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Dear brother,
亲爱的兄弟，
I have been informed of the loss of your dear wife. She has now put off mortality, and has become immortal! Can this grieve you?
我已得知你亲爱的妻子离世的消息。她现已脱去凡胎，成为不朽之身！这能使你悲伤吗？
Oh, that I was where she now is:
“Safe landed on that peaceful shore,
Where pilgrims meet to part no more!”
噢，我多希望能在她现在所在之处：
“安全抵达那和平的彼岸，
朝圣者在那里相聚永不分离！”
She was once a mourning sinner in this poor wilderness, but she is now a glorified saint in Zion! The Lord has become her everlasting light, and the days of her mourning are ended! Does this trouble you?
她曾是这贫瘠荒野中一个哀悼的罪人，但如今她已是锡安中一位得荣耀的圣徒！主已成为她永恒的光，她哀悼的日子已经结束！这会使你烦恼吗？
She was once . . .
afflicted with bodily pains and weakness,
encompassed with cares, and
harassed with a crowd of anxious and needless fears.
她曾经…
遭受身体的疼痛和虚弱，
被忧虑所包围，
被一群焦虑和不必要的恐惧所困扰。
She has now arrived at her Father’s house, and He has wiped away all tears from her eyes. He has freed her in a moment . . .
from all her pains,
from all her cares,
from all her fears,
and from all her needs!
And shall this distress you?
她现在已抵达天父的家，祂已擦去她眼中的一切泪水。祂在一瞬间使她摆脱了…
所有的痛苦，
所有的忧虑，
所有的恐惧，
以及所有的需求！
这会使你痛苦吗？
You have not lost your wife, she has only gone ahead of you for a short time.
你并没有失去你的妻子，她只是比你先行一步而已。
She has left her earthly husband, to go home to her heavenly Father!
她离开了她在世的丈夫，回到了她天上的父亲身边！
She expects your arrival there soon, to join the Hallelujahs for redeeming love.
她期待你不久后也能到达那里，一同歌唱赞美救赎之爱的哈利路亚。
Are you still weeping? Shame upon you, brother!
你还在哭泣吗？真该为你感到羞愧，兄弟！
Are you weeping because your wife can weep no more?
你是因为你的妻子再也不会哭泣而哭泣吗？
Are you weeping because she is eternally happy and holy?
你是因为她永远幸福和圣洁而哭泣吗？
Are you weeping because she is joined to that assembly where all are kings and priests?
你是因为她加入了那个所有人都是国王和祭司的集会而哭泣吗？
Are you weeping because she is daily feasted with heavenly manna in her Father’s kingdom?
你是因为她在天父的国度里每天享受天上的吗哪而哭泣吗？
Are you weeping because she is now where you desire to be eternally?
你是因为她现在所在的地方正是你渴望永远待的地方而哭泣吗？
Are you weeping because she is singing sweet anthems to her God and your God?
你是因为她正在向她的上帝和你的上帝唱甜美的赞美诗而哭泣吗？
O shameful weeping!
噢，多么可耻的哭泣！
Jesus has fetched your bride triumphantly home to His kingdom, to draw your soul more ardently thither.
耶稣已经凯旋地将你的新娘接回祂的国度，为的是更热切地吸引你的灵魂前往那里。
He has broken up your cistern–to bring you nearer, and keep you closer to the ever-flowing fountain!
祂打破了你的蓄水池——为了让你更接近，更贴近那永不枯竭的泉源！
Jesus has caused a moment’s separation, to divorce your affections from the creature.
耶稣造成了短暂的分离，为的是让你的情感与受造物脱离。
He has torn a heart-string from you, to set your heart a-panting more vehemently for Himself.
祂从你身上撕下一根心弦，为的是让你的心更加热切地渴慕祂。
Hereafter you will see how gracious the Lord has been, in calling your beloved wife home, in order to betroth you more effectually to Himself.
此后你将看到主是多么仁慈，祂召你挚爱的妻子回家，是为了更有效地将你许配给祂自己。
May all your tears flow in a heavenly channel, and every sigh waft your soul nearer to Jesus!
愿你所有的眼泪都流向天国的渠道，每一声叹息都将你的灵魂推向耶稣！
May the God of all consolation, comfort you through life, and in death afford you a triumphant entrance into His glorious kingdom!
愿那位安慰之神，在你的一生中安慰你，并在死亡时给予你一个凯旋的入口进入祂荣耀的国度！
So prays your friend and brother in the gospel of Christ,
John Berridge
如此祈祷的是你在基督福音里的朋友和兄弟，
约翰·贝里奇
“The day of death, is better than the day of birth!” Ecclesiastes 7:1
“死亡之日，胜于出生之日！”传道书7:1
“Blessed are those who die in the Lord!” Revelation 14:13
“在主里面而死的人有福了！”启示录14:13
“Let me die the death of the righteous, and may my end be like theirs!” Numbers 23:10
“愿我得以死义人之死，愿我的结局如他们一般！”民数记23:10