四月二十日
特要借着死，败坏那掌死权的。（来2:14）
神的儿女啊！死已失去了它的毒钩，因为魔鬼的死权已经被败坏了，那末你就不要再怕死。求神开恩赐我们圣灵，叫我们确知并坚信救赎主的死，好在那可怕的一刹那加添我们的力量。你的生活若靠近加弗瑞的十字架，那末你就觉得死是一件快乐的事，并且当它带着极大的快乐来临时，你必欢迎它。在主里死是一件甜蜜的事：睡在耶稣里是他的约所给我们的福份。死并不再是驱逐，而是从流放的生活归回，回到家里，那里已经有许多蒙爱的人住在天宫中。在天上得荣耀的灵魂与地下争战的圣者之间的距离好似很远，其实并不然。我们与家相隔得并不算远——顷刻之间，就能到那里。帆已张开，我们的灵魂已经航到了深处。航程还有多少呢？在我还没有收帆碇泊于平安的港中之前，还有多少微弱的风吹在我的帆上呢？在我还没有达到无风无浪的海洋之前，还得受多少风浪的冲击呢？听听下面一个回答：“离开身体，与主同在。”你的船刚刚起碇，但它早已在避风所了。它只要扬帆便可到达那边。像从前，加利利湖上的一只小船受了风浪的打击，耶稣说：“住了吧！静了吧！”船便立即抵达岸边。不要以为在死的须臾与荣耀的永远之间有一段很长的间隔。当我们在地上合起了眼，就在天上睁开了眼。火马在路上不过是霎时之间的事。那末，神的儿女啊！你既看到你的主借着死败坏了死的权势（咒诅）和毒钩，你为什么还怕死呢？现在雅各的天梯下面虽临黑暗的坟墓，但上面却通到永远的荣耀。
April 20
“That through death He might destroy him that had the power of
death.” –Hebrews 2:14
O child of God, death hath lost its sting, because the devil’s power
over it is destroyed. Then cease to fear dying. Ask grace from God the Holy
Ghost, that by an intimate knowledge and a firm belief of thy Redeemer’s death,
thou mayst be strengthened for that dread hour. Living near the cross of
Calvary thou mayst think of death with pleasure, and welcome it when it comes
with intense delight. It is sweet to die in the Lord: it is a covenant-blessing
to sleep in Jesus. Death is no longer banishment, it is a return from exile, a
going home to the many mansions where the loved ones already dwell. The distance
between glorified spirits in heaven and militant saints on earth seems great;
but it is not so. We are not far from home–a moment will bring us there. The
sail is spread; the soul is launched upon the deep. How long will be its
voyage? How many wearying winds must beat upon the sail ere it shall be reefed
in the port of peace? How long shall that soul be tossed upon the waves before
it comes to that sea which knows no storm? Listen to the answer, “Absent
from the body, present with the Lord.” Yon ship has just departed, but it
is already at its haven. It did but spread its sail and it was there. Like that
ship of old, upon the Lake of Galilee, a storm had tossed it, but Jesus said,
“Peace, be still,” and immediately it came to land. Think not that a
long period intervenes between the instant of death and the eternity of glory.
When the eyes close on earth they open in heaven. The horses of fire are not an
instant on the road. Then, O child of God, what is there for thee to fear in
death, seeing that through the death of thy Lord its curse and sting are
destroyed? and now it is but a Jacob’s ladder whose foot is in the dark grave,
but its top reaches to glory everlasting.
