第16章 回到康涅狄格州
§1
第16章 回到康涅狄格州
§2
Chap. 16—Return to Connecticut
§3
星期四下午我们要乘船去米德尔敦。那是我们赴约的最后机会，要不我们就得在安息日旅行。我们在出发前作了祷告。在场的人都没有意识到船不会等我们，祷告的时间对这个场合来说是太长了，我们没有多少时间上船了。我抓着我丈夫的胳膊跑了约有一英里去上船。格尼弟兄和贝弟兄已在船上等我们。船长就要撤回踏板时，贝弟兄请求说有朋友被耽搁了，请他务必再等一会儿。船长同意再等五分钟。然后他宣布不会再等了。就在那时我们出现在视线中。贝弟兄大声说：“他们来了！他们今晚必须上船！您务必等一下！”踏板正在撤下时我们跳了上去，船开了，我们便在去康涅狄格州途中了。{2SG 104.1}[1]
§4
Thursday p. m. we were to take the boat for Middletown. It was our last opportunity to get to our appointment, unless we should travel upon the Sabbath. We had a season of prayer before leaving. All present did not realize that the boat would not wait for us, and the season of prayer was made too long for the occasion, and we had but a few moments to get to the boat. I took my husband’s arm, and we ran about a mile to reach the boat. Brethren Gurney and Bates were on the boat, waiting for us. The captain was about to withdraw the plank, when Bro. Bates interceded, telling him that he had friends that were detained, and he must wait a few moments. He was prevailed upon to wait five minutes. He then declared he would not wait another minute. Just then we appeared in sight. Bro. Bates cried out, “They are coming! They must go on the boat tonight! You must wait!” We sprung upon the plank as it was being withdrawn, the boat started, and we were on our way to Conn.?{2SG 104.1}[1]
§5
我们在米德尔敦见到了班斐姐妹和我们的小亨利。我的孩子变得虚弱了。我们用了简单的草药，但是没有效果。邻居们进来说孩子活不了多久了，他会死于肺结核。一个人建议我们用药，另一个人建议用别的办法。然而都没使孩子好转。最终他都不能吃东西了。有人推荐用汤森的菝葜根作最后的疗法。我们决定试试看。那天我们可以派一个朋友去哈特福德，必须很快作出决定。我独自进入我的房间到主面前，且在祷告时得到证据：我们惟一的帮助之源是在主里。祂若不赐福并医治孩子，药物是救不了孩子的。{2SG 104.2}[2]
§6
At Middletown we met sister Bonfoey and our little Henry. My child grew feeble. We had used simple herbs, but they had no effect. The neighbors who came in said we could not?keep him long, for he would die with consumption. One advised us to use one medicine, another something else. But it did not effect the child favorably. Finally he could take no nourishment. Townsend’s Sarsaparilla was recommended as the last resort. We concluded to try it. We could send by a friend to Hartford that day, and must decide in a few moments. I went before the Lord in my room alone, and while praying obtained the evidence that our only source of help was in the Lord. If he did not bless, and heal the child, medicine could not save him.?{2SG 104.2}[2]
§7
我当场决定冒着孩子生命的危险倚靠上帝的应许。我真实地感到祂愿意拯救也有能力拯救，就单单在上帝面前大声呼喊说：“我们愿意相信，并向这些预期孩子会死的不信的邻居显明以色列中有一位上帝，祂的耳听祂儿女的祈求。我们必须单单倚靠祢。”我体验上帝的能力到了一度身不由己的程度。我丈夫打开门对我说那位朋友正等着我们的决定。我回答说：“我们要去买菝葜根吗？不。告诉他我们要试试上帝之应许的力量。”{2SG 105.1}[3]
§8
I there decided to venture the life of the child upon the promises of God. I had a lively sense of his willingness and power to save, and there alone before God cried out, “We will believe, and show to these unbelieving neighbors, who are expecting the death of the child, that there is a God in Israel, whose ear is open to the prayers of his children. We will trust alone in thee.” I felt the power of God to that degree that for a short time I was helpless. My husband opened the door to say to me that the friend was waiting for our decision. “Shall we get the Sarsaparilla?” I answered, “No. Tell him we will try the strength of God’s promises.”?{2SG 105.1}[3]
§9
邻居们惊讶地望着我。他们确信孩子会死。那天晚上我们用油沫了孩子，我丈夫为他作了祷告，奉主的名按手在他身上。他微笑着仰起脸来。一道亮光似乎停留在他面容上，我们就此得到证据，主已应允了我们的祷告。我们不再给他吃药。他很快得到了力量，第二天就能站起来了。{2SG 105.2}[4]
§10
The neighbors looked upon me with astonishment. They were confident the child would die. That night we anointed him, and my?husband prayed for him, laying his hands upon him in the name of the Lord. He looked up with a smile. A light seemed to rest upon his features, and we there had the evidence that the Lord had answered our prayers. We gave him no more medicine. He gained strength fast, and the next day could stand upon his feet.?{2SG 105.2}[4]
§11
我们急于访问缅因州，但我们孩子的疾病阻碍了我们。我们立刻准备行程。第一天乘车去了哈特福德。孩子似乎很疲倦，不能入睡。我们再次寻求主，祂听了我们的祷告。孩子的神经安静下来，在我们祷告的时候他进入了甜美的睡眠，安静地休息了一晚。第二天我们旅行了约有140英里去了马萨诸塞州多尔切斯特的尼克尔斯弟兄家。黑暗的势力又得到允许使孩子受苦。他会搂住我的脖子，然后用两个小手似乎在击退什么东西，呼叫说：不，不，然后又用尽力气依偎在我身上。我们说不出这些奇怪的动作是什么意思，但却认为他必是见了某种我们看不见的东西。撒但不愿失去他的掠物。是他在骚扰孩子吗？还是他的恶使者在场引起孩子的恐惧，使他有这种行为呢？那天早上我们在祷告的时候斥责了仇敌的势力，我们的孩子就不再受苦了。{2SG 106.1}[5]
§12
We were anxious to visit Maine; but the sickness of our child had hindered us. We immediately made preparations for our journey. The first day we rode to Hartford. The child seemed very weary, and could not sleep. We again sought unto the Lord, who heard our prayer. The nerves of the child were quieted, and while we were praying he fell into a sweet sleep, and rested undisturbed through the night. The next day we traveled about one hundred and forty miles to Bro. Nichols’, in Dorchester, Mass. The powers of darkness were again permitted to afflict the child. He would cling to my neck, and then with both hands seem to be fighting off something, crying, No, no, and then again cling with all his strength to me. We could not tell what these strange actions meant, but thought he must see something invisible to us. Satan was unwilling to lose his prey. Was he troubling the child? or were his evil angels by their presence exciting his fears, and causing him to act thus? In our season of prayer that morning we rebuked the power of the enemy, and our child was no more afflicted.?{2SG 106.1}[5]
§13
我们乘船去了波特兰，但我病得很厉害，不能照顾我的孩子。我晕倒了许多次。当我渐渐好转时，我的小亨利显得非常高兴。他爬到沙发上，用他的小胳膊搂着我的脖子，亲了我许多次。那时他只有一岁大。{2SG 107.1}[6]
§14
We took the boat for Portland, but I was very sick, and could not take care of my child. I fainted a number of times. When I grew better my little Henry expressed great joy. He would climb upon the sofa, throw his little arms around my neck, and kiss me many times. He was then one year old.?{2SG 107.1}[6]
§15
后来我又奉召为使人得益而舍己。我们必须离开我们的小亨利，出去毫无保留地献身圣工。那时我的健康情况极差，而孩子必定要占据我大部分的时间。那真是一个严重的考验，但我不敢让我的孩子拦阻我们尽职的道路。我相信上一次他患重病的时候，主曾为我们保留了他的性命；所以如果我让他拦阻我不能尽到本分，上帝就必把他取去。于是我只得以一颗辛酸的心和许多眼泪，在主的面前决意牺牲，把我独生的孩子交给别人抚养。我们很放心地把亨利留在豪兰弟兄的家里。他们愿意负起这份担子，为要使我们可以无牵挂地为上帝的圣工效劳。我们深知他们必能较比我们在旅行中带着孩子更好地照顾亨利。我们也知道，他若能有一个安定的家庭和坚稳的管教，乃是对他最有益处的，可以使他那和美的性情不致受到损害。我和我的孩子分离时真是作难。我离别他的时候，他那小脸蛋上悲伤的表情真令我日夜难忘；但我靠着主的能力摆脱了恋慕孩子的心，竭力为别人谋福。{2SG 107.2}[7]
§16
Again I was called to deny self for the good of souls. We must sacrifice the company of our little Henry, and go forth to give ourselves unreservedly to the work. My health was poor, and he must necessarily occupy a great share of my time. It was a severe trial, yet I dared not let my child stand in the way of our duty. I believed that the Lord had spared him to us, when he was very sick, and if I should let him hinder me from doing my duty, God would remove him from me. Alone before the Lord, with most painful feelings, and many tears, I made the sacrifice, and gave up my only child, for another to have a mother’s care and feelings. We left him in Bro. Howland’s family, in whom we had the utmost confidence. They were willing to bear burdens to leave us as free as possible to labor in the cause of God. We knew that they could take better care of Henry than we could while journeying with him, and it was for his good that he should have a steady place, and strict discipline, that his sweet temper be not injured. It was hard parting with my child. His little sad face, as I left him,?was before me night and day; yet in the strength of the Lord I put him out of my mind, and sought to do others good.?{2SG 107.2}[7]
§17
约在此时尼克尔斯弟兄提议我们应该把亨利留在豪兰弟兄家，他每周付一美元供养他。这使我们觉得上帝的手正在为我们开路，好使我们更加完全地献身圣工。尼克尔斯弟兄付了十周的抚养费，之后应豪兰弟兄的请求不再付了。豪兰弟兄一家完全负责教养亨利，足有五年之久。他们毫无报酬地抚育他，供应他的衣食，而我只能象哈拿对待撒母耳一样，每年送一件礼物给他。{2SG 108.1}[8]
§18
About this time Bro. Nichols proposed that we should leave Henry at Bro. Howland’s, and he pay one dollar a week for his support. This caused us to feel that the hand of Providence was opening the way for us to give ourselves more fully to the work. Bro. N. sent the pay for ten weeks, when he was requested by Bro. H. to send no more. Bro. Howland’s family had the whole charge of Henry for five years, without any recompense, and provided him all his clothing, except a present I would bring him once a year, as Hannah did Samuel.?{2SG 108.1}[8]