第52章 浸礼
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第52章 浸礼Chap. 52—Baptism
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浸礼与圣餐之礼是两个伟大的纪念碑，一个对教外，一个对教内。基督已将真神上帝的尊名铭刻在这两种圣礼之上。?{CCh 295.1}[1]
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The ordinances of baptism and the Lord’s Supper are two monumental pillars, one without and one within the church. Upon these ordinances Christ has inscribed the name of the true God.?{CCh 295.1}[1]
§4
基督已使浸礼成为加入祂属灵国度的记号。祂已使这圣礼成为一个明确的条件，凡愿皈依圣父，圣子及圣灵权下的人都当履行。在人以教会为家，踏入上帝属灵国度的门槛之前，他必须领受这个神圣名号的印记，“耶和华我们的义”（耶23:6）。{CCh 295.2}[2]
§5
Christ has made baptism the sign of entrance to His spiritual kingdom. He has made this a positive condition with which all must comply who wish to be acknowledged as under the authority of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Before man can find a home in the church, before passing the threshold of God’s spiritual kingdom, he is to receive the impress of the divine name, “The Lord Our Righteousness.”?Jeremiah 23:6.?{CCh 295.2}[2]
§6
浸礼是与世俗脱离关系的一种最严肃的表现。凡奉父、子、圣灵的名受浸的人，是开始其基督徒生活的第一步，当众公布自己已弃绝撒但，不再为其服务，而成了皇室的成员，天上之君的子民。他们已遵从了上帝的吩咐：“你们务要从他们中间出来，与他们分别，不要沾不洁净的物。”同时上帝也向他们实现其应许：“我就收纳你们，我要作你们的父，你们要作我的儿女。这是全能的主说的”（林后6:17,18）。?{CCh 295.3}[3]
§7
Baptism is a most solemn renunciation of the world. Those who are baptized in the threefold name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, at the very entrance of their Christian life declare publicly that they have forsaken the service of Satan and have become members of the royal family, children of the heavenly King. They have obeyed the command: “Come out from among them, and be ye separate, ... and touch not the unclean thing.” And to them is fulfilled the promise: “I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be My sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.”2 Corinthians 6:17, 18.?{CCh 295.3}[3]
§8
我们在浸礼之时许下的愿，所含的意义甚多。我们是奉父，子，圣灵的名，效法基督的死而被埋葬，又效法祂的复活，从此度一种新的生活。我们的生命是与基督的生命相联合的。从此信徒当铭记在心，自己是献身给上帝，基督，并圣灵了。他要将世间一切需要考虑的事项都列在这种新关系的次要地位。他已经公开宣布自己不再过骄傲及自我放纵的生活，也不再度那种粗心大意及冷淡的生活。他已与上帝立了约。他已向世界死了。他是向主活着，献上一切受托的才干为祂使用，始终不忘自己已印上了上帝的印记，成了基督国度的国民，与上帝的性情有份。他要把自己及自己的一切所有献与上帝，运用自己一切的天赋去彰显祂名的荣耀。?{CCh 295.4}[4]
§9
The vows which we take upon ourselves in baptism embrace much. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit we are buried in the likeness of Christ’s death and raised in the likeness of His resurrection, and we are to live a new life. Our life is to be bound up with the life of Christ. Henceforth the believer is to bear in mind that he is dedicated to God, to Christ, and to the Holy Spirit. He is to make all worldly considerations secondary to this new relation. Publicly he has declared that he will no longer live in pride and self-indulgence. He is no longer to live a careless, indifferent life. He has made a covenant with God. He has died to the world. He is to live to the Lord, to use for Him all his entrusted capabilities, never losing the realization that he bears God’s signature, that he is a subject of Christ’s kingdom, a partaker of the divine nature. He is to surrender to God all that he is and all that he has, employing all his gifts to His name’s glory.?{CCh 295.4}[4]
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【准备受洗的人要充分准备】
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预备受洗的人，需要有一番充分的准备工作。他们需要更忠实的教导，胜过平常所传给他们的。应当使那些新接受真理的人们，明白基督徒生活的各项原则。没有人能够单靠口头承认，就算是证明他已与基督有了救赎的关系。我们不单要口说，“我相信”，更要实行真理。只有在我们的言语、行为、和品格上顺从上帝的旨意，我们才能证明自己与祂有了关系。无论何人弃绝罪恶——违背律法就是罪——他的生活就当与律法相符，并要完全顺从律法。这是圣灵的工作。借着细心研究圣经所得的亮光，良心的声音，圣灵的努力，在人的心中便产生了对基督真正的爱，祂曾完全牺牲自己，使人的身子与灵与魂全蒙救赎。爱原是借着顺从表现出来的。一道明白清楚的界线，要在那些爱上帝而守祂诫命的人，与那些不爱上帝而漠视祂律例的人中间把他们分别出来。?{CCh 295.5}[5]
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【Candidates to Be Thoroughly Prepared】
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There is need of a more thorough preparation on the part of candidates for baptism. They are in need of more faithful instruction than has?usually been given them. The principles of the Christian life should be made plain to those who have newly come to the truth. None can depend upon their profession of faith as proof that they have a saving connection with Christ. We are not only to say, “I believe,” but to practice the truth. It is by conformity to the will of God in our words, our deportment, our character, that we prove our connection with Him. Whenever one renounces sin, which is the transgression of the law, his life will be brought into conformity to the law, into perfect obedience. This is the work of the Holy Spirit. The light of the word carefully studied, the voice of conscience, the strivings of the Spirit, produce in the heart genuine love for Christ, who gave Himself a whole sacrifice to redeem the whole person, body, soul, and spirit. And love is manifested in obedience. The line of demarcation will be plain and distinct between those who love God and keep His commandments, and those who love Him not and disregard His precepts.?{CCh 295.5}[5]
§14
撒但不想让任何一个人看出有完全奉献与上帝的必要。人若不作这种奉献，罪就未被丢弃；口腹之欲与肉体的情欲，都在争取控制权；各种试探搅乱良心，以致真正的悔改无从实现。如果大家都能感觉到这场斗争，也就是每个人必须与那设法网罗、引诱、及迷惑自己的撒但势力相争，就必对那些初有信仰的人作更殷勤的服务了。{CCh 296.1}[6]
§15
Satan does not want anyone to see the necessity of an entire surrender to God. When the soul fails to make this surrender, sin is not forsaken; the appetites and passions are striving for the mastery; temptations confuse the conscience, so that true conversion does not take place. If all had a sense of the conflict which each soul must wage with satanic agencies that are seeking to ensnare, entice, and deceive, there would be much more diligent labor for those who are young in the faith.?{CCh 296.1}[6]
§16
【儿女受洗的准备】
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那些有儿女想要受洗的父母们，有一番应做的工作，他们要省察自己，并且忠实地指导自己的儿女。浸礼是一种最神圣重要的礼节，应当彻底明了其意义。它意味着悔罪改过，开始在基督耶稣里度一种新的生活。切不可仓促领受浸礼。父母与儿女们都当计算受洗的代价。在同意儿女受洗的事上，父母已神圣地立下了誓言，作儿女们的忠实管家，指导他们建造他们的品格。他们保证自己要特别关心照顾羊群中的这些小羊，使他们不至于使自己公开承认的信仰蒙受羞辱。{CCh 296.2}[7]
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【The Preparation of Children for Baptism】
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Parents whose children desire to be baptized have a work to do, both in self-examination and in giving faithful instruction to their children. Baptism is a most sacred and important ordinance, and there should be a thorough understanding as to its meaning. It means repentance for sin, and the entrance upon a new life in Christ Jesus. There should be no undue haste to receive the ordinance. Let both parents and children count the cost. In consenting to the baptism of their children, parents sacredly pledge themselves to be faithful stewards over these children, to guide them in their character building. They pledge themselves to guard with special interest these lambs of the flock, that they may not dishonor the faith they profess.{CCh 296.2}[7]
§20
应当在儿女最年幼的时候就开始施予宗教教育。在施教之时，应有愉快喜乐的精神，而非谴责指摘的态度。母亲们应当时刻警醒，免得试探以孩童们不能觉察的方式临到他们身上。父母们当以贤明愉快的训诲来监护自己的儿女。他们当作这些无经验者的最好朋友，应帮助他们作克服的工作，因为这对于他们成为得胜者来说意味着一切。父母们应当思念到，自己正在力求作正确之事的亲爱儿女们乃是主家庭中的年轻成员，并当感到深切的关心，帮助他们修直顺从的王道。父母们应当本着慈爱关切之心，每日教导他们：作上帝的子民及降服自己的意志去顺从祂意味着什么。要教导他们明白，顺从上帝也包含着顺从父母在内。这必须成为每日每时的工作。父母们哪，应当警醒，警醒祷告，使你们的儿女成为你们的良伴。{CCh 296.3}[8]
§21
Religious instruction should be given to children from their earliest years. It should be given, not in a condemnatory spirit, but in a cheerful, happy spirit. Mothers need to be on the watch constantly, lest temptation shall come to the children in such a form as not to be recognized by them. The parents are to guard their children with wise, pleasant instruction. As the very best friends of these inexperienced ones, they should help them in the work of overcoming, for it means everything to them to be victorious. They should consider that their own dear children who are seeking to do right are younger members of the Lord’s family, and they should feel an intense interest in helping them to make straight paths in the King’s highway of obedience. With loving interest they?should teach them day by day what it means to be children of God and to yield the will in obedience to Him. Teach them that obedience to God involves obedience to their parents. This must be a daily, hourly work. Parents, watch, watch and pray, and make your children your companions.?{CCh 296.3}[8]
§22
当他们人生最快乐的时候来到，心中切爱耶稣而愿领受浸礼的时候，就更须以忠实对待他们。在未领受此礼之前，要问他们是否以为上帝作工为其人生的第一目的。然后告诉他们如何开始去作。这是第一段课程，也是意味深长的。应当简明地教导他们如何为上帝作初步的服务。尽量使那工作易于领悟。要说明放弃自我归于主、在基督徒父母的教导下实行祂所指示的话，意味着什么。{CCh 297.1}[9]
§23
When the happiest period of their life has come, and they in their hearts love Jesus and wish to be baptized, then deal faithfully with them. Before they receive the ordinance, ask them if it is to be their first purpose in life to work for God. Then tell them how to begin. It is the first lessons that mean so much. In simplicity teach them how to do their first service for God. Make the work as easy to be understood as possible. Explain what it means to give up self to the Lord, to do just as His word directs, under the counsel of Christian parents.?{CCh 297.1}[9]
§24
在这样忠实地作工之后，如果你们感到满意，儿女们已明白悔改及受洗的意义，并且实实在在地悔改了，就当让他们受洗。然而我要再说，第一要紧的是当预备你们自己作忠心的牧者，指导他们无经验的脚行在顺从的窄路上。上帝必在父母心中作工，使他们在爱心、礼貌、基督徒的谦卑、及完全放弃自我归于基督的事上，给儿女们作出正确的榜样。如果你们同意儿女们受洗，然后又让他们照自己的选择而行，觉得没有特别的责任去保守他们的脚行在正直的路上，如果他们在真理上失去信心、胆量，及兴趣，你们自己是要负责的。{CCh 297.2}[10]
§25
After faithful labor, if you are satisfied that your children understand the meaning of conversion and baptism, and are truly converted, let them be baptized. But, I repeat, first of all prepare yourselves to act as faithful shepherds in guiding their inexperienced feet in the narrow way of obedience. God must work in the parents that they may give to their children a right example, in love, courtesy, and Christian humility, and in an entire giving up of self to Christ. If you consent to the baptism of your children and then leave them to do as they choose, feeling no special duty to keep their feet in the straight path, you yourselves are responsible if they lose faith and courage and interest in the truth.?{CCh 297.2}[10]
§26
如果预备受洗的是男女成人，就当比那些年幼的人更加明白自己的本分；教会的牧师对于这等人应有一种责任。他们有没有不良的习惯和做法呢？牧师当负责与他们特别会谈。给他们查经，与他们恳谈及祈祷，并把主对他们的要求指示得明明白白。给他们查考圣经上有关悔改的道理。指明悔改的果子及爱上帝的凭据。指明真实的悔改，乃是心思、意念、及目的有一番改变。一切恶习必须弃绝。恶言、嫉妒、悖逆等罪，都要除掉。必须向品格上的每一邪恶特性作战。然后那相信的人才能大彻大悟地接受那应许：“你们祈求，就给你们”（太7:7）。（6T 91-99）{CCh 297.3}[11]
§27
Candidates who have grown to manhood and womanhood should understand their duty better than do the younger ones; but the pastor of the church has a duty to do for these souls. Have they wrong habits and practices? It is the duty of the pastor to have special meetings with them. Give them Bible readings, converse and pray with them, and plainly show the claims of the Lord upon them. Read to them the teaching of the Bible in regard to conversion. Show what is the fruit of conversion, the evidence that they love God. Show that true conversion is a change of heart, of thoughts and purposes. Evil habits are to be given up. The sins of evil-speaking, of jealousy, of disobedience, are to be put away. A warfare must be waged against every evil trait of character. Then the believing one can understandingly take to himself the promise: “Ask, and it shall be given you.”Matthew 7:7.{CCh 297.3}[11]