第31章 将会听从劝戒
§1
方法Methods第三十一章 将会听从劝戒
§2
Chapter 31—Admonition Will Be Heard
§3
末日的危险
§4
Dangers of the Last Days
§5
我们正生活在地球历史的末日，可能对背道和否认真理的事不感惊讶。现今不信已成为一门精细的艺术，被人用来毁灭自己的灵魂。传道人在讲台上常有危险成为骗子，他们的生活与他们所讲的话相抵触；然而警告与劝诫的声音一直要传到最后。当主通过所指定的媒介发出责备或劝告时，那些参加了决不应该参加之交易的人会拒绝信息，不肯改正。他们会像法老和尼布甲尼撒那样，直到上帝拿去他们的理性。他们的心不易受感。主的话要临到他们，他们若选择不听，主就让他们为自己的灭亡负责任。?{1NL 101.1}
§6
We are living in the last days of this earth’s history, and we may be surprised at nothing in the line of apostasies and denials of the truth. Unbelief has now come to be a fine art which men work at to the destruction of their souls. There is constant danger of there being shams in pulpit preachers, whose lives contradict the words they speak; but the voice of warning and of admonition will be heard as long as time shall last; and those who are guilty of transactions that should never be entered into, when reproved or counseled through the Lord’s appointed agencies, will resist the message and refuse to be corrected. They will go on as did Pharaoh and Nebuchadnezzar, until the Lord takes away their reason, and their hearts become unimpressible. The Lord’s word will come to them; but if they choose not to hear it, the Lord will make them responsible for their own ruin.?{1NL 101.1}
§7
无畏的见证
§8
An Unflinching Testimony
§9
主为自己兴起了施洗约翰作为使者，预备主的道。他要向世人做出无畏的见证，责备和谴责罪恶。路加在宣布他的使命和工作时说：“他必有以利亚的心志能力，行在主的前面，叫为父的心转向儿女，叫悖逆的人转从义人的智慧，又为主预备合用的百姓”（路1:17）?{1NL 101.2}
§10
In John the Baptist the Lord raised up for Himself a messenger to prepare the way of the Lord. He was to bear to the world an unflinching testimony in reproving and denouncing sin. Luke, in announcing his mission and work, says, And he shall go before Him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people, prepared for the Lord.”?{1NL 101.2}
§11
许多法利赛人和撒都该人来受约翰的洗礼，他对这些人说：“毒蛇的种类！谁指示你们逃避将来的忿怒呢？你们要结出果子来，与悔改的心相称。不要自己心里说：‘有亚伯拉罕为我们的祖宗。’我告诉你们：上帝能从这些石头中给亚伯拉罕兴起子孙来。现在斧子已经放在树根上，凡不结好果子的树，就砍下来丢在火里。我是用水给你们施洗，叫你们悔改；但那在我以后来的，能力比我更大，我就是给祂提鞋也不配，祂要用圣灵与火给你们施洗。祂手里拿着簸箕，要扬净祂的场，把麦子收在仓里，把糠用不灭的火烧尽了”（太3:7-12）。{1NL 101.3}
§12
Many of the Pharisees and Sadducees came to the baptism of John, and addressing these, he said, “O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance: and think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. And now also the ax is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but He that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire; whose fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly purge His floor, and gather His wheat into the garner; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”?{1NL 101.3}
§13
约翰扬声如同号角。他的使命是：“向我百姓说明他们的过犯，向雅各家说明他们的罪恶”（赛58:1）。他从未获得过人间的学位。上帝和大自然是他的教师。但需要有一位在基督前面预备道路，他要像古时的先知一样足够勇敢，使人听到他的声音，号召堕落的国民悔改。?{1NL 101.4}
§14
The voice of John was lifted up like a trumpet. His commission was, “Show My people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.” He had obtained no human scholarship. God and nature had been his teachers. But one was needed to prepare the way before Christ who was bold enough to make his voice heard like the prophets of old, summoning the degenerate nation to repentance.?{1NL 101.4}
§15
被各个阶层听到
§16
Heard by All Classes
§17
众人都到旷野去听他。胸无点墨的渔夫和农夫们从周围的乡村和远近各地过来了。罗马士兵也从希律的军营过来听。首领们腰间佩剑也来了，随时准备镇压任何有暴乱或反叛气味的行为。贪婪的税吏从周边各处过来了；佩戴着经文的祭司也从犹太公会过来了。所有的人都倾听着，好像入迷了一样；所有的人离开时，甚至是法利赛人和撒都该人，还有冷漠，不易受感动的讥诮时局者，都没有了轻蔑的表情，却因自己的罪恶感而扎心。没有详尽地以“第一”“第二”“第三”讲出来的冗长的辩论，没有精雕细琢的理论。而是在简短的句子中显出了纯净自然的口才，每个字都带有严重警告的肯定和真实性。{1NL 101.5}
§18
And all went forth into the wilderness to hear him. Unlearned fishermen and peasants came from the surrounding countries and from regions nigh and afar off. The Roman soldiers from the barracks of Herod came to hear. Chieftains came with their swords girded by their sides, to put down anything that savored of riot or rebellion. The avaricious taxgatherers came from the regions round about; and from the Sanhedrim came forth the phylacteried priests.?All listened as if spellbound; and all came away, even the Pharisee, the Sadducee, and the cold, unimpressionable scoffer of the age, with the sneer gone, and cut to the heart with a sense of their sin. There were no long arguments, no finely cut theories, elaborately delivered in their “firstly,” “secondly,” and “thirdly.” But pure native eloquence was revealed in the short sentences, every word carrying with it the certainty and truth of the weighty warnings given.?{1NL 101.5}
§19
尼尼微的榜样Nineveh an Example
§20
约翰的警告信息与给尼尼微大城的警告是同出一辙：“再等四十日，尼尼微必倾覆了”（拿3:4）。尼尼微人悔改了，并且求告上帝，上帝也接纳了他们对祂的承认，准予他们四十年的宽容时期，好显示他们悔改的真诚，以及他们转离罪恶的真实性。但尼尼微人后来又转而敬拜偶像；她的罪恶比从前更深，更不可救药，因为亮光已经来到却没有人听从。?{1NL 102.1}
§21
The warning message of John was in the same lines as the warning to Nineveh, “Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown.” Nineveh repented, and called upon God, and God accepted their acknowledgement of Him. Forty years of probation was granted them in which to reveal the genuineness of their repentance and to turn from sin. But Nineveh turned again to the worship of images; her iniquity became deeper and more desperate than before, because the light had come and had not been heeded.?{1NL 102.1}
§22
暴露虚假的盼望False Hopes Exposed
§23
约翰呼召每个阶层的人悔改。他对法利赛人和撒都该人说：要逃避将要临到的愤怒。你们自称有亚伯拉罕作你们的父，这对你们没有一点儿价值，不能带给你们纯洁的原则和品格的圣洁。献祭的仪式没有任何价值，除非你们看出它们的目标——上帝的羔羊，除去世人罪孽的。你们偏离上帝的要求，随从自己败坏的思想；你们也丧失了使你们成为亚伯拉罕之子的那些特性。然后他指着周围杂乱无章的岩石，其中有溪流穿过，说道：“上帝能从这些石头中为亚伯拉罕兴起子孙来”（太3:9）。{1NL 102.2}
§24
John called every class to repentance. To the Pharisees and Sadducees he said, Flee from the wrath to come. Your claims to Abraham as your father are not of the least value to you. They will not impart to you pure principles and holiness of character. Ceremonial sacrifices possess no value unless you discern their object, the Lamb of God, that taketh away the sin of the world. You turn from God’s requirements and follow your own perverted ideas; and you lose those characteristics which constitute you children of Abraham. And pointing to the rocks in wild confusion around through which the stream was winding its course, he said, “God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.”?{1NL 102.2}
§25
施洗约翰对付了罪恶，公开指责了从事卑微职业的人和地位尊贵的人。他向国王们和贵族们宣讲了真理，无论他们是听从还是拒绝。他针对个人并且直言不讳。他责备了犹太公会的法利赛人，因为他们的宗教在乎形式而不在乎纯粹甘心乐意的顺从之义。……关于希律与希罗底的婚姻，他对希律说：你娶她是不合法的。他对他讲到了将来的报应，那时上帝要按各人的行为审判各人。……?{1NL 102.3}
§26
John the Baptist met sin with open rebuke in men of humble occupation and in men of high degree. He declared the truth to kings and nobles, whether they would hear or reject it. He spoke personally and pointedly. He reproved the Pharisees of the Sanhedrim because their religion consisted in forms and not in righteousness of pure, willing obedience.... He spoke to Herod in regard to his marriage with Herodias, saying, It is not lawful for thee to have her. He spoke to him of a future retribution, when God would judge every man according to his works....?{1NL 102.3}
§27
我们当做什么呢？What Shall We Do?
§28
“又有税吏来要受洗，问他说：夫子，我们当做什么呢”（路3:12）？他有说：离开你们的税费和税关吗？没有，他对他们说：“除了例定的数目，不要多取”（路3:13）。他们若是仍作税吏，就能掌握诚实的称砣和秤，就能改革那些有欺诈和压迫味道的事情。?{1NL 102.4}
§29
“Then came also publicans to be baptized, and said unto him, Master, what shall we do?” Did he say, Leave your toll and custom houses? No, he said to them, “Exact no more than that which is appointed you.” If they were taxgatherers still, they could hold just weights and balances of truth in their hands. They could reform in those things that savored of dishonesty and oppression.?{1NL 102.4}
§30
“又有兵丁问他说：我们当做什么呢？约翰说：不要以强暴待人，也不要讹诈人，自己有钱粮就当知足”（路3:14）。……{1NL 102.5}
§31
“And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages.”...?{1NL 102.5}
§32
真理的利剑在挥舞
§33
The Sword of Truth at Work
§34
基督也直截了当地对各个阶层的人讲话。祂责备那些凌驾于同胞之上的人，那些因自己的激烈情绪和偏见使得许多人走错路并迫使许多人亵渎上帝的人。真理的利剑被辩解和臆测弄钝了；但基督直指罪名，把斧头放在树根上。祂指出一切敬拜的宗教形式不能拯救犹太民族，因为他们没有凭信心仰望并接受上帝的羔羊为他们的救主。?{1NL 102.6}
§35
Christ also spoke pointedly to every class of men. He reproved those who dominated over their fellow men, those whose passions and prejudices caused many to err and compelled many to blaspheme God. The sword of truth was blunted by apologies and suppositions; but Christ called things by their right names. The ax was laid to the root of the tree. He showed that all the religious forms of worship could not save the Jewish nation, because they did not behold and receive by faith the Lamb of God as their Saviour.?{1NL 102.6}
§36
约翰工作和信息正是在这些末后的日子要继续作工并传讲的。主一直在藉着祂所拣选的器皿赐信息给祂的百姓，祂希望所有的人都听从祂所发出的告诫和警告。{1NL 103.1}
§37
Just such a work and message as that of John will be carried on in these last days. The Lord has been giving messages to His people, through the instruments He has chosen, and He would have all take heed to the admonitions and warnings He sends.?{1NL 103.1}
§38
要悔改！要悔改！Repent! Repent!
§39
约翰在上帝的儿子公开服务之前所发的信息是：税吏们，要悔改；法利赛人和撒都该人，要悔改，“因为天国近了”（太3:2）。我们的信息并非“平安稳妥”的信息（帖前5:3）。作为一班相信基督不久就要显现的子民，我们有一番工作要做，有一个信息要传——“当预备迎见你的上帝”（摩4:12）！我们要高举旗帜，传讲第三位天使的信息——上帝的诫命和耶稣的真道。?{1NL 103.2}
§40
The message preceding the public ministry of the Son of God was, Repent, publicans, repent, Pharisees and Sadducees, “for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Our message is not to be one of “peace and safety.” As a people who believe in Christ’s soon appearing, we have a work to do, a message to bear—“Prepare to meet thy God.” We are to lift up the standard, and bear the third angel’s message—the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.?{1NL 103.2}
§41
今日的信息
§42
The Message for Today
§43
我们所传的信息必须像约翰的信息一样直截了当。他责备君王的罪孽。他责备希律的奸淫。尽管自己的性命堪危，真理却没有从他口中消退。我们必须忠心地做成当代的工作。当代世上的居民被描绘为洪水时代地上的居民。古代世界居民的罪恶被清楚地陈明出来：“耶和华见人在地上罪恶很大，终日所思所想尽都是恶”（创6:5）。上帝厌烦这些百姓，因为他们只想享乐和放纵，不寻求造他们之上帝的忠告，也不在意遵行祂的旨意。上帝便责备了他们，因为他们不断随从己心的想象去行；使地上满了强暴。“耶和华就后悔造人在地上，心中忧伤。”“上帝观看世界，见是败坏了；凡有血气的人，在地上都败坏了行为。上帝就对诺亚说：凡有血气的人，他的尽头已经来到我面前，因为地上满了他们的强暴，我要把他们和地一并毁灭”（创6:6,12,13）。……{1NL 103.3}
§44
The message we bear must be as direct as was the message of John. He rebuked kings for their iniquity. He rebuked the adultery of Herod. Notwithstanding his life was in peril, the truth did not languish upon his lips. And our work in this age must be as faithfully done. The inhabitants of the world at this time are represented by the dwellers upon the earth at the time of the flood. The wickedness of the inhabitants of the old world is plainly stated: “And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” God became weary of these people whose only thoughts were of pleasure and indulgence. They sought not the counsel of the God who had created them, nor cared to do His will. The rebuke of God was upon them because they followed the imagination of their own hearts continually; and there was violence in the land. “And it repented the Lord that He had made man on the earth, and it grieved Him at His heart. And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth. And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before Me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and behold, I will destroy them with the earth.”...?{1NL 103.3}
§45
需要严厉的责备
§46
Stern Rebuke Called For
§47
在地球历史的这个时期，有特殊的义务要尽，特殊的责备要发出。主不会丢下祂的教会不管，不赐下责备和警告。罪恶已经成为时尚；然而在上帝看来仍在加重。罪恶被加以掩盖，辩解，和谅解；以右手行相交之礼加入教会的人正在带入错误的理论和虚假的观点，混乱了上帝子民的思想，麻木了他们的感觉，使他们意识不到何为正确的原则，因而使良心变得麻木不仁，对所赐下的劝勉和责备无动于衷。所赐予的亮光，是呼召人悔改的，却消失在了人的计划和发明所带来的不信和反对的阴云中。?{1NL 103.4}
§48
There are special duties to be done, special reproofs to be given in this period of the earth’s history. The Lord will not leave His church without reproofs and warnings. Sins have become fashionable; but they are none the less aggravating in the sight of God. They are glossed over, palliated, and excused; the right hand of fellowship is given to the very men who are bringing in false theories and false sentiments, confusing the mind of the people of God, deadening their sensibilities as to what constitutes right principles. Conscience has thus become insensible to the counsels and the reproofs which have been given. The light given, calling to repentance, has been extinguished in the clouds of unbelief and opposition brought in by human plans and human inventions.?{1NL 103.4}
§49
上帝所要求的是活泼的热诚。传道人的书本知识或许很少；但他们若是尽力运用自己的才干，若是一有机会便做工，若是用最清楚最简朴的语言讲话，若是作谦卑而审慎行动的人，总是寻求属天的智慧，发自内心地为上帝做工，并怀着超乎一切的动机——对基督和对祂所替死之灵魂的爱——甚至连能力出众才干卓绝的人也会听从他们。在他们所呈现的真理中有朴素的优美。基督是世上所曾知道的最伟大的教师。{1NL 103.5}
§50
It is living earnestness that God requires. Ministers may have little learning from books; but if they do the best they can with their talents; if they work as they have opportunity; if they clothe their utterances in the plainest and most simple language; if they are humble men who walk in carefulness and humility, seeking for heavenly wisdom, working for God from the heart, and actuated by one predominating motive—love for Christ and the souls for whom He has died—they will be listened to by men of even superior ability and talents. There will be a charm in the simplicity of the truths they present. Christ is the greatest teacher that the world has ever known.?{1NL 103.5}
§51
约翰虽没有在拉比学校中学习过，然而国王与贵族，法利赛人和撒都该人，罗马兵丁和官长，受过全部宫廷礼节训练的人，狡诈的人，爱算计的税吏，以及世上著名的人物，都倾听他的话语。他们相信他朴素的话语，并自知有罪。他们问他；“我们当怎样行”（路3:14）？……?{1NL 104.1}
§52
John had not learned in the schools of the rabbis. Yet kings and nobles, Pharisees and Sadducees, Roman soldiers and officers, trained in all court etiquette, wily, calculating taxgatherers, and world-renowned men, listened to his words. They had confidence in his plain statements, and were convicted of sin. They asked of him, “What shall we do?” ...?{1NL 104.1}
§53
需要诚挚的态度
§54
Earnestness is Necessary
§55
在这个时代，就在基督驾着天云复临之前，主需要诚挚的人预备一班人在主的大日站立得住。那些花长时间研究书本的人，并没有在自己的生活上显明这末世代不可缺少的恳切的传道工作。他们没有作简单直白的见证。在传道人和学生中需要注入圣灵。发自全心全意的使者心中的虔诚、恳切的呼吁会使人信服。不需要有学问的人来做这事；因为他们更倚靠从书本上学得的知识，而不是倚靠对上帝和祂所差来的耶稣基督的认识。凡认识那唯一真实永活上帝的人，也必认识上帝的独生子耶稣基督，且要传讲耶稣基督并祂钉十字架。……?{1NL 104.2}
§56
In this age, just prior to the second coming of Christ in the clouds of heaven, the Lord calls for men who will be earnest and prepare a people to stand in the great day of the Lord. The men who have spent long terms in the study of books are not revealing in their lives that earnest ministry which is essential for this last time. They do not bear a simple, straightforward testimony. Among ministers and students there is need of the infusion of the Spirit of God. The prayerful, earnest appeals that come from the heart of a whole-souled messenger will create convictions. It will not need the learned men to do this; for they depend more on their learning from books than upon their knowledge of God and Jesus Christ whom He has sent. All who know the only true and living God will know Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, and will preach Jesus Christ and Him crucified....?{1NL 104.2}
§57
有任何人以为警告的信息不会临到上帝所责备的那些人吗？那些受责备的人可能会愤慨地站起来，并寻求用法律压迫上帝的使者，但在这样做的时候，他们并不是在用法律压迫使者，而是在压迫基督，是祂赐下了责备和警告。当人们因自己的错误行径使上帝的工作和事业处于危险时，他们岂不会听到责备的声音吗？如果只是涉及到做错事的人，所行的事除了他自己没有延及他人，就只有他本人会听到警告的话；但当他的行为给真理的事业造成明确的伤害，且有人因此而处于危险时，上帝就要求按照造成伤害的范围而给与警告。证言不会受阻。责备与警告的话语，就是简明的“耶和华如此说”，要从上帝所指定的媒介发出；因为这些话并非源自人间的器皿；而是来自上帝，是祂指定了他们的工作。如果在属世的法庭提起了诉讼，上帝也容许其进行审判，就是要使祂自己的名得到荣耀。但那提起诉讼的人有祸了。上帝鉴察人的动机，无论是怎样的动机。我祈求主教导我们的弟兄们能直截了当，在这事上不做任何妥协。上帝的事业已因凡与此相关的人而遭受了创伤与损害，他们越早脱离这事，也就越好。……?{1NL 104.3}
§58
Does anyone suppose that the messages of warning will not come to those whom God reproves? The ones reproved may rise up in indignation and seek to bring the law to bear upon God’s messenger, but in doing this, they are not bringing the law upon the messenger, but upon Christ, who gave the reproof and the warning. When men endanger the work and cause of God by their own wrong course of action, shall they hear no voice of reproof? If the wrongdoer only were concerned, and the work reached no farther than him, he alone should have the words of warning; but when his course of action is doing positive harm to the cause of truth, and souls are imperiled, God requires that the warning be as broad as the injury done. The testimonies will not be hindered. The words of rebuke and warning, the plain, “Thus saith the Lord,” will come from God’s appointed agencies; for the words do not originate with the human instrument; they are from God, who appointed them their work. If a suit is instituted in earthly tribunals, and God suffers it to come to trial, it is that His own name may be glorified. But a woe will be upon the man who gives himself to do this work. God reads the motives, whatever they may be. I pray that the Lord will teach our brethren to be straightforward, and make no compromise in the matter. The cause of God has been bruised and wounded by any such men connecting with it, and the sooner they are separated from it, the better....?{1NL 104.3}
§59
上帝需要坚定忠诚的人。祂不会在紧急的时候使用两面派。祂需要人伸手按住错误的工作并且说：“这不符合上帝的旨意。”（《信函》1897年19a号）?{1NL 104.4}
§60
God calls for men of decided fidelity. He has no use in an emergency for two-sided men. He wants men who will lay their hand upon a wrong work and say, “This is not according to the will of God.”—Letter 19a, 1897.?{1NL 104.4}