第04章 女性的谦逊端庄
§1
第04章 女性的谦逊端庄
§2
Chap. 4—Female Modesty
§3
我久已打算对我的姐妹们讲话。她们没有始终小心地禁戒一切的恶事。她们没有都谨慎自己的行为，与自称敬虔的女子相称。她们也不象领受上帝恩惠的妇女所应该的那样谨慎择言。她们与弟兄们过分亲密，流连于他们周围，倾身于他们，似乎要选择与他们作伴。她们对他们的关注感到非常满足。{SA147.1}[1]
§4
I have long been designing to speak to my sisters. They are not always careful to abstain from all appearance of evil. They are not all circumspect in their deportment, as becometh women professing godliness. Their words are not as select and well chosen as they should be for women who have received the grace of God. They are too familiar with their brethren. They linger around them, incline towards them, and seem to choose their society, and are highly gratified with their attention.?{SA 147.1}[1]
§5
自命敬虔的妇女竟纵情于戏谑、玩笑与可笑的事。这是不相宜的，且使上帝的灵担扰。这些表现暴露出缺乏真基督徒的优雅。这些举动不能使心灵在上帝里面坚强，反会带来极大的黑暗；它们赶走纯洁高雅的天上使者，使那些参加这些不道德行为的人堕落到低劣的水平。{SA148.1}[2]
§6
There is much jesting and joking and laughing indulged in by women professing godliness. This is all unbecoming, and grieves the Spirit of God. These exhibitions manifest a lack of true Christian refinement. These things indulged in do not strengthen the soul in God, but bring great darkness, drive the pure, refined, heavenly angels away, and bring those who engage in these wrongs down to a low level.?{SA 148.1}[2]
§7
我们的姐妹们应当鼓励真正的温柔；她们不应卤莽，多言，胆大妄为，而应端庄谦逊，言语和缓。她们可以心存礼貌谦恭。要仁慈、温柔、同情、宽恕而且谦卑，才会相宜且很讨上帝喜悦。她们若常居此位，就必不致被男士们过分的关心所累了。众人都必觉得在这班敬畏上帝的妇女四周有一种纯洁的神圣氛围环护着，使她们免受任何不正当的狎昵行为所侵扰。有一班自命敬虔的妇女，竟带有轻率粗野的放肆态度，因而导致更大的罪恶与邪行。但那些敬虔的女子，其心思意念尽是默想会使生活更纯洁，提拔心灵与上帝交通的题旨，就不会轻易受引诱而远离妇德与正道。这等人的心志必得以坚固，不为撒但的诡辩所惑；她们也必准备好抵挡他诱人的伎俩。{SA148.2}[3]
§8
The sisters should encourage true meekness. They should not be forward, talkative, and bold, but modest and slow to speak. They should be courteous. To be kind, tender, pitiful, forgiving, and humble, would be becoming and well pleasing to God. If they occupy this position, they will not be burdened with undue attention from gentlemen. It will be felt by all that there is a sacred circle of purity around these God-fearing women, which shields them from any unwarrantable liberties. There is too much careless, loose, coarse freedom of manner by some women professing godliness, which leads to greater wrongs. Those godly women who occupy their minds and hearts in meditating upon themes which strengthen purity of life, which elevate the soul to commune with God, will not be easily led astray from the path of rectitude and virtue. They will be fortified against the sophistry of Satan, and prepared to withstand his seductive arts.?{SA 148.2}[3]
§9
虚荣自负、世界的时尚、眼目的情欲、肉体的情欲，都与不幸的堕落有关。那使本心和体贴肉体的心喜悦的东西受人珍爱。他们若从心中根除了肉体的情欲，就不会这么软弱了。我们的姐妹如果感到有洁净自己思想的必要，并且决不容自己有导致不当行为的轻率举动，就不会有玷污她们纯洁的危险了。她们就会极其憎恶不洁的行为，以致不会列身于那些因撒但的试探而跌倒的人中间，无论撒但选择谁为媒介。{SA149.1}[4]
§10
The fashion of the world, the desire of the eye, and the lust of the flesh, or vain glory, are connected with the fall of the unfortunate. That which is pleasing to the natural heart and carnal mind is cherished. If the lust of the flesh was rooted out of their hearts, they would not be so weak. If our sisters would feel the necessity of purifying their thoughts, and never suffer themselves to be careless in their deportment, which leads to improper acts, they would not be in danger of staining their purity. They would feel such an abhorrence of impure acts and deeds that they would not be found among the number who fall through the temptations of Satan, no matter who the medium might be whom Satan should select.?{SA 149.1}[4]
§11
一个传道人可能虽然处理圣事，可是心却不圣洁。他可能将自己交给撒但去行邪恶的事，败坏他群羊的灵魂和肉体。然而自称热爱并敬畏上帝的妇女和青年女子的心智若被祂的灵加强，她们若曾训练自己的心思想纯洁，教育自己禁戒一切的恶事，就会免遭任何不当求爱之害，得到保护脱离他们周围流行的败坏。使徒保罗论到自己说：“我是攻克己身，叫身服我，恐怕我传福音给别人，自己反被弃绝了”（林前9:27）。{SA149.2}[5]
§12
A preacher may deal in sacred, holy things, and yet not be holy in heart. He may give himself to Satan to work wickedness, and to corrupt the soul and body of his flock. Yet if the minds of women and youth professing to love and fear God were fortified with the Spirit of God; if they had trained their minds to purity of thought, and educated themselves to avoid all appearance of evil, they would be safe from any improper advances, and be secure from the prevailing corruption around them. The apostle has written concerning himself, “But I keep under my body, and bring it in subjection; lest?that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.”?1 Corinthians 9:27.?{SA 149.2}[5]
§13
如果一个传福音的人不能约束自己低级的情欲，如果他没能效法使徒的榜样，竟羞辱自己的职位和信仰，甚至敢提放纵罪恶的事，那么我们自称敬虔的姐妹们就切不可有片刻的自庆之心，以为她们的传道人既敢放纵邪行，则罪恶与不法之事也就因而减少其可憎性了。事实上，身负重责的人虽显明他们对于罪恶已习以为常，也不该使任何人心中减轻罪辜和罪的严重性。罪恶仍当如上帝的道所描绘的一样的显为有罪，显为可憎；而心意纯洁高尚的人，当痛恨并远离放纵罪恶之徒，犹如逃避咬人致死的毒蛇一般。{SA150.1}[6]
§14
If a minister of the gospel has not control of his lower passions; if he fails to follow the example of the apostle, and so dishonors his profession and faith as to even name the indulgence of sin, the sisters who profess godliness should not for an instant flatter themselves that sin and crime lose their sinfulness in the least because their minister dares to engage in them. Because men who are in responsible places show themselves to be familiar with sin, it should not lessen the guilt and enormity of the sin in the minds of any. Sin should appear just as sinful, just as abhorrent, as the word of God represents it to be, and the one who indulges in sin should, in the minds of the pure and elevated, be abhorred and withdrawn from, as they would flee from a serpent whose sting was deadly.?{SA 150.1}[6]
§15
姐妹们若是高尚的且保持心地纯洁，则任何邪行妄念，即使是出自她们的传道人的，也会毫不犹豫地坚决拒绝，使之决不再犯。人若因为发出引诱声音的是传道人，便听从引诱，因而违背上帝明确的命令还自以为没有犯罪，心思就必被撒但可怕地迷惑。我们岂没有听到约翰的话吗：“人若说‘我认识祂’，却不遵守祂的诫命，便是说谎话的，真理也不在他心里了”（约壹2:4）。律法怎么说呢？“不可奸淫。”一个男人若自称遵守上帝圣洁的律法，并且担负圣职，却利用人们对他职位的信任，谋求放纵自己卑鄙的情欲，这一事实本身就足以使任何一个自称敬虔的女子看明，虽然他的信仰表白高及诸天，出自他的任何不洁的建议却来自假扮成光明使者的撒但。那些这么容易将自己的清白和贞操牺牲在肉体情欲之坛上的人，我无法相信上帝的圣言住在他们心中。{SA150.2}[7]
§16
If the sisters were elevated, and possessed purity of heart, any corrupt advances, even from their minister, would be repulsed with such positiveness that they would never be repeated. Minds must be terribly befogged that can listen to the voice of the seducer because he is a minister, and therefore break God’s plain and positive commands, and flatter themselves that they commit no sin. Have we not the words of John: “He that saith,?I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him”? What saith the law? “Thou shalt not commit adultery.” The fact of a man’s professing to keep God’s holy law, and ministering in sacred things, should he take advantage of the confidence his position gives him to indulge his passions, should, of itself, be sufficient to lead any woman professing godliness, to see that, although his profession was as exalted as the heavens, any impure proposal coming from him was the work of Satan disguised as an angel of light. I cannot believe that the word of God is abiding in the hearts of those who are so readily controlled, and yield up their innocency and virtue upon the altar of lustful passion.?{SA 150.2}[7]
§17
我的姐妹们啊，要禁戒一切的恶事。在这个因腐败而臭气熏天的放荡时代，你们若不谨慎自守，就不安全。端庄及贞操是罕见的。我呼吁你们跟从耶稣基督的人，既作出高尚的表白，就应以无价的谦逊端庄为珍宝。这会保卫贞操。你们若希望最终被高举，加入纯洁无罪天使的行列，生活在没有一点儿罪污的氛围中，就要珍爱端庄和贞操。纯洁，只有庄严的纯洁才经得起重大的审查，在上帝的大日站立得住，并被接进纯净圣洁的天庭。{SA151.1}[8]
§18
My sisters, you should avoid even the appearance of evil. In this fast age, which is reeking with corruption, you are not safe unless you stand guarded. Virtue and modesty are rare. I appeal to you as followers of Jesus Christ, making a high and exalted profession, to cherish this precious, priceless gem, modesty. This will guard virtue. If you have any hope of being finally exalted to join company with the pure, sinless angels, and live in an atmosphere where there is not the least taint of sin, cherish modesty and virtue. Nothing but purity, sacred purity, will abide the day of God, stand the grand?review, and be received into a pure and holy Heaven.?{SA 151.1}[8]
§19
无论多么隐微的暗示，不问它是从哪一方面来的，若是引诱你放纵罪恶，或容许些微不正当的亲狎行为，都当视之为有辱你高贵的女性尊严而予以坚决拒绝。在不合适的时间和地点吻你的面颊，应当令你生出憎厌之心而拒斥这撒但的密使。这事若出于身居高位、担负圣职的人，则罪恶的严重性更比常人高过十倍，应该使敬畏上帝的妇女或青年女子惊恐地退避三舍，不仅厌恶他所要诱你去犯的罪，也唾弃这被众人当作上帝仆人、而加以尊敬并推崇之人的伪善与丑恶。这样的人虽身居圣职，却在传道人的外袍下掩盖着他内心的卑劣。要害怕任何这种亲密随便的行为。确信任何稍微接近这种行为的表现都证明是出自淫荡的心和好色的眼。若在这方面给出丝毫的鼓励，若是所提到的任何放肆的行为得到容忍，都证明你们的心不象应该的那样纯净贞洁，罪恶和犯罪行为对你们具有吸引力。你们降低了自己高贵贞洁的妇德标准，且给出明白的证据表明你们心中仍容许低劣的兽性情欲存活着。{SA152.1}[9]
§20
The least insinuations, come from whatever source they may, inviting you to indulge in sin, or to allow the least unwarrantable liberty with your person, you should resent as the worst of insults to your dignified womanhood. The kiss upon your cheek, at an improper time and place, should lead you to repel the emissary of Satan with disgust. If it is from one in high places who is dealing in sacred things, the sin, in such a one, is of tenfold greater magnitude, and should lead a God-fearing woman or youth to recoil with horror, not only from the sin he would have you commit, but from the hypocrisy and villainy of one whom the people respect and honor as God’s servant. In his ministry he is handling sacred things, yet hiding his baseness of heart under a ministerial cloak. Be afraid of anything like this familiarity. You may be sure that the least approach to it is the evidence of a lascivious mind and a lustful eye. If the least encouragement is given in this direction; if any of the liberties mentioned are tolerated, no better evidence can you give that your mind is not pure and chaste as it should be, and that sin and crime have charms for you. You lower the standard of your dignified, virtuous womanhood, and give unmistakable evidence that a low, brutal?passion has been suffered to remain in your heart.?{SA 152.1}[9]
§21
我既蒙指示看到那些自称相信更美之事的人中间存在的罪恶和危险，而人们没有想到他们有犯这些污秽罪恶的危险，便不由问道：主啊，当祢显现的时候，谁能站立得住呢？只有那些手洁心清的人才能在祂降临的日子站立得住。{SA153.1}[10]
§22
As I have seen the dangers of, and the sins among, those who profess better things—a class who are not suspected of being in any danger from these polluting sins—I have been led to inquire, Who, O Lord, shall stand when thou appearest? Only those who have clean hands and pure hearts shall abide the day of his coming.?{SA 153.1}[10]
§23
我感到主的灵催促我，让我敦促自称敬虔的姐妹们珍重举止的端庄与合宜的矜持，廉耻自守。这个腐败世代中人们所接受的放肆随便，不应作为跟从基督之人的标准。这些流行的亲密表现，不应存在于预备承受永生的基督徒之间。倘若时下放纵情欲、不洁、奸淫、不法，以及凶杀等，乃是那些不认识真理，拒绝不受上帝圣言的原则所约束之人中司空见惯的事，那么，凡自称跟从基督，与上帝和天使具有亲密联合的人，就当向他们显示出一条更美善，更高尚的大道来，该是何等重要的事啊！藉着自己的贞洁和德操，与被兽欲控制之辈作显著的对比，又是何等重要的事啊！{SA153.2}[11]
§24
I feel impelled by the Spirit of the Lord to urge my sisters who profess godliness to cherish modesty of deportment and a becoming reserve, with shamefacedness and sobriety. The liberties taken in this age of corruption should be no criterion for Christ’s followers. These fashionable exhibitions of familiarity should not exist among Christians fitting for immortality. If lasciviousness, pollution, adultery, crime, and murder, are the order of the day among those who know not the truth, and who refuse to be controlled by the principles of God’s word, how important that those who profess to be followers of Christ and closely allied to God and angels, should show them a better and nobler way. How important that their chastity and virtue stand in marked contrast with that of the class who are controlled by brute passions.?{SA 153.2}[11]
§25
我问过：年轻姐妹们的行为何时才会适当得体呢？然而我知道不会有明确的改善，除非父母们意识到在正确教育他们儿女时更加谨慎的重要性。要教导他们行动做派端庄谨慎。训练他们成为有用之人，去帮助别人，照顾别人，而不是受别人的伺候和服侍。一般而言，撒但控制着青年人的思想。溺爱的父母们，你们的女儿们并未受教养成克己自制的习惯。她们受宠爱，心骄气傲。你们容许她们自行其事，直到她们变得顽梗悖逆，刚愎自负，而你们无计可施，一筹莫展，不知该如何拯救她们脱离灭亡。因为她们胆大妄为，缺少女性的端庄与贞洁，于是撒但使她们成了不信之人口中的笑柄。{SA153.3}[12]
§26
I have inquired, When will the youthful sisters act with propriety? But I know there will not be any decided change for the?better until parents feel the importance of greater carefulness in educating their children correctly. They should teach them to act with reserve and modesty. They should educate them for usefulness, to be helps, to minister to others, rather than to be waited upon and ministered unto. Satan has the control of the minds of the youth generally. Fond parents, your daughters are not always taught self-denial and self-control. They are petted, and their pride is fostered. They are allowed to have their own way until they become headstrong and self-willed, and you are put to your wits’ end to know what course to pursue, to save them from ruin. Satan is leading them on to be a proverb in the mouths of unbelievers, because of their boldness, their lack of reserve and want of female modesty.?{SA 153.3}[12]
§27
你们也照样任由小伙子们偏行己路。他们还没有进入青春期，便开始陪伴同龄的小女孩回家，并与之谈情说爱了。因为父母从小娇惯溺爱他们的儿女，就完全受了奴役，以致不敢采取坚决手段作出改变，约束他们发育过快的儿女。{SA154.1}[13]
§28
The young boys are likewise left to have their own way. They have scarcely entered their teens before they are by the side of little girls about their own age, accompanying them home, and making love to them. And the parents are so completely in bondage through their own indulgence, and their mistaken love for their children, that they dare not pursue a decided course to make a change, and restrain their too fast children.?{SA 154.1}[13]
§29
许多姑娘谈论的主题是小伙子，小伙子谈论的主题是姑娘。“心里所充满的，口里就说出来”（太12:34）。他们心里主要思想什么，他们谈论的话题就是什么。记录的天使正在记下这些自称是基督徒的小伙和姑娘的话语。他们在上帝的大日再次见到自己的人生记录时，将会多么抱愧蒙羞啊！许多青少年是十足的伪善者。那些未公开接受信仰的青年，被这些假冒为善的人绊倒，任凭别人为他们的得救作多少努力，也无济于事了。但愿我们能唤醒父母们认识到他们的责任！但愿他们深感落在他们身上之责任的分量！那样他们就能阻止仇敌并为耶稣获得宝贵的胜利。父母们在这事上并不是没有罪的。他们应当仔细省察他们的生活，分析他们的思想和动机，看看他们的行为举止是否审慎。他们应当密切注意，看自己言行的榜样是不是希望儿女效法的。你们在儿女面前，应当在自己的言行上表现出纯洁和美德来。{SA154.2}[14]
§30
With many young ladies, the boys is the theme of conversation, and with the young men, it is the girls. Out of the abundance?of the heart the mouth speaketh. They talk of those subjects upon which their minds mostly run. The recording angel is writing the words of these professed Christian boys and girls. How will they be confused and ashamed when they meet them again in the day of God. There are too many children who are a sort of pious hypocrites. The youth who have not made a profession of religion stumble over these hypocritical ones, and are hardened against any effort that may be made by those interested in their salvation. Oh! that we could arouse fathers and mothers to have a sense of their duty. Oh! that they would feel deeply the weight of responsibility resting upon them. Then they might forestall the enemy, and gain precious victories for Jesus. Parents are not clear in this matter. They should investigate their lives closely, analyze their thoughts and motives, and see if they have been circumspect in their course of action. They should closely watch, to see if their example in conversation and deportment has been such as they would wish their children to imitate. Have purity and virtue shine out in your words and acts before your children.?{SA 154.2}[14]
§31
有些家庭中为夫为父的人并未维持跟从耶稣基督的人应该有的那种矜持，那种高贵神圣的男子气概。他并没有向他的妻子──就是他已在上帝和众天使面前许下誓愿，在他们二人有生之日要加以亲爱，恭敬，并尊重的那一位──作出仁慈、亲切和有礼的行动。家中所雇用的女佣竟随便冒昧地替男主人梳理头发，表现出亲昵的关切，他却愚昧地沾沾自喜。他给予自己妻子的爱与关切，已不如往日那样明显。无疑撒但也在从中活动。你当尊重你家中的雇工，仁慈而体谅地对待她们，但不能越过应有的界限。当谨慎自己的行为，以免与她们有越礼的亲昵表现。你若有仁慈的言语和谦恭的行为要给人，把它们给你的妻子始终是安全的。这会成为她的一大福气，也会给她的心带来幸福快乐，再反馈给你。作妻子的也向别的男人表示她们的同情、兴趣和情意，这些人或许是家族里的人。她将这些异性当作知己，更喜欢和他们交往，向他们倾吐自己的烦恼，甚至自己私人家庭的事。{SA155.1}[15]
§32
There are families where the husband and father has not preserved that reserve, that dignified, godlike manhood, which a follower of Jesus Christ should. He has failed to?manifest kind, tender, courteous acts due to his wife, whom he has promised before God and angels to love and respect and honor while they both shall live. The girl employed to do the work may be free and somewhat forward in her attentions to dress his hair and be affectionately attentive, and he is pleased, foolishly pleased. And he is not as demonstrative in his attention and love as he once was to his wife. Be sure Satan is at work here. Respect your hired help, treat them kindly, considerately, but go no farther. Let your deportment be such that there will be no advances to familiarity from your help. If you have words of kindness and acts of courtesy to give, it is always safe to give them to your wife. It will be a great blessing to her, and will bring happiness to her heart which will be reflected back upon you again. Also, the wife may let her sympathies and interest and affection go out to another man beside her husband. He may be a member of the family, whom she makes a confidant, and to whom she relates her troubles, and, perhaps, her private family matters. She shows a preference for his society.?{SA 155.1}[15]
§33
唆使人做出这种行为的是撒但；她若不感到惊恐并且就此止步，他就会引她走向灭亡。我的姐妹们：你们在这事上再怎么谨慎、保守都不过分。你若有温柔、亲爱的话语和体贴的殷勤要给人，就把它们给你已在上帝和天使面前承诺要在你们二人有生之年去敬爱和尊重的丈夫吧。唉，多少人的生活因拆毁了保护每一家庭隐私的围墙而变得痛苦不堪啊！这围墙是用以维持家庭的纯正与圣洁的！若有第三者介入博得了妻子的信任，她便将家庭隐私敞露于挚友之前。这乃是撒但的诡计，藉以离间夫妻的心。但愿这样的事早日停止！就会免除多少烦恼的事啊！你们务要将彼此的过错深锁于自己的心内。只把你们的烦恼告诉上帝。祂能给你们正确的意见和可靠的安慰，必是纯净而毫无痛苦的。---怀爱伦{SA156.1}[16]
§34
Satan is at the bottom of this; and unless she can be alarmed, and stopped just where she is, he will lead her to ruin. My sisters, you cannot observe too great caution in this?matter. If you have tender, loving words and kindly attentions to bestow, let them be given him you have promised before God and angels to love, honor and respect, while you both shall live. Oh! how many lives are made bitter by the walls being broken down which inclose the privacies of every family, calculated to preserve purity and sanctity. A third person is taken into the confidence of the wife, and her private family matters are laid open before the special friend. This is the device of Satan to estrange the hearts of the husband and wife. Oh! that this would cease. What a world of trouble would be saved! Lock the faults of one another within your own hearts. Tell your troubles alone to God. He can give you right counsel and sure consolation, which will be pure, having no bitterness in it.E. G. W.?{SA 156.1}[16]