the desire of ages-第143节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


s　who　for　His　sake　are　lying　in　prison　or　who　are　banished　to　lonely　islands。　He　comforts　them　with　His　own　presence。　When　for　the　truth's　sake　the　believer　stands　at　the　bar　of　unrighteous　tribunals；　Christ　stands　by　his　side。　All　the　reproaches　that　fall　upon　him；　fall　upon　Christ。　Christ　is　condemned　over　again　in　the　person　of　His　disciple。　When　one　is　incarcerated　in　prison　walls；　Christ　ravishes　the　heart　with　His　love。　When　one　suffers　death　for　His　sake；　Christ　says；　〃I　am　He　that　liveth；　and　was　dead；　and；　behold；　I　am　alive　forevermore；　。　。　。　and　have　the　keys　of　hell　and　of　death。〃　Rev。　1：18。　The　life　that　is　sacrificed　for　Me　is　preserved　unto　eternal　glory。

At　all　times　and　in　all　places；　in　all　sorrows　and　in　all　afflictions；　when　the　outlook　seems　dark　and　the　future　perplexing；　and　we　feel　helpless　and　alone；　the　Comforter　will　be　sent　in　answer　to　the　prayer　of

670

faith。　Circumstances　may　separate　us　from　every　earthly　friend；　but　no　circumstance；　no　distance；　can　separate　us　from　the　heavenly　Comforter。　Wherever　we　are；　wherever　we　may　go；　He　is　always　at　our　right　hand　to　support；　sustain；　uphold；　and　cheer。

The　disciples　still　failed　to　understand　Christ's　words　in　their　spiritual　sense；　and　again　He　explained　His　meaning。　By　the　Spirit；　He　said；　He　would　manifest　Himself　to　them。　〃The　Comforter；　which　is　the　Holy　Ghost；　whom　the　Father　will　send　in　My　name；　He　shall　teach　you　all　things。〃　No　more　will　you　say；　I　cannot　comprehend。　No　longer　will　you　see　through　a　glass；　darkly。　You　shall　〃be　able　to　comprehend　with　all　saints　what　is　the　breadth；　and　length；　and　depth；　and　height；　and　to　know　the　love　of　Christ；　which　passeth　knowledge。〃　Eph。　3：18；　19。

The　disciples　were　to　bear　witness　to　the　life　and　work　of　Christ。　Through　their　word　He　was　to　speak　to　all　the　people　on　the　face　of　the　earth。　But　in　the　humiliation　and　death　of　Christ　they　were　to　suffer　great　trial　and　disappointment。　That　after　this　experience　their　word　might　be　accurate；　Jesus　promised　that　the　Comforter　should　〃bring　all　things　to　your　remembrance；　whatsoever　I　have　said　unto　you。〃

〃I　have　yet　many　things　to　say　unto　you；〃　He　continued；　〃but　ye　cannot　bear　them　now。　Howbeit　when　He；　the　Spirit　of　truth；　is　come；　He　will　guide　you　into　all　truth：　for　He　shall　not　speak　of　Himself；　but　whatsoever　He　shall　hear；　that　shall　He　speak：　and　He　will　show　you　things　to　come。　He　shall　glorify　Me：　for　He　shall　receive　of　Mine；　and　shall　show　it　unto　you。〃　Jesus　had　opened　before　His　disciples　a　vast　tract　of　truth。　But　it　was　most　difficult　for　them　to　keep　His　lessons　distinct　from　the　traditions　and　maxims　of　the　scribes　and　Pharisees。　They　had　been　educated　to　accept　the　teaching　of　the　rabbis　as　the　voice　of　God；　and　it　still　held　a　power　over　their　minds；　and　molded　their　sentiments。　Earthly　ideas；　temporal　things；　still　had　a　large　place　in　their　thoughts。　They　did　not　understand　the　spiritual　nature　of　Christ's　kingdom；　though　He　had　so　often　explained　it　to　them。　Their　minds　had　become　confused。　They　did　not　comprehend　the　value　of　the　scriptures　Christ　presented。　Many　of　His　lessons　seemed　almost　lost　upon　them。　Jesus　saw　that　they　did　not　lay　hold　of　the　real　meaning　of　His　words。　He　compassionately　promised　that　the　Holy　Spirit　should　recall　these　sayings　to　their　minds。　And　He　had　left　unsaid　many　things　that　could　not　be　comprehended　by　the　disciples。　These　also　would　be　opened　to　them　by　the　Spirit。　The　Spirit　was　to　quicken　their

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　671

understanding；　that　they　might　have　an　appreciation　of　heavenly　things。　〃When　He；　the　Spirit　of　truth；　is　come；〃　said　Jesus；　〃He　will　guide　you　into　all　truth。〃

The　Comforter　is　called　〃the　Spirit　of　truth。〃　His　work　is　to　define　and　maintain　the　truth。　He　first　dwells　in　the　heart　as　the　Spirit　of　truth；　and　thus　He　becomes　the　Comforter。　There　is　comfort　and　peace　in　the　truth；　but　no　real　peace　or　comfort　can　be　found　in　falsehood。　It　is　through　false　theories　and　traditions　that　Satan　gains　his　power　over　the　mind。　By　directing　men　to　false　standards；　he　misshapes　the　character。　Through　the　Scriptures　the　Holy　Spirit　speaks　to　the　mind；　and　impresses　truth　upon　the　heart。　Thus　He　exposes　error；　and　expels　it　from　the　soul。　It　is　by　the　Spirit　of　truth；　working　through　the　word　of　God；　that　Christ　subdues　His　chosen　people　to　Himself。

In　describing　to　His　disciples　the　office　work　of　the　Holy　Spirit；　Jesus　sought　to　inspire　them　with　the　joy　and　hope　that　inspired　His　own　heart。　He　rejoiced　because　of　the　abundant　help　He　had　provided　for　His　church。　The　Holy　Spirit　was　the　highest　of　all　gifts　that　He　could　solicit　from　His　Father　for　the　exaltation　of　His　people。　The　Spirit　was　to　be　given　as　a　regenerating　agent；　and　without　this　the　sacrifice　of　Christ　would　have　been　of　no　avail。　The　power　of　evil　had　been　strengthening　for　centuries；　and　the　submission　of　men　to　this　satanic　captivity　was　amazing。　Sin　could　be　resisted　and　overcome　only　through　the　mighty　agency　of　the　Third　Person　of　the　Godhead；　who　would　come　with　no　modified　energy；　but　in　the　fullness　of　divine　power。　It　is　the　Spirit　that　makes　effectual　what　has　been　wrought　out　by　the　world's　Redeemer。　It　is　by　the　Spirit　that　the　heart　is　made　pure。　Through　the　Spirit　the　believer　becomes　a　partaker　of　the　divine　nature。　Christ　has　given　His　Spirit　as　a　divine　power　to　overcome　all　hereditary　and　cultivated　tendencies　to　evil；　and　to　impress　His　own　character　upon　His　church。

Of　the　Spirit　Jesus　said；　〃He　shall　glorify　Me。〃　The　Saviour　came　to　glorify　the　Father　by　the　demonstration　of　His　love；　so　the　Spirit　was　to　glorify　Christ　by　revealing　His　grace　to　the　world。　The　very　image　of　God　is　to　be　reproduced　in　humanity。　The　honor　of　God；　the　honor　of　Christ；　is　involved　in　the　perfection　of　the　character　of　His　people。

〃When　He　＇the　Spirit　of　truth＇　is　come；　He　will　reprove　the　world　of　sin；　and　of　righteousness；　and　of　judgment。〃　The　preaching　of　the　word　will　be　of　no　avail　without　the　continual　presence　and　aid　of　the　Holy　Spirit。　This　is　the　only　effectual　teacher　of　divine　truth。　Only

672

when　the　truth　is　accompanied　to　the　heart　by　the　Spirit　will　it　quicken　the　conscience　or　transform　the　life。　One　might　be　able　to　present　the　letter　of　the　word　of　God；　he　might　be　familiar　with　all　its　commands　and　promises；　but　unless　the　Holy　Spirit　sets　home　the　truth；　no　souls　will　fall　on　the　Rock　and　be　broken。　No　amount　of　education；　no　advantages；　however　great；　can　make　one　a　channel　of　light　without　the　co…operation　of　the　Spirit　of　God。　The　sowing　of　the　gospel　seed　will　not　be　a　success　unless　the　seed　is　quickened　into　life　by　the　dew　of　heaven。　Before　one　book　of　the　New　Testament　was　written；　before　one　gospel　sermon　had　been　preached　after　Christ's　ascension；　the　Holy　Spirit　came　upon　the　praying　apostles。　Then　the　testimony　of　their　enemies　was；　〃Ye　have　filled　Jerusalem　with　your　doctrine。〃　Acts　5：28。

Christ　has　promised　the　gift　of　the　Holy　Spirit　to　His　church；　and　the　promise　belongs　to　us　as　much　as　to　the　first　disciples。　But　like　every　other　promise；　it　is　given　on　conditions。　There　are　many　who　believe　and　profess　to　claim　the　Lord's　promise；　they　talk　about　Christ　and　about　the　Holy　Spirit；　yet　receive　no　benefit。　They　do　not　surrender　the　soul　to　be　guided　and　controlled　by　the　divine　agencies。　We　cannot　use　the　Holy　Spirit。　The　Spirit　is　to　use　us。　Through　the　Spirit　God　works　in　His　people　〃to　will　and　to　do　of　His　good　pleasure。〃　Phil。　2：13。　But　many　will　not　submit　to　this。　They　want　to　manage　themselves。　This　is　why　they　do　not　receive　the　heavenly　gift。　Only　to　those　who　wait　humbly　upon　God；　who　watch　for　His　guidance　and　grace；　is　the　Spirit　given。　The　power　of　God　awaits　their　demand　and　reception。　This　promised　blessing；　claimed　by　faith；　brings　all　other　blessings　in　its　train。　It　is　given　according　to　the　riches　of　the　grace　of　Christ；　and　He　is　ready　to　supply　every　soul　according　to　the　capacity　to　receive。

In　His　discourse　to　the　disciples；　Jesus　made　no　mournful　allusion　to　His　own　sufferings　and　death。　His　last　legacy　to　them　was　a　legacy　of　peace。　He　said；　〃Peace　I　leave　with　you；　My　peace　I　give　unto　you：　not　as　the　world　giveth；　give　I　unto　you。　Let　not　your　heart　be　troubled；　neither　let　it　be　afraid。〃

Before　leaving　the　upper　chamber；　the　Saviour　led　His　disciples　in　a　song　of　praise。　His　voice　was　heard；　not　in　the　strains　of　some　mournful　lament；　but　in　the　joyful　notes　of　the　Passover　hallel：


〃O　praise　the　Lord；　all　ye　nations：

Praise　Him；　all　ye　people。

For　His　merciful　kindness　is　great　toward　us：

And　the　truth　of　the　Lord　endureth　forever。

Praise　ye　the　Lord。〃　Psalm　117。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　673


After　the　hymn；　they　went　out。　Through　the　crowded　streets　they　made　their　way；　passing　out　of　the　city　gate　toward　the　Mount　of　Olives。　Slowly　they　proceeded；　each　busy　with　his　own　thoughts。　As　they　began　to　descend　toward　the　mount；　Jesus　said；　in　a　tone　of　deepest　sadness；　〃All　ye　shall　be　offended　because　of　Me　this　night：　for　it　is　written；　I　will　smite　the　shepherd；　and　the　sheep　of　the　flock　shall　be　sca