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The art of meditation
(George Mylne, “Lessons for the Christian’s Daily Walk” 1859)
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默想的艺术
（乔治·迈恩，《基督徒日常生活的课程》1859年）
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“So I applied my mind to understand, to investigate and to search out wisdom and the scheme of things.” Ecclesiastes 7:25
“于是我专心探究，考察，寻求智慧和事理。”传道书7:25
We live in stirring days, when deeds are everything—when closet work is often neglected for active business, and little time is given to meditation. Yet, with more thought and prayer—wholesome activity would be greater in the end, and all our actions more successful. Time is not lost, which is spent in meditation—in searching wisdom’s ways, and seeking out profound realities. There is one who often meditates—and yet accomplishes much. There is another who hastens—and yet does little. None works so heartily, nor reaps so fully—as he whose wits are sharpened by prayer and meditation.
我们生活在一个忙碌的时代，行动就是一切——密室工作常常因为繁忙的事务而被忽视，几乎没有时间用于默想。然而，若有更多的思考和祷告，最终必能带来更健康的行动，使我们所做的一切更加成功。用于默想的时间并非浪费——在寻求智慧之道和探索深刻真理时。有人常常默想——却完成许多。有人匆忙行事——却收获甚少。没有人比那些经过祷告和默想而头脑敏锐的人，工作更加尽心，收获更加丰盛。
Reading either Scripture or Christian books, apart from meditation, does little good. It is much the same as not digesting what you eat—this only starves the soul. How many read the Bible thus!
阅读圣经或基督教书籍，若不加以默想，收益甚微。这就像不消化所吃的食物一样——只会使灵魂饥饿。多少人就是这样读圣经！
The art of meditation may be learned by dint of effort.
默想的技巧可以通过努力学习获得。
You say, “I am quite unused to meditate. How shall I begin?” Deal gently with yourself at first. Select your subject—some passage from the Word. Then fix the time you choose to give; say, five minutes at a time. Begin, and think aloud. This makes it easier, and saves the mind from distracted thoughts, the hardest task of all. The sound even of your own voice will help you; it is like speaking to a friend. And what is meditation, but communing with self—that self may be a constant hearer.
你说：”我完全不习惯默想。我该如何开始？”起初要温和地对待自己。选择你的主题——圣经中的某段经文。然后确定你愿意投入的时间；比如说，一次五分钟。开始时，要出声思考。这样会使默想更容易，也能避免分心的想法，这是最难的任务。即使是你自己的声音也会帮助你；这就像是在和朋友交谈。而默想不就是与自己交流吗——让自己成为一个持续的聆听者。
But, more than all, make it a time of prayer—of communing with God. This helps the matter greatly.
最重要的是，要把它变成祷告的时刻——与神相交的时刻。这对这件事大有帮助。
Take the words of Scripture, and ask Jesus what they mean. In doing this, the mind is exercised. A glow of thought attends the effort. You honor Jesus; and He will honor you, by pouring out a largeness of capacity, a quicker mind. The interchange of thought between you and Jesus goes on apace, and you are surprised to find how long the exercise has lasted.
拿起圣经的话语，向耶稣询问其含义。在这个过程中，思维得到锻炼。思考的光芒伴随着这种努力。你尊崇耶稣；祂也会尊重你，赐给你更大的领悟力和更敏捷的思维。你与耶稣之间的思想交流迅速进行，你会惊讶地发现这种操练持续了这么久。
Thus meditation grows, the more it is exercised. It…
因此，默想越操练越长进。它…
feeds the soul,
滋养灵魂，
expands the mind,
开阔思维，
increases thought, and,
增进思考，并且，
best of all, it brings you into fellowship with Jesus. This is the very life and soul of meditation.
最重要的是，它使你与耶稣相交。这是默想的生命和灵魂所在。
“Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.” Joshua 1:8
“这律法书不可离开你的口，总要昼夜思想，好使你谨守遵行这书上所写的一切话。如此，你的道路就可以亨通，凡事顺利。”约书亚记1:8
“But his delight is in the Law of the LORD, and on His Law he meditates day and night.” Psalm 1:2
“惟喜爱耶和华的律法，昼夜思想他的律法。”诗篇1:2
“I will meditate on all Your works, and consider all Your mighty deeds.” Psalm 77:12
“我要思想你一切的作为，默念你的作为。”诗篇77:12
“I meditate on Your precepts, and consider Your ways.” Psalm 119:15
“我要默想你的训词，看重你的道路。”诗篇119:15
“Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long.” Psalm 119:97
“我何等爱慕你的律法，终日不住地思想。”诗篇119:97
“I meditate on all Your works, and consider what Your hands have done.” Psalm 143:5
“我追想你古时的作为，默念你手的工作。”诗篇143:5
“My eyes stay open through the watches of the night, that I may meditate on Your promises.” Psalm 119:148
“我趁夜更未换，将眼睁开，为要思想你的话语。”诗篇119:148