八月十七日[mp3_embed playlst=”/downloading/audio/evening/08/0817.mp3″]
经文: 这病不至于死。（约十一：4）
从主的话中，我们学到受苦是有限度的。它的终极被设限，不会超过某一特定点。拉撒路经过死亡，但死亡并非他受苦的最终结果。主对痛苦说：“你不能再往前了。”上帝并不差遣毁灭，却对自己的百姓颁下指示。智慧如同悬挂在炉口的温度计，用来调节热气。供应的上帝限定试验我们的时间、情况、强度、重覆及效果。每一成圣的结果皆是为着永恒的目标。无论大事或小事都不能逃过上帝守望的眼睛，祂甚至连我们的头上的头发都数算过了。此极限是依照我们的力量作智慧性的调整。受苦不是偶发事件，每一打击之重量都经上帝精确计算。上帝使云的平衡没有错误，在天体的运作中没有一丝误差，祂在配制心灵的药剂成份计算上亦不会犯差错。我们不能受过重的痛苦，也不能受苦过久。限度是经上帝温柔制定。天国的外科医师的手术刀从不会有多余的切割。虽然我们自以为十分顽强，但是却没有受到更坏的试验痛苦，真是奇妙！规定我们住所界限的那一位也规定了我们受苦的界限。没有一位母亲会比恩典的上帝有更多的关爱，没有一位父亲会比怜悯的上帝有更多的仁慈。
Evening, August 17
Scripture: “This sickness is not unto death.”(John 11:4)
From our Lord’s words we learn that there is a limit to sickness. Here is an “unto” within which its ultimate end is restrained, and beyond which it cannot go. Lazarus might pass through death, but death was not to be the ultimatum of his sickness. In all sickness, the Lord saith to the waves of pain, “Hitherto shall ye go, but no further.” His fixed purpose is not the destruction, but the instruction of his people. Wisdom hangs up the thermometer at the furnace mouth, and regulates the heat.
1. The limit is encouragingly comprehensive. The God of providence has limited the time, manner, intensity, repetition, and effects of all our sicknesses; each throb is decreed, each sleepless hour predestinated, each relapse ordained, each depression of spirit foreknown, and each sanctifying result eternally purposed. Nothing great or small escapes the ordaining hand of him who numbers the hairs of our head.
2. This limit is wisely adjusted to our strength, to the end designed, and to the grace apportioned. Affliction comes not at haphazard－the weight of every stroke of the rod is accurately measured. He who made no mistakes in balancing the clouds and meting out the heavens, commits no errors in measuring out the ingredients which compose the medicine of souls. We cannot suffer too much nor be relieved too late.
3. The limit is tenderly appointed. The knife of the heavenly Surgeon never cuts deeper than is absolutely necessary. “He doth not afflict willingly, nor grieve the children of men.” A mother’s heart cries, “Spare my child”; but no mother is more compassionate than our gracious God. When we consider how hard-mouthed we are, it is a wonder that we are not driven with a sharper bit. The thought is full of consolation, that he who has fixed the bounds of our habitation, has also fixed the bounds of our tribulation.