the desire of ages-第74节
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e the people were astonished at His teaching； 〃for His word was with power。〃 Luke 4：32。 So His servants were not to be discouraged by persecution； but to seek a place where they could still labor for the salvation of souls。
The servant is not above his master。 The Prince of heaven was called Beelzebub； and His disciples will be misrepresented in like manner。 But whatever the danger； Christ's followers must avow their principles。 They should scorn concealment。 They cannot remain uncommitted until assured of safety in confessing the truth。 They are set as watchmen； to warn men of their peril。 The truth received from Christ must be imparted to all； freely and openly。 Jesus said； 〃What I tell you in darkness； that speak ye in light： and what ye hear in the ear； that preach ye upon the housetops。〃
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Jesus Himself never purchased peace by compromise。 His heart overflowed with love for the whole human race； but He was never indulgent to their sins。 He was too much their friend to remain silent while they were pursuing a course that would ruin their souls；the souls He had purchased with His own blood。 He labored that man should be true to himself； true to his higher and eternal interest。 The servants of Christ are called to the same work； and they should beware lest； in seeking to prevent discord； they surrender the truth。 They are to 〃follow after the things which make for peace〃 （Rom。 14：19）； but real peace can never be secured by compromising principle。 And no man can be true to principle without exciting opposition。 A Christianity that is spiritual will be opposed by the children of disobedience。 But Jesus bade His disciples； 〃Fear not them which kill the body； but are not able to kill the soul。〃 Those who are true to God need not fear the power of men nor the enmity of Satan。 In Christ their eternal life is secure。 Their only fear should be lest they surrender the truth； and thus betray the trust with which God has honored them。
It is Satan's work to fill men's hearts with doubt。 He leads them to look upon God as a stern judge。 He tempts them to sin； and then to regard themselves as too vile to approach their heavenly Father or to excite His pity。 The Lord understands all this。 Jesus assures His disciples of God's sympathy for them in their needs and weaknesses。 Not a sigh is breathed； not a pain felt； not a grief pierces the soul； but the throb vibrates to the Father's heart。
The Bible shows us God in His high and holy place； not in a state of inactivity； not in silence and solitude； but surrounded by ten thousand times ten thousand and thousands of thousands of holy intelligences； all waiting to do His will。 Through channels which we cannot discern He is in active communication with every part of His dominion。 But it is in this speck of a world； in the souls that He gave His only…begotten Son to save； that His interest and the interest of all heaven is centered。 God is bending from His throne to hear the cry of the oppressed。 To every sincere prayer He answers； 〃Here am I。〃 He uplifts the distressed and downtrodden。 In all our afflictions He is afflicted。 In every temptation and every trial the angel of His presence is near to deliver。
Not even a sparrow falls to the ground without the Father's notice。 Satan's hatred against God leads him to hate every object of the Saviour's care。 He seeks to mar the handiwork of God； and he delights in destroying
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even the dumb creatures。 It is only through God's protecting care that the birds are preserved to gladden us with their songs of joy。 But He does not forget even the sparrows。 〃Fear ye not therefore； ye are of more value than many sparrows。〃
Jesus continues： As you confess Me before men； so I will confess you before God and the holy angels。 You are to be My witnesses upon earth； channels through which My grace can flow for the healing of the world。 So I will be your representative in heaven。 The Father beholds not your faulty character； but He sees you as clothed in My perfection。 I am the medium through which Heaven's blessings shall come to you。 And everyone who confesses Me by sharing My sacrifice for the lost shall be confessed as a sharer in the glory and joy of the redeemed。
He who would confess Christ must have Christ abiding in him。 He cannot communicate that which he has not received。 The disciples might speak fluently on doctrines； they might repeat the words of Christ Himself； but unless they possessed Christlike meekness and love； they were not confessing Him。 A spirit contrary to the spirit of Christ would deny Him； whatever the profession。 Men may deny Christ by evilspeaking； by foolish talking； by words that are untruthful or unkind。 They may deny Him by shunning life's burdens； by the pursuit of sinful pleasure。 They may deny Him by conforming to the world； by uncourteous behavior； by the love of their own opinions； by justifying self； by cherishing doubt； borrowing trouble； and dwelling in darkness。 In all these ways they declare that Christ is not in them。 And 〃whosoever shall deny Me before men；〃 He says； 〃him will I also deny before My Father which is in heaven。〃
The Saviour bade His disciples not to hope that the world's enmity to the gospel would be overcome； and that after a time its opposition would cease。 He said； 〃I came not to send peace； but a sword。〃 This creating of strife is not the effect of the gospel； but the result of opposition to it。 Of all persecution the hardest to bear is variance in the home； the estrangement of dearest earthly friends。 But Jesus declares； 〃He that loveth father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me： and he that loveth son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me。 And he that taketh not his cross； and followeth after Me； is not worthy of Me。〃
The mission of Christ's servants is a high honor； and a sacred trust。 〃He that receiveth you；〃 He says； 〃receiveth Me； and he that receiveth
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Me receiveth Him that sent Me。〃 No act of kindness shown to them in His name will fail to be recognized and rewarded。 And in the same tender recognition He includes the feeblest and lowliest of the family of God： 〃Whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones〃those who are as children in their faith and their knowledge of Christ〃a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple； verily I say unto you； he shall in nowise lose his reward。〃
Thus the Saviour ended His instruction。 In the name of Christ the chosen twelve went out； as He had gone； 〃to preach the gospel to the poor； 。 。 。 to heal the brokenhearted； to preach deliverance to the captives； and recovering of sight to the blind； to set at liberty them that are bruised； to preach the acceptable year of the Lord。〃 Luke 4：18； 19。
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Chapter 38
Come Rest Awhile
On returning from their missionary tour； 〃the apostles gathered themselves together unto Jesus； and told Him all things； both what they had done； and what they had taught。 And He said unto them； Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place； and rest awhile： for there were many coming and going； and they had no leisure so much as to eat。〃
The disciples came to Jesus and told Him all things。 Their intimate relationship with Him encouraged them to lay before Him their favorable and unfavorable experiences； their joy at seeing results from their labors； and their sorrow at their failures； their faults； and their weaknesses。 They had committed errors in their first work as evangelists； and as they frankly told Christ of their experiences； He saw that they needed much instruction。 He saw； too； that they had become weary in their labors； and that they needed to rest。
But where they then were they could not obtain the needed privacy； 〃for there were many coming and going； and they had no leisure so much as to eat。〃 The people were thronging after Christ； anxious to be healed； and eager to listen to His words。 Many felt drawn to Him； for He seemed to them to be the fountain of all blessings。 Many of those who then thronged about Christ to receive the precious boon of health accepted Him as their Saviour。 Many others； afraid then to confess Him； because of the Pharisees； were converted at the descent
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of the Holy Spirit； and； before the angry priests and rulers； acknowledged Him as the Son of God。
But now Christ longed for retirement； that He might be with His disciples； for He had much to say to them。 In their work they had passed through the test of conflict； and had encountered opposition in various forms。 Hitherto they had consulted Christ in everything； but for some time they had been alone； and at times they had been much troubled to know what to do。 They had found much encouragement in their work； for Christ did not send them away without His Spirit； and by faith in Him they worked many miracles； but they needed now to feed on the Bread of Life。 They needed to go to a place of retirement； where they could hold communion with Jesus and receive instruction for future work。
〃And He said unto them； Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place
