第31章 慎重考虑婚姻
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第31章 慎重考虑婚姻
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Chap. 31 - Contemplating Marriage
§3
我蒙指示回顾去年五月，当时主眷顾了某地，我蒙指示看到D弟兄的状况。他没有准备好参加那项工作。他的心思意念都在别处。那时他正打算结婚，不能听从耶稣的邀请：“请来吧！样样都齐备了”（路14:17）。他所预期的婚姻占据了他全部的注意力。他没有时间或意愿打开心门欢迎那位施恩的来宾。要是他打开了心门，基督原会给他好美好的忠告，他若听从，原会对他具有无限的价值。祂原会向他显明实况，使他看到自己有危险屈从自己任性的心意，将上帝的荣耀弃置一旁，不顾清醒理智的决定。祂原会吩咐他小心不要重蹈那些已经堕落且被毁灭之人的复辙。但是这位弟兄不考虑上帝对他的要求；不思想他若不请教主，就不应采取任何行动，主已经赎买了他。我们受命无论做什么，都要为荣耀上帝而行。【2T.225.3】[1]
§4
I was pointed back to last May, when the Lord visited -----, and was shown the case of Brother D. He was not prepared to take part in that work. His mind and heart were elsewhere. He was contemplating marriage and could not listen to the invitation of Jesus: Come; for all things are now ready. His contemplated marriage engrossed his attention. He had no time or inclination to open the door of his heart to the gracious Visitor. Had he done this, Christ would have given him good counsel, which, if heeded, would have been of priceless value to him. He would have presented before him in its true light his danger of yielding to the dictates of a wayward inclination and setting aside the glory of God and the decisions of sober reason. He would have charged him to beware how he trod in the footsteps of those who had fallen and been ruined. But this brother did not consider that God had claims upon him; that he should make no move without consulting Him who had bought him. We are instructed that whatever we do, we should do all to His glory. {2T 225.3}[1]
§5
D弟兄，作为基督的门徒和学生，你以谦卑真诚的祷告到祂面前，并将你的道路交托给祂了吗？你没能这么做。你没有审查自己所有的动机并且谨慎行事，免得给你的救赎主基督的圣工带来羞辱。你没有考虑这个行动是否会起到一种作用，以致增加你属灵的敏感性，振奋你的热心，加强你在真理上的坚定以及你实行克己的努力。你对自己的心一无所知。在教会里已经看到了上帝的作为，但你对圣灵毫无渴望。天上的事对你而言是索然无味的。你因要与另一个人利益与共的新希望而神魂颠倒。你没有想到婚姻的联合将严重地影响你对生活的兴趣，尽管人生很短暂。【2T.226.1】[2]
§6
Did you, Brother D, as a disciple, a learner, of Christ, go to Him in humble, sincere prayer and commit your ways to him? You failed to do this. You did not investigate all your motives and move with carefulness lest you should bring a reproach upon the cause of Christ, your Redeemer. You did not consider whether this move would have an effect to increase your spiritual sensibility, quicken your zeal, and strengthen your steadfastness in the truth and your efforts to deny self. You were ignorant of your own heart. The work of God was seen in the church, but you had no longings for the divine Spirit. The things of heaven were insipid to you. You were infatuated by your new hopes of uniting your interests with those of another. You did not consider that a marriage alliance would vitally affect your interest for life, short though that life must be. {2T 226.1}[2]
§7
你原应该感觉到，你自己既有邪恶的心要制服，就不能与另一个会使你更难克服自我的势力联合，使你通往天国的道路更加崎岖。你现在已使你的信仰进程比你从前单身时艰难了十倍。确实，你很孤独，因为你已失去了一颗宝贵的珠子。但如果你曾咨询你的弟兄们，并将自己的道路交托给主，祂原会为你开一条路，使你与一位原能作你帮手而不是不障碍的人结合。【2T.226.2】[3]
§8
You should have felt that with your own evil heart to subdue you could not be brought in connection with an influence which would make it more difficult for you to overcome self, make your path upward to heaven more rugged. You have now made your religious progress tenfold more difficult than when you stood alone. It is true you were lonely, for you had lost a precious jewel. But if you had counseled with your brethren, and committed your ways to the Lord, He would have opened the way for you to have connected yourself with one who could have been a help to you instead of a hindrance. {2T 226.2}[3]
§9
如果你现在愿意全心归向主，祂就必怜悯你，帮助你。但你现在极其软弱，并准备牺牲自己的信仰以及对上帝的忠贞，以取悦你的新妻子。上帝怜悯你，因为你若不醒悟，象基督的一个真正的精兵，重新投入追求永生的战斗，毁灭就在你的面前。你唯一的保障在于和弟兄们保持一致，并从他们那里获得力量以便留在真理里。你打算以牺牲真理为代价来换取此时的和平与快乐。你正在低价贱卖自己的灵魂。你现在有责任尽你所能地使你的妻子快乐，可是不能牺牲真理的原则。你应该操练自制，忍耐和真正的礼貌。藉着这样做，你就能表现出真恩典的力量和真理的影响。【2T.227.1】[4]
§10
If you will now humbly turn to the Lord with all your heart, He will pity and help you. But you are just where you are shorn of your strength, and are prepared to compromise your faith and your allegiance to God to please your new wife. God pity you, for ruin is before you unless you arouse like a true soldier of Christ and engage anew in the warfare for everlasting life. Your only safety is in keeping with your brethren, and obtaining all the strength you can from them to remain in the truth. You are about to sacrifice the truth for the sake of peace and happiness here. You are selling your soul at a cheap market. It is now your duty to do all you can to make your wife happy, and yet not to sacrifice the principles of truth. You should exercise forbearance, patience, and true courtesy. By thus doing, you can show the power of true grace and the influence of the truth. {2T 227.1}[4]
§11
我蒙指示看到，贪爱钱财对你来说是一个网罗。金钱若不趁机用来行善、造福有需要的人和推进上帝的圣工，就真的没有什么价值。你所拥有的那点钱财已经成了你的网罗，你若不作忠心有见识的管家侍奉你的主，妥善使用那点钱财，它就只能给你带来不幸。你是小气吝啬的。你需要培养一种高尚、慷慨的精神，并将你的情意从这世界夺回，否则你必被打败。钱财的迷惑已经大大腐蚀了你的心灵，以致良善将被邪恶所胜。自私和爱财将得胜。【2T.227.2】[5]
§12
I was shown that the love of money is a snare to you. Money, independent of the opportunity it furnishes for doing good, blessing the needy, and advancing the cause of God, is really of but little value. The little you possess is a snare to you, and unless you use it as a wise and faithful steward in the service of your Master, it will yield you little else but misery. You are close and penurious. You need to cultivate a noble, liberal spirit and separate your affections from the world or you will be overcome. The deceitfulness of riches will so corrupt your soul that the good will be overcome by evil. Selfishness and love of gain will triumph. {2T 227.2}[5]
§13
我亲爱的弟兄，如果你能得救，就会确实是一个恩典的奇迹。贪爱世界之心不断在你里面膨胀。请仔细思考基督的话语：“你要尽心、尽性、尽意，爱主你的上帝。这是诫命中的第一，且是最大的。其次也相仿，就是要爱人如己。这两条诫命是律法和先知一切道理的总纲”（太22:37-40）。我的弟兄，这两条诫命你都没有遵守。你在使自己得利的事上眼疾手快从不犹豫，尽管你知道这样会大大损害你邻舍的利益。你眼中只看到自己的利益，并且说：“我岂是看守我兄弟的吗”（创4:9）？【2T.228.1】[6]
§14
If you, my dear brother, are saved, it will indeed be a miracle of mercy. The love of the world is increasing upon you. Carefully consider the words of Christ: Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. My brother, you have obeyed neither the first nor the second of these commandments. You would not hesitate to reach out and advantage yourself, although you knew it would greatly disadvantage your neighbor. You look to your own selfish interest, and say: Am I my brothers keeper? {2T 228.1}[6]
§15
你并没有积攒财宝在天上，也没有使自己变得在上帝面前富足。自私自利已经使你心中的真敬虔腐蚀殆尽。你在向这个世界的神屈身下拜。你的心已经和上帝疏远了。一位受上帝默示的作者说：“但义人的路好像黎明的光，越照越明，直到日午”（箴4:18）。基督徒的脚步有时可能似乎软弱彷徨，但他意识到自己的软弱，便倚靠那位大能者以获取帮助。他既得到支持，便朝着完全向前向上做出确实的进步。他每天获得新的胜利，与完全圣洁的标准越来越近。他的眼睛不是向下望着世界，而是向上仰望，始终注视着那位天上的模范。【2T.228.2】[7]
§16
You are not laying up treasure in heaven and becoming rich toward God. Self and selfish interests are eating out true godliness from your soul. You are bowing to the god of this world. Your heart is alienated from God. An inspired writer says: The path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. The steps of a Christian may at times appear feeble and faltering, yet in his conscious weakness he leans upon the Mighty One for support. He is sustained, and makes sure progress onward and upward toward perfection. He gains new victories daily, and comes nearer and nearer to the standard of perfect holiness. His eye is not downward to the earth, but upward, ever keeping in view the heavenly Pattern. {2T 228.2}[7]
§17
D弟兄啊，这世界必朽坏事物的虚浮光彩已蒙蔽了天国的优美，使你看永生没有什么价值。作为基督的仆人，我恳劝你醒悟，以便看清楚你自己。你现在正追求的属世利益将成为你永恒的损失。最终你将发现你犯了一个可怕的、永远无法弥补的错误。【2T.228.3】[8]
§18
Brother D, the glitter and tinsel of the corruptible things of earth have eclipsed the charms of heaven, and made eternal life of but little value to you. As a servant of Christ, I entreat you to awake that you may see yourself as you are. The profits you will obtain in the course you are now pursuing will be eternal loss. You will find at last that you have made a terrible mistake which can never be remedied. {2T 228.3}[8]
§19
你现在可以立时回头，听从仁慈的呼召，并得以存活。要欢喜快乐，因为你的宽容时期还未结束，因为你现在可以藉着忍耐恒心行善，寻求荣耀、尊贵、不能朽坏之福和永生。要欢喜快乐，因为多年来一直是你忠心伴侣的她必要复活，死亡要被生命吞灭。要展望复活之晨，那时与你忧喜与共二十多年的她会从她的牢房出来。你愿意让她徒然寻找你，她的伴侣吗？当她扬声呼喊，“死啊，你得胜的权势在哪里？死啊，你的毒钩在哪里”（林前15:55）时，你要不在场吗？那日会将尊荣带给圣徒！那时没有羞辱，没有责骂，没有痛苦，只有平安、喜乐和不朽的赞美从每一个蒙赎之人口中发出！愿上帝对你的心说话，使你深感永生的价值。我的弟兄啊，愿你受引导，永远具有一种高尚慷慨的精神，好使你忠心地履行你管家的职责，单单注目上帝的荣耀，以便主可以对你说，“好，你这又良善又忠心的仆人，……可以进来享受你主人的快乐”（太25:21）。【2T.229.1】[9]
§20
You can now face rightabout, heed the call of mercy, and live. Rejoice that your probation has not ended, that you may now, by patient continuance in well-doing, seek for glory, honor, immortality, and eternal life. Rejoice that she who has been your faithful companion for years shall rise again, that mortality will be swallowed up of life. Look forward to the morning of the resurrection, when she who shared your joys and sorrows for more than a score of years will come forth from her prison house. Will you have her look for you, her companion, in vain? Will you be missing then, as her voice is raised in triumph and victory: O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? Oh, that day will bring honor to the saints! No shame, no reproach, no suffering then; but peace, joy, and immortal praise upon every redeemed tongue! Oh, that God would speak to your heart and impress you with the value of eternal life. And may you be led, my brother, to ever possess a spirit of noble generosity, that you may discharge the duties of your stewardship with faithfulness, having an eye single to the glory of God, that the Master may say to you: Well done, thou good and faithful servant: . . . enter thou into the joy of thy Lord. {2T 229.1}[9]