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Church of Christ
31
our Redeemer what blessings may not the true believer receive?
The church, soon to enter upon her most severe conflict, will be the
object most dear to God upon earth. The confederacy of evil will be
stirred with power from beneath, and Satan will cast all the reproach
possible upon the chosen ones whom he cannot deceive and delude
with his satanic inventions and falsehoods. But exalted “to be a
Prince and a Saviour, to give repentance to Israel, and remission of
sins,” will Christ, our representative and head, close His heart, or
withdraw His hand, or falsify His promise? No; never, never.
Identified with His Church
God has a church, a chosen people; and could all see as I have
seen how closely Christ identifies Himself with His people, no such
message would be heard as the one that denounces the church as
Babylon. God has a people who are laborers together with Him, and
they have gone straight forward, having His glory in view. Listen to
the prayer of our Representative in heaven: “Father, I will that they
also, whom Thou hast given Me, be with Me where I am; that they
may behold My glory.” Oh, how the divine Head longed to have His
church with Him! They had fellowship with Him in His suffering
and humiliation, and it is His highest joy to have them with Him
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to be partakers of His glory. Christ claims the privilege of having
His church with Him. “I will that they also, whom Thou hast given
Me, be with Me where I am.” To have them with Him is according
to covenant promise and agreement with His Father. He reverently
presents at the mercy seat His finished redemption for His people.
The bow of promise encircles our Substitute and Surety as He pours
out His petition of love, “Father, I will that they also, whom Thou
hast given Me, be with Me where I am; that they may behold My
glory.” We shall behold the King in His beauty, and the church will
be glorified.
Like David, we may now pray, “It is time for Thee, Lord, to
work: for they have made void Thy law.” Men have gone on in dis-
obedience to God’s law until they have reached a point of insolence
that is unparalleled. Men are training in disobedience, and are fast
approaching the limit of God’s forbearance and love; and God will
surely interfere. He will surely vindicate His honor and repress the