三月二日

以色列要磨鋤、犁、斧、鏟，就下到非利士人那裡去磨。（撒上13:20）

我們和邪惡的非利士人起了大戰，凡我們所有的兵器都要拿出來用。我們要動員講道，教訓，禱告，施捨，甚至也要發動被人忽視的天才。犁、斧、鏟都能用以擊殺非利士人；殺敵未必一定要有利器，粗笨的器具也能使敵人受到嚴重的打擊，這些東西都有用處。每一秒時間，得時與不得時；每一分力量，受過訓練或沒有受過；每一個機會，順利或不順利，都要加以利用，因為我們的仇敵眾多，我們的力量微弱。我們一切武器都需要磨礪，我們的悟性、技巧、力量、敏捷都要加以砥礪，換句話說，要叫這一切都能合乎主工作的需用。很多從事基督聖工的人多缺少普通的常識。若我們要，我們可跟我們的仇敵學習，下到非利士人那裡去磨我們的武器。今晨我們也要藉聖靈的幫助把我們的熱心磨得鋒快。我們看看教皇黨徒怎樣爬山過海引人入教，又怎樣利用教徒的熱誠呢？異教人，又怎樣火熱地忍受苦痛，敬奉他們的偶像，表現他們的忍耐和特性呢？再看一看黑暗的君王，他的奮鬥是多麼堅忍不拔，他的努力是多麼大膽妄為，他的計謀是多麼慎思熟慮，他的企圖是多麼明目張膽，他的手段是多麼高明毒辣，他的工作又是多麼積極起勁呢？鬼魔都結合一致背叛真神，而我們相信耶穌的人卻在服侍神的工作上散漫分歧，不能協和一致。願我們從撒旦的工場中學會作一個好撒瑪利亞人，找到我們所能幫助的人！

March 2

"But all the Israelites went down to the Philistines, to sharpen every man his share, and his coulter, and his ax, and his mattock." --1 Samuel 13:20

We are engaged in a great war with the Philistines of evil. Every weapon within our reach must be used. Preaching, teaching, praying, giving, all must be brought into action, and talents which have been thought too mean for service, must now be employed. Coulter, and axe, and mattock, may all be useful in slaying Philistines; rough tools may deal hard blows, and killing need not be elegantly done, so long as it is done effectually. Each moment of time, in season or out of season; each fragment of ability, educated or untutored; each opportunity, favourable or unfavourable, must be used, for our foes are many and our force but slender.

Most of our tools want sharpening; we need quickness of perception, tact, energy, promptness, in a word, complete adaptation for the Lord's work. Practical common sense is a very scarce thing among the conductors of Christian enterprises. We might learn from our enemies if we would, and so make the Philistines sharpen our weapons. This morning let us note enough to sharpen our zeal during this day by the aid of the Holy Spirit. See the energy of the Papists, how they compass sea and land to make one proselyte, are they to monopolize all the earnestness? Mark the heathen devotees, what tortures they endure in the service of their idols! are they alone to exhibit patience and self-sacrifice? Observe the prince of darkness, how persevering in his endeavours, how unabashed in his attempts, how daring in his plans, how thoughtful in his plots, how energetic in all! The devils are united as one man in their infamous rebellion, while we believers in Jesus are divided in our service of God, and scarcely ever work with unanimity. O that from Satan's infernal industry we may learn to go about like good Samaritans, seeking whom we may bless!