第56章 不均衡的心思
§1
第56章 不均衡的心思Unbalanced Minds
§2
上帝已经给我们每个人神圣的委托,祂要我们为此负责。祂的旨意原是要我们尽力教育心思,以致能运用祂所交给我们的才干,作最大的善事,及返照那赐我们才干之主的荣耀。我们心思的一切功能,都应当归功于上帝,是向上帝借来的。我们可以培养这些才能,循循善导,小心管理,以至能达到主赐这些才能的本意。应当这样教育自己的心思,以至能号召全身的精力及发展各部器官功能,这乃是人的本分。人能运用各部器官,智力就必增强,并达到主赐这些器官的本意。{1TT 293.1}[1]
§3
God has committed to each of us sacred trusts, for which He holds us accountable. It is His purpose that we so educate the mind as to be able to exercise the talents He has given us in such a manner as to accomplish the greatest good and reflect the glory to the Giver. We are indebted to God for all the qualities of the mind. These powers can be cultivated, and so discreetly directed and controlled as to accomplish the purpose for which they were given. It is duty to so educate the mind as to bring out the energies of the soul and develop every faculty. When all the faculties are in exercise, the intellect will be strengthened, and the purpose for which they were given will be accomplished.?{1TT 293.1}[1]
§4
许多人行善没能尽量,乃是因为他们只运用其智力在某一方面上,而对于那些他们所认为不合于己的事,却不予以细心注意之故。有些软弱的官能,因为那要它们运用及使其有力的事工是不愉快的,以致就容其埋没了。应当运用心思的全部才能,应当培养各部官能的效用。理解力,判断力,记忆力,以及一切推理的能力,都应当有平等的力量,以便心思能均衡稳定。{1TT 293.2}[2]
§5
Many are not doing the greatest amount of good because they exercise the intellect in one direction and neglect to give careful attention to those things for which they think they are not adapted. Some faculties that are weak are thus allowed to lie dormant because the work that should call them into exercise, and consequently give them strength, is not pleasant. All the powers of the mind should be exercised, all the faculties cultivated. Perception, judgment, memory, and all the reasoning powers should have equal strength in order that minds may be well balanced.?{1TT 293.2}[2]
§6
如果我们只知运用某种官能,而忽略了其他的官能,那就是没有在我们的身上充分实行上帝的计划了,因为各种官能都是互相关连,大多彼此依赖的。若无其他各种官能的作用,就不能有效地运用某种官能而善保其均衡。若你只对一种官能予以专神全力,而使别种官能埋没,全部能力既无培养的机会,结果那被注意的一部分就要发育很强,而有趋于极端之势。有些人的心思发育不全,没有适当均衡。大家的心思不是天生一律的。我们有不同的心思,有些人在某方面很强,而在其他方面却是很弱。这些很明显的缺欠是无需有及不应有的。那些有此缺欠的人,如果愿意通过教养和运用来强化其品格上的弱点,就会变成刚强的人。{1TT 293.3}[3]
§7
If certain faculties are used to the neglect of others, the design of God is not fully carried out in us; for all the faculties have a bearing and are dependent, in a great measure, upon one another. One cannot be effectually used without the operation of all, that the balance may be carefully preserved. If all the attention and strength are given to one, while others lie dormant, the development is strong in that one and will lead to extremes, because all the powers have not been cultivated. Some minds are dwarfed and not properly balanced.?All minds are not naturally constituted alike. We have varied minds; some are strong upon certain points and very weak upon others. These deficiencies, so apparent, need not and should not exist. If those who possess them would strengthen the weak points in their character by cultivation and exercise they would become strong.?{1TT 293.3}[3]
§8
我们运用那些生来最强的官能,忽略那些软弱而待强化的官能,这种办法虽无不可,但不是最有益的。我们应当小心留意那些最软弱的官能,以便全部智力善保平衡,各尽其职,犹如一部善加管理的机器一样。我们应当依靠上帝保守我们各种的官能。基督徒对于上帝有义务,应当善予训练心思,使各种官能都强壮,更加充分发育。我们若忽略此事,就永不能达到主赐我们各种官能的本意了。我们无权忽视上帝所赐我们的任何能力。我们见到各地许多患偏执狂的人。他们的神志往往是各方面都很清楚,但却在某一方面糊涂不清。原因就是他们特别发挥心思的某一种官能,对其他各种官能却听其埋没无用。那常被运用的官能,既被消磨残废,那人就变成精神破产的了。他这样的行动是不会荣耀上帝的。他若是平均善用各种器官,则各部都会健全发育;因为没有偏劳于一部器官,所以就不至于有某一器官因而损坏了。{1TT 294.1}[4]
§9
It is agreeable, but not most profitable, to exercise those faculties which are naturally the strongest, while we neglect those that are weak, but which need to be strengthened. The feeblest faculties should have careful attention, that all the powers of the intellect may be nicely balanced and all do their part like well-regulated machinery. We are dependent upon God for the preservation of all our faculties. Christians are under obligation to Him to so train the mind that all the faculties may be strengthened and more fully developed. If we neglect to do this, they will never accomplish the purpose for which they were designed. We have no right to neglect any one of the powers that God has given us. We see monomaniacs all over the country. They are frequently sane upon every subject but one. The reason of this is that one organ of the mind was specially exercised while the others were permitted to lie dormant. The one that was in constant use became worn and diseased, and the man became a wreck. God was not glorified by his pursuing this course. Had he exercised all the organs equally, all would have had a healthy development; all the labor would not have been thrown upon one, therefore no one would have broken down.?{1TT 294.1}[4]
§10
传道人应当小心持守,以免自己的计划挫折了上帝的旨意。他们有限制上帝的圣工,将自己的服务局限于某些地方,不对上帝各部门的事工培养特别兴趣的危险。有些人集中心思在某一题目上,却把其他也许是相等重要的置诸脑外。他们变成了思想狭隘的人。他们的全部精力集中于当时所想的题目上,其他的一切意见都茫然不见了。这种偏爱的题目成了他们思想的主题及谈话的中心。凡与这题目有关的论据,都被其急切地广收并蓄,详加研讨,引伸至长,致使听众的脑筋疲惫不堪。?{1TT 294.2}[5]
§11
Ministers should be guarded, lest they thwart the purposes of God by plans of their own. They are in danger of narrowing down the work of God, and confining their labor to certain localities, and not cultivating a special interest for the work of God in all its various departments. There are some who concentrate their minds upon one subject to the exclusion of others which may be of equal importance. They are one-idea men. All the strength of their being is concentrated on?the subject upon which the mind is exercised for the time. Every other consideration is lost sight of. This one favorite theme is the burden of their thoughts and the theme of their conversation. All the evidence which has a bearing upon that subject is eagerly seized and appropriated, and dwelt upon at so great length that minds are wearied in following them.?{1TT 294.2}[5]
§12
有些题目,本身就是凭据,理所当然,无待考证的,但人却往往消耗了许多的光阴去解释这实在无关重要的事。应当用尽言语及凭据之所能,去使那些切实重要之点,明显有力。集中全部心思能力于一个题目,把其他一切置诸脑外,在某种程度上说来,原也很好,但若常是运用这种官能,就必磨损那被召作此工作的器官;因为它们操劳过甚,结果就不能达到极大的效益。一组器官大受折磨,而别的器官却埋没无用。这样,心思不能健全地运用,结果寿命也就缩短了。{1TT 295.1}[6]
§13
Time is frequently lost in explaining points which are really unimportant, and which would be taken for granted without producing proof; for they are self-evident. But the real, vital points should be made as plain and forcible as language and proof can make them. The power to concentrate the mind upon one subject to the exclusion of all others is well in a degree; but the constant exercise of this faculty wears upon those organs that are called into use to do this work; it throws too great a tax upon them, and the result is a failure to accomplish the greatest amount of good. The principal wear comes upon one set of organs, while the others lie dormant. The mind cannot thus be healthfully exercised, and, in consequence, life is shortened.?{1TT 295.1}[6]
§14
人体的各种官能都当出力,和谐地工作,彼此均衡。那些倾其全部心思能力于一个题目之上的人,在别的各点上就大有缺憾;原因就是各种官能没有平等发展。那当前的题目束缚了他们的注意力,使他们在这问题上进而又进,深而又深。他们兴味勃发,全神灌注,见了知识及亮光,但别人若非对这题目也有同样深刻的思想,就很少能追得上他们。这等人有一种危险,就是把土地犁的太深,把真理种子埋得太深,以至幼嫩宝贵的禾苗,永不能伸出地面之上。{1TT 295.2}[7]
§15
All the faculties should bear a part of the labor, working harmoniously, balancing one another. Those who put the whole strength of their mind into one subject are greatly deficient on other points, for the reason that the faculties are not equally cultivated. The subject before them enchains their attention, and they are led on and on, and go deeper and deeper into the matter. They see knowledge and light as they become interested and absorbed. But there are very few minds that can follow them unless they have given the subject the same depth of thought. There is danger of such men plowing, and planting the seed of truth so deep that the tender, precious blade will never find the surface.?{1TT 295.2}[7]
§16
许多的辛苦劳力往往不必要地枉废了,而且决不会得到人的感激。人若专心致志培育一种官能,以至忽略了其他的官能,就不会有健全匀和的心思。他们好像只有一付轮子作工的机器。有些轮子因为无所作用而生锈,而同时另一些轮子却因不断地作用而磨损。人若只培育一两种官能,而不使各种官能平均运用,就不能成就上帝预定他们在世所作之工的一半。他们乃是片面的人,只用了上帝所赐才能的一半,另一半却因没有用而生锈。{1TT 295.3}[8]
§17
Much hard labor is often expended that is not called for and that will never be appreciated. If those who have large concentrativeness cultivate this faculty to the neglect of others, they cannot have well-proportioned minds. They are like?machinery in which only one set of wheels works at a time. While some wheels are rusting from inaction, others are wearing from constant use. Men who cultivate one or two faculties, and do not exercise all equally, cannot accomplish one half the good in the world that God designed they should. They are one-sided men; only half of the power that God has given them is put to use, while the other half is rusting with inaction.?{1TT 295.3}[8]
§18
如果有这类头脑的人,有一番特别需要思想的工作,他们就不该把全部的能力都倾注于那一件事上,以致排除了其他的兴趣。在他们把当前这道题目列为主要事务时,也应当花一部分时间在工作的其他各部门上。这样就对他们自己及对全体圣工都更有益了。不应当使某一部门的工作独蒙注意,而忽略其他各部门的工作。{1TT 296.1}[9]
§19
If this class of minds have a special work, requiring thought, they should not exercise all their powers upon that one thing, to the exclusion of every other interest. While they make the subject before them their principal business, other branches of the work should have a portion of their time. This would be much better for themselves and for the cause generally. One branch of the work should not have exclusive attention to the neglect of all others.?{1TT 296.1}[9]
§20
有些人也当在著作上不住地留神,以免把读者不感活泼兴趣的许多论据堆盖上去,而使那些浅白的道理变成糊涂。他们若在某些要点上罗嗦冗长,将心所思及的每一枝节提出,他们的辛苦就差不多白废了。读者的兴趣必不够深长,达不到题目的结论就完了。真理的最主要论点,也许会因为人注意每一琐细之点,以致模糊不显了。所涉及的范围虽广,但在提起一般人的兴趣以得最大之益上,却费了很大的精力而尚未计及了。{1TT 296.2}[10]
§21
In their writings some need to be constantly guarded, that they do not make points blind that are plain, by covering them up with many arguments which will not be of lively interest to the reader. If they linger tediously upon points, giving every particular which suggests itself to the mind, their labor is nearly lost. The interest of the reader will not be deep enough to pursue the subject to its close. The most essential points of truth may be made indistinct by giving attention to every minute point. Much ground is covered; but the work upon which so much labor is expended is not calculated to do the greatest amount of good, by awakening a general interest.?{1TT 296.2}[10]
§22
在当今的世代,悦耳的寓言飘浮在表面上吸引人的心思。若能用一种浅显的方法介绍真理,再配合几个有力的证据,效果要比长篇大论引经据典好多了。因为在许多人的心中,真理倒不如你辩驳论证之前那么明显。就许多人而言,晓之以理比长篇大论更为有效。他们有许多先入之见;对于这种人,凭据是无济于事的。(3T.32-36.1872年){1TT 296.3}[11]
§23
In this age, when pleasing fables are drifting upon the surface and attracting the mind, truth presented in an easy style, backed up with a few strong proofs, is better than to search and bring forth an overwhelming array of evidence; for the point then does not stand so distinct in many minds as before the objections and evidences were brought before them. With many, assertions will go further than long arguments. They take many things for granted. Proof does not help the case in the minds of such.?{1TT 296.3}[11]