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BY THOMAS BROOKS
托马斯·布鲁克斯著
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To all young people, especially those who begin to turn their faces towards Zion.
致所有年轻人，特别是那些开始转向锡安的人。
中文下载
Dear Hearts,
亲爱的朋友们,
“A word spoken in due season, how good is it!” Proverbs 15:23.
“适时的话是多么美好!”箴言15:23
“It is” often “like apples of gold in pictures of silver,” Proverbs 25:11.
“它常常如金苹果在银器之中”，箴言25:11
Many times such a word is sweet, precious, pleasing, delectable, and strong in its operation.
这样的话语往往是甜美、宝贵、悦人、可喜、且有强大的作用力。
A company of near friends dining together one Sabbath day, one who was at table, to prevent impertinent discourse, said “that it was a question whether they would all go to heaven or not,” which struck them all into sober-mindedness, and caused everyone to enter into a serious consideration with themselves.
有一天安息日,一群亲密的朋友在一起用餐,其中一人为了避免无关紧要的话题,说”我们是否都能进天堂还是个问题”，这话语使他们都变得严肃思考,每个人都开始认真地思考自己的问题。
One thought, if any of this company go to hell, it must be I; and so thought another and another, and indeed so thought almost everyone then present; and through the mercy and blessing of God this speech so wrought upon the spirits of most of them, that it proved the first instrumental means of their conversion.
有人想,如果这个群体中有人下地狱,那一定就是我;另一个人也是如此想,几乎在场的每个人都是这样想;通过上帝的怜悯和祝福,这番话语如此影响了他们大多数人的心灵,成为他们归信的首要手段。
I have my hopes, through grace, that this treatise, though it be sown in weakness, yet by the blessing of the Most High upon it, it may rise in power, and be an instrumental means of the winning of souls to Christ, which is my highest ambition in this world; and therefore I have broken through all difficulties and carnal reasonings that might otherwise have stifled this babe in the womb, and kept it from ever seeing of the light.
我怀着恩典的希望,虽然这篇论述是在软弱中撒下的,但借着至高者的祝福,它可能会兴起大能,成为将灵魂赢得归向基督的工具手段,这是我在这个世界上最高的抱负;因此,我克服了所有的困难和肉体的推理,这些本可能扼杀这个未出生的婴儿,使它永远看不到光明。
I have read of an emperor that delighted in no undertakings so much as those which in the esteem of his counselors and captains were deemed most difficult and impossible.
我读到过一位皇帝,他最喜欢的事业莫过于那些在他的顾问和将领看来最困难和不可能的事业。
If they said such or such an enterprise would never be accomplished, it was argument enough to him to make the adventure; and he usually prospered, he seldom miscarried.
如果他们说某某事业永远无法完成,这对他来说就足以成为冒险的理由;而且他通常都会成功,很少失败。
I have never found greater and choicer blessings to attend any of my poor weak labors, than those which have been brought forth into the world through the greatest straits and difficulties.
我从未发现有比那些经历最大困难和艰险而产生的作品,能为我那些贫乏软弱的劳作带来更大更好的祝福。
Valerius Maximus reports, that one telling a soldier going to war against the Persians—that they would hide the sun with their arrows, he answered, We shall fight best in the shade.
瓦雷里乌斯·马克西姆斯报道说,有人告诉一个要去与波斯人作战的士兵——他们会用箭遮蔽太阳,他回答说,我们在阴凉处战斗最好。
Nothing should discourage nor dishearten a soldier of Christ, 2 Tim. 2:3-4.
没有什么应该使基督的士兵灰心丧气,提摩太后书2:3-4。
Christ says to all his soldiers (as the Black Prince his father said to him, fighting as it were in blood to the knees, and in great distress), Either vanquish or die!
基督对他所有的士兵说(就像黑太子的父亲对他说的那样,仿佛在膝盖深的血中战斗,处于极大的困境中),要么胜利,要么死亡!
Men of no resolution, or of weak resolution, will be but little serviceable to the good of souls.
没有决心或决心软弱的人,对灵魂的益处只能起到很小的作用。
Such watchmen as will be free from the blood of souls, and be serviceable to the interest of Christ in turning sinners from darkness to light, must be men of spirit and resolution.
那些能免于灵魂之血的守望者,能为基督的利益服务,把罪人从黑暗中转向光明的人,必须是有精神和决心的人。
I remember Austin begins one of his sermons thus: “To you is my speech, O young people, in the flower of age, in the danger of the mind.”
我记得奥斯丁这样开始他的一篇讲道:”我的讲话是对你们说的,哦年轻人,你们正处于年华正茂,心智危险的时期。”
So say I, to you, O young people! do I dedicate the ensuing treatise, and that,
所以我说,对你们,哦年轻人!我将以下论文献给你们,因为,
First, Because the matter contained therein does primarily and eminently concern you.
首先,因为其中所包含的内容主要且显著地与你们有关。
And secondly, Because of an earnest desire that I have of your internal and eternal welfare.
其次,因为我对你们内在和永恒福祉的热切渴望。
And thirdly, Because of some late impulses that have been upon my spirit to leave this treatise in your hands as a legacy of my love, and as a testimony and witness of my great ambition to help forward your everlasting salvation.
第三，因为最近我的心灵受到一些冲动，要将这篇论文作为我爱的遗产留在你们手中，也作为我渴望促进你们永恒救恩的见证。
And fourthly, Because there is most hope of doing good among you, as I evidence more at large in the following treatise.
第四，因为在你们中间做善事最有希望，正如我在接下来的论文中更详细地证明的那样。
And fifthly, To countermine the great underminer of your souls, whose great design is to poison you, and to possess you, in the morning of your days.
第五，为了反制那个破坏你们灵魂的大敌，他的主要目的是在你们年轻时就毒害你们，占据你们。
Sixthly, To provoke others that are more able and worthy to be more serviceable to you in declaring themselves fully on this very subject, which none yet have done that I know of, though it be a point of as great concern to young people especially, as any I know in all the Scriptures, Eph. 4:14.
第六，激励那些更有能力和更值得的人，在这个主题上更全面地表达自己，为你们提供更多服务。据我所知，还没有人这样做过，尽管这是一个对年轻人特别重要的问题，就像我在圣经中所知道的任何问题一样重要，以弗所书4:14。
Seventhly, and lastly, Because there are very many who lie in wait to deceive, corrupt, and poison your minds with God-dishonoring, Christ-denying, conscience-wasting, and soul-damning opinions, principles, and blasphemies.
第七，也是最后一点，因为有很多人正在伺机欺骗、腐蚀和毒害你们的思想，用亵渎上帝、否认基督、摧毁良知和诅咒灵魂的观点、原则和亵渎之词。
I have read of one who boasted and gloried in this, that he had spent thirty years in corrupting and poisoning of youth. Doubtless, many wretches, many monsters there be among us, who make it their business, their glory, their all—to delude and draw young people to those dangerous errors and blasphemies that lead to destruction.
我读到过一个人自夸并以此为荣，说他花了三十年时间腐蚀和毒害青年。毫无疑问，在我们中间有许多可恶的人，许多怪物，他们把欺骗和引诱年轻人走向那些导致毁灭的危险错误和亵渎当作他们的事业，他们的荣耀，他们的一切。
Error and folly, says one very well, are the knots of Satan wherewith he ties children to the stake to be burned in hell.
有人说得很好，错误和愚蠢是撒但的绳结，他用它们把孩子们绑在火刑柱上，在地狱里被焚烧。
There isa truth in what the tragedian said long since, “poison is commonly drunk out of a cup of gold.” So is an error soonest taken into the judgment and conscience, from people of the fairest carriage and smoothest conversations.
悲剧作家很久以前说过的话中有一个真理，”毒药通常是从金杯中喝下的。”同样，错误最容易从那些举止最得体、言谈最圆滑的人那里被接受到判断力和良知中。
Error is so foul an hag, that if it should come in its own shape, a man would loathe it, and fly from it as from hell.
错误是如此肮脏的妖怪,如果它以本来面目出现,人们会厌恶它,像逃离地狱一样逃离它。
If Jezebel had not painted her face, she had not gotten so many young doating adulterers to have followed her to their own ruin.
如果耶洗别没有粉饰她的面容,就不会有那么多年轻痴迷的奸夫跟随她走向毁灭。
Ah! young men, young men—the blessing of the Lord upon your serious and diligent perusal of this treatise may be a happy means to preserve you from being ensnared and deluded by those monsters “who compass sea and land to make proselytes for hell,” Mat. 23:15.
啊!年轻人,年轻人——愿主的祝福临到你们认真勤勉地阅读这篇论文,这可能是一个幸福的方法,使你们免于被那些”走遍洋海陆地,勾引人入地狱”的怪物所诱惑和欺骗,马太福音23:15。
And thus I have given you the reasons of my dedicating this treatise to the service of your souls. I would willingly presume that it will be as kindly taken—as it is cordially tendered. I hope none of you into whose hands it may fall, will say as one Antipater, king of Macedonia, did; when one presented him with a book treating of happiness, his answer was, I have no time for this.
因此,我已经向你们说明了我将这篇论文献给你们灵魂服务的原因。我愿意相信,它会像我诚挚地献上一样被善意地接受。我希望你们中无论谁得到这本书,都不会像马其顿国王安提帕特那样说;当有人向他呈献一本论述幸福的书时,他的回答是,我没有时间看这个。
Ah! Young men and women, young men and virgins, as you desire the everlasting welfare of your souls; as you would escape hell and come to heaven; as you would have a saving interest in Christ, a pardon in your bosoms; as you would be blessed here and glorious hereafter; find time, make time—to read over and over the following treatise, which is purposely calculated for your eternal good.
啊!年轻的男女,年轻的男子和处女,如果你们渴望灵魂永恒的福祉;如果你们想逃离地狱进入天堂;如果你们想在基督里得救赎,在心中得赦免;如果你们想在今生蒙福,来世得荣耀;那就找时间,挤时间——反复阅读以下这篇专为你们永恒利益而写的论文。
But before I go further, I think it needful, in some respects, to give the world some further account of other reasons or motives which have prevailed with me to appear once more in print; and they are these:
但在我进一步讲下去之前,我认为有必要在某些方面向世人进一步说明促使我再次出版的其他原因或动机;它们是:
First, Having preached a sermon occasionally upon these words, on which this following discourse is built, I was earnestly implored by some worthy friends, to print the sermon. I did as long as in modesty I could, withstand their desires, judging it not worthy of them; but being at last overcome, and setting about the work, the breathings and comings in of God were such as has occasioned that one sermon to multiply into many. Luther tells us, that when he first began to turn his back upon popery, he intended no more but to withstand popish pardons and selling indulgences; yet neither would God or his enemies let him alone until he resolved with Moses not to leave a hoof of popery unopposed, Exod. 10:26, etc. God many times in the things of the gospel, carries forth his servants beyond their intentions, beyond their resolutions. But,
首先,我曾偶然就这些话语讲了一篇布道,这篇后续的论述就是建立在此基础之上的,一些值得尊敬的朋友恳切地请求我将这篇布道印刷出来。我尽可能谦逊地抵挡他们的愿望,认为它不值得他们如此看重;但最终还是被说服了,开始着手这项工作,上帝的气息和临在如此强烈,以至于那一篇布道演变成了许多篇。路德告诉我们,当他最初开始背离天主教时,他的本意不过是反对教皇的赦罪和贩卖赎罪券;然而无论是上帝还是他的敌人都不会放过他,直到他下定决心像摩西一样,不留一蹄未反对的天主教教义,出埃及记10:26等。上帝在福音的事上,常常带领他的仆人超越他们的意图,超越他们的决心。但是,
Secondly, The kind acceptance and good quarter that my other pieces have found in the world, and those signal and multiplied blessings that have followed them; to the winning of many over to Christ, and to the building up of others in Christ—has encouraged me to present this treatise to the world, hoping that the Lord has a blessing in store for this also.
其次，我的其他作品在世上受到了善意的接纳和好评，并带来了显著和多重的祝福；使许多人归向基督，并在基督里建立其他人 – 这鼓励我向世界呈现这篇论文，希望主也为此准备了祝福。
Gracious experiences are beyond notions and impressions; they are very quickening and encouraging.
恩典的经历超越了概念和印象；它们非常令人振奋和鼓舞。
Thirdly, That I might in some measure make up other neglects, whose age, whose parts, whose experiences, whose graces—has long called upon them to do something considerable in this way, and that they may be provoked by my weak attempt to do better, and to make up what is lacking through my invincible infirmities and spiritual wants and weaknesses, which are so many as may well make a sufficient apology for all the defects and weaknesses that in this treatise shall appear to a serious judicious eye. But,
第三，我可能在某种程度上弥补其他人的疏忽，他们的年龄、才能、经历和恩典长期以来都呼吁他们在这方面做些重要的事，而我这微弱的尝试可能会激励他们做得更好，并弥补我因无法克服的软弱和属灵的缺乏而造成的不足，这些不足之多足以为本论文中所有在严肃审慎的眼中可能显现的缺陷和弱点作出充分的辩解。但是，
Fourthly, The love of Christ and souls has constrained me to it.
第四，对基督和灵魂的爱促使我这样做。
As there is an attractive virtue, so there is a compulsive virtue in divine love.
正如有吸引力的美德一样，神圣的爱中也有一种强制性的美德。
Love to Christ and souls will make a man willing to spend and be spent.
对基督和灵魂的爱会使人愿意付出和被消耗。
He who prays himself to death, who preaches himself to death, who studies himself to death, who sweats himself to death—for the honor of Christ and good of souls—shall be no loser in the end.
那为基督的荣耀和灵魂的益处祷告至死、讲道至死、学习至死、汗流至死的人，最终必不会是失败者。
Divine love is like a rod of myrtle, which, as Pliny reports, makes the traveler who carries it in his hand—that he shall never be faint or weary.
神圣的爱就像一根桃金娘枝，正如普林尼所报道的，使手持它的旅行者永不疲倦或疲乏。
Divine love is very operative; if it does not work, it is an argument it does not exist at all.
神圣的爱是非常有效的；如果它不起作用，那就是它根本不存在的论据。
Divine love, like fire, is not idle—but active.
神圣的爱，如同火一样，不是闲置的 – 而是活跃的。
He who loves, cannot be barren.
爱的人，不能贫瘠。
Love will make the soul constant and abundant in well-doing.
爱会使灵魂在行善中保持恒心和丰盛。
God admits none to heaven, says Justin Martyr—but such as can persuade him by their works, that they love him.
殉道者贾斯汀说，上帝不允许任何人进入天堂 – 除非那些能通过他们的行为说服祂，他们爱祂的人。
The heathen Seneca has observed—that God does not love his children with a weak, womanish affection—but with a strong, masculine love; and certainly, those who love the Lord strongly, who love him with a masculine love—they cannot but lay out their little all for him and his glory. But,
异教徒塞内卡观察到 – 上帝爱祂的儿女不是以软弱、女性化的感情 – 而是以强烈、阳刚的爱；当然，那些强烈爱主的人，以阳刚之爱爱祂的人 – 他们必定会为祂和祂的荣耀付出他们所有的一切。但是，
Fifthly, I observe that Satan and his instruments are exceeding busy and unwearied in their designs, attempts, and endeavors in these days to corrupt and poison, to defile and destroy the young, the tender, the most hopeful, and most flourishing plants among us.
第五，我观察到撒但及其爪牙在这些日子里极其忙碌且不知疲倦，他们设计、企图并努力腐蚀和毒害、玷污和摧毁我们中间年轻的、脆弱的、最有希望和最茂盛的幼苗。
Latimer told the clergy in his time, that if they would not learn diligence and vigilance from the prophets and apostles, they should learn it from the devil, who goes up and down his dioceses, and acts by an untiring power—seeking whom he may destroy. When the wolves are abroad, the shepherd should not sleep—but watch; yes, double his watch, remembering that he had better have all the blood of all the men in the world upon, him than the blood of one soul upon him by his negligence, or otherwise.
拉蒂默告诉他那个时代的神职人员，如果他们不愿从先知和使徒那里学习勤奋和警惕，那么他们应该向魔鬼学习，魔鬼在他的教区上下奔波，以不知疲倦的力量行事——寻找可以毁灭的人。当狼外出时，牧羊人不应睡觉，而应警惕；是的，加倍警惕，记住宁可让全世界所有人的血沾在自己身上，也不要因自己的疏忽或其他原因让一个灵魂的血沾在自己身上。
Satan is a lion, not a lamb; a roaring lion, not a sleepy lion; not a lion standing still—but a lion going up and down. As not being contented with the prey—the many millions of souls he has got—”he seeks whom he may devour.” 1 Peter 5:8. His greatest design is to fill hell with souls; which should awaken every one to be active, and to do all that may be done to prevent his design, and to help forward the salvation of souls.
撒但是一头狮子，而不是羊羔；是一头咆哮的狮子，而不是睡眠的狮子；不是一头静止不动的狮子，而是一头四处游荡的狮子。他不满足于已经得到的猎物——那数百万的灵魂——”他寻找可以吞吃的人。”彼得前书5:8。他最大的计划是用灵魂填满地狱；这应该唤醒每个人积极行动，尽一切可能阻止他的计划，并帮助推进灵魂的救赎。
Chrysostom compares good pastors—to fountains that ever send forth waters, or conduits that are always running, though no pail be put under. But,
克里索斯托姆将好牧者比作永远涌出水的泉源，或总是在流动的水道，即使下面没有放置水桶。但是，
Sixthly and lastly, I know the whole life of man is but an hour to work in; and the more work any man does for Christ on earth, the better pay he shall have when he comes to heaven. Every man shall at last “reap as he sows.” Opportunities of doing service for Christ, and souls, are more worth than a world; therefore I was willing to take hold on this, not knowing how soon “I may put off this earthly tabernacle;” and remembering, that as there is no believing nor repenting in the grave, so there is no praying, preaching, writing, nor printing in the grave; we had need to be up and doing, to put both hands to it, and to do all we do with all our might, knowing that “the night is coming, wherein no man can work.” A Christian’s dying day is the Lord’s pay-day; that is, a time to receive wages, not to do work.
第六点也是最后一点，我知道人的一生不过是一小时的工作时间；一个人在世上为基督做的工作越多，他到天堂时得到的报酬就越好。每个人最终都会”收获他所播种的”。为基督和灵魂服务的机会比整个世界还要宝贵；因此我愿意抓住这个机会，因为不知道我何时会”脱去这地上的帐棚”；并且记住，正如在坟墓里没有信仰和悔改一样，在坟墓里也没有祈祷、讲道、写作或印刷；我们需要起来行动，全力以赴，尽我们所能做一切事，因为知道”黑夜将至，那时就没有人能做工了”。基督徒的死亡之日是主的发薪日；那是领取工资的时候，而不是做工的时候。
And thus I have given the world a true account of the reasons that moved me to print the following discourse. Before I close up, I desire to speak a word to young people, and another to aged people, and then I shall take leave of both.
这样，我已经向世人真实地交代了促使我印刷以下论述的原因。在结束之前，我想对年轻人说一句话，再对年长者说一句话，然后我就告别双方。
My request to you who are in the primrose of your days is this—If ever the Lord shall be pleased so to own and crown, so to bless and follow this following discourse, as to make itan effectual means of turning you to the Lord, of winning you to Christ, of changing your natures, and converting your souls—for such a thing as that I pray, hope, and believe—that then you would do two things for me.
我对你们这些正值青春年华的人的请求是这样的——如果主愿意认可和嘉奖、祝福和跟随这篇论述，使它成为有效的手段，使你们归向主，赢得你们归向基督，改变你们的本性，转化你们的灵魂——为此我祈祷、希望并相信——那么你们就为我做两件事。
First, That you would never cease bearing of me upon your hearts when you are in the mount, that I may be very much under the pourings out of the Spirit, that I may be clear, high, and full in my communion with God, and that I may be always close, holy, humble, harmless, and blameless in my walkings with God, and that his work may more and more prosper in my hand.
第一，当你们在山上时，永远不要停止将我放在心上，使我能在圣灵的浇灌下，使我在与神的交通中清晰、高尚和丰满，使我在与神同行时总是亲密、圣洁、谦卑、无害和无可指责，使他的工作在我手中越来越兴旺。
Secondly, That you would by word of mouth, letter, or some other way, acquaint me with what the Lord has done for your souls—if he shall make me a spiritual father to you. Do not hide his grace from me—but acquaint me how he has made the seed that was sown in weakness, to rise in power upon you, and that
第二，如果他使我成为你们的属灵父亲，你们要通过口头、书信或其他方式，让我知道主为你们的灵魂所做的事。不要向我隐瞒他的恩典——而要告诉我他如何使在软弱中播种的种子在你们身上以大能兴起，以及
(First) That I may do what I can to help on that work begun upon you; that your penny may become a pound, your mite a million, your drop an ocean.
（第一）我可以尽我所能帮助在你身上开始的工作；使你的一便士变成一镑，你的一文钱变成百万，你的一滴水变成海洋。
(Secondly) That I may the better improve some impressions that have been upon my own spirit since I began this work.
（第二）我可以更好地改进自从开始这项工作以来在我自己灵里的一些印象。
(Thirdly), That my joy and thankfulness may be increased, and my soul more abundantly engaged to that God, who has blessed the day of small things to you, 1 Thes. 2:19-20; 2 Cor. 9:2. Ponder these scriptures—2 Cor. 7:3-4, 13; Philip. 2:2; Phil. 4:1; Philem. 7; 2 John 3-4—and then be ashamed to declare what the Lord has done for you, if you can.
（第三）我的喜乐和感恩可能会增加，我的灵魂更加丰富地投入到那位神，他已经祝福了你们小事的日子，帖撒罗尼迦前书2:19-20；哥林多后书9:2。思考这些经文——哥林多后书7:3-4，13；腓立比书2:2；腓立比书4:1；腓利门书7；约翰二书3-4——然后如果你能，就为宣告主为你所做的事而感到羞愧。
(Fourthly) It is better to convert one to Christ, than to civilize a thousand; and will turn more at last to a minister’s account in that day, wherein he shall say, “Lo, here am I, and the children that you have given me,” Isaiah 8:18. Such a man, with his spiritual children about him, shall look on God with more comfort and boldness, than those that are only able to say, “Lo, here am I, and my many benefices;” “Here am I, and my many ecclesiastical dignities and glories;” “Here am I, and the many hundreds a year that I have given.” But,
（第四）使一个人归向基督比使千人文明化更好；最终在那日，当一个传道人说：”看哪，我在这里，还有你所给我的孩子们，”（以赛亚书8:18）时，这将更有价值。这样一个人，周围环绕着他的属灵儿女，将比那些只能说”看哪，我在这里，还有我的许多教会俸禄”、”我在这里，还有我的许多教会尊荣和荣耀”、”我在这里，还有我每年给出的数百元”的人，更加安慰和勇敢地仰望神。但是，
(Fifthly and lastly) The conversion of others is a secondary and more remote evidence of a man’s own renovation and conversion. Paul was converted himself before God made him instrumental for others’ conversion. God’s usual method is, to convert by those who are converted.
（第五，也是最后）他人的归信是一个人自己更新和归信的次要和更远的证据。保罗自己先归信，然后神才使他成为他人归信的工具。神通常的方法是，通过那些已经归信的人来使人归信。
I do not remember any one instance in all the Scripture of God’s converting any by such who have not been converted first themselves; yet I know his grace is free, and the wind blows where it wills, when it wills, and as it wills.
我不记得在所有圣经中有任何一个例子是神通过那些自己还没有先归信的人来使人归信的；然而我知道他的恩典是自由的，风随意吹，何时吹，如何吹，都随它的意思。
To aged people I have a word.
对于年长的人,我有几句话要说。
First, To grey-headed saints. Ah, friends! ah, fathers! would you see your honor, your happiness, your blessedness? Then look into this treatise, and there you will find what an unspeakable honor it is to be an old disciple, what a glory it is to be godly early, and to continue so to old age.
首先,对于白发圣徒。啊,朋友们!啊,父辈们!你们想看到自己的荣誉、幸福和福分吗?那就看看这篇论文吧,在那里你们会发现,成为一个年长的门徒是多么无法言喻的荣誉,早年就虔诚且一直持续到老年是多么荣耀的事。
Secondly, To white-headed sinners whose spring is past, whose summer is overpast, and who are arrived at the fall of the leaf, and yet have a hell to escape, a Christ to believe in, sins to pardon, hearts to change, souls to save, and heaven to make sure; would such be encouraged from Scripture grounds to repent, believe, and hope, that yet there is mercy for such, let them seriously peruse this treatise, especially the latter part of it, and there they may find enough to keep them from despairing, and to encourage them to adventure their souls upon him who is mighty to save.
其次,对于那些春天已过、夏天已逝、已到落叶之秋的白发罪人,他们还有地狱要逃离,有基督要相信,有罪要赦免,有心要改变,有灵魂要拯救,有天堂要确保;如果这样的人想从圣经的基础上得到鼓励去悔改、相信和盼望,认为对他们这样的人仍有怜悯,就让他们认真研读这篇论文,尤其是后半部分,在那里他们可能会找到足够的内容,使他们不至绝望,并鼓励他们将灵魂托付给那位大能拯救的主。
There are many things in this treatise that are of use to all, and several things of importance—which are not every day preached nor read. I have made it aspleasurable as timewould permit, that so it might be the more profitable to the reader, and that I might the better take the young man by a holy craft; which is a high point of heavenly wisdom, there being no wisdom to that of winning of souls, 2 Cor. 12:16; Proverbs 11:13. I shall now follow this poor piece with my weak prayers, that it may be so blessed from heaven, as that it may bring in some—and build up others—and do good to all. And so rest,
这篇论文中有许多对所有人都有用的内容,还有一些重要的内容——这些内容并非每天都被传讲或阅读。我尽可能地使它变得愉悦,以便对读者更有益处,也让我能用神圣的技巧更好地吸引年轻人;这是天国智慧的高点,因为没有比赢得灵魂更高的智慧了,哥林多后书12:16;箴言11:13。现在我将以我微弱的祈祷伴随这篇拙作,愿它能得到天国的祝福,以至于能带领一些人——建立其他人——并对所有人都有益。就此,
Your friend and servant in the Gospel of Christ,
你在基督福音中的朋友和仆人,
Thomas Brooks
托马斯·布鲁克斯
TABLE OF CONTENTS
目录
Introduction
引言
The explanation of the verse
经文解释
Chapter 1: A commendable thing for young men to be really godly early
第一章：年轻人及早成为真正虔诚是值得称赞的事
Chapter 2: The great honor it is to be an old disciple —shown in seven particulars
第二章：成为老门徒的巨大荣誉——从七个方面展示
Chapter 3: The Evils of Youth
第三章：青年的罪恶
Chapter 4: An Exhortation to All Young People
第四章：对所有年轻人的劝诫
Chapter 5: Shall the sins of the saints shall be brought into the judgment?
第五章：圣徒的罪过是否会被带到审判中？
Chapter 6: Directions and helps
第六章：指导和帮助
Chapter 7: You must labor to be acquainted with four things early
第七章：你必须及早努力了解四件事
Chapter 8: Brief Answers to a Young Man’s Objections
第八章：对年轻人异议的简要回答
Chapter 9: Brief answers to the old man’s scruples
第九章：对老年人顾虑的简要回答