七月十七日
亲爱的弟兄啊，我知道你们是蒙神所拣选的。（改译）（帖前1：4）
有很多人在他们未仰望基督之前就要知道他们是否是蒙神所拣选的，他们用这种方法是不会知道的，因爲只能借着“仰望耶稣”才能知道。若你要确实知道你已蒙拣选，可以按照下面的方法，那末你的心就可以在神面前确实知道了。你感到你是一个失丧的、有罪的人吗？就应当立刻到基督的十架之前，把你的情形告诉耶稣，幷且告诉他说你在圣经中念过他的话：“到我这里来的，我总不丢弃他。”你告诉他说：“主啊！你的话中曾说‘基督耶稣降世，爲要拯救罪人。’这话是可信的，是十分可佩服的。”
仰望耶稣，幷要信他，你马上就知道你已经蒙神的拣选。你所信的既是真实可靠的，你已完全献给基督，幷依靠他，那末你就是神所拣选的一个人。但你若站住说“我要先知道我是不是一个被选上的人”，那末你幷不知道你所求的是什麽。就到耶稣那里，不要再这样地犯罪吧！把一切有关你是否被选的问题丢到脑后。只要到基督跟前，隐藏在他的创伤里，那末你就知道你是一个蒙神所拣选的人了。圣灵必赐你凭据，使你能说：“因爲知道我所信的是谁，也深信他能保全我所交付他的，直到那日。”你随时都可以问基督，他能告诉你是否你已被选，但你不能用别的方法知道你是否已蒙选。去，完全投靠他吧！他必回答说：“我以永远的爱爱你，因此我以慈爱吸引你。”当你拣选了他的时候，他已拣选了你，这是毫无疑问的事。我们因信耶稣基督便被神拣选成爲他的儿子。
July 17
“Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of
God.” — 1 Thessalonians 1:4
Many persons want to know their election
before they look to Christ, but they cannot learn it thus, it is only to be
discovered by “looking unto Jesus.” If you desire to ascertain your
own election;–after the following manner, shall you assure your heart before
God. Do you feel yourself to be a lost, guilty sinner? go straightway to the
cross of Christ, and tell Jesus so, and tell Him that you have read in the
Bible, “Him that cometh unto me, I will in no wise cast out.” Tell
Him that He has said, “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation,
that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” Look to Jesus and
believe on Him, and you shall make proof of your election directly, for so
surely as thou believest, thou art elect. If you will give yourself wholly up
to Christ and trust Him, then you are one of God’s chosen ones; but if you stop
and say, “I want to know first whether I am elect,” you ask you know
not what. Go to Jesus, be you never so guilty, just as you are. Leave all
curious inquiry about election alone. Go straight to Christ and hide in His
wounds, and you shall know your election. The assurance of the Holy Spirit
shall be given to you, so that you shall be able to say, “I know whom I
have believed, and I am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have
committed to Him.” Christ was at the everlasting council: He can tell you
whether you were chosen or not; but you cannot find it out in any other way. Go
and put your trust in Him, and His answer will be–“I have loved thee with
an everlasting love, therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.”
There will be no doubt about His having chosen you, when you have chosen Him.
“Sons we are through God’s election,
Who in Jesus Christ believe.”
