《比利时信条》第十三条 论神的护理

《比利时信条》第十三条 论神的护理

　　我们相信这位良善的神，在祂创造了万物之后，并没有弃之不顾，或把它们交给命运或机遇1，而是照祂神圣的旨意支配和治理它们，以至于若没有神的许可，世界上断不可能发生任何的事情2。然而神并不是罪恶的创造者，因此神既不需要为之承担责任，也不能受控告3。因为祂的能力和良善是极大且不可测度的，甚至当魔鬼和恶人在行不义时，神仍以祂最完美和公义的方式，命定并施行祂的作为4。

　　至于祂的奇妙作为是超乎人所能理解的，我们不会去好奇地追问我们理解限度之外的事情。乃是以极大的谦卑和敬畏之心去仰慕神公义的判断，因这些是对我们隐藏的5，我们且要以自己是基督的门徒为满足，单单学习神在圣经里所教训我们的事，不要逾越这些界限6。

　　神的护理教义给予了我们无以言表的安慰，由此我们得知，没有任何事临到我们是出于偶然的，乃是出于仁慈的天父安排。祂以慈父般的关怀看顾我们，以祂的权能保守一切受造物，若没有我们天父的旨意，没有一根头发会掉下来（我们的头发都被数算过），也没有一只麻雀会掉在地上。我们相信这一切，因为我们知道祂抑制那恶者和我们一切的仇敌，若没有祂的许可和旨意7，他们断不能伤害到我们。

　　所以，我们拒绝伊壁鸠鲁派的该受咒诅的错谬观点，他们说神什么都不管，而是将一切置任于机遇当中。

　　 1.约 5:17; 来1:3.
　　 2.诗115:3; 箴16:1, 9, 33; 箴21:1; 弗1:11, 12; 雅4:13-15.
　　 3.雅1:13; 约壹2:16.
　　 4.伯1:21; 赛10:5; 赛45:7; 摩3:6; 徒2:23; 徒4:27, 28.
　　 5.王上22:19-23; 罗1:28; 帖后2:11.
　　 6.申29:29; 林前 4:6.
　　 7.创45:8; 创50:20; 撒下16:10; 罗8:28, 38, 39.

英文对照：

　　We believe that this good God, after He had created all things, did not abandon them or give them up to fortune or chance, but that according to His holy will He so rules and governs them that in this world nothing happens without His direction. Yet God is not the Author of the sins which are committed nor can He be charged with them. For His power and goodness are so great and beyond understanding that He ordains and executes His work in the most excellent and just manner, even when devils and wicked men act unjustly. And as to His actions surpassing human understanding, we will not curiously inquire farther than our capacity allows us. But with the greatest humility and reverence we adore the just judgments of God, which are hidden from us, and we content ourselves that we are pupils of Christ, who have only to learn those things which He teaches us in His Word, without transgressing these limits.

　　This doctrine gives us unspeakable consolation, for we learn thereby that nothing can happen to us by chance, but only by the direction of our gracious heavenly Father. He watches over us with fatherly care, keeping all creatures so under His power that not one hair of our head – for they are all numbered – nor one sparrow can fall to the ground without the will of our Father. In this we trust, because we know that He holds in check the devil and all our enemies so that they cannot hurt us without His permission and will.

　　We therefore reject the damnable error of the Epicureans, who say that God does not concern Himself with anything but leaves all things to chance.