第57章 我们儿女的教育
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第57章 我们儿女的教育
§2
Chap. 57—The Education of Our Children
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亲爱的C姐妹：上帝既本着祂天意的安排，在某地我们自己的人中设立了一所学校，而你若不将自己的女儿送到她会与那些爱真理的人为伴并受他们影响的地方，却将她送到在某地的神学院，她在那里会与一班属世的人，不尊敬上帝或祂的律法的人结交，试问你怎能指望主会行事抵消你所自愿选择的必会包围她的邪恶影响呢？难道祂会委托祂的天使去做祂已留给你去做的工作吗？上帝不那样行事；祂希望我们遵行祂已在祂的话中赐给我们的亮光。{5T505.1}[1]
§4
Dear Sister C,If God in His providence has established a school among our own people in -----, and if in place of sending your daughter where she would be in the society and under the influence of those who love the truth, you place her in ----- Seminary, where she will be associated with a worldly class who have no respect for God or His law, I ask you how you expect the Lord will work to counteract the evil influence that must surround her and which you have voluntarily chosen. Will He commission His angels to do the work which He has left for you to do? God does not work in that way; He expects us to follow the light He has given in His word.?{5T 505.1}[1]
§5
当上帝要击杀埃及人的长子时，祂吩咐以色列人要把自己的儿女从埃及人中聚集到自己的住处，并把血涂在他们的门框上，灭命的天使看到那血就会越过他们的家。聚集儿女乃是父母的工作。这是你的工作，这是我的工作，也是每一位相信真理的母亲的工作。天使要在凡与罪和罪人分离的人额上印一个印记，而灭命的天使随后会来，将老幼尽行击杀。{5T505.2}[2]
§6
When God was about to smite the first-born of Egypt, He commanded the Israelites to gather their children from among the Egyptians into their own dwellings and strike their door posts with blood, that the destroying angel might see it and pass over their homes. It was the work of parents to gather in their children. This is your work, this is my work, and the work of every mother who believes the truth. The angel is to place a mark upon the forehead of all who are separated from sin and sinners, and the destroying angel will follow, to slay utterly both old and young.?{5T 505.2}[2]
§7
上帝不喜悦我们疏忽轻视祂已放在我们可接触范围内的祝福。祂也不喜悦我们把自己的儿女放在世间的社会，因为这最适合他们的品味和倾向。你若要女儿的灵魂得救，就必须忠诚地作你的工作。上帝一直不喜悦你与世俗结交的行径，现在危险已经显出来了。你还鼓励了她阅读小说；这些故事书和有连载故事的报刊，既放在你的书桌上，就培养了你女儿的品味，直到她的精神迷醉了，需要一种比她自己更坚强的能力，更坚定的意志来控制她。{5T505.3}[3]
§8
God is not pleased with our inattention and trifling with His blessings placed within our reach. Neither is He pleased to have us place our children in worldly society, because this?best suits their tastes and inclinations. If the souls of your children are saved, you must do your work with fidelity. God has not been wholly pleased with your course in regard to worldly associations, and now the peril is revealed. You have also encouraged the reading of storybooks; these, and papers with continued stories, lying upon your table, have educated the taste of your daughter until she is a mental inebriate and needs a stronger power, a firmer will than her own, to control her.?{5T 505.3}[3]
§9
仇敌已在你女儿的身上下了功夫，好像钢条把她牢牢绑住，以致需要坚强不倦的努力，方可救回她的灵命。你若已在这方面成功，就切不可半途而废。多年养成的习惯不是容易打破的。应当把她安置在一个经常发挥坚强、稳定、有恒久感化力之处。我想建议你把她送进某地方的大学；让她接受宿舍的管教。多年之前，她就本该到那里去了。办理宿舍的原意，就是把它办得象一个良好的家庭。这个家庭也许不合一些人的倾向，因为他们已受了虚伪理论的教育，放纵自我而且自满，所有的习惯也都纳入错轨。可是，我亲爱的姐妹啊，我们正在接近时间结束之日，我们现今所要的，不是要迎合世界的品味和习惯，而是要迎合上帝的心意；要查明经上怎么说，而后行在上帝所赐给我们的亮光之中。我们的倾向，我们的风俗与习惯，都没有优先居上之权。上帝的道才是我们的标准。{5T506.1}[4]
§10
The enemy has had his way with your daughter until his toils have bound her about like bands of steel, and it will require a strong, persevering effort to save her soul. If you have success in this case, there must be no halfway work. The habits of years cannot easily be broken. She should be placed where a steady, firm, abiding influence is constantly exercised. I would advise you to put her in the college at -----; let her have the discipline of the boardinghouse. It is where she ought to have been years ago. The boardinghouse is conducted upon a plan that makes it a good home. This home may not suit the inclinations of some, but it is because they have been educated to false theories, to self-indulgence and self-gratification, and all their habits and customs have been in a wrong channel. But, my dear sister, we are nearing the end of time, and we want now, not to meet the world’s tastes and practices, but to meet the mind of God; to see what saith the Scriptures, and then to walk according to the light which God has given us. Our inclinations, our customs and practices, are not to have the preference. God’s word is our standard.?{5T 506.1}[4]
§11
就你女儿的健康来说，正确的习惯会保护她的健康，而错误的习惯则会毁了她的今生和来生不朽的生命。有一个天国要获得，有一个灭亡要躲避；当你本着敬畏上帝的心做了你所能做的一切时，就可以指望主做祂该做的。现在采取决定性的行动会救一个灵魂脱离死亡。{5T506.2}[5]
§12
So far as your daughter’s health is concerned, right habits will secure to her health, while wrong habits will ruin her for this life and for the future, immortal life. There is a heaven to gain, a perdition to shun; and when you in the fear of God have done all that you can do on your part, then?you may expect that the Lord will do His part. Decisive action now may save a soul from death.?{5T 506.2}[5]
§13
你的女儿需要一种坚强的感化力来抵消她所喜爱之友伴的影响。要治愈她的这种精神障碍，必须采取坚决的努力，就象治愈酒鬼对酒的渴望一样。你有一项工作要做，是任何别的人不能为你做的，你也不去做吗？你愿意奉主的名对待你的孩子，就象对待一个有永远灭亡危险的人一样吗？要是她是一个爱上帝，能运用自制的女孩，她的危险就不会这么大了。但她不喜爱思想上帝，思想她的本分，也不喜爱思想天国。她坚持一意孤行。她没有天天从上帝求力量，好使她可以抵挡试探。那么，你岂要把她安置在使她的思想远离上帝，远离真理，远离公义的种种影响中吗？如果这样的话，你就是把她安置在仇敌的战场，毫无力量抵挡他的能力，不能胜过他的试探。{5T507.1}[6]
§14
Your daughter needs a strong influence to counteract that of the society she loves. It will take just as decided efforts to cure her of this mental disorder as it does to cure the drunkard of his craving for liquor. You have a work to do which no other can do for you, and will you fail to do it? Will you in the name of the Lord deal with your child as with a soul in danger of eternal ruin? Were she a girl who loved God, one who could exercise self-control, her peril would not be so great. But she does not love to think of God, of her duty, or of heaven. She persists in having her own way. She does not daily seek strength from God, that she may resist temptation. Will you, then, place her in connection with influences calculated to lead her thoughts away from God, away from the truth, and from righteousness? If so, you place her on the enemy’s battleground, with no strength to resist his power or to over come his temptations.?{5T 507.1}[6]
§15
若是把她安置在有属天神圣感化力的地方，她现在麻痹的道德感受性就会被唤醒，她的思想和目的既蒙上帝祝福，也可被改变，涌进天国的渠道，她就被恢复了。但她现在因内在的败坏和外在的试探而处于危险中。撒但正在以她的性命为儿戏，而且他占尽了赢得这场游戏的优势。{5T507.2}[7]
§16
If she were situated where there were heavenly and divine influences, her moral sensibilities, which are now paralyzed, might be aroused, and her thoughts and purposes, by the blessing of God, might be changed to flow in the heavenly channel, and she be restored. But she is now in danger through inward corruption and outward temptation. Satan is playing the game of life for her soul, and he has every advantage for winning the game.?{5T 507.2}[7]
§17
我在梦中一直在与你谈话，与我在这里写给你的一样。我的心极其关怀你。你的情况现在的确难熬，但是不要灰心。你需要乐观与决定。要寻求上帝的帮助。上帝是你的朋友。你决不是孤独的。圣经是你的顾问。对于凡在黑暗中的人，它乃是亮光。在考验的时辰要坚定，因为你会有新的考验要应付。但要紧紧依靠耶稣，以祂为你的力量。{5T507.3}[8]
§18
In my dreams I have been talking to you as I have here written. My heart yearns over you with intensity. Trying as your case now is, do not despond. You need cheerfulness and decision. Seek for help from God. God is your friend. You are never alone. The Bible is your counselor. It is a light to them who are in darkness. Be steadfast in the hour of trial, for you will have new trials to meet. But cling to Jesus, and make Him your strength.?{5T 507.3}[8]