第25章 拿但业与安娜
§1
第25章 拿但业与安娜
§2
Chap. 25—Nathaniel and Anna
§3
我们从东部旅行回来之后，我蒙指示，我们有担起上帝没有要求的担子的危险。我们在上帝的圣工中有本分要尽，不应该加添操心事，增加我们家的人口以满足任何人的心愿。我还看到为了拯救生灵我们应该乐意担担子；我们应该为我丈夫的弟弟拿但业和妹妹安娜开路来与我们同住。他们俩都是病人，可是我们热忱地邀请他们来到我们家。他们接受了邀请。我们一见到拿但业，便担心肺结核会使他不久于人世。肺病的红晕在他的脸颊上，可是我们希望并祈求主存留他的性命，使他的才干可以用在上帝的圣工上。但主却认为别的安排更好。拿但业和安娜慎重而聪明地接受了真理。他们权衡了我们立场的证据，本着良心决定支持真理。{2SG 173.1}[1]
§4
After we returned from our eastern journey I was shown that we were in danger of taking burdens upon us that God did not require us to bear. We had a part to act in the cause of God, and should not add to our cares by increasing our family to gratify the wishes of any. That to save souls we should be willing to bear burdens; that we should open the way for my husband’s brother Nathaniel and sister Anna to come and live with us. They were both invalids, yet we felt to extend to them a cordial invitation to come to our house. This they accepted. As soon as we saw Nathaniel we feared that consumption had marked him for the grave. The hectic flush was upon his cheek. Yet we hoped and prayed that the Lord would spare him, that his talent might be employed in the cause of God. But the Lord saw fit to order otherwise. Nathaniel and Anna came into the truth cautiously, yet understandingly.?They weighed the evidences of our position, and conscientiously decided for the truth.?{2SG 173.1}[1]
§5
拿但业死于1853年5月6日，年纪只有22岁。下面他生病和去世的细节，摘自我写给我们丧亲父母的一封信：{2SG 174.1}[2]
§6
Nathaniel died May 6th, 1853, in the 22d year of his age. The following particulars of his sickness and death, are from a letter I wrote to our bereaved parents:?{2SG 174.1}[2]
§7
“我们很想念亲爱的拿但业。我们似乎很难认识到这里不再有他陪伴我们了。他以非凡的快活和毅力与疾病作了顽强的抗争。除了一次，我从未听到他一声呻吟，而那惟一的一次是在他去世前的星期二。从他初次来到的时候我就喜爱他，因为他是我丈夫的弟弟，我感到为了让他舒适我什么都能做；然而不久他对我来说亲近的就象我的亲弟弟了。星期三我给他读了一些经文，并且给他讲了我可怜的哥哥罗伯特的事，他受了六个月的大痛苦之后，死于肺结核。拿但业说：‘我不希望象他那样病得那么久。’他的心态很好，并且告诉我们进入他房间的时候不要有悲伤的表情。他说：‘我很快乐；主丰富地赐福给我。我已胜过了急躁，且有证据表明主爱我并且认我是祂的孩子。’那天晚上他因失眠而多受痛苦。{2SG 174.2}[3]
§8
“Dear Nathaniel, we miss him much. It seems hard for us to realize that we are no more to have his society here. He bore up through his sickness with remarkable cheerfulness and fortitude. I never heard him groan but once, and that was the Tuesday before he died. I loved him when he first came because he was brother to my husband, and I felt that I could do anything for his comfort; but soon he seemed as near to me as a natural brother. I read some in the Bible to him Wednesday, and told him about my poor brother Robert, who, after six months of great suffering, died of consumption. Said he, ‘I should not wish to have such lingering sickness as he had.’ He enjoyed his mind well, and told us not to look sad when we came into his room. Said he, ‘I am happy; the Lord blesses me abundantly. I have obtained the victory over impatience, and have the evidence that the Lord loves and owns me as his child.’ That night he suffered much with wakefulness.?{2SG 174.2}[3]
§9
“星期四早上他表示很喜乐，因为漫漫长夜已经过去，白天终于来临了。那天上午他走出来到大客厅吃早餐时，环顾了房间说：‘任何一个人在这么漂亮通风的大房间里都一定会康复。’{2SG 174.3}[4]
§10
“Thursday morning he expressed his joy that the long night had passed, and day had finally come. As he walked out to breakfast in?the large parlor that morning, he looked around the room, and said, ‘Any one cannot help but get well in such a beautiful house as this, with such large, airy rooms.’?{2SG 174.3}[4]
§11
“安娜通常把他的饭菜拿到他面前供他选择，然后在他吃饭的时候坐在他旁边；在他吃完以前她不想吃饭。他说：‘爱伦，我希望你使安娜坐下来和家里其他人一起吃饭，因为她不必在我吃饭的时候坐在旁边。’{2SG 175.1}[5]
§12
“Anna generally took his meals to him from choice, and then sat by his side while he ate; she did not wish to eat until after he had. Said he, ‘Ellen, I wish you would make Anna sit down and eat with the rest of the family, for there is no need of her sitting by me while I eat.’?{2SG 175.1}[5]
§13
“他似乎非常爱安娜，他在生病期间常常说到他来罗彻斯特是要陪着她，因为她很虚弱，现在安娜竟然在伺候他了，他还常说：‘安娜呀，你决定来罗彻斯特的时候肯定不知道来了要伺候我。’{2SG 175.2}[6]
§14
“He seemed to love Anna very much, and through his sickness often spoke of his coming to Rochester to accompany her, because she was so feeble, and now Anna was waiting upon him, and often said, ‘Anna, you did not know when you made up your mind to come to Rochester that you were coming to wait upon me.’?{2SG 175.2}[6]
§15
“那天晚上（星期四）我们进入他的房间与他一起祷告，拿但业多多蒙福。他大声赞美主，同时他的脸因上帝的荣耀发光。我们特别祈祷他那个晚上能睡着休息好。他那晚休息得很好。{2SG 175.3}[7]
§16
“That night [Thursday] we went into his room and prayed with him, and Nathaniel was abundantly blessed. He praised the Lord aloud, while his face lighted up with the glory of God. We especially prayed that he might have sleep and rest that night. He rested very well through the night.?{2SG 175.3}[7]
§17
“星期五早上，他在世的最后一个早上，他叫我们进他的房间。他说希望我们在那里祷告；不过他先要说一些话。然后他就非常清晰地提出他来与我们一起住时发生的一些小事，和他认为他说得草率或说错了的每一句话，他都衷心地予以承认了。他承认了去过有过不信任上帝的地方，并且请求家人的饶恕。他说：‘我后悔没一直没有甘心接受我的疾病。我觉得我不能这样生病，主对我太苛刻了。但我现在确信生这场病是对的；因为只有这场病才能把我带到我现在的地步。最近上帝大量赐福了我，并且赦免了我一切的罪恶。我常常觉得要是我伸出手就能拥抱耶稣，祂是那么近。我知道我爱上帝，祂也爱我。’{2SG 175.4}[8]
§18
“Friday morning, the last morning that he lived, he called us into his room. He said that he wished us to pray there; but first, he had something to say. He then with remarkable clearness called up little things that had?transpired while he had been with us, and every word that he thought he had spoken hastily or wrong, he confessed heartily. He confessed wherein he had distrusted God in times past, and asked forgiveness of the family. ‘I regret,’ said he, ‘that I have been unreconciled to my sickness. I have felt that I could not have it so, and that the Lord dealt hard with me. But I am now satisfied it is just; for nothing but this sickness could bring me where I am. God has blessed me much of late, and has forgiven me all my sins. It often seems that if I should reach out my hand I could embrace Jesus he is so near. I know I love God and he loves me.’?{2SG 175.4}[8]
§19
“他说了他想说的之后，我们同心合意地祷告。那是一段美好的时光。他在我们祷告的时候显出极大的兴致，回应我们的祷告说：‘阿们！赞美主！荣耀归于上帝！我要赞美祂，因为祂配得赞美！祂的名是耶稣，祂必救我们脱离我们的罪！’{2SG 176.1}[9]
§20
“After he had said what he wished to, we united in prayer. It was a sweet season. He manifested great interest while we were praying, responding to our prayers, saying, ‘Amen! Praise the Lord! Glory to God! I will praise him, for he is worthy to be praised! His name is Jesus, and he will save us from our sins!’?{2SG 176.1}[9]
§21
“他本着信心恳切祈求要完全献身于上帝的旨意，受祂圣灵的洗，被祂的血洁净。他说：‘祢已赦免我一切的罪孽。祢已将我分别为圣归于祢自己，只要我还有气息就要尊荣祢。’{2SG 176.2}[10]
§22
“He prayed earnestly, and in faith, for a full consecration to God’s will, to be baptized with his Spirit, and purified by his blood. Said he, ‘Thou hast forgiven me all my sins. Thou hast sanctified me to thyself, and I will honor thee as long as I have breath.’?{2SG 176.2}[10]
§23
“他的脸面发光，看起来非常快乐。他说房间似乎很亮，还说他爱我们所有的人。我们祷告完起来之后，他说：‘安娜，我爱你，到这里来。’她走到他床边，他就拥抱了她，说：‘我很快乐，主已赐福了我。’{2SG 176.3}[11]
§24
“His face shone, and he looked very happy. He said that the room seemed light, and he?loved us all. After we arose from prayer he said, ‘Anna, I love you, come here.’ She went to his bedside, and he embraced her, and said, ‘I am happy, the Lord has blessed me.’?{2SG 176.3}[11]
§25
“拿但业一整天都在上帝里得胜，尽管他病得很重。我留在他的房间里，给他读经，与他交谈，使他快乐。我读经的时候他会说：‘这话多么适当啊！多么美好啊！我必须记住它！’{2SG 177.1}[12]
§26
“Nathaniel was triumphant in God through the day, although he was very sick. I remained in his room and entertained him by reading the Bible and conversing with him. As I read he would say, ‘How appropriate that is! how beautiful! I must remember that!’?{2SG 177.1}[12]
§27
“于是我说：拿但业啊，你病得很重。你可能两小时后就会去世，除非上帝干预，你活不了两天了。他很平静地说：‘我想不会那么快的。’他立即从床上起来，坐在摇椅上，开始讲话。他开始回顾他悔改的时候；讲了他那时享受了多少乐趣，多么担心自己会犯罪；然后讲他开始忘记上帝的时候和所丧失的福气。后来他又有了多么高的希望；他‘定意要在世上成为一个男子汉；受一份教育并且充任某个要职。’然后讲了他的希望如何破灭，因为苦难重重地压在他身上；对他来说放弃自己的期望是多么艰难。他说他觉得自己不能这样，他会好的；他不愿向苦难屈服。{2SG 177.2}[13]
§28
“I then said, Nathaniel, you are very sick. You may die in two hours, and unless God interposes, you cannot live two days. He said, very calmly, ‘O, not so soon as that, I think.’ He immediately rose from the bed, sat in the rocking-chair, and commenced talking. He began back to the time when he was converted; told how much he enjoyed, and how afraid he was of sinning; and then when he began to forget God, and lose the blessing. Then how high his hopes were raised; he ‘meant to be a man in the world; to get an education and fill some high station.’ And then he told how his hopes had died, as afflictions had pressed heavily upon him; how hard it was for him to give up his expectations. He said he felt he could not have it so; he?would?be well; he?would?not yield to it.?{2SG 177.2}[13]
§29
“然后他说起他来到罗彻斯特。让我们伺候他和依赖人是多么难受。他说：‘对我来说，你们大家的仁慈似乎过于我所能承受的；我渴望康复以便为这一切报答你们。’然后他说到他接受了安息日。他说：‘起先我不愿承认我所看到的亮光。我想隐藏它；但上帝不给我福气了，直到我承认了安息日。我便感到对上帝有信心了。’他说：‘现在我喜爱安息日了；它对我来说很宝贵。我现在也甘心接受我的病了。我知道这是惟一能救我的事。我要赞美主，只要祂能藉着苦难救我。’{2SG 177.3}[14]
§30
“Then he spoke of his coming to Rochester. How trying it was to have us wait upon him, and to be dependent. ‘It seemed to me,’ said?he, ‘that the kindness of you all, was more than I could bear; and I have desired to get well to pay you for all this.’ He then spoke of his embracing the Sabbath. Said he, ‘At first I was not willing to acknowledge the light I saw. I wished to conceal it; but the blessing of God was withheld from me until I acknowledged the Sabbath. Then I felt confidence towards God.’ Said he, ‘I love the Sabbath now; it is precious to me. I now feel reconciled to my sickness. I know that it is the only thing that will save me. I will praise the Lord, if he can save me through affliction.’?{2SG 177.3}[14]
§31
“在我们平常吃晚饭的时间，我们预备好了可怜的拿但业的晚餐，但他不久就说他晕过去了，知道他快要死了。他召唤我，我一进房间就知道他快死了，便对他说：‘拿但业啊，亲爱的，倚靠上帝。祂爱你，你也爱祂。象孩子倚靠父母一样倚靠祂吧。不要烦恼。主必不撇下你。’他说：‘是的，是的。’我们作了祷告，他回应说：‘阿们，赞美主！’他似乎没有遭受痛苦。他一次也没有呻吟或挣扎，脸上的肌肉也没有动，只是呼吸越来越短，直到睡了。”{2SG 178.1}[15]
§32
“At our usual supper-time, we prepared poor Nathaniel’s supper, but he soon said that he was faint, and did not know but he was going to die. He sent for me, and as soon as I entered the room, I knew that he was dying, and said to him, Nathaniel, dear, trust in God; he loves you, and you love him. Trust right in him as a child trusts in its parents. Don’t be troubled. The Lord will not leave you. Said he, ‘Yes, yes.’ We prayed, and he responded, ‘Amen! Praise the Lord!’ He did not seem to suffer pain. He did not groan once, nor struggle, nor move a muscle of his face, but breathed shorter and shorter until he fell asleep.”?{2SG 178.1}[15]
§33
下述诗句是因他的去世而创作的，作者是安妮.R.史密斯姐妹：[16]
§34
The following lines occasioned by his death, were written by Sr. Annie R. Smith: Gone to thy rest, brother! peaceful thy sleep; While o’er thy grave bending, in sorrow we weep,?For the loved and the cherished, in life’s early bloom, Borne from our number, to the cold, silent tomb. Sweet be thy slumber! in quiet repose; Beneath the green turf, and the blossoming rose; O, soft is thy pillow, and lowly thy bed; Mournful the cypress that waves o’er the dead. Dark though the opinion that shaded his brow, The truth which he followed illumined it now; In the arms of his Saviour he fell to his rest, Where woes that await us pervade not his breast. Weep not for the Christian whose labor is done; Who, faithful to duty, the treasure has won. The jewel was fitted forever to shine, A gem in the casket, immortal, divine. Not long will earth’s bosom his precious form hide, And death’s gloomy portals from kindred divide; For swiftly approaching, we see the bright day, That brings the glad summons, Arise! come away!?{2SG 178.2}[16]
§35
弟兄啊，你去安息！你安眠主内；我们却在你坟前俯首悲哀哭泣，因为我们所亲爱的人儿，在青春年少时期，与我们分离，下到寂静坟墓里。[17]
§36
你睡得香甜！静静安眠；在绿色的草皮和盛开的玫瑰下面；你的睡榻沉沉，你的枕头软软；悲哀的柏枝在逝者上面摇曳流连。[18]
§37
曾因黑暗观点，使他愁眉不展，所从宝贵真理，令他喜笑颜开；今在救主怀中安眠，祸患不再扰彼，我们仍有艰难。[19]
§38
信徒工作完成，不要哭泣不停；他既尽责忠诚，天上财宝已赢。他如宝石价值连城，适得其所永放光明，珍宝已入匣中，永垂不朽神圣。[20]