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第十一篇　早起

📖 研读 🎵 朗读 📊 汇集 🇬🇧 English 📋 对照
　　读经：
　　歌七12：“我们早晨起来往葡萄园去看看葡萄发芽开花没有，石榴放蕊没有；我在那里要将我的爱情给你。”
　　诗五七8~9：“我的灵啊，你当醒起，琴瑟啊，你们当醒起；我自己要极早醒起。主啊，我要在万民中称谢你，在列邦中歌颂你。”
　　一〇八2~3：“琴瑟啊，你们当醒起；我自己要极早醒起。耶和华啊，我要在万民中称谢你，在列邦中歌颂你。”
　　出十六21：“他们每日早晨，按着各人的饭量收取，日头一发热，就消化了。”
　　诗六三1：“神啊，你是我的神，我要切切（原文，‘清早’）的寻求你；在干旱疲乏无水之地，我渴想你；我的心切慕你。”
　　七八34节：“他杀他们的时候，他们才求问他，回心转意，切切（原文‘清早’）的寻求神。”
　　九十14节：“求你使我们早早饱得你的慈爱，好叫我们一生一世欢呼喜乐。”
　
　　信主的人，每天应当什么时候起床呢？
　　有一位姊妹曾说过几句很好的话，她说，“一个人爱主的心有多少，第一就看他在他的床和主中间的拣选。你爱你的床多，还是爱主多？爱床多，就多睡一点；爱主多，就早一点起来。”她说这话的时候，是有三十多年前，但我们觉得到今天这话还是那样新鲜。人总得拣选爱床多，或爱主多；你如果爱主多，你就应当早一点起来。
　　为什么基督徒应当清早起来？因为清晨是人遇见主最好的时候。除了有病之外，所有的弟兄姊妹，都应当早一点起床。有许多病本来不是病，是人把自己爱得太过，所以才病。所以除非医生要你多休息，你才可以不早起。我们并不愿意走极端，对有病的弟兄姊妹们，我们劝他们多睡一点觉。但健康的人，总是越早起越好。因为清早是遇见主、与主有来往、与主有交通最好的时候。吗哪总是在日出以前收取的（出十六14~21）。人要吃神给他的粮食，总应当清早起来。日头一出来，吗哪溶化了，就吃不到了。你在神面前要得着属灵的培养，要得着属灵的造就，要有属灵的交通，有分属灵的粮食，就得早一点起来。起迟了就吃不到吗哪。在清早的时候，神特别要将祂属灵的食物，圣洁的交通，分给祂的儿女。谁太迟来拿的，就拿不到。有好些神的儿女过着一种病态的生活，并不是因为他们有什么别的属灵的难处，就是因为他们起得太迟。有许多神的儿女，奉献也好，热心也好，爱心也好，就是因为他们起得太迟，就活不出基督徒正常的生活。你不要以为这是小事情，与灵性没有关系；实在非常有关系。有许多人，就是因为起得迟，灵性就不行。有许多人，花了许多年，基督徒作不好，就是因为起得太迟。我们没有认识一个会祷告的人是迟起来的，我们没有认识一个与神交通亲密的人是迟起来的。所有认识神的人，都经常的在清早起来，到神面前去交通。
　　箴二六14说，“门在枢纽转动，懒惰人在床上也是如此。”这里说懒惰人在床上像门在枢纽里转过来转过去。懒惰的人一直在床上转，－箴言一直离不开床。他转到里面去，也是在床上，转到外面来，也是睡在床上。翻来翻去，就是在床上。许多人，就是舍不得那张床。翻到里面，那张床是可爱的；翻到外面，那张床又是可爱的。翻到左面，还是在床上；翻到右面，还是在床上。他总是爱睡，离不开床。许多人就是在那里再睡片刻，－箴言一直离不开床。但是，要学习事奉神，要学习作好基督徒，就得天天早起，总要清早起来。
　　谁在清早起来，谁就要得着许多属灵的益处。他普通时候的祷告，赶不上清早的祷告。他普通时候的读圣经，赶不上清早的读圣经。他普通时候与主的交通，赶不上清早与主的交通。清早的时候，是一天最好的时候。我们不应该把最好的时候用在别的事情上，应当把我们一天之中最好的时候，清晨的时候，用在神面前。有些基督徒是把一天的时间都花在别的事上，等到晚上最累的时候，快到床上去睡的时候，才在那里跪下来读圣经、祷告。怪不得他圣经读不好，怪不得他祷告不好，怪不得他与主的交通不好，因为他早上起来太迟了。所以，我们一信主，就要学习在清早的时候划出时间来，与神交通，与神来往。
　
　　在圣经里，神的仆人们，都是清早起来的。我们看：
一
　
亚伯拉罕──创十九27，二一14节，二二3节。
二
　
雅各──创二八18。
三
　
摩西──出八20，九13节，二四4节，三四4节。
四
　
约书亚──书三1，六12节，七16节，八10节。
五
　
基甸──士六38。
六
　
哈拿──撒上一19。
七
　
撒母耳──撒上十五12。
八
　
大卫──撒上十七20。
九
　
约伯──伯一5。
十
　
马利亚──路二四22；可十六9；约二十1。
十一
　
使徒们──徒五21。
　　这许多处的圣经告诉我们，这些神的仆人，个个都有清晨和神办交涉的习惯，个个都有清晨作工的习惯，个个都有清晨与神交通的习惯。他们清早起来，作许多事，与神的工作有关，与奉献也有关。在圣经里，虽然没有神的命令，叫我们早点起来，可是有够多的榜样使我们看见，所有忠心事奉神的人都是清早起来的。连主耶稣自己也早起。祂早晨天未亮的时候，就起来到旷野去祷告（可一35）。祂要设立十二个使徒的时候，是清早叫祂的门徒来（路六13），何况我们呢？
　　所以，弟兄姊妹如果要学习跟从主，千万不要以为，早上早起一个钟点或者迟起一个钟头，没有多大分别。要知道你迟起一个钟头，读圣经就不行；你迟起一个钟头，祷告就不行。早一个钟点读圣经，与迟一个钟点读圣经，虽然都花同样的时间，但结果不一样。早一个钟点祷告，与迟一个钟点祷告，果效也不一样。早起，是一个大祝福。盼望你一起头作基督徒，就不失去早起的祝福。有一位弟兄，当他头三年作基督徒的时候，至少有五十次以上，有人来问他，某人，你早晨几点钟起来？早起是一个大的祝福，学过早起的人就知道，这的确是一件大事。如果你不是早晨够早的起来，就会变作一个属灵上很贫穷的人。迟起来，就要受许多损失，许多属灵的东西都丢掉了。
　　在圣经里，我们已经看见这许多榜样。在圣经之外的神的仆人们怎样呢？像慕勒，像卫斯理，还有其他许多有名的神的仆人，他们也都是清早起来的。我们所认识的人，我们在书上所读到的人，可以说差不多在神手里有一点用处的人，都注意清早起来的事。他们给清早起来一个名称，叫作守晨更。所有神的仆人们，都注重这一个守晨更。我们只要看这一个名称，就知道这一定是相当早的事。我们没有听见人在日出以后还在那里打更？没有。守晨更，总是相当早的。这一件事，实在是我们基督徒必须养成的好习惯，神的儿女不应当放松。教会这么多年下来，一直是这样。我们应当把这种好习惯一直维持下去，都在清早起来遇见神。守晨更这一个名称，在圣经里是没有的，我们要给它起另外的名称也可以。不过，无论如何，清早起来遇见神，是要紧的事。
　
　　我们不是清早起来就算了，乃是要有属灵的学习，有属灵的内容。在这里提起几件事，是在清早特别要作的。
　
　　从歌七12的话能看出，清早是与主交通最好的时候。交通的意思就是我们的灵向着神开起来，思想也开起来，让神给我们光，让神给我们话（诗一一九105、147），让神给我们印象，让神摸着我们。我们的心向着神去，也让神往我们的心来。我们要清早起来在神面前安静，在神面前默想，在神面前受引导，在神面前得印象，让神有机会对我们说话，学习去摸着神。
　
　　在清早的时候要有赞美歌颂的声音。唱歌的声音最好的时候，是在清早。清早是赞美的时候，清早是向神歌颂最好的时候。将我们最高的赞美向神送出去的时候，是我们的灵能够爬得最高的时候。
　
三
　
读圣经
　　清早也是我们吃吗哪的时候（吗哪是指着基督说的。）什么叫作吃吗哪？就是每天早起，在那里享受基督，也就是享受神的话，享受神的道。我们吃了它才有力量在旷野里行走。收吗哪的时候，是在清晨。如果你把早起的时候花在别的事情上，你就在属灵方面得不着饱足，得不着喂养。
　　我们曾提过，一个人该有两本圣经，一本是为着下午读的，里面可以画记号，可以写上许多东西，还有一本是为着早起吃吗哪用的，里面不写什么话，也不画什么记号。在早晨，不是要读很长很长的圣经，乃是在神面前把圣经打开，仔细的读一段圣经，把你与神的交通和读圣经调在一起，把你的唱诗和读圣经也调在一起。这并不是说，第一步是交通，第二步是赞美，第三步是读圣经；这乃是说，要把这些事在神面前调在一起作，同时可以加上祷告。你到神面前去，将神的话打开，你在那里把神的话读了，当你感觉罪的时候，你可以认罪，当你觉得神在这句圣经所说的事情上恩待了你，你可以感谢。你也可以在圣经所说的那一件事情上祈求神，说，“主，这一个真是我所缺的。这一段、这一节、这一句的话，真是我所缺的。主，求你赐给我。”你在那里看见了什么应许，你可以说，“主，我信。”你在那里看见了什么恩典，你可以说，“主，我接受。”在那里你也可以代祷。你读的时候，记得有的弟兄姊妹的情形，刚刚与这一处圣经相反，你在神面前不是控告他们，不是论断他们，乃是说，“神！求你把这一句话成就在我的身上，也求你把这一句话成就在某弟兄姊妹的身上。”在这里你可以为着你自己认罪，也为着别人认罪。在这里你可以为着你自己求，也为着别人求。在这里你可以为着自己信，也为着别人信。在这里你可以为着你自己感谢，也为着别人感谢。清早读圣经不宜读得长，不宜读得多，只要两三节、四五节就够了。两三节、四五节的圣经，够你读一个钟点了。你这样一句一句的读过，祷告过，与神有交通过，就能使你得着饱足。
　　旧约和新约都有这样与神交通的人，他们是认识神的，是与神有来往的，他们将神的交通调和在生活中。
　　大卫在诗篇里面，一会儿说“你”，一会儿说“祂”，一会儿对人说，一会儿变作祷告。在一篇诗里面，有几句话是在人面前的话，有几句话到神面前去了。大卫一面和人说话，－诗篇一面就往神那里去。诗篇证明大卫是与神有交通的人。
　　尼希米作事的时候，说几句话，就有几句祷告。王问他的时候，他这一边和王说话，那一边和主说话，办事和祷告调在一起，不是办事归办事，祷告归祷告。
　　罗马书是保罗写给罗马人的，但是，他的说话常常转到主面前去。有许多次，好像他忘记了是对罗马人说，而是在神面前说。在保罗的书信里，这一种情形是常有的，一会儿就转过来到神面前去。
　　读过《馨香的没药》的人，就看见盖恩夫人的特点。许多人写自传，都是用向人说的口气，但是盖恩夫人一会儿向着人说，一会儿向着神说，一会儿对康伯说怎样怎样（那一本书是康伯叫她写的，）一会儿对主说怎样怎样。这个就叫作交通。与神交通，那一个时候起头，那一个时候结束，都不一定。不是把事情放了去祷告，也不是祷告好了去办事，乃是调和在一起作。
　　所以，在清早吃吗哪的时候，要学习把祷告调和在神的话语里，把赞美调和在神的话语里，把交通调和在神的话语里。你一会儿是在地上，一会儿是在天上；一会儿是在你自己面前，一会儿是在神面前。你每天早起在神面前这样作，过了一点时间之后，就会觉得饱，神的道也就丰丰富富的藏在你心里了。这一种的读神的话，吃吗哪，是不可少的。许多软弱的弟兄姊妹，在旷野里跑不动，我们要问：“你们吃了东西没有？”他们所以跑不动，是因为他们吃得不够。吗哪是要清早拾的，所以要早一点起来，一迟起，就吃不到。总是要清早起来，在神面前花工夫读神的话。
　
四
　
祷告
　　清早在神面前要有交通、赞美、吃吗哪，也要有祷告。诗六三1和七八34节中的“切切”，在原文都是“早”的意思。清早要在那里祷告。前面所提到的祷告是调和著作的，这里是专一的去祷告。等到你交通过了，赞美过了，吗哪吃过了，最后，你能够有力量再把所有的事在神面前好好的祷告。祷告的确需要力量。你要在清晨亲近神，先吃一顿饱，然后留下半个钟点或者一刻钟，来为着几件要紧的事、为着你自己、为着教会、为着世人祷告。当然，在下午或晚上，还可以作祷告的工作；不过清早的时候，能够用你新得着的力量，刚刚与主交通吃了吗哪所得着的力量，花在祷告上，你就能得着更大的帮助。
　　所以，每一个信主的人，总应当在清早的时候把这四件事──与神交通、赞美、读经和祷告──在神面前好好的作。－诗篇一个人清早的时候，在神面前有没有这样作，必定会从他那一天的生活里显明出来。像慕勒那样的人，他还说，他早起有没有在神面前吃一顿饱，能断定他一天属灵的情形。他说他一天属灵的情形如何，就是看他那天早起在神面前有没有吃饱。许多人，有整天中不行，就是因为有在早起不行。当然我们承认，如果一个人路走得远一些，有了灵和魂完全分开的经历，外面的人被拆毁了，他可能不容易摇动。但这是另外一件事。初信的人，总得学习清早起来。这一个一放松，就什么都放松了，什么都不对了。你早晨在神面前得着了滋养或者没有得着滋养，那一个分别是非常大的。
　　从前，有一个很有名的音乐家曾说过，他如果一天没有练习，他自己会觉得他不行；如果两天没有练习，他的朋友会觉得他不行，如果三天没有练习，听众都会觉得他不行。练习音乐如此，早起属灵的学习更是如此，你只要有一天早晨在神面前没有弄好，你自己知道，有学习的人与你一接触也会知道，因为你没有摸着那一个属灵的源头。初信的人，从起头就得严严的约束自己，每天清早起来，在神面前要有这些学习。
　
　　最后，要说一点有关实行的事。我们怎样才能清早起来？有几件事，我们必须注意。
　　所有要清早起来的人，都得有一个习惯，晚上要早一点睡。你如果盼望晚上迟睡，早上早起，好像蜡蠋两头烧，那是不行的。
　　早起的标准不要定得太高。有的人定规三点钟起来，有的人定规四点钟起来，结果反而作不来，作了几天不作了。这是取一个适中的办法来得好。差不多五点六点是相当合式的时间。或者是天将要亮，或者是天刚刚亮，总是在天亮左右。太早，恐怕不能持久。过高的标准会产生有亏的良心。有的人把标准定得太高，和家里的人发生难处；有的人要和他的服务处发生难处；有的人出去作客人，要和他的主人发生难处。这样并没有益处，总要有一个合式的定规。我们不提倡走极端的路，所以标准不要定得过高。到底你这一个人，按照身体的需要和环境的情形，最好是什么时候起来才算合式，你应当在神面前好好的考虑过，再规定一个标准，然后好好的遵守那个时间。
　　开始的时候，总有一点困难。往往第一天容易，第二天容易，第三天就不容易。头几天容易作，过几天就要觉得床是可爱的，爬不起来，特别是在冬天。人需要有一个相当长的时间，才能养成一个新的习惯。起初，也许因为你常常迟起来，所以你的神经是倾向“迟”的；你能多早起几次，逐渐你的神经就倾向“早”了。过些日子你即使想迟起来，到了时候你也睡不着。所以起头的时候，总要勉强的起来。当你的习惯还没有养成之前，你要求神施恩，叫你有这一个习惯。作一次，再作一次，再多作一次，天天都割爱割席的爬起来，结果你就能够自然而然的清早起来。你必须养成一个习惯，在神面前享受清晨交通的恩典。
　　健康的人不需要超过八个钟点的睡眠，千万不要以为你自己是例外的人。不要挂虑太早起来身体会不好，也许是你的挂虑把它弄得不好了。许多人太爱自己，反而把自己挂虑到不好。除非医生说你有病，也许你需要十个钟点或十二个钟点的睡眠。普通的人，有六个钟点到八个钟点的睡眠尽够了。不过也不要走极端，无论如何，要保持六个钟点到八个钟点，不能再少。凡身体有病的人，不盼望你清早起来。你早上醒过来，就躺在床上读圣经也不要紧。可是，没有医生的证明，不是真的有病的人，应当个个都清早起来。
　　我们盼望那些年长一点、有分量一点的人，在神面前要维持这一件事。教会对于懒惰的人，应该推他一把，把他震动一下。要把初信的人带进这一个大的有福的情形里去。一有机会，就要问他：“你每天几点钟起床？”过几天，就得再问他：“你今天几点钟起床？”这样的督促，起码追他一年。也许一年之后，还要追他：“弟兄，你什么时候起床？”对于初信的人，要一看见就问。你要追着他们受你的帮助。但是，如果我们自己在神面前没有学好，我们就不大容易作这样的事。所以我们自己在神面前要先学好。
　　可以说，清早起来是信徒习惯中的第一个习惯。吃饭的时候要感谢神，这是一个习惯；主日要聚会，这也是一个习惯；清早起来，更是信徒必须有的习惯。总要叫初信的人把习惯养成。有的人作信徒许多年，从来没有享受过清早起来的祝福，从来没有享受过清早起来的恩典，那是非常可惜的事。我们要得着这个恩典，就得好好的学。如果许多弟兄姊妹一同来学，许多人能够清早起来，教会就能够进步。一个弟兄多得着光，整个教会就亮。只要每一个人多得着一点光，天天多得着一点，整个教会就丰富了。教会贫穷，是因为从元首接受的人太少了。如果能够作到个个都从元首那里接受，即使个人得着的不多，合起来也是很丰富的。
　　我们不是盼望只有少数人在教会中作工，我们是盼望所有的肢体能够在神面前起来，全教会能够兴起来，得着丰富，得着恩典。一个肢体有所得着，就是整个身体有所得着。如果所有的弟兄姊妹都往这条路去，那就有许多接受的器官有神面前，我们就要越过越丰富。所以盼望弟兄姊妹们不要以为清早起来是小事。我们大家来学习清早起来，维持清早起来，我们就有属灵的前途。
　　读经：
　　歌七12：“我们早晨起来往葡萄园去看看葡萄发芽开花没有，石榴放蕊没有；我在那里要将我的爱情给你。”
　　诗五七8~9：“我的灵啊，你当醒起，琴瑟啊，你们当醒起；我自己要极早醒起。主啊，我要在万民中称谢你，在列邦中歌颂你。”
　　一〇八2~3：“琴瑟啊，你们当醒起；我自己要极早醒起。耶和华啊，我要在万民中称谢你，在列邦中歌颂你。”
　　出十六21：“他们每日早晨，按着各人的饭量收取，日头一发热，就消化了。”
　　诗六三1：“神啊，你是我的神，我要切切（原文，‘清早’）的寻求你；在干旱疲乏无水之地，我渴想你；我的心切慕你。”
　　七八34节：“他杀他们的时候，他们才求问他，回心转意，切切（原文‘清早’）的寻求神。”
　　九十14节：“求你使我们早早饱得你的慈爱，好叫我们一生一世欢呼喜乐。”
　
　　信主的人，每天应当什么时候起床呢？
　　有一位姊妹曾说过几句很好的话，她说，“一个人爱主的心有多少，第一就看他在他的床和主中间的拣选。你爱你的床多，还是爱主多？爱床多，就多睡一点；爱主多，就早一点起来。”她说这话的时候，是有三十多年前，但我们觉得到今天这话还是那样新鲜。人总得拣选爱床多，或爱主多；你如果爱主多，你就应当早一点起来。
　　为什么基督徒应当清早起来？因为清晨是人遇见主最好的时候。除了有病之外，所有的弟兄姊妹，都应当早一点起床。有许多病本来不是病，是人把自己爱得太过，所以才病。所以除非医生要你多休息，你才可以不早起。我们并不愿意走极端，对有病的弟兄姊妹们，我们劝他们多睡一点觉。但健康的人，总是越早起越好。因为清早是遇见主、与主有来往、与主有交通最好的时候。吗哪总是在日出以前收取的（出十六14~21）。人要吃神给他的粮食，总应当清早起来。日头一出来，吗哪溶化了，就吃不到了。你在神面前要得着属灵的培养，要得着属灵的造就，要有属灵的交通，有分属灵的粮食，就得早一点起来。起迟了就吃不到吗哪。在清早的时候，神特别要将祂属灵的食物，圣洁的交通，分给祂的儿女。谁太迟来拿的，就拿不到。有好些神的儿女过着一种病态的生活，并不是因为他们有什么别的属灵的难处，就是因为他们起得太迟。有许多神的儿女，奉献也好，热心也好，爱心也好，就是因为他们起得太迟，就活不出基督徒正常的生活。你不要以为这是小事情，与灵性没有关系；实在非常有关系。有许多人，就是因为起得迟，灵性就不行。有许多人，花了许多年，基督徒作不好，就是因为起得太迟。我们没有认识一个会祷告的人是迟起来的，我们没有认识一个与神交通亲密的人是迟起来的。所有认识神的人，都经常的在清早起来，到神面前去交通。
　　箴二六14说，“门在枢纽转动，懒惰人在床上也是如此。”这里说懒惰人在床上像门在枢纽里转过来转过去。懒惰的人一直在床上转，－箴言一直离不开床。他转到里面去，也是在床上，转到外面来，也是睡在床上。翻来翻去，就是在床上。许多人，就是舍不得那张床。翻到里面，那张床是可爱的；翻到外面，那张床又是可爱的。翻到左面，还是在床上；翻到右面，还是在床上。他总是爱睡，离不开床。许多人就是在那里再睡片刻，－箴言一直离不开床。但是，要学习事奉神，要学习作好基督徒，就得天天早起，总要清早起来。
　　谁在清早起来，谁就要得着许多属灵的益处。他普通时候的祷告，赶不上清早的祷告。他普通时候的读圣经，赶不上清早的读圣经。他普通时候与主的交通，赶不上清早与主的交通。清早的时候，是一天最好的时候。我们不应该把最好的时候用在别的事情上，应当把我们一天之中最好的时候，清晨的时候，用在神面前。有些基督徒是把一天的时间都花在别的事上，等到晚上最累的时候，快到床上去睡的时候，才在那里跪下来读圣经、祷告。怪不得他圣经读不好，怪不得他祷告不好，怪不得他与主的交通不好，因为他早上起来太迟了。所以，我们一信主，就要学习在清早的时候划出时间来，与神交通，与神来往。
　
　　在圣经里，神的仆人们，都是清早起来的。我们看：
一
　
亚伯拉罕──创十九27，二一14节，二二3节。
二
　
雅各──创二八18。
三
　
摩西──出八20，九13节，二四4节，三四4节。
四
　
约书亚──书三1，六12节，七16节，八10节。
五
　
基甸──士六38。
六
　
哈拿──撒上一19。
七
　
撒母耳──撒上十五12。
八
　
大卫──撒上十七20。
九
　
约伯──伯一5。
十
　
马利亚──路二四22；可十六9；约二十1。
十一
　
使徒们──徒五21。
　　这许多处的圣经告诉我们，这些神的仆人，个个都有清晨和神办交涉的习惯，个个都有清晨作工的习惯，个个都有清晨与神交通的习惯。他们清早起来，作许多事，与神的工作有关，与奉献也有关。在圣经里，虽然没有神的命令，叫我们早点起来，可是有够多的榜样使我们看见，所有忠心事奉神的人都是清早起来的。连主耶稣自己也早起。祂早晨天未亮的时候，就起来到旷野去祷告（可一35）。祂要设立十二个使徒的时候，是清早叫祂的门徒来（路六13），何况我们呢？
　　所以，弟兄姊妹如果要学习跟从主，千万不要以为，早上早起一个钟点或者迟起一个钟头，没有多大分别。要知道你迟起一个钟头，读圣经就不行；你迟起一个钟头，祷告就不行。早一个钟点读圣经，与迟一个钟点读圣经，虽然都花同样的时间，但结果不一样。早一个钟点祷告，与迟一个钟点祷告，果效也不一样。早起，是一个大祝福。盼望你一起头作基督徒，就不失去早起的祝福。有一位弟兄，当他头三年作基督徒的时候，至少有五十次以上，有人来问他，某人，你早晨几点钟起来？早起是一个大的祝福，学过早起的人就知道，这的确是一件大事。如果你不是早晨够早的起来，就会变作一个属灵上很贫穷的人。迟起来，就要受许多损失，许多属灵的东西都丢掉了。
　　在圣经里，我们已经看见这许多榜样。在圣经之外的神的仆人们怎样呢？像慕勒，像卫斯理，还有其他许多有名的神的仆人，他们也都是清早起来的。我们所认识的人，我们在书上所读到的人，可以说差不多在神手里有一点用处的人，都注意清早起来的事。他们给清早起来一个名称，叫作守晨更。所有神的仆人们，都注重这一个守晨更。我们只要看这一个名称，就知道这一定是相当早的事。我们没有听见人在日出以后还在那里打更？没有。守晨更，总是相当早的。这一件事，实在是我们基督徒必须养成的好习惯，神的儿女不应当放松。教会这么多年下来，一直是这样。我们应当把这种好习惯一直维持下去，都在清早起来遇见神。守晨更这一个名称，在圣经里是没有的，我们要给它起另外的名称也可以。不过，无论如何，清早起来遇见神，是要紧的事。
　
　　我们不是清早起来就算了，乃是要有属灵的学习，有属灵的内容。在这里提起几件事，是在清早特别要作的。
　
　　从歌七12的话能看出，清早是与主交通最好的时候。交通的意思就是我们的灵向着神开起来，思想也开起来，让神给我们光，让神给我们话（诗一一九105、147），让神给我们印象，让神摸着我们。我们的心向着神去，也让神往我们的心来。我们要清早起来在神面前安静，在神面前默想，在神面前受引导，在神面前得印象，让神有机会对我们说话，学习去摸着神。
　
　　在清早的时候要有赞美歌颂的声音。唱歌的声音最好的时候，是在清早。清早是赞美的时候，清早是向神歌颂最好的时候。将我们最高的赞美向神送出去的时候，是我们的灵能够爬得最高的时候。
　
三
　
读圣经
　　清早也是我们吃吗哪的时候（吗哪是指着基督说的。）什么叫作吃吗哪？就是每天早起，在那里享受基督，也就是享受神的话，享受神的道。我们吃了它才有力量在旷野里行走。收吗哪的时候，是在清晨。如果你把早起的时候花在别的事情上，你就在属灵方面得不着饱足，得不着喂养。
　　我们曾提过，一个人该有两本圣经，一本是为着下午读的，里面可以画记号，可以写上许多东西，还有一本是为着早起吃吗哪用的，里面不写什么话，也不画什么记号。在早晨，不是要读很长很长的圣经，乃是在神面前把圣经打开，仔细的读一段圣经，把你与神的交通和读圣经调在一起，把你的唱诗和读圣经也调在一起。这并不是说，第一步是交通，第二步是赞美，第三步是读圣经；这乃是说，要把这些事在神面前调在一起作，同时可以加上祷告。你到神面前去，将神的话打开，你在那里把神的话读了，当你感觉罪的时候，你可以认罪，当你觉得神在这句圣经所说的事情上恩待了你，你可以感谢。你也可以在圣经所说的那一件事情上祈求神，说，“主，这一个真是我所缺的。这一段、这一节、这一句的话，真是我所缺的。主，求你赐给我。”你在那里看见了什么应许，你可以说，“主，我信。”你在那里看见了什么恩典，你可以说，“主，我接受。”在那里你也可以代祷。你读的时候，记得有的弟兄姊妹的情形，刚刚与这一处圣经相反，你在神面前不是控告他们，不是论断他们，乃是说，“神！求你把这一句话成就在我的身上，也求你把这一句话成就在某弟兄姊妹的身上。”在这里你可以为着你自己认罪，也为着别人认罪。在这里你可以为着你自己求，也为着别人求。在这里你可以为着自己信，也为着别人信。在这里你可以为着你自己感谢，也为着别人感谢。清早读圣经不宜读得长，不宜读得多，只要两三节、四五节就够了。两三节、四五节的圣经，够你读一个钟点了。你这样一句一句的读过，祷告过，与神有交通过，就能使你得着饱足。
　　旧约和新约都有这样与神交通的人，他们是认识神的，是与神有来往的，他们将神的交通调和在生活中。
　　大卫在诗篇里面，一会儿说“你”，一会儿说“祂”，一会儿对人说，一会儿变作祷告。在一篇诗里面，有几句话是在人面前的话，有几句话到神面前去了。大卫一面和人说话，－诗篇一面就往神那里去。诗篇证明大卫是与神有交通的人。
　　尼希米作事的时候，说几句话，就有几句祷告。王问他的时候，他这一边和王说话，那一边和主说话，办事和祷告调在一起，不是办事归办事，祷告归祷告。
　　罗马书是保罗写给罗马人的，但是，他的说话常常转到主面前去。有许多次，好像他忘记了是对罗马人说，而是在神面前说。在保罗的书信里，这一种情形是常有的，一会儿就转过来到神面前去。
　　读过《馨香的没药》的人，就看见盖恩夫人的特点。许多人写自传，都是用向人说的口气，但是盖恩夫人一会儿向着人说，一会儿向着神说，一会儿对康伯说怎样怎样（那一本书是康伯叫她写的，）一会儿对主说怎样怎样。这个就叫作交通。与神交通，那一个时候起头，那一个时候结束，都不一定。不是把事情放了去祷告，也不是祷告好了去办事，乃是调和在一起作。
　　所以，在清早吃吗哪的时候，要学习把祷告调和在神的话语里，把赞美调和在神的话语里，把交通调和在神的话语里。你一会儿是在地上，一会儿是在天上；一会儿是在你自己面前，一会儿是在神面前。你每天早起在神面前这样作，过了一点时间之后，就会觉得饱，神的道也就丰丰富富的藏在你心里了。这一种的读神的话，吃吗哪，是不可少的。许多软弱的弟兄姊妹，在旷野里跑不动，我们要问：“你们吃了东西没有？”他们所以跑不动，是因为他们吃得不够。吗哪是要清早拾的，所以要早一点起来，一迟起，就吃不到。总是要清早起来，在神面前花工夫读神的话。
　
四
　
祷告
　　清早在神面前要有交通、赞美、吃吗哪，也要有祷告。诗六三1和七八34节中的“切切”，在原文都是“早”的意思。清早要在那里祷告。前面所提到的祷告是调和著作的，这里是专一的去祷告。等到你交通过了，赞美过了，吗哪吃过了，最后，你能够有力量再把所有的事在神面前好好的祷告。祷告的确需要力量。你要在清晨亲近神，先吃一顿饱，然后留下半个钟点或者一刻钟，来为着几件要紧的事、为着你自己、为着教会、为着世人祷告。当然，在下午或晚上，还可以作祷告的工作；不过清早的时候，能够用你新得着的力量，刚刚与主交通吃了吗哪所得着的力量，花在祷告上，你就能得着更大的帮助。
　　所以，每一个信主的人，总应当在清早的时候把这四件事──与神交通、赞美、读经和祷告──在神面前好好的作。－诗篇一个人清早的时候，在神面前有没有这样作，必定会从他那一天的生活里显明出来。像慕勒那样的人，他还说，他早起有没有在神面前吃一顿饱，能断定他一天属灵的情形。他说他一天属灵的情形如何，就是看他那天早起在神面前有没有吃饱。许多人，有整天中不行，就是因为有在早起不行。当然我们承认，如果一个人路走得远一些，有了灵和魂完全分开的经历，外面的人被拆毁了，他可能不容易摇动。但这是另外一件事。初信的人，总得学习清早起来。这一个一放松，就什么都放松了，什么都不对了。你早晨在神面前得着了滋养或者没有得着滋养，那一个分别是非常大的。
　　从前，有一个很有名的音乐家曾说过，他如果一天没有练习，他自己会觉得他不行；如果两天没有练习，他的朋友会觉得他不行，如果三天没有练习，听众都会觉得他不行。练习音乐如此，早起属灵的学习更是如此，你只要有一天早晨在神面前没有弄好，你自己知道，有学习的人与你一接触也会知道，因为你没有摸着那一个属灵的源头。初信的人，从起头就得严严的约束自己，每天清早起来，在神面前要有这些学习。
　
　　最后，要说一点有关实行的事。我们怎样才能清早起来？有几件事，我们必须注意。
　　所有要清早起来的人，都得有一个习惯，晚上要早一点睡。你如果盼望晚上迟睡，早上早起，好像蜡蠋两头烧，那是不行的。
　　早起的标准不要定得太高。有的人定规三点钟起来，有的人定规四点钟起来，结果反而作不来，作了几天不作了。这是取一个适中的办法来得好。差不多五点六点是相当合式的时间。或者是天将要亮，或者是天刚刚亮，总是在天亮左右。太早，恐怕不能持久。过高的标准会产生有亏的良心。有的人把标准定得太高，和家里的人发生难处；有的人要和他的服务处发生难处；有的人出去作客人，要和他的主人发生难处。这样并没有益处，总要有一个合式的定规。我们不提倡走极端的路，所以标准不要定得过高。到底你这一个人，按照身体的需要和环境的情形，最好是什么时候起来才算合式，你应当在神面前好好的考虑过，再规定一个标准，然后好好的遵守那个时间。
　　开始的时候，总有一点困难。往往第一天容易，第二天容易，第三天就不容易。头几天容易作，过几天就要觉得床是可爱的，爬不起来，特别是在冬天。人需要有一个相当长的时间，才能养成一个新的习惯。起初，也许因为你常常迟起来，所以你的神经是倾向“迟”的；你能多早起几次，逐渐你的神经就倾向“早”了。过些日子你即使想迟起来，到了时候你也睡不着。所以起头的时候，总要勉强的起来。当你的习惯还没有养成之前，你要求神施恩，叫你有这一个习惯。作一次，再作一次，再多作一次，天天都割爱割席的爬起来，结果你就能够自然而然的清早起来。你必须养成一个习惯，在神面前享受清晨交通的恩典。
　　健康的人不需要超过八个钟点的睡眠，千万不要以为你自己是例外的人。不要挂虑太早起来身体会不好，也许是你的挂虑把它弄得不好了。许多人太爱自己，反而把自己挂虑到不好。除非医生说你有病，也许你需要十个钟点或十二个钟点的睡眠。普通的人，有六个钟点到八个钟点的睡眠尽够了。不过也不要走极端，无论如何，要保持六个钟点到八个钟点，不能再少。凡身体有病的人，不盼望你清早起来。你早上醒过来，就躺在床上读圣经也不要紧。可是，没有医生的证明，不是真的有病的人，应当个个都清早起来。
　　我们盼望那些年长一点、有分量一点的人，在神面前要维持这一件事。教会对于懒惰的人，应该推他一把，把他震动一下。要把初信的人带进这一个大的有福的情形里去。一有机会，就要问他：“你每天几点钟起床？”过几天，就得再问他：“你今天几点钟起床？”这样的督促，起码追他一年。也许一年之后，还要追他：“弟兄，你什么时候起床？”对于初信的人，要一看见就问。你要追着他们受你的帮助。但是，如果我们自己在神面前没有学好，我们就不大容易作这样的事。所以我们自己在神面前要先学好。
　　可以说，清早起来是信徒习惯中的第一个习惯。吃饭的时候要感谢神，这是一个习惯；主日要聚会，这也是一个习惯；清早起来，更是信徒必须有的习惯。总要叫初信的人把习惯养成。有的人作信徒许多年，从来没有享受过清早起来的祝福，从来没有享受过清早起来的恩典，那是非常可惜的事。我们要得着这个恩典，就得好好的学。如果许多弟兄姊妹一同来学，许多人能够清早起来，教会就能够进步。一个弟兄多得着光，整个教会就亮。只要每一个人多得着一点光，天天多得着一点，整个教会就丰富了。教会贫穷，是因为从元首接受的人太少了。如果能够作到个个都从元首那里接受，即使个人得着的不多，合起来也是很丰富的。
　　我们不是盼望只有少数人在教会中作工，我们是盼望所有的肢体能够在神面前起来，全教会能够兴起来，得着丰富，得着恩典。一个肢体有所得着，就是整个身体有所得着。如果所有的弟兄姊妹都往这条路去，那就有许多接受的器官有神面前，我们就要越过越丰富。所以盼望弟兄姊妹们不要以为清早起来是小事。我们大家来学习清早起来，维持清早起来，我们就有属灵的前途。
　　读经：　　雅歌七章十二节：“我们早晨起来往葡萄园去看看葡萄发芽开花没有，石榴放蕊没有；我在那里要将我的爱情给你。”
--------本段经节汇集--------
歌7:12  
我们清晨起来往葡萄园去，看看葡萄发芽开花没有，石榴放蕊没有；我在那里要将我的爱情给你。
------------------------
　　诗篇五十七篇八至九节：“我的灵啊，你当醒起，琴瑟啊，你们当醒起；我自己要极早醒起。主啊，我要在万民中称谢你，在列邦中歌颂你。”
--------本段经节汇集--------
诗57:8  
我的荣耀啊，你当醒起；琴瑟啊，你们当醒起！我要极早醒起。
诗57:9  
主啊，我要在众民中称谢你；我要在列邦中歌颂你。
------------------------
　　一百零八篇二至三节：“琴瑟啊，你们当醒起；我自己要极早醒起。耶和华啊，我要在万民中称谢你，在列邦中歌颂你。”　　出埃及记十六章二十一节：“他们每日早晨，按着各人的饭量收取，日头一发热，就消化了。”
--------本段经节汇集--------
出16:21  
他们每日早晨，按着各人的食量收取；日头一发热，就融化了。
------------------------
　　诗篇六十三篇一节：“神啊，你是我的神，我要切切（原文，‘清早’）的寻求你；在干旱疲乏无水之地，我渴想你；我的心切慕你。”
--------本段经节汇集--------
诗63:1  
（大卫在犹大旷野的时候，作了这诗。）神啊，你是我的神，我切切地寻求你。在干旱疲乏无水之地，我的魂渴想你，我的身切慕你。
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　　七十八篇三十四节：“他杀他们的时候，他们才求问他，回心转意，切切（原文‘清早’）的寻求神。”　　九十篇十四节：“求你使我们早早饱得你的慈爱，好叫我们一生一世欢呼喜乐。”
　
　　信主的人，每天应当什么时候起床呢？　　有一位姊妹曾说过几句很好的话，她说，“一个人爱主的心有多少，第一就看他在他的床和主中间的拣选。你爱你的床多，还是爱主多？爱床多，就多睡一点；爱主多，就早一点起来。”她说这话的时候，是有三十多年前，但我们觉得到今天这话还是那样新鲜。人总得拣选爱床多，或爱主多；你如果爱主多，你就应当早一点起来。　　为什么基督徒应当清早起来？因为清晨是人遇见主最好的时候。除了有病之外，所有的弟兄姊妹，都应当早一点起床。有许多病本来不是病，是人把自己爱得太过，所以才病。所以除非医生要你多休息，你才可以不早起。我们并不愿意走极端，对有病的弟兄姊妹们，我们劝他们多睡一点觉。但健康的人，总是越早起越好。因为清早是遇见主、与主有来往、与主有交通最好的时候。吗哪总是在日出以前收取的（出十六14~21）。人要吃神给他的粮食，总应当清早起来。日头一出来，吗哪溶化了，就吃不到了。你在神面前要得着属灵的培养，要得着属灵的造就，要有属灵的交通，有分属灵的粮食，就得早一点起来。起迟了就吃不到吗哪。在清早的时候，神特别要将祂属灵的食物，圣洁的交通，分给祂的儿女。谁太迟来拿的，就拿不到。有好些神的儿女过着一种病态的生活，并不是因为他们有什么别的属灵的难处，就是因为他们起得太迟。有许多神的儿女，奉献也好，热心也好，爱心也好，就是因为他们起得太迟，就活不出基督徒正常的生活。你不要以为这是小事情，与灵性没有关系；实在非常有关系。有许多人，就是因为起得迟，灵性就不行。有许多人，花了许多年，基督徒作不好，就是因为起得太迟。我们没有认识一个会祷告的人是迟起来的，我们没有认识一个与神交通亲密的人是迟起来的。所有认识神的人，都经常的在清早起来，到神面前去交通。
--------本段经节汇集--------
出16:14  
露水上升之后，不料，旷野的地面上有细小的圆物，细小如地上的霜。
出16:15  
以色列人看见，不知道是什么，就彼此对问说，这是什么？摩西对他们说，这就是耶和华给你们吃的食物。
出16:16  
耶和华所吩咐的是这样，你们要按着各人的食量收取；各按自己帐棚里的人数收取，每人一俄梅珥。
出16:17  
以色列人就这样行；有多收的，有少收的。
出16:18  
及至用俄梅珥量一量，多收的没有余，少收的也没有缺；各人按着自己的食量收取。
出16:19  
摩西对他们说，所收的，不许什么人留到早晨。
出16:20  
然而他们不听摩西，有人把一些留到早晨，就生虫变臭了；摩西便向他们发怒。
出16:21  
他们每日早晨，按着各人的食量收取；日头一发热，就融化了。
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　　箴言二十六章十四节说，“门在枢纽转动，懒惰人在床上也是如此。”这里说懒惰人在床上像门在枢纽里转过来转过去。懒惰的人一直在床上转，一直离不开床。他转到里面去，也是在床上，转到外面来，也是睡在床上。翻来翻去，就是在床上。许多人，就是舍不得那张床。翻到里面，那张床是可爱的；翻到外面，那张床又是可爱的。翻到左面，还是在床上；翻到右面，还是在床上。他总是爱睡，离不开床。许多人就是在那里再睡片刻，一直离不开床。但是，要学习事奉神，要学习作好基督徒，就得天天早起，总要清早起来。
--------本段经节汇集--------
箴26:14  
门在枢纽上转动，懒惰人在床上也是如此。
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　　谁在清早起来，谁就要得着许多属灵的益处。他普通时候的祷告，赶不上清早的祷告。他普通时候的读圣经，赶不上清早的读圣经。他普通时候与主的交通，赶不上清早与主的交通。清早的时候，是一天最好的时候。我们不应该把最好的时候用在别的事情上，应当把我们一天之中最好的时候，清晨的时候，用在神面前。有些基督徒是把一天的时间都花在别的事上，等到晚上最累的时候，快到床上去睡的时候，才在那里跪下来读圣经、祷告。怪不得他圣经读不好，怪不得他祷告不好，怪不得他与主的交通不好，因为他早上起来太迟了。所以，我们一信主，就要学习在清早的时候划出时间来，与神交通，与神来往。
　
　　在圣经里，神的仆人们，都是清早起来的。我们看：
一
　
亚伯拉罕──创世记十九章二十七节，二十一章十四节，二十二章三节。
二
　
雅各──创世记二十八章十八节。
三
　
摩西──出埃及记八章二十节，九章十三节，二十四章四节，三十四章四节。
四
　
约书亚──约书亚记三章一节，六章十二节，七章十六节，八章十节。
五
　
基甸──士师记六章三十八节。
六
　
哈拿──撒上一章十九节。
七
　
撒母耳──撒上十五章十二节。
八
　
大卫──撒上十七章二十节。
九
　
约伯──约伯记一章五节。
十
　
马利亚──路加二十四章二十二节；马可十六章九节；约翰二十章一节。
十一
　
使徒们──行传五章二十一节。

--------本段经节汇集--------
创19:27  
亚伯拉罕清早起来，到了他从前站在耶和华面前的地方，
创21:14  
亚伯拉罕清早起来，拿饼和一皮袋水，给了夏甲，搭在她的肩上，又把孩子交给她，打发她走。夏甲就走了，在别是巴的旷野走迷了路。
创22:3  
亚伯拉罕清早起来，备上驴，带着两个仆人和他儿子以撒，也劈好了燔祭的柴，就起身往神所指示他的地方去。
创28:18  
雅各清早起来，把所枕的石头立作柱子，浇油在上面。
出8:20  
耶和华对摩西说，你清早起来，当法老出来往水边去的时候，你要站在他面前，对他说，耶和华这样说，让我的百姓去，他们好事奉我。
出9:13  
耶和华对摩西说，你清早起来，站在法老面前，对他说，耶和华希伯来人的神这样说，让我的百姓去，他们好事奉我。
出24:4  
摩西将耶和华的话都写下；他清早起来，在山下筑了一座坛，并按以色列十二支派，立了十二根柱子；
出34:4  
摩西就凿出两块石版，和先前的一样；清晨起来，照耶和华所吩咐的上西乃山去，手里拿着两块石版。
书3:1  
约书亚清早起来，和以色列众人都从什亭起行，来到约但河，就住宿在那里，等候过河。
书6:12  
约书亚清早起来，祭司又抬起耶和华的约柜。
书7:16  
于是约书亚清早起来，使以色列人按着支派近前来，取出来的是犹大支派；
书8:10  
约书亚清早起来，点齐百姓，他和以色列的长老就在百姓前面上艾城去。
士6:38  
次日基甸清早起来，见果然是这样；他将羊毛挤一挤，从羊毛中拧出满盆的露水来。
撒上1:19  
次日，他们清早起来，在耶和华面前敬拜，就回拉玛，到了家里。以利加拿和妻子哈拿同房；耶和华记念哈拿。
撒上15:12  
撒母耳清早起来，要在早晨迎接扫罗。有人告诉撒母耳说，扫罗去了迦密，在那里为自己立了记念碑，又回来，经过这里下到吉甲。
撒上17:20  
大卫清早起来，将羊交托一个看守的人，照着耶西所吩咐他的，带着食物去了。到了辎重营，那出去摆阵的军兵，正呐喊要战。
伯1:5  
筵席的日子轮过了，约伯就打发人去，使他们分别为圣；他清早起来，按着他们众人的数目献燔祭；因为约伯说，说不定我儿子犯罪，心中咒诅了神。约伯常常这样行。
路24:22  
再者，我们中间有几位妇女使我们惊奇，她们清早到了坟墓那里，
可16:9  
在七日的第一日清早，耶稣复活了，就先向抹大拉的马利亚显现，耶稣从她身上曾赶出七个鬼。
约20:1  
七日的第一日清早，天还黑的时候，抹大拉的马利亚来到坟墓那里，看见石头从坟墓挪开了。
徒5:21  
使徒听了这话，天将亮的时候，就进殿里去施教。大祭司和同他在一起的人来了，叫齐议会的人，就是以色列子孙的众元老，就差人到监牢去，要把使徒提出来。
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　　这许多处的圣经告诉我们，这些神的仆人，个个都有清晨和神办交涉的习惯，个个都有清晨作工的习惯，个个都有清晨与神交通的习惯。他们清早起来，作许多事，与神的工作有关，与奉献也有关。在圣经里，虽然没有神的命令，叫我们早点起来，可是有够多的榜样使我们看见，所有忠心事奉神的人都是清早起来的。连主耶稣自己也早起。祂早晨天未亮的时候，就起来到旷野去祷告（可一35）。祂要设立十二个使徒的时候，是清早叫祂的门徒来（路六13），何况我们呢？
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可1:35  
清早，天还黑，耶稣起来，到旷野地方去，在那里祷告。
路6:13  
到了天亮，祂就叫门徒来，从他们中间挑选十二个人，称他们为使徒，
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　　所以，弟兄姊妹如果要学习跟从主，千万不要以为，早上早起一个钟点或者迟起一个钟头，没有多大分别。要知道你迟起一个钟头，读圣经就不行；你迟起一个钟头，祷告就不行。早一个钟点读圣经，与迟一个钟点读圣经，虽然都花同样的时间，但结果不一样。早一个钟点祷告，与迟一个钟点祷告，果效也不一样。早起，是一个大祝福。盼望你一起头作基督徒，就不失去早起的祝福。有一位弟兄，当他头三年作基督徒的时候，至少有五十次以上，有人来问他，某人，你早晨几点钟起来？早起是一个大的祝福，学过早起的人就知道，这的确是一件大事。如果你不是早晨够早的起来，就会变作一个属灵上很贫穷的人。迟起来，就要受许多损失，许多属灵的东西都丢掉了。　　在圣经里，我们已经看见这许多榜样。在圣经之外的神的仆人们怎样呢？像慕勒，像卫斯理，还有其他许多有名的神的仆人，他们也都是清早起来的。我们所认识的人，我们在书上所读到的人，可以说差不多在神手里有一点用处的人，都注意清早起来的事。他们给清早起来一个名称，叫作守晨更。所有神的仆人们，都注重这一个守晨更。我们只要看这一个名称，就知道这一定是相当早的事。我们没有听见人在日出以后还在那里打更？没有。守晨更，总是相当早的。这一件事，实在是我们基督徒必须养成的好习惯，神的儿女不应当放松。教会这么多年下来，一直是这样。我们应当把这种好习惯一直维持下去，都在清早起来遇见神。守晨更这一个名称，在圣经里是没有的，我们要给它起另外的名称也可以。不过，无论如何，清早起来遇见神，是要紧的事。
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希伯来书一章（略，若需要被汇集，请勾选“不忽略整章”）
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　　我们不是清早起来就算了，乃是要有属灵的学习，有属灵的内容。在这里提起几件事，是在清早特别要作的。
　
　　从雅歌七章十二节的话能看出，清早是与主交通最好的时候。交通的意思就是我们的灵向着神开起来，思想也开起来，让神给我们光，让神给我们话（诗一一九105、147），让神给我们印象，让神摸着我们。我们的心向着神去，也让神往我们的心来。我们要清早起来在神面前安静，在神面前默想，在神面前受引导，在神面前得印象，让神有机会对我们说话，学习去摸着神。
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歌7:12  
我们清晨起来往葡萄园去，看看葡萄发芽开花没有，石榴放蕊没有；我在那里要将我的爱情给你。
诗119:105  
你的话是我脚前的灯，是我路上的光。
诗119:147  
我趁天未亮呼求；我仰望了你的言语。
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　　在清早的时候要有赞美歌颂的声音。唱歌的声音最好的时候，是在清早。清早是赞美的时候，清早是向神歌颂最好的时候。将我们最高的赞美向神送出去的时候，是我们的灵能够爬得最高的时候。
　
三
　
读圣经
　　清早也是我们吃吗哪的时候（吗哪是指着基督说的。）什么叫作吃吗哪？就是每天早起，在那里享受基督，也就是享受神的话，享受神的道。我们吃了它才有力量在旷野里行走。收吗哪的时候，是在清晨。如果你把早起的时候花在别的事情上，你就在属灵方面得不着饱足，得不着喂养。　　我们曾提过，一个人该有两本圣经，一本是为着下午读的，里面可以画记号，可以写上许多东西，还有一本是为着早起吃吗哪用的，里面不写什么话，也不画什么记号。在早晨，不是要读很长很长的圣经，乃是在神面前把圣经打开，仔细的读一段圣经，把你与神的交通和读圣经调在一起，把你的唱诗和读圣经也调在一起。这并不是说，第一步是交通，第二步是赞美，第三步是读圣经；这乃是说，要把这些事在神面前调在一起作，同时可以加上祷告。你到神面前去，将神的话打开，你在那里把神的话读了，当你感觉罪的时候，你可以认罪，当你觉得神在这句圣经所说的事情上恩待了你，你可以感谢。你也可以在圣经所说的那一件事情上祈求神，说，“主，这一个真是我所缺的。这一段、这一节、这一句的话，真是我所缺的。主，求你赐给我。”你在那里看见了什么应许，你可以说，“主，我信。”你在那里看见了什么恩典，你可以说，“主，我接受。”在那里你也可以代祷。你读的时候，记得有的弟兄姊妹的情形，刚刚与这一处圣经相反，你在神面前不是控告他们，不是论断他们，乃是说，“神！求你把这一句话成就在我的身上，也求你把这一句话成就在某弟兄姊妹的身上。”在这里你可以为着你自己认罪，也为着别人认罪。在这里你可以为着你自己求，也为着别人求。在这里你可以为着自己信，也为着别人信。在这里你可以为着你自己感谢，也为着别人感谢。清早读圣经不宜读得长，不宜读得多，只要两三节、四五节就够了。两三节、四五节的圣经，够你读一个钟点了。你这样一句一句的读过，祷告过，与神有交通过，就能使你得着饱足。　　旧约和新约都有这样与神交通的人，他们是认识神的，是与神有来往的，他们将神的交通调和在生活中。　　大卫在诗篇里面，一会儿说“你”，一会儿说“祂”，一会儿对人说，一会儿变作祷告。在一篇诗里面，有几句话是在人面前的话，有几句话到神面前去了。大卫一面和人说话，一面就往神那里去。诗篇证明大卫是与神有交通的人。
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诗篇一篇（略，若需要被汇集，请勾选“不忽略整章”）
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　　尼希米作事的时候，说几句话，就有几句祷告。王问他的时候，他这一边和王说话，那一边和主说话，办事和祷告调在一起，不是办事归办事，祷告归祷告。　　罗马书是保罗写给罗马人的，但是，他的说话常常转到主面前去。有许多次，好像他忘记了是对罗马人说，而是在神面前说。在保罗的书信里，这一种情形是常有的，一会儿就转过来到神面前去。　　读过《馨香的没药》的人，就看见盖恩夫人的特点。许多人写自传，都是用向人说的口气，但是盖恩夫人一会儿向着人说，一会儿向着神说，一会儿对康伯说怎样怎样（那一本书是康伯叫她写的，）一会儿对主说怎样怎样。这个就叫作交通。与神交通，那一个时候起头，那一个时候结束，都不一定。不是把事情放了去祷告，也不是祷告好了去办事，乃是调和在一起作。　　所以，在清早吃吗哪的时候，要学习把祷告调和在神的话语里，把赞美调和在神的话语里，把交通调和在神的话语里。你一会儿是在地上，一会儿是在天上；一会儿是在你自己面前，一会儿是在神面前。你每天早起在神面前这样作，过了一点时间之后，就会觉得饱，神的道也就丰丰富富的藏在你心里了。这一种的读神的话，吃吗哪，是不可少的。许多软弱的弟兄姊妹，在旷野里跑不动，我们要问：“你们吃了东西没有？”他们所以跑不动，是因为他们吃得不够。吗哪是要清早拾的，所以要早一点起来，一迟起，就吃不到。总是要清早起来，在神面前花工夫读神的话。
　
四
　
祷告
　　清早在神面前要有交通、赞美、吃吗哪，也要有祷告。诗篇六十三篇一节和七十八篇三十四节中的“切切”，在原文都是“早”的意思。清早要在那里祷告。前面所提到的祷告是调和著作的，这里是专一的去祷告。等到你交通过了，赞美过了，吗哪吃过了，最后，你能够有力量再把所有的事在神面前好好的祷告。祷告的确需要力量。你要在清晨亲近神，先吃一顿饱，然后留下半个钟点或者一刻钟，来为着几件要紧的事、为着你自己、为着教会、为着世人祷告。当然，在下午或晚上，还可以作祷告的工作；不过清早的时候，能够用你新得着的力量，刚刚与主交通吃了吗哪所得着的力量，花在祷告上，你就能得着更大的帮助。
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诗63:1  
（大卫在犹大旷野的时候，作了这诗。）神啊，你是我的神，我切切地寻求你。在干旱疲乏无水之地，我的魂渴想你，我的身切慕你。
诗78:34  
祂杀他们的时候，他们才求问祂，回转过来，切切地寻求神。
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　　所以，每一个信主的人，总应当在清早的时候把这四件事──与神交通、赞美、读经和祷告──在神面前好好的作。一个人清早的时候，在神面前有没有这样作，必定会从他那一天的生活里显明出来。像慕勒那样的人，他还说，他早起有没有在神面前吃一顿饱，能断定他一天属灵的情形。他说他一天属灵的情形如何，就是看他那天早起在神面前有没有吃饱。许多人，有整天中不行，就是因为有在早起不行。当然我们承认，如果一个人路走得远一些，有了灵和魂完全分开的经历，外面的人被拆毁了，他可能不容易摇动。但这是另外一件事。初信的人，总得学习清早起来。这一个一放松，就什么都放松了，什么都不对了。你早晨在神面前得着了滋养或者没有得着滋养，那一个分别是非常大的。　　从前，有一个很有名的音乐家曾说过，他如果一天没有练习，他自己会觉得他不行；如果两天没有练习，他的朋友会觉得他不行，如果三天没有练习，听众都会觉得他不行。练习音乐如此，早起属灵的学习更是如此，你只要有一天早晨在神面前没有弄好，你自己知道，有学习的人与你一接触也会知道，因为你没有摸着那一个属灵的源头。初信的人，从起头就得严严的约束自己，每天清早起来，在神面前要有这些学习。
　
　　最后，要说一点有关实行的事。我们怎样才能清早起来？有几件事，我们必须注意。　　所有要清早起来的人，都得有一个习惯，晚上要早一点睡。你如果盼望晚上迟睡，早上早起，好像蜡蠋两头烧，那是不行的。　　早起的标准不要定得太高。有的人定规三点钟起来，有的人定规四点钟起来，结果反而作不来，作了几天不作了。这是取一个适中的办法来得好。差不多五点六点是相当合式的时间。或者是天将要亮，或者是天刚刚亮，总是在天亮左右。太早，恐怕不能持久。过高的标准会产生有亏的良心。有的人把标准定得太高，和家里的人发生难处；有的人要和他的服务处发生难处；有的人出去作客人，要和他的主人发生难处。这样并没有益处，总要有一个合式的定规。我们不提倡走极端的路，所以标准不要定得过高。到底你这一个人，按照身体的需要和环境的情形，最好是什么时候起来才算合式，你应当在神面前好好的考虑过，再规定一个标准，然后好好的遵守那个时间。　　开始的时候，总有一点困难。往往第一天容易，第二天容易，第三天就不容易。头几天容易作，过几天就要觉得床是可爱的，爬不起来，特别是在冬天。人需要有一个相当长的时间，才能养成一个新的习惯。起初，也许因为你常常迟起来，所以你的神经是倾向“迟”的；你能多早起几次，逐渐你的神经就倾向“早”了。过些日子你即使想迟起来，到了时候你也睡不着。所以起头的时候，总要勉强的起来。当你的习惯还没有养成之前，你要求神施恩，叫你有这一个习惯。作一次，再作一次，再多作一次，天天都割爱割席的爬起来，结果你就能够自然而然的清早起来。你必须养成一个习惯，在神面前享受清晨交通的恩典。　　健康的人不需要超过八个钟点的睡眠，千万不要以为你自己是例外的人。不要挂虑太早起来身体会不好，也许是你的挂虑把它弄得不好了。许多人太爱自己，反而把自己挂虑到不好。除非医生说你有病，也许你需要十个钟点或十二个钟点的睡眠。普通的人，有六个钟点到八个钟点的睡眠尽够了。不过也不要走极端，无论如何，要保持六个钟点到八个钟点，不能再少。凡身体有病的人，不盼望你清早起来。你早上醒过来，就躺在床上读圣经也不要紧。可是，没有医生的证明，不是真的有病的人，应当个个都清早起来。　　我们盼望那些年长一点、有分量一点的人，在神面前要维持这一件事。教会对于懒惰的人，应该推他一把，把他震动一下。要把初信的人带进这一个大的有福的情形里去。一有机会，就要问他：“你每天几点钟起床？”过几天，就得再问他：“你今天几点钟起床？”这样的督促，起码追他一年。也许一年之后，还要追他：“弟兄，你什么时候起床？”对于初信的人，要一看见就问。你要追着他们受你的帮助。但是，如果我们自己在神面前没有学好，我们就不大容易作这样的事。所以我们自己在神面前要先学好。　　可以说，清早起来是信徒习惯中的第一个习惯。吃饭的时候要感谢神，这是一个习惯；主日要聚会，这也是一个习惯；清早起来，更是信徒必须有的习惯。总要叫初信的人把习惯养成。有的人作信徒许多年，从来没有享受过清早起来的祝福，从来没有享受过清早起来的恩典，那是非常可惜的事。我们要得着这个恩典，就得好好的学。如果许多弟兄姊妹一同来学，许多人能够清早起来，教会就能够进步。一个弟兄多得着光，整个教会就亮。只要每一个人多得着一点光，天天多得着一点，整个教会就丰富了。教会贫穷，是因为从元首接受的人太少了。如果能够作到个个都从元首那里接受，即使个人得着的不多，合起来也是很丰富的。　　我们不是盼望只有少数人在教会中作工，我们是盼望所有的肢体能够在神面前起来，全教会能够兴起来，得着丰富，得着恩典。一个肢体有所得着，就是整个身体有所得着。如果所有的弟兄姊妹都往这条路去，那就有许多接受的器官有神面前，我们就要越过越丰富。所以盼望弟兄姊妹们不要以为清早起来是小事。我们大家来学习清早起来，维持清早起来，我们就有属灵的前途。
　
Ⅰ
　
Early morning being the best time of the day
　What time should believers rise up every day?
　A sister once put it well when she said, "How much a person loves the Lord can be judged primarily by the way he chooses between his bed and the Lord. Do you love your bed or the Lord more? If you love your bed more, you sleep a little longer. If you love the Lord more, you rise up a little earlier." She spoke these words more than thirty years ago. Yet they are still fresh to us today. A man must choose between his love for his bed and his love for the Lord. The more he loves the Lord, the more he will rise up early.
　A Christian should rise up early because the early morning is the best time to meet the Lord. Except for those who are sick, all the brothers and sisters should rise up early. Actually, many sicknesses are not sicknesses at all. They become sicknesses because men love themselves too much. Other than those who are advised to rest by doctors, everyone should rise early. We do not want to go to extremes; we advise sick brothers and sisters to sleep more. However, the healthy ones should get up as early as possible. The best time to meet the Lord, to contact Him, and to fellowship with Him is early in the morning. Manna is gathered before the sun rises (Exo. 16:14-21). Anyone who wants to eat God's food should rise up early. When the sun waxes hot, manna melts and is gone. If we want to receive spiritual nourishment and spiritual edification, and if we want to have spiritual fellowship and spiritual supply, we need to rise up early. If we rise up late, the manna will be gone. The early morning is the very time when God dispenses His spiritual food and holy fellowship to His children. Whoever is late will not gather anything. Many children of God lead a sick life, not because they have spiritual problems, but because they rise up too late. Many children of God have no lack in consecration, zeal, or love, but they cannot live a normal Christian life because they rise up too late. Do not think that this is a small matter. Do not think that this has nothing to do with spirituality; it has much to do with spirituality. Many people are not spiritual because they rise up too late. Many people have been Christians for years, yet they fail to live a proper Christian life because they rise up too late. We do not know of anyone who knows how to pray, yet rises up late. Nor do we know of anyone who has intimate fellowship with God, yet rises up late. All those who know God rise up early. They rise up early as a rule to fellowship with Him.
　Proverbs 26:14 says, "As the door turneth upon his hinges, so doth the slothful upon his bed." Here it says that a slothful person in bed is like a door that turns upon its hinges. The slothful keeps turning upon his bed; he cannot leave it. He turns to one side on his bed. Then he turns to the other side on his bed. Whichever way he turns, he is still on the bed. Many people cannot part with their bed. They love their bed as they turn from one side to the other. When they turn left, they are on their bed. When they turn right, they are still on their bed. They love to sleep and cannot part with their bed. Many people just want to sleep a little longer; they cannot get out of their bed. If one wants to learn to serve God and be a good Christian, he has to rise up early in the morning every day.
　Those who rise up early in the morning reap much spiritual benefit. Their prayers at other times of the day cannot be compared with their prayers in the early morning. Their Bible reading at other times of the day cannot be compared with their reading in the early morning. Their fellowship with the Lord at other times cannot be compared with their fellowship in the early morning. The early morning is the best time of the day. We should spend the best time of the day — the early morning — before the Lord, rather than in other things. Some Christians spend the whole day on other matters and kneel down to read the Bible and pray only at night when they are about to go to sleep. No wonder they are ineffective in their Bible reading, their prayer, and their fellowship with the Lord. They wake up too late in the morning. The moment we believe in the Lord, we should set apart the early morning for fellowshipping with God and for contacting Him.
　
Ⅱ
　
Examples of early rising
　In the Bible we find God's servants rising up early in the morning. Let us consider their examples:
　These many verses tell us that God's servants had the habit of dealing with God early in the morning. Every one of them had the habit of waking early in the morning and fellowshipping with God early in the morning. They rose up early in the morning to do many things related to God's business. They also rose up early in the morning to consecrate themselves. Although there is no commandment in the Bible that tells us to get up early, there are sufficient examples in the Bible to show us that all faithful servants of God rise up early. Even the Lord Jesus Himself rose up early. He rose up very early in the morning, while it was still night, and went away to a deserted place to pray (Mark 1:35). When He wanted to appoint the twelve apostles, He called them to Himself early in the morning (Luke 6:13). If the Lord had to rise up early to do these things, how much more do we need to rise up early?
　Any brother or sister who wants to follow the Lord must never think that there is little difference in rising up an hour early. You must realize that your Bible reading becomes ineffective if you rise up an hour late. Likewise, your prayer becomes ineffective if you rise up an hour late. Although one may spend the same amount of time in reading the Bible, an hour's difference will produce very different results. Early rising brings in great blessing. We hope that you will not miss the blessing of early rising at the start of your Christian life. One brother was asked at least fifty times during his first three years as a Christian, "What time did you get up this morning?" Early rising is a great blessing. Those who have learned to rise up early know the significance of it. If you do not rise up early in the morning, you will live in spiritual poverty. Late rising brings in much loss. Many spiritual things are lost through late rising.
　We have seen many examples from the Bible. How about the servants of God who are not mentioned in the Bible, like George Müller, John Wesley, and many other famous servants of God? They also rose up early in the morning. We can say that almost all the ones we know of or have read about from books, who are of any use in God's hands, pay attention to the matter of rising early. They call this early rising "morning watch." All servants of God emphasize morning watch. The term morning watch itself tells us that it is done early in the morning. Have you heard of anyone who keeps watch when the sun is already up? Never! One keeps morning watch early in the morning. This is a good habit, and we Christians should cultivate this habit. God's children should not be sloppy people. The church has been practicing this for years. We should maintain this good habit of meeting God early in the morning. The term morning watch is not found in the Bible. We can give it another name, but no matter what name we give to it, meeting God early in the morning is a very crucial matter.
　
Ⅲ
　
What to do in the early morning
　We do not merely rise up early. There must be spiritual exercise and spiritual content to what we do. Here are a few things to do early in the morning:
　
A
　
Fellowship with God
　Song of Songs 7:12 shows us that the early morning is the best time to fellowship with the Lord. To fellowship means to open up our spirit and our mind to God and allow Him to enlighten us, speak to us, impress us, and touch us (Psa. 119:105, 147). During this time our hearts are drawn near to God, and we allow God to draw near to our hearts. We should rise up early in the morning to tarry before the Lord, to meditate, to receive leading and impressions from God, to learn to touch Him, and to give Him an opportunity to speak to us.
　
B
　
Praise and sing
　There must be the sound of praise and singing in the early morning. The early morning is the best time to sing praises to God. When we offer our highest praise to God, our spirit rises to the highest peak.
　
C
　
Read the Bible
　The early morning is the time for us to gather the manna (which is Christ). What does it mean to eat the manna? It means to enjoy Christ, to enjoy God's Word, and to enjoy His truth early in the morning every day. After we eat the manna, we have the strength to journey in the wilderness. The early morning is the time to gather the manna. One will not be fed spiritually or be satisfied if he spends his early morning on other things.
　We have mentioned already that we should have two Bibles, one with marks and notes in it to use in the afternoon and the other with nothing in it for "eating manna" early in the morning. In the early morning, do not read too much and do not take many portions of the Word. Instead, read a single portion of the Bible carefully, always mingling your reading with unceasing communion with God and singing. This does not mean that you should fellowship with God first, praise second, and then read the Bible last. You have to blend all these things together. At the same time you should also pray. Come to God's presence and open His Word. As you read, you may be convicted to confess your sins. As you read certain portions, you may be touched by His grace to offer up thanksgiving. You can also pray to God concerning what you have read in the Word. You can say, "Lord, this is truly what I need. This portion, this verse, this word, truly exposes my lack. Lord, fill up this lack of mine." When you find a promise, you can say, "Lord, I believe in this promise." When you find grace, you can say, "Lord, I take this grace." You can also intercede. While you are reading, you may remember the condition of those who fall short of what this portion says. You should not accuse or criticize them. Instead, you should pray, "God, fulfill this word in me. Fulfill this word also in my brother and sister." You can confess your sins and the sins of others. You can pray for yourself and for others. You can believe for yourself and for others. You can give thanks for yourself and for others. Your Bible reading in the morning should not be too long; it should not cover too much. Two, three, four, or five verses are sufficient. You can dwell on them for an hour. As you read these verses word by word, pray over them, and commune with God through them, you will be filled.
　Both in the Old Testament and the New Testament, there were people who fellowshipped with God this way. They knew God and communed with God. Their fellowship with God became part of their lives.
　In Psalms David interchanged the pronouns you and He freely. At one moment he would be speaking to man, and at the next moment he would be praying to God. In the same psalm, he would say a few sentences to man and then say something to God. On the one hand, David spoke to man. On the other hand, he spoke to God. The Psalms show us that David was a person who was in constant fellowship with God.
　While Nehemiah was working, he would speak a few words and then offer a short prayer. When the king asked him something, he would speak to the king first and then to the Lord. He mingled his work and prayer together. He did not separate his work from his prayer.
　Paul wrote the book of Romans to those in Rome. However, more than once he turned his speaking to the Lord. A few times he seemed to have forgotten the fact that he was writing to the Romans. It seemed as if he were talking to God. We can find frequent examples like this in Paul's Epistles. In an instant he could turn around and speak to God.
　Those who have read the autobiography of Madame Guyon will notice one characteristic of hers. Most autobiographies are written for man. But in Madame Guyon's autobiography, she spoke to man in one instant and to God in the next instant. In one moment she would be speaking to LaCombe (who asked her to write her autobiography), and at the next moment she would be speaking to God. This is fellowship. One does not know where fellowship with God begins and where it ends. Fellowship does not mean to set aside other affairs to pray. Nor does it mean to pray first and then deal with the affairs. It is to do both simultaneously.
　Hence, during this early morning hour of gathering manna, you should learn to mingle prayer with God's Word. You should learn to mingle praise and fellowship with God's Word. One moment you may be on earth, but the next moment you are in the heavens. One moment you may be in yourself, but the next moment you are in God. If you maintain this practice before God every morning, you will be filled after some time, and God's word will dwell in you richly. Such reading of God's Word, such gathering of manna, is indispensable to us. Many brothers and sisters are weak and unable to take the wilderness journey. We need to ask them, "Have you eaten anything?" They cannot walk because they have not eaten enough. Manna is gathered in the early morning. This is why we need to rise up a little earlier. We will not have any manna if we are late. We have to rise up early in the morning to labor in God's Word.
　
D
　
Pray
　In the early morning we should fellowship, praise, and gather the manna. We must also pray to the Lord. Psalms 63:1 [KJV] and 78:34 [KJV] both say that we should seek the Lord early. The prayer spoken of in the previous paragraph is a kind of blending prayer. But the prayer we are talking about here is more specific. After one fellowships, praises, and eats manna, he has strength and can present everything in prayer before God. Prayer surely requires much strength. One must first draw near to God early in the morning and be fed. Then he can set aside about half an hour or a quarter of an hour to pray for a few urgent things. He can pray for himself, for the church, or for the world. Of course, he can pray also in the afternoon or at night. But if he takes advantage of the fresh power he has gained, the power acquired in the early morning through fellowshipping with God and eating manna, he will receive greater support.
　Every believer should do these four things conscientiously before the Lord early in the morning: fellowship with Him, praise Him, read the Bible, and pray to Him. Whether or not a person has done these four things in the morning is manifested in his walk during the day. George Müller confessed that the degree to which he was fed by the Lord in the morning determined his spiritual condition throughout the whole day. His spiritual condition for the day depended on his feeding before the Lord in the morning. Many Christians find themselves weak during the day because their mornings are ill spent. Of course, there are those who are so far ahead in their spiritual journey that they can experience the total separation of the spirit from the soul. Their outward man is broken, and they are not that easily shaken by anything. However, this is another matter altogether. New believers should learn to rise up early. Once they become loose in this, they become loose in everything, and everything will go wrong. There is a great difference between being nourished and not being nourished in the morning.
　A very famous musician once said, "If I skip practicing for one day, I will notice it. If I skip practicing for two days, my friends will notice it. If I skip practicing for three days, my audience will notice it." If this is true for practicing music, it is even more true for the spiritual lesson of rising up early. If we fail to have a good morning watch before God, we will know it. Those who are experienced in the Lord also will know it when they come into contact with us. They will know that we have not touched the spiritual source. From the very first day, new believers should strictly discipline themselves. Every morning they should rise up early to exercise this way before the Lord.
　
Ⅳ
　
The practice of early rising
　Finally, we should speak a little about actual ways to implement this practice. How can we rise up early? We need to pay attention to a few things.
　All early risers must have the habit of going to bed early. No one can stay up late and rise up early. This is like burning a candle at both ends.
　Do not set too high a standard for rising. Some people want to rise up at three or four o'clock in the morning. When they find out that they cannot make it, they quit after a few days. It is better to take a moderate course. Five or six o'clock is a suitable time to get up. Get up when the sun is about to rise or has just risen. Always get up around sunrise. If one tries to get up too early, his practice may not last long. An unreasonably high standard will only result in a condemned conscience. Some people have set too high a standard for themselves. They get into problems with their family or their work. When they take hospitality at the homes of others, they get into problems with their hosts. This is not a profitable thing to do. Our standard should be reasonable. We do not advocate extremes. Do not set too high a standard for yourself. Before the Lord you should consider carefully the proper time for you to rise up. You should take into consideration your physical limitations as well as the environment. Set your standard accordingly and keep it.
　You may face a little difficulty at the beginning. It is always easy the first and second day. But the third day is difficult. You will find it easy for the first few days. But after a few days, you will love the bed so much that you will not want to get up at all. This is especially true in winter. It takes a long time for us to build up a new habit. Perhaps you are used to getting up late, and your mind has been used to getting up late. But if you rise up early a few times, your mind will gradually adjust to getting up early. After you do this for a few days, you will not want to go back to sleep even if your mind is telling you to do so. In the beginning you will need to force yourself a little in order to rise up early. Before a habit is built up, you need to ask God for grace. Continue to ask until this habit is built up. Try to do this again and again. Give up your bed daily to rise up early. In the end you will rise up early spontaneously. You must build up this habit before God. You must not miss the grace of fellowship early in the morning.
　A healthy person does not need more than eight hours of sleep. Do not think that you are an exception. Do not worry that early rising will affect your health. It may be your anxiety which is affecting your health. Many people love themselves too much and worry themselves to sickness. You may need ten or twelve hours of sleep if the doctor says that you are ill. But six to eight hours of sleep are sufficient for a normal person. However, do not go to the extreme. Maintain at least six to eight hours of sleep. We do not expect those who are sick to rise up early. If you are sick, it is all right for you to lie on your bed in the morning and read your Bible there. However, those who are not advised by doctors to stay in bed and who are not really sick should rise up early in the morning.
　We hope those who are mature and weighty in the Lord will uphold this practice. The church should push the sluggard ones to go forward. They should be shaken up a little. We should usher the new believers into this great blessing. You should take every chance to ask the new ones, "What time do you get up every day?" After a few days, you have to ask them again, "What time did you get up this morning?" This kind of reminding should go on for at least a year into a person's initial Christian life. After a year, you may still need to ask, "Brother, what time do you rise up now?" Ask the new believers whenever you see them. You need to go to them and render them some help in this matter. However, if we have not learned the lesson well before the Lord, it will be hard for us to do this to others. This is why we must first learn this lesson well ourselves.
　Early rising should be a believer's first habit among all habits. Giving thanks before meals is a habit. Meeting together on the Lord's Day is also a habit. Rising up early is even more an essential habit. A new believer needs to build up this habit. It is unfortunate that some have been Christians for years and yet have never enjoyed the blessing of early rising. They have never enjoyed the grace of early rising. If we want to experience this grace, we have to learn this lesson well. If more brothers and sisters will come together to learn this lesson, and if everyone will rise up early in the morning, the church will grow. When one brother receives more light, the whole church will receive more shining. When everyone receives a little more light each day, the church as a whole will become richer. The church is poor today because too few people are receiving their supply from the Head. If everyone receives something from the Head, however little it may seem to be, the culmination of all the little portions will make the whole very rich.
　We do not wish to see only a minority of people working in the church. We hope to see all the members rising up before the Lord. We hope to see the whole church rising up to receive God's riches and grace. What one member receives from the Head becomes the profit of the whole Body. If every brother and sister takes this way, there will be many containers before God, and we will be richer and richer as the days go by. We hope that you will not consider early rising as a small matter. If we all learn to rise up early, and if we all maintain this habit, we will have a bright spiritual future ahead of us.
 
　　读经：

　　雅歌七章十二节：“我们早晨起来往葡萄园去看看葡萄发芽开花没有，石榴放蕊没有；我在那里要将我的爱情给你。”

　　诗篇五十七篇八至九节：“我的灵啊，你当醒起，琴瑟啊，你们当醒起；我自己要极早醒起。主啊，我要在万民中称谢你，在列邦中歌颂你。”

　　一百零八篇二至三节：“琴瑟啊，你们当醒起；我自己要极早醒起。耶和华啊，我要在万民中称谢你，在列邦中歌颂你。”

　　出埃及记十六章二十一节：“他们每日早晨，按着各人的饭量收取，日头一发热，就消化了。”

　　诗篇六十三篇一节：“神啊，你是我的神，我要切切（原文，‘清早’）的寻求你；在干旱疲乏无水之地，我渴想你；我的心切慕你。”

　　七十八篇三十四节：“他杀他们的时候，他们才求问他，回心转意，切切（原文‘清早’）的寻求神。”

　　九十篇十四节：“求你使我们早早饱得你的慈爱，好叫我们一生一世欢呼喜乐。”
 
　Scripture Reading: S.S. 7:12; Psa. 57:8-9; 63:1; 78:34; 90:14; 108:2-3; Exo. 16:21
　　信主的人，每天应当什么时候起床呢？

　　有一位姊妹曾说过几句很好的话，她说，“一个人爱主的心有多少，第一就看他在他的床和主中间的拣选。你爱你的床多，还是爱主多？爱床多，就多睡一点；爱主多，就早一点起来。”她说这话的时候，是有三十多年前，但我们觉得到今天这话还是那样新鲜。人总得拣选爱床多，或爱主多；你如果爱主多，你就应当早一点起来。

　　为什么基督徒应当清早起来？因为清晨是人遇见主最好的时候。除了有病之外，所有的弟兄姊妹，都应当早一点起床。有许多病本来不是病，是人把自己爱得太过，所以才病。所以除非医生要你多休息，你才可以不早起。我们并不愿意走极端，对有病的弟兄姊妹们，我们劝他们多睡一点觉。但健康的人，总是越早起越好。因为清早是遇见主、与主有来往、与主有交通最好的时候。吗哪总是在日出以前收取的（出十六14~21）。人要吃神给他的粮食，总应当清早起来。日头一出来，吗哪溶化了，就吃不到了。你在神面前要得着属灵的培养，要得着属灵的造就，要有属灵的交通，有分属灵的粮食，就得早一点起来。起迟了就吃不到吗哪。在清早的时候，神特别要将祂属灵的食物，圣洁的交通，分给祂的儿女。谁太迟来拿的，就拿不到。有好些神的儿女过着一种病态的生活，并不是因为他们有什么别的属灵的难处，就是因为他们起得太迟。有许多神的儿女，奉献也好，热心也好，爱心也好，就是因为他们起得太迟，就活不出基督徒正常的生活。你不要以为这是小事情，与灵性没有关系；实在非常有关系。有许多人，就是因为起得迟，灵性就不行。有许多人，花了许多年，基督徒作不好，就是因为起得太迟。我们没有认识一个会祷告的人是迟起来的，我们没有认识一个与神交通亲密的人是迟起来的。所有认识神的人，都经常的在清早起来，到神面前去交通。

　　箴言二十六章十四节说，“门在枢纽转动，懒惰人在床上也是如此。”这里说懒惰人在床上像门在枢纽里转过来转过去。懒惰的人一直在床上转，一直离不开床。他转到里面去，也是在床上，转到外面来，也是睡在床上。翻来翻去，就是在床上。许多人，就是舍不得那张床。翻到里面，那张床是可爱的；翻到外面，那张床又是可爱的。翻到左面，还是在床上；翻到右面，还是在床上。他总是爱睡，离不开床。许多人就是在那里再睡片刻，一直离不开床。但是，要学习事奉神，要学习作好基督徒，就得天天早起，总要清早起来。

　　谁在清早起来，谁就要得着许多属灵的益处。他普通时候的祷告，赶不上清早的祷告。他普通时候的读圣经，赶不上清早的读圣经。他普通时候与主的交通，赶不上清早与主的交通。清早的时候，是一天最好的时候。我们不应该把最好的时候用在别的事情上，应当把我们一天之中最好的时候，清晨的时候，用在神面前。有些基督徒是把一天的时间都花在别的事上，等到晚上最累的时候，快到床上去睡的时候，才在那里跪下来读圣经、祷告。怪不得他圣经读不好，怪不得他祷告不好，怪不得他与主的交通不好，因为他早上起来太迟了。所以，我们一信主，就要学习在清早的时候划出时间来，与神交通，与神来往。
 
　What time should believers rise up every day?

　A sister once put it well when she said, "How much a person loves the Lord can be judged primarily by the way he chooses between his bed and the Lord. Do you love your bed or the Lord more? If you love your bed more, you sleep a little longer. If you love the Lord more, you rise up a little earlier." She spoke these words more than thirty years ago. Yet they are still fresh to us today. A man must choose between his love for his bed and his love for the Lord. The more he loves the Lord, the more he will rise up early.

　A Christian should rise up early because the early morning is the best time to meet the Lord. Except for those who are sick, all the brothers and sisters should rise up early. Actually, many sicknesses are not sicknesses at all. They become sicknesses because men love themselves too much. Other than those who are advised to rest by doctors, everyone should rise early. We do not want to go to extremes; we advise sick brothers and sisters to sleep more. However, the healthy ones should get up as early as possible. The best time to meet the Lord, to contact Him, and to fellowship with Him is early in the morning. Manna is gathered before the sun rises (Exo. 16:14-21). Anyone who wants to eat God's food should rise up early. When the sun waxes hot, manna melts and is gone. If we want to receive spiritual nourishment and spiritual edification, and if we want to have spiritual fellowship and spiritual supply, we need to rise up early. If we rise up late, the manna will be gone. The early morning is the very time when God dispenses His spiritual food and holy fellowship to His children. Whoever is late will not gather anything. Many children of God lead a sick life, not because they have spiritual problems, but because they rise up too late. Many children of God have no lack in consecration, zeal, or love, but they cannot live a normal Christian life because they rise up too late. Do not think that this is a small matter. Do not think that this has nothing to do with spirituality; it has much to do with spirituality. Many people are not spiritual because they rise up too late. Many people have been Christians for years, yet they fail to live a proper Christian life because they rise up too late. We do not know of anyone who knows how to pray, yet rises up late. Nor do we know of anyone who has intimate fellowship with God, yet rises up late. All those who know God rise up early. They rise up early as a rule to fellowship with Him.

　Proverbs 26:14 says, "As the door turneth upon his hinges, so doth the slothful upon his bed." Here it says that a slothful person in bed is like a door that turns upon its hinges. The slothful keeps turning upon his bed; he cannot leave it. He turns to one side on his bed. Then he turns to the other side on his bed. Whichever way he turns, he is still on the bed. Many people cannot part with their bed. They love their bed as they turn from one side to the other. When they turn left, they are on their bed. When they turn right, they are still on their bed. They love to sleep and cannot part with their bed. Many people just want to sleep a little longer; they cannot get out of their bed. If one wants to learn to serve God and be a good Christian, he has to rise up early in the morning every day.

　Those who rise up early in the morning reap much spiritual benefit. Their prayers at other times of the day cannot be compared with their prayers in the early morning. Their Bible reading at other times of the day cannot be compared with their reading in the early morning. Their fellowship with the Lord at other times cannot be compared with their fellowship in the early morning. The early morning is the best time of the day. We should spend the best time of the day — the early morning — before the Lord, rather than in other things. Some Christians spend the whole day on other matters and kneel down to read the Bible and pray only at night when they are about to go to sleep. No wonder they are ineffective in their Bible reading, their prayer, and their fellowship with the Lord. They wake up too late in the morning. The moment we believe in the Lord, we should set apart the early morning for fellowshipping with God and for contacting Him.
　　在圣经里，神的仆人们，都是清早起来的。我们看：
一
　
亚伯拉罕──创世记十九章二十七节，二十一章十四节，二十二章三节。
二
　
雅各──创世记二十八章十八节。
三
　
摩西──出埃及记八章二十节，九章十三节，二十四章四节，三十四章四节。
四
　
约书亚──约书亚记三章一节，六章十二节，七章十六节，八章十节。
五
　
基甸──士师记六章三十八节。
六
　
哈拿──撒上一章十九节。
七
　
撒母耳──撒上十五章十二节。
八
　
大卫──撒上十七章二十节。
九
　
约伯──约伯记一章五节。
十
　
马利亚──路加二十四章二十二节；马可十六章九节；约翰二十章一节。
十一
　
使徒们──行传五章二十一节。


　　这许多处的圣经告诉我们，这些神的仆人，个个都有清晨和神办交涉的习惯，个个都有清晨作工的习惯，个个都有清晨与神交通的习惯。他们清早起来，作许多事，与神的工作有关，与奉献也有关。在圣经里，虽然没有神的命令，叫我们早点起来，可是有够多的榜样使我们看见，所有忠心事奉神的人都是清早起来的。连主耶稣自己也早起。祂早晨天未亮的时候，就起来到旷野去祷告（可一35）。祂要设立十二个使徒的时候，是清早叫祂的门徒来（路六13），何况我们呢？

　　所以，弟兄姊妹如果要学习跟从主，千万不要以为，早上早起一个钟点或者迟起一个钟头，没有多大分别。要知道你迟起一个钟头，读圣经就不行；你迟起一个钟头，祷告就不行。早一个钟点读圣经，与迟一个钟点读圣经，虽然都花同样的时间，但结果不一样。早一个钟点祷告，与迟一个钟点祷告，果效也不一样。早起，是一个大祝福。盼望你一起头作基督徒，就不失去早起的祝福。有一位弟兄，当他头三年作基督徒的时候，至少有五十次以上，有人来问他，某人，你早晨几点钟起来？早起是一个大的祝福，学过早起的人就知道，这的确是一件大事。如果你不是早晨够早的起来，就会变作一个属灵上很贫穷的人。迟起来，就要受许多损失，许多属灵的东西都丢掉了。

　　在圣经里，我们已经看见这许多榜样。在圣经之外的神的仆人们怎样呢？像慕勒，像卫斯理，还有其他许多有名的神的仆人，他们也都是清早起来的。我们所认识的人，我们在书上所读到的人，可以说差不多在神手里有一点用处的人，都注意清早起来的事。他们给清早起来一个名称，叫作守晨更。所有神的仆人们，都注重这一个守晨更。我们只要看这一个名称，就知道这一定是相当早的事。我们没有听见人在日出以后还在那里打更？没有。守晨更，总是相当早的。这一件事，实在是我们基督徒必须养成的好习惯，神的儿女不应当放松。教会这么多年下来，一直是这样。我们应当把这种好习惯一直维持下去，都在清早起来遇见神。守晨更这一个名称，在圣经里是没有的，我们要给它起另外的名称也可以。不过，无论如何，清早起来遇见神，是要紧的事。
 
　In the Bible we find God's servants rising up early in the morning. Let us consider their examples:

　These many verses tell us that God's servants had the habit of dealing with God early in the morning. Every one of them had the habit of waking early in the morning and fellowshipping with God early in the morning. They rose up early in the morning to do many things related to God's business. They also rose up early in the morning to consecrate themselves. Although there is no commandment in the Bible that tells us to get up early, there are sufficient examples in the Bible to show us that all faithful servants of God rise up early. Even the Lord Jesus Himself rose up early. He rose up very early in the morning, while it was still night, and went away to a deserted place to pray (Mark 1:35). When He wanted to appoint the twelve apostles, He called them to Himself early in the morning (Luke 6:13). If the Lord had to rise up early to do these things, how much more do we need to rise up early?

　Any brother or sister who wants to follow the Lord must never think that there is little difference in rising up an hour early. You must realize that your Bible reading becomes ineffective if you rise up an hour late. Likewise, your prayer becomes ineffective if you rise up an hour late. Although one may spend the same amount of time in reading the Bible, an hour's difference will produce very different results. Early rising brings in great blessing. We hope that you will not miss the blessing of early rising at the start of your Christian life. One brother was asked at least fifty times during his first three years as a Christian, "What time did you get up this morning?" Early rising is a great blessing. Those who have learned to rise up early know the significance of it. If you do not rise up early in the morning, you will live in spiritual poverty. Late rising brings in much loss. Many spiritual things are lost through late rising.

　We have seen many examples from the Bible. How about the servants of God who are not mentioned in the Bible, like George Müller, John Wesley, and many other famous servants of God? They also rose up early in the morning. We can say that almost all the ones we know of or have read about from books, who are of any use in God's hands, pay attention to the matter of rising early. They call this early rising "morning watch." All servants of God emphasize morning watch. The term morning watch itself tells us that it is done early in the morning. Have you heard of anyone who keeps watch when the sun is already up? Never! One keeps morning watch early in the morning. This is a good habit, and we Christians should cultivate this habit. God's children should not be sloppy people. The church has been practicing this for years. We should maintain this good habit of meeting God early in the morning. The term morning watch is not found in the Bible. We can give it another name, but no matter what name we give to it, meeting God early in the morning is a very crucial matter.
　　我们不是清早起来就算了，乃是要有属灵的学习，有属灵的内容。在这里提起几件事，是在清早特别要作的。
 
　We do not merely rise up early. There must be spiritual exercise and spiritual content to what we do. Here are a few things to do early in the morning:
　　从雅歌七章十二节的话能看出，清早是与主交通最好的时候。交通的意思就是我们的灵向着神开起来，思想也开起来，让神给我们光，让神给我们话（诗一一九105、147），让神给我们印象，让神摸着我们。我们的心向着神去，也让神往我们的心来。我们要清早起来在神面前安静，在神面前默想，在神面前受引导，在神面前得印象，让神有机会对我们说话，学习去摸着神。
 
　Song of Songs 7:12 shows us that the early morning is the best time to fellowship with the Lord. To fellowship means to open up our spirit and our mind to God and allow Him to enlighten us, speak to us, impress us, and touch us (Psa. 119:105, 147). During this time our hearts are drawn near to God, and we allow God to draw near to our hearts. We should rise up early in the morning to tarry before the Lord, to meditate, to receive leading and impressions from God, to learn to touch Him, and to give Him an opportunity to speak to us.
　　在清早的时候要有赞美歌颂的声音。唱歌的声音最好的时候，是在清早。清早是赞美的时候，清早是向神歌颂最好的时候。将我们最高的赞美向神送出去的时候，是我们的灵能够爬得最高的时候。
 
　There must be the sound of praise and singing in the early morning. The early morning is the best time to sing praises to God. When we offer our highest praise to God, our spirit rises to the highest peak.
三
　
读圣经
　　清早也是我们吃吗哪的时候（吗哪是指着基督说的。）什么叫作吃吗哪？就是每天早起，在那里享受基督，也就是享受神的话，享受神的道。我们吃了它才有力量在旷野里行走。收吗哪的时候，是在清晨。如果你把早起的时候花在别的事情上，你就在属灵方面得不着饱足，得不着喂养。

　　我们曾提过，一个人该有两本圣经，一本是为着下午读的，里面可以画记号，可以写上许多东西，还有一本是为着早起吃吗哪用的，里面不写什么话，也不画什么记号。在早晨，不是要读很长很长的圣经，乃是在神面前把圣经打开，仔细的读一段圣经，把你与神的交通和读圣经调在一起，把你的唱诗和读圣经也调在一起。这并不是说，第一步是交通，第二步是赞美，第三步是读圣经；这乃是说，要把这些事在神面前调在一起作，同时可以加上祷告。你到神面前去，将神的话打开，你在那里把神的话读了，当你感觉罪的时候，你可以认罪，当你觉得神在这句圣经所说的事情上恩待了你，你可以感谢。你也可以在圣经所说的那一件事情上祈求神，说，“主，这一个真是我所缺的。这一段、这一节、这一句的话，真是我所缺的。主，求你赐给我。”你在那里看见了什么应许，你可以说，“主，我信。”你在那里看见了什么恩典，你可以说，“主，我接受。”在那里你也可以代祷。你读的时候，记得有的弟兄姊妹的情形，刚刚与这一处圣经相反，你在神面前不是控告他们，不是论断他们，乃是说，“神！求你把这一句话成就在我的身上，也求你把这一句话成就在某弟兄姊妹的身上。”在这里你可以为着你自己认罪，也为着别人认罪。在这里你可以为着你自己求，也为着别人求。在这里你可以为着自己信，也为着别人信。在这里你可以为着你自己感谢，也为着别人感谢。清早读圣经不宜读得长，不宜读得多，只要两三节、四五节就够了。两三节、四五节的圣经，够你读一个钟点了。你这样一句一句的读过，祷告过，与神有交通过，就能使你得着饱足。

　　旧约和新约都有这样与神交通的人，他们是认识神的，是与神有来往的，他们将神的交通调和在生活中。

　　大卫在诗篇里面，一会儿说“你”，一会儿说“祂”，一会儿对人说，一会儿变作祷告。在一篇诗里面，有几句话是在人面前的话，有几句话到神面前去了。大卫一面和人说话，一面就往神那里去。诗篇证明大卫是与神有交通的人。

　　尼希米作事的时候，说几句话，就有几句祷告。王问他的时候，他这一边和王说话，那一边和主说话，办事和祷告调在一起，不是办事归办事，祷告归祷告。

　　罗马书是保罗写给罗马人的，但是，他的说话常常转到主面前去。有许多次，好像他忘记了是对罗马人说，而是在神面前说。在保罗的书信里，这一种情形是常有的，一会儿就转过来到神面前去。

　　读过《馨香的没药》的人，就看见盖恩夫人的特点。许多人写自传，都是用向人说的口气，但是盖恩夫人一会儿向着人说，一会儿向着神说，一会儿对康伯说怎样怎样（那一本书是康伯叫她写的，）一会儿对主说怎样怎样。这个就叫作交通。与神交通，那一个时候起头，那一个时候结束，都不一定。不是把事情放了去祷告，也不是祷告好了去办事，乃是调和在一起作。

　　所以，在清早吃吗哪的时候，要学习把祷告调和在神的话语里，把赞美调和在神的话语里，把交通调和在神的话语里。你一会儿是在地上，一会儿是在天上；一会儿是在你自己面前，一会儿是在神面前。你每天早起在神面前这样作，过了一点时间之后，就会觉得饱，神的道也就丰丰富富的藏在你心里了。这一种的读神的话，吃吗哪，是不可少的。许多软弱的弟兄姊妹，在旷野里跑不动，我们要问：“你们吃了东西没有？”他们所以跑不动，是因为他们吃得不够。吗哪是要清早拾的，所以要早一点起来，一迟起，就吃不到。总是要清早起来，在神面前花工夫读神的话。
 
　The early morning is the time for us to gather the manna (which is Christ). What does it mean to eat the manna? It means to enjoy Christ, to enjoy God's Word, and to enjoy His truth early in the morning every day. After we eat the manna, we have the strength to journey in the wilderness. The early morning is the time to gather the manna. One will not be fed spiritually or be satisfied if he spends his early morning on other things.

　We have mentioned already that we should have two Bibles, one with marks and notes in it to use in the afternoon and the other with nothing in it for "eating manna" early in the morning. In the early morning, do not read too much and do not take many portions of the Word. Instead, read a single portion of the Bible carefully, always mingling your reading with unceasing communion with God and singing. This does not mean that you should fellowship with God first, praise second, and then read the Bible last. You have to blend all these things together. At the same time you should also pray. Come to God's presence and open His Word. As you read, you may be convicted to confess your sins. As you read certain portions, you may be touched by His grace to offer up thanksgiving. You can also pray to God concerning what you have read in the Word. You can say, "Lord, this is truly what I need. This portion, this verse, this word, truly exposes my lack. Lord, fill up this lack of mine." When you find a promise, you can say, "Lord, I believe in this promise." When you find grace, you can say, "Lord, I take this grace." You can also intercede. While you are reading, you may remember the condition of those who fall short of what this portion says. You should not accuse or criticize them. Instead, you should pray, "God, fulfill this word in me. Fulfill this word also in my brother and sister." You can confess your sins and the sins of others. You can pray for yourself and for others. You can believe for yourself and for others. You can give thanks for yourself and for others. Your Bible reading in the morning should not be too long; it should not cover too much. Two, three, four, or five verses are sufficient. You can dwell on them for an hour. As you read these verses word by word, pray over them, and commune with God through them, you will be filled.

　Both in the Old Testament and the New Testament, there were people who fellowshipped with God this way. They knew God and communed with God. Their fellowship with God became part of their lives.

　In Psalms David interchanged the pronouns you and He freely. At one moment he would be speaking to man, and at the next moment he would be praying to God. In the same psalm, he would say a few sentences to man and then say something to God. On the one hand, David spoke to man. On the other hand, he spoke to God. The Psalms show us that David was a person who was in constant fellowship with God.

　While Nehemiah was working, he would speak a few words and then offer a short prayer. When the king asked him something, he would speak to the king first and then to the Lord. He mingled his work and prayer together. He did not separate his work from his prayer.

　Paul wrote the book of Romans to those in Rome. However, more than once he turned his speaking to the Lord. A few times he seemed to have forgotten the fact that he was writing to the Romans. It seemed as if he were talking to God. We can find frequent examples like this in Paul's Epistles. In an instant he could turn around and speak to God.

　Those who have read the autobiography of Madame Guyon will notice one characteristic of hers. Most autobiographies are written for man. But in Madame Guyon's autobiography, she spoke to man in one instant and to God in the next instant. In one moment she would be speaking to LaCombe (who asked her to write her autobiography), and at the next moment she would be speaking to God. This is fellowship. One does not know where fellowship with God begins and where it ends. Fellowship does not mean to set aside other affairs to pray. Nor does it mean to pray first and then deal with the affairs. It is to do both simultaneously.

　Hence, during this early morning hour of gathering manna, you should learn to mingle prayer with God's Word. You should learn to mingle praise and fellowship with God's Word. One moment you may be on earth, but the next moment you are in the heavens. One moment you may be in yourself, but the next moment you are in God. If you maintain this practice before God every morning, you will be filled after some time, and God's word will dwell in you richly. Such reading of God's Word, such gathering of manna, is indispensable to us. Many brothers and sisters are weak and unable to take the wilderness journey. We need to ask them, "Have you eaten anything?" They cannot walk because they have not eaten enough. Manna is gathered in the early morning. This is why we need to rise up a little earlier. We will not have any manna if we are late. We have to rise up early in the morning to labor in God's Word.
四
　
祷告
　　清早在神面前要有交通、赞美、吃吗哪，也要有祷告。诗篇六十三篇一节和七十八篇三十四节中的“切切”，在原文都是“早”的意思。清早要在那里祷告。前面所提到的祷告是调和著作的，这里是专一的去祷告。等到你交通过了，赞美过了，吗哪吃过了，最后，你能够有力量再把所有的事在神面前好好的祷告。祷告的确需要力量。你要在清晨亲近神，先吃一顿饱，然后留下半个钟点或者一刻钟，来为着几件要紧的事、为着你自己、为着教会、为着世人祷告。当然，在下午或晚上，还可以作祷告的工作；不过清早的时候，能够用你新得着的力量，刚刚与主交通吃了吗哪所得着的力量，花在祷告上，你就能得着更大的帮助。

　　所以，每一个信主的人，总应当在清早的时候把这四件事──与神交通、赞美、读经和祷告──在神面前好好的作。一个人清早的时候，在神面前有没有这样作，必定会从他那一天的生活里显明出来。像慕勒那样的人，他还说，他早起有没有在神面前吃一顿饱，能断定他一天属灵的情形。他说他一天属灵的情形如何，就是看他那天早起在神面前有没有吃饱。许多人，有整天中不行，就是因为有在早起不行。当然我们承认，如果一个人路走得远一些，有了灵和魂完全分开的经历，外面的人被拆毁了，他可能不容易摇动。但这是另外一件事。初信的人，总得学习清早起来。这一个一放松，就什么都放松了，什么都不对了。你早晨在神面前得着了滋养或者没有得着滋养，那一个分别是非常大的。

　　从前，有一个很有名的音乐家曾说过，他如果一天没有练习，他自己会觉得他不行；如果两天没有练习，他的朋友会觉得他不行，如果三天没有练习，听众都会觉得他不行。练习音乐如此，早起属灵的学习更是如此，你只要有一天早晨在神面前没有弄好，你自己知道，有学习的人与你一接触也会知道，因为你没有摸着那一个属灵的源头。初信的人，从起头就得严严的约束自己，每天清早起来，在神面前要有这些学习。
 
　In the early morning we should fellowship, praise, and gather the manna. We must also pray to the Lord. Psalms 63:1 [KJV] and 78:34 [KJV] both say that we should seek the Lord early. The prayer spoken of in the previous paragraph is a kind of blending prayer. But the prayer we are talking about here is more specific. After one fellowships, praises, and eats manna, he has strength and can present everything in prayer before God. Prayer surely requires much strength. One must first draw near to God early in the morning and be fed. Then he can set aside about half an hour or a quarter of an hour to pray for a few urgent things. He can pray for himself, for the church, or for the world. Of course, he can pray also in the afternoon or at night. But if he takes advantage of the fresh power he has gained, the power acquired in the early morning through fellowshipping with God and eating manna, he will receive greater support.

　Every believer should do these four things conscientiously before the Lord early in the morning: fellowship with Him, praise Him, read the Bible, and pray to Him. Whether or not a person has done these four things in the morning is manifested in his walk during the day. George Müller confessed that the degree to which he was fed by the Lord in the morning determined his spiritual condition throughout the whole day. His spiritual condition for the day depended on his feeding before the Lord in the morning. Many Christians find themselves weak during the day because their mornings are ill spent. Of course, there are those who are so far ahead in their spiritual journey that they can experience the total separation of the spirit from the soul. Their outward man is broken, and they are not that easily shaken by anything. However, this is another matter altogether. New believers should learn to rise up early. Once they become loose in this, they become loose in everything, and everything will go wrong. There is a great difference between being nourished and not being nourished in the morning.

　A very famous musician once said, "If I skip practicing for one day, I will notice it. If I skip practicing for two days, my friends will notice it. If I skip practicing for three days, my audience will notice it." If this is true for practicing music, it is even more true for the spiritual lesson of rising up early. If we fail to have a good morning watch before God, we will know it. Those who are experienced in the Lord also will know it when they come into contact with us. They will know that we have not touched the spiritual source. From the very first day, new believers should strictly discipline themselves. Every morning they should rise up early to exercise this way before the Lord.
　　最后，要说一点有关实行的事。我们怎样才能清早起来？有几件事，我们必须注意。

　　所有要清早起来的人，都得有一个习惯，晚上要早一点睡。你如果盼望晚上迟睡，早上早起，好像蜡蠋两头烧，那是不行的。

　　早起的标准不要定得太高。有的人定规三点钟起来，有的人定规四点钟起来，结果反而作不来，作了几天不作了。这是取一个适中的办法来得好。差不多五点六点是相当合式的时间。或者是天将要亮，或者是天刚刚亮，总是在天亮左右。太早，恐怕不能持久。过高的标准会产生有亏的良心。有的人把标准定得太高，和家里的人发生难处；有的人要和他的服务处发生难处；有的人出去作客人，要和他的主人发生难处。这样并没有益处，总要有一个合式的定规。我们不提倡走极端的路，所以标准不要定得过高。到底你这一个人，按照身体的需要和环境的情形，最好是什么时候起来才算合式，你应当在神面前好好的考虑过，再规定一个标准，然后好好的遵守那个时间。

　　开始的时候，总有一点困难。往往第一天容易，第二天容易，第三天就不容易。头几天容易作，过几天就要觉得床是可爱的，爬不起来，特别是在冬天。人需要有一个相当长的时间，才能养成一个新的习惯。起初，也许因为你常常迟起来，所以你的神经是倾向“迟”的；你能多早起几次，逐渐你的神经就倾向“早”了。过些日子你即使想迟起来，到了时候你也睡不着。所以起头的时候，总要勉强的起来。当你的习惯还没有养成之前，你要求神施恩，叫你有这一个习惯。作一次，再作一次，再多作一次，天天都割爱割席的爬起来，结果你就能够自然而然的清早起来。你必须养成一个习惯，在神面前享受清晨交通的恩典。

　　健康的人不需要超过八个钟点的睡眠，千万不要以为你自己是例外的人。不要挂虑太早起来身体会不好，也许是你的挂虑把它弄得不好了。许多人太爱自己，反而把自己挂虑到不好。除非医生说你有病，也许你需要十个钟点或十二个钟点的睡眠。普通的人，有六个钟点到八个钟点的睡眠尽够了。不过也不要走极端，无论如何，要保持六个钟点到八个钟点，不能再少。凡身体有病的人，不盼望你清早起来。你早上醒过来，就躺在床上读圣经也不要紧。可是，没有医生的证明，不是真的有病的人，应当个个都清早起来。

　　我们盼望那些年长一点、有分量一点的人，在神面前要维持这一件事。教会对于懒惰的人，应该推他一把，把他震动一下。要把初信的人带进这一个大的有福的情形里去。一有机会，就要问他：“你每天几点钟起床？”过几天，就得再问他：“你今天几点钟起床？”这样的督促，起码追他一年。也许一年之后，还要追他：“弟兄，你什么时候起床？”对于初信的人，要一看见就问。你要追着他们受你的帮助。但是，如果我们自己在神面前没有学好，我们就不大容易作这样的事。所以我们自己在神面前要先学好。

　　可以说，清早起来是信徒习惯中的第一个习惯。吃饭的时候要感谢神，这是一个习惯；主日要聚会，这也是一个习惯；清早起来，更是信徒必须有的习惯。总要叫初信的人把习惯养成。有的人作信徒许多年，从来没有享受过清早起来的祝福，从来没有享受过清早起来的恩典，那是非常可惜的事。我们要得着这个恩典，就得好好的学。如果许多弟兄姊妹一同来学，许多人能够清早起来，教会就能够进步。一个弟兄多得着光，整个教会就亮。只要每一个人多得着一点光，天天多得着一点，整个教会就丰富了。教会贫穷，是因为从元首接受的人太少了。如果能够作到个个都从元首那里接受，即使个人得着的不多，合起来也是很丰富的。

　　我们不是盼望只有少数人在教会中作工，我们是盼望所有的肢体能够在神面前起来，全教会能够兴起来，得着丰富，得着恩典。一个肢体有所得着，就是整个身体有所得着。如果所有的弟兄姊妹都往这条路去，那就有许多接受的器官有神面前，我们就要越过越丰富。所以盼望弟兄姊妹们不要以为清早起来是小事。我们大家来学习清早起来，维持清早起来，我们就有属灵的前途。
 
　Finally, we should speak a little about actual ways to implement this practice. How can we rise up early? We need to pay attention to a few things.

　All early risers must have the habit of going to bed early. No one can stay up late and rise up early. This is like burning a candle at both ends.

　Do not set too high a standard for rising. Some people want to rise up at three or four o'clock in the morning. When they find out that they cannot make it, they quit after a few days. It is better to take a moderate course. Five or six o'clock is a suitable time to get up. Get up when the sun is about to rise or has just risen. Always get up around sunrise. If one tries to get up too early, his practice may not last long. An unreasonably high standard will only result in a condemned conscience. Some people have set too high a standard for themselves. They get into problems with their family or their work. When they take hospitality at the homes of others, they get into problems with their hosts. This is not a profitable thing to do. Our standard should be reasonable. We do not advocate extremes. Do not set too high a standard for yourself. Before the Lord you should consider carefully the proper time for you to rise up. You should take into consideration your physical limitations as well as the environment. Set your standard accordingly and keep it.

　You may face a little difficulty at the beginning. It is always easy the first and second day. But the third day is difficult. You will find it easy for the first few days. But after a few days, you will love the bed so much that you will not want to get up at all. This is especially true in winter. It takes a long time for us to build up a new habit. Perhaps you are used to getting up late, and your mind has been used to getting up late. But if you rise up early a few times, your mind will gradually adjust to getting up early. After you do this for a few days, you will not want to go back to sleep even if your mind is telling you to do so. In the beginning you will need to force yourself a little in order to rise up early. Before a habit is built up, you need to ask God for grace. Continue to ask until this habit is built up. Try to do this again and again. Give up your bed daily to rise up early. In the end you will rise up early spontaneously. You must build up this habit before God. You must not miss the grace of fellowship early in the morning.

　A healthy person does not need more than eight hours of sleep. Do not think that you are an exception. Do not worry that early rising will affect your health. It may be your anxiety which is affecting your health. Many people love themselves too much and worry themselves to sickness. You may need ten or twelve hours of sleep if the doctor says that you are ill. But six to eight hours of sleep are sufficient for a normal person. However, do not go to the extreme. Maintain at least six to eight hours of sleep. We do not expect those who are sick to rise up early. If you are sick, it is all right for you to lie on your bed in the morning and read your Bible there. However, those who are not advised by doctors to stay in bed and who are not really sick should rise up early in the morning.

　We hope those who are mature and weighty in the Lord will uphold this practice. The church should push the sluggard ones to go forward. They should be shaken up a little. We should usher the new believers into this great blessing. You should take every chance to ask the new ones, "What time do you get up every day?" After a few days, you have to ask them again, "What time did you get up this morning?" This kind of reminding should go on for at least a year into a person's initial Christian life. After a year, you may still need to ask, "Brother, what time do you rise up now?" Ask the new believers whenever you see them. You need to go to them and render them some help in this matter. However, if we have not learned the lesson well before the Lord, it will be hard for us to do this to others. This is why we must first learn this lesson well ourselves.

　Early rising should be a believer's first habit among all habits. Giving thanks before meals is a habit. Meeting together on the Lord's Day is also a habit. Rising up early is even more an essential habit. A new believer needs to build up this habit. It is unfortunate that some have been Christians for years and yet have never enjoyed the blessing of early rising. They have never enjoyed the grace of early rising. If we want to experience this grace, we have to learn this lesson well. If more brothers and sisters will come together to learn this lesson, and if everyone will rise up early in the morning, the church will grow. When one brother receives more light, the whole church will receive more shining. When everyone receives a little more light each day, the church as a whole will become richer. The church is poor today because too few people are receiving their supply from the Head. If everyone receives something from the Head, however little it may seem to be, the culmination of all the little portions will make the whole very rich.

　We do not wish to see only a minority of people working in the church. We hope to see all the members rising up before the Lord. We hope to see the whole church rising up to receive God's riches and grace. What one member receives from the Head becomes the profit of the whole Body. If every brother and sister takes this way, there will be many containers before God, and we will be richer and richer as the days go by. We hope that you will not consider early rising as a small matter. If we all learn to rise up early, and if we all maintain this habit, we will have a bright spiritual future ahead of us.

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