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因信而生
2022-12-17|閱讀時間 ‧ 約 41 分鐘

羅伯特·馬禮遜（Robert Morrison）逝世百年紀念文章 - China's Millions 1934

Robert Morrison
Pioneer of Protestant Missions to China
By Marshall Broomhall
Published 1934
China’s Millions, China Inland Mission
羅伯特·馬禮遜
新教在華傳教的先驅
作者：馬歇爾·布魯姆豪爾
1934年出版
《億萬華民》，中國內地會
1 Surrounded as we are today by threatenings on every hand, by political perplexitiesand economic hardships, it is a good thing to look back and recall GOD'S wonders of old. It is all too easy to think that our trials are unprecedented, and our circumstances more inimicalto the progress of the Gospel than in the days of our fathers. Time has blunted our sense of the troubles of former days and of the difficulties faced by the pioneers. But though the scale of happenings today may be greater, they are not necessarily a greater challenge to faith. The Church has always been faced with the impossible apart from GOD, and the study of past triumphs is one of the best tonicsfor the troubled heart.
  • on every hand 在各個方面
  • perplexity / pər-ˈplek-sə-tē / n.困惑，混亂
  • unprecedented /ˌən-ˈpre-sə-ˌden-təd / adj.前所未有的
  • inimical / i-ˈni-mi-kəl / adj.充滿敵意的，不友好的
  • tonic /ˈtä-nik / n.（使人）精神振奮（的東西）
今天，我們因各個方面的威脅、政治上的困惑和經濟上的困難所包圍，回顧過去、回想上帝昔日所做的奇跡是一件好事。我們很容易會以為我們所面臨的考驗是前所未有的，我們所處的環境比我們前輩所處的時代更不利於福音的傳播。時間模糊了我們的感知，就是對舊有的麻煩和對先驅者所面臨得困難的感知。然而，儘管今天發生的事情可能規模更大，但它們並不一定是對信仰的更大挑戰。除了上帝以外，教會一直都在面對不可能的事情，而學習過去的成就是對困擾的心靈最好的補藥之一。
2 “I will remember the years of the right hand of the Most High,” wrote the Psalmist. “I will make mention of the deeds of the Lord; for I will remember Thy wonders of old. I will meditate also upon all Thy works, and muse on Thy doings. (Psalm 77:10-12)” In all this, GOD'S servant set us a good example, and we purpose in this article to recall some of the mountainsof difficulty which flowed downbefore Robert Morrison at the presence of the LORD.
  • mountain / ˈmau̇n-tᵊn / n.大量
  • flow down 本意指移動、流動；本句指持續不斷地出現
《詩篇》的作者寫道：「但我要追念至高者顯出右手之年代。我要提說耶和華所行的；我要記念你古時的奇事。我也要思想你的經營，默念你的作為。(詩篇 77:10-12 和合本)。」我們在這篇文章中旨在回顧羅伯特·馬禮遜在耶和華面前所遇到的諸多困難。在所有這些方面，上帝的僕人為我們樹立了一個好榜樣。
3 Robert Morrison, the first Protestantmissionary to China, died at Cantonon August 1st, 1834, just one hundred years ago. William Careyhad died at Seramporeon June 9th, a few weeks earlier, and by a strange coincidencethe monopoly of the East India Companycame to an end in the spring of the same year. Both Carey and Morrison had experienced the powerful oppositionof this great company. “Intoxicatedor dementedby the very political success which GOD had permitted to it, the East India Company had become the most intolerantenemy of Christian Missions.” Thus wrote Dr. George Smith.
  • Robert Morrison 羅伯特·馬禮遜（英國宣教士）
  • Protestant / ˈprä-tə-stənt / n.新教徒
  • Canton 廣州的舊稱
  • William Carey 威廉·克理（英國宣教士）
  • Serampore 塞蘭坡（位於印度加爾各答）
  • coincidence / kō-ˈin(t)-sə-dən(t)s / n.巧合
  • East India Company 東印度公司
  • opposition /ˌä-pə-ˈzi-shən / n.反對，對立
  • intoxicated / in-ˈtäk-sə-ˌkā-təd / adj.狂喜的，過度興奮的
  • demented / di-ˈmen-təd / adj.精神錯亂的，發狂的
  • intolerant / (ˌ)in-ˈtä-lə-rənt / adj.不寬容的，偏執的，偏狹的
1834年8月1日，第一位來華新教傳教士羅伯特·馬禮遜（Robert Morrison）在廣州去世，距今（1934年）剛好一百年。幾周前的6月9日（1934年），威廉·克理（William Carey）在塞蘭坡（Serampore）去世，巧合的是，東印度公司的壟斷也在同年春天結束。克理和馬禮遜都經歷過這家大公司的強烈的反對。喬治·史密斯博士這樣寫道：「即使上帝允許東印度公司取得政治上的成功，使它陶醉或癲狂，東印度公司卻成了基督教傳教事工上最不能容忍的敵人。」
4 The word that supported Carey, when faced with possible expulsionfrom India, was, “Look unto Abraham your father . . . for when he was but one I called him, and I blessed him and made him many.” And the promise was fulfilled. It was a like faith that sustained Morrison from start to finish. Owing to the East India Company's hostility he could not sail for China on any British vessel. It was in a ship flying the Stars and Stripesthat he journeyed from America to Canton, and armed with a letter of introduction from the American Secretary of Stateto the American Consulin China. This was a delicate arrangement, but under GOD it thwarted the powerful antagonismof the Company. And as Carey in India had to find shelter under the Danishflag to carry on his work, so for a time had Morrison in Canton to live under the American flag. How precarioushis footholdwas may easily be forgotten. If it had not been the LORD who was on his side, his stay would have been speedily cut short.
  • expulsion / ik-ˈspəl-shən / n.驅逐（出境）
  • the Stars and Stripes 星條旗（美國國旗）
  • American Secretary of State 美國國務卿
  • American Consul 美國領事
  • antagonism /an-ˈta-gə-ˌni-zəm / n.敵意，敵對
  • Danish / ˈdā-nish / adj.丹麥的
  • precarious / pri-ˈker-ē-əs / adj.不穩固的，危險的
  • foothold /ˈfu̇t-ˌhōld / n.立腳點，立足處
當威廉·克理可能被驅逐出印度時，支撐他的一句話是：「你要仰望你的父親亞伯拉罕......因為他只有一個人的時候，我就呼召他，賜福給他，使他的後裔繁多。」 上帝的應許真的實現了。正是這種信念從始至終支撐著馬禮遜。由於東印度公司的敵意，他無法乘坐任何英國船隻前往中國。他乘坐一艘懸掛星條旗的輪船，帶著美國國務卿給美國駐華領事的介紹信，從美國前往廣州。這是一個微妙的安排，但在上帝的領導下，它挫敗了東印度公司強大的敵意。正如克理在印度時不得不在丹麥國旗下尋找棲身之所，以繼續他的工作一樣，馬禮遜在廣州也一度不得不在美國國旗下生活。他的所處的位置是多麼岌岌可危，人們很容易忘記。如果不是耶和華站在他這一邊，他的逗留時間很快就會被縮短。
5 Morrison was surrounded on all hands by foes to the spread of the Gospel. The Chinese Emperor had told Lord Macartneyin 1793, “The propagationof the English religion is a matter which can by no means be allowed.” Morrison was besetwith hindrances and limitations. “The people of Europe,” he wrote, “have no idea of the difficulties of residence here, or of obtaining masters to teach. The Chinese are prohibited from teaching the language under penalty of death.” But with an earthenwarelamp for a light, and a foliovolume of Matthew Henry's Commentaryfor a shield, he sat at his books and made himself master of the language.
  • Lord Macartney 英國特使馬戛爾尼勛爵（馬戛爾尼使團英國首個派到中國的外交使團）
  • propagation /ˌprä-pə-ˈgā-shən / n.傳播，宣傳
  • beset / bi-ˈset / v.困擾
  • earthenware / ˈər-thən-ˌwer / n.陶器
  • folio / ˈfō-lē-ˌō / n.對開本的書（指大布頭的書）
  • Matthew Henry's Commentary 馬太亨利聖經註釋
馬禮遜的周圍到處都是傳播福音的敵人。1793年，清朝皇帝曾對馬戛爾尼勛爵說：「英國宗教的傳播是絕對不能允許的。」馬禮遜受到了重重的阻礙和限制。他在信中寫道：「歐洲人不知道在這裡居住的困難，也不知道如何獲得教書先生。中國人被禁止教授中文，違令者將被處以死刑。」但是，他用一盞陶燈照明，用一卷對開本的《馬太亨利聖經註釋》作為盾牌，坐在書桌旁，成為了這門語言的主人。
6 For most of his life he lived the life of a captive. The limits of the area reserved for foreign occupation at Canton were about 330 yards fronting the river, with a depth of 230 yards. But more than half of this was covered with buildings, and exercise upon the river was prohibited. Nor might sedan chairsbe used, and no foreign woman, be she wife or friend, might so much as set a foot upon the soil. For nearly twenty-seven years, with only one furlough, this confinedspace was Robert Morrison's chief place of residence. When the East India Company's fleet had sailed, a visit to Macaowas possible and indeed compulsory.
  • captive / ˈkap-tiv / n.俘虜
  • sedan chair / si-ˈdan / n.轎子
  • furlough / ˈfər-(ˌ)lō / n.休假
  • confined /kən-ˈfīnd / adj.限制的
  • Macao / mə-ˈkau̇ / n.澳門
  • compulsory / kəm-ˈpəls-rē / adj.必須做的
他一生中的大部分時間都過著被俘式的生活。在廣州，外國佔領區的界限是臨河約330碼，縱深230碼。但這其中一半以上被建築物覆蓋，而且禁止在河邊活動。轎子也不能使用，外國婦女——無論是妻子還是朋友——都不能踏上這片土地半步。這個狹小的地方是羅伯特·馬禮遜的主要居住地。近二十七年來，只有一次休假。當東印度公司的艦隊啓航時，去澳門是可能的，甚至是必須的。
7 Through all his sojournin Canton, Morrison was opposed by the Chinese Government. Within five years of his arrival an Imperial edictmade it a capital offence to print any books in Chinese on the Christian religion. The Chinese officials broke into his printing room and carried off his type and threatened his assistants. It was no wonder that he said he felt lonely and in constant apprehension. “But,” he adds, “I hope the Almighty Arm which has been my defence hithertowill still preserve me from all evil.”
  • sojourn /ˈsō-ˌjərn / n.旅居
  • Imperial edict /im-ˈpir-ē-əl, ˈē-ˌdikt / n.聖旨
  • hitherto / ˈhi-t͟hər-ˌtü /adv.迄今
在廣州的逗留期間，馬禮遜一直遭到清廷政府的反對。在他抵達後的五年內，一道帝國法令規定，用中文印刷任何有關基督教的書籍都是死罪。中國官員闖入他的印刷室，搶走了他的打字機，並威脅他的助手。難怪他說，他感到孤獨，時刻惶恐不安。他補充道：「但是，我希望迄今為止一直保護我的上帝萬能的膀臂仍能保護我免遭一切的邪惡。」
8 And the Roman Catholicsat Macao became his enemies too. When staying in that centre he lived in fear of Chinese and Portuguesealike. Owing to protests made by the Portuguese Vicar-General, the East India Company forbade Morrison to use his printing press in Macao. “The Select Committeedesire you to suspend the issue of any further publications from the printing press in your home at Macao.” So ran their decision. Now the preaching of the Gospel at that time was impossible in China, so the printed page was Morrison's only channel for spreading the truth. So against this “threefold despotism”of Priest, Portuguese and English authorities, Morrison made a spirited and able protest, and proved himself a formidable antagonistwhen vital principles were at stake.
  • Roman Catholic /ˌrəʊmən ˈkæθlɪk/n.羅馬天主教徒
  • Portuguese /ˌpɔːrtʃʊˈɡiːz/ n.葡萄牙人
  • Vicar-General / ˈvi-kər-ˈjen-rəl / n.（羅馬天主教）代理主教
  • Select Committee 專責委員會（英國政治）
  • despotism /ˈde-spə-ˌti-zəm / n.專制主義
  • formidable / ˈfȯr-mə-də-bəl / adj.令人欽佩的
  • antagonist /an-ˈta-gə-nist / n.對手，反對者
在澳門的羅馬天主教徒也成了他的敵人。在澳門，他生活在對中國人和葡萄牙人的恐懼之中。由於葡萄牙代理主教的抗議，東印度公司禁止馬禮遜在澳門使用他的印刷機。「特別委員會希望您暫停在澳門家中的印刷廠發行任何出版物。」他們就這樣決定了。當時在中國傳福音是不可能的，所以印刷品是馬禮遜傳播真理的唯一渠道。因此，針對神父、葡萄牙人和英國當局的「三重專制」，馬禮遜提出了有力而幹練的抗議，並證明自己在重大原則問題上是一個強大的對手。
9 “I protest against the whole proceeding,” he wrote, “as an act of usurpedauthority, tyranny and oppression on the part of both Portuguese and English, at the bidding of a Popish priest.” But not content with an expression of dissent, he carried the war into the enemies' ranks. With uncompromising firmness he argued for the liberty of the press in the columns of the Canton Register. Quoting the New French Charterwhich said, “All Frenchmen have the right to publish and print their own opinions: the censorship is for ever abolished,” he argued from history and from Scripture, the natural rights of man. Beneath Morrison's quiet exterior there slumbereduncommon resolution, heroic determination, combined with an unsuspected capacity. He was a well-readman, and knew how to defend his position. Quoting St. Peter's words, “Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God (Acts 4:19),” he closed one of his articles with the words, “We therefore conclude that the laws against speaking, and writing, and printing, may be disobeyed with a good conscience. Tyrants may punish, but GOD will approve.”
  • usurp / yu̇-ˈsərp / v.篡權
  • New French Charter 《法蘭西新憲章(1814)》，英文全稱為Constitutional Charter of 1814，簡稱《1814年憲章》
  • slumber /ˈsləm-bər / v.蟄伏，沉睡
  • well-read /ˈwel-ˈred / adj.有學問的，博學的
他在信中寫道：「我抗議整個行動，這是葡萄牙人和英國人在一個教皇神父的授意下篡奪權力、實施暴政和壓迫的行為。」但他並不滿足於表達異議，而是將戰爭引向了敵人的陣營。他在《廣州紀事報》的專欄中毫不妥協地堅決主張新聞自由。他引用了《法蘭西新憲章(1814)》中的一句話：「所有法國人都有權發表和印刷自己的觀點：審查制度永遠廢除。」馬禮遜從歷史和聖經中論證了人的天賦的權利。在馬禮遜沈靜的外表下，蘊藏著非凡的魄力、英勇的決心和不為人知的能力。他博覽群書，知道如何捍衛自己的立場。他引用了聖彼得的話：「聽從你們，不聽從神，這在神面前合理不合理？(使徒行傳 4:19 和合本)」在他的一篇文章的結尾，他寫道：「因此，我們得出結論，我們可以靠著良心不遵守這種反對言論、寫作和印刷的法律。暴君會懲罰你，但上帝會贊同你。」
10 Though alone and defenceless, he stood firm. It was the spirit of Athanasius, or of the Scriptural Anti-pas(against all), GOD'S faithful witness, a willingness to stand against the world.
  • defenceless (defenseless) / di-ˈfen(t)s-ləs / adj.無防御能力的，手無寸鐵的
  • Athanasius /ˌa-thə-ˈnā-zh(ē-)əs / 亞他那修（公元298-373年）早期基督教重要的主教
  • Anti-pas (Antipas) 安提帕「你要寫信給別迦摩教會的使者，說：『那有兩刃利劍的，說：我知道你的居所，就是有撒但座位之處；當我忠心的見證人安提帕在你們中間、撒但所住的地方被殺之時，你還堅守我的名，沒有棄絕我的道。(啟示錄 2:12-13 和合本)
儘管孤身一人，毫無防備，但馬禮遜仍堅定不移。這是亞塔那修的精神，或者說是聖經中的安提帕（見聖經《啟示錄》2:13）的精神，是上帝忠實的見證人，是與世界對抗的意願。
11 When Morrison had completed the translation of the New Testament, it appeared as though his life's work was to be cut short. The news of this translation reached the ears of the Honourable the Court of Directors’ of the East India Company in London. And they knowing that the Chinese Government had interdictedany such publications, and fearing for their own trade if the authorities were displeased, sent out an order to Canton directing that Morrison be dismissed. As the only way to secure a foothold in Canton, he had become their interpreter. But Morrison was not the man to flee, and he made such a dignified yet courteous reply that it was referred home for new instructions. Meanwhile higher powers, both human and divine, were at work. The British Government had determined to dispatchanother embassyto China under Lord Amherst, and for this mission, Robert Morrison became indispensableas interpreter. And so it came to pass, in the providence of GOD, that instead of being dismissed, the President of the Company wrote and said, “I conclude you will be the principal person in the mission!” Thus in this time of extremity, the words of the Magnificatwere again shown to be true, namely, that GOD'S mercy is on them that fear Him, that He scattereth the proud in the imagination of their heart, and exalteth them that are of low degree.
  • interdict /ˈin-tər-ˌdikt / v.禁令
  • dispatch / di-ˈspach / v.派遣
  • embassy / ˈem-bə-sē / n.使團
  • Lord Amherst 阿美士德伯爵（1816年代表英國率團訪華）
  • indispensable /ˌin-di-ˈspen(t)-sə-bəl / adj.不可或缺的，必不可少的
  • Magnificat 馬利亞尊主頌（見聖經《路加福音》1:46-55）
當馬禮遜完成了《新約全書》的翻譯工作後，他的畢生心血似乎就要付之東流了。這個譯本的消息傳到了倫敦東印度公司董事會的耳朵里。他們知道中國政府禁止任何此類出版物，擔心當局的不悅會影響自己的貿易，於是向廣州發出命令，要求辭退馬禮遜。作為在廣州站穩腳跟的唯一辦法，馬禮遜成了他們的翻譯。但是，馬禮遜並不是一個會逃跑的人，他做出了莊重而禮貌的答復，因此，該命令被轉回國內，等待新的指示。與此同時，更高的力量，無論是人的力量還是上帝的力量，都在發揮作用。英國政府決定派遣另一個使團，由阿美士德伯爵率領前往中國。羅伯特·馬禮遜作為隨團翻譯，對於這次任務來說是不可或缺的。在上帝的旨意下，公司總裁非但沒有解雇馬禮遜，反而寫信說：「我斷定你將成為使團的主要人員！」因此，在這極端危急的時刻，馬利亞尊主頌（見聖經《路加福音》1:46-55）中的話再次被證明是正確的，即上帝的憐憫降臨在敬畏祂的人身上，祂驅散驕傲者心中的妄想，叫卑微的人升高。
12 Such were some of the difficulties which Robert Morrison met, and overcame, by the grace of GOD, and Divine providence. There is no need here to detail Morrison's achievements. His outstanding tasks were the completion of a Chinese-English Dictionary, for the printing of which the East India Company spent £12,000; the translation of the whole Bible, in parts assisted by William Milne, for which the British and Foreign Bible Society spent several thousand pounds, a vocabulary of the Cantonese dialect, and a grammar of the Chinese language.
  • William Milne 威廉·米憐（蘇格蘭人，是繼馬禮遜之后第二位來華的基督教宣教士，與馬禮遜配合翻譯中文聖經）
這就是羅伯特·馬禮遜所遇到的一些困難，他靠著上帝的恩典和神聖的護理之工克服了這些困難。在此無需再詳述馬禮遜的成就。他的傑出成就包括：完成了《漢英詞典》，東印度公司為此花費了1.2萬英鎊；在威廉·米憐的協助下翻譯了整本《聖經》，英國聖經協會為此花費了幾千英鎊；完成了廣東話方言詞彙和漢語語法的翻譯。
13 Though Morrison's version of the Scriptures, like Wycliffe'sand Tyndale's English renderings, have been supersededby revised versions, the abiding legacy of his life remains. And not least of his bequestsis the example of a triumphant faith in God, in face of terrible odds; his unwearying labours in accomplishing a Herculeantask, his unflinchingresolution against almost overwhelming opposition; and his uncomplainingspirit when melted by bereavementand painful misunderstandings. Such was the man who laid the foundations of the Protestant Church in China, and his life has its lessons for us in the extension of that Church today.
  • John Wycliffe /ˈwi-ˌklif / 約翰·威克里夫（英格蘭宗教改革先驅）
  • William Tyndale /ˈtin-dᵊl / 威廉·廷代爾（聖經譯者，威克裡夫 之后又一宗教改革先驅）
  • rendering /ˈren-d(ə-)riŋ / n.翻譯版本
  • supersede /ˌsü-pər-ˈsēd / v.取代
  • bequest /bi-ˈkwest / n.遺產
  • Herculean /ˌhər-kyə-ˈlē-ən / adj.艱巨的（從希臘神話赫拉克勒斯Hercules而來）
  • unflinching /ˌən-ˈflin-chiŋ / adj.堅定的，不畏縮的
  • uncomplaining /ˌən-kəm-ˈplā-niŋ / adj.沒有怨言的
  • bereavement / bi-ˈrēv-mənt / n.喪失親友
雖然馬禮遜的聖經版本與約翰·威克里夫和威廉·廷代爾的英文譯本一樣，已被修訂版所取代，但他一生留下的寶貴遺產依然存在。在他留下的遺產中，最重要的是他面對可怕的困難時對上帝的必勝的信心；他為完成艱巨的任務而不懈努力的精神；他面對幾乎壓倒一切的反對意見時堅定不移的決心；以及他在喪親之痛和使人痛苦的誤解面前無怨無悔的精神。就是這樣一個人奠定了新教在中國的基礎，他的一生為我們今天擴展教會提供了教訓。
14 “Ye are My witnesses, said the Lord, and I am God. Yea, since the day was I am He, and there is none that can deliver out of My hand; I will work, and who can hinder it? (Isaiah 43:13) ”
耶和華說：「自從有日子以來，我就是神；誰也不能救人脫離我手。我要行事誰能阻止呢？(以賽亞書 43:13 和合本)」

附：Magnificat 馬利亞尊主頌
And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name. And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation. He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree. He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away. He hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy; As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever. (Luke 1:46-55 KJV)
馬利亞說：我心尊主為大；我靈以神我的救主為樂；因為他顧念他使女的卑微；從今以後，萬代要稱我有福。那有權能的，為我成就了大事；他的名為聖。他憐憫敬畏他的人，直到世世代代。他用膀臂施展大能；那狂傲的人正心裏妄想就被他趕散了。他叫有權柄的失位，叫卑賤的升高；叫飢餓的得飽美食，叫富足的空手回去。他扶助了他的僕人以色列，為要記念亞伯拉罕和他的後裔，施憐憫直到永遠，正如從前對我們列祖所說的話。(路加福音 1:46-55 和合本)
注：本文的英文詞彙拼音選用Merrian-Webster Dictionary，而非IPA國際音標。

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