第18章 受试探之人的希望
§1
第18章 受试探之人的希望
§2
Chap. 18 - Hope for the Tempted.
§3
为了造就优秀的品格，我们必须认识到基督放在人类身上的价值。起初，人类蒙赋予尊严；但人却因放纵食欲而堕落了。尽管因此在上帝与人之间有了鸿沟，基督还是爱了无望的罪人，来到我们的世界，好在鸿沟上架起天桥，将神能与人的软弱联合起来，好让人靠着祂的力量和恩典与撒但的试探格斗，亲自得胜，本着天赐的人格站立，胜过败坏的食欲和可耻的情欲。当年轻的所罗门即将受尊荣登上以色列的宝座时，大卫对他所说最后的话是：“你当刚强作大丈夫”（王上2:2）。对于软弱受试探的人，我要说同样的话：“你当作大丈夫。”我向你指出髑髅地的十字架。我奉耶稣的名指示你，要仰望而得活。不要摧毁你自己。既有上帝的福气，你是可以胜过食欲和卑鄙情欲的。{CTBH 146.1}[1]
§4
In order to reach excellency of character, we must realize the value which Christ has placed upon the human race. In the beginning, man was invested with dignity; but he fell through indulgence of appetite. Notwithstanding the great gulf thus opened between God and man, Christ loved the hopeless sinner, and came to our world to bridge the gulf, and unite divine power to human weakness, that in his strength and grace man might wrestle for himself against Satans temptations, overcome for himself, and stand in his God-given manhood, a victor over perverted appetite and degrading passions. The last words of David to Solomon, then a young man and soon to be honored with the throne of Israel, were, Be thou strong, . . . and show thyself a man. [1 KINGS 2:2.] To the weak and tempted one I address the same, Show thyself a man. I point you to the cross of Calvary. I bid you in the name of Jesus, Look and live. Destroy not yourself. With Gods blessing it is possible for you to gain the ascendency over appetite and debasing passion. {CTBH 146.1}[1]
§5
上帝已使人有能力在一切构成心理和道德尊严的事上不断进步。祂所造的其它生物没有这种进步的能力。人可以达到崇高的自制和尊贵，使他超脱食欲和情欲的束缚，到这个地步他可以作为人站立在上帝面前，他的名字写在天上的册子里。{CTBH 146.2}[2]
§6
God has made man capable of constant progress in everything that constitutes mental and moral dignity. No other creature of his hand is capable of such advancement. Man can reach an eminence in self-control and dignity that will raise him above the slavery of appetite and passion, where he can stand before God as a man, his name written in the books of heaven. {CTBH 146.2}[2]
§7
要让真理的亮光照进人心里，让上帝的爱在他心里到处涌流。如此，我们就很难想象到他会成为何等的人，上帝能藉着他成就何等的事。他虽然是亚当的一个堕落之子，却可以藉着基督的功劳承受不朽的生命，他的思想高尚高贵，他的心也纯净了，他的谈吐是属天的。想想吧，想想一个聪明的基督徒与一个可怜的耽迷罪恶者相比是多么优越！要注意他们之间的不同，一个是因罪盲目、牺牲于自己邪恶的情欲、在恶习中沉沦的人，一个是被上帝之道的真理挽回的人，因仰望和信靠耶稣而高贵，变得与上帝的性情有份。{CTBH 146.3}[3]
§8
Let the light of truth shine into the mind of a man, let the love of God be shed abroad in his heart, and we can hardly conceive what he may be or what God can do through him. Though a fallen son of Adam, he may, through the merits of Christ, be an heir of immortality, his thoughts elevated and ennobled, his heart purified, and his conversation in heaven. Think, O, think of the superiority of an intelligent Christian man over a poor votary of sin! Note the difference between man blinded by sin, the victim of his own evil passions, and sunk in vice, and a man reclaimed by the truth of Gods word, ennobled by looking to Jesus and believing in him, and becoming a partaker of the divine nature. {CTBH 146.3}[3]
§9
要看看耽于不节制之人的状况。他们全部的品格都有卑鄙、世俗、降格的印记。这是他们罪恶行为的结果。他们一直随从己心偏行己路，行事为人凭着眼见，充满他们自设的计谋。他们可怜的家是一个地狱，是他们自己造成的。“人种的是什么，收的也是什么”（加6:7）。难道这些人会使你陶醉吗？难道你要陷入无知和下贱中，变得愚蠢糊涂象他们一样吗？这些几乎毫无上帝道德形像的品质恶劣之人的习惯和做法，难道要成为你的模范吗？他们堕落状况的画面难道不足以使你回避踏入同一方向的第一步吗？难道你愿意与这样的一群人一同被关在天国之外吗？{CTBH 147.1}[4]
§10
Look at the condition of the men who give themselves up to intemperance. Littleness, earthliness, degradation, mark their entire character. This is the result of their evil course. They have been walking in the way of their own heart, and in the sight of their own eyes, and are filled with their own devices. Their wretched homes are a hell, made so by themselves. Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. [GAL. 6:7.] Shall these men charm you? Would you sink into ignorance and debasement, and become besotted, like them? Shall the habits and practices of these debased creatures, who bear scarcely a trace of the moral image of God, be your pattern? Is not the picture of their degraded condition enough to make you shun the first step in the same direction? Would you desire to be shut out of heaven with such company? {CTBH 147.1}[4]
§11
我要对正在努力得胜的人说：上帝将一个稳固的盼望呈现在你面前，好使你持定永生。你在看自己，并且体会到试探的力量时，就会觉得自己在道德力上那么软弱，以致说：“我无法抵抗。”我告诉你，你能抵抗，你必须抵抗试探。虽然你可能被胜过了，虽然你的行径可能已经有了道德品质降低的标志，也无需总是这样。耶稣是你的帮助者。你能靠着祂的力量胜过食欲欺人的能力。要调动意志力来帮助你。{CTBH 147.2}[5]
§12
Let me say to him who is struggling to overcome, God presents before you a strong hope, that you may lay hold on eternal life. Lose no opportunity of becoming a man. When you look at yourself, and realize the strength of temptation, you feel so weak in moral power that you say, I cannot resist. I tell you, you can resist, you must resist temptation. Although you may have been overcome, although moral debasement may have marked your course, it need not always be thus. Jesus is your helper. In his strength you can overcome the beguiling power of appetite. Summon will-power to your aid. {CTBH 147.2}[5]
§13
意志是人本性中统治的力量。意志如果摆正了，人的其他各部分就会受它支配。意志不是品味，也不是倾向，而是选择权、决定权、统治权，运行在人类的心里，使人顺从或违背上帝。{CTBH 147.3}[6]
§14
The will is the governing power in the nature of man. If the will is set right, all the rest of the being will come under its sway. The will is not the taste or the inclination, but it is the choice, the deciding power, the kingly power, which works in the children of men unto obedience to God or to disobedience. {CTBH 147.3}[6]
§15
你如果不明白意志的真正力量，就会一直处在危险之中。你可以凡事相信，凡事承诺，但是你的意志如果没有摆正，你的承诺和信心算不得什么。如果你愿意用你的意志力打信心的仗，你无疑会取得胜利。{CTBH 148.1}[7]
§16
You will be in constant peril until you understand the true force of the will. You may believe and promise all things, but your promises and your faith are of no account until you put your will on the right side. If you will fight the fight of faith with your will-power, there is no doubt that you will conquer. {CTBH 148.1}[7]
§17
你的责任就是将你的意志摆在基督一边。当你将自己的意志屈服于祂的旨意时，祂就立时控制了你，在你里头运行，使你立志行事成就祂的美意。你的本性就会受祂的灵所支配。就连你的思想也受制于祂。你若不能如愿地控制自己的欲望和情绪，你可以控制自己的意志，从而使你的生活发生完全的变化。当你把你的意志交给基督时，你的生命就与基督一同藏在上帝里面。你就与那超越一切执政者和掌权者的能力联合。你获得一种来自上帝的力量，使你与祂的大能紧密联合。于是你就过一种新的生活，就是信心的生活。{CTBH148.2}[8]
§18
Your part is to put your will on the side of Christ. When you yield your will to his, he immediately takes possession of you, and works in you to will and to do of his good pleasure. Your nature is brought under the control of his Spirit. Even your thoughts are subject to him. If you cannot control your impulses, your emotions, as you may desire, you can control the will, and thus an entire change will be wrought in your life. When you yield up your will to Christ, your life is hid with Christ in God. It is allied to the power which is above all principalities and powers. You have a strength from God that holds you fast to his strength; and a new life, even the life of faith, is possible to you. {CTBH 148.2}[8]
§19
你的意志如果不投在基督一边，与上帝的圣灵合作，你就决不能成功地提高自己。不要觉得你不行，而要说：“我能，我愿意。”况且上帝已经保证祂的圣灵帮助你每一次坚决的努力。{CTBH 148.3}[9]
§20
You can never be successful in elevating yourself, unless your will is on the side of Christ, co-operating with the Spirit of God. Do not feel that you cannot; but say, I can, I will. And God has pledged his Holy Spirit to help you in every decided effort. {CTBH 148.3}[9]
§21
我们每一个人都可以知道，有一种能力在与我们的努力配合，使我们得胜。人为什么不接受所提供的帮助，使自己变得高尚呢？他们为什么放纵扭曲的食欲而使自己堕落呢？他们为什么不靠着耶稣的力量起来，并奉祂的名得胜呢？我们所献最微弱的祈祷，耶稣也会垂听。祂怜悯每一个人的软弱。每一个人的帮助都在祂身上；祂是有能力施行拯救的。我要向你指出罪人的救主耶稣基督。唯独祂能使你有能力在凡事上得胜。{CTBH 148.4}[10]
§22
Every one of us may know that there is a power working with our efforts to overcome. Why will not men lay hold upon the help that has been provided, that they may become elevated and ennobled? Why do they degrade themselves by the indulgence of perverted appetite? Why do they not rise in the strength of Jesus, and be victorious in his name? The very feeblest prayer that we can offer, Jesus will hear. He pities the weakness of every soul. Help for every one has been laid upon Him who is mighty to save. I point you to Jesus Christ, the sinners Saviour, who alone can give you power to overcome on every point. {CTBH 148.4}[10]
§23
天庭是值得我们付出一切代价的。我们不可在这件事上冒险，不可孤注一掷。我们必须知道我们的脚步是上帝所定的。愿上帝在得胜的大工上帮助我们。祂有冠冕要赐给得胜的人。祂有白袍赐给义人。祂有荣耀的永恒世界，要赐给那些寻求荣耀，尊贵和永生的人。每一个进入上帝圣城的人，都是作为得胜者进去的。他不会以被定罪的罪人身份进入圣城，而是作为上帝的一个儿子。每一个进入圣城的人，都受到欢迎说：“你这蒙我父赐福的，可来承受那创世以来为你所预备的国”（太25:34）。{CTBH 149.1}[11]
§24
Heaven is worth everything to us. We must not run any risk in this matter. We must take no venture here. We must know that our steps are ordered by the Lord. May God help us in the great work of overcoming. He has crowns for those that overcome. He has white robes for the righteous. He has an eternal world of glory for those who seek for glory, honor, and immortality. Every one who enters the city of God will enter it as a conqueror. He will not enter it as a condemned criminal, but as a son of God. And the welcome given to every one who enters there will be, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. [MATT. 25:34.] {CTBH 149.1}[11]
§25
我很高兴说一些话，帮助恐惧战兢的人凭信心紧紧握住那大能的帮助者，好使他们发展一种蒙上帝悦纳的品格。天国会邀请他们，向他们提供最美好的福气。他们还可以拥有培养完美品格的每一种能力。但如果他们不愿意帮助自己，这一切都会归于徒然。他们必须运用他们天赐的能力，否则就会越陷越深，不管在今生还是来世，没有一点向善的价值。{CTBH 149.2}[12]
§26
Gladly would I speak words that would aid such trembling souls to fasten their grasp by faith upon the mighty Helper, that they might develop a character upon which God will be pleased to look. Heaven may invite them, and present its choicest blessings, and they may have every facility to develop a perfect character; but all will be in vain unless they are willing to help themselves. They must put forth their own God-given powers, or they will sink lower and lower, and be of no account for good, either in time or in eternity. {CTBH 149.2}[12]
§27
一个软弱，甚至因罪的放纵而堕落的人，也可以成为上帝的儿子。他可以不断向别人行善，帮助他们战胜试探；他在这样做时，自己就会得到益处。他可以成为世上的一盏明灯，最终从荣耀之王的口中听到祝福的话：“好，你这又良善又忠心的仆人”（太25:21）。{CTBH 149.3}[13]
§28
One who is weakened, and even degraded by sinful indulgence, may become a son of God. It is in his power to be constantly doing good to others, and helping them to overcome temptation; and in so doing he will reap benefit to himself. He may be a bright and shining light in the world, and at last hear the benediction, Well done, good and faithful servant, from the lips of the King of Glory. {CTBH 149.3}[13]