the desire of ages-第159部分
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rks because of their unbelief。 So now unbelief separates the church from her divine Helper。 Her hold upon eternal realities is weak。 By her lack of faith； God is disappointed； and robbed of His glory。
It is in doing Christ's work that the church has the promise of His presence。 Go teach all nations； He said； 〃and； lo； I am with you alway； even unto the end of the world。〃 To take His yoke is one of the first conditions of receiving His power。 The very life of the church depends upon her faithfulness in fulfilling the Lord's commission。 To neglect this work is surely to invite spiritual feebleness and decay。 Where there is no active labor for others； love wanes； and faith grows dim。
Christ intends that His ministers shall be educators of the church in gospel work。 They are to teach the people how to seek and save the lost。 But is this the work they are doing？ Alas； how many are toiling to fan the spark of life in a church that is ready to die！ How many churches are tended like sick lambs by those who ought to be seeking for the lost sheep！ And all the time millions upon millions without Christ are perishing。
Divine love has been stirred to its unfathomable depths for the sake of men； and angels marvel to behold in the recipients of so great love a mere surface gratitude。 Angels marvel at man's shallow appreciation of the love of God。 Heaven stands indignant at the neglect shown to the souls of men。 Would we know how Christ regards it？ How would a father and mother feel； did they know that their child； lost in the cold and the snow； had been passed by； and left to perish； by those who might have saved it？ Would they not be terribly grieved； wildly indignant？ Would they not denounce those murderers with wrath hot as their tears； intense as their love？ The sufferings of every man are the sufferings of God's child； and those who reach out no helping hand to their perishing fellow beings provoke His righteous anger。 This is the wrath of the Lamb。 To those who claim fellowship with Christ； yet have been indifferent to the needs of their fellow men； He will declare in the great Judgment day； 〃I know you not whence ye are； depart from Me； all ye workers of iniquity。〃 Luke 13：27。
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In the commission to His disciples； Christ not only outlined their work； but gave them their message。 Teach the people； He said； 〃to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you。〃 The disciples were to teach what Christ had taught。 That which He had spoken； not only in person； but through all the prophets and teachers of the Old Testament； is here included。 Human teaching is shut out。 There is no place for tradition； for man's theories and conclusions； or for church legislation。 No laws ordained by ecclesiastical authority are included in the commission。 None of these are Christ's servants to teach。 〃The law and the prophets；〃 with the record of His own words and deeds； are the treasure committed to the disciples to be given to the world。 Christ's name is their watchword； their badge of distinction； their bond of union； the authority for their course of action； and the source of their success。 Nothing that does not bear His superscription is to be recognized in His kingdom。
The gospel is to be presented； not as a lifeless theory； but as a living force to change the life。 God desires that the receivers of His grace shall be witnesses to its power。 Those whose course has been most offensive to Him He freely accepts； when they repent； He imparts to them His divine Spirit； places them in the highest positions of trust； and sends them forth into the camp of the disloyal to proclaim His boundless mercy。 He would have His servants bear testimony to the fact that through His grace men may possess Christlikeness of character； and may rejoice in the assurance of His great love。 He would have us bear testimony to the fact that He cannot be satisfied until the human race are reclaimed and reinstated in their holy privileges as His sons and daughters。
In Christ is the tenderness of the shepherd； the affection of the parent； and the matchless grace of the compassionate Saviour。 His blessings He presents in the most alluring terms。 He is not content merely to announce these blessings； He presents them in the most attractive way； to excite a desire to possess them。 So His servants are to present the riches of the glory of the unspeakable Gift。 The wonderful love of Christ will melt and subdue hearts； when the mere reiteration of doctrines would accomplish nothing。 〃Comfort ye； comfort ye My people； saith your God。〃 〃O Zion； that bringest good tidings； get thee up into the high mountain； O Jerusalem； that bringest good tidings； lift up thy voice with strength； lift it up； be not afraid； say unto the cities of Judah； Behold your God！ 。 。 。 He shall feed His flock like a shepherd： He shall gather the lambs with His arm； and carry them in His bosom。〃 Isa。 40：1； 9…11。
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Tell the people of Him who is 〃the Chiefest among ten thousand；〃 and the One 〃altogether lovely。〃 The Song of Solomon 5：10； 16。 Words alone cannot tell it。 Let it be reflected in the character and manifested in the life。 Christ is sitting for His portrait in every disciple。 Every one God has predestinated to be 〃conformed to the image of His Son。〃 Rom。 8：29。 In every one Christ's long…suffering love； His holiness； meekness； mercy； and truth are to be manifested to the world。
The first disciples went forth preaching the word。 They revealed Christ in their lives。 And the Lord worked with them； 〃confirming the word with signs following。〃 Mark 16：20。 These disciples prepared themselves for their work。 Before the day of Pentecost they met together； and put away all differences。 They were of one accord。 They believed Christ's promise that the blessing would be given； and they prayed in faith。 They did not ask for a blessing for themselves merely； they were weighted with the burden for the salvation of souls。 The gospel was to be carried to the uttermost parts of the earth； and they claimed the endowment of power that Christ had promised。 Then it was that the Holy Spirit was poured out； and thousands were converted in a day。
So it may be now。 Instead of man's speculations； let the word of God be preached。 Let Christians put away their dissensions； and give themselves to God for the saving of the lost。 Let them in faith ask for the blessing； and it will come。 The outpouring of the Spirit in apostolic days was the 〃former rain；〃 and glorious was the result。 But the 〃latter rain〃 will be more abundant。 Joel 2：23。
All who consecrate soul； body； and spirit to God will be constantly receiving a new endowment of physical and mental power。 The inexhaustible supplies of heaven are at their command。 Christ gives them the breath of His own spirit； the life of His own life。 The Holy Spirit puts forth its highest energies to work in heart and mind。 The grace of God enlarges and multiplies their faculties； and every perfection of the divine nature comes to their assistance in the work of saving souls。 Through co…operation with Christ they are complete in Him； and in their human weakness they are enabled to do the deeds of Omnipotence。
The Saviour longs to manifest His grace and stamp His character on the whole world。 It is His purchased possession； and He desires to make men free； and pure； and holy。 Though Satan works to hinder this purpose； yet through the blood shed for the world there are triumphs to be achieved that will bring glory to God and the Lamb。 Christ will not be satisfied till the victory is complete； and 〃He shall see of the travail
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of His soul； and shall be satisfied。〃 Isa。 53：11。 All the nations of the earth shall hear the gospel of His grace。 Not all will receive His grace； but 〃a seed shall serve Him； it shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation。〃 Ps。 22：30。 〃The kingdom and dominion； and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven； shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High；〃 and 〃the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord； as the waters cover the sea。〃 〃So shall they fear the name of the Lord from the west； and His glory from the rising of the sun。〃 Dan。 7：27； Isa。 11：9； 59：19。
〃How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings； that publisheth peace； that bringeth good tidings of good； that publisheth salvation； that saith unto Zion； Thy God reigneth！ 。 。 。 Break forth into joy； sing together； ye waste places： 。 。 。 for the Lord hath comforted His people。 。 。 。 The Lord hath made bare His holy arm in the eyes of all the nations； and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God。〃 Isa。 52：7…10。
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Chapter 87
〃To My Father； and Your Father〃
The time had come for Christ to ascend to His Father's throne。 As a divine conqueror He was about to return with the trophies of victory to the heavenly courts。 Before His death He had declared to His Father； 〃I have finished the work which Thou gavest Me to do。〃 John 17：4。 After His resurrection He tarried on earth for a season； that His disciples might become familiar with Him in His risen and glorified body。 Now He was ready for the leave…taking。 He had authenticated the fact that He was a living Saviour。 His disciples need no longer associate Him with the tomb。 They could think of Him as glorified before the heavenly universe。
As the place of His ascension； Jesus chose the spot so often hallowed by His presence while He dwelt among men。 Not Mount Zion； the place of David's city； not Mount Moriah； the temple site； was to be thus honored。 There Christ had been mocked and rejected。 There the waves of mercy； still returning in a stronger tide of love； had been beaten back by hearts as hard as rock。 Thence Jesus； weary and heart…burdened； had gone forth to find rest in the Mount of Olives。 The holy Shekinah； in departing from the first temple； had stood upon the eastern mountain； as if loath to forsake the chosen city； so Christ stood upon Olivet； with yearning heart overlooking Jerusalem。 The groves and glens of the
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