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THIS time we take up our pen to write on one of the most solemn truths taught in the Word.
这一次，我们执笔写作，论及圣言中所教导的最为庄严的真理之一。
And ere we began we turned to the Lord and earnestly sought that wisdom and grace which we are conscious we sorely need;
在开始之前，我们便转向主，恳切寻求我们深知自己极其需要的那智慧与恩典；
making request that we might be preserved from all error in what we shall say,
祈求在我们将要说的一切事上得以保守，不致落入任何错误，
and that nothing may find a place in these pages which shall be displeasing to that Holy One,
并且恳求在这些篇页中不容任何令那位圣者不悦的内容出现，
“whose we are, and whom we serve.”
“我们是属祂的，也是我们所事奉的那一位。”
O that we may write in the spirit of One who said,
哦，愿我们能以那位曾说过之人的灵来写作，
“Who knoweth the power of Thine anger, even according to Thy fear, so is Thy wrath” (Ps. 90:11).
“谁晓得祢怒气的权势？照着祢该受的敬畏，祢的忿怒也是如此”（诗篇 90:11）。
The subject before us is one that needs stressing in these days.
摆在我们面前的这个主题，是当今时代亟须被强调的。
The great majority of our pulpits are silent upon it,
我们绝大多数的讲坛在此事上保持沉默，
and the fact that it has so little place in modern preaching is one of the signs of the times,
而它在现代讲道中几乎没有地位这一事实，正是这个时代的征兆之一，
one of the many evidences that the Apostasy must be near at hand.
也是那许多证据之一，表明背道（the Apostasy）必已临近。
It is true that there are not a few who are praying for a world-wide Revival,
诚然，确实有不少人正在为全球性的复兴（Revival）祷告，
but it appears to the writer that it would be more timely, and more scriptural,
但在作者看来，更合时宜、也更合乎圣经的，
for prayer to be made to the Lord of the harvest,
乃是向庄稼的主祈求，
that He would raise up and thrust forth laborers who would fearlessly and faithfully preach those truths which are calculated to bring about a revival.
求祂兴起并差遣工人，毫无惧怕、忠心地宣讲那些足以带来复兴的真理。
While it is true that all genuine revivals come from God,
虽然一切真正的复兴确实都出于神，
yet He is not capricious in the sending of them.
但祂在施行这些事上并非反复无常。
We are sure that God never relinquishes His sovereign rights to own and to bless where and as He pleases.
我们深信，神从未放弃祂按自己所喜悦的方式和地点来施恩、来祝福的主权权利。
But we also believe that here, as everywhere, there is a direct connection between cause and effect.
但我们也相信，在这里如同在其他一切事情上一样，因与果之间有着直接的联系。
And a revival is the effect of a previous cause.
而复兴乃是先前某种原因所产生的结果。
A revival, like a genuine conversion, is wrought of God by means of the Word—the Word applied by the Holy Spirit, of course.
复兴，如同真实的悔改归正一样，是神借着圣言所成就的——当然，是圣灵所施行、所应用的圣言。
Therefore, there is something more needed (on our part) than prayer:
因此，在我们这一方面，所需要的不只是祷告：
the Word of God must have a place, a prominent place, the prominent place.
神的圣言必须有地位，而且是显著的地位，是首要的地位。
Without that there will be no Revival, whatever excitement and activities of the emotions there may be.
若缺少这一点，无论情感上有多么激动、多么活跃，都不会有真正的复兴。
It is the deepening conviction of the writer that what is most needed today is a wide proclamation of those truths which are the least acceptable to the flesh.
作者愈发深切地确信，当今最需要的，是广泛宣讲那些最不为肉体所接受的真理。
What is needed today is a scriptural setting forth of the character of God—
当今所需要的，是合乎圣经地阐明神的品格——
His absolute sovereignty,
祂绝对的主权，
His ineffable holiness,
祂不可言喻的圣洁，
His inflexible justice,
祂不屈不挠的公义，
His unchanging veracity.
祂永不改变的真实可信。
What is needed today is a scriptural setting forth of the condition of the natural man—
当今所需要的，是合乎圣经地阐明天然之人的光景——
his total depravity,
他全然的败坏，
his spiritual insensibility,
他属灵的麻木无感，
his inveterate hostility to God,
他对神根深蒂固的敌对，
the fact that he is “condemned already”
以及这样一个事实：他“已经被定罪”，
and that the wrath of a sin-hating God is even now abiding upon him.
并且那位恨恶罪的神之忿怒，此刻就正停留在他身上。
What is needed today is a scriptural setting forth of the alarming danger in which sinners are—
当今所需要的，是合乎圣经地阐明罪人所处的骇人危险——
the indescribably awful doom which awaits them,
那等候着他们、难以言喻的可怕结局，
the fact that if they follow only a little further their present course they shall most certainly suffer the due reward of their iniquities.
以及这样一个事实：若他们在现今的道路上再往前行一点点，就必定要承受他们罪孽当得的报应。
What is needed today is a scriptural setting forth of the nature of that punishment which awaits the lost—
当今所需要的，是合乎圣经地阐明那等候灭亡之人的刑罚本质——
the awfulness of it,
它的可怕，
the hopelessness of it,
它的绝望，
the unendurableness of it,
它的难以忍受，
the endlessness of it.
它的无穷无尽。
It is because of these convictions that by pen as well as by voice we are seeking to raise the alarm.
正因着这些确信，我们才借着文字，也借着言语，竭力发出警告。
It may be thought that what we have said in the above paragraph stands in need of qualification.
或许有人认为，我们在上一段中所说的话需要加以限定。
We can imagine some of our readers saying,
我们可以想象有些读者会说，
Such truths as these may be needed by the lost,
这样的真理或许是失丧之人所需要的，
but surely you do not wish to be understood as saying that these subjects ought to be pressed upon the Lord’s people!
但你们肯定不是要说，这些主题也应当强烈地向主的百姓宣讲吧！
But that is exactly what we do mean and do say.
但这正是我们所要表达、也是我们所要宣告的。
Re-read the Epistles, dear friends,
亲爱的朋友们，请重读这些书信，
and note what place each of these subjects has in them!
并留意这些主题在其中占据了何等的地位！
It is just because these truths have been withheld so much from public ministrations to the saints
正因为这些真理在公开服事圣徒时被大量保留、被刻意回避，
that we now find so many backboneless, sentimental, lopsided Christians in our assemblies.
所以我们如今在聚会中才会发现如此多没有骨气、感情化、失衡的基督徒。
A clearer vision of the awe-inspiring attributes of God would banish much of our levity and irreverence.
若对神那令人敬畏的属性有更清晰的认识，便会驱散我们许多轻浮与不敬。
A better understanding of our depravity by nature would humble us,
若对我们本性中的败坏有更深的认识，就会使我们谦卑，
and make us see our deep need of using the appointed means of grace.
并使我们看见自己何等需要使用那所设立的恩典之途径。
A facing of the alarming danger of the sinner would cause us to “consider our ways”
若正视罪人所处的骇人危险，就会使我们“省察自己的道路”，
and make us more diligent to make our “calling and election sure.”
并使我们更加殷勤，使我们的“蒙召和拣选坚定不移”。
A realization of the unspeakable misery which awaits the lost
若真正意识到那等候失丧之人的、难以言喻的痛苦，
(and which each of us fully merited)
（而这是我们每一个人本该完全承受的），
would immeasurably deepen our gratitude,
就会无限地加深我们的感恩，
and bring us to thank God more fervently
并引导我们更加热切地感谢神，
that we have been snatched as brands from the burning
因为我们如同从火中被抢救出来的柴，
and delivered from the wrath to come;
并且得蒙拯救，脱离那将要来的忿怒；
and too, it will make us far more earnest in our prayers as we supplicate God on behalf of the unsaved.
同时，这也会使我们在为未得救之人向神恳求时，更加迫切。
Moreover, scriptural and searching addresses along these lines would, in some cases at least, lay hold of those who have a form of godliness but who deny the power thereof.
此外，合乎圣经、并且鉴察人心的讲论，至少在某些情况下，会抓住那些有敬虔外貌却否认敬虔能力的人。
They would have some effect on that vast company of professors who are “at ease in Zion.”
这些信息也会对那一大群“在锡安安逸无虑”的自称信徒产生某种影响。
They would, if God were depended upon, arouse the indifferent,
若人倚靠神，这些真理就会唤醒冷淡的人，
and cause some who are now careless and unconcerned to cry,
并使一些如今漫不经心、毫不在意的人呼喊说，
“What must I do to be saved?”
“我当怎样行，才可以得救？”
Remember that the ground must be plowed before it is ready to be sowed:
要记得，土地必须先被犁过，才能预备好撒种：
and the truths mentioned above are needed to prepare the way for the Gospel.
而上述这些真理，正是为福音预备道路所必需的。
Concerning the eternal punishment of the wicked there are few, it seems, who realize the vital importance of a ringing testimony to this truth,
关于恶人永远的刑罚，看来很少有人意识到为这一真理作出响亮见证的至关重要性，
and fewer still who apprehend the deep seriousness of what is involved in a denial of it.
而更少有人明白否认这一真理所牵涉的深重严重性。
The importance of a clear witness to this doctrine may be seen by noting what a prominent place it holds in the Word;
这一教义清楚见证的重要性，可以从它在圣言中所占据的显著地位看出来；
and contrariwise, the seriousness of denying it is evidenced by the fact that such denial is a rejection of God’s truth.
反过来说，否认它的严重性，则体现在这样一个事实上：这种否认就是对神真理的拒绝。
The need of giving this solemn subject a prominent place in our witness is apparent,
在我们的见证中赋予这一庄严主题以显著地位的必要性，是显而易见的，
for it is our bounden duty to warn sinners of their fearful peril
因为警告罪人他们所处的可怕危险，是我们义不容辞的责任，
and bid them flee from the wrath to come.
并呼召他们逃避那将要来的忿怒。
To remain silent is criminal;
保持沉默就是犯罪；
to substitute anything for it is to set before the wicked a false hope.
用任何别的东西来取代它，都是在恶人面前摆上虚假的盼望。
The great importance of expounding this doctrine, freely and frequently,
自由而频繁地阐释这一教义的重要性，
also appears in that, excepting the Cross of Christ,
也体现在这样一点上：除了基督的十字架以外，
nothing else so manifests the heinousness of sin,
再没有什么能如此彰显罪的极端可憎，
whereas every modification of eternal punishment,
然而，对永远刑罚的任何削弱或改动，
only serves to minimize the evil of it.
都只会淡化罪的邪恶性。
We propose to deal with our present theme under the following divisions.
我们计划按以下几个部分来处理当前的主题。
First, we shall examine briefly some of the leading objections brought against the truth of eternal punishment.
第一，我们将简要查考一些针对永远刑罚这一真理的主要反对意见。
Second, we shall classify various passages which treat of the destiny of the lost,
第二，我们将分类考察多处论及失丧之人结局的经文，
showing that death seals the sinner’s doom,
表明死亡封定了罪人的结局，
that his condition is then beyond hope,
他的处境此后再无盼望，
that the punishment awaiting him is interminable.
并且等候他的刑罚是无穷无尽的。
Third, we shall examine those scriptures which throw light upon the nature of the punishment which awaits the lost.
第三，我们将查考那些照亮失丧之人所要承受之刑罚本质的经文。
Finally, we shall seek to make a practical application of the whole subject.
最后，我们将力求对整个主题作出实际的应用。
Table of Contents
目录
Forword
序言
I. Objections Considered
一、反对意见的考察
II. The Destiny of the Wicked
二、恶人的结局
III. The Nature of Punishment Awaiting the Lost
三、等候失丧之人的刑罚本质
IV. The Application of the Subject
四、本主题的应用