August 15

Fourth Thursday after Trinity

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. S. Matthew 11:29, 30.

"My yoke," says Christ, "is easy, My burden is light." But grace made it so; in itself it is severe, and any form of doctrine which teaches otherwise forgets that Christ calls us to His yoke, and that that yoke is a cross. If you call to mind some of the traits of that special religious character to which we are called, you will readily understand how both it and the discipline by which it is formed in us are not naturally pleasant to us. That character is described in the text as meekness and lowliness; for we are told to "learn of Him Who was meek and lowly in heart." The same character is presented to us at greater length in our Saviour's Sermon on the Mount, in which seven notes of a Christian are given to us, in themselves of a painful and humbling character, but joyful, because they are blessed by Him. He mentions poor in spirit, lowly in heart, the mourners, the meek, those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers, and lastly those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake. Such as these are the true followers of Christ and take His yoke. Such is the character of which the text speaks.

Be brave, my brother!

The recompense is great,

The kingdom bright and fair:

Beyond the glory of all earthly state,

Shall be the glory there.

Grudge not the heavy cost,

Faint not at labour here,

'Tis but a lifetime at the most,

The day of rest is near.