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simple 〃learn〃 of Christ； they would not enter His school with so
irresponsible a heart。 For there is not only much to learn； but
Much to unlearn。
Many men never go to this school at all till their disposition is
already half ruined and character has taken on its fatal set。 To
learn arithmetic is difficult at fiftymuch more to learn
Christianity。 To learn simply what it is to be meek and lowly； in
the case of one who has had no lessons in that in childhood； may
cost him half of what he values most on earth。 Do we realize；
for instance； that the way of teaching humility is generally by
HUMILIATION？ There is probably no other school for it。 When a man
enters himself as a pupil in such a school it means a very great
thing。 There is much Rest there； but there is also much Work。
I should be wrong； even though my theme is the brighter side； to
ignore the cross and minimize the cost。 Only it gives to the cross
a more definite meaning； and a rarer value； to connect it thus
directly and casually with the growth of the inner life。 Our
platitudes on the 〃benefits of affliction〃 are usually about as
vague as our theories of Christian Experience。 〃Somehow〃 we believe
affliction does us good。 But it is not a question of 〃Somehow。〃
The result is definite； calculable； necessary。 It is under the
strictest law of cause and effect。 The first effect of losing
one's fortune； for instance； is humiliation； and the effect of
humiliation； as we have just seen； is to make one humble； and the
effect of being humble is to produce Rest。 It is a roundabout
way； apparently； of producing Rest； but Nature generally works by
circular processes； and it is not certain that there is any other
way of becoming humble； or of finding Rest。 IF a man could make
himself humble to order； it might simplify matters； but we do not
find that this happens。 Hence we must all go through the mill。
Hence death； death to the lower self； is the nearest gate and the
quickest road to life。
Yet this is only half the truth。 Christ's life outwardly was one
of the most troubled lives that was ever lived： tempest and tumult；
tumult and tempest； the waves breaking over it all he time till the
worn body was laid in the grave。 But the inner life was a sea of
glass。 The great calm was always there。 At any moment you might
have gone to Him and found Rest。 Even when the blood…hounds were
dogging Him in the streets of Jerusalem； He turned to His disciples
and offered them； as a last legacy； 〃My peace。〃 Nothing ever for
a moment broke the serenity of Christ's life on earth。 Misfortune
could not reach Him； He had no fortune。 Food； raiment；
moneyfountain…heads of half the world's wearinessHe simply did
not care for； they played no part in His life； He 〃took no thought〃
for them。 It was impossible to affect Him by lowering His reputation。
He had already made Himself of no reputation。 He was dumb before
insult。 When he was reviled； He reviled not again。 In fact； there
was
Nothing that the world could do to him
that could ruffle the surface of His spirit。
Such living； as mere living； is altogether unique。 It is only
when we see what it was in Him that we can know what the word Rest
means。 It lies not in emotions； or in the absence of emotions。
It is not a hallowed feeling that comes over us in church。 It is
not something that the preacher has in his voice。 It is not in
nature； or in poetry； or in musicthough in all these there is
soothing。 It is the mind at leisure from itself。 It is the perfect
poise of the soul； the absolute adjustment of the inward man to
the stress of all outward things； the preparedness against every
emergency； the stability of assured convictions； the eternal calm
of an invulnerable faith； the repose of a heart set deep in God。
It is the mood of the man who says； with Browning； 〃God's in His
Heaven； all's well with the world。〃
Two painters each painted a picture to illustrate his conception
of rest。 The first chose for his scene a still lone lake among
the far…off mountains。 The second threw on his canvas a thundering
waterfall； with a fragile birch…tree bending over the foam； at the
fork of a branch； almost wet with the cataract's spray； a robin
sat on its nest。 The first was only STAGNATION； the last was REST。
For in Rest there are always two elementstranquility and energy；
silence and turbulence； creation and destruction； fearlessness and
fearfulness。 This it was in Christ。
It is quite plain from all this that whatever else He claimed to
be or to do； He at least
Knew how to live。
All this is the perfection of living； of living in the mere sense
of passing through the world in the best way。 Hence His anxiety to
communicate His idea of life to others。 He came； He said； to give
men life； true life； a more abundant life than they were living； 〃the
life；〃 as the fine phrase in the Revised Version has it； 〃that is
life indeed。〃 This is what He Himself possessed； and it was this
which He offers to mankind。 And hence His direct appeal for all
to come to Him who had not made much of life； who were weary and
heavy…laden。 These He would teach His secret。 They； also； should
know 〃the life that is life indeed。〃
II。 What yokes are for。
There is still one doubt to clear up。 After the statement； 〃Learn
of Me；〃 Christ throws in the disconcerting qualification：
〃TAKE MY YOKE upon you； and learn of Me。〃
Why； if all this be true； does He call it a YOKE？ Why； while
professing to give Rest； does He with the next breath whisper
〃BURDEN〃？ Is the Christian life； after all； what its enemies take
it foran additional weight to the already great woe of life；
some extra punctiliousness about duty； some painful devotion to
observances； some heavy restriction and trammeling of all that is
joyous and free in the world？ Is life not hard and sorrowful enough
without being fettered with yet another yoke？
It is astounding how so glaring a misunderstanding of this plain
sentence should ever have passed into currency。 Did you ever stop
to ask what a yoke is really？ Is it to be a burden to the animal
which wears it？ It is just the opposite。 It is to make its burden
light。 Attached to the oxen in any other way than by a yoke； the
plough would be intolerable。 Worked by means of a yoke； it is
light。 A yoke is not an instrument of torture； it is
An instrument of mercy。
It is not a malicious contrivance for making work hard； it is a
gentle device to make hard labor light。 It is not meant to give
pain； but to save pain。 And yet men speak of the yoke of Christ
as if it were slavery； and look upon those who wear it as objects
of compassion。 For generations we have had homilies on 〃The Yoke
of Christ〃some delighting in portraying its narrow exactions；
some seeking in those exactions the marks of its divinity； others
apologizing for it； and toning it down； still others assuring us
that； although it be very bad； it is not to be compared with the
positive blessings of Christianity。 How many； especially among
the young； has this one mistaken phrase driven forever away from
the kingdom of God？ Instead of making Christ attractive； it makes
Him out a taskmaster； narrowing life by petty restrictions； calling
for self…denial where none is necessary； making misery a virtue
under the plea that it is the yoke of Christ； and happiness criminal
because it now and then evades it。 According to this conception；
Christians are at best the victims of a depressing fate； their
life is a penance； and their hope for the next world purchased by
a slow martyrdom in this。
The mistake has arisen from taking the word 〃yoke〃 here in the same
sense as in the expression 〃under the yoke；〃 or 〃wear he yoke in
his youth。〃 But in Christ's illustration it is not the 〃jugum〃 of
the Roman soldier； but the simple 〃harness〃 or 〃ox…collar〃 of the
Eastern peasant。 It is the literal wooden yoke which He； with His
own hands in the carpenter shop； had probably often made。 He knew
the difference between a smooth yoke and a rough one； a bad fit
and a good fit； the difference also it made to the patient animal
which had to wear it。 The rough yoke galled； and the burden was
heavy； the smooth yoke caused no pain； and the load was lightly
drawn。 The badly fitted harness was a misery； the well…fitted
collar was 〃easy。〃
And what was the 〃burden〃？ It was not some special burden laid upon
the Christian； some unique infliction that they alone must bear。
It was what all men bear。 It was simply life； human life itself；
the general burden of life which all must carry with them from the
cradle to the grave。 Christ saw that men took life painfully。 To
some it was a weariness； to others a failure； to many a tragedy；
to all a struggle and a pain。 How to carry this burden of life
had been the whole world's problem。 It is s