第36章 儿童的教育
§1
第36章 儿童的教育
§2
Chap. 36—The Training of Children
§3
亲爱的G弟兄和姐妹：我因你们的情况而不安。我看到了你们似乎从未认识到的危险。对于你们已经负责带到世上的儿女，你们有常常祷告并仔细地考虑你们的本分吗？你们想过这些孩子是否在从你们接受正当的教育和训练，会使他们在幼年的日子尊荣他们的创造主呢？你们有否考虑过，你们若是没能教导他们尊敬你们，就是他们的父母，并服从你们的权威，你们就是在教育他们羞辱上帝呢？你们每一次允许他们践踏你们的权威，每一次允许他们的意愿支配你们的意愿，你们都在培育一种会贯穿他们一生经历的缺点，就算他们变得爱好宗教了，也会教导他们漠视并践踏上帝的权威。{5T323.1}[1]
§4
Dear Brother and Sister G,I am troubled in reference to your case. I see dangers that you seem never to have realized. Have you thoughtfully and prayerfully considered your duty to the children you have taken the responsibility of bringing into the world? Have you thought whether these children are receiving from you an education and discipline that will lead them to honor their Creator in the days of their youth? Have you considered that if you fail to teach them to respect you, their father and mother, and to yield to your authority, you are educating them to dishonor God? Every time you allow them to trample on your authority, and their will to control yours, you are fostering a defect which will be carried with them into all their experience should they become religiously inclined, and will teach them to disregard and trample upon divine authority.?{5T 323.1}[1]
§5
你们所要解决的问题乃是：“我是为增强黑暗权势的阵容而生儿养女呢，还是为基督而养育儿女呢？”你们若不能管教自己的儿女，陶冶他们的品格，以迎合上帝的需求，那么从你们这种有缺陷的训练中出来的孩子愈少，对于你们作父母的，并对于社会也就愈好。假若儿童不能自襁褓时期起，便从一位敏慧而贤德，谨慎而理智，存着敬畏主的心管理自己的家，陶冶并塑造他们的品格，以符合公义标准的母亲那里领受训练与薰陶，那么你们再添丁的话就是犯罪了。上帝已将理智赐与你们，祂要你们用理智行事。{5T323.2}[2]
§6
The question to be settled by you is: “Am I raising a family of children to strengthen the influence and swell the ranks of the powers of darkness, or am I bringing up children for Christ?” If you do not govern your children and mold their characters to meet the requirements of God, then the fewer children there are to suffer from your defective training the better it will be for you, their parents, and the better it will be for society. Unless children can be trained and disciplined from their babyhood by a wise and judicious mother, who is?conscientious and intelligent, and who rules her household in the fear of the Lord, molding and shaping their characters to meet the standard of righteousness, it is a sin to increase your family. God has given you reason, and He requires you to use it.?{5T 323.2}[2]
§7
你们应该感到有义务，藉着耐心辛勤的努力和恳切热烈的祈祷，塑造儿女的品格，使他们成为家中的福气，教会的福气和社会的福气。你们若是允许自己的儿女受众义之敌的控制，你们的工作就毫无功劳了。主的奖赏是应许给那些照着那神圣的楷模塑造品格之人的。你们若为了图一时之快，忽略了这项影响深远的工作，以致你们的儿女虽长大成人，却在道德上是畸形的，那么上帝还能宣布你们做得好吗？那些不能教导自己，也不能尽力聪明地行事，使自己的儿女归向耶稣的人，应该决定不使自己负起成为父母的责任。{5T324.1}[3]
§8
You should feel under obligation, by patient, painstaking effort and by earnest, fervent prayer, to so form the characters of your children as to make them a blessing in the home, a blessing in the church, and a blessing in society. You will receive no credit for your work if you allow your children to be controlled by the enemy of all righteousness; the reward is promised for conscientiously forming their characters after the divine Pattern. If you neglect this work, which is so far-reaching in its results, because for the present it is more agreeable for you to do so, and your children grow up morally deformed, their feet in the broad road to death, can God pronounce your work well done? Those who cannot inform themselves, and work intelligently with all their powers to bring their children to Jesus, should decide not to take upon themselves the responsibility of becoming parents.?{5T 324.1}[3]
§9
母亲必须乐意甚至是渴望使自己有资格担任培养自己儿女的品格，指导、教导并约束她们所照管的柔嫩儿女的重要工作。父亲和母亲应该在这项工作中联合一致。在要求儿女顺从上软弱无力，以及错误的爱与同情——以为放任而非约束乃是智慧的错误观念——构成了一种使天使忧伤的训练方法；但这种方法是令撒但喜悦的，因为它把成千上万的孩子带入他的阵容了。这就是为何撒但使父母们眼瞎，麻木他们的感官，扰乱他们的思维的原因。他们看到自己的儿女不愉快，不可爱，不顺从，也不服照管；仍给家中增添人丁，毒害他们的生活，使他们的心忧伤，并且给撒但增添党羽，引人灭亡。{5T324.2}[4]
§10
Mothers must be willing and even anxious to qualify themselves for their important work of developing the characters of their children, guiding, instructing, and restraining their tender charge. Fathers and mothers should be united in this work. Weakness in requiring obedience, and false love and sympathy—the false notion that to indulge and not to restrain is wisdom—constitute a system of training that grieves angels; but it delights Satan, for it brings hundreds and thousands of children into his ranks. This is why he blinds the eyes of parents, benumbs their sensibilities, and confuses their minds. They see that their sons and daughters are not pleasant, lovely, obedient, and care-taking; yet children accumulate in their homes, to poison their lives, fill their hearts with grief, and add to the number whom Satan is using to allure souls to destruction.?{5T 324.2}[4]
§11
唉！父母们要到几时才会有智慧呢？他们要到几时才能看明并认识到，自己不照圣经的教训去命令儿女顺服与尊敬，这样忽略行事是何性质呢？这样松弛的训练，其后果将在儿女离家进入社会而成立自己的家时，显明出来。他们使父母的错误持续下去。他们品格的缺点得到了充分发展；他们还将自己所养成的品格上之不良嗜好、习惯，与性情一直遗传下去。这样，他们非但不是社会之福，反而成了社会之害。{5T324.3}[5]
§12
Oh! when will parents be wise? When will they see and realize the character of their work in neglecting to require?obedience and respect according to the instructions of God’s word? The results of this lax training are seen in the children as they go out into the world and take their place at the head of families of their own. They perpetuate the mistakes of their parents. Their defective traits have full scope; and they transmit to others the wrong tastes, habits, and tempers that were permitted to develop in their own characters. Thus they become a curse instead of a blessing to society.?{5T 324.3}[5]
§13
由于男女世人不听从上帝，只随自己的心意，顺从自己有偏差的想象力，便让撒但在他们的家中树起了地狱的旗帜，而在婴孩、孩童，及青少年们的身上发挥其魔力。在儿女们桀骜不驯的意志及歪曲不良的品格上，已表现了撒但的声音与心意，他也利用他们来发挥一种控制的力量及实行其种种计划。顽强脾气的发作，排除了敬畏上帝的心，使祂蒙受羞辱，并导致人顺从撒但的种种建议。父母们所犯的这种罪，让撒但手操指挥大权，真是不可思议的。他们在撒会结出荆棘和蒺藜的种子，挤住每一属天的植物；其收成唯有在审判的时候才能揭晓。但一想到这事就多么令人忧伤啊！当我们从永恒的角度看待今生及其种种错误时，这种后见之明已为时太晚，毫无用处了。{5T325.1}[6]
§14
Because men and women do not obey God, but choose their own way and follow their own perverted imagination, Satan is permitted to set up his hellish banner in their families and make his power felt through babes, children, and youth. His voice and will are expressed in the unsubdued will and warped characters of the children, and through them he exerts a controlling power and carries out his plans. God is dishonored by the exhibition of perverse tempers, which exclude reverence for Him and induce obedience to Satan’s suggestions. The sin committed by parents in thus permitting Satan to bear sway is beyond conception. They are sowing seed which will produce briers and thorns, and choke out every plant of heavenly growth; and the harvest that will be gathered the judgment alone will reveal. But how sad is the thought that when life and its mistakes are viewed in the light of eternity, it will be too late for this aftersight to be of any avail.?{5T 325.1}[6]
§15
完全疏忽为上帝训练儿女已使罪恶延续，并给仇敌的阵营增加了许多若予明智照管原可与基督同工的人。错误的想法和一种愚昧、误导的感情已使儿女养成了不可爱不快乐的特性，使父母的生活痛苦，并将他们有害的影响代代相传了。任何一个蒙允许随心所欲的孩童都会羞辱上帝，并使自己的父母蒙羞。亮光已从上帝的道和祂圣灵的证言照耀出来，以致谁也不必对于自己的本分有所误解。上帝要求父母们教养自己的儿女认识祂，尊重祂的要求；他们要训练自己的小孩子，作主家庭的幼小成员，有美好的品格和可爱的性情，以便他们可以配在天庭发光。父母若疏忽职守，放任自己的儿女行错，便是向他们关闭上帝圣城之门。{5T325.2}[7]
§16
The utter neglect of training children for God has perpetuated evil and thrown into the ranks of the enemy many who with judicious care might have been co-laborers with Christ. False ideas and a foolish, misdirected affection have nurtured traits which have made the children unlovely and unhappy, have embittered the lives of the parents, and have extended their baleful influence from generation to generation. Any child that is permitted to have his own way will dishonor God and bring his father and mother to shame. Light has been shining from the word of God and the testimonies of His Spirit so that none need err in regard to their duty. God requires parents to bring up their children to know Him and to?respect His claims; they are to train their little ones, as the younger members of the Lord’s family, to have beautiful characters and lovely tempers, that they may be fitted to shine in the heavenly courts. By neglecting their duty and indulging their children in wrong, parents close to them the gates of the city of God.?{5T 325.2}[7]
§17
这些事实必须铭记在父母们的心上；并须唤醒他们负起久已荒疏的工作。自称爱上帝的父母并非在遵行祂的旨意。因为他们没有适当地约束及指导自己的儿女，成千上万的人长大时有畸形的品格，废弛的道德，及甚少与人生实际义务有关的教育。他们被容许随心所欲地对待自己的欲望、自己的光阴，及自己的智力。这些才能被忽略，使上帝的圣工蒙受损失，可说是罪在父母门前。他们是上帝的管家，受托以神圣的义务，本应使所照管的人善用其一切才能来荣耀创造主，他们将要向祂怎样解释呢？{5T326.1}[8]
§18
These facts must be pressed home upon parents; they must arouse, and take up their long-neglected work. Parents who profess to love God are not doing His will. Because they do not properly restrain and direct their children, thousands are coming up with deformed characters, with lax morals, and with little education in the practical duties of life. They are left to do as they please with their impulses, their time, and their mental powers. The loss to the cause of God in these neglected talents lies at the door of fathers and mothers; and what excuse will they render to Him whose stewards they are, entrusted with the sacred duty of fitting the souls under their charge to improve all their powers to the glory of their Creator??{5T 326.1}[8]
§19
我亲爱的弟兄和姐妹，愿主开你们的眼睛，唤醒你们的心，使你们看见并挽回你们的失败。你们俩都没有在生活上专注上帝的荣耀。你们只略微显出一点能力，支持耶稣并护卫曾一次交付圣徒的真道。你们疏忽了在家中的本分，表明所托付给你们照管的青少年并不安全。上帝看你们家中的工作就是这样；在天上案卷中记载的也是这样。你们原可带领许多人归于耶稣；但你们缺乏道义勇气，这使你们在每个岗位上都不忠心。{5T326.2}[9]
§20
My dear brother and sister, may the Lord open your eyes and quicken your minds, that you may see and redeem your failures. You are neither of you living with an eye single to the glory of God. You show but little power to stand up for Jesus and in defense of the faith once delivered to the saints. You have neglected your duty in the family and have proved that youth entrusted to your care are not safe. Thus God looks upon your work in the home; thus it stands registered in the books of heaven. You might have brought many to Jesus; but your want of moral courage has made you unfaithful in every position.?{5T 326.2}[9]
§21
你们家政松懈的错误已在儿女的品格上显露出来。你们没有训练自己遵从圣经中的指示。你们因失职而导致的不幸正在变得严重而深刻。G姐妹没有正确的影响。她已屈服于自己心思错误之儿女的顽强意愿，并纵容他们以致使他们受害。你们二人本应自儿女的襁褓时期就教导他们知道，他们不能支配你们，而是必须顺从你们的意志。要是G姐妹在她的孩童时期受了适当的训练，要是她按照上帝的话受了训练和教育，她原本会有一种不同的品格模式，也会更好地理解所交给她的责任。她就会知道如何训练自己的儿女，使他们行事蒙上帝喜悦。但由她自己所受错误训练所产生的缺陷正重现在她儿女们身上，及至她的儿女也成家作首时，他们的行为将是何等性质呢？最年长的孩子本可学些家务；但她在这事上还只是个新手。{5T326.3}[10]
§22
The errors in your lax system of family government are revealed in the characters of your children. You have not educated yourselves to follow the instructions given in the word of God. The evils resulting from your failures in duty are becoming serious and deep. Sister G does not have the right influence. She has yielded to the strong wills of her wrong-minded children, and has indulged them to their hurt.?Both of you should have taught your children from their very babyhood that they could not control you, but that your will was to be obeyed. Had Sister G received the proper training in her childhood, had she been disciplined and educated according to the word of God, she would have a different mold of character herself and would better understand the duties that devolve upon her. She would know how to train her children so as to make their ways pleasing to God. But the defects that have resulted from her own wrong training are reproduced in her children, and what will be the nature of their work should they ever stand at the head of families of their own? The oldest may have some knowledge of domestic duties; but, further than this, she is a mere novice.?{5T 326.3}[10]
§23
若有明智、坚定的管教，这些孩子原可以成为社会上的有用之才；而实际上，他们成了我们信仰的一个祸害，一种责备。他们虚荣，轻浮，任性，奢侈放肆，对自己的父母只有一点点尊敬。他们的良心也远非敏感。他们随心所欲，他们的意愿已支配了父母，直至几乎不可能唤醒他们的道德意识了。父母本性的倾向，特别是那些讨厌的倾向，在儿女身上得到了强势发展。整个家庭，包括父母和儿女，都处在上帝的责备之下；他们谁也不能指望进入那蒙福的平安住所，除非他们愿意负起久已疏忽的职责，并以基督的精神，建造上帝可悦纳的品格。{5T327.1}[11]
§24
With wise, firm government these children might have been useful members of society; as it is, they are a curse, a reproach to our faith. They are vain, frivolous, willful, extravagant. They have but little reverence for their parents, and their consciences are far from sensitive. They have had their own way, and their wishes have governed their parents, until it is almost impossible to arouse their moral sensibilities. The natural tendencies of the parents, particularly those that are objectionable, are strongly developed in the children. The whole family, parents and children, are under divine censure; and none of them can hope to enter the peaceful abodes of bliss unless they will take up their long-neglected duties and, in the spirit of Christ, build up characters that God can approve.?{5T 327.1}[11]
§25
父母要为从他们手中出来的作品负责。他们应该有智慧和决心，以正确的精神忠诚地履行他们的职责。他们要藉着发展儿女天赐的才干训练他们成为有用的人。若没作成此事，也不可佯装不见，而应接受教会纪律的处置，因为它会给父母带来上帝的咒诅，并给教会带来责备和严重的试炼与困难。道德上的麻风病是会传染的，污秽青少年的身体和灵魂，往往在年轻人的训练与约束上导致失败；是时候了，应该有所作为，检查它所造成的破坏。{5T327.2}[12]
§26
Parents are responsible for the work coming from their hands. They should have wisdom and firmness to do their work faithfully and in the right spirit. They are to train their children for usefulness by developing their God-given talents. A failure to do this should not be winked at, but should be made a matter of church discipline, for it will bring the curse of God on the parents and a reproach and grievous trials and difficulties on the church. A moral leprosy that is contagious, polluting the bodies and souls of the youth, often results from?a failure to discipline and restrain the young; and it is time that something was done to check its ravages.?{5T 327.2}[12]
§27
关于教育儿女的重要工作，圣经给出了清楚的指示：“以色列啊，你要听！耶和华我们上帝是独一的主。你要尽心、尽性、尽力爱耶和华你的上帝。我今日所吩咐你的话都要记在心上”（申6:4-6）。父母们自己要与上帝有联络；他们要敬畏上帝并且知道祂的旨意。然后他们的工作就是：“也要殷勤教训你的儿女。无论你坐在家里，行在路上，躺下，起来，都要谈论。也要系在手上为记号，戴在额上为经文；又要写在你房屋的门框上，并你的城门上”（申6:7-9）。{5T328.1}[13]
§28
The Bible gives explicit directions concerning the important work of educating children: “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord: and thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart.” The parents are themselves to be connected with God; they are to have His fear before them and to have a knowledge of His will. Then comes their work: “And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.”?{5T 328.1}[13]
§29
主吩咐以色列不可与四围拜偶像的国家结亲。“不可将你的女儿嫁他们的儿子，也不可叫你的儿子娶他们的女儿；因为他必使你儿子转离不跟从主，去事奉别神，以致耶和华的怒气向你们发作，就速速地将你们灭绝。”“因为你归耶和华你上帝为圣洁的民；耶和华你上帝从地上的万民中拣选你，特作自己的子民。耶和华专爱你们，拣选你们，并非因你们的人数多于别民，原来你们的人数在万民中是最少的。只因耶和华爱你们，又因要守祂向你们列祖所起的誓”（申7:3-4，6-8）。{5T328.2}[14]
§30
The Lord commanded Israel not to make marriages with the idolatrous nations around them. “Thy daughter thou shalt not give unto his son, nor his daughter shalt thou take unto thy son. For they will turn away thy son from following Me, that they may serve other gods: so will the anger of the Lord be kindled against you, and destroy thee suddenly.” “For thou art an holy people unto the Lord thy God: the Lord thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto Himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth. The Lord did not set His love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people: but because the Lord loved you, and because He would keep the oath which He had sworn unto your fathers.”?{5T 328.2}[14]
§31
这里有明确的指示延续到我们的世代。上帝正在这末世向我们讲话，我们要明白并顺从祂的旨意。上帝藉着祂的众仆人向以色列说过：“这律法书不可离开你的口，总要昼夜思想，好使你谨守遵行这书上所写的一切话。如此，你的道路就可以亨通，凡事顺利。”“耶和华的律法全备，能苏醒人心；耶和华的法度确定，能使愚人有智慧。”“祢的言语一解开，就发出亮光，使愚人通达。”“祢的话是我脚前的灯，是我路上的光”（书1:8;诗19:7;诗119:130,105）。{5T328.3}[15]
§32
Here are positive directions that reach down to our time. God is speaking to us in these last days, and He will be understood and obeyed. God spoke to Israel through His servants: “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then?thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.” “The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.” “The entrance of Thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.” “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”?{5T 328.3}[15]
§33
这里清楚地提出了父母的职责。上帝的话要成为他们每日的监督。它给出的指示使父母们不必对教育自己儿女有所误解；而且它不容许有任何的漠不关心或疏忽行为。上帝的律法要被儿女始终记在心中，作为伟大的道德标准。无论他们起来，坐下，出去，进来，都要将这律法教导他们，这律法乃是伟大的人生准则，其原则要交织在他们的经验中。要教导儿女诚实，真实，节制，节俭，勤勉，全心爱上帝。这就是按主的教训和警诫养育他们。这就是使他们的脚稳行在本分和安全的道路上。{5T329.1}[16]
§34
Here the duties of parents are clearly set forth. The word of God is to be their daily monitor. It gives such instruction that parents need not err in regard to the education of their children; but it admits of no indifference or negligence. The law of God is to be kept before the minds of the children as the great moral standard. When they rise up, and when they sit down, when they go out, and when they come in, this law is to be taught them as the great rule of life, and its principles are to be interwoven with all their experience. They are to be taught to be honest, truthful, temperate, economical, and industrious, and to love God with the whole heart. This is bringing them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. This is setting their feet in the path of duty and safety.?{5T 329.1}[16]
§35
青年人是无知而且无经验的，对于圣经及其圣洁真理的爱好，并非出于天性。如果不下一番苦功，在他们周围筑起栏栅，保护他们免受撒但的诡计所害，他们就会坠入他的试探中，并被他随意掳去。应当在幼年时代就教导孩童明白上帝律法的要求，并相信耶稣是除去我们罪污的救赎主。这种信仰必须日复一日地言传身教。{5T329.2}[17]
§36
Youth are ignorant and inexperienced, and the love of the Bible and its sacred truths will not come naturally. Unless great pains is taken to build up around them barriers to shield them from Satan’s devices, they are subject to his temptations and are led captive by him at his will. In their early years children are to be taught the claims of God’s law and faith in Jesus our Redeemer to cleanse from the stains of sin. This faith must be taught day by day, by precept and example.?{5T 329.2}[17]
§37
一个严肃的责任落在父母们身上，他们若确实忽略了自己的本分，主还怎么能祝福他们呢？儿女在年幼时是可以受塑造的。但他们的心稚嫩易受真理感动的年月流逝了，却很少有时间用在了他们的品格培养上。应将真理与职责的宝贵教训每日灌输到他们心里。他们应对上帝的创造工作有所认识；这对他们来说会比任何书本知识更有价值。{5T329.3}[18]
§38
A solemn responsibility rests upon parents, and how can the Lord bless them in the positive neglect of their duty? Children can be molded when they are young. But years pass when their hearts are tender and susceptible to the impressions of truth, and but little time is devoted to their moral culture. The precious lessons of truth and duty should be instilled into their hearts daily. They should have a knowledge of God in His created works; this will be of greater value to them than any knowledge of books.?{5T 329.3}[18]
§39
我们的救主说：“人活着不是单靠食物，乃是靠上帝口里所出的一切话”（路4:4）。教义上的错误在增多，并且伴有毒蛇似的狡猾，缠绕着人们的感情。没有一条圣经的教义不被否认的。预言的伟大真理，显明了我们在世界历史中的位置，已被那些企图使这些非常重要的真理暗昧而不能理解的神职人员削减了其荣美和能力。在许多情况下，儿女们都在漂离古道的路标。主曾吩咐祂的子民以色列人说：“日后，你的儿子问你说：‘耶和华我们上帝吩咐你们的这些法度、律例、典章是什么意思呢？’你就告诉你的儿子说：‘我们在埃及作过法老的奴仆；耶和华用大能的手将我们从埃及领出来，在我们眼前，将重大可怕的神迹奇事施行在埃及地和法老并他全家的身上，将我们从那里领出来，要领我们进入祂向我们列祖起誓应许之地，把这地赐给我们。耶和华又吩咐我们遵行这一切律例，要敬畏耶和华我们的上帝，使我们常得好处，蒙祂保全我们的生命，象今日一样。我们若照耶和华我们上帝所吩咐的一切诫命谨守遵行，这就是我们的义了’”（申6:20-25）。{5T330.1}[19]
§40
“Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God,” are the words of our Saviour. Errors in doctrine are multiplying and twining themselves with serpentlike subtlety around the affections of the people. There is not a doctrine of the Bible that has not been denied. The great truths of prophecy, showing our position in the history of the world, have been shorn of their beauty and power by the clergy, who seek to make these all-important truths dark and incomprehensible. In many cases the children are drifting away from the old landmarks. The Lord commanded His people Israel: “When thy son asketh thee in time to come, saying, What mean the testimonies, and the statutes, and the judgments, which the Lord our God hath commanded you? then thou shalt say unto thy son, We were Pharaoh’s bondmen in Egypt; and the Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand: and the Lord showed signs and wonders, great and sore, upon Egypt, upon Pharaoh, and upon all his household, before our eyes: and He brought us out from thence, that He might bring us in, to give us the land which He sware unto our fathers. And the Lord commanded us to do all these statutes, to fear the Lord our God, for our good always, that He might preserve us alive, as it is at this day. And it shall be our righteousness, if we observe to do all these commandments before the Lord our God, as He hath commanded us.”?{5T 330.1}[19]
§41
这里有我们应当尊重和不可漠视的原则。那些已看明真理，觉察其重要性，并在上帝的事上有经验的人，要向其儿女教导纯正的道理。他们应使儿女明白本会信仰的伟大柱石，我们为何作安息日复临信徒的理由——为什么我们象古时的以色列人一样，被称为特别的子民，圣洁的国度，与地上万民有别并分开。必须用容易明白的简单话语向儿女们解释这些事；及至年龄渐长，所施的教训也当合乎他们的程度而加多，直到奠定了又广又深的真理基础。{5T330.2}[20]
§42
Here are principles that we are not to regard with indifference. Those who have seen the truth and felt its importance, and have had an experience in the things of God, are to teach sound doctrine to their children. They should make them acquainted with the great pillars of our faith, the reasons why we are Seventh-day Adventists,—why we are called, as were the children of Israel, to be a peculiar people, a holy nation, separate and distinct from all other people on the face of the earth. These things should be explained to the children in simple language, easy to be understood; and as they grow in years, the lessons imparted should be suited to their increasing capacity, until the foundations of truth have been laid broad and deep.?{5T 330.2}[20]
§43
父母们哪，你们自称是上帝的儿女；你们是顺命的儿女吗？你们在遵行你们天父的旨意吗？你们在遵行祂的指示呢，还是行在你们自己所点着的火把中呢？你们每日是在努力战胜仇敌并救你们的儿女脱离他的诡计吗？你们在向儿女展开圣经的宝贵真理，向他们解释我们信仰的缘由，使他们年幼的脚可以站稳在真理的平台上吗？{5T331.1}[21]
§44
Parents, you profess to be children of God; are you obedient children? Are you doing the will of your heavenly Father? Are you following His directions, or are you walking in the light of sparks of your own kindling? Are you daily working to outgeneral the enemy and save your children from his devices? Are you opening to them the precious truths of the word of God, explaining to them the reasons of our faith, that their young feet may be planted on the platform of truth??{5T 331.1}[21]
§45
圣经及其中蕴藏的真理珍宝，不是单为文人学者而写的。反之，它倒是为一般平民而写的；在圣灵的帮助之下，平民所作的解释，也能最好地与在耶稣里的真理相符合。凡关于得救所必要的伟大真理，已显明如正午之光。除了那些顺从自己的判断，而不顺从上帝明白显示之旨意的人以外，没有一人是会误入迷途的。{5T331.2}[22]
§46
The Bible with its precious gems of truth was not written for the scholar alone. On the contrary, it was designed for the common people; and the interpretation given by the common people, when aided by the Holy Spirit, accords best with the truth as it is in Jesus. The great truths necessary for salvation are made clear as the noonday, and none will mistake and lose their way except those who follow their own judgment instead of the plainly revealed will of God.?{5T 331.2}[22]