第84章 致 O. A. 奥尔森
§1
第84章 致 O. A. 奥尔森
§2
Chapter 85—To W. C. White
§3
《信函》1890年第115号O-115-1890写于密歇根州巴特尔克里克
§4
Battle Creek, Michigan
§5
1890年6月21日June 21, 1890亲爱的奥尔森弟兄：Dear Brother Olsen:
§6
我刚从乡间乘车8英里回来，发现桌子上有你的来信。谢谢你写信给我。我们回复了来自拿舒厄的电报说威利的妻子安睡了，葬礼将在下周二举行。我周三之前离不开。他们今天（6月21日）离开博尔德，无法在星期二之前到那里。你马上就看出我现在离不开。葬礼结束后我才有可能星期四离开与你一起过安息日和星期日。要是我必须去参加，岂不是不必要的开销吗？{1888 675.1}
§7
I just returned from an eight-mile ride in the country. Your letter was found on my table. Thank you for writing to me. We answered the telegram from Nashua that Willie’s wife sleeps, that the funeral will be next Tuesday. But it cannot be before Wednesday. They leave Boulder today, June 21, and cannot get there before Tuesday. You see at once that I could not leave at this time. After the funeral it is possible for me to go Thursday and be with you over Sabbath and Sunday. But I would have to have an attendant, and would it not be a needless expense? {1888 675.1}
§8
威利希望我参加七月份的传道人会议。所以你看，那时我又得再去一次。我决定以这么大的开销去参加聚会不划算，还可能会使我非常疲倦。{1888 675.2}
§9
WCW is desirous I should be here at the meeting of the ministers’ council in July. So you see I would have to come directly back over the ground again. I have decided it would not pay to attend the meeting at so great expense, and it might be very wearisome to me. {1888 675.2}
§10
我期待威利来信说明详情，为玛丽的葬礼怎样安排。我想这是我们至少可以做的，以尽量向这个忠心的人表示敬意。{1888 675.3}
§11
I expect a letter from Willie with particulars, what arrangements to make for Mary’s funeral. I thought it is the least we can do to show as much respect as possible for the faithful one. {1888 675.3}
§12
我怀疑自己在这个季节是否能受得了帐篷聚会的辛劳。放在《评论与通讯》中的那个通知没有一句话是对我说的，也没有我说的一句鼓励的话。我没有作任何声明是因为推断我这个夏天只会参加一次聚会。我全部的负担是要出书。我没有爱惜自己，而是辛劳工作，我可以说是昼夜不休。我一直负担很重以致不能入睡。主把事情摆在我面前，并加给我力量去对付正在出现的不同问题。当在巴特尔克里克的聚会结束时，要是我能得空休息，原应该完全休息，因为我从早到晚辛劳，写出重要的内容以对付和纠正各样偏见、对事情的曲解、对问题的误会。{1888 675.4}
§13
I question whether I could bear the taxation of any camp meetings this season. That notice was put in the Review without one word spoken to me, without one word of encouragement from me. I made no statement from which inference could be drawn that I would attend one meeting this summer. My whole burden is to get my writings in shape for publication. I have not spared myself, but I have labored, I may say, day and night without periods of rest. I have been so burdened that I could not sleep. The Lord was setting things before me and He strengthened me to meet the different issues that were arising. When the meeting 676closed at Battle Creek I should have had complete rest if I could find it, for I had labored early and late, writing out important matters to meet and correct the prejudice, the misconstruing of things, the misinterpretation of matters. {1888 675.4}
§14
我今年余下的岁月不会要区会的任何报酬，因为我的状况不适合旅行和作工。我担心要是没有来自主的特别指示吩咐我去作见证，我就会行事非分。我知道耶稣是我的恢复者，但我若是照我所做的那样行事，没有调剂也没有休息地负着我已经负起的担子，无论哪里邀请我都去，因为恐怕若不去就会表明我缺乏信心，我就会行事非分。自从我走下轮船踏上美国的土地时起一直到现在，我都是这样工作的，撒但又激起了一些事，使我的担子和辛劳比起若没有这些事加重了五十倍。巴特勒弟兄是这一切事的根由，但他没有认罪，还在报刊上写文章，好像自己完全正确似的。{1888 676.1}
§15
I will ask no pay of the conference for the remainder of the year, for I am not in a fit condition to travel and labor. I fear without special direction from the Lord bidding me to go and bear my testimony I shall be presumptuous. I know that Jesus is my Restorer, but [I shall be presumptuous] if I do as I have done, carrying the burdens I have carried without change or rest, and going wherever invited because I fear I should show want of faith if I do not go. Thus I have worked ever since I stepped from the steamer upon American soil, and Satan had worked up matters so that my burdens and labors would be fifty-fold greater than there was any need of these being. Brother Butler has been at the foundation of it all, but he makes no confession and writes in the papers as though he were all right. {1888 676.1}
§16
现在，除非主吩咐我，我不会在巴特尔克里克这里对教会讲话，直到史密斯长老和那些一直与他保持一致的人显露出他们的本色。我不冒这方面的险，但在我心里对那些人有负担之前，我会知道主吩咐我，我虽为他们付出了那么多的辛劳，他们却一点不承认，也没有反应或收敛。我不得不为自己和弟兄们辩护，竭尽全力抵制偏见、不信、虚假陈述和歪曲误传，直到这使我一想到那些身居领导地位的人已将盲目和不可理喻的法利赛主义象衣服一样穿在身上，就感到寒心。他们若是改变了好批评的作风，不再散布怀疑的种子，动摇各教会对证言的信心，我就要问，谁知道呢？他们做过什么认罪和恢复及重建信任的事呢？难道他们无需一点谦卑，过去的记录就会从天上的案卷被涂抹吗？他们的嫉妒、对纯净圣经真理的恶意猜测和反对已经伤害了上帝子民的心灵，只因他们不喜欢主所选择的传达真理的来源。{1888 676.2}
§17
Now unless the Lord bids me, I shall not address the church here in Battle Creek until Elder Smith and those who have been in harmony with him show their colors. I set no stakes in this but I will know that the Lord bids me before I get the burden on my soul for the ones for whom I have labored so hard without the least acknowledgment or response or retraction on their part. I have had to vindicate myself and my brethren, press with all my powers against the prejudice, unbelief, false statements and misrepresentations until it almost gives me a nervous chill to think of the blindness and unreasonable Phariseeism that has been adjusted as a garment about men in prominent positions. If they have changed their course of criticism and scattering the seeds of doubt and unsettling the confidence of the churches in the testimonies, I ask, who is the wiser for it? What confession and restitution and restoring of confidence have they 677done? Will the past be blotted out of the books of heaven where they are registered without one humiliation on their part for wounding and bruising the souls of God’s people by their jealousies, evil surmisings and opposition to that which is pure Bible truth, just because they were unwilling it should come from the source which the Lord chose to send it? {1888 676.2}
§18
奥尔森弟兄啊，我不相信也不能相信你的本分是按高压的计划工作。你可以这样做，而你干得越多，人们就越认为你能干，别人挑的担子就越轻。等一下，奥尔森弟兄，拉下闸，给自己休息的时期，你才会以鲜活的精力勇往直前去忍受下一轮紧张的工作。但是要少工作一些。你是基督买来的，为了祂的缘故，要少工作一些。你无权从银行提款直到取出最后一分钱。我的弟兄啊，要留点存款。要是你提到的正在下入坟墓的那些为上帝工作之人的实例不足以制止你、我和他人，请告诉我还有什么更大的证据我们能提出来证明我们的本分是卸下担子，行事为人小心谨慎而不冒昧呢？奥尔森弟兄，要卸下担子。休息一段时间好使精神饱满。{1888 677.1}
§19
Well, Brother Olsen, I do not, cannot, believe it is duty for you to work on the high pressure plan. You may do this, and the more you do, the more it is considered you can do, and the lesser burdens other bear. Hold on, Bro. Olsen, put down the brakes, give yourself periods of rest and you will go forth fresh to endure another strain. But work less. For the sake of Christ who has bought you, work less. You have no right to draw from the bank until the last farthing is withdrawn. Leave a deposit, my brother. If the example of the men you mention, laborers for God who are going down into the grave, is not a sufficient rebuke to you and to me and others, please tell me what greater evidence we can have that it is duty to unload and to be careful to walk circumspectly and not presumptuously. Unload, Brother Olsen. Freshen up with periods of rest. {1888 677.1}
§20
你在参加太多的帐篷大会。人们喜欢你在场，也会要求你在场，但你有责任学会说：“不行啊，弟兄们，我会为你们竭力作工，但不危及我的健康。要是我病倒在床，象我兄弟那样很可能死在那里，那么我的工作就会永远停止了。我就不能给你们劝勉或鼓励了。所以弟兄们，我会尽我所能而不滥用上帝所交给我要我明智使用的能力。愿主帮助我这么做。”{1888 677.2}
§21
You are attending too many camp meetings. Your presence is desirable and will be claimed, but it is duty for you to learn to say, “No, brethren, I will give you all the labor I can consistently and not imperil my health. If I should be laid upon a sick bed as is my brother, which will probably prove his dying bed, then my work ceases forever. I cannot give you either counsel or encouragement. Please then, brethren, I will do all I can and not abuse the powers God has entrusted to me to use wisely. May the Lord help me to do this.” {1888 677.2}
§22
我看到缺乏工人的状况，就满心忧伤，无以言表。我告诉你，有些事不对头。我们应该看到错在何处。我们的各区会没有在认识上帝的知识上得到加强和长进，也没有象传道士那样作工以创造传道的精神，不仅仅为国外的园地，而是能环顾周围，看到庄稼熟了，可以收割了。国内的布道区一直可悲地受到了忽视。愿主有力地在人心运行，纠正现有的弊端，乃是我的祈祷。奥尔森长老，你抱怨说没能做你所应该做的一半。这难道不是因为只有那么少的人什么都做吗？{1888 677.3}
§23
My whole soul is grieved beyond expression as I see the dearth of laborers. I tell you, something is wrong. We want to see where we are making mistakes. Our conferences are not strengthening and growing in the knowledge 678of God and working as missionaries to create a missionary spirit, not merely for foreign fields, but they can look right about them and see the fields all white, ready for the sickle. Home missions have been sadly neglected. May the Lord work mightily upon human hearts and correct existing evils is my prayer. Elder Olsen, you complain of not being able to do one half of what you ought to do. Is not this because there are so few doing anything? {1888 677.3}
§24
我刚才收到了撒拉的来信，使我们初次听闻了玛丽去世的状况。她是赞美着主去世的。玛丽快活地告别了亲友。尤其关心了她的孩子们。那时埃拉上楼去哭泣，她说：“我感到很难过，但不知何故我的心却很快乐。只要一小会儿我就会见到我亲爱的妈妈，我定意要过使我能在天国与她重聚的生活。”到一月十七号埃拉就九岁了。梅布尔到十一月一号就四岁了。可怜的没有母亲的小羊羔啊！但主必温柔地带领群中的小羊。 可怜的威利是真正失去亲人的人。他从不公开表露感情，因此他将独自哀痛并且感受最深。我的心满是痛苦悲伤。他们星期二下午会在巴特尔克里克。我还没有接到消息说何时举行葬礼。料想会在星期三。{1888 678.1}
§25
I have just received a letter from Sara giving the first account we have heard of Mary’s death. She died praising the Lord. Mary bade farewell with cheerfulness. Her children especially received her attention. Then Ella went upstairs weeping and she said, “I feel very sad, but somehow my heart is happy. It will be only a little while and I shall meet my dear mother and I mean to so live that I can meet her in heaven.” Ella is nine years old the seventeenth of next January. Mabel, four the first of November next. Poor little motherless lambs! But the Lord will gently lead the lambs of the flock. Poor Willie is indeed bereaved. He never is demonstrative, therefore he will mourn alone and feel it deeper. My heart is sore and sad. They will be at Battle Creek Tuesday afternoon. I have received no news when the funeral will be. Suppose it will be Wednesday. {1888 678.1}
§26
我刚才收到了俄亥俄州区会会长的一封信，恳请我去参加帐篷大会。既然曾在报纸上发布通知，我预料会收到许多这样的邀请函。但那些原应支持我的人对待我证言的方式已使我对他们和受他们影响之人所做最恳切的努力无效。现在就让他们以为更好更安全的东西代替怀姐妹的工作吧。就让这些好弟兄们来坚固那些将要衰微的吧。欧文弟兄说整个区会的灵性都处于低潮。{1888 678.2}
§27
I have just received a letter from the president of the Ohio Conference making an earnest plea for me to be at the camp meeting. Now that the notice was put in the paper I expect to receive many such pleading letters. But the way my testimonies have been treated by those who should have sustained me has made my most earnest labors with them and others whom they influenced of none effect. Let them now substitute that which they suppose is a better, safer thing than the labors of Sister White. Let these good brethren come in and strengthen the things that are ready to die. Brother Irwin says that spirituality is at a very low ebb all through the conference. {1888 678.2}
§28
那些已经抵挡了我的工作并使上帝为祂的子民所赐的亮光无效的人，现在愿意负起这个责任，努力带来新的局面吗？我深受困扰，但我没有亮光去参加任何帐篷大会。传道人们听我作见证既觉得有权照他们所最喜欢的予以接受或拒绝，我就看不出我去做见证有什么用。让他们作工吧，直到他们会确信上帝认真地与他们同在。{1888 679.1}
§29
Will those who have withstood my labors and made of none effect the light given of God for the people now take this responsibility and labor to bring in a better state of things? I am troubled deeply, but I have no light to attend any camp meetings. I do not see what use it is for me to bear my testimony and the ministers that hear it feel it their privilege to receive or reject it as best pleases them. Let them work until they shall be convinced that God is in earnest with them. {1888 679.1}
§30
我在祈求得力量。我的心很软弱，我因你提到的前景而伤痛。但是你不要自杀，因为那样我们就会少了一个因上帝的灵而热心作工的人。{1888 679.2}
§31
Well, I am praying for strength. My heart is weak and I am pained for the outlook which you mention. But do not kill yourself, for then we will have one less laborer who is enthused by the Spirit of God to work. {1888 679.2}
§32
你能向帐篷大会提出推销《卷四》的必要性吗？它含有必要发生的将来事件的警告和预言。应该叫人人都知道如何面对这些事——魔鬼的种种考验、欺骗和迷惑。撒但在这里再次行事要使人们得不到现在所需要的亮光，却没有任何笔墨或声音把这事的真相摆在我们的人面前。我投资了三千美元扩编了《卷四》，每本却只收到12.5美分。我拥有印刷版并且自己付了出版这本书的费用，然后我们的人却推进了《圣经读物》，一本容易出手的便宜的书，几乎每一个文字布道士都扔下《卷四》去推销那本书了。{1888 679.3}
§33
Will you present to the camp meeting the necessity of handling Vol. 4? It contains warnings and the prophecy of future events which will come. All should be informed that they may know how to meet these things—trials, deceptions, delusions of the devil. Here again Satan has wrought to keep from the people the very light needed for the present time. And no pen or voice is raised to set this thing before our people in its true bearing. I invested $3000 to enlarge Vol. 4, and have only received twelve cents and a half per copy. I own the plates and pay for the publishing of the book myself and then our people shoved in the Bible Readings, a cheap book easily handled, and nearly every canvasser dropped Vol. 4 to handle that book. {1888 679.3}
§34
那些训练文字布道士的人若是看出这本书的必要性，就不会让《圣经读物》占用所有人力却忽视那些含有现在人们所需要的知识的书了。若有适当的指导，就能把推销这些书的相对重要性摆在文字布道士们面前。但人们在这方面的悟性象在其它方面一样迟钝，以致上帝所赐为要保护和指导祂子民的亮光竟被轻视或不屑一顾了。他们自己的做法把门关上了。所赐给我并吩咐我传给人们好使大家都得光照的指示竟成了无足轻重的。这使我的负担沉重得无法形容。我必须拿起笔，扬声敦促将主已向我指明的作品或书籍务必毫不迟延地带到人们面前。但我们的弟兄们有谁感到有负担，在这件事上实现上帝的心意和旨意呢？{1888 679.4}
§35
Those educating the canvassers could, if they saw the necessity of this work, handle the matter in such a way that Bible Readings will not be all absorbing and be carried to the neglect of the very books containing the knowledge which the people need now. With proper instruction, the relative importance of the books handled could be set before the canvassers. But the understanding is blunted in this line as well as in other respects, that the light God has given to guard and instruct His people should be made of little or no account. The 680door is closed by their own course of action. The instruction given to me and bidden me give to the people that all may be enlightened is made of no importance. This has burdened me beyond expression. I must take my pen and lift my voice in urging the work or books that the Lord has signified to me must be brought before the people without delay. But who of our brethren has felt a burden to carry out the mind and will of God in this matter? {1888 679.4}
§36
那些书被束之高阁，几乎无人染指。它们印出来就倒毙了，而我用来印书的钱却被这些没有销售的书占用了。我原以为会因大量销售这些书而有收入。我离开欧洲后在美国工作的第一年捐献了一千五百美元。我满足这些捐献的钱都是以七分的利息借来的。我并不后悔那些捐献，因为那些捐献是实在需要的。我不得不想尽办法好支付我的助手们制书的费用。我在债务上越陷越深，要是这就是事情进展的方式，我就要不得不接管我自己的书，留意让人们得到上帝原计划让他们得着的东西。我送出去的《卷四》已经超过一百美元了。我不能再继续这样下去了。我必须必须停止出版书籍，除非有一种不同的原则感动弟兄们去推销这些书。{1888 680.1}
§37
There lie the books scarcely touched on the shelves. They fall dead from the press and my money to reproduce books is tied up in these books unhandled. I thought I would have means coming in on the strength of large sales which were held up before me. I donated some fifteen hundred dollars the first year of labor in America after leaving Europe. All the money to meet these donations I hired at seven percent interest. I do not regret the donations because they were really needed. I have had to work every way to pay my helpers making books. I am going deeper and deeper in debt, and if this is the way the matters are to go I shall have to take my books in my own hands and see that the people have what God designs they shall have. I have given away copies of Vol. 4 that amount to above $100. I cannot go on in this way much longer. I must stop working in getting out books unless there is a different principle that moves our brethren to circulate them. {1888 680.1}
§38
《卷一》在因缺乏更正而经过漫长的耽延之后，快要完全出来了。但我要不得不做一些事。现在的说法是，《卷一》出来了，《卷四》必须再停售一年。我不同意这么做。要是销书的制度是这样的，以致不能同时销售两本书，书报员们必须销完一套再销另一套，那么就留下《卷一》，先推销《卷四》吧。{1888 680.2}
§39
Vol. 1 is coming out nearly completed, after a long tedious delay for want of corrections. But I shall be driven to do something. Now the talk is, Vol. 1 is out, and Vol. 4 must lie over unhandled another year. I will not consent to it. If the system of canvassing is such that both books cannot be handled, one by one set of canvassers, another by another set of canvassers, then let Vol. 1 remain still and Vol. 4 be circulated. {1888 680.2}
§40
我得承认，我并不觉得我的作品得到了理解或赏识。上帝既在这些末后的日子为祂的子民赐下了亮光，弟兄们却让别的东西进来而向适合这时代的特别亮光关闭了门户，究竟是什么意思呢？这种事要持续到几时，我要保持沉默多久呢？要是销书的机构是这样运行的，以致他们必须完全控制书籍的销售，并在他们的工作中丢下上帝已指明应该传到人们面前的那些书，难道我还要被绑住双手以致什么也不能做吗？我岂不要竭尽所能把这些书带到尽可能多的人面前吗？{1888 680.3}
§41
I have to confess that I have not felt that my work has been understood or appreciated. If God has given light for His people in these last days what does 681it mean for brethren to let everything else come in and close the door to the very special light for this very time? How long shall this thing continue and I keep silent? If the machinery of canvassing has to run in this way, that they must have the whole control of the book selling, and in their work drop out the very works God has signified should come to the people, shall my hands be bound that I can do nothing? Shall I not make every effort in my power to get these books before as many as possible? {1888 680.3}
§42
我想过将几箱书船运到帐篷大会，亲自销售《卷四》。要是书报员们很不愿意推销《卷四》，就无需他们经手了，在弥补一切开销之后，我会收到利润。{1888 681.1}
§43
I have thought of having boxes of books shipped to camp meetings, selling Vol. 4 myself. It need not pass through the hands of canvassers if they are so reluctant to handle them, and I receive the profits after all expense is met. {1888 681.1}
§44
我确实必需作出计划和设计，然后改变我的计划和设计好得到钱来应付开支。我拒绝再过这样的生活。要是我的弟兄们让我以这种方式担这个担子再久一些，我就确实知道上帝并没有带领他们和我。我们中必有一方没有按上帝的命令行。我认为是时候要叫停，看看是什么权势在感动我们了。{1888 681.2}
§45
I have come to the positive necessity to plan and devise, and then change my plans and devise again to get means to meet running expenses. I refuse to live in this way any longer. If my brethren allow me to carry this burden longer in this way I will certainly know that God does not lead them and me. One of us is not moving in God’s order. I think it time to call a halt and see what powers are moving us. {1888 681.2}
§46
每一个守安息日的家庭都应该有《卷四》。但他们有吗？没有，确实没有。而且世人应该拥有能带到他们面前的一切东西，因为它是为真理作见证。我并不感到满意。我只能昼夜想方设法去实行上帝已向我显明的旨意。我只要担得起，就一直在等待弟兄们采取行动。现在我奉主的名要有所作为。我的孩子们保持沉默是因为他们担心会被控告有自私的利益。主观看着，要看谁有什么负担，而撒但却从下面行事，要以他邪恶的欺骗阻挡上帝的工作。{1888 681.3}
§47
Every Sabbath-keeping family should have Vol. 4. But have they? No, indeed. And then the world should have all that can be got before them, for it bears witness to the truth. I am not satisfied. I can but plan and devise some means day and night to carry out the purpose of God made known to me. I have waited for my brethren to act as long as I can afford to do this. Now in the name of the Lord, I shall do something. My children hold their peace because they fear they will be charged with having selfish interest. The Lord looks on to see who has any burden, while Satan is moved from beneath to thwart the work of God with his hellish deceptions at this time. {1888 681.3}
§48
主把这事摆在我面前，说：“写下你所看见的一切事，并向人们如实地作见证，为主预备道路。”谁有责任阻止这工作完成呢？我有没有做了我应该做的一切呢，这个想法使我忧虑难眠。{1888 682.1}
§49
The Lord presented the matter before me and said, “Write all the things thou hast seen, and bear faithful witness to the people and prepare the way of the Lord.” Who has the responsibility of preventing this work from being done? Have I done all I should do is the thought that worries me and robs me of sleep. {1888 682.1}
§50
好了，我不要再说这个问题了。但请放心，我不会再等身负重责的弟兄们去尽他们的本分了。要是他们看不到必需做点什么，要是他们依然保持沉默，我就不会罢休，因为这样已经一年多了。要是他们的笔墨和声音没什么要说的，上帝就会让我对祂已赐给亮光的人负责，并说：“写下你所看见的事，并让亮光照到各国、各方、各民，照到大路和小路上。我的天使要预备道路。”然而撒但必以巧妙的能力作工，不仅在非信徒中间，也在信徒中间，好关闭人的心门，使特别的亮光不起作用。奥尔森长老啊，我要做什么呢？我灵里昼夜不得安息。
§51
Well, I will say no more on this point. But be assured I shall not much longer wait for my brethren in positions of trust to do their duty. If they see no need of doing anything, if they remain silent, then I shall not let the matter rest as it has done for more than one year. If their pens and voices have nothing to say, then God will hold me responsible to whom He has given light and said, “Write the things that thou hast seen and let the light go to all nations, tongues and people, into all the byways and highways. My angels shall prepare the way.” But Satan will work with masterly power not only among unbelievers, but believers, to close the door that the very special light shall not do its work. What am I to do, Elder Olsen? I have no rest day nor night in spirit. {1888 682.2}
§52
向奥尔森姐妹多多致以爱意
§53
Much love to Sister Olsen.