第74章 益友与损友
§1
第74章 益友与损友
§2
Chap. 74 - Safe And Unsafe Associations
§3
影响我们自己与儿女的事物——我们所结交的朋友，不论其关系多么有限，都必在我们身上发挥一些影响力。而我们顺从那影响力的程度，则视友情的厚薄，交往的疏密，以及对该人的敬爱与尊崇而定。[1]
§4
Things Which Influence Us and Our Children.-- Every association we form, however limited, exerts some influence upon us. The extent to which we yield to that influence will be determined by the degree of intimacy, the constancy of the intercourse, and our love and veneration for the one with whom we associate. {AH 459.1}[1]
§5
我们若置身于那些带有足以使我们忘却上帝在我们身上所有崇高要求的影响力的友伴中间，便无异乎是自己去招惹试探，而道德力必渐趋弱化，以至无法抗拒试探。我们便会在不知不觉间感染友伴的习气，重视他们的意见，却将神圣永恒的事物置于朋友的意念之下。简言之，我们便恰如众义之敌所愿地备受其影响。[2]
§6
If we place ourselves among associates whose influence has a tendency to make us forgetful of the high claims the Lord has upon us, we invite temptation and become too weak in moral power to resist it. We come to partake of the spirit and cherish the ideas of our associates and to place sacred and eternal things lower than the ideas of our friends. We are, in short, leavened just as the enemy of all righteousness designed we should be. {AH 459.2}[2]
§7
青年人倘若落在这种影响之下，必比年长的人更易受其感染。每一样事物都会在他们的心版上留下一个印象——包括他们所见到的面容，所听到的声音，所参观的地方，所结交的朋友，以及所阅读的书籍。关于我们为自己，特别是为我们的儿女，选择今世与来生的友伴这件事的重要性，无论如何重视也决不为过。[3]
§8
The young, if brought under this influence, are more easily affected by it than those who are older. Everything leaves its impress upon their minds--the countenances they look upon, the voices they hear, the places they visit, the company they keep, and the books they read. It is impossible to overestimate the importance for this world and the next of the associations we choose for ourselves and, more especially, for our children. {AH 459.3}[3]
§9
与不敬上帝之人交往的危险性——不可以世人作我们的标准。我们不可与不敬上帝之人交往而染上他们的习气，因为他们必引诱我们的心远离上帝而去敬拜假神。心志坚定而在真道上站立得稳的人必能成就许多善事；他可以将上好的福惠分赠给所交往的人，因为他的心中存有主的律法。但我们若甘心与那般践踏上帝律法的人交往，就绝对无法保持自己的信仰纯洁无疵。我们必会染上他们的习气，而且若不与他们分手，终必与他们打成一片，分担他们的噩运。[4]
§10
Dangers of Associating With the Ungodly.--The world is not to be our criterion. We are not to associate with the ungodly and partake of their spirit, for they will lead the heart away from God to the worship of false gods. The steadfast soul, firm in the faith, can do much good; he can impart blessings of the highest order to those with whom he associates, for the law of the Lord is in his heart. But we cannot willingly associate with those who are trampling upon the law of God, and preserve our faith pure and untarnished. We shall catch the spirit, and unless we separate from them, we shall be bound up with them at last, to share their doom. {AH 459.4}[4]
§11
希伯来人之所以被引诱违犯上帝的律法，并使全国受到上帝的刑罚，乃是因为他们与拜偶像的人结交，并参加拜偶像的宴会。今日撒但也在引诱基督徒与不敬虔的人结交，使之参加他们的娱乐；这是撒但诱惑他们陷在罪恶之中最有效的方法。主说：“你们务要从他们中间出来，与他们分别，不要沾不洁净的物。”上帝今日要他的子民在风俗、习惯和原则上，与世人保持很大的区别，像他吩咐古时的以色列人一样。[5]
§12
It was by associating with idolaters and joining in their festivities that the Hebrews were led to transgress Gods law and bring His judgments upon the nation. So now it is by leading the followers of Christ to associate with the ungodly and unite in their amusements that Satan is most successful in alluring them into sin. Come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean. God requires of His people now as great a distinction from the world, in customs, habits, and principles, as He required of Israel anciently. {AH 460.1}[5]
§13
参孙任性的选择——参孙曾蒙上帝的眷顾，使他可以准备去完成他蒙召从事的工作。从他人生的开始，周围的环境实有利于他强健的体力，活泼的智力，和纯洁的道德。可惜他在恶同伴的影响之下放弃了人类唯一的保障，就是对上帝的信赖；他就被邪恶的潮流冲去了。凡在尽责作事的时候遭遇试炼的人，都可以确信上帝必保守他们；但是人若故意置身于试探的威胁之下，他们就早晚必要跌倒了。[6]
§14
Samsons Willful Choice.--Gods providential care had been over Samson, that he might be prepared to accomplish the work which he was called to do. At the very outset of life he was surrounded with favorable conditions for physical strength, intellectual vigor, and moral purity. But under the influence of wicked associates he let go that hold upon God which is mans only safeguard, and he was swept away by the tide of evil. Those who in the way of duty are brought into trial may be sure that God will preserve them; but if men willfully place themselves under the power of temptation, they will fall sooner or later. {AH 460.2}[6]
§15
阴险的罪恶之酵——亲爱的同学们啊，你们父母的祷告必日夜伴随着你们。要听从他们的恳劝与忠告，不要拣选那些轻浮的友伴。你们无法察觉罪恶的酵将如何败坏你们的思想，损害你们良好的生活习惯，而且由于引诱你们一再地重犯恶习，便使你们养成不健全的品格。你们也许看不清自己实际上的危险，以为自己仍能行善，犹如未曾屈从试探而作恶之前一样的容易，但这是一个错误。敬畏上帝的父母与教师有时也会警戒、劝告、教导你们，但你们若不将自己献归上帝，善用他所赐予你们的才干以增荣于他，这一切都可能归于徒然。[7]
§16
The Insidious Leaven of Wickedness.--Dear students, day and night the prayers of your parents will follow you. Listen to their entreaties and warnings, and do not choose reckless associates. You cannot discern how the leaven of wickedness will insidiously corrupt your mind and impair your habits and, by leading you to repeat evil habits, cause you to develop an unsound character. You may see no real danger and think that you will be able to do right as easily as before you yielded to temptation to do wrong, but this is a mistake. Parents and teachers who love and fear God may warn and entreat and counsel, but it may all be in vain if you do not yield yourself to God and improve the talents which He has given you to His glory. {AH 460.3}[7]
§17
慎防那些对宗教漠不关心的人——儿童若常与惯谈无足轻重的属世事物之人在一起，他们的思想必降至同一水平。如果他们听见宗教的原理被轻视，我们的信仰被诽谤，如果他们听见人们对于真理发表狡诈的反对，这些话语必紧附于他们的思想之中，而形成他们的品格。[8]
§18
Beware of Those Indifferent to Religion.--If children are with those whose conversation is upon unimportant, earthly things, their minds will come to the same level. If they hear the principles of religion slurred and our faith belittled, if sly objections to the truth are dropped in their hearing, these things will fasten in their minds and mold their characters. {AH 461.1}[8]
§19
再没有比与虚浮，轻狂，思想业已败坏的人交往，更能有效地阻止或抵消严肃的印象与良善的愿望了。这等人凭其机智、讽刺和风趣，或亦有相当的吸引力，但事实上他们对于宗教既存着轻忽而漠视的态度，便是不应与他们交往的充分理由。他们在其他方面愈令人喜爱，则对他们为友的影响力愈应存着畏惮之心，因为他们以这么多有害的诱惑物来掩饰自己不敬虔的人生。[9]
§20
Nothing can more effectually prevent or banish serious impressions and good desires than association with vain, careless, and corrupt-minded persons. Whatever attractions such persons may possess by their wit, sarcasm, and fun, the fact that they treat religion with levity and indifference is sufficient reason why they should not be associated with. The more engaging they are in other respects, the more should their influence be dreaded as companions because they throw around an irreligious life so many dangerous attractions. {AH 461.2}[9]
§21
世俗的友伴足以吸引并迷惑理智，甚至使虔诚、敬畏上帝、信义与忠实，也都不能保守人坚定不移。基督那种谦卑而毫不骄矜的人生也似乎全无可爱之点了。对于许多自称为上帝儿女的人而言，耶稣——天上的至尊者——却“像根出于干地，他无佳形美容。”[10]
§22
Worldly associations attract and dazzle the senses so that piety, the fear of God, faithfulness, and loyalty have not power to keep men steadfast. The humble, unassuming life of Christ seems altogether unattractive. To many who claim to be sons and daughters of God, Jesus, the Majesty of heaven, is as a root out of a dry ground: He hath no form nor comeliness. {AH 461.3}[10]
§23
不可将爱心集中于属世的亲友——我们决不能同时又侍奉上帝，又侍奉世界。我们不可将爱心集中于无意研究真理之世俗亲友的身上。当我们与他们交往时，固然可以在各方面尽力发光；但我们的言语、行为、习尚和举动，在任何方面都不该受他们的思想和习尚所熏染。在与他们的一切交往中，我们务须表彰真理。我们若不能如此行，则为了自己的灵性着想，我们愈少与他们交往愈妙。[11]
§24
Do Not Center Affections on Worldly Relatives.-- We cannot serve God and the world at the same time. We must not center our affections on worldly relatives, who have no desire to learn the truth. We may seek in every way, while associated with them, to let our light shine; but our words, our deportment, our customs and practices, should not in any sense be molded by their ideas and customs. We are to show forth the truth in all our intercourse with them. If we cannot do this, the less association we have with them the better it will be for our spirituality. {AH 462.1}[11]
§25
当远避标准低劣，道德欠佳之人——基督徒与那些道德欠佳之人交往是错的。那种亲密而每日浪费时间，丝毫不能增强智力或道德力的交往实在是相当危险的。假如环绕人们的气氛并不纯洁而圣化，已为败坏所污染，则凡吸收这种气氛的人必发现它会在不知不觉间毒化并败坏智力和心志。与那些思想自甘下流之人交往实在危险已极。本来心地正直而爱好纯洁的人，必在不知不觉间逐渐与素常交往的人采取同样的水准，沾染并同情他们的愚昧以及道德方面的空虚。[12]
§26
Shun Those With Low Standards, Loose Morals.-- It is wrong for Christians to associate with those whose morals are loose. An intimate, daily intercourse which occupies time without contributing in any degree to the strength of the intellect or morals is dangerous. If the moral atmosphere surrounding persons is not pure and sanctified, but is tainted with corruption, those who breathe this atmosphere will find that it operates almost insensibly upon the intellect and heart to poison and to ruin. It is dangerous to be conversant with those whose minds naturally take a low level. Gradually and imperceptibly those who are naturally conscientious and love purity will come to the same level and partake of and sympathize with the imbecility and moral barrenness with which they are so constantly brought in contact. {AH 462.2}[12]
§27
美名胜于精金。青年人常爱与思想和道德卑劣的人交往。请问：青年人自愿与那些思想、情感和品行标准都低下的人交往，究竟能期望获得什么真正的幸福呢？有些人的癖性下流，习惯腐化，而凡是选择与这等人交游的，必效从他们的榜样。我们现今所处的乃是一个危险的时代，这应该使人人觉得心惊胆战。[13]
§28
A good name is more precious than gold. There is an inclination with the youth to associate with those who are inferior in mind and morals. What real happiness can a young person expect from a voluntary connection with persons who have a low standard of thoughts, feelings, and deportment? Some are debased in taste and depraved in habits, and all who choose such companions will follow their example. We are living in times of peril that should cause the hearts of all to fear. {AH 462.3}[13]
§29
许多人因畏惧他人讥诮而屈从试探——儿童应有不讥诮纯洁而可贵的事物并倡导正义的人作他们的友伴。许多青年因畏惧他人的讥诮而屈从试探，走上不信上帝之人的道路。母亲们很可以借着榜样和教训，指导她们的儿女在遭遇轻蔑和讥诮时如何保持自己的正直。[14]
§30
Many Yield to Temptation Through Fear of Ridicule.-- Children . . . should have companions who will not ridicule what is pure and worthy, but will rather advocate what is right. The fear of ridicule leads many a youth to yield to temptation and to walk in the way of the ungodly. Mothers may do much by example as well as by precept to show their children how to be upright amid scorn and ridicule. {AH 463.1}[14]
§31
为何我们的青年不考虑到那些随时引领他人踏入禁途的人极易被试探所胜，而且也是撒但的媒介，借以助长放肆的习惯，并嘲笑凡服从良心而愿保持自己品格正直之人呢？[15]
§32
Why do our youth not consider that those who are ready to lead others into forbidden paths are easily overcome by temptation and are Satans agents to encourage disorderly habits, to laugh at those who are conscientious and who would preserve their integrity of character? {AH 463.2}[15]
§33
在外人面前生活要像在上帝面前一样——青年朋友们啊，连一小时的光阴也不要浪费在与那般使你们不配担任上帝纯洁神圣之工作的人交往。不要在外人面前行任何你们不愿在父母面前行的事，或你们在基督和圣天使面前会感觉羞愧的事。[16]
§34
Live Before Strangers As You Would Before God.-- Young friends, do not spend an hour in the company of those who would unfit you for the pure and sacred work of God. Do nothing before strangers that you would not do before your father and mother, or that you would be ashamed of before Christ and the holy angels. {AH 463.3}[16]
§35
或者有人认为遵守安息日的信徒无需这样的劝诫，但适合这等劝诫的人必明白我的用意。青年的男子们啊，我奉劝你们务要谨慎；因为你们所行的一切，在天使和上帝面前都是赤露敞开的。你们作任何恶行都无法使他人不受影响。你们的行为方针既暴露自己以怎样的材料建立品格，这在别人身上同时就会发生极强烈的影响。你们切不可忘记这一事实：就是你们是属于上帝的，是他用重价买来的，而且你们必须为他所托付的一切才干向他交帐。[17]
§36
Some may think these cautions are not needed by Sabbathkeepers, but those to whom they apply know what I mean. I tell you, young men, to beware; for you can do nothing that is not open to the eyes of angels and of God. You cannot do an evil work and others not be affected by it. While your course of action reveals what kind of material is used in your own character building, it also has a powerful influence over others. Never lose sight of the fact that you belong to God, that He has bought you with a price, and you must render an account to Him for all His entrusted talents. {AH 463.4}[17]
§37
在需要时必赐特别帮助的应许——我们不可将自己的儿女安置在必须与堕落败坏之辈交往的所在。基于上帝的美意，他有时要使我们的青年与一般心不圣洁，放荡不羁的人来往。他必赐予他们坚固的意志和抵挡试探的能力，犹如他曾赐予但以理和他在巴比伦的同伴一样，只要他们肯与他合作。他们必须不住地和上帝交往。他们必须保持自己纯洁无疵，拒绝不作任何羞辱上帝的事，当专心为增进他的荣耀而活。他们必须防护生灵，为那班身上所有上帝的形象已被毁损的人恳切地工作，力求改变并提拔他们，使他们渐趋高贵。[18]
§38
Special Help Is Promised When Needed.--We are not to place our children where they must associate with the depraved and degraded. Sometimes God in His providence may bring our youth into association with those who are impure and intemperate. He will give them strength of purpose and power to resist temptation, even as He did Daniel and his associates in Babylon, if they will co-operate with Him. They must constantly commune with God. They must keep themselves pure, refusing to do anything that would dishonor God, living always with an eye single to His glory. They must watch for souls, laboring earnestly for those in whom the image of God has been defaced, seeking to reform, to elevate, and to ennoble them. {AH 464.1}[18]
§39
当选择思想慎笃，品行端庄的人为友——凡与基督合而为一的青年，必选择能帮助他们行善的友伴，远避一切无助于培养正当原则及高尚志愿的社交。心志下流的青年比比皆是。在与这等人交往时，凡已毫无保留地将自己置身于基督这边的人，必坚决地维持理智与良心所指示为合理的事。[19]
§40
Choose Thoughtful, Serious Companions.--The youth who are in harmony with Christ will choose companions who will help them in right doing, and will shun society that gives no aid in the development of right principles and noble purposes. In every place are to be found youth whose minds are cast in an inferior mold. When brought into association with this class, those who have placed themselves without reserve on the side of Christ will stand firmly by that which reason and conscience tell them is right. {AH 464.2}[19]
§41
凡有志养成正直品格的人，就当拣选与那些端庄、慎思，并热心宗教的人为友。凡已计算过代价而愿为永恒建造的人，必须以上好的材料来完成他们的建筑物。假若他们使用朽木，假若他们满足于品格上的缺欠，则建筑物就注定必要倾圮。但愿人人都留意自己正在如何建造。试探的暴风雨必然袭击这建筑物，而除非它已坚固忠实地建造妥当，必经不起考验。[20]
§42
Let all who would form a right character choose associates who are of a serious, thoughtful turn of mind and who are religiously inclined. Those who have counted the cost and wish to build for eternity must put good material into their building. If they accept of rotten timbers, if they are content with deficiencies of character, the building is doomed to ruin. Let all take heed how they build. The storm of temptation will sweep over the building, and unless it is firmly and faithfully constructed, it will not stand the test. {AH 464.3}[20]
§43
由于和那班根据原则行事的人交往，连轻浮的人也会学习喜爱公义。而且由于习惯行义，心中必产生厌恶庸俗下流以及与上帝圣言中原则相背之事物的意念。[21]
§44
By association with those who walk according to principle, even the careless will learn to love righteousness. And by the practice of right doing there will be created in the heart a distaste for that which is cheap and common and at variance with the principles of Gods word. {AH 465.1}[21]