109SermonsbyJCRyle
wings and flee away; war, pestilence, and famine may break in, and the foundations of the earth be out of course; health and vigor may depart, and the body be crushed down by loathsome disease; death may cut down wife, and children, and friends, until he who once enjoyed them stands entirely alone. But the man who has come to Christ by faith will still possess something which can never he taken from him. Like Paul and Silas, he will sing in prison; like Job, bereaved of children and property, he will bless the name of the Lord. He is the truly independent man—who possesses that which nothing can take away!
Rest such as this, is the possession which makes men truly rich! It lasts; it wears; it endures; it lightens the solitary home; it smoothes the dying pillow; it goes with men when they are placed in their coffins; it abides with them when they are laid in their graves. When friends can no longer help us, and money is no longer of use; when doctors can no longer relieve our pain, and nurses can no longer minister to our needs; when sense begins to fail, and eye and ear can no longer do their duty; then, even then, the "rest" which Christ gives will be shed abroad in the heart of the believer. The words "rich" and "poor" will change their meaning entirely one day. He is the only rich man—who has come to Christ by faith, and from Christ has received rest.
Reader, this is the rest which Christ offers to give to all who are laboring and heavy-laden; this is the rest for which He invites them to come to Him; this is the rest which I want you to enjoy, and to which I bring you an invitation this day. May God grant that the invitation may not be brought to you in vain!
1. Reader, do you know anything of the "rest" of which I have been speaking? If not, what have you got from your religion? You live in a Christian land; you profess and call yourself a Christian; you have probably attended a Christian place of worship many years —you would not like to be called an infidel or a heathen. Yet all this time what benefit have you received from your Christianity? What