第41章 进步的骗局
§1
第41章 进步的骗局
§2
Chap. 41—Delusions of Progression
§3
真知识一代一代地减少。上帝是无限的。地上的第一代居民从创造世界的无限上帝那里领受指教。那些直接从无穷智慧的源头领受知识的人，并不缺乏知识。{4aSG 154.2}[1]
§4
True knowledge has decreased with every successive generation. God is infinite, and the first people upon the earth received their instructions from that infinite God who created the world. Those who received their knowledge direct from infinite wisdom were not deficient in knowledge.?{4aSG 154.2}[1]
§5
上帝曾指教挪亚怎样建造那庞大的方舟，为救他和他的全家。祂也曾指教摩西怎样建造会幕，以及刺绣装饰会幕的技术工作。妇女们以极大的智巧用金丝银线作了刺绣。技术人员在制作方舟会幕，以及金器皿时并不缺乏什么。{4aSG 154.3}[2]
§6
God instructed Noah how to make that immense ark, for the saving of himself and his family. He also instructed Moses how to make the tabernacle, and the embroidery, and skillful work which was to adorn[2]
§7
上帝曾把要让所罗门建造的圣殿式样指示大卫。只有最有才能的设计技术人员才可以参与这项工作。圣殿的每一块石头在运来以前，都必须经过精心制作，以便放在准确的位置上。圣殿在建造中听不到斧和锤的声音。在世界上没有一个建筑有这样美丽，豪华和辉煌。{4aSG 155.1}[3]
§8
the sanctuary. The women wrought, with great ingenuity the embroidery of silver and gold. Skillful men were not wanting to accomplish the work of making the ark, the tabernacle, and the vessels of solid gold.?{4aSG 154.3}[3]
§9
古代人并没有现在的许多发明创造，以及节省体力的机器，他们也不需要。大地越来越深地感受到咒诅。在洪水之前，当第一片树叶落到地上被人看见时，曾引起敬畏上帝的人深深的悲伤。他们为这片树叶悲伤，就象我们为失去一个朋友而伤心一样，他们从腐烂的树叶中看见咒诅，以及大自然腐败的证据。{4aSG 155.2}[4]
§10
God gave David a pattern of the temple which Solomon built. None but the most skillful men of design and art were allowed to have anything to do with the work. Every stone for the temple was prepared to exactly fill its place, before being brought to the temple. And the temple came together without the sound of an axe or a hammer. There is no such building to be found in the world for beauty, richness and splendor.?{4aSG 155.1}[4]
§11
地球受咒阻的时间越久，人类就越难进行耕作使它生产。土地既已荒芜，就得化双倍的劳动。上帝赐给人发明的才能来制作器具，以减轻在受咒诅之土地上的劳动。但是人类的一切发明并非都出于上帝。撒但在很大的程度上控制了人心，唆使人去发明一些令他们忘记上帝的东西。{4aSG 155.3}[5]
§12
There are many inventions and improvements, and labor-saving machines now that the ancients did not have. They did not need them. The land has felt the curse, more and more heavily. Before the flood, the first leaf which fell, and was discovered decaying upon the ground, caused those who feared God great sorrow. They mourned over it as we mourn over the loss of a dead friend. In the decaying leaf they could see an evidence of the curse, and of the decay of nature.?{4aSG 155.2}[5]
§13
就智力而言，现代人是无法与古代人相比的。所失传的古代技艺要大大超过现代人们所拥有的。就技艺而言，现代人也无法与古代寿命长达千年的人相比。{4aSG 155.4}[6]
§14
The greater the length of time the earth has lain under the curse, the more difficult has it been for man to cultivate it, and make it productive. As the soil has become more barren, and double labor has had to be expended upon it, God has raised up men with inventive faculties to construct implements to lighten labor on the land groaning under the curse. But God has not been in all man’s inventions. Satan has controlled the minds of men to a great extent, and has hurried men to new inventions which has led them to forget God.?{4aSG 155.3}[6]
§15
在洪水以前，人类的寿命都是以百年计数的。一百岁还算青年人。这些长寿的人有健全的智力和强壮的身体。他们的智力和体力是现代软弱的人类所无法相比的。这些古人的寿命差不多有一千年，可以获得知识。他们在六十至一百岁，才刚开始行动，而现代长寿的人到这时已走完短短的人生道路，开始退出了舞台。人们受欺骗和奉承，相信现在是真正进步的时代，人类在过去的年代里，真知识方面取得了进步。其实他们是受了谎言之父的影响。他的工作就是把上帝的真理变为虚谎。{4aSG 156.1}[7]
§16
In strength of intellect, men who now live can bear no comparison to the ancients. There has been more ancient arts lost that the present generation now possess. For skill and art those living in this degenerate age will not compare with the knowledge?possessed by strong men who lived near one thousand years.?{4aSG 155.4}[7]