the desire of ages-第76章

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　must　not　indulge　a　narrow；　exclusive　spirit；　but　manifest　the　same　far…reaching　sympathy　which　they　had　seen　in　their　Master。

The　fact　that　one　does　not　in　all　things　conform　to　our　personal　ideas　or　opinions　will　not　justify　us　in　forbidding　him　to　labor　for　God。　Christ　is　the　Great　Teacher；　we　are　not　to　judge　or　to　command；　but　in　humility　each　is　to　sit　at　the　feet　of　Jesus；　and　learn　of　Him。　Every　soul　whom　God　has　made　willing　is　a　channel　through　which　Christ　will　reveal　His　pardoning　love。　How　careful　we　should　be　lest　we　discourage　one　of　God's　light　bearers；　and　thus　intercept　the　rays　that　He　would　have　shine　to　the　world！

Harshness　or　coldness　shown　by　a　disciple　toward　one　whom　Christ　was　drawingsuch　an　act　as　that　of　John　in　forbidding　one　to　work　miracles　in　Christ's　namemight　result　in　turning　the　feet　into　the　path　of　the　enemy；　and　causing　the　loss　of　a　soul。　Rather　than　for　one　to　do　this；　said　Jesus；　〃it　is　better　for　him　that　a　millstone　were　hanged　about　his　neck；　and　he　were　cast　into　the　sea。〃　And　He　added；　〃If　thy　hand　cause　thee　to　stumble；　cut　it　off：　it　is　good　for　thee　to　enter　into　life　maimed；　rather　than　having　thy　two　hands　to　go　into　hell；　into　the　unquenchable　fire。　And　if　thy　foot　cause　thee　to　stumble；　cut　it　off：　it　is　good　for　thee　to　enter　into　life　halt；　rather　than　having　thy　two　feet　to　be　cast　into　hell。〃　Mark　9：43…45；　R。　V。

Why　this　earnest　language；　than　which　none　can　be　stronger？　Because　〃the　Son　of　man　is　come　to　save　that　which　was　lost。〃　Shall　His　disciples　show　less　regard　for　the　souls　of　their　fellow　men　than　the　Majesty　of　heaven　has　shown？　Every　soul　has　cost　an　infinite　price；　and　how　terrible　is　the　sin　of　turning　one　soul　away　from　Christ；　so　that　for　him　the　Saviour's　love　and　humiliation　and　agony　shall　have　been　in　vain。

〃Woe　unto　the　world　because　of　occasions　of　stumbling！　for　it　must　needs　be　that　the　occasions　come。〃　Matt。　18：7；　R。　V。　The　world；　inspired　by　Satan；　will　surely　oppose　the　followers　of　Christ；　and　seek　to　destroy　their　faith；　but　woe　to　him　who　has　taken　Christ's　name；　and　yet　is　found

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doing　this　work。　Our　Lord　is　put　to　shame　by　those　who　claim　to　serve　Him；　but　who　misrepresent　His　character；　and　multitudes　are　deceived；　and　led　into　false　paths。

Any　habit　or　practice　that　would　lead　into　sin；　and　bring　dishonor　upon　Christ；　would　better　be　put　away；　whatever　the　sacrifice。　That　which　dishonors　God　cannot　benefit　the　soul。　The　blessing　of　heaven　cannot　attend　any　man　in　violating　the　eternal　principles　of　right。　And　one　sin　cherished　is　sufficient　to　work　the　degradation　of　the　character；　and　to　mislead　others。　If　the　foot　or　the　hand　would　be　cut　off；　or　even　the　eye　would　be　plucked　out；　to　save　the　body　from　death；　how　much　more　earnest　should　we　be　to　put　away　sin；　that　brings　death　to　the　soul！

In　the　ritual　service；　salt　was　added　to　every　sacrifice。　This；　like　the　offering　of　incense；　signified　that　only　the　righteousness　of　Christ　could　make　the　service　acceptable　to　God。　Referring　to　this　practice；　Jesus　said；　〃Every　sacrifice　shall　be　salted　with　salt。〃　〃Have　salt　in　yourselves；　and　have　peace　one　with　another。〃　All　who　would　present　themselves　〃a　living　sacrifice；　holy；　acceptable　unto　God〃　（Rom。　12：1）；　must　receive　the　saving　salt；　the　righteousness　of　our　Saviour。　Then　they　become　〃the　salt　of　the　earth；〃　restraining　evil　among　men；　as　salt　preserves　from　corruption。　Matt。　5：13。　But　if　the　salt　has　lost　its　savor；　if　there　is　only　a　profession　of　godliness；　without　the　love　of　Christ；　there　is　no　power　for　good。　The　life　can　exert　no　saving　influence　upon　the　world。　Your　energy　and　efficiency　in　the　upbuilding　of　My　kingdom；　Jesus　says；　depend　upon　your　receiving　of　My　Spirit。　You　must　be　partakers　of　My　grace；　in　order　to　be　a　savor　of　life　unto　life。　Then　there　will　be　no　rivalry；　no　self…seeking；　no　desire　for　the　highest　place。　You　will　have　that　love　which　seeks　not　her　own；　but　another's　wealth。

Let　the　repenting　sinner　fix　his　eyes　upon　〃the　Lamb　of　God；　which　taketh　away　the　sin　of　the　world〃　（John　1：29）；　and　by　beholding；　he　becomes　changed。　His　fear　is　turned　to　joy；　his　doubts　to　hope。　Gratitude　springs　up。　The　stony　heart　is　broken。　A　tide　of　love　sweeps　into　the　soul。　Christ　is　in　him　a　well　of　water　springing　up　unto　everlasting　life。　When　we　see　Jesus；　a　Man　of　Sorrows　and　acquainted　with　grief；　working　to　save　the　lost；　slighted；　scorned；　derided；　driven　from　city　to　city　till　His　mission　was　accomplished；　when　we　behold　Him　in　Gethsemane；　sweating　great　drops　of　blood；　and　on　the　cross　dying　in　agony；when　we　see　this；　self　will　no　longer　clamor　to　be　recognized。　Looking　unto　Jesus；　we　shall　be　ashamed　of　our　coldness；　our　lethargy；　our　self…seeking。

440

We　shall　be　willing　to　be　anything　or　nothing；　so　that　we　may　do　heart　service　for　the　Master。　We　shall　rejoice　to　bear　the　cross　after　Jesus；　to　endure　trial；　shame；　or　persecution　for　His　dear　sake。

〃We　then　that　are　strong　ought　to　bear　the　infirmities　of　the　weak；　and　not　to　please　ourselves。〃　Rom。　15：1。　No　soul　who　believes　in　Christ；　though　his　faith　may　be　weak；　and　his　steps　wavering　as　those　of　a　little　child；　is　to　be　lightly　esteemed。　By　all　that　has　given　us　advantage　over　another；be　it　education　and　refinement；　nobility　of　character；　Christian　training；　religious　experience；we　are　in　debt　to　those　less　favored；　and；　so　far　as　lies　in　our　power；　we　are　to　minister　unto　them。　If　we　are　strong；　we　are　to　stay　up　the　hands　of　the　weak。　Angels　of　glory；　that　do　always　behold　the　face　of　the　Father　in　heaven；　joy　in　ministering　to　His　little　ones。　Trembling　souls；　who　have　many　objectionable　traits　of　character；　are　their　special　charge。　Angels　are　ever　present　where　they　are　most　needed；　with　those　who　have　the　hardest　battle　with　self　to　fight；　and　whose　surroundings　are　the　most　discouraging。　And　in　this　ministry　Christ's　true　followers　will　co…operate。

If　one　of　these　little　ones　shall　be　overcome；　and　commit　a　wrong　against　you；　then　it　is　your　work　to　seek　his　restoration。　Do　not　wait　for　him　to　make　the　first　effort　for　reconciliation。　〃How　think　ye？〃　said　Jesus；　〃if　a　man　have　an　hundred　sheep；　and　one　of　them　be　gone　astray；　doth　he　not　leave　the　ninety　and　nine；　and　goeth　into　the　mountains；　and　seeketh　that　which　is　gone　astray？　And　if　so　be　that　he　find　it；　verily　I　say　unto　you；　he　rejoiceth　more　of　that　sheep；　than　of　the　ninety　and　nine　which　went　not　astray。　Even　so　it　is　not　the　will　of　your　Father　which　is　in　heaven；　that　one　of　these　little　ones　should　perish。〃

In　the　spirit　of　meekness；　〃considering　thyself；　lest　thou　also　be　tempted；〃　（Gal。　6：1）；　go　to　the　erring　one；　and　〃tell　him　his　fault　between　thee　and　him　alone。〃　Do　not　put　him　to　shame　by　exposing　his　fault　to　others；　nor　bring　dishonor　upon　Christ　by　making　public　the　sin　or　error　of　one　who　bears　His　name。　Often　the　truth　must　be　plainly　spoken　to　the　erring；　he　must　be　led　to　see　his　error；　that　he　may　reform。　But　you　are　not　to　judge　or　to　condemn。　Make　no　attempt　at　self…justification。　Let　all　your　effort　be　for　his　recovery。　In　treating　the　wounds　of　the　soul；　there　is　need　of　the　most　delicate　touch；　the　finest　sensibility。　Only　the　love　that　flows　from　the　Suffering　One　of　Calvary　can　avail　here。　With　pitying　tenderness；　let　brother　deal　with　brother；　knowing　that　if　you　succeed；　you　will　〃save　a　soul　from　death；〃　and　〃hide　a　multitude　of　sins。〃　James　5：20。

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But　even　this　effort　may　be　unavailing。　Then；　said　Jesus；　〃take　with　thee　one　or　two　more。〃　It　may　be　that　their　united　influence　will　prevail　where　that　of　the　first　was　unsuccessful。　Not　being　parties　to　the　trouble；　they　will　be　more　likely　to　act　impartially；　and　this　fact　will　give　their　counsel　greater　weight　with　the　erring　one。

If　he　will　not　hear　them；　then；　and　not　till　then；　the　matter　is　to　be　brought　before　the　whole　body　of　believers。　Let　the　members　of　the　church；　as　the　representatives　of　Christ；　unite　in　prayer　and　loving　entreaty　that　the　offender　may　be　restored。　The　Holy　Spirit　will　speak　through　His　servants；　pleading　with　the　wanderer　to　return　to　God。　Paul　the　apostle；　speaking　by　inspiration；　says；　〃As　though　God　did　beseech　you　by　us：　we　pray　you　in　Christ's　stead；　be　ye　reconciled　to　God。〃　2　Cor。　5：20。　He　who　rejects　this　united　overture　has　broken　the　tie　that　binds　him　to　Christ；　and　thus　has　severed　himself　from　the　fellowship　of　the　church。　Henceforth；　said　Jesus；　〃let　him　be　unto　thee　as　an　heathen　man　and　a　publican。〃　But　he　is　not　to　be　regarded　as　cut　off　from　the　mercy　of　God。　Let　him　not　be　despised　or　neglected　by　his　former　brethren；　but　be　treated　with　tenderness　and　compassion；　as　one　of　the　lost　sheep　that　Christ　is　still　seeking　to　bring　to　His　fold。

Christ's　instruction　as　to　the　treatment　of　the　erring　repeats　in　more　specific　form　the　teaching　given　to　Israel　through　Moses：　〃Thou　shalt　not　hate　thy　brother　in　thine　heart：　thou　shalt　in　anywise　rebuke　thy　neighbor；　that　thou　bear　not　sin　for　him。〃　Lev。　19：17；　margin。　That　is；　if　one　neglects　the　duty　Christ　has　enjoined；　of　trying　to　restore　those　who　are　in　error　and　sin；　he　becomes　a　partaker　in　the　sin。　For　evils　that　we　might　have　checked；　we　are　just　as　responsible　as　if　we　were　guilty　of　the　acts　ourselves。

But　it　is　to　the　wrongdoer　himself　that　we　are　to　present　the　wrong。　We　are　not　to　make　it　a　matter　of　comment　and　criticism　among　ourselves；　nor　even　after　it　is　told　to　the　church；　are　we　at　liberty　to　repeat　it　to　others。　A　knowledge　of　the　faults　of　Christians　will　be　only　a　cause　of　stumbling　to　the　unbelieving　world；　and　by　dwelling　upon　these　things；　we　ourselves　can　receive　only　harm；　for　it　is　by　beholding　that　we　become　changed。　While　we　seek　to　correct　the　errors　of　a　brother；　the　Spirit　of　Christ　will　lead　us　to　shield　him；　as　far　as　possible；　from　the　criticism　of　even　his　own　brethren；　and　how　much　more　from　the　censure　of　the　unbelieving　world。　We　ourselves　are　erring；　and　need　Christ's　pity　and　forgiveness；　and　just　as　we　wish　Him　to　deal　with　us；　He　bids　us　deal　with　one　another。

442


〃Whatsoever　ye　shall　bind　on　earth　shall　be　bound　in　heaven：　and　whatsoever　ye　shall　loose　on　earth　shall　be　loosed　in　heaven。〃　You　are　acting　as　the　ambassadors　of　heaven；　and　the　issues　of　your　work　are　for　eternity。

But　we　are　not　to　bear　this　great　responsibility　alone。　Wherever　His　word　is　obeyed　with　a　sincere　heart；　there　Christ　abides。　Not　only　is　He　present　in　the　assemblies　of　the　church；　but　wherever　disciples；　however　few；　meet　in　His　name；　there　also　He　will　be。　And　He　says；　〃If　two　of　you　shall　agree　on　earth　as　touching　anything　that　they　shall　ask；　it　shall　be　done　for　them　of　My　Father　which　is　in　heaven。〃

Jesus　says；　〃My　Father　which　is　in　heaven；〃　as　reminding　His　disciples　that　while　by　His　humanity　He　is　linked　with　them；　a　sharer　in　their　trials；　and　sympathizing　with　them　in　their　sufferings；　by　His　divinity　He　is　connected　with　the　throne　of　the　Infinite。　Wonderful　assurance！　The　heavenly　intelligences　unite　with　men　in　sympathy　and　labor　for　the　saving　of　that　which　was　lost。　And　all　the　power　of　heav