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In Christ’s Counsel to His Languishing Church of Sardis, the eminent Puritan preacher Obadiah Sedgwick offers a searching and tender exposition of Revelation 3:2–3 — Christ’s solemn warning to a church that had a name of life, but was inwardly dying.
在《基督对祂衰弱的撒狄教会的劝勉》（Christ’s Counsel to His Languishing Church of Sardis）一书中，杰出的清教徒传道人奥巴底亚·塞奇威克（Obadiah Sedgwick）对启示录3章2–3节作出了深刻而温柔的阐释——这是基督向一个“有名无实、里面却是死的”教会所发出的庄严警告。
With a shepherd’s heart and a theologian’s clarity, Sedgwick diagnoses the hidden spiritual decline that can take hold even among those who outwardly profess faith, calling Christians to wakefulness, repentance, and renewal.
塞奇威克以牧者的心肠与神学家的清晰洞见，诊断了那种即便在外在承认信仰之人中也可能悄然滋生的隐藏属灵衰败，并呼召基督徒警醒、悔改与更新。
Sedgwick shows how spiritual decay often begins quietly: through neglect of duties, taming of conscience, cooling affections, and the subtle growth of worldly desires.
塞奇威克指出，属灵的败坏往往是悄然开始的：借着忽略本分、驯服良心、爱心冷淡，以及属世欲望的暗中滋长。
Yet he does not leave the reader in despair.
然而，他并未让读者陷入绝望之中。
Through vivid biblical illustrations, rich doctrinal reflection, and practical counsel, he teaches how the languishing soul may be strengthened again by God’s grace — through humility, holy vigilance, renewed repentance, and a return to fervent communion with Christ.
借着生动的圣经比喻、丰富的教义反思与切实可行的劝勉，他教导人如何靠着上帝的恩典再次坚固那衰弱的灵魂——通过谦卑、圣洁的警醒、更新的悔改，以及重归与基督火热的相交。
Originally preached to a congregation in London during times of great spiritual need, this timeless pastoral work still speaks with urgency to the modern Church.
这部永不过时的牧养之作，最初是在伦敦属灵极其需要的时期向会众宣讲的，如今仍以迫切的声音向现代教会说话。
It is a rallying call to forsake spiritual sloth, rekindle first love, and embrace Christ’s gracious counsel to “strengthen the things that remain.”
这是一声集结的呼召，催促人弃绝属灵的懈怠，重新点燃起初的爱，并拥抱基督满有恩典的劝勉：“坚固那剩下将要衰微的。”
For any Christian who feels the fading of spiritual vitality, Christ’s Counsel to His Languishing Church of Sardis is a sober yet hope-filled guide back to the fountain of life.
对于任何感到属灵活力正在消退的基督徒而言，《基督对祂衰弱的撒狄教会的劝勉》是一部严肃却充满盼望的指引，引人回到生命的泉源。
In a day of much profession but little power, Sedgwick’s voice is a needed call to authentic, living faith.
在一个信仰告白甚多却属灵能力甚少的时代，塞奇威克的声音是一声迫切需要的呼召，呼唤真实而活泼的信心。
About the Author:
关于作者：
Obadiah Sedgwick (c. 1600–1658) was a distinguished English Puritan pastor and preacher, known for his fervent, Christ-centered ministry during one of the most turbulent periods in English church history.
奥巴底亚·塞奇威克（Obadiah Sedgwick，约1600–1658年）是英国一位卓越的清教徒牧师与传道人，在英国教会历史最动荡的时期之一，以其火热、以基督为中心的事奉而闻名。
A graduate of Queen’s College, Oxford, Sedgwick served as a chaplain in the Parliamentary army and later as pastor of St. Mildred’s, Bread Street, London.
塞奇威克毕业于牛津大学皇后学院（Queen’s College, Oxford），曾任议会军中的随军牧师，后来担任伦敦布雷德街圣米尔德里德堂（St. Mildred’s, Bread Street）的牧师。
He was a respected member of the Westminster Assembly and a faithful voice for reformation, spiritual vitality, and biblical fidelity.
他是威斯敏斯特大会（Westminster Assembly）中备受尊敬的一员，也是改革、属灵生命力与圣经忠信的忠实代言人。
Sedgwick’s writings reflect a deep pastoral concern for the health of Christ’s Church, combining rich doctrinal insight with urgent calls to repentance and renewal.
塞奇威克的著作反映出他对基督教会属灵健康的深切牧养关怀，将丰富的教义洞见与迫切的悔改与更新呼召有机结合。