九月十八日
我们若是靠圣灵得生，就当靠圣灵行事。（加5：25）
因信得生和因信行事是我们所信圣道的两件重要的事。能正确了解这两件事的人，便是实验神学的大师，否则也相去不远了，因爲这是作基督徒的两个要点。没有真正的虔敬就不会有真正的信心；从另一方面说，真正圣洁的生活都是借着活泼的信心在基督的义上扎根的。顾此失彼的人有祸了！有的人单使信心增长，而忘了圣洁，他们在道理上的造诣虽然很深，但所受的刑罚也必很大，“因爲他们行不义，阻挡真道”；也有人徒重生活的圣洁，而否认信心，正像从前的法利赛人一样，主说他们是“粉饰的坟墓”。
我们必须有信心，因爲这是基础；我们必须有圣洁的生活，因爲这是上层建筑。当风暴来时在这基础上所建造的房屋对人有什麽帮助呢？他能躲藏在里面吗？他希望有一所根基稳固的房子来庇护他。当我们在犹疑之时也需要这种属灵的上层建筑来安慰我们。但是不要寻求没有信心的圣洁生活，因爲这种房子幷不牢靠，它的根基幷不立在磐石上。信心和生活必须幷行，两者不可偏废，正像支撑拱门的两个柱石一样，它们使我们的敬虔生活得以永存。它们像太阳所发出的光和热一样，都有丰满的福分。它们像圣殿的两根梁柱，既荣耀又美丽。它们是从恩典的泉源所流出的两条溪水；是圣火所燃点的两盏明灯；是天雨所浇灌的两棵橄榄树。
主啊！求你今天赐我们里面的生命，好叫它在外面表现出你的荣耀。
September
18
“If
we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” — Galatians 5:25
The two most important things in our holy religion are the life of faith
and the walk of faith. He who shall rightly understand these is not far from
being a master in experimental theology, for they are vital points to a
Christian. You will never find true faith unattended by true godliness; on the
other hand, you will never discover a truly holy life which has not for its
root a living faith upon the righteousness of Christ. Woe unto those who seek
after the one without the other! There are some who cultivate faith and forget
holiness; these may be very high in orthodoxy, but they shall be very deep in
condemnation, for they hold the truth in unrighteousness; and there are others
who have strained after holiness of life, but have denied the faith, like the
Pharisees of old, of whom the Master said, they were “whitewashed
sepulchres.” We must have faith, for this is the foundation; we must have
holiness of life, for this is the superstructure. Of what service is the mere
foundation of a building to a man in the day of tempest? Can he hide himself
therein? He wants a house to cover him, as well as a foundation for that house.
Even so we need the superstructure of spiritual life if we would have comfort
in the day of doubt. But seek not a holy life without faith, for that would be
to erect a house which can afford no permanent shelter, because it has no foundation
on a rock. Let faith and life be put together, and, like the two abutments of
an arch, they will make our piety enduring. Like light and heat streaming from
the same sun, they are alike full of blessing. Like the two pillars of the
temple, they are for glory and for beauty. They are two streams from the
fountain of grace; two lamps lit with holy fire; two olive trees watered by
heavenly care. O Lord, give us this day life within, and it will reveal itself
without to Thy glory.
