All the world is in search of peace; every heart that ever beat has sought for peace and many have been the methods employed to secure it.  Some have thought to purchase it with riches and they have laboured to secure wealth, hoping to find peace when they were able to go where they pleased and buy what they liked.  Of those who have endeavoured to purchase peace with money, the large majority have failed to secure the money.  But what has been the experience of those who have been successful in accumulating money?  They all tell the same story, viz., that they spent the first half of their lives trying to get money from others and the last half trying to keep others from getting their money and that they found peace in neither half.  Some have even reached the point where they find difficulty in getting worthy institutions to accept their money; and I know of no better indication of the ethical awakening in this country than the increasing tendency to scrutinize the methods of money-making.  A long step in advance will have been taken when religious, educational and charitable institutions refuse to condone immoral methods in business and leave the possessor of ill-gotten gains to learn the loneliness of life when one prefers money to morals.

Some have sought peace in social distinctions, but whether they have been within the charmed circle and fearful lest they might fall out, or outside and hopeful that they might get in, they have not found peace.

Some have thought, vain thought! to find peace in political prominence; but whether office comes by birth, as in monarchies, or by election, as in republics, it does not bring peace.  An office is conspicuous only when few can occupy it.  Only when few in a generation can hope to enjoy an honour do we call it a great honour.  I am glad that our Heavenly Father did not make the peace of the human heart to depend upon the accumulation of wealth, or upon the securing of social or political distinction, for in either case but few could have enjoyed it.  When He made peace the reward of a conscience void of offense toward God and man, He put it within the reach of all.  The poor can secure it as easily as the rich, the social outcast as freely as the leader in society, and the humblest citizen equally with those who wield political power.

“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” (Matt. 11:28-30).

Here is a call to all—­to every human being.  No one is beyond the reach of Jesus’ love.  The yoke is the emblem of service and service is the price of happiness.  We wear many yokes in common—­the yoke of society, the yoke of government, and the yoke of custom, not to speak of a multitude of yokes that are individual.  Wherever the Gospel has been carried there are two yokes between which a choice must be made—­the devil’s yoke and the yoke of the Master.