July 2

"When thou goest, thy way shall be opened up before thee step by step.

(Proverbs 4:12, free translation)

The Lord never builds a bridge of faith except under the feet of the faith-filled traveler. If He builds the bridge a rod ahead, it would not be a bridge of faith. That which is of sight is not of faith.

There is a self-opening gate which is sometimes used in country roads. It stands fast and firm across the road as a traveler approaches it. If he stops before he gets to it, it will not open. But if he will drive right at it, his wagon¹ wheels press the springs below the roadway, and the gate swings back to let him through. He must push right on at the closed gate, or it will continue to be closed.

This illustrates² the way to pass every barrier on the road of duty. Whether it is a river, a gate, or a mountain, all the child of Jesus has to do is to go for it. If it is a river, it will dry up when you put your feet in its waters. If it is a gate, it will fly open when you are near enough to it, and are still pushing on. If it is a mountain, it will be lifted up and cast into a sea when you come squarely up, without flinching³, to where you thought it was. Is there a great barrier across your path of duty just now? Just go for it, in the name of the Lord, and it won't be there. ━Henry Clay Trumbull.

We sit and weep in vain. The voice of the Almighty⁴ said, "Up and onward⁵ forevermore." Let us move on and step out boldly, though it be into the night, and we can scarcely see the way. The path will open, as we progress, like the trail through the forest, or the Alpine⁶ pass, which discloses but a few rods of its length from any single point of view. Press on! If necessary, we will find even the pillar of cloud and fire to mark our journey through the wilderness⁷. There are guides and wayside inns along the road. We will find food, clothes and friends at every stage of the journey, and as Rutherford so quaintly⁸ says: "However matters go, the worst will be a tired traveler and a joyful⁹ and sweet welcome home."

I'm going by the upper road, for that

still holds the sun,

I'm climbing through night's pastures where

the starry¹⁰ rivers run:

If you should think to seek me in my

old dark abode¹¹,

You'll find this writing on the door,

"He's on the Upper Road."

━Selected

七月二日

“你行走，脚步必不至狭窄” （箴四：12）

神从来不替我们预先建筑一架信心的桥梁来等待我们经过的，必须等我们走到那里，祂纔为我们开路。如果祂先替我们建筑好了，那就不能称作“信心的桥梁”了，眼见的不能算作信心。

一个花园大门旁边有一种出口的小门。当我们行近那门的时候，它一点都没有变动。我们在它旁边站立一天，仍旧不会见它打开一点。但是如果我们向前走去，门上的机轮经了人体的推动，就会向左转动；这样，便给我们一个出口。

走信心的道路，也是如此。无论我们的拦阻是江河，是铜门，是高山，我们只要大着胆向前走去就是了。如果是一道江河，当我们脚一入水的时候，江河便会变成干地。如果是一扇铜门，当我们向前推进的时候，铜门便会自动开展。如果是一座高山，当我们奋勇前进的时候，高山便会倒入海中。读者，你的道路上现在有没有东西在拦阻你前进？你只要奉主的名向前走去，一切的拦阻都会冰消瓦解了。━崔伦保

我们坐着哭泣有甚么用处呢？全能者说：“起来，一直向前走去。”虽然夜已深了，前面的途径颇难分辨，我们还该大胆举步前进。等我们到了前面，途径自会分明的。在必需的时候，我们也能得到云柱和火柱的引领。沿途都有向导和客店为我们预备着。一路上我们随处能彀找到食物，衣服和朋友。罗斯福特说得顶好：“无论在甚么环境中，我们疲倦的时候，总会得到一些甜蜜的欢迎和招待”。

我已踏上登高的道路，

高处永远有阳光照耀，

夜里越过原野的时候，

溪流里反映出繁星的笑。

假若你为了找我，

到了那黑暗的故寓，

你将发现门上的通告，

他已乘风飞去，登上高原。

1 wagon   

n.四轮马车，手推车，面包车；无盖运货列车

参考例句：

• We have to fork the hay into the wagon.我们得把干草用叉子挑进马车里去。
• The muddy road bemired the wagon.马车陷入了泥泞的道路。

2 illustrates   

给…加插图( illustrate的第三人称单数 )； 说明； 表明； （用示例、图画等）说明

参考例句：

• This historical novel illustrates the breaking up of feudal society in microcosm. 这部历史小说是走向崩溃的封建社会的缩影。
• Alfred Adler, a famous doctor, had an experience which illustrates this. 阿尔弗莱德 - 阿德勒是一位著名的医生，他有过可以说明这点的经历。 来自中级百科部分

3 flinching   

v.（因危险和痛苦）退缩，畏惧( flinch的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• He listened to the jeers of the crowd without flinching. 他毫不畏惧地听着群众的嘲笑。 来自辞典例句
• Without flinching he dashed into the burning house to save the children. 他毫不畏缩地冲进在燃烧的房屋中去救小孩。 来自辞典例句

4 almighty   

adj.全能的，万能的；很大的，很强的

参考例句：

• Those rebels did not really challenge Gods almighty power.这些叛徒没有对上帝的全能力量表示怀疑。
• It's almighty cold outside.外面冷得要命。

5 onward   

adj.向前的，前进的；adv.向前，前进，在先

参考例句：

• The Yellow River surges onward like ten thousand horses galloping.黄河以万马奔腾之势滚滚向前。
• He followed in the steps of forerunners and marched onward.他跟随着先辈的足迹前进。

6 alpine   

adj.高山的；n.高山植物

参考例句：

• Alpine flowers are abundant there.那里有很多高山地带的花。
• Its main attractions are alpine lakes and waterfalls .它以高山湖泊和瀑布群为主要特色。

7 wilderness   

n.杳无人烟的一片陆地、水等，荒漠

参考例句：

• She drove the herd of cattle through the wilderness.她赶着牛群穿过荒野。
• Education in the wilderness is not a matter of monetary means.荒凉地区的教育不是钱财问题。

8 quaintly   

adv.古怪离奇地

参考例句：

• "I don't see what that's got to do with it,'said the drummer quaintly. “我看不出这和你的事有什么联系，"杜洛埃说道，他感到莫名其妙。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
• He is quaintly dressed, what a strange one he is. 他一身的奇装异服，真是另类！

9 joyful   

adj.欢乐的，令人欢欣的

参考例句：

• She was joyful of her good result of the scientific experiments.她为自己的科学实验取得好成果而高兴。
• They were singing and dancing to celebrate this joyful occasion.他们唱着、跳着庆祝这令人欢乐的时刻。

10 starry   

adj.星光照耀的, 闪亮的

参考例句：

• He looked at the starry heavens.他瞧着布满星星的天空。
• I like the starry winter sky.我喜欢这满天星斗的冬夜。

11 abode   

n.住处，住所

参考例句：

• It was ten months before my father discovered his abode.父亲花了十个月的功夫，才好不容易打听到他的住处。
• Welcome to our humble abode!欢迎光临寒舍！