479. 第4节 内在人的邪恶皆被许可, 这一事实清楚表明, 人在属灵事物上有选择自由
人在属灵事物上有选择自由, 这一点必先通过总体事项被证实, 然后再通过诸如人一听闻就承认的细节被证实。 总体事项如下:
(1) 最有智慧的人类, 即亚当及其妻子, 任由自己被蛇引诱。
(2) 他们的长子该隐杀了兄长亚伯, 耶和华神没有发话阻止他们, 却在事后诅咒。
(3) 以色列民在旷野敬拜金牛犊, 耶和华从西奈山看到这一切, 并未阻止。
(4) 大卫数点百姓, 结果招来瘟疫, 数万人死亡, 而神不在事前, 却在事后差遣先知迦得到大卫那里, 宣告对他的惩罚。
(5) 所罗门被允许创建偶像崇拜形式。
(6) 继他之后, 许多王被允许亵渎神殿和教会圣物, 最后那民族还被允许钉死主。
(7) 穆罕默德被允许创立一个很多方面与圣言不符的宗教。
(8) 基督徒信仰被分裂为众多宗派, 每一个都发展为异端。
(9) 基督教界有那么多不敬虔之人, 甚至以不敬为荣, 以阴谋诡计对抗虔诚, 公义和诚实。
(10) 在司法和商业领域, 有时不义胜过公义。
(11) 不敬虔的人甚至春风得意, 还成为教会和国家的领袖。
(12) 战争被允许, 许多人被杀戮, 很多城市, 民族和家庭被洗劫, 诸如此类。 除非这类事是每个人拥有选择自由的结果, 否则, 又如何解释它们呢? 对全世界邪恶的允许没有其它根源。 许可的法则也是天命的法则, 这一点可参看《天命》一书 (234-274节, 1764年出版于阿姆斯特丹), 此处解释了上述例子。节, 1764年出版于阿姆斯特丹), 此处解释了上述例子。
479. The Fact That Evil Is an Option Available to Everyone's Inner Self Makes It Obvious That We Have Free Choice in Spiritual Matters
I will support the idea that we have free choice in spiritual things first by familiar arguments and then by particular arguments. People will recognize the validity of these arguments as soon as they hear them.
The familiar arguments are these:
1. The wisest of people, Adam and his wife, let themselves be seduced by a serpent.
2. Their firstborn son Cain killed his brother Abel, and Jehovah God did not dissuade Cain by speaking with him but instead cursed him only after the fact.
3. The Israelite nation in the wilderness worshiped a golden calf, even though Jehovah saw this from Mount Sinai and did not protect the people from doing so.
4. David took a census of the people and because of it, a plague came upon them, which caused the death of many thousands, yet God did not act before but only after the fact, when he sent the prophet Gad to David and announced his punishment.
5. Solomon was allowed to institute forms of worship that were idolatrous. Many kings after him were allowed to desecrate the Temple and the holy practices of the church.
6. Later, that nation was allowed to crucify the Lord.
7. Muhammad was allowed to establish a widespread religious movement, which did not conform to Sacred Scripture.
8. Christianity has split into many sects, and each sect has split into heresies.
9. In the Christian world there are many ungodly people and even people who boast about their godless actions. There are also plots and deceptions, even against godly, just, and honest people.
10. Injustice sometimes triumphs over justice in law courts and business proceedings.
11. The ungodly, too, are elevated to positions of honor and become leaders and heads of the church.
12. Wars are allowed to happen, which involve the killing of many people and the plundering of cities, nations, and households, not to mention many other atrocities.
Is it possible to attribute such things to anything but the free choice that exists in everyone? The concept of "permission" well known throughout this world is from no other source.
On the point that the laws of permission are also the laws of divine providence, see Divine Providence (published in Amsterdam in 1764), Divine Providence 234-274. The numbered points just above are explored there.
479. IV. The fact that evil is permitted, a state enjoyed by everyone's internal man, makes it obvious that man has free will in spiritual matters.
The assertion that man has free will in spiritual matters must first be supported by general considerations, and after-wards by particular ones, such as anyone will acknowledge on first hearing. The general considerations are these. (1) Adam, the wisest of men, and his wife allowed themselves to be seduced by the serpent. (2) Their first son, Cain, killed his brother Abel, and Jehovah God did not deter them by talking to them, but only by cursing Cain after the event. (3) The Israelite nation in the desert worshipped the golden calf, although Jehovah saw this from Mount Sinai, and did not prevent it. (4) David counted the people and on account of this a plague was sent on them, of which so many thousands died; and it was not before but after this happened that God sent the prophet Gad to him and pronounced his punishment. (5) Solomon was permitted to set up idolatrous cults. (6) Many kings after him were permitted to profane the Temple and the holy things of the church; and finally that nation was permitted to crucify the Lord, (7) Mohammed was permitted to establish a religion which in many respects did not agree with Holy Scripture. (8) The Christian religion was divided into numerous sects, and each of these into heretical movements. (9) In Christendom there are so many ungodly people, and so much boasting about ungodly acts, as well as trickery and deceit, even practised on godly, just and honest people. (10) Injustice sometimes triumphs over justice in lawsuits and business dealings. (11) Even the ungodly are advanced to honours and become leaders in civil and religious life. (12) Wars are permitted, and then so many thousands are killed, and so many cities, nations and families have their goods looted, and suffer much besides. How can anyone explain such things except as the result of the free will enjoyed by every individual? In my book DIVINE PROVIDENCE (printed in Amsterdam in 1764, 234-274) it may be seen that the laws of permission too are laws of Divine providence; there too the facts mentioned above were explained.
479. V. IT IS CLEARLY MANIFEST FROM THAT PERMISSION OF EVIL IN WHICH EVERYONE'S INTERNAL MAN IS THAT MAN HAS FREEDOM OF CHOICE IN SPIRITUAL THINGS.
That man has freedom of choice in spiritual things must first be confirmed by generals and afterward by particulars which everyone will acknowledge at first hearing. The generals are: (1) That the wisest of mankind, Adam and his wife, suffered themselves to be seduced by a serpent. (2) That their first son Cain slew his brother Abel, and Jehovah God did not hinder them by speaking to them, but only by a curse after the deed. (3) That the Israelitish nation worshiped a golden calf in the desert, and yet Jehovah saw this from Mount Sinai, and did not prevent it. (4) That David numbered the people, and a plague was therefore sent upon them, by which so many thousands of men perished; and that God, not before but after the deed, sent Gad the prophet to David, and denounced punishment upon him. (5) That Solomon was permitted to establish idolatrous forms of worship. (6) And many kings after him were permitted to profane the temple and the holy things of the church, and at length that nation was permitted to crucify the Lord. (7) That Mohammed was permitted to establish a religion in many respects not conformable to Sacred Scripture. (8) That the Christian religion is divided into many sects, and each into heresies. (9) That there are so many impious persons in Christendom, and even a glorying in impieties, as also machinations and wiles even against the pious, righteous, and sincere. (10) That injustice sometimes triumphs over justice in law and business. (11) That even impious persons are exalted to honors, and become leaders in church and state. (12) That wars are permitted, the slaughter of so many men, and the plundering of so many cities, nations, and families; and so on. Can anyone deduce such things from any other source than the possession of freedom of choice by every man? The permission of evil known throughout the world has no other origin. That the laws of permission are also laws of Divine Providence may be seen in the work on The Divine Providence (Amsterdam, 1764, n234-274.234-274), where the foregoing examples are explained.
479. IV. FROM THE PERMISSION TO DO EVIL, GRANTED TO THE INTERNAL MAN OF EVERY ONE, IT IS CLEARLY EVIDENT THAT MAN HAS FREE WILL IN SPIRITUAL THINGS.
That man has free will in spiritual things shall first be confirmed from considerations affecting men in general, and then from considerations affecting men individually, which every one will acknowledge as soon as he hears them. The general considerations Apocalypse Explained 1, Adam the wisest of men, and his wife suffered themselves to be seduced by the serpent. 2, Their first-horn son, Cain, slew his brother Abel, and in both cases Jehovah God did not divert them from their evil course by speaking with them, but only by cursing them after the deeds. 3, The Israelitish nation in the desert worshiped a golden calf, while Jehovah, looking on from Mount Sinai, took no measures to prevent them. 4, David numbered the people, and a plague was, therefore, sent amongst them of which so many thousands perished; and God, not before but after the deed, sent the prophet Gad to him, and declared the penalty. 5, Solomon was permitted to establish idolatrous worship. 6, Many kings after him were permitted to profane the Temple and the holy things of the Church. 7, That nation was at length permitted to crucify the Lord; and Mohammed 1 was permitted to establish a religious system in many respects not in conformity with the Sacred Scripture. 8, The Christian religion is divided into many sects, and each of these is riven by heresies. 9, There are so many impious people in the Christian world and so much glorying in impiety; and also plots and stratagems contrived against the pious, the just and the upright. 10, Injustice prevails over justice in the law courts and in business. 11, The impious also are exalted to honors and become great men and leaders. 12, Wars are permitted, in which there is so much slaughter of men and ravaging of cities, nations and families; and so on. Is it possible to account for such things except from the fact that every man has free will? The permission of evil, which is recognized throughout the whole world, has no other origin. The laws of permission are laws of the Divine Providence, as may be seen in the work on Divine Providence printed at Amsterdam in the year 1764, 234-274, where an explanation will be found of the instances mentioned above.
Footnotes:
1. Mohammad, the founder of Mohammedanism or Islam, A.D. 571-632, was born at Mecca, where his father was spiritual and temporal head. He married a wealthy and devout widow, and owed much to her influence. In the visions to which he was subject he received confirmations of his Divine mission. He also received messages from Gabriel which were incorporated in the KORAN, the sacred book of Mohammedanism. Early persecution drove him from Mecca and in the year A.D. 622 he fled to Medina, where he was cordially welcomed. This flight, or Hejira, marks the beginning of the Mohammedan year, and from Medina he set out on his conquest of Arabia. Mohammedanism proclaims the unity of the God-head, and condemns idolatry; but the peaceful methods of propaganda soon gave place to ruthless persecution of infidels and merciless extermination of idolators.
479. Quod ex Permissione mali, in qua cujusvis Internus homo est, evidenter pateat, quod homini Liberum arbitrium in spiritualibus sit.
Quod homini Liberum Arbitrium in spiritualibus sit, primum confirmandum est ex Communibus, et postea ex particularibus, quae unusquisque ad primum auditum agnoscet. COMMUNIA sunt haec, 1. Quod Sapientissimus 1 hominum, Adamus et ejus Uxor, se passi sint a Serpente seduci. 2. Quod primus eorum filius Cainus occiderit fratrem suum Abelem, et Jehovah Deus non abduxerit illum 2 loquendo cum illo, 3 sed modo post factum 4 maledicendo. 3. Quod Gens Israelitica in deserto coluerit Vitulum aureum, cum tamen Jehovah hoc vidit e monte Sinai, et non praecavit. 4. Quod David numeraverit populum, et propterea immissa sit pestis, e qua tot millia hominum perierunt, et quod Deus non ante, sed post factum ad illum miserit Gadem prophetam, et denuntiaverit poenam. 5. Quod Salomoni permissum fuerit instaurare cultus idololatricos. Et 5 multis regibus post illum profanare Templum, et Sancta Ecclesiae. [6.] Et 6 demum quod Genti isti permissum sit crucifigere Dominum. 7. Quod 7 permissum sit Mahumedi instaurare Religiosum in pluribus non conforme Scripturae Sacrae. 8. Quod Religio Christiana in plures sectas divisa sit, et quaevis in haereses. 9. Quod in Christianismo tot impii sint, et quoque gloriationes ex impietatibus, ut et machinationes et doli, etiam contra pios, justos et sinceros. 10. Quod injustitia quandoque triumphet super justitiam in judiciis et negotiis. 11. Quod etiam impii ad honores evehantur, ac fiant magnates et primates. 12. Quod permittantur Bella, et tunc tot hominum 8 neces, et tot urbium, gentium et familiarum depraedationes, praeter plura; num quis talia potest aliunde deducere quam ex Libero Arbitrio apud unumquemvis hominem: Permissio in toto terrarum orbe nota, non ex alia origine est: quod Leges permissionis etiam sint leges Divinae Providentiae, videatur in Opere de Divina Providentia Amstelodami An. 1764 9 impresso, 234-274, ubi supra allata etiam explicata sunt.
Footnotes:
1. Nisi legeris Sapientissimus, sic Worcester.
2. Prima editio: illos. Cf. de Divina Providentia 236.
3. Sic de Divina Providentia 236. Prima editio: illis.
4. Sic de Divina Providentia 236. Prima editio: facta.
5. idololatricos. Et ubi in prima editione: idololatricos. 6. Et.
6. Ecclesiae. [6.] Et ubi in prima editione: Ecclesiae. 7. Et.
7. Dominum. 7. Quod ubi in prima editione Dominum. Quod.
8. Prima editio: hominuum.
9. Prima editio: 1765.