第38章 母亲的地位与责任
§1
第38章 母亲的地位与责任
§2
Chap. 38 - Mothers Position and Responsibilities
§3
与丈夫平等——妇女应充分享有上帝为她原定的地位，与她的丈夫平等。这世界所需要的母亲，不是那种徒具虚名的母亲，乃要在各方面都名符其实的。我们尽可放心地说：妇女所特负的义务，比男子所担承的更神圣，更纯洁。愿妇女都觉察自己工作的神圣性，而靠赖上帝的大能，存着敬畏的心，负起她终身的使命来。愿她教育自己的儿女，在此世作有为的人，俾在更美的世界上有一个住处。[1]
§4
The Husbands Equal.--Woman should fill the position which God originally designed for her, as her husbands equal. The world needs mothers who are mothers not merely in name but in every sense of the word. We may safely say that the distinctive duties of woman are more sacred, more holy, than those of man. Let woman realize the sacredness of her work and in the strength and fear of God take up her life mission. Let her educate her children for usefulness in this world and for a home in the better world. {AH 231.1}[1]
§5
为妻为母的人不可牺牲她的精力，而将她的力量潜藏起来，凡事都依靠她的丈夫。她的个性不可泯没于他里面。她应当觉得自己是与丈夫平等的——站在他的身旁，忠心守住她责任的岗位，他也守住他的。她教养自己儿女的工作，在各方面都与他所担负的任务一样崇高，一样能提拔人，即使他贵为一国中最高的官吏，也是如此。[2]
§6
The wife and mother should not sacrifice her strength and allow her powers to lie dormant, leaning wholly upon her husband. Her individuality cannot be merged in his. She should feel that she is her husbands equal-- to stand by his side, she faithful at her post of duty and he at his. Her work in the education of her children is in every respect as elevating and ennobling as any post of duty he may be called to fill, even if it is to be the chief magistrate of the nation. {AH 231.2}[2]
§7
家庭中的王后——君王在他宝座之上所从事的工作，也不会比作母亲的更为崇高。母亲乃是家庭中的王后。她具有陶冶儿女品格的权力，使他们能承受更高贵的永远生命。天使也不能求得一种更崇高的使命；因为她在从事此一工作时，便是在侍奉上帝了。但愿她能觉察其使命的崇高品质，因而激发她的勇气。但愿她认清其工作的价值，而穿戴上帝所赐的全副军装，使她能抗御那迎合世俗标准的试探。她的工作是关乎今世与永恒的。[3]
§8
The Queen of the Home.--The king upon his throne has no higher work than has the mother. The mother is queen of her household. She has in her power the molding of her childrens characters, that they may be fitted for the higher, immortal life. An angel could not ask for a higher mission; for in doing this work she is doing service for God. Let her only realize the high character of her task, and it will inspire her with courage. Let her realize the worth of her work and put on the whole armor of God, that she may resist the temptation to conform to the worlds standard. Her work is for time and for eternity. {AH 231.3}[3]
§9
母亲乃是家庭中的王后，儿女则是她的属民。她要以母性的尊严，敏慧地治理其家。她的感化力在家中是至高无上的，她的话就是命令。她若是基督徒，在上帝的管治之下，就必得到儿女的尊敬。[4]
§10
The mother is the queen of the home, and the children are her subjects. She is to rule her household wisely, in the dignity of her motherhood. Her influence in the home is to be paramount; her word, law. If she is a Christian, under Gods control, she will command the respect of her children. {AH 232.1}[4]
§11
要教导儿女不可把母亲看作是伺候他们的奴隶，而是要领导并指引他们的王后，她也要律上加律，命上加命地教训他们。[5]
§12
The children are to be taught to regard their mother, not as a slave whose work it is to wait on them, but as a queen who is to guide and direct them, teaching them line upon line, precept upon precept. {AH 232.2}[5]
§13
价值的对比——做母亲的很少赏识自己的工作，往往把自己的工作视为家中的贱役，将她工作的价值估计得太低了。她日复一日，周复一周地克尽单调的义务，看不出有什么特殊的结果。一天终了，她也说不出自己做了些什么琐事。若与丈夫所有的成就相比，她就觉得自己所作的真是微不足道。[6]
§14
A Graphic Comparison of Values.--The mother seldom appreciates her own work and frequently sets so low an estimate upon her labor that she regards it as domestic drudgery. She goes through the same round day after day, week after week, with no special marked results. She cannot tell at the close of the day the many little things she has accomplished. Placed beside her husbands achievement, she feels that she has done nothing worth mentioning. {AH 232.3}[6]
§15
父亲志得意满地回到家中，不厌其详地夸诩他这一天内所有的成就。他在言语之间表示：现在应该由母亲来伺候他了，因为她除了照顾孩子，烹调饮食，整理家务之外，并没有做什么。她不是生意人，没有经营买卖；她不是庄稼人，没有耕田种地；她也不是技师——这样看来，她根本没有作什么使她疲劳的事。他批评、责难，颐指气使，仿佛是全地的主宰一般。这一切对于为妻为母的人更加难以忍受，因为她整日劳碌，持守她责任的岗位，已经相当的疲惫，而且她又无法看出自己作了些什么，因此便极度沮丧了。[7]
§16
The father frequently comes in with a self-satisfied air and proudly recounts what he has accomplished through the day. His remarks show that now he must be waited upon by the mother, for she has not done much except take care of the children, cook the meals, and keep the house in order. She has not acted the merchant, bought nor sold; she has not acted the farmer, in tilling the soil; she has not acted the mechanic--therefore she has done nothing to make her weary. He criticizes and censures and dictates as though he was the lord of creation. And this is all the more trying to the wife and mother, because she has become very weary at her post of duty during the day, and yet she cannot see what she has done and is really disheartened. {AH 232.4}[7]
§17
幔子若能揭开，而身为父亲和母亲的人能以上帝的眼光来观察这一天的工作，并看出他无穷的慧眼是怎样较量他们夫妇二人的工作，那么他们对于上天的启示就必惊奇不已了。作父亲的必以更谦逊的眼光来衡度自己工作的价值；而母亲也必从而获得新的勇气与精力，能敏慧、坚毅，而忍耐地从事自己的工作。如此她才明白自己工作所有的价值。当父亲忙于处理一些终必归于无有的事务时，母亲却从事于塑造心灵与品格的大工，不仅为今世，也为永恒而工作着。[8]
§18
Could the veil be withdrawn and father and mother see as God sees the work of the day, and see how His infinite eye compares the work of the one with that of the other, they would be astonished at the heavenly revelation. The father would view his labors in a more modest light, while the mother would have new courage and energy to pursue her labor with wisdom, perseverance, and patience. Now she knows its value. While the father has been dealing with the things which must perish and pass away, the mother has been dealing with developing minds and character, working not only for time but for eternity. {AH 233.1}[8]
§19
她的工作乃是上帝所指派的——但愿每位母亲都能觉察自己的义务与责任是如何地重大，而忠心所必获得的报赏又是多么地伟大。[9]
§20
God Has Appointed Her Work.--Would that every mother could realize how great are her duties and her responsibilities and how great will be the reward of faithfulness. {AH 233.2}[9]
§21
欣然负起日常应尽之义务的母亲，必感觉自己人生的可贵，因为上帝已指派给她当作之工。在这项工作中，她不必使自己的心志趋于萎缩，或使自己的才智变为薄弱。[10]
§22
The mother who cheerfully takes up the duties lying directly in her path will feel that life is to her precious, because God has given her a work to perform. In this work she need not necessarily dwarf her mind nor allow her intellect to become enfeebled. {AH 233.3}[10]
§23
母亲的工作原是上帝所指派给她的，要她遵照主的训诲与警戒教养自己的儿女。应该将敬畏上帝的意念常常灌输于他们稚嫩的脑海之中。在矫正他们之时，要教他们觉得是在受上帝的训诫，并且明白他不喜悦欺诈、不忠和错行。这样，孩子们的心意就能与上帝相联，而他们的一切言行，都必顾及上帝的荣耀；在以后的岁月中，他们就不会像被风吹动的芦苇，常常在癖性与义务之间摇曳不定了。[11]
§24
The mothers work is given her of God, to bring up her children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. The love and fear of God should ever be kept before their tender minds. When corrected, they should be taught to feel that they are admonished of God, that He is displeased with deception, untruthfulness, and wrongdoing. Thus the minds of little ones may be so connected with God that all they do and say will be in reference to His glory; and in after years they will not be like the reed in the wind, continually wavering between inclination and duty. {AH 233.4}[11]
§25
只引领他们去就耶稣，并不算达成了全部的要求。这些儿童必须受教育与训练，而成为基督的门徒，“我们的儿子，从幼年好像树栽子长大；我们的女儿，如同殿角石，是按建宫的样式凿成的。”这种塑造，锻炼，琢磨的工夫都是属于母亲的。孩子的品格必须予以培养。母亲必须在儿童的心版上镌刻与永恒同垂不朽的教训；而她若忽略，或容让别的事物拦阻了这项神圣工作，那么她必然会遭受主的不悦。作基督徒的母亲负有上帝所指派给她的工作，而她若与上帝具有亲密的联络，为他的圣灵所充满，就决不致忽略这样的工作了。[12]
§26
To lead them to Jesus is not all that is required. . . . These children are to be educated and trained to become disciples of Christ, that our sons may be as plants grown up in their youth; that our daughters may be as corner stones, polished after the similitude of a palace. This work of molding, refining, and polishing is the mothers. The character of the child is to be developed. The mother must engrave upon the tablet of the heart lessons as enduring as eternity; and she will surely meet the displeasure of the Lord if she neglects this sacred work or allows anything to interfere with it. . . . The Christian mother has her God-appointed work, which she will not neglect if she is closely connected with God and imbued with His Spirit. {AH 234.1}[12]
§27
她的伟大而高贵的使命——每一个母亲都有无上宝贵的机会和权利。我们应当把一般妇女所视为烦累重担的家务，看作伟大而高尚的工作。母亲的特权，乃在乎利用她的影响，使世人得福，而且她这样作，也必使自己的心中得到喜乐。她可以为自己的儿女修直道路，使他们经过光明与幽暗，可以上达天国荣耀的高处。但是，母亲唯有在自己的生活上力求顺从基督的教训，才能按照神圣的标准陶冶儿女的品格。[13]
§28
Her Grand and Noble Commission.--There are opportunities of inestimable worth, interests infinitely precious, committed to every mother. The humble round of duties which women have come to regard as a wearisome task should be looked upon as a grand and noble work. It is the mothers privilege to bless the world by her influence, and in doing this she will bring joy to her own heart. She may make straight paths for the feet of her children through sunshine and shadow to the glorious heights above. But it is only when she seeks, in her own life, to follow the teachings of Christ that the mother can hope to form the character of her children after the divine pattern. {AH 234.2}[13]
§29
在人生一切活动中，母亲对于她儿女的义务乃是最神圣的。但为了餍足某些自私的欲望，这种义务竟往往被弃置一旁了啊！儿女今世及永恒的福利已托付与父母。他们握有治家之权，当善自引导自己的家属，使上帝得荣耀。上帝的律法应当作为他们的准则，在凡事上都当以爱为主。[14]
§30
Amid all the activities of life the mothers most sacred duty is to her children. But how often is this duty put aside that some selfish gratification may be followed! Parents are entrusted with the present and eternal interests of their children. They are to hold the reins of government and guide their households to the honor of God. Gods law should be their standard, and love should rule in all things. {AH 234.3}[14]
§31
再无更伟大更神圣的工作——倘若已婚的人因参与圣工，而撇下妻子在家中照顾儿女，那么作妻子与母亲之人所从事的，和为夫为父者所从事的工作乃是同样伟大而重要的。虽然一位是对外布道，但另一位是家庭布道士；甚至她所担负的忧虑、困扰与重荷，往往还远过于作丈夫与父亲之人所担负的。她的工作是严肃而重要的。对外布道的丈夫可能备受人们尊重，而在家中操劳的那一位，也许一点也得不着现世的赞誉。然而她若为家属最佳的利益而工作，尽力仿照那神圣的典范去塑造他们的品格，那么掌管记录的天使便要记下她的名字，将她与世界上一般最伟大的布道家同列。上帝观察一切事物，自与世人以有限的眼光观察不同。[15]
§32
No Work Is Greater or Holier.--If married men go into the work, leaving their wives to care for the children at home, the wife and mother is doing fully as great and important a work as the husband and father. Although one is in the missionary field, the other is a home missionary, whose cares and anxieties and burdens frequently far exceed those of the husband and father. Her work is a solemn and important one. . . . The husband in the open missionary field may receive the honors of men, while the home toiler may receive no earthly credit for her labor. But if she works for the best interest of her family, seeking to fashion their characters after the divine Model, the recording angel writes her name as one of the greatest missionaries in the world. God does not see things as mans finite vision views them. {AH 235.1}[15]
§33
母亲乃是上帝代理者，借以使她的家庭基督化。她要亲自发扬光大《圣经》的宗教，表明其影响力如何在每日的职责与喜乐中左右我们，并且要指教他的儿女：唯有靠赖恩典，凭着上帝所赐的信心，他们才能得救。这样经常以基督对我们和他们所有的关系，就是显示于伟大救赎计划中的他的爱，他的良善，他的恩慈，来教导他们，便会在他们的心中留下神圣的印象。[16]
§34
The mother is Gods agent to Christianize her family. She is to exemplify Biblical religion, showing how its influence is to control us in its everyday duties and pleasures, teaching her children that by grace alone can they be saved, through faith, which is the gift of God. This constant teaching as to what Christ is to us and to them, His love, His goodness, His mercy, revealed in the great plan of redemption, will make a hallowed, sacred impress on the heart. {AH 235.2}[16]
§35
在上帝彰显基督教能力的计划中，儿女的训练占有相当重要的一部分。父母们都负有一项严肃的责任，要训练自己的儿女，使他们他日处世之时，对一切交往的人行善而不作恶。[17]
§36
The training of children constitutes an important part of Gods plan for demonstrating the power of Christianity. A solemn responsibility rests upon parents to so train their children that when they go forth into the world, they will do good and not evil to those with whom they associate. {AH 235.3}[17]
§37
与传道人合作——传道人和作母亲的各有其工作范围。她要带领她的儿女到耶稣跟前去领受他所赐的福分。她当珍藏基督的圣言，并以之教导儿女。从襁褓之时起，她就要训练他们克己自制，养成整洁有序，听命顺从的习惯。母亲能教养她的儿女，使他们存虚敞而敏感的心，来倾听上帝仆人的讲论。主所需要的，乃是那些在家庭生活各方面都善用上帝所赐诸般才干，使子女配承受天家的母亲。[18]
§38
A Co-worker With the Minister.--The minister has his line of work, and the mother has hers. She is to bring her children to Jesus for His blessing. She is to cherish the words of Christ and teach them to her children. From their babyhood she is to discipline them to self-restraint and self-denial, to habits of neatness and order. The mother can bring up her children so that they will come with open, tender hearts to hear the words of Gods servants. The Lord has need of mothers who in every line of the home life will improve their God-given talents and fit their children for the family of heaven. {AH 236.1}[18]
§39
忠诚地操持家务，较诸传授圣言，在为主服务方面而论，犹有过之而无不及。父母们应当觉得自己是负责教育儿女的人，犹如学校里的导师一般。[19]
§40
The Lord is served as much, yea, more, by faithful home work than by the one who teaches the word. As verily as do the teachers in the school, fathers and mothers are to feel that they are the educators of their children. {AH 236.2}[19]
§41
基督化母亲的功能范围，不应该因她的家务生活而变得狭隘。她在家中所挥发的有益的感化力，可以——也应该使之在邻里间与上帝的教会中，产生更广泛的效益。就那献身的妻子与母亲而言，家庭决不是牢狱。[20]
§42
The Christian mothers sphere of usefulness should not be narrowed by her domestic life. The salutary influence which she exerts in the home circle she may and will make felt in more widespread usefulness in her neighborhood and in the church of God. Home is not a prison to the devoted wife and mother. {AH 236.3}[20]
§43
她负有终身的使命——但愿妇女认清自己工作的神圣性，靠赖上帝的能力，存着敬畏他的心，负起她终身的使命来。愿她教养她的儿女在今世作有用的人，并配承受那更美的世界。我们敬告作基督徒的母亲们，我们恳求你们要觉察自己作母亲的责任，不要为取悦自己，乃要为荣耀上帝而活。基督不求自己的喜悦，乃取了奴仆的形象。[21]
§44
She Has a Life Mission.--Let woman realize the sacredness of her work and, in the strength and fear of God, take up her life mission. Let her educate her children for usefulness in this world and for a fitness for the better world. We address Christian mothers. We entreat that you feel your responsibility as mothers and that you live not to please yourselves, but to glorify God. Christ pleased not Himself, but took upon Him the form of a servant. {AH 236.4}[21]
§45
世界充斥着许多腐化的影响。世上的风俗习惯在青年人身上占有极大的力量。如果母亲没有尽到教诲、引导、和禁戒儿女的本分，则她的儿女自必趋向邪恶，离弃良善。每一个母亲务要时常到救主面前祈求，说：“求你指教我们，”“我们当怎样待这孩子，他后来当怎样呢？”她务要留意上帝在《圣经》中所赐的教导，这样，当她需要的时候，就必有智慧赐给她。[22]
§46
The world teems with corrupting influences. Fashion and custom exert a strong power over the young. If the mother fails in her duty to instruct, guide, and restrain, her children will naturally accept the evil and turn from the good. Let every mother go often to her Saviour with the prayer, Teach us, how shall we order the child, and what shall we do unto him? Let her heed the instruction which God has given in His word, and wisdom will be given her as she shall have need. {AH 237.1}[22]
§47
雕刻一个神圣的形象——有一位上帝在上，从他宝座那里发出亮光与荣耀来，照射在那竭力教育儿女抗御邪恶势力之忠心的母亲身上。没有别的工作比她的更重要。她不像画家在画布上描绘美丽的形体；也不像雕刻家在大理石上雕凿。她不像作家用有力的文辞表达崇高的思想；也不像音乐家在旋律中流露优美的情感。她所有的分，乃是靠着上帝的帮助，在人的心灵中启发神圣的形象。[23]
§48
Sculpturing a Likeness of the Divine.--There is a God above, and the light and glory from His throne rests upon the faithful mother as she tries to educate her children to resist the influence of evil. No other work can equal hers in importance. She has not, like the artist, to paint a form of beauty upon canvas; nor, like the sculptor, to chisel it from marble. She has not, like the author, to embody a noble thought in words of power; nor, like the musician, to express a beautiful sentiment in melody. It is hers, with the help of God, to develop in a human soul the likeness of the divine. {AH 237.2}[23]
§49
凡体悟这一点的母亲，都必承认她的机会是极其珍贵的。她必诚恳地力求借着自己的品格与训练的方法，将最崇高的理想提示在她儿女的面前。她也必恳切地，忍耐地，勇敢地努力增进自己的才能，俾善用最卓越的智力，以训练她的儿女。每行一步，她都要认真地追问：“上帝所说的是什么？”她必殷勤地研究他的圣言。她必注目仰望基督，俾在她日常卑微琐屑的挂虑与义务的经历中，作为那位真实生命者的真实反影。[24]
§50
The mother who appreciates this will regard her opportunities as priceless. Earnestly will she seek, in her own character and by her methods of training, to present before her children the highest ideal. Earnestly, patiently, courageously, she will endeavor to improve her own abilities, that she may use aright the highest powers of the mind in the training of her children. Earnestly will she inquire at every step, What hath God spoken? Diligently she will study His word. She will keep her eyes fixed upon Christ, that her own daily experience, in the lowly round of care and duty, may be a true reflection of the one true Life. {AH 237.3}[24]
§51
忠心的母亲必名录永垂不朽之册——克己牺牲和十字架，乃是我们的分。我们愿不愿意接受呢？我们当中任何人都不必如此期待：当最后严重的试炼临头时，由于紧迫的需要，在霎时之间就会生出一种自我牺牲的忠烈精神来。不，决不可能，因为这种精神必须与我们日常的经验完全融合，并借着教训和榜样，使之灌输于我们儿女的心意之中。以色列的母亲们虽然自身不能作战士，可是她们能教养出未来穿戴全副军装的，雄赳赳地为主作战的勇士。[25]
§52
The Faithful Mother Enrolled in Book of Immortal Fame.--Self-denial and the cross are our portion. Will we accept it? None of us need expect that when the last great trials come upon us, a self-sacrificing, patriotic spirit will be developed in a moment because needed. No, indeed, this spirit must be blended with our daily experience and infused into the minds and hearts of our children, both by precept and example. Mothers in Israel may not be warriors themselves, but they may raise up warriors who shall gird on the whole armor and fight manfully the battles of the Lord. {AH 238.1}[25]
§53
母亲们哪，你们儿女的命运大部分操于你们自己的手中。你们若失职的话，或许就会将自己的儿女置于仇敌的行列中，作他们败坏生灵的媒介；但借着敬虔的榜样和忠心的管教，便可引领他们来到基督跟前，使他们在他的手中成为拯救许多生灵的工具。[26]
§54
Mothers, to a great degree the destiny of your children rests in your hands. If you fail in duty, you may place them in the ranks of the enemy and make them his agents to ruin souls; but by a godly example and faithful discipline you may lead them to Christ and make them the instruments in His hands of saving many souls. {AH 238.2}[26]
§55
她（基督化母亲）的工作，若在上帝里面忠心地履行，就必永存不朽。醉心于时尚的人，决看不出也不懂得那基督化母亲的工作的永恒之美，甚且蔑视她陈腐的观念，和她质朴无华的衣着；然而天上的至尊者必将那忠心母亲的名字，记在永垂不朽的荣誉册上。[27]
§56
Her work [the Christian mothers], if done faithfully in God, will be immortalized. The votaries of fashion will never see or understand the immortal beauty of that Christian mothers work, and will sneer at her old-fashioned notions and her plain, unadorned dress; while the Majesty of heaven will write the name of that faithful mother in the book of immortal fame. {AH 238.3}[27]
§57
寸阴贵于寸金——她儿子摩西的整个人生，以及他作以色列领袖所完成的伟大使命，足以说明一个信基督的母亲的工作是多么重要。没有什么工作足以与之相比。父母应当在儿女幼小的时候指导他们造就自己，训练自己成为一个基督徒。上帝把儿女交给我们教养，不是为承受地上国度的王位，乃是要归于上帝，执掌王权，直到永远。[28]
§58
The Moments Are Priceless.--The whole future life of Moses, the great mission which he fulfilled as the leader of Israel, testifies to the importance of the work of the Christian mother. There is no other work that can equal this. . . Parents should direct the instruction and training of their children while very young, to the end that they may be Christians. They are placed in our care to be trained, not as heirs to the throne of an earthly empire, but as kings unto God, to reign through unending ages. {AH 238.4}[28]
§59
每一位作母亲的，务要认识到自己的机会是极其宝贵的，她的工作必要在审判的大日受试验。到那时，就要看出许多男女的失败和罪恶，乃是由于母亲的无知与疏忽所致，因为母亲的本分，乃是引领他们幼年的脚步走上正路。到那时，也要显明许多曾用自己的天才，诚实，以及圣洁的生活来造福世界的人，他们的影响和成就的主要原因，乃是有赖于他们那信靠基督，时常祷告的母亲所灌输的信仰使然。[29]
§60
Let every mother feel that her moments are priceless; her work will be tested in the solemn day of accounts. Then it will be found that many of the failures and crimes of men and women have resulted from the ignorance and neglect of those whose duty it was to guide their childish feet in the right way. Then it will be found that many who have blessed the world with the light of genius and truth and holiness owe the principles that were the mainspring of their influence and success to a praying, Christian mother. {AH 239.1}[29]