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Theological controversies and disputes
神学论争与争议
(Letters of John Newton)
(约翰·牛顿书信集)
Beware of engaging in theological disputes, without evident necessity, and some probable hope of usefulness.
要警惕参与神学争论，除非有明显的必要性和可能带来的益处。
They tend to eat out the life and savor of religion, and to make the soul lean and dry.
这些争论往往会消耗信仰的生命和滋味，使灵魂变得贫瘠干枯。
I am not to expect others to see with my eyes!
我不该期望别人用我的眼光来看待事物！
I am deeply convinced of the truth of John the Baptist’s aphorism in John 3:27, “A man can receive nothing—except it be given him from Heaven.”
我深信施洗约翰在约翰福音3:27中所说的格言：”若不是从天上赐的，人就不能得什么。”
I well know, that the little measure of knowledge I have obtained in the things of God—has not been owing to my own wisdom and teachableness, but to God’s goodness.
我深知，我在属神之事上所获得的那一点知识，并非出于我自己的智慧和受教性，而是出于神的恩慈。
Nor did I learn everything all at once—God has been pleased to exercise much patience towards me, for the past twenty-seven years—since He first gave me a desire of learning from Himself.
我也不是一下子就学会了所有的事—自从神首次赐给我向祂学习的渴望以来的这二十七年中，祂乐意对我施以极大的耐心。
He has graciously accommodated Himself to my weakness, borne with my mistakes, and helped me through innumerable prejudices, which, but for His mercy, would have been insuperable hindrances!
祂恩慈地迁就我的软弱，容忍我的错误，帮助我克服无数的偏见，若不是祂的怜悯，这些都将是无法逾越的障碍！
I have therefore no right to be angry, impatient, or censorious to others, especially as I have still much to learn, and am so poorly influenced by what I seem to know!
因此，我无权对他人发怒、不耐烦或苛刻批评，特别是当我仍有许多要学习的地方，而且对我似乎知道的事情影响力如此之小！
I am weary of theological controversies and disputes, and desire to choose for myself, and to point out to others, Mary’s part—to sit at Jesus’ feet, and to hear His words.
我厌倦了神学争论与争议，我希望为自己选择，也向他人指出马利亚的道路—坐在耶稣脚前，聆听祂的话语。
I cannot, I must not, I dare not—be contentious!
我不能，我不该，我不敢—好争论！
Only, as a witness for God, I am ready to bear my simple testimony to what I have known of His truth, whenever I am properly called to it.
只是，作为神的见证人，当我被适当地呼召时，我随时准备为我所知的祂的真理作简单的见证。
The longer I live, the more I see of the vanity and the sinfulness of our unchristian disputes!
我活得越久，就越发看到我们非基督徒式争论的虚妄和罪性！
They eat up the very vitals of religion!
这些争论吞噬了宗教的生命要素！
I allow that every branch of Gospel truth is precious, that errors are abounding, and that it is our duty to bear an honest testimony to what the Lord has enabled us to find comfort in, and to instruct with meekness such as are willing to be instructed.
我承认福音真理的每一分支都是宝贵的，错误确实普遍存在，我们有责任为主所使我们得安慰的事作诚实的见证，并以温柔的心教导那些愿意受教的人。
But I cannot see that it is my duty; nay, I believe it would be my sin—to attempt to beat my notions into other people’s heads!
但我不认为这是我的责任；不，我相信试图把我的观念强加给别人反而是我的罪过！