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(Thomas Watson, “The Christian Soldier” 1669)
(托马斯·华森,《基督徒战士》1669年)
Meditation is a holy exercise of the mind; whereby we bring the truths of God to remembrance—and seriously ponder upon them and apply them to ourselves.
默想是一种神圣的心智操练,藉此我们将上帝的真理带入记忆中——并认真思考这些真理,将其应用于自己。
It is a work which cannot be done in a crowd. A Christian must retire from the world, to have serious thinking upon God.
这是一项无法在人群中完成的工作。基督徒必须从世界中退隐,才能专心思想上帝。
It is not a few transient thoughts that are quickly gone; but a fixing and staying of the mind upon heavenly objects.
这不是几个转瞬即逝的想法,而是将心思固定并停留在属天事物上。
As the bee sucks the honey from the flower—so by meditation we suck out the sweetness of a truth.
正如蜜蜂从花中吸取蜂蜜——我们也通过默想从真理中吸取甘甜。
It is not the receiving of food into the mouth, but the digesting of it, which makes it nutritious. Just so, it is not the receiving of the most excellent truths in the ear, which nourishes our souls—but the digesting of them by meditation.
不是将食物放入口中,而是消化食物才能获得营养。同样,不是用耳朵接受最优美的真理能滋养我们的灵魂——而是通过默想来消化这些真理。
Satan does what he can to hinder this duty. He is an enemy of meditation. The devil does not care not how much we read—so long as we do not meditate on what we read.
撒但竭尽所能阻碍这项职责。他是默想的敌人。魔鬼不在乎我们读多少——只要我们不去默想所读的内容。
Reading begets knowledge—but meditation begets devotion. “Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long.” Psalm 119:97
阅读产生知识——但默想产生虔诚。”我何等爱慕你的律法,终日不住地思想。”诗篇119:97
Holy meditation quickens the affections. The reason why our affections are so cold to heavenly things—is because we do not warm them at the fire of holy meditation. As the musing on worldly objects makes the fire of lust burn; and as the musing on injuries makes the fire of revenge burn; just so, meditating on the transcendent beauties of Christ, would make our love to Christ flame forth.
圣洁默想能激发情感。我们对天上事物情感冷淡的原因在于我们没有在圣洁默想的火焰中温暖它们。正如思考世俗之物会点燃情欲之火,思考伤害会点燃报复之火;同样,默想基督超凡的美善,会使我们对基督的爱熊熊燃烧。
Meditation has a transforming power in it. The reading of the Word may affect us—but the meditating upon it transforms us. Meditation stamps the impression of divine truths upon our hearts. By meditating on God’s holiness, we grow holy. While by meditation we look upon God’s purity—we are changed into His likeness.
默想具有转化的力量。阅读圣言可能影响我们,但默想圣言则转变我们。默想将神圣真理的印记刻在我们心中。通过默想上帝的圣洁,我们变得圣洁。当我们通过默想注视上帝的纯洁时,我们就变成祂的样式。
Meditation produces reformation. “I have considered my ways and have turned my steps to your statutes.” Psalm 119:59. If we would spend but one quarter of an hour every day in contemplating heavenly objects, it would leave a mighty impression upon us!
默想带来改变。”我思想我所行的道,就转步归向你的法度。”诗篇119:59。如果我们每天只用十五分钟思想天上的事物,它就会在我们身上留下强大的印记!
We have completed the electronic publishing of Thomas Watson’s “The Christian Soldier“. This 100 page book on the Christian life, is both challenging and practical.
我们已完成托马斯·沃森所著《基督徒战士》的电子出版。这本关于基督徒生活的百页著作既具有挑战性又富有实用价值。