PERSONS WITH BURDENS ARE NOT ALLOWED TO PASS THROUGH
A LETTER TO CHILDREN
PERSONS WITH BURDENS ARE NOT ALLOWED TO PASS THROUGH
These words appear on a notice board on Bishops Court Gate at the end of a small alleyway leading from Chancery Lane to Ljncolns Inn in London near the Law Courts. On looking closely at the board found that it was erected by the benchers of Lincolns Inn and was dated 1868. It has of course been repainted since then and was no doubt intended to prevent people carrying coal and other loads
from passing through that privileged gate leading to Lincolns Inn, a place where lawyers have their chambers.
Thinking of the words “persons with burdens” in a spiritual
sense, how wonderful it is that through the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ “persons with burdens” are welcome to come to Him with their burdens and are not forbidden! The Lord Jesus said “Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden and I will give you
rest”. Those who feel the burden of their sins are not turned away but welcome to come to the Lord Jesus, who said “My yoke is easy and my burden is light”. This is true of those who are Christians whose sins are forgiven; but to those who are not, their sins will be an overwhelming burden in the great Judgment Day.
Burdens are those things which distress or perplex us whether in this life, or concerning the life to come. But God gives that gracious word “Cast thy burden upon the Lord and he will sustain thee” [Psalm 55.22). Those who love the Lord are told to “Bear one another’s burdens and so fulfil the law of Christ.” (Gal. 6.2.). I expect some of you will remember John Bunyan’s Pilgrim fleeing from the City of Destruction crying “Life, life, eternal life” and meeting a man called Evangelist who tried to comfort him in his distress over his sins which were his burden and saying “Do you see yonder wicket gate? (Matt. 7.13,14). He said “No”, and Evangelist then said “Do you see yonder shining light?” (Ps. 119.105 and 2 Peter 1.19) and Pilgrim said “I think l do”. Soon afterwards he went on his way, and later after passing through the Slough of Despond lie was relieved of his burden at the Cross of Jesus Christ and he sang –
Blest Cross, blest sepulchre, blest rather be
The Man that there was put to shame for me,
and went on his way rejoicing. May you know the burden of your sins in measure, and know what it is for the burden to be removed through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, in His death and suffering on
the Cross.
D. Relf