耶穌正傳——第十五章
CHAPTER 15
第十五章
Death and burial of Elizabeth. Matheno's lessons. The ministry of death. The mission of John. Institution of the rite of baptism. Matheno takes John to Egypt, and places him in the temple at Sakara, where he remains eighteen years.
以利沙伯去世、被埋葬。馬德諾授課。死亡的意義。約翰的使命。設立洗禮。馬德諾把約翰帶到埃及，安置在撒卡拉寺中。約翰在寺中十八年。
WHEN John was twelve years old his mother died, and neighbors laid her body in a tomb among her kindred in the Hebron burying ground, and near to Zacharias' tomb.
1、約翰十二歲時，他的母親去世了。鄰居們把她葬在希伯崙的家族墳地裡，靠近撒迦利亞的墳墓。
2) And John was deeply grieved;he wept. Matheno said, It is not well to weep because of death.
2、約翰悲痛哭泣。馬德諾說，為死亡哭泣是不值的。
3) Death is no enemy of man;it is a friend who, when the work of life is done, just cuts the cord that binds the human boat to earth, that it may sail on smoother seas.
3、死不是人的敵人，相反，它是一個朋友，當人生的任務完成以後，它剪斷生命之舟系在地上的繩索，讓它航向更平靜的海面。
4) No language can describe a mother's worth, and yours was tried and true. But she was not called hence until her tasks were done.
4、沒有語言能描述一個母親的價值，你的母親經受了考驗。她受到召喚，是在她的任務完成了以後。
5) The calls of death are always for the best, for we are solving problems there as well as here;and one is sure to find himself where he can solve his problems best.
5、死亡的召喚總是為了最好的目的，因為死後，我們一樣在解決問題，如生前一樣。一個人必能找到他最能解決問題之處。
6) It is but selfishness that makes one wish to call again to earth departed souls.
6、只有自私者，才想要喚回已離世的靈魂。
7) Then let your mother rest in peace. Just let her noble life be strength and inspiration unto you.
7、所以，讓你的母親安息吧！只要讓她高貴的生命作為你的力量和啟示便可。
8) A crisis in your life has come, and you must have a clear conception of the work that you are called to do.
8、你生命中的挑戰已經來臨，你必須對你蒙召的使命有清楚的認識。
9) The sages of the ages call you harbinger. The prophets look to you and say, He is Elijah come again.
9、諸世代的聖者稱你為先驅，諸先知看著你說，看哪，他是以利亞再來。
10) Your mission here is that of harbinger;for you will go before Messiah's face to pave his way, and make the people ready to receive their king.
10、你在世的使命是作先驅，因為你要走在彌賽亞的面前，鋪平他的道路，讓人們做好準備，以接受他們的王。
11) This readiness is purity of heart;none but the pure in heart can recognize the king.
11、該準備即是聖潔的心，只有心中聖潔的，能認出王。
12) To teach men to be pure in heart, you must yourself be pure in heart, and word, and deed.
12、要教人們心中聖潔，你自己得保持心靈、言語、行為上的聖潔。
13) In infancy the vow for you was made and you became a Nazarite. The razor shall not touch your face nor head, and you shall taste not wine nor fiery drinks.
13、在襁褓中，你就被代為許願，成了一個拿細耳人，剃刀不可剃你的頭髮和鬍鬚，你也不可喝清酒濃酒。
14) Men need a pattern for their lives;they love to follow, not to lead.
14、百姓需要一個生活的模範，他們喜歡跟隨，不喜歡引導。
15) The man who stands upon the corners of the paths and points the way, but does not go, is just a pointer;and a block of wood can do the same.
15、站在路口指路，自己卻不走的人，只是一個指路人。一塊木頭，也能做到。
16) The teacher treads the way;on every span of ground he leaves his footprints clearly cut, which all can see and be assured that he, their master went that way.
16、師父卻親自去走，每一步都留下清晰的腳印，叫所有人看見並確信他們的主已經走過。
17) Men comprehend the inner life by what they see and do. They come to God through ceremonies and forms.
17、人們通過所見所行來理解內在的生命，他們通過禮儀形式來親近神。
18) And so when you would make men know that sins are washed away by purity in life, a rite symbolic may be introduced.
18、所以，當你叫人明白聖潔的生活能洗淨罪時，可設立一個像徵性的儀式。
19) In water wash the bodies of the people who would turn away from sin and strive for purity in life.
19、凡願意離開罪，追求聖潔生活的人，你可用水洗他們的身體。
20) This rite of cleansing is a preparation rite and they who thus are cleansed comprise the Church of Purity.
20、這是一種準備性的儀式，凡如此受洗者，組成聖潔的教會。
21) And you shall say, You men of Israel, hear;Reform and wash;become the sons of purity, and you shall be forgiven
21、你要說，以色列人啊，諦聽！你們要悔改，洗淨自己，成為聖潔之子，就能得到寬恕。
22) This rite of cleansing and this church are but symbolic of the cleansing of the soul by purity in life, and of the kingdom of the soul, which does not come with outward show, but is the church within.
22、該洗禮象徵聖潔的生活潔淨靈魂，該教會像徵靈魂的國度。靈魂的國度是內在的教會，不是眼所能見的。
23) Now, you may never point the way and tell the multitudes to do what you have never done;but you must go before and show the way.
23、你未做過的，不可能指示百姓去做。所以，你當走在前頭，指引道路。
24) You are to teach that men must wash;so you must lead the way, your body must be washed, symbolic of the cleansing of the soul.
24、你要告訴百姓，你們當洗淨自己。你得親自引路，你的身體當接受象徵潔淨靈魂的洗禮。
25) John said, Why need I wait? May I not go at once and wash?
25、約翰說，我還等什麼呢？何不現在就去受洗？
26) Matheno said, 'Tis well, and then they went down to the Jordan ford, and east of Jericho, just where the hosts of Israel crossed when first they entered Canaan, they tarried for a time.
26、馬德諾說，甚好。於是他們下到耶利哥東邊的約旦河，就在以色列人進迦南時所越過之地。在此，他們稍作停留。
27) Matheno taught the harbinger, and he explained to him the inner meaning of the cleansing rite and how to wash himself and how to wash the multitude.
27、馬德諾給約翰解釋洗禮的內涵，教他如何給自己並百姓施洗。
28) And in the river Jordan John was washed;then they returned unto the wilderness.
28、約翰就在約旦河受了洗。事後，他們回到曠野。
29) Now in Engedi's hills Matheno's work was done and he and John went down to Egypt. They rested not until they reached the temple of Sakara in the valley of the Nile.
29、馬德諾在隱基底山的任務已經完成，便帶約翰去往埃及。他們星夜兼程，直到抵達尼羅河谷的撒卡拉寺。
30) For many years Matheno was a master in this temple of the Brotherhood, and when he told about the life of John and of his mission to the sons of men, the hierophant with joy received the harbinger and he was called the Brother Nazarite.
30、馬德諾曾在此兄弟寺作師父多年，當他介紹了約翰的生活和使命後，主持高興地接待了他，並稱他為拿細耳兄弟。
31) For eighteen years John lived and wrought within these temple gates;and here he conquered self, became a master mind and learned the duties of the harbinger.
31、約翰在寺中生活修行了十八年，他在此戰勝了自我，成了一位大師，明白了作先驅的責任。