the great controversy-第66章
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dark or obscure therein： I am come to declare the true and full import of
every part of it； to show the length and breadth； the entire extent； of
every commandment contained therein； and the
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height and depth； the inconceivable purity and spirituality of it in all its
branches。〃Wesley； sermon 25。
Wesley declared the perfect harmony of the law and the gospel。 〃There is；
therefore； the closest connection that can be conceived； between the law and
the gospel。 On the one hand； the law continually makes way for； and points
us to； the gospel； on the other； the gospel continually leads us to a more
exact fulfilling of the law。 The law； for instance； requires us to love God；
to love our neighbor； to be meek； humble； or holy。 We feel that we are not
sufficient for these things； yea； that 'with man this is impossible；' but we
see a promise of God to give us that love； and to make us humble； meek； and
holy： we lay hold of this gospel； of these glad tidings； it is done unto us
according to our faith； and 'the righteousness of the law is fulfilled in
us；' through faith which is in Christ Jesus。 。 。 。
〃In the highest rank of the enemies of the gospel of Christ；〃 said Wesley；
〃are they who openly and explicitly 'judge the law' itself； and 'speak evil
of the law；' who teach men to break （to dissolve； to loose； to untie the
obligation of） not one only； whether of the least or of the greatest； but
all the commandments at a stroke。 。 。 。 The most surprising of all the
circumstances that attend this strong delusion； is that they who are given
up to it； really believe that they honor Christ by overthrowing His law； and
that they are magnifying His office while they are destroying His doctrine！
Yea； they honor Him just as Judas did when he said； 'Hail； Master； and
kissed Him。' And He may as justly say to every one of them； 'Betrayest thou
the Son of man with a kiss？ It is no other than betraying Him with a kiss；
to talk of His blood； and take away His crown； to set light by any part of
His law； under pretense of advancing His gospel。 Nor indeed can anyone
escape this charge； who preaches faith in any such a manner as either
directly or indirectly tends to set aside any branch of obedience： who
preaches Christ so as to disannul； or weaken in any wise； the least of the
commandments of God。〃Ibid。
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To those who urged that 〃the preaching of the gospel answers all the ends of
the law；〃 Wesley replied： 〃This we utterly deny。 It does not answer the very
first end of the law； namely； the convincing men of sin； the awakening those
who are still asleep on the brink of hell。〃 The apostle Paul declares that
〃by the law is the knowledge of sin；〃 〃and not until man is convicted of
sin； will he truly feel his need of the atoning blood of Christ。 。 。 。 'They
that be whole；' as our Lord Himself observes； 'need not a physician； but
they that are sick。' It is absurd； therefore； to offer a physician to them
that are whole； or that at least imagine themselves so to be。 You are first
to convince them that they are sick； otherwise they will not thank you for
your labor。 It is equally absurd to offer Christ to them whose heart is
whole； having never yet been broken。〃Ibid。； sermon 35。
Thus while preaching the gospel of the grace of God； Wesley； like his
Master； sought to 〃magnify the law； and make it honorable。〃 Faithfully did
he accomplish the work given him of God； and glorious were the results which
he was permitted to behold。 At the close of his long life of more than
fourscore yearsabove half a century spent in itinerant ministryhis
avowed adherents numbered more than half a million souls。 But the multitude
that through his labors had been lifted from the ruin and degradation of sin
to a higher and a purer life； and the number who by his teaching had
attained to a deeper and richer experience； will never be known till the
whole family of the redeemed shall be gathered into the kingdom of God。 His
life presents a lesson of priceless worth to every Christian。 Would that the
faith and humility； the untiring zeal； self…sacrifice； and devotion of this
servant of Christ might be reflected in the churches of today！
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Chapter 15
The Bible and the French Revolution
In the sixteenth century the Reformation； presenting an open Bible to the
people； had sought admission to all the countries of Europe。 Some nations
welcomed it with gladness； as a messenger of Heaven。 In other lands the
papacy succeeded to a great extent in preventing its entrance； and the light
of Bible knowledge； with its elevating influences； was almost wholly
excluded。 In one country； though the light found entrance； it was not
comprehended by the darkness。 For centuries； truth and error struggled for
the mastery。 At last the evil triumphed； and the truth of Heaven was thrust
out。 〃This is the condemnation； that light is come into the world； and men
loved darkness rather than light。〃 John 3：19。 The nation was left to reap
the results of the course which she had chosen。 The restraint of God's
Spirit was removed from a people that had despised the gift of His grace。
Evil was permitted to come to maturity。 And all the world saw the fruit of
willful rejection of the light。
The war against the Bible； carried forward for so many centuries in France；
culminated in the scenes of the Revolution。 That terrible outbreaking was
but the legitimate result of Rome's suppression of the Scriptures。 （See
Appendix。） It presented the most striking illustration which the world has
ever witnessed of the working out of the papal policy an illustration of
the results to which for more than a thousand
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years the teaching of the Roman Church had been tending。
The suppression of the Scriptures during the period of papal supremacy was
foretold by the prophets； and the Revelator points also to the terrible
results that were to accrue especially to France from the domination of the
〃man of sin。〃
Said the angel of the Lord： 〃The holy city shall they tread underfoot forty
and two months。 And I will give power unto My two witnesses； and they shall
prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days； clothed in sackcloth。 。
。 。 And when they shall have finished their testimony； the beast that
ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them； and shall
overcome them； and kill them。 And their dead bodies shall lie in the street
of the great city； which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt； where also
our Lord was crucified。 。 。 。 And they that dwell upon the earth shall
rejoice over them； and make merry； and shall send gifts one to another；
because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth。 And after
three days and a half the Spirit of life from God entered into them； and
they stood upon their feet； and great fear fell upon them which saw them。〃
Revelation 11：2…11。
The periods here mentioned〃forty and two months；〃 and 〃a thousand two
hundred and threescore days〃are the same； alike representing the time in
which the church of Christ was to suffer oppression from Rome。 The 1260
years of papal supremacy began in A。D。 538； and would therefore terminate in
1798。 （See Appendix note for page 54。） At that time a French army entered
Rome and made the pope a prisoner； and he died in exile。 Though a new pope
was soon afterward elected； the papal hierarchy has never since been able to
wield the power which it before possessed。
The persecution of the church did not continue throughout the entire period
of the 1260 years。 God in mercy to His people cut short the time of their
fiery trial。 In foretelling the
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〃great tribulation〃 to befall the church； the Saviour said： 〃Except those
days should be shortened； there should no flesh be saved： but for the
elect's sake those days shall be shortened。〃 Matthew 24：22。 Through the
influence of the Reformation the persecution was brought to an end prior to
