August 13

"If the clouds be full of rain, they empty themselves upon the earth" (Eccles. 11:3)

Why, then, do we dread¹ the clouds which now darken our sky? True, for a while they hide the sun, but the sun is not quenched²; he will be out again before long. Meanwhile those black clouds are filled with rain; and the blacker they are, the more likely they will yield plentiful³ showers.

How can we have rain without clouds? Our troubles have always brought us blessings⁴, and they always will. They are the dark chariots of bright grace. These clouds will empty themselves before long, and every tender herb will be gladder for the shower. Our God may drench⁵ us with grief, but He will refresh us with mercy. Our Lord's love-letters often come to us in black-edged envelopes. His wagons⁶ rumble⁷, but they are loaded with benefits. His rod blossoms with sweet flowers and nourishing fruits. Let us not worry about the clouds, but sing because May flowers are brought to us through the April clouds and showers.

O Lord, the clouds are the dust of Thy feet! How near Thou art in the cloudy and dark day! Love beholds⁸ Thee, and is glad. Faith sees the clouds emptying themselves and making the little hills rejoice on every side.--C H. Spurgeon

“What seems so dark to thy dim sight

May be a shadow, seen aright

Making some brightness doubly bright.”

“The flash that struck thy tree-no more

To shelter thee-lets heaven's blue floor

Shine where it never shone before.”

“The cry wrung⁹ from thy spirit's pain

May echo on some far-off plain,

And guide a wanderer home again.”

“The blue of heaven is larger than the clouds.”　

八月十三日

「云若满了雨，就必倾倒在地上。」

（传十一3）　　

这样，我们为甚么要惧怕我们环境中的黑云呢？虽然它们暂时遮蔽了太阳，但是太阳并没有熄灭；不久它仍旧会出来的。云里充满了雨；云越黑，下雨的希望越大。

没有云，我们怎么能有雨呢？我们的患难，常将祝福带来给我们。它们是装载恩典的黑车。看啊，黑云不久就要变成细雨了；那时候，每一种植物都会因着所下的雨欢乐。我们的神虽然用灾祸压伤我们，却要用怜悯医治我们。祂给我们情书，总是用黑边信封封来的。祂的货车虽然发出辚辚的粗声来，其上所装载的，却是满溢的恩泽。祂的杖，开着芳香的花卉和甘甜的果实。所以，我们不要再为着黑云烦恼罢，我们应当歌唱，因为五月里的花草，是四月里的云雨带给我们的。

主阿，黑云是祢的脚前的尘埃！在黑云满布的日子，祢和我是隔得多近啊！─

1 dread   

vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧

参考例句：

• We all dread to think what will happen if the company closes.我们都不敢去想一旦公司关门我们该怎么办。
• Her heart was relieved of its blankest dread.她极度恐惧的心理消除了。

2 quenched   

解（渴）( quench的过去式和过去分词 )； 终止（某事物）； （用水）扑灭（火焰等）； 将（热物体）放入水中急速冷却

参考例句：

• He quenched his thirst with a long drink of cold water. 他喝了好多冷水解渴。
• I quenched my thirst with a glass of cold beer. 我喝了一杯冰啤酒解渴。

3 plentiful   

adj.富裕的，丰富的

参考例句：

• Their family has a plentiful harvest this year.他们家今年又丰收了。
• Rainfall is plentiful in the area.这个地区雨量充足。

4 blessings   

n.（上帝的）祝福( blessing的名词复数 )；好事；福分；因祸得福

参考例句：

• Afflictions are sometimes blessings in disguise. 塞翁失马，焉知非福。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• We don't rely on blessings from Heaven. 我们不靠老天保佑。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

5 drench   

v.使淋透，使湿透

参考例句：

• He met a drench of rain.他遇上一场倾盆大雨。
• They turned fire hoses on the people and drenched them.他们将消防水管对着人们，把他们浇了个透。

6 wagons   

n.四轮的运货马车( wagon的名词复数 )；铁路货车；小手推车

参考例句：

• The wagons were hauled by horses. 那些货车是马拉的。
• They drew their wagons into a laager and set up camp. 他们把马车围成一圈扎起营地。

7 rumble   

n.隆隆声；吵嚷；v.隆隆响；低沉地说

参考例句：

• I hear the rumble of thunder in the distance.我听到远处雷声隆隆。
• We could tell from the rumble of the thunder that rain was coming.我们根据雷的轰隆声可断定，天要下雨了。

8 beholds   

v.看，注视( behold的第三人称单数 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟

参考例句：

• He who beholds the gods against their will, shall atone for it by a heavy penalty. 谁违背神的意志看见了神，就要受到重罚以赎罪。 来自辞典例句
• All mankind has gazed on it; Man beholds it from afar. 25?所行的，万人都看见；世人都从远处观看。 来自互联网

9 wrung   

绞( wring的过去式和过去分词 )； 握紧（尤指别人的手）； 把（湿衣服）拧干； 绞掉（水）

参考例句：

• He has wrung the words from their true meaning. 他曲解这些字的真正意义。
• He wrung my hand warmly. 他热情地紧握我的手。