属灵的恩赐-卷一-第21章
第20章 宗教改革
属灵的恩赐-卷一-第21章
Chap. 20—The Reformation
属灵的恩赐-卷一-第21章
尽管圣徒们受到这一切的逼迫和杀害,但总有上帝真理活的见证人兴起。主的天使们在做所委托给他们的工作。他们在最黑暗的地区搜寻,从黑暗中拣选出心地诚实的人。这些人都被埋没在错谬中,可是上帝拣选了他们,就像祂拣选了扫罗一样,要他们成为被拣选的器皿,去传扬祂的真理,扬起他们的声音反对自称为祂子民之人的罪恶。上帝的天使们感动了马丁·路德、梅兰克吞,以及不同地方其他人的心,使他们渴望上帝圣言的活泼见证。仇敌已像洪水一般涌来,必须举起旌旗抵挡他。路德是蒙拣选去对付暴风雨的一个人,抵抗一个堕落教会的忿怒,并且坚固少数忠于他们的圣洁信仰的人。他总是害怕得罪上帝。他曾试图藉着行为来获得祂的眷爱,但是无法感到满意,直到从天而来的一丝光线驱散了他心中的黑暗,使他信靠基督之血的功劳,而不是信靠行为。于是他就能自己来到上帝面前,不是藉着教皇或听忏悔的神父,而唯独藉着耶稣基督。哦,对路德来说,开始照在他蒙昧的悟性上并驱散他的迷信的这种又新又荣耀的亮光是多么宝贵啊!他珍视它超过世上最丰富的财宝。上帝的道是新的。每件事物都改变了。那部因为从其中看不到优美而曾对其感到恐惧的书,此时对他来说是生命了。它成了他的喜乐,他的安慰,他有福的教师。什么都不能引诱他不去研究圣经。他曾害怕死亡;但是当他听到上帝的道时,所有的恐惧都消失了。他钦佩上帝的品格并且爱祂。他先是为自己查考圣经,并且饱享它所含有的丰富宝藏;然后他开始为教会查考圣经。他厌恶那些他曾寄以得救指望之人的罪恶。当他看到其他许多人也被曾掩盖他的同样的黑暗所掩盖时,他就焦急地寻找机会要向他们指出上帝的羔羊,唯独祂能除去世人的罪孽。他既扬起声音来反对罗马教的各种错谬与罪恶,就热心地致力于打破那捆绑千万人并使他们靠行为得救的黑暗的锁链。他渴望得着能力向他们的心展开上帝实在丰富的恩典,和藉着耶稣基督得到的优越的救恩。本着圣灵的能力,他大声谴责教会领袖们现有的罪恶;而当他面对神父们的反对的风暴时,他并没有丧失勇气;因为他坚定地依赖上帝强壮的膀臂,并且坚心信靠祂必定得胜。当他推进这场战斗,使之越演越烈时,就更为火热地激起了神父们对他的愤怒。他们不想被改革。他们选择留在安逸、寻欢作乐、邪恶之中;他们也想要教会保留在黑暗中。{1SG 119.1}[1]
属灵的恩赐-卷一-第21章
But notwithstanding all the persecution and the putting to death of the saints, yet living witnesses were raised up on every hand. The angels of God were doing the work committed?to their trust. They were searching in the darkest places, and were selecting out of the darkness, men who were honest at heart. They were all buried up in error, yet God selected them as he did Saul, as chosen vessels to bear his truth, and raise their voices against the sins of his professed people. The angels of God moved upon Martin Luther, Melancthon, and others in different places, to thirst for the living testimony of the word of God. The enemy had come in like a flood, and the standard must be raised up against him. Luther was chosen to breast the storm, and stand up against the ire of a fallen church, and strengthen the few who were faithful to their holy profession. He was ever fearful of offending God. He tried through works to obtain the favor of God; but he was not satisfied until a gleam of light from heaven drove the darkness from his mind, and led him to trust, not in works, but in the merits of the blood of Christ; and to come to God for himself, not through popes nor confessors, but through Jesus Christ alone. O how precious was this knowledge to Luther! He prized this new and precious light which had dawned upon his dark understanding, and had driven away his superstition, higher than the richest earthly treasure. The word of God was new. Every thing was changed. The Book he had dreaded because he could not see beauty in it, was?life,Life to him. It was his?joy, his consolation, his blessed teacher. Nothing could induce him to leave its study. He had feared death; but as he read the word of God, all his terrors disappeared, and he admired the character of God, and loved him. He searched the word of God for himself. He feasted upon the rich treasures it contained, and then he searched it for the church. He was disgusted with the sins of those in whom he had trusted for salvation. He saw very many enshrouded in the same darkness which had covered him. He anxiously sought an opportunity to point them to the Lamb of God, who alone taketh away the sin of the world. He raised his voice against the errors and sins of the Papal church, and earnestly longed to break the chain of darkness which was confining thousands, and causing them to trust in works for salvation. He longed to be enabled to open to their minds the true riches of the grace of God, and the excellence of salvation obtained through Jesus Christ. He raised his voice zealously, and in the power of the Holy Spirit, cried against the existing sins of the leaders of the church; and as he met the storm of opposition from the priests, his courage did not fail; for he firmly relied upon the strong arm of God, and confidently trusted in him for victory. And as he pushed the battle closer and closer, the rage of the priests was kindled against him. They did not wish to be reformed. They chose to be left?in ease, in wanton pleasure, in wickedness. They wished the church kept in darkness.{1SG 119.1}[1]
属灵的恩赐-卷一-第21章
我看到路德在谴责罪恶和提倡真理方面是热情热心,大胆无畏的。他不顾恶人或鬼魔;他知道有一位比他们都大的与他同在。路德具有激情、热心、勇气和胆量,有时有走极端的危险。但是上帝兴起了刚好具有相反性格的梅兰克吞来帮助路德继续开展改革工作。梅兰克吞生性胆小、畏惧、谨慎、并且极具耐心。他是大蒙上帝眷爱的人。他对圣经的认识很深刻,他的判断力和智慧也很优越。他与路德一样热爱上帝的圣工。主将这两个人的心紧紧契合在一起;他们是密不可分的朋友。当有胆怯和迟缓的危险时,路德对梅兰克吞是极大的帮助,而当有行动过快的危险时,梅兰克吞反过来对路德就是极大的帮助了。梅兰克吞有远见的警告往往防止了如果只留下路德一人去做圣工就会临到的麻烦;而要是留下梅兰克吞独自一人去作圣工的话,这工作往往就不会被抓紧进行了。我蒙指示看到了上帝在拣选这两个性格不同的人坚持改革工作上的智慧。{1SG 122.1}[2]
属灵的恩赐-卷一-第21章
I saw that Luther was ardent and zealous, fearless and bold in reproving sin, and advocating the truth. He cared not for wicked men and devils. He knew that he had One with him mightier than they all. Luther possessed fire, zeal, courage and boldness, and at times might go too far; but God raised up Melancthon, who was just the opposite in character, to aid Luther, and carry on the work of reformation. Melancthon was timid, fearful, cautious, and possessed great patience. He was greatly beloved of God. His knowledge was great in the Scriptures, and his judgment and wisdom was excellent. His love for the cause of God was equal to Luther’s. These hearts, the Lord knit together; they were friends which were never to be separated. Luther was a great help to Melancthon when he was in danger of being fearful and slow, and Melancthon was also a great help to Luther to keep him from moving too fast. Melancthon’s far-seeing cautiousness often averted trouble which would have come upon the cause, if the work had been left alone to Luther; and the work would often have failed in being pushed forward, if it had been left to Melancthon alone. I was shown the wisdom of God in choosing these two men, of different characters to carry on the work of reformation.{1SG 122.1}[2]
属灵的恩赐-卷一-第21章
后来我又被带回到了使徒时代,看到上帝拣选了热情热心的彼得和温和耐心的约翰共事。有时彼得很冲动。往往在彼得热心和热诚使他太过分时,那蒙爱的门徒就会阻止他。然而,这并没有使他改过。但是在他否认了他的主,悔改,并且归正之后,他所需要的就是来自约翰的柔和的警告来阻止他的热情和热心了。如果只留下约翰一人去作工的话,基督的圣工往往就会受损。彼得的热心乃是必要的。他的胆量和精力往往救他们脱离了困难并且使他们的仇敌闭口不言。约翰很能得人。藉着他的宽容忍耐和深切投入的爱,他为基督的圣工赢得了许多人。{1SG 122.2}[3]
属灵的恩赐-卷一-第21章
I was then carried back to the days of the apostles, and saw that God chose as companions an?ardent and zealous Peter, and a mild, patient, meek John. Sometimes Peter was impetuous. And the beloved disciple often checked Peter, when his zeal and ardor led him too far; but it did not reform him. But after Peter had denied his Lord, and repented, and was converted, all he needed was a mild caution from John to check his ardor and zeal. The cause of Christ would often have suffered had it been left alone to John. Peter’s zeal was needed. His boldness and energy often delivered them from difficulty, and silenced their enemies. John was winning. He gained many to the cause of Christ by his patient forbearance, and deep devotedness.{1SG 122.2}[3]
属灵的恩赐-卷一-第21章
上帝兴起了人们去大声反对罗马教现有的罪恶,推进宗教改革。撒但却竭力毁灭这些活的见证人;但是主却在他们周围安设篱笆。为了荣耀祂的名,有些人得以用自己的血印证他们所见证的道;但是其他有能有力的人,像路德和梅兰克吞,他们活着更能荣耀上帝并揭露神父、教皇和君王的罪恶。这些人在路德的声音面前恐惧战兢。藉着这些蒙拣选的人,亮光开始驱散黑暗,许多人欢喜快乐地接受了亮光并行在其中。当一个见证人被杀害时,两个或更多个见证人就会起来接续他的位置。{1SG 123.1}[4]
属灵的恩赐-卷一-第21章
God raised up men to cry against the existing sins of the Papal church, and carry forward the reformation. Satan sought to destroy these living witnesses; but God made a hedge about them. Some, for the glory of his name, were permitted to seal the testimony they had borne with their blood; but there were other powerful men, like Luther and Melancthon, who could best glorify God by living and crying aloud against the sins of popes, priests and kings. They trembled before the voice of Luther. Through those chosen men, rays of light began to scatter the darkness, and very many joyfully received the light and walked in it. And when one witness was slain, two or more were raised up to fill his place.{1SG 123.1}[4]
属灵的恩赐-卷一-第21章
但是撒但并不满足。他只有权柄控制身体。他不能使信徒们放弃他们的信心和盼望。甚至在死时他们也以在义人复活时不朽的光明盼望夸胜。他们不只有人类的力量。他们不敢片刻打盹睡觉,而是时刻穿着基督徒的全副军装,预备作战,不仅仅是与属灵的仇敌作战,而且与以人形显现的撒但作战。撒但不断地呼喊说:“放弃你的信仰,要不就死。”这少数的基督徒在上帝里面是刚强的,而且在上帝眼中他们比地上一半信奉基圣名、却在祂的圣工中懦弱的人更加宝贵。当教会受逼迫时,教友们却是合一相爱的;他们在上帝里是刚强的。罪人不可以与教会联合。只有那些乐于为基督放弃一切的人才能成为祂的门徒。这些人喜爱贫穷、谦卑、基督化。{1SG 124.1}[5]
属灵的恩赐-卷一-第21章
But Satan was not satisfied. He could only have power over the body. He could not make believers yield their faith and hope. And even in death they triumphed with a bright hope of immortality at the resurrection of the just. They had more than mortal energy. They dared not sleep for a moment. They kept the christian armor girded about them, prepared for a conflict, not merely with spiritual foes, but with Satan in the form of men, whose constant cry was, Give up your faith, or die. Those few Christians were strong in God, and more precious in his sight than half a world bearing the name of Christ; yet cowards in his cause. While the church was persecuted, they were united and loving. They were strong in God. Sinners were not permitted to unite themselves with it; neither the deceiver nor the deceived. Those only who were willing to forsake all for Christ could be his disciples. They loved to be poor, humble and Christ-like.{1SG 124.1}[5]
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