The Twenty Third of May.

HE GIVETH POWER TO THE FAINT --- Isaiah 40:29.

"I am weary with my groaning." --- Psalm 6. 6.

Divine Answer: "He giveth power to the faint: and to them that have no might he increaseth strength." --- Isaiah 40:29.

"I have satiated the weary soul, and I have replenished every sorrowful soul." --- Jeremiah 31:25

Therefore, "Come unto me, all ye that labour 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." --- Matthew 11:28-30.

Here Christ is commending his own meekness, both as a pattern for imitation, and as an encouragement for heavy-laden sinners to draw near to him with confidence. And his rest is promised not for the merit of our labour and humility, but merely for our coming to him, and believing in him.

He says, "Take my yoke upon you." "But how shall I take it?" "Why," says Christ, "learn of me: let me be your teacher, and though you are blind and foolish, fretful and forgetful, yea, wholly polluted with sin, I can bear with you, because I am meek and lowly in heart; not rough and haughty to offenders as Pharisees usually are, but full of compasion towards them, willing to receive them, and ready to forgive and comfort them," etc.

Come therefore to him, O sinner. with all thy load of sin and misery, and he will nowise cast thee out, but receive thee gladly.

Come hither, all ye weary souls;
Ye heavy laden sinners, come;
I'll give you rest from all your toils,
And raise you to my heav'nly home.

Bless'd is the man whose shoulders take
My yoke, and bear it with delight;
My yoke is easy to his neck,
My grace shall make the burden light.

Jesus, we come at thy command,
With faith, and hope, and humble zeal;
Resign our spirits to thy hand,
To mould and guide us at thy will.