Isahluko 16 — Umyalezo weSithunywa sesiThathu

GSAM 247.1“ISithunywa sesithathu salandela zona, sisithi ngelizwi elikhulu, Ukuba ukhona umntu onqula isilwanyana nomfanekiso waso, aze amkele uphawu lwaso ebunzi, okanye esandleni sakhe, lowo uya kusela iwayini yomsindo kaThixo, ethululwe ingaxutywanga kwindebe yomsindo wakhe; aze athuthunjiswe ngomlilo nesulphu phambi kwezithunywa ezingcwele, naphambi kweMvana; kwaye umsi wokuthuthunjiswa kwabo unyuka ngonaphakade nanaphakade: kwaye abaphumli emini nasebusuku, abo banqula isilwanyana nomfanekiso waso, nabani na ofumana uphawu lwegama laso. Nanku umonde wabangcwele: nanku abo bagcina imiyalelo kaThixo nokholo lukaYesu.”¹

GSAM 247Esona Silumkiso Sinzulu eBhayibhileni

GSAM 247.2Le yeyona luleko ibaluleke kakhulu ekwiBhayibhile, kwaye kuyinyaniso ukuba imbali yehlabathi lethu ayinayo ingqina yokuba lo myalezo uke wezwakala kwixesha elidlulileyo. Inyaniso yokuba izithunywa zokuqala nezesibini kolu thotho zingqineke zingezesizukulwana sangoku, ingqina ngokucacileyo ukuba lo myalezo awungowamaxesha adlulileyo.

GSAM 247.3Uthe uMfundisi uJ. V. Himes ngo-1847:—

GSAM 247.4“Isahluko se-14 [seSityhilelo] sibonisa isikhalo esothusayo, esiseza kwenziwa, njengeluleko kubantu ngaloo lixa lesilingo esinamandla. Iivesi 9-11. Isibhengezo sengqumbo esoyikeka kangaka asinakufunyanwa kwincwadi kaThixo, ngaphandle koku. Ingaba oko akubonisi silingo olunamandla, ukufuna isilumkiso esoyikeka kangaka?”²

GSAM 248Itempile Ivuliwe—Ityeya Ibonakele

GSAM 248.1UJ. N. Andrews wathi ngalo myalezo, “Ukuvulwa kweyona ndawo ingcwele kuzo zonke etempileni yasezulwini, apho kubonakala khona ityeya, sisiganeko esenzeka phantsi kokuvakala kwesithunywa sesixhenxe. Kwaye njengoko inkonzo yoMbingeleli wethu oMkhulu iye yatshintshela kuloo gumbi ekupheleni kweentsuku ezingamawaka amabini anamakhulu amathathu, siqonda ukuba ukuvulwa kwetempile kuphawulwa kukuphela kwelo xesha njengoko kubonakaliswa sisibhengezo sesithunywa sokuqala. Ukungena koMbingeleli wethu oMkhulu kwiNdawo eyiNgcwele-ngcwele ukuze ankonze phambi kwetyeya kaThixo, kutsalela ingqalelo yebandla kwimiyalelo kaThixo efumaneka ngaphakathi kuloo tyeya. Imiyalelo kaThixo ibikhanya isuka kwingcwele yasezulwini ukusukela ngelo xesha.

GSAM 248Utshintsho lweSabatha

GSAM 248.2“Yinyaniso engenakuphikiswa ukuba umthetho wesine, kwiminyaka emininzi eyadlulayo, watshintshwa ukusuka kusuku lokuphumla lweNkosi lwaya kwibhiyozo yobupagani yeCawa. Olu tshintsho lwenziwa ngokuchasene ngokuphandle neZibhalo Ezinyulu, eziyamkela kuyo yonke indawo umhla wesixhenxe njengeSabatha yodwa yeveki yeNkosi. Lwenziwa ngumwexuki omkhulu, lowo uDaniyeli owabikezela ukuba ‘uya kucinga ukutshintsha amaxesha nemithetho.’ Eli gunya liyafana kanye nesilo ekwakufuneka sinikwe unqulo lihlabathi lonke. Kwaye yinyaniso enomdla omkhulu ukuba lo mthetho ubunyathelwe phantsi ixesha elide kangaka, ngoku uyathethelelwa, kwaye abantu bakaThixo baqala ukuwugcina kunye neminye elithoba. Enkosi kuThixo ngokuba ulungiselela intsalela idabi layo lokugqibela nenamba, nokungeniswa ngamasango kwisixeko esingcwele. Isityhilelo 12:17; 22:14. Ukuthethelelwa komthetho wesine ngokuchasene neSabatha yokreqo, kunye nokushumayelwa kwemiyalelo yonke kaThixo bubungqina obubalaseleyo bokuba eli lixesha lokunyamezela koongcwele, kunye nesilumkiso sesithunywa sesithathu.”³

GSAM 249.1Ingqwalasela ibitsalwe kwiisahluko ezidlulileyo kwimiyalezo yokuqala neyesibini kule, njengoko yazalisekiswa kwisibhengezo esikhulu sokubuya kwesibini ukuza kuthi ga nge-22 ka-Okthobha, 1844. Isibhalo ekuvulweni kwesi sahluko sithi, “Isithunywa sesithathu salandela kuzo,” oko kukuthi, salandela isithunywa sokuqala nesesibini. Mhlawumbi kungaba nomdla, koku, ukutsalela ingqwalasela ekunyukeni komyalezo wesithathu.

GSAM 249Abagcini beSabatha bokuQala bama-Adventist

GSAM 249.2Ngethuba “lesikhalo sezinzulwini zobusuku,” ngo-1844, iNkosi yaqala ukukhokelela iingqondo zabantu bayo ekugcineni iSabatha yomhla wesixhenxe. Le mfundiso, phakathi kwama-Adventist, yavela ngolu hlobo: uRachel Preston, ongumBhaptizi weSabatha yomhla wesixhenxe, wafudukela eWashington, N.H., apho kwakukho ibandla lama-Adventist.⁴ Wamkela imfundiso yokubuya, kwaye elo bandla, elalinamalungu angangamashumi amane, ngomsebenzi wakhe wobuthunywa lamkela iSabatha yomthetho wesine. Oku kwakhokelela kuphando ngaloo mbandela. Kwi-Cry yangoSeptemba 5, 1844, sifunda, “Abantu abaninzi bacingisisa nzulu malunga nokunyanzeliseka okucingelwayo kokugcina umhla wesixhenxe.” Le ngxelo yayikwi-editorial, apho kwenziwa umzamo ongaphelelanga wokuxhasa izimangalo zokugcina iCawa. Lo mbandela waqhubeka kwinombolo kaSeptemba 12, apho sifumana le ngxelo ilandelayo ibalulekileyo, eyakhokelela ekufundeni nzulu nangqongqo ngabaninzi:—

GSAM 249Umhla Wesixhenxe Kuphela Usuku Olumiselwe Ngumthetho

GSAM 249.3“Kwiveki ephelileyo sizifumene sisifikelele kwesi sigqibo: Akukho nxalenye ithile yexesha ekufuneka amaKristu ayibekele bucala njengexesha elingcwele ngokomthetho. Ukuba esi sigqibo asichanekanga, ke sicinga ukuba umhla wesixhenxe kuphela usuku olukho umthetho wokulugcina.”

GSAM 250Umbhalo ka T. M. Preble

GSAM 250.1Ingqwalasela yama-Adventist njengeqela yatsalelwa kumba weSabatha ngumbhalo-zincoko ongalo mba ovela ku-T. M. Preble, owabhalwa nge-13 kaFebruwari 1845, waza wapapashwa kwi-Hope of Israel, ePortland, Maine, nge-28 kaFebruwari 1845. Emva kokubonisa izimangalo zeSabatha yeBhayibhile, kunye nenyani yokuba yatshintshwa yaba yiCawa ngokreqo olukhulu, uphawula esithi: “Ngoko ke sibona uDaniyeli 7:25 eziqinisekisiwe, uphondo oluncinci olutshintsha ‘amaxesha nemithetho.’ Kungoko kubonakala kum ukuba bonke abagcina usuku lokuqala njengeSabatha ngabagcini beCawa bakaPopu nabaphuli beSabatha bakaThixo.”⁵

GSAM 250UJ. B. Cook ngomba weSabatha

GSAM 250.2Kungekudala emva koku kwavela umbhalo oshicilelweyo ovela kuJ. B. Cook, apho wabonisa ukuba akukho bungqina obusencwadini engcwele bokugcina iCawa njengeSabatha, kwaye wasebenzisa la mazwi mafutshane: “Ngaloo ndlela lula kususwa wonke umoya kwiiseyile zabo bahamba ngenqanawa, mhlawumbi bengazi, phantsi kweflegi yeSabatha kaPopu.”

GSAM 250.3Nangona ukugcina iSabatha ngaba bantu babini kwathatha ixesha elifutshane, babesele beqalise umkhuba ongenakunqandwa lula. Amazwi abesaziwa, “abagcini beCawa bakaPopu,” “abaphuli bemiyalelo kaThixo,” kunye “nokuhamba phantsi kweflegi yeSabatha kaPopu,” ayesithiwa ngamakhulu abantu ababenomdla wokwazi inyaniso yalo mcimbi. UMfundisi uJoseph Bates, waseFairhaven, eMass., watsalwa umdla ngale ndlela, waza wamkela iSabatha ngo-1845.

GSAM 250UJoseph Bates Uyamkela iSabatha

GSAM 250.4Amava akhe aye anjalo: Akuva ngesihlwele saseWashington, N.H., esasigcina iSabatha, wagqiba kwelokuba atyelele loo bandla, aze abone ukuba kuthetha ntoni. Wenza njalo ke, yaye akuphanda lo mbandela kunye nabo, wabona ukuba babenyanisile, waza wakhawuleza wakwamkela ukukhanya ngombuzo weSabatha. Akubuya eNew Bedford, eMass., wadibana, kwibhulorho ephakathi kweNew Bedford neFairhaven, nomzalwana owayebalasele, owamkhwaza esithi, “Kapteni Bates, zithini iindaba?” UMfundisi uBates waphendula wathi, “Iindaba zezokuba umhla wesixhenxe lusuku lweSabatha lweNkosi uThixo wethu.” “Kulungile,” watsho laa ndoda, “ndiza kugoduka ndifunde iBhayibhile yam, ndibone ngaloo nto.” Wenza njalo, yaye xa badibana kwakhona, lo bhuti wayesele eyamkele inyaniso yeSabatha yaye wayeyithobela.

GSAM 251Incwadi yokuqala ngeSabatha

GSAM 251.2UMfundisi uBates wakhawuleza waqalisa ukushumayela le nyaniso esuka kwiphondo elinye esiya kwelinye. Kungekudala wabona ukuba incwadi, okanye iphetshana, ngomba weSabatha ingaba luncedo olukhulu kuye emsebenzini wakhe, yaye umphefumlo wakhe wavuselelwa nguMoya kaThixo ukuba abhale aze apapashe into ngalo mbandela. Kodwa umbuzo wawukuba ingenziwa njani loo nto kungekho mali, kuba yonke into awayenayo yayiyi-shilling yaseYork (iisenthi ezilishumi elinesibini enesiqingatha). Kungaba nomdla kumfundi ukubalisa amava akhe kulo mcimbi kanye njengoko wandixelela ngo-1855.

GSAM 251Iiponti Ezine Zomgubo

GSAM 251.3Uthe ngelixa wayethandaza phambi koThixo, wagqiba kwelokuba abhale le ncwadi, waza waqiniseka ukuba indlela yokuyipapasha iza kuvuleka. Ngenxa yoko wahlala phantsi edesikeni yakhe, eneBhayibhile kunye ne-concordance, ukuze aqalise umsebenzi wakhe. Kungaphelanga neyure, uNksk. Bates wangena egumbini waza wathi, “Joseph, andinalo ufulawa owaneleyo wokugqibezela ukubhaka,” waze kwangaxeshanye wakhankanya nezinye izinto ezincinci awayezidinga. “Ufuna umgubo ongakanani?” kubuza uKapteni Bates. “Malunga neeponti ezine,” yaphendula yena. “Kulungile,” waphendula yena. Emva kokuba emkile egumbini, waya evenkileni ekufutshane, wathenga iiponti ezine zomgubo nezinye izinto, wazigodusa, waza waphinda wahlala etafileni yakhe yokubhalela. Kungekudala uNksk. Bates wangena waza wabona ezi zinto etafileni wakhwaza wathi, “Lo mgubo uvele phi?” “Kutheni,” watsho umkhapteni, “ayonelanga? Uthe ufuna iiponti ezine.” “Ewe,” watsho yena, “kodwa uyifumene phi?” “Ndiyithengile,” watsho yena; “asiyiyo na leyo isixa obusifuna ukuze ugqibezele ukubhaka?” “Ewe,” uqhube watsho uNksk. Bates, “kodwa ingaba wena, Kapteni Bates, indoda ekhe yaqhuba iinqanawa isuka eNew Bedford isiya kuzo zonke iindawo zehlabathi, uphumile waya kuthenga iiponti ezine zomgubo?” “Ewe, ibingesiso na eso sixa somgubo ubusidinga ukuze ugqibezele ukubhaka?” “Ewe,” watsho uNksk. Bates, “kodwa ingaba uthenge iiponti ezine(!) zomgubo?”

GSAM 252Iidola Ezingamawaka Alishumi Elinanye Zichithelwe Inyaniso

GSAM 252.1Kwakhona kwalandela olunye uvavanyo. Xa uKapteni Bates wayeka ulwandle, wathengisa isabelo sakhe enqanaweni nge-$11,000, kodwa ngoku wayechithe yonke into anayo ukuxhasa inyaniso. Kude kube ngalo mhla uNksk. Bates wayengayazi imeko yakhe yokwenene yezemali, kodwa wayesiva ukuba ngoku kufuneka amxelele, ngoko ke wathi ngokuzola, “Mfazi, ndichithe kwezi zinto imali yokugqibela endinayo emhlabeni.” Elila kabuhlungu, uNksk. Bates wabuza, “Siza kwenza ntoni?” UKapteni waphakama, waza ngesidima sakhe sonke njengomphathi wenqanawa, wathi, “Ndiza kubhala incwadi; ndiza kuyisasaza, ndize ndisasaze le nyaniso yeSabatha ehlabathini lonke.” “Kulungile,” watsho uNksk. Bates, phakathi kweenyembezi ezamfamekisayo, “siza kuphila ngantoni?” “INkosi iza kuvula indlela,” yaba yimpendulo kaKapteni Bates encumayo. “Ewe,” watsho uNksk. Bates, “INkosi iza kuvula indlela! Yiloo nto usoloko uyithetha,” waza, egqabhuka ezinyembezini, waphuma egumbini.

GSAM 252Inkxaso Engalindelekanga

GSAM 252.2Emva kokuba uKapteni Bates eqhubekile nomsebenzi wakhe isiqingatha seyure, wavakalelwa kukuba makaye eposini, kuba bekukho ileta yakhe apho. Waya, kwaye ngenene kwakukho ileta. Ngezo ntsuku umrhumo weleta wawuziisenthi ezintlanu kwaye ukuhlawulela kwangaphambili kwakunganyanzelekanga. Umbhali wale leta ngasizathu sithile wayesilele ukuhlawula iposi. Kwaye apha kwakhona uKapteni Bates wathobeka, njengoko kwanyanzeleka ukuba axelele umphathi weposi, uMnu. Drew, awayemazi kakuhle, ukuba akanakuyihlawulela iposi, kuba wayengenamali; kodwa wathi, “Ungandivumela ndibone ukuba ivela phi?” “Yithathe,” watsho umphathi weposi, “uze uhlawule ngenye imini.” “Hayi,” watsho ukapteni, “andiyi kuphuma nale leta e-ofisini de ihlawulwe iposi.” Ngelixa wayephethe ileta esandleni sakhe, wathi, “Ndicinga ukuba kukho imali kule leta,” waza wajikela kumphathi-posi, wabuza, “Ungandivulela yona, nceda? Ukuba kukho imali ngaphakathi, ungakhupha imali yeposi; ukuba akunjalo, andiyi kuyifunda.” Umphathi-posi wawenza isicelo sakhe, nanko ke! yayinebhili yedola ezilishumi. Wafumanisa, ngokufunda, ukuba le leta yayivela kumntu othe iNkosi yamchukumisa engqondweni ukuba uMfundisi uBates wayeswele imali, waza wayikhawulezisa kuye; yaye ekukhawulezeni kwakhe mhlawumbi walibala ukuhlawula iposi.

GSAM 253.1Emva kokuhlawula iposi, waya kwivenkile yokutya, wathenga ibharali yomgubo nge-$4, kwakunye neetapile, iswekile, nezinye izinto eziyimfuneko. Xa wayeyalela ukuba zizisiwe phi, wathi, “Mhlawumbi lowo mfazi uza kuthi azizezalapho, kodwa sukuyihoyela into ayithethayo; khupha impahla kwivaranda engaphambili.”

GSAM 253.2Emva koko waya kwi-ofisi yokuprinta waza wenza amalungiselelo okupapasha iikopi eziliwaka elinye zencwadana enamaphepha amalunga nekhulu, esiqondweni sokuba njengoko umbhalo ubunikezelwa, abaphrinta babefanele bawufake kwiintlobo zokuphrinta ngokukhawuleza kangangoko kunokwenzeka, bemthumelela iiprufu. Wayefanele ahlawule umsebenzi ngokukhawuleza njengoko wayefumana imali, kwaye iincwadi zazingafanelanga zikhutshwe e-ofisini de zonke iibhili zibe zihlawuliwe.

GSAM 253.3UKapteni Bates wayesazi kakuhle ukuba akukho mntu wayemtyala mali, kodwa wayevakalelwa kukuba luxanduva lwakhe ukubhala le ncwadi, ekholelwa ukuba iNkosi iza kuchukumisa iintliziyo zabantu ukuba bathumele imali xa ifuneka. Emva kokuthenga iphepha, iipeni, njl., ngaloo ndlela enika ixesha lokuba izinto zasekhaya zihambe phambi kwakhe, waya encotsheni yesitalato esisinga endlwini yakhe. Akubona ukuba ezo zinto zikhona, wangena endlwini ngocango lwasemva, waza waphinda wahlala etafileni yakhe. UNksk. Bates wangena waza wathi exhalabile, “Joseph, khawujonge nje kwivaranda engaphambili! Le nto ivela phi? Kuye kwafika umqhubi wenqwelo yempahla weza kuyikhulula. Ndimxelele ukuba ayiyoyalapha, kodwa akavumanga, uye wayikhulula.” “Kulungile,” watsho uKapteni Bates, “ndicinga ukuba kulungile.” “Kodwa,” watsho uNksk. Bates, “ivela phi le nto?” “Kulungile,” watsho uKapteni, “iNkosi iyithumele.” “Ewe,” watsho uNksk. Bates, “iNkosi iyithumele; yile nto usoloko uyithetha.” Wabe eseyinika umfazi wakhe ileta, esithi, “Funda le, uze wazi ukuba ivela phi.” Wayifunda, waza waphinda wabuyela ngaphakathi elila kwakhona, kodwa yayilolunye uhlobo olwahlukileyo kuneyokuqala; waza ekubuyeni kwakhe wacela uxolo kuye ngokuthobeka ngokuswela kwakhe ukholo.

GSAM 254Imali Eza Ngenxa Yencwadi

GSAM 254.1Njengoko umsebenzi wokubhala nowokushicilela wawuqhubeka, uKapteni Bates wayefumana imali amaxesha ngamaxesha ngeposi nangayinye indlela, ngamanye amaxesha ivela kubantu awayengazange adibane nabo. Njengoko wayeyamkela imali, yayidluliselwa kubashicileli, yaze yasetyenziswa kwi-akhawunti yencwadi. Ekugqibeleni wafika umhla apho zonke iincwadi zazishicilelwe, kwaye kumthombo ongalindelekanga nguMzalwana Bates ibhalansi ye-akhawunti yahlawulwa; ngaloo ndlela iincwadi azizange zibambe nasuku olunye ekusasazweni kwazo.

GSAM 254Ibhili Yokugqibela Ihlawuliwe

GSAM 254.2U-H. S. Gurney, waseMemphis, eMich., wandixelela ngoMatshi, 1884, ukuba yena, ngentsasa kanye apho incwadi kaMfundisi uBates yayigqityiwe, wafumana i-$100 ngenothi eyayisele iphelelwe lixesha kumntu owayethe akasoze amhlawule. Emva kokufumana le mali, wayithatha njengovuyo ukuchitha inxalenye yayo ekuhlawuleni ityala lokugqibela kwincwadana yeSabatha kaMfundisi uBates. “Kodwa,” watsho uMnu. Gurney, “uMzalwana uBates akazange asazi de kwaba lusuku lokusweleka kwakhe ukuba ngubani owayehlawula imali eseleyo yencwadi.” La mava kaMfundisi uBates ekushicileleni inyaniso yeSabatha abonakala ngathi athetha kubantu bethu ukusukela ekuqaleni kokupapashwa kwenyaniso ngomba weSabatha, “Qhubekani phambili kulo msebenzi, kwaye nilindele ukuba isandla sikaThixo sivulele indlela njengoko nihamba phambili.”

GSAM 255UMfundisi uBates Wayenamathandabuzo Ngemibono

GSAM 255.1Le ngxelo ilandelayo, ifinyezelwe kwi-Life Sketches, iza kubonisa indlela isiphiwo sobuprofeti nolungiso lweSabatha ezimanyanisiwe ngayo:—

GSAM 255.2Ngethuba etyelele eNew Bedford, eMass., ngo-1846, uNkosazana Harmon wadibana noMfundisi uJoseph Bates. Wayesele ekwamkele kwangoko ukholo lokubuya kweNkosi, kwaye wayengumsebenzi onomdla kweli candelo. Wayeyindoda eyinyani eyayikholwa uKristu, enembeko nenobubele. Wamphatha uNkosazana Harmon ngobubele obukhulu ngokungathi ngumntwana wakhe. Ngethuba lokuqala eva ethetha, wabonakalisa umdla omkhulu, yaye emva kokuba ethe cwaka, waphakama waza wathi, “Ndingumntu ofana noTomasi othandabuzayo. Andikholelwa kwimibono. Kodwa ukuba bendinokukholelwa ukuba ubungqina obunikelwe ngudadewethu ngokuhlwanje bubengunyaniso ilizwi likaThixo kuthi, bendiya kuba ngoyena mntu wonwabileyo ehlabathini. Intliziyo yam ichukumisekile kakhulu. Ndikholelwa ukuba isithethi sinyanisekile, kodwa andikwazi ukucacisa ngokubonakaliswa kwezinto ezimangalisayo esixelele ngazo.”

GSAM 255UNkosazana Harmon Uyamkela iSabatha

GSAM 255.3UMfundisi uBates wayegcina iSabatha, kwaye wayugxininisa ukubaluleka kwayo. Ngelo xesha uNkosazana Harmon akazange alibone ukubaluleka kwayo, kwaye wacinga ukuba uMfundisi uBates waphazama ngokugxininisa kumthetho wesine ngaphezu kwezinye ezilithoba. Kodwa iNkosi yamnika umbono wengcwele yasezulwini. Itempile kaThixo yavulwa ezulwini, kwaye waboniswa ityeya kaThixo enesihlalo sokucamagusha esiyigqumayo. Kwema izithunywa ezimbini, esinye kwisiphelo ngasinye setyeya, zolule iimpiko zazo phezu kwesihlalo sokucamagusha, ubuso bazo bujonge kuso. Oku, njengoko wayexelelwa sisithunywa esasihamba naye, kwakumela umkhosi wonke wasezulwini ojonga ngentlonipho nokoyika kumthetho kaThixo owawubhalwe ngomnwe kaThixo. UYesu waphakamisa isiciko setyeya, kwaye yena wabona amacwecwe amatye awayebhalwe kuwo imithetho elishumi. Wamangaliswa akubona umthetho wesine kanye embindini wemithetho elishumi, unesangqa esithambileyo sokukhanya esimjikelezileyo. Isithunywa sathi, “Yiyo yodwa kwezi lilishumi echaza uThixo ophilayo owadala izulu nomhlaba nazo zonke izinto ezikuzo. Xa kwakusekwa iziseko zomhlaba, kwakusekwa nesiseko seSabatha.” Wabonakaliswa ukuba ukuba iSabatha yokwenene ibiyigcinwe, ngeke kubekho umngakholwayo okanye umntu ongakholelwayo kuThixo. Ukugcinwa kweSabatha ngekwakugcine ihlabathi ekuthandeni izithixo.

GSAM 256.1Umthetho wesine waphulwa, ngoko ke sibizelwe ukulungisa isikhewu emthethweni, nokuthethelela iSabatha etyhalelwe phantsi. Indoda yesono, eyaziphakamisayo ngaphezu kukaThixo, yaza yacinga ukutshintsha amaxesha nemithetho, yazibangela utshintsho lweSabatha ukusuka kusuku lwesixhenxe luye kusuku lokuqala lweveki. Ngokwenza oku, yenza isikhewu emthethweni kaThixo.

GSAM 256.2Kanye phambi kosuku olukhulu lukaThixo, kuthunyelwa umyalezo wokulumkisa abantu ukuba babuyele ekunyanisekeni kwabo kumthetho kaThixo owaphulwe nguMchasi-Kristu. Ingqwalasela kufuneka itsalwe ekwaphulweni komthetho ngokufundisa nangomzekelo. Waboniswa kwakhona ukuba isithunywa sesithathu seSityhilelo 14, esibhengeza imiyalelo kaThixo nokholo lukaYesu, simele abantu abalwamkelayo olu myalezo, kwaye baphakamise ilizwi lesilumkiso kwihlabathi ukuba ligcine imiyalelo kaThixo nomthetho waKhe njengokhozo lweliso, nokuba ngokuphendula kwesi silumkiso abaninzi baya kwamkela iSabatha yeNkosi.⁶

GSAM 256.3La mava kaNkosazana Harmon noMfundisi Bates ayehambelana nendlela yeNkosi yokusebenza. Ingqwalasela kaNkosazana Harmon noMfundisi White yatsalwa kumba weSabatha nguMfundisi Bates, owabavezela kwiZibhalo iimfuno zomthetho kaThixo ongaguqukiyo. Nangona uNkosazana Harmon wayesikelelwe ngeembonakalo ezikhethekileyo ezivela eNkosini kangangeenyanga ezilishumi elinesibhozo, akukho nto ngalo mba eyayikhe yamvezwa ngaphambili. Ngoku ixesha leNkosi lalisifikile, njengoko kwakusekwa abakholwayo ukuba bagcine umthetho wayo, ukuba kubonelelwe ngokukhanya kubo ngesipho sesiprofeto, kwaye ke, ngendlela yayo yokusebenza, umyalezo wesithunywa sesithathu, “iimiyalelo zikaThixo, nobungqina bukaYesu Kristu,” zadityaniswa.

GSAM 257Isiqalo soMyalezo weSithunywa sesiThathu

GSAM 257.1Ukususela ngelo xesha umyalezo wesithunywa sesithathu, unxulumene nezinye ezimbini, waqala ukushumayelwa. Inyaniso yeSabatha, inxulumene netyeya kaThixo kunye nokukhanya okwakukhula ngokunxulumene nendawo engcwele, yaqinisekisa oko kwakuboniswe ngaphambili,—ukuba intshukumo yokubuya kweNkosi eyadlulayo yayiyinyaniso, kwaye ikulungelelwaniso lweNkosi. Ngoku babesiya bakwazi ukuqonda ngokupheleleyo kunanini na ngaphambili intsingiselo “yamanqanaba amathathu ukuya kwindlela eya kwisixeko sikaThixo.”

GSAM 257UMfundisi uBates Uyamkela Imibono Njengevela KuThixo

GSAM 257.2Kwinyanga kaNovemba, ngo-1846, kwabanjwa inkomfa eTopsham, eMaine, apho uMfundisi uBates wayekhona. Kulo mhlangano uNksk. White (umtshato kaNkosazana Harmon noMfundisi uJames White sele ukhankanyiwe ngaphambili) waba nombono owabangela ukuba uMfundisi uBates aneliseke ngokupheleleyo malunga nemvelaphi yabo engcwele. Wayeyindoda eyayichithe iminyaka engamashumi amahlanu iselwandle, isenza zonke iintlobo zemisebenzi ukusukela kowayengumkhaphi omncinci ukuya kutsho kowayengumphathi nomnini weenqanawa. Ukuqonda kwakhe ngeenkwenkwezi kwakungangako, kangangokuba, njengoko wandixelela, wayekwazi ukutsho ukuba uphi phantse kanye elwandle, ngokwe-latitude ne-longitude, ngokujonga izinto ezisemazulwini. Umntu onjalo ngokwendalo wayeza kuba nomdla wokuthetha ngeenkwenkwezi.

GSAM 257.3Encokweni naye, wandixelela ngendlela awathi waqiniseka ngayo ngemvelaphi yemibono esuka kuThixo. Wathi wazama ukuthetha noNksk. White ngenye imini ngezinkwenkwezi, kodwa akudulanga wafumanisa ukuba akazi nto ngeenkwenkwezi; eneneni, njengoko wamxelela, wayengazi nokuba wakhe wakhangela na kwincwadi ethetha ngaloo mba. Wayengenamdla wokuthetha ngaloo mbandela, waza wajika incoko eyokuthetha ngomhlaba omtsha, nangoko wayekhanyiselweyo ngako embonweni.

GSAM 258“AmaZulu Avulekileyo”

GSAM 258.1Kunyaka ongaphambili, ngomhla we-19 kuTshazimpuzi, 1845, i-Illustrated London News yayipapashe into enomdla kakhulu kubazazi bezinkwenkwezi evela kuLord Rosse, emalunga nezinto ezimangalisayo awayezifumene ngeteleskopu yakhe enkulu kakhulu, ingakumbi umbono wento abazazi bezinkwenkwezi abayibiza ngokuba “sisikhewu esibhakabhakeni.” Ngenye ingokuhlwa, kwinkomfa esele ikhankanyiwe, endlwini kaMnu. Curtiss naphambi koMfundisi uBates, owayengakagqibi ngokuphathelele kwezi zibonakaliso, uNksk. White, ngelixa wayenombono, waqala ukuthetha ngeenkwenkwezi, enika inkcazelo ecacileyo yamabhanti anombala obomvu othambileyo awayewabona ngaphaya komphezulu weplanethi ethile, waza wongeza, “Ndibona iinyanga ezine.” “Owu,” watsho uMfundisi uBates, “ujonge uJupiter!” Emva koko, esenza iintshukumo ngokungathi uhamba emajukujukwini, waqala ukuchaza amabhanti neendandatho kubuhle bazo obusoloko butshintsha, waza wathi, “Ndibona iinyanga ezisixhenxe.”⁷ UMfundisi uBates wakhwaza wathi, “Uchaza uSaturn.” Emva koko wathi, “Ndibona iinyanga ezintandathu,” waza kwangoko waqalisa inkcazelo “yamaZulu avulekileyo,” nobuqaqawuli bawo, eyibiza ngokuba kukuvuleka okusinga kwingingqi ekhanyiswe ngakumbi. UMfundisi uBates wathi inkcazelo yakhe yagqitha kude nayo nayiphi na ingxelo ngamaZulu avulekileyo awayekhe wayifunda kuye nawuphi na umbhali.

GSAM 258.2Ngethuba esathetha esesembonweni, waphakama ngeenyawo, waza watsho esithi, “O, ndinqwenela ukuba uNkosi John Rosse ebenalapha ngobu busuku!” UMfundisi uWhite wabuza, “Ngubani uNkosi John Rosse?” “O,” watsho uMfundisi uBates, “yingcali enkulu yezinkwenkwezi yaseNgilani. Ndinqwenela ukuba wayelapha ukuze eve loo nkosikazi ithetha ngeenkwenkwezi, aze eve loo nkcazelo ‘yamaZulu avulekileyo.’ Iphambi kwayo yonke into endakha ndayifunda ngalo mbandela.” Ukususela ngobo busuku uMfundisi uBates waqiniseka ngokupheleleyo ukuba imibono kaNksk. White yayingaphaya kolwazi nolawulo lwakhe. Oku kunye nohlobo lokukhalinyelwa nesikhokelo esinikwayo, kwamenza waba nesiqinisekiso sokuba zazivela kuThixo.

GSAM 259.1Lo mboniso esibhakabhakeni ochazwe ngolu hlobo nguNksk. White kuloo mbono, yinto enqabileyo ukukhankanywa ngababhali bezazi ngeenkwenkwezi. UHuygens, owaba ngowokuqala ukuwufumanisa, unika olu hlobo lwenkcazelo:—

GSAM 259Ukukhanya Okuzukileyo Kwinkemba ka-Orion

GSAM 259.2“Iingcali zeenkwenkwezi zibeka iinkwenkwezi ezintathu zisondelelene kwinkemba ka-Orion; xa ndandijonga ephakathi nazo ngeteleskopu, ngonyaka ka-1656, kwavela endaweni yaleyo enye iinkwenkwezi ezilishumi elinambini; phakathi kwazo, ezintathu eziphantse zacaphana, kunye nezinye ezine zavelayo, zibengezela ngokungathi zibonwa kwilifu, kangangokuba isithuba esizijikelezileyo sasisikhanya kakhulu kunesinye isibhakabhaka, esathi, ngenxa yemozulu entle, sabonakala sisimnyama ngokupheleleyo, sathi sabonakala ngokungathi kubonwa ngekhethini elivulekileyo, apho umntu wayenokubona ngokukhululekileyo kwelinye ilizwe elalikhanyiswe ngakumbi.”

GSAM 259.3UWilliam Herschel uthi ngesi sivulo esibhakabhakeni:—

GSAM 259.4“Ukuba ububanzi bayo kule mngama bungamisa i-engile eyi-10°, nto leyo ephantse yenzeke, ubukhulu bayo kumele bube bungacingeki kwaphela. Kuye kwabalwa ukuba kumele ibe yimiphindaphindo yetriliyoni ezimbini yobungakanani belanga.”

GSAM 259Ikhanya Ngaphezu Kwelanga

GSAM 259.5UThomas Dick, ifilosofa, uthetha ngolu hlobo ngezi nkungu zikhanyayo:—

GSAM 259.6“Ukuba besibekwe kufutshane nayo njengesiqingatha somgama wenkwenkwezi ekufutshane, nangona loo mgama mkhulu kangako, ukusuka kwindawo enjalo ibiya kubonakalisa ukukhanya okusondeleyo kokwelanga; kwaye kwizidalwa ezikufuphi kakhulu ibiya kuzalisa inxalenye enkulu yesibhakabhaka, ize ibonakale ngobukhazikhazi obungenakuchazwa. Kodwa injongo yokugqibela yento enjalo, kuzo zonke iinkalo nobudlelwane bayo, mhlawumbi isenokuvela kwiinkulungwane ezizayo zobukho obungapheliyo; kwaye, njengezinye izinto ezininzi kwiindawo ezikude zendalo, ivusa engqondweni umnqweno onamandla wokubona imiboniso eqaqambileyo neyimfihlakalo ye-univesi isityhilwa ngakumbi.”⁸

GSAM 260.1UMfundisi Bates, ekugqibezeleni inqaku ngalo mbandela, wathi:—

GSAM 260.2“Ngoko ke sibona ngako konke ubungqina obuzisiweyo (kwaye besinokunika obuninzi, ukuba bekuyimfuneko), ukuba apha kukho into emangalisayo kakhulu nengenakuchazeka ezulwini; umsantsa esibhakabhakeni ongaphezulu kweemayile ezili-11,000,000,314 ngomjikelezo. Utsho owayesaziwa uHuygens, ‘Andizange ndibone nto ifana nayo phakathi kweenye iinkwenkwezi ezimileyo—umbono ovulekileyo okunye ummandla okhanyiswe ngakumbi.’”

GSAM 260Enye Ingxelo Ngombono Weplanethi

GSAM 260.3Siphinda sicaphula kuNksk. Truesdail, owayekhona ngexesha lokunikezelwa kwalo mbono kukhankanyiweyo. Uthi:—

GSAM 260.4“UDade uWhite wayebuthathaka kakhulu empilweni, yaye ngelixa kwakunikelwa imithandazo ngenxa yakhe, uMoya kaThixo wahlala phezu kwethu. Sakhawuleza saqaphela ukuba wayengasaziphapheli izinto zomhlaba. Lo yayingumbono wakhe wokuqala wehlabathi leplanethi. Emva kokubala phezulu iinyanga zikaJupiter, kwaye kungekudala emva kwezo zikaSaturn, wanika inkcazelo entle yeendandatho zale yokugqibela. Wathi ke, ‘Abahlali babo ngabantu abade, abazukileyo, abangafani kwaphela nabahlali bomhlaba. Isono asikaze singene apha.’ Kwakucacile ebusweni obuncumayo bukaMzalwana Bates ukuba amathandabuzo akhe angaphambili ngokuphathelele kwimvelaphi yemibono yakhe ayesiya ephuma kuye ngokukhawuleza. Sonke sasiyazi ukuba uKapteni Bates wayengumthandi omkhulu wenzululwazi yeenkwenkwezi, njengoko wayesoloko esibonisa izinto ezininzi ezisemazulwini ukuze asifundise. Xa uDade White waphendula imibuzo yakhe emva kombono, esithi akazange afunde okanye afumane ulwazi ngale ndlela, wazala luvuyo nolonwabo. Wancoma uThixo, waza wavakalisa ukholo lwakhe lokuba lo mbono ongeplanethi wawunikwe ukuze angaphindi athandabuze.”⁹

GSAM 261Ihashe Elikhohlakeleyo Lithanjiswe Ngesiquphe

GSAM 261.1Kungekudala emva kwale ntlanganiso yaseTopsham, kwenzeka esinye isiganeko esichukumisayo esinxulumene nemibono, endiza kusibalisela njengoko ndaxelelwa nguMfundisi uBates:—

GSAM 261.2UMfundisi White wayesebenzisa ihashe elincinci elalingekaqeqeshwa ngokupheleleyo, kunye nekarhasi yentengiso enezihlalo ezibini, eyayingenayo idash-bhodi, kodwa yayinesinyuko phambi kwayo, kunye nesinyuko sentsimbi esisuka kwiintonga zenqwelo. Kwakufuneka kuthathwe ingqwalasela enkulu xa kuqhutywa elo hashe lincinci, kuba xa imintambo okanye nantoni na ichukumisa amacala alo, lalikhaba ngomsindo kwangoko, kwaye kwakufuneka lihlale libanjwe ngomtya oqinileyo ukuze lingabaleki. Eli hashe lalilelomntu ekwakufuneka baye kuye, kwaye njengoko uMfundisi White wayeqhele ukulawula amahashe angakhange afundiswe, wacinga ukuba akayi kuba nangxaki inzulu ngeli. Noko ke, ukuba bebeyayazi ukuba ngexesha lokuziphatha kwalo okugabadeleyo, laliye labulala amadoda amabini ngaphambili, elinye ngokulityumza ematyeni asecaleni kwendlela, mhlawumbi ngewayengazithembanga kangako.

GSAM 261.3Ngeli xesha kwakukho abantu abane enqwelweni, uMfundisi White nomfazi wakhe kwisitulo sangaphambili, noMfundisi Bates no-Israel Damon kwisitulo sasemva. Ngelixa uMfundisi White wayenikele yonke ingqondo yakhe ekulawuleni ihashe, uNksk. White wayethetha ngenyaniso, xa amandla kaThixo ewehla phezu kwabo, waza wathathwa embonweni, ehleli enqwelweni. Ngethuba ekhwaza esithi “Ubuqaqawuli!” njengoko wayesiya embonweni, ihashe eliselula laza lema ngequbuliso, laza lahlisa intloko yalo. Ngelo xesha uNksk. White waphakama, ekule meko, aze ngelixa amehlo akhe ejonge phezulu, wanyathela ngaphaya komphambili wenqwelo, wehla waya phezu kweentsimbi, izandla zakhe zisezinqeni zehashe elincinci. UMfundisi Bates wakhwaza kuMfundisi White, wathi, “Eli hashe lincinci liza kumkhaba loo mfazi lide limbulele.” UMfundisi White waphendula wathi, “INkosi ilawula eli hashe ngoku; andifuni kuphazamisa.” Ihashe eliselula lema lithambile njengehashe elidala. Ecaleni kwendlela umhlaba wawunyuka malunga neenyawo ezintandathu, kwaye ecaleni kocingo kwakukho indawo enengca. UNksk. White, ngamehlo akhe esajonge phezulu, engajonganga phantsi nakanye, wanyuka umhlaba waya kwindawo enengca, waza wahamba-hamba imizuzu embalwa, ethetha kwaye echaza ubuhle bomhlaba omtsha. Emva koko, intloko yakhe isesimweni esifanayo, wehla ngomhlaba, wahamba waya enqwelweni, wanyuka waya kwiinyuko, isandla sakhe sikwisinqe sehashe eliselula, waza wanyukela kwiintonga zenqwelo, nangaloo ndlela wangena enqwelweni kwakhona. Ngethuba nje ehleli esitulweni, waphuma embonweni, kwaye kwangoko ihashe, ngaphandle kwayo nayiphi na inkomba evela kumqhubi, laqalisa ukuhamba, laqhubeka nendlela yalo.

GSAM 262.2Ngethuba uNksk. White ephandle kwenqwelo, uMfundisi White wacinga ukuba angalivavanya ihashe, abone ukuba lithobekile ngokwenene na okanye hayi. Ekuqaleni walichukumisa nje ngesabhokhwe; ngamanye amaxesha ihashe beliya kuphendula ngokukhaba, kodwa ngoku akukho ntshukumo. Waza walibetha isibetho esihle, wabe esibetha ngamandla ngakumbi, wabe esibetha ngamandla nangakumbi. Ihashe eliselula alizange liyihoyisise kwaphela ezo zibetho, kodwa lalibonakala lingoyikeki njengeengonyama ezazivalwe imilomo yazo zizithunywa ngobusuku uDaniyeli abuchitha emhadini wazo. “Lalilindawo elingcwele,” watsho uMfundisi uBates, “kwaye kwakucacile ukuba lo Mandla mnye owenza imibono, ngelo xesha wayothomalalisa isimo sasendle selo hashe eliselula.”

GSAM 262.3Ukuba lo mbono wawusisiphumo nje sezithile zeengxaki zomzimba wakhe, kuvela umbuzo ngokwendalo, Ingaba ihashe laligula ngendlela efanayo?

GSAM 262Ubungqina buka-Israel Damon

GSAM 262.4Ndiza kunika apha, njengesiqinisekiso sengxelo endinikwe nguMfundisi Bates, le ngxelo ilandelayo:—

GSAM 262.5“Malunga neminyaka engamashumi amabini eyadlulayo, kanye emva kokuba ndiqalile ukugcina iSabatha, u-Israel Damon wandibalisela ngeemeko zokufumana kukaDade uWhite umbono ngelixa yena, uMfundisi uBates, noMfundisi uWhite nomfazi wakhe babekhwele enqwelweni elula emva kwehashe elincinci elingathobeliyo. Namhlanje ndifunde le nkcazelo ingentla yesi siganeko, njengoko ibhalwe nguMfundisi uLoughborough, kwaye iyangqinelana ncam noko ndaxelelwa nguMfundisi uDamon.” Isayinwe, “R. S. Webber, Battle Creek, Mich., Februwari 9, 1891.”

GSAM 263Ubungqina bukaMfundisi uBates ngemiBono

GSAM 263.1UMfundisi uBates uchaza amava akhe ngolu hlobo:—

GSAM 263.2Nangona ndandingabonanga nto kuzo echasene nelizwi, ndandisoyika kwaye ndandivavanywa kakhulu, kwaye ixesha elide ndingazimiselanga ukukholelwa ukuba yayiyinto engaphaya koko kwakubangelwe yimeko yomzimba wakhe ekudala yoyelekile.

GSAM 263.3“Ngoko ke ndafuna amathuba phambi kwabanye, xa ingqondo yakhe ibonakala ikhululekile kwaye ingaxhalabanga (ngaphandle kwentlanganiso), ukuba ndimbuze imibuzo ndiphinde ndiyiphinde-phinde, kunye nabahlobo bakhe ababemkhapha, ingakumbi udadewabo omdala, ukuze ndifumane, ukuba kunokwenzeka, inyaniso. Kwixesha leendwendwe zakhe ezininzi eNew Bedford naseFairhaven ukusukela ngoko, ngelixa ekwiindibano zethu, ndimbone embonweni izihlandlo ezininzi, nakwaseTopsham, eMaine; kwaye abo babekhona ngamaxesha ezinye zezo ziganeko zinomdla bayazi kakuhle ukuba ndandiphulaphule ngomdla nangentshiseko engakanani kwilizwi ngalinye, ndijonge yonke intshukumo yakhe, ndizama ukufumana ubuqhophololo okanye impembelelo yokulalisa ngengqondo. Kwaye ndibulela kuThixo ngethuba endilifumeneyo kunye nabanye lokubona ezi zinto. Ngoku ndingathetha ngokuzithemba ngokwam. Ndikholelwa ukuba lo msebenzi ngowakaThixo, kwaye unikezelwe ukuthuthuzela nokomeleza abantu bakhe ‘abasasazekileyo,’ ‘abagqatswileyo,’ ‘nabakrazukileyo,’ ukusukela ekubeni umsebenzi wethu wavalwa ... ngo-Okthobha, 1844. Le meko yokuphazamiseka ethi ‘Nantsi apha!’ kunye nethi ‘Nantsi apho!’ ukusukela ngelo xesha idide kakhulu abantu bakaThixo abanyanisekileyo, nabazimiseleyo, yaza yenza kwanzima kakhulu kwabo babengakwazi ukucacisa iimbhalo ezininzi eziphikisanayo ezazibekwe phambi kwabo. Ndiyavuma ukuba ndifumene ukukhanya nesikhokelo kwiindima ezininzi ebendingakwazi ukuziqonda ngokucacileyo ngaphambili. Ndikholelwa ukuba ungumntwana kaThixo ozincama, onyanisekileyo, nozinikeleyo.”¹⁰

GSAM 263.4“Umbhali akawufumani ‘umxholo’ wemibono yakhe ‘kwiimfundiso okanye kwizifundo zangaphambili.’ Xa wafumana umbono wakhe wokuqala, ngoDisemba, 1844, yena nabo bonke ibandla lasePortland, eMaine (apho abazali bakhe babehlala khona ngelo xesha), babesele beyiyekile ‘isikhalo sezinzulwini zobusuku’ njengento eyayisele idlulile. Kwakungelo xesha iNkosi yambonisa embonweni impazamo awayewele kuyo yena neqela lasePortland. Waza wabalisela iqela umbono wakhe, baza bavuma ukuba amava abo enyanga yesixhenxe yayingumsebenzi kaThixo.”¹¹

GSAM 264Indlela Eyayijongwa Ngayo Imiyalezo Emithathu Ngo-1847

GSAM 264.1Oku kulandelayo okuvela kuMfundisi uJames White, okubhalwe ngo-Epreli, 1847, kuza kubonisa indlela imiyalezo emithathu eyayijongwa ngayo ngelo xesha:—

GSAM 264.2“Zonke iindidi zabakholwa bokubuya kwesibini ziyavumelana ukuba isithunywa esiboniswe kwivesi yesithandathu neyesixhenxe yesi sahluko (Isityhilelo 14), simele umyalezo wokubuya kwibandla nakwihlabathi.... Umsebenzi wesithunywa sesibini yayikukubonisa ibandla lokubuya ukuba iBhabheli iwile. Kwaye njengoko isixa esikhulu sabo singayifundanga le nyaniso de amandla ‘esikhalo sezinzulwini zobusuku’ sabavusa ngexesha elifanelekileyo ukuze bakwazi ukubaleka kumabandla phambi kokuba kufike usuku lwe-10, oku kuthetha ukuba ukususela kwinyanga yesixhenxe, ngo-1844, umyalezo wesithunywa sesithathu wawusilumkiso, kwaye usalokhu ulumkiso, kooNgcwele ukuba ‘babambelele ngokuqinileyo,’ kwaye bangabuyeli umva, bangaze ‘bamkele’ iimpawu iqela leentombi elazisusayo ngexesha lokukhala kwesithunywa sesibini.

GSAM 264.3“Ingaba umyalezo wokwenene wabantu bakaThixo, ukusukela kwinyanga yesixhenxe, ngo-1844, ubungesosilumkiso esinjalo kanye?—Ngokuqinisekileyo ubunjalo.... Ivesi yeshumi elinesibini ifundeka ngolu hlobo, ‘Nanku umonde wabangcwele: apha ngabo abagcina imithetho kaThixo nokholo lukaYesu.’ Ubabonile phi, Yohane?—Kutheni, ‘apha,’ ngexesha lomyalezo wesithunywa sesithathu. Njengoko ixesha lokunyamezela nokulinda belikho ukusukela kwinyanga yesixhenxe, ngo-1844, kwaye njengoko iqela eligcina iSabatha, njl., livele ukusukela ngelo xesha, kucacile ukuba siphila ngexesha lomyalezo wesithunywa sesithathu.”¹²