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In Christ is the tenderness of the shepherd； the affection of the parent； and the matchless grace of the compassionate Saviour。 His blessings He presents in the most alluring terms。 He is not content merely to announce these blessings； He presents them in the most attractive way； to excite a desire to possess them。 So His servants are to present the riches of the glory of the unspeakable Gift。 The wonderful love of Christ will melt and subdue hearts； when the mere reiteration of doctrines would accomplish nothing。 〃Comfort ye； comfort ye My people； saith your God。〃 〃O Zion； that bringest good tidings； get thee up into the high mountain； O Jerusalem； that bringest good tidings； lift up thy voice with strength； lift it up； be not afraid； say unto the cities of Judah； Behold your God！ 。 。 。 He shall feed His flock like a shepherd： He shall gather the lambs with His arm； and carry them in His bosom。〃 Isa。 40：1； 9…11。
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Tell the people of Him who is 〃the Chiefest among ten thousand；〃 and the One 〃altogether lovely。〃 The Song of Solomon 5：10； 16。 Words alone cannot tell it。 Let it be reflected in the character and manifested in the life。 Christ is sitting for His portrait in every disciple。 Every one God has predestinated to be 〃conformed to the image of His Son。〃 Rom。 8：29。 In every one Christ's long…suffering love； His holiness； meekness； mercy； and truth are to be manifested to the world。
The first disciples went forth preaching the word。 They revealed Christ in their lives。 And the Lord worked with them； 〃confirming the word with signs following。〃 Mark 16：20。 These disciples prepared themselves for their work。 Before the day of Pentecost they met together； and put away all differences。 They were of one accord。 They believed Christ's promise that the blessing would be given； and they prayed in faith。 They did not ask for a blessing for themselves merely； they were weighted with the burden for the salvation of souls。 The gospel was to be carried to the uttermost parts of the earth； and they claimed the endowment of power that Christ had promised。 Then it was that the Holy Spirit was poured out； and thousands were converted in a day。
So it may be now。 Instead of man's speculations； let the word of God be preached。 Let Christians put away their dissensions； and give themselves to God for the saving of the lost。 Let them in faith ask for the blessing； and it will come。 The outpouring of the Spirit in apostolic days was the 〃former rain；〃 and glorious was the result。 But the 〃latter rain〃 will be more abundant。 Joel 2：23。
All who consecrate soul； body； and spirit to God will be constantly receiving a new endowment of physical and mental power。 The inexhaustible supplies of heaven are at their command。 Christ gives them the breath of His own spirit； the life of His own life。 The Holy Spirit puts forth its highest energies to work in heart and mind。 The grace of God enlarges and multiplies their faculties； and every perfection of the divine nature comes to their assistance in the work of saving souls。 Through co…operation with Christ they are complete in Him； and in their human weakness they are enabled to do the deeds of Omnipotence。
The Saviour longs to manifest His grace and stamp His character on the whole world。 It is His purchased possession； and He desires to make men free； and pure； and holy。 Though Satan works to hinder this purpose； yet through the blood shed for the world there are triumphs to be achieved that will bring glory to God and the Lamb。 Christ will not be satisfied till the victory is complete； and 〃He shall see of the travail
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of His soul； and shall be satisfied。〃 Isa。 53：11。 All the nations of the earth shall hear the gospel of His grace。 Not all will receive His grace； but 〃a seed shall serve Him； it shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation。〃 Ps。 22：30。 〃The kingdom and dominion； and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven； shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High；〃 and 〃the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord； as the waters cover the sea。〃 〃So shall they fear the name of the Lord from the west； and His glory from the rising of the sun。〃 Dan。 7：27； Isa。 11：9； 59：19。
〃How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings； that publisheth peace； that bringeth good tidings of good； that publisheth salvation； that saith unto Zion； Thy God reigneth！ 。 。 。 Break forth into joy； sing together； ye waste places： 。 。 。 for the Lord hath comforted His people。 。 。 。 The Lord hath made bare His holy arm in the eyes of all the nations； and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God。〃 Isa。 52：7…10。
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Chapter 87
〃To My Father； and Your Father〃
The time had come for Christ to ascend to His Father's throne。 As a divine conqueror He was about to return with the trophies of victory to the heavenly courts。 Before His death He had declared to His Father； 〃I have finished the work which Thou gavest Me to do。〃 John 17：4。 After His resurrection He tarried on earth for a season； that His disciples might become familiar with Him in His risen and glorified body。 Now He was ready for the leave…taking。 He had authenticated the fact that He was a living Saviour。 His disciples need no longer associate Him with the tomb。 They could think of Him as glorified before the heavenly universe。
As the place of His ascension； Jesus chose the spot so often hallowed by His presence while He dwelt among men。 Not Mount Zion； the place of David's city； not Mount Moriah； the temple site； was to be thus honored。 There Christ had been mocked and rejected。 There the waves of mercy； still returning in a stronger tide of love； had been beaten back by hearts as hard as rock。 Thence Jesus； weary and heart…burdened； had gone forth to find rest in the Mount of Olives。 The holy Shekinah； in departing from the first temple； had stood upon the eastern mountain； as if loath to forsake the chosen city； so Christ stood upon Olivet； with yearning heart overlooking Jerusalem。 The groves and glens of the
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mountain had been consecrated by His prayers and tears。 Its steeps had echoed the triumphant shouts of the multitude that proclaimed Him king。 On its sloping descent He had found a home with Lazarus at Bethany。 In the garden of Gethsemane at its foot He had prayed and agonized alone。 From this mountain He was to ascend to heaven。 Upon its summit His feet will rest when He shall come again。 Not as a man of sorrows； but as a glorious and triumphant king He will stand upon Olivet； while Hebrew hallelujahs mingle with Gentile hosannas； and the voices of the redeemed as a mighty host shall swell the acclamation； 〃Crown Him Lord of all！
Now with the eleven disciples Jesus made His way toward the mountain。 As they passed through the gate of Jerusalem； many wondering eyes looked upon the little company； led by One whom a few weeks before the rulers had condemned and crucified。 The disciples knew not that this was to be their last interview with their Master。 Jesus spent the time in conversation with them； repeating His former instruction。 As they approached Gethsemane； He paused； that they might call to mind the lessons He had given them on the night of His great agony。 Again He looked upon the vine by which He had then represented the union of His church with Himself and His Father； again He repeated the truths He had then unfolded。 All around Him were reminders of His unrequited love。 Even the disciples who were so dear to His heart； had； in the hour of His humiliation； reproached and forsaken Him。
Christ had sojourned in the world for thirty…three years； He had endured its scorn； insult； and mockery； He had been rejected and crucified。 Now； when about to ascend to His throne of glory；as He reviews the ingratitude of the people He came to save；will He not withdraw from them His sympathy and love？ Will not His affections be centered upon that realm where He is appreciated； and where sinless angels wait to do His bidding？ No； His promise to those loved ones whom He leaves on earth is； 〃I am with you alway； even unto the end of the world。〃 Matt。 28：20。
Upon reaching the Mount of Olives； Jesus led the way across the summit； to the vicinity of Bethany。 Here He paused； and the disciples gathered about Him。 Beams of light seemed to radiate from His countenance as He looked lovingly upon them。 He upbraided them not for their faults and failures； words of the deepest tenderness were the last that fell upon their ears from the lips of their Lord。 With hands outstretched
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in blessing； and as if in assurance of His protecting care； He slowly ascended from among them； drawn heavenward by a power stronger than any earthly attraction。 As He passed upward； the awe…stricken disciples looked with straining eyes for the last glimpse of their ascending Lord。 A cloud of glory hid Him from their sight； and the words came back to them as the cloudy chariot of angels recei