the desire of ages-第94部分
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f the enemy： and nothing shall by any means hurt you。〃
The omnipotent power of the Holy Spirit is the defense of every contrite soul。 Not one that in penitence and faith has claimed His protection will Christ permit to pass under the enemy's power。 The Saviour is by the side of His tempted and tried ones。 With Him there can be no such thing as failure； loss； impossibility； or defeat； we can do all things through Him who strengthens us。 When temptations and trials
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come； do not wait to adjust all the difficulties； but look to Jesus； your helper。
There are Christians who think and speak altogether too much about the power of Satan。 They think of their adversary； they pray about him； they talk about him； and he looms up greater and greater in their imagination。 It is true that Satan is a powerful being； but； thank God； we have a mighty Saviour； who cast out the evil one from heaven。 Satan is pleased when we magnify his power。 Why not talk of Jesus？ Why not magnify His power and His love？
The rainbow of promise encircling the throne on high is an everlasting testimony that 〃God so loved the world； that He gave His only…begotten Son； that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish； but have everlasting life。〃 John 3：16。 It testifies to the universe that God will never forsake His people in their struggle with evil。 It is an assurance to us of strength and protection as long as the throne itself shall endure。
Jesus added； 〃Notwithstanding in this rejoice not； that the spirits are subject unto you； but rather rejoice； because your names are written in heaven。〃 Rejoice not in the possession of power； lest you lose sight of your dependence upon God。 Be careful lest self…sufficiency come in； and you work in your own strength； rather than in the spirit and strength of your Master。 Self is ever ready to take the credit if any measure of success attends the work。 Self is flattered and exalted； and the impression is not made upon other minds that God is all and in all。 The apostle Paul says； 〃When I am weak； then am I strong。〃 2 Cor。 12：10。 When we have a realization of our weakness； we learn to depend upon a power not inherent。 Nothing can take so strong a hold on the heart as the abiding sense of our responsibility to God。 Nothing reaches so fully down to the deepest motives of conduct as a sense of the pardoning love of Christ。 We are to come in touch with God； then we shall be imbued with His Holy Spirit； that enables us to come in touch with our fellow men。 Then rejoice that through Christ you have become connected with God； members of the heavenly family。 While you look higher than yourself； you will have a continual sense of the weakness of humanity。 The less you cherish self； the more distinct and full will be your comprehension of the excellence of your Saviour。 The more closely you connect yourself with the source of light and power； the greater light will be shed upon you； and the greater power will be yours to work for God。 Rejoice that you are one with God； one with Christ； and with the whole family of heaven。
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As the seventy listened to the words of Christ； the Holy Spirit was impressing their minds with living realities； and writing truth upon the tablets of the soul。 Though multitudes surrounded them； they were as though shut in with God。
Knowing that they had caught the inspiration of the hour； Jesus 〃rejoiced in spirit； and said； I thank Thee； O Father； Lord of heaven and earth； that Thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent； and hast revealed them unto babes： even so； Father； for so it seemed good in Thy sight。 All things are delivered to Me of My Father： and no man knoweth who the Son is； but the Father； and who the Father is； but the Son； and he to whom the Son will reveal Him。〃
The honored men of the world； the so…called great and wise men； with all their boasted wisdom； could not comprehend the character of Christ。 They judged Him from outward appearance； from the humiliation that came upon Him as a human being。 But to fishermen and publicans it had been given to see the Invisible。 Even the disciples failed of understanding all that Jesus desired to reveal to them； but from time to time； as they surrendered themselves to the Holy Spirit's power； their minds were illuminated。 They realized that the mighty God； clad in the garb of humanity； was among them。 Jesus rejoiced that though this knowledge was not possessed by the wise and prudent； it had been revealed to these humble men。 Often as He had presented the Old Testament Scriptures； and showed their application to Himself and His work of atonement； they had been awakened by His Spirit； and lifted into a heavenly atmosphere。 Of the spiritual truths spoken by the prophets they had a clearer understanding than had the original writers themselves。 Hereafter they would read the Old Testament Scriptures； not as the doctrines of the scribes and Pharisees； not as the utterances of wise men who were dead； but as a new revelation from God。 They beheld Him 〃whom the world cannot receive； because it seeth Him not； neither knoweth Him： but ye know Him； for He dwelleth with you； and shall be in you。〃 John 14：17。
The only way in which we can gain a more perfect apprehension of truth is by keeping the heart tender and subdued by the Spirit of Christ。 The soul must be cleansed from vanity and pride； and vacated of all that has held it in possession； and Christ must be enthroned within。 Human science is too limited to comprehend the atonement。 The plan of redemption is so far…reaching that philosophy cannot explain it。 It will
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ever remain a mystery that the most profound reasoning cannot fathom。 The science of salvation cannot be explained； but it can be known by experience。 Only he who sees his own sinfulness can discern the preciousness of the Saviour。
Full of instruction were the lessons which Christ taught as He slowly made His way from Galilee toward Jerusalem。 Eagerly the people listened to His words。 In Perea as in Galilee the people were less under the control of Jewish bigotry than in Judea； and His teaching found a response in their hearts。
During these last months of His ministry； many of Christ's parables were spoken。 The priests and rabbis pursued Him with ever…increasing bitterness； and His warnings to them He veiled in symbols。 They could not mistake His meaning； yet they could find in His words nothing on which to ground an accusation against Him。 In the parable of the Pharisee and the publican； the self…sufficient prayer； 〃God； I thank Thee that I am not as the rest of men；〃 stood out in sharp contrast to the penitent's plea； 〃Be merciful to me the sinner。〃 Luke 18：11； 13； R。 V。； margin。 Thus Christ rebuked the hypocrisy of the Jews。 And under the figures of the barren fig tree and the great supper He foretold the doom about to fall upon the impenitent nation。 Those who had scornfully rejected the invitation to the gospel feast heard His warning words： 〃I say unto you； That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of My supper。〃 Luke 14：24。
Very precious was the instruction given to the disciples。 The parable of the importunate widow and the friend asking for bread at midnight gave new force to His words； 〃Ask； and it shall be given you； seek； and ye shall find； knock； and it shall be opened unto you。〃 Luke 11：9。 And often their wavering faith was strengthened by the memory that Christ had said； 〃Shall not God do justice for His elect； which cry to Him day and night； and He is long…suffering over them？ I say unto you； that He will do them justice speedily。〃 Luke 18：7； 8； R。 V。； margin。
The beautiful parable of the lost sheep Christ repeated。 And He carried its lesson still farther； as He told of the lost piece of silver and the prodigal son。 The force of these lessons the disciples could not then fully appreciate； but after the outpouring of the Holy Spirit； as they saw the ingathering of the Gentiles and the envious anger of the Jews； they better understood the lesson of the prodigal son； and could enter into the joy of Christ's words； 〃It was meet that we should make merry；
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and be glad；〃 〃for this my son was dead； and is alive again； he was lost； and is found。〃 Luke 15：32； 24。 And as they went out in their Master's name； facing reproach and poverty and persecution； they often strengthened their hearts by repeating His injunction； spoken on this last journey； 〃Fear not； little flock； for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom。 Sell that ye have； and give alms； provide yourselves bags which wax not old； a treasure in the heavens that faileth not； where no thief approacheth； neither moth corrupteth。 For where your treasure is； there will your heart be also。〃 Luke 12：32…34。
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Chapter 54
The Good Samaritan
In the story of the good Samaritan； Christ illustrates the nature of true religion。 He shows that it consists not in systems； creeds； or rites； but in the performance of loving deeds； in bringing the greatest good to others； in genuine goodness。
As Christ was teaching the people； 〃a certain lawyer stood up； and tempted Him； saying； Master； what shall I do to inherit eternal life？〃 With breathless attention the large congregation awaited the answer。 The priests and rabbis had thought to entangle Christ by having the lawyer ask this question。 But the Saviour entered into no controversy。 He required the answer from the questioner himself。 〃What is written in the law？〃 He said； 〃how readest thou？〃 The Jews still accused Jesus of lightly regarding the law given from Sinai； but He turned the question of salvation upon the keeping of God's commandments。
The lawyer said； 〃Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart； and with all thy soul； and with all thy strength； and with all thy mind； and thy neighbor as thyself。〃 Jesus said； 〃Thou hast answered right： this do； and thou shalt live。〃
The lawyer was not satisfied with the position and works of the Pharisees。 He had been studyi
