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“Come and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will declare what he hath done for my soul.” PSALM 66:16
“凡敬畏上帝的人，你们都来听！我要述说祂为我所行的事。”——诗篇 66篇16节
“The righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance.”—PSALM 112:6.
“义人必永被记念。”——诗篇 112篇6节。
“By it be being dead, yet speaketh.”—HEB. 11:4
“祂虽然死了，却因这信，仍旧说话。”——希伯来书 11章4节
MY DEAR CHILDREN,
我亲爱的孩子们，
I APPREHEND, that by the time it is designed, under the conduct of all-disposing Providence, this should come into your hands, ye may be desirous to know your father’s manner of life, beyond what ye saw with your eyes;
我想，在全权护理（all-disposing Providence）的引导下，这本书按计划来到你们手中时，你们可能会渴望知道你们父亲眼睛所未见的生活方式；
and it is very pleasing to me that, as to that point, I am capable, in some measure, to satisfy you, by means of two manuscripts, which I leave unto you, committing them to the Lord my God for preservation, and a blessing on them.
令我非常欣慰的是，关于这一点，我能够通过我留给你们的两份手稿，在某种程度上满足你们，我将它们交托给我的主我的上帝，求祂保守它们，并赐福于它们。
The one is a bound book in quarto, intitled, “Passages of my Life,” at writing hereof, consisting of three hundred and sixty-two written pages, beginning from my birth, ending October 19, 1730, and signed.*
其中之一是一本四开本的装订书，题为《我生命中的片段》（”Passages of my Life”），写作时包含三百六十二页手写页，从我出生开始，截止于1730年10月19日，并已签名。*
I was not arrived at twenty years of age when, without a prompter, so far as I know, I began collecting of these passages, for my own soul’s benefit; and they being carried on, have often since that time been of use to me.
在我未满二十岁时，据我所知，在没有任何提示的情况下，我开始收集这些片段，为了我自己的灵魂的益处；它们一直持续下来，从那时起对我很有用。
For which cause I recommend the like practice to you; remembering the promise, Psalm 107:43, “Whoso is wise, and will observe those things, even they shall understand the loving-kindness of the Lord.”
因此，我向你们推荐同样的做法；记念诗篇 107篇43节的应许：“谁是智慧人，必留意这些事，也必思想耶和华的慈爱。”
The other is the following general account of my life, at writing hereof, consisting of two hundred and seventy-nine written pages, beginning from my birth, ending October 24, 1730, and signed.
另一份是下面这篇关于我生活的总体记述，写作时包含二百七十九页手写页，从我出生开始，截止于1730年10月24日，并已签名。
How I was led thereto, much contrary to my inclination, you will find in the manuscripts themselves.
我是如何被引导去写它的，这与我的意愿大相径庭，你们会在手稿中找到。
But, now that it is done, I am obliged to say, “The foolishness of God is wiser than men;” and I bless the Lord who gave me counsel.
但是，既然现在已经完成了，我不得不说，“上帝的愚拙总比人智慧”；我感谢赐给我谋略的主。
It was in obedience to his call that I did it; “Let the Lord do with it what seemeth him good.”
我做这件事是顺服祂的呼召；“愿主照祂看为好的去做。”
Ye will not readily have meaner thoughts of that matter than I myself had.
你们不会比我自己对这件事有更卑微的想法。
I presume you will judge that it had been more natural to have made one continued history of both; and I, being of the same mind, would indeed have so done, had I thought it worth my pains, in this decline of my age and strength.
我想你们会认为将两者合并成一个连续的历史会更自然；我也有同样的看法，如果我认为在我年迈和体力衰退的时候这样做值得我费力，我确实会这样做。
But not seeing myself called thereto, I am satisfied as to the design of Providence, which hath modelled that matter as said is.*
但由于没有看到自己被呼召去做这件事，我对护理（Providence）的旨意感到满意，它按照所说的模式安排了这件事。*
You will not therein find yourselves descended, by me at least, from any ancient or honourable family in the sight of the world; which is a matter of some significancy, I own, before men, for a few passing years;
在其中，你们不会发现你们自己，至少通过我，是源自世人眼中的任何古老或尊贵的家族；我承认，这在人面前，在短暂流逝的岁月里，是有点意义的；
but you will find yourselves children of the covenant, devoted unto the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, my God, by me having power over you for that effect;
但你们会发现你们自己是圣约的儿女，被我奉献给我们的主耶稣基督的上帝和父，我的上帝，我为那目的拥有对你们的权柄；
whom therefore I charge to ratify the same with your own consent, and personal acceptance of the covenant; and to cleave to this God as your God, all the days of your lives, as being his only, wholly, and for ever; so shall that be to you a matter of eternal value and significancy, before the Lord, of value to you in this and the other world.
因此我嘱咐你们以你们自己的同意和个人接受圣约来批准此事；并且终生紧紧跟随这位上帝作你们的上帝，因为你们是祂的唯一、完全和永远的；这样，在主面前，那对你们来说将是一件具有永恒价值和意义的事，对你们今生和来世都有价值。
If some things in these manuscripts appear trifling, bear with them.
如果这些手稿中的某些事情显得琐碎，请包容它们。
Had I thought it worth time and pains to have written them over a second time, it是likely several things now found in them had been dropped.
如果我当初认为值得花时间和精力再写一遍，很可能现在发现的某些事情就会被删去。
Meanwhile it may reasonably be allowed that some things now appearing trifling to you, might have been of some weight to me, and may be so to you afterwards; and if never to you, yet some one time or other to yours after you.
同时，可以合理地允许，一些现在看来对你们是琐碎的事情，对我来说可能曾有某种分量，将来对你们也可能如此；如果对你们永远不是，那么在某个时候对你们的后代也会有。
I hope you will find some things in them worthy of your imitation; the which I was the more willing to record, that I did not think I ever had the art of education of children; but might thereby do somewhat toward the repairing of the loss you by that means sustained.
我希望你们会在其中找到一些值得你们效仿的事情；我更愿意记录下来，是因为我认为我从未掌握教育孩子的艺术；但希望借此能对你们因此遭受的损失有所弥补。
It is my desire and will that, while the Lord is pleased to preserve them, and that in the power of my offspring, any of them whosoever be allowed free access unto them; yet so that the property thereof be vested from time to time, in such an one of them, if any such there shall be, as shall addict himself to the holy ministry.
我的愿望和意愿是，只要主乐意保守它们，并且它们在我后代手中，他们中的任何人都被允许自由取阅它们；然而，它们的所有权应不时地归属于他们当中这样一个人（如果存在的话），即致力于圣职事工（holy ministry）的人。
And in case I be allowed by him in whose hand is my life and breath, and all my ways, to make any continuation of the purpose of these manuscripts, the same is to be reckoned as here included.
如果那位掌握我的生命、气息和所有道路的上帝允许我对这些手稿的目的进行任何延续，那么这些延续也应被视为包含在此处。
I hope you will use no indecent freedoms with them; considering that, for ought you or I know, there is a jus tertii, a right of a third party in the matter, whom also I have a view to, with an awful regard to the sovereign disposal of holy Providence, to which I desire to submit all.
我希望你们不会对它们采取任何不当的自由行为；考虑到，就你我所知，在这件事上存在一个第三方的权利（jus tertii），我也有意将他们纳入考虑，并以一种敬畏的心对待神圣护理的主权安排，我渴望将一切都顺服于此。
Some few things which I saw meet to delete, I have signified and signed on the margin.
一些我认为需要删除的少数内容，我已在页边作了标记和签名。
And now, my dear children, your lot is fallen in a sinning time, beyond the days of my fathers; and I am mistaken if it issue not in a time proportionally trying, by “the Lord’s coming out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity.”
现在，我亲爱的孩子们，你们的命运落在一个犯罪的时代，超出了我父辈的时代；如果它不以一个相应严峻的考验时期告终，即“耶和华从自己的居所出来，要惩罚地上居民的罪孽”，那我就是错误的。
I obtest and beseech you, as you regard your eternal welfare, “save yourselves from this untoward generation.”
我恳求并请求你们，既然你们顾念你们永恒的福祉，“要救自己脱离这弯曲的世代。”
See the absolute necessity of regeneration, the change of your nature, by union with Jesus Christ the second Adam; as it was corrupted by means of your relation to the first Adam fallen.
请看清重生的绝对必要性，即通过与第二个亚当耶稣基督的联合，改变你们的本性；因为你们的本性因与堕落的第一个亚当的关系而被败坏。
Labour for the experience of the power of religion in your own souls, that you may have an argument for the reality of it, from your spiritual sense and feeling; and cleave to the Lord, his way of holiness, (“without which ye shall not see the Lord,”) his work also, his interests, and people, on all hazards; being assured, that such only will be found wise in the end.
要努力在你们自己的灵魂中经历宗教的能力，以便你们可以从你们属灵的感觉和体会中找到宗教真实性的论据；并且在一切危险中都要紧紧跟随主，祂的圣洁之道（“非圣洁没有人能见主”），祂的工作，祂的利益，和祂的子民；要确信，最终只有这样的人才会被发现是智慧的。
If your mother, undoubtedly a daughter of Abraham, shall survive me, let your loss of a father move you to carry the more kindly and affectionately to her, supporting her in her desolate condition.
如果你们的母亲，无疑是亚伯拉罕的女儿，在我之后仍然健在，愿你们失去父亲的痛苦促使你们更亲切、更有感情地对待她，在她孤单的境况中支持她。
Let the same likewise engage you the more to be peaceful, loving, and helpful, among yourselves.
同样地，愿这也促使你们更加彼此和睦、相爱、互相帮助。
The Lord bless each one of you, and save you, cause his gracious face shine on you, and give you peace; so as we may have a comfortable meeting in the other world.—Farewell.
愿主赐福你们每一个人，拯救你们，使祂恩慈的脸光照你们，赐给你们平安；这样我们可以在另一个世界有一次安慰的相遇。——再见。
T. BOSTON.
T. 波士顿。
From my Study in Ettrick Manse,
在我埃特里克牧师住宅的书房，
October 28, 1730.
1730年10月28日。
Table of Contents
目录
THE Author’s address to his children
作者致他的孩子们的信
MEMOIRS 1. From his birth [1676], till he left the grammar school [1689]
回忆录 1. 从他出生 [1676年]，直到他离开文法学校 [1689年]
- From his leaving the grammar school to his lanreation [1694]
- 从他离开文法学校到他毕业 [1694年]
- From his lanreation to his being licensed to preach the gospel [1697]
- 从他毕业到他获得传福音的许可 [1697年]
- From his being licensed till be removed into the bounds of the Presbytery of Stirling [1698]
- 从他获得许可到他搬到斯特灵区会（Presbytery of Stirling）的辖区 [1698年]
- From his removal into the bounds of the Presbytery of Stirling to his return unto the Merse, [1699]
- 从他搬到斯特灵区会的辖区到他返回麦尔斯（Merse） [1699年]
- From his return unto the Merse to his ordination to the holy ministry at Simprin, Sept. 21, 1699
- 从他返回麦尔斯到他于1699年9月21日在辛普林（Simprin）被按立（ordination）圣职
- From his ordination to his marriage, July, 1700
- 从他被按立到他于1700年7月结婚
- From his marriage to his removal to Etterick [1707]
- 从他结婚到他搬到埃特里克（Etterick） [1707年]
- From his removal to Etterick, to the oath of abjuration refused by him [1712]
- 从他搬到埃特里克到他拒绝宣誓废除王权 [1712年]
- From the oath of abjuration refused till his transportation to Closeburn, refused by the Commission of the General Assembly [1717]
- 从他拒绝宣誓废除王权到他被调动到克洛斯本（Closeburn），被总会（General Assembly）委员会拒绝 [1717年]
- From the transportation to Closeburn refused, to the notable breach in his health, and alteration in his constitution [1724]
- 从他被调动到克洛斯本被拒绝到他健康显著受损，体质改变 [1724年]
- From the notable breach in his health, to the time of closing this account [Nov, 1731, six months before his death]
- 从他健康显著受损到结束这份记述时 [1731年11月，他去世前六个月]
Postscript
后记
APPENDIX
附录