第51章 给儿童们的劝告
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第51章 给儿童们的劝告
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Chap. 51 - Counsel to Children
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当趁早寻求上帝——儿童与青年都当趁早寻求上帝；因为早年的习惯和印象，在人生和品格上都会生发一种强有力的影响。因此凡愿意效法撒母耳、约翰，特别是愿意步入基督的青年，务须在小事上忠心，撇弃那些图谋行恶，以为他们在今世的生活应该纵情享乐，放任私欲的邪友。很多家中的琐务都被认为无关紧要而忽视了；可是小事若被忽略，较大的责任也必如此。你们想要作健全的男女，具有纯洁、无疵、高尚的品格。这项工作当从家中做起，要负起一切琐细的义务，而以彻底周到的精神尽力去作。主见到你在最小的事上忠心，他就必将更重大的责任交托与你。要留意你在如何建造，以及你的建筑物所采用的是什么材料。你现今正在陶铸中的品格，将与永恒一同存在。[1]
§4
Seek God Early.--Children and youth should begin early to seek God; for early habits and impressions will frequently exert a powerful influence upon the life and character. Therefore the youth who would be like Samuel, John, and especially like Christ, must be faithful in the things which are least, turning away from the companions who plan evil and who think that their life in the world is to be one of pleasure and selfish indulgence. Many of the little home duties are overlooked as of no consequence; but if the small things are neglected, the larger duties will be also. You want to be whole men and women, with pure, sound, noble characters. Begin the work at home; take up the little duties and do them with thoroughness and exactness. When the Lord sees you are faithful in that which is least, He will entrust you with larger responsibilities. Be careful how you build, and what kind of material you put into the building. The characters you are now forming will be lasting as eternity. {AH 297.1}[1]
§5
要让耶稣占有你的意志，你的心灵，以及你的爱情；而且要照着基督所作的去作，本乎良心地履行家庭的义务，克己的小小举动，以及仁慈的行为，勤勉地爱惜分阴；随时慎防小罪，虽只是一点细微的福惠也常存感恩的心；如此，你最后所必得到的见证，就会像论及约翰和撒母耳，特别像论及基督的一样：“耶稣的智慧和身量，并上帝和人喜爱他的心，都一齐增长。”[2]
§6
Let Jesus take possession of your mind, your heart, and your affections; and work as Christ worked, doing conscientiously the home duties, little acts of self-denial and deeds of kindness, employing the moments diligently, keeping a careful watch against little sins and a grateful heart for little blessings, and you will have at last such a testimony for yourself as was given of John and Samuel, and especially of Christ: And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man. {AH 297.2}[2]
§7
“要将你的心归我”——主对青年说：“我儿，要将你的心归我。”世界的救主希望儿童和青年都将他们的心归给他。很可能有一大群儿童效忠上帝，因为他们在光明中行，一如基督在光明中。他们一定要爱主耶稣，并以得蒙他的喜爱为乐。他们一旦受了责备也不至于暴躁；却待人和蔼，有耐性，并且乐意尽力协助承负每日生活的重担，借此使父母心悦。历经儿童和青年的时期，他们被显为主忠心的门徒。[3]
§8
Give Me Thine Heart.--The Lord says to the young, My son, give Me thine heart. The Saviour of the world loves to have children and youth give their hearts to Him. There may be a large army of children who shall be found faithful to God, because they walk in the light as Christ is in the light. They will love the Lord Jesus, and it will be their delight to please Him. They will not be impatient if reproved, but will make glad the heart of father and mother by their kindness, their patience, their willingness to do all they can in helping to bear the burdens of daily life. Through childhood and youth they will be found faithful disciples of our Lord. {AH 297.3}[3]
§9
个人的选择——要警醒祷告，在上帝的事上获得一种个人的经验。你的双亲可能教导你，尽力指引你的脚踏上安全之途；但是他们不可能改变你的心。你必须将你的心交给耶稣，行在他所赐与你的真理之宝贵的明光中。忠心地负起你家庭生活中的责任，这样，靠着上帝的恩典，你便可以渐渐长大，满有基督所期望的在他里面之儿女应有的身量。你的父母遵守安息日并信从真理，这项事实并不能保证你也必得救。因为即使有挪亚、约翰、和但以理在这世上，“我指着我的永生起誓，他们连儿带女都不能救，只能因他们的义救自己的性命。”[4]
§10
An Individual Choice to Be Made.--Watch and pray, and obtain a personal experience in the things of God. Your parents may teach you, they may try to guide your feet into safe paths; but it is impossible for them to change your heart. You must give your heart to Jesus and walk in the precious light of truth that He has given you. Faithfully take up your duties in the home life, and, through the grace of God, you may grow up unto the full stature of what Christ would have a child grow to be in Him. The fact that your parents keep the Sabbath, and obey the truth, will not insure your salvation. For though Noah and Job and Daniel were in the land, As I live, saith the Lord God, they shall deliver neither son nor daughter; they shall but deliver their own souls by their righteousness. {AH 298.1}[4]
§11
在儿童或青年时期，你也尽可从侍奉上帝的事上得到一种经验。凡你所知道是正当的事就该去作。要孝顺你的父母。要听受他们的训诲，因为他们若敬畏上帝，便有责任托付他们，要他们为永恒的生命而教育，锻炼，并训导你的心灵。当存感谢的心领受他们所要给予你的帮助，要借着欣然服从他们有见识的判断而使他们的心快慰。这样你便是孝敬父母，将荣耀归给上帝，并造福与凡与你交往的人了。[5]
§12
In childhood and youth you may have an experience in the service of God. Do the things that you know to be right. Be obedient to your parents. Listen to their counsels; for if they love and fear God, upon them will be laid the responsibility of educating, disciplining, and training your soul for the immortal life. Thankfully receive the help they want to give you, and make their hearts glad by cheerfully submitting yourselves to the dictates of their wiser judgments. In this way you will honor your parents, glorify God, and become a blessing to those with whom you associate. {AH 298.2}[5]
§13
孩子们哪，要不息地奋斗；须记住：每一次的胜利都必使你们凌驾于仇敌之上。[6]
§14
Fight the battle, children; remember every victory places you above the enemy. {AH 299.1}[6]
§15
儿童当祈求帮助——儿童当祈求恩典，以抗御那些必然临到他们的试探——就是偏行己路，寻欢作乐的试探。当他们祈求基督帮助他们在服务生活中作诚信、亲切、顺服的人，并帮助他们负起家庭范围内的责任时，他必垂听他们天真的祷告。[7]
§16
Children to Pray for Help.--Children should pray for grace to resist the temptations which will come to them--temptations to have their own way and to do their own selfish pleasure. As they ask Christ to help them in their life service to be truthful, kind, obedient, and to bear their responsibilities in the family circle, He will hear their simple prayer. {AH 299.2}[7]
§17
耶稣甚愿儿童和青年存着亲近他们的父母一样的信赖，而到他的跟前来。犹如孩童饥饿时向父母求食，主也同样的愿意你向他祈求你所需要的东西。[8]
§18
Jesus would have the children and the youth come to Him with the same confidence with which they go to their parents. As a child asks his mother or father for bread when he is hungry, so the Lord would have you ask Him for the things which you need. . . . {AH 299.3}[8]
§19
耶稣洞悉儿童们的需要，他也爱听他们的祈祷。但愿儿童们避开世界和一切吸引他们的思想远离上帝的事物；并愿他们体认到自己乃是单独与上帝同在，他的慧眼洞察心的深处，知道他们灵性的需求，而且他们也可以与上帝交谈。[9]
§20
Jesus knows the needs of children, and He loves to listen to their prayers. Let the children shut out the world and everything that would attract the thoughts from God; and let them feel that they are alone with God, that His eye looks into the inmost heart and reads the desire of the soul, and that they may talk with God. . . . {AH 299.4}[9]
§21
所以，孩子们，凡你们自己无力成就的事，求上帝为你们成就吧。凡事都要告诉耶稣。要将你们心中的隐秘呈露在他的面前；因为他的慧眼鉴察你心灵的深处，洞悉你的意念犹如诵读敞开的书卷一般。当你向他祈求自己灵性所需要的一切时，只要信是得着的，就必得着。[10]
§22
Then, children, ask God to do for you those things that you cannot do for yourselves. Tell Jesus everything. Lay open before Him the secrets of your heart; for His eye searches the inmost recesses of the soul, and He reads your thoughts as an open book. When you have asked for the things that are necessary for your souls good, believe that you receive them, and you shall have them. {AH 299.5}[10]
§23
欣然履行家中的义务——儿童与青年都当在家中作传道士，从事那些需要作也必须有人去作的事。由于忠诚地作那些自己认为次要的小事，便可以显出你真正的传道精神来了。欣然克尽当前的义务，帮助你负荷过重的母亲，这才证明你配受托更重大的责任。你以洗碗碟为苦役，可是你却不肯放弃享用盛在那些碗碟中之食物的权利。你是否以为这些事情由你母亲去作，就会比你自己去作显得更轻松愉快呢？你难道愿意撇下自己厌烦的苦役让你困于忧虑的母亲去作，而你却去作千金小姐么？地板要洗擦，地毯的积尘要除扫。房间里的家具要整理；你一面轻视而不屑去作这些事，一面却希求承担更重大的责任，这不是自相矛盾么？你可曾想一想：母亲必须花多少工夫去料理这些家务，而你却有多少次推辞说要上学而任意寻乐去呢？[11]
§24
Perform the Home Duties Cheerfully.--Children and youth should be missionaries at home by doing those things that need to be done and that someone must do. . . . You can prove by faithful performance of the little things that seem to you unimportant that you have a true missionary spirit. It is the willingness to do the duties that lie in your path, to relieve your overburdened mother, that will prove you worthy of being entrusted with larger responsibilities. You do not think that washing dishes is pleasant work, yet you would not like to be denied the privilege of eating food that has been placed on those dishes. Do you think that it is more pleasant work for your mother to do those things than it is for you? Are you willing to leave what you consider a disagreeable task for your careworn mother to do, while you play the lady? There is sweeping to be done, there are rugs to take up and shake, and the rooms are to be put in order; and while you are neglecting to do these things, is it consistent for you to desire larger responsibilities? Have you considered how many times mother has to attend to all these household duties while you are excused to attend school or amuse yourself? {AH 300.1}[11]
§25
不少的儿童在从事家务时，好像那是令人厌烦的苦工一般，满脸不悦之色显出他们心中的憎厌来。他们找毛病，发牢骚，没有一件事情是甘心乐意去作的。这不像基督的精神；却是撒但的作风，而你们若存心如此，你们必会像他。你们自觉苦不堪言，也就会使周围的人感染到这种情绪。不要埋怨工作繁重，自己游乐的时间太少，务要审慎而体贴。由于善用时间从事有益的劳作，你就杜绝了撒但许多试探的门路。要记住：耶稣活着不求自己的喜悦，你也必须效法他。要将这件事当作一种宗教性的原则，而求耶稣帮助你。你若在这方面用心，就必准备好在上帝的圣工上肩负重任，因为你在家庭范围内已分负了重担。你必在别人身上发挥一种为善的感化力，可吸引他们来服侍基督。[12]
§26
Many children go about their home duties as though they were disagreeable tasks, and their faces plainly show the disagreeable. They find fault and murmur, and nothing is done willingly. This is not Christlike; it is the spirit of Satan, and if you cherish it, you will be like him. You will be miserable yourselves and will make all about you miserable. Do not complain of how much you have to do and how little time you have for amusement, but be thoughtful and care-taking. By employing your time in some useful work, you will be closing a door against Satans temptations. Remember that Jesus lived not to please Himself, and you must be like Him. Make this matter one of religious principle, and ask Jesus to help you. By exercising your mind in this direction, you will be preparing to become burden bearers in the cause of God as you have been caretakers in the home circle. You will have a good influence upon others and may win them to the service of Christ. {AH 300.2}[12]
§27
给母亲以调剂和休息的机会——当一位慈母看出自己的儿女没有诚意，常常假借各种借口而逃避可厌的工作，那么再去劝他们来帮助她，对于她便是一件难事了。儿童和青年们哪，基督正俯视着你们，难道要让他见到你们忽略他委托于你们手中的事工么？你们若愿作有为的人，机会就在眼前了。你们的第一要务便是帮助那为你们操心劳力的母亲。要减轻她的负担，让她也有些休憩的愉快日子；因为她所享受的假日不多，她的生活也少有调剂的乐趣。你们已往曾取得了一切游乐与欢娱之权，现在是时候了，当在家中散布阳光。当负起你们的责任来，立即着手工作。要基于你们的克己之忱而给母亲以休憩与喜悦。[13]
§28
Give Mothers Change and Rest.--It is difficult for a loving mother to urge her children to help her when she sees they have no heart in the work and will frame any and every excuse to get rid of doing a disagreeable task Children and youth, Christ is looking upon you, and shall He see you neglecting the trust He has put into your hands? If you want to be useful, the opportunity is yours. Your first duty is to help your mother who has done so much for you. Lift her burdens, give her pleasant days of rest; for she has had few holidays and very little variety in her life. You have claimed all the pleasure and amusement as your right, but the time has come for you to shed sunshine in the home. Take up your duty; go right to work. Through your self-denying devotion give her rest and pleasure. {AH 301.1}[13]
§29
上帝给今日的但以理之赏赐——现在需要像但以理那样敢作敢为的人。世界今日所需要的乃是清洁的心，以及壮健无畏的手臂。上帝定意要人不断地上进，每日攀达一更优越的据点。我们若努力自助，他就必帮助我们。我们在两个世界中的幸福之望，均有赖于我们在这一个世界中的长进。[14]
§30
Gods Reward for the Daniels of Today.--There is now need of men who, like Daniel, will do and dare. A pure heart and a strong, fearless hand are wanted in the world today. God designed that man should be constantly improving, daily reaching a higher point in the scale of excellence. He will help us if we seek to help ourselves. Our hope of happiness in two worlds depends upon our improvement in one. . . . {AH 301.2}[14]
§31
亲爱的青年哪，上帝呼召你们去从事一种靠着他的恩典便能成就的工作。你们要“将身体献上，当作活祭，是圣洁的，是上帝所喜悦的；你们如此侍奉乃是理所当然的。”要凭着上帝所赐与你们的大丈夫的气魄和女性的尊严毅然地站立起来。要表现出能与但以理媲美的纯洁的口味，志趣，与习惯。上帝必赐你以镇静的神经，敏慧的头脑，未受损害的判断力，和锐利的辨识力。今日能坚守原则而屹立不移的青年，必享受身体、心智，和灵性上的健康之福。[15]
§32
Dear youth, God calls upon you to do a work which through His grace you can do. Present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. Stand forth in your God-given manhood and womanhood. Show a purity of tastes, appetite, and habits that bears comparison with Daniels. God will reward you with calm nerves, a clear brain, an unimpaired judgment, keen perceptions. The youth of today whose principles are firm and unwavering will be blessed with health of body, mind, and soul. {AH 301.3}[15]
§33
力弥前愆——青年人现今正在决定自己永恒的命运，所以我劝你们要重视那条诫命，上帝已在其上附加了何等的应许：“使你的日子在耶和华你上帝所赐你的地上得以长久。”作儿女的人哪，你们岂不希望得到永生么？若然，就当孝敬并尊重你们的父母。万不可伤他们的心，使他们因为你们的缘故而忧虑烦恼，甚至终夜失眠。你们若曾犯了不敬爱，不顺从他们的罪，现在就当开始力弥前愆。你们采取其他任何方策都是不合算的；因为那样作的话，你们势必会丧失永生。[16]
§34
Begin Now to Redeem the Past.--The youth are now deciding their own eternal destiny, and I would appeal to you to consider the commandment to which God has annexed such a promise, That thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee. Children, do you desire eternal life? Then respect and honor your parents. Do not wound and grieve their hearts and cause them to spend sleepless nights in anxiety and distress over your case. If you have sinned in not rendering love and obedience to them, begin now to redeem the past. You cannot afford to take any other course; for it means to you the loss of eternal life. {AH 302.1}[16]