the desire of ages-第68章
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f one mind and one judgment。 Christ is the great center； and they would approach one another just in proportion as they approached the center。
When Jesus had ended His instruction to the disciples； He gathered the little band close about Him； and kneeling in the midst of them； and laying His hands upon their heads； He offered a prayer dedicating them to His sacred work。 Thus the Lord's disciples were ordained to the gospel ministry。
As His representatives among men； Christ does not choose angels who have never fallen； but human beings； men of like passions with those they seek to save。 Christ took upon Himself humanity； that He might reach humanity。 Divinity needed humanity； for it required both the divine and the human to bring salvation to the world。 Divinity needed humanity； that humanity might afford a channel of communication between God and man。 So with the servants and messengers of Christ。 Man needs a power outside of and beyond himself； to restore him to the likeness of God； and enable him to do the work of God； but this
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does not make the human agency unessential。 Humanity lays hold upon divine power； Christ dwells in the heart by faith； and through co…operation with the divine； the power of man becomes efficient for good。
He who called the fisherman of Galilee is still calling men to His service。 And He is just as willing to manifest His power through us as through the first disciples。 However imperfect and sinful we may be； the Lord holds out to us the offer of partnership with Himself； of apprenticeship to Christ。 He invites us to come under the divine instruction； that； uniting with Christ； we may work the works of God。
〃We have this treasure in earthen vessels； that the exceeding greatness of the power may be of God； and not from ourselves。〃 2 Cor。 4：7； R。 V。 This is why the preaching of the gospel was committed to erring men rather than to the angels。 It is manifest that the power which works through the weakness of humanity is the power of God； and thus we are encouraged to believe that the power which can help others as weak as ourselves can help us。 And those who are themselves 〃compassed with infirmity〃 should be able to 〃have compassion on the ignorant； and on them that are out of the way。〃 Heb。 5：2。 Having been in peril themselves； they are acquainted with the dangers and difficulties of the way； and for this reason are called to reach out for others in like peril。 There are souls perplexed with doubt； burdened with infirmities； weak in faith； and unable to grasp the Unseen； but a friend whom they can see； coming to them in Christ's stead； can be a connecting link to fasten their trembling faith upon Christ。
We are to be laborers together with the heavenly angels in presenting Jesus to the world。 With almost impatient eagerness the angels wait for our co…operation； for man must be the channel to communicate with man。 And when we give ourselves to Christ in wholehearted devotion； angels rejoice that they may speak through our voices to reveal God's love。
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Chapter 31
The Sermon on the Mount
Christ seldom gathered His disciples alone to receive His words。 He did not choose for His audience those only who knew the way of life。 It was His work to reach the multitudes who were in ignorance and error。 He gave His lessons of truth where they could reach the darkened understanding。 He Himself was the Truth； standing with girded loins and hands ever outstretched to bless； and in words of warning； entreaty； and encouragement； seeking to uplift all who would come unto Him。
The Sermon on the Mount； though given especially to the disciples； was spoken in the hearing of the multitude。 After the ordination of the apostles； Jesus went with them to the seaside。 Here in the early morning the people had begun to assemble。 Besides the usual crowds from the Galilean towns； there were people from Judea； and even from Jerusalem itself； from Perea； from Decapolis； from Idumea； away to the south of Judea； and from Tyre and Sidon； the Phoenician cities on the shore of the Mediterranean。 〃When they had heard what great things He did；〃 they 〃came to hear Him； and to be healed of their diseases： 。 。 。 there went virtue out of Him； and healed them all。〃 Mark 3：8； Luke 6：17…19。
The narrow beach did not afford even standing room within reach of His voice for all who desired to hear Him； and Jesus led the way back to the mountainside。 Reaching a level space that offered a pleasant gathering place for the vast assembly； He seated Himself on the grass； and the disciples and the multitude followed His example。
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The disciples' place was always next to Jesus。 The people constantly pressed upon Him； yet the disciples understood that they were not to be crowded away from His presence。 They sat close beside Him； that they might not lose a word of His instruction。 They were attentive listeners； eager to understand the truths they were to make known to all lands and all ages。
With a feeling that something more than usual might be expected； they now pressed about their Master。 They believed that the kingdom was soon to be established； and from the events of the morning they gathered assurance that some announcement concerning it was about to be made。 A feeling of expectancy pervaded the multitude also； and eager faces gave evidence of the deep interest。 As the people sat upon the green hillside； awaiting the words of the divine Teacher； their hearts were filled with thoughts of future glory。 There were scribes and Pharisees who looked forward to the day when they should have dominion over the hated Romans； and possess the riches and splendor of the world's great empire。 The poor peasants and fishermen hoped to hear the assurance that their wretched hovels； the scanty food； the life of toil； and fear of want were to be exchanged for mansions of plenty and days of ease。 In place of the one coarse garment which was their covering by day； and their blanket at night； they hoped that Christ would give them the rich and costly robes of their conquerors。 All hearts thrilled with the proud hope that Israel was soon to be honored before the nations as the chosen of the Lord； and Jerusalem exalted as the head of a universal kingdom。
Christ disappointed the hope of worldly greatness。 In the Sermon on the Mount He sought to undo the work that had been wrought by false education； and to give His hearers a right conception of His kingdom and of His own character。 Yet He did not make a direct attack on the errors of the people。 He saw the misery of the world on account of sin； yet He did not present before them a vivid delineation of their wretchedness。 He taught them of something infinitely better than they had known。 Without combating their ideas of the kingdom of God； He told them the conditions of entrance therein； leaving them to draw their own conclusions as to its nature。 The truths He taught are no less important to us than to the multitude that followed Him。 We no less than they need to learn the foundation principles of the kingdom of God。
Christ's first words to the people on the mount were words of blessing。 Happy are they； He said； who recognize their spiritual poverty； and
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feel their need of redemption。 The gospel is to be preached to the poor。 Not to the spiritually proud； those who claim to be rich and in need of nothing； is it revealed； but to those who are humble and contrite。 One fountain only has been opened for sin； a fountain for the poor in spirit。
The proud heart strives to earn salvation； but both our title to heaven and our fitness for it are found in the righteousness of Christ。 The Lord can do nothing toward the recovery of man until； convinced of his own weakness； and stripped of all self…sufficiency； he yields himself to the control of God。 Then he can receive the gift that God is waiting to bestow。 From the soul that feels his need； nothing is withheld。 He has unrestricted access to Him in whom all fullness dwells。 〃For thus saith the high and lofty One that i
