八月十二日
耶和華作王，願地快樂。（詩97：1）
只要這句話是真的，那末一切動蕩不安的原因都必消失。神的能力在地上足能控制惡人的狂暴，一如他平靜了加利利海的狂風大浪一樣；他的恩愛能蘇醒窮人，像時雨滋潤大地一樣。雷轟電掣的可怖當兒，可以看到神威嚇的閃光；帝王喪國，寶座頃覆的時候也可以看到神極大的榮耀。在我們一切的爭戰和灾難中，我們都可以看到我們的大君王之權能的右手。
“神是神；他看見，他聽見，我們一切眼泪和灾難。
受苦受難時，且莫忘記，神必永遠執掌王權。”
在地獄裏，惡人的靈魂必永遠受刑，這也證明神的王權。他們要行動的時候脚上帶著脚鐐；馬口有嚼環，鰐鰓有鐵鈎。死的毒鈎乃在神的管制之下，墳墓的權勢乃在神的執掌之中。審判全地的主在報仇雪恨時，惡人必畏縮顫栗，像狗在窩中怕獵人的鞭笞一樣。
“不怕死，不怕撒但磨難，依靠神，神必保護眷念；
受苦受難時，且莫忘記，神必永遠執掌王權。”
在天上誰也不再懷疑永生君王的權柄，都俯伏膜拜他。天使是他的僕役，被贖的人是他的珍寶，都歡喜快樂地晝夜服侍他。我們不久也要到大君王的京城！
“今生愁苦如長夜漫漫，他必賜我們快樂平安，
受苦受難時，且莫忘記，神必永遠執掌王權。”
August
12
"The
Lord reigneth, let the earth rejoice." -- Psalm 97:1
Causes for disquietude there are none so
long as this blessed sentence is true. On earth the Lord's power as readily
controls the rage of the wicked as the rage of the sea; His love as easily
refreshes the poor with mercy as the earth with showers. Majesty gleams in
flashes of fire amid the tempest's horrors, and the glory of the Lord is seen
in its grandeur in the fall of empires, and the crash of thrones. In all our
conflicts and tribulations, we may behold the hand of the divine King.
"God is God; He sees and hears
All our troubles, all our tears.
Soul, forget not, 'mid thy pains,
God o'er all for ever reigns."
In hell, evil spirits own, with misery,
His undoubted supremacy. When permitted to roam abroad, it is with a chain at
their heel; the bit is in the mouth of behemoth, and the hook in the jaws of
leviathan. Death's darts are under the Lord's lock, and the grave's prisons
have divine power as their warder. The terrible vengeance of the Judge of all
the earth makes fiends cower down and tremble, even as dogs in the kennel fear
the hunter's whip.
"Fear not death, nor Satan's thrusts,
God defends who in Him trusts;
Soul, remember, in thy pains,
God o'er all for ever reigns."
In heaven none doubt the sovereignty of
the King Eternal, but all fall on their faces to do Him homage. Angels are His
courtiers, the redeemed His favourites, and all delight to serve Him day and
night. May we soon reach the city of the great King!
"For this life's long night of
sadness
He will give us peace and gladness.
Soul, remember, in thy pains,
God o'er all for ever reigns."
8月12日清晨甘露