七月二十日

這聖靈是我們得基業的憑據。（原文作“質”）（弗1：14）

那學會依靠耶穌幷專靠耶穌得飽足的人，是最聰明、最快樂、最有安慰、心中最高興的人。可是我們要知道雖然我們得到基督爲至寶，但在今生是不會達到最美好、最完全的地步的。從前有一位著作家說：“只不過是嘗了嘗味道！”我們已“嘗過主恩的滋味”，但我們還是不知道他是怎樣美好，怎樣慈惠。可是我們既已嘗到他的甜美之後，我們便更加切慕。我們已經吃過聖靈初熟的果子，而它們更使我們如饑如渴地切望進入天上的葡萄園；我們在心裏嘆息，等候得著兒子的名分。

我們在這裏好象曠野中的以色列人一樣，只得了以實各穀的一挂葡萄，而在那裏我們就進了葡萄園；在這裏我們看見自天降下的，像芫荽子那麽大小的嗎哪，但在那裏我們便可以吃天上的糧食和天國的出産；我們屬靈的教育正在開頭的時候，雖然我們已經知道幾個字母，但我們還不會念單字，更不能造句子；正像有人說：“在天上只住了五分鐘的人，比地上一切的教牧們所知道的更多。”我們現在有很多願望還未滿足，但不久每一個欲望都必能得到滿足；我們可以盡上一切力量來享受永世的快樂。基督徒呀！再等幾年吧！在很短的期間你就可脫離一切的患難和困苦。

你的眼現在雖然泪水盈眶，但不久你就沒有哭泣了。你必歡樂興奮地看到他榮耀地坐在寶座上。不，那還不够，你也要和他同坐。你必分享他得勝的榮耀；他的冠冕、他的快樂、他的樂園，都是你的。你必和他同爲後嗣，承受萬有。

July 20

"The earnest of our inheritance." -- Ephesians 1:14

Oh! what enlightenment, what joys, what consolation, what delight of heart is experienced by that man who has learned to feed on Jesus, and on Jesus alone. Yet the realization which we have of Christ's preciousness is, in this life, imperfect at the best. As an old writer says, "'Tis but a taste!" We have tasted "that the Lord is gracious," but we do not yet know how good and gracious He is, although what we know of His sweetness makes us long for more. We have enjoyed the firstfruits of the Spirit, and they have set us hungering and thirsting for the fulness of the heavenly vintage. We groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption. Here we are like Israel in the wilderness, who had but one cluster from Eshcol, there we shall be in the vineyard. Here we see the manna falling small, like coriander seed, but there shall we eat the bread of heaven and the old corn of the kingdom. We are but beginners now in spiritual education; for although we have learned the first letters of the alphabet, we cannot read words yet, much less can we put sentences together; but as one says, "He that has been in heaven but five minutes, knows more than the general assembly of divines on earth." We have many ungratified desires at present, but soon every wish shall be satisfied; and all our powers shall find the sweetest employment in that eternal world of joy. O Christian, antedate heaven for a few years. Within a very little time thou shalt be rid of all thy trials and thy troubles. Thine eyes now suffused with tears shall weep no longer. Thou shalt gaze in ineffable rapture upon the splendour of Him who sits upon the throne. Nay, more, upon His throne shalt thou sit. The triumph of His glory shall be shared by thee; His crown, His joy, His paradise, these shall be thine, and thou shalt be co-heir with Him who is the heir of all things.