愛德華滋的立志Resolutions
作者: Jonathan Edwards 譯者: 謝秉德
「我深知沒有神的扶助,凡事都不能做,所以我虛心懇求神施恩,使我對以下所立凡與祂的旨意相符之志願,都能保守貫徹,奉基督的名。」
Being
sensible that I am unable to do anything without God’s help, I do humbly
entreat him by his grace to enable me to keep these resolutions, so far as they
are agreeable to his will, for Christ’s sake.
「我每週一次,誦讀下面所立的志願。」
Remember to read over these resolutions once a week.
01.立定志願,凡我心中認為最能榮耀神,且於我自身有益的,我必終生力行,不拘是在現在,或是在無窮的將來。我決心力行我所認定的天職,為全人類謀幸福。無論遭遇任何困難,即使挫折繁多而艱巨,我亦決心如此行。
1.
Resolved, that I will do whatsoever I think to be most to God’s glory and to my
own good, profit, and pleasure, in the whole of my duration, without any
consideration of the time, whether now or never so many myriads of ages hence.
Resolved to do whatever I think to be my duty, and most for the good and
advantage of mankind in general. Resolved to do this, whatever difficulties I
meet with, how ever so many and how ever so great.
02.立定志願,不斷努力,以求獲得新方法、新計劃,來推進上面所立的志願。
2.
Resolved, to be continually endeavoring to find out some new invention and
contrivance to promote the forementioned things.
03.立定志願,若是我跌倒消沉,以致對志願任何部分未予遵守,當我醒悟過來時,我必盡我所能追憶的盡力悔過。
3.
Resolved, if ever I shall fall and grow dull, so as to neglect to keep any part
of these resolutions, to repent of all I can remember, when I come to myself
again.
04.立定志願,凡事除非是為求歸榮耀於神,我就無論是在身體上還是在心靈上,都決不有所作為,只要我能避免,我既不贊成它,也不容忍它。
4.
Resolved, never to do any manner of thing, whether in soul or body, less or
more, but what tends to the glory of God; nor be, nor suffer it, if I can
possibly avoid it.
05.立定志願,決不浪費寸陰,必盡我所能,以極有益的方法利用光陰。
5.
Resolved, never to lose one moment of time; but improve it the most profitable
way I possibly can.
06.立定志願,趁我一息尚存,必定盡量去努力生活。
6.
Resolved, to live with all my might, while I do live.
07.立定志願,決不做那若在最後一息所不敢做的事。
7.
Resolved, never to do anything that I should be afraid to do if it were the
last hour of my life.
08.立定志願,在一切的言行上,總要表示世上好像無人如我一樣卑下;又好像自己與別人犯了同樣的罪,有同樣的軟弱與失敗;我見別人失敗,必須不感到別的,只感到慚愧,以之作為自己向神悔罪的機會。
8.
Resolved, to act, in all respects, both speaking and doing, as if nobody had
been so vile as I, and as if I had committed the same sins, or had the same
infirmities or failings as others; and to let the knowledge of their failings
promote nothing but shame in myself, and prove only an occasion of my
confessing my own sins and misery to God.
09.立定志願,隨時多想到自己的死,和死時的一般情形。
9.
Resolved, to think much on all occasions of my own dying, and of the common
circumstances which attend death.
10.立定志願,當我有痛苦時,要想到殉道和地獄的痛苦。
10.
Resolved, when I feel pain, to think of the pains of martyrdom and of hell.
11.立定志願,當我想到神學上須待解答的問題時,就盡力去求解答,只要情形不予阻擋的話。
11.
Resolved, when I think of any theorem in divinity to be solved, immediately to
do what I can toward solving it, if circumstances don’t hinder.
12.立定志願,若我解答神學問題,是為求滿足驕傲或虛榮,我就要立刻將之擱置。
12.
Resolved, if I take delight in it as a gratification of pride or vanity or on
any such account, immediately to throw it by.
13.立定志願,勉力去求發現推行仁愛的恰當對象。
13.
Resolved, to be endeavoring to find out fit objects of charity and liberality.
14.立定志願,決不存報復的心行事。
14.
Resolved, never to do anything out of revenge.
15.立定志願,決不向無理性之物,動絲毫忿怒。
15.
Resolved, never to suffer the least motions of anger to irrational beings.
16.立定志願,除非對人真有好處,決不道人之惡,以免多少使之受辱。
16.
Resolved, never to speak evil of anyone, so that it shall tend to his dishonor,
more or less, upon no account except for some real good.
17.立定志願,決心如此做人,好當我臨死時可以覺得一生所行,乃照著那時以為重要的行了。
17.
Resolved, that I will live so as I shall wish I had done when I come to die.
18.立定志願,一生過活,當照著我最敬虔的心境所認為最美之事,又照著對福音及來生之事所有最清楚的觀點。
18.
Resolved, to live so at all times as I think is best in my devout frames, and
when I have clearest notions of things of the gospel and another world.
19.立定志願,決不做那若在一小時內聽到最後的號聲吹響就不敢做的事。
19.
Resolved, never to do anything that I should be afraid to do if I expected it
would not be above an hour before I should hear the last trump.
20.立定志願,在飲食上,嚴守節制。
20.
Resolved, to maintain the strictest temperance in eating and drinking
21.立定志願,決不做那若在別人身上看見就以為有理由鄙棄他,或以他為卑鄙的事。
21.
Resolved, never to do anything that, if I should see it in another, I should
count a just occasion to despise him for, or think any way the more meanly of
him.
22.立定志願,奮勉盡量求天上的福樂,就我所能想到的,用全副精神、能力、勇氣並熱忱努力以赴。
22.
Resolved, to endeavor to obtain for myself as much happiness in the other world
as I possibly can, with all the power might vigor and vehemence, yea violence,
I am capable of, or can bring myself to exert in any way that can be thought
of.
23.立定志願,若是我有意做的事,在表面上似乎不是為榮耀神做的,我就要時常加以省察,追索其原來的動機、計劃和目的;倘若我發現它不是為榮耀神,我就要把它擯棄,因它違反了我的第4項志願。
23.
Resolved, frequently to take some deliberate action that seems most unlikely to
be done, for the glory of God, and trace it back to the original intention,
designs, and ends of it; and if I find it not to be for God’s glory, to repute
it as a breach of the 4th resolution.
24.立定志願,每當我顯然有惡行時,即刻決心追究最初的原因;然後我要小心謹慎,以免重蹈覆轍,而且盡力祈禱、竭力抵抗那最初的原因。
24.
Resolved, whenever I do any conspicuously evil action, to trace it back till I
come to the original cause; and then both carefully endeavor to do so no more,
and to fight and pray with all my might against the original of it.
25.立定志願,常常謹慎省察,看有什麼事,使我心中稍微懷疑神的愛,然後盡力加以抵制。
25.
Resolved, to examine carefully and constantly what that one thing in me is that
causes me in the least to doubt the love of God; and so direct all my forces
against it.
26.立定志願,拋棄那些被我發現足以減損我信心的事。
26.
Resolved, to cast away such things as I find do abate my assurance.
27.立定志願,決不任意疏忽任何事,除非我認為疏忽,是為榮耀神;我對這些疏忽,要隨時加以省察。
27.
Resolved, never willfully to omit anything unless the omission is for the glory
of God; and frequently to examine my omissions.
28.立定志願,決心恆常不斷地查考《聖經》,直到我發現自己在《聖經》的知識上,實在進步了。
28.
Resolved, to study the Scriptures so steadily, constantly, and frequently that
I may find, and plainly perceive myself to grow in the knowledge of them.
29.立定志願,絕不將自己不能指望神應許的禱告,或禱告中任何那樣的祈求,算為禱告;也不將自己所不能指望神接受的認罪,認為是對神認罪。
29.
Resolved, never to count that a prayer, nor to let that pass as a prayer or as
a petition of a prayer, which is so made that I cannot hope that God will
answer it; nor that as a confession, which I cannot hope God will accept.
30.立定志願,每週必比前一週在靈性上進步,也在領受神的恩典上進步。
30.
Resolved, to strive to my utmost every week to be brought higher in religion,
and to a higher exercise of grace, than I was the week before.
31.立定志願,決不說任何反對人的話,除非所說的話,完全與基督徒的光榮和愛人的心相符,也與最謙卑的心及自己有過失之感相符;而且與《聖經》經句相符;每當我說過什麼反對人的話,便必用此志願來嚴格加以審查。
31.
Resolved, never to say anything at all against anybody, but when it is
perfectly agreeable to the highest degree of Christian honor and of love to
mankind, agreeable to the lowest humility and a sense of my own faults and
failings, and agreeable to the Golden Rule; often, when I have said anything
against anyone, to bring it to, and try it strictly by, the test of this
resolution.
32.立定志願,對人所托付的事,嚴守忠信,使《箴言》第20章第6節所稱:「忠信人誰能遇著呢?」的話,不至於部分應驗在我身上。
32.
Resolved, to be strictly and firmly faithful to my trust, that that in Proverbs
20:6, “A faithful man who can find?” may not be partly fulfilled in me.
33.立定志願,常常盡力謀求並保持和平,只要是不至在其他方面發生得不償失的損害。
33.
Resolved, always to do what I can towards making, maintaining, and preserving
peace, when it can be without over-balancing detriment in other respects.
34.立定志願,在言談中,只說純粹樸實的真理。
34.
Resolved, in narrations never to speak anything but the pure and simple verity.
35.立定志願,當我懷疑自己是否盡了本分,以致內心不安時,我就必記下這疑問和解決的方法。
35.
Resolved, whenever I so much question whether I have done my duty that my quiet
and calm is thereby disturbed, to set it down, and also how the question was
resolved.
36.立定志願,決不道人之惡,除非心中有特別的感召。
36.
Resolved, never to speak evil of any, except I have some particular good call
for it.
37.立定志願,在每晚臨睡時,省察我在何事上有疏忽:我犯了什麼罪,或在何事上沒有自制;同樣,在每週、每月、每年終結時,也必如此省察。
37.
Resolved, to inquire every night, as I am going to bed, wherein I have been
negligent, what sin I have committed, and wherein I have denied myself; also to
inquire so at the end of every week, month, and year.
38.立定志願,每逢安息日,決不說嬉笑的話。
38.
Resolved, never to speak anything that is sportive or a matter of laughter on
the Lord’s day.
39.立定志願,決不做任何心中對其合法性發生疑問,以致自己有意在後來對其合法性加以考慮之事;除非我覺得若不做那事,也會同樣發生是否合法的疑問。
39.
Resolved, never to do anything that I so much question the lawfulness of, as
that I intend, at the same time, to consider and examine afterwards whether it
be lawful or not: unless I as much question the lawfulness of the omission.
40.立定志願,每晚臨睡前必省察,我在飲食上是否有最好的禮貌。
40.
Resolved, to inquire every night, before I go to bed, whether I have acted in
the best way I possibly could, with respect to eating and drinking.
41.立定志願,每日、每週、每月和每年之終,審問自己,在任何方面,是否能做得更好一些。
41.
Resolved, to ask myself at the end of every day, week, month, and year, wherein
I could possibly in any respect have done better.
42.立定志願,常常將自己重新獻給神。這願是我受洗時別人代我許過的,也是我後來自己加入教會領受聖餐時重新莊嚴許過的。
42.
Resolved, frequently to renew the dedication of myself to God, which was made
at my baptism; which I solemnly renewed when I was received into the communion
of the church; and which I have solemnly remade this 12th day of January 1723.
43.立定志願,今後至死,行事為人,決不以為我是屬乎自己的,而是完全屬乎神的,好與我在1723年1月12日所立的志願相符。
43.
Resolved, never henceforward till I die, to act as if I were any way my own,
but to act entirely and altogether as God’s, agreeable to what is to be found
in Saturday, Jan. 12.
44.立定志願,除敬虔目的以外,決不容許別的目的對我的行為有影響,或在其中有絲毫部分。
44.
Resolved, that no other end but religion shall have any influence at all on any
of my actions; and that no action shall be, in the least circumstance, any
otherwise than the religious end will carry it.
45.立定志願,決不容許任何悲、歡、憂、喜、情感,或任何程度的情感,或任何與情感有關的處境來影響我,除非它是那有助於敬虔的。
45.
Resolved, never to allow any pleasure or grief, joy or sorrow, nor any
affection at all, nor any degree of affection, nor any circumstance relating to
it, but what helps religion.
46.立定志願,決不容許自己對父母絲毫表示忿怒或不安之情;絕不容許任何忿怒,來改變我的言語與表情;對家中任何人,也都當特別小心。
46.
Resolved, never to allow the least measure of any fretting uneasiness at my
father or mother. Resolved to suffer no effects of it, so much as in the least
alteration of speech, or motion of my eye: and to be especially careful of it with
respect to any of our family.
47.立定志願,盡我所能,必要克制凡不與善良、甜蜜、仁厚、恬靜、和平、知足、溫順、慈悲、慷慨、謙卑、溫柔、順服、負責、殷勤、勤勉、仁愛、公平、忍耐、節制、饒恕、誠懇的心情最相符合的事;又必要實行這樣的心思所引導我們的事;而且在每週之末嚴格自省,是否做到了上面所說的。
47.
Resolved, to endeavor to my utmost to deny whatever is not most agreeable to a
temper that is good and universally sweet and benevolent, quiet, peacable,
contented and easy, compassionate and generous, humble and meek, submissive and
obliging, diligent and industrious, charitable and even, patient, moderate,
forgiving, and sincere; and to do at all times what such a temper would lead me
to. Examine strictly every week, whether I have done so.
48.立定志願,必不斷極其殷勤,極其嚴格省察我的心靈,以便知道我是否真愛基督;好叫我臨死的時候,在這方面沒有遺恨。
48.
Resolved, constantly, with the utmost niceness and diligence and with the
strictest scrutiny, to be looking into the state of my soul, that I may know
whether I have truly an interest in Christ or not; that when I come to die, I
may not have any negligence respecting this to repent of.
49.立定志願,只要我力所能及,要讓我的立志實現。
49.
Resolved, that this never shall be, if I can help it.
50.立定志願,必照我在來世認為最美好的事,最審慎去做。
50.
Resolved, I will act so as I think I shall judge would have been best and most
prudent when I come into the future world.
51.立定志願,努力去做在末日會被定罪未曾去做的事。
51.
Resolved, that I will act so, in every respect, as I think I shall wish I had
done if I should at last be damned.
52.立定志願,去做到老年會巴不得年輕時曾經做過的事。
52. I
frequently hear persons in old age say how they would live if they were to live
their lives over again. Resolved, that I will live just so as I can think I
shall wish I had done, supposing I live to old age.
53.立定志願,當我的心情最美好最愉快的時候,我要趁著每一個機會將我的靈魂交托基督、信靠仰賴他,將自己完全獻給祂;由此我可以確知自己得救了,因知我是仰賴救主。
53.
Resolved, to improve every opportunity, when I am in the best and happiest
frame of mind, to cast to venture my soul on the Lord Jesus Christ, to trust
and confide in him, and consecrate myself wholly to him; that from this I may
have assurance of my safety, knowing that I confide in my Redeemer.
54.立定志願,每逢聽到別人有美善被稱讚時,我就當努力去效法。
54.
Whenever I hear anything spoken in commendation of any person, if I think it
would be praiseworthy in me, resolved to endeavor to imitate it.
55.立定志願,必努力行事為人,如同已經看見天堂的福樂和地獄的苦刑似的。
55.
Resolved, to endeavor to my utmost to act as I can think I should do if I had
already seen the happiness of heaven and the torments of hell.
56.立定志願,無論我如何失敗,決不放棄,也不鬆懈對自己種種罪孽的爭戰。
56.
Resolved, never to give over, nor in the least to slacken my fight with my
corruptions, however unsuccessful I may be.
57.立定志願,當我恐懼災禍與悖逆時,我要省察自己是否盡了本分,並要決心去盡本分,而將其他一切交托於神。我要盡我所能,不計較別的,只計較我的本分和我的罪。
57.
Resolved, when I fear misfortunes and adversities, to examine whether I have
done my duty, and resolve to do it; and let it be just as Providence orders it.
I will, as far as I can, be concerned about nothing but my duty and my sin.
58.立定志願,在言談中,不但須防止忿怒和不高興的態度,而且只表現出慈悲、仁愛、愉快的態度。
58.
Resolved, not only to refrain from an air of dislike, fretfulness, and anger in
conversation, but to exhibit an air of love, cheerfulness, and benignity.
59.立定志願,每逢要動怒、發脾氣的時候,便努力發揮善意;是的,在這種時候,我要表現善意,雖然這是對我不利的。
59.
Resolved, when I am most conscious of provocations to ill-nature and anger,
that I will strive most to feel and act good-naturedly; yea, at such times, to
manifest good nature, though I think that in other respects it would be
disadvantageous, and so as would be imprudent at other times.
60.立定志願,每逢我的情感稍微開始表現混亂,或稍微感到內心不安,或外表失常時,我即當對自己嚴加檢討。
60.
Resolved, whenever my feelings begin to appear in the least out of order, when
I am conscious of the least uneasiness within, or the least irregularity
without, I will then subject myself to the strictest examination.
61.立定志願,決不容讓那使我的心思鬆弛而不切實充分注重敬虔的無精打采,且不拘我有何藉口,如說此時我所喜歡做的,乃是應做的等等。
61.
Resolved, that I will not give way to that listlessness which I find unbends
and relaxes my mind from being fully and fixedly set on religion, whatever
excuse I may have for it—that what my listlessness inclines me to do is best to
be done, etc.
62.立定志願,完全安分守己,並照著《以弗所書》第6章第6至8節的話,樂意歡喜去做,好像是對主做的,不是對人做的:因為曉得各人所做的善事,必按所做的得主賞賜。
62.
Resolved, never to do anything but duty; and then according to Ephesians 6:6–8,
do it willingly and cheerfully “as unto the Lord, and not to man; knowing that
whatever good thing any man does, the same shall he receive of the Lord.”
63.假若世上某個時代可能有一個人是完全的基督徒,在各方面都是名符其實的,常常使基督教放出異彩,處處表現得優美可愛﹔立定志願,必盡我所能努力成為那個若是生在此時代的完全基督徒。
63.
On the supposition, that there never was to be but one individual in the world
at any one time who was properly a complete Christian, in all respects of a
right stamp, having Christianity always shining in its true luster, and
appearing excellent and lovely from whatever part and under whatever character
viewed: Resolved, to act just as I would if I strove with all my might to be
that one who should live in my time.
64.立定志願,每逢找到保羅所說那些「說不出的嘆息」和《詩篇》119篇第20節所說「時常切慕神的典章,甚至心碎」的心情時,我必盡力加以促進,並不厭倦誠懇地吐露我的願望,再三表達我的熱誠。
64.
Resolved, when I find those “groanings which cannot be uttered” of which the
Apostles speaks and those “breakings of soul for the longing it has: of which
the Psalmist speaks, Psalm 119:20, that I will promote them to the utmost of my
power, and that I will not be weary of earnestly endeavoring to vent my
desires, nor of the repetitions of such earnestness.
65.立定志願,終生盡量努力,向神赤露敞開,表現我的心靈,我的一切罪過、試探、困難、憂愁、恐懼、指望、渴慕和一切的事以及一切的情形,按照托馬斯頓博士論《詩篇》第119篇所講的道理去行。
65.
Resolved, very much to exercise myself in this all my life long, that is, with
the greatest openness I am capable of, to declare my ways to God, and lay open
my soul to him: all my sins, temptations, difficulties, sorrows, fears, hopes,
desires, and everything, and every circumstance; according to Dr. Manton’s
sermon on Psalm 119:26.
66.立定志願,要常常努力,在所到的地方和所處的團體中,說話行事都要保持仁慈的容貌,除非本分不容許我如此行。
66.
Resolved, that I will endeavor always to keep a benign aspect, and air of
acting and speaking in all places and in all companies, except it should so
happen that duty requires otherwise.
67.立定志願,在受磨難後,要追問我因這些磨難變得好些麼?我藉著它們得了什麼益處,並從它們可能得到什麼益處。
67.
Resolved, after afflictions to inquire what I am the better for them, what good
I have got by them, and what I might have got by them.
68.立定志願,向自己坦白承認我在自己心中所發現的軟弱或罪過﹔若這是與敬虔有關的,也必全部向神承認,懇求祂幫助。
68.
Resolved, to confess frankly to myself all that which I find in myself, either
infirmity or sin; and, if it be what concerns religion, also to confess the
whole case to God and to implore needed help.
69.立定志願,常常去做那我若看到別人去做,便巴不得已經做了的事。
69.
Resolved, always to do that which I shall wish I had done when I see others do
it.
70.我的話語應當常常表現仁慈。
70.
Let there be something of benevolence in all that I speak.
中文取自《愛德華滋傳》Jonathan Edwards: the great awakener, Jonathan Edwards著/曹文丽译,华夏出版社,2006。
英文取自This text is
adapted from Stephen J. Nichols, ed., Jonathan Edwards’ Resolutions; and Advice
to Young Converts (Phillipsburg, N.J.: P&R, 2001).