五月廿一日
你们若尝过主恩的滋味……（彼前2：3）
“若”——那末，就是说这一件事并非赐给人类中的每一位。“若”——那末，也就是说有一些人有尝主恩的可能性和或然性。“若”——也说明这并非一般的而是一种特殊的恩怜，也叫我们自问是否我们在内心的经验中已经知道了神的恩典。没有一种属灵的恩惠不需我们切心追求的。
若有人在尝主恩的事上还有一个“若”字就不当自满，因为这是一件用诚恳的心情和祷告的态度来追求的事。一个人不信任自己的时候，在他心中会发生这个问题，信徒也不能例外，但这个疑问若继续存在的话就是一件坏事。在我们未能用信手抓住救主，并且说“因为知道我所信的是谁，也深信他能保全我所交付他的，直到那日”之前，我们就当努力不懈。信徒啊！在你还没有确定你在耶稣里面的利益之前，切莫懈怠。不要满足，直到圣灵与你的心同证你是神的儿女。不要在此徘徊流连，不要叫“或者”、“或许”、“若是”和“大概”来满足你的心。要在永固不移的根基上建造你的房屋，并且要切实在其上生根建造。要得“大卫那可靠的恩典”，并且要确实得到。要把你灵魂的锚抛在幔子内，并确知你的灵魂借着又坚固又牢靠的链子与锚系连起来。你要越过这些凄凉的“若”，不要住在疑惑和惧怕的旷野；渡过不信的约旦河，进入平安的迦南地，迦南人虽然仍在那里，但那地仍然不停地流奶与蜜。
May 21
“If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.” — 1 Peter 2:3
If:–then, this is not a matter to be taken for granted concerning every one of the human race. “If:”–then there is a possibility and a probability that some may not have tasted that the Lord is gracious. “If:”–then this is not a general but a special mercy; and it is needful to enquire whether we know the grace of God by inward experience. There is no spiritual favour which may not be a matter for heart-searching.
But while this should be a matter of earnest and prayerful inquiry, no one ought to be content whilst there is any such thing as an “if” about his having tasted that the Lord is gracious. A jealous and holy distrust of self may give rise to the question even in the believer’s heart, but the continuance of such a doubt would be an evil indeed. We must not rest without a desperate struggle to clasp the Saviour in the arms of faith, and say, “I know whom I have believed, and I am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him.” Do not rest, O believer, till thou hast a full assurance of thine interest in Jesus. Let nothing satisfy thee till, by the infallible witness of the Holy Spirit bearing witness with thy spirit, thou art certified that thou art a child of God. Oh, trifle not here; let no “perhaps” and “peradventure” and “if” and “maybe” satisfy thy soul. Build on eternal verities, and verily build upon them. Get the sure mercies of David, and surely get them. Let thine anchor be cast into that which is within the veil, and see to it that thy soul be linked to the anchor by a cable that will not break. Advance beyond these dreary “ifs;” abide no more in the wilderness of doubts and fears; cross the Jordan of distrust, and enter the Canaan of peace, where the Canaanite still lingers, but where the land ceaseth not to flow with milk and honey.
