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Dear friends, The following discourse on closet prayer I heartily recommend to your serious perusal.
亲爱的朋友们，我衷心地向你们推荐认真阅读以下这篇关于密室祷告的论述。
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I have many reasons to hope, that when you have once read it over, you will be more in love with closet prayer than ever, and that you will set a higher price upon closet prayer than ever, and that you will make a better and fuller improvement of closet prayer than ever yet you have done.
我有很多理由希望，当你读完这篇文章后，你会比以往更加热爱密室祷告，你会比以往更加珍视密室祷告，你会比以往更好地、更充分地改进你的密室祷告。
Consider what I say in my epistle to the reader, and labor so to manage this little treatise, which now I put into your hands, that God may be glorified, your own souls edified, comforted, and encouraged in the ways of the Lord, and that you may be “my crown and joy, in the great day of our Lord Jesus,” 1 Thes. 2:19-20.
请思考我在致读者信中所说的话，努力运用我现在交到你们手中的这本小册子，使上帝得到荣耀，你们的灵魂得到造就、安慰，在主的道路上得到鼓励，使你们能在”我们主耶稣的大日子”成为”我的冠冕和喜乐”（帖撒罗尼迦前书2:19-20）。
Christian Reader—The epistle dedicatory being so large, I shall do little more than give you the grounds and reasons of sending forth this little piece into the world, especially in such a day as this is. Now, my reasons are these:
基督徒读者—由于献词已经很长，我只需要告诉你们将这篇小作品发表于世的根据和理由，特别是在这样的时代。现在，我的理由如下：
- First, Because God by his present dispensations calls more loudly for closet prayer now, than he has done in those last twenty years that are now passed over our heads. See more of this in the 16th argument for closet prayer.
第一，因为上帝通过他当前的安排，比过去二十年更大声地呼召我们进行密室祷告。更多相关内容请参见密室祷告的第16个论据。
- Secondly, Because I have several reasons to fear that many Christians do not clearly nor fully understand the necessity, excellency, and usefulness of this subject, and that many, oh that I could not say any, live in too great a neglect of this indispensable duty; and that more than a few, for lack of light, err in the very practice of it.
第二，因为我有几个理由担心许多基督徒并未清楚或充分理解这个主题的必要性、卓越性和实用性，而且许多人（但愿我不必说出来）过分忽视了这项不可或缺的责任；更有不少人因缺乏亮光，在实践中出现了错误。
- Thirdly, For the refreshing, support, and encouragement of all those churches of Christ that walk in the fear of the Lord, and in the comforts of the Holy Spirit, etc., especially that particular church to whom I stand related.
第三，为了给所有在主的敬畏中行走并在圣灵的安慰中的基督教会，特别是与我有关联的那个特定教会，带来更新、支持和鼓励。
- Fourthly, To preserve and keep up the power of religion and godliness both in men’s houses, hearts, and lives. The power of religion and godliness lives, thrives, or dies, as closet prayer lives, thrives, or dies. Godliness never rises to a higher pitch than when men keep closest to their closets, etc.
第四，为了在人们的家庭、内心和生活中保持并维护宗教和敬虔的力量。宗教和敬虔的力量的生存、兴盛或衰落，与密室祷告的生存、兴盛或衰落息息相关。当人们最忠实于他们的密室时，敬虔才能达到最高境界。
- Fifthly, Because closet prayer is a most sovereign remedy, a most precious antidote of God’s own prescribing, against the plague that now rages in the midst of us, 1 Kings 8:37-39, etc.
第五，因为密室祷告是一剂最有效的良药，是上帝亲自开出的对抗当前在我们中间肆虐瘟疫的宝贵解药（列王记上8:37-39）。
- Sixthly, Because every man is that really which he is secretly. Never tell me, how handsomely, how neatly, how bravely, this or that man acts his part before others; but tell me, if you can, how he acts his part before God in his closet; for the man is that certainly, which he is secretly. There are many who sweat upon the stage that are cold in their closets.
第六，因为每个人的真实面目就是他在私下里的样子。不要告诉我这个人或那个人在别人面前表现得多么得体、多么整洁、多么勇敢；而是要告诉我，如果你能的话，他在密室中在上帝面前是如何表现的；因为一个人的真实样子必定是他私下里的样子。有许多人在舞台上挥汗如雨，却在密室中冷若冰霜。
- Seventhly, Though many worthies have done worthily upon all other parts of prayer—yet there are none either of a former or later date, that have fallen under my eye, who have written any treatise on this subject.
第七，虽然许多有价值的人在祷告的其他方面都做出了有价值的工作，但是在我所见到的不管是早期还是近期的著作中，都没有人专门写过关于这个主题的论文。
I have not a little wondered that so many eminent writers should pass over this great and princely duty of closet-prayer, either with a few brief touches, or else in a very great silence.
我非常惊讶如此多的杰出作家对这个重要而高贵的密室祷告的责任，要么只是简单提及，要么完全保持沉默。
If several Bodies of Divinity are consulted, you will find that all they say clearly and distinctly as to closet-prayer, may be brought into a very narrow compass, if not into a nutshell.
如果查阅几部神学著作，你会发现他们关于密室祷告所说的清晰明确的内容，可以浓缩到一个很小的范围内，甚至可以装进果壳里。
I have also inquired of several old disciples, whether among all the thousand sermons that they have heard in their days, that ever they have heard one sermon on closet-prayer? and they have answered, No.
我还询问过几位年长的门徒，在他们听过的数千次讲道中，是否曾经听过一次关于密室祷告的讲道？他们的回答是：没有。
I have also inquired of them, whether ever they had read any treatise on that subject? and they have answered, No.
我还问过他们，是否读过任何关于这个主题的论文？他们的回答是：没有。
And truly this has been no small encouragement to me, to make an offer of my mite; and if this small attempt of mine shall be so blessed, as to provoke others who have better heads, and hearts, and hands, than any I have, to do Christ and his people more service, in the handling of this choice point in a more copious way than what I have been able to reach unto, I shall therein rejoice.
实际上，这给了我很大的鼓励，使我愿意贡献自己的一点微薄之力；如果我这小小的尝试能得到祝福，能激励那些比我更有智慧、更有爱心、更有能力的人，为基督和祂的子民提供更多服务，以更全面的方式处理这个重要议题，那我将为此感到欢欣。
- Eighthly, and lastly, That favor, that good acceptance and fair quarter that my other poor labors have found, not only in this nation—but in other countries also, has put me upon putting pen to paper once more; and I hope that the good will of him who “dwelt in the bush,” will rest upon this, as it has to the glory of free grace rested upon my former endeavors.
第八，最后，我其他拙作不仅在本国，而且在其他国家也受到青睐、认可和公平对待，这促使我再次执笔；我希望那位”住在荆棘中的主”的美意能降临在这部作品上，就像祂的恩典荣耀地降临在我以前的努力上一样。
I could add other reasons—but let these suffice.
我还可以列举其他原因，但就让这些理由足够了。
Good reader, when you are in your closet, pray hard for a poor, weak, worthless worm, that I may be found faithful and fruitful to the death, that so at last I may receive a crown of life.
亲爱的读者，当你在密室中时，请为这个可怜、软弱、无价值的虫子恳切祷告，愿我至死都能保持忠诚和富有成效，以至最终能获得生命的冠冕。
So wishing you all happiness both in this lower and in that upper world, I rest,
愿你在这个尘世和那个天国都能享有幸福，我就此搁笔。
Yours in our dear Lord Jesus,
在我们亲爱的主耶稣里，你的
Thomas Brooks.
托马斯·布鲁克斯
Table of Contents
目录
Epistle Dedicatory
献词
In what Respects Afflictions are like a Rod
苦难在哪些方面如同杖责
God’s Purpose and End of Taking up the Rod
神拿起杖责的目的与终极意图
Twenty Special Lessons to Learn by the Rod
从杖责中学习的二十个特殊功课
Twenty Arguments to Persuade you to Closet Prayer
说服你进行密室祷告的二十个论据
To those Who are Strangers to Closet Prayer
致那些不熟悉密室祷告的人
Six Objections Stated and Answered
六个异议的陈述与解答
Eleven Advices and Counsels
十一条建议与劝诫
Means, Rules, and Directions
方法、规则与指导