|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready... |
中文下载
The Incomparableness of God: In His Being, Attributes, Works and Word
神的无可比拟性：在祂的本体、属性、作为与圣言中
No one in heaven or earth is like God.
天上地下，没有一位能与神相比。
God is incomparable.
神是无可比拟的。
It is certain, that our happiness in the other world will consist in part in our perfect knowledge of the blessed and boundless God:
可以确定的是，我们在来世的幸福，部分在于我们对那蒙福而无限之神的完全认识：
when we shall ‘know him as we are known of him,’ we shall be blessed as he is blessed;
当我们“认识祂，像祂认识我们一样”，我们就要如祂一样蒙福；
and when ‘we shall see him as he is, we shall be like him’ in purity and felicity;
并且当“我们得见祂的真体”，我们就在纯洁与福乐上与祂相似；
we shall be fully satisfied with his likeness and his love.
我们将完全以祂的形像和祂的爱为满足。
Rich must be the delight which the most large and noble faculty of man, his understanding, shall receive, in its intimate acquaintance with, and clear and full apprehension of, the highest truth.
当人最广大、最尊贵的官能——他的悟性——亲密地认识并清楚、充分地领会至高的真理时，所领受的喜乐必是极其丰盛的。
And it is as certain, that our holiness in this world doth not a little depend upon our knowledge of him, whose ‘name alone is excellent.’
同样可以确定的是，我们今生的圣洁，在很大程度上取决于我们对那“惟独祂的名为尊”的主的认识。
None wander from him, prefer the flesh and world before him, and in their whole lives walk contrary to him, but from their ignorance of him.
凡是偏离祂、以肉体和世界胜过祂、并在一生中行事与祂相反的人，无不是由于对祂的无知。
‘They are estranged from the life of God, (i.e., a spiritual heavenly conversation,) through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their hearts,’ Eph. 4:18.
“他们心地昏昧，与神的生命隔绝了（即属灵、属天的生活方式），都因自己无知，心里刚硬。”——以弗所书 4:18。
Dark corners of a house are filled with dust, dark cellars with vermin, and dark hearts with cursed lusts:
房屋的暗角充满尘土，阴暗的地窖满是害虫，昏暗的心灵则充满可咒诅的私欲：
none are enlarged in desires after God, or ravished with delight in God, or can cast their souls and all their concerns on God, but those that are acquainted with him.
惟有认识神的人，才会在渴慕神上被扩张，才会因神而心醉神迷，才会把自己的灵魂和一切关切完全交托给神。
They who know his beauty and bounty, cannot but love him,
认识祂之美丽与丰盛的人，必然爱祂；
and they who know his power and faithfulness, cannot but trust him;
认识祂之能力与信实的人，必然信靠祂；
‘They who know thy name will put their trust in thee,’ Ps. 9:10.
“认识祢名的人要倚靠祢。”——诗篇 9:10。
Whence comes it to pass, that believers can trample on the riches and treasures, and wealth of this beggarly world,
那么，信徒为何能践踏这可怜世界的财富、珍宝与钱财，
that they can lay their white and yellow earth, their silver and gold, at the apostles’ feet,
为何他们能把白色与黄色的土——他们的银子和金子——放在使徒脚前，
that they can suffer the spoiling of their goods, not only patiently, but joyfully, Heb. 10:34,
为何他们在财物被抢夺时，不但忍耐，且满有喜乐（希伯来书 10:34），
but from the knowledge of him who is true riches, Luke 16:11;
岂不是因他们认识那真实的财富——神吗（路加福音 16:11）；
substance, Prov. 8:21;
那真实的产业（箴言 8:21）；
an enduring substance, Job 10:3–4;
那存到永远的产业（约伯记 10:3–4）；
a bottomless mine of unsearchable riches, Eph. 3:8?
那测不透、如无底矿藏般的丰富（以弗所书 3:8）？
Whence is it, that they can refuse to be called the sons of king’s daughters,
他们为何能拒绝被称为王女之子，
that they can contemn honours and preferments, spurn crowns and sceptres under their feet,
为何能藐视尊荣与高位，把冠冕和权杖践踏在脚下，
but from the knowledge of him who is their crown of glory, their diadem of renown, and the praise of all his saints, Heb. 11:24, 25?
岂不是因他们认识那位作他们荣耀冠冕、名誉华冠、并为众圣徒所称颂的神吗（希伯来书 11:24–25）？
That which to the sensual worldling is so glorious, hath no glory in the believer’s eye,
那在属世、属肉体之人眼中极其荣耀的事物，在信徒眼中却毫无荣耀，
by reason of the Lord of glory, who doth so infinitely excel.
这是因为那无限卓越的荣耀之主。
Whence is it, that they can hate father, mother, wife, child, liberty, yea, life itself,
他们为何能恨父母、妻子、儿女、自由，甚至自己的性命，
and leave all at the call and command of their Maker,
并在造物主的呼召与命令下舍弃一切，
but from the knowledge of him who is, as Elkanah said to Hannah, better to them than ten sons, than all relations, than the whole creation?
岂不是因他们认识那位——正如以利加拿对哈拿所说的——比十个儿子、比一切关系、比整个受造界都更好的神吗？
Those stars vanish and disappear, when once the Sun of righteousness ariseth:
当公义的日头一升起，那些星辰便消失不见；
how quickly, how quietly, without any hesitancy or reluctancy,
何等迅速，何等安静，没有任何犹豫或勉强，
will Abraham leave his country, and kindred, and father’s house,
亚伯拉罕就离开他的本地、亲族和父家，
when once ‘the God of glory appeareth to him,’ Acts 9:2–4.
当“荣耀的神向他显现”之时（使徒行传 9:2–4）。
In a word, whence is it that ‘they escape the pollutions of the world,’
总而言之，他们为何能“脱离世上的污秽”，
in which others are mired, drowned, and destroyed,
而他人却陷溺其中、被淹没、被毁灭，
‘but through the knowledge of God,’ 2 Pet. 2:20?
“岂不是因认识神吗？”（彼得后书 2:20）。
Well may our Lord Jesus say,
因此，我们的主耶稣说得极是，
‘It is life eternal, to know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent.’
“认识祢——独一的真神，并且认识祢所差来的耶稣基督，这就是永生。”
To know God affectionately, as our chiefest good,
以爱慕之心认识神，把祂当作我们至高的善，
so as to give him our superlative esteem, and intensest love,
以至于把最高的尊崇和最深的爱归给祂，
is spiritual life here, in the habit or principle, as also in the act and exercise of it;
这在此世就是属灵的生命——无论是在习性或原则上，还是在行动与操练中；
and it is the beginning, seed, preparation, and way of our eternal life hereafter.
并且这是我们将来永生的开始、种子、预备和道路。
But who can know that being which infinitely passeth all knowledge?
然而，谁能认识那无限超越一切知识的存在呢？
He that would know God fully, must be God himself;
想要完全认识神的，必须是神自己；
and he who would tell you what God is, in any measure answerable to his excellency,
而那要向你述说神是什么、在某种程度上与祂的卓越相称的人，
had need ‘to know him as he is known of him.’
也必须“像神认识他一样认识神”。
And supposing I were able to speak of the perfection of God,
即便假设我能够述说神的完全，
as one that, like the great apostle, had been caught up ‘into the third heavens:’
好像那位伟大的使徒，被提到“第三层天”一样；
I question whether, if I had a tongue to speak of him after that manner,
我仍然怀疑，即便我有那样的舌头来述说祂，
ye had ears to hear of him, or hearts to understand what I should speak.
你们是否有耳可听，或有心可以明白我所说的。
But though I am not able to speak, nor you to hear of God, according to his perfection,
然而，虽然我不能按着祂的完全来述说神，你们也不能按着祂的完全来聆听，
yet through the assistance of the Holy Ghost so much may be spoken and heard of him,
但藉着圣灵的帮助，仍然可以对祂说、也听见许多，
as may tend to our present sanctification and future salvation.
这些都能有助于我们今生的成圣和将来的得救。
Though we cannot ‘see him as he is,’
虽然我们不能“见祂的真体”，
yet we may see him as he is not;
但我们可以看见祂不是怎样的；
though the height of his being be above the reach of our understandings,
虽然祂本体的高深超过我们悟性的范围，
we may get somewhat nearer to him,
我们仍可以稍稍亲近祂，
and indeed we have no other way while we are here,
事实上，在我们仍在世时，别无他途，
than by climbing upon the shoulders of all created excellencies,
只能站在一切受造之卓越的肩膀上，
and there proclaiming,
并在那里宣告，
‘That none in the heavens is to be compared to the Lord,
“在诸天之中，没有谁可与耶和华相比，
that none among the sons of the mighty is like unto the Lord.’
在大能者的众子中，也没有谁像耶和华一样。”
Table of Contents
目录
THE EPISTLE DEDICATORY
献辞书信
I. The preface and meaning of the text
一、序言与经文的含义
II. God is incomparable; 1. In his being
二、神是无可比拟的；一、在祂的本体上
III. The incomparableness of God in his being. It is from itself, for itself, and wholly independent
三、神在本体上的无可比拟性：祂本于自身、为自身、完全独立
IV. God incomparable in his being, as he is absolutely perfect, universal, unchangeable
四、神在本体上的无可比拟性：因祂绝对完全、普遍、不可改变
V. God incomparable in his being, as it is eternal and without composition
五、神在本体上的无可比拟性：因祂是永恒的，并且没有复合性
VI. God incomparable in his being, as it is infinite and incomprehensible
六、神在本体上的无可比拟性：因祂是无限且不可测度的
VII. God incomparable in his attributes, in his holiness, and wisdom
七、神在祂的属性上无可比拟：在祂的圣洁与智慧中
VIII. God incomparable in his attributes, in his knowledge and faithfulness
八、神在祂的属性上无可比拟：在祂的知识与信实中
IX. God incomparable in his mercy and patience
九、神在祂的怜悯与忍耐上无可比拟
X. God incomparable in his attributes, as they are from him, as they are his essence, as they are all one in him, as they are in him in an infinite manner
十、神在祂的属性上无可比拟：因这些属性出于祂，是祂的本质，在祂里面合而为一，并且以无限的方式存在于祂里面
XI. God incomparable in his works, creation, and providence
十一、神在祂的作为上无可比拟：在创造与护理中
XII. God incomparable in the work of redemption; he can do all things
十二、神在救赎之工上无可比拟；祂凡事都能行
XIII. God incomparable in the manner of his working: he worketh irresistibly, arbitrarily
十三、神在祂作工的方式上无可比拟：祂的工作不可抗拒、完全自主
XIV. God incomparable in his working; he doth the greatest things with ease, and without any help
十四、神在祂的作为中无可比拟：祂轻而易举地成就最大的事，并且不需任何帮助
XV. God is incomparable in his word he speaketh with incomparable authority, condescension, and efficacy
十五、神在祂的圣言中无可比拟：祂说话带着无可比拟的权柄、俯就与功效
XVI. God is incomparable in his word: in its purity, mysteries, prophecies
十六、神在祂的圣言中无可比拟：在其纯正、奥秘与预言中
XVII. God incomparable in his word, as it is converting, affirighting, and comforting
十七、神在祂的圣言中无可比拟：因其具有使人归正、使人惧怕、并使人得安慰的能力
XVIII. If God be incomparable, 1. How great is the malignity of sin, which contemneth, dishonoureth, and opposeth this God!
十八、若神是无可比拟的，一、那么藐视、羞辱并敌对这位神的罪，其恶毒是何等之大！
XIX. If God be incomparable, how great is the madness and misery of impenitent sinners!
十九、若神是无可比拟的，那么不悔改之罪人的疯狂与悲惨是何等之大！
XX. If God be incomparable, how monstrous is their pride who compare themselves to the incomparable God!
二十、若神是无可比拟的，那么那些把自己与这无可比拟之神相比之人的骄傲是何等可憎！
XXI. If God be incomparable, then incomparable service and worship is due to him
二十一、若神是无可比拟的，那么无可比拟的事奉与敬拜就当归给祂
XXII. Labour for acquaintance with the incomparable God: motives to it. The knowledge of God is sanctifying, satisfying, saving
二十二、当竭力认识这位无可比拟的神：其动机在此——对神的认识使人成圣、使人满足、使人得救
XXIII. The means of acquaintance with God. A sense of our ignorance. Attendance on the word. Fervent prayer
二十三、认识神的途径：觉察自己的无知；勤于聆听圣言；恳切的祷告
XXIV. Exhortation to choose this incomparable God for our portion; with some motives thereunto
二十四、劝勉人选择这位无可比拟的神为我们的福分，并提出若干动机
XXV. Exhortation to give God the glory of his incomparable excellency; with some considerations to enforce it
二十五、劝勉将神无可比拟的卓越之荣耀归给祂，并以若干思考加以推动
XXVI. Comfort to them that have the incomparable God for their portion
二十六、赐安慰给那些以这位无可比拟的神为他们福分的人