十月十八日
你的路径都滴下脂油。（诗65：11）
神有许多路径都“滴下脂油”，但最显著的一条乃是祷告的路径。常作私人祷告的信徒必不会说：“我消瘦了，我消瘦了，我有祸了！”饥饿的灵魂隔着施恩座很远，正像田野在大旱之时的枯焦一样。在祷告中用力与神摔跤能使信徒强壮起来，也能得到快乐。到天门最近的地方就是施恩座。你越独自亲近神就越有把握；少亲近耶稣，不久你所信的就会消失，幷要收许多疑惧的玷污，失去属神之乐的光芒。既然使灵性丰富的祷告路径爲最软弱的圣徒大开，既然不需要登得多麽高，既然幷没有因你是一位前进的圣徒而禁止你来，只要你是一位圣徒就可自由前来；
既然如此，亲爱的读者！你就应当常常走上个人独自灵修的路径，要多在你的双膝上用功夫，因爲以利亚如此，所以才能使雨降在以色列久旱的地上。另一条向走在其上的人滴下脂油的路径，乃是密切的交通的路。与耶稣相交真是一件满了欢乐的事！世上没有一句话能形容一个靠在耶稣胸前之人所有的平静。有很少数的基督徒了解这事，他们居于幽谷而不常爬上尼波山顶；他们的外院，而不进入圣所，他们不能享受祭司的权益。他们在远处观看幷献祭，但不能与祭祀一同坐下，享受燔祭的肥美的肉。但，读者啊！你要永远坐在耶稣的荫下，来到棕树之下，拿着棕枝；愿你所爱的在衆树中成爲你的苹果树，那末你必饱享肥甘与脂油。耶稣啊！愿你的救恩临到我们。
October
18
“Thy
paths drop fatness.”–Psalm 65:11
Many are “the paths of the Lord”
which “drop fatness,” but an especial one is the path of prayer. No
believer, who is much in the closet, will have need to cry, “My leanness,
my leanness; woe unto me.” Starving souls live at a distance from the
mercy- seat, and become like the parched fields in times of drought. Prevalence
with God in wrestling prayer is sure to make the believer strong–if not happy.
The nearest place to the gate of heaven is the throne of the heavenly grace.
Much alone, and you will have much assurance; little alone with Jesus, your
religion will be shallow, polluted with many doubts and fears, and not
sparkling with the joy of the Lord. Since the soul-enriching path of prayer is
open to the very weakest saint; since no high attainments are required; since
you are not bidden to come because you are an advanced saint, but freely
invited if you be a saint at all; see to it, dear reader, that you are often in
the way of private devotion. Be much on your knees, for so Elijah drew the rain
upon famished Israel’s fields.
There is another especial path dropping with fatness to those who walk
therein, it is the secret walk of communion. Oh! the delights of fellowship
with Jesus! Earth hath no words which can set forth the holy calm of a soul
leaning on Jesus’ bosom. Few Christians understand it, they live in the
lowlands and seldom climb to the top of Nebo: they live in the outer court,
they enter not the holy place, they take not up the privilege of priesthood. At
a distance they see the sacrifice, but they sit not down with the priest to eat
thereof, and to enjoy the fat of the burnt offering. But, reader, sit thou ever
under the shadow of Jesus; come up to that palm tree, and take hold of the
branches thereof; let thy beloved be unto thee as the apple-tree among the
trees of the wood, and thou shalt be satisfied as with marrow and fatness. O
Jesus, visit us with thy salvation!
