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《世界的虚空》TheVanityoftheWorld – EzekielHopkins

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    Vanity of Vanities, saith the Preacher, Vanity of Vanities, all is Vanity. – ECCLESIASTES 1:2
    传道者说:虚空的虚空,虚空的虚空,凡事都是虚空。——传道书 1:2

    This is not a letter, or a sermon but a short treatise on the subject of worldly vanity.
    这不是一封信,也不是一篇讲道(sermon),而是关于世俗虚空主题的简短论述(treatise)。

    Certainly, religion allows us the possession of earthly comforts: only it regulates the use, and forbids the inordinate love of them.
    诚然,宗教允许我们拥有属世的安慰(comforts):只是它规范(regulates)了使用,并禁止对它们有过度的爱。

    We may prize them as comforts, but not as treasures: and, while we employ a due part of our abundance in the works of a generous charity and true piety, we may well look upon what is left, as a salary that God gives us for being faithful Stewards of the rest.
    我们可以珍视它们为安慰,但不可珍视它们为财宝(treasures):并且,当我们把我们丰盛的一部分用于慷慨的施予(generous charity)和真实的虔诚(true piety)之事时,我们大可以把剩余的看作是神给我们作为其余事物忠心管家(Stewards)的薪水(salary)。

    Thus to use the world for the interests of heaven, to make its enjoyments tributary to God’s glory, it is to convert and proselyte it; and turn that into an Offering, which others make an Idol.
    因此,为了天上的益处而使用世界,使它的享乐归服于神的荣耀,就是归化(convert)它并使它成为归信者(proselyte);并将别人奉为偶像(Idol)的东西,转变为一份奉献(Offering)。



    TABLE OF CONTENTS
    目录

    To the Right Worshippful Sir Robert Viner
    致受尊敬的罗伯特 维纳爵士(Sir Robert Viner)

    The Vanity of the World
    世界的虚空

    There is Nothing in the World Vain in Respect of it’s Natural Being
    就世界的自然本质而言,其中没有什么是虚空的

    There is Nothing Vain in Respect of God the Creator
    就创造主神而言,没有什么事是虚空的

    All the Vanity, that is in Worldly Things, is only in Respect of the Sin and Folly of Man
    世事中所有的虚空,仅仅是相对于人的罪和愚昧而言

    That a Little Cross will Embitter Great Comforts
    一点点苦难(Cross)就能使极大的安慰(Comforts)变苦

    A Display before you this Vanity of the World
    向你们展示世界的虚空

    That all its Glory and Splenfour Depends Merely Upon Opinion and Fancy
    它所有的荣耀和辉煌(Splenfour)仅仅取决于观念(Opinion)和幻想(Fancy)

    The Vanity of the World appears in Its Deceitfulness and Treachery
    世界的虚空表现在它的欺骗性和背叛性(Treachery)

    A Little Cross will Embitter Great Comforts
    一点点苦难就能使极大的安慰变苦

    The Longer We Enjoy and Worldy Thing, The More Flat and Insipid Doth it Grow
    我们享受一个属世之物的时间越长,它就变得越平淡无味(Flat and Insipid)

    All the Pleasure of the World, Is Nothing Else But a Tenius Repetition of the Same Things
    世上所有的快乐,不过是对相同事物的微弱(Tenius)重复

    That it Can Stand Us in No Stead, When We Have the Greatest Need of Support and Comfort
    当我们在最需要支持和安慰时,它对我们毫无用处(Stand Us in No Stead)

    All things in the World are vain, Because they are Unsuitable.
    世上万物都是虚空的,因为它们不相称(Unsuitable)。

    The Vanity of the World appears in its Inconstancy and Fickleness
    世界的虚空表现在它的不恒定(Inconstancy)和易变性(Fickleness)

    The Vanity of the World appears in this, That is it Altogether Unstaisfactory
    世界的虚空表现在这一点上,即它完全不能使人满足(Unstaisfactory)

    The Uses We May Make of Them
    我们可从中得到的用途(应用)

    To Admire and Adore the Good Providence of God to His Children
    要惊叹和敬拜神对祂儿女美好的护理(Providence)

    Gross Folly
    极大的愚昧(Folly)

    The Poor Enjoyments of Vanity
    虚空的贫乏享乐

    To Fortify us Against the Fear of Death
    使我们坚固,以抵御对死亡的恐惧

    Learning to Be Content in All Circumstances
    学习在一切境况中知足(Content)