第76章 论假期和纪念日
§1
第76章 论假期和纪念日
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Chap. 76 - Holidays And Anniversaries
§3
亟需有关度假方式的指导——关于度假一事，我们切不可效法世俗的方式，然而也不可完全置之不理，因为这样会使我们的儿女产生不满之感。在这一类的日子中，我们的儿女若暴露于罪恶的影响之下，就很可能有被属世的娱乐和刺激所污染之虞，但愿作父母的人都研讨此事，设法提供若干可以替代这些充满危险性之娱乐的活动。要使你们的儿女明白：你们是专为他们的利益与幸福着想的。[1]
§4
The Need of Guidance in Holiday Observance.-- I saw that our holidays should not be spent in patterning after the world, yet they should not be passed by unnoticed, for this will bring dissatisfaction to our children. On these days when there is danger that our children will be exposed to evil influences and become corrupted by the pleasures and excitement of the world, let the parents study to get up something to take the place of more dangerous amusements. Give your children to understand that you have their good and happiness in view. {AH 472.1}[1]
§5
由于注重节期的缘故，世人和教友都养成了这样的观念，认为这些无所事事的闲散日子，对于健康和幸福乃是不可或缺的，但结果却显明这些日子都充满了罪恶。[2]
§6
Through the observance of holidays the people both of the world and of the churches have been educated to believe that these lazy days are essential to health and happiness, but the results reveal that they are full of evil. {AH 472.2}[2]
§7
我们曾经一面诚恳地努力使节期尽可能引起青年和儿童的兴趣，一面也设法改变原有的惯例。我们的目的乃在乎使他们不致涉足于不信之辈的娱乐场所。[3]
§8
We have tried earnestly to make the holidays as interesting as possible to the youth and children, while changing this order of things. Our object has been to keep them away from scenes of amusement among unbelievers. {AH 472.3}[3]
§9
天使会否如此记录：“虚耗了一天”呢？——在寻欢作乐的一天结束时，追求欢乐之人是否感到满足呢？那些为基督工作的人究竟帮助了谁趋向更良善、更高尚、更纯洁的人生呢？假若他们能察看天使所记载的，将会见到什么呢？虚耗了一天！对于他们自身的灵性而言，虚耗了一天，对于为基督的服务而言，也虚耗了一天，因为并没有作成什么善工。他们也许仍有其他的日子可度，但这虚耗于女孩与男孩，男孩与女孩所作无聊而愚昧的闲谈中的日子，却一去而永不复返了。[4]
§10
Shall the Angel Record, A Day Lost?--After a day of pleasure seeking is ended, where is the satisfaction to the pleasure seeker? As Christian workers, whom have they helped to a better, higher, and purer life? What would they see if they should look over the record the angel wrote? A day lost! To their own souls a day lost, a day lost in the service of Christ, because no good was accomplished. They may have other days but never that day which was idled away in cheap, foolish talk, of girls with boys, and boys with girls. {AH 472.4}[4]
§11
这些时机永远不会再出现于他们的面前了。他们还是在那假期中从事最辛勤的工作为妙。他们并未善用假期的时光，而它已消逝于永恒之中，在审判时要对证他们将这一天完全浪费了。[5]
§12
Never will these same opportunities offer themselves again. They had better been doing the hardest kind of labor on that holiday. They did not make the right use of their holiday, and it passed into eternity to confront them in the judgment as a day misspent. {AH 473.1}[5]
§13
生日——赞美上帝的时机——按犹太人的制度，在儿女出生之时，应该根据上帝的明令向他呈献供物。如今我们常常见到一般作父母的，在儿女的生日煞费苦心地为儿女预备礼物；他们以此为尊重儿女的时日，似乎世人才配得荣耀。撒但在这些事情上已达成了他的诡谋；他已勾使思想和礼物转向了世人；这样儿女的思想就集中于自己，似乎他们成为特别眷爱的对象乃是理所当然的。[6]
§14
Birthdays--a Time to Praise God.--Under the Jewish economy on the birth of children an offering was made to God, by His own appointment. Now we see parents taking special pains to present gifts to their children upon their birthdays; they make this an occasion of honoring the child, as though honor were due to the human being. Satan has had his own way in these things; he has diverted the minds and the gifts to human beings; thus the thoughts of the children are turned to themselves, as if they were to be made the objects of special favor. . . . {AH 473.2}[6]
§15
在生日的时候，应该教导儿女明白他们有许多感谢上帝的理由，因为他的慈爱又保护他们度过了一年。如此就能授以许多宝贵的教训。由于生命、健康、饮食、衣服，正如永生的指望一般，我们都欠了那位赐予诸般恩惠之主的债；因此我们承认他的恩赐，献上供物向我们伟大的恩主表示谢忱，乃是理所当然的。如此的生日奉献乃是上天所认可的。[7]
§16
On birthday occasions the children should be taught that they have reason for gratitude to God for His loving-kindness in preserving their lives for another year. Precious lessons might thus be given. For life, health, food, and clothing, no less than for the hope of eternal life, we are indebted to the Giver of all mercies; and it is due to God to recognize His gifts and to present our offerings of gratitude to our greatest benefactor. These birthday gifts are recognized of Heaven. {AH 473.3}[7]
§17
回顾一年经过的时机——当教导他们回顾过去一年的生活，思索他们能否欢然地面对天上案卷中对于这一年所作的记载。当勉励他们严肃地思索他们的行为，他们的言语，以及他们工作的品质能否得蒙上帝的喜悦。他们有否使自己的人生愈来愈像耶稣，而在上帝看来是优美可爱的呢？要将有关上帝和他的作为与律例的知识教导他们。[8]
§18
A Time to Review the Years Record.--Teach them to review the past year of their life, to consider whether they would be glad to meet its record just as it stands in the books of heaven. Encourage in them serious thoughts, whether their deportment, their words, their works, are of a character pleasing to God. Have they been making their lives more like Jesus, beautiful and lovely in the sight of God? Teach them the knowledge of the Lord, His ways, His precepts. {AH 473.4}[8]
§19
以上帝的圣工为首务——我曾向自己的家属和朋友说明：我不希望任何人送我生日或圣诞节的礼物，除非他们也同意将这些礼物捐入主的府库，作为建立布道事工的款项。[9]
§20
Making Gods Cause First.--I have said to my family and my friends, I desire that no one shall make me a birthday or Christmas gift, unless it be with permission to pass it on into the Lords treasury, to be appropriated in the establishment of missions. {AH 474.1}[9]
§21
我们应如何遵守感恩节？——感恩节即将来临。这将是否会像已往许多的例子那样来自己感谢自己呢？抑或借此感谢上帝的恩典呢？只要我们善用时机，纪念那些在我们中间的贫困之人，则感恩节很可以成为使自己与别人的灵性大得裨益的节期。[10]
§22
How Shall We Observe Thanksgiving?--Our Thanksgiving is approaching. Will it be, as it has been in many instances, a thanksgiving to ourselves? Or will it be a thanksgiving to God? Our Thanksgivings may be made seasons of great profit to our own souls as well as to others if we improve this opportunity to remember the poor among us. . . . {AH 474.2}[10]
§23
我们可以想出千百种佳美的方式去帮助穷人，甚至于使他们觉得领受我们的赠礼与同情，乃是他们帮助了我们。我们要记住：施比受更为有福。我们的弟兄往往过于注重他们所尊敬的人，或想要博得其尊敬的人，其实这等人一点也不需要他们的帮助。风俗和习尚都如此说：要厚待那厚待你们的人：但是并不是《圣经》中关于施予方面的原则。上帝的圣言谴责这种借施予而满足自我的方式，并说：“送礼与富户的，都必缺乏。”[11]
§24
There are a hundred ways that can be devised to help the poor in so delicate a manner as to make them feel that they are doing us a favor by receiving our gifts and sympathy. We are to remember that it is more blessed to give than to receive. The attentions of our brethren are most liberal to those whom they wish to honor, and whose respect they desire, but who do not need their help at all. Custom and fashion say, Give to those who will give to you; but this is not the Bible rule of giving. The word of God declares against this way of gratifying self in thus bestowing our gifts, and says, He that giveth to the rich, shall surely come to want. {AH 474.3}[11]
§25
在即将面临的节期，我们所持守的原则必经受考验。唯愿我们都开始想一想：我们能为那些属于上帝的困乏之人作什么。我们大可借着自己所作的而使他们蒙受上帝所赐的福惠。你们当想一想：哪一个寡妇，哪一个孤儿，或哪一家贫苦的人你们能加以济助，不是去作什么炫人耳目之举，乃要作为通渠，将主的财物如洪福之川流般涌流给属于他的贫穷之人。[12]
§26
Now a season is coming when we shall have our principles tested. Let us begin to think what we can do for Gods needy ones. We can make them through ourselves the recipients of Gods blessings. Think what widow, what orphan, what poor family you can relieve, not in a way to make a great parade about the matter, but be as a channel through which the Lords substance shall flow as a blessing to His poor. . . . {AH 474.4}[12]
§27
但是这样作也并不包括你的全部责任。当向你最好的朋友献上供物；要承认他的恩惠；要表明你感谢他的恩眷；要向上帝献上感恩捐。弟兄姊妹们啊，在感恩节那一天最好进用寻常的饮食，而以克制食欲所节约下来的金钱当作感恩捐献给上帝。[13]
§28
But this does not embrace all your duty. Make an offering to your best Friend; acknowledge His bounties; show your gratitude for His favors; bring a thank offering to God. . . . Brethren and sisters, eat a plain dinner on Thanksgiving Day, and with the money you would spend in extras with which to indulge the appetite, make a thank offering to God. {AH 475.1}[13]
§29
但愿再没有人以餍足食欲和荣耀自我的心念来守感恩节。我们有足够的理由应当进入主的院宇，献上感恩的供物，因为他保守我们的生命又度过了一年。若要摆设筵席，那么就该为一般贫困的人而预备。[14]
§30
Let not any more Thanksgiving days be observed to please and gratify the appetite and glorify self. We have reason for coming into the courts of the Lord with offerings of gratitude that He has preserved our lives another year. . . . If a feast is to be made, let it be for those who are in need. {AH 475.2}[14]
§31
当呈献感恩的日子——我想我们有许多的理由应该呈献感恩之忱。我们应该在上帝里面欢喜快乐，因为他赐给我们诸般的福惠。……但愿这次感恩节能够成为名实相符的一次。切莫曲解这个节期的意义，而将许多的渣滓搀杂其中；乃要使之成为名副其实的节期——就是呈献感恩的日子。但愿我们献上我们赞美的声音。[15]
§32
A Day to Give Thanks. [NOTE: PART OF A THANKSGIVING SERMON DELIVERED AT THE BATTLE CREEK TABERNACLE, NOV. 27, 1884.]--I think we have something to be thankful for. We ought to be glad and rejoice in God, for He has given us many mercies. . . . We want this Thanksgiving to be all that it implies. Do not let it be perverted, mingled with dross; but let it be what its name implies--giving thanks. Let our voices ascend in praise. {AH 475.3}[15]
§33
为何不向上帝守节？——我们若向上帝守节，在心里重新思念他恩待我们的一切作为，岂不是对自己有益的事么？回忆他已往所赐予的福惠，默想那铭刻于自己心版上的忠告以免忘记上帝，岂不更好么？[16]
§34
Why Not Holidays Unto God?--Would it not be well for us to observe holidays unto God, when we could revive in our minds the memory of His dealing with us? Would it not be well to consider His past blessings, to remember the impressive warnings that have come home to our souls so that we shall not forget God? {AH 475.4}[16]
§35
世上有许多的节期，而人们都全神贯注于娱乐、赛马、赌博、吸烟和醉酒等事上。[17]
§36
The world has many holidays, and men become engrossed with games, with horse races, with gambling, smoking, and drunkenness. . . . {AH 475.5}[17]
§37
上帝的子民岂不应该有更多次圣洁的聚会，借以感谢上帝赐下丰盛的福惠么？[18]
§38
Shall not the people of God more frequently have holy convocations in which to thank God for His rich blessings? {AH 476.1}[18]
§39
假期给与传道服务的机会——教会亟需一班有才干的人，能将青年男女组织起来，予以指导作实际的服务，解救人类的困乏，为男女老幼的灵命得救问题而努力。当然不是每一个人都能用全部时间从事这种工作，因为他们必须为日用的饮食而劳碌。他们虽或无力捐多少钱，但他们也常有假期或暇余可以献作基督徒的服务，借以成就善工。[19]
§40
Holidays Afford Opportunity for Missionary Service.-- We want men in the church who have ability to develop in the line of organizing and giving practical work to young men and women in the line of relieving the wants of humanity and working for the salvation of the souls of men, women, youth, and children. It will not be possible for all to give their whole time to the work because of the labor they must do to earn their daily living. Yet these have their holidays and times that they can devote to Christian work and do good in this way if they cannot give much of their means. {AH 476.2}[19]
§41
每逢节期之时应该使之成为儿女快乐的日子，也该使之成为贫穷受苦之人的快乐日子。切莫任凭节期过去，而不向耶稣表示感谢并献上感恩捐。[20]
§42
When you have a holiday, make it a pleasant and happy day for your children, and make it also a pleasant day for the poor and the afflicted. Do not let the day pass without bringing thanksgiving and thank offerings to Jesus. {AH 476.3}[20]