第53章 北方和南方
§1
第53章 北方和南方
§2
Chap.53 - The North and the South
§3
1862年1月4日，我蒙指示看到关于我们国家的一些事。我蒙召注意南方的叛乱。南方已准备进行一场大战，北方却一点儿也不知道他们的真实情绪。在林肯总统执政之前，南方已占了很大的优势。以前的政府在计划和管理上都有利于南方抢夺北方的战争资源。他们这么做有两个目的：一.他们决意谋反，必须为此作准备；二.当他们造反时，北方要全无准备。这样他们就会赢得时间，藉凶猛的威胁和残忍的行径胁迫北方顺从他们，凡事遂他们的心愿。{1T 253.1}[1]
§4
January 4, 1862, I was shown some things in regard to our nation. My attention was called to the Southern rebellion. The South had prepared themselves for a fierce conflict, while the North were asleep as to their true feelings. Before President Lincolns administration commenced, great advantage was taken by the South. The former administration planned and managed for the South to rob the North of their implements of war. They had two objects for so doing: 1. They were contemplating a determined rebellion, and must prepare for it; 2. When they should rebel, the North would be wholly unprepared. They would thus gain time, and by their violent threats and ruthless course they thought they could so intimidate the North that they would be obliged to yield to them and let them have everything their own way.{1T 253.1}[1]
§5
北方不明白南方对他们怀有的苦毒可怕的仇恨，对他们秘密策划的阴谋毫无准备。北方曾自夸实力，嘲笑南方想要离开联邦的想法。他们以为这就象一个任性固执的孩子的威胁，以为南方不久就会醒悟，既因离开联邦而变得软弱多病，就会谦卑地道歉，重新效忠。北方一点儿不知道可憎的奴隶制的实力。战争的基础正是在此，也唯独在此。南方变得越来越蛮横了。他们认为人口买卖，经营奴隶和人的灵魂是完全合理。他们若得不到所要求的全部领土，就十分生气，非常恼怒。他们要拆毁界线，随意将奴隶带到任何地方，使地因奴隶的劳动而受咒诅。南方出言不逊，北方则没有采取适当的措施予以制止。{1T 253.2}[2]
§6
The North did not understand the bitter, dreadful hatred of the South toward them, and were unprepared for their deep-laid plots. The North had boasted of their strength and ridiculed the idea of the South leaving the Union. They considered it like the threats of a willful, stubborn child, and thought that the South would soon come to their senses, and, becoming sick of leaving the Union, would with humble apologies return to their allegiance. The North have had no just idea of the strength of the accursed system of slavery. It is this, and this alone, which lies at the foundation of the war. The South have been more and more exacting. They consider it perfectly right to engage in human traffic, to deal in slaves and the souls of men. They are annoyed and become perfectly exasperated if they cannot claim all the territory they desire. They would tear down the boundaries and bring their slaves to any spot they please, and curse the soil with slave labor. The language of the South has been imperious, and the North have not taken suitable measures to silence it.{1T 253.2}[2]
§7
反叛在精心而缓慢地策划着。许多起先一想到叛乱就害怕的人也受到了背叛者所影响，视它为正确和正义的了。成千上万的人加入了南部邦联，他们不愿我们的政府在反叛初期采取果断彻底的措施，因为那时他们还没有为战争作好准备。北方从那时起才准备作战，但反叛的势力一直在增长，现在比数月前更难打败他们了。成千上万的人丧失了他们的生命，许多人回到家乡，终身残废，失去了健康，属世生活的前景也永远毁灭了，可是收获却是多么少啊！成千上万的人受到劝诱入伍，以为这场战争是要消除奴隶制；现在他们进退维谷，发现自己受了欺骗。这场战争的目的不是要废除奴隶制，而是要保持它。{1T 254.1}[3]
§8
The rebellion was handled so carefully, so slowly, that many who at first started with horror at the thought of rebellion were influenced by rebels to look upon it as right and just, and thousands joined the Southern Confederacy who would not had prompt and thorough measures been carried out by our Government at an early period of the rebellion, even as ill-prepared as it then was for war. The North have been preparing for war ever since, but the rebellion has been steadily increasing, and there is now no better prospect of its being subdued than there was months ago. Thousands have lost their lives, and many have returned to their homes, maimed and crippled for life, their health gone, their earthly prospects forever blighted; and yet how little has been gained! Thousands have been induced to enlist with the understanding that this war was to exterminate slavery; but now that they are fixed, they find that they have been deceived, that the object of this war is not to abolish slavery, but to preserve it as it is.{1T 254.1}[3]
§9
那些冒险离开自己的家乡并牺牲自己的性命为要消除奴隶制的人不满了。他们没有看到战争有任何良好的结果，只看到要保护联邦，为此必须牺牲成千上万人的性命，荒废许多家园。大批的人在医院中日渐衰竭并且断了气；其他人被反叛者投进了监狱里，那是比死亡还可怕的命运。有鉴于这一切，他们询问：我们若成功地镇压了这次反叛，所得到的是什么呢？他们只能失望地回答：什么都没得到。那导致反叛的体制丝毫未动，已经毁了我们国家的奴隶制依然存留并激起另一次的反叛。我国成千上万的士兵心中感到痛苦。他们忍受了最大的困苦艰难；这是他们甘愿忍受的，但他们发现自己受骗了，因而就沮丧了。我们的领导人困惑了，他们因恐惧而灰心。他们不敢向叛军一方的奴隶宣布自由，因为这样会激怒南方没有加入反叛但强烈支持奴隶制的那部分人。他们也害怕那些强烈反对奴隶制的位高权重之人的影响。他们害怕以大胆坚决的语气说话，因为那会煽燃成千上万人的强烈愿望，消灭这场可怕反叛的起因，让受压迫者得自由，折断一切的轭。{1T 254.2}[4]
§10
Those who have ventured to leave their homes and sacrifice their lives to exterminate slavery are dissatisfied. They see no good results from the war, only the preservation of the Union, and for this thousands of lives must be sacrificed and homes made desolate. Great numbers have wasted away and expired in hospitals; others have been taken prisoners by the rebels, a fate more to be dreaded than death. In view of all this, they inquire: If we succeed in quelling this rebellion, what has been gained? They can only answer discouragingly: Nothing. That which caused the rebellion is not removed. The system of slavery, which has ruined our nation, is left to live and stir up another rebellion. The feelings of thousands of our soldiers are bitter. They suffer the greatest privations; these they would willingly endure, but they find they have been deceived, and they are dispirited. Our leading men are perplexed, their hearts are failing them for fear. They fear to proclaim freedom to the slaves of the rebels, for by so doing they will exasperate that portion of the South who have not joined the rebellion but are strong slavery men. And again they have feared the influence of those strong antislavery men who were in command, holding responsible stations. They have feared the effects of a bold, decided tone, for it fanned to a flame the strong desire of thousands to wipe out the cause of this terrible rebellion, by letting the oppressed go free and breaking every yoke.{1T 254.2}[4]
§11
许多位高权重的人很少有良心或高尚的心志；他们会运用自己的权力，甚至造成部下的毁灭，并淡然处之。这些长官滥用交给他们的权力，使部下去占领危险的阵地，与叛军进行可怕而少有得胜希望的战斗。他们就这样排除了勇敢忠诚的人，就象大卫排除乌利亚一样。撒下11:14,15。{1T 255.1}[5]
§12
Many of those who are placed high in command to fill responsible stations have but little conscience or nobility of soul; they can exercise their power, even to the destruction of those under them, and it is winked at. These commanders could abuse the power given them and cause those subject to them to occupy dangerous positions where they would be exposed to terrible encounters with the rebels without the least hope of conquering them. In this way they could dispose of daring, thoroughgoing men, as David disposed of Uriah. 2 Samuel 11:14, 15.{1T 255.1}[5]
§13
有价值的人就这样牺牲了，以便消除他们反对奴隶制的强大影响。有些人正是北方在这个关键时期极其需要的，他们的服务会有最高的价值，却不在了。他们被无谓地牺牲掉了。我们国家的前景是令人气馁的，因为有些充任要职的人在内心里是反叛者。有些军官同情反叛者。他们虽然希望保护联邦，但他们藐视那些反对奴隶制的人。有些军队也大多由这种人组成；他们彼此反对，以致在许多部队中没有真正的团结。{1T 255.2}[6]
§14
Valuable men have thus been sacrificed to get rid of their strong antislavery influence. Some of the very men whom the North most need in this critical time, whose services would be of the highest value, are not. They have been wantonly sacrificed. The prospects before our nation are discouraging, for there are those filling responsible stations who are rebels at heart. There are commanding officers who are in sympathy with the rebels. While they are desirous of having the Union preserved, they despise those who are antislavery. Some of the armies also are composed largely of such material; they are so opposed to one another that no real union exists among many regiments.{1T 255.2}[6]
§15
我蒙指示看到了这场战争。这似乎是有史以来最奇特最无常的战争。入伍的志愿兵大都完全相信战争的结果会废除奴隶制。还有一些入伍的人很想保留奴隶制，但镇压叛乱是要保护联邦。使这事更为复杂不定的是，有些军官强烈支持奴隶制，完全同情南方，但反对南方成立一个独立的政府。这场战争似乎不可能成功，因为在我们自己的队伍中许多人不断在做支持南方的事，我们的军队也因支持奴隶制之人的作为而被击败，遭到残杀。我们国会的一些领袖还在不断地做有利于南方的事。在这种形势下，宣布了通国禁食，祈求上帝使这场战争迅速而有利的终止。然后我蒙指示看到了以赛亚58:5-7：“这样禁食岂是我所拣选、使人刻苦己心的日子吗？岂是叫人垂头象苇子，用麻布和炉灰铺在他以下吗？你这可称为禁食、为耶和华所悦纳的日子吗？我所拣选的禁食不是要松开凶恶的绳，解下轭上的索，使被欺压的得自由，折断一切的轭吗？不是要把你的饼分给饥饿的人，将飘流的穷人接到你家中，见赤身的给他衣服遮体，顾恤自己的骨肉而不掩藏吗？” {1T 256.1}[7]
§16
As this war was shown to me, it looked like the most singular and uncertain that has ever occurred. A great share of the volunteers enlisted fully believing that the result of the war would be to abolish slavery. Others enlisted intending to be very careful to keep slavery just as it is, but to put down the rebellion and preserve the Union. And then to make the matter still more perplexing and uncertain, some of the officers in command are strong proslavery men whose sympathies are all with the South, yet who are opposed to a separate government. It seems impossible to have the war conducted successfully, for many in our own ranks are continually working to favor the South, and our armies have been repulsed and unmercifully slaughtered on account of the management of these proslavery men. Some of our leading men in Congress also are constantly working to favor the South. In this state of things, proclamations are issued for national fasts, for prayer that God will bring this war to a speedy and favorable termination. I was then directed to Isaiah 58:5-7: Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his soul? is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the Lord? Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?{1T 256.1}[7]
§17
我看到这些全国性的禁食对耶和华是一种羞辱。祂不悦纳这种禁食。记录的天使是这样写到他们：“你们禁食，却互相争竞，以凶恶的拳头打人”（赛58:4）。我蒙指示，看到我们的领导人如何对待来求他们保护的可怜奴隶。天使已记下了这事。这些人不但没有折断他们的轭，使被欺压的得自由，反而使他们的轭比在他们残暴的主人手下时更难堪。对自由的热爱使可怜的奴隶们离开自己的主人，冒着生命的危险要获得自由。他们若不象我们一样强烈地热爱自由，就决不会冒险离开自己的主人，使自己遭受种种困难和再次被俘的恐怖。逃跑的奴隶经受了数不清的艰难困苦和危险，为要获得自由，他们心中燃烧着对自由的热爱，最后的希望就是请求我们政府的保护；但他们的信任受到了极度的藐视。他们中的许多人受到了残忍的对待，因为他们犯了这么大的罪，竟然胆敢努力获得自由。自称拥有人心的伟人们，见到奴隶们几乎衣不蔽体，饿得要死，却虐待了他们，并把他们送回他们残忍的主人和无望的奴役，因胆敢追求自由而遭受非人的残忍待遇。这班可怜的人有些被扔进摧残健康的地牢里，不管他们的死活。他们被剥夺了上天所从未剥夺他们的自由和释放，任其缺衣少食。在这种情况下，竟宣布了全国禁食！这是多么地羞辱耶和华啊！主藉以赛亚的口说：“他们天天寻求我，乐意明白我的道，好像行义的国民，不离弃他们上帝的典章”（赛58:2）。{1T 257.1}[8]
§18
I saw that these national fasts were an insult to Jehovah. He accepts of no such fasts. The recording angel writes in regard to them: Ye fast for strife and debate, and to smite with the fist of wickedness. I was shown how our leading men have treated the poor slaves who have come to them for protection. Angels have recorded it. Instead of breaking their yoke and letting the oppressed go free, these men have made the yoke more galling for them than when in the service of their tyrannical masters. Love of liberty leads the poor slaves to leave their masters and risk their lives to obtain liberty. They would never venture to leave their masters and expose themselves to the difficulties and horrors attending their recapture if they had not as strong a love for liberty as any of us. The escaped slaves have endured untold hardships and dangers to obtain their freedom, and as their last hope, with the love of liberty burning in their breasts, they apply to our Government for protection; but their confidence has been treated with the utmost contempt. Many of them have been cruelly treated because they committed so great a crime as to dare to make an effort to obtain their freedom. Great men, professing to have human hearts, have seen the slaves almost naked and starving, and have abused them, and sent them back to their cruel masters and hopeless bondage, to suffer inhuman cruelty for daring to seek their liberty. Some of this wretched class they thrust into unwholesome dungeons, to live or die, they cared not which. They have deprived them of the liberty and free air which heaven has never denied them, and then left them to suffer for food and clothing. In view of all this, a national fast is proclaimed! Oh, what an insult to Jehovah! The Lord saith by the mouth of Isaiah: Yet they seek Me daily, and delight to know My ways, as a nation that did righteousness, and forsook not the ordinance of their God. {1T 257.1}[8]
§19
奴隶主告诉逃奴，北方人想要占有他们，虐待他们；废奴主义者对待他们，会比奴隶制更加恶劣。奴隶主在他们的耳中不断重复各种可怕的故事，使他们憎恨北方。但他们隐约地知道北方有人同情他们的苦难，愿意帮助他们。这是闪耀在他们悲伤阴郁之奴役生活中的唯一希望之星。可怜的奴隶所受的待遇已使他们相信，他们的主人在这些事上告诉他们的是真的。可是竟然宣布了全国禁食！主说：“我所拣选的禁食不是要松开凶恶的绳，解下轭上的索，使被欺压的得自由，折断一切的轭吗”（赛58:6）？当我们的国家实施上帝所拣选的禁食时，祂就会悦纳他们有关战争的祈祷；但现在他们的祷告入不了祂的耳。祂转身离开他们，他们令祂厌恶。那些希望愿意解开重担，折断一切重轭的人竟然受到责备，或被撤职，或被那些“禁食，却互相争竞，以凶恶的拳头打人”的人谋算了性命。{1T 258.1}[9]
§20
The escaped slaves have been told by their masters that the Northern men wanted to get possession of them that they might cruelly misuse them; that the abolitionists would treat them worse than they had been treated while in slavery. All manner of horrible stories have been repeated in their ears to make them detest the North, and yet they have had a confused idea that some hearts in the North felt for their grievances and would yet make an effort to help them. This has been the only star which has shed its glimmering light upon their distressed and gloomy bondage. The manner in which the poor slaves have been treated has led them to believe that their masters have told them the truth in these things. And yet a national fast is proclaimed! Saith the Lord: Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? When our nation observes the fast which God has chosen, then will He accept their prayers as far as the war is concerned; but now they enter not into His ear. He turns from them, they are disgusting to Him. It is so managed that those who would undo the heavy burdens and break every yoke are placed under censure, or removed from responsible stations, or their lives are planned away by those who fast for strife and debate, and to smite with the fist of wickedness.{1T 258.1}[9]
§21
我蒙指示，这场战争的目的若是消除奴隶制，在必要时英国原会帮助北方的。但英国完全清楚现在政府的观点。这场战争不是要除掉奴隶制，而只要保护联邦。英国对保护联邦不感兴趣。我们的政府非常骄傲而独立。该国的人已把自己抬到天上，轻视君主政体，以自由而自夸，同时却存在和保留比君主政体的苛政恶劣一千倍的奴隶制。在这片光明的国土上，仍实行着允许一部分人奴役另一部分人的制度，使数百万的人降格到畜类的水平，连异教国家也见不到此等罪孽。{1T 258.2}[10]
§22
I was shown that if the object of this war had been to exterminate slavery, then, if desired, England would have helped the North. But England fully understands the existing feelings in the Government, and that the war is not to do away slavery, but merely to preserve the Union; and it is not for her interest to have it preserved. Our Government has been very proud and independent. The people of this nation have exalted themselves to heaven, and have looked down upon monarchical governments, and triumphed in their boasted liberty, while the institution of slavery, that was a thousand times worse than the tyranny exercised by monarchial governments, was suffered to exist and was cherished. In this land of light a system is cherished which allows one portion of the human family to enslave another portion, degrading millions of human beings to the level of the brute creation. The equal of this sin is not to be found in heathen lands.{1T 258.2}[10]
§23
天使说：“诸天啊，要听，受欺压之人的呼声，要照欺压者的行为加倍的报应他们。”这个国家要降卑到尘埃。英国正在筹算是否利用我国现在的软弱状况，冒险与之作战。她正在权衡此事，并设法探测其它国家。她担心，若是开展海外战争，国内会被削弱，其它国家会占她软弱的便宜。其它国家虽不作声，却在积极备战，希望英国与我国开战，因为那时他们就会趁机报复她，她曾在过去占他们的便宜，待他们不公。女王的部分国民正在等待有利的机会要折断他们的轭；但是英国若以为合算，就会毫不犹豫地趁机运用她的权力使我们国家降卑。当英国宣战时，所有国家都会有自己的利益要照顾，就会有普遍的战争，普遍的混乱。英国熟悉那些试图镇压叛乱之人的情绪。她很清楚我国政府的复杂状况；她惊讶地看着这场战争的进行——行动缓慢低效，我们的军队无所作为，以及我们国家的毁灭性开支。我国政府的软弱充分展现在其它国家面前，他们而今得出结论说，这是因为它不是一个君主政体。于是他们就钦佩自己的政府，轻视我们的国家，有些人带着同情，有些人则带着藐视，他们曾看我国是世上最强大的国家。要是我们的国家保持团结，原会加强力量。然而分裂就必失败。{1T 259.1}[11]
§24
Said the angel: Hear, O heavens, the cry of the oppressed, and reward the oppressors double according to their deeds. This nation will yet be humbled into the dust. England is studying whether it is best to take advantage of the present weak condition of our nation, and venture to make war upon her. She is weighing the matter, and trying to sound other nations. She fears, if she should commence war abroad, that she would be weak at home, and that other nations would take advantage of her weakness. Other nations are making quiet yet active preparations for war, and are hoping that England will make war with our nation, for then they would improve the opportunity to be revenged on her for the advantage she has taken of them in the past and the injustice done them. A portion of the queens subjects are waiting a favorable opportunity to break their yoke; but if England thinks it will pay, she will not hesitate a moment to improve her opportunities to exercise her power and humble our nation. When England does declare war, all nations will have an interest of their own to serve, and there will be general war, general confusion. England is acquainted with the diversity of feeling among those who are seeking to quell the rebellion. She well knows the perplexed condition of our Government; she has looked with astonishment at the prosecution of this war--the slow, inefficient moves, the inactivity of our armies, and the ruinous expenses of our nation. The weakness of our Government is fully open before other nations, and they now conclude that it is because it was not a monarchial government, and they admire their own government, and look down, some with pity, others with contempt, upon our nation, which they have regarded as the most powerful upon the globe. Had our nation remained united it would have had strength, but divided it must fall. {1T 259.1}[11]