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Or, The Best Friend in the Worst of Times. Delivered in several Sermons,
或，《最坏时代里的挚友》。包含数篇讲章，
Henceforth I call you no more Servants, — but Friends. John 15:15
以后我不再称你们为仆人，——乃称你们为朋友。约翰福音 15:15
This text has been initially updated from EEBO-TCP by Project Puritas (Logan West, with David Jonescue and Alex Sarrouf.) www.puritansearch.org. Further revision and editing done by Monergism. Copyright Monergism via universal text usage permission from the above.
本文本最初由 Project Puritas（Logan West，以及 David Jonescue 和 Alex Sarrouf）根据 EEBO-TCP 进行更新。www.puritansearch.org。由 Monergism 进行进一步的修订和编辑。版权归 Monergism 所有，经由上述机构获得通用文本使用许可。
When I consider what a noble thing the Soul of Man is, the High end for which he was Made, and the great Account he is shortly to make to Him that made him, I cannot but wonder, That he who was made little lower than the Angels, should make himself little better than the Beasts.
当我思想到人的灵魂是何等尊贵之物，祂被造的高尚目的，以及他很快要向造他的那一位（祂）交出的重大账目，我不禁感到惊奇，那被造仅比天使微小一点的，竟然使自己变得比那兽类好不了多少。
The great and dreadful God hath taken much pains to reduce the Inhabitants of London, and indeed all the Nation to the Obedience of his Son. He hath been pleading with poor England of late in such a manner, as is scarce to be paralleled in fore-going Ages; he hath left the print of his Fingers behind him, and written divine displeasure in Black Letters.
这位伟大而可畏的神费尽苦心，要使伦敦的居民，甚至全国的人，都归顺祂的儿子。祂近来一直在以一种方式向可怜的英格兰发出恳求，这种方式在以往的世代中几乎是无与伦比的；祂留下了祂指头的印记，并用黑体字写下了神圣的不悦。
The Righteous Judge began his Circuit in London, and in that one City, above one Hundred Thousand received the Sentence of Death from his Just Tribunal.
这位公义的审判者在伦敦开始了祂的巡回审判，仅在那一座城市，就有超过十万人从祂公义的法庭领受了死亡的判决。
That was not quite Removed before another Amazing Judgment was sent to succeed it. The Voice of the Lord was not heard, the Language of the Plague was not understood; wherefore the dreadful Jehovah spake Louder, and Louder, as he did once from Mount Sinai, in Fire, Flame, and Smoak; he rode upon the Wings of the Wind, he rode in a Chariot of Flaming Fire, whilst the Bells did Ring their own Knells, as they were Tumbling; and it’s to be feared, were more melted at the Anger of the Mighty God, than Thousands of Hard hearted Men and Women were. The Leads of the Churches were Dissolved into showers more easily far than stupid Professors, that were wont to sit under them. That was a Black Cloud indeed which no Wind could blow over, till it fell in such Scalding Drops.
那场灾难尚未完全消除，另一场惊人的审判就被差遣来接续它。人们没有听从主的声音，也不明白瘟疫的语言；因此，那可畏的耶和华说话的声音越来越大，就像祂曾经在西奈山上所做的那样，在烈火、火焰和烟雾中说话；祂藉着风的翅膀而行，祂乘坐火焰的战车，当钟楼倒塌时，钟声为自己敲响了丧钟；令人恐惧的是，它们在大能之神的愤怒面前，比成千上万硬心肠的男男女女更容易熔化。教堂屋顶的铅皮溶解成雨滴，远比那些习惯坐在屋顶之下的愚顽认信者（Professors）更容易悔改。那确实是一朵黑云，没有风能把它吹散，直到它以此等滚烫的水滴落下。
These things Considered, I hope it will not be unwelcome, nor unseasonable, if I put you upon looking out for such a Friend as will provide sufficiently for his under all these Straits, and prove the Best in the Worst of Times. He knows Job upon the Dunghill, as well as David upon the Throne; he will be most Kind when others are most Unkind; he will Visit you, when others will scarce Look upon you. In his House you shall be as welcome as ever. There are many Mansions, if it were not so, he would have told you. In this City there is Room enough, and you shall have Entertainment, &c. be more Welcome than if you had stayed away: His Doors will be open to them who have no Houses to hide their Heads in. Come to him ye Harborless ones, he Invites you Earnestly and Heartily, &c. He will give you Shelter, you that have no Friends, or but sorry ones. Come to him now in your Straits, and he will never cast your Poverty, or his Kindness in your Teeth; except your Carriage be Proud, and unbecoming your State. God hath lately read us a Lecture of the Vanity of all Creature Enjoyments, And will you after this refuse Acquaintance with Him, who will be better to you than a thousand of the best friends that ever man had upon Earth?
考虑到这些事情，我希望这不会是不受欢迎的，也不会是不合时宜的，如果我敦促你们去寻找这样一位朋友，祂能在这一切困境中为属祂的人提供充足的供应，并在最坏的时代显为最好的朋友。祂认识粪堆上的约伯，也认识宝座上的大卫；当别人最无情的时候，祂将是最仁慈的；当别人几乎不愿看你一眼时，祂会眷顾你。在祂的家中，你将一如既往地受欢迎。那里有许多住处，若是没有，祂早已告诉你们了。在这座城里有足够的空间，你们将得到款待，等等，比你们不来更受欢迎：祂的大门将向那些没有房屋可以藏身的人敞开。来到祂这里吧，你们这些无家可归的人，祂恳切而衷心地邀请你们，等等。祂会给你们庇护，你们这些没有朋友，或只有糟糕朋友的人。现在就在你们的困境中来到祂面前吧，祂绝不会因你的贫穷羞辱你，也不会以此夸耀祂的恩慈；除非你的举止骄傲，与你的状况不相称。神最近给我们上了一课，说明所有受造物之享乐的虚空，在此之后，你们还要拒绝与祂相交吗？祂对你，比世上曾有过的以前个最好的朋友还要好。
I have in the following Book given you Directions how you may come to be Acquainted with Him.
我在接下来的书中给了你们指引，告诉你们如何能与祂相交。
As God appointed Cities of Refuge, so he gave express Command, that the way to them should be made Plain, Fit, and Broad: And therefore the Messengers work every Year was to Remove all Stumbling-Blocks, and Offences. They suffered not any Hill or Dale to be in the way, and at the partition of ways, they set up in writing, Refuge, Refuge, That the Pursued might have notice what way to take upon every turn, Deut. 19.2, 3.
正如神设立了逃城，祂也发出了明确的命令，通往那里的道路必须平坦、合适且宽阔：因此，使者每年的工作就是移除所有的绊脚石和障碍物。他们不容许道路上有任何崎岖难行的高岗或低谷，在岔路口，他们竖立写着“逃城、逃城”的标牌，叫被追赶的人在每一个转弯处都知道该走哪条路，申命记 19:2, 3。
The like I have endeavored in this ensuing Discourse, to make the Way to this Blessed Friend Plain and Familiar. Pray for a Blessing upon it, which cost the Author some Pains, Prayers, Tears, and Groans; That what was here written might be the Transcript of his own Experience, and might be some way subservient to the Glory of God in the Conversion and Comfort of Souls. If you find any good in the use of this Book, give God the Praise, and labor to keep a constant warm sense of the Excellency of such a Friend upon your Spirits, and commend this Friend to all your Relations and Acquaintance; that none of them after great Losses, may lose God, Heaven, and themselves too. O that will be a Dreadful Loss indeed! I again beseech you; forget not to Pray for one of the most unworthy instruments that ever Infinite Goodness made use of in so glorious a Work:
我在随后这篇论述中也同样尽力而为，使通往这位蒙福朋友的道路变得平坦且易懂。请为这书祈求祝福，它花费了作者一番苦工、祷告、眼泪和叹息；好叫这里所写的，能成为他自己经历的抄本，并能在灵魂的归正和安慰上，多少有助于神的荣耀。如果你们在使用这本书时得到任何益处，请将赞美归给神，并要努力在你们的灵里，持续保持对这样一位朋友之卓越的火热感，并向你们所有的亲属和熟人推荐这位朋友；免得他们在遭受巨大损失之后，又失去了神、天堂，以及他们自己。哦，那将确实是可怕的损失！我再次恳求你们；不要忘记为这一个最不配的器皿祷告，这器皿竟被无限的良善（指神）使用在如此荣耀的工作中：
James Janeway.
詹姆斯·詹威。
July 20. 1669.
1669年7月20日。