父母对儿女的责任
§1
父母对儿女的责任
§2
The Duty of Parents to Their Children.
§3
在新西兰凯奥的证道
§4
Sermon given at Kaeo, N.Z.
§5
1893年3月5日星期日{EA 56.1}
§6
Sunday March 5, 1893?{EA 56.1}
§7
(349) “但以理却立志不以王的膳和王所饮的酒玷污自己，所以求太监长容他不玷污自己。上帝使但以理在太监长眼前蒙恩惠，受怜悯。太监长对但以理说，我惧怕我主我王，他已经派定你们的饮食。倘若他见你们的面貌比你们同岁的少年人肌瘦，怎么好呢？这样，你们就使我的头在王那里难保。但以理对太监长所派管理但以理，哈拿尼雅，米沙利，亚撒利雅的委办说，(350)求你试试仆人们十天，给我们素菜吃，白水喝，然后看看我们的面貌和用王膳那少年人的面貌，就照你所看的待仆人吧。委办便允准他们这件事，试看他们十天”（但1:7-14）。{EA 56.2}
§8
(349) “Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself. Now God had brought Daniel into favor and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs. And the prince of the eunuchs said unto Daniel, I fear my lord the king, who hath appointed your meat and your drink: for why should he see your faces worse liking than the children which are of your sort? then shall ye make me endanger my head to the king. Then said Daniel to Melzar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, Prove thy servants, (350) I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink. Then let our countenances be looked upon before thee, and the countenances of the children who eat the portion of the king’s meat: and as thou seest deal with thy servants. So he consented to them in this matter, and proved them ten days.”?{EA 56.2}
§9
十天的试验向太监长证明了对于这些俘虏而言，简单的饮食要比享用王的膳食更好。“过了十天，见他们的面貌比用王膳的一切少年人更加俊美肥胖。于是委办撤去派他们用的膳，饮的酒，给他们素菜吃”（但1:15、16）。{EA 56.3}
§10
The ten days’ test proved to the prince of the eunuchs that the simple died was better for these captives than the king’s meat. “At the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat of the portion of the king’s meat. Thus Melzar took away the portion of their meat, and the wine that they should drink, and gave them pulse.”?{EA 56.3}
§11
饮食的习惯对智力有很大的影响。但以理站在王的宫廷上时，没有像这时代的许多年轻人那样进行推论。如果他像他们那样做，就不会获得成功。这种虚妄的哲学是许多人热衷的推理。“但以理却立志不以王的膳和王所饮的酒玷污自己”。(351)经上说：“这四个少年人，上帝在各样文字学问上（学问原文作智慧），赐给他们聪明知识。但以理又明白各样的异象和梦兆。尼布甲尼撒王预定带进少年人来的日期满了，太监长就把他们带到王面前。王与他们谈论，见少年人中无一人能比但以理，哈拿尼雅，米沙利，亚撒利雅，所以留他们在王面前侍立。王考问他们一切事，就见他们的智慧聪明比通国的术士和用法术的胜过十倍”（但1:17-20）。{EA 56.4}
§12
The habits of eating and drinking have much to do with the intellect. When Daniel was placed in the king’s court, he did not reason as many youth in this age of the world, that he would not have success if he did not do as the other youth of Babylon. This vain philosophy is the reasoning of many minds. Daniel “purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank.” (351) And the record states: “As for these four children, the Lord gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom; and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams. Now at the end of the days that the king said he should bring them in, then the prince of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar. And the king communed with them; and among them all was found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: therefore stood they before the king. And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king enquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm.”?{EA 56.4}
§13
但以理在巴比伦的生活表明了在自制习惯上从小接受教育的益处。圣经一再强调自律的重要性，以及自我放纵所带来的可怕后果。基督的先锋施洗约翰，从小就接受了这样的教育。他的父母得到天使的指示，让他“淡酒浓酒都不喝，从母腹里就被圣灵充满了。(352) 他要使许多以色列人回转，归于主他们的上帝。他必有以利亚的心志能力，行在主的前面，叫为父的心转向儿女，叫悖逆的人转从义人的智慧。又为主预备合用的百姓”（路1:15-17）。{EA 56.5}
§14
Daniel revealed in his life in Babylon the benefits of an early education in habits of self-control. Again and again in the word of God the importance of self-discipline is taught, and the terrible results accruing from self indulgence illustrated. John the Baptist, the forerunner of Christ, was taught this lesson in his youth. His parents were instructed by the angel, He “shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother’s womb. And (352) many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God. And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hears of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”?{EA 56.5}
§15
约翰一生的大部分时间都是在旷野中度过的，好使他可以不因注意祭司和拉比们松垮的虔诚或因学习他们藉以歪曲贬低正义原则的格言与传统而受影响。约翰为求旷野严格的锻炼，自愿放弃城市生活的享乐和奢华。他在这里的环境对于养成简朴和克已的习惯是有利的。他不为世俗的喧嚣所烦扰，可以在这里研究自然、启示和天意的教训。他那敬畏上帝的父母常把天使对撒迦利亚所说的话讲给他听。从他年幼时起，他们常拿他的使命来提醒他，而他也就接受了这神圣的委托。幽静的旷野对于他倒是一个求之不得的避难所，使他得以避开那几乎完全充斥着怀疑、不信和不洁的社会 (353)。他对于自己抵挡试探的力量不敢自信，并且不敢常与罪恶接触，只怕对于罪的极端邪恶性失去了警觉。{EA 56.6}
§16
The greater portion of John’s life was spent in the wilderness, that he might not be influenced by beholding the lax piety of the priests and rabbis, or by learning their maxims and traditions, through which?right principles were perverted and belittled. It was John’s choice to forego the enjoyments and luxuries of city life for the stern discipline of the wilderness. Here his surroundings were favorable to habits of simplicity and self-denial. Uninterrupted by the clamor of the world, he could here study the lessons of nature, of revelation, and of providence. The words of the angel to Zacharias had been often repeated to John by his God-fearing parents. From his childhood his mission was kept before him, and he accepted the holy trust. To him the solitude of the desert was a welcome escape from the society in which suspicion, unbelief and impurity had become (353) well nigh all pervading. He distrusted his own power to withstand temptation, and shrank from constant contact with sin, lest he should lose the sense of its exceeding sinfulness.?{EA 56.6}
§17
拿答和亚比户的经历是自我放纵及其后果的一个例子。亚伦儿子拿答和亚比户的工作是在会幕里点燃圣火。在圣礼中不可使用凡火。以色列律法规定担任圣职的人不可饮酒，更不可饮用烈酒。但这两个人违背了律法，饮用了烈酒。“亚伦的儿子拿答，亚比户各拿自己的香炉，盛上火，加上香，在耶和华面前献上凡火，是耶和华没有吩咐他们的，就有火从耶和华面前出来，把他们烧灭，他们就死在耶和华面前。{EA 57.1}
§18
The experience of Nadab and Abihu afford an example of self-indulgence and its results. The work of Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron was to kindle the sacred fire in the tabernacle; in the sacred service the common fire was not to be used. It was a law in Israel that those in sacred office should not touch wine nor strong drink, that they might do justice to the widow and the fatherless. But these men, disobeying the law, partook of the strong drink. “And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the Lord, which he commanded them not. And there went out fire from the Lord, and devoured them, and they died before the Lord.?{EA 57.1}
§19
“于是摩西对亚伦说，这就是耶和华所说，我在亲近我的人中要显为圣，在众民面前，我要得荣耀。亚伦就默默不言”（利10:1-3）。{EA 57.2}
§20
And Moses said unto Aaron, This is that the Lord spake, saying, I will be sanctified in them that come nigh men before all the people I will be glorified. And Aaron held his peace.”?{EA 57.2}
§21
“耶和华晓谕亚伦说，你和你儿子进会幕的时候，清酒，浓酒都不可喝，免得你们死亡，这要作你们世世代代永远的定例。使你们可以将圣的，俗的，洁净的，不洁净的，分别出来。又使你们可以将耶和华借摩西晓谕以色列人的一切律例教训他们”（利10:8-11）。{EA 57.3}
§22
“And the Lord spake unto Aaron saying, Do not drink wine (354) nor strong drink, thou, nor thy sons with thee, when ye go into the tabernacle of the congregation, lest ye die; it shall be a statute forever throughout your generations; and that ye may put a difference between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean; and that ye may teach the children of Israel all the statutes which the Lord hath spoken unto them by the hand of Moses.”?{EA 57.3}
§23
父母们没有权利把孩子带到世上之后，却放任他们在成长时不受教养和基督化的训练。男女同校工作的正确原则和行为应在婴儿尚在襁褓中就开始。要在儿童幼年就开始宗教教育。要给他们唱伯利恒的诗歌。要通过诗歌把基督的爱与教训传授给他们。父母应担负起塑造孩子性格的责任。他们应对他们进行自律的教育，使他们在这方面谦卑顺服，而不是颐指气使。他们应充满爱的关怀，日复一日地去教育孩子成为上帝的儿女，让意志顺服与祂。要教导他们（355）服从上帝也包括服从他们的父母。{EA 57.4}
§24
Parents have no right to bring children into the world to allow them to grow up without culture and Christian training. The work of coeducation in correct principles and habits should begin with the babe in its mother’s arms. Religious instructions should be given the children from their earliest years. Sing to them the songs of Bethlehem. Through song teach them the lessons of Christ and his love. Fathers and mothers should feel that they are responsible for the characters of their children. They are to teach them the lessons of self-control, that they are here to be governed, not to govern. 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 (355) that obedience to God involves obedience to their parents.?{EA 57.4}
§25
父母们，你们如果忽略了儿女，便是活在危险之中。你们每天都要在基督的学校学习功课。你们必须明白基督是你们的帮助者和朋友。就像父母应给予子女好礼物，基督更会把圣灵赐给求祂的人。如果你们祈求，祂就会满足你们的要求。要依靠被钉而复活之救主的功劳。世界充满了败坏。要在儿女出入时教导他们上帝的戒律。上帝会赐福你这样做。要把每个孩子带到公义日头的光芒能照入心灵的地方。不要把成长中的儿女交到仇敌手中。现在有太多人过着违反上帝诫命的生活。要令上加令，律上加律教导他们。要教他们在受到罪人诱惑时说：不！{EA 57.5}
§26
Mothers and fathers, you are living in danger if you neglect your children. Every day there are lessons to be learned in the school of Christ. You must know that Christ is your Helper and Friend. Christ is more willing to give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him than parents are to give good gifts to their children, If you ask, he will give you your request. Hang upon the merits of a crucified and risen Saviour. The world is filled with corruption. Teach your children the precepts of God when they go out, and when they come in, and God will bless you in doing so. Take each child and place him where the bright rays from the Sun of Righteousness shall shine into His soul. Do not let the rising generation be given over to the enemy. There are too many now living in disobedience to God’s commandments. Teach them line upon line, and precept upon?precept. Tell them when sinners entice them to answer, No.{EA 57.5}
§27
父母们：你们在培养儿女的心灵上都做了些什么？你们中间有多少人往书架里摆垃圾读物？这种阅读行为无法使你们和他们将来有用。它会削弱大脑的能力。许多人不知道的是，撒但（356）控制了那些沉迷于小说的人。上帝命令你充分利用自己的才干——每一种才干。{EA 58.1}
§28
Parents, what are you doing to improve the minds of your children? How many of you load your book shelves with trashy novels? This kind of reading is unfitting you and them for future usefulness. It is weakening the brain powers. Satan has (356) the control of those who give themselves to novel reading, and many do not know it. God commands you to make the most of your talents,—every talent.?{EA 58.1}
§29
建立幸福之家，不只是家有住所。你们要牢记家庭应成为天上的样式。不应存在争吵。父母们：绝不能激怒儿女。若是有了烦躁，儿女会从你们的表情中读出阴郁的情绪。不要说一句会引起儿女非常敏感的话。他们的品格比金子还珍贵。家中的每一件事物都应散发着芬芳。你们要希望儿女的品格得到精炼，因为你们要让他们融入天上的团体。你们需要在基督十字架下学习。你们不应试图达到世俗的标准，而是要把手放在基督的手中。我们希望家中拥有的是温柔与平安。“惟独从上头来的智慧，先是清洁，后是和平，温良柔顺，满有怜悯，多结善果，没有偏见，没有假冒。并且使人和平的，是用和平所栽种的义果”（雅3:17、18）。{EA 58.2}
§30
It takes more than four walls to make a happy home. You are to remember that home is to be a sample of heaven, There must be no strife. Parents, never irritate your child. When fretting begins, the children can read it in the expression of gloom on your countenance. There should not be one word spoken to irritate the fine sensibilities of your children. Their character is worth more than gold. Everything connected with the home should be fragrant. You want their characters to be refined; for you are to fit them for the Society of heaven. You need to learn at the cross of Christ. You are not to seek to reach the world’s standard, but you are to place your hand in the hand of Christ. It is gentleness and peace that we want in our homes. “The wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy And the fruit of righteousness is sown in them that make peace.”?{EA 58.2}
§31
(357)孩子很容易效仿父母的榜样。他们甚至会设法模仿父母的声调。你们给予了儿女何种榜样？是自律和自制的榜样，还是世俗与放纵的榜样？你是否给他们留下了吸烟饮酒的形像？身体吸食这些毒物会导致发怒与争吵。人体对烟草没有天生的嗜好。这种嗜好来自效仿和培养。第一次尝试吸烟对身体产生的影响表明了这一点。如果我们把这种嗜好说成是上帝对你的命令，你就会说你不想要这样的命令。对于许多人而言，烟草就是他们的上帝，一旦拿走他们的烟草，他们甚至连真诚的祷告都做不出。{EA 58.3}
§32
(357) Children are quick to follow the example of their parents. They will even try to imitate the tone of voice. What kind of example have you given your children? Has it been an example of self control and self discipline, or of worldliness and self-indulgence? Have you set them the example of tobacco and liquor using? This evil introduced into the system creates warfare and strife. There is no natural appetite for tobacco in the human system. It is either inherited and cultivated. This is shown by its effects on the system by the first attempt to smoke. Suppose we should impose this on you as one of God’s ordinances; you would say that you wanted no such ordinance. With many tobacco is their God; and when their tobacco is taken away, they cannot even pray a sincere prayer.?{EA 58.3}
§33
饮酒的人也是这种情况。上帝不会认同人的罪。祂古时的律法就规定法官不得饮葡萄酒或烈酒。今天的法官和别人一样不听这个警告。人的吩咐被当作上帝的诫命教导人，人们的良心受到了强迫。看看这些四处发生的酗酒事件。人把窃走理性的酒卖给他们的同胞。撒但（358）取得了控制权，结果就是痛苦和不幸。立法者竟颁发售酒许可证。上天会如何看待这些事？你觉得做出这些事的人不会被称在天平里显出亏欠吗？在这个时代里存在着合法的杀戮。醉汉是不允许进入荣耀大门的。世界的救赎主为彰显上帝律法的不变性而付出了生命的代价，祂将用这个律法审判人。如果人们对上帝十诫给予尊重，我们今天的国土中就会看不到悲痛与不幸。{EA 58.4}
§34
The same is true of some who use liquor. God does not serve with man’s sins. His law in ancient times declared that the judges should not take wine or strong drink. Today judges as well as others do not heed the warning. The commandments of men are taught for the commandments of God, and the consciences of men are forced. Look at the liquor stores everywhere. Men sell to their fellow men that which steals the reason. Satan (358) has the controlling power, and agony and distress are the result. The law-making powers give license to the sale of intoxicating drinks. How does the universe of heaven look upon these things? Do you think that men who do such things will not be weighted in the balances, and found wanting. There is such a thing in this age as legal killing. No drunkard can enter the portals of glory. The Saviour of the world gave His life to show the immutability of the law of God, and He will judge men by that law. If men paid respect to the ten commandments of God, there would not be the distress and misery we see in our land today.?{EA 58.4}
§35
许多家庭的桌上摆上的食物增加了对诱人烈酒的渴望。父母们，我面前的年轻人会成为什么样子？我们不知道会有多少人坐在立法会和政务会中。要教育和训练他们保持清醒的大脑。世人已被食欲所控制。{EA 58.5}
§36
In many homes the articles placed on the tables for food create this very thirst for intoxicating liquor. Parents, what are the youth before me going to be. We know not how many sit in legislative halls and councils. Educate and train them that they may have clear brains. Appetite has a controlling power upon men.?{EA 58.5}
§37
我们的始祖因放纵食欲而堕落。亚当和夏娃被允许食用伊甸园中除一棵树之外的任何树上的果子。上帝就这棵树说：“你吃的日子必定死”（创2:17）。撒但在伊甸园中找到夏娃 (359) ，对她说主限制了她的认知。他说：“你们不一定死”（创3:4）。夏娃被蛇所欺骗，相信主不会按祂所说的那样做。“女人见那棵树的果子好作食物，也悦人的眼目，且是可喜爱的，能使人有智慧，就摘下果子来吃了。又给她丈夫，她丈夫也吃了”。{EA 58.6}
§38
Our first parents fell through intemperate appetite. Adam and Eve were permitted to eat all of the trees of the garden save one. Of that tree the Lord said, “In the say that ye eat of it, ye shall surely die.” Satan came to Eve in (359) Eden and told her that the Lord was?restricting her knowledge. “Ye shall not surely die,” he said. Eve was beguiled by the serpent to believe that the Lord would not do as he had said He would do “And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.”?{EA 58.6}
§39
“他们二人的眼睛就明亮了，才知道自己是赤身露体，便拿无花果树的叶子，为自己编作裙子。天起了凉风，耶和华上帝在园中行走。那人和他妻子听见上帝的声音，就藏在园里的树木中，躲避耶和华上帝的面。耶和华上帝呼唤那人，对他说，你在哪里。他说，我在园中听见祢的声音，我就害怕。因为我赤身露体，我便藏了。耶和华说，谁告诉你赤身露体呢？莫非你吃了我吩咐你不可吃的那树上的果子吗？那人说，祢所赐给我，与我同居的女人，她把那树上的果子给我，我就吃了。耶和华上帝对女人说，你作的是什么事呢？女人说，那蛇引诱我，我就吃了”（创3:6-13）。(360){EA 59.1}
§40
“And the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves aprons. And they heard the voice of the Lord god walking in the garden in the cool of the day; and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden. And the Lord God called unto Adam and said unto him, Where art thou? And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself. And He said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat. And the Lord God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast do (360) done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.”?{EA 59.1}
§41
然后主对蛇所说的话，乃是第一次福音证道，“我又要叫你和女人彼此为仇。你的后裔和女人的后裔也彼此为仇。女人的后裔要伤你的头，你要伤他的脚跟”（创3:15）。{EA 59.2}
§42
Then was preached the first gospel sermon in the words, spoken to the serpent by the Lord, “I will put enmity between thee and the woman, between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.”?{EA 59.2}
§43
“上帝爱世人，甚至将祂的独生子赐给他们，叫一切信祂的，不至灭亡，反得永生”（约3:16）。上帝的律法遭到违犯。不能为了迎合世人的堕落状态而更改律法。唯有基督才能把世人从仇敌的势力中解救出来。因此祂作为立法者，按着上帝的形像来到世上，为了我们获得永生而死。{EA 59.3}
§44
“God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” The law of God had been transgressed. It could not be changed to meet man in his fallen condition. Christ alone could rescue man from the power of the enemy. So He, the maker of the law, came to the world in the image of God, and died that we might have eternal life.?{EA 59.3}
§45
基督被圣灵引导来到旷野。在那里祂禁食了四十天，然后受到了任何人都未曾遭受的试探。撒但说：祢不必在这里挨饿。“你若是上帝的儿子，可以吩咐这些石头变成食物”。耶稣回答他说：“经上记着说，人活着，不是单靠食物，乃是靠上帝口里所出的一切话”。(361) 撒但遭到挫折之后，就从另一点上试探基督。他“带祂进了圣城，叫祂站在殿顶上，对祂说，祢若是上帝的儿子，可以跳下去。因为经上记着说，主要为祢吩咐祂的使者，用手托着祢，免得祢的脚碰在石头上”。但基督不会跳下来的，因为是撒但把祂带到那里的。祂从未祈求上帝为自己行使奇迹。“耶稣对他说，经上又记着说，不可试探主你的上帝”（太4:3-7）。{EA 59.4}
§46
Christ was led by the Spirit into the wilderness. For forty days and nights he fasted, and then he was tempted as no human being has ever been tempted. “You need not hunger here,” Satan said, “If thou be the Son of God, command these stones that they be made bread.” Jesus answered him saying, “It is written, man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” Finding himself (361) baffled, Satan came to Christ on another point. Taking Him to the holy city, he set Him on a pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down from hence; for it is written He shall give his angels charge concerning thee; lest thou dash ty foot against a stone.” But Christ would not throw himself down, for Satan had put Him there. He never asked God to work a miracle in His own behalf. Jesus said to Satan, “It is written, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.”?{EA 59.4}
§47
然后撒但使出了最后的狡猾手段。“魔鬼又带祂上了一座最高的山，将世上的万国，与万国的荣华，都指给祂看，对祂说，你若俯伏拜我，我就把这一切都赐给祢。耶稣说，撒但退去吧。因为经上记着说，当拜主你的上帝，单要侍奉祂”（太4:8-10）。基督的神性透过人性显现出来，撒但就从祂面前逃走了。{EA 59.5}
§48
Then Satan’s last masterly effort was made. “Again the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and showeth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them, and saith unto Him, All these things will I give thee, and the glory of them; for that is delivered unto me, and to whomsoever I will I give it. If thou wilt therefore worship me, all shall be thine.” “And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind thee Satan; for it is written Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve.” Then Satan fled from the presence of Christ; for divinity flashed through humanity.?{EA 59.5}
§49
（362）第二个亚当基督独自经过了第一个亚当堕落的地方，挽回了他的失败，让每一个人都能藉着基督得胜。祂说：“我独自踹酒榨。众民中无一人与我同在”（赛63:3）。{EA 59.6}
§50
(362) The second Adam passed alone over the ground where the first Adam fell, redeeming his failure, and making it possible for every man and woman to overcome through Christ. “I have trodden the wine press alone,” He said, “And of the people there was none with me.”?{EA 59.6}
§51
试探者离开上帝的儿子之后，有天使来伺候祂。撒但看到上帝的天使降临到地上。上帝的使者也同样为我们服务。上帝赐给基督能力，祂也会赐给我们能力。祂有千千万万的天使等着履行祂的命令。“天使岂不都是服役的灵，奉差遣为那将要承受救恩的人效力吗”（来1:14）？没有一个亚当的儿女需要陷入罪中。基督在约旦河岸俯伏祷告时，一只仿佛披着金光的鸽子落在了上帝的儿子身上。天上传来声音说，“这是我的爱子，我所喜悦的”（太17:5）。这个祷告对你有什么意义呢？意味着你在爱子里得蒙悦纳。{EA 59.7}
§52
When the tempter left the Son of God, angels came and ministered?unto Him. Satan saw the angels of God coming upon the field. So the angels of God have the charge over us; and as God gave power to Christ, He will give it to us. He has ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands of angels, waiting to fulfill his commandments; “and are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister unto them that shall be heirs of salvation.” Neither son nor daughter of Adam need go into iniquity. When Christ bowed in prayer on the banks of the Jordan, and a dove in appearance like burnished gold alighted upon the Son of God, a voice from heaven was heard saying, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” What does this prayer mean to you? It means that you are accepted in the Beloved.?{EA 59.7}
§53
（363）犹太人听闻基督在山上布道，以为祂会废除律法，但他们惊讶地听到祂说：“莫想我来要废掉律法和先知。我来不是要废掉，乃是要成全”（太5:17）。基督遵守了律法的方方面面。祂在另一个场合说：“我们理当这样尽诸般的义”（太3:15）。废掉律法会让罪恶永存。律法中没有任何条款需要更改。基督所有的教导中都表明律法占据了祂“心中的思念和主意”（来4:12）。{EA 60.1}
§54
(363) When the Jews heard Christ deliver his sermon on the mount, they thought that He was going to pass by the law; but on their astonished ears fell the words, “Think not that I am come to destroy the law or the prophets; I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.” Christ fulfilled every specification of the law. “It becometh us,” He said on another occasion, “to fulfil all righteousness.” To abolish the law would have been to immortalize sin. There was nothing in the law that needed changing. In all his teachings Christ showed that the law takes hold of the thoughts and intents of the heart.?{EA 60.1}
§55
我们把耶稣介绍给你。如果问以赛亚，耶稣是谁，他会告诉你说：“因有一婴孩为我们而生，有一子赐给我们。政权必担在祂的肩头上。祂名称为奇妙，策士，全能的神，永在的父，和平的君。祂的政权与平安必加增无穷。祂必在大卫的宝座上，治理祂的国，以公平公义使国坚定稳固，从今直到永远”（赛59:6、7）。{EA 60.2}
§56
We speak to you of Christ. Ask Isaiah who He is, and he will tell you: “Unto us a child is born; unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder; and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace; of the increase and government of his kingdom there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon the kingdom, to order it and to establish it with justice and judgment from henceforth.”?{EA 60.2}
§57
先知预言的时间几近结束。我们在今天世界的状况（364）中看到了预言的应验，——我们的报纸所披露的可怕犯罪事件，欺诈、淫乱和抢劫。教会信徒打着宗教的旗号干邪恶的事。{EA 60.3}
§58
The time aulined by the figure of prophecy has nearly run out. We see its fulfilment in the condition of our world (364) today,—The terrible crimes printed in our newspapers, the fraud and debauchery and robbery. Church members use their religion as a cloak for their evil deeds.?{EA 60.3}
§59
父母们，你们今天可以问，我们该怎么做？我们要说，把你们的子女带到基督面前。要仰望上帝，学习祂的功课。我们对人类目前的境况有什么希望呢？“挪亚的日子怎样，人子降临也要怎样。当洪水以前的日子，人照常吃喝嫁娶，直到挪亚进方舟的那日。不知不觉洪水来了，把他们全都冲去。人子降临也要这样”（太24:37-39）。“人就是赚得全世界，赔上自己的生命，有什么益处呢？人还能拿什么换生命呢”（可8:36,37）？{EA 60.4}
§60
Parents, you may well ask today, What shall we do? We say, lead your children to Christ. Look to God, and learn your lessons of Him. What hope have we for the race in its present condition. “As the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be; for as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, ark and the flood came, and took the all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.” “What shall a man be profited, if he gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul.”?{EA 60.4}
§61
雅各所看见的神秘梯子代表耶稣基督。梯子架在地上，顶部直达上帝的宝座。上帝的天使顺着梯子上去下来。我们有权与上帝的性情有份。我们不应抱着双手，懒惰地等待上帝召唤每个人各就其位。我们需要（364）效仿但以理的榜样，他从未丝毫偏离原则。他是个活跃的政治家，但他始终留出时间侍奉上帝。愿我们中间出现更多的但以理。（366至376页缺失）?{EA 60.5}
§62
The mystic ladder that Jacob saw represents Jesus Christ. Its base rested on the earth; its topmost round reached the throne of infinity. Angels of God were ascending and descending upon it. It is our privilege to be partakers of the divine nature. We are not to fold our hands and wait in idle expectancy God calls each one to stand at the post of duty. We need to (365) follow the example of Daniel, who never wavered one line from principle. He was an active statesman, but he always found time to wait upon God. Would that we had more Daniels. [Pages 366-376 missing]?{EA 60.5}