第38章 世俗的野心
§1
第38章 世俗的野心
§2
Chap. 38—Worldly Ambition
§3
我亲爱的I弟兄：自从我在缅因州的帐棚大会遇见你以来，我觉得你使自己的心和自己的家进入正轨还不太晚。我知道你已被上帝的灵感动；而现在的问题是：你愿意响应这个悔改的邀请，高兴地把你的心投诚于上帝吗？你的情况已在异象中呈现在我面前；但当你那么完全地在众生之敌的控制之下时，我没有勇气把主赐给我的信息发给你。我担心你会轻视它，圣灵会最后一次担忧地离开。但是现在我感到受了敦促要把这份证言发给你，它对你来说，必证明为活的香气叫人活或死的香气叫人死。{5T336.2}[1]
§4
My Dear Brother I,Since meeting you at the Maine camp meeting I have felt that it is not too late for you to set your heart and house in order. I know that you have been impressed by the Spirit of God; and now the question is: Will you, in response to this invitation to repent, gladly surrender your heart to God? Your case has been presented to me in vision; but while you were so completely under the control of the enemy of souls, I had no courage to send you the message given me of the Lord. I feared that you would make light of it and that the Holy Spirit would be grieved away for the last time. But now I feel urged to send you this testimony, which will prove to you a savor of life unto life or death unto death.?{5T 336.2}[1]
§5
你若是决定选择黑暗而非光明，侍奉玛门而非基督，就不要读这个。但你若是真的想要遵行上帝的旨意，乐意按祂自己指定的方式得救，那么就请读这份证言；但是不要为了挑它的错，歪曲它，嘲笑它，轻视它而读它；因为那样它对你来说就会成为死的香气叫人死，也会在审判时作见证反对你。在阅读这道警告的信息之前，请独自到上帝面前，求祂除掉你蔑视、反叛、不信的精神，熔化并折服你的石心。{5T336.3}[2]
§6
Do not read this if you are decided to choose darkness rather than light, to serve mammon rather than Christ. But if you really want to do the will of God, and are willing to be saved in His own appointed way, then read the testimony; but do not read it to cavil, nor to pervert, ridicule, and despise it; for in that case it will be to you a savor of death unto death, and will witness against you in the judgment. Before reading this warning message, go alone before God and ask Him to?remove from you the spirit of defiance, rebellion, and unbelief, and to melt and subdue your stony heart.?{5T 336.3}[2]
§7
我们既不了解上帝的伟大与威严，也不记得创造主与祂亲手所造众生之间无限的距离。那位高坐在天上、执掌着全宇宙王权的主，并不依照我们有限的标准判断，也不依照我们计算的方法算账。如果我们认为我们所重视的上帝也必重视，我们所轻视的祂也必轻视，那就错了。如果祂的能力与我们一样，祂就不比我们更尊贵了。{5T337.1}[3]
§8
We do not understand the greatness and majesty of God nor remember the immeasurable distance between the Creator and the creatures formed by His hand. He who sitteth in the heavens, swaying the scepter of the universe, does not judge according to our finite standard, nor reckon according to our computation. We are in error if we think that that which is great to us must be great to God, and that which is small to us must be small to Him. He would be no more exalted than ourselves if He possessed only the same faculties.?{5T 337.1}[3]
§9
上帝并不将一切的罪视为同等的。在祂的眼中，罪恶是有等级的，正如在有限的人类眼中一样。虽然一些罪在人看来是微不足道的，但在上帝看来，没有什么罪是微小的。在人看来甚小的罪，也许在上帝算来却是大恶。人看轻醉汉，说他的罪不能使他进天国，可是对于骄傲，自私，及贪心却未予申斥。然而这些倒是最触犯上帝的罪。祂“阻挡骄傲的人”。保罗也告诉我们贪心即是拜偶像。凡熟悉圣经怎样痛斥拜偶像之罪的人，必可立时看出这种罪是何等的严重。{5T337.2}[4]
§10
God does not regard all sins as of equal magnitude; there are degrees of guilt in His estimation as well as in that of finite man. But however trifling this or that wrong in their course may seem in the eyes of men, no sin is small in the sight of God. The sins which man is disposed to look upon as small may be the very ones which God accounts as great crimes. The drunkard is despised and is told that his sin will exclude him from heaven, while pride, selfishness, and covetousness go unrebuked. But these are sins that are especially offensive to God. He “resisteth the proud,” and Paul tells us that covetousness is idolatry. Those who are familiar with the denunciations against idolatry in the word of God will at once see how grave an offense this sin is.?{5T 337.2}[4]
§11
上帝藉着祂的先知说：“恶人当离弃自己的道路；不义的人当除掉自己的意念。归向耶和华，耶和华就必怜恤他；当归向我们的上帝，因为上帝必广行赦免。耶和华说：我的意念非同你们的意念；我的道路非同你们的道路。天怎样高过地，照样，我的道路高过你们的道路；我的意念高过你们的意念”（赛55:7-9）。我们需要清晰的辨识力，好使我们照主的标准而非我们自己的标准衡量罪。但愿我们以圣言而非人的意见为我们的准则。{5T337.3}[5]
§12
God speaks through His prophet: “Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and He will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon. For My thoughts, are not your thoughts neither are your ways, My ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.” We need clear discernment, that we may measure sin by the Lord’s standard and not by our own. Let us take for our rule, not human opinions, but the divine word.?{5T 337.3}[5]
§13
我们是在人生的大战场上，决不可忘记我们是个别的对这场战事负责的。虽有挪亚，约伯，但以理在其中，他们也不能因自己的义救自己的儿女。我的弟兄啊，你还没想过这一点。但你已为自己的行为辩护，因为你认为弟兄们做得不对。有时你行事象一个被宠惯溺爱的孩子，讲不信怀疑的话使别人难堪；但这有好处吗？在你家中，在教会中，或在世上，有什么东西能证明你对上帝的要求漠不关心是正当的吗？当你面对面站在全地的审判者面前时，你的那些藉口有用吗？那时你自私贪财的行为将显得多么愚昧有罪啊。你竟让属世的观点和属世的利得蒙蔽那赐给忠心之人的奖赏——上帝乐园中的永远福乐，这对你来说似乎是多么不可理喻啊。{5T337.4}[6]
§14
We are on the great battlefield of life, and let it never be?forgotten that we are individually responsible for the issue of the struggle; that though Noah, Job, and Daniel were in the land, yet should they deliver neither son nor daughter by their righteousness. You, my brother, have not thought of this. But you have justified your own course because you thought that your brethren did not do right. Sometimes you have acted like a petted, spoiled child and have talked unbelief and doubt to spite others; but will it pay? Is there anything in your family, in the church, or in the world to justify your indifference to the claims of God? Will any of your excuses avail when you stand face to face with the Judge of all the earth? How foolish and sinful will your selfish, avaricious course then appear. How unaccountable it will seem to you that you could let worldly opinions and worldly gain eclipse the reward to be given to the faithful,—an eternity of bliss in the Paradise of God.?{5T 337.4}[6]
§15
当你的身体遭受极大的痛苦，而且对你来说人间的医术无望时，主怜悯了你，仁慈地除掉了你的疾病。撒但一直试图使你受苦并毁灭你，甚至要取你的性命；但你的救主一次次地保护了你，免得你在心中充满撒但般的狂怒，口中发出苦毒不信的话，反对圣经和你曾拥护的真理时被砍倒。当撒但大声的叫嚣，声称你属于他时，基督用下述话语击退了你残忍而恶毒的仇敌：“我还没有从他身上收回我的灵。他还有两步才会越过我仁慈与爱的界限。他的灵魂是我的血所买来的。耶和华责备你，撒但哪，耶和华责备你。”{5T338.1}[7]
§16
When you were in great physical suffering and there was no hope for you in human skill, the Lord pitied you and mercifully removed disease from you. Satan has sought to afflict and ruin you, and even to take your life; but your Saviour has shielded you again and again, lest you should be cut down when your heart was filled with a satanic frenzy, your tongue uttering words of bitterness and unbelief against the Bible and against the truth you once advocated. When Satan has clamored for you, claiming you as his own, Christ has repulsed your cruel and malignant foe with the words: “I have not yet withdrawn My Spirit from him. He has two more steps to take before he will pass the boundary of My mercy and love. Souls are the purchase of My blood. The Lord rebuke thee, O Satan; the Lord rebuke thee.”?{5T 338.1}[7]
§17
然后我被带回到你的生活中，蒙指示看到在你心中对真理有了响应。上帝的灵使你知道你要采取的行动是有罪的。你也有了一场与自我的争战。你曾是一个精明而有心计的人。你没有照你愿意别人待你的待别人，而是只要可能就占别人的便宜。要征服自我、克服骄傲，你有一场硬仗要打；而且只有藉着上帝的恩典才能得胜。你没有实现彻底的改革，而是把真理加到修修补补的品格中。这是经不起试探考验的。你开始的时候就没有以一颗破碎痛悔的心寻求上帝，并且改正错误。要是你这么做了，就不会绊跌，落入仇敌的网罗中了。在你的动机中混有自私，是你自己没看清楚的。来自属世利益、社会地位和名誉的理由影响了你，使你决定不在上帝和人前做恳切彻底的工作。努力谋求属世的标准损坏了你基督徒品格的真诚与纯正；你也就没能结出与悔改的心相称的果子来。{5T338.2}[8]
§18
I was then carried back in your life, and you were shown to me when the truth found a response in your heart. The Spirit of God convicted you of the course you should pursue, and you had quite a struggle with self. You had been a sharp, scheming man. You had not done by others as you would wish them to do by you, but had taken advantage of them whenever you could. You had a close, stern battle to fight to[8]
§19
撒该曾宣布：“我若讹诈了谁，就还他四倍”（路19:8）。你至少可以作出努力改正你待同胞不公的行为。你无法纠正挽回每件事，因为你曾伤害的一些人已经进入坟墓了，而所记下的账目是对你不利的。在这种情况下，你所能做的，最好就是将赎愆祭献在主的坛上，祂必悦纳并赦免你。但你无论在哪儿，都应赔偿你所亏待的人。{5T339.1}[9]
§20
subdue self and mortify pride; and it was only through the grace of God that this work could be accomplished. Instead of effecting a thorough reformation, you joined the truth to a patched-up character, which would not stand the test of temptation. You did not begin by seeking God with a broken and contrite heart, and making wrongs right. Had you done this, you would not have stumbled and fallen into the snare of the enemy. There was a mixture of selfishness in your motives, which you yourself did not clearly see. Arguments drawn from worldly interest, social position, and comparative respectability influenced you and decided you not to make earnest, thorough work before God and men. Reaching after the worldly standard marred the sincerity and purity of your Christian character; and you failed to bring forth fruits meet for repentance.?{5T 338.2}[9]
§21
要是与你结交的不信之人在你身上见到真理改变人心的能力，他们原本会有一个不能反驳的支持基督教的论据。你原可以这样将一道清晰强烈的亮光照到世界；但你非但没有这么做，反而跟世界混在一起，并吸收了它的精神。我的弟兄啊，你必须重生。仅仅有基督教的外表是毫无价值的。它缺乏拯救的能力，在它里面毫无改革之力。一种只限于安息日敬拜的宗教是不会向别人发出任何亮光的。我劝你密切地省察自己的心。你有一种好斗爱争论的精神，你正在培养而非压制这种精神。你应该做出坚决的改变，培养温柔、信心、谦卑和爱心。你的灵魂处在危险中；你一定会遭受撒但的强烈迷惑，除非你就此止步，并且逆流而行，逼退属世的心和野心。你与世界的关系必须改变，并必须坚决与世界分离。你所居的职位，经常向你敞开试探之门，所以必须放弃。要避开政治，远避争论，不担任任何助长你需要与之斗争并克服的品性的职务。{5T339.2}[10]
§22
Zacchaeus declared: “If I have taken anything from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.” You could at least have made efforts to correct your acts of injustice to your fellow men. You cannot make every case right, for some whom you have injured have gone into their graves, and the account stands registered against you. In these cases the best you can do is to bring a trespass offering to the altar of the Lord, and He will accept and pardon you. But where you can, you should make reparation to the wronged ones.?{5T 339.1}[10]
§23
我的弟兄啊，你必须作出坚决而强有力的努力，否则你决不能摆脱暗昧的行为了。撒但看你是属于他自己的。当你听上帝仆人的证言时，就如在最近的帐棚大会上，你深深知罪了。但你没有响应上帝之灵的感动。当你和世俗之徒混在一起，感染了他们的精神，并被世俗的潮流席卷而下时，你毫无道德能力抵挡世俗的影响。你与爱世界的人合而为一了，但你的精神比他们的还坏，因为你的选择是出于自愿的。你喜爱人们的称赞。你贪爱属世的财产过于耶稣。对玛门的爱交织在你生命的每一根纤维中，具有强大的吸引力。要根除它就象剜掉右眼砍掉右手一样。但我作为一个知情者对你说：你若不克服这种对钱财的强烈喜爱，它就会使你付出不能得救的代价。对于你来说，还是从未生出来为好。{5T340.1}[11]
§24
Had the unbelievers with whom you have associated seen in you the transforming power of the truth, they would have had an argument in favor of Christianity which they could not controvert. You might thus have reflected a clear, sharp light to the world; but instead of this you have mingled with the world and imbibed its spirit. My brother, you must be born again. A mere form of Christianity is not of the least value. It is destitute of saving power, having in it no reformative energy. A religion which is confined to Sabbath worship emits no rays of light to others. I entreat you to examine your own heart closely. You have a combative, contentious spirit, and you are cultivating instead of repressing that spirit. You should make a decided change, and cultivate meekness, faith,?humility, and love. Your soul is in peril; you will surely be subject to the strong delusions of Satan unless you stop where you are and press against the current of worldliness and ambition. Your relations with the world must be changed, and a decided separation must take place. The positions which you occupy, which are continually opening to you doors of temptation, must be given up. Avoid politics; shun contention. Keep clear of every office which would encourage those traits in your character that need to be battled down and overcome.?{5T 339.2}[11]
§25
“你们不能又侍奉上帝，又侍奉玛门”（太6:24）。你既喜爱并且怀有世界的精神，就必抱有一种蔑视的态度，质疑和批评那些带给你真理信息的人。你会嘲笑真理，成为作假见证，控告弟兄的人。上帝赐给你，要你善用来荣耀祂的才干，会被你用来反对祂的作为和圣工。基督与彼列是无法协调的。你已选择了与世界为友，就是断然站在撒但那边。你的本性是与上帝为敌的，会抗拒最清楚的真理证据。恶人不愿忍受那谴责他们错误行径的亮光。{5T340.2}[12]
§26
My brother, you must make a strong, decided effort, or you will never be able to cast off the works of darkness. Satan looks upon you as his own. When you listen to the testimonies of God’s servants, as at the late camp meeting, you are deeply convicted. But you do not respond to the impressions of the Spirit of God; and as you mingle with worldlings you drink in their spirit and are borne down by the worldly current, having no moral power to resist its influence. You become one with the world-loving, and your spirit is worse than theirs, for your choice is voluntary. You love the praise of men, and you love worldly possessions above Jesus. The love of mammon has been woven into every fiber of your being and has become all-absorbing. To eradicate it will be like plucking out the right eye or cutting off the right arm. But I speak to you as one who knows: Unless you overcome this intense love of money, it will cost you your soul’s salvation, and then it would have been better for you had you never been born.?{5T 340.1}[12]
§27
你已敞开心门接受疑惑和怀疑论，但你决不会成为一个诚实的不信者。你可以自夸不相信圣经；但你始终在作伪证，因为你懂道理。{5T341.1}[13]
§28
“Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” Just as far as you love and cherish the spirit of the world you will have a spirit of defiance and will question and find fault with those who bring you the message of truth. You will deride the truth, and will become a false witness, an accuser of the brethren. The talents given you of God to be improved to His glory will be actively employed against His work and cause. There is no concord between Christ and Belial. You have already?chosen the friendship of the world, therefore you are decidedly on the side of Satan. The natural heart is at enmity against God, and will resist the clearest evidence of truth. The wicked will not endure the light that condemns their wrong course of action.?{5T 340.2}[13]
§29
我劝你为永生付出恳切的努力。要打破撒但的网罗；反对他的计谋。要让这句话成为你的心声。“在宇宙中我最担心的就是不知道我的职责，若是知道了，我必履行。”“为耶稣站立”乃是一位垂死圣徒说过的话。是的，I弟兄，要为耶稣站立。这样做要付出很大的代价。你可能不得不改变在世上的地位；但名声、级别、职务对你来说乃是一个网罗，危害你的心灵。爱算计的属世的智慧不断使你转离救主。一种大胆、狂妄、亵渎的不信之心会企图把祂的福音排挤出你的心和世界。然而要为耶稣站立。在你亲友面前，在你一切的业务关系中，在你与世人的交往上，在任何一个地方，你都要为耶稣站立。{5T341.2}[14]
§30
You have opened your heart to doubt and skepticism, but you will never be able to be an honest infidel. You may boast that you do not believe the Bible; but you will be perjuring yourself all the time, for you know better.?{5T 341.1}[14]