第15章 我们的帐棚大会
§1
第15章 我们的帐棚大会
§2
Chap. 15—Our Camp Meetings
§3
我蒙指示，我们有一些帐棚聚会，远未达到主的理想。信徒们没有预备好接受上帝圣灵的临格。姐妹们一般在聚会前费了许多的时间来预备衣着装饰外表，而完全忘了那在上帝眼中看为大有价值的内在装饰。此外，他们也费了许多时间于不必要的烹饪工作上，预备那些对于享用之人切实有害的，丰腻的糕饼点心及其它食品。如果我们的姐妹们只预备优质的面包，和其它一些对身体健康有益的食品，那么她们与她们的家人，就会更易于赏识生命之粮，更易接受圣灵的感化了。{5T162.2}[1]
§4
I have been shown that some of our camp meetings are far from being what the Lord designed they should be. The people come unprepared for the visitation of God’s Holy Spirit. Generally the sisters devote considerable time before the meeting to the preparation of garments for the outward adorning, while they entirely forget the inward adorning, which is in the sight of God of great price. There is also much time spent in needless cooking, in the preparation of rich pies and cakes?and other articles of food that do positive injury to those who partake of them. Should our sisters provide good bread and some other healthful kinds of food, both they and their families would be better prepared to appreciate the words of life and far more susceptible to the influence of the Holy Spirit.?{5T 162.2}[1]
§5
在帐棚大会期间，人们的胃往往因装进太多的食物而过劳，这些食物既不如平时在家中所吃的那么简单而清淡，而且在家里的劳动工作也比此时的多二或三倍。因此，头脑变得昏昏沉沉，很难领会永恒的事物；及至聚会结束，他们却感到失望，因为未能更多享受上帝之灵的福气。{5T163.1}[2]
§6
Often the stomach is overburdened with food which is seldom as plain and simple as that eaten at home, where the amount of exercise taken is double or treble. This causes the mind to be in such a lethargy that it is difficult to appreciate eternal things; and the meeting closes, and they are disappointed in not having enjoyed more of the Spirit of God.?{5T 163.1}[2]
§7
在为聚会作准备时，每个人都应严格地在上帝面前省察己心。如果在家中有不愉快的感觉，不和，或纷争，首先的预备工作就当是彼此承认这些过错，一同祈祷并彼此代祷。你们要在上帝面前自卑，付出恳切的努力，倒空心灵殿宇中所有的垃圾——所有的忌恨、嫉妒、猜疑，挑剔。“有罪的人哪，要洁净你们的手！心怀二意的人哪，要清洁你们的心！你们要愁苦、悲哀、哭泣，将喜笑变作悲哀，欢乐变作愁闷。务要在主面前自卑，主就必叫你们升高”（雅4:8-10）。{5T163.2}[3]
§8
While preparing for the meeting each individual should closely and critically examine his own heart before God. If there have been unpleasant feelings, discord, or strife in families, it should be one of the first acts of preparation to confess these faults one to another and pray with and for one another. Humble yourselves before God, and make an earnest effort to empty the soul temple of all rubbish—all envyings, all jealousies, all suspicions, all faultfindings. “Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double-minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He shall lift you up.”?{5T 163.2}[3]
§9
主说：要进入你的内室，在寂静中与你自己的心交谈；倾听真理和良心的声音。再没有什么比私祷更能使人明了自我了。那在暗中察看并且知道一切的主，必启发你的悟性，应允你的恳求。不可忽视的清楚简明的本分必展现在你面前。要与上帝立约，献上你自己和你一切的能力为祂服务。不要把这项未完成的工作带到帐棚大会去。如果在家中没有做成这项工作，他人就必因你的冷淡、麻木和属灵的昏睡而大受伤害。{5T163.3}[4]
§10
The Lord speaks; enter into your closet, and in silence commune with your own heart; listen to the voice of truth and conscience. Nothing will give such clear views of self as secret prayer. He who seeth in secret and knoweth all things will enlighten your understanding and answer your petitions. Plain, simple duties that must not be neglected will open before you. Make a covenant with God to yield yourselves and all your powers to His service. Do not carry this undone work to the camp meeting. If it is not done at home, your own soul will suffer, and others will be greatly injured by your coldness, your stupor, your spiritual lethargy.?{5T 163.3}[4]
§11
我蒙指示见到了自称相信真理之人的状况。先知以西结的话而今用在他们身上正合适：“人子啊，这些人已将他们的假神接到心里，把陷于罪的绊脚石放在面前，我岂能丝毫被他们求问吗？所以你要告诉他们：‘主耶和华如此说：以色列家的人中，凡将他的假神接到心里，把陷于罪的绊脚石放在面前，又就了先知来的，我耶和华在他所求的事上，必按他众多的假神回答他”（结14:3-4）。{5T164.1}[5]
§12
I have seen the condition of the people professing the truth. The words of the prophet Ezekiel are applicable to them at this time: “Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their heart, and put the stumbling block of their iniquity before their face: should I be inquired of at all by them? Therefore speak unto them, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; Every man of the house of Israel that setteth up his idols in his heart, and putteth the stumbling block of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to the prophet; I the Lord will answer him that cometh according to the multitude of his idols.”?{5T 164.1}[5]
§13
如果我们爱世界上的事，喜欢罪中之乐或不结果子的暗昧行为，我们就把犯罪的绊脚石放在面前，将假神接到心里了。我们若不藉着坚决的努力除掉它们，就决不会被承认为上帝的儿女。{5T164.2}[6]
§14
If we love the things of the world and have pleasure in unrighteousness or fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness we have put the stumbling block of our iniquity before our face and have set up idols in our heart. And unless by determined effort we put them away we shall never be acknowledged as the sons and daughters of God.?{5T 164.2}[6]
§15
在参赴我们的圣会以前，家人先有一番工作要做。但愿我们把这些预备饮食和衣着的事列为次要，而在家中开始深刻省察己心的工作。每日祈祷三次，并象雅各一样，情词迫切，坚持不舍。应在家中找到耶稣，然后带祂与你们同去聚会，你们在那里所花的时间将会多么宝贵啊。但是如果为那时间而作的个人预备之工被疏忽了，你们又怎能希望会觉得有主同在，及见到祂的大能显现呢？{5T164.3}[7]
§16
Here is a work for families to engage in before coming up to our holy convocations. Let the preparation for eating and dressing be a secondary matter, but let deep heart searching commence at home. Pray three times a day, and, like Jacob, be importunate. At home is the place to find Jesus; then take Him with you to the meeting, and how precious will be the hours you spend there. But how can you expect to feel the presence of the Lord and see His power displayed when the individual work of preparation for that time is neglected??{5T 164.3}[7]
§17
为你们灵性的缘故，为基督的缘故，及为别人的缘故，应当在家先行工作。要迫切祈祷，象你们从来没有那么行过的。要在上帝之前打破己心。先使家庭上轨道。预备儿女参加这聚会。教导他们明白，到上帝之前，要手洁心清，这是比穿好衣服更加重要得多了。应当把在他们道路上可能有的每一阻碍，在他们彼此之间，或你们与他们之间的所有歧见，清除净尽。你们这样行，便是请主光临自己的家，圣天使也要随你们去赴聚会，他们的光临与在场，将迫退恶天使的阴暗。就连不信的人在进入营地时都会感到神圣的气氛。因为忽略了这项重要的工作，损失已经何其多啊！你可以满意于讲道，可以变得活泼复兴，但内心却不会感到上帝感化人、令人悔改的能力，所做的工作也没有达到应有的深入、彻底、持久的程度。要把骄傲钉死，心灵披上基督之义无价的礼服，你就会享有何等美妙的聚会啊。对你的心灵来说，聚会将象天国的大门一样。{5T164.4}[8]
§18
For your soul’s sake, for Christ’s sake, and for the sake of others, work at home. Pray as you are not accustomed to pray. Let the heart break before God. Set your house in order. Prepare your children for the occasion. Teach them that it is not of so much consequence that they appear with fine clothes as that they appear before God with clean hands and pure hearts. Remove every obstacle that may have been in their way,—all differences that may have existed among themselves or between you and them. By so doing you will invite the Lord’s?presence into your homes, and holy angels will attend you as you go up to the meeting, and their light and presence will press back the darkness of evil angels. Even unbelievers will feel the holy atmosphere as they enter the encampment. Oh, how much is lost by neglecting this important work! You may be pleased with the preaching, you may become animated and revived, but the converting, reforming power of God will not be felt in the heart, and the work will not be so deep, thorough, and lasting as it should be. Let pride be crucified and the soul be clad with the priceless robe of Christ’s righteousness, and what a meeting will you enjoy. It will be to your soul even as the gate of heaven.?{5T 164.4}[8]
§19
谦卑和省察己心的工作也当在教会中进行，以便在这些年会中聚集到主面前之前，弟兄们可以放弃一切歧见，消除所有隔阂。要恳切地开展这项工作，若不完成绝不罢休；因为如果你们带着疑惑、抱怨、争执来聚会，就会把恶天使们带进营会，无论何往都带着暗昧。{5T165.1}[9]
§20
The same work of humiliation and heart-searching should also go on in the church, so that all differences and alienations among brethren may be laid aside before appearing before the Lord at these annual gatherings. Set about this work in earnest, and rest not until it is accomplished; for if you come up to the meeting with your doubts, your murmurings, your disputings, you bring evil angels into the camp and carry darkness wherever you go.?{5T 165.1}[9]
§21
我蒙指示，因为缺乏这种预备，这些年会成就的很少。传道人们很少预备好为上帝作工。虽有许多讲员——他们言辞犀利，巧言令色，嬉笑怒骂别的教会，嘲笑他们的信仰——但恳切为上帝作工的人却很少。这些尖刻、妄自尊大的讲员自称信奉优于别人的真理，但他们作工的方式和宗教热心却与他们所自称的信仰毫不一致。{5T165.2}[10]
§22
I have been shown that for want of this preparation these yearly meetings have accomplished but little. The ministers are seldom prepared to labor for God. There are many speakers,—those who can say sharp, crank things, going out of their way to whip other churches and ridicule their faith,—but there are but few earnest laborers for God. These sharp, self-important speakers profess to have truth in advance of every other people, but their manner of labor and their religious zeal in no way correspond with their profession of faith.?{5T 165.2}[10]
§23
我指望看到心灵的谦卑始终作为我们传道人合适的服装，但他们却没有穿。我指望看到他们表现出主说过他们应当具有的深切爱人之心，但他们没有那种爱。我想听到他们因家中和教会中不悔悟和不信的人而以眼泪和心灵的悲痛献上的恳切祈祷，却听不到。我想听到在圣灵的明证中作出的呼吁，却听不见。我寻找心情沉重的人，此时在廊子和祭坛中间哭泣，呼求说：耶和华啊，求祢顾惜祢的百姓，不要使祢的产业受羞辱（珥2:17）；但我听不到这样的哀求。只有少数恳切、谦卑的人在寻求主。在这些聚会中，只有一两位传道人感受到这重但，象满载禾捆的车那样。但是大多数传道人对他们工作神圣性质的认识如孩童幼稚。{5T165.3}[11]
§24
I looked to see the humility of soul that should ever sit as a fitting garment upon our ministers, but it was not upon them. I looked for the deep love for souls that the Master said they should possess, but they had it not. I listened for the earnest prayers offered with tears and anguish of soul because of the?impenitent and unbelieving in their own homes and in the church, but heard them not. I listened for the appeals made in the demonstration of the Spirit, but these were missing. I looked for the burden bearers, who in such a time as this should be weeping between the porch and the altar, crying, Spare Thy people, Lord, and give not Thine heritage to reproach; but I heard no such supplications. A few earnest, humble ones were seeking the Lord. At some of these meetings one or two ministers felt the burden and were weighed down as a cart beneath sheaves. But a large majority of the ministers had no more sense of the sacredness of their work than children.?{5T 165.3}[11]
§25
我曾看到这些年会可能有和应该有的样子——成为恳切作工的聚会。传道人在开始帮助别人的工作前，应该寻求内心的预备，因为会众远比许多传道人进步。他们应该在祷告中不倦的较力直到主祝福他们。当上帝的爱燃烧在他们内心的祭坛上时，他们讲道就不会展示他们自己的精明灵巧了，而要介绍除去世人罪孽的基督。{5T166.1}[12]
§26
I saw what these yearly gatherings might be, and what they should be—meetings of earnest labor. Ministers should seek a heart preparation before entering upon the work of helping others, for the people are far in advance of many of the ministers. They should untiringly wrestle in prayer until the Lord blesses them. When the love of God is burning on the altar of their hearts, they will not preach to exhibit their own smartness, but to present Christ who taketh away the sins of the world.?{5T 166.1}[12]
§27
在早期教会中，基督教是以其纯正教导人的，其训诲是由灵感之声赐下的，其律例也没有被人的发明败坏。教会彰显了基督的精神，并在其纯朴中显出了荣美。其装饰乃圣洁的原则和信徒们的模范生活。大批群众被赢得归向了基督，不是藉着炫耀或学识，而是藉着上帝的能力，伴有祂圣言的清楚传讲。但教会已经变得败坏了。而今比以往更需要传道人们成为传光的管道。{5T166.2}[13]
§28
In the early church Christianity was taught in its purity; its precepts were given by the voice of inspiration; its ordinances were uncorrupted by the device of men. The church revealed the spirit of Christ and appeared beautiful in its simplicity. Its adorning was the holy principles and exemplary lives of its members. Multitudes were won to Christ, not by display or learning, but by the power of God which attended the plain preaching of His word. But the church has become corrupt. And now there is greater necessity than ever that ministers should be channels of light.?{5T 166.2}[13]
§29
许多人对圣经真理能说会道，他们的心灵却没有上帝的灵，象基利波山没有雨露一样。但我们所需要的，乃是彻底悔改自己并能教导别人如何将心献给上帝的人。敬虔的能力几乎在我们的教会中消失了。为何这样呢？主仍在等候要施恩；他并没有关闭天上的窗户。我们已经使自己与祂隔绝了。我们需要将信心的眼睛专注在十字架上，并且相信基督是我们的力量，我们的拯救。{5T166.3}[14]
§30
There are many flippant talkers of Bible truth, whose souls are as barren of the Spirit of God as were the hills of Gilboa of dew and rain. But what we need is men who are thoroughly?converted themselves and can teach others how to give their hearts to God. The power of godliness has almost ceased to be in our churches. And why is this? The Lord is still waiting to be gracious; He has not closed the windows of heaven. We have separated ourselves from Him. We need to fix the eye of faith upon the cross and believe that Jesus is our strength, our salvation.?{5T 166.3}[14]
§31
当我们看到传道人和平信徒肩上负有这么少的责任时，不禁要问：当主来时，会遇得见世上有信德吗（路18:8）？所缺乏的乃是信心。上帝有丰盛的恩典和能力等着我们去要求。但我们之所以没有对它感到极其需要，是因为我们指望自己而不指望耶稣。我们没有高举耶稣，没有全然倚赖祂的功劳。{5T167.1}[15]
§32
As we see so little burden of the work resting upon ministers and people, we inquire: When the Lord comes, shall He find faith on the earth? It is faith that is lacking. God has an abundance of grace and power awaiting our demand. But the reason we do not feel our great need of it is because we look to ourselves and not to Jesus. We do not exalt Jesus and rely wholly upon His merits.?{5T 167.1}[15]
§33
但愿我能使传道人和平信徒们感到内心必须有更深的恩典运行，作更为彻底的预备，融入我们帐棚大会的精神和工作，好使他们可以从这些聚会尽可能多的受益。这些年会可以成为特别蒙福的时期，否则就可能对灵性造成极大的伤害。亲爱的读者，它们对你来说将是福是祸呢？这要你们每个人自己来决定。{5T167.2}[16]
§34
Would that I could impress upon ministers and people the necessity of a deeper work of grace in the heart and more thorough preparation to enter into the spirit and labor of our camp meetings, that they may receive the greatest possible benefit from these meetings. These yearly gatherings may be seasons of special blessing or they may be a great injury to spirituality. Which shall they be to you, dear reader? It remains for each to decide for himself.?{5T 167.2}[16]