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THE following is the original title more at large; which the editors are disposed to preserve, as it contains a more particular exhibition of the nature and design of the work.
以下是更详尽的原标题；编辑们倾向于保留它，因为它更具体地展示了作品的性质和目的。
How suitable the work itself is, in reference to the present state of things, we leave to the reader’s own reflection.
至于这部作品本身对于当前局势（present state of things）的适切性如何，我们留给读者自己去默想（reflection）。
“An HUMBLE ATTEMPT to promote an explicit agreement and visible union of God’s people through the world, in extraordinary PRAYER, for the REVIVAL of religion, and the advancement of Christ’s kingdom on earth, pursuant to scripture promises and prophecies concerning the last time,
“一个谦卑的尝试”（An HUMBLE ATTEMPT），旨在促进全世界神的子民明确同意并可见地联合起来，通过非同寻常的祷告（extraordinary PRAYER），以求宗教的复兴（REVIVAL of religion），以及按照圣经关于末世的应许和预言，在地上推进基督的国度，
THE ruin of Satan’s miserable kingdom, and the advancement of the universal and happy reign of Christ on the earth, were included, and hinted at, in the sentence denounced on the serpent, that the seed of the woman should bruise his head.
撒但（Satan）可悲国度的毁灭，以及基督在地上普世和幸福统治的推进，都包含在向那蛇所宣告的判决中，并被暗示出来，即女人的后裔将要伤祂的头。
What was a terrible threatening to Satan, in the surprised ears of our first guilty parents, implied a joyful prophecy, to keep them from despair, and enliven their hopes, for themselves and their descendants, of obtaining by this seed of hers an eternal triumph over him who had so sadly foiled them.
对于我们最初有罪的父母（guilty parents）惊恐的耳朵来说，对撒但（Satan）而言是可怕的威胁，其中却蕴含着一个喜乐的预言，以防止他们绝望，并激发他们自己及其后裔的希望，即借着女人的这个后裔，将获得对那个曾如此悲惨地挫败他们者的永远得胜（eternal triumph）。
And it is likely, that their hope and faith immediately arose, laid hold on the reviving prophecy, earnestly desired its happy accomplishment, and transmitted it to their posterity.
而且很可能，他们的希望和信心立即兴起，抓住了这复兴的预言，热切地渴望它的幸福实现（happy accomplishment），并将其传给了他们的后代。
But though this prophecy was at first only delivered in the形式 of a threatening to Satan, it was afterwards directly given in the形式 of a promise to Abraham, though still in general terms, that in his seed should all the nations of the earth be blessed.
但是，尽管这个预言起初只是以对撒但（Satan）的威胁形式传达，但后来直接以对亚伯拉罕（Abraham）的应许形式给出，虽然仍然是一般性的措辞，即地上的万国都必因他的后裔得福。
Yet this general promise was more clearly by degrees explained in the following ages, to mean a DIVINE KING, no other than the SON OF GOD assuming human nature of the seed of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and David; that should be born of a virgin in Bethlehem of Judah; and at first despised, abused, rejected, and put to death; but should rise to immortal life, ascend to heaven, and thence extend his blessed kingdom over all nations; not by outward force, but inward overcoming influence, by his word and Spirit making them his willing people in the day of his power; and reigning in glorious light and holiness, love and peace, for ever: and the advancement of this universal and nappy reign has been the earnest desire and prayer of the saints in all ages to the present day.
然而，这个普遍的应许在随后的时代中逐渐被更清晰地解释，意指一位神圣的君王（DIVINE KING），祂就是神的儿子（SON OF GOD），取了亚伯拉罕、以撒、雅各和大卫后裔的人性（human nature）；祂将由童贞女（virgin）在犹大的伯利恒（Bethlehem of Judah）出生；起初被藐视、凌辱、弃绝并处死；但祂将复活获得不朽的生命（immortal life），升天，并从那里将祂蒙福的国度扩展到万国；不是借着外在的武力，而是借着内在的、征服性的影响（inward overcoming influence），借着祂的圣言（word）和圣灵（Spirit），在祂权能的日子使他们成为祂甘心乐意的子民；并永远在荣耀的光明、圣洁、爱与和平中掌权：而这个普世和幸福统治的推进，一直是古往今来直到今天所有圣徒热切的渴望和祷告。
But how great the honour, and how lively the encouragement, given in Scripture to those their prayers, by representing them as offered by CHRIST himself with the fragrant incense of his own merits and intercession, on the golden altar before the throne, and ascending together in one grateful perfume to GOD!
但是，圣经给予他们的这些祷告何等的尊荣（honour）和生动的鼓励（lively encouragement），将它们描绘成基督自己用祂自己的功德和代求（intercession）的芬芳香料（fragrant incense），在宝座前的金坛上献上，并一同以一种蒙悦纳的馨香（grateful perfume）上升到神那里！
And how cheering to every saint is that promise, from the rising of the sun, even to the going down of the same, my name shall be great among the Gentiles, and in every place incense shall be offered unto my name, and a pure, offering!
从日出之地到日落之处，我的名在列国中必为大，在各处必有人向我的名烧香，献上洁净的供物！这个应许对每一位圣徒来说是多么令人振奋啊！
How pleasing to GOD and all the heavenly hosts to see, as the sun goes round the globe, this grateful incense rising from every part on high!
当太阳环绕地球运行时，看到这蒙悦纳的香从各地向上升起，对神和所有天上的众军（heavenly hosts）来说是多么令人喜悦啊！
and the more extensive and incessant are these prayers, ascending from the circle of the earth, the more does this blessed promise go into its desired fulfilment, and the holy GOD is more pleased and glorified.
而且，这些从地球各处升起的祷告越是广泛和不间断，这个蒙福的应许就越是朝着它所期盼的实现迈进，圣洁的神就越发喜悦和得荣耀。
To promote the increase and constancy of these acceptable prayers, is the great intention both of the pious memorial of our reverend and dear brethren, in Scotland, and of the worthy author of this exciting essay.
促进这些蒙悦纳的祷告的增加和持续，是我们在苏格兰可敬和亲爱的弟兄们的虔诚纪念，以及这篇激动人心的论述的可敬作者的重大意图。
And this design we cannot but recommend to all who desire the coming of this blissful kingdom in its promised extent and glory, in this wretched world.
我们不得不将这个目的推荐给所有渴望在这个悲惨世界上看到这个有福的国度以其应许的广度和荣耀降临的人。
As to the author’s ingenious observation on the prophecies, we entirely leave them to the reader’s judgment; with only observing, though it is the apprehension of many learned men, that there is to be a very general slaughter of the witnesses of CHRIST, when about finishing their testimony to the pure worship and truths of the gospel, about three or four years before the seventh angel sounds his trumpet for the ruin of antichrist;—yet we cannot see that this is any just objection against our joint and earnest prayers for the glorious age succeeding, or for the hastening of it.
至于作者对预言的巧妙观察，我们完全将其留给读者的判断；我们仅指出，尽管许多有学问的人认为，在第七位天使吹响号筒宣告敌基督（antichrist）的毁灭之前大约三四年，将会有对基督见证人（witnesses of CHRIST）非常普遍的大屠杀（very general slaughter），那时他们即将完成对纯净敬拜和福音真理的见证；—但我们看不出这对于我们联合而热切地为随后的荣耀时代或为加速它的到来而祷告构成任何正当的反对意见。
For if such a terrible time is coming in Europe, which we in depending America are likely to share in; the more need we have of joining in earnest and constant prayers for extraordinary suffering graces for ourselves and others.
因为如果欧洲即将迎来这样一个可怕的时代，而我们依赖着的美国也可能分担；那么我们就更有必要联合起来，为我们自己和他人恳切且持续地祷告，以求非凡的受苦恩典（extraordinary suffering graces）。
And that such a time is coming on the members of CHRIST, is no more an objection against their prayers for the hastening of the following glory, than it was before the incarnation of him their head, that his most bitter sufferings were to precede the spreading of this joyous kingdom among nations.
而且，这样一个时代即将临到基督的肢体（members of CHRIST）身上，这对于他们为加速随后荣耀的到来而作的祷告，并不构成反对意见，就像在祂们头（head）的道成肉身之前，祂最痛苦的受难必须先于这个喜乐国度在列国中的传播一样。
And the nearer the day approaches, the more need we have to be awakened to continual watchfulness and prayer.
日子越临近，我们就越需要被唤醒，以持续地儆醒和祷告。
May GOD pour out on all his people abundantly the Spirit of grace and supplications, and prepare them for the amazing changes hastening on the earth, both for previous trials and for following glories.*
愿神将恩典和恳求的灵（Spirit of grace and supplications）丰盛地浇灌在祂所有的子民身上，并预备他们，以迎接正在地上加速来临的惊人变化，无论是为了先前的试炼（previous trials）还是随后的荣耀。*
Boston, New England, January 12th, 1748.
新英格兰，波士顿，1748年1月12日。
Table of Contents
目录
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通告（Advertisement）
Preface by a former English editor
前一任英文编辑的序言
Preface by the American editors
美国编辑的序言
PART I. The Text opened, and an Account of the Affair proposed
第一部分：经文的阐释（opened），以及对所提议事项（Affair proposed）的记述
— I. Explanatory introduction
— I. 解释性导论
— II. Observations on the text
— II. 对经文的观察
— III. An account of the concert for prayer
— III. 关于祷告联会的记述
— IV. A Memorial from Scotland
— IV. 来自苏格兰的纪念文（Memorial）
PART II. Motives to Compliance with what is proposed
第二部分：顺应所提议事项的动机
— I. The latter-day glory not yet accomplished
— I. 末后的荣耀尚未实现
— II. The latter-day glory unspeakably great
— II. 末后的荣耀无法言喻地伟大
— III. How much Christ prayed, &c. for it
— III. 基督为它祷告了多少，等等。
— IV. The whole creation travails in pain
— IV. 整个受造界都在受苦（travails in pain）
— V. Precepts, encouragements, and examples
— V. 诫命、鼓励和榜样
— VI. Motives to excite us to this agreement
— VI. 激发我们达成此协议的动机
— VII. The beauty and good tendency of such union
— VII. 这种联合的美好和良性趋向（good tendency）
PART III. Objections answered
第三部分：异议的回答
— I. Such agreement superstitious, answered
— I. 这种协议是迷信的，答复
— II. Such agreement not whimsical, &c.
— II. 这种协议不是异想天开的，等等。
— III. Such agreement not premature
— III. 这种协议并非不成熟（premature）
— IV. The fall of antichrist not very distant
— IV. 敌基督（antichrist）的倾覆不远了
— V. Objection from novelty, answered
— V. 对新颖性的异议，答复
— VI. Concluding considerations
— VI. 结论性考量