八月九日
那城内又不用日月光照。（启21：23）
在更美的境界，一切居民都不需人生的一切福乐。他们不需要衣裳，他们的白衣不会穿坏，也不会染污。他们不需要药来治疗，因爲“城内居民必不说：我病了”。他们不需要睡眠来恢复他们的体力——他们无分昼夜地、不停地在神的殿中赞美他。他们不需要友谊的安慰，他们从同伴所得到的喜乐幷不算至大的福分，因爲他们与神同在乃是他们至大的愿望。他们在那里幷不需要教师，他们彼此谈论神的作爲，但是用不到彼此求教，因爲神必教导他们。
我们在这里是在君王的门前得他的周济，但他们却和他一同坐席；我们在这里有时依靠朋友的膀臂，但他们在那里却投靠幷单单投靠在他们良人的手里；我们在这里需要同伴的帮助，但他们在那里却在基督耶稣里满足了一切的需要；我们在这里看到食物腐坏，衣服被蛀，但他们在那里却在神里面得到一切；我们在这里须用桶到井里取水，但他们在那里却从源头取饮，把他们的唇贴近生命水；我们在这里须要天使把恩典带来，但那时我们就不需要使者了；他们在那里不需要加百列把爱从神那里带给他们，因爲他们必与他面对面。当我们被高举，幷且在神的手中安息的时候是多麽有福呀！那时神，而非他所造的；主，而非他的工作，要成爲我们的快乐。这是多麽荣耀呀！那时我们的灵魂就必得到完备的福分。那时我们永远行走在神的光中。
August
9
“The
city hath no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it.” — Revelation
21:23
Yonder in the better world, the inhabitants are independent of all
creature comforts. They have no need of raiment; their white robes never wear
out, neither shall they ever be defiled. They need no medicine to heal
diseases, “for the inhabitant shall not say, I am sick.” They need no
sleep to recruit their frames–they rest not day nor night, but unweariedly
praise Him in His temple. They need no social relationship to minister comfort,
and whatever happiness they may derive from association with their fellows is
not essential to their bliss, for their Lord’s society is enough for their
largest desires. They need no teachers there; they doubtless commune with one
another concerning the things of God, but they do not require this by way of instruction;
they shall all be taught of the Lord. Ours are the alms at the king’s gate, but
they feast at the table itself. Here we lean upon the friendly arm, but there
they lean upon their Beloved and upon Him alone. Here we must have the help of
our companions, but there they find all they want in Christ Jesus. Here we look
to the meat which perisheth, and to the raiment which decays before the moth,
but there they find everything in God. We use the bucket to fetch us water from
the well, but there they drink from the fountain head, and put their lips down
to the living water. Here the angels bring us blessings, but we shall want no
messengers from heaven then. They shall need no Gabriels there to bring their
love-notes from God, for there they shall see Him face to face. Oh! what a
blessed time shall that be when we shall have mounted above every second cause
and shall rest upon the bare arm of God! What a glorious hour when God, and not
His creatures; the Lord, and not His works, shall be our daily joy! Our souls
shall then have attained the perfection of bliss.
