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To the Christian Reader
致基督徒读者
It is the great unhappiness of our age, that the greatest part of men busy themselves most, in that which concerns them least.
我们这个时代最大的不幸是，大部分人最忙于那些与他们关系最少的事情。
Look among rich and poor, high and low, young and old—and see whether it appears by the whole scope of their lives, that they set their hearts more on the world, than Christ and his salvation.
请看富人与穷人，高位者与低位者，年轻人与老年人——看看他们一生的全部范围是否显示出，他们更看重世界，而不是基督和祂的救恩。
Just so that they may have but some of the earth in their hands—they care for nothing of heaven in their hearts!
他们只要手中能拥有一些地上的东西——就对心中拥有天上的东西毫不在意！
But gold can no more fill their hearts—than grace their purses!
然而，黄金填不满他们的心——就像恩典（grace）填不满他们的钱包一样！
Most people are like that silly woman, that when her house was on fire, so minded the saving of her goods, that she left her child roaring in the flames!
大多数人就像那个愚蠢的女人，当她家着火时，她一心想着抢救她的财物，竟把孩子留在火焰中哭喊！
At last remembering it, she cries out, “Oh! my child, my child!”
最后想起来时，她才大喊：“哦！我的孩子，我的孩子！”
Just so, there are many who drop into perdition, merely for a little wealth!
同样，有许多人仅仅为了少许财富，就跌入沉沦（perdition）！
There are many who are temporally miserable—who are eternally happy!
有许多人在今世（temporally）是悲惨的——他们将在永恒中是幸福的！
And there are many who are temporally happy—who shall be eternally miserable!
又有许多人在今世是幸福的——他们将在永恒中是悲惨的！
Oh! there is a great vanity—in all worldly excellencies!
噢！在所有世俗的卓越（excellencies）中，存在着极大的虚妄（vanity）！
The world is big in our hopes—but little in our hands.
世界在我们的希望中是巨大的——但在我们手中却是微小的。
It cannot satisfy the senses of men—much less their precious souls!
它不能满足人的感官——更不用说他们宝贵的灵魂了！
Dear Christians, according to my talents received, I have endeavored to set forth the riches, the loveliness, the preciousness and excellencies that are in Christ—to draw your heart after him, and to make you desire and love him.
亲爱的基督徒们，根据我所领受的恩赐（talents），我已努力阐明基督里的丰盛、可爱、宝贵和卓越——以吸引你们的心归向祂，使你们渴望和爱祂。
Oh! Jesus Christ is a fountain of life, light, love, grace, glory, comfort, joy, goodness and sweetness; always full and flowing, yes, overflowing!
噢！耶稣基督（Jesus Christ）是生命、光、爱、恩典、荣耀、安慰、喜乐、良善和甘甜的源泉（fountain）；祂总是充满、涌流，是的，溢流而出！
Paul was so much captivated by Christ—that he was ever in his thoughts, ever near his heart, and ever upon his tongue!
保罗如此被基督所俘获（captivated）——以至于祂一直在他的思想中，一直在他的心旁，一直在他的舌尖上！
Oh! that our hearts and thoughts were thus busied about, and taken up with Christ, and those treasures of wisdom and knowledge which are in him.
噢！愿我们的心和思想也如此被基督，以及在祂里面的智慧和知识的宝藏所占据和忙碌！
The design of this piece is not the ostentation of the author—but the edification of the reader.
这部作品的目的不是作者的炫耀（ostentation）——而是读者的造就（edification）。
Though the author is contemptible—yet the matter is comfortable.
虽然作者是可轻视的——但主题是令人欣慰的。
I hope none will blow out such a candle, by the light of which they may see the way to heaven.
我希望没有人会吹灭这样一支蜡烛，借着它的光，他们可以看到通往天堂（heaven）的路。
If God had given more spiritual matter to me—I would have given more out to you.
如果上帝给了我更多的属灵内容（spiritual matter）——我就会向你们付出更多。
If God may have glory, and the Church edification by these labors of mine—I shall have my end.
如果上帝能因此得到荣耀，而教会能因我这些劳苦得到造就——我就达到了我的目的。
Now my prayer for you is, that the gracious God may bring your heart more and more in love with Christ, who is altogether lovely—that shortly you may enjoy endless felicity in his loving bosom!
现在我为你们的祷告是，愿这位满有恩典的上帝使你们的心越来越爱基督，祂是全然可爱的——愿你们不久后就能在祂慈爱的怀中享受无尽的福乐（felicity）！
Short Excerpt from the book
书中的简短摘录
“Learn from Me–for I am gentle and humble in heart.” Matthew 11:29
“你们当学我的样式；因为我心里柔和谦卑。”《马太福音》11:29
Learn humility–from Christ’s humility.
向基督的谦卑学习谦卑。
For lack of humility–some angels became devils!
因为缺乏谦卑——一些天使变成了魔鬼！
Proud sinners are fit companions, for none but proud devils!
骄傲的罪人适合的同伴，除了骄傲的魔鬼，别无他人！
When men glory in their pride–God stains the pride of their glory!
当人以自己的骄傲为荣时——上帝就会玷污（stains）他们荣耀的骄傲！
“The Lord Almighty planned it–to stain the pride of all glory, and to humble all who are renowned on the earth.” Isaiah 23:9
“这是万军之耶和华所定的，为要玷污一切的骄傲，和所有地上有名望的人。”《以赛亚书》23:9
The most lowly Christian–is the most lovely Christian!
最谦卑的基督徒——是最可爱的基督徒！
A believer is like a vessel in the sea: the more it fills–the more it sinks!
信徒就像海中的船只：它装得越多——就沉得越低！
None live so humble on earth–as those who live highest in heaven.
没有人像那些在天堂中生活最高的人那样，在地上活得如此谦卑。
See how one of the best of saints looks upon himself–as one of the least of saints, “Unto me who am less than the least of all saints,” said the great Paul in Ephesians 3:8.
看一位最优秀的圣徒如何看待自己——如同圣徒中最微小的，“我本来比众圣徒中最小的还小，”伟大的保罗在《以弗所书》3:8中说。
The most holy men–are always the most lowly men.
最圣洁（holy）的人——总是最谦卑（lowly）的人。
Where humility is the corner-stone, there piety is the top-stone.
哪里有谦卑作房角石，哪里就有敬虔（piety）作顶石。
The coat of humility–should always be worn on the back of Christianity.
谦卑的外衣——应该始终穿在基督教（Christianity）的背上。
“Clothe yourselves with humility.” 1 Peter 5:5
“以谦卑束腰。”《彼得前书》5:5
God Almighty has two houses in which He dwells: His city-house, and His country-house.
全能的上帝有两座祂居住的房屋：祂的城市房屋，和祂的乡村房屋。
His city-house is the heaven of heavens; and His country-house is the humble and lowly heart!
祂的城市房屋是天上的天（heaven of heavens）；祂的乡村房屋是谦逊（humble）和卑微（lowly）的心！
Isaiah 57:15, “I dwell in the high and holy place,” that is, in heaven, God’s city-house; “and also with him who is of a contrite and humble spirit,” that is God’s country-house.
《以赛亚书》57:15：“我住在至高至圣的所在，”那就是天堂，上帝的城市房屋；“也与心里痛悔谦卑的人同居，”那就是上帝的乡村房屋。
Humility is a ‘Bethel’ for God’s dwelling-place!
谦卑是上帝居所的“伯特利”（Bethel）！
Pride is a ‘Babel’ for the devil’s residence!
骄傲是魔鬼居所的“巴别”（Babel）！
If you do not keep pride out of your soul, and your soul out of pride–pride will keep your soul out of heaven!
如果你不将骄傲排除在你的灵魂之外，不让你的灵魂远离骄傲——骄傲就会将你的灵魂排除在天堂之外！
I will not say, that a poor man is never proud–but I will say, that a proud man is never godly.
我不会说一个穷人永不骄傲——但我会说一个骄傲的人永不敬虔（godly）。
James 4:16, “God resists the proud–but gives grace to the humble.”
《雅各书》4:16：“上帝阻挡骄傲的人——却赐恩典给谦卑的人。”
The face of piety–shines brightest through the mask of humility.
敬虔的容貌——通过谦卑的面具照耀得最明亮。
“Clothe yourselves with humility.”
“以谦卑束腰。”
Of all garments, humility best fits Christians, and best adorns their profession.
在所有衣裳中，谦卑最适合基督徒，也最能装饰他们的信仰告白（profession）。
A Christian should look with one eye upon God’s grace–to keep him thankful; and with the other eye upon himself–to keep him mournful.
基督徒应该用一只眼睛注视上帝的恩典——使祂保持感恩；用另一只眼睛注视自己——使祂保持哀恸（mournful）。
When you begin to grow proud of your glistening feathers–look down upon your black feet!
当你开始因你闪亮的羽毛而骄傲时——请向下看看你黑色的脚！
Revelation 4:10, “The twenty-four elders fall down before the throne, and cast down their crowns before Him who sits on the throne.”
《启示录》4:10：“那二十四位长老就俯伏在坐宝座的面前，把他们的冠冕投在坐在宝座前的祂面前。”
The only way of keeping our crowns on our heads–is the casting them down at Christ’s feet!
将我们的冠冕戴在头上的唯一方法——就是将它们扔在基督的脚下！
Alas! sirs–what are you proud of?
唉！先生们——你们骄傲的是什么？
Are you proud . . .
你是否骄傲……
of your riches,
你的财富，
of your honors,
你的尊荣，
of your relations,
你的关系（relations），
of your beauty,
你的美丽，
of your strength?
你的力量？
Alas! alas! these are poor base things to boast in!
唉！唉！这些都是贫乏卑微（base）不值得夸耀（boast in）的东西！
Oh, go to the graves of those who have died before you.
哦，去那些在你之前死去的人的坟墓吧。
Are not their bones scattered, their eyes rotted, their flesh consumed, their mouth corrupted!
他们的骨头难道不是散落的，他们的眼睛难道不是腐烂的，他们的肉体难道不是消逝的，他们的嘴巴难道不是败坏的吗！
Where now are their ruddy lips, their lovely cheeks, their fluent tongue, their sparkling eyes, their flowing hair?
他们红润的嘴唇、可爱的脸颊、流利的舌头、闪烁的眼睛、飘逸的头发，现在在哪里呢？
Are they not all gone,如同一场梦！
它们难道不像一场梦一样，都消失了吗！
And where will you be before long?
而你不久后会在哪里呢？
And will you be proud of these things?
你还会为这些事情感到骄傲吗？
“I hate pride and arrogance!” Proverbs 8:13
“我恨恶骄傲、狂妄！”《箴言》8:13
“He is able to humble those who walk in pride!” Daniel 4:37
“祂能使那些行事骄傲的人降卑！”《但以理书》4:37