五月二十七日[mp3_embed playlst=”/downloading/audio/evening/05/0527.mp3″]
经文: 仆人算什么，不过如死狗一般，竟蒙王这样眷顾。（撒母耳记九：8）
我们得的恩典越多，就越发不敢骄傲。恩典像光一段揭露了我们的不洁。杰出的圣徒极少认为自己可以与什么作比较，因他们敏感到自己的不配。圣拉塞福说：“我是枯干凋谢之树枝，一片死肉、枯骨，连跨过一条干草都不能。”自然界最低微的物体都有其优点，因为它们不会沾染罪。狗可能是贪婪、凶恶、或肮脏的，但是祂没有良知可以违背，也毋需抗拒圣灵。狗可能是没有价值的动物，然而向它表示些微仁慈，它就会爱主人甚至为他忠心至死。我们甚至会忘记主的仁慈，当祂呼召时也不跟随祂。死狗是最能表达轻蔑的术语，但用于受教信徒的自我厌恶也不为过。他们不仅假冒谦虚，其实他们己将自己在圣所的天平上秤量过，并且发现自己本质中之虚假。其实，我们不过是泥土和赋予生气之尘埃。但从罪人的观点看，我们却如巨物。真奇妙，主耶稣竟爱我们。虽然我们不过是尘土，却仍需“显出祂的能力是何等浩大”（弗一：19）。祂在天国能安心吗？或是祂必须往其他地方去寻找祂纯洁、无玷污的新妇？
Evening, May 27
Scripture: “What is thy servant, that thou shouldest look upon such a dead dog as I am?”(2 Samuel 9:8)
If Mephibosheth was thus humbled by David’s kindness, what shallwe be in the presence of our gracious Lord? The more grace we have, the less we shall think of ourselves, for grace, like light, reveals our impurity. Eminent saints have scarcely known to what to compare themselves, their sense of unworthiness has been so clear and keen. “I am,” says holy Rutherford, “a dry and withered branch, a piece of dead carcass, dry bones, and not able to step over a straw.” In another place he writes, “Except as to open outbreakings, I want nothing of what Judas and Cain had.” The meanest objects in nature appear to the humbled mind to have a preference above itself, because they have never contracted sin: a dog may be greedy, fierce, or filthy, but it has no conscience to violate, no Holy Spirit to resist. A dog may be a worthless animal, and yet by a little kindness it is soon won to love its master, and is faithful unto death; but we forget the goodness of the Lord, and follow not at his call. The term “dead dog” is the most expressive of all terms of contempt, but it is none too strong to express the self- abhorrence of instructed believers. They do not affect mock modesty, they mean what they say, they have weighed themselves in the balances of the sanctuary, and found out the vanity of their nature. At best, we are but clay, animated dust, mere walking hillocks; but viewed as sinners, we are monsters indeed. Let it be published in heaven as a wonder, that the Lord Jesus should set his heart’s love upon such as we are. Dust and ashes though we be, we must and will “magnify the exceeding greatness of his grace.” Could not his heart find rest in heaven? Must he needs come to these tents of Kedar for a spouse, and choose a bride upon whom the sun had looked? O heavens and earth, break forth into a song, and give all glory to our sweet Lord Jesus.
