181# 然则更当追问:那泉源之脉究竟何自而来,以致从其中涌出但以理书所描绘之“行毁坏可憎之物”(但9:27),以及马太福音所谓“从来没有、后来也必没有”的大灾难(太24:21)?答曰:其源正在基督教世界普遍奉持之信仰本身,并在此信仰依传统所讲之流入、运行与归算。
尤可惊异者,乃所谓凭此信仰本身而称义的教义,虽非真实信仰,而实为一种幻怪之构,却在基督教诸教会中支配一切要点;换言之,它在那里几乎作为圣职体系中唯一的神学而居于王位。凡初入圣职者,在学院中无不热切学习之、吸取之、吞受之;及至后来,又仿佛受了天上智慧的默感,在圣殿中讲授之,在书籍中传播之,并藉此追求、经营且放贷高等学问之名声、声誉与荣耀;又因它而获授文凭、聘任与奖赏。然而,正是由于这唯独的信仰,今日“日头就变黑了,月亮也不放光,众星要从天上坠落,天势都要震动”,正如主在马太福音中所预言者(太24:29)。
已有见证向我表明:此信仰之教义,今日已将人的心智弄瞎到如此地步,以致他们不愿,因而也仿佛不能,在日光之内,甚至不能在月光之内,看见任何神性真理;他们只能在外面,于夜间炉火之光中,看见某种粗砺的表面。因此我可以预言:即令关于仁义与信仰之真正结合、关于天堂与地狱、关于主、关于死后生命、关于永远福乐的神性真理,以银字写成,从天上降下,那些以唯信称义、以唯信成圣者,也必视之为不值一读;然而,若有一纸论唯信称义的文书从地狱递上,他们反倒要取起、亲吻,并揣在怀中带回家去。
181# 但问题是,流出或产生诸如但以理书(9:27)所描述的“荒凉的可憎”,和“从来没有,将来也不会有的灾难”(马太福音24:21)的实际源头是什么呢?答案是:它来自整个基督教界的普遍信仰,以及根据传统,来自它的流注、运作和归算。令人惊异的是,唯信称义的教义(然而,这种信仰不是信仰,只是一种幻想或幻觉)掌控了基督教会中的教义的一切要点,或说被视为基督教会中的一切;也就是说,对神职人员,或圣职品级来说,它几乎作为唯一的神学原则或要义来掌权。大学里所有神学系的年轻学生都热切地学习、吸收,并在内心消化这教义,后来仿佛受到天堂智慧的启发,在教会教导它,并在他们的书中发表。他们通过它努力追求并获得卓越学识的名声、声誉、荣耀或称赞;文凭、学位和奖励也因此被赋予他们,尽管因这唯信,今天日头都变黑了,月亮也不放光,众星从天上坠落,天势都震动了(马太福音24:29)。我已经得到绝对的证据,证明如今这信仰的教义已经如此蒙蔽了人们的心智,使它们变暗,以至于他们不愿、因而可以说不能在阳光或月光下从内在看到任何神性真理,只能通过夜里的炉火之光在纯粗糙的表面上,或以粗略的轮廓从外在来观看。因此,我可以肯定地说,如果关于仁与信的真正结合,关于天堂与地狱、主、死后生活、永恒幸福的神性真理用银字母写出来,然后从天上降下来,那么那些坚持唯信称义、唯信成圣的人不会认为它们值得阅读。但如果关于唯信称义的论文从地狱中发上来,情况就完全不同了;他们会接受并亲吻它,然后揣在怀里带回家。
181. You may well ask what the source is that yields the abomination of desolation that Daniel describes (Daniel 9:27) and the affliction such as has never existed before and will never exist again (Matthew 24:21). The answer you will find is the faith itself that is universal to the Christian world, together with the now traditional concepts of how that faith flows into us, acts on us, and is assigned to us. Astoundingly, the position that that faith is the only thing that justifies us (although that belief is really a fairy tale, not a faith) occupies every square inch of the Christian churches. In the Sacred Order, it rules as virtually the only theology. This position is what all candidates for the ministry eagerly learn, consume, and absorb in college. Then, as if they were people inspired with heavenly wisdom, they teach that position in churches and publish it in books. Through it they pursue and achieve the name, reputation, and glory of having superior erudition. Because of it they are given diplomas, fellowships, and awards.
All this goes on despite the fact that nowadays this faith alone has darkened the sun, deprived the moon of its light, caused the stars of heaven to fall, and shaken the powers of the heavens, as the Lord foretold in Matthew 24:29. I have been given absolute proof that this faith has so blinded human minds today that they do not want, and therefore are virtually unable, to see any divine truth inwardly [as if it were] in the light of either the sun or the moon. They can see it only [as if it were] reflected superficially off some rough surface in firelight at night. I can therefore make this assertion: If divine truths about the true partnership between goodwill and faith, about heaven and hell, about the Lord, about life after death, and about eternal happiness were to be written in silver letters and sent down from heaven, people who believe that we are sanctified and justified by faith alone would not even consider them worth reading. At the other extreme, though, if a paper asserting that faith alone makes us just were to be sent up from the hells, the same people would seize it, kiss it, and hold it close to their heart as they carried it home.
181. The question may be asked, what is the very source and spring from which has flowed forth such an abomination of desolation, as described in Daniel (Daniel 9:27), and such an affliction as never was nor ever will be (Matthew 24:21)? The answer must be that it comes from the actual faith universally held throughout the Christian world, and from its influence, activity and imputation, as traditionally taught. It is astonishing that the doctrine of justification by that faith alone plays the leading role in the Christian churches, when it is no true faith, but a chimera; that is to say, it dominates the clergy almost as if it were the only theological dogma. It is this that all the recruits to the clergy in their schools avidly learn, swallow and absorb. And afterwards, as if inspired by heavenly wisdom, this is what they teach in their pulpits, publish in their books, and use to pursue and borrow a reputation for superior learning, fame and glory. It is for this that they are presented with diplomas, degrees and prizes. And this happens despite the fact that as a result of that faith alone to-day the sun has been darkened, the moon deprived of her light, the stars have fallen from the skies, and the powers of the heavens have been shaken, as predicted by the Lord's words in Matthew (Matthew 24:29). I have been given evidence that the doctrine of that faith has to-day so blinded people's minds that they are unwilling and therefore unable to see any Divine truth inwardly in sunlight, or in moonlight, but only outwardly with its rough exterior in the light of a fire by night. Therefore I am able to prophesy that if there were sent down from heaven, written in letters of silver, the Divine truths about the true linking of charity and faith, about heaven and hell, about the Lord, about life after death and about everlasting happiness, these believers in justification and sanctification by faith alone would not judge them worth reading. But it would be quite different if a paper on justification by faith alone were sent up from hell; this they would seize on, kiss and carry off home in their pockets.
181. But it may be asked, Whence is the very stream of that fountain from which has come forth an abomination of desolation such as is described in Daniel (9:27), and a tribulation such as was not nor shall be (Matthew 24:21)? The answer is, that it comes from that same universal faith of the Christian world, and from its influx, operation, and imputation according to traditions. Wonderful it is that the doctrine of justification by that faith alone (which, however, is no faith but only a chimera) controls every point of doctrine in Christian churches; that is, with the clerical order it rules as almost the sole theological principle. It is what all students of divinity eagerly learn in the schools and drink in and absorb; and afterwards, seemingly inspired by heavenly wisdom, they teach it in the churches and publish it in books; and by it they strive after and acquire a reputation and fame and praise for superior learning; and on account of it, diplomas, degrees, and prizes are bestowed upon them; and all this is done, although by that same faith alone the sun at this day is darkened, the moon is robbed of her light, the stars have fallen from heaven, and the powers of the heavens have been shaken, according to the words of the Lord's prophecy in Matthew (24:29). It has been proved to me that the doctrine of this faith has today so darkened men's minds that they are not willing, and therefore as it were not able, to see any Divine truth inwardly, either in the light of the sun or in the light of the moon, but only outwardly on the mere rough surface by the light on a hearth at night; and I am therefore able to declare, that if Divine truths respecting the real conjunction of charity and faith, respecting heaven and hell, the Lord, life after death, and eternal happiness, were sent down from heaven written in letters of silver, those who hold to justification and sanctification by faith alone would not deem them worth reading. But it would be wholly different if a treatise on justification by faith alone were sent up from the hells; this they would receive, and would kiss it and carry it home in their bosoms.
181. But the question arises, what is the actual source of the fountain from which has flowed such abomination of desolation as is described in Daniel 9:27, and such affliction as was not nor ever shall be, Matthew 24:21, and the answer is, the source is that faith which universally prevails throughout the Christian world, with its influx, operation, and imputation according to the received traditions. It is astonishing that the doctrine of justification by this faith alone, although it is not a faith but a delusion, should be accounted as every thing in the Christian Churches, prevailing there with the clergy almost as the only essential of theology. All young students of Divinity in their colleges eagerly learn, drink in, and inwardly digest this doctrine; and afterwards, as though inspired with heavenly wisdom, they teach it in their churches and publish it in their books. By it they seek and acquire a reputation for superior erudition, fame and glory, and on account of it diplomas, degrees and rewards are granted to them, although by this faith alone the sun to-day is darkened, the moon is deprived of her light, the stars of heaven have fallen, and the powers of the heavens are shaken, according to the words of the Lord's prophecy in Matthew 24:29. It has been made manifest to me that the doctrine of this faith has to-day blinded men's minds to such an extent that they are unwilling, and thus unable, to see any Divine truth interiorly, either by the light of the sun or of the moon, but only exteriorly, as in rough outline by the light of a fire at night. I can therefore affirm that were Divine truths concerning the genuine conjunction of charity and faith, heaven and hell, the Lord, life after death and eternal happiness sent down from heaven written in letters of silver, they would not be considered worth reading by those who maintain the doctrine of justification and sanctification by faith alone; but, on the other hand, were a treatise on justification by faith alone sent up from hell, they would receive it, embrace it and carry it home in their bosom.
181. Sed quaeritur, unde est ipsa vena fontis, ex qua talis abominatio desolationis, qualis describitur apud Danielem 9:27, et talis afflictio qualis non fuit, nec fiet Matthaeus 24:21, scaturivit; et respondetur quod ex ipsa Fide universali in Christiano Orbe, et ex ejus influxu, operatione et imputatione, secundum traditiones. Mirabile est, quod doctrina justificationis per solam illam fidem, tametsi non est fides, sed chimera, in Ecclesiis Christianis omne punctum ferat; hoc est, illa ibi paene ut unicum Theologicum in Ordine Sacro regnet; illa est, quam omnes Novitii e Clero in Lyceis avide addiscunt, hauriunt et insorbent; et postea sicut inspirati coelesti sapientia in Templis docent, in Libris vulgant, et per quam superioris eruditionis nomen, famam, et gloriam sectantur et foenerantur, ut et propter quam diplomata, auctoramenta, et praemia, donantur; et haec fiunt, tametsi per illam solam fidem hodie obscuratus est Sol, lumine suo orbata est Luna, Stellae coelorum ceciderunt, et Virtutes coelorum commotae sunt, secundum verba praedictionis a Domino apud Matthaeum 24:29 quod doctrina istius fidei hodie occaecaverit mentes in tantum, ut non velint, et inde sicut non possint, videre aliquod Divinum Verum intus in luce solis, nec in luce lunae, sed modo extus in quadam scabra superficie in luce foci noctu, testatum mihi factum est; quare possum vaticinari, quod si Divina Vera de genuina conjunctione 1 charitatis et fidei, de Coelo et Inferno, de Domino, de Vita post mortem, deque Felicitate aeterna, argenteis literis exarata, e Coelo demitterentur, a Justificatoribus et Sanctificatoribus per solam fidem, non lectu digna censerentur; at prorsus aliter, si Charta de Justificatione per solam fidem, ab inferis 2 submitteretur; hanc exsumerent, oscularentur, et in sinu domum deportarent.
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