第19章 完全的献身
§1
第19章 完全的献身
§2
Chap. 19 - Entire Consecration
§3
下述证言写于1875年1月，它的真实性得到了C弟兄的承认，C弟兄说它给了他亮光和希望。{4T 213.1}[1]
§4
The following testimony was written in January, 1875, and its truthfulness was acknowledged by Brother C, who said that it gave him light and hope. {4T 213.1}[1]
§5
C弟兄，你已退后离开上帝。对于上帝的要求，你的见解从来没有很好的定义，也不是很严谨。你因为很多基督徒的路线错误而变得玩忽职守不警醒是没有理由的。你一直没有献身于上帝。你没有感到依赖祂保守你，所以你被胜过，受疑惑奴役；不信的锁链困住了你的心灵。你没有在自己的生活中荣耀上帝。我们的信仰有时在你看来是很可疑的。之所以这样的原因是在你自己。在世界上，真理与谬论很是混杂，以致不一定能清楚地将它们辨别出来。但是一个自称相信真理的人为何这么没有力量呢？因为他不了解自己的无知和软弱。他若知道这一点，若不信任自己，就会感到需要上帝帮助他脱离仇敌诡计的重要性。我们需要成为积极作工的基督徒，在内心和生活上都无私，单单注目上帝的荣耀。唉，我们到处可见何等的落魄啊！何等沉默的嘴唇和不结果子的生活啊！天使说：“这是因为落在试探之下。能损害心灵平安的，莫过于有罪的不信了。”{4T 213.2}[2]
§6
Brother C, you are backslidden from God. Your views of Gods requirements have never been too well defined nor too strict. It is no excuse for you to become remiss in duty and less vigilant because the course of so many professed Christians is wrong. You have not been consecrated to God. You have not felt your dependence upon Him to keep you, and therefore you have been overcome and brought into the slavery of doubt; the bondage of unbelief has chained your soul. You do not glorify God in your life. Our faith sometimes looks to you very questionable. The reason of this is in yourself. In the world, truth and falsehood are so mixed that one is not always clearly discerned from the other. But why has one who professes the truth so little strength? Because he understands not his own ignorance and his own weakness. If he knew this, if he were distrustful of himself, he would feel the importance of divine help to preserve him from the wiles of the enemy. We need to be active, working Christians, unselfish in heart and life, having an eye single to the glory of God. Oh, what wrecks we meet everywhere! what silent lips and fruitless lives! This, said the angel, is because of falling under temptation. Nothing mars the peace of the soul like sinful unbelief. {4T 213.2}[2]
§7
你不应在绝望中放弃，以为自己必定在疑惑和不信的奴役中生活和死去。在主里我们才有公义和力量。要倚靠祂；藉着祂的能力你可以灭尽仇敌一切的火箭并且得胜有余。你还可以因真理成圣；否则你若愿意，就可行在不信的黑暗中，失去天国，也失去一切。藉着行在光中和行出上帝的旨意，你可以胜过自私的本性。{4T 213.3}[3]
§8
You should not give up in despair, thinking you must live and die in the bondage of doubt and unbelief. In the Lord we have righteousness and strength. Lean upon Him; and through His power you may quench all the fiery darts of the adversary and come off more than conqueror. You may yet become sanctified through the truth; or you may, if you choose, walk in the darkness of unbelief, lose heaven, and lose all. By walking in the light and working out the will of God, you may overcome your selfish nature. {4T 213.3}[3]
§9
你向来乐于奉献钱财，却留下了自己。你没有感到需要作出会涉及操心和甘愿为基督做任何工作的牺牲，无论那工作多么卑微。上帝会再三把你带到这个境地，直到你以谦卑的心和折服了的心意经受住祂所造成的考验，得以完全成圣，从事祂的服务和工作。这样你就会赢得不朽的生命。你可以在基督耶稣里充分地长大成人，否则你就会成为属灵的侏儒，没有取得任何胜利。我的弟兄啊，你要选择哪一个呢？你要过舍己和自我牺牲的生活，高兴喜乐地做自己的工作，完善基督徒的品格，为不朽的奖赏奋力前进呢？还是要为自己生活而失去天国呢？上帝是轻慢不得的；基督不接受分心的侍奉。祂要的是全部。保留任何东西都是不行的。祂已用无限的代价买了你，祂要你把一切都作为乐意的供物交给祂。你若在内心和生活上完全献身于祂，信心就会取代疑惑，信任就会取代不信任和不信。{4T 214.1}[4]
§10
You have been ready to give of your means, but have withheld yourself. You have not felt called upon to make sacrifices which would involve care; you have not had a willingness to do any work for Christ, be it ever so humble. God will bring you over the ground again and again until with humble heart and subdued mind you bear the test that He inflicts and are wholly sanctified to His service and work. Then you may win immortal life. You may be a fully developed man in Christ Jesus, or you may be a spiritual dwarf, gaining no victories. My brother, which will you choose? Will you live a life of self-denial and self-sacrifice, doing your work with cheerfulness and joy, perfecting Christian character, and pressing on for the immortal reward? or will you live for yourself and lose heaven? God will not be trifled with; Christ accepts no divided service. He asks for all. It will not do to withhold anything. He has purchased you with an infinite price, and He requires that all you have shall be yielded to Him a willing offering. If you are fully consecrated to Him in heart and life, faith will take the place of doubts, and confidence the place of distrust and unbelief. {4T 214.1}[4]
§11
我的弟兄啊，你因疏忽在自己的生活和家庭中更加严格地实行健康改良而处在确实的危险中。你的血液不洁，却仍在藉着满足口味败坏它，使它发炎。不要受蒙骗养成服用兴奋剂的习惯，因为这不但会导致体力的反作用和损失，而且会使智力麻木。在饮食上养成严格节制的习惯，加之坚定地倚靠上帝，会改善你身体、心智和道德的健康状态。你有非常容易兴奋的性情。你没有多少自制，在兴奋之下常常会说出和做出过后会后悔的事。你应当叫坚决的意志帮助你反对你自己的倾向和习性。你必须保持你心灵的通道敞开接受亮光和真理。但是当有某种事情发生要试验和验证你时，偏见往往就会进来，你便立刻反对你认为是限制你自由或侵害你权利的事。{4T 214.2}[5]
§12
My brother, you are in positive danger through neglecting to carry out health reform more strictly in your own life and in your family. Your blood is impure, and you are still corrupting and inflaming it by the gratification of taste. Never be betrayed into indulging in the use of stimulants; for this will result not only in reaction and loss of physical strength, but in a benumbed intellect. Strictly temperate habits in eating and drinking, with firm trust in God, will improve your physical, mental, and moral health. You are of a highly excitable temperament. You have but little self-control and under excitement frequently say and do things which you afterward regret. You should call a determined will to your aid in the warfare against your own inclinations and propensities. You need to keep the avenues of your soul open to the reception of light and truth. But when something occurs to test and prove you, prejudice frequently comes in, and you rise at once against what you deem a restriction of your liberty or an infringement upon your rights. {4T 214.2}[5]
§13
上帝的道清楚地把这个真理摆在我们面前：我们身体的本性会与属灵的争战。使徒告诫我们要禁戒肉体的私欲，这私欲是与灵魂争战的（彼前2:11）。每一种变态食欲都成了一种争战的私欲。食欲得到放纵以致伤害了体力，便引起心灵的疾病。使徒提到的私欲不仅指违背第七条诫命，也指对口味的每一次放纵，这削弱身体的活力，是一种争战的私欲。使徒宣布，凡希望取得特别的胜利，在公义上达到更高造诣的人，必须“诸事都有节制”（林前9:25）。我们若是希望得胜象基督得了胜一样，就必须在我们的餐桌上饮食有节制，也必须在其它每一个方面实行节制。上帝已赐给我们亮光，不是要我们冷淡待之，而是要作我们的指导和帮助。{4T 215.1}[6]
§14
The word of God plainly presents before us this truth, that our physical natures will be brought into warfare with the spiritual. The apostle charges us to abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul. Every perverted appetite becomes a warring lust. Appetite indulged to the injury of physical strength causes disease of the soul. The lust which the apostle mentions is not confined to the violation of the seventh commandment, but every indulgence of the taste which lessens physical vigor is a warring lust. The apostle declares that he who would gain special victories and make higher attainments in righteousness must be temperate in all things. Temperance in eating and drinking at our tables, as well as the exercise of temperance in every other respect, is essential if we would overcome as Christ overcame. God has given us light, not to be treated indifferently, but to be our guide and help. {4T 215.1}[6]
§15
你需要培养自制。你本应在年少时学会的这个功课你现在必须掌握。要训练你自己向自我死，使你的意愿顺从基督的心意。我亲爱的弟兄啊，你必须有一番深刻彻底的转变，否则你就会达不到永生。你在上帝圣工中的服务必须更加衷心，充分和彻底。你想要侍奉上帝的时候就侍奉，不想的时候就忽视，这样无法完善基督徒的品格。你的生活中必须发生一番明确的改变，你必须获得一种与你已经获得的任何经验都不同的经验，否则你的侍奉不会蒙上帝悦纳。{4T 215.2}[7]
§16
You need to cultivate self-control. The lesson you should have learned in your youth should be mastered now. Discipline yourself to die to self, to bring your will in subjection to the will of Christ. A deep and thorough conversion is essential, or you, my dear brother, will fail of eternal life. Your service in the cause of God must be more hearty, full, and thorough. You cannot perfect a Christian character by serving God when you feel inclined to do so and neglecting it when you please. A decided change must take place in your life, and you must obtain a different experience from any you have yet had, or your service will not be accepted of God. {4T 215.2}[7]
§17
我们的天父一直对你非常仁厚。祂温和体贴地对待了你。疾病曾临到你身上，那时你还没准备好去世，因为你还没有完善基督徒的品格，在道德上不适合天国。撒但站在你旁边，要使你受苦和毁灭你，好使你被列在罪犯之中。热切而有功效的祷告曾为你献上，天使们奉差来守候你，警戒保护你脱离撒但的权势，保存你的性命。上帝已本着祂无比的爱给了你另一次考验。不是因为你有什么良善或美德，而是因为祂的怜悯，祂应允了出于信心的祈祷。你的宽容时期得到了延长，使你可以有机会挽回过去，克服你品格中的缺点，在你的生活中表明对上帝的献身，就是祂所要求于你的。你有了感恩之情，但你没有经历本应被祂无与伦比的爱燃起的那种衷心的感谢与合宜的谦卑。{4T 215.3}[8]
§18
Our heavenly Father has been very gracious to you. He has dealt tenderly with you. Sickness and disease came upon you when you were unprepared to die, for you had not perfected a Christian character and had not a moral fitness for heaven. Satan stood by your side to afflict and destroy, that you might be numbered with the transgressors. Fervent and effectual prayer prevailed in your behalf. Angels were sent to wait and watch about you, to guard and protect you from Satans power and preserve your life. God has, in His matchless love, granted you another trial. Not because of any goodness or virtue in you but, because of His mercy, He has answered the prayers of faith. Your probation has been lengthened that you may have an opportunity to redeem the past, overcome the defects in your character, and show in your life that devotion to God which He claims from you. You have had emotions of gratitude, but you have not experienced that heartfelt thankfulness and becoming humility that should have been kindled by His unsurpassed love. {4T 215.3}[8]
§19
虽然上帝存留了你的性命，你却没有充分感受自己对祂的责任。你因自己不高兴的原因，再三为自己开脱，不履行我们无论何时何地都负有的宗教责任。灰心的感觉无法在上帝面前为疏忽一项职责开脱。你不是自己的人；而是用基督的血买来的。祂要求你一切行事的能力，你的光阴和力量都不是你自己的。{4T 216.1}[9]
§20
You have not sufficiently felt your obligations to God for sparing your life. You have, for pettish reasons of your own, excused yourself time and again from religious duties which devolve upon us at all times and under all circumstances. Feelings of discouragement are no apology before God for the neglect of a single duty. You are not your own; you have been purchased by the blood of Christ. He claims all that you are capable of doing; your time and strength are not your own. {4T 216.1}[9]
§21
上帝指出你可以受教在祂的圣工中起作用，但你的心智必须受培养和训练，好与上帝的计划和谐同工。你若愿意就可获得所需的经验；你曾有特权摆在面前，就是拒绝自己的倾向爱好，因为你的救主已经在祂的生活中给你树立了一个榜样。但你却没有置身于学习的立场，去学习你所能学习的一切，和对你来说必须学习的一切，以便在上帝的圣工成为一名正确的工人。在主能有效地使用你作祂的器具之前，你本身有些东西要改革。{4T 216.2}[10]
§22
God indicated that you could be educated to act a part in His cause, but it was necessary that your mind should be trained and disciplined to work in harmony with the plan of God. You could gain the required experience if you would; you had the privilege presented before you of denying your inclination, as your Saviour had given you an example in His life. But you have not placed yourself in a position to learn all that you could and all that it was important for you to learn in order to become a correct worker in the cause of God. There were some things to reform in yourself before the Lord could use you effectually as His instrument. {4T 216.2}[10]
§23
C弟兄，对你来说，离开你的农场是一个牺牲；你喜爱那里的生活。你来某地并非出于自愿。你对出版社的工作一无所知。但你决心尽力而为，你在许多方面做得也很好。但许多事出现，成了你路上的绊脚石。F弟兄的做法在许多方面都是错误的；但你没有保持自己对上帝的献身；你在精神上与他联合，没有自由站立；你在许多事上令上帝不悦，且使自己与祂隔绝。撒但在你身上得势；你的脚步几乎滑跌；当疾病阻碍你的路线时，你几乎走入不信。上帝本着大怜悯存留了你的性命，给了你新生。但你还没有完全降服于祂；你顽梗的意志一直没有折服软化；你需要新的转变。你很容易焦躁苦恼；奋起反抗任何自以为对你不利的事。只要有触及你骄傲的事，你的情绪就会火冒三丈。我亲爱的弟兄啊，这是完全错误的。这是你必须克服的，否则仇敌就会胜过你。{4T 216.3}[11]
§24
Brother C, it was a sacrifice for you to leave your farm; you enjoyed your life there. You did not come to ----- from choice. You had no knowledge of the work in connection with the publishing interest. But you were determined to do the best you could, and in many respects you have done well. But many things have arisen as stumbling blocks in your way. The course of Brother F was wrong in many respects; but you did not preserve your consecration to God; you united with him in spirit, and did not stand free; you displeased God in many things and separated your soul from Him. Satan was obtaining great power over you; your steps had well-nigh slipped; you were almost gone in unbelief, when sickness arrested your course. It was in great mercy that God spared you and gave you a new lease of life. But you have not made an entire surrender to Him; your stubborn will has not been subdued and softened; you need a new conversion. You have been easily fretted and annoyed; you have braced yourself to resist everything that you thought reflected upon you; your feelings have arisen like a flash when anything has touched your pride. Now, my dear brother, this is all wrong. This you must over come, or the enemy will gain the victory over you. {4T 216.3}[11]
§25
你心里感到不舒服，因为你不喜欢在某地工作。你回顾某某地，因为你的心在那里，而你的心在哪里，你的身子也应该在那里。上帝一直在试验你，检验你；你是怎样忍受试验的呢？你需要被刨平磨光，消除你品格的粗糙不平之处，使你变得精致，适合天国。对人的本性来说，要拒绝倾向爱好是多么困难啊；对人来说，要离弃讨人喜欢的属世吸引，并且藉着对他们救主和同胞的爱，拒绝自己的乐趣，以便更直接地参加上帝的服务，也是多么困难啊。{4T 217.1}[12]
§26
You have felt sick at heart because you did not love the work in -----. You have looked back toward -----, for your heart is there, and your body should be where your heart is. God has been testing and proving you; how have you borne the test? You needed to be planed and polished, to have the rough and jagged points of your character removed, that you might become refined for the kingdom of heaven. How hard it is for human nature to deny inclination; how hard for men to leave flattering worldly inducements and, through love of their Saviour and their fellow men, to deny their own pleasure in order to engage more directly in the service of God. {4T 217.1}[12]
§27
C弟兄，你没有用心尽性工作。你从未使之成为直接的个人兴趣，圣工对你来说是不合意的，否则你原会训练自己的心智更好地明白这工作；但你却在一定程度上避开了这工作；你没有密切参与圣工，熟悉它的各部门。{4T 217.2}[13]
§28
Brother C, you do not enter heart and soul into the work. You have never made it a direct personal interest, and it is not agreeable to you. Had you been so disposed you could have trained your mind to better understand the work; but you have, in a measure, held aloof from it; you have not connected yourself closely with it and tried to become familiar with its various branches. {4T 217.2}[13]
§29
你没有象应该的那样爱交际有礼貌，你冷淡不可亲的态度是令上帝不悦的。你容许自己的情绪轻易兴奋起来。没有一个受情绪控制和凭冲动而行的人可以适当地充任上帝圣工中的任何一个职位。你的心必须与上帝有更密切的联络，你必须本着同情和关心更密切地认同那些从事祂工作的人，否则你就对推进某地的圣工毫无用处。你太独立太排外；你需要柔化自己的性情，使之与别人的思想感情相似。你作为商人和基督徒，只要愿意降服自己的意志和道路归于主，就会为上帝的圣工做出非常有价值的服务。你需要因真理成圣，提高你的心智，超越每一个自私的兴趣和个人的考虑。{4T 218.1}[14]
§30
You are not as social and courteous as you should be, and your cold, unapproachable manner is not pleasing to God. You allow your feelings to be easily excited. No man can properly fill a position in connection with the work of God who is controlled by feeling and moves from impulse. Your mind must come in closer connection with God, and in sympathy and interest you must be more closely identified with those who are engaged in His work, or you can be of no use in advancing the cause in -----. You are too independent and exclusive; you need to soften and assimilate your disposition to the mind and feelings of others. You can, as a businessman and as a Christian, do much valuable service for the cause of God if you will only surrender your will and your way to the Lord. You need to be sanctified by the truth, having your mind elevated above every personal consideration and every selfish interest. {4T 218.1}[14]
§31
我向你指出耶稣的生活为一个完美的模范。祂的生活是以无私的仁爱心为特征的。宝贵的救主！祂为我们付出了何等大的牺牲，好使我们不至灭亡，反得永生啊！我们若是放弃每一个自私的利益去得到天国，天国还是会够便宜了。我们难道担得起偏行己路，脱离上帝的手，因为这更合我们本性的心意吗？上帝要求完全的降服和完全的顺从。永生对我们来说值得付出一切。你若努力进窄门，就可与上帝有更密切的关系。{4T 218.2}[15]
§32
I point you to the life of Jesus as a perfect pattern. His life was characterized by disinterested benevolence. Precious Saviour! What sacrifices has He made for us that we should not perish, but have everlasting life! Heaven will be cheap enough if we resign every selfish interest to obtain it. Can we afford to have our own way, and take ourselves out of the hands of God, because it is more pleasing to the natural heart? God requires perfect submission and perfect obedience. Eternal life is worth everything to us. You may come in close connection with God if you will agonize to enter in at the strait gate. {4T 218.2}[15]
§33
你决不会知道自己的缺陷，除非你被带到这些缺陷会藉着环境显露出来的地方。你自从来到某地以后，一直没有应有的感觉。你没有自由而衷心地参加工作，使之成为你首要的兴趣。你怀存了一种独立的精神，你若认识到自己真实的位置，就不能怀有这种精神，因为你是一名学徒，正在学习如何以最好的方式为兴旺上帝的圣工而工作；你是一个学生，谋求获得你所不熟悉的知识。要是你认真努力侍奉上帝，作一个能干的工人，你原可取得更大的进步。{4T 218.3}[16]
§34
You could never be aware of your deficiencies unless you were brought where these deficiencies were developed by circumstances. You have not felt as you should since you have come to -----. You have not entered freely and heartily into the work and made it your chief interest. You have cherished an independence that could not be maintained if you realized your true position--that you are an apprentice, learning how to work in the very best manner for the prosperity of Gods cause; that you are a scholar, seeking to obtain knowledge concerning that with which you are unacquainted. You could have made much greater progress had you earnestly tried to serve God as an efficient worker. {4T 218.3}[16]
§35
你一直太过拘谨了。你没有与圣工各部门的人建立密切的关系；你也没有照着所应该的与他们亲密磋商，好聪明地行事。要是你这么做了，你原可成为更能干的助手。你太多照自己的判断行事，实行自己的想法和计划。工人们之间一直缺少和谐的关系。那些原可帮助你的人，一直不愿把他们的知识传给你，因为你缺乏亲密，也因为你太多凭冲动和感觉行事，以致他们不敢接近你。{4T 219.1}[17]
§36
You have been too reserved. You have not come into close relation with men engaged in the different departments of the work; you have not consulted with them as familiarly as you should to move understandingly. Had you done this you might have been a more efficient helper. You have moved too much according to your own judgment and carried out your own ideas and plans. There has been a lack of harmonious connection between the workers. Those who might have helped you have been reluctant to impart their knowledge to you on account of this lack of familiarity on your part, and also because you move so much from impulse and feeling that they have dreaded to approach you. {4T 219.1}[17]
§37
世界的救主是天使们所崇拜的，祂是天庭的君王；但祂撇下了自己的荣耀，以人性披覆了神性。祂成了柔和谦卑的耶稣。祂把自己的财富和荣耀留在了天上，并且成为了贫穷，好使我们藉着祂的贫穷，可以成为富足。三年之久祂旅行各地，作一个无家的流浪者。然而若是叫自私的人为基督的缘故撇下他们那点儿地上的财宝，或从事拯救祂为之舍了自己宝贵性命之人的工作，他们就会不满抱怨。这是何等的忘恩负义啊！没有一个人能领略救赎的福气，除非他感到自己能高兴地因为爱基督而作出任何牺牲。为基督作出的每一个牺牲都会使给予者更富足，为亲爱的救主忍受的每一痛苦缺乏都会增加得胜者在天国最终的喜乐。{4T 219.2}[18]
§38
The Saviour of the world was the adored of angels, He was a prince in the royal courts of heaven; but He laid aside His glory and clothed His divinity with humanity. He became the meek and lowly Jesus. He left His riches and glory in heaven and became poor that we, through His poverty, might be made rich. Three years He journeyed from place to place, a homeless wanderer. But selfish men will repine and murmur if called to leave their little earthly treasure for Christs sake, or to labor in the work of saving souls for whom He gave His precious life. Oh, what ingratitude! No one can appreciate the blessings of redemption unless he feels that he can joyfully afford to make any and every sacrifice for the love of Christ. Every sacrifice made for Christ enriches the giver, and every suffering and privation endured for His dear sake increases the overcomers final joy in heaven. {4T 219.2}[18]
§39
你对真正的牺牲和舍己知之甚少。你也没怎么经历过艰难困苦和殚精竭虑。你的负担向来很轻，而别人却被严重的责任压弯了腰。那个年轻人问耶稣他该做什么才可以承受永生，回答是：“遵守诫命”（太19:17）。他自信而骄傲地回答说：“这一切我都遵守了，还缺少什么呢”（太19:20）？耶稣怜悯地看着这个年轻人；祂爱他，且知道祂所说的话会使这个年轻人永远与祂分离。然而耶稣还是触及了他心灵的这个灾病，对他说：“去变卖你所有的，分给穷人，就必有财宝在天上；你还要来跟从我”（太19:21）。这个年经人想要天国，但却没有充分撤回他对地上财宝的情意。他不肯服从上帝的要求以便进入永生。他很忧愁；因为他的产业很多，他认为自己的产业太宝贵了，不可用来交换永生的奖赏。他曾问过必须做什么才能得救，也得到了答案；但他属世界的心不能牺牲他的财富去做基督的门徒。他决定放弃天国，紧紧依靠自己地上的财宝。那个决定确定了这个年轻人的命运，现在有多少人在做同样的决定呢？{4T 219.3}[19]
§40
You know but little of real sacrifice and genuine denial of self. You have had but little experience in hardships and taxation of your energies. Your burden has been light, while others have been loaded down with serious responsibilities. The young man who asked Jesus what he should do that he might have eternal life was answered: Keep the commandments. He confidently and proudly replied: All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? Jesus looked pityingly upon the young man; He loved him, and He knew the words He spoke would forever separate the youth from Himself. Nevertheless Jesus touched the plague spot of his soul. He said to him: Go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow Me. The young man wanted heaven, but not enough to withdraw his affections from his earthly treasure. He refused to yield to the conditions required by God in order to enter into life. He was very sorrowful; for he had great possessions, which he thought were too valuable to exchange for eternal rewards. He had asked what he must do to be saved, and the answer had been given; but his worldly heart could not make the sacrifice of his wealth to become Christs disciple. His decision was to give up heaven and to cling to his earthly treasure. How many are now making the very same decision which fixed the destiny of this young man? {4T 219.3}[19]
§41
我们任何一个人若有机会为基督做件事，就应多么急切地抓住机会，且以最大的热心竭尽所能与祂同工啊。考验我们信心的最严厉的试炼，看似上帝已经离弃了我们，原是要引我们与基督更亲近的，使我们可以把一切的重担都卸在祂脚前，并且经历祂要赐给我们作为交换的平安。你需要重新归正；你需要因真理成圣，在精神上变得象小孩子，柔和谦卑，完全依赖基督作你的救赎主。你的骄傲和独立正在关闭你的心门，不接纳上帝之灵蒙福的感化力，使你的心象踏硬的路面不易受感动。你还要学习信心的大功课。何时你完全降服于上帝，何时你全然跌碎在耶稣上，你就会得到胜利的奖赏，其喜乐是你还从未体验过的。当你以清晰的眼光回顾以往时，你就会看到正是在你看生活好像只是一团乱麻和一个重担时，耶稣自己却离你很近，力求引你进入光明。你的父就在你旁边，以说不出来的爱俯身向你，为你的益处使你受苦，就象精炼者在炼净宝贵的矿石。当你以为自己被离弃了的时候，祂就在你近旁要安慰你支持你。我们很少看到耶稣实际的样子，也从未准备好接受祂实际要给我们的帮助。{4T 220.1}[20]
§42
Have any of us an opportunity of doing something for Christ, how eagerly should we seize it and with the greatest earnestness do all we can to be co-workers with Him. The very trials that test our faith most severely, and make it seem that God has forsaken us, are designed to lead us more closely to Christ, that we may lay all our burdens at His feet and experience the peace He will give us in exchange. You need a new conversion; you need to be sanctified through the truth and to become in spirit like a little child, meek and humble, relying wholly upon Christ as your Redeemer. Your pride and independence are closing your heart to the blessed influences of the Spirit of God and rendering it as unimpressible as the hard-beaten highway. You have yet to learn the great lesson of faith. When you surrender yourself entirely to God, when you fall all broken upon Jesus, you will be rewarded by a victory the joy of which you have never yet experienced. As you review the past with a clear vision, you will see that at the very time when life seemed to you only a perplexity and a burden, Jesus Himself was near you, seeking to lead you into the light. Your Father was by your side, bending over you with unutterable love, afflicting you for your good, as the refiner purifies the precious ore. When you have thought yourself forsaken, He has been near you to comfort and sustain. We seldom view Jesus as He is, and are never so ready to receive His help as He is to help us. {4T 220.1}[20]
§43
当你以一颗感恩的心遵从上帝敞开的天意，决心无论生病还是健康，丰富或缺乏，都过单单注目上帝荣耀的生活时，你就会获得何等大的胜利啊。自我还活着，每次触及都颤抖。必须先将自我钉死，你才能奉耶稣的名得胜，领受忠心之人的奖赏。{4T 221.1}[21]
§44
What a victory you will gain when you learn to follow the opening providences of God with a grateful heart and a determination to live with an eye single to His glory, in sickness or health, in abundance or want. Self is alive and quivering at every touch. Self must be crucified before you can overcome in the name of Jesus and receive the reward of the faithful. {4T 221.1}[21]