八月六日
守望的啊，夜裏如何？（賽21：11）
外面有什麽仇敵呢？邪說异端成千累萬，而且又時時不斷地有許多新的增加：我應當防守什麽樣的邪說呢？罪惡當黑夜來臨的時候，便從它們潛伏的地方偷偷爬來；我必須親自登上守望樓，看守禱告。那護圍我們的早已看明仇敵從什麽地方來攻擊我們了，也早已窺透撒但的毒計惡謀，當我們像麥子一樣被篩的時候，他爲我們禱告，叫我們的信心不至失敗。滿有恩惠的守望者啊！求你預先把仇敵的動向告訴我們，爲錫安的緣故求你不要默不作聲。
“守望的啊，夜裏如何？”有什麽樣的天氣臨到了教會？天上烏雲密布呢，還是睛空萬里？我們必順愛護神所關懷的教會；我們必須不容教會受嫉妒紛爭、相咬相吞和爭戰鬥毆等不良天氣的損害。
“守望的啊，夜裏如何？”你看到些什麽星？有什麽應許正合我們現在的需要，你發出警號也給我們安慰。基督——北極星，永遠在那裏，天上的衆星都安定在神的右手裏。
守望的啊，早晨什麽時候來臨呢？新郎還在等待。公義的日頭還沒有出洞房的預兆嗎？晨星還沒有在黎明的時候出現嗎？白日什麽時候來臨，陰影什麽時候逝去呢？主耶穌啊！若你今天還不親自來到等候你的教會,也求你的靈來到我嘆息的心中，叫它能唱出快樂的歌。“我照樣，立你作以色列家守望的人！”
August 6
“Watchman,
what of the night?” — Isaiah 21:11
What enemies are abroad? Errors are a
numerous horde, and new ones appear every hour: against what heresy am I to be
on my guard? Sins creep from their lurking places when the darkness reigns; I
must myself mount the watch-tower, and watch unto prayer. Our heavenly
Protector foresees all the attacks which are about to be made upon us, and when
as yet the evil designed us is but in the desire of Satan, He prays for us that
our faith fail not, when we are sifted as wheat. Continue O gracious Watchman,
to forewarn us of our foes, and for Zion’s sake hold not thy peace.
“Watchman, what of the night?”
What weather is coming for the Church? Are the clouds lowering, or is it all
clear and fair overhead? We must care for the Church of God with anxious love;
and now that Popery and infidelity are both threatening, let us observe the
signs of the times and prepare for conflict.
“Watchman, what of the night?”
What stars are visible? What precious promises suit our present case? You sound
the alarm, give us the consolation also. Christ, the polestar, is ever fixed in
His place, and all the stars are secure in the right hand of their Lord.
But watchman, when comes the morning? The
Bridegroom tarries. Are there no signs of His coming forth as the Sun of
Righteousness? Has not the morning star arisen as the pledge of day? When will the
day dawn, and the shadows flee away? O Jesus, if Thou come not in person to Thy
waiting Church this day, yet come in Spirit to my sighing heart, and make it
sing for joy.
“Now all the earth is bright and glad
With the fresh morn;
But all my heart is cold, and dark and
sad:
Sun of the soul, let me behold Thy dawn!
Come, Jesus, Lord,
O quickly come, according to Thy word.”
