七月二十六日
你们要分外地殷勤。有了信心，又要加上德行；有了德行，又要加上知识……（彼后1：5,6）
若你要在圣灵的影响和帮助之下，享受充足信心的大恩，就当遵行圣经所说的话，“要分外地殷勤”。要留心你的信心是否正确——幷不是相信道理，而是信靠基督，幷单单信靠基督。要在勇气方面分外地殷勤。求神赐你一副狮子的面孔，好叫你存著正直的心，勇敢向前。要细心查经，好得到知识；因爲在道理方面有知识就能使信心坚固。要明白神的话，幷把神的话丰丰富富地存在心里。
当你达到这地步之后，“有了知识，又要加上节制”。当心你的身体，要在外面有节制；当心你的心灵，要在里面有节制。此外，要靠着神的圣灵，再加上忍耐，求神赐你忍受苦难的忍耐，好叫你的忍耐经过试炼成爲精金。要常常佩带忍耐，在受苦的时候不要发怨言，或是消沉起来。有了忍耐要再追求虔敬。虔敬不仅是信奉，更要以荣耀神爲生活的目标，要在他的眼前而生活，要多靠近他，要常与他相交。
当你有了“虔敬”之后，要再加上“爱弟兄的心”；有了爱圣徒的心，要加上爱衆人的心，要把爱的手向一切人伸出来，幷爱他们的灵魂。当你有了这些珍宝，使这些美德平行地发展，你就清楚地知道“你们所蒙的恩召和拣选”。若你要稳妥平安，就“要分外地殷勤”，因爲冷淡和疑心常是携手而来的。我们要过著“加上”的生活，留心“减去”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.
