七月二十六日
你們要分外地殷勤。有了信心，又要加上德行；有了德行，又要加上知識……（彼後1：5,6）
若你要在聖靈的影響和幫助之下，享受充足信心的大恩，就當遵行聖經所說的話，“要分外地殷勤”。要留心你的信心是否正確——幷不是相信道理，而是信靠基督，幷單單信靠基督。要在勇氣方面分外地殷勤。求神賜你一副獅子的面孔，好叫你存著正直的心，勇敢向前。要細心查經，好得到知識；因爲在道理方面有知識就能使信心堅固。要明白神的話，幷把神的話豐豐富富地存在心裏。
當你達到這地步之後，“有了知識，又要加上節制”。當心你的身體，要在外面有節制；當心你的心靈，要在裏面有節制。此外，要靠著神的聖靈，再加上忍耐，求神賜你忍受苦難的忍耐，好叫你的忍耐經過試煉成爲精金。要常常佩帶忍耐，在受苦的時候不要發怨言，或是消沉起來。有了忍耐要再追求虔敬。虔敬不僅是信奉，更要以榮耀神爲生活的目標，要在他的眼前而生活，要多靠近他，要常與他相交。
當你有了“虔敬”之後，要再加上“愛弟兄的心”；有了愛聖徒的心，要加上愛衆人的心，要把愛的手向一切人伸出來，幷愛他們的靈魂。當你有了這些珍寶，使這些美德平行地發展，你就清楚地知道“你們所蒙的恩召和揀選”。若你要穩妥平安，就“要分外地殷勤”，因爲冷淡和疑心常是攜手而來的。我們要過著“加上”的生活，留心“減去”的生活。
“常要加，常要加，常常更要加上！”
July 26
“Giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue;
and to virtue knowledge, etc.” — 2 Peter 1:5, 6
If thou wouldest enjoy the eminent grace of
the full assurance of faith, under the blessed Spirit’s influence, and
assistance, do what the Scripture tells thee, “Give diligence.” Take
care that thy faith is of the right kind–that it is not a mere belief of doctrine,
but a simple faith, depending on Christ, and on Christ alone. Give diligent
heed to thy courage. Plead with God that He would give thee the face of a lion,
that thou mayest, with a consciousness of right, go on boldly. Study well the
Scriptures, and get knowledge; for a knowledge of doctrine will tend very much
to confirm faith. Try to understand God’s Word; let it dwell in thy heart
richly.
When thou hast done
this, “Add to thy knowledge temperance.” Take heed to thy body: be
temperate without. Take heed to thy soul: be temperate within. Get temperance
of lip, life, heart, and thought. Add to this, by God’s Holy Spirit, patience;
ask Him to give thee that patience which endureth affliction, which, when it is
tried, shall come forth as gold. Array yourself with patience, that you may not
murmur nor be depressed in your afflictions. When that grace is won look to
godliness. Godliness is something more than religion. Make God’s glory your
object in life; live in His sight; dwell close to Him; seek for fellowship with
Him; and thou hast “godliness”; and to that add brotherly love. Have
a love to all the saints: and add to that a charity, which openeth its arms to
all men, and loves their souls. When you are adorned with these jewels, and
just in proportion as you practise these heavenly virtues, will you come to
know by clearest evidence “your calling and election.” “Give
diligence,” if you would get assurance, for lukewarmness and doubting very
naturally go hand in hand.
