第二十三章：论灵魂不把自己的喜乐安放在自然善物上时所领受的益处。
Chapter XXIII: Of the benefits which the soul receives from not setting its rejoicing upon the good things of nature.
灵魂因从这种喜乐中撤回自己的心而获得的益处很多；因为除了使自己预备好去爱神和具备其他德行之外，它还为自己的谦卑，以及对邻舍的普遍仁爱，开出一条直接的道路。因为它不被那些欺骗性的、表面的自然善物引入对任何人的情感中，灵魂就保持自由而清明，〔直译：「自由而清楚」。〕能够按理性并属灵地爱所有人，正如神愿意他们被爱那样。这里必须明白，除非因为人里面的德行，没有人配受爱。当我们这样爱时，这极蒙神的意志喜悦，也带来极大的自由；并且若其中有依恋，那也是对神更大的依恋。因为在这种情况下，这种爱越增长，我们对神的爱也越增长；而我们对神的爱越增长，我们对邻舍的爱也越大。因为当爱根基于神时，一切爱的理由就是同一个，一切爱的原因也同样是同一个。
Many are the benefits which come to the soul through the withdrawal of its heart from this rejoicing; for, besides preparing itself for the love of God and the other virtues, it makes a direct way for its own humility, and for a general charity toward its neighbours. For, as it is not led by the apparent good things of nature, which are deceitful, into affection for anyone, the soul remains free and able [Lit., free and clear.’] to love them all rationally and spiritually, as God wills them to be loved. Here it must be understood that none deserves to be loved, save for the virtue that is in him. And, when we love in this way, it is very pleasing to the will of God, and also brings great freedom; and if there be attachment in it, there is greater attachment to God. For, in that case, the more this love grows, the more grows our love toward God; and, the more grows our love toward God, the greater becomes our love for our neighbour. For, when love is grounded in God, the reason for all love is one and the same and the cause of all love is one and the same also.
2. 灵魂弃绝这种喜乐，还会得到另一项卓越益处，就是它成全并遵守我们的救主借圣马太赐给我们的劝告。他说：「若有人要跟从我，就当舍己。」圣马太 xvi, 24。若灵魂把自己的喜乐安放在自然善物上，就绝不能做到这一点；因为凡看重自己的人，既不舍己，也不跟随基督。
2. Another excellent benefit comes to the soul from its renunciation of this kind of rejoicing, which is that it fulfils and keeps the counsel of Our Saviour which He gives us through Saint Matthew. Let him that will follow Me’, He says, deny himself.’ St. Matthew xvi, 24. This the soul could in no wise do if it were to set its rejoicing upon the good things of nature; for he that makes any account of himself neither denies himself nor follows Christ.
3. 弃绝这种喜乐还有另一项巨大益处，就是它在灵魂中产生极大的宁静，使灵魂摆脱分心，并使感官收敛，尤其是眼睛。因为不愿在这些事物中喜乐的灵魂，既不愿观看它们，也不愿把其他感官依附于它们，免得被它们吸引或缠住。它也不会把时间或思想耗费在它们身上，而像那谨慎的蛇，塞住耳朵，免得听见行法术者的声音，以免他们给它留下某种印象。诗篇 lvii, 5〔A.V., lviii, 4-5〕。因为灵魂借守护自己的门户，也就是感官，就安全地守护自己，并增进自己的宁静和纯洁。
3. There is another great benefit in the renunciation of this kind of rejoicing, which is that it produces great tranquillity in the soul, empties it of distractions and brings recollection to the senses, especially to the eyes. For the soul that desires not to rejoice in these things desires neither to look at them nor to attach the other senses to them, lest it should be attracted or entangled by them. Nor will it spend time or thought upon them, being like the prudent serpent, which stops its ears that it may not hear the charmers lest they make some impression upon it. Psalm lvii, 5 [A.V., lviii, 4-5]. For, by guarding its doors, which are the senses, the soul guards itself safely and increases its tranquillity and purity.
4. 对于那些已熟练于克制这种喜乐的人，还有另一项同样重要的益处，就是邪恶事物及其知识不会像对那些仍从中得某种快乐的人那样，在他们身上留下印象，也不会玷污他们。因此，弃绝并克制这种喜乐，会带来灵魂和身体的属灵洁净；也就是灵与感觉的洁净；灵魂便与神有天使般的相似，并且在灵与身体上都成为圣灵配得的殿。若心在自然风姿和善物中喜乐，这就不能发生。为此，并不需要人已经同意任何恶事，或记得这样的事；因为那喜乐本身就足以借恶的知识，以不洁玷污灵魂和感官；因为正如智者所说，圣灵会远离无知的思念——也就是远离没有那尊重神的更高理性的思念。智慧篇 i, 5。
4. There is another benefit of no less importance to those that have become proficient in the mortification of this kind of rejoicing, which is that evil things and the knowledge of them neither make an impression upon them nor stain them as they do those to whom they still give any delight. Wherefore the renunciation and mortification of this rejoicing result in spiritual cleanness of soul and body; that is, of spirit and sense; and the soul comes to have an angelical conformity with God, and becomes, both in spirit and in body, a worthy temple of the Holy Spirit. This cannot come to pass if the heart rejoices in natural graces and good things. For this reason it is not necessary to have given consent to any evil thing, or to have remembrance of such; for that rejoicing suffices to stain the soul and the senses with impurity by means of the knowledge of evil; for, as the Wise Man says, the Holy Spirit will remove Himself from thoughts that are without understanding – that is, without the higher reason that has respect to God. Wisdom i, 5.
5. 还会随之而来另一项一般性的益处，就是除了使我们脱离上述恶和危险以外，我们也从无数虚空以及许多其他属灵和暂时的恶中被拯救出来；尤其免于落入一种低下评价之中，因为凡被看见在上述自然恩赐中夸耀或喜乐的人，无论是在自己的恩赐中还是在别人的恩赐中，都会受到这种低下评价。因此，这些灵魂被认为并受到尊重为明智而谨慎的人；事实上，凡不看重这些事，只看重蒙神喜悦之事的人，都是如此。
5. Another benefit of a general kind follows, which is that, besides freeing ourselves from the evils and dangers aforementioned, we are delivered also from countless vanities, and from many other evils, both spiritual and temporal; and especially from falling into the small esteem in which are held all those that are seen to glory or rejoice in the said natural gifts, whether in their own or in those of others. And thus these souls are held and esteemed as wise and prudent, as indeed are all those who take no account of these things, but only of that which pleases God.
6. 从上述益处中随之而来的最后一项，就是灵魂的慷慨；这对于事奉神是必要的，正如灵的自由也是必要的一样。借着它，试探容易被胜过，试炼得以忠信地忍受；也借着它，德行成长并兴盛。
6. From these said benefits follows the last, which is a generosity of the soul, as necessary to the service of God as is liberty of spirit, whereby temptations are easily vanquished and trials faithfully endured, and whereby, too, the virtues grow and become prosperous.