十月十八日

你的路徑都滴下脂油。（詩65：11）

神有許多路徑都“滴下脂油”，但最顯著的一條乃是禱告的路徑。常作私人禱告的信徒必不會說：“我消瘦了，我消瘦了，我有禍了！”饑餓的靈魂隔著施恩座很遠，正像田野在大旱之時的枯焦一樣。在禱告中用力與神摔跤能使信徒强壯起來，也能得到快樂。到天門最近的地方就是施恩座。你越獨自親近神就越有把握；少親近耶穌，不久你所信的就會消失，幷要收許多疑懼的玷污，失去屬神之樂的光芒。既然使靈性豐富的禱告路徑爲最軟弱的聖徒大開，既然不需要登得多麽高，既然幷沒有因你是一位前進的聖徒而禁止你來，只要你是一位聖徒就可自由前來；

既然如此，親愛的讀者！你就應當常常走上個人獨自靈修的路徑，要多在你的雙膝上用功夫，因爲以利亞如此，所以才能使雨降在以色列久旱的地上。另一條向走在其上的人滴下脂油的路徑，乃是密切的交通的路。與耶穌相交真是一件滿了歡樂的事！世上沒有一句話能形容一個靠在耶穌胸前之人所有的平靜。有很少數的基督徒瞭解這事，他們居于幽谷而不常爬上尼波山頂；他們的外院，而不進入聖所，他們不能享受祭司的權益。他們在遠處觀看幷獻祭，但不能與祭祀一同坐下，享受燔祭的肥美的肉。但，讀者啊！你要永遠坐在耶穌的蔭下，來到棕樹之下，拿著棕枝；願你所愛的在衆樹中成爲你的蘋果樹，那末你必飽享肥甘與脂油。耶穌啊！願你的救恩臨到我們。

October 18

"Thy paths drop fatness."--Psalm 65:11

Many are "the paths of the Lord" which "drop fatness," but an especial one is the path of prayer. No believer, who is much in the closet, will have need to cry, "My leanness, my leanness; woe unto me." Starving souls live at a distance from the mercy- seat, and become like the parched fields in times of drought. Prevalence with God in wrestling prayer is sure to make the believer strong--if not happy. The nearest place to the gate of heaven is the throne of the heavenly grace. Much alone, and you will have much assurance; little alone with Jesus, your religion will be shallow, polluted with many doubts and fears, and not sparkling with the joy of the Lord. Since the soul-enriching path of prayer is open to the very weakest saint; since no high attainments are required; since you are not bidden to come because you are an advanced saint, but freely invited if you be a saint at all; see to it, dear reader, that you are often in the way of private devotion. Be much on your knees, for so Elijah drew the rain upon famished Israel's fields.

There is another especial path dropping with fatness to those who walk therein, it is the secret walk of communion. Oh! the delights of fellowship with Jesus! Earth hath no words which can set forth the holy calm of a soul leaning on Jesus' bosom. Few Christians understand it, they live in the lowlands and seldom climb to the top of Nebo: they live in the outer court, they enter not the holy place, they take not up the privilege of priesthood. At a distance they see the sacrifice, but they sit not down with the priest to eat thereof, and to enjoy the fat of the burnt offering. But, reader, sit thou ever under the shadow of Jesus; come up to that palm tree, and take hold of the branches thereof; let thy beloved be unto thee as the apple-tree among the trees of the wood, and thou shalt be satisfied as with marrow and fatness. O Jesus, visit us with thy salvation!