the desire of ages-第42章

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So　it　will　be　in　the　great　final　conflict　of　the　controversy　between　righteousness　and　sin。　While　new　life　and　light　and　power　are　descending　from　on　high　upon　the　disciples　of　Christ；　a　new　life　is　springing　up　from　beneath；　and　energizing　the　agencies　of　Satan。　Intensity　is　taking　possession　of　every　earthly　element。　With　a　subtlety　gained　through　centuries　of　conflict；　the　prince　of　evil　works　under　a　disguise。　He　appears　clothed　as　an　angel　of　light；　and　multitudes　are　〃giving　heed　to　seducing　spirits；　and　doctrines　of　devils。〃　1　Tim。　4：1。

In　the　days　of　Christ　the　leaders　and　teachers　of　Israel　were　powerless　to　resist　the　work　of　Satan。　They　were　neglecting　the　only　means　by　which　they　could　have　withstood　evil　spirits。　It　was　by　the　word　of　God　that　Christ　overcame　the　wicked　one。　The　leaders　of　Israel　professed　to　be　the　expositors　of　God's　word；　but　they　had　studied　it　only　to　sustain　their　traditions；　and　enforce　their　man…made　observances。　By　their　interpretation　they　made　it　express　sentiments　that　God　had　never　given。　Their　mystical　construction　made　indistinct　that　which　He　had　made　plain。　They　disputed　over　insignificant　technicalities；　and　practically　denied　the　most　essential　truths。　Thus　infidelity　was　sown　broadcast。　God's　word　was　robbed　of　its　power；　and　evil　spirits　worked　their　will。

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History　is　repeating。　With　the　open　Bible　before　them；　and　professing　to　reverence　its　teachings；　many　of　the　religious　leaders　of　our　time　are　destroying　faith　in　it　as　the　word　of　God。　They　busy　themselves　with　dissecting　the　word；　and　set　their　own　opinions　above　its　plainest　statements。　In　their　hands　God's　word　loses　its　regenerating　power。　This　is　why　infidelity　runs　riot；　and　iniquity　is　rife。

When　Satan　has　undermined　faith　in　the　Bible；　he　directs　men　to　other　sources　for　light　and　power。　Thus　he　insinuates　himself。　Those　who　turn　from　the　plain　teaching　of　Scripture　and　the　convicting　power　of　God's　Holy　Spirit　are　inviting　the　control　of　demons。　Criticism　and　speculation　concerning　the　Scriptures　have　opened　the　way　for　spiritism　and　theosophythose　modernized　forms　of　ancient　heathenismto　gain　a　foothold　even　in　the　professed　churches　of　our　Lord　Jesus　Christ。

Side　by　side　with　the　preaching　of　the　gospel；　agencies　are　at　work　which　are　but　the　medium　of　lying　spirits。　Many　a　man　tampers　with　these　merely　from　curiosity；　but　seeing　evidence　of　the　working　of　a　more　than　human　power；　he　is　lured　on　and　on；　until　he　is　controlled　by　a　will　stronger　than　his　own。　He　cannot　escape　from　its　mysterious　power。

The　defenses　of　the　soul　are　broken　down。　He　has　no　barrier　against　sin。　When　once　the　restraints　of　God's　word　and　His　Spirit　are　rejected；　no　man　knows　to　what　depths　of　degradation　he　may　sink。　Secret　sin　or　master　passion　may　hold　him　a　captive　as　helpless　as　was　the　demoniac　of　Capernaum。　Yet　his　condition　is　not　hopeless。

The　means　by　which　we　can　overcome　the　wicked　one　is　that　by　which　Christ　overcame；the　power　of　the　word。　God　does　not　control　our　minds　without　our　consent；　but　if　we　desire　to　know　and　to　do　His　will；　His　promises　are　ours：　〃Ye　shall　know　the　truth；　and　the　truth　shall　make　you　free。〃　〃If　any　man　willeth　to　do　His　will；　he　shall　know　of　the　teaching。〃　John　8：32；　7：17；　R。　V。　Through　faith　in　these　promises；　every　man　may　be　delivered　from　the　snares　of　error　and　the　control　of　sin。

Every　man　is　free　to　choose　what　power　he　will　have　to　rule　over　him。　None　have　fallen　so　low；　none　are　so　vile；　but　that　they　can　find　deliverance　in　Christ。　The　demoniac；　in　place　of　prayer；　could　utter　only　the　words　of　Satan；　yet　the　heart's　unspoken　appeal　was　heard。　No　cry　from　a　soul　in　need；　though　it　fail　of　utterance　in　words；　will　be　unheeded。　Those　who　will　consent　to　enter　into　covenant　relation　with　the　God　of　heaven　are　not　left　to　the　power　of　Satan　or　to　the　infirmity　of　their　own

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nature。　They　are　invited　by　the　Saviour；　〃Let　him　take　hold　of　My　strength；　that　he　may　make　peace　with　Me；　and　he　shall　make　peace　with　Me。〃　Isa。　27：5。　The　spirits　of　darkness　will　battle　for　the　soul　once　under　their　dominion；　but　angels　of　God　will　contend　for　that　soul　with　prevailing　power。　The　Lord　says；　〃Shall　the　prey　be　taken　from　the　mighty；　or　the　lawful　captive　delivered？　。　。　。　Thus　saith　the　Lord；　Even　the　captives　of　the　mighty　shall　be　taken　away；　and　the　prey　of　the　terrible　shall　be　delivered：　for　I　will　contend　with　him　that　contendeth　with　thee；　and　I　will　save　thy　children。〃　Isa。　49：24；　25。

While　the　congregation　in　the　synagogue　were　still　spellbound　with　awe；　Jesus　withdrew　to　the　home　of　Peter　for　a　little　rest。　But　here　also　a　shadow　had　fallen。　The　mother　of　Peter's　wife　lay　sick；　stricken　with　a　〃great　fever。〃　Jesus　rebuked　the　disease；　and　the　sufferer　arose；　and　ministered　to　the　wants　of　the　Master　and　His　disciples。

Tidings　of　the　work　of　Christ　spread　rapidly　throughout　Capernaum。　For　fear　of　the　rabbis；　the　people　dared　not　come　for　healing　upon　the　Sabbath；　but　no　sooner　had　the　sun　disappeared　below　the　horizon　than　there　was　a　great　commotion。　From　the　homes；　the　shops；　the　market　places；　the　inhabitants　of　the　city　pressed　toward　the　humble　dwelling　that　sheltered　Jesus。　The　sick　were　brought　upon　couches；　they　came　leaning　upon　staffs；　or；　supported　by　friends；　they　tottered　feebly　into　the　Saviour's　presence。

Hour　after　hour　they　came　and　went；　for　none　could　know　whether　tomorrow　would　find　the　Healer　still　among　them。　Never　before　had　Capernaum　witnessed　a　day　like　this。　The　air　was　filled　with　the　voice　of　triumph　and　shouts　of　deliverance。　The　Saviour　was　joyful　in　the　joy　He　had　awakened。　As　He　witnessed　the　sufferings　of　those　who　had　come　to　Him；　His　heart　was　stirred　with　sympathy；　and　He　rejoiced　in　His　power　to　restore　them　to　health　and　happiness。

Not　until　the　last　sufferer　had　been　relieved　did　Jesus　cease　His　work。　It　was　far　into　the　night　when　the　multitude　departed；　and　silence　settled　down　upon　the　home　of　Simon。　The　long；　exciting　day　was　past；　and　Jesus　sought　rest。　But　while　the　city　was　still　wrapped　in　slumber；　the　Saviour；　〃rising　up　a　great　while　before　day；　。　。　。　went　out；　and　departed　into　a　solitary　place；　and　there　prayed。〃

Thus　were　spent　the　days　in　the　earthly　life　of　Jesus。　He　often　dismissed　His　disciples　to　visit　their　homes　and　rest；　but　He　gently　resisted　their　efforts　to　draw　Him　away　from　His　labors。　All　day　He　toiled；

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teaching　the　ignorant；　healing　the　sick；　giving　sight　to　the　blind；　feeding　the　multitude；　and　at　the　eventide　or　in　the　early　morning；　He　went　away　to　the　sanctuary　of　the　mountains　for　communion　with　His　Father。　Often　He　passed　the　entire　night　in　prayer　and　meditation；　returning　at　daybreak　to　His　work　among　the　people。

Early　in　the　morning；　Peter　and　his　companions　came　to　Jesus；　saying　that　already　the　people　of　Capernaum　were　seeking　Him。　The　disciples　had　been　bitterly　disappointed　at　the　reception　which　Christ　had　met　hitherto。　The　authorities　at　Jerusalem　were　seeking　to　murder　Him；　even　His　own　townsmen　had　tried　to　take　His　life；　but　at　Capernaum　He　was　welcomed　with　joyful　enthusiasm；　and　the　hopes　of　the　disciples　kindled　anew。　It　might　be　that　among　the　liberty…loving　Galileans　were　to　be　found　the　supporters　of　the　new　kingdom。　But　with　surprise　they　heard　Christ's　words；　〃I　must　preach　the　kingdom　of　God　to　other　cities　also：　for　therefore　am　I　sent。〃

In　the　excitement　which　then　pervaded　Capernaum；　there　was　danger　that　the　object　of　His　mission　would　be　lost　sight　of。　Jesus　was　not　satisfied　to　attract　attention　to　Himself　merely　as　a　wonder　worker　or　a　healer　of　physical　diseases。　He　was　seeking　to　draw　men　to　Him　as　their　Saviour。　While　the　people　were　eager　to　believe　that　He　had　come　as　a　king；　to　establish　an　earthly　reign；　He　desired　to　turn　their　minds　away　from　the　earthly　to　the　spiritual。　Mere　worldly　success　would　interfere　with　His　work。

And　the　wonder　of　the　careless　crowd　jarred　upon　His　spirit。　In　His　life　no　self…assertion　mingled。　The　homage　which　the　world　gives　to　position；　or　wealth；　or　talent；　was　foreign　to　the　Son　of　man。　None　of　the　means　that　men　employ　to　win　allegiance　or　command　homage　did　Jesus　use。　Centuries　before　His　birth；　it　had　been　prophesied　of　Him；

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〃He　shall　not　cry；　nor　lift　up；　nor　cause　His　voice　to　be　heard　in　the　street。　A　bruised　reed　shall　He　not　break；　and　the　dimly　burning　flax　shall　He　not　quench：　He　shall　bring　forth　judgment　unto　truth。　He　shall　not　fail　nor　be　discouraged；　till　He　have　set　judgment　in　the　earth。〃　Isa。　42：2…4；　margin。

The　Pharisees　sought　distinction　by　their　scrupulous　ceremonialism；　and　the　ostentation　of　their　worship　and　charities。　They　proved　their　zeal　for　religion　by　making　it　the　theme　of　discussion。　Disputes　between　opposing　sects　were　loud　and　long；　and　it　was　not　unusual　to　hear　on　the　streets　the　voice　of　angry　controversy　from　learned　doctors　of　the　law。

In　marked　contrast　to　all　this　was　the　life　of　Jesus。　In　that　life　no　noisy　disputation；　no　ostentatious　worship；　no　act　to　gain　applause；　was　ever　witnessed。　Christ　was　hid　in　God；　and　God　was　revealed　in　the　character　of　His　Son。　To　this　revelation　Jesus　desired　the　minds　of　the　people　to　be　directed；　and　their　homage　to　be　given。

The　Sun　of　Righteousness　did　not　burst　upon　the　world　in　splendor；　to　dazzle　the　senses　with　His　glory。　It　is　written　of　Christ；　〃His　going　forth　is　prepared　as　the　morning。〃　Hosea　6：3。　Quietly　and　gently　the　daylight　breaks　upon　the　earth；　dispelling　the　shadow　of　darkness；　and　waking　the　world　to　life。　So　did　the　Sun　of　Righteousness　arise；　〃with　healing　in　His　wings。〃　Mal。　4：2。




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　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Chapter　27

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　〃Thou　Canst　Make　Me　Clean〃


Of　all　diseases　known　in　the　East　the　leprosy　was　most　dreaded。　Its　incurable　and　contagious　character；　and　its　horrible　effect　upon　its　victims；　filled　the　bravest　with　fear。　Among　the　Jews　it　was　regarded　as　a　judgment　on　account　of　sin；　and　hence　was　called　〃the　stroke；〃　〃the　finger　of　God。〃　Deep…rooted；　ineradicable；　deadly；　it　was　looked　upon　as　a　symbol　of　sin。　By　the　ritual　law；　the　leper　was　pronounced　unclean。　Like　one　already　dead；　he　was　shut　out　from　the　habitations　of　men。　Whatever　he　touched　was　unclean。　The　air　was　polluted　by　his　breath。　One　who　was　suspected　of　having　the　disease　must　present　himself　to　the　priests；　who　were　to　examine　and　decide　his　case。　If　pronounced　a　leper；　he　was　isolated　from　his　family；　cut　off　from　the　congregation　of　Israel；　and　was　doomed　to　associate　with　those　only　who　were　similarly　afflicted。　The　law　was　inflexible　in　its　requirement。　Even　kings　and　rulers　were　not　exempt。　A　monarch　who　was　attacked　by　this　terrible　disease　must　yield　up　the　scepter；　and　flee　from　society。

Away　from　his　friends　and　his　kindred；　the　leper　must　bear　the　curse　of　his　malady。　He　was　obliged　to　publish　his　own　calamity；　to　rend　his　garments；　and　sound　the　alarm；　warning　all　to　flee　from　his　contaminating　presence。　The　cry；　〃Unclean！　unclean！〃　coming　in　mournful　tones　from　the　lonely　exile；　was　a　signal　heard　with　fea