四月二十日

特要藉著死，敗壞那掌死權的。（來2:14）

神的兒女啊！死已失去了它的毒鉤，因為魔鬼的死權已經被敗壞了，那末你就不要再怕死。求神開恩賜我們聖靈，叫我們確知並堅信救贖主的死，好在那可怕的一刹那加添我們的力量。你的生活若靠近加弗瑞的十字架，那末你就覺得死是一件快樂的事，並且當它帶著極大的快樂來臨時，你必歡迎它。在主裡死是一件甜蜜的事：睡在耶穌裡是他的約所給我們的福份。死並不再是驅逐，而是從流放的生活歸回，回到家裡，那裡已經有許多蒙愛的人住在天宮中。在天上得榮耀的靈魂與地下爭戰的聖者之間的距離好似很遠，其實並不然。我們與家相隔得並不算遠——頃刻之間，就能到那裡。帆已張開，我們的靈魂已經航到了深處。航程還有多少呢？在我還沒有收帆碇泊于平安的港中之前，還有多少微弱的風吹在我的帆上呢？在我還沒有達到無風無浪的海洋之前，還得受多少風浪的衝擊呢？聽聽下面一個回答：“離開身體，與主同在。”你的船剛剛起碇，但它早已在避風所了。它只要揚帆便可到達那邊。像從前，加利利湖上的一隻小船受了風浪的打擊，耶穌說：“住了吧！靜了吧！”船便立即抵達岸邊。不要以為在死的須臾與榮耀的永遠之間有一段很長的間隔。當我們在地上合起了眼，就在天上睜開了眼。火馬在路上不過是霎時之間的事。那末，神的兒女啊！你既看到你的主藉著死敗壞了死的權勢（咒詛）和毒鉤，你為什麼還怕死呢？現在雅各的天梯下面雖臨黑暗的墳墓，但上面卻通到永遠的榮耀。

April 20

"That through death He might destroy him that had the power of death." --Hebrews 2:14

O child of God, death hath lost its sting, because the devil's power over it is destroyed. Then cease to fear dying. Ask grace from God the Holy Ghost, that by an intimate knowledge and a firm belief of thy Redeemer's death, thou mayst be strengthened for that dread hour. Living near the cross of Calvary thou mayst think of death with pleasure, and welcome it when it comes with intense delight. It is sweet to die in the Lord: it is a covenant-blessing to sleep in Jesus. Death is no longer banishment, it is a return from exile, a going home to the many mansions where the loved ones already dwell. The distance between glorified spirits in heaven and militant saints on earth seems great; but it is not so. We are not far from home--a moment will bring us there. The sail is spread; the soul is launched upon the deep. How long will be its voyage? How many wearying winds must beat upon the sail ere it shall be reefed in the port of peace? How long shall that soul be tossed upon the waves before it comes to that sea which knows no storm? Listen to the answer, "Absent from the body, present with the Lord." Yon ship has just departed, but it is already at its haven. It did but spread its sail and it was there. Like that ship of old, upon the Lake of Galilee, a storm had tossed it, but Jesus said, "Peace, be still," and immediately it came to land. Think not that a long period intervenes between the instant of death and the eternity of glory. When the eyes close on earth they open in heaven. The horses of fire are not an instant on the road. Then, O child of God, what is there for thee to fear in death, seeing that through the death of thy Lord its curse and sting are destroyed? and now it is but a Jacob's ladder whose foot is in the dark grave, but its top reaches to glory everlasting.