the desire of ages-第62节

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sitteth　on　the　throne　shall　dwell　among　them。〃　Rev。　7：15。

〃Blessed　are　they　which　do　hunger　and　thirst　after　righteousness。〃　The　sense　of　unworthiness　will　lead　the　heart　to　hunger　and　thirst　for　righteousness；　and　this　desire　will　not　be　disappointed。　Those　who　make　room　in　their　hearts　for　Jesus　will　realize　His　love。　All　who　long　to　bear　the　likeness　of　the　character　of　God　shall　be　satisfied。　The　Holy　Spirit　never　leaves　unassisted　the　soul　who　is　looking　unto　Jesus。　He　takes　of　the　things　of　Christ　and　shows　them　unto　him。　If　the　eye　is　kept　fixed　on　Christ；　the　work　of　the　Spirit　ceases　not　until　the　soul　is　conformed　to　His　image。　The　pure　element　of　love　will　expand　the　soul；　giving　it　a　capacity　for　higher　attainments；　for　increased　knowledge　of　heavenly　things；　so　that　it　will　not　rest　short　of　the　fullness。　〃Blessed　are　they　which　do　hunger　and　thirst　after　righteousness；　for　they　shall　be　filled。〃

The　merciful　shall　find　mercy；　and　the　pure　in　heart　shall　see　God。　Every　impure　thought　defiles　the　soul；　impairs　the　moral　sense；　and　tends　to　obliterate　the　impressions　of　the　Holy　Spirit。　It　dims　the　spiritual　vision；　so　that　men　cannot　behold　God。　The　Lord　may　and　does　forgive　the　repenting　sinner；　but　though　forgiven；　the　soul　is　marred。　All　impurity　of　speech　or　of　thought　must　be　shunned　by　him　who　would　have　clear　discernment　of　spiritual　truth。

But　the　words　of　Christ　cover　more　than　freedom　from　sensual　impurity；　more　than　freedom　from　that　ceremonial　defilement　which　the　Jews　so　rigorously　shunned。　Selfishness　prevents　us　from　beholding　God。　The　self…seeking　spirit　judges　of　God　as　altogether　such　a　one　as　itself。　Until　we　have　renounced　this；　we　cannot　understand　Him　who　is　love。　Only　the　unselfish　heart；　the　humble　and　trustful　spirit；　shall　see　God　as　〃merciful　and　gracious；　long…suffering；　and　abundant　in　goodness　and　truth。〃　Ex。　34：6。

〃Blessed　are　the　peacemakers。〃　The　peace　of　Christ　is　born　of　truth。　It　is　harmony　with　God。　The　world　is　at　enmity　with　the　law　of　God；

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sinners　are　at　enmity　with　their　Maker；　and　as　a　result　they　are　at　enmity　with　one　another。　But　the　psalmist　declares；　〃Great　peace　have　they　which　love　Thy　law：　and　nothing　shall　offend　them。〃　Ps。　119：165。　Men　cannot　manufacture　peace。　Human　plans　for　the　purification　and　uplifting　of　individuals　or　of　society　will　fail　of　producing　peace；　because　they　do　not　reach　the　heart。　The　only　power　that　can　create　or　perpetuate　true　peace　is　the　grace　of　Christ。　When　this　is　implanted　in　the　heart；　it　will　cast　out　the　evil　passions　that　cause　strife　and　dissension。　〃Instead　of　the　thorn　shall　come　up　the　fir　tree；　and　instead　of　the　brier　shall　come　up　the　myrtle　tree；〃　and　life's　desert　〃shall　rejoice；　and　blossom　as　the　rose。〃　Isa。　55：13；　35：1。

The　multitudes　were　amazed　at　this　teaching；　which　was　so　at　variance　with　the　precepts　and　example　of　the　Pharisees。　The　people　had　come　to　think　that　happiness　consisted　in　the　possession　of　the　things　of　this　world；　and　that　fame　and　the　honor　of　men　were　much　to　be　coveted。　It　was　very　pleasing　to　be　called　〃Rabbi；〃　and　to　be　extolled　as　wise　and　religious；　having　their　virtues　paraded　before　the　public。　This　was　regarded　as　the　crown　of　happiness。　But　in　the　presence　of　that　vast　throng；　Jesus　declared　that　earthly　gain　and　honor　were　all　the　reward　such　persons　would　ever　receive。　He　spoke　with　certainty；　and　a　convincing　power　attended　His　words。　The　people　were　silenced；　and　a　feeling　of　fear　crept　over　them。　They　looked　at　one　another　doubtfully。　Who　of　them　would　be　saved　if　this　Man's　teachings　were　true？　Many　were　convicted　that　this　remarkable　Teacher　was　actuated　by　the　Spirit　of　God；　and　that　the　sentiments　He　uttered　were　divine。

After　explaining　what　constitutes　true　happiness；　and　how　it　may　be　obtained；　Jesus　more　definitely　pointed　out　the　duty　of　His　disciples；　as　teachers　chosen　of　God　to　lead　others　into　the　path　of　righteousness　and　eternal　life。　He　knew　that　they　would　often　suffer　from　disappointment　and　discouragement；　that　they　would　meet　with　decided　opposition；　that　they　would　be　insulted；　and　their　testimony　rejected。　Well　He　knew　that　in　the　fulfillment　of　their　mission；　the　humble　men　who　listened　so　attentively　to　His　words　were　to　bear　calumny；　torture；　imprisonment；　and　death；　and　He　continued：

〃Blessed　are　they　which　are　persecuted　for　righteousness'　sake：　for　theirs　is　the　kingdom　of　heaven。　Blessed　are　ye；　when　men　shall　revile　you；　and　persecute　you；　and　shall　say　all　manner　of　evil　against　you　falsely；　for　My　sake。　Rejoice；　and　be　exceeding　glad：　for　great　is　your

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reward　in　heaven：　for　so　persecuted　they　the　prophets　which　were　before　you。〃

The　world　loves　sin；　and　hates　righteousness；　and　this　was　the　cause　of　its　hostility　to　Jesus。　All　who　refuse　His　infinite　love　will　find　Christianity　a　disturbing　element。　The　light　of　Christ　sweeps　away　the　darkness　that　covers　their　sins；　and　the　need　of　reform　is　made　manifest。　While　those　who　yield　to　the　influence　of　the　Holy　Spirit　begin　war　with　themselves；　those　who　cling　to　sin　war　against　the　truth　and　its　representatives。

Thus　strife　is　created；　and　Christ's　followers　are　accused　as　troublers　of　the　people。　But　it　is　fellowship　with　God　that　brings　them　the　world's　enmity。　They　are　bearing　the　reproach　of　Christ。　They　are　treading　the　path　that　has　been　trodden　by　the　noblest　of　the　earth。　Not　with　sorrow；　but　with　rejoicing；　should　they　meet　persecution。　Each　fiery　trial　is　God's　agent　for　their　refining。　Each　is　fitting　them　for　their　work　as　colaborers　with　Him。　Each　conflict　has　its　place　in　the　great　battle　for　righteousness；　and　each　will　add　to　the　joy　of　their　final　triumph。　Having　this　in　view；　the　test　of　their　faith　and　patience　will　be　cheerfully　accepted　rather　than　dreaded　and　avoided。　Anxious　to　fulfill　their　obligation　to　the　world；　fixing　their　desire　upon　the　approval　of　God；　His　servants　are　to　fulfill　every　duty；　irrespective　of　the　fear　or　the　favor　of　men。

〃Ye　are　the　salt　of　the　earth；〃　Jesus　said。　Do　not　withdraw　yourselves　from　the　world　in　order　to　escape　persecution。　You　are　to　abide　among　men；　that　the　savor　of　the　divine　love　may　be　as　salt　to　preserve　the　world　from　corruption。

Hearts　that　respond　to　the　influence　of　the　Holy　Spirit　are　the　channels　through　which　God's　blessing　flows。　Were　those　who　serve　God　removed　from　the　earth；　and　His　Spirit　withdrawn　from　among　men；　this　world　would　be　left　to　desolation　and　destruction；　the　fruit　of　Satan's　dominion。　Though　the　wicked　know　it　not；　they　owe　even　the　blessings　of　this　life　to　the　presence；　in　the　world；　of　God's　people　whom　they　despise　and　oppress。　But　if　Christians　are　such　in　name　only；　they　are　like　the　salt　that　has　lost　its　savor。　They　have　no　influence　for　good　in　the　world。　Through　their　misrepresentation　of　God　they　are　worse　than　unbelievers。

〃Ye　are　the　light　of　the　world。〃　The　Jews　thought　to　confine　the　benefits　of　salvation　to　their　own　nation；　but　Christ　showed　them　that

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salvation　is　like　the　sunshine。　It　belongs　to　the　whole　world。　The　religion　of　the　Bible　is　not　to　be　confined　between　the　covers　of　a　book；　nor　within　the　walls　of　a　church。　It　is　not　to　be　brought　out　occasionally　for　our　own　benefit；　and　then　to　be　carefully　laid　aside　again。　It　is　to　sanctify　the　daily　life；　to　manifest　itself　in　every　business　transaction　and　in　all　our　social　relations。

True　character　is　not　shaped　from　without；　and　put　on；　it　radiates　from　within。　If　we　wish　to　direct　others　in　the　path　of　righteousness；　the　principles　of　righteousness　must　be　enshrined　in　our　own　hearts。　Our　profession　of　faith　may　proclaim　the　theory　of　religion；　but　it　is　our　practical　piety　that　holds　forth　the　word　of　truth。　The　consistent　life；　the　holy　conversation；　the　unswerving　integrity；　the　active；　benevolent　spirit；　the　godly　example；these　are　the　mediums　through　which　light　is　conveyed　to　the　world。

Jesus　had　not　dwelt　on　the　specifications　of　the　law；　but　He　did　not　leave　His　hearers　to　conclude　that　He　had　come　to　set　aside　its　requirements。　He　knew　that　spies　stood　ready　to　seize　upon　every　word　that　might　be　wrested　to　serve　their　purpose。　He　knew　the　prejudice　that　existed　in　the　minds　of　many　of　His　hearers；　and　He　said　nothing　to　unsettle　their　faith　in　the　religion　and　institutions　that　had　been　committed　to　them　through　Moses。　Christ　Himself　had　given　both　the　moral　and　the　ceremonial　law。　He　did　not　come　to　destroy　confidence　in　His　own　instruction。　It　was　because　of　His　great　reverence　for　the　law　and　the　prophets　that　He　sought　to　break　through　the　wall　of　traditional　requirements　which　hemmed　in　the　Jews。　While　He　set　aside　their　false　interpretations　of　the　law；　He　carefully　guarded　His　disciples　against　yielding　up　the　vital　truths　committed　to　the　Hebrews。

The　Pharisees　prided　themselves　on　their　obedience　to　the　law；　yet　they　knew　so　little　of　its　principles　through　everyday　practice　that　to　them　the　Saviour's　words　sounded　like　heresy。　As　He　swept　away　the　rubbish　under　which　the　truth　had　been　buried；　they　thought　He　was　swee