九月二日[mp3_embed playlst=”/downloading/audio/evening/09/0902.mp3″]
经文: 若不看见神迹奇事，你们总是不信。（约翰福音四：48）
我们的主在世之时，人的思想有一病态征兆，就是热切追求神迹。他们极需福音，却拒绝福音，反倒急切求主耶稣行神迹，但是祂不常常行神迹。现在也是这样，许多人必须看见神迹奇事，否则不愿意相信。有人心中说：“我必须在灵里感到深切的搅动，不然我总不能相信耶稣。”但倘若你一直没有这种感觉，又如何呢？你宁愿入地狱，抱怨上帝，因为祂对待你不像祂对待其他人一般？另一位可能自语说：“倘若我能得到异梦或受到一些无法解释的震惊，那么，我将相信耶稣。”你不配得到异梦，因为主并不受你指挥。你只不过是祂大门外乞求怜悯的乞丐，然而，你却制定规章要祂如何向你施恩。主人是慷慨的，但是祂摒斥一切命令，祂要维持自己行动的主权。你为什么渴望神迹奇事呢？福音的本身不就是神迹奇事吗？“上帝爱世人，甚至将祂的独生子赐给他们，叫一切信祂的，不至灭亡，反得永生。”（约三：16），这就是神迹中的神迹。那宝贵的话：“愿意的都可以白白取生命的水喝。”（启二十二：17）和那庄严的应许：“到我这里来的，我总不丢弃他。”（约六：37），是十分肯定的，比神迹奇事要美好得多了。你为什么向那位从不说谎的主要证明呢？甚至连恶魔都宣称祂是上帝的儿子（参阅太八：29），你尚且不信祂么？
Evening, September 2
Scripture: “Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe.”(John 4:48)
A craving after marvels was a symptom of the sickly state of men’s minds in our Lord’s day; they refused solid nourishment, and pined after mere wonder. The gospel which they so greatly needed they would not have; the miracles which Jesus did not always choose to give they eagerly demanded. Many nowadays must see signs and wonders, or they will not believe. Some have said in their heart, “I must feel deep horror of soul, or I never will believe in Jesus.” But what if you never should feel it, as probably you never may? Will you go to hell out of spite against God, because he will not treat you like another? One has said to himself, “If I had a dream, or if I could feel a sudden shock of I know not what, then I would believe.” Thus you undeserving mortals dream that my Lord is to be dictated to by you! You are beggars at his gate, asking for mercy, and you must needs draw up rules and regulations as to how he shall give that mercy. Think you that he will submit to this? My Master is of a generous spirit, but he has a right royal heart, he spurns all dictation, and maintains his sovereignty of action. Why, dear reader, if such be your case, do you crave for signs and wonders? Is not the gospel its own sign and wonder? Is not this a miracle of miracles, that “God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him might not perish”? Surely that precious word, “Whosoever will, let him come and take the water of life freely” and that solemn promise, “Him that cometh unto me, I will in no wise cast out,” are better than signs and wonders! A truthful Saviour ought to be believed. He is truth itself. Why will you ask proof of the veracity of One who cannot lie? The devils themselves declared him to be the Son of God; will you mistrust him?
