八月二十四日

開路的在他們前面上去。（彌2：13）

耶穌既在我們前頭過去，那末他所留下的道路必定與前大不相同了。他已經戰勝了路上的一切仇敵。精疲力盡的戰士啊！抖擻精神，興奮起來吧！基督不單走過那路，而且斬殺了你的仇敵。你怕罪嗎？他已經把罪釘在他的十字架上了；你怕死嗎？他已經以死把死亡制死了；你怕地獄嗎？他已經把它封閉起來使他的子民不能近前，他們必永遠看不見滅亡的深淵。基督徒所遭遇的一切仇敵，都已經被打敗了。雖有猛獅當前，但它們的牙已被打掉；雖有毒蛇攔路，但它們的毒舌已被抽去；雖有江河橫陳，但都可平穩渡過；雖有烈火威嚇，但我們却穿著不怕火的衣服。臨到我們的刀劍都已變鈍，仇敵攻擊我們的一切戰具都已失效；神已在基督裏挪去一切損害我們的勢力。那末，只管向前進軍吧！你可以高高興興地走上你的路，因爲你的仇敵都早被打敗。你所作的不過是向前拾取戰利品罷了。它們已被打敗，它們已被消滅；你不過是坐享成果，等分掠物罷了。你一定要常常與敵爭戰，但你所交戰的仇敵都是敗將；它的頭已被打破；它要傷害你，但它沒有力量陷害你了；你的勝利是毫不費力的，幷且你所得的寶物也是難以計數的。

“高聲傳揚主美名，他在前頭作先鋒；

罪惡、死亡和地獄，都被救主所戰勝。”

August 24

"The breaker is come up before them." -- Micah 2:13

Inasmuch as Jesus has gone before us, things remain not as they would have been had He never passed that way. He has conquered every foe that obstructed the way. Cheer up now thou faint-hearted warrior. Not only has Christ travelled the road, but He has slain thine enemies. Dost thou dread sin? He has nailed it to His cross. Dost thou fear death? He has been the death of Death. Art thou afraid of hell? He has barred it against the advent of any of His children; they shall never see the gulf of perdition. Whatever foes may be before the Christian, they are all overcome. There are lions, but their teeth are broken; there are serpents, but their fangs are extracted; there are rivers, but they are bridged or fordable; there are flames, but we wear that matchless garment which renders us invulnerable to fire. The sword that has been forged against us is already blunted; the instruments of war which the enemy is preparing have already lost their point. God has taken away in the person of Christ all the power that anything can have to hurt us. Well then, the army may safely march on, and you may go joyously along your journey, for all your enemies are conquered beforehand. What shall you do but march on to take the prey? They are beaten, they are vanquished; all you have to do is to divide the spoil. You shall, it is true, often engage in combat; but your fight shall be with a vanquished foe. His head is broken; he may attempt to injure you, but his strength shall not be sufficient for his malicious design. Your victory shall be easy, and your treasure shall be beyond all count.

"Proclaim aloud the Saviour's fame,

Who bears the Breaker's wond'rous name;

Sweet name; and it becomes him well,

Who breaks down earth, sin, death, and hell."