July 25

"What I do thou knowest not now, but thou shalt know hereafter." (John 13:7.)

WE have only a partial view here of God's dealings, His half-completed, half-developed plan; but all will stand out in fair and graceful¹ proportions in the great finished Temple of Eternity³!

Go, in the reign⁴ of Israel's greatest king, to the heights of Lebanon. See that noble cedar⁵, the pride of its compeers, an old wrestler⁶ with northern blasts! Summer loves to smile upon it, night spangle its feathery foliage⁷ with dewdrops, the birds nestle on its branches, the weary pilgrim or wandering shepherd reposes⁸ under its shadows from the midday heat or from the furious storm; but all at once it is marked out to fall; The aged⁹ denizen¹⁰ of the forest is doomed¹¹ to succumb¹² to the woodman's stroke!

As we see the axe¹³ making its first gash¹⁴ on its gnarled trunk, then the noble limbs stripped of their branches, and at last the "Tree of God," as was its distinctive¹⁵ epithet¹⁶, coming with a crash to the ground, we exclaim against the wanton destruction, the demolition¹⁷ of this proud pillar in the temple of nature. We are tempted¹⁸ to cry with the prophet, as if inviting¹⁹ the sympathy of every lowlier stem-invoking inanimate things to resent the affront- "Howl, fir tree; for the cedar has fallen!" (Zech.11:2)

But wait a little. Follow that gigantic trunk as the workmen of Hiram launch it down the mountain side; thence conveyed in rafts along the blue waters of the Mediterranean²⁰; and last of all, behold²¹ it set a glorious polished beam in the Temple of God. As you see its destination, placed in the very Holy of Holies, in the diadem²² of the Great King-say, can you grudge²³ that "the crown of Lebanon" was despoiled²⁴, in order that this jewel might have so noble a setting?

That cedar stood as a stately prop² in Nature's sanctuary²⁵, but "the glory of the latter house was greater than the glory of the former!" (Hag.2:9)

How many of our souls are like these cedars²⁶ of old! God's axes of trial have stripped and bared them. We see no reason for dealings so dark and mysterious, but He has a noble end and object in view; to set them as everlasting²⁷ pillars and rafters in His Heavenly Zion; to make them a "crown of glory in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of our God."(Isa,62:3) --- J.R.Macduff.

"I do not ask my cross to understand.

My way to see-

Better in darkness just to feel Thy hand,

And follow Thee."

七月二十五日

「我所作的，你如今不知道，后来必明白。」（约十三: 7）

　　我们现在所看见的神的作为，只是局部的━一个半完成、半发展的计划；到永生的殿完成的时候，全部工程就要清清楚楚地显露出来！

　　让我们上利巴嫩山顶去看看。在那里有高大的香柏树，它是同辈的光荣，狂风的对手！夏喜欢对着它微笑；夜喜欢用露珠镶饰它的叶子；飞鸟喜欢巢居在它的枝干上；疲倦的旅客、流浪的牧童都喜欢在它的荫下憩息━躲避日中的炎热、狂暴的风雨。虽然这样，有一天，它却被砍倒了；多年在林中享有权利的香柏树，竟死在樵夫手下！

　　当斧子砍下去的时候，树枝都从树身上脱下来了，那株高大的香柏树，哗啦一声，倒在地上了。那时候，我们禁不住和先知一般喊叫说：「松树阿，应当哀号。因为香柏树倾倒了！」（撒迦利亚书十一章 2 节）

　　但是等一等。让我们跟着希兰的工人将那株大树运下山来：从那里沿着蓝色的地中海漂去；看啊，这株香柏树最后成了神殿中的栋梁━一根荣耀光泽的栋梁。当你看见了它的结局━被安置在圣殿的至圣所里、万王之王的宫殿里━你会不会再可惜利巴嫩的香柏树被砍倒了呢？

　　「这殿后来的荣耀，必大过先前的荣耀。」（哈该书二章 9 节）

多少时候，我们正像那香柏树林!神的斧子将我们剥夺得一无所有。我们看不出有甚么理由叫我们遇见这样神秘的对付，但是神自有祂的目的在:神预备永远用我们来作天上的楝梁，叫我们「在耶和华的手中要作为华冠,在你神的掌上必作为冕旒。? ━ 马克特夫

1 graceful   

adj.优美的，优雅的；得体的

参考例句：

• His movements on the parallel bars were very graceful.他的双杠动作可帅了!
• The ballet dancer is so graceful.芭蕾舞演员的姿态是如此的优美。

2 prop   

vt.支撑；n.支柱，支撑物；支持者，靠山

参考例句：

• A worker put a prop against the wall of the tunnel to keep it from falling.一名工人用东西支撑住隧道壁好使它不会倒塌。
• The government does not intend to prop up declining industries.政府无意扶持不景气的企业。

3 eternity   

n.不朽，来世；永恒，无穷

参考例句：

• The dull play seemed to last an eternity.这场乏味的剧似乎演个没完没了。
• Finally,Ying Tai and Shan Bo could be together for all of eternity.英台和山伯终能双宿双飞，永世相随。

4 reign   

n.统治时期，统治，支配，盛行；v.占优势

参考例句：

• The reign of Queen Elizabeth lapped over into the seventeenth century.伊丽莎白王朝延至17世纪。
• The reign of Zhu Yuanzhang lasted about 31 years.朱元璋统治了大约三十一年。

5 cedar   

n.雪松，香柏(木)

参考例句：

• The cedar was about five feet high and very shapely.那棵雪松约有五尺高,风姿优美。
• She struck the snow from the branches of an old cedar with gray lichen.她把长有灰色地衣的老雪松树枝上的雪打了下来。

6 wrestler   

n.摔角选手，扭

参考例句：

• The wrestler tripped up his opponent.那个摔跤运动员把对手绊倒在地。
• The stronger wrestler won the first throw.较壮的那个摔跤手第一跤就赢了。

7 foliage   

n.叶子，树叶，簇叶

参考例句：

• The path was completely covered by the dense foliage.小路被树叶厚厚地盖了一层。
• Dark foliage clothes the hills.浓密的树叶覆盖着群山。

8 reposes   

v.将（手臂等）靠在某人（某物）上( repose的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• Below this stone reposes the mortal remains of his father. 在此石块下长眠的是他的父亲的遗体。 来自辞典例句
• His body reposes in the local church. 他的遗体安放在当地教堂里。 来自辞典例句

9 aged   

adj.年老的，陈年的

参考例句：

• He had put on weight and aged a little.他胖了，也老点了。
• He is aged,but his memory is still good.他已年老，然而记忆力还好。

10 denizen   

n.居民，外籍居民

参考例句：

• In this country children of denizen go to school free.在这个国家外籍居民的孩子免费上学。
• His greatest danger now lie in the unknown denizen of the water.现在他最大的危险是未知的水中居住者。

11 doomed   

命定的

参考例句：

• The court doomed the accused to a long term of imprisonment. 法庭判处被告长期监禁。
• A country ruled by an iron hand is doomed to suffer. 被铁腕人物统治的国家定会遭受不幸的。

12 succumb   

v.屈服，屈从；死

参考例句：

• They will never succumb to the enemies.他们决不向敌人屈服。
• Will business leaders succumb to these ideas?商业领袖们会被这些观点折服吗？

13 axe   

n.斧子；v.用斧头砍，削减

参考例句：

• Be careful with that sharp axe.那把斧子很锋利，你要当心。
• The edge of this axe has turned.这把斧子卷了刃了。

14 gash   

v.深切，划开；n.(深长的)切(伤)口；裂缝

参考例句：

• The deep gash in his arm would take weeks to heal over.他胳膊上的割伤很深，需要几个星期的时间才能痊愈。
• After the collision,the body of the ship had a big gash.船被撞后，船身裂开了一个大口子。

15 distinctive   

adj.特别的，有特色的，与众不同的

参考例句：

• She has a very distinctive way of walking.她走路的样子与别人很不相同。
• This bird has several distinctive features.这个鸟具有几种突出的特征。

16 epithet   

n.（用于褒贬人物等的）表述形容词，修饰语

参考例句：

• In "Alfred the Great","the Great"is an epithet.“阿尔弗雷德大帝”中的“大帝”是个称号。
• It is an epithet that sums up my feelings.这是一个简洁地表达了我思想感情的形容词。

17 demolition   

n.破坏,毁坏,毁坏之遗迹

参考例句：

• The church has been threatened with demolition for years. 这座教堂多年来一直面临拆毀的威胁。
• The project required the total demolition of the old bridge. 该项目要求将老桥完全拆毁。

18 tempted   

v.怂恿（某人）干不正当的事；冒…的险（tempt的过去分词）

参考例句：

• I was sorely tempted to complain, but I didn't. 我极想发牢骚，但还是没开口。
• I was tempted by the dessert menu. 甜食菜单馋得我垂涎欲滴。

19 inviting   

adj.诱人的，引人注目的

参考例句：

• An inviting smell of coffee wafted into the room.一股诱人的咖啡香味飘进了房间。
• The kitchen smelled warm and inviting and blessedly familiar.这间厨房的味道温暖诱人，使人感到亲切温馨。

20 Mediterranean   

adj.地中海的；地中海沿岸的

参考例句：

• The houses are Mediterranean in character.这些房子都属地中海风格。
• Gibraltar is the key to the Mediterranean.直布罗陀是地中海的要冲。

21 behold   

v.看，注视，看到

参考例句：

• The industry of these little ants is wonderful to behold.这些小蚂蚁辛勤劳动的样子看上去真令人惊叹。
• The sunrise at the seaside was quite a sight to behold.海滨日出真是个奇景。

22 diadem   

n.王冠，冕

参考例句：

• The diadem is the symbol of royalty.王冠就是王权的象征。
• Nature like us is sometimes caught without diadem.自然犹如我等，时常没戴皇冠。

23 grudge   

n.不满，怨恨，妒嫉；vt.勉强给，不情愿做

参考例句：

• I grudge paying so much for such inferior goods.我不愿花这么多钱买次品。
• I do not grudge him his success.我不嫉妒他的成功。

24 despoiled   

v.掠夺，抢劫( despoil的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• They despoiled the villagers of their belongings. 他们夺走了村民的财物。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The victorious army despoiled the city of all its treasures. 得胜的军队把城里的财宝劫掠一空。 来自辞典例句

25 sanctuary   

n.圣所，圣堂，寺庙；禁猎区，保护区

参考例句：

• There was a sanctuary of political refugees behind the hospital.医院后面有一个政治难民的避难所。
• Most countries refuse to give sanctuary to people who hijack aeroplanes.大多数国家拒绝对劫机者提供庇护。

26 cedars   

雪松，西洋杉( cedar的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The old cedars were badly damaged in the storm. 风暴严重损害了古老的雪松。
• Open thy doors, O Lebanon, that the fire may devour thy cedars. 1黎巴嫩哪，开开你的门，任火烧灭你的香柏树。

27 everlasting   

adj.永恒的，持久的，无止境的

参考例句：

• These tyres are advertised as being everlasting.广告上说轮胎持久耐用。
• He believes in everlasting life after death.他相信死后有不朽的生命。