五月九日

……曾賜給我們天上各樣屬靈的福氣。（弗1：3）

過去、現在以及將來一切上好的福，基督都已為他的民預備好了。在奧秘的太初主耶穌是他父首先所揀選的，因著他的被選，他也把這利益賜於我們，因為在創世以前我們就在他裡面被揀選了。他在永世以前就得了兒子的名分，作了他父的獨生愛子，並且在他豐盛的恩典裡，也藉著重生和成為後嗣使我們也得了兒子的名分，因此他“就賜我們權柄作神的兒女”。這永約是有實據的，並且是起誓為證的，實在是我們的安慰和保障。主耶穌因著他預知的命定和全能的命令，他的眼在永世以前就看中了我們；我們可以安然，因為他已“塗抹了律例上所寫的攻擊我們、有礙於我們的字據，把它撤去”。無論什麼字句都不能把屬他之人的利益削去。榮耀之君的未婚妻就是我們，在我們看來我們已經許配了他，聖潔的婚筵不久就要向全世宣佈出來了。天上的神謙卑虛己成為肉身是我們的，血汗、鞭笞、十架也永遠是我們的。從完全的順服，完成的救贖，復活，升天或代求而來的福分，都是他所賜給我們的。現在他的胸牌上有我們的名字，他在寶座前記念我們，大有能力地為我們祈求。他有權管轄執政的和掌權的，他在天上的至尊，都是為了要賜福於那依靠他的人。他升高和降卑時一樣都是為了服侍我們。他既曾把他自己賜予我們這些在死和災禍之深淵中的人，現在他坐在高天的寶座上也不會把他所賜予我們的收回去。

May 9

"Who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings." -- Ephesians 1:3

All the goodness of the past, the present, and the future, Christ bestows upon His people. In the mysterious ages of the past the Lord Jesus was His Father's first elect, and in His election He gave us an interest, for we were chosen in Him from before the foundation of the world. He had from all eternity the prerogatives of Sonship, as His Father's only-begotten and well-beloved Son, and He has, in the riches of His grace, by adoption and regeneration, elevated us to sonship also, so that to us He has given "power to become the sons of God." The eternal covenant, based upon suretiship and confirmed by oath, is ours, for our strong consolation and security. In the everlasting settlements of predestinating wisdom and omnipotent decree, the eye of the Lord Jesus was ever fixed on us; and we may rest assured that in the whole roll of destiny there is not a line which militates against the interests of His redeemed. The great betrothal of the Prince of Glory is ours, for it is to us that He is affianced, as the sacred nuptials shall ere long declare to an assembled universe. The marvellous incarnation of the God of heaven, with all the amazing condescension and humiliation which attended it, is ours. The bloody sweat, the scourge, the cross, are ours for ever. Whatever blissful consequences flow from perfect obedience, finished atonement, resurrection, ascension, or intercession, all are ours by His own gift. Upon His breastplate he is now bearing our names; and in His authoritative pleadings at the throne He remembers our persons and pleads our cause. His dominion over principalities and powers, and His absolute majesty in heaven, He employs for the benefit of them who trust in Him. His high estate is as much at our service as was His condition of abasement. He who gave Himself for us in the depths of woe and death, doth not withdraw the grant now that He is enthroned in the highest heavens.