耶穌正傳——第十四章
CHAPTER 14
第十四章
Matheno's lessons. The doctrine of universal law. The power of man to choose and to attain. The benefits of antagonisms. Ancient sacred books. The place of John and Jesus in the world's history.
馬德諾授課。宇宙法則。人有選擇和取得的能力。對立的益處。古代聖書。約翰和耶穌在人類歷史上的地位。
MATHENO and his pupil, John, were talking of the sacred books of olden times, and of the golden precepts they contained, and John exclaimed,
1、馬德諾和約翰談論古代的聖書和其中的金句，約翰驚呼，
2) These golden precepts are sublime;what need have we of other sacred books?
2、這些金句真是令人讚嘆，我們何需其它聖書呢？
3) Matheno said, The Spirits of the Holy One cause every thing to come and go in proper time.
3、馬德諾說，聖者之靈使萬物適時生滅，
4) The sun has his own time to set, the moon to rise, to wax and wane, the stars to come and go, the rain to fall, the winds to blow;
4、日落有時，月出有時，盈有時，虧有時，星出有時，星沒有時，風有時，雨有時，
5) The seed times and the harvest times to come;man to be born and man to die.
5、種有時，收有時，生有時，死有時。
6) These mighty Spirits cause the nations to be born;they rock them in their cradles, nurture them to greatest power, and when their tasks are done they wrap them in their winding sheets and lay them in their tombs.
6、這些大能的靈使民族誕生，呵護之，養育之，使之發展壯大，待其使命完成，又席捲之，埋葬之。
7) Events are many in a nation's life, and in the life of man, that are not pleasant for the time;but in the end the truth appears:whatever comes is for the best.
7、在民族或個人的歷程中，很多事情當時並不如意，等到真理最終顯現，原來一切皆為一個最好的目的。
8) Man was created for a noble part;but he could not be made a free man filled with wisdom, truth and might,
8、人是高貴的造物，如果他被束縛，被限制，彷彿一個玩偶，一部機器，
9) If he were hedged about, confined in straits from which he could not pass, then he would be a toy, a mere machine.
9、就不能成為一個充滿智慧、真理、能力的自由人。
10) Creative spirits gave to man a will;and so he has the power to choose.
10、創造之靈賦予人意志，使他有選擇的能力。
11) He may attain the greatest heights, or sink to deepest depths;for what he wills to gain he has the power to gain.
11、他可以達到高峰，也可能跌到低谷。他想要什麼，就有能力取得什麼。
12) If he desires strength he has the power to gain that strength;but he must overcome resistances to reach the goal;no strength is ever gained in idleness.
12、他若想要力量，就有能力獲得力量。但是，他必須克服阻力。力量不可能不勞而獲。
13) So, in the whirl of many-sided conflicts man is placed where he must strive to extricate himself.
13、人被置於各種對立中，他必須努力，以解救自己。
14) In every conflict man gains strength;with every conquest he attains to greater heights. With every day he finds new duties and new cares.
14、在對立中，人獲得力量，得勝以後，他達到更高的高度。每天，他有新的責任和憂慮。
15) Man is not carried over dangerous pits, nor helped to overcome his foes. He is himself his army, and his sword and shield;and he is captain of his hosts.
15、人不是被抬過陷阱，也不是靠幫助勝過敵人。他的軍隊、刀劍、盾牌、首領，全是他自己。
16) The Holy Ones just light his way. Man never has been left without a beacon light to guide.
16、聖者只是指明道路。人從來不缺少指路明燈。
17) And he has ever had a lighted lamp in hand that he may see the dangerous rocks, the turbid streams and treacherous pits.
17、他的手中總有點亮的燈，好叫他看見危險的岩石、污濁的河流、暗藏的陷阱。
18) And so the Holy Ones have judged;when men have needed added light a master soul has come to earth to give the light.
18、聖者已作決斷，當人需要更大的光明，就有主的靈魂降世，帶來更大的光明。
19) Before the Vedic days the world had many sacred books to light the way;and when man needed greater light the Vedas, the Avesta and the books of Tao Great appeared to show the way to greater heights.
19、吠陀之前，世界已有很多聖書指路。當人需要更大的光明，吠陀經、阿維斯塔、道家經典就出現於世，以指引更高的道路。
20) And in the proper place the Hebrew Bible, with its Law, its Prophets and its Psalms, appeared for man's enlightenment.
20、在合適之地，希伯來聖經，包括其律法書、先知書、詩篇，也為啟示人而出現於世。
21) But years have passed and men have need of greater light.
21、然時光荏苒，百姓需要更大的光明。
22) And now the Day Star from on high begins to shine;and Jesus is the flesh-made messenger to show that light to men.
22、現如今，高天的晨星已開始閃耀，耶穌就是來彰顯那光的肉身信者。
23) And you, my pupil, you have been ordained to harbinger the coming day.
23、而你，我的學生，已被任命為先驅，以預示將來的日子。
24) But you must keep that purity of heart you now possess;and you must light your lamp directly from the coals that burn upon the altar of the Holy Ones.
24、你心當保持當下的聖潔，你當直接從聖者的祭壇取火，來點亮你的燈。
25) And then your lamp will be transmuted to a boundless flame, and you will be a living torch whose light will shine wherever man abides.
25、那樣，你的燈會化成無盡的火焰，你將成為一個活生生的火把，照亮所有人的住處。
26) But in the ages yet to come, man will attain to greater heights, and lights still more intense will come.
26、等到將來的世代，人將達到更高的高度，更大的光就會照臨。
27 And then, at last, a mighty master soul will come to earth to light the way up to the throne of perfect man.
27、最後，一位大能的主會降臨於世，以指引通向完人寶座之路。