第70章 致W. C. 怀特
§1
第70章 致W. C. 怀特
§2
Chapter 72—To U. Smith
§3
《信函》 1890年第80号W-80-18901890年3月7日写于密歇根州巴特尔克里克
§4
Battle Creek, Mich., March 7, 1890
§5
亲爱的威利：Dear Willie:
§6
我今天中午收到了你的信，真高兴啊。我很感恩，因为你和自己亲爱的家人在一起而且玛丽的病情没有恶化。今天早上我去看望了利百。她觉得自己越来越好了。她说她肯定是越来越强壮了。她说自己很有胃口，也很有勇气，还说自己在食物方面有想要的一切。{1888 590.1}
§7
I received your letter this noon and O, how glad I was to get it. I am so thankful that you are with your dear family and that Mary is no worse. I called to see Reba this morning. She thinks she feels better every day. She says she is certainly growing stronger. She says her appetite is good, her courage good and she has, she says, everything she wants in the line of food. {1888 590.1}
§8
我带给她一个披肩和我的毛织拖鞋，还有一又温暖柔软的童鞋，两旁有法兰绒。她有许多同伴，一点也不寂寞。每当好天气他们就用轮椅推她出去。她坐轮椅很愉快。{1888 590.2}
§9
I took her a shawl and my woolen knit slippers and bought her a pair of warm, soft kid shoes, lined with flannel. She has plenty of company, is not lonesome at all. She is taken out to ride in the wheelchair every pleasant day. She enjoys her rides. {1888 590.2}
§10
天气已经相当冷了，不过很晴朗。傍晚很舒适。现在有些地方结冰了，这导致了不少快乐。{1888 590.3}
§11
It has been quite cold, but sunny. The evenings are very pleasant. There is some ice now, which is causing great rejoicing. {1888 590.3}
§12
上个安息日的上午我讲了基督荣进耶路撒冷的事，给满堂的人留下了严肃的印象。下午我讲了约有一个小时，我坦率地讲了上帝赐给我的话，然后呼召他们上前来。前面的座位直到柱子都站满了人。然后许多边座也满了。许多后退背道的人上前来了，有些人是第一次起身。莱昂.史密斯上前来了，罗伯特.索伊和许多年轻人也上前来了。我们便祷告，然后那些上前来的人作了见证。罗伯特.索伊说，他已经再次开始努力不靠自己的力量而是靠耶稣的力量作一个基督徒。这次聚会产生了一种非常明确的影响。{1888 590.4}
§13
Last Sabbath, I spoke in forenoon upon Christ’s riding into Jerusalem. It made a solemn impression upon the full house. In the afternoon I spoke about one hour and I said just as straight things as God ever gave me to speak, then called them forward. The front seats back to the post were all occupied. Then the side seats, many of them, were filled. A number of backsliders came forward, some making a start for the first time. Leon Smith came forward, Robert Sawyer and many youth. We then prayed and then those who came forward bore their testimony. Robert Sawyer has started again to try, not, he says, in his own strength, but in the strength of Jesus, to be a Christian. This meeting made a very decided impression. {1888 590.4}
§14
从此时起我参加了早上的聚会。我与拉森谈了话，然后与波特谈了，但他们心中乌云密布。主给了我很大的力量、自由和能力在晨会上讲话。{1888 591.1}
§15
From this time I went into the morning meetings. I had a talk with Larson, then with Porter, but their minds are cloudy. The Lord gave me great strength, freedom and power to speak in the morning meetings. {1888 591.1}
§16
星期二早上，我在很率直地讲一个例证时，看到拉森咧大嘴笑，就说：“怎么了？拉森弟兄。我讲了什么不当的话吗？”我问了两遍他有那种表现的原因。他最终说那是因为他赏识那个例证。{1888 591.2}
§17
Tuesday morning, I saw as I was making an illustration very pointed, Larson on the broad grin. I said, “What is it, Bro. Larson? Have (I) spoken anything that is improper?” I asked twice the reason of such demonstrations. He finally said it was because he appreciated the illustration. {1888 591.2}
§18
我说：“很好，如果它和适合你，你就接受它，我希望大家都会这样做。”{1888 591.3}
§19
“Very well,” I said, “If it fits you, take it and I hope all will do this.” {1888 591.3}
§20
第二天早上他没有出度。星期三、星期四他也没有出席。主在我讲话时赐给我很清晰的思路和很大的能力。令我惊讶的是，竟收到拉森弟兄的一封信，要我在众人面前给他正名，因为我尖锐地责备了他——就是说，承认我冤枉了他。这事使我的心情象铅一样沉重。要对这些人讲什么，怎么对待他们强硬的精神，是一个要解决的难题。我不知道怎么办。我把它完全交给耶稣，早上我起来给拉森弟兄写了八页的信，却不能发出。今天是星期五，早上我站起来讲话的时候，就对满屋子的人讲了两天前的早上所讲过的话，我想我从未比在那个场合更果断地讲过话。{1888 591.4}
§21
Next morning he was not present. Wednesday, Thursday, he was present. The Lord gave me great clearness and power in speaking. What was my surprise to receive a letter from Larson in which he asks me (to) set him right before the people, because of my sharp rebuke—that is, confess I had wronged him. This matter sunk my heart like lead. What to say to these men, how to treat their strong spirits was a difficult problem to solve. I knew not what to do. I (left) it all to Jesus and in the morning I arose and wrote eight pages to Brother Larson, but could not use it. This morning, Friday, when I arose to speak I then told the class, yes, a roomful, of the words that I had spoken two mornings before and I think I never spoke more decidedly than on that occasion. {1888 591.4}
§22
我刚刚收到瓦特弟兄一封很好的来信。他说自己原是满怀反对来赴会的，但他接受我作的见证，并且想要第一时间向瓦格纳长老并向这班人认罪。我确定上帝的灵在作工。那些态度强硬的人会怎么做，我说不出。{1888 591.5}
§23
I have just received a good letter from Brother Watt. He says he was one who came full of opposition to the meeting, but he takes the testimony which I bore and he wants to confess to Elder Waggoner and to the class the first opportunity. I am sure the Spirit of the Lord is at work. What the strong spirits will do, I cannot tell. {1888 591.5}
§24
几分钟前拉森要见我。我太忙了没空见他。我不知道他想要说什么，但我感到他们想要从我说的话得把柄，我希望能灵巧象蛇，驯良象鸽子。主在安息日大大赐福了我，我每次讲话的时候都很蒙福。我倚赖以色列的主上帝。{1888 591.6}
§25
Larson called to see me a few minutes ago. I was altogether too busy to see him. What he wants to say I know not, but I feel that they want to get me to say something they can make a handle of and I want to be wise as a serpent and 592harmless as a dove. The Lord greatly blessed me upon the Sabbath and I have been blessed every time I have spoken. My trust is in the Lord God of Israel. {1888 591.6}
§26
我现在每天早上都要讲道。第一天早上的晨会只有很少的人参加。现在已经满员了。{1888 592.1}
§27
I shall speak every morning now. The first morning there were but very few in the morning meeting. Now the room is well filled. {1888 592.1}
§28
关于那些约定，我们不得不作出与你信中一样的决定。约翰和J. E.瓦格纳查究了此事，认为你的计划没什么问题。那么，我也会来。{1888 592.2}
§29
We had to come to just the same decision as in your letter in regard to appointments. John and J. E. Waggoner searched the matter up and your plans are all right. I will come too, then. {1888 592.2}
§30
爱德森已经去了印第安纳州，要离开两周。我不知道能否告诉你什么新消息。奥尔森弟兄从东方回来了。他有很鼓舞人心的报告，我想他不久就会写出来的。{1888 592.3}
§31
Edson has gone to Indiana, will be away two weeks. I do not know as I can tell you any news. Brother Olsen came back from the east. He had very cheering reports of which he will, I think, write soon. {1888 592.3}
§32
我与S. H.莱恩弟兄面谈了一次。他很有勇气，他说，但他们只有两个传道人留在了纽约州。{1888 592.4}
§33
I had an interview with Brother S. H. Lane. He is of good courage, but they have, he says, only two ministers left in New York State. {1888 592.4}
§34
我刚才收到A. T.琼斯的一封信，是回复你所寄给他的信的。你也有那封信。他说已经寄了一封给你。我很累，要搁笔了。{1888 592.5}
§35
I have just received a letter from A. T. Jones in response to the letter you sent him. You have a copy of the same. He says he has sent one to you. I am quite tired and will close. {1888 592.5}
§36
母亲Mother