the desire of ages-第136部分

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Jesus　had　told　His　disciples　that　they　were　to　be　hated　of　all　men；　to　be　persecuted　and　afflicted。　Many　would　be　driven　from　their　homes；　and　brought　to　poverty。　Many　would　be　in　distress　through　disease　and

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privation。　Many　would　be　cast　into　prison。　To　all　who　forsook　friends　or　home　for　His　sake　He　had　promised　in　this　life　a　hundredfold。　Now　He　assured　a　special　blessing　to　all　who　should　minister　to　their　brethren。　In　all　who　suffer　for　My　name；　said　Jesus；　you　are　to　recognize　Me。　As　you　would　minister　to　Me；　so　you　are　to　minister　to　them。　This　is　the　evidence　that　you　are　My　disciples。

All　who　have　been　born　into　the　heavenly　family　are　in　a　special　sense　the　brethren　of　our　Lord。　The　love　of　Christ　binds　together　the　members　of　His　family；　and　wherever　that　love　is　made　manifest　there　the　divine　relationship　is　revealed。　〃Everyone　that　loveth　is　born　of　God；　and　knoweth　God。〃　1　John　4：7。

Those　whom　Christ　commends　in　the　judgment　may　have　known　little　of　theology；　but　they　have　cherished　His　principles。　Through　the　influence　of　the　divine　Spirit　they　have　been　a　blessing　to　those　about　them。　Even　among　the　heathen　are　those　who　have　cherished　the　spirit　of　kindness；　before　the　words　of　life　had　fallen　upon　their　ears；　they　have　befriended　the　missionaries；　even　ministering　to　them　at　the　peril　of　their　own　lives。　Among　the　heathen　are　those　who　worship　God　ignorantly；　those　to　whom　the　light　is　never　brought　by　human　instrumentality；　yet　they　will　not　perish。　Though　ignorant　of　the　written　law　of　God；　they　have　heard　His　voice　speaking　to　them　in　nature；　and　have　done　the　things　that　the　law　required。　Their　works　are　evidence　that　the　Holy　Spirit　has　touched　their　hearts；　and　they　are　recognized　as　the　children　of　God。

How　surprised　and　gladdened　will　be　the　lowly　among　the　nations；　and　among　the　heathen；　to　hear　from　the　lips　of　the　Saviour；　〃Inasmuch　as　ye　have　done　it　unto　one　of　the　least　of　these　My　brethren；　ye　have　done　it　unto　Me〃！　How　glad　will　be　the　heart　of　Infinite　Love　as　His　followers　look　up　with　surprise　and　joy　at　His　words　of　approval！

But　not　to　any　class　is　Christ's　love　restricted。　He　identifies　Himself　with　every　child　of　humanity。　That　we　might　become　members　of　the　heavenly　family；　He　became　a　member　of　the　earthly　family。　He　is　the　Son　of　man；　and　thus　a　brother　to　every　son　and　daughter　of　Adam。　His　followers　are　not　to　feel　themselves　detached　from　the　perishing　world　around　them。　They　are　a　part　of　the　great　web　of　humanity；　and　Heaven　looks　upon　them　as　brothers　to　sinners　as　well　as　to　saints。　The　fallen；　the　erring；　and　the　sinful；　Christ's　love　embraces；　and　every　deed　of　kindness　done　to　uplift　a　fallen　soul；　every　act　of　mercy；　is　accepted　as　done　to　Him。

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The　angels　of　heaven　are　sent　forth　to　minister　to　those　who　shall　be　heirs　of　salvation。　We　know　not　now　who　they　are；　it　is　not　yet　made　manifest　who　shall　overcome；　and　share　the　inheritance　of　the　saints　in　light；　but　angels　of　heaven　are　passing　throughout　the　length　and　breadth　of　the　earth；　seeking　to　comfort　the　sorrowing；　to　protect　the　imperiled；　to　win　the　hearts　of　men　to　Christ。　Not　one　is　neglected　or　passed　by。　God　is　no　respecter　of　persons；　and　He　has　an　equal　care　for　all　the　souls　He　has　created。

As　you　open　your　door　to　Christ's　needy　and　suffering　ones；　you　are　welcoming　unseen　angels。　You　invite　the　companionship　of　heavenly　beings。　They　bring　a　sacred　atmosphere　of　joy　and　peace。　They　come　with　praises　upon　their　lips；　and　an　answering　strain　is　heard　in　heaven。　Every　deed　of　mercy　makes　music　there。　The　Father　from　His　throne　numbers　the　unselfish　workers　among　His　most　precious　treasures。

Those　on　the　left　hand　of　Christ；　those　who　had　neglected　Him　in　the　person　of　the　poor　and　the　suffering；　were　unconscious　of　their　guilt。　Satan　had　blinded　them；　they　had　not　perceived　what　they　owed　to　their　brethren。　They　had　been　self…absorbed；　and　cared　not　for　others'　needs。

To　the　rich；　God　has　given　wealth　that　they　may　relieve　and　comfort　His　suffering　children；　but　too　often　they　are　indifferent　to　the　wants　of　others。　They　feel　themselves　superior　to　their　poor　brethren。　They　do　not　put　themselves　in　the　poor　man's　place。　They　do　not　understand　the　temptations　and　struggles　of　the　poor；　and　mercy　dies　out　of　their　hearts。　In　costly　dwellings　and　splendid　churches；　the　rich　shut　themselves　away　from　the　poor；　the　means　that　God　has　given　to　bless　the　needy　is　spent　in　pampering　pride　and　selfishness。　The　poor　are　robbed　daily　of　the　education　they　should　have　concerning　the　tender　mercies　of　God；　for　He　has　made　ample　provision　that　they　should　be　comforted　with　the　necessities　of　life。　They　are　compelled　to　feel　the　poverty　that　narrows　life；　and　are　often　tempted　to　become　envious；　jealous；　and　full　of　evil　surmisings。　Those　who　themselves　have　not　endured　the　pressure　of　want　too　often　treat　the　poor　in　a　contemptuous　way；　and　make　them　feel　that　they　are　looked　upon　as　paupers。

But　Christ　beholds　it　all；　and　He　says；　It　was　I　who　was　hungry　and　thirsty。　It　was　I　who　was　a　stranger。　It　was　I　who　was　sick。　It　was　I　who　was　in　prison。　While　you　were　feasting　at　your　bountifully　spread　table；　I　was　famishing　in　the　hovel　or　the　empty　street。　While　you　were　at　ease　in　your　luxurious　home；　I　had　not　where　to　lay　My　head。　While

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you　crowded　your　wardrobe　with　rich　apparel；　I　was　destitute。　While　you　pursued　your　pleasures；　I　languished　in　prison。

When　you　doled　out　the　pittance　of　bread　to　the　starving　poor；　when　you　gave　those　flimsy　garments　to　shield　them　from　the　biting　frost；　did　you　remember　that　you　were　giving　to　the　Lord　of　glory？　All　the　days　of　your　life　I　was　near　you　in　the　person　of　these　afflicted　ones；　but　you　did　not　seek　Me。　You　would　not　enter　into　fellowship　with　Me。　I　know　you　not。

Many　feel　that　it　would　be　a　great　privilege　to　visit　the　scenes　of　Christ's　life　on　earth；　to　walk　where　He　trod；　to　look　upon　the　lake　beside　which　He　loved　to　teach；　and　the　hills　and　valleys　on　which　His　eyes　so　often　rested。　But　we　need　not　go　to　Nazareth；　to　Capernaum；　or　to　Bethany；　in　order　to　walk　in　the　steps　of　Jesus。　We　shall　find　His　footprints　beside　the　sickbed；　in　the　hovels　of　poverty；　in　the　crowded　alleys　of　the　great　city；　and　in　every　place　where　there　are　human　hearts　in　need　of　consolation。　In　doing　as　Jesus　did　when　on　earth；　we　shall　walk　in　His　steps。

All　may　find　something　to　do。　〃The　poor　always　ye　have　with　you；〃　（John　12：8）；　Jesus　said；　and　none　need　feel　that　there　is　no　place　where　they　can　labor　for　Him。　Millions　upon　millions　of　human　souls　ready　to　perish；　bound　in　chains　of　ignorance　and　sin；　have　never　so　much　as　heard　of　Christ's　love　for　them。　Were　our　condition　and　theirs　to　be　reversed；　what　would　we　desire　them　to　do　for　us？　All　this；　so　far　as　lies　in　our　power；　we　are　under　the　most　solemn　obligation　to　do　for　them。　Christ's　rule　of　life；　by　which　every　one　of　us　must　stand　or　fall　in　the　judgment；　is；　〃Whatsoever　ye　would　that　men　should　do　to　you；　do　ye　even　so　to　them。〃　Matt。　7：12。

The　Saviour　has　given　His　precious　life　in　order　to　establish　a　church　capable　of　caring　for　sorrowful；　tempted　souls。　A　company　of　believers　may　be　poor；　uneducated；　and　unknown；　yet　in　Christ　they　may　do　a　work　in　the　home；　the　neighborhood；　the　church；　and　even　in　〃the　regions　beyond；〃　whose　results　shall　be　as　far…reaching　as　eternity。

It　is　because　this　work　is　neglected　that　so　many　young　disciples　never　advance　beyond　the　mere　alphabet　of　Christian　experience。　The　light　which　was　glowing　in　their　own　hearts　when　Jesus　spoke　to　them；　〃Thy　sins　be　forgiven　thee；〃　they　might　have　kept　alive　by　helping　those　in　need。　The　restless　energy　that　is　so　often　a　source　of　danger　to　the　young　might　be　directed　into　channels　through　which　it　would

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flow　out　in　streams　of　blessing。　Self　would　be　forgotten　in　earnest　work　to　do　others　good。

Those　who　minister　to　others　will　be　ministered　unto　by　the　Chief　Shepherd。　They　themselves　will　drink　of　the　living　water；　and　will　be　satisfied。　They　will　not　be　longing　for　exciting　amusements；　or　for　some　change　in　their　lives。　The　great　topic　of　interest　will　be；　how　to　save　the　souls　that　are　ready　to　perish。　Social　intercourse　will　be　profitable。　The　love　of　the　Redeemer　will　draw　hearts　together　in　unity。

When　we　realize　that　we　are　workers　together　with　God；　His　promises　will　not　be　spoken　with　indifference。　They　will　burn　in　our　hearts；　and　kindle　upon　our　lips。　To　Moses；　when　called　to　minister　to　an　ignorant；　undisciplined；　and　rebellious　people；　God　gave　the　promise；　〃My　presence　shall　go　with　thee；　and　I　will　give　thee　rest。〃　And　He　said；　〃Certainly　I　will　be　with　thee。〃　Ex。　33：14；　3：12。　This　promise　is　to　all　who　labor　in　Christ's　stead　for　His　afflicted　and　suffering　ones。

Love　to　man　is　the　earthward　manifestation　of　the　love　of　God。　It　was　to　implant　this　love；　to　make　us　children　of　one　family；　that　the　King　of　glory　became　one　with　us。　And　when　His　parting　words　are　fulfilled；　〃Love　one　another；　as　I　have　loved　you〃　（John　15：12）；　wh