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『但信還未來以先，我們被看守在律法之下，直圈到那將來的信顯明出來。』（加三章二十三節）
在英文譯本裡『直圈到那…信』這幾個字譯作Shut up faith。『Shut up』的意思是關閉；這就是說，我們被關閉在律法之下，自己不會作好，也沒有希望作好；在這樣完全沒有辦法，四面的路都關閉起來的光景下，只有一條路是開的，這條路就是信。
神往昔允准人們被看守在律法之下，為的是要人們知道信的可貴。在律法下面，人們能夠看見神聖潔的標準；在律法下面，人們能夠看見自已的完全無能；在這樣沒有辦法的時，知道了神的「因信稱義」的救法，應該多麼歡喜快樂呢？
神現在還是常喜歡將我們關閉起來，只留給我們一條信心的道路。我們的天性、我們的環境、試煉、失望，都是神用來關閉看守我們的東西，要叫我們看見：唯一的出路，乃是神所預備的信心的道路。摩西少年的時候，在埃及曾想用自己的努力、個人的勢力，甚至武力、暴力，來拯救他的民族，所以神必須將他關閉野外四十年，然後才用他去做神的工作。
保羅和西拉往腓立比宣傳福音，受了鞭打，被下在監裡，兩腳上了木狗。他們四面的出都關住了，只剩下一條信心的道路。他們靠神。在最黑暗的光景裡還禱告、唱詩、讚美神，神就向他們施行拯救。
約翰被放逐到了拔摩海島。他四面的出路都關住了，只留下一條信心的道路，如果他不經過這樣關閉的話，他決不能見到神榮耀的啟示。
親愛的讀者，你是不是正遭遇了極大的困難呢？是不是正有一件極大的失望臨到呢？這件事情是不是叫你悲哀，叫你遭到說不盡的損失呢？你是不是很難過去呢？不要緊，你四面的出路雖然都已經關住了，卻還留著一條信心的道路。好好地負起你的困難來交托神。讚美祂！
因為祂使『萬事都互相效力，叫愛神的人得益處』（羅八章二十八節）。並且『神為等候祂的人行事』（賽六十四章四節）。你受過試煉以後，神的祝福、幫助、啟示，都加倍地臨到你；除你自己以外，還有很多別的人，也都會因著你的試煉得到亮光和祝福。－C. H. P.
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"Shut up to faith." (Gal. 3:23.)
GOD in olden time suffered man to be kept in ward by the law that he might learn the more excellent way of faith. For by the law he would see God's holy standard and by the law he would see his own utter helplessness; then he would be glad to learn God's way of faith.
God still shuts us up to faith. Our natures, our circumstances, trials, disappointments, all serve to shut us up and keep us in ward till we see that the only way out is God's way of faith. Moses tried by self-effort, by personal influence, even by violence, to bring about the deliverance of his people. God had to shut him up forty years in the wilderness before he was prepared for God's work.
Paul and Silas were bidden of God to preach the Gospel in Europe. They landed and proceeded to Philippi. They were flogged, they were shut up in prison, their feet were put fast in the stocks. They were shut up to faith. They trusted God. They sang praises to Him in the darkest hour, and God wrought deliverance and salvation.
John was banished to the Isle of Patmos. He was shut up to faith. Had he not been so shut up, he would never have seen such glorious visions of God.
Dear reader, are you in some great trouble? Have you had some great disappointment, have you met some sorrow, some unspeakable loss? Are you in a hard place? Cheer up! You are shut up to faith. Take your trouble the right way. Commit it to God. Praise Him that He maketh "all things work together for good," and that "God worken for him that waiteth of him." There will be blessings, help and revelations of God that will come to you that never could otherwise have come; and many besides yourself will receive great light and blessing because you were shut up to faith. --- C. H. P.
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