第22章 上帝诫命的神圣性
§1
第22章 上帝诫命的神圣性
§2
Chap. 22 - Sacredness of Gods Commandments
§3
我非常尊敬的K弟兄：在1875年1月，我蒙指示看到在教会属灵兴盛的进程上有些阻碍。因为许多人的内心及生活不正直，上帝的灵便忧伤，他们所表白的信仰与他们的行为不符。耶和华圣洁的安息日，人并没有按着所应该的去遵守。每周总有人侵犯祂的神圣光阴的边缘，向上帝行劫。把应该专用于祈祷和默想的神圣光阴用来从事世俗的事业。{4T 247.1}[1]
§4
Much-respected Brother K: In January, 1875, I was shown that there are hindrances in the way of the spiritual prosperity of the church. The Spirit of God is grieved because many are not right in heart and life; their professed faith does not harmonize with their works. The sacred rest day of Jehovah is not observed as it should be. Every week God is robbed by some infringement upon the borders of His holy time; and the hours that should be devoted to prayer and meditation are given to worldly employments. {4T 247.1}[1]
§5
上帝赐诫命给我们，不单是要我们相信，也是要我们顺从。伟大的耶和华在安置了大地的根基，给全世界披上美丽的衣裳，使其上充满了与人有益的万物——创造了陆地海洋的种种奇观之后，便制定了安息日，且使这日为圣。上帝赐福给第七日，定为圣日，因祂在此日歇了一切创造的奇妙大工。安息日是为人设立的，上帝要人在此日停止操劳，正如祂自己在六日创造之后休息一样。{4T 247.2}[2]
§6
God has given us His commandments, not only to be believed in, but to be obeyed. The great Jehovah, when He had laid the foundations of the earth, had dressed the whole world in the garb of beauty, and had filled it with things useful to man,--when He had created all the wonders of the land and the sea,--instituted the Sabbath day and made it holy. God blessed and sanctified the seventh day, because He rested upon it from all His wondrous work of creation. The Sabbath was made for man, and God would have him put by his labor on that day, as He Himself rested after His six days work of creation. {4T 247.2}[2]
§7
凡尊敬耶和华诫命的人得了关于第四诫教训的亮光之后，就必毫无疑问地顺从，不问这种顺从是否可行或便利。上帝按自己的形像造人，然后又给人留下遵守第七日，即祂分别为圣并定为圣之日的榜样。祂定意要人在此日敬拜祂，而不从事任何世俗的业务。无论何人，在得了亮光，明白安息日的要求之后，若再忽视第四诫，他在上帝眼中必不算为无罪。{4T 247.3}[3]
§8
Those who reverence the commandments of Jehovah will, after light has been given them in reference to the fourth precept of the Decalogue, obey it without questioning the feasibility or convenience of such obedience. God made man in His own image and then gave him an example of observing the seventh day, which He sanctified and made holy. He designed that upon that day man should worship Him and engage in no secular pursuits. No one who disregards the fourth commandment, after becoming enlightened concerning the claims of the Sabbath, can be held guiltless in the sight of God. {4T 247.3}[3]
§9
K弟兄啊，你明知上帝要人遵守安息日，然而你的行为却与你所宣称的信仰不相符。在你干犯上帝律法的事上，你给人的影响是偏向于不信者的一边。当世俗的环境似乎是要你留心的时候，你便毫不在乎地干犯了第四条诫命。你把遵守上帝的律法当作一件方便的事，顺从与否，全以你的业务或倾向而定。这并不是敬重安息日为圣洁的制度。你采取这种粗心大意的做法，使上帝的灵担忧，羞辱了你的救赎主。{4T 247.4}[4]
§10
Brother K, you acknowledge the requirements of God to keep the Sabbath, but your works do not harmonize with your declared faith. You give your influence to the side of the unbeliever, insofar as you transgress the law of God. When your temporal circumstances seem to require attention, you violate the fourth commandment without compunction. You make the keeping of Gods law a matter of convenience, obeying or disobeying as your business or inclination indicates. This is not honoring the Sabbath as a sacred institution. You grieve the Spirit of God and dishonor your Redeemer by pursuing this reckless course. {4T 247.4}[4]
§11
只遵守安息日律法的一部分是不蒙主悦纳的，又会在罪人的脑中留下影响，比你不自称为守安息日的人给人的影响更坏。他们见到你的生活与你的信仰互相矛盾，便失去对基督教的信心了。主说什么就是什么，人不能弃置祂的命令而不受惩罚。亚当与夏娃在园中的鉴戒，应充分警告我们不去违背神圣的律法。我们始祖听从仇敌似是而非的试探而犯罪，招引罪孽与忧患到世上来，并使上帝的儿子离了天庭，到世上处于卑微的地位。祂受人羞辱与拒绝，且被祂来赐福的人钉在十字架上。那在伊甸园中的悖逆，使上天付出了何等无穷的代价！牺牲了天庭大君来拯救人免受犯罪的刑罚。{4T 248.1}[5]
§12
A partial observance of the Sabbath law is not accepted by the Lord and has a worse effect upon the minds of sinners than if you made no profession of being a Sabbathkeeper. They perceive that your life contradicts your belief, and lose faith in Christianity. The Lord means what He says, and man cannot set aside His commands with impunity. The example of Adam and Eve in the garden should sufficiently warn us against any disobedience of the divine law. The sin of our first parents in listening to the specious temptations of the enemy brought guilt and sorrow upon the world, and led the Son of God to leave the royal courts of heaven and take a humble place on earth. He was subjected to insult, rejection, and crucifixion by the very ones He came to bless. What infinite expense attended that disobedience in the Garden of Eden! The Majesty of heaven was sacrificed to save man from the penalty of his crime. {4T 248.1}[5]
§13
上帝在今日必如祂当初向亚当宣布判决时一样，不会轻忽任何干犯祂律法的事。世人的救主向那些疏忽和漠视上帝神圣诫命的人们扬声抗议。祂说：“所以无论何人废掉这诫命中最小的一条，又教训人这样作，他在天国要称为最小的；但无论何人遵行这诫命，又教训人遵行，他在天国要称为大的”（太5:19）。我们的生活所表现的教训，若不是全为真理，就必是反对真理。如果你的行为似乎使犯罪的人显得无罪，如果你的影响使人以破坏上帝诫命为小事；你就不单使自己有罪，同时也当在某种程度上，负责别人过失的结果。{4T 248.2}[6]
§14
God will not pass over any transgression of His law more lightly now than in the day when He pronounced judgment against Adam. The Saviour of the world raises His voice in protest against those who regard the divine commandments with carelessness and indifference. Said He: Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, He shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. The teaching of our lives is wholly for or against the truth. If your works seem to justify the transgressor in his sin, if your influence makes light of breaking the commandments of God, then you are not only guilty yourself, but you are to a certain extent responsible for the consequent errors of others. {4T 248.2}[6]
§15
在第四诫的开头，上帝说，“当记念，”祂知道世人在挂虑烦乱的千头万绪中，会受试探为自己开脱，不去满足律法的全部要求，或是在世俗业务的重压之下，会忘记律法的神圣重要性。“六日要劳碌作你一切的工”（出20:9），也就是为属世的利益或享乐而从事日常人生业务。这些话是非常明确，无容置疑的。K弟兄啊，你怎敢冒犯这极严肃而重要的诫命呢？难道上帝已给你例外的特权，使你可以免守这给予世人的律法吗？你的罪可以免记在记录册上吗？难道祂已同意在世上万国到祂面前受审之日要原谅你悖逆的罪吗？切莫片刻自欺，以为你的罪可免受刑罚。你的罪必遭杖责，因为你已得了亮光，却又偏行与亮光直接相反的道路。“仆人知道主人的意思，却不预备，又不顺祂的意思行，那仆人必多受责打”（路12:47）{4T 249.1}[7]
§16
At the very beginning of the fourth precept, God said, Remember, knowing that man, in the multitude of his cares and perplexities, would be tempted to excuse himself from meeting the full requirements of the law or, in the press of worldly business, would forget its sacred importance. Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work, the usual business of life, for worldly profit or pleasure. These words are very explicit; there can be no mistake. Brother K, how dare you venture to transgress a commandment so solemn and important? Has the Lord made an exception by which you are absolved from the law He has given to the world? Are your transgressions omitted from the book of record? Has He agreed to excuse your disobedience when the nations come before Him for judgment? Do not for a moment deceive yourself with the thought that your sin will not bring its merited punishment. Your transgressions will be visited with the rod, because you have had the light, yet have walked directly contrary to it. That servant, which knew his Lords will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to His will, shall be beaten with many stripes. {4T 249.1}[7]
§17
上帝已给人六天的光阴作自己的工，履行日常的人生职责，但祂只要求一天，将之分别并定为圣。祂赐这一天给人，使人可歇了一切操劳，专诚敬拜上帝，改善人的属灵状况。人竟敢窃夺耶和华所定为圣的日子，用于自私的意图，这真是何等强横的暴行啊！{4T 249.2}[8]
§18
God has given man six days in which to do his own work and carry on the usual business of life; but He claims one day, which He has set apart and sanctified. He gives it to man as a day in which he may rest from labor and devote himself to worship and the improvement of his spiritual condition. What a flagrant outrage it is for man to steal the one sanctified day of Jehovah and appropriate it to his own selfish purposes! {4T 249.2}[8]
§19
必死的世人竟敢与全能者讨价还价，以谋求自己属世的蝇头小利，这真是最恶劣的僭越。偶尔盗用安息日去从事世俗的事务，在干犯律法的严重性上，不亚于完全拒绝安息日；因为这种行为把上帝的诫命看作是随便的事。“我耶和华你的上帝是忌邪的上帝！”这话是雷轰震耳地发自西奈山！那位宣告说，我必追讨人的罪，“自父及子，直到三四代，爱我守我诫命的，我必向他们发慈爱，直到千代”的主，必不悦纳人部分的顺从，和分散的心意。抢劫邻居，不是小事，凡犯了这种罪的，必负大恶名；然而那不屑于欺诈同胞的人，却不以抢劫天父所赐福并划为特别用处的时间为耻。{4T 249.3}[9]
§20
It is the grossest presumption for mortal man to venture upon a compromise with the Almighty in order to secure his own petty, temporal interests. It is as ruthless a violation of the law to occasionally use the Sabbath for secular business as to entirely reject it; for it is making the Lords commandments a matter of convenience. I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, is thundered from Sinai. No partial obedience, no divided interest, is accepted by Him who declares that the iniquities of the fathers shall be visited upon the children to the third and fourth generation of them that hate Him, and that He will show mercy unto thousands of them that love Him and keep His commandments. It is not a small matter to rob a neighbor, and great is the stigma attached to one who is found guilty of such an act; yet he who would scorn to defraud his fellow man will without shame rob his heavenly Father of the time that He has blessed and set apart for a special purpose. {4T 249.3}[9]
§21
我亲爱的弟兄啊，你的行为与你所表白的信仰相左，而你惟一的苍白借口就是为了便利。在以往的时代，上帝的仆人们曾蒙召牺牲生命为其信仰作证。你的行为与那些宁可忍受饥渴，苦刑，死亡，而不肯放弃自己信仰及牺牲真理原则的基督教殉道者真是大相径庭了。{4T 250.1}[10]
§22
My dear brother, your works are at variance with your professed faith, and your only excuse is the poor plea of convenience. The servants of God in past times have been called upon to lay down their lives in vindication of their faith. Your course illy harmonizes with that of the Christian martyrs, who suffered hunger and thirst, torture and death, rather than renounce their religion or yield the principles of truth. {4T 250.1}[10]
§23
经上记着说：“我的弟兄们，若有人说，自己有信心，却没有行为，有什么益处呢？这信心能救他吗”（雅2:14）？你每一次在安息日动手操劳，实际上就是否认你的信仰。圣经上教训我们说，没有行为的信心是死的。一个人的生活所作的见证，向世人说明了他是否忠于其所表白的信仰。你的行为使你属世的朋友低估了上帝的律法的价值，就如同对他们说：“你们可以随意顺从或不顺从这诫命。我相信上帝的律法在某种意义上是约束人的；但主毕竟并不特别注意人是否严守其教训，偶尔地干犯一次，是不会遭受严重报应的。”{4T 250.2}[11]
§24
It is written: What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? Every time you put your hands to labor on the Sabbath day, you virtually deny your faith. The Holy Scriptures teach us that faith without works is dead, and that the testimony of ones life proclaims to the world whether or not he is true to the faith he professes. Your conduct lessens Gods law in the estimation of your worldly friends. It says to them: You may or may not obey the commandments. I believe that the law of God is, in a manner, binding upon men; but, after all, the Lord is not very particular as to a strict observance of its precepts, and an occasional transgression is not visited with severity on His part. {4T 250.2}[11]
§25
许多人由于看了你的榜样，就原谅自己干犯安息日的罪。他们辩称，如果象你这么良善的人，相信第七日为安息日，能在环境似乎有需要之时，在这日从事世俗的业务，他们自然也可以这样行，而不至于被定罪了。在审判的日子，许多人要面对你，以你的影响作为他们不顺从上帝律法的借口。虽然这种借口并不足以辩解他们的罪，但它对你将极其不利。{4T 250.3}[12]
§26
Many excuse themselves for violating the Sabbath by referring to your example. They argue that if so good a man, who believes the seventh day is the Sabbath, can engage in worldly employments on that day when circumstances seem to require it, surely they can do the same without condemnation. Many souls will face you in the judgment, making your influence an excuse for their disobedience of Gods law. Although this will be no apology for their sin, yet it will tell fearfully against you. {4T 250.3}[12]
§27
上帝已经发令，祂的意思就是要人必须顺从祂。祂不问此事对人是否便于进行。那生命与荣耀的主，并没有先考虑自己的便利或快乐，然后才离开自己身为最高统帅的地位，来成为一个常经忧患的人，多受痛苦，接受羞辱与死亡，救人摆脱悖逆的后果。耶稣的死，不是救人仍在罪中，而是救人脱离罪恶。人应当丢弃错行，效法基督的榜样，背起自己的十字架来跟从祂，克制自己，不惜任何代价去顺从上帝。{4T 250.4}[13]
§28
God has spoken, and He means that man shall obey. He does not inquire if it is convenient for him to do so. The Lord of life and glory did not consult His convenience or pleasure when He left His station of high command to become a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief, accepting ignominy and death in order to deliver man from the consequence of his disobedience. Jesus died, not to save man in his sins, but from his sins. Man is to leave the error of his ways, to follow the example of Christ, to take up his cross and follow Him, denying self, and obeying God at any cost. {4T 250.4}[13]
§29
耶稣说：“一个人不能事奉两个主；不是恶这个爱那个，就是重这个轻那个；你们不能又事奉上帝，又事奉玛门”（太6:24）。我们若真是上帝的仆人，就不会在心中疑问，到底是要顺从主的诫命还是要顾念自己今生暂时的利益。如果相信真理的人，在这比较平静的时日，没有接受自己信仰的支持，那么在大试炼来到，出令逼迫一切不肯拜兽像，不肯在手和额上受兽印记之人的时候，又有什么可以支持他们呢？这严峻的时期已经不远了。上帝的子民不应该软弱踌躇，而当集中精力和勇气，应付艰难的时期。{4T 251.1}[14]
§30
Said Jesus: No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. If we are true servants of God, there should be no question in our minds as to whether we will obey His commandments or consult our own temporal interests. If the believers in the truth are not sustained by their faith in these comparatively peaceful days, what will uphold them when the grand test comes and the decree goes forth against all those who will not worship the image of the beast and receive his mark in their foreheads or in their hands? This solemn period is not far off. Instead of becoming weak and irresolute, the people of God should be gathering strength and courage for the time of trouble. {4T 251.1}[14]
§31
我们伟大的榜样耶稣，藉着祂的生和死，教导人最严格的顺从。祂的死，是义的为不义的死，是无辜的为有罪的死，好使上帝律法的尊严仍得保留，而人类又不至全然灭亡。违背律法就是罪。如果说亚当的罪，引起了这种无可言喻的悲惨，需要牺牲上帝的爱子，那么，那些得见真理之光而又蔑视主第四诫的人，将要受什么刑罚呢？{4T 251.2}[15]
§32
Jesus, our great Exemplar, in His life and death taught the strictest obedience. He died, the just for the unjust, the innocent for the guilty, that the honor of Gods law might be preserved and yet man not utterly perish. Sin is the transgression of the law. If the sin of Adam brought such inexpressible wretchedness, requiring the sacrifice of Gods dear Son, what will be the punishment of those, who, seeing the light of truth, set at nought the fourth commandment of the Lord? {4T 251.2}[15]
§33
无论何人，不能以环境为借口，在安息日为世俗的利益作工。上帝若原谅一人，也可原谅众人了。穷困的L弟兄为何不能在安息日作工谋生，以便更能赡养家庭呢？别的弟兄，或是我们大家，为何不能只在方便的时候去守安息日呢？那从西奈山发出的声音回答道：“六日要劳碌作你一切的工；但第七日是向耶和华你上帝当守的安息日”（出20:9-10）。{4T 251.3}[16]
§34
Circumstances will not justify anyone in working upon the Sabbath for the sake of worldly profit. If God excuses one man, He may excuse all. Why may not Brother L, who is a poor man, work upon the Sabbath to earn means for a livelihood when he might by so doing be better able to support his family? Why may not other brethren, or all of us, keep the Sabbath only when it is convenient to do so? The voice from Sinai makes answer: Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work: but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God. {4T 251.3}[16]
§35
信仰真理之人的错行使教会大为软弱。他们是罪人路上的绊脚石，阻止他们来就亮光。弟兄啊，上帝呼召你出来，完全站在祂的一边，并让你的行为显明你注重祂的诫命，不干犯安息日。祂吩咐你觉悟到自己的本分，忠于授与你的责任。这些严肃的话是向你说的：“你若在安息日掉转你的脚步，在我圣日不以操作为喜乐，称安息日为可喜乐的，称耶和华的圣日为可尊重的；而且尊敬之日，不办自己的私事，不随自己的私意，不说自己的私话，你就以耶和华为乐；耶和华要使你乘驾地的高处；又以你祖雅各的产业养育你；这是耶和华亲口说的”（赛58:13-14）。{4T 252.1}[17]
§36
Wrongs perpetrated by believers in the truth bring great weakness upon the church. They are stumbling blocks in the way of sinners and prevent them from coming to the light. Brother, God calls you to come out fully upon His side and let your works show that you regard His precepts and keep inviolate the Sabbath. He bids you wake up to your duty and be true to the responsibilities that devolve upon you. These solemn words are addressed to you: If thou turn away thy foot from the Sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on My holy day; and call the Sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honorable; and shalt honor Him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words: then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it. {4T 252.1}[17]
§37
你正象我们许多的弟兄一样，受干犯上帝律法之人的缠累，按他们的眼光去观察事物，陷在他们的错误里。上帝将要审判那些自称事奉祂，而实际上却是事奉玛门的人。凡为自身利益而忽视主的明确命令的人，正是向自己身上堆积未来的祸患。某地的教会，应当精密查究，是否已经象犹太人一样，把上帝的殿当作买卖的地方。基督说过：“经上记着说：我的殿必称为祷告的殿；你们倒使它成为贼窝了”（太21:13）。{4T 252.2}[18]
§38
Like many of our brethren, you are becoming entangled with the transgressors of Gods law, viewing matters in their light and falling into their errors. God will visit with His judgments those who are professedly serving Him, yet really serving mammon. Those who disregard the Lords express injunction for their personal advantage are heaping future woe upon themselves. The church in ----- should inquire closely if they have not, like the Jews, made the temple of God a place of merchandise. Christ said: It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves. {4T 252.2}[18]
§39
在我们的人中，不是有许多人正陷于牺牲信仰以图世利，保守敬虔的外貌，而又专心于暂时事业的罪中吗？我们应当将上帝的律法放在首位，在精神与字句上都顺从不渝。如果这从圣山上，在可畏庄严之中所宣布的上帝的话被人轻视，那么，祂圣灵的证言又将如何被人接受呢？人心若是这样黑暗，认不清上帝亲授之诫命的权威，那么，他们从上帝所选以教训其子民的软弱工具上，所能得的助益也就很少了。{4T 252.3}[19]
§40
Are not many of our people falling into the sin of sacrificing their religion for the sake of worldly gain; preserving a form of piety, yet giving all the mind to temporal pursuits? Gods law must be considered first of all and obeyed in spirit and in letter. If Gods word, spoken in awful solemnity from the holy mountain, is lightly regarded, how will the Testimonies of His Spirit be received? Minds that are so darkened as not to recognize the authority of the Lords commandments given directly to man can receive little good from a feeble instrument whom He has chosen to instruct His people. {4T 252.3}[19]
§41
你不能以年龄为借口，而不顺从上帝神圣的诫命。亚伯拉罕在年纪老迈时经受了那种惨重的试炼。对这个年老体衰的人，主的命令似乎是惊人而无理的，但他却毫不疑问其是否公正，或犹豫而不顺从。他原可以向上帝祈求说，他已年老体弱，不堪牺牲那欢娱晚景的儿子。他也可以提醒主，这命令与祂先前所发的关乎这儿子的应许互相矛盾。然而亚伯拉罕却是顺从，而毫无异议或怨言。他是绝对信赖上帝的。{4T 253.1}[20]
§42
Your age does not excuse you from obeying the divine commands. Abraham was sorely tested in his old age. The words of the Lord seemed terrible and uncalled-for to the stricken old man, yet he never questioned their justice or hesitated in his obedience. He might have pleaded that he was old and feeble, and could not sacrifice the son who was the joy of his life. He might have reminded the Lord that this command conflicted with the promises that had been given in regard to this son. But the obedience of Abraham was without a murmur or a reproach. His trust in God was implicit. {4T 253.1}[20]
§43
亚伯拉罕的信心应作为我们的榜样。然而太少的人愿意耐心忍受那简单的试验，就是对危害人永恒幸福之罪的责备。太少的人虚心地接受责备，从中获益。上帝对我们的信心，服务和情感的要求，我们应当欣然回应。我们欠主的债是无穷的，因此对于祂最轻微的要求，也当毫不犹疑地履行。若要成为破坏诫命的人，并不需要蹂躏全部的道德法典。只要忽视其中的一条，我们就干犯了神圣的律法。但我们若要做真正遵守诫命的人，就当严格实行上帝吩咐我们的每一条要求。{4T 253.2}[21]
§44
The faith of Abraham should be our example, yet how few will patiently endure a simple test of reproof for the sins which imperil their eternal welfare. How few receive reproof with humility, and profit by it. Gods claim upon our faith, our services, our affections, should meet with a cheerful response. We are infinite debtors to the Lord and should unhesitatingly comply with the least of His requirements. In order to be a commandment breaker it is not necessary that we should trample upon the whole moral code. If one precept is disregarded, we are transgressors of the sacred law. But if we would be true commandment keepers we should strictly observe every requirement that God has enjoined upon us. {4T 253.2}[21]
§45
上帝让自己的儿子受死，以接受犯罪的惩罚；那么，对于那些在一切证据面前领受了真理的亮光，而又胆敢行在背逆之道上的人，祂将如何处置呢？在这件事上，人无权坚持自己的方便或需要。上帝必预备一切；祂既曾在溪边供养以利亚，以乌鸦为祂的使者，祂也必使祂忠心的子民不缺粮食。{4T 253.3}[22]
§46
God allowed His own Son to be put to death in order to answer the penalty of the transgression of the law; then how will He deal with those who, in the face of all this evidence, dare venture upon the path of disobedience, after having received the light of truth? Man has no right to urge his convenience or wants in this matter. God will provide; He who fed Elijah by the brook, making a raven His messenger, will not suffer His faithful ones to want for food. {4T 253.3}[22]
§47
救主质问那被穷寒所迫的门徒说，何必忧虑吃什么，穿什么。祂说：“你们看那天上的飞鸟，也不种，也不收，也不积蓄在仓里，你们的天父尚且养活他；你们不比飞鸟贵重得多吗”（太6:26）？祂又指着上帝的手所造、所着色的可爱的花朵说：“何必为衣裳忧虑呢？你想野地里的百合花，怎么长起来，它也不劳苦，也不纺线；然而我告诉你们，就是所罗门极荣华的时候，他所穿戴的，还不如这花一朵呢！你们这小信的人哪，野地里的草，今天还在，明天就丢在炉里，上帝还给它这样的装饰，何况你们呢”（太6:28-30）？{4T 254.1}[23]
§48
The Saviour asked His disciples, who were pressed with poverty, why they were anxious and troubled in regard to what they should eat or how they should be clothed. Said He: Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? He pointed to the lovely flowers, formed and tinted by a divine hand, saying: And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: and yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall He not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? {4T 254.1}[23]
§49
上帝子民的信心何在呢？他们为什么这样不相信不依靠那供应他们需要，并以自己的能力支持他们的主呢？上帝要考验祂子民的信心，祂要发出责备。如果他们仍不听从祂的警告，便有痛苦会临到。对于那些不再忠顺祂的人，祂将不顾任何代价，惊醒他们那致命的罪恶昏睡病，唤起他们觉悟自己的本分。{4T 254.2}[24]
§50
Where is the faith of Gods people? Why are they so unbelieving and distrustful of Him who provides for their wants and upholds them by His strength? The Lord will test the faith of His people; He will send rebukes, which will be followed by afflictions if these warnings are not heeded. He will break the fatal lethargy of sin at any cost to those who have departed from their allegiance to Him, and awaken them to their sense of duty. {4T 254.2}[24]
§51
我的弟兄啊，你的心应当苏醒，你的信心应当扩大。你久已用这样或那样的话作为不顺从的借口，以致你的良心渐归静息，不再向你提醒你的错误了。你久已随着自己的便利去守安息日，以致你的心不再在意你悖逆的行为了。然而这都是你咎由自取，你并不能逃避责任。你应当立即顺从神圣的诫命，依靠上帝。不要惹动祂的忿怒，免得祂以可怕的刑罚来报应你。在为时太晚之前，你应趁早转向祂，求祂赦免你的罪恶。你若本着谦卑的信心来到祂面前，祂是富有恩典怜悯的，必要将祂的平安和悦纳赐给你。{4T 254.3}[25]
§52
My brother, your soul must be quickened and your faith enlarged. You have so long excused yourself in your disobedience on one plea or another that your conscience has been lulled to rest and ceases to remind you of your errors. You have so long followed your own convenience in regard to keeping the Sabbath that your mind has been rendered unimpressible as to your course of disobedience; yet you are none the less responsible, for you have brought yourself into this condition. Begin at once to obey the divine commandments, and trust in God. Provoke not His wrath, lest He visit you with terrible punishment. Return to Him before it is too late, and find pardon for your transgressions. He is rich and abundant in mercies; He will give you His peace and approbation if you come to Him in humble faith. {4T 254.3}[25]