九月十八日
我們若是靠聖靈得生，就當靠聖靈行事。（加5：25）
因信得生和因信行事是我們所信聖道的兩件重要的事。能正確瞭解這兩件事的人，便是實驗神學的大師，否則也相去不遠了，因爲這是作基督徒的兩個要點。沒有真正的虔敬就不會有真正的信心；從另一方面說，真正聖潔的生活都是藉著活潑的信心在基督的義上扎根的。顧此失彼的人有禍了！有的人單使信心增長，而忘了聖潔，他們在道理上的造詣雖然很深，但所受的刑罰也必很大，“因爲他們行不義，阻擋真道”；也有人徒重生活的聖潔，而否認信心，正像從前的法利賽人一樣，主說他們是“粉飾的墳墓”。
我們必須有信心，因爲這是基礎；我們必須有聖潔的生活，因爲這是上層建築。當風暴來時在這基礎上所建造的房屋對人有什麽幫助呢？他能躲藏在裏面嗎？他希望有一所根基穩固的房子來庇護他。當我們在猶疑之時也需要這種屬靈的上層建築來安慰我們。但是不要尋求沒有信心的聖潔生活，因爲這種房子幷不牢靠，它的根基幷不立在磐石上。信心和生活必須幷行，兩者不可偏廢，正像支撑拱門的兩個柱石一樣，它們使我們的敬虔生活得以永存。它們像太陽所發出的光和熱一樣，都有豐滿的福分。它們像聖殿的兩根梁柱，既榮耀又美麗。它們是從恩典的泉源所流出的兩條溪水；是聖火所燃點的兩盞明燈；是天雨所澆灌的兩棵橄欖樹。
主啊！求你今天賜我們裏面的生命，好叫它在外面表現出你的榮耀。
September
18
“If
we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” — Galatians 5:25
The two most important things in our holy religion are the life of faith
and the walk of faith. He who shall rightly understand these is not far from
being a master in experimental theology, for they are vital points to a
Christian. You will never find true faith unattended by true godliness; on the
other hand, you will never discover a truly holy life which has not for its
root a living faith upon the righteousness of Christ. Woe unto those who seek
after the one without the other! There are some who cultivate faith and forget
holiness; these may be very high in orthodoxy, but they shall be very deep in
condemnation, for they hold the truth in unrighteousness; and there are others
who have strained after holiness of life, but have denied the faith, like the
Pharisees of old, of whom the Master said, they were “whitewashed
sepulchres.” We must have faith, for this is the foundation; we must have
holiness of life, for this is the superstructure. Of what service is the mere
foundation of a building to a man in the day of tempest? Can he hide himself
therein? He wants a house to cover him, as well as a foundation for that house.
Even so we need the superstructure of spiritual life if we would have comfort
in the day of doubt. But seek not a holy life without faith, for that would be
to erect a house which can afford no permanent shelter, because it has no foundation
on a rock. Let faith and life be put together, and, like the two abutments of
an arch, they will make our piety enduring. Like light and heat streaming from
the same sun, they are alike full of blessing. Like the two pillars of the
temple, they are for glory and for beauty. They are two streams from the
fountain of grace; two lamps lit with holy fire; two olive trees watered by
heavenly care. O Lord, give us this day life within, and it will reveal itself
without to Thy glory.
