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Edited by Thomas and Colleen Witte
由托马斯（Thomas）和科琳（Colleen）威特（Witte）编辑
He preached Christ crucified our only wisdom and righteousness, sanctification and redemption.
祂宣讲被钉十字架的基督是我们唯一的智慧、公义、成圣和救赎。
His design was to convince sinners of their absolute want of Christ, that with flaming affections they might come to him, and from his fulness receive divine grace.
祂的目的是要使罪人确信他们对基督的绝对需要，使他们带着火热的深情来到祂面前，并从祂的丰盛中领受神圣的恩典。
This is to water the tree at the root, whereby it becomes flourishing and fruitful;
这是在根部浇灌这棵树，使其得以茂盛和结果；
whereas the laying down of moral rules for the exercise of virtue, and subduing vicious affections, without directing men to derive spiritual strength by prayer, and in the use of divine ordinances, from the mediator the fountain of all grace;
而若不引导人借着祷告和使用神圣的圣礼（divine ordinances），从作为一切恩典之源的中保那里汲取属灵的力量，不为此而设定行善的美德和制服邪恶情欲的道德规则；
and without representing his love as the most powerful motive and obligation to obedience, is but pure philosophy, and the highest effect of it is but unregenerate morality.
并且若不将祂的爱表现为顺服的最强大动机和责任，这就不过是纯粹的哲学，其最高的果效也不过是未重生（unregenerate）的道德。
When I see a book well written for the instruction of mankind, I always hope it will spread its good influences as far and wide as it finds readers.
当我看到一本为教导世人而写得很好的书时，我总是希望它的良好影响能传播得越广，触及到越多的读者。
But when I meet with a valuable treatise, whose design is to improve the sacred skill of preaching, I am ready to persuade myself, “Surely this will be become a more extensive benefit; and the good influences of it will reach as many whole assemblies of men, as there are ministers who shall happen to read it.”
但是，当我遇到一本有价值的著作，其目的是为了提高讲道的圣洁技巧时，我就会倾向于说服自己，“这无疑将成为一种更广泛的益处；它的良好影响将惠及与读到它的牧师人数一样多的全体会众。”
For this reason I cannot but take a special satisfaction in recommending these two discourses to the world, which, in my opinion, are founded upon the general principles of Christianity, and therefore invite the perusal of all, being written without the narrow spirit of a party.
基于这个原因，我不得不怀着特殊的满足感向世人推荐这两篇论述，它们在我看来是建立在基督教的一般原则之上，因此邀请所有人阅读，因为它们写作时并没有带着党派的狭隘精神。
They seem to be calculated for the common good, nor have I offered anything in them that can justly give disgust, or awaken any reasonable resentment.
它们似乎是为了共同的益处而设计的，我在其中提供的任何内容都不应引起厌恶或激起任何合理的愤恨。
It must be confessed, without controversy, that there are some things where in several of the preachers of the present time have the advantage of our learned and pious fathers:
毫无疑问，必须承认，在某些方面，当今的一些传道人确实比我们学识渊博且虔诚的先辈们更具优势：
But there are other excellencies in the sermons of the puritanical age, which I would rejoice to find more studiously revived and cultivated in our day.
但清教徒时代的讲道中还有其他的优越之处，我乐于看到它们在我们的时代得到更用心地复兴和培养。
Among these I know none of more eminent necessity, glory, and usefulness, than those two which are the subjects of this little book;
在这些优越之处中，我不知道有什么比这两点更具卓越的必要性、荣耀和功用，而这两点正是这本小书的主题；
I mean the evangelical turn of thought that should run through our ministry, and the experimental way of discourse on practical subjects.
我指的是应该贯穿我们事工的福音（evangelical）思想倾向，以及关于实践主题的经验式（experimental）论述方式。
It hath been justly observed, that where a great and universal neglect of preaching Christ hath prevailed in a Christian nation, it hath given a fatal occasion to the growth of deism and infidelity;
人们公正地观察到，在一个基督教国家，如果普遍而严重地忽略宣讲基督，就会给自然神论（deism）和不信（infidelity）的滋长提供致命的机会；
for when persons have heard the sermons of their clergy, for many years together, and find little of Christ in them, they have taken it into their heads, that men may be very good men, and go safe to heaven without Christianity;
因为当人们连续多年听牧师的讲道，却在其中很少发现基督时，他们就会产生一种想法，认为人可以做个好人，没有基督教也能平安地进入天堂；
and therefore, though they dwell in a land where the Gospel is professed, they imagine there’s no need they should be Christians.
因此，尽管他们生活在一个宣称信仰福音的土地上，他们也认为没有必要成为基督徒。
But what a blot and reproach would it be to our ministry, if infidels and heathens should multiply among us, through such a woeful neglect of preaching the peculiar doctrines of Christ?
但是，如果我们因为如此可悲地疏忽宣讲基督的特殊教义，导致不信者和异教徒在我们中间增加，那将是我们事工的何等污点和羞辱？
Besides, let us consider how little hath been our success in comparison of the multitudes converted by our fathers in the day of their ministry.
此外，让我们思考一下，与我们的先辈们在他们的事工时代所归信（converted）的群众相比，我们的成功是多么微小。
Hath not this been matter of sore complaint these many years past?
这难道不是多年来令人痛心的抱怨吗？
Now it is worth our enquiry, whether it may not be ascribed to the absence of Christ in our sermons.
现在值得我们探究的是，这是否应该归咎于基督在我们讲道中的缺席。
And what reason indeed can we have to expect the presence and influence of the Spirit of Christ, if we leave his person, his offices, his grace, and his gospel, out of our discourses, or give but a slight and casual hint at these glorious subjects, which ought to be our daily theme.
事实上，如果我们把祂的位格（person）、祂的职分（offices）、祂的恩典和祂的福音，排除在我们的论述之外，或者只是对这些本应是我们日常主题的荣耀主题轻描淡写和偶然提及，我们又有何理由期望基督之灵的同在和影响呢？
This is what our author would put us in mind of in his first discourse.
这就是我们的作者在第一篇论述中想要提醒我们的。
And perhaps another cause of our want of success hath been this, that we have too much left off the way of our fathers, in distinguishing the characters of our hearers, and dividing the word aright to saints and sinners, to the stupid and the profane, the awakened and convinced, the mournful and penitent, the presumptuous and obstinate, the deserted and despairing.
也许我们缺乏成功的另一个原因在于：我们太过于放弃了我们先辈们的方式，即区分听众的特征，并正确地将圣言（the word）分给圣徒和罪人、愚昧者和不敬虔者、被唤醒者和被定罪者、哀伤者和悔罪者、自大者和顽固者、被遗弃者和绝望者。
This method appears eminently in the labours of the former age.
这种方法在前一个时代的劳作中显著地体现出来。
Those two great and good men, Mr. Flavell, and Mr. Baxter, might be divided in their sentiments on other subjects, but you find this conduct runs through all their practical writings.
那两位伟大而善良的人，弗拉维尔先生（Mr. Flavell）和巴克斯特先生（Mr. Baxter），尽管在其他主题上可能意见不一，但你会发现这种做法贯穿了他们所有的实践性著作。
This is a great part of what the second discourse here recommends to us, under the title of Experimental Preaching.
这就是第二篇论述在这里向我们推荐的主要内容，其标题是经验式讲道（Experimental Preaching）。
Our author indeed assumes not so much to himself, as to address any besides students and younger ministers.
我们的作者确实没有自负到要向学生和年轻的牧师以外的人发表演说。
But if in the middle age of life we should examine our performances by the light of this treatise, ‘tis possible we and our people might be gainers by it.
但是，如果我们在中年时能借着这本著作的光来检验我们的表现，我们和我们的会众就有可能从中受益。
Have we not been too often tempted to follow the modish way, and speak to our hearers in general terms, as though they were all converted already, and sufficiently made Christians by a national profession?
我们是不是太经常被诱惑去追随时髦的方式，用笼统的言辞对听众讲话，就好像他们都已经被归信（converted）了，并且通过国家层面的信奉就足以成为基督徒了？
Have not some of us spent our labour to build them up in the practice of duties, without teaching them to search whether the foundation has been laid in an entire change and renovation of heart?
我们中是否有人将精力花在教导他们履行责任（duties）的实践上，却没有教导他们去探究基础是否已经奠定在心灵的完全改变和更新之中？
Do we lead them constantly to enquire into the inward state of their souls, the special tempers and circumstances of their spirits, their peculiar difficulties, dangers and temptations, and give them peculiar assistance in all this variety of the Christian life?
我们是否经常引导他们探究自己灵魂的内在状态、他们灵性的特殊性情和处境、他们特有的困难、危险和试探（temptations），并在基督徒生活的这一切多样性中给予他们特殊的帮助？
With how much more efficacy does the word of God impress the conscience, when every hearer finds himself described without the preacher’s personal knowledge of him?
当每个听众发现自己被描述出来，而这并非出于传道人对他的个人了解时，上帝的圣言（word of God）会以多么大的功效感动（impress）人的良心呢？
When his own spiritual state is painted to the life, and (as it were) set before his eyes in the language of the preacher?
当他自己的属灵状态被生动地描绘出来，并（可以说）以传道人的言语呈现在他眼前时呢？
When a word of conviction, advice, or comfort, is spoken so pertinently to his own case, that he takes it as directed to himself.
当一句定罪、劝告或安慰的话语如此贴切地针对他自己的情况而言，以至于他认为这是对他自己说的呢？
How much more powerful and more penetrating will our sermons be, when those who come into our assemblies shall be convinced and judged, and have the secrets of their hearts made manifest, and confess that God is in the midst of us of a truth?
当那些来到我们聚会的人被定罪、被审判，并且他们心中的隐秘被彰显出来，并承认上帝确实在我们中间时，我们的讲道将多么更有能力和更有穿透力呢？
The perusal of these excellent discourses in manuscript hath given me so much satisfaction, that I take a sensible pleasure to think that the press will communicate them to the world;
对这些优秀论述手稿的阅读给了我如此大的满足感，以至于我感到一种真切的快乐，想到出版社将把它们传达给世界；
and then I hope for a further share of profit, by keeping them always at my right hand when I am preparing for the service of the sanctuary.
届时，我希望通过在预备侍奉圣所（sanctuary）时将它们常置于我右侧，而获得进一步的益处。
May the blessed Spirit of God teach those who enter into the sacred office, this holy skill of winning souls!
愿上帝的圣灵（Spirit of God）教导那些进入圣职的人，这种赢得灵魂的圣洁技巧！
May He awaken us all to see what may be mended in our ministrations, in order to publish the gospel of Christ with more illustrious and divine success!
愿祂唤醒我们所有人，看到我们的侍奉中有哪些可以改进之处，以便以更辉煌和神圣的成功来宣扬基督的福音！
London, June 14, 1723.
伦敦，1723年6月14日。
I, Watts.
艾萨克·瓦茨（I. Watts）。