三月十六日
经文: 求祢拦阻仆人，不犯任意妄为的罪。（诗篇十九：13）
这是大卫的祈求，他是合上帝心意的人（参阅徒十三：22）。倘若大卫需要如此祈求，我们这些恩典中的婴儿更需祈求了！他似乎在说：“拦阻我，否则我将卤莽地奔向罪恶之悬崖。”我们罪恶的本性像一匹暴躁的马，企图脱缰而逃。但愿上帝以恩典的缰辔紧系我们。实在不敢想像我们会作出何等的事！即使最圣洁的人也必须“远离”最坏的过犯。使徒保罗郑重地警告圣徒们敌挡最丑恶的罪，他说：“所以要治死你们在地上的肢体。就如淫乱、污秽、邪情、恶欲、和贪婪，贪婪就与拜偶像一样。”（西三：5）。如果你转眼不望祂，你必定跌倒、你信心是坚定的、你的盼望是明亮的，切勿说：“我不会犯罪。”宁愿呼求：“不叫我们遇见试探。”在最杰出的人心中也有足够的火种，可以将地狱最深的火点起来，而在他们跌倒时，唯有上帝能熄灭这些火花。哈薛说：“你仆人算什么，不过是一条狗，焉能行这大事呢？”（王下八：13）。我们也喜欢提出这类自义的问题。但愿无限的智者能将我们从自信的愚蠢中救拔出来。
Evening, March 16
Scripture: “Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins.”(Psalm 19:13)
Such was theprayer of the “man after God's own heart.” Did holy David need to pray thus? How needful, then, must such a prayer be for us babes in grace! It is as if he said, “Keep me back, or I shall rush headlong over the precipice of sin.” Our evil nature, like an ill-tempered horse, is apt to run away. May the grace of God put the bridle upon it, and hold it in, that it rush not into mischief. What might not the best of us do if it were not for the checks which the Lord sets upon us both in providence and in grace! The psalmist's prayer is directed against the worst form of sin－that which is done with deliberation and wilfulness. Even the holiest need to be “kept back” from the vilest transgressions. It is a solemn thing to find the apostle Paul warning saints against the most loathsome sins. “Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry.” What! do saints want warning against such sins as these? Yes, they do. The whitest robes, unless their purity be preserved by divine grace, will be defiled by the blackest spots. Experienced Christian, boast not in your experience; you will trip yet if you look away from him who is able to keep you from falling. Ye whose love is fervent, whose faith is constant, whose hopes are bright, say not, “We shall never sin,” but rather cry, “Lead us not into temptation.” There is enough tinder in the heart of the best of men to light a fire that shall burn to the lowest hell, unless God shall quench the sparks as they fall. Who would have dreamed that righteous Lot could be found drunken, and committing uncleanness? Hazael said, “Is thy servant a dog, that he should do this thing?” and we are very apt to use the same self-righteous question. May infinite wisdom cure us of the madness of self-confidence.