine of religious observances.and legal requirements. In the equally futile effort to gain the other, he gives himself up to the pursuit of pleasure, and in. both cases travels farther and farther away from the source whence either the one or the other can be obtained, and only to find himself, the more eager and earnest in the pursuit of what he seeks he is, the more wearied and heavy laden.
But let us turn from man to that blessed Jesus who canoe into this world to give what man so vainly toils to to attain by his own efforts. To give peace of conscience and rest of heart.
. This consideration brings us to the two great objects of the mission of the blessed Son of God. He came "to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself,"-to work the work of man's salvation; He came to reveal the Father,—to open out the heart of God before His creatures in the perfection of His nature as love.
The knowledge of the one gives peace of conscience; the enjoyment of the other gives satisfation of heart. It gives rest, complete rest. Rest, so to speak, that leads into rest with ever deepening sweetness. Rest of soul, that leaves conscience and heart equally without one longing unsatisfied.
Dear reader, do you know this rest? If not, turn and drink deep into the blood of Christ,-" He made peace by the blood of His cross," and His " blood is drink indeed," that leaves the conscience stainless as the unsullied light of God. Then sit down at His feet and learn of Him as He reveals the Father's love, uncovers the bosom of divine tenderness and love in which He Himself ever dwelt as man in this scene, and you shall know rest of heart, taste it as He knew who says, " I have declared unto them Thy name, and wilt declare it; that the love wherewith Thou hest loved Me may be in them, and I in them."
This is rest,-rest in God; faith's present portion, as it listens, and abides with Him, who says, " Come unto Me, and I will give you rest."