第45章 一封生日信
§1
第45章 一封生日信A Birthday Letter
§2
我亲爱的儿子：为你的十九岁生日，我写这封信给你。在过去的几周中，我们有你同在，很是快乐。你就要离开我们，但我们的祷告，却要随着你。{1TT 239.1}[1]
§3
My Dear Son,I write this for your nineteenth birthday. It has been a pleasure to have you with us a few weeks in the past. You are about to leave us, yet our prayers shall follow you.?{1TT 239.1}[1]
§4
今天，你的生命又过了一年。你怎样回想过去的情形呢？在宗教生活上是否有了长进？在属灵上是否有了进步？你是否把自我和邪情私欲同钉在十字架上了呢？你研究圣经的兴趣提高了吗？你对自己的缺点过失和任性固执取得明确的胜利了吗？这一年的光阴，永逝而不复回了，你的生活留下了怎样的记录呢？{1TT 239.2}[2]
§5
Another year of your life closes today. How can you look back upon it? Have you made advancement in the divine life? Have you increased in spirituality? Have you crucified self, with the affections and lusts? Have you an increased interest in the study of God’s word? Have you gained decided victories over your own feelings and waywardness? Oh, what has been the record of your life for the year which has now passed into eternity, never to be recalled??{1TT 239.2}[2]
§6
你生命中新的一年开始时，盼望你立下诚恳的志向，在人生的道路上不断前进上进，愿你的生活比以往更加高尚优秀。应当立志不求自己的利益和欢乐，乃要全力推进救赎主的大工。你不应滞留在总是需要自助和他人不得不保守你行在窄路上的地步。你可以刚强，在别人身上发挥圣洁的感化力。你的心灵也许觉悟到了，你可以造福他人，安慰伤心的，坚固软弱的，并随时随地一有机会就为基督作见证。你的目标应当是随时、随地、随事荣耀上帝，在一切事上实行你的信仰。无论作何事，都要彻底。{1TT 239.3}[3]
§7
As you enter upon a new year, let it be with an earnest resolve to have your course onward and upward. Let your life be more elevated and exalted than it has hitherto been. Make it your aim not to seek your own interest and pleasure, but to advance the cause of your Redeemer. Remain not in a position where you ever need help yourself, and where others have to guard you to keep you in the narrow way. You may be strong to exert a sanctifying influence upon others. You may be where your soul’s interest will be awakened to do good to others, to comfort the sorrowful, strengthen the weak, and to bear your testimony for Christ whenever opportunity offers. Aim to honor God in everything, always and everywhere. Carry your religion into everything. Be thorough in whatever you undertake.?{1TT 239.3}[3]
§8
因为你尚未以荣耀基督为一生的大目标，所以你还没有体会到上帝的拯救之能，并以此作为你的特权。要让你所形成的每一个心意，所从事的每一项工作，所享受的每一种快乐都荣耀于上帝。惟愿你的心声是：上帝啊，我是属祢的，要为祢而生活，为祢而工作，为祢而吃苦。?{1TT 239.4}[4]
§9
You have not experienced the saving power of God as it is your privilege, because you have not made it the great aim of your life to glorify Christ. Let every purpose you form, every?work in which you engage, and every pleasure you enjoy, be to the glory of God. Let this be the language of your heart: I am thine, O God, to live for Thee, to work for Thee, and to suffer for Thee.?{1TT 239.4}[4]
§10
许多人自称站在主这一边，但实情却不是这样。他们一切行动的重点，乃是在撒但的那一边。我们如何决定自己属于哪个阵营呢？谁占有了我们的心？我们所思念的是谁呢？我们爱谈论谁呢？我们最热切的爱情及最优良的精力奉献给了谁呢？我们若是属主这一边，我们就要思念祂，我们最甜美的意念也属于祂。我们和世界没有交情；我们已将自己和一切所有的奉献给祂了。我们切望拥有祂的形像，领受祂的圣灵，奉行祂的旨意，在凡事上求祂喜悦。{1TT 240.1}[5]
§11
Many profess to be on the Lord’s side, but they are not; the weight of all their actions is on Satan’s side. By what means shall we determine whose side we are on? Who has the heart? With whom are our thoughts? Upon whom do we love to converse? Who has our warmest affections and our best energies? If we are on the Lord’s side, our thoughts are with Him, and our sweetest thoughts are of Him. We have no friendship with the world; we have consecrated all that we have and are to Him. We long to bear His image, breathe His Spirit, do His will, and please Him in all things.?{1TT 240.1}[5]
§12
【积极的影响】
§13
你应当毅然采取行动，使众人不至于对你有所误会。你若没有决心，就不能向世人发挥感化力。你的决心也许是良好而诚恳的，但你若没有以上帝为你的力量，怀着坚决的心志，向前进步，就必要失败。你应当专心致志于上帝的事工。你应当迫切追求基督化生活的经验。你应当在自己的生活上表彰基督。{1TT 240.2}[6]
§14
【A Positive Influence】
§15
You should pursue so decided a course that none need to be mistaken in you. You cannot exert an influence upon the world without decision. Your resolutions may be good and sincere, but they will prove a failure unless you make God your strength and move forward with a firm determination of purpose. You should throw your whole heart into the cause and work of God. You should be in earnest to obtain an experience in the Christian life. You should exemplify Christ in your life.?{1TT 240.2}[6]
§16
你不能既侍奉上帝，又侍奉玛门。你若不是完全在主这边，就是在仇敌那边。“不与我相合的，就是敌我的；不同我收聚的，就是分散的”（太12:30）。有些人的宗教生活失败，就是因为他们总是犹豫不决，没有定见。他们往往有所觉悟，并几乎要完全顺服上帝，但却因为未能达到那一步，就又后退了。在这种情形中，良心逐渐刚硬，越来越不容易受上帝圣灵感化。主的灵已经警告他们，感动他们，但却被他们漠视，至终几乎忧愁而去。上帝是轻慢不得的。祂向人明明白白地显示出人的本分，人若不顺从光，这光就变成黑暗了。{1TT 240.3}[7]
§17
You cannot serve God and mammon. You are either wholly on the Lord’s side or on the side of the enemy. “He that is not with Me is against Me; and he that gathereth not with Me scattereth abroad.”?Matthew 12:30. Some persons make their religious life a failure because they are always wavering and do not have determination. They are frequently convicted and come almost up to the point of surrendering all for God; but, failing to meet the point, they fall back again. While in this state the conscience is hardening and?becoming less and less susceptible to the impressions of the Spirit of God. His Spirit has warned, has convicted, and has been disregarded, until it is nearly grieved away. God will not be trifled with. He shows duty clearly, and if there is a neglect to follow the light, it becomes darkness.?{1TT 240.3}[7]
§18
上帝吩咐你到祂的葡萄园中与祂同工，你应当就地开始。你当来到十字架前，放下自我，远离世俗，抛弃各种偶像，把耶稣完全接到你心中。你目前所处的地位难以作到保持献身并发挥感化力，以领人离弃罪恶、欢乐和愚昧而走上窄路，就是为主的赎民行在其上而修筑的道路。{1TT 241.1}[8]
§19
God bids you become a worker with Him in His vineyard. Commence just where you are. Come to the cross and there renounce self, the world, and every idol. Take Jesus into your heart fully. You are in a hard place to preserve consecration and to exert an influence which shall lead others from sin and pleasure and folly to the narrow way, cast up for the ransomed of the Lord to walk in.?{1TT 241.1}[8]
§20
应当完全顺服上帝，毫无保留地献上一切，藉此寻求那出人意外的平安。你若不住在基督里面，就不能得祂的滋养。若不在祂里面，你就是枯干的枝子。你不觉得自己需要纯洁及真实的圣洁。你应当觉得自己有迫切仰慕圣灵的愿望，并为获得圣灵而切心祈求。如果不追求，你就不能期望上帝的赐福。你若善用自己范围之内的各种方法，就必在恩典中有长进，并要超升而有高尚的生活。{1TT 241.2}[9]
§21
Make an entire surrender to God; yield up everything unreservedly, and thus seek for that peace which passes understanding. You cannot draw nourishment from Christ unless you are in Him. If not in Him, you are a branch that is withered. You do not feel your want of purity and true holiness. You should feel an earnest desire for the Holy Spirit and should pray earnestly to obtain it. You cannot expect the blessing of God without seeking for it. If you used the means within your reach you would experience a growth in grace and would rise to a higher life.?{1TT 241.2}[9]
§22
爱慕属灵的事，这原不是你的天性。但你若能把心思及精力运用到这一方面来，你还是可以得到这种爱慕之心的。你所需要的就是行事的能力。真教育就是使用我们的各种官能，产生有益效果的力量。我们为什么要让世俗占了我们的脑力和体力，而对于宗教却这样少予注意呢？这是因为我们全身的精力都被扭曲到那一方面了。我们已经训练自己切心致力于世俗的事业，直到我们的心思也很容易趋向到那一边去。基督徒觉得宗教生活这样困难，而属世生活这样容易，缘故就在于此。他们已经训练各种官能向那一方向效力了。他们虽然在宗教生活中，承认圣经的真理，却没有在生活上切实表明出来。{1TT 241.3}[10]
§23
It is not natural for you to love spiritual things; but you can acquire that love by exercising your mind, the strength of your being, in that direction. The power of doing is what you need. True education is the power of using our faculties so as to achieve beneficial results. Why is it that religion occupies so little of our attention, while the world has the strength of brain, bone, and muscle? It is because the whole force of our being is bent in that direction. We have trained ourselves to engage with earnestness and power in worldly business, until it is easy for the mind to take that turn. This is why Christians find a religious life so hard and a worldly life so easy. The faculties have been trained to exert their?force in that direction. In religious life there has been an assent to the truths of God’s word, but not a practical illustration of them in the life.?{1TT 241.3}[10]
§24
今天的人并未把培养宗教的思念和虔诚的感觉，当作教育的一部分。这些原本应该影响并支配人的身心百体的。现今人们所缺乏的就是行义的习惯。他们在有利的环境中，会偶尔有好的表现。但他们心中的主导原则并不在此，他们无法自然而然、随时随在想到这些圣洁的事。{1TT 242.1}[11]
§25
To cultivate religious thoughts and devotional feelings is not made a part of education. These should influence and control the entire being. The?habit?of doing right is wanting. There is spasmodic action under favorable influences, but to think naturally and readily upon divine things is not the ruling principle of the mind.?{1TT 242.1}[11]
§26
【属灵是发育不全】
§27
人若在属灵的事上不断地运用心思，就不致在属灵上发育不全。然而单单为此或就此而祷告，必不能应付此项需要。你必须习惯于专注属灵的事。练习会产生力量。许多自命为基督徒的人，很有可能同时失去两个世界。你想一半做基督徒，一半做属世界的人，那最后的结局就是百分之一的基督徒，而剩下的百分之九十九都是属世之徒了。{1TT 242.2}[12]
§28
【Spiritual Dwarfs】
§29
There is no need of being spiritual dwarfs if the mind is continually exercised in spiritual things. But merely praying for this, and about this, will not meet the necessities of the case. You must habituate the mind to concentration upon spiritual things. Exercise will bring strength. Many professed Christians are in a fair way to lose both worlds. To be half a Christian and half a worldly man makes you about one-hundredth part a Christian and all the rest worldly.?{1TT 242.2}[12]
§30
上帝所要求的就是属灵的生活，但现今还是有成千的人喊叫说：“不知道为什么，我没有属灵的力量，也没有享受上帝圣灵之乐。”而这等人在谈起属世之事时，却是神采奕奕，滔滔不绝，竟成了能言善辩之人。但在聚会之时，且看这等人的状态。他们说不上三言五语，并且声音微弱到难以听见的地步。他们乃是属世界的男女。他们培养属世的习性，以至于他们的各种器官，在那一方面上变强；而同时却在那应当刚强和聪明的属灵方面，反而软弱得象婴孩一样。他们不爱思念敬虔的奥秘，不懂天国的话语，不训练自己的心思，以便能唱天国的歌，也不喜欢从事那些需要全神贯注的属灵活动。{1TT 242.3}[13]
§31
Spiritual living is what God requires, yet thousands are crying out: “I don’t know what is the matter; I have no spiritual strength, I do not enjoy the Spirit of God.” Yet the same ones will become active and talkative, and even eloquent, when talking upon worldly matters. Listen to such ones in meeting. About a dozen words are spoken in hardly an audible voice. They are men and women of the world. They have cultivated worldly propensities until their faculties have become strong in that direction. Yet they are as weak as babes in regard to spiritual things, when they should be strong and intelligent. They do not love to dwell upon the mystery of godliness. They know not the language of heaven and are not educating their minds so as to be prepared to sing the songs of heaven or to delight in the spiritual exercises which will there engage the attention of all.?{1TT 242.3}[13]
§32
口头上的基督徒，属世的基督徒，都不熟悉天上的事。他们决不会被带到新耶路撒冷城的门口，参加那他们从不特别感兴趣的活动。他们没有训练心思，去喜爱灵修并默想上帝与天上的事。这样，他们又怎能参加天庭的崇祀呢？怎能喜爱他们在世之时所不特别喜爱的天上属灵，纯洁，神圣之乐呢？天上的气氛本是纯洁的，但他们对此全不认识。他们在世之时追求属世的职业，晓得何处可得，如何钻营。他们身心的下等官能，就此不断运用，增长。直至那高尚上等的心思能力，却因为不用而软弱，以至不能立刻觉悟而参加属灵的活动。他们的眼光爱慕世界，所以看不透属灵的事，也不能估计得出神圣的荣耀和价值，是超过今生暂时之事物的。{1TT 243.1}[14]
§33
Professed Christians, worldly Christians, are unacquainted with heavenly things. They will never be brought to the gates of the New Jerusalem to engage in exercises which have not hitherto specially interested them. They have not trained their minds to delight in devotion and in meditation upon things of God and heaven. How, then, can they engage in the services of heaven? how delight in the spiritual, the pure, the holy in heaven, when it was not a special delight to them upon earth? The very atmosphere there will be purity itself. But they are unacquainted with it all. When in the world, pursuing their worldly vocations, they knew just where to take hold and just what to do. The lower order of faculties being in so constant exercise, grew, while the higher, nobler powers of the mind, not being strengthened by use, are incapable of awaking at once to spiritual exercises. Spiritual things are not discerned, because they are viewed with world-loving eyes, which cannot estimate the value and glory of the divine above the temporal.?{1TT 243.1}[14]
§34
应当教育及训练心思去爱慕纯洁。应当鼓励对属灵事物的爱慕；如果你愿在真理的知识和恩典上有长进，就必须培养这种爱慕。渴慕良善和真实的圣洁，固然可佳，但若就此罢手，那就无从长进了。良善的目标固然是对的，但若不坚决实行出来，就无济于事。许多人在希望并渴慕作基督徒之时，仍不免于沉沦；他们没有下切心的努力，因此要被称在天平上，显出他们的亏欠来。应当把意志运用在正确的方向。我立志作一个全心全意的基督徒。我立志一定要知道全备之爱的长阔高深。请听耶稣的话说：“饥渴慕义的人有福了；因为他们必得饱足”（太5:6）。基督预备了丰富的供应，来满足凡饥渴慕义的人。{1TT 243.2}[15]
§35
The mind must be educated and disciplined to love purity. A love for spiritual things should be encouraged; yea, must be encouraged, if you would grow in grace and in the knowledge of the truth. Desires for goodness and true holiness are right so far as they go; but if you stop here, they will avail nothing. Good purposes are right, but will prove of no avail unless resolutely carried out. Many will be lost while hoping and desiring to be Christians; but they made no earnest effort, therefore they will be weighed in the balances and found wanting. The will must be exercised in the right direction. I?will?be a wholehearted Christian. I?will?know the length and breadth, the height and depth, of perfect love. Listen to the words of Jesus: “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.”?Matthew 5:6. Ample provisions are made by Christ to satisfy the soul that hungers and thirsts for righteousness.?{1TT 243.2}[15]
§36
【更高的属灵造诣】
§37
爱的纯洁元素会扩展人的心灵，使人追求更高的造诣，增加神圣事物的知识，以致若不充足，就不满意。多数自命为基督徒的人，对于属灵的力量没有丝毫感觉。如果他们能热心，切心，及坚心追求神圣之事的知识，如同他们追求今生轻微而能坏的事物一样，他们就可得到那种力量了。大群自称为基督徒的人，对于属灵上发育不全，竟觉满意。他们无志于以先求上帝的国和祂的义为其目标，因此敬虔之道在他们看来是隐藏的奥秘，不能领会。他们没有从实际经验的知识上认识基督。{1TT 244.1}[16]
§38
【Higher Spiritual Attainments】
§39
The pure element of love will expand the soul for higher attainments, for increased knowledge of divine things, so that it will not be satisfied short of the fullness. Most professed Christians have no sense of the spiritual strength they might obtain were they as ambitious, zealous, and persevering to gain a knowledge of divine things as they are to obtain the paltry, perishable things of this life. The masses professing to be Christians have been satisfied to be spiritual dwarfs. They have no disposition to make it their object to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness; hence godliness is a hidden mystery to them, they cannot understand it. They know not Christ by experimental knowledge.?{1TT 244.1}[16]
§40
巴不得那些在神圣的事上发育不全，残废而又自觉满意的男女，能够忽然间被接到天上去，立刻见到那些长存该处高尚圣洁的美满景象。那里的生灵个个充满爱心，人人脸上发出喜乐的光辉，引人入胜的美妙音乐，颂赞上帝和羔羊。那从坐在宝座者的脸上及从羔羊所发出的光辉，丰丰沛沛地照在众圣徒身上。愿他们能明白，这些圣徒还要经验比这更高更大的福乐呢！因为他们越多接受上帝所赐的福乐，他们的心胸就越开阔，永生的福乐不断增高，这样他们就从那无法形容及永不衰竭的荣耀与福惠之源，长此领受新鲜而更大的供应。我问道，那些男女能否加入天上的群体当中，和他们一同唱歌，及忍受那从上帝和羔羊所发射的纯洁，崇高，流畅的荣光呢？那是不行的！他们的宽容时期，已经延长了多年，以便他们学习天上的话语，变成“脱离世上从情欲来的败坏，就得与上帝的性情有分”（彼后1:4）。但他们却有自私的事务，占去了他们的脑力和体力。他们不能毫无保留地事奉上帝，而又经营这种业务。属世的企业占了第一，耗去了他们最好的精力，对于上帝只作匆匆一念之想。这等人在那最后的判决：“圣洁的，叫他仍旧圣洁，”“污秽的，叫他仍旧污秽”发出之后，他们能变化升天吗？现今那时辰正是临近了。?{1TT 244.2}[17]
§41
Let those men and women who are satisfied with their dwarfed, crippled condition in divine things be suddenly transported to heaven and for an instant witness the high, the holy state of perfection that ever abides there,—every soul filled with love; every countenance beaming with joy; enchanting music in melodious strains rising in honor of God and the Lamb; and ceaseless streams of light flowing upon the saints from the face of Him who sitteth upon the throne, and from the Lamb; and let them realize that there is higher and greater joy yet to experience, for the more they receive of the enjoyment of God, the more is their capacity increased to rise higher in eternal enjoyment, and thus continue to receive new and greater supplies from the ceaseless sources of glory and bliss inexpressible,—could such persons, I ask, mingle with the heavenly throng, participate in their songs, and endure the pure, exalted, transporting glory that emanates from God and the Lamb? Oh, no! their probation was lengthened for years that they might learn the language of heaven, that they might become “partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”?2 Peter 1:4.?But they had a selfish business of their own to engage the powers of their minds and the energies of their beings. They could not afford to serve God unreservedly and make this a business. Worldly enterprises must come first and take the best of their powers, and a transient thought is devoted to God. Are such to be transformed after the final decision: “He that is holy, let him be holy still,” “he which is filthy, let him be filthy still”? Such a time is coming.?{1TT 244.2}[17]
§42
凡训练心思乐于从事属灵活动的人，才能被上天纯洁超凡的荣耀所变化，而不致为其所消灭。你或许有良好的艺术鉴赏力，你也许通晓科学，你的音乐和书法造诣或许高超，你的仪表态度也许很得朋友的欢心，但这一切对于你进天国的准备究竟有什么关系呢？这些对于你预备站在上帝审判台前，又有什么关系呢？{1TT 245.1}[18]
§43
Those who have trained the mind to delight in spiritual exercises are the ones who can be translated and not be overwhelmed with the purity and transcendent glory of heaven. You may have a good knowledge of the arts, you may have an acquaintance with the sciences, you may excel in music and in penmanship, your manners may please your associates, but what have these things to do with a preparation for heaven? What have they to do to prepare you to stand before the tribunal of God??{1TT 245.1}[18]
§44
不要自欺，上帝是轻慢不得的。只有圣洁才能使你预备妥当进入天国。只有诚实、实际的虔诚，能给你纯洁、高尚的品格，使你能达到那住在不能靠近之光里的上帝面前。属天的品格必须在这地上获得，否则就永不能得到了。因此，立刻就开始这种工作吧！切不可自欺自媚说，到了一日你可作一番诚恳的努力，比今日更容易。其实每一天的光阴都使你与上帝之间的距离增加，因此你应当表现空前的热心，为永生作准备。训练你的心思爱慕圣经，爱慕祈祷会，及爱慕默想的时辰，尤其是爱慕心灵与上帝交往的时刻。你若要参加天上广厦之间的天庭乐队，就当具有属天的心思。{1TT 245.2}[19]
§45
Be not deceived. God is not mocked. Nothing but holiness will prepare you for heaven. It is sincere, experimental piety alone that can give you a pure, elevated character and enable you to enter into the presence of God, who dwelleth in light unapproachable. The heavenly character must be acquired on earth, or it can never be acquired at all. Then begin at once. Flatter not yourself that a time will come when you can make an earnest effort easier than now. Every day increases your distance from God. Prepare for eternity with such zeal as you have not yet manifested. Educate your mind to love the Bible, to love the prayer meeting, to love the hour of meditation, and, above all, the hour when the soul communes with God. Become heavenly-minded if you would unite with the heavenly choir in the mansions above.?{1TT 245.2}[19]
§46
如今，你要开始自己生命中新的一年。那掌簿天使手中的记录册，也翻开了新的一页。在这些页上，将留下些什么记录呢？是否要写上许多忽略上帝和未尽本分的事呢？万万不可！但愿你留在其上的记录，是你可以展示在众人及天使面前而无愧疚的。{1TT 245.3}[20]
§47
A new year of your life now commences. A new page is turned in the book of the recording angel. What will be the record upon its pages? Shall it be blotted with neglect of God,?with unfulfilled duties? God forbid. Let a record be stamped there which you will not be ashamed to have revealed to the gaze of men and angels.?{1TT 245.3}[20]
§48
1868年7月27日，写于密歇根州格林威尔（2T.261-268.1896年）[21]
§49
Greenville, Michigan,July 27, 1868.[21]