試煉

Introduction
引言

Spurgeon's Gems on prayer (of which there too many to include on this page) are taken from various sources including his devotionals Morning and Evening and Faith's Checkbook as well as from his great exposition of the psalms, The Treasury of David. Quotes are also included from other resources as noted below. If you have never read Spurgeon's personal testimony, you might one to take a moment and see the amazing providential circumstances that God orchestrated in order to bring the Prince of Preachers to saving faith (Spurgeon's Amazing Testimony).
司布真關於禱告的瑰寶(太多了，本頁無法完全收錄)來自不同的來源，包括他的靈修書 Morning and Evening 和 Faith's Checkbook，以及他對詩篇的偉大闡述：The Treasury of David。

"Let your thoughts be psalms, your prayers incense, and your breath praise." (CHS)

「讓意念要成為詩篇，禱告要成為香氣，呼吸要成為讚美」。(CHS)

Prayer and Life
禱告與生命

He who lives without prayer, he who lives with little prayer, he who seldom reads the Word, and he who seldom looks up to heaven for a fresh influence from on high—he will be the man whose heart will become dry and barren. However, he who falls in secret on his God, who spends much time in holy retirement, who delights to meditate on the words of the Most High, and whose soul is given up to Christ—such a man must have an overflowing heart. As his heart is, such will his life be.

生活中沒有禱告的人，生活中很少禱告的人，很少閱讀聖言的人，很少仰望天國以尋求高處帶來耳目一新的影響的人，他的心會變得乾燥、荒蕪。
然而，那些暗暗仰望神的人，那些花費大量時間在靜修中的人，那些喜愛默想至高者的話語的人，靈魂完全獻給基督的人，這樣的人必定有滿溢的心。
他的心如何，他的生命也會如何。

Prayer: The Whole of Christian Experience
禱告：基督徒經驗的全部

If any one should ask me for an abstract of the Christian religion, I should say it is in that one word prayer. If I should be asked, “What will take in the whole of Christian experience?” I should answer, “prayer.” A man must have been convinced of sin before he could pray; he must have had some hope that there was mercy for him before he could pray. All the Christian virtues are locked up in the word prayer. In troubling times our best communion with God will be carried on by supplication. Tell Him your case, search out His promise, and then plead it with holy boldness. This is the best, the surest, and the speediest way of relief.

如果有人問我基督教宗教的摘要，我會說就在禱告這一個字裡。
如果有人問我：「基督徒經驗的全面體驗會是什麼？」我會回答「禱告」。
一個人必須先深信自己有罪，他才能禱告；他必須先有一些希望，知道會有人憐憫他，他才能禱告。
所有基督徒的美德都鎖定在禱告這兩個字裡。
在煩惱的時刻，我們與神最好的交通是藉著祈求來進行。告訴祂你的情況，尋找祂的應許，然後勇敢地祈求。
這是最好、最可靠、最快速的解脫之道。

Prayer and Blessing
禱告與祝福(1)

Anything is a blessing which makes us pray. Indeed the very act of prayer is a blessing. To pray is, as it were, to bathe in a cool, swirling stream and so to escape from the heat of earth’s summer sun. To pray is to mount on eagle’s wings above the clouds and get into the clear heaven where God dwells. To pray is to enter the treasure-house of God and to gather riches out of an inexhaustible storehouse. To pray is to grasp heaven in one’s arms, to embrace the Deity within one’s soul, and to feel one’s body made a temple of the Holy Spirit. Apart from the answer, prayer in itself is a blessing. To pray, my friends, is to cast off your burdens. It is to tear away your rags; it is to shake off your diseases; it is to be filled with spiritual vigor; it is to reach the highest point of Christian health. God grant us to be much in the holy art of wrestling with God in prayer.

任何使我們禱告的事都是祝福。
事實上，禱告本身就是一種祝福。
禱告就像在涼爽的溪流中沐浴，擺脫夏日的炎熱。
禱告就是乘著鷹翼飛上雲端，進入神居住的清澈天堂。
禱告就是進入神的寶庫，從取之不尽、用之不竭的寶庫中收集財富。
禱告就是把天堂摟在懷裡，把神性擁入靈魂，感覺自己的身體成為聖靈的殿。
除了答案之外，禱告本身就是一種祝福。
朋友們，禱告就是拋棄你們的負擔。朋友們，禱告就是拋棄你們的重擔，就是撕開你們的破衣，就是擺脫你們的疾病，就是充滿屬靈的活力，就是達到基督徒健康的最高境界。
神賜給我們許多在禱告中與神摔跤的神聖藝術。

Prayer and Perishing  禱告與滅亡

Prayer is the certain forerunner of salvation. Sinner, you cannot pray and perish; prayer and perishing are two things that never go together. I ask you not what your prayer is. It may be a groan, it may be a tear, but if it is a prayer from the inmost heart, you will be saved. Yet, if from your heart you have learned to pray—

Prayer is the breath of God in man, Returning whence it came.

—you cannot perish with God’s breath in you. “Whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved” Acts 2:21.

禱告是得救的必然先驅。
罪人，你不能既禱告又滅亡；禱告和滅亡是兩件絕不能相提並論的事。
我不問你的禱告是什麼。它可以是呻吟，可以是眼淚，但如果它是發自內心的禱告，你就會得救。
如果你已經學會發自內心的禱告。

禱告是神在人身上的呼吸、從哪裡來，就回到哪裡去。
- 有神的氣息在你裡面，你就不會滅亡。「凡求告主名的，就必得救。」（使徒行傳  Acts 2:21）。

Jesus Pleads for Us 耶穌為我們代求

“I have prayed for thee” — Luke 22:32
我已經為你祈求 — 路加福音 Luke 22:32

How encouraging is the thought of the Redeemer’s never-ceasing intercession for us. When we pray, he pleads for us; and when we are not praying, he is advocating our cause, and by his supplications shielding us from unseen dangers. Notice the word of comfort addressed to Peter—“Simon, Simon, Satan hath desired to have you that he may sift you as wheat; but”—what? “But go and pray for yourself.” That would be good advice, but it is not so written. Neither does he say, “But I will keep you watchful, and so you shall be preserved.” That were a great blessing. No, it is, “But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not.” We little know what we owe to our Saviour’s prayers. When we reach the hill-tops of heaven, and look back upon all the way whereby the Lord our God hath led us, how we shall praise him who, before the eternal throne, undid the mischief which Satan was doing upon earth. How shall we thank him because he never held his peace, but day and night pointed to the wounds upon his hands, and carried our names upon his breastplate! Even before Satan had begun to tempt, Jesus had forestalled him and entered a plea in heaven. Mercy outruns malice. Mark, he does not say, “Satan hath desired to have you.” He checks Satan even in his very desire, and nips it in the bud. He does not say, “But I have desired to pray for you.” No, but “I have prayed for you: I have done it already; I have gone to court and entered a counterplea even before an accusation is made.” O Jesus, what a comfort it is that thou hast pleaded our cause against our unseen enemies; countermined their mines, and unmasked their ambushes. Here is a matter for joy, gratitude, hope, and confidence.

想到救贖主永遠不停地為我們代求，是何等令人鼓舞。
當我們禱告時，祂為我們求情；當我們沒有禱告時，祂為我們辯護，藉著祂的祈求保護我們免於無形的危險。
請注意祂對彼得說的安慰的話──「西門，西門！撒但要得著你們，好篩你們像篩麥子一樣； 但...」
祂沒有對彼得說，"但為你自己祈禱吧" ── 這對彼得來說很好的忠告。
祂也沒有說：「但我要保守你們儆醒，所以你們必蒙保守」。那是很大的祝福。
不，耶穌反而說：「但我已經為你祈求，叫你的信心不至落空」。
我們很少知道我們欠救主的禱告有多少。
當我們登上天堂的山頂，回顧主我們的 神帶領我們走過的路，我們該如何讚美祂，祂在永恆的寶座前，消除了撒旦在地上所做的惡行。
我們應當如何感謝祂，因為祂從不隱忍，而是日夜指著祂手上的傷痕，將我們的名字帶在祂的胸牌上！甚至在撒旦開始誘惑之前，耶穌已經阻止了牠，並在天上提出了請求。
憐憫勝過惡意。
注意，祂不是說：「撒但已經想得到你了(譯註："Satan has demanded permission 撒旦已要求許可 ... - Amplified Bible 擴充版聖經")」。祂甚至在撒旦的慾望萌生之初就制伏了他，把它扼殺在萌芽狀態。祂不是說：「但我想要為你祈求。」不，而是說：「但我已經為你祈求：我已經這樣做了；甚至在指控提出之前，我就已經去過法庭並提出了抗辯。」
耶穌啊！你為我們辯護，對抗我們看不見的敵人；排除他們的地雷，揭穿他們的埋伏，這是何等的安慰。
這是一個令人喜悅、感恩、充滿希望和信心的事。

Pleading For Others  為他人代求

As an encouragement to offer intercessory prayer cheerfully, remember that such prayer is the sweetest God ever hears, for the prayer of Christ is of this character. His intercession must be the most acceptable of all supplications, and the more like our prayer is to Christ’s, the sweeter it will be. Thus, while petitions for ourselves will be accepted, our pleadings for others, having in them more of the fruits of the Spirit—more love, more faith, more brotherly kindness—will be, through the precious merits of Jesus, the sweetest offering that we can offer to God, the very fat of our sacrifice. Remember, again, that intercessory prayer is exceedingly prevalent. What wonders it has wrought!

為了鼓勵我們樂意提供代求性的禱告，請記住這樣的禱告是神所聽見的最甜的禱告，因為基督的禱告就是這樣的性質。
祂的代求一定是所有祈求中最蒙悅納的，而我們的禱告越像基督的禱告，就越甜美。
因此，雖然為自己的祈求會被接納，但我們為他人的懇求，若有更多聖靈的果子──更多的愛、更多的信心、更多弟兄間的恩慈──就會因著耶穌寶貴的功勞，成為我們能獻給神最甜的祭物，成為我們祭物的脂油。
再次記住，代求式的禱告非常普遍。它創造了何等的奇蹟！

Remarkable answers to prayer very much quicken the prayerfulness of other godly persons. Prayer is especially the duty of those to whom the Lord has specially revealed himself as their defense.

禱告得到顯著的回應，會使其他敬虔的人更快地禱告。禱告是那些主特別啟示自己為他們的保衛者的人的特殊職責。

“The prayer of the upright is his delight.”
「正直人祈禱為他所喜悅」

The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord: but the prayer of the upright is his delight. — Proverbs 15:8 KJV

惡人獻祭為耶和華所憎惡，正直人祈禱為他所喜悅。 — 箴言 15:8

THIS is as good as a promise, for it declares a present fact which will be the same throughout all ages. God takes great pleasure in the prayers of upright men; He even calls them His delight. Our first concern is to be upright. Neither bending this way nor that, continue upright: not crooked with policy, nor prostrate by yielding to evil, be you upright in strict integrity and straightforwardness. If we begin to shuffle and shift, we shall be left to shift for ourselves. If we try crooked ways, we shall find that we cannot pray; and if we pretend to do so, we shall find our prayers shut out of heaven. Are we acting in a straight line and thus following out the Lord’s revealed will? Then let us pray much and pray in faith. If our prayer is God’s delight, let us not stint (be frugal or miserly towards) Him in that which gives Him pleasure. He does not consider the grammar of it, nor the metaphysics of it, nor the rhetoric of it; in all these, men might despise it. He, as a Father, takes pleasure in the lispings of His own babes, the stammerings of His new-born sons and daughters. Should we not delight in prayer since the Lord delights in it? Let us make errands to the throne. The Lord finds us enough reasons for prayer, and we ought to thank Him that it is so.

這句話就像應許一樣，因為它宣告了一個現實，而這個現實在任何時代都是一樣的。
神非常喜悅正直人的禱告；祂甚至稱他們為祂的喜樂。
我們首先要正直。不要彎曲，要繼續正直：不要因政策而歪曲，也不要因屈服於邪惡而匍匐，要正直地嚴守正道。
如果我們開始搖擺和轉移，我們將被留給自己轉移。
如果我們嘗試歪曲的方法，我們會發現我們無法祈禱；如果我們假裝這樣做，我們會發現我們的祈禱被天堂拒之門外。
我們是否在正直行事，從而遵行主所啟示的旨意？那就讓我們多禱告，憑信心禱告。

如果我們的禱告是 神所喜悅的，我們就不要在祂所喜悅的事上吝嗇（對祂節省或吝嗇）。
祂不考慮禱告的文法，也不考慮禱告的形而上學，更不考慮禱告的修辭；在這些方面，人們可以輕忽。
祂身為父親，喜悅祂自己的嬰兒語無倫次，喜悅祂新生的兒女口吃。
既然主喜悅禱告，我們豈不也應該喜悅禱告？
讓我們前往寶座。主為我們找到足夠的禱告理由，我們應該感謝祂。

Replace Care with All Prayer 以禱告代替憂慮

Be anxious for nothing,  but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. — Phil 4:6-7

應當一無掛慮，只要凡事藉著禱告、祈求和感謝，將你們所要的告訴神。 ⁷ 神所賜出人意外的平安，必在基督耶穌裡保守你們的心懷意念。— 腓 Phil 4:6-7

NO care, but all prayer. No anxiety, but much joyful communion with God. Carry your desires to the Lord of your life, the guardian of your soul. Go to Him with two portions of prayer and one of fragrant praise. Do not pray doubtfully, but thankfully. Consider that you have your petitions, and therefore thank God for His grace. He is giving you grace; give Him thanks. Hide nothing. Allow no want to lie rankling in your bosom; “make known your requests.” Run not to man. Go only to your God, the Father of Jesus, who loves you in Him. This shall bring you God’s own peace. You shall not be able to understand the peace which you shall enjoy. It will enfold you in its infinite embrace. Heart and mind through Christ Jesus shall be steeped in a sea of rest. Come life or death, poverty, pain, slander, you shall dwell in Jesus above every ruffling wind or darkening cloud. Will you not obey this dear command?

要憂慮，但要凡事禱告。
不要焦慮，但要多多與神喜樂相交。
將你的渴望帶到你生命的主，你靈魂的守護者面前。
帶著雙倍的祈禱和一份馨香的讚美來到祂面前。
不要懷疑地禱告，乃要心存感謝。
要認為你已經得到了你的祈求，因此感謝神的恩典。
不要隱藏任何事。
不要讓任何渴求在你的胸中縈繞；「將你的請求說出來」。
不要向人求助。只去見你的神，耶穌的父，祂在祂裡面愛你。
這會帶給你神自己的平安。你將無法理解你所享受的平安。
它會用無限的懷抱擁抱你。
透過基督耶穌，你的心靈將沉浸在安息的海洋中。
無論生死、貧窮、痛苦、誹謗，你都要住在耶穌裡面，超越一切狂風和烏雲。你願意遵守這個親愛的命令嗎？

Yes, Lord, “I do believe; help my unbelief!” (NASB)
是的，"我信！但我信不足，求主幫助！" (馬可福音 Mark 9:24)

Jehovah Receives Our Prayers 耶和華接受我們的禱告

“The Lord hath heard my supplication; the Lord will receive my prayer.”— Psalm 6:9
耶和華聽了我的懇求，耶和華必收納我的禱告。- 詩篇 Ps  6:9

THE experience here recorded is mine. I can set to my seal that God is true. In very wonderful ways He has answered the prayers of His servant many and many a time. Yes, and He is hearing my present supplication, and He is not turning away His ear from me. Blessed be His holy name! What then? Why, for certain the promise which lies sleeping in the Psalmist’s believing confidence is also mine. Let me grasp it by the hand of faith: “The Lord will receive my prayer.” He will accept it, think of it, and grant it in the way and time which His loving wisdom judges to be best. I bring my poor prayer in my hand to the great King, and He gives me audience and graciously receives my petition. My enemies will not listen to me, but my Lord will. They ridicule my tearful prayers, but my Lord does not; He receives my prayer into His ear and His heart. What a reception this is for a poor sinner! We receive Jesus, and then the Lord receives us and our prayers for His Son’s sake. Blessed be that dear name which franks (put an official mark on a letter indicating the right of free delivery) our prayers so that they freely pass even within the golden gates. Lord, teach me to pray, since thou hearest my prayers.

這裡記錄的是我的經驗。我可以印證神是真實的。祂以奇妙的方式多次應允祂僕人的禱告。
是的，祂聽見了我現在的祈求，祂從來沒有不聽我的。
祂的聖名是值得稱頌的！
然後呢？為什麼？可以肯定的是，沉睡在詩篇作者信心中的應許也是我的。
讓我用信心之手抓住它：「耶和華必收納我的禱告」祂會接受它、考慮它，並以祂慈愛的智慧判定為最佳的方式和時間允許它。
我將我微弱的禱告帶到偉大的君王面前，祂會接見，並恩慈地接受我的請求。
我的敵人不會聽我的，但我的主會。
他們嘲笑我淚流滿面的祈禱，但我的主不會；祂接受我的祈禱進入祂的耳和祂的心。
對一個可憐的罪人來說，這是何等大的接待！
我們接受耶穌，然後主為祂兒子的緣故接受我們和我們的禱告。
這親愛的名字是有福的，祂使我們的祈禱自由通過金門。主啊，求祢教導我禱告，因為祢聽見我的禱告。

When our prayers are lowly by reason of our humility, or feeble by reason of our sickness, or without wing by reason of our despondency, the Lord will bow down to them. Faith, when she has the loftiest name of God on her tongue, and calls him Jehovah, yet dares to ask from him the most tender and condescending acts of love. Great as he is he loves his children to be bold with him.

當我們的禱告因謙卑而卑微，或因疾病而軟弱，或因著我們的絕望而無法飛翔時，主會俯身聆聽。
信心,當她(信心)用最崇高的神之名字「耶和華」在口中時,卻敢向祂求取最溫柔體貼的愛。雖然祂偉大,但祂愛祂的孩子們向祂大膽祈求。

Just Call Upon Him 只需呼求祂

“Call unto me, and I will answer thee,and shew thee great and mighty things,which thou knowest not.”— Jer 33:3

你求告我，我就應允你，並將你所不知道、又大又難的事指示你。- 耶利米書 Jer 33:3

GOD encourages us to pray. They tell us that prayer is a pious exercise which has no influence except upon the mind engaged in it. We know better. Our experience gives the lie a thousand times over to this infidel assertion. Here Jehovah, the living God, distinctly promises to answer the prayer of His servant. Let us call upon Him again and admit no doubt upon the question of His hearing us and answering us. He that made the ear, shall He not hear? He that gave parents a love to their children, will He not listen to the cries of His own sons and daughters? God will answer His pleading people in their anguish. He has wonders in store for them. What they have never seen, heard of, or dreamed of, He will do for them. He will invent new blessings if needful. He will ransack sea and land to feed them: He will send every angel out of heaven to succor them, if their distress requires it. He will astound us with His grace and make us feel that it was never before done in this fashion. All He asks of us is that we will call upon Him. He cannot ask less of us. Let us cheerfully render Him our prayers at once.

神鼓勵我們禱告。
他們告訴我們，禱告是一種虔誠的練習，除了對參與禱告的心靈有影響外，對別人沒有任何影響。
我們比他們更清楚。我們的經驗千百次駁斥這種異端的說法。
耶和華，永生的神，在此清楚地應許會回應祂僕人的禱告。讓我們再次呼求祂，不要懷疑祂會聽我們的禱告，也不要懷疑祂會回答我們的禱告。祂造了耳朵，豈不聽嗎？祂賜下父母對子女的愛，難道祂不聽祂自己兒女的呼求嗎？
神會回應祂苦苦哀求的子民。
祂為他們預備了奇妙的事。
他們從未看見、聽見或夢到的事，祂都會為他們做。
必要時，祂會創造新的祝福。
祂會洗劫海陸來餵養他們：如果他們的苦難需要，祂會派遣天上所有的天使來幫助他們。
祂會以祂的恩典使我們驚訝，並讓我們覺得從來沒有這樣做過。
祂只要求我們呼求祂。
祂對我們的要求不能少。
讓我們立刻歡欣地向祂獻上我們的祈禱。

The Necessity of Prayer 禱告的必要性

“Continue in prayer.” — Colossians 4:2

「恆切禱告」— 歌羅西書 Colossians 4:2

It is interesting to remark how large a portion of Sacred Writ is occupied with the subject of prayer, either in furnishing examples, enforcing precepts, or pronouncing promises. We scarcely open the Bible before we read, “Then began men to call upon the name of the Lord;” and just as we are about to close the volume, the “Amen” of an earnest supplication meets our ear. Instances are plentiful. Here we find a wrestling Jacob—there a Daniel who prayed three times a day—and a David who with all his heart called upon his God. On the mountain we see Elias; in the dungeon Paul and Silas. We have multitudes of commands, and myriads of promises. What does this teach us, but the sacred importance and necessity of prayer? We may be certain that whatever God has made prominent in his Word, he intended to be conspicuous in our lives. If he has said much about prayer, it is because he knows we have much need of it. So deep are our necessities, that until we are in heaven we must not cease to pray. Dost thou want nothing? Then, I fear thou dost not know thy poverty. Hast thou no mercy to ask of God? Then, may the Lord’s mercy show thee thy misery! A prayerless soul is a Christless soul. Prayer is the lisping of the believing infant, the shout of the fighting believer, the requiem of the dying saint falling asleep in Jesus. It is the breath, the watchword, the comfort, the strength, the honour of a Christian. If thou be a child of God, thou wilt seek thy Father’s face, and live in thy Father’s love.

有趣的是，聖經中有很大的篇幅都是關於禱告的主題，或是提供範例，或是強制誡命，或是宣告應許。
我們幾乎打開聖經就會讀到：「於是人們開始求告耶和華的名」；當我們正要合上書卷時，耳邊就會聽到懇切祈求的「阿們」聲。這樣的例子比比皆是。
在這裡，我們看到摔跤的雅各；在那裡，我們看到一天禱告三次的但以理；在大衛身上，我們看到他全心全意地呼求他的神。
在山上，我們看到以利亞；在地牢裡，我們看到保羅和西拉。
我們有無數的命令，也有無數的應許。
除了禱告的神聖重要性和必要性之外，這些教導我們什麼呢？我們可以肯定，神在祂的話語中所顯明的，祂也希望在我們的生命中顯明。
如果祂說了許多關於禱告的話，那是因為祂知道我們非常需要禱告。
我們的需要是如此之深，以至於在天堂之前，我們不能停止禱告。
你什麼都不需要嗎？那恐怕你不知道你的貧窮。
你沒有向神求憐憫嗎？那麼，願主的憐憫顯明你的悲慘！
沒有禱告的靈魂就是沒有基督的靈魂。
禱告是信主的嬰兒的啼哭，是奮鬥的信徒的呼喊，是在耶穌裏沉睡的垂死聖徒的安魂曲。
禱告是基督徒的呼吸、口號、安慰、力量和榮耀。
你若是神的兒女，就必尋求你父的面，活在你父的愛中。

Pray that this year thou mayst be holy, humble, zealous, and patient; have closer communion with Christ, and enter oftener into the banqueting-house of his love. Pray that thou mayst be an example and a blessing unto others, and that thou mayst live more to the glory of thy Master. The motto for this year must be, “Continue in prayer.”

求主讓你今年聖潔、謙卑、熱心、忍耐；與基督有更密切的交通，更常進入祂愛的宴會廳。求主使你成為他人的榜樣和祝福，使你的生活更能彰顯你主的榮耀。今年的座右銘必須是：「恆切禱告」。

Sinking Times Are Praying Times
沉淪的時刻就是禱告的時刻

...beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. — Mt 14:30

...(他)將要沉下去，便喊著說：「主啊，救我！」- 馬太福音 14:30

Sinking times are praying times with the Lord’s servants. Peter neglected prayer at starting upon his venturous journey, but when he began to sink his danger made him a suppliant, and his cry though late was not too late. In our hours of bodily pain and mental anguish, we find ourselves as naturally driven to prayer as the wreck is driven upon the shore by the waves. The fox flies to its hole for protection; the bird flies to the wood for shelter; and even so the tried believer hastens to the mercy seat for safety. Heaven’s great harbor of refuge is All-prayer; thousands of weather-beaten vessels have found a haven there, and the moment a storm comes on, it is wise for us to make for it with all sail. Short prayers are long enough. There were but three words in the petition which Peter gasped out, but they were sufficient for his purpose. Not length but strength is desirable. A sense of need is a mighty teacher of brevity. If our prayers had less of the tail feathers of pride and more wing they would be all the better. Verbiage is to devotion as chaff to the wheat. Precious things lie in small compass, and all that is real prayer in many a long address might have been uttered in a petition as short as that of Peter. Our extremities are the Lord’s opportunities. Immediately a keen sense of danger forces an anxious cry from us the ear of Jesus hears, and with him ear and heart go together, and the hand does not long linger. At the last moment we appeal to our Master, but his swift hand makes up for our delays by instant and effectual action. Are we nearly engulfed by the boisterous waters of affliction? Let us then lift up our souls unto our Saviour, and we may rest assured that he will not suffer us to perish. When we can do nothing Jesus can do all things; let us enlist his powerful aid upon our side, and all will be well.

對主的僕人來說，下沉的時候就是禱告的時候。
彼得在開始他的冒險旅程時忽略了禱告，但當他開始下沉時，他的危險使他成為一個祈求者，他的呼求雖然遲了，但還不晚。
在我們身體痛苦和精神憂傷的時候，我們會發現自己很自然地被驅使去禱告，就像殘骸被海浪推到岸上一樣。
狐狸飛快到洞裡尋求保護；鳥兒飛到樹林裡尋求庇護；受試的信徒也是如此，急忙到憐憫座前尋求安全。
天堂是所有的祈禱者的避難港；成千上萬風吹日曬的船隻在那裡找到了庇護，當暴風來臨的那一刻，明智之舉就是以全速駛向那裡。
簡短的祈禱已經夠長了。
彼得喘著氣禱告的內容只有三個字，但對他來說已經足夠。
我們需要的不是長度，而是力量。
有需要的感覺是簡短禱告的好導師。
如果我們的祈禱少一點驕傲的尾羽，多一點翅膀，那就更好了。
冗言之於虔誠，猶如糠秕之於麥粒。珍貴之物常蘊於小巧之中，冗長祈禱中的所有真實禱告，或許可用如彼得般簡短的祈求來表達。 我們的困境是主的機會。
當我們意識到危險時，迫使我們發出焦慮的呼喊，耶穌聽到了我們的呼喊，他的耳朵和心連在一起，他的手也不會猶豫。
在最後一刻，我們向我們的主求助，他迅速採取了有效的行動彌補了我們的延誤。
我們是否即將被波濤洶湧的苦難之水吞沒？那麼，讓我們將我們的靈魂提升到我們的救主面前，我們可以確信他不會讓我們滅亡。
當我們無能為力時，耶穌可以做一切事；讓我們爭取他強大的幫助站在我們這邊，一切都會好起來的。

Be Immersed in Prayer 沉浸在禱告中

“But I give myself unto prayer.”— Ps 109:4

但我專心祈禱  — 詩篇 Ps 109:4

Lying tongues were busy against the reputation of David, but he did not defend himself; he moved the case into a higher court, and pleaded before the great King himself. Prayer is the safest method of replying to words of hatred. The Psalmist prayed in no cold-hearted manner, he gave himself to the exercise—threw his whole soul and heart into it—straining every sinew and muscle, as Jacob did when wrestling with the angel. Thus, and thus only, shall any of us speed at the throne of grace. As a shadow has no power because there is no substance in it, even so that supplication, in which a man’s proper self is not thoroughly present in agonizing earnestness and vehement desire, is utterly ineffectual, for it lacks that which would give it force. “Fervent prayer,” says an old divine, “like a cannon planted at the gates of heaven, makes them fly open.” The common fault with the most of us is our readiness to yield to distractions. Our thoughts go roving hither and thither, and we make little progress towards our desired end. Like quicksilver our mind will not hold together, but rolls off this way and that. How great an evil this is! It injures us, and what is worse, it insults our God. What should we think of a petitioner, if, while having an audience with a prince, he should be playing with a feather or catching a fly? Continuance and perseverance are intended in the expression of our text. David did not cry once, and then relapse into silence; his holy clamor was continued till it brought down the blessing. Prayer must not be our chance work, but our daily business, our habit and vocation. As artists give themselves to their models, and poets to their classical pursuits, so must we addict ourselves to prayer. We must be immersed in prayer as in our element, and so pray without ceasing. Lord, teach us so to pray that we may be more and more prevalent in supplication.

大衛的名聲受到謊言的攻擊，但他沒有為自己辯護；他把案件移到至高的法庭，在偉大的君王面前求情。
禱告是回應仇恨言語最安全的方法。
詩篇的作者禱告時並不是冷酷無情的，他全心投入禱告 — 把整個靈魂和心投入禱告 — 鍛鍊每一根筋和肌肉，就像雅各與天使角力時一樣。只有這樣，我們才能在恩典的寶座前快步前進。
正如陰影因沒有實質而沒有能力一樣，人的祈求若沒有徹底地以痛苦的懇切和強烈的渴求來表現，也是完全無效的，因為它缺乏賜予它力量的東西。
「熱切的祈禱」，能使天堂門開啟。
我們大多數人的共同缺點是容易被分心的事物所影響。我們的思緒東遊西走，朝著我們想要的目標卻沒有什麼進展。我們的心思就像流銀般無法凝聚在一起，而是滾到這邊又滾到那邊。
這是多麼大的禍害！它傷害了我們，更糟的是，它侮辱了我們的神。
如果一個請願者在覲見王子時，卻在玩弄一根羽毛或捉一隻蒼蠅，我們會怎麼想？我們的經文所要表達的是持續和堅忍。
大衛不是哭了一次就閉口不語；他聖潔的呼喊一直持續到祝福降臨為止。
禱告不能是我們偶然的工作，而是我們每天的事務、習慣和天職。
正如藝術家專注於他們的模特兒，詩人專注於他們的古典追求，我們也必須沉迷於禱告。
我們必須沉浸在禱告中，就像我們的元素一樣，如此不住地祈禱。
主啊，求你教導我們如此禱告，使我們在祈求中越來越踴躍。

Praying always  但我專心禱告

Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; — Ephesians 6:18

靠著聖靈，隨時多方禱告祈求，並要在此警醒不倦，為眾聖徒祈求； — 以弗所書 6:18

What multitudes of prayers we have put up from the first moment when we learned to pray. Our first prayer was a prayer for ourselves; we asked that God would have mercy upon us, and blot out our sin. He heard us. But when he had blotted out our sins like a cloud, then we had more prayers for ourselves. We have had to pray for sanctifying grace, for constraining and restraining grace; we have been led to crave for a fresh assurance of faith, for the comfortable application of the promise, for deliverance in the hour of temptation, for help in the time of duty, and for succour in the day of trial. We have been compelled to go to God for our souls, as constant beggars asking for everything. Bear witness, children of God, you have never been able to get anything for your souls elsewhere. All the bread your soul has eaten has come down from heaven, and all the water of which it has drank has flowed from the living rock—Christ Jesus the Lord. Your soul has never grown rich in itself; it has always been a pensioner upon the daily bounty of God; and hence your prayers have ascended to heaven for a range of spiritual mercies all but infinite. Your wants were innumerable, and therefore the supplies have been infinitely great, and your prayers have been as varied as the mercies have been countless. Then have you not cause to say, “I love the Lord, because he hath heard the voice of my supplication”? For as your prayers have been many, so also have been God’s answers to them. He has heard you in the day of trouble, has strengthened you, and helped you, even when you dishonored him by trembling and doubting at the mercy-seat. Remember this, and let it fill your heart with gratitude to God, who has thus graciously heard your poor weak prayers. “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits.”

從我們學會禱告的第一刻開始，我們已經作了無數的禱告。
我們的第一個禱告是為自己禱告；我們求神憐憫我們，抹去我們的罪。祂聽見了。但當祂像雲彩一樣抹去我們的罪時，我們就有了更多為自己的禱告。
我們不得不為成聖的恩典、約束和約制的恩典祈求；我們被引導去渴望新的信仰保證、應許的安慰應用、誘惑時刻的救援、擔責時刻的幫助，以及試煉時刻的支援。
我們被迫為了靈魂而到神面前，就像不斷乞討的乞丐，要求一切。
神的兒女，你們可以作見證，你們的靈魂從未在別處得到任何東西。你們靈魂所吃的麵包都是從天上降下來的，你們靈魂所喝的水都是從活石──主基督耶穌──流出來的。你的靈魂從未靠自己變得豐盛; 它一直仰賴上帝每日的恩賜; 因此，你的祈禱升到天堂，尋求幾乎無限的屬靈恩典。
你們的需要是無數的，因此供應也是無限的；你們的祈禱也是多樣的，就如憐憫是無數的一樣。
難道你沒有理由說：「我愛耶和華，因為他聽了我的聲音和我的懇求 (詩篇 PS 116:1)」嗎？你的禱告既多，神的回應也多。
祂在你患難的日子垂聽你，堅固你，幫助你，甚至當你在憐憫席前顫抖疑惑而羞辱祂的時候。
記住這一點，並讓它充滿你對神的感恩之心，祂如此恩慈地垂聽你可憐軟弱的祈禱。

「我的心哪，你要稱頌耶和華；凡在我裡面的，也要稱頌他的聖名！」詩篇 Ps 103:1

Intercessory Prayer  代求禱告

“Pray one for another.” — James 5:16

「彼此代禱」。- 雅各書 5:16

As an encouragement cheerfully to offer intercessory prayer, remember that such prayer is the sweetest God ever hears, for the prayer of Christ is of this character. In all the incense which our Great High Priest now puts into the golden censer, there is not a single grain for himself. His intercession must be the most acceptable of all supplications—and the more like our prayer is to Christ’s, the sweeter it will be; thus while petitions for ourselves will be accepted, our pleadings for others, having in them more of the fruits of the Spirit, more love, more faith, more brotherly kindness, will be, through the precious merits of Jesus, the sweetest oblation that we can offer to God, the very fat of our sacrifice. Remember, again, that intercessory prayer is exceedingly prevalent. What wonders it has wrought! The Word of God teems with its marvellous deeds. Believer, thou hast a mighty engine in thy hand, use it well, use it constantly, use it with faith, and thou shalt surely be a benefactor to thy brethren. When thou hast the King’s ear, speak to him for the suffering members of his body. When thou art favoured to draw very near to his throne, and the King saith to thee, “Ask, and I will give thee what thou wilt,” let thy petitions be, not for thyself alone, but for the many who need his aid. If thou hast grace at all, and art not an intercessor, that grace must be small as a grain of mustard seed. Thou hast just enough grace to float thy soul clear from the quicksand, but thou hast no deep floods of grace, or else thou wouldst carry in thy joyous bark a weighty cargo of the wants of others, and thou wouldst bring back from thy Lord, for them, rich blessings which but for thee they might not have obtained:—

為了鼓勵我們樂意提供代求性的禱告，請記住這樣的禱告是神所聽見最甜的，因為基督的禱告就是這樣的。
我們的大祭司現在放進金香爐的所有香中，沒有一粒是屬於他自己的。
祂的代求必須是所有祈求中最蒙悅納的
— 我們的禱告越像基督的禱告，就越甜美；因此，雖然為我們自己的祈求會被接納，但我們為他人的懇求，其中包含更多的聖靈果子、更多的愛、更多的信心、更多的弟兄恩慈，將透過耶穌寶貴的功勞，成為我們能獻給神最甜美的祭物，成為我們祭物的脂油。
再次記住，代求式的禱告是非常普遍的。它創造了何等的奇蹟！神的話語充滿了它的奇妙事蹟。
信徒們，你手中有大能的機器，好好使用它，經常使用它，憑信心使用它，你必定成為你弟兄的恩人。
當你聽到王的聲音時，請為他身上受苦的肢體向他說話。當你被寵幸，可以非常接近王的寶座，王對你說：「你若祈求，我必賜予你所願」，讓你的祈求不是只為你自己，而是為許多需要王幫助的人。
如果你有恩典，卻不是代求者，那恩典一定小得像一粒芥菜種。
你有足夠的恩典讓你的靈魂脫離流沙，但你沒有深厚的恩典洪水，否則你會在你歡樂的船艙裡裝載著他人所需的重物，你會從你的主那裡為他們帶回豐富的祝福，若不是因為你，他們可能無法獲得這些祝福。

“Oh, let my hands forget their skill, My tongue be silent, cold, and still, This bounding heart forget to beat, If I forget the mercy-seat!”
"如果我忘了仁慈的寶座，哦，讓我的雙手忘記他們的技能，我的舌頭沉默、冰冷、靜止，這顆跳躍的心忘記了跳動！"

Prayer: The Forerunner of Mercy 禱告: 憐憫的先驅

“Thus saith the Lord God; I will yet for this be enquired of by the house of Israel, to do it for them.” — Ezekiel 36:37

主耶和華如此說：我要加增以色列家的人數，多如羊群。他們必為這事向我求問，我要給他們成就。 — 以西結書 Ezekiel 36:37

Prayer is the forerunner of mercy. Turn to sacred history, and you will find that scarcely ever did a great mercy come to this world unheralded by supplication. You have found this true in your own personal experience. God has given you many an unsolicited favour, but still great prayer has always been the prelude of great mercy with you. When you first found peace through the blood of the cross, you had been praying much, and earnestly interceding with God that he would remove your doubts, and deliver you from your distresses. Your assurance was the result of prayer. When at any time you have had high and rapturous joys, you have been obliged to look upon them as answers to your prayers. When you have had great deliverances out of sore troubles, and mighty helps in great dangers, you have been able to say, “I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.” Prayer is always the preface to blessing. It goes before the blessing as the blessing’s shadow. When the sunlight of God’s mercies rises upon our necessities, it casts the shadow of prayer far down upon the plain. Or, to use another illustration, when God piles up a hill of mercies, he himself shines behind them, and he casts on our spirits the shadow of prayer, so that we may rest certain, if we are much in prayer, our pleadings are the shadows of mercy. Prayer is thus connected with the blessing to show us the value of it. If we had the blessings without asking for them, we should think them common things; but prayer makes our mercies more precious than diamonds. The things we ask for are precious, but we do not realize their preciousness until we have sought for them earnestly.

禱告是慈悲的先驅。
翻開神聖的歷史，你會發現這個世界上幾乎沒有大慈悲是不經祈禱而來的。
在你個人的經驗中，你也發現這一點。神賜給你們許多不請自來的恩惠，但偉大的祈禱對你們來說始終是偉大慈悲的前奏。
當你第一次透過十字架的寶血得到平安時，你已經有許多的禱告，並懇切地為神代求，求祂消除你的疑惑，救你脫離苦難。
你的確信是禱告的結果。
在任何時候，當你有過高興和狂喜的時候，你不得不把它們看作是對你禱告的回應。
當你在嚴重的煩惱中得到大拯救，在巨大的危險中得到大能力的幫助時，你就能夠說：「我曾尋求耶和華，他就應允我，救我脫離了一切的恐懼。」 (詩篇 Ps 34:4)
禱告永遠是祝福的先決條件。它如同祝福的影子一樣，在祝福之前出現。
當神憐憫的陽光照耀在我們的需要上時，禱告的陰影就投射在平原上。
或者，用另一個例子來說明，當神堆起一座仁慈的小山時，祂自己就在這些仁慈的山後面發光，祂把禱告的陰影投射在我們的靈魂上，所以我們可以放心，如果我們常常禱告，我們的懇求就是仁慈的陰影。
因此，禱告是與祝福連在一起，向我們顯示它的價值。
如果我們不求就得到祝福，我們會認為那是普通的東西；但禱告使我們的慈愛比鑽石更寶貴。
我們所求的東西是寶貴的，但我們要在懇切地求過之後，才知道它們的寶貴。

“Prayer makes the darken’d cloud withdraw; Prayer climbs the ladder Jacob saw; Gives exercise to faith and love; Brings every blessing from above.

"禱告讓烏雲退去；禱告爬上雅各所見的梯子；鍛鍊信心和愛心；帶來一切從上而來的祝福"。

The Tool of Prayer and the Treasure of the Bible
禱告的工具和聖經的寶藏

If, for your own and others’ profiting, you desire to be “filled with the knowledge of God’s will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding,” remember that prayer is your best means of study: like Daniel, you shall understand the dream, and the interpretation thereof, when you have sought unto God; and like John you shall see the seven seals of precious truth unloosed, after you have wept much. Stones are not broken, except by an earnest use of the hammer; and the stone-breaker must go down on his knees. Use the hammer of diligence, and let the knee of prayer be exercised, and there is not a stony doctrine in revelation which is useful for you to understand, which will not fly into shivers under the exercise of prayer and faith. You may force your way through anything with the leverage of prayer. Thoughts and reasonings are like the steel wedges which give a hold upon truth; but prayer is the lever, the prise (tool for producing leverage) which forces open the iron chest of sacred mystery, that we may get the treasure hidden within.

如果你為了自己和他人的益處，想要「...在一切屬靈的智慧悟性上，滿心知道神的旨意」(歌羅西書 Colossians 1:9)，
請記住禱告是你最好的學習方法：
像但以理一樣，當你向神求問時，你就會明白夢和夢的解釋；
像約翰一樣，當你哭泣了很久之後，你就會看到寶貴真理的七個印被揭開。
石頭是打不碎的，除非殷勤地使用錘子；打碎石頭的人必須跪下來。使用勤勉的錘子，並運用禱告的膝頭，在啟示中就沒有一條石頭般的教義對你來說是有用的，在禱告和信心的運用下，它不會搖搖欲墜。
有了禱告的槓桿，你可以強行通過任何事情。思想和理論就像楔子，可以楔住真理；但禱告是槓桿，是撬棍（製造槓桿的工具），可以打開神聖奧秘的鐵箱，讓我們得到藏在裡面的寶藏。

Our Savior's Model of Prevailing Prayer 
我們救主恆切禱告的典範

“And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed.” — Mt 26:39

他就稍往前走，俯伏在地  - 馬太福音 Matt 26:39a

There are several instructive features in our Saviour’s prayer in his hour of trial.

It was lonely prayer. He withdrew even from his three favored disciples. Believer, be much in solitary prayer, especially in times of trial. Family prayer, social prayer, prayer in the Church, will not suffice, these are very precious, but the best beaten spice will smoke in your censer in your private devotions, where no ear hears but God’s.

救主在受試煉時的禱告有幾個具啟發性的特點。

1) 這是孤獨的禱告。
祂甚至不與三個得寵的門徒相見。信徒啊，在獨處祈禱中要多下功夫，尤其是在試煉的時候。雖然家庭祈禱、群體祈禱，以及教會的祈禱都是很寶貴的，但是都不足以取代個人的禱告。
在你獨自向 神祈禱的時候，你所燃燒的香料會散發最濃烈的香味，因為只有 神在那裡聆聽。

It was humble prayer. Luke says he knelt, but another evangelist says he “fell on his face.” Where, then, must be thy place, thou humble servant of the great Master? What dust and ashes should cover thy head! Humility gives us good foot-hold in prayer. There is no hope of prevalence with God unless we abase ourselves that he may exalt us in due time.

2) 這是謙卑的祈禱。
路加說他跪著，但另一位福音書作者說他 「俯伏在地」。
那麼，你這偉大主人的謙卑僕人，你的位置應該在哪裡呢？
你的頭應該蒙上何等的塵土！謙卑使我們在禱告中有良好的立足點。
除非我們謙卑自己，使祂能在適當的時候升高我們，否則我們就沒有在神面前得勝的希望。

It was filial prayer. “Abba, Father.” You will find it a stronghold in the day of trial to plead your adoption. You have no rights as a subject, you have forfeited them by your treason; but nothing can forfeit a child’s right to a father’s protection. Be not afraid to say, “My Father, hear my cry.”

3) 這是孝順的禱告。
「我父啊！」在審判之日，你會發現天父是你懇求收養你的堡壘。
你沒有臣民的權利，你的叛逆喪失了這些權利；
但是沒有任何東西可以剝奪孩子被父親保護的權利。不要害怕說：「我父啊，聽我的呼求。」

Observe that it was persevering prayer. He prayed three times. Cease not until you prevail. Be as the importunate (troublesome urgency - overly persistent in request or demand) widow, whose continual coming earned what her first supplication could not win. Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving.

4) 請注意，這是恆切的禱告。
祂禱告了三次。除非得勝，否則不要停止。要像那懇切的寡婦（"只因這寡婦煩擾我..." (路加福音Luke 18:5) — 她過於堅持的要求），她不斷的來求(申冤)，最終贏得了她第一次祈求所不能求得的。
繼續禱告，並懷著感恩的心儆醒。

Lastly, it was the prayer of resignation. “Nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt.” Yield, and God yields. Let it be as God wills, and God will determine for the best. Be thou content to leave thy prayer in his hands, who knows when to give, and how to give, and what to give, and what to withhold.

5) 最後，這是順服的禱告。
「然而，不要照我的意思，只要照你的意思。」(馬太福音 Matt 26:39b)
順服，即是神也順服。
照神的旨意去做，神會決定最好的。祂知道何時給、如何給、給什麼、不給什麼。

So pleading, earnestly, importunately, yet with humility and resignation, thou shalt surely prevail.

所以，懇切的，誠摯的、迫切的，卻又帶著謙卑和順從的祈求，你必能得償所願。

Prayer that Tarries  遲來的回應

“I called him, but he gave me no answer.” — Song of Solomon 5:6

我呼叫他，他卻不回答。— 雅歌 Song of Solomon 5:6

Prayer sometimes tarrieth, like a petitioner at the gate, until the King cometh forth to fill her bosom with the blessings which she seeketh. The Lord, when he hath given great faith, has been known to try it by long delayings. He has suffered his servants’ voices to echo in their ears as from a brazen sky. They have knocked at the golden gate, but it has remained immovable, as though it were rusted upon its hinges. Like Jeremiah, they have cried, “Thou hast covered thyself with a cloud, that our prayer should not pass through.” Thus have true saints continued long in patient waiting without reply, not because their prayers were not vehement, nor because they were unaccepted, but because it so pleased him who is a Sovereign, and who gives according to his own pleasure. If it pleases him to bid our patience exercise itself, shall he not do as he wills with his own! Beggars must not be choosers either as to time, place, or form. But we must be careful not to take delays in prayer for denials: God’s long-dated bills will be punctually honored; we must not suffer Satan to shake our confidence in the God of truth by pointing to our unanswered prayers. Unanswered petitions are not unheard. God keeps a file for our prayers—they are not blown away by the wind, they are treasured in the King’s archives. This is a registry in the court of heaven wherein every prayer is recorded. Tried believer, thy Lord hath a tear-bottle in which the costly drops of sacred grief are put away, and a book in which thy holy groanings are numbered. By-and-by, thy suit shall prevail. Canst thou not be content to wait a little? Will not thy Lord’s time be better than thy time? By-and-by he will comfortably appear, to thy soul’s joy, and make thee put away the sackcloth and ashes of long waiting, and put on the scarlet and fine linen of full fruition.

禱告有時就像在門口請願的人一樣遲遲不來，直到 王出來用她所尋求的祝福填滿她的胸懷。
當主賜下偉大的信心時，祂會以長時間的延遲來試煉信心。
祂曾容忍祂僕人的聲音在他們耳中迴響，就像從厚重的天空發出。
他們敲打「金門」，門卻一動不動，好像生銹的鉸鏈鎖住。
他們像耶利米一樣喊叫：「你用雲遮蓋自己，使我們的祈禱不能通過。真正的聖徒都是這樣長時間的忍耐等候而沒有回音，不是因為他們的禱告不夠熱切，也不是因為他們的禱告不被接受，而是因為那位按自己喜悅賜下的主宰者如此喜悅。
如果祂喜悅我們的忍耐，祂豈能不照祂自己的意願行事呢？
無論在時間、地點或形式上，乞丐都不能選擇。
但我們必須小心，不要把禱告的延遲當作拒絕：神的長期帳單一定會準時兌現；我們不能讓撒旦指著我們未蒙應允的祈求來動搖我們對真理之神的信心。
未蒙應允的祈求並非不被聆聽。神為我們的禱告存檔──它們不會被風吹散，而是珍藏在君王的檔案室裡。
這是天庭的登記冊，每一個禱告都記錄在裡面。
受過試煉的信徒，你的主有一個淚瓶，裡面裝著神聖悲痛的寶貴水滴，還有一本書，裡面記錄著你聖潔的呻吟。
遲早，你的訴訟會得勝。難道你不願意再等一等嗎？你主的時間不是比你的時間更好嗎？
不久之後，祂會舒舒服服地(comfortably)顯現，使你的靈魂喜樂，使你擺脫長久等待的麻衣和灰燼，穿上完全的朱紅色和細麻布衣服。

The Character of Our Prayers 我們禱告的特性

“Blessed be God, which hath not turned away my prayer.” — Psalm 66:20

神是應當稱頌的！他並沒有推卻我的禱告， — 詩篇 Ps  66:20

In looking back upon the character of our prayers, if we do it honestly, we shall be filled with wonder that God has ever answered them. There may be some who think their prayers worthy of acceptance—as the Pharisee did; but the true Christian, in a more enlightened retrospect, weeps over his prayers, and if he could retrace his steps he would desire to pray more earnestly. Remember, Christian, how cold thy prayers have been. When in thy closet thou shouldst have wrestled as Jacob did; but instead thereof, thy petitions have been faint and few—far removed from that humble, believing, persevering faith, which cries, “I will not let thee go except thou bless me.” Yet, wonderful to say, God has heard these cold prayers of thine, and not only heard, but answered them. Reflect also, how infrequent have been thy prayers, unless thou hast been in trouble, and then thou hast gone often to the mercy-seat: but when deliverance has come, where has been thy constant supplication? Yet, notwithstanding thou hast ceased to pray as once thou didst, God has not ceased to bless. When thou hast neglected the mercy-seat, God has not deserted it, but the bright light of the Shekinah has always been visible between the wings of the cherubim. Oh! it is marvellous that the Lord should regard those intermittent spasms of importunity which come and go with our necessities. What a God is he thus to hear the prayers of those who come to him when they have pressing wants, but neglect him when they have received a mercy; who approach him when they are forced to come, but who almost forget to address him when mercies are plentiful and sorrows are few. Let his gracious kindness in hearing such prayers touch our hearts, so that we may henceforth be found “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit.”

在回顧我們禱告的特性時，如果我們誠實地禱告，我們會對神曾應允我們的禱告感到驚訝。
也許有些人認為他們的禱告值得接受，就像法利賽人一樣；但真正的基督徒在回顧自己的禱告時，會為自己的禱告哭泣，如果他能重走自己的路，他會渴望更懇切地禱告。
基督徒，記住你的禱告是何等冷淡。當你在密室裡的時候，你應該像雅各一樣摔跤；但相反地，你的祈求卻軟弱無力，與那謙卑的、有信心的、堅忍不拔的信心相差甚遠，
那信心說：「你不給我祝福，我就不容你去。」(Gen 創世記 32:26b)
然而，奇妙的是，神聽見了你這些冷淡的祈禱，不但聽見了，而且應允了。
你也應當反省，你的禱告是何等的稀少，除非你在患難中，那時你常到憐憫席前祈求；但當拯救來臨時，你常在何處祈求呢？
儘管你不再像以前那樣禱告，神卻沒有停止賜福。
當你忽略憐憫座的時候，神並沒有拋棄它，基路伯的翅膀之間總是能看見希基拿的亮光。
哦！真奇妙，主竟顧念那些隨我們的需要而來、又隨我們的需要而去的間歇性的渴求。
祂是何等的神啊！
祂聆聽這些人的祈禱：他們在有迫切的需要時來找祂，但在得到憐憫時卻忽略了祂；他們在被迫來找祂時接近祂，但在憐憫多而愁苦少時卻幾乎忘了向祂說話。
讓祂聽見這些禱告時的恩慈感動我們的心，使我們從今以後都能 「靠著聖靈，隨時多方禱告祈求」(以弗所書 Ephesians 6:18)。

How is Your Prayer Altar?
您的禱告祭壇如何？

“The fire shall ever be burning upon the altar; it shall never go out.” — Leviticus 6:13

在壇上必有常常燒著的火，不可熄滅。 — 利未記 Leviticus 6:13

Keep the altar of private prayer burning. This is the very life of all piety. The sanctuary and family altars borrow their fires here, therefore let this burn well. Secret devotion is the very essence, evidence, and barometer, of vital and experimental religion. Burn here the fat of your sacrifices. Let your closet seasons be, if possible, regular, frequent, and undisturbed. Effectual prayer availeth much. Have you nothing to pray for? Let us suggest the Church, the ministry, your own soul, your children, your relations, your neighbours, your country, and the cause of God and truth throughout the world. Let us examine ourselves on this important matter. Do we engage with lukewarmness in private devotion? Is the fire of devotion burning dimly in our hearts? Do the chariot wheels drag heavily? If so, let us be alarmed at this sign of decay. Let us go with weeping, and ask for the Spirit of grace and of supplications. Let us set apart special seasons for extraordinary prayer. For if this fire should be smothered beneath the ashes of a worldly conformity, it will dim the fire on the family altar, and lessen our influence both in the Church and in the world.

讓個人祈禱的祭壇持續燃燒。
這是所有虔誠的生命。聖所和家庭的祭壇都在這裡借火，因此要讓它好好燃燒。
秘密的奉獻
乃是至關重要的宗教生命、本質、證據和晴雨表。
在這裡燃燒你祭物的脂肪。
如果可能的話，讓你的密室禱告時刻有規律、頻密、不受干擾。
有效的禱告能使人得益良多。
你沒有需要禱告的嗎？讓我們建議教會、事工、你自己的靈魂、你的兒女、你的親戚、你的鄰居、你的國家，以及全世界神和真理的事業。
讓我們在這個重要的問題上省察自己。
我們是否冷淡地參與私人的奉獻？獻身之火是否在我們心中微微弱弱地燃燒？戰車的輪子是否拖得很重？
如果是的話，讓我們對這衰退的跡象感到憂慮。
讓我們哭求，祈求恩典和祈求的靈吧。
讓我們分出特別的時節，作特別的禱告。
因為如果這火焰被世俗的順從所掩蓋，就會使家庭祭壇上的火焰變得暗淡，並削弱我們在教會和世界上的影響力。

Prayer and Sin
禱告與罪

"If I regard wickedness in my heart, The Lord will not hear." — Ps 66:18
我若心裡注重罪孽，主必不聽。 — 詩篇 Ps 66:18

Can I desire him to connive at my sin, and accept me while I willfully cling to any evil way? Nothing hinders prayer like iniquity harbored in the heart; as with Cain, so with us, sin lies at the door and blocks the passage. If you refuse to hear God’s commands, he will surely refuse to hear your prayers. An imperfect petition God will hear for Christ’s sake, but not one which is willfully miswritten by a traitor’s hand. For God to accept our devotions, while we are delighting in sin, would be to make himself the God of hypocrites, which is a fitter name for Satan than for the Holy One of Israel… Love of sin is a killing sign, but those prayers which evidently live and prevail with God most clearly arise from a heart which is free from dalliance with evil. See to it that your inmost soul is rid of all alliance with iniquity, all toleration of secret lust or hidden wrong.

當我故意堅持任何邪惡的方式時，我可以渴望祂縱容我的罪，接納我嗎？
沒有什麼比藏在心裡的罪惡更能攔阻禱告；
就像該隱一樣，我們也是一樣，罪就在門口，攔阻了我們的通道。
如果你拒絕聽神的命令，祂也一定會拒絕聽你的禱告。
為基督的緣故，不完美的懇求神會聽，但經叛徒之手故意寫錯的懇求神不會聽。
當我們以罪為樂時，神若接受我們的禱告，就等於使他自己成為假冒為善者的神，這對撒旦來說比對以色列的聖者來說更適合...
愛罪是殺人的徵兆，但那些顯然與神同在並獲勝的禱告，最明顯地是來自一顆不沉溺於邪惡的心。
你的內心必須擺脫與不義的結盟，擺脫容忍暗中的情欲或隱藏的錯誤。

Secret sins, like private conspirators, must be hunted out, or they may do deadly mischief; it is well to be much in prayer concerning them. If we had eyes like those of God, we should think very differently of ourselves.

隱秘的罪惡，就像私下的陰謀者，必須被追查出來，否則可能造成致命的傷害；
如果我們有神一樣的眼睛，我們對自己的看法就會大不相同。

Transgression destroys peace of mind, obscures fellowship with Jesus, hinders prayer, brings darkness over the soul; therefore be not the serf and bondman of sin.

犯罪(過犯)會摧毀內心的平安，遮蔽與耶穌的團契，阻礙禱告，使靈魂籠罩在黑暗中；因此，不要做罪的奴僕和奴隸。

If you want power in prayer, you must have purity in life. If our faith is to grow exceedingly, we must maintain constant intercourse with God.

如果你想在禱告中得到能力，你就必須在生活中保持純潔。我們的信心若要增長，就必須與神保持經常的相交。
求神保守我們脫離一切罪惡和一切敵人！

Prayer and Motivation
禱告與動機

Prayer is the outcome of that sense of need which arises from the new life. A man would not pray to God if he did not feel that he had an urgent need for blessings which only the Lord can bestow.

禱告是新生命所產生的需要感的結果。如果一個人不覺得他迫切需要只有主才能賜下的祝福，他就不會向神祈禱。

Those are the only true prayers where the heart’s desire is first, and the lip’s request follows after. Jesus prayed vocally as well as mentally; speech is a great assistance to thought. The requests of the Saviour (are) not withheld. He was and still is a prevailing Pleader. He is ready to ask for us at the mercy-seat. Have we not at this hour some desire to send up to his Father by him?

只有這些禱告才是真正的禱告：先有心的渴慕，後有口的祈求。
耶穌以聲音祈禱，也以靈祈禱；言語對思想有很大的幫助。
救主的請求是不會隱藏的。
祂過去是，現在仍然是一位懇求者。
祂隨時準備在憐憫席上為我們祈求。此時此刻，我們難道沒有一些願望要藉著祂送上天父面前嗎？

A fully assured possession of God does not set aside prayer, but rather urges us to it.

對神的完全確信不會擱置禱告，反而會催促我們禱告。

It is well when our supplications are such that we find pleasure in looking back upon them. He that is cheered by the memory of his prayers will pray again. He did not go round about to men, but ran straight forward to Jehovah.

當我們的禱告能使我們在回顧時感到愉悅時，那是很好的。
因記念祂的禱告而振作的人，必再禱告。他沒有四處找人，而是直奔耶和華。

All true fruit is the fruit of the Spirit. Every true prayer must be “praying in the Holy Ghost” (Jude 1:20). He helps our infirmities in prayer.

所有真正的果子都是聖靈的果子。每個真正的禱告都必須是「在聖靈裡禱告」（猶大書 Jude 1：20）。祂在禱告中幫助我們的軟弱。

"I cried with my whole heart" (Ps 119:145) His prayer was a sincere, plaintive, painful, natural utterance, as of a creature in pain. We cannot tell whether at all times he used his voice when he thus cried; but we are informed of something which is of much greater consequence, he cried with his heart. Heart-cries are the essence of prayer. He mentions the unity of his heart: his whole soul pleaded with God, his entire affections, his united desires all went out towards the living God. It is well when we can say as much as this of our prayers: it is to be feared that many never cried to God with their whole heart in all their lives. There may be no beauty of elocution about such prayers, no length of expression, no depth of doctrine, nor accuracy of diction; but if the whole heart be in them they will find their way to the heart of God.

"耶和華啊，我一心呼籲你，求你應允我，我必謹守你的律例。"(詩篇 Ps 119:145)。
他的禱告是真誠的，平實的，痛苦的，自然的，就像受苦的人一樣。
我們無法知道他是否在任何時候都是用聲音來哭求禱告；
但我們知道一件更重要的事：他是用心來禱告的。哭求的心是禱告的本質。他提到他的心是合一的：他整個靈向神懇求，他全部的情感、他合一的慾望都向著永生的神。
當我們的禱告可以這樣說時，那就太好了：恐怕許多人一生中從未全心全意地向 神呼求。
這樣的禱告可能沒有優美的口才、沒有長篇大論的表達、沒有深奧的教義、也沒有準確的措辭；
但如果全心全意，就能找到通往神心裡的路。

"I rise before dawn and cry for help; I wait (hope) for Thy words." (Ps 119:147) Hope is a very powerful means of strengthening us in prayer. Who would pray if he had no hope that God would hear him? Who would not pray when he has a good hope of a blessed issue to his entreaties? His hoped was fixed upon God’s Word, and this is a sure anchorage, because God is true, and in no case has he ever run back from his promise, or altered the thing that has gone forth from his mouth. He who is diligent in prayer will never be destitute of hope. Observe that as the early bird gets the worm, so the early prayer is soon refreshed with hope.

「我趁天未亮呼求，我仰望了你的言語。」(詩 Ps 119:147)
盼望是在禱告中堅固我們的一個非常有力的方法。
如果沒有希望神會聽他的話，誰會禱告？
如果他有好的盼望，他的懇求會得到祝福，誰不會禱告？
他所盼望的是 神的話語，這是一個穩固的碇泊處，因為神是真實的，他從來沒有背棄他的應許，或改變從他口中說出來的事。
勤於禱告的人永遠不會缺乏盼望。
請注意，早起的鳥兒有蟲吃，早禱的人很快就會有新的盼望。

People of God look upon prayer as a reality, and they are not content without having an audience with God; moreover, they have such confidence in the Lord’s condescending grace that they hope he will even attend to that poor broken prayer which can only be described as a cry… Gracious people may not only be low, but very low; and this should not be a reason for their doubting the efficacy of their prayers, but rather a plea with the Lord why they should have special attention.

神的子民視禱告為現實，他們不會滿足於沒有與神會面的機會；
此外，他們對主的恩典充滿信心，甚至希望主會垂聽那只能被形容為呼求的可憐的破碎禱告...
有恩慈的人可能不只是卑微，而且是非常卑微；
這不應該成為他們懷疑禱告功效的理由，反而應成為他們向主提出的請求，為何要特別垂聽他們的禱告。

Praying men pray better as they proceed. Note that we do not show our trouble before the Lord that he may see it, but that we may see him. It is for our relief, and not for his information that we make plain statements concerning our woes: it does us much good to set out our sorrow in order, for much of it vanishes in the process, like a ghost which will not abide the light of day; and the rest loses much of its terror, because the veil of mystery is removed by a clear and deliberate stating of the trying facts. Pour out your thoughts and you will see what they are; show your trouble and the extent of it will be known to you: let all be done before the Lord, for in comparison with his great majesty of love the trouble will seem to be as nothing.

禱告的人越禱告越好。請注意，我們在主面前顯示我們的煩惱，不是為了讓他看見，而是為了讓我們看見他。

我們將我們的憂傷清楚地陳述出來，是為了我們的安慰，而不是為了讓他知道：
將我們的憂傷有條理地陳述出來，對我們有很大的益處，因為在陳述的過程中，很多憂傷都消失了，就像鬼魂一樣，不能忍受日光的照耀；
其餘的憂傷也失去了很多的恐懼，因為清楚而慎重地陳述了艱難的事實，揭開了神秘的面紗。
傾訴你的想法，你就會知道你的想法是什麼；顯示你的煩惱，你就會知道煩惱的程度：
讓一切在主面前成就，因為與祂偉大的愛的威嚴相比，煩惱顯得無足輕重。

Prayer and Faith
禱告與信仰

Faith finds pleas in the worst circumstances; she uses even the fallen stones of her desolate palaces, and assails with them the gates of heaven, casting them forth with the great engine of prayer.

信心在最惡劣的環境中也能找到喜悅；
她甚至使用她荒涼宮殿中倒塌的石頭，用它們攻擊天堂之門，用禱告的巨大動力將石頭拋出。

The confidence of faith makes us bold in prayer, but it never teaches us to live without prayer, or justifies us in being other than humble beggars at mercy’s gate.

信心使我們勇於禱告，但它從未教導我們不禱告就能生活，或使我們在憐憫的門前成為卑微的乞丐。

Observe that ancient saints cried and trusted, and that in times of trouble we must do the same; and the invariable result was that they were not ashamed of their hope, for deliverance came in due time; this same happy portion will be ours. The prayer of faith can do the deed when nothing else can. Let us wonder when we see Jesus using the same pleas as ourselves, and immersed in grief far deeper than our own… Godly men of old prayed in faith, nothing wavering, and spoke of the answer to their prayers as a certainty.

觀察古代聖人的呼求與信心，在患難時，我們也必須這樣做；
不變的結果是他們不以自己的盼望為恥，因為拯救已在適當的時候來臨；我們也會有同樣的幸福。
信心的禱告可以做成任何事。當我們看見耶穌使用與我們自己相同的懇求，並且沉浸在比我們更深的悲痛中時，我們會感到驚訝...古時敬虔的人憑信心禱告，毫無動搖，並且把禱告的回應說成是必然的。

If our faith is to grow exceedingly, we must maintain constant intercourse with God.

如果我們的信心要不斷的增長，就必須與神保持不斷的相交。

Faith grows by the exercise of prayer.

信心是藉著禱告增長的。

Lord, if thou wilt make us mighty with thee in prayer, we shall also be kept faithful before thee in the service which thou hast laid upon us.

主啊！你若使我們在禱告中與你同得能力，我們也必在你面前忠心事奉你所囑咐我們的。

It must be a prayer full of faith. A man prevails only as he believes. The Holy Spirit is the author of faith, and strengthens it, so that we pray believing God’s promise.

這必須是充滿信心的祈禱。人只有相信才能得勝。聖靈是信心的創造者，並加強人的信心，使我們相信神的應許而禱告。

The precious promises of our great God are expressly intended to be taken to Him and exchanged for the blessings which they guarantee. Prayer takes the promise to the Bank of Faith and obtains the golden blessing… The strength of prayer lies in your faith in the promise which you have pleaded before the Lord.

我們偉大神寶貴的應許，是明確要拿去給祂，換取祂們所保證的祝福。
禱告將應許帶到信心銀行，並獲得從神而來的金色的祝福(請參看The Golden Blessing Was Given Through A Mediator. 金色的祝福是通過中保(耶穌)賜予的的解釋。有關金色及黃金的代表意義，請參看圣经中的黄金不只是闪闪发光)。禱告的力量在於你對你在主面前懇求的應許的信心。

It is easy work to pray when we are grounded, as to our desires, upon God’s own promise. How can He that gave the word refuse to keep it? Immutable veracity cannot demean itself by a lie, and eternal faithfulness cannot degrade itself by neglect. God must bless His Son; His covenant binds Him to it. That which the Spirit prompts us to ask of God for Jesus and His kingdom is that which God decrees to give Him. Whenever you are praying for the kingdom of Christ, let your eyes behold the dawning of the blessed day, which draws near, when the Crucified will receive His coronation in the place where men rejected Him.

當我們的渴慕建立在神自己的應許上時，禱告是很容易的事。
那賜下話語的神怎能不遵守呢？
永恆不變的真實性不會因為謊言而貶低自己，永恆的信實也不會因為疏忽而貶低自己。
神必須祝福祂的兒子；祂的盟約使祂受到約束。
聖靈促使我們為耶穌和祂的國度向神祈求的，就是神定意要賜給祂的。
每當你為基督的國度禱告時，讓你的眼睛看見有福日子的曙光，那日子快到了，被釘十字架的耶穌會在人拒絕祂的地方接受祂的加冕。

Prayer and Blessing
禱告與祝福(2)

Prayer is the rustling of the wings of the angels that are on their way bringing us the blessings of heaven. Have you heard prayer in your heart? You will see the angel in your house. When the chariots that bring us blessings do rumble, their wheels do sound with prayer. We hear the prayer in our own spirits, and that prayer becomes the token of the coming blessings. Even as the cloud foreshadows rain, so prayer foreshadows the blessing; even as the green blade is the beginning of the harvest, so prayer is the prophecy of the blessing that is about to come.

禱告是天使翅膀的沙沙聲，他們正在為我們帶來天堂的祝福。
你聽到心中的禱告了嗎？
你會在家中看到天使。當帶給我們祝福的戰車隆隆作響時，它們的車輪會發出禱告的聲音。
我們聽到自己靈裡的禱告，那禱告就成為祝福來臨的信物。
就如雲彩預表降雨，禱告也預表祝福；就如綠葉是收穫的開始，禱告也是祝福即將降臨的預言。

Have we petitioned for success in the Lord’s work? How joyful is the prosperity which comes flying upon the wings of prayer! It is always best to get blessings into our house in the legitimate way, by the door of prayer; then they are blessings indeed, and not temptations. Even when prayer speeds not, the blessings grow all the richer for the delay; the child Jesus was all the more lovely in the eyes of Mary when she found him after having sought him sorrowing. That which we win by prayer we should dedicate to God, as Hannah dedicated Samuel. The gift came from heaven, let it go to heaven. Prayer brought it, gratitude sang over it, let devotion consecrate it. Here will be a special occasion for saying, “Of thine own have I given unto thee.” Reader, is prayer your element or your weariness? Which?

我們有為主的工作成功祈求嗎？
在禱告的翅膀上飛來的繁榮是何等的喜樂！
最好的方法是透過禱告的門以合法的方式將祝福帶進我們的家；
那麼，這些祝福就真的是祝福，而不是試探。
即使禱告的速度不快，祝福也會因為延遲而變得更豐富；
當馬利亞在憂傷地尋找祂之後找到祂時，祂的孩子耶穌在她的眼中變得更可愛。
我們禱告所得的，應當獻給神，就像哈拿獻給撒母耳一樣。
禮物來自天國，讓它歸於天國。
禱告帶來了它，感恩的心為它歌唱，讓奉獻將它獻上。
這將是一個特別的場合，讓我們說：「我已經把你自己的賜給你了」。
讀者，禱告是你的元素還是你的疲倦？哪一個？

The Path of Prayer is Open
禱告之路是開放的

Many are “the paths of the Lord” which “drop fatness,” but an especial one is the path of prayer. No believer, who is much in the closet, will have need to cry, “My leanness, my leanness; woe unto me.” Starving souls live at a distance from the mercy-seat, and become like the parched fields in times of drought. Prevalence with God in wrestling prayer is sure to make the believer strong—if not happy. The nearest place to the gate of heaven is the throne of the heavenly grace.

主的道路眾多，都滴下脂油，但特別有一條是祈禱之道。
常在密室的信徒，必無需哀嘆：「我餓了，我餓了；我有禍了！」
飢餓的靈魂遠離施恩座，變得像乾旱時乾涸的田地。
在摔跤禱告中與神同在，肯定會使信徒強壯，即使不是快樂。離天堂之門最近的地方就是天上恩典的寶座。

Much alone, and you will have much assurance; little alone with Jesus, your religion will be shallow, polluted with many doubts and fears, and not sparkling with the joy of the Lord.

與耶穌獨處越多，你就越有把握；與耶穌獨處越少，你的信仰就會變得膚淺。因被許多懷疑和恐懼所污染，而不會閃耀著主的喜悅。

Since the soul-enriching path of prayer is open to the very weakest saint; since no high attainments are required; since you are not bidden to come because you are an advanced saint, but freely invited if you be a saint at all; see to it, dear reader, that you are often in the way of private devotion. Be much on your knees, for so Elijah drew the rain upon famished Israel’s fields.

靈修祈禱的道路對最微弱的聖徒而言同樣敞開；不需要高深造詣；不分高低階級，只要你是聖徒就獲邀。
親愛的讀者，你要常常走在靈修祈禱的路上。常常跪下禱告，如同以利亞為乾旱的以色列大地祈禱而降下甘霖。

“Praying in the Holy Ghost.”
「在聖靈裡禱告」

"pray in the Holy Spirit," — Jude 1:20

"在聖靈裡禱告" — 猶大書 Jude 1:20

Mark the grand characteristic of true prayer—“In the Holy Ghost.” The seed of acceptable devotion must come from heaven’s storehouse. Only the prayer which comes from God can go to God. We must shoot the Lord’s arrows back to him. That desire which he writes upon our heart will move his heart and bring down a blessing, but the desires of the flesh have no power with him.

記住真正禱告的最大特徵──「在聖靈中」。
可接受的奉獻的種子必須來自天上的倉庫。
只有從神而來的禱告才能到達神那裡。
我們必須把主的箭射回祂那裡。
祂寫在我們心上的渴慕會打動祂的心，帶來祝福，但肉體的慾望對祂毫無能力。

Praying in the Holy Ghost is praying in fervency. Cold prayers ask the Lord not to hear them. Those who do not plead with fervency, plead not at all. As well speak of lukewarm fire as of lukewarm prayer—it is essential that it be red hot.

1) 在聖靈裡禱告就是熱切的禱告。
冷淡的禱告求主不要垂聽。不熱切禱告的人，根本就沒有禱告。
冷淡的禱告就像冷淡的火一樣，禱告的火必須是熾熱的。

It is praying perseveringly. The true suppliant gathers force as he proceeds, and grows more fervent when God delays to answer. The longer the gate is closed, the more vehemently does he use the knocker, and the longer the angel lingers the more resolved is he that he will never let him go without the blessing. Beautiful in God’s sight is tearful, agonizing, unconquerable importunity.

2) 這是恆切的禱告。
真正的祈求者會隨著禱告的進行而加添力量，當神遲遲不回應時，他會變得更加熱切。
門關得越久，他敲門的聲音就越強烈；
天使逗留得越久，他就越堅決不讓他離開。
在神眼中，流淚、痛苦、不屈不撓的祈求是美麗的。

It means praying humbly, for the Holy Spirit never puffs us up with pride. It is his office to convince of sin, and so to bow us down in contrition and brokenness of spirit. We shall never sing Gloria in excelsis except we pray to God De profundis: out of the depths must we cry, or we shall never behold glory in the highest.

3) 這意味著謙卑地祈禱，因為聖靈從不讓我們驕傲。
祂的職責是使我們相信自己的罪，使我們在悔改和破碎的靈裡俯伏。
除非我們向神深情祈禱，否則我們永遠不會唱 「至高的榮耀」：我們必須從深處呼喊，否則我們永遠不會看到至高的榮耀。

It is loving prayer. Prayer should be perfumed with love, saturated with love—love to our fellow saints, and love to Christ.

4) 這是愛的禱告。
禱告應該用愛來芬芳，用愛來滲透 — 對我們的聖徒同胞的愛，對基督的愛。

Moreover, it must be a prayer full of faith. A man prevails only as he believes. The Holy Spirit is the author of faith, and strengthens it, so that we pray believing God’s promise. O that this blessed combination of excellent graces, priceless and sweet as the spices of the merchant, might be fragrant within us because the Holy Ghost is in our hearts! Most blessed Comforter, exert thy mighty power within us, helping our infirmities in prayer.

5) 此外，禱告必須充滿信心。
人只有相信才能得勝。
聖靈是信心的創造者，並加強人的信心，使我們相信神的應許而禱告。
哦，願這優良恩典的有福組合，像商人的香料一樣無價而甜美，在我們內心馨香，因為聖靈在我們心中！
至福的保惠師，求你在我們裡面發揮你的大能，幫助我們在禱告中的軟弱。

The Power of Prayer
禱告的力量

“Let us lift up our heart with our hands unto God in the heavens.” — Lamentations 3:41

我們當誠心向天上的神舉手禱告  — 哀歌 Lamentations 3:41

The act of prayer teaches us our unworthiness, which is a very salutary lesson for such proud beings as we are. If God gave us favours without constraining us to pray for them we should never know how poor we are, but a true prayer is an inventory of wants, a catalogue of necessities, a revelation of hidden poverty. While it is an application to divine wealth, it is a confession of human emptiness. The most healthy state of a Christian is to be always empty in self and constantly depending upon the Lord for supplies; to be always poor in self and rich in Jesus; weak as water personally, but mighty through God to do great exploits; and hence the use of prayer, because, while it adores God, it lays the creature where it should be, in the very dust.

禱告讓我們知道自己的不配，這對於我們這樣驕傲的人來說是非常有益的教訓。
假如上帝賜予我們恩惠而不要求我們為此祈禱，我們將永遠不會知道自己有多麼貧乏，

但真正的祈禱是需求的清單，必需品的目錄，一份隱藏的貧窮的揭示。

雖然它是一種尋求財富的應用，但卻是人性空虛的自白。
基督徒最健康的狀態是始終在自我中空虛，並不斷依靠主的供應；
永遠在自我中貧窮，在耶穌裡卻富足；
個人軟弱如水，但藉著神有能力行大事；
因此，禱告是有用的，因為它在敬拜神的同時，也把受造物放在它應該在的地方，就是塵土之中。

1. Prayer is in itself, apart from the answer which it brings, a great benefit to the Christian. As the runner gains strength for the race by daily exercise, so for the great race of life we acquire energy by the hallowed labor of prayer.

   除了禱告所帶來的回應之外，禱告本身對基督徒也有很大的益處。
   就像跑步者藉著每天的運動來獲得比賽的力量一樣，我們也藉著禱告的聖工來獲得生命大賽的能量。




2. Prayer plumes the wings of God’s young eaglets, that they may learn to mount above the clouds.

   禱告為神的幼鷹插上翅膀，讓他們學會飛上雲端。




3. Prayer girds the loins of God’s warriors, and sends them forth to combat with their sinews braced and their muscles firm. An earnest pleader cometh out of his closet, even as the sun ariseth from the chambers of the east, rejoicing like a strong man to run his race.

   禱告能束緊神戰士的腰，使他們筋骨強健，肌肉結實，前去戰鬥。
   懇切禱告的人從內屋(馬太福音 Matt. 6:6)裏出來，就像太陽從東方的宮殿裏出來，歡歡喜喜，像一個健壯的人要跑他的路程。




4. Prayer is that uplifted hand of Moses which routs the Amalekites more than the sword of Joshua; it is the arrow shot from the chamber of the prophet foreboding defeat to the Syrians.

   禱告是摩西高舉的手，比約書亞的劍更能擊敗亞瑪力人(出埃及記 Exo 17:11-13)；
   禱告是先知預言亞蘭人戰敗的箭 (列王紀下 2 Kings 13:17-19)，從先知以利沙的房間射出。




5. Prayer girds human weakness with divine strength, turns human folly into heavenly wisdom, and gives to troubled mortals the peace of God.

   禱告以神的力量遮蔽人類的軟弱，將人類的愚昧轉化成屬天的智慧，並將神的平安賜給煩惱的凡人。

We know not what prayer cannot do!

我們不知道禱告不能做什麼！

We thank thee, great God, for the mercy-seat, a choice proof of thy marvellous lovingkindness. Help us to use it aright throughout this day!

我們感謝祢，偉大的神，因為祢的憐憫座席，是祢奇妙慈愛的明證。請幫助我們在這一天正確地使用它！

Our Every Ready Weapon of All Prayer
禱告是我們隨時可用的武器

"Their prayer came up to his holy dwelling place, even unto heaven.” — 2 Chronicles 30:2

"他們的禱告達到天上的聖所" — 歷代志下 Chronicles 30:27

Prayer is the never-failing resort of the Christian in any case, in every plight. When you cannot use your sword you may take to the weapon of all-prayer. Your powder may be damp, your bow-string may be relaxed, but the weapon of all-prayer need never be out of order. Leviathan laughs at the javelin, but he trembles at prayer. Sword and spear need furbishing, but prayer never rusts, and when we think it most blunt it cuts the best. Prayer is an open door which none can shut. Devils may surround you on all sides, but the way upward is always open, and as long as that road is unobstructed, you will not fall into the enemy’s hand. We can never be taken by blockade, escalade, mine, or storm, so long as heavenly succors can come down to us by Jacob’s ladder to relieve us in the time of our necessities. Prayer is never out of season: in summer and in winter its merchandise is precious. Prayer gains audience with heaven in the dead of night, in the midst of business, in the heat of noonday, in the shades of evening. In every condition, whether of poverty, or sickness, or obscurity, or slander, or doubt, your covenant God will welcome your prayer and answer it from his holy place. Nor is prayer ever futile. True prayer is evermore true power. You may not always get what you ask, but you shall always have your real wants supplied. When God does not answer his children according to the letter, he does so according to the spirit. If thou askest for coarse meal, wilt thou be angered because he gives thee the finest flour? If thou seekest bodily health, shouldst thou complain if instead thereof he makes thy sickness turn to the healing of spiritual maladies? Is it not better to have the cross sanctified than removed? This evening, my soul, forget not to offer thy petition and request, for the Lord is ready to grant thee thy desires.

禱告是信徒戰鬥的武器。當戰爭對我們來說太艱難時，我們就呼召我們偉大的盟友，祂就像埋伏在暗處，直到信心發出信號，呼喊：「耶和華啊，求你起來！」(詩篇 Ps 10:12)

禱告是基督徒在任何情況、任何困境中永遠不會失敗的方法。
當你不能使用劍時，你可以使用禱告的武器。你的火藥可能濕了，你的弓弦可能鬆了，但禱告的武器永遠不會失靈。
鱷魚(以賽亞書 Isa 27:1 …就是那快行的蛇…)會嘲笑標槍，但他會因祈禱而顫抖。
劍和矛需要修整，但禱告永不生銹；當我們認為禱告是最鈍的時候，它卻是最鋒利的。

禱告是一扇敞開的門，沒有人能把它關上。
魔鬼可能四面圍繞著你，但向上的路永遠是開放的，只要這條路沒有攔阻，你就不會落入敵人的手中。
只要天國的援手能藉著雅各的梯子降臨我們，在我們需要的時候幫助我們，我們就永遠不會被攔阻、攻擊、地雷或暴風雨攻擊

禱告永不過時：無論在夏天或冬天，禱告的商品都是珍貴的。禱告在夜深人靜時、在公事繁忙時、在炎熱的正午時、在陰暗的黃昏時，都能獲得上天的接見。在任何情況下，無論是貧窮、疾病、晦暗、誹謗或懷疑，你所立約的神都會歡迎你的禱告，並從祂的聖所回應你的禱告。

禱告也不是徒勞的。真正的禱告比任何時候都更有能力。你不一定會得到你所求的，但你真正的需要總會得到供應。當神不按字面回應祂的兒女時，祂會按靈意回應。如果你求的是粗飯，你會因為他給你最好的麵粉而生氣嗎？如果你追求身體的健康，如果他使你的疾病轉為醫治靈性的疾病，你還要抱怨嗎？十字架被聖化豈不比被除去更好嗎？

今天晚上，我的靈魂，不要忘記提出你的請願和要求，因為主已準備好允許你的願望。

Prayer and the Promises of God
禱告與神的應許

God’s promises are the peculiar treasure of believers. The substance of faith’s heritage lies in them. All the promises of our covenant God are ours to have and to hold as our personal possession. By faith we receive and embrace them, and they constitute our true riches. We have certain most precious things which we can freely enjoy at this present time, but the capital of our wealth, the bulk of our estate lies in the promise of our God. That which we have in hand is only the earnest penny of the immeasurable wage of grace which is to be paid to us in due time… Nor must I forget to remind you that the promise is part of the economy of our spiritual condition here below because it excites prayer. What is prayer but the promise pleaded? A promise is, so to speak, the raw material of prayer. Prayer irrigates the fields of life with the waters which are stored up in the reservoirs of promise. The promise is the power of prayer. We go to God, and we say to Him, “Do as thou hast said. Oh Lord, here is thy word; we ask thee to fulfill it.” Thus the promise is the bow by which we shoot the arrows of supplication. I like in my time of trouble to find a promise which exactly fits my need and then to put my finger on it and say, “Lord, this is thy word. I ask you to prove that it is so, by carrying it out in my case. I believe that this is thine own writing and I pray that you make it good to my faith.” I believe in plenary inspiration, and I humbly look to the Lord for a plenary fulfillment of every sentence that he has put on record. I delight to hold the Lord to the very words that he has used and to expect him to do as he has said because he has said it. It is a great thing to be driven to prayer by necessity. It is a better thing to be drawn to it by the expectation which the promise arouses. Should we pray at all if God did not find us an occasion for praying and then encourage us with gracious promises of an answer? As it is, in the order of providence we are tried, and then we try the promises. We are brought to spiritual hunger, and then we are fed on the Word which proceeds out of the mouth of God.

神的應許是信徒特有的寶藏。信仰遺產的實質就在其中。我們立約之神的所有應許都是我們所擁有的，並作為我們個人的財產。我們憑著信心接受並擁有這些應許，它們就構成了我們真正的財富。我們擁有某些最珍貴的東西，我們可以在此時自由享用，但我們財富的本金、我們財產的大部分都在於我們神的應許。我們手中所擁有的，只是在適當時候要付給我們的恩典中不可估量的工錢的真金白银…

我也不能忘記提醒你們，應許是我們在這世上屬靈狀況的經濟的一部分，因為它激發我們禱告。

禱告是什麼？可以說，應許是禱告的原料。禱告用儲藏在應許的水庫裡的水灌溉生命的田地。應許是禱告的力量。我們到神面前，對祂說：「照你所說的去行。主啊，這是祢的話，我們求祢成就它。因此，應許是我們射出祈求之箭的弓。在我遇到困難的時候，我喜歡找到一個完全符合我需要的應許，然後用手指著它說：「主啊，這是祢的話。我請求祢在我身上實踐，證明這是真的。我相信這是祢親手所寫的，我祈求祢使它符合我的信仰。我相信全然的靈感，我謙卑地期待主全然實現他記錄在案的每一句話。我很樂意讓主遵守他所使用過的字句，並期望他說得出就做得到。因需要而禱告是一件偉大的事。 更好的做法是被應許所引起的期望所吸引。
如果神沒有為我們找一個禱告的場合，然後用親切的應許鼓勵我們，我們還應該禱告嗎?事實上，在天意的安排下，我們受到試煉，然後我們試煉應許。我們被帶到屬靈的饑餓，然後我們以神口中所出的道為食。

The precious promises of our great God are expressly intended to be taken to Him and exchanged for the blessings which they guarantee. Prayer takes the promise to the Bank of Faith and obtains the golden blessing. Mind how you pray. Make real business of it. Let it never be a dead formality. Some people pray a long time but do not get what they are supposed to ask for because they do not plead the promise in a truthful, business–like way. If you were to go into a bank and stand an hour talking to the clerk and then come out again without your cash, what would be the good of it? If I go to a bank, I pass my check across the counter, take up my money, and go about my business. That is the best way of praying. Ask for what you want, because the Lord has promised it. Believe that you have the blessing, and go forth to your work in full assurance of it. Go from your knees singing because the promise is fulfilled. Thus will your prayer be answered. It is not the length of your prayer, but the strength of your prayer which wins with God. The strength of prayer lies in your faith in the promise which you have pleaded before the Lord.

我們偉大的上帝的寶貴應許，是明確地要被帶到祂面前，並兌換為它們所保證的祝福。
禱告把應許帶到信心的銀行，並獲得從神而來的金色的祝福(請參看The Golden Blessing Was Given Through A Mediator. 金色的祝福是通過中保(耶穌)賜予的的解釋。有關金色及黃金的代表意義，請參看圣经中的黄金不只是闪闪发光)。
注意你的禱告方式。要認真對待它。切莫淪為形式主義。
有些人祈禱了很久，卻沒有得到他們應該祈求的東西，因為他們沒有以誠實、正經的方式祈求應許。
如果你到銀行去，站一個小時跟店員說話，然後再出來時卻沒有提款，那有什麼好處呢？如果我去銀行，我把支票遞過櫃台，取得我的錢，然後去做我的事。這是最好的祈禱方式。
祈求你想要的，因為主已經應許了。
相信你已經有了祝福，然後信心十足地去做你的工作。因為應許已經實現，所以你要跪下來稱頌 神。
這樣，你的禱告就會得到應允。在神面前勝利的不是禱告的長短，而是禱告的力量。禱告的力量在於你在神面前所懇求的應許的信心。

Specificity in Prayer
禱告的具體祈求內容

King David knew what the Lord had engaged to give him, and he referred to it specially in his prayer as “this good thing” (2 Sa 7:28b). We greatly need to be more definite in our supplications than we usually are. We pray for everything in such a way that we practically pray for nothing. It is good to know what we want. Hence our Lord said to the blind man, “What wilt thou that I should do unto thee?” (Mark 10:51). He wished him to be aware of his own needs and to be filled with earnest desires concerning those needs. These are valuable ingredients in the composition of prayer.

大衛王知道耶和華要賜給他什麼，他在禱告中特別提到「你也應許將這福氣賜給僕人。」（撒下 2 Samuel 7:28b）。
我們在禱告時要比平常更明確。我們為每件事祈禱，實際上我們什麼都不祈禱。知道我們想要什麼是好的。
因此我們的主對瞎子(巴底買)說：「要我為你做什麼？」(馬可福音 Mark 10:51) 。祂希望他知道自己的需要，並對這些需要充滿懇切的願望。這些都是禱告的寶貴成分。

The Holy Spirit, Your Great Teacher
聖靈，偉大的導師

When we have no commentator or minister, we still have the Holy Spirit. Let me tell you a little secret: Whenever you cannot understand a text, open your Bible, bend your knee, and pray over that text. If it does not split into atoms and open itself, try again. If prayer does not explain it, it is one of the things God did not intend you to know, and you may be content to be ignorant of it. Prayer is the key that opens the cabinets of mystery. Prayer and faith are sacred picklocks that can open secrets and obtain great treasures. There is no college for holy education like that of the blessed Spirit, for He is an ever-present tutor. We only have to bend the knee, and He is at our side, the great expositor of truth.

當我們沒有註釋者或牧師時，我們仍然有聖靈。
讓我告訴你一個小秘密：
每當你不明白一段經文時，打開你的聖經，彎下你的膝蓋，對著那段經文祈禱。
如果它沒有分裂成為原子並自行打開，再試一次。
如果禱告無法解釋它，那就是 神不想讓你知道的事情之一，你可能會滿足於對它的無知。
禱告是打開神秘之櫃的鑰匙。祈禱和信心是神聖的撬鎖器，可以打開秘密，獲得巨大的寶藏。
沒有任何一所聖潔教育學院比得上蒙福的聖靈，因為祂是永遠存在的導師。
我們只要屈膝，祂就在我們身邊，是真理的偉大解說者。

Prayer — When?
何時禱告

"Early will I seek thee. (KJV)" Possession breeds desire. Full assurance is no hindrance to diligence, but is the mainspring of it. He is up at cockcrowing to meet his God. Communion with God is so sweet that the chill of the morning is forgotten, and the luxury of the couch is despised. The psalmist consecrates the morning to prayer and devout fellowship. The best people have been early on their knees.

「我要早早尋求你(合和本：我要切切地尋求你！)」。(詩 Ps 63:1）擁有滋生渴慕。完全的確信並非勤奮的阻礙，而是勤奮的主要動力。
詩篇作者雞鳴即起，是為了與他的神相會。與神相交是如此甜蜜，以至於忘卻了清晨的寒冷，也輕視了臥榻的舒適。
他將清晨獻給禱告和虔誠的團契交通。
最優秀的人總是早早地跪下祈禱。

Pause a little while before you pray, that you may not offer the sacrifice of fools. Get a distinct idea of your need, and then you can pray with more fluency of fervency.

在禱告之前先停一停，以免獻上愚拙的祭物。要清楚知道自己的需要，然後才可以更流利、更熱情地禱告。

Spurgeon testifies "I had need to beware of lean prayers, lean praises, lean duties, and lean experiences, for these will eat up the fat of my comfort and peace. If I neglect prayer for ever so short a time, I lose all the spirituality to which I had attained; if I draw no fresh supplies from heaven, the old corn in my granary is soon consumed by the famine which rages in my soul."

司布真見證：「我需要小心禱告、讚美、責任和經歷的不足，因為這些都會蠶食我安慰和平安的脂油。
如果我在很短的時間內忽略禱告，我就會失去我所達到的所有靈性；如果我沒有從天上獲得新的補給，我穀倉裡的舊穀物很快就會被我靈魂中肆虐的饑荒消耗殆盡。

Prayer must not be our random work but our daily business, our habit, and our vocation. As artists give themselves to their models, and poets to their classical pursuits, so must we surrender ourselves to prayer. We must be immersed in prayer as in our element and so “pray without ceasing” (1Thess 5:17). Lord, teach us to pray that we may be more prevalent in supplication. The common fault with the most of us is our readiness to yield to distractions. Our thoughts go roving hither and thither, and we make little progress towards our desired end. Like quicksilver, our minds will not hold together but roll off this way and that. How great an evil this is! It injures us, and, what is worse, it insults our God.

禱告不能是我們隨便的工作，而是我們的日常事務、習慣和天職。
正如藝術家把自己交給他們的模特兒，詩人把自己交給他們的古典追求，我們也必須把自己交給禱告。
我們必須沉浸在禱告中，就像沉浸在自己的生命中一樣，所以要「不住地祈禱」（帖前 1 The 5:17）。
主啊，求你教導我們禱告，使我們更常祈求。
我們大多數人的共同缺點是容易分心。我們的思緒飄蕩不定，朝著所要達到的目標卻沒有什麼進展。我們的心思就像流銀一樣，不會凝聚在一起，而是滾到這邊又滾到那邊。
這是多麼大的罪惡！它傷害我們，更糟糕的是，它侮辱了我們的神。

Prayer and Understanding Scripture
禱告與理解經文

Dear friends, whenever you want to understand a text of Scripture, try to read the original. Consult anybody who has studied what the original means, but remember that the quickest way into a text is praying in the Holy Ghost. Pray the chapter over. I do not hesitate to say that if a chapter is read upon one’s knees, looking up at every word to Him that gave it, the meaning will come to you with infinitely more light than by any other method of studying it.

親愛的朋友，每當你想了解一段經文時，請嘗試閱讀原文。
請教任何研究過原文意思的人，但請記住，進入經文的最快方法是在聖靈裡禱告。
將這章禱告一遍。我可以毫不猶豫地說，如果跪下來讀一章經文，每字每句都仰望賜下它的神，它的意義就會比任何其他的研讀方法更明顯。

Prayer Meeting
禱告會

When he had considered the thing, he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark; where many were gathered together praying”— Acts 12:12.

想了一想，就往那稱呼馬可的約翰他母親馬利亞家去，在那裡有好些人聚集禱告。— 使徒行傳 Acts 12:12。

"… On all occasions “many were gathered together praying.” While praying the Spirit of God came down upon them; while praying the Spirit often separated this man and that for special work; while praying their hearts grew warm with inward fire; while praying their tongues were unloosed, and they went forth to speak to the people; and while praying the Lord opened to them the treasures of his grace. By prayer they were protected, and by prayer they grew; and if our churches are to live and grow they must be watered from the self-same source. “Let us pray,” is one of the most needful watchwords which I can suggest to Christian men and women, for if we will but pray, prayer will fill up the pools in the valley of Baca, yea, and open to us all the channels of that river of God which is full of water, the streams whereof make glad the city of our God.

「...在各種場合，」許多人聚集在一起禱告。
在禱告的時候，神的靈降臨到他們身上；
在禱告的時候，神的靈經常分派這個人和那個人去做特別的工作；
在禱告的時候，他們的心被內在的火焰燒得暖暖的；
在禱告的時候，他們的口舌被釋放出來，他們就出去對人說話；
在禱告的時候，主向他們開啟祂恩典的寶庫。
禱告使他們得保護，禱告使他們成長；
如果我們的教會要生存和成長，就必須從同樣的源頭澆灌。
「讓我們禱告 」是我能向基督徒男女們提出的最需要的警句之一，
因為只要我們禱告，禱告就會填滿巴卡山谷(譯註：即流淚谷，詩篇 Psalm 84:6)中的水池，
是的，並向我們打開神那滿有水的河流的所有渠道，其中的溪流會使我們 神的城喜樂。

Prayer and Praise
禱告與讚美(1)

Come, believer, when you pray, you are but a man, but when you praise, you are as an angel. When you ask favor, you are but a beggar, but when you stand up to extol, you become next of kin to cherubim and seraphim… If I were to put to you the question, “Do you pray?” the answer would very quickly given by every Christian, “Of course I do.”

Suppose I then added, “And do you pray every day?” the prompt reply would be, “Yes, many times in the day.
I could not live without prayer.” This is no more than I would expect. However, let me change the inquiry and ask, “Do you bless God every day? Is praise as certain and constant a practice with you as prayer?” I am not sure that the answer would be quite so certain, so generous, or so prompt. You would have to stop a little while before you gave the reply. I fear in some cases, when the reply did come, it would be, “I am afraid I have been negligent in praise.” Well, dear friend, have you not been wrong? Should we omit praise any more than we omit prayer? Should not praise come daily and as many times in the day as prayer does? It strikes me that to fail in praise is as unjustifiable as to fail in prayer. I will leave it with your own heart and conscience, when you have answered the question, to see to it in the future that far more of the sweet frankincense of praise is mingled with your daily offering of prayer. Praise is certainly not at all so common in family prayer as other forms of worship. We cannot all of us praise God in the family by joining in song, because we are not all able to carry a tune, but it would be well if we could. I agree with Matthew Henry when he says, “They that pray in the family do well; they that pray and read the Scriptures do better; but they that pray, and read, and sing do best of all.” There is a completeness in that kind of family worship which is much to be desired.

來吧，信徒，當你祈禱時，你只是一個人，但當你讚美時，你就像天使一樣。
當你祈求時，你只是一個乞丐，但當你站起來讚美時，你就成為基路伯和撒拉弗的近親...
如果我問你一個問題：「你禱告嗎？」每個基督徒都會很快回答：「我當然禱告」。
如果我再問：「你每天都禱告嗎？」很快的回答會是：「是的，一天中有很多次。我不能沒有禱告。」這回答和我預料的一樣。
但是，讓我換個問題，問：「你每天都會讚美上帝嗎？讚美上帝是否像禱告一樣成為你經常做的事？」我不確定答案是否會如此肯定，如此大方，或如此迅速。你必須停頓一會兒再答覆。
在某些情況下，回答可能會是：「我恐怕我疏忽了讚美」。
親愛的朋友，難道你沒有錯嗎？
我們是否應該像忽略禱告一樣忽略讚美呢？
難道讚美不應該像禱告一樣每天都做嗎？
在我看來，讚美失敗和禱告失敗一樣，都是沒有道理的。
當你回答了這個問題之後，我會讓你自己的心和良知來決定，以後要注意在你每天獻上的禱告中，夾雜更多讚美的甜美乳香。
在家庭禱告中，讚美肯定不像其他形式的敬拜那麼普遍。
在家庭中，我們不可能所有人都齊聲讚美神，因為我們不是每個人都會唱歌，但如果我們能這樣做就好了。
我同意 Matthew Henry 的說法：「在家中禱告的人做得很好；禱告並讀經的人做得更好；但禱告、讀經和唱詩的人做得最好。」這種家庭敬拜的完整性是非常值得期待的。

Prayer heard should always suggest praise. It were well if we were more demonstrative in our holy rejoicings. We rob God by suppressing grateful emotions.

已被垂聽的禱告應該被讚美。如果我們在神聖的歡樂中能夠更明顯地表達自己，那就更好了。我們壓抑感恩的情感，因此而掠奪了上帝的榮耀。

"And my prayer unto the God of my life" (Ps 42:8). Prayer is yoked with praise. The living God is the God of our life; from him we derive it, with him in prayer and praise we spend it, to him we devote it, in him we shall perfect it. To be assured that our sighs and songs will both have free access to our glorious Lord is to have reasons for hope in the most deplorable condition.

「我要對神我的磐石說」（詩 Ps 42:8）。
禱告與讚美同歸於神。
永生的神是我們生命的神；我們的生命來自祂，我們在禱告和讚美中與祂一同度過，我們將我們的生命奉獻給祂，我們將在祂裡面完善我們的生命。
我們的嘆息和詩歌都可以自由地進入我們榮耀的主面前，這就是我們在最悲慘的情況下仍有希望的理由。

Prayer and the Place of Meditation
禱告與默想的關係

Do we not miss very much of the sweetness and efficacy of prayer by lack of careful meditation before it and of hopeful expectation after it? We too often rush into the presence of God without forethought or humility. We should be careful to keep the stream of meditation always running, for this is the water to drive the mill of prayer. Prayer without preparation is hawking with a blind falcon. Prayer is the work of the Holy Spirit, but he works by means. The Holy Spirit is the author of prayer, but he employs the thoughts of a fervent soul as the gold with which to fashion the vessel. Let not our prayers and praises be the flashes of a hot and hasty brain, but the steady burning of a well-kindled fire. Furthermore, we forget to watch for the result of our prayers. We sow the seed and are too ideal to seek a harvest. Let holy preparation link hands with patient expectation, and we shall have far larger answers to our prayers.

我們在禱告之前沒有仔細默想，在禱告之後也沒有滿懷盼望，這樣豈不是錯過了很多禱告的甜美和功效嗎？
我們常常沒有經過深思熟慮或謙卑就匆忙進入神的面前。
我們應當小心保持默想的水流常流動，因為這是驅動禱告的水源。
沒有預備的禱告是盲目的鷹獵。
禱告是聖靈的工作，但祂的工作是有方法的。
聖靈是禱告的創造者，但祂使用虔誠靈魂的思想作為塑造容器的金子。
讓我們的禱告和讚美不是熱切大腦的閃光，而是熊熊燃燒的火焰。
此外，我們忘記留意禱告的結果。我們播下種子，而過於理想化不尋求收成。
讓聖潔的預備與耐心的期待連成一線，我們的祈禱就會有更大的回應。

Proper Repetition in Prayer
正確重複禱告

"Hear a just cause, O Lord, give heed to my cry! Give ear to my prayer, which is not from deceitful lips." — Ps 17:1 NKJV

耶和華啊，求你聽聞公義，側耳聽我的呼籲，求你留心聽我這不出於詭詐嘴唇的祈禱。— 詩篇 Ps 17:1

Some repetitions are not vain. The reduplication here used is neither superstition nor tautology,  but is like the repeated blow of a hammer hitting the same nail on the head to fix it the more effectually.

有些重複並非徒然。
這裡使用的重複既不是迷信，也不是同義反覆，而是像錘子重複敲擊同一個釘子的頭部，使其更有效地固定。

The Port of All Prayer is Always Open
所有禱告的港口永遠開放

Satan knows how to blockade our coasts with the iron warships of sorrow, but, blessed be God, the port of all prayer is still open, and grace can run the blockade bearing messages from earth to heaven, and blessings in return from heaven to earth… Prayer is that postern (private entrance) gate which is left open even when the city is straitly besieged by the enemy… It is never an ill time to pray; no distress should prevent us from using the divine remedy of supplication… the operation of prayer with God is immediate and personal. We may cry with confident and familiar importunity, while our Father himself listens.

撒旦知道如何用憂傷的鐵艦封鎖我們的海岸，
但讚美 神，所有禱告的港口仍然開放，恩典可以穿過封鎖，帶著從地上到天上的信息，以及從天上到地上的祝福…禱告從來都不是壞時機；
禱告是一扇後門（私密的入口），即使在整個城市被敵人嚴密圍繞之時仍然開著… 任何時候的祈禱都是合時宜的；任何困境都不應阻止我們使用祈禱這神聖良方……與上帝的祈禱行動是直接而且是個人的。我們可以充滿信心、熟知地祈求，而我們的天父會親自聆聽。

Mountain Moving Prayer  
移山的禱告

"Then the earth shook and quaked and the foundations of the mountains were trembling And were shaken, because He was angry." — Ps 18:7 NASB

那時因他發怒，地就搖撼戰抖，山的根基也震動搖撼。— 詩篇 Ps 18:7

Observe how the most solid and immovable things feel the force of supplication. Prayer has shaken houses, opened prison doors, and made stout hearts to quail. Prayer rings the alarm bell, and the Master of the house arises to the rescue, shaking all things beneath his tread… See how prayer moves earth and heaven, and raises storms to overthrow in a moment the foes of God’s Israel. Things were bad for David before he prayed, but they were much worse for his foes so soon as the petition had gone up to heaven. A trustful heart, by enlisting the divine aid, turns the tables on its enemies. If I must have an enemy let him not be a man of prayer, or he will get the better of me by calling his God into the quarrel.

觀察最堅固和不動的東西是如何感受到懇求的力量的：
禱告使房屋震動，使監獄的門打開，使剛強的心畏縮。
禱告敲響了警鐘，房主就起來拯救，腳踩大地，震動萬物。
看看禱告如何撼動天地，掀起風暴，在瞬間擊敗神的以色列的敵人。
在大衛禱告之前，他面臨困境，但一旦他的請願上達天聽，他的仇敵卻遭遇更大厄運。
一個充滿信賴的心，依靠 神的幫助，反過來擊敗它的敵人。
如果我一定要有一個敵人，就不要讓他是一個禱告的人，否則他會因叫他的神介入爭端而取得優勢。

Prayers of the Wicked
惡人的禱告

"They cried for help, but there was none to save, Even to the Lord, but He did not answer them." — Ps 18:41 NASB

他們呼求，卻無人拯救；就是呼求耶和華，他也不應允。 — 詩篇 Ps 18:41

Prayer is so notable a weapon that even the wicked will take to it in their fits of desperation. Bad men have appealed to God against God’s own servants, but all in vain; the kingdom of heaven is not divided, and God never succors his foes at the expense of his friends. There are prayers to God which are no better than blasphemy, which bring no comfortable reply, but rather provoke the Lord to greater wrath.

禱告是如此顯著的武器，甚至惡人在絕望時也會使用它。
壞人向 神祈求對付神自己的僕人，但都是徒勞的；
天國不會分裂，神從不以犧牲祂的朋友來幫助祂的敵人。
有些向上帝的祈禱無異於褻瀆，不但得不到適的回應，反而激起 神更大的憤怒。

Prayer and Presumptuous Sins
禱告和任意妄為的罪

"Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me:" — Ps 19:13a

求你攔阻僕人，不犯任意妄為的罪，不容這罪轄制我，我便完全，免犯大罪。— 詩篇 Ps  19:13a

This earnest and humble prayer teaches us that saints may fall into the worst of sins unless restrained by grace, and that therefore they must watch and pray lest they enter into temptation. There is a natural proneness to sin in the best of people, and they must be held back as a horse is held back by the bit or they will run into it. Presumptuous sins are particularly dangerous. All sins are great sins, but yet some sins are greater than others. Every sin has in it the very venom of rebellion; but there are some sins which have in them a greater development of the essential mischief of rebellion, and which wear upon their faces more of the brazen pride which defies the Most High. It is wrong to suppose that because all sins will condemn us, that therefore one sin is not greater than another. The presumptuous sins of our text are the chief and worst of all sins.

這個懇切謙卑的禱告教導我們，聖徒除非受到恩典的約束，否則可能會陷入最嚴重的罪(任意妄為的罪)中，因此他們必須儆醒禱告，免得進入試探中。
最優秀的人都有犯罪的天性，他們必須被牽制住，就像馬被馬的嚼環牽制住一樣，否則他們就會陷入罪中。
任意妄為的罪尤其危險。所有的罪都是大罪，但有些罪比其他罪更大。
每一個罪都包含了反叛的毒素；但是有些罪包含了更大的反叛本質，並且表現出更多挑釁至高者的驕傲。
不能假設因為所有的罪都會定我們為罪，所以一個罪就不比另一個更嚴重，這是錯誤的。
詩篇 19:13 的經文裡指出，任意妄為的罪是所有罪中最主要和最壞的。

有關於「任意妄為的罪」，請參照本網站的解釋 :
任意妄為的罪：本質、聖經案例與屬靈意義

Prayer and Meditation
禱告與默想

"Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, my rock and my Redeemer." — Ps 19:14 NASB

耶和華我的磐石，我的救贖主啊，願我口中的言語、心裡的意念在你面前蒙悅納。 — 詩篇 Ps  19:14

A sweet prayer, and so spiritual that it is almost as commonly used in Christian worship as the apostolic benediction. Words are mockery if the heart does not meditate; but both together are useless unless accepted; and even if accepted by man, it is all vanity if not acceptable in the sight of God. We must in prayer view Jehovah as our strength enabling, and our Redeemer saving, or we shall not pray aright, and it is well to feel our personal interest so as to use the word my, or our prayers will be hindered. Blessed Redeemer, give us now to meditate acceptably upon thy most sweet love and tenderness.

這是一句甜美的禱告經文，非常屬靈，在基督徒的敬拜中，幾乎和使徒的祝禱文一樣常用。
心若不默想，言語就是一種嘲諷；但若不被接納，默想和言語兩者加起來都是無用的；即使被人接納，若在 神眼中不被接納，也是枉然的。
在禱告中，我們必須視耶和華為我們的力量，使我們得力；我們的救贖主，拯救我們，否則我們的禱告就不正確。
賜福我們的救贖主，讓我們現在默想祢最甜蜜的愛與溫柔。

Prayer and New Birth
禱告與新生

Prayer is the autograph of the Holy Spirit upon the renewed heart. Nothing can make a true believer cease praying; it is a part of his nature, and pray he must. Saints are first called of God, and then they call upon God; such calls as theirs always obtain answers. Not without prayer will the blessing come to the most favored, but by means of prayer they will receive all good things.

禱告是聖靈在更新的心上親筆簽署的筆跡。
沒有任何事物能使一個真正的信徒停止禱告；禱告是他本性的一部分，他必須禱告。
聖徒先被神呼召，然後他們呼求神；他們的呼求總是會得到回應。
即使是最蒙恩的人，若沒有禱告，祝福也不會降臨，但藉著禱告，他們將獲得一切美好的事物。

The Soul and Prayer
禱告與靈魂

"To Thee, O Lord, I lift up my soul" — Ps 25:1

耶和華啊，我的心仰望你。 — 詩篇 Ps 25:1

See how the holy soul flies to its God like a dove to its cote. When the stormwinds are out, the Lord’s vessels put about and make for their well-remembered harbor of refuge. What a mercy that the Lord will condescend to hear our cries in time of trouble, although we may have almost forgotten him in our hours of fancied prosperity. It is but mockery to lift up the hands and the eyes unless we also bring our souls into our devotions. True prayer may be described as the soul rising from earth to have fellowship with heaven; it is taking a journey upon Jacob’s ladder, leaving our cares and fears at the foot, and meeting with a covenant God at the top. Very often the soul cannot rise, she has lost her wings, and is heavy and earth-bound; more like a burrowing mole than a soaring eagle. At such dull seasons we must not give over prayer, but must, by God’s assistance, exert all our powers to lift up our hearts. But what a lift it has sometimes proved! With all our tugging and straining we have been utterly defeated, until our Saviour’s love has displayed its omnipotent attractions, and then our hearts have gone up like flames of fire… As long as the anchor of faith holds there is no fear in the worst tempest; if that should fail us there would be no hope left. We must see to it that our faith is sound and strong, for otherwise prayer cannot prevail with God. Woe to the warrior who throws away his shield; what defense can be found for him who finds no defense in his God?

看看聖潔的靈魂如何飛向 神，就像鴿子飛向它的巢穴。
當風暴來臨時，屬主的船隻就會掉頭，駛向他們熟記的避難港。
儘管我們在虛偽的繁榮時光中幾乎忘記了主，但主仍會在患難中垂聽我們的呼求，這是何等的慈悲。
除非我們也將我們的靈魂帶入我們的禱告中，否則舉起雙手和雙眼只是一種諷刺。
真正的禱告可以說是靈魂從地上升起，與天相交；是在雅各的梯子上下往返(創世紀 Gen 28:10-22)，把我們的憂慮和恐懼留在梯子腳下，在梯子頂上與立約的 神會面。
很多時候，靈魂無法站起來，她失去了翅膀，變得沉重、被地束縛；更像一隻穴居的鼴鼠，而不是一隻翱翔的鷹。
在這種沉悶的時刻，我們不能放棄禱告，而必須靠著神的幫助，盡我們所有的力量來提升我們的心。
但事實證明，有時這是多麼的艱難！
只要信心的錨還在，再大的風浪也不怕；如果信心的錨失效了，我們就沒有希望了。
我們必須確保我們的信心是健全堅固的，否則禱告就不能在神面前得勝。
拋棄盾牌的戰士有禍了；在神裡找不到防禦的人，他還能找到什麼防禦呢？

Prayer and Answers
禱告與回應

We may expect answers to prayer, and should not be easy without them any more than we should be if we had written a letter to a friend upon important business, and had received no reply.

我們可以期望禱告得到回應，但如果沒有回應，我們就會感到不安，就好比我們給朋友寫了一封有關重要事務的信，卻沒有收到回覆一樣。

Genuine suppliants are not satisfied with the results of prayer itself in calming the mind and subduing the will—they must go further and obtain actual replies from heaven, at once if possible; they dread even a little of God’s silence. When God seems to close his ear, we must not therefore close our mouths, but rather cry with more earnestness; for when our note grows shrill with eagerness and grief, he will not long deny us a hearing. What a dreadful case should we be in if the Lord should become forever silent to our prayers! This thought suggested itself to David ("Do not be deaf to me" Ps 28:1), and he turned it into a plea, thus teaching us to argue and reason with God in our prayers. Deprived of God who answers prayer, we should be in a more pitiable plight than the dead in the grave, and should soon sink to the same level as the lost in hell. We must have answers to prayer: ours is an urgent case of dire necessity; surely the Lord will speak peace to our agitated minds, for he never can find it in his heart to permit his own elect to perish… We cannot be put off with a refusal when we are in the spirit of prayer; we labor and agonize until a hearing is granted… Answered prayers should be acknowledged. We should live daily in the heavenly atmosphere of thankful love.

真誠的祈禱者並不滿足於祈禱本身在平靜心靈和制服意志方面的效果
──他們必須更進一步，從天上得到實際的回應，如果可能的話，立刻得到；他們甚至害怕神的一點點沉默。
當神似乎閉上耳朵時，我們不要因此而閉口，反而要更懇切地呼求；因為當我們的聲音因急切和悲傷而變得尖銳時，祂不會拒絕聽我們的聲音太久。
如果主永遠對我們的禱告保持沉默，我們的處境會是何等的可怕！
大衛有這樣的想法（「不要向我緘默！」詩 Ps 28:1），他把這個想法轉化為懇求，因此教導我們在禱告中與 神辯論和理論。
如果我們沒有回應禱告的神，我們的處境應該比死在墳墓中的人更可憐，而且很快就會沉淪到與失喪在地獄中的人相同的地步。
我們的禱告必須得到回應：我們的情況極為緊急；主必向我們煩躁的心說平安話，因為祂心中從不允許祂自己的選民滅亡…
當我們在禱告的靈里時，被拒絕不能讓我們氣餒；我們應努力不懈，直到獲得聆聽……；已蒙應允的禱告應該被承認。
我們應該每日生活在感恩愛心的天國氛圍中。

Prayer heard should always suggest praise. It were well if we were more demonstrative in our holy rejoicings. We rob God by suppressing grateful emotions.

已被垂聽的禱告應該被讚美。如果我們在神聖的歡樂中能夠更明顯地表達自己，那就更好了。我們壓抑感恩的情感，因此而掠奪了上帝的榮耀。

"Unanswered" prayer: For our prayer to appear to be unheard is no new trial. Jesus felt it before us. He still held fast on God, and cried still, “My God,” but his faith did not render him less importunate. (troublesome urgency - overly persistent in request or demand) Our Lord continued to pray even though no comfortable answer came, and in this he set us an example of obedience to the words, “men ought always to pray, and not to faint.” No daylight is too glaring and no midnight too dark to pray in; no delay or apparent denial, however grievous, should tempt us to forbear from importunate pleading.

「未蒙應允」的祈禱：我們的禱告似乎未被垂聽，這不是新的試煉。
耶穌比我們更早感受到這一點。祂仍然緊緊倚靠神，仍然呼求：「我的神」，但祂的信心並沒有減少祂的懇切祈禱。
儘管沒有得到令人滿意的答覆，但我們的上帝仍然繼續禱告，
在這方面祂為我們樹立了一個順服的榜樣，就是「要人常常禱告，不可灰心。」(路加福音 Luke 18:1)
。不論白晝多麼明亮，不論夜晚多麼黑暗，總要祈禱的；無論拖延或明顯的拒絕有多麼嚴重，都不應誘使我們放棄堅持不懈的懇求。

Pharisees may rest in their prayers; true believers are eager for an answer to them.

法利賽人可以在他們的禱告中得到安息；真正的信徒則渴望他們的禱告得到回應。

God’s memorial is that he hears prayer, and his glory is that he answers it in a manner fitted to inspire awe in the hearts of his people.

神的記念是祂聆聽禱告，祂的榮耀是祂以適合的方式回應禱告，使祂的子民心生敬畏。

Our experience confirms us in the belief that Jehovah the living God really does aid those who call upon him, and therefore we pray because we really find it to be a practical and effectual means of obtaining help from God in the hour of need. There can be no reason for praying if there be no expectation of the Lord’s answering.

我們的經驗說明了，我們相信永生神耶和華真的會幫助那些求告祂的人，
我們因此禱告是因為我們真的發現禱告是在需要的時候從神那裡獲得幫助的實際而有效的方法。
如果不期待主的應允，就沒有禱告的理由。

Prayer is never lost: if it bless not those for whom intercession is made, it will bless the intercessors. Clouds do not always descend in showers upon the same spot from which the vapors ascended, but they come down somewhere; and so do supplications in some place or other yield their showers of mercy.

禱告從未落空：若不祝福為之代求的人，必祝福代求的人。雲彩並不總是灑落在蒸氣升起的同一個地方，但它們會在某個地方降下；
祈禱也是如此，在某個地方或其他地方灑下憐憫的雨露。

When answers come upon the heels of our prayers they are all the more encouraging.

當我們的禱告得到回應時，就更加令人鼓舞。

Answered prayers bring God very near to us.

蒙應允的禱告使我們與神更加親近。

Prayer may be answered in anger and denied in love. That God gives a man his desire is no proof that he is the object of divine favor; everything depends upon what that desire is.

祈禱可能在憤怒中得到回應，也可能在愛中被拒絕。
上帝滿足了一個人的願望，這並不能證明他是神恩惠的對象；一切都取決於那個願望是什麼。

Answered prayers are silken bonds which bind poor hearts to God. When someone’s prayers are answered, love is the natural result.

蒙應允的禱告是將貧窮的心靈與上帝聯繫在一起的絲綢紐帶。
當某人的禱告得到回應時，愛是自然而然的結果。

When prayer is heard in our feebleness, and answered in the strength and greatness of God, we are strengthened in the habit of prayer, and confirmed in the resolve to make ceaseless intercession.

當我們的禱告在我們的軟弱中蒙垂聽，並在神的剛強和大能中得到回應時，我們在祈禱的習慣上得到力量，並堅決的不斷地代求。

Prayer and Praise
禱告與讚美(2)

Praise as well as prayer was presented to the Father by our Lord Jesus, and we are not truly his followers unless our resolve be, “I will bless the Lord.”

讚美與祈禱都是由主耶穌呈現給天父的，除非我們的決志是 「我要讚美稱頌耶和華」，否則我們就不是祂真正的跟隨者。

The pendulum of spirituality swings from prayer to praise. Spiritual life is prayer and praise. The voice of prayer soon awakens praise.

靈修的鐘擺從禱告擺向讚美。
靈性生活就是禱告和讚美。
禱告的聲音很快就喚醒讚美。

From prayer to praise is never a long or difficult journey. Be sure that he who prays for holiness will one day praise for happiness.

從祈禱到讚美從來都不是一個漫長或困難的旅程。要確信，祈求聖潔的人，總有一天會讚美幸福喜樂。

In our most importunate (troublesome urgency - overly persistent in request or demand) intercessions, we must find breathing time to bless the Lord: praise is never a hindrance to prayer, but rather a lively refreshment therein.

我們必須在我們最迫切的代禱中，尋找到讚美主的呼吸時間：
讚美從不是禱告的阻礙，反而是其中活潑的滋潤。

Prayer is yoked with praise. The living God is the God of our life; from him we derive it, with him in prayer and praise we spend it, to him we devote it, in him we shall perfect it. To be assured that our sighs and songs will both have free access to our glorious Lord is to have reasons for hope in the most deplorable condition.

禱告與讚美同轭。
永生的神是我們生命的神；我們的生命來自祂，我們在禱告和讚美中與祂一同度過，我們將我們的生命奉獻給祂，我們將在祂裡面完善我們的生命
我們的嘆息和詩歌都可以自由地進入我們榮耀的主面前，這就是我們在最悲慘的情況下仍有盼望的理由。

It is well when praise and prayer go together. Since the Lord’s answers so frequently follow close at the heels of our petitions, and even overtake them, it becomes us to let our grateful praises keep pace with our humble prayers.

讚美和祈禱同時進行是件好事。
由於主的回應經常緊隨我們的請求，甚至超越我們的請求，因此我們應該讓感恩的讚美與謙卑的祈禱並行。

If anything can make a man pray and praise, it is the knowledge that the Lord is his God.

如果有什麼能使人禱告讚美，那就是知道耶和華是他的 神。

Let us bless God before we pray, and while we pray, and when we have done praying, for he always deserves it of us. If we cannot understand him, we will not distrust him. When his ways are beyond our judgment we will not be so foolish as to judge; yet we shall do so if we consider his dealings to be unkind or unfaithful. He is, he must be, he shall be forever our blessed God.

讓我們在禱告之前、禱告的時候、禱告完畢之後都稱頌神，因為他總是值得我們讚美祂、高舉祂、敬拜祂的。
如果我們了解祂，就會信任祂。
當祂的道路超出我們的判斷範圍時，我們不會愚蠢地去評判；然而，如果我們認為他的行為是不仁慈或不忠實的，我們就會這樣做(去評判)。
祂是，祂必須是，祂將永遠是我們蒙福的神。

Now prayer follows upon praise, and derives strength of faith and holy boldness therefrom. It is frequently best to begin worship with a hymn, and then to bring forth our vials full of odors after the harps have commenced their sweeter sounds.

讚美之後是祈禱，祈禱從中得到信心的力量和聖潔的勇氣。
通常最好以一首讚美詩開始敬拜，然後在豎琴發出更甜美的聲音後，再拿出滿載馨香之氣的香膏玉瓶。

"Praise ye the Lord" (Ps 113:1) or Hallelujah, praise to Jah, Jehovah. Praise is an essential offering at all the solemn feasts of the people of God. Prayer is the myrrh, and praise is the frankincense, and both of these must be presented unto the Lord. How can we pray for mercy for the future if we do not bless God for his love in the past? The Lord hath wrought all good things for us; let us therefore adore him. All other praise is to be excluded; the entire devotion of the soul must be poured out unto Jehovah only.

「你們要讚美耶和華！(或哈利路亞, 讚美耶和華)」（詩 Ps 113:1）
讚美是神子民所有莊嚴節期中不可或缺的祭物。
禱告是沒藥，讚美是乳香，兩者都必須呈獻給主。
如果我們不為 神過去的愛稱頌讚美祂，我們怎能為將來祈求憐憫呢？
主為我們成就了一切美事，因此我們要敬拜祂。
其他一切的讚美都要被排除在外；靈魂的全部愛都要奉獻傾注在耶和華身上。

Prayer Our Resource
禱告，我們永不枯竭的資源

Prayer is the unfailing resource of God’s people. If they are driven to their wits’ end, they may still go to the mercy-seat. When an earthquake makes our mountain tremble, the throne of grace still stands firm, and we may come to it. Let us never forget to pray, and let us never doubt the success of prayer. Prayer will succeed where all else fails.

禱告是神子民永不枯竭的資源。
如果他們被逼得走投無路，他們仍可到憐憫施恩的寶座前。
當地震使我們的山搖動時，恩典的寶座仍然屹立不倒，我們可以到它那裡去。
讓我們永遠不要忘記禱告，也永遠不要懷疑禱告的成功。
禱告會在一切失敗的地方成功。

The Grounds of Prayer
禱告的基礎

"O deliver me from the deceitful and unjust man! For Thou art the God of my strength" — Ps 43:1-2

神啊，求你申我的冤，向不虔誠的國為我辨屈，求你救我脫離詭詐不義的人！因為你是賜我力量的神。為何丟棄我呢？我為何因仇敵的欺壓時常哀痛呢？ — 詩篇 Ps 43:1-2

"For", which is the very sinew of prayer. If we reasoned more with the Lord we should have more victories in supplication. All my strength belongs to thee. I will not, therefore, use it on my own behalf against my personal foes; I seek help from thee; I leave the task of combating my foes entirely in thy hands.

「因為」，是禱告的筋骨。如果我們多與主講道理，我們在祈求時應該有更多的得著。
我所有的力量都屬於祢。因此，我不會用我的力量來對付我的仇敵；我向祢尋求幫助；我將對付仇敵的任務完全交託在祢的手中。

The Word of the Lord arouses prayer
主的話語喚起禱告

Our prayers are according to the mind of God when they are according to the Word of God.

當我們的禱告是合乎神的話語時，就是合乎神的心意。

It is instructive to find meditation so constantly connected with fervent prayer: it is the fuel which sustains the flame. How rare an article is it in these days.

默想與熱切祈禱總是密切相連,這是值得學習的。默想就是維持心火的燃料。在如今這樣的時代,能夠如此的人實在是罕見。

Those can pray best who make most sure of their personal interest in God, and those who have the fullest assurance that the Lord is their God should be the foremost to plead for the rest of the faithful.

那些最能確信自己在 神裡的個人利益的人，最能禱告；那些最能確信耶和華是他們的神的人，應該是最先為其他信徒懇求的人。

"Thou art my King, O God. Command victories for Jacob." (Ps 44:4) This verse contains a personal declaration and an intercessory prayer; those can pray best who make most sure of their personal interest in God, and those who have the fullest assurance that the Lord is their God should be the foremost to plead for the rest of the faithful.

神啊，你是我的王，求你出令使雅各得勝。(詩 Ps 44:4）
這節經文包含了個人的宣告和代求的禱告；那些最能確信自己在 神裡的個人利益的人，最能禱告；那些最能確信耶和華是他們的神的人，應該是最先為其他信徒懇求的人。

It is but mockery to lift up the hands and the eyes unless we also bring our souls into our devotions. True prayer may be described as the soul rising from earth to have fellowship with heaven; it is taking a journey upon Jacob’s ladder, leaving our cares and fears at the foot, and meeting with a covenant God at the top. Very often the soul cannot rise, she has lost her wings, and is heavy and earth-bound; more like a burrowing mole than a soaring eagle. At such dull seasons we must not give over prayer, but must, by God’s assistance, exert all our powers to lift up our hearts. But what a lift it has sometimes proved! With all our tugging and straining we have been utterly defeated, until our Saviour’s love has displayed its omnipotent attractions, and then our hearts have gone up like flames of fire.

除非我們也將自己的靈魂帶進我們的禱告中，否則舉起手和眼睛只是一種諷刺。
真正的禱告可以說是靈魂從地上升起，與天相交；是在雅各的梯子上旅行，把我們的憂慮和恐懼留在梯子腳下，在梯頂與立約的神會面。
很多時候，靈魂無法站起來，她失去了翅膀，變得沉重、被地束縛；更像一隻穴居的鼴鼠，而不是一隻翱翔的鷹。
在這種沉悶的時刻，我們不能放棄禱告，而必須藉著神的協助，盡我們所有的力量來提升我們的心。
但事實證明，這有時是多麼的艱難！儘管我們盡力掙扎，但還是徹底被擊敗，直到救主的愛展現了它無所不能的吸引力，我們的心才像火焰一樣燃燒起來。

It is the mark of a thoughtful prayer that the titles which are applied to God are appropriate, and are, as it were, congruous to the matter, and fitted to add force to the argument. Will Jehovah endure to see his people oppressed? Will the God of hosts permit his enemies to exult over his servant? Will the faithful God of a chosen people leave his chosen to perish? The name of God is, even in a literal sense, a fortress and high tower for all his people.

這是一個深思熟慮的禱告的標記，應用在神身上的稱謂是合適的，而且與事情相符，並適合增加論據的力量。
耶和華豈忍心看見祂的百姓受欺壓嗎？萬軍之神會允許祂的敵人向祂的僕人誇勝嗎？信實之神會任由祂所揀選的子民滅亡嗎？
即使從字面上來看，神的名也是祂子民的堡壘和高塔。

"For my expectation is from him" (Ps 62:5) We expect from God because we believe in him. Expectation is the child of prayer and faith, and is owned of the Lord as an acceptable grace. We should desire nothing but what it would be right for God to give, then our expectation would be all from God; and concerning truly good things we should not look to second causes, but to the Lord alone, and so again our expectation would be all from him.

「我的心哪，你當默默無聲，專等候神，因為我的盼望是從他而來。」（詩 Ps 62:5）我們盼望神，因為我們相信祂。
盼望是禱告和信心的產物，是主所擁有的可接受的恩典。
除了神應當賜下的，我們不應渴求任何東西，那麼我們的盼望就全然來自神；並且關於真正美好的事物，我們不應尋求次要原因，而應單單仰望主，如此我們的盼望就全然來自於祂。

Promised preservation should be the subject of perpetual prayer; and we may pray believingly, for those who have God for their keeper will be safe from all the perils of the way.

神所應許的保守應該成為永久祈禱的主題；
我們可以虔誠地祈禱，因為有神守護的人將會免於路上的一切危險。

With God’s faithfulness and righteousness upon our side we are guarded on the right hand and on the left. These are active attributes, and fully equal to the answering of any prayer which it would be right to answer. Requests which do not appeal to either of these attributes it would not be for the glory of God to hear, for they must contain desires for things unpromised, and unrighteous.

有神的信實和公義在我們身邊，我們在右邊和左邊都受到保護。
這些都是主動的屬性，完全等同於對任何應該回應的禱告的回答。
不符合上述任何一項屬性的祈禱請求，都不會給上帝帶來榮耀， 神是不會聽的，因為這些請求必定包含對未應許、不義之物的請求。

"O my God, make haste for my help" (Ps 71:12) To call God ours, as having entered into covenant with us, is a mighty plea in prayer, and a great stay to our faith. The cry of make haste has occurred many times in this portion of the Psalms, and it was evoked by the sore pressure of affliction.

我的神啊，求你速速幫助我！（詩 Ps 71:12）稱神為我們的神，因為神已經與我們立約，這是禱告中一個大能的請求，也是我們信心的一大支柱。
在這部分的詩篇中，急切的呼求出現了很多次，它是由痛苦的壓力喚起的。

"Let us kneel before the Lord our maker." (Ps 95:6) Posture is not everything—prayer is heard when knees cannot bend—but it is seemly that an adoring heart should show its awe by prostrating the body, and bending the knee.

讓我們跪在造我們的主面前。(詩 95:6)姿勢並不是一切，當膝蓋不能彎曲時，禱告也能被垂聽，但敬拜的心應該藉著俯伏身體和屈膝來表示敬畏。

Longing is the soul of praying, and when the soul longs till it breaks, it cannot be long before the blessing will be granted.

渴慕是禱告的靈魂，當靈魂渴慕到要破碎時，祝福很快就會到來。

There are many whose formal prayers and false professions will never bring them into communion with the Lord. To pray in truth, we must have a true heart, and the truth in our heart; and then we must be humble, for pride is a falsehood; and be earnest, or else prayer is a lie. A God of truth cannot be nigh to the spirit of hypocrisy; neither can he be far from a sincere spirit, since it is his work, and he forsakes not the work of his own hands.

有許多人形式上的祈禱和虛假的表白永遠不會使他們與主有交通。
要真誠地禱告，
我們必須有真誠的心，心中要有真理；
然後要謙卑，因為驕傲是虛假的；
要懇切，否則禱告就是謊言。
真理的神不能親近虛偽的靈；
祂也不能遠離真誠的靈，因為那是祂的工作，祂也不丟棄祂親手所做的工。

Prayers which come out of distress generally come out of the heart, and therefore they go to the heart of God. Prayer may be bitter in the offering, but it will be sweet in the answering.

從憂傷中湧出的禱告，一般都是出自內心，因此，這些禱告也會進入神的內心。
禱告在獻上時可能是苦的，但在回應時卻是甜的。

So many a one offers what he calls prayer when he is in good case and thinks well of himself, but in very deed the only real cry to God is that which is forced out of him by a sense of utter helplessness and misery. We pray best when we are fallen on our faces in painful helplessness.

許多人在情況良好、自覺良好時，會提出所謂的禱告，
但事實上，他唯一真正向神呼求的，是在極度無助和悲慘的情況下被迫提出的。
我們在痛苦無助時面臨困境時最能祈禱。

Prayer: Trial, Suffering and Affliction
禱告：試煉、苦難和患難

Under trial it is not easy to behave ourselves aright; a candle is not easily kept alight when many envious mouths are puffing at it. In evil times prayer is particularly needful, and the wise resort to it at once. If we would be preserved, we must cry to the Preserver, and enlist divine support upon our side.

在試煉中，要保持行為端正並不容易；
當許多妒忌的嘴對著蠟燭吹氣時，要保持蠟燭仍然燃燒的也不容易。
在邪惡的時代，禱告是特別需要的，明智的人會立即求助禱告。
如果我們想得到保護，就必須向保護者呼求，並尋求神在我們身邊的支持。

No net of trouble can so hold us that the Lord cannot free us. Our afflictions may be numerous and complicated, but prayer can set us free from them all, for the Lord will show himself strong on our behalf.

沒有任何煩惱的網能困住我們，使主不能釋放我們。
我們的苦難可能又多又複雜，但禱告可以使我們脫離一切苦難，因為主會為我們顯出他的剛強。

Prayer stands us in good stead in every evil day.

禱告使我們在每一個艱難的日子都能站立得穩。

Silence to man and prayer to God are the best cures for the evil of slander.

對人保持緘默和向神祈禱，是治療誹謗之惡的最佳良方。

The weapon of all-prayer is one which the believer may always carry with him, and use in every time of need.

一切祈禱的武器是信徒隨時隨地可攜帶和使用的，以應對任何需要。

Let us always resort to prayer in our despondent times, for it is the surest and shortest way out of the depths. In that prayer let us plead nothing but the Word of God; for there is no plea like a promise, no argument like a word from our covenant God.

在我們絕望的時候，讓我們時常訴諸禱告，因為這是走出深淵的最可靠、最捷徑的方法。
在禱告中，除了神的話語外，我們什麼都不要申辯；
因為沒有任何申辯比得上應許，沒有任何論據比得上我們立約之神的話語。

Suffering enlarges the heart by creating the power to sympathize. If we pray eagerly for ourselves, we shall not long be able to forget our fellow-sufferers. We ought to be grateful for occasional griefs if they preserve us from chronic hardheartedness; for of all afflictions, an unkind heart is the worst. Prayer when it is of the Holy Spirit’s teaching is never selfish; the believer would have everyone in a similar state to partake of divine mercy with him.

苦難藉由產生同情的力量來擴大心胸。
如果我們急切地為自己禱告，就不會忘記我們的同胞
。如果偶爾的悲傷能使我們免於長期的心硬，我們就應該心存感激；
因為在所有的苦難中，不仁慈的心是最可怕的。
當禱告是聖靈的教導時，禱告是絕對不自私的；
信徒希望每個處於相同境況的人都能與他一同分享神的憐憫。

Prayer is as effectual on a sick-bed as in the wilderness or in prison; it may be tried in all places and circumstances with certain result.

禱告在病床上、曠野或監獄中都是有效的。

Prayer is good in a storm. We may pray staggering and reeling, and when we are at our wit’s end. God will hear us amid the thunder and answer us.

在暴風雨中禱告是好的。
我們可能會驚慌失措，搖搖欲墜，在我們陷入困境時禱告。上帝會在雷聲中聽見我們並回答我們。

"My knees are weak through fasting and my flesh faileth of fatness" (Ps 109:24) He was wasted to a skeleton, and as his body was emaciated, so was his soul bereft of comfort: he was pining away, and all the while his enemies saw it and laughed at his distress. How pathetically he states his case; this is one of the truest forms of prayer, the setting forth of our sorrow before the Lord. Weak knees are strong with God, and failing flesh has great power in leading.

「我因禁食膝骨軟弱，我身上的肉也漸漸瘦了。」（詩 Ps 109:24）他瘦骨嶙峋，形銷骨立，正如他身體的憔悴，他的靈魂也失去了慰藉：他正在憔悴，而他的敵人卻眼睜睜地看著，並嘲笑他的痛苦。
他陳述自己的處境是多麼的可悲；這是一種最真實的祈禱形式，將我們的悲傷呈現在主面前。
軟弱的膝蓋因上帝而強壯，衰弱的肉體在引導方面具有巨大的力量。

"Help me, O Lord my God" (Ps 109:26) . Laying hold of Jehovah by the appropriating word my, he implores his aid both to help him to bear his heavy load and to enable him to rise superior to it. He has described his own weakness, and the strength and fury of his foes, and by these two arguments he urges his appeal with double force. This is a very rich, short, and suitable prayer for believers in any situation of peril, difficulty, or sorrow.

「耶和華我的神啊，求你幫助我」（詩 Ps 109:26）。
他以 「我的」這個詞來抓住耶和華，懇求祂幫助他承擔重擔，並使他能超越重擔。
他描述了自己的軟弱，以及敵人的強大和憤怒，透過這兩個論點，他以雙倍的力量提出他的訴求。
這篇禱告內容豐富、簡短、適合信徒在任何危險、困難或憂傷的情況下使用。

"O Lord, I beseech thee, deliver my soul." (Ps 116:4) This form of petition is short, comprehensive, to the point, humble, and earnest. Real trouble produces real prayer. Here we have no multiplicity of words, and no fine arrangement of sentences; everything is simple and natural; there is not a redundant syllable, and yet there is not one lacking.

耶和華啊，求你救我的靈魂！(詩 Ps 116:4）
這種祈求方式簡短、全面、切題、謙卑、懇切。
真正的煩惱產生真正的禱告。在這裡，我們沒有多餘的字詞，也沒有精細的句子安排；一切都是簡單自然的；沒有多餘的音節，但也沒有缺少的音節。

Prayer: Silent and Audible
無聲與有聲的禱告

There are two sorts of prayer—those expressed in words, and the unuttered longings which abide as silent meditations. Words are not the essence but the garments of prayer. Moses at the Red Sea cried to God, though he said nothing. Yet the use of language may prevent distraction of mind, assist the powers of the soul, and excite devotion. David uses both modes of prayer, and craves for the one a hearing, and for the other a consideration: if I have asked what is right, give it to me; if I have omitted to ask what I most needed, fill up the vacancy in my prayer; consider it as presented through my all-glorious Mediator, then regard it in thy wisdom, judge my sincerity and the true state of my needs, and answer me in due time for thy mercies’ sake! There may be prevailing intercession where there are no words, and words where there is no true supplication. Let us cultivate the spirit of prayer which is even better than the habit of prayer. We should begin to pray before we kneel down, and we should not cease when we rise up.

禱告有兩種：一種是用語言表達的禱告；另一種是無聲默想的禱告。
語言不是禱告的本質，而是禱告的外衣。
摩西在紅海邊向上帝呼喊，但他什麼也沒說。然而，語言的使用可以防止思想分散，增強靈魂的力量，並激發虔誠。
大衛使用兩種祈禱模式，渴望前者能被垂聽，後者能被考慮：
如果我所求的是對的，請賜給我；
如果我遺漏了最需要的，請填補我祈禱中的空缺；
將其視為透過我那榮耀的中保所獻上的，然後以你的智慧來考量，
判斷我的真誠和我需求的真實狀態，
並為了你的憐憫，在適當的時候回應我！
有時無聲勝有聲，有時言不由衷。讓我們培養禱告的精神，這甚至比禱告的習慣更好。我們應該在跪下之前開始禱告，在起身之後也不要停止。

The voice may be profitably used even in private prayer; for though it is unnecessary, it is often helpful, and aids in preventing distractions.

即使在私下禱告時，使用聲音也是有益的；
因為雖然聲音是不必要的，但往往是有幫助的，並有助於防止分心。

People find it very helpful to use their voices in prayer; it is difficult long to maintain the intensity of devotion unless we hear ourselves speak.

人們發現在禱告中使用自己的聲音很有幫助；
除非我們聽到自己說話，否則很難長時間保持虔誠的心。

Vocal prayer helps the supplicant, and we keep our minds more fully awake when we can use our tongues as well as our hearts.

有聲的祈禱幫助祈禱者，當我們可以使用我們的舌頭以及我們的心時，我們會保持我們的頭腦更完全清醒。

A silent prayer may have a louder voice than the cries of those priests who sought to awaken Baal with their shouts.

無聲的祈禱可能比那些試圖用呼喊喚醒巴力的祭司的呼喊聲更大。

"Hear my voice, O God, in my prayer." (Ps 64:1) It often helps devotion if we are able to use the voice and speak audibly; but even mental prayer has a voice with God which he will hear. We do not read that Moses had spoken with his lips at the Red Sea, and yet the Lord said to him, “Why criest thou unto me?” Prayers which are unheard on earth may be among the best heard in heaven. It is our duty to note how constantly David turns to prayer; it is his battleaxe and weapon of war; he uses it under every pressure, whether of inward sin or outward wrath, foreign invasion or domestic rebellion. We shall act wisely if we make prayer to God our first and best trusted resource in every hour of need.

神啊，我哀嘆的時候，求你聽我的聲音。(詩 Ps 64:1）
如果我們能夠用聲音說話，往往有助於奉獻；但即使是心靈的禱告，在神面前也有聲音，祂會聽見。
我們沒有讀到摩西在紅海用嘴說話，然而主對他說：「你為甚麼向我喊叫呢？」
在地上聽不到的禱告，可能是在天上聽得最清楚的禱告。我們有責任注意大衛是如何不斷地轉向禱告；禱告是他的戰斧和戰爭的武器；他在每種壓力下都使用它，不論是內在的罪或外在的忿怒、外國的侵略或國內的叛逆。
如果我們在每一個有需要的時刻，都以向神祈禱作為我們第一和最可信賴的資源，我們的行為將會是明智的。

"I Love the Lord, because He hears my voice and my supplications." (Ps 116:1) The psalmist had used his voice in prayer, and the habit of doing so is exceedingly helpful to devotion. If we can pray aloud without being overheard it is well to do so. Sometimes, however, when the psalmist had lifted up his voice, his utterance had been so broken and painful that he scarcely dared to call it prayer; words failed him, he could only produce a groaning sound, but the Lord heard his moaning voice.

「我愛耶和華，因為他聽了我的聲音和我的懇求。」(詩 Ps 116:1）
詩人在禱告中使用了他的聲音，這樣做的習慣對獻身極有幫助。
如果我們可以大聲禱告而不被人聽到，那就很好。
然而，有時詩篇作者高聲禱告時，他的聲音是如此的破碎和痛苦，以至於他幾乎不敢稱之為禱告；他說不出話來，他只能發出呻吟的聲音，但主聽見了他呻吟的聲音。

When our prayer is very feeble, so that we ourselves can scarcely hear it, and question whether we do pray or not, yet God bows a listening ear, and regards our supplications.

當我們的禱告非常微弱，以至於我們自己幾乎聽不見，並懷疑我們是否真的禱告時，神卻仍垂聽我們的禱告。

Prayer is sometimes presented without words by the very motions of our bodies: bended knees and lifted hands are the tokens of earnest, expectant prayer. Certainly work, or the lifting up of the hands in labor, is prayer if it be done in dependence upon God and for his glory; there may be a hand-prayer as well as a heart-prayer. Holy hope, the lifting up of hands that hang down, is also a kind of worship. The psalmist would have his humble cries and prayers to be as much regarded of the Lord as the appointed morning and evening sacrifices of the holy places. After all, the spiritual is in the Lord’s esteem higher than the ceremonial.

禱告有時是透過身體的動作無言表達出來的：屈膝和舉手是懇切、期待禱告的象徵。
如果是為了神的榮耀而倚靠神而做的話，工作或在勞動中舉起雙手當然也是禱告；
可能有手的禱告，也可能有心的禱告。
聖潔的盼望、舉起垂下的手，也是一種敬拜。詩篇作者希望他謙卑的呼求與禱告，能像聖所指定的早晚祭禮一樣，被主看重。
畢竟，在主的眼中，屬靈的比儀式更重要。