埃文代尔教会建筑
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埃文代尔教会建筑
§2
The Avondale Church Building.
§3
(220) 在埃文代尔建造一座教堂，带来了对信仰和忠诚的另一次考验。两年来，我们一直在锯木厂上方的一个阁楼里举行聚会，那里存放着学校的家具。在冬天，这是一个寒冷、不舒服的地方，在夏天，太阳的热量直射到铁屋顶上，使空气非常闷热。这个地方没有任何东西使人有神圣的想法，我们非常需要再找个地方能聚会，敬拜上帝。我很难过，因为想到我竟同意在这种地方聚会敬拜，我竟然疏忽了，直到本应该先做成的工作最后才做。将来在我要工作的每一个地方，我都要以属灵的必需品而不是属世的必要为第一重要的事。资金的缺乏是我的借口；但我行事为人本应该凭着信心。我没有照着我要是本着信心开始行动原本应当做成的尊荣上帝(221)，尽管看起来是不可能。主检验我们，祂试验我们，看看我们是否愿意倚赖祂。当祂看到我们毫无保留地倚赖祂时，祂就为我们行事，我们就看到上帝的救恩。{EA 233.1}
§4
(220) The building of a church in Avondale brought another test of faith and loyalty. For two years we had held our meetings in a loft above the sawmill, in which the school furniture was stored. In winter this was a cold, uncomfortable place, and in summer the heat of the sun beating down on the iron roof made the air very oppressive. There was nothing about the place to suggest the thought of sacredness, and we greatly needed another place where we could meet for the worship of God. I am sad when I think that I should have consented to meet in such a place for worship, that I neglected until the last the work that should have been done first. In the future in every place where I shall labor, I will make the spiritual necessities rather than the temporal of the first importance. The dearth of means was my excuse; but I should have walked by faith. I did not honor God as I should have done had I moved out in faith (221) notwithstanding seeming impossibilities. The Lord proves us, He tests us to see if we will make Him our trust. When he sees that we trust Him implicitly, He works in our behalf, and we see the salvation of God.?{EA 233.1}
§5
当第二栋学校建筑峻工时，我们在上层的一个房间里举行了聚会。这是一个很大的改善，虽然房间里不打开窗户就不能通风，有人冒着受凉的危险，而且椅子和桌子都布置得使人们不能跪拜。它只是封闭起来了，没有装天花板，也没有粉刷。我们不能久用这个房间。上学的人数增加了，所以这个房间需要用来给学生提供住宿。我们看到我们现在必须开始行动，在埃文代尔建一个礼拜堂。{EA 233.2}
§6
When the second school building was completed, we held our meetings in a room in the upper story. This was a great improvement, though the room could not be ventilated without opening windows, and exposing someone to the risk of taking cold, and the chairs and desks were so arranged that the people could not kneel in worship. It was only enclosed, unceiled, and unplastered. We were not long allowed to occupy this room. The attendance at the school increased so that this room was needed to furnish accommodation for the students. We saw that we must now move out and build a meeting house in Avondale.?{EA 233.2}
§7
1897年8月18日，丹尼尔斯长老和贝克长老来到库兰邦，商量关于我们教会建筑和建造主要校舍的问题。安息日丹尼尔斯长老作了极好的演讲；聚会的房间坐满了感兴趣的听众。当把这事摆在弟兄们面前时，他们几乎一致决定(222)听从主的旨意。{EA 233.3}
§8
On Sabbath, August 18, 1897, Elders Daniells and Baker came to Cooranbong to counsel in regard to the building of our church, and the erection of the main school building. On Sabbath Elder Daniells gave an excellent address; the meeting room was filled with interested listeners. When the matter was laid before the brethren, they almost unanimously decided to (222) follow the counsel of the Lord.?{EA 233.3}
§9
我们也曾开会商讨当做的事。道路似乎被重重困难阻碍了。我们手头只有一百英镑。有人就说：“盖一所小房子吧，等到有钱的时候，才把它扩大，因为目前不可能盖成我们所想要的那种房子。”有人则说：“等到有足够的金钱才建一所宽敞的房子吧。”我们想要这么做。{EA 233.4}
§10
We had a council to consider what should be done. The way seemed hedged with difficulties. One hundred pounds was all we had in hand. Some said: “Enclose a small building, and when money shall come in, enlarge; for we cannot possibly complete at this time such a house as we desire.” Others said, “Wait until we have money with which to build a commodious house.” This we thought to do.?{EA 233.4}
§11
我应邀参观弟兄们为教会建筑选定的地点。它站在未清除的灌木丛中，需要很大的劳动量才能预备好这块地进行建造。那是一片低洼的土地，离沼泽更近，比我愿意选择的还要近。弟兄们说，这就是卢梭弟兄和W.C.怀特弟兄选择的那块地。我请他们去看看另一个地方。这是一片美丽的土地，在离主干道不远的地方，形成了一个平缓的隆起。我清楚地记得，1894年我们参观这片地产时，曾想过要买下这个地方。当时，我们——W.C.怀特和我自己都选择这里作为教堂建筑最理想的地点。这里的树木不密集(223)；只需要把几棵大树除掉，这个地方就可以用来建房子了。当我们现在环顾这片土地时，大家都印象深刻，这就是我们要建立礼拜堂的地方。{EA 233.5}
§12
I was requested to visit the spot which the brethren said had been chosen for the church building. It stood in the midst of uncleared bush, and a large amount of labor would be required to prepare it for building. It was low land, and nearer the swamp than I would have chosen. This, the brethren said was the piece of land that Brn. Rousseau and W.C. White had selected. I asked them to look at another spot. This was a beautiful part of the land, forming a gentle rise, at a little distance from the main road. I distinctly remembered seeming this place when we visited the estate in 1894, with ideas of purchasing it. At that time we W.C.W. and myself had selected this as a most desirable site for the church building. It was not (223) thickly timbered; only a few large trees would need to be taken out, and the land would be ready for the building. As we looked over this piece of land now, all were impressed that this was the place on which to erect our meeting house.?{EA 233.5}
§13
我们认为不必仓促行动；我们可以等到W.C.怀特从美国回来，要在两三个月后。我回到“森尼赛德”，早早地就去休息了。{EA 233.6}
§14
We thought that we need not move hastily; we could wait until W.C. White returned from America, which would be in two or three months. I?returned to “Sunnyside,” and retired to rest early.?{EA 233.6}
§15
那天晚上，我很早就被唤醒了。一些事在夜间时分被带到我面前。我奉命要向百姓传达先知哈该的话：“万军之耶和华如此说，这百姓说，建造耶和华殿的时候尚未来到。那时耶和华的话临到先知哈该说，这殿仍然荒凉，你们自己还住天花板的房屋吗？ 现在万军之耶和华如此说，你们要省察自己的行为。……你们要上山取木料，建造这殿。我就因此喜乐，且得荣耀。这是耶和华说的”（该1:2-8）。{EA 234.1}
§16
That night I was aroused at an early hour. Matters were brought before me in the night season. I was bidden to give to the people the words of the prophet Haggai: “Thus speaketh the Lord of Hosts, saying, This people say the time is not come, the time that the Lord’s house should be built. Then came the word of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Is it time for you, O ye, to dwell in your ceiled houses, and this house lie waste? Now therefore, thus saith the Lord of Hosts; Consider your ways. . . . Go up to the mountain, and bring wood, and build the house; and I will take pleasure in it, and I will be glorified, saith the Lord.”?{EA 234.1}
§17
(224)问题是：“你对主表现出适当的尊敬了吗？你对上帝表现出真正礼貌的口才了吗？祂的殿岂可成为最后的考虑事项吗？你们一切的福气都从祂而来。你们所拥有的每一样好东西都来自上帝。难道主没有在这个问题上赐给祂子民亮光吗？你在这一点上难道没有作过见证吗？为什么将这事一直留到最后呢？这本应该是在校地上最先完成的工作。那些住在校舍里的人应该有一个地方聚会敬拜上帝。你们在目前的地方无法正确地敬拜上帝。你们无法以正确的姿势向祂屈身。要毫不迟延地为上帝建一个殿。”{EA 234.2}
§18
(224) The question was asked: “Have you shown proper respect for the Master? Have you shown the eloquence of true politeness toward God? Shall His house be left as the last consideration? He is the One from whom all your blessings flow. Every good thing you have comes from God. Has not the Lord given light to his people on this subject? Have you not had a testimony to bear on this point? Why has this matter been left till the last, which should have been the very first work done on the school grounds? Those who occupy the room in the school building should have a place in which to meet and worship God. You cannot worship God correctly where you are. You cannot bow before him in a right attitude. Build a house for God without delay.”?{EA 234.2}
§19
要是我们不在锯木厂上面的房间聚会，而是建造一个礼拜堂，从而对上帝表现出尊敬，赏识祂的圣洁，原会进一步推进圣工。亚伯拉罕在本国寄居的时候，耶和华告诉他，他必须离开自己的亲族，到异乡去。亚伯拉罕无论在哪支搭帐篷，他首先的工作都是为上帝筑一座祭坛，在那里他可以和陪伴他作寄居的客旅的人一起(225)敬拜上帝。要是我们藉着行为表现出了信心，要是我们考虑了我们上帝的伟大和荣耀，和我们对祂的义务，主原会为我们行事。这原会证明我们工作的性质，是其它任何事都做不到的。{EA 234.3}
§20
The work would have been further advanced if, in the place of occupying the room above the mill, we had shown our respect for God, and our appreciation of his holiness, by building a house of worship. When Abraham was sojourning in his own country, the Lord told him that he must leave his kindred, and go into a strange land. Wherever Abraham pitched his tent, his first work was to build an altar to God, where he could worship God with those who accompanied him as pilgrims and (225) strangers. The Lord would have wrought for us if we had shown our faith by our works, if we had considered the greatness and glory of our God, and our obligations to Him. This would have testified to the character of our work as nothing else could have done.?{EA 234.3}
§21
我再一次蒙指示，我们的礼拜场所应该是容易进入的，应该为它选择最好的那部分土地。说了这些话：“不要把卑劣的供物带给上帝。要选最有利的地点。要让大家将才能与机智带进工作中；因为这个礼拜堂应当成为上帝子民对上帝应有尊重的一个象征，是我们应始终向天上的主表示礼貌的一个标志。”{EA 234.4}
§22
Again I was instructed that our place of worship should be easy of access, and that the best portion of the land should be selected for it. These words were spoken: “Bring to God no mean offering. Secure the most favorable site. Let all bring ability and tact into the work; for this house is to stand as a symbol of the respect due to God by his people, a mark of the politeness we should ever show to the Lord of heaven.”?{EA 234.4}
§23
于是我们便决定着手工作，凭着信心开工。第二天晚上就收到了来自南非的一张二百英镑的支票。这是开普敦林赛弟兄夫妇的礼物，为要帮助我们建造礼拜堂。我们的信心已受过考验，我们已决定开始工作，而今主又把这一大笔捐款放在我们手中用来开工。这个明显的福气在我们已决定必须建造之后到来，(226)使我们的心对上帝和心中受祂感动要如此行的祂的仆人们充满了最深的感激之情。当我打开信，看到那张汇票时，我就意识到了下述经文的真实性：“人若有愿做的心，必蒙悦纳，乃是照他所有的，并不是照他所无的。我原不是要别人轻省，你们受累，乃要均平，就是要你们的富余，现在可以补他们的不足，使他们的富余，将来也可以补你们的不足，这就均平了。如经上所记：多收的也没有余；少收的也没有缺”（林后8:12-15）。{EA 234.5}
§24
We then decided that we would take hold of the work, and walk out by faith to make a beginning. The very next night there came from South Africa a draft for two hundred pounds. This was a gift from Brother and Sister Lindsay, of Cape Town, to help us in building the meeting house. Our faith had been tested, we had decided to begin the work, and now the Lord put into our hands this large gift with which to begin. This manifest blessing, coming after we had decided that we must build (226) filled our hearts with deepest gratitude to God, and to his servants whose hearts he had moved to do this. When I opened the letter and saw the draft, I realized the truth of the words; “If there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not. For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened; but by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance may be a supply for your want; that there may be equality. As it is written, He that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that gathered little had no lack.”?{EA 234.5}
§25
既有这份鼓励，工作就认真开展了。学校管理委员会捐出土地和一百英镑，还有两百英镑来自联合会，教会的成员们也尽力奉献。教外的朋友们也给予帮助；当时，我们当中有三个熟练的木匠，他们能把握这项工作。建筑工人则奉献了他们的一部分时间，这与金钱一样好。还有一些人承诺要劳动，所以十二到十四个人开始在建筑的框架上工作。工人们兴高采烈，上帝的天使(227)也与他们同在。当困难发生时，负责监工的赫斯格长老就召集工人们恳切祷告，求上帝赐福给他们和工程。主垂听了我们的祈祷。礼拜堂在七个星期内就建成了。就在学期结束前，它被献给了上帝。工作就这样完成了，我们便拥有了这座美丽的礼拜堂，可以容纳四百人。我们为这个供敬拜上帝用的房子而感谢祂。祂了解我们的一切窘境。{EA 234.6}
§26
With this encouragement the work was began in earnest. The school?board gave the land and one hundred pounds. Two hundred pounds was received from the Union Conference, and the members of the church gave what they could. Friends outside of the church helped. Three were among us at this time skilled carpenters who could take hold of the work. These builders gave a part of their time, which was as good as money. Still others pledged labor, so that twelve or fourteen men began work on the frame of the building. The workers were cheerful and happy, and the angels (227) of God were with them. When difficulties arose, Elder Haskell, who was superintending the work, would call the workmen together and they would pray earnestly for God’s blessing upon themselves and the work. The Lord heard prayer, and the house was completed in seven weeks. Just before the close of the school term it was dedicated to God. Thus the work was completed, and we had this beautiful house, capable of seating four hundred people. We thank the Lord for this house in which to worship him. He understands all the straits through which we were brought.?{EA 234.6}
§27
像我们在收到汇票的时候所说的一样，我们现在要对林赛弟兄夫妇说：我们感谢你们在开始的时候帮助我们，送给我们一千英镑来购买我们的学校土地，我们也感谢你们再次来帮助我们。我们将尊荣和赞美归于主，祂已将这财富交给你们，又使你们有心响应祂在这个地方的工作的需要。对于为建造这个礼拜堂付出了牺牲和劳作的在库兰邦的弟兄姐妹们，我们要说：“上帝能(228)将各样的恩惠，多多地加给你们。使你们凡事常常充足，能多行各样善事。如经上所记，祂施舍钱财，周济贫穷。祂的仁义存到永远”（林后9:8、9）。{EA 235.1}
§28
To Brother and Sister Lindsay, we say now, as we said when the draft arrived: We thank you for helping us in the beginning by the gift of one thousand pounds for the purchase of our school land, and we thank you for again coming to our assistance. And we give honor and praise to Him who has committed to you this treasure, and that He put it into your hearts to respond to the necessities of His work in this place. And to our brethren and sisters in Cooranbong, who sacrificed and labored for the building of this house, we say, “And God is (228) able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work: as it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth forever.”?{EA 235.1}
§29
耶稣说：“?有了我的命令又遵守的，这人就是爱我的。爱我的必蒙我父爱他，我也要爱他，并且要向他显现”（约14:21）。在这里，信心和行为是结合在一起的。爱的人才顺从；内心的爱塑造行为。当主对我们说，“往前走”时，我们不应站着谈论困难，而应立即服从，因为上帝明白每一个困难的本质。如果那些为祂服务的人不再说不信的话，不再夸大困难，而是谦卑顺从地前进，上帝就会在祂的旨意中与有限之人的努力人合作，从而向世界证明祂的全能。{EA 235.2}
§30
“He that hath my commandments and keepeth them,” said Jesus “he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him and will manifest myself unto him” Here faith and works are combined. The one who loves, obeys; the love of the heart shapes the conduct. When the Lord speaks to us, saying, “Go forward,” it is not for us to stand and talk of difficulties, but promptly to obey, knowing that God understands the nature of every difficulty. If those in his service will stop talking unbelief, and magnifying difficulties, and will move forward in humble obedience, God in his providence will cooperate with the efforts of finite man, and thus testify to the world of his omnipotence.?{EA 235.2}
§31
这样，上帝就会鼓励祂忠心的管家们，他们已准备把他们所有的精力和上帝赐予的天赋发挥到极致。当人人都学习忠心地将上帝所应得的交给(229)祂的功课时，上帝通过祂天意的安排，会使一些人能够带来高贵的奉献，像韦塞尔斯姐妹和她的孩子们所做的那样，将他们基督徒慷慨的供物放在上帝的祭坛上。祂会使一些人能够献个较小的供物：小小的奉献和大奉献若是专注于祂的荣耀献上的，就都蒙祂悦纳。“那赐种给撒种的，赐粮给人吃的，必多多加给你们种地的种子，又增添你们仁义的果子。叫你们凡事富足，可以多多施舍，就藉着我们使感谢归于上帝。因为办这供给的事，不但补圣徒的缺乏，而且叫许多人越发感谢上帝”（林后9:10-13）。{EA 235.3}
§32
Thus God will encourage his faithful stewards, who are ready to put all their energies and God-given endowments to the very best use. As all learn the lesson of faithfully rendering (229) to God what is His due, He, through His providences, will enable some to bring princely offerings, as Sister Wessels and her children have done, laying upon the altar of God their offerings of Christian liberality. He will enable others to present smaller offerings: and the small offerings and the large are acceptable to Him, if given with an eye single to His glory. “Now he that ministereth seed to the sower, both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness; being enriched in everything to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God. For the ministration of this service not only supplieth the wants of the saints, but is abundant also by man thanksgivings to God.”?{EA 235.3}