第111章 品格的培养
§1
第111章 品格的培养Forming Character
§2
品格的力量在于意志的能力和自制的能力。许多青年人误认为放荡不羁是品格坚强的表现，但实际上被自己的情感所控制的人乃是弱者。人真正的伟大和高尚，在于他能控制自己的感情，而不是被感情所控制。最刚强的人，是在受到屈辱时仍能控制自己的情感而赦免仇敌的人。这样的人才是真英雄。{1TT 602.1}[1]
§3
Strength of character consists of two things—power of will and power of self-control. Many youth mistake strong, uncontrolled passion for strength of character; but the truth is that he who is mastered by his passions is a weak man. The real greatness and nobility of the man is measured by the power of the feelings that he subdues, not by the power of the feelings that subdue him. The strongest man is he, who, while sensitive to abuse, will yet restrain passion and forgive his enemies. Such men are true heroes.?{1TT 602.1}[1]
§4
许多人对于自己的前途所知甚少，宁愿留在发育不良的狭隘状态中。然而他们若能善用上帝所赐的能力，就可形成高尚的品格，发出一种引人归向基督的感化力。知识就是力量；然而智力若无善良的心，就变成行恶的能力了。{1TT 602.2}[2]
§5
Many have such meager ideas of what they may become that they will ever remain dwarfed and narrow, when, if they would improve the powers which God has given them, they might develop a noble character and exert an influence that would win souls to Christ. Knowledge is power; but intellectual ability, without goodness of heart, is a power for evil.?{1TT 602.2}[2]
§6
上帝赐给我们智力和道德力，但在很大的程度上，各人是自己品格的建筑师。这个建筑正在日趋完成。圣经警告我们要注意我们如何建造，看看我们的建筑物是否立足于永久磐石上。时候将到，我们的工程将显出其本相。现在正是个人培养上帝所赐才能的时候，应当为今生有用并度今后更高的人生，塑造品格。{1TT 602.3}[3]
§7
God has given us our intellectual and moral powers, but to a great extent every person is the architect of his own character. Every day the structure is going up. The word of God warns us to take heed how we build, to see that our building is founded upon the eternal Rock. The time is coming when our work will stand revealed just as it is. Now is the time for all to cultivate the powers which God has given them, that they may form characters for usefulness here and for a higher life hereafter.?{1TT 602.3}[3]
§8
人生的每一个行动，不论多么无足轻重，对于品格的形成都是有影响的。良好的品格比世上的财产更宝贵，而塑造品格的工作，乃是人所能从事的最高尚的工作。{1TT 602.4}[4]
§9
Every act of life, however unimportant, has its influence in forming the character. A good character is more precious than worldly possessions, and the work of forming it is the noblest in which men can engage.?{1TT 602.4}[4]
§10
环境所形成的品格是易变，不和谐与矛盾的。拥有这等品格的人，人生上没有高尚的目标或志向，不能发挥提高别人品格的感化力。他们既无目的也无能力。{1TT 603.1}[5]
§11
Characters formed by circumstance are changeable and discordant—a mass of contraries. Their possessors have no high aim or purpose in life. They have no ennobling influence upon the characters of others. They are purposeless and powerless.?{1TT 603.1}[5]
§12
配给我们的短暂生命，应予以聪明地利用。上帝希望祂的教会成为活泼，虔诚，作工的教会。但我们的人就整体而论，现今还是离此甚远。上帝呼召刚强英勇的人，呼召积极活泼的基督徒。他们要效法那真正的模范，为上帝和正义发挥一种坚定的影响力。主已交给我们一项神圣的委托，就是最重要最严肃的真理，我们应当在自己的生活和品格中显示其影响力。（4T655-657.1881年）{1TT 603.2}[6]
§13
The little span of life allotted us here should be wisely improved. God would have His church a living, devoted, working church. But our people, as a body, are far from this now. God calls for strong, brave souls, for active, living Christians, who are following the true Pattern, and who will exert a decided influence for God and the right. The Lord has committed to us, as a sacred trust, most important and solemn truths, and we should show their influence upon our lives and characters.?{1TT 603.2}[6]
§14
使徒保罗叫我们注意到奥林匹克运动场上，那些参加赛跑的人必需有最彻底的准备之情形。他们经年累月在不同的教师训练之下，操练身体，以加强精力和体力。他们的饮食，限于与其身体健康最有益的食物，所穿的衣服，也须使每一器官及肌肉不受拘束。{1TT 603.3}[7]
§15
In the Olympic games to which the apostle Paul calls our attention, those engaged in the races were required to make most thorough preparations. For months they were trained by different masters in the physical exercises calculated to give strength and vigor to the body. They were restricted to such food as would keep the body in the most healthy condition, and their clothing was such as would leave every organ and muscle untrammeled.?{1TT 603.3}[7]
§16
如果那些参加赛跑，要得属世荣誉的人，必须受这样严格的训练，以求成功，那么那些参加主工的人，若要成功，就更当怎样彻底地受训练及准备啊！他们的准备应当比那渴想属世尊荣之人的准备更加彻底，他们的诚心及克己的努力，也当更大；因为属天的事物比属地的事物更有价值得多了。人的心思也象肌肉一样，应当严受训练，使具有最殷勤恒毅的效力。成功之路并非平坦之途，我们可以坐着豪华车而进；它乃是崎岖小路，满了障碍之物，只有藉着忍耐劳苦，才能越过。（5T552.1889年）?{1TT 603.4}[8]
§17
Now if those who were to engage in running a race for earthly honor were obliged to submit to such severe discipline in order to succeed, how much more necessary it is for those who are to engage in the work of the Lord to be thoroughly disciplined and prepared, if they would be successful! Their preparation should be as much more thorough, their earnestness and self-denying efforts as much greater, than were those of the aspirants for worldly honors, as heavenly things are of more value than earthly. The mind, as well as the muscles, should be trained to the most diligent and persevering efforts. The road to success is not a smooth way over which we are?borne in palace cars, but it is a rugged path filled with obstacles which can be surmounted only by patient toil.—1889,?Testimonies for the Church 5:552.?{1TT 603.4}[8]
§18
我们的行动对自己和别人今后历史的影响，我们知之甚少。许多人以为自己所作的事是无关重要的。他们以为自己若愿去赴这场音乐会，或参加那种世俗的娱乐，并没有什么害处。撒但就这样引导和控制了他们的欲望；他们也不认为后果非常严重。但实际上它可能是一连串事件中的一环，把人绑在撒但的网罗里，决定其永远的灭亡。{1TT 604.1}[9]
§19
How little we know of the bearing our acts will have upon the future history of ourselves and others. Many think it is of little importance what they do. It will do no harm for them to attend this concert, or unite with the world in that amusement, if they wish to do so. Thus Satan leads and controls their desires, and they do not consider that the results may be most momentous. It may be the link in the chain of events which binds a soul in the snare of Satan and determines his eternal ruin.?{1TT 604.1}[9]
§20
每一行动，无论是多么微小，在人生的大剧中都有其地位。试想那为满足口腹之欲而起的一念之差，把罪引进世界，酿成悲惨的后果。上帝的儿子们与人的女儿不圣洁的结合，导致背道犯罪，使全世界遭受洪水的毁灭。最微小的自我放纵，也会导致重大变乱。今日的情形也是这样。能周密考虑的人，实不多见。他们象古代的以色列民一样，不听忠告，只随从自己的意愿而行。他们与世俗的人联合，参赴他们能引人注目的集会，就这样带了头，让别人随从。他们及许多其他人，作了一次，势必再作。每进一步，就使印象更持久，不仅印在自己的良心和习惯上，也是印在别人的良心和习惯上。想到这里，我们不禁对人生肃然起敬。（5T92，93.1882年）?{1TT 604.2}[10]
§21
Every act, however small, has its place in the great drama of life. Consider that the desire for a single gratification of appetite introduced sin into our world, with its terrible consequences. Unhallowed marriages of the sons of God with the daughters of men resulted in apostasy which ended in the destruction of the world by a flood. The most trifling act of self-indulgence has resulted in great revolutions. This is the case now. There are very few who are circumspect. Like the children of Israel, they will not take heed to words of counsel, but follow their own inclination. They unite with a worldly element in attending gatherings where they will be brought into notice, and thus lead the way and others follow. What has been done once will be done again by themselves and many others. Every step these take makes a lasting impression, not only on their own consciences and habits, but upon those of others. This consideration gives awful dignity to human life.—1882,?Testimonies for the Church 5:92, 93.?{1TT 604.2}[10]
§22
不论现在还是将来，我们的习惯要塑造我们的为人。人若养成正当的习惯，忠心执行每一本分，他们的生活就必发出光来，照亮别人的路；反之，人若放纵不忠心的恶习，让疏懈，怠惰和玩忽等恶习增强，那比午夜更黑的乌云，就必笼罩在今生的前途上，并要永远拦阻该人进入来生。（4T452.1880年）{1TT 604.3}[11]
§23
We shall be individually, for time and eternity, what our habits make us. The lives of those who form right habits, and?are faithful in the performance of every duty, will be as shining lights, shedding bright beams upon the pathway of others; but if habits of unfaithfulness are indulged, if lax, indolent, neglectful habits are allowed to strengthen, a cloud darker than midnight will settle on the prospects in this life and forever debar the individual from the future life.—1880,?Testimonies for the Church 4:452.?{1TT 604.3}[11]
§24
全部圣经是上帝的荣耀在基督里的启示。接受、相信和顺从圣经，乃是改变品格的伟大工具和启发智力的唯一良方。（8T319.1904年）?{1TT 605.1}[12]
§25
The whole Bible is a revelation of the glory of God in Christ. Received, believed, obeyed, it is the great instrumentality in the transformation of character. And it is the only sure means of intellectual culture.—1904,?Testimonies for the Church 8:319.?{1TT 605.1}[12]
§26
基督的宗教决不会贬低接受的人，也不会使他粗野、无礼、自大，易怒或铁石心肠。反之，它会提炼人的品味，圣化人的见解，洁净和提高人的思想，使之顺服基督。上帝对祂儿女的理想，超过最高尚的人所能想到的。祂在祂的圣律法之中，赐下了祂品格的副本。（8T.63.1904年）{1TT 605.2}[13]
§27
The religion of Christ never degrades the receiver; it never makes him coarse or rough, discourteous or self-important, passionate or hardhearted. On the contrary, it refines the taste, sanctifies the judgment, and purifies and ennobles the thoughts, bringing them into captivity to Christ. God’s ideal for His children is higher than the highest human thought can reach. He has given in His holy law a transcript of His character.—1904,?Testimonies for the Church 8:63.?{1TT 605.2}[13]
§28
基督徒品格的理想就是基督化。展开在我们前面的，是一条不断前进的道路。我们有一个目的要实现，有一个标准要达到。凡善良，纯洁，尊贵，高尚的事物，无不包括在内。我们应当不断努力，不断进步，向前向上，造就完美的品格。（8T.64.1904年）{1TT 605.3}[14]
§29
The ideal of Christian character is Christlikeness. There is opened before us a path of constant advancement. We have an object to gain, a standard to reach, that includes everything good and pure and noble and elevated. There should be continual striving and constant progress onward and upward toward perfection of character.—1904,?Testimonies for the Church 8:64.?{1TT 605.3}[14]