第57章 我们年迈的先驱
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第57章 我们年迈的先驱
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Chap. 57—Our Aged Pioneer Workers
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对于从第三位天使信息的工作开端便参与其中，其经验可追溯到1844年的定期刚过之时的年迈的先驱工作者，主说：“你们的帮助是必需的。不要承担其他较年轻的人所能担当的重担。你们的义务是小心自己的生活习惯，聪明地使用你们自己的体力、智力和灵力。你们有如此众多丰富的经历，当尽己所能地保持你们的力量，好使你们可以按照主所允许你们做工的时间，守在你们的位份上，帮助推进祂的工作。”{7T 286.1}[1]
§4
To the aged pioneer laborers who have been connected with the work of the third angel’s message almost from its beginning, whose experiences in it dates nearly from the passing of the time in 1844, the Lord says: “Your help is needed. Do not take upon yourselves loads that others who are younger can carry. It is your duty to be careful in your habits of life. You are to be wise in the use of your physical, mental, and spiritual strength. You who have passed through so many and such varied experiences are to do all that it is possible for you to do to preserve your powers, that you may labor for the Lord as long as He permits you to stand in your lot and place to help to advance His work.”?{7T 286.1}[1]
§5
这些担重担的人可以和约翰一起说：“论到从起初原有的生命之道，就是我们所听见，所看见，亲眼看见，亲手摸过的。（这生命已经显现出来，我们也看见过，现在又作见证，将原与父同在，且显现与我们那永远的生命传给你们。）我们将所看见、所听见的传给你们，使你们与我们相交。我们乃是与父并祂儿子耶稣基督相交的。……上帝就是光，在祂毫无黑暗。这是我们从主所听见，又报给你们的信息。我们若说是与上帝相交，却仍在黑暗里行，就是说谎话，不行真理了。我们若在光明中行，如同上帝在光明中，就彼此相交，祂儿子耶稣基督的血也洗净我们一切的罪”（约壹1:1-7）。{7T 286.2}[2]
§6
With John, these burden bearers can say: “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; (for the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and show unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;) that which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ.... This then is the message which we have heard of Him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: but if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.”?1 John 1:1-7.?{7T 286.2}[2]
§7
圣工需要年迈工人的帮助，他们在上帝的圣工中有多年的经验；他们一直关注信息在其各个方面的发展与进步；他们看到许多人陷入狂热盲信，喜欢假理论的欺骗，抗拒为使真理之光照耀出来揭露各种迷信而作的所有努力，那些迷信进来使人心混乱，使末世必须传讲给上帝余民的纯洁信息归于徒然。{7T 286.3}[3]
§8
The cause needs the help of the old hands, the aged?workers, who have had years of experience in the cause of God; who have watched the development and the progress of the message in its various lines; who have seen many go into fanaticism, cherishing the delusion of false theories, resisting all the efforts made to let the light of truth reveal the superstitions that were coming in to confuse minds and to make of none effect the message which in these last days must be given in its purity to God’s remnant people.?{7T 286.3}[3]
§9
上帝许多经过试验的仆人已经在耶稣里睡去了。但愿那些幸存下来活到今天的上帝忠仆的帮助得到赏识。但愿他们的见证受到珍视。主善良的手一直与这些忠心的工人们同在。祂要用自己强壮的膀臂高举他们说：“倚靠我。我要作你们的力量和你们极重无比的赏赐。”那些在起初就传讲信息，当战事艰难时英勇地作战的人，现在务必不可放松他们的手。{7T 287.1}[4]
§10
Many of the tried servants of God have fallen asleep in Jesus. Let the help of those who are left alive to this day be appreciated. Let their testimony be valued. The good hand of the Lord has been with these faithful workers. He will uphold them by His strong arm, saying: “Lean on Me. I will be your strength and your exceeding great reward.” Those who were in the message at its beginning, who fought bravely when the battle went hard, must not lose their hold now.?{7T 287.1}[4]
§11
对于那些曾将一生心血贡献在上帝工作上的人，应当予以最亲切的关怀。尽管他们有许多软弱，但他们却仍具有才能，使他们有资格守住自己的位份。上帝切愿他们在祂的圣工上居领袖的地位。他们曾在风浪和考验之下忠贞不移，且是我们中间最有价值的顾问。他们能仍然运用自己的恩赐为主服务，我们当何等感激啊！{7T 287.2}[5]
§12
The most tender interest should be cherished toward those whose life interest is bound up with the work of God. Notwithstanding their many infirmities, these workers still possess talents that qualify them to stand in their lot and place. God desires them to occupy leading positions in His work. They have stood faithful amidst storm and trial, and are among our most valuable counselors. How thankful we should be that they can still use their gifts in the Lord’s service!?{7T 287.2}[5]
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但愿无人忽视这个事实，就是这些认真的角力者在过去牺牲了一切来推进圣工。他们在上帝的服务中已渐衰老头发灰白，这一事实绝不是理由，使他们停止发挥一种比那些对圣工所知甚少且在神圣的事物上经验极少的人要大得多的影响力。他们虽然疲备衰弱，不能担负较为年轻之人所能并且应当担负的比较重的责任，但他们所能给予的忠告却是具有最高价值的。他们曾经犯过错误，但他们已经从失败中学了智慧，学会了避免错误和危险。因此，他们岂不是很有资格提出明智的忠告吗？他们曾经受考验和试炼，虽然现今他们元气稍衰，但他们不应当被经验少的工人们推到一边，这些缺少经验的人对于先驱们的辛劳和自我牺牲知之甚少。主并不撇弃他们。祂赐给他们特别的恩典和知识。{7T 287.3}[6]
§14
Let not the fact be lost sight of that in the past these earnest wrestlers sacrificed everything to advance the work. The fact that they have grown old and gray in the service of God is no reason why they should cease to exert an influence superior to the influence of men who have far less knowledge of the work and far less experience in divine things. Though worn and unable to bear the heavier burdens that younger men can and?should carry, their value as counselors is of the highest order. They have made mistakes, but they have learned wisdom from their failures; they have learned to avoid errors and dangers, and are they not then competent to give wise counsel? They have borne test and trial, and, though they have lost some of their vigor, they are not to be pushed aside by less-experienced workers, who know very little about the labor and self-sacrifice of these pioneers. The Lord does not thus lay them aside. He gives them special grace and knowledge.?{7T 287.3}[6]
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当约翰年老白发时，他蒙赐予一道信息，要传给受逼迫的众教会。犹太人几次试图杀害他，但主说：“要让他活着。我创造了他，必与他同在并保护他。”这位上了年纪门徒不停地为主做见证。他用美妙的语言，动听的声音，感动所有听众的方式讲话，他告诉人基督的言行。他被放逐到拔摩海岛上，但基督在他被放逐时探望他，并传给他《启示录》中的伟大真理。{7T 288.1}[7]
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When John was old and gray-headed, he was given a message to bear to the persecuted churches. The Jews made several attempts to take his life, but the Lord said: “Let him live. I who created him will be with him and will guard him.” Constantly this aged disciple bore testimony for the Master. In beautiful language, with a musical voice, speaking in a way that impressed the hearts of all who heard him, he told of the words and works of Christ. He was sent as an exile to Patmos, but Christ visited him in his exile, and communicated to him the grand truths found in the Revelation.?{7T 288.1}[7]
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当那些毕生致力为上帝服务的人临近他们地上履历的终点时，他们必要受圣灵的感动，说述他们在上帝的工作上所有的经验。有关上帝对待祂子民的奇妙作为，与祂拯救他们脱离试炼之伟大良善的记录，均应向那些新近接受信仰的人反复述说。有些一度与他们在圣工上联合的人，因背道而使上帝的仆人们遭受的试炼，以及因圣灵的运行，而使诋毁那些将起初的信心坚持到底之人的谎言归于无效，这些事也当讲述。{7T 288.2}[8]
§18
As those who have spent their lives in the service of God draw near the close of their earthly history, they will be impressed by the Holy Spirit to recount the experiences they have had in connection with His work. The record of His wonderful dealings with His people, of His great goodness in delivering them from trial, should be repeated to those newly come to the faith. The trials also that have been brought on the servants of God by the apostasy of some once united with them in labor, and the working of the Holy Spirit to make of none effect the falsehoods told against those who were holding the beginning of their confidence firm unto the end, should be related.?{7T 288.2}[8]
§19
不该使仍然在世的老年旗手们处于艰难的地位。那些在工作艰难时服侍主的人，那些在我们的人数稀少时忍受贫穷并坚持忠于真理的人，总要受到尊荣与敬重。我蒙指示要说：每个信徒都要尊重已忍受了诸多试炼艰难和穷困的上了年纪的先驱们。他们是上帝的工人，在建立祂的圣工上起到了显著的作用。{7T 289.1}[9]
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The old standard-bearers who are still living should not be put in hard places. Those who served their Master when the work went hard, who endured poverty and remained faithful to the truth when our numbers were small, are ever to be honored and respected. I am instructed to say: Let every believer respect the aged pioneers who have borne trials and hardships and many privations. They are God’s workmen and have acted a prominent part in the building up of His Work.?{7T 289.1}[9]
§21
主希望那较为年轻的工人与这些上了年纪的工人联合同工，藉此得到智慧，力量，成熟完备。比较年轻的人应当认明：有这样的工人在他们中间，乃是蒙受崇高的福惠。但愿他们向头发灰白的人表示极大的尊重，这些人在圣工的发展中有久博的经验。较年轻的人要在他们的议会中给予这些工人以荣誉的地位。上帝渴望那些在较晚的年月中进入真理的人对这些话加以注意。{7T 289.2}[10]
§22
The Lord desires the younger laborers to gain wisdom, strength, and maturity by association with the aged laborers who have been spared to the cause. Let the younger men realize that, in having such laborers among them, they are highly favored. Let them show great respect for the men of gray hairs, who have had long experience in the development of the work. Let them give them an honored place in their councils. God desires those who have come into the truth in later years to take heed to these words.?{7T 289.2}[10]
§23
愿主赐福并维持我们年老且经过试验的工人们。愿祂帮助他们聪明地保持自己的体力、智力和灵力。我蒙主指示，要对那些在早期传讲信息的见证人说：“上帝已赋予你们理性的能力，祂渴望你们理解并顺从与全人健康有关的律法。不要不谨慎。不要劳累过度。要花时间休息。上帝渴望你们守住自己的位份，尽你们的本分来拯救男女免于被邪恶的洪流冲下去。祂渴望你们一直穿着军装，直到祂吩咐你们脱下为止。不久你们将得到你们的奖赏。”{7T 289.3}[11]
§24
May the Lord bless and sustain our old and tried laborers. May He help them to be wise in regard to the preservation of their physical, mental, and spiritual powers. I have been instructed by the Lord to say to those who bore their testimony in the early days of the message: “God has endowed you with the power of reason, and He desires you to understand and obey the laws that have to do with the health of the being. Do not be imprudent. Do not overwork. Take time to rest. God desires you to stand in your lot and place, doing your part to save men and women from being swept downward by the mighty current of evil. He desires you to keep the armor on till He bids you lay it off. Not long hence you will receive your reward.”?{7T 289.3}[11]