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This Book is the most valuable thing the world affords!
这本书是世界上最宝贵的东西！
(J.C. Ryle, “Light from Old Times” 1902) LISTEN to audio! Download audio
(J.C. Ryle，《往昔之光》1902年) 收听音频！下载音频
(You will find it helpful to listen to the audio above, as you read the text below.)
(在阅读下面的文本时，您会发现听上面的音频会有帮助。)
The good that was done by the Bible will probably never be known until the last day. But I shall never hesitate to assert that if there is any one fact more incontrovertibly proved than another it is this: that the possession by a people of the Bible in their own language is the greatest possible national blessing.
圣经所带来的益处可能直到最后审判日才会被完全知晓。但我毫不犹豫地断言，如果有一个事实比其他任何事实都更无可辩驳地得到证明，那就是：一个民族拥有用自己语言写成的圣经，是最大的国家祝福。
Which are the countries where the greatest amount of ignorance, superstition, immorality, and tyranny is to be found at this very moment? The countries in which the Bible is a forbidden or neglected book-such countries as Italy and Spain, and the South American countries.
此刻，哪些国家存在最多的无知、迷信、不道德和暴政？那些禁止或忽视圣经的国家——比如意大利、西班牙和南美国家。
Which are the countries where liberty, and public and private morality have attained the highest pitch? The countries where the Bible is free to all, like England, Scotland, and the United States.
哪些国家的自由、公共和私人道德达到了最高水平？那些圣经对所有人开放的国家，如英格兰、苏格兰和美国。
Yes! when you know how a nation deals with the Bible, you may generally know what a nation is. O that the rulers of some nations did but know that a free Bible is the grand secret of national prosperity; and that the surest way to make subjects orderly and obedient, is to allow a free passage to the living waters of God’s Word! O that the people of some countries did but see that a free Bible is the beginning of all real freedom, and that the first liberty they should seek after, is liberty to have a Bible in every house, and a Bible in every hand! Well said Hooper, “A king on earth has no greater friend than the Bible.” It is a striking fact, that when British Sovereigns are crowned, they are publicly presented with the Bible, and told, “This Book is the most valuable thing the world affords!”
是的！当你知道一个国家如何对待圣经时，你通常就能知道这个国家是什么样的。哦，但愿一些国家的统治者知道，自由的圣经是国家繁荣的伟大秘诀；使臣民有序和服从的最可靠方法，就是允许上帝之道的活水自由流通！哦，但愿一些国家的人民看到，自由的圣经是所有真正自由的开始，他们应该追求的第一个自由，就是每个家庭都有一本圣经，每个人手中都有一本圣经的自由！胡珀说得好，”地上的国王没有比圣经更好的朋友。”一个引人注目的事实是，当英国君主加冕时，他们会公开被赠予圣经，并被告知，”这本书是世界上最宝贵的东西！”
This is the book on which the well-being of nations has always hinged, and with which the best interests of every nation in Christendom at this moment are inseparably bound up. Just in proportion as the Bible is honored or not:
这是一本一直关系到国家福祉的书，此刻基督教世界每个国家的最佳利益都与之密不可分。正是按照圣经受尊重与否的程度：
light, or darkness,
光明，或黑暗，
morality, or immorality,
道德，或不道德，
true religion, or superstition,
真宗教，或迷信，
liberty, or despotism,
自由，或专制，
good laws, or bad laws
良法，或恶法
-will be found in a land.
-将在一个国家中被发现。
Which are the Churches on earth which are producing the greatest effect on mankind? The Churches in which the Bible is exalted.
世上哪些教会对人类产生最大影响？那些高举圣经的教会。
Which are the parishes in England and Scotland where religion and morality have the strongest hold? The parishes in which the Bible is most circulated and read.
在英格兰和苏格兰，哪些教区的宗教和道德最为牢固？那些圣经流通和阅读最广泛的教区。
Who are the ministers in England who have the most real influence over the minds of the people? Those who are faithfully preaching the Word.
在英格兰，哪些牧师对人民的思想有最真实的影响？那些忠实传讲圣道的人。
A Church which does not honor the Bible is as useless as a body without life, or a steam engine without fire.
一个不尊崇圣经的教会就像一具没有生命的躯体，或是一台没有火的蒸汽机一样毫无用处。
A minister who does not honor the Bible is as useless as . . .
一个不尊崇圣经的牧师就像……一样毫无用处
a soldier without weapons,
一个没有武器的士兵，
a builder without tools,
一个没有工具的建筑工人，
a pilot without a compass,
一个没有指南针的飞行员，
a messenger without tidings.
一个没有消息的信使。
This is the book to which the civilized world is indebted for many of its best and most praiseworthy institutions. Few probably are aware how many are the good things that men have adopted for the public benefit, of which the origin may be clearly traced up to the Bible. It has left lasting marks wherever it has been received.
这是一本文明世界欠它许多最好和最值得称赞的制度的书。可能很少有人意识到，人们为公众利益而采用的许多好东西，其起源可以明确追溯到圣经。无论它在哪里被接受，都留下了持久的印记。
From the Bible are drawn many of the best laws by which society is kept in order.
许多维持社会秩序的最佳法律都源自圣经。
From the Bible has been obtained the standard of morality about truth, honesty, and the relations of man and wife, which prevails among Christian nations, and which-however feebly respected in many cases, makes so great a difference between Christians and heathen.
从圣经中获得了关于真理、诚实以及夫妻关系的道德标准，这些标准在基督教国家中盛行，尽管在许多情况下受到的尊重不够，但它们造成了基督徒和异教徒之间如此巨大的差异。
To the influence of the Bible we owe nearly every humane and charitable institution in existence. The sick, the poor, the aged, the orphan, the lunatic, the insane, the blind-were seldom or never thought of before the Bible leavened the world. You may search in vain for any record of institutions for their aid in the histories of Athens or of Rome.
我们几乎所有现存的人道主义和慈善机构都归功于圣经的影响。在圣经影响世界之前，病人、穷人、老人、孤儿、精神病患者、疯子、盲人很少或从未被考虑过。你可能会徒劳地在雅典或罗马的历史中寻找任何为他们提供援助的机构记录。
Alas, many sneer at the Bible, and say the world would get on well enough without it-who little think how great are their own obligations to the Bible. Little does the infidel think, as he lies sick in some of our great hospitals, that he owes all his present comforts to the very Book he affects to despise. Had it not been for the Bible, he might have died in misery, uncared for, unnoticed, and alone!
唉，许多人嘲笑圣经，说没有它世界也会过得很好——他们很少想到自己对圣经的义务有多大。当不信教者躺在我们某些大医院里生病时，他很少想到，他现在所享受的所有舒适都归功于他假装鄙视的那本书。如果不是因为圣经，他可能已经在痛苦中死去，无人照顾，无人注意，孤独一人！
Truly, the world we live in is fearfully unconscious of its debts to the Bible. The last day alone, I believe, will tell the full amount of benefit conferred upon it by the Bible.
诚然，我们生活的这个世界可怕地没有意识到它对圣经的亏欠。我相信，只有最后一天才能告诉我们圣经给予它的全部益处。