the desire of ages-第51部分
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recognized and unacknowledged。
Jesus pointed out the power of false teaching to destroy the appreciation and desire for truth。 〃No man；〃 He said； 〃having drunk old wine straightway desireth new： for he saith； The old is better。〃 All the truth that has been given to the world through patriarchs and prophets shone out in new beauty in the words of Christ。 But the scribes and Pharisees had no desire for the precious new wine。 Until emptied of the old traditions； customs； and practices； they had no place in mind or heart for the teachings of Christ。 They clung to the dead forms； and turned away from the living truth and the power of God。
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It was this that proved the ruin of the Jews； and it will prove the ruin of many souls in our own day。 Thousands are making the same mistake as did the Pharisees whom Christ reproved at Matthew's feast。 Rather than give up some cherished idea； or discard some idol of opinion； many refuse the truth which comes down from the Father of light。 They trust in self； and depend upon their own wisdom； and do not realize their spiritual poverty。 They insist on being saved in some way by which they may perform some important work。 When they see that there is no way of weaving self into the work； they reject the salvation provided。
A legal religion can never lead souls to Christ； for it is a loveless； Christless religion。 Fasting or prayer that is actuated by a self…justifying spirit is an abomination in the sight of God。 The solemn assembly for worship； the round of religious ceremonies； the external humiliation； the imposing sacrifice； proclaim that the doer of these things regards himself as righteous； and as entitled to heaven； but it is all a deception。 Our own works can never purchase salvation。
As it was in the days of Christ； so it is now； the Pharisees do not know their spiritual destitution。 To them comes the message； 〃Because thou sayest； I am rich； and increased with goods； and have need of nothing； and knowest not that thou art wretched； and miserable； and poor； and blind； and naked： I counsel thee to buy of Me gold tried in the fire； that thou mayest be rich； and white raiment； that thou mayest be clothed； and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear。〃 Rev。 3：17； 18。 Faith and love are the gold tried in the fire。 But with many the gold has become dim； and the rich treasure has been lost。 The righteousness of Christ is to them as a robe unworn； a fountain untouched。 To them it is said； 〃I have somewhat against thee； because thou hast left thy first love。 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen； and repent； and do the first works； or else I will come unto thee quickly； and will remove thy candlestick out of his place； except thou repent。〃 Rev。 2：4； 5。
〃The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit： a broken and a contrite heart； O God； Thou wilt not despise。〃 Ps。 51：17。 Man must be emptied of self before he can be； in the fullest sense； a believer in Jesus。 When self is renounced； then the Lord can make man a new creature。 New bottles can contain the new wine。 The love of Christ will animate the believer with new life。 In him who looks unto the Author and Finisher of our faith the character of Christ will be manifest。
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Chapter 29
The Sabbath
The Sabbath was hallowed at the creation。 As ordained for man； it had its origin when 〃the morning stars sang together； and all the sons of God shouted for joy。〃 Job 38：7。 Peace brooded over the world； for earth was in harmony with heaven。 〃God saw everything that He had made； and； behold； it was very good；〃 and He rested in the joy of His completed work。 Gen。 1：31。
Because He had rested upon the Sabbath； 〃God blessed the seventh day； and sanctified it；〃set it apart to a holy use。 He gave it to Adam as a day of rest。 It was a memorial of the work of creation； and thus a sign of God's power and His love。 The Scripture says； 〃He hath made His wonderful works to be remembered。〃 〃The things that are made；〃 declare 〃the invisible things of Him since the creation of the world；〃 〃even His everlasting power and divinity。〃 Gen。 2：3； Ps。 111：4； Rom。 1：20； R。 V。
All things were created by the Son of God。 〃In the beginning was the Word； and the Word was with God。 。 。 。 All things were made by Him； and without Him was not anything made that was made。〃 John 1： 1…3。 And since the Sabbath is a memorial of the work of creation； it is a token of the love and power of Christ。
The Sabbath calls our thoughts to nature； and brings us into communion with the Creator。 In the song of the bird； the sighing of the trees； and the music of the sea； we still may hear His voice who talked
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with Adam in Eden in the cool of the day。 And as we behold His power in nature we find comfort； for the word that created all things is that which speaks life to the soul。 He 〃who commanded the light to shine out of darkness； hath shined in our hearts； to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ。〃 2 Cor。 4：6。
It was this thought that awoke the song；
〃Thou； Lord； hast made me glad through Thy work； I will triumph in the works of Thy hands。 O Lord； how great are Thy works！ And Thy thoughts are very deep。〃 Ps。 92：4；5。
And the Holy Spirit through the prophet Isaiah declares： 〃To whom then will ye liken God？ or what likeness will ye compare unto Him？ 。 。 。 Have ye not known？ have ye not heard？ hath it not been told you from the beginning？ have ye not understood from the foundations of the earth？ It is He that sitteth upon the circle of the earth； and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers； that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain； and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in。 。 。 。 To whom then will ye liken Me； or shall I be equal？ saith the Holy One。 Lift up your eyes on high； and behold who hath created these things； that bringeth out their host by number： He calleth them all by names by the greatness of His might； for that He is strong in power； not one faileth。 Why sayest thou； O Jacob； and speakest； O Israel； My way is hid from the Lord； and my judgment is passed over from my God？ Hast thou not known？ hast thou not heard； that the everlasting God； the Lord； the Creator of the ends of the earth； fainteth not； neither is weary？ 。 。 。 He giveth power to the faint； and to them that have no
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might He increaseth strength。〃 〃Fear thou not； for I am with thee： be not dismayed； for I am thy God： I will strengthen thee； yea； I will help thee； yea； I will uphold thee with the right hand of My righteousness。〃 〃Look unto Me； and be ye saved； all the ends of the earth： for I am God； and there is none else。〃 This is the message written in nature； which the Sabbath is appointed to keep in memory。 When the Lord bade Israel hallow His Sabbaths； He said； 〃They shall be a sign between Me and you； that ye may know that I am Jehovah your God。〃 Isa。 40：18…29； 41：10； 45：22； Ezek。 20：20； R。 V。
The Sabbath was embodied in the law given from Sinai； but it was not then first made known as a day of rest。 The people of Israel had a knowledge of it before they came to Sinai。 On the way thither the Sabbath was kept。 When some profaned it； the Lord reproved them； saying； 〃How long refuse ye to keep My commandments and My laws？〃 Ex。 16：28。
The Sabbath was not for Israel merely； but for the world。 It had been made known to man in Eden； and； like the other precepts of the Decalogue； it is of imperishable obligation。 Of that law of which the fourth commandment forms a part； Christ declares； 〃Till heaven and earth pass； one jot or one tittle shall in nowise pass from the law。〃 So long as the heavens and the earth endure； the Sabbath will continue as a sign of the Creator's power。 And when Eden shall bloom on earth again； God's holy rest day will be honored by all beneath the sun。 〃From one Sabbath to another〃 the inhabitants of the glorified new earth shall go up 〃to worship before Me； saith the Lord。〃 Matt。 5：18； Isa。 66：23。
No other institution which was committed to the Jews tended so fully to distinguish them from surrounding nations as did the Sabbath。 God designed that its observance should designate them as His worshipers。 It was to be a token of their separation from idolatry； and their connection with the true God。 But in order to keep the Sabbath holy； men must themselves be holy。 Through faith they must become partakers of the righteousness of Christ。 When the command was given to Israel； 〃Remember the Sabbath day； to keep it holy；〃 the Lord said also to them； 〃Ye shall be holy men unto Me。〃 Ex。 20：8； 22：31。 Only thus could the Sabbath distinguish Israel as the worshipers of God。
As the Jews departed from God； and failed to make the righteousness of Christ their own by faith； the Sabbath lost its significance to them。 Satan was seeking to exalt himself and to draw men away from Christ； and he worked to pervert the Sabbath； because it is the sign of the
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power of Christ。 The Jewish leaders accomplished the will of Satan by surrounding God's rest day with burdensome requirements。 In the days of Christ the Sabbath had become so perverted that its observance reflected the character of selfish and arbitrary men rather than the character of the loving heavenly Father。 The rabbis virtually represented God as giving laws which it was impossible for men to obey。 They led the people to look upon God as a tyrant； and to think that the observance of the Sabbath； as He required it； made men hard…hearted and cruel。 It was the work of Christ to clear away these misconceptions。 Although the rabbis followed Him with merciless hostility； He did not even appear to conform to their requirements； but went straight forward； keeping the Sabbath according to the law of God。
Upon one Sabbath day； as the Saviour and His disciples returned from the place of worship； they passed through a field of ripening grain。 Jesus had continued His work to a late hour； and while passing through the fields； the dis
