第188章 致巴特尔克里克负责人员
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第188章 致巴特尔克里克负责人员
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Chapter 192—The Bible in our Schools. - By Mrs. E. G. White. -
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《信函》1896年第5号B-5-1896亲爱的弟兄们：Dear Brethren:—
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我奉耶稣的名奉告诉你们，那些能进行最有效的教导，为主的荣耀设计和执行计划的人，乃是谦卑地等候上帝，如饥似渴地等待和密切注意祂的引导和恩典的人。主已保证将生命之水白白地赐给口渴的人喝。这将在他里面成为泉源，直涌到永生。祂应许满足祂儿女最深切最紧迫的需要。{1888 1628.1}
§5
I tell you in the name of Jesus that those who teach the most effectively and those who devise and execute plans for the glory of God are those who wait humbly upon God, who wait and watch hungrily for his guidance and his grace. The Lord has pledged his word to give to him that is athirst of the water of life freely. This will be in him a well of water, springing up into everlasting life. He promises to satisfy the deepest and the most urgent wants of his children. {1888 1628.1}
§6
保罗祈愿弟兄们充满上帝的一切丰盛。凡如此充满的人决不会令我们失望或令上帝的灵担忧。他们更加渴慕丰富的信心和经验，而不是获得这个世界所能给予的最大财富，因为他们在心里有基督作为生命的泉源。那么会怎样呢？他们会显示内在敬虔的泉源，表明他们以基督的心为心，生活和呼吸在纯洁健康的气氛中。{1888 1628.2}
§7
The prayer of Paul for his brethren was that they might be filled with all the fulness of God. Those who are thus filled will never disappoint us or grieve the Spirit of God. They are more anxious to be rich in faith and abundant in experience than to possess the richest treasure that earth can give, for they have Christ in the soul as the well spring of life. And what then?—They reveal a fountain of inward piety, making it manifest that they have the mind of Christ, and that they live and breathe in a pure, wholesome atmosphere. {1888 1628.2}
§8
我的弟兄们，你们怎么会认为主引导祂的子民去信赖那些遵从巴特尔克里克的指示行事的人呢？主难道会指导为你们决策的人伸出权柄的膀臂去承揽越来越多的责任，以新的事态和新的方法使总会负担过重吗？难道祂会指导他们去包揽一切责任？试想一下那些愿意接受管理金钱，管理他人良心之人的属灵状况。你们如果对这些事情的牵涉面有正确的认识，就算有双倍于现在的能力，也不会冒险踏入这个阵线。你们完全不知道自己在做什么。要履行总会工作的相应职责，就需要一班明白公平和公正的人。他们应当能了解他们所在之处、聚集了那么多人的地方工作的状况。{1888 1628.3}
§9
My brethren, how could you think that the Lord would direct his people to place confidence in the men that are working in counsel in Battle Creek? Would the Lord lead those in your counsels to reach out the arm of power to gather in more and more responsibilities, loading 1629down the General Conference with the new order of things, and with new methods? Would he direct them to take the responsibility of embracing everything? Consider the spiritual condition of those who are willing to accept the position of stewards of money, stewards of other men’s consciences. If you had any just sense of what these things involve, you would not venture in such a line, even though you had twice the talent you now possess. You simply do not know yourselves what you are about. In order to manage the responsibilities connected with the essential work of the Conference, a board of men who understand justice and equity is needed. They should be able to take in the situation of the work at the very place where they are located, where so many people are collected together. {1888 1628.3}
§10
巴特尔克里克的国内布道工作，在处理好出版社大机构的事务上，所作的还不到二十分之一。工作的中心需要彻底的改革，然而人们非常盲目，任凭事态的发展。何处有敬畏上帝、爱上帝、爱同胞、善待年轻人、可以托付工作的人呢？在目前纠结、混乱、瘫痪的状态中，有谁能负起总会会长的责任呢？无论是谁，即使尽了最大的努力，也会遭到批评和怀疑，因为人们一直受教要视巴特尔克里克为上帝能力的所在，为上帝显现的圣所。{1888 1629.1}
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Not one twentieth part of the home missionary work is being done in Battle Creek that should be done to set things in order in the large business establishment of the publishing house. A most thorough reformation is needed at the heart of the work, and yet there is such blindness, such blindness, that men have allowed things to drift as they have. Where are the men who have the fear of God before them, who love God, who love their fellow-men, who feel a tender regard for the youth, who can be trusted with the work? Where is the man who can act as President of the General Conference in its present tangled, confused, crippled condition? Any man, even though he did his very best, would now be criticized and regarded with suspicion, because the people have been educated to look to Battle Creek as the power of God, the sanctuary where dwells the presence of God. {1888 1629.1}
§12
但愿人们学会思考并审慎履行神圣的职责。若是人们得悉巴特尔克里克管理的真相以及过去几年的运作情况，许多人就会痛苦而恐惧地离开。我担心他们的信心会连根拔除，永不再相信。为什么人们不想一想呢？为什么他们这么随便地接受新的方法，将更多的责任交给那些毫不犹豫承揽管理他人良心和钱财之责任的人呢？{1888 1630.1}
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O that men would learn to consider and to move cautiously where sacred responsibilities are to be borne. If the people only know the true inwardness of the management at Battle Creek and the workings for a few years past, many would start back with pain and horror. I fear that their faith would be so uprooted that they would never again have faith. Why do not men consider? Why are they not slow to move when taking up new methods and when grasping increased responsibilities under the management of men who do not hesitate to assume the responsibility of other men’s consciences and other men’s stewardship? {1888 1630.1}
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圣工中心的人没有认识到自己的责任。他们没有认识到在担负要职的人中，有多少人对上帝还没有正确的认识。正确地认识上帝，就是永生。他们不知道在心中尊主为圣是什么意思，也不知道敬畏上帝，惧怕上帝是什么意思。他们如果明白这一点，就会成为谦卑、敬畏永生上帝的人。但他们像耶户一样，疯狂地往前奔，承担他们担负不了的重担，因为他们不大了解什么是真正的敬虔，在上帝的圣工事业上没有一点一滴地积累真实的经验，所以他们大步奔跑却没有上帝在前面引路。{1888 1630.2}
§15
There are men at the heart of the work who do not realize their responsibilities. They do not realize how many there are who are in positions of trust who have not a correct knowledge of God, whom to know aright is life eternal. They know not what it means to sanctify the Lord God in their hearts. They do not know what it means to make God their fear and their dread. Had they known this, they would now be humble men, fearing God, the living God. But like Jehu, they have been driving furiously forward, to assume burdens which they cannot carry. It is because men know so little of true godliness, because they have so little genuine experience in the building up, little by little, of the work and cause of God, that they make long strides without God to lead the way. {1888 1630.2}
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我恳劝你们要寻求上帝，倒空自我。如此你们便能处在受教的有利位置。心中要尊主为圣。祂是至高至尊的。祂的荣耀充满了圣殿。祂非常智慧，不会犯错，也不会受骗。祂非常公正，不会偏袒任何人的意见。祂的能力无人能敌，祂的威严大而可畏，无法思量。请阅读以赛亚对所见之事的描述。你们在阅读时当在祂面前俯伏于地。当尊崇万军之耶和华。{1888 1630.3}
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I beseech you to seek God, emptied of self. You will then be in a favorable position to be taught. Sanctify the Lord in your hearts. He is high and exalted, and the train of his glory fills the 1631temple. He is too wise to err or to be deceived, too just to be biased by any human opinions, too mighty to be resisted, too great and awful in his majesty to be contemplated. Read Isaiah’s description of what he saw, and as you read, bow low in the dust before him. Reverence the Lord of hosts. {1888 1630.3}
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在巴特尔克里克从事圣工的人非常需要自卑。自我要降卑，不是偶尔，而是不断地。上帝吩咐你们各自的香炉要点圣火，但你们却经常使用凡火。若是上帝容许，有些人会擅自绝对控制他们同胞的思想和良心，尽管他们并没有从经验上得知什么叫自制。但愿主饶恕你们的罪孽。若是主本着祂的大怜悯将祂的脸转向你们，你们当空前地重视祂的爱。你们既然担任信仰和信托的监护人，对上帝和祂的圣洁荣耀有正确的见解，就当更加谨慎，免得得罪祂。在你们可以置身于上帝能赐给你们有关祂自己见解从而感动你们心思的地方之前，这是绝对有必要的。{1888 1631.1}
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Self-abasement is highly appropriate for all who handle sacred things in Battle Creek. Self is to be abased, not now and then, but continually. God has commanded you to put sacred fire upon your censors, but you have used common fire altogether too much. There are men who, if God allowed it, would assume absolute control over the mind and conscience of their fellow-men, though they know not by experience what self-control is. The Lord may forgive your iniquity, and O, if the Lord will in his great mercy turn his face toward you, appreciate his love as you have never done before. In proportion as you, who stand as guardians of faith and trust, have correct views of God and his holiness and glory, your fear to offend him will increase. This is positively essential before you can be where God can impress your minds by giving you views of himself. {1888 1631.1}
§20
有时候在我看来情形似乎有些绝望，因为你们一直在重蹈犹太民族的覆辙，重演他们的历史。全天庭对巴特尔克里克的属灵状况感到惊讶。偶尔会有舒服轻松的感觉，但不是出自圣灵深深的感动。全天庭都看到，你们如果对真理有更为正确和实际的认识，就绝不会像现在这样辖制命令你们的同胞了。你们就绝不会认为自己有能力管理远近各处园地的重大权益。正是因为你们远离上帝，才导致了在祂圣工管理上出奇的无知。{1888 1631.2}
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Sometimes the case seems hopeless to me, because you have been treading in the very footsteps of the Jewish nation. You are repeating their history. The whole heavenly universe is astonished at the spiritual condition of things at Battle Creek. Now and then there is a comfortable, easy feeling, but this is not the deep moving of the Spirit of God. All heaven sees that if you had a more correct experimental 1632knowledge of the truth, you would never assume jurisdiction and command over your fellow-men as you have done. You would never think that you could take control of the great interests all over the field, nigh and afar off. It is because of a departure from God that such gross ignorance in regard to the management of his work has come in. {1888 1631.2}
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你们没有给天上的生灵机会与你们合作。因为你们认为自己在判断和决策上很聪明。你们爱自己为至上的心成了一种操控一切的力量。你们没有通过实践知道真正爱邻舍是什么意思。然而基督说：“凡遵守全律法的，只在一条上跌倒，他就是犯了众条”（雅2:10）。你们可以从亚当的过犯中得知，并不是大的举动才构成罪，而是在最小的细节上违背上帝所表达的旨意。这表明罪在你们心里作王。你们仍然在与仇敌亲密交往，怀藏他的特质。你们心怀二意，事实上你们一直在拒绝上帝的圣灵，违背祂的律法。{1888 1632.1}
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You have given the heavenly intelligences no chance to co-operate with you; for you suppose yourselves to be wise in judgment and in making decisions. Your supreme love for self is an over-mastering power. You know not by practice what genuine love for your neighbor means. But Christ says, “Whosoever shall keep the whole law, and ye offend in one point, he is guilty of all.” It is, as you may know by Adam’s transgression, not the greatness of the act that constitutes it a sin, but the fact that you are at variance with God’s expressed will in the least particular. This shows that sin reigns in your heart. You still have communion with the enemy, and you cherish his attributes. The heart is divided. There has been a virtual denial of the Holy Spirit of God and a rebellion against his law. {1888 1632.1}
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要是允许人随从自己的意愿和方式来对待他们的同胞和同道，我们已看到要是上帝没有伸手保护祂子民，事态究竟会如何。我从未见过安息日复临信徒持这样的立场。主已使我认识到人类灵魂的价值，有所领悟上帝对一个灵魂的重视。然后我蒙指示看到人多么不重视基督为之而死的生灵。一种摧毁信心、败坏许多人原则的精神成了控制巴特尔克里克出版社的势力，在很大的程度上弥漫了整个出版社。对员工的不尊重造成了很大的危害。已经对远比负责人更有义的运用了这种精神。这些事使我的心灵一再遭受莫可严喻的伤痛。你们远离了正路。不公正的行为扭曲了你们的正义感。爱自我的心掌控了一切，基督的爱几乎消失了。{1888 1632.2}
§25
Were men permitted to have their will and their way with regard to their fellow-men, their brethren in the faith, we have had a representation of what would be if God’s hand did not cover his people. Such positions I have never seen assumed by Seventh-day Adventists. I have been made to appreciate the value of the human soul, and have some little sense of how much one soul is valued by God. Then I have been shown how little man values the souls for whom Christ has 1633died. A spirit that has ruined the faith and corrupted the principles of many has had a controlling power in the office of publication in Battle Creek, and to a large extent has pervaded the whole office. The little respect shown to some of those employed has done much harm. This spirit has been exercised toward men far more righteous than those in position of trust. Again and again my soul has been agonized beyond expression over these things, as they have been transacted before me. You have departed far out of the way. By unfair practices you have perverted your sense of righteousness. The love of self predominates, and the love of Christ is almost extinguished. {1888 1632.2}
§26
你们对待同胞的一举一动无不受上帝关注。祂是宇宙公义永恒的维护者。你想躲也躲不开祂的面。所有得罪同胞的举动都是得罪了祂，无论贫富贵贱。祂伸手维护弟兄间的权益。任何伤害他弟兄的心灵或权利的人，都是在攻击那握剑的公义之手。{1888 1633.1}
§27
No action is transacted toward one of your fellow-men in which God is not concerned. He is the eternal, universal guardian of justice. You cannot get away from his presence, if you would. He takes part against all who would commit one act of wrong against their fellow-men, high or low, rich or poor. His own hand is spread out as a buckler over the rights of brother toward brother. No man can wound or bruise the soul or rights of his brother without smiting against the hand of justice which holds the sword. {1888 1633.1}
§28
人若是任意偏离主的要求，为自己设立责任的标准，就会出现各种各样的标准以迎合不同的心思。人们就会感到自己有能力把控制权从主手中拿走，以自己为神。自我的法则就会被高举。人的意志就会超越一切。上帝崇高圣洁的旨意，祂对祂子民爱的宗旨就会被羞辱和轻慢。当人觉得可以自行其道时，他们就是在与上帝作对。在天上没有其他神的位置。上帝是唯一的真神。祂充满全天庭。现今顺服祂旨意的人将会得见祂的面。祂的名将会写在一切纯洁圣善之人的额上。{1888 1633.2}
§29
Were men free to depart from the Lord’s requirements and could set up standards of duty for themselves, there would be a variety of standards set up, to suit different minds. Men would feel competent to take the government out of the Lord’s hands, and act as gods themselves. The law of self would be exalted. The will of men would be made supreme, and the high and holy will of God, his purpose of love 1634toward his heritage, would be dishonored and disrespected. When men feel free to choose their own way, they are in controversy with God. There is no place for gods in the heaven above. God is the only true God. He fills all heaven. Those who now submit to his will shall see his face; and his name will be in the foreheads of all who are pure and holy. {1888 1633.2}
§30
凡在我们国家为上帝作工的人应该把马大和马利亚的精神结合起来。必须排除自我和自私的精神。上帝呼召真诚的女工人；她们审慎、热心、温柔、忠于原则。祂呼召坚持不懈的妇女；她们很少考虑自我和个人的方便，宁愿使自己的思想远离自我、集中于基督，传讲真理，与她们所能接近的人一同祈祷，为他人的悔改而操劳。不冷不热、放纵自己、以自我为中心、贪婪的人将是上帝圣工主要的绊脚石。上帝所设立的每一个机构中都会有这样的人。{1888 1634.1}
§31
All who work for God in our land should have the Martha and the Mary attributes blended. Self and selfishness must be put out of sight. God calls for earnest women-workers, who are prudent, warm-hearted, tender, and true to principle. He calls for persevering women, who will think far less of self and their personal conveniences, who will take their minds from self, and center them on Christ, speaking words of truth, praying with the persons to whom they can obtain access, laboring for the conversion of souls. Lukewarm, self-indulgent, self-centered, covetous souls will be found to be the chief stumbling blocks to the work of God. These are to be found in every enterprise that God has instituted. {1888 1634.1}
§32
为上帝作工的人会发现有些人难以接近。你若侵犯他们信仰和虔诚方面的隐私，他们就似乎很生气。他们也不善待与上帝同工的人。这些工人必须不看自己而看耶稣，小心关注祂工作中的指示。基督必须在他们心里成为有荣耀的盼望。心中要除去一切的自满。视线要转离自我、仰望耶稣。要以最真诚的努力效法你们的榜样基督耶稣。正在与上帝同工的人必有祈祷的精神。他们必努力将上帝儿子的圣洁和公义铭刻在心中，并在生活中表现出来。他们生活上不会显出僵硬的法利赛主义，而会显出宽容、怜悯、仁爱、谦卑与和平。{1888 1634.2}
§33
Those who work for God will find some people inapproachable. They appear to be offended that you should invade the privacy of their faith and devotion, and do not look graciously upon those who are workers together with God. These workers must look away from self to Jesus, giving careful attention to the directions found in his work. Christ must be formed within, the hope of glory. The soul must be divested of all self-complacency. Look away from self to Jesus. Make a most 1635earnest effort to imitate your pattern, Christ Jesus. The human agents who are working together with God will have the spirit of Prayer. They will strive to have transcribed on their hearts and expressed in their lives the holiness and righteousness of the Son of God. No stiff Phariseeism will be seen, but forbearance, mercy, love, humility, and peace will appear in their lives. {1888 1634.2}
§34
我的姊妹们，我们有什么借口不尽量利用时间来查考圣经，使心灵成为一个宝贝库，好将之呈现在那些不关心真理的人面前呢？我们的姊妹们愿意起来应付紧急情况吗？她们愿意为主作工吗？她们必须拥有基督的灵并为祂的名所召。她们必须象主那样行事，除去心中一切的污秽，像基督那样纯洁。当基督受死救赎全人类脱离毁灭的时候，祂一定着眼于比我们所见更大的事情。主绝不想让世界大多数人死在罪中。(W. H. 1896年12月18日) {1888 1635.1}
§35
O what is our excuse, my sisters, that we do not devote all the time possible to searching the Scriptures, making the mind a storehouse of precious things, that we may present them to those who are not interested in the truth. Will our sisters arise to the emergency? Will they work for the Master? They must have the Spirit of Christ as well as being called by his name. They must walk even as he walked, purifying their souls from everything that defileth, even as Christ is pure. When Christ died to redeem the entire human race from ruin, he certainly meant greater things than our eyes have witnessed. The Lord never intended that the very large majority of the people in the world should die in their sins.(M.H. Dec. 18, ’96.) {1888 1635.1}