人性和恩典Nature and grace (2)

Nature and Grace

人性和恩典（二）

 

 

节选，译自[模仿基督] [the imitation of Christ]，作者  Author: Thomas a Kempis， 出版于1940年。

 

GRACE 恩典

 

grace walks in simplicity, turns away from all appearance of evil, offers no deceits, and does all purely for God in whom she rests as her last end.

恩典单纯朴实，远离一切邪恶，不具备任何欺骗手段，她的一切所作全然为主，因那是她歇世后将安然享受的父家。

 

grace resists sensuality, seeks to be in subjection, and does not desire to rule over anyone, but wishes rather to live under God for Whose sake she is willing to bow humbly to every human creature.

恩典抵抗感官享受，拒绝淫荡，愿意服从，没有控制他人的欲望，而愿活在上帝之下，为主，她心甘情愿谦卑的伺候每一位人。

 

grace does not consider what is useful and advantageous to herself, but rather what is profitable to many. grace faithfully attributes all honor and glory to God.

恩典不会考虑什么对自己有用和有利，而是什么对其他人有利。恩典忠实的将所有荣誉和荣耀归于上帝。

 

grace can not bear to be idle and embraces labor willingly.

恩典不堪忍受闲散，乐于做工。

 

grace delights in simple, humble things, not despising those that are rough, nor refusing to be clothed in old garments.

恩典喜爱简单朴实的事物，不鄙视粗糙廉价之物，也不拒绝着装老旧。（译者注：那个年代着装是身份地位的标记）

 

grace looks to eternal things and does not cling to those which are temporal, being neither disturbed at loss nor angered by hard words, because she has placed her treasure and joy in heaven where nothing is lost.

恩典看重永恒的事物，不执爱短暂的事物，既不会因失去财产，头衔，名声而心烦意乱，也不会因他人的恶语重伤而愤怒，因为她只定晴于可存积天堂的永恒财宝和欢乐。

 

grace is kind and open-hearted. grace shuns private interest, is contented with little, and judges it more blessed to give than to receive.

恩典善良而豁达。恩典避讳私人利益，极易满足，并且认定给予比接受更蒙福。

 

grace draws near to God and to virtue, hates the desire of the flesh, restrains her wanderings and blushes at being seen in public.

恩典被上帝和美德所吸引，讨厌人本性的欲望，克制毫无目的的闲游，并羞于抛头露面。

 

grace seeks consolation only in God, to find her delight in the highest good, above all visible things.

恩典只在天父处寻求安慰，在那至高至善，人眼不可见的完美之处，她得着喜悦。

 

grace loves even her enemies and is not puffed up at having many friends. she does not think highly of either position or birth unless there is also virtue there. she favors the poor in preference to the rich. she sympathizes with the innocent rather with the powerful. she rejoices with the true man rather than with the deceitful, and is always exhorting the good to strive for better gifts, to become like the son of God by practicing the virtues.

恩典甚至爱她的敌人，也不会因为拥有许多朋友而张狂。她不看重人的权位或出生，除非那里也有美德。她优先穷人而不是富人，她同情无辜而不是权势。她为真男人而不是欺骗者欢欣鼓舞，并总在鞭策励行良善，磨练实践美德，以结出更好的果实而成为神儿子的样式。

 

grace brings all things back to God in Whom they have their source. To herself she ascribes no good, but in every matter of sense and thought submits herself to eternal wisdom and the divine judgement.

恩典将万物归还给神，因万物本源于神。她知道自己本性有恶，因此她在每件事上的心思意念都服从于那有永恒智慧的神灵的判断。

 

grace does not care to hear news or curious matters, because all this arises from the old corruption of man, since there is nothing new, nothing lasting on earth.

恩典不在乎听到新闻或好奇的事情，因它们都源于败坏的人类。世上没有新鲜事，也无事能恒久。

 

grace teaches, therefore, restraint of the senses, avoidance of vain self-satisfaction and show, the humble hiding of deeds worthy of praise and admiration, and the seeking in every thing and in every knowledge the fruit of usefulness, the praise and honor of God. She will not have herself or hers exalted, but desires that God Who bestows all simply out of love should be blessed in His gifts.

因此，恩典教导人们克制本能的感性，避免徒劳的自我满足和显摆，谦虚地掩饰值得赞美和钦佩的行为，在每件事和每个认知中寻求结出益人的果子，赞美和荣耀神。她不会高举自己或自己所得成就，而是渴望将祝福献给因爱而给人恩赐的天父。

 

grace is a supernatural light. a certain special gift of God, the proper mark of the elect and the pledge of everlasting salvation. it raises man up from earthly things to love the things of heaven. it makes a spiritual man of a carnal man.

恩典是超自然的光芒，上帝的特殊礼物，选民的正确印记和永恒救赎的保证。恩典使凡人从尘世中提升，爱上天堂里才有的圣洁品德。它使一个肉欲的人成长为灵性的人。

 

The more, then, nature is held in check and conquered, the more grace is given. Every day the interior man is reformed by new visitations according to the image of God.

那么，人性越是被检查和战胜，恩典的给予就越多。每一天，依照上帝的形像，我们里面的那个人在不断的更新改进。

 

评议：

恩典美的让人感动！主耶稣就是这完美恩典的榜样，让我们去模仿。人可不可以做到？附上【宣教士】的PDF，来自网上的转载，简叙了恩典光照的神的仆人，抛弃西方的优越生活和地位，以孤苦，磨难，和生命的代价将天父的爱传入中国。神爱中国，才会呼召祂的极优秀的仆人远赴中国。有人说基督教是洋教，中国人不要。那马克思是德国人，正统洋人，中国人要了吗？早在2650BC， 神让仓颉造中国字时，神就已将天国的真理赐给了汉字。中国历经磨难，神从未放弃，因有属祂的子民在那里，从神创世时就已定。神是世人的神，与国度无关，天父对人的爱，人不明白。一旦明白，你就会惊叹那海阔高深的爱是人间没有的。神的恩典白白的赐给每一位世人，你愿意接受就是你的。

 

如果我们活在世上，不认识神，那就是‘茫’然：草字头预示人活得像草一样，流着泪（三点水)，死（亡）。

【凡有血氣的盡都如草，他的美容都像野地的花。 草必枯乾，花必凋殘.....】以賽亞書 40:6