八月十五日
天将晚，以撒出来在田间默想。（创24：63）
他所作的很令人羡慕。有很多人一有空就与同伴谈天，看闲书或是作无谓的消遣，若他们有智慧的话，一定不愿作这些无谓的事，而喜欢默想。这是很有益很有趣的一件事。若是我们能多独自静默的话，就能多得知识，生活也能更靠近神，幷能在恩典中有长进。默想能使我们从所获得的灵性食粮中咀嚼幷吸收出其中的精华和有用的养分来。若我们的主题是耶稣的话，那末默想便是一件甜美的事。以撒在那时看到了利百加，有很多人也在那时找到了他们所爱的。他所选择的地方很令人羡慕。田间的景物使我们可以思想经上的话语。从香柏树到牛膝草，从高翔的苍鹰到低诉的蚱蜢，从蔚蓝的天到晶莹的露，这一切都满了教训。
当神开了我们心眼的时候，那些教训马上会活生生地显在心头，比圣经所写的更容易令人领会。我们狭隘的斗室那有田间那麽健美，那麽宜人，那麽动人，那麽感人呀！我们不要把任何东西当作是平常或不洁的，而应当认爲一切受造之物都向造物主看齐，那末田间立时就变爲圣地了。那个时间非常令人羡慕。日落进，天幕低垂，放下世务与天父相交是很快乐的一件事。夕阳的余辉很能激起我们的惊异感，肃穆的夜色也能引起我们的敬畏心。亲爱的读者！若是一天的事情已经完毕，若你能用一小时的工夫到田间去漫步，那是再好不过的事了。若是不能的话，神在城市里，也能与你在密室或闹市中相遇。愿你今晨准备你的心迎见他吧！
August
15
“Isaac
went out to meditate in the field at the eventide.” — Genesis 24:63
Very admirable was his occupation. If
those who spend so many hours in idle company, light reading, and useless
pastimes, could learn wisdom, they would find more profitable society and more
interesting engagements in meditation than in the vanities which now have such
charms for them. We should all know more, live nearer to God, and grow in
grace, if we were more alone. Meditation chews the cud and extracts the real
nutriment from the mental food gathered elsewhere. When Jesus is the theme,
meditation is sweet indeed. Isaac found Rebecca while engaged in private
musings; many others have found their best beloved there.
Very admirable was the choice of place. In
the field we have a study hung round with texts for thought. From the cedar to
the hyssop, from the soaring eagle down to the chirping grasshopper, from the
blue expanse of heaven to a drop of dew, all things are full of teaching, and
when the eye is divinely opened, that teaching flashes upon the mind far more
vividly than from written books. Our little rooms are neither so healthy, so
suggestive, so agreeable, or so inspiring as the fields. Let us count nothing
common or unclean, but feel that all created things point to their Maker, and
the field will at once be hallowed.
Very admirable was the season. The season of sunset as it draws a veil
over the day, befits that repose of the soul when earthborn cares yield to the
joys of heavenly communion. The glory of the setting sun excites our wonder,
and the solemnity of approaching night awakens our awe. If the business of this
day will permit it, it will be well, dear reader, if you can spare an hour to
walk in the field at eventide, but if not, the Lord is in the town too, and
will meet with thee in thy chamber or in the crowded street. Let thy heart go
forth to meet Him.
