March 5

"We are made partaker of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast¹ unto the end." (Heb. 3:14)

It is the last step that wins; and there is no place in the pilgrim's progress where so many dangers lurk² as the region that lies hard by the portals of the Celestial³ City. It was there that Doubting Castle stood. It was there that the enchanted⁴ ground lured⁵ the tired traveler to fatal slumber⁶. It is when Heaven's heights are full in view that hell's gate is most persistent⁷ and full of deadly peril⁸. "Let us not be weary in well doing, for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not." "So run, that ye may obtain."

In the bitter waves of woe

Beaten and tossed about

By the sullen⁹ winds that blow

From the desolate¹⁰ shores of doubt,

Where the anchors that faith has cast

Are dragging in the gale,

I am quietly holding fast

To the things that cannot fail.

And fierce though the fiends may fight,

And long though the angels hide,

I know that truth and right

Have the universe on their side;

And that somewhere beyond the stars

Is a love that is better than fate.

When the night unlocks her bars

I shall see Him--and I will wait.

--Washington Gladden.

　 　 三月五日

　　“我们若将起初确实的信心，坚持到底，就在基督里有分了”（来三：14）。

　　胜利是坚持到最后一步获得的。在天路历程一书中描述的危机四伏，越靠近天门，难关越多，那里有迷楼，疑寨，及温柔蛊惑之处，把疲倦的旅客诱入致命的梦乡。旅伴啊！天堂高阁连云，历历在望，正当这个时候，地狱之门却大开，同时那地狱之门却最富有吸引力，成了旅客的最大危机。“我们行善，不可丧志；若不灰心，到了时侯，就要收成”。（加六：9）“所以你们当跑，好叫你们得着奖赏”。（林前九：24直译）。

在苦海的波涛中，

一叶扁舟，随着风浪起伏升沉。

这是疑惑之岸吹来的寒风，

何等凛冽阴森。

以信心为锚，抛在海底，

锚链在暴风雨绷得紧紧，

我镇静地把握住这救星，

它永远可靠，永远稳妥。

魔鬼的攻击虽然凶狠，

天使隐藏着，一时还不显现，

但我知道真理和正义，

乃为整个宇宙所维护。

在星空遥远的那边，

有胜过命运的慈爱。

黑暗过去，光明之门大开，

我就会见到他，我愿等待。——格拉登

1 steadfast   

adj.固定的，不变的，不动摇的；忠实的；坚贞不移的

参考例句：

• Her steadfast belief never left her for one moment.她坚定的信仰从未动摇过。
• He succeeded in his studies by dint of steadfast application.由于坚持不懈的努力他获得了学业上的成功。

2 lurk   

n.潜伏，潜行；v.潜藏，潜伏，埋伏

参考例句：

• Dangers lurk in the path of wilderness.在这条荒野的小路上隐伏着危险。
• He thought he saw someone lurking above the chamber during the address.他觉得自己看见有人在演讲时潜藏在会议厅顶上。

3 celestial   

adj.天体的；天上的

参考例句：

• The rosy light yet beamed like a celestial dawn.玫瑰色的红光依然象天上的朝霞一样绚丽。
• Gravity governs the motions of celestial bodies.万有引力控制着天体的运动。

4 enchanted   

adj. 被施魔法的，陶醉的，入迷的 动词enchant的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• She was enchanted by the flowers you sent her. 她非常喜欢你送给她的花。
• He was enchanted by the idea. 他为这个主意而欣喜若狂。

5 lured   

吸引，引诱（lure的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• The child was lured into a car but managed to escape. 那小孩被诱骗上了车，但又设法逃掉了。
• Lured by the lust of gold,the pioneers pushed onward. 开拓者在黄金的诱惑下，继续奋力向前。

6 slumber   

n.睡眠，沉睡状态

参考例句：

• All the people in the hotels were wrapped in deep slumber.住在各旅馆里的人都已进入梦乡。
• Don't wake him from his slumber because he needs the rest.不要把他从睡眠中唤醒，因为他需要休息。

7 persistent   

adj.坚持不懈的，执意的；持续的

参考例句：

• Albert had a persistent headache that lasted for three days.艾伯特连续头痛了三天。
• She felt embarrassed by his persistent attentions.他不时地向她大献殷勤，使她很难为情。

8 peril   

n.(严重的)危险；危险的事物

参考例句：

• The refugees were in peril of death from hunger.难民有饿死的危险。
• The embankment is in great peril.河堤岌岌可危。

9 sullen   

adj.愠怒的，闷闷不乐的，(天气等)阴沉的

参考例句：

• He looked up at the sullen sky.他抬头看了一眼阴沉的天空。
• Susan was sullen in the morning because she hadn't slept well.苏珊今天早上郁闷不乐，因为昨晚没睡好。

10 desolate   

adj.荒凉的，荒芜的；孤独的，凄凉的；v.使荒芜，使孤寂

参考例句：

• The city was burned into a desolate waste.那座城市被烧成一片废墟。
• We all felt absolutely desolate when she left.她走后，我们都觉得万分孤寂。