| 饒恕而非忘記 | |
| 經文: 「我要赦免他們的罪孽，不再記念他們的罪惡。」（耶利米書三十一：34） | |
| 一九一三年在布魯番庭一個婦女紀念碑揭幕典禮上，我恰巧坐在第一排的位置上，不久太陽越來越大，晒得我很不舒服。突然，後面有人伸過一把傘幫我遮陽，等講員說完話，我悄聲問我隔壁的姪兒：「誰這麼好心替我遮陽？」他說：「是杜威將軍。」我很驚訝，趕緊回頭致謝。後來我姪兒說他很樂意能為我服務，我心想他真是個有愛心特質的人。 不一會兒，輪到他上台演講，他說的我都很贊同，除了一點，他說：「饒恕——是的，忘記——絕不。」典禮結束，我同他握手致意：「你說你不能忘記，可知這會帶來怎樣結果？」 許多人被這話所迷惑。在農莊我看到一隻狗走到前門，想找一塊蔭涼地方歇著，但主人立刻把牠趕走，不一會兒，這狗兒又從後門溜進客廳。 這前門代表「我要原諒。」人們竭力地想把恨人的惡念排除心外，但這些念頭又很快地鑽進心房：「我永不忘記。」許多人相信上帝的饒恕大愛，但不明白上帝不但饒恕罪人，也忘記他的罪衍，「我要赦免他們的罪孽，也不再記念他們的過犯。」保羅在歌羅西書三章13節說：「總要彼此包容、彼此饒恕；主怎樣饒恕了你們，你們也要怎樣饒恕人。」 | |
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| FORGIVE, BUT NOT FORGET | |
| Scripture: "I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more."—JER. xxxi. 34. | |
| At the unveiling of the Women's Monument at Bloemfontein in 1913, I happened to be sitting in the front row on the platform at the foot of the Monument. After a while the sun became very hot. Suddenly I noticed that some one behind me was holding an umbrella over my head. When the speaker had finished, I asked my nephew beside me: "Who is so friendly as to hold an umbrella over my head?" His answer was: "General de Wet." I was surprised, and turning round, thanked him heartily. My nephew told me afterwards that he had said: "But I would gladly have paid for the privilege of doing it." I thought, what a generous nature to speak in that way. Presently his turn came to give an address. I could agree with all he said, except his last words, which were: ''Forgive—yes, but forget—never." When the ceremony was over, and I shook hands with him again, it was in my heart to say to him: "You say, 'I can never forget.' Be careful to what that may lead." Many a one has allowed himself to be deceived by these words. On the farms, I have often seen a dog come in at the front door to seek coolness and shade. He would be driven out, and the door closed. Then he would go through the back door, and would soon be inside the house again. The front door is: "I will forgive." One wishes to put away all thought of hatred or ill-feeling. But see how quickly and quietly these evil thoughts come back through the back door of "I will never forget." Many a one trusts in God's forgiving love, but does not remember that when God forgives, He forgets. "I will forgive their iniquity, and will remember their sins no more." And St. Paul gives us the advice in Col. iii. 13: "Forgiving one another, even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye." | |
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