第37章 家庭管理的严厉
§1
第37章 家庭管理的严厉
§2
Chap. 37 - Severity in Family Government
§3
L弟兄：去年六月，我蒙指示看到有一番工作摆在你的面前——你要改正自己的作风。你没有自知之明。你的生活已是一个错误。你在自己家中的做法并不明智，也不仁慈。你是苛刻严格的。如果你继续采取你向来对妻儿采取的这种做法，你妻子的寿命就会缩短，你的儿女也会惧怕你，而不会爱你。你以为你这样是出于基督徒的智慧，但其实你在自己欺骗自己。【2T.253.1】[1]
§4
Brother L: Last June I was shown that there is a work before you to correct your ways. You do not see yourself. Your life has been a mistake. You do not pursue a wise and merciful course in your family. You are exacting. If you continue to pursue the course that you have been pursuing toward your wife and children, her days will be shortened, and your children will fear, but not love, you. You feel that your course is in Christian wisdom, but in this you deceive yourself. {2T 253.1}[1]
§5
你对于管理自己的家庭有奇特的见解。你施行一种独立的、武断的权力，不允许你周围的人有意志的自由。你以为自己足堪成为你家之首，觉得你的头脑足以调动家中每一个成员，就如工人手中操纵机器运转一样。你在家中发号施令，武断专权。你这样作使天庭不悦，并使施怜悯的天使忧伤。你在家中的表现说明，好像只有你一人具有自我管理的能力。如果你的妻子斗胆反对你的意见或质疑你的决定，就会冒犯你。【2T.253.2】[2]
§6
You have peculiar views in regard to managing your family. You exercise an independent, arbitrary power which permits no liberty of will around you. You think yourself sufficient to be head in your family, and feel that your head is sufficient to move every member, as a machine is moved in the hands of the workmen. You dictate and assume authority. This displeases Heaven and grieves the pitying angels. You have conducted yourself in your family as though you alone were capable of self-government. It has offended you that your wife should venture to oppose your opinion or question your decisions. {2T 253.2}[2]
§7
你的妻子长久忍耐你心血来潮的怪念头之后，已奋起反抗你不公正的权威，她变的紧张不安、心烦意乱，且对你的做法表示轻视。你充分利用了你妻子的这些表现，控告她犯了罪，受了魔鬼之灵的带领，其实你才是犯了错误的人。你把她逼到几乎绝望，之后又因此奚落嘲讽她。你本可以很容易地使她的生活愉快喜乐，但你所作的却与此相反。【2T.253.3】[3]
§8
After much long-suffering on her part, and patient waiting upon your whims, she has rebelled against unjust authority, and has become nervous and distracted, and shown contempt for your course. You have made the most of these manifestations on her part, and have charged her with sin and being led by the spirit of the devil, when you were the one at fault. You drove her almost to desperation, and afterward taunted her with it. How easy it would have been for you to have made her life cheerful and pleasant. But it has been the opposite of this. {2T 253.3}[3]
§9
你素来相当懒惰。你没有志向运用上帝赐你的力量。这是你的资本。明智地使用这种力量，养成坚忍勤劳的习惯，本可以使你生活舒适。你犯了错误，以为是骄傲诱使你妻子希望使她周围的事更舒适充裕。她向来节俭，且受到你吝啬的对待。她需要更为丰富的饮食，她的餐桌上需要更为充足的食品供应；她家中需要你能使之舒适便利的东西，使她的工作尽可能轻松的物件。但你竟从一个错误的立场看问题。你以为几乎任何能吃的东西只要能使你活着和保持体力，就足够好了。你已向你虚弱的妻子辩称节食的必要性。但她无法以你能限制自己而仍保兴旺的那种饮食来制造良好的血肉。同样的食物，同样的烹饪方式，一些人可以很好地消化吸收，另一些人却无法以之维生。【2T.254.1】[4]
§10
You have been rather indolent. You have not been ambitious to exercise the strength the Lord has given you. This is your capital. A judicious use of this strength, and persevering, industrious habits, would have enabled you to obtain the comforts of life. You have erred, and thought it was pride which led your wife to desire to have things more comfortable around her. She has been stinted and dealt closely with by you. She needs a more generous diet, a more plentiful supply of food upon her table; and in her house she needs things as comfortable and convenient as you can make them, things to make her work as easy as possible. But you have viewed matters from a wrong standpoint. You have thought that almost anything which could be eaten was good enough, if you could live upon it and retain strength. You have pleaded the necessity of spare diet to your feeble wife. But she cannot make good blood or flesh upon the diet to which you could confine yourself, and flourish. Some persons cannot subsist upon the same food upon which others can do well, even though it be prepared in the same manner. {2T 254.1}[4]
§11
你有变成极端主义者的危险。你的身体系统可以将非常粗糙、营养菲薄的食物变成良好的血液，因为你的造血器官运转良好。但你妻子的食物却需要加以斟酌选择。让她和你吃同一种食物，你的身体可以造出良好的血液，但她的身体就无法适应。她缺乏活力，需要丰富的、能增强体力的食物。她的膳食应当有大量的水果，而且不应局限于每天都吃同样的东西。她的生命力很微弱。她患有疾病，她身体的需要与健康的人大不相同。【2T.254.2】[5]
§12
You are in danger of becoming an extremist. Your system could convert a very coarse, poor diet into good blood. Your blood-making organs are in good condition. But your wife requires a more select diet. Let her eat the same food which your system could convert into good blood, and her system could not appropriate it. She lacks vitality, and needs a generous, strengthening diet. She should have a good supply of fruit, and not be confined to the same things from day to day. She has a slender hold of life. She is diseased, and the wants of her system are far different from those of a healthy person. {2T 254.2}[5]
§13
L弟兄，你具有相当大的尊严，但你配得那样的尊严吗？答案是否定的。这种尊严是你僭取的。你贪爱自己的安逸，讨厌艰苦的工作。要是你在业务上未曾懒惰，你原能拥有许多现在无法实现的生活的舒适。你已因自己懒惰的习惯而错待了你的妻子儿女。本应用于勤恳工作的时光被你在聊天、阅读和安逸中浪费过去了。【2T.254.3】[6]
§14
Brother L, you possess considerable dignity, but have you earned that dignity? Oh, no! You have assumed it. You have loved your ease. You and hard work have not agreed. Had you not been slothful in business, you could have had many of the comforts of life which you cannot now command. You have wronged your wife and your children by your indolent habits. Hours which should have been occupied in earnest labor have been passed away by you in talking and reading, and taking your ease. {2T 254.3}[6]
§15
你要为你的体力资本负责，正如富足人为他的财富负责一样。你们两类人都是管家。上帝给每一个人都分派了工作。你不可滥用自己的体力，而应善用之，使你的家庭得到充足的供应，并用来支持现代真理的事业，藉以归还上帝。你已经意识到某地存在的骄傲、炫耀和虚空，且已下定决心要用自己的榜样抵制这种骄傲和奢侈的风气。你在努力这样做时，你的罪和你所反对的罪是一样大的。【2T.255.1】[7]
§16
You are just as accountable for your capital of strength as the wealthy man is for his riches. Both of you are stewards. To each is committed a work. You are not to abuse your strength, but to use it to acquire that with which you may liberally supply the wants of your family, and have wherewith to render to God by aiding in the cause of present truth. You have been aware of the existence of pride, and show, and vanity in -----, and have felt determined that your example should not countenance this pride and extravagance. In your effort to do this, your sin has been as great on the other side. {2T 255.1}[7]
§17
你在自己的宗教经验上犯了很大的错。你像一个看客一样站在一旁，观察着别人的缺点和错误，并因在他们身上看到的错误而标榜自己。你素来谨慎小心，接人待物正直诚实，你看到那些空作高尚表白的人在这方面的懒散松弛，便将他们的错误与自己的交易原则进行对比，并在自己心里说：“我比他们强。”与此同时，你离教会远远地站着，观察挑剔别人的错误，却无所事事，不来帮助耶和华，纠正邪恶。你有一套藉以衡量别人的标准。如果他们不能满足你的想法，你就不会同情他们，关于自己，你有一种自满的情绪。【2T.255.2】[8]
§18
You have been greatly at fault in your religious experience. You have stood to one side as a looker-on, as a spectator, watching the deficiencies and faults of others, and building yourself up because you see wrongs in them. You have been careful, and upright in deal, and as you have seen slackness in this respect in others who make a high profession, you have contrasted their wrong with your principles in reference to deal, and have said in your heart, I am better than they, while at the same time you were standing off from the church, watching and finding fault, yet doing nothing, not coming up to the help of the Lord, to remedy the evil. You had a standard by which you measured others. If they failed to meet your idea, your sympathy was not with them, and you had a self-complacent feeling in regard to yourself. {2T 255.2}[8]
§19
你在自己的宗教经验中向来是严格的。如果上帝按你对待教会中那些你认为犯错之人的方式和你对待自己家人的方式对待你，你的状况就会确实糟糕。但上帝是满有慈悲的，祂有温柔的同情，祂的慈爱是不改变的，素来饶恕人，没有因你的过犯和你无数的错误及背道而丢弃你或把你剪除。祂不这样！祂依然爱你！【2T.255.3】[9]
§20
You have been exacting in your religious experience. Should God deal with you as you would have dealt with those you supposed in error in the church, and as you have dealt with your own family, your condition would be bad indeed. But a merciful God, who is of tender pity, whose loving-kindness changeth not, has been forgiving, and has not cast you aside nor cut you off for your transgressions, your numerous errors and backsliding. Oh, no! He has loved you still. {2T 255.3}[9]
§21
你是否真正思考过：“你们用什么量器量给人，也必用什么量器量给你们”（太7:2）？你在某地一些自称是基督徒的人身上看到了骄傲、空虚和贪爱世界的精神。这是一种极大的罪恶；因为这种精神被放纵了，天使很忧伤。那些这样随从未成圣榜样之人所发挥的影响是从基督分散的，正在将生灵的血染在自己的衣服上。他们若继续如此行，就会丧失自己的灵魂，必有一天会知道，感受到他人灵魂的可怕分量是什么滋味，这些人被他们虽不献身却自称受宗教原则支配的生活带入了歧途。【2T.256.1】[10]
§22
Have you really considered that with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again? You have seen pride, and vanity, and a world-loving spirit in some who profess to be Christians in -----. This is a great evil; and because this spirit is indulged, angels are grieved. Those who thus follow the example of the unconsecrated are exerting an influence to scatter from Christ, and are gathering in their garments the blood of souls. If they continue the same course they will lose their own souls, and will know one day what it is to feel the terrible weight of other souls who have been led astray by their unconsecration, while professing to be governed by religious principles. {2T 256.1}[10]
§23
你有正当的理由为那些口头基督徒所表现出的骄傲和缺乏简朴感到忧伤。但当你观察别人，谈论他们的过失和错误时，你却忽略了自己灵魂的得救。你无需为你弟兄们的任何罪恶负责，除非你的榜样使他们绊跌，使他们的脚偏离窄路。你有一项重大严肃的工作摆在面前——要控制并制伏自我，要变得心里柔和谦卑，要训练自己在家中宅心仁厚、温柔怜悯，且要拥有高贵的精神和真慷慨的心，藐视一切的小气吝啬。【2T.256.2】[11]
§24
You have just reason to be grieved with the pride and lack of simplicity in those who profess better things. But you have watched others, and talked of their errors and wrongs, and neglected your own soul. You are not accountable for any of the sins of your brethren, unless your example has caused them to stumble, caused their feet to be diverted from the narrow path. You have a great and solemn work before you to control and subdue yourself, to become meek and lowly of heart, to educate yourself to be tenderhearted, pitiful in your family, and to possess that nobleness of spirit and true generosity of soul which despises everything niggardly. {2T 256.2}[11]
§25
你认为在礼拜堂投入了过多的工作，还评论了不必要的花费。其实你无须有这些特别谨慎的顾虑。在礼拜堂的照管、清洁和秩序的预备工作上，并没有什么过分之处。这项工作一点儿也没有过于精致。礼拜堂的布置并不奢华。那些准备抱怨这间敬拜之所的人有没有考虑过这是为谁而建的呢？这是特别建为上帝之家的！是要奉献给上帝，作为上帝百姓聚集来见祂的地方。许多人的行为似乎表明，那位天地的创造主，那位在我们世上布置了一切可爱美丽事物的上帝，会喜欢看到为祂而建的教堂没有秩序或不美好。有些人为自己建造高大、宽敞、舒适的房屋，但在建造奉献给上帝的会堂时，却不肯多出几分。他们手中的每一块钱都是耶和华的。上帝只不过借给他们一时，让他们用来增进祂的荣耀。然而当他们用这些钱来促进上帝的圣工时，却似乎表明他们花出去的每一块钱都是重大的损失一样。【2T.256.3】[12]
§26
You have thought that there was too much work put upon the meetinghouse, and have remarked upon the unnecessary expense. It is needless in you to have these special conscientious scruples. There is nothing in that house which is prepared with too much care, neatness, or order. The work is none too nice. The arrangement is not extravagant. Do those who are ready to complain of this house of worship consider for whom it was built? that it was made especially to be the house of God; to be dedicated to Him; to be a place where the people assemble to meet God? Many act as though the Creator of the heavens and the earth, He who has made everything that is lovely and beautiful in our world, would be pleased to see a house erected for Him without order or beauty. Some build large, convenient houses for themselves, but cannot afford to spend much upon a house which they are to dedicate to God. Every dollar of the means in their hands is the Lords. He has lent it to them for a little while, to use to His glory; yet they hand out this means for the advancement of the cause of God as though every dollar thus expended were a total loss. {2T 256.3}[12]
§27
上帝原不要祂的百姓在炫耀或装饰上浪费钱财，但祂要他们在预备祂与祂百姓相会的圣殿时，遵循整洁、有序、雅致、简洁美好的原则。那些为上帝建殿之人应当在其布局上表现出更大的兴趣、关心和鉴赏力来，因为他们为之预备这殿的对象比一般住所的主人更加崇高圣洁。【2T.257.1】[13]
§28
God would not have His people expend means extravagantly for show or ornament, but He would have them observe neatness, order, taste, and plain beauty in preparing a house for Him in which He is to meet with His people. Those who build a house for God should manifest as much greater interest, care, and taste in its arrangement as the object for which it is prepared is higher and more holy than that for which common dwelling houses are prepared. {2T 257.1}[13]
§29
上帝明了人的目的和动机。那些对上帝品格有崇高观念的人会觉得，他们最大的快乐就是把凡与祂有关的事都做得最好，显出最佳的品味。但那些不情愿地建造一所他们自己都不愿住进去的简陋房屋献给上帝的人，表明他们对上帝和神圣的事缺乏尊敬。他们的工作表明，他们自己的今生暂时之事在他们眼中比属灵之事更有价值。永恒的事情被置于次席。他们认为侍奉上帝用不着品质优良、便捷舒适的配备，但他们在今生自己的生活上却认为非常需要这些配备。人们会显明自己心中所存原则的道德真相。【2T.257.2】[14]
§30
The Lord reads the intents and purposes of men. Those who have exalted views of His character will feel it their highest pleasure to have everything which has any connection with Him of the very best work and displaying the very best taste. But those who can grudgingly build a poorer house to dedicate to God than they would accept to live in themselves show their lack of reverence for God and for sacred things. Their work shows that their own temporal concerns are of more value in their eyes than matters of a spiritual nature. Eternal things are made secondary. It is not considered essential to have good and convenient things to use in the service of God, but they are considered highly essential in the concerns of this life. Men will reveal the true moral tone of the principles of their hearts. {2T 257.2}[14]
§31
我们许多信徒已变得眼界狭窄。次序、整洁、品味和便利都被视为骄傲和贪爱世界。人们在这里犯了一个错误。上帝不喜悦华而不实的虚饰和不必要的装饰所展现的虚荣骄傲。但祂已给出切实的证据表明祂是喜爱美丽的，祂为人类创造了一个美丽的世界，并在伊甸立了一个可爱的园子，其中有各种各样结果子的树和悦人眼目的树，且用形形色色最可爱的花卉装饰大地。然而若是祂最贫穷最软弱的孩子拿不出更好的东西，祂也会悦纳他最卑微的供物。耶和华悦纳的是人心的真诚。一个将上帝铭记在心、尊为至高的人，必蒙引领使自己的意愿彻底顺服上帝，且要使自己完全降伏于上帝的管理和统治。【2T.258.1】[15]
§32
Many of our people have become narrowed in their views. Order, neatness, taste, and convenience are termed pride and love of the world. A mistake is made here. Vain pride, which is exhibited in gaudy trappings and needless ornaments, is not pleasing to God. But He who created for man a beautiful world, and planted a lovely garden in Eden with every variety of trees for fruit and beauty, and who decorated the earth with most lovely flowers of every description and hue, has given tangible proofs that He is pleased with the beautiful. Yet He will accept the most humble offering from the poorest, weakest child, if he has no better to present. It is the sincerity of the soul that the Lord accepts. The man who has God enshrined in his heart, exalted above all, will be led to a thorough submission of his will to God, and will make an entire surrender of himself to His rule and reign. {2T 258.1}[15]
§33
眼光短浅的人类不领会上帝的作为和道路。他们的眼目没有照着所应当的向上定睛仰望祂。他们对永恒的事没有高尚的见解。他们只以模糊的眼光看这些事。他们不特别喜欢默想上帝的爱，天庭的荣耀和光彩，圣天使的高尚品格，我们救赎主耶稣的威严和无法形容的可爱。他们久已将属世之事摆在眼前，以致永恒的景象对他们来说便模糊不明了。他们对上帝、天国和永恒的观念很有限。【2T.258.2】[16]
§34
Shortsighted mortals do not comprehend the ways and works of God. Their eyes are not directed upward to Him as they should be. They do not have exalted views of eternal things. They only look at these things with a clouded vision. They take no special delight in contemplating the love of God, the glory and splendor of heaven, the exalted character of the holy angels, the majesty and inexpressible loveliness of Jesus, our Redeemer. They have so long kept earthly things before their vision that eternal scenes are vague and indistinct to them. They have limited views of God, heaven, and eternity. {2T 258.2}[16]
§35
神圣之事被降格到与普通之事相同的水准；因此，当他们与上帝打交道时，他们便表现出与对待同胞相同的小气吝啬的精神。他们献给主的供物是残缺、有病或有瑕疵的。他们像抢夺自己同胞那样抢夺上帝。他们的思想并未达到崇高的道德标准，而是依旧停留在一个低下的水平。他们一直在呼吸着低洼之处污浊不洁的瘴气。【2T.258.3】[17]
§36
Sacred things are brought down upon a level with common; therefore in their dealing with God they manifest the same close, penurious spirit as in dealing with their fellow men. Their offerings to the Lord are lame, sick, or deficient. They carry on the same robbery with Him that they have with their fellow men. Their minds do not reach up to an exalted moral standard, but remain on a low level; they are constantly breathing the impure miasma of the lowlands of earth. {2T 258.3}[17]
§37
L弟兄，你用铁杖管辖你的全家。你在管理儿女时很严厉。你用这种管理方法不会得到他们的爱。你对你的妻子没有温柔、钟情、爱意和礼貌；反而很苛刻地压制责备和非难她。一个井然有序的家庭在上帝和服役的天使看来是赏心悦目的景象。你必须学习如何使自己的家舒适、有序、令人喜悦。然后才用合宜的尊严装饰你的家，你的精神就会为孩子们所接受，你们二人也就会更容易得到整齐、有序和顺从了。【2T.259.1】[18]
§38
Brother L, you rule with a rod of iron in your family. You are severe in the government of your children. You will not gain their love by this course of management. You are not tender, loving, affectionate, and courteous to your wife; but are harsh, and bear down upon her, blaming and censuring her. A well-regulated, orderly family is a pleasing sight to God and ministering angels. You must learn how to make a home orderly, comfortable, and pleasant. Then adorn that home with becoming dignity, and the spirit will be received by the children; and order, regularity, and obedience will be more readily secured by both of you. {2T 259.1}[18]
§39
L弟兄，你是否考虑过孩子是什么，要去哪里呢？你的孩子是主家中的年幼成员，是你天父托付你照顾，为天国训练并培养的弟兄姐妹。当你经常如此粗暴地对待他们时，你有没有考虑过上帝将要让你为此交账呢？你不应如此粗暴地使唤你的孩子。孩子并非犬马，照你专横的意志呼来喝去，或在任何环境下都用棍棒、鞭子或巴掌予以控制。有些孩子在脾气发作时过于嚣张邪恶，施以责打是必须的，但在许多情况下，这种管教方式只能使情况变得更糟。【2T.259.2】[19]
§40
Brother L, have you considered what a child is, and whither it is going? Your children are the younger members of the Lords family--brothers and sisters entrusted to your care by your heavenly Father for you to train and educate for heaven. When you are handling them so roughly as you have frequently done, do you consider that God will call you to account for this dealing? You should not use your children thus roughly. A child is not a horse or a dog to be ordered about according to your imperious will, or to be controlled under all circumstances by a stick or whip, or by blows with the hand. Some children are so vicious in their tempers that the infliction of pain is necessary, but very many cases are made much worse by this manner of discipline. {2T 259.2}[19]
§41
你应当控制自己。决不要在你不耐烦或焦躁或感情冲动时纠正你的孩子。你要在爱中惩罚他们，表明你不愿让他们受痛苦。决不要扬手打你的孩子，除非你能以无亏的良心俯伏在上帝面前，并求祂祝福你将要给予的处罚。要鼓励你儿女心中的爱。将自制的高尚正确动机摆在他们面前。不要给他们印象觉得他们必须服从控制是因为你专横武断的意志；因为他们软弱，你强大；因为你是父亲，他们是孩子。如果你想毁灭你的家庭，那就继续用强力统治吧，你必定能成功。【2T.259.3】[20]
§42
You should control yourself. Never correct your children while impatient or fretful, or while under the influence of passion. Punish them in love, manifesting the unwillingness you feel to cause them pain. Never raise your hand to give them a blow unless you can with a clear conscience bow before God and ask His blessing upon the correction you are about to give. Encourage love in the hearts of your children. Present before them high and correct motives for self-restraint. Do not give them the impression that they must submit to control because it is your arbitrary will; because they are weak, and you are strong; because you are the father, they the children. If you wish to ruin your family, continue to govern by brute force, and you will surely succeed. {2T 259.3}[20]
§43
你的妻子心肠软而且容易激动不安。她感到你的管教太严厉，便走向相反的极端。她试图抵消你的严厉，你便指责她没有尽到她的本分，没有管制自己的孩子。你认为她是纵容、溺爱、柔弱的。你无法在这方面帮助她，除非你改正自己，并在家中表现出父亲的亲切柔和。正是因为你错误的管理，才使你的妻子在教养孩子方面松懈不严。你必须使自己的性格软化柔和。你需要受上帝圣灵的影响所陶冶。你需要彻底改变；然后你才能从正确的立场行事。你需要让爱进入你的心灵，让它居于自尊的位置；自我必须死去！【2T.260.1】[21]
§44
Your wife is tenderhearted and easily agitated. She feels your harshness of discipline, and it leads her to the opposite extreme. She seeks to counteract your severity, and you charge this as a great lack in her of doing her duty and controlling her children. You think her indulgent, overfond, and tender. You cannot help her in this respect until you correct yourself and manifest that parental tenderness which you should in your family. It is your wrong management which leads your wife to be lax in her discipline. You must have your nature softened. You need to be refined by the influences of the Spirit of God. You need a thorough conversion; then you can work from the right standpoint. You need to let love into your soul and permit it to occupy the place of self-dignity; self must die. {2T 260.1}[21]
§45
你的妻子需要温柔和爱。上帝爱她。她离天国比你近得多。但她正在慢慢接近死亡，而你正是慢慢夺走她生命的刽子手。如果你愿意，你就能使她生活幸福。你可以鼓励她倚靠你的宽大的爱情，让她信赖你并且爱你。但你现在正让她的心与你断绝。她不敢向你敞开心扉，不愿向你透露她心中一切的想法与感情，因为你以轻视对待她的感情，讥诮她的恐惧，傲慢地提出自己的意见，好像没有商量的余地。如果你继续采取这种方针，她对你的尊重就必彻底消失。当没有了尊重时，爱就坚持不了多久了。【2T.260.2】[22]
§46
Your wife needs tenderness and love. The Lord loves her. She is much nearer the kingdom of heaven than you. But she is dying by inches, and you are the one who is slowly taking her life. You can make her life happy if you will. You can encourage her to lean upon your large affections, to confide in you and love you. You are weaning her heart from you. She shrinks from opening to you all the emotions of her soul, for you have treated her feelings with contempt; you have ridiculed her fears and pompously advanced your opinion as though there were no appeal from that. Her respect for you will surely die if you continue the course you have commenced; and when respect is gone, love does not long abide. {2T 260.2}[22]
§47
我恳劝你彻底回头，谦卑自己，承认错待了你的妻子。她并非完全，她也有错误，但她真诚渴望侍奉上帝，耐心地忍受了你对她和孩子的恶待。你敏于发现你妻子的过失，不会漏掉她的一个错误。她虽软弱，但她用她更柔弱的力量荣耀了上帝，过于你用你更强的能力所行的。---1869年1月17日写于巴特尔克里克【2T.261.1】[23]
§48
I implore you to turn rightabout and humble yourself to confess that you have wronged your wife. She is not perfect. She has faults, but she sincerely desires to serve God and to patiently endure your course toward her and your children. You are quick to detect your wifes errors, and when you can pick a flaw you will. She is weak; yet with her weaker strength she glorifies God better than you do with your stronger powers.[23]