司培福—我心靈得安寧
1871年十月八日夜間,芝加哥發生大火,延燒到十日,當時美國第二大城市的精華,約四方哩,包括商業區,許多人平生的經營積蓄,都化為灰燼。
四十三歲的司培福(Horatio Gates Spafford, 1828-1888),半生的血汗,也銷失了。在大火前不久,他夫婦剛經歷喪子之痛;哀傷還未復,現在更加上新的創痕。他們決定需要舉家海外旅行,並參加他們的朋友慕迪(Dwight L. Moody, 1837-1899)在英國的布道大會。他妻子Anna帶着四個女兒Annie, Maggie, Bessie 和 Tanetta 先行;司培福摒擋事務,計畫於幾天後前往會合。
母女們所乘的船華富兒號(SS Ville du Havre),在橫渡大西洋航行途中,被一艘船撞上,兩船同時於十二分鐘內沉沒。司培福收到妻子在威爾斯卡迪浮(Cardiff, Wales)發來電報“僅以身免”(Saved alone)!
負載着悲傷的司培福,搭乘下一班船趕去。在航途中,船長在波濤洶湧的洋面,指示華富兒號沉沒的大概地方。
當晚,船航行在孤單的夜海上,驚濤拍擊着船舷。司培福在艙房裏,獨對着孤燈,卻感覺到奇妙的平安進入心裏,他的筆下湧流出美辭:
有時哀傷如海濤湧…
可安寧,可安寧,我心靈!
我心靈可安寧
有時遇平安如江河我路程
有時哀傷如海濤湧
不論何境遇主已教導我說
我心靈可安寧可安寧
我心靈可安寧可安寧
我心靈可安寧可安寧
試煉雖來臨撒但雖然侵凌
我有主這賜福保證
基督眷顧我無倚靠之困境
已流出祂寶血為我靈
我知是何等榮耀蒙福途徑
我罪在十架全被釘
全然無虧欠我罪債全還清
讚美主讚美主我心靈
主啊快再臨信心就成眼見
雲彩要捲起如書卷
號筒必吹響我救主自天降
願主臨得安寧我心靈
It Is Well With My Soul
When peace like a river attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll,
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,
“It is well, it is well, with my soul.”
It is well with my soul;
It is well, it is well with my soul!
Tho' Satan should buffet, tho' trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ hath regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.
My sin - O the bliss of this glorious thought,
My sin - not in part but the whole
Is nailed to the cross and I bear it no more!
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!
And, Lord, haste the day when the faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll,
The Trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend!
Even so - it is well with my soul!