the desire of ages-第69章

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nrestricted　access　to　Him　in　whom　all　fullness　dwells。　〃For　thus　saith　the　high　and　lofty　One　that　inhabiteth　eternity；　whose　name　is　Holy；　I　dwell　in　the　high　and　holy　place；　with　him　also　that　is　of　a　contrite　and　humble　spirit；　to　revive　the　spirit　of　the　humble；　and　to　revive　the　heart　of　the　contrite　ones。〃　Isa。　57：15。

〃Blessed　are　they　that　mourn：　for　they　shall　be　comforted。〃　By　these　words　Christ　does　not　teach　that　mourning　in　itself　has　power　to　remove　the　guilt　of　sin。　He　gives　no　sanction　to　pretense　or　to　voluntary　humility。　The　mourning　of　which　He　speaks　does　not　consist　in　melancholy　and　lamentation。　While　we　sorrow　on　account　of　sin；　we　are　to　rejoice　in　the　precious　privilege　of　being　children　of　God。

We　often　sorrow　because　our　evil　deeds　bring　unpleasant　consequences　to　ourselves；　but　this　is　not　repentance。　Real　sorrow　for　sin　is　the　result　of　the　working　of　the　Holy　Spirit。　The　Spirit　reveals　the　ingratitude　of　the　heart　that　has　slighted　and　grieved　the　Saviour；　and　brings　us　in　contrition　to　the　foot　of　the　cross。　By　every　sin　Jesus　is　wounded　afresh；　and　as　we　look　upon　Him　whom　we　have　pierced；　we　mourn　for　the　sins　that　have　brought　anguish　upon　Him。　Such　mourning　will　lead　to　the　renunciation　of　sin。

The　worldling　may　pronounce　this　sorrow　a　weakness；　but　it　is　the　strength　which　binds　the　penitent　to　the　Infinite　One　with　links　that　cannot　be　broken。　It　shows　that　the　angels　of　God　are　bringing　back　to　the　soul　the　graces　that　were　lost　through　hardness　of　heart　and　transgression。　The　tears　of　the　penitent　are　only　the　raindrops　that　precede　the　sunshine　of　holiness。　This　sorrow　heralds　a　joy　which　will　be　a　living　fountain　in　the　soul。　〃Only　acknowledge　thine　iniquity；　that　thou　hast　transgressed　against　the　Lord　thy　God；〃　〃and　I　will　not　cause　Mine　anger　to　fall　upon　you：　for　I　am　merciful；　saith　the　Lord。〃　Jer。　3：13；　12。　〃Unto　them　that　mourn　in　Zion；〃　He　has　appointed　to　give

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〃beauty　for　ashes；　the　oil　of　joy　for　mourning；　the　garment　of　praise　for　the　spirit　of　heaviness。〃　Isa。　61：3。

And　for　those　also　who　mourn　in　trial　and　sorrow　there　is　comfort。　The　bitterness　of　grief　and　humiliation　is　better　than　the　indulgences　of　sin。　Through　affliction　God　reveals　to　us　the　plague　spots　in　our　characters；　that　by　His　grace　we　may　overcome　our　faults。　Unknown　chapters　in　regard　to　ourselves　are　opened　to　us；　and　the　test　comes；　whether　we　will　accept　the　reproof　and　the　counsel　of　God。　When　brought　into　trial；　we　are　not　to　fret　and　complain。　We　should　not　rebel；　or　worry　ourselves　out　of　the　hand　of　Christ。　We　are　to　humble　the　soul　before　God。　The　ways　of　the　Lord　are　obscure　to　him　who　desires　to　see　things　in　a　light　pleasing　to　himself。　They　appear　dark　and　joyless　to　our　human　nature。　But　God's　ways　are　ways　of　mercy　and　the　end　is　salvation。　Elijah　knew　not　what　he　was　doing　when　in　the　desert　he　said　that　he　had　had　enough　of　life；　and　prayed　that　he　might　die。　The　Lord　in　His　mercy　did　not　take　him　at　his　word。　There　was　yet　a　great　work　for　Elijah　to　do；　and　when　his　work　was　done；　he　was　not　to　perish　in　discouragement　and　solitude　in　the　wilderness。　Not　for　him　the　descent　into　the　dust　of　death；　but　the　ascent　in　glory；　with　the　convoy　of　celestial　chariots；　to　the　throne　on　high。

God's　word　for　the　sorrowing　is；　〃I　have　seen　his　ways；　and　will　heal　him：　I　will　lead　him　also；　and　restore　comforts　unto　him　and　to　his　mourners。〃　〃I　will　turn　their　mourning　into　joy；　and　will　comfort　them；　and　make　them　rejoice　from　their　sorrow。〃　Isa。　57：18；　Jer。　31：13。

〃Blessed　are　the　meek。〃　The　difficulties　we　have　to　encounter　may　be　very　much　lessened　by　that　meekness　which　hides　itself　in　Christ。　If　we　possess　the　humility　of　our　Master；　we　shall　rise　above　the　slights；　the　rebuffs；　the　annoyances；　to　which　we　are　daily　exposed；　and　they　will　cease　to　cast　a　gloom　over　the　spirit。　The　highest　evidence　of　nobility　in　a　Christian　is　self…control。　He　who　under　abuse　or　cruelty　fails　to　maintain　a　calm　and　trustful　spirit　robs　God　of　His　right　to　reveal　in　him　His　own　perfection　of　character。　Lowliness　of　heart　is　the　strength　that　gives　victory　to　the　followers　of　Christ；　it　is　the　token　of　their　connection　with　the　courts　above。

〃Though　the　Lord　be　high；　yet　hath　He　respect　unto　the　lowly。〃　Ps。　138：6。　Those　who　reveal　the　meek　and　lowly　spirit　of　Christ　are　tenderly　regarded　by　God。　They　may　be　looked　upon　with　scorn　by　the　world；　but　they　are　of　great　value　in　His　sight。　Not　only　the　wise；　the　great；　the　beneficent；　will　gain　a　passport　to　the　heavenly　courts；　not　only

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the　busy　worker；　full　of　zeal　and　restless　activity。　No；　the　poor　in　spirit；　who　crave　the　presence　of　an　abiding　Christ；　the　humble　in　heart；　whose　highest　ambition　is　to　do　God's　will；these　will　gain　an　abundant　entrance。　They　will　be　among　that　number　who　have　washed　their　robes　and　made　them　white　in　the　blood　of　the　Lamb。　〃Therefore　are　they　before　the　throne　of　God；　and　serve　Him　day　and　night　in　His　temple：　and　He　that　sitteth　on　the　throne　shall　dwell　among　them。〃　Rev。　7：15。

〃Blessed　are　they　which　do　hunger　and　thirst　after　righteousness。〃　The　sense　of　unworthiness　will　lead　the　heart　to　hunger　and　thirst　for　righteousness；　and　this　desire　will　not　be　disappointed。　Those　who　make　room　in　their　hearts　for　Jesus　will　realize　His　love。　All　who　long　to　bear　the　likeness　of　the　character　of　God　shall　be　satisfied。　The　Holy　Spirit　never　leaves　unassisted　the　soul　who　is　looking　unto　Jesus。　He　takes　of　the　things　of　Christ　and　shows　them　unto　him。　If　the　eye　is　kept　fixed　on　Christ；　the　work　of　the　Spirit　ceases　not　until　the　soul　is　conformed　to　His　image。　The　pure　element　of　love　will　expand　the　soul；　giving　it　a　capacity　for　higher　attainments；　for　increased　knowledge　of　heavenly　things；　so　that　it　will　not　rest　short　of　the　fullness。　〃Blessed　are　they　which　do　hunger　and　thirst　after　righteousness；　for　they　shall　be　filled。〃

The　merciful　shall　find　mercy；　and　the　pure　in　heart　shall　see　God。　Every　impure　thought　defiles　the　soul；　impairs　the　moral　sense；　and　tends　to　obliterate　the　impressions　of　the　Holy　Spirit。　It　dims　the　spiritual　vision；　so　that　men　cannot　behold　God。　The　Lord　may　and　does　forgive　the　repenting　sinner；　but　though　forgiven；　the　soul　is　marred。　All　impurity　of　speech　or　of　thought　must　be　shunned　by　him　who　would　have　clear　discernment　of　spiritual　truth。

But　the　words　of　Christ　cover　more　than　freedom　from　sensual　impurity；　more　than　freedom　from　that　ceremonial　defilement　which　the　Jews　so　rigorously　shunned。　Selfishness　prevents　us　from　beholding　God。　The　self…seeking　spirit　judges　of　God　as　altogether　such　a　one　as　itself。　Until　we　have　renounced　this；　we　cannot　understand　Him　who　is　love。　Only　the　unselfish　heart；　the　humble　and　trustful　spirit；　shall　see　God　as　〃merciful　and　gracious；　long…suffering；　and　abundant　in　goodness　and　truth。〃　Ex。　34：6。

〃Blessed　are　the　peacemakers。〃　The　peace　of　Christ　is　born　of　truth。　It　is　harmony　with　God。　The　world　is　at　enmity　with　the　law　of　God；

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sinners　are　at　enmity　with　their　Maker；　and　as　a　result　they　are　at　enmity　with　one　another。　But　the　psalmist　declares；　〃Great　peace　have　they　which　love　Thy　law：　and　nothing　shall　offend　them。〃　Ps。　119：165。　Men　cannot　manufacture　peace。　Human　plans　for　the　purification　and　uplifting　of　individuals　or　of　society　will　fail　of　producing　peace；　because　they　do　not　reach　the　heart。　The　only　power　that　can　create　or　perpetuate　true　peace　is　the　grace　of　Christ。　When　this　is　implanted　in　the　heart；　it　will　cast　out　the　evil　passions　that　cause　strife　and　dissension。　〃Instead　of　the　thorn　shall　come　up　the　fir　tree；　and　instead　of　the　brier　shall　come　up　the　myrtle　tree；〃　and　life's　desert　〃shall　rejoice；　and　blossom　as　the　rose。〃　Isa。　55：13；　35：1。

The　multitudes　were　amazed　at　this　teaching；　which　was　so　at　variance　with　the　precepts　and　example　of　the　Pharisees。　The　people　had　come　to　think　that　happiness　consisted　in　the　possession　of　the　things　of　this　world；　and　that　fame　and　the　honor　of　men　were　much　to　be　coveted。　It　was　very　pleasing