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The Lord is in his Holy Temple—let all the earth keep silence before him.
耶和华在他的圣殿中——全地都当在他面前肃静。
Hab. 2.20.
哈巴谷书 2:20
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The Mute Christian Under the Smarting Rod: With Sovereign Antidotes Against the Most Miserable Exigents
沉默的基督徒在惩戒之下：对抗最悲惨困境的至高解药
A Christian with an Olive Leaf in his mouth, when he is under the greatest afflictions, the sharpest and sorest trials and troubles, the saddest and darkest Providences and changes. With answers to diverse questions and objections that are of greatest importance—all tending to win and work souls to be still, quiet, calm and silent under all changes that have, or may pass upon them in this world.
一个基督徒口含橄榄叶，当他处于最大的苦难、最尖锐和最痛苦的试炼和困扰、最悲伤和最黑暗的天意和变故之中。回答各种最重要的问题和异议——所有这些都旨在赢得并引导灵魂在这个世界上已经或可能发生的所有变化中保持平静、安宁、镇定和沉默。
The Epistle Dedicatory—To all afflicted and distressed, dissatisfied, disturbed, and agitated Christians throughout the world.
献辞——致全世界所有受苦、困扰、不满、烦恼和焦虑的基督徒。
Dear hearts—The choicest saints are ‘born to troubles as the sparks fly upwards’, Job 5:7. ‘Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivers him out of them all.’ Psalm 34:19. If they were many, and not troubles, then, as it is in the proverb, the more the merrier; or if they were troubles and not many, then the fewer the better. But God, who is infinite in wisdom and matchless in goodness, has ordered troubles, yes, many troubles to come trooping in upon us on every side. As our mercies—so our crosses seldom come single; they usually come treading one upon the heels of another; they are like April showers, no sooner is one over but another comes. And yet, Christians, it is mercy, it is rich mercy, that every affliction is not an execution, that every correction is not a damnation. The higher the waters rise, the nearer Noah’s ark was lifted up to heaven; the more your afflictions are increased, the more your heart shall be raised heavenward.
亲爱的人们——最蒙拣选的圣徒”生来就要遭遇患难，如同火星飞腾”，约伯记5:7。”义人多有苦难，但耶和华救他脱离这一切。”诗篇34:19。如果它们只是众多而非患难，那么正如谚语所说，人越多越热闹；或者如果它们是患难但不多，那么越少越好。但是，上帝以其无限的智慧和无与伦比的良善，已经命定患难，是的，许多患难从四面八方涌来。就像我们的恩典一样——我们的十字架很少单独出现；它们通常一个接一个地来临；它们就像四月的阵雨，一场刚过，另一场就来。然而，基督徒们，这是怜悯，是丰富的怜悯，每一次苦难并非处决，每一次管教并非诅咒。水位越高，诺亚方舟就越接近天堂；你的苦难越多，你的心就越被提升向天。
Because I would not hold you too long in the porch, I shall only endeavor two things—first, to give you the reasons of my appearing once more in print; and secondly, a little counsel and direction that the following tract may turn to your soul’s advantage, which is the objective that I have in my eye.
因为我不想在门廊里耽搁你太久，我只会努力做两件事——首先，告诉你我再次出版的原因；其次，给出一些建议和指导，使接下来的论文可能对你的灵魂有益，这是我所关注的目标。
The true REASONS of my sending this piece into the world, such as it is, are these—
我将这篇文章送入世界的真正原因，就其本身而言，如下——
First, The afflicting hand of God has been hard upon myself, and upon my dearest relations in this world, and upon many of my precious Christian friends, whom I much love and honor in the Lord, which put me upon studying of the mind of God in that scripture that I have made the subject-matter of this following discourse.
首先，上帝的惩戒之手已经严厉地落在我自己身上，落在我在这个世界上最亲密的关系上，也落在我许多珍贵的基督徒朋友身上，我非常爱他们，并在主里尊敬他们，这促使我研究上帝在我所选作本篇讲论主题的经文中的心意。
Luther could not understand some Psalms until he was afflicted; the Christ-cross is no letter in the book, and yet, says he, it has taught one more than all the letters in the book.
路德在受苦之前无法理解一些诗篇；他说，基督的十字架不是书中的字母，但它教导了人比书中所有字母更多的东西。
Afflictions are a golden key by which the Lord opens the rich treasure of his word to his people’s souls; and this in some measure, through grace, my soul has experienced.
苦难是一把金钥匙，主藉此向祂子民的灵魂打开祂话语的丰富宝藏；在某种程度上，通过恩典，我的灵魂已经经历了这一点。
When Samson had found honey, he gave some to his father and mother to eat, Judges 14:9, 10; some honey I have found in my following text; and therefore I may not, I cannot be such a churl as not to give them some of my honey to taste, who have drunk deep of my gall and wormwood.
当参孙找到蜂蜜时，他给了他的父母一些吃，士师记14:9, 10；我在接下来的经文中找到了一些蜂蜜；因此，我不能，我不可能如此吝啬，不给那些已经深深品尝了我的苦胆和苦艾的人一些我的蜂蜜来品尝。
Augustine observes on that, Ps. 66:16, ‘Come and hear, all you that fear God, and I will declare what he has done for my soul.’ ‘He does not call them’, says he, ‘to acquaint them with speculations, how wide the earth is, how far the heavens are stretched out, what the number of the stars is, or what is the course of the sun; but come and I will tell you the wonders of his grace, the faithfulness of his promises, the riches of his mercy to my soul’.
奥古斯丁观察到，诗篇66:16，”凡敬畏神的人，你们都来听，我要述说他为我所行的事。”他说：”他不是呼召他们来了解一些推测，比如地有多宽，天有多远，星星有多少，或太阳的运行轨道如何；而是来，我要告诉你们他恩典的奇妙，他应许的信实，他对我灵魂的丰盛怜悯。”
Gracious experiences are to be communicated. ‘We learn—that we may teach’—is a proverb among the Rabbis. And I do therefore ‘lay in and lay up,’ says the heathen, that I may draw forth again and lay out for the good of many.
恩典的经历应当被传递。”我们学习——为了我们可以教导”——这是拉比们中的一句谚语。异教徒说：”因此我’储存和积累’，以便我可以再次取出并为众人的益处而使用。”
When God has dealt bountifully with us, others should reap some noble good by us. The family, the town, the city, the country, where a man lives, should fare the better for his faring well.
当上帝慷慨地对待我们时，其他人应该通过我们收获一些高尚的好处。一个人生活的家庭、城镇、城市、国家，都应该因他的福祉而受益。
Our mercies and experiences should be as a running spring at our doors, which is not only for our own use—but also for our neighbors’, yes, and for strangers too.
我们的怜悯和经历应该像我们门前的活泉，不仅供我们自己使用，也供我们的邻居使用，是的，甚至供陌生人使用。
Secondly, What is written is permanent and spreads itself further by far—for time, place, and people—than the voice can reach. The pen is an artificial tongue; it speaks as well to absent as to present friends; it speaks to those who far off as well as those who are near; it speaks to many thousands at once; it speaks not only to the present age but also to succeeding ages.
其次，书写的内容是永久的，并且在时间、地点和人群方面传播得比声音更远。笔是一种人造的舌头；它对缺席的朋友和在场的朋友都能说话；它对远方的人和近处的人都能说话；它一次可以对成千上万的人说话；它不仅对当代人说话，也对后代说话。
The pen is a kind of image of eternity; it will make a man live when he is dead, Heb. 11:1. Though ‘the prophets do not live for ever’, yet their labors may, Zech. 1:6. A man’s writings may preach when he can not, when he may not, and when by reason of bodily distempers, he dares not; yes, and that which is more, when he is not.
笔是一种永恒的影像；它能使人在死后依然活着，希伯来书11:1。虽然”先知不能永远活着”，但他们的劳作可以，撒迦利亚书1:6。一个人的著作可以在他不能讲道时、不被允许讲道时、因身体不适而不敢讲道时继续传道；是的，更重要的是，即使在他不在了的时候也能传道。
Thirdly, Few men, if any, have iron memories. How soon is a sermon preached forgotten, when a sermon written remains! Augustine writing to Volusian, says, ‘That which is written is always at hand to be read, when the reader is at leisure.’
第三，几乎没有人有铁一般的记忆力。口头讲道的sermon[布道]很快就被遗忘，而写下来的sermon[布道]却能长存！奥古斯丁写给Volusian[沃卢西安]说：”写下来的东西总是在那里，读者闲暇时随时可以阅读。”
Men do not easily forget their own names, nor their father’s house, nor the wife of their bosom, nor the fruit of their loins, nor to eat their daily bread; and yet, ah! how easily do they forget that word of grace, that should be dearer to them than all!
人们不会轻易忘记自己的名字，也不会忘记父亲的家，不会忘记怀中的妻子，不会忘记自己的子女，不会忘记吃每日的饭；然而，啊！他们却多么容易忘记那恩典之言，那本应比这一切更珍贵的东西！
Most men’s memories, especially in the great concernments of their souls, are like a sieve, where the good grain and fine flour goes through—but the light chaff and coarse bran remain behind; or like a strainer, where the sweet liquor is strained out—but the dregs left behind; or like a grate that lets the pure water run away—but if there be any straws, sticks, mud, or filth, that it holds, as it were, with iron hands.
大多数人的记忆，尤其是在关乎灵魂的重大事情上，就像一个筛子，好的谷粒和细面粉都漏掉了——只有轻糠和粗麸皮留了下来；或者像一个滤器，甜美的液体被滤掉了——只有渣滓留在后面；或者像一个格栅，让纯净的水流走了——但如果有任何稻草、木棍、泥土或污物，它就会像铁手一样紧紧抓住。
Most men’s memories are very treacherous, especially in good things; few men’s memories are a holy ark, a heavenly storehouse for their souls, and therefore they stand in the more need.
大多数人的记忆力非常不可靠，尤其是在好事上；很少有人的记忆是一个神圣的方舟，是灵魂的天国仓库，因此他们更需要这样的东西。
But,
但是，
Fourthly, Its marvelous suitableness and usefulness under these great turns and changes that have passed upon us.
第四，它在我们经历的这些重大转变和变化中表现出的奇妙适用性和实用性。
As every wise husbandman observes the fittest seasons to sow his seed—some he sows in the autumn and some in the spring of the year, some in a dry season and some in a wet, some in a moist clay and some in a sandy dry ground, Isaiah 28:25; so every spiritual husbandman must observe the fittest times to sow his spiritual seed in.
正如每个明智的农夫都会观察最适合播种的季节——有些种子他在秋天播种，有些在春天播种，有些在干旱季节播种，有些在湿润季节播种，有些在湿润的粘土中播种，有些在干燥的沙地中播种，以赛亚书28:25；同样，每个属灵的农夫也必须观察播撒属灵种子的最佳时机。
He has heavenly seed by him for all occasions and seasons, for spring and fall; for all grounds, heads, and hearts.
他手边有适合各种场合和季节的天国种子，适合春天和秋天；适合所有的土地、头脑和心灵。
Now whether the seed sown in the following treatise be not suitable to the times and seasons wherein we are cast, is left to the judgment of the prudent reader to determine; if the author had thought otherwise, this babe had been stifled in the womb.
现在，接下来这篇论文中所播撒的种子是否适合我们所处的时代和季节，就留给明智的读者来判断；如果作者认为不适合，这个婴儿就会在子宫中被扼杀。
Fifthly, The good acceptance that my other weak labors have found.
第五，我其他微不足道的作品所获得的良好接受。
God has blessed them—not only to the conviction, the edification, confirmation, and consolation of many—but also to the conversion of many, Rom. 15:21.
上帝祝福了它们——不仅使许多人得到确信、造就、坚固和安慰——而且还使许多人归信，罗马书15:21。
God is a free agent to work by what hand he pleases; and sometimes he takes pleasure to do great things by weak means, that ‘no flesh may glory in his presence.’
上帝是一个自由的代理人，可以通过他喜欢的任何方式工作；有时他喜欢通过微弱的手段成就伟大的事，使”凡有血气的，在他面前一个也不能自夸”。
God will not ‘despise the day of small things;’ and who or what are you, that dare despise that day?
上帝不会”藐视小事的日子”；你是谁，或你算什么，竟敢藐视那日子？
The Spirit breathes upon whose preaching and writing he pleases, and all prospers according as that wind blows, John 3:8.
圣灵随己意吹气在他所喜悦的人的讲道和著作上，一切都按照那风的吹动而兴旺，约翰福音3:8。
Sixthly, That all afflicted and distressed Christians may have a proper salve for every sore, a proper remedy against every disease, at hand. As every good man, so every good book is not fit to be the afflicted man’s companion; but this is.
第六，使所有受苦和痛苦的基督徒都能随时获得适当的药膏治疗每一种伤痛，适当的药方治疗每一种疾病。正如并非每个好人都适合成为受苦之人的伴侣，同样并非每本好书都适合；但这本书却是如此。
Here he may see his face, his head, his hand, his heart, his ways, his works; here he may see all his diseases discovered, and proper remedies proposed and applied.
在这里，他可以看到自己的面容、头脑、手、心灵、道路和作为；在这里，他可以看到自己所有的疾病被揭示，并有适当的治疗方法被提出和应用。
Here he may find arguments to silence him, and means to quiet him, when it is at worst with him. In every storm here he may find a tree to shelter him; and in every danger, here he may find a city of refuge to secure him; and in every difficulty, here he may have a light to guide him; and in every peril, here he may find a shield to defend him; and in every distress, here he may find a cordial to strengthen him; and in every trouble, here he may find a staff to support him.
在这里，当他处于最糟糕的境地时，他可以找到使自己平静的论据和方法。在每一场风暴中，他可以在这里找到庇护的树木；在每一种危险中，他可以在这里找到安全庇护的城市；在每一个困难中，他可以在这里找到指引的光芒；在每一种危险中，他可以在这里找到保护的盾牌；在每一种困扰中，他可以在这里找到strengthening的强心剂；在每一种麻烦中，他可以在这里找到支撑的拐杖。
Seventhly, To satisfy some bosom friends, some faithful friends. Man is made to be a friend, and apt for friendly offices.
第七，满足一些知心朋友，一些忠诚的朋友。人生来就是为了成为朋友，并适合友好的职责。
He who is not friendly is not worthy to have a friend; and he who has a friend, and does not show himself friendly, is not worthy to be accounted a man.
不友善的人不配拥有朋友；拥有朋友却不表现友善的人，不配被称为人。
Friendship is a kind of life, without which there is no comfort of a man’s life. Christian friendship ties such a knot that great Alexander cannot cut.
友谊是一种生活，没有它，人生就没有慰藉。基督徒的友谊系着一个结，就连亚历山大大帝也无法斩断。
Summer friends I value not—but winter friends are worth their weight in gold; and who can deny such anything, especially in these days, wherein real, faithful, constant friends are so rare to be found? 1 Sam. 22:1-3.
我不重视夏日朋友——但冬日朋友价值连城；谁能拒绝这样的朋友呢，尤其是在这个真诚、忠实、始终如一的朋友如此罕见的时代？撒母耳记上22:1-3。
The friendship of most men in these days is like Jonah’s gourd, now very promising and flourishing, and anon fading and withering;
如今大多数人的友谊就像约拿的葫芦,一会儿看起来很有希望、欣欣向荣,一会儿又凋零枯萎;
it is like some plants in the water, which have broad leaves on the surface of the water—but scarce any root at all;
它就像水中的某些植物,水面上有宽阔的叶子—但几乎没有根系;
their friendship is like melons, cold within, hot without;
他们的友谊就像瓜果,内里冰凉,外表炽热;
their expressions are high—but their affections are low;
他们的表达华丽—但情感浅薄;
they speak much—but do little.
他们说得多—做得少。
As drums, and trumpets, and flags in a battle make a great noise and a fine show—but do nothing;
就像战场上的鼓、号和旗帜发出巨大的声响,做出漂亮的表演—但实际上什么也没做;
so these friends will compliment highly and handsomely, speak plausibly, and promise lustily, and yet have neither a hand nor heart to do anything cordially or faithfully.
这些朋友也会高度恭维、说得头头是道、信誓旦旦地承诺,却既没有行动也没有真心去诚挚或忠诚地做任何事。
From such friends it is a mercy to be delivered, and therefore king Antigonus was used to pray to God that he would protect him from his friends;
能摆脱这样的朋友是一种恩典,因此安提柯努斯王常常祈求上帝保护他远离他的朋友;
and when one of his council asked him why he prayed so, he returned this answer, Every man will shun and defend himself against his professed enemies—but from our professed or pretended friends, of whom few are faithful, none can safe-guard himself—but has need of protection from heaven.
当他的一位顾问问他为什么这样祈祷时,他回答说,每个人都会躲避并防御自己公开的敌人—但对于那些公开或伪装的朋友,其中很少有忠诚的,没有人能保护自己—只能需要来自天堂的保护。
But for all this, there are some that are real friends, faithful friends, active friends, winter friends, bosom friends, fast friends;
尽管如此,还是有一些真正的朋友,忠诚的朋友,积极的朋友,寒冬中的朋友,知心的朋友,坚定的朋友;
and for their sakes, especially those among them that have been long, very long, under the smarting rod, and in the fiery furnace, and that have been often poured from vessel to vessel—have I once more appeared in print to the world.
为了他们,特别是那些长期、非常长期在严厉的管教下,在炽热的熔炉中,经常从一个容器倒入另一个容器的人—我再次以印刷品的形式出现在世界面前。
Eighthly and lastly, There are not any authors or author come to my hand, who have handled this subject as I have done; and therefore I do not know but it may be the more grateful and acceptable to the world; and if by this essay others that are more able shall be provoked to do more worthily upon this subject, I shall therein rejoice, 1 Thess. 1:7, 8, 1 Cor. 9:1, 2.
第八点也是最后一点，我没有见过任何作者像我这样处理这个主题；因此，我不知道它是否会更受世人的欢迎和接受；如果通过这篇文章，能激发其他更有能力的人在这个主题上做出更有价值的工作，我将为此感到欣喜，帖撒罗尼迦前书1:7, 8，哥林多前书9:1, 2。
I shall only add, that though much of the following matter was preached upon the Lord’s chastening visitations of my dear yoke-fellow, myself, and some other friends—yet there are many things of special concernment in the following tract, that yet I have not upon any accounts communicated to the world.
我只想补充一点，虽然接下来的大部分内容是在主对我亲爱的同伴、我自己和其他一些朋友的管教性造访中所宣讲的，但在接下来的论文中还有许多特别重要的事情，我尚未以任何方式向世界传达。
And thus I have given you a true and faithful account of the reasons that have prevailed with me to publish this treatise to the work, and to dedicate it to yourselves.
这样，我已经向你们真实而忠实地交代了促使我发表这篇论文并将其献给你们的原因。
II. Secondly, The second thing promised was, the giving of you a little GOOD COUNSEL, that you may so read the following discourse, as that it may turn much to your soul’s advantage; for, as many fish and catch nothing, Luke 5:5, so many read good books and get nothing, because they read them over cursorily, slightly, superficially; but he who would read to profit, must then,
二、其次，承诺的第二件事是给你们一些好建议，使你们在阅读接下来的论述时能使之对你们的灵魂大有益处；因为，正如许多人捕鱼却一无所获，路加福音5:5，许多人读好书却一无所得，因为他们读得草率、肤浅、表面；但是，想要从阅读中获益的人，必须：
First, Read and look up for a blessing—’Paul may plant, and Apollos may water,’ but all will be to no purpose, except ‘the Lord gives the increase,’ 1 Cor. 3:6, 7. God must do the deed, when all is done, or else all that is done will do you no good.
首先，阅读时仰望祝福——”保罗栽种了，亚波罗浇灌了”，但这一切都将毫无意义，除非”主叫他生长”，哥林多前书3:6, 7。当一切都完成时，必须是上帝来成就，否则所做的一切对你都没有好处。
If you would have this work successful and effectual, you must look off from man—and look up to God, who alone can make it a blessing to you. As without a blessing from heaven, your clothes cannot warm you, nor your food nourish you, nor medicine cure you, nor friends comfort you, Micah 6:14; so without a blessing from heaven, without the precious breathings and influences of the Spirit, what here is written will do you no good, it will not turn to your account in the day of Christ; therefore cast an eye heavenwards, Haggai 1:6.
如果你希望这项工作成功有效，你必须把目光从人身上移开——仰望上帝，只有祂能使之成为你的祝福。正如没有从天而来的祝福，你的衣服不能温暖你，你的食物不能滋养你，药物不能治愈你，朋友不能安慰你，弥迦书6:14；同样，没有从天而来的祝福，没有圣灵宝贵的气息和影响，这里所写的内容对你将毫无益处，在基督的日子里也不会对你有益；因此要仰望天上，哈该书1:6。
It is Seneca’s observation, that the husbandmen in Egypt never look up to heaven for rain in the time of drought—but look after the overflowing of the banks of Nile, as the only cause of their plenty.
塞内卡观察到，埃及的农夫在干旱时期从不仰望天空祈雨，而是关注尼罗河河岸的泛滥，将其视为丰收的唯一原因。
Ah, how many are there in these days, who, when they go to read a book, never look up, never look after the rain of God’s blessing—but only look to the river Nile; they only look to the wit, the learning, the arts, the parts, the eloquence, etc., of the author, they never look so high as heaven; and hence it comes to pass, that though these read much, yet they profit little.
啊，如今有多少人在阅读书籍时，从不仰望，从不寻求上帝祝福的甘霖，而只关注尼罗河；他们只看重作者的才智、学识、技巧、才能、口才等，从不将目光投向高远的天国；因此，尽管他们阅读甚多，却收益甚少。
Secondly, He who would read to profit must read and meditate.
其次，想要从阅读中获益的人必须阅读并思考。
Meditation is the food of your souls, it is the very stomach and natural heat whereby spiritual truths are digested.
冥想是你灵魂的食粮，它是消化精神真理的胃和自然热量。
A man shall as soon live without his heart, as he shall be able to get good by what he reads, without meditation.
一个人没有冥想就无法从所读之物中获益，就如同一个人没有心脏就无法生存一样。
Prayer, says Bernard, without meditation, is dry and formal; and reading without meditation is useless and unprofitable.
伯纳德说，没有冥想的祈祷是干枯而形式化的；没有冥想的阅读是无用而无益的。
He who would be a wise, a prudent, and an able experienced statesman, must not hastily ramble and run over many cities, countries, customs, laws, and manners of people, without serious musing and pondering upon such things as may make him an expert statesman; so he who would get good by reading, that would complete his knowledge, and perfect his experience in spiritual things, must not slightly and hastily ramble and run over this book or that—but ponder upon what he reads, as Mary pondered the saying of the angel in her heart.
一个想要成为明智、谨慎、能干且经验丰富的政治家的人，不能匆忙地游走于众多城市、国家、习俗、法律和人民的风俗之间，而不对那些可能使他成为专家政治家的事物进行认真的思考和沉思；同样，一个想要通过阅读获益、完善知识并在精神事物上完善经验的人，不能轻率匆忙地浏览这本书或那本书，而是要像玛丽在心中思考天使的话语一样，深思他所读的内容。
Lord! says Augustine, the more I meditate on you, the sweeter you are to me; so the more you shall meditate on the following matter, the sweeter it will be to you.
奥古斯丁说：”主啊！我越思想你，你对我就越甜美；因此，你越思想以下内容，它对你就会越甜美。”
They usually thrive best who meditate most. Meditation is a soul-fattening duty; it is a grace-strengthening duty, it is a duty-crowning duty.
那些最多冥想的人通常会茁壮成长。冥想是一项滋养灵魂的职责；是一项增强恩典的职责，是一项加冕职责的职责。
Meditation is the nurse of prayer. Jerome calls it his paradise; Basil calls it the treasury where all the graces are locked up; Theophylact calls it the very gate and portal by which we enter into glory; and Aristotle, though a heathen, places felicity in the contemplation of the mind.
冥想是祷告的护士。杰罗姆称之为他的天堂；巴西尔称之为所有恩典被锁起来的宝库；提阿非拉克特称之为我们进入荣耀的大门和入口；而亚里士多德，尽管是异教徒，也将幸福置于心灵的沉思中。
You may read much and hear much—yet without meditation you will never be excellent, you still never be eminent Christians.
你可能读很多，听很多——但如果没有冥想，你永远不会出色，你仍然永远不会成为杰出的基督徒。
Thirdly, Read, and test what you read; take nothing upon trust—but all upon trial, as those ‘noble Bereans’ did, Acts 17:to, 11.
第三，阅读，并测试你所读的；不要盲目相信——而要全部经过试验，就像那些”高贵的庇哩亚人”所做的那样，使徒行传17:10-11。
You will try and count and weigh gold, though it be handed to you by your fathers; and so should you all those heavenly truths that are handed to you by your spiritual fathers.
你会试验、计数和称量黄金，即使是你的父亲交给你的；同样，你也应该对那些由你的属灵父亲传给你的天国真理这样做。
I hope upon trial you will find nothing—but what will hold weight in the balance of the sanctuary; and though all be not gold that glitters, yet I judge that you will find nothing here to blister, that will not be found upon trial to be true gold.
我希望经过试验，你会发现没有什么——除了在圣所的天平上有分量的东西；虽然闪光的不都是金子，但我判断你在这里不会发现任何会起泡的东西，经过试验都会被证明是真金。
Fourthly, Read and do, read and practice what you read, or else all your reading will do you no good.
第四，读了就做，读了就实践你所读的，否则你所有的阅读都不会对你有好处。
He who has a good book in his hand—but not a lesson of it in his heart or life, is like that donkey that carries burdens, and feeds upon thistles.
手中有一本好书——但心中或生活中没有其中的教训的人，就像那头驴子，背负重担，却以蓟草为食。
In divine account, a man knows no more than be does. Profession without practice will but make a man twice told a child of darkness.
在神圣的计算中，一个人知道的不会超过他所做的。没有实践的职业只会让一个人变成两次被告知的黑暗之子。
To speak well is to sound like a cymbal—but to do well is to act like an angel [Isidore].
说得好就像响钹一样——但做得好就是像天使一样行事[伊西多尔]。
He who practices what he reads and understands, God will help him to understand what he understands not.
实践他所读和理解的人，上帝会帮助他理解他不理解的。
There is no fear of knowing too much, though there is much fear in practicing too little; the most doing man, shall be the most knowing man; the mightiest man in practice, will in the end prove the mightiest man in Scripture, John 7:16, 17, Psalm 119:98-100.
不用担心知道得太多，虽然实践太少会有很多恐惧；最多行的人，将成为最有知识的人；实践中最强大的人，最终将证明是圣经中最强大的人，约翰福音7:16,17，诗篇119:98-100。
Theory is the guide of practice, and practice is the life of theory.
理论是实践的指南，实践是理论的生命。
Salvian relates how the heathen did reproach some Christians, who by their lewd lives made the gospel of Christ to be a reproach.
萨尔维安讲述了异教徒如何责备一些基督徒，这些基督徒因其放荡的生活使基督的福音遭到羞辱。
‘Where,’ said they, ‘is that good law which they believe? Where are those rules of godliness which they learn? They read the holy gospel, and yet are unclean; they read the apostles’ writings, and yet live in drunkenness; they follow Christ, and yet disobey Christ; they profess a holy law, and yet lead impure lives.’
他们说：”他们所信的那良善律法在哪里？他们所学的那些敬虔规则在哪里？他们读圣经，却不洁净；他们读使徒书信，却醉生梦死；他们跟随基督，却不顺服基督；他们宣称遵守圣洁的律法，却过着不纯洁的生活。”
Ah! how may many preachers take up sad complaints against many readers in these days!
啊！如今多少传道人可能对许多读者提出悲伤的抱怨！
They read our works, and yet in their lives they deny our works; they praise our works, and yet in their lives they reproach our works; they cry up our labors in their discourses, and yet they cry them down in their practices—yet I hope better things of you into whose hands this treatise shall fall.
他们读我们的作品，却在生活中否认我们的作品；他们赞美我们的作品，却在生活中羞辱我们的作品；他们在言论中高度赞扬我们的劳作，却在行为中贬低它们——然而我希望你们这些拿到这篇论文的人会有更好的表现。
The Samaritan woman did not fill her pitcher with water, that she might talk of it—but that she might use it, John 4:7; and Rachel did not desire the mandrakes to hold in her hand—but that she might thereby be the more apt to bring forth, Gen. xxx. 15. The application is easy. But,
撒玛利亚妇人装水不是为了谈论它——而是为了使用它，约翰福音4:7；拉结渴望风茄不是为了拿在手中——而是为了更容易生育，创世记30:15。应用是简单的。但是，
Fifthly, Read and apply. Reading is but the drawing of the bow, application is the hitting of the bulls-eye.
第五，阅读并应用。阅读只是拉弓，应用才是命中靶心。
The choicest truths will no further profit you than they are applied by you.
最精选的真理如果不被你应用，就不会给你带来更多益处。
It would be as good not to read, as not to apply what you read.
不应用所读之内容，与不读无异。
No man attains to health by reading books on health—but by the practical application of their remedies.
没有人能通过阅读健康书籍获得健康——而是通过实际应用其中的治疗方法。
All the reading in the world will never make for the health of your souls—except you apply what you read.
世界上所有的阅读都不会使你的灵魂健康——除非你应用你所读的内容。
The true reason why many read so much and profit so little—is because they do not apply and bring home what they read to their own souls.
许多人读得多却收益少的真正原因是——他们没有将所读之内容应用并带回自己的灵魂中。
But,
但是，
Sixthly, and lastly, Read and pray. He who makes not conscience of praying over what he reads, will find little sweetness or profit in his reading. No man makes such earnings of his reading, as he who prays over what he reads. Luther professes that he profited more in the knowledge of the Scriptures by prayer, in a short space, than by study in a longer. As John by weeping got the sealed book open, so certainly men would gain much more than they do by reading good men’s works, if they would but pray more over what they read!
第六点，也是最后一点，阅读和祈祷。那些不以祈祷为良心来阅读的人，将在阅读中找不到多少甜美或益处。没有人能从阅读中获得如此多的收益，如同那些在阅读时祈祷的人。路德宣称，他通过短时间的祈祷在圣经知识上获益，比长时间的学习还要多。正如约翰通过哭泣打开了封印的书，如果人们在阅读好人的作品时多加祈祷，他们肯定会获得比现在多得多的收益！
Ah, Christians! pray before you read, and pray after you read, that all may be blessed and sanctified to you; when you have done reading, usually close up thus—So let me live, so let me die, that I may live eternally.
啊，基督徒们！在你们阅读之前祈祷，在你们阅读之后祈祷，使一切对你们来说都得到祝福和圣化；当你们读完后，通常这样结束——让我如此生活，如此死去，使我可以永生。
And when you are in the mount for yourselves, bear him upon your hearts, who is willing to ‘spend and be spend’ for your sakes, for your souls, 2 Cor. 12:15. Oh! pray for me, that I may more and more be under the rich influences and glorious pourings out of the Spirit; that I may ‘be an able minister of the New Testament—not of the letter—but of the Spirit,’ 2 Cor. 3:6; that I may always find an everlasting spring and an overflowing fountain within me, which may always make me faithful, constant, and abundant in the work of the Lord; and that I may live daily under those inward teachings of the Spirit, which may enable me to speak from the heart to the heart, from the conscience to the conscience, and from experience to experience; that I may be a ‘burning and a shining light,’ that everlasting arms may be still under me; that while I live, I may be serviceable to his glory and his people’s good; that no discouragements may discourage one in my work; and that when my work is done, I may give up my account with joy and not with grief.
当你们为自己在山上时，请将那位愿意为你们的缘故，为你们的灵魂”花费并被花费”的人放在心上，哥林多后书12:15。哦！请为我祷告，使我能越来越多地受到圣灵丰富影响和荣耀浇灌；使我能”作新约的执事，不是属于字句，乃是属于圣灵”，哥林多后书3:6；使我能在我里面总是找到一个永恒的泉源和一个溢流的喷泉，这泉源可以使我在主的工作中始终保持忠诚、坚定和丰盛；使我能每天生活在圣灵的内在教导之下，这教导能使我从心灵对心灵，从良知对良知，从经验对经验地说话；使我能成为一盏”燃烧并发光的灯”，使永恒的臂膀仍在我的下面；使我活着的时候，能为祂的荣耀和祂子民的益处服务；使没有任何挫折能在我的工作中使我灰心；使当我的工作完成时，我能欢欢喜喜地交账，而不是悲伤。
I shall follow these poor labors with my weak prayers, that they may contribute much to your internal and eternal welfare.
我将以我微弱的祈祷跟随这些贫乏的劳作，愿它们能为你们的内在和永恒福祉做出很大贡献。
Your soul’s servant in our dearest Lord,
Thomas Brooks.
你们灵魂的仆人，在我们最亲爱的主里，
托马斯·布鲁克斯。
Table of Contents
目录
Epistle Dedicatory
献辞
A Table showing the Principal Things in this Treatise:—
本论文主要内容一览表：—
For the opening of this point, first, there is a sevenfold silence,
首先，为阐明这一点，有七种沉默，
- What doth a prudent, a gracious, a holy silence include, shewed in eight things,
- 一种谨慎、优雅、神圣的沉默包含什么，通过八个方面展示，
- What a prudent, a holy silence under affliction doth not exclude, shewed in eight things,
- 在苦难中一种谨慎、神圣的沉默不排除什么，通过八个方面展示，
- Eight reasons why Christians must be mute and silent under their greatest afflictions, &c.,
- 基督徒在最大的苦难中必须保持缄默和沉默的八个理由，等等，
Use. This truth looks sourly upon five sorts of persons,
用途。这个真理对五类人显得不友善，
Six considerations to prevent men from using sinful shifts and courses to deliver themselves out of their afflictions, &c.,
六点考虑，以防止人们使用罪恶的手段和方法来摆脱苦难，等等，
Twelve considerations to prevail with Christians to be mute and silent under the sharpest afflictions that they meet with in this world, &c.,
十二点考虑，使基督徒在面对这世界最严酷的苦难时保持缄默和沉默，等等，
The heinous and dangerous nature of murmuring, discovered in twelve particulars,
抱怨的恶劣和危险本质，通过十二个细节揭示，
Obj. 1. Did I but know that my afflictions were in love, I would be quiet, I would hold my peace, &c., answered eight ways,
反对1. 如果我知道我的苦难是出于爱，我就会平静，我就会保持沉默，等等，以八种方式回答，
Obj. 2. The Lord hath smitten me in my nearest and dearest comforts and contentments, and how then can I hold my peace? Answered twelve ways,
反对2. 主已经击打了我最亲近和最珍贵的安慰和满足，那么我怎能保持沉默？以十二种方式回答，
Obj. 3. Oh! but my afflictions, my troubles, have been long upon me, and how can I hold my peace? Answered ten ways,
反对3. 哦！但我的苦难，我的困扰，已经长期困扰着我，我怎能保持沉默？以十种方式回答，
Obj. 4. I would be mute and silent under my afflictions, but they daily multiply and increase upon me, &c., how then can I be silent? Answered eight ways,
反对4. 我愿在苦难中保持缄默和沉默，但它们每天都在增加和加重，等等，那么我怎能保持沉默？以八种方式回答，
Obj. 5. My afflictions are very great, how then can I hold my peace? &c. Answered six ways,
反对5. 我的苦难非常巨大，那么我怎能保持沉默？等等。以六种方式回答，
Obj. 6. Oh! but my afflictions are greater than other men’s, &c., how then can I be silent? Answered six ways,
反对6. 哦！但我的苦难比其他人的更大，等等，那么我怎能保持沉默？以六种方式回答，
Obj. 7. I would hold my peace, but my outward afflictions are attended with sore temptations, &c., how then can I be silent? Answered five ways; wherein eight advantages are discovered that saints gain by their temptations,
反对7. 我愿意保持沉默，但我的外在苦难伴随着严重的诱惑，等等，那么我怎能保持沉默？以五种方式回答；其中揭示了圣徒通过诱惑获得的八种优势，
Obj. 8. Oh! but God hath deserted me, he hath forsaken me, and hid his face from me, &c., how can I then be silent? Answered six ways; also eight advantages the saints gain by their being clouded,
反对8. 哦！但上帝已经抛弃了我，他已经离弃我，向我掩面，等等，那么我怎能保持沉默？以六种方式回答；还有圣徒被蒙蔽时获得的八种优势，
Obj. 9. Oh! but I am falsely accused and sadly charged, and reproached in my good name, &c., how then can I be silent? Answered ten ways,
反对9. 哦！但我被错误地指责，悲惨地受到控告，我的好名声受到诽谤，等等，那么我怎能保持沉默？以十种方式回答，
Obj. 10. I have sought the Lord in this my affliction for this and that mercy, and still the Lord delays me, and puts me off, &c., how can I then hold my peace? How can I be silent? &c. Answered six ways,
反对10. 我在这苦难中寻求主的这样那样的怜悯，但主仍在拖延，推脱我，等等，那么我怎能保持沉默？我怎能保持沉默？等等。以六种方式回答，
Quest. But what are the reasons that God doth so delay and put off his people? Answered seven ways,
问题。但上帝为什么如此拖延和推脱他的子民？以七种方式回答，
Directions. What are the means that may help persons to be silent and quiet under their greatest afflictions, their sharpest trials? &c. Answered from
指导。在最大的苦难和最严酷的考验下，有什么方法可以帮助人保持沉默和平静？等等。回答来自