第281号 三封早期的信函
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第281号 三封早期的信函
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MR No. 281 - Three Early Letters
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雅各在工作，姐妹们总是不在家，我想我要给你写几行。我的健康状况相当不错。我依然坚信升入天国的耶稣很快会以祂升天那样的方式回来。最近我经历了许多试炼，有时非常灰心，仿佛难以摆脱。但感谢上帝，撒但没能在我身上取得胜利，靠着上帝的恩典他永远无法战胜我。我认识并感受到我的软弱，但我依靠耶和华大能的臂膀，今天我能说我知道我的救赎主活着。祂既活着，我也要活着。遇到一班具有相同宝贵信仰的人，用圣经神圣快乐的话互相劝告和安慰是多么好啊！现在羊群四散各处的，但感谢上帝，他们正被聚集到一个美好的牧场。{5MR95.1}[1]
§4
As James is at work and sisters are [away] from home, thought I would employ myself in writing a line to you. My health is quite good for me. My faith is still strong that that very same Jesus that ascended up into heaven will so come in like manner as He went up, and that very, very soon. I have had many trials of late; discouragement at times has laid so fast hold upon me it seemed impossible to shake it off. But thank God, Satan has not got the victory over me yet, and by the grace of God he never shall. I know and feel my weakness, but I have laid hold upon the strong arm of Jehovah, and I can say today I know that my Redeemer liveth, and if He lives I shall live also. Oh, how good it would be to meet with a few of like precious faith to exhort and comfort one another with words of holy cheer from the word of God. The sheep are now scattered, but thank God they are about to be gathered to a good pasture. {5MR 95.1}[1]
§5
能在我们上帝的城中见到所有经过宝血洁净的人是多么温馨啊！那时我们要欢唱摩西和羔羊的歌，穿过城门进入圣城，举着胜利的棕榈枝，戴着荣耀的冠冕。{5MR95.2}[2]
§6
Oh, how sweet it will be to meet all the blood-washed throng in the city of our God. Tis then well sing the song of Moses and the Lamb as we march through the gates into the city, bearing the palms of victory and wearing the crowns of glory. {5MR 95.2}[2]
§7
贝茨弟兄，你在写给雅各的信里提到新郎的来临，如同最初发表的异象所陈述的。在信中你表示想知道我是否在见异象之前就拥有新郎来临的亮光。我可以马上回答说：没有。主在十二月对我显示了复临团体的艰难和半夜的呼声，但直到次年二月祂才向我显示新郎的来临。你也许希望我发表一个关于两个异象的声明。我在见半夜呼声的异象时，象大多数复临信徒那样，已放弃它在过去已应验的想法，以为它在将来。我不知道J.特纳什么时候拿出他的文件。我知道他有一份在屋外，有一份在屋里，但我不知道内容，因为我一个字都没看。我一直病着，当时依然病得很重。我没兴趣读，因为这会令我头疼和不安。我看到异象，蒙受上帝的光照以后，祂命我将之转达给团体，但我畏缩了。我太年轻，我想他们不会接受我的信息。我没有顺从上帝，没有留在当晚要举行聚会的家里，反而一大早乘雪橇驱程三四英里找到J.特纳。他只是询问了我的状况，以及我是否在履行职责。我无话可说，因为我知道我没有尽责。我上去进入房间，两小时后才再次见到他，那时他过来问我是否要参加当晚的聚会，我说不。他说他希望听我讲述异象，并认为我应该回家。我告诉他我不去，他不再多说就离开了。我想过，并告诉周围的人，如果我去的话，我会不得不出来反对他的观点，我以为他与其余的人持相同的看法。我还没有告诉他们中任何人上帝向我所显示的，我没有告诉他们我应如何阻拦他的行动。{5MR95.3}[3]
§8
Brother Bates, you write in a letter to James something about the Bridegrooms coming, as stated in the first published visions. By the letter you would like to know whether I had light on the Bridegrooms coming before I saw it in vision. I can readily answer, No. The Lord showed me the travail of the Advent band and Midnight Cry in December, but He did not show me the Bridegrooms coming until February following. Perhaps you would like to have me give a statement in relation to both visions. At the time I had the vision of the Midnight Cry I had given it up in the past and thought it future, as also most of the band had. I know not what time J. Turner got out his paper. I knew he had one out and one was in the house, but I knew not what was in it, for I did not read a word in it. I had been, and still was very sick. I took no interest in reading, for it injured my head and made me nervous. After I had the vision and God gave me light, He bade me deliver it to the band, but I shrank from it. I was young, and I thought they would not receive it from me. I disobeyed the Lord, and instead of remaining at home, where the meeting was to be that night, I got in a sleigh in the morning and rode three or four miles and there I found J. T. He merely inquired how I was and if I was in the way of my duty. I said nothing, for I knew I was not. I passed up [to the] chamber and did not see him again for two hours, when he came up, asked if I was to be at meeting that night. I told him, No. He said he wanted to hear my vision and thought it duty for me to go home. I told him I should not. He said no more, but went away. I thought, and told those around me, if I went I should have to come out against his views, thinking he believed with the rest. I had not told any of them what God had shown me, and I did not tell them in what I should cut across his track. {5MR 95.3}[3]
§9
那一整天我的身心非常痛苦。上帝仿佛完全抛弃了我。我向主祷告，如果祂给我力量使我能在那晚驱车回家，我将一有机会就把祂给我的信息传递出去。那晚祂真的给了我力量让我到家。聚会已经在某个时间结束了，关于这次聚会，家人没有说一句话。{5MR96.1}[4]
§10
All that day I suffered much in body and mind. It seemed that God had forsaken me entirely. I prayed the Lord if He would give me strength to ride home that night, the first opportunity I would deliver the message He had given me. He did give me strength and I rode home that night. Meeting had been done some time, and not a word was said by any of the family about the meeting. {5MR 96.1}[4]
§11
次日清早J.特纳来访，他说他很匆忙，很快就要离城，希望我能告诉他上帝在异象中向我显示的所有内容。我恐惧战兢地全部告诉了他。我说完以后，他说他昨晚也说了同样的内容。我很高兴，因为我本以为他是出来反对我的，我一直没听过有人说起他所信的。他说主派他来听我讲前一晚的事，但是由于我不说，他就想让他的孩子们以某种方式得到亮光，因此他把他们带去聚会。他讲话时没有透露很多，因此我下一次聚会上讲述了我的异象，大家相信我的异象来自上帝，接受了上帝命我向他们传递的信息。{5MR97.1}[5]
§12
Very early next morning J. T. called, said he was in haste going out of the city in a short time, and wanted I should tell him all that God had shown me in vision. It was with fear and trembling I told him all. After I had got through he said he had told out the same last evening. I was rejoiced, for I expected he was coming out against me, for all the while I had not heard anyone say what he believed. He said the Lord had sent him to hear me talk the evening before, but as I would not, he meant his children should have the light in some way, so he took them [to the meeting]. There were but few out when he talked, so the next meeting I told my vision, and the band, believing my visions from God, received what God bade me to deliver to them. {5MR 97.1}[5]
§13
大约在1845年二月中旬，我见到了新郎来临的异象。{5MR97.2}[6]
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The view about the Bridegrooms coming I had about the middle of February, 1845. {5MR 97.2}[6]
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我在缅因埃克塞特，与伊斯雷尔.戴蒙、雅各以及其他许多人会见的时候，他们中的许多人都不相信关门的事。我在聚会的开始很是痛苦。各方面似乎都有不信。那里有一位据说很属灵的姐妹。她富有旅行的经验，在过去二十年里大部分时间是一个有能力的传道人。她真是一个以色列的母亲。但团体中在关门的问题上已有分歧。她是大有同情心的人，不能相信门已经关了（我对他们的分岐一无所知）。德班姐妹起来讲话，我感到非常的忧伤。最后我的心灵似乎处于非常的痛苦之中，在她讲话的时候，我从椅子跌到地上。那时我得了一个异象，看见耶稣从中保的宝座上起来，到至圣所去，作为新郎接受祂的国度。他们都对这个异象深感兴趣，都说这对他们而言是完全陌生的。主以大能工作，使真理深入他们的心。德班姊妹了解主的大能，因为她已有多次的体会，我瘫倒后不久，她也被击倒在地板上，向上帝哭求怜悯。我从异象中出来时，听到德班姊妹歌唱和大声喊叫。他们大多数都接受了异象，解决了关门的问题。此前我还没有得到新郎来临的亮光，反而指望祂在七月初十来到这个世上拯救祂的子民。我没有听过任何有关新郎前往至圣所的演讲或字句。{5MR97.3}[7]
§16
While in Exeter, Maine, in meeting with Israel Dammon, James, and many others, many of them did not believe in a shut door. I suffered much at the commencement of the meeting. Unbelief seemed to be on every hand. There was one sister there that was called very spiritual. She had traveled and been a powerful preacher the most of the time for twenty years. She had been truly a mother in Israel. But a division had risen in the band on the shut door. She had great sympathy, and could not believe the door was shut. (I had known nothing of their differences.) Sister Durben got up to talk. I felt very, very sad. At length my soul seemed to be in an agony, and while she was talking I fell from my chair to the floor. It was then I had a view of Jesus rising from His mediatorial throne and going to the Holiest as Bridegroom to receive His kingdom. They were all deeply interested in the view. They all said it was entirely new to them. The Lord worked in mighty power setting the truth home to their hearts. Sister Durben knew what the power of the Lord was, for she had felt it many times; and a short time after I fell she was struck down, and fell to the floor, crying to God to have mercy on her. When I came out of vision, my ears were saluted with Sister Durbens singing and shouting with a loud voice. Most of them received the vision, and were settled upon the shut door. Previous to this I had no light on the coming of the Bridegroom, but had expected Him to [come to] this earth to deliver His people on the tenth day of the seventh month. I did not hear a lecture or a word in any way relating to the Bridegrooms going to the Holiest. {5MR 97.3}[7]
§17
在1842，1843和1844年，我少有出行的特权。我的两个姐姐都去新罕布什尔州和缅因州参加帐篷聚会。我因健康原因只参加了缅因州的一次聚会。我知道我所得到的亮光来自上帝，并非人所教导的。在上帝给我异象之前，我不知道如何写作使别人能读懂。因健康的原因我只上过很短时间的学。十二岁以后我没想过上一天的学，之前一次也是只能上几天学，因为生病我得卧床数周有时甚至数月。我第一次给别人写能称之为文字的时间，是在我得病、别人为我献上信心的祈祷而我康复之后（内容到此，剩下的信页遗失了。）（《信函》1847年3号1-4页，致贝约瑟，1847年7月13日）{5MR98.1}[8]
§18
I had but very few privileges in 1842, 1843 and 1844. My sisters both went to the camp meetings in New Hampshire and Maine, while my health prevented me from going to but one, in Maine. I know the light I received came from God, it was not taught me by man. I knew not how to write so that others could read it till God gave me my visions. I went to school but very little on account of my health. I do not think I went to school a day after I was twelve years old, and did not go then but a few days at a time, when sickness would cause me to take my bed for weeks and sometimes for months. The first I wrote another that could be called writing was after I had been sick and the prayer of faith was put up for me, and healing [here the sheet ends, and the remainder of the letter is gone.]--Letter 3, 1847, pp. 1-4. (To Joseph Bates, July 13, 1847.) {5MR 98.1}[8]
§19
亲爱的姐妹，虽然我没有写信，但我没有忘记你。我经常想起你，为你和其他孩子祷告，使你和他们不致丧失信心。不要跟世人混在一起，要与他们保持距离。你如果与他们厮混无疑会失去能力。要寻求靠近上帝生活，与祂进行甜蜜的交流。（《信函》1850年8号第3页，致阿拉贝拉.黑斯廷斯姐妹。1850年8月4日）{5MR99.1}[9]
§20
Dear Sister, I have not forgotten you, although I have not written you. I have often thought of you and prayed for you and the rest of the children, that your and their faith fail not. Do not mingle with the world; keep separate from them. If you mingle with them you will surely lose strength. Seek to live near to God and to hold sweet communion with Him.--Letter 8, 1850, p. 3. (To Sister Arabella Hastings, August 4, 1850.) {5MR 99.1}[9]
§21
我现在坐下来给你们写几行。之前没写信的原因是我的时间都被占据了。我一直在把异象写出来要发表，希望尽快出版，这样你们就能看到书面的内容。但是因为第一篇文章耽搁了，你们又急于了解我们的一些计划，我就不再等了。{5MR99.2}[10]
§22
I now sit down to address you a few lines. The reason I have not written before is [that] my time has been improved. I have been writing out the visions for publication and expected them to be out sooner, and then you could have them in print; but as the first paper is delayed and you will be anxious to learn something of our calculations, I will wait no longer. {5MR 99.2}[10]
§23
你们离开我们之后，我们开始向主询问祂要我们去做的事和我们应在哪里出版。我在异象里看到雅各必须着手进行工作，努力开辟道路。如果道路在他面前拐弯，他就必须留下，但如果道路封闭不开放，我们就到别的地方。雅各一直在做上帝指示我要他做的事。他面前的道路已经敞开。第一篇文章今天发表，将折叠好明早送办公室。他在萨拉托加做出版工作，离这里有九英里远。我们还没找到房子。我们要尽快在斯普林斯附近找一处，那儿离印刷所只有几英里。我们本周等待来自缅因州的朋友，至多大约三周会全部安顿好。{5MR99.3}[11]
§24
After you left us we began to enquire of the Lord what He would have us to do, or where we should publish, and it was shown me in vision that James must lay his hand to the work and strive to open the way, and if the way should bend before him, he must remain; but if it was shut up and did not open, we must go elsewhere. James has been doing as God showed me he must do, and the way has opened before him so that the first paper will be off today, and will be folded and in the office tomorrow morning. He does his publishing at Saratoga, nine miles from here. We have not yet got a house. We shall get one as soon as possible near the Springs, where it will be only a few miles from the printing office. We expect our friends this week from Maine, and in about three weeks shall be entirely settled, if not before. {5MR 99.3}[11]
§25
我们离开你们来到汤普森弟兄家后，对这个家庭产生了很大的兴趣，特别是孩子们。星期二早上我们为他们深感痛苦。我们觉得上帝必须为他们工作。我们恳切同心的祈祷升入第二层幔子里。我们为他们提说应许，第一次听到他们祷告。那个早上他们度过了美好的时光，现在他们一般每天早晚都祷告。上帝在为他们工作，赞美祂的圣名。{5MR99.4}[12]
§26
After we parted with you and came to Brother Thompsons, we felt a great interest for this family, especially the children; and Tuesday morning we felt agony of soul for them. We felt that God must work for them, and our earnest, united prayers ascended within the second veil; we claimed the promises for them, and for the first time their voices were heard in prayer. They had a good time that morn, and now they generally pray morning and evening. God is at work for them; praise His holy name. {5MR 99.4}[12]
§27
自从会议的报告（当然是坏消息）传来以后，这里起了骚动。有些人急于亲自听到，要来参加这次会议。异象使许多人困惑。他们不知道如何理解。我们要将异象以小册子的形式发表，如果小册子里没有详尽描述我在库什曼弟兄家看到的异象，如果你们希望的话，我就写给你们。既然这些内容不久将发表在小册子里，我想你就不希望我为你详细描写了。现在我们估计你大约四周后能收到此书。{5MR100.1}[13]
§28
There is a stir all around here since the conference reports are being carried (evil of course). Some are anxious to hear for themselves and will come to the meetings. The visions trouble many. They [know] not what to make of them. We shall have the visions published in pamphlet form and if all the particulars are not published in the pamphlet, that I saw at Brother Cushmans, and if you desire it I can write it off for you. As it was coming out so soon in the pamphlet, I thought that you would not wish me to write them all off for you. We now think that you can have the book in about four weeks. {5MR 100.1}[13]
§29
你们收到这封信以后必须给我们回信，不要拖延。我们非常希望听到你的回音。我这段时间身体很差，身上发热，呼吸不畅使我非常痛苦。我依然虚弱，但比以前要好。雅各的身体状况与你们见他时一样。我们渴望摆脱这受苦的躯体，穿上荣耀的不朽。亲爱的朋友们，要在主里刚强。要持定你所获得的。我们很爱我在卡姆登见过的亲爱朋友们和未曾见面的众圣徒。告诉他们要运用对上帝坚强活泼的信心，牢牢地彼此团结，不要很容易就受到考验。哪里有团结，那里就有力量。要为上帝和祂的事业坚定勇敢。我乐于看到你们所有的人，也许我们会在耶稣来临前相聚。真理正在得胜，而且还会得胜。你们都一定要写信给我们，我们会尽力回信。{5MR100.2}[14]
§30
You must write us upon the reception of this. Do not delay. We want much to hear from you. My health has been quite poor for a short time; the heat affects me, and I have had a very distressing turn of losing my breath. I am weak still; but better than I have been. Jamess health is the same as when you saw him. We are longing to be delivered from this body of suffering, and put on a glorious immortality. Be strong in the Lord, dear friends. Hold fast whereunto you have attained. Much love to those dear friends I saw at Camden, and all the saints that I have not seen. Tell them to exercise strong and living faith in God, and be united strongly with each other, and not be easily tried. Where there is union there is strength. Be firm and valiant for God and His cause. I should love to see you all, and perhaps we may before Jesus comes. The truth is triumphing, and will still triumph, more and more. Be sure and write us all of you, and we will try to answer your letters. {5MR 100.2}[14]
§31
你们的姐妹本着爱心写于匆忙之中。（《信函》1851年4号1，2页，致道奇弟兄夫妇，1851年7月21日)1971年10月18日发布。{5MR101.1}[15]
§32
Your sister in much love and great haste.--Letter 4, 1851, pp. 1, 2. (To Brother and Sister Dodge, July 21, 1851.) Released October 18, 1971. {5MR 101.1}[15]