《评论与通讯》
THE REVIEW AND HERALD
1856年1月10日
来自怀姐妹的通信
亲爱的弟兄姐妹们：
过去的几个月我的精神一直很沮丧。上帝看为合适使用我这个软弱的器皿，过去几年赐给了我一些异象。这个地位不是我想要的。我知道这会使我经历许多精神极度痛苦的时辰。上帝已经把信息赐给我，并且吩咐我要忠实地宣布这些信息。我的感觉一直很敏感，我既敬畏上帝，就不得不如实地叙述上帝指示我看到的事，我内心的痛苦很剧烈。{RH January 10, 1856, par. 1}
而后当我看到那些异象多么少受人关注，它们对别人的影响又是多么小的时候，我就很灰心。近来异象越来越少，我为上帝的儿女作的见证也没有了。我以为我在上帝圣工中的工作已经做完了，我没有别的本分要尽了，只需拯救我自己的灵魂并细心照顾我的小家庭;对我的孩子们发挥良好的影响，与他们一同祷告并为他们祷告，以便他们得救。{RH January 10, 1856, par. 2}
我非常担心他们可能会被撇下，没有父亲的照顾。我丈夫糟糕的健康状况使我为将来感到战兢。我的前景看上去很暗淡。我试着鼓起勇气，然而我的心脏几乎一直在疼痛。我很少讲述我的感受，因为我相信向别人谈论考验和黑暗是不对的，因为这会对他们有一种丧气的效果，会削弱他们的信心。{RH January 10, 1856, par. 3}
最近在11月巴特尔克里克会议中，上帝为我们行了事。上帝的仆人们用心研究了教会的恩赐。既然上帝因这些恩赐一直遭到轻视和忽视而向祂的子民表示不悦，就有祂再以笑脸对待我们的愉快前景。祂会恩慈怜悯地再次把那些恩赐赐给我们，那些恩赐也会活在教会中，鼓励灰心失望的人，纠正和责备犯错的人。{RH January 10, 1856, par. 4}
我们战兢的信心再一次穿透了那一直在我们上方集结的乌云，固定在我们永恒的日头上，祂的光线再一次驱散了我们的阴霾。我们要以盼望和信心对我们周围的人尽本分;忠心地宣布上帝吩咐我们要宣布的信息，无论结果如何。我们若是遵行上帝的旨意，那吩咐我们讲话的主就必照顾我们遵行祂旨意的后果。耶稣不会把我们担不了的担子放在我们身上。{RH January 10, 1856, par. 5}
人人都有一种影响，而且那种影响要么见证上帝和天国，要么见证撒但和地狱。我不能，也不敢保持沉默。我必须警告那些处在危险中的人要逃避上帝的忿怒。一项大工必须为我们做成。我们满足于过着离上帝太远的生活。我们的心在祂面前不正，否则我们就应该深感自己的灵魂渴望献身于祂的圣工。{RH January 10, 1856, par. 6}
我们愿意省察己心，并将自己的生活与我们那位圣洁模范的生活相比较吗?我们太满足于形式了。我们必须有敬虔的能力在自己的灵魂里。我们必须让自己的意念在正确的思路运行。我们太多谈论地上的事了。及至我们相聚敬拜上帝时，就需要花时间才能专注在上帝身上或以一种属天的心境来侍奉祂。我们太少思想上帝和天国了，以致不能本着信心坦然无惧地接近祂;我们在黑暗中祈祷和作工，其实我们有特权在光明里。{RH January 10, 1856, par. 7}
必须有在聚会之外在向上帝而活的经验。我们的思想必须在天上的事上，我们应该怀有开朗快乐的心境，这样，当我们聚会敬拜时，才能本着信心祈祷，才能直达要点而不必费力经过那么多的黑暗。我们必须具有献身的精神。这个可怜的尘世似乎像是一块天然磁石。它吸引并占据我们的思想，以致几乎没有什么空间给属天的思想和原则了。其实不必如此。我自己的经验告诉我，天国能吸引我们。我们能保守我们的思想始终在耶稣和祂可爱的品格以及我们的无价财宝上。我们能在上帝里面刚强。我们可以增强信心。我们在获得胜利时必须保持胜利，然后就会很容易相信了。我们若是继续保持胜利，我们的信心就会增长。只有这样，我们才能成为得胜者，并且最终取得胜利。{RH January 10, 1856, par. 8}
然而我们往往是取得了一点胜利，感到上帝听了我们的祈祷，及至考验出现，乌云和逆境来到，我们便放弃了所取得的胜利。我们的信心死了，我们就又开始鼓励不信进入我们的心灵中。而当我们要为灵魂的自由再作一次努力时，我们就会比以前更难达到目的，更难接受上帝的话了。我们必须先哀悼自己，悲伤自己如此黑暗;我们不得不为胜利付出比以前更大的努力。{RH January 10, 1856, par. 9}
我们应当拥有那种抓住上帝的应许而且不肯放手的信心;会在逆境、密云和阴暗中存活的信心，虽然战兢，这种信心却会找到办法穿越每一个障碍，上进到第二层幔子里，并在那里抓住想要的福气。死的信心对我们没有任何益处。我们必须有活的信心，然后我们才会有活的经验。{RH January 10, 1856, par. 10}
过去的几周我们感受到了上帝的能力和福气。上帝一直是非常仁慈的。祂以一种奇妙的方式为我的丈夫行了事。我们用信心的膀臂把他带到我们的大医师面前，并像盲人巴底买一样呼求说：‘大卫的子孙耶稣啊!可怜我们吧’(参 可10:47)!我们便得了安慰。我们感受到了上帝的医治之能。所有的药物都一直被丢在一边，我们惟独依赖我们大医师的膀臂。我们还没有感到满足。我们的信心说：要完全恢复。我们已见到上帝的救恩，可是我们期望见到并感到更多。我毫无疑惑地相信我的丈夫还会向世界发出最后警告的信息。{RH January 10, 1856, par. 11}
过去的几周我们的平安如江河。我们的心灵在上帝里夸胜。我心里充满了感恩，说不出来的感恩，因为我们最近感受到也看到了上帝之爱的记号。我们意欲重新把自己献给上帝;献身于工作。我们想为成为活祭献给上帝，散发一种圣洁的影响。我的身心渴望上帝。我渴，我渴想活水。{RH January 10, 1856, par. 12}
我们的榜样和生活要么见证天国、永生，要么见证黑暗和死亡。我们的生活应当圣洁，我们应当常与上帝保持交通，从活葡萄树耶稣汲取营养，以便我们的灵魂在主里面兴盛。然后我们才能发挥圣洁的影响。那些相信我们拥有传给世人的最后怜悯信息之人的生活应当多么圣洁啊!我们应当采取一种谦卑柔和的立场，但我们所信奉的真理必引导我们高举标准，并且去占据高尚的位置，远远高过世上那些低俗、虚荣、爱开玩笑举止轻浮的人。{RH January 10, 1856, par. 13}
真基督徒的谦卑会引我们到这个地步。意识到我们自己的软弱和脆弱，会引导我们倚赖那位有大能施行拯救的主，祂乐于赐力量和勇气给谦卑自卑的恳求者。谦卑是基督徒能佩带的最伟大的装饰。耶稣喜爱尊荣和高举这样的人。在耶稣里面有一种丰满。我们可以与祂丰富的恩典和丰盛的救恩有分。我们可以在一位完整纯粹的救主里面欢喜快乐，并对上帝有坚定不动摇的倚赖和信心。我们太没有信心，太容易疑惑了。我们对上帝的宝贵应许的信心应当天天增长。我们若是保持了对黑暗权势的胜利，就必是藉着恒常的、坚持不懈的警醒和几乎不间断的祷告做到的。这必须是每天的工夫。我们若是在恩典上和真理的知识上长进，就必须谨慎择言并以恩典来调和。上帝必帮助我们的努力。天使必看顾我们，我们的灵魂必像浇灌的园子。{RH January 10, 1856, par. 14}
怀爱伦
rh1856
January 10, 1856
Communication From Sister White
Dear Brethren and Sisters,
For some months past my spirit has been much depressed. God has seen fit to use me, a feeble instrument, for a few years past by giving me visions. This place I have not desired. I have ever known that it would cause me many hours of anguish of spirit. Messages have been given me, and it has been enjoined upon me to be faithful in declaring them. My feelings have been sensitive, and while with the fear of God before me, I have been obliged to faithfully relate what God has shown me, my sufferings of mind have been intense.?{RH January 10, 1856, par. 1} And then when I have seen how little the visions have been heeded, and what little effect they have had upon others, I have been discouraged. The visions have been of late less and less frequent, and my testimony for God’s children had been gone. I have thought that my work in God’s cause was done, and that I had no further duty to do, but to save my own soul, and carefully attend to my little family; have a good influence over my children, pray with them, and for them, that they may be saved.?{RH January 10, 1856, par. 2}
I have greatly feared they might be left without a father’s care. My husband’s poor health has made me tremble for the future. My prospects looked dark. I have tried to bear up with good courage, but have nearly all the time carried with me an aching heart. I have seldom told my feelings, for I believed it to be wrong to talk trials and darkness to others, as it would have an effect to discourage them, and weaken their faith.?{RH January 10, 1856, par. 3}
At our late Conference at Battle Creek, in November God wrought for us. The minds of the servants of God were exercised as to the gifts of the Church, and if God’s frown had been brought upon his people because the gifts had been slighted and neglected, there was a pleasing prospect that his smiles would again be upon us, and he would graciously and mercifully revive the gifts again, and they would live in the Church, to encourage the desponding and fainting soul, and to correct and reprove the erring.?{RH January 10, 1856, par. 4}
Our trembling faith has again pierced the clouds of darkness that have been gathering over us, and is fixed upon our Eternal Sun, whose beams have again dispersed our gloom. And with hope and confidence we will do our duty to those around us; declare faithfully what God bids us, let the consequences be what they may. He that bids us speak will take care of the consequences if we do his will. Jesus will not lay upon us any greater burden than we can bear.?{RH January 10, 1856, par. 5}
All have an influence, and that influence tells for God and heaven, or for Satan and hell. I cannot, I dare not hold my peace. I must warn those in danger to escape the wrath of God. A great work must be done for us. We are contented to live at too great a distance from God. Our hearts are not right before him, or we should feel deep longings of soul for a devotedness to his cause.?{RH January 10, 1856, par. 6}
Are we willing to search our own hearts, and compare our lives with our holy Pattern! We are too well satisfied with a form. We must have the power of godliness in the soul. We must have our minds running in the right channel. Our conversation is too much upon things of earth. And when we meet to worship God, it takes time to get the mind fixed upon God, or in a heavenly frame to serve him. We have had so few thoughts of God and heaven, we cannot approach him with confidence in faith; and we pray and labor in darkness, when it is our privilege to be in the light.?{RH January 10, 1856, par. 7}
There must be a living to God out of meeting. Our thoughts must be upon heavenly things, and a cheerful, happy frame of mind we should cherish, and then when we meet to worship, we can pray in faith, can come right to the point without wading through so much darkness. We must possess a spirit of consecration. This poor earth seems to be like a load stone. It draws our minds and occupies them so that there is but little room for heavenly thoughts and principles. This need not be so. My own experience tells me that heaven can attract us. We can keep our thoughts upon Jesus and his lovely character, and upon our priceless treasure. We can be strong in God. We can have an increase in faith. We must hold the victory as we obtain it, and then it will be easy believing. If we continue to hold the victory, our faith will grow. This is the only way we can be overcomers, and at last come off victorious.?{RH January 10, 1856, par. 8}
But how often we get a little victory, feel that God had heard us pray, and when any trial arises, and dark clouds and adversity come, we yield up what we have obtained. Our faith dies, and we again encourage unbelief to come into our souls. And when we would make another effort for freedom of soul, it is much harder for us to come up to the point, to take God at his word than before. We must first mourn about ourselves, and sorrow that we are so dark; and we have to make a greater effort for victory than before.?{RH January 10, 1856, par. 9}
Let us have that faith that takes hold of the promises of God, and will not let go; faith that will live in adversity, clouds and gloom, and although trembling, will find its way through every obstacle, up within the second vail, and there grasp the desired blessing. A dead faith will do us no good. We must have a living faith, and then we shall have a living experience.?{RH January 10, 1856, par. 10} We have felt the power and blessing of God for a few weeks past. God has been very merciful. He has wrought in a wonderful manner for my husband. We have brought him to our great Physician in the arms of our faith, and like blind Bartimaeus have cried,“Jesus thou Son of David, have mercy on us;” we have been comforted. The healing power of God has been felt. All medicine has been laid aside, and we rely alone upon the arm of our great Physician. We are not yet satisfied. Our faith says, Entire restoration. We have seen the salvation of God, yet we expect to see and feel more. I believe without a doubt that my husband will yet be able to sound the last notes of warning to the world.?{RH January 10, 1856, par. 11}
For weeks past our peace has been like a river. Our souls triumph in God. Gratitude, unspeakable gratitude, fills my soul for the tokens of God’s love, which we have of late felt and seen. We feel like dedicating ourselves anew to God; devoting ourselves to work. We desire to be a living sacrifice to God, and to shed a holy influence. My very being longs after God. I thirst, I pant for living waters.?{RH January 10, 1856, par. 12}
Our example and lives tell either for heaven, eternal life, or darkness and death. Our lives should be holy, and we should oft hold communion with God, draw nourishment from Jesus the living vine, that our souls may flourish in the Lord. Then can we exert a holy influence. How holy should those live who believe we are having the last message of mercy to the world. We should take a humble, meek stand, and yet the very truths that we profess will lead us to exalt the standard, and to occupy an elevated position, far above the low, vain, joking trifler of the world.?{RH January 10, 1856, par. 13}
True christian humility will lead us to this. A sense of our own weakness and frailty will lead us to lean upon One that is mighty to save, whose delight is to impart strength and courage to the humble, self-abased suppliant. Humility is the greatest ornament a christian can wear. Jesus loves to honor such, and lift them up. There is a fullness in Jesus. We can partake of his rich grace, and abundant salvation. We can rejoice in a whole Saviour, and have unwavering trust and confidence in God. We are too faithless, too doubting. Our faith in God’s precious promises should grow every day. If we hold the victory over the powers of darkness it must be by constant, persevering watchfulness and almost unceasing prayer. It must be an every day work. If we grow in grace and in knowledge of the truth, we must have the words of our mouth select, and seasoned with grace. God will help in our efforts. Angels will watch over us, and our soul will be like a watered garden.?{RH January 10, 1856, par. 14}
E. G. White.
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