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In 1739 arrived among us from Ireland the Reverend Mr. Whitefield, who had made himself remarkable there as an itinerant preacher.
1739年，胡飞特牧师从爱尔兰跑到我们这里来了，他在爱尔兰是一个著名的巡回传教士。
He was at first permitted to preach in some of our churches; but the clergy, taking a dislike to him, soon refus'd him their pulpits, and he was oblig'd to preach in the fields.
最初他们允许他在我们的一些教堂中说教，但是牧师们讨厌他，不久就不准他在他们的教堂里讲道了，所以他就不得不到旷野里去说教了。
The multitudes of all sects and denominations that attended his sermons were enormous, and it was matter of speculation to me, who was one of the number, to observe the extraordinary influence of his oratory on his hearers, and how much they admir'd and respected him, notwithstanding his common abuse of them.
千千万万属于各种不同教派的人都去听他说教，我也是其中之一，我看到他的演说对他的听众具有非常巨大的影响，而且尽管他常常辱骂他们，他们还是非常赞美他和尊敬他，我看了真有点想不透。
It was wonderful to see the change soon made in the manners of our inhabitants.
他的说教使得我们居民的风俗习惯起了极大的变化，看了令人惊叹不止。
From being thoughtless or indifferent about religion, it seem'd as if all the world were growing religious, so that one could not walk thro' the town in an evening without hearing psalms sung in different families of every street.
他们原先认为宗教是无足重轻，可有可无的，现在看来好像整个世界是宗教迷了；每当夕阳西沉时，假如有人到城里各处一走，他会听到每条街上的各个家庭在唱赞美歌。
And it being found inconvenient to assemble in the open air, subject to its inclemencies, the building of a house to meet in was no sooner propos'd, and persons appointed to receive contributions, but sufficient sums were soon receiv'd to procure the ground and erect the building,
因为露天集会要受天气的影响，很不方便，所以就有人提出了建造教堂的计划，这一计划一提出，接受捐款的人一经指定，马上就募集了足够的款项，作为购买地皮修建教堂的费用。
which was one hundred feet long and seventy broad, about the size of Westminster Hall; and the work was carried on with such spirit as to be finished in a much shorter time than could have been expected.
这个教堂长一百英尺，宽七十英尺，面积大约与韦斯敏斯德堂相等，建筑工程是在一种热烈的气氛中进行的，它在出人意料之外地短促的时间内就完成了。
Both house and ground were vested in trustees, expressly for the use of any preacher of any religious persuasion who might desire to say something to the people at Philadelphia; the design in building not being to accommodate any particular sect, but the inhabitants in general;
全部房地产概归董事会管理，并且明文规定相信任何宗教的教士要对费城人民说教时，都可以使用该堂，因为该堂的修建原不是为了某一教派的方便，而是为了全体人民。
so that even if the Mufti of Constantinople were to send a missionary, he would find a pulpit at his service.
所以即使君士坦丁堡的伊斯兰教徒要派一个传教士来，他也可以找到一个讲坛，听候他的使用。
Mr. Whitefield, in leaving us, went preaching all the way thro' the colonies to Georgia.
胡飞特先生在离开我们以后，他沿路布道经过各殖民地直到佐治亚。
The settlement of that province had lately been begun, but, instead of being made with hardy, industrious husbandmen, accustomed to labour, the only people fit for such an enterprise, it was with families of broken shop-keepers and other insolvent debtors, many of indolent and idle habits, taken out of the jails,
佐治亚的殖民刚开始不久，但是移居到那里去的不是习惯于苦干的刻苦耐劳的庄稼汉，唯一适宜于垦殖的人，而是一些破产的商人和他们的家属和其他破产的债务人，其中有许多人好吃懒做，才从监狱中释放出来；
who, being set down in the woods, unqualified for clearing land, and unable to endure the hardships of a new settlement, perished in numbers, leaving many helpless children unprovided for.
这些人住在森林里以后，因为不能胜任开垦砍伐工作，不能忍受一个新开垦地区的艰苦生活，大批地死亡了，留下了一大群孤苦无依的儿童。
The sight of their miserable situation inspir'd the benevolent heart of Mr. Whitefield with the idea of building an Orphan House there, in which they might be supported and educated.
看到了这种悲惨的情况以后，胡飞特先生的仁心大受感动，就想要在那里开办一个孤儿院来抚养和教育这些孩子。
Returning northward, he preach'd up this charity, and made large collections, for his eloquence had a wonderful power over the hearts and purses of his hearers, of which I myself was an instance.
在回到北方的归途中，他宣传推荐这一慈善事业，募集了大量的捐款，因为他的口才具有一种奇妙的力量，能使听众心悦诚服地慷慨解囊，我自己就是这样的一个例子。
