heart tation, our anchor must be cast within the veil. Noah's dove which found no rest even for the sole of its foot, is an emblem of the restless condition of men. But the same dove, returning to the ark, is an emblem of the distressed soul flying to Christ from the deluge of deserved and coming wrath.. And, O how kind is that hand which is stretched out of the ark to take in the fluttering weary soul! Then, indeed, rest is enjoyed. I WILL GIVE YOU REST, says the gracious Redeemer. And when he gives this precious blessing, it is found in experience to be, a solid, undisturbed, sweet, and permanent rest. It is no how different from that peace which Christ so often and so emphatically promised. "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you, not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." It is the declared will of the blessed Jesus, that the joy of his people should be full; therefore he says to his disciples, "Your sorrow shall be turned into joy"-" your shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you." Delightful, indeed, is that peace which Jesus not only speaks, but breathes into the soul, and sweet is that rest which the weary soul experiences, when it takes refuge under the outstretched wings of his mercy, from the gathering storms of wrath. In that auspicious moment, the troubled spirit not only rests from fear and remorse, but also from its own fruitless struggles of self-exertion. It rests from the unprofitable works of self-righte ousness, and finds complete repose in the perfect righteousness of Jesus Christ. A believing view of the cross causes the heavy burden of guilt to fall off; and, although the coming soul bows to the yoke of Christ, and takes up his burden; yet makes his yoke easy," and his "burden light." How sweet is the calm which the first lively exercise of faith in Christ produces! The cheerful light of day is not so pleasant to the eyes of one long immured in a dark dungeon, as the light of his Father's reconciled face, to a prodigal just returned from his wanderings. It is indeed, "a marvellous light" which the Gospel beams on the renewed soul. It is justly, a day of feasting and rejoicing, when one that was lost is found, and when he that was dead is alive again. How affectionately and confidentially does the believing soul repose on the bosom of Jesus! and when his love is shed abroad in the heart, how intimate, how precious is the communion which it enjoys! Here, truly, it has found REST. But while in the body, these bright views and pleasing prospects are often obscured. While the Bridegroom is present, the bride rejoices, but when He is absent, she mourns, and often inquires, "saw ye Him, whom my 66 love soul loveth?" If we lose sight of the objects of faith; and, esFecially, if sin be indulged, and the Spirit grieved, darkness and sorrow will again visit the soul; and rest can only be found by coming again to Jesus, from whom it was first received; and as often as we come to Him, we find his promise verified; rest is obtained. But whatever is experienced here-whatever seasons of calm repose may be enjoyed-whatever moments of extatic joyyea, "unspeakable and full of glory," may transport us, these are but drops from the fountain above-a mere foretaste of the river of pleasure which flows from the throne of God. Here our pilgrimage is through a wilderness. But soon all our sorrow shall cease, and we shall enter into that rest which remains for the people of God. The last conflict of the believing soul is in death; for this is the last enemy. The last darkness which will ever be experienced, is that of "the valley and shadow of death." The last bitterness which will ever be tasted is the "bitterness of death." The last waves of sorrow which shall ever roll over such a soul, are the swellings of Jordan. The last fiery dart which the enemy shall ever be permitted to shoot at the friend of Christ, will here be cast. Yea, better than all, the last consciousness of indwelling sin, is experienced in this hour. Pain will no more be known but in the joyful consciousness that it is gone for ever. Admitting then that this is a dark passage--an appalling scene-an unnatural separation-a painful agony-a direful conflict; yet even here, the SHEPHERD of Israel can give us rest. Even here, the Captain of salvation can make us conquerors and more than conquerors." In the midst of the darkness of death, a celestial beam often shines to guide and cheer the heavy laden traveller. Even the sting of death may be absent; and all fear and all doubt removed. Rest may behas been, enjoyed on a dying bed. The pious dead sweetly rest in the bosom of Jesus. How calm-how serene-how confident-how abstracted from earth-how heavenly they sometimes appear, before they forsake their clay tabernacle; knowing that they have a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 66 "Jesus can make a dying-bed Feel soft as downy pillows are, But we should not make too much of the comforts of a dying hour; some of God's dear children pass through this gloomy way, with scarce a twinkling ray to animate or guide them; yea, some who in life enjoyed pleasing prospects of future bliss, have had their day turned into night; and the deathscene to them has indeed been a tremendous conflict. The powers of darkness have been let loose to assault them; the sweet light of the Divine favour has been withdrawn, and added to this, the confusion of physical derangement has contributed to spread over the pious mind, a dense cloud, even in the departing hour. But still, CHRIST is in the cloud; Christ has not forgotten his promise-" I will never leave thee, never, never, never, forsake thee." He will shield his own from real evil; and will speedily grant a rich recompense for every pang. He especially knows how to sympathize with those dying in agony and under darkness. It was his own sore experience. O how bitter was that cry above all others; “ My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" And in proportion as the agony is severe, will be his promptitude to grant deliverance. It may be, that desertion at such a time is permitted, that the soul may know something of the intensity of the suffering of the dear Redeemer at that moment. But it is soon over. The passage though dark is short, and the transition is glorious. The sweetness of the promised rest, when first enjoyed, will bear some proportion to the bitterness of the death just escaped. At any rate, Heaven will be as truly a REST to such as die under a cloud, as to those who experienced an anticipation of heaven on their death-bed. We need make no distinction, rest is promised to all, and the joy of all shall be full. If some experience a delight superior to that of other believers, it will be because they are capable of taking in more of the bliss and glory of that boundless ocean in which all swim. There indeed is REST-rest from labour-rest from trouble-rest from persecution-rest from sickness-rest from conflict and temptation-rest from doubt and fear-rest from sin-in short, rest from every evil, and the enjoyment of every good, of which a purified, glorified, immortal soul is capable. This then is the motive to induce you to come to CHRIST, for all this, and much more is included, when he says, Come untO ME ALL YE THAT LABOUR AND ARE HEAVY LADEN AND I WILL GIVE YOU REST. |