《疗养院公告》
1900年1月1日
需要立即行动
我们悉尼疗养院的新楼应该马上建起来。到目前为止，疗养院一直租用大楼。虽然这些建筑物的使用需要大量的费用，但仍然放不下所需的设施，也没有足够的空间满足疗养院迅速增长的工作。每个部门都很拥挤。由于缺乏设备和空间，工作是在非常不利的情况下完进行的。{San January 1, 1900, par. 1}
想要住进疗养院的病人很快就会住进去的，但只是在最大的困难下才能给那些来的病人适当的照顾和治疗。此外，现在占用的建筑物所需要的租金，应该用于在一个健康的地点建造我们自己的建筑物，远离灰尘和烟雾，远离城市的喧嚣和混乱。我们已经找到了这样一个地方，但是我们没有足够的钱来盖房子，甚至付地款。{San January 1, 1900, par. 2}
时光在流逝，我们疗养院要完成的工作才刚刚开始。在我们的机构中，我们希望从圣经的立场教导健康和节制的原则。凡有血气的，都当知道怎样保养身体，让上帝所造的身体，可以献给祂当作活祭，这样侍奉也是理所当然的。精神力量和道德力量的适当平衡在很大程度上取决于身体系统的适当条件和作用。由于放纵扭曲的食欲，人失去了抗拒诱惑的能力。像茶、咖啡、烟草、啤酒和葡萄酒这样的麻醉剂和非自然刺激物肯定会削弱和降低身体素质，降低智力和道德水平。神经系统的任何异常兴奋都会影响脑神经的功能。我们面前有一项教育人民的工作，要一行一行地教育，一句一句地训诫。我们必须告诫他们，使用兴奋剂会使疲惫的精力不自然地痉挛活动，从而危及健康，甚至危及生命。{San January 1, 1900, par. 3}
但是离开了上帝的能力，就不可能实现真正的改革。必须唤起男人和女人麻木的道德情感，引导他们明白听从“让他持住我的能力，使他与我和好。愿他与我和好”(赛27：5)的邀请所带来的益处。必须引导他们认识到他们需要一位有爱心的赎罪的救主。人类的创造主和救赎主会成为凡信靠祂之人的恢复者。撒但是毁灭者;基督是恢复者。必须教育人们认识到，罪摧毁了他们的体力、智力和灵力。他们必须明白如何与上帝合作来使自己得到恢复。借着相信基督，他们可以克服使用破坏健康之兴奋剂和麻醉剂的习惯。{San January 1, 1900, par. 4}
主已经表明祂在各教会中都有宝贵的灵魂。他们中有许多人在盲目地自我毁灭。要把恢复和保持健康的亮光传给他们。上帝的简单疗法将在恢复虚弱、痛苦、患病的人方面创造奇迹。既然基督已经献出祂宝贵的生命来医治人类家庭的疾病，男男女女为什么不认真与祂合作呢?大家难道不应该乐意采用正确的生活习惯和治疗方法来获得医治吗? {San January 1, 1900, par. 5}
我们正在努力把人们提升到行动的高台上。这是我们疗养院要完成的工作。但是我们做砖不能没有稻草。我们现在需要一幢坚固经济的大楼，为此我们须有必要的资金。为此，我们请信主的弟兄姐妹帮助我们。{San January 1, 1900, par. 6}
我代表悉尼疗养院向所有散居海外的弟兄们呼吁。我们许多人都很穷，但这不应使我们失去施舍的特权。我请你们阅读读《哥林多后书》第八章。 {San January 1, 1900, par. 7}
使徒保罗写道：“弟兄们，我把上帝赐给马其顿众教会的恩告诉你们。就是他们在患难中受大试炼的时候，仍有满足的快乐，在极穷之间，还格外显出他们乐捐的厚恩”(1、2节)。{San January 1, 1900, par. 8}
使徒把马其顿教会的慷慨告诉告诉哥林多教会，是为了希望通过圣灵在他们心中的工作，唤起他们同样行善的愿望。{San January 1, 1900, par. 9}
使徒继续说:“我可以证明他们是按着力量，而且也过了力量，自己甘心乐意的捐助。再三地求我们，准他们在这供给圣徒的恩情上有分。并且他们所作的，不但照我们所想望的，更照上帝的旨意，先把自己献给主，又归附了我们。因此我劝提多，既然在你们中间开办这慈惠的事，就当办成了。你们既然在信心，口才，知识，热心，和待我们的爱心上，都格外显出满足来，就当在这慈惠的事上，也格外显出满足来。我说这话，不是吩咐你们，乃是藉着别人的热心，试验你们爱心的实在”(3-8节)。{San January 1, 1900, par. 10}
下面这段话告诉我们最明确的动机，应能激动人心，刻苦己心，积极行动：“你们知道我们主耶稣基督的恩典。祂本来富足，却为你们成了贫穷，叫你们因祂的贫穷，可以成为富足。我在这事上把我的意见告诉你们，是与你们有益。因为你们下手办这事，而且起此心意，已经有一年了。如今就当办成这事。既有愿作的心，也当照你们所有的去办成”(9-11节)。{San January 1, 1900, par. 11}
使徒这段话是写给你们听到呼吁之人的。保罗对马其顿人的礼物本不抱以厚望。他原指望只得到一笔有限的钱。对这么一大笔钱，对这种全心全意、迫不及待的捐赠方式，他感到非常惊讶。马其顿人首先把自己和自己所有的一切都奉献给主。他们毫无保留。他们即或是小笔的礼物，也表现出戴维献上大笔礼物时的精神： “耶和华啊!我们把从祢而得的献给祢”(代上29：14)。” 当有人真诚希望捐助上帝各条战线圣工的推进时，上帝必赐给这些无私奉献的人一颗乐意捐献的心，把施舍当作一项特权。上帝曾感动马其顿人在极其贫困的情况下慷慨捐助，以使他们的榜样被记录下来，带动别人也做这样的善事。San January 1, 1900, par. 12}
这件事情表明圣灵在信徒心中的特别工作。保罗在这件事的鼓舞之下要求提多访问哥林多教会，完成他们所打算并已经开始的募捐工作。他切望他们履行那因上帝的恩典运行在他们心中而作出的承诺。{San January 1, 1900, par. 13}
保罗担心比较贫穷的马其顿教会在慷慨捐献方面超过他们，就不仅写信给他们，而且派提多去收取。使徒非常希望在信徒身上看见匀称的基督徒品格。他希望他们拿出爱心的证据来证明他们信仰的真诚。他希望这些对真理有充分信心的门徒能充分认识到因福音而对上帝所负的责任和义务。他希望在他们中间显出上帝能力的运作，结出果子来荣耀上帝，为这种能力作见证。当基督徒接受上帝管理的时候，他们就会全力以赴地履行每一个责任。{San January 1, 1900, par. 14}
这就是马其顿信徒所表现出来的品格。保罗对此非常满意。认识主耶稣基督乃是最宝贵的礼物。他们对此所表达的感谢，使保罗很高兴。他们认为遵从上帝的要求，慷慨地增进祂的荣耀，是他们的最高特权。{San January 1, 1900, par. 15}
每一个悔改的人也都如此。对上帝赐给信徒丰富恩赐的感激之心，会引发大善举。如果不支持每一件善工，行善回报上帝，品格就不完美。{San January 1, 1900, par. 16}
保罗并没有对哥林多的弟兄发号施令，而是把耶路撒冷教会的需要摆在他们面前，告诉他们那些条件和能力都比哥林多人差的人所做的奉献。他用别人的榜样来鼓励他们捐献。他指出，每一个接受了上帝伟大礼物的人，都需要揭示真理的力量，来对抗自私和自我放纵。他在这里向门徒们展示了结果子的真实性质，以及将上帝葡萄园的果实归还给祂的必要性。他们在推进上帝国度的道路上所表现出来的慷慨大方，是他们真诚信仰的最好证明。他们的爱会以行动来表达——一种有形的东西。. {San January 1, 1900, par. 17}
使徒呼吁他们思考基督的榜样。天上的统帅竟自愿过屈辱和贫穷的生活，以便与堕落的人类并肩站在一起，在人身上恢复上帝的道德形象。主耶稣愿意成为贫穷的人，藉着祂的屈辱和死在十字架上，为我们付了赎价。{San January 1, 1900, par. 18}
无论贫富，我们决不能忘记，基督的贫穷是祂留给人类遗产的一部分。赎罪不只是包括祂在园中被出卖，或祂在十字架上受苦。贫穷也是祂屈辱的一部分，包含在祂的巨大牺牲之中。基督的神圣之心承受了包围人类的全部苦难。{San January 1, 1900, par. 19}
“祂本有上帝的形像，不以自己与上帝同等为强夺的。反倒虚己，取了奴仆的形像，成为人的样式。既有人的样子，就自己卑微，存心顺服，以至于死，且死在十字架上”(腓2：6-8)祂是天上的君王，但许多自称跟从祂的人却是如此地自爱，以致看不到祂为他们作出的巨大牺牲。他们没有认识到自己有义务使用上帝所赐的能力，来帮助那些基督所代死的人。面对基督屈辱的教训，他们该死多么羞愧啊! {San January 1, 1900, par. 20}
“亲爱的弟兄们，我们虽是这样说，却深信你们的行为强过这些”(来6：9)。我们知道有许多人的心会被基督的羞辱和苦难所感动。{San January 1, 1900, par. 21}
我再次请求我在澳大利亚的弟兄们，以及这个呼吁所达任何地方的弟兄们，在我们急需的情况下，你们愿意捐款帮助我们吗?你们愿意帮忙在悉尼为上帝立一座纪念碑吗?这样一个机构将使我们的工作富有特色。它将把真理带到许多上层人士面前。若不是主医疗布道机构的帮助，这些人可能永远看不到真理之光。通过这个机构，生命之君耶稣将在受苦受难的人面前得到高举。他们的心会被上帝的恩典软化。有些人会听福音，看见福音对他们的要求。他们会侧耳倾听传给世界的最后慈怜信息：“来吧!万事都齐备了。” { San January 1, 1900, par. 22}
我的弟兄们，你们要用什么行动来推进祂的圣工呢?如果你们捐款建造一所疗养院，你们会积蓄多少财宝在天上呢?建筑完工后，它将为我们提供教育和培训工人的设施。这些工人可以在其他地方从事同样的工作。福气就这样扩散开来了。{San January 1, 1900, par. 23}
我们现在要求每个人都尽力而为。你们可以和马其顿人享有同样的特权。你们可以借着慷慨的奉献让献耶和华的仆人吃惊。{San January 1, 1900, par. 24}
SANITARIUM ANNOUNCEMENT
1-Jan-00
The Necessity for Immediate Action
The new building for our Sydney Sanitarium should be erected at once. Up to this time the institution has occupied rented buildings. Though the use of these buildings involves large expense, they do not afford the needed facilities. Nor do they afford room for the rapidly increasing work of the Sanitarium. Every department is crowded. The work is done at great disadvantage because of the lack of facilities and the lack of room.?{San January 1, 1900, par. 1}
It will not long be possible to accommodate the patients who desire to come to the Sanitarium, and only with the greatest difficulty can proper care and treatment be given to those who do come. Furthermore, the means required for rent on the buildings now occupied, should be devoted to paying for a building of our own in a healthful location, away from the dust and smoke, the din and confusion of the city. We have secured just such a location, but we have not means sufficient to erect the building, or even to pay for the land.?{San January 1, 1900, par. 2}
Time is passing, and the work to be accomplished by our Sanitarium is as yet scarcely begun. In our institution we wish to teach health and temperance principles from the Bible standpoint. All need to understand how to preserve physical health, that the bodies which God has created may be presented to Him a living sacrifice, fitted to render Him acceptable service. The right balance of the mental and moral powers depends to a great degree upon the right condition and action of the physical system. Through indulgence of perverted appetite man loses his power to resist temptation. The sure effect of narcotics and unnatural stimulants as tea, coffee, tobacco, beer and wine, is to enfeeble and degrade the physical nature, and lower the tone of intellect and morals. Any unnatural excitement of the nervous system affects the brain nerve power. We have a work before us to educate the people, line upon line, and precept upon precept. We must teach them that health and even life is endangered by the use of stimulants which excite the exhausted energies to unnatural, spasmodic action.?{San January 1, 1900, par. 3}
But apart from divine power no genuine reform can be effected. The deadened moral sensibilities of men and women must be aroused. They must be led to understand the benefits gained by obeying the invitation, “Let Him take hold of My strength, that He may make peace with me, and He shall make peace with Me.” They must be led to see their need of a loving, sin-pardoning Saviour. He who is man’s Creator and Redeemer will be to all who trust in Him a Restorer. While Satan is the destroyer, Christ is the Restorer. The people must be educated to understand that it is a sin to destroy their physical, mental and spiritual energies. And they must understand how to co-operate with God in their own restoration. Through faith in Christ they can overcome the habit of using health-destroying stimulants and narcotics.?{San January 1, 1900, par. 4}
The Lord has signified that He has precious souls in all the churches. Many of these are blindly working to destroy themselves. To them light must be given as to the recovery and the preservation of health. God’s simple remedies will work miracles in restoring feeble, distressed, diseased humanity. And since Christ has given His precious life to heal the maladies of the human family, should not men and women be in earnest to co-operate with Him? Should not all consent to be healed through adopting proper habits of life and correct methods of treatment??{San January 1, 1900, par. 5}
We are striving to uplift the people to an elevated plane of action. This is the work to be accomplished by our Sanitarium. But we cannot make brick without straw. What we need now is a substantial, economical building, and for this we must have the necessary means. To secure this we ask the help of our brethren and sisters in the faith.?{San January 1, 1900, par. 6}
To all our brethren scattered abroad I appeal in behalf of the Sydney Sanitarium. Many of us are poor, but this should not shut us out from the privilege of giving. I ask you to read the eighth chapter of second Corinthians.?{San January 1, 1900, par. 7}
The Apostle Paul writes: “Moreover, brethren, we make you to know the grace of God, which hath been given to the churches of Macedonia; how that in much proof of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.”?{San January 1, 1900, par. 8}
In telling the Corinthians of the liberality of the Macedonian churches, it was the apostle’s purpose to awaken in them a desire to do similar deeds of charity, through the Holy Spirit’s working upon their minds.?{San January 1, 1900, par. 9}
The Apostle continues: “For to their power I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves; praying us with much entreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God. Insomuch that we desired Titus that, as he had begun, so he would also finish in you the same grace also. Therefore as ye abound in everything, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us see that ye abound in this grace also. I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love.”?{San January 1, 1900, par. 10}
Now comes the most telling motive, a motive which should stir every soul to self-denial and activity: “For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich. And herein I give my advice; for this is expedient for you who have begun before, not only to do, but to be forward a year ago. Now, therefore, perform the doing of it; that, as there was a readiness to will, so there may be a performance also out of that which ye have.”?{San January 1, 1900, par. 11}
These words of the Apostle are addressed to you who shall receive this appeal. Paul was happily disappointed in the gifts of the Macedonians. He expected only a limited sum, and was greatly surprised at the amount given, and at the whole-hearted, eager manner in which it was bestowed. The Macedonians first made an entire consecration of themselves and all that they had unto the Lord. They kept nothing back. In making their smaller gifts they manifested the same spirit as did David in his larger offering, saying, “Of thine own, O Lord, we freely give thee.” When a people have an earnest longing to help where help is needed in advancing the cause of God in any line, the Lord will impart to these consecrated, unselfish ones a heart to give gladly, as if it were a privilege. God moved on these Macedonians in their deep poverty to bestow liberally, that their example might be recorded, thus leading others to exercise the same beneficence.?{San January 1, 1900, par. 12}
Encouraged by this movement, which showed special working of the Holy Spirit on the hearts of the believers, Paul requested Titus to visit the Corinthian Church, and finish the collection which they had proposed and had already begun. He was anxious that they should perform that which they had promised through the grace of God working upon their hearts.?{San January 1, 1900, par. 13}
Lest they should be outstripped in liberality by the comparatively poor Macedonian churches, Paul not only writes to them, but sends Titus to attend to the collection. The Apostle greatly desired to see in the believers symmetry of Christian character. He desired them to give evidence of their love, and prove the sincerity of their faith. As disciples in full belief of the truth, he longed to see in them a lively sense of their obligation and accountability to God for the gospel. He desired that it should work in them as the power of God, and that they should bear testimony to its work by yielding fruit to the honour of God. As Christians under the control of God they were, with all diligence, to discharge every duty.?{San January 1, 1900, par. 14}
Such was the character revealed by the Macedonians, and it gave Paul great satisfaction. He rejoiced at the gratitude manifested by these souls for the most precious gift of the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. To comply with the requirements of God by their liberality to advance His glory was felt by them to be their highest privilege.?{San January 1, 1900, par. 15}
So it will be with every converted soul. An appreciation of the rich endowment of the gifts of God to the believer will lead to great benevolence. And the character cannot be complete unless benevolence is expressed in returning to God his due by sustaining every good work.?{San January 1, 1900, par. 16}
Paul laid no command upon the Corinthian brethren. But he set before them the necessity of the Church at Jerusalem, and showed what others had given who had fewer advantages and less ability than had the Corinthians. He presented the example of others to induce them to give. He showed that everyone who has received the great gift of God is required to reveal the power of the truth in counterworking selfishness and self-indulgence. In this he was presenting to the disciples the true nature of fruit-bearing, and the necessity of making returns to God of the fruit of His vineyard. Their liberality shown in lines that would advance the kingdom of God would be the very best evidence of the sincerity of their faith. Their love would be expressed in deeds—something tangible.?{San January 1, 1900, par. 17}
The apostle called upon them to consider the example of Christ. The Commander of heaven gave Himself to a life of humiliation and poverty that He might stand side by side with the fallen race to restore the moral image of God in man. The Lord Jesus was willing to become poor, that through His humiliation and His death on the cross He might pay the ransom for us.?{San January 1, 1900, par. 18}
Whether rich or poor, we must never forget that the poverty of Christ was part of His legacy to humanity. It was not alone His betrayal in the garden or His agony upon the cross that constituted the atonement. The humiliation of which His poverty formed a part was included in His great sacrifice. The whole series of sorrows which compassed humanity Christ bore upon His divine soul.?{San January 1, 1900, par. 19}
“Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God; but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men; and being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and become obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” And He was the Prince of Heaven. Yet many of His professed followers are so wrapped up in self-love that they have no sense of His great sacrifice for them. They do not realize their own obligation to use every God-given power in helping the souls for whom Christ died. What shame to them should be the lesson of His humiliation.?{San January 1, 1900, par. 20}
“But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak.” Many there are, we know, whose hearts have been touched by the vision of Christ’s humiliation and suffering.?{San January 1, 1900, par. 21}
Again I ask my brethren in Australia and wherever this appeal may go, Will you help us with your gifts in our emergency? Will you help in erecting a memorial for the Lord in Sydney? Such an institution will give character to our work. It will bring the truth before many persons of the higher classes, who might never see the light of truth but for the Lord’s agencies in medical missionary lines. Through this instrumentality Jesus the Prince of life will be uplifted before those who are suffering and are subdued by affliction. As their hearts are softened by the grace of God, some will listen to the Gospel, and will see its claims upon them. They will give ear to the last message of mercy to the world, “Come, for all things are now ready.”?{San January 1, 1900, par. 22}
My brethren, what will you do to forward his work? How much will you lay up as treasure in heaven by contributing towards the erection of a Sanitarium? When the building is completed it will give us facilities to educate and train workers who can carry forward the same work in other places, and thus the blessing will be extended.?{San January 1, 1900, par. 23}
We ask now that everyone will do his best. You may have the same privilege as the Macedonians. You may surprise the Lord’s servants by the liberality of your gifts.?{San January 1, 1900, par. 24}
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