七月二十日
这圣灵是我们得基业的凭据。（原文作“质”）（弗1：14）
那学会依靠耶稣幷专靠耶稣得饱足的人，是最聪明、最快乐、最有安慰、心中最高兴的人。可是我们要知道虽然我们得到基督爲至宝，但在今生是不会达到最美好、最完全的地步的。从前有一位著作家说：“只不过是尝了尝味道！”我们已“尝过主恩的滋味”，但我们还是不知道他是怎样美好，怎样慈惠。可是我们既已尝到他的甜美之后，我们便更加切慕。我们已经吃过圣灵初熟的果子，而它们更使我们如饥如渴地切望进入天上的葡萄园；我们在心里叹息，等候得着儿子的名分。
我们在这里好象旷野中的以色列人一样，只得了以实各谷的一挂葡萄，而在那里我们就进了葡萄园；在这里我们看见自天降下的，像芫荽子那麽大小的吗哪，但在那里我们便可以吃天上的粮食和天国的出産；我们属灵的教育正在开头的时候，虽然我们已经知道几个字母，但我们还不会念单字，更不能造句子；正像有人说：“在天上只住了五分钟的人，比地上一切的教牧们所知道的更多。”我们现在有很多愿望还未满足，但不久每一个欲望都必能得到满足；我们可以尽上一切力量来享受永世的快乐。基督徒呀！再等几年吧！在很短的期间你就可脱离一切的患难和困苦。
你的眼现在虽然泪水盈眶，但不久你就没有哭泣了。你必欢乐兴奋地看到他荣耀地坐在宝座上。不，那还不够，你也要和他同坐。你必分享他得胜的荣耀；他的冠冕、他的快乐、他的乐园，都是你的。你必和他同爲后嗣，承受万有。
July 20
“The earnest of our inheritance.” —
Ephesians 1:14
Oh! what enlightenment,
what joys, what consolation, what delight of heart is experienced by that man
who has learned to feed on Jesus, and on Jesus alone. Yet the realization which
we have of Christ’s preciousness is, in this life, imperfect at the best. As an
old writer says, “‘Tis but a taste!” We have tasted “that the
Lord is gracious,” but we do not yet know how good and gracious He is,
although what we know of His sweetness makes us long for more. We have enjoyed
the firstfruits of the Spirit, and they have set us hungering and thirsting for
the fulness of the heavenly vintage. We groan within ourselves, waiting for the
adoption. Here we are like Israel in the wilderness, who had but one cluster
from Eshcol, there we shall be in the vineyard. Here we see the manna falling
small, like coriander seed, but there shall we eat the bread of heaven and the
old corn of the kingdom. We are but beginners now in spiritual education; for
although we have learned the first letters of the alphabet, we cannot read
words yet, much less can we put sentences together; but as one says, “He
that has been in heaven but five minutes, knows more than the general assembly
of divines on earth.” We have many ungratified desires at present, but
soon every wish shall be satisfied; and all our powers shall find the sweetest
employment in that eternal world of joy. O Christian, antedate heaven for a few
years. Within a very little time thou shalt be rid of all thy trials and thy
troubles. Thine eyes now suffused with tears shall weep no longer. Thou shalt
gaze in ineffable rapture upon the splendour of Him who sits upon the throne.
Nay, more, upon His throne shalt thou sit. The triumph of His glory shall be
shared by thee; His crown, His joy, His paradise, these shall be thine, and
thou shalt be co-heir with Him who is the heir of all things.
