第28章 教会的试炼
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第28章 教会的试炼
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Chap.28 - Church Trials
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下面的异象是1857年7月6日在宾夕法尼亚州的尤利西斯赐下的,涉及纽约州某地和其它地方的事。{1T 164.1}[1]
§4
The following view was given at Ulysses, Pennsylvania, July 6, 1857. It relates to things as they have existed in ----- and other places in New York.{1T 164.1}[1]
§5
在纽约的弟兄中间,教会经历的许多试炼,是与上帝毫无关系的。教会丧失了力量,不知如何重新得力。彼此相爱的心消失了,挑剔控告的精神盛行。互相搜寻似乎是错的事情,将之描述得像是真错,这倒被视为是一种美德。对弟兄施怜悯与仁爱的恻隐之心已荡然无存。有些人的宗教乃在于吹毛求疵,挑剔每一件看似错误的事,直到心灵的高尚情感枯萎了。应当提高心志思考永恒的景象,天国及其财宝和荣耀,从圣经的真理中得到甜美圣洁的满足;应当喜欢领受上帝之道所提供的宝贵应许,从中得到安慰,并超越凡俗琐事而追求永恒重要的事。{1T 164.2}[2]
§6
There have been so many church trials among the brethren in the State of New York, that God has not had the least to do with, that the church have lost their strength, and they know not how to regain it. Love for one another has disappeared, and a faultfinding, accusing spirit has prevailed. It has been considered a virtue to hunt up everything about one another that looked wrong, and make it appear fully as bad as it really was. The bowels of compassion that yearn in love and pity toward brethren, have not existed. The religion of some has consisted in faultfinding, picking at everything bearing the appearance of wrong, until the noble feelings of the soul are withered. The mind should be elevated to dwell upon eternal scenes, heaven, its treasures, its glories, and should take sweet and holy satisfaction in the truths of the Bible. It should love to feed upon the precious promises that Gods word affords, draw comfort from them, and be lifted above trifles to weighty, eternal things.{1T 164.2}[2]
§7
但人们竟用完全不的方式来运用心智!竟拾取没有价值的东西!他们所举行的教会聚会对纽约的许多人来说已成了活的咒诅。这些人为的试炼使人完全随便地恶意猜测。人们怀着嫉妒的心,产生了恶意,他们竟不知道。有些人的心中有了错误的观念,责备人不凭着爱心,用他们认为对的想法控制人,不饶恕人,反而压服人。{1T 164.3}[3]
§8
But, oh, how differently has the mind been employed! Picking at straws! Church meetings, as they have been held, have been a living curse to many in New York. These manufactured trials have given full liberty to evil surmising. Jealousy has been fed. Hatred has existed, but they knew it not. A wrong idea has been in the minds of some, to reprove without love, hold others to their idea of what is right, and spare not, but bear down with crushing weight. {1T 164.3}[3]
§9
我看到在纽约的许多人对自己的弟兄太关注了,想要保持他们的正直,却忽视了自己的心。他们很担心弟兄们不发热心不悔改,却忘记了自己也有必须改正的错误。他们自己的心虽未成圣,却设法纠正自己的弟兄。而今纽约的弟兄姐妹们能兴起的唯一办法,就是各人管好自己的事,整顿自己的心。如果一位弟兄犯了明显的罪,不要通报给另一个人,而要爱那位弟兄的灵魂,心中充满同情,满怀怜悯地告诉他错在哪里,然后把这事留给他和主去处理。你已尽了你的本分,你不可下判决。{1T 165.1}[4]
§10
I saw that many in New York have had so much care for their brethren, to keep them straight, that they have neglected their own hearts. They are so fearful that their brethren will not be zealous and repent, that they forget that they have wrongs that must be righted. With their own hearts unsanctified, they try to right their brethren. Now the only way the brethren and sisters in New York can rise is for each to attend to his own individual case, and set his own heart in order. If sin is plain in a brother, breathe it not to another, but with love for the brothers soul, with a heart full of compassion, with bowels of mercy, tell him the wrong, then leave the matter with him and the Lord. You have discharged your duty. You are not to pass sentence.{1T 165.1}[4]
§11
人们在控制弟兄,谴责他,定他罪的事上太轻率了。他们对上帝有热心,却不是按着真知识。若是每个人都愿整顿自己的心,当弟兄们聚在一起时,他们就会有现成的并且发自一颗完全的心的见证,他们周围不信真理的人也会受感动。上帝之灵的显现会向他们的心证明你们是上帝的儿女。所有的人都应见到我们彼此相爱的心。然后它就会作见证,有感化力。{1T 165.2}[5]
§12
It has been made too light an affair to rein up a brother, to condemn him, and hold him under condemnation. There has been a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. If each would set his own heart in order, when the brethren meet together their testimony would be ready and come from a full soul, and the people around that believe not the truth would be moved. The manifestation of the Spirit of God would tell to their hearts that you are the children of God. Our love for one another should be visible to all. Then it will tell. It will have an influence.{1T 165.2}[5]
§13
我看见纽约的教会能够兴起。要个别地把握这项工作,要发热心并悔改;在纠正所有已知的错误之后,就要相信上帝会悦纳你们。不要悲哀,而要接受上帝的话。要殷勤地寻求祂,并相信祂会接纳你。有一部分工作就是相信。应许的主是信实的。要凭着信心向上攀登。{1T 165.3}[6]
§14
I saw that the church in New York might rise. Take hold of the work individually, be zealous and repent; and after all known wrongs are righted, then believe that God accepts you. Go not mourning, but take God at His word. Seek Him diligently, and believe that He receives you. A part of the work is to believe. He is faithful who has promised. Climb up by faith.{1T 165.3}[6]
§15
在纽约的弟兄能和其他地方的弟兄一样兴起;他们能就饮于上帝的救恩。他们能聪明地行事,亲身体验那真实见证者给老底嘉教会的信息。教会感受到自己的堕落,但不知如何起来。有些人的愿望可能是很好的;他们能认罪;可是我看到他们被人心存怀疑地监视着,并且因一句话就被人定罪,直到他们失去了自由,失去了救恩。他们不敢将内心朴素的感情付诸行动,因为他们受到监视。上帝喜欢祂的子民敬畏祂,并彼此信任。{1T 165.4}[7]
§16
The brethren can rise in New York as well as in other places; and they can drink of the salvation of God. They can move understandingly, and each have an experience for himself in this message of the True Witness to the Laodiceans. The church feel that they are down, but know not how to rise. The intentions of some may be very good; they may confess; yet I saw that they are watched with suspicion, and are made offenders for a word, until they have no liberty, no salvation. They dare not act out the simple feelings of the heart, because they are watched. It is Gods pleasure that His people should fear Him, and have confidence before one another.{1T 165.4}[7]
§17
我看见许多人妄用上帝所指出他人的过错和罪恶。他们将异象所显示的内容进行极端的解释,予以强调,以致削弱了许多人对上帝启示的信心,并使教会灰心丧胆。弟兄与弟兄应温柔怜悯地彼此相待。要细心地对待情感问题。处理他人的错误乃是最细致最重要的工作。弟兄做这件事应存着最谦卑的心,以免自己也受引诱。{1T 166.1}[8]
§18
I saw that many have taken advantage of what God has shown in regard to the sins and wrongs of others. They have taken the extreme meaning of what has been shown in vision, and then have pressed it until it has had a tendency to weaken the faith of many in what God has shown, and also to discourage and dishearten the church. With tender compassion should brother deal with brother. Delicately should he deal with feelings. It is the nicest and most important work that ever yet was done to touch the wrongs of another. With the deepest humility should a brother do this, considering his own weakness, lest he also should be tempted.{1T 166.1}[8]
§19
我已见到耶稣为救赎人类做出的伟大牺牲。祂并没有认为自己的生命太宝贵了而不牺牲。耶稣说:“你们要彼此相爱,象我爱你们一样”(约15:12)。当一位弟兄犯了错时,你觉得自己能舍命救他吗?如果你觉得能,你就可以接近他并感动他的心;你就正是要访问那位弟兄的人。但可悲的事实是,许多自称为弟兄的人,却不愿牺牲自己的任何意见或判断去救一位弟兄。彼此相爱的心很少。表现出的是自私的精神。{1T 166.2}[9]
§20
I have seen the great sacrifice which Jesus made to redeem man. He did not consider His own life too dear to sacrifice. Said Jesus: Love one another, as I have loved you. Do you feel, when a brother errs, that you could give your life to save him? If you feel thus, you can approach him and affect his heart; you are just the one to visit that brother. But it is a lamentable fact that many who profess to be brethren, are not willing to sacrifice any of their opinions or their judgment to save a brother. There is but little love for one another. A selfish spirit is manifested.{1T 166.2}[9]
§21
教会灰心了。教会的信徒一直在爱世界,爱自己的农场,自己的牲畜等。现在耶稣呼召他们要斩断这一切,积攒财宝在天上,买金子、白衣和眼药。这些才是珍贵的财宝。获得这些财宝的人才能进入上帝的国。{1T 166.3}[10]
§22
Discouragement has come upon the church. They have been loving the world, loving their farms, their cattle, etc. Now Jesus calls them to cut loose, to lay up treasure in heaven, to buy gold, white raiment, and eyesalve. Precious treasures are these. They will obtain for the possessor an entrance into the kingdom of God. {1T 166.3}[10]
§23
上帝的子民必须聪明行事。他们不可感到满足,直到每一项已知的罪都承认了。然后他们的特权和义务就是相信耶稣悦纳他们。他们不可等待别人冲破黑暗为他们获得胜利,使他们坐享其成。这种享受只能持续到聚会结束的时候。但是我们必须根据原则而不是根据感觉侍奉上帝。早晨和晚上都要在你自己的家里为你自己获得胜利。不要让你日常的工作拦阻你不能做这事。要花时间祷告,当你祷告时,要相信上帝听你的祷告。要在你的祷告中结合信心。你不一定每次都觉得立即得了应允;信心是要经受考验的。你要受试验,看看你是否信赖上帝,是否拥有活泼长存的信心。“那召你们的本是信实的,祂必成就这事”(帖前5:24)。要行在信心的狭板上。要信赖主一切的应许。在黑暗中信靠上帝。那正是需要信心的时候。但你常常让感觉支配你。当你没有感受到上帝圣灵的安慰时,就在自己身上找价值,并因找不到而绝望。你没有足够地信赖宝贵的耶稣,没有以祂的价值为至上。你最好的行为也不能使你得到上帝的悦纳。唯有耶稣的功劳能够救你,唯有祂的宝血能洗净你。但你也要努力。你必须尽己所能的。要发热心,也要悔改,然后要相信。{1T 167.1}[11]
§24
The people of God must move understandingly. They should not be satisfied until every known sin is confessed; then it is their privilege and duty to believe that Jesus accepts them. They must not wait for others to press through the darkness and obtain the victory for them to enjoy. Such enjoyment will last only till the meeting closes. But God must be served from principle instead of from feeling. Morning and night obtain the victory for yourselves in your own family. Let not your daily labor keep you from this. Take time to pray, and as you pray, believe that God hears you. Have faith mixed with your prayers. You may not at all times feel the immediate answer; but then it is that faith is tried. You are proved to see whether you will trust in God, whether you have living, abiding faith. Faithful is He that calleth you, who also will do it. Walk the narrow plank of faith. Trust all on the promises of the Lord. Trust God in darkness. That is the time to have faith. But you often let feeling govern you. You look for worthiness in yourselves when you do not feel comforted by the Spirit of God, and despair because you cannot find it. You do not trust enough in Jesus, precious Jesus. You do not make His worthiness to be all, all. The very best you can do will not merit the favor of God. It is Jesus worthiness that will save you, His blood that will cleanse you. But you have efforts to make. You must do what you can on your part. Be zealous and repent, then believe.{1T 167.1}[11]
§25
不要把信心和感觉混在一起。它们是截然不同的。信心是我们的,要我们予以运用的。我们必须不断运用信心。要相信,相信。要让你的信心持住福气,它就是你的了。你的感觉与这种信心无关。当信心把福气带给你的心时,你就在那福气中欢喜快乐,它就不再是信心,而是感觉了。{1T 167.2}[12]
§26
Confound not faith and feeling together. They are distinct. Faith is ours to exercise. This faith we must keep in exercise. Believe, believe. Let your faith take hold of the blessing, and it is yours. Your feelings have nothing to do with this faith. When faith brings the blessing to your heart, and you rejoice in the blessing, it is no more faith, but feeling.{1T 167.2}[12]
§27
上帝在纽约的子民必须坚定地站立起来,出离黑暗,让他们的光照耀出来。他们正挡在上帝圣工的路上。他们必须让第三位天使的信息在他们心中工作。弟兄们,上帝因你们冗长而没有信心的祈祷而蒙羞。不要看你们没有价值的自我,而要高举耶稣。要谈论信心,亮光和天国,你们就会有信心,亮光和爱心,以及圣灵的平安与喜乐。{1T 167.3}[13]
§28
The people of God in New York must steadily rise, and come out of darkness, and let their light shine. They are standing right in the way of the work of God. They must let the message of the third angel do its work upon their hearts. Brethren, God is dishonored by your long, faithless prayers. Look away from the unworthiness of self, and exalt Jesus. Talk of faith, of light, and of heaven, and you will have faith, light, and love, and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost. {1T 167.3}[13]