第10章 致一位非洲布道士的第二封信
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第10章 致一位非洲布道士的第二封信
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Chap. 10—A Second Letter of Counsel to a Missionary in Africa
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【第二封信】（1900年2月15日写自库兰邦，“森尼赛德”）
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亲爱的某弟兄：我给某某写了一些事，现在要写给你。我的弟兄啊，现在是要对上帝有信心的时候。我们正在竭尽全力以取得进步。?{TSA 85.1}[1]
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【Letter B】“Sunnyside,” Cooranbong February 15, 1900
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Dear Brother_____, I have written some things to_____, and I will now write to you. My brother, now is the time to have faith in God. We are trying to do all we can to advance.?{TSA 85.1}[1]
§7
关于等级和肤色问题，做出明显的区分会一事无成，反而会使上帝的灵担忧。我们都应该是在为同一个天国作准备。我们有同一位天父和同一位救赎主，祂爱我们，为我们众人舍己，没有任何区别。我们正在接近这世界历史的结束，上帝的任何一个孩子怀有自负傲慢的心，厌恶任何一个爱上帝的人，或者停止为任何一个基督已为之死的人操劳，都是不合宜的。当人心中照着所应该的怀有基督的爱，当上帝之爱的美好使人顺服的精神充满心灵的殿时，就不会有等级，不会有民族的骄傲；不会因肤色而造成差别。每一个人就会帮助需要温柔关注与安慰的人，无论他是哪个民族的。{TSA 85.2}[2]
§8
In regard to the question of caste and colour, nothing would be gained by making a decided distinction, but the Spirit of God would be grieved. We are all supposed to be preparing for the same heaven. We have the same heavenly Father and the same Redeemer, who loved us and gave Himself for us all, without any distinction. We are nearing the close of this earth’s history, and it does not become any child of God to have a proud, haughty heart and turn from any soul who loves God, or to cease to labour for any soul for whom Christ has died. When the love of Christ is cherished in the heart as it should be, when the sweet, subduing spirit of the love of God fills the soul-temple, there will be no caste, no pride of nationality; no difference will be made because of the colour of the skin. Each one will help the one who needs tender regard and consolation, of whatever nationality he may be.?{TSA 85.2}[2]
§9
要扪心自问基督会不会作出什么区别。祂在聚集祂的子民时会这样说吗？——这里，弟兄，或，这里，姐妹，你不是犹太族的；你属于不同的阶级。祂会说，那些黑皮肤的人可以坐在后面的座位；那些白皮肤的人可以坐到前排吗？{TSA 85.3}[3]
§10
Ask yourselves if Christ would make any difference. In assembling His people would He say, Here brother, or, Here sister, your nationality is not Jewish; you are of a different class. Would He say, Those who are dark-skinned may file into the back seats; those of a lighter skin may come up to the front seats.?{TSA 85.3}[3]
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有一个地方竟然提议在黑人和白人之间拉一道帘幕。我请问，耶稣会那么做吗？这使基督的心忧伤。肤色并不是评判灵魂价值的标准。真理的大刀已将我们众人从世界的采石场开采出来。上帝已接纳我们各阶层、各国家、各语种、各民族的人，并把我们带进祂的工场，要为祂的殿作准备。?{TSA 85.4}[4]
§12
In one place the proposition was made that a curtain be drawn between the coloured people and the white people. I asked,?Would Jesus do that? This grieves the heart of Christ. The colour of the skin is no criterion as to the value of the soul. By the mighty cleaver of truth we have all been quarried out from the world. God has taken us, all classes, all nations, all languages, all nationalities, and brought us into His workshop, to be prepared for His temple.?{TSA 85.4}[4]
§13
有一项工作要为每一个人做成。有些人仪表很不整洁。他们需要受圣灵指导，为纯净圣洁的天国做好准备。上帝宣布，当以色列人来到西奈山听祂颁布律法时，他们必须以干净的身体穿着干净的衣服前来。{TSA 86.1}[5]
§14
There is a work to be done for every soul. Some are very untidy in person. They need to be guided by the Holy Spirit to prepare for a pure, holy heaven. God declared that when the children of Israel came to the mount to hear the proclamation of the law, they must come with clean bodies and clean clothes.?{TSA 86.1}[5]
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真理是使人文雅高尚的，信徒必须明白，即使他们是贫穷的，也不必在个人的仪表或自己家中不清洁。在这方面要为那些不知道纯洁干净的仪表和服装有何意义的人做成传道的工作。可以教导穷人为自己做这方面的工作。要教导他们知道，侍奉上帝并遵守祂诫命的人必须保持自己的灵魂纯洁干净，而且这种纯正必须延及他们的服装，他们的家，他们的厨房用具，他们的地板，因为来自天庭的服役的天使必须得着每一个证据，证明已被接到心里的宝贵真理在生活中造成了明显的改革。{TSA 86.2}[6]
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The truth is refining and elevating, and believers must understand that even though they are poor, they need not be unclean in their persons or in their homes. On this line true missionary work is to be done for those who have no sense of what it means to be pure and clean in person and dress. The poor can be taught to undertake this work for themselves. Teach them that those who serve God and keep His commandments must keep their souls pure and clean, and that this purity must extend to their dress, their homes, their cooking utensils, their floors, because the ministering angels from the courts of heaven must have every evidence that the precious truth which has been received into the heart has made a decided reformation in the life.?{TSA 86.2}[6]
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圣经说：“我们心中天良的亏欠已经洒去，身体用清水洗净了”（来10:22）。上帝给了摩西特别的指示，论到以色列人的居所周围不要有什么不雅观或不洁的东西，免得祂经过看到他们的不洁便被触怒，不肯出去与他们合作打击敌人。{TSA 86.3}[7]
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The Word says, “Having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.” God gave special directions to Moses in regard to the children of Israel having nothing unsightly or unclean about their dwellings, lest He should pass by and see their uncleanness and be offended, and refuse to go out to co-operate with them in their battles against the enemy.?{TSA 86.3}[7]
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天上的众军要帮助凡从事上帝工作的人，自称上帝儿女并遵守祂诫命的人必须向世人拿出证据，证明真理已在他们心中造成了改革，净化了心灵，并使思想和品味文雅。他们必须表明他们乐于学习，乐于听摩西的劝勉，他的指示来自主。对以色列人说的关于清洁的话也是对凡有不整洁习惯的人说的。他们奉命要洁净自己，除去身体、灵魂一切的污秽，敬畏上帝，得以成圣（林后7:1）。主的眼不能喜悦地看待任何家庭中的任何不洁。{TSA 86.4}[8]
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The armies of heaven are to be the helpers of all who do God’s work, and those who claim to be children of God and to keep His commandments, must give evidence to the world that the truth has worked a reformation in their hearts, purifying the soul and refining the ideas and tastes. They must show that they are willing to learn, willing to be advised by Moses, whose instruction came from the Lord. The words spoken to the children of Israel regarding cleanliness are addressed to all who have untidy habits. They are bidden to cleanse themselves from all filthiness of the?flesh and of the spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. The Lord’s eye cannot behold with favour uncleanness of any kind in any family.?{TSA 86.4}[8]
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圣殿中在耶和华面前任职的祭司奉命在进殿之前要脱下他们脚上的鞋，免得带进尘埃的颗粒。他们在接近上帝之前要洗脚。他们对自己的仪表要如此小心，以致不应由台阶上坛，免得身体的某个部分暴露出来。这一切的事都要非常谨慎地注意。{TSA 87.1}[9]
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The priests who officiated before the Lord in the temple were commanded to remove their shoes before entering, lest some particles of dust should be carried in. They were to wash their feet before approaching God. So careful were they to be in regard to their persons that they were not to ascend to the altar by steps, lest some part of the person should be exposed. All these things were to have the most careful attention.?{TSA 87.1}[9]
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教育，教育，教育。领受真理的父母，要使自己的习惯和行为符合上帝所赐的指示。主希望每一个人都记住，事奉上帝是纯洁神圣的，凡领受真理的人，必须在性情、脾气、内心、谈吐、服装上和家里得到净化，以便他们所看不见的上帝的天使，能来为那些将要承受救恩的人效力。{TSA 87.2}[10]
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Educate, educate, educate. Parents who receive the truth are to conform their habits and practices to the directions God has given. The Lord desires all to remember that the service of God is a pure and holy service, and that those who receive the truth must be purified in disposition, in temper, in heart, in conversation, in the dress and in the home, so that the angels of God, unseen by them, shall come in to minister to those who shall be heirs of salvation.?{TSA 87.2}[10]
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凡加入教会的人，都应该显出品格的改变，这表明他们对圣事的尊敬。他们的全部生活都应该依照基督的文雅受塑造。凡加入教会的人，都要谦卑到足以领受有关他们疏忽怠慢之处，和他们能够而且必须改变之处的指示。他们必须发挥基督徒的感化力。那些在言语或行为、服装或家中没有改变的人，是在为自己活，而不是为基督活。他们没有在基督耶稣里作新造的人，内心和外在的环境未得净化。{TSA 87.3}[11]
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All who join the church should reveal a transformation of character which shows their reverence for holy things. Their whole life should be moulded after the refinement of Christ Jesus. Those who join the church are to be humble enough to receive instruction on the points wherein they are remiss, and wherein they can and must change. They must exert a Christian influence. Those who make no change in words or deportment, in their dress or in their homes, are living unto themselves and not unto Christ. They have not been created anew in Christ Jesus, unto the purifying of the heart and the outward surroundings.?{TSA 87.3}[11]
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基督徒要按照着他们在改革工作上所结的果子受审。每一个真正的基督徒都必显明福音的真理为他成就了什么。凡已成为上帝儿女的人都必须实行整齐清洁的习惯。每一个行为，无论多么微小，都有一种影响。主希望使每一个人都成为基督能藉以彰显圣灵的中介。基督徒对自己的外表决不应该粗心大意或漠不关心。他们虽然不需装饰，但要优雅整洁。他们里里外外都要纯洁。{TSA 87.4}[12]
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Christians will be judged by the fruit they bear in reformatory work. Every true Christian will show what the truth of the gospel has done for him. He who has been made a son of God must practise habits of neatness and cleanliness. Every action, however small, has an influence. The Lord desires to make every human being an agency through whom Christ can manifest His Holy Spirit. Christians are in no case to be careless or indifferent in regard to their outward appearance. They are to be neat and trim, though without adornment. They are to be pure inside and out.?{TSA 87.4}[12]
§29
我们行事要像基督的产业，祂的儿子和女儿。凡接待祂的，就是信祂名的人，祂就赐他们权柄，作祂的儿女。他们就成了新生的人，得以变化，进入上帝的国。“道成了肉身，住在我们中间，充充满满地有恩典有真理。我们也见过祂的荣光，正是父独生子的荣光”（约1:14）。上帝的能力要在每一个重生之人的品格上运行。我们是上帝的产业，祂希望每一个人都成为祂的同工。人的一切都是上帝给的。他所拥有的一切，他的光阴，他的才能，他的力量，都是上帝托付给他的，是用重价买来了。赎金已经付了，惠及亚当的每一个儿女。基督的宝血已经献上，为要救赎人类脱离世俗，脱离情欲，脱离一切心灵的和身体的不洁。这就是上帝与祂的子民所立的约。他们要作祂的选民。真正接受基督的人片时也不会屈从任何别人加强敌对真理与公义之势力的要求。他们承诺要遵守上帝的诫命，即使人类家庭所有其他的成员都拒绝顺从，变得不忠诚。{TSA 87.5}[13]
§30
We are to act as Christ’s property, His sons and daughters. To all who receive Him He gives power to become His sons and?daughters, even to those who believe on His name. They are then newborn souls, translated into the kingdom of God. “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” The power of God is to work in the character of every one who is born again. We are God’s property, and He wants every one to be a co-labourer with Him. No one has anything beyond that which God gives him. All that he has, his time, his ability, his strength, given him in trust by God, has been bought with a price. A ransom has been paid which includes every son and daughter of Adam. The precious blood of Christ has been given to redeem man from earthliness, from sensuality, from all spiritual and physical uncleanness. This is the covenant God has made with His people. They are to be His chosen ones. Those who truly receive Christ will not yield to any other claim, even for a moment, which would strengthen the powers hostile to righteousness and truth. They put on the yoke of Christ, devoting themselves unreservedly to Christ for all time. They are pledged to obey the commandment of God, even should every other member of the human family refuse obedience and become disloyal.?{TSA 87.5}[13]
§31
因信接受基督的人乃是王室的成员，天上大君的孩子，上帝的后嗣，与耶稣基督同作后嗣。他的命运是基督十字架的一部分。在救赎大计中，他不论生死都与基督息息相关。基督身上所显示完全彻底的舍己，也要表现在献身侍奉基督的人身上。他藉着亲切温柔的话语，充满安慰盼望和慈爱的话语显示基督化的柔情。他对人的灵魂充满一种无法言喻的牵挂。他能说：“现在活着的不再是我，乃是基督在我里面活着”（加2:20）。他乐于做出任何牺牲，好将失丧、将亡的人吸引到基督的十字架跟前。{TSA 88.1}[14]
§32
He who receives Christ by faith is a member of the royal family, a child of the heavenly King, an heir of God and a joint-heir with Jesus Christ. His lot is a part of the cross of Christ. He is bound up with Christ for life and for death in the great plan of redemption. The full and entire renunciation of self that appeared in Christ appears also in him who is consecrated to Christ’s service. He shows Christlike tenderness by speaking kind, gentle words, words which are full of comfort and hope and love. He is filled with an untold solicitude for human souls. He can say, “I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me.” He is willing to make any sacrifice to draw lost, perishing souls to the cross of Christ.?{TSA 88.1}[14]
§33
要记住，在上帝并没有等级制度或国籍之分，没有分裂或党派。真理从不将她精致的脚放在不洁或不纯的道路上。真理并不使人下降到低劣的水平，而是将一切都提拔到崇高尊贵的水平。真理绝不会使人粗鲁无礼。它接纳有罪平凡的人，使他们与世界分离，提高他们的品味，即使他们是贫穷和没有受过良好教育的人。在基督的训练之下，一种提炼的工作在持续进行，使他们因真理而成圣。当他们受到试探要发挥远离基督、偏行世人之路的影响力、偏向骄傲、时尚或炫耀时，他们就要说出抵制的话，避开仇敌的权势。他们要说：“我不是自己的人，我是用重价买来的。我是上帝的儿女。我给上帝的，不可能多过祂所要求的。因着创造也因着救赎，一切都是祂的。基督已经买了整个的人，头脑、心灵、力量和身体，我要在我的言语、我的举止、我的行为上表示我意识到我对上帝的责任。我完全是祂的。我的生命与基督一同藏在上帝里面，祂是我的生命，当祂显现时，我也要与祂一起显现在荣耀里。”?{TSA 88.2}[15]
§34
Remember that with God there is no caste or nationality, no divisions or parties. Truth never places her delicate feet in a path of uncleanness or impurity. Truth does not bring people down to a low level, but brings all up to a high, exalted level. Truth never makes men or women coarse, or rough, or uncourteous. It takes men in all their sin and commonness, separates them from the world, and refines their tastes, even if they are poor and uneducated. Under Christ’s discipline a constant work of refinement?goes on, sanctifying them through the truth. If they are tempted to exert one particle of influence that would lead away from Christ into the way of the world, in pride, or fashion, or display, they speak words of resistance that will turn aside the enemy’s power. “I am not my own,” they say, “I am bought with a price. I am a son, a daughter of God. I cannot possibly give God more than He claims. All is His, by creation and by redemption. Christ has purchased the whole being, mind, soul, strength, and body, and I am to express, in my words, my deportment, my actions, a sense of my obligation to God. I am wholly His. My life is hid with Christ in God, and when He who is my life shall appear, then shall I also appear with Him in glory.”?{TSA 88.2}[15]
§35
基督徒经验的每一时刻都应该采取并维持这个立场。基督要通过信奉祂的儿女，在世上发挥祂的影响。归正的人要发挥这种影响。这种影响是在他归正的时候，在上帝的帮助下产生的。我们在世上做任何事情，都要本着仁爱、和谐与团结的精神。要时刻效法基督的榜样，追随祂的脚踪。团结就是力量。上帝希望基督身体的每一个肢体时常体现这个真理。大家要以仁爱、温柔、谦卑之心团结起来。信徒们组建教会，就是要联合起来，把他们的影响发扬出来。他们要像基督那样工作，彼此尊重，以礼相待。各人的才干都有用处，都要接受圣灵的管理。?{TSA 89.1}[16]
§36
This stand is to be taken and maintained through every hour of Christian experience. Christ’s influence is to be felt in our world through His believing children. He who is converted is to exert the same kind of an influence which through God’s instrumentality was made effectual in his conversion. All our work in this world is to be done in harmony and love and unity. We are to keep the example of Christ ever before us, walking in His footsteps. Union is strength, and the Lord desires that this truth should be ever revealed in all the members of the body of Christ. All are to be united in love, in meekness, in lowliness of mind. Organized into a society of believers, for the purpose of combining and diffusing their influence, they are to work as Christ worked. They are ever to show courtesy and respect for one another. Every talent has its place, and is to be kept under the control of the Holy Spirit.?{TSA 89.1}[16]
§37
教会是基督徒的团体，是为信徒而组织的。每一个教会的成员都可以分享其他成员的所有美德和才干，按照各自的恩赐和才华，接受上帝的造就。教会是按照神圣的契约组织起来的，以便每一个成员都可以受益于他人的影响。大家都要忠实于爱心和团结的契约。基督教的原则和全体信徒的美德，应当在和谐的行动中得到加强。每一个信徒都要因其他信徒的各种才能感化和提炼人的影响而得到益处和改善。某一个人身上所缺乏的东西，可能在另一个人身上十分充足。所有的成员都应该团结在一起，使教会能成为一台戏，给世人和天使观看。{TSA 89.2}[17]
§38
The church is a Christian society, formed for the members composing it, that each member may enjoy the assistance of all the graces and talents of the other members, and the working of God upon them, according to their several gifts and abilities. The church is united in the holy bonds of fellowship in order that each member may be benefited by the influence of the other. All are to bind themselves to the covenant of love and harmony. The Christian principles and graces of the whole society of believers is to gather strength and force in harmonious action. Each believer is to be benefited and improved by the refining and transforming influence of the varied capabilities of the other members, that the things lacking in one may be more abundantly displayed in?another. All the members are to draw together, that the church may become a spectacle to the world, to angels, and to men.{TSA 89.2}[17]
§39
信徒所遵行的契约是：每一个人都要跟随基督的脚踪，负祂的轭，像祂那样心里柔和谦卑。亲爱的救主说：“这样你们心里就必得安息。因为我的轭是容易的，我的担子是轻省的”（太1:29,30）。凡背负基督之轭的人，要团结起来。他们要培养同情心和忍耐宽容的心，在圣洁的效仿中，竭力向别人表现他们自己也十分需要的温柔同情和爱心。他虽软弱，又无经验，但可藉那些更有盼望、经验丰富之人的帮助得到加强。他在众人中虽然可能是最小的，但在建筑物中他却是一块闪光的石头。他是肌体的重要器官，连于元首基督，并藉着基督表现祂的一切的美德，以致救主称他为弟兄也不以为耻。?{TSA 90.1}[18]
§40
The covenant of agreement in church membership is that each member will walk in the footsteps of Christ, that all will take His yoke upon them, and learn of Him who is meek and lowly of heart. Doing this, “Ye shall,” saith the dear Saviour, “find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Those who wear Christ’s yoke will draw together. They will cultivate sympathy and forbearance, and in holy emulation will strive to show to others the tender sympathy and love of which they feel such great need themselves. He who is weak and inexperienced, although he is weak, may be strengthened by the more hopeful and by those of mature experience. Although the least of all, he is a stone that must shine in the building. He is a vital member of the organized body, united to Christ, the living head, and through Christ identified with all the excellencies of Christ’s character so that the Saviour is not ashamed to call him brother.?{TSA 90.1}[18]
§41
为什么信徒要组建教会？是为了让基督能藉以扩大他们在世上的作用，加强他们个人向善的影响。在教会中要有纪律来保障大家的权利，增加互信。上帝从来没有计划让一个人的思想和判断起支配的作用，由一个人来进行管理、计划和指导，而不虔诚认真地考虑整个团体的利益，使所有的人都能以稳定、充实与和谐的方式进行活动。{TSA 90.2}[19]
§42
Why are believers formed into a church? Because by this means Christ would increase their usefulness in the world and strengthen their personal influence for good. In the church there is to be maintained a discipline which guards the rights of all and increases the sense of mutual dependence. God never designed that one man’s mind and judgment should be a controlling power. He never designed that one man should rule and plan and devise without the careful and prayerful consideration of the whole body, in order that all may move in a sound, thorough, harmonious manner.?{TSA 90.2}[19]
§43
信徒们应当像明灯照耀世界。城造在山上的不能隐藏的。一个与世俗分离的教会，在上天看来，是世界上最伟大的机构。信徒们务要与世界分别，献身侍奉主耶稣基督。他们应当表现出自己已经选择基督为他们的领袖。在开普敦的工作是一项重要的工作，教会要实现上帝的对她的理想，在世界上作上帝之家的代表。?{TSA 90.3}[20]
§44
Believers are to shine as lights in the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid. A church, separate and distinct from the world, is in the estimation of heaven the greatest object in all the earth. The members are pledged to be separate from the world, consecrating their service to one Master, Jesus Christ. They are to reveal that they have chosen Christ as their leader. The work in Cape Town is an important work and the church is to be as God designed it should be, a representative of God’s family in another world.?{TSA 90.3}[20]
§45
“所以，你们既除去一切的恶毒、诡诈，并假善、嫉妒，和一切毁谤的话，就要爱慕那纯净的灵奶，像才生的婴孩爱慕奶一样，叫你们因此渐长，以致得救。你们若尝过主恩的滋味，就必如此。主乃活石，固然是被人所弃的，却是被上帝所拣选、所宝贵的。你们来到主面前，也就像活石，被建造成为灵宫，作圣洁的祭司，藉着耶稣基督奉献上帝所悦纳的灵祭。因为经上说：看哪，我把所拣选、所宝贵的房角石安放在锡安；信靠祂的人必不至于羞愧。所以，祂在你们信的人就为宝贵，在那不信的人有话说：匠人所弃的石头已作了房角的头块石头。又说：作了绊脚的石头，跌人的磐石。他们既不顺从，就在道理上绊跌；他们这样绊跌也是预定的。惟有你们是被拣选的族类，是有君尊的祭司，是圣洁的国度，是属上帝的子民，要叫你们宣扬那召你们出黑暗入奇妙光明者的美德。你们从前算不得子民，现在却作了上帝的子民；从前未曾蒙怜恤，现在却蒙了怜恤。亲爱的弟兄啊，你们是客旅，是寄居的。我劝你们要禁戒肉体的私欲；这私欲是与灵魂争战的。你们在外邦人中，应当品行端正，叫那些毁谤你们是作恶的，因看见你们的好行为，便在鉴察（或作：眷顾）的日子归荣耀给上帝”（彼前2:1-12）。（《信函》1900年第26号）?{TSA 90.4}[21]
§46
“Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, as newborn babes,?desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: if so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, and a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.”—Letter 26, 1900.?{TSA 90.4}[21]