Tired Church Members Part 7

Not only "created in Christ Jesus unto good works," but perpetually recreated in him, from hour to hour, from year to year. Has he not said: "I will be as the dew unto Israel"? [10] No more age for them, thus dwelling in "the power of an endless life";[11] no empty hands, for those who "have all things, and abound." [12] No disgust of life or hopelessness of labour for servants who every now and then--from the midst of their work--follow the Master (but only him) "apart to rest awhile," [13] "A stranger will they not follow." You have seen such people; you may see them every now and then; with smooth brows and sweet faces and eyes full of the peace of G.o.d.

"And I said, This is the rest, and this is the refreshing." [14]

I am persuaded, that without this, all forms of recreation that can be tried will be but as quack medicines, giving a temporary relief, only to be followed by a sorer need. And while there are a hundred lawful, sweet, wholesome means of rest at our disposal, I believe that even they will fail if used alone. And if you throw in all unlawful pleasures also, the failure will but be the more complete, "All my springs are in thee," [15] and these other things are but channels through which may flow the loving kindness of the Lord. From him comes all your skill to study, your power to sing: the ingenious fancy, the quick intellect, the deft hand, are all his gift. In this exquisite world of his wherein you work, his power, his care, his laws are around you as surely when you play as when you work. So that you can walk with Christ always, as you are meant to do; looking up to him from relaxation as from labour, thus missing the intoxication of the one and forgetting the toil of the other.

Now whatever lawful things such a disciple may "amuse" himself with, you can see at once that for even the doubtful he could have no relish; counting them but as a draught from that "troubled sea whose waters cast up mire and dirt." [16] Neither would he come to his recreations tired of life, nor because his daily round had turned to "white of egg";[17] but with genuine, honest fatigue, taking amus.e.m.e.nt as he takes sleep, and going back from it with a joyous rebound to his special weedy corner in the vineyard.

"I know I am getting rested," I heard a minister once say in his vacation, "for I am getting hungry for my work!"

"My people have forgotten their resting place"--let it not ever be said of you and me.

But it is those not merely "planted in the courts of the Lord," but who "flourish" there, that are the trees whose "leaf shall not wither"; and in this you have the whole story. A Christian who is _flourishing_ where he belongs, will never go where he does _not_ belong. And no one who is dwelling daily in the clear sunshine of Christ's presence, will need a dance to enliven him, or a horse race--or a walking match--to keep up his interest in life. There will be "melody in his heart"

without the opera; and life will be full and bright and strong, without a speck of tinsel pleasure. Work will be sweet, and play will be joyous; and by one and by the other the man will _grow_--

"Grow, like the cedar in Lebanon."

Now that you may prove all this, that you may begin right, be careful to take the full good of all the ordered resting times: to wit, the Sundays. I wish all tired people did but know the infinite rest there is in fencing off the six days from the seventh. In anchoring the business ships of your daily life as the Sat.u.r.day draws to its close, leaving them to ride peacefully upon the flow or the ebb until Monday morning comes again. O the delight, the lull, of feeling: "No need to settle this question--no need to think of this piece of work--for a whole long, sweet thirty-six hours!" Why do you take Sunday papers, to keep your nerves astir with business on the Lord's own day of rest?

Why do you add up and consult and consider in the pauses of the sermon, or make opportunity for a business whisper in the porch, and on the way home? Why do you let the perplexities of servants, of means, of plans, ruffle your spirits on the one great day of freedom? Do not you know that even a debtor may walk abroad on Sunday, with no fear of a prison; and house doors may stand open, and no sheriff can enter. Shall it be worse with your mind than with your body?

"Sleep, sleep to-day, tormenting cares, Of earth and folly born,"--

It is the high court of the Prince of Peace.

"Rest on Sunday!"--I hear some earnest worker cry. "Why Sunday is the hardest of all the week!"

Yes, in a way that is true, for workers in the Lord's work. Yet as far as possible do not make it so. Do not imagine that you have the whole world on your shoulders: do not try to have. Do not lift up a burden you can by no means bear. The messengers came back to the Lord with their reports,--so you.

"Lord, they will not hear--"

"Lord, it is done."--

Work with your whole heart and strength; but then take work and cla.s.s, and lay them at the Lord's feet; and with them the tired worker too.

So doing your work peacefully. And if Monday morning finds you tired, it will find you also rested. The air of the world will have cleared somewhat, giving a nearer view of "the city"; its mountains will have sunk down well nigh out of sight, before the everlasting hills to which you may lift up your eyes for help. And labour and care and profit and loss will cease to be a tangle when stamped with this order:

"Occupy till I come."

But for you who are _not_ workers (the why and wherefore are for yourselves to say) do you too make the Sabbath a day of rest. Yet do not let your Sunday rest run into Sunday dissipation by trying to hear all the good sermons at once. Choose (and abide by) some true church so near that no street car shall be run for you, and yet--if possible--far enough off to give you a freshening walk as you go and come. Neither take out your carriage, "that thine ox and thine a.s.s may rest." [18] Of course I speak only of places where it is possible to walk to church.

Get up early enough to have no hurry and no "late." Have a simple church dress that will need no fussing; have a simple breakfast, without "hot cakes," and a cold dinner, "that thy man servant and thy maid servant may rest as well as thou." [19]

I know it is charged upon the men of the family that they will never "stand" a cold dinner. But I have catered for just such many times, and I know they will. Only be you careful on Sat.u.r.day, to provide a dainty repast that is _fit_ to eat cold--and then see. You will find those very grumblers charmed with their dinner, and praising it before any other in the week. You can always grace your cold dishes with hot coffee and baked potatoes.

O the rest, the "recreation" of such a day! With all earth's turmoil pushed aside, and Christ himself the one invited guest. Unless indeed some needy friend, who can have no "Sunday" elsewhere. People talk in these days with horror of the old Puritan sabbath. But even if everything be true that they tell of it, I would rather spend Sunday with blinds shut and pictures turned to the wall, than in the full week-day glare which fills some houses. And if you want refreshment from your play-times in the week, if you want heart and mind and face to keep fresh, begin the week with the Lord's day kept wholly to the Lord.

"Verily, my sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations." [20]

A sabbath, a rest. Rest of mind which lingering in bed will not give; rest of body which feasting could only hinder; a rest of heart by dwelling all day in the deep shadow of the Lord's presence. So beginning the week, this promise shall be upon you as each day rolls on,

"My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest." [21]

"And in all things that I have said unto you be circ.u.mspect; and make no mention of the name of other G.o.ds, neither let it be heard out of thy mouth." [22]

[1] John x. 5.

[2] John vi. 35.

[3] Job xvii. 9.

[4] Ps. lx.x.xiv. 7.

[5] Isa. xl. 31.

[6] Neh. viii. 10.

[7] Ps. xcii. 12.

[8] Jer. x.x.xi. 12.

[9] Ps. xcii. 14.

[10] Hosea xiv. 5.

[11] Heb. vii. 16.

[12] Phil. iv. 18.

[13] Mark vi. 31.

[14] Isa. xxviii. 12.

[15] Ps. lx.x.xvii. 7.

[16] Isa. lvii. 20.

[17] Job vi. 6.

[18] Ex. xxii 12.

[19] Deut. v. 14.

[20] Ex. x.x.xi. 13.

[21] Ex. xiii. 14.

[22] Ex. xxiii. 13.