第14章 迁往巴特尔克里克
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第14章 迁往巴特尔克里克
§2
Chap. 14 - Moving to Battle Creek
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在1868年6月12日赐给我的异象中，我蒙指示看到，若是适当地作出努力，就能在使人认识真理上做成一项大工。若是将真理以一种明智的方式呈现在人们面前，每一城镇乡村就都有人会接受真理。我们中间需要传道士，像我们伟大的榜样那样具有自我牺牲精神的传道士，他们不求自己的喜悦，只求活着有益他人。【2T.113.2】[1]
§4
In the vision given me June 12, 1868, I was shown that a great work might be accomplished in bringing souls to the knowledge of the truth, were proper exertions made. In every town, city, and village there are persons who would embrace the truth if it were brought before them in a judicious manner. Missionaries are needed among us, self-sacrificing missionaries, who, like our great Exemplar, would not please themselves, but live to do others good. {2T 113.2}[1]
§5
我蒙指示看到，我们这班人是有缺欠的。我们的工作与我们的信仰不相称。我们的信仰证明，我们正生活在传扬曾交给人类的最严肃最重要的信息之下。可是虽完全看到这个事实，但我们的努力、热心、自我牺牲的精神，却比不上这工作的性质。我们应当从死亡中觉醒，基督要赐我们生命。【2T.114.1】[2]
§6
I was shown that as a people we are deficient. Our works are not in accordance with our faith. Our faith testifies that we are living under the proclamation of the most solemn and important message that was ever given to mortals. Yet in full view of this fact, our efforts, our zeal, our spirit of self-sacrifice, do not compare with the character of the work. We should awake from the dead, and Christ will give us life. {2T 114.1}[2]
§7
我们许多弟兄姐妹都很愿意住在巴特尔克里克。许多家庭从四面八方搬来这里居住，还有许多人正准备这样作。一些搬来巴特尔克里克的人曾在他们原先的小教会中担任职务，那里需要他们的帮助和力量。这等人来到巴特尔克里克，遇见许多守安息日的信徒时，常常觉得那里并不需要他们的见证，他们的才干也因此埋没了。【2T.114.2】[3]
§8
With many of our brethren and sisters there is a strong inclination to live in Battle Creek. Families have been coming from all directions to reside there, and many more have their faces set that way. Some who have come to Battle Creek held offices in the little churches from which they moved, and their help and strength were needed there. When such arrive at Battle Creek, and meet with the numerous Sabbathkeepers there, they frequently feel that their testimonies are not needed, and their talent is therefore buried. {2T 114.2}[3]
§9
一些人选择巴特尔克里克是因为那里提供的宗教特权，却奇怪在那里住了几个月之后，自己的灵性反倒下降了。这里面岂没有原因吗？许多人的目的一直是要在金钱上获益——想从事能为自己带来更大利润的商业活动。他们的这种期望或许能实现，但同时他们将面临心灵的缺乏，并在属灵事物上变成侏儒。他们身上没有什么特别的担子，因为他们觉得自己会不合适。他们不知道在这样一个大教会中从何处着手工作，因此就在主的葡萄园中变成闲站之人了。所有这样行的人只会增加教会中负责之人身上的担子。他们全都是累赘。在巴特尔克里克有许多人正在迅速变成枯干的枝子。【2T.114.3】[4]
§10
Some choose Battle Creek because of the religious privileges it affords, yet wonder that their spirituality decreases after their sojourn there a few months. Is there not a cause? The object of many has been to advantage themselves pecuniarily-- to engage in business which will yield them greater profits. Their expectations in this particular may be realized, while they have dearth of soul and become dwarfed in spiritual things. They take no special burden upon themselves because they think they would be out of place. They do not know where to take hold to labor in so large a church, and therefore become idlers in their Masters vineyard. All who pursue this course only increase the labor of those who have the burden of the work in the church. They are as so many dead weights. There are many in Battle Creek who are fast becoming withered branches. {2T 114.3}[4]
§11
有些原来作工、在现代真理的圣工上具有经验的人，迁来巴特尔克里克，并放下了自己的担子。他们没有感觉自己需要加倍的精力、警醒、祈祷和殷勤尽责，反而几乎无所事事。那些在办公室负责的人，他们在自己的工作以外再无时间负别的责任，却不得不在教会中充任负责的职位，做重要、辛苦的工作。他们若不做，这些事就会一直耽搁，因为其他人不愿承担责任。【2T.114.4】[5]
§12
Some who have been workers, and who have an experience in the cause of present truth, move to Battle Creek and lay off their burden. Instead of feeling the necessity of double energy, watchfulness, prayer, and diligent performance of duty, they do scarcely anything at all. Those who have burdens to bear in the office, and have not time for duties aside from their work, are obliged to fill responsible positions in the church and to perform important, taxing labor which if they do not do will remain undone because these others will not take the burden. {2T 114.4}[5]
§13
愿意改变生活地点，考虑上帝的荣耀，感到自己有责任向别人行善，使基督为之舍了自己宝贵生命之人受益和得救的弟兄，应该迁居到很少或没有亮光的城镇乡村去，他们在那里可以用自己的工作和经验作真实的服务并造福他人。布道士须要进入城镇乡村并高举真理的旗帜，这样，为上帝作见证的人就遍满全地，真理之光将穿透那些从无亮光照进的地方，真理的旗帜也会在原先不知晓它的地方得以高举了。弟兄们不应因为更合己意而聚集在一个地方，而应努力实现自己崇高的恩召去有益于人，成为拯救的器皿，至少拯救一个人。但得救的可能更多，不止一个。【2T.115.1】[6]
§14
Brethren who wish to change their location, who have the glory of God in view, and feel that individual responsibility rests upon them to do others good, to benefit and save souls for whom Christ withheld not His precious life, should move into towns and villages where there is but little or no light and where they can be of real service and bless others with their labor and experience. Missionaries are wanted to go into towns and villages and raise the standard of truth, that God may have His witnesses scattered all over the land, that the light of truth may penetrate where it has not yet reached, and the standard of truth be raised where it is not yet known. The brethren should not flock together because it is more agreeable to them, but should seek to fulfill their high calling to do others good, to be instrumental in the salvation of at least one soul. But more may be saved than one. {2T 115.1}[6]
§15
这项工作唯一的目的不应仅仅是为增加我们在天国的赏赐。有些人在这方面是自私的。想想基督为我们所作的，想想祂为罪人所受的痛苦，我们就应对同胞存纯洁无私的爱，效法基督的榜样，为他们的益处而牺牲自己的享乐和便利。那摆在基督面前、支持祂忍受一切苦难的喜乐，就是可怜的罪人能够得救。这也应当是我们的喜乐，激励我们投身我主圣工的雄心壮志。我们这样作，就使上帝喜悦，也显明我们作为上帝的仆人对祂的爱与忠诚。祂先爱了我们，没有顾惜自己的儿子，而是为我们舍了，好使我们得生命。我们真的爱我们的同胞，才能表明我们爱上帝。我们尽可作高尚的信仰表白，但若没有这种爱，就算不得什么。我们的信心或许可以引领我们舍弃自己的身体让火焚烧，但若没有这种自我牺牲的爱，就是活跃在主的胸怀中并在祂生活中表现出来的那种爱，我们就如鸣的锣、响的钹一般。【2T.115.2】[7]
§16
The sole object of this work should not be merely to increase our reward in heaven. Some are selfish in this respect. In view of what Christ has done for us, and what He has suffered for sinners, we should, out of pure, disinterested love for souls, imitate His example by sacrificing our own pleasure and convenience for their good. The joy set before Christ, which sustained Him in all His sufferings, was the salvation of poor sinners. This should be our joy and the spur of our ambition in the cause of our Master. In so doing we please God and manifest our love and devotion to Him as His servants. He first loved us, and withheld not from us His beloved Son, but gave Him from His bosom to die that we might have life. Love, true love for our fellow men, evinces love to God. We may make a high profession, yet without this love it is nothing. Our faith may lead us to even give our bodies to be burned, yet without self-sacrificing love, such as lived in the bosom of Jesus and was exemplified in His life, we are as sounding brass and a tinkling cymbal. {2T 115.2}[7]
§17
有些家庭因迁到巴特尔克里克而得到了属灵的力量。巴特尔克里克对一些家庭有帮助，对有些家庭却是个不适当的地方。A弟兄和姐妹就是迁居此处可能会受益的一个例子。主指示他们迁来巴特尔克里克。此处正是使他们受益的地方，且已证明使他们全家都蒙福。他们来到这里之后获得了能力，得以坚稳地站立在真理的立场上。他们若继续走在谦卑顺从的道路上，就能因在巴特尔克里克获得的帮助而欢喜快乐了。【2T.116.1】[8]
§18
There are families that receive spiritual strength by moving to Battle Creek. It is just the place to help some, while it is the wrong place for others. Brother and Sister A are a sample of the class who may be benefited in moving to this place. The Lord directed them to take this course. Battle Creek was just the place to benefit them, and has proved a blessing to the entire family. They have, in coming here, gained strength to plant their feet firmly upon the platform of truth, and if they continue in the path of humble obedience they may rejoice for the help they have received in Battle Creek. {2T 116.1}[8]