the desire of ages-第145节

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enderness　explained　the　purpose　of　the　husbandman。　The　pruning　will　cause　pain；　but　it　is　the　Father　who　applies　the　knife。　He　works　with　no　wanton　hand　or　indifferent　heart。　There　are　branches　trailing　upon　the　ground；　these　must　be　cut　loose　from　the　earthly　supports　to　which　their　tendrils　are　fastening。　They　are　to　reach　heavenward；　and　find　their　support　in　God。　The　excessive　foliage　that　draws　away　the　life　current　from　the　fruit　must　be　pruned　off。　The　overgrowth　must　be　cut　out；　to　give　room　for　the　healing　beams　of　the　Sun　of　Righteousness。　The　husbandman　prunes　away　the　harmful　growth；　that　the　fruit　may　be　richer　and　more　abundant。

〃Herein　is　My　Father　glorified；〃　said　Jesus；　〃that　ye　bear　much　fruit。〃　God　desires　to　manifest　through　you　the　holiness；　the　benevolence；　the　compassion；　of　His　own　character。　Yet　the　Saviour　does　not　bid　the　disciples　labor　to　bear　fruit。　He　tells　them　to　abide　in　Him。　〃If　ye　abide　in　Me；〃　He　says；　〃and　My　words　abide　in　you；　ye　shall　ask　what　ye　will；　and　it　shall　be　done　unto　you。〃　It　is　through　the　word　that　Christ　abides　in　His　followers。　This　is　the　same　vital　union　that　is　represented　by　eating　His　flesh　and　drinking　His　blood。　The　words　of　Christ　are　spirit　and　life。　Receiving　them；　you　receive　the　life　of　the　Vine。　You　live　〃by　every　word　that　proceedeth　out　of　the　mouth　of　God。〃　Matt。　4：4。　The　life　of　Christ　in　you　produces　the　same　fruits　as　in　Him。　Living　in　Christ；　adhering　to　Christ；　supported　by　Christ；　drawing　nourishment　from　Christ；　you　bear　fruit　after　the　similitude　of　Christ。

In　this　last　meeting　with　His　disciples；　the　great　desire　which　Christ　expressed　for　them　was　that　they　might　love　one　another　as　He　had　loved　them。　Again　and　again　He　spoke　of　this。　〃These　things　I　command　you；〃　He　said　repeatedly；　〃that　ye　love　one　another。〃　His　very　first　injunction　when　alone　with　them　in　the　upper　chamber　was；　〃A　new　commandment　I　give　unto　you；　That　ye　love　one　another；　as　I　have　loved　you；　that　ye　also　love　one　another。〃　To　the　disciples　this　commandment　was　new；　for　they　had　not　loved　one　another　as　Christ　had　loved　them。　He　saw　that　new　ideas　and　impulses　must　control　them；　that　new　principles　must　be　practiced　by　them；　through　His　life　and　death　they　were　to　receive　a　new　conception　of　love。　The　command　to　love　one　another　had　a　new　meaning　in　the　light　of　His　self…sacrifice。　The　whole

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work　of　grace　is　one　continual　service　of　love；　of　self…denying；　self…sacrificing　effort。　During　every　hour　of　Christ's　sojourn　upon　the　earth；　the　love　of　God　was　flowing　from　Him　in　irrepressible　streams。　All　who　are　imbued　with　His　Spirit　will　love　as　He　loved。　The　very　principle　that　actuated　Christ　will　actuate　them　in　all　their　dealing　one　with　another。

This　love　is　the　evidence　of　their　discipleship。　〃By　this　shall　all　men　know　that　ye　are　My　disciples；〃　said　Jesus；　〃if　ye　have　love　one　to　another。〃　When　men　are　bound　together；　not　by　force　or　self…interest；　but　by　love；　they　show　the　working　of　an　influence　that　is　above　every　human　influence。　Where　this　oneness　exists；　it　is　evidence　that　the　image　of　God　is　being　restored　in　humanity；　that　a　new　principle　of　life　has　been　implanted。　It　shows　that　there　is　power　in　the　divine　nature　to　withstand　the　supernatural　agencies　of　evil；　and　that　the　grace　of　God　subdues　the　selfishness　inherent　in　the　natural　heart。

This　love；　manifested　in　the　church；　will　surely　stir　the　wrath　of　Satan。　Christ　did　not　mark　out　for　His　disciples　an　easy　path。　〃If　the　world　hate　you；〃　He　said；　〃ye　know　that　it　hated　Me　before　it　hated　you。　If　ye　were　of　the　world；　the　world　would　love　his　own：　but　because　ye　are　not　of　the　world；　but　I　have　chosen　you　out　of　the　world；　therefore　the　world　hateth　you。　Remember　the　word　that　I　said　unto　you；　The　servant　is　not　greater　than　his　lord。　If　they　have　persecuted　Me；　they　will　also　persecute　you；　if　they　have　kept　My　saying；　they　will　keep　yours　also。　But　all　these　things　will　they　do　unto　you　for　My　name's　sake；　because　they　know　not　Him　that　sent　Me。〃　The　gospel　is　to　be　carried　forward　by　aggressive　warfare；　in　the　midst　of　opposition；　peril；　loss；　and　suffering。　But　those　who　do　this　work　are　only　following　in　their　Master's　steps。

As　the　world's　Redeemer；　Christ　was　constantly　confronted　with　apparent　failure。　He；　the　messenger　of　mercy　to　our　world；　seemed　to　do　little　of　the　work　He　longed　to　do　in　uplifting　and　saving。　Satanic　influences　were　constantly　working　to　oppose　His　way。　But　He　would　not　be　discouraged。　Through　the　prophecy　of　Isaiah　He　declares；　〃I　have　labored　in　vain；　I　have　spent　My　strength　for　nought；　and　in　vain：　yet　surely　My　judgment　is　with　the　Lord；　and　My　work　with　My　God。　。　。　。　Though　Israel　be　not　gathered；　yet　shall　I　be　glorious　in　the　eyes　of　the　Lord；　and　My　God　shall　be　My　strength。〃　It　is　to　Christ　that　the　promise　is　given；　〃Thus　saith　the　Lord；　the　Redeemer　of　Israel；　and　His　Holy　One；　to　Him　whom　man　despiseth；　to　Him　whom　the　nation

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abhorreth；　。　。　。　thus　saith　the　Lord：　。　。　。　I　will　preserve　Thee；　and　give　Thee　for　a　covenant　of　the　people；　to　establish　the　earth；　to　cause　to　inherit　the　desolate　heritages；　that　Thou　mayest　say　to　the　prisoners；　Go　forth；　to　them　that　are　in　darkness；　Show　yourselves。　。　。　。　They　shall　not　hunger　nor　thirst；　neither　shall　the　heat　nor　sun　smite　them：　for　He　that　hath　mercy　on　them　shall　lead　them；　even　by　the　springs　of　water　shall　He　guide　them。〃　Isa。　49：4；　5；　7…10。

Upon　this　word　Jesus　rested；　and　He　gave　Satan　no　advantage。　When　the　last　steps　of　Christ's　humiliation　were　to　be　taken；　when　the　deepest　sorrow　was　closing　about　His　soul；　He　said　to　His　disciples；　〃The　prince　of　this　world　cometh；　and　hath　nothing　in　Me。〃　〃The　prince　of　this　world　is　judged。〃　Now　shall　he　be　cast　out。　John　14：30；　16：11；　12：31。　With　prophetic　eye　Christ　traced　the　scenes　to　take　place　in　His　last　great　conflict。　He　knew　that　when　He　should　exclaim；　〃It　is　finished；〃　all　heaven　would　triumph。　His　ear　caught　the　distant　music　and　the　shouts　of　victory　in　the　heavenly　courts。　He　knew　that　the　knell　of　Satan's　empire　would　then　be　sounded；　and　the　name　of　Christ　would　be　heralded　from　world　to　world　throughout　the　universe。

Christ　rejoiced　that　He　could　do　more　for　His　followers　than　they　could　ask　or　think。　He　spoke　with　assurance；　knowing　that　an　almighty　decree　had　been　given　before　the　world　was　made。　He　knew　that　truth；　armed　with　the　omnipotence　of　the　Holy　Spirit；　would　conquer　in　the　contest　with　evil；　and　that　the　bloodstained　banner　would　wave　triumphantly　over　His　followers。　He　knew　that　the　life　of　His　trusting　disciples　would　be　like　His；　a　series　of　uninterrupted　victories；　not　seen　to　be　such　here；　but　recognized　as　such　in　the　great　hereafter。

〃These　things　I　have　spoken　unto　you；〃　He　said；　〃that　in　Me　ye　might　have　peace。　In　the　world　ye　shall　have　tribulation：　but　be　of　good　cheer；　I　have　overcome　the　world。〃　Christ　did　not　fail；　neither　was　He　discouraged；　and　His　followers　are　to　manifest　a　faith　of　the　same　enduring　nature。　They　are　to　live　as　He　lived；　and　work　as　He　worked；　because　they　depend　on　Him　as　the　great　Master　Worker。　Courage；　energy；　and　perseverance　they　must　possess。　Though　apparent　impossibilities　obstruct　their　way；　by　His　grace　they　are　to　go　forward。　Instead　of　deploring　difficulties；　they　are　called　upon　to　surmount　them。　They　are　to　despair　of　nothing；　and　to　hope　for　everything。　With　the　golden　chain　of　His　matchless　love　Christ　has　bound　them　to　the　throne　of　God。　It　is　His　purpose　that　the　highest　influence　in　the　universe；　emanating　from　the　source　of　all　power；　shall　be　theirs。　They　are　to　have　power

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to　resist　evil；　power　that　neither　earth；　nor　death；　nor　hell　can　master；　power　that　will　enable　them　to　overcome　as　Christ　overcame。

Christ　designs　that　heaven's　order；　heaven's　plan　of　government；　heaven's　divine　harmony；　shall　be　represented　in　His　church　on　earth。　Thus　in　His　people　He　is　glorified。　Through　them　the　Sun　of　Righteousness　will　shine　in　undimmed　luster　to　the　world。　Christ　has　given　to　His　church　ample　facilities；　that　He　may　receive　a　large　revenue　of　glory　from　His　redeemed；　purchased　possession。　He　has　bestowed　upon　His　people　capabilities　and　blessings　that　they　may　represent　His　own　sufficiency。　The　church；　endowed　with　the　righteousness　of　Christ；　is　His　depositary；　in　which　the　riches　of　His　mercy；　His　grace；　and　His　love；　are　to　appear　in　full　and　final　display。　Christ　looks　upon　His　people　in　their　purity　and　perfection；　as　the　reward　of　His　humiliation；　and　the　supplement　of　His　glory；Christ；　the　great　Center；　from　whom　radiates　all　glory。

With　strong；　hopeful　words　the　Saviour　ended　His　instruction。　Then　He　poured　out　the　burden　of　His　soul　in　prayer　for　His　disciples。　Lifting　His　eyes　to　heaven；　He　said；　〃Father；　the　hour　is　come；　glorify　Thy　Son；　that　Thy　Son　also　may　glorify　Thee：　as　Thou　hast　given　Him　power　over　all　flesh；　that　He　should　give　eternal　life　to　as　many　as　Thou　hast　given　Him。　And　this　is　life　eternal；　that　they　might　know　Thee　the　only　true　God；　and　Jesus　Christ；　whom　Thou　hast　sent。〃

Christ　had　finished　the　work　that　was　given　Him　to　do。　He　had　glorif