the desire of ages-第115章

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ward；　when　His　meaning　was　made　plain；　they　had　something　to　consider　as　to　the　patience　and　mercy　of　God　toward　the　most　grievously　erring。

Though　Jesus　knew　Judas　from　the　beginning；　He　washed　his　feet。　And　the　betrayer　was　privileged　to　unite　with　Christ　in　partaking　of　the　sacrament。　A　long…suffering　Saviour　held　out　every　inducement　for　the　sinner　to　receive　Him；　to　repent；　and　to　be　cleansed　from　the　defilement　of　sin。　This　example　is　for　us。　When　we　suppose　one　to　be　in　error　and　sin；　we　are　not　to　divorce　ourselves　from　him。　By　no　careless

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separation　are　we　to　leave　him　a　prey　to　temptation；　or　drive　him　upon　Satan's　battleground。　This　is　not　Christ's　method。　It　was　because　the　disciples　were　erring　and　faulty　that　He　washed　their　feet；　and　all　but　one　of　the　twelve　were　thus　brought　to　repentance。

Christ's　example　forbids　exclusiveness　at　the　Lord's　Supper。　It　is　true　that　open　sin　excludes　the　guilty。　This　the　Holy　Spirit　plainly　teaches。　1　Cor。　5：11。　But　beyond　this　none　are　to　pass　judgment。　God　has　not　left　it　with　men　to　say　who　shall　present　themselves　on　these　occasions。　For　who　can　read　the　heart？　Who　can　distinguish　the　tares　from　the　wheat？　〃Let　a　man　examine　himself；　and　so　let　him　eat　of　that　bread；　and　drink　of　that　cup。〃　For　〃whosoever　shall　eat　this　bread；　and　drink　this　cup　of　the　Lord；　unworthily；　shall　be　guilty　of　the　body　and　blood　of　the　Lord。〃　〃He　that　eateth　and　drinketh　unworthily；　eateth　and　drinketh　damnation　to　himself；　not　discerning　the　Lord's　body。〃　1　Cor。　11：28；　27；　29。

When　believers　assemble　to　celebrate　the　ordinances；　there　are　present　messengers　unseen　by　human　eyes。　There　may　be　a　Judas　in　the　company；　and　if　so；　messengers　from　the　prince　of　darkness　are　there；　for　they　attend　all　who　refuse　to　be　controlled　by　the　Holy　Spirit。　Heavenly　angels　also　are　present。　These　unseen　visitants　are　present　on　every　such　occasion。　There　may　come　into　the　company　persons　who　are　not　in　heart　servants　of　truth　and　holiness；　but　who　may　wish　to　take　part　in　the　service。　They　should　not　be　forbidden。　There　are　witnesses　present　who　were　present　when　Jesus　washed　the　feet　of　the　disciples　and　of　Judas。　More　than　human　eyes　beheld　the　scene。

Christ　by　the　Holy　Spirit　is　there　to　set　the　seal　to　His　own　ordinance。　He　is　there　to　convict　and　soften　the　heart。　Not　a　look；　not　a　thought　of　contrition；　escapes　His　notice。　For　the　repentant；　brokenhearted　one　He　is　waiting。　All　things　are　ready　for　that　soul's　reception。　He　who　washed　the　feet　of　Judas　longs　to　wash　every　heart　from　the　stain　of　sin。

None　should　exclude　themselves　from　the　Communion　because　some　who　are　unworthy　may　be　present。　Every　disciple　is　called　upon　to　participate　publicly；　and　thus　bear　witness　that　he　accepts　Christ　as　a　personal　Saviour。　It　is　at　these；　His　own　appointments；　that　Christ　meets　His　people；　and　energizes　them　by　His　presence。　Hearts　and　hands　that　are　unworthy　may　even　administer　the　ordinance；　yet　Christ　is　there　to　minister　to　His　children。　All　who　come　with　their　faith　fixed　upon　Him　will　be　greatly　blessed。　All　who　neglect　these　seasons　of　divine　privilege　will　suffer　loss。　Of　them　it　may　appropriately　be　said；　〃Ye　are　not　all　clean。〃

In　partaking　with　His　disciples　of　the　bread　and　wine；　Christ　pledged

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Himself　to　them　as　their　Redeemer。　He　committed　to　them　the　new　covenant；　by　which　all　who　receive　Him　become　children　of　God；　and　joint　heirs　with　Christ。　By　this　covenant　every　blessing　that　heaven　could　bestow　for　this　life　and　the　life　to　come　was　theirs。　This　covenant　deed　was　to　be　ratified　with　the　blood　of　Christ。　And　the　administration　of　the　Sacrament　was　to　keep　before　the　disciples　the　infinite　sacrifice　made　for　each　of　them　individually　as　a　part　of　the　great　whole　of　fallen　humanity。

But　the　Communion　service　was　not　to　be　a　season　of　sorrowing。　This　was　not　its　purpose。　As　the　Lord's　disciples　gather　about　His　table；　they　are　not　to　remember　and　lament　their　shortcomings。　They　are　not　to　dwell　upon　their　past　religious　experience；　whether　that　experience　has　been　elevating　or　depressing。　They　are　not　to　recall　the　differences　between　them　and　their　brethren。　The　preparatory　service　has　embraced　all　this。　The　self…examination；　the　confession　of　sin；　the　reconciling　of　differences；　has　all　been　done。　Now　they　come　to　meet　with　Christ。　They　are　not　to　stand　in　the　shadow　of　the　cross；　but　in　its　saving　light。　They　are　to　open　the　soul　to　the　bright　beams　of　the　Sun　of　Righteousness。　With　hearts　cleansed　by　Christ's　most　precious　blood；　in　full　consciousness　of　His　presence；　although　unseen；　they　are　to　hear　His　words；　〃Peace　I　leave　with　you；　My　peace　I　give　unto　you：　not　as　the　world　giveth；　give　I　unto　you。〃　John　14：27。

Our　Lord　says；　Under　conviction　of　sin；　remember　that　I　died　for　you。　When　oppressed　and　persecuted　and　afflicted　for　My　sake　and　the　gospel's；　remember　My　love；　so　great　that　for　you　I　gave　My　life。　When　your　duties　appear　stern　and　severe；　and　your　burdens　too　heavy　to　bear；　remember　that　for　your　sake　I　endured　the　cross；　despising　the　shame。　When　your　heart　shrinks　from　the　trying　ordeal；　remember　that　your　Redeemer　liveth　to　make　intercession　for　you。

The　Communion　service　points　to　Christ's　second　coming。　It　was　designed　to　keep　this　hope　vivid　in　the　minds　of　the　disciples。　Whenever　they　met　together　to　commemorate　His　death；　they　recounted　how　〃He　took　the　cup；　and　gave　thanks；　and　gave　it　to　them；　saying；　Drink　ye　all　of　it；　for　this　is　My　blood　of　the　new　testament；　which　is　shed　for　many　for　the　remission　of　sins。　But　I　say　unto　you；　I　will　not　drink　henceforth　of　this　fruit　of　the　vine；　until　that　day　when　I　drink　it　new　with　you　in　My　Father's　kingdom。〃　In　their　tribulation　they　found　comfort　in　the　hope　of　their　Lord's　return。　Unspeakably　precious　to　them　was　the　thought；　〃As　often　as　ye　eat　this　bread；　and　drink　this　cup；　ye　do　show　the　Lord's　death　till　He　come。〃　1　Cor。　11：26。

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These　are　the　things　we　are　never　to　forget。　The　love　of　Jesus；　with　its　constraining　power；　is　to　be　kept　fresh　in　our　memory。　Christ　has　instituted　this　service　that　it　may　speak　to　our　senses　of　the　love　of　God　that　has　been　expressed　in　our　behalf。　There　can　be　no　union　between　our　souls　and　God　except　through　Christ。　The　union　and　love　between　brother　and　brother　must　be　cemented　and　rendered　eternal　by　the　love　of　Jesus。　And　nothing　less　than　the　death　of　Christ　could　make　His　love　efficacious　for　us。　It　is　only　because　of　His　death　that　we　can　look　with　joy　to　His　second　coming。　His　sacrifice　is　the　center　of　our　hope。　Upon　this　we　must　fix　our　faith。

The　ordinances　that　point　to　our　Lord's　humiliation　and　suffering　are　regarded　too　much　as　a　form。　They　were　instituted　for　a　purpose。　Our　senses　need　to　be　quickened　to　lay　hold　of　the　mystery　of　godliness。　It　is　the　privilege　of　all　to　comprehend；　far　more　than　we　do；　the　expiatory　sufferings　of　Christ。　〃As　Moses　lifted　up　the　serpent　in　the　wilderness；〃　even　so　has　the　Son　of　man　been　lifted　up；　〃that　whosoever　believeth　in　Him　should　not　perish；　but　have　eternal　life。〃　John　3：14；　15。　To　the　cross　of　Calvary；　bearing　a　dying　Saviour；　we　must　look。　Our　eternal　interests　demand　that　we　show　faith　in　Christ。

Our　Lord　has　said；　〃Except　ye　eat　the　flesh　of　the　Son　of　man；　and　drink　His　blood；　ye　have　no　life　in　you。　。　。　。　For　My　flesh　is　meat　indeed；　and　My　blood　is　drink　indeed。〃　John　6：53…55。　This　is　true　of　our　physical　nature。　To　the　death　of　Christ　we　owe　even　this　earthly　life。　The　bread　we　eat　is　the　purchase　of　His　broken　body。　The　water　we　drink　is　bought　by　His　spilled　blood。　Never　one；　saint　or　sinner；　eats　his　daily　food；　but　he　is　nourished　by　the　body　and　the　blood　of　Christ。　The　cross　of　Calvary　is　stamped　on　every　loaf。　It　is　reflected　in　every　water　spring。　All　this　Christ　has　taught　in　appointing　the　emblems　of　His　great　sacrifice。　The　light　shining　from　that　Communion　service　in　the　upper　chamber　makes　sacred　the　provisions　for　our　daily　life。　The　family　board　becomes　as　the　table　of　the　Lord；　and　every　meal　a　sacrament。

And　how　much　more　are　Christ's　words　true　of　our　spiritual　nature。　He　declares；　〃Whoso　eateth　My　flesh；　and　drinketh　My　blood；　hath　eternal　life。〃　It　is　by　receiving　the　life　for　us　poured　out　on　Calvary's　cross；　that　we　can　live　the　life　of　holiness。　And　this　life　we　receive　by　receiving　His　word；　by　doing　those　things　which　He　has　commanded。　Thus　we　become　one　with　Him。　〃He　that　eateth　My　flesh；〃　He　says；　〃and　drinketh　My　blood；　dwelleth　in　Me；　and　I　in　him。　As　the　living

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Father　hath　sent　Me；　and　I　live　by　the　Father：　so　he　that　eateth　Me；　even　he　shall　live　by　Me。〃　John　6：54；　56；　57。　To　the　holy　Communion　this　scripture　in　a　special　sense　applies。　As　faith　contemplates　our　Lord's　great　sacrifice；　the　soul　assimilates　the　spiritual　life　of　Christ。　That　soul　will　receive　spiritual　strength　from　every　Communion。　The　service　forms　a　living　connection　by　which　the　believer　is　bound　up　with　Christ；　and　thus　bound　up　with　the　Father。　In　a　special　sense　it　forms　a　connection　between　dependent　human　beings　and　God。

As　we　receive　the　bread　and　wine　symbolizing　Christ's　broken　body　and　spilled　blood；　we　in　imagination　join　in　the　scene　of　Communion　in　the　upper　chamber。　We　seem　to　be　passing　through　the　garden　consecrated　by　the　agony　of　Him　who　bore　the　sins　of　the　world。　We　witness　the　struggle　by　which　our　reconciliation　with　God　was　obtained。　Christ　is　set　forth　crucified　among　us。

Looking　upon　the　crucified　Redeemer；　we　more　fully　comprehend　the　magnitude　and　meaning　of　the　sacrifice　made　by　the　Majesty　of　heaven。　The　plan　of　salvation　is　glorified　before　us；　and　the　thought　of　Calvary　awakens　living　and　sacred　emotions　in　our　hearts。　Praise　to　God　and　the　Lamb　will　be　in　our　hearts　and　on　our　lips；　for　pride　and　self…worship　cannot　flourish　in　the　soul　that　keeps　fresh　in　memory　the　scenes　of　Calvary。

He　who　beholds　the　Saviour's　matchless　love　will　be　elevated　in　thought；　purified　in　heart；　transformed　in　character。　He　will　go　forth　to　be　a　light　to　the　world；　to　reflect　in　some　degree　this　mysterious　love。　The　more　we　contemplate　the　cross　of　Christ；　the　more　fully　shall　we　adopt　the　language　of　the　apostle　when　he　said；　〃God　forbid　that　I　should　glory；　save　in　the　cross　of　our　Lord　Jesus　Christ；　by　whom　the　world　is　crucified　unto　me；　and　I　unto　the　world。〃　Gal。　6：14。




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　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Chapter　73

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　〃Let　Not　Your　Heart　Be　Troubled〃


Looking　upon　His　disciples　with　divine　love　and　with　the　tenderest　sympathy；　Christ　said；　〃Now　is　the　Son　of　man　glorified；　and　God　is　glorified　in　Him。〃　Judas　had　left　the　upper　chamber；　and　Christ　was　alone　with　the　eleven。　He　was　about　to　speak　of　His　approaching　separation　from　them；　but　before　doing　this　He　pointed　to　the　great　object　of　His　mission。　It　was　this　that　He　kept　ever　before　Him。　It　was　His　joy　that　all　His　humiliation　and　suffering　would　glorify　the　Father's　name。　To　this　He　first　directs　the　thoughts　of　His　disciples。

Then　addressing　them　by　the　endearing　term；　〃Little　children；〃　He　said