十二月五日
你們祈求，就給你們。（太7：7）
英格蘭某處現在仍有一處施捨麵包的機關，每一位過客都可以得到他們所需要的麵包。不論是誰，只要來叩聖十架醫院的門，都可以使自己的心願得以滿足。耶穌基督愛罪人，所以他設立了聖十架醫院；罪人如果餓了，就可以來叩門滿足他的需要。不但如此，他在這個十架醫院中也設立了一個洗浴的地方，黑暗罪污的靈魂只要肯，都可前來洗淨自己。那泉源永遠涌流而且有功效。罪人只要肯來，就能把他的污穢洗淨。罪雖如硃紅，如丹顔，也都可洗白淨，罪人就必比雪還白。倘若還嫌不足，這個十架醫院還有一個禮服間，罪人只要自己承認是罪人，就可以自頭到脚換一套新衣服；若他願意作一個兵丁，他可以得一套便服，幷且也可以頂盔貫甲。若他需要一把劍，就必得到，也有盾牌賜給他。凡有益于他的，都必給他。當他活著的時候，必有足夠使用的金錢；當他進入他主的快樂中的時候，就必承受榮耀的寶庫作爲永遠的基業。
倘若只要來叩恩門就能得到這一切，那末，我的心哪！今晨你當竭力叩門，幷向寬容的主求大事吧！倘若你還沒有把你的缺乏陳明主前，就不要離開他的恩座，直到因信滿足了你一切所祈求的。耶穌既邀請你，你就不要羞怯不前；耶穌既應許你，你就不當使不信阻擋了你；你既可得這福分，就不當受冷淡的攔阻。
December 5
“Ask, and it shall be given you.”—Matthew 7:7
We know of a place in
England still existing, where a dole of bread is served to every passerby who
chooses to ask for it. Whoever the traveller may be, he has but to knock at the
door of St. Cross Hospital, and there is the dole of bread for him. Jesus Christ
so loveth sinners that He has built a St. Cross Hospital, so that whenever a
sinner is hungry, he has but to knock and have his wants supplied. Nay, He has
done better; He has attached to this Hospital of the Cross a bath; and whenever
a soul is black and filthy, it has but to go there and be washed. The fountain
is always full, always efficacious. No sinner ever went into it and found that
it could not wash away his stains. Sins which were scarlet and crimson have all
disappeared, and the sinner has been whiter than snow. As if this were not
enough, there is attached to this Hospital of the Cross a wardrobe, and a
sinner making application simply as a sinner, may be clothed from head to foot;
and if he wishes to be a soldier, he may not merely have a garment for ordinary
wear, but armour which shall cover him from the sole of his foot to the crown
of his head. If he asks for a sword, he shall have that given to him, and a
shield too. Nothing that is good for him shall be denied him. He shall have
spending-money so long as he lives, and he shall have an eternal heritage of
glorious treasure when he enters into the joy of his Lord.
If all these things are to be had by merely knocking at
mercy’s door, O my soul, knock hard this morning, and ask large things of thy
generous Lord. Leave not the throne of grace till all thy wants have been
spread before the Lord, and until by faith thou hast a comfortable prospect
that they shall be all supplied. No bashfulness need retard when Jesus invites.
No unbelief should hinder when Jesus promises. No cold-heartedness should
restrain when such blessings are to be obtained.
