EGW WritingsMatthew 11

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 7 (1891-1892)

Lt 36, 1892

7LtMs, Lt 36, 1892, par. 13

Dear son, Edson, I cannot forbear from urging you to make a decided change. Jesus is now before the Father as your atoning sacrifice. Christ’s invitation is to you, “Come unto me, all ye that labor 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.] Only in the fullest surrender is there peace and rest for you, my dear son. Just as long as you struggle to maintain your own way, there is no rest, no peace for you.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 7 (1891-1892)

Ms 1, 1892

7LtMs, Ms 1, 1892, par. 14

The world’s Redeemer came not only to be a sacrifice for sin, but to be an example to man in all things, <a holy human character.> He was a teacher, such an educator as the world never saw or heard before. He spake as one having authority, and yet He invites the confidence of all. “Come unto me, all ye that labor 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.]

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 7 (1891-1892)

Ms 12, 1891

7LtMs, Ms 12, 1891, par. 26

I have a message to you, my brethren in New Zealand, which I must bear to you either by pen or voice. You must die to self, be crucified to self, and become learners in the school of Christ. In words of tenderness the great Teacher invites you, saying, “Come unto me all ye that labor 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.] When you learn this lesson, you will become true witnesses for Christ. But until you do learn this lesson, self with all its defects will appear, and Jesus will be kept in the back ground.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 7 (1891-1892)

Ms 23, 1891

7LtMs, Ms 23, 1891, par. 8

And what will be the result of their course of action? The mouth of God’s Messenger spoke words most solemn and significant: “Since you assumed most important responsibilities, you have not before God been increasing in humility and in tender love for the souls for whom Christ has died. Had you been a doer of the Word, you would have heard and obeyed Christ’s invitation: ‘Come unto Me, all ye that labor 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.]

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 7 (1891-1892)

Ms 1, 1891

7LtMs, Ms 1, 1891, par. 26

And what is your joy, co-laborers with Christ? I have been with Christ, yoked up with Him. Then He says, “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you.” You have been framing yokes for yourselves, but they have been galling; and now He says, “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.] That is what we want.

7LtMs, Ms 1, 1891, par. 27

We have lost the simplicity of true godliness, and now we must find it through the truth of heavenly origin. You must know the terms of salvation, for our life depends upon it. Christ says, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” [John 14:6.] He says, “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me.” [Matthew 11:29.] That is what we want; but do we act like it? Don’t we act half of the time as though the responsibility of the Christian was a great yoke? Don’t we talk our darkness and discouragement, and the more you talk, the darker it becomes. Then what shall we do? Talk of Christ; open your hearts; clear away the rubbish, and invite Jesus in. Abide with me for the day is far spent, and the night is at hand.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 7 (1891-1892)

Lt 52, 1892

7LtMs, Lt 52, 1892, par. 27

We were glad to welcome Brother and Sister Rousseau. They both had a pleasant trip—were sick some, but endured it well. Brother Rousseau gave me the account you gave him. I feel relieved, and I hope that you will not make efforts to enter into business on your own hook. I hope that you will consider carefully and prayerfully the will of God, and not get uneasy and rush into every enterprise to make it certain to others that you are a successful business man. You have always blamed circumstances, and the enemy may present to you a flattering outlook—“all this will I give you, if you will worship me.” [Matthew 4:9.] But have you not learned that he is a liar and a murderer? So now go to the Lord for your counsel. Make no binding engagements with anyone. Cut the last cord that binds you soul, body, and spirit to business. Seek the Lord. Do not look and expect help from any human source. “Come unto me,” He says, “all ye that labor 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.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 7 (1891-1892)

Ms 8b, 1891

7LtMs, Ms 8b, 1891, par. 25

Christ was the greatest teacher that the world ever knew. I am willing to be in His school. I am willing to learn from His lips. I am willing to learn from Him that lesson which will make me great in the eyes of the Lord. And what is that? “Come unto me all ye that labor 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 of heart: and ye shall find rest to your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” [Matthew 11:28-30.] Now Jesus, I submit myself to Thy teaching.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 7 (1891-1892)

Lt 61, 1891

7LtMs, Lt 61, 1891, par. 14

Dear sister, it is no wonderful thing that you have to do. You feel poor, suffering, and afflicted, and Jesus invites all of this class to come to Him. “Come unto me, all ye that labor 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.] Do not cast away such rich promises as these. The hands that were nailed to the cross for you are stretched out to save you. You need not fear as you lie on a bed of sickness and death. Friends may feel sorrowful, but they cannot save you. Your physician cannot save you. But there is One who died that you might live through eternal ages. Just believe that Jesus will hear your confession, receive your penitence, and forgive every sin and make you children of God. Jesus pleads in your behalf. Will you give yourself in trusting faith to Jesus? I long to take you in my arms and lay you on the bosom of Jesus Christ.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 8 (1893)

Lt 20a, 1893

8LtMs, Lt 20a, 1893, par. 5

Monday evening in the school building, I met with the little church of Prahran. I prayed with them and spoke with freedom from the words, “Come unto me, all ye that labor 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.] Then we had a prayer and social meeting in which precious testimonies were borne by nearly all present.

Manuscript Releases, vol. 14 [Nos. 1081-1135]

MR No. 1110—Study God’s Word: Be Slow To Follow Self-Styled Prophets, Including Anna Phillips

14MR 196.1

Here is where many are led into by-and forbidden paths. The human is so mixed with the divine declarations that fables are taught as truth. Turn to God and to your Bibles, and learn the true standard of Christian character. “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of Me” (John 5:39). Hear the words of the Great Teacher, “Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden” (Matthew 11:28). “Unto Me”; bring everything to Jesus, make Him your dependence, make Him your trust. He says, “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 11:29, 30).

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 8 (1893)

Lt 31, 1893

8LtMs, Lt 31, 1893, par. 7

I know that the Lord has pitying tenderness toward you, and that He would have you rest in Him continually. Do not let gloom and darkness into your soul, and do not lose your faith and hope in God. But I expect before this reaches you that you will have received that help and strength and grace which the Lord alone shall be able to bestow. I think we ought to be most grateful to God that He is not only infinite in wisdom, but He is full of tender, pitying love, and He knoweth our infirmities. He will be a present help, to all who love Him, in every time of need. We are students in the school of Christ. We are to learn of the divine Teacher who said, “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 of heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls, for my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” [Matthew 11:28-30.]

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 8 (1893)

Lt 38, 1893

8LtMs, Lt 38, 1893, par. 5

Will you not sit at the feet of Jesus and learn of Him? He invites you saying, “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” [Matthew 11:28-30.]

8LtMs, Lt 38, 1893, par. 15

Jesus is the great Teacher, and we would have you listen to the voice of invitation, “Come unto me, all ye that labor, and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Here is a positive promise that will be fulfilled if you will only come. “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.] The rest comes in wearing Christ’s yoke. Please bear this in mind. Every yoke the human agent manufactures for his own neck is a galling yoke of bondage. Christ’s yoke is easy, for when men take upon them the yoke of Christ, they are yoked up with Christ and become laborers together with God. They have a living, sacred union with Him. They learn in the school of Christ and become Christlike in character. They comprehend the fact that they are daily and hourly in His presence, and they are assured that in committing the keeping of their souls to Him, they are kept by the power of God.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 8 (1893)

Ms 78, 1893

8LtMs, Ms 78, 1893, par. 21

Jesus has invited you to come to Him with all your burdens. “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, ... and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30. Then why unload your burden to human agents like yourself, who will only be in their turn oppressed and troubled? Why not respond to the invitation of Christ and come unto Him, the dear Saviour, as He has invited you? “Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the Most High, thy habitation; there shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.” Psalm 91:9, 10. “Wherefore in all things it behooved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succor them that are tempted.” “For it became him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren.” Hebrews 2:17, 18, 10, 11. Isaiah 59:14-17.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 8 (1893)

Lt 109, 1893

8LtMs, Lt 109, 1893, par. 6

Please read the following verses: Matthew 7:13-29; 11:28-30; 12:47-50.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 8 (1893)

Ms 80, 1893

8LtMs, Ms 80, 1893, par. 61

How unwilling are the young—and the older, both men and women,—to part with their idol sins! Whatever inconvenience the habits which they have formed give to themselves and to others, they excuse their deficiencies as “It is my way,” and everyone must be satisfied with “my way.” They make no effort to overcome their way, and [they] take a way that is not approved of in the heavenly courts but is a trial to themselves and a trial to all with whom they associate. The Lord Jesus calls all such to perfect a Christian character. Christ invites, “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 11:29, 30.]

8LtMs, Ms 80, 1893, par. 87

I praise the Lord this morning for the peace I enjoy. There is perfect rest for me in the Lord. I trust in His love. Why should we not rest in the love of God, the assurance of His Word? What saith Jesus? “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” What can be more positive than this promise? “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. Then come; let us who believe in Jesus Christ not delay a moment, but come.

8LtMs, Ms 80, 1893, par. 89

You virtually tell God all of this in your actions. You feel terribly burdened over some things that have happened. You grieve and distress yourself over the trial. You write bitter things against yourself. A voice comes to you from One you have every reason to believe and trust implicitly, “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” [Verse 28.] You have found the rest always when you have come, but you begin to question, to look at yourself, to groan over yourself. Now stop all this. Take off that yoke you have manufactured for your neck, which galls so terribly, and take Christ’s yoke, which He declares is easy, and His burden, which He tells you is light. Will you say, “I have no faith in God. I cannot believe God”?

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 8 (1893)

Lt 35, 1893

8LtMs, Lt 35, 1893, par. 1

I received your two letters and have read them carefully. I was made sad, my brother, to read your letter written by your own hand. Oh, how glad I would be to comfort you, but I point you to Jesus. His invitation is given to you and to me, “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest; take my yoke upon you and learn of me, and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” [Matthew 11:28-30.] Grasp this precious promise with the hand of faith and never let go. I know your difficulties and Someone knows them, too, who is able to save to the uttermost all who come unto Him.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 8 (1893)

Lt 10, 1893

8LtMs, Lt 10, 1893, par. 6

Let gratitude and thankfulness flow from our hearts to God. You hurt the heart of Christ by doubting, when He has given us such evidence of His love in giving His own life to save us that we should not perish but have everlasting life. He has told us just what to do. “Come unto me, all ye that labor 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.] Do you believe Jesus will do exactly as He has promised?

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 8 (1893)

Lt 23a, 1893

8LtMs, Lt 23a, 1893, par. 53

God has given His only begotten Son, “that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life.” [John 3:16.] Christ has invited us, “Come unto me all ye that are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you ... and ye shall find rest to your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” [Matthew 11:28-30.] Let these words fill us with comfort and hope and peace. While you are worrying over the sins of others, Jesus says, Turn your eyes away from these things and behold the Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the world. You are not to be crushed under the load. Jesus is the great Physician; He can cure the maladies of the soul. There is a balm in Gilead; there is a Physician there, and He can cure all the maladies of the soul.

Manuscript Releases, vol. 9 [Nos. 664-770]

Talk to the Teachers

9MR 70.2

Christ was the greatest teacher that the world ever knew. I am willing to be in His school. I am willing to learn from His lips. I am willing to learn from Him that lesson which will make me great in the eyes of the Lord. And what is that? “Come unto Me, all ye that labor 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 of heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30). Now Jesus, I submit myself to Thy teaching. I am willing to be taught by Him who created the heavens and the earth, who made the lofty trees, the spears of grass, and every shrub. I am willing to be taught of Him that set the stars in their order in the heavens, and appointed the sun and the moon to do their work. I can drink at that fountain. I do not need to go to infidel authors, but to God. I want to know God and the power of His grace. I will make no boast of knowledge. Those who know not God, even while they look upon His works, say there is no God. The fool hath said that in his heart. Shall we go to such men for knowledge, from whom Christ is hidden, when the very things they ought to know, they do not know? God help us that while we shall have to communicate more or less with those who have no knowledge of the truth, we may be so grounded and rooted in the truth, that nothing can move us. We are to bear rich clusters every day. Why? Because we are converted every day.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 9 (1894)

Lt 32, 1894

9LtMs, Lt 32, 1894, par. 4

I am sorry for every tempted soul; but Jesus is drawing you to Himself, saying, “Child, for whom I have suffered and died, cannot you trust in Me?” Listen to His voice as He says, “Come unto me, all ye that labor 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.] Will you carry your heavy burden instead of giving to Jesus to bear? Will you not exchange the yoke you are now wearing and wear instead the yoke of Christ? Will you not put your hand confidingly in the hand of Jesus Christ, and say, “Lead me, guide me; for I am weak, and greatly fear that I shall lose my way. I want Thy way, I want Thy peace. I will not allow any reviling to come and abide in my heart. I will empty from my soul every unkind and hateful thought, and open my heart to Jesus.”

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 9 (1894)

Lt 116, 1894

9LtMs, Lt 116, 1894, par. 1

I have words from the Lord to you this morning, and I am writing to you by lamplight. These words were spoken for you: “Come unto me, all ye that labor 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.

9LtMs, Lt 116, 1894, par. 3

This life is uncertain. You may be cut off without warning. You are mortal, but if your life is hid with Christ in God you are safe, eternally safe. You are now walking in the light of the sparks of your own kindling and, dear brother, I do not have to tell you that disappointment and failure of your expectations await you. Satan has laid a net for your feet, to ensnare your soul. I now warn you, as Christ’s ambassador, to change right about. Listen to the gladdening invitation to you, “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” [Matthew 11:28.] You will obtain no rest in seeking to serve both God and mammon.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 9 (1894)

Ms 61, 1894

9LtMs, Ms 61, 1894, par. 8

Many who love God and who seek to honor God fear that they have no right to claim His rich promises. They will deal upon their painful struggles, and the darkness which encompasses their path, and in so doing they lose sight of the light of the love that Jesus Christ has shed upon them. They lose sight of the great redemption that has been purchased for them at infinite cost. Many are standing afar off as if they were afraid to touch even the hem of Christ’s garment, but His gracious invitation is even extended to them, and He is pleading, “Come unto me all ye that labor 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.]

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 9 (1894)

Lt 35, 1894

9LtMs, Lt 35, 1894, par. 5

You are not to examine your feelings and put any dependence upon your emotions, for they may be as varied as the wind, but take to your heart this one promise and you will find it a passport to all the rich treasures of heaven. You are precious to the heart of Christ and He speaks saying unto you, “Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” [Matthew 11:28.] There is no perhaps or maybe about this promise. The “I will” of Christ is an assurance that cannot be made any stronger. He speaks further saying, “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.” [Verses 29, 30.]

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 9 (1894)

Lt 102, 1894

9LtMs, Lt 102, 1894, par. 6

Then come to Jesus although you feel your unworthiness. The life of simple dependence upon God is a daily lesson in knowing God and Jesus Christ whom He hath sent. “He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?” [Romans 8:32.] The voice of invitation is, “Come unto Me, all ye that labor 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.] To God, only to God, pour out the sorrows, the great needs and troubles of your soul. He will help you. “My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from Him. He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be moved.” [Psalm 62:5, 6.]

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 9 (1894)

Ms 50, 1894

9LtMs, Ms 50, 1894, par. 21

Now God help us to be Bible readers, and that we practice the Bible as well. When we come into the light, just as sure as we get out of our hearts all this feeling of distrust and jealousy and evil-surmising and evil-speaking, you may depend the vacuum will be supplied by a love—a love that is as far-reaching as eternity; a love that will never die—the vacuum will be supplied with Jesus and God and love. Now this is what God wants us to be, and I shall bear this testimony wherever I go. I will try with my whole soul to practice it. I will give my heart to God and to His love that will melt the heart. If any have educated themselves in the school of jealousy and evil-surmising and faultfinding, let us come right into Christ’s school. “Come,” He says, “learn of Me. Don’t you make My way hard; don’t make My cross so burdensome that it is impossible to carry it; no,” He says, “come yoke up with Me; exchange the yoke that you made for your own neck; yoke up with Me. My yoke is easy; My burden is light.” [Matthew 11:28-30.] The meekness and lowliness of Christ make His yoke easy.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 9 (1894)

Lt 11a, 1894

9LtMs, Lt 11a, 1894, par. 4

My brother, your soul is precious, yet from the light which God has given me, I know that however great and perfect may be your knowledge of navigation, yet there are other things you need to learn. You need to listen to the words of Jesus, where He says, “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. ... 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.] Did you not realize that there was a higher Captain over that vessel? Did you not realize that was One who was witnessing your words and actions which were certainly an offense to God? Would you count yourself safe in a vessel upon the high seas in charge of a commander that did not exercise self-control, and who would at times act as if insane? Had you carried out that which Satan put into your mind, and executed your threats upon the servants of God, there would have been interference on the part of Heaven, for ministering angels were guarding the men who had taken their hands in order to cross the broad waters and speak the words of life to those who were ready to perish.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 9 (1894)

Ms 37, 1894

9LtMs, Ms 37, 1894, par. 23

Was Christ ignorant? He was the greatest Teacher the world ever saw. He chose the unlearned fishermen to be His disciples in order that they might learn of Him, and become wise unto salvation. Why was it He did not choose the scribes and the Pharisees? It was because He could not trust them. He said of them, “In vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.” [Mark 7:7.] Why is it that the Lord does not choose the learned and the popular today and work with the churches? It is because they follow the same course as did the scribes and the Pharisees. But the greatest Teacher the world ever knew says to you, “Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I” (the Son of the infinite God) “will give you rest.” But there is something more. He continues, “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.]

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 10 (1895)

Ms 64, 1895

10LtMs, Ms 64, 1895, par. 9

Jesus invites, “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.] Jesus Christ has here presented this matter in a most beautiful light: He veiled his own divine personage in the garb of humanity, and humbled himself as a man. O, never was humility like thy humility, thou Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world! Looking unto Jesus will subdue hated self, which is ever striving for the supremacy. Let this prayer ascend to God: “Impress thine own image upon my soul.” And the spiritual eye can behold the glory of the character of Christ.

Manuscript Releases, vol. 9 [Nos. 664-770]

Medical Missionary Work Not to Absorb Too Much

9MR 82.5

Of himself, what can man accomplish in the great work set forth by the infinite God? Christ says, “Without Me ye can do nothing.” He came to our world to show men how to do the work given them by God, and He says to us, “Come unto Me, all ye that labor 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). Why is Christ’s yoke easy and His burden light? Because He bore the weight of it upon the cross of Calvary.—Letter 206, 1899, pp. 2-5. (To J. H. Kellogg, December 10, 1899.)

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 10 (1895)

Lt 19, 1895

10LtMs, Lt 19, 1895, par. 25

The apostle says, “Ye are a spectacle to the world, to angels, and to men.” [1 Corinthians 4:9.] The world is watching to see whether the miracle that has been wrought upon your heart by the Holy Spirit is of the right character. The Lord Jesus calls, saying, “Come unto me, all ye that labor, 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 of heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls; for my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” [Matthew 11:28-30.] Will you hear this gracious invitation? Or will you manufacture a yoke for yourself which will be grievous to your soul? You need to learn of Jesus. Satan is pressing his delusions upon you, and you need the converting power of God to come upon your heart to transform your thoughts, to turn your attention to the living interests of the day.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 10 (1895)

Lt 90, 1895

10LtMs, Lt 90, 1895, par. 10

Christ says, “Come unto me, all ye that labor 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.] Unless we have love for the entire character of Christ, we shall never be complete in Christ Jesus. The glory of Christ is His holiness. No one who is not truly converted, who does not see that he must strive to be an overcomer, who does not see his own sinfulness, will discern the matchless charms of the Saviour. Christ loved His enemies. Are we incorporating the love of Christ into our characters? When we are convinced of our own sinfulness, and look unto Jesus, we appreciate the love that dwells in the heart of Christ. Christ is condescending, patient, benevolent and long-suffering. Are you thus? He manifested unspeakable goodness, unbounded mercy, inexhaustible love. The lower we lie in humility, the further we shall be able to see, and the more distinctly shall we be able to behold the manifest love of God.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 10 (1895)

Lt 26, 1895

10LtMs, Lt 26, 1895, par. 1

I have written a letter to Brother Henry Wessells, and will send you a copy of the same. I have thought in writing it how much there is to learn from the great lesson book that has been given us by our heavenly Father, and I am so sorry we are so slow in learning our lessons. I am glad you are still in Africa. There is no reason why you should feel lonely or in any way discouraged. The representative of Christ is your companion. Daily you may avail yourself of the invitation, “Come unto me, all ye that labor 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 of heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” [Matthew 11:28-30.]

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 10 (1895)

Ms 16, 1895

10LtMs, Ms 16, 1895, par. 4

We need to understand something of the worth of our souls, to know what we shall do, that we may work the works of God. To works these works we must believe on Jesus Christ. He can be to us all that we desire. “If any man thirst,” He proclaimed on the last great day of the feast, “let him come unto me, and drink,” and again we hear him saying, “Come unto me all ye that labor 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 of heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” [John 7:37; Matthew 11:28-30.] Have you tried it? There are many who have and they know that the words of Christ are verity and truth, and that when trouble has come in like a flood, they have looked to Jesus and have been comforted and strengthened.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 10 (1895)

Lt 67, 1895

10LtMs, Lt 67, 1895, par. 19

If the students in our schools will listen for the purpose of hearing and obeying the invitation, “Come unto me all ye that labor 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], they will be living epistles, known and read of all men. “Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” [Matthew 18:3, 4.] The youth are in need of educators who shall keep the Word of God ever before them in living principles. If they will keep Bible precepts ever as their textbook, they will have greater influence over the youth, for the teachers will be learners, having a living touch with God. All the time they are inculcating ideas and principles that will lead to a greater knowledge of God, and earnest, growing faith in their behalf in the blood of Jesus, and the power and efficacy of the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ to keep them from falling; because they are constantly seeking the strongholds of a healthful and well-balanced Christian experience, carrying with them qualifications for future usefulness, and intelligence, and piety.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 10 (1895)

Lt 100, 1895

10LtMs, Lt 100, 1895, par. 9

Brother Haskell, you need never feel that you are alone. Angels of God are your companions. The Holy Spirit is your Comforter. Christ is inviting you, “Come unto me, all ye that labor 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.]

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 10 (1895)

Lt 32, 1895

10LtMs, Lt 32, 1895, par. 5

I bring to you a message from the lips of Christ, “Come unto me all ye that are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Lay off the yoke of oppression in doubting my love to you; believe me that I break this yoke from your neck. I put my own yoke upon you, binding you close to my heart of infinite love. Learn of Me, for I am meek and lowly of heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls, for My yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” [See Matthew 11:28-30.]

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 10 (1895)

Ms 68, 1895

10LtMs, Ms 68, 1895, par. 5

“And the glory which thou gavest me, I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one.” [John 17:22.] This glory is given to all who have living faith in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth and take Him as a personal Saviour. You fall into despair through perplexity, and think, There is no use to pray. That is not the trouble. Feeling that you need help, you have gone to your human friends and poured our your troubles to them, but have found no relief because they are not capable of bearing your afflictions. There is one who is touched with the feelings of your infirmity, and He invites you to [come] to Him, saying, “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; ... for my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” [Matthew 11:28-30.] Have we that faith in the precious Saviour that will make Him unto you wisdom and sanctification and righteousness?

10LtMs, Ms 68, 1895, par. 6

The yoke of Christ is not put upon us to make our labor tenfold harder, but to make it altogether lighter. Christ bears the yoke, and therefore it does not gall our neck, for we are yoked up with Jesus Christ—“laborers together with God.” [1 Corinthians 3:9.] In this way we can plough the field of the world, and sow the precious seed that will bring forth fruit to Christ. And Christ says, “My yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” [Matthew 11:30.] If you are afflicted, He was afflicted just as much more keenly as His nature is higher and nobler than ours. He was afflicted by bearing man’s nature, and by being tempted in all points like as the human agent is tempted.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 10 (1895)

Lt 24, 1895

10LtMs, Lt 24, 1895, par. 19

Christ has sent you His invitation: “Come unto me, all ye that are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly of heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” [Matthew 11:28-30.] Then if Christ has not placed upon you a galling yoke, do not take one which any human being has made. Co-operating with Jesus Christ makes His yoke easy for you, and your daily burdens will be lightened by communion with Him. Let no earthly ties, however dear, obstruct the course of duty which He has made plain, but let no human agents frame duties for you.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 10 (1895)

Ms 13, 1895

10LtMs, Ms 13, 1895, par. 16

The invitation of Christ is, “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you,” engage with me to save all who will believe on Him whom the Father hath sent. Shall we bear the yoke with Christ? Shall we be co-laborers with Him? Listen to what He says, “My yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” [Matthew 11:28-30.] Those who barricade the soul, refuse the invitation to the gospel feast—those who horde up their talents to rust, unemployed, unimproved—must not think that such action in any way relieves them from responsibility, for God holds us responsible for the good we might do, if we took up the yoke with Christ, lifting his burdens, learning more of His meekness and lowliness of heart day by day. The interest continues to accumulate on buried talents, and instead of decreasing our responsibility, the burying of our talent only increases and intensifies it.

Manuscript Releases, vol. 17 [Nos. 1236-1300]

MR No. 1265—Minds of Committee Members to be Worked by the Holy Spirit; The Marks of Christlikeness

17MR 168.1

Ambition for the highest position excluded Satan from heaven, and he means to work upon every human being to lead them to sin as he has sinned. But ambition to do large things wears away the life with a great many perplexities. The invitation of Christ is, “Come unto Me, all ye that labor 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).

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 10 (1895)

Lt 97, 1895

10LtMs, Lt 97, 1895, par. 21

Just so we are to look to Jesus; sinful, erring, weak, unworthy, we are to take the Word of God, the invitation of Christ, “Come unto Me, all ye that labor 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.]

10LtMs, Lt 97, 1895, par. 62

Believe that Jesus means just what He says; take Him at His word, and hang your helpless soul upon Him. He says, “Come unto Me, all ye that labor 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 of heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls; for My yoke is easy and my burden is light.” [Matthew 11:28-30.] Do not cast away such rich promises as these.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 10 (1895)

Ms 7, 1895

10LtMs, Ms 7, 1895, par. 2

All the works of men are under the Lord’s jurisdiction. It will be altogether safe for men to consider that there is knowledge with the Most High. Those who trust in God and His wisdom, and not in their own, are walking in safe paths. They will never feel that they are authorized to muzzle even the ox that treads out the grain; and how offensive it is for men to control the human agent who is in partnership with God, and whom the Lord Jesus has invited, “Come unto me, all ye that labor 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.] “We are laborers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.” [1 Corinthians 3:9.]

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 11 (1896)

Lt 98d, 1896

11LtMs, Lt 98d, 1896, par. 2

“Come unto Me, all ye that labor 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.] He lays no galling yoke upon your shoulders. Whatever care we may have, the Lord Jesus says if we bring that to Him, He will give us rest. He says, Lay your burdens upon Me.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 11 (1896)

Ms 73, 1896

11LtMs, Ms 73, 1896, par. 2

At times the manifestation of the Holy Spirit has been so decided that studies were forgotten, and the greatest Teacher the world ever knew made His voice heard, saying, “Come unto me, all ye that labor 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.] The Lord knocked at the door of hearts, and I saw that angels of God were present. There seemed to be no special effort on the part of the teachers to influence these students to give their attention to the things of God; but God had a Watcher in the school, and though His presence was unseen, yet His influence was discernable. Again and again there has been manifest tokens of the presence of the holy Watchman in the school. Again and again the voice of Jesus has spoken to the students saying, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock, if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” [Revelation 3:20.]

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 11 (1896)

Lt 98b, 1896

11LtMs, Lt 98b, 1896, par. 11

But you cannot possibly save your own soul. Only by the efficacy of the blood of Jesus Christ can you be saved. Why keep your eyes fastened on yourself when your Saviour stands beside you, saying, “Come unto Me, all ye that labor, 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.] “Fear thou not, for I am with thee: be not dismayed, for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee: yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” [Isaiah 41:10.] Lay your sins on Me.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 11 (1896)

Lt 88, 1896

11LtMs, Lt 88, 1896, par. 11

Those whom is entrusted the privilege of being laborers together with God must accept the invitation of Christ, “Come unto ME, all ye that labor 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.] Why then do we carry our burdens to our fellow men, asking them to bear them for us? If the Lord has placed us in positions of responsibility, why do we, instead of asking Him for wisdom, go to our fellow men? In yoking up with Christ, we link ourselves with One who is mighty in counsel, One who never makes a mistake.

11LtMs, Lt 88, 1896, par. 12

When power is exercised by men <over men,> they must give evidence that their power and their wisdom comes from the source of all power and wisdom. If men use their power to do strange deeds, and link themselves with men whose influence is not Christlike, it is dangerous to put confidence in them. “Learn of me,” said Christ, “for I am meek and lowly in heart.” [Verse 29.]

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 11 (1896)

Lt 23, 1896

11LtMs, Lt 23, 1896, par. 4

Jesus says, “All that the Father giveth me, shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” [Verse 37.] Connect this with the invitation, “Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” [Matthew 11:28.] Precious promise, of more value than gold and silver and precious stones. But to every promise there are conditions, either expressed or implied. The Saviour continues, “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.” [Verses 29, 30.] When you, my brother, shall come to Christ just as you are, knowing your weakness, your helplessness, your sinfulness, and cast your soul upon Jesus; when you take His yoke and wear it, when you lift His burdens, and learn His meekness and lowliness, you will see a serious solemn phase in human life for you; you will have altogether different ideas of your responsibilities and accountability.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 11 (1896)

Lt 49a, 1896

11LtMs, Lt 49a, 1896, par. 17

For them there is only one way of escape, and that is to be afraid of themselves, to reject false principles and wrong theories, accepting the invitation, “Come unto me, all ye that labor 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.] Those who have been leavened by disaffection, have injured their own souls. We hope that they will quickly return to the Lord. Be sure that you have a clear conviction of sin, and then, through earnest prayer and soul-surrender, learn that in Christ alone are found holy aspirations.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 11 (1896)

Ms 32, 1896

11LtMs, Ms 32, 1896, par. 51

The great burden of every soul should be, Is my heart renewed? Is my soul transformed? Are my sins pardoned through faith in Christ? Have I been born again? Am I complying with the invitation, “Come unto me, all ye that labor 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.] Do you count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus? And do you feel it your duty to believe every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God?

Christ Triumphant

Pressing Into Christ’s Presence, February 15

CTr 52.5

[Matthew 11:28-30 quoted.] What an invitation! It was this invitation that He gave to Enoch before the world was destroyed by the Flood.... Christ was as verily Enoch’s Saviour as He is our Saviour, and in His power, notwithstanding the corruption of that degenerate age, Enoch perfected a Christian character.

Manuscript Releases, vol. 10 [Nos. 771-850]

MR No. 795—Walk in the Light of the Cross

10MR 80.1

Many who love God and who seek to honor God fear that they have no right to claim His rich promises. They will dwell upon their painful struggles and the darkness which encompasses their path, and in so doing they lose sight of the light of the love that Jesus Christ has shed upon them. They lose sight of the great redemption that has been purchased for them at infinite cost. Many are standing afar off as if they were afraid to touch even the hem of Christ’s garment, but His gracious invitation is even extended to them and He is pleading, “Come unto me, all ye that labor 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).—Manuscript 61, 1894. (“Walk in the Light of the Cross,” Written at Granville, NSW, Australia, September 16, 1894.)

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 11 (1896)

Ms 29, 1896

11LtMs, Ms 29, 1896, par. 5

Many could not get to camp meeting, but the Lord has favored them with privileges that would be of the greatest benefit to them. All who desire light and knowledge may, through God’s appointed agencies, come and receive it. Murmurings and complainings and much talking will not bring happiness or grace, and yet many will not come to Jesus and find in His presence that rest and assurance that He has promised. The lesson that Christ desires all to learn of Him is, “Come unto me, all ye that labor 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.]

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 11 (1896)

Lt 102a, 1896

11LtMs, Lt 102a, 1896, par. 18

I have a message for the people of God: Look to God for your individual selves in every movement you make. Trust not in any man’s wisdom. Jesus raises His voice with clear and distinct instruction: “Come unto Me, all ye that labor 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.] “If any man thirst, let him come unto Me.” “Him that cometh unto Me, I will in no wise cast out.” [John 7:37; 6:37.] Coming to Christ you are not repulsed, you are not humiliated with censures, or met with distrust, suspicions, and heartless denunciations.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 11 (1896)

Ms 70, 1896

11LtMs, Ms 70, 1896, par. 32

It is our privilege to increase our influence in whatever sphere of life we may be placed. We are God’s servants, to whom we must individually yield ourselves. We are to obey Him; for He knows just what He would have us do as His workers, and what position we can acceptably fill. He wants each individual believer to act the part assigned him. He supplies by His own power those points of character that are essential for the very place that He wishes each to fill. The life that is dedicated to God, He will not leave to become the victim to Satan’s temptations, nor to be used as natural inclination may choose. The true believer is brought into close contact with his Redeemer. “Come unto me,” He says, “all ye that labor 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.]

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 11 (1896)

Lt 106a, 1896

11LtMs, Lt 106a, 1896, par. 36

Christ says, “Come unto me, all ye that labor 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.” [Matthew 11:28, 29.] Will you put from off your neck the yoke of Satan, and put on the yoke of Christ? He declares to you, “My yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” [Verse 30.] Through Christ you can recover yourself.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 11 (1896)

Ms 63, 1896

11LtMs, Ms 63, 1896, par. 9

Matthew 10:40-42. We have our work to do and hitherto hath the Lord helped me. “Come unto me, all ye that labor 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.] I have proved this word of Christ and have found that rest. Let all come in full faith to Jesus.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 12 (1897)

Lt 135, 1897

12LtMs, Lt 135, 1897, par. 18

The truth of God is not guesswork, but an experience [by which] divine influences co-operate with human agents. It is to be tested by practical results. There is an actual, vital relation between fallen man and the divine intelligences, between the sinner and his divine Saviour. The Lord Jesus, the great Center, takes men into partnership with Himself. Then, I inquire, why are there so many strings of leadership from man and his fellow man? Why does man look to his fellow man for help and knowledge and understanding as to what [he] must be and what [he] must do? His Word has given special directions that men are to look to Jesus, to work as laborers together with God. “Come unto me, all ye that labor, and are heavy laden,” Christ says, “and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly of heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” [Matthew 11:28-30.]

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 12 (1897)

Ms 173, 1897

12LtMs, Ms 173, 1897, par. 20

The Lord wants to help us and do large things for us. Has He not said, “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek an 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)? We need not remain in ignorance and questioning whether we can find mercy and grace and salvation in God. All the teachings of Christ were positive, no “guess so.” He spake as one having authority. Whatever the theme that engaged His tongue, His voice and His words and articulation were in perfect harmony with His subject.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 12 (1897)

Ms 75a, 1897

12LtMs, Ms 75a, 1897, par. 13

They have no strength to resist temptation; they love to associate with the light, the trifling, and the vain. Their life is a dishonor to the Saviour whom they profess to follow. Their own darkness they bring upon themselves by entertaining false principles of what constitutes a life of a Christian when [he] listens to the voice of the great Teacher, “Come unto me all ye that are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest, take my yoke upon you, and learn of me for I am meek and lowly of heart and ye shall find rest unto your souls, for my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” [Matthew 11:28-30.] This is the experience that every soul must have if they shall enter the kingdom of God.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 12 (1897)

Lt 69, 1897

12LtMs, Lt 69, 1897, par. 30

Then let man, however imperfect, hope in God, saying not, “If I were of a different disposition I would serve God,” but bring himself to Him in true service. Christ has invited you to do this. He says, “Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you (convert your entrusted capabilities to God), and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For,” He declares, “my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” [Matthew 11:28-30.] That nature has been redeemed by Me. “As many as received him to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.” [John 1:12.] You are not degraded, but raised, ennobled, refined by Me. You can find refuge in Me. You can obtain victory and be more than conquerors in My name.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 12 (1897)

Ms 60, 1897

12LtMs, Ms 60, 1897, par. 7

The wealthy man needs your labor in the love and fear of God. He trusts in his riches, and feels not his danger. The eyes of his mind need to be attracted to things of enduring value. He needs to recognize the authority of true goodness which says, “Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden: and I will give you rest.” Exchange that yoke which you have manufactured for your neck, and which you have been perplexing yourself over, and take My yoke upon you. “Learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and ye shall find rest unto you souls: for my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” [Matthew 11:28-30.] “If any man thirst, let him come unto me and drink.” [John 7:37.]

Manuscript Releases, vol. 10 [Nos. 771-850]

MR No. 806—Stephen Belden and Norfolk Island

10MR 147.2

Christ bids you, “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). The members of the church of Christ are to act out the principles of truth, representing the character of the meek and lowly Jesus. This is contrary to the spirit of the world.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 12 (1897)

Ms 20, 1897

12LtMs, Ms 20, 1897, par. 2

“Come unto me, all ye that labor, 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.]

12LtMs, Ms 20, 1897, par. 23

Then why not try this kind of service? The Lord calls His yoke easy, and His burden light. [Matthew 11:30.] Yet that will not give us a life of ease and freedom and selfish indulgence. The life of Christ was one of self-denial and self-sacrifice at every step. And His true follower, with consistent, Christlike tenderness and love, will follow in the footsteps of his Master. And as he advances in this life, he will become inspired with the spirit and life of Christ.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 12 (1897)

Lt 26, 1897

12LtMs, Lt 26, 1897, par. 29

My appeal is to the church. The Lord Jesus calls the church the light of the world. [Matthew 5:14.] I call upon you, Frank Belden, and Hattie McDearmon Belden, Christ is inviting you both to come to Him. “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” My dear, tempest tossed souls, will you heed the call? “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me, and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” [Matthew 11:28-30.]

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 12 (1897)

Lt 57, 1897

12LtMs, Lt 57, 1897, par. 3

A divine voice speaks to you, “Come unto me, all ye that labor 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 of heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” [Matthew 11:28-30.] Receive Christ as an abiding guest, and your hearts will be drawn upward in songs of praise and thanksgiving. “O Lord how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all.” [Psalm 104:24.] “Thou visitest the earth, and waterest it; thou greatly enrichest it with the river of God, which is full of water; thou preparest them corn, when thou hast so provided for it. Thou waterest the ridges thereof abundantly; thou settlest the furrows thereof; thou makest it soft with showers; thou blessest the springing thereof. Thou crownest the year with thy goodness; and thy paths drop fatness.” [Psalm 65:9-11.]

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 12 (1897)

Ms 61, 1897

12LtMs, Ms 61, 1897, par. 2

Self indulgence is a great evil, and must be overcome. Those who have been educated in this line can demonstrate by precept and example, to those with whom they come in contact, the principles taught by our self-denying Redeemer. He says to all, “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Then the conditions are stated, from which there can be no departure, “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly of heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” [Matthew 11:28-30.]

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 12 (1897)

Ms 133, 1897

12LtMs, Ms 133, 1897, par. 11

There are those who could make themselves a great blessing, if they will see and recognize the blessing of God, and that it is their privilege to see and understand by experience what lessons they have to learn of Jesus. “Come unto me, all ye that are weary and are heavy laden,” He says, “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.] There are gloomy, surly spirits that are never grateful, but a thankful spirit will find rest. All who comply with the condition will find in Christ that rest and peace that passeth understanding.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 12 (1897)

Lt 94, 1897

12LtMs, Lt 94, 1897, par. 2

My sister, the Lord would have you realize that He loves you. He would have you take your eyes off your imperfections and mistakes. His voice is heard, “Look and live.” [Numbers 21:8.] “Come unto me, all ye that labor 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.] Rely upon Christ by faith. Take hold of His Word, and apply it to your own case. Come to Him in confidence; come to Him in faith. He is your friend and helper. He says, “Whosoever cometh to me, I will in no wise cast out.” [John 6:37.] “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” [John 3:16.]

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 12 (1897)

Ms 130, 1897

12LtMs, Ms 130, 1897, par. 7

Unless a man is renewed in the spirit of his mind by the transforming power of the Holy Spirit, he will become restless and dissatisfied because he has not died [to] self. “Come unto me,” said Christ, “all ye that labor 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 of heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls; For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” [Matthew 11:28-30.] Again Christ says, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.” [Luke 9:23.] Without me ye can do nothing correctly, any more than could Cain. Of what advantage is any system of religion to one who has not been transformed in character by the profession of faith without works?

12LtMs, Ms 130, 1897, par. 41

The question has been asked, What kind of vessels does the Spirit ordinarily use? What does Christ say? “Come unto me, all ye that labor 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.] When the workers in any branch of the work labor in self, they put upon themselves a yoke which Christ does not co-operate with them in carrying.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 12 (1897)

Ms 31, 1897

12LtMs, Ms 31, 1897, par. 12

The Word carefully studied, and eaten as the Bread of life, will be digested properly. That Word contains the lessons that every soul will need to learn if they would walk and work with discretion. Cultivated fancies and tastes cannot be indulged and yet the human agent be a co-laborer with Christ. The revelation of the attributes of Christ will be unmistakably revealed in those who are His followers. The invitation must be heeded, “Come unto me, all ye that labor 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.]

Manuscript Releases, vol. 10 [Nos. 771-850]

MR No. 813—Comfort and Assurance for the Afflicted

10MR 175.2

You are not to examine your feelings and put any dependence upon your emotions, for they may be as varied as the wind, but take to your heart this one promise and you will find it a passport to all the rich treasures of heaven. You are precious to the heart of Christ and He speaks, saying unto you, “Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). There is no perhaps or maybe about this promise. The “I will” of Christ is an assurance that cannot be made any stronger. He speaks further, saying, “Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly of heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light” (Matthew 11:29, 30).

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 12 (1897)

Lt 89, 1897

12LtMs, Lt 89, 1897, par. 31

The Lord has given every man his work. He has not given to any brain, bone, or muscle to be kept in inactivity. Christ speaks. Hear His words: “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me, and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” [Matthew 11:28-30.] This is Christ’s recognition of duty. He speaks of wearing His yoke, and lifting His burden. What is the yoke? That which restrains. What is the burden? That which is to be carried. Here obedience and service are combined.

12LtMs, Lt 89, 1897, par. 34

Many take views of life that are entirely opposite to the teachings of Christ. A life of freedom and idleness is looked upon as the happiest existence. But Christ acknowledges no such principle. He put His neck under the yoke of obedience, and He says, “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me how to obey and how to serve. In this you will find rest.” [See Matthew 11:29.]

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 12 (1897)

Ms 13, 1897

12LtMs, Ms 13, 1897, par. 14

When you decide that you cannot be a Christian and still do as you please, when you realize that you must surrender your will to God’s will, then you can comply with the invitation of Christ, “Come unto me, all ye that labor 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.]

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 12 (1897)

Lt 133, 1897

12LtMs, Lt 133, 1897, par. 25

And God has lessons for His people to learn today. He invites each of you, “Come unto me, all ye that labor 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.]

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 12 (1897)

Lt 130, 1897

12LtMs, Lt 130, 1897, par. 2

“Come unto me,” Christ says, “all ye that labor 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.] All who depend upon the Lord Jesus Christ, who seek Him with their whole heart, will find in Him a very present help in time of trouble, and will be shown their duty. The Lord is much nearer to those who desire to know His will than are those in Battle Creek, or in the next neighborhood. He Himself declares, “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.” [Matthew 7:7.] “All things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.” [Matthew 21:22.]

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 12 (1897)

Lt 151, 1897

12LtMs, Lt 151, 1897, par. 2

“Then shalt thou see and flow together, and thine heart shall fear, and be enlarged; because the abundance of the sea shall be converted unto thee, the forces of the Gentiles shall come unto thee.” [Isaiah 60:5.] There will be many conversions, not so much from the church as from the world. “And they shall show forth the praise of the Lord.” [Verse 6.] The Lord has a work for you to do. Bear this in mind, and never, never unyoke from Christ. “Take my yoke upon you,” He says to every son and daughter. “Learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart, and thou shalt find rest unto thy soul. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” [Matthew 11:29, 30.]

12LtMs, Lt 151, 1897, par. 20

“Come unto me,” He says, “all ye that labor and are heavy laden. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly of heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” [Matthew 11:28-30.] Do not turn away from Jesus to broken cisterns that can hold no water. All I ask of you, Edson and Emma, is to walk with God in all humility, Trust in Him who is true and faithful, and then you will be found of Him in peace. He will put His Spirit upon you, saying, “Be strong, yea, be strong.” [Daniel 10:19.]

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 12 (1897)

Lt 74, 1897

12LtMs, Lt 74, 1897, par. 13

Christ does not accuse and condemn. He invites you, “Come unto me, all ye that labor 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.] Goodness, meekness, gentleness, patience, and love are the attributes of Christ’s character. If you have the Spirit of Christ, your character will be molded after His character. But “if any man have not the spirit of Christ, he is none of his.” [Romans 8:9.]

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 12 (1897)

Ms 15, 1897

12LtMs, Ms 15, 1897, par. 5

Live as in the presence of God. “Come unto me,” is the invitation of Christ. By this He does not mean that you shall go to a far country to inquire of the president of the conference what your duty is. He would have you rejoice and praise Him every day for the privilege granted to you in the words of Christ: “Come unto me, all ye that labor 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.] Spread out your case before the Lord, and whatever your anxieties and trials, your spirit will be braced for endurance. The way will be opened before you to disentangle yourself from embarrassment and difficulty.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 12 (1897)

Lt 153a, 1897

12LtMs, Lt 153a, 1897, par. 25

Our Lord was a successful worker with the common people. This was the class that always heard Him gladly. Why, O why, I inquire, are there so few that carry any burden for souls? His heart was yearning to make souls happy. “Come unto me,” He said, “all ye that labor 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.]

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 12 (1897)

Ms 138, 1897

12LtMs, Ms 138, 1897, par. 22

The assurance of His abiding presence was the richest legacy Christ could give His disciples. Having the High Priest of our profession close by our side, we need not imperil our souls by opening the secrets of our hearts to priest or minister. In all confidence we may open our heart to the head over all the church. Take every matter, small or great to Jesus. “Come unto me,” He says, “all ye that labor 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.] Precious assurance. Let us show that we honor the invitation by obeying the call.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 12 (1897)

Ms 166, 1897

12LtMs, Ms 166, 1897, par. 5

Treat the matter in this light always. All who will take the yoke of Christ upon them, take the work of perfect obedience, they yoke up with Christ. “Come unto me all ye that are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, for I am meek and lowly of heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” [Matthew 11:28-30.]

Manuscript Releases, vol. 13 [Nos. 1000-1080]

MR No. 1037—Importance of Accepting and Applying God’s Word; Christ’s Mission, and His Method of Teaching

13MR 240.1

He was seeking to give knowledge to the ignorant and hope to the despairing. He was working to give that wisdom to the world which would make them wise unto salvation. He was seeking to lighten the self-imposed burdens of worldly anxiety and care by inviting the people to come to Him and find rest and peace, to exchange their self-made, cumbrous, galling yoke for His yoke, which was easy; and their worldly burdens, which were heavy, for His burdens, which were light. His voice has been coming down along the line to our time with the gracious words of invitation, “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]. We read that the common people heard Him gladly.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 13 (1898)

Lt 44, 1898

13LtMs, Lt 44, 1898, par. 2

It is not best to become fainthearted and discouraged. The Lord lives, and there is no end to His resources. We have a living Saviour as our Advocate. He understands all our perplexities. His invitation is yet good, “Come unto me, all ye that labor, 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 soul. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” [Matthew 11:28-30.]

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 13 (1898)

Lt 5, 1898

13LtMs, Lt 5, 1898, par. 29

What we all need is to be converted to Christ. He says, “Come unto me, all ye that labor 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.] There is to be a rearranging, a reconstruction of the minds of those who believe the truth. They are to be molded after the divine similitude, else the Lord cannot manifest His power in them and through them as His co-workers, for they will surely mislead through want of spiritual eyesight.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 13 (1898)

Ms 76, 1898

13LtMs, Ms 76, 1898, par. 10

If the youth who are present at this the second term of our school hear the Word the Lord has given by His servants to them, if they receive and practice these words to them, they will understand what is meant by the word consecration. To be consecrated means to be set apart to sacred service, as vessels cleansed from every defilement and prepared for the Master’s use. The sanctification of soul, body, and spirit means to comply with the gracious invitation, “Come unto me, all ye that labor 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.]

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 13 (1898)

Lt 107, 1898

13LtMs, Lt 107, 1898, par. 10

Christ says, “I am with you to help you in every true purpose. I will never leave you, I will never forsake you in the battle you have with the enemy.” When man places himself on the Lord’s side, he finds an unfailing refuge in Christ. Christ invites all, “Come unto me, all ye that labor 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.]

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 13 (1898)

Ms 60, 1898

13LtMs, Ms 60, 1898, par. 10

Christ took human nature, and in His own life worked out the problem, showing how humanity, with all its objectionable features, may link up with humanity. It is by heeding the invitation, “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke (of restraint and obedience) 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.]

13LtMs, Ms 60, 1898, par. 12

“Learn of me,” said the great Teacher, “for I am meek and lowly in heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls.” [Verse 29.] You need not wait till you get to heaven for rest. You may have it in your present service. If you are in truth laborers together with God, you will be actuated by a desire to help each other in the work of God, that all may work in Christ’s lines. All strife for supremacy will be uprooted. Passion and bitterness, self-seeking and selfish imaginings will not appear. Secret, underhand working will find no place.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 13 (1898)

Lt 12, 1898

13LtMs, Lt 12, 1898, par. 9

My brother, Jesus invites you, “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn of men, 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.] O, if you had only been satisfied with the ways of God. The will of God is to do us good, and only good. He came to answer the prayers of His people as He promised He would. With His holy angels He came to favor His people who were following the plan He had marked out. If you had humbled your heart before Him, and, even if you could not do one stroke of work, cheered the others, revealing that a right spirit was within you, you would have been raised to vantage ground.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 13 (1898)

Ms 180, 1898

13LtMs, Ms 180, 1898, par. 13

I am rejoiced in heart that forty have taken their stand upon the platform of eternal truth in Stanmore. This is indeed a matter of rejoicing. I call to mind the promise, “Come unto me, all ye that labor 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.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 13 (1898)

Ms 150, 1898

13LtMs, Ms 150, 1898, par. 9

How are we to testify of our love and gratitude to Christ? By thorough consecration of ourselves to Him. When we were bankrupt and without hope, and helpless to supply our great need, Christ came to our relief and revealed himself to us as a sin pardoning Saviour. And now His voice is heard saying, “Come unto me, all ye that labor 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.] Has he called you to be his children? “As many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.” [John 1:12.]

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 13 (1898)

Lt 13, 1898

13LtMs, Lt 13, 1898, par. 11

You may say, What shall I do? Jesus tells you. “Come unto me,” He says, “all ye that labor 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.] Come to Jesus just as you are, helpless sinful. Fall upon the Rock, and be broken. Christ is the Rock. When you see yourself just as you are, you will understand. You will come to Christ just as you are. You will plead with God. As you see your defects of character, you will see that you have been imbued with the spirit of the enemy, and have worked out his will. This is killing your soul. You are in danger, but when you will draw nigh unto God, God will draw nigh unto you.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 13 (1898)

Ms 45, 1898

13LtMs, Ms 45, 1898, par. 33

No one can search the Old and New Testaments in the Spirit of Christ without being rewarded. “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden,” He says, “and I will give you rest. Take my yoke (of obedience) 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.] The great Teacher’s invitation is before you. Will you willingly respond to this invitation? You cannot draw near, placing yourself as a learner, to be taught of Christ, without your mind being enlightened, your heart quickened, with a pure, holy admiration; and you will then say, “Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.” [Matthew 21:9.]

Manuscript Releases, vol. 3 [Nos. 162-209]

“Come Unto Me”

3MR 70.2

Text: Matthew 11:28-30. “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 you souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.”

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 13 (1898)

Ms 63, 1898

13LtMs, Ms 63, 1898, par. 23

Christ walked on this earth in the midst of men, uplifting the weak, the halting, the suffering, and making glad the hearts of the desponding and discouraged. To all He gave the gracious invitation, “Come unto me, all ye that labor 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.] We are privileged to draw from Christ’s resources. In Him there is an inexhaustible supply of grace and light and love. The more we impart, the more we receive. And as we supply the necessities of others, our own souls are refreshed and satisfied by the love of Jesus.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 13 (1898)

Ms 185, 1898

13LtMs, Ms 185, 1898, par. 25

I slept until nearly three o’clock. My mind and heart are full of the subject of true education, which means whole-hearted surrender to God. The Voice speaking when Christ was upon earth is heard in no uncertain speech: “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn of me; ... and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30. This is the higher education, to learn the meekness and lowliness of Christ.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 13 (1898)

Ms 67, 1898

13LtMs, Ms 67, 1898, par. 6

He who is touched with the feelings of our infirmities invites us, “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give your rest.” God’s Word is pledged in our behalf. How many make a practical application of this promise? Listen to the voice of Christ, “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.] Students, you are safe only as you connect yourselves with Christ on perfect submission and obedience. The yoke is easy, for Christ carries the weight. As you lift the burden of the cross, it will become light. It is a pledge to you of eternal life. You can follow gladly after Christ, exclaiming at every step, “Thy gentleness hath made me great.” [Psalm 18:35.] If you follow on to know the Lord, you will have the sympathies of a friend.

13LtMs, Ms 67, 1898, par. 25

Satan has been constantly at work to obscure the vital truths that are essential for the well-being of man, making indistinct and unimportant the obedience that must be rendered to the commandments of God. But man is to return to his obedience to God, and walk in communion with God as did Enoch. In all our studies we are to sit in heavenly places in Jesus. This God will help every soul to do if he will learn his lessons out of the Word. “Come unto me,” says Christ, “all ye that are weary and 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.” [Matthew 11:28, 29.]

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 13 (1898)

Ms 43a, 1898

13LtMs, Ms 43a, 1898, par. 29

“Come unto me all ye that labor 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.] Jesus has made abundant provision for his Spirit to mold and fashion every human heart. The bitterness of spirit that is too frequently developed shows that the love of Christ is not abiding in the heart. Satan is sowing his tares, preparatory to reaping a crop of evil.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 13 (1898)

Lt 65, 1898

13LtMs, Lt 65, 1898, par. 49

The great Teacher who came down from heaven has not directed you to any of the supposed great authors. He says, “Come unto me, all ye that labor 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.] Christ has promised to give you rest, and in learning your lessons of Him, you will find rest.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 13 (1898)

Ms 44, 1898

13LtMs, Ms 44, 1898, par. 40

The soul that is seeking for rest and peace and happiness finds all these by coming to Jesus. All his wants are satisfied. He has been seeking peace and rest of conscience, and in Christ he has found a clean heart, a renewed mind. Christ has given His invitation, “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me, and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” [Matthew 11:28-30.] Great indeed are the promises God has given in order to bring salvation within our reach. He gave His life for us, and He offers us the pearl of great price. But so many turn with disdain from the salvation offered. Many give the things of eternal interest only a transient thought. This is the reason that they do not duly estimate the value of the pearl of great price. Shall this state of things continue?

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 13 (1898)

Ms 96, 1898

13LtMs, Ms 96, 1898, par. 5

In our connection with any line of God’s work, we must use the sacred fire. Supposed human ability and efficiency is common fire, but this is unacknowledged by God. A decided position must be maintained upon the high platform of eternal truth. The time has come when all who work in Christ’s lines will have the mark of God, in words, in spirit, in character, in their honor of Emmanuel. While so many of our people have been hovering about the mystery of faith and godliness, they could have solved the matter by proclaiming, “I know that Christ is my portion forever. His mercy, His gentleness hath made me great.” Christ invites us, “Come unto me, all ye that labor, 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.]

13LtMs, Ms 96, 1898, par. 11

The Speaker asked: Why do you fill your book shelves with books? Why do you spend money for that which is not bread? Christ calls you, “Learn of me: for I am meek and lowly in heart.” [Matthew 11:29.] You need to eat of the Bread of life which came down from heaven. You need to be more diligent students of the Holy Scriptures, and to drink from the living fountain of life. Draw, draw in earnest prayer from Jesus Christ. Eat His flesh and drink His blood. Authors can never supply your great need for this time.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 13 (1898)

Lt 103, 1898

13LtMs, Lt 103, 1898, par. 9

My sister, in all your perplexities and sorrows, never, never forget that Christ is your personal Saviour, that your interests are bound up with His heart of infinite love. Let nothing of a worldly character interpose between you and your Saviour. The invitation is given, “Come unto me, all ye that labor 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.]

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 13 (1898)

Lt 87, 1898

13LtMs, Lt 87, 1898, par. 10

The one who labors in word and doctrine often receives letters of inquiry from those who want advice. Often these letters are of a character to tax the faculties of the mind, and bring a severe burden on the soul. If the ones who write these letters would only consider how many burdens are being carried by men in responsible positions, they would say, I have a God who has invited me: “Come unto me, all ye that labor 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.]

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 13 (1898)

Ms 79, 1898

13LtMs, Ms 79, 1898, par. 13

Teachers and students are to so unite with Christ that their mind will be brought into captivity to Him. We must let Christ be revealed in us. We must be His representatives to the world. Says the apostle, “Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.” [Colossians 4:5.] Self-confidence is not an evidence of advancement in the knowledge of God. The great Teacher says, “Come unto me, all ye that labor 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.]

Manuscript Releases, vol. 3 [Nos. 162-209]

Search the Scriptures

3MR 89.2

You could not make a greater mistake than to take the voice of man. Those who will not hear truth, when it crosses their pet theories, will often place themselves out of the reach of hearing when they should be the very ones to hear. The same thing is acted over today as it was in the days of Christ. The Pharisees then turned a deaf ear to the instructions of the divine Teacher. But it is our duty and privilege to be learners in the school of Christ. We want to learn of Him who is meek and lowly in heart, who said, “Come unto Me.... and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 13 (1898)

Ms 167, 1898

13LtMs, Ms 167, 1898, par. 16

If we follow Christ, we shall imitate His life of service. “Come unto me,” He says, “all ye that labor 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.] We need far more disinterested benevolence. Often we shall be called upon to sacrifice to help those who are in need of help, and we should do this cheerfully, gladly, for the privilege of following the Master.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 13 (1898)

Ms 21, 1898

13LtMs, Ms 21, 1898, par. 36

All who are united with Christ will come out of the world and be separate. They will not enter into the world from any choice of their own. They will not by their associations place themselves in the way of temptation. They will not be educated in worldly lines. They will choose to come into the school of Christ and learn of the great Teacher. He invites every soul, “Come unto me all ye that labor 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.]

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 13 (1898)

Lt 130, 1898

13LtMs, Lt 130, 1898, par. 6

I presented the invitation, “Come unto me, all ye that labor 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.] Simple enough, is it not? Thus it appears. The promise is large and far-reaching. Rest for the soul is comprehensive. It implies much. It means deliverance from constant perplexing uncertainty. The word rest is repeated. “I will give you rest.” In wearing Christ’s yoke and learning of Him His meekness and lowliness, “ye shall find rest to your souls.” Here is a giving by Christ; and on our part, an acceptance of the promise, a conscious finding, a sense of relief from all perplexing doubt.

13LtMs, Lt 130, 1898, par. 7

The reason why there are so many in perplexity is they take their case into their own finite hands and manufacture yokes that are not pleasant for them to wear. They suppose they understand their own case, and will worry and plan and devise, when Christ stands inviting, “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.” [Verses 29, 30.] I said, If you have not found the rest that Christ has offered to give you upon condition that you learn of Him who is meek and lowly of heart, would you not better without delay yoke up with Christ, bear only His burdens, and not pile upon yourselves burdens that weigh you down to the earth? All your trouble is because you are so anxious to run things yourselves that you do not wear the yoke of Christ, which He declares is easy. The yokes of your own manufacturing gall the neck that wears them. Christ says, Try my yoke, it is easy; lift my burdens, for they are light.

13LtMs, Lt 130, 1898, par. 12

We must learn His meekness and lowliness before we realize the fulfillment of the promise, “Ye shall find rest unto your souls.” [Matthew 11:29.] It is by learning the habits of Christ, His meekness, His lowliness, that self becomes transformed—by taking Christ’s yoke upon you and then submitting to learn. There is no one who has not much to learn. All must come under training by Jesus Christ. When they fall upon Christ, their own hereditary and cultivated traits of character are taken away as hindrances to their being partakers of the divine nature. When self dies, then Christ lives in the human agent. He abides in Christ, and Christ lives in him.

13LtMs, Lt 130, 1898, par. 13

Christ desires all to become His students. He says, Yield yourselves to My training; submit your souls unto Me. I will not extinguish you, but will work out for you such a character that you shall be transformed from the lower school to the higher grade. Submit all things to Me. Let My life, My patience, My longsuffering, My forbearance, My meekness, My lowliness, be worked out in your character, as one that abides in Me and I in him. Then you have the power. Not only, “I will give,” but, “You shall find rest to your souls.” [Verses 28, 29.]

13LtMs, Lt 130, 1898, par. 19

Unless these conditions are complied with, you cannot have rest. Rest is in Christ, and cannot be found as something He gives apart from Himself. The moment the yoke is adjusted to your neck, that moment it is found easy; and the heaviest labor in all spiritual lines can be performed, the heaviest burdens can be borne, because the Lord gives the strength and the power, and He gives gladness in doing the work. Mark the points: “Learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart.” [Matthew 11:29.] Who is it that speaks thus? The Majesty of heaven, the King of glory. He desires that your conceptions of spiritual things shall be purified from the fog of selfishness, the defilement of a crooked, coarse, unsympathetic nature. There must be the inward, higher experience. You must obtain a growth in grace by abiding in Christ. “And when thou art converted, thou wilt not be a hindrance, but thou wilt strengthen thy brethren.” [See Luke 22:32.]

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 13 (1898)

Lt 46, 1898

13LtMs, Lt 46, 1898, par. 7

“Ye are laborers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.” [1 Corinthians 3:9.] “Ye are not your own: for ye are bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.” [1 Corinthians 6:19, 20.] Then you will be silently as well as consciously developing a special individual character. As you take the yoke of Christ, and wear it, you will heed His invitation, “Learn of me: for I am meek and lowly in heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls.” [Matthew 11:29.]

13LtMs, Lt 46, 1898, par. 11

If there is not another soul in the universe that regards you, the Lord God of Israel is looking upon you with thoughts of compassion, tenderness, and sympathy. He sees you with your strong impulses when fainthearted and discouraged. Hereditary tendencies strive for the mastery, and you lose your tenderness of heart. You blame circumstances. You would rather be in any place than with your own thoughts. Now, there is a way out of it. Christ is your Saviour, your Redeemer, and He sends you a tender, compassionate, sympathetic invitation, “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” But there are conditions. “Take my yoke upon you,” He says, “and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly of heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” [Matthew 11:28-30.]

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 13 (1898)

Ms 11, 1898

13LtMs, Ms 11, 1898, par. 1

How much the student of nature can learn of God if, at the same time, he will become a student of the Word. If we heed Christ’s words of invitation, “Come unto me, all ye that labor 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.] If we will come to Him with contrition of soul, and receive Him as our personal Saviour, we shall have our faith strengthened. The promise is, “As many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe in his name.” [John 1:12.] If, with the Word of God our hearts, we go forth to break up and cultivate the soil, we shall find our hearts softened and subdued by the Holy Spirit of God. Our minds will be open to the teachings of God in the natural world. We shall be the better prepared to study.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 13 (1898)

Ms 52, 1898

13LtMs, Ms 52, 1898, par. 1

As God’s people, we have a special work to do for the Master. All who are interested in the work of saving souls, who have submitted their will to the will of God, are laborers together with God. The question is asked, How can two walk together except the be agreed? The invitation of Christ is, “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” What burden is more wearying than the weight of sin? Jesus bids us, “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me: for I am meek and lowly of heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls; for my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” [Matthew 11:28-30.] All who respond to this invitation receive the assurance of Him who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

13LtMs, Ms 52, 1898, par. 8

Here are presented the two great forces that are to co-operate in the work of saving souls—the strong, loving, working faith of the human agent is to unite with divinity. This is what Christ means when He says, “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me: for I am meek and lowly of heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls.” [Matthew 11:29.] “Who hath chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth.” [2 Thessalonians 2:13.] This is the condition of the partnership. We must be laborers together with God. What doing? In seeking and saving that which is lost.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 13 (1898)

Lt 31, 1898

13LtMs, Lt 31, 1898, par. 4

Christ’s heart was ever touched by human woe. He walked and worked in the streets of the cities, teaching the weary, inviting them to come to Him, crying, “Come unto me, all ye that labor 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.] Christ employed every means to arrest the attention of the impenitent. How tender and considerate were His dealings with all. He longed to break the spell of infatuation upon those who were deceived and deluded by satanic agencies. He longed to give the sin-polluted soul pardon and peace.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 13 (1898)

Ms 125, 1898

13LtMs, Ms 125, 1898, par. 4

Christ never spoke a harsh or an unkind word. When tempted by His associates to do wrong, He would sing from the Psalms, or by some word of Scripture would discourage the enemy. Do not be ashamed to learn of Christ. He invites you, “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 11:29, 30.] When you feel provoked to anger consider that in manifesting this spirit, you are not wearing the yoke of Christ, which is one of obedience, restraint, service.

13LtMs, Ms 125, 1898, par. 8

We would have our school under the continual supervision of God. The Lord has a great work to be done, and He calls upon children and youth to prepare themselves for this work. Christ calls you: “Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” [Matthew 11:28.] Who will hear? There is most earnest work to be done. He calls for volunteers to engage in a long, decisive battle against all sin, all evil work. He says, “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.” [Verses 29, 30.]

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 14 (1899)

Lt 110, 1899

14LtMs, Lt 110, 1899, par. 9

Everyone, whatever his capabilities, is God’s possession, bought with a price; and through the help that Christ can give, he may be a laborer together with God. Hear His invitation to all, not one is left out: “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke”—of restraint and obedience—“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.] If you are uneasy under Christ’s yoke, the fault lies in yourself.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 14 (1899)

Lt 44, 1899

14LtMs, Lt 44, 1899, par. 4

You know that the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord, but your influence testifies that your will is not in the line of obedience to this command. Christ says, “Come unto me, all ye that labor, and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke (of obedience) upon you and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly of heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” [Matthew 11:28-30.] Why not now take a decided stand, and say, I will be a Christian; I will be on the Lord’s side. You are losing time. Every hour is a loss to you while you refuse to surrender your will, your way, and your purpose to God.

Manuscript Releases, vol. 3 [Nos. 162-209]

MR No. 175—Materials Requested for White Estate Use

3MR 213.1

The promise is to be claimed by faith, Jesus invites you to come to Him and learn of Him, and “I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). “Learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.” (Matthew 11:29). This rest is not found in inattention and idleness, but in yielding the will to the will of Jesus; for, says Christ, “My yoke is easy, and My burden is light” (Matthew 11:30.) Therefore your will must become God’s will. Your peace, your rest, comes in wearing Christ’s yoke; you have the peace of Christ, and your conscience is not continually scourging you because you have not committed yourself to do the will of God. When you love to do the requirements of God, there is sweet enjoyment, not in idleness, but enjoyment identified with, and realized through, the exercise of all your powers on the Lord’s side.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 14 (1899)

Ms 143, 1899

14LtMs, Ms 143, 1899, par. 13

Our moral perceptions are not dependent upon riches, earthly wisdom, and learning. The true light is shining into hearts from the throne of God. The Spirit of Christ is drawing all men unto Himself. His invitation reaches to every soul: “Come unto me, all ye that labor 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.]

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 14 (1899)

Ms 5, 1899

14LtMs, Ms 5, 1899, par. 1

Every soul is now to stand in his lot to do his appointed work. He is to be prepared to hear Christ’s voice, and respond to His call, “Come unto me all ye that labor 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.]

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 14 (1899)

Lt 154, 1899

14LtMs, Lt 154, 1899, par. 9

Distinct and plain the word has come to us, “Go forward” [Exodus 14:15], and just as soon as the warning message has been given in one place, and men and women raised up to continue the work there, we pass to the unworked parts of the Lord’s vineyard. The Lord is the great Worker. We are His servants, who have accepted the invitation, “Come unto me, all ye that labor 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.] In lifting the burdens of Christ we find rest.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 14 (1899)

Lt 20, 1899

14LtMs, Lt 20, 1899, par. 3

Let your consecration be full and entire. “Come unto me, all ye that labor 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.] Gracious promise! The Holy Spirit alone is able to work with us, in us, and through us, giving us a character which God can approve. The Lord loves His people. With the growth of the Christian life there will come the want of a deeper and more perfect experience.

14LtMs, Lt 20, 1899, par. 5

On one side the infinitely wise and all-powerful God proposes co-operation with His frail, erring creatures, whom He has placed on vantage ground. On one side is infinite wisdom, goodness, compassion, and power. On the other, weakness, sinfulness, absolute helplessness, poverty and dependence. We are dependent on God not only for life and all its blessings but for the entrusted faculties called talents, and all the resources which are required if we accept the invitation to become laborers together with God. If men and women will submit to the conditions which He makes, if they will take His yoke upon them and learn of Him, they will find rest unto their souls, for His yoke is easy, and His burden is light. Here the Lord lays down the condition they are to follow who labor with Him. Those who comply with these conditions will prove by happy experience the truth of the words, “My yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” [Matthew 11:30.] They are then linked with a power and authority that is infinite.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 14 (1899)

Lt 69, 1899

14LtMs, Lt 69, 1899, par. 5

Philip’s failure in financial matters has been a blessing in disguise from God. He must now heed the words of the great Teacher, “Come unto me, all ye that labor 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.] When Philip yokes up with Christ, humbling himself before God, then the Lord will lift him up. But just as long as he strives to be a great man by breaking the commandments of God, all heaven will pronounce him the least.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 14 (1899)

Lt 206, 1899

14LtMs, Lt 206, 1899, par. 13

Of himself, what can man accomplish in the great work set forth by the infinite God? Christ says, “Without me ye can do nothing.” [John 15:5.] He came to our world to show men how to do the work given them by God, and He says to us, “Come unto me, all ye that labor 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.] Why is Christ’s yoke easy and His burden light? Because He bore the weight of it upon the cross of Calvary.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 14 (1899)

Lt 52, 1899

14LtMs, Lt 52, 1899, par. 2

The sad result of these errors has been serious. You have given yourself up to be controlled by the enemy, but the Lord has given me a message for you. He loves you, but He does not love your sin, your disobedience to His holy law. He calls, Come unto me, you who are weary and heavy laden because of your own perversity of character. Come unto me 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.]

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 14 (1899)

Lt 93, 1899

14LtMs, Lt 93, 1899, par. 7

It was the Lord’s purpose that the General Conference should be His agency, connected in true relation with the institutions in Battle Creek. The president of the General Conference was never to receive the idea that he was himself the great whole, that everything for the state conferences must be prepared according to his will. The Lord would not have him think that position makes the man. And the men appointed as presidents of state conferences are to carry themselves circumspectly before God, as men who realize that they are wholly dependent upon Him. They must be instructed and guided by the Lord Jesus in all their undertakings, strictly heeding His words, “Come unto me, all ye that labor 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.]

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 14 (1899)

Ms 13, 1899

14LtMs, Ms 13, 1899, par. 15

Full and free the invitation comes to us, “Come unto me, all ye that labor 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.] What an invitation! It was this invitation that He gave to Enoch before the world was destroyed by the flood. That time was no more favorable to the development of Christlike character than is the present time, yet we read that Enoch walked with God. Christ was as verily Enoch’s Saviour as He is our Saviour, and in His power, notwithstanding the corruption of that degenerate age, Enoch perfected a Christian character.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 14 (1899)

Lt 164, 1899

14LtMs, Lt 164, 1899, par. 12

O what deceptions are upon those who are looking for the beautiful and poetic in their speculation! They hear not the voice of the One who gave His life to self-denial, to humiliation, to suffering and a cruel, ignominious death to make it possible for human beings to keep the law of God. They can do this only by heeding the invitation, “Come unto me, all ye that labor 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.] These are the lessons the great Teacher has given us. We are to take His yoke of submission, restraint, and obedience, in meekness and lowliness of heart. Those who are yoked up with Christ will find rest and peace.

14LtMs, Lt 164, 1899, par. 22

God calls for these who would be laborers together with Him to yoke up with Christ. “Learn of me,” said the greatest Teacher the world ever knew. “Take my yoke upon you,” and come down to learn My meekness and My lowliness. [Matthew 11:29.] Your intellectual pride will not aid you in the work of communicating with souls perishing for the bread of life. Your devotion to the study of these books is taking the place in mind and heart of the practical lessons you should be learning from the great Teacher. The multitude are not fed. The Holy Spirit is not dependent on the work of human agents. They want to work themselves. Very little of the money invested in piling up volumes for study and research, which is wearying to the brain, furnishes anything that will make one a successful laborer for souls.

14LtMs, Lt 164, 1899, par. 26

We need now to strip ourselves for the race, to harness ourselves for the battle. The time of trouble is upon us. Let the ponderous volumes of history, and the variety of other books, be exchanged for the simple lessons of Christ. He says, “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart.” [Matthew 11:29.] Why do not all who believe in Christ do all that He told them to do? Why do they worry and perplex their souls with reading that will not do one-twentieth part for them that Christ’s words will do? Much reading is spoiling some of our ministers, so that they know not how to feed the flock of God with spiritual food. God help us to understand what it means to learn of Christ.

Manuscript Releases, vol. 12 [Nos. 921-999]

MR No. 922—The Sin of Faultfinding

12MR 8.2

God has given His only begotten Son, “that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). Thank God for this. Christ has invited us, “Come unto Me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). O what a promise, that! “I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; ... and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30). Let these words fill us with comfort and hope and peace. While you are worrying over the sins of others Jesus says, turn your eyes away from these things and behold the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world. There is a balm in Gilead; there is a Physician there. Jesus is the great physician, and He can cure all the maladies of the soul.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 14 (1899)

Lt 159, 1899

14LtMs, Lt 159, 1899, par. 2

Brother Harmon Lindsay, you have had your talent done up in a napkin quite long enough, and as a result you have become spiritually weak. Humility is a precious talent. It is one of the attributes which every Christian must possess. Christ says, “Come unto me, all ye that labor 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.]

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 14 (1899)

Lt 95, 1899

14LtMs, Lt 95, 1899, par. 17

The Saviour invites every soul, “Come unto me, all ye that labor 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.] He who approaches nearest to the perfection of Christ’s divine benevolence causes joy among the heavenly angels. The Father rejoices over him with singing, for is he not working in the spirit of the Master, one with Christ as He is one with the Father?

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 14 (1899)

Lt 66, 1899

14LtMs, Lt 66, 1899, par. 3

It is right that your name should be on the church books. Why? Because by placing it there you show that you have entered into a covenant with God to follow the Lord Jesus in accordance with His invitation: “Come unto me, all ye that labor 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.] Uniting in church covenant means that you have pledged yourself to wear the yoke of Christ, the yoke of restraint and obedience, that you engage by solemn covenant to be a follower of Christ.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 14 (1899)

Lt 248, 1899

14LtMs, Lt 248, 1899, par. 7

We are handling sacred things and not one must give loose rein to the natural traits of character that are constantly striving for the supremacy. Self must be under the control of the Holy Spirit, else it becomes, in the place of being transformed, a deformed agency to spoil the Christian experience. You cannot be a happy child of God unless you comply daily with the invitation of Jesus Christ, “Come unto me, all ye that labor 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.] This is the lesson we need all to learn daily, quietude in Jesus Christ. All the attributes of Christ are peace and hope and joy.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 14 (1899)

Ms 97, 1899

14LtMs, Ms 97, 1899, par. 24

God desires that meekness and gentleness, the distinguishing characteristics of Christ, shall be brought into the lives of His followers. The Saviour gives to all the invitation, “Come unto me, all ye who labor 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.] He will give rest to all who yoke up with Him. Those who learn His meekness and lowliness will find His rest.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 14 (1899)

Ms 147, 1899

14LtMs, Ms 147, 1899, par. 1

“Come unto me, all ye that labor 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.]

14LtMs, Ms 147, 1899, par. 3

We are to bear the yoke of Christ, that we may be placed in complete union with Him. “Take my yoke upon you,” He says. [Matthew 11:29.] When God’s requirements are in direct opposition to the will and purposes of the human agent, what is to be done? Hear what God says. “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” [Matthew 16:24.] The yoke and the cross are symbols which represent the same thing—the giving up of the will to God. Wearing the yoke unites finite man in companionship with the dearly beloved Son of God. We cannot follow Christ without lifting the cross and bearing it after Him. If our will is not in accordance with the divine requirements, we are to deny our inclinations, give up our darling desires, and step in Christ’s footprints.

14LtMs, Ms 147, 1899, par. 5

The Lord never makes a false estimate concerning His heritage. He measures the men with whom He is working. When they submit to Christ’s yoke, when they give up the struggle which has not been profitable for themselves or for the cause of God, they will find peace and rest. Men frame for their own necks yokes which seem light and pleasant to wear, but which will prove galling in the extreme. Men do not see this, but Christ sees it as it is, and He says, “Take My yoke upon you. The yoke you would place on your own neck, thinking it a precise fit, will not fit at all. Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me the lessons essential for you to learn, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and you shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” [Matthew 11:29, 30.]

14LtMs, Ms 147, 1899, par. 10

Christ’s words, “He that will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me” [verse 34], is the touchstone which discovers the quality of a man’s experience. When a man’s inclinations or ambitious hopes are crossed, he reveals the spirit which governs him. The Lord permits trials to come to His people; and the only way to do with these trials is to take them all to Jesus. He says, “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me.” [Matthew 11:29.] The cross of self-denial and self-sacrifice stands directly in our way.

14LtMs, Ms 147, 1899, par. 13

Our Saviour purchased the human race by humiliation of the very severest kind. He submitted to mockery, abuse, scorn, and to a cruel, shameful death to make it possible for man to be saved. He points us to the only path that will lead to the strait gate opening into the narrow way, beyond which lie broad and pleasant pastures. He has marked out every step of the way, and that no one may make a mistake, He tells us just what to do. “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.” [Verses 29, 30.] This is the only way in which sinners can be saved. Knowing that no human being can do this in his own strength, Christ tells us not to be worried or afraid, but to remember what He can do if we come to Him, trusting not in our human weakness, but in His strength. He says, If you yoke up with me, your Redeemer, I will be your strength, your efficiency.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 14 (1899)

Ms 66, 1899

14LtMs, Ms 66, 1899, par. 4

He says, “Come unto me, all ye that labor 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.] You may go to this place and that place in search of amusement and self-gratification, but when these are found, what real happiness do they bring. Christ says, “Come unto me ... and ye shall find rest.” This promise was uttered by lips that never lie. We have the positive assurance that by coming to Christ, we shall find rest. This rest each student may have if he will give to the Saviour the powers of his being.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 14 (1899)

Ms 23, 1899

14LtMs, Ms 23, 1899, par. 5

The Lord does not say to us, If any man lack wisdom, let him go to his pastor, or his neighbor, and pray to them for help. Lay your burden upon finite men as weak as yourself, and seek their wisdom. He invites us, “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me, ... and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” [Matthew 11:28-30.] “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, who giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering, for he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea, driven of the wind and tossed. But let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord.” [James 1:5-7.]

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 14 (1899)

Ms 8, 1899

14LtMs, Ms 8, 1899, par. 5

At the very beginning of this term of school, it is your privilege to understand the meaning of the words, “We are laborers together with God.” “Ye are God’s husbandry.” Think of it! He is seeking to work the mind, just as you work the land. He is trying to sow seed that will bear fruit to His glory. “Ye are God’s building.” [Verse 9.] But God does not build without any care for you. He says to each one of you, “Come unto me all ye that labor 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.] Where do we find rest. In meekness and lowliness. In submitting to God as a dutiful child submits to his father.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 14 (1899)

Lt 193, 1899

14LtMs, Lt 193, 1899, par. 8

Sister Wessels, what mother ever loved her child as Jesus loves His children? He looks upon the spoiled manhood with a grief deeper, keener, than any mother’s love. He sees the future retribution of an evil course of action. Let everything be done now that can be done to accomplish the work that should have been done. It is not too late for Andrew to repent and come to Jesus and live. Mercy’s time of respite is not yet exhausted. Jesus is still calling, “Come unto me, all ye that labor 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.]

Manuscript Releases, vol. 12 [Nos. 921-999]

MR No. 929—Words of Encouragement

12MR 38.4

Christ has sent you His invitation: “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). Then if Christ has not placed upon you a galling yoke, do not take one that any human being has made. Cooperating with Jesus Christ makes His yoke easy for you, and your daily burdens will be lightened by communion with Him. Let no earthly ties, however dear, obstruct the course of duty which He has made plain, but let no human agents frame duties for you.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 14 (1899)

Ms 169, 1899

14LtMs, Ms 169, 1899, par. 16

Of himself, what can man accomplish in the great work set forth by the infinite God? Christ says, “Without me ye can do nothing.” John 15:5. He came to our world to show men how to do the work given them by God, and He says to us, “Come unto me, all ye that labor 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. Why is Christ’s yoke easy and His burden light? Because He bore the weight of it upon the cross of Calvary.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 14 (1899)

Ms 11, 1899

14LtMs, Ms 11, 1899, par. 11

Christ says to us, “Come unto me, all ye that labor 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 of heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” [Matthew 11:28-30.] We are ever to learn of Christ. Yoked up with Him in perfect restraint, we are to stay in the learner’s position our whole life long, and then we are indeed “laborers together with God.” [1 Corinthians 3:9.] We can be profitable teachers only as we daily learn Christ’s meekness and lowliness of heart. There is to be no halting in Christ’s school, no dwarfed experience. We are to receive that we may give. Constantly we are to learn more and more of the divine attributes.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 14 (1899)

Ms 198, 1899

14LtMs, Ms 198, 1899, par. 29

“Moreover the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it.” [Zechariah 4:8, 7.] The Lord Jesus Christ came to our world in the form of humanity. He stepped down from His throne as Sovereign of heaven. He laid aside His royal robe, His bright crown, and clothed His divinity with humanity that made it possible for Him to die for the human race, to make atonement for sin and transgression. To every soul that is perishing in their sins He reaches out a hand that has been pierced, that He may grasp the hand of fallen humanity and say, “Come unto me, all ye that are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you,” of restraint and obedience, “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.] What an invitation is this! He places great honor upon men and women and youth in giving everyone the privilege of yoking up with Christ. Whosoever shall heed the invitation are partakers with Christ in His humiliation and sufferings, and will be partakers with Him of His glory.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 15 (1900)

Lt 46, 1900

15LtMs, Lt 46, 1900, par. 31

Now, the Lord is very pitiful and of tender compassion. He invites all who have been carrying the burden of a wounded self to “Come unto me, 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 soul; for my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” [Matthew 11:28-30.] He invites you, my brother, without delay to come; to take your burdens and all your trials to His sympathies, your sorrows to His love, your wounds to His healing, your weakness to His strength, your emptiness to His fullness. Never has He disappointed a soul that has surrendered to Him. They looked unto Him and were lightened, and their faces were not ashamed.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 15 (1900)

Ms 43, 1900

15LtMs, Ms 43, 1900, par. 42

She thinks more of show and what visitors say and think of her than of the souls under her charge. As she sets her feet in the path of fashion, she becomes infatuated. In order to keep pace with fashion, she finds it necessary to tax her mind, and she becomes wearied and worn out with remodelling the old garments and making new ones. She has no strength or disposition to attend religious meetings, to read her Bible, or to pray. New schemes are constantly invented to occupy her time and attention. She becomes perplexed and distressed. The yoke which she has submitted to carry is very galling, yet she imagines it must be borne, and martyr-like she toils on, bearing her self-imposed burdens. Jesus the true Shepherd is seeking to make His voice heard, “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and lean 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.]

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 15 (1900)

Lt 84, 1900

15LtMs, Lt 84, 1900, par. 7

He says, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” [Matthew 16:24.] This means just what it says. Only by self-denial and self-sacrifice can we show that we are true disciples of Christ. The Saviour’s invitation is, “Come unto me, all ye that labor 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.]

15LtMs, Lt 84, 1900, par. 9

Much money slips through the fingers in the purchase of lollies. Teach the children that they can help by saving the money thus spent, and putting it into the self-denial fund. Show them how they may increase the fund penny by penny. In every family this work should be done. It needs tact and method, and will be the best education children can receive. Thus they may be taught to show their love for Christ. It is not possible to think of and love Jesus and never mention His name. Parents and children need to learn the lesson contained in the words, “Learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart.” [Verse 29.] The best entertainment we can give to God and the heavenly angels is to deny ourselves to the utmost of our ability for the sake of Him who gave His life to seek and save that which was lost.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 15 (1900)

Lt 145, 1900

15LtMs, Lt 145, 1900, par. 3

In order to render to God perfect service, you need to accept the invitation, “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” You have not always pursued the course that will ensure you the blessing of God. Do you want the abiding presence of Christ in your family? Then you must obey the Word, “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me.” As you take upon you Christ’s yoke of restraint and obedience, you will by individual experience find rest. Submit to Christ’s yoke, not a yoke of your own manufacture, which will always be galling. “Ye shall find rest unto your soul,” He declares. “For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” [Matthew 11:28-30.]

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 15 (1900)

Ms 41, 1900

15LtMs, Ms 41, 1900, par. 7

I presented before the people the word of the Lord in regard to the Seventh-day Sabbath. Sunday I presented before them the necessity of being intensely in earnest. Every son and daughter of God should take up his appointed work. We are now the church militant, not the church glorified. We are now individually to accept the invitation of Christ, “Come unto me all ye that labor 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.]

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 15 (1900)

Lt 124, 1900

15LtMs, Lt 124, 1900, par. 4

I am instructed to say to you, Obedience to God is the height of human wisdom. Those who are content to remain in the situation in which you now are pervert both physical and mental powers. There is much work you could do if you could overcome the spiritual apathy upon you. I am instructed to repeat to you the invitation, “Come unto me, all ye that labor 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 (in thus doing) ye shall find rest unto your soul. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” [Matthew 11:28-30.]

15LtMs, Lt 124, 1900, par. 9

God’s object in the revelation of Himself to our world is to inspire every blood-bought soul with a desire to unite earnestly with Christ in drawing souls away from the love of the things of the world to seek for the heavenly treasure. O if you had been willing years ago to receive an education after the heavenly similitude, how different you would be! God’s demand upon you is that, you change your course of life, that you give Him your heart’s best and holiest affections, that you fulfil as you should the duties you can do, if you will, in connection with your husband. You can be a great blessing to him. If you both yoke up with Christ and strengthen one another in the faith, you will learn of Jesus. He says, “Learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and ye shall find rest to your souls.” [Matthew 11:29.] Then you can both communicate, in a solid, rational religious experience, that which will be of value in the estimation of your owner, Jesus Christ.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 15 (1900)

Ms 21, 1900

15LtMs, Ms 21, 1900, par. 21

With a love that never faltered, Christ spoke to men the words of eternal life. The Word of God, which the teachers of Israel had obscured with their traditions and man-made commandments, Christ opened to the people in its purity and divine beauty. Men marvelled at His teaching, and said, “Never man spake like this man.” [John 7:46.] To the weary and sin-burdened He said, “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” He invited them, “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.]

Manuscript Releases, vol. 12 [Nos. 921-999]

MR No. 961—Looking Back at Minneapolis

12MR 184.2

I felt very much pained at heart over the condition of things. I made most earnest appeals to my brethren and sisters when assembled in the morning meetings, and entreated that we should make this occasion a season of profit, searching the Scriptures together with humility of heart. I entreated that there should not be such freedom in talking in regard to things of which they knew but little. All needed to learn lessons in the school of Christ. Jesus has invited, “Come unto me, all ye that labor 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). If we daily learn the lessons of humility and lowliness of heart, there will not be the feelings which exist at this meeting.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 15 (1900)

Ms 59, 1900

15LtMs, Ms 59, 1900, par. 13

Parents standing as heads of families, priests of the household, as teachers and as governors, must first receive their lessons from the One who has said, “Come unto me, all ye that ... are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly of heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls; for my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” [Matthew 11:28-30.] They must obey the highest authority, and then as obedient children of God they can give the sincere, earnest, all-important education to their children.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 15 (1900)

Ms 34, 1900

15LtMs, Ms 34, 1900, par. 49

“The work of righteousness shall be peace, and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance forever.” [Isaiah 32:17.] From the beginning to the end of the history of the church, Christ will be to His people all that these words express if they will heed the invitation, “Come unto me, all ye that labor, and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me, ... and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” [Matthew 11:28-30.]

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 15 (1900)

Ms 38, 1900

15LtMs, Ms 38, 1900, par. 23

The knowledge of the most learned man, if he has not learned in Christ’s school, is foolish as far as leading poor, bewildered souls to Christ is concerned. God can only work with those who will accept the invitation, “Come unto me, all ye that labor 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.]

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 15 (1900)

Ms 73, 1900

15LtMs, Ms 73, 1900, par. 7

Christ’s invitation to the whole world is, “Come unto me, all ye that labor 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.] Christ has the most precious lessons for us to learn. Strength of purpose and moral courage are obtained through His grace. “Of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and redemption; that, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.” [1 Corinthians 1:30, 31.]

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 15 (1900)

Lt 36, 1900

15LtMs, Lt 36, 1900, par. 1

In my Christian experience I have passed over the ground where you are now traveling. It seemed that I was bound in chains of despair. When quite young, only about twelve years old, I was for months utterly hopeless. But the Lord did not suffer me to remain in this condition. He attracted me by His own mercy and grace, and brought me to the light. He will help you. Look away from yourself. Do not think or talk of yourself. You cannot save yourself by any good work that you may do. The Lord Jesus has not made you a sin-bearer. He has not been able to find any human or angelic being to be a sin-bearer. He says, “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Do you not believe the words of Christ? He bids you. “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.]

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 15 (1900)

Lt 80, 1900

15LtMs, Lt 80, 1900, par. 20

Obey, obey, for Christ’s sake and for your own soul’s sake. Obey that which your conscience tells you is truth. Accept the grace and righteousness of Christ. God is tenderly calling you, “Come unto me, all ye that labor 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.] If you refuse the invitation to repentance, to freedom from sin, the great day of God will find you hopeless, shelterless, disobedient, a transgressor of His law. He will not then be able to give you a place in his kingdom. God help you to come now, is my prayer.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 15 (1900)

Ms 8, 1900

15LtMs, Ms 8, 1900, par. 14

The soul in whose heart faith abides will grow into a beautiful temple for the Lord. He is directed by the grace of Christ. Just in proportion as he depends on the Holy Spirit’s teaching he will grow. In every time of perplexity, when unable to discern truth from error, he will turn, and not in vain, to the One who has said, “Come unto me, all ye that labor 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.]

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 15 (1900)

Lt 99, 1900

15LtMs, Lt 99, 1900, par. 6

“There are many things you have to learn,” said our Counsellor. You will have to learn that it means much more than you now realize to comply with the invitation, “Come unto me, all ye that labor 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.]

15LtMs, Lt 99, 1900, par. 12

You are to learn lessons in wearing the yoke of Christ that are yet new to you. “Learn of me,” is the charge given us by the greatest Teacher the world ever knew. [Verse 29.] Your hands are not clean. Your spirit today is not clear from extortion. Unless you heed the law of the Lord, which is perfect, converting the soul, you will bring into your profession unchristian acts, which will divorce you from God. He will not countenance dishonesty in any place.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 15 (1900)

Lt 37, 1900

15LtMs, Lt 37, 1900, par. 8

In regard to Sister White knowing what to say to you, I would refer you to the One who says, “I am at thy right hand to help thee.” [See Isaiah 41:13.] When Christ is so near you, do not send so far across the ocean for help. The Saviour invites you, “Come unto me, ... 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.]

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 15 (1900)

Lt 81, 1900

15LtMs, Lt 81, 1900, par. 2

I have been writing out some things for those who are fearful and trembling, and will send you a copy. I have not slept since half past one o’clock, for the burden of your soul and of others souls has been upon me. I want you not only to receive but to practice the truth. In the world, when men’s hearts are set on doing mischief, their minds are fruitful in resources for accomplishing their evil work. Would it not be altogether pleasing to the Lord if you would begin to put faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, accepting His invitation, “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you,” (the yoke of restraint and obedience) “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.]

Christ’s Object Lessons

Chapter 18—“Go Into the Highways and Hedges”

COL 230.2

There is a work to be done for the wealthy. They need to be awakened to their responsibility as those entrusted with the gifts of heaven. They need to be reminded that they must give an account to Him who shall judge the living and the dead. The wealthy man needs your labor in the love and fear of God. Too often he trusts in his riches, and feels not his danger. The eyes of his mind need to be attracted to things of enduring value. He needs to recognize the authority of true goodness, which says, “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.