第117章 基督徒的口号
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第117章 基督徒的口号
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Chap.117 - The Christians Watchword
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亲爱的B弟兄：我蒙指示看到你多是根据感觉而不是根据原则行事。你在上帝的事上缺乏深切彻底的经验。你需要完全悔改归向真理。当人的心完全悔改时，他所拥有的一切就奉献给主了。你还没有经历这种奉献。你在言语上是爱真理的，但并没有把对真理的爱表现在你的行为上，也没有藉你的果子将之表现出来。你的动作，你的行为，乃是证据，要么证明你的爱心真实，要么证明你对上帝，对上帝的圣工和你的同胞漠不关心。{1T 690.1}[1]
§4
Dear Brother B: I was shown that you move much from feeling instead of from firm principle. You lack a deep and thorough experience in the things of God. You need to be wholly converted to the truth. When a mans heart is fully converted, all that he possesses is consecrated to the Lord. This consecration you have not yet experienced. You love the truth in word, but do not manifest that love in your deeds and by your fruits. Your acts, your deeds, are evidences of the sincerity of your love, or of your indifference to God, His cause, and your fellow men.{1T 690.1}[1]
§5
基督怎样向可怜的人类表现祂的爱呢？乃是藉着牺牲祂自己的荣耀，祂自己的财富，甚至祂最宝贵的生命。基督愿意过一种羞辱而极其痛苦的生活。祂忍受了一班狂怒害命群众的残忍嘲弄，以致在十字架上遭受了最痛苦难堪的死。基督说过：“你们要彼此相爱，象我爱你们一样；这就是我的命令。人为朋友舍命，人的爱心没有比这个大的。你们若遵行我所吩咐的，就是我的朋友了”（约15:12-14）。当我们表现出毫无保留地顺从祂的旨意时，我们就给出证据证明我们是基督的朋友。只说不做是没有证据的；在遵行和顺从上才有证据。谁在顺从彼此相爱的命令象基督爱了他们一样呢？B弟兄啊，你若顺从基督的命令，就必需前所未有地拥有更坚定、更深切、更无私的爱心。{1T 690.2}[2]
§6
How did Christ manifest His love for poor mortals? By the sacrifice of His own glory, His own riches, and even His most precious life. Christ consented to a life of humiliation and great suffering. He submitted to the cruel mockings of an infuriated, murderous multitude, and to the most agonizing death upon the cross. Said Christ: This is My commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are My friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. We give evidence of being the friends of Christ when we manifest implicit obedience to His will. It is no evidence to say, and do not; but in doing, in obeying, is the evidence. Who are obeying the commandment to love one another as Christ has loved them? Brother B, you must have a firmer, deeper, and more unselfish love than you have ever yet possessed, if you obey the commandment of Christ.{1T 690.2}[2]
§7
你缺乏仁爱心。你工作为要使自己免于操心费力，或为上帝的圣工耗费钱财。你在圣工中投资很少。人最重视的事业可从他的投资上看出来。他对永恒事物的估计若是高于现世的事物，就会在他的行动上表现出来；他会在自己最重视的事上和最终会给他带来最大利益的事上投资最多，冒险最多。{1T 691.1}[3]
§8
You lack benevolence. You labor to save yourself from care, trouble, or expense for the cause of God. You have invested but little in the cause. The enterprise which man values the most will be seen by his investments. If he places a higher estimate upon eternal things than upon temporal things, he will show this by his works; he will invest the most, and venture the most, in that which he values the highest and which in the end brings him the greatest profit.{1T 691.1}[3]
§9
自称相信真理的人们会从事属世的事业，多投资，冒大险。若是他们丧失了几乎所有的一切，就深感委屈，愤愤不平，因为他们感到所承受之损失的不便；可是他们并不觉得自己不明智的行为剥夺了上帝圣工的钱财，而且作为祂的管家，他们必须为这样浪费主的钱财交账。要是他们受命为上帝的圣工有所冒险，投入他们已因投资世上事物而损失之钱财的四分之一，他们就会觉得天国的代价太高了。{1T 691.2}[4]
§10
Men who profess the truth will engage in worldly enterprises, and invest much, and run great risks. If they lose nearly all they possess, they are deeply aggrieved, because they feel the inconvenience of the losses they have sustained; yet they do not feel that their unwise course has deprived the cause of God of means, and that as His stewards they must render an account for this squandering of the Lords money. Should they be required to venture something for the cause of God, to invest a quarter even of that which they have lost by their investment in earthly things, they would feel that heaven costs too much.{1T 691.2}[4]
§11
你没有赏识永恒的事物。你并不是一个富有的人，可是你的心会在你所拥有的那点儿钱财上，并且紧紧依靠它就象大富豪依靠他的财宝一样。你在世间事业的投资产生的利润很少；同时，在另一方面，若是你投资于上帝的圣工，使那圣工成为你的一部分，并且爱它就象爱你自己一样，乐于为推进它作出牺牲，表明你对它最终得胜的信任和信心，你就会有宝贵的收成，若在今生得不到，也必在比今生更好的来生得到。你会收获永恒的赏赐，其价值远高于任何普通、属世的利得，因为不朽坏的高于易朽坏的。{1T 691.3}[5]
§12
Eternal things are not appreciated. You are not a rich man, yet your heart may be just as much placed upon the little you have, and you may cling to it just as closely as the millionaire to his treasures. Small, very small, will be the profits realized by you in your investments in worldly enterprises; while, on the other hand, if you invest in the cause of God, make that cause a part of you, and love it as you love yourself, and are willing to sacrifice for its advancement, showing your confidence and faith in its ultimate triumph, you will reap a precious harvest, if not in this life, in the better life than this. You will reap an eternal reward which is of as much higher value than any common, earthly gains as the immortal is higher than the perishable.{1T 691.3}[5]
§13
B弟兄啊，你似乎急于查出人们就你在教会中的位置说过什么话以及我们对此的看法是什么。我所写的正是这个。我因蒙指示看到的你的怪癖而为你担忧。你凭冲动行事。你若觉得想要祷告就祷告，若觉得想说就说。若是想聚会就去聚会，若不想去就留在家里。你非常缺乏自我牺牲的精神。你依从自己的愿望和安逸，取悦你自己，而不是觉得你应该取悦上帝。可是本分，本分！每次都当在你的岗位。你已应征作基督十字架的精兵了吗？若是这样，你的感觉就不可使你推脱责任。作为一个精兵，你必须乐于忍受艰难。要出到营外，忍受羞辱；因为你救恩的元帅就是这么做的。一位监督，一位长老或一位执事的资格乃是“既是上帝的管家，必须无可指责，不任性，不暴躁，不因酒滋事，不打人，不贪无义之财。乐意接待远人，好善，庄重，公平，圣洁自持。坚守所教真实的道理，就能将纯正的教训劝化人，又能把争辩的人驳倒了”（多1:7-9）。{1T 692.1}[6]
§14
Brother B, you seemed anxious to find out what had been said in regard to your position in the church and what was our mind in regard to it. It was just this that I have written. I feared for you because of what I have been shown of your peculiarities. You moved by impulse. You would pray if you felt like it, and speak if you felt like it. You would go to meeting if so disposed, or stay at home if not. You greatly lacked the spirit of self-sacrifice. You have consulted your own wishes and ease, and pleased yourself, instead of feeling that you should please God. Duty, duty! at your post every time. Have you enlisted as a soldier of the cross of Christ? If so, your feelings do not excuse you from duty. You must be willing to endure hardness as a good soldier. Go without the camp, bearing the reproach; for thus did the Captain of your salvation. The qualifications of a bishop, or of an elder or deacon, are, to be blameless, as the steward of God; not self-willed, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre; but a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate; holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.{1T 692.1}[6]
§15
保罗列举了应该想得到的宝贵恩赐，并且劝诫弟兄们：“施舍的，就当诚实；治理的，就当殷勤；怜悯人的，就当甘心。爱人不可虚假；恶要厌恶，善要亲近。爱弟兄，要彼此亲热；恭敬人，要彼此推让。殷勤不可懒惰。要心里火热，常常服事主。在指望中要喜乐，在患难中要忍耐，祷告要恒切。圣徒缺乏要帮补；客要一味的款待。”“你要嘱咐那些今世富足的人，不要自高，也不要倚靠无定的钱财；只要倚靠那厚赐百物给我们享受的上帝。又要嘱咐他们行善，在好事上富足，甘心施舍，乐意供给人，为自己积成美好的根基，预备将来，叫他们持定那真正的生命”（罗12:9-13; 提前6:17-19）。这里是一项既明智又完全安全的投资；这里也详细说明并且推荐了要我们去实践的好行为，也是要你去实践的。这里有贵重的利益。这里不会有失败的危险。可以获得一份财宝在天上，一份不断蓄积的财宝，会使投资者有权利得到永生。而当他在今生的生命结束时，宽容时期终止时，他可以持定永生。{1T 692.2}[7]
§16
Paul enumerates the precious gifts to be desired, and exhorts the brethren: He that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that showeth mercy, with cheerfulness. Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honor preferring one another; not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality. Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not high-minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; that they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life. Here is a wise and perfectly safe investment; good works are here specified and recommended for our practice, for your practice. Here are profits that are valuable. There will be no danger of a failure here. A treasure may be secured in heaven, a constant accumulation which will give to the investor a title to eternal life. And when his life here shall close, and probation end, he may lay hold on eternal life.{1T 692.2}[7]
§17
B弟兄啊，你不是一个好客的人，你躲避责任。你觉得供给圣徒饮食并照顾他们的需要乃是一个任务，在这方面做的一切都是损失。请阅读上述经文，愿上帝赐你悟性和辨识力，乃是我恳切的祈祷。你们一家需要培养慷慨的精神，照顾自己的事要少一些。要喜爱邀请上帝的子民到你家，并且，在需要的场合，高兴愉快地与他们分享主使你们成了管家的东西。在献上这些小小的好意时不要勉强。当你对基督的门徒做这些事时，就是对祂做的；正是这样，当你对上帝的圣徒吝啬，不一味地款待他们时，你对基督也是吝啬的。{1T 693.1}[8]
§18
Brother B, you are not a lover of hospitality, you shun burdens. You feel that it is a task to feed the saints and look after their wants, and that all you do in this direction is lost. Please read the above scriptures, and may God give you understanding and discernment, is my earnest prayer. As a family you need to cultivate liberality and to be less self-caring. Love to invite Gods people to your house, and, as occasion may require, share with them cheerfully, gladly, that of which the Lord has made you stewards. Do not give grudgingly these little favors. As you do these things to Christs disciples, you do it unto Him; just so, as you grudge the saints of God your hospitality, you grudge Jesus the same.{1T 693.1}[8]
§19
健康改良对你们二人来说都是必要的。B姐妹在这项善工上已经退后了，并且起了反对的心，其实她不知道自己在反对什么。她违心反抗了上帝的忠告。无节制的食欲已带来了衰弱和疾病，削弱了道德力，使她不适于赏识神圣的真理，赎罪的价值，而这对得救来说是必不可少的。B姐妹贪爱这个世界。她的情意并没有与这个世界分离，也没有照上帝所要求的毫无保留地献身于祂。一切，所有的一切都是上帝的，我们受命献上完全的侍奉。保罗说：“所以弟兄们，我以上帝的慈悲劝你们，将身体献上，当作活【不是垂死的】祭，是圣洁的，是上帝所喜悦的；你们如此事奉乃是理所当然的。不要效法这个世界，只要心意更新而变化，叫你们察验何为上帝的善良、纯全、可喜悦的旨意”（罗12:1,2）。这样，我们得蒙准许了何等的特权啊，要我们亲自在经验上察验主的心意和祂对我们的旨意。为这个宝贵的恩赐赞美祂的尊名吧！我蒙指示看到B姐妹在能真实、安全地持定那更好的世界之前，必须放开抓紧这世界的手。{1T 693.2}[9]
§20
The health reform is essential for you both. Sister B has been backward in this good work and has suffered opposition to arise when she knew not what she was opposing. She has resisted the counsel of God against her own soul. Intemperate appetite has brought debility and disease, weakening the moral powers, and unfitting her to appreciate the sacred truth, the value of the atonement, which is essential to salvation. Sister B loves this world.She has not separated, in her affections, from the world, and given herself unreservedly to God, as He requires. He will not accept half a sacrifice. All, all, all, is Gods, and we are required to render perfect service. Says Paul: I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living 【not dying】 sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. What a privilege is thus allowed us, to prove for ourselves, experimentally, the mind of the Lord and His will toward us. Praise His dear name for this precious gift! I have been shown that Sister Bs grasp must be broken from this world before she can have a true, safe hold of the better world.{1T 693.2}[9]
§21
B弟兄啊，你应该谨慎地行动，并且压制自我；要忍耐，温柔，谦卑。一颗温柔安静的心在上帝看来是极宝贵的。你应该珍视上帝所看为有价值的东西。在你们二人能面对上帝的衡量之前，有一项工作必须为你们成就。要趁着白昼作工，因为黑夜将到，那时就没有人能作工了。你们自己要站在明光之中，然后才能让你们的光照出来，使别人看到你们的好行为，就受引导将荣耀归给你们在天上的父。1868年1月23日写于密歇根州格林维尔。{1T 694.1}[10]
§22
Brother B, you should move carefully and keep self under; be patient, meek, and lowly. A meek and quiet spirit is in the sight of God of great price. You should cherish that which God esteems of worth. A work must be accomplished for you both before you can meet the measurement of God. Work while the day lasts, for the night cometh in which no man can work. Stand in the clear light yourselves, then can you let your light so shine that others by seeing your good works will be led to glorify your heavenly Father. Greenville, Michigan, Jan. 23, 1868. {1T 694.1}[10]