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
brib'd of none But gives to all their doul 42. This worm 't is said shall never dye But in the belly be Of all that in the flames shall lye O dreadful sight to see 43. This worm now needs must in them live For sin will still be there And guilt for God will not forgive Nor Christ their burden bear 44. But take from them all help and stay And leave them to despair Which seeds upon them night and day This is the damned's share 45. Now will confusion so possess These Monuments of Ire And so confound them with distress And trouble their desire 46. That what to think or what to do Or where to lay their head They know not 't is the damned's wo To live and yet be dead 47. These cast-aways would fain have life But know they never shall They would forget their dreadful plight But that sticks fast'st of all 48. God Christ Heav'n they know are best Yet dare not on them think The Saints they know in joys do rest While they their tears do drink 49. They cry alas but all in vain They stick fast in the mire They would be rid of present pain Yet set themselves on fire 50. Darkness is their perplexity Yet do they hate the light They always see their misery Yet are themselves all night 51. They are all dead yet live they do Yet neither live nor dye They dye to weal and live to wo This is their misery 52. Amidst all this so great a scare That here I do relate Another falleth to their share In this their sad estate 53. The Legions of infernal Fiends Then with them needs must be A just reward for all their pains This they shall feel and see 54. With yellings howlings shrikes and cries And other doleful noise With trembling hearts and failing eyes These are their hellish joyes 55. These Angels black they would obey And serve with greedy mind And take delight to go astray That pleasure they might find 56. Which pleasure now like poison turns Their joy to heaviness Yea like the gall of Asps it burns And doth them sore oppress 57. Now is the joy they lived in All turn'd to brinish tears And resolute attempts to sin Turn'd into hellish fears 58. The floods run trickling down their face Their hearts do prick and ake While they lament their woful case Their loins totter and shake 59. O wetted cheeks with-bleared eyes How fully do you shew The pangs that in their bosom lyes And grief they undergo 60. Their dolor in their bitterness So greatly they bemoan That Hell it self this to express Doth eccho with their groan 61. Thus broiling on the burning grates They now to wailing go And say of those unhappy fates That did them thus undo 62. Alas my grief hard hap had I Those dolors here to find A living Death in Hell I lye Involv'd with grief of mind 63. I once was fair for light and grace My days were long and good I lived in a blessed place Where was most heav'nly food 64. But wretch I am I slighted life I chose in death to live Oh for these days now if I might Ten thousand Worlds would give 65. What time had I to pray and read What time to hear the Word What means to help me at my need Did God to me afford 66. Examples too of Piety I every day did see But they abuse and slight did I Oh woe be unto me 67. I now remember how my Friend Reproved me of Vice And bid me mind my latter end Both once and twice and thrice 68. But oh deluded man I did My back upon him turn Eternal life I did not heed For which I now do mourn 69. Ah golden time I did thee spend In Sin and Idleness Ah health and wealth I did you lend To bring me to distress 70. My Feet to evil I let run And Tongue of folly talk My Eyes to vanity hath gone Thus did I vainly walk 71. I did as greatly toil and strain My self with Sin to please As if that everlasting gain Could have been found in these 72. But nothing nothing have I found But weeping and alas And sorrow which doth now surround Me and augment my Cross. 73. Ah bleeding Conscience how did I Thee check when thou didst tell Me of my faults for which I lye Dead while I live in Hell 74. I took thee for some peevish foe When thou didst me accuse Therefore I did thee buffet so And counsel did refuse 75. Thou often didst me tidings bring How God did me dislike Because I took delight in Sin But I thy News did slight 76. Ah Mind why didst thou do those things That now do work my woe Ah Will why wast thou thus inclin'd Me ever to undo 77. My Senses how were you beguil'd When you said sin was good It hath in all parts me defil'd And drown'd me like a flood 78. Ah that I now a being have In sorrow and in pain Mother would you had been my grave But this I wish in vain 79. Had I been made a Cockatrice A Toad or such like thing Yea had I been made Snow or Ice Then had I had no sin 80. A Block a Stock a Stone or Clot Is happier than I For they know neither cold nor hot To live nor yet to dye 81. I envy now the happiness Of those that are in light I hate the very name of bliss 'Cause I have there no right 82. I grieve to see that others are In glory life and well Without all fear or dread or care While I am wrackt in Hell 83. Thus-will these Souls with watry eyes And hacking of their Teeth With wringing hands and fearful cries Expostulate their grief 84. O set their teeth they will and gnash And gnaw for very pain While as with Scorpions God doth lash Them for their Life so vain 85. Again still as they in this muse Are feeding on the fire To mind there comes yet other news To scrue their Torments higher 86. Which is the length of this estate Where they at present lye Which in a word I thus relate 'T is to Eternity 87. This thought now is so firmly fixt In all that comes to mind And also is so strongly mixt With wrath of every kind 88. So that whatever they do know Or see or think or feel For ever still doth strike them throw As with a bar of steel 89. For ever shineth in the fire Ever is on the chains 'T is also in the pit of Ire And tasts in all their pains 90. For ever separate from God From Peace and Life and Rest For ever underneath the Rod That Vengeance liketh best 91. O ever ever this will drown'd Them quite and make them cry We never shall get o're thy bound Oh great Eternity 92. They sooner now the Stars may count Than loose these dismal bands Or see to what the moats amount Or number up the sands 93. Than see an end of this their woe
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