Two Kinds of Rest
Exodus 33:14
And he said, My presence shall go with you, and I will give you rest.


There are two kinds of rest, or rather what goes by the name of rest, within reach of man. The secret of the one is, escape from trouble; the secret of the other is, entering into life. Life is the harmonious balance of conflicting forces, the calm control of all opposite powers. Escape from trouble is not permitted to man, though he thinks it is. It is a wonderful feature in man's constitution that he can find rest only in his highest, in the full culture and activity of all his powers. He tries to rest in a luxurious home, in a feverish orgy, on a wanton's breast. But who shall paint the anguish of the rest of the wicked? How many a man has gone out from a scene of uproarious merriment, to blow out his brains, in blank despair! There is no rest but in God. Man rests only in the fulness of his existence, in the completeness of his life. Moses found no rest in communion with earthly natures, but there was rest for him — it bathed his soul like the dewy moonlight the flowers — when he entered into that which is within the veil, and talked "of things unspeakable" with God. Having faith in the Saviour's power and love, the spirit rests amid the severities of discipline, yea, sleeps sometimes, as Jesus did while the storm was highest; for ever when the danger is imminent, and the foaming surges are parting to engulf their prey, the Divine presence within shines forth around, and immediately there is a great calm, and the spirit rests still.

(J. B. Brown, B. A.)



Parallel Verses
KJV: And he said, My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest.

WEB: He said, "My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest."




The Pilgrimage of a True Life
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