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The Potter!
陶匠！
by James Smith, 1860
作者：詹姆斯·史密斯，1860年
The doctrine of God’s divine sovereignty is generally offensive to the carnal mind — because it strikes a death-blow at the root of man’s pride, and lays the sinner low in the dust before God. Man does not like to be represented as lying absolutely helpless at the foot of divine mercy, entirely at the Lord’s disposal. But God must be a sovereign, and if ever we are saved, it must be in the exercise of his sovereignty.
上帝神圣主权的教义通常冒犯肉体的心思——因为它给人的骄傲之根致命一击，使罪人在上帝面前降卑在尘土中。人不喜欢被描绘成完全无助地躺在神圣怜悯之脚下，完全任由主处置。但上帝必须是至高主权者，如果我们要得救，这必须是通过他主权的运作。
God commands Jeremiah to go down to the potter’s house, to be taught a lesson there:
上帝命令耶利米下到陶匠的家，在那里学习功课：
“So I went down to the potter’s house, and I saw him working at the wheel. But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him. Then the word of the Lord came to me: ‘O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter does?’ declares the Lord. ‘Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel.'” Jeremiah 18:1-6
“于是我下到陶匠的家里，见他正在转盘边工作。窑匠用泥做的器皿，在他手中做坏了，他就用这泥另做别的器皿，照他自己的意思去做。耶和华的话就临到我说：’以色列家啊，我待你们岂不能照这窑匠弄泥吗？’这是耶和华说的。’以色列家啊，泥在窑匠的手中怎样，你们在我的手中也怎样。'”耶利米书18:1-6
These words are as applicable to us, as to them. Observe,
这些话对我们和对他们同样适用。请注意，
Our Position. We are in God’s hand! He has full possession of us, and absolute power and authority over us. We cannot fly out of his hand, or escape from under his eye! We are in God’s hand — as clay in the hand of the potter. We are powerless in his hand. We are wholly at his disposal — to be molded and changed, as to form, appearance, and value — just as he desires. He does with his creatures, according to his will — both in Heaven, and on earth. His will is our law; his decree is our destiny. This may be seen in nature, in providence, and in grace.
我们的处境。我们在上帝手中！他完全拥有我们，对我们有绝对的权柄和权威。我们无法逃出他的手，也无法躲避他的眼目！我们在上帝手中——如同泥土在陶匠手中。我们在他手中毫无能力。我们完全任他处置——被塑造和改变，无论是形状、外观和价值——都按他所愿。他按自己的旨意对待他所造的，无论在天上，还是在地上。他的旨意就是我们的律法；他的命令就是我们的命运。这在自然界、护理和恩典中都可见。
He arranged our birth, our position in society, and our calling by his grace.
他安排了我们的出生、我们在社会中的地位，以及他恩典的呼召。
Whatever he wills — he works.
凡他所愿的——他就成就。
Whatever he has purposed — he brings to pass.
凡他所定意的——他就使其实现。
The potter does not more really preside over the clay — than the Lord presides over all the affairs of the world.
陶匠掌管泥土——不比主掌管世界万事更真实。
We are in God’s hand, as marred vessels. We have no beauty, no apparent value — unfit for sale, and unfit for use. If we are to be of use, if we are to glorify his great name — we must be re-made. Therefore every Christian is said to be, “his workmanship, created anew in Christ Jesus unto good works,” and that according to his foreordination. Whatever we are spiritually — we are by his grace. Notice then,
我们在上帝手中，如同损坏的器皿。我们没有美丽，没有明显的价值——不适合出售，也不适合使用。如果我们要有用，如果我们要荣耀他的大名——我们必须被重新制作。因此每个基督徒都被称为”他的工作，在基督耶稣里造成的，为要行善”，这是按照他预先的安排。无论我们在属灵上是什么——都是因他的恩典。因此要注意，
God’s Sovereignty. He is our owner. The potter cannot claim the clay, which he has dug out of his own land — as absolutely as the Lord can claim us!
神的主权。祂是我们的主人。陶匠对他从自己土地上挖出的泥土的所有权，绝不及主对我们的所有权那样完全！
We are his — for he CREATED us. We were not — until he gave us a being; we never would have been — had he not willed it.
我们属于祂——因为祂创造了我们。在祂赐予我们生命之前，我们并不存在；若非祂的旨意，我们永远不会存在。
We are his — for he has PRESERVED us. By the constant exercise of his sustaining energy — we have been kept in existence according to his sovereign will.
我们属于祂——因为祂保守了我们。通过祂持续不断地施行维系的能力——我们得以按照祂主权的旨意继续存在。
As believers, we are his by REDEMPTION. Every legal impediment has been removed out of the way of his claiming us, and justly re-molding us, and raising us to the highest happiness and glory.
作为信徒，我们因救赎而属于祂。一切法律上的阻碍都已被挪去，使祂能够宣告我们属祂，公义地重塑我们，并将我们提升到最高的喜乐和荣耀。
We are God’s material for making vessels of mercy, which are to adorn his heavenly temple, and show forth his praise.
我们是神制作怜悯之器皿的材料，要用来装饰祂的天上圣殿，彰显祂的荣耀。
He is our absolute owner. No one can justly question his right, or interfere with his disposal of us. He may do as he will, with his own.
祂是我们绝对的主人。没有人能正当地质疑祂的权利，或干涉祂对我们的处置。祂可以随己意处置属于祂的。
But as infinitely wise, whatever he does will reflect his wisdom.
但因祂有无限的智慧，祂所行的一切都将反映祂的智慧。
As impartially just, whatever he does will be in accordance with justice — no part of the creation shall sustain any wrong, by anything he sees fit to do.
因祂公正无私，祂所行的一切都将符合公义——在祂认为合适做的任何事上，受造之物都不会受到任何冤屈。
As plenteous in mercy, his mercy will appear in every exercise of his sovereignty.
因祂丰富的怜悯，祂的怜悯将在祂行使主权的每一方面显明。
We are his, absolutely his — but in dealing with us, in disposing of us — he will act wisely, justly, and in accordance with his mercy. Hence,
我们属于祂，完全属于祂——但在对待我们，处置我们时——祂会以智慧、公义并按祂的怜悯行事。因此，
The Inquiry? “Can I not do with you as this potter does — says the Lord.” Can I not break up the old marred form, reduce it to a shapeless mass, and re-form you for my own use and glory? Yes, he can — and he does! Therefore . . .
这个问题是：”耶和华说：我待你们，岂不能照这窑匠弄泥一样吗？”我岂不能打碎旧有的损坏形态，将其还原为无形之物，然后重新塑造你们为我所用，彰显我的荣耀吗？是的，祂能——祂也必如此行！所以……
we are regenerated,
we are renewed in the spirit of our minds,
we are begotten again to a lively hope.
我们得重生，
我们心意更新，
我们重获活泼的盼望。
But God puts the question to us . . .
但神将这个问题摆在我们面前……
to convince us that we are absolutely at his disposal;
使我们确信我们完全由他支配；
to impress us with a sense of our dependence on him;
让我们深刻感受到我们对他的依赖；
to instruct and teach us that we are at his sovereign mercy;
教导我们明白我们完全仰赖他的主权怜悯；
to silence all the carnal reasonings and objections of the flesh;
使一切肉体的推理和反对都归于无声；
and to humble our proud hearts!
使我们骄傲的心谦卑下来！
O what a mercy it is, that the vilest can be changed! To change the nature and character of the sinner — is God’s work alone! We are in one sense, that is in reference to all that is spiritually good — like passive clay in God’s hand; he must work in us to will, and to do. He must form us for himself — if we ever actively show forth his praise.
多么仁慈啊，最卑劣的也能改变！改变罪人的本性和品格——唯有神才能做到！从一个角度来说，即在一切属灵的善事上——我们如同神手中的被动粘土；他必须在我们里面动工，使我们立志行事。他必须亲自塑造我们——如果我们要主动显明他的荣耀。
Our God is our divine potter — and who shall effectually resist the working of his mighty power? Who can justly complain, if all that God does as a Sovereign in our world, is done in the exercise of his mercy, and is for our welfare?
我们的神是我们神圣的陶匠——谁能有效地抗拒他大能的作为？若神以主权者的身份在我们世界所行的一切，都是出于他的怜悯，为了我们的福祉，谁能公正地抱怨？
Who can find fault without folly — in seeing God, the only wise, the all-comprehending, just, and holy God — taking marred vessels, and making them into vessels of honor — glorifying himself in doing so!
谁能不愚昧地挑剔——看到独一全智、全知、公义、圣洁的神——将损坏的器皿变成尊贵的器皿——在此过程中荣耀他自己！
O my soul, lay low before the Lord, and let his own question deeply impress you, “But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? Shall what is formed say to him who formed it: Why did you make me like this?”
噢，我的灵魂，在主面前俯伏，让他的问题深深印在你心里，”但你这个人哪，你是谁，竟敢向神强嘴呢？受造之物岂能对造他的说：你为什么这样造我呢？”
O Lord, teach and sanctify me by your Spirit, that I may not only admit the doctrine of your sovereignty; but admire its working, and adore its holiness, justice, and grace!
主啊，用你的灵教导我，使我成圣，使我不仅承认你主权的教义，更要敬佩它的作为，崇敬它的圣洁、公义和恩典！