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BY JOHN FLAVEL
作者:约翰·弗拉维尔
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Pneumatologia: A Treatise of the Soul of Man is one of the puritan, John Flavel’s, best works.
《灵魂学:论人的灵魂》是清教徒约翰·弗拉维尔最好的作品之一。
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Here’s the sentence-by-sentence translation:
This treatise covers the divine original, excellent and immortal nature of the soul, its love and inclination to the body, with the necessity of its separation from it, considered and improved,
本论文涵盖了灵魂的神圣起源、卓越和不朽的本质,它对身体的爱和倾向,以及它与身体分离的必要性,这些都经过了思考和改进,
the existence, operations, and states of separated souls, both in Heaven and Hell, immediately after death, asserted, discussed, and variously applyed,
分离灵魂在天堂和地狱中的存在、运作和状态,在死亡之后立即被断言、讨论和多方面应用,
divers knotty and difficult questions about departed souls, both philosophical, and theological, stated and determined,
关于离世灵魂的各种棘手和困难的问题,包括哲学和神学方面的,都得到了陈述和确定,
the invaluable preciousness of humane souls, and the various artifices of Satan (their professed enemy) to destroy them, discovered,
人类灵魂的无价珍贵,以及撒旦(它们公开的敌人)用来摧毁它们的各种诡计,被发现,
and the great duty and interest of all men, seasonable and heartily to comply with the most great and gracious design of the Father, Son, and Spirit, for the salvation of their souls, argued and pressed
所有人的重大责任和利益,适时并衷心地遵从天父、圣子和圣灵为拯救他们灵魂的最伟大和仁慈的设计,被论证和强调
Flavel is one of those ancient scholars and church leaders who had a profoundly capable ability to speak to the issues of the heart.
弗拉维尔是那些古代学者和教会领袖中的一员,他们具有深刻的能力来谈论心灵的问题。
He was a physician of the soul.
他是灵魂的医生。
He says, “Among many other largesses and rich endowments, bestowed by the Creator’s bounty upon the soul of man, the sentiments and impressions of the world to come, and the ability of reflection and self-intuition, are peculiar, invaluable, and heavenly gifts.”
他说:”在造物主慷慨赐予人类灵魂的许多其他恩赐和丰富天赋中,对来世的情感和印象,以及反思和自我直觉的能力,是特殊的、无价的、天赐的礼物。”
Here’s the sentence-by-sentence translation:
The Preface
前言
Among many other largesses and rich endowments, bestowed by the Creator’s bounty upon the soul of man, the sentiments and impressions of the world to come, and the ability of reflection and self-intuition, are peculiar, invaluable, and heavenly gifts.
在造物主慷慨赐予人类灵魂的许多其他恩赐和丰富天赋中,对来世的情感和印象,以及反思和自我直觉的能力,是特殊的、无价的、天赐的礼物。
By the former, we have a very great evidence of our own immortality, and designation for nobler employments and enjoyments than this embodied state admits.
通过前者,我们有了自身不朽的强有力证据,以及被指定用于比这种肉身状态所允许的更高尚的工作和享受。
And by the latter we may discern the agreeableness of our hearts, and therein the validity of our title to that expected blessedness.
而通过后者,我们可以辨别我们内心的适宜性,从而确认我们对那期望中的幸福的所有权的有效性。
But these heavenly gifts are neglected and abused all the world over.
但这些天赐的礼物在全世界范围内都被忽视和滥用。
Degenerate souls are every where fallen into so deep an oblivion of their excellent original, spiritual and immortal nature, and alliance to the Father of spirits; that (to use the upbraiding expression of a great philosopher) “they seem to be buried in their bodies, as so many silly worms that lurk in their holes, are loth to peep forth, and look abroad.
堕落的灵魂无处不在,它们深深地遗忘了自己卓越的起源、灵性和不朽的本质,以及与灵之父的联系;以至于(用一位伟大哲学家的责备性表述)”它们似乎被埋在自己的身体里,就像许多愚蠢的虫子躲在洞里,不愿探头出来看看外面的世界。
So powerfully do the cares and pleasures of this world charm all, (except a small remnant of regenerate souls) that nothing but some smart stroke of calamity, or terrible messengers of death can startle them; (and even those are not always able to do it,) and when they do, all the effect is but a transient glance at another, and an unwilling shrug to leave this world, and so to sleep again.
这个世界的忧虑和快乐如此强烈地吸引着所有人,(除了少数重生的灵魂)以至于只有某些巧妙的灾难打击,或可怕的死亡使者才能惊醒他们;(即使这些有时也不能做到,)而当它们做到时,所有的效果不过是对另一个世界的短暂一瞥,以及不情愿地离开这个世界的耸肩,然后又继续沉睡。
And thus the impressions and sentiments of the world to come (which are the natural growth and offspring of the soul) are either stifled and suppressed, as in Atheists; or borne down by impetuous masterly lusts, as in Sensualists.
因此,对来世的印象和感受(这是灵魂的自然成长和产物)要么被扼杀和压制,如无神论者;要么被强烈的主宰欲望所压倒,如肉欲主义者。
And for its self reflecting and considering power, it seems in many to be a power received in vain.
而对于其自我反思和思考的能力,在许多人看来似乎是一种徒然获得的能力。
It is with most souls as it is with the eye, which sees not itself, though it sees all other objects.
大多数灵魂就像眼睛一样,虽然能看到所有其他物体,却看不到自己。
There be those that have almost finished the course of a long life, (wherein a great part of their time has lain upon their hands, as cheap and useless commodity, which they knew not what to do with) who never yet spent one solemn entire hour in discourse with their own souls.
有些人几乎已经完成了漫长的人生历程,(其中大部分时间都闲置在他们手中,如同廉价无用的商品,他们不知道该如何处理)他们从未花过一个庄重完整的小时与自己的灵魂对话。
What serious heart doth not melt into compassion over the deluded multitude, who are mocked with dreams, and perpetually busied about trifles?
哪个严肃的心不会对那些被梦幻欺骗、永远忙于琐事的迷惑群众融化成怜悯?
Who are, (after so many frustrated attempts both of their own, and all past ages) eagerly pursuing the fleeting shadows, who torture and rack their brains to find out the natures and qualities of birds, beasts, and plants; indeed any thing rather than their own souls, which are certainly the most excellent creatures that inhabit this world.
他们(在自己和过去所有时代的许多失败尝试之后)热切地追逐着转瞬即逝的影子,折磨和绞尽脑汁地寻找鸟兽植物的本质和特性;实际上,任何事物都比他们自己的灵魂更受关注,而灵魂无疑是居住在这个世界上最卓越的生物。
They know the true value and worth of other things? but are not able to estimate the dignity of that high born spirit that is within them.
他们知道其他事物的真实价值和意义吗?但他们无法估量内在那个高贵灵魂的尊严。
A spirit which (without the addition of any more natural faculties or powers, if those it has be but sanctified and devoted to God) is capable of the highest perfections and fruitions, even complete conformity to God, and the satisfying visions of God throughout eternity.
这种灵魂(无需增加任何更多的自然能力或力量,只要它已有的能力被圣化并献给上帝)就能达到最高的完美和享受,甚至完全符合上帝的旨意,并在永恒中获得令人满足的对上帝的洞见。
They herd themselves with beasts, who are capable of an equality with angels.
他们与野兽为伍,而他们本有能力与天使平等。
O what compassionate tears must such a consideration as this draw from the eyes of all that understand the worth of souls!
啊,这样的考虑必定会从所有理解灵魂价值的人眼中引出怎样的同情泪水啊!
As for me it has been my sin, and is now the matter of my sorrow, that while myriads of souls, (of no higher original than mine) are some of them beholding the highest Majesty in heaven, and others giving all diligence to make sure their salvation on earth, I was carried away so many years in the course of this world, (like a drop with the current of the tide) wholly forgetting my best self, my invaluable soul;
对我来说，这一直是我的罪，现在也是我悲伤的源泉，当无数灵魂（其本源并不比我高贵）中有些正在天堂瞻仰至高的威严，其他的则在地上全力确保自己的救赎时，我却被这世界的潮流裹挟了那么多年（如同潮水中的一滴），完全忘记了最好的自我，那无价的灵魂；
while I prodigally wasted the stores of my time and thoughts upon vanities, that long since passed away as the waters which are remembered no more.
与此同时，我还挥霍了时间和思想的储备在虚荣上，这些虚荣早已如不再被记忆的流水一般消逝了。
It shall be no shame to me to confess this folly, since the matter of my confession shall go to the glory of my God.
承认这种愚蠢并不会让我感到羞耻，因为我的忏悔将归于上帝的荣耀。
I studied to know many other things, but I knew not myself.
我研究了解很多其他的事物，却不了解自己。
It was with me as with a servant to whom the master committed two things, viz. the child, and the child’s clothes; the servant is very careful of the clothes’ brushes and washes, starches and irons them, and keeps them safe and clean, but the child is forgotten and lost.
我就像一个被主人委托照看两样东西的仆人，即孩子和孩子的衣服；这仆人非常仔细地刷洗、浆洗、熨烫衣服，保持它们安全干净，但孩子却被遗忘和丢失了。
My body which is but the garment of my soul, I kept and nourished with excessive care, but my soul was long forgotten, and had been lost for ever, as others daily are, had not God roused it, by the convictions of his Spirit, out of that deep oblivion and deadly slumber.
我的身体不过是灵魂的外衣，我却过分小心地保养它，而我的灵魂长期被遗忘，若不是上帝通过他的圣灵的感召，将它从深深的遗忘和致命的沉睡中唤醒，它就会像其他人每天那样永远迷失了。
When the God that formed it, out of free grace to the work of his own hands, had thus recovered it to a sense of its own worth and danger, my next work was to get it united with Christ, and thereby secured from the wrath to come; which I found to be a work difficult to effect, if it be yet effected) and a work of time to clear, though but to the degree of good hope through grace.
当创造它的上帝，出于对自己所造之物的自由恩典，这样使它恢复了对自身价值和危险的意识后，我的下一个任务就是使它与基督联合，从而使它免于将来的愤怒；我发现这是一项难以实现的工作（如果它真的实现了的话），也是一项需要时间来澄清的工作，尽管只是到达通过恩典而有的美好盼望的程度。
And since the hopes and evidences of salvation began to spring up in my soul, and settle the state thereof, I found these three great words, viz. Christ, soul, and eternity, to have a far different and more awful sound in my ear, than ever they used to have.
自从救赎的希望和证据开始在我的灵魂中萌芽，并确立了它的状态，我发现这三个伟大的词，即基督、灵魂和永恒，在我耳中有了一种截然不同且更加庄严的声音，比它们以往任何时候都更加如此。
I looked on them from that time, as things of the greatest certainty and most awful solemnity.
从那时起，我将它们视为最确定和最庄严的事物。
These things have laid some weight upon my thoughts, and I felt, at certain seasons, a strong inclination to sequester myself from all other studies, and spend my last days, and most fixed meditations upon these three great and weighty subjects.
这些事给我的思想带来了一些重担，在某些时候，我感到强烈的倾向，想要将自己与所有其他研究隔离开来，把最后的日子和最专注的冥想用在这三个伟大而重要的主题上。
I know the subject matter of my studies and enquiries (be it never so weighty) doth not therefore make my meditations and discourse upon it great and weighty; nor am I such a vain opinionator, as to imagine my discourses every way suitable to the dignity of such subjects;
我知道我研究和探询的主题（无论多么重要）并不因此就使我对它的冥想和论述变得伟大和重要；我也不是那种虚荣的自以为是者，认为我的论述在各方面都能配得上这些主题的尊严；
no, no, the more I think and study about them, the more I discern the indistinctness, darkness, crudity, and confusion of my own conceptions, and expression of such great and transcendent things as those;
不，不，我越是思考和研究它们，就越发觉察到自己对这些伟大和超凡事物的概念和表达是多么模糊、黑暗、粗糙和混乱；
but In magnis voluisse sat st, I resolved to do what I could; and accordingly some years past I finished and published, in two parts, the Doctrine of Christ; and by the acceptation and success the Lord gave that, he has encouraged me to go on in this second part of my work, how unequal soever my shoulders are to the burden of it.
但正如谚语所说”在伟大的事业中，有志即足矣”，我决心尽我所能；因此，几年前我完成并出版了两部分的《基督教义》；通过主赐予的接受和成功，他鼓励我继续进行我工作的第二部分，尽管我的肩膀与这重担多么不相称。
The nature, original, immortality, and capacity, of mine own soul, for the present lodged in and related to this vile body, destined to corruption;
我自己灵魂的本质、起源、不朽性和能力,目前寄居在并与这必朽的卑贱身体相关联;
together with its existence, employment, perfection, converse with God, and other spirits, both of its own, and of a superior rank and order:
以及它的存在、职责、完善、与上帝和其他灵体(包括同类和更高等级和秩序的)的交流:
when it shall (as I know it shortly must) put off this its tabernacle;
当它(我知道不久就会)脱离这个帐幕;
these things have a long time been the matters of my limited desires to understand, so far as I could see the pillar of fire (God in his word) enlightening my way to the knowledge of them.
长期以来,这些事一直是我有限的渴望去理解的事,只要我能看到火柱(上帝在祂的话语中)照亮我通向认识它们的道路。
Yea, such is the value I have for them, that I have given them the next place in my esteem, to the knowledge of Jesus Christ, and my interest in him.
是的,我如此看重这些事,以至于在我的评价中,仅次于对耶稣基督的认识和我在祂里面的利益。
God has formed me, as he has other men, a prospecting creature.
上帝造我,如同造其他人一样,是一个有前瞻性的受造物。
I feel myself yet uncentered, and short of that state of rest and satisfaction to which my soul, in its natural and spiritual capacity, has a designation.
我感到自己尚未找到中心,还未达到我的灵魂在其自然和属灵能力中所指向的那种安息和满足状态。
I find that I am in a continual motion towards my everlasting abode, and the expense of my time; and many infirmities tell me that I am not far from it:
我发现自己在不断地朝着永恒的居所前进,时间在消逝;许多软弱告诉我,我离它不远了:
by all which I am strongly prompted to look forward, and acquaint myself as much as I can, with my next place and employment.
这一切都强烈地促使我向前看,尽可能地熟悉我的下一个地方和职责。
I look with a greedy and inquisitive eye that way.
我以贪婪和好奇的眼光朝那个方向看。
Yet would I not be guilty of an unwarrantable curiosity in searching into revealed things;
然而,我不愿在探索已启示的事物时犯有不当的好奇心;
how willing soever I am to put my head by faith into the world above, and to know the things which Jesus Christ has purchased and prepared for me, and all the rest that are waiting for his appearance and kingdom,
无论我多么愿意凭信心把头伸进上面的世界,去认识耶稣基督为我和所有等候祂显现和国度的人所买赎和预备的事,
I feel my curiosity checked and repressed by shat elegant paronomasia, Rom. 12: 3. “Me uperfronein par ho dei fronein, alle fronein eis to sofronein,”
我感到我的好奇心被那优雅的双关语所制止和抑制,罗马书12:3″不要看自己过于所当看的,要照着上帝所分给各人信心的大小,看得合乎中道。”
In all things I would be wise unto sobriety.
在一切事上我都愿意有节制的智慧。
I groan under the effects of Adam’s itching ambition to know, and would not by repeating his sin, increase my own misery;
我在亚当那渴望知道的野心所带来的影响下呻吟,不愿重复他的罪而增加自己的苦难;
nor yet would I be scared, by his example, into the contrary evil of neglecting the means God has afforded me, to know all that I can of his revealed will.
也不愿因他的例子而被吓到,陷入相反的罪恶中,忽视上帝赐给我的方法,去尽可能地认识祂已启示的旨意。
The helps philosophy affords in some parts of this discourse are too great to be despised, and too small to be admired.
哲学在本论述的某些部分所提供的帮助，既不可轻视，也不值得赞叹。
I confess I read the definition of the soul given by the ancient philosophers with a compassionate smile.
我承认，我带着怜悯的微笑阅读古代哲学家对灵魂的定义。
When Thales calls it a nature without repose; Asclepiades, an exercitation of sense! Hesiod, a thing composed of earth and water: Parmenides, a thing composed of earth and fire; Galen says it is heat; Hippocrates, a spirit diffused through the body; Plato, a self-moving substance; Aristotle calls it Entelechia, that by which the body is moved:
当泰勒斯称它为不休止的本质；阿斯克勒庇阿德斯称之为感官的锻炼！赫西俄德说它是由土和水组成的东西；巴门尼德说它是由土和火组成的东西；盖伦说它是热；希波克拉底说它是遍布全身的精神；柏拉图说它是自行运动的物质；亚里士多德称之为恩特列希亚，即使身体运动的东西：
If my opinion should be asked which of all these definitions I like best, I should give the same answer which Theocritus gave an ill poet, repeating many of his verses, and asked which he liked best; Those (said he) which you have omitted.
如果有人问我最喜欢这些定义中的哪一个，我会给出与忒奥克里托斯对一个糟糕诗人的回答相同的答案，那个诗人重复了他的许多诗句，并问他最喜欢哪一个；他说：”那些你遗漏的。”
Or if they must have the garland as the prize they have shot for, let them have it upon the some reason that was once given to him that shot wide.—Ditficilius est toties non attingere,—Because it was the greatest difficulty to aim so often at the mark, and never come near it.
或者如果他们必须得到他们所追求的桂冠作为奖励，就让他们以曾经给予那个射偏的人的理由得到它。——Ditficilius est toties non attingere——因为最大的困难在于如此频繁地瞄准目标，却从未接近它。
One word of God gives me more light than a thousand such laborious trifles.
上帝的一句话给我的启示，胜过千万这样费力的琐事。
As Caesar was best able to write his own commentaries, so God only can give the best account of his own creature, on which he has impressed his own image.
正如凯撒最能写好自己的评论一样，只有上帝能最好地描述他自己的造物，因为他在其上印上了自己的形象。
We send forth our thoughts to penetrate this cloud, but they return to us without the desired success.
我们发出思绪以穿透这片云雾，但它们未能如愿地返回。
We reinforce them with a sally of new and more vigorous thoughts, but still they come back in confusion and disappointment, as to any perfect account they can bring us from thence;
我们用新的、更有力的思想来加强它们，但它们仍然带着困惑和失望而归，无法给我们带来任何完美的描述；
though the oftener and closer we think, still the more we grow up into acquaintance with these excellent things.
尽管我们思考得越频繁、越深入，我们对这些卓越事物的了解就越深。
Another benefit I pray for, and expect from these labours, is, that by describing the horrid estate of those souls which go the other way, and shewing to the living the dismal condition of souls departed in their unregenerate state, some may be awakened to a seasonable and effectual consideration of their wretched condition, while they yet continue under the means and among the instruments of their salvation.
我为这些努力所祈求和期待的另一个益处是，通过描述那些走向另一条路的灵魂的可怕境况，向生者展示未重生状态下离世灵魂的悲惨处境，一些人可能会及时而有效地意识到他们可悲的状况，而他们仍处于救赎的方法和工具之中。
Whatever the fruit of this discourse shall be to others, I have cause to bless God for the advantage it has already given me.
无论这篇论述对他人有何成果，我都有理由为它已经给我带来的好处而感谢上帝。
I begin to find more than ever I have done, in the separate state of sanctified souls, all that is capable of attracting an intellectual nature;
我开始比以往任何时候都更多地发现，在圣洁灵魂的分离状态中，存在着一切能够吸引理性本质的东西；
and if God will but fix my mind upon this state, and cause my pleased thoughts about it to settle into a steady frame and temper, I hope I shall daily more and more depreciate and despise this common way of existence in a corporeal prison;
如果上帝能使我的心专注于这种状态，并使我愉悦的思绪稳定下来，我希望我能日益贬低和鄙视这种在肉体牢笼中存在的普通方式；
and when the blessed season of my departure is at hand, I shall take a cheerful farewell of the greater and lesser elementary world, to which my soul has been confined, and have an abundant entrance through the broad gate of assurance, unto the blessed, unembodied inhabitants of the world to come.
当我蒙福离世的时节临近时，我将愉快地告别我的灵魂一直被囚禁的大小元素世界，并通过宽广的确信之门，丰盛地进入来世那些蒙福的、无形体居民中间。
Table of Contents
目录
The Epistle Dedicatory
献词
The Preface
前言
Chapter 1 – Genesis 2:7
第1章 – 创世记 2:7
Chapter 2 – Revelation 6:9,10,11
第2章 – 启示录 6:9,10,11
Chapter 3 – Ephesians 5:29
第3章 – 以弗所书 5:29
Chapter 4 – 2 Peter. 1:13,14
第4章 – 彼得后书 1:13,14
Chapter 5 – Hebrews. 12:23
第5章 – 希伯来书 12:23
Chapter 6 – 1 Peter 3:19
第6章 – 彼得前书 3:19
Chapter 7 – Matthew. 16:26
第7章 – 马太福音 16:26
Chapter 8 – Ephesians 5:16
第8章 – 以弗所书 5:16