七月四日[mp3_embed playlst=”/downloading/audio/evening/07/0704.mp3″]
经文: 就是手洁心清，不向虚妄，起誓不怀诡诈的人。（诗篇二十四：4）
圣洁的外貌是恩典的宝贵记号。许多人曲解因信称义的教义以致轻视行善。在审判日，祂将接受永远的眨降。我们的手若不清洁，让我们在耶稣的宝血中将手洗净，以致能向上帝举起清洁的双手。但是清洁的手尚且不足，必须与清洁的心想连。真正的宗教是心灵的工作。我们可以洗净杯子的外部并洗净碟子，若是内部污秽，在上帝的眼中我们仍是污秽的。我们的真正生命是内在的本性，这也是内心需要清洁的原因。清心的人必得见上帝（参阅太五：8），其他的都是瞎眼的。为天国而生的人“不向虚妄”。所有的人都喜欢心灵向上。不相信的人向往肉体的欢乐，那不过是空虚浮华；圣徒却在主的道中欢欣。满足于豆荚的，将被置于猪群之中。世界能让你满足吗？若是，你就已经得着今生的报酬了。尽情享受吧，因为你没有其它欢乐了。 圣徒是受尊重的人物。基督徒所说的话就是他唯一的誓言，他所起的一个誓比别人所起的二十个誓言更好。虚假的话将在天国以外，因为说谎的人不能进入上帝的家。今晚，这节经文是否定你的罪？或是，今晚你盼望能登上主的山吗？
Evening, July 4
Scripture: “He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.”(Psalm 24:4)
Outward practical holiness is a very precious mark of grace. It is to be feared that many professors have perverted the doctrine of justification by faith in such a way as to treat good works with contempt; if so, they will receive everlasting contempt at the last great day. If our hands are not clean, let us wash them in Jesus’ precious blood, and so let us lift up pure hands unto God. But “clean hands” will not suffice, unless they are connected with “a pure heart.” True religion is heart-work. We may wash the outside of the cup and the platter as long as we please, but if the inward parts be filthy, we are filthy altogether in the sight of God, for our hearts are more truly ourselves than our hands are; the very life of our being lies in the inner nature, and hence the imperative need of purity within. The pure in heart shall see God, all others are but blind bats.
The man who is born for heaven “hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity.” All men have their joys, by which their souls are lifted up; the worldling lifts up his soul in carnal delights, which are mere empty vanities; but the saint loves more substantial things; like Jehoshaphat, he is lifted up in the ways of the Lord. He who is content with husks, will be reckoned with the swine. Does the world satisfy thee? Then thou hast thy reward and portion in this life; make much of it, for thou shalt know no other joy.
“Nor sworn deceitfully.” The saints are men of honour still. The Christian man’s word is his only oath; but that is as good as twenty oaths of other men. False speaking will shut any man out of heaven, for a liar shall not enter into God’s house, whatever may be his professions or doings. Reader, does the text before us condemn thee, or dost thou hope to ascend into the hill of the Lord?