加爾文基督教要義（2）一五五九年最後修正版作者自序

一五五九年最後修正版作者自序
　　在這部書初版時，我並沒有預料它能夠得到主，由於他的無限仁慈，所賜與的這種成功，所以我把題材的大部分當做平常的短論，隨筆寫作而成。當我知道這部書已經得到許多讀者的讚許，我真是喜出望外。讀者既如此鼓勵我，我雖能力有限，敢不努力從事，藉以報答讀者。我不僅對第二版有此努力，即對以後所刊行各版，也同樣力求改善充實。我對過去的努力雖無後悔，但亦不會滿意，一直到了本修訂版刊行后，心始滿足。相信本版必可邀讀者的一致嘉許，為著上帝的教會完成了這任務，我所盡的辛勞，是可以充分證明出來的。去年冬季，我患四日瘧，自料不久人世，但病勢愈增，我愈不顧惜自己，一心要完成這部書，留為身後報答宗教界同人對我的殷切期望。我原希望能提早完成；可是這書如果是一部不壞的書，現在出版，也還不遲。其實若於此時問世對上帝的教會比已往更有裨益，就可算是正當其時了。這是我唯一的願望。
　　假如我們不以上帝的嘉許為滿足，也不鄙視那些無識者的荒謬批評，以及那些惡人的誹謗侮辱，我的努力就真的是沒有得到好酬報了。雖然上帝叫我盡心盡意研究他國度的推廣，和一般福利的推進；雖然——我自己的良心、天使、和上帝，都可以為我作見證——自從我擔任教會的教師以來，我除了儘力保持純正的教義，替教會謀福利以外，沒有其他的目的，然而恐怕沒有第二個人像我這樣遭受這麼多的誹謗和攻擊的。當這篇自序付印的時候，我得到一個消息，據說在帝國各邦的集會地奧斯堡傳說著我已變節歸回羅馬教，這消息且為各王侯宮廷所相信著，這是那些有許多證據，熟知我是有恆心者的人，對我的報答。其實他們所有的許多證據不但可擯斥這種愚妄的詆毀，而且在一切公平仁慈的裁判者眼中，這些證據都應當維護我，使我不受這種詆毀。但魔鬼及其黨羽若以為可用卑劣的虛謊把我壓倒，或以這類侮辱來叫我膽小，懈怠和延宕，他們是大錯了。因為我信賴上帝必以他無限的恩慈，幫助我恆忍，執行他的神聖使命，堅持到底；對這一點，本版將給虔誠的讀者一個新證明。
　　本書是準備為神學生研究上帝聖道之用，好叫他們容易入門，進展無阻。因為我想我已對宗教各部門提供了這樣一個綜合的體系，使任何人只須相當留意，便不難決定他研究聖經的主要目標應當是什麼，並應當為著什麼目的而引用其中所包含的。有了這種準備以後，我將來若刊行任何解釋聖經的著作，就無須對教理作冗長的討論，或旁涉普通題目，而可以把材料緊縮於一個小範圍內。這種作法可減輕虔誠讀者的許多困難和厭倦，假如他事先知道本書所提供的必要材料的話。至於這計劃的理由我在許多聖經釋義的作品中已可清楚看出，我想讓事實的本身作證，強於由我宣布。
　　親愛的讀者，再會，假若你因讀本書而稍獲益助，就請你在我們的父上帝面前用祈禱幫助我。

一五五九年八月一日於日內瓦

[本話題由 追求永生 於 2010-01-07 08:14:09 編輯]

The Epistle to the Reader
[Prefixed to the second edition, published at Strasburg in 1539.]

In the First Edition of this work, having no expectation of the success which God has, in his goodness, been pleased to give it, I had, for the greater part, performed my office perfunctorily, as is usual in trivial undertakings. But when I perceived that almost all the godly had received it with a favour which I had never dared to wish, far less to hope for, being sincerely conscious that I had received much more than I deserved, I thought I should be very ungrateful if I did not endeavour, at least according to my humble ability, to respond to the great kindness which had been expressed towards me, and which spontaneously urged me to diligence. I therefore ask no other favour from the studious for my new work than that which they have already bestowed upon me beyond my merits. I feel so much obliged, that I shall be satisfied if I am thought not to have made a bad return for the gratitude I owe. This return I would have made much earlier, had not the Lord, for almost two whole years, exercised me in an extraordinary manner. But it is soon enough if well enough. I shall think it has appeared in good season when I perceive that it produces some fruit to the Church of God. I may add, that my object in this work was to prepare and train students of theology for the study of the Sacred Volume, so that they might both have an easy introduction to it, and be able to proceed in it, with unfaltering step, seeing I have endeavoured to give such a summary of religion in all its parts, and have digested it into such an order as may make it not difficult for any one, who is rightly acquainted with it, to ascertain both what he ought principally to look for in Scripture, and also to what head he ought to refer whatever is contained in it. Having thus, as it were, paved the way, I shall not feel it necessary, in any Commentaries on Scripture which I may afterwards publish, to enter into long discussions of doctrines or dilate on common places, and will, therefore, always compress them. In this way the pious reader will be saved much trouble and weariness, provided he comes furnished with a knowledge of the present work as an essential prerequisite. As my Commentary on the Epistle to the Romans will give a specimen of this plan, I would much rather let it speak for itself than declare it in words. Farewell, dear reader, and if you derive any fruit from my labours, give me the benefit of your prayers to the Lord.

Strasbourg, 1st August 1539.

英文版序言是30時寫的，中文序言是加爾文50歲時寫的，也是最後的一個自序，五年後加爾文辭世。可以看成是加爾文的成熟版神學思想。

假如我們不以上帝的嘉許為滿足，也不鄙視那些無識者的荒謬批評，以及那些惡人的誹謗侮辱，我的努力就真的是沒有得到好酬報了。雖然上帝叫我盡心盡意研究他國度的推廣，和一般福利的推進；雖然——我自己的良心、天使、和上帝，都可以為我作見證——自從我擔任教會的教師以來，我除了儘力保持純正的教義，替教會謀福利以外，沒有其他的目的，然而恐怕沒有第二個人像我這樣遭受這麼多的誹謗和攻擊的。

我信賴上帝必以他無限的恩慈，幫助我恆忍，執行他的神聖使命，堅持到底；對這一點，本版將給虔誠的讀者一個新證明。

本書是準備為神學生研究上帝聖道之用，好叫他們容易入門，進展無阻。因為我想我已對宗教各部門提供了這樣一個綜合的體系，使任何人只須相當留意，便不難決定他研究聖經的主要目標應當是什麼，並應當為著什麼目的而引用其中所包含的。