第33章 传道人的献身
§1
第33章 传道人的献身
§2
Chap. 33 - Consecration in Ministers
§3
三年前，上帝使我看到了过去、现在和将来的一些事。我看到年轻人在传讲真理，其中有些人在那时自己还没有接受真理。他们后来掌握了真理，并在努力引导别人归向真理。I弟兄，我蒙指示看到你的情况。你过去的生活并不能使你远离和超越自我。你生来是自私而且过于自信的，完全信赖自己的力量。这会妨碍你获得必要的经验，使你不能成为基督谦卑能干的工人。{4T 371.2}[1]
§4
Three years ago the Lord gave me a view of things past, present, and future. I saw young men preaching the truth, some of whom, at that time, had not yet received it themselves. They have since taken hold of the truth and are trying to lead others to it. I was shown your case, Brother I. Your past life has not been of a character to lead you away from and above yourself. You are naturally selfish and self-sufficient, having all confidence in your own strength. This will prevent you from acquiring the experience necessary to make you a humble, efficient minister of Christ. {4T 371.2}[1]
§5
园地中有许多人处于类似的状况。他们能介绍真理的理论，却缺乏真正的敬虔。如今在福音园地中工作的年轻人，包括你自己，若是能感到每天自省和与上帝交通的必要，就能从上帝领受话语传达给众人。你的言语和日常的生活，要么成为活的香气叫人活，要么成为死的香气叫人死。{4T 371.3}[2]
§6
There are many in the field who are in a similar condition. They can present the theory of the truth, but are wanting in true godliness. If the ministers now laboring in the gospel field, yourself included, felt the necessity of daily examination of self and daily communion with God, they would then be in a condition to receive the words from God to be given to the people. Your words and daily life will be a savor of life unto life or of death unto death. {4T 371.3}[2]
§7
你可能在理智上相信真理，但仍有工作摆在你面前，就是要使你人生的每一个行动和你内心的每一个情绪都与你的信仰相和谐。基督在受难前为祂门徒所做的祈祷是：“求祢用真理使他们成圣；祢的道就是真理”（约17:17）。真理的感化力应该不仅仅影响悟性，也要影响内心和生活。真正、实际的宗教会使其拥有者控制自己的感情。他外在的行为应该因真理而成圣。我在上帝面前向你着重宣告：你严重缺乏实际的虔诚。传道人不应擅自负起教导百姓的责任，模仿伟大的榜样基督，除非他们成为圣洁，献身于这伟大的工作，以便成为上帝群羊的榜样。一个不成圣的传道人能造成数不尽的损害。他既自称是基督的使者，他的榜样就会为人所效法；而他若缺乏基督徒真正的特性，他的过错和缺陷就会在效法他的人身上重现。{4T 371.4}[3]
§8
You may intelligently believe the truth, but the work is still before you to bring every action of your life and every emotion of your heart into harmony with your faith. The prayer of Christ for His disciples just prior to His crucifixion was: Sanctify them through Thy truth: Thy word is truth. The influence of the truth should affect not merely the understanding, but the heart and life. Genuine, practical religion will lead its possessor to control his affections. His external conduct should be sanctified through the truth. I assure you before God that you are seriously deficient in practical piety. Ministers should not assume the responsibility of teachers of the people, in imitation of Christ, the great Exemplar, unless they are sanctified to the great work, that they may be ensamples to the flock of God. An unsanctified minister can do incalculable harm. While professing to be the ambassador of Christ, his example will be copied by others; and if he lacks the true characteristics of a Christian, his faults and deficiencies will be reproduced in them. {4T 371.4}[3]
§9
人们或许能够流利地重述我们的书刊中已经透彻完全说明了的伟大真理；或许能热诚而聪明地说到各教会中宗教的衰退；或许能很精彩地在人前介绍福音的标准，但既需要行动又需要感觉的基督徒生活的日常义务，却被他们视为不属于更重要的事。这正是你的危险。实际的宗教对心思、意念和日常生活的要求是相同的。我们神圣的信心既不在于感觉也不仅仅在于行动，而是两者必须在基督化的生活中结合起来。实际的宗教若不依赖圣灵的运行就不存在。我的弟兄啊，你需要圣灵的运作。凡从事劝说犯罪的人认识自己沉沦状况的人都是这样。圣灵的运行并不排除我们运用自己的能力和才干，而是教导我们如何运用每一能力来荣耀上帝。人的能力若受上帝恩典的特别引导，就能用于世上最好的目的，且会用于不朽的来生。{4T 372.1}[4]
§10
Men may be able to repeat with fluency the great truths brought out with such thoroughness and perfection in our publications; they may talk fervently and intelligently of the decline of religion in the churches; they may present the gospel standard before the people in a very able manner, while the everyday duties of the Christian life, which require action as well as feeling, are regarded by them as not among the weightier matters. This is your danger. Practical religion asserts its claims alike over the heart, the mind, and the daily life. Our sacred faith does not consist either in feeling or in action merely, but the two must be combined in the Christian life. Practical religion does not exist independent of the operation of the Holy Spirit. You need this agency, my brother, and so do all who enter upon the work of laboring to convince transgressors of their lost condition. This agency of the Spirit of God does not remove from us the necessity of exercising our faculties and talents, but teaches us how to use every power to the glory of God. The human faculties, when under the special direction of the grace of God, are capable of being used to the best purpose on earth, and will be exercised in the future, immortal life. {4T 372.1}[4]
§11
我的弟兄啊，我蒙指示看到你若愿意完全成圣献身于圣工，就能成为一位很成功的教师，但你若不这样献身，就会成为一个很差的工人。你不会象世界的救赎主那样接受仆人的地位，就是福音传道人的本分中最艰苦的部分；在这一点上许多人和你一样是不足的。他们领了工资，却几乎想也不想自己是尽力侍奉自己还是侍奉圣工，是将自己的光阴和才干全部献给了上帝的工作，还是只在讲台上说说，却将自己的光阴投入在了自己的利益、爱好或乐趣上。{4T 372.2}[5]
§12
My brother, I have been shown that you could make a very successful teacher if you would become thoroughly sanctified to the work, but that you would be a very poor laborer if not thus consecrated. You will not, as did the worlds Redeemer, accept the servants capacity, the laborious part of the gospel preachers duty; and in this particular there are many as deficient as yourself. They accept their wages with scarcely a thought as to whether they have done most to serve themselves or the cause, whether they have given their time and talents entirely to the work of God, or whether they have only spoken in the desk and devoted the balance of their time to their own interests, inclination, or pleasure. {4T 372.2}[5]
§13
天上的君王基督撇下了祂的王袍，来到了这个被咒诅损伤得面目全非的世界，要教导人们如何过舍己和自我牺牲的生活，如何在日常的生活中实行实际的宗教。祂来要给出福音传道人的正确榜样。祂不断为一个目标工作；祂一切的能力都用来救人，祂人生的每一个行动都趋向那个目标。祂徒步旅行，边走边教导跟随祂的人。祂的衣服满是灰尘，风尘仆仆，祂的外表并不动人。但从祂神圣的嘴唇说出的简明率直的真理不久就使祂的听众忘了祂的外表，并且被吸引住了，不是因这个人而着迷，而是因祂所教导的道理。祂白天整日教导人，晚上常常用来祷告。祂大声哀哭，流泪祷告，恳求祂的父。祂祷告不是为自己，而是为那些祂来要救赎的人。{4T 373.1}[6]
§14
Christ, the Majesty of heaven, laid aside His robes of royalty and came to this world, all seared and marred by the curse, to teach men how to live a life of self-denial and self-sacrifice, and how to carry out practical religion in their daily lives. He came to give a correct example of a gospel minister. He labored constantly for one object; all His powers were employed for the salvation of men, and every act of His life tended to that end. He traveled on foot, teaching His followers as He went. His garments were dusty and travel-stained, and His appearance was uninviting. But the simple, pointed truths which fell from His divine lips soon caused His hearers to forget His appearance, and to be charmed, not with the man, but with the doctrine He taught. After teaching throughout the entire day, He frequently devoted the night to prayer. He made His supplications to His Father with strong crying and tears. He prayed, not for Himself, but for those whom He came to redeem. {4T 373.1}[6]
§15
很少有传道人像我们的救主那样整夜祷告，或在白天花上数小时祈求使他们成为能干的福音传道人，有效地使人们看到真理的荣美并且藉着基督的功劳得救。但以理一日三次祷告，但许多作出最高尚信仰表白的人，却甚至没有一日一次通过祷告在上帝面前谦卑己心。亲爱的救主耶稣曾给众人，尤其是给传福音的传道人，一些明显的关于谦卑的教训。当祂负屈受辱，在世工作将完，快要回到祂父的宝座前，也就是祂所来之处，手掌一切权能，头披一切荣耀之时，祂最后给门徒的教训中，就有一条论到谦卑的重要性。那时众门徒正在彼此相争，谁要在所应许之国中为最大，祂却亲自束腰作仆人，洗濯那些称祂为主为夫子者的脚。{4T 373.2}[7]
§16
Few ministers pray all night, as did our Saviour, or devote hours in the day to prayer that they may be able ministers of the gospel and effectual in bringing men to see the beauties of the truth and to be saved through the merits of Christ. Daniel prayed three times a day, but many who make the most exalted profession do not humble their souls before God in prayer even once a day. Jesus, the dear Saviour, has given marked lessons in humility to all, but especially to the gospel minister. In His humiliation, when His work upon earth was nearly finished and He was about to return to His Fathers throne whence He had come, with all power in His hands and all glory upon His head, among His last lessons to His disciples was one upon the importance of humility. While His disciples were contending as to who should be greatest in the promised kingdom, He girded Himself as a servant and washed the feet of those who called Him Lord and Master. {4T 373.2}[7]
§17
祂的使命即将完成；但祂还有一些教训要传授给他们。为了使他们永不忘记那纯洁无疵的上帝羔羊的谦卑，那伟大而有效的代人牺牲者就降卑自己，去洗门徒们的脚。常常温习我们救赎主生活的最后画面，对于你们，尤其对于我们一般的传道人是有益的。我们从祂在尘世所受的各种试探上，可得许多对于我们极其重要的教训。我们最好每天用一小时的工夫来默想基督一生的事迹，从马槽到髑髅地，一一加以研究，用想像力积极把握住每一幅画面，尤其是我们救赎主临终的那些大事。我们如此思考祂的教训、苦难和祂为救赎人类而作的无穷牺牲，我们的信心就必更加坚定，爱心就必振发起来，并更深地为支持我们救主的精神所感染。我们若愿最终得救，就必须在十字架下学习痛悔与信心的教训。基督忍受屈辱，来救我们脱离永远的耻辱。为了保护我们，祂宁遭讥诮，戏弄和凌辱。我们的罪过使阴云黑雾罩住祂神圣的心灵，迫祂发声喊叫，如同一个被上帝击打厌弃的人一样。祂承担我们的忧患，并为我们的罪孽忧伤。祂献上自己为赎罪祭，使我们藉着祂可以在上帝面前称义。人身上一切高尚慷慨的机能，都会因默想十字架上的基督而作出回应。{4T 374.1}[8]
§18
His ministry was nearly completed; He had only a few more lessons to impart. And that they might never forget the humility of the pure and spotless Lamb of God, the great and efficacious Sacrifice for man humbled Himself to wash the feet of His disciples. It will do you good, and our ministers generally, to frequently review the closing scenes in the life of our Redeemer. Here, beset with temptations as He was, we may all learn lessons of the utmost importance to us. It would be well to spend a thoughtful hour each day reviewing the life of Christ from the manger to Calvary. We should take it point by point and let the imagination vividly grasp each scene, especially the closing ones of His earthly life. By thus contemplating His teachings and sufferings, and the infinite sacrifice made by Him for the redemption of the race, we may strengthen our faith, quicken our love, and become more deeply imbued with the spirit which sustained our Saviour. If we would be saved at last we must all learn the lesson of penitence and faith at the foot of the cross. Christ suffered humiliation to save us from everlasting disgrace. He consented to have scorn, mockery, and abuse fall upon Him in order to shield us. It was our transgression that gathered the veil of darkness about His divine soul and extorted the cry from Him, as of one smitten and forsaken of God. He bore our sorrows; He was put to grief for our sins. He made Himself an offering for sin, that we might be justified before God through Him. Everything noble and generous in man will respond to the contemplation of Christ upon the cross. {4T 374.1}[8]
§19
我渴望见到我们的传道人多多思考基督的十字架，同时，他们的心被救主无比的爱，就是促使祂作出无限牺牲的爱所软化所降服。如果我们的传道人有了真理的理论，又多思考实际的敬虔，心灵受真理圣灵的感化而从事传道，我们就会见到许多人蜂拥到真理大旗之下；基督十字架的呼吁，祂为人类受难的无穷慷慨与怜悯，就会感化他们的心。这些重要的题目，与我们信仰的各要点结合起来，就会在众人身上发挥极好的效果。然而教师的心必须充满基督之爱的实际知识。{4T 374.2}[9]
§20
I long to see our ministers dwell more upon the cross of Christ, their own hearts, meanwhile, softened and subdued by the Saviours matchless love, which prompted that infinite sacrifice. If, in connection with the theory of the truth, our ministers would dwell more upon practical godliness, speaking from a heart imbued with the spirit of truth, we should see many more souls flocking to the standard of truth; their hearts would be touched by the pleadings of the cross of Christ, the infinite generosity and pity of Jesus in suffering for man. These vital subjects, in connection with the doctrinal points of our faith, would effect much good among the people. But the heart of the teacher must be filled with the experimental knowledge of the love of Christ. {4T 374.2}[9]
§21
十字架的有力论据，必使人感悟自己的罪。上帝对于罪人的神圣之爱，表现在祂将自己的独生子赐给人类，经受耻辱与死亡，为使人得到高升和永生上。这是人终身研究不尽的。我请你们重新研究基督的十字架。如果一切骄傲，虚荣，贪图人的称赞和渴望出人头地的人，能正确估计世间最高荣华的价值，并与那位遭受所要救赎的人拒绝，侮辱，唾弃的上帝儿子的价值进行比较，就会看出有限的人类所能给予的一切荣华，是多么微不足道了。{4T 375.1}[10]
§22
The mighty argument of the cross will convict of sin. The divine love of God for sinners, expressed in the gift of His Son to suffer shame and death that they might be ennobled and endowed with everlasting life, is the study of a lifetime. I ask you to study anew the cross of Christ. If all the proud and vainglorious, whose hearts are panting for the applause of men and for distinction above their fellows, could rightly estimate the value of the highest earthly glory in contrast with the value of the Son of God, rejected, despised, spit upon, by the very ones whom He came to redeem, how insignificant would appear all the honor that finite man can bestow. {4T 375.1}[10]
§23
亲爱的弟兄，你以自己不完全的造诣，竟觉得自己有资格胜任几乎任何职位。然而你还未能充分地控制你自己。你觉得有能力指挥有经验的人，其实你应该乐于受人领导且置身于学生的位置。你越少默想基督和祂无比的爱，越少与祂的形像相似，就越觉得自己好，越自信自满。你如果对基督有正确的认识，不断仰望为我们信心创始成终的主，就会明白什么是真基督徒的品格，以致你对照那伟大模范的生活和品格，就不会不正确估计自己的生活和品格。你就会看到自己软弱，无知，贪爱安逸，不愿舍己。{4T 375.2}[11]
§24
Dear brother, you feel, in your imperfect accomplishments, that you are qualified for almost any position. But you have not yet been found sufficient to control yourself. You feel competent to dictate to men of experience, when you should be willing to be led and to place yourself in the position of a learner. The less you meditate upon Christ and His matchless love and the less you are assimilated to His image, the better will you appear in your own eyes, and the more self-confidence and self-complacency will you possess. A correct knowledge of Christ, a constant looking unto the Author and Finisher of our faith, will give you such a view of the character of a true Christian that you cannot fail to make a right estimate of your own life and character in contrast with those of the great Exemplar. You will then see your own weakness, your ignorance, your love of ease, and your unwillingness to deny self. {4T 375.2}[11]
§25
你只不过才刚刚开始学习上帝的圣言。你捡起了真理的一些宝石，那是别人用许多辛苦的工作和祷告才挖掘出来的；但圣经充满了这样的宝石；要恳切研究圣经并使之成为你的人生准则。你的危险始终是轻视劝勉，并且高看自己过于上帝所看的。有许多人随时准备奉承赞美能言善讲的传道人。年轻的传道人总是有受到宠爱和称赞以致受损的危险，其实他可能缺乏上帝要求每一个自称为祂代言人的人必须拥有的素质。你仅仅是进入了基督的门下。你工作的准备是一生的事，每日费力地与积习、爱好和遗传的倾向肉搏。需要不断的、恳切的、警醒的努力，才能看守和控制自我，彰显基督而隐藏自我。{4T 376.1}[12]
§26
You have but just begun the study of Gods Holy Word. You have picked up some gems of truth, which, with much toil and many prayers, have been dug up by others; but the Bible is full of them; make that Book your earnest study and the rule of your life. Your danger will ever be in despising counsel and in placing a higher value on yourself than God places upon you. There are many who are always ready to flatter and praise a minister who can talk. A young minister is ever in danger of being petted and applauded to his own injury, while at the same time he may be deficient in the essentials which God requires of everyone who professes to be a mouthpiece for Him. You have merely entered the school of Christ. The fitting up for your work is a life business, a daily, laborious, hand-to-hand struggle with established habits, inclinations, and hereditary tendencies. It requires a constant, earnest, and vigilant effort to watch and control self, to keep Jesus prominent and self out of sight. {4T 376.1}[12]
§27
你必须注意自己品格中的弱点，抑制错误的倾向，加强和发展还没有适当运用的高贵才能。世人永远不会知道你心灵与上帝之间秘密进行的工作，也不知道你内在精神的痛苦，对自我的厌恶和不断要控制自我的努力；但许多世人却会赏识这些努力的结果。他们会看到基督显示在你每日的生活中。你会成为一封活的荐信，为众人所知道所念诵，也会拥有得到高贵发展的匀称的品格。{4T 376.2}[13]
§28
It is necessary for you to watch for the weak points in your character, to restrain wrong tendencies, and to strengthen and develop noble faculties that have not been properly exercised. The world will never know the work secretly going on between the soul and God, nor the inward bitterness of spirit, the self-loathing, and the constant efforts to control self; but many of the world will be able to appreciate the result of these efforts. They will see Christ revealed in your daily life. You will be a living epistle, known and read of all men, and will possess a symmetrical character, nobly developed. {4T 376.2}[13]
§29
基督说：“我心里柔和谦卑，你们当负我的轭，学我的样式，这样，你们心里就必得享安息”（太11:29）。祂会教导那些来到祂面前求知识的人。世上有众多的假教师。使徒宣布，在末后的日子，人们必“耳朵发痒，……增添好些师傅”（提后4:3），因为他们希望听柔和的话。对此基督已经警告我们：“你们要防备假先知。他们到你们这里来，外面披着羊皮，里面却是残暴的狼。凭着他们的果子，就可以认出他们来”（太7:15,16）。此处所描述的那等宗教教师自称是基督徒。他们有敬虔的外貌，看似在为生灵的益处效力，其实他们内心却是贪婪、自私、喜爱安逸、随从自己未成圣之心意的。他们与基督和祂的教训相冲突，没有祂柔和谦卑的精神。{4T 376.3}[14]
§30
Learn of Me, said Christ; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. He will instruct those who come to Him for knowledge. There are multitudes of false teachers in the world. The apostle declares that in the last days men will heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears, because they desire to hear smooth things. Against these Christ has warned us: Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheeps clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. The class of religious teachers here described profess to be Christians. They have the form of godliness and appear to be laboring for the good of souls, while they are at heart avaricious, selfish, ease-loving, following the promptings of their own unconsecrated hearts. They are in conflict with Christ and His teachings, and are destitute of His meek and lowly spirit. {4T 376.3}[14]
§31
传扬关乎末世神圣真理的人，必须反对这一切，并且藉着实际敬虔的生活，标明真假牧人之间的区别。那“好牧人”来要寻找和拯救失丧的人。祂已在自己的工作中表明了对祂羊群的爱。在牧长手下的牧人都会具有祂的特点；他们会心里柔和谦卑。孩子似的信心给心灵带来安息，也生发仁爱，总是关心别人。基督的灵如果住在他们里面，他们就会象基督一样并且做基督的工作。许多自称基督传道人的人已经弄错了自己的主人。他们自称在侍奉基督，却不知道自己正集结在撒但的旗下。他们可能有属世的聪明，热心于纷争和虚荣，炫耀自己在做伟大的工作；但上帝却用不着他们。促使行动的动机才使工作有了性质。尽管人们可能看不到这样的传道人有什么不足，但上帝却注意到了。{4T 377.1}[15]
§32
The preacher who bears the sacred truth for these last days must be the opposite of all this and, by his life of practical godliness, plainly mark the distinction existing between the false and the true shepherd. The Good Shepherd came to seek and to save that which was lost. He has manifested in His works His love for His sheep. All the shepherds who work under the Chief Shepherd will possess His characteristics; they will be meek and lowly of heart. Childlike faith brings rest to the soul and also works by love and is ever interested for others. If the Spirit of Christ dwells in them, they will be Christlike and do the works of Christ. Many who profess to be the ministers of Christ have mistaken their master. They claim to be serving Christ and are not aware that it is Satans banner under which they are rallying. They may be worldly wise and eager for strife and vainglory, making a show of doing a great work; but God has no use for them. The motives which prompt to action give character to the work. Although men may not discern the deficiency, God marks it. {4T 377.1}[15]
§33
真理的字句可能会使一些持有信心而最终得救的人信服；但把真理传给他们的自私的传道人，却不会因他们的悔改而得到上帝的好评。他会受审判，因为他虽不忠心，却自称是锡安城墙上的守望者。心中的骄傲是品格上可怕的弱点。“骄傲在败坏以先”（箴16:18）。这是真的，在家庭中如此，在教会，在国家中亦复如此。世界的救主在地上时，拣选了没有受过教育的平民，教导他们传达祂纯朴而美丽的真理给世人，特别是穷人。牧长会收聚属下的牧人归祂自己。祂无意让这些没有学问的人在从事自己的工作时仍然无知，而要让他们从祂领受知识，祂是一切知识、亮光和能力之源。{4T 377.2}[16]
§34
The letter of the truth may convince some souls who will take firm hold of the faith and be saved at last; but the selfish preacher who presented the truth to them will have no credit with God for their conversion. He will be judged for his unfaithfulness while professing to be a watchman on the walls of Zion. Pride of heart is a fearful trait of character. Pride goeth before destruction. This is true in the family, the church, and the nation. As when He was upon earth, the Saviour of the world is choosing plain, uneducated men and teaching them to carry His truth, beautiful in its simplicity, to the world and especially to the poor. The Chief Shepherd will collect the undershepherds with Himself. He does not design that these unlearned men should remain ignorant while pursuing their labor, but that they shall receive knowledge from Himself, the Source of all knowledge, light, and power. {4T 377.2}[16]
§35
正是因为缺乏圣灵和上帝的恩典，才使福音事工这么没有能力使人知罪和悔改。耶稣升天以后，博士、律法师、祭司、官长、文士和神学家们，惊讶地听见没有学问的小民讲出了智慧和有权柄的话。这些聪明人惊讶卑微门徒们的成就，最后解释说他们是跟过耶稣并且学了祂样式的。他们的品格和他们教训的朴实无华，与基督的品格和教训相似。使徒用以下的话描述了这件事：“上帝却拣选了世上愚拙的，叫有智慧的羞愧；又拣选了世上软弱的，叫那强壮的羞愧。上帝也拣选了世上卑贱的，被人厌恶的，以及那无有的，为要废掉那有的。使一切有血气的，在上帝面前一个也不能自夸”（林前1:27-29）。{4T 378.1}[17]
§36
It is the absence of the Holy Spirit and of the grace of God that makes the gospel ministry so powerless to convict and convert. After the ascension of Jesus, doctors, lawyers, priests, rulers, scribes, and theologians listened with astonishment to words of wisdom and power from unlearned and humble men. These wise men marveled at the success of the lowly disciples, and finally accounted for it to their own satisfaction from the fact that they had been with Jesus and learned of Him. Their character and the simplicity of their teachings were similar to the character and teachings of Christ. The apostle describes it in these words: God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; and base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: that no flesh should glory in His presence. {4T 378.1}[17]
§37
今天，那些宣讲不受人欢迎的真理的人，必须有从上面来的能力和他们的道理结合起来，否则，他们的努力就不会有什么价值。教会和传道工作，可悲地缺少谦卑的宝贵美德。传讲真理的人，过高估计了自己的才能。真正的谦卑，会使人高举基督和真理，并且认识到自己对真理之上帝的全然倚赖。学习谦卑的教训是痛苦的，然而最终却必然显得最有益处。伴随着学习谦卑的教训而来的痛苦，是由于我们曾经错误地估计了自己而得意洋洋，以致看不出自己的大需要。自大和骄傲充塞了人心，只有上帝的恩典才能使之发生改革。{4T 378.2}[18]
§38
Those who teach unpopular truth today must have power from on high to combine with their doctrine, or their efforts will be of little account. The precious grace of humility is sadly wanting in the ministry and the church. Men who preach the truth think too highly of their own abilities. True humility will lead a man to exalt Christ and the truth, and to realize his utter dependence upon the God of truth. It is painful to learn lessons of humility, yet nothing is more beneficial in the end. The pain attendant upon learning lessons of humility is in consequence of our being elated by a false estimate of ourselves, so that we are unable to see our great need. Vanity and pride fill the hearts of men. Gods grace alone can work a reformation. {4T 378.2}[18]
§39
我的弟兄啊，你的工作是降卑自己，而不要等着上帝把你降卑。上帝的手有时重重地加在人们身上，要使他们降卑，在祂面前处于适当的位置；然而人若时刻在上帝面前保持虚心该有多好啊！我们可以自我谦卑，或者使自己逐步骄傲起来，等待上帝把我们降卑。福音的传道人现今很少因真理的缘故受苦。他们若受到逼迫，象基督的使徒和后来属上帝的圣人们那样，就会紧紧靠近基督的身旁，而这种与救主更密切的联络，会使他们的话语在地上成为一种能力。基督曾是一个多受痛苦常经忧患的人。祂忍受了罪人的逼迫和顶撞；祂成了贫穷的，忍受了饥饿和疲劳；祂被魔鬼试探，祂的行为和教训也引起了最苦毒的仇恨。我们为基督的缘故舍了什么呢？我们对真理的献身在哪里呢？我们躲避不合意的事，避免操心和负责任的事。我们这么少献身于圣工时，岂能指望上帝的能力会与我们的努力同工呢？{4T 378.3}[19]
§40
It is your work, my brother, to humble yourself and not wait for God to humble you. Gods hand at times bears heavily upon men to humble them and bring them into a proper position before Him; but how much better it is to keep the heart daily humbled before God. We can abase ourselves, or we can build ourselves up in pride and wait till God abases us. Ministers of the gospel suffer little for the truths sake today. If they were persecuted, as were the apostles of Christ, and as were holy men of God in later times, there would be a pressing closer to the side of Christ, and this closer connection with the Saviour would make their words a power in the land. Christ was a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. He endured the persecutions and contradiction of sinners; He was poor, and suffered hunger and fatigue; He was tempted by the devil, and His works and teachings called forth the bitterest hatred. Of what do we deny ourselves for Christs sake? Where is our devotion to the truth? We shun the things which do not please us, and avoid care and responsibilities. Can we expect the power of God to work with our efforts when we have so little consecration to the work? {4T 378.3}[19]
§41
我的弟兄啊，我蒙指示看到你虔诚的标准并不高。你需要更深刻地意识到自己对上帝和社会的责任。然后你就不会对自己感到满意了，你也不会设法藉着指出别人的缺陷来为自己开脱了。你对真理还没有透彻的认识，不应松懈，而要努力使自己有资格教导别人。你需要新的转变，以便成为一个能干的、献身的福音传道人，一个虔诚而圣洁的人。你即使投入全部精力到上帝的圣工，也不会投入太多。我们任何一个人所能献上的，充其量不过是有残疾的供物。你若继续力求效法上帝，努力更深切地献身于祂，就会从亲自查考圣经收集到新的思想。{4T 379.1}[20]
§42
My brother, I was shown that your standard of piety is not high. You need to have a deeper sense of your responsibility to God and to society. Then you will not feel satisfied with yourself, nor will you try to excuse yourself by pointing to the deficiencies of others. You have not so thorough a knowledge of the truth that you should relax your efforts to qualify yourself to instruct others. You need to have a new conversion in order to become an able, devoted minister of the gospel, a man of piety and holiness. If you should devote all your energies to the cause of God, you would give none too much. It is a lame offering at best that any of us can make. If you are continually reaching out after God, and seeking a deeper consecration to Him, you will be gathering new ideas from searching the Scriptures for yourself. {4T 379.1}[20]
§43
为了明白真理，你必须训练培养自己的头脑，设法不断领受真正虔诚的美德。你现在几乎不知道这是什么。当基督在你心里的时候，你就会拥有比真理的理论更多一些的东西。你就会不仅重复基督在地上讲过的教训，而且会用自己舍己的生活和对上帝圣工的献身去教育别人。你的一生将成为一篇生动的讲章，比任何坐在书桌上写出来的讲章更为有力。{4T 379.2}[21]
§44
In order to comprehend the truth, you should discipline and train the mind, and seek continually to possess the graces of genuine piety. You scarcely know what this is now. When Christ is in you, you will have something more than a theory of the truth. You will not only be repeating the lessons Christ gave when upon the earth, but you will be educating others by your life of self-denial and devotion to the cause of God. Your life will be a living sermon, possessing greater power than any discourse given in the desk. {4T 379.2}[21]
§45
你需要在自己身上培养无私的精神、舍己的美德和纯洁的献身。这些都是你希望别人在生活上表现出来的。为了要在属灵的智慧上继续不断地增长，而且越来越有效率，你需要在摆在你道路上的较小职责上培养有用的习惯。你不能等候机会去做伟大的工作，而要抓住第一个机会，证明自己在小事上忠心。这样，你就会从一个岗位到另一个岗位，都得到信任。你往往认为自己在知识上没有缺乏，且会疏忽私下的祷告，警醒和仔细研究圣经，结果被仇敌胜过。你会看自己的作为完全，但实际上你可能绝对受了欺骗。你没有时间与众生之敌会谈。现在是采取你的立场和使仇敌失望的时候。你需要热心而严格的自我批评。你容易把自己的意见树立为标准，不顾上帝用来推进祂圣工的有经验之人的意见和判断。现在从事传道事工的年轻人没怎么体验过艰难困苦；许多人都不能照他们所能够的成为有用的人，原因正是让他们做的事情太容易了。{4T 380.1}[22]
§46
You need to cultivate in yourself that unselfish spirit, that self-denying grace and pure devotion, which you wish to see others carry out in their lives. In order to continually increase in spiritual intelligence, and to become more and more efficient, you need to cultivate habits of usefulness in the minor duties lying in your pathway. You must not wait for opportunities to do a great work, but seize the first chance to prove yourself faithful in that which is least, and you may thus work your way up from one position of trust to another. You will be apt to think you are not deficient in knowledge, and will be inclined to neglect secret prayer, watchfulness, and a careful study of the Scriptures, and will in consequence be overcome by the enemy. Your ways may appear perfect in your own eyes, while in reality you may be very defective. You have no time to parley with the adversary of souls. Now is the time to take your stand and disappoint the enemy. You need to criticize yourself closely and jealously. You will be inclined to set up your opinion as a standard, irrespective of the opinions and judgment of men of experience, whom God has used to advance His cause. Young men in the ministry now know but little of hardships; and many will fail of becoming as useful as they might, for the very reason that things are made too easy for them. {4T 380.1}[22]
§47
你有家庭责任，你以为自己明白这些责任，但按你所应该知道的，你对这些责任知道得很少。你引以为豪的许多事都要忘却。我蒙指示看到你收集了你已信以为真的观念，这些观念是与圣经截然相反的。保罗在他那个时代的年轻传道人中，也曾面对和应付这些事。你太乐于把人们的说法和立场接受为亮光，但是你要小心，不要提出自己的想法，当作是圣经的真理。要谨慎你的脚步。我曾盼望在你的生活中发生过一场改革，以致我永远不必蒙召写这些话。{4T 380.2}[23]
§48
You have responsibilities in your family which you think you understand, but you know little about them as you ought to know. You have many things to unlearn which you have prided yourself on knowing. I was shown that you had gathered up ideas that you take for verity and truth, which are directly opposed to the Bible. Paul had these things to meet and to contend with in young ministers of his day. You have been too ready to accept as light the sayings and positions of men, but be careful how you advance your ideas as Bible truth. Be careful of your steps. I had hoped that such a reformation had taken place in your life that I should never be called upon to write these words. {4T 380.2}[23]
§49
你在家中有义务要尽，你若规避，就不能忠于上帝和和你天赐的委托。我现在提到的事虽然没有蒙指示明确地在你的情形中看到，却在数百个类似的情形中看到过；所以我既看到你陷入了这世代许多父母正在陷入的错误，就不能原谅你疏忽职责。你有一个孩子，一个交托给你监护的灵魂。但你在训练这一个孩子上既显出如此明显的软弱和缺乏智慧，随从你自己的想法而不是圣经的准则，你又怎么能受托教导和管理关乎多人永恒利益的事呢？{4T 381.1}[24]
§50
You have a duty to do at home which you cannot shun and yet be true to God and to your God-given trust. That which I now refer to has not been shown me definitely in your case, but in hundreds of similar cases; therefore when I see you falling into the same error into which many parents in this age of the world are falling I cannot excuse your neglect of duty. You have one child, one soul committed to your trust. But when you show such manifest weakness and lack of wisdom in training this one child, following your ideas rather than the Bible rule, how can you be trusted to teach and manage matters where the eternal interests of many are involved? {4T 381.1}[24]
§51
我致信与你和你的妻子。我在上帝圣工中的位置要求我说明管教儿女的问题。你在自己家事上的榜样会给上帝的圣工造成大害。世界乃是福音的园地。你希望在园地中撒上福音真理的种子，等候上帝去浇灌所撒的种子，好使它能结出果子。你虽已受托照管一小片土地，但你在他人园中除草时，自己的庭院却被撇下，长出了荆棘和蒺藜。这不是一件小事，而是一项重大的工作。你既向别人传讲福音；就应当将之实行在自己家里。你纵容一个乖僻孩子的心血来潮和感情发泄，是在藉此培养上帝所憎恶的品格特性，也使这个孩子不快乐。撒但利用你的疏忽，控制了孩子的思想。你有一番工夫要下，好显明你明白基督徒父亲按照那神圣的模范塑造自己儿女品格的责任。要是你在女儿幼年时就开始了这项工作，现在就会容易得多了，孩子也会快乐得多。但在你的管教之下，孩子的意愿和刚愎任性一直在加强。现在需要更严格、更恒切坚决的努力，才能逆转你一直在做的。你若不能管好你特别有责任要约束的一个小孩子，就没有足够的智慧管理基督教会的属灵利益。{4T 381.2}[25]
§52
I address myself to both yourself and your wife. My position in the cause and work of God demands of me an expression in matters of discipline. Your example in your own domestic affairs will do a great injury to the cause of God. The gospel field is the world. You wish to sow the field with gospel truth, waiting for God to water the seed sown that it may bring forth fruit. You have entrusted to you a little plot of ground, but your own dooryard is left to grow up with brambles and thorns, while you are engaged in weeding others gardens. This is not a small work, but one of great moment. You are preaching the gospel to others; practice it yourself at home. You are indulging the whims and passions of a perverse child, and by so doing are cultivating traits of character which God hates and which make the child unhappy. Satan takes advantage of your neglect, and he controls the mind. You have a work to do to show that you understand the duties devolving upon a Christian father in molding the character of your child after the divine Pattern. Had you commenced this work in her infancy, it would be easy now, and the child would be far happier. But under your discipline the will and perversity of the child have all the while been strengthening. Now it will require greater severity, and more constant, persevering effort, to undo what you have been doing. If you cannot manage one little child that it is your special duty to control, you will be deficient in wisdom in managing the spiritual interests of the church of Christ. {4T 381.2}[25]
§53
你的经验中有根本性的错误必须根除，你必须成为基督门下的学生。要张开眼睛看到困难在哪里，然后赶快为这些事悔改，开始按正确的立场作工。不要靠着自我，而要靠着上帝工作。要抛弃骄傲、自高和虚荣，学习基督十字架美好的教训。你必须毫不保留地献身于圣工。作上帝坛上的一个活祭。{4T 382.1}[26]
§54
There are errors lying at the very foundation of your experience that must be rooted out, and you must become a learner in the school of Christ. Open your eyes to discern where the difficulty lies, and then make haste to repent of these things and begin to work from a correct standpoint. Labor not in self, but in God. Put away pride, self-exaltation, and vanity, and learn of Christ the sweet lessons of the cross. You must give yourself unreservedly to the work. Be a living sacrifice upon the altar of God. {4T 382.1}[26]
§55
传道人的孩子若表现出激烈的情绪，沉湎于情欲的一切要求，便会对上帝赐给我关于父母适当管教儿女的证言产生抵制的影响。你正在走与上帝乐赐的亮光截然相反的道路，选择你自己发明的理论。但这种实验既与圣经的指示截然相反，就不可实行以致伤害上帝原希望我们在管教儿女上予以指导的人。{4T 382.2}[27]
§56
If the child of a minister manifests passion, and is indulged in nearly all its wants, it has an influence to counteract the testimonies God has given me for parents in regard to the proper management of their children. You are going directly contrary to the light that God has been pleased to give, and are choosing a picked-up theory of your own. But this experiment, so directly in opposition to the instructions of the word of God, must not be carried out to the injury of the very ones whom God would have us instruct in reference to the training of their children. {4T 382.2}[27]
§57
你的兴趣不应完全放在自己家人的身上而毫不顾及他人。你若曾享受弟兄们的款待，他们就有理由指望你有所回报。要与作父母和儿女的人利益与共，设法教导和造福别人。要分别为圣献身上帝的工作，造福那些款待你的人，既与作父母的交谈，也决不忽视作儿女的。不要以为你自己的小孩在上帝看来比别人的孩子更宝贵。你容易在宠爱娇纵自己的孩子时忽视别人的孩子，而正是你自己的孩子证明你管理不善。她有悖逆行为之罪，只要她的意向受阻就发脾气。这会给许多家庭带来怎样的影响啊，上帝正设法要教导和改革他们关于管教儿女的松懈观念呢！{4T 382.3}[28]
§58
Your interest should not be swallowed up in your own family to the exclusion of others. If you share the hospitalities of your brethren, they may reasonably expect something in return. Identify your interests with those of parents and children, and seek to instruct and bless. Sanctify yourself to the work of God and be a blessing to those who entertain you, conversing with parents and in no case overlooking the children. Do not feel that your own little one is more precious in the sight of God than other children. You are liable to neglect others while petting and indulging your little one, and this very child gives evidence of your deficient management. She is guilty of acts of disobedience and passion as many times in a day as her will is crossed. What an influence is this to bring to bear upon families whom God is seeking to instruct and to reform from lax ideas in regard to discipline! {4T 382.3}[28]
§59
你们夫妻二人在盲目愚昧的溺爱中双双向自己的孩子投降了。我们竟让她的小手握住缰绳，她还不能走路时就管辖了你们俩。过去既然这样，将来还有什么指望呢？不要让这个娇生惯养的孩子的坏榜样发出不利于你们的教训，在审判时，会显明这些教训导致了许多孩子灭亡。男男女女若接受你为来自上帝的一位教师，他们岂不就要随从你致命的榜样，去娇纵自己的儿女吗？以利的罪岂不也是你的罪吗？落在他身上的报应岂不也要落在你身上吗？你的孩子既有目前的习惯和性情，就决不会看见上帝的国。而作为她父母的你们，正是在她面前关闭了天国之门的人。这样，你们自己又怎能得救呢？要记得你们必收获自己所种的。{4T 383.1}[29]
§60
In your blind and foolish fondness you have both surrendered to your child. You have allowed her to hold the reins in her tiny fists, and she ruled you both before she was able to walk. What can be expected of the future in view of the past? Let not the example of this indulged and petted child give lessons which will testify against you, and which the judgment will show have resulted in the loss of scores of children. If men and women accept you as a teacher from God, will they not be inclined to follow your pernicious example in the indulgence of their children? Will not the sin of Eli be yours? and will not the retribution that fell on him fall on you? Your child will never see the kingdom of God with her present habits and disposition. And you, her parents, will be the ones who have closed the gates of heaven before her. How, then, will it stand in regard to your own salvation? Remember that you will reap what you sow. {4T 383.1}[29]