九月十六日
經(jīng)文: 我對(duì)上帝說(shuō)，我豈是洋海、豈是大魚(yú)、禰竟防守我呢？（約伯記七：12）
約伯所問(wèn)的實(shí)在是一個(gè)奇怪的問(wèn)題。他自以為是一個(gè)毫不重要的人，不必受嚴(yán)謹(jǐn)?shù)氖刈o(hù)和磨練。他也不感到自己是不守法的，需要被約束。對(duì)一個(gè)被不可理喻的苦難所包圍的人來(lái)說(shuō)，這個(gè)疑問(wèn)是很自然的。但是約伯的問(wèn)題得到一個(gè)令人十分羞愧的答案。人不是大海。這是真的，但是他比大海更會(huì)制造麻煩，更不守約束。海洋尚且順從地尊重它的界限，雖然那只是一條沙帶。以自我意志為中心的人卻公然反對(duì)天國(guó)并壓迫世人。他反叛的怒火是無(wú)止境的。海洋服從月亮，潮汐按照永不止息的規(guī)則漲退，既主動(dòng)又被動(dòng)地順從。然而，人超越自己范圍動(dòng)亂不停。他在工作崗位上打盹，應(yīng)當(dāng)活動(dòng)之時(shí)卻偷懶。對(duì)上帝的命令不理不睬，故意去作不該作的事，要求他的反倒不作。海洋中的每一水滴、每一泡沫、每一波浪、和每一貝殼卵石都感到自然法則的能力，立即響應(yīng)行動(dòng)。唉，我們的本性可能至多只有海洋千分之一的意愿，愿意順從上帝的旨意！我們常稱海洋是變幻詭譎，其實(shí)它是多么恒定！千百年前，在我們祖先的時(shí)代，海洋就已在它所在的地方，每天以一定的聲調(diào)拍擊著同一巖石?？墒翘摽丈谱兊娜擞秩绾文兀柯斆魅四懿聹y(cè)自己下一刻因被誘離順?lè)赶潞畏N愚蠢的罪行嗎？我們必須比洶涌澎湃的大海更為謹(jǐn)守，因?yàn)槲覀儗?shí)在是非常悖逆的。主啊，求禰為了自己的榮耀來(lái)管理我們。
Evening, September 16
Scripture: “Am I a sea, or a whale, that thou settest a watch over me?”(Job 7:12)
This was a strange question for Job to ask of the Lord. He felt himself to be too insignificant to be so strictly watched and chastened, and he hoped that he was not so unruly as to need to be so restrained. The enquiry was natural from one surrounded with such insupportable miseries, but after all, it is capable of a very humbling answer. It is true man is not the sea, but he is even more troublesome and unruly. The sea obediently respects its boundary, and though it be but a belt of sand, it does not overleap the limit. Mighty as it is, it hears the divine hitherto, and when most raging with tempest it respects the word; but self-willed man defies heaven and oppresses earth, neither is there any end to this rebellious rage. The sea, obedient to the moon, ebbs and flows with ceaseless regularity, and thus renders an active as well as a passive obedience; but man, restless beyond his sphere, sleeps within the lines of duty, indolent where he should be active. He will neither come nor go at the divine command, but sullenly prefers to do what he should not, and to leave undone that which is required of him. Every drop in the ocean, every beaded bubble, and every yeasty foam-flake, every shell and pebble, feel the power of law, and yield or move at once. O that our nature were but one thousandth part as much conformed to the will of God! We call the sea fickle and false, but how constant it is! Since our fathers’ days, and the old time before them, the sea is where it was, beating on the same cliffs to the same tune; we know where to find it, it forsakes not its bed, and changes not in its ceaseless boom; but where is man-vain, fickle man? Can the wise man guess by what folly he will next be seduced from his obedience? We need more watching than the billowy sea, and are far more rebellious. Lord, rule us for thine own glory. Amen.
