May 29

"I have called you friends." (John 15:15)

Years ago there was an old German professor whose beautiful life was a marvel¹ to his students. Some of them resolved to know the secret of it; so one of their number hid in the study where the old professor spent his evenings.

It was late when the teacher came in. He was very tired, but he sat down and spent an hour with his Bible. Then he bowed his head in secret prayer; and finally closing the Book of books, he said,

"Well, Lord Jesus, we're on the same old terms."

To know Him is life's highest attainment²; and at all costs, every Christian³ should strive to be "on the same old terms with Him."

The reality of Jesus comes as a result of secret prayer, and a personal study of the Bible that is devotional and sympathetic. Christ becomes more real to the one who persists in the cultivation⁴ of His presence.

Speak thou to Him for He heareth,

And spirit with spirit will meet!

Nearer is He than breathing,

Nearer than hands and feet.

--Maltbie D. Babcock.

　 五月二十九日

“我乃称你们为朋友”（约十五：15）。

　　数年前某大学有一位年老的德文教授，他的生活是为全校学生所钦佩的。他们中间有几个好奇的学生，很想探听他所以这样生活的秘诀；所以其中有一个学生隐匿在教授的书室中，看他每天晚上在那里干些什么。

　　教授走进书室，时间已很迟了。看他的样子似乎很累，但是他坐下来，打开圣经，顶虔诚的读了一个钟头。然后低头默祷；最后，把圣经关起来，说：

　　“主耶稣，我们又是一次欢聚”！

　　与主欢聚是属灵生活中的最高点；每一个基督人，该不惜任何代价，寻求与主“又是一次欢聚”。

　　祷告和读经能使我们觉得基督的实在。越在密室中追求主的同在的，越觉得主的实在。——贝伯考克

他正听着，

用你的心声与他接触，

灵灵相交，密如心腹，

呼吸相通，亲同手足。——贝伯考克

1 marvel   

vi.(at)惊叹vt.感到惊异；n.令人惊异的事

参考例句：

• The robot is a marvel of modern engineering.机器人是现代工程技术的奇迹。
• The operation was a marvel of medical skill.这次手术是医术上的一个奇迹。

2 attainment   

n.达到，到达；［常pl.］成就，造诣

参考例句：

• We congratulated her upon her attainment to so great an age.我们祝贺她高寿。
• The attainment of the success is not easy.成功的取得并不容易。

3 Christian   

adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒

参考例句：

• They always addressed each other by their Christian name.他们总是以教名互相称呼。
• His mother is a sincere Christian.他母亲是个虔诚的基督教徒。

4 cultivation   

n.耕作，培养，栽培（法），养成

参考例句：

• The cultivation in good taste is our main objective.培养高雅情趣是我们的主要目标。
• The land is not fertile enough to repay cultivation.这块土地不够肥沃，不值得耕种。