1 太22:14；2 太7:22；13:20-21；来6:4-5；3 约6:64-66；8:24；4 徒4:12；约14:6；弗2:12；约4:22；17:3；5 约二9-11；林前16:22；加1:6-7

10.4  Others, not elected, although they may be called by the ministry of the Word,1 and may have some common operations of the Spirit,2 yet they never truly come unto Christ, and therefore cannot be saved:3 much less can men, not professing the Christian religion, be saved in any other way whatsoever, be they never so diligent to frame their lives according to the light of nature, and the laws of that religion they do profess.4 And to assert and maintain that they may, is very pernicious, and to be detested.5

1 Mt 22:14; 2 Mt 7:22; 13:20–21; Heb 6:4–5;  3 Jn 6:64–66; 8:24;  4 Acts 4:12; Jn 14:6; Eph 2:12; Jn 4:22; 17:3;  5 2 Jn 9–11; 1 Cor 16:22; Gal 1:6–8.

我们之前已看到基督的选民也许能在死于幼年的婴孩与其他未能在外部蒙受所传之道呼召的成人的当中。这些人若是选民，即使缺乏了普通工具，必藉着基督由圣灵重生得救。那么，这是否说明那些被所传之道呼召，却没有以信靠基督回应的人有可能被得救？同样的，这是否说明那些从来没承认信靠基督，却诚恳地按照人性之光生活，或遵守他们宗教律法的人有可能被得救？

We saw previously that the elect of Christ may be found amongst infants dying in infancy as well as adults who are incapable of being outwardly called by the ministry of the Word. These, if they are the elect, would be regenerated and saved by Christ through the Spirit without the ordinary means. Does this mean, then, that it is possible for those who are under the ministry of the Word but have not responded with faith in Christ, to be saved? Likewise, does it mean that it is possible for those who have never professed faith in Christ but are living sincerely according to the light of nature or the religion they profess, to be saved?

这两个问题的答案是个非常肯定的“不能！”。而“主张”相反的答案，“乃是非常有害、极其邪恶和可憎的”。

The answer to both questions is an emphatic “No!” “And to assert and maintain” otherwise, “is very pernicious, and to be detested.”

一个人可以是教会会员，他可以积极参加教会的活动，经历圣灵普通的运行（例如在听到上帝的律法时自觉有罪，或在听福音时感到喜悦），然而也可能是弃民。这人并没有真正地归向基督，即使他虚伪地自称相信基督。这人不可能得救。但当然，我们都不能知道自己是弃民还是选民，于是我们都应该以忠心、诚恳和勤奋地采用蒙恩之道而尽力迈入上帝之天国。

It is possible for a person to be part of a church, involved actively in the life of the church and experiencing the common operations of the Spirit—of conviction under the preaching of the Law, and joy under the preaching of the Gospel,—to be, nevertheless, a reprobate. Such a person will not truly come to Christ though he may profess faith hypocritically. Such a person cannot be saved. But of course, none of us know whether we are reprobate or elect, and therefore it behooves all of us to strive to enter the kingdom of God by faithful, sincere and diligent attendance at the means of grace.

同样的，一个人能在外部蒙受道之呼召，却从来没承认信靠基督，是不可能得救的。即使他真心凭良心生活，或遵守他宗教的律法，也就是如此。

Likewise, it is not possible for a person who is capable of being called outwardly by the Word, but has never professed Christ or Christianity to be saved. Such is the case even if he lives in all sincerity according to the dictates of his conscience or according to the rules of his religion.

我们或许能想出一些原因说明为何事皆如此。第一，所有人都在亚当里有罪。第二，所有人生来就有败坏的本性，不管他们何等殷勤地按照人性之光，按照良心的指示生活，都仍然活在罪恶中。第三，上帝虽然已经将关于祂自己一般启示给了所有人，“使人无可推诿”，然而除非人接触到特殊启示，否则不可能得救（西敏信条 1.1）。第四，基督明确地宣告：“我就是道理、真理、生命，若不籍着我，没有人能到父那里去”（约14:6；参考：徒4:12）。因此，保罗强调传道是人得救必不可少的途径：“因为凡求告主名的，就必得救。……未曾听见祂，怎能信祂呢？没有传道的，怎能听见祂？”（罗10:13-14）

We may think of several reasons why this is the case. First of all, all men are guilty in Adam. Secondly, all men are born with a corrupt nature so that no matter how well they may heed their conscience and live according to the light of nature, they are living in sin. Thirdly, although God has given general revelation of Himself so that all men “are without excuse,” yet without special revelation it is impossible to come unto salvation (WCF 1.1). Fourthly, Christ has declared: “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (Jn 14:6; cf. Acts 4:12). Thus, Paul is emphatic about the necessity of preaching if anyone were to be saved: “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. … how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?” (Rom 10:13–14).

所以，让我们求庄稼的主打发工人出去收祂的庄稼（太9:38）！而让我们总要自己省察有信心没有，也要自己试验（林后13:5）！

Let us therefore pray to the Lord of the harvest that He may send forth labourers to the harvest field (Mt 9:38)! And let us examine ourselves to see whether we are truly in the faith (2 Cor 13:5)!

原文作者： 林集章 、蔡林斯 、欧阳效正
中文譯者： 何恩杰，刘行
來源： Westminster Confession of Faith — With Brief Pastoral Comments  

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