THE INDIANA REPORTER
《印地安那州记者》
1903年2月25日
1、对我们全体信徒的呼吁
时候已到，主希望祂的子民运用一切的能力来缓解我们学校的状况。{IR February 25, 1903, par. 1}
我们要呼吁信徒就在现在尽最大努力提供帮助。我们要呼吁他们在购买这本书方面做一件会令上帝喜悦的事。我们将要求用一切可用的手段来帮助推广这本书。 {IR February 25, 1903, par. 2}
学校必须得到帮助。让所有的人都齐心协力，并尽可能多地提供帮助。大福气会临到那些愿意现在就把握这事的人。我们的传道人不要灰心丧气，好像这不是一件恰当的事情。他们应该把握这项工作。如果他们正确地——愉快地、满怀希望地——从事这项工作，就必在其中得到非常大的福气。主并不强迫任何人作工，但祂必赐给那些愿意坚定地置身在祂一边的人一颗乐意的心。 {IR February 25, 1903, par. 3}
要对上帝有信心。祂给了我奉献《基督比喻实训》来救济学校的想法。祂正在这件事上试验祂的子民和机构，要看看他们是否愿意一起工作，同心合意舍己和自我牺牲。要奉主的名毫不退缩地推进这项工作。要让上帝的计划得到维护。要让祂的提议得到充分实施和由衷的认可，作为在自我牺牲的努力上联合教会肢体的手段。这样他们的灵与魂与身子就会得以成圣，作尊贵的器皿，是上帝能赐予祂的圣灵的。用这种方法他们就会完成上帝计划要完成的工作。{IR February 25, 1903, par. 4}
要激励每一个家庭，每一个教会去竭尽所能，每一个人都把自己献给上帝，将邪恶的酵从心中、从家里、从教会除净。要让每一个家庭都充分利用主给的这个机会。要让大家一起作工，孩子也要参与一份。要让家庭的每一个成员都有所作为。要教育，再教育。这是上帝的子民丧失不起的一个机会。上帝在呼唤。此时要尽你所能，将你的供物交给祂，执行祂所定的旨意;从而以此为一个机会，为祂和祂的真理作见证。在黑暗的世界里，要让你的光照耀出来。文字布道士应当尽自己最大的努力推销《基督比喻实训》这本书。他们的工作将达到双重目的。他们会把一本含有最宝贵亮光的书放在人们家中，撒下种子，把真理带给将要灭亡的人。人们把这种子接到自己的心里，就必因相信真理而救了自己的灵魂。同时会收集到资金用于救助学校。这样，就会在这项工作中成就双倍的好处。但愿大家由衷地完成这项工作，像是对主做的。{IR February 25, 1903, par. 5}
要做成一项明确的工作以完成上帝的计划。在推销《基督比喻实训》的工作中，要让每一个举动都为主作见证。上帝希望祂的子民前所未有地活跃起来从事工作，为了他们的益处也为了增进祂的事业。服役的天使会在工人们周围。{IR February 25, 1903, par. 6}
要让我们的机构尽一切努力摆脱债务。要唤醒每一个家庭。要唤醒我们各教会的传道人和各区会的会长。然后祂就会告诉你们下一步做什么。{IR February 25, 1903, par. 7}
你们需要对行事缓慢的人有耐心，他们不觉得有必要迅速、周到、认真地做什么事。他们有那么多话要说，那么多不信要表达，还有那么多批评，以致在他们决定行动之前就失去了上帝旨意中的平安、喜乐和幸福。我们必须成为利用上帝所赐机会的男男女女。我很高兴在努力实现上帝的这个目的和充分利用祂的天意时表现出了那么多的和谐行动。{IR February 25, 1903, par. 8}
推销《基督比喻实训》的计划是主向我提出的，会成为一个全面的福气。这是一个领袖与百姓都能参与并得到福气的计划。一幅又一幅景象呈现在我面前，其中显明传道人被唤醒去尽自己的本分。教会肢体开始感兴趣，整家的人开始从事这项工作。上帝的天使与工人们联合起来，敞开门户让书报员进去，告诉人们他们推销《基督比喻实训》为要成就的工作。{IR February 25, 1903, par. 9}
我看到这本书有了很好的销路。成千上万与我们信仰不同的人买了这本书，一些人在看到书中内容的价值之后，又买了好几本分发给他们的朋友。{IR February 25, 1903, par. 10}
工人们付出了时间，在金钱上什么也没有得到，但却得到了价值无限的回报。{IR February 25, 1903, par. 11}
个人的行动带来了行善的意识。那些从事这项工作的人身心的健康都得到了改善。他们还得到了一种使他们的心在主里喜乐的经验。他们没有时间说不必要的话。他们惟一的想法就是：“这本书必须卖出去，因为必须解除学校的债务。”似乎在每一个地方都能听到祈祷的声音，对这项工作的信心也在不断增加。一种快乐的热心充满了工人们的心。{IR February 25, 1903, par. 12}
这个计划的结果使我非常开心，那些卖这本书的人也很开心。他们互相帮助使这项工作取得成功。{IR February 25, 1903, par. 13}
我看到在推销《基督比喻实训》时，我们的人是在学习如何推销更大的书。他们是在预备好进入文字布道园地。他们把握这项工作的热情显明他们赏识学习如何推销书报的机会。偏见被消除了。工人们在与人们熟识起来时，获得了一种宝贵的经验;他们的榜样也帮助教会看到他们周围都有工作要做。教会中有些人需要因告诉别人真理而获得的经验，此外，当他们前去从事这项工作时，他们的才能便大大增加了。救主行在他们前面，主的福气成了祂子民的力量。讲台也成了有能力的所在。 {IR February 25, 1903, par. 14}
我看到推销《基督比喻实训》为建立差会开辟了道路。在教会里复兴了宣教的精神。人们表现出一种恳切的愿望要学习如何为主作工。一小群一小群的人聚集在一起祷告和学习圣经。大家都和谐一致地向前进。信徒们前往人们很少有机会去听上帝的道的地方，并且召聚孩子们上安息日学。为帮助孤立的家庭作出了努力。为这些家庭制定了与其他家庭聚在一起学习圣经的计划。这样就为亮光从上帝的道中照耀出来开辟了道路。{IR February 25, 1903, par. 15}
许多基督的仆人，虽然经常受到提醒，似乎还是忘了他们是主的货财的管家。他们中的许多人因无所作为而生锈了。主在祂的天意安排中，现在给了他们事情去做，为他们开了路，去帮助别人认识现代的特别真理。祂已赐给他们一项工作去做，会带来伟大而且极重要的结果。他们在离开自我满足的安乐椅，前去将真理之光传给同胞时，会学到宝贵的教训。通过推销《基督比喻实训》，他们在做着双重的工作，既帮助我们的各学校摆脱债务，同时又将真理之光传给那些在黑暗中的人。{IR February 25, 1903, par. 16}
我希望任何一个从事这项工作的人都不会为自己开脱，从而失去其中所有的福气。这项工作是主所命定的手段，为要使祂的百姓心连心，所用的链环是使他们与祂自己联合的链环。“我们是与上帝同工的”(林前3:9)。这句话似乎特别适合现在正在做着的工作。{IR February 25, 1903, par. 17}
有许许多多的人是主耶稣想要拯救的，祂请我们与祂合作。这些灵魂使祂付上了无限的代价。我们应当扪心自问：“我们愿意成为与上帝同工的人吗?我们愿意到信仰之外的人那里去，在他们心里种下真理的种子吗?” {IR February 25, 1903, par. 18}
现在正在做着的推销《基督比喻实训》的工作是主想要看到祂子民推进之工的一个良好开端，因为这需要牺牲和奉献，也因为这工作能使人人都参与一份。主的计划已经提供了一个方法，使人人都可有所作为。当你们前去推销祂已宣布应当推销的这本书时，你们会体验到这个祝福是对你们讲的：“愿主耶稣基督的恩惠、上帝的慈爱、圣灵的感动，常与你们众人同在”(林后13:14)! {IR February 25, 1903, par. 19}
推销《基督比喻实训》的工作将在不同方面成就两到三倍的好处。购买了这本书的人觉得自己是做了点什么来推进一项有价值的事业。这项工作是认真地完成的，深深地打动了他们的心。这对他们来说是一个教训;尽管他们可能与我们信仰不同，但他们却赏识所做出的努力。工人们的认真态度给他们留下了深刻的印象。他们认识到自己所正在做的是蒙主嘉许的，主赐福每一项善工。亮光照进他们心里。对许多人来说，圣灵的信念会来到，作为为主做的这种无私工作所撒种子的结果。推销《基督比喻实训》一书的结果将是宝贵灵魂的得救。{IR February 25, 1903, par. 20}
主离工人们很近，天使也行在他们前面。我的弟兄姐妹们，决不要忘记你们在与谁作伴。要凭信心看见天军在在你们周围。要相信主耶稣在你们身边，祂的荣耀环绕着你们，祂正将祂使人安舒的恩典的甘霖倾降在你们身上。你们说话行事都要荣耀上帝。要说：“我要在思想、言语和行为上造福我所遇到的人。我要让光照耀出来。”要与人们交谈。开始熟悉他们的经历;并从你正推销的书中读一些能帮到他们的段落。要把天国的阳光带到他们家里。在真理之外，如今世界上这样的阳光很少。{IR February 25, 1903, par. 21}
当你们设法熟悉那些不知道真理的人时，当你力求说话合时适宜时，要记住你是上帝的助手，祂必教导你说出会使亮光照进暗昧心思的话语。门户必为救灵的工作敞开。许多在最后一个时辰开始为主作工的人会以极大的热心为祂操劳。他们会赏识圣经的奇妙真理，且会将这些真理带进日常的生活中。{IR February 25, 1903, par. 22}
工人们应当记住，他们的精神和行为对他们所遇到之人的意念有着强有力的影响。应当让他们感觉到他们对上帝的依赖。只有当我们把自己放在上帝手里，让祂的灵动工时，祂才能使用我们打破仇敌控制人心的能力。他们还应当记住，他们应当向那些在这项工作中熟悉起来的人讲说救主的爱，祂虽然富足，却为我们的缘故成了贫穷，叫我们可以富足。{IR February 25, 1903, par. 23}
HE INDIANA REPORTER
25-Feb-03
A Call to All Our People
The time has come when the Lord would have all the powers of His people brought into exercise to relieve the situation of our schools. {IR February 25, 1903, par. 1}
We shall call upon the people to help to the utmost of their ability just now. We shall call upon them to do a work which will be pleasing to God in purchasing the book. We shall ask that every available means be used to help to circulate this book. {IR February 25, 1903, par. 2}
The schools must be helped. Let all lift harmoniously and help as much as they possibly can. Great blessings will come to those who will take hold of this matter just now. Let no discouragement be offered by our ministers, as though it were not a proper thing to do. They should take hold of this work. If they do it aright, cheerfully, hopefully, they will find it a very great blessing. The Lord does not force any man to work, but to those who will place themselves decidedly on His side He will give a willing mind. {IR February 25, 1903, par. 3}
Have faith in God. He gave me the idea of giving “Christ’s Object Lessons” for the relief of the schools. He is testing His people and institutions in this thing, to see if they will work together and be of one mind in self-denial and self-sacrifice. Carry forward this work without flinching, in the name of the Lord. Let God’s plan be vindicated. Let His proposition be fully carried out and heartily indorsed as the means of uniting the members of the churches in self-sacrificing effort. Thus they will be sanctified, soul, body and spirit, as vessels unto honor, to whom God can impart His Holy Spirit. By this means they will accomplish the work God designs to have done. {IR February 25, 1903, par. 4}
Stir up every family, every church, to do the very utmost of their power, every one consecrating himself to God, putting the leaven of evil out of his heart, out of the home and out of the church. Let every family make the most of this, the Lord’s opportunity. Let all work together. Let children act a part. Let every member of the family do something. Educate, educate. This is an opportunity which God’s people cannot afford to lose. God calls. Do your best at this time to render to Him your offering, to carry out His specified will, and thus make this an occasion for witnessing for Him and His truth. In a world of darkness let your light shine forth. Let canvassers do their best in canvassing for the book, “Christ’s Object Lessons.” Their work will serve a double purpose. They will place in the homes of the people a book containing most precious light, seed sown to bring truth to souls ready to perish. In receiving this seed into their hearts, they will save their souls through belief of the truth. At the same time means will be gathered for the relief of the schools. Two-fold good will thus be accomplished in this work. Let it be done heartily as unto the Lord. {IR February 25, 1903, par. 5}
There is to be a decided work done to accomplish God’s plan. Make every stroke tell for the Master in the work of canvassing for “Christ’s Object Lessons.” God desires His people to be vitalized for work as they have never been before, for their good and for the upbuilding of His cause. Ministering angels will be round about the workers. {IR February 25, 1903, par. 6}
Let our institutions make every effort to free themselves from debt. Let every family arouse. Let the ministers of our churches and the presidents of our conferences awaken. Then He will tell you what to do next. {IR February 25, 1903, par. 7}
You will need to have patience with the tardy ones, who do not feel the necessity of doing anything promptly, thoroughly, earnestly. They have so much to say, so much unbelief to express, and so much criticising, that they lose the peace and joy and happiness in the purposes of God before they can decide to move. We must become men and women of God’s opportunity. I am so glad that so much harmonious action has been shown in striving to carry out this purpose of God, and to make the most of His providences. {IR February 25, 1903, par. 8}
The plan was presented to me by the Lord as one that would be an all-round blessing. It was a plan by which leaders and people would be enabled to act a part and receive a blessing. Scene after scene was presented to me in which ministers were being aroused to act their part. Church members became interested, and whole families took part in the work. Angels of God united with the workers, opening doors for the canvassers to enter and tell the people of the work they were trying to do in selling “Object Lessons.” {IR February 25, 1903, par. 9}
I saw that the book found ready sale. It was bought by thousands not of our faith, and some, after seeing the value of the matter it contained, bought several copies for distribution among their friends. {IR February 25, 1903, par. 10}
The workers gave their time, receiving nothing so far as money is concerned, but receiving a reward of infinitely greater value. {IR February 25, 1903, par. 11}
Individual action brought a consciousness of well-doing. Those who engaged in the work improved in health of body and health of mind. They gained an experience that made their hearts glad in the Lord. They had no time to speak needless words. Their one thought was, “The book must be sold, for the debt must be lifted from the schools.” It seemed as if in every place prayer could be heard, and faith in the work constantly increased. A happy enthusiasm filled the hearts of the workers. {IR February 25, 1903, par. 12}
I was made very happy by the result of the plan, and those who engaged in selling the book were happy. They helped one another to make the work a success. {IR February 25, 1903, par. 13}
I saw that in selling “Object Lessons” our people were learning how to handle larger books. They were being prepared to enter the canvassing field. The earnestness with which they took hold of the work showed that they appreciated the opportunity of learning how to canvass. Prejudice was removed. In becoming acquainted with the people the workers gained a valuable experience; and as they were thus sinking fresh shafts, their example helped the church to see that all around them there was work to do. There were those in the church who needed the experience to be gained in telling others of the truth; and as they went forth to this work, their talents were greatly increased. The Savior went before them, and the blessing of the Lord became His people’s strength. The pulpit became a place of power. {IR February 25, 1903, par. 14}
I saw that the sale of “Object Lessons” opened the way for the establishment of missions. In the church there was a revival of the missionary spirit. An earnest desire to learn how to work for the Lord was shown. Small companies gathered for prayer and Bible study. All moved forward with harmonious action. Believers went to places where the people have no opportunity to hear the Word of God, and gathered the children for Sabbath School. Efforts were made to help isolated families. Plans were laid for these families to meet with other families for Bible study. Thus the way was opened for light to shine forth from the Word of God. {IR February 25, 1903, par. 15}
Many of the servants of Christ, although constantly reminded, seem to forget that they are stewards of their Lord’s goods. I have been shown that many of them have become rusty from inaction. The Lord, in His providence, has now given them something to do, and has thus opened the way for them to help others to become acquainted with the special truths for this time. He has given them a work to do that will bring a great and grand result. In getting out of the easy chair of self-satisfaction, and going forth to give the light of truth to their fellow-men, they will learn an excellent lesson. By selling “Object Lessons” they are doing a two-fold work—helping to lift the debt from our schools, and at the same time giving the precious light of truth to those who need it. {IR February 25, 1903, par. 16}
I hope that no one who can engage in this work will excuse himself, and so lose the blessing that there is in it. This work is the means that the Lord has ordained for uniting the hearts of His people to one another by the same link that unites them to Himself. “We are laborers together with God.” These words seem so appropriate to the work now being done. {IR February 25, 1903, par. 17}
There are many, many souls that the Lord Jesus desires to save, and He asks for our co-operation in this work. These souls cost Him an infinite price. Let the question come home to us, “Are we willing to be workers together with God? Are we willing to go to those outside the faith and plant in their hearts the seeds of truth?” {IR February 25, 1903, par. 18}
The work now being done with “Object Lessons” is a good beginning of the work the Lord desires to see carried forward by His people, because it calls for sacrifices and gifts, and because it enables all to act a part. It is a work in which old and young can engage. The Lord’s plan has provided a way for all to do something. The more you do of this work, the less weary and the less perplexed you will be. As you go forth to sell the book the Lord has declared should be sold, you will realize that to you is spoken the benediction, “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost be with you.” {IR February 25, 1903, par. 19}
The work of selling “Object Lessons” is to accomplish double and triple good in different lines. Those who purchase the book feel that they are doing something to advance a worthy cause. The work is done with an earnestness that appeals to their hearts. It is a lesson to them, and although they are not of our faith, they appreciate the effort that is being made. They are impressed with the earnestness of the workers. They realize that what they are doing is commended by the Lord, who blesses every good work. Light shines into their hearts. To many, the conviction of the Spirit will come through the seed sown by this unselfish work for the Master. The saving of precious souls will be the result of the work done in canvassing for “Object Lessons.” {IR February 25, 1903, par. 20}
The Lord comes very near the workers, and angels go before them. My brethren and sisters, never forget in whose company you are. See by faith an angelic host around you. Believe that the Lord Jesus is by your side, that His glory enfolds you, that He is pouring upon you the refreshing showers of His grace. Speak and act to the glory of God. Say, “In thought, word and deed I will be a blessing to those I meet. I will let light shine forth.” Enter into conversation with the people. Become familiar with their experience, and, from the book you are selling, read passages that will help them. Take with you into their homes the sunshine of heaven. Outside of the truth, there is little enough of this sunshine now in the world. {IR February 25, 1903, par. 21}
As you seek to become acquainted with those who have no knowledge of the truth, as you strive to speak words in season, remember that you are God’s helping hand, and that He will teach you to speak words which will cause light to shine into darkened minds. Doors will open for the work of soul-saving. Many who enter Christ’s service at the eleventh hour will labor with great earnestness for Him. They will appreciate the wonderful truths of the Word of God, and will bring these truths into the daily life. {IR February 25, 1903, par. 22}
Let the workers remember that their spirit and their actions have a great influence on the minds of those they meet. Let them feel their dependence on God. It is only when we place ourselves in His hands, to be worked by His Spirit, that He can use us in breaking the power of the enemy over souls. Let them remember, too, that to those with whom they become acquainted in this work they are to speak of the love of the Savior, who, though He was rich, yet for our sake became poor that we might be rich. {IR February 25, 1903, par. 23}
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