第18章 回到起初的爱心
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第18章 回到起初的爱心
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Chapter 18—Return to the First Love
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[《给传道人和工人的特别证言》系列一第2号（1892年）第17-22页。]
§4
（1892年7月15日于澳大利亚墨尔本）
§5
许多人没有获得成功，是因为他们太信靠自己了。当他们前去寻找拯救失丧之人的时候，没有感到确实需要常住在基督里。在他们拥有基督的心并且教导耶稣里的真理之前，他们不会成就很多。我在上帝面前战兢而行。我不知道如何讲述或描写赎罪牺牲的伟大主题。我不知道如何传达以活泼的能力摆在我面前的种种题目。我恐惧战兢，惟恐我用粗俗的语言贬低伟大的救恩计划。我在上帝面前谦心敬畏，说，这些事谁能当得起呢？我怎么说怎么写才能使我的弟兄们获得来自天上的光束呢？我要说什么呢？{TM 167.2}[1]
§6
[Special Testimonies, Series A 2a:17-22 (1892).]
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(Melbourne, Australia,July 15, 1892)
§8
The reason so many fail to have success is that they trust in themselves altogether too much, and do not feel the positive necessity of abiding in Christ as they go forth to seek and save that which is lost. Until they have the mind of Christ and teach the truth as it is in Jesus, they will not accomplish much. I walk with trembling before God. I know not how to speak or trace with pen the large subject of the atoning sacrifice. I know not how to present subjects in the living power in which they stand before me. I tremble for fear lest I shall belittle the great plan of salvation by cheap words. I bow my soul in awe and reverence before God, and say, Who is sufficient for these things? How can I talk, how can I write to my brethren, so that they will catch the beams of light flashing from heaven? What shall I say??{TM 167.2}[1]
§9
【“要悔改，行起初所行的事”】
§10
教会的气氛那么冷淡，所表现的精神使男男女女无法继续坚持原先天赐虔诚的榜样。他们起初的爱心冷淡了。如果他们不接受圣灵的洗，他们的灯台就会被挪去，除非他们悔改并且行起初所行的事。当信徒们走亲访友，寻找熟人，充满爱心地讲述耶稣对他们所行的事，和他们对于耶稣的意义时，人们就会看到教会起初的行为。但愿主会唤醒那些处于负责地位的人，免得他们依赖自己的聪明去做工。他们的手所做的工作，缺乏基督的样式和签名。{TM 167.3}[2]
§11
【“Repent, and Do the First Works”】
§12
The atmosphere of the church is so frigid, its spirit is of such an order, that men and women cannot?sustain or endure the example of primitive and heaven-born piety. The warmth of their first love is frozen up, and unless they are watered over by the baptism of the Holy Spirit, their candlestick will be removed out of its place, except they repent and do their first works. The first works of the church were seen when the believers sought out friends, relatives, and acquaintances, and with hearts overflowing with love told the story of what Jesus was to them and what they were to Jesus. Oh, that the Lord would awaken those who are in responsible positions, lest they undertake to do work, relying upon their own smartness. The work that comes forth from their hands will lack the mold and superscription of Christ.?{TM 167.3}[2]
§13
【自私的破坏性】
§14
自私会污损未献身工人的一切行为。他们本需要不住地祷告，但他们没有。他们需要警醒祷告。他们本需要认识到这项工作的神圣性，但他们没有。他们对待圣物就象对待俗物一样。惟有属灵的人才能看透属灵的事。他们如果不喝生命之水，让基督在他们里面如同泉源直涌到永生，就无法使一个人振奋，也不会给任何人带来福气。他们如果不悔改，他们的灯台就会被从原处挪去。在救灵的工作中，需要持久的忍耐，无敌的爱，全能的信。务必不可突出自我。在对付人心的事上，必须运用来自基督的智慧。{TM 168.1}[3]
§15
【Perverting Power of Selfishness】
§16
Selfishness mars all that unconsecrated workers do. They have need to pray always, but they do not. They need to watch unto prayer. They have need to feel the sacredness of the work, but they do not feel this. They handle sacred things as they do common things. Spiritual things are spiritually discerned, and until they can drink of the water of life, and Christ be in them as a well of water springing up unto everlasting life, they will refresh no one, bless no one; and except they repent, their candlestick will be removed out of its place. There is need of enduring patience, of invincible charity, of omnipotent faith in the work of saving souls. Self must not be prominent. Wisdom from Christ must be exercised in dealing with human minds.?{TM 168.1}[3]
§17
每一个成功救人的工人都一定是放弃自我投入工作的。不要烦躁指责，不要独断专行，不要指手划脚，夸夸其谈，而要存着对耶稣和祂为之舍命的宝贵生灵的爱心来参加工作。自满的人无法掩盖他们的弱点。他们在接受考验的时候过分自信，表明耶稣并没有与他们同在。这些过于自信的人并不少。他们应该从艰难的挫折和失败学得教训。很少人拥有承受这种经历的恩典。许多人都在考验之下堕落了。他们因自己所受的挫折而指责环境，认为自己的才干不被别人赏识。如果他们愿意在上帝的手下降卑自己，祂就会教导他们。{TM 168.2}[4]
§18
Every worker who deals with souls successfully must come to the work divested of self. There can be no scolding or fretting, no arbitrary authority exercised, no putting forth of the finger and speaking vanity; but come to the work with hearts warmed?with love for Jesus and for precious souls for whom He died. Those who are self-sufficient cannot conceal their weakness. They will come to the trial with overweening confidence in themselves, and make manifest the fact that Jesus is not with them. These self-sufficient souls are not few, and they have lessons to learn by hard experience of discomfiture and defeat. Few have the grace to welcome such an experience, and many backslide under the trial. They blame circumstances for their discomfiture, and think their talent is not appreciated by others. If they would humble themselves under the hand of God, He would teach them.?{TM 168.2}[4]
§19
【服务的要素】
§20
那些没有每日在基督的学校里学习，没有花大量时间恳切祷告的人，不适合从事上帝圣工任何部门的工作。如果让他们参加了，堕落的人性肯定就会胜过他们，致使他们自高虚妄。那些与耶稣基督同工，拥有看透属灵之事属灵眼光的人，在从事祂的圣工时，必觉得自己需要天上的美德和智慧。有些人既不心中火热也不发光，却心满意足。他们处在一种可怜的冷淡和漠不关心的状态中。还有许多知道真理的人显然疏忽了责任，为此主必要让他们交账。{TM 169.1}[5]
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【Essentials in Service】
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Those who do not learn every day in the school of Christ, who do not spend much time in earnest prayer, are not fit to handle the work of God in any of its branches; for if they do, human depravity will surely overcome them and they will lift up their souls unto vanity. Those who become co-workers with Jesus Christ, and who have spirituality to discern spiritual things, will feel their need of virtue and of wisdom from Heaven in handling His work. There are some who neither burn nor shine, yet are contented. They are in a wretchedly cold and indifferent condition, and a large number who know the truth manifestly neglect duty, for which the Lord will hold them accountable.?{TM 169.1}[5]
§23
上帝已经把耶稣赐给我们。上帝的启示在祂里面。我们的救赎主说：“人若爱我，就必遵守我的道；我父也必爱他，并且我们要到他那里去，与他同住。”“论到你们，务要将那从起初所听见的，常存在心里。若将从起初所听见的存在心里，你们就必住在子里面，也必住在父里面”（约14:23;约壹2:24）。我们如果认识上帝和认识祂所差来的耶稣基督，心里就会有说不出来的喜乐。我们多么需要上帝的临格啊！每个工人都应该向上帝求受圣灵的洗。应该有成群的人聚集在一起，呼求上帝赐下特别的帮助，属天的智慧，好使上帝的子民知道如何规划和实行圣工。{TM 169.2}[6]
§24
God has given us Jesus, and in Him is the revelation of God. Our Redeemer says: “If a man love Me, he will keep My words: and My Father will love him, and We will come unto him, and make Our abode with him.” “Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you,?ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father.” If we know God, and Jesus Christ whom He has sent, unspeakable gladness will come to the soul. Oh, how we need the divine presence! For the baptism of the Holy Spirit every worker should be breathing out his prayer to God. Companies should be gathered together to call upon God for special help, for heavenly wisdom, that the people of God may know how to plan and devise and execute the work.?{TM 169.2}[6]
§25
尤其应当祈求主拣选祂的使者，并用圣灵给祂的传道人施洗。在五旬节的福分降临之前，门徒们祷告了十天之久。他们就是需要化这么多的时间，才能明白献上有效的祷告，与上帝越来越亲近，承认自己的罪，在上帝面前谦卑己心，以及凭着信心仰望耶稣，最终变成祂形像的意义。福气降临的时候，充满了他们聚集的地方。他们既得到了能力，就前去为主做有效的工作。{TM 170.1}[7]
§26
Especially should men pray that the Lord will choose His agents, and baptize His missionaries with the Holy Spirit. For ten days the disciples prayed before the Pentecostal blessing came. It required all that time to bring them to an understanding of what it meant to offer effectual prayer, drawing nearer and nearer to God, confessing their sins, humbling their hearts before God, and by faith beholding Jesus, and becoming changed into His image. When the blessing did come, it filled all the place where they were assembled, and, endowed with power, they went forth to do effectual work for the Master.?{TM 170.1}[7]
§27
【为圣工拣选人】
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在拣选人从事所交托我们圣工的事上，总的来说太草率了。结果这种粗心而没有悔改的人就在传道的园地里工作。他们充满强烈的情欲，不感恩、不圣洁。他们中的一些人虽然常受责备，却没有改变他们的行径。他们的纵欲之举给上帝的圣工带来了耻辱。这种工作会结出什么果子呢？我们所有的工人为何不谨记：每一句话，无论是善是恶，当审判的时候都必再次面对呢？圣灵引人向善向上帝的每一次感动，都记录在天上的册子里。主藉以传达亮光的工人也必在上帝的日子受到称赞。工人们如果认识到了放在他们身上的永恒责任，他们还会在没有深刻感受到工作的神圣性时就贸然从事吗？我们岂不该期望看到在那些献身参与服务的人身上有上帝之灵的深深感动吗？{TM 170.2}[8]
§29
【Choosing Men for the Ministry】
§30
Altogether too light a matter is made of selecting men to do the sacred work committed to our hands. As a consequence of this carelessness, unconverted men are at work in missionary fields, who are full of passionate lusts, who are unthankful, who are unholy. Though some of them have been often reproved, they have not changed their course, and their lustful practices bring reproach upon the cause of God. What will be the fruit of such labor? Why do not all our workers remember that every word, good or evil, must be met again in the judgment? Every inspiration of the Holy Spirit leading men to goodness and to God?is noted in the books of heaven, and the worker through whom the Lord has brought light will be commended in the day of God. If the workers realized the eternal responsibility that rests upon them, would they enter upon the work without a deep sense of its sacredness? Should we not expect to see the deep movings of the Spirit of God upon men who present themselves to enter the ministry??{TM 170.2}[8]
§31
使徒说：“总要披戴主耶稣基督，不要为肉体安排，去放纵私欲”（罗13:14）。但愿每个人都听从这句话，认识到主耶稣不会接受任何的妥协。现在的标准已经大大降低了，因为所接受和留用的工人仍固执地保留自己品格的缺点，没有为他们的服务提供充分的证明。许多负责人不听从使徒的命令，却作出满足私欲的安排。工人们若不披戴主耶稣基督，在祂里面得到智慧、圣洁和救赎，又怎能表显耶稣的宗教呢？工人一切的效能和奖赏都是在基督里得到的。凡担任牧者严肃职责的人，必须证明自己已毫无保留地献身于圣工。他们必须接受基督为他们个人的救主。那些长期从事传道服务的人为何不在主耶稣的恩典和知识上长进呢？我蒙指示，他们满足自己自私的习性，只做符合他们的品味和想法的事。他们为放纵骄傲和声色口腹之欲作安排，实行他们自私的野心和计划。他们充满自负之心。但虽然他们把自己的坏习性看得象右手或右眼一样宝贵，也必须放弃，否则他们就不能在上帝面前蒙悦纳。人们在没有经过彻底审查从事圣工的资格之前，就被按手受命参加传道服务了。但是在接受他们为传道人之前，先进行彻底的审查，要比让他们走上岗位，把他们的方法用在圣工上之后再被迫进行严格的审查要好得多。{TM 171.1}[9]
§32
The apostle says, “Put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof.” Let every soul heed these words, and know that the Lord Jesus will accept of no compromise. In accepting and retaining workers who persist in retaining their imperfections of character, and do not give full proof of their ministry, the standard has been greatly lowered. There are many in responsible positions who do not heed the injunction of the apostle, but make provision for fulfilling the lust of the flesh. Unless the worker puts on the Lord Jesus Christ and finds in Him wisdom, sanctification, and redemption, how can he represent the religion of Jesus? All his efficiency, all his reward, is found in Christ. There must be evidence on the part of those who take the solemn position of shepherds that they have, without reservation, dedicated themselves to the work. They must take Christ as their personal Saviour. Why is it that those who have been long engaged in the ministry do not grow in grace and the knowledge of the Lord Jesus? I have been shown that they gratify their selfish propensities and do only such things as agree with their tastes and ideas. They make provision for indulgence in pride and sensuality and carry out their selfish ambitions and plans. They are full of self-esteem. But although their evil propensities may seem to them as precious as the right hand or the right eye, they?must be separated from the worker, or he cannot be acceptable before God. Hands are laid upon men to ordain them for the ministry before they are thoroughly examined as to their qualifications for the sacred work; but how much better would it be to make thorough work before accepting them as ministers, than to have to go through this rigid examination after they have become established in their position and have put their mold upon the work.?{TM 171.1}[9]
§33
【献身的生活】
§34
下述引文说明了真献身的成效。这也是我们对我们的工人的要求：{TM 172.1}[10]
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【A Consecrated Life】
§36
The following quotation shows what true consecration will do, and this is what we should require of our workers:?{TM 172.1}[10]
§37
“哈伦·佩奇献身给上帝，决心要在拯救将亡之人的事上，为促进主的荣耀生活和工作。他临死前在床上说：‘我最初获得盼望时，觉得自己必须从事救灵工作。我祷告了一年又一年，求主使我成为救人的工具。’他的祷告得到了显著的应允。佩奇从未错失一个光照人的机会。他藉着信件、交谈、小册子、祷告、请求和警告，以及圣洁热心的榜样，努力挽回流浪的人，开导相信的人，在工厂，学校和其他地方做这种辛苦的工作。只有恩典的大能才可以解释一个这么卑微的人怎么会成就那么多。他的一生形象地诠释了这句话：‘上帝却拣选了世上愚拙的，叫有智慧的羞愧；又拣选了世上软弱的，叫那强壮的羞愧。上帝也拣选了世上卑贱的，被人厌恶的，以及那无有的，为要废掉那有的’（林前1:27,28）。他喊着说：‘我们对永恒现实的信心是软弱的；我们的责任感并不强；我们还忽略了同胞的得救。让我们认识到自己的责任吧。只要我们有口有笔，就用来侍奉至高者的上帝，不是凭自己的力量，而是凭坚强的信心和坚定的信赖。’”{TM 172.2}[11]
§38
“Harlan Page consecrated himself to God, with a determination to live and labor to promote the Lord’s glory, in the salvation of the perishing. ‘When I first obtained hope,’ he said on his dying bed, ‘I felt that I must labor for souls. I prayed year after year that God would make me the means of saving some.’ His prayers were signally answered. Never did Page lose an opportunity of holding up the lamp to souls. By letters, by conversation, by tracts, by prayers, by appeals and warnings, as well as by a holy and earnest example, did he try to reclaim the wandering, or edify the believer. In factories, in schools, and elsewhere did this mechanic labor, and only the mighty power of grace can explain how one so humble could achieve so much. His life is a speaking comment on the words, ‘God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; and base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to naught things that are.’ ‘Our faith in eternal realities is weak,’ he cried, ‘and our sense of duty faint, while we neglect the salvation of our fellow beings. Let us awake to our duties, and while we have tongue or pen, devote them to the service of the Most High, not in our own strength, but with strong faith and firm confidence.’”?{TM 173.2}[11]
§39
我们拥有更多的亮光。我们有一道严肃重要的信息要传给世界。上帝希望祂所拣选的门徒有一种深刻的经验，获得圣灵的能力。“耶和华不象人看人；因为人是看外貌；但耶和华是看内心”（撒上16:7）。这个教训大卫从未忘记。他在临终前的见证中对所罗门说：“我儿所罗门哪，你当认识耶和华你父的上帝，诚心乐意地事奉祂；因为祂鉴察众人的心，知道一切心思意念。你若寻求祂，祂必使你寻见；你若离弃祂，祂必永远丢弃你”（代上28:9）。{TM 173.1}[12]
§40
We have increased light. We have a solemn, weighty message to bear to the world, and God designs that His chosen disciples shall have a deep experience, and be endowed with the power of the Holy Spirit. “The Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.” This was a lesson that David never forgot, and in his dying testimony to Solomon he said, “And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve Him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the Lord searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek Him, He will be found of thee; but if thou forsake Him, He will cast thee off forever.”?{TM 173.1}[12]
§41
我们生活在地球历史的重要时期。真理的光照耀在我们身上。任何时候我们都没有降低标准的藉口。我们作为基督的同工，有权同享基督的苦难。我们要瞻仰祂的生活，研究祂的品格，效法祂的样式。基督在祂完美的人性中怎样，我们也必须怎样；因为我们必须为永恒而塑造品格。{TM 173.2}[13]
§42
We are living in an important period of this earth’s history; and with the light of truth shining upon us, we cannot now be excused for a moment in meeting a low standard. As co-workers with Christ, we are privileged to share with Christ in His suffering. We are to look at His life, study His character, and copy the pattern. What Christ was in His perfect humanity, we must be; for we must form characters for eternity.?{TM 173.2}[13]