the desire of ages-第172部分

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king　of　the　Spirit；　and　in　whose　life　the　Christ…life　is　manifested；　are　to　stand　as　representative　men；　to　minister　in　behalf　of　the　church。

〃Whosesoever　sins　ye　remit；〃　said　Christ；　〃they　are　remitted；　。　。　。　and　whosesoever　sins　ye　retain；　they　are　retained。〃　Christ　here　gives　no　liberty　for　any　man　to　pass　judgment　upon　others。　In　the　Sermon　on　the　Mount　He　forbade　this。　It　is　the　prerogative　of　God。　But　on　the　church　in　its　organized　capacity　He　places　a　responsibility　for　the　individual　members。　Toward　those　who　fall　into　sin；　the　church　has　a　duty；　to　warn；　to　instruct；　and　if　possible　to　restore。　〃Reprove；　rebuke；　exhort；〃　the　Lord　says；　〃with　all　long…suffering　and　doctrine。〃　2　Tim。　4：2。　Deal

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faithfully　with　wrongdoing。　Warn　every　soul　that　is　in　danger。　Leave　none　to　deceive　themselves。　Call　sin　by　its　right　name。　Declare　what　God　has　said　in　regard　to　lying；　Sabbathbreaking；　stealing；　idolatry；　and　every　other　evil。　〃They　which　do　such　things　shall　not　inherit　the　kingdom　of　God。〃　Gal。　5：21。　If　they　persist　in　sin；　the　judgment　you　have　declared　from　God's　word　is　pronounced　upon　them　in　heaven。　In　choosing　to　sin；　they　disown　Christ；　the　church　must　show　that　she　does　not　sanction　their　deeds；　or　she　herself　dishonors　her　Lord。　She　must　say　about　sin　what　God　says　about　it。　She　must　deal　with　it　as　God　directs；　and　her　action　is　ratified　in　heaven。　He　who　despises　the　authority　of　the　church　despises　the　authority　of　Christ　Himself。

But　there　is　a　brighter　side　to　the　picture。　〃Whosesoever　sins　ye　remit；　they　are　remitted。〃　Let　this　thought　be　kept　uppermost。　In　labor　for　the　erring；　let　every　eye　be　directed　to　Christ。　Let　the　shepherds　have　a　tender　care　for　the　flock　of　the　Lord's　pasture。　Let　them　speak　to　the　erring　of　the　forgiving　mercy　of　the　Saviour。　Let　them　encourage　the　sinner　to　repent；　and　believe　in　Him　who　can　pardon。　Let　them　declare；　on　the　authority　of　God's　word；　〃If　we　confess　our　sins；　He　is　faithful　and　just　to　forgive　us　our　sins；　and　to　cleanse　us　from　all　unrighteousness。〃　1　John　1：9。　All　who　repent　have　the　assurance；　〃He　will　have　compassion　upon　us；　He　will　subdue　our　iniquities；　and　Thou　wilt　cast　all　their　sins　into　the　depths　of　the　sea。〃　Micah　7：19。

Let　the　repentance　of　the　sinner　be　accepted　by　the　church　with　grateful　hearts。　Let　the　repenting　one　be　led　out　from　the　darkness　of　unbelief　into　the　light　of　faith　and　righteousness。　Let　his　trembling　hand　be　placed　in　the　loving　hand　of　Jesus。　Such　a　remission　is　ratified　in　heaven。

Only　in　this　sense　has　the　church　power　to　absolve　the　sinner。　Remission　of　sins　can　be　obtained　only　through　the　merits　of　Christ。　To　no　man；　to　no　body　of　men；　is　given　power　to　free　the　soul　from　guilt。　Christ　charged　His　disciples　to　preach　the　remission　of　sins　in　His　name　among　all　nations；　but　they　themselves　were　not　empowered　to　remove　one　stain　of　sin。　The　name　of　Jesus　is　the　only　〃name　under　heaven　given　among　men；　whereby　we　must　be　saved。〃　Acts　4：12。

When　Jesus　first　met　the　disciples　in　the　upper　chamber；　Thomas　was　not　with　them。　He　heard　the　reports　of　the　others；　and　received　abundant　proof　that　Jesus　had　risen；　but　gloom　and　unbelief　filled　his　heart。　As　he　heard　the　disciples　tell　of　the　wonderful　manifestations　of　the　risen　Saviour；　it　only　plunged　him　in　deeper　despair。　If　Jesus　had

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really　risen　from　the　dead；　there　could　be　no　further　hope　of　a　literal　earthly　kingdom。　And　it　wounded　his　vanity　to　think　that　his　Master　should　reveal　Himself　to　all　the　disciples　except　him。　He　was　determined　not　to　believe；　and　for　a　whole　week　he　brooded　over　his　wretchedness；　which　seemed　all　the　darker　in　contrast　with　the　hope　and　faith　of　his　brethren。

During　this　time　he　repeatedly　declared；　〃Except　I　shall　see　in　His　hands　the　print　of　the　nails；　and　put　my　finger　into　the　print　of　the　nails；　and　thrust　my　hand　into　His　side；　I　will　not　believe。〃　He　would　not　see　through　the　eyes　of　his　brethren；　or　exercise　faith　which　was　dependent　upon　their　testimony。　He　ardently　loved　his　Lord；　but　he　had　allowed　jealousy　and　unbelief　to　take　possession　of　his　mind　and　heart。

A　number　of　the　disciples　now　made　the　familiar　upper　chamber　their　temporary　home；　and　at　evening　all　except　Thomas　gathered　here。　One　evening　Thomas　determined　to　meet　with　the　others。　Notwithstanding　his　unbelief；　he　had　a　faint　hope　that　the　good　news　was　true。　While　the　disciples　were　taking　their　evening　meal；　they　talked　of　the　evidences　which　Christ　had　given　them　in　the　prophecies。　〃Then　came　Jesus；　the　doors　being　shut；　and　stood　in　the　midst；　and　said；　Peace　be　unto　you。〃

Turning　to　Thomas　He　said；　〃Reach　hither　thy　finger；　and　behold　My　hands；　and　reach　hither　thy　hand；　and　thrust　it　into　My　side：　and　be　not　faithless；　but　believing。〃　These　words　showed　that　He　was　acquainted　with　the　thoughts　and　words　of　Thomas。　The　doubting　disciple　knew　that　none　of　his　companions　had　seen　Jesus　for　a　week。　They　could　not　have　told　the　Master　of　his　unbelief。　He　recognized　the　One　before　him　as　his　Lord。　He　had　no　desire　for　further　proof。　His　heart　leaped　for　joy；　and　he　cast　himself　at　the　feet　of　Jesus　crying；　〃My　Lord　and　my　God。〃

Jesus　accepted　his　acknowledgment；　but　gently　reproved　his　unbelief：　〃Thomas；　because　thou　hast　seen　Me；　thou　hast　believed：　blessed　are　they　that　have　not　seen；　and　yet　have　believed。〃　The　faith　of　Thomas　would　have　been　more　pleasing　to　Christ　if　he　had　been　willing　to　believe　upon　the　testimony　of　his　brethren。　Should　the　world　now　follow　the　example　of　Thomas；　no　one　would　believe　unto　salvation；　for　all　who　receive　Christ　must　do　so　through　the　testimony　of　others。

Many　who　are　given　to　doubt　excuse　themselves　by　saying　that　if　they　had　the　evidence　which　Thomas　had　from　his　companions；　they　would　believe。　They　do　not　realize　that　they　have　not　only　that　evidence；　but

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much　more。　Many　who；　like　Thomas；　wait　for　all　cause　of　doubt　to　be　removed；　will　never　realize　their　desire。　They　gradually　become　confirmed　in　unbelief。　Those　who　educate　themselves　to　look　on　the　dark　side；　and　murmur　and　complain；　know　not　what　they　do。　They　are　sowing　the　seeds　of　doubt；　and　they　will　have　a　harvest　of　doubt　to　reap。　At　a　time　when　faith　and　confidence　are　most　essential；　many　will　thus　find　themselves　powerless　to　hope　and　believe。

In　His　treatment　of　Thomas；　Jesus　gave　a　lesson　for　His　followers。　His　example　shows　how　we　should　treat　those　whose　faith　is　weak；　and　who　make　their　doubts　prominent。　Jesus　did　not　overwhelm　Thomas　with　reproach；　nor　did　He　enter　into　controversy　with　him。　He　revealed　Himself　to　the　doubting　one。　Thomas　had　been　most　unreasonable　in　dictating　the　conditions　of　his　faith；　but　Jesus；　by　His　generous　love　and　consideration；　broke　down　all　the　barriers。　Unbelief　is　seldom　overcome　by　controversy。　It　is　rather　put　upon　self…defense；　and　finds　new　support　and　excuse。　But　let　Jesus；　in　His　love　and　mercy；　be　revealed　as　the　crucified　Saviour；　and　from　many　once　unwilling　lips　will　be　heard　the　acknowledgment　of　Thomas；　〃My　Lord　and　my　God。〃




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　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Chapter　85

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　By　the　Sea　Once　More


Jesus　had　appointed　to　meet　His　disciples　in　Galilee；　and　soon　after　the　Passover　week　was　ended；　they　bent　their　steps　thither。　Their　absence　from　Jerusalem　during　the　feast　would　have　been　interpreted　as　disaffection　and　heresy；　therefore　they　remained　till　its　close；　but　this　over；　they　gladly　turned　homeward　to　meet　the　Saviour　as　He　had　directed。

Seven　of　the　disciples　were　in　company。　They　were　clad　in　the　humble　garb　of　fishermen；　they　were　poor　in　worldly　goods；　but　rich　in　the　knowledge　and　practice　of　the　truth；　which　in　the　sight　of　Heaven　gave　them　the　highest　rank　as　teachers。　They　had　not　been　students　in　the　schools　of　the　prophets；　but　for　three　years　they　had　been　taught　by　the　greatest　Educator　the　world　has　ever　known。　Under　His　instruction　they　had　become　elevated；　intelligent；　and　refined；　agents　through　whom　men　might　be　led　to　a　knowledge　of　the　truth。

Much　of　the　time　of　Christ's　ministry　had　been　passed　near　the　Sea　of　Galilee。　As　the　disciples　gathered　in　a　place　where　they　were　not　likely　to　be　disturbed；　they　found　themselves　surrounded　by　reminders　of　Jesus　and　His　mighty　works。　On　this　sea；　when　their　hearts　were　filled　with　terror；　and　the　fierce　storm　was　hurrying　them　to　destruction；　Jesus　had　walked　upon　the　billows　to　their　rescue。　Here　the　tempest　had　been　hushed　by　His　word。　Within　sight　was　the　beach　where　above　ten　thousand　persons　had　been　fed　from　a　few　small　loaves　and　fishes。　Not　far　distant　was　Capernaum；　the　scene　of　so　many　miracles。　As　the　disciples

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looked　upon　the　scene；　their　minds　were　full　of　the　words　and　deeds　of　their　Saviour。

The　evening　was　pleasant；　and　Peter；　who　still　had　much　of　his　old　love　for　boats　and　fishing；　proposed　that　they　should　go　out　upon　the　sea　and　cast　their　nets。　In　this　plan　all　were　ready　to　join；　they　were　in　need　of　food　and　clothing；　which　the　proceeds　of　a　successful　night's　fishing　would　supply。　So　t