第03章 对我们学生的呼吁
§1
第03章 对我们学生的呼吁
§2
Chap. 03 - An Appeal for Our Students
§3
我们很担心在巴特尔克里克学院就读的学生，因所寄宿家庭的宗教氛围，而得不到他们应该得到的全部好处。有些家庭虽自称是基督徒，却没有基督宗教的美好感化力。这等人所发挥的影响比那些不自称敬虔的人更讨厌。这些无信仰的、没有责任感的形式主义者可能枝叶繁茂地站在世人面前，却象那棵不结果子的无花果树一样，完全没有我们的救主所惟一看重的东西——结出果子来荣耀上帝。上帝的恩典在人心运行的工作，他们一点儿也不知道。这些人发挥的影响有害于凡与他们交往的人。应该有专门的委员会来确保不让挂名的信徒为学生提供住宿。在些人对青少年宝贵的灵魂没有一点负担。{FE 50.1}[1]
§4
We have had many fears that students who attend Battle Creek College will fail to receive all the benefit they might, in the way of religious culture, from the families that furnish them rooms. Some families do not enjoy the sweet influences of the religion of Christ, although they are professed Christians. The influence which this class of persons exert over the students is more objectionable than that of those who make no pretensions to godliness. These irreligious, irresponsible formalists may stand forth before the world in pretentious leaves, while, like the barren fig-tree they are wholly destitute of that which alone our Saviour values,--fruit to His glory. The work wrought on the heart by the grace of God, they know nothing about. These persons exert an influence which is detrimental to all with whom they associate. There should be committees, to see that the homes provided for the students are not with mere formalists, who have no burden for the souls of the dear youth. {FE 50.1}[1]
§5
可以为那些离开了家庭驯顺温良的感化力的人做许多的事。许多人所显出的精神表明他们的心声是：“‘我岂是看守我兄弟的吗’（创4:9）？我除了自己的家庭没有任何的负担或责任。我对寄宿在我家的学生们没有任何负担或兴趣。”我要问这些人，是否对他们自己的儿女有负担和责任感。我很难过地看到有些父母很不担心他们儿女周围的影响是否有利于形成基督化的品格；而那些对自己所爱之人的灵魂有负担的人不应自私地只关心自己的家人。耶稣在凡事上都是我们的榜样；但祂没有给我们这种自私自利的榜样，象我们看到许多自称祂信徒的人所表现的那样。我们若住在基督里面，祂的爱也住在我们里面，我们就要爱那些基督为之而死的人；因为祂已命令跟从祂的人彼此相爱，象祂爱了他们一样。我们自称基督之名的人顺从这个命令吗？我们若在这一点上失败了，也会在其它点上失败。要是基督考虑祂自己的利益、方便和乐趣，就会撇下世界，任其在罪恶和败坏中灭亡。{FE 50.2}[2]
§6
Very much may be done for those who are deprived of the softening, subduing influences of the home circle. The spirit manifested by many shows that the language of the heart is, Am I my brothers keeper? I have no burden or responsibility aside from my own family. I have no special burden or interest for the students who occupy rooms in my house. I would ask these persons if they have burdens and feel responsibilities for their own children. I am sorry to see so little anxiety on the part of some parents that all the influences surrounding their children should be favorable to the formation of Christian character; but those who do have soul-burdens for their own loved ones should not selfishly confine their interest to their own family. Jesus is our example in all things; but He has given us no example of such selfishness as we see manifested by many who profess to be His followers. If we abide in Christ, and His love abides in us, we shall love those for whom Christ died; for He has commanded His followers to love one another as He has loved them. Do we who profess His name obey this injunction? If we fail in this point we shall in others also. Had Christ studied His own profit, convenience, and pleasure, the world would have been left to perish in its sin and corruption. {FE 50.2}[2]
§7
在救灵工作中，一种奇怪的冷漠似乎占据了许多自称基督徒之人的心。罪人都在他们四围沦亡，他们却对此事没有特别的负担。基督会对这些漠不关心的人说：“好，又良善又忠心的仆人，进来享受你主人的快乐”吗？基督的快乐在于见到生灵因祂为他们所做的牺牲而得赎。{FE 51.1}[3]
§8
A strange indifference in reference to the salvation of souls seems to have taken possession of many professed Christians. Sinners may be perishing all around them, and they have no particular burden in the matter. Will Christ say to these indifferent ones, Well done, good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord? The joy of Christ consists in seeing souls redeemed through the sacrifice He has made for them. {FE 51.1}[3]
§9
没有处在家庭影响之下的青年男女需要有人照顾，对他们表示关心。人若这样行，便是在填补一个大巨大的空缺，为上帝做切实的工作，拯救生灵，犹如传道人在讲台上所作的一样。这种无私的善举，为青年的益处而操劳，只是上帝对我们每一个人的要求。有经验的基督徒，应当多么恳切地出力作工，来防止养成那些使品格蒙上不灭污点的习惯啊！跟从基督的人要使圣经对青年有吸引力。要让你们自己的品格被圣洁的荣美所软化和折服，每日每时成为青少年的活讲章。不要表现抱怨的精神，而要争取他们过圣洁的生活和顺从上帝。有些教授因乖僻的性情而使青少年厌恶。年轻人的心如今就象容易受印记的蜡，你们可以引导他们钦佩基督的品格，否则几年之后蜡可能变成花岗岩。{FE 51.2}[4]
§10
Young men and women who are not under home influences need some one to look after them, and to manifest some interest for them; and those who do this are supplying a great lack, and are as verily doing a work for God and the salvation of souls as the minister in the pulpit. This work of disinterested benevolence in laboring for the good of the youth is no more than God requires of every one of us. How earnestly should the experienced Christian work to prevent the formation of those habits that indelibly mar the character. Let the followers of Christ make the word of God attractive to the youth. Let your own characters, softened and subdued by the beauties of holiness, be a daily, hourly sermon to the youth. Manifest no spirit of grumbling; but win them to holiness of life and obedience to God. Some professors, by their sourness, repel the young. The hearts of youth are now like impressible wax, and you may lead them to admire the Christian character; but in a few years the wax may become granite. {FE 51.2}[4]
§11
我呼吁巴特尔克里克自称基督徒的教会和个人，负起上帝交给你们的责任。要亲自与上帝同行，对青年发挥一种影响力，保守他们不致落在引诱这代青年的各种试探之下。撒但正要控制自称为上帝子民的人。他们似乎睡着了，对年轻人的危险及威胁着他们的灭亡毫无知觉。撒但得意地炫耀他在青年身上获得的胜利；而那些自称十字架精兵的人却让他从屋檐下掳走牺牲品，还显得异常服帖。{FE 51.3}[5]
§12
I call upon the professed Christians of Battle Creek as a church and as individuals, take up your God-given responsibilities. Walk with God yourselves; and exert an influence over the young which shall preserve them from falling under the manifold temptations made attractive to seduce the young of this generation. Satan is getting the start of Gods professed people. They seem to be asleep to the dangers of the young, and the ruin that threatens them. Satan exultingly displays his victories gained over the youth; and those who profess to be soldiers of the cross allow him to take his victims from under the very rooftree, and appear wonderfully reconciled. {FE 51.3}[5]
§13
许多人的情况被那些不伸手救他们的人看为不可救药的。这些人中有些人原可得救；即使是现在，若对他们表示适当的关心，也能感动他们。我们有什么不是领受的呢？我们因每一项能力、每一个恩典、每一个好思想和每一个正确的行动而欠基督的债。我们自己没有什么可夸的。我们要存谦卑的心俯伏在十字架下。我们的言语行为都要争取他人归向基督，而不是驱赶他们远离祂。{FE 52.1}[6]
§14
The cases of many are looked upon as hopeless by those who did not reach out a helping hand to save them. Some of these might have been saved; and even now, if proper interest was manifested in them, they could be reached. What have any of us that we did not receive? We are debtors to Christ for every ability, every grace, every good thought, and every proper action. Of ourselves we have nothing of which to boast. In lowliness and humility, let us bow at the foot of the cross; and let all our words and acts be such as shall win others to Christ, and not drive them farther from Him. {FE 52.1}[6]
§15
我对你们住在这个工作大中心的人说。你们不能成为粗心无礼的形式主义者，专顾自己。许多见证人在看着你们，许多人在效法你们的行为。不虔诚的生活不仅定你们自己的罪，也使他人灭亡。你们生活在要保持如此重大权益之地的人，应该作随时应召的战士、忠心的哨兵，决不放松警惕。在自私的安逸或满足自我上一个不谨慎的举动，都可能使仇敌有机可乘，以致多年的辛劳也无法恢复。那些决定在巴特尔克里克安家的人，应该是忠心祈祷的男男女女，忠于他们周围之人的利益。他们只有在与上帝同行时才有安全。{FE 52.2}[7]
§16
I address you who reside at the great center of the work. You cannot be careless, irreverent formalists all to yourselves. Many witnesses are looking upon you, and many pattern after your course. An irreligious life not only seals your own condemnation, but ruins others also. You who live where such weighty interests are to be maintained, should be minute men, faithful sentinels, never off guard. One incautious moment spent in selfish ease or in self-gratification may give the enemy an advantage which years of hard labor may not recover. Those who choose Battle Creek for their home should be men and women of faith and prayer, true to the interests of those around them. There is no safety only as they walk with God. {FE 52.2}[7]
§17
到巴特尔克里克学院上学的青年会有各种各样的品性。他们所受的教训和训练也各不相同。许多人一直凭自己没有经验之心思的兴趣做事。父母以为自己爱儿女，却显明自己是他们最恶劣的敌人。他们已让邪恶脱缰。他们允许自己的孩子怀存罪恶，这就象怀抱宠爱毒蛇一样，不仅会咬伤怀抱它的人，也会刺伤凡与他接触的人。{FE 52.3}[8]
§18
There will be diversity of character among the youth who attend the College at Battle Creek. They have been differently educated and trained. Many have been left to follow the bent of their own inexperienced minds. The parents have thought they loved their children, but have proved themselves their worst enemies. They have let evil go unrestrained. They have allowed their children to cherish sin, which is like cherishing and petting a viper, that will not only sting the victim who cherishes it, but all with whom he is connected. {FE 52.3}[8]
§19
有些被宠坏的孩子在我们学院就读的学生中间。教师和凡关心学生、愿意帮助他们的人，都有一种棘手的任务，要设法帮助这班不羁的青年。他们在家一直不顺从父母，在学校或他们所寄宿的家庭中都没有服从的概念。对待这些受忽略的可怜青年，需要有多大的信心、忍耐、恩慈和智慧啊！不明真相的父母可能会站到儿女一边反对学校和家庭的纪律。他们会阻止儿女尽上帝要他们尽的本分，就是他们已经严重忽视了的本分。在这种尴尬的局面下，需要有从上帝而来的何等大的智慧来行公义好怜悯啊。要把因管理不善而歪曲的心思平衡到正确的方向是多么困难啊。有些人素来放荡不羁，有些人则一直受管太严；及至脱离了那严厉控制缰绳的警惕的手，他们就觉得不愿接受任何人的指示了。他们鄙视受约束的想法。{FE 53.1}[9]
§20
Some of these petted children are among the students who attend our College. Teachers, and all who are interested in the students and would help them, have an unenviable task in seeking to benefit this class of untamed youth. They have not been in subjection to their parents at home, and have no idea of having a head at school or in the homes where they board. What faith, and patience, and grace, and wisdom are required to deal with these neglected, much-to-be-pitied youth. The deceived parents may even take sides with the children against school and home discipline. They would restrain others from doing the duty God requires of them, and which they have grossly neglected. What wisdom from God is needed to deal justly and love mercy under these trying circumstances. How difficult to balance in the right direction minds that have been warped by this mismanagement. While some have been unrestrained, others have been governed too much; and when away from the vigilant hands that held the reins of control harshly, leaving love and mercy out of the question, they have felt that they would not be dictated to by any one. They despise the very thought of restraint. {FE 53.1}[9]
§21
上帝的子民岂不应当为那些承担教育这些青年并塑造他们品格之艰难任务的人献上忠心的祈祷吗？挂虑、负担和沉重的责任落在敬畏上帝的尽责教师身上，也落在住在巴特尔克里克的负责任的以色列父母们身上。凡重视基督替死之人的真基督徒，都必做出认真的努力，竭尽所能地去纠正学生们生身父母的错误。教师们会感到有责任将他们的学生以匀称的品格和健全的心智呈现在世人和上帝面前。但教师们无法担负这一切的重担，也不应期望他们独自负责使学生有良好的礼貌和高尚的品德。学生们寄宿的每一个家庭都应该有他们必须遵守的家规。纵容他们养成目无法纪的习惯和随意破坏家具，并不算善待他们或他们的父母。如果他们感情丰富精力旺盛，就要让他们干累活，累到他们巴不得回房休息为止。{FE 53.2}[10]
§22
Should not those who have the difficult task of educating these young people and molding their characters have the faithful prayers of the children of God? Care, burdens, and weighty responsibilities must fall to the lot of the conscientious, God-fearing teacher, as well as that of the burden-bearing fathers and mothers in Israel who reside in Battle Creek. All sincere Christians, who value souls for whom Christ died, will make earnest efforts to do all in their power to correct even the wrongs and neglects of the natural parents. The teachers will feel that they have a duty devolving upon them to present their pupils before the world and before God with symmetrical characters and well-balanced minds. But the teachers cannot bear all this burden, and should not be expected to be alone responsible for the good manners and elevated morals of their pupils. Every family that provides rooms for them should have rules to which they must conform. It will not be doing them or their parents a kindness to allow them to form lawless habits and break or deface furniture. If they have exuberant spirits and pent-up energy, let them do vigorous manual labor, until weariness prepares them to appreciate rest in their rooms. {FE 53.2}[10]
§23
一些学生的房间去年给寄宿的人留下了不利的记录。学生们若是粗鲁不文的，他们的房间常会显明这个事实。那些出租房屋的人不应容忍学生们不顾后果地玩耍、吵嚷欢笑、迟迟不归。他们若是允许学生有这种行为，就是严重地亏待他们，他们自己在很大程度上也要为这种错行负责。应当常常造访学生的房间，看看是否有利于健康和舒适，确定是不是人人都在按照校规生活。任何疏忽懈怠都应指出来，应该忠心地做学生们的工作。他们若是不顺从，不愿受约束，最好还是留在家里，学校最好没有他们。我们的学院不应因少数不法的学生而败坏。我们国家有许多学院已陷入让青少年因邪恶的交往而变得不道德和堕落的危险之中。{FE 54.1}[11]
§24
The rooms of some of the students last year bore an unfavorable record of the roomers. If students are coarse and rude, their rooms frequently make this fact apparent. Reckless sport, boisterous laughter, and late hours should not be tolerated by those who rent rooms. If they allow this conduct in the students, they do them a serious wrong, and make themselves, in a great degree, responsible for the misconduct. The rooms of students should be frequently visited, to see if they are favorable to health and comfort, and to ascertain if all are living in accordance with the rules of the school. Any remissness should be pointed out, and the students should be faithfully labored with. If they are insubordinate and will not be controlled, they are better off at home, and the school is better off without them. Our College should not become depraved for the sake of a few lawless students. The colleges in our land are many of them places where the youth are in danger of becoming immoral and depraved through these evil associations. {FE 54.1}[11]
§25
我们学生的交往是一件重要的事，不可忽视。许多来到我们学院的人自称是基督徒。应该向这些人表示特别的关心，鼓励他们努力过基督徒的生活。要保护他们免受青年到处都会遇见的试探。在那些已有多年经验的人看来，战胜这些青年的试探似乎微不足道的，以致不对受试探受考验的人表示同情。这是错误的。他们自己的生活和早期的经验可能比他们视为软弱的青年更不稳定。{FE 54.2}[12]
§26
The associations of our students is an important matter, and should not be neglected. Many who come to our College are professed Christians. Especial interest should be manifested in these, and they should be encouraged in their endeavors to live a Christian life. They should be guarded, as far as possible, from the temptations that meet the youth whichever way they may turn. To those who have had years of experience, the temptations which overcome these young people may seem so light and trivial that they will withdraw their sympathies from the tempted and tried ones. This is wrong. Their own life and early experience may have been even more varying than those of the youth they would censure for their weakness. {FE 54.2}[12]
§27
许多自称跟从基督的人道德力薄弱。他们从未成为十字架的英雄，很容易被自私的乐趣或娱乐吸引而不忠于上帝。这些人应该得到帮助。不要任凭他们选择自己的同伴和室友。敬爱上帝的人，心中应该对这些人负起责任，谨慎地改换他们不良的友伴。容易受无信仰友伴影响的青年基督徒，应该与那些会强加良好的决心和虔诚倾向的人为伴。一个好性情、有宗教倾向、甚至自称信主的青年，可能因与一个轻蔑讲论甚至嘲笑神圣和虔诚的事物、缺乏敬畏之心和良心的人结交而丧失他的宗教观念。一点面酵能使全团都发起来。有些人在信仰上是软弱的；但若给他们安置适当的室友，其影响是有力为善的，他们就会转向正确的方向，获得有价值的宗教经验，成功地形成基督化的品格。{FE 55.1}[13]
§28
Many who profess to be followers of Christ are weak in moral power. They have never been heroes of the cross, and are easily attracted from their allegiance to God by selfish pleasures or amusements. These persons should be helped. They should not be left to chance in choosing their companions and roommates. Those who love and fear God should bear the burden of these cases upon their souls, and should move discreetly in changing unfavorable associations. Christian youth who are inclined to be influenced by irreligious associates should have for companions those who will strengthen good resolutions and religious inclinations. A well-disposed, religiously inclined youth, and even a professor of religion, may lose his religious impressions by association with one who speaks lightly of sacred and religious things, and perhaps ridicules them, and who lacks reverence and conscientiousness. A little leaven may leaven the lump. Some are weak in faith; but if placed with proper roommates, whose influence is strong for the right, they may be balanced in the right direction, obtain a valuable religious experience, and be successful in the formation of Christian character. {FE 55.1}[13]
§29
愿我们的弟兄姐妹为灵魂警醒，好像将来交账的人。我在这个问题上一直大动脑筋。我要敦促那些自称基督徒的人，必须穿上全副军装；然后为我们到巴特尔克里克学院就读的青年作工。他们对讲道和责难说教的需要，不及对真正关心的需要。要让他们因你们的行为知道你们爱他们，关心他们的灵魂。你们对于被扔到教会怀里而来到巴特尔克里克的柔弱青年，若表现出对你们现世利益一半的关心，就能用同情之心最有力的锁链把他们绑在你们身边。你们对他们所发挥的影响就会成为一股为善的力量。——《评论与通讯》1878年2月21日。{FE 55.2}[14]
§30
I would that our brethren and sisters would watch for souls as they that must give an account. My mind has been deeply exercised upon this subject. I would urge upon those who profess Christ the necessity of putting on the whole armor; then work for our youth who attend Battle Creek College. They may not need sermons and long censorious lectures as much as they need genuine interest. Let them know by your works that you love them and have a care for their souls. If you would manifest for the tender youth now coming to Battle Creek, who are thrown into the very arms of the church, one half the care you have for your temporal interests, you might bind them to you by the strongest bonds of sympathy; and your influence over them would be a power for good.--Review and Herald, February 21, 1878. {FE 55.2}[14]