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When I commenced writing the following pages, I only intended them for my own offspring.
当我开始撰写以下这些篇章时，我原本只打算把它们留给我自己的儿女。
Deeply impressed with a sense of my own responsibility as a Parent, and with the value of the souls of my children — I began this address with earnest prayer to the God of all grace to make it useful to their souls.
因着深深感受到自己作为父母的责任，也因着看重我儿女灵魂的价值——我怀着恳切的祷告，向那赐各样恩典的上帝祈求，愿祂使这些文字对他们的灵魂有益。
It was written with a hope to affect the children’s hearts, not to meet a critic’s eye;
写作的目的，是盼望触动孩子们的心，而不是迎合批评者的眼目；
but I have since thought that the Lord in his infinite mercy may use it for the benefit of some besides my own family — therefore I have allowed it to be published just as it was written.
但后来我想到，主在祂无限的怜悯中，也许会使用它，使我家以外的一些人得益处——因此我就照着原来写成的样子，允许它付梓出版。
I am conscious that many objections may be raised against it,
我清楚地知道，可能会有人对它提出许多反对意见，
but having stated my only design in writing it, and allowing it to be printed,
然而，既然我已经陈明了写作的唯一目的，并且也同意它被印刷，
I am not anxious to anticipate objections, which may be made by others, or reply to any that arises in my own mind.
我并不急于预先设想他人可能提出的反对，或回应我自己心中产生的任何疑问。
To the blessing of Almighty God I commend it,
我将它交托在全能上帝的祝福之下，
and pray that it may not only be the means of benefitting my own family and rejoicing my own heart;
并祈求它不仅成为造福我自己家庭、使我心喜乐的途径；
but that many families may be benefitted and that many a parent’s heart may through it have occasion to sing for joy;
也愿许多家庭因此得益处，许多父母的心因它而有歌唱欢喜的缘由；
nor do I stop here, but hope that the glory of Jehovah may be advanced by such a feeble instrument,
我也不止步于此，还盼望耶和华的荣耀能借着这样一个软弱的器皿得以彰显，
and the Lord Jesus Christ be made known, endeared to the heart, and be honored by the praises of many who are now in darkness, ignorance, and sin.
并且愿主耶稣基督被人认识、被人心所爱慕，也被许多如今仍在黑暗、无知和罪中的人以赞美来尊崇。
Any parent who approves of the sentiments, may adopt it as his own,
凡是赞同其中观点的父母，都可以将它视为自己的话语，
and put it into the hands of his children as expressing his own feelings, and containing his own admonitions.
并把它交在自己儿女手中，作为表达他个人情感、包含他自己劝勉的内容。
And to every such parent especially I would say,
而我特别要对每一位这样的父母说，
as you value the present and eternal welfare of your children, and of the children all around you;
既然你看重自己儿女以及你周围一切孩子今生与永恒的福祉；
be earnest, frequent, and persevering in your prayers at a throne of grace,
就当在施恩宝座前恳切、频繁、恒久地祷告，
that the Lord would bless this, and every other attempt to benefit the rising race.
求主赐福于这一次尝试，以及一切其他为造福后代而作的努力。
I cannot think, that parents in general, sufficiently realize the importance of using every means,
我不能认为，一般来说，父母们已经充分认识到使用一切方法的重要性，
and watering the same with earnest prayer, for the benefit of their dear children.
并且用恳切的祷告来浇灌这些方法，以造福他们亲爱的儿女。
We know they must be saved — or lost;
我们知道，他们必须得救——否则就会灭亡；
but do we feel in reference to our children as the great Apostle Paul
但在对待自己儿女这件事上，我们是否有伟大的使徒保罗那样的心肠，
(who learned his divinity by express revelation from God, Galatians I. 11, 12;
（他是藉着上帝直接的启示领受神学的，加拉太书 1:11–12；
who had been up in the third heaven, 2 Corinthians 12 1-5;)
他曾被提到第三层天上，哥林多后书 12:1–5；）
did in reference to his brethren the Jews, Romans 9.
正如他在罗马书第九章中对待他犹太弟兄那样呢？
Do we manifest the same anxiety for our own, as he did for others, 1 Corinthians 9:19-27?
我们是否像他为别人那样，为自己的儿女显出同样的忧切之心呢？哥林多前书 9:19–27。
Alas! it is to be feared that many are lamentably deficient!
唉！恐怕有许多人在这方面严重缺乏！
Gracious God! stir up the minds of your people to a befitting concern for the eternal welfare of their children, and for your glory and praise!
慈爱的上帝啊！求祢激发祢百姓的心，使他们对儿女永恒的福祉，以及对祢的荣耀与颂赞，怀有合宜的关切！
If any are tempted to despise, to dispute, or to condemn this feeble piece;
若有人受试探而轻看、争辩或定罪这篇软弱的文字；
I would only say, God has generally chosen weak things, things that are despised, and things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are;
我只想说，上帝通常拣选软弱的事、被人轻看的事、以及那无有的事，为要废掉那有的事；
that no flesh may glory in his presence;
使一切血气之人都不能在祂面前自夸；
and he has ever proved that the work of a sinner’s conversion from darkness to light,
并且祂一再证明，使罪人从黑暗转向光明、
and his translation from the kingdom of Satan into that of his dear son;
从撒但的国度迁入祂爱子的国度的工作；
whatever may be the means employed,
无论所使用的手段是什么，
is not by might or by power, but by the Spirit of the Lord Almighty.
都不是倚靠势力，不是倚靠才能，乃是倚靠万军之耶和华的灵。
If any of my brethren in the Ministry should spend a few moments in perusing these pages,
若有任何在圣职中的弟兄愿意花些时间翻阅这些页面，
I would entreat them to read as Ministers of Christ — not as critics;
我恳求他们以基督的仆人之身份来阅读——而不是以批评者的身份；
and put up a prayer that the blessing of the Lord may attend them.
并献上一声祷告，求主的祝福随着它们。
To all who in every place, call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, into whose hands this publication may fall,
凡在各处求告我们主耶稣基督之名、并且这本出版物落在他们手中的人，
I would say:
我都要说：
Brethren, pray, that so far as these pages contain the Word of the Lord, they may have free course and be glorified.
弟兄们啊，祈求只要这些页面中包含主的圣言，它们就能畅行无阻，并得着荣耀。
That children yet unborn may praise,
愿尚未出生的儿女也能颂赞，
The wonders of redeeming grace!
救赎之恩的奇妙作为！
Table of Contents
目录
Preface
序言
My Dear Children
我亲爱的孩子们
The Value of Your Soul
你灵魂的价值
Hostile to God
与上帝为敌
The Mediator
中保
Repentance and Faith – Gifts of God
悔改与信心——上帝的恩赐
From the New Birth Flows Faith, Repentance and Good Works
从重生中流出信心、悔改与善行
Godliness
敬虔
Fellowship with God through His Word
藉着祂的圣言与上帝相交
The Love, Mercy and Faithfulness of God
上帝的慈爱、怜悯与信实
Justification & Sanctification
称义与成圣
Prayer
祷告
Conclusion
结论