第35章 父母的责任
§1
第35章 父母的责任
§2
Chap. 35—Parental Responsibility
§3
父母对儿女品格的塑造要负很大的责任。他们应该力求使儿女的品格匀称均衡。心智很平衡的人是很少的，因为父母糟糕地忽视了自己的本分，没有激励孩子软弱的特性，压制错误的特性。他们没记住自己有极其严肃的责任，要警醒看守每个孩子的性格倾向，他们的本分乃是要训练自己的儿女有正确的思维习惯和方式。{5T319.1}[1]
§4
Parents are in a great degree responsible for the mold given to the characters of their children. They should aim at symmetry and proportion. There are few well-balanced minds, because parents are wickedly negligent of their duty to stimulate weak traits and repress wrong ones. They do not remember that they are under the most solemn obligation to watch the tendencies of each child, that it is their duty to train their children to right habits and right ways of thinking.?{5T 319.1}[1]
§5
有些作父母的等着主去做主已交给他们去做的事。他们不但不照着本分约束和管理自己的儿女，反而宠爱骄纵他们，满足他们心血来潮的想法和欲望。当这些孩子走出家门时，所带有的是因自私、不受控制的食欲、顽强的任性而扭曲变形的品格；他们对自己的父母缺乏礼貌和尊敬，也不喜爱宗教上的真理，不爱敬拜上帝。他们长大成人形成的品格对他们自己也对别人终生都是一个祸根。如果忽视对心田的照管，任由纷争、自私、嫉妒、情欲、和愠怒顽梗疯狂滋长，那么家就绝不是一个幸福快乐的地方了。{5T319.2}[2]
§6
Sometimes parents wait for the Lord to do the very work that He has given them to do. Instead of restraining and controlling their children as they should, they pet and indulge them, and gratify their whims and desires. When these children go out from their early homes, it is with characters deformed by selfishness, with ungoverned appetites, with strong self-will; they are destitute of courtesy or respect for their parents, and do not love religious truth or the worship of God. They have grown up with traits that are a lifelong curse to themselves and to others. Home is made anything but happy if the evil weeds of dissension, selfishness, envy, passion, and sullen stubbornness are left to flourish in the neglected garden of the soul.?{5T 319.2}[2]
§7
父母不该表现出偏爱，而应温柔地对待所有儿女，总是记得他们乃是基督的血所买来的。儿女是效法父母的，因此父母应极其小心，好给他们做出正确的榜样。在家中仁慈礼貌同时又坚定坚决的父母，会看到同样的特性在自己的儿女身上表现出来。父母若是正直、诚实、可敬的，儿女也会在这些特点上很象他们。父母若是敬畏并崇拜上帝的，他们的儿女既受了同样方式的训练，也就不会忘记侍奉祂。{5T319.3}[3]
§8
Parents should show no partiality, but should treat all their children with tenderness, remembering that they are the purchase of Christ’s blood. Children imitate their parents; hence great care should be taken to give them correct models.?Parents who are kind and polite at home, while at the same time they are firm and decided, will see the same traits manifested in their children. If they are upright, honest, and honorable, their children will be quite likely to resemble them in these particulars. If they reverence and worship God, their children, trained in the same way, will not forget to serve Him also.?{5T 319.3}[3]
§9
作父母的往往不留意以正确的感化力来环护自己的儿女。在选择安家的事上，他们重视自己属世的利益，过于道德与社交的环境，以至儿女所接触的朋友，都不利于发展敬虔的心意或养成正直的品格。于是父母们就允许世界占用他们的光阴、力量和思想；及至到了安息日，就发现他们已精疲力竭，没有什么可在上帝的圣日献给祂了，也没有甜美的虔诚使家中蒙恩，使安息日对儿女来说成为可喜乐的。很少有传道人访问他们，因为他们已使自己置身于宗教特权的范围之外了。一种冷漠渐渐弥漫在心灵中。他们的儿女也被有害的交往污染了，他们曾感到的心灵的温柔也渐渐消失，终至于被忘怀了。{5T320.1}[4]
§10
It is often the case that parents are not careful to surround their children with right influences. In choosing a home they think more of their worldly interests than of the moral and social atmosphere, and the children form associations that are unfavorable to the development of piety and the formation of right characters. Then parents allow the world to engross their time, strength, and thought; and when the Sabbath comes, it finds them so utterly exhausted that they have nought to render to God on His holy day, no sweet piety to grace the home and make the Sabbath a delight to their children. They are seldom visited by a minister, for they have placed themselves out of reach of religious privileges. An apathy steals over the soul. The children are contaminated by evil communications, and the tenderness of soul that they once felt dies away and is forgotten.?{5T 320.1}[4]
§11
谴责迦南人将自己的儿女献给摩洛的父母们啊，你们究竟在作什么呢？你们正在将一项最珍贵的祭礼献给了你们的玛门神；及至你们的儿女长大后成为不可爱的人，有了不可爱的品性，并显出坚决的不敬虔而倾向无神论时，你们却埋怨自己所宣称的信仰，认为它无力救拔他们。你们是在收割自己所栽种的──就是你们自私地贪爱世界和忽视恩典的后果。你们把家搬到充满试探的地方去，而对于上帝的约柜，就是你们的荣耀和保障，却视为无足轻重；因此主也不行神迹来拯救你们的儿女脱离试探。{5T320.2}[5]
§12
Parents who denounce the Canaanites for offering their children to Moloch, what are you doing? You are making a most costly offering to your mammon god; and then, when your children grow up unloved and unlovely in character, when they show decided impiety and a tendency to infidelity, you blame the faith you profess because it was unable to save them. You are reaping that which you have sown—the result of your selfish love of the world and neglect of the means of grace. You moved your families into places of temptation, and the ark of God, your glory and defense, you did not consider essential; and the Lord has not worked a miracle to deliver your children from temptation.?{5T 320.2}[5]
§13
你们自称爱上帝的人们哪，应当无论何往都要带着耶稣在一起，象古代的先祖们一样，你们无论在哪里支帐棚，都要为耶和华筑起一座祭坛来。现今需要这方面的改良，这种改良运动也要深遂而广大。父母们需要改革；传道人需要改革。他们需要有上帝在他们的家中。他们需要修造锡安荒废之处，立起她的城门，坚固她的城墙，以保护她的百姓。{5T320.3}[6]
§14
You who profess to love God, take Jesus with you wherever you go; and, like the patriarchs of old, erect an altar to the Lord wherever you pitch your tent. A reformation in this?respect is needed, a reformation that shall be deep and broad. Parents need to reform; ministers need to reform. They need God in their households. They need to build the waste places of Zion, to set up her gates and make strong her walls for a defense of the people.?{5T 320.3}[6]
§15
在这个时代有一项认真的工作要完成，父母们应当训练自己的儿女同担此工。末底改对以斯帖说的话可应用于今日的成人和青少年：“焉知你得了王后的位分不是为现今的机会吗”（斯4:14）？年轻人应该获得稳健的品格，以便成为有用之才。但以理和约瑟在年轻时就是坚持原则的，所以上帝便能用来实现祂的旨意。要注意他们的历史，并看明上帝如何为他们行事。约瑟遭遇了各种各样的经历，那些经历试验了他的勇气和完全正直。在被卖到埃及之后，他起先蒙恩受托重责；但是突然之间，他虽未犯任何过错，却受到不公正的控告并被投进了监牢。但他没有丧胆。他信赖上帝；并且显明了他心志的坚定和动机的纯正。上帝的眼目关注着他，祂的圣手带领着他，不久我们就看到他从监牢出来，共享埃及的宝座了。{5T321.1}[7]
§16
There is earnest work to be done in this age, and parents should educate their children to share in it. The words of Mordecai to Esther may apply to the men and youth of today: “Who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” Young men should be gaining solidity of character, that they may be fitted for usefulness. Daniel and Joseph were youth of firm principle, whom God could use to carry out His purposes. Mark their history, and see how God wrought for them. Joseph met with a variety of experiences, experiences that tested his courage and uprightness to the fullest extent. After being sold into Egypt he was at first favored and entrusted with great responsibilities; but suddenly, without any fault on his part, he was unjustly accused and cast into prison. But he is not discouraged. He trusts in God; and the purpose of his heart, the purity of his motive, is made manifest. The eye of God is upon him, a divine hand leads him, and soon we see him come forth from prison to share the throne of Egypt.?{5T 321.1}[7]
§17
约瑟充满波折的人生并非偶然；这原是天意所命定的。但他怎能造成这样品格坚定，正直与智慧的记录呢？这全是他幼年所受细心训练的成果。他只顾及本分，而不问自己的意愿；而童年的纯洁和笃信，已在成人的行为上结出了果实。那最出众的才干若不加以善用，就没有什么价值；勤劳的习惯和品格的感化力，必须经由培养而获致。高尚的品德和优雅的智能，均非偶然而得。上帝赐予种种机会，成功与否乃在乎怎样加以利用。务须敏捷地识别并急切地把握住天意所开启的门路。{5T321.2}[8]
§18
Joseph’s checkered life was not an accident; it was ordered of Providence. But how was he enabled to make such a record of firmness of character, uprightness, and wisdom? It was the result of careful training in his early years. He had consulted duty rather than inclination; and the purity and simple trust of the boy bore fruit in the deeds of the man. The most brilliant talents are of no value unless they are improved; industrious habits and force of character must be gained by cultivation. A high moral character and fine mental qualities are not the result of accident. God gives opportunities; success depends upon the use made of them. The openings of Providence must be quickly discerned and eagerly seized upon.?{5T 321.2}[8]
§19
年轻人哪，你们若愿变得强壮，若愿有约瑟或但以理的正直和智慧，就要研究圣经。父母们哪，你们若愿教育儿女，事奉上帝，在世行善，就当用圣经来作为你们的课本。它会揭破撒但的阴谋诡计。它能大大地提拔人类，谴责和矫正道德的败坏，帮助我们辨别真假是非。无论你们在家或在校采用什么教材，圣经作为伟大的教育者，都应当列为第一。若能这样安排，上帝就得荣耀。祂要为你们工作，使儿女悔改。在这本圣书中，有真理与美德的丰富矿藏。父母们若不能使自己的儿女对此发生深切的兴趣，是难辞其咎的。{5T321.3}[9]
§20
Young men, if you would be strong, if you would have the?integrity and wisdom of a Joseph or a Daniel, study the Scriptures. Parents, if you would educate your children to serve God and do good in the world, make the Bible your textbook. It exposes the wiles of Satan. It is the great elevator of the race, the reprover and corrector of moral evils, the detector which enables us to distinguish between the true and the false. Whatever else is taught in the home or at school, the Bible, as the great educator, should stand first. If it is given this place, God is honored, and He will work for you in the conversion of your children. There is a rich mine of truth and beauty in this Holy Book, and parents have themselves to blame if they do not make it intensely interesting to their children.?{5T 321.3}[9]
§21
对许多人来说，教育就意味着书本知识；但“敬畏耶和华是智慧的开端”（箴9:10）。教育的真正目标是要在人心中恢复上帝的形像。最要紧最宝贵的知识乃是认识基督的知识；明智的父母必使自己儿女的心常常谨记这个事实。要是手臂或腿断裂了，父母就会用爱与智慧所能想尽的办法来恢复受损的肢体，使之又好看又健全。这是对的；也是他们的本分。但在修复心灵的损伤上，主的要求是付出更大的机智、耐心和恒切的努力。父亲若不成为自己儿女的基督化教师、管理者和朋友，用成圣之爱的有力绳索紧紧将他们系在自己的心上，就不配称为父亲。那种成圣之爱乃是建立在忠心尽责上的。{5T322.1}[10]
§22
To many, education means a knowledge of books; but “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” The true object of education is to restore the image of God in the soul. The first and most precious knowledge is the knowledge of Christ; and wise parents will keep this fact ever before the minds of their children. Should a limb be broken or fractured, parents will try every means that love or wisdom can suggest to restore the affected member to comeliness and soundness. This is right; it is their duty. But the Lord requires that still greater tact, patience, and persevering effort be employed to remedy blemishes of the soul. That father is unworthy of the name who is not to his children a Christian teacher, ruler, and friend, binding them to his heart by the strong ties of sanctified love—a love which has its foundation in duty faithfully performed.?{5T 322.1}[10]
§23
父母们有一项责任重大的工作要做，他们很可以问：“这事谁能当得起呢”（林后2:16）？但上帝已应许赐智慧给那些本着信心求的人，而且祂必说到做到。祂喜欢人相信祂的话。奥古斯丁的母亲曾为她儿子的悔改祈祷。她没有看到上帝的灵在感动他内心的任何凭据，但她并不气馁。她把手指放在经文上，向上帝提出祂自己的话，并且献上只有一位母亲才能做出的恳求。她深切的谦卑，她恳切的请求，她毫不动摇的信心，终于得胜了，主给了她心中所要的。祂今天照样乐意随时倾听祂子民的恳求。祂的“膀臂并非缩短不能拯救，耳朵并非发沉不能听见”（赛59:1）。如果基督徒父母们恳切地寻求祂，祂就必使他们的口中充满说服力，并且为祂名的缘故为他们有力地行事，使他们的儿女悔改。{5T322.2}[11]
§24
Parents have a great and responsible work to do, and they may well inquire: “Who is sufficient for these things?” But God has promised to give wisdom to those that ask in faith, and He will do just as He said He would. He is pleased with the faith that takes Him at His word. The mother of Augustine prayed for her son’s conversion. She saw no evidence that the Spirit of God was impressing his heart, but she was not discouraged. She laid her finger upon the texts, presenting before God His own words, and pleaded as only a mother can.?Her deep humiliation, her earnest importunities, her unwavering faith, prevailed, and the Lord gave her the desire of her heart. Today He is just as ready to listen to the petitions of His people. His “hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither His ear heavy, that it cannot hear;” and if Christian parents seek Him earnestly, He will fill their mouths with arguments, and for His name’s sake will work mightily in their behalf in the conversion of their children.?{5T 322.2}[11]