the desire of ages-第67节

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s　to　God　daily；　that　Christ　might　dwell　in　the　heart；　and　when　the　evil　spirit　returned；　with　〃seven　other　spirits　more　wicked　than　himself；〃　they　were　wholly　dominated　by　the　power　of　evil。

When　the　soul　surrenders　itself　to　Christ；　a　new　power　takes　possession　of　the　new　heart。　A　change　is　wrought　which　man　can　never　accomplish　for　himself。　It　is　a　supernatural　work；　bringing　a　supernatural　element　into　human　nature。　The　soul　that　is　yielded　to　Christ　becomes　His　own　fortress；　which　He　holds　in　a　revolted　world；　and　He　intends　that　no　authority　shall　be　known　in　it　but　His　own。　A　soul　thus　kept　in　possession　by　the　heavenly　agencies　is　impregnable　to　the　assaults　of　Satan。　But　unless　we　do　yield　ourselves　to　the　control　of　Christ；　we　shall　be　dominated　by　the　wicked　one。　We　must　inevitably　be　under　the　control　of　the　one　or　the　other　of　the　two　great　powers　that　are　contending　for　the　supremacy　of　the　world。　It　is　not　necessary　for　us　deliberately　to　choose　the　service　of　the　kingdom　of　darkness　in　order　to　come　under　its　dominion。　We　have　only　to　neglect　to　ally　ourselves　with　the　kingdom　of　light。　If　we　do　not　co…operate　with　the　heavenly　agencies；　Satan　will　take　possession　of　the　heart；　and　will　make　it　his　abiding　place。　The　only　defense　against　evil　is　the　indwelling　of　Christ　in　the　heart　through　faith　in　His　righteousness。　Unless　we　become　vitally　connected　with　God；　we　can　never　resist　the　unhallowed　effects　of　self…love；　self…indulgence；　and　temptation　to　sin。　We　may　leave　off　many　bad　habits；　for　the　time　we　may　part　company　with　Satan；　but　without　a　vital　connection　with　God；　through　the　surrender　of　ourselves　to　Him　moment　by　moment；　we　shall　be　overcome。　Without　a　personal　acquaintance　with　Christ；　and　a　continual　communion；　we　are　at　the　mercy　of　the　enemy；　and　shall　do　his　bidding　in　the　end。

〃The　last　state　of　that　man　is　worse　than　the　first。　Even　so；〃　said　Jesus；　〃shall　it　be　also　unto　this　wicked　generation。〃　There　are　none　so　hardened　as　those　who　have　slighted　the　invitation　of　mercy；　and　done　despite　to　the　Spirit　of　grace。　The　most　common　manifestation　of　the　sin　against　the　Holy　Spirit　is　in　persistently　slighting　Heaven's　invitation　to　repent。　Every　step　in　the　rejection　of　Christ　is　a　step　toward　the　rejection　of　salvation；　and　toward　the　sin　against　the　Holy　Spirit。

In　rejecting　Christ　the　Jewish　people　committed　the　unpardonable　sin；　and　by　refusing　the　invitation　of　mercy；　we　may　commit　the　same

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error。　We　offer　insult　to　the　Prince　of　life；　and　put　Him　to　shame　before　the　synagogue　of　Satan　and　before　the　heavenly　universe　when　we　refuse　to　listen　to　His　delegated　messengers；　and　instead　listen　to　the　agents　of　Satan；　who　would　draw　the　soul　away　from　Christ。　So　long　as　one　does　this；　he　can　find　no　hope　or　pardon；　and　he　will　finally　lose　all　desire　to　be　reconciled　to　God。

While　Jesus　was　still　teaching　the　people；　His　disciples　brought　the　message　that　His　mother　and　His　brothers　were　without；　and　desired　to　see　Him。　He　knew　what　was　in　their　hearts；　and　〃He　answered　and　said　unto　him　that　told　Him；　Who　is　My　mother？　and　who　are　My　brethren？　And　He　stretched　forth　His　hand　toward　His　disciples；　and　said；　Behold　My　mother　and　My　brethren！　For　whosoever　shall　do　the　will　of　My　Father　which　is　in　heaven；　the　same　is　My　brother；　and　sister；　and　mother。〃

All　who　would　receive　Christ　by　faith　were　united　to　Him　by　a　tie　closer　than　that　of　human　kinship。　They　would　become　one　with　Him；　as　He　was　one　with　the　Father。　As　a　believer　and　doer　of　His　words；　His　mother　was　more　nearly　and　savingly　related　to　Him　than　through　her　natural　relationship。　His　brothers　would　receive　no　benefit　from　their　connection　with　Him　unless　they　accepted　Him　as　their　personal　Saviour。

What　a　support　Christ　would　have　found　in　His　earthly　relatives　if　they　had　believed　in　Him　as　one　from　heaven；　and　had　co…operated　with　Him　in　doing　the　work　of　God！　Their　unbelief　cast　a　shadow　over　the　earthly　life　of　Jesus。　It　was　a　part　of　the　bitterness　of　that　cup　of　woe　which　He　drained　for　us。

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The　enmity　kindled　in　the　human　heart　against　the　gospel　was　keenly　felt　by　the　Son　of　God；　and　it　was　most　painful　to　Him　in　His　home；　for　His　own　heart　was　full　of　kindness　and　love；　and　He　appreciated　tender　regard　in　the　family　relation。　His　brothers　desired　that　He　should　concede　to　their　ideas；　when　such　a　course　would　have　been　utterly　out　of　harmony　with　His　divine　mission。　They　looked　upon　Him　as　in　need　of　their　counsel。　They　judged　Him　from　their　human　point　of　view；　and　thought　that　if　He　would　speak　only　such　things　as　would　be　acceptable　to　the　scribes　and　Pharisees；　He　would　avoid　the　disagreeable　controversy　that　His　words　aroused。　They　thought　that　He　was　beside　Himself　in　claiming　divine　authority；　and　in　placing　Himself　before　the　rabbis　as　a　reprover　of　their　sins。　They　knew　that　the　Pharisees　were　seeking　occasion　to　accuse　Him；　and　they　felt　that　He　had　given　them　sufficient　occasion。

With　their　short　measuring　line　they　could　not　fathom　the　mission　which　He　came　to　fulfill；　and　therefore　could　not　sympathize　with　Him　in　His　trials。　Their　coarse；　unappreciative　words　showed　that　they　had　no　true　perception　of　His　character；　and　did　not　discern　that　the　divine　blended　with　the　human。　They　often　saw　Him　full　of　grief；　but　instead　of　comforting　Him；　their　spirit　and　words　only　wounded　His　heart。　His　sensitive　nature　was　tortured；　His　motives　were　misunderstood；　His　work　was　uncomprehended。

His　brothers　often　brought　forward　the　philosophy　of　the　Pharisees；　which　was　threadbare　and　hoary　with　age；　and　presumed　to　think　that　they　could　teach　Him　who　understood　all　truth；　and　comprehended　all　mysteries。　They　freely　condemned　that　which　they　could　not　understand。　Their　reproaches　probed　Him　to　the　quick；　and　His　soul　was　wearied　and　distressed。　They　avowed　faith　in　God；　and　thought　they　were　vindicating　God；　when　God　was　with　them　in　the　flesh；　and　they　knew　Him　not。

These　things　made　His　path　a　thorny　one　to　travel。　So　pained　was　Christ　by　the　misapprehension　in　His　own　home　that　it　was　a　relief　to　Him　to　go　where　it　did　not　exist。　There　was　one　home　that　He　loved　to　visit；the　home　of　Lazarus；　and　Mary；　and　Martha；　for　in　the　atmosphere　of　faith　and　love　His　spirit　had　rest。　Yet　there　were　none　on　earth　who　could　comprehend　His　divine　mission；　or　know　the　burden　which　He　bore　in　behalf　of　humanity。　Often　He　could　find　relief　only　in　being　alone；　and　communing　with　His　heavenly　Father。

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Those　who　are　called　to　suffer　for　Christ's　sake；　who　have　to　endure　misapprehension　and　distrust；　even　in　their　own　home；　may　find　comfort　in　the　thought　that　Jesus　has　endured　the　same。　He　is　moved　with　compassion　for　them。　He　bids　them　find　companionship　in　Him；　and　relief　where　He　found　it；　in　communion　with　the　Father。

Those　who　accept　Christ　as　their　personal　Saviour　are　not　left　as　orphans；　to　bear　the　trials　of　life　alone。　He　receives　them　as　members　of　the　heavenly　family；　He　bids　them　call　His　Father　their　Father。　They　are　His　〃little　ones；〃　dear　to　the　heart　of　God；　bound　to　Him　by　the　most　tender　and　abiding　ties。　He　has　toward　them　an　exceeding　tenderness；　as　far　surpassing　what　our　father　or　mother　has　felt　toward　us　in　our　helplessness　as　the　divine　is　above　the　human。

Of　Christ's　relation　to　His　people；　there　is　a　beautiful　illustration　in　the　laws　given　to　Israel。　When　through　poverty　a　Hebrew　had　been　forced　to　part　with　his　patrimony；　and　to　sell　himself　as　a　bondservant；　the　duty　of　redeeming　him　and　his　inheritance　fell　to　the　one　who　was　nearest　of　kin。　See　Lev。　25：25；　47…49；　Ruth　2：20。　So　the　work　of　redeeming　us　and　our　inheritance；　lost　through　sin；　fell　upon　Him　who　is　〃near　of　kin〃　unto　us。　It　was　to　redeem　us　that　He　became　our　kinsman。　Closer　than　father；　mother；　brother；　friend；　or　lover　is　the　Lord　our　Saviour。　〃Fear　not；〃　He　says；　〃for　I　have　redeemed　thee；　I　have　called　thee　by　thy　name；　thou　art　Mine。〃　〃Since　thou　wast　precious　in　My　sight；　thou　hast　been　honorable；　and　I　have　loved　thee：　therefore　will　I　give　men　for　thee；　and　people　for　thy　life。〃　Isa。　43：1；　4。

Christ　loves　the　heavenly　beings　that　surround　His　throne；　but　what　shall　account　for　the　great　love　wherewith　He　has　loved　us？　We　cannot　understand　it；　but　we　can　know　it　true　in　our　own　experience。　And　if　we　do　hold　the　relation　of　kinship　to　Him；　with　what　tenderness　should　we　regard　those　who　are　brethren　and　sisters　of　our　Lord！　Should　we　not　be　quick　to　recognize　the　claims　of　our　divine　relationship？　Adopted　into　the　family　of　God；　should　we　not　honor　our　Father　and　our　kindred？




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　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Chapter　34

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　The　Invitation


〃Come　unto　Me；　all　ye　that　labor　and　are　heavy…laden；　and　I　will　give　you　rest。〃

These　words　of　comfort　were　spoken　to　the　multitude　that　followed　Jesus。　The　Saviour　had　said　that　only　through　Himself　could　men　receive　a　knowledge　of　God。　He　had　spoken　of　His　disciples　as　the　ones　to　whom　a　knowledge　of　heavenly　things　had　been　given。　But　He　left　none　to　feel　thems