from these shakings run 19. But how much more then when he comes To graffle with thy Heart To bind with Thread thy Toes and Thumbs And fetch thee in his Cart. 20. Then will he cut thy silver Cord And break thy Golden Bowl Yea break that Pitcher which the Lord Made Cabin for thy Soul 21. Thine Eyes that now are quick of sight Shall then no way espy How to escape this doleful plight For Death will make thee dye 22. Those Legs that now can nimbly run Shall then with faintness fail To take one step Death's Dart to shun When he doth thee assail 23. That Tongue that now can boast and brag Shall then by Death be ty'd So fast as not to speak or wag Though Death lyes by thy side 24. Thou that did'st once encline thine Ear Unto the Song and Tale Shall only now Death's Message hear While he with Face most pale 25. Doth reason with thee how thy days Hath hitherto been spent And what have been thy deeds and ways Since God thee time hath lent 26. Then will he so begin to tear Thy Body from thy Soul And both from Life if now thy Care Be not on Grace to roll 27. Death puts on things another face Than we in health do see Sin Satan Hell Death Life and Grace Now great and weighty be 28. Yea now the Sick-man's Eye is set Upon a World to come He also knows too without let That there must be his Home 29. Either in Joy in Bliss and Light Or Sorrow Woe and Grief Either with Christ and Saints in white Or Fiends without Relief 30. But oh the sad estate that then They will be in that dye Both void of Grace and Life poor men How will they fear and cry 31. Ha! Live I may not though I would For Life give more than all And dye I dare not though I should The World gain by my fall 32. No here he must no longer stay He feels his Life run out His Night is come also the day That makes him fear and doubt 33. He feels his very Vitals dye All waxeth pale and wan Nay worse he fears to misery He shortly must be gone 34. Death doth already strike his Heart With his most fearful sting Of Guilt which makes his Conscience start And quake at every thing 35. Yea as his body doth decay By a contagious grief So his poor Soul doth faint away Without hope or relief 36. Thus while the man is in this scare Death doth still at him lay Live dye sink swim fall foul or fair Death still holds on his way 37. Still pulling of him from his place Full sore against his Mind Death like a Sprite stares in his face And doth with links him bind 38. And carries him into his den In darkness there to lye Among the swarms of wicked men In grief eternally 39. For only he that God doth fear Will now be counted wise Yea he that feareth him while here He only wins the Prize 40. 'T is he that shall by Angels be Attended to that bliss That Angels have for he O he Of glory shall not miss 41. Those weapons and those instruments Of death that others fright Those dreadful fears and discontents That brings on some that night 42. That never more shall have a day Brings this man to that rest Which none can win but only they Whom God hath call'd and blest 43. With the first fruits of saving grace With faith hope love and fear Him to offend this man his face In visions high and clear 44. Shall in that light which no Eye can Approach unto behold The rayes and beams of Glory and Find there his Name inrol'd 45. Among those glittering Stars of light That Christ still holdeth fast In his right hand with all his might Until that danger 's past 46. That shakes the world and most hath dropt Into grief and distress O blessed then is he that 's wrapt In Christ his righteousness 47. This is the man Death cannot kill For he hath put on arms Him Sin nor Satan hath not skill To hurt with all their charms 48. An Helmet on his head doth stand A Breast-plate on his Heart A Shield also is in his Hand That blunteth every Dart. 49. Truth girds him round the Reins also His Sword is on his Thigh His Feet in Shooes of Peace do go The ways of Purity 50. His Heart it groaneth to the Lord Who hears him at his call And doth him help and strength afford Wherewith he conquers all 51. Thus fortify'd he keeps the field While Death is gone and fled And then lies down upon his Shield Till Christ doth raise the dead Of Judgment 1. AS 't is appointed men should dye So Judgment is the next That meet them must assuredly For so saith holy Text. 2. Wherefore of Judgment I shall now Inform you what I may That you may see what 't is and how 'T will be with Men that Day 3. This World it hath a time to stand Which time when ended then Will issue Judgment out of hand Upon all sorts of Men. 4. The Judge we find in Gods Record The Son of Man for he By God's appointment is made Lord And Judge of all that be 5. Wherefore this Son of man shall come At last to Count withal And unto them shall give just doom Whether they stand or fall 6. Behold ye now the Majesty And State that shall attend This Lord this Judge and Justice high When he doth now descend 7. He comes with Head as white as snow With Eyes like flames of fire In Justice clad from top to toe Most glorious in attire 8. His Face is fill'd with gravity His Tongue is like a Sword His Presence aws both stout and high The World shakes at his Word 9. He comes in flaming fire and With Angels clear and bright Each with a Trumpet in his hand Cloathed in shining white 10. The Trump of God sounds in the Air The dead do hear his Voice The living too run here and there Who made not him their Choice 11. Thus to his place he doth repair Appointed for his Throne Where he will sit to Judge and where He 'l Count with every one 12. Angels attending on his hand By thousands on a roe Yea thousand thousands by him stand And at his beck do go 13. Thus being set the Books do ope In which all Crimes are writ All Vertues too of Faith and Hope Of Love and every whit 14. Of all that Man hath done or said Or did intend to do Whether they fin'd or were afraid Evil to come into 15. Before this Bar each Sinner now In Person must appear Under his Judgment there to bow With trembling and with fear 16. Within whose breast a witness then Will certainly arise That to each Charge will say Amen While they seek and devise 17. To shun the Sentence which the Lord Against them then will read Out of the Books of God's Record With Majesty and Dread
One THING is Needful OR Serious Meditations UPON THE Four Last THINGS DEATH And JUDGMENT HEAVEN And HELL Unto which is added Ebal and Gerizzim OR The Blessing and the Curse WITH Prison Meditations And a Catalogue of all this Author's Books The Third Edition By JOHN BUNYAN LONDON Printed for Nath. Ponder at the Peacock in the Poultry 1683. ADVERTISEMENT THIS Author having Publish'd many Books which have gone off very well There are certain Ballad-sellers about Newgate and on London-Bridge who have put the two first Letters of this Author's Name and his Effigies to their Rhimes and Ridiculous Books suggesting to the World as if they were his Now know that this Author publisheth his Name at large to all his Books and what you shall see otherwise he disowns A CATALOGUE of Mr. John Bunyan's BOOKS 1. GRace Abounding or the Author's Conversion 2. Greatness of the Soul with the unspeakableness of its Loss 3. Sighs from Hell or the Groans of a damned Soul 4. Instructions for the Ignorant 5. Come and welcome to Jesus Christ. 6. Water of Life proceeding out of the Throne of God 7. Publican and Pharisee at Prayer 8. I will Pray with the Spirit and with the Understanding also 9. Law and Grace or the Nature of the two Covenants 10. The Barren Fig-tree 11. The strait Gate 12. Christian Behaviour 13. A holy Life the Duty of Christians 14. Country Rhimes for Children upon seventy four things 15. The Fear of God 16. Saved by Grace 17. Election and Reprobation 18. A Map of Salvation and Damnation 19. Good News for the Vilest of Men or a help for despairing Souls 20. Light for them that fit in Darkness 21. Justification by Jesus Christ against Doctor Fowler 's c. 22. Confession of Faith and Reason of Practice in Worship 23. Difference in Judgment about Water Baptism no bar to Communion 24. Peaceable Principles and True 25. Some Gospel Truths opened 26. A Vindication of that 27. First Day the Christian Sabbath 28. The House of God 29. Advice to Sufferers 30. The Advocateship of Jesus Christ. 31. Temple Types and Service and Building explained 32. Holy City 33. Holy War 34. Pilgrims Progress the first Part with Cuts 35. Pilgrims Progress the second Part with Cuts 36. Life and Death of Mr. Badman with Cuts 37. Four last things Death Judgment Heaven and Hell Ebal and Gerizzim with Prison Meditations 38. Resurrection from the Dead and Eternal Judgment AN INTRODUCTION TO THE Ensuing Discourse I. THese Lines I at this time present To all that will them heed Wherein I shew to what intent God saith Convert with speed II. For these Four Things come on apace Which we should know full well Both Death and Judgment and in place Next to them Heav'n and Hell III. For doubtless Man was never born For this Life and no moe No in the Resurrection Morn They must have Weal or Woe IV. Can any think that God should take That pains to form a Man So like himself only to make Him here a moment stand V. Or that he should make such ado By Justice and by Grace By Prophets and Apostles too That Men might see his Face VI. Or that the Promise he hath made Also the Threatnings great Should in a moment end and fade O! No this is a Cheat. VII Besides who is so mad or worse To think that Christ should come From Glory to be made a Curse And that in Sinners room VIII If nothing should by us be had When we are gone from hence But Vanities while here O mad And foolish Confidence IX Again Shall God who is the Truth Say There is Heaven and Hell And shall men play that Trick of Youth To say But who can tell X. Shall he that keeps his Promise sure In things both low and small Yet break it like a Man impure In Matters great'st of all XI Oh let all tremble at that thought That puts on God the lye That saith Men shall turn into nought When they be sick and dye XII Alas Death is but as the Door Through which all men do pass To that which they for evermore Shall have by Wrath or Grace XIII Let all therefore that read my Lines Apply them to the Heart Yea let them read and turn betimes And get the better part XIV Mind therefore what I treat on here Yea mind and weigh it well 'T is Death and Judgment and a clear Discourse of Heaven and Hell Of Death 1. DEath as a King Rampant and stout The World he dare ingage He Conquers all yea and doth rout The great strong wise and sage 2. No King so great nor Prince so strong But Death can make to yield Yea bind and lay them all along And make them quit the Field 3. Where are the Victors of the World With all their men of might Those that together Kingdoms hurl'd By Death are put to flight 4. How feeble is the strongest hand When Death begins to gripe The Giant now leaves off to stand Much less withstand and fight 5. The man that hath a Lions face Must here give place and bend Yea though his Bones were bars of brass 'T is vain here to contend 6. Submit he must to feeble ones To Worms who will enclose His skin and flesh sinews and bones And will thereof dispose 7. Among themselves as Merchants do The prizes they have got Or as the Souldiers give unto Each man the share and lot 8. Which they by dint of Sword have won From their most daring foe While he lyes by as still as stone Not knowing what they do 9. Beauty Death turns to rottenness And Youth to wrinckled Face The Witty he brings to distress And Wantons to disgrace 10. The wild he tames and spoils the mirth Of all that wanton are He takes the worldling from his worth And poor man from his Care 11. Death favours none he lays at all Of all sorts and degree Both Old and Young both great and small Rich Poor and bound and free 12. No fawning Words will flatter him Nor Threatnings make him start He favours none for worth or kin All must taste of his Dart. 13. What shall I say the Graves declare That Death shall Conquer all There lye the skuls dust bones and there The Mighty daily fall 14. The very looks of Death are grim And gastly to behold Yea though but in a Dead-mans-skin When he is gone and cold 15. How fraid are some of dead-mens beds And others of their bones They neither care to see their Heads Nor yet to hear their Groans 16. Now all these things are but the shade And badges of his Coat The Glass that runs the Sythe and Spade Though weapons more remote 17. Yet such as make poor mortals shrink And fear when they are told These things are signs that they must drink With death O then how cold 18. It strikes them to the heart how do They study it to shun Indeed who can bear up and who Can
18. But every Heart shall op'ned be Before this Judge most high Yea every thought to Judgment he Will bring assuredly 19. And every Word and Action too He there will manifest Yea all that ever thou didst do Or keep within thy Breast 20. Shall then be seen and laid before The World that then will stand To see thy Judge open every sore And all thy evils scan'd 21. Weighing each sin and wickedness With so much equity Proportioning of thy distress And woful misery 22. With so much justice doing right That thou thy self shalt say My sins have brought me to this plight I threw my self away 23. Into that gulf my sins have brought Me justly to possess For which I blame not Christ I wrought It out by wickedness 24. But oh how willingly would these That thus in Judgment be If that they might have help or ease Unto the Mountains flee 25. They would rejoyce if that they might But underneath them creep To hide them from revenging Right For fear of which they weep 26. But all in vain the Mountains then Will all be fled and gone No shelter will be found for Men That now are left alone 27. For succour they did not regard When Christ by Grace did call To them therefore they are not heard No Mountains on them fall 28. Before this Judge no one shall shroud Himself under pretence Of Knowledge which hath made him proud Nor seeming Penitence 29. No high Profession here can stand Unless Sincerity Hath been therewith commixed and Brought forth Simplicity 30. No Mask nor Vizor here can hide The Heart that rotten is All Cloaks must now be laid aside No Sinner must have bliss 31. Though most approve of thee and count Thee upright in thy Heart Yea though preferr'd and made surmount Most men to act thy part 32. In treading where the godly trod As to an outward shew Yet this holds still the grace of God Takes hold on but a few 33. So as to make them truly such As then shall stand before This Judge with gladness this is much Yet true for evermore 34. The Tree of Life this Paradise Doth always beautify 'Cause of our health it is the rise And perpetuity 35. Here stands the golden throne of Grace From out of which do run Those chrystal streams that make this place Far brighter than the Sun 36. Here stands Mount Sion with her King Jerusalem above That holy and delightful thing So beautify'd with love 37. That as a Mother suckers those Which of her body be So she far more all such as close In with her Lord. And she 38. Her gates her everlasting doors Will open wide unto Them all with welcome welcome poor Rich bond free high and low 39. Unto the Kingdom which our Lord Appointed hath for all That hath his Name and Word ador'd Because he did them call 40. Unto that work which also they Sincerely did fulfill Not shunning always to obey His gracious holy will 41. Besides this much doth beautify This goodly Paradise That from all quarters constantly Whole thousands as the price 42. Of precious Blood do here arrive As safe escaping all Sin Hell and Satan did contrive To bring them into thrall 43. Each telling his deliverance I' th' open face of Heaven Still calling to remembrance How fiercely they were driven 44. By deadly Foe who did pursue As swift as Eagles fly Which if thou have not down thou must With those that then shall dye The second Death and be accurst Of God For certainly 45. The truth of Grace shall only here Without a blush be bold To stand whilst other quake and fear And dare not once behold 46. That Heart that here was right for God Shall there be comforted But those that evil ways have trod Shall then hang down the head 47. As sore confounded with the guilt That now upon them lies Because they did delight in filth And beastly vanities 48. Or else because they did deceive VVith hypocritical Disguises their own Souls and leave Or shun that best of all 49. Approved word of Righteousness They were invited to Embrace therefore they no access Now to him have but woe 50. For every one must now receive According to their ways They that unto the Lord did cleave The everlasting Joys 51. Those that did dye in wickedness To execution sent There still to grapple with distress VVhich nothing can prevent 52. Of which two states I next shall write VVherefore I pray give ear And to them bend with all your might Your Heart with filial fear Of Heaven 1. HEaven is a Place also a State It doth all things excell No Man can fully it relate Nor of its Glory tell 2. God made it for his Residence To fit on as a Throne Which shews to us the Excellence Whereby it may be known 3. Doubtless the Fabrick that was built For this so great a King Must needs surprise thee if thou wilt But duly mind the thing 4. If all that build do build to suit The glory of their state What Orator though most accute Can fully Heaven relate 5. If Palaces that Princes build Which yet are made of Clay Do so amaze when much beheld Of Heaven what shall we say 6. It is the high and holy place No Moth can there annoy Nor make to fade that goodly grace That Saints shall there enjoy 7. Mansions for glory and for rest Do there prepared stand Buildings eternal for the blest Are there provided and 8. The glory and the comliness By deepest thought none may With heart or mouth fully express Nor can before that day 9. These Heav'ns we see be as a scrole Or garment folded up Before they do together role And we call'd in to sup 10. There with the King the Bridegroom and By him are led into His Palace-Chambers there to stand With his Prospect to view 11. And taste and smell and be inflam'd And ravished to see The buildings he hath for us fram'd How full of Heav'n they be 12. It s state also is marvellous For beauty to behold All goodness there is plenteous And better far than Gold 13. Adorn'd with grace and righteousness While fragrant scents of love O're-flow with everlasting bliss All that do dwell above 14. The Heav'nly Majesty whose Face Doth far exceed the Sun Will there cast forth its rays of Grace After this World is done 15. Which rays and beams will so possess All things that there shall dwell With so much glory light and bliss That none can think or tell 16. That Wisdom which doth order all Shall there be fully shown That Strength that bears the World there shall By every one be known 17. That Holiness and Sanctity Which doth all thought surpass Shall there in present purity Out-shine the Chrystal Glass 18. The Beauty and the Comliness Of this All-mighty shall Make amiable with lasting bliss Those he thereto shall call 19. The presence of this God will be Eternal Life in all And
And joyntly shall with all our Heart In Life each other greet 72. A Crown to them we then shall be A Glory and a Joy And that before the Lord when he The World comes to destroy 73. This is the place this is the State Of all that fear the Lord Which men nor Angels may relate With tongue or pen or word 74. No night is here for to eclipse Its spangling rayes so bright Nor doubt nor fear to shut the lips Of those within this light 75. The strings of Musick here are tun'd For heavenly Harmony And every Spirit here perfum'd With perfect Sanctity 76. Here runs the Chrystal streams of Life Quite thorow all our veins And here by love we do unite With Glory's golden Chains 77. Now that which sweetneth all will be The lasting of this state This heightens all we here or see To a transcendent rate 78. For should the Saints enjoy all this But for a certain time Oh how would they their mark then miss And at this thing repine 79. Yea 't is not possible that they Who then shall dwell on high Should be content unless they may Dwell there eternally 80. A thought of parting with this place Would bitter all their sweet And darkness put upon the Face Of all they there do meet 80. But far from this the Saints shall be Their portion is the Lord Whose face for ever they shall see As saith the holy Word 81. And that with everlasting peace Joy and felicity From this time forth they shall encrease Unto Eternity Of Hell and the Estate of those that perish 1. THus having shew'd you what I see Of Heaven I now will tell You also after search what be The damned wights of Hell 2. And oh that they who read my lines Would ponder soberly And lay to heart such things betimes As touch Eternity 3. The sleepy sinner little thinks What sorrows will abound Within him when upon the brinks Of Tophet he is found 4. Hell is beyond all thought a state So doubtful and forlorn So fearful that none can relate The pangs that there are born 5. God will exclude them utterly From his most blessed Face And them involve in misery In shame and in disgrace 6. God is the Fountain of all bliss Of Life of Light and peace They then must needs be comfortless Who are depriv'd of these 7. Instead of Life a living death Will there in all be found Dyings will be in every breath Thus sorrow will abound 8. No light but darkness here doth dwell No peace but horror strange The fearful damning wights of Hell In all will make this change 9. To many things the damned's woe Is likened in the Word And that because no one can shew The vengeance of the Lord. 10. Unto a dreadful burning Lake All on a fiery flame Hell is compared for to make All understand the same 11. A burning Lake a Furnace hot A burning Oven too Must be the portion share and lot Of those which evil sow 12. This plainly shews the burning heat With which it will oppress All hearts and will like burnings eat Their Souls with sore distress 13. This burning Lake it is Gods wrath Incensed by the sin Of those who do reject his path And wicked ways walk in 14. Which wrath will so perplex all parts Of Body and of Soul As if up to the very hearts In burnings they did roul 15. Again to shew the stinking state Of this so sad a Case Like burning Brimstone God doth make The hidings of his Face 16. And truly as the steam and smoak And flames of Brimstone smell To blind the Eyes and Stomach choak So are the pangs of Hell 17. To see a Sea of Brimstone burn Who would it not afright But they whom God to Hell doth turn Are in most woful plight 18. This burning cannot quenched be No not with tears of blood No mournful groans in misery Will here do any good 19. O damned Men this is your fate The day of Grace is done Repentance now doth come too late Mercy is fled and gone 20. Your groans and cries they sooner should Have sounded in mine ears If Grace you would have had or would Have me regard your tears 21. Me you offended with your sin Instructions you did slight Your sins against my Law hath bin Justice shall have his right 22. I gave my Son to do you good I gave you space and time With him to close which you withstood And did with Hell combine 23. Justice against you now is set Which you cannot appease Eternal Justice doth you let From either life or ease 24. Thus he that to this place doth come May groan and sigh and weep But sin hath made that place his home And there it will him keep 25. Wherefore Hell in another place Is call'd a Prison too And all to shew the evil case Of all sin doth undo 26. Which Prison with its locks and bars Of Gods lasting decree Will hold them fast O how this mars All thought of being free 27. Out at these brazen bars they may The Saints in glory see But this will not their grief allay But to them torment be 28. Thus they in this infernal Cave Will now be holden fast From heav'nly freedom though they crave Of it they may not tast 29. The Chains that darkness on them hangs Still ratling in their Ears Creates within them heavy pangs And still augments their fears 30. Thus hopeless of all remedy They dyingly do sink Into the Jaws of misery And Seas of sorrows drink 31. For being cop'd on every side With helplesness and grief Head-long into despair they slide Berest of all relief 32. Therefore this Hell is call'd a Pit Prepar'd for those that dye The second Death a term most fit To shew their misery 33. A Pit that 's bottomless is this A Gulf of grief and wo A Dungeon which they cannot miss That will themselves undo 34. Thus without stay they always sink Thus fainting still they fail Despair they up like water drink These Prisoners have no bail 35. Here meets them now that worm that gnaws And plucks their bowels out The Pit too on them shuts her jaws This dreadful is no doubt 36. This gastly worm is guilt for sin Which on the Conscience feeds With Vipers Teeth both sharp and keen Whereat it sorely bleeds 37. This worm is fed by memory Which strictly brings to mind All things done in prosperity As we in Scripture find 38. No word nor thought nor act they did But now is set in sight Not one of them can now be hid Memory gives them light 39. On which the understanding still Will judge and sentence pass This kills the mind and wounds the will Alas alas alas 40. Oh Conscience is the slaughter-shop There hangs the Axe and Knife 'T is there the worm makes all things hot And wearies out the life 41. Here then is execution done On Body and on Soul For Conscience will be
Which now for sin they have O wantons take heed what ye do Sin will you never save 94. They sooner may drink up the Sea Than shake off these their fears Or make another in one day As big with brinish tears 95. Than put an end to misery In which they now do roar Or help themselves no they must cry Alas for evermore 96. When years by thousands on a heap Are passed o're their head Yet still the fruits of sin they reap Among the ghostly dead 97. Yea when they have time out of mind Been in this Case so ill For ever ever is behind Yet for them to fulfill FINIS Ebal and Gerizzim OR The BLESSING and the CURSE Being a short Exhortation to Sinners by the Mercy and Severity of God From Mount Gerizzim BEsides what I said of the Four last Things And of the weal and woe that from them springs An After-word still runneth in my Mind Which I shall here expose unto that wind That may it blow into that very hand That needs it Also that it may be scan'd With greatest soberness shall be my Prayer As well as diligence and godly care So to present it unto publick view That only truth and peace may thence ensue My talk shall be of that amazing love Of God we read of which that it may prove By its engaging Arguments to save Thee I shall lay out that poor help I have Thee to entice that thou wouldst dearly fall In love with thy Salvation and with all That doth thereto concurr that thou may'st be As blessed as the Blessed can make thee Not only here but in the World to come In bliss which I pray God may be thy home But first I would advise thee to bethink Thy self how sin hath laid thee at the brink Of Hell where thou art lulled fast asleep In Satans arms who also will thee keep As sensless and secure as e're he may Left thou should'st wake and see 't and run away Unto that Jesus whom the Father sent Into the World for this cause and intent That such as thou from such a thrall as this Might'st be released and made heir of bliss Nâ—â— that thou mayst awake the danger flye And so escape the death that others dye Come let me set my Trumpet to thine ear Be willing all my message for to hear 'T is for thy life O do it not refuse Woe unto them good counsel do abuse Thou art at present in that very case Which argues thou art destitute of grace For he that lyes where sin hath laid him lyes Under the curse graceless and so he dyes In Body and in Soul within that range If God his heart in mercy doth not change Before he goes the way of all the Earth Before he lose his Spirit and his Breath Repentance there is none within the Grave Nor Christ nor Grace nor Mercies for to save Thee from the Vengeance due unto thy sin If now thou dost not truly close with him Thou art like him that sleepeth in the Sea On broken Boards which without guide or stay Are driven whither Winds and Water will While greedy Beasts do wait to have their fill By feeding on his Carkass when he shall Turn over-board and without Mercy fall Into the Jaws of such as make a prey Of those whom Justice drowneth in the Sea Thou art like him that snoring still doth lye Upon the Bed of vain security Whil'st all about him into burning flame By fire is turn'd yea and while the frame And building where he lyes consuming is And while himself these burnings cannot miss Thou art like one that hangeth by a thread Over the mouth of Hell as one half dead And oh how soon this thread may broken be Or cut by death is yet unknown to thee But sure it is if all the weight of sin And all that Satan too hath doing been Or yet can do can break this crazy thread 'T will not be long before among the dead Thou tumble do as linked fast in chains With them to wait in fear for future pains What shall I say wilt thou not yet awake Nor yet of thy poor Soul some pity take Among the Lyons it hood-winked lyes Oh! that the Lord would open once thine Eyes That thou might'st see it then I dare say thou As half berest of Wits wouldst cry out how Shall I escape Lord help Oh! help with speed Reach down thy hand from Heaven for help I need To save me from the Lyons for I fear This Soul of mine they will in pieces tear Come then and let us both expostulate The Case betwixt us till we animate And kindle in our Hearts that burning love To Christ to Grace to Life that we may move Swifter than Eagles to this blessed prey Then shall it be well with us in that day The trump shall sound the dead made rise and stand Then to receive for breach of God's Command Such thunder-claps as these Depart from me Into Hell fire you that the Wicked be Prepared for the Devil and for those That with him and his Angels rather chose To live in filthy sin and wickedness Whose fruit is everlasting bitterness We both are yet on this side of the Grave We also Gospel-privileges have The Word and time to pray God give us Hearts That like the Wise-man we may act our parts To get the Pearl of price then we shall be Like godly Mary Peter Paul and we Like Jacob too the blessing shall obtain While Esau rides a Hunting for the gain Of worldly Pelf which will him not avail When Death or Judgment shall him fore assail Now to encourage us for to begin Let us believe the Kingdom we may win And be possest thereof if we the way Shall hit into and then let nothing stay Or hinder us the Crown is at the end Let 's run and strive and fly and let 's contend With greatest courage it for to obtain 'T is Life and Peace and everlasting gain The gate of Life the new and living way The Promise holdeth open all the day Which thou by Jacob's Ladder must ascend Where Angels always wait and do attend As Ministers to minister for those That do with God and Christ and glory close If guilt of sin still lieth at our door Us to discourage let us set before Our Eyes a bleeding Jesus who did dye The Death and let 's believe the reason why He did it was that we might ever be From death and sin from hell and wrath set free Yea let 's remember for that very end It was his blessed Father did him send That he the Law of God might here fulfill That so the Mystery of his blessed Will Might be revealed in the blessedness Of those that fly to Christ for righteousness Now let us argue with our selves then thus That Jesus Christ our Lord came to save us By bearing of our sins upon his back By hanging on the Cross as on a Rack While Justice cut him
off on every side While smiles Divine themselves from him did While earth did quake and rocks in pieces rent And while the Sun as veiled did lament To see the innocent and harmless dye So sore a death so full of misery Yea let us turn again and say all this He did and suffered for love of his He brought in everlasting Righteousness That he might cover all our nakedness He wept and washt his Face with brinish tears That we might saved be from hellish fears Blood was his sweat too in his agony That we might live in joyful extasie He apprehended was and led away That Grace to us-ward never might decay With swords and bills and outrage in the night That to the peace of Heaven we might have right Condemn'd he was between two Thieves to dye That we might ever in his bosom lye Scourged with whips his precious body were That we lashes of Conscience might not fear His head was crown'd with thorns that we might be Crowned with glory and felicity He hanged was upon a cursed Tree That we delivered from death might be His Father from him hides his smiles and face That we might have them in the heav'nly place He cry'd My God why hast forsaken me That we forsaken of him might not be Into his Side was thrust a bloody Spear That we the sting of death might never fear He went into the Grave after all this That we might up to Heav'n go and have bliss Yea rise again he did out of the Earth And shook off from him all the chains of death Then at his Chariot-wheels he captive led His Foes and trod upon the Serpents Head Riding in triumph to his Fathers Throne There to possess the Kingdom as his own What sayst thou will 't not yet unto him come His Arms are open in his Heart is room To lay thee be not then discouraged Although thy sins be many great and red Unto thee Righteousness he will impute And with the kisses of his Mouth salute Thy drooping Soul and will it so uphold As that thy shaking Conscience shall be bold To come to Mercys Seat with great access There to expostulate with that Justice That burns like fiery flames against all those That do not with this blessed Jesus close Which unto thee will do no harm but good Because thou hast relyance on that blood That Justice saith hath given him content For all that do unfeignedly repent Their ill spent Life and roll upon free grace That they within that bosom might have place That open is to such where they shall lye In ease and gladness and felicity World without end according to that state I have nay better than I can relate If thou shalt still object thou yet art vile And hast a Heart that will not reconcile Unto the holy Law but will rebell Heark yet to what I shall thee farther tell Two things are yet behind that help thee will If God shall put into thy Mind that skill So to improve them as becometh those That would with mercy and forgiveness close First then let this sink down into thy Heart That Christ is not a Saviour in part But every way so fully he is made The All of those that underneath his shade And wing would sit and shroud their weary Soul That even Moses dare it not controul But justifi't approve of 't and conclude No Man nor Angel must himself intrude With such Doctrine that may oppose the same On pain of blaspheming that holy Name Which God himself hath given unto Men To stay to trust to lean themselves on when They feel themselves assaulted and made fear Their sin will not let them in life appear For as God made him perfect Righteousness That he his love might to the height express And us present compleat before the Throne Sanctification too of his own He hath prepared in which do we stand Compleat in Holiness at his right Hand Now this Sanctification is not That Holiness which is in us but that Which in the Person of this Jesus is And can inherently be only his But is imputed to us for our good As is his active Righteousness and Blood Which is the cause though we infirm are found That Mercy and Forgiveness doth abound To us ward and that why we are not shent And empty and away rebuked sent Because that all we do imperfect is Bless God then for this Holiness of his And learn to look by Faith on that alone When thou seest thou hast nothing of thine own Yea when thy Heart most willing is to do What God by his good Word doth call thee to And when thou find'st most Holiness within And greatest power over every sin Yet then to Jesus look and thou shalt see In him Sanctification for thee Far more compleat than all that thou canst find In the most upright Heart and willing Mind That ever Men or Angels did possess When most fill'd with inherent Righteousness Besides if thou forgettest here to live And Satan get thee once into his sieve He will so hide thy Wheat and shew thy Brun That thou wilt quickly cry I am undone Alas thy goodliest attainments here Though like the fairest blossoms they appear How quickly will they lowr and decay And be as if they all were fled away When once the East-wind of temptations beat Upon thee with their dry and blasting heat Rich Men will not account their treasure lyes In crackt Groats and in Four-pence-half-pennys But in those Bags they have within their Chests In staple Goods which shall within their brests Have place accordingly because they see Their substance lyeth here But if that be But shaken then they quickly fear and cry Alas 't is not this small and odd money We carry in our Pockets for to spend Will make us rich or much will stand our friend If famine or if want do us assail How quickly will these little pieces fail If thou be wise consider what I say And look for all in Christ where no decay Is like to be then though thy present frame Be much in up and down yet he the same Abideth yea and still at Gods right hand As thy most perfect holiness will stand It is I say not like to that in thee Now high then low now out then in but he Most perfect is when thou art at the worst The same the very same I said at first This helpeth much when thou art buffetted And when thy graces lye in thee as dead Then to believe they are all perfect still In Christ thy head who hath that blessed skill Yet to present thee by what is in him Unto his Father one that hath no sin Yea this will fill thy mouth with Argument Against the Tempter when he shall present Before thee all thy weakness and shall hide From thee thy Graces that thou may'st abide Under the fretting fumes of unbelief Which never yielded Christian man relief Nor help thy self thou may'st against him thus O
them that sought his Life no rest he found Until a word of Faith became a ground To stay himself upon O! then they fell His very Song became their passing Bell. Then Holiness of Heart a consequence Of Faith in Christ is for it flows from thence The love of Christ in Truth constraineth us Of love sincerely to make Judgment thus He for us dyed that for ever we Might dye to sin and Christ his Servants be O! nothing's like to the remembrance Of what it is to have deliverance From Death and Hell which is of due our right Nothing I say like this to work delight In holy things this like live-honey runs And needs no pressing out of honey-combs Then understand my meaning by my words How sence of mercy unto faith affords Both Grace to sanctifie and holy make That Soul that of forgiveness doth partake Thus having briefly shewed you what is The way of Life of Sanctity of Bliss I would not in conclusion have you think By what I say that Christian-men should drink In these my words with lightness or that they Are now exempted from what every day Their duty is No God doth still expect Yea doth command that they do not neglect To pray to read to hear and not dissent From being sober grave and diligent In watching self-denyal and with fear To serve him all the time thou livest here Indeed I have endeavoured to lay Before your Eyes the right and only way Pardon to get and also Holiness Without which never think that God will bless Thee with the Kingdom he will give to those That Christ embrace and holy lives do choose To live while here all other go astray And shall in time to come be cast away From Mount Ebal THus having heard from Gerizzim I shall Next come to Ebal and you thither call Not there to curse you but to let you hear How God doth curse that Soul that shall appear An unbelieving man a graceless wretch Because he doth continue in the breach Of Moses Law and also doth neglect To close with Jesus him will God reject And cast behind him for of right his due Is that from whence all miseries ensue Cursed saith he are they that do transgress The least of my Commandments more or less Nothing that written is must broken be But always must be kept unto by thee And must fulfilled be for here no man Can look God in the face or ever stand Before the Judgment seat for if they be Convict condemned too assuredly Now keep this Law no mortal Creature can For they already do as guilty stand Before the God that gave it so that they Obnoxious to the curse lye every day Which also they must feel for certainty If unto Jesus Christ they do not fly Hence then as they for ever shall be blest That do by faith upon the promise rest So peace unto the wicked there is none 'T is wrath and death that they must feed upon That what I say may some impression make On carnal Hearts that they in time may take That course that best will prove when time is done These lines I add to what I have begun First Thou must know that God as he is Love So he is Justice therefore cannot move Or in the least be brought to favour those His Holiness and Justice doth oppose For though thou may'st imagine in thy heart That God is this or that yet if thou art At all besides the truth of what he is And so dost build thy hope for life amiss Still he the same abideth and will be The same the same for ever unto thee As God is true unto his promise so Unto his threatning he is faithful too Cease to be God he must if he should break One tittle that his blessed mouth did speak Now then none can be saved but the men With whom the God-head is contented when It them beholds with the severest eye Of Justice Holiness and yet can spye No fault nor blemish in them these be they That must be saved as the Scriptures say If this be true as 't is assuredly Woe be to them that wicked live and dye Those that as far from Holiness have been All their Life long as if no Eye had seen Their doings here or as if God did not At all regard or in the least mind what Wherein or how they did his Law transgress Either by this or other Wickedness But how deceived these poor creatures are They then shall know when they their burthen bear Alas our God is a consuming fire So is his Law by which he doth require That thou submit to him and if thou be Not in that Justice found that can save thee From all and every sentence which he spake Upon Mount Sinai then as one that brake It thou the flames thereof shalt quickly find As scourges thee to lash while sins do bind Thee hand and foot for ever to endure The strokes of vengeance for thy Life impure What I have said will yet evinced be And manifest abundantly to thee If what I have already spoken to Be joyned with these Lines that do ensue Justice discovers its antipathy Against Prophaneness and Malignity Not only by the Law it gave to men And Threatnings thereunto annexed then But in as much as long before that day He did prepare for such as go astray That dreadful that so much amazing place Hell with its Torments for those men that Grace And Holiness of Life slight and disdain There to bemoan themselves with hellish pain This place also the Pains so dismal be Both as to Name and Nature that in me It is not to express the damning wights The hellish Torture and the fearful plights Thereof for as intolerable they Must needs be found by those that disobey The Lord so can no word or thought express Unto the full the height of that distress Such miserable Caitiffs that shall there Rebukes of Vengeance for Transgressions bear Indeed the Holy Scriptures do make use Of many Metaphors that do conduce Much to the symbolizing of the place Unto our Apprehension but the case The sad the woful case of those that lye As wracked there in endless misery By all similitudes no mortals may Set forth in its own nature for I say Similitudes are but a shade and shew Of those or that they signifie to you The fire that doth within thine Oven burn The Prison where poor People sit and mourn Chains Racks and Darkness and such others be As painting on the Wall to let thee see By Word and Figures the extremity Of such as shall within these burnings lye But certainly if Wickedness and Sin Had only foolish toyes and trifles been And if God had not greatly hated it Yea could he any ways thereof admit And let it pass he would not thus have done He doth not use to punish any one With any place or punishment that is Above or sharper than the sin of his Hath merited and Justice
seeth due Read sin then by the death that doth ensue Most men do judge of sin not by the fruits It bears and bringeth forth but as it suits Their carnal and deluded hearts that be With sensual Pleasures eaten up but he That now so judgeth shortly shall perceive That God will judge thereof himself and leave Such men no longer to their carnal lusts To judge of wickedness and of the just And righteous punishment that doth of right Belong thereto and will too in despite Of all their carnal reason justifie Himself in their eternal misery Then Hell will be no fancy neither will Mens sins be pleasant to them but so ill And bitter yea so bitter that none can Fully express the same or ever stand Under the burden it will on them lay When they from Life and Bliss are sent away When I have thought how often God doth speak Of their destruction who his Law do break And when the nature of the punishment I find so dreadful and that Gods intent Yea resolution is it to inflict On every sinner that shall stand convict I have amazed been yet to behold To see poor sinners yet with sin so bold That like the Horse that to the battel runs Without all fear and that no danger shuns Till down he falls O resolute attempts O sad amazing damnable Events The end of such proceedings needs must be From which O Lord save and deliver me But if thou think that God thy noble Race Will more respect than into such a place To put thee hold though thou his off-spring be And so art lovely yet sin hath made thee Another kind of Creature than when thou Didst from his fingers drop and therefore now Thy first Creation stands thee in no stead Thou hast transgressed and in very deed Set God against thee who is infinite And that for certain never will forget Thy sins nor favour thee if thou shalt dye A graceless Man this is thy misery When Angels sinned though of higher race Than thou and also put in higher place Yet them he spared not but cast them down From Heaven to Hell where also they lye bound In everlasting chains and no release Shall ever have but wrath that shall encrease Upon them to their everlasting woe As for the state they were exalted to That will by no means mitigate their fear But aggravate their hellish torment here For he that highest stands if he shall fall His danger needs must be the great'st of all Now if God noble Angels did not spare Because they did transgress will he forbear Poor dust and ashes will he suffer them To break his Law and sin and not condemn Them for so doing let not man deceive Himself or others they that do bereave Themselves by sin of happiness shall be Cut off by Justice and have misery Witness his great severity upon The World that first was planted wherein none But only eight the Deluge did escape All others of that Vengeance did partake The reason was That World ungodly stood Before him therefore he did send the flood Which swept them all away a just Reward For their most wicked ways against the Lord Who could no longer bear them and their ways Therefore into their bosom Vengeance pays We read of Sodom and Gomorrha too What Judgments they for sin did undergo How God from Heaven did fire upon them rain Because they would not wicked ways refrain Condemning of them with an overthrow And turned them to ashes who can know The miseries that these poor People felt While they did underneath those burnings melt Now these and many more that I could name That have been made partakers of the flame And Sword of Justice God did then cut off And make Examples unto all that scoff At holiness or do the Gospel slight And long it will not be before the night And Judgment painted out by what he did To Sodom and Gomorrha fulfilled Upon such sinners be that they may know That God doth hate the sin and Persons too Of such as still rebellious shall abide Although they now at Judgment may deride FINIS Prison-Meditations Directed to the Heart of SUFFERING SAINTS AND REIGNING SINNERS By JOHN BUNYAN in Prison 1665. 1. FRiend I salute thee in the Lord And wish thou may'st abound In Faith and have a good regard To keep on Holy Ground 2. Thou dost encourage me to hold My Head above the Flood Thy Counsel better is than Gold In need thereof I stood 3. Good Counsel's good at any time The Wise will it receive Tho' Fools count he commits a Crime Who doth good Counsel give 4. I take it kindly at thy hand Thou didst unto me write My Feet upon Mount Sion stand In that take thou delight 5. I am indeed in Prison now In Body but my Mind Is free to study Christ and how Unto me he is kind 6. For though men keep my outward man Within their Locks and Bars Yet by the Faith of Christ I can Mount higher than the Stars 7. Their Fetters cannot Spirits tame Nor tye up God from me My Faith and Hope they cannot lame Above them I shall be 8. I here am very much refresht To think when I was out I preached Life and Peace and Rest To Sinners round about 9. My business then was Souls to save By preaching Grace and Faith Of which the comfort now I have And have it shall till death 10. They were no Fables that I taught Devis'd by cunning men But God's own Word by which were caught Some sinners now and then 11. Whose Souls by it were made to see The evil of their sin And need of Christ to make them free From death which they were in 12. And now those very Hearts that then Were Foes unto the Lord Embrace his Christ and Truth like men Conquered by his Word 13. I hear them sigh and groan and cry For Grace to God above They loath their sin and to it dye 'T is Holiness they love 14. This was the work I was about When Hands on me they laid 'T was this from which they pluck'd me out And vilely to me said 15. You Heretick Deceiver come To Prison you must go You preach abroad and keep not home You are the Churches foe 16. But having Peace within my Soul And Truth on every side I could with comfort them controul And at their charge deride 17. Wherefore to Prison they me sent Where to this day I lie And can with very much content For my Profession die 18. The Prison very sweet to me Hath been since I came here And so would also hanging be If God will there appear 19. Here dwells good Conscience also Peace Here be my Garments white Here though in Bonds I have Release From Guilt which else would bite 20. When they do talk of Banishment Of Death or such like Things Then to me God sends Hearts content That like a Fountain springs 21. Alas they little think what peace They help
me to for by Their rage my Comforts do encrease Bless God therefore do I. 22. If they do give me gall to drink Then God doth sweetning cast So much thereto that they can't think How bravely it doth taste 23. For as the Devil sets before Me Heaviness and Grief So God sets Christ and Grace much more Whereby I take relief 24. Though they say then that we are Fools Because we here do lye I answer Goals are Christ his Schools In them we learn to dye 25. 'T is not the baseness of this state Doth hide us from God's Face He frequently both soon and late Doth visit us with Grace 26. Here comes the Angels here comes Saints Here comes the Spirit of God To comfort us in our restraints Under the wickeds Rod. 27. God sometime visits Prisons more Than lordly Palaces He often knocketh at our Door When he their Houses miss 28. The Truth and Life of heav'nly things Lifts up our Hearts on high And carries us on Eagles Wings Beyond Carnality 29. It takes away those Clogs that hold The Hearts of other men And makes us lively strong and bold Thus to oppose their sin 30. By which means God doth frusturate That which our Foes expect Namely our turning the Postate Like those of Judas Sect. 31. Here comes to our rememberance The Troubles good men had Of old and for our furtherance Their Joys when they were sad 32. To them that here for Evil lye The place is comfortless But not to me because that I Lye here for Righteousness 33. The Truth and I were both here cast Together and we do Lye Arm in Arm and so hold fast Each other This is true 34. This Goal to us is as a Hill From whence we plainly see Beyond this World and take our fill Of things that lasting be 35. From hence we see the emptiness Of all this World contains And here we feel the Blessedness That for us yet remains 36. Here we can see how all men play Their parts as on a Stage How good men suffer for God's way And bad men at them rage 37. Here we can see who holds that ground Which they in Scripture find Here we see also who turns round Like Weathercocks with ' Wind. 38. We can also from hence behold How seeming Friends appear But Hypocrites as we are told In Scripture every where 39. When we did walk at liberty We were deceiv'd by them Who we from hence do clearly see Are vile deceitful Men. 40. These Politicians that profest For base and worldly ends Do now appear to us at best But Machivilian Friends 41. Though Men do say we do disgrace Our selves by lying here Among the Rogues yet Christ our face From all such filth will clear 42. We know there 's neither flout nor frown That we now for him bear But will add to our heavenly Crown When he comes in the Air. 43. When he our righteousness forth brings Bright shining as the day And wipeth off those stand'rous things That Scorners on us lay 44. We fell our earthly Happiness For heavenly house and home We leave this world because 't is less And worse than that to come 45. We change our drossie Dust for Gold From Death to Life we fly We let go Shadows and take hold Of Immortality 46. We trade for that which lasting is And nothing for it give But that which is already his By whom we breath and live 47. That liberty we lose for him Sickness might take away Our goods might also for our sin By Fire or Thieves decay 48. Again we see what Glory 't is Freely to bear our Cross For him who for us took up his When he our Servant was 49. I am most free that Men should see A hole cut through mine Ear If others will ascertain me They 'll hang a Jewel there 50. Just thus it is we suffer here For him a little pain Who when he doth again appear Will with him let us reign 51. If all must either dye for sin A Death that 's natural Or else for Christ 't is best with him Who for the last doth fall 52. Who now dare say we throw away Our Goods or Liberty When God's most holy Word doth say We gain thus much thereby 53. Hark yet again you carnal Men And hear what I shall say In your own Dialect and then I 'll you no longer stay 54. You talk sometimes of Valour much And count such bravely man'd That will not stick to have a tutch With any in the Land 55. If these be worth commending then That vainly shew their might How dare you blame those holy Men That in God's quarrel fight 56. Though you dare crack a Cowards Crown Or quarrel for a Pin You dare not on the Wicked frown Nor speak against their sin 57. For all your Spirits are so stout For matters that are vain Yet sin besets you round about You are in Satan's chain 58. You dare not for the Truth engage You quake at Prisonment You dare not make the Tree your stage For Christ that King potent 59. Know then true Valour there doth dwell Where Men engage for God Against the Devil Death and Hell And bear the Wickeds rod. 60. These be the Men that God doth count Of high and noble Mind These be the Men that do surmount VVhat you in Nature find 61. First they do conquer their own Hearts All worldly fears and then Also the Devils firy darts And persecuting Men. 62. They conquer when they thus do fall They kill when they do dye They overcome then most of all And get the Victory 63. The worldling understands not this 'T is clear out of his sight Therefore he counts this world his bliss And doth our Glory slight 64. The Lubber knows not how to spring The nimble Foot-man's stage Neither can Owls or Jack-Daws sing If they were in the Cage 65. The Swine doth not the Pearls regard But them doth slight for Grains Though the wise Merchant labours hard For them with greatest pains 66. Consider Man what I have said And judge of things aright When all mens Cards are fully plaid Whose will abide the Light 67. Will those who have us hither cast Or they who do us scorn Or those who do our Houses wast Or us who this have born 68. And let us count those things the best That best will prove at last And count such Men the only blest That do such things hold fast 69. And what though they us dear do cost Yet let us buy them so We shall not count our labour lost When we see others woe 70. And let Saints be no longer blam'd By carnal Policy But let the Wicked be asham'd Of their Malignity FINIS