挫折中的信心
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挫折中的信心
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Faith Under Discouragements
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1901年12月7日写于马萨诸塞州南兰卡斯特
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South Lancaster, Mass.,Dec. 7, 1901.
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致P.T.马根，加利福尼亚州洛杉矶，西三街315号 由F.B.莫兰医生转交
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P. T. Magan, c/o Dr. F. B. Moran, 315 West Third Street Los Angeles, California:
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亲爱的马根弟兄：Dear Brother Magan,
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昨天收到了你从芝加哥的来信。我很难过会发生这种局面。但你为什么如此没有信心呢？感谢上帝没让你有很多的学生，因为你还没有作好接受大批学生的准备。你和萨瑟兰弟兄做得很勇敢，很好。为什么你们担心你们宝贵救主的手臂不会拥抱你们呢？天国的银行倒闭了吗？你们的资金透支了吗？躺在约瑟新坟墓里的难道不是世界的光基督吗？我们难道没有读到：“凡靠着祂进到上帝面前的人，祂都能拯救到底。因为祂是长远活着，替他们祈求”（来7:25）吗？{SpM 201.1}
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Your letter from Chicago received yesterday. I am very sorry that circumstances have taken the shape that they have, but why are you so faithless? Thank the Lord that you have few students, because you are not prepared for a large number. Brother Sutherland and yourself have done bravely and well, and why will you worry yourself out of the arms of your precious Saviour? Has the bank of heaven failed? Have you overdrawn the resources? Is Christ, the Light of the World, in Joseph’s new tomb? Do we not read, “Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come to God by Him, seeing that He ever liveth to make intercession for them??{SpM 201.1}
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不要看任何令人沮丧的表现，因为我们有一位永活的基督，凡靠着祂进到上帝面前的人，祂都能拯救到底。天国的银行并没有倒闭。你还没有透支。“像这样圣洁、无邪恶、无玷污、远离罪人、高过诸天的大祭司，原是与我们合宜的。祂不像那些大祭司，每日必须先为自己的罪，后为百姓的罪献祭；因为祂只一次将自己献上，就把这事成全了。律法本是立软弱的人为大祭司；但在律法以后起誓的话，是立儿子为大祭司，乃是成全到永远的”（来7:26-28）。“因为祂一次献祭，便叫那得以成圣的人永远完全。圣灵也对我们作见证；因为祂既已说过：主说：那些日子以后，我与他们所立的约乃是这样：我要将我的律法写在他们心上，又要放在他们的里面。以后就说：我不再记念他们的罪愆和他们的过犯”（来10:14-17）。“照样，上帝愿意为那承受应许的人格外显明祂的旨意是不更改的，就起誓为证。藉这两件不更改的事，上帝决不能说谎，好叫我们这逃往避难所、持定摆在我们前头指望的人可以大得勉励。我们有这指望，如同灵魂的锚，又坚固又牢靠，且通入幔内。作先锋的耶稣，既照着麦基洗德的等次成了永远的大祭司，就为我们进入幔内”（来6:17-20）。要让你的信心在上帝里面刚强。不要看这个时候的外观。“祂并不救拔天使，乃是救拔亚伯拉罕的后裔。所以，祂凡事该与祂的弟兄相同，为要在上帝的事上成为慈悲忠信的大祭司，为百姓的罪献上挽回祭。祂自己既然被试探而受苦，就能搭救被试探的人”（来2:16-18）。萨瑟兰弟兄和马根弟兄，上帝正在试验你们的信心，但你们不要让自己的信心失败。要紧握应许，对在应许后面的那一位充满信心。{SpM 201.2}
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Now look away from every discouraging presentation, because we have a living Christ, to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him. The bank of heaven has not failed, you have not overdrawn: “For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens.” “Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for his own sins and then for the people’s, for this he did once when he offered himself, for the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity, but the Word of the oath, which was since the Law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated forevermore.”?Hebrews 10:14. “For by one offering He hath perfected forever them that are sanctified. Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us; for after that he had said before, This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws in their hearts, and in their minds will I write them, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.”?Hebrews 10:19-24;?6:17-20. Let your faith be strong in God. Look not upon appearances at this time.?Chap. 2:16-18. Brethren Sutherland and Magan, God is testing your faith, but let not your faith fail. Cling to the promises, with full faith, in the One back of the promise.?{SpM 201.2}
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我的信心一直受着严峻的考验。过劳是无益的。我的力量已被抢夺，相当虚弱，几乎无声了，太软弱，不能看或与任何人交谈，除非是绝对必要的。我不敢离开疗养院中指定给我的房间，不敢回家去加利福尼亚，虽然那是我在软弱中非常想做的。已经为我向上帝献上了许多祷告。在可靠的治疗中给了我所有关注。昨天是恢复的第一天，尽管我对应不应该去旅行非常茫然不知所措，但我并没有变得灰心。……{SpM 201.3}
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I have been having a severe test of my faith. Overdoing is not profitable. I have been shorn of my strength, quite feeble, nearly voiceless, too weak to see or converse with any one except it was positively essential. I have not dared to go from the rooms assigned me in the sanitarium, dared not go home to California, which I so much desired to do in my weakness. Many prayers have been offered to God in my behalf. I have had every attention given me in solid treatment. Yesterday was the first day of recovery, and though sorely perplexed?as to what I should do in regard to traveling, I have not become discouraged.....?{SpM 201.3}
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我的弟兄们，要对满心怜悯慈爱的永活的救主有信心。我有主为你和萨瑟兰弟兄而赐给我的话：“你不要害怕，因为我与你同在；不要惊惶，因为我是你的上帝。我必坚固你，我必帮助你；我必用我公义的右手扶持你。凡向你发怒的必都抱愧蒙羞；与你相争的必如无有，并要灭亡。与你争竞的，你要找他们也找不着；与你争战的必如无有，成为虚无。因为我耶和华你的上帝必搀扶你的右手，对你说：不要害怕！我必帮助你。你这虫雅各和你们以色列人，不要害怕！耶和华说：我必帮助你。你的救赎主就是以色列的圣者”（赛41:10-14）。{SpM 202.1}
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My brethren, have faith in a living all pitiful, and loving Saviour. I have words given me for you and Brother Sutherland, “Fear thou not, for I am with thee, be not dismayed, for I am thy God: with the right hand of my righteousness. Behold, all they that were incensed against thee shall be ashamed and confounded, they shall be nothing, and they that strive with thee shall perish. Thou shalt seek them, and thou shalt not find them, even them that contend with thee: they that war with thee shall be as nothing, and as a thing of nought. For the Lord will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not, I will help thee: fear not, thou worm Jacob, and ye men of Israel, saith the Lord, and thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.”?{SpM 202.1}
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你现在的任务只是倚赖主。你非常认真地努力在一项善工中取得成功，这对你的血肉之躯来说太过分了，但是我的弟兄，你要倚赖主；不要惧怕。……{SpM 202.2}
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Your business now is simply to trust in the Lord. In your intense earnestness your efforts to make a success in a good work have been too much for your human frame, but you put your trust in the Lord, my Brother, fear not....?{SpM 202.2}
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关于学校，你似乎认为，植物在深深扎根好进行这项伟大的工作之前，就要结出满满的鲜花、百合、玫瑰和石竹。你必须从小规模开始，不要以为你能全力以赴地按照先进的标准建立一所学校，引进高等学科；在有足够的学生保证你所采取的步骤之前，你不要担心主要教员或一般教员的问题。不要让人的骄傲损害你的记录。你难道不明白主看见并熟知有利和不利的表现吗？主难道不会监督自己的工作吗？我的弟兄们，你们可能认为，必须由你们来做所有的设计、强化和组织工作。我问你们，表现出你们对上帝的信心难道不是最好吗？你不要担心发展得太快。天意的手正在操纵着机器。那只手一旦启动了轮子，一切事情都会开展起来。{SpM 202.3}
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Now in regard to the school, you seem to think that the plant is to be put forth full bloom, lilies, roses, and pinks, before the root is fully set deep to do this grand work. You must begin small, and not think that you can show all strength in establishing a school after an advanced order, taking in higher studies, and do not worry about leading teachers or under teachers before you have sufficient students to warrant the steps you take. Let not human pride hurt your record. Do not you suppose the Lord sees, and is acquainted with the favorable and unfavorable presentations? Has not the Lord an oversight over his own work? You may suppose, my brethren, that you have to do all the devising, all the strengthening, and all the organizing: and I ask you, Is it not best to show that you have confidence in God? You must not be anxious to develop too fast. The hand of providence is holding the machinery. When that hand starts the wheel, then all things will begin to move.?{SpM 202.3}
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有限的人类怎么担当得起时代的责任重担呢？祂的子民已经大大落后了。在上帝的规划下，人可能会弥补某个失败之处，因为拥有大光的人不具备相应的虔诚、圣洁和热情，来实现上帝的特别计划。他们陷入不利之中；若是他们实行上帝的计划和旨意，他们在推进真理上本来是会取得成就的。人无法跨越一直不随从神圣领袖的工人们所造成的鸿沟。我们可能由于不顺从，还得留在这个世界上许多年，像以色列民那样。可是为了基督的缘故，祂的子民不应该把自己错误行动的后果归咎于上帝而罪上加罪。自称相信上帝圣言的人有没有学到听命胜于献祭的功课呢（撒上15:22）？“世人哪，耶和华已指示你（这叛逆的民）何为善。祂向你所要的是什么呢？只要你行公义，好怜悯，存谦卑的心，与你的上帝同行”（弥6:8）。{SpM 202.4}
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How can finite man carry the burdens of responsibility for this time? His people have been far behind. Human agencies under the divine planning may recover something of what is lost because the people who had great light did not have corresponding piety, sanctification, and zeal in working out God’s specified plans. They have lost to their own disadvantage what they might have gained to the advancement of the truth if they had carried out the plans and will of God. Man can not possibly stretch over that gulf that has been made by the workers who have not been following the divine Leader. We may have to remain here in this world because of insubordination many more years, as did the children of Israel, but for Christ’s sake, His people should not add sin to sin by charging God with the consequence of their own wrong course of action. Now, have men who claim to believe the Word of God learned their lesson that obedience is better than sacrifice? “He hath showed thee (this rebellious people) O man, what is good, and what doth the Lord require of thee but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God”??{SpM 202.4}
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主并不喜欢祂所任命从事某项工作的人接手多项工作来做，直到筋疲力尽。你和其他人都无法医治因疏忽高举上帝的旗帜、占领新区域而对祂的子民所造成的伤害。各教会现在应该本着自己的力量，用才能、才干和财力开展工作，达到更高更宽的容量，以战无不胜的真理的能力，站立在世人面前。然而如果所有的人都认识到并承认悔改自己离开上帝的真理、随从世人计划的行为，主就会宽恕他们。警告一直在临到，却没有受到重视。如今一些设法跨越那条严重得罪上帝之鸿沟的人应当放慢脚步，否则旗手倒下了。谁来接他们的班呢？{SpM 203.1}
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Now the Lord will not be pleased with those men, whom He hath appointed to do a certain work, who take on many lines of work and carry them until they become so wearisome that it breaks their strength. You, nor any other agency, can not heal the hurt that has come to God’s people by neglect to lift up His standard, and occupy new territory. The churches should now be acting in their strength, with capabilities, talents, and means, carrying the work, reaching higher and broader in capacity to stand before the world in the power of invincible truth. But if all now would only see and confess and repent of their own course of action in departing from the truth of God, and following human devising, then the Lord would pardon. Warnings have been coming, but they have been unheeded, but a few who may now seek to bridge the gulf that stands so offensively before God must haste slowly, else the standard bearers will fail, and who will take their place??{SpM 203.1}
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我的弟兄：我为你和你的家庭深感难过。我不是责备你的热忱，因为如果别人照他们本应该做的分担了你的担子，圣工原会大大地推进。但是现在你必须离开，休息一段时间。不必挂虑你的工资问题。上帝不会让你、你的妻子和孩子得不到帮助和安慰。要在主里壮胆，完全信任祂。让主来担学校的担子。你不要承担过多只会完成有限的人能做之工的担子。你若完全信靠上帝，就会看到在你经历的每一段中，都有一位行在你面前预备道路。{SpM 203.2}
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Now, my brother, I am deeply sorry for you and your family. I reproach thee not for thy zeal, for if others had shared the burdens as they should have done, the work would have been far advanced, but not, just now, you must come apart and rest awhile. Be not concerned in regard to your wages. God will not leave you without some help and comfort for yourself, your wife, and little ones. Be of good courage in the Lord. Trust Him fully. Let the Lord carry the burden of the school. You are not to become loaded down with burdens that will accomplish only the work that finite man can do. When you put your trust wholly in God, then you will see in every passage of your experience One going before you preparing the way.?{SpM 203.2}
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我无法告诉你应该做什么，但我能告诉你不要做什么。不要忧虑，不要不信，不要以为植物一旦栽进新的土壤，就马上能发展成一所完美的学校。要记住栽种和成熟都是需要时间的。你只要坚守已经拥有的每一寸土地。{SpM 203.3}
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I cannot tell you what you should do, but I can tell you what not to do; do not worry, be not unbelieving, and do not think that you can blossom into a perfect school in its very planting on new soil. You must remember that it takes time to plant, and to perfect that plant. You just hold fast every inch you have.?{SpM 203.3}
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现在天光大亮了——我从三点半一直在写信。向你的家人多多致以爱意。要很有勇气。{SpM 203.4}
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Broad daylight now - I have been writing since half past three. Much love to your family; be of good courage.?{SpM 203.4}
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怀爱伦（签名）Ellen G. White.