10/7 司布真每日靈修(夜) Evening by Evening

十月七日

經文: 你到底倚靠誰。（以賽亞書三十六：5）

這是一個重要的問題。請聽基督徒的回答，並看看是否也是你的答案。我倚靠天父，相信祂在世界的根基立定以前已經揀選了我。我依靠祂供應我、教導我、引領我、糾正我、並將我領回家。我依靠聖子。祂是真神中的真神──基督耶穌。我信靠祂，因為祂親自捨命，拯救我脫離眾罪，並以祂完全的公義裝飾我。我依靠祂作我的代禱者，在祂父的寶座前陳上我的祈求和願望。我相信在未來的大日子中祂要作我的中保，為我請命，使我稱義。我依靠祂所是的、祂所作成的、和祂所應許要作的。我依靠聖靈。祂已將我從罪惡中拯救出來，並從我的生命中將所有罪惡逐出。我相信祂會勒住我的脾氣、降服我的意志、開啓我的智力、控制我的熱情、安慰我的消沈、幫助我的軟弱、並且照亮我的黑暗。我依靠祂內住作我的生命，統管我作我的王，使我的靈、魂、體都全然成聖，然後接我到天上與眾聖徒永遠同住於光明中。我相信祂的能力永不衰竭、祂的愛永不消滅、祂的仁慈永不改變、祂的信實永不失落、祂的智慧永不混亂、祂的完全美善永不減少！依靠祂，現在我能享有平安，將來可得榮耀。

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Evening, October 7

Scripture: “Now on whom dost thou trust?”(Isaiah 36:5)

Reader, this is an important question. Listen to the Christian's answer, and see if it is yours. “On whom dost thou trust?” “I trust,” says the Christian, “in a triune God. I trust the Father, believing that he has chosen me from before the foundations of the world; I trust him to provide for me in providence, to teach me, to guide me, to correct me if need be, and to bring me home to his own house where the many mansions are. I trust the Son. Very God of very God is he—the man Christ Jesus. I trust in him to take away all my sins by his own sacrifice, and to adorn me with his perfect righteousness. I trust him to be my Intercessor, to present my prayers and desires before his Father's throne, and I trust him to be my Advocate at the last great day, to plead my cause, and to justify me. I trust him for what he is, for what he has done, and for what he has promised yet to do. And I trust the Holy Spirit—he has begun to save me from my inbred sins; I trust him to drive them all out; I trust him to curb my temper, to subdue my will, to enlighten my understanding, to check my passions, to comfort my despondency, to help my weakness, to illuminate my darkness; I trust him to dwell in me as my life, to reign in me as my King, to sanctify me wholly, spirit, soul, and body, and then to take me up to dwell with the saints in light for ever.”         Oh, blessed trust! To trust him whose power will never be exhausted, whose love will never wane, whose kindness will never change, whose faithfulness will never fail, whose wisdom will never be nonplussed, and whose perfect goodness can never know a diminution! Happy art thou, reader, if this trust is thine! So trusting, thou shalt enjoy sweet peace now, and glory hereafter, and the foundation of thy trust shall never be removed.

10/4 司布真每日靈修(夜) Evening by Evening

十月四日

經文: 若有人犯罪，在父那裏我們有一位中保，就是那義者耶穌基督。（約翰壹書二：1）

我們雖然犯罪，但仍有一位中保。約翰沒有說：「若有人犯罪，他就喪失了這位中保。」雖然我們是罪人，我們有一位中保。信徒不論犯了甚麼罪，都不能毀壞他與主耶穌基督的關係，祂是中保。主的名字──耶穌──在此是富有很深含意的。祂是我們所需要的中保，因為耶穌就是一位以拯救為工作和喜樂的上帝。「你要給祂起名叫耶穌，因祂要將自己的百姓從罪惡裏救出來。」（太一：21）其次，祂的名是耶穌基督──受膏者。這一名字表示祂有為我們代求的權柄。基督有懇求的權利，因為祂是父上帝親自指派的中保和親自揀選的祭司。上帝所指派的這一位是大有能力的，我們可以安心將困難交給祂，因上帝已指派祂來幫助我們。祂是基督；所有祂有權柄；祂是基督，所以祂有資格；因為受膏已使祂完全滿足祂的工作的要求。祂能不停地懇求以致感動了上帝的心達到目的。當受膏者站立為我懇求時，祂的話語是何等溫柔，句子是何等動人！祂還有一個名──那義者耶穌基督。倘若那義者作我的中保，那麼我的案件就有絕對的優勢，否則祂不會接受。祂以公義的懇求代替我不公義的控告。祂宣告以自己作我的替身，卻將祂的順服歸在我的名下。信徒有這樣一位完全配作中保的良友。信徒啊，將你自己完全交在祂的手中吧！

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Evening, October 4

Scripture: “If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.”(1 John 2:1)

“If any man sin, we have an advocate.” Yes, though we sin, we have him still. John does not say, “If any man sin he has forfeited his advocate,” but “we have an advocate,” sinners though we are. All the sin that a believer ever did, or can be allowed to commit, cannot destroy his interest in the Lord Jesus Christ, as his advocate. The name here given to our Lord is suggestive. “Jesus.” Ah! then he is an advocate such as we need, for Jesus is the name of one whose business and delight it is to save. “They shall call his name Jesus, for he shall save his people from their sins.” His sweetest name implies his success. Next, it is “Jesus Christ”—Christos, the anointed. This shows his authority to plead. The Christ has a right to plead, for he is the Father's own appointed advocate and elected priest. If he were of our choosing he might fail, but if God hath laid help upon one that is mighty, we may safely lay our trouble where God has laid his help. He is Christ, and therefore authorized; he is Christ, and therefore qualified, for the anointing has fully fitted him for his work. He can plead so as to move the heart of God and prevail. What words of tenderness, what sentences of persuasion will the anointed use when he stands up to plead for me! One more letter of his name remains, “Jesus Christ the righteous.” This is not only his character BUT his plea. It is his character, and if the Righteous One be my advocate, then my cause is good, or he would not have espoused it. It is his plea, for he meets the charge of unrighteousness against me by the plea that he is righteous. He declares himself my substitute and puts his obedience to my account. My soul, thou hast a friend well fitted to be thine advocate, he cannot but succeed; leave thyself entirely in his hands.

9/29 司布真每日靈修(夜) Evening by Evening

九月二十九日

經文: 遇見我心所愛的，我拉住祂，不容祂走。（雅歌三：4）

當我們來到基督面前，祂是否接納我們，並且不顧我們過去所有的罪惡？祂是否因為我們先去尋求其它避難所而譴責我們？在世上有任何一人像祂？祂是否是所有人中最佳最美的？哦，讓我們來讚美祂吧！耶路撒冷的民哪，擊鼓彈琴歌頌祂！拋棄你所有的偶像，高舉主耶穌的聖名！將屬世的驕傲踐踏於腳下，將世人所反對並輕視的十字架高舉起來，讓我們的王永居高位。讓我的靈靜坐在祂的腳旁，親吻祂的雙腳，並以我的眼淚洗淨。哦，寶貴的基督！祂是如此豐滿、如此富足、如此滿足人心，我還要向何處去尋找喜樂和安慰？信徒阿，與你的心立約，永不離開祂！懇求祂保守你如同祂指頭上的戒指和手臂上的鐲子。求祂將你繫在身上如同新娘以珠寶裝飾她自己。我只求活在基督心中。我靈將永遠居住在那磐石的縫隙中。「萬軍之耶和華，我的王、我的上帝阿，在祢祭壇那裏，麻雀為自己找著房屋，燕子為自己找著菢雛之窩。」（詩八十四：3）主啊，我也渴望在祢裏面找到居所。但願祢的斑鴆的心不再四處遊蕩，能在祢的身旁築巢。耶穌啊，祢是我真正的、唯一的安息！

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Evening, September 29

Scripture: “I found him whom my soul loveth: I held him, and would not let him go.”(Song of Solomon 3:4)

Does Christ receive us when we come to him, notwithstanding all our past sinfulness? Does he never chide us for having tried all other refuges first? And is there none on earth like him? Is he the best of all the good, the fairest of all the fair? Oh, then let us praise him! Daughters of Jerusalem, extol him with timbrel and harp! Down with your idols, up with the Lord Jesus. Now let the standards of pomp and pride be trampled under foot, but let the cross of Jesus, which the world frowns and scoffs at, be lifted on high. O for a throne of ivory for our King Solomon! Let him be set on high for ever, and let my soul sit at his footstool, and kiss his feet, and wash them with my tears. Oh, how precious is Christ! How can it be that I have thought so little of him? How is it I can go abroad for joy or comfort when he is so full, so rich, so satisfying. Fellow believer, make a covenant with thine heart that thou wilt never depart from him, and ask thy Lord to ratify it. Bid him set thee as a signet upon his finger, and as a bracelet upon his arm. Ask him to bind thee about him, as the bride decketh herself with ornaments, and as the bridegroom putteth on his jewels. I would live in Christ's heart; in the clefts of that rock my soul would eternally abide. The sparrow hath made a house, and the swallow a nest for herself where she may lay her young, even thine altars, O Lord of hosts, my King and my God; and so too would I make my nest, my home, in thee, and never from thee may the soul of thy turtle dove go forth again, but may I nestle close to thee, O Jesus, my true and only rest.          “When my precious Lord I find,         All my ardent passions glow;         Him with cords of love I bind,         Hold and will not let him go.”

9/27 司布真每日靈修(夜) Evening by Evening

九月二十七日

經文: 我的良人從門孔裏伸進手來，我便因祂動了心。（雅歌五：4）

我的心睡意大濃、天氣又寒冷，你雖敲門，我並不願意起來開門。但是祂恩典的觸摸使我靈甦崇。啊，看我「良人」所受的痛苦！祂因被關在門外而等候，我卻因自己的庸懶而貪睡。請看祂偉大的忍耐，一而再地敲門並呼喊，要我為祂開門！我怎能如此忍心拒絕祂！我的心因羞恥而下拜，看祂那極大的仁慈，親自摸到門閂將門打開。現在我明白除我主自己的大能，沒有其它能力可以將我從罪惡中拯救出來。宗教無益，甚至福音失效，直至祂的手向我伸出。除祂以外，別無他人能開啓我心。每當我思想祂為我所受的一切痛苦而我不慨然回應時，我靈就攪擾不安。我竟然讓我的感情徘徊遊蕩。我竟與祂為敵，我竟使祂憂傷。我所愛中最甜美最親愛的，我待祢竟如不忠之妻子對待她的丈夫！我殘忍的罪、我冷酷的自我啊！我當作什麼呢？眼淚不足表示我的懺悔，我整顆心因對自我憤怒而澎湃。我是何等邪惡，竟然對待我的主、我生命的喜樂，如同對待一位陌生人。耶穌啊，我明白祢願意饒恕我，但是這樣尚嫌不足，求祢阻止我以後別對祢不忠。求祢吻除我的淚，洗淨我心，將它繫住，讓我心不再徘徊流浪。

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Evening, September 27

Scripture: “My Beloved put in his hand by the hole of the door, and my bowels were moved for him.”(Song of Solomon 5:4)

Knocking was not enough, for my heart was too full of sleep, too cold and ungrateful to arise and open the door, but the touch of his effectual grace has made my soul bestir itself. Oh, the longsuffering of my Beloved, to tarry when he found himself shut out, and me asleep upon the bed of sloth! Oh, the greatness of his patience, to knock and knock again, and to add his voice to his knockings, beseeching me to open to him! How could I have refused him! Base heart, blush and be confounded! But what greatest kindness of all is this, that he becomes his own porter and unbars the door himself. Thrice blessed is the hand which condescends to lift the latch and turn the key. Now I see that nothing but my Lord's own power can save such a naughty mass of wickedness as I am; ordinances fail, even the gospel has no effect upon me, till his hand is stretched out. Now, also, I perceive that his hand is good where all else is unsuccessful, he can open when nothing else will. Blessed be his name, I feel his gracious presence even now. Well may my bowels move for him, when I think of all that he has suffered for me, and of my ungenerous return. I have allowed my affections to wander. I have set up rivals. I have grieved him. Sweetest and dearest of all beloveds, I have treated thee as an unfaithful wife treats her husband. Oh, my cruel sins, my cruel self. What can I do? Tears are a poor show of my repentance, my whole heart boils with indignation at myself. Wretch that I am, to treat my Lord, my All in All, my exceeding great joy, as though he were a stranger. Jesus, thou forgivest freely, but this is not enough, prevent my unfaithfulness in the future. Kiss away these tears, and then purge my heart and bind it with sevenfold cords to thyself, never to wander more.

9/25 司布真每日靈修(夜) Evening by Evening

九月二十五日

經文: 上帝又使祂成為我們的智慧。（哥林多前書一：30）

人憑著聰明要探求安息，但是按照本性，人所探索的是偏離主耶穌基督的。即使已經信主的知識分子也常常缺乏尊崇和摯愛的心，小看基督的十字架。有精密思想並受高等教育的人常被誘惑以致偏離基督受死的簡單真理，去創造一套更理智的教義。這種作法導致早期的基督教會走上諾斯底主義（該主義自誇可以獲得一種特別的內在知識，遠於單純的「信靠」。──譯者註，參閱天道「大眾聖經百科全書」），以各種異端邪說混淆信徒。這也是萌生許多新哲學思想之根源，這些新哲學思想廣傳流行，迷惑了大群信徒。無論你是誰，無論你所受的教育為何，你若真正屬主，將無法哲學化的神學中尋得安息。你可能從一位偉人的思想家得到一些教條，從另外一位深奧的推理學者得到一些夢想。但是他們的思想言論與上帝的真純語話相比，不過是糠粃之於麥子。基督耶穌裏面蘊藏了一切智慧和知識（參閱西二：3），基督徒滿足於接受假教義的宗教體系所作的一切企圖必將失敗，因為那些假教義的宗教體系所作一切企圖必將失敗，因為那些假教義否認了耶穌基督的神性。天國的真正繼承者必須回到完全、簡單的真理，就是「基督耶穌降世為要拯救罪人」（提前一：15）。耶穌能滿足最高階層的知識份子，倘若他以信心接受祂；反之，偏離了耶穌，哲學家無法得到安息。「敬畏耶和華是知識的開端」（箴一：7）。「凡遵行祂命令的，是聰明人」（詩一一一：10）

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Evening, September 25

Scripture: “Who of God is made unto us wisdom.”(1 Corinthians 1:30)

Man's intellect seeks after rest, and by nature seeks it apart from the Lord Jesus Christ. Men of education are apt, even when converted, to look upon the simplicities of the cross of Christ with an eye too little reverent and loving. They are snared in the old net in which the Grecians were taken, and have a hankering to mix philosophy with revelation. The temptation with a man of refined thought and high education is to depart from the simple truth of Christ crucified, and to invent, as the term is, a more intellectual doctrine. This led the early Christian churches into Gnosticism, and bewitched them with all sorts of heresies. This is the root of Neology, and the other fine things which in days gone by were so fashionable in Germany, and are now so ensnaring to certain classes of divines. Whoever you are, good reader, and whatever your education may be, if you be the Lord's, be assured you will find no rest in philosophizing divinity. You may receive this dogma of one great thinker, or that dream of another profound reasoner, but what the chaff is to the wheat, that will these be to the pure word of God. All that reason, when best guided, can find out is but the A B C of truth, and even that lacks certainty, while in Christ Jesus there is treasured up all the fulness of wisdom and knowledge. All attempts on the part of Christians to be content with systems such as Unitarian and Broad-church thinkers would approve of, must fail; true heirs of heaven must come back to the grandly simple reality which makes the ploughboy's eye flash with joy, and gladens the pious pauper's heart—“Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners.” Jesus satisfies the most elevated intellect when he is believingly received, but apart from him the mind of the regenerate discovers no rest. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.” “A good understanding have all they that do his commandments.”

9/20 司布真每日靈修(夜) Evening by Evening

九月二十日

經文: 晚上也不要歇你的手。（傳道書十一：6）

夕陽西下，黃昏來臨，仍有許多為基督作見證的機會。整天勞碌的人們返家了，迫切爭取靈魂的工人有機會了，此時，正是向他們述說那穌之愛的時刻。我們是否在黃昏為耶穌作工？若沒有，也勿讓我環抱雙臂。有一工作需要付出極大的努力。罪人因缺乏知識而滅亡。閒蕩的人會發現他的雙手被滅亡靈魂的血所染紅。耶穌伸出雙手被釘。我怎能對祂的聖工袖手旁觀？祂夜以斷日為我辛勞、為我祈求。我怎能浪費分秒放縱自己貪圖肉體的暑華安逸？起來吧，怠惰的心！伸出你的手去作工或高舉雙手祈禱吧！天堂與地獄都在迫切工作。讓我也辛勤地工作，今晚為王播下一顆好種吧！生命是如此短促。無人能虛擲一日。倘若有一位國王在我們面前置放一堆金子，告訴我們只要數多少，就可以拿多少，我們必不停地從清晨數到夜盡。我們必然從晨曦微露開始，到黃昏降臨也不會歇手。贏取靈魂是更高貴的工作。為何我們這麼快就停工了呢？有人到了晚年仍然善用晚上的時光。若我能作到，我要用自己所有的才能去事奉我所稱頌的信實之主，直到最後一刻。靠著祂的恩典，我願在事奉中逝世，唯有當我的軀體躺下時，我才放下工作。晚上，我也不願歇手。

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Evening, September 20

Scripture: “In the evening withhold not thy hand.”(Ecclesiastes 11:6)

In the evening of the day opportunities are plentiful: men return from their labour, and the zealous soul-winner finds time to tell abroad the love of Jesus. Have I no evening work for Jesus? If I have not, let me no longer withhold my hand from a service which requires abundant labour. Sinners are perishing for lack of knowledge; he who loiters may find his skirts crimson with the blood of souls. Jesus gave both his hands to the nails, how can I keep back one of mine from his blessed work? Night and day he toiled and prayed for me, how can I give a single hour to the pampering of my flesh with luxurious ease? Up, idle heart; stretch out thy hand to work, or uplift it to pray; heaven and hell are in earnest, let me be so, and this evening sow good seed for the Lord my God.         The evening of life has also its calls. Life is so short that a morning of manhood's vigour, and an evening of decay, make the whole of it. To some it seems long, but a four-pence is a great sum of money to a poor man. Life is so brief that no man can afford to lose a day. It has been well said that if a great king should bring us a great heap of gold, and bid us take as much as we could count in a day, we should make a long day of it; we should begin early in the morning, and in the evening we should not withhold our hand; but to win souls is far nobler work, how is it that we so soon withdraw from it? Some are spared to a long evening of green old age; if such be my case, let me use such talents as I still retain, and to the last hour serve my blessed and faithful Lord. By his grace I will die in harness, and lay down my charge only when I lay down my body. Age may instruct the young, cheer the faint, and encourage the desponding; if eventide has less of vigorous heat, it should have more of calm wisdom, therefore in the evening I will not withhold my hand.

9/18 司布真每日靈修(夜) Evening by Evening

九月十八日

經文: 他們也跟著我。（約翰福音十：27）

我們應當毫無遲疑地跟隨我們的主，如同羊群跟隨牧人一樣，因為祂有權利引導我們至祂所喜悅的地方。我們並不是自己的人，是祂重價買來的（參閱林前六：20）。但願我們都能承認救贖寶血的權利。士兵跟隨長官，僕人服從主人。我們必須跟從拯救我們的主。祂買贖我們成為祂的產業。我們若質問主的命令而承認自己是基督徒，不是真的基督徒。順服是我們的責任，抱怨是我們的羞恥。我們的主會對我們說，就如同祂當年對彼得所說的：「與你何干？你跟從我吧！」（約二十一：22）。耶穌無論領我們到何處，祂必行在我們前頭。有這樣的一位同伴，誰還畏懼途徑上的危險？路途可能漫長，但是有祂永遠的膀臂扶持我們直至終點。耶穌的同在就是永恆救恩的確據。因為祂活著，我們也能活著。我們只需以單純的信心跟隨基督，因為祂所引領的路徑導至榮耀和永生。路徑可能並不平順，但是導向那「有根基的城，就是上帝所經營所建造的」（來十一：10）。「凡遵守祂的約和祂法度的人，耶和華都以慈愛誠實待他。」（詩二十五：10）但願我們完全信靠我們的「領導者」。我們明白，無論是興旺、是災難；是疾病、是健康；是受歡迎、是被藐視；都是為了實現祂純潔完美的目的。較之那些安坐家中，藉世界的壁爐烤火取暖的人，祂的大愛更能使我們蒙福。無論登上山頂或下到獅子坑中，我們必跟隨至愛的主。

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Evening, September 18

Scripture: “And they follow me.”(John 10:27)

We should follow our Lord as unhesitatingly as sheep follow their shepherd, for he has a right to lead us wherever he pleases. We are not our own, we are bought with a price—let us recognize the rights of the redeeming blood. The soldier follows his captain, the servant obeys his master, much more must we follow our Redeemer, to whom we are a purchased possession. We are not true to our profession of being Christians, if we question the bidding of our Leader and Commander. Submission is our duty, cavilling is our folly. Often might our Lord say to us as to Peter, “What is that to thee? Follow thou me.” Wherever Jesus may lead us, he goes before us. If we know not where we go, we know with whom we go. With such a companion, who will dread the perils of the road? The journey may be long, but his everlasting arms will carry us to the end. The presence of Jesus is the assurance of eternal salvation, because he lives, we shall live also. We should follow Christ in simplicity and faith, because the paths in which he leads us all end in glory and immortality. It is true they may not be smooth paths—they may be covered with sharp flinty trials, but they lead to the “city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.” “All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant.” Let us put full trust in our Leader, since we know that, come prosperity or adversity, sickness or health, popularity or contempt, his purpose shall be worked out, and that purpose shall be pure, unmingled good to every heir of mercy. We shall find it sweet to go up the bleak side of the hill with Christ; and when rain and snow blow into our faces, his dear love will make us far more blest than those who sit at home and warm their hands at the world's fire. To the top of Amana, to the dens of lions, or to the hills of leopards, we will follow our Beloved. Precious Jesus, draw us, and we will run after thee.

9/14 司布真每日靈修(夜) Evening by Evening

九月十四日

經文: 我向祢陳明我的罪，不隱瞞我的惡。我說，我要向耶和華承認我的過犯，祢就赦免我的罪惡。（詩篇三十二：5）

大衛深切地為罪憂傷。直至他在天國的恩典寶座前完全認罪，才得著醫治。他告訴我們，在保持沈默的那一段時期，他心中的罪惡感越發沈重。如同山上泉水的出口被堵塞，心靈因憂愁之激流而漲滿。他寬恕自己，企圖轉移自己的思想，但是一切皆屬徒然。他積鬱了極度的痛苦，因為他不願用認罪來使自己得釋放，所以他的心靈受極大折磨，不得安息。最後大衛明白他必須謙卑的懺悔回到上帝的面前，否則必死無疑。他急速來到施恩座前向無所不見的上帝承認他的惡行。對於驕傲的心，這是困難的，然而都是簡單的事。當他完成這一步時，立即獲得上帝的赦免。枯乾的骨頭即時開始歡呼。他開始歌唱過犯得蒙赦免的人所蒙的福。請看衷心承認罪惡的代價，確實是值得歌頌！每次真誠、迫切的認罪，都能白白地得到恩典，並不因為認罪悔改是配受恩典，乃因基督大愛的緣故！破碎的心必得醫治。泉源永不止息地湧流，為了潔淨我們的罪。主啊，祢真是一位「樂意饒恕人」（詩八十六：5）的上帝。因此，我們願意向祢承認自己的過犯。

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Evening, September 14

Scripture: “I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin.”(Psalm 32:5)

David's grief for sin was bitter. Its effects were visible upon his outward frame: “his bones waxed old”; “his moisture was turned into the drought of summer.” No remedy could he find, until he made a full confession before the throne of the heavenly grace. He tells us that for a time he kept silence, and his heart became more and more filled with grief: like a mountain tarn whose outlet is blocked up, his soul was swollen with torrents of sorrow. He fashioned excuses; he endeavoured to divert his thoughts, but it was all to no purpose; like a festering sore his anguish gathered, and as he would not use the lancet of confession, his spirit was full of torment, and knew no rest. At last it came to this, that he must return unto his God in humble penitence, or die outright; so he hastened to the mercy-seat, and there unrolled the volume of his iniquities before the all-seeing One, acknowledging all the evil of his ways in language such as you read in the fifty-first and other penitential Psalms. Having done this, a work so simple and yet so difficult to pride, he received at once the token of divine forgiveness; the bones which had been broken were made to rejoice, and he came forth from his closet to sing the blessedness of the man whose transgression is forgiven. See the value of a grace-wrought confession of sin! It is to be prized above all price, for in every case where there is a genuine, gracious confession, mercy is freely given, not because the repentance and confession deserve mercy, but for Christ's sake. Blessed be God, there is always healing for the broken heart; the fountain is ever flowing to cleanse us from our sins. Truly, O Lord, thou art a God “ready to pardon!” Therefore will we acknowledge our iniquities.

9/8 司布真每日靈修(夜) Evening by Evening

九月八日

經文: 祂向我們這信的人所顯的能力，是何等浩大，就是照祂在基督身上所運行的大能大力，使祂從死裏復活。（以弗所書一：19～20）

有人以為悔改是藉人的自由意志就能達到，因他性情之改善就能產生。我們當如何說呢？我們若能見到死人靠他們自己的力量從墳墓中復活過來，那麼我們就能期望不敬虔的罪人能因他們的自由意志轉向基督。這不是聖經的教導，我們也不能從聖經中讀到這樣的話。所有賜生命的大能都是從聖靈而來。所有士兵和所有大祭司都無法將基督的身體留在墓穴中。死亡本身不能捆綁耶穌。同樣不可抗拒的大能也顯明在信徒身上，使他復活的生命有新的樣式。沒有任何罪孽、腐敗、陰間的惡魔、或世上的罪人能停止上帝恩典的手去使人悔改。使基督從死裏復活的能力是榮耀的。它反映了上帝的尊榮，使邪惡之眾喪膽。因此，每一罪人悔改都要歸大榮耀於上帝。這復活的能力也是永恒的大能。「基督既從死裏復活，就不再死，死也不再作祂的主了。」（羅六：9）因此，我們這些從死裏復活的人，不再返回死亡的工作或返回我們過去的腐敗，卻要活在上帝裏面。「因為你們已經死了，你們的生命與基督一同藏在上帝裏面。」（西三：3）「叫我們一舉一動有新生的樣式，像基督藉著父的榮耀，從死裏復活一樣。」（羅六：4）使我們的頭復活的能力，也照樣運行在肢體的生命中。能與基督一同復活過來，是何等大的福氣啊！

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Evening, September 8

Scripture: “The exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe according to the working of his mighty power, which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead.”(Ephesians 1:19, 20)

In the resurrection of Christ, as in our salvation, there was put forth nothing short of a divine power. What shall we say of those who think that conversion is wrought by the free will of man, and is due to his own betterness of disposition? When we shall see the dead rise from the grave by their own power, then may we expect to see ungodly sinners of their own free will turning to Christ. It is not the word preached, nor the word read in itself; all quickening power proceeds from the Holy Ghost. This power was irresistible. All the soldiers and the high priests could not keep the body of Christ in the tomb; Death himself could not hold Jesus in his bonds: even thus irresistible is the power put forth in the believer when he is raised to newness of life. No sin, no corruption, no devils in hell nor sinners upon earth, can stay the hand of God's grace when it intends to convert a man. If God omnipotently says, “Thou shalt,” man shall not say, “I will not.” Observe that the power which raised Christ from the dead was glorious. It reflected honour upon God and wrought dismay in the hosts of evil. So there is great glory to God in the conversion of every sinner. It was everlasting power. “Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.” So we, being raised from the dead, go not back to our dead works nor to our old corruptions, but we live unto God. “Because he lives we live also.” “For we are dead, and our life is hid with Christ in God.” “Like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” Lastly, in the text mark the union of the new life to Jesus. The same power which raised the Head works life in the members. What a blessing to be quickened together with Christ!