第178章 致林赛姐妹
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第178章 致林赛姐妹
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Chapter 180—To S. N. Haskell
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《信函》1896年第64号L-64-1896库兰邦，森尼赛德，1896年5月8日
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“Sunnyside,” Cooranbong, May 8, ’96.
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亲爱的林赛姐妹：
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Dear Sister Lindsay,
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请阅读基督给那个律法师的指示，记载在路10:25-28：有一个律法师起来试探耶稣，说：“夫子！我该做什么才可以承受永生？”耶稣对他说：“律法上写的是什么？你念的是怎样呢？”他回答说：“你要尽心、尽性、尽力、尽意爱主你的上帝；又要爱邻舍如同自己。”耶稣说：“你回答的是；你这样行，就必得永生。”这个教训概括了众人的责任。{1888 1516.1}
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Please read Christ’s instruction to the lawyer, recorded in Luke 10:25-28. “A certain lawyer stood up and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou? And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself. And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.” This lesson outlines the duty of all. {1888 1516.1}
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这次的邮件我在给C. H.琼斯弟兄写信，倘若可能，会给你寄一份他信件的副本。{1888 1516.2}
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By this mail I am writing to Bro. C. H. Jones, and if possible will send you a copy of his letter. {1888 1516.2}
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上帝一再在不同的时间和地点向我发出明确的警告，我无法确定这些警告的意义，因为是用象征和表号向我显示的。我对此事大惑不解。事情发生在我丈夫去世前。从那时起我一直看到人们在设法把在奥克兰的出版社与在巴特尔克里克的出版社合并，以便让巴特尔克里克的出版社进行控制。这些警告我当时没有充分明白，因为多次有信息给我，要这两个机构不要互相竞争，互相嫉妒或猜忌，而要象两个姐妹机构，作上帝的工具，各自进行所指定的工作。“以法莲必不嫉妒犹大，犹大也不扰害以法莲”（赛11:13）。每一个机构都是上帝所设立做他们各自工作的。{1888 1516.3}
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Again and again, at different times and in different places, decided warnings have been given me. I could not define the import of these warnings; for they were presented to me in figures and symbols. I have been very much puzzled over this matter, which was introduced before my husband’s death. Since that time I have been shown that efforts would be made to bind up the publishing house in Oakland with the publishing house in Battle Creek, in order that the publishing house at Battle Creek might have control. These warnings I did not fully 1517understand, because many times the message had been given me that these two institutions should not be at strife one with another, or manifest anything savoring of jealousy or envy; but that they should stand as sister institutions, each doing their appointed work as God’s instrumentalities. “Ephraim shall not envy Judah, and Judah shall not vex Ephraim.” Each institution was established of God to do its respective work. {1888 1516.3}
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在我丈夫去世以前，这件有关巴特尔克里克和奥克兰两地出版社的事，是用葡萄树的表号向我显示的。从那以后，一直用这个表号向我显示。主指示我这两个机构要象两根枝子分开，虽然各具特色，但又都以葡萄树干为中心。他们不要彼此兼并，而要保持独立，然而又各自从同一个源头吸取营养。基督说过：“我是真葡萄树，我父是栽培的人。”“我是葡萄树，你们是枝子。”“凡属我不结果子的枝子，祂就剪去；凡结果子的，祂就修理干净，使枝子结果子更多。”“你们要常在我里面，我也常在你们里面。枝子若不常在葡萄树上，自己就不能结果子；你们若不常在我里面，也是这样。”“常在我里面的，我也常在他里面，这人就多结果子。”“人若不常在我里面，就像枝子丢在外面枯干，人拾起来，扔在火里烧了”（约15:1,2,4,5,6）。“现在斧子已经放在树根上，凡不结好果子的树就砍下来，丢在火里”（太3:10）。“凭着他们的果子，就可以认出他们来。荆棘上岂能摘葡萄呢？蒺藜里岂能摘无花果呢？这样，凡好树都结好果子，惟独坏树结坏果子。好树不能结坏果子；坏树不能结好果子。凡不结好果子的树就砍下来，丢在火里。所以，凭着他们的果子，就可以认出他们来”（太7:16-20）。“你们多结果子，我父就因此得荣耀，你们也就是我的门徒了”（约15:8）。 {1888 1517.1}
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Before my husband’s death this matter in regard to the publishing house at Battle Creek and the publishing house at Oakland was presented to me under the figure of the vine, and since that time it has been presented to me under the same figure. The Lord has shown me that these two institutions are to be kept as separate as two branches which, though distinct, both center in the parent vine. They are not to be merged into one, but are to be kept distinct, yet each is to derive its nourishment from the same source. Said Christ, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.” “I am the true vine, ye are the branches.” Every branch in me that beareth not fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.” “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye except ye abide in me.” “He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit.” “If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered, and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.” “And now also the axe is laid at the root of the trees; therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire..” “Ye shall 1518know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles. Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.” “Herein is my Father glorified that ye bear much fruit, so shall ye be my disciples. {1888 1517.1}
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这事以不同的表号一直呈现在我面前，我就知道主的旨意并不是要这两个出版社合并。我担心那些在巴特尔克里克的人在接管学校和在圣勒那的保健院的事上也已经犯了错误。在巴特尔克里克的出版社数年来一直在上帝的责备之下，尤其是在明尼阿波利斯会议之后，那时有些人行事与可拉、大坍、亚比兰一样。出版社的经理们当时要是没有充满自足自负的精神，就不会感到他们能负担每一个瘸腿的机构。他们自己机构的表现一点也不良好。爱德森.怀特受到了毫不留情的谴责，因为他在财务管理上有可责之处，但那些谴责他的人知道他们自己的财务拮据并不符合上帝的命令。主已向我指明这就好像一个人设法去掉弟兄眼中的刺，自己眼中却有梁木。“你这论断人的，无论你是谁，也无可推诿。你在什么事上论断人，就在什么事上定自己的罪；因你这论断人的，自己所行却和别人一样。我们知道这样行的人，上帝必照真理审判他。你这人哪，你论断行这样事的人，自己所行的却和别人一样，你以为能逃脱上帝的审判吗？还是你藐视祂丰富的恩慈、宽容、忍耐，不晓得祂的恩慈是领你悔改呢？你竟任着你刚硬不悔改的心，为自己积蓄忿怒，以致上帝震怒，显祂公义审判的日子来到。祂必照各人的行为报应各人。凡恒心行善、寻求荣耀、尊贵和不能朽坏之福的，就以永生报应他们；惟有结党、不顺从真理、反顺从不义的，就以忿怒、恼恨报应他们”（罗2:1-8）。{1888 1518.1}
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Under different figures this matter has been presented to me, and I know that it is not the Lord’s will that these two publishing houses shall be united. I fear that those at Battle Creek have also made a mistake in taking over the schools and the Health Retreat at St. Helena. The publishing house at Battle Creek has been under the reproof of God for years, especially since the time of the Minneapolis meeting, when some acted the part of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. If its managers were not swelled with self-importance and self-sufficiency, they would not feel that they could carry every crippled institution. The showing of their own institution is anything but favorable. Edson White was unsparingly condemned because he was to blame in his financial management, but those who condemned him knew that their own financial embarrassment was not after God’s order. This has been represented to me like a man trying to pull a mote out of the eye of his brother, while a beam was in his own eye. “Therefore thou 1519art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgeth; for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things. But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things. And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God? Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and long-suffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasureth up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; who will render to every man according to his deeds: them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory, and honor, and immortality, eternal life; but unto them that are contentious and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath.” {1888 1518.1}