April 3

"Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.—Matthew 11:28.

DO I feel that I am indeed a sinner against God? And am I so burdened with a sense of sin, and so weary of it, that I long for rest, and am willing to seek it from Christ in the way of his appointment? Have I come to him in penitence and faith taking him as my Redeemer, Ruler, Teacher, Guide, Example, casting my burdens on him, finding rest in his love, and expecting, through his promised grace, to be received at last to the rest of heaven?

Christ offers pardon to the guilty; purity to the defiled; peace, joy, hope, heaven to the wretched; or, which includes them all, that strange, unearthly blessing, rest to the weary and heavy-laden soul.—CAIRD.

Oh, that word rest! How sweet and how full of meaning, as it comes from the lips of the gracious Redeemer! Here is rest from the burden of guilt, from the annoyance of temptation, from the fear of death, from the gnawings of the worm that never dies; rest from all the cares, and sorrows, and trials of this life; rest in the bosom of infinite love; rest eternal in the paradise of God! Who that feels his need will refuse to accept it?—C. WILCOX

Thine for ever! Oh, how blest

They who find in thee their rest!

Thou, the Life, the Truth, the Way,

Guide us to the realms of day.

Thine for ever may we be,

Here and in eternity!—MAUDE.