第41章 真实的悔改
§1
第41章 真实的悔改
§2
Chap. 41 - True Conversion
§3
亲爱的P弟兄：一年之前在某地，我们曾为你的益处劳苦。我蒙指示看到你的危险，我们渴望救你。但是我们看到，你并无力量实践你在那里作出的决定。我为这事不安，惟恐无法完全尽忠，将我知道的所有关于你的事告诉你。有些事我保留了下来，没有告诉你。六月份在巴特尔克里克，我再蒙指示，看到你并未取得任何进步，其原因在于，你没有在身后留下清白的足迹。你不喜爱虔诚。你已经远离了上帝和公义。你一直在错误的路上、在被禁止的娱乐上寻求快乐。你没有道德勇气去承认和离弃你的罪以便得到怜悯。【2T.291.1】[1]
§4
Dear Brother P: While at ----- one year ago, we labored for your interest. I had been shown your dangers, and we were desirous of saving you; but we see you have not had strength to carry out the resolutions there made. I am troubled over the matter, and fear that I was not as faithful as I should have been in bringing before you all I knew of your case. Some things I withheld from you. While in Battle Creek in June, I was again shown that you were not making any advance, and that the reason you were not is that you have not made a clean track behind you. You do not enjoy religion. You have departed from God and righteousness. You have been seeking happiness in the wrong way, in forbidden pleasures; and you have not moral courage to confess and forsake your sins that you may find mercy. {2T 291.1}[1]
§5
你不象上帝那样看罪是穷凶极恶的，且将它抛弃。你没能做彻底的工作，当仇敌带着试探前来时，你并没有抵挡他。要是你曾看出罪在上帝眼中是多么讨厌，你原不会那么轻易地屈从于试探。你没有彻底悔改以致憎恶你罪恶愚蠢的生活。罪在你看来似乎还是可喜悦的，你很不情愿放弃迷惑人的罪中之乐。你心灵深处还未悔改，你不久就失去了所曾得到的。【2T.291.2】[2]
§6
You did not view sin as heinous in the sight of God, and put it away; you failed to make thorough work; and when the enemy came in with his temptations, you did not resist him. Had you seen how offensive sin was in the sight of God, you would not have so readily yielded to temptation. You were not so thoroughly converted as to abhor your life of sin and folly. Sin yet seemed pleasant to you, and you were loath to yield up its delusive pleasures. Your inmost soul was not converted, and you soon lost that which you had gained. {2T 291.2}[2]
§7
个人的虚荣对你、对许多青年都成了一种特别的阻碍。你一直喜爱别人的称赞。这已成为你的网罗。你那些所谓的朋友们对和你交往表现出一种特殊的快乐，这使你大为满足。心思浅薄、易受影响的女子们称赞你，喜欢和你交往；你在和她们交往时感到一种令你迷醉的能力。你没有认识到，当你将本属于家人的时间浪费在寻欢作乐上时，撒但正在你的脚周围编织网罗。【2T.291.3】[3]
§8
Personal vanity in your case, as well as in that of many others, has been a special hindrance to you. You have ever had a love of praise. This has been a snare to you. Your professed friends have shown a special pleasure in your society, and this has gratified you. Weak-minded, sympathetic women have praised you and appeared charmed with your society; and you have felt a fascinating power upon you in their company. You did not realize, while spending in pleasure seeking those hours which belonged to your family, that Satan was weaving his net about your feet. {2T 291.3}[3]
§9
撒但为你人生的每一步都摆设了试探。你本应节约，但你却一直浪费钱财。你痛恨吝啬，这完全正确，但你却走到相反的极端。你的行为显然是挥霍浪费的。基督在给五千人吃饱的事上给祂门徒一个教训。祂行了一个大神迹，用五个饼、两条小鱼使那大群人吃饱。当所有的人都饱足之后，祂并没有看那些零碎是无足轻重的，好像注意这些零碎便有损祂的尊严。这位有能力行如此显著的奇事，使那么大的一群人吃饱的一位，对祂的门徒说：“把剩下的零碎收拾起来，免得有糟蹋的”（约6:12）。这是给我们大家的教训，且是我们不应漠视的一个教训。【2T.292.1】[4]
§10
Satan has temptations laid for every step of your life. You have not been as economical of means as you should have been. You hate stinginess. This is all right; but you go to the opposite extreme, and your course has been marked with prodigality. Christ taught His disciples a lesson in feeding the five thousand. He wrought a great miracle and fed that vast multitude with five loaves and two small fishes. After all had been satisfied, He did not then regard the fragments indifferently, as if it were beneath His dignity to notice them. He who had power to work so notable a miracle, and to give food to so large a company, said to His disciples: Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost. This is a lesson to us all, and one which we should not disregard. {2T 292.1}[4]
§11
你面前有一番重要工作要完成，你担不起浪费另一个时刻而不把握它。P弟兄，我为你感到担心。但我知道上帝依然爱你，尽管你一直偏行己路。祂若对你没有一番特别的关爱，就不会象这样把你的危险摆在我面前了。你喜欢和那些不敬畏上帝的男女闲谈玩耍。那些思想懦弱、没有原则的女子经常挽留你在她们身边，你就像一只着迷的鸟一样。你似乎因这些浅薄的人而心荡情迷了。上帝的天使在你所行的路上随着你，忠实地记录下你每一个错误的行为，每一次偏离正路的情况。【2T.292.2】[5]
§12
You have a great work before you, and you cannot afford to waste another moment without taking hold of it. Brother P, I am alarmed for you; but I know that God loves you still, although your course has been wayward. If He did not have a special love for you He would not present your dangers before me as He has. You have engaged in jesting and sporting with men and women who have not the fear of God before them. Weak-headed and unprincipled women have retained you in their presence, and you were like a charmed bird. You seemed fascinated by these superficial persons. Angels of God were upon your track and have faithfully recorded every wrong act, every instance of departure from virtues path. {2T 292.2}[5]
§13
你的每一个行为，无论你以为做得多么隐密，在上帝、基督和圣天使面前都是赤露敞开的。上帝在祂的册子上记录着世人一切的行为。这记录上的每一细目都不能隐藏。为犯罪之人只预作了一种安排。忠实地承认并悔改罪恶，并且相信基督洁净罪恶的宝血，就会带来赦免，在他的名字下面就会写下“赦免”二字。【2T.292.3】[6]
§14
Yes, every act, however secret you may have thought you were in its committal, has been open to God, to Christ, and to the holy angels. A book is written of all the doings of the children of men. Not an item of this record can be concealed. There is only one provision made for the transgressor. Faithful repentance and confession of sin, and faith in the cleansing blood of Christ, will bring forgiveness, and pardon will be written against his name. {2T 292.3}[6]
§15
我的弟兄啊，如果你一年前彻底悔改，则这一年宝贵的时光就不致比闲置还坏了。你知道主的旨意，却没有遵行。你处在一个危险的状况中。你对于属灵事物的感觉已经迟钝。你已违背了良心。你的影响力不是收聚的，而是分散的。你对于宗教活动没什么特别的兴趣。你是一个不快乐的人。你若不挡在你妻子的路上，她就会和上帝的子民利益与共。她需要你的帮助。你愿意完全把握这项工作吗？【2T.293.1】[7]
§16
O my brother, had you made thorough work one year ago, the past precious year need not have been to you worse than a blank. You knew your Masters will, but did it not. You are in a perilous condition. Your sensibilities have been blunted to spiritual things; you have a violated conscience. Your influence is not to gather, but to scatter. You have no special interest in religious exercises. You are not a happy man. Your wife would unite her interest with the people of God if you would get out of her way. She needs your help. Will you take hold of this work together? {2T 293.1}[7]
§17
去年六月，我看到你挣脱捆绑的惟一希望在于，断绝你旧有的交往。你屈从撒但的试探，直到你成了一个软弱的人。你是一个爱宴乐不爱上帝的人，正快步行在下坡路上。我感到失望，因为你多年以来一直以这种无所谓的心态度日。你了解、也经历过上帝的爱。你以遵行祂的旨意为乐。你喜爱研究上帝的圣言。你准时参加祷告聚会。你心感受到过基督之爱使人复苏的影响，你的见证是发自内心的。但是你已将你起初的爱心丢弃了。【2T.293.2】[8]
§18
Last June I saw that your only hope of breaking the chain of your bondage was a removal from your associates. You had yielded to Satans temptations until you were a weak man. You were a lover of pleasure more than a lover of God, and were fast traveling the downward path. I have been disappointed that you have continued in the same indifferent state in which you have been for years. You have known and experienced the love of God; and it has been your delight to do His will. You have delighted in the study of the word of God. You have been punctual at the prayer meetings. Your testimony has been from a heart which felt the quickening influences of the love of Christ. But you have lost your first love. {2T 293.2}[8]
§19
上帝现在呼召你悔改，在圣工上热心。你永恒的幸福将取决于你现在所走的道路。你岂能拒绝现在所提供的恩慈的邀请呢？你岂能选择自己的道路呢？你岂要怀藏骄傲和虚荣，以至最终丧失你的灵魂吗？上帝的圣言清楚地告诉我们，得救的人会很少，大多数蒙召的人都将证明自己不配进入永生。他们会与天国无份，而要和撒但一起，经历第二次的死。【2T.293.3】[9]
§20
God now calls upon you to repent, to be zealous in the work. Your eternal happiness will be determined by the course you now pursue. Can you reject the invitations of mercy now offered? Can you choose your own way? Will you cherish pride and vanity, and lose your soul at last? The word of God plainly tells us that few will be saved, and that the greater number of those, even, who are called will prove themselves unworthy of everlasting life. They will have no part in heaven, but will have their portion with Satan, and experience the second death. {2T 293.3}[9]
§21
男女世人如果愿意，他们都能逃脱这种厄运。尽管撒但是罪恶的最大始作俑者，但这却不能成为任何人犯罪的借口。因为撒但并不能强迫人犯罪。他引诱人犯罪，且使罪看上去既诱人又令人愉快；但他必须让人的意志自行决定是否愿意犯罪。他不强迫人喝醉，也不强行阻止人去参加宗教聚会；但他却可以将试探摆在世人面前，引诱他们去犯罪，人有道德上的自由决定接受还是拒绝。【2T.294.1】[10]
§22
Men and women may escape this doom if they will. It is true that Satan is the great originator of sin; yet this does not excuse any man for sinning; for he cannot force men to do evil. He tempts them to it, and makes sin look enticing and pleasant; but he has to leave it to their own wills whether they will do it or not. He does not force men to become intoxicated, neither does he force them to remain away from religious meetings; but he presents temptations in a manner to allure to evil, and man is a free moral agent to accept or refuse. {2T 294.1}[10]
§23
悔改这种工作，多数的人还不赏识。要把属世的、喜爱罪恶的心意转变过来，使之了解基督无可言喻的爱，祂恩典的美妙，和上帝的优美，以致使人被神圣之爱所充满，被天庭的奥秘所吸引，这种工作确实不是小事。何时人明白了这些事，以往的生活就必显出是可憎可恨的了。他恨恶罪恶，在上帝面前破碎己心，接受基督为他心灵的生命与喜乐。他抛弃从前的快乐。他有了新的心思，新的感情，新的兴趣，新的意志；他的忧愁、愿望、和爱全都是新的了。肉体的情欲、眼目的情欲、并今生的骄傲，在从前都看为比基督更重要，现在却转离了，而以基督作为自己生命的至宝与喜乐的冠冕。从前看不到什么优美的天国，如今看到了它的富足和荣耀；他默想它是自己将来的家乡，在那里他将要看见、爱戴和赞美曾用自己的宝血救赎了他的那一位。【2T.294.2】[11]
§24
Conversion is a work that most do not appreciate. It is not a small matter to transform an earthly, sin-loving mind and bring it to understand the unspeakable love of Christ, the charms of His grace, and the excellency of God, so that the soul shall be imbued with divine love and captivated with the heavenly mysteries. When he understands these things, his former life appears disgusting and hateful. He hates sin, and, breaking his heart before God, he embraces Christ as the life and joy of the soul. He renounces his former pleasures. He has a new mind, new affections, new interest, new will; his sorrows, and desires, and love are all new. The lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life, which have heretofore been preferred before Christ, are now turned from, and Christ is the charm of his life, the crown of his rejoicing. Heaven, which once possessed no charms, is now viewed in its riches and glory; and he contemplates it as his future home, where he shall see, love, and praise the One who hath redeemed him by His precious blood. {2T 294.2}[11]
§25
他从前所厌倦的圣洁的工作，如今却喜爱了。从前被认为枯燥无味的圣经，如今却成为他研究的对象和谋士，是一封上帝写给他的信，带有“亘古常在者”的名号。他的思想、言语及行为，都要按这准则受试验。他对其中所包含的命令和警戒战战兢兢，同时紧紧地抓住其中的应许，应用在自己的身上，来加强他的心灵。他今后所拣选的朋友是最敬虔的，对于以往喜爱与之作伴的恶人，也不再喜爱了。他们的罪恶，是他从前曾喜笑的，现在却为之哀哭了。爱自己和虚荣之念现在都抛弃了，他向上帝活着，并在好事上富足。这才是上帝所要的成圣。凡不及于此的祂都不会接受。【2T.294.3】[12]
§26
The works of holiness, which appeared wearisome, are now his delight. The word of God, which was dull and uninteresting, is now chosen as his study, the man of his counsel. It is as a letter written to him from God, bearing the inscription of the Eternal. His thoughts, his words, and his deeds are brought to this rule and tested. He trembles at the commands and threatenings which it contains, while he firmly grasps its promises and strengthens his soul by appropriating them to himself. The society of the most godly is now chosen by him, and the wicked, whose company he once loved, he no longer delights in. He weeps over those sins in them at which he once laughed. Self-love and vanity are renounced, and he lives unto God, and is rich in good works. This is the sanctification which God requires. Nothing short of this will He accept. {2T 294.3}[12]
§27
我的弟兄啊，我请求你殷勤省察自己的心，并自问说：“我现在所走的是什么路？结局要到哪里？”你有理由欢喜快乐，因为虽然你永生的盼望并不确定，但你的性命还没有被剪除。上帝不许你再疏忽这项工作，以致在自己的罪中灭亡。不要用虚假的盼望谄媚自己的心灵。你以为山穷水尽无路可走之时，却有一条道路如此卑微，以致你不能同意接受。我走错路的弟兄啊，基督向你发出慈悲的信息：“请来吧；样样都齐备了”（路14:17）。只要你肯来就祂，上帝就会欣然接纳你，并赦免你的一切过犯。你虽已成为一个浪子，离开了上帝，在外流浪那么久，但祂甚至现在都愿意迎接你。是的，天庭之君邀请你来就祂，使你可以得生命。何时你持定基督，祂就要洗净你的罪恶。你作罪的奴仆有什么益处呢？你作肉体及魔鬼的奴仆有什么益处呢？你所得的工价不是菲薄的吗？唉，你转回，转回吧，何必死亡呢？【2T.295.1】[13]
§28
I beg of you, my brother, to search your heart diligently and inquire: What road am I traveling, and where will it end? You have reason to rejoice that your life has not been cut off while you have no certain hope of eternal life. God forbid that you should longer neglect this work, and so perish in your sins. Do not flatter your soul with false hopes. You see no way to get hold again but one so humble that you cannot consent to accept it. Christ presents to you, even to you, my erring brother, a message of mercy: Come; for all things are now ready. God is ready to accept you and to pardon all your transgressions, if you will but come. Though you have been a prodigal, and have separated from God and stayed away from Him so long, He will meet you even now. Yes; the Majesty of heaven invites you to come to Him, that you may have life. Christ is ready to cleanse you from sin when you lay hold upon Him. What profit have you found in serving sin? what profit in serving the flesh and the devil? Is it not poor wages you receive? Oh! turn ye, turn ye; for why will ye die? {2T 295.1}[13]
§29
你已有过多次的觉悟，良心屡次受到痛责。你曾多次立志，多次许诺，但你还是因循耽延，不愿来就基督，使你可以得生命。巴不得你的心感觉到这时代的意义，叫你可以回头而存活！在这道信息中，难道你听不见那“真牧人”的声音吗？你怎能违背呢？不要轻慢上帝，免得祂撇下你在你自己弯曲的道路上。这乃是你的生死关头，你愿选择哪条路呢？对抗上帝并拒绝祂的请求，是件可怕的事。你可以有上帝的爱燃烧在你内心的祭坛上，就如你曾感受过的一样。你可以和上帝交通，如你过去所行的一样。你若愿在身后留下清白的足迹，就可再次体验祂恩典的丰盛，你的面容也要再度洋溢祂的爱。【2T.296.1】[14]
§30
You have had many convictions, many pangs of conscience. You have had so many purposes and made so many promises, and yet you linger and will not come to Christ that you may have life. Oh, that your heart may be impressed with a sense of this time, that you may now turn and live! Cannot you hear the voice of the True Shepherd in this message? How can you disobey? Trifle not with God, lest He leave you to your own crooked ways. It is life or death with you. Which will you choose? It is a fearful thing to contend with God and resist His pleadings. You may have the love of God burning upon the altar of your heart as you once felt it. You may commune with God as you have done in times past. If you will make a clean track behind you you may again experience the riches of His grace, and your countenance again express His love. {2T 296.1}[14]
§31
你不必非向那些不知你的罪恶和错误的人认罪。你没有义务公开承认会使不信的人夸胜的罪；但是对于合适的人，不会利用你错误的人，要按照上帝的圣言认罪，并让他们为你代祷，上帝就会悦纳你的作为，并且医治你。为了你灵魂的缘故，要听劝，为永生作彻底的工作。撇弃你的骄傲和虚荣，并做正直的努力。要再回到羊圈中，大牧者正在等候接纳你。你要悔改，行起初所行的事，重蒙上帝的恩眷。【2T.296.2】[15]
§32
It is not required of you to confess to those who know not your sin and errors. It is not your duty to publish a confession which will lead unbelievers to triumph; but to those to whom it is proper, who will take no advantage of your wrong, confess according to the word of God, and let them pray for you, and God will accept your work, and will heal you. For your souls sake, be entreated to make thorough work for eternity. Lay aside your pride, your vanity, and make straight work. Come back again to the fold. The Shepherd is waiting to receive you. Repent, and do your first works, and again come into favor with God. {2T 296.2}[15]