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(Thomas Brooks, “London’s Lamentations” 1670)
《伦敦的哀叹》（托马斯 布鲁克斯, “London’s Lamentations” 1670）
“I form the light and create darkness, I bring prosperity and create disaster; I, the Lord, do all these things.” Isaiah 45:7
“我造光并创造暗，我带来繁荣并制造灾难；我，耶和华，成就这一切。” 以赛亚书 45:7
Let us see the hand of the Lord in this recent dreadful fire which has turned our once renowned London into a ruinous heap! London’s sins were now so great, and God’s wrath was now so hot—that there was no quenching of the furious flames. The decree for the burning of London was now gone forth, and nothing could reverse it. The time of London’s fall was now come. The fire had now received its commission from God—to burn down the city and to turn it into a ruinous heap!
让我们看到主的手在这场可怕的大火中，它将我们曾经著名的伦敦变成了一片废墟！伦敦的罪恶如此之大，上帝的愤怒如此炽热——以至于无法扑灭那猛烈的火焰。焚烧伦敦的命令已经发出，没有什么能够改变它。伦敦陷落的时刻已经到来。这场大火已经从上帝那里接受了使命——要烧毁这座城市，将其化为废墟！
Certainly God is the great agent in all those dreadful judgments which befall people, cities, and kingdoms. Whoever or whatever be the rod—it is God’s hand which gives the stroke! The power of bringing judgments upon cities, God takes to Himself, “When disaster comes to a city, has not the Lord caused it?” Amos 3:6. Whatever that judgment is, which falls upon a city—God is the author of it; He acts in it and orders it according to His own good pleasure. There is no judgment which accidentally falls upon any person, city, or country. Every judgment is inflicted by a divine power and providence. God had given a commission to the fire—to burn with that force and violence as it did—until London was laid in ashes!
诚然，上帝是降临在人民、城市和王国上所有可怕审判的主导者。无论是谁或什么是杖——都是上帝之手在施行打击！上帝将降罚城市的权力归于自己，”灾祸若临到一城，岂非耶和华所降的吗？”阿摩司书3:6。无论是什么审判降临在一座城市——上帝都是其作者；祂按照自己的旨意行事并发令。没有任何审判是偶然降临在任何人、城市或国家的。每一个审判都是由神圣的力量和眷顾所施加的。上帝已经赐予火焰使命——以如此力量和暴烈燃烧——直到伦敦化为灰烬！
Whoever kindled this fire—God blew the coal! And therefore no arts, counsels, or endeavors of men were able to quench it.
无论是谁点燃了这场大火——是上帝吹旺了炭火！因此，人类的任何技艺、谋划或努力都无法将其扑灭。
All judgments are at the beck of God, and under the command of God.
所有的审判都在神的呼唤之下，在神的命令之下。
Whatever judgment God commands to destroy a person, a city, or country—that judgment shall certainly and effectually accomplish the command of God—in spite of all that creatures can do.
无论神命定何种审判来毁灭一个人、一座城市或一个国家，那审判必定会有效地完成神的命令——尽管受造之物想尽办法也无法阻止。
If God commissions the sword of war to walk abroad, and to glut itself with blood—who can command it into the scabbard again? No art, power, or policy can cause that sword to lie still!
如果神差遣战争之剑四处游行，让它饱饮鲜血——谁能命令它重回剑鞘？没有任何技艺、权力或策略能使那剑停止！
God, as He is our Creator, Preserver, and sovereign Lord—has an absolute power both over our persons, lives, estates, and habitations: and when we have transgressed His righteous laws, He may do with us, and all we have—as He pleases.
神作为我们的创造主、保护者和至高的主，对我们的人身、生命、产业和住处都有绝对的权柄：当我们违背了祂公义的律法，祂可以随己意处置我们和我们所拥有的一切。
He may turn us out of house and home, and burn up all our comforts round about us—and yet do us no wrong.
祂可以让我们无家可归，焚毁我们周围所有的安慰——这样做也不算冤枉我们。
“Our God is in heaven; He does whatever pleases Him.” Psalm 115:3
“我们的神在天上，祂随自己的意旨行事。”诗篇115:3
“The Lord does whatever pleases Him—in the heavens and on the earth, in the seas and all their depths.” Psalm 135:6
“耶和华在天上，在地下，在海中，在一切的深处，都随自己的意旨而行。”诗篇135:6
Those things which seem accidental and chance to us—are ordered by the wise counsel, power, and providence of God.
那些在我们看来似乎偶然的事——都是由神智慧的筹算、能力和护理所命定的。
Instruments can no more stir until God gives them a commission—than the axe or the knife can cut by itself, without a hand.
工具若没有神的差遣就不能行动——就如斧子或刀没有手就不能自行砍切一样。
God makes use of whatever second causes He pleases, for the execution of His pleasure.
神随己意使用各样次要因由来执行祂的旨意。
And many times He makes the worst of men the rod of His indignation to chastise His people with!
祂常常使用最坏的人作为祂忿怒的杖来管教祂的子民！
All inferior or subordinate causes—are but God’s tools and instruments, which He rules and guides according to His own will, power, and providence.
所有次要或从属的因由——不过是神的工具，祂按照自己的旨意、能力和护理来掌管和引导它们。
Job eyed God in the fire which fell from heaven, and in all the fiery trials which befell him.
约伯在从天降下的火中看到了上帝，也在所有临到他的火般的试炼中看到了上帝。
And therefore, he does not say, “The Lord gave—and the devil took away!” Nor, “The Lord gave—and the Chaldeans and Sabeans took away!”
因此，他没有说”主赐予，魔鬼夺去！”也没有说”主赐予，迦勒底人和示巴人夺去！”
But “The Lord gave—and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised!” Job 1:20-21
而是说”主赐予，主也收取；愿主的名受赞美！”约伯记1:20-21
Certainly without the cognizance and concurrence of a wise, omniscient, and omnipotent God—no creatures can move.
确实，若没有全知全能的上帝的认知和同意，任何受造物都无法行动。
Without His foresight and permission—no event can befall any person, city or country.
若没有祂的预见和允许，任何事件都不会降临到任何人、城市或国家。
Whatever the means or instruments of our misery are—the hand is God’s!
无论我们苦难的途径或工具是什么，那手都是上帝的手！
It behooves us, in every judgment, to see the hand of the Lord, and to look through visible means to an invisible God!
我们理当在每一次审判中看见主的手，透过可见的方式看到那不可见的上帝！
“The Lord has afflicted me; the Almighty has brought misfortune upon me!” Ruth 1:21
“全能者使我受苦，耶和华使我遭遇灾祸！”路得记1:21
“The Lord brings death and makes alive; He brings down to the grave and raises up. The Lord sends poverty and wealth; He humbles and He exalts!” 1 Samuel 2:6-7
“耶和华使人死，也使人活；使人下阴间，也使人往上升。耶和华使人贫穷，也使人富足；使人卑微，也使人高贵！”撒母耳记上2:6-7