the desire of ages-第73节

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those　who　would　welcome　them　heartily　as　if　entertaining　Christ　Himself。　They　were　to　enter　the　dwelling　with　the　beautiful　salutation；　〃Peace　be　to　this　house。〃　Luke　10：5。　That　home　would　be　blessed　by　their　prayers；　their

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songs　of　praise；　and　the　opening　of　the　Scriptures　in　the　family　circle。

These　disciples　were　to　be　heralds　of　the　truth；　to　prepare　the　way　for　the　coming　of　their　Master。　The　message　they　had　to　bear　was　the　word　of　eternal　life；　and　the　destiny　of　men　depended　upon　their　reception　or　rejection　of　it。　To　impress　the　people　with　its　solemnity；　Jesus　bade　His　disciples；　〃Whosoever　shall　not　receive　you；　nor　hear　your　words；　when　ye　depart　out　of　that　house　or　city；　shake　off　the　dust　of　your　feet。　Verily　I　say　unto　you；　It　shall　be　more　tolerable　for　the　land　of　Sodom　and　Gomorrah　in　the　day　of　judgment；　than　for　that　city。〃

Now　the　Saviour's　eye　penetrates　the　future；　He　beholds　the　broader　fields　in　which；　after　His　death；　the　disciples　are　to　be　witnesses　for　Him。　His　prophetic　glance　takes　in　the　experience　of　His　servants　through　all　the　ages　till　He　shall　come　the　second　time。　He　shows　His　followers　the　conflicts　they　must　meet；　He　reveals　the　character　and　plan　of　the　battle。　He　lays　open　before　them　the　perils　they　must　encounter；　the　self…denial　that　will　be　required。　He　desires　them　to　count　the　cost；　that　they　may　not　be　taken　unawares　by　the　enemy。　Their　warfare　is　not　to　be　waged　against　flesh　and　blood；　but　〃against　the　principalities；　against　the　powers；　against　the　world　rulers　of　this　darkness；　against　the　spiritual　hosts　of　wickedness　in　the　heavenly　places。〃　Eph。　6：12；　R。　V。　They　are　to　contend　with　supernatural　forces；　but　they　are　assured　of　supernatural　help。　All　the　intelligences　of　heaven　are　in　this　army。　And　more　than　angels　are　in　the　ranks。　The　Holy　Spirit；　the　representative　of　the　Captain　of　the　Lord's　host；　comes　down　to　direct　the　battle。　Our　infirmities　may　be　many；　our　sins　and　mistakes　grievous；　but　the　grace　of　God　is　for　all　who　seek　it　with　contrition。　The　power　of　Omnipotence　is　enlisted　in　behalf　of　those　who　trust　in　God。　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　353


〃Behold；〃　said　Jesus；　〃I　send　you　forth　as　sheep　in　the　midst　of　wolves：　be　ye　therefore　wise　as　serpents；　and　harmless　as　doves。〃　Christ　Himself　did　not　suppress　one　word　of　truth；　but　He　spoke　it　always　in　love。　He　exercised　the　greatest　tact；　and　thoughtful；　kind　attention　in　His　intercourse　with　the　people。　He　was　never　rude；　never　needlessly　spoke　a　severe　word；　never　gave　needless　pain　to　a　sensitive　soul。　He　did　not　censure　human　weakness。　He　fearlessly　denounced　hypocrisy；　unbelief；　and　iniquity；　but　tears　were　in　His　voice　as　He　uttered　His　scathing　rebukes。　He　wept　over　Jerusalem；　the　city　He　loved；　that　refused　to　receive　Him；　the　Way；　the　Truth；　and　the　Life。　They　rejected　Him；　the　Saviour；　but　He　regarded　them　with　pitying　tenderness；　and　sorrow　so　deep　that　it　broke　His　heart。　Every　soul　was　precious　in　His　eyes。　While　He　always　bore　Himself　with　divine　dignity；　He　bowed　with　tenderest　regard　to　every　member　of　the　family　of　God。　In　all　men　He　saw　fallen　souls　whom　it　was　His　mission　to　save。

The　servants　of　Christ　are　not　to　act　out　the　dictates　of　the　natural　heart。　They　need　to　have　close　communion　with　God；　lest；　under　provocation；　self　rise　up；　and　they　pour　forth　a　torrent　of　words　that　are　unbefitting；　that　are　not　as　dew　or　the　still　showers　that　refresh　the　withering　plants。　This　is　what　Satan　wants　them　to　do；　for　these　are　his　methods。　It　is　the　dragon　that　is　wroth；　it　is　the　spirit　of　Satan　that　is　revealed　in　anger　and　accusing。　But　God's　servants　are　to　be　representatives　of　Him。　He　desires　them　to　deal　only　in　the　currency　of　heaven；　the　truth　that　bears　His　own　image　and　superscription。　The　power　by　which　they　are　to　overcome　evil　is　the　power　of　Christ。　The　glory　of　Christ　is　their　strength。　They　are　to　fix　their　eyes　upon　His　loveliness。　Then　they　can　present　the　gospel　with　divine　tact　and　gentleness。　And　the　spirit　that　is　kept　gentle　under　provocation　will　speak　more　effectively　in　favor　of　the　truth　than　will　any　argument；　however　forcible。

Those　who　are　brought　in　controversy　with　the　enemies　of　truth　have　to　meet；　not　only　men；　but　Satan　and　his　agents。　Let　them　remember　the　Saviour's　words；　〃Behold；　I　send　you　forth　as　lambs　among　wolves。〃　Luke　10：3。　Let　them　rest　in　the　love　of　God；　and　the　spirit　will　be　kept　calm；　even　under　personal　abuse。　The　Lord　will　clothe　them　with　a　divine　panoply。　His　Holy　Spirit　will　influence　the　mind　and　heart；　so　that　their　voices　shall　not　catch　the　notes　of　the　baying　of　the　wolves。

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Continuing　His　instruction　to　His　disciples；　Jesus　said；　〃Beware　of　men。〃　They　were　not　to　put　implicit　confidence　in　those　who　knew　not　God；　and　open　to　them　their　counsels；　for　this　would　give　Satan's　agents　an　advantage。　Man's　inventions　often　counterwork　God's　plans。　Those　who　build　the　temple　of　the　Lord　are　to　build　according　to　the　pattern　shown　in　the　mount；the　divine　similitude。　God　is　dishonored　and　the　gospel　is　betrayed　when　His　servants　depend　on　the　counsel　of　men　who　are　not　under　the　guidance　of　the　Holy　Spirit。　Worldly　wisdom　is　foolishness　with　God。　Those　who　rely　upon　it　will　surely　err。

〃They　will　deliver　you　up　to　councils；　。　。　。　yea　and　before　governors　and　kings　shall　ye　be　brought　for　My　sake；　for　a　testimony　to　them　and　to　the　Gentiles。〃　Matt。　10：17；　18；　R。　V。　Persecution　will　spread　the　light。　The　servants　of　Christ　will　be　brought　before　the　great　men　of　the　world；　who；　but　for　this；　might　never　hear　the　gospel。　The　truth　has　been　misrepresented　to　these　men。　They　have　listened　to　false　charges　concerning　the　faith　of　Christ's　disciples。　Often　their　only　means　of　learning　its　real　character　is　the　testimony　of　those　who　are　brought　to　trial　for　their　faith。　Under　examination　these　are　required　to　answer；　and　their　judges　to　listen　to　the　testimony　borne。　God's　grace　will　be　dispensed　to　His　servants　to　meet　the　emergency。　〃It　shall　be　given　you；〃　says　Jesus；　〃in　that　same　hour　what　ye　shall　speak。　For　it　is　not　ye　that　speak；　but　the　Spirit　of　your　Father　which　speaketh　in　you。〃　As　the　Spirit　of　God　illuminates　the　minds　of　His　servants；　the　truth　will　be　presented　in　its　divine　power　and　preciousness。　Those　who　reject　the　truth　will　stand　to　accuse　and　oppress　the　disciples。　But　under　loss　and　suffering；　even　unto　death；　the　Lord's　children　are　to　reveal　the　meekness　of　their　divine　Example。　Thus　will　be　seen　the　contrast　between　Satan's　agents　and　the　representatives　of　Christ。　The　Saviour　will　be　lifted　up　before　the　rulers　and　the　people。

The　disciples　were　not　endowed　with　the　courage　and　fortitude　of　the　martyrs　until　such　grace　was　needed。　Then　the　Saviour's　promise　was　fulfilled。　When　Peter　and　John　testified　before　the　Sanhedrin　council；　men　〃marveled；　and　they　took　knowledge　of　them；　that　they　had　been　with　Jesus。〃　Acts　4：13。　Of　Stephen　it　is　written　that　〃all　that　sat　in　the　council；　looking　steadfastly　on　him；　saw　his　face　as　it　had　been　the　face　of　an　angel。〃　Men　〃were　not　able　to　resist　the　wisdom　and　the　spirit　by　which　he　spake。〃　Acts　6：15；　10。　And　Paul；　writing　of　his　own　trial　at　the　court　of　the　Caesars；　says；　〃At　my　first　defense　no　one　took　my

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part；　but　all　forsook　me。　。　。　。　But　the　Lord　stood　by　me；　and　strengthened　me；　that　through　me　the　message　might　be　fully　proclaimed；　and　that　all　the　Gentiles　might　hear：　and　I　was　delivered　out　of　the　mouth　of　the　lion。〃　2　Tim。　4：16；　17；　R。　V。

The　servants　of　Christ　were　to　prepare　no　set　speech　to　present　when　brought　to　trial。　Their　preparation　was　to　be　made　day　by　day　in　treasuring　up　the　precious　truths　of　God's　word；　and　through　prayer　strengthening　their　faith。　When　they　were　brought　into　trial；　the　Holy　Spirit　would　bring　to　their　remembrance　the　very　truths　that　would　be　needed。

A　daily；　earnest　striving　to　know　God；　and　Jesus　Christ　whom　He　has　sent；　would　bring　power　and　efficiency　to　the　soul。　The　knowledge　obtained　by　diligent　searching　of　the　Scriptures　would　be　flashed　into　the　memory　at　the　right　time。　But　if　any　had　neglected　to　acquaint　themselves　with　the　words　of　Christ；　if　they　had　never　tested　the　power　of　His　grace　in　trial；　they　could　not　expect　that　the　Holy　Spirit　would　bring　His　words　to　their　remembrance。　They　were　to　serve　God　daily　with　undivided　affection；　and　then　trust　Him。

So　bitter　would　be　the　enmity　to　the　gospel　that　even　the　tenderest　earthly　ties　would　be　disregarded。　The　disciples　of　Christ　would　be　betrayed　to　death　by　the　members　of　their　own　households。　〃Ye　shall　be　hated　of　all　men　for　My　name's　sake；〃　He　added；　〃but　he　that　shall　endure　unto　the　end；　the　same　shall　be　saved。〃　Mark　13：13。　But　He　bade　them　not　to　expose　themselves　unnecessarily　to　persecution。　He　Himself　often　left　one　field　of　labor　for　another；　in　order　to　escape　from　those　who　were　seeking　His　life。　When　He　was　rejected　at　Nazareth；　and　His　own　townsmen　tried　to　kill　Him；　He　went　down　to　Capernaum；　and　there　the　people　were　astonished　at　His　teaching；　〃for　His　word　was　with　power。〃　Luke　4：32。　So　His　serva