十月二十八日

我從世界中揀選了你們。（約15：19）

神分別幷分辨我們，實在是他的恩典和關懷；有一些人乃是他特愛的對象。我們因神的揀選便可坦然無懼。當你的心最沉重、最消沉的時候，你就可以發現這是一瓶濃郁的興奮劑。那疑惑、或是弃絕恩典道理的人，便得不到以實各穀的葡萄，也吃不到神在聖山上用滿髓的肥甘幷澄清的陳酒所擺設的筵席。基烈的乳香比起它來也算不得什麽。約拿單手杖上的蜜能使人眼目明亮，而這蜜却能使你的心明亮，使你喜愛幷得知神國的奧秘。吃吧！不要怕吃得過度；要靠這珍肴美味過活，不要怕它太可口了。臣僕與王同桌共餐幷不會受什麽損害的。要擴展你的心，使你更能多多明瞭神永久的、永遠的、分別的大愛。當你到達揀選的高山之後，也要停留在另一座高山——恩典的約上面。那約是護衛我們的偉大磐石，是我們的保障，基督耶穌乃是心靈戰栗之人的安息之處。“他的誓、他的約、他的血，在汹涌的洪流中仍扶持我；

世上一切依靠都失效，這仍是我的力量，我的投靠。”

當耶穌要把我帶到榮耀裏，當父應許把我賜給他受過千辛萬苦的兒子作爲永遠的獎賞時；我的心哪！除非神不是信實的，或者耶穌不是可靠的，不然你總是穩妥而安全的。當大衛在約櫃前踴躍跳舞時，他告訴米甲說那是因神揀選他的緣故。我的心哪！來吧，爲神的恩典歌唱，爲心中的快樂跳舞吧！

October 28

"I have chosen you out of the world."--John 15:19

Here is distinguishing grace and discriminating regard; for some are made the special objects of divine affection. Do not be afraid to dwell upon this high doctrine of election. When your mind is most heavy and depressed, you will find it to be a bottle of richest cordial. Those who doubt the doctrines of grace, or who cast them into the shade, miss the richest clusters of Eshcol; they lose the wines on the lees well refined, the fat things full of marrow. There is no balm in Gilead comparable to it. If the honey in Jonathan's wood when but touched enlightened the eyes, this is honey which will enlighten your heart to love and learn the mysteries of the kingdom of God. Eat, and fear not a surfeit; live upon this choice dainty, and fear not that it will be too delicate a diet. Meat from the King's table will hurt none of his courtiers. Desire to have your mind enlarged, that you may comprehend more and more the eternal, everlasting, discriminating love of God. When you have mounted as high as election, tarry on its sister mount, the covenant of grace. Covenant engagements are the munitions of stupendous rock behind which we lie entrenched; covenant engagements with the surety, Christ Jesus, are the quiet resting-places of trembling spirits.

"His oath, his covenant, his blood,

Support me in the raging flood;

When every earthly prop gives way,

This still is all my strength and stay."

If Jesus undertook to bring me to glory, and if the Father promised that he would give me to the Son to be a part of the infinite reward of the travail of his soul; then, my soul, till God himself shall be unfaithful, till Jesus shall cease to be the truth, thou art safe. When David danced before the ark, he told Michal that election made him do so. Come, my soul, exult before the God of grace and leap for joy of heart.