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its woe； and they look upon it with abhorrence。 A sense of the infinite
sacrifice made for its cure humbles them in their own sight and fills their
hearts with gratitude and praise which those who have never fallen cannot
appreciate。 They love much because they have been forgiven much。 Having been
partakers of Christ's sufferings； they are fitted to be partakers with Him
of His glory。
The heirs of God have come from garrets； from hovels； from dungeons； from
scaffolds； from mountains； from deserts； from the caves of the earth； from
the caverns of the sea。 On earth they were 〃destitute； afflicted；
tormented。〃 Millions went down to the grave loaded with infamy because they
steadfastly refused to yield to the deceptive claims of Satan。 By human
tribunals they were adjudged the vilest of criminals。 But now 〃God is judge
Himself。〃 Psalm 50：6。 Now the decisions of earth are reversed。 〃The rebuke
of His people shall He take away。〃 Isaiah 25：8。 〃They shall call them； The
holy people； The redeemed of the Lord。〃 He hath appointed 〃to give unto them
beauty for ashes； the oil of joy for mourning； the garment of praise for the
spirit of heaviness。〃 Isaiah 62：12； 61：3。 They are no longer feeble；
afflicted； scattered； and oppressed。 Henceforth they are to be ever with the
Lord。 They stand before the throne clad in richer robes than the most
honored of the earth have ever worn。 They are crowned with diadems more
glorious than were ever placed upon the brow of earthly monarchs。 The days
of pain and weeping are forever ended。 The King of glory has wiped the tears
from all faces； every cause of grief has been removed。 Amid the waving of
palm branches they pour forth a song of praise； clear； sweet； and
harmonious； every voice takes up the strain； until the anthem swells through
the vaults of heaven： 〃Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne；
and unto the Lamb。〃 And all the inhabitants of heaven respond in the
ascription： 〃Amen： Blessing； and glory； and wisdom； and
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thanksgiving； and honor； and power； and might； be unto our God for ever and
ever。〃 Revelation 7：10； 12。
In this life we can only begin to understand the wonderful theme of
redemption。 With our finite comprehension we may consider most earnestly the
shame and the glory； the life and the death； the justice and the mercy； that
meet in the cross； yet with the utmost stretch of our mental powers we fail
to grasp its full significance。 The length and the breadth； the depth and
the height； of redeeming love are but dimly comprehended。 The plan of
redemption will not be fully understood； even when the ransomed see as they
are seen and know as they are known； but through the eternal ages new truth
will continually unfold to the wondering and delighted mind。 Though the
griefs and pains and temptations of earth are ended and the cause removed；
the people of God will ever have a distinct； intelligent knowledge of what
their salvation has cost。
The cross of Christ will be the science and the song of the redeemed through
all eternity。 In Christ glorified they will behold Christ crucified。 Never
will it be forgotten that He whose power created and upheld the unnumbered
worlds through the vast realms of space； the Beloved of God； the Majesty of
heaven； He whom cherub and shining seraph delighted to adorehumbled
Himself to uplift fallen man； that He bore the guilt and shame of sin； and
the hiding of His Father's face； till the woes of a lost world broke His
heart and crushed out His life on Calvary's cross。 That the Maker of all
worlds； the Arbiter of all destinies； should lay aside His glory and
humiliate Himself from love to man will ever excite the wonder and adoration
of the universe。 As the nations of the saved look upon their Redeemer and
behold the eternal glory of the Father shining in His countenance； as they
behold His throne； which is from everlasting to everlasting； and know that
His kingdom is to have no end； they break forth in rapturous song： 〃Worthy；
worthy is the Lamb
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that was slain； and hath redeemed us to God by His own most precious blood！〃
The mystery of the cross explains all other mysteries。 In the light that
streams from Calvary the attributes of God which had filled us with fear and
awe appear beautiful and attractive。 Mercy； tenderness； and parental love
are seen to blend with holiness； justice； and power。 While we behold the
majesty of His throne； high and lifted up； we see His character in its
gracious manifestations； and comprehend； as never before； the significance
of that endearing title； 〃Our Father。〃
It will be seen that He who is infinite in wisdom could devise no plan for
our salvation except the sacrifice of His Son。 The compensation for this
sacrifice is the joy of peopling the earth with ransomed beings； holy；
happy； and immortal。 The result of the Saviour's conflict with the powers of
darkness is joy to the redeemed； redounding to the glory of God throughout
eternity。 And such is the value of the soul that the Father is satisfied
with the price paid； and Christ Himself； beholding the fruits of His great
sacrifice； is satisfied。
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Chapter 41
Desolation of the Earth
〃Her sins have reached unto heaven； and God hath remembered her iniquities。
。 。 。 In the cup which she hath filled fill to her double。 How much she hath
glorified herself； and lived deliciously； so much torment and sorrow give
her： for she saith in her heart； I sit a queen； and am no widow； and shall
see no sorrow。 Therefore shall her plagues come in one day； death； and
mourning； and famine； and she shall be utterly burned with fire： for strong
is the Lord God who judgeth her。 And the kings of the earth； who have
committed fornication and lived deliciously with her； shall bewail her； and
lament for her； 。 。 。 saying； Alas； alas that great city Babylon； that
mighty city！ for in one hour is thy judgment come。〃 Revelation 18：5…10。
〃The merchants of the earth；〃 that have 〃waxed rich through the abundance of
her delicacies；〃 〃shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment； weeping
and wailing； and saying； Alas； alas that great city； that was clothed in
fine linen； and purple； and scarlet； and decked with gold； and precious
stones； and pearls！ For in one hour so great riches is come to nought。〃
Revelation 18：11； 3； 15…17。
Such are the judgments that fall upon Babylon in the day of the visitation
of God's wrath。 She has filled up the measure of her iniquity； her time has
come； she is ripe for destruction。
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When the voice of God turns the captivity of His people； there is a terrible
awakening of those who have lost all in the great conflict of life。 While
probation continued they were blinded by Satan's deceptions； and they
justified their course of sin。 The rich prided themselves upon their
superiority to those who were less favored； but they had obtained their
riches by violation of the law of God。 They had neglected to feed the
hungry； to clothe the naked； to deal justly； and to love mercy。 They had
sought to exalt themselves and to obtain the homage of their fellow
creatures。 Now they are stripped of all that made them great and are left
destitute and defenseless。 They look with terror upon the destruction of the
idols which they preferred before their Maker。 They have sold their souls
for earthly riches and enjoyments； and have not sought to become rich toward
God。 The result is； their lives are a failure； their pleasures are now
turned to gall； their treasures to corruption。 The gain of a lifetime is
swept away in a moment。 The rich bemoan the destruction of their grand
houses； the scattering of their gold and silver。 But their lamentations are
silenced by the fear that they themselves are to perish with their idols。
The wicked are filled with regret； not because of their sinful neglect of
God and their fellow men； but because God has conquered。 They lament that
the result is what it is； but they do not repent of their wickedness。 Th