the desire of ages-第158部分
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iles。 All who believe are to be gathered into one church。
Through the gift of the Holy Spirit the disciples were to receive a marvelous power。 Their testimony was to be confirmed by signs and wonders。 Miracles would be wrought； not only by the apostles； but by those who received their message。 Jesus said； 〃In My name shall they cast out devils； they shall speak with new tongues； they shall take up serpents； and if they drink any deadly thing； it shall not hurt them； they shall lay hands on the sick； and they shall recover。〃 Mark 16：17； 18。
At that time poisoning was often practiced。 Unscrupulous men did not hesitate to remove by this means those who stood in the way of their ambition。 Jesus knew that the life of His disciples would thus be imperiled。 Many would think it doing God service to put His witnesses to death。 He therefore promised them protection from this danger。
The disciples were to have the same power which Jesus had to heal 〃all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people。〃 By healing in His name the diseases of the body； they would testify to His power for the healing of the soul。 Matt。 4：23； 9：6。 And a new endowment was now promised。 The disciples were to preach among other nations； and they would receive power to speak other tongues。 The apostles and their associates were unlettered men； yet through the outpouring of the Spirit on the day of Pentecost； their speech； whether in their own or a foreign language； became pure； simple； and accurate； both in word and in accent。
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Thus Christ gave His disciples their commission。 He made full provision for the prosecution of the work； and took upon Himself the responsibility for its success。 So long as they obeyed His word； and worked in connection with Him； they could not fail。 Go to all nations； He bade them。 Go to the farthest part of the habitable globe； but know that My presence will be there。 Labor in faith and confidence； for the time will never come when I will forsake you。
The Saviour's commission to the disciples included all the believers。 It includes all believers in Christ to the end of time。 It is a fatal mistake to suppose that the work of saving souls depends alone on the ordained minister。 All to whom the heavenly inspiration has come are put in trust with the gospel。 All who receive the life of Christ are ordained to work for the salvation of their fellow men。 For this work the church was established； and all who take upon themselves its sacred vows are thereby pledged to be co…workers with Christ。
〃The Spirit and the bride say； Come。 And let him that heareth say； Come。〃 Rev。 22：17。 Everyone who hears is to repeat the invitation。 Whatever one's calling in life； his first interest should be to win souls for Christ。 He may not be able to speak to congregations； but he can work for individuals。 To them he can communicate the instruction received from his Lord。 Ministry does not consist alone in preaching。 Those minister who relieve the sick and suffering； helping the needy； speaking words of comfort to the desponding and those of little faith。 Nigh and afar off are souls weighed down by a sense of guilt。 It is not hardship； toil； or poverty that degrades humanity。 It is guilt； wrongdoing。 This brings unrest and dissatisfaction。 Christ would have His servants minister to sin…sick souls。
The disciples were to begin their work where they were。 The hardest and most unpromising field was not to be passed by。 So every one of Christ's workers is to begin where he is。 In our own families may be souls hungry for sympathy； starving for the bread of life。 There may be children to be trained for Christ。 There are heathen at our very doors。 Let us do faithfully the work that is nearest。 Then let our efforts be extended as far as God's hand may lead the way。 The work of many may appear to be restricted by circumstances； but； wherever it is； if performed with faith and diligence it will be felt to the uttermost parts of the earth。 Christ's work when upon earth appeared to be confined to a narrow field； but multitudes from all lands heard His message。 God often uses the simplest means to accomplish the greatest results。 It is
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His plan that every part of His work shall depend on every other part； as a wheel within a wheel； all acting in harmony。 The humblest worker； moved by the Holy Spirit； will touch invisible chords； whose vibrations will ring to the ends of the earth； and make melody through eternal ages。
But the command； 〃Go ye into all the world；〃 is not to be lost sight of。 We are called upon to lift our eyes to the 〃regions beyond。〃 Christ tears away the wall of partition； the dividing prejudice of nationality； and teaches a love for all the human family。 He lifts men from the narrow circle which their selfishness prescribes； He abolishes all territorial lines and artificial distinctions of society。 He makes no difference between neighbors and strangers； friends and enemies。 He teaches us to look upon every needy soul as our brother； and the world as our field。
When the Saviour said； 〃Go； 。 。 。 teach all nations；〃 He said also； 〃These signs shall follow them that believe； In My name shall they cast out devils； they shall speak with new tongues； they shall take up serpents； and if they drink any deadly thing； it shall not hurt them； they shall lay hands on the sick； and they shall recover。〃 The promise is as far…reaching as the commission。 Not that all the gifts are imparted to each believer。 The Spirit divides 〃to every man severally as He will。〃 1 Cor。 12：11。 But the gifts of the Spirit are promised to every believer according to his need for the Lord's work。 The promise is just as strong and trustworthy now as in the days of the apostles。 〃These signs shall follow them that believe。〃 This is the privilege of God's children； and faith should lay hold on all that it is possible to have as an indorsement of faith。
〃They shall lay hands on the sick； and they shall recover。〃 This world is a vast lazar house； but Christ came to heal the sick； to proclaim deliverance to the captives of Satan。 He was in Himself health and strength。 He imparted His life to the sick； the afflicted； those possessed of demons。 He turned away none who came to receive His healing power。 He knew that those who petitioned Him for help had brought disease upon themselves； yet He did not refuse to heal them。 And when virtue from Christ entered into these poor souls； they were convicted of sin； and many were healed of their spiritual disease； as well as of their physical maladies。 The gospel still possesses the same power； and why should we not today witness the same results？
Christ feels the woes of every sufferer。 When evil spirits rend a human frame； Christ feels the curse。 When fever is burning up the life current； He feels the agony。 And He is just as willing to heal the sick now as when He was personally on earth。 Christ's servants are His
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representatives； the channels for His working。 He desires through them to exercise His healing power。
In the Saviour's manner of healing there were lessons for His disciples。 On one occasion He anointed the eyes of a blind man with clay； and bade him； 〃Go； wash in the pool of Siloam。 。 。 。 He went his way therefore； and washed； and came seeing。〃 John 9：7。 The cure could be wrought only by the power of the Great Healer； yet Christ made use of the simple agencies of nature。 While He did not give countenance to drug medication； He sanctioned the use of simple and natural remedies。
To many of the afflicted ones who received healing； Christ said； 〃Sin no more； lest a worse thing come unto thee。〃 John 5：14。 Thus He taught that disease is the result of violating God's laws； both natural and spiritual。 The great misery in the world would not exist did men but live in harmony with the Creator's plan。
Christ had been the guide and teacher of ancient Israel； and He taught them that health is the reward of obedience to the laws of God。 The Great Physician who healed the sick in Palestine had spoken to His people from the pillar of cloud； telling them what they must do； and what God would do for them。 〃If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God；〃 He said； 〃and wilt do that which is right in His sight； and wilt give ear to His commandments； and keep all His statutes； I will put none of these diseases upon thee； which I have brought upon the Egyptians： for I am the Lord that healeth thee。〃 Ex。 15：26。 Christ gave to Israel definite instruction in regard to their habits of life； and He assured them； 〃The Lord will take away from thee all sickness。〃 Deut。 7：15。 When they fulfilled the conditions； the promise was verified to them。 〃There was not one feeble person among their tribes。〃 Ps。 105：37。
These lessons are for us。 There are conditions to be observed by all who would preserve health。 All should learn what these conditions are。 The Lord is not pleased with ignorance in regard to His laws； either natural or spiritual。 We are to be workers together with God for the restoration of health to the body as well as to the soul。
And we should teach others how to preserve and to recover health。 For the sick we should use the remedies which God has provided in nature； and we should point them to Him who alone can restore。 It is our work to present the sick and suffering to Christ in the arms of our faith。 We should teach them to believe in the Great Healer。 We should lay hold on His promise； and pray for the manifestation of His power。 The very essence of the gospel is restoration； and the Saviour would have us bid
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the sick； the hopeless； and the afflicted take hold upon His strength。
The power of love was in all Christ's healing； and only by partaking of that love； through faith； can we be instruments for His work。 If we neglect to link ourselves in divine connection with Christ； the current of life…giving energy cannot flow in rich streams from us to the people。 There were places where the Saviour Himself could not do many mighty works because of their unbelief。 So now unbelief separates the church from her divine Helper。 Her hold
