九月十三日
他们经过流泪谷，叫这谷变爲泉源之地，幷有秋雨之福盖满了全谷。（诗84：6）
这叫我们知道一个人所得的安慰也能帮助别人，正像一口井一样，几来的人都能汲饮。我们阅读满有安慰的书籍，正像约拿单蘸满了蜜的杖一样。我们想我们的弟兄在我们以前爲自己掘的井也是我们掘的。《哭泣之夜》、《夜半歌声》、《永远之日》、《耕地犁头》、《苦中得慰》（灵修书籍）等都是行天路的人爲自己掘的井，但是也很合别人的需要。我们开头要特别注意诗篇有一句话说：“我的心哪！你爲何忧闷（或消沉）。”走路的人很喜欢在荒凉的海岸看到人的脚印，我们也喜欢看到行天路的人在流泪谷所留下的足迹。
行天路的人所掘的井，乃是从上面得水，而非从下面涌出来的，这是一件希奇的事。我们用某种方法，但福分幷不能从我们的方法里流出。我们掘了一口井，但天上落下雨来充满了它。马是爲打仗之日预备的，但平安乃在乎耶和华。方法与结果有关，但徒有方法幷不能産生结果。雨水充满了泉源，才能成爲贮水的谷；工作幷不徒然，但须有神从上面来的帮助。
恩典也像雨一样，清洁、新鲜而舒畅；恩典也是从上面来的，赐下与否权柄在神。愿读者们喜获福雨，好有水充满各人所掘的井！天若不露笑容，方法和礼仪有什麽用呢？它们不过是无雨的云、无水的井罢了！愿神的爱，敞开天上的窗户倾福于我们。
September
13
“Who
passing through the valley of Baca make it a well, the rain also filleth the
pools.” — Psalm 84:6
This teaches us that the comfort obtained
by a one may often prove serviceable to another; just as wells would be used by
the company who came after. We read some book full of consolation, which is
like Jonathan’s rod, dropping with honey. Ah! we think our brother has been
here before us, and digged this well for us as well as for himself. Many a
“Night of Weeping,” “Midnight Harmonies,” an “Eternal
Day,” “A Crook in the Lot,” a “Comfort for Mourners,”
has been a well digged by a pilgrim for himself, but has proved quite as useful
to others. Specially we notice this in the Psalms, such as that beginning,
“Why art thou cast down, O my soul?” Travellers have been delighted
to see the footprint of man on a barren shore, and we love to see the waymarks
of pilgrims while passing through the vale of tears.
The pilgrims dig the well, but, strange
enough, it fills from the top instead of the bottom. We use the means, but the
blessing does not spring from the means. We dig a well, but heaven fills it
with rain. The horse is prepared against the day of battle, but safety is of
the Lord. The means are connected with the end, but they do not of themselves
produce it. See here the rain fills the pools, so that the wells become useful
as reservoirs for the water; labour is not lost, but yet it does not supersede
divine help.
Grace may well be compared to rain for its purity, for its refreshing
and vivifying influence, for its coming alone from above, and for the
sovereignty with which it is given or withheld. May our readers have showers of
blessing, and may the wells they have digged be filled with water! Oh, what are
means and ordinances without the smile of heaven! They are as clouds without
rain, and pools without water. O God of love, open the windows of heaven and pour
us out a blessing!
