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Jonathan Edwards says, “A gracious experience arises from operations and influences which are spiritual, from an inward principle which is divine, a communication of God, a participation of the divine nature: Christ living in the heart, the Holy Spirit dwelling there in union with the faculties of the soul as an internal vital principle, exerting his own proper nature in the exercise of those faculties.
约拿单·爱德华兹（Jonathan Edwards）说：“一种蒙恩的经历（gracious experience）源于属灵的运作和影响，源于一种神圣的内在原则，是上帝的交通，是对神性的参与：基督活在心里，圣灵居住其中，与灵魂的机能结合，成为一种内在的生命原则，在运用这些机能时发挥祂特有的本性。
Now it is no wonder that that which is divine is powerful and effectual, for it has omnipotence on its side.”
现在，那属于神圣的事物是有力且有效的，这并不奇怪，因为祂有全能（omnipotence）在祂那一边。”
Rarely do we find able men turning their attention to the work of God in the soul.
我们很少发现有能力的人将注意力转向上帝在灵魂中的工作。
It was not always so.
情况并非一直如此。
In the seventeenth century the ablest productions of the greatest minds were on experimental religion.
在十七世纪，那些最伟大的思想家最杰出的作品都是关于实验性宗教（experimental religion）的。
The exceeding popularity of a few books, first published in our own age, shows that so far as there is piety, such reading is in great demand.
在我们的时代首次出版的几本书极其受欢迎，这表明只要存在敬虔，此类阅读就有巨大的需求。
This will be more and more so as true religion shall prevail.
随着真宗教的盛行，这种情况将越来越普遍。
It is admitted that the subject of experimental religion is not free from difficulties.
不可否认，实验性宗教这个主题并非没有困难。
But most of these are theoretical, rather than practical.
但其中大部分是理论上的，而非实践上的。
But more than anything else, we always need in the church a copious outpouring of God’s Spirit on the hearts of his people, giving them a zest for spiritual things and a great desire for a full assurance of understanding, of faith and of hope.
但比其他任何事情更重要的是，我们在教会中始终需要上帝的灵充沛地倾注在祂子民的心中，使他们对属灵的事物产生热情，并极度渴望在悟性、信心和盼望上得到充足的把握（full assurance）。
Many real Christians have made but low attainments, and are too little dissatisfied with their present state.
许多真实的基督徒成就尚浅，且对他们目前的现状太容易满足。
One who should speak and act with the zeal and ardor of Paul, of Knox, of Welsh, of Whitefield, or of Henry Martyn—would by the thoughtless world, be esteemed mad.
若有人以保罗（Paul）、诺克斯（Knox）、威尔士（Welsh）、怀特腓（Whitefield）或亨利·马丁（Henry Martyn）那样的热忱和激情说话行事，会被轻率的世人视为疯狂。
But wisdom is justified of her children.
但智慧之子总以智慧为是。
The truly regenerate and growing Christian will not be offended at sound views on this subject.
真正重生且成长的基督徒不会对关于这一主题的健全观点感到冒犯。
It may encourage us to study this subject, to remember that, though in unessential particulars there is an endless diversity in the experience of men—yet in all that necessarily belongs to vital piety, there is a substantial agreement.
记住这一点可能会鼓励我们研究这个课题：虽然在非必要的细节上，人的经历有着无尽的差异，但在所有必然属于生命性敬虔（vital piety）的方面，存在着实质性的一致。
“The head may be strengthened—until the heart is starved.”
“头脑可能被强化——直到心灵饥饿。”
Indeed, infidelity itself will be sure to gain a footing in a community where vital godliness is not experienced.
事实上，在没有经历过生命性敬虔的群体中，不信（infidelity）本身肯定会占有一席之地。
John Owen truly says, “The owning of the Scripture to be the word of God bespeaks a divine majesty, authority, and power to be present in it and with it.
约翰·欧文（John Owen）真切地说：“承认圣经为上帝的话语，意味着其中并伴随着神圣的威严、权威和能力。
Therefore, after men who have for a long time so professed, do find that they never had any real experience of such a divine presence in it by any effects upon their own minds, they grow insensibly regardless of it, or to allow it a very common place in their thoughts.
因此，那些长期如此宣称的人，如果发现自己的思想从未因其中的神圣同在而受到任何实际影响或经历，他们就会在不知不觉中变得不理会它，或者只让它在他们的思想中占据一个非常普通的位置。
When they have worn off the impressions that were on their minds from tradition, education, and custom, they do for the future rather not oppose it than in any way believe it.
当他们磨灭了传统、教育和习俗在心中留下的印象后，他们在未来宁可不反对它，也不愿以任何方式相信它。
And when once a reverence unto the word of God on account of its authority is lost, an assent unto it on account of its truth will not long abide.
一旦因上帝之话语的权威而产生的敬畏感丧失，因其真理性而产生的赞同也就不会长久存在。
And all such people, under a concurrence of temptations and outward “occasions, will either reject it or prefer other guides before it.”
所有这样的人，在诱惑和外部‘时机’（occasions）的同时作用下，要么会拒绝它，要么会选择其他引导者而弃绝它。”
If men dead in sin are ever to be restored to spiritual life, they must be the subjects of a mighty work of grace; they must be taught of God; they must be born from above; they must be called out of darkness into God’s marvelous light; they must be renewed in the inner man.
如果死在罪中的人要恢复属灵的生命，他们必须成为恩典之伟工的对象；他们必须受上帝的教导；他们必须从上头而生；他们必须被召出黑暗，进入上帝奇妙的光明；他们的内在人（inner man）必须被更新。
The advantages of experience are felt in all the affairs of life.
经历的好处在生活的一切事务中都能感受到。
The truths we know by experience are worth more to a wise man than all he can learn from the demonstrative sciences or the reasonings of others.
对一个智慧人来说，通过经历所了解的真理，比他从论证性科学（demonstrative sciences）或他人的推理中学到的一切更有价值。
In all the departments of life, he who has experience has qualifications denied to the mere theorist or scholar.
在生活的所有领域中，拥有经历的人拥有纯粹的理论家或学者所不具备的资格。
Religious experience puts us on our guard against the snares of the world, the flesh, and the devil.
宗教经历使我们警惕世界、肉体和魔鬼的网罗。
It teaches us sincerity, self-distrust, and humility.
它教导我们诚实、不自信和谦卑。
It causes us to abound in all prudence.
它使我们在一切审慎（prudence）中充盈。
It gives us a delightful confirmation in the truth.
它使我们在真理中得到令人愉悦的证实。
It fits us for doing good to an extent far beyond what we could ever attain by instruction in the letter of God’s word.
它使我们适合行善，其程度远超我们仅靠学习上帝话语的字句所能达到的。
All the friends of true religion ought carefully to guard against the abuses of religious experience.
所有真宗教的朋友都应当留心防范宗教经历的滥用。
They should be very careful to avoid all vain boasting, a sin into which men easily fall.
他们应当非常小心地避免一切虚荣的夸口，这是人很容易陷入的罪。
They should learn wisely to discriminate between the genuine and the spurious, between effects produced by divine truth on the one hand and by nervous temperament on the other.
他们应当学会明智地辨别真实与虚假，辨别一方面由神圣真理产生的影响，另一方面由神经质气质（nervous temperament）产生的影响。
They should be especially careful not to rely on any past attainments which do not produce present good fruit.
他们应当特别小心，不要依赖任何不产生当前好果子的过去成就。
Any exercise of the mind which leads us to dullness in devotion, to carelessness about holy living, to lack of zeal for the salvation of men, is not gracious.
任何导致我们在奉献上迟钝、对圣洁生活漠不关心、对拯救灵魂缺乏热忱的思想活动，都不是蒙恩的。
Table of Contents
目录
General remarks on religious experience
关于宗教经历的一般性论述
Early religious impressions–Awakening
早期的宗教印象——觉醒
Early religious impressions–Inquiry
早期的宗教印象——寻求
Further strivings of the Spirit
圣灵进一步的争战
A sense of wretchedness
凄惨感
Conviction – Conversion
为罪自责（Conviction）——归信（Conversion）
Cases of religious distress
宗教苦恼的案例
Spiritual darkness
属灵的黑暗
Backsliding
退后（Backsliding）
Faith
信心
Repentance
悔改
Humility
谦卑
The fear of God
敬畏上帝
Hope
盼望
Love to God
对上帝的爱
Love to Christ
对基督的爱
Love to our neighbor
对邻舍的爱
Love to the brethren
对弟兄的爱
Peace
平安
Courage
勇气
Contentment
知足
Patience
忍耐
Joy
喜乐
Zeal
热忱
Concluding observations
结语