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談天說地 ✐2007-09-01


喚醒美國的喬治

史述

 

  兩個喬治角力:喬治華盛頓(George Washington, 1732-1799)打敗了英國的喬治三世(George III, 1738-1820)。結果,在地球的表面上,原來英國的美洲殖民地,產生了獨立的美利堅合眾國(United States of America)。


George Washington

George III

  但在十八世紀,還有另一個喬治。他是三個喬治中最年長的,他把美洲殖民地的部分人民,帶進了天國。
  他是喬治.威特腓(George Whitefield, 1714-1770)。他的工作早,也更持久。
  耶穌說:“真理必叫你們得以自由。”(約翰福音8:32)
  喬治.華盛頓率領美洲人民,脫離英國,得到政治上的自由。喬治.威特腓使美洲殖民地的人,皈信基督,得到靈裏的自由。很難說,哪一個影響美國更大。
  甚麼是神所重用的人呢?是改變時代的人。無疑的,兩個喬治都是。


威特腓 George Whitefield

威特腓

        William Cowper

盧克耐模(在希臘語音下面
  隱約有個名字詩人不敢宣稱)
  站在刑枷公開羞辱的高台上,
  忍受攻擊的風暴已經半生;
  最低賤的誹謗者,
  射盡所有的箭惡毒無情。
  那提到他的人,立即從他的脣間
  摒除憐憫,只發出譏笑和嘶聲;
  說他的罪遠超過所多瑪;
  用虛謊立誓言竟說是真誠;
  他的目的傷害,他的熱心是裝假,
  他的演講是反叛常識普通;
  簡直是個傻瓜,如果以理智來論評,
  他是個騙徒,若以誠實的標準權衡;
  世界最上好的事,就是他的毀滅,
  當他死後,必定受審判永刑。
  現在,真理,來掌權;
  揭開驕傲和成見的幕帘,
  (他已經死了)向驚奇的眼睛呈現,
  這實在超越巨怪的裝扮。
  他愛那恨他的世界;
  落在聖經上的眼淚誠實不假。
  受到口舌的爭鬧毀謗咒罵,
  他只以無可指摘的生活回答;
  對那些鑄造槍箭和投射的人,
  他都報以弟兄般的愛心。
  保羅愛基督並且堅貞不渝,
  他完全效法也完美的表露。
  他跟從保羅;熱誠愛骨肉的火焰,
  愛心範模也正是如同使徒。
  像保羅歡然橫渡波危濤急的海洋,
  放棄家園,親戚,朋友,和舒暢;
  像保羅,他勞苦,也像他,知足,
  忍受一切,背負羞辱,不論何往。
  慚愧啊,誹謗的人!寫在他的墓上,
  如果真實的頌揚還有足夠的地方,
  要深切的悔改你千萬的虛謊,
  雖然是對他,卻射傷獲罪於上蒼;
  要說:塗抹我的罪,認罪,憂傷,
  啊,主!我敵對你聖徒有你的形像!

譯注:盧克耐模(Leuconomus)可能希臘語根隱有“白其名”的意思:“白”(White)是威特腓名字的字首;也可能意在表白或潔白;更可能“白石新名”(啟示錄2:17)的意思。

 

  Whitefield

   From Hope

Leuconomus (beneath well-sounding Greek
I slur a name a poet may not speak)
Stood pilloried on infamy's high stage,
And bore the pelting storm of half an age;
The very butt of slander, and the blot
For every dart that malice ever shot.
The man that mentioned him at once dismissed
All mercy from his lips, and sneered and hissed;
His crimes were such as Sodom never knew,
And perjury stood up to swear all true;
His aim was mischief, and his zeal pretence,
His speech rebellion against common sense;
A knave, when tried on honesty's plain rule,
And when by that of reason, a mere fool;
The world 's best comfort was, his doom was past;
Die when he might, he must be damned at last.
  Now, truth, perform thine office; waft aside
The curtain drawn by prejudice and pride,
Reveal (the man is dead) to wondering eyes
This more than monster in his proper guise.
  He loved the world that hated him; the tear
That droped upon his Bible was sincere;
Assailed by scandal and the tongue of strife,
His only answer was a blameless life;
And he that forged and he that threw the dart
Had each a brother's interest in his heart.
Paul's love of Christ and steadiness unbribed
Were copied close in him, and well transcribed.
He followed Paul; his zeal a kindred flame,
His apostolic charity the same.
Like him crossed cheerfully tempestuous seas,
Forsaking country, kindred, friends, and ease;
Like him he laboured, and like him, content
To bear it, suffered shame where'er he went.
Blush, Calumny! and write upon his tomb,
If honest Eulogy can spare thee room,
The deep repentance of thy thousand lies,
Which, aimed at him, has pierced the offended skies;
And say, Blot out my sin, confessed, deplored,
Against thine image in thy saint, O Lord!


William Cowper (1731-1800)
English hymn writer & poet

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