第64章 狂热和无知
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第64章 狂热和无知
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Chap. 64 - Fanaticism and Ignorance
§3
E弟兄：1865年12月25日，我还在纽约州的罗彻斯特的时候，在访问缅因州之前，我看到了一些关于那个州圣工的混乱和令人灰心的情形。我蒙指示看到，相当多认为自己有责任公开教导上帝圣言的人误解了他们的工作。上帝并未呼召他们献身于这项庄严神圣、责任重大的工作。他们并没有从事传道工作的资格，因为他们不能适当地教导别人。【2T.553.1】[1]
§4
Brother E: While in Rochester, New York, December 25, 1865, before visiting the State of Maine, I saw some things in relation to the perplexing and discouraging conditions of the cause in that state. I was shown that quite a number who were thinking it their duty to teach the word of God publicly had mistaken their work. They had no call to devote themselves to this solemn, responsible work. They were not qualified for the work of the ministry, for they could not instruct others properly. {2T 553.1}[1]
§5
有些人的经验是在一班不了解圣工高尚性质的狂热分子中间得到的。这班自称是安息日复临信徒之人的宗教经验是不可靠的。他们一切的行动都没有坚定的原则为基础。他们是自信自夸的。他们的宗教并不存在于正义的行为，心灵的真谦卑和真诚地献身于上帝，而在于冲动、喧闹和混乱，加杂着反常和古怪。他们没有感到也不能感到披戴基督之义的必要。他们有一种自己的义，就象污秽的衣服，是上帝决不能悦纳的。这些人一点不喜爱团结和谐的行动。他们喜爱无秩序的状态。混乱、涣散和意见分歧才是他们的选择。他们是不受管束、没有降服、没有重生也没有献身的，而这种混乱的成分正合他们未经训练的心思。他们对上帝的圣工是一个咒诅，且使安息日复临信徒名誉扫地。【2T.553.2】[2]
§6
The experience of some had been obtained among a class of religious fanatics who had no true sense of the exalted character of the work. The religious experience of this class of professed Seventh-day Adventists was not reliable. They had not firm principles underlying all their actions. They were self-confident, and boastful. Their religion did not consist in righteous acts, true humility of soul, and sincere devotion to God, but in impulse, in noise and confusion, spiced with eccentricities and oddities. They had not felt, neither could they feel, the necessity of being clothed with Christs righteousness. They had a righteousness of their own, which was as filthy rags, and which God can in no case accept. These persons had no love for union and harmony of action. They delighted in disorder. Confusion, distraction, and diversity of opinion were their choice. They were ungovernable, unsubdued, unregenerated, and unconsecrated, and this element of confusion suited their undisciplined minds. They were a curse to the cause of God and brought the name of Seventh-day Adventists into disrepute. {2T 553.2}[2]
§7
这些人未经改变，也没有因真理而成圣。他们态度粗俗，没有教养。他们从未品尝过将来世界甜美纯洁的优雅。他们从未体会过敬虔的奥秘，也从未因这奥秘而心生敬畏。他们将神圣和永恒的事物置于俗物的水平，谈论天国和耶稣的降临如同谈论一匹马。他们只有肤浅的知识或者说真理的理论，比这更深的东西他们就不知道了。真理的原则没有掌握他们的生活，也没有使他们憎恶自我。他们从未以保罗看他自己的眼光看他们自己，那种眼光使保罗看到了自己品格上的道德缺陷。他们从未被上帝的律法所击杀，也没有使自己脱离不洁和污秽。这班人中有些人最喜欢参加无聊的闲谈和轻浮的活动。他们染上了这种习惯，并且在本应默想和灵修的时候放纵这种习惯。他们既这么做，就表明自己缺乏真正的尊严和文雅，同时也失去了那些虽然没有真理的知识，却通情达理之人的尊重。这等人投身在试探的洪流中，留在仇敌能成功诱导他们的地方，他已非常容易地控制了他们的心意，败坏了他们全部的经验，以致他们很可能无法挣脱他的网罗，获得健康的经验了。【2T.554.1】[3]
§8
These persons had not experienced the work of reformation, or sanctification through the truth. They were coarse and uncultivated. They had never tasted of the sweet, pure refinement of the world to come. They had never experienced, neither had their hearts been awed by, the mystery of godliness. They placed divine and eternal things upon a level with common things, and would talk of heaven and the coming of Jesus as they would of a horse. They had a superficial knowledge or theory of the truth, but further than this they were ignorant. Its principles had not taken hold of their lives and led them to an abhorrence of self. They had never viewed themselves in the light in which Paul viewed himself, which led him to see the moral defects in his character. They had never been slain by the law of God, and had not separated themselves from their impurities and defilement. It is the favorite occupation of some of this class to engage in trifling conversation and levity. This habit they contracted, and indulged upon occasions which should have been characterized by solemn meditation and devotion. In doing this, they manifested a lack of true dignity and refinement, and forfeited the esteem of sensible persons who had no knowledge of the truth. This class threw themselves into a current of temptation and kept where the enemy led them successfully, and he has so easily controlled their minds and corrupted their entire experience that in all probability they will be unable to recover themselves out of his snare and obtain a healthful experience. {2T 554.1}[3]
§9
上帝大日的烈火会消灭禾秸和糠秕，凡继续放纵他们久已喜爱的不敬虔行为的人，将会一无存留。这等人讨厌跟那些确实与上帝同在的人作伴。他们的宗教经验属于很低下的等次，以致于他们跟合理、聪明的宗教经验无份；所以他们不屑于跟那些上帝所带领和教导的人作伴。挖苦讽刺乃是这等人中一些心思古怪之人的堡垒。他们胆大妄为，侮慢无礼，也不重视美好的礼貌。他们不分青红皂白，也不尊重应受尊重的人。他们对那些与他们意见不同的人显出一种骄傲、反叛、挑衅的精神。他们吵吵嚷嚷的态度和错误的做法使上帝的真仆人觉得他们已经拒绝了为他们作出的努力，他便对进一步为他们作工感到灰心了。他们参与一种可鄙的夸胜，其性质正如撒但和恶天使在对他们所得到的人夸胜时一样。他们有撒但和恶天使在他们一边与他们一起欢喜雀跃。这种品格模式得到特别而显著发展之人的情况是无望的。他们被包裹在自以为义里，凡有如品格文雅高尚的事若与他们接触，都被他们视为骄傲和缺乏谦卑。他们把粗鲁和无知视为谦卑。【2T.554.2】[4]
§10
The fires of the day of God will consume the stubble and chaff, and there will be nothing left of any who continue in the ungodly course which they have so long loved. This class have a disrelish for the society of those whom God is truly with. Their religious experience is of so low an order that they have no part nor lot in a rational, intelligent religious experience; therefore they have despised the society of those whom God leads and is teaching. Sarcasm and irony is the stronghold of some peculiar minds of this class. They are bold and insolent, and do not regard good manners. They have no care to discriminate and render honor to whom honor is due. They manifest a proud, rebellious, defiant spirit against those who differ from their opinions. Their boisterous manners and wrong course lead the true servant of God to feel that they have resisted the efforts made for them, and he becomes disheartened in reference to laboring any further in their behalf. They engage in a contemptible triumph of exactly the same nature as that which Satan and evil angels engage in over the souls whom they secure. They have Satan and evil angels on their side to exult with them. The cases of the persons in whom this cast of character is peculiarly and strikingly developed are hopeless. They are incased in self-righteousness, and everything like refinement and elevation of character with which they are brought in contact is termed by them pride and lack of humility. Coarseness and ignorance are regarded as humility. {2T 554.2}[4]
§11
你的宗教经验大多是由这等人获得的；所以你没有资格做将那最严肃、优雅、高尚而又最试验人的信息教导人的工作。你或许能打动一等人的心，但你的工作会把社会上更有聪明才智的人赶得更远。你没有足够的知识，甚至连普通教育学科的知识都不够，不能作男男女女的教师，有一个狡猾的魔鬼在另一方面暗示和想方设法引诱他们离开真理。【2T.555.1】[5]
§12
With this class you have obtained a large share of your religious experience; therefore you are not qualified for the work of teaching the most solemn, refined, elevating, and withal the most testing message to mortals. You may reach a class of minds, but the more intelligent portion of the community will be driven further off by your labors. You have not a sufficient knowledge of even the common branches of education to be an instructor of men and women who have a wily devil on the other hand to suggest and devise ways and means to lead them from the truth. {2T 555.1}[5]
§13
普通学校的教师必需精通他们的业务。他们要经过严格的考查以确定委托他们照管儿童是否合适。他们的资格需要通过调查，按照需任岗位的重要性受到全面考核。我看到上帝的工作具有远为崇高的性质，和远为高尚的利益，因为永恒是高于现世的。在这里犯错误是无法补救的。凡前去教导真理的人都应有资格做他们的工作，这具有无限的重要性。应该调查他们是否有能力教导真理，调查的严格性不应低于对我们学校教师的考核。上帝的工作已因自称基督传道人的松懈、散漫作风受了藐视。【2T.555.2】[6]
§14
The teachers of the common schools are required to be masters of their business. They are closely examined to ascertain if children can properly be trusted to their care. By investigation the thoroughness of their qualifications is tested according to the importance of the position which they are required to occupy. I saw that Gods work is of as much more exalted character, and of as much higher interest, as the eternal is above the temporal. A mistake made here cannot be repaired. It is of infinite importance that all who go forth to teach the truth should be qualified for their work. No less strict investigation should be instituted in reference to their ability to teach the truth than in the case of those who teach our schools. Gods work has been belittled by the slack, loose course pursued by professed ministers of Christ. {2T 555.2}[6]
§15
我蒙指示看到，传道人必须洁净成圣，具有上帝圣言的知识。他们应该熟悉圣经的论据，预备好说明他们盼望的缘由，否则他们就应该停止作工，去从事一种他们的缺乏不会涉及这种可怕结果的职业。当今一般教派的传道人只要能讲论几个简单的圣经要点就成了可接受的传道人；但传播末后不受欢迎之真理的传道人，既不得不面对有学识的人，头脑精明强悍的人，和形形色色的反对者，就应该知道自己是干什么的。他们不应该擅自负起教导人真理的责任，除非他们有资格做这工作。他们在从事或投身这工作之前，应该研究圣经。他们若未受训练，以致能令人满意地当众讲话，秉公对待真理，并且尊荣他们自称侍奉的主，就应该等待，直到他们适合充任这个岗位的时候。【2T.556.1】[7]
§16
I was shown that ministers must be sanctified and holy, and must have a knowledge of the word of God. They should be familiar with Bible arguments and prepared to give a reason of their hope, or they should cease their labors and engage in a calling where deficiency will not involve such tremendous consequences. Ministers of the popular denominations of the day are acceptable preachers if they can speak upon a few simple points of the Bible; but the ministers who are spreading unpopular truth for these last days, who have to meet men of learning, men of strong minds, and opposers of every type, should know what they are about. They should not take upon themselves the responsibility of teaching the truth unless they are qualified for the work. Before engaging in, or devoting themselves to, the work they should become Bible students. If they have not an education so that they can speak in public with acceptance, and do justice to the truth, and honor the Lord whom they profess to serve, they should wait till they are fitted for the position. {2T 556.1}[7]
§17
E弟兄，你无法充任基督传道人的职位。我看到你缺乏正确的宗教经验。你没有自知之明。你甚至连正确地朗读都做不到，也不会使用辞令，使有聪明才智的人明白真理。你缺乏辨识力。你不愿知道何时适合发言，何时沉默是金。你和我曾提到的那班古怪的人一样，久已认为自己知道一切，以致你的缺陷摆在眼前时，你也宁愿视而不见。你很自尊自负，你的经验一直以自信和自夸为特征。【2T.556.2】[8]
§18
Brother E, you cannot fill the position of a minister of Christ. I saw that you lacked a correct religious experience. You have not a knowledge of yourself. You cannot even read correctly, or use language which would commend the truth to the understanding of an intelligent community. You lack discrimination. You would not know when it was proper to speak or wise to keep silent. You have so long thought, with the peculiar class I have mentioned, that you knew it all, that you will not see your deficiencies when they are presented before you. You possess a large share of self-esteem, and your experience has been characterized by self-confidence and boastfulness. {2T 556.2}[8]
§19
你不是一个受教的人，因此，上帝的圣工在你手中不会兴旺。你遭遇失败也不愿意承认。你的工作会使上帝的圣工蒙羞受辱，名誉扫地，而你却看不到真相。某一等人或许会通过你信服真理；但更多的人会转身离开，到了即便适当明智的工作也打动不了他们的地步。交织在你经验里的东西会证明对真理是有害的。上帝无法接纳你做真理的代表。【2T.557.1】[9]
§20
You are not teachable, therefore the cause of God would not prosper in your hands. You would fail to recognize a defeat when you met with one. The cause of God would be brought into disrepute and dishonor by your labors, and you would fail to discover the fact. A certain class may be convinced by you of the truth; but more would be turned away and placed where they could not be reached by proper, judicious labor. Interwoven with your experience are things that will prove detrimental to the truth. God cannot accept you as a representative of the truth. {2T 557.1}[9]
§21
你的态度向来不是优雅高尚的。你的举止也一直不蒙上帝喜悦。你的言语总是很随便。你缺乏虔诚和献身的精神。你在属灵的生活上没有经验。你没能明白如何按着正意分解生命之道，给各人按时分粮。你在自己完全错位只能遭受失败的时候，宁愿与人争论，强辩要点。这正是我已提到的在缅因州的那班人的精神。他们喜爱参加辩论而且强辩到底。你在教导那些反对他们自己的人时不会表现温柔的精神。你会因自己不幸的经验在一定程度上始终受损。你缺乏自我修养和温柔谦卑。你有重要的功课要学，然后才能成为一个谦逊的，可蒙悦纳的跟从基督的人，就算以私人的身份也要这样。【2T.557.2】[10]
§22
Your manners have not been refined and elevated. Your deportment has not been pleasing to God. Your words have been careless. You lack piety and devotion. You have not obtained an experience in the spiritual life. You fail to understand how to rightly divide the word of life, giving to each his portion of meat in due season. You have preferred to contend and contest points when you were entirely out of your place and could but meet with defeat. This is the spirit of the class in Maine whom I have mentioned. It is their delight to engage in contest and brave it through. You would not manifest meekness in instructing those who oppose themselves. You will ever be crippled, in a degree, by your unfortunate experience. You lack self-culture and meekness. You have important lessons to learn before you can become an unassuming, acceptable follower of Christ, even in a private capacity. {2T 557.2}[10]