七月二十七日

又寶貴、又極大的應許。（彼後1：4）

若你要從經歷中得知應許的寶貴，幷在心中享受它們的寶貴，就當多思想。有一些應許像酒醡中的葡萄，人用力踹才能流出汁水來。多思想聖善的言語常因之使那些應許得以成全。在你默想的時候，你所尋求的恩惠就不期然而然地臨到了你。有很多基督徒渴慕某一種應許，而正在他們思念神的話時心中便得到那恩；因此他們常常因爲把應許存記在心得到很大的快樂。

在思念應許之外，要在你的心靈中接受它們，因爲那是神的話。你要在心中說：“若是一個人的應許，我應當仔細考慮他的能力和品性。對神的應許也當如此；我的眼不當過于注視恩典有多偉大——那能使我發生猶豫的；而當注視應許者的偉大——那能使我快樂起來。我的心哪！應許者是神，就是你的神，對你說話的神不能說謊。你現在所思想的他的話是真實的，像他的存在一樣地真實。他是不變的神。他口中所出的一切話從來沒有更改過，一字一句都沒有反悔過。他也不缺乏能力，對你說這話的神是創造天地的主。他也不缺少智慧，他知道什麽時候當給你或不當給你。因此，神的話既然是真實、不變、有力、智慧的，我就當相信這應許。若我們這樣思念應許和應許者，我們就能經驗到它們的甘美，也能使它們成全在我們身上。

“我主所言寶貝應許，安慰門徒行天路；就是說道：你的道路，我的眼睛常看顧。”

July 27

"Exceeding great and precious promises." -- 2 Peter 1:4

If you would know experimentally the preciousness of the promises, and enjoy them in your own heart, meditate much upon them. There are promises which are like grapes in the wine-press; if you will tread them the juice will flow. Thinking over the hallowed words will often be the prelude to their fulfillment. While you are musing upon them, the boon which you are seeking will insensibly come to you. Many a Christian who has thirsted for the promise has found the favour which it ensured gently distilling into his soul even while he has been considering the divine record; and he has rejoiced that ever he was led to lay the promise near his heart.

But besides meditating upon the promises, seek in thy soul to receive them as being the very words of God. Speak to thy soul thus, "If I were dealing with a man's promise, I should carefully consider the ability and the character of the man who had covenanted with me. So with the promise of God; my eye must not be so much fixed upon the greatness of the mercy--that may stagger me; as upon the greatness of the promiser--that will cheer me. My soul, it is God, even thy God, God that cannot lie, who speaks to thee. This word of His which thou art now considering is as true as His own existence. He is a God unchangeable. He has not altered the thing which has gone out of His mouth, nor called back one single consolatory sentence. Nor doth He lack any power; it is the God that made the heavens and the earth who has spoken thus. Nor can He fail in wisdom as to the time when He will bestow the favours, for He knoweth when it is best to give and when better to withhold. Therefore, seeing that it is the word of a God so true, so immutable, so powerful, so wise, I will and must believe the promise." If we thus meditate upon the promises, and consider the Promiser, we shall experience their sweetness, and obtain their fulfillment.