论及神的引导 Divine Guidance
《论宗教问题的四十一封信》，第二十八封信LETTER XIII by John Newton
作者: 约翰.纽顿（John.Newton）
回答这个问题：“主既已应许会引导我们，我们该预期祂以什么方式来影响我们的判断，并引领我们尽上各样的本分呢？”
敬启者：
那些能够正确体认到自己软弱和容易犯错，又察觉到人生被各种困难包围的人，如果知道主已应许会亲眼看顾他们，当他们面对人生的岔口，无论向左向右都会陷入危险的时候，祂会让他们听见后面有声音说：“这是正路，要行在其中”，他们实在是幸福的。为了这个目的，祂已经将成文的话语赐给我们，作我们脚前的灯，并且鼓励我们祈求圣灵的教诲，让我们可以正确明白和应用这话语。然而，我们经常看见，许多人声称自己真诚渴望认识神的心意，又以为他们已得到祂的授命和授权，却大大偏离他的本分，犯上显而易见和令人困惑的错误。这显然是因为他们错误运用了作判断的准则，因为准则本身是不会错的，而应许也是确定的。圣经不会欺骗我们，问题是我们要正确理解；但我们却可以误用圣经来印证自己做某件事，最终事实却证明我们做错了。圣灵不可能错误引导那些受祂管理的人；可惜，我们可能会假定自己受祂管理，其实并不是。因此，本人对这个极之重要的主题作出一点反思，为求我们的心灵平安和尽上圣职的责任，也并非不合时宜。
It is
well for those who are duly sensible of their own weakness and fallibility, and
of the difficulties with which they are surrounded in life, that the Lord has
promised to guide his people with his eye, and to cause them to hear a word
behind them, saying, "This is the way, walk ye in it," when they are
in danger of turning aside either to the right hand or to the left. For this
purpose, he has given us the written word to be a lamp to our feet, and
encouraged us to pray for the teaching of his Holy Spirit, that we may rightly
understand and apply it. It is, however, too often seen, that many widely
deviate from the path of duty, and commit gross and perplexing mistakes, while
they profess a sincere desire to know the will of God, and think they have his
warrant and authority. This must certainly be owing to misapplication of the
rule by which they judge, since the rule itself is infallible, and the promise
sure. The Scripture cannot deceive us, if rightly understood; but it may, if perverted,
prove the occasion of confirming us in a mistake. The Holy Spirit cannot
mislead those who are under his influence; but we may suppose that we are so,
when we are not. It may not be unseasonable to offer a few thoughts upon a
subject of great importance to the peace of our minds, and to the honour of our
holy profession. Many have been deceived as to what they ought to do, or in
forming a judgement beforehand of events in which they are nearly concerned, by
expecting direction in ways which the Lord has not warranted. I shall mention
some of the principal of these, for it is not easy to enumerate them all.
不少人自欺地认定自己应当做什么事，或在他们几近于参与的事上先存一个看法，早在主未曾授权之前，便预期祂会怎样带领。本人将会提出一些主要的例子，因为要全部列出来并不容易……
Some
persons, when in doubt, have opened the Bible at a venture, and expected to
find something to direct them in the first verse
（有些人）有疑惑便会随便翻开圣经，期望第一眼看到哪段经文，便可以从中找到指引。这个做法真丢脸，因为连不认识圣经的异教徒，也用他们喜爱的书籍来如此寻求指引……倘若那节经文在圣经中只出现过一次，他不理会上文下理，没有把它与圣经的总体要旨以及自己的情况适当比较，他便可能做出最大的越轨行为，期望最不可能的事，并且连最浅显的常识都会违背，但他们却以为自己实践神的话。翻开圣经，看到拿单对大卫说：“你可以照着你心所想的一切去作，因为耶和华与你同在”（撒下七3），是否足以支持我们的主耶稣，合理地对迦南妇人说：“照你所想的给你成就吧！”（太十五28）？又是否足以支持我们相信，我们心中此刻最迫切的渴望（不管它是什么）肯定会成就呢？不过，如果要参与的是一件事关重大并后果严重的事，而当事人又已经抱有最乐观的期望，那么，肯定没有任何方式，比用“指头点经法”更能予人最好的授权了。
they
should cast their eye upon It is no small discredit to this practice, that the
Heathens, who knew not the Bible, used some of their favourite books in the
same way: and grounded their persuasions of what they ought to do, or of what
should befall them, according to the passage they happened to open upon. Among
the Romans, the writings of Virgil were frequently consulted upon these
occasions; which gave rise to the well-known expression of the Sortes
Virgilianae. And indeed Virgil is as well adapted to satisfy inquirers in this
way, as the Bible itself; for if people will be governed by the occurrence of a
single text of Scripture, without regarding the context, or duly comparing it
with the general tenor of the word of God, and with their own circumstances,
they may commit the greatest extravagances, expect the greatest
impossibilities, and contradict the plainest dictates of common sense, while
they think they have the word of God on their side. Can the opening upon 2 Sam.
vii. 3 when Nathan said unto David, "Do all that is in thine heart, for
the Lord is with thee," be sufficient to determine the lawfulness or
expediency of actions? Or can a glance of the eye upon our Lord's words to the
woman of Canaan, Matth. xv. 28, "Be it unto thee even as thou wilt,"
amount to a proof, that the present earnest desire of the mind (whatever it may
be) shall be surely accomplished? Yet it is certain that matters big with
important consequences have been engaged in, and the most sanguine expectations
formed, upon no better warrant than dipping (as it is called) upon a text of
Scripture.
不少人相信，某段经文如果突然令他产生强烈的感受，似乎与心中所关注的事有某些关联，就是一个不会出错的证据，证明他们的想法是对的，而事情亦会按照他们的想法成就：又或相反，如果经文带有警吿性，令他们充满恐惧和不安，他们看完之后，却会觉得这是毫无根据和不必要的。这些感受……通常证明是错觉，与指头点经法差不多。倘若这些感受所带来的教导或应许，是使人谦卑、给人鼓舞或心灵安慰，令人真实感受到神的话语所包含的真理是有益和使人愉快的，我们便承认这是真实的感受；许多属主的人都经历过（特别是在困难时刻），主的灵会带着能力，将正合时宜的恩言放在他们的心上并加以封存，藉此教导和承托他们。但若然某人领受某种感受或冲动是天上而来的声音，要是没有这些“声音”，便不能证明他的某个特定行动是必须履行的责任，那么，那人便可能在不知不觉间走迷，陷入了严重的恶行和完全的蒙蔽中；许多人便是这样。毫无疑问，败坏我们心灵的敌人，如果得到允许，便会以这种方式将经文大量提供给我们，为了令我们走迷。
A
sudden strong impression of a text, that seems to have some resemblance to the
concern upon the mind, has been accepted by many as an infallible token that
they were right, and that things would go just as they would have them; or, on
the other hand, if the passage bore a threatening aspect, it has filled them
with fears and disquietudes, which they have afterwards found were groundless
and unnecessary. These impressions, being more out of their power than the
former method, have been more generally regarded and trusted to, but have
frequently proved no less delusive. It is allowed, that such impressions of a
precept or a promise, as humble, animate, or comfort the soul, by giving it a
lively sense of the truth contained in the words, are both profitable and
pleasant; and many of the Lord's people have been instructed and supported
"especially in a time of trouble) by some seasonable word of grace applied
and sealed by his Spirit with power to their hearts. But if impressions or
impulses are received as a voice from heaven, directing to such particular
actions as could not be proved to be duties without them, a person may be
unwarily misled into great evils and gross delusions; and many have been so.
There is no doubt but the enemy of our souls, if permitted, can furnish us with
Scriptures in abundance in this way, and for these purposes.
有些人用祷吿中得到解脱的自由，来判断他们的计划的性质和结果。他们说，他们将自己的道路完全交托给神，寻求祂的指引，他们的心灵亦大大被扩阔了；因此，他们深信自己的看法在主面前是蒙悦纳的。我不会断然否定这类解说，但若然没有其他进一步的证明，我又不能承认它能够为有关行动提供了证明。要判断自己在祷吿中得到属灵的自由，并非总是很容易的。自我是惯于欺骗的；当我们的心在很大程度上确定和倾向某一件事，这颗心就会将说话和热切性放进我们的口。太多时候，我们会暗中先下判断，然后来求问神的意见；在这种倾向下，我们已准备捉住任何信息，只要是支持我们的心爱计划；至于主，因为发现并要斥责我们的虚伪（这是虚伪，虽然我们自己很难觉察得到），便可能会按照我们的偶像来回应我们（参结十三3-4）……
Some
persons judge of the nature and event of their designs, by the freedom which
they find in prayer. They say they commit their ways to God, seek his
direction, and are favoured with much enlargement of spirit; and therefore they
cannot doubt but what they have in view is acceptable in the Lord's sight. I
would not absolutely reject every plea of this kind, yet without other
corroborating evidence, I could not admit it in proof of what it is brought
for. It is not always easy to determine when we have spiritual freedom in
prayer. Self is deceitful; and when our hearts are much fixed and bent upon a
thing, this may put words and earnestness into our mouths. Too often we first
secretly determine for ourselves, and then come to ask counsel of God; in such
a disposition we are ready to catch at everything that may seem to favour our
darling scheme; and the Lord, for the detection and chastisement of our
hypocrisy (for hypocrisy it is, though perhaps hardly perceptible to
ourselves), may answer us according to our idols; see Ezek. xiv. 3, 4. Besides,
the grace of prayer may be in exercise, when the subject-matter of the prayer
may be founded upon a mistake, from the intervention of circumstances which we
are unacquainted with. Thus I may have a friend in a distant country, I hope he
is alive, I pray for him and it is my duty so to do. The Lord, by his Spirit,
assists his people in what is their present duty. If I am enabled to pray with
much liberty for my distant friend, it may be a proof that the Spirit of the
Lord is pleased to assist my infirmities, but it is no proof that my friend is
certainly alive at the time I am praying for him: and if the next time I pray
for him I should find my spirit straightened, I am not to conclude that my
friend is dead, and therefore the Lord will not assist me in praying for him
any longer.
有些人再次把不寻常的梦，视为认识神心意的一个重要方法，像刚提到的方法一样。我不反对，许多有益和合时的劝吿都是在梦中领受到的；我们虽然可以偶尔注意梦境，但是，如果花很多精神去留意梦境，特别是接受梦境的引导，据此建立自己的看法、行为或期望，实在是迷信和危险的。神的应许不是给那些做梦的人，而是给那些专心仰望祂的人。
Once
more: A remarkable dream has sometimes been thought as decisive as any of the
foregoing methods of knowing the will of God. That many wholesome and
seasonable admonitions have been received in dreams, I willingly allow; but,
though they may be occasionally noticed, to pay a great attention to dreams,
especially to be guided by them, to form our sentiments, conduct, or expectations,
upon them, is superstitious and dangerous. The promises are not made to those
who dream, but to those who watch.
总的而言，主纵然可以在某些情况用超乎寻常的方式给人暗示或鼓励；然而，刻意以上述提及的方式寻求神的指引，却是不合乎圣经和易堕陷阱的……我见过一些人，假定自己正在做着神的工作，但他们的行为却与神清楚列明的命令相违。我亦认识另一些人，着迷地相信一个谎话，宣称自己对某件事充满信心，没有一丝疑惑，但终究却无法实现；当他们长时间陷入失望，撒但便利用这个情况，使他们质疑最浅显和最重要的真理，还把从前所有的信仰经验解释为幻象。软弱的信徒便因着这些东西而被绊倒，对福音的挑剔和反感与日俱增，并且攻击真理的道。
Upon
the whole, though the Lord may give to some persons, upon some occasions, a
hint or encouragement out of the common way; yet expressly to look for and seek
his direction in such things as I have mentioned, is unscriptural and
ensnaring. I could fill many sheets with a detail of the inconveniences and
evils which have followed such a dependence, within the course of my own
observation. I have seen some presuming they were doing God service, while
acting in contradiction to his express commands. I have known others infatuated
to believe a lie, declaring themselves assured, beyond the shadow of a doubt,
of things which, after all, never came to pass; and when at length
disappointed, Satan has improved the occasion to make them doubt of the
plainest and most important truths, and to account their whole former
experience a delusion. By these things weak believers have been stumbled,
cavils and offences against the Gospel multiplied, and the ways of truth evil
spoken of.
那么，我们可以期望主如何引导我们呢？前面否定了一些方式之后，现在可以从正面简单地回答这个问题了。大抵来说，祂回应祂子民的祷吿，将圣灵的亮光赐给他们，帮助他们明白和爱慕圣经，藉此来引导和指引他们。神的话语不是作“运程书”之用，它的设计亦不是要断章取义的为我们提供指引，本身没有确定思想；取而代之，它将公正的原则和正确的识见提供给我们，藉此调校我们的判断和情感，从而影响和指引我们的行为。那些谦卑倚靠神的教导来研读圣经的人会认识自己的软弱，并且被教导要对周遭事物作出真实的评估，他们会逐渐被模造，对神的心意有一颗顺服的心，发现生命中的不同处境和人际网络的本质和责任，并且识破面前的陷阱和试探。神的话语丰丰富富地住在他们里面，是保守他们免于错误的防腐剂，是他们脚前的灯，是力量和安慰的泉源。他们把圣经的教义、准则、应许、榜样和劝吿珍藏在心中，每天把自己与圣经所教导的行事准则互相比较，因而逐渐形成一个属灵智慧的惯性思想框架，并体验到神的慈悲，帮助他们在某程度上准备就绪，而且有一定的准确性去判断对错，好像音乐家的耳朵判别响声一样。他们很少犯错，因为基督的爱在他们心中作王，而他们最看重的是神的荣耀，他们只受这两者影响。
But
how then may the Lord's guidance be expected? After what has been premised
negatively, the question may be answered in a few words. In general, he guides
and directs his people, by affording them, in answer to prayer, the light of
his Holy Spirit, which enables them to understand and to love the Scriptures.
The word of God is not to be used as a lottery; nor is it designed to instruct
us by shreds and scraps, which, detached from their proper places, have no
determinate import; but it is to furnish us with just principles, right
apprehensions to regulate our judgements and affections, and thereby to
influence and direct our conduct. They who study the Scriptures, in an humble
dependence upon divine teaching, are convinced of their own weakness, are
taught to make a true estimate of everything around them, are gradually formed
into a spirit of submission to the will of God, discover the nature and duties
of their several situations and relations in life, and the snares and
temptations to which they are exposed. The word of God dwells richly in them,
is a preservative from error, a light to their feet, and a spring of strength
and consolation. By treasuring up the doctrines, precepts, promises, examples,
and exhortations of Scripture, in their minds, and daily comparing themselves
with the rule by which they walk, they grow into an habitual frame of spiritual
wisdom, and acquire a gracious taste, which enables them to judge of right and
wrong with a degree of readiness and certainty, as a musical ear judges of
sounds. And they are seldom mistaken, because they are influenced by the love
of Christ, which rules in their hearts, and a regard to the glory of God, which
is the great object they have in view.
在特殊的情况，主会为他们开路和封路：把拦阻去路的重重围墙拆除，又或眼见他们有误入歧途之危险，便藉着祂的照管计划来安排某些处境，用各种难处来阻挡他们继续向前。他们知道，他们所挂心的事都在祂的手中；他们愿意随时随地跟从祂的带领，却害怕走在祂的前面。因此他们并不缺乏忍耐：因为他们有信心，所以便不会急躁，反之却会在祷吿中每天等候祂——特别是当他们发现自己的心被某个目的或追求的事完全占据，他们会极之小心地保护自己的心不被表象所蒙骗，因此只敢沿着祂的亮光所照明之处前行，不敢走得太远或太快。我至少说出了他们的心愿，即使他们未必达得到：他们但愿自己是这样的。纵然有些时候，他们的信心失去活力，自我的力量太强，这却是他们的总体倾向；而他们服侍的主，将不会令他们的期望落空。祂会引导他们行走正路，保守他们脱离万千的陷阱，并且令他们心满意足地经历到，即使至死，祂也始终如一地引导着他们。
In
particular cases, the Lord opens and shuts for them, breaks down walls of
difficulty which obstruct their path, or hedges up their way with thorns, when
they are in danger of going wrong, by the dispensations of his providence. They
know that their concernments are in his hands; they are willing to follow
whither and when he leads; but are afraid of going before him. Therefore they
are not impatient: because they believe, they will not make haste, but wait
daily upon him in prayer; especially when they find their hearts most engaged
in any purpose or pursuit, they are most jealous of being deceived by appearances,
and dare not move farther or faster than they can perceive his light shining
upon their paths. I express at least their desire, if not their attainment:
thus they would be. And though there are seasons when faith languishes, and
self too much prevails, this is their general disposition; and the Lord, whom
they serve, does not disappoint their expectations. He leads them by a right
way, preserves them from a thousand snares, and satisfies them that he is and
will be their guide even unto death.
