第40章 为病人祷告
§1
第40章 为病人祷告Prayer for the Sick
§2
关于F姐妹的病情，有一番大工应当作成。那些同心为她祷告的人，也有一番工作要作。如果上帝应允了他们的祷告，反而是害了他们。这一类的病痛乃是由于撒但控制了心思而来，因此作祷告之前，应当先下一番缜密的自省工作，察看是否还有罪恶需要悔改，承认和丢弃。应当在上帝面前深切谦卑，坚决而虚心地单单信靠基督宝血的功劳。{1TT 212.1}[1]
§3
In the case of Sister F, there needed to be a great work accomplished. Those who united in praying for her needed a work done for them. Had God answered their prayers, it would have proved their ruin. In such cases of affliction, where Satan has control of the mind, before engaging in prayer there should be the closest self-examination to discover if there are not sins which need to be repented of, confessed, and forsaken. Deep humility of soul before God is necessary, and firm, humble reliance upon the merits of the blood of Christ alone.?{1TT 212.1}[1]
§4
在因行动错误而使心思远离上帝之时，禁食祈祷也是无用的。“我所拣选的禁食，不是要松开凶恶的绳，解下轭上的索，使被欺压的得自由，折断一切的轭么？不是要把你的饼分给饥饿的人；将飘流的穷人接到你家中；见赤身的给他衣服遮体；顾恤自己的骨肉而不掩藏么？”“那时你求告，耶和华必应允；你呼求，祂必说，我在这里。你若从你中间除掉重轭，和指摘人的指头，并发恶言的事；你心若向饥饿的人发怜悯，使困苦的人得满足；你的光就必在黑暗中发现，你的幽暗必变如正午；耶和华也必时常引导你，在干旱之地，使你心满意足，骨头强壮；你必象浇灌的园子，又象水流不绝的泉源”（赛58:6-7；9-11）。{1TT 212.2}[2]
§5
Fasting and prayer will accomplish nothing while the heart is estranged from God by a wrong course of action. “Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?” “Then shalt thou call, and the Lord shall answer; thou shalt cry, and He shall say, Here I am. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity; and if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noonday: and the Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.”?Isaiah 58:6, 7, 9-11.?{1TT 212.2}[2]
§6
上帝所要的乃是内心的工作，好行为来自爱所充满的心。大家都当留心而虔诚地思想上面的经文，并省察自己的动机和行为。上帝给我们的应许原是以顺从及符合祂的一切要求为条件。先知以赛亚说：“你要大声喊叫，不可止息，扬起声来好像吹角，向我百姓说明他们的过犯，向雅各家说明他们的罪恶。他们天天寻求我，乐意明白我的道；好像行义的国民，不离弃他们上帝的典章，向我求问公义的判语，喜悦亲近上帝。他们说，我们禁食，你为何不看见呢？我们刻苦己心，你为何不理会呢”（赛58:1-3）？{1TT 213.1}[3]
§7
It is heartwork that the Lord requires, good works springing from a heart filled with love. All should carefully and prayerfully consider the above scriptures, and investigate their motives and actions. The promise of God to us is on condition of obedience, compliance with all His requirements. “Cry aloud,” saith the prophet Isaiah, “spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and show My people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins. Yet they seek Me daily, and delight to know My ways, as a nation that did righteousness, and forsook not the ordinance of their God: they ask of Me the ordinances of justice; they take delight in approaching to God. Wherefore have we fasted, say they, and Thou seest not? wherefore have we afflicted our soul, and Thou takest no knowledge?”?Verses 1-3.?{1TT 213.1}[3]
§8
这里所提到的一等人，他们在信仰上自以为高，他们有祈祷的习惯，并乐意行各样宗教的礼节；但他们还有一种缺欠。他们知道自己的祈祷不蒙应允，他们的热忱及切心努力，也未得上天的注意，因此他们便迫切求问说，为什么主不理会他们。其实这并不是因为在上帝方面有什么忽略之处，症结还是在于人的身上。这等人一面自称敬虔，一面却没有结出果子来荣耀上帝；他们的行为不是他们所应有的。他们的生活忽略了积极的本分。除非他们履行这些本分，上帝就不能照着自己的荣耀而应允他们的祈祷。{1TT 213.2}[4]
§9
A people are here addressed who make high profession, who are in the habit of praying, and who delight in religious exercises; yet there is a lack. They realize that their prayers are not answered; their zealous, earnest efforts are not observed in heaven, and they earnestly inquire why the Lord makes them no returns. It is not because there is any neglect on the part of God. The difficulty is with the people. While professing godliness, they do not bear fruit to the glory of God; their works are not what they should be. They are living in neglect of positive duties. Unless these are performed, God cannot answer their prayers according to His glory.?{1TT 213.2}[4]
§10
关于为F姐妹献上祷告的事，意见有很大的分歧。有些人是热狂的，凭冲动行事。他们虽有热心，却不是按着真知识。有些人希望在这场病上有奇迹出现，并在尚未得到胜利之前，便开始夸耀。他们所表现的很象耶户的精神，“你和我同去，看我为耶和华怎样热心”（王下10:16）。其实他们应当丢弃这种自信的心，而存谦卑和不靠自己的精神，并要伤心痛悔，把这事呈到上帝的面前。{1TT 213.3}[5]
§11
In the case of offering prayer for Sister F, there was confusion of sentiment. Some were fanatical and moved from impulse. They possessed a zeal, but not according to knowledge. Some looked at the great thing to be accomplished in this case and began to triumph before the victory was gained. There was much of the Jehu spirit manifested: “Come with me, and see my zeal for the Lord.”?2 Kings 10:16. In place of this self-confident assurance, the case should have been presented to God with a spirit of humbleness and distrustfulness of self, and with a broken and a contrite heart.?{1TT 213.3}[5]
§12
【如何祷告】
§13
我蒙指示看到，若是有人害病，在我们为病人祈祷并无阻碍的时候，不应起骚动的兴奋，而应以平静的信心把病情交给主。只有祂熟悉人过去的生活，并晓得他将来怎样。这位熟悉万人之心的主知道那人病好之后，是会荣耀祂的名，还是会离道叛教而羞辱祂。我们所需要作的只是求问上帝，如果合乎祂的旨意，就使那人病好，并相信祂垂听我们所提出的理由，及所作的热切祈祷。如果主看这样最能荣耀祂，祂就要应允我们的祈祷。但我们若不顺服祂的旨意，只是力求使病人痊愈，就是不对的。{1TT 214.1}[6]
§14
【How to Pray】
§15
I was shown that in case of sickness, where the way is clear for the offering up of prayer for the sick, the case should be committed to the Lord in calm faith, not with a storm of excitement. He alone is acquainted with the past life of the individual and knows what his future will be. He who is acquainted with the hearts of all men knows whether the person, if raised up, would glorify His name or dishonor Him by backsliding and apostasy. All that we are required to do is to ask God to raise the sick up if in accordance with His will, believing that He hears the reasons which we present and the fervent prayers offered. If the Lord sees it will best honor Him, He will answer our prayers. But to urge recovery without submission to His will is not right.?{1TT 214.1}[6]
§16
上帝所应许的，祂随时都能作成，祂所给祂子民去作的工，也是祂能藉他们作成的。如果他们照着祂所说的每句话而生活，祂所说的每句良言及应许，就要在他们的身上实现。但他们若是达不到完全的顺从，伟大而宝贵的应许就要离他们远去，以至无法实现。{1TT 214.2}[7]
§17
What God promises He is able at any time to perform, and the work which He gives His people to do He is able to accomplish by them. If they will live according to every word He has spoken, every good word and promise will be fulfilled unto them. But if they come short of perfect obedience, the great and precious promises are afar off, and they cannot reach the fulfillment.?{1TT 214.2}[7]
§18
在为病人祈祷的事上，我们所能作的，只是迫切地为他们恳求上帝的看顾，并要全心信赖地将这事交托在祂的手中。我们的心中若注重罪孽，主必不听我们。祂能藉着属于祂的人去作成祂所愿意的事。祂要在那全然跟从祂的人里面运行，并藉他们做工，而使自己得荣耀，以致叫人知道祂是主，他们所行的是靠上帝而行。基督说：“若有人服事我，我父必尊重他”（约12:26）。当我们来到祂面前时，我们应当祈求使自己可以参与和成全祂的旨意，以致可以因上帝的心愿及兴趣，而忘却我们自己的心愿及兴趣。我们应承认我们接纳祂的旨意，而不是祈求祂向我们的心意让步。上帝没有常照我们所求的如时如愿应允，这乃是对我们更有益处。祂要为我们所行的，必定比实现我们一切的心愿更多而且更好；因为我们的智慧乃是愚昧。{1TT 214.3}[8]
§19
All that can be done in praying for the sick is to earnestly importune God in their behalf, and in perfect confidence rest the matter in His hands. If we regard iniquity in our hearts the Lord will not hear us. He can do what He will with His own. He will glorify Himself by working in and through them who wholly follow Him, so that it shall be known that it is the Lord and that their works are wrought in God. Said Christ: “If any man serve Me, him will My Father honor.”?John 12:26. When we come to Him we should pray that we may enter into and accomplish His purpose, and that our desires and interests may be lost in His. We should acknowledge our acceptance of His will, not praying Him to concede to ours. It is better for us that God?does not always answer our prayers just when we desire, and in just the manner we wish. He will do more and better for us than to accomplish all our wishes, for our wisdom is folly.?{1TT 214.3}[8]
§20
我们曾同心合意地在男女及儿童的病榻之前恳切祈祷，并且觉到他们能起死回生，正是主应允了我们恳切的祷告。在这些祈祷中，我们认为自己必须是积极的，并为运用信心起见，我们必须只求生命。我们不敢说：“如果能使上帝得荣耀，就……”，因为害怕那样说，就是等于承认自己有疑惑不信之念了。我们曾切心观察那些可以说是起死回生的人。我们已见到其中有些人，尤其是青年人，在康复之后，便忘记了上帝，生活放荡，使父母及亲友伤心难过，并使自己成为那些害怕祈祷之人的耻辱。他们并不为荣耀上帝而生活，反倒以罪恶的人生咒骂祂。{1TT 215.1}[9]
§21
We have united in earnest prayer around the sickbed of men, women, and children, and have felt that they were given back to us from the dead in answer to our earnest prayers. In these prayers we thought we must be positive and, if we exercised faith, that we must ask for nothing less than life. We dared not say, “If it will glorify God,” fearing it would admit a semblance of doubt. We have anxiously watched those who have been given back, as it were, from the dead. We have seen some of these, especially youth, raised to health, and they have forgotten God, become dissolute in life, causing sorrow and anguish to parents and friends, and have become a shame to those who feared to pray. They lived not to honor and glorify God, but to curse Him with their lives of vice.?{1TT 215.1}[9]
§22
我们不再自己划定方法，也不设法使主来顺从我们的心愿。如果病人的一生能荣耀主，我们便求主使他们可以存活，然而不要照我们的意思，只要照祂的意思。我们将心愿交托给全智的上帝，不急躁焦虑，而只全心信靠，完全依赖祂，我们的信仰就会坚固而且更加可靠了。我们有了应许，也晓得如果照着祂的旨意求，祂就必听我们。我们的祈求绝不可是命令式的，而应是代求式的，求主成就我们所愿望祂的事。{1TT 215.2}[10]
§23
We no longer mark out a way nor seek to bring the Lord to our wishes. If the life of the sick can glorify Him, we pray that they may live; nevertheless, not as we will but as He will. Our faith can be just as firm, and more reliable, by committing the desire to the all-wise God, and, without feverish anxiety, in perfect confidence, trusting all to Him. We have the promise. We know that He hears us if we ask according to His will. Our petitions must not take the form of a command, but of intercession for Him to do the things we desire of Him.?{1TT 215.2}[10]
§24
教会若是联合同心，就会有能力及力量；但若有一部分人与世界联合，许多人喜欢上帝所憎恶的贪心，祂就只能为他们作成很少的事。不信及罪恶使他们与上帝隔绝了。我们是这样的软弱，以致在属灵的前程上不能有多大的成功，免得我们荣耀自己，将良善与公义归功于本身，认为这是我们获得上帝显著祝福的原因；其实这一切是因为我们慈悲天父的伟大怜悯和慈爱，而不是因为在我们里面有什么善行。（27.145-149.1868年）[11]
§25
When the church are united, they will have strength and power; but when part of them are united to the world, and many are given to covetousness, which God abhors, He can do but little for them. Unbelief and sin shut them away from God. We are so weak that we cannot bear much spiritual prosperity, lest we take the glory, and accredit goodness and righteousness to ourselves as the reason of the signal blessing of God, when it was all because of the great mercy and lovingkindness of our compassionate heavenly Father, and not because any good was found in us.?{1TT 215.3}[11]
§26
我看到当病人正在违犯健康律法之时，上帝没有更充分地应允祂仆人为他们所做的祷告，因为祂若如此行，并不能使祂得荣耀。我还看到上帝有意使健康改良运动及保健院作开路的工作，使信心的祈祷能得到充分的应允，信心与善行应当携手并进，救助我们之中的病苦者，使他们在今生能荣耀上帝，并在基督复临时可蒙拯救。保健院的管理人员若单从属世的立场工作，而不在保健之外加以奉养以色列中父母的福分和德行，以致让这些病人在发觉之时感到失望忧伤，这是断乎不可的。{1TT 216.1}[12]
§27
I saw that the reason why God did not hear the prayers of His servants for the sick among us more fully was that He could not be glorified in so doing while they were violating the laws of health. And I also saw that He designed the health reform and Health Institute to prepare the way for the prayer of faith to be fully answered. Faith and good works should go hand in hand in relieving the afflicted among us, and in fitting them to glorify God here and to be saved at the coming of Christ. God forbid that these afflicted ones should ever be disappointed and grieved in finding the managers of the Institute working only from a worldly standpoint instead of adding to the hygienic practice the blessings and virtues of nursing fathers and mothers in Israel.?{1TT 216.1}[12]
§28
不要以为保健院是他们来藉信心的祷告得痊愈的地方。这个地方乃是藉着治疗及正确的生活习惯，解除人的病苦，并教导人如何避免疾病。现今在普天之下若有一个地方，让虔诚而有信心的男女献上安慰同情的祈祷，那就是保健院了。医疗人员在推进这项重要的工作时，应当坚心信靠上帝赐福于祂所惠然预备的方法。祂慈怜地招请我们这班人，要特别注意纯净的空气，清洁，健康的饮食，合宜的劳动及休息，与水之用法。（1T.561.1867年）{1TT 216.2}[13]
§29
Let no one obtain the idea that the Institute is the place for them to come to be raised up by the prayer of faith. That is the place to find relief from disease by treatment and right habits of living, and to learn how to avoid sickness. But if there is one place under the heavens more than another where soothing, sympathizing prayer should be offered by men and women of devotion and faith it is at such an institute. Those who treat the sick should move forward in their important work with strong reliance upon God for His blessing to attend the means which He has graciously provided, and to which He has in mercy called our attention as a people, such as pure air, cleanliness, healthful diet, proper periods of labor and repose, and the use of water.—1867,?Testimonies for the Church 1:561.?{1TT 216.2}[13]