《评论与通讯》
THE REVIEW AND HERALD
1852年6月10日
致弟兄姐妹们
近来当我举目四面瞻望，寻找那些跟从柔和谦卑的耶稣的人时，我的心灵就大为不安。{RH June 10, 1852, par. 1}
许多自称等候基督速速降临的人正在渐渐效法这个世界，并且更热心追求人的称赞过于追求上帝的嘉许。他们变成冷淡而形式化了，正像他们前不久所脱离的有名无实的各教会一样，基督对老底嘉教会所讲的话适能形容他们现在的情形(见启3:14-20)。他们“既不冷也不热”，而是“温水。”他们若不听从那“诚信真实见证”的忠告并热心悔改，而获得那“火炼的金子，”“白衣”和“眼药，”祂就要把他们从口中吐出去。{RH June 10, 1852, par. 2}
时候已经来到，那些曾经因主立即降临而喜乐并欢呼的人又退回到那些一度因他们相信基督复临而讥诮他们的众教会和世界的地位上了。那些人曾经散布许多谣言，为要引起众人对他们的偏见，并破坏他们的影响。现在呢，如果有什么人渴望寻求永生的上帝，饥渴慕义，上帝也使他感受祂的大能，并将祂的爱浇灌在他心里，借此满足他的渴望，并且如果他赞美上帝，借此荣耀祂，那些自称相信主快复临的人倒要认为他是受了迷惑，说他是被催眠了，或有了什么邪灵。{RH June 10, 1852, par. 3}
许多自称是基督徒之人的服装、言谈和行为都像世人，所以人们只能从他们所自取的名义得知他们是教徒。他们虽然说是等候基督复临，但他们所讲的话不是关乎天上的事，而是关乎世俗的事。{RH June 10, 1852, par. 4}
那些“切切仰望上帝的日子来到”的人，他们的“为人该当怎样圣洁，怎样敬虔”(彼后3:11)。“凡向祂有这指望的，就洁净自己，像祂洁净一样”(约壹3:3)。可是很明显的，许多在名义上是复临信徒的人却多用心思在装饰自己的身体上，以便得世人的称赞，很少在《圣经》中研究如何得到上帝的嘉许。{RH June 10, 1852, par. 5}
假使我们的榜样，就是可爱的耶稣，今日像古时第一次降世一样临到他们和一般有名无实的教徒当中，他们将要如何看待祂呢?祂是生在马槽里的。跟从祂，看看祂的生活和服务吧。祂是一个多受痛苦，常经忧患的人。这些自命为基督徒的人必要以一位身穿朴素，没有缝儿的里衣，又没有枕头之地的柔和、谦卑的救主为可耻的，祂那没有瑕疵，克己牺牲的生活必要定他们的不是;祂那圣洁的庄严必要在他们的轻佻作风和无谓的戏笑上成为痛苦的约束。祂那没有一点诡诈的言语必要抑制他们那属世和贪婪妄羡的交谈;祂所宣讲质朴、锐利的真理会暴露他们的真面目，他们就会很想要尽快把这柔和的榜样，就是可爱的耶稣除掉。他们必要尽先设法拿住祂的话柄，并扬声呐喊：“把祂钉十字架!把祂钉十字架!”{RH June 10, 1852, par. 6}
我们再跟从耶稣到祂谦卑地骑着驴驹子进入耶路撒冷的时候吧，那时“众门徒都欢乐起来，大声赞美上帝说：奉主名来的王，是应当称颂的。在天上有和平，在至高之处有荣光。众人中有几个法利赛人对耶稣说，夫子，责备祢的门徒吧。耶稣说：我告诉你们，若是他们闭口不说，这些石头必要呼叫起来”(路19:37-40)。现今在自称等候基督复临的人中，大部分也会像法利赛人一样急着要止息门徒的声音，并且毫无疑问会大声疾呼：“狂热主义!催眠术!催眠术!”他们必要认为那些将衣服和棕树枝铺在路上的门徒是太过分、太疯狂了。{RH June 10, 1852, par. 7}
但上帝定意要在地上有一班子民，他们不是冷淡，死气沉沉的，而是能赞美并荣耀祂。祂定意要从一些人的口中得到荣耀，所以如果那些祂所拣选遵守祂诫命的人闭口不说，连石头也要喊叫起来。{RH June 10, 1852, par. 8}
耶稣确是要降临，但不像祂第一次降世，作为伯利恒的婴儿;也不像祂从前骑驴进入耶路撒冷，祂的门徒大声赞美上帝说：“和撒那”的时候;而是要在父的荣耀里，带着那护送祂到地上来的全体圣天使的队伍降临。那时全天庭所有的天使都要出动，而等候祂的圣徒要举目望天欢迎祂，像耶稣从橄榄山上升时，那一小群加利利人一样。那时唯有那些圣洁而完全遵照那谦卑的榜样的人才能在看见祂时欢天喜地的喊叫说：“看哪!这是我们的上帝;我们素来等候祂;祂必拯救我们”(赛25:9)。那时他们要“在一霎时，眨眼之间，号筒末次吹响的时候”(林前15:52)改变，那个号筒必要唤醒睡了的圣徒，叫他们从尘埃中出来，披上光荣的不朽坏的生命，并喊叫说：“胜利!胜利!得胜死亡与坟墓!”变化了的圣徒要和他们一同被接升天，在空中与主相遇，永远不再与他们所爱的人分离。{RH June 10, 1852, par. 9}
我们既然有这样的远景，这样的荣耀指望和基督用自己的宝血为我们买来的这样的救恩摆在眼前，怎能闭口不讲呢?我们岂不应该大声赞美上帝，像门徒在耶稣骑驴进入耶路撒冷的时候一样吗?我们当前的远景岂不比他们当日所看到的光荣得多吗?既然如此，谁敢禁止我们在如此满有不朽和荣耀的指望时大声荣耀上帝呢?我们已经尝了“上帝善道的滋味，觉悟来世权能”(来6:5)，所以渴望再尝。我的全部身体、心灵都渴求永生的上帝，我非为祂的丰富所充满，就不能满足。{RH June 10, 1852, par. 10}
通天的道路是崎岖的。路上有荆棘和蒺藜;但我们可以高高兴兴地踏在这条不平的路上，因为知道那荣耀的王耶稣已经在我们的前面走过。{RH June 10, 1852, par. 11}
我们将很高兴自己能跟随祂的脚踪，与祂的痛苦有分，以致最后分享祂的荣耀。{RH June 10, 1852, par. 12}
即使那些自称仰望主复临的人指责我们，这又何妨呢?即使“一切喜爱虚谎的人”随时准备传播谎言，又有何妨呢?这一切我都能愉快地忍受。我为什么要抱怨呢?我的夫子，荣耀的王，受到的待遇比我所受的恶劣一千倍，我这么一个可怜不配的人还能期待在跟从耶稣时受到比祂所受更好的待遇吗?耶稣既曾承受祂自己百姓就是犹太人的嘲笑和戏弄，并最终为了我而被他们弃绝和钉死，我还有什么可以埋怨的呢?祂为我的罪忍受了这一切。不，我决不埋怨，而要欢喜快乐而且极其高兴，因为我这样算是配为基督的缘故受苦，以便获得天国的赏赐。只要我能在荣耀里承受基业，就心满意足了。为此，我能忍受一切。天国，甜蜜的天国。{RH June 10, 1852, par. 13}
“我渴望在那里，想到天国是何等接近，使我几乎迫不及待地切望基督显现，装备那如此罕见的荣耀居所，就是披上了美丽外衣的大地，我渴望在那里。” {RH June 10, 1852, par. 14}
亲爱的弟兄姐妹们，让我们渴望受难、钉十字架的那部分宗教吧。因为我们要藉着苦难得以洁净，适合天国。我们若要上帝的爱常与我们同在，就必须保持与世界分离。我们一开始效法这世界，上帝的灵很快就会开始离开我们。然而我们若是保持谦卑，过圣洁、无害、远离罪人的生活，就必看见上帝的救恩。唯愿我们努力成为名副其实的基督徒(像基督)，用我们的服装和言行证明基督在我们心中已成为荣耀的盼望，证明我们在等候所盼望的福和耶稣荣耀的显现。我们应当向周围的人表明这世界不是我们的家，我们在这里是客旅和寄居的。{RH June 10, 1852, par. 15}
我的情感、兴趣和财宝，全在未来光明的世界里。我渴望看见王的荣美，祂是天使所崇拜爱慕的，他们屈身敬拜的时候，就将所戴闪闪发光的冠冕投在祂脚前，然后弹奏金琴，使天庭充满他们华美的音乐。{RH June 10, 1852, par. 16}
让那些违背上帝的律法并且教导别人也这么做的人因我们遵守上帝不变的全部十条诫命而公开指责我们从恩典坠落了吧，这不会损害我们。我们既知道虽然他们咒诅我们，耶稣却已宣告祝福，就感到满足。那真实见证者，父的独生子说：“那些遵守祂[天父]诫命的人有福了!可得权柄能到生命树那里，也能从门进城”(启22:14 钦定本)。{RH June 10, 1852, par. 17}
你想一想，当上帝金城的珍珠门户在闪闪发光的铰链上推开，迎接遵守上帝诫命的人进来的时候，他们会忧愁伤心吗?不，决不会的。他们那时要欢喜快乐，因为他们不是在律法的束缚之下，而是遵守了上帝的律法，因而摆脱了律法。他们有权利到生命树那里，有权利享受其医治万民的叶子。他们将听到耶稣那比凡人的耳朵曾听到的任何音乐都华美可爱的声音说：不再有悲伤、痛苦或死亡;叹息哭泣尽都逃避了。{RH June 10, 1852, par. 18}
“那时我们的眼目将喜见
救主圣颜，
我们的脚步将行走在黄金街上，
不再改变方向;
我们的耳朵将喜听
天军歌唱，
我们的舌头将颂扬
我们不朽荣耀的王。”{RH June 10, 1852, par. 19}
怀爱伦
rh1852
June 10, 1852
To the Brethren and Sisters
As I have of late looked around to find the humble followers of the meek and lowly Jesus, my mind has been much exercised.?{RH June 10, 1852, par. 1}
Many who profess to be looking for the speedy coming of Christ, are becoming conformed to this world, and seek more earnestly the applause of those around them, than the approbation of God. They are cold and formal, like the nominal church, that they but a short time since separated from. The words addressed to the Laodicean Church, describe their present condition perfectly. See?Revelation 3:14-20. They are “neither cold nor hot,” but “lukewarm.” And unless they heed the counsel of the “faithful and True Witness,” and zealously repent, and obtain “gold tried in the fire,” “white raiment,” and “eye-salve,” he will spue them out of his mouth.?{RH June 10, 1852, par. 2}
The time has come when a large portion of those who once rejoiced, and shouted aloud for joy, in view of the immediate coming of the Lord, are on the ground of the churches and world who once scoffed at, and derided them for believing that Jesus was coming, and circulated all manner of falsehoods to raise prejudice against them, and destroy their influence.—If any one longs after the living God, and hungers and thirsts for righteousness, and God gives them to feel his power, and satisfies their longing soul, by shedding abroad his love in their hearts, and if they glorify God by praising him, they are, by these professed believers in the soon coming of the Lord, often considered deluded, and charged with having mesmerism or some wicked spirit.?{RH June 10, 1852, par. 3}
Many of these professed Christians dress, talk and act like the world, and the only thing by which they may be known, is their profession. Though they profess to be looking for Christ, their conversation is not in heaven, but on worldly things.?{RH June 10, 1852, par. 4}
“What manner of persons” ought those to be “in all holy conversation and godliness,” who profess to be “looking for, and hasting unto the day of God?”?2 Peter 3:11. “Every man that hath this hope in him, purifieth himself, even as he is pure.”?1 John 3:3. But it is evident that many who bear the advent name, study more to decorate their bodies, and appear well in the eyes of the world, than they do the word of God, to learn how they may be approved of him.?{RH June 10, 1852, par. 5}
What if the lovely Jesus, our pattern, should make his appearance among them, and the professors of religion generally, as at his first advent? He was born in a manger. Follow him along through his life and ministry. He was a man of sorrow and acquainted with grief. These professed Christians would be ashamed of the meek and lowly Saviour who wore a plain, seamless coat, and had not where to lay his head. His spotless, self-denying life would condemn them; his holy solemnity would be a painful restraint upon their lightness and vain laughter; his guileless conversation would be a check to their worldly and covetous conversation; his declaring the unvarnished, cutting truth would manifest their real character, and they would wish to get the meek Pattern, the lovely Jesus, out of the way as soon as possible. They would be among the first to try to catch him in his words, and raise the cry, Crucify him! Crucify him!?{RH June 10, 1852, par. 6}
Let us follow Jesus as he so meekly rode into Jerusalem, when “the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice, (. . .) Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord. Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest. Some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples.—And he answered and said unto them, I tell you, that if these should hold their peace the stones would immediately cry out.” A large portion of those who profess to be looking for Christ would be as forward as the Pharisees were, to have the disciples silenced, and they would doubtless raise the cry, Fanaticism! Mesmerism! Mesmerism! And the disciples spreading their garments and branches of palm-trees in the way would be thought extravagant and wild.?{RH June 10, 1852, par. 7}
But God will have a people on the earth that will not be so cold and dead but that they can praise and glorify him. He will receive glory from some people, and if his chosen people, who keep his commandments should hold their peace the very stones would cry out.?{RH June 10, 1852, par. 8}
Jesus is coming, but not as at his first advent, a babe in Bethlehem, not as he rode into Jerusalem, when the disciples praised God with a loud voice and cried, Hosannah; but in the glory of the Father, and with all the retinue of holy angels with him, to escort him on his way to earth. All heaven will be emptied of the angels. While the waiting saints will be looking for him, and gazing into heaven, as were the “men of Galilee” when he ascended from the Mount of Olivet.—Then, those only who are holy, those who have followed fully the meek Pattern will, with rapturous joy, exclaim as they behold him, “Lo, this is our God, we have waited for him, and he will save us.” And they will be changed “in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump,” that wakes the sleeping saints, and calls them forth from their dusty beds, clothed with glorious immortality, shouting, Victory! Victory! over death and the grave. The changed saints are caught up together with them to meet the Lord in the air, never more to be separated from the object of their love.?{RH June 10, 1852, par. 9}
With such a prospect as this before us, such a glorious hope, such a redemption that Christ has purchased for us by his own blood, shall we hold our peace? Shall we not praise God, even with a loud voice, as the disciples did when Jesus rode into Jerusalem? Is not our prospect far more glorious than theirs was? Who dare then forbid us glorifying God, even with a loud voice, when we have such a hope, big with immortality and full of glory? We have tasted of the powers of the world to come, and long for more. My whole being cries out after the living God, and I shall not be satisfied until I am filled with all his fullness.?{RH June 10, 1852, par. 10}
The way to heaven is rugged. Briers and thorns are in the way; but we can with cheerfulness tread the rough pathway, knowing that Jesus, the King of glory, once trod it before us.?{RH June 10, 1852, par. 11}
We will rejoice that we can follow in his footsteps, and be partakers with him of his sufferings, that we may finally partake of his glory.?{RH June 10, 1852, par. 12}
What if reproaches are heaped upon me, even by those who profess to be looking for the Lord? What if falsehoods are kept in circulation by “whosoever loveth a lie” made ready to their hand? All this I can bear cheerfully. Why should I repine? My Master, the King of Glory, was treated a thousand times worse than I have been, and can I, a poor, unworthy creature, expect any better treatment in following Jesus, than he received? Shall I complain, when Jesus bore the scoffs and derision of his own people, the Jews, and was finally rejected and crucified by them for me? For my sins he bore all this. No, I will not complain; I will rather rejoice and be exceeding glad that I am accounted worthy to suffer for Christ’s sake, that my reward may be in heaven. Only let me have an inheritance in glory, and it will be enough. For that, I can endure anything and everything. Heaven, sweet heaven.?{RH June 10, 1852, par. 13}
“I long to be there, and the thought that ‘tis near, Makes me almost impatient for Christ to appear, And fit up that dwelling of glory so rare—The earth robed in beauty—I long to be there.”?{RH June 10, 1852, par. 14}
Let us, dear brethren and sisters, crave the suffering, crucifying part of religion. For we are to be purified and fitted for the kingdom through suffering. We must keep separate from the world, if we would have the love of God abide with us. As soon as we begin to be conformed to this world, just so soon God’s Spirit begins to depart from us. But if we keep humble, live holy, harmless and separate from sinners, we shall see of the salvation of God. Let us strive to be Christians (Christ-like) in every sense of the word, and let our dress, conversation and actions preach that Christ is formed within, the hope of glory, and that we are looking for that blessed hope and glorious appearing of Jesus. Let us show to those around us, that this world is not our home, that we are pilgrims and strangers here.?{RH June 10, 1852, par. 15}
My affections, interest, treasure, all, is in the bright world to come. I long to see the King in his beauty, whom angels adorate, and as they bow, cast their glittering crowns before him, and then touch their golden harps, and fill all heaven with their rich music.?{RH June 10, 1852, par. 16}
Let those who break God’s law and teach others to do so, denounce us as fallen from grace because we keep all ten of his immutable precepts, it will not harm us. We have the satisfaction of knowing, that while they curse, Jesus has pronounced a blessing. Says the true Witness, the only Begotten of the Father, “Blessed are they that do his [the Father’s] commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the City.”?Revelation 22:14.?{RH June 10, 1852, par. 17}
Think ye that the commandment-keepers will be sorry, and mourn when the pearly gates of the Golden City of God are swung back upon their glittering hinges, and they are welcomed in? No, never. They will then rejoice, that they are not under the bondage of the law, but that they have kept God’s law, and therefore are free from it. They will have right to the tree of life, a right to its healing leaves. They will hear the lovely voice of Jesus, richer than any music that ever fell on mortal ear, saying, There will be no more sorrow, pain or death; sighing and crying have fled away.?{RH June 10, 1852, par. 18}
“Our eyes shall then, with rapture,?
The Saviour’s face behold,?
Our feet, no more diverted,?
Shall walk the streets of gold;?
Our ears shall hear with transport?
The hosts celestial sing,?
Our tongues shall chant the glory?
Of our Immortal King.”?{RH June 10, 1852, par. 19}
Ellen G. White.
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