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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A30143	Grace abounding to the chief of sinners, or, A brief and faithful relation of the exceeding mercy of God in Christ, to his poor servant John Bvnyan wherein is particularly shewed, the manner of his conversion, his fight and trouble for sin, his dreadful temptations, also how he despaired of Gods mercy, and how the Lord at length thorow [sic] Christ did deliver him from all the guilt and terrour that lay upon him : whereunto is added, a brief relation of his call to the work of the ministry, of his temptations therein, as also what he hath met with in prison : all which was written by his own hand there, and now published for the support of the the weak and tempted people of God.	Bunyan, John, 1628-1688.	1666 (1666)	Wing B5523; ESTC R3994	67,228	108

I should let them alone because I saw they engendered strife and because I saw that they neither in doing nor in leaving undone did commend us to God to be his besides I saw my Work before me did run in another channel even to carry an awakening-Word to that therefore did I stick and adhere 238. I never endeavoured to nor durst make use of other mens lines Rom. 15.18 though I condemn not all that do for I verily thought and found by expe●ience that what was taught me by the Word and Spirit of Christ could be spoken maintained and stood ●o by soundest and best established Conscience and though I will not now speak all that I know in this matter yet my experience hath more interest in that text of Scripture Gal. 1.11 12. than many amongst men are aware 239. If any of those vvho vvere awakened by my Ministery did after that fall back as sometimes too many did I can truly say their loss hath been more to me then if one of my own Children begotten of my body had been going to its grave I think verily I may speak it vvithout an offence to the Lord nothing hath gone so near me as that unless it vvas the fear of the loss of the salvation of my ovvn Soul I have counted as if I had goodly buildings and lordships in those places my Children were born my heart hath been so wrapt up in the glo●y of this excellent work that I counted my self more blessed and honored of God by this than if he had made me the Emperour of the Christian World or the Lord of all the glory of Earth without it O t●at wo●d He that converteth a sinner from the error of his way doth save a soul from death 240. I have observed that where I have had a work to do for God I have had first as it were the going of God upon my Spirit to desire I might preach there I have also observed that such and such Souls in particular have been strongly set upon my heart and I stirred up to wish for their Salvation and that these very Souls have after this been given in as the fruits of my Ministry I have also observed that a word cast in by the by hath done more execution in a Se●mon then all that was spoken besides some●imes also when I have thought I did no good then I did most of all and at other times when I thought I should catch them I have fished for nothing 241. My great desire in my fulfilling my Ministry was to get into the darkest places in the Countrey even amongst those people that were furthest off of profession yet not because I could not endure the light for I feared not to shew my Gospel to any but because I found my spirit did lean most after awakening and conve●ting Work and the Word that I carried did lead it self most that way Yea so have I strived to preach the Gospel not where Christ was named lest I should build upon another mans foundation Rom. 15.20 242. In my preaching I have really been in pain and have as it were travelled to b●ing forth Children to God neither could I be satisfied unless some fruits did appear in my work if I were fruitless it matter'd nor who commended me but if I were fruitful I cared not who did condemn I have thought of that He that winneth souls is wise Pro. 11.30 and again Lo Children are an heritage of the Lord and the fruit of the Womb is his Reward as arrows in the hand of a mighty man so are Children of the youth happy is the man that hath filled his quiver with them they shall not be ashamed but they shall speak with the Enemies in the gate Psal. 127.3 4 5. 243. But in this work as in all other I had my temptations attending me and that of dive●s kin●s as sometimes I should be assaulted with great discouragement therein fearing that I should not be able to speak the Wo●d at all to edification nay that I should not be able to speak sence unto the people at which times I should have such a strange taintness and strengthlesness seiz upon my body that my legs have scarce been able to carry me to the place of Exercise 244. Sometimes again when I have been preaching I have bin violently assaulted with thoughts of blasphemy and st●ongly tempted to speak them with my mouth before the Congregation I have also at some times even when I have begun to speak the Word with much clearness evidence and liberty of speech yet been before the ending of that Opportunity so blinded and so estranged from the things I have been speaking and have also bin so straitned in my speech as to utterance before the people that I have been as if had not known or remembred what I have been about or as if my head had been in a bag all the time of the exercise 245. Again When at sometimes I have been about to preah upon some smart and scorching portion of the Word I have found the tempter suggest What! will you preach this this condemns your self of this your own Soul is guilty wherefore preach not of it at all or if you do yet so mince it as to make way for your own escape ●est instead of awakening others you lay that guilt upon your own soul as you will never get from under 246. I have also while found in this blessed work of Christ been often tempted to pride and liftings up of heart and though I dare not say I have not been infected with this yet truly the Lord of his precious mercy hath so carried it towards me that for the most part I have had but small joy to give way to such a thing for it hath been my every-days portion to be let into the evil of my own heart and still made to see such a multitude of corruptions and infirmities therein that it hath caused hanging down of the head under all my Gifts and Attainments I have felt this thorn in the flesh 2 Cor. 12.8 9. the ve●y mercy of God to me 247. I have had also together with this some notable place or other of the Word presented before me which word ha●h contained in it some sharp and piercing sentence concerning the perishing of the Soul notwithstanding gifts and parts as for instance that hath been of great use unto me Though I speak with the tongue of men and angels and have not charity I am become as sounding-brass and a tinkling cymbal 1 Cor. 13.1 2. 248. A tinkling Cymbal is an instrument of Musick with which a skilful pla●er can make such melodious and heart-inflaming Musick that all who hear him play can sca●cely hold from dancing and yet behold the Cymbal hath not life neither comes the musick f●om it but because of the art of him that playe● the●ewith so then the instrument at last may come to nough● and perish though in times past such mus●ck

GRACE Abounding to the chief of Sinners OR A Brief and Faithful RELATION Of the Exceeding Mercy of God in Christ to his poor Servant JOHN BVNYAN Wherein is particularly shewed The manner of his Conversion his sight and trouble for Sin his Dreadful Temptations also how he despaired of Gods mercy and how the Lord at length thorow Christ did deliver him from all the guilt and terrour that lay upon him Whereunto is added A brief Relation of his Call to the Work of the Ministry of his Temptations therein as also what he hath met with in Prison All which was written by his own hand there and now published for the support of the weak and tempted People of God Come and hear all ye that fear God and I will declare what he hath done for my soul Psal. 66.16 LONDON Printed by George Larkin 1666. A PREFACE Or brief Account of the publishing of this Work Written by the Author thereof and dedicated to those whom God hath counted him worthy to beget to Faith by his Ministry in the Word CHildren Grace be with you Amen I being taken from you in presence and so tied up that I cannot perform that duty that from God doth lie upon me to you-ward for your further edifying and building up in Faith and Holiness c. Yet that you may see my Soul hath fatherly care and desire after your spiritual and everlasting Welfare I now once again as from the top of Shenir and Hermon so from the Lions Dens and from the Mountains of the Leopards Song 4.8 do look yet after you all greatly longing to see your safe arrival into THE desired Haven I thank God upon every Remembrance of you and rejoyce even while I stick between the Teeth of the Lions in the Wilderness at the grace and mercy and knowledge of Christ our Saviour which God hath bestowed upon you with abundance of Faith and Love Your hungerings and thirstings also after further acquaintance with the Father in his Son your tenderness of Heart your trembling at sin your sober and holy deportment also before both God and men is great refreshment to me for you are my glory and joy 1 Thes. 2.20 I have sent you here enclosed a drop of that honey that I have taken out of the Carcase of a Lyon Judg. 14.5 6 7 8. I have eaten thereof my self also and am much refreshed thereby Temptations when we meet them at first are as the Lyon that roared upon Sampson but if we overcome them the next time we see them we shall finde a Nest of Honey within them The Philistians understand me not It is a Relation of the work of God upon my own Soul even from the very first till now wherein you may perceive my castings down and raisings up for he woundeth and his hands make whole It is written in the Scripture Isai. 38.19 The father to the children shall make known the truth of God Yea it was for this reason I lay so long at Sinai Lev. 4.10 11. to see the fire and the cloud and the darkness that I might fear the Lord all the days of my life upon earth and tell of his wondrous works to my children Psal. 78.3 4 5. Moses Numb 33.1 2. writ of the Journeyings of the children of Israel from Egypt to the Land of Canaan and commanded also that they did remember their forty years travel in the wilderness Thou shalt remem-all the way which the Lord thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness to humble thee and to prove thee and to know what was in thine heart whether thou wouldst keep his commandments or no Deut. 8.2 3. Wherefore this I have endeavoured to do and not onely so but to publish it also that if God will others may be put in remembrance of of what he hath done for their Souls by reading his work upon me It is profitable for Christians to be often calling to mind the very beginnings of Grace with their Souls It is a night to be much observed to the Lord for bringing them out from the land of Egypt This is that night of the Lord to be observed of all the children of Israel in their generations Exod. 12.42 My God saith David Psal. 42.6 my soul is cast down within me but I will remember thee from the land of Jordan and of the Hermonites from the hill Mizar He remembred also the Lyon and the Bear when he went to fight with the Giant of Gath 1 Sam. 17.36 37 It was Pauls accustomed manner Acts 22. and that when tried for his life Acts 24. even to open before his Judges the manner of his Conversion He would think of that day and that hour in the which he first did meet with Grace for he found it support unto him When God had brought the children of Israel thorow the Red Sea far into the wilderness yet they must turn quite about thither again to remember the drowning of their enemies there Num. 14.25 for though they sang his praise before yet they soon forgat his works Psal. 106.11 12. In this Discourse of mine you may see much much I say of the Grace of God towards me I thank God I can count it much for it was above my sins and Satans temptations too I can remember my fears and doubts and sad moneths with comfort they are as the head of Goliah in my hand there was nothing to David like Goliahs sword even that sword that should have been sheathed in his bowels for the very sight and remembrance of that did preach forth Gods Deliverance to him O the remembrance of my great sins of my great temptations and of my great fears of perishing for ever They bring fresh into my mind the remembrance of my great help my great support from Heaven and the great grace that God extended to such a Wretch as I. My dear Children call to mind the former days the years of ancient times remember also your songs in the night and commune with your own heart Psal. 73.5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12. Yea look diligently and leave no corner therein unsearched for there is ●reasure hid even the treasure of your first and second experience of the grace of God toward you Remember I say the Word that first laid hold upon you remember your terrours of conscience and fear of death and hell remember also your tears and prayers to God yea how you sighed under every hedge for mercy Have you never a Hill Mizar to remember Have you forgot the Close the Milk-house the Stable the Barn and the like where God did visit your Soul Remember also the Word the Word I say upon which the Lord hath caused you to hope If you have sinned against light if you are tempted to blaspheme if you are down in despair if you think God fights against you or if heaven is hid from your eyes remember 't was thus with your Father but out of them all the Lord delivered

which frame he stilly and slyly supplyeth with such despair that thoug● not much guilt attendeth the Soul yet they continually have a secret conclusion within them tha● there is no hopes for them for they have loved sins Jer. 2.25 18.12 22. Now therefore I went on in sin with grea● greediness of mind still grudging that I could no● be so satisfied with it as I would this did continu● with me about a moneth or more But one-da● as I was standing at a Neighbours Shop-window and there cursing and swearing and playing th● Mad-man after my wonted manner there sat● within the woman of the house and heard me● who though she also was a very loose and ungodl● Wretch yet protested that I swore and cursed 〈◊〉 that most fearful rate that she was made to tremb●● to heat me And told me further That I was t●● ungodliest Fellow for swearing that ever she heard in 〈◊〉 her life and that I by thus doing was able to spoile all the Youth in a whole Town if they came but in my company 23. At this reproof I was silenced and put to secret shame and that too as I thought before the God of Heaven wherefore while I there stood and hanging down my head I wished with all my heart that I might be a little childe again that my Father might learn me to speak without this wicked way of swearing for thought I I am so accustomed to it that it is but in vain for me to think of a reformation for I thought it could never be 24. But how it came to pass I know not I did from this time forward so leave my swearing that it was a great wonder to my self to observe it and whereas before I knew not how to speak unless I put an Oath before and another behind to make my words have authority now I could speak better and with more pleasantness then ever I could before all this while I knew not Jesus Christ neither did I leave my sports and play 25. But quickly after this I fell in company with one poor man that made profession of Religion Who as I then thought did talk pleasantly of the Scriptures and of the matters of Religion wherefore falling into some love and liking to what he said I betook me to my Bible and began to take great pleasu●e in reading but especially with the historical part thereof for as for Pauls Epistles and Scriptures of that nature I could not away with them being as yet but ignorant either of the corruptions of my nature or of the want and worth of Jesus Christ to save me 26. Wherefore I fell to some outward Reformation both in my words and life and did set the Commandments before me for my way to Heaven which Commandments I also did strive to keep and as I thought did keep them pretty well sometimes and then I should have comfort yet now and then should break one and so afflict my Conscience but then I should repent and say I was sorry for it and promise God to do better next time and there get help again 27. Thus I continued about a year all which time our Neighbours did take me to be a very godly man a new and religious man and did marvel much to see such a great and famous alteration in my life and manners and indeed so it was though yet I knew not Christ nor Grace nor Faith nor Hope and truly as I have well seen since had I then died my state had been most fearful well this I say continued about a twelve-month or more 28. But upon a day the good Providence of God did cast me to Bedford to work on my calling and in one of the streets of that town I came where there was three or four poor women sitting at a door in the Sun and talking about the things of God and being now willing to hear them discourse I drew near to hear what they said for I was now a brisk talker also my self in the matters of Religion but now I may say I heard but I understood not for they were far above out of my reach for their talk was about a new birth the work of God on their hearts also how they were convinced of their miserable stare by nature they talked how God had visited their souls with his love in the Lord Jesus and with what words and promises they had been refreshed comforted and supported against the temptations of the Devil moreover they reasoned of the suggestions and temptations of Satan in particular and told to each other by which they had been afflicted and how they were born up under his assaults they also discoursed of their own wretchedness of heart of their unbelief and did contemn slight and abhor their own righteousness as filthy and insufficient to do them any good 29. And me thought they spake as if joy did make them speak they spake with such plea●antne●s of Scripture language and with such appearance of grace in all they said that they were to me as if they had found a new world as if they were people that dwelt alone and were not to be reckoned amongst their Neighbou●s 30. At this I felt my own heart began to shake as mistrusting my condition to be naught for I saw that in all my thoughts about Religion and Salvation the New birth did never enter into my mind neither knew I the comfort of the Word and Promise nor the deceitfulness and treachery of my own wicked heart As for secret thoughts I took no notice of them neither did I understand what Satans temptations were nor how they were to be withstood and resisted c. 31. Thus therefore when I had heard and considered what they said I left them and went about my employment again but their talk and discourse went with me also my heart would tarry with them for ● was greatly affected with their words both because by them I was convinced that I wanted the true tokens of a truly godly man and also because by them I was convinced of the happy and blessed condition of him that was such a one 32. Therefore I should often make it my business to be going again and again into the company of these poor people for ● could not stay away and the more I went amongst them the more I did question my condition and as still I do remember presently I found two things within me at which I did sometimes marvel especially considering what a blind ignorant so●did and ungodly Wretch but just before I was the one was a very great softness and tenderness of heart which caused me to fall under the conviction of what by Scripture they asserted and the other was a great bending in my mind to a continual meditating on them and on all other good things which at any time I heard or read of 33. My mind was now so turned that it lay like a Horseleach at the vein still crying out Give give

Servant for I had not preached long before some began to be touched by the Word and to be greatly afflicted in their minds at the apprehension of the greatness of their sin and of t●eir need of Jesus Christ. 226. But I at first could not believe that God should speak by me to the heart of any man still counting my self unworthy yet those who thus were touched vvould love me and have a peculiar respect for me and though I did put it from me that they should be awakened by me still they would confess it and affirm it before the Saints of God they would also bless God for me unvvorthy Wretch that I am a●d count me Gods Instrument that shevved to them the Way of Salvation 227. Wherefore seeing them in both their words and deeds to be so constant also in their hearts so earnestly pressing after the knowledge of Jesus Christ rejoycing that ever God did send me where they were then I began to conclude it might be so that God had owned in his Work such a foolish one as I and then came that Word of God to my heart with much sweet refreshment The blessing of them that were ready to perish is come upon me yea I caused the widows heart to sing for joy Job 29.13 228. At this therefore I rejoyced yea the tears of those whom God did awaken by my preaching would be both solace and encouragement to me for I thought on those Sayings Who is he that maketh me glad but the same that is made sorry by me 2 Cor. 2.2 and again Though I be not an Apostle to others yet doubtless I am unto you for the seal of my Apostleship are ye in the Lord 1 Cor. 9.2 These things therefore were as another argument unto me that God had called me to and stood by me in this Work 229. In my preaching of the Word I took special notice of this one thing namely That the Lord did lead me to begin where his Word begins with Sinners that is to condemn all flesh and to open and alledge that the curse of God by the Law doth belong to and lay hold on all men as they come into the World because of sin Now this part of my work I fulfilled with great sence for the terrours of the Law and guilt for my transgressions lay heavy on my Conscience I preached what I felt what I smartingly did feel even that under which my poor Soul did groan and t●emble to astonishment 230. Indeed I have been as one sent to them from the dead I went my self in chains to preach to them in chains and carried that fire in my own conscience that I perswaded them to beware of I can truly say and that without dissembling that when I have been to preach I have gone full of guilt and terrour even to the Pulpit-Door and there it hath been taken off and I have been at liberty in my mind until I have done my work and then immediately even before I could get down the Pulpit-Stairs have been as bad as I was before Yet God carried me on but surely with a strong hand for neither guilt nor hell could take me off my Work 231. Thus I went for the space of two years crying out against mens sins and their fea●ful state because of them After which the Lord came in upon my own Soul with some staid peace and comfort thorow Christ for he did give me many sweet discoveries of his blessed Grace thorow him wherefore now I altered in my preaching for still I preached what I saw felt now therefore I did much labour to hold forth Jesus Christ in all his Offices Relations and Be●efits unto the World and did strive also to discover to condemn and remove those false supports and props on which the World doth both lean and by them fall and perish On these things also I staid as long as on the other 232. After this God led me into something of the mystery of union with Christ wherefore that I discovered and shewed to them also And when I had travelled thorow these three chief points of the Word of God about the space of five years or more I was caught in my present practice and c●st into Prison where I have lain as long to confirm t●e T●uth by way of Suffering as I vvas before in testifying of it according to the Scriptures in a vvay of Preaching 233. When I have been in preaching I thank God my heart hath often all the time of this an● the other exercise with great earnestness cried to God that he would make the Word effectual to the salvation of the Soul still being grieved lest the Enemy would take the Word away from the Conscience and so it should become unfruitful Wherefore I should labour so to speak the Word as that thereby if it were possible the sin and per●on guilty might be particularized by it 234. Also when I have done the Exercise it hath gone to my heart to think the word should now fall as rain on stony places still wishing from my heart O tha● they who have heard me speak this day did but see as I do what sin death hell and the curse of God is and also what the grace and love and mercy of God is thorow Christ to men in such a case as they are who are yet estranged from him and indeed I did often say in my heart before the Lord That if to be hanged up presently before their eyes would be a means to awaken them and confirm them in the truth I gladly should be contented 235. For I have been in my preaching especially when I have been engaged in the Doctrine of Life by Christ withou● Works as if an Angel of God had stood by at my back to encourage me O it hath been with such powe● and heavenly evidence upon my own Soul while I have been labouring to unfold it to demonstrate it and to fasten it upon the Conscience of others that I could not ●e contented with saying I believe and am sure methought I was more then sure if it be lawful so to express my self that those things which then I asserted were true 236. When I went first to preach the Word abroad the Doctors and Priests of the Countrey did open wide against me but I was perswaded of this not to render rayling for rayling but to see how many of their carnal Professors I could convince of their miserable state by the Law and of the want and worth of Christ for thought I This shall answer for me in time to come when they shall be for my hire before their face Gen. 30.33 237. I never cared to meddle with things that were controverted and in dispute amongst the Saints especially things of the lowest nature yet it pleased me much to contend with great earnestness for the Word of Faith and the remission of sins by the Death and Sufferings of Jesus but I say as to other things