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We are all living monuments of God’s goodness and patience!
我们都是神的良善和忍耐的活见证！
(Ralph Venning, “The Plague of Plagues!” 1669)
(拉尔夫·文宁，《祸患中的祸患！》1669年)
“The Lord’s lovingkindnesses indeed never cease – for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning! Great is Your faithfulness!” Lamentations 3:22-23
“耶和华的慈爱永不止息，因为祂的怜悯永不断绝。每早晨都是新的！祢的信实何其大！”耶利米哀歌 3:22-23
If sin is so exceedingly sinful – so contrary to, and displeasing to God – then surely . . .
如果罪如此极其邪恶 – 如此与神相违，令神不悦 – 那么确实. . .
His patience is exceedingly great,
祂的忍耐极其伟大，
His goodness is exceedingly rich, and
祂的良善极其丰富，并且
His long-suffering is exceedingly marvelous
祂的宽容极其奇妙
- even such as to cause astonishment!
- 甚至令人惊叹！
We are all living monuments of God’s goodness and patience! It is of the Lord’s mercies that all of us are not altogether and utterly consumed – and that in eternal Hell!
我们都是神的良善和忍耐的活见证！全是因着主的怜悯，我们才没有完全被毁灭 – 没有在永恒的地狱中！
Such is . . .
这就是. . .
the power of His patience,
祂忍耐的能力，
the infiniteness of His mercy and compassion,
祂怜悯和慈悲的无限，
and the riches of His unsearchable grace!
和祂那测不透的恩典的丰富！
Consider the multitude of sinners in the world. If it were only one or two sinners – then they might be winked at and passed by. But all the world lies in wickedness (1 John 5:19). There is none righteous – no, not one! If there had been only ten righteous ones – then God would have spared Sodom, although ten thousand sinners might be there. Yet there is not a single man to be found who does not sin. All have sinned – and that continually. What grace, then – what patience is this!
想想世上众多的罪人。如果只有一两个罪人 – 或许还可以视而不见。但全世界都卧在罪恶之中（约翰一书5:19）。没有义人，连一个也没有！如果只有十个义人 – 那么神就会饶恕所多玛，尽管那里可能有上万个罪人。然而找不到一个不犯罪的人。人人都犯了罪 – 而且是持续不断。这是何等的恩典 – 何等的忍耐啊！
Consider the multitude of sins committed by every sinner. Every sinner commits innumerable sins!
想想每个罪人所犯的众多罪过。每个罪人都犯下数不清的罪！
If all men had sinned only once – it would have mitigated the matter. Sin, however, has grown up with men.
如果所有人只犯一次罪，那还情有可原。然而，罪与人一同成长。
Not a single good thought is to be found in their hearts! (Genesis 6:5) Sin grows up faster than men do – they are old in sin, when still young in years.
在他们心里找不到一个良善的念头！（创世记6:5）罪比人长得更快——他们年纪尚轻，却已在罪中变老。
They are adding iniquity to iniquity, and drawing sin on with cords and ropes, committing it with both hands greedily, as if they could not sin enough!
他们罪上加罪，用绳索牵引罪恶，贪婪地用双手犯罪，好像怎么犯罪都不够似的！
They dare God Himself to judge them. They drink down iniquity like water, as if it was their element and nourishment and pleasure also. Yet, behold, how miraculously patient is God!
他们竟敢挑战神来审判他们。他们像喝水一样饮下罪孽，仿佛这就是他们的本性、养分和快乐。然而，看哪，神是何等奇妙地有耐心！
God sees sin – He is sensible of it and angered about it – for it grieves and vexes Him. God is able to avenge Himself whenever He pleases – yet He forbears with sinners. Be astonished at it!
神看见罪——祂感知罪并为此发怒——因为这使祂忧伤烦恼。神随时都能报复——然而祂仍然容忍罪人。为此感到惊讶吧！
It is a wonder that men are spared so long – especially if we consider how quickly God cast the angels that sinned down to Hell!
人竟被饶恕这么久，真是奇妙——特别是当我们想到神多么迅速地将犯罪的天使摔下地狱！
O the wonder of sovereign grace!
噢，主权恩典的奇妙！