金句Quotes

你竟要把这刚开始在你里头动工的话语推开。也许吧，你若推开，主就说：『让这话再也不刺中他的心；让我的灵再也不随这话临到他。』

Thou wilt now put off the word that doth now begin to work with thee. It may be, if thou shouldst, the Lord may say, Let the word never strike thy heart more, let the Spirit never accompany this word more.

我要俯伏在这里，把我的灵魂滚在基督里神那白白的恩典上，求祂赦免。

I will lie here and roll my soul upon this free grace of God in Christ for pardon.

奥古斯丁说：『如今没有那些甘甜，竟是何等甘甜！』

Saith Augustine, "How sweet is it to want such sweetnesses!"

要进到比拉迦谷——祝福之谷（参代下 20:26），必要经过流泪谷（和合本诗 84:6 译作『巴迦谷』）。

The way to the valley of Berachah, of blessing, is by the way of Baca, the valley of tears.

我若把这义摆在自己与那无限公义的神之间，无非如同人拿一片牛皮纸去抵挡那熊熊扑来的烈火。

If I do set this between me and that infinite righteous God, it will be but as the putting of a piece of brown paper before a man to deliver him from a mighty flame of fire that is coming out against him.

与这义相比，你一切的不义不过如一滴水之于无垠大洋，转瞬就被吞没。

All thine unrighteousness in comparison of this it is but as a drop to the infinite ocean, that can soon be swallowed up.

它仿佛在一张白纸上署名，意思就是：神啊，你要写什么就写什么，我在这里甘心献上自己。

It subscribes to a blank as it were--that is, let God set down what he will, here I am willing to yield up myself.

再没有比向反对我们的人显出温柔柔和更能把火炭堆在他们头上的法子了。

There is no such way to heap coals of fire upon the heads of those that do oppose us, as to carry ourselves meekly and gently towards them.

对敬虔人而言，永世是没有日落的白昼；对恶人而言，永世是没有日出的黑夜。

Eternity to the godly is a day that has no sunset. Eternity to the wicked is a night that has no sunrise.

人若没有觉得罪是苦的，基督就从未在他心里显为甘甜。

Christ is never sweet, until sin is felt to be bitter.

基督不会为一点尘土，就丢弃祂的珍珠。

Christ will not throw away His pearls, for every speck of dirt!

世界是谄媚的仇敌；它用拥抱杀人，亲吻谁，就出卖谁。

The world is a flattering enemy; it kills by embracing. Whom the world kisses, it betrays.

天堂是否在你眼前？基督是否在你心里？世界是否在你脚下？

Is Heaven in your eye, and Christ in your heart, and the world under your feet?

基督为那些流祂血的人流泪。

Christ shed tears, for those who shed His blood!

罪中之乐很快过去，留下的刺却还在。

The pleasure of sin is soon gone, but the sting remains!

不信羔羊之血的人，必要承受羔羊的忿怒。

He who believes not in the blood of the Lamb, must feel the wrath of the Lamb.

罪以魔鬼为父，以羞耻为伴，以死亡为工价。

Sin has the devil for its father, shame for its companion, and death for its wages!

人为了罪中一滴快乐，去饮一海忿怒，这是何等愚昧！

What fools are they, who for a drop of pleasure drink a sea of wrath!

你每吸一口气，都是在吸入怜悯。

Every time you draw your breath, you suck in mercy!

我们从坟墓起来，比从床上起来更为确定。

We are more sure to arise out of our graves, than out of our beds.

读圣经，不要只当作历史来读，更要当作神寄给你的情书来读！

Read the Scripture, not only as a history—but as a love-letter sent to you from God!

神要我们为祂舍弃的，无非是那些我们若紧抓不放、就必叫我们沉沦的东西！祂对我们的唯一目的，就是使我们成为圣洁。

God would have us part with nothing for Him, but that which will damn us if we keep it! The only design He has for us is to make us holy.

死亡是最后一位、也是最好的医生。它能医好一切疾病和罪恶，既治愈疼痛的头，也治愈不信的心。罪是把死亡带到世上的产婆；死亡却要成为埋葬罪的坟墓！信徒的特权何等大！

Death is the last and best physician. It cures all diseases and sins—the aching head and the unbelieving heart. Sin was the midwife which brought death into the world—and death shall be the grave to bury sin! O the privilege of a believer!

一滴罪所含的邪恶，胜过一海的苦难！

There is more evil in a drop of sin, than in a sea of affliction!

没有悔改的知识，只会成为照亮人下地狱之路的火把。

Knowledge without repentance, will be but a torch to light men to Hell.

人若下了地狱，别人以为他上了天堂，对他又有什么益处呢？

What good will it do a man when he is in Hell, that others think he has gone to Heaven?

敬虔，在于圣洁的原则与圣洁的行为彼此和谐。

Godliness consists in a harmony between holy principles and holy practices.

不肯悔改的罪人怎能快乐呢？他要承受神一切的咒诅，却不知道自己何时就会住到被定罪之人中间！

How can the unrepentant sinner be merry—who is heir to all God's curses, and does not know how soon he may take up his lodgings among the damned!

我们越尝到罪的苦涩，就越尝到基督的甘甜！

The more bitterness we taste in sin, the more sweetness we shall taste in Christ!

不真心厌恶罪，就绝不会真心爱基督！

Christ is never sincerely loved, until sin is sincerely loathed!

把娱乐看得比救恩更要紧的人，是愚昧人！

He is a fool, who minds his recreation more than his salvation!

神今生加在人身上最大的审判，就是任凭他犯罪，毫无拦阻。

The greatest judgment God lays upon a man in this life, is to let him sin without hindrance.

人在家中藏匿一个叛贼，就是背叛王权的叛徒。
照样，纵容一种罪的人，便是个背信的假冒为善之人。

He who hides one rebel in his house, is a traitor to the Crown.
Just so, he who indulges one sin, is a traitorous hypocrite.

艰难地上天堂，胜过轻易地下地狱！「你们要努力进窄门。我告诉你们，将来有许多人想要进去，却是不能。」（路13:24）

It is better to go with difficulty to Heaven, than with ease to Hell! " Strive to enter through the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able!" Luke 13:24

真正的福乐不在于美貌、尊荣和财富，也就是这世界的三位一体，而在于罪得赦免。「得赦免其过，遮盖其罪的，这人是有福的。」（诗32:1）

True happiness consists not in beauty, honor, riches (the world's trinity)—but in the forgiveness of sin. " How blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered!" Psalm 32:1

圣徒一切奇妙的特权和应许，都可在神的道中寻见。

All the wondrous privileges and promises of the saints, are found in the Word.

圣经是稳固的锚，在人生的风浪海洋中牢牢系住我们；也是可靠的罗盘，引导我们穿过今世无定的水域。圣经又是一面属灵的放大镜；我们从中看见神无限的智慧、祂全然无瑕的圣洁、祂奇妙的美善，以及祂无法测透的荣耀！

The Scripture is the steady anchor that holds us fast in the stormy sea of life, and the sure compass that guides us through the uncertain waters of this world. The Scripture is a spiritual magnifying glass, in which we behold: God's infinite wisdom , His impeccable holiness , His wondrous goodness , and His unfathomable glory !

一个灵魂的价值，胜过一万个世界！

The soul is of more value than ten thousand worlds!

弟兄们，痛斥别人千样罪，比治死自己里面一样罪容易得多！

Brethren, it is easier to declaim against a thousand sins of others-than to mortify one sin in ourselves!

基督徒借着舍去自己不能保住的，便得着自己不能失去的。

The Christian shall gain that which he cannot lose-by parting with that which he cannot keep.

认识神的人必谦卑；认识自己的人不能骄傲。

Those who know God, will be humble.

Those who know themselves, cannot be proud.

永世本身，就悬在今时这短短一刻之上！

Eternity itself, hangs upon this little moment of time!

哦，要记得，在试探的阵阵狂风中，你不过是一片羽毛！

O remember what a mere feather you are in the gusts of temptation!

毁掉我们的，不是拥有世界，而是过分爱世界。

It is not the having, but the over-loving of the world-which ruins us.

被忘记的怜悯结不出果子。

记不得神的怜悯，心和生命就会贫瘠。

Forgotten mercies bear no fruit.

A bad memory makes a barren heart and life.

耶稣基督在各方面都足以满足灵魂浩大的渴望。

Jesus Christ is in every way sufficient to the vast desires of the soul.

除了罪，什么都不要怕！

最当用心思想的，莫过于怎样讨神喜悦！

Fear nothing but sin!

Study nothing so much as how to please God!

你倚靠神，永远不会太多；你倚靠受造之物，永远不会太少。

You can never depend too much upon God-nor too little upon the creature.

基督的荣美，直到永恒仍是常新的！

The loveliness of Christ is fresh to all eternity!

祂拣选我们，不是因我们本来可爱，乃是为要使我们成为可爱。

He chose us not because we were lovely-but that He might make us lovely.

即便是最圣洁的人，也只可跟随到他跟随基督的地方；再多一步都不可。

Do not follow the holiest of men, one step farther than they follow Christ.

律法击伤，福音医治！

The law wounds-the gospel cures!

基督已经为我们完成祂的工作吗？那么毫无疑问，祂也必在我们里面完成祂的工作。

Did Christ finish His work for us? Then there can be no doubt but He will also finish His work in us.

神起初拣选你，不是因你高贵；如今祂也不会因你低微就离弃你。

As God did not at first choose you because you were high-He will not now forsake you because you are low.

人在昌盛中仍然谦卑，是世上最稀有的景象之一！

To see a man humble under prosperity, is one of the greatest rarities in the world!

基督如此爱圣洁，以至于祂要用自己的宝血作代价，为我们买来圣洁。

Christ is so in love with holiness, that at the price of His blood He will buy it for us.

我们的元首耶稣已经在天上；既然头在水面之上，身体就不能被淹没。

Jesus, our head, is already in Heaven; and if the Head is above water, the body cannot drown.

神的一句话，比人的万句话更能安慰困苦的灵魂。

One word of God can do more than ten thousand words of men to relieve a distressed soul.

恩典越多，谦卑也越多。

The more grace there is-the more humility there will be.

我们以神为乐到什么地步，圣洁也到什么地步；我们以罪为乐到什么地步，罪恶也到什么地步！

As our delight in God is the measure of our holiness-so our delight in sin is the measure of our sinfulness!

无论一个人愁苦的根由是什么，都应当驱使他到神面前。

Whatever is the ground of one's distress-it should drive him to God.

不以祷告开始的事，很少以安慰收束。

That which does not begin with prayer, seldom winds up with comfort.

凡敢把自己投在神信实怀中的灵魂，祂那毫无瑕疵的信实从未辜负过。

God's unspotted faithfulness never failed any soul that dared trust himself in its arms.

人看得见的本分，维持我们在人前的名声；人看不见的本分，维持我们在神面前的生命。

Observed duties maintain our credit with men; but secret duties maintain our life with God.

神在护理中比你更有智慧；你可以确信，祂把万事安排得更合乎你永恒的益处，远胜过让你自己选择。

Providence is wiser than you, and you may be confident it has suited all things better to your eternal good, than you could do had you been left to your own option.

人像图画，隔着一定距离看最美；但基督不是这样。灵魂越亲近祂，越久活在对祂的享受中，祂就越显甘甜，也越令人渴慕！

Men, like pictures, are fairest at a certain distance.
But it is not so with Christ-the nearer the soul approaches Him, and the
longer it lives in the enjoyment of Him-still the sweeter and more
desirable He becomes!

若时间是一枚金戒，那么机会就是镶在其上的贵重钻石，使它既有价值，也有光彩。

If
time
is a ring of gold-then
opportunity

is the rich diamond which gives it both its value and glory.

多查考神的话，少顾念世界的事务和利益。

Study the
Word
more-and the concerns and
interests of the
world
less.

神这样为你发出的神圣看顾，就是你的护航；它一路陪伴、保守你，直到把你平安护送进永恒安息的港口！

God's divine care
thus engaged for you, is your convoy to accompany
and secure you, until it sees you safe into your harbor of eternal rest!

祂虽使我们受苦，却仍爱我们。

不但如此，纵然我们叫祂忧伤，祂仍然爱我们！

Though He afflicts us-He still loves us.

Nay, though we grieve Him-yet still He loves us!

即使我们注目基督直到永世，祂里面仍会显出新的奇妙！

New wonders will appear in Christ-if we behold Him to
eternity!

一滴救赎恩典，胜过一海属灵恩赐！

A drop of saving grace-is better than a sea of
spiritual gifts!

耶稣自己曾一时被神离弃，为要使祂的百姓不至永远被离弃。

Jesus Himself was deserted of God for a time-that His people might not be deserted forever.

那才真是在恩典上富足的人：他的财富并不拦阻他里面的恩典。

He indeed is rich in grace-whose graces are not hindered by his riches.

没有一个受造物能向你动手或动舌攻击你，除非出于祂的许可。

Not a creature can move hand or tongue against you-but by His permission.

有些人看别人的恩赐而不嫉妒，和看自己的恩赐而不骄傲，一样艰难。

It is as hard for some to look upon other men's gifts, without envy-as it is to look upon their own, without pride.

我们过分爱什么，把什么当作偶像，又把什么当作依靠，神常常就把那东西打碎，叫我们看见它不过是虚空。于是我们明白：要最快失去自己的安慰，只要把心过分放在这些安慰上就够了！

Whatever we have over-loved, idolized, and leaned upon-God has from time to time broken it, and made us to see the vanity of
it. So that we find the readiest course to be rid of our comforts-is to
set our hearts inordinately upon them!

整个世界都不够作一个大剧场，来展示基督的荣耀，也不够展开那隐藏在祂里面、测不透之丰富的一半！

The whole world is not a theater large enough to show
the glory of Christ upon, or unfold the one half of the unsearchable
riches that lie hidden in Him!

耶稣是一切欢悦与喜乐的泉源、海洋和中心！

Jesus is the fountain, ocean, and center of all
delights and joys!

从基督所受的定罪，流出我们的称义！

从祂的剧痛，出来我们的得胜！

从祂的疼痛，出来我们的安舒！

从祂所受的鞭伤，出来我们的医治！

从祂所尝的苦胆和醋，出来我们的甘蜜！

从祂所受的咒诅，出来我们的祝福！

从祂的荆棘冠冕，出来我们的荣耀冠冕！

从祂的死，出来我们的生命！

哦，思想这一点，何等叫人心被融化！

Out of Christ's condemnation-flows our justification!

Out of His agony-comes our victory!

Out of His pain-comes our ease!

Out of His stripes-comes our healing!

Out of His gall and vinegar-comes our honey!

Out of His curse-comes our blessing!

Out of His crown of thorns-comes our crown of glory!

Out of His death-comes our life!

O what a melting consideration is this!

罪若还没有在我们心里变苦，基督就不会显为甘甜！

Christ is not sweet-until sin is made bitter to us!

即便神定你永远沉沦，你永远所受的痛苦，也不能抵偿一个虚妄念头中的恶。哦，罪的恶何等深重！

If God should damn you to all eternity-your eternal
sufferings could not satisfy for the evil that is in one vain thought! O
the depth of the evil of sin!

凡你口里承认的真理，都要竭力在心里亲自尝到。

Labor after an inward experimental taste of all those
truths which you profess.

我们不但要弃绝犯罪的己，也要弃绝披着宗教外衣的己！

We must renounce not only
sinful
self-but

religious
self!

耶稣是饥饿者的粮，

是干渴者的水，

是赤身者的衣裳，

是受伤者的医治。

凡灵魂所能渴望的一切，都在祂里面。

Jesus is . . .

bread
to the hungry,

water
to the thirsty,

a

garment
to the naked,

healing
to the wounded.

Whatever a soul can desire-is found in Him.

苦难是一粒苦药；若裹在忍耐和安静顺服里，就容易咽下。但不知足却把药嚼碎，于是使灵魂更苦。

Affliction is a bitter pill, which, being enrapt up in
patience and quiet submission, may be easily swallowed. But discontent
chews the pill, and so embitters the soul.

清醒的人不会离开清泉里纯净、清凉、使人苏醒的溪水，去喝污水坑或空池里的水。照样，今世最好的享受，也不能与耶稣基督相比。

No man who is in his wits would leave the pure, cold,
refreshing stream of a crystal fountain-to go to a filthy puddle or an
empty cistern. In the same way, the best enjoyments of this world are not
to be compared with Jesus Christ.

每一个失丧的人都爱神的怜悯；圣徒却爱那赐怜悯的神。神的怜悯在恶人那里成了私欲的柴火，在敬虔人那里却成了维系他爱神之心的柴火。

Every lost man loves the
mercies
of God-but a
saint loves the
God
of his mercies. The mercies of God, as they are
the fuel of a wicked man's lusts-so they are fuel to maintain a godly
man's love to God.

即使神击打我们身边最亲爱、最能安慰我们的事物，我们仍能以爱慕、喜悦的心思想祂，这就清楚显明：我们爱祂，是为祂自己，不只是为祂的恩赐！

To have lovely and well-pleased thoughts of God, even
when He smites us in our nearest and dearest comforts-argues plainly
that we love Him for Himself, and not for His gifts alone!

至高者必然无需向谁交账，也不能被谁辖制。

The Supreme Being must needs be an unaccountable and
uncontrollable being.

圣徒在神里面有隐密的喜乐，有隐藏的吗哪；除了吃过的人，没有人知道。

The saints have their secret delights in God, their
hidden manna-which no man knows but he who eats of it.

神赐你安慰时，你若不留心其中有祂的手，就是大恶。

When God gives you comforts-it is your great evil not
to observe His hand in them.

“按着定命，人人都有一死，死后且有审判。”（来9:27）

树在死亡与审判临到时怎样倒下，就永远照样躺着！

“落在永生神的手里，真是可怕的！”（来10:31）

"It is appointed for man to die
once, and after that comes judgment!" Hebrews 9:27

As the tree falls at death and judgment-so it lies forever!

"It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God!" Hebrews
10:31

我注目受造之物太多，注目神太少！

I have eyed
creatures
too
much-and
God
too little!

你若思想这一点，就大有助于使你的心安定：你因烦躁不平与不知足所加给自己的伤害，比一切苦难能加给你的还多。正是你自己的不知足，给你的患难装上了刺。你在重担下挣扎，反使重担更沉。你若安静伏在神的手下，你的处境就会比现在轻省得多。

It would much conduce to the settlement of your heart,
to consider that by fretting and discontent-you do yourself more injury
than all your afflictions could do. Your own discontent is that which arms
your troubles with a sting. You make your burden heavy by struggling under
it. Did you but lie quietly under the hand of God, your condition would be
much more easy than it is.

一个悔罪的罪人，即便流下自创世以来落在地上的雨滴那么多的眼泪，也不能洗去一桩罪。地狱里永远的焚烧，也洗不净那如火焚烧的良心，连最小的一桩罪也除不去。

All the tears of a penitent sinner-should he shed as
many as there have been fallen drops of rain since the creation-cannot
wash away one sin. The everlasting burnings in Hell cannot purify the
flaming conscience from the least sin.

你被基督拯救的那一刻，也就来到一切安慰的泉源。

哦，当到基督面前来！你若不到基督面前来，就没有真正的安慰能临到你。

The same hour you are saved by Christ-you shall also
be at the fountainhead of all consolations.

O come to Christ! Until you come to Christ-no true comfort can come to
you.

我们被罪中眼前的快乐与甜美迷住了；但后来结出的果子，将是何等苦涩！

We are charmed with the present pleasure and sweetness
there is in sin, but how bitter will the after-fruits thereof be!

哦，若把我们蒙怜悯的记录都搜集保存起来，会积成何等浩大的卷册啊！

O if the records of our
mercies
could be
gathered and kept-what vast volumes would they swell to!

圣经教导我们……

如何活得最好，

如何受苦得最尊贵，

如何带着最深的安慰离世。

The Scriptures teach us . . .

the best way of
living
,

the noblest way of
suffering
, and

the most comfortable way of
dying
.

属世的人宁要世界的污泥粪土，胜过宝贵的救主！

Worldlings of the earth prefer the dirt and dung of the
world, before the precious Savior!

基督正是一切喜乐和福乐的精髓，是它们的灵魂和实质！正如所有江河都汇入海洋，海洋是世上一切水流相聚之处；照样，基督就是那片海洋，一切真实的喜乐和福乐都汇聚在祂里面。

Christ is the very essence of all delights and
pleasures, the very soul and substance of them! As all the rivers are
gathered into the ocean, which is the meeting-place of all
waters in the world-so Christ is that ocean in which all true delights
and pleasures meet.

没有哪一项教义，比耶稣基督并祂钉十字架更卓越，也更有必要被传讲、被研读。

No doctrine is more excellent, or necessary to be
preached and studied-than Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.

我们说，已经把灵魂交托给神，直到永恒；却在日用的饮食上不能信靠祂！

We say that we have trusted God with our souls to all
eternity-and yet cannot trust Him for our daily bread!

神赐人永生的怜悯，或说祂救人的怜悯，只藉着耶稣基督分赐给我们。

The mercy of God to eternal life, or His saving mercies-are only dispensed to us through Jesus Christ.

我们有这样的父母：还没有生下我们以前就为我们祷告，在我们幼年不能为自己祷告时也为我们祷告。这对我们是何等的怜悯！

What a mercy was it to us to have parents that prayed
for us before they had us, as well as in our infancy when we could not
pray for ourselves!

属世的人惧怕人，而不敬畏神。

刚强的基督徒敬畏神，而不惧怕人。

软弱的基督徒惧怕人太多，敬畏神太少。

The worldly person fears man-not God.

The strong Christian fears God-not man.

The weak Christian fears man too much-and God too little.

归正的灵魂去祷告，就像饥饿的人赴筵席，又像贪财的人奔向他的财宝。

The converted soul goes to prayer-as a hungry man to
a feast, or as a covetous man to his treasures.

“彼拉多见说也无济于事，反要生乱，就拿水在众人面前洗手，说：流这义人的血，罪不在我，你们承当吧。”（太27:24）

彼拉多难道因在水里洗了手，就能脱去基督之血的罪责吗？不能，不能！除非他的灵魂被他所流的那基督之血洗净，否则他永不能脱罪。

"He took water and washed his hands in front of the
crowd, saying: I am innocent of this man's blood!" Matthew 27:24

Could Pilate be free from Christ's blood, because he washed his hands in
water? No, no! He could never be free-unless his soul had been washed in
that blood which he shed!

正如基督的宝血是一切功绩的泉源，照样，基督的灵也是一切属灵生命的泉源。直到祂叫我们活过来，把属神生命的根基注入我们的灵魂，我们就不能伸手，也不能发出任何活的信心行动，去抓住耶稣基督。

As the blood of Christ is the fountain of all merit-so the Spirit of Christ is the fountain of all spiritual life. Until He
quickens us and infuses the principle of the divine life into our souls-we can put forth no hand, or vital act of faith, to lay hold upon Jesus
Christ.

凡蒙主恩慈拯救的人，都当俯伏在神脚前，谦卑惊叹白白恩典那测不透的丰富；即使神的护理带来逆境和苦味，也再不要开口抱怨。

Let all whom the Lord has graciously saved-fall down
at the feet of God in humble admiration of the unsearchable riches of free
grace, and never open their mouths to complain under any adverse or bitter
providences of God.

你若忽略教导孩子走圣洁的路，魔鬼会忽略教导他们走邪恶的路吗？不会！你若不教他们祷告，他就会教他们咒骂、赌咒、说谎。土地若不耕种，杂草就会生出来。

If you neglect to instruct children in the way of
holiness-will the devil neglect to instruct them in the way of
wickedness? No! If you will not teach them to pray-he will teach them to
curse, swear, and lie. If ground are uncultivated-then weeds will
spring.

我们不可以为信心本身就是灵魂的安息；信心只是得安息的途径。我们不能在自己的任何行为或职责里找到安息；我们可以在基督里找到安息，就是信心为着称义和救恩所得着的那一位。

We must not think that faith itself is the soul's rest;
it is only the means of it. We cannot find rest in any work or duty of our
own-but we may find it in Christ, whom faith apprehends for
justification and salvation.

属灵喜乐的对象，是耶稣自己，以及一切与祂有关的事。祂是那蒙福的海洋，一切属灵喜乐的溪流都倾注在其中！许多人轻易离弃信仰，原因就在于他们的灵魂从未尝过其中的甘甜；他们从未以此为乐。

The object of spiritual delight is Jesus Himself, and
the things which relate to Him. He is the blessed ocean into which all the
streams of spiritual delight pour themselves! The reason why so many
easily part with religion is, because their souls never tasted the
sweetness of it; they never delighted in it.

哦，神这蒙福的炼制何等奇妙，竟从这样的苦难中提炼出这样的怜悯！

O the blessed chemistry of God-to extract such
mercies out of such miseries!

神的护理好像希伯来文字，只能从后往前读。

The
Providence
of God is like Hebrew words-it
can be read only
backwards
.

在那些承认基督信仰的人中，诚心爱主耶稣的并不多。

There are few among those who profess Christianity, who
love the Lord Jesus in sincerity.

告诉我，你这空有认信的人哪，你什么时候曾为自己心里的死沉、刚硬、不信、恋慕地上的事流过一滴眼泪？你以为这样轻省的信仰能救你吗？若能，我们就可以把基督的话倒过来说：“那门是宽的，路是大的，是引到生命；进去的人也多。”

Tell me, you vain professor, when did you shed a tear
for the deadness, hardness, unbelief, or earthliness of your heart? Do you
think that such an easy religion can save you? If so, we may invert
Christ's words and say, "Wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that
leads to life, and may there be that go in there."

因此，保守己心，就是谨慎护卫它，使它不受罪的扰乱；并维持那属灵、蒙恩的心灵光景，使它适合过与神相交的生活。

To keep the heart then, is carefully to preserve it
from sin which disorders it; and maintain that spiritual and gracious
frame, which fits it for a life of communion with God.

这冬日的严寒自有用处：它要毁掉那些在昌盛之夏滋生的茂盛杂草。

借着严冬般的试炼，神要治死并洁净我们的败坏！

This winter weather shall be useful to destroy those
rank weeds, which the summer of prosperity bred.

By wintry trials-God will mortify and purge our corruptions!

我们最喜爱的享有之物，妻子、儿女、产业，就像约拿喜爱的那棵蓖麻，也许一夜之间就枯干！

Our most pleasant enjoyments, wives, children, and
estates, like the gourd in which Jonah so delighted himself-may wither
in a night!

诸位啊，要把罪当作罪来对付；谈到天堂和地狱，也要照它们的本相谈，不要像是在说笑。

Oh sirs, deal with sin as sin-and speak of Heaven and
Hell as they are, and not as if you were in jest.

在天上，我们会遇见许多从未想到会在那里见到的人；也会不见许多我们确信会在那里遇见的人！

In Heaven we shall meet many whom we never thought to
see there-and miss many whom we were confident we would meet there!

在天上，蒙赎之民即使过了千百万年，仍要像初见祂时一样惊奇地瞻仰耶稣，一样热切地爱祂。哦，基督的爱没有底；这爱是过于人所能测度的。

In Heaven the redeemed shall view Jesus with as much
wonder, and love Him with as much ardor after millions of years-as they
did at their first sight of Him. O there is no bottom in the love of
Christ-it surpasses knowledge.

神的护理这样安排：在我们的缺乏与祂的供应之间，信心和祷告先行；这样，神的美善就在我们眼中越发显大。

Providence so orders the case, that faith and prayer
come between our needs and supplies, and the goodness of God may be the
more magnified in our eyes thereby.

我们只承认一种义，就是由基督的顺服与补赎而来的义。我们在神面前称义，凭的是祂的宝血，不是我们的信心；凭的是祂的补赎本身，不是我们相信这补赎。

We acknowledge no righteousness but what the obedience
and satisfaction of Christ yields us. His blood, not our faith; his
satisfaction, not our believing it-is the matter of our justification
before God.

神若只把世上一小份给了你，但你若是敬虔的人，祂已经应许：“我总不撇下你，也不丢弃你。”（来13:5）

If God has given you but a small portion of the world-yet if you are godly, He has promised never to forsake you (Hebrews 13:5).

神的护理为你安排的处境，确实最有益于你永恒的好处。你若比现在多得一些世界，你的头脑和心也许就驾驭不了，不能使它成为你的益处。

Providence has ordered that condition for you which is
really best for your eternal good. If you had more of the world than you
have-your heads and hearts might not be able to manage it to your
advantage.

基督徒的心好像月亮，常在满月时受蚀；而使它受蚀的，正是地上的东西挡在中间。

The heart of a Christian, like the moon, commonly
suffers an eclipse when it is at the full, and that by the interposition
of the earth.

你环顾世界，处处都能看见可怜的人；他们因悲惨的意外，失去了今生一切的安慰。与此同时，神的护理却温柔地保全了你。

Look around in the world, and you may see some in every
place who are objects of pity, bereaved by sad accidents of all the
comforts of life-while in the meantime Providence has tenderly preserved
you.

有些护理，你看一遍、再看一遍，也许几乎看不出什么；但你若「看七次」，也就是常常默想它们，就会看见它们越来越显出荣耀，好像那渐渐升起的云彩一样（王上18:44）。

You may look upon some providences once and again, and
see little or nothing in them-but look "seven times," that is,

meditate
often upon them, and you will see their increasing glory,
like that increasing cloud (1 Kings 18:44).

孩子是什么？不过是父母的一部分，包在另一层皮肤里。然而，我们最亲爱的儿女，与父和基督之间那说不尽的亲密相比，也不过像陌生人一样。如今，父竟甘愿舍下祂的儿子，并且是这样一位独生子；这爱的彰显，必受人惊叹直到永恒。

What is a child-but a piece of the parent enrapt up
in another skin? And yet our dearest children are but as strangers to us,
in comparison of the unspeakable dearness that was between the Father and
Christ. Now, that He should ever be content to part with a Son, and such
an
only
One-is such a manifestation of love, as will be admired
to all eternity.

我们要省察：我们对基督的认识，不可成为无能力、不结果子、不能实行的知识。哦，愿这知识从我们的悟性来到唇舌时，能大有能力地融化我们的心，使它甘甜，并夺住它！弟兄们，请记得：人若没有一颗圣洁的心，神圣的职分从未救过任何人。若只有我们的舌头被分别为圣，我们整个人仍必被定罪沉沦。我们必须受同一福音审判，站在同一审判台前，按同一条件受判，并像其他人一样被严厉对待。

Let us see that our knowledge of Christ is not a
powerless, barren, unpractical knowledge. O that, in its passage from our
understanding to our lips-it might powerfully melt, sweeten, and ravish
our hearts! Remember, brethren, a holy calling never saved any man-without a holy heart. If only our tongues are sanctified-then our whole
man must be damned. We must be judged by the same gospel, and stand at the
same bar, and be sentenced to the same terms, and dealt with as severely
as any other men.

你经历的苦难越多，为这圣洁生活所得的扶助也越多。

The more afflictions you have been under-the more
assistance you have had for this life of holiness.

神的护理好像一幅精巧的织锦，由千百根线织成；单看一根，似乎毫无用处；合在一起，却在眼前呈现一段美丽的历史。

Providence is like a curious piece of tapestry made of
a thousand threads, which, single, appear useless-but put together, they
represent a beautiful history to the eye.

既然祂没有使自己的儿子少受一下击打、少流一滴眼泪、少发一声呻吟、少叹一口气，也没有少经一分痛苦的境遇；这一切既是为祂的百姓受的，那么在此之后，凡对他们有益的怜悯、安慰、特权，无论属灵的还是今世的，祂岂会拒绝或扣留不给他们呢？

Surely if He would not spare His own Son one stroke,
one tear, one groan, one sigh, one circumstance of misery-it can never
be imagined that ever He should, after this, deny or withhold from His
people, for whose sakes all this was suffered-any mercies, any comforts,
any privilege, spiritual or temporal, which is good for them.

圣灵必须先抓住我们，我们才能在基督里活着；当祂这样做时，我们才得以发出那活的信心行动，借此接受基督。

The Spirit must first take hold of us, before we can
live in Christ; and when he does so, then we are enabled to exert that
vital act of faith, whereby we receive Christ.

基督徒啊！你知道自己身上带着火药。凡带着火的人，你都应当与他们保持距离。骄傲的心遇上谄媚的嘴，正是危险的关头！

Christian! You know you carry gunpowder about you. You
should keep those who carry fire, at a distance. It is a dangerous crisis
when a proud heart meets with flattering lips!

没有什么恩典比信心更卓越；没有什么罪比不信更可憎、更可厌。信心是使人得救的恩典；不信是使人沉沦的罪。人的心充满自义和虚妄的自信。

There is no grace more excellent than faith. There is
no sin more execrable and abominable then unbelief. Faith is the saving
grace-and unbelief the damning sin. Men's heart's are full of
self-righteousness and vain confidence.

你们敞开心门接受主耶稣基督，并不是靠自己任何能力成就的事；主的膀臂乃是在其中显明出来。

The opening of your hearts to receive the Lord Jesus
Christ is not a work done by any power of your own-but the arm of the
Lord is revealed therein.

有时，那些一心只想加害神百姓、给他们带来恶与祸的人，反被神用来使祂的百姓得益处。约瑟的哥哥们正是在他们图谋毁灭他的那件事上，成了促成他被高举的器皿（创50:20）。

Sometimes God makes use of
instruments
for good
to His people, who designed nothing but evil and mischief to them. Thus
Joseph's brethren were instrumental to his advancement in that very thing
in which they designed his ruin (Genesis 50:20).

转回你们里面，进到内室，如今立定心志住在那里。你们与这工夫生疏太久了；看守别人的葡萄园太久了；只在敬虔的边缘游荡太久了。你们如今愿意更好看守自己的心吗？愿意从事务的拥挤和世界的喧嚷中出来，比从前更多退到隐密处吗？哦，愿你们就在今日立定这个心志！

Turn in upon yourselves, get into your closets, and now
resolve to dwell there. You have been strangers to this work too long; you
have kept other vineyards too long; you have trifled around the borders of
religion too long. Will you now resolve to look better to your hearts?
Will you come out of the crowds of business and clamors of the world-and
retire yourselves more than you have done? Oh, that this day you would
resolve upon it!

当世界向我们露出笑脸，我们也得了一个温暖的窝巢时，我们何等容易在这些所得上预言安息与平安，与巴录一同为自己图谋大事；然而神的护理借着临到个人或众人的灾祸，翻转我们的筹算（耶45:4-5）。这一切，都是为使我们的心从受造物转向神。

When the world smiles upon us, and we have got a warm
nest, how do we prophesy of rest and peace in those acquisitions, thinking
with Baruch, great things for ourselves-but Providence by a particular
or general calamity overturns our plans (Jeremiah 45:4,5)-and all this
to turn our hearts from the creature to God.

神的护理常使我们的思绪困惑缠绕；但把这些护理带到神的话面前，你的本分很快就会显明出来。「等我进了神的圣所，思想他们的结局。」（诗73:17）他不但明白了他们的结局，也明白了自己的本分：在受苦的光景中安静，不再因他们的昌盛心怀不平。

Providences often puzzle and entangle our thoughts-but bring them to the Word, and your duty will be quickly manifested.
"Until I went into the sanctuary of God-then understood I their end"
(Psalm 73:17). And not only their end-but his own duty, to be quiet in
an afflicted condition, and not envy their prosperity.

那无限荣耀、创造万有的主，竟取了人性，成为人；这是超过一切人所能参透的奥秘！

For the infinite glorious Creator of all things, to
become a creature, is a mystery exceeding all human understanding!

让我们思想，也惊叹：这位伟大、可称颂的神，竟这样顾念我们这些卑贱、可鄙的虫子！祂并不需要我们；没有我们，祂在自己里面仍全然有福、完全满足。我们不能给祂增添什么。

Let us consider and marvel that ever this great and
blessed God-should be so much concerned about such vile, despicable
worms as we are! He does not need us-but is perfectly blessed and happy
in Himself without us. We can add nothing to Him.

离了新造之工，悔改、顺服、舍己、祷告、眼泪、外在改正，或蒙恩之道，都不能使你的灵魂得救。

No repentance, obedience, self-denial, prayers, tears,
reformation or ordinances, without the new creation, avail anything to the
salvation of your soul.

圣徒有一个本分，尤其在困窘的时候，就是回想神的护理在他们一生各种光景、各个阶段中为他们所成就的事。

It is the duty of the saints, especially in times of
straights, to reflect upon the performances of Providence for them in all
the states and through all the stages of their lives.

我看每一个敬虔良善的人，都像一本好书，是主人借给别人阅读的；读者可以为自己的益处，抄录其中佳美的思想和金子般的句段，好叫主人再来索回这本书时，这些收获仍能留在他身边。可是，若这本好书被丢在角落，无人取用，就理当惹动主人不悦，将它收回。

I look upon every good man, as a good book, lent by its
owner for another to read, and transcribe the excellent notions and golden
passages that are in it for his own benefit, that they may return with him
when the owner shall call for the book again. But in case this excellent
book shall be thrown into a corner and no use made of it, it justly
provokes the owner to take it away in displeasure.

罪咎之于危险，正如火之于火药；一个人身上若没有火，走在许多桶火药中间，也不必害怕。

Guilt is to danger, what fire is to gunpowder; a man
need not fear to walk among many barrels of powder-if he has no fire
about him.

什么？与父和好，却与祂的儿女为敌！这绝不可能。

What, at Peace with the Father, and at War with the His
children! It cannot be.

即使低到地狱，只要有一个应许，也胜过没有应许而身在乐园。

It is better to be as low as Hell with a promise-than
in Paradise without one.

圣徒在今生临到他们的一切患难中，有一个极大的扶持和安慰：有一位智慧的灵，在一切运行之轮中掌权，管治那些最偏行的受造者，也管治他们最有害的计谋，使之终归蒙福、美好的结局。

It is the great support and solace of the saints in all
the distresses that befall them here, that there is a wise Spirit sitting
in all the wheels of motion, and governing the most eccentric creatures
and their most pernicious designs to blessed and happy outcomes.

“将来的忿怒”，既说明这忿怒必在将来临到，也说明它永远长存。是的，它不只是必定在将来；当它临到时，也必是常存的忿怒，或者说，是仍不断临到的忿怒。纵使千万年、千万世代都过去了，它仍是将来的忿怒，永远临到，如同江河永远流淌。

Wrath to come implies both the futurity and perpetuity
of this wrath.... Yes, it is not only certainly future-but when it comes
it will be abiding wrath, or wrath still coming. When millions of years
and ages are past and gone, this will still be wrath to come. Ever coming
as a river ever flowing.

人的灵魂好像壳中的鸟，仍在罪中或恩典中生长、成熟；直到最后，死亡把壳打破，灵魂便飞往那为它预备的地方，并且必须永远住在那里。

The soul of man, like the bird in the shell, is still
growing or ripening in sin or grace-until at last the shell breaks by
death, and the soul flies away to the place it is prepared for, and where
it must abide forever.

那些幽暗、曲折、令人困惑，曾使我们心里不平的护理，有一天我们必看见，对我们而言，它们正如以色列人穿过旷野那条艰难道路一样，是那条“直路”，使他们“往可居住的城邑”。

All the dark, intricate, puzzling providences at which
we were sometimes so offended-we shall one day see to be to us; as the
difficult passage through the wilderness was to Israel, "the right way to
the city of habitation".

唉，我们若真明白罪配得什么，就会更多惊叹神丰厚的赐予，而不是埋怨祂护理的手似乎太窄。我们若也思想，神并不欠我们什么；祂没有公义上的债，也没有感激我们的义务，必须赏赐我们任何本分，这就能医治我们的怨言！

Ah, did we but rightly understand what the demerit of
sin is, we would rather admire the bounty of God, than complain of the
straithandedness of Providence. And if we did but consider that there lies
upon God no obligation of justice or gratitude to reward any of our
duties, it would cure our murmurings!

基督和祂的益处，是不可分开、不可割裂的。许多人乐意领受祂的特权，却不肯领受祂自己；但这是不可能的。我们若要得其一，也必须接受其二。是的，我们必须先接受祂自己，然后才有祂的益处。婚约中如何，这里也是如何。

Christ and his benefits go inseparably and undividedly.
Many would willingly receive his privileges-who will not receive his
person; but it cannot be. If we will have one, we must take the other too,
Yes, we must accept his person first, and then his benefits. As it is in
the marriage covenant, so it is here.

基督带着君王的大能而来，要把罪人如猎物一般，从强暴者口中救出来。

Christ comes with kingly power to rescue sinners, as a
prey from the mouth of the terrible one.

我们一切的忧愁、缺乏和重担，祂都亲自感受，如同是祂自己的。因此才说，信徒的受苦称为基督的受苦。

He feels all our sorrows, needs, and burdens as his
own. That is why it is said that the sufferings of believers are called
the sufferings of Christ.

重生，是圣灵赐给灵魂那些超自然、属神、全新的品质；这些品质是一切圣洁行动的根源。

Regeneration expresses those supernatural, divine, new
qualities imparted by the Spirit to the soul, which are the principle of
all holy action.

在重生之工中，若没有基督的灵赐给一个灵魂，那灵魂就是死的；它一切的行为，也都是死行。

That soul is dead to which the Spirit of Christ is not
given in the work of regeneration-and all its works are dead works.

那些留心观察神护理的人，若清醒回想自己一生的遭遇，多少次会被神的护理折服，看明：倘若主把他们交给自己的计谋，他们多少次就会成了折磨自己的人，甚至成了自己的刽子手！

How often has providence convinced its observers, upon
a sober recollection of the events of their lives, that if the Lord had
left them to their own counsels-they had as often been their own
tormentors, if not executioners!

当神许可我们的缺乏增长到极处，一切看得见的指望都落空时，若那时奇妙地赐下救助，这样的怜悯就格外显为宝贵。

When our needs are permitted to grow to an extremity,
and all visible hopes fail-then to have relief given wonderfully
enhances the price of such a mercy.

神主权的恩典就在此显明：耶稣基督越过千千万万在恩赐和性情上比你更出众的受造者，从未向他们发出一次救恩的邀请，也从未转身去叩一次他们心门；但祂却来到你这里，来到你这最卑污、最低贱的受造者这里，并且若不达成祂此行的差事，就不肯离开你的心门！

Herein the
sovereign grace
of God appears-that
Jesus Christ passed by millions of creatures of more excellent gifts and
temperaments, and never makes them one offer of salvation-never turns
aside to give one knock at the door of their hearts. But He comes to

you
, the vilest and basest of creatures, and will not be gone from
your heart's door without His errand's end!

能看见至智慧的神如何在护理中掌舵，使万事驶向祂自己得赞美的港口，也驶向祂所赎百姓的福乐，这是何等大的喜乐！“我们晓得万事都互相效力，叫爱神的人得益处，就是按他旨意被召的人。”（罗8:28）

How great a pleasure is it to discern how the most wise
God is providentially steering everything to the port of His own praise,
and His redeemed people's happiness. "We know that God causes all things
to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called
according to His purpose!" Romans 8:28

信徒在世的生命，是劳苦与等候的生命。在天堂这一边，在完全享受神以前，他不该指望有安息或满足。江河若不倾入海的怀抱，就不能安息；照样，蒙更新的灵魂若不到神的怀抱里，也不能得安息！

The life of a believer in this world is a life of labor and expectation.
He must expect no rest or satisfaction on this side of Heaven, and the
full enjoyment of God. As the rivers cannot rest until they pour
themselves into the bosom of the sea-so neither can renewed souls find
rest until they come into the bosom of God!

哦，当你在任何本分中来到神面前时，要把你的心带到一旁，对它说：“我的灵魂啊，我如今正投身于受造者所能承担的最伟大之工；我正要进到神庄严的同在里，为着关乎永恒的重要事务来到祂面前！”

O when you go to God in any duty, take your
heart
aside, and say,
"O my soul, I am now addressing myself to the greatest work that ever a
creature was employed about-I am going into the solemn presence of God
about business of everlasting importance!"

每晚我们都当叫自己的心来交账，说：“我的心哪！你今天去了哪里？你的思绪在哪里游荡？顽劣的心哪！虚浮的心哪！你就不能停留在喜乐之泉旁边吗？与受造物同在，难道比与救赎你的神同在更有喜乐吗？”

We should call our hearts to account every evening, and say, "O my heart!
Where have you been today? Where have your thoughts been wandering? O

naughty
heart! O
vain
heart! Could you not abide by the
fountain of delights? Is there better pleasure with the creature, than
with your redeemer God?"

悔改的代价，绝不只是对罪说几句廉价的话！

Repentance will cost you more than a few cheap words against sin!

整个世界也不是一个足够大的舞台，能展示基督的荣耀，或展开隐藏在祂里面那测不透丰富的一半！我还能怎样述说基督呢？祂超绝的荣耀使人的领悟目眩，也吞没一切言语！

The whole world is not a theater large enough to display the glory of
Christ upon-or unfold the one half of the unsearchable riches which lie
hidden in Him! What shall I say of Christ? His excelling glory dazzles
apprehension, and swallows up all expression!

“你要保守你心，胜过保守一切。〔或作：你要切切保守你心〕因为一生的果效，是由心发出。”（箴4:23）

心是诸原则所居之处，也是诸行动涌出的泉源。神的眼目所注视的，基督徒的眼目也应当主要注视的，就是心。

归正中最大的难处，是把心赢归神。

归正后最大的难处，是使心常与神同在。

信仰最吃紧、最用力之处就在这里；通往生命的路之所以是小路，通往天堂的门之所以是窄门，也在这里。

在各种光景中保守并正确治理自己的心，是基督徒一生的大事！

“哦，愿我有一颗更圣洁的心！

哦，愿我有一颗更恨恶罪的心！

哦，愿我有一颗更爱神、与祂同行更亲近的心！

主啊，无论祢不给我什么，都不要不给我这样一颗心！

赐我一颗敬畏祢、爱祢、以祢为乐的心！”

"Guard your
heart
above all else-for it
determines the course of your life!" Proverbs 4:23

The heart is the seat of principles-and the fountain of actions. The eye
of God is, and the eye of the Christian ought to be-principally fixed
upon it.

The greatest difficulty
in
conversion-is to
win
the heart
to God.

The greatest difficulty
after
conversion-is to
keep
the
heart with God.

Here lies the very pinch and stress of religion; here is that that makes
the way to life a narrow way, and the gate of Heaven a straight gate.

The keeping and right managing of the heart in every condition-is the
great business of a Christian's life!

"Oh, for a holier heart!

Oh for a heart to hate sin more!

Oh for a heart to love God more-and to walk more closely with Him!

Lord, whatever you deny me-do not deny me such a heart!

Give me a heart to
fear
You,
love
You and
delight
in
You!"

惧怕是一种既会放大、又会折磨人的情感。惧怕把患难描绘得比实际更大，因此它折磨、撕扯灵魂，甚至比患难真正临到时更厉害！

Fear is both a multiplying and a tormenting passion.
Fear represents troubles much greater than they are, and so tortures and
wracks the soul much worse than when the suffering itself comes!

在逆境中，若思想神或许正借这些使你降卑的护理，成就你长久祷告、等候的事，这会大大扶持你的心。你还应为此烦扰吗？基督徒啊，你岂不是多次向神献上这样的祷告，求祂……

保守你远离罪；

向你显明受造物的虚空与不足；

杀死并治死你所宠爱的私欲；

使你的心除基督以外，在任何享受中都找不到安息？

如今，神也许正借这些使你降卑、使你贫乏的击打，成全你的祷告和愿望！

神施恩，照你所愿去行，难道还不够吗？你还要放肆到期望祂必须照你所规定的方式去行吗？

It would much support the heart under adversity, to
consider that God, by such humbling providences-may be accomplishing the
thing for which you have long prayed and waited. And should you be
troubled at that? Say Christian, have you not offered many prayers to God
such as these-that He would . . .

keep you from sin;

reveal to you the emptiness and insufficiency of the creature;

kill and mortify your darling lusts;

your heart may never find rest in any enjoyment but Christ?

Why now, by such humbling and impoverishing strokes-God may simply be
fulfilling your prayers and desires!

Is it not enough that God is so gracious as to do what you desire-but
must you be so impudent to expect He should do it in the way which you
prescribe?

要记得，这位将一切受造物都握在手中的神，正是你的父。祂眷顾你的心，比你自己所能有的眷顾更为温柔！

Remember that this God, in whose hand are all creatures-is your Father. He is much more tenderly concerned with you, than you are or can be over yourselves!

神虽然为自己保留了自由，可以在看为必要时使祂的百姓受苦；但祂也以应许约束了自己的手，绝不收回向他们所施的慈爱。

我的心哪，我这骄傲的心哪！神既把整棵树连同树上累累的安慰之果都赐给了你，只因祂容许风吹落几片叶子，你为何还要不满呢？祂若割断了自己的爱，或废去了与我灵魂所立的约，我的确有理由沮丧；但祂没有这样做，也绝不可能这样做。

「又要与他们立永远的约，必随着他们施恩，并不离开他们，且使他们有敬畏我的心，不离开我。」（耶利米书32:40）

Though God has reserved to Himself a liberty of
afflicting His people when He sees the necessity of it-yet He has tied
His own hands by promise, never to take away His loving-kindness from
them.

O my heart, my haughty heart! Why should you be discontented, when God has
given you the whole tree, with all the clusters of comfort growing on it-because He allows the wind to blow down a few leaves? Indeed, if He had
cut off His love, or discovenanted my soul-I would have had reason to be
cast down. But this He has not done-nor can He do it.

"I will make an everlasting covenant with them! I will never stop doing
good to them, and I will inspire them to fear Me, so that they will never
turn away from Me!" Jeremiah 32:40

我们里面诸般恩典的长进，取决于我们是否保守己心。我从未见过恩典能在疏忽、漫不经心的灵魂里兴旺。恩典的习性与根子栽在心里；它们在那里扎得越深，恩典就越发茁壮、越发繁茂。

一个人可以带着不经心的灵，从一个蒙恩之道走到另一个蒙恩之道，一生坐在最上好的教导之下，却从未因这些教导得着长进；因为忽略己心，就像船底有了漏洞！再丰厚的属天感化，也留不住在这样的灵魂里。

“你要保守你心，胜过保守一切。因为一生的果效，是由心发出。”（箴4:23）

The improvement of our graces, depends upon the keeping
our hearts. I never knew grace to thrive in a negligent and careless soul.
The habits and roots of grace are planted in the heart, and the deeper
they penetrate there-the more thriving and flourishing grace is.

A man may go with an heedless spirit from ordinance to ordinance, abide
all his days under the choicest teachings-and yet never be improved by
them; for heart neglect is a leak in the bottom! No heavenly influences
however rich, abide in that soul. "Guard your heart above all else-for
it determines the course of your life!" Proverbs 4:23

唉，有多少人坐着属世宴乐的车辇，平平顺顺被载向地狱；另有些人却被苦难的杖鞭策着，进了天堂！

O how many have been carried smoothly to Hell in the
chariots of earthly pleasures-while others have been whipped to Heaven
by the rod of affliction!

生命的蜡烛快要烧尽了！

时间的沙漏快要流完了！

再过极少的昼夜；然后，时间、黑夜和白昼都不再有了！

“求你指教我们怎样数算自己的日子，好叫我们得着智慧的心。”（诗90:12）

The candle of life is almost burnt down!

The hour-glass of time is almost run out!

Yet a very few more days and nights-and then time, nights and days shall
be no more!

"So teach us to number our days carefully-so that we may develop wisdom
in our hearts." Psalm 90:12

“耶和华必在你前面行。他必与你同在，必不撇下你，也不丢弃你。不要惧怕，也不要惊惶。”（申31:8）

神这份已经为你担保的看顾，就是护航你的队伍；它要一路陪伴你、保守你，直到看见你平安进入永恒安息的港口。

“我又赐给他们永生。他们永不灭亡，谁也不能从我手里把他们夺去。”（约10:28）

"The LORD Himself goes before you and will be with you!
He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid-do not be
discouraged." Deuteronomy 31:8

This care of God, thus engaged for you, is your convoy to accompany and
secure you until it sees you safe into your harbor of eternal rest.

"I give them eternal life, and they will never perish-ever! No one will
snatch them out of My hand!" John 10:28

怜悯与赦免，本就是为最大、最污秽的罪人预备，也赐给这样的人；为要把白白恩典的荣耀显得更高，推到极处。神特意拣选像你这样的罪人，为要在你身上，并借着你，显明祂恩典的荣耀。祂知道，你既蒙了这么多赦免，就必爱得多！

Mercy and pardon are designed for, and bestowed upon,
the greatest and vilest of sinners-to enhance and raise the glory of
free grace to the highest pitch. God picks out such sinners as you are, on
purpose to illustrate the glory of His grace in and upon you. He knows
that you, to whom so much is forgiven, will love much!

领受基督之义的信心，在强弱程度上可以大不相同；但所领受的义，临到一切信徒身上却是同等的。

一块金子在孩子手里，与在成人手里，价值同样不减。

哦，得救的信心何等宝贵！

The faith that receives the righteousness of Christ may
be very different in degrees of strength-but the received righteousness
is equal upon all believers.

A piece of gold is as much worth in the hand of a child, as it is in the
hand of a man.

O the exceeding preciousness of saving faith!

我们通常按各样护理对我们肉体的安逸与享乐有什么影响，来认定这些护理是好是坏。

We usually consider providences to be either good or
evil-by the effect that they have on the ease and pleasure of our flesh.

产业日渐加增，灵魂却死沉衰败；这样的安慰实在贫乏。

It is a poor comfort to have an increasing estate-and
a dead and declining soul.

对基督的认识虽不完全，只要是真叫人得救的认识，就必把我们带到天堂；但对祂的认识若不但能叫人得救，也日渐成熟，就会把天堂带进我们里面！

A saving, though an imperfect knowledge of Christ-will bring us to Heaven. But a mature, as well as a saving knowledge of
Him-will bring Heaven into us!

诚然，有些恶人死时似乎平安，有些敬虔人死时心里极其忧扰；然而二者都看错了。恶人错在他以为自己所处的光景是好的；敬虔人错在他以为自己表面看来不好的光景真是坏的。再过片刻，两边的误会都要澄清！

It is true, some wicked men die in seeming peace-and
some godly men die in great trouble of heart. But both are mistaken. The
wicked man errs, as to the good estate he imagines himself to be in; and
the godly man errs, as to his seeming bad estate.
A few moments will
clear up the mistake of both!

对圣徒而言，死亡是一扇门，他们借此进入对神的享受！临终的基督徒已经几乎到家了；再经过几阵疼痛与挣扎，他就来到神那里，在祂面前有满足的喜乐。我们从此岸解缆的同一天，就要登上那蒙福的彼岸，在那里永远看见并享受神。

Death, to the saints, is the door by which they enter
into the enjoyment of God! The dying Christian is almost at home, yet a
few more pangs and agonies, and then he is come to God, in whose presence
is the fullness of joy. The same day we loose from this shore-we shall
be landed upon the blessed shore, where we shall see and enjoy God
forever.

你要从死亡确定无疑这一点，学会看透受造界的虚空，也看透地上一切最好的事不过是空虚、无有！

Learn from the certainty of death-the vanity of the
creature, and the emptiness, and nothingness of the best things here
below!

人的心在重生以前是他最坏的部分，重生以后却成为他最好的部分。

The heart of man is his worst part before it is regenerate-and the best afterwards.

要记得，这位手中掌管一切受造物的神，是你的父；祂对你的关切，比你对自己的关切更温柔、更深切！“摸你们的，就是摸他眼中的瞳人。”（亚2:8）

Remember that this God, in whose hand are all
creatures, is your Father, and is much more tenderly concerned with you,
than you are or can be over yourselves! "He who touches you, touches the
apple of My eye!" Zechariah 2:8

你说：“我尽我所能了，却仍不能使我的心与神同在。”灵魂哪，若你果真尽了所能，纵然神看为美，叫你在心绪纷乱的苦楚中受操练，你仍有一颗正直之心的福分。最圣洁之人的思想和想象中，仍有一些罪性残留，为要使他们谦卑。

You say, do what I can, yet I cannot keep my heart with
God. Soul, if you do what you can-you have the blessing of an upright
heart, though God sees good to exercise you under the affliction of a
discomposed heart. There remains still some sinfulness in the thoughts and
imagination of the holiest men, to humble them.

当护理击打你的产业时，那些只在夏天作朋友的人，可能因怕你成为他们的累赘，就渐渐与你生分。但神也会这样吗？不，不会！“我总不撇下你，也不丢弃你。”诚然，若逆境和贫穷能拦你来到神面前，你的光景就可悲了；但你仍可以像从前一样，坦然自由地到神那里去。

When providence has blasted your estates, your summer
friends may grow strange towards you, as fearing you may be troublesome to
them. But will God do so? No, no! "I will never leave you, nor will I
forsake you!" Indeed if adversity and poverty could bar you from access to
God-it would be a sad condition; but you may go to God as freely as
ever.

你离祂的心太近，祂不会无端伤害你。最叫祂忧伤的，莫过于你对祂旨意那些无根据、也不配有的猜疑。一个忠心、心肠温柔的医生，已经仔细察看病人的病情，预备了最好的良药，要救他的性命；若只因药力发作使病人疼痛，就听见他喊：“唉，他害了我，他给我下了毒！”这岂不叫医生忧伤吗？

You lie too near His heart, for Him to needlessly hurt
you. Nothing grieves Him more-than your groundless and unworthy
suspicions of His designs do. Would it not grieve a faithful,
tender-hearted physician when he has studied the case of his patient, and
prepared the most excellent remedies to save his life-to hear him cry
out, "O he has undone me, he has poisoned me!"-because the operation
pains him?

要把这个伟大的真理安定在你们心里：临到你们的患难，没有一样不是出于你们救主神的许可。凡祂所许可的，到末了，祂必从其中为祂所救赎的百姓带出许多益处。

Settle this great truth in your hearts-that no
trouble befalls you, but by the permission of your Savior-God. He permits
nothing out of which He will not bring much good at last to His redeemed
people.

我承认，贫穷和兴盛一样，也有它的试探。然而我深信，兴盛并没有贫穷所具有的这些美好益处：在贫穷的光景中，当一切外在的吸引和推动都消失时，你若仍能靠祂而活，以祂为足，并恒常跟随祂，你就有机会显明你爱神的真诚。

I confess that
poverty
has its temptations as
well as prosperity. Yet I am confident that prosperity has not these
excellent advantages that poverty has: for in a state of poverty you have
an opportunity to discover the sincerity of your love to God, when you can
live upon Him, find enough in Him, and constantly follow Him-even when
all external inducements and motives fail.

身体一死，蒙恩的灵魂就被生命吞灭！你们一从此地的岸边解缆，你们的灵魂就要被天使的翅膀送过水面，抵达荣耀永恒的彼岸！

As soon as the body is dead, the gracious soul is
swallowed up in life! As soon as you have loosed from this earthly shore-your souls will be wafted over upon the wings of angels to the other shore
of a glorious eternity!

人的心是饥饿不安的，它总要有所取食。若它不能从神那里享受什么，就会到受造物中猎取些什么；在那里，它往往既迷失自己，也失去自己当奔向的终局。

没有什么比心在与神同行中所尝到的甘甜，更能使它恒常、平稳地与神同行。

The heart is a hungry and restless thing-it must have
something to feed upon. If it enjoys nothing from God-then it will hunt
for something among the creatures, and there it often loses itself, as
well as its end.

There is nothing more engages the heart to a constancy and evenness in
walking with God-than the sweetness which it tastes therein.

当解困之水渐渐低落，贫穷开始紧紧相逼时，连最好的心也多么容易不信那泉源！当坛里的面、瓶里的油快要用尽时，我们的信心和忍耐也几乎跟着用尽了。此时，要把那骄傲、不信的心压下去，使它在神脚前保持圣洁的安静与甘甜的降服，实在艰难。

我们粮仓满满、钱袋充足时，谈论为日用的饮食信靠神，是容易的事。但若像先知那样说：“虽然无花果树不发旺，葡萄树不结果，橄榄树也不效力，田地不出粮食，圈中绝了羊，棚内也没有牛。然而我要因耶和华欢欣，因救我的神喜乐。”这实在不容易！

When the waters of relief run low, and poverty begins
to pinch hard, how prone are the best hearts to distrust the fountain!
When the meal in the barrel, and the oil in the cruse, are almost spent-then our faith and patience are almost spent too. Now it is difficult to
keep down the proud and unbelieving heart in a holy quietude and sweet
submission at the foot of God.

It is an easy thing to talk of trusting God for daily bread-while we
have a full barn and purse. But to say as the prophet "Even though the fig
trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though
the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the
flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will
rejoice in the LORD! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation!"-surely this is not easy!

“你们祷告的时候，不可像那假冒为善的人，爱站在会堂里和十字路口上祷告，故意叫人看见。我实在告诉你们，他们已经得了他们的赏赐。你祷告的时候，要进你的内屋，关上门，祷告你在暗中的父，你父在暗中察看，必然报答你。”（太6:5-6）

在主面前，为我心中的败坏独自哀恸一小时，比花许多小时，以看似火热、实则死沉的方式尽那些平常的属灵本分，即便才干和恩赐发挥得极充分、装饰得极华美，对我的安慰更有分量。

基督正是借着这一点，分别出徒有形式的基督徒和真诚的基督徒。前者爱街市和会堂，爱人的注视和称赞；后者却是内室里的人。他所经营的是内室里的事务，是心里的事务。

"And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for
they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to
be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in
full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to
your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in
secret, will reward you." Matthew 6:5-6

It will signify more to my comfort to spend one solitary hour in mourning
before the Lord over my heart corruption, than many hours in a seeming
zealous, but really dead performance of common duties with the greatest
enlargements and richest embellishments of parts and gifts.

By this very thing, Christ distinguishes the formal and sincere Christian.
The one is for the street and synagogue, for the observation and applause
of men-but the other is a closet-man. He drives on a home-trade, a
heart-trade.

那么，千万不要因缺少那些人即便拥有、仍可能永远沉沦的东西而愁烦；倒要为那惟有天上所眷爱、所珍视的人才有的福分称颂神！

Never be troubled then for the lack of those things
that a man may have, and yet be eternally damned; but rather bless God for
that which none but the favorites and darlings of Heaven have!

不久，神就要给你灵魂一切的搅扰、挂虑和警醒守望，划上一个蒙福的终点。

那日子将到，你的心要成为你所愿它成为的样子；你要从这一切挂虑、惧怕和忧伤中被释放，再也不呼喊说：“我这刚硬、骄傲、虚浮、属地的心哪！”

那日子将到，一切黑暗都要从你的悟性中被驱逐；你要在神里面，就是在那真理的水晶海中，清楚看见一切真理。

那日子将到，一切虚妄都要从你的思想中被完全洁净出去；你的思想要永永远远、令人心醉、满有喜乐地被安置并运用于神至高的美善和无限的荣美之上。

God will shortly put a blessed end to all of your soul
troubles, cares, and watchings.

The time is coming, when your heart shall be as you would have it, when
you shall be discharged of all these cares, fears, and sorrows, and never
more cry out: "O my hard, my proud, my vain, my earthly heart!"

The time is coming, when all darkness shall be banished from your
understanding, and you shall clearly discover all truths in God, that
crystal ocean of truth.

The time is coming, when all vanity shall be purged perfectly out of your
thoughts-and they be everlastingly, ravishingly, and delightfully
entertained and exercised upon that supreme goodness, and infinite
excellency of God!

哀哉，我可怜的邻舍！他们中竟有这么多人最终必须灭亡吗？主啊，要用什么理由才能劝服人，叫他们愿意得着永远的福乐呢？

Alas for my poor neighbors! Must so many of them perish
at last? Lord, by what arguments shall people be persuaded to be
everlastingly happy?

没有一种教义，就其本身说，比耶稣基督并祂钉十字架的教义更卓越；也没有一种教义，比它更必须被传讲、被研读！

认识耶稣基督，是全部圣经的精髓与核仁，是一切神圣启示的旨归和中心！新旧两约都在基督里相会。

认识基督，既深且广。其他一切学问不过是影子；这却是无边无底的海洋！虽然关于基督的事不断被揭开，然而就是永恒本身，也不能把祂完全揭明。

哦，那么，就把你自己、你的时间、你的力量，都献上，完全投身于这最甘美、超越万有的研读吧！

There is no doctrine more excellent in itself, or more
necessary to be preached and studied-than the doctrine of Jesus Christ,
and Him crucified!

The knowledge of Jesus Christ is the very marrow and kernel of all the
Scriptures-the scope and center of all divine revelation! Both
Testaments meet in Christ.

The knowledge of Christ is profound and large. All other sciences are but
shadows-this is a boundless, bottomless ocean! Though something of
Christ is unfolded continually, yet eternity itself cannot fully unfold
Him.

O then devote and wholly give yourself, your time, your strength-to this
most sweet transcendent study!

贫寒的基督徒啊，你若认识耶稣基督，就已经知道足以安慰并拯救你灵魂的事。许多有学问的哲学家如今在地狱里，许多不识字的基督徒如今在天堂里！

Poor Christian, if you know Jesus Christ-then you
know enough to comfort and save your soul. Many learned philosophers are
now in Hell-and many illiterate Christians are now in Heaven!

我们既作新郎的朋友，蒙召就是要为基督追求并赢得人的灵魂，又要把祂一切吸引人的荣美陈明出来，使众心都被祂的美丽夺去，被引入祂慈爱的膀臂中。

It is our calling, as the Bridegroom's friends-to woo
and win souls to Christ, and to set Him forth in all His attractive
excellencies, that all hearts may be ravished with His beauty, and charmed
into His loving arms.

那篇最充满基督的讲道，就是最好的讲道。讲道的卓越，在于最清楚地显明耶稣基督，并最鲜活地应用耶稣基督。

That is the best sermon, which is most full of Christ.
The excellency of a sermon, lies in the plainest discoveries and liveliest
applications of Jesus Christ.

基督是天上最蒙喜悦的那一位！祂的形像印在你们灵魂上，祂的名在你们祷告里，就使你们的灵魂和祷告都蒙神悦纳。

Christ is the great favorite in Heaven! His image upon
your souls, and his name in your prayers, makes both accepted with God.

耶稣基督何等配得我们全部的爱与深情！你看，父以祂为无穷的喜乐，祂使神的心何等陶醉；难道祂不也该使我们的心陶醉吗？

凡肯观看祂、思想祂的灵魂，耶稣都能使他陶醉。巴不得你真看见这位可爱的主耶稣基督；那时，你必会因爱祂而相思成病！

既然惟有基督配得你宝贵的深情，你为何竟把它们挥霍在虚空之物上？你把宝贵的深情花在别的对象上，这岂不是拿金铲去挖渣滓吗？

巴不得我们的心、爱与喜乐，都在这位最蒙福的对象上，同神的心相遇，并以祂为中心！祂曾为你离开神的怀抱；你也当把祂拥入怀中！

How worthy is Jesus Christ of all our love and
affection! You see how infinitely the Father delights in Him, and how He
ravishes the heart of God-and shall He not ravish our hearts?

Jesus is able to ravish any soul that will but view and consider Him. O
that you did but see this lovely Lord, Jesus Christ-then you would be
love-sick!

Why do you lavish away your precious affections upon vanity-when none
but Christ is worthy of them? You spend your precious affections upon
other objects-what is this, but to dig for dross with golden shovels?

O that our hearts, loves and delights might meet and center with the heart
of God in this most blessed object! O let Him who left God's bosom for you-be embosomed by you!

困惑烦乱的基督徒若肯把目光从自己顺服中的缺欠，转向基督顺服的丰盛与完全，该是何等有福！即使他们在自己里面最为瘸腿、最有缺欠，也当看自己在基督里已经完全。

If puzzled and perplexed Christians would turn their
eyes from the defects that are in their own obedience, to the fullness and
completeness of Christ's obedience-how happy they would be! They should
view themselves as complete in Christ-when most lame and defective in
themselves!

基督既以你的益处为祂的目的，你也当以祂的荣耀为你的目的！

As your good was Christ's end-so let His glory be
your end!

整个福音都包含在耶稣这名里！

In the name Jesus, the whole gospel is contained!

要把你得救的一切荣耀都归给基督。祂既付上了全部的代价，理当得着全部的颂赞！

Let Christ have the whole glory of your salvation
ascribed to him. It is highly reasonable that He who laid down the whole
price-should have the whole praise!

别人在其他事上也许比你知道得更多；但你若以使人得救的知识认识耶稣基督，认识那在祂里面的真理，那么你这一滴知识，胜过他们整片学问的海洋。凭信心和祷告从基督怀中吸取的一项真理，胜过一万个枯干的观念！

Others may know more in other things than you-but if
you savingly know Jesus Christ, and the truth as it is in Him-then one
drop of your knowledge is worth a whole sea of their learning.
One
truth sucked by faith and prayer from the breast of Christ
-is better
than ten thousand dry notions!

读者啊，我请求你：你若是这群蒙赦免之人中的一个，就请回头看看那些已经注销的欠据，看看何等巨大的债额已为你免去。你所能做的，岂能少于俯伏在白白恩典的脚前，亲吻那双曾如此甘心走向你这卑劣罪人的脚吗？愿这些事甘甜地流入你的心，使它融化！

Reader, let me beg you, if you are one of this pardoned
number-to look over the cancelled bonds, and see what vast sums are
remitted to you. What can you do less than
fall down at the feet of
free grace
, and kiss those feet that moved so freely towards so vile a
sinner? O let these things slide sweetly to your melting heart!

你是否为自己的心刚硬、缺少对基督的爱而哀叹？请看祂怎样为你献给神；这样的景象，若世上还有什么能融化你的刚硬之心，就必是它。

Do you complain of the hardness of your hearts, and
lack of love to Christ? Behold him as offered up to God for you-and such
a sight (if any in the world will do it) will melt your hard hearts.

真诚地信靠主耶稣，比你一生所有的顺服、悔改，以及竭力遵行律法，更蒙神喜悦！

Sincere faith in the Lord Jesus-pleases God more than
all the obedience, repentance and strivings to obey the law through your
whole life can do!

那天上的乐园里，没有一条蛇发出嘶声！

No serpent hisses in that heavenly paradise!

在基督以外，人不可能成为任何真正合乎福音的善人，也不可能做出任何真正合乎福音的善事。

There is no possibility of being or doing anything that
is truly evangelically good-outside of Christ.

即使最优秀的人，在自己最圣洁的行动中也不能免于犯罪！

The best of men, cannot escape sin in their most holy
actions!

没有谁曾像基督那样爱人，也没有谁能这样爱人！祂对自己百姓的爱无可比拟！

None does, or can love like Christ! His love to His
people is matchless!

谁曾这样爱过，竟为仇敌舍下自己的性命！这爱无法言说，无法测透！祂身穿血染红衣时，这爱何等荣耀！

Who ever loved after this rate-to lay down his life
for enemies! O unutterable and inconceivable love! How glorious is love in
His red garments!

属肉体的心以报复为荣；蒙恩的心却以饶恕为荣。

A carnal heart glories in revenge.

A gracious heart glories in forgiveness.

要永远称颂主！祂救你脱离了你的罪；这事没有别的谁能为你成就，而祂在你以外，也只为少数人这样成就了。

Oh, forever bless the Lord, that has saved you from
your sins-which none else could do for you; and which He has done but
for few besides you.

人的灵魂在今生之后，果真要进入永恒的境况吗？那么现在的光阴何等宝贵，因为那永恒的境况取决于人怎样善用这光阴！

神竟把何等巨大的重量悬在一根细线上！神把我们安置在地上，使我们处于受试验的境况。这短短几小时怎样使用，我们的永恒就将怎样。你今生的每一天、每一小时，甚至每一刻，都影响着你的永恒。我们如此浪费光阴，足以表明我们对那伟大的永恒所知何等少。

Is there an eternal state into which souls pass after
this life? How precious then is the present time-upon the improvement
thereof, that state depends!

O what a huge weight has God hung upon a small wire! God has set us here
on earth, in a state of trial. According as we use these few hours-so
will it fare with us to all eternity. Every day, every hour, nay, every
moment of your present time-has an influence into your eternity. Surely,
our wastefulness in the expense of time-argues we have but little sense
of the great eternity.

教会墓地里的坟墓，长短各种尺寸都有！

There are graves in the church-yard of every length!

基督徒啊，地上的尘土若有一天真从你眼中吹去，使你看见神的荣耀，你会何等厌倦继续活着，又会何等甘愿离世！

O Christians, if the dust of this earth were but once
blown out of your eyes, that you might see the divine glory-how weary
would you be to live! How willing to die!

神在十字架上离弃耶稣，虽然只有几个小时，却等同于祂永远离弃你。

God's forsaking of Jesus on the cross, though but for a
few hours, is equivalent to his forsaking you forever.

基督与神的忿怒争战不过几个小时，就喊着说：「我渴了」；那么，那些必须永远与这忿怒搏斗之人的境况会怎样呢？千百万年过去以后，还有千千万万亿年接踵而来！

If Christ complained, "I thirst," when He had
conflicted but a few hours with the wrath of God-what is their state
then, who are to grapple with it forever? When millions of years are past
and gone-ten thousand million more are yet coming!

律法所要求的一切，基督都已完全偿付；罪人所需要的一切，也都已完全得着、完全买赎。基督所成就的，不能再加上什么。祂说「成了」的时候，便完成了最后一笔。

Whatever the law demanded-Christ has perfectly paid.
Whatever a sinner needs-is perfectly obtained and purchased. Nothing can
be added to what Christ has done. He put the last hand to it, when he
said,
"It is finished!"

要使这些骄傲的心单单靠基督得着义，实在是一件难事。神呼召罪人完全离开自己的义，惟独来到基督的义那里得称为义；祂这样做，确实是用最恰当的方法使骄傲的本性降卑。

O it is a hard thing to bring these proud hearts to
live upon Christ for righteousness. Certainly God takes the right way to
humble proud nature, in calling sinners wholly from their own
righteousness to Christ's for their justification.

在这个世界上，除了神，没有什么能使蒙恩的灵魂喜悦；当它离开这里时，除了神，也没有什么能使它满足。它如此热切渴慕的，不是自己将要前往之处的荣耀，而是住在那里的可称颂之神的怀抱。蒙恩的灵魂所渴望的，与其说是父的家，不如说是父的双臂和怀抱！

Nothing but God can please a gracious soul in this
world-and nothing but God can make it content when it goes hence. It is
not the glory of the place where the gracious soul is going-but the
bosom of the blessed God who dwells there, which it so vehemently pants
after.
The gracious soul does not so much desire the Father's house-but the Father's arms and bosom!

即使摆出千千万万个新造的、由天使和蒙拣选之人组成的世界，再把这数目加倍千千万万亿次；即使他们的心与舌，比那用六个翅膀侍立在祂面前的撒拉弗敏捷宽广一万倍——当他们为荣耀、颂赞主耶稣说尽一切之后，所说的仍然微乎其微，几乎等于没有说。

Set ten thousand thousand new-made worlds of angels and
elect men, and double them in number ten thousand thousand thousand times;
let their hearts and tongues be ten thousand times more agile and large
than the hearts and tongues of the seraphim that stand with six wings
before Him. When they have said all for the glorifying and praising of the
Lord Jesus-they have spoken little or nothing.

基督若活着，信徒就不能死。

If Christ lives-then believers cannot die.

基督的宝血是洗去罪污的惟一泉源；但借着这宝血的能力与功效，已经成圣的患难也能洁净、炼净我们。

Christ's blood the only fountain to wash away sin. But,
in the virtue and efficacy of that blood, sanctified afflictions are
cleansers and purgers too.

「这么大的救恩」（希伯来书2:3）！基督的救恩是奇妙的救恩。即便让天使挥笔，要写尽这救恩中的一切奇事，他的膀臂也会疲乏。神原可以任凭整个人类灭亡，然而祂心里竟定下这样的旨意，筹划这样一个恩典的计划，实在令人惊叹。这些奇事，需要用整个永恒去寻究、惊叹并敬拜！

"Such a great salvation!" Hebrews 2:3. Christ's
salvation is a wonderful salvation. It would weary the arm of an angel to
write down all the wonders that are in this salvation. It is astonishing
that ever such a design should be laid, such a project of grace contrived
in the heart of God-who might have allowed the whole species to perish.
These are such wonders as will take up eternity itself to search, admire,
and adore them!

基督若曾受死，使神与人和好，那么罪是何等可憎的恶！罪使神与受造物之间裂开何等可怕的破口；除了神儿子的死以外，竟没有别的方法可以弥合！

If Christ died to reconcile God and man-then how
horrid an evil is sin! And how terrible was that breach made between God
and the creature by it-which could no other way be made up but by the
death of the Son of God!

要省察你与基督的关系。你是祂的新妇吗？你是否为祂撇下一切？无论亨通还是逆境临到，你是否预备好与祂同受一切？

Examine your relation to Christ. Are you His spouse?
Have you forsaken all for Him? Are you ready to take your lot with Him-as it falls in prosperity or adversity?

「可以得着不能朽坏、不能玷污、不能衰残、为你们存留在天上的基业。」（彼得前书1:4）要惊叹基督的爱！耶稣为你预备这样的基业，祂的爱何等炽热、何等热烈！众圣徒都当在这爱面前惊讶俯伏，谦卑承认：无论现在的自己，还是自己在永恒里所是、所有的一切价值，全都亏欠于这爱！

"We have a priceless inheritance-an inheritance that
is kept in Heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change
and decay!" 1 Peter 1:4. Admire the love of Christ. O how intense and
ardent was the love of Jesus-who designed such an inheritance for you!
Before this love, let all the saints fall down astonished, humbly
professing that they owe themselves, and all that they are, or shall be
worth, to eternity-to this love!

请想象：基督坐在荣耀的宝座上，四围有无数大群天使；一个可怜的不信者站在审判台前战兢；他的内心与一生受到精确的查验；可怕的判决宣告了，随后一声哀号响起；基督把他交给执行永远报应的刑吏，使他从此永远、永远再也看不见一线盼望或怜悯！

Imagine Christ upon His glorious throne, surrounded
with myriads and legions of angels-with a poor unbeliever trembling at
the bar; an exact scrutiny made into his heart and life; the dreadful
sentence given; and then a cry; and then His delivering him over to the
executioners of the eternal vengeance-never, never, to see a glimpse of
hope or mercy any more!

切莫容许今世的琐事，抹去死亡、审判和永恒在你心中留下的印记。

O do not allow the trifles of time-wipe off the
impressions of death, judgment, and eternity from your heart.

神安排你的贫穷，使它成为毒药，治死你的骄傲。

God orders your poverty, to be as poison to kill your
pride.

跪着研读的人，必成为最好的教师！

He will make the best teacher-who studies on his
knees!

一个小小的罪，就能夺去基督徒极大的安慰！

A little sin may rob a Christian of a great deal of
comfort!

福音向你所要求的，只有悔改与信心。君王赦免一个叛徒，却要求他跪下，甘心而感恩地伸手领受赦免；你能认为这样的要求苛刻吗？

The gospel requires nothing of you but repentance and
faith. Can you think it hard when a prince pardons a rebel-to require
him to fall upon his knees, and stretch forth a willing and thankful hand
to receive his pardon?

可称颂的耶稣啊！除了你自己大爱的力量，没有什么能把你从那满有喜乐的怀抱中吸引出来，使你为可怜的罪人受这么多苦。惟有爱最能吸引爱。基督被举在十字架上时，向罪人显明祂大爱的力量，何等荣耀！人以为，这样的爱足以从罪人胸中最刚硬的心里吸引出爱来。这里有神圣之爱的凯旋、丰富与荣耀；世上从未显出过这样的爱。在它以前，没有爱能与它相比；在它以后，也不会再有这样的爱出现。

Blessed Jesus! nothing but the strength of Your own
love, could ever have drawn You out of that bosom of delights-to suffer
so many things for the sake of poor sinners. There is nothing like love,
to draw love. When Christ was lifted up upon the cross He gave such a
glorious demonstration of the strength of His love to sinners, as one
would think should draw love from the hardest heart that ever lodged in a
sinner's breast. Here is the
triumph
, the
riches
and

glory
of divine love-never was such love manifested in the world.

Before
it was none like it-and
after
it shall none appear
like unto it.

义务不能使我称义，眼泪不能洗净我，改过自新也不能救我；惟有你的义能救我。我像一个贫穷、赤身的受造者来到你面前。我到耶稣那里去；即使灭亡，我也要在那里灭亡！

Duties cannot justify me, tears cannot wash me,
reformation cannot save me. Nothing but your righteousness can save me. I
come to you as a poor, naked creature. To Jesus I go-and if I perish, I
perish!

基督把自己完全赐给你，也期望你同样把自己完全献给祂。要交出一切，否则你从祂那里什么也得不着！「这样，你们无论什么人，若不撇下一切所有的，就不能作我的门徒。」（路加福音14:33）我若是属于主的，我的光阴、才干和一切所有，就都是祂的！

Christ bestows Himself wholly upon you-and He expects
the same from you. Give up all-or you will get nothing from Him! "Any of
you who does not give up everything he has, cannot be My disciple." Luke
14:33. If I am the Lord's-then my time, my talents, and all that I have
are His!

神在恩典中，使祂的百姓看见那不可见的世界，叫灵魂重新苏醒；若没有这样的看见，这世界对我们便会成为地牢！

God in His grace, gives His people soul-reviving sights
of the invisible world-without which this world would be a dungeon to
us!

一座城里若只有一个泉源，别处连一滴水也找不到，那么全城居民都会到那里取水。

同样，在神的整座城里也只有一个泉源，就是基督！在别处连一滴义、圣洁、力量或安慰也得不到！信徒一切鲜活的泉源都在基督里面。

If there is but one fountain in a town, and not a drop
of water to be had elsewhere-then all the inhabitants of that town would
resort there for water.

In the same way, in the whole city of God there is but one fountain, and
that is Christ! There is not a drop of righteousness, holiness, strength
or comfort to be had elsewhere! All the believer's fresh springs are in
Christ.

神的恩典，是格外充盈的恩典。海洋中的水、太阳里的光，都不及神向忧伤痛悔、贫穷的罪人所怀的恩典和怜悯那样丰盛！

The grace of God is a superabounding grace. Waters do
not so abound in the ocean, nor light in the sun-as grace and compassion
do in the affections of God towards broken-hearted and poor sinners!

我们来到基督面前，所需要的不过是对罪有这样的认识和忧伤：使我们从心里甘愿接受基督，并同意福音将祂赐给我们时所定的条件！

Nothing is required of us in our coming to Christ-but
such a sense of, and sorrow for sin, as makes us heartily willing to
accept Christ, and subscribe the terms on which he is offered in the
gospel!

你从前的卑劣和如今的不配，都不能拦阻你领受基督的义！「我来本不是召义人悔改，乃是召罪人悔改。」（路加福音5:32）

Your former vileness and present unworthiness can be no
bar to receiving Christ's righteousness! "I have not come to call the
righteous, but sinners to repentance." Luke 5:31-32

他们通往天国的道路，要经过许多患难。我们被基督拯救以后，并非一切苦难都已结束；不，往往正是在那时，我们最大的外在苦难才开始！「我将这些事告诉你们，是要叫你们在我里面有平安。在世上，你们有苦难。但你们可以放心，我已经胜了世界。」（约翰福音16:33）

Their way to Heaven lies through much tribulation. All
our troubles are not over when we are saved by Christ; nay, then commonly
our greatest outward troubles begin! "Here on earth you will have many
trials and sorrows." John 16:33

一位从天而来的君王竟要来与你一同坐席吗？祂以赦免、平安和圣灵里的喜乐喂养你的灵魂，并应许把将来荣耀中无价的基业赐给你吗？那么，你生活的层次就比周围任何属肉体的人都更高贵。

Will a king from Heaven come and sup with you? Does He
feed your soul with pardon, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, and promise
a priceless inheritance of future glory? Then you live at a higher and
nobler rate than any of your carnal neighbors do.

真正的敬虔固然不容我们享受任何罪中之乐，却满有一切属灵的喜乐。

你为了罪中那些轻浮虚妄的快乐，竟使自己的灵魂失去耶稣基督永远的安慰；那些快乐何等微不足道！的确，你不能再享受罪中之乐；但你所得到的，却是与神和好、圣灵里的喜乐，以及直到永远坚实的安慰！

Religion indeed denies us all sinful pleasure-but it
abounds with all spiritual pleasure.

What light and vain things are all those pleasures of sin, for the sake
whereof you deprive your souls of the everlasting comforts of Jesus
Christ! It is true, you shall have no more pleasure in sin-but instead
of that, you shall have peace with God, joy in the Holy Spirit, and solid
comforts forevermore!

基督徒啊，当你与人交谈时显出从天上来的喜乐和属灵气质，使人看出你曾与耶稣同在，这是何等甘甜！

It is sweet, Christian-when the heavenly cheerfulness
and spirituality of your conversations with men, shall convince them that
you have been with Jesus!

最常与神相交的人，最像神。

Those are most like God-who converse most frequently
with Him.

凡与基督联合的人，都必须以一生与祂相交来显明这联合；否则，我们自称与祂联合，便是虚妄而没有根据的。

All
union
with Christ-must evidence itself by
a life of
communion
with Him, or our pretensions to it are vain and
groundless.

要倾吐你一切的愁苦，还有什么出口比祷告更甘甜呢？祷告会使你在世上一切的劳苦和忧愁都变得甘甜。

What sweeter outlet and vent to all your troubles can
you find, than prayer? This would sweeten all your labors and sorrows in
the world.

主在祷告中所看重的，不是口才。你支离破碎的言语，甚至你的呻吟叹息，比世上一切的雄辩更蒙祂喜悦！

The Lord does not regard eloquence in prayer. But your
broken expressions, yes, your groans and sighs-please Him more than all
the eloquence in the world!

我们以受造之物为乐、对它有所期待到什么程度，与它分离时的忧伤和失望也就到什么程度！

According to the measure of our delight in, and
expectation from
the creature
-is our sorrow and disappointment
when we part from it!

即使你陷入所能临到你的最深困境，神那特别而满有恩典的同在仍与你同在。

The special gracious presence of God is with you-in
the deepest plunges of distress which can befall you.

一个灵魂的价值，胜过世上一切的身体！

One soul is of more value than all the bodies in the
world!

哪一个商人不肯拿几磅玻璃珠去换一吨黄金？哪一个人不肯舍弃几件闪亮的廉价玩具，去换取同样数目的贵重钻石？

What merchant will not part with a few pounds of glass
beads-for a ton of gold? What man will not part with a few tinsel toys,
for as many rich diamonds?

在亚当里，所有人都遭了船难，被抛弃了！基督是从天上放下的怜悯木板，要救起其中一些人！

In Adam, all were shipwrecked and cast away! Christ is
the
plank of mercy
, let down from Heaven to save some!

道成肉身的神，是全世界的奇观！在这里：有限与无限联合为一；永恒与时间彼此相接；创造主与祂所取的人性在一个位格里联合！

An
incarnate God
is the world's wonder! Here is
. . .

finite and infinite joined in one;

eternity matched with time;

the Creator and creature making but one person!

耶稣爱你、拣选你，肯定不是因为你比别人更好，而只是因为祂爱你。

Surely Jesus did not set His love upon you, nor choose
you, because you were better than others-but because He loved you.

神的称许，无限胜过人在生前或死后所能享有最荣耀的名声。

The approbation of God is infinitely better than the
most glorious name among men, before or after death.

至高的神不受任何方法和媒介的限制。

The Most High God is not limited by means.

「祂为我们舍了自己，要赎我们脱离一切罪恶，又洁净我们，特作自己的子民，热心为善。」（提多书2:14）

唉，基督的目的并不是为祂的百姓买来一种享受地上安逸的感官满足；祂的目的是：救赎你脱离一切罪孽，除净你的败坏，使你的本性成圣，使你的心断绝对这虚空世界的贪恋，好叫你更加热切地渴慕叹息，等候那为神子民存留的安息。

"He gave Himself for us-to redeem us from all
wickedness and to purify for Himself a people that are his very own, eager
to do what is good." Titus 2:14

Alas, it was not Christ's intent to purchase for His people a sensual
contentment in the enjoyment of earthly comforts. It was His intent to . .
.

redeem you from all iniquity,

purge your corruptions,

sanctify your natures,

wean your hearts from this vain world-that you might the more ardently
pant and sigh after the rest which remains for the people of God.

一个人的恩典不因财富而减少、黯淡，才必须承认他在恩典上实在富足。

That man must be acknowledged to be very rich in grace-whose grace suffers no diminution or eclipse by his riches.

走向毁灭最短的路，就是丢弃祷告。

The most compendious way to ruin, is to cast off
prayer.

神要人借着祷告，从祂那里求得一切。

God will have everything fetched from Him by prayer.

罪的种子岂能结出平安与安慰的庄稼？

Can the
seed of sin
, bring forth a crop of peace
and comfort?

没有基督的人有充分的理由惧怕死亡；他们死去的日子，就是他们永远败亡的日子！

然而，基督徒若惧怕死亡就很奇怪，因为死亡将成为他们何等亲密的朋友。

你怕什么呢？

怎么，你害怕到基督那里去吗？

你害怕自己过早脱离罪和患难吗？

Christless people have a great deal of reason to fear
death. Their dying day-is their eternal undoing day!

But for Christians to fear death, is strange-considering how great a
friend death will be to them.

What are you afraid of?

What, are you afraid to go to Christ?

Are you afraid to be freed of sin and affliction too soon?

想到我们中间成千上万的家庭只不过是地狱的育儿室，实在令人战兢。父母正在替魔鬼养育儿女！在这些家中，除了亵渎和不敬的话以外，听不见神的一句话。他们无知邪恶的教养，何其自然地把儿女推进世界的航道与潮流，使他们无法抗拒地被冲往地狱！

「我眷顾他，为要叫他吩咐他的众子和他的眷属，遵守我的道，秉公行义，使我所应许亚伯拉罕的话都成就了。」（创世记18:19）

It is of trembling consideration, how many thousands of
families among us are mere nurseries for Hell. The parents are breeding up
children for the devil! There is not one word of God (except it be in the
way of blasphemy, or profaneness) to be heard among them. How naturally
their ignorant and wicked upbringing puts their children in the course and
tide of the world, which carries them away irresistibly to Hell!

"For I have chosen him, so that he will direct his children and his
household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing what is right and
just" Genesis 18:19

是谁使我与别人不同？我怎么竟蒙了如此奇妙的拯救？我今日成了何等人，肯定全是出于神白白的恩典，此外别无原因！

Who made me to differ? How did I come to be thus
wonderfully saved? Surely, it is by God's free-grace, and nothing else,
that I am what I am!

眼下，我们在患难、惧怕和试探的海洋上颠簸；但这一切会使天国更加甘甜。我的灵魂哪，要振作起来！如今你的救恩比初信的时候更近了。再过短短几天，你长久等候、渴慕的那蒙福之日就要来到。

「于是王要向那右边的说：『你们这蒙我父赐福的，可来承受那创世以来为你们所预备的国。』」（马太福音25:34）

At present
we are tossed upon an ocean of troubles,
fears, and temptations
-but these will make Heaven all the sweeter.
Cheer up, then, O my soul, your salvation is now nearer than when you
first believed! Yet a few more days-and then comes that blessed day you
have so long waited and panted for.

"Then the King will say to those on His right: Come, you who are blessed
by My Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since
the creation of the world!" Matthew 25:34

重生并不使我们免受患难；不过，这些患难会成为圣洁、甘甜之物，并转为我们的福分。

Our new birth does not free us from troubles-though
they be sanctified, sweetened, and turned into blessings to us.

新的本性，必结出新的言语和行为！

A new nature, will produce new words and actions!

服事基督，就是完全的自由！

Christ's service is perfect freedom!

一种疾病若轻蔑医治它的良药，便已无可救药！

Desperate is that disease, which scorns the remedy!

神赐你身体，难道只是要它成为过滤饮食的筛子吗？

Did God give you a body-to be but as a strainer for
foods and drinks?

有一位基督徒母亲，她心爱的独子病势危险，濒临死亡；她当时所作的回答十分美好。

朋友问她：「关于你的孩子，你现在会向神求什么？你会求祂保全孩子的性命吗？」

母亲回答：「我把这事交给神的旨意。」

朋友又说：「但神若把这事交给你决定，你会怎样选择呢？」

她说：「说实话，神若把这事交给我，我还会把它交还给祂！」

It was an excellent reply that a Christian mother once
made-when her beloved and only child lay in a dangerous sickness at the
point of death.

The friend asked the mother, "What would you now ask of God, in reference
to your child? Would you beg Him for your child's life?"

The mother answered, "I refer that to the will of God."

"But," said her friend, "if God would refer it to you-what would you
choose then?"

"Why truly," said she, "if God would refer it to me-I would refer it
back to Him again!"

接受主作我们的神，实质上就包含接受祂作我们至高的福分！

To take the Lord for our God-essentially includes our
taking Him for our supreme good!

天上永恒之事既安然无损，只因地上的安逸可能失去便垂头丧气、浑身战兢，就好像一个人已从君王那里得到赦书，安稳地藏在怀中，却因回家途中丢了一只手套而哭泣。

To droop and tremble at the hazard of earthly comforts,
while heavenly and eternal things are safe-is as if a man that had
gotten his pardon from the king, and had it safe in his bosom, should be
found weeping upon the way home, because he has lost a glove.

除神以外，你所倚靠的一切都会挪移！

Everything you lean on beside God, will shift!

神作工时，祂的力量没有丝毫耗损。

In God's working, there is no expense of His strength.

我确实相信，基督徒在世上所享最甘甜的时辰，就是他们退入内室，隐藏在那里，不让任何眼目看见，只让创造他们的主看见；他们一会儿查看圣经，一会儿察看自己的心，继而仰望神！

I truly believe that the sweetest hours Christians
enjoy in this world, are when they retire into their closets, and sit
there concealed from all eyes-but Him who made them; looking now into
the
Bible
, then into their own
hearts
, and then up to

God!

凡从神得着怜悯、体恤和赦免的人，应当比世上任何人都更乐意向人显出这些恩惠。

Those who have found mercy, pity and forgiveness from
God-should of all men in the world, be most ready to show it.

基督徒即使身处严峻的外在患难，仍能有说不出来的喜乐！

Christians may have joy unspeakable, amidst severe
outward troubles!

可怜的人哪！巴不得你们有一次真正知道圣洁的生活和献身于神究竟是什么！那时，你们为了享受这些福分，会何等甘心、喜乐地把罪中一切污秽的快乐践踏在脚下！

Poor men! O that you did but once know what the life of
holiness, and dedication to God is! How willingly and joyfully would you
trample all the sordid pleasures of sin under your feet, to enjoy them!

信心使祷告有生命，祷告又使信心增长。

Faith animates prayer-and prayer increases faith.

信心小小的双臂所紧抱、所拥入怀中的，是何等富足伟大的一位！

How rich and great a Person-do the
little arms of
faith
clasp and embrace!

感官生活的一切乐趣、你的私欲曾给你的一切快乐，若与那最纯净、最可喜泉源的水晶溪流相比，不过像腐败池塘里发臭的污水，蟾蜍正在其中鼓噪产卵！

All the delights in the sensual life, all the pleasure
that ever your lusts gave you-are but as the putrid stinking waters of a
corrupt pond, where toads lie croaking and spawning-compared to the
crystal streams of the most pure and pleasant fountain!

灵魂永远不会厌倦研究基督或爱慕基督，因为新的奇事永远从祂里面涌现。祂是无法测量的深渊；无论天使还是人，一切被造理性的准绳都测不到祂的深处！

Souls never tire in the study or love of Christ,
because new wonders are eternally rising out of him. He is a deep-which
no line of any created understanding, angelical or human, can fathom!

治死罪与恩典的生命之间，有着亲密而不可分解的联系。那么，在治死罪这件事上，人必能寻见何等如同天国降在地上的福乐！基督徒啊，你一生的安宁和安慰，确实都有赖于此。

There is an intimate and indissoluble connection
between the mortification of sin-and the life of grace. What a Heaven
upon earth must then be found in mortification! Certainly Christians, the
tranquility and comfort of your whole life depends upon it.

一个人在着火的房屋里沉睡；吞噬一切的烈焰已经环绕他，他的想象却仍在某个美梦中嬉戏。这正是未重生之灵魂极其生动的写照。

A man is fast asleep in a house on fire-and while the
consuming flames are round about him, his imagination is sporting itself
in some pleasant dream. This is a very vivid emblem of the unregenerate
soul.

一切属肉体、未重生之人的欢笑宴乐，何等没有根据、何等不合情理！他们在监牢里大摆筵席，在锁链中翩翩起舞！

How groundless and irrational is the mirth and jollity
of all carnal and unregenerate men! They feast in their prison-and dance
in their fetters!

神是一切真安慰的泉源。受造之物，即使其中最好、最甘甜的，也不过是蓄水池，承接并输送神乐意传给它们、再由它们传给我们的安慰。

God is the fountain of all true comfort. Creatures, the
very best and sweetest-are but cisterns to receive, and convey to us
what comfort God is pleased to communicate to them.

良心在地上本该成为约束罪人的辔头，后来却要成为罪人的鞭子，在地狱里抽打他的灵魂。

Conscience, which should have been the sinner's curb
here on earth, becomes the sinner's whip that will lash his soul in Hell.

你们听过这么多关于基督的事，也曾如此多地承认基督；但愿神不容你们最后落入比那些从未听过基督之名的人更加悲惨的境况。

God forbid that you that have heard so much of Christ,
and you who have professed so much of Christ, should at last fall into a
worse condition than those that never heard the name of Christ.

人接待客旅，有时会不知不觉接待了天使；可是人接纳陌生的教训，许多人竟不知不觉接待了魔鬼！

By entertaining of strangers, men sometimes entertain
angels unawares: But by entering of strange doctrines, many have
entertained devils unaware!

圣经是神寄给我们的情书；祷告是我们寄给祂的情书。

The Bible is a love letter, which God has sent to us. Prayer is a love letter, which we send to Him.

没有圣经的人，就像没有罗盘的船。

A man without Scripture, is like a ship without a compass.

夏娃不是从亚当的头上取出来，好居于他之上；也不是从他的脚下取出来，任他践踏；而是从他的肋旁取出来，与他平等，在他的臂下受他保护，靠近他的心而蒙他爱惜。

Eve was not taken out of Adam's head to top him, neither out of his feet to be trampled on by him—but out of his side to be equal with him, under his arm to be protected by him, and near his heart to be loved by him.

我们对人的指望，再低也不为过；对神的指望，再高也不为过！

We cannot expect too little from man—nor too much from God!

一件反复浸染、染了又染的衣裳，必长久保持颜色；一项常常默想的真理，也是如此。

A garment that is double dyed, dipped again and again—will retain the color a great while. Just so will a truth which is the subject of meditation.

一生用来事奉神、与祂相交，是人在这世上所能度过的最甘美的一生。

A life spent in the service of God and communion with Him is the most pleasant life that anyone can live in this world.

借着本性的光，我们看见神是在我们之上的神；借着律法的光，我们看见祂是与我们为敌的神；但借着福音的光，我们看见祂是以马内利，是与我们同在的神。

By the light of nature—we see God as a God above us, by the light of the law—we see Him as a God against us, but by the light of the gospel—we see Him as Emmanuel, God with us.

那位喂养飞鸟的，绝不会让自己的儿女挨饿。

He who feeds His birds, will not starve His babes.

不愿吃禁果的人，就不可走近那棵禁树。

Those who would not eat the forbidden fruit, must not come near the forbidden tree.

每一样受造之物对我们如何，全在乎神使它成为何物：或是安慰，或是十字架；或是福分，或是咒诅。

Every creature is to us what God makes it—a comfort or a cross, a blessing or a curse.

你若能找到一个活着却不呼吸的人，也就能找到一个属神却不祷告的人。

You may as soon find a living man without breath, as one of God's people without prayer.

圣经是神寄给我们的书信；祷告是我们寄给祂的书信。

The Bible is a letter God has sent to us. Prayer is a letter we send to Him.

自称信奉真道之人的贪爱世界和三心二意，最容易使信仰遭仇敌毁谤。

Nothing exposes religion more to the reproach of its enemies—than the worldliness and half-heartedness of its professors.

本性得一点就知足；恩典所得更少也知足；私欲却永不知足！

Nature is content with little; grace is content with less; lust is content with nothing!

跟从基督的人，不能指望在世上所得的待遇胜过他们的主。

Christ's followers cannot expect better treatment in the world than their Master had.

无论我们手中拥有这世界的什么，都必须谨慎，不让它进入心里，免得横在我们与基督之间。

Whatever we have of this world in our hands, our care must be to keep it out of our hearts—lest it come between us and Christ.

格外的苦难，不一定是格外之罪的刑罚；有时却是对格外恩典的试炼。

Extraordinary afflictions are not always the punishment of extraordinary sins—but sometimes the trial of extraordinary graces.

神定意向祂的百姓大施怜悯时，首先使他们祷告。

When God intends great mercy for his people—He first of all sets them praying.

说是一回事，做又是另一回事。

Saying and doing are two things.

我们应当谨防骄傲；正是这罪使天使变成了魔鬼！

We should take heed of pride—it is the sin that turned angels into devils!

来，看十字架的得胜！基督的创伤，是你的医治；祂的剧痛，是你的安息；祂的争战，是你的胜利；祂的呻吟，是你的诗歌；祂的疼痛，是你的安舒；祂的羞辱，是你的荣耀；祂的死，是你的生命；祂所受的苦，是你的救恩！

Come, and see the victories of the cross! Christ's wounds—are your healings, His agonies—are your repose, His conflicts—are your conquests, His groans—are your songs, His pains—are your ease, His shame—is your glory, His death—is your life, and His sufferings—are your salvation!

神照自己的形像造人，是祂赐给人的最大尊荣；人照自己的形像塑造神，是人加给神的最大羞辱。

It was the greatest honor God did to man—that He made man in His own image. It is the greatest dishonor man has done to God—that he has made God in his own image.

弟兄相爱，仍是每一个真基督徒与众不同的标记。

Brotherly love is still the distinguishing badge of every true Christian.

和睦是如此宝贵的珍宝；除了真理，我愿付出一切来换取它。

Peace is such a precious jewel—that I would give anything for it but truth.

神若不是你最好的朋友，就是你最可畏的仇敌。

God is either your best friend—or your worst enemy.

凡不付诸实行的知识，都是虚空而无果效的。

Knowledge is vain and fruitless—which is not reduced to practice.

财富带着重担：获取时有忧虑，保守时有惧怕，使用时有试探，滥用时有罪责，失去时有忧伤，到了末了，还要为它郑重交账！

There is a burden of . . . care in getting riches; fear in keeping riches; temptation in using riches; guilt in abusing riches; sorrow in losing riches; and a solemn account at last to be given concerning riches!

在基督以外，神是烈火；在基督里面，神是已经和好的父。

Out of Christ, God is a consuming fire—but in Christ, God is a reconciled Father.

我们所受的试探，只要没有向它屈服，就不是罪，而只是苦难。

Our temptations, if not yielded to, are not sins; they are afflictions only.

罪是灵魂的病痛、疾病和折磨！基督来除去罪，从而医治灵魂。

Sin is the sickness, disease, and torment of the soul! Christ came to take away sin, and so to heal the soul.

人可以游手好闲地走向地狱；但要往天国去的人，必须殷勤。

A man may go idle to Hell—but he who will go to Heaven, must be diligent.

渴慕恩典与圣洁的完全，以此为目标，并竭力向它直奔，是基督徒的本分。

It is the duty of Christians to desire, and aim at, and press towards perfection in grace and holiness.

骄傲是一种隐秘的罪；我们还未察觉，它就已潜入敬虔的本分之中。

Pride is a subtle sin—it creeps into our pious duties, before we are aware.

神若没有把祂百姓所求的赐给他们，是因为祂知道他们并不需要，而且那事对他们没有益处。

If God does not give his people what they ask for, it is because He knows they do not need it, and that it is not for their good.

即使最富有的人，每日的饮食也仍欠着神怜悯的恩债。

The richest of men are indebted to the mercy of God for their daily bread.

我们不能改变神护理的安排，因此必须谦卑顺服，把自己交托于祂的安排。

We cannot alter the disposals of Providence, therefore we must humbly submit and resign ourselves to them.

罪责无论多大，基督的宝血都有救治之方，能为它赎罪；败坏无论多强，祂的恩典都有救治之方，能将它制伏。

No guilt is so great, but there is a remedy in Christ's blood which atones for it. No corruption is so strong, but there is a remedy in his grace which can subdue it.

凡与基督一同渡过这世界之海的人，都必须预备迎接风暴。

Those who are passing with Christ over the ocean of this world, must expect storms.

蒙福的耶稣成就救赎，其重大旨意就是使我们的心与罪分离。

The great intention of the blessed Jesus in the redemption he wrought, is to separate our hearts from sin.

福音的恩典能医治每一处创伤，也能救治每一种疾病。没有一种属灵的疾病，是基督的大能不能医治的。

In the grace of the gospel there is a salve for every sore and a remedy for every malady. There is no spiritual disease, but there is power in Christ for the cure of it.

不与神和好的人，怎能有平安呢？

What peace can they have—who are not at peace with God?

我们拥有真理的最好凭据，就是我们行在真理中。

The best evidence of our having the truth—is our walking in the truth.

基督徒啊！请思想：你在这世上所遭遇的试炼与患难、灾祸与苦楚、十字架与损失，就是你此生此后所要承受的全部地狱之苦！

Christian! Consider that the trials and troubles, the calamities and miseries, the crosses and losses that you meet with in this world—are all the Hell that ever you shall have!

即使最好的人里面，也有一切罪的种子，包括最卑劣、最可恶之罪的种子！

There is the seed of all sins—the vilest and worst of sins—in the best of men!

谁若玩弄撒但的诱饵，很快就会被撒但的钩子钩住！

He who will play with Satan's bait—will quickly be taken with Satan's hook!

主啊，求祢救我脱离那个恶人，就是我自己！

Deliver me, O Lord, from that evil man—Myself!

最小的罪中所含的恶，也大过最大的苦难。

There is more evil in the least sin—than in the greatest affliction.

最圣洁的人，总是最谦卑的人。

The most holy men are always the most humble men.

神自己拥有一切的大能来保护你，一切的智慧来引导你，一切的怜悯来赦免你，一切的恩典来使你丰盛，一切的义来给你披戴，一切的美善来供应你，也拥有一切的福乐来给你加冕！

God has in Himself . . . all power to defend you, all wisdom to direct you, all mercy to pardon you, all grace to enrich you, all righteousness to clothe you, all goodness to supply you, and all happiness to crown you!

世上曾有过的最猛烈、最炽热之火，与地狱之火相比，也不过是冰！

The greatest and the hottest fires that ever were on earth are but ice—in comparison to the fire of Hell!

世俗的快乐，在追逐时仿佛实在；一旦享用，却不过是浮云。

Worldly pleasures seem solid in their pursuit—but are mere clouds in the enjoyment.

传道人的生活应当成为他所传教义的注解；他的实行应当与他的讲章彼此相称。属天的教义，总要以属天的生活为妆饰！

A preacher's life should be a commentary of his doctrine. His practice should be a counterpart of his sermons. Heavenly doctrines should always be adorned with a heavenly life!

南北两极即使能够相遇，爱基督与爱世界也不能相容。

The two poles could sooner meet—than the love of Christ and the love of the world.

蜜蜂并不是碰一下花朵就采到蜜，乃是停留在花上，才吸出其中的甘甜。同样，最卓越、最温厚、最有智慧、最刚强的基督徒，不是读得最多的人，而是默想得最多的人！

It is not the bee's touching of the flower that gathers honey—but her abiding for a time upon the flower that draws out the sweet. It is not he who reads most—but he who meditates most—who will prove to be the choicest, sweetest, wisest and strongest Christian!

走向天国的第一步，就是看见自己已在地狱近旁！

The first step toward Heaven—is to see ourselves near Hell!

属世之人为了得到今生虚空的事物，为了得到这世界贫乏的东西，竟付出何等劳苦；然而这些不过是影儿、梦境，纯属虚无！

What labor and pains worldlings take to obtain the vain things of this life—to obtain the poor things of this world, which are but shadows and dreams, and mere nothings!

基督是可爱的，基督是极其可爱的，基督是最可爱的，基督永远可爱，基督全然可爱！「他全然可爱。这是我的良人，这是我的朋友。」（雅歌 5:16）

Christ is lovely, Christ is very lovely, Christ is most lovely, Christ is always lovely, Christ is altogether lovely! "Yes, He is altogether lovely! This is my Beloved, and this is my Friend!" Song of Songs 5:16

没有什么罪是小罪，因为人所得罪的神绝不是渺小的。

There is no little sin—because there is no little God to sin against.

恩典与荣耀相差无几：一个是种子，另一个是花朵；恩典是争战中的荣耀，荣耀是得胜的恩典。

Grace and glory differ very little. The one is the seed—the other is the flower. Grace is glory militant—glory is grace triumphant.

你必须与世界分离，否则你永远不能与基督相遇。

The world and you must part—or Christ and you will never meet.

苦难不过是通往我们父家的一条幽暗门廊！

Afflictions are but as a dark entry into our Father's house!

祷告无非是把主的灵先吹入我们里面的，再在主面前呼出来。

Prayer is nothing but the breathing that out before the Lord—what was first breathed into us by the Spirit of the Lord.

神所看的，不是你祷告的辞令，看它多么优美；不是你祷告的几何，看它多么冗长；不是你祷告的算术，看它数目多少；也不是你祷告的逻辑，看它多么有条理；祂所看的是祷告是否真诚。

God looks not . . . at the oratory of your prayers—how elegant they may be; nor at the geometry of your prayers—how long they may be; nor at the arithmetic of your prayers—how many they may be; not at logic of your prayers—how methodical they may be; but He looks at the sincerity of them.

撒但应许最好的，却用最坏的偿付！它应许尊荣，偿付的却是羞耻；应许快乐，偿付的却是痛苦；应许益处，偿付的却是损失；应许生命，偿付的却是死亡。但神怎样应许，就怎样偿付；祂所偿付的，全是纯金！

Satan promises the best—but pays with the worst! He promises honor—and pays with disgrace. He promises pleasure—and pays with pain. He promises profit—and pays with loss. He promises life—and pays with death. But God pays as He promises—all His payments are made in pure gold!

罪在恶人里面，好像毒液在蛇里面，正处在与它本性相称的地方。

Sin in a wicked man is like poison in a serpent—it is in its natural place.

一生中看似最甜美的罪，临死时必显为最苦涩！

Those sins that seem most sweet in life—will prove most bitter in death!

人怎样看重基督，就怎样顺服基督；绝不会超过这个程度。

Every man obeys Christ as he prizes Christ, not otherwise.

最好的传道人，不是搔动人耳朵的人，而是击碎人刚硬之心的人！

He is the best preacher—not who tickles the ear, but who breaks the heart!

悔改是灵魂把罪呕吐出来。

Repentance is the vomit of the soul.

真正的悔改绝不会太迟；但迟来的悔改，却很少是真实的。

Though true repentance is never too late—yet late repentance is seldom true.

圣徒在外面遭受苦难最重时，里面往往长进得最多。苦难是德行之母。

Saints thrive most internally—when they are most externally afflicted. Afflictions are the mother of virtue.

多少衣袍华美的人，里面的灵魂却已褴褛不堪！

How many threadbare souls, are to be found under silken cloaks and gowns!

罪在眼中是恶，在舌头上更恶，在心里更加恶；但在生活中活出罪来，最为恶劣！

Sin is bad in the eye, worse in the tongue, worse still in the heart—but worst of all in the life!

人在信靠基督以前，即使最好的服事，也不过是披着华美外衣的罪。

Until men have faith in Christ—their best services are but glorious sins.

神在祂百姓跪下时，把乐园中最美、最甜的花赐给他们。祷告是天国的门，是让我们进入乐园的钥匙，是灵魂的避难所，是献给神的祭，也是鞭打魔鬼的鞭子。

The best and sweetest flowers of paradise, God gives to His people when they are upon their knees. Prayer is . . . the gate of Heaven, a key to let us into paradise. a shelter to the soul, a sacrifice to God and a scourge to the Devil.

人所倚靠的，只要不是神，至终都要成为利箭，把他的心刺透。惟独倚靠基督的人，所过的生活才最高超、最美好、最安稳、最甘甜。

Everything that a man leans upon but God—will be a dart that will certainly pierce his heart through and through. He who leans only upon Christ—lives the highest, choicest, safest, and sweetest life.

懒散的生活与圣洁的心，彼此矛盾。

An idle life and a holy heart is a contradiction.

地上的财富有三件事永远做不到：它永远不能满足神的公义，永远不能平息神的忿怒，也永远不能使负罪的良心得安宁。这三件事若没有成就，人就彻底灭亡了。

There are three things that earthly riches can never do: they can never satisfy divine justice, they can never pacify divine wrath, nor can they every quiet a guilty conscience. And until these things are done—man is undone.

在风暴中，没有什么避难所能与神翅膀的荫下相比。

In a storm there is no shelter like the wings of God.

隐而未现的罪，通常藏在最贴近人心之处。

Secret sins commonly lie nearest the heart.

向较小的罪让步，就是为犯更大的罪开路。

The giving way to a less sin, makes way for the committing of a greater sin.

冷淡的祷告，还未到达天上，总会先结成冰。

Cold prayers always freeze before they reach Heaven.

圣经是为我们开启乐园的金钥匙！

The Scriptures are the golden key that unlocks paradise to us!

天国以下，没有什么值得我们把心系在其上！

Nothing below Heaven is worth setting our hearts upon!

常存谦卑，认识自己的过错，这会使你怜悯别人。

Keep up a humble sense of your own faults—and that will make you compassionate to others.

你若有什么足以自夸，要记得那并不属于你，而是神赐给或借给你的；祂尤其恨恶骄傲！

If you have anything to be proud of, remember that it is not your own, but has been given or lent to you by God, who especially hates pride!

在必要的事上合一，在非必要的事上自由，在一切事上以爱相待。

Unity in things necessary, Liberty in things unnecessary, and Charity in all things.

太多传道人外表属天，实则属地；太多人传讲上面的事，心里所念的却是下面的事；太多人呼吁别人定世界的罪，自己却把世界当作偶像。

Too many preachers are earthly, who seem to be heavenly. Too many mind the things below, while they preach the things above. Too many idolize the world, while they call men to condemn it.

罪与地狱绝不能分开。

There is no separating sin and Hell.

你向百姓说话，要把他们看作非醒悟不可的人；若不在此时醒悟，就要在地狱里醒悟！我们必须把真理牢牢拧进人的心思！

Speak to your people as to men who must be awakened—either here or in Hell! We must screw the truth into men's minds!

还有谁比骄傲的人更为自己而活、更少向神而活呢？我们的职责正是教导百姓舍己与谦卑这门大功课；那么，我们自己若骄傲，是何等不相称！我们必须像竭力学习怎样把道讲好一样，竭力学习怎样把生活过好。

Does any man live more to himself, or less to God—than the proud man? Our very business is to teach the great lesson of self-denial and humility to our people—and how unfit is it then, that we should be proud ourselves! We must study as hard how to live well—as how to preach well.

我们最看重什么，就会认为为得着它付上任何辛劳都不算太大。

What we most value—we shall think no pains too great to gain.

自我是世上最诡诈的仇敌，也是最善于潜入人心的骗子！在一切恶习之中，它最难被察觉，也最难被医治。

Self is the most treacherous enemy, and the most insinuating deceiver in the world! Of all other vices—it is both the hardest to find out, and the hardest to cure.

基督徒啊，要鼓起勇气！时候将近，那时你与神的亲近，要达到你所能渴望的地步。你必住在祂的家中！那时你有喜乐而无忧愁，有安息而无疲倦！

Be of good cheer, Christian, the time is near, when God and you shall be as near as you can desire. You shall dwell in His family! You shall then have joy without sorrow, and rest without weariness!

你们要谨慎自己，免得你们的榜样与教义相矛盾，免得你们的生活否定舌头所说的话，以致自己成为妨碍劳苦见效的最大阻力！

Take heed to yourselves, lest your example contradict your doctrine—lest you unsay with your lives, what you say with your tongues, and be the greatest hinderers of the success of your own labors!

人若还没有因自己的罪深深降卑，就会为一种私欲、一点属世的利益、一个比虚无还不如的东西，舍弃基督和救恩！但神一旦光照他们的良心，破碎他们的心，他们就愿用整个世界来换取基督！

Until men are deeply humbled for their sin—they can part with Christ and salvation for a lust, for a little worldly gain, for that which is less than nothing! But when God has enlightened their consciences, and broken their hearts—then they would give a world for Christ!

神的心既如此眷顾我们，我们的心岂不理当专注于祂吗？主啊，我降服了；祢的爱已经完全征服我！

Is it but right that our hearts should be on God—when the heart of God is so much on us! Lord, I surrender—I am completely overcome by your love!

我认为，爱神与舍己，就是一切使人得救的恩典和真信仰的总纲。

I take the love of God and self-denial—to be the sum of all saving grace and religion.

在伊甸那最初的乐园里，有路可以出去，却没有路可以再进去；但在属天的乐园里，有路可以进去，却没有路可以再出去。

In our first paradise in Eden, there was a way to go out—but no way to go in again. But as for the Heavenly paradise, there is a way to go in—but no way to go out.

在世上一切讲道中，我最恨恶这样的讲道：它使听众发笑，用轻浮逗趣来搅动他们的心，像戏台表演那样感染他们，却不以对神圣洁的敬畏感动他们。

Of all the preaching in the world—I hate that preaching most, which tends to make the hearers laugh, or to move their minds with tickling levity and affect them as stage play does—instead of affecting them with a holy reverence for God.

你首要研究的，应当是自己的心：使神的形像栽种在其中，使祂的权益在其中兴盛，使肉体被制伏，使对每一种罪的爱都被赶出去，使对圣洁的爱得着滋养。基督徒首要而重大的工作，是关乎自己的心。「你要保守你心，胜过保守一切，因为一生的果效，是由心发出。」（箴言 4:23）

See that your chief study is about your heart—that there . . . God's image may be planted, and His interest advanced, and the flesh subdued, and the love of every sin cast out, and the love of holiness be nourished. The first and great work of a Christian is about his heart. "Keep your heart with all diligence—for out of it spring the issues of life!" Proverbs 4:23

我的一生若是短暂，迎接无穷的荣耀时，我又何必忧伤呢？

If my life is short—then why should I be sad to welcome endless glory?

既是真基督徒，却不谦卑，这是自相矛盾的。

It is a contradiction to be a true Christian—and not humble.

我讲道时，从不以为自己还有下一次；仿佛一个将死的人，向一群将死的人说话！

I preached as never sure to preach again—as a dying man to dying men!

仅仅懒散度日、忘记神，就足以使一个灵魂与天国隔绝，正如亵渎、放荡、体贴肉体的生活一样确凿！

Mere idleness and forgetting God, will keep a soul as certainly from Heaven, as a profane, licentious, fleshly life!

苦难能这样抽开人心的门闩，使圣道更容易进入。

Suffering so unbolts the door of the heart—that the Word has easier entrance.

不要以自己处在蒙恩的光景中为满足；还要留心，使你们所得的恩典不断活泼有力地操练，并且在把所预备的讲章传给别人以前，先向自己传讲。

Do not content yourselves with being in a state of grace—but be also careful that your graces are kept in vigorous and lively exercise, and that you preach to yourselves the sermons which you study—before you preach them to others.

一句骄傲、无恩的话，一场不必要的争竞，一个贪婪的举动，都可能割断许多讲章的咽喉，摧毁你一切工作的果效！

One proud, ungracious word, one needless contention, one covetous action—may cut the throat of many a sermon, and blast the fruit of all that you have been doing!

你若首先求神喜悦，并以此为满足，就只须讨一位的喜悦，不必讨众人的喜悦；许多主人总比一位主人更难取悦。

If you seek first to please God and are satisfied therein—you have but one to please instead of multitudes. A multitude of masters are harder to please than one.

你若爱基督，就会恨恶那使祂受死的罪；你若爱祂，就会喜爱被塑造成祂的样式，也会恨恶一切与祂相悖的事。

Love Christ—and you will hate that which caused His death. Love Him, and you will love to be made like Him—and hate that which is so contrary to Him.

不要把光阴浪费在肤浅、软弱、琐屑的书上。要谨慎选择所读的书，并且总让圣经居首位。

Do not waste your time on light, weak, trivial books. Make careful choice of the books which you read—and let the holy Scriptures ever have the preeminence.

要围困你的罪，断绝维持它生命的粮食和燃料，使它饿死。你拖延得越久，罪就越强壮、越根深蒂固。嫩枝时你若不能把它弯下，长成大树以后又怎能弯得动呢？

Lay siege to your sins, and starve them out by keeping away the food and fuel which is their maintenance and life. The longer you delay, the more your sin gets strength and rooting. If you cannot bend the twig—how will you be able to bend it when it is a tree?

不要把时间用在任何这样的事上：你知道日后必须为它悔改；你不能为它求神赐福；临终躺在床上回顾时，你的良心不能安宁；死亡若在你正做这事时忽然临到，你也不愿自己被发现正在做它！

Spend your time in nothing which . . . you know must be repented of; you might not pray for the blessing of God; you could not review with a quiet conscience on your dying bed; you might not safely and properly be found doing if death should surprise you in the act!

但愿你使用光阴，常想到审判之日将怎样为它交账！

O spend your time as you would account of it in the day of Judgment!

圣洁无非是让灵魂、身体、生活和我们所有的一切，惯常而居首位地归向神、献给神；又是在肉体和世界一切的快乐与亨通之先，尊神为大，爱祂、事奉祂、寻求祂。

Holiness is nothing else but the habitual and predominant devotion and dedication of soul, and body, and life, and all that we have to God; and esteeming, and loving, and serving, and seeking Him, before all the pleasures and prosperity of the flesh and the world.

若有医生因为怕打扰病人，竟任凭他死去，这医生就是愚昧的；若有朋友如此行，他就是最不忠诚的朋友。同样，我们若宁愿让朋友安安静静地走向地狱，也不愿惹他们生气，或冒着失去友谊的危险，就是残忍的恶人。

He is a foolish physician, and a most unfaithful friend—who will let a sick man die for fear of troubling him. In the same way, we are cruel wretches to our friends—if we will rather allow them to go quietly to Hell—than anger them, or hazard our friendship with them.

祷告是基督徒维系生命的呼吸。

Prayer is the vital breath of the Christian.

读圣经以前和以后，都要恳切祷告，求那默示圣经的圣灵为你解释，使你不陷于不信和谬误，并引导你进入真理。

Before and after you read the Scripture, pray earnestly that the Spirit who wrote it may interpret it for you, keep you from unbelief and error, and lead you into the truth.

在这个可怜的世界里，要保守纯正的悟性、敏锐的良心、活泼而满有恩典的属天心灵，以及正直的生活，就像在狂风暴雨中保住一支不熄灭的蜡烛一样艰难。

It is as hard a thing to maintain a sound understanding, a tender conscience, a lively, gracious, heavenly spirit, and an upright life—in this poor world—as to keep your candle lit in the midst of a great storm.

使人有智慧、敬虔所必需的，不是读许多书，而是把少数几本书读好。

It is not the reading of many books which is necessary to make a man wise or godly—but well reading of a few.

教堂墓园是给万事标出真实价值的市集；临近那里的人，谈起世界及其虚空，会显出从前没有的智慧。

The churchyard is the market place where all things are rated at their true value—and those who are approaching it, talk of the world and its vanities with a wisdom unknown before.

基督教圣经是如此深邃：即使我从童年直到衰朽的老年，专心研读它而不做别事，怀着最不疲倦的热忱，并拥有超过我现有的才干，我仍会天天在发掘其中的宝藏上不断长进！

Such is the depth of the Christian Scriptures, that even if I were attempting to study them and nothing else from early boyhood to decrepit old age, with the most unwearied zeal, and talents greater than I have—I would be still daily making progress in discovering their treasures!

救主从未被赐给魔鬼，你却蒙赐得着一位救主；难道你仍轻看祂吗？

The devils never had a Savior offered to them—but you have; and do you yet make light of Him?

福音是神的心意印在纸上！

The gospel is God's heart in print!

一本以神为作者的书，必定值得一读！

That book must be worth reading—that has God for the author!

只要你仍把那些撕裂基督之心的罪搂在怀里，就不要说自己爱基督！一个孩子若偏偏保留刺死母亲的那把刀，还喜欢拿来使用，岂不是怪事吗？

Do not say that you love Christ, so long as you can lay those sins in your bosom—which plucked His heart out of His bosom! It were strange if a child should keep, and delight to use, no other knife but that with which his mother was stabbed to death!

罪中之乐必然短暂，因为人生不可能长久；人生结束时，罪中之乐也一同结束。

The pleasures of sin must needs be short, because life cannot be long—and they both end together.

你一停止祷告，就会开始犯罪。祷告不只是求得怜悯的途径，也是防止犯罪的途径。

Cease to pray—and you will begin to sin. Prayer is not only a means to prevail for mercy—but also to prevent sin.

离弃罪，就是离开它，不在心里保留任何重返其中的念头。

To forsake sin, is to leave it without any thought reserved of returning to it again.

羊可能跌进沟里，猪却要在泥中打滚！务要谨防故意所犯的罪！

The sheep may fall into a ditch—but it is the swine that wallows in it! Take heed of deliberate sins!

「以自己为老师的人，必定拜了一个愚昧人为师！」

"He who is his own teacher, is sure to have a fool for a master!"

在一切尚未落入地狱的人中，最可怜的莫过于悬在地狱口上，却丝毫不怕自己危险的人。

Of all men out of Hell, none more to be pitied than he who hangs over the mouth of it, and yet is fearless of his danger.

基督徒应当舍弃世界属肉体的欢娱享乐，免得不敬虔的人说：「这些基督徒也是从我们的池子里汲取快乐！」

A Christian should deny himself of the world's carnal joys and delights, lest the ungodly say, "These Christians draw their joy out of our cistern!"

得着神眷爱的人，绝不会缺少祂膀臂的扶助！

He who has God's heart—cannot lack His arm!

邪恶的心不可能对那使他受苦的神存正确的意念。

It is impossible for an evil heart, to think well of an afflicting God.

「朋友加的伤痕出于忠诚；仇敌连连亲嘴，却是多余。」（箴言 27:6）神所加的伤能医治；罪所献的吻却杀人。

"Faithful are the wounds of a friend—but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful." Proverbs 27:6 God's wounds cure—sin's kisses kill.

我们如此惧怕人，是因为我们太不敬畏神。

We fear men so much—because we fear God so little.

没有什么比属地的心更与属天的盼望相悖。

Nothing is more contrary to a heavenly hope—than an earthly heart.

谦卑是遮盖其他一切恩典所不可少的帕子。

Humility is a necessary veil to all other graces.

若不是要擦去深深嵌在我们本性里的污垢，神不会擦得这样用力。神如此喜爱洁净，以致祂宁可看见儿女的衣裳磨出破洞，也不愿看见上面留下污点。

God would not rub so hard—if it were not to fetch out the dirt that is ingrained in our natures. God loves purity so well—that He had rather see a hole than a spot in His child's garments.

绝不可冒险走近罪所居住的门口，免得被它拖进去！

Never venture near the door where sin dwells—lest you are dragged in!

你若不敢追求圣洁，以此证明自己的属天家世，就不要说自己是从神生的！

Do not say that you are born of God—if you can not prove your pedigree by daring to be holy!

要在外在感官四周严加守卫，因为这些是撒但登陆之处，尤其是眼睛和耳朵。

Set a strong guard about your outward senses—these are Satan's landing places, especially the eye and the ear.

基督徒必须与怀中的罪展开不可调和的争战；那些从前最贴近他内心的罪，如今必须被他践踏在脚下！

The Christian is to prosecute an irreconcilable war against his bosom sins. Those sins which have lain nearest his heart—must now be trampled under his feet!

要让你对天国的盼望胜过对死亡的惧怕。你既盼望借着死进入生命，为什么还怕死呢？

Let your hope of Heaven, master your fear of death. Why should you be afraid to die—who hope to live by dying!

教师所犯的罪，会成为教人犯罪的教师！

The sins of teachers—are the teachers of sin!

知道一项真理是一回事，亲身经历它又是另一回事。

It is one thing to know a truth, and another thing to experience it.

神的道极其神圣，讲道极其庄严，绝不可拿来嬉戏玩弄。

The Word of God is too sacred a thing, and preaching too solemn a work—to be toyed and played with.

不要看基督徒怎样起步，要看他怎样走到终点。

Look not how the Christian begins, but ends.

盼望以里面的喜乐和安慰充满受苦的灵魂，使他眼中含泪仍能欢笑，也能在同一口气息里既叹息又歌唱。

Hope fills the afflicted soul with such inward joy and consolation, that it can laugh while tears are in the eye. It can both sigh and sing in the same breath.

神亲自担保你的争战，并已立自己的儿子作「救恩的元帅」。

God Himself underwrites your battle and has appointed His own Son 'the captain of your salvation'.

神容许我们拥有财物，是让我们使用，不是让我们滥用。想从财物中挤出它原本没有的东西，乃是徒劳。轻轻挤压母牛的乳房，会流出甘甜、滋养而使人舒畅的奶；但不断加大力气，并不会挤出更多。我们若对物质之物期望过多，反会失去它们本有的益处。越是竭力用地上的财物取悦自己的人，从中所得的满足越少。

The possessions God allows us to have are intended for our use, not our abuse. Trying to squeeze something out of them that was never in them in the first place—is a futile endeavor. A cow's udders, gently pressed, will yield sweet milk, nourishing and refreshing. Applying more and more pressure will not produce greater quantities of milk. We lose the good of material things—by expecting too much from them. Those who try hardest to please themselves with earthly goods—find the least satisfaction in them.

忠信的祷告从来不会失落。有些祷告的航程比别的祷告更长，但它们最后回来时，所载的货物也更加丰盛；因此，祷告的灵魂在等候答复中反而得益。

Never was a faithful prayer lost. Some prayers have a longer voyage than others—but then they return with their richer lading at last, so that the praying soul is a gainer by waiting for an answer.

我们得称为义，不是因把什么献给神，而是因从神领受基督为我们所成就的。

We are justified, not by giving anything to God—but by receiving from God, what Christ has done for us.

胆怯的人从未赢得天国。除非你敢于不顾世人和魔鬼而追求圣洁，否则不要声称自己是从神生的，有祂君王的血脉流在里面。

Cowards never won Heaven. Do not claim that you are begotten of God and you have His royal blood running in your veins—unless you dare to be holy in spite of men and devils.

在天上，我们出现时不再穿军装，而要穿荣耀的袍子；但在地上，我们昼夜都必须穿着军装，行走、作工、睡卧都不可卸下，否则就不是基督真正的精兵。

In Heaven we shall appear, not in armor—but in robes of glory. But here on earth, armor is to be worn night and day; we must walk, work, and sleep in them, or else we are not true soldiers of Christ.

即使神似乎隐藏自己，基督徒仍必须信靠祂。

The Christian must trust in a withdrawing God.

真正激怒地狱的，是神的形像在你身上反照出来；鬼魔最猛烈的兵器，正是朝这形像投掷。

It is the image of God reflected in you that so enrages Hell; it is this at which the demons hurl their mightiest weapons.

要以经解经。错误的教义像虚假的见证人，彼此不能吻合。

Compare Scripture with Scripture. False doctrines, like false witnesses, agree not among themselves.

神爱圣徒，因为他们是用祂儿子的血买来的；祂为他们付了重价。付出如此代价所得的，绝不会轻易失去。那位甘愿付出祂儿子的血来得着他们的神，绝不会吝惜自己的大能，不去保守他们。

God loves the saints as the purchase of his Son's blood—they cost him dearly. That which is obtained by such great expense—shall not be easily lost. He who was willing to expend His Son's blood to gain them—will not deny His power to keep them.

基督徒是由圣道生养的，也必须靠圣道得喂养。

The Christian is bred by the Word—and he must be fed by it.

软弱的孩子，比强壮的孩子更常坐在父亲怀里。

The weak child is oftener in the father's lap—than the strong one.

「约旦河算什么，我为什么要在其中沐浴？讲道又算什么，我所听见的不过都是从前知道的，为什么还要去听？」这岂不是一个忘记蒙恩之道由谁设立的灵魂，心中所发的议论吗？

What is Jordan that I should wash in it? What is the preaching that I should attend on it, while I hear nothing but what I knew before? Are not these the reasonings of a soul that forgets who appoints the means of grace?

圣经是田地，基督这颗重价的珠子就藏在其中！

Scripture is the field in which Christ, the pearl of great price, is hidden!

每一颗心里，都有每一种罪的种子！

The seed of every sin -- is in every heart!

圣经中既有浅滩，也有深潭。

浅处羔羊可以涉水，深处大象可以畅游！

In the divine Scriptures, there are shallows and there are deeps.

Shallows where the lamb may wade -- and deeps where the
elephant may swim!

从来没有哪一刻，比神的儿子亲自肩负罪担之时，更显出罪是何等可憎、何等邪恶！那么，你要看见罪真正当受何等刑罚吗？就从基督的十字架来衡量吧！

Never was sin seen to be more abominably sinful, than when the burden of
it was upon the shoulders of the Son of God! Would you, then, see the true
demerit of sin? Take the measure of it from the cross of Christ!

圣洁的生活并不排除试探。我们说一棵树扎根坚固，并不是说风从来不吹在它身上。

A holy life does not exclude temptations. When we say a tree is firmly
rooted--we do not say the wind never blows upon it.

凡为神而做、或因顺服祂而做的事，都绝不会失落。

Nothing shall be lost -- which is done for God or in obedience to Him.

罪看似最安静的时候，恰是它最不安分的时候。

Sin is never less quiet--than when it seems to be most quiet.

神能使我灵魂干旱焦渴之地成为清凉的水池；祂能使我饥渴荒芜的心成为涌流的泉源。是的，祂能使我的心，就是这群龙盘踞、充满可憎私欲和火热试探的住处，为祂成为丰饶、结果累累之地！

God can make the dry parched ground of my soul--to become as a refreshing
pool. He can make my thirsty barren heart--to become as springs of water.
Yes he can make my heart--this habitation of dragons which is so full of
abominable lusts and fiery temptations--to be a place of bounty and
fruitfulness unto Himself!

我要把自己一切的思想和愿望，都专注在基督的荣耀上。我越看见基督的荣耀，世上那些涂饰的美丽在我眼中就越发凋残，我也越向这世界被钉十字架。世界对我将像死去腐烂之物一样，叫我再也无法从中取乐。

I would fix all my thoughts and desires on Christ's glory. The more I see
of the glory of Christ--the more the painted beauties of this world
will wither in my eyes--and the more I will be crucified to this
world. It will become to me like something dead and putrid, impossible for
me to enjoy.

小看罪的人，从来不曾高看神。

He who has slight thoughts of sin--never had great thoughts of God.

撒但最大的诡计，就是使人以为自己离死还早，有的是时间可以考虑永恒的福祉。

Satan's greatest strategy, is in making people think they have plenty of
time before they die to consider their eternal welfare.

牧者首要的本分，就是殷勤传讲圣道，喂养群羊。

The first and principal duty of a pastor--is to feed the flock by
diligent preaching of the Word.

照着所当祷告的来祷告的人，也会竭力照着自己所祷告的来生活。

He who prays as he ought--will endeavor to live as he
prays.

我们都承认自己正往天国、不朽和荣耀而去。然而，如果我们全部的思想都耗在这世界的琐事上，就是那些我们非留下不可的事物上，而对上面的事只是偶尔想起，那么有什么证据表明我们真的渴望到那里去呢？

We all profess that we are bound for Heaven, immortality and glory.
But is there any evidence that we really desire to go there--if
all our thoughts are consumed about the trifles of this world, which we
must leave behind us--and we have only occasional thoughts of things
above?

只要我们还在世上，内住的罪就始终存在，因此也必须始终将它治死。你在治死罪吗？你把这当作每天的工作吗？务要治死罪，否则罪就要治死你！

Indwelling sin always abides while we are in this world--therefore it is
always to be mortified. Do you mortify sin--do you make it your daily
work? Be killing sin--or it will be killing you!

基督以祂所救赎的百姓为极大的喜乐，他们也以祂为极大的喜乐。

Christ greatly delights in His redeemed people--and they greatly delight
in Him.

基督的宝血，是医治患罪病之灵魂那至高无上的良药！

Christ's blood is the great sovereign remedy for sin-sick souls!

当祂那无法言喻的大爱使我们陷入圣洁的惊叹时，我们与基督最为亲近！

We are never nearer Christ--than when we find ourselves lost in a holy
amazement at His unspeakable love!

一个人若不把罪视为自己最沉重的担子、最深的忧伤和最大的愁苦，我不明白他怎能是真信徒！

I do not understand how a man can be a true believer--in whom sin is not
the greatest burden, sorrow and trouble!

我们若不在旧约书卷中寻见并默想基督的荣耀，读旧约就不能使我们得益处。

We shall not benefit from reading the Old Testament--unless we look for
and meditate on the glory of Christ in its pages.

一个人若不把自己的私欲踩在脚下，就不要以为自己在圣洁上有任何长进。不这样治死罪的人，在通往终点的路上一步也没有迈出。

Let not that man think he makes any progress in holiness--who does not
walk over the bellies of his lusts. He who does not kill sin in this way--takes no steps toward his journey's end.

即便是最蒙恩的信徒，虽已确实脱离罪定人罪的权势，也应当一生以治死内住之罪的权势为务！

The choicest believers, who are assuredly freed from the condemning
power of sin--ought to make it their business all their days, to mortify
the indwelling power of sin!

神在这世上最可怕的审判，就是使人的心刚硬。

The most tremendous judgment of God in this world--is the hardening of
the hearts of men.

一个人若不惧怕试探，就不要假称自己惧怕罪！罪与试探结合得太紧，无法分开。喜爱树根的人，并不是真的恨恶果子。

Let no man pretend to fear sin--who does not fear temptation
also! These two are too closely united to be separated. He does not
truly hate the fruit--who delights in the root.

犯罪成了习惯，就会使人失去对罪的知觉。

世人的风气，又会使人失去以罪为耻的心。

The habit of sinning, takes away the sense of it.

The course of the world, takes away the shame of it.

信徒知道，自己所尽的一切本分都是软弱、不完全的，不能站立在神面前。因此，他们仰望基督，因为祂：

担当他们圣事中的罪孽；

在他们的祷告中添上香；

从他们所尽的本分中挑尽一切杂草，使这些本分蒙神悦纳。

Believers know that all their duties are weak, imperfect, and unable to
abide in God's presence. Therefore they look to Christ as the one who . .
.

bears the iniquity of their holy things,

adds incense to their prayers,

gathers out all the weeds from their duties--and makes them
acceptable to God.

我们所要的是什么？我们的灵魂所渴望的是什么？岂不是要更充分、更清楚、更稳固地参透神的智慧、慈爱、恩典、美善、圣洁、公义和能力，就是这一切在基督里所宣明、所彰显的吗？

What do we want? What do our souls desire? Is it not that we might have a
more full, clear, stable comprehension of the wisdom, love, grace,
goodness, holiness, righteousness, and power of God--as declared and
exemplified in Christ!

一个人可以按照自己对基督的位格、祂国度的荣耀以及祂的爱所怀的思想和默想，衡量自己是在恩典中长进，还是在恩典中衰退。

A man may take the measure of his growth or decay in grace--according to his thoughts and meditations upon the person of Christ, and
the glory of His Kingdom, and of His love.

我们若像自己所承认的那样，把主要的财宝放在属灵和属天的事上，那么我们的情感，连同我们的愿望和思想，就必主要专注在这些事上。

If our principal treasure is in spiritual and heavenly things, as we
profess--then our affections, and consequently our desires and thoughts,
will be principally fixed on them.

凡为着我们的救恩所能认识的有关神的一切，尤其是我们灵魂的生命所倚靠的祂的智慧、慈爱、美善、恩典和怜悯，都在基督里、又藉着基督，以全部荣美向我们彰显出来。难怪基督在信徒眼中如此荣耀！

All that may be known of God for our salvation, especially His wisdom,
love, goodness, grace and mercy on which the life of our souls depends--are represented to us in all their splendor in and through Christ. No
wonder then that Christ is glorious in the eyes of believers!

我们若少谈论这些事，多为这些事祷告，世上的光景就会比现在好；至少，我们会更有力量忍受这些事。

If we would talk less and pray more about them--things would be better
than they are in the world. At least, we would be better enabled to bear
them.

罪发动争战，是要缠住人的情感，把它们拉进同盟，一同敌挡人的心思。恩典或许已在心思中掌权，但罪若控制了情感，就夺取了一座堡垒，并要从那里不断攻击灵魂。因此，治死罪必须主要对准人的情感。

Sin carries on its war by entangling the affections and drawing
them into an alliance against the mind. Grace may be enthroned in
the mind, but if sin controls the affections--it has seized a fort from
which it will continually assault the soul. Hence, mortification must
chiefly be directed to the affections.

一个牧者若上讲台面对会众，比进内室为会众祷告还要频繁，他不过是个不称职的灵魂守望者。

He who is more frequent in his pulpit to his people, than he is in
his closet for his people--is but a sorry watchman of souls.

一个人若把自己的情感放在基督的十字架和基督的爱上，就把世界当作死而不可欲之物钉了十字架。罪的诱饵便失去吸引力。让基督的十字架充满你的情感，你就不会给罪留下余地。

When someone sets his affections upon the cross and the love of Christ--he crucifies the world as a dead and undesirable thing. The baits of
sin then lose their attraction. Fill your affections with the cross of
Christ--and you will find no room for sin.

让我们的心承认：‘我是贫穷软弱的。

撒但对我来说太诡诈、太狡猾、太强大；他时刻窥伺，要从我的灵魂得着可乘之机。

世界带着各样压力、说辞和伪装，不断向我逼来。

我里面内住的败坏凶猛、骚动、诱人而又缠累。它孕育罪，也在我里面、并与我争战。引发试探的时机与机会数不胜数。因此，我要单单倚靠神保守我，也要不断仰望祂。’

Let our hearts admit: "I am poor and weak.

Satan is too subtle, too cunning, too powerful for me--he watches
constantly for advantages over my soul.

The world presses in upon me with all sorts of pressures, pleas,
and pretenses.

My own indwelling corruption is violent, tumultuous, enticing,
and entangling. As it conceives sin, it wars within me and against me.
Occasions and opportunities for temptation are innumerable. Therefore, on
God alone will I rely for my keeping. I will continually look to Him."

罪总是以极处为目标。它每一次起来试探、引诱我们，若任它遂意，就会走到那一类罪的极处。每一个污秽的念头或眼神，若能如愿，都会成为奸淫；每一个不信的念头，若任其发展，都会成为无神论；私欲每一次抬头，若能如愿，都会达到邪恶的顶峰。罪就像阴间，永不满足。罪的诡诈正在于此：起初提出要求时，它显得十分节制；一旦得势，就使人的心刚硬，把人带到永远的灭亡中。

Sin always aims at the utmost. Every time it rises up to tempt or entice
us--if it has its own way, it will go out to the utmost sin in that kind.
Every impure thought or glance--would be adultery if it could. Every
thought of unbelief--would be atheism if allowed to develop. Every rise
of lust, if it has its way--would reach the height of villainy. Sin is
like the grave, which is never satisfied. The deceitfulness of sin
is seen in that it is modest in its first proposals--but when it
prevails, it hardens men's hearts, and brings them to eternal ruin.

我们圣洁公义的神定意拯救祂所拣选的百姓，但他们的罪不能不受刑罚。因此，他们当受却担当不起的刑罚，必须转到那不当受却能担当的一位身上。

The purpose of our holy and righteous God was to save His chosen people--but their sin could not go unpunished. It was, therefore, necessary that
the punishment for their sin be transferred from those who deserved
it, but could not bear it--to One who did not deserve it, but was
able to bear it.

一个牧者也许会使教堂的座位坐满，也许会受世人尊重；但他在隐密处跪在全能神面前是什么样，他就只是什么样，绝不会更多！

A minister may fill his pews, and be esteemed by the world. But what that
minister is on his knees in secret before God Almighty--that he is, and
no more!

树木花草生长得如此缓慢，以致人不容易看见。我们每天几乎察觉不到变化；但过了一段时日，就会看见已经发生了巨大的改变。恩典也是如此。成圣是一生不断长进的工作。

The growth of trees and plants takes place so slowly that it is not easily
seen. Daily we notice little change. But, in course of time, we see that a
great change has taken place. So it is with grace. Sanctification is a
progressive, lifelong work.

自私，就是使人把自己当作自己的中心，叫自己成为一切行为的起点和终点。

Selfishness is the making a man's self his own center--the
beginning and end of all he does.

除非我们彻底确信，没有基督，我们就落在神永远的咒诅之下，如同祂最恶劣的仇敌，否则我们绝不会逃到祂那里避难！

Unless we are thoroughly convinced that without Christ we are under the
eternal curse of God, as the worst of His enemies--we shall never flee to
Him for refuge!

大风暴有助于结果子的树；败坏和试探也照样有助于恩典与圣洁结出果子。风暴使树根周围的泥土松动，树便能向更深的土中扎根，从那里得到新鲜的养分；但要到很久以后，才看得出它结出更好的果子。同样，败坏和试探使人更深地寻求那叫圣洁刚强起来的恩典，从而使谦卑、自卑和忧伤的根向下生长；只是圣洁增长的果子，也要到后来才显露出来。

Great winds and storms help fruit-bearing trees. So also do corruptions
and temptations help the fruitfulness of grace and holiness. The storm
loosens the earth around its roots, so the tree is able to get its roots
deeper into the earth, where it receives fresh supplies of nourishment.
But only much later will it be seen to bring forth better fruit. In the
same way, corruptions and temptations develop the roots of humility,
self-abasement and mourning--in a deeper search for that grace by which
holiness grows strong. But only later, will there be visible fruits of
increased holiness.

我们那伟大的榜样，已经显明我们面对一切暗示和试探时应当怎样行。魔鬼把「世上的万国与万国的荣华」指给祂看，要试探祂；祂没有站在那里观望，没有欣赏其荣华、思量其权势，却立刻毫不停留地喊道：「撒但，退去吧！」试探刚一进入，就要以信心思想十字架上的基督来迎击；这会使它在你面前沉下去。你若不愿进入试探，就不要与它谈判，也不要同它争辩。

Our great Pattern has showed us what our deportment
ought to be in all suggestions and temptations. When the devil showed Him
"all the kingdoms of the world and the glory of them," to tempt Him
withal, He did not stand and look upon them, viewing their glory, and
pondering their empire--but instantly, without stay, He cries, "Get you
hence, Satan." Meet your temptation in its entrance with thoughts of faith
concerning Christ on the cross; this will make it sink before you.
Entertain no parley, no dispute with it, if you would not enter into it.

神向我们所要求的义务，并不与我们自身所有的力量相称，而与我们在基督里可得的供应相称。靠着自己，我们连神所吩咐最小的事也无力完成。当我们承认靠自己的力量连一项义务也不可能履行时，就会发现成就它的秘诀：「我的恩典够你用的，因为我的能力是在人的软弱上显得完全。」这就是恩典的律。

The duties which God requires of us, are not in proportion to the
strength we possess in ourselves. Rather, they are proportionate to the
resources available to us in Christ. We do not have the ability in
ourselves, to accomplish the least of God's tasks. When we recognize it is
impossible for us to perform a single duty in our own strength--we will
discover the secret of its accomplishment: "My grace is sufficient for
you, for My power is made perfect in weakness." This is the law of grace.

我们若真知道自己里面住着灵魂一个何等持久的仇敌，就会何等殷勤警醒！许多人对内住之罪这个事实视而不见、沉睡不醒；他们的懒惰疏忽何等可悲。信徒里面的内住之罪有极大的效力和权势，因为它不断倾向于恶。因此，我们必须醒来；我们的仇敌不仅像参孙的仇敌那样在我们身上，也在我们里面！

Could we realize what a constant enemy of the soul abides within us--then
what diligence and watchfulness we would have! How woeful is the sloth and
negligence of so many who live blind and asleep to this reality of
indwelling sin. There is an exceeding efficacy and power in the indwelling
sin of believers, for it constantly inclines itself towards evil. We need
to be awake, then--for our enemy is not only UPON us, as it was with
Samson--but it is also IN us!

凡自称基督徒却不度圣洁生活的人，实际上都在拒绝顺服基督的命令、轻看祂的应许，宁愿选择罪中之乐。这样的人等于宣告：他们在基督的命令中看不见任何可爱之处，在遵守这些命令时得不到任何福乐，在基督的应许里找不到任何确据；与世界和罪中之乐相比，祂所应许之事也毫无价值。

All who profess to be Christians but are not living
holy lives, are really renouncing obedience to Christ's commands and
despising his promises, preferring instead the pleasures of sin. Such
people declare they have found nothing lovely in Christ's commands, nor
any happiness in keeping them, nor any assurance in Christ's promises, nor
any value in the things promised compared with the world and the pleasures
of sin.

我们属灵生命的活力、力量和安慰，都有赖于治死肉体的恶行。

The vigor, and power, and comfort of our spiritual life--depends on the mortification of the deeds of the flesh.

惟有圣灵能治死罪；祂已经应许要这样做，离了祂，一切别的方法都是空洞虚妄的。那么，没有圣灵的人怎能治死罪呢？一个人没有眼睛而能看见、没有舌头而能说话，还比没有圣灵却能真正治死一种罪容易！凡离开圣灵、企图治死任何私欲的努力，都是徒然。

It is the Spirit alone who can mortify sin--He is promised to do it, and
all other means without Him, are empty and vain. How shall he, then,
mortify sin--who has not the Spirit? A man may easier see without eyes,
and speak without a tongue--than truly mortify one sin without the
Spirit! All attempts mortify any lust without the Spirit, are vain.

我们若不恒切祷告，就会长久陷在试探中。让下面这句话成为我们每天代求的一部分：「神啊，求你保全我的灵魂，看守我的心和它一切所行的路，使我不被任何罪缠住。」我们的生活若真是如此，一时经过的试探就胜不过我们；别人被捆绑时，我们仍要保持自由。

If we do not abide in prayer--we will abide in temptation. Let this be
one aspect of our daily intercession: "God, preserve my soul, and keep my
heart and all its ways--so that I will not be entangled in any sin." When
this is true in our lives--a passing temptation will not overcome us. We
will remain free--while others lie in bondage.

圣经所显明的基督位格之荣美，由肉眼看不见的事物组成；人的手无法把它描画出来，人的舌头也无法加以说明。惟有信心的眼睛，才能看见这位王的荣美。除此以外，还有什么能够默观基督神性本有的荣耀呢？

The beauty of the person of Christ, as represented in the Scripture,
consists in things invisible unto the eyes of flesh. They are such as no
hand of man can write, or tongue explain. It is the eye of faith
alone, which can see this King in His beauty. What else can contemplate on
the uncreated glories of Christ's divine nature?

神是无限荣耀、美善、智慧、圣洁、大有能力、公义、自有、自足而又全然丰足的一位；祂是一切存在和美善的泉源与创始者，是最初的因、最终的目的，也是万有至高的主。因此，祂当受敬拜；我们应当惊叹祂、崇敬祂、爱祂、颂赞祂、信靠祂、敬畏祂！

Because God is an infinitely glorious, good, wise, holy, powerful,
righteous, self-subsisting, self-sufficient, and all-sufficient being; the
fountain and author of all being and good; the first cause, the last end,
and the sovereign Lord of all--therefore, he is to be worshiped.
Therefore, we are to admire, adore, and love Him--to praise, to trust and
to fear Him!

谁也不要以为，只要轻轻松松地打上几下，就能治死罪。人若打过蛇一次，却不继续击打直到把它杀死，后来也许会懊悔自己竟开始这场争斗。人着手对付罪，却不坚持追击直到它死去，也是如此。

Let no man think to kill sin with few, easy, or gentle strokes. He who
has once smitten a serpent--if he does not continue smiting it
until it is slain--may repent that he ever began the quarrel. So it is
with he who undertakes to deal with sin and does not pursue it constantly
to its death.

要防止人离弃福音，惟一的办法就是爱真理，并在心里经历真理的大能。人若只在心思中接受真理，心里却不爱它，意志也不甘心顺服它，那么背道的危险就始终存在。

The only way to prevent this falling away from the
gospel, is to love the truth and to experience its power in the heart. The
danger of apostasy will always be present if men receive the truth only in
their minds, but do not love it in their hearts and gladly submit to it in
their wills.

罪若放过我们，我们也可以放过罪。罪水静止时往往最深；照样，我们的罪看似最平静时，作工反而最有力量。

When sin lets us alone--we may let sin alone. As sin's waters are for the most part deep when they are still--so our sin acts most powerfully when it seems most calm.

许多人在世上时，并未凭信心看见基督的荣耀，却自称渴望在天上瞻仰这荣耀；这种愿望不过是自欺的幻想。人若今生不曾在某种程度上凭信心看见基督的荣耀，来世就绝不会亲眼瞻仰。

The pretended desires of many to behold the glory of Christ in Heaven, who
have no view of it by faith while they are here in this world--are
nothing but self-deceiving imaginations. No man shall ever behold the
glory of Christ by sight hereafter--who does not in some measure behold
it here by faith.

一个人若郑重着手解释圣经的任何一处，却不求告神，不求祂的灵教导指引，这就是对神极大的冒犯。人若如此骄傲地承担一件远超自己能力的工作，我也不期待能从他那里发现真理。

For a man solemnly to undertake the interpretation of any portion of
Scripture without invocation of God, to be taught and instructed by His
Spirit--is a high provocation of Him. Nor shall I expect the discovery of
truth from anyone who thus proudly engages in a work so much beyond his
ability.

我们若要从退后中重新苏醒、得着医治，以致年老仍能结果，只有一条路：必须定睛观看圣经向我们显明的基督之荣耀，观看祂独有的品格、恩典和工作。

There is only one way to be revived and healed from our backslidings so
that we may become fruitful even in old age. We must take a steady look at
the glory of Christ in His special character, in His grace and work, as
shown to us in the Scripture.

我愿以此为生，让自己的思想和深情常住在这上面，使今世一切描画出来的美丽枯萎消逝，把下面的一切都钉在十字架上，直到它们在我眼中成为死去、丑陋之物，再不适合被我深情拥抱。

In this would I live--and upon this would I dwell in my thoughts and
affections: to the withering and consumption of all the painted
beauties of this world, to the crucifying all things here below--until they become to me a dead and deformed thing, no way suitable for
affectionate embraces.

犹太人在基督来临时弃绝祂，是因为他们在祂身上看不见可羡慕的佳形美容。同样，人若不能属灵地辨明基督位格和职分的荣耀，就绝不可能始终忠于基督。

The reason the Jews rejected Christ when he came was
because they could see neither form nor beauty in him why should he be
desired. So none will remain constantly faithful to Christ who is not able
to spiritually discern the glory of his person and his offices.

属灵的智慧在于查出内住之罪的诡诈、计谋和深处，在这条蛇一切盘旋曲折的路上追踪它，并能在它最隐秘的活动中说：「这是你一贯的道路和行径；我识破了你的恶谋！」

Spiritual wisdom consists in finding out the subtleties, policies, and
depths of any indwelling sin--to trace this serpent in all its
turnings and windings--to be able to say, at its most secret actings:
"This is your old way and course--I am aware of your evil devices!"

有两件事适合使人的灵魂降卑：

第一，恰当地思想神，思想祂的伟大、荣耀、圣洁、能力、威严和权柄。

第二，恰当地思想自己，思想我们卑贱、可鄙、罪恶而可怕的境况。

There are two things which are suited to humble the souls of men:

First, a due consideration of God--in His greatness, glory,
holiness, power, majesty and authority.

Secondly, a due consideration of ourselves--in our base, abject,
sinful and dreadful condition.

河流越接近它所奔向的海洋，水量就越增多，水流也越湍急。同样，恩典越接近荣耀的海洋，就要越充盈、越自由地涌流！

Rivers, the nearer they come to the ocean where they tend--the more they
increase their waters, and speed their streams. In the same way, will
grace flow more fully and freely in its near approaches to the ocean of
glory!

圣灵拯救人时，把一种满有恩典、超越本性的根本原则放进他们的心思、意志和内心，使他们满怀圣洁的愿望，为神而活。圣洁全部的生命和实质，就在这原则里面。

When the Holy Spirit saves people, He puts into their minds, wills and
hearts--a gracious, supernatural principle which fills them with a holy
desire to live to God. The whole life and being of holiness lies in this.

人若要治死某种搅扰自己的私欲，就当留心在顺服的每一方面同样殷勤；他也当知道，每一种私欲、每一次忽略义务，都会使神忧伤，尽管使他自己忧伤的可能只有其中一种。

He who would mortify any disquieting lust--let him take care to be
equally diligent in all parts of obedience, and know that every lust,
every omission of duty, is burdensome to God--though only one is
burdensome to him.

真圣洁和基督徒真敬拜的根基，是福音的教义，也就是我们所当相信的真理。因此，基督教教义若被忽略、抛弃或败坏，真圣洁与真敬拜也会一同被忽略、抛弃和败坏。

The foundation of true holiness and true Christian worship, is the
doctrine of the gospel--what we are to believe. So when Christian
doctrine is neglected, forsaken, or corrupted--true holiness and worship
will also be neglected, forsaken, and corrupted.

人若说，我们在属灵重生以前，就能靠自己的努力思想善事，或向神献上属灵的顺服，这便是要推翻福音，也推翻历代普世教会的信仰。

To say that we are able by our own efforts to think good thoughts or give
God spiritual obedience, before we are spiritually regenerate--is to
overthrow the gospel and the faith of the universal church in all ages.

真理是正确思想的惟一向导。心思若不受真理引导，它的思想很快就会漂入谬误。离了神的道，人的心思便在无穷无尽的猜测中四处游荡。

Truth is the only guide to right thinking. If the mind
is not guided by truth, its thoughts will soon wander into error. Without
the Word of God, the mind of man wanders about in endless conjectures.

世上没有、从来没有、将来也绝不会有丝毫圣洁，不是从耶稣基督流出，再由圣灵按照福音的真理和应许分赐下来的。

There neither is, nor ever was, in the world, nor ever shall be--the
least dram of holiness, but what, flowing from Jesus Christ--is
communicated by the Spirit, according to the truth and promise of the
gospel.

罪人心中隐秘的大计，就是今生尽可能少受搅扰，继续过犯罪的生活，同时又满心盼望来世逃过刑罚。

The great secret purpose of sinful man is to go on
living his sinful life with as little trouble as possible in the present
life, and with every hope of avoiding future punishments in the next.

信心若是活的信心，就必是作工的信心。我们不承认任何不能使人顺服、行善的信心为使人称义的信心；因为称义的信心本身、按其本性，就是具有属灵生命的根本原则。

Faith, if it is a living faith--will be a working faith. We
admit no faith to be justifying--which is not itself and in its
own nature, a spiritually vital principle of obedience and good works.

不要一头扎进祷告或敬拜；要先花时间默想基督的荣耀。这样，履行这义务所需要的各样恩典，就会被唤醒，预备妥当。

Do not plunge straight into prayer or worship, but
spend time meditating on the glory of Christ first and in this way the
graces necessary for carrying out that duty will be roused and ready.

无神论者逃不开关于神的真理，因为他逃不开自己，也逃不开整个创造中神永远的大能和神性所留下的明证。

The atheist cannot run away from the truth of God
because he cannot run away from himself, nor can he run away from the
evidences of God's eternal power and godhead in all creation.

基督如此爱祂的百姓，甚至欢然为他们歌唱。「祂在你中间必因你欢欣喜乐，默然爱你，且因你喜乐而欢呼。」（西番雅书3:17）

Christ so loves His people--that he sings with joy over them. "He will
rejoice over you with gladness. He will quiet you with His love. He will
rejoice over you with singing." Zephaniah 3:17

温柔慈爱的朋友，会因我们对他无情而忧伤；那选择我们的心作居所、住在其中的温柔慈爱之圣灵，也同样如此。

As our tender and loving friend is grieved at our unkindness towards him--so is it with the tender and loving Spirit, who has chosen our hearts for
a habitation to dwell in.

不信的人看不见基督有任何荣耀，也看不见祂有任何吸引人之处；他们心里轻看祂。外表上，他们像犹大一样喊着说：「请拉比安！」心里却把祂钉在十字架上。

Unbelievers see no glory in Christ. They see nothing
attractive about him. They despise him in their hearts. Outwardly they
cry, like Judas, 'Hail Master!" but in their hearts they crucify him.

恨恶罪本身，而不只是恨恶罪给我们的刺痛和搅扰；又在十字架上感受到基督的爱——这一切真属灵治死的根基，就在这两件事上。

Hatred of sin as sin--and not only as galling or disquieting us; and a
sense of the love of Christ in the cross--lie at the bottom of all true
spiritual mortification.

纵容一种罪，会向更多的罪敞开门户；纵容一种罪，也会使灵魂离开本该用来抵挡其他一切罪的蒙恩之道。

The indulgence of one sin--opens the door to further sins. The indulgence
of one sin--diverts the soul from the use of those means by which all
other sins should be resisted.

不认识神，也不认识自己，是我们一切忧虑的主要原则和原因。这种无知多半不是因为缺少亮光与教导，而是因为缺少思想和应用。

Ignorance of God and of ourselves--is the great principle and cause of
all our worries. This arises mostly not from lack of light and instruction--but for lack of consideration and application.

信徒今生直到永恒所享最大的特权之一，就是瞻仰基督的荣耀。因此，基督祷告说，要叫「他们看见你所赐给我的荣耀」。

One of the greatest privileges the believer has, both
in this world and for eternity, is to behold the glory of Christ. So
Christ prays that 'they may behold my glory'.

一个灵魂若不瞻仰基督的荣耀也能满足，或不能因永远瞻仰基督的荣耀而满足，就不是基督为之祷告的灵魂。

The soul which can be satisfied without beholding the
glory of Christ, that cannot be eternally satisfied with beholding the
glory of Christ, is not a soul for whom Christ prays.

躲进默观基督荣耀的堡垒，灵魂就得安息；因为那时必会显明，我们的烦恼都从过分看重暂时之物这根上长出来。

The stronghold of the contemplation of Christ's glory, affords the soul
rest--for it will be made evident that our troubles grow on the root of
an over-valuation of temporal things.

我们拥有自由和能力，可以随时来到神的施恩宝座前；这一个特权里所藏的怜悯宝库，是任何人心都无法想象的。

No heart can conceive that treasury of mercies which lies in this one
privilege--in having liberty and ability to approach unto God at all
times at His throne of grace.

若以为神向我们所要求的，只是我们靠自身能力所能做的事，就是使耶稣基督的十字架和恩典归于无效。

To suppose that what God requires
of us only what we have power of ourselves to do, is to make the cross and
grace of Jesus Christ of none effect.

试探好比一把刀，既可以切开人的食物，也可以割断他的喉咙；它既能成为他的食物，也能成为他的毒药；既能操练他，也能毁灭他。

Temptation is like a knife which
may either cut the food, or the throat of a man; it may be his food or his
poison, his exercise or his destruction.

一个灵魂若不断注视基督永远的温柔与怜悯，就连离开祂一个小时也不能忍受；可是如今，他也许连同祂警醒片时都做不到。

Would a soul continually eye Christ's everlasting tenderness and
compassion--then it could not bear an hour's absence from Him. Whereas
now, perhaps, it cannot watch with Him one hour.

我们的深情若被属灵的真实充满、占据，罪那描画的快乐、裹糖的毒药和涂毒的诱饵，又怎能进入我们的灵魂？

Were our affections filled and
taken up with spiritual realities--what access could sin, with its painted
pleasures, with its sugared poisons, with its envenomed baits, have unto
our souls?

靠自己的力量，使用自己发明的方法，为要达到自义的目的而治死罪，这就是世上一切虚假宗教的灵魂与实质。

Mortification of from a self-strength, carried on by ways of
self-invention, unto the end of a self-righteousness--is the soul and
substance of all false religion in the world.

基督徒生活的目标，不是外表上一致，也不是不经思考的行动，而是受心思引导、被意志拥抱的对神火热之爱。

The goal of the Christian life is
not external conformity or mindless action, but a passionate love for God
informed by the mind and embraced by the will.

基督是我们最好的朋友，也是我们惟一真实的朋友。巴不得我全心厌倦其他一切，惟独不厌倦与祂交谈、与祂相交。

Christ is our best friend--our only true friend. Oh that
with all my heart, I may be weary of everything else but converse and
communion with Him.

没有一天，罪不是击败我们，就是被我们击败；不是胜过我们，就是被我们胜过。只要我们还活在世上，情形就一直如此。

There is not a day but sin either foils--or is foiled; either prevails--or is prevailed on. So it will be, while we live in this world.

惟有在主基督里，才能真正认识罪，并因此得救；也惟有在祂里面，我们才能看见自己的罪孽配受什么。

A true saving knowledge of sin, is to be had only in the Lord Christ. In
Him alone, we can see the desert of our iniquities.

你的脾气和性情已经给罪与撒但这样大的便利；你若不格外警醒、谨慎、殷勤，它们就会胜过你的灵魂。

So great an advantage is given to sin and Satan by your temper and
disposition--that without extraordinary watchfulness, care, and diligence--they will prevail against your soul.

人若一面鼓励你来到基督面前，一面又容许你以为自己仍可在生活中纵容一种罪，这人是可咒诅的。

Cursed is the person who encourages you to come to
Christ and allows you to think that you can still indulge one sin in your
life.

你能加在父身上最大的忧伤和重担，能向祂行出最无情的事，就是不信祂爱你。

The greatest sorrow and burden--you can lay on the Father. The greatest
unkindness you can do to Him--is not to believe that He loves you.

许多人不能默想，是因为心思被地上的事塞满。人的心思必须属灵、圣洁，摆脱地上一切杂乱的占据。

Many cannot meditate because their minds are so
cluttered up with earthly things. The mind must be spiritual and holy,
freed from all earthly clutter.

福音所要求的圣洁顺服，出于对已领受救恩的感恩，并不是为了寻求功绩而产生的奴仆式顺服。

The holy obedience which the gospel requires arises
from gratitude for salvation received, and not that servile obedience
which arises from the search for merit.

人总以为，凡事若能按照自己的心意去做，必会做得更好。「他施行报应，岂要随你的心愿，叫你推辞不受吗？选定的是你，不是我。你所知道的只管说吧。」（约伯记34:33）

Men think all things would be better done--if they might be done
according their mind. "Should it be according to your mind?" Job 34:33

我们常常说到神，谈论祂、祂的道路和祂的作为；其实，我们对祂所知甚少。

We speak much of God, and talk of Him, His ways and His works. The truth
is, we know very little of Him.

在神启示自己和我们顺服祂的一切事上，若弃绝神的主权，就没有比这更宽阔的道路通向背道。

There is no broader way to
apostasy than to reject God's sovereignty in all things concerning the
revelation of Himself and our obedience.

要竭力使自己在一切患难中变得更好，免得你的患难变得更重，神又把更多黑暗、苦楚和惊恐调在其中。

Labor to grow better under all your afflictions--lest your afflictions
grow worse and God mingles them with more darkness, bitterness and terror.

恩典作工以前，人心是「石心」；它若要行出蒙神喜悦的事，所能做的不会比石头更多。

Before the work of grace, the heart is 'stony.' It can do no more than a
stone can do to please God.

那么，圣洁究竟是什么？圣洁无非是把福音栽种、写在我们的灵魂里，又在我们的灵魂和生活中活出来！

What then is holiness? Holiness is nothing but the implanting, writing and
living out of the gospel in our souls and lives!

我们若不舍己，不放下自己的一切观念和意见，不成为谦卑、受教的人，就永远不能领受福音。

Unless we deny ourselves and all our own ideas and
opinions, unless we become humble and teachable--we can never receive the
gospel.

人若不在顺服的每一方面都真诚殷勤地努力，就不能成功治死任何一种缠累自己的罪。

Without a sincere and diligent effort in every area of obedience--there
will be no successful mortification of any one besetting sin.

合乎福音的顺服，就是靠着基督的能力和恩典履行一切道德义务，使荣耀归给神。

Gospel obedience is the performance of all moral duties
in the power and grace of Christ to the glory of God.

合乎福音的教义，必须由心思明白，由内心爱慕，并由意志甘心喜乐地顺服。

Evangelical doctrine must be understood by the mind,
loved by the heart, and willingly and gladly submitted to by the will.

惟有当我们遵行所吩咐的事，而且因为那是命令才遵行时，我们才是基督的仆人和门徒。

We are only servants and disciples of Christ--when we do what is
commanded us, and because it is commanded us.

在一切恩典中，没有什么比蒙拯救脱离退后，更能使信徒的心充满感恩与喜乐。

There is no grace that fills the hearts of believers
with more gratitude and joy than being delivered from backsliding.

我们若不殷勤运用顺服的恩典，就绝不能享受喜乐、平安和确据的恩典。

Without the diligent use of the grace of obedience, we
shall never enjoy the graces of joy, peace and assurance.

我们若不能适当地认识自己最好的行为仍有罪污，就会落入自义和自我称义的幻想。

Lack of a due sense of the sinfulness of our best
works, leads to dreams of self-righteousness and self-justification.

要留心使你的信心结出顺服；到了时候，神必使它结出平安。

See that your faith brings forth obedience--and God in due time
will cause it to bring forth peace.

惟有神在祂话语中所吩咐的，才当被视为有约束力；在其余一切事上，我们都有自由。

Only what God has commanded in His Word--should be regarded as binding.
In all else, we have liberty.

治死罪的其他一切方法都是徒然；一切帮助反倒使我们仍然无助。这事必须由圣灵来成就。

All other ways of mortification
are vain, all helps leave us helpless--it must be done by the Spirit.

一个人没有眼睛而能看见、没有舌头而能说话，还比没有圣灵却能真正治死一种罪容易。

A man may easier see without eyes,
speak without a tongue, than truly mortify one sin--without the Spirit.

主基督已经把合乎福音的顺服，定为一个人真是祂教会肢体的外在凭据。

The Lord Christ has made evangelical obedience the
outward evidence of being a true member of his church.

我们既当为每日的饮食求福，也同样当为每天管教我们的杖求福。

We ought as much to pray for a blessing upon our daily rod--as
upon our daily bread.

神的道若不带着能力住在我们里面，就不能带着能力从我们传出去。

If the Word does not dwell with power in us--it will not pass with power
from us.

要让基督的十字架如此充满你的深情，使罪再没有容身之处！

So fill your affections with the cross of Christ--that there may be no
room for sin!

试探和试炼不会把什么放进人里面，只会把他里面原有的引出来。

Temptations and trials put nothing into a man--but only draw out what was
in him before.

我们不可只顾那些搅扰自己的事，也必须顾到一切使神忧伤的事。

We must not be concerned only with that which troubles us--but
with all that troubles God.

你的私人启示若与圣经相合，就是多余的；若与圣经不合，就是虚假的。

If your private revelations agree with Scripture--they are
needless.

If they disagree with Scripture--they are false.

道德若与福音的教义分离，就不是福音所要求的圣洁。

Morality divorced from the
doctrines of the gospel, is not that holiness which the gospel requires.

很明显，大多数人与罪争战，只是因为罪搅扰了他们。

It is evident that most contend against sin--merely because of how it
troubles them.

惟有看见祂的荣耀，除此以外再没有什么，能真正使神的百姓满足！

Only a sight of His glory, and nothing else, will truly
satisfy God's people!

试探反复不断地引诱，催生出看轻罪恶的念头，便由此得着力量。

Temptation gains power--by persistent solicitations which beget thoughts
which make evil less serious.

罪人竟能与无限圣洁的神相交，实在令人惊叹！

For sinners to have fellowship
with the infinitely holy God, is truly astonishing!

一切从旧本性产生的道德，永远不能蒙神悦纳。

All morality arising from the old nature is never
acceptable to God.

没有信心与悔改，就没有真正合乎福音的果子。

There is no true gospel fruit--without faith and repentance.

「我们的日子会飞快逝去，永恒却步步逼近！」

「世上最挥霍无度的人，就是浪费光阴的人。」

「光阴不属于你，而是神借给你的；务要用它来荣耀祂。」

"Our days will flee away quickly, but eternity presses ever nearer!"

"The
greatest spendthrifts in the world, are those who waste their time."

"Time
is not your own, but
lent to you by God. See that you spend it for His glory."

「因蒙拯救脱离忿怒而有的感恩，会激起人对那位拯救者深厚的爱。」

「我们最大的喜乐，是因自己的救恩而欢喜；我们最热切的感谢，是归给以恩典拯救罪人的神。」

"Gratitude for deliverance from wrath, stirs up great love for the Deliverer."

"Our greatest joy is to rejoice in our salvation; and our most fervent
thanksgiving is to God for His grace in saving sinners."

「患难使我们更加渴慕永恒之事。」

「患难对肉体看似苦涩，对灵魂却是福分。」

"Afflictions quicken our desires for eternal things."

"Afflictions are blessings to the
soul, though they
seem bitter to the flesh."

「我们与死亡之间的距离，不过是一口气。」

"The distance between us and death, is nothing but a breath."

「死亡不过是一条通道，把人带进基督荣耀的同在。」

"Death is but the passage into the glorious presence of Christ."

「光阴一旦失去，就永远无法挽回。」

"Time once lost, can never be recovered again."

体贴肉体

（约翰·欧文）

「体贴肉体的，就是死；体贴圣灵的，乃是生命、平安。」（罗马书8:6）

无论一个人口里承认什么，他的思想若通常都在地上和世俗的事上，他就有一颗属地、属世的心；他的思想若通常都在感官之事上，他就有一颗体贴感官、属肉体的心。「因为他心怎样思量，他为人就是怎样。」（箴言23:7）

Carnally minded

(John Owen)

"For to be carnally minded is death;
but to be spiritually

minded is life and peace." Romans 8:6

Let a man profess what he will--if his thoughts are generally

conversant about earthly and worldly things--he has an earthly

and worldly mind. And if his thoughts are generally conversant

about sensual things--he has a sensual and carnal mind. "For

as he thinks in his heart--so is he." Proverbs 23:7

「患难是暴风，神用它催促自己的百姓更快奔向祂。」

「患难的风暴驱使灵魂进入基督之爱的稳固港湾。」

「每一场患难都带着从神而来的信息，显明祂为我们永恒益处所怀的旨意。」

「患难显露我们心里所有的，也使我们看见自己需要神的恩典。」

"Affliction is a stormy wind, by which God drives His people faster toward
Himself."

"The
storms of affliction, drive the soul to the secure harbor of Christ's love."

"Every
affliction carries a message from God, and reveals His intention for our
eternal good."

"Afflictions reveal what is in our hearts and show us our need for God's
grace."

「神只赐我们短暂的光阴住在地上；我们怎样使用它，将来都必须交账。」

「要思想光阴的短暂和无定，也要思想将来的永恒；不要把心放在转瞬即逝的事物上。」

"God has given us a short time here upon the earth, and we must give account
for how we have spent it."

"Consider the shortness and uncertainty of time, and the eternity that is to
come. Do not set your hearts on
fleeting things."

「在每一次试炼和患难中，我们都当因这认识得安慰：神以无限的智慧安排万事，使祂所拣选的百姓得益处。每一件事背后都有神的手；祂塑造我们的一生，使荣耀归给祂。」

"In every trial and tribulation, let us find comfort in the knowledge that
God, in His infinite wisdom, orchestrates all for the good of His chosen
people. God's hand is behind every event, crafting our lives for His glory."

「主张普遍救赎，就等于说神同样爱所有的人；这显然与神的道相反。」

"To affirm universal redemption, is to say that God loves all alike, which
is plainly contrary to the Word of God."

「得儿子的名分，使我们得享儿子的特权，连同属于儿子的一切权利、福分和基业。」

"Adoption gives us the
privilege of sons, with all the rights, blessings, and inheritance belonging
to them."

「死亡、审判和永恒，是三件分量最重的真实。」

"Death, judgment, and eternity are
the three most weighty
realities."

一个骄傲的基督徒，与一个谦卑的魔鬼同样自相矛盾！

A proud Christian is as much a contradiction as a
humble devil!

一个人可能在神学上很有知识，在属灵上却一无所知。

A man may be theologically knowing--and spiritually
ignorant.

没有心，就没有敬拜；那不过是舞台上的表演，是扮演一个角色，是在装假冒为善。

Without the heart, there is no worship. It is mere
stage play--the acting of a part. It is playing the hypocrite.

不信是头一个罪，骄傲则是它头生的孩子。

Unbelief was the first sin--and pride was the
first-born of it.

就神而言，忍耐就是顺服祂的主权。仅仅因为无法逃避或抵挡试炼而忍受它，并不是基督徒的忍耐。惟有因这试炼是神按祂旨意所降下的，便谦卑顺服；因这是神主权的安排，便静默不语，这才是真正敬虔的忍耐。

In regard of God, patience is a submission to His
sovereignty. To endure a trial, simply because we cannot avoid or resist
it--is not Christian patience. But to humbly submit because it is the
will of God to inflict the trial, to be silent because the sovereignty of
God orders it--that is true godly patience.

神治理世界，不仅像一位拥有绝对权柄的君王，凭祂的旨意治理；也像一位慈爱的父亲，凭祂的智慧与美善治理。祂最大的喜悦，不在于显明祂主权的大能，也不在于显明祂无法测度的智慧，而在于显明祂浩大的美善；祂使其他属性都为这美善效力。

God does not govern the world only by His will
as an absolute monarch--but by His wisdom and goodness as a
tender father. It is not His greatest pleasure to show His sovereign
power, or His inconceivable wisdom--but His immense goodness, to which He
makes the other attributes subservient.

骄傲，就是自我同神争夺至高的地位。

Pride is self contending with God for preeminence.

在击打我们的杖下，我们对神的认识，往往多于在安慰我们的竿下所得的认识。

We often learn more of God under the rod that
strikes us--than under the staff that comforts us.

让我们仰望被钉十字架的基督，以祂为医治我们一切苦难的良药。祂的十字架为我们赢得冠冕，祂的受难为我们的过犯赎罪；祂的死解除了律法攻击我们的武装，祂的血洗净信徒的灵魂。祂的死毁灭我们的仇敌，是我们福乐的泉源，也是神圣之爱永远的见证！

Let us look upon a crucified Christ, as the remedy of
all our miseries. His cross has procured a crown--and His passion has
expiated our transgressions. His death has disarmed the law--and His
blood has washed a believer's soul. His death is the destruction of our
enemies, the spring of our happiness, and the eternal testimony of divine
love!

得儿子的名分，使我们享有儿子的特权；重生，使我们得着儿子的性情。

Adoption gives us the privilege of sons--regeneration
gives us the nature of sons.

人心最隐秘的洞穴里所做的一切，神都知道；没有一处没有祂同在。

God knows all that is done in the most secret caverns
of the heart. No place is deprived of His presence.

‘自我’是世上那敌基督、敌挡神的大敌；它高抬自己，超过一切。

SELF is the great anti-Christ and anti-God in the
world--which sets up itself above all else.

行为不能使人的心变好；好心却能使行为成为善。

Works do not make the heart good--but a good heart
makes the works good.

保罗深深被基督吸引，以致从他的口中和笔下流出的，没有什么比耶稣更甘甜。

Paul was so captivated by Christ, that nothing sweeter
than Jesus could drop from his lips and pen.

一个没有下定决心作战的士兵，很容易被击败。要常常重新立定那坚定而圣洁的心志。我们里面恩典的微弱、试探的强大，以及属灵仇敌的殷勤，都要求我们有刚强的决心。

A soldier unresolved to fight, may be easily defeated.
Frequently renew settled and holy resolutions. The weakness of our graces,
the strength of our temptations, and the diligence of our spiritual
enemies--require strong resolutions.

我们的敬拜虽不完全，仍可称为真敬拜；但我们的敬拜若不真诚，就不能称为敬拜神。

We may be truly said to worship God--though we lack
perfection; but we cannot be said to worship Him--if we lack sincerity.

当我们前来祈求新的福分时，记念神从前的恩惠，是何等合宜！

How worthy it is to remember God's former benefits--when we come to beg for new blessings.

否认神的存在，尚不如否认祂存在的纯全那样冒犯神。前者使祂不再是神，后者却把祂说成一位畸形、不可爱、可憎恶的神。说神不圣洁的人，比说根本没有神的人说得恶劣得多。

It is less injury to God to deny His being, than to
deny the purity of His being. The one makes Him no God--the other makes
Him a deformed, unlovely, and a detestable God. He who says God is not
holy--speaks much worse that he who says there is no God at all.

确据，是从信心这根上长出的果子。

Assurance is the fruit which grows out of the
root of faith.

如果曾有声音从天上宣告，说十二个从船上和水湾里召来的穷人，毫无学问帮助，却要使全世界归服十字架，人们或许会以为这完全违背人类理性，不过是幻象；然而我们知道，他们确实担起了这事，也成就了这事。

Had it been published by a voice from Heaven, that
twelve poor men, taken out of boats and creeks, without any help of
learning, should conquer the world to the cross, it might have been
thought an illusion against all reason of men; yet we know it was
undertaken and accomplished by them.

你会发现，圣经中一切的祷告都是向神陈明理由，并不是把许多话堆积在一起。

All the prayers in the Scripture you will find to be
reasoning with God--not a multitude of words heaped together.

人若不以敬畏和喜悦来思想神，神的存在又能给他什么安慰呢？对我们而言，被忘记的神，等同于没有神。

What comfort can be had in the being of God without
thinking of him with reverence and delight? A God forgotten--is as good
as no God to us.

既然除神以外没有什么是永恒的，那么除神以外也没有什么配得我们去爱。

Since nothing but God is eternal--nothing but God is
worth the loving.

罪竭力要使可称颂的神服在世上每一个人的任性和私欲之下！

Sin endeavors to subject the blessed God to the humor
and lust of every person in the world!

眼睛这个小小的肢体，既能观看大地，也能在转瞬之间望见高达诸天之物。

This little member, the eye, can behold the earth, and
in a moment view things as high as Heaven.

从此刻到我们死亡之间所剩无几的光阴，应当催促我们殷勤奔走，好承受神那无穷无尽、永不改变的永恒。

The little time that remains between this moment and
our death--should quicken our diligence to inherit the endless and
unchangeable eternity of God.

要使自己养成每天清晨认真默想的习惯。让我们的灵魂到天上呼吸清新的空气，必在我们里面生出更纯洁的心灵和更高贵的思想。清晨先受这样的熏陶，就会保守我们一整天。

Accustom yourself to serious meditation every morning.
Fresh airing our souls in Heaven will engender in us a purer spirit and
nobler thoughts. A morning seasoning will secure us for all the day.

我们不要以笼统认识神为满足；只匆匆看一眼一幅画，绝不能使你辨明它的价值和其中的艺术。

Let us not satisfy ourselves with a knowledge of God in
the mass--a glance upon a picture never directs you to the
discerning the worth and art of it.

神常把祂奇妙护理的总和，藏在极其凄苦的患难里；正如画家先涂上暗沉的颜色，预备在其上描绘一种显赫的美。

有罪而愚昧的人，宁可拿任何事物作自己的终极目标和福乐，也不肯以神为此。

God often lays the sum of His amazing providences in
very dismal afflictions; as the painter first puts on the dusky colors, on
which he intends to draw the portraiture of some illustrious beauty.

Sinful and foolish man would make anything his end and
happiness, rather than God.

倘若人心中为神塑造的那幅图像能够显露出来，它必是万有之中最丑怪的形象！

Were it possible to view the picture of God which men frame in their
minds, it would be the most monstrous of beings!

若没有永恒，神的各样完全还会是什么呢？不过是虽有荣美却渐渐凋残的花朵，是虽极伟大却日渐衰败的美丽！

Without eternity, what would God's perfections be, but glorious yet
withering flowers, a great but decaying beauty!

神的葡萄树经过修剪，反而长得更茂盛。

God's vines thrive the better for pruning.

能力是神的手或膀臂。

无所不知是神的眼睛。

怜悯是神的心肠。

永恒是神的存续。

圣洁是神的荣美。

若没有圣洁：
祂的忍耐就会成为对罪的纵容；
祂的怜悯就会成为滥情的偏爱；
祂的忿怒就会成为狂暴；
祂的能力就会成为暴政；
祂的智慧就会成为卑劣的诡计。
圣洁使神一切的属性彼此均衡。

Power is God's hand or arm.

Omniscience is God's eye.

Mercy is God's
heart.

Eternity is God's duration.

Holiness is God's beauty.

Without holiness . . .
His patience would be an indulgence to sin,
His mercy would
be a sentimental fondness,
His wrath would
be a madness,
His power would
be a tyranny,
His wisdom would be an unworthy subtlety.
Holiness gives balance to all of God's attributes.

过去的光阴无法召回，现在的光阴无法留住，将来的光阴无法确保。

"Time
past cannot be recalled, time
present cannot be
detained, time to come
cannot be secured."

得儿子的名分，就是把一个乞丐从粪堆中提拔起来，使他坐在王子中间！

"Adoption is the lifting
of a beggar from the dunghill, and setting him among princes!"

罪冒犯无限的圣洁，因此配受无限的刑罚。

罪就是弑神；每一种罪若能得逞，都要杀害神。

"Sin is an offense
against infinite holiness, and deserves infinite punishment."

"Sin is a
deicide--every sin would kill God if it could."

神圣洁的名，应当使我们战兢，而不是拿来戏谑。

"The holiness of God's name should cause us to tremble, not jest."

神与人之间最大的争论一直在于：究竟祂是神，还是人要作神；究竟以祂的理则还是人的理则、以祂的旨意还是人的意志为行事准则。若有任何事物能挫败神的旨意，它就高过神；神也就不是全能的，因而失去神性之完全，结果连神性本身也失去了。因为那能彻底挫败神旨意的，必比祂更有能力。既是神，却又低于另一位，这是自相矛盾的！

"The great controversy between God and man has
been, whether He or they shall be God; whether His reason or theirs,
His will or theirs, shall be the guiding principle. If anything could
frustrate God's will--then it would be superior to Him, God would not be
omnipotent, and so would lose the perfection of the Deity, and consequently
the Deity itself; for that which did wholly defeat God's will, would be more
powerful than He. To be God and yet inferior to another, is a
contradiction!"

神最大的怜悯，有时包裹在祂最严厉的审判中。

患难是神手中的连枷，要把糠秕从麦子中分开。

在患难的炉中，神烧去依靠自己的渣滓，显明祂全然够用的精金。

患难驱使灵魂屈膝，在那里，灵魂寻见恩典最丰盛的宝藏。

"God's
greatest mercy, is sometimes wrapped in His sharpest judgments."

"Affliction is God's flail, to separate the chaff from the wheat."

"In the
furnace of affliction God burns away the dross of self-reliance, and reveals
the gold of His sufficiency."

"Afflictions drive the soul to its knees, where it finds the richest treasures
of grace."

一个蒙拯救的罪人，除了扬声不断感谢神那白白赐下的怜悯，还能做什么呢？

"What can a saved sinner do, but lift his voice in perpetual thanks for God's
unmerited mercy?"

能力是神的手或膀臂；无所不知是神的眼睛；怜悯是神的喜乐；永恒是神的存续；圣洁是神的荣美！

Power is God's hand or arm,

omniscience is God's eye,

mercy is God's delight,

eternity is God's duration,

and holiness is God's beauty!

神的大能

（司提反·查诺克，1628—1680）

「世上所有的居民都算为虚无；在天上的万军和世上的居民中，祂都凭自己的意旨行事。无人能拦住祂手，或问祂说：『你做什么呢？』」（但以理书4:35）

神的大能，就是祂有能力和力量，成就祂所喜悦的一切，成就祂无限的智慧所指示、祂旨意无限的纯全所决定的一切。圣洁怎样是神一切属性的荣美，能力也照样把生命和行动赋予神本性的一切完全。若没有能力出面执行，祂永恒的定旨就会何等虚空。

若没有能力：祂的怜悯就只是软弱的同情；祂的应许只是空洞的声音；祂的警告只是稻草扎成的吓人偶像。

神的能力像祂自己一样无限、永恒、无法测透；受造之物既不能阻挡它，也不能约束或挫败它。正如祂的本质广大无边，不受空间局限；祂是永恒的，不受时间衡量；祂也全能，不在行动上受任何限制。

The power of God

(Stephen Charnock, 1628-1680)

"All the peoples of the earth
are regarded as nothing.

He does as He pleases with the powers of heaven and

the peoples of the earth. No one can hold back His hand

or say to Him--What have You done?" Daniel 4:35

The power of God is that ability and strength whereby

He can bring to pass whatever He pleases, whatever His

infinite wisdom may direct, and whatever the infinite purity

of His will may resolve. As holiness is the beauty of all God's

attributes; so power is that which gives life and action to all

the perfections of the divine nature. How vain would be the

eternal decrees, if power did not step in to execute them.

Without power--

His mercy would be but feeble pity,

His promises an empty sound,

His threatenings a mere scarecrow.

God's power is like Himself--infinite, eternal,

incomprehensible; it can neither be checked,

restrained, nor frustrated by the creature.

As His essence . . .

is immense--not to be confined in place;

as it is eternal--not to be measured in time;

so it is almighty--not to be limited in regard of action.

神的忿怒倾倒在祂儿子身上！

（司提反·查诺克，1628—1680）

「耶和华却定意将祂压伤，使祂受痛苦。」（以赛亚书53:10）

过去和将来倾倒在邪恶世界上的一切审判之碗，罪人良心里燃烧的火炉，向悖逆邪灵所宣告、无法撤回的判决，以及被定罪之人一切的呻吟，都不及神倾倒在祂儿子身上的忿怒，更能显明神何等恨恶罪！当我们的救主在垂死的呻吟中面容毁损得最厉害时，神圣洁的荣美与可爱也显得最为明亮：那时，神向祂转去喜悦的脸，把锋利的刀刺入祂心里，迫使祂发出那可怕的呼喊：「我的神！我的神！为什么离弃我？」

The wrath of God let
loose upon His Son!

(Stephen Charnock, 1628-1680)

"Yet it was the Lord's will to crush Him and cause

Him to suffer." Isaiah 53:10

Not all the vials of judgment that have or
shall be poured

out upon the wicked world, nor the flaming furnace of a

sinner's conscience, nor the irreversible sentence pronounced

against the rebellious demons, nor the groans of the damned

creatures--give such a demonstration of God's hatred of sin--

as the wrath of God let loose upon His Son!
Never did

divine holiness appear more beautiful and lovely than at the

time our Savior's countenance was most marred in the midst

of His dying groans--when God had turned His smiling face

from Him, and thrust His sharp knife into His heart, which

forced that terrible cry from Him, 'My God, My God, why

have You forsaken Me!'

祷告，就是藉着基督，在圣灵所赐的力量与帮助中，为神在祂话语里所应许的事，真诚、清醒而满有情感地向神倾倒灵魂。

Prayer is a sincere, sensible, affectionate pouring
out of the soul to God, through Christ, in the strength and assistance of
the Spirit--for such things as God has promised in His Word.

试探初次临到时，就像那头起来扑向参孙的狮子；但我们若胜过试探，下次再看见它时，就会发现其中有一窝蜂蜜。

Temptations, when we meet them at first, are as the
lion that reared upon Samson. But if we overcome them, the next time we
see them we shall find a nest of honey within them.

无论死亡何时来到，都不能伤害基督徒；因为死亡不过是一条通道：

从监牢进入王宫；

从苦海进入安息的港湾；

从仇敌的围困中，进入无数真诚、慈爱、忠信的朋友中间；

从羞耻、辱骂和藐视，进入极大而永远的荣耀！

Let death come when it will--it can do the
Christian no harm, for it will be but a passage . . .

out of a prison--and into a palace;

out of a sea of troubles--and into a haven of rest;

out of a crowd of enemies--and into an innumerable company of true,
loving, and faithful friends;

out of shame, reproach, and contempt--and into exceeding great and
eternal glory!

你那柔弱的眼睛，每一滴为抵挡私欲、抵挡贪爱世界，或为渴望与耶稣基督有更深相交而流的泪，如今无不收在神的皮袋里。

There has not been one tear dropped from your tender
eye against your lusts, the love of this world, or for more communion with
Jesus Christ--but as it is now in the bottle of God.

在患难的时候，我们通常最能甜美地经历神的爱。

In times of affliction--we commonly meet with the
sweetest experiences of the love of God.

懒惰人的头脑，是魔鬼的工场！

An idle man's brain--is the devil's workshop!

‘空谈者’代表这样的人：他喜爱谈论属神的事，却对这些事只有道理上的知识；他所高谈阔论的，与自己内心真实的经历毫不相应。这样的人往往很受别人尊重，但最亲近他的人很快就会揭露：他的生活与他的话并不相称。他谈论各样属神之事时的流利，为他的真实生活编织了一张面具。

Talkative represents the man or woman who delights
in talking about divine things--but has only theoretical knowledge of
such things. No actual personal heart experience correlates to the matters
they love to discuss so eloquently. They are often highly esteemed by
others--but those closest to them would quickly betray a life out of sync
with their words. The mask fashioned by fluency with all divine
subjects hides their real life.

祷告会使人停止犯罪；不然，罪就会引诱人停止祷告。

Prayer will make a man cease from sin--or sin will
entice a man to cease from prayer.

敬畏神是智慧的开端。没有这开端的人，既没有中程，也没有终点。

The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom. Those who
lack the beginning--have neither middle nor end.

祷告时，宁可有一颗无言的心，也不要有许多无心的话。

In prayer, it is better to have a heart without words--than words without a heart.

我最熟知的真理，都是跪着学会的。一个真理若没有藉着祷告烧进我的心里，我就从未真正认识它。

The truths that I know best, I have learned on my
knees. I never know a thing well--until it is burned into my heart by
prayer.

凡与神的话相违背的，都应当立刻抵挡，因为那是出于魔鬼的。

Whatever contradicts the Word of God--should be
instantly resisted as diabolical.

主用患难作祂手中的连枷，把糠秕从麦子中分开。

The Lord uses his flail of tribulation--to separate
the chaff from the wheat.

基督是万国所羡慕的，是天使的喜乐，是父所喜悦的。那么，那永远得着祂的灵魂，必充满何等的安慰！

Christ is the desire of nations, the joy of angels, the
delight of the Father. What solace then must that soul be filled with, who
has the possession of Him to all eternity!

基督徒啊，神对你那分别出来的爱，应当催促你深深敬畏祂。祂已把敬畏祂的心放在你里面，却可能没有把这福分赐给你的邻舍，甚至可能没有赐给你的丈夫、妻子、儿女或父母！这念头应当使你的心何等深觉有责任敬畏主！也要记得，敬畏主是祂的宝藏，是一颗上选的宝石，只赐给蒙祂特别恩宠、祂所深爱的人。

Christian, let God's distinguishing love to you be a
motive to you to fear Him greatly. He has put His fear in your heart, and
may not have given that blessing to your neighbor, perhaps not to your
husband, your wife, your child, or your parent! Oh, what an obligation
should this thought lay upon your heart to greatly fear the Lord! Remember
also that this fear of the Lord is His treasure, a choice jewel, given
only to favorites, and to those who are greatly beloved.

你若还没有为一个永远无法回报你的人做一件事，今天就还没有真正活过。

You have not lived today--until you have done
something for someone who can never repay you.

如今的基督徒之所以在一些事上如此困惑，是因为他们满足于从人口中听来的话，却不肯自己查考，也不肯跪在神面前，从祂那里明白这些事的真相。

The reason why the Christians in this day are at such a
loss as to some things--is that they are contented with what comes from
man's mouth, without searching and kneeling before God to know of Him the
truth of things.

我的生命若不结果子，无论谁称赞我都无关紧要。

我的生命若结出果子，无论谁批评我也无关紧要。

If my life is fruitless--it doesn't matter who praises
me.

If my life is fruitful--it doesn't matter who criticizes me.

要常常祷告，因为祷告是灵魂的盾牌，是献给神的祭，也是鞭打撒但的鞭子。

Pray often, for prayer is a shield to the soul, a
sacrifice to God, and a scourge to Satan.

人若没有经历试炼和试探，就不能真正明白圣经。

No man, without trials and temptations--can attain a
true understanding of the Holy Scriptures.

凡神说是最好的，就真是最好的，即使全世界的人都反对也是如此。

What God says is best--is best--though all the men in
the world are against it.

真悔改与假悔改的区别就在这里：真正悔改的人控诉自己邪恶的心；另一个人却像夏娃一样，控诉那蛇，或控诉别的事物。

The difference between true and false repentance lies
in this: the man who truly repents cries out against his evil heart; but
the other, as Eve, cries out against the serpent, or something else.

看见大多数人忽略自己宝贵的灵魂，背向荣耀的福音，也很少思想那位被钉十字架的耶稣，实在令人悲哀。与此同时，他们的身体却得到周全供养，他们的产业备受看重，今生的事物也被视为至宝。这就仿佛心爱的宝贝还不如一块泥土，不朽的灵魂还不如必朽坏的身体，宝贵的救主还不如那些不能使人满足的受造之物。

It is sad to see how the most of men neglect their
precious souls, turning their backs upon the glorious gospel, and little
minding a crucified Jesus--when, in the meanwhile, their bodies are well
provided for, their estates much regarded, and the things of this present
life are highly prized. This is as if the darling was of less value than a
clod of earth; an immortal soul was of less value, than a perishing body;
a precious Savior was of less value, than unsatisfying creatures.

恩典能赦免我们的不敬虔，以基督的义称我们为义。

恩典能把耶稣基督的灵放在我们里面。

恩典能在我们跌倒时帮助我们。

恩典能在我们受伤时医治我们。

恩典能因我们许多的过犯，一次又一次赦免我们。

Grace can pardon our ungodliness and justify us with
Christ's righteousness.

Grace can put the Spirit of Jesus Christ within us.

Grace can help us, when we are down.

Grace can heal us, when we are wounded.

Grace can multiply pardons, for our multiple transgressions.

一个人可能把圣经的一切奥秘都学会了，灵魂却从未受它触动。广博的知识，并不是使人得救的恩典。

It is possible to learn all about the mysteries of the
Bible--and never be affected by it in one's soul. Great knowledge is not
saving grace.

我看见，使我的义更美好的并不是我心灵的好光景，使我的义变得更坏的也不是我心灵的坏光景；因为我的义就是耶稣基督自己，祂昨日、今日、一直到永远都是一样的。

I saw that it was not my good frame of heart that made
my righteousness better, nor my bad frame that made my righteousness
worse; for my righteousness was Jesus Christ himself, the same yesterday
and today and forever.

人若真看见基督已把刑罚担当在自己身上，从而除去了他们对刑罚的惧怕，他们就不会再任意而行，而会照着祂的旨意去行。

If people really see that Christ has removed the fear
of punishment from them by taking it into Himself--they won't do whatever
they want, they'll do whatever He wants.

这里有一个给真天路客的警告：要防备那只会空谈的人；但同时，也不可轻率论断那些既蒙神赐下真实恩典，又能流利地谈论神圣怜悯，甚至比别人说得更动听的人。证据在于生活，不是完全无瑕的生活，而是既喜爱神圣真理、又尊神为大的生活。惟独神赐下主权的恩典，这恩典总会结出真正丰盛而芬芳的生命果子。

There is a warning here for true pilgrims. Beware of
the talker--but also be careful not to judge too quickly those whom God
has blessed with both genuine grace and a fluency to speak of divine mercy
in ways more eloquent than others. The proof is in the life-not a
perfect life--but a life that both delights in divine truth and magnifies
God--the only giver of the sovereign grace that always produces the truly
fruitful, fragrant life.

基督徒就像园中各样的花朵，每一朵都有天上的露水；风一吹动，它们就把露水滴在彼此的根旁，于是共同得着滋养，也彼此成为滋养者。

Christians are like the several flowers in a garden
that have each of them the dew of Heaven, which, being shaken with the
wind, they let fall at each other's roots, whereby they are jointly
nourished, and become nourishers of each other.

神的儿女没有谁会犯罪到一个地步，使自己再也不能蒙赦免。

No child of God sins to that degree as to make himself
incapable of forgiveness.

这实在是世上最大的奥秘之一：一份居于天上的义，竟使我这个地上的罪人得称为义！

Indeed, this is one of the greatest mysteries in the
world, namely, that a righteousness that resides in Heaven, should justify
me, a sinner on earth!

这就是神的恩典在天路客心里所结的果效：一方面，他看见自己邪恶的本性倾向于犯别人所犯过的一切罪，便自卑下来；另一方面，他也承认，自己得蒙保守绝不是靠自己的能力，而总把荣耀归给赐诸般恩典的神，因为惟独靠祂的能力，他才得蒙保守，不至跌倒。

Such is the effect of the grace of God in the heart of
a pilgrim; while on one hand he sees the propensity of his evil nature to
every sin which has been committed by others, and is humbled. He also
confesses, that, by no power of his own, is he preserved--but ever gives
the glory to the God of all grace, by whose power alone he is kept from
falling.

我们的心若没有安静，外在的安慰对我们就毫无用处，正如给痛风的脚穿上一只金拖鞋。

If we have not quiet in our minds--outward comfort
will do no more for us than a golden slipper on a gouty foot.

最好的祷告，往往叹息多于言语。

The best prayers have often more groans than words.

我常常以为，最恶劣的时代往往会显出最好的基督徒。

I have often thought that the best Christians are found
in the worst of times.

归信并不像有些人所想的那样，是一个平顺而轻省的过程。使人的心破碎，是一种使人受伤的工作；但若没有受伤，就没有拯救。凡要接枝，总要先切开；接穗必须从伤口嵌进去，只把它贴在外面，或用绳子绑在外面，都毫无用处。心材必须接着心材，树皮必须贴着树皮，否则汁液就不能从树根流到枝子。我再说，这事必须藉着一道伤口、一道切痕来完成。

Conversion is not the smooth, easy-going process some
men seem to think. It is wounding work, this breaking of the hearts--but
without wounding there is no saving. Where there is grafting--there will
always be a cutting, the graft must be let in with a wound; to stick it
onto the outside or to tie it on with a string would be of no use. Heart
must be set to heart and back to back or there will be no sap from root to
branch. And this, I say, must be done by a wound, by a cut.

大罪引出大恩典；罪咎越显得可怕凶猛，神在基督里的怜悯向灵魂显明时，就越显得至高而大有能力。

Great sins draw out great grace; and where guilt is
most terrible and fierce--there the mercy of God in Christ, when showed
to the soul, appears most high and mighty.

已经俯伏的人，无须怕再跌倒；
身居卑微的人，无须怕骄傲。

谦卑的人，必常有神作他的引导。

He who is down needs fear no fall. He who is low, no
pride.

He who is humble, ever shall have God to be his Guide.

祷告时最要紧的，不是看人的口说了什么，而是看他的心在向神祷告时，是否充满情感与迫切，以致无法表达自己的感受和渴望。因为当一个人的渴望如此强烈、如此众多、如此有力，甚至从心里发出的一切言语、眼泪和叹息都无法将它们说尽时，他才是真正在渴望。

It is not the mouth that is the main thing to be
looked at in prayer--but whether the heart is so full of affection
and earnestness in prayer with God, that it is impossible to express their
sense and desire; for then a man desires indeed, when his desires are so
strong, many, and mighty, that all the words, tears, and groans that can
come from the heart, cannot utter them.

从前有一个人，虽然有人说他癫狂；他舍去得越多，所有的反而越多。

A man there was, though some did count him mad--the
more he cast away the more he had.

耶稣与公义角力，使你得享安息。

祂哭泣哀恸，使你欢笑喜乐。

祂被出卖，使你得释放。

祂被捉拿，使你能逃脱。

祂被定罪，使你得称为义。

祂被杀，使你得生命。

祂戴荆棘冠冕，使你戴荣耀冠冕。

祂被钉在十字架上，双臂张开，为要显明祂要何等白白地把自己一切功绩赐给那前来的灵魂，也显明祂何等诚心地把这灵魂接入怀中！

Jesus wrestled with justice--that you might have rest.

He wept and mourned--that you might laugh and rejoice.

He was betrayed--that you might go free.

He was apprehended--that you might escape.

He was condemned--that you might be justified.

He was killed--that you might live.

He wore a crown of thorns--that you might wear a crown of glory.

He was nailed to the cross, with His arms wide open--to show with what
freeness all His merits shall be bestowed on the coming soul; and how
heartily He will receive it into His bosom!

以真实、使人得救的信心抓住并领受福音，是一个已经成为新造之灵魂的行动；这灵魂是神的工作。凡要领受福音所赐恩典的人，都必须：被神的大能苏醒；眼睛被打开；悟性蒙光照；耳朵得开通；内心受割礼；意志被归正；神的儿子向他们显明。

To lay hold of and receive the gospel by a true and
saving faith is an act of the soul that has been made a new creature,
which is the workmanship of God. Whoever receives the grace that is
offered in the gospel . . .

they must be quickened by the power of God,

their eyes must be opened,

their understandings must be illuminated,

their ears must be unstopped,

their hearts must be circumcised,

their wills must be rectified,

and the Son of God revealed to them.

他们的身体将从死里复起，成为盛载灵魂的器皿，也就是盛忿怒的器皿。灵魂要呼出地狱的火；它燃烧的嘴唇上仿佛挂着烟和炭。是的，脸、眼睛和耳朵，都仿佛成为烈焰和浓烟的烟囱与出口；那火是神以气息在他们里面、在他们身上点燃的。身体与灵魂将彼此扣住，使双方都受极大的折磨和痛苦。

Their bodies will be raised from the dead as vessels
for the soul-vessels of wrath. The soul will breathe hell-fire, and smoke
and coal will seem to hang upon its burning lips; yes the face, eyes, and
ears will seem to be chimneys and vents for the flame, and the smoke of
the burning, which God, by His breath, has kindled therein, and upon,
them, which will be held one in another, to the great torment and distress
of each other.

人若不认识耶稣基督，也不知道蒙祂拯救的宝贵，即使他们接受了我的见解，我也毫不喜悦。对罪有健全的知罪之感，尤其看见不信的罪；一颗心被点燃，切望蒙基督拯救；又强烈渴求真正成圣的灵魂——这些才使我喜悦；这样的灵魂，才是我看为有福的。

It gave me no pleasure to see people drink in my opinions if they
seemed ignorant of Jesus Christ and the value of being saved by Him. Sound
conviction for sin, especially the sin of unbelief, and a heart set on
fire to be saved by Christ, with a strong yearning for a truly sanctified
soul--this was what delighted me; those were the souls I considered
blessed.

律法并不洁净人心脱离罪；它把罪揭露出来、禁止罪时，反倒只使罪复苏，在灵魂里给罪加力，使它增长，因为律法并不赐人制服罪的能力。

归正并不像有些人以为的那样，是平滑轻松的过程；若真如此，人的心就绝不会被比作休耕地，神的道也不会被比作犁。

The law, instead of cleansing the heart from sin--only revives it, puts strength into, and increases it in the soul--even
as it does discover and forbid it, for it does not give power to subdue.

Conversion is not the smooth, easy-going process some men seem to think
it; otherwise man's heart would never have been compared to fallow ground
and God's Word to a plough.

盼望的皮很厚，经得起许多击打。它把忍耐当作衣服穿上，为了摆在前面的喜乐忍受一切。因此，忍耐被称为从盼望而来的忍耐；因为正是盼望，使灵魂在十字架下操练忍耐，直到享受冠冕的时候来到！

Hope has a thick skin and will endure many a blow. It
will put on patience as a vestment and will endure all things for the joy
that is set before it. Hence patience is called patience of hope,
because it is hope that makes the soul exercise patience under the cross,
until the time comes to enjoy the crown!

「凡父所赐给我的人必到我这里来。」因此，主耶稣在这里明确决定，要发出足够的一切恩典，有效地成就这应许。他们必到这里来；也就是说，祂必使他们前来，在为此使用的一切蒙恩之道里注入有效的福分。

All that the Father gives me shall come. Here,
therefore, the Lord Jesus positively determines to put forth such a
sufficiency of all grace as shall effectually perform this promise. They
shall come; that is, he will cause them to come, by infusing of an
effectual blessing into all the means that shall be used to that end.

信心是神的灵所结的果子、所作的工作或所赐的恩赐；借着信心，一个可怜的灵魂在神大能的运行下，既感觉到自己的罪和悲惨境况，就得以抓住神儿子的义、宝血、死亡、复活、升天、代求与再来；这位神的儿子曾为我们的罪钉在十字架上。

Faith is a fruit, work, or gift of the Spirit of God,
whereby a poor soul is enabled through the mighty operation of God, in a
sense of its sins and wretched estate, to lay hold on the righteousness,
blood, death, resurrection, ascension, intercession, and coming again of
the Son of God--who was crucified for our sins.

我所寻找的是一个永远不能被毁灭的地方；它纯洁、不衰残，已经存留在天上，安稳无虞，到了所定的日期，就要赐给那些全心寻找它的人。你若愿意，可以在我的书中这样读到。

I seek a place that can never be destroyed, one that is
pure, and that fades not away, and it is laid up in Heaven, and safe
there, to be given, at the time appointed, to those who seek it with all
their heart. Read it so, if you will, in my book.

基督徒刚走到十字架前，担子就从肩上松脱，从背上掉下来，开始滚下山坡，一直滚到坟墓口，落了进去；我就再也看不见它了！

Just as Christian came up to the Cross--his
burden loosed from off his shoulders, fell from off his back, and began to
tumble down the hill, and so it continued to do until it came to the mouth
of the sepulcher. There it fell in, and I saw it no more!

神绝不会轻易失去祂的百姓。祂已经为我们预备妥当：有宝血洗净我们；有一位祭司为我们祷告，使我们得以坚忍到底；万一我们严重跌倒，又有一位中保为我们的案件辩护。

God will not lightly or easily lose His people. He has provided well
for us:

blood to wash us in;

a Priest to pray for us, that we may be made to persevere;

and, in case we foully fall, an Advocate to plead our cause.

证明我们敬畏主的，不是认识神的旨意，而是我们真诚地遵行祂的旨意。我们所履行的任何义务，若没有敬虔的敬畏调和其中，就绝不可能蒙神悦纳。

It is not the knowledge of the will of God, but our
sincerely complying therewith, that proves we fear the Lord. There is no
duty performed by us, that can by any means be accepted of God, if it be
not seasoned with godly fear.

财富和权力，世上还有什么比它们更大呢？因为银钱能应付万事——惟独不能应付灵魂的事。人在世时，金钱不能作灵魂的赎价；人若已经落入地狱烈火，即使金钱联合一切强大势力，也救不出一个灵魂。

Riches and power, what is there more in the world? For
money answers all things--that is, all but soul concerns. It can neither
be a price for souls while here--nor can that, with all the forces of
strength, recover one out of Hell fire.

没有什么比罪的重担更能使患难变得难以承受。那么，你想预备好面对患难吗？务要先卸下罪的重担；这样，无论遇见什么患难，对你都会十分轻省。

Nothing can render affliction so insupportable, as the
load of sin. Would you then be fitted for afflictions? Be sure to get the
burden of your sins laid aside, and then whatever affliction you may meet
with, will be very easy to you.

我们不知道自己该为什么事祷告，不知道向谁祷告，也不知道借着谁、经过谁祷告。这一切我们都不知道，惟有圣灵帮助扶持，才能知道。

We know not the matter of the things for which
we should pray, neither the object to whom we pray, nor the
medium by or through whom we pray. None of these things know we--but
by the help and assistance of the Spirit.

你要谨慎，免得忘记自己按本性是什么样的人，也随之忘记自己需要不断蒙赦免、得扶持，并从恩典之灵得着供应，以致因自己的能力，或因从神领受的一切而骄傲。

Fear, lest, by forgetting what you are by nature--you
also forget the need that you have of continual pardon, support, and
supplies from the Spirit of grace, and so grow proud of your own
abilities, or of what you have received from God.

贪食是一种很少有人留意的罪；犯这罪的人也同样很少悔改。然而，贪食在神眼中可憎，人若惯于此事，就显明他心里不敬畏神。

Gluttony is a sin little taken notice of, and as little
repented of by those who commit it; yet it is odious in the sight of God,
and the practice of it a demonstration of the lack of His fear in his
heart.

要认识自己，知道你是何等卑劣、可怕、可憎的罪人。因为你若不先认识自己本性的败坏，就不能认识基督的爱。

在世界开始以前，基督心中曾有多少以我们为喜乐的念头，谁能说得尽呢！

Know yourself--what a vile, horrible, abominable sinner
you are. For you cannot know the love of Christ, before you know the
badness of your nature.

Who can tell how many heart-pleasing thoughts Christ
had of us before the world began!

一颗破碎的心，好像被捣碎的香料；香料被捣碎，就把芬芳送进人的鼻孔，破碎的心也照样把自己的香气送到神面前。

The heart, when broken, is like sweet spices when
beaten; for as such cast their fragrant scent into the nostrils of men--so the heart, when broken, casts its sweet smell into the nostrils of God.

要谨慎，不要如此拼命追逐世界，以致拦阻自己履行因恩典而负有的、向神当尽的义务，例如个人祷告、阅读圣经，以及与基督徒交通谈论。

Take heed of driving so hard after this world, as to
hinder yourself from those duties towards God, which you are by grace
obliged to; as private prayer, reading the scriptures, and Christian
conference.

没有圣灵，人何等软弱；即使联合其他一切方法，他也不能思想一个关于神、基督或祂蒙福之事的正确念头，以致使自己得救。

Without the Spirit, man is so infirm that he cannot,
with all other means whatever, be enabled to think one right saving
thought of God, of Christ, or of his blessed things.

正直的人独处时和站在世人面前时完全一样。他不会戴两副面具：一副在人前显露，另一副在独处时戴上。

Integrity is the same when alone, as it is before the
face of the world. It knows not how to wear two masks--one for an
appearance before men, and another when alone.

恩典使你脱去荣耀；恩典使你贫穷、被人轻看；恩典使你背负罪的重担、忧伤的重担和神咒诅的重担，其沉重无法言说。

Grace stripped You of Your glory.

Grace made You poor and despicable.

Grace made You bear such burdens of sin, such burdens of sorrow, such
burdens of God's curse as are unspeakable.

据说有些地方的树木可以生长，却因那里没有冬天而不能结果。同样，你需要患难，才能在恩典中成长。

It is said that in some countries trees will grow--but
will bear no fruit because there is no winter there. Just so, your
afflictions are needed for your growth in grace.

到了审判之日，人要按自己的果子受审判。那时所问的不是：「你信了吗？」而是：「你是遵行的人，还是只会空谈的人？」

At the day of Doom, men shall be judged according to
their fruits. It will not be said then: Did you believe? But, were you
doers or talkers only?

虽然经上说，信道是从听道来的；然而，是圣灵借着听道在人心里生发信心，否则听道对他们就没有益处。

Though it be said that faith comes by hearing--yet it
is the Spirit who works faith in the heart through hearing, or else they
are not profited by hearing.

柔软的心，是醒着警醒的心。它防备灵魂里的罪、家庭里的罪、职分上的罪，也防备属灵义务和行动中的罪。

A tender heart is a wakeful, watchful heart. It watches
against sin in the soul, sin in the family, sin in the calling, sin in
spiritual duties and performances.

罪挑衅神的公义，蹂躏祂的怜悯，嘲弄祂的忍耐，轻看祂的能力，蔑视祂的爱。

Sin is the dare of God's justice, the rape of His mercy, the jeer of
His patience, the slight of His power, and the contempt of His love.

患难使人的心更深，更有亲身经历，认识得更多，也更加深邃。

Afflictions make the heart more deep, more experimental, more knowing and profound.

我已经向祂交出信心，宣誓效忠于祂。那么，我怎能从此退后，竟不因叛徒之罪被处以绞刑呢？

I have given Him my faith, and sworn my allegiance to
Him. How, then, can I go back from this, and not be hanged as a traitor?

人惧怕地狱，并不总表明他有恩典；然而，人若不敬畏神，就肯定没有恩典。

Though there is not always grace where there is the
fear of Hell.

Yet, surely there is no grace, where there is no fear of God.

按着创造，人本是世上一切受造者中最高贵的；但因着罪，他使自己成了最卑贱的。

Man indeed is the most noble, by creation, of all the
creatures in the world; but by sin he has made himself the most ignoble.

一个活在罪中、却指望来世得福的人，就像撒下稗子，却以为能把麦子装满粮仓。

He who lives in sin, and looks for happiness hereafter--is like him that sows cockle-weeds, and thinks to fill his barn with
wheat.

你的信心怎样，你的盼望也就怎样。信心健全，盼望就绝不会败坏；信心软弱，盼望也不会刚强。

As your faith is--such your hope will
be. Hope is never ill, when faith is well; nor strong, if faith is weak.

不尊重神的道，是基督徒内心、生活和行事为人中一切混乱的根源。

Lack of reverence for God's Word is the ground of all
the disorders that are in the Christian's heart, life, and conduct.

我们犯下、流露出来并玷污我们的罪有许多，连我们自己也丝毫没有察觉。

There are many sins committed by us, dropping from us,
and that pollute us, that we are not at all aware of.

祷告向神敞开心门；灵魂虽然空虚，却借着祷告被神充满。

Prayer opens the heart to God, and it is the means by
which the soul, though empty, is filled with God.

祷告是神所设立的蒙恩之道；只要灵魂还在荣耀的这边，就必须常有祷告相随。

Prayer is an ordinance of God, that must continue with
a soul so long as it is on this side glory.

人若真切感恩，感谢已经领受的怜悯，这在神的灵里就是大有力量的祷告；它在神面前的功效无法言说。

A sensible thanksgiving for mercies received, is a
mighty prayer in the Spirit of God. It prevails with Him unspeakably.

我宁可在监牢里住到终老，也不肯屠宰自己的良心。

I will stay in jail to the end of my days--before I
make a butchery of my conscience.

人在正路上时，走出去容易；走到路外以后，要重新走进来却难。

It is easier going out of the way when we are in--than
going in when we are out.

除了罪，没有什么能伤害我；除了罪，没有什么能使我忧伤；除了罪，没有什么能击败我。

Nothing can hurt me except sin;

nothing can grieve me except sin;

nothing can defeat me except sin.

古老的真理若带着天国的馨香临到我们，就永远是新的。

Old truths are always new to us, if they come with the
fragrance of Heaven upon them.

我宁可留在监狱里，直到眼皮上长出青苔，也不肯违背神。

I will stay in prison until the moss grows on my eye
lids--rather than disobey God.

忘记朋友的人，对朋友忘恩负义；忘记救主的人，对自己毫无怜悯。

He who forgets his friend--is ungrateful to him.

He who forgets his Savior--is unmerciful to himself.

我从愚钝镇来；它在灭亡城那边约四度的地方。

I come from the Town of Stupidity--it lies about four
degrees beyond the City of Destruction.

于是我看见，就连从天国门口也有一条路通往地狱！

Then I saw that there was a way to Hell--even from the
gates of Heaven!

能跑的时候就跑；不能跑就走；不能走就爬。

Run when I can; walk when I cannot run; and creep when
I cannot walk.

可称颂的耶稣啊，你俯就卑微时显出的恩典何等丰盛！恩典把你从天上带下来。

Blessed Jesus, what grace was manifest in Your condescension! Grace
brought You down from Heaven.

人的心必须受击打、被压伤，随后才会发出甘甜的香气。

The heart must be beaten or bruised--and then the
sweet fragrance will come out.

我所祷告过最好的祷告，其中的罪也足以定全世界的罪！

The best prayer I ever prayed, had enough sin to damn the whole world!

牧者对群羊的爱，最能在他为他们祷告这件事上看出来。

A minister's love to his flock in best seen in his
praying for them.

一个漏洞就能使船沉没；一种被纵容的罪，也能毁灭罪人。

One leak will sink a ship--and one sin allowed, will
destroy a sinner.

祷告的灵，比金银财宝更宝贵。

The spirit of prayer is more precious than treasures of
gold and silver.

真诚使灵魂单纯坦率地向神敞开心门。

Sincerity carries the soul in all simplicity to open
its heart to God.

再会！愿我们的灵魂在旅程终点相遇，同得安慰。

Farewell, I wish our souls may meet with comfort at the
journey's end.

在你一切的祷告中，不要忘记为主的怜悯感谢祂。

In all your prayers, forget not to thank the Lord for
his mercies.

祂借着自己的忧伤使我得安息，借着自己的死亡使我得生命。

He has given me rest by His sorrow--and life by His
death.

恩典大、恩赐小，胜过恩赐大、却没有恩典。

Great grace and small gifts--are better than great
gifts and no grace.

祂的爱使我们得以存活、相爱、歌唱，并永远颂赞。

His love is what makes us live, love, sing, and praise
forever.

你若要正确祷告，就必须以神为你的盼望、倚靠和一切。

To pray rightly, you must make God your hope, stay, and
all.

人在犯罪的道路上安然无事，是最大的咒诅之一。

Peace in a sinful course, is one of the greatest of curses.

从神那里得着一点，胜过从人那里得着许多。

A little from God--is better than a great deal from
men.

我以自己所有的为满足，无论是少是多。

I am content with what I have--be it little, or much.

你选择的是最崎岖的道路，却笔直通往天国！

You have chosen the roughest road--but it leads
straight to Heaven!

你若不是祷告的人，就不是基督徒。

If you are not a praying person--you are not a
Christian.

一切过犯，都始于我们偏离神的道。

All transgression begins at our wandering from the Word
of God.

罪人哪，脸红吧，脸红吧！巴不得你有恩典，知道脸红！

Blush, sinner, blush! Oh, that you had grace to blush!

许多自称信主的人，在外面是圣徒，在家里却是魔鬼。

Many professors are saint abroad--and a devil at home.

劳碌的人睡得香甜。

Sleep is sweet to the laboring man.

你受击打，是要使你变得更好。

You are beaten--that you may be better.

犯罪的灵魂啊，你明白我的意思吗？

Do you understand me, sinful soul?

一位受欢迎的客人！

（《从地狱发出的几声叹息》，又名《被定罪灵魂的呻吟》，作者是那可怜、被人轻看的耶稣基督仆人约翰·班扬，1658年。本书解释路加福音16:19—31财主与讨饭之人的故事，显明被定罪之人可悲的境况——他们在痛苦中的呼喊和愿望，以及神向他们所定的审判。这是对老少失丧罪人一句有益的警告，催促他们凭信心在耶稣基督里寻求救恩，免得也来到那受痛苦的地方。）

「罪人虽然作恶百次，倒享长久的年日；然而我准知道，敬畏神的，就是在祂面前敬畏的人，终久必得福乐。」（传道书8:12）

信徒啊，你终久必得福乐！

请思想，你是何等安全、何等稳妥、何等有福！

别人下地狱时，你却必须上天国！

别人到魔鬼那里时，你却必须到神那里！

别人进入永远的监牢时，你却必须得释放、享安舒！

别人因心中忧伤而吼叫时，你却要因心中喜乐而歌唱！

请思想，你必得着：你一生善用的光阴跟随你，取代你一切的罪；福音荣耀的福分，取代律法可怕的咒诅和定罪；慈爱之父的赐福，取代公义审判者如火的判决。

无论死亡何时来到，都不能伤害你；它不过是一条通道：使你离开监牢，进入宫殿；离开患难之海，进入安息的港湾；离开成群的仇敌，进入无数真实、慈爱、忠信的朋友中间；离开羞耻、辱骂和轻蔑，进入浩大而永恒的荣耀！

死亡不能用毒钩伤你，也不能用杀害灵魂的牙齿咬你；它反倒会成为你所欢迎的客人，因为它奉差遣来，使你脱离寄居这可怜世界时所受的患难。

「因我活着就是基督，我死了就有益处。」（腓立比书1:21）

「我正在两难之间，情愿离世与基督同在。因为这是好得无比的。」（腓立比书1:23）

A welcome guest!

("A Few Sighs From Hell" or "The Groans of the Damned Soul" by
that poor and contemptible servant of Jesus Christ,

John Bunyan,
1658. Being an exposition of Luke 16:19-31, concerning the Rich Man
and the Beggar, wherein is revealed the lamentable state of the
Damned -- their cries, and their desires in their distresses, with the
determined judgment of God upon them. A good warning word to lost sinners,
both old and young, to seek salvation by faith in Jesus Christ -- lest they
come into the same place of torment.)

"Although a
wicked man commits a hundred crimes and still lives a long time -- yet surely
I know that it will be well with God-fearing men, who are reverent
before God!" Ecclesiastes 8:12

Believer, it will be well with you!

Consider how safe, how sure, how happy are you!

For when others go to Hell -- you must go to Heaven!

When others go to the devil -- you must go to God!

When as others go to eternal prison -- you must be set at liberty, and at
ease!

When others must roar for sorrow of heart -- you shall sing for the joy of
heart!

Consider, you must have . . .

all your well-spent life to follow you -- instead of all your sins;

the glorious blessings of the gospel -- instead of the dreadful curses and
condemnations of the law;

the blessing of the loving Father -- instead of a fiery sentence from
the righteous Judge.

Let death come when it will, it can do you no harm; for it will be
but only a passage . . .

out of a prison -- into a palace;

out of a sea of troubles -- into a haven of rest;

out of a crowd of enemies -- into an innumerable company of true, loving,
and faithful friends;

out of shame, reproach, and contempt -- into exceeding great and eternal
glory!

For death shall not hurt you with his sting, nor bite you with his
soul-murdering teeth; but shall be a welcome guest
to you -- in that it is sent to free you from your troubles which you are in,
while here in this poor world.

"For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain!"
Philippians 1:21

"I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far!"
Philippians 1:23

「成为神的儿女，就是生来承受无价的基业；这基业为你存留在天上，纯洁无污，改变和衰残永远够不到它！」

「神若是你的父，天国就是你永远的家。」

"To be a child of God, is
to be born to a priceless inheritance--an inheritance that is reserved in
Heaven, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay!"

"If God is your Father, then Heaven is your eternal home."

「祂来，不像凶猛的狮子要吞吃人，而像无瑕疵的羔羊要被献上，使我们与神和好。要为此惊叹：荣耀的君王选择了摇篮而不选择冠冕，选择了十字架而不选择宝座。」

"He came not as a fierce lion to devour, but as a spotless lamb to be
sacrificed, that we might be reconciled to God. Marvel at this: the King of
glory chose a cradle
over a crown, and a
cross over a
throne."

罪使灵魂成为黑暗的地牢。

Sin turns the soul into a dungeon of darkness.

「神的护理好像一位技艺精湛的工匠；祂虽然看不见，却正把我们的一生织成一幅杰作，每一根线都在成就祂圣洁的旨意！」

"God's providence is like a skilled artisan who, though unseen, is weaving our
lives into a masterpiece, with every thread serving His holy purpose!"

「真正蒙拯救的人，要一生歌唱颂赞那救赎他的灵魂脱离永远定罪的神。」

"He who is truly saved will spend his days singing praises to the God who
redeemed his soul from damnation."

「在患难中，我们发现基督何等全然丰足，也发现世界何等浅薄。」

"In
times of affliction, we discover the sufficiency of Christ and the shallowness
of the world."

惟有那些有得救智慧的人，才是真正有智慧的人。

They only are wise, who are wise unto salvation.

基督里面有无尽的宝藏，直到世界的末了，人仍要不断挖掘！

In Christ are treasures that will require digging to the end of the
world!

倘若我到了天上，却发现基督不在那里，我会立刻离开；因为对我而言，没有基督的天国就是地狱。

If I were to go to Heaven, and find that Christ was not there, I
would leave immediately; for Heaven without Christ would be Hell to
me.

犹大听过基督所讲的一切道。

Judas heard all of Christ's sermons.

藉祷告赢得、又以感谢佩戴的福分，最为甘甜。

Those blessings are sweetest that are won with prayer and worn with
thanks.

信心是一种领受的恩典，祷告则是一种求乞的恩典。

As faith is merely a receiving grace, so prayer is a begging grace.

我的弟兄们，神起初爱你们的时候，就把祂定意要赐给你们的一切一总赐下；而永恒，正是祂把这一切逐一分赐给你们的时间。

My brethren, when God first began to love you, He gave you all that
He ever meant to give you in the lump-and eternity is the time in
which He is doling it out.

基督徒啊，神所是的一切，足以供应你所需的一切。

Christian! All that God is, will supply all that you need.

最爱基督的人，也必是最会祷告的人。

The person who loves Christ best, is the person who will pray best.

基督的丰富无法测透，福音就是隐藏这宝藏的田地。

Christ's riches are unsearchable, and the gospel is the field this
Treasure is hidden in.

神本身有无限的荣美，祂的荣美理当像磁石一样吸引你。

God is infinitely beautiful in Himself, and His beauty ought to
attract you like a magnet.

只听一篇道还不够；你必须把它吃下去，接受它所吩咐的一切，这样它才会洁净你的心。要领受神的话，把它消化，将它的汁液挤进你的心里；它就会洁净你，使你脱离一切与它相反的败坏。

It is not enough to hear a sermon, but you must eat it down, take in
what it commands, and then it will purge your heart. Take the Word
and digest it, squeeze its juice into your heart, and it will purge
you from all contrary corruption.

基督是神的爱子，是神在祂里面、并同祂一同所喜悦的吗？那么，祂岂不是你的良人吗？

Is Christ God's Beloved, with and in whom He is well pleased? And is
He not your Beloved?

神爱祂儿女的爱，与祂爱自己宝贵爱子的爱，是同一种爱；虽然程度不同，性质却相同。

"God loves His children
with the same love with which He loves His precious Son--though not in the
same degree, yet of the same kind."

若有什么真理是不可否认的，那就是：你必定会死。

"If there is any truth that is undeniable, it is that
you will die."

他们还在母腹之中、尚未实际犯出任何罪以前，就已经是可怒之子。

"They are children of wrath in the
very womb, before they commit any actual sin."

逸乐、利益和高位，是世俗之人的三位一体！

Pleasure, profit and preferment are the worldling's trinity!

宁可受修剪而生长，也不要被砍下焚烧！

Better be pruned to grow, than cut up to burn!

良心是人胸中神的探子。

Conscience is God's spy in the bosom.

神在怒中弃绝许多人，是因他们自以为善；却从不因人承认自己的恶而弃绝他。

God casts away many in anger for their supposed goodness, but none for their confessed badness.

圆形不能填满三角形，整个世界也不能填满人的心。要用良善填满一个箱子，与用金钱填满人的心，同样不可能。

A circle cannot fill a triangle, so neither can the whole world fill the heart of a man.
You may as easily fill a chest with goodness, as the heart with gold.

人若发怒却不犯罪，就只能向罪发怒。

He who will be angry and not sin, must not be angry at nothing but sin.

要谨慎选择你所读的书；水流经什么土壤，就带着那土壤的味道；照样，人的灵魂也会带着他所读之书的味道。

Be careful what books you read; for as water tastes of the soil though which it runs, so does the soul taste of the books that a man reads.

无论别人怎样接受，真理总须讲明。

Truth must be spoken, however it is received.

神管教祂的儿女，既出于怜悯，也有所节制。

It is in mercy and in measure, that God chastises His children.

人即使脸上还带着洗礼的水，也可能下地狱！

A man may go to Hell with baptismal water upon his face!

骄傲是罪人的苦楚，谦卑是圣徒的妆饰。

Pride is the sinner's torment; humility is the saint's ornament.

许多人避过了大罪的礁石，却在自义的沙洲上遭了船难。

Many have passed the rocks of gross sins -who have suffered shipwreck upon the sands of self-righteousness.

许多人羞于承认过错，却从不以犯这些过错为羞。

Many blush to confess their faults, who never blush to commit them.

我们若没有尝过自身苦境的苦味，就绝不会品出神怜悯的甘甜。我们若没有看见罪把我们弄得何等污秽，就绝不会因基督救赎我们而向祂献上理当归给祂的赞美。

Until we taste the bitterness of our own misery, we will never relish the sweetness of God's mercy. Until we see how foul our sins have made us, we will never pay our tribute of praise to Christ for redeeming us.

你若要知道罪的心，就必须认识你心里的罪！

If you would know the heart of your sin, then you must know the sins of your heart!

罪首先生下死亡，最后生下地狱。

Sin's first-born is death-and its last-born is Hell.

「敬畏耶和华，在乎恨恶邪恶。那骄傲，狂妄，并恶道，以及乖谬的口，都为我所恨恶。」（箴8:13）
最崇拜自己的人，最为神所憎恶。
骄傲不是伯特利，不是神居住的殿；而是巴别，是撒但栖身的恶臭地牢。
骄傲不但最可憎，更是最根本的恶。
一切别的私欲不但寄居在其中，也都从其中生发。
骄傲是长在德行面孔上的污秽大麻风。
骄傲是蛀蚀谦卑根部的蛀虫。
骄傲里面是毒瘤，外面是蔓延的瘟疫！

"I hate pride and arrogance!" Proverbs 8:13
God abhors those people worst, who adore themselves most.
Pride is not a Bethel -that is, a house where God dwells;
but a Babel -that is, a stinking dungeon in which Satan abides.
Pride is not only a most hateful evil-but the most radical evil.
As all other lusts are found lodging in it-so they are found springing from it.
Pride is a foul leprosy, in the face of morality.
Pride is a hurtful worm, gnawing at the root of humility.
Pride is a cancer within, and a spreading plague without!

藉着禁食，身体学会顺服灵魂；藉着祷告，灵魂学会管束身体。

By fasting, the body learns to obey the soul.
By praying, the soul learns to command the body.

真基督徒决不倚靠自己最好的服事，正如他决不倚靠自己最坏的罪一样！

A true Christian no more trusts in the best of his services, as in the worst of his sins!

基督的十字架，是基督徒的冠冕！
为基督受的凌辱，是基督徒的财富！
为基督受的羞耻，是基督徒的荣耀！

The cross of Christ is the Christian's crown!
The reproach of Christ is the Christian's riches!
The shame of Christ is the Christian's glory!

倘若我有鸽子的翅膀，我便要飞离这邪恶世界的狂风、风暴和狂涛，安歇在我父的怀中！

If I had the wings of a dove, I would fly from the winds, the storms and tempests of this wicked world--and rest myself in the bosom of my Father!

神常把今世的玩物赐给祂最大的仇敌，却只把永恒的荣耀赐给祂所救赎的儿女！

God often gives the trinkets of this world to His greatest enemies.
He gives eternal glory to none but His redeemed children!

世俗之人把自己的良心、神和天堂卖掉，只换来一点有人称为财富的东西，还以为自己做了一桩极聪明的买卖。

The worldling thinks he makes a very wise bargain, when he sells his conscience, God, and Heaven--for a little of that which some call riches.

活着时不以天堂为值得留心的人，死时怎能指望天堂呢？

How can they look for Heaven when they die, who thought it not worth their minding while they lived?

多少看似圣徒的人，到死时除了彻底认识自己的愚昧以外，一无所得！

How many seeming saints shall gain nothing at death, but a thorough knowledge of their own folly!

惟独以基督为至宝、凡事也只为基督的人，等他安然住在基督怀中时，绝不会是可怜的人。

He who counts nothing worth the having, except Christ, and for Christ, cannot be miserable--when he is lodged safely in His embraces.

神待人常比祂话中所应许的更好，却绝不会不及祂的话。

God is oftentimes better, but never worse, than His Word.

当新妇，也就是羔羊的妻，前来与她的丈夫永远同住时，诸天将怎样回荡着喜乐啊！

How will the heavens echo with joy, when the Bride, the Lamb's wife, shall come to dwell with her Husband forever!

死在罪中的人，必在地狱里受火焚烧！

Those who die in sin, must be burned in Hell!

你的儿女年纪再小，也会死；年纪再小，也会下地狱。

Your children are not too young to die; they are not too young to go to Hell.

我们的苦境无论多深，也永远深不过神的怜悯。

The depths of our misery—can never fall below the depths of God's mercy.

心最爱什么，心思就最常研究什么。

What the heart loves best—the mind studies most.

宁可带着患难进入天国，也不要欢欢喜喜下到地狱。

It is better to go afflicted to Heaven—than merry to Hell.

死亡不过是一名面目严峻的守门人，准许我们进入庄严华美的宫殿！

Death is only a grim porter which admits us into a stately palace!

冬天预备大地迎接春天；照样，苦难一经分别为圣，也预备灵魂进入荣耀！

The winter prepares the earth for the spring; so do sanctified afflictions prepare the soul for glory!

贫穷和患难，会夺去喂养骄傲的燃料。

Poverty and affliction take away the fuel that feeds pride.

我们若渐渐疏忽看守自己的灵魂，神就借着严厉的十字架，使我们重新尝到圣洁之事的滋味。

When we grow careless of keeping our souls—then God recovers our taste of holy things again by sharp crosses.

无论神从儿女手中拿走什么，祂若不以大得多的恩惠补还，就必赐他们力量忍受。

Whatever God takes away from His children—He either replaces it with a much greater favor, or else gives strength to bear it.

恩典改变人属灵的口味。圣洁的真理临到敬虔人，是叫他们亲自尝到滋味；蒙恩的人不但有属灵的眼睛，也有属灵的味觉。

Grace alters the spiritual taste. In the godly, holy truths are conveyed by way of a taste; gracious men have a spiritual palate as well as a spiritual eye.

我们若从心里厌恶、恨恶罪，就显明我们的归正是健全真实的。

It is evident that our conversion is sound—when we loathe and hate sin from the heart.

基督行事的方式，是先让我们看见自己的罪，使灵魂忧伤，随后才带着医治之能临到。

It is Christ's manner to first trouble our souls by a sight of our sin—and then to come with healing in His wings.

人要往远方旅行，手里一根杖就能舒适地扶持他；若背着一捆杖，反倒成为累赘。同样，少量外在之物可以在我们通往天国的路上帮助我们；拥有太多，反而可能有害。

When a man is to travel into a far country, one staff in his hand may comfortably support him—but a bundle of staffs would be troublesome. In the same way, a few of these outward things may help us in the way to Heaven—whereas abundance may be hurtful.

犯罪时所尝的甜，远不及算账时所尝的苦。

Sin is not so sweet in the committing of it—as it is bitter in the reckoning of it.

基督里的怜悯，多过我们里面的罪。

There is more mercy in Christ—than sin in us.

凡对神儿女有益的，他们都必得着；因为万有都是他们的，要帮助他们走向天国。因此，贫穷若对他们有益，他们就会得着贫穷；羞辱若对他们有益，他们就会得着羞辱；十字架若对他们有益，他们就会得着十字架；困苦若对他们有益，他们就会得着困苦。因为万有都是我们的，要为我们最大的益处效力。「我们晓得万事都互相效力，叫爱神的人得益处，就是按祂旨意被召的人。」（罗马书8:28）

Whatever is good for God's children—they shall have it; for all is theirs to further them to Heaven. Therefore, if poverty is good for them—they shall have it. If disgrace is good for them—they shall have it. If crosses are good for them—they shall have them. If misery is good for them—they shall have it. For all is ours, to serve for our greatest good. "We know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose!" Romans 8:28

撒但给亚当一个果子，却夺去了乐园！所以面对一切试探时，我们不要只看魔鬼献上什么，更要看自己将失去什么。

Satan gives Adam an apple—and takes away Paradise! Therefore in all temptations let us consider not what the devil offers—but what we shall lose.

渴望有福的人，必须先成为圣洁！

Those who desire to be happy—must first be holy!

不要凭自己的感觉衡量神的慈爱和恩眷。即使在最阴暗的日子，太阳也照得和最明亮的日子同样清楚。不同的不是太阳，而是几片云遮住了阳光，使它不能显露。

Do not measure God's love and favor by your own feelings. The sun shines as clearly in the darkest day—as it does in the brightest. The difference is not in the sun, but in some clouds which hinder the manifestation of the light thereof.

妻子起初爱丈夫，也许是因为他供应她的需要；后来，她也会因他本人可爱而爱他。同样，灵魂起初因救恩而爱基督；但当她被带到祂面前，尝到祂里面何等甘甜以后，她便因基督自己而爱祂。

The love of a wife to her husband may begin from the supply of her necessities—but afterwards she may love him also for the sweetness of his person. In the same way, the soul first loves Christ for salvation—but when she is brought to Him and finds what sweetness there is in Him, then she loves Him for Himself.

福音所要求的悔改，并不是稍稍垂下头而已；它要在人心里作工，直到你的罪在你看来，比罪所招来的一切刑罚都更可憎。

Gospel repentance is not a little hanging down of the head. It's a working of the heart until your sin becomes more odious to you than any punishment for it.

我们借着祷告到神那里去时，魔鬼知道我们要去取得抵挡他的力量，所以他竭尽所能地拦阻我们。

When we go to God by prayer, the devil knows we go to fetch strength against him—and therefore he opposes us all he can.

基督主要在患难中显明自己，因为此时灵魂借着信心与基督贴得最紧。人在顺境中，灵魂把深情分散出去，迷失在受造之物中；但成圣的患难有一种聚拢人心的力量，能使信徒把自己最美的深情都收聚起来，归给天父，就像下雨时母鸡把小鸡聚在翅膀下一样。

Christ chiefly manifests Himself in times of affliction, because then the soul clings most closely by faith to Christ. The soul, in time of prosperity, scatters its affections, and looses itself in the creature. But there is a uniting power in sanctified afflictions, by which a believer, (as in rain, a hen collects her brood) gathers his best affections unto his heavenly Father.

恶人在世上的一切欢笑，不过像一本封面美丽的书；翻开以后，里面写满的全是悲剧。同样，当他们的良心之书有一天展开时，其中所能读到的，只有哀哭与灾祸。

In all their mirthfulness in this world, the wicked are but as a book with a lovely cover—which when it is opened, is full of nothing but tragedies. So when the book of their consciences shall be once opened—there is nothing to be read but lamentations and woes.

基督徒是世上最自由的人。他脱离了律法的咒诅、神的忿怒、地狱和永远的定罪！

A Christian is the greatest freeman in the world. He is free from . . . the curse of the law, the wrath of God, Hell and damnation!

神的护理，就是创造之工的延续与维持。

Providence is the perpetuity and continuance of creation.

一切丑恶可耻的行为，起初都不过是一个念头！

All scandalous actions are only thoughts at first!

神若带我们进入试炼，就必在试炼中与我们同在，最后还要带领我们出来，使我们更加纯净。我们所失去的，不过是渣滓！

If God brings us into the trial he will be with us in the trial, and at length bring us out, more refined. We shall lose nothing but dross!

归正以后，我们仍需要受压伤，好叫芦苇知道自己是芦苇，并不是橡树！

After conversion we need bruising, so that reeds may know themselves to be reeds, and not oaks!

邪恶的人绝不可能是智慧人。

No wicked man can be a wise man.

基督因着对灵魂温柔的爱，从天降下，倒空自己的尊荣。我们岂不也该放下自高的念头，哪怕只为使一个可怜的灵魂得益处？神既已如此降卑，人岂可仍然骄傲？

Christ came down from Heaven and emptied himself of majesty, in tender love to souls. Shall we not come down from our high conceits, to do any poor soul good? Shall a man be proud, after God has been humble?

我们可称颂的救主将要离开世界时，向门徒再三强调的，还有什么比和平与相爱更多呢？人不可过分好奇地窥探别人的软弱。基督徒中间若有这样的竞赛就好了：一方竭力不叫人跌倒，另一方竭力不因人跌倒。最优秀的人严以律己，却温柔待人。我们务要谨慎，不要接过撒但的职分，曲解别人所行的善事。

Our blessed Savior, when he was to leave the world—what did he press upon his disciples more than peace and love? Men must not be too curious in prying into the weaknesses of others. It would be a good contest among Christians, one to labor to give no offence, and the other to labor to take none. The best men are severe on themselves, and tender on others. Let us take heed of taking up Satan's office, in misrepresenting the good actions of others.

恩典先征服我们；随后，我们借着恩典胜过其余一切，无论里面的败坏，还是外来的试探。

Grace conquers us first; then we, by it conquer all else; whether corruptions within us, or temptations from outside us.

我们的祷告虽然软弱，神仍悦纳，因为我们是祂自己的儿女，祷告出于祂自己的灵，合乎祂自己的旨意，也借着基督的中保之工献上；基督接过这些祷告，把它们与自己的香调和在一起。

God accepts our prayers, though weak, because we are his own children, and they come from his own Spirit; because they are according to his own will; and because they are offered in Christ's mediation, and he takes them and mingles them with his own incense.

对自己有一种圣洁的绝望，乃是一切盼望的根基。

A holy despair in ourselves is the ground of all hope.

我们祷告时，还需要再次祈求基督赦免我们祷告中的缺欠。

When we pray, we need to pray again for Christ to pardon the defects of our prayers.

母亲对病得最重、身体最弱的孩子最为温柔；照样，基督以最丰盛的怜悯俯就祂最软弱的儿女。

As a mother is tenderest to the most diseased and weakest child—so Christ most mercifully inclines to the weakest of his children.

我们不要因恩典开端微小而灰心，却要看自己是蒙拣选的，要「成为圣洁，无有瑕疵」（以弗所书1:4）！

Let us not be discouraged at the small beginnings of grace, but look on ourselves as elected to be "holy and without blame!" (Ephesians 1:4)

圣经是引人进入永生惟一安全、绝无错误的向导！

The Scripture the only safe and infallible guide to eternal life!