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That we may know what sort of a spirit God is, we must consider his attributes, which we gather from his word and works, and that two ways:
为了知道上帝是怎样的一位灵(spirit),我们必须思考祂的属性(attributes),我们从祂的圣言和作为中收集这些属性,方法有两种:
- By denying of, and removing from God, in our minds, all imperfection which is in the creatures, Acts 17:29.
- 借着在我们的思想中否定并移除受造物中所有不完美之处,使徒行传 17章29节。
And thus we come to the knowledge of his incommunicable attributes, so called because there is no shadow or vestige of them in the creatures, such as infinity, eternity, unchangeableness.
因此,我们认识到祂不可传达的属性(incommunicable attributes),之所以这样称呼,是因为在受造物中没有它们的影子或痕迹,例如无限(infinity)、永恒(eternity)、不变性(unchangeableness)。 - By attributing unto him, by way of eminency, whatever is excellent in the creatures, seeing he is the fountain of all perfection in them, Psal. 94:9.
- 借着以卓越的方式,将受造物中所有美好的事物归于祂,因为祂是受造物中所有完美的源头,诗篇 94篇9节。
And thus we have his communicable attributes, whereof there are some vestiges and small scantlings in the creature, as being, wisdom, power, &c. amongst which his spirituality is to be reckoned.
因此,我们得到了祂可传达的属性(communicable attributes),其中在受造物中存在一些痕迹和小部分,如存在(being)、智慧、能力等,祂的灵性(spirituality)也应计算在内。
Now, both these sorts of attributes in God are not qualities in him distinct from himself, but they are God himself.
现在,上帝的这两种属性并不是与祂自身不同的品质(qualities),而是祂自己。
God’s infinity is God himself, his wisdom is himself; he is wisdom, goodness, 1 John 1:5.
上帝的无限性就是上帝自己,祂的智慧就是祂自己;祂是智慧,是良善,约翰一书 1章5节。
Neither are these attributes so many different things in God; but they are each of them God himself: for God swears by himself, Heb. 6:13.; yet he swears by his holiness, Amos 4:2.
这些属性在上帝里面也不是许多不同的事物;它们每一个都是上帝自己:因为上帝指着自己起誓,希伯来书 6章13节;然而祂也指着祂的圣洁起誓,阿摩司书 4章2节。
He creates by himself, Isa. 44:24.; yet he creates by his power, Rom. 1:20.
祂凭着自己创造,以赛亚书 44章24节;然而祂也凭着祂的能力创造,罗马书 1章20节。
Therefore God’s attributes are God himself.
因此,上帝的属性就是上帝自己。
Neither are these attributes separable from one another; for though we, through weakness, must think and speak of them separately, yet they are truly but the one infinite perfection of the divine nature, which cannot be separated therefrom, without denying that he is an infinitely perfect being.
这些属性也彼此不可分离;因为虽然我们因着软弱,必须分别地思考和谈论它们,但它们实际上只是神性(divine nature)的一个无限的完美,如果否认祂是一个无限完美的存在,就不能将它们从神性中分离出来。
We have said that God is a spirit; but angels and the souls of men are spirits too.
我们说过上帝是灵(spirit);但天使和人的灵魂也是灵。
What then is the difference between them?
那么它们之间有什么区别呢?
Why, God is an infinite, eternal, and unchangeable spirit; but angels and souls are but finite, were not from eternity, and are changeable spirits.
原因在于,上帝是无限的、永恒的、不变的灵;但天使和灵魂只是有限的,不是从永恒就有的,而且是可变的灵。
Now, these three, infinity, eternity, and immutability, are God’s incommunicable attributes, which we are next to explain.
现在,这三个属性,无限性、永恒性和不变性,是上帝不可传达的属性,我们接下来将要解释它们。
Table of Contents
目录
OF GOD AND HIS PERFECTIONS
关于上帝和祂的完美
OF THE UNITY OF GOD
关于上帝的独一性
OF THE HOLY TRINITY
关于神圣三位一体
OF THE DECREES OF GOD
关于上帝的定旨
OF THE WORK OF CREATION
关于创造的工作
OF THE CREATION OF MAN
关于人的创造
OF THE PROVIDENCE OF GOD
关于上帝的护理
THE WISE OBSERVATION OF PROVIDENCES, ILLUSTRATED AND ENFORCED
对护理的明智观察,阐明和强调