十二月五日
你们祈求，就给你们。（太7：7）
英格兰某处现在仍有一处施舍面包的机关，每一位过客都可以得到他们所需要的面包。不论是谁，只要来叩圣十架医院的门，都可以使自己的心愿得以满足。耶稣基督爱罪人，所以他设立了圣十架医院；罪人如果饿了，就可以来叩门满足他的需要。不但如此，他在这个十架医院中也设立了一个洗浴的地方，黑暗罪污的灵魂只要肯，都可前来洗净自己。那泉源永远涌流而且有功效。罪人只要肯来，就能把他的污秽洗净。罪虽如朱红，如丹顔，也都可洗白净，罪人就必比雪还白。倘若还嫌不足，这个十架医院还有一个礼服间，罪人只要自己承认是罪人，就可以自头到脚换一套新衣服；若他愿意作一个兵丁，他可以得一套便服，幷且也可以顶盔贯甲。若他需要一把剑，就必得到，也有盾牌赐给他。凡有益于他的，都必给他。当他活着的时候，必有足够使用的金钱；当他进入他主的快乐中的时候，就必承受荣耀的宝库作爲永远的基业。
倘若只要来叩恩门就能得到这一切，那末，我的心哪！今晨你当竭力叩门，幷向宽容的主求大事吧！倘若你还没有把你的缺乏陈明主前，就不要离开他的恩座，直到因信满足了你一切所祈求的。耶稣既邀请你，你就不要羞怯不前；耶稣既应许你，你就不当使不信阻挡了你；你既可得这福分，就不当受冷淡的拦阻。
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.
