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What is God? God is a Spirit, infinite, eternal, and unchangeable, in his being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth.
神是什么？神是灵，无限、永恒、不变，在祂的存有、智慧、能力、圣洁、公义、良善和真理上。
The question, “What is God?” takes for granted that there is a God.
“神是什么？”这个问题理所当然地认定有一位神。
The belief of God’s existence, is the foundation of all religious worship.
相信神的存在，是一切宗教敬拜的基础。
“He who comes to God must believe that he is.”
“到神面前来的人必须信祂是。”
There must be a first cause, which gives being to all things besides.
必定有一个首因，祂赋予万物存在。
[1] We know that there is a God by the book of NATURE.
[1] 我们藉着自然之书知道有一位神。
The notion of a Deity is engraved on man’s heart; it is demonstrable by the light of nature.
神的观念刻在人的心上；它可以藉着自然之光证明。
It hard for a man to be a natural atheist; he may wish there were no God, he may dispute against a Deity—but he cannot in his judgment believe there is no God, unless by accumulated sin his conscience be seared, and he has such a lethargy upon him, that he has sinned away his very sense and reason!
人很难成为一个天生的无神论者；他可能希望没有神，他可能争辩反对神——但他不能在他的判断中相信没有神，除非藉着累积的罪使他的良心麻木，他身上有这样的昏睡，以至于他把他的感觉和理智都罪掉了！
[2] We know that there is a God by his WORKS, and this is so evident a demonstration of a Godhead, that the most atheistic spirits, when they have considered these works, have been forced to acknowledge some wise and supreme maker of these things.
[2] 我们藉着祂的工作知道有一位神，这是如此明显的神性的证明，以至于最无神论的灵魂，当他们思想这些工作时，也被迫承认这些事物有某个智慧和至高的创造者。
We will begin with the creation of the glorious fabric of heaven and earth.
我们将从天地荣耀构造的创造开始。
Surely, there must be some architect or first cause.
当然，必定有某个建筑师或首因。
The world could not make itself.
世界不能造自己。
Who could hang the earth on nothing, but the great God?
谁能把地球悬在虚空，除了伟大的神？
Who could provide such rich furniture for the heavens, the glorious constellations, the skies bespangled with such glittering lights?
谁能为诸天预备如此丰富的装饰，荣耀的星座，天空点缀着如此闪烁的光？
We see God’s glory blazing in the sun, twinkling in the stars.
我们看见神的荣耀在太阳中炽烈，在星辰中闪烁。
Who could give the earth its clothing, cover it with grass and corn, adorn it with flowers, enrich it with gold?
谁能给地球穿上衣服，用草和谷物覆盖它，用花朵装饰它，用黄金使它富足？
God alone.
唯独神。
Job 38:8. Who but God could make the sweet music in the heavens, cause the angels to join in concert, and sound forth the praises of their Maker?
约伯记38:8。除了神，谁能在诸天中制造甜美的音乐，使天使合唱，发出对他们创造者的赞美？
“The morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy.”
“那时晨星一同歌唱，神的众子也都欢呼。”
If a man should go into a far country, and see stately edifices there, he would never imagine that these built themselves—but that some greater power had built them.
如果一个人到一个遥远的国家，看见那里宏伟的建筑，他永远不会想象这些是自己建造的——而是某个更大的能力建造了它们。
To imagine that the work of the creation was not framed by God, is as if we should conceive an intricate landscape to be drawn by a pencil, without the hand of an artist.
想象创造的工作不是由神构造的，就如同我们应该设想一幅复杂的风景是被铅笔画出来的，却没有艺术家的手。
“God who made the world, and all things therein.”
“创造宇宙和其中万物的神。”
To create is proper to the Deity.
创造是神性所特有的。
The wise government of all things evinces there is a God.
万物的智慧治理显明有一位神。
God is the great superintendent of the world, he holds the golden reins of government in his hand, guiding all things most regularly and harmoniously to their proper end.
神是世界的伟大监管者，祂手握治理的金缰绳，最规律和和谐地引导万物到它们恰当的结局。
Who that eyes Providence, but must be forced to acknowledge there is a God?
谁注目护理，却不被迫承认有一位神？
Providence is the queen and governess of the world, it is the hand which turns the wheel of the whole creation; it sets the sun its race, the sea its bounds.
护理是世界的女王和治理者，它是转动整个创造之轮的手；它设定太阳的轨道，大海的界限。
If God did not guide the world, things would run into disorder and confusion.
如果神不引导世界，事物就会陷入混乱和无序。
When one looks on a clock, and sees the motion of the wheels, the striking of the hammer, the hanging of the plummets—he would conclude that some artificer made it.
当一个人看钟表，看见齿轮的运动，锤子的敲击，垂锤的悬挂——他会得出结论说某个工匠制作了它。
Just so, when we see the excellent order and harmony in the universe, the sun, that great luminary, dispensing its light and heat to the world, without which the world were but a grave or a prison; the rivers sending forth their silver streams to refresh the bodies of men, and prevent a drought; and every creature acting within its sphere, and keeping its due bounds—we must needs acknowledge there is a God, who wisely orders and governs all these things.
正是如此，当我们看见宇宙中卓越的秩序和和谐，太阳，那伟大的发光体，向世界分发它的光和热，没有它世界不过是坟墓或监狱；江河发出它们的银色溪流滋润人的身体，防止干旱；每个受造物在它的范围内行动，保持它应有的界限——我们必须承认有一位神，祂智慧地安排和治理所有这些事物。
Who could set this great multitude of the creatures in their several ranks and squadrons, and keep them in their constant march—but HE, whose name is the Lord Almighty?
谁能把这大群受造物安排在它们各自的等级和队列中，保持它们恒常的行进——除了祂，祂的名是全能的主？
And as God does wisely dispose all things in the whole regiment of the creatures, so, by his power, he supports them.
正如神在整个受造物的军团中智慧地安排万物，照样，藉着祂的能力，祂支撑它们。
Did God suspend and withdraw his influence ever so little, the wheels of the creation would unpin, and the axle break asunder!
若神稍微暂停和撤回祂的影响，创造的轮子就会脱落，轴就会断裂！
All motion, the philosophers say, is from something that is unmoveable.
哲学家说，所有运动都来自某个不动的事物。
As for example, the elements are moved by the influence and motion of the heavenly bodies; the sun and moon, and these planets, are moved by the highest orb, called Primum Mobile; now, if one should ask, Who moves that highest orb, or is the first mover of the planets?
例如，元素被天体的影响和运动所推动；太阳和月亮，以及这些行星，被最高的天球推动，称为第一推动者；现在，如果有人问，谁推动那最高的天球，或是行星的第一推动者？
It can be no other than God himself!
除了神自己不可能是别的！
Man is a microcosm or lesser world.
人是一个小宇宙或更小的世界。
The excellent context and frame of his body is wrought as meticulously as needlework.
他身体的卓越结构和框架被精心制作如同针线活。
“You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb.”
“你造了我身体一切精致的内在部分，在我母腹中把我编织在一起。”
This body is endowed with a noble soul.
这身体被赋予一个高贵的灵魂。
Who but God could make such a union of different substances as flesh and spirit?
除了神，谁能使肉体和灵这样不同的实质联合？
In him we live, and move, and have our being.
我们在祂里面生活、动作、存留。
The living motion of every part of the body shows there is a God.
身体每个部分的生动运动显明有一位神。
We may see something of him in the sparkling of the eye; and if the cabinet of the body be so curiously wrought, what is the jewel—the soul?
我们可以在眼睛的闪烁中看见祂的某些东西；如果身体的柜子如此精巧地制作，那么珠宝——灵魂是什么？
The soul has a celestial brightness in it; as one says, “It is a diamond set in a ring of clay.”
灵魂有属天的光辉在其中；如有人说，”它是一颗镶嵌在泥土戒指上的钻石。”
What noble faculties is the soul endowed with!
灵魂被赋予何等高贵的才能！
Understanding, Will, Affections—are a mirror of the Trinity, as Plato speaks.
悟性、意志、情感——是三一神的镜子，如柏拉图所说。
The matter of the soul is spiritual, it is a divine spark lighted from heaven; and being spiritual, is immortal, as Scaliger notes; “the soul does not wax old,” it lives forever.
灵魂的本质是属灵的，它是从天上点燃的神圣火花；既然是属灵的，就是不朽的，如斯卡利杰所指出；”灵魂不会衰老，”它永远活着。
Who could create a soul ennobled with such rare angelic properties, but God?
除了神，谁能创造一个被如此罕见的天使般特性所尊荣的灵魂？
We must needs say as the Psalmist, “It is he who has made us, and not we ourselves.”
我们必须如诗人所说，”是祂造了我们，不是我们自己。”
[3] We may prove a Deity by our CONSCIENCE.
[3] 我们可以藉着我们的良心证明神。
Conscience is God’s deputy or viceregent.
良心是神的代表或副摄政。
Conscience is a witness of a Deity.
良心是神的见证。
If there were no Bible to tell us there is a God—yet conscience would.
如果没有圣经告诉我们有一位神——然而良心会。
Conscience, as the apostle says, either “accuses” or “excuses.” Rom 2:15.
良心，如使徒所说，要么”控告”要么”辩护。”罗马书2:15。
It acts in order to a higher judicatory.
它的行动是为了一个更高的审判。
Natural conscience, being kept free from gross sin, excuses.
自然良心，被保守免于重罪，就辩护。
When a man does virtuous actions, lives soberly and righteously, observes the golden maxim—doing to others as he would have them do to him—then conscience approves, and says, “Well done!”
当一个人做有德行的行为，清醒和公义地生活，遵守黄金准则——对别人做他愿意他们对他做的——那么良心就认可，并说，”做得好！”
Like a bee it gives honey.
像蜜蜂一样它给出蜂蜜。
Natural conscience in the wicked accuses.
恶人里面的自然良心控告。
When men go against its light they feel the worm of conscience.
当人违背它的光时，他们感到良心的虫。
“Alas! What scorpion lurks within?” -Seneca.
“唉！什么蝎子潜伏在里面？”——塞涅卡。
Conscience, being sinned against, spits fire in men’s faces, and fills them with shame and horror.
良心，被冒犯时，向人脸上吐火，使他们充满羞耻和恐惧。
When the sinner sees a handwriting on the wall of conscience, his countenance is changed!
当罪人看见良心墙上的字迹，他的面容就改变了！
Many have hanged themselves to quiet their conscience.
许多人上吊自杀以平息他们的良心。
Tiberius the emperor, a bloody man, felt the lashes of his conscience; he was so haunted by that fury, that he told the senate, he suffered death daily.
提庇留皇帝，一个嗜血的人，感到他良心的鞭打；他被那愤怒如此缠扰，以至于他告诉元老院，他每天经受死亡。
What could put a man’s conscience into such an agony, but the impression of a Deity, and the thoughts of coming before his just tribunal?
什么能使人的良心陷入这样的痛苦，除了神的印记，以及来到祂公义审判台前的想法？
Those who are above human laws, are subject to the checks of their own conscience.
那些在人类法律之上的人，要受他们自己良心的制约。
And it is observable, the nearer the wicked approach to death, the more they are terrified.
可以观察到，恶人越接近死亡，他们就越恐惧。
Whence is this but from the apprehension of approaching judgement?
这从何而来，除了对临近审判的理解？
The soul, being sensible of its immortal nature, trembles at him who never ceases to live, and therefore will never cease to punish!
灵魂，意识到它不朽的本性，在祂面前颤抖，祂永不停止生存，因此永不停止惩罚！
[4] That there is a God, appears by the consent and universal suffrage of all men.
[4] 有一位神，藉着所有人的同意和普遍认同而显明。
“There is no nation so barbarous,” says Tully, “as not to believe there is a God.”
图利说，”没有一个民族如此野蛮，以至于不相信有一位神。”
Though the heathen did not worship the true God—yet they worshiped a god.
虽然异教徒不敬拜真神——然而他们敬拜一位神。
They set up an altar, “To the unknown God.” Acts 17:23.
他们立了一座坛，”献给未识之神。”使徒行传17:23。
They knew a God should be worshiped, though they knew not the God whom they ought to worship.
他们知道应该敬拜一位神，虽然他们不知道他们应该敬拜的神。
Some worshiped Jupiter, some Neptune, some Mars.
有些人敬拜朱庇特，有些敬拜海神，有些敬拜战神。
Rather than not worship something, they would worship anything.
与其不敬拜什么，他们宁可敬拜任何东西。
[5] That there is a God, appears his prediction of future things—that is, by fulfilled prophecy.
[5] 有一位神，藉着祂对未来事物的预言显明——就是说，藉着应验的预言。
He who can foretell things which shall surely come to pass, is the true God.
祂能预告必定会发生的事，祂就是真神。
God foretold, that a virgin should conceive; he prefixed the time when the Messiah should be cut off.
神预告，童女将怀孕；祂预定弥赛亚被剪除的时间。
He foretold the captivity of the Jews in Babylon, and who would be their deliverer.
祂预告犹太人在巴比伦的被掳，以及谁将是他们的拯救者。
God himself uses this argument to prove he is the true God, and that all the gods of the heathens are fictions and nullities.
神自己用这个论证来证明祂是真神，所有异教徒的神都是虚构和虚无。
To foretell things contingent, which depend upon no natural causes, is peculiar to Deity.
预告偶然的事，不依赖于任何自然原因的事，是神性所特有的。
[6] That there is a God, appears by his unlimited POWER and SOVEREIGNTY.
[6] 有一位神，藉着祂无限的能力和主权显明。
He who can work, and none can hinder—is the true God.
祂能做工，没有人能阻挡——祂就是真神。
Only God can do so.
唯独神能这样做。
“I will work—and who shall hinder it?”
“我要做工——谁能阻挡呢？”
Nothing can hinder action but some superior power; but there is no power above God!
除了某个更高的能力，没有什么能阻挡行动；但没有能力在神之上！
All power that is, is by him, therefore all power is under him.
一切存在的能力，都是藉着祂，因此一切能力都在祂之下。
He has a “mighty arm.”
祂有”大能的膀臂。”
He sees the designs which men drive at against him, and plucks off their chariot wheels; he makes the diviners mad.
祂看见人针对祂所驱使的计谋，就脱掉他们战车的轮子；祂使占卜者疯狂。
He cuts off the spirit of princes; he bridles the sea, gives check to the leviathan, and binds the devil in chains.
祂剪除君王的灵；祂勒住大海，制止利维坦，把魔鬼捆在链子里。
He acts according to his pleasure, he does what he will.
祂照祂的喜悦行动，祂做祂所愿意的。
“I will work, and who shall hinder it?”
“我要做工，谁能阻挡呢？”
[7] There are devils, therefore there is a God.
[7] 有魔鬼，因此有一位神。
Atheists cannot deny but there are devils, and then they must grant there is a God.
无神论者不能否认有魔鬼，然后他们必须承认有一位神。
We read of many possessed of the devil.
我们读到许多被魔鬼附身的人。
The devils are called in Scripture “hairy ones”, because they often appeared in the form of goats or satyrs.
魔鬼在圣经中被称为”多毛的，”因为他们经常以山羊或森林之神的形式出现。
Now, if there is a devil, there is a God.
现在，如果有魔鬼，就有一位神。
Socrates, a heathen, when accused at his death, confessed, that, as he thought there was an evil spirit, so he thought there was a good spirit.
苏格拉底，一个异教徒，在他死时被指控，承认，因为他认为有一个恶灵，所以他认为有一个善灵。
Table of Contents
目录
The Being of God
神的存有
The Omnipresence of God
神的无所不在
The Omniscience of God
神的无所不知
The Eternity of God
神的永恒
The Immutability of God
神的不变
The Wisdom of God
神的智慧
The Omnipotence of God
神的无所不能
The Holiness of God
神的圣洁
The Justice of God
神的公义
The Mercy of God
神的怜悯
The Truth of God
神的真理
The Unity of God
神的独一
The Trinity
三一神
The Creation
创造
The Providence of God
神的护理