八月九日

那城內又不用日月光照。（啓21：23）

在更美的境界，一切居民都不需人生的一切福樂。他們不需要衣裳，他們的白衣不會穿壞，也不會染污。他們不需要藥來治療，因爲“城內居民必不說：我病了”。他們不需要睡眠來恢復他們的體力——他們無分晝夜地、不停地在神的殿中贊美他。他們不需要友誼的安慰，他們從同伴所得到的喜樂幷不算至大的福分，因爲他們與神同在乃是他們至大的願望。他們在那裏幷不需要教師，他們彼此談論神的作爲，但是用不到彼此求教，因爲神必教導他們。

我們在這裏是在君王的門前得他的周濟，但他們却和他一同坐席；我們在這裏有時依靠朋友的膀臂，但他們在那裏却投靠幷單單投靠在他們良人的手裏；我們在這裏需要同伴的幫助，但他們在那裏却在基督耶穌裏滿足了一切的需要；我們在這裏看到食物腐壞，衣服被蛀，但他們在那裏却在神裏面得到一切；我們在這裏須用桶到井裏取水，但他們在那裏却從源頭取飲，把他們的唇貼近生命水；我們在這裏須要天使把恩典帶來，但那時我們就不需要使者了；他們在那裏不需要加百列把愛從神那裏帶給他們，因爲他們必與他面對面。當我們被高舉，幷且在神的手中安息的時候是多麽有福呀！那時神，而非他所造的；主，而非他的工作，要成爲我們的快樂。這是多麽榮耀呀！那時我們的靈魂就必得到完備的福分。那時我們永遠行走在神的光中。

August 9

"The city hath no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it." -- Revelation 21:23

Yonder in the better world, the inhabitants are independent of all creature comforts. They have no need of raiment; their white robes never wear out, neither shall they ever be defiled. They need no medicine to heal diseases, "for the inhabitant shall not say, I am sick." They need no sleep to recruit their frames--they rest not day nor night, but unweariedly praise Him in His temple. They need no social relationship to minister comfort, and whatever happiness they may derive from association with their fellows is not essential to their bliss, for their Lord's society is enough for their largest desires. They need no teachers there; they doubtless commune with one another concerning the things of God, but they do not require this by way of instruction; they shall all be taught of the Lord. Ours are the alms at the king's gate, but they feast at the table itself. Here we lean upon the friendly arm, but there they lean upon their Beloved and upon Him alone. Here we must have the help of our companions, but there they find all they want in Christ Jesus. Here we look to the meat which perisheth, and to the raiment which decays before the moth, but there they find everything in God. We use the bucket to fetch us water from the well, but there they drink from the fountain head, and put their lips down to the living water. Here the angels bring us blessings, but we shall want no messengers from heaven then. They shall need no Gabriels there to bring their love-notes from God, for there they shall see Him face to face. Oh! what a blessed time shall that be when we shall have mounted above every second cause and shall rest upon the bare arm of God! What a glorious hour when God, and not His creatures; the Lord, and not His works, shall be our daily joy! Our souls shall then have attained the perfection of bliss.