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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（洛根·韦斯特 Logan West，与大卫·琼斯丘 David Jonescue 及亚历克斯·萨鲁夫 Alex Sarrouf）根据 EEBO-TCP 进行整理更新，网址：www.puritansearch.org。其后由 Monergism 进一步修订与编辑。版权归 Monergism 所有，基于上述机构授予的通用文本使用许可。

Christian Reader,
基督徒读者，

I Dare not suppose thee, in an Age of so much Light and Knowledge, to be ignorant of a future State and Condition, that doth abide thee and all Men after this Life; for this were to conceive of the contrary, not only to the sentiments of all Christians, but even of Heathens themselves.
在这样一个充满光照与知识的时代，我不敢设想你会对今生之后临到你与世上所有人的将来状态与境况毫无认识；因为这样一种设想，不仅违背所有基督徒的共识，甚至也违背外邦人（Heathens）本身的认知。

Neither can I think any to be so far blinded and hardened, as to believe that this State, which shall befall all Men after Death, to be the same unto all Persons, whether they be good or bad;
我也不能认为有人会被蒙蔽、刚硬到一个地步，以致相信死亡之后临到众人的那种状态，对一切人——无论善恶——都是完全相同的；

for though the Wise Man tells us, in Eccles. 9.1, 2. That in this Life, All things come alike unto all Men, and there is one event to the Righteous and to the Wicked, to the Clean and to the Unclean.
因为智慧人确实在《传道书》九章一至二节中告诉我们，在今生，万事临到众人都是一样的，义人与恶人、洁净的与不洁净的，都遭遇同一件事。

So that in the way of God’s common Providential dealings with Men in this World, no Man knoweth Love or Hatred by all that is before them.
因此，就着神在这世界中以普遍的护理（Providential dealings，指神的护理）对待人的方式而言，人不能从眼前所遇见的一切分辨出是爱还是恨。

Yet when Death and Judgment come, a discriminating Sentence shall pass upon all Men, According to what they have done in the Body, whether it be good or bad.
然而，当死亡与审判来到之时，分别性的判决必将临到众人，按着他们在身体之内所行的，是善是恶。

And then as the Apostle speaks, All those, who have not obeyed the Truth, but have lived in Sin and Unrighteousness, shall receive Indignation and Wrath, Tribulation and Anguish upon every Soul of Man that hath thus done Evil;
正如使徒所说，凡不顺从真理、却活在罪与不义中的人，忿怒与烈怒、患难与痛苦，必临到一切这样行恶之人的灵魂；

But to them, who by patient continuance in well-doing, have sought for Glory, and Honor, and Immortality, shall be Eternal Life.
但那借着恒心行善，寻求荣耀、尊贵与不朽坏的人，必得永生。

And of this none that live under the Light of the Gospel can be ignorant.
凡活在福音之光下的人，对此都不可能无知。

Now as to the former of these, that State of Woe and Misery, that is to be the Portion of Sinners in Hell, it is not my design in the following Discourse to say anything:
至于前者，就是那要成为罪人在地狱中之分的悲惨痛苦的状态，在下文的论述中，我并无意对此多加言说；

Having confined my Thoughts and Meditations therein unto the latter, and that is that State of Bliss and Happiness that shall be the Portion of Holy Souls in Heaven.
因为我已将我的思想与默想（Meditations，指属灵默想）限定在后者之上，即那将成为圣洁灵魂在天堂中之分的福乐与幸福的状态。

All Men now will say they desire and seek after happiness, but few there are that attain thereunto;
如今人人都会说自己渴望并追求幸福，但真正达到的人却是寥寥无几；

not that there is no such Thing or State attainable; for Holiness always lays a sure Foundation for Happiness:
并非因为没有这样的事或状态可得；因为圣洁总是为幸福奠定稳固的根基；

But Man being fallen from God, and sunk into the Creature, cannot without the help of Divine Grace, raise up his Soul, his Affections and Desires towards God, towards Heaven and Heavenly things;
但人既从神那里堕落，又沉沦于受造之物之中，若非借着神圣的恩典（Divine Grace），便不能使自己的灵魂、情感与渴望向着神、向着天堂与属天之事被提升；

but takes up with what is suitable to his Earthly and Fleshly part;
反而只满足于那与他属地、属肉体的部分相适应的事物；

and so the World and the Enjoyments thereof, being adapted to the Inclinations of his present State and Condition here below;
因此，这世界及其享受，正好迎合了他在此地当前状态与境况中的倾向；

accordingly with the greatest eagerness, he pursues the Riches, the Honors, the Pleasures and Delights of this World;
于是他便以极大的热切，追逐这世界的财富、尊荣、享乐与欢愉；

as those things which when attained, he vainly fancies will make him truly Happy;
把这些当作一旦得着，便能真正使他幸福的事物，徒然地幻想如此；

but when he comes to enjoy them, meets with Frustration and Disappointment:
然而当他实际享用这些时，却遭遇挫败与失望；

All Men being forced sooner or later to subscribe unto what the Wisest of Men faith, as a great Truth, concerning all things under the Sun, that they are but Vanity and Vexation of Spirit.
所有的人迟早都不得不承认那位最有智慧之人所说的伟大真理：日光之下的一切，尽都是虚空，都是心灵的烦扰。

Wouldst thou not, Christian Reader, when thou comest to die, be eternally deceived in thy Hopes and Expectations of Happiness:
基督徒读者啊，你岂不愿在临终之时，不至于在对幸福的盼望与期待上受到永远的欺骗吗？

Let not the World and the Enjoyments thereof, take up thy Thoughts and Affections now.
那么如今就不要让这世界及其享受占据你的思想与情感。

God hath provided the good things thereof, and by his Care and Providence brings them to thee daily for thy use,
神已经预备了这些美好的事物，并借着祂的眷顾与护理（Providence）每日将它们带到你面前供你使用，

that with this Gracious and Liberal Allowance of his; thou mayest serve him with the greater Cheerfulness and Delight of Soul, in thy Passage through this World:
为要使你在这世界行走的旅程中，借着祂如此恩慈而丰厚的供给，可以以更大的欢欣与灵里的喜乐来事奉祂；

But he never intended, thou shouldst take up with them as thy Happiness.
但祂从未意图让你以这些事物作为你的幸福。

Believe it, God hath provided better things for holy Souls in another World;
你当相信，神已为圣洁的灵魂在另一个世界预备了更美的事；

he intends himself to be their Portion, his Heaven to be their Habitation and Dwelling place,
祂定意以祂自己作为他们的产业，以祂的天作为他们的居所与住处，

Angels, Patriarchs, Prophets, Apostles, to be their Associates and Companions;
以天使、族长（Patriarchs）、先知、使徒，作为他们的同伴与伙伴；

where they shall live in the light of God’s Countenance, see his Face, behold his Glory, and be filled with his Love to all Eternity.
在那里，他们要活在神面光之中，得见祂的面，瞻仰祂的荣耀，并在永恒中被祂的爱充满。

O blessed State of infinite Bliss and Happiness, beyond what words is able to express.
噢，这何等蒙福、无限福乐与幸福的状态，远非言语所能表达。

Well may holy Souls with wonder and amazement cry out with the Apostle, and say,
因此，圣洁的灵魂大可与使徒一同，在惊奇与赞叹中呼喊说：

Eye hath not seen, Ear hath not heard, nor can it enter into the heart of Man to conceive what God hath provided for them that Love him.
眼睛未曾看见，耳朵未曾听见，人心也未曾想到，神为爱祂的人所预备的是何等的事。

And why mayest not thou who now castest thine Eyes upon these lines, make one of that great number of holy Souls, that shall be thus Eternally Happy and Blessed?
那么，正在阅读这些文字的你，为何不能成为那许多将如此永远幸福、蒙福的圣洁灵魂中的一员呢？

God hath not Excluded thee out of Heaven, and why shouldest thou exclude and shut out thyself?
神并未将你排除在天堂之外，你为何反倒要将自己拒之门外呢？

God is now displaying before thee, the Excellencies and Glory of that Blessed State,
如今神正在你面前彰显那蒙福状态的卓越与荣耀，

and wherefore doth he do so, but to invite and draw Sinners to come and partake of this Happiness;
祂这样做的目的何在？无非是要邀请并吸引罪人前来分享这幸福；

not that God needs us, or anything that we can do;
并不是因为神需要我们，或需要我们所能做的任何事；

for he is as Happy without us, as he can possibly be with us:
因为祂离了我们，同样是完全幸福的，丝毫不减；

But we need him, and cannot be happy without him.
但我们却需要祂，离了祂便不可能得着幸福。

Now therefore since he is pleased to continue the offers of such rich Grace and Mercy,
既然如此，既然神乐意继续向人发出如此丰盛的恩典与怜悯的邀请，

let none be found slighters and contemners thereof.
就不要让任何人被发现是轻忽并藐视这些恩典的人。

Disappoint not, O Sinners, the design of God in seeking to bring Souls to Heaven.
噢，罪人啊，不要使神要将灵魂带入天堂的旨意落空。

Frustrate not your own Expectations of Bliss and Happiness.
不要挫败你们自己对福乐与幸福的期待。

Make not yourselves Eternally miserable, by choosing any sinful course, or walking in any allowed way of Wickedness:
不要因选择任何犯罪的道路，或行走在任何被容许的邪恶之途上，而使自己陷入永远的悲惨；

Nor yet provoke God by any sinful delays, or any sluggish and lazy desires and endeavors in seeking to obtain this Everlasting Happiness,
也不要因任何犯罪性的拖延，或在追求这永恒幸福之事上懒散、迟钝的愿望与努力，来惹动神；

to deal with you as obstinate despisers and contemners thereof,
以致使祂将你们视为顽梗的藐视者与轻看者来对待，

and swear in his Wrath that you shall never enter into his Rest.
并在祂的忿怒中起誓，说你们永不得进入祂的安息。

If God may be Glorified, and Souls receive benefit hereby unto Eternal Life,
若是神因此得着荣耀，灵魂也藉此得益处以至永生，

the Author hath the desire of his Soul, and an abundant Reward for what he hath done in the ensuing Discourse;
那么作者便得着了他心中所渴望的，并且为他在随后的论述中所做的一切，得着丰盛的赏赐；

and that a Blessing from Heaven may make is thus Successful unto all that shall read it, is and shall be the Prayer of the Publisher.
愿从天而来的祝福使本书在所有阅读之人身上如此蒙福并结出果效，这就是出版者现在并将来持续的祷告。

——

Table of Contents
目录

TO THE READER
致读者

CHAPTER I: The Introduction.
第一章：引言。

CHAPTER II: A more particular Consideration of the Happiness of Heaven.
第二章：对天堂之幸福更为具体的思考。

CHAPTER III: Further Discoveries of the Saints Happiness in Heaven.
第三章：进一步揭示圣徒在天堂中的幸福。

CHAPTER IV: Of the Resurrection of the Body, in order to the Saints Happiness in Heaven.
第四章：论身体的复活，为着圣徒在天堂中的幸福。

CHAPTER V. – Of the Efficient Cause of the Saints Happiness in Heaven.
第五章：论圣徒在天堂中幸福的有效原因（Efficient Cause）。

CHAPTER VI: An Essay towards the Resolution of some Questions.
第六章：尝试解答若干问题的探讨。