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A Study of Psalm 37:4
对诗篇 37篇4节的研究
IT is likely that the title of the following treatise will put many of you, my dearly esteemed friends, in mind, that sundry sermons were preached twenty years ago among you upon this subject.
我亲爱的朋友们，接下来的这篇论述的标题很可能会让你们许多人想起，二十年前在你们中间曾就这个主题传讲过数篇讲道。
I had it indeed in design to have given you some abstract of those sermons; but searching among my papers, could find none but so imperfect and broken memorials as would be of little use for that purpose.
我原本确实打算给你们一些那些讲道的摘要；但我在我的文稿中搜索时，只能找到一些残缺不全、破碎的记录，对此目的用处不大。
And yet being desirous to present you with somewhat that might both be a testimony of my affection, and an advantage to you; and knowing this subject was grateful to many, and affords what may be useful to all of you; I have for your sakes applied myself to a reconsideration of it.
然而，我渴望向你们呈现一些既能证明我的情谊，又能使你们受益的东西；并且知道这个主题对许多人来说是可喜的，并能为你们所有人提供有益之处；我为了你们的缘故，重新思考了它。
The first part is even altogether new, except the introductive suppositions in the beginning.
第一部分甚至完全是新的，除了开头的引入性假设（introductive suppositions）。
Nor do I remember I then had more than one discourse to you on that subject, before the practical application of it.
我也不记得当时在实际应用之前，我曾就这个主题向你们发表过不止一篇论述。
The other part contains many things formerly delivered to you, though perhaps not in the same order, much less in the same words, whereto the short notes in my hands could no way enable me.
另一部分包含许多以前向你们传达过的事情，尽管顺序可能不同，更不用说措辞了，我手上的简短笔记无论如何也不能使我做到这一点。
The matter here treated of is the very substance of religion; the first and the last; the root and the flower; both the basis and foundation, and the top and perfection of practical godliness; and which runs through the whole of it.
这里论述的主题正是宗教的实质；是首和末；是根和花；是实践性敬虔（practical godliness）的基础和根基，也是顶峰和完美；它贯穿于敬虔的全部。
Nor knew I therefore what to present you with, that could have in it a fitter mixture and temperament of what might be both useful and pleasant to you.
因此，我也不知道该向你们呈现什么，才能包含一种对你们既有用又令人愉快的更合适的混合和气质。
As there is therefore no need, so nor do I desire you should receive the matter here discoursed of, merely for my sake; there being so great reason it should be chiefly acceptable on higher accounts.
因此，既没有必要，我也不希望你们仅仅因为我的缘故而接受这里所论述的内容；因为有更大的理由让它主要因更高的原因而受到欢迎。
I do very well understand your affection to me; and could easily be copious in the expression of mine to you, if I would open that sluice: but I do herein resolvedly, and upon consideration, restrain myself;
我非常清楚你们对我的情谊；如果我愿意打开那个闸门，我可以很容易地向你们表达我对你们的深情：但我在此是下定决心地、经过深思熟虑地约束自己；
apprehending that in some cases (and I may suppose it possible that in our case) a gradual mortification ought to be endeavoured of such affection as is often between those so related as you and I have been:
我担心在某些情况下（而且我可以假设在我们的情况下是可能的），对于像你我之间经常存在的那种关系中的感情，应该努力逐渐治死（mortification）：
which is no harder supposition, than that such affection may be excessive and swell beyond due bounds.
这并非一个更难的假设，只是这种感情可能过度并膨胀到超出应有的界限。
So it would, if it should be accompanied with impatient resentments towards any providence or instrument, whereby it finds itself crossed, or from whence it meets with what is ungrateful to it;
如果是这样，如果它伴随着对任何护理（providence）或工具的不耐烦的愤恨，因此它发现自己受挫，或从中遇到不悦之事；
if it prove turbulent and disquieting to them in whom it is, or any others; or if it occasion a looking back with distempered lingerings after such former things as could be but means to our great end, with the neglect of looking forward to that end itself still before us.
如果它被证明是对拥有它的人或任何其他人来说是扰乱和不安的；或者如果它引起对那些不过是我们伟大目的之手段的往事进行不健康的留恋回顾，而忽略了向前展望仍然在我们面前的那个目的本身。
Far be it from me to aim at the keeping anything alive that ought to die; that is, in that degree wherein it ought so to do.
我绝不想让任何应该消亡的事物保持活力；也就是说，在它应该消亡的那个程度上。
But our mutual affection will be both innocent and useful, if it be suitable to mortal objects, and to persons not expecting the converse we have had together any more in this world;
但如果我们的互相情谊与必死的对象相称，并且与不期望在这个世界上再次拥有我们曾有的交往的人相称，那么它将是无辜且有用的；
if also in the meantime it preserve to us a mutual interest in each others’ prayers;
如果同时它也为我们保留彼此祷告中的共同利益；
if it dispose us to such acts and apprehensions of kindness as our present circumstances can admit; and if, particularly, as it hath moved me to undertake, it may contribute anything to your acceptance of, this small labour, which is now designed for you.
如果它使我们倾向于我们目前情况所允许的善行和善意理解；并且如果，特别是，正如它促使我承担这项任务一样，它能对你们接受这份现在为你们设计的微小工作有所贡献。
The subject and substance whereof, as they are none of mine, so they ought to be welcome to you for their own sake, and His who is the prime author, though they were recommended to you by the hand of a stranger, or one whose face you never saw.
它的主题和实质，既然不是我自己的，就应该因为它们自身的缘故和那位首要作者的缘故而受到你们的欢迎，即使它们是通过一个陌生人，或者一个你们从未见过面的人的手推荐给你们的。
They aim at the promoting of the same end which the course of my poor labours among you did (as He that knoweth all things knoweth) the serious practice of the great things of religion, which are known and least liable to question; without designing to engage you to or against any party of them that differ about circumstantial matters.
它们旨在促进与我在你们中间微薄工作的目标相同的目的（正如那位知晓万事者所知晓的），即认真实践那些众所周知且最少受到质疑的宗教大事；而不是旨在让你们支持或反对那些在细节问题上存在分歧的任何一方。
They tend to let you see that formality in any way of religion, unaccompanied with life, will not serve your turn, (as it will no man’s,) than which, there is nothing more empty, sapless, and void both of profit and delight.
它们倾向于让你们看到，任何形式的宗教中的形式主义（formality），如果缺乏生命（life），对你们（正如对任何人一样）都没有益处，没有什么比这更空虚、更乏味，也更缺乏益处和喜悦了。
I have reflected and considered with some satisfaction that this hath been my way and the temper of my mind among you.
我反思并带着一些满意地认为，这（指上述不卷入争论、专注于实质的路线）一直是我的方式和我在你们中间的心态。
Great reason I have to repent, that I have not with greater earnestness pressed upon you the known and important things wherein serious Christians do generally agree: but I repent not I have been so little engaged in the hot contests of our age about the things wherein they differ.
我很有理由悔恨我没有更热切地敦促你们关注那些认真的基督徒普遍同意的已知且重要的事情：但我并不后悔我很少参与我们这个时代关于他们所分歧的事情的激烈争论。
For, as I pretend to little light in these things (whence I could not have much confidence to fortify me unto such an undertaking); so I must profess to have little inclination to contend about matters of that kind.
因为，我声称在这些事情上没有什么亮光（因此我没有足够的信心来支持我承担这样的任务）；所以，我必须承认我对争论这类事情没什么兴趣。
Nor yet am I indifferent as to those smaller things, that I cannot discern to be in their own nature so.
我也并非对那些我不能辨认为本质上如此的较小事情漠不关心。
But though I cannot avoid to think that course right which I have deliberately chosen therein, I do yet esteem that but a small thing upon which to ground an opinion of my excelling them that think otherwise, as if I knew more than they.
但是，尽管我不能不认为我经过深思熟虑选择的那条道路是正确的，但我仍然认为，以此为基础来认为我胜过那些想法不同的人，好像我比他们知道得更多，这只是一个小事。
For I have often recounted thus seriously with myself, that of every differing party, in those circumstantial matters, I do particularly know some persons by whom I find myself much excelled in far greater things than is the matter of that difference.
因为我经常这样认真地扪心自问：在那些细节问题上，我尤其认识一些在比那些分歧问题大得多的事情上，我觉得自己远不如他们的来自每一个不同党派的人。
I cannot, it is true, thereupon say and think everything that they do; which is impossible, since they differ from one another as well as me: and I understand well, there are other measures of truth than this or that excellent person’s opinion.
诚然，我不能因此就说和想他们所做的一切；这是不可能的，因为他们彼此之间以及与我也存在分歧：我深知，真理的衡量标准并非是某位优秀人士的观点。
But I thereupon reckon I have little reason to be conceited of any advantage I have of such in point of knowledge, (even as little as he should have, that can sing, or play well on a lute, of him that knows how to command armies, or govern a kingdom,) and can with the less confidence differ from them, or contend with them;
但我因此认为我没有多少理由因为知识上的任何优势而自视高人一等（正如一个会唱歌或弹鲁特琴的人不应该对一个知道如何指挥军队或治理国家的人自视高人一等一样），并且我能以更少的自信与他们有所不同，或与他们争论；
being thereby, though I cannot find that I err in these matters, constrained to have some suspicion lest I do, and to admit it possible enough, that some of them who differ from me, having much more light in greater matters, may have so in these also.
因此，尽管我不能发现我在这些事情上有错误，但我被迫怀疑自己是否可能犯错，并承认这是很有可能的，即一些与我意见不同的人，在更大的事情上有更多的亮光，在这些事情上也可能有。
Besides, that I most seriously think, humility, charity, and patience, would more contribute to the composing of these lesser differences, or to the good estate of the Christian interest under them, than the most fervent disputes and contestations.
此外，我最认真地认为，谦卑、仁爱（charity）和忍耐，比起最热烈的争论和争执，将更有助于解决这些较小的分歧，或更有助于在这些分歧下维护基督教利益的良好状态。
I have upon such considerations little concerned myself in contending for one way or another while I was among you; or in censuring such as have differed from me in such notions and practices as might consist with our common great end, or as imported not manifest hostility thereto:
基于这些考虑，当我在你们中间时，我很少卷入争论某种方式与否；或批评那些在不影响我们共同伟大目标或不明显与之敌对的观念和做法上与我意见不同的人：
contenting myself to follow the course that to my preponderating judgment seemed best, without stepping out of my way to justle others.
我满足于遵循在我看来最好的、占主导地位的判断所指引的道路，而不会偏离我的道路去挤撞（justle）他人。
But I cannot be so patient of their practical disagreement, (not only with all serious Christians, but even their own judgments and consciences also,) who have no delight in God, and who take no pleasure in the very substance of religion.
但是我不能对那些在实践上不一致的人（不仅是与所有认真的基督徒，而且是与他们自己的判断和良心）保持耐心，他们对上帝没有喜悦，对宗教的实质本身也没有兴趣。
I have been grieved to observe, that the case hath too apparently seemed so with some among you; some who have been openly profane and dissolute, and expressed more contempt of God (which you know was often insisted on the one part of the day,* when I had this subject in hand the other) than delight in him.
我曾痛心地观察到，你们中间有些人明显如此；有些人公然不敬虔和放荡，表达出对上帝的蔑视（你们知道，在我处理这个主题的那天，通常在另一部分时间里会反复强调这一点*），而不是对祂的喜悦。
I know not how the case may be altered with such since I left you; or what blessing may have followed the endeavours of any other hand.
我不知道自从我离开你们以来，这些人的情况是否有所改变；或者其他人的努力是否带来了什么祝福。
Death I am sure will be making alterations, as I have heard it hath.
我确信死亡会带来改变，正如我所听到的。
If these lines may be beforehand with it, may they be effectually monitory to any such that yet survive, that however this or that external form of godliness may consist with your everlasting well-being, real ungodliness and the denial of the power never can;
如果这些文字能先于死亡到来，愿它们能有效地警示任何仍然活着的这类人，无论这种或那种外在的敬虔形式可能与你们永恒的福祉相容，真实的恶行（ungodliness）和否定能力（denial of the power）绝不可能相容；
which power stands in nothing more than in love to God, or delight in him.
这种能力最重要的体现就是爱上帝，或以祂为乐。
Therefore seriously bethink yourselves, Do you delight in God or no?
因此，请认真反思：你们是否以上帝为乐？
If you do, methinks you应该 have some perception of it.
如果你们是，我想你们应该会有所察觉。
Surely if you delight in a friend, or some other outward comfort, you can perceive it.
当然，如果你们喜悦一个朋友，或某种外在的安慰，你们就能察觉到。
But if you do not, what do you think alienation from the life of God will come to at last?
但是如果你们不是，你们认为与上帝的生命隔绝最终会导致什么结果？
It is time for you to pray, and cry, and strive earnestly for a renewed heart.
是时候让你们祷告、呼求、并努力争取一颗更新的心了。
And if any of you do in some degree find this, yet many degrees are still lacking.
如果你们中的任何人确实在某种程度上发现了这一点，仍然缺少许多程度。
You cannot delight in God but upon that apprehension as will give you to see you do it not enough: therefore reach forth to what is still before.
你们不能以上帝为乐，除非是在那种会让你们看到自己做得还不够的理解之上：因此，要努力争取前面仍然有的。
I bow my knees for you all, that a living, delightful religion may flourish in your hearts and families, in the stead of those dry, withered things, worldliness, formality and strife about trifles:
我为你们所有人屈膝祷告，愿一种活泼、令人愉悦的宗教在你们的心中和家庭中蓬勃发展，取代那些枯燥、枯萎的东西，即世俗主义、形式主义和为琐事争吵：
Which will make Torrington a Heph-zibah, a place to be delighted in; your country a pleasant region: and (if he may but hear of it) add not a little to the satisfaction and delight of
这将使托灵顿（Torrington）成为“我所喜悦的”（Heph-zibah），一个令人喜悦的地方；使你们的国家成为一个宜人的区域：并且（如果他能听到这件事）也会为以下这位的满足和喜悦增添不少：
Your affectionate servant in Christ,
你们在基督里充满深情的仆人，
Who most seriously desires your true prosperity,
他最真诚地渴望你们真正的繁荣，
JOHN HOWE.
约翰·豪（JOHN HOWE）。
Antrim, Sept. 1, 1674.
安特里姆（Antrim），1674年9月1日。
TABLE OF CONTENTS
目录
Preface
序言
On Delighting in God—Part I
论以上帝为乐——第一部分
On Delighting in God—Part II
论以上帝为乐——第二部分