Isahluko 10 — Isikhalo Sezinzulwini Zobusuku
GSAM 160.1“Ezinzulwini zobusuku kwakuvakala isikhalo esithi, Nanku umkhwenyana uyafika! Phumani niye kumhlangabeza. Zaza zaphakama zonke ezo ntombi zinyulu, zaza zilungisa izibane zazo.”1
GSAM 160.2Sele sithethe ngexesha lokulibaziseka eliboniswe kulo mzekeliso wee “ntombi ezilishumi,” kwaye ngoku siza kunika ingqwalasela ekhethekileyo kuloo nxalenye yayo eyaziswe kwesi sibhalo singentla, ebizwa ngabantu bama-Adventist njenge “sikhalo sezinzulwini zobusuku.” Umbhali owaziwayo ngalo mbandela, kwiphephancwadi elibizwa ngokuba yiMidnight Cry, ngomhla we-3 ku-Okthobha, 1844, uthi:—
GSAM 160.3“Kodwa singene njani kule busuku bokulinda? Kungenxa yokuba saqala umbono [umbono weentsuku ezingamawaka amabini anamakhulu amathathu] entwasahlobo, endaweni yokuba kube ekwindla, ngo-457 B.C. Sasilela ukufikelela kwizibuko elimisiweyo ngeenyanga ezintandathu neentsuku ezimbalwa ngaphezulu. Oku kwasenza sangena ebusuku bokulinda, iinyanga ezintandathu.”
GSAM 160.4Omnye umbhali, uS. S. Snow, kwi-Cry yomhla wama-22 ka-Agasti 1844, ethetha ngeentsuku ezingamawaka amabini anamakhulu amathathu, wathi:—
GSAM 160.5“Zaqala xa kwaphuma umthetho wokubuyisela nokwakha iJerusalem. Lo myalelo waqala wenziwa nguKoresi, wahlaziywa nguDarius, waza wagqityezelwa nguArtaxerxes Longimanus kunyaka wesixhenxe wolawulo lwakhe. Wabhengezwa waza waqala ukusebenza ekwindla lonyaka ka-457 phambi kokuzalwa kukaYesu, xa uEzira, esewufike eJerusalem ngesandla esihle seNkosi, wavuselela uluntu lwamaYuda, wamisela iinkosana namajaji, waza waqalisa ukwakhiwa kodonga.”2
GSAM 160.6Njengoko ixesha lombono lalingeminyaka engamawaka amabini anamakhulu amathathu epheleleyo, kwakufuneka unyaka opheleleyo ka-457 kunye nonyaka opheleleyo ka-1843 ukuze kwenziwe iminyaka engamawaka amabini anamakhulu amathathu, kwaye ukuba umthetho awuphumanga de kwaba yinyanga yesixhenxe ka-457 B.C., kwakufundiswa ukuba elo xesha alizukuphela de kwaba yinyanga yesixhenxe ka-1844. Njengoko ukubhiyozelwa kosuku lweshumi lwenyanga yesixhenxe kwakubonakala kuyeyona siganeko siphawula ukuqala kweli xesha, kwabonakala ngokucacileyo ukuba ngosuku lweshumi lwenyanga yesixhenxe (ngokwexesha lamaYuda), umhla wama-22 ku-Okthobha 1844, iintsuku ezingamawaka amabini anamakhulu amathathu zazinokuphela, kwaye kufike ixesha lokuba indawo engcwele icocwe. Bonke ubungqina obusetyenziselwe ukuphela kweli xesha ngo-1843 babusebenza ngamandla alinganayo kubalo luka-1844, kwaye kunye nabo bekukho isiqinisekiso sokuba bafumene into eyayibonakala isisisombululo esiqinisekileyo sesizathu sokuphoxeka kwabo. Indlela ama-Adventist ababhengeza ngayo “isikhalo sokwenyani sezinzulwini zobusuku,” njengoko yayibizwa ngelo xesha, ayinakuchazwa ngcono ngaphandle kokucaphula kwimibhalo yabo babebandakanyeke kakhulu kuloo msebenzi ngelo xesha.
GSAM 161“Phumani Nimhlangabeze”
GSAM 161.1Kwi-Cry yango-3 Okthobha 1844, kwakukho inqaku elalibhalwe nguGeorge Storrs, phantsi kwesihloko esithi, “Phumani Nimhlangabeze,” apho wathi:—
GSAM 161.2“Ndithatha ipeni yam ndineemvakalelo endingazange ndizive ngaphambili. Ngaphandle kwamathandabuzo, engqondweni yam, usuku lwe-10 lwenyanga yesixhenxe luza kubona ukuvela kweNkosi yethu uYesu Kristu emafini ezulu. Sikwiintsuku ezimbalwa phambi kweso siganeko—umzuzu owoyikekayo kwabo bangalungiselelwanga, kodwa owanobungangamsha kwabo balungeleyo.
GSAM 161.3“‘Nankeni, umkhwenyana uyaqhamka’ kulo nyaka; ‘phumani nimhlangabeze.’ Siyigqibile ngamabandla egama kuphela nazo zonke izikrelemnqa, ngaphandle nje komlinganiselo esi sikhalo esinokubachaphazela ngawo. Umsebenzi wethu ngoku kukuvusa ‘intombi ezithathe izibane zazo zaphuma zaya kuhlangabeza umkhwenyana.’ Siphi ngoku? ‘Ukuba umbono ulibaziseka, linda wona.’ Asingowona lo uphendulo wethu ukusukela ngoMatshi okanye u-Epreli ophelileyo?—Ewe. Kwenzeka ntoni ngelixa uMkhwenyana elibazisekile?—Amantombazana onke atyhafile laza alala, akunjalo? Amazwi kaKristu awasilelanga; kwaye ‘Izibhalo azinakwaphulwa.’ Akuncedi nto ukuba senze ngathi besiphaphile; besilele, hayi kwinyaniso yokuba uKristu uza kuza, kodwa ngexesha. Singene kwixesha lokulibaziseka; besingazi ‘ukuba kuza kuthatha ixesha elingakanani na’, kwaye kuloo nto siye salele. Abanye bethu bathe xa belele, ‘Musani ukumisela omnye umhla!’ ngoko ke sahlala silele. Ngoku ingxaki kukusivusa. Nkosi, nceda, kuba uncedo lomntu luyize. Thetha ngokwakho, Nkosi. O, ukuba ‘uBawo’ ‘angalazisa’ ngoku ixesha.
GSAM 162Uphakathi Kwasebusuku Lomyalezo
GSAM 162.1“Lixesha elingakanani eli lokulibaziseka?—Isiqingatha sonyaka. Uyazi njani?—Kuba iNkosi yethu ithi, ‘phakathi kobusuku,’ ngelixa uMkhwenyana wayelibazisekile. Umbono wawungowama ‘ngokuhlwa—kusasa’ ezingamawaka amabini anamakhulu amathathu, okanye iintsuku. ‘Ukuhlwa’, okanye ubusuku, sisiqingatha sesinye sezo ntsuku zeprofeto, kwaye, ngoko ke, ziinyanga ezintandathu. Loo nto bubude bonke bexesha lokulibaziseka. Esi sikhalo sangoku sinamandla sexesha saqala malunga naphakathi kuJulayi, saza sanwenwela ngesantya esikhulu nangamandla, kwaye sihamba nombonakaliso woMoya, endingazange ndiwubone xa isikhalo sasisithi ‘1843.’ Ngoku ngokwenene, ‘Phumani niye kumhlangabeza.’ Kukho ukushiya yonke into ebendingazange ndicinge ukuba ingabonakala. Xa le mibheno ibamba intliziyo, amafama ashiya iifama zawo, kunye nezityalo zawo. Kukho ukukhala okunamandla okuneenyembezi, kunye nokuzinikela kwazo zonke izinto kuThixo, njengoko ndingazange ndikubone. Kukho ukuzithemba kule nyaniso okungazange kuvakale kwimibheno yangaphambili, kwinqanaba elinye, kunye nodumo olukhalisayo nolunyibilikayo kuyo oludlulela lonke ukuqonda ngaphandle kwabo bakhe bayivayo.
GSAM 162.2“Kweli nyaniso langoku, mna, ngobabalo, ndinesibindi sokubeka konke esichengeni, kwaye ndiva ukuba ukuzincamela ekuthandabuzeni ngalo kungakhubekisa uThixo kwaye kuzizisele ‘intshabalalo ekhawulezayo.’ Ndanelisekile ukuba ngoku ‘nabani na oza kufuna ukusindisa ubomi bakhe,’ apho esi sikhalo senziwe ngokufanelekileyo, ngokuzivumela ukuba abe nokuthandabuza okuthi ‘ukuba ayizi,’ okanye ngoloyiko lokuzibeka esichengeni ngenxa yeli nyaniso, ‘uza kulahlekelwa bubomi bakhe.’ Ifuna ukholo olufanayo olwakhokelela uAbraham ekunikeleni ngoIsake, okanye uNowa ekwakheni umkhombe, okanye uLote ekushiyeni iSodom, okanye abantwana bakaSirayeli emi ubusuku bonke belindele ukumka kwabo eJiputa, okanye uDaniyeli ukuya emhadini weengonyama, okanye amaHebhere amathathu eziko lomlilo. Besicinga ukuba singena ebukumkanini ngaphandle kovavanyo olunjalo lokholo, kodwa ndanelisekile ukuba asenjenjalo. Le nyaniso yokugqibela iza novavanyo olunjalo, kwaye akukho bani uza kuthatha umngeni ngaphandle kwabo banesibindi sokubalwa njengabantu ababudenge, abahlanya, okanye nantoni na enye abantu baseSodom baphambi konogumbe, ibandla elifudumeleyo, okanye iintombi ezileleyo abanokuthanda ukubathululela yona. Ndingaphinda ndikhwaze, ‘Balekela ubomi bakho;’ ‘Ungajongi emva kwakho;’ ‘Khumbula umfazi kaLote.’”
GSAM 163I-Flat Rock kaStorrs
GSAM 163.1KwiMidnight Cry ka-Oktobha 10, 1844, kwavela, ngokubhalwa nguGeorge Storrs, oku kulandelayo, phantsi kwesihloko esithi, “Isiphelo,” kodwa ama-Adventist ayebiza ngokuba, “iFlat Rock kaStorrs”:—
GSAM 163.2“Singalungela njani loo mini?—Kholelwa kwinyaniso kaThixo, uze uthathe amathuba kuyo, ngokholo olomeleleyo olunika uzuko kuThixo. Kufuneka sibe kwimeko yengqondo efanayo naleyo besiya kuba nayo ukuba besisazi ukuba siza kufa ngaloo mini, ukuzinikela okufanayo ngokupheleleyo kuThixo nokufa kwihlabathi.
GSAM 163.3“Andinakuchaza ngcono into endiyithethayo kunokucinga ngelitye elikhulu elisicaba phakathi elwandle. Kwenziwe isithembiso yinkosana ezukileyo nenamandla sokuba ngexesha elithile iza kuthumela inqanawa yomphunga ebalaseleyo ukusa bonke abantu aya kubafumana apho benobungqina bokuba bakholelwe ngokupheleleyo kwilizwi lakhe, baye kwilizwe elizukileyo. Abaninzi bayazama ukuya kwelo litye. Abanye, xa sele bekhuselekile elityeni, bayasika intambo, kwaye izikhephe zabo abeze ngazo ziphaphatheka zisuka kubo, kwaye abasazijongeli, kodwa bayalindela ukufika kwenqanawa. Abanamathandabuzo ngobunyani besithembiso, kwaye babeka yonke into esichengeni ngenxa yaso. Abanye abafikayo bacinga ukuba kwanele ukuba baphakathi elityeni. Kodwa bona bafuna ukuba ‘bahlakaniphile’ kwaye bangangeni kwinto ingozi enkulu.
GSAM 164.1“‘Ngokholo lwakho makwenzeke kuwe’ yayisele ivakaliswe phambi kwexesha lokulindelwa kwenqanawa yomphunga. Usuku luyafika. Abantu abalumkileyo, kusenokwenzeka, baceba ukukhulula izikhephe zabo, baze baziyeke ziqhubuke, ukuba bayibona inqanawa yomphunga isiza. Iyabonakala; kodwa ngoku sekusemva kwexesha lokukhulula izikhephe zabo bengabonwanga; kwaye ngaphandle koko, kuloo mlungelelwano wabo wokulumka ngoku kuyabakhomba ukuba bangaziyeki izikhephe zabo ziqhubuke de baqiniseke ukuba abakhohlisekanga ngenqanawa esondelayo. Ngoku isondele kangangokuba abanakukwazi ukukhulula izikhephe zabo bengabonwanga.
GSAM 164.2“Isikhephe esitshayayo sifika elityeni. ‘Yintoni ingqina yokuba benithembele ngokupheleleyo kwisithembiso sokufika kwesikhephe esitshayayo?’—‘Izikhephe zethu zikhululiwe, kwaye ziye zadada zemka kuthi, kangangokuba besingenakufikelela elunxwemeni, kwaye besiya kutshabalala ukuba isikhephe esitshayayo besingafikanga, kuba lilitye apho kungaze kudlule esinye isikhephe.’ ‘Kwanele,’ watsho umphathi wenqanawa yomphunga; ‘nyukani ningene; ukuzithemba okunjalo akuyi kudana.’
GSAM 164.3“Abo babebambe izikhephe zabo ziqinisiwe elitshweni ngoku bayaxinana bejikeleza baze bazabalazele ukungena ngenqanawa yomphunga. Umphathi uyabuza, ‘Zithetha ntoni ezo zikhephe ndizibona zibotshelelwe ematyeni phaya, okanye ezintambo zazo zisandul' ukunqunyulwa ukususela oko ndaqala ukubonakala?’ Baphendula bathi, ‘Besicinga ukuba kungcono sibe nobulumko, ukuze ukuba inqanawa yomphunga ayifiki, sibe nento esingabuyela ngayo elunxwemeni.’ ‘Ngoko ke, nenzele inyama,’ kukhala umphathi, ‘naza nathandabuza amazwi am? Makube njalo kuni ngokholo lwenu. Ubungqina bubuchasene nani. Nenzele ukubuyela emhlabeni, kwaye ngoku kufuneka nivune isiqhamo sokungakholwa kwenu.’ ‘Ngoko ke abangakwazi ukungena ngenxa yokungakholwa.’ Owu, meko yoyikekayo yokuphelelwa lithemba!
GSAM 164.4“Nisike iintambo zenu ngoku, bazalwana; yeke izikhephe zenu zihambe zide zingabonakali; ewe, khawulezani phambi kokuba ‘kuvele uphawu loNyana womntu.’ Emva koko kuya kuba semva kwexesha kakhulu. Thathani umngcipheko ngoku, nithathe wonke umngcipheko. O, intliziyo yam ibuhlungu ngenxa yenu; musani ukulibazisa; susani isikhephe nise, kungenjalo niphelelwe; kuba ‘nabani na ofuna ukusindisa ubomi bakhe uya kubulahla,’ utsho uYesu Kristu, iNkosi neMgwebi wethu. Khawulezani ngoko, ke, kwakhona ndiyanibongoza, khawulezani! Yiyekeni yonke isikhephe enicinga ngaso ngoku ukuba ningabalekela elunxwemeni ‘ukuba ayizi.’ Loo ‘ukuba’ iza kukutshabalalisa. Ngoku sisilingo sokugqibela novavanyo. Yenza njengoko iNkosi yethu yenzayo kwisilingo sokugqibela sikaSathana—‘Mka apha, Sathana,’ watsho. Waza uSathana wamshiya, ‘nanko, kwafika iingelosi zamkhonza.’ Kuya kuba njalo nawe xa ufumene olu loyiso.”
GSAM 165Umsebenzi Okhawulezayo Wesikhalo Sezinzulwini Zobusuku
GSAM 165.1Ngokuphathelele isantya, amandla, nesiphumo somyalezo “wesikhalo sezinzulwini zobusuku,” sifumana ukuqonda okuchanekileyo kumazwi kaN. Southard, umhleli wephephandaba esikhe sacaphula kulo ngaphambili—iMidnight Cry. Kwikopi enomhla wama-31 ka-Okthobha, 1844, uthi:—
GSAM 165.2“Ekuqaleni ixesha elimisiweyo lalichasiwe ngokubanzi; kodwa kwakubonakala kukho amandla angenakuxhathiswa ahamba nokushunyayiswa kwayo, awathi awatyumza onke izinto phambi kwayo. Yakhukulisela ilizwe ngesantya senkanyamba, yaza yafikelela iintliziyo kwiindawo ezahlukeneyo nezikude phantse ngaxeshanye, nangendlela enokuchazwa kuphela ngokucingela ukuba uThixo wayekuyo. Yabangela kuyo yonke indawo ukuzihlola okunzulu kwentliziyo nokuzithoba komphefumlo phambi kweZulu eliphakamileyo. Kwabangela ukuncama uthando lwezinto zeli hlabathi, ukuphiliswa kweempikiswano nentiyo, ukungxela iimpazamo, ukuzincama phambi koThixo, kunye nemithandazo yokuzisola neyentliziyo ephukileyo kuye, icela uxolelo nokwamkelwa. Kwabangela ukuzithoba nokuguqa kwomphefumlo, into esingazange siyibone ngaphambili. Njengoko uThixo, ngoYoweli, wayeyalile, xa usuku olukhulu lukaThixo lwalusondele, kwabangela ukuqhekeka kweentliziyo hayi iimpahla, nokubuyela eNkosini ngokuzila ukutya, nangokulila nangokuzila. Njengoko uThixo watshoyo ngoZekariya, umoya wobabalo nowesibongozo wagalelwa ebantwaneni bakhe; bajonga kuye abamhlabeleyo, kwaza kwaba lusizi olukhulu elizweni, usapho ngalunye lwahlukene, nabafazi babo bahlukana; nabo babekhangele iNkosi bazihlupha ngomphefumlo wabo phambi kwakhe.”
GSAM 166Abantu Abashukunyiswe Ngamandla Angaphaya Kwendalo
GSAM 166.1Kwakhona, ngesi sibhengezo sivuselelayo uthi:—
GSAM 166.2“Kwabonakala kuthi ukuba yayizimele kakhulu kwizenzo zabantu kangangokuba sasinokuyithatha kuphela njengokuzalisekiswa ‘kwesikhalo sezinzulwini zobusuku,’ emva kokulibaziseka koMkhwenyana, nokozela nokulala kweentombi, xa bonke babefanele bavuke baze balungise izibane zabo. Kwaye umsebenzi wokugqibela ubonakala ngathi wenziwe; kuba akukaze kubekho ixesha ngaphambili apho amaqela ngamaqela okulindela ukubuya kweNkosi ayekulungele kangaka.”
GSAM 166Impahla Yeli Hlabathi Eyabelweyo
GSAM 166.3Phantsi kwesibhengezo esivuselelayo sesifundiso sokubuya kweNkosi, abaninzi baye bazilahla izinto zabo zeli hlabathi, besebenzisa iimpahla zabo ekuxhaseni izithethi zoluntu emsebenzini wazo, okanye ekusasazeni amaphepha ashicilelweyo neencwadana, okanye ekuncedeni abasweleyo, ngaloo ndlela benika ihlabathi obona bungqina buhle bobunyaniso nobuzimiseli babo; ngelixa abo babambelele kwizinto zabo zomhlaba, kwaye bengazange benze idini elikhethekileyo ngenxa yomsebenzi, babonwa ngabantu behlabathi njengabantu abangakholelwayo ngokwenene koko bakuthethayo. Ukwenza umzekelo, ndiza kunika imizekelo emibini, omnye kwicala ngalinye lalo mbuzo.
GSAM 166Insimu yeetapile
GSAM 166.4Eyokuqala yeyomkholwa owayehlala eNew Ipswich, N.H., ogama linguHastings, owayenomhlaba omkhulu weetapile ezintle kakhulu awangazimbi. Abamelwane bakhe babexhalabile ngazo, baza beza kuye bemnika isandla sokuzimba nokuzifaka kwigumbi elingaphantsi simahla, ukuba angabavumela, “kuba,” batsho, “ungazifuna.” “Hayi!” watsho uMnu. Hastings, “Ndiza kuyiyeka loo ntsimi yeetapile ishumayele ukholo lwam ekukubeni kuza kuvela kamsinya iNkosi.”
GSAM 167.1Ngaloo kwindla, njengoko kunokufundwa kwi-Claremont (N.H.) Eagle, i-New York True Sun, kunye namanye amaphephandaba, isivuno seetapile saphantse satshabalala ngokupheleleyo ngenxa “yokubola kweetapile”. Njengoko kwavakaliswa kwi-Sun, “Kubuhlungu kangakanani ukufumanisa ukuba izityalo ezipheleleyo zesi sityalo sixabisekileyo zitshatyalalisiwe kukubola. Umbhali-ndaba wephephandaba lasePhiladelphia uthi isivuno seetapile kwelo Phondo sonakele. Ekuphela kwecandelo apho kuvakala khona izikhalazo ezimbalwa, yiMaine, kodwa naphaya isivuno asiphuncukanga kwesi sifo.”
GSAM 167.2Ngenxa yokuba ixesha lasekwindla belifudumele, neetapile zikaMnu. Hastings zashiywa emhlabeni de kwaba nguNovemba, akukho nanye kuzo eyabola. Ngenxa yoko, waba nesitokhwe esininzi kuye nakubamelwane bakhe abangenathamsanqa ababekhathalele kangaka impilo yakhe ngo-Oktobha wangaphambili, nabathi, entwasahlobo, banyanzeleka ukuba bathenge iitapile zokutyala kuye, baza bakuvuyela ukuhlawula ixabiso elihle ngazo. Into ababecinga ukuba iza kuba yintlekele enkulu kuMnu. Hastings, uThixo wayiguqula yaba yintsikelelo yezinto zomhlaba, yaye kungekuye kuphela, kodwa nakubamelwane bakhe.
GSAM 167Waphika Ukholo Lwakhe
GSAM 167.3Isiganeko sesibini senzeka kwindawo endihlala kuyo. Yayiyeyelungu lebandla elalinokuthetha okuninzi kwintlanganiso malunga nokuza kweNkosi ekwindla lowama-1844. Wayeyindoda enempahla eninzi, yaye phakathi kwezinye izinto, wayeneehagu ezininzi ezikwiminyaka efanelekileyo yokugcinwa de kube yimarike yasentwasahlobo. Umalume wam, owayengazibonisi ngokwenkolo, kwaye umsebenzi wakhe yayikukuthenga nokuthengisa izilwanyana, waya kulo mlandeli owayezibiza ngokuba ngum-Adventist ukuze athenge iihagu zakhe, kodwa wafumanisa kuye ukuba akazifuni ukuzithengisa, kuba wayezigcinela ukuza kuthi ga entwasahlobo ezayo “njengeehagu zokutyebiswa.” Umalume waya kutatomkhulu wam, owayengumkholwa wama-Adventist, waza wathi, “Loo mntu akakholelwa koko akuthethayo.” “Kutheni?” wabuza utatomkhulu. “Kuba,” watsho umalume, “uthi iNkosi iyaza, kwaye ihlabathi liza kuphela ngalo kwindla, kodwa ufuna ukugcina iihagu zakhe kude kube yintwasahlobo ezayo. Akufuneki athethe nam; akakholelwa nelizwi nelinye lale nto.”
GSAM 168Imali Inikezelwe Kade Kakhulu
GSAM 168.1Kwakukho amadoda abambelele kwimali yawo, elwa ngalo lonke ixesha phantsi kolweyiseko lokuba kufuneka ayisebenzise ukuqhubela phambili umsebenzi, de kwaba lixesha elingemva kakhulu lokuyityala. Abo bafana babesiza kwabo babesebenza ekuprinteni umyalezo, bebacenga ngeenyembezi ukuba bayamkele imali yabo, kodwa impendulo yayiyi, “Nifikile kade! Sihlawulele yonke into yokuprinta esinokuyisasaza phambi kokuphela. Siqeshe iiprinta ezininzi ezinamandla ezisebenza ubusuku nemini; asisayifuni imali enye.” Umntu owabonayo wangqina kum ukuba wabona amadoda ebeka amawaka eedola etafileni phambi kompapashi weVoice of Truth, kwaye esentliziyweni ebuhlungu emcenga ukuba ayithathe ayisebenzise. Impendulo yaba, “Kwephuzile! Asisayifuni imali yenu ngoku! Asinakuyisebenzisa!” Kwaza ke babuza, “Ayinakunikwa abahluphekileyo?” Impendulo yaba yile, “Sele senze amalungiselelo ezidingo zangoko zabo bonke esinokufikelela kubo.” Besentlungwini yengqondo, la madoda athatha imali yawo, esithi ucaphuko lukaThixo lungabo ngenxa yokuswela kwawo ukholo, nangenxa yokubawa okwabenza bangayikhuphi imali kumsebenzi kaThixo ngexesha eyayifuneka kwaye ngebiya kusetyenziswa ngovuyo.
GSAM 168Abagcini Bamiselwa
GSAM 168.2Isimilo nemigaqo yabo abashiya izityalo zabo zingavunwanga neevenkile zabo zingenamntu, ukuze bahlakaze amaphepha ashicilelweyo okanye bathethe nabantu baze bathandaze nabo besuka endlwini besiya kwenye, yayingaphezu kokugxekwa. Abantu babengathandabuzi ukuba amadoda nabafazi abanjalo babekholelwa kwilizwi ngalinye abalithethayo, yaye ngaphezu koko, babenamandla angaka kangangokuba abantu abanentliziyo enyanisekileyo babengenakuchasa okanye bakuphikise amazwi abo. Ngale ndlela amawaka akhokelwa ekukholweni inyaniso, aza afuna aza afumana ubabalo lukaThixo.
GSAM 169.1Umoni ohlazisayo kunye nomntu wehlabathi ozibonakalisa ngokungathi ungumkholwa, nangona kunjalo, bagqiba kwelokuba lo msebenzi wokusasaza iimpapasho zokubuya kweNkosi kumele umiswe. Aba bantu babethathe idolophu okanye isithili sonke besiya ezindlini ngeendlu nalo mfundiso wokubuya kweNkosi, bengayihoyi imisebenzi yabo neentsapho zabo, kumele ukuba baphambene, batsho, kwaye ke ngoko kufuneka babekelwe abagcini. Ubungqina obubekwa phambi kwezityholo zengqondo engalunganga eziboniswa ngamakholwa (obungumsebenzi nje wosindiso lwabanye abantu, kungekho bungqina bokuba iintsapho zibandezeleka ngenxa yokushiya kwabo amashishini abo), babungobungqina obungonelanga bobuhlanya; ngenxa yoko, bambalwa abantu ababekwa phantsi kolawulo lwabagcini. Ukujonga ngokulula abachasi banamhlanje abathetha ngalo mba, umntu angacinga ukuba kwakukho iimeko ezininzi; kodwa kuyo yonke imisebenzi yam njengomlungiseleli wama-Adventist, ethatha ixesha elingaphezulu kweminyaka engamashumi amahlanu anesithandathu, ndadibana neemeko ezimbini kuphela zama-“Millerites” ababekwa phantsi kwabagcini. Isaziso esifutshane ngezi ayinakuba yinto engalunganga.
GSAM 169Umgcini Wakhe Ngokwakhe
GSAM 169.2Eyokuqala yenzeka kwiPhondo laseNew York, kumgama ongaphantsi kweemayile ezingamashumi amathathu ukusuka apho ndandihlala khona. Indoda eyayinobutyebi obumalunga ne-$100,000 yamkela imfundiso yokubuya. Yanikela malunga nesiqingatha sesi sixa kumfazi nabantwana bayo, ababengangeni nayo elukholweni. Intsalela wayicinga ukuba yeyakhe ukuba ayisebenzise njengoko ebona kufanelekile; yaye njengoko inxalenye yayo yayisiya kumsebenzi wokubuya kukaYesu, abantwana bakhe bavakalisa inkcaso, baza bathetha nomgwebi, becenga ukuba kumiselwe umgcini-mthetho ngaphezulu kukayise wabo. Emva kokuba umgwebi ebacacisele iimbopheleleko namagunya omgcini-mthetho ekulawuleni ipropathi, wabacela ukuba bamchaze umntu abebefuna ammisele. Emva kokuthetha kunye okwethutyana, bagqiba kwelokuba abazi mntu banokumthemba ngempahla, baza baxelela ijaji ukuba bakhethe utata wabo njengomgcini wakhe. Ijaji yajonga indoda yaza yathi, “Mnu. _____, abantwana bakho bakukhethile njengomntu ofanelekileyo wokulawula impahla yakho. Imicimbi yakho imi kanye njengoko yayinjalo phambi kokuba uziswe enkundleni.”3
GSAM 170Imeko Ehlekisayo
GSAM 170.1Enye ityala yayilelika Stockbridge Howland, waseTopsham, Me. Wayengomnye wabona bomenzi bezandla babalaseleyo kuloo mmandla wonke welizwe, ingcibi ekwakheni iindawo zokusila kunye neebhulorho. Kulo mbutho “wesikhalo sezinzulwini zobusuku”, uMnu. Howland wahamba ngamahashe wadlula kwiingingqi ezininzi, esasaza amaphepha okubuya namabhukwana ukusuka endlwini ukuya kwenye, nto leyo eyacaphukisa kakhulu abachasi nabahleki, abakhalaza ukuba koku kwasasazwa kwamabhukwana wayengalihoyi ishishini lakhe. Ngoko ke ngoko nangoko baqinisekisa ukuba kubekho umgcini, owafumana umsebenzi omninzi kunoko wayekulindele, njengoko uMnu. Howland wamthumelela bonke abaqokeleli berhafu, kunye naye wonke umntu owayefika neengxelo zemali ekufuneka ihlawulwe; “kuba,” watsho, “andibonwa ndifanelekile ukwenza nawuphi na umsebenzi.” Kungekudala emva koko, isithili sathanda ukwakha ibhulorho phezu koMlambo iKennebec—ibhulorho enokumelana nomsinga wamanzi anomsindo kunye nomkhenkce oqukuqelayo ngexesha lokuqhambuka kwamanzi entwasahlobo. Abakomishinala besithili kunye namalungu ebhunga ledolophu bagqiba kwelokuba uStockbridge Howland ngoyena mntu ufanelekileyo walo msebenzi. Xa beza nemiqathango kunye nesivumelwano sokuba akhe ibhulorho, wathi ngempoxo, “Manene, kuza kufuneka niye kumgcini wam. Niyazi andithathwa njengomntu okwaziyo ukuzinyamekela ishishini lam, nize ke kum ndizokwakha ibhulorho!” Le meko yayihlekisa kakhulu kumadoda anengqondo, yaye ubugadi bagqibela ngequbuliso. Kwanele ukuthi abo babemxhatshazayo emva koko benza uxolo oluthobekileyo ngokupheleleyo ngenxa yendlela engalunganga nengafanelekanga ababeyithathile.