第22章 致G. I.巴特勒夫妇
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第22章 致G. I.巴特勒夫妇
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Chapter 22—To G. I. Butler and wife
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《信函》1888年18号B-18-1888于密歇根州巴特尔克里克Battle Creek, Mich.1888年12月11日December 11, 1888亲爱的巴特勒弟兄夫妇：
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Dear Brother and Sister Butler:—
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我真诚地希望你们等祷告周结束后再离开巴特尔克里克。让我们一起来寻求主，置身于亮光的通道中，向上帝的灵敞开心门。我相信主会为我们行事。我一想到你们马上要离开巴特尔克里克就难受，因为你们的离开并不会使我们的心拉近趋于和谐。主在等待着施恩，我渴望你们能用不同于现在的眼光看问题。我也切愿你们不要离开巴特尔克里克。请放心，我会尽力使基督祈求的合一能存在于祂门徒当中。我们若是错了，就想弄清问题的真相，将事情理顺。我恳求你们不要听从那试探者的声音离开此地，要等祷告周结束后再走。我们行事要讨上帝的喜悦。主没有我们也能做祂的工作，但我们没有祂神圣的临格就不能做祂的工。{1888 190.1}
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I sincerely hope that you will not leave Battle Creek until after the Week of Prayer. Let us together seek the Lord, place ourselves in the channel of light, and open our hearts to the divine Spirit. I believe the Lord will work for us. I cannot bear the thought of your leaving Battle Creek just now, for your leaving will not tend to draw our hearts any nearer in harmony. The Lord is waiting to be gracious, and I am desirous that you shall see matters in a different light than you now see them. I am very desirous that you shall not leave Battle Creek. Be assured that I will do all in my power to have that unity which Christ prayed might exist with His disciples. If we are wrong we want to see the matter as it is, and make things straight. I beg of you not to listen to the tempter and leave this place until after the Week of Prayer. We want the favor of God. The Lord can do His work without us, but we cannot do His work without His divine presence. {1888 190.1}
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我们正临近这世界历史的末了。我们要于上帝保持正确的关系。我相信倘若我们愿意按着主所吩咐我们的去做，主就会为我们行事。我们并没有超脱试探。撒但强烈地试探着那些身负要职的人。我敢肯定地说你的想法不正确，你凭空想象一些没有根据的事。我们所从事的上帝的事业和圣工要求我们置身于亮光的通道，以便主能将祂的旨意传给我们。{1888 190.2}
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We are nearing the closing up of this world’s history, and we want to be right with God. I believe the Lord will work for us if we will do that which the Lord enjoins us to do. We are not above temptation. Satan tempts those strongly who are in responsible positions. I am sure that you have perverted ideas; that you have imagined many things that are without foundation. The cause and work of God which we represent requires us to place ourselves in the channel of light, that the Lord may communicate to us His will. {1888 190.2}
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我恳劝你，巴特勒姊妹，上帝已赐给你健康，为此要赞美祂的圣名。你提出怀疑，批评，发出恶言恶语，恶意猜测人，收集一些在你看来似乎是他人的缺点过失，并且谈论这些东西，这不仅伤害了你自己的心灵，同时也对你丈夫的心灵造成了伤害。你和巴特勒弟兄因具有十分敏锐的洞察力及辨识力而著称，然而在天上的册子上却记载着一些罪恶的思想，罪恶的言语，怀藏偏见和恶意的猜测。这没有基督精神的馨香之气，而是另一种精神。巴特勒姊妹，你若确实在光中生活，就会将光分赐于他人。你扰乱了你丈夫的心，迷惑了他的判断，他已将你的想法，你的感受交织在他的经验之中，且已在或多或少的程度上将之带入他的工作中。这种猜疑的影响已使你们两个在思想上不仁慈，在情感上不厚道；这是不讨主喜悦的。{1888 190.3}
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I beg of you, Sister Butler, as God has given you health, to praise His holy name. You have not only done your own soul injury but the soul of your husband in suggesting doubts, criticizing, in evil speaking, in suspicioning evil, 191in gathering up that which appears to you to be faults and errors in others, and talking of these. You and Brother Butler have taken credit for having great penetration and discernment, when it is registered in the heavenly record as thinking evil, speaking evil, and harboring prejudice and evil-surmisings. This is not savoring of the spirit of Christ, but it is another spirit. Sister Butler, if you were indeed living in the light, you would have light to impart to others. You confuse your husband’s mind, bewilder his judgment, and he has woven into his experience your ideas and your feelings. This has been brought into his work to a greater or less extent. The leaven of suspicion has made you both unkind in thoughts, and uncharitable in feelings; and this is not pleasing to the Lord. {1888 190.3}
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巴特勒姊妹，在上帝面前，你有一项严肃的责任，就是学习静默的功课；少说话，对种种怀疑嫉妒关闭心门。若是你这样做，主会帮助你。基督的平安会充满你的心灵。这种不正当的批评就如任何其它的过错一样是罪，是得罪上帝的。我希望你们二人都置身于不会思想罪恶之处。基督的恩典必须进入心灵，然后才会在品格上彰显出来。要好自为之，我恳劝你们要当心，以免站在仇敌一边，在做仇敌的工作，同时却认为是在侍奉上帝。{1888 191.1}
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Now, Sister Butler, it is your solemn duty before God to learn the eloquence of silence; to have far less words, and to close your heart to these suspicious jealousies. If you do this the Lord will be your helper. The peace of Christ will pervade your soul. This unjust criticism is just as much a sin as any other fault, and it is offensive to God. I hope you will both place yourselves where you will think no evil. The grace of Christ must come into the soul, then it will be revealed in the character. Be careful, I beseech of you, be careful that you be not found on the enemy’s side, doing the enemy’s work, while you think you are doing God service. {1888 191.1}
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圣灵的果子乃是仁爱，喜乐，和平，忍耐，恩慈，良善，信实，温柔，节制。我们必须成为基督徒。我们若不接受上帝圣灵的命令，就会导致心灵的盲目。我们现今生活在仇敌的国土上，他在不断地引诱我们，要使我们的心灵不能始终顺从上帝的灵。“所以你们即是上帝的选民，圣洁蒙爱的人，就要存怜悯，恩慈，谦虚，温柔，忍耐的心，倘若这人与那人有嫌隙，总要彼此包容，彼此饶恕；主怎样饶恕了你们，你们也要怎样饶恕人。在这一切之外，要存着爱心，爱心就是联络全德的。又要叫基督的平安在你们心里做主，你们也为此蒙召，归为一体，且要存感谢的心。当用各样的智慧，把基督的道理丰丰富富存在心里，用诗章，颂词，灵歌，彼此教导，互相劝戒，心被恩感，歌颂上帝”（西3:12-16）。{1888 191.2}
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But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance. We must be Christians. Blindness of mind will come upon us if we fail to heed the injunction of the Spirit of God. We are in an enemy’s land, and he is constantly tempting us that we may not keep our souls in subjection to the Spirit of God. “Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; forbearing one another, and 192forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any; even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which ye are also called in one body; and be ye thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” {1888 191.2}
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我在阅读最近的两辑《证言》——第31，32辑（即《证言》卷五1-466页）时，感觉非常严重。请你们再读一读这两辑《证言》，因为你们或许已经忘记了其中一些重要的劝勉和警告。既然上帝已经实实在在地对我们说话了，我们就不可让我们的心和耳转离这些真理。请阅读《证言》第31辑的最后三篇文章《上帝的印记》，《一个请求》和《基督徒的团结》（《证言》卷五207-248页）。然后你们就会看到这些证言是否发出了与现在所发相同的警告。请本着祈祷的心仔细阅读这些证言。{1888 192.1}
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I feel very solemn as I read the two last Testimonies, numbers 31 and 32. Will you please read these Testimonies again, for you may have forgotten some of the important appeals and warnings which they contain. If God has indeed spoken unto us, let us not turn away our hearts and ears from hearing the truth. Read in Testimony 31 the last three chapters, “The Seal of the Living God,” “An Appeal,” and “Christian Unity.” Then you will see if those Testimonies do not sound the same notes of warning that are now being sounded. Please read these Testimonies carefully and prayerfully. {1888 192.1}
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巴特勒姊妹，为基督的缘故，要抑制你的挑剔与批评，以免你心中失去上帝的灵。我盼望你们二人都拥有一种完全不同的精神，我本着敬畏上帝的心告诉你，你们二人都需要下一番工夫，每一刻的延误都是危险的。《证言》第31辑第172页。请阅读同一辑证言上的文章《弟兄之爱》（《证言》卷五第167页）。{1888 192.2}
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And for Christ’s sake, Sister Butler, restrain your picking and criticizing, lest you lose the Spirit of God out of your heart. I do want you both should have altogether a different spirit, for I tell you in the fear of God, you both need to have a work done for you, and every moment’s delay is perilous. Testimony Number 31, page 172. Please read the article in the same Testimony upon “Brotherly Love.” {1888 192.2}
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我相信我们传道的弟兄只要读一读主惠赐给他们的证言，就会表现一种不同的精神。若是他们疏忽和漠视上帝所赐给他们的亮光，上帝定会叫他们对此负责。我的巴特勒弟兄啊，你身上负有太多的担子，但我凭着爱心告诉你，主不喜悦你在健康改良问题上的好斗精神。若是你在行为和诚实上一直是一位健康改良者，你就会拥有更健康的身体并能避免许多危险。关于这个题目上帝已经赐下亮光，但你行事已经偏离亮光，并且你的影响与主在这个问题上为祂的子民所行的相抵触。你是直接挡在了上帝在健康改良工作的道路上。你已疾病缠身，因为你在饮食与劳作方面的诸般习惯没有按照上帝赐给祂子民的亮光而行。我很难过不得不就这些事情写信给你。要是你赏识和听从了主所赐给我们的亮光，就不会像现在这样在判断上紊乱，在神经和脑力上如此衰弱了。而你却将疾病的由来归于错误的原因。你对许多事物的解释都不正确。你是一个容易犯错的人，在品格上也有瑕疵，步步需要上帝的恩典。{1888 192.3}
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I believe if our ministering brethren would only read the testimonies that the Lord has graciously given them, that they would reveal a different spirit. God will hold them accountable for neglect and disregard of the light which he has given them. My brother Butler, you have had too many burdens upon you, but I tell you in love that the Lord has not been pleased with the spirit of warfare you have had on health reform. Had you been a health reformer in deed 193and truth, you would have had much better health and escaped many perils. God has given light upon this subject, but you have worked away from the light, and your influence has been opposed to the work that the Lord would do for this people upon this point. You have stood directly in the way of the work of God in health reform. You have suffered sickness because your habits in eating and in labor have not been according to the light which God has given to His people. I am sorry that I have to write in reference to these things as I do. Had you appreciated and heeded the light which the Lord has given us, you would not now be confused in judgment, and so enfeebled in nerve and brain power. You attribute your sickness to erroneous causes. You put an incorrect interpretation upon many things. You are an erring man, defective in character, and need the grace of God at every step. {1888 192.3}
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你的妻子在上帝面前要改变态度，以及她对待弟兄的情绪，不然就会为仇敌的诡计所胜。她的精神与耶稣基督的精神不相和。我爱你们二人。我希望你们在这次会议上能受益并蒙祝福，因此让我们一起来寻求上帝吧！{1888 193.1}
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Your wife must come into a different attitude before God, and in her feelings toward her brethren, else she will be overcome by the devices of the enemy, and have a spirit that is not in harmony with Jesus Christ. I love you both. I want you to be helped and blessed in these meetings, therefore let us together seek God. {1888 193.1}
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巴特勒弟兄和姊妹啊，我知道你们的辨识力不清。不可行事急躁，你们若是如此行，就会一直懊悔。你们就会遭受强烈的试探。情况总是这样。你们知道你们一直是这样与别人相处的。你们也知道仇敌是如何引诱受试探的心以一种歪曲的眼光看待一切问题的。他们不设法看明自己的内心，将内心梳理摆正，却去质问并试图在证言中找错。你们身边没有一人能帮助你们获得信心，却有一位暗示许多事情来加强怀疑和不信。{1888 193.2}
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Brother and Sister Butler, I know that your discernment is not clear. Do not then move hastily, if you do you will always regret it. You will be subject to strong temptations. It is always thus. You know how it has been in your experience with others, and you know how the enemy would lead the minds that are tempted to interpret everything in a wrong light. In the place of their trying to see their own hearts and set them in order, they will question and try and see if they cannot find some flaw in the Testimonies, and you have not one by your side who will help you into confidence, but one who will suggest many things to strengthen doubt and unbelief. {1888 193.2}
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我再次恳劝你们在祷告周期间不要离开。圣经，唯有贮藏在心中的圣经，由上帝之灵所祝福的圣经能使人归正并保持正直。圣灵若不在你和你妻子心中动工，我所说的一切对你们来说就不会有分量。你们就会对证言提出异议，而上帝的灵若不控制你们，你们的良心就会扭曲。一生的果效由心发出，只有当上帝的话语进入心魂并在其中做主的时候，心才得蒙保守。你所居的职位对你来说会成为一个试探，使你不能全心寻求上帝。你是一个十分坚定坚决的人，不愿作任何的认罪表示。心中的骄傲没有治死。我恳劝你，若是你有困难，就将困难带来。我知道你的危险；你却不知道，而且这危险很大。我渴望你参加这次的祷告周聚会。我渴望你脱离撒但的手掌。我爱你们二人，当我看到你们二人处于试探之中，像他人一样软弱时，我不敢闭口不言。我恳劝你们来与我们一起寻求上帝。你们与上帝没有保持正确的关系，与基督的灵也不相和。你们有大量的自我存在，使你们远离了上帝。{1888 194.1}
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I again entreat of you to remain where you are during the Week of Prayer. The Bible, the Bible alone, laid up in the heart and blessed by the Spirit of God, can make man right and keep him right. All that I may say will have no weight with you or your wife unless a work is wrought upon your heart. You will make objections to the testimonies, and unless the Spirit of God shall have a controlling power, conscience will be warped. The heart, the fountain of the issues of life, is kept only when the word of God is brought into the soul, and rules there. The very position you have occupied will now prove a temptation to you, to keep you from seeking the Lord with all your heart. You are a very firm, determined man, not inclined to make any confession. There is a pride of soul that has not been crucified. I beg of you, if you have difficulties, come with them. I know your danger; you do not know it, but it is great. I want you to attend this Week of Prayer. I want you to free yourself from Satan’s grasp. Now I love you both, but I dare not hold my peace, as I see you under temptation, just as weak as any other man. I beg of you to come and let us seek God together. You are not right with God. You are not in harmony with the Spirit of Christ. You have a large amount of self that is holding you away from God. {1888 194.1}
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我告诉你们，上帝所分派给我的工作还未遭受也不大可能遭受来自于公开反对者的攻击，像来自我表面上的朋友一半多，那些似乎在捍卫证言的人，却实在是攻击证言的人，他们削弱了证言的感化力，使之归于无效。你问道，你这话是指我吗？是的，我的弟兄。我很抱歉要这么说，但我说得十分果断。若是你以目前这种状况离开此地，我会极为担心你将永远不知如何来就近亮光了。若是你不曾向怀疑不信，猜疑、嫉妒和恶意的猜测敞开心门，并使他人在这种事上助长你，你在上帝面前就不会处于现在的状况了。你的健康已经毁损了，然而不要让你的心接受错误的偏见；因为你一旦转入错误的方向，改变起来是很难的。数年来你一直在一点一点地这样做着。巴特勒弟兄，我想与上帝保持和谐的关系，也想与你保持和谐。我希望你跌在磐石上并且跌碎。要让自我死去；让基督在心中作王。我的弟兄啊，我告诉你，我企图使你归正是无济于事的。你的情形已展现在我面前；我知道你的脾气；也知道若曾有人需要上帝恩典改变人心的能力，那就是你此时的需要了。我希望你能来参加祷告周，让我们一起来寻求上帝。要破碎自我。你若想得救，早晚得这么做。耶稣爱你，祂会为你行事，用祂那有力的膀臂拥抱你，但你是何等需要清晰的属灵眼光啊！有许多事情你没有看清楚，你的心灵处在危险中。我也希望巴特勒姊妹深深就饮于生命的泉源，愿基督能在她里面成为活水的泉源，直涌到永生！
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I tell you the work God has given me to do has not suffered and is not likely to suffer half as much from open opposers as from my apparent friends, those who appear to be defenders of the Testimonies, but are their real assailants; who weaken them and make them of none effect. You ask, do you mean this for me? I do, my brother. I am sorry to say it, but I do most decidedly. If you leave this place as you are now, I shall have great fears that you will never see your way clearly to the light. If you had not been opening your mind to skepticism and unbelief, and to envy, jealousies, and 195evil-surmisings, and had others to help you in this work, you would not be in the position you are now before God. Your health is shattered, but do not allow your mind to take a wrong bias; for when you once get set in the wrong direction it will be difficult for you to change. You have been doing this, little by little, for years. Brother Butler, I want to be in harmony with God and in harmony with you. I want you to fall on the Rock and be broken. Let self die; let Christ be enthroned in the heart. I tell you, my brother, it is not of the least use for me to attempt to set you right. I have had your case opened before me; I know your temperament, and I know if ever a man needed the converting power of the grace of God, you need it at the present time. I want you to come to this Week of Prayer, and let us all seek God together. Let self break. It must be done sooner or later if you are ever saved. Jesus loves you and will work for you and gather you in His strong arms but how much you need your spiritual eyesight anointed. There are many things you do not see clearly, and your soul is in peril. I want Sister Butler to drink deep draughts from the fountain of life, that Christ may be in her a well of water, springing up unto eternal life. {1888 194.2}
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怀爱伦（签名）{1888 194.2}
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(Signed) Ellen G. White