恩典宝石 · 文章
从圣经得益
Profiting from the Scriptures
中文译文
（1）首先，就在今天开始读你的圣经。
做一件事的方法，就是动手去做；读圣经的方法，就是真正去读！单是打算、盼望、下决心、立定意向，或是思量这件事，都不能使你前进一步。你必须切实去读。在这件事上，没有捷径可走，正如祷告没有捷径一样。倘若你自己不能读，就必须请别人读给你听。但无论用什么办法，无论借着眼睛还是耳朵，圣经的话都必须真正进入你的心思。
（2）其次，读圣经时，要热切渴望明白它。
千万不要以为，读经的主要目的就是翻过一定数量的印着字的纸张，至于是否明白，则无关紧要。有些无知的人似乎以为，只要每天读过那么多章，就算万事大吉了；尽管他们可能全然不知所读的内容，只知道把书签往后推了那么多页。这是把读经变成了徒具形式的仪式。这几乎与罗马天主教那种“购买大赦”的习惯一样糟糕——拨着念珠，念上数目惊人的“Ave-Marias”和“Pater-nosters”（即《万福马利亚经》和《天主经》）。这使人想起那个可怜的霍屯督人：他看见一本荷兰文赞美诗集安慰了邻舍的心，就把它吃了下去！你要在心里确立一条通则：圣经若读不明白，就得不着益处！读的时候，要常常问自己：“这里究竟在讲什么？”要挖掘其中的意思，像人挖掘黄金一样。
〔译注：“大赦”及此处所述的诵祷做法，是作者批评的天主教做法，并非本文所倡导的蒙恩之道。〕
（3）再者，要以孩童般的信心和谦卑来读圣经。
打开神的书时，也要敞开你的心，说：“耶和华阿，请说，仆人敬听。”要立定心志，毫无保留地相信你在其中读到的一切，无论这些话与你自己的欲望和成见多么相悖。要立定心志，衷心接受其中每一句真理，无论你喜欢与否。务要提防有些读经的人所陷入的那种可悲习惯：有些教义，他们因为喜欢就接受；另一些教义，他们因为这些教义定了自己，或某位亲属、朋友的罪，就拒绝。这样一来，圣经就毫无用处了！难道神的话语中该有什么，要由我们来裁定吗？难道我们比神知道得更清楚吗？你要在心里定意：一切都要接受，一切都要相信；凡你不能明白的，也要凭着信靠接受。要记得，你祷告的时候，是你在向神说话，神在垂听。但也要记得，你读圣经的时候，是神在向你说话；你不该“发号施令”，而该聆听！
（4）再者，读圣经时，要存顺服的心，并将所读的应用在自己身上。
每天坐下来研读圣经时，都要立定心志，决意……
按其中的准则生活，
信赖其中的陈述，
照其中的命令行事。
每读一章，都要思想：“这对我的思想和日常行事有什么影响？这教导我什么？”若读圣经只是出于好奇，为了思辨，只想用种种见解填满头脑、充实心思，却不让这本书影响你的心和生活，这样的读经实在贫乏。圣经实行得最多，才是读得最好！
（5）再者，要每天读圣经。
要把阅读并默想神话语中的一段，作为每天必做的事。我们灵魂每天都需要个人的蒙恩之道，正如身体每天都需要衣食一样。昨天的食物不能供给劳动者今天的需要；今天的食物也不能供给劳动者明天的需要。要效法旷野中的以色列人，每天清晨收取新鲜的吗哪。要选定适合自己的时段和钟点。读的时候，不要匆忙翻阅、草草了事。要把一天中最好的时间，而不是最差的时间，留给圣经！但无论采取什么安排，都要把每天来到施恩的宝座前、亲近神的话语，定为生活的常规。
（6）再者，要读整本圣经，并且有次序地读。
恐怕神话语中的许多部分，有些人从来没有读过。至少可以说，这是极其妄自尊大的习惯。“圣经……都是有益的。”（提摩太后书3:16；此处为节略引文。）如今，人们对真理的认识普遍失之偏颇，往往可以追溯到这个习惯。有些人读圣经，总是这里翻一点，那里挑一点。他们似乎根本没有按次序通读整本圣经的念头。
这也是一个很大的错误。毫无疑问，在疾病和患难中，可以选读切合当时需要的经文。但除此以外，我相信，最好的办法莫过于同时从旧约和新约的开头读起，各自一路读到末尾，然后重新开始。在这件事上，各人都必须在自己心里有坚定的确信。我只能说，近四十年来，我自己一直采用这个办法，从未发现有改变它的理由。
（7）再者，要公正、诚实地读圣经。
要定意按经文平实、明显的意思领受一切，对所有牵强的解释都要抱持高度的疑虑。通常，一节经文看起来是什么意思，它就是什么意思！塞西尔的一条原则十分宝贵：“解释圣经的正确方法，就是按它原有的样子来领受，不试图强行把它纳入任何特定的神学体系。”
（8）最后，读圣经时，要始终注目基督。
整本圣经首要而重大的目的，就是为耶稣作见证！旧约的礼仪是基督的影儿。旧约的拯救者是基督的预表。旧约的预言满载着基督的苦难，以及祂将来要显出的荣耀。
第一次降临与第二次降临，
主的降卑与祂荣耀的国度，
祂的十字架与冠冕——
这些在圣经中处处闪耀。你若要正确地读圣经，就要牢牢抓住这条线索！
ENGLISH ORIGINAL
Profiting from the Scriptures by J.C. Ryle
(1) For one thing, begin reading your Bible this very day . The way to do a thing — is to do it; and the way to read the Bible — is actually to read it! It is not merely meaning , or wishing , or resolving , or intending , or thinking about it — which will advance you one step. You must positively read. There is no royal road in this matter, any more than in the matter of prayer. If you cannot read yourself, you must persuade somebody else to read it to you. But one way or another, through eyes or ears — the words of Scripture must actually pass before your mind.
(2) For another thing, read the Bible with an earnest desire to understand it. Do not think for a moment, that the great object is to turn over a certain quantity of printed paper , and that it matters nothing whether you understand it or not. Some ignorant people seem to imagine, that all is done if they advance so many chapters every day , though they may not have a notion what they are all about, and only know that they have pushed on their bookmark ahead so many pages. This is turning Bible reading into a mere ritual form . It is almost as bad as the Popish habit of 'buying indulgences' — by saying an astounding number of 'Ave-Marias' and 'Pater-nosters' ( Hail-Mary's and Our-Father's — on their 'rosary beads'.) It reminds one of the poor Hottentot who ate up a Dutch hymn-book because he saw it comforted his neighbors' hearts! Settle it down in your mind as a general principle, that a Bible not understood — is a Bible that does no good! Say to yourself often as you read, "What is this all about?" Dig for the meaning like a man digging for gold.
(3) For another thing, read the Bible with child-like faith and humility . Open your heart — as you open God's book, and say, "Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening!" Resolve to believe implicitly whatever you find there, however much it may run counter to your own desires and prejudices. Resolve to receive heartily every statement of truth — whether you like it or not. Beware of that miserable habit into which some readers of the Bible fall — they receive some doctrines because they like them; and they reject others because they are condemning to themselves, or to some relation, or friend. At this rate, the Bible is useless! Are we to be judges of what ought to be in God's Word? Do we know better than God? Settle it down in your mind — that you will receive all and believe all, and that what you cannot understand — you will take on trust. Remember, when you pray — that you are speaking to God, and God hears you. But, remember, when you read Scripture — that God is speaking to you, and you are not to "dictate," but to listen!
(4) For another thing, read the Bible in a spirit of obedience and self-application . Sit down to the study of it with a daily determination that you will . . . live by its rules, rest on its statements, and act on its commands.
Consider, as you travel through every chapter, "How does this affect my thinking and daily conduct? What does this teach me?" It is poor work to read the Bible from mere curiosity , and for speculative purposes — in order to fill your head and store your mind with mere opinions; while you do not allow the book to influence your heart and life . That Bible is read best — which is practiced most!
(5) For another thing, read the Bible daily . Make it a part of every day's business to read and meditate on some portion of God's Word. Private means of grace are just as needful every day for our souls — as food and clothing are for our bodies. Yesterday's food will not feed the laborer today; and today's food will not feed the laborer tomorrow. Do as the Israelites did in the wilderness. Gather your manna fresh every morning. Choose your own seasons and hours. Do not scramble over and hurry your reading. Give your Bible the best , and not the worst part of your time! But whatever plan you pursue, let it be a rule of your life to visit the throne of grace and God's Word every day.
(6) For another thing, read all of the Bible — and read it in an orderly way. I fear there are many parts of the Word which some people never read at all. This is to say at the least, a very presumptuous habit. " All Scripture is profitable." (2 Timothy 3:16.) To this habit may be traced that lack of well-proportioned views of truth , which is so common in this day. Some people's Bible-reading is a system of perpetual 'dipping and picking'. They do not seem to have an idea of regularly going through the whole book.
This also is a great mistake. No doubt in times of sickness and affliction, it is allowable to search out seasonable portions. But with this exception, I believe it is by far the best plan to begin the Old and New Testaments at the same time — to read each straight through to the end, and then begin again. This is a matter in which every one must be persuaded in his own mind. I can only say it has been my own plan for nearly forty years, and I have never seen cause to alter it.
(7) For another thing, read the Bible fairly and honestly . Determine to take everything in its plain, obvious meaning — and regard all forced interpretations with great suspicion. As a general rule, whatever a verse of the Bible seems to mean — it does mean! Cecil's rule is a very valuable one, "The right way of interpreting Scripture is to take it as we find it, without any attempt to force it into any particular theological system."
(8) In the last place, read the Bible with Christ continually in view. The grand primary object of all Scripture, is to testify of Jesus! Old Testament ceremonies are shadows of Christ. Old Testament deliverers are types of Christ. Old Testament prophecies are full of Christ's sufferings , and of Christ's glory yet to come. The first coming and the second; the Lord's humiliation and His glorious kingdom; His cross and the crown — shine forth everywhere in the Bible. Keep fast hold on this clue , if you would read the Bible aright!
I might easily add to these hints , if space permitted. Few and short as they are — you will find them most profitable when implemented.