,charles ,aldarondo and the ,online     
,distributed ,proofreading ,team4       
,,the ,,riches ,,of ,,bunyan3           
,,selected ,,from ,,his ,,works1        
,,for    ,,the ,,american ,,tract       
,,society1    ,,by ,rev4 ,jeremiah      
,chaplin4    ,,with ,,an ,,introductory 
,,notice    ,,by    ,,rev4 ,,william ,r4
 ,,williams4 ,d4 ,d4    ,,new ,,york    
#ahej              ,,contents4          
,,prefatory ,,notice1 by ,rev4 ,dr4     
,williams    ,i4 ,,god      ,glory of   
,god      ,majesty of ,god      ,justice
 of ,god      ,holiness of ,god         
,sovereignty of ,god      ,sovereignty  
of ,god in conversion      ,providence  
of ,god in conversion                   
,condescension of ,god      ,mercy of   
,god      ,god the justifier      ,glory
 of ,god in redemption      ,god a      
father      ,faithfulness of ,god       
,presence of ,god      ,god's repenting 
,providence of ,god    ,,ii4 ,,the      
,,trinity    ,,iii4 ,,the ,,scriptures  
,,iv4 ,,man      ,the image of ,god     

,value of the soul      ,adam's         
transgression      ,depravity of ,nature
      ,love of sin      ,sin      ,pride
      ,envy      ,drunkenness           
,sinners      ,sinful ease      ,the    
child and the bird      ,the sinner     
warned      ,conscience      ,a good    
conscience      ,a tender conscience    
,a guilty conscience    ,v4 ,,the ,,law 
,its nature and effects      ,the law   
and the gospel      ,the law a rule of  
life    ,,vi4 ,,divine ,,grace          
,grace1 love1 and mercy      ,grace     
described      ,operation of grace      
,grace abused      ,grace1 the water of 
life    ,,vii4 ,,christ      ,the       
incarnation of ,christ      ,the        
humanity of ,christ      ,the           
humiliation of ,christ      ,the glory  
of ,christ      ,the love of ,christ    
,the righteousness of ,christ           
,christ a complete ,saviour      ,christ
 not a ,saviour by his example          
,christ a teacher      ,the death of    
,christ      ,the resurrection of       

,christ      ,the glorification of      
,christ      ,the offices of ,christ    
,christ an intercessor      ,christ an  
advocate    ,,viii4 ,,the ,,holy        
,,spirit    ,,ix4 ,,justification ,,by  
,,faith      ,faith the instrumental    
cause of salvation      ,true and false 
faith distinguished      ,faith and     
works      ,justification and           
sanctification distinguished    ,x4     
,,conviction ,,of ,,sin    ,,xi4        
,,conversion      ,the difficulty of    
conversion      ,conversion the power of
 ,god      ,regeneration      ,the      
strait gate      ,coming to ,christ     
,temptations of the soul coming to      
,christ      ,trials and encouragements 
of the awakened      ,fears in coming to
 ,christ      ,mercy's experience       
,fears and encouragements of the        
awakened      ,despair of mercy         
unreasonable      ,power of the gospel  
,bunyan's conversion      ,fears about  
election      ,young converts    ,,xii4 
,,the ,,christian ,,described           

,happiness of the ,christian            
,dignity of the ,christian      ,the    
family in heaven and earth              
,feebleness of the ,christian      ,the 
,christian under a sense of             
guilt--,bunyan's experience      ,sin   
and the ,saviour      ,the ,christian in
 darkness      ,the valley of the shadow
 of death      ,the ,christian doubting 
,indwelling sin      ,mr4 ,fearing      
,encouragement for the doubting         
,christian      ,adoption      ,christ  
our life      ,union with ,christ       
,life of faith      ,divine love        
improved      ,holy living              
,opportunities improved      ,good works
      ,self-denial      ,obedience in   
little things      ,motives to holy     
living      ,obedience rewarded         
,self-examination      ,watchfulness    
,constitution-sins      ,the ,christian 
professor admonished      ,failings and 
sins of ,christians      ,the backslider
    ,,xiii4 ,,the ,,christian ,,race    
,,xiv4 ,,trials ,,of ,,the ,,christian  

,affliction--its nature and benefits    
,persecution      ,bunyan's trial and   
imprisonment      ,martyrs              
,christian courage      ,the ,christian 
warfare      ,the ,christian armor      
,,xv4 ,,temptations      ,temptations of
 ,satan      ,temptations of the world  
,encouragements for the tempted         
,bunyan's temptations    ,,xvi4         
,,security ,,of ,,christians    ,,xvii4 
,,the ,,promises    ,,xviii4 ,,christian
 ,,graces      ,faith      ,trust       
,faith and hope      ,hope              
,patience      ,love      ,fear         
,humility      ,zeal      ,repentance   
,,xix4 ,,prayer      ,characteristics of
 prayer      ,preparation for prayer    
,the throne of grace      ,prayer in the
 name of ,christ      ,benefit of prayer
      ,discouragements in prayer        
,discouragements to prayer removed      
,affectionate confidence in prayer      
,god's method of answering prayer       
,relief in prayer      ,faith in prayer 
,wrestling prayer      ,the publican's  

prayer      ,posture in prayer          
,closet-iniquity      ,formal prayer    
,the prayerless    ,,xx4 ,,false        
,,profession      ,hypocrisy            
,christ's love abused      ,perversion  
of the truth      ,a ,latitudinarian    
,changing sins      ,the unholy         
professor      ,the fruitless professor 
,the unpardonable sin      ,the man in  
the iron cage    ,,xxi4 ,,the ,,church  
,from the preface to the ,holy ,city    
,church-fellowship      ,the church a   
light      ,spiritual character of the  
church      ,warning to the professor   
,church-order      ,the church in       
affliction      ,satan's hostility to   
the church      ,security of the church 
,future glory of the church    ,,xxii4  
,,the ,,ministry      ,importance of the
 ministry      ,duty of churches to the 
ministry      ,different classes of     
ministers      ,duty of ministers       
,ministers warned      ,ministers       
servants of the church      ,gifts and  
grace in ministers      ,the false      

minister      ,the minister at the day  
of judgment      ,bunyan's ministry     
,bunyan's character and principles      
,,xxiii4 ,,antichrist      ,antichrist  
described      ,rise and progress of    
antichrist      ,corruption of the      
church by antichrist      ,conflict     
between the church and antichrist       
,fall of antichrist      ,manner of     
antichrist's destruction      ,present  
state of antichrist      ,slaying of the
 witnesses      ,reasons for            
antichrist's destruction      ,time of  
antichrist's destruction      ,signs of 
antichrist's destruction      ,hope of  
antichrist's destruction      ,effects  
of antichrist's destruction             
,warning against a return to antichrist 
,introduction to the ,holy ,city        
,the wooden cross    ,,xxiv4 ,,death    
,death of the sinner      ,death of the 
,christian      ,the ,christian wishing 
to depart      ,the dying ,christian    
,death of ,mr4 ,badman's wife           
,death of ,standfast      ,death of     

,christian and ,hopeful      ,bunyan's  
death    ,,xxv4 ,,the ,,resurrection    
,salvation complete at the resurrection 
,,xxvi4 ,,the ,,judgment      ,the      
saints judged      ,saints rewarded at  
the judgment      ,sinners judged       
,sinners without excuse at the judgment 
,ignorance condemned at the judgment    
,,xxvii4 ,,heaven      ,happiness and   
glory of heaven      ,employments of    
heaven      ,soul and body glorified in 
heaven      ,christ the glory of heaven 
,the glory of salvation      ,heaven    
,,xxviii4 ,,hell    ,,xxix4             
,,miscellaneous      ,the ,sabbath      
,woman      ,the family      ,bunyan's  
domestic character      ,dr4 ,owen      
,truth      ,style      ,the old and new
 dispensations      ,the ,pilgrim in    
,new ,england              ,,notices    
,,of ,,bunyan    ,,prefatory ,,notice4  
,the subscriber has been requested by   
his friend the ,rev4 ,jeremiah          
,chaplin1 the worthy son of an honored  
father1 ,footnote3 ,the late  ,rev4 ,dr4

 ,chaplin1 the founder and first        
president of ,waterville  college1 in   
the state of ,maine4 and the editor of  
the present  selections from ,bunyan1 to
 attach to them some prefatory remarks4 
,needless as he feels it himself to be1 
and presumptuous as1 to some1  the      
attempt even may seem1 to say aught in  
behalf of a work that1  faithfully drawn
 as it is from ,bunyan's overflowing    
stores1 can  require no other           
recommendation2 yet the subscriber could
 not refuse  all compliance with the    
wishes of one who has given diligent and
  hearty and appreciating study to the  
rich and varied remains of the  immortal
 ,dreamer4    ,many of the ,christians  
of our time1 though conversant with the 
,,pilgrim',s ,,progress1 and ,,holy     
,,war1 are apparently little aware of   
the  glowing genius1 and fervent piety1 
and strong sense1 and picturesque       
imagery1 and racy1 vigorous ,english1   
that mark the many other  writings of   
the honored tinker of ,elstow4 ,these   

last1 if less known  than the story of  
the pilgrimage to the ,celestial ,city1 
and of the  siege and recovery of the   
good town of ,mansoul1 yet bear all of  
them  the traces of the same vivid      
fancy1 the same earnest heart1 and the  
same robust and sanctified intellect4   
,to save from comparative  disuse and   
consequent unprofitableness--from being 
buried in an  undeserved seclusion1 if  
not oblivion1 many sparkling truths1 and
  pithy sayings1 and pungent rebukes1   
likely to do great good if they  could  
but have1 in our busy day1 a more       
general currency over the  wide mart of 
the world2--and to bespeak a new circle 
of influence1  and a broader sphere of  
notoriety and usefulness for these      
overlooked legacies of a good and great 
man of a former age1 has  been the      
editor's object in the prolonged sifting
 to which he has  subjected all         
,bunyan's writings4 ,of that patient and
 conscientious  study the present       
selection has been the result4 ,it is   

not hoped1 or  even wished for them1    
that in the case of any readers able to 
give  the requisite leisure1 these      
excerpts should supersede the original  
writings4 ,but these last1 in mass1 are 
beyond the means and the time  which are
 at the command of many ,christians1 who
 would yet greatly  prize the briefer   
examples of ,bunyan's experience and    
,bunyan's  teachings that are here      
presented4 ,and even to others of more  
affluence and leisure1 this manual may  
serve to commend the author's  works in 
their entireness4 ,mr4 ,chaplin himself 
would most anxiously  disavow any claim 
to have exhausted the mines from which  
he brings  these gatherings4 ,his       
specimens resemble rather those laces   
which  the good ,bunyan tagged in       
,bedford jail--not in themselves        
garments1  but merely adjuncts and      
ornaments of larger fabrics4 ,he who    
would  see the entire wardrobe of the   
,dreamer's mind1 and the shape and      
proportions of the goodly vestures of   

truth in which he sought to  array      
himself and his readers1 must1 after    
handling these the ,,laces1  turn to the
 ,,robes1 from whose edge these have    
been skilfully  detached4    ,in the    
character and history of ,,john         
,,bunyan1 the great ,head of the  church
 seems to have provided a lesson of     
special significance1 and  singular     
adaptedness1 for the men and the strifes
 of our own time4  ,born of the people1 
and in so low a condition1 that one of  
,bunyan's  modern reviewers1 by a       
strange mistake1 construed ,bunyan's    
self-disparaging admissions to mean that
 he was the offspring of  gypsies--bred 
to one of the humblest of handicrafts1  
and having but  the scantiest advantages
 as to fortune or culture1 he yet rose1 
under the blessings of ,god's word and  
providence and ,spirit1 to  widest      
usefulness1 and to an eminence that     
shows no tokens of  decline4 ,down to   
our own times1 the branches of his      
expanding  influence seem daily         

spreading and extending themselves2 and 
the  roots of his earthly renown seem   
daily shooting themselves deeper1  and  
taking a firmer hold on the judgment of 
critics and the hearts  of the churches4
 ,when the ,english houses of           
,parliament were recently  rebuilt1     
among the imagery commemorative of the  
nation's literary  glories1 a place was 
voted for the bust of the ,bedford      
pastor1 once  so maligned and           
persecuted4 ,once tolerated by dainty   
,christians for  the sake of his piety1 
while they apologized for what they     
deemed  his uncouthness2 he is now1 at  
last1 even from men of the world1 who   
do not value that piety1 receiving the  
due acknowledgment of his  rare genius  
and witching style4 ,it is not many     
years since ,gilpin1  an ,english       
clergyman of cultivated taste--himself a
 ready and  popular writer--issued an   
edition of the ,pilgrim's ,progress1    
modified1 if not rewritten in much of   
its phraseology1 because he  deemed the 

original too rude for usefulness4 ,in   
our own day1 one of  the highest        
authorities as to the graces and powers 
of our language1  the ,english statesman
 and scholar1 ,t4 ,b4 ,macaulay1 has    
pronounced  upon that style1 which      
,gilpin by implication so disparaged1   
the most  glowing eulogies4 ,schools and
 leisure and wealth are useful1 but     
they are not indispensable either to    
felicity or to honor4 ,bunyan  lacked   
them all2 and yet in the absence of them
 achieved greatness  --and what is far  
better1 wide and enduring usefulness4   
,no man1 with  ,god's exhaustless       
,scriptures in his hands1 and with the  
rich book of  nature and providence open
 in its pictured radiance before his    
eyes1  needs to have either a dwindling 
or an impoverished soul4 ,of that       
latter volume1 the works of ,god1 as of 
that former1 the word of ,god1  ,bunyan 
was evidently a delighted and unwearied 
student4 ,his  references to birds and  
insects1 flowers and running brooks and 

evening clouds1 and forests and         
mountains1 all show a man whose  nature 
was genially awake to the harmony and   
beauty of the material  world that lay  
in order and splendor around him4 ,it   
was1 in ,bunyan1  no mere mimicry caught
 from books and companions--the echo of 
any  fashion of his times4 ,he writes of
 what he had seen with his own  eyes2   
and seems to avoid aiming at aught      
beyond that4 ,hence to the  ocean1 which
 probably he never thus saw--and which  
had he beheld it  in its placid         
vastness1 or in its stormy wrath1 he    
could not well  have forgotten--his     
writings contain1 as far as we remember1
 no  allusions1 in all the varied and   
exuberant imagery which they  employ4   
,his books1 more than those of his more 
learned  contemporaries1 ,richard       
,baxter1 and ,john ,owen1 that mighty   
armor-bearer of the truth1 as ,bunyan   
happily calls him1 were  written        
exclusively from the resources of his   
own personal  observation4 ,and1 in     

consequence of this1 they have the      
freshness  and odors of the outer world 
pervading them--scents and sounds of    
the highways along which1 in the        
trampings of his trade1 he had  plodded1
 and of the hedges that had shaded him4 
,to use the language  of the patriarch's
 benediction1 they have ,,the ,,smell   
,,of ,a ,,field  ,,which ,,the ,,lord   
,,hath ,,blessed4 ,his books are1 like  
,walton's ,angler1  of the open air1 and
 the purling streams4 ,you catch1 back  
of the  good man's ,bible1 as he        
reverently ponders and commends it1     
glimpses  of rural landscapes1 and of   
open skies--,god's beautiful world1     
still  lovely1 even though sin has      
marred it4 ,like the ,sermon on the     
,mount1  ,bunyan's page has the traits  
of field-preaching4 ,and it was so1     
also1 in his references to the inner    
world of his own heart4 ,he  wrote not  
from the dried specimens of earlier     
collectors--from the  shrivelled and    
rustling leaves of some old             

herbary--from the  philosophy and       
metaphysical analysis of other men's    
emotions1 so  much as from the glowing  
records of his own consciousness and    
experience1 the fruits of grace and     
plants of righteousness1  blooming and  
fragrant in the watered garden of his   
own heart4 ,and  this dipping of the    
pencil into his own soul1 and into the  
freshness  of nature around him1 is     
doubtless a part of the secret of his   
perpetual originality and unsating      
freshness4 ,now1 when men say           
repiningly1 and in a temper which       
impeaches alike society and  providence1
 that a lowly lot1 with its necessary   
privations and its  consequent          
ignorance1 is a barrier1 perpetual and  
insuperable1  against usefulness and    
happiness and honor1 we turn to the name
 and  memory of ,bunyan as an embodied  
denial of the impeachment1 and as       
carolling forth their cheerful rebuke of
 such unmanly and ungodly  plaints4     
,with ,god's grace in the heart1 and    

with the gleaming gates  of his heaven  
brightening the horizon beyond the      
grave1 we may be  reformers2 but it     
cannot be in the destructive spirit     
displayed by  some who1 in the prophet's
 language1 amid darkness on the earth1  
fret themselves1 and curse their ,king  
and their ,god1 and look  upward4       
,poverty cannot degrade1 nor ignorance  
bedwarf1 nor  persecution crush1 nor    
dungeon enthral the free1 glad spirit of
 a  child of ,god1 erect in its         
regenerate strength1 and rich in its    
eternal hopes and heritage4 ,and this   
hopeful and elastic temperament  colors 
and perfumes every treatise that ,bunyan
 sent out even from  the precincts of   
his prison4 ,with a style sinewy as     
,cobbett's1 and  simple and clear as    
,swift's2 with his sturdy1 peasant      
nature showing  itself in the roundness 
and directness of his utterance1 how    
little  has he of their coarseness4 ,he 
was not1 on the one hand1 like          
,cobbett1 an anarchist1 or libeller2 but

 yet1 on the other hand1 as  little was 
he ever a lackey1 cringing at the gates 
of ,power1 or a  train-bearer in the    
retinue of ,fashion4 ,still less was he1
 like  ,swift1 the satirist of his times
 and of his kind1 snarling at his       
rulers1 and turning at last to gnaw1 in 
venomous rage1 his own  heart4 ,and yet 
he who portrayed the character of       
,by-ends1 and noted  the gossipings of  
,mrs4 ,bats-eyes1 lacked neither        
keenness of vision1  nor niceness of    
hand1 to have made him most formidable  
in satire and  irony4    ,his present   
station in the literature of ,britain   
affords an  illustration1 familiar and  
obvious to every eye1 of ,god's         
sovereignty1 and of the arrangements of 
,him who seeth not as man  seeth4 ,had  
,pepys1 or any other contemporary       
courtier that hunted  for place and     
pension1 or fluttered in levity and sin1
 in the  antechambers of the later      
,stuarts1 been asked1 who of all the    
writers of the times were likely to go  

down to posterity among the  lights of  
their age1 how ludicrously erroneous    
would have been his  apportionments of  
fame4 ,pepys might1 from the ,puritan   
education of  his boyhood1 have named   
,owen1 ,bates1 and ,baxter2 or from the 
,conformist associations of his later   
years1 have selected ,south1 or         
,patrick1 or ,tillotson1 as the         
religious writers who had surpassed  all
 rivalry1 or named a ,walton or         
,castell1 as having taken bonds of  fame
 for the perpetuity of their influence4 
,had he known of  ,clarendon's          
preparations to become the historian of 
the ,commonwealth  and ,restoration1 or 
of ,burnet's habits of preserving       
memoirs of the  incidents and characters
 around him1 he might have conjectured  
their  probable honors in after-times4  
,but in poetry he would have classed    
,dryden the royalist far above ,milton  
the republican apologist of  regicide2  
and might1 aping the fashions of the    
palace1 have  preferred to either the   

author of ,hudibras together with the   
lewd  playwrights who were the delight  
of a shameless court--hailing the  last 
as the most promising candidates for    
posthumous celebrity4 ,how  little could
 he have dreamed that among these       
,puritans and  ,non-conformists1 whose  
unpopular cause he had himself deserted1
 and  whom his royal masters ,charles   
and ,james had betrayed1 amerced1       
exiled1 and incarcerated2 in those      
conventicles so closely watched  and so 
sternly visited1 which these persecuted 
confessors yet by  stealth maintained2  
aye1 and in those dungeons1 whither the 
informer  so often from these           
conventicles dragged them1 ,british     
freedom had  its truest guardians1 and  
,british literature some of its noblest 
illustrations4 ,how little thought he   
that ,god had there1 in his old  and    
glorious school of trial1 his hidden    
ones1 like ,bunyan1 whose  serene       
testimony was yet to shine forth        
victorious over wrong and  neglect1 and 

reproach and ridicule1 eclipsing so many
 contemporary  celebrities1 and giving  
to the homes and the sanctuaries of     
every  land inhabited by an ,english    
race1 one of the names men will not     
willingly let die4 ,how little could    
gilded and callous favorites of  the    
palace have dreamed that their ,acts of 
,uniformity and ,five-mile  ,acts1 and  
the like legislation of ecclesiastical  
proscription1 were  but rearing for the 
best men of the age1 in the prisons     
where they  had been immured1 a ,patmos1
 serene though stern1 where the sufferer
  withdrew from man to commune with the 
,king of kings4 ,there the  prisoned    
student was receiving for the churches  
new lessons of  surpassing beauty and   
potency2 and the confessor1 pillaged by 
informers and bullied by judges1 and    
lamented in his own stricken  household 
and desolate home1 but only derided by  
his godless  sovereign and heartless    
courtiers1 yet often found himself      
compensated for every loss1 when1 like  

an earlier witness for the  gospel of   
the ,cross1 enwrapped ,,in ,,the        
,,spirit1 ,,on ,,the ,,lord',s ,,day4   
,such were the schools where            
,non-conformist piety received its      
temper1 its edge1 and its lustre4 ,the  
story of ,bunyan is1 we say1  one of the
 golden threads binding together into   
harmony and  symmetry1 what1 seen apart1
 seem but fragmentary and incoherent    
influences--the track of a divine       
,providence controlling the fates  and  
reputations of the race4 ,it is a       
,providence disappointing men's         
judgments and purposes1 exalting the    
lowly and depressing the  illustrious1  
rebuking despondency on the one hand and
 on the other  curbing presumption1     
setting up one and putting down another4
 ,this  is done even now and even here1 
as one of the many intimations which    
even time and earth present1 of that    
final and universal reparation  which is
 reserved for the general resurrection  
and the last  judgment4 ,then the       

unforgetting and universal ,sovereign   
will avenge  all the forgotten of his   
people1 nor leave unpunished one among  
the  tallest and mightiest of his       
enemies4 ,as the foreshadowing of this1 
there is often in this life what ,milton
 has called1 a resurrection  of         
character4 ,seen in ,bunyan and others  
on earth1 it will be one  day           
accomplished as to all the families of  
mankind4 ,we pronounce ,,too  ,,soon    
upon the apparent inequalities of fame  
and recompense around  us2 while we fail
 to take in the future as well as the   
present1 and  attempt to solve the      
mysteries of time without including in  
the  field of our survey the            
retributions of that eternity which     
forms  the selvage and hem of all the   
webs of earth4 ,and we pronounce not    
only too soon but ,,very ,,superficially
 upon the inequalities of  happiness in 
the lot of those who fear and those who 
scorn ,god2  while we look mainly or    
merely to the outward circumstances of  

home  and station and bodily well-being1
 but take no note of the inner and  more
 enduring elements of felicity1 supplied
 to the sufferer for  ,christ by the    
blended powers of conscience and of     
hope--the one of  them purified and     
pacified by the blood of the great      
sacrifice on  ,calvary2 the other of    
them steadily and cheerfully soaring to 
the  glories and rest of the mount ,zion
 above4 ,faithful1 in his cage1  bearing
 the gibes and flouts of the rabble who 
thirsted for his  blood1 was one of the 
happiest men in all ,vanity ,fair1 even 
ere the  hour when his spirit mounted   
the fiery chariot that hurried him to   
his celestial home4    ,the style of    
,bunyan1 it may be further said1 is one 
of the countless  and brilliant         
testimonials to the merit and power of  
our excellent  received version of the  
,bible4 ,shut out1 as ,bunyan was1 from 
direct  contact with much other         
literature1 he was most thoroughly      
conversant with the remains of prophets 

and apostles1 embalmed in  that         
venerable work4 ,with those scriptures  
his mind was imbued1  saturated1 and    
tinged1 through its whole texture and   
substance4 ,upon  the phraseology and   
imagery and idioms of that book was     
formed his  own vernacular style1 so    
racy1 glowing1 and energetic--long      
indeed  underrated and decried1 but now 
beginning to receive its due honors1    
and winning the praise of critics whose 
judgment and taste few will  have the   
hardihood to impeach4 ,no immaculate    
perfection1 indeed1 is  claimed for the 
,english version of the ,scriptures4 ,no
 perfect  version has the world ever    
seen1 or is it ever like to see2 but the
  writings of ,bunyan must be admitted  
to stand among the many crowding        
trophies of the power of our common     
,bible to furnish the mind with         
thoughts that breathe and words that    
burn--with holiest  conceptions and     
mightiest utterances4    ,and ,bunyan   
himself1 as a theologian on whose head  

no learned academy  had laid its hand of
 patronage1 or let fall its anointing   
dews1 but  who1 whether confronting the 
fanatics of his time or the             
distinguished latitudinarian divines1   
showed himself so powerful a  reasoner1 
so acute and clear and practical a      
thinker1 and so mighty  in his knowledge
 of the ,scriptures--,bunyan himself1 in
 his position  and merits as a          
theologian1 furnishes a standing        
monument of the  power of the divine    
,spirit to fashion1 by prayer and the   
study of  the ,bible1 by affliction and 
by temptation1 and by bitter            
persecutions even1 a preacher1 pastor1  
and writer1 such as no  university need 
have disdained to own4 ,to that ,spirit 
,bunyan gave  zealous1 earnest1 and     
continual worship4 ,receiving his light 
and  power from that good ,spirit1 and  
anxiously directing to that great       
,agent all the hopes and the praises of 
the flock whom he led1 and of  the      
readers whom he taught1 his writings    

remain to diffuse and  perpetuate the   
lesson of his life4 ,into whatever tribe
 of the  ancient ,east or of the remote 
,west his ,pilgrim has been introduced1 
the name and story of the writer bear1  
as their great lesson1 the  testimony   
that ,god's ,scriptures are the richest 
of pastures to the  human soul2 and that
 ,god the ,holy ,ghost1 as working with 
those  ,scriptures and by those         
,scriptures1 is the one ,teacher on     
whose  sovereign aid all the churches1  
all the nations1 and all the ages  must 
depend4 ,for the absence of those       
influences of the divine  ,spirit no    
earthly lore can compensate2 while the  
exuberance of those  influences may     
supply1 as on ,pentecost1 the lack of   
all human  helpers and patrons1 and more
 than replace all universities and all  
libraries4 ,we love to dwell on the     
illustrious ,dreamer1 as one of  those  
characters for whom man had done so     
little and ,god did so  much4    ,and to
 ,christians who are neither authors nor

 preachers1 this life  of romantic      
privacy and illustrious obscurity has   
its lessons1 alike  to awe and to cheer1
 of solemn warning and of sustaining    
hope4 ,no  scene or station of all the  
earth that can eye paradise1 or catch   
the gleams of the atoning cross1 is     
truly ignoble or utterly  forlorn4 ,he  
who promised that1 in the last days1 the
 inscription  which shone on the front  
of the high-priest's mitre1 ,,holiness  
,,unto  ,,the ,,lord1 should be written 
also on the very bells of the horses1   
and that every pot in ,jerusalem1 and   
its outlying streets should  become holy
 as the consecrated furniture of his own
 temple and  altar1 can in like manner  
render the lowliest scenes of human art 
and toil and traffic the schools of     
truth and duty and peace1  schools      
ministering alike to the truest         
happiness and to the most  perfect      
holiness of our race4 ,he who gave1 as  
in ,bunyan's case he  did1 to the maker 
or mender of culinary vessels the sacred

 skill to  grave the all-holy ,name1 as 
one dignifying and consecrating them1 on
  all the objects and scenes and        
accompaniments of his humble labors1    
can1 in our times and in our various    
stations1 make each allowable  task of  
our earthly life to become also         
,,holiness ,,to ,,the ,,lord2 and  as   
the ,christian's body is made a ,,temple
 of the ,holy ,grhost1 so can  he render
 the ,christian himself1 in all his     
social relations and  enterprises1 ,a   
,,priest ,,and ,a ,,king ,,unto ,,god4  
,and the great principle  of            
conciliation amid earth's jarring tribes
 and clashing interests1  and of true   
and helpful communion among mankind1 is 
not external but  internal1 not material
 but spiritual1 not1 terrene but        
celestial2  and is found in the blending
 by this one divine ,spirit1 of all     
earth's inhabitants1 in a common        
contrition before a common  redemption1 
tending as these inhabitants are1 under 
a common sin and  doom1 to the same     

inevitable graves2 but all of them      
invited1 in the  one name of one        
,christ1 to aspire to the same heaven of
 endless and  perfect blessedness4      
,,william ,r4 ,,williams4  ,,new ,,york1
 ,january1 #ahea4              ,,the    
,,riches ,,of ,,bunyan4    ,i4 ,,god4   
,,glory ,,of ,,god4            ,god is  
the chief good--good so as nothing is   
but himself4 ,he is in  himself most    
happy2 yea1 all good and all true       
happiness are only to  be found in ,god1
 as that which is essential to his      
nature2 nor is  there any good or any   
happiness in or with any creature or    
thing but  what is communicated to it by
 ,god4 ,god is the only desirable good2 
nothing without him is worthy of our    
hearts4 ,right thoughts of ,god  are    
able to ravish the heart2 how much more 
happy is the man that  has interest in  
,god4 ,god alone is able by himself to  
put the soul  into a more blessed1      
comfortable1 and happy condition than   
can the  whole world2 yea1 and more than

 if all the created happiness of all    
the angels of heaven did dwell in one   
man's bosom4 ,i cannot tell  what to    
say4 ,i am drowned4 ,the life1 the      
glory1 the blessedness1 the             
soul-satisfying goodness that is in     
,god1 are beyond all expression4    ,it 
was this glory of ,god1 the sight and   
visions of this ,god of  glory1 that    
provoked ,abraham to leave his country  
and kindred to  come after ,god4 ,the   
reason why men are so careless of and so
  indifferent about their coming to     
,god1 is because they have their  eyes  
blinded--because they do not perceive   
his glory4    ,god is so blessed a one1 
that did he not hide himself and his    
glory1  the whole world would be        
ravished with him2 but he has1 ,i will  
not  say reasons of state1 but reasons  
of glory1 glorious reasons why he       
hideth himself from the world and       
appeareth but to particular ones4       
,what is heaven without ,god8 ,but many 
there be who cannot abide ,god2  no1    

they like not to go to heaven1 because  
,god is there4 ,the nature  of ,god     
lieth cross to the lusts of men4 ,a holy
 ,god1 a glorious holy  ,god1 an        
infinitely holy ,god2 this spoils all4  
,but to the soul that  is awakened1 and 
that is made to see things as they are1 
to him ,god  is what he is in himself1  
the blessed1 the highest1 the only      
eternal  good1 and he without the       
enjoyment of whom all things would sound
  but empty in the ears of that soul4   
,methinks1 when ,i consider what glory  
there is at times upon the  creatures1  
and that all their glory is the         
workmanship of ,god1 ,o  ,lord1 say ,i1 
what is ,god himself8 ,he may well be   
called the ,god  of glory1 as well as   
the glorious ,lord2 for as all glory is 
from  him1 so in him is an inconceivable
 well-spring of glory1 of glory to  be  
communicated to them that come by       
,christ to him4 ,wherefore1 let  the    
glory and love and bliss and eternal    
happiness that are in ,god1  allure thee

 to come to him by ,christ4    ,,majesty
 ,,of ,,god4    ,what is ,god's majesty 
to a sinful man1 but a consuming fire8  
,and  what is a sinful man in himself1  
or in his approach to ,god1 but as      
stubble fully dry8    ,what mean the    
tremblings1 the tears1 those breakings  
and shakings of  heart that attend the  
people of ,god1 when in an eminent      
manner they  receive the pronunciation  
of the forgiveness of sins at his mouth1
  but that the dread of the majesty of  
,god is in their sight mixed  therewith8
 ,god must appear like himself1 speak to
 the soul like  himself2 nor can the    
sinner1 when under these glorious       
discoveries  of its ,lord and ,saviour1 
keep out the beams of his majesty from  
the  eyes of its understanding4         
,alas1 there is a company of poor1      
light1 frothy professors in the  world1 
that carry it under that which they call
 the presence of ,god1  more like to    
antics than sober1 sensible ,christians2
 yea1 more like  to a fool of a play1   

than those who have the presence of     
,god4 ,they  would not carry it so in   
the presence of a king1 nor yet of the  
lord  of their land1 were they but      
receivers of mercy at his hand4 ,they   
carry it even in their most eminent     
seasons1 as if the sense and  sight of  
,god1 and his blessed grace to their    
souls in ,christ1 had a  tendency in it 
to make men wanton3 but indeed it is the
 most  humbling and heart-rending sight 
in the world2 it is fearful4            
,,objection4 ,but would you not have us 
rejoice at the sight and sense  of the  
forgiveness of our sins8    ,,answer4   
,yes2 but yet ,i would have you1 and    
indeed you shall when ,god  shall tell  
you that your sins are pardoned indeed1 
rejoice with  trembling2 for then you   
have solid and godly joy3 a joyful heart
  and wet eyes in this1 will stand very 
well together2 and it will be  so1 more 
or less4 ,for if ,god shall come to you 
indeed1 and visit you  with the         
forgiveness of sins1 that visit removeth

 the guilt1 but  increaseth the sense of
 thy filth2 and the sense of this1 that 
,god  hath forgiven a filthy sinner1    
will make thee both rejoice and         
tremble4 ,o1 the blessed confusion which
 will then cover thy face1  while thou1 
even thou1 so vile a wretch1 shalt stand
 before ,god to  receive at his hand thy
 pardon1 and so the first-fruits of thy 
eternal salvation4 ,that thou mayest    
remember1 and be confounded1  and never 
open thy mouth any more1 because of thy 
shame1 when ,i am  pacified toward thee 
for all that thou hast done1 saith the  
,lord  ,god4 ,jer4 #cc3h1 #i2 ,ezek4    
#af3fc4    ,since the ,,name of ,god is 
that by which his nature is expressed1  
and  since he naturally is so glorious  
and incomprehensible1 his name  must    
needs be the object of our fear2 and we 
ought always to have a  reverent awe of 
,god upon our hearts at what time soever
 we think of  or hear his name2 but most
 of all when we ourselves do take his   
holy  and fearful name into our mouths1 

especially in a religious manner2  that 
is1 in preaching1 praying1 or holy      
conference4    ,make mention then of the
 name of the ,lord at all times with    
great  dread of his majesty on your     
hearts1 and in great soberness and      
truth4 ,to do otherwise is to profane   
the name of the ,lord1 and to  take his 
name in vain4    ,next to ,god's nature 
and name1 his service1 his instituted   
worship1  is the most dreadful thing    
under heaven4 ,his name is upon his     
ordinances1 his eye is upon the         
worshippers1 and his wrath and  judgment
 upon those that worship not in his     
fear4    ,his presence is dreadful2 and 
not only his presence in common1 but    
his special1 yea1 his most comfortable  
and joyous presence4 ,when ,god  comes  
to bring a soul news of mercy and       
salvation1 even that visit1  that       
presence of ,god is fearful4 ,when      
,jacoh went from ,beersheba to  ,haran1 
he met with ,god in the way by a dream1 
in the which he  apprehended a ladder   

set upon the earth1 whose top reached to
  heaven4 ,now in this dream1 at the top
 of this ladder1 he saw the  ,lord1 and 
heard him speak unto him1 not           
threateningly1 not as having  his fury  
come up into his face1 but in the most  
sweet and gracious  manner1 saluting him
 with promise of goodness after promise 
of  goodness1 to the number of eight or 
nine4 ,yet1 ,i say1 when he awoke1  all 
the grace that discovered itself in this
 heavenly vision to him  could not keep 
him from dread and fear of ,god's       
majesty3 ,and ,jacob  awoke out of his  
sleep and said1 ',surely the ,lord was  
in this place1  and ,i knew it not2' and
 he was afraid1 and said1 ',how dreadful
 is  this place2 this is none other but 
the house of ,god1 and this is the  gate
 of heaven4'    ,at another time1 when  
,jacob had that memorable visit from    
,god1 in  which he gave him power as a  
prince to prevail with him2 yea1 and    
gave him a name1 that by his remembering
 it he might call ,god's  favor the     

better to his mind2 yet1 even then and  
there such dread of  the majesty of ,god
 was upon him1 that he went away        
wondering that  his life was preserved4 
,man crumbles to dust at the presence of
 ,god2  yea1 though he show himself to  
us in his robes of salvation4 ,gen4     
#bh3aj-ag2 #cb3cj4    ,,justice ,,of    
,,god4    ,you may see a few of the     
sparks of the justice of ,god against   
sin  and sinners1 by his casting off    
angels for sin from heaven and hell1  by
 his drowning the old world1 by his     
burning of ,sodom and ,gomorrah  to     
ashes4    ,god is resolved to have the  
mastery4 ,god is merciful1 and is come  
forth into the world by his ,son1       
tendering grace unto sinners by the     
gospel1 and would willingly make a      
conquest over them for their good  by   
his mercy4 ,now he being come out1      
sinners like briars and thorns  do set  
themselves against him1 and will have   
none of his mercy4  ,well1 but what says
 ,god8 ,saith he1 ,then ,i will march   

on4 ,i will go  through them1 and burn  
them together4 ,i am resolved to have   
the  mastery one way or another2 if they
 will not bend to me and accept  of my  
mercy in the gospel1 ,i will bend them  
and break them by my  justice in        
hell-fire4    ,,holiness ,,of ,,god4    
,the holiness of ,god makes the angels  
cover their faces1 and crumbles         
,christians1 when they behold it1 into  
dust and ashes4    ,,sovereignty ,,of   
,,god4    ,the will of ,god is the rule 
of all righteousness1 neither knoweth he
  any other way by which he governeth   
and ordereth any of his actions4        
,whatsoever ,god doeth1 it is good      
because he doeth it2 whether it be  to  
give grace or to detain it1 whether in  
choosing or refusing4 ,the              
consideration of this made the holy men 
of old ascribe righteousness  to their  
,maker1 even when yet they could not see
 the reason of his  actions2 they would 
rather stand amazed and wonder at the   
heights  and depths of his unsearchable 

judgments1 than quarrel at the most     
strange and obscure of them4            
,,sovereignty ,,of ,,god ,,in           
,,conversion4    ,mercy may receive him 
that we have doomed to hell1 and justice
 may  take hold on him whom we have     
judged to be bound up in the bundle of  
life4 ,we1 like ,joseph1 are for setting
 of ,manasseh before ,ephraim2  but     
,god1 like ,jacob1 puts his hands       
across1 and lays his right hand  upon   
the worst man's head and his left hand  
upon the best1 ,gen4 #dh1  to the       
amazement and wonderment even of the    
best of men4    ,,providence ,,of ,,god 
,,in ,,conversion4    ,doth no man come 
to ,jesus ,christ by the will1 wisdom1  
and power of  man1 but by the gift1     
promise1 and drawing of the ,father8    
,then here  is room for ,christians to  
stand and wonder at the effectual       
working  of ,god's providence1 that he  
hath made use of as means to bring them 
to ,jesus ,christ4    ,what was the     
providence that ,god made use of as a   

means1 either more  remote or near1 to  
bring thee to ,jesus ,christ8 ,was it   
the removing  of thy habitation1 the    
change of thy condition1 the loss of    
relations1 estate1 or the like8 ,was it 
the casting of thine eye upon  some good
 book1 the hearing thy neighbors talk of
 heavenly things1  the beholding of     
,god's judgments as executed upon       
others1 or thine  own deliverance from  
them1 or thy being strangely cast under 
the  ministry of some godly man8 ,o take
 notice of such providence or           
providences4 ,they were sent and managed
 by mighty power to do thee  good4 ,god 
himself hath joined himself to this     
chariot1 yea1 and so  blessed it that it
 failed not to accomplish the thing for 
which it  was sent4    ,,condescension  
,,of ,,god4    ,notwithstanding there is
 such a revelation of ,god in his word1 
in  the book of creatures1 and in the   
book of providences1 yet the  scripture 
says1 ,lo1 these are parts of his ways1 
but how little a  portion is heard of   

him2 so great is ,god above all that we 
have  read1 heard1 or seen of him1      
either in the ,bible1 in heaven1 or     
earth1 or sea1 or what else is to be    
understood4 ,but now that a poor        
mortal1 a lump of sinful flesh1 or1 as  
the scripture phrase is1 poor  dust and 
ashes1 should be in the favor1 in the   
heart1 and wrapped up  in the           
compassions of such a ,god6 ,o amazing2 
,o astonishing  consideration6 ,and yet1
 this ,god is our ,god for ever and     
ever1 and  he will be our guide even    
unto death4    ,,mercy ,,of ,,god4      
,as ,god has mercies to bestow1 and as  
he has designed to bestow them1  so     
those mercies are no fragments or the   
leavings of others1 but  mercies that   
are full and complete to do for thee    
what thou wantest1  wouldst have1 or    
canst desire4 ,as ,i may so say1 ,god   
has his bags  that were never yet       
untied1 never yet broken up1 but laid by
 him  through a thousand generations for
 those that he commands to hope in  his 

mercy4    ,i tell you1 sirs1 you must   
not trust your own apprehensions nor    
judgments of the mercy of ,god2 you do  
not know how he can cause it  to abound3
 that which seems to be short and shrunk
 up to you1 he can  draw out and cause  
to abound exceedingly4 ,there is a      
breadth and  length and depth and height
 therein1 when ,god will please to open 
it1 that for its infiniteness can       
swallow up not only all thy sins1  but  
all thy thoughts and imaginations1 and  
that also can drown thee  at last4 ,now 
unto him that is able1 as to mercy1 to  
do exceeding  abundantly above all that 
we ask or think1 according to the power 
that worketh in us1 unto him be glory in
 the church by ,christ ,jesus           
throughout all ages1 world without end4 
,amen4    ,this therefore is a wonderful
 thing1 and shall be wondered at to all 
eternity1 that the river of mercy1 that 
at first did seem to be but  ancle deep1
 should so rise and rise that at last it
 became waters  to swim in1 a river that

 could not be passed over4 ,ezck4 #dg3e4
    ,,god ,,the ,,justifier4    ,the    
first cause of justification before ,god
 dependeth upon the will  of ,god1 who  
will justify because he will2 therefore 
the meritorious  cause must also be of  
his own providing1 else his will cannot 
herein  be absolute2 for if             
justification depend upon our personal  
performances1 then not upon the will of 
,god4 ,he may not have mercy  upon whom 
he will1 but on whom man's righteousness
 will give him  leave2 but his will1 not
 ours1 must rule here1 therefore his    
righteousness and his only4 ,so then1   
men are justified from the  curse in the
 sight of ,god1 while sinners in        
themselves4    ,,glory ,,of ,,god ,,in  
,,redemption4    ,in redemption by the  
blood of ,christ1 ,god is said to abound
 towards  us in all ,,wisdom4 ,here we  
see the highest contradictions          
reconciled2  here justice kisseth the   
sinner2 here a man stands just in the   
sight  of ,god1 while confounded at his 

own pollutions2 and here he that  hath  
done no good1 hath yet a sufficient     
righteousness1 even the  righteousness  
of ,god which is by faith of ,jesus     
,christ4    ,the ,,justice of ,god is   
here more seen than in punishing all the
  damned4    ,the ,,mystery ,,of        
,,god',s ,,will is here more seen than  
in hanging the  earth upon nothing2     
while he condemneth ,christ though      
righteous1 and  justifieth us though    
sinners1 while he maketh him to be sin  
for us1  and us the righteousness of    
,god in him4    ,the ,,power of ,god is 
here more seen than in making heaven and
 earth2  for1 for one to hear and get   
the victory over sin when charged by    
the justice of an infinite ,majesty1 in 
so doing he shows the height  of the    
highest power2 for where sin by the law 
is charged1 and that  by ,god           
immediately1 there an infinite ,majesty 
opposeth1 and that  with the whole of   
his justice1 holiness1 and power2 so    
then1 he that  is thus charged and      

engaged for the sin of the world1 must  
not only  he equal with ,god1 but show  
it by overcoming that curse and judgment
  that by infinite justice is charged   
upon him for sin4    ,when angels and   
men had sinned1 how did they fall and   
crumble before  the anger of ,god6 ,they
 had not power to withstand the terror1 
nor  could there be worth found in their
 persons or doings to appease           
displeased justice4 ,here then is power 
seen3 sin is a mighty thing2  it        
crusheth all in pieces1 save him whose  
,spirit is eternal4 ,heb4  #i3ad4 ,set  
,christ and his sufferings aside1 and   
you neither see the  evil of sin nor the
 displeasure of ,god against it2 you see
 them not  in their utmost4 ,jesus      
,christ made manifest his eternal power 
and  godhead more by bearing and        
overcoming our sins1 than in making or  
upholding the whole world4 #a ,cor4     
#a3bd4    ,the ,,love ,,and ,,mercy of  
,god are more seen in and by this       
doctrine than  any other way4 ,here is  

love1 that ,god sent his ,son--his      
darling--his  ,son that never           
offended--his ,son that was always his  
delight6  ,herein is love1 that he sent 
him to save sinners--to save them by    
bearing their sins1 by bearing their    
curse1 by dying their death1  and by    
carrying their sorrows6 ,here is love1  
in that while we were  yet without      
strength1 ,christ died for the ungodly6 
,,god ,a ,,father4    ,o how great a    
task is it for a poor soul that comes1  
sensible of sin  and the wrath of ,god1 
to say in faith but this one word1      
,father6 ,i  tell you1 however          
hypocrites think1 yet the ,christian    
that is so  indeed finds all the        
difficulty in this very thing2 he cannot
 say  ,god is his ,father4 ,o1 saith he1
 ,i dare not call him ,father4 ,and     
hence it is that the ,spirit must be    
sent into the hearts of ,god's  people  
for this very thing1 to cry ,father2 it 
being too great a work  for any man to  
do knowingly and believingly without it4

 ,when ,i say  knowingly1 ,i mean       
knowing what it is to be a child of ,god
 and to be  born again2 and when ,i say 
believingly1 ,i mean for the soul to    
believe1 and that from good experience1 
that the work of grace is  wrought in   
him4 ,this is the right calling of ,god1
 ,father2 and not as  many do1 to say in
 a babbling way the ,lord's prayer by   
heart4 ,no1  here is the life of prayer1
 when in or with the ,spirit1 a man     
being  made sensible of sin and how to  
come to the ,lord for mercy1 he  comes1 
,i say1 in the strength of the ,spirit1 
and crieth1 ,father4  ,that one word    
spoken in faith1 is better than a       
thousand prayers in  a formal1 cold1    
lukewarm way4    ,naturally the name of 
,god is dreadful to us1 especially when 
he is  discovered to us by those names  
that declare his justice1 holiness1     
power1 and glory2 but the word ,,father 
is a familiar word2 it  frighteth not   
the sinner1 but rather inclineth his    
heart to love and  be pleased with the  

remembrance of him4 ,hence ,christ also1
 when he  would have us to pray with    
godly boldness1 put this word ,,father  
into  our mouths1 saying1 ,when ye pray1
 say1 ,our ,father which art in  heaven2
 concluding thereby that in the         
familiarity which by such a  word is    
intimated1 the children of ,god may take
 more holdness to  pray for and ask     
great things4 ,i myself have often found
 that when ,i  can say but this word1   
,,father1 it doth me more good than when
 ,i call  him by any other scripture    
name4    ,it is worth your noting1 that 
to call ,god by his relative title was  
rare among the saints in ,old ,testament
 times2 but now in ,new  ,testament     
times1 he is called by no name so often 
as this1 both by  the ,lord ,jesus      
,christ himself and by the apostles     
afterwards4 ,indeed  the ,lord ,jesus   
was he that first made this name common 
among the  saints1 and that taught them 
in their discourses1 in their prayers1  
and in their writings1 so much to use   

it2 it being more pleasing to1  and     
discovering more plainly our interest in
 ,god1 than any other  expression4 ,for 
by this one name we are made to         
understand that all  our mercies are the
 offspring of ,god1 and that we also who
 are  called are his children by        
adoption4    ,,faithfulness ,,of ,,god4 
,faithfulness in him that rules is that 
which makes ,zion rejoice1  because     
thereby the promises yield milk and     
honey4 ,for now the  faithful ,god1 that
 keepeth covenant1 performs to his      
church that  which he told her he would4
 ,wherefore our rivers shall run and our
  brooks yield honey and butter4 ,job   
#bj3ag4    ,let this teach all ,god's   
people to expect1 to look1 and wait for 
good things from the throne4 ,but ,o1   
methinks this throne out of  which good 
comes like a river1 who but would be a  
subject to it8 who  but would worship   
before it8    ,,presence ,,of ,,god4    
,god's presence is renewing1            
transforming1 seasoning1 sanctifying1   

commanding1 sweetening1 and lightening  
to the soul4 ,nothing like it  in all   
the world3 his presence supplies all    
wants1 heals all  maladies1 saves from  
all dangers1 is life in death1 heaven in
 hell1  all in all4    ,,god',s         
,,repenting4    ,and it repented the    
,lord that he had made man on the earth4
  ,repentance in us is a change of the  
mind1 but in ,god a change of his       
dispensations2 for otherwise he         
repenteth not1 neither can he1  because 
it standeth not with the perfection of  
his nature4 ,in him  is no variableness1
 nor shadow of turning4    ,wherefore it
 is man1 not ,god1 that turns4 ,when men
 reject the mercy  and ways of ,god1    
they cast themselves under his wrath and
  displeasure2 which1 because it is     
executed according to the nature  of his
 justice and the severity of his law1   
they miss of the mercy  promised before2
 which that we may know1 those shall one
 day feel  that shall continue in final 
impenitency4 ,therefore ,god1 speaking  

to  their capacity1 tells them he hath  
repented of doing them good4 ,it        
repented the ,lord that he had made     
,saul king2 and yet this  repentance was
 only a change of the dispensation which
 ,saul by his  wickedness had put       
himself under2 otherwise the ,strength1 
the  ,eternity of ,israel will not lie  
nor repent4    ,the sum is1 therefore1  
that men had now by their wickedness put
  themselves under the justice and law  
of ,god2 which justice1 by  reason of   
its perfection1 could not endure they   
should abide on the  earth any longer2  
and therefore now1 as a just reward of  
their deed1  they must be swept from the
 face thereof4    ,,providence ,,of     
,,god4    ,we should tremblingly glory  
and rejoice when we see ,god in the     
world1 though upon those that are the   
most terrible of his  dispensations4    
,god the ,creator will sometimes mount  
himself and ride  through the earth1 in 
such majesty and glory that he will make
 all  to stand in the tent-doors to     

behold him4 ,o how he rode in his       
chariots of salvation1 when he went to  
save his people out of the  land of     
,egypt4 ,how he shook the nations4 ,then
 his glory covered the  heavens1 and the
 earth was full of his praise4 ,his     
brightness was as  the light3 he had    
horns coming out of his hand1 and there 
was the  hiding of his power4    ,these 
are glorious things1 though shaking     
dispensations ,god is  worthy to be seen
 in his dispensations as well as in his 
word1  though the nations tremble at his
 presence4 ,o that thou wouldest  rend  
the heavens1 that thou wouldest         
comedown1 saith the prophet1  that the  
mountains might flow down at thy        
presence4    ,we know ,god1 and he is   
our ,god1 our own ,god2 of whom or of   
what  should we be afraid8 ,when ,god   
roars out of ,zion1 and utters his      
voice from ,jerusalem1 when the heavens 
and the earth do shake1 the  ,lord shall
 be the hope of his people and the      
strength of the  children of ,israel4   

,he that knows the sea1 knows the waves 
will toss themselves2 he that  knows a  
lion1 will not much wonder to see his   
paw or to hear the  voice of his        
roaring4 ,and shall we that know our    
,god1 be stricken  with a panic fear    
when he cometh out of his holy place to 
punish the  inhabitants of the earth for
 their iniquity8 ,we should stand like  
those that are next to angels1 and tell 
the blind world who it is  that is thus 
mounted upon his steed1 and that hath   
the clouds for  the dust of his feet1   
and that thus rideth upon the wings of  
the  wind3 we should say unto them1     
,this ,god is our ,god for ever and     
ever1 and he shall be our guide even    
unto death4    ,there are providences of
 two sorts1 seemingly good and seemingly
  bad2 and those do usually as ,jacob   
did when he blessed the sons of         
,joseph1 cross hands and lay the        
blessing where we would not4 ,there  are
 providences unto which we would have   
the blessings entailed2 but  they are   

not4 ,and these are providences that    
smile upon the flesh1  such as cast into
 the lap health1 wealth1 plenty1 ease1  
friends1 and  abundance of this world's 
good3 because these1 as ,manasseh's name
  doth signify1 have in them an aptness 
to make us forget our toil1  our low    
estate1 and from whence we were2 but the
 great blessing is  not in them4        
,there are providences again1 that take 
away from us whatever is  desirable to  
the flesh2 such are sickness1 losses1   
crosses1  persecution1 and affliction2  
and usually in these1 though they shock 
us whenever they come upon us1 blessing 
coucheth and is ready to  help us4 ,for 
,god1 as the name of ,ephraim signifies1
 makes us  fruitful in the land of      
affliction4 ,he therefore1 in blessing  
his  people1 lays his hands across1     
guiding them wittingly and laying the   
chiefest blessing on the head of        
,ephraim1 or in that providence that    
sanctifies affliction4 ,abel-what to the
 reason of ,eve was he1 in  comparison  

with ,cain8 ,rachel called ,benjamin the
 son of her sorrow2  but ,jacob knew how
 to give him a better name4 ,jabez1     
also1 though  his mother so called him  
because1 as it seems1 she brought him   
forth  with more than ordinary sorrow1  
was yet more honorable1 more godly1     
than his brethren4    ,he that has skill
 to judge of providences aright1 has a  
great  ability in him to comprehend with
 other saints what is the breadth  and  
length and depth and height2 but he that
 has no skill as to  discerning them1 is
 but a child in his judgment in those   
high and  mysterious things4 ,and hence 
it is that some shall suck honey out of 
that at which others tremble1 for fear  
it should poison them4 ,i have  often   
been made to say1 ,sorrow is better than
 laughter1 and the  house of mourning   
better than the house of mirth4 ,and ,i 
have more  often seen that the afflicted
 are always the best sort of            
,christians4 ,there is a man never well1
 never prospering1 never but  under     

afflictions1 disappointments1 and       
sorrows2 why1 this man1 if  he be a     
,christian1 is one of the best of men3  
,they that go down to  the sea1 that do 
business in great waters1 they see the  
works of the  ,lord and his wonders in  
the deep4    ,i do not question but that
 there are some that are alive who have 
been able to say the days of affliction 
have been the best unto  them1 and who  
could1 if it were lawful1 pray that they
 might always  be in affliction1 if ,god
 would but do to them as he did when his
  hand was last upon them2 for by them  
he caused his light to shine4    ,oh how
 should we1 and how would we were but   
our eyes awake1 stand  and wonder at the
 preservations1 the deliverances1 the   
salvations1  and benefits with which we 
are surrounded daily1 while so many     
mighty evils seek daily to swallow us up
 as the grave6    ,how many deaths have 
some been delivered from and saved out  
of  before conversion4 ,some have fallen
 into rivers1 some into wells1  some    

into the sea1 some into the hands of    
men2 yea1 they have been  justly        
arraigned and condemned1 as the thief   
upon the cross1 but  must not die before
 they were converted4 ,they were        
preserved in  ,christ1 and called4      
,,ii4 ,,the ,,trinity            ,,if in
 the ,godhead there be but one1 not     
three1 then the ,father1 the  ,son1 or  
the ,spirit must needs be that one1 if  
any one only2 so then  the other two are
 nothing4 ,again1 if the reality of a   
being be  neither in the ,father1 ,son1 
nor ,spirit1 as such1 but in the eternal
  ,deity1 without consideration of      
,father ,son and ,spirit as three1 then 
neither of the three are any thing but  
notions in us1 or  manifestations of the
 ,godhead1 or nominal distinctions1 so  
related  by the word2 but if so1 then   
when the ,father sent the ,son1 and the 
,father and ,son the ,spirit1 one notion
 sent another one manifestation  sent   
another4 ,this being granted1 it        
unavoidably follows there was  no       

,father to beget a ,son1 no ,son to be  
sent to save us1 no ,holy  ,ghost to be 
sent to comfort us and to guide us into 
all the truth of  the ,father and ,son4 
,at most it amounts to hut this3 a      
notion sent a  notion1 a distinction    
sent a distinction1 or one manifestation
 sent  another4 ,of this error these are
 the consequences3 we are only to       
believe in notions and distinctions1    
when we believe in the ,father  and the 
,son2 and so shall have no other heaven 
and glory than  notions and nominal     
distinctions can furnish us withal4     
,if thou feel thy thoughts begin to     
wrestle about this truth1 and to        
struggle concerning this1 one against   
another1 take heed of  admitting such a 
question1 ,how can this be8 for here is 
no room  for reason to make it out2 here
 is only room to believe it is a  truth4
 ,you find not one of the prophets      
propounding an argument to  prove it1   
but asserting it2 they let it lie for   
faith to take it up  and embrace it4    

,the grace of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 
and the love of ,god1 and the  communion
 of the ,holy ,ghost1 be with you all4  
,amen4    ,in a word1 if you would see  
it altogether1 ,god's love was the cause
  why ,christ was sent to bleed for     
sinners4 ,jesus ,christ's bleeding      
stops the cries of divine justice4 ,god 
looks upon them as complete  in him1 and
 gives them to him as by right of       
purchase4 ,jesus ever  lives to pray for
 them that are thus given unto him4 ,god
 sends his  ,holy ,spirit into them to  
reveal this to them1 sends his angels to
  minister for them1 and all this by    
virtue of an everlasting covenant       
between the ,father and the ,son4 ,happy
 the people that are in such a  case4   
,he hath made them brethren with ,jesus 
,christ1 members of his  flesh and of   
his bones1 the spouse of this ,lord     
,jesus2 and all to  show how dearly1    
really1 and constantly he loveth us who 
by the  faith of his operation have laid
 hold upon him4    ,the doctrine of the 

,trinity6 that is the substance1 that is
 the  ground and fundamental of all1 for
 by this doctrine and this only  the man
 is made a ,christian2 and he that has  
not this doctrine1 his  profession is   
not worth a button4    ,you must know   
that sometimes the church in the        
wilderness has but  little light1 hut   
the diminution of her light is not then 
so much in  or as to substantials1 as it
 is as to circumstantial things2 she has
  then the substantials with her in her 
darkest day4    ,the doctrine of the    
,trinity6 you may ask me what that is8  
,i answer1  it is that doctrine that    
showeth us the love of ,god the ,father 
in  giving his ,son1 the love of ,god   
the ,son in giving himself1 and the     
love of the ,lord the ,spirit in his    
work of regenerating us1 that we  may be
 made able to lay hold of the love of   
the ,father by his ,son1  and so enjoy  
eternal life by grace4    ,the ,father's
 grace saveth no man without the grace  
of the ,son1  neither do the ,father and

 the ,son save any without the grace of 
the  ,spirit2 for as the ,father loves1 
the ,son must die1 and the ,spirit  must
 sanctify1 or no soul must be saved4    
,some think that the love of the        
,father1 without the blood of the  ,son1
 will save them2 but they are deceived1 
for without shedding of  blood is no    
remission4    ,some think that the love 
of the ,father and blood of the ,son    
will do1  without the holiness of the   
,spirit of ,god2 but they are deceived  
also1 for if any man have not the       
,spirit of ,christ1 he is none of  his4 
,there is a third sort1 that think the  
holiness of the ,spirit is  sufficient  
of itself2 but they are deceived also1  
for it must be the  grace of the        
,father1 the grace of the ,son1 and the 
grace of the  ,spirit1 jointly1 that    
must save them4    ,but yet1 as these   
three do put forth grace jointly and    
truly in the  salvation of a sinner1 so 
they put it forth after a diverse       
manner4  ,the ,father designs us for    

heaven1 the ,son redeems from sin and   
death1 and the ,spirit makes us meet for
 heaven3 not by electing1  that is the  
work of the ,father2 not by dying1 that 
is the work of  the ,son2 but by his    
revealing ,christ1 and applying ,christ 
to our  souls1 by shedding the love of  
,god abroad in our hearts1 by           
sanctifying our souls1 and taking       
possession of us as an earnest of  our  
possession in heaven4                   
,,iii4 ,,the ,,scriptures4              
,,the ,scriptures carry such a blessed  
beauty in them to that soul that  has   
faith in the things contained in them1  
that they do take the  heart and        
captivate the soul of him that believeth
 them into the  love and liking of them1
 believing all things that are written  
in  the law and the prophets1 and having
 hope towards ,god that there  shall be 
a resurrection of the dead both of the  
just and unjust4    ,to him that        
believes the ,scriptures aright1 the    
promises or  threatenings are of more   

power to comfort or cast down1 than all 
the  promises or threatenings of all the
 men in the world2 and this was  the    
cause why the martyrs of ,jesus did so  
slight both the promises  of their      
adversaries when they would have        
overcome them with  proffering the great
 things of this world unto them1 and    
also their  threatenings when they told 
them they would rack them1 hang them1   
burn them4 ,none of these things could  
prevail upon them or against  them4     
,i never had in all my life so great an 
inlet into the word of ,god as  now1 in 
prison4 ,those scriptures that ,i saw   
nothing in before1  were made in this   
place and state to shine upon me4 ,jesus
 ,christ  also was never more real and  
apparent than now4 ,here ,i have seen   
and  felt him indeed3 ,o that word1 ,we 
have not preached unto you  cunningly   
devised fables1 and that1 ,god raised   
,christ from the  dead and gave him     
glory1 that our faith and hope might he 
in ,god1  were blessed words unto me in 

this condition4    ,these three or four 
scriptures also have been great         
refreshments  in this condition to me1  
,john #ad3a-d2 #af3cc2 ,heb4 #ab3bb-bd2 
so that  sometimes1 when ,i have been in
 the savor of them1 ,i have been able   
to laugh at destruction1 and to fear    
neither the horse nor his  rider4 ,i    
have had sweet sights of the forgiveness
 of my sins in this  place1 and of my   
being with ,jesus in another world4 ,oh 
the mount  ,zion1 the heavenly          
,jerusalem1 the innumerable company of  
angels1 and  ,god the judge of all1 and 
the spirits of just men made perfect2   
and  ,jesus has been sweet to me in this
 place3 ,i have seen ,,that here1  which
 ,i am persuaded ,i shall never while in
 this world be able to  express4 ,i have
 seen a truth in this scripture1 ,whom  
having not  seen1 ye love2 in whom1     
though now ye see him not1 yet          
believing1 ye  rejoice with joy         
unspeakable and full of glory4    ,the  
glass was one of a thousand4 ,it would  

present a man one way with  his own     
features exactly1 and turn it but       
another way and it would  show one the  
very face and similitude of the ,prince 
of the pilgrims  himself4 ,yes1 ,i have 
talked with them that can tell1 and they
 have  said that they have seen the very
 crown of thorns upon his head by       
looking in that glass2 they have therein
 also seen the holes in his  hands1 in  
his feet1 and in his side4 ,yea1 such an
 excellency is  there in that glass1    
that it will show him to one where they 
have a  mind to see him1 whether living 
or dead1 whether in earth or in  heaven1
 whether in a state of humiliation or in
 his exaltation1  whether coming to     
suffer or coming to reign4 ,james ,i3   
#bc-be2 ,i ,cor4  #ac3ab2 #b ,cor4      
#c3ac4    ,then said ,greatheart to ,mr4
 ,valiant-for-,truth1 ,thou hast        
worthily  behaved thyself2 let me see   
thy sword4 ,so he showed it him4 ,when  
he had taken it into his hand1 and      
looked thereon awhile1 he said1  ,ha1 it

 is a right ,jerusalem blade4           
,,valiant4 ,it is so4 ,let a man have   
one of these blades1 with a hand  to    
wield it and skill to use it1 and he may
 venture upon an angel  with it4 ,he    
need not fear its holding1 if he can but
 tell how to lay  on4 ,its edge will    
never blunt4 ,it will cut flesh and     
bones1 and soul  and spirit1 and all4   
,i saw then in my dream1 that they went 
on in this their solitary  ground1 till 
they came to a place at which a man is  
apt to lose his  way4 ,now1 though when 
it was light their guide could well     
enough  tell how to miss those ways that
 led wrong1 yet in the dark he was  put 
to a stand2 but he had in his pocket a  
map of all ways leading  to or from the 
celestial city2 wherefore he struck a   
light--for he  never goes without his   
tinder-box also--and takes a view of his
 book  or map1 which bids him be careful
 in that place to turn to the right     
hand44 ,and had he not been careful to  
look in his map1 they had in  all       

probability been smothered in the mud2  
for just a little before  them1 and that
 at the end of the cleanest way too1 was
 a pit1 none  knows how deep1 full of   
nothing but mud1 there made on purpose  
to  destroy the pilgrims in4 ,then      
thought ,i with myself1 ,who that goeth 
on pilgrimage but would have one of     
these maps about him1 that he  may look 
when he is at a stand which is the way  
he must take8    ,if we consider that   
our next state must be eternal1 either  
eternal  glory or eternal fire1 and that
 this eternal glory or this eternal     
fire must be our portion according as   
the word of ,god revealed in  the holy  
,scriptures shall determine1 who will   
not but conclude that  therefore the    
words of ,god are they at which we      
should tremble1 and  they by which we   
should have our fear of ,god guided and 
directed8  for by them we are taught how
 to please him in every thing4    ,noah 
drank of the wine and was drunken4 ,the 
,holy ,ghost1 when it  hath to do with  

sin1 loves to give it its own name2     
drunkenness must  be drunkenness1 murder
 must he murder1 and adultery must bear 
its  own name4 ,nay1 it is neither the  
goodness of the man1 nor his being  in  
favor with ,god1 that will cause him to 
lessen or mince his sin4  ,noah was     
drunken2 ,lot lay with his daughters2   
,david killed ,uriah2  ,peter cursed and
 swore in the garden1 and also          
dissembled at  ,antioch4 ,but this is   
not recorded to the intent that the name
 of  these godly should rot1 but to show
 that the best men are nothing  without 
grace1 and that he that standeth should 
not be high-minded1  but fear4 ,yea1    
they are also recorded for the support  
of the  tempted1 who1 when they are     
fallen1 are oft raised up by considering
  the infirmities of others4 ,whatsoever
 things were written aforetime  were    
written for our learning1 that we       
through patience and comfort  of the    
scriptures might have hope4    ,god's   
word has two edges2 it can cut          

back-stroke and fore-stroke3 if  it do  
thee no good1 it will do thee hurt2 it  
is the savor of life  unto life to those
 that receive it1 but of death unto     
death to them  that refuse it4    ,i do 
find in most such a spirit of idolatry  
concerning the learning  of this world  
and wisdom of the flesh1 and ,god's     
glory so much  stained and diminished   
thereby1 that had ,i all their aid and  
assistance at command1 ,i durst not make
 use of aught thereof1 and  that for    
fear lest that grace and those gifts    
that the ,lord hath  given me1 should be
 attributed to their wits1 rather than  
to the  light of the word and ,spirit of
 ,god4 ,wherefore ,i will not take of   
them from a thread to a shoe-latchet1   
lest they should say1 ,we have  made    
,abraham rich4    ,what you find suiting
 with the scriptures1 take1 though it   
should  not suit with authors2 but that 
which you find against the  scriptures1 
slight1 though it should be confirmed by
 multitudes of  them4 ,yea1 further1    

where you find the scriptures and your  
authors  agree1 yet believe it for the  
sake of scripture's authority4 ,i honor 
the godly as ,christians1 but ,i prefer 
the ,bible before them2 and  having that
 still with me1 ,i count myself far     
better furnished than  if ,i had1       
without it1 all the libraries of the two
 universities4  ,besides1 ,i am for     
drinking water out of my own cistern3   
what ,god  makes mine by the evidence of
 his word and ,spirit1 that ,i dare make
  bold with4 ,wherefore1 seeing1 though 
,i am without their learned  lines1 yet 
well furnished with the words of ,god1  
,i mean the ,bible1 ,i  have contented  
myself with what ,i have there found2   
and having set  it before your eyes1    
,i pray read and take1 sir1 what you    
like best2 ,and that which you  like    
not1 leave for the rest4    ,read1 and  
read again1 and do not despair of help  
to understand  something of the will and
 mind of ,god1 though you think they are
  fast locked up from you4 ,neither     

trouble your heads though you have  not 
commentaries and expositions2 pray and  
read1 and read and pray2  for a little  
from ,god is better than a great deal   
from men3 also  what is from men is     
uncertain1 and is often lost and tumbled
 over  and over by men2 but what is from
 ,god is fixed as a nail in a sure      
place4 ,there is nothing that so abides 
with us1 as what we receive  from ,god2 
and the reason why ,christians at this  
day are at such a  loss as to some      
things1 is because they are content with
 what comes  from men's mouths1 without 
searching and kneeling before ,god to   
know  of him the truth of things4       
,things that we receive at ,god's hand  
come to us as things from the           
minting-house1 though old in            
themselves1 yet new to us4 ,old truths  
are always new to us1 if they  come to  
us with the smell of heaven upon them4  
,,iv4 ,,man4    ,,the ,,image ,,of      
,,god4            ,,man is ,god's image1
 and to curse wickedly the image of     

,god1 is to  curse ,god himself4        
,suppose that a man should say with his 
mouth1 ,i  wish that the king's picture 
were burned2 would not this man's so    
saying render him as an enemy to the    
person of the king8 ,even so it  is with
 them that by cursing wish evil to their
 neighbors or  themselves2 they contemn 
the image of ,god himself4    ,this     
world1 as it dropped from the fingers of
 ,god1 was far more  glorious than it is
 now4    ,,value ,,of ,,the ,,soul4     
,the soul is a thing1 though of most    
worth1 least minded by most4 ,the  souls
 of most lie waste1 while all other     
things are inclosed4    ,soul-concerns  
are concerns of the highest nature1 and 
concerns that  arise from thoughts most 
deep and ponderous4 ,he never yet knew  
what  belonged to great and deep        
thoughts1 that is a stranger to         
soul-concerns4    ,the soul is capable  
of having to do with invisibles1 with   
angels1  good or bad1 yea1 with the     
highest and supreme ,being1 even the    

holy  ,god of heaven4 ,i told you before
 that ,god sought the soul of man to    
have it for his companion2 and now ,i   
tell you that the soul is  capable of   
communion with him1 when the darkness   
that sin hath  spread over its face is  
removed4 ,the soul is an intelligent    
power1  and it can be made to know and  
understand depths and heights and       
lengths and breadths1 in those high1    
sublime1 and spiritual  mysteries that  
only ,god can reveal and teach2 yea1 it 
is capable of  diving unutterably into  
them4 ,and herein is ,god1 the ,god of  
glory1  much delighted--that he hath    
made for himself a creature that is     
capable of hearing1 of knowing and of   
understanding his mind1 when  opened and
 revealed to it4    ,the greatness of   
the soul is manifest by the greatness of
 the price  that ,christ paid for it to 
make it an heir of glory1 and that was  
his precious blood4 ,we do use to esteem
 things according to the  price that is 
given for them1 especially when we are  

convinced that  the purchase has not    
been made by the estimation of a fool4  
,now the  soul is purchased by a price1 
that the ,son1 the wisdom of ,god1      
thought fit to pay for the redemption   
thereof2 what a thing then is  the soul6
    ,suppose a prince1 or some great    
man1 should on a sudden descend from    
his throne or chair of state1 to take   
up1 that he might put in his  bosom1    
something that he had espied lying      
trampled under the feet of  those that  
stand by2 would you think that he would 
do this for an  old horseshoe1 or for so
 trivial a thing as a pin or a point8   
,nay1  would you not even of yourselves 
conclude that that thing for which  the 
prince1 so great a man1 should make such
 a stoop1 must needs be  a thing of very
 great worth8 ,why1 this is the case of 
,christ and the  soul4 ,christ is the   
prince1 his throne is in heaven1 and as 
he sat  there he espied the souls of    
sinners trampled under the foot of the  
law and death for sin4 ,now what doth   

he1 but comes down from his  throne1    
stoops down to the earth1 and there1    
since he could not have  the            
trodden-down souls without price1 he    
lays down his life and  blood for them4 
,,adam',s ,,transgression4    ,in a     
word1 ,adam led mankind out of their    
paradise2 that is one woe3  and put out 
their eyes1 that is another2 and left   
them to the  leading of the devil4 ,o   
sad6 ,canst thou hear this1 and not have
 thy  ears to tingle and burn on thy    
head8 ,canst thou read this and not     
feel it1 and not feel thy conscience    
begin to throb8 ,if so1 surely  it is   
because thou art either possessed with  
the devil1 or beside  thyself4    ,o1   
this was the treasure that ,adam left to
 his posterity1 it was a  broken        
covenant1 insomuch that death reigned   
over all his children1  and doth still  
to this day1 as they come from          
him---both natural and  eternal death4  
,rom4 #e4    ,,depravity ,,of ,,nature4 
,let a man be as devout as is possible  

for the law and the holiness  of the    
law4 ,yet if the principles from which  
he acts be but the  habit of soul1 the  
purity1 as he feigns1 of his own        
nature--principles of natural reason1 or
 the dictates of human  nature2 all this
 is nothing else but the old gentleman  
in his  holiday clothes3 the old heart1 
the old spirit1 the spirit of the  man1 
not the spirit of ,christ1 is here4     
,,love ,,of ,,sin4    ,sin has been     
delightfully admitted to an             
entertainment by all the  powers of the 
soul4 ,the soul hath chosen it rather   
than ,god2 and  also1 at ,god's command1
 refuses to let it go4    ,if there be  
at any time1 as indeed there is1 a      
warrant issued out  from the mouth of   
,god to apprehend1 to condemn and       
mortify sin1 why  then the souls of     
sinners do presently make these shifts  
for the  saving of sin from things that 
by the word men arc commanded to do     
unto it3    #a4 ,they will1 if possible1
 hide it1 and not suffer it to be       

discovered4    #b4 ,as the soul will    
hide it1 so it will excuse it1 and plead
 that  this and that piece of wickedness
 is no such evil thing1 men need  not be
 so nice4    #c4 ,as the soul will do   
this1 so to save sin it will cover it   
with  names of virtue1 either moral or  
civil4    #d4 ,if convictions and       
discovery of sin be so strong and so    
plain  that the soul cannot deny but    
that it is sin1 and that ,god is        
offended therewith1 then it will give   
flattering promises to ,god  that it    
will indeed put it away2 but yet it will
 prefix a time that  shall he long      
first1 saying1 ,yet a little sleep1 yet 
a little  slumber1 yet a little folding 
of sin in my arms1 till ,i am older1    
till ,i am richer1 till ,i have had more
 of the sweetness and the  delights of  
sin4    #e4 ,if ,god yet pursues1 and   
will see whether this promise of putting
  sin out of doors shall he fulfilled by
 the soul1 why then it will be  partial 
in ,god's law2 it will put away some1   

and keep some2 put away  the grossest1  
and keep the finest2 put away those that
 can best be  spared1 and keep the most 
profitable for a help at a pinch4    #f4
 ,yea1 if all sin must be abandoned1 or 
the soul shall have no  rest1 why then  
the soul and sin will part--with such a 
parting as it  is--even as ,phaltiel    
parted with ,david's wife1 with an      
ill-will and  a sorrowful mind2 or as   
,orpah left her mother1 with a kiss4 #b 
,sam4  #c3af2 ,ruth #a3ad4    #g4 ,and  
if at any time they can or shall meet   
with each other again1  and nobody never
 the wiser1 ,o what courting will be    
between sin and  the soul4    ,by all   
these1 and many more things that might  
be instanced1 it is  manifest that sin  
has a friendly entertainment by the     
soul1 and that  therefore the soul is   
guilty of damnation2 for what do all    
these  things argue1 but that ,god1 his 
word1 his ways and graces1 are out  of  
favor with the soul1 and that sin and   
,satan are its only pleasant            

companions8    ,,sin4    ,sin so sets   
itself against the nature of ,god that1 
if possible1 it  would annihilate and   
turn him into nothing1 it being in its  
nature  point-blank against him4        
,what a thing is sin2 what a devil and  
master of devils is it1 that  it should1
 where it takes hold1 so hang that      
nothing can unclutch  its hold1 but the 
mercy of ,god and the heart-blood of his
 dear ,son4    ,no sin is little in     
itself2 because it is a contradiction of
 the  nature and majesty of ,god4    ,o1
 sin1 what art thou6 ,what hast thou    
done6 and what still wilt thou  further 
do1 if mercy and blood and grace do not 
prevent thee6        ,sin is the living 
worm1 the lasting fire2      ,hell soon 
would loss its heat1 could sin expire4  
,better sinless in hell1 than to be     
where      ,heaven is1 and to be found a
 sinner there4      ,one sinless with   
infernals might do well1      ,but sin  
would make of heaven a very hell4       
,look to thyself then1 keep it out of   

door1          ,lest it get in and never
 leave thee more4        ,no match has  
sin but ,god in all the world2          
,men1 angels1 has it from their station 
hurled1      ,holds them in chains as   
captives1 in despite      ,of all that  
here below is called might4             
,release1 help1 freedom from it none can
 give1      ,but even ,he by whom we    
breathe and live4          ,watch       
therefore1 keep this giant out of door1 
,lest1 if once in1 thou get him out no  
more4        ,fools make a mock at sin1 
will not believe      ,it carries such a
 dagger in its sleeve4      ,how can it 
be1 say they1 that such a thing1        
,so full of sweetness1 e'er should wear 
a sting8      ,they know not that it is 
the very spell      ,of sin1 to make men
 laugh themselves to hell4              
,look to thyself1 then1 deal with sin no
 more1          ,lest ,he that saves1   
against thee shut the door4    ,there   
are sins against light1 sins against    
knowledge1 sins against  love1 sins     

against learning1 sins against          
threatenings1 sins against  promises and
 vows and resolutions1 sins against     
experience1 sins  against examples of   
anger1 and sins that have great and high
 and  strange aggravations attending    
them2 the which we are ignorant of1     
though not altogether1 yet in too great 
a measure4    ,sins go not alone1 hut   
follow one another as do the links of a 
chain4    ,a presumptuous sin is such a 
one as is committed in the face of the  
command1 in a desperate venturing to run
 the hazard1 or in a  presuming upon the
 mercy of ,god through ,christ1 to be   
saved  notwithstanding3 this is a       
leading sin to that which is            
unpardonable1 and will be found with    
such professors as do hanker  after     
iniquity4    ,one leak will sink a ship2
 and one sin will destroy a sinner4     
,he that lives in sin and hopes for     
happiness hereafter1 is like him  that  
soweth cockle and thinks to fill his    
barn with wheat and  barley4    ,crush  

sin in the conception1 lest it bring    
forth death in thy soul4    ,some men's 
hearts are narrow upwards and wide      
downwards--narrow as  to ,god1 but wide 
for the world4    ,,pride4    ,pride is 
the ringleader of the seven abominations
 that the wise man  nameth4 ,prov4 #f3  
#af1 #ag4    ,apparel is the fruit of   
sin2 wherefore1 let such as pride       
themselves  therein remember1 that they 
cover one shame with another4 ,but let  
them that are truly godly have their    
apparel modest and sober1 and  with such
 shame-facedness put them on2           
remembering always1 that the  first     
cause of our covering our nakedness was 
the sin and shame of  our first parents4
    ,,envy4    ,mr4 ,badman's envy was  
so rank and strong1 that if it at any   
time  turned its head against a man1 it 
would hardly ever be pulled in  again4  
,he would watch over that man to do him 
mischief1 as the cat  watches over the  
mouse to destroy it2 yea1 he would wait 
seven years  but he would have an       

opportunity to hurt him1 and when he had
 it1 he  would make him feel the weight 
of his envy4 ,this envy is the very     
father and mother of a great many hid   
eous and prodigious  wickednesses4 ,it  
both begets them1 and also nourishes    
them up till  they come to their cursed 
maturity in the bosom of him that       
entertains them4    ,,drunkenness4      
,drunkenness is so beastly a sin1 a sin 
so much against nature1 that  ,i wonder 
that any who have but the appearance of 
men can give up  themselves to so       
beastly1 yea1 worse than beastly a      
thing4    ,many that have begun the     
world with plenty1 have gone out of it  
in  rags1 through drunkenness4 ,yea1    
many children that have been born to    
good estates1 have yet been brought to a
 flail and a rake through  this beastly 
sin of their parents4    ,yea1 it so    
stupefies and besots the soul1 that a   
man who is far gone  in drunkenness is  
hardly ever recovered to ,god4 ,tell me1
 when did  you see an old drunkard      

converted8 ,no1 no2 such a one will     
sleep  till he dies1 though he sleep on 
the top of a mast2 so that if a man     
have any respect either to credit1      
health1 life1 or salvation1 he  will not
 be a drunken man4    ,and ,noah was    
uncovered4 ,behold ye now1 that a little
 of the fruit  of the vine lays gravity1
 grey hairs1 and a man that for hundreds
 of  years was a lover of faith1        
holiness1 goodness1 sobriety1 and all   
righteousness1 shamelessly as the object
 to the eye of the wicked4    ,and ,noah
 lived after the flood three hundred and
 fifty years4 ,he  lived1 therefore1 to 
see ,abraham fifty-and-eight years old2 
he lived  also to see the foundation of 
,babel laid1 nay1 the top-stone         
thereof2 and also the confusion of      
tongues2 he lived to see of the  fruit  
of his loins1 mighty kings and princes4 
,but in all this time  he lived not to  
do one1 work that the ,holy ,ghost      
thought worthy to  record1 for the savor
 of his name or the edification and     

benefit of  his church1 save only1 that 
he died at nine hundred and fifty       
years3 so great a breach did this       
drunkenness make upon his spirit4       
,,sinners4    ,usually in wicked        
families1 some one or two are more arch 
for  wickedness than are any other that 
are there4 ,now such are ,satan's       
conduit-pipes2 for by them he conveys of
 the spawn of hell1 through  their being
 crafty in wickedness1 into the ears and
 souls of their  companions4    ,and she
 bare ,cain3 the first sprout of a      
disobedient couple1 a man  in shape1 but
 a devil in disposition4    ,the sinner1
 when his conscience is fallen asleep   
and grown hard1  will lie like the      
smith's dog at the foot of the anvil1   
though the  fire-sparks fly in his face4
    ,peace in a sinful course is one of 
the greatest of curses4    ,there is a  
wicked man that goes blinded1 and a     
wicked man that goes  with his eyes     
open1 to hell2 there is a wicked man    
that cannot see1  and a wicked man that 

will not see1 the danger he is in2 but  
hell-fire will open the eyes of both4   
,the soul with some is the game1 their  
lusts are the dogs1 and they  themselves
 are the huntsmen2 and never do they    
more halloo and lure  and laugh and     
sing1 than when they have delivered up  
their soul1  their darling1 to these    
dogs4    ,i may safely say1 that the    
most of men who are concerned in a      
trade1  will be more vigilant in dealing
 with a twelvepenny customer1 than  they
 will be with ,christ when he comes to  
make unto them by the  gospel a tender  
of the incomparable grace of ,god4      
,,sinful ,,ease4    ',tis true there is 
no man more at ease in his mind--with   
such ease  as it is--than the man that  
hath not closed with the ,lord ,jesus1  
but  is shut up in unbelief4 ,oh1 but   
that is the man that stands  convicted  
before ,god1 and that is bound over to  
the ,,great ,,assize6  that is the man  
whose sins are still his own1 and upon  
whom the  wrath of ,god abideth2 for the

 ease and peace of such1 though it keep 
them far from fear1 is but like to that 
of the secure thief that is  ignorant   
that the constable standcth at the door3
 the first sight of  an officer makes   
his peace to give up the ghost4 ,oh1 how
 many  thousands that can now glory that
 they were never troubled for sin       
against ,god--,i say1 how many be there 
that ,god will trouble worse  than he   
troubled cursed ,achan1 because their   
peace1 though false and  of the devil1  
was rather chosen by them than peace by 
,jesus ,christ1  than peace with ,god by
 the blood of his cross4    ,awake1     
careless sinners1 awake1 and arise from 
the dead1 and ,christ  shall give you   
light4 ,content not yourselves either   
with sin or  righteousness1 if you be   
destitute of ,jesus ,christ2 but ,,cry1 
,,cry1 ,oh  cry to ,god for light to see
 your condition by4 ,light is in the    
word  of ,god1 for therein is the       
righteousness of ,god revealed2 cry     
therefore for light to see this         

righteousness by3 it is a  righteousness
 of ,christ's finishing1 of ,god's      
accepting1 and that  which alone can    
save the soul from the stroke of eternal
 justice4    ,,the ,,child ,,and ,,the  
,,bird4        ,my little bird1 how     
canst thou sit          ,and sing amidst
 so many thorns8      ,let me but hold  
vipon thee get1          ,my love with  
honor thee adorns4      ,thou art at    
present little worth1          ,five    
farthings none will give for thee1      
,but prithee1 little bird1 come forth1  
,thou of more value art to me4          
',tis true it is sunshine to-day1       
,to-morrow birds will have a storm2     
,my pretty one1 come thou away4         
,my bosom then shall keep thee warm4    
,thou subject art to cold o' nights1    
,when darkness is thy covering2      ,at
 day thy danger's great by kites2       
,how canst thou then sit there and sing8
        ,thy food is scarce and scanty  
too1          ',tis worms and trash that
 thou dost eat      ,thy present state  

,i pity do1          ,come1 ,i'll       
provide thee better meat4      ,i'll    
feed thee with white bread and milk1    
,and sugar-plums1 if them thou crave2   
,i'll cover thee with finest silk1      
,that from the cold ,i may thee save4   
,my father's palace shall be thine1     
,yea1 in it thou shalt sit and sing2    
,my little bird1 if thou'lt be mine1    
,the whole year round shall be thy      
spring4      ,i'll teach thee all the   
notes at court1          ,unthought-of  
music thou shalt play1      ,and all    
that thither do resort          ,shall  
praise thee for it every day4           
,i'll keep thee safe from cat and cur1  
,no manner o' harm shall come to thee2  
,yea1 ,i will be thy succorer1          
,my bosom shall thy cabin be4      ,but 
lo1 behold1 the bird is gone6           
,these charmings would not make her     
yield2      ,the child's left at the    
bush alone1          ,the bird flies    
yonder o'er the field4        ,the child
 of ,christ an emblem is2          ,the 

bird to sinners ,i compare2      ,the   
thorns are like those sins of theirs1   
,which do surround them everywhere4     
,her songs1 her food1 her sunshine day1 
,are emblems of those foolish toys      
,which to destruction lead the way--    
,the fruit of worldly1 empty joys4      
,the arguments this child doth choose   
,to draw to him a bird thus wild1       
,shows ,christ familiar speech doth use1
          ,to make the sinner           
reconciled4      ,the bird1 in that she 
takes her wing          ,to speed her   
from him after all1      ,shows us vain 
man loves any thing          ,much      
better than the heavenly call4    ,,the 
,,sinner ,,warned4    ,thy bed1 when    
thou liest down in it1 preacheth to thee
 thy grave2  thy sleep1 thy death2 and  
thy rising in the morning1 thy          
resurrection to judgment4    ,wouldst   
thou know1 sinner1 what thou art8 look  
up to the cross1 and  behold a weeping1 
bleeding1 dying ,jesus2 nothing could do
 but that1  nothing could save thee but 

his blood3 angels could not1 saints     
could not1 ,god could not1 because he   
could not lie1 because he could  not    
deny himself4    ,what a thing is sin1  
that it should sink all that bear its   
burden2  yea1 it sunk the ,son of ,god  
himself into death and the grave1 and   
had also sunk him into hell-fire for    
ever1 had he not teen the ,son  of ,god1
 had he not been able to take it on his 
hack and bear it  away4    ,o this ,lamh
 of ,god6 ,sinners were going to hell2  
,christ was the  delight of his ,father1
 and had a whole heaven to himself2 hut 
that  did not content him1 heaven could 
not hold him1 he must come into  the    
world to save sinners4    ,aye1 and had 
he not come thy sins had sunk thee1 thy 
sins had  provoked the wrath of ,god    
against thee to thy destruction for     
ever4  ,there is no man hut is a sinner2
 there is no sin hut would damn an      
angel1 should ,god lay it to his charge4
    ,sinner1 the doctrine of ,christ    
crucified cries therefore aloud unto    

thee1 that sin has made thy condition   
dreadful4 ,see yourselves1 your  sins1  
and consequently the condition that your
 souls are in by the  death and blood of
 ,christ ,christ's death gives us the   
most clear  discovery of the dreadful   
nature of our sins4    ,i say again1 if 
sin he so dreadful a thing as to break  
the heart of  the ,son of ,god1 how     
shall a poor1 wretched1 impenitent1     
damned  sinner wrestle with the wrath of
 ,god8    ,awake1 sinners2 you are lost1
 you are undone1 you perish1 you are    
damned2 hell-fire is your portion for   
ever1 if you abide in your  sins1 and be
 found without a ,saviour in the        
dreadful day of  judgment4    ,sinner1  
doth not all this discourse make thy    
heart twitter after the  mercy that is  
with ,god1 and after the way that is    
made by this  plenteous redemption      
thereto8 ,methinks it should2 yea1 thou 
couldest  not do otherwise1 didst thou  
but see thy condition4 ,look behind     
thee1 take a view of the path thou hast 

trodden these many years4  ,dost thou   
think that the way that thou art in will
 lead thee to the  strait gate1 sinner8 
,ponder the path of thy feet with the   
greatest  seriousness2 thy life lies    
upon it2 what thinkest thou8 ,but make  
no  answer till in the night1 till thou 
art in the night-watches2  commune with 
thine own heart upon thy hed1 and there 
say what thou  thinkest of whither thou 
art going4    ,oh that thou wert        
serious6 ,is not it a thing to be       
lamented1 that  madness and folly should
 be in thy heart while thou livest1 and 
after that to go to the dead2 when so   
much life stands before thee1  and light
 to see the way to it8 ,surely men void 
of grace and  possessed of carnal minds 
must either think that sin is nothing1  
that hell is easy1 and that eternity is 
short2 or else that whatever  ,god has  
said about the punishing of sinners1 he 
will never do as he  has said2 or that  
there is no sin1 no ,god1 no heaven1 no 
hell1 and  so no good or bad hereafter2 

or else they could not live as they do4 
,but perhaps thou presumest upon it1 and
 sayest1 ,i shall have peace1  though ,i
 live so sinful a life4 ,sinner1 if this
 wicked thought be in  thy heart1 tell  
me again1 dost thou thus think in       
earnest8 ,canst  thou imagine thou shalt
 at the day of account outface ,god1 or 
make  him believe thou wast what thou   
wast not2 or that when the gate is  shut
 up in wrath1 he will at thy pleasure   
and to the reversing of  his own        
counsel1 open it again to thee8 ,why    
shall thy deceived heart  turn thee     
aside1 that thou canst not deliver thy  
soul1 nor say1 ,is  there not a lie in  
my right hand8    ,friend1 because it is
 a dangerous thing to be walking towards
 the  place of darkness and anguish1 and
 because notwithstanding1 it is  the    
journey that most of the poor souls in  
the world are taking1 ,i  have thought  
it my duty for preventing thee1 to tell 
thee what sad  success those souls have 
had that have persevered therein4 ,why1 

friend1 it may be--nay1 twenty to one1  
thou hast had thy back to  heaven and   
thy face towards hell ever since thou   
didst come into the  world4 ,why1 ,i    
beseech thee1 put a little stop to thy  
earnest race1  and take a view of what  
entertainment thou art like to have1 if 
thou  do in deed and in truth persist in
 thy course4 ,thy ways lead down  to    
death1 and thy steps to hell4 ,it may   
he1 indeed1 the path is  pleasant to the
 flesh1 but the end thereof will he     
bitter to thy  soul4 ,hark6 dost thou   
not hear the bitter cries of them that  
are  newly gone before thee1 saying1    
,let him dip the tip of his finger  in  
water1 and cool my tongue2 for ,i am    
tormented in this flame6  ,dost thou not
 hear them say1 ,send one from the dead1
 to prevent my  father1 my brother1 my  
father's house1 from coming to this     
place of  torment6 ,shall not these     
mournful groans pierce thy flinty heart8
  ,wilt thou stop thine ears and shut   
thine eyes8 ,and wilt thou ,,not        

regard8 ,take warning1 and stop thy     
journey before it be too late4  ,wilt   
thou he like the silly fly1 that is not 
quiet unless she be  either entangled in
 the spider's web or burnt in the       
candle8 ,o  sinner1 sinner1 there are   
better things than ,,hell to be had6    
,there  is heaven1 there is ,god1 there 
is ,christ1 there is communion with an  
innumerable assembly of saints and      
angels6    ,the poor1 carnal1 ignorant  
world miss of heaven1 even because they 
love their sins and cannot part with    
them ,john #c3i1 #bj4    ,the poor      
ignorant world miss of heaven1 because  
they stop their ears  against           
convictions1 and refuse to come when    
,god calls4 ,prov4 #a3  #bd-bi4    ,the 
poor ignorant world miss of heaven1     
because the god of this  world hath     
blinded their eyes1 that they can       
neither see the evil  and damnable state
 they are in at present1 nor the way to 
get out of  it2 neither do they see the 
beauty of ,jesus ,christ1 nor how       

willing  he is to save poor sinners4 #b 
,cor4 #d3 #b1 #c4    ,the poor ignorant 
world miss of heaven1 because they defer
 coming to  ,christ until the time of   
,god's patience and grace is over4 ,some
  indeed are resolved never to come2 but
 some again say1 ,we will come          
hereafter2 and so it comes to pass1 that
 because ,god called and  they did not  
hear1 so they shall cry and ,i will not 
hear1 saith  the ,lord4 ,zech4 #g3      
#aa-ac4    ,the poor ignorant world miss
 of heaven1 because they have false     
apprehensions of ,god's mercy4 ,they say
 in their hearts1 ,we shall  have peace1
 though we walk in the imagination of   
our heart4 ,deut4  #bi3 #ai-ba4    ,the 
poor ignorant world miss of heaven1     
because they make light of  the gospel  
that offers mercy to them freely1 and   
because they lean  upon their own good  
meanings and thinkings and doings4      
,matt4 #bb3  #a-e2 ,rom4 #i3 #cj1 #ca4  
,the poor carnal world miss of heaven1  
because by unbelief1 which  reigns in   

them1 they are kept for ever from being 
clothed with  ,christ's righteousness1  
and from washing in his blood1 without  
which  there is no remission of sin nor 
justification4    ,blush1 sinner1 blush6
 ,ah1 that thou hadst grace to blush4   
,my first word shall be to the openly   
profane4 ,poor sinner1 thou  readest    
that many that expect heaven will go    
without heaven4 ,what  sayest thou to   
this1 poor sinner8 ,if judgment begins  
at the house of  ,god1 what will be the 
end of them that obey not the gospel of 
,god8  ,this is ,peter's question3 canst
 thou answer it1 sinner8 ,yea1 ,i say   
again1 if judgment must begin at them1  
will it not make thee think1  ,what     
shall become of me8 ,and ,i add1 when   
thou shalt see the stars of  heaven     
tumble down to hell1 canst thou think   
that such a muck-heap  of sin as thou   
art shall be lifted up to heaven8 ,peter
 asks thee  another question3 ,if the   
righteous scarcely be saved1 where shall
  the ungodly and the sinner appear8    

,canst thou answer this question1       
sinner8 ,stand among the righteous thou 
mayst not3 ,the ungodly shall  not stand
 in the judgment4 ,stand among the      
wicked thou then wilt  not dare to do3  
where wilt thou appear1 sinner8 ,to     
stand among the  hypocrites will avail  
thee nothing3 ,the hypocrite shall not  
come  before him1 that is1 with         
acceptance1 but shall perish4           
,because it concerns thee much1 let me  
over with it again4 ,when thou  shalt   
see less sinners than thou art bound up 
by angels in bundles  to burn them1     
where wilt thou appear1 sinner8 ,thou   
mayst wish  thyself another man1 but    
that will not help thee1 sinner4 ,thou  
mayst  wish1 ,would ,i had been         
converted in time2 but that will not    
help  thee neither4 ,and if1 like the   
wife of ,jeroboam1 thou shouldst feign  
thyself to be another1 the prophet1 the 
,lord ,jesus1 would soon find  thee out4
 ,what wilt thou do1 poor sinner8 ,heavy
 tidings1 heavy  tidings will attend    

thee1 except thou repent1 poor sinner6  
,sluggard1 art thou asleep still8 art   
thou resolved to sleep the  sleep of    
death8 ,will neither tidings from heaven
 nor hell awake  thee8 ,wilt thou say   
still1 ,yet a little sleep1 a little    
slumber1 a  little folding of the arms  
to sleep8    ,o that ,i was one that was
 skilful in lamentation1 and had but a  
yearning heart towards thee1 how would  
,i pity thee2 how would ,i  bemoan thee6
 ,poor soul1 lost soul1 dying soul1 what
 a hard heart  have ,i that ,i cannot   
mourn for thee6 ,if thou shouldst lose  
but a  limb1 a child1 or a friend1 it   
would not be so much2 but1 poor man1  it
 is thy soul3 if it was to lie in hell  
but for a day1 but for a  year1 nay1 ten
 thousand years1 it would in comparison 
be nothing2  but ,o it is for ever6 ,o  
this cutting ,,ever6    ,sinner1 awake2 
yea1 ,i say unto thee1 awake6 ,sin lieth
 at thy door1  and ,god's axe lieth at  
thy root1 and hell-fire is right        
underneath  thee4 ,i say again1 awake4  

,every tree that bringeth not forth good
  fruit1 is hewn down and cast into the 
fire4    ,poor sinner1 awake3 ,eternity 
is coming1 and his ,son2 they are both  
coming to judge the world3 awake2 art   
yet asleep1 poor sinner8 let  me set the
 trumpet to thine ear once again4 ,the  
heavens will he  shortly on a burning   
flame2 the earth and the works thereof  
shall be  burned up1 and then wicked men
 shall go into perdition3 dost thou     
hear this1 sinner8    ,hark again3 the  
sweet morsels of sin will then be fled  
and gone1 and  the bitter1 burning      
fruits of them only left4 ,what sayst   
thou now1  sinner8 canst thou drink     
hell-fire8 will the wrath of ,god be a  
pleasant dish to thy taste8 ,this must  
be thine every day's meat and  drink in 
hell1 sinner4    ,i will yet propound to
 thee ,god's ponderous question1 and    
then for  this time leave thee3 ,can    
thine heart endure1 or can thy hands be 
strong in the day that ,i shall deal    
with thee1 saith the ,lord8 ,what  sayst

 thou8 ,wilt thou answer this question  
now2 or wilt thou take  time to do it2  
or wilt thou be desperate and venture   
all8 ,and let me  put this text in thine
 ear to keep it open1 and so the ,lord  
have  mercy upon thee3 ,upon the wicked 
shall the ,lord rain snares1 fire1  and 
brimstone1 and a horrible tempest2 this 
shall be the portion of  their cup4     
,repent1 sinners4    ,,conscience4      
,conscience hath its place in the soul1 
where it is as a judge to  discern of   
things good or bad1 and judge them      
accordingly4 ,romans #b3  #ad4 ,this    
conscience is that in which is the law  
of nature1 ,i ,cor4  #aa3 #ad1 which is 
able to teach the ,gentiles that sin    
against the law  is sin against ,god4   
,now this conscience1 this nature       
itself1 because it can control and      
chide them for sin who give ear unto    
it--must it therefore be  idolized and  
made a god of8 ,o wonderful6 that men   
should make a ,god  and a ,christ of    
their consciences because they can      

convince of sin4    ,thou gayest1 ,he   
that convinces of sins against the law1 
leads up to  the fulfilling of the law44
 ,friend1 thy conscience convinces of   
sins  against the law3 follow thy       
conscience1 and it may lead thee under  
the curse of the law1 through its       
weakness2 but it can never deliver  thee
 from the curse of the law by its power4
 ,for if righteousness  come by         
obedience to the law1 or by thy         
conscience either1 then  ,christ is dead
 in vain4 ,gal4 #b3 #ba4    ,a ,,good   
,,conscience4    ,this must needs be a  
blessed help in distress1 for a man to  
have a  good conscience when affliction 
hath taken hold on him2 for a man  then1
 in his looking behind and before1 to   
return with peace to his  own soul1 that
 man must needs find honey in this lion4
    ,this is the way to maintain always 
the answer1 the echoing answer of  a    
good conscience in thy own soul4        
,godliness is of great use this  way2   
for the man that hath a good conscience 

to ,god-ward1 hath a  continual feast in
 his own soul3 while others say there is
 casting  down1 he shall say there is   
lifting up2 for ,god shall save the     
humble person4 ,some indeed1 in the     
midst of their profession1 are          
reproached1 smitten1 and condemned of   
their own heart1 their  conscience still
 biting and stinging them because of the
 uncleanness  of their hands2 and they  
cannot lift up their face unto ,god1    
they  have not the answer of a good     
conscience towards him1 but must walk   
as persons false to their ,god and as   
traitors to their own eternal  welfare4 
,but the godly upright man shall have   
the light shine upon  his ways1 and he  
shall take his steps in butter and      
honey4 ,the work  of righteousness shall
 be peace1 and the effect of            
righteousness1  quietness1 and assurance
 for ever4 ,if our heart condemn us1    
,god is  greater than our heart1 and    
knoweth all things4 ,beloved1 if our    
heart condemn us not1 then have we      

confidence towards ,god4    ,a ,,tender 
,,conscience4    ,a tender conscience is
 to some people like ,solomon's brawling
 woman1  a burthen to those that have   
it2 but let it be to thee like those    
that invited ,david to go up to the     
house of the ,lord4    ,a ,,guilty      
,,conscience4    ,and ,adam and his wife
 hid themselves from the presence of the
 ,lord  ,god4 ,these latter words are   
spoken1 not to persuade us that men can 
hide themselves from ,god1 but that     
,adam and those that are his by  nature 
will seek to do it1 because they do not 
know him aright4  ,these words therefore
 further show us what a bitter thing sin
 is to  the soul2 it is only for        
hiding-work1 sometimes under its        
fig-leaves1 sometimes among the trees of
 the garden4 ,o what a  shaking1        
starting1 timorous evil conscience is a 
sinful1 guilty  conscience3 especially  
when it is but a little awakened1 it    
could  run its head into every hole1    
first by one fancy1 then by another2    

for the power and goodness of a man's   
own righteousness cannot  withstand or  
answer the demands of the justice of    
,god and his holy  law4    ,there is yet
 another witness for the condemning     
transgressors of  these laws1 and that  
is conscience3 ,their consciences also  
bearing  witness1 says the apostle4     
,conscience is a thousand witnesses4    
,conscience6 it will cry amen to every  
word that the great ,god doth  speak    
against thee4 ,conscience is a terrible 
accuser2 it will hold  pace with the    
witness of ,god1 as to the truth of     
evidence1 to a  hair's breadth4 ,the    
witness of conscience1 it is of great   
authority2  it commands guilt and       
fastens it on every soul which it       
accuses4  ,conscience will thunder and  
lighten at the day of judgment2 even the
  consciences of the most pagan sinners 
in the world will have  sufficient      
wherewith to accuse1 to condemn1 and to 
make paleness  appear in their faces and
 breaking in their loins1 by reason of  

the  force of its conviction4 ,o the    
mire and dirt that a guilty  conscience1
 when it is forced to speak1 will cast  
up and throw out  before the            
judgment-seat4 ,it must out2 none can   
speak peace nor  health to that man upon
 whom ,god has let loose his own        
conscience4  ,cain will now cry1 ,my    
punishment is greater than ,i can bear2 
,judas  will hang himself2 and both     
,belshazzar and ,felix will feel the    
joints of their loins to be loosened1   
and their knees to smite one  against   
another1 when conscience stirreth4      
,when conscience is once thoroughly     
awakened1 as it shall be before  the    
judgment-seat1 ,god will need say no    
more to the sinner than  ,solomon said  
to filthy ,shimei1 ,thou knowest all the
 wickedness that  thy heart is privy to4
 ,as who should say1 ,thy conscience    
knows1  and can well inform thee of all 
the evil and sin that thou art  guilty  
of4 ,to all which it answers even as    
face answers a face in a  glass2 or as  

an echo answers the man that speaks3 as 
fast1 ,i say1 as  ,god chargeth1        
conscience will cry out1 ,guilty1       
guilty1 ,lord2 guilty  of all1 of every 
whit2 ,i remember clearly all the crimes
 thou layest  before me4 ,thus will     
conscience be a witness against the soul
 in  the day of ,god4              ,v4  
,,the ,,law4    ,,its ,,nature ,,and    
,,effects4            ,,the law is the  
chief and most pure resemblance of the  
justice and  holiness of the heavenly   
,majesty1 and doth hold forth to all men
 the  sharpness and keenness of his     
wrath4    ,this is the rule and line and
 plummet whereby every act of every man 
shall be measured2 and he whose         
righteousness is not found every way    
answerable to this law1 which all will  
fall short of but they that  have the   
righteousness of ,god by faith in ,jesus
 ,christ1 he must  perish4    ,the law  
is spiritual1 ,i am carnal4 ,therefore  
every requirement is  rejected and      
rebelled against4 ,strike a steel       

against a flint1 and  the fire flies    
about you4 ,strike the law against a    
carnal heart1 and  sin appears1 sin     
multiplies1 sin rageth1 sin is          
strengthened4    ,sin seen in the glass 
of the law is a terrible thing2 no man  
can  behold it and live4 ,when the      
commandment came1 sin revived and ,i    
died2 when it came from ,god to my      
conscience1 as managed by an  almighty  
arm1 then it slew me4 ,and now is the   
time to confess sin1  because now a soul
 knows what it is1 and sees what it is1 
both in  the nature and consequence of  
it4    ,he that is under the law is     
under the edge of the axe4    ,the      
proper work of the law is to slay the   
soul1 and leave it dead1  in a helpless 
state4    ,the law has laid all men for 
dead as they come into the world2 but   
all men do not see themselves dead1     
until they see the law that  struck them
 dead striking in their souls and having
 struck them that  fatal blow4 ,as a man
 that is fast asleep in a house1 and    

that on  fire about his ears1 and he not
 knowing it because he is asleep2  even 
so because poor souls are asleep in sin1
 though the wrath of  ,god1 the curse of
 his law1 and the flames of hell have   
beset them  round about1 yet they do not
 believe it because they are asleep in  
sin4 ,now1 as he that is awakened and   
sees this1 sees that through  this he is
 a dead man1 even so they that see their
 state by nature1  being such a sad     
condition1 do also see themselves by    
that law to be  dead men naturally4     
,take heed of fleshly wisdom4 ,reasoning
 suiteth much with the law3 ,i  thought 
verily that ,i ought to do many things  
against the name of  ,jesus1 and so to  
have sought for life by the law4 ,for   
thus reason  will say1 ,here is a       
righteous law1 the rule of life and     
death2  besides1 what can be better than
 to love ,god1 and my neighbor as       
myself8 ,again1 ,god has thus commanded1
 and his commands are just and  good2   
therefore1 doubtless1 life must come by 

the law4 ,further1 to  love ,god and    
keep the law1 are better than to sin and
 break it2 and  seeing men lost heaven  
by sin1 how should they get it again but
 by  working righteousness8 ,besides1   
,god is righteous1 and will therefore   
bless the righteous4 ,o the holiness of 
the law6 ,it mightily swayeth  with     
reason when a man addicts himself to    
religion4 ,the light of  nature teaches 
that sin is not the way to heaven2 and  
seeing no word  doth more condemn sin1  
than the words of the ten commandments1 
it  must needs be therefore the most    
perfect rule for holiness4  ,wherefore1 
says reason1 the safest way to life and 
glory is to keep  myself close to the   
law4 ,but though the law indeed be holy1
 yet the  mistake as to the matter in   
hand is as wide as the east from the    
west2 for therefore the law can do thee 
no good1 because it is holy  and just2  
for what can he that has sinned expect  
from a law that is  holy and just8      
,naught but condemnation4 ,there is one 

that accuseth  you1 even4 ,moses in whom
 ye trust4    ,here is the poison2 to   
set this law in the4 room of a          
,mediator1 as  those do who seek to     
stand just before ,god thereby4 ,and    
then nothing  is so dishonorable to     
,christ1 nor of so soul-destroying a    
nature as  the law2 for that1 thus      
placed1 has not only power when souls   
are  deluded1 but power to delude by its
 real holiness1 the  understanding1     
conscience1 and reason of a man2 and by 
giving the  soul a semblance of heaven1 
to cause it to throw away ,christ1      
grace1  and faith4    ,alas1 he who     
boasteth himself in the works of the    
law1 he doth not  hear the law4 ,when   
that speaks1 it shakes mount ,sinai1 and
 writeth  death upon all faces1 and     
makes the church itself cry out1 ,a     
,mediator6 else we die4    ,the law out 
of ,christ is terrible as a lion2 the   
law in him is meek  as a lamb4          
,,faithful4 ,so ,i went on my way up the
 hill4 ,now when ,i had got about       

half-way up1 ,i looked behind me and saw
 one coming after me swift as  the wind2
 so he overtook me just about the place 
where the settle  stands4    ,so soon as
 the man overtook me1 he was but a word 
and a blow2 for  down he knocked me1 and
 laid me for dead4 ,but when ,i was a   
little  come to myself again1 ,i asked  
him wherefore he served me so4 ,he      
said1 ',because of thy secret           
inclination to ,adam the first2' and    
with that he struck me another deadly   
blow on the breast1 and beat  me down   
backwards2 so ,i lay at his foot as dead
 as before4 ,when ,i  came to myself    
again1 ,i cried to him for mercy2 but he
 said1 ',i  know not how to show mercy2'
 and with that knocked me down again4   
,he  had doubtless made an end of me1   
but that one came by and bid him        
forbear4    ,,christian4 ,who was it    
that bid him forbear8    ,,faithful4 ,i 
did not know him at first1 but as he    
went by ,i  perceived the holes in his  
hands and his side2 then ,i concluded   

that  he was our ,lord4 ,so ,i went up  
the hill4    ,,christian4 ,the man that 
overtook you was ,moses4 ,he spareth    
none1  neither knoweth he how to show   
mercy to those that transgress his  law4
    ,,faithful4 ,i know it very well2 it
 was not the first time that he  has met
 with me4 ,it was he that came to me    
when ,i dwelt securely at  home1 and    
that told me he would burn my house over
 my head if ,i  staid there4    ,this   
ungodly fear of ,god1 is that which will
 put men upon adding to  the revealed   
will of ,god their own inventions and   
their own  performances of them1 as a   
means to pacify the anger of ,god4 ,for 
the  truth is1 where this ungodly fear  
reigneth1 there is no end of law  and   
duty4 ,when those that you read of in   
the hook of ,kings1 #b ,kings1  #ag3    
#bf1 were destroyed by the lions because
 they had set up idolatry  in the land  
of ,israel1 they sent for a priest from 
,babylon that  might teach them the     
manner of the ,god of the land2 but     

behold1 when  they knew it1 being taught
 it by the priest1 yet their fear would 
not suffer them to be content with that 
worship only4 ,they feared  the ,lord1  
saith the text1 and served their own    
gods4 ,and again1  ,so these nations    
feared the ,lord1 and served their      
graven images4  ,it was this fear also  
that put the ,pharisees upon inventing  
so many  traditions2 as the washing of  
cups1 and beds1 and tables1 and  basins1
 with abundance of such other gear4     
,mark #g3 #d4 ,none knows the  many     
dangers that an ungodly fear of ,god    
will drive a man into4    ,how has it   
racked and tortured the papists for     
hundreds of years  together6 for what   
else is the cause but this ungodly fear1
 at least  in the most simple and       
harmless of them1 of their penances--as 
creeping to the cross1 going barefoot on
 pilgrimage1 whipping  themselves1      
wearing of sackcloth1 saying so many    
pater-nosters1 so  many ,ave-,marias1   
making so many confessions to the       

priest1 giving so  much money for       
pardons1 and abundance of other the     
like---but this  ungodly fear of ,god8  
,for could they be brought to believe   
this  doctrine1 that ,christ was        
delivered for our offences and raised   
again for our justification1 and to     
apply it by faith with godly  boldness  
to their own souls1 this fear ,would    
vanish1 and so  consequently all those  
things with which they so needlessly and
  unprofitably afflict themselves1      
offend ,god1 and grieve his people4     
,,the ,,law ,,and ,,the ,,gospel4       
,thou must have salvation either at the 
door of the law or at the  door of      
grace4 ,but1 sayest thou1 ,i am for     
having it at the hands  of both4 ,i will
 trust solely to neither4 ,i love to    
have two strings  to my bow4 ,if one of 
them1 as you think1 can help me by      
itself1 my  reason tells me that both   
can help me better2 therefore will ,i be
  righteous and good1 and will seek by  
my goodness to be commended to  the     

mercy of ,god2 for surely he that hath  
something of his own to  ingratiate     
himself into the favor of his prince    
withal1 shall sooner  obtain his mercy  
and favor than one that comes to him    
stripped of  all good4    ,i answer1    
,but there are not two ways to heaven3  
there is but one  'new and living way   
which ,christ hath consecrated for us   
through the  veil1 that is to say1 his  
flesh2' and besides that one1 there is  
no  more4 ,heb4 #aj3 #ai-bd4 ,why then  
dost thou talk of two strings to thy    
bow8    ,mercy then is to be found alone
 in ,jesus ,christ4 ,again1 the         
righteousness of the law is to be       
obtained only by faith of ,jesus        
,christ2 that is1 in the ,son of ,god is
 the righteousness of the law  to be    
found2 for he1 by his obedience to his  
,father1 is become the  end of the law  
for righteousness4 ,and for the sake of 
his legal  righteousness---which is also
 called the righteousness of ,god1      
because it was ,god in the flesh of the 

,lord ,jesus that did  accomplish       
it---are mercy and grace from ,god      
extended to whomsoever  dependeth by    
faith upon ,god1 by this righteousness  
of ,jesus1 for  them4    ,he that is    
dark as touching the scope1 intents1 and
 nature of the  law1 is also dark as to 
the scope1 nature1 and glory of the     
gospel4    ,i must confess it is a      
wonderful mysterious thing1 and he had  
need  have a wiser spirit than his own  
that can rightly set these two          
covenants in their right places1 that   
when he speaks of the one he  doth not  
jostle the other out of its place4 ,o1  
to be so well  enlightened as to speak  
of the one1 that is the law1 for to     
magnify  the gospel---and also to speak 
of the gospel so as to establish and    
yet not to idolize the law1 nor any     
particulars thereof---it is  rare2 and  
to be heard and found but in very few   
men's breasts4    ,a man may appeal from
 the law to the throne1 from ,moses to  
,christ---from him that spoke on earth  

to him that speaks from  heaven2 but    
from heaven to earth1 from ,christ to   
,moses1 none can  appeal4 ,acts #c3 #bb1
 #bc4    ,tell me1 you that desire to   
mingle the law and the gospel together1 
and to make of both one and the same    
gospel of ,christ1 did you ever  see    
yourselves undone and lost1 unless the  
righteousness1 blood1  death1           
resurrection1 and intercession of that  
man ,christ ,jesus in  his own person1  
were imputed to you2 and until you could
 by faith  own it as done for you1 and  
counted yours by imputation8 ,yea1 or   
no8  ,nay1 rather1 have you not set up  
your consciences and the law1 and       
counted your obedience to them better   
and of more value than the  obedience of
 the ,son of ,mary without you to be    
imputed to you8 ,and  if so1 it is      
because you have not been savingly      
convinced by the  ,spirit of ,christ of 
the sin of unbelief4    ,i would riot be
 mistaken2 ,i do not say that the       
,spirit of ,christ  gives the least     

liberty to sin2 ,god forbid2 but its    
convictions are  of a more saving and   
refreshing nature than the convictions  
of the  law1 and do more constrain the  
soul to holiness than that3 the law     
saying1 ,work for life2 the ,spirit     
saying1 ,now to him that worketh  not   
7for life17 but believeth on him that   
justifieth the ungodly1  his faith is   
counted for righteousness4 ,as thus3 if 
,i should owe to  two creditors ten     
thousand talents1 the one should say    
unto me1  ,thou owest me five thousand  
talents1 pay that thou owest2 the  other
 should say1 ,thou owest me five        
thousand talents1 and ,i  frankly and   
freely forgive thee all4    ,now1 these 
expressions are contrary one to another2
 even so is the  end of the convictions 
of the law not according to the end of  
the  convictions of the ,spirit of      
,christ3 the one saying1 ,pay me that   
thou owest2 the other saying1 ,thou art 
frankly and freely forgiven  all4       
,then the ,interpreter took ,christian  

by the hand1 and led him into a  very   
large parlor that was full of dust1     
because never swept2 the  which1 after  
he had reviewed it a little while1 the  
,interpreter  called for a man to sweep4
 ,now1 when he began to sweep1 the dust 
began so abundantly to fly about1 that  
,christian had almost  therewith been   
choked4 ,then said the ,interpreter to a
 damsel that  stood by1 ,bring hither   
water and sprinkle the room2 the which1 
when she had done1 it was swept and     
cleansed with pleasure4    ,then said   
,christian1 ,what means this8    ,the   
,interpreter answered1 ,this parlor is  
the heart of a man that  was never      
sanctified by the sweet grace of the    
gospel2 the dust is  his1 original sin  
and inward corruptions that have defiled
 the whole  man4 ,he that began to sweep
 at first is the law2 but she that      
brought water and did sprinkle it1 is   
the gospel4 ,now whereas thou  sawest   
that so soon as the first began to      
sweep1 the dust did so fly  about that  

the room by him could not be cleansed1  
but that thou wast  almost choked       
therewith3 this is to show thee that the
 law1 instead  of cleansing the heart by
 its working1 from sin1 doth revive1 put
  strength into1 and increase it in the 
soul1 even as it doth discover  and     
forbid it2 for it doth not give power to
 subdue it4 ,rom4 #e3 #bj2  #g3aa2 #a   
,cor4 #ae3ef4    ,again1 as thou sawest 
the damsel sprinkle the room with1      
water1  upon which it was cleansed with 
pleasure this is to show thee that  when
 the gospel comes in the sweet and      
precious influences thereof  to the     
heart1 then1 ,i say1 even as thou sawest
 the damsel lay the  dust fry sprinkling
 the floor with water1 so is sin        
vanquished and  subdued1 and the soul   
made clean through the faith of it1 and 
consequently fit for the ,king of glory 
to inhabit4 ,john #ad3 #ba-bc2  #ae3c2  
,acts #ae3i2 ,rom4 #af3 #be1 #bf2 ,eph4 
#e3bf4    ,when ,christ dwells in my    
heart by faith and the moral law dwells 

in  my members1 the one to keep up peace
 with ,god1 the other to keep my        
conversation in a good decorum1 then am 
,i right1 and not till then4    ,but    
this will not be done without much      
experience1 diligence1 and  delight in  
,christ4 ,for there is nothing that     
,satan more desires1  than that the law 
may abide in the conscience of an       
awakened  ,christian1 and there take up 
the place of ,christ and faith2 for he  
knows if this may be obtained1 the veil 
is presently drawn over the  face of the
 soul1 and the heart darkened as to the 
knowledge of  ,christ2 and being        
darkened1 the man is driven into despair
 of mercy1  or is put upon it to work   
for life4 ,there is therefore much      
diligence required of him that will keep
 these two in their places  assigned    
them of ,god2 much diligent study of the
 word1 diligent  prayer1 with diligence 
to walk with ,god in the world4    ,when
 this law with its thundering           
threatenings doth attempt to lay  hold  

on thy conscience1 shut it out with a   
promise of grace3 cry1  ,the inn is     
taken up already2 the ,lord ,jesus is   
here entertained1 and  here is no room  
for the law4 ,indeed1 if it will be     
content with  being my informer1 and so 
lovingly leave off to judge me1 ,i will 
be  content2 it shall be in iny sight1  
,i will also delight therein3 but       
otherwise1 ,i being now made upright    
without it1 and that too with  that     
righteousness which this law speaks well
 of and approveth1 ,i  may not1 will    
not1 cannot1 dare not make it my saviour
 and judge1  nor suffer it to set up its
 government in my conscience2 for by so 
doing ,i fall from grace1 and ,christ   
,jesus doth profit me nothing4    ,the  
sum then of what hath been said is this3
 the ,christian hath now  nothing to do 
with the law as it thundereth and       
burneth on ,sinai1 or  as it bindeth the
 conscience to wrath and the displeasure
 of ,god for  sin2 for from its thus    
appearing he is freed by faith in       

,christ4 ,yet  he is to have regard     
thereto1 and is to count it holy1 just1 
and  good2 which that he may do1 he is  
always1 whenever he seeth or  regards   
it1 to remember that he who giveth it to
 us is ,,merciful1  ,,gracious1         
,,long-,,suffering1 and ,,abundant ,,in 
,,goodness ,,and ,,truth4    ,here thou 
mayst say1 ,o law1 thou mayst roar      
against sin1 but thou  canst not reach  
me2 thou mayst curse and condemn1 but   
not ,,my ,,soul2  for ,i have a         
righteous ,jesus1 a holy ,jesus1 a      
soul-saving ,jesus1 and  he hath        
delivered me from thy threats1 thy      
curses1 thy  condemnations2 ,i am out of
 thy reach and out of thy bounds2 ,i am 
brought into another covenant1 under    
better promises of life and  salvation1 
free promises to comfort me without my  
merit1 even  through the blood of       
,jesus1 the satisfaction given to ,god  
for me by  him4    ,the law is that     
which standeth at the entrance of the   
paradise of  ,god1 as a flaming sword1  

turning every way to keep out those that
  are not righteous with the            
righteousness of ,god--that have not    
skill  to come to the throne of grace by
 that new and living way which he  hath 
consecrated for us through the veil1    
that is to say1 his flesh4  ,for though 
this law1 ,i say1 be taken away by      
,christ ,jesus for all  that truly and  
savingly believe1 yet it remains in full
 force and  power in every tittle of it 
against every soul of man that now shall
  be found in his tabernacle1 that is in
 himself and out of the ,lord  ,jesus2  
it lie'th1 ,i say1 like a lion rampant  
at the gates of heaven1  and will roar  
upon every unconverted soul1 fiercely   
accusing every  one that new would      
gladly enter in through the gates into  
this city4  ,so then1 he that can answer
 all its most perfect and legal         
commands1  and that can live in the     
midst of devouring fire and there enjoy 
,god  and solace himself1 he shall dwell
 on high and shall not be hurt by  this 

law4 ,his place of defence shall be the 
munitions of rocks2  bread shall be     
given him1 and his waters shall he sure2
 thine eyes  shall behold the ,king in  
his beauty1 they shall see the land that
 is  very far off4    ,,the ,,law ,a    
,,rule ,,of ,,life4    ,the law is cast 
behind the back of many1 when it should 
be carried  in the hand and heart that  
we might do it1 to the end the gospel   
which we profess might he glorified in  
the world4 ,let then the law  be with   
thee to love it1 and do it in the spirit
 of the gospel1 that  thou be not       
unfruitful in thy life4 ,let the law1 ,i
 say1 be with  thee1 not as it comes    
from ,moses1 but from ,christ2 for      
though thou  art set free from the law  
as a covenant for life1 yet thou still  
art  under the law to ,christ2 and it is
 to be received by thee1 as out of  his 
hand1 to be a rule for thy conversation 
in the world4              ,,vi4        
,,divine ,,grace4    ,,grace1 ,,loye1   
,,and ,,mercy4            ,i ,,find that

 the goodness of ,god to his people is  
diversely  expressed in his word1       
sometimes by the word grace1 sometimes  
by the  word love1 and sometimes by the 
word mercy4 ,when it is expressed by    
that word grace1 then it is to show that
 what he doeth is of his  princely will1
 his royal bounty1 and sovereign        
pleasure4 ,when it is  expressed by that
 word love1 then it is to show us that  
his  affection was and is in what he    
doeth1 and that he doeth what he  doeth 
for us with complacency and delight4    
,but when it is set forth  to us under  
the notion of mercy1 then it bespeaks us
 to be in a  state both wretched and    
miserable1 and that his bowels and      
compassions yearn over us in this our   
fearful plight4    ,,grace ,,described4 
,there are many things which men call   
the grace of ,god that are not4    #a4  
,the light and knowledge that are in    
every man4    #b4 ,that natural         
willingness that is in man to be saved4 
#c4 ,that power that is in man by nature

 to do something1 as he  thinketh1      
towards his own salvation4    ,but do   
thou remember that the grace of ,god is 
his good-will and  great love to        
sinners1 in his ,son ,jesus ,christ2 by 
the which  good-will they are           
sanctified1 through the offering up of  
the body  of ,jesus ,christ once for    
all4    ,his blood is not laws1 nor     
ordinances1 nor commandments1 but a     
price1 a redeeming price4 ,he justifies 
us by bestowing upon us1 not  by        
expecting from us4 ,he justifies us by  
his grace1 not by our  works4           
,,operation ,,of ,,grace4    ,the good  
child is not the first-born1 but ,abel4 
,god often doth as  ,jacob did1 even    
cross hands in bestowing blessings1     
giving that  which is best to him that  
is least esteemed2 for ,cain was the man
  in ,eve's esteem3 she thought1 when   
she had him1 she had got an             
inheritance2 but as for ,abel 7vanity17 
he was little worth2 by his  name they  
showed how little they set by him4      

,it is so with the sincere to this day2 
they bear not the name of  glory with   
the world3 ,cain with them is the       
profitable son2 ,abel is  of no credit  
with them1 neither see they form or     
comeliness in him2  he is the melancholy
 or lowering child whose countenance    
spoils the  mirth of the world4 ,the    
heart of the wise is in the house of    
mourning1 but the heart of fools is in  
the house of mirth4    ,abel1 last in   
appearance1 but in truth the first in   
grace2 as it  also is at this day4 ,who 
do so flutter it out as our ruffling1   
formal worshippers8 ,alas1 the good1 the
 sincere1 the humble1 they  seem to be  
least and last2 but the conclusion of   
the tragedy will  make manifest that the
 first is last and the last first4      
,and the ,lord had respect unto ,abel   
and to his offering4 ,herein are  the   
true footsteps of grace discovered2 the 
person must be the first  in favor with 
,god---the person first1 the performance
 afterwards3  for though it be true     

among men that the gift makes way for   
the  acceptance of the person1 yet in   
the order of grace it is after  another 
manner2 for if the person be not first  
accepted1 the  offering must be         
abominable2 for it is not a good work   
that makes a  good man1 but a good man  
makes a good work4 ,the fruit does not  
make  a good tree1 but a good tree      
bringeth forth good fruit4    ,abel then
 presented his person and offering1 as  
shrouding both by  faith under the      
righteousness of ,christ1 which lay     
wrapped up in the  promise2 but ,cain   
stands upon his own legs1 and so        
presents his  offering4 ,abel therefore 
is accepted1 both his person and        
offering1  while ,cain remains accursed4
 ,this then makes the difference hetwixt
  ,abel and his brother2 ,abel had      
faith1 but ,cain had none4 ,abel's      
faith covered him with ,jesus ,christ2  
therefore he stood righteous in  his    
person before ,god4    ,there is a man  
proceeded against for life by the law   

and the  sentence of death is in        
conclusion most justly and righteously  
passed upon him by the judge4 ,suppose  
now1 that after this1 this man  lives   
and is exalted to honor1 enjoys great   
things1 and is put into  place of trust 
and power1 and this by him that he has  
offended1 even  by him that did pass the
 sentence upon him4    ,what will all   
say1 or what will they conclude1 even   
upon the very  first hearing of this    
story8 ,will they not say1 ,well1       
whoever he  was that found himself      
wrapped up in this strange providence1  
must  thank the mercy of a gracious     
prince2 for all these things bespeak    
grace and favor8    ,forgiveness is     
according to the riches of ,god's grace1
 wherein he  has abounded towards us in 
all wisdom and prudence4 ,grace can     
continue to pardon1 favor1 and          
save---from falls1 in falls1 and out  of
 falls4 ,grace can comfort1 relieve1 and
 help those that have hurt  themselves2 
and grace can bring the unworthy to     

glory4 ,this the law  cannot do2 this   
man cannot do2 this angels cannot do2   
this ,god  cannot do1 but only by the   
riches of his grace1 through the        
redemption that is in ,christ ,jesus4   
,a throne is the seat of majesty and    
greatness2 it is not for things  of an  
inferior quality to ascend or assume a  
throne4 ,now1 then1  since this river of
 water of life proceeds from the throne1
 it  intimates that in grace and mercy  
there is great majesty2 for grace1  as  
it proceeds1 has a voice from the       
throne4 ,and indeed there is  nothing in
 heaven or earth that can so awe the    
heart as the grace of  ,god4 ,hos4 #c3  
#e4 ,it is that which makes a man fear2 
it is that which  makes a man tremble2  
it is that which makes a man how and    
bend1 and  break to pieces4 ,jer4 #cc3  
#i2 ,exod4 #cd3 #f-i4 ,nothing has such 
majesty1 and commanding greatness in and
 upon the hearts of the sons  of men1 as
 has the grace of ,god4 ,there is       
nothing overmastereth the  heart like   

grace1 and so obligeth to sincere and   
unfeigned obedience  as that4    ,strong
 grace makes corruptions weak and       
strikes them through1 laying  them at   
the point of death1 always gasping for  
life4    ,mercy and the revelation      
thereof is the only antidote against    
sin4  ,it is of a thawing nature2 it    
will loose the heart that is frozen up  
in sin2 yea1 it will make the unwilling 
willing to come to ,christ  for life4   
,some say1 ,when grace and a good nature
 meet together1 they do make  shining   
,christians3 but ,i say1 ,when grace and
 a great sinner meet1  and when grace   
shall subdue that great sinner to       
itself1 and shall  operate after its    
kind in the soul of that great sinner1  
then we  have a shining ,christian4     
,men may fall by sin1 but cannot raise  
up themselves without the help  of      
grace4    ,there were two men that went 
on pilgrimage2 the one began when he    
was young1 the other when he was old3   
the young man had strong  corruptions to

 grapple with1 the old man's were weak  
with the decays  of nature3 the young   
man trode his steps as even as did the  
old one1  and was every way as light as 
he4 ,who now1 or which of them1 had     
their graces shining clearest1 since    
both seemed to be alike8 ,the  young    
man's1 doubtless2 for that which heads  
it against the greatest  opposition1    
gives best demonstration that it is     
strongest4    ,as nature1 even where    
grace is1 cannot without the assistance 
of  that grace do any thing acceptably  
before ,god2 so grace received1 if  it  
be not also supplied with more grace1   
cannot cause that we  continue to do    
acceptable service to ,god4    ,a       
present dispensation of grace is like a 
good meal1 a seasonable  shower1 or a   
penny in one's pocket1 all of which will
 serve for the  present necessity4 ,but 
will that good meal that ,i ate last    
week  enable me without supply to do a  
good day's work in this8 or1 will  that 
seasonable shower which fell last year1 

be1 without supplies1 a  seasonable help
 to the grain and grass that is growing 
now8 or will  that penny that supplied  
my want the other day--,i say1 will the 
same  penny also1 without a supply1     
supply my wants to-day8    ,the day of  
grace is the day of expense2 this is our
 spending time4  ,hence we are called   
pilgrims and strangers in the earth2    
that is1  travellers from place to      
place1 from state to state1 from trial  
to  trial4 ,now1 as the traveller at the
 fresh inn is made to spend fresh       
money1 so ,christians1 at a fresh       
temptation1 at a new temptation1  are   
made to spend fresh and a new supply of 
grace4 ,great men1 when  and while their
 sons are travellers1 appoint that their
 bags of  money be lodged ready or      
conveniently paid in at such and such a 
place2 and so they meet with supplies4  
,why1 so are the sons of the  great     
,one2 and he has allotted that we should
 travel beyond sea1 or  at a great      
distance from our ,father's house3      

wherefore he has  appointed that grace  
shall be provided for us1 to supply at  
such a  place1 such a state or          
temptation1 as need requires4 ,but      
withal1 as  my lord expeeteth his son   
should acquaint him with the present    
emptiness of his purse and with the     
difficulty he hath now to  grapple with2
 so ,god our ,father expects that we    
should plead by  ,christ our need at the
 throne of grace1 in order to a supply  
of  grace4 ,let us therefore come boldly
 to the throne of grace1 that we  may   
obtain mercy and find grace to help in  
time of need4    ,then ,i saw in my     
dream that the ,interpreter took        
,christian by the  hand1 and led him    
into a place where was a fire burning   
against a  wall1 and one standing by it 
always casting much water upon it to    
quench it2 yet did the fire burn higher 
and hotter4    ,then said ,christian1   
,what means this8    ,the ,interpreter  
answered1 ,this fire is the work of     
grace that is  wrought in the heart2 he 

that casts water upon it to extinguish  
and  put it out1 is the devil2 but in   
that thou seest the fire                
notwithstanding burn higher and hotter1 
thou shalt also see the  reason of that4
 ,so he had him about to the backside of
 the wall1  where he saw a man with a   
vessel of oil in his hand1 of which he  
did  also continually cast1 but         
secretly1 into the fire4    ,then said  
,christian1 ,what means this8    ,the   
,interpreter answered1 ,this is ,christ1
 who continually with the  oil of his   
grace maintains the work already begun  
in the heart2 by  the means of which1   
notwithstanding what the devil can do1  
the souls  of his people prove gracious 
still4 #b ,cor4 #ab3 #i4 ,and in that   
thou  sawest that the man stood behind  
the wall to maintain the fire2 this  is 
to teach thee that it is hard for the   
tempter to see how this  work of grace  
is maintained in the soul4    ,there is 
to be seen at the bottom of this holy   
river1 the glory of  ,god4 ,we are      

saved1 saved by grace1 saved by grace   
through the  redemption that is in      
,christ1 to the praise and glory of     
,god4 ,and  what a good bottom is here4 
,grace will not fail1 ,christ has been  
sufficiently tried1 and ,god will not   
lose his glory2 therefore they  that    
drink of this river1 shall doubtless be 
saved2 to wit1 they  that drink of it   
with a spiritual appetite to it4    ,it 
pleased ,god1 for the glory of his      
wisdom1 to make this the way2  to wit1  
to set up grace to reign4 ,i have often 
thought1 and  sometimes said1 ,if ,god  
will be pleased with any way1 surely he 
will  be pleased with his own4 ,now this
 is the way of his own devising1  the   
fruit and effect of his own wisdom4     
,wherefore1 sinner1 please  him1 please 
him in that wherein he is well pleased2 
come to the  waters1 cast thyself into  
them and fear not drowning2 let ,god    
alone  to cause them to carry thee into 
his paradise1 that thou mayest see  his 
throne4    ,let us take notice of the   

carriage of ,god to man1 and again of   
man  to ,god1 in his conversion4        
,first1 of ,god's carriage to man4 ,he  
comes to him while he is in his  sins2  
he comes to him now1 not in the heat and
 fire of his jealousy1  but in the cool 
of the day1 in unspeakable gentleness1  
mercy1 pity1  and love--not in clothing 
himself with vengeance1 but in a way of 
entreaty1 and meekly beseecheth the     
sinner to be reconciled unto  him4 #b   
,cor4 #e3 #ai1 #bj4    ,it is expected  
among men1 that he who gives the        
offence1 should be  the first in seeking
 peace2 but1 sinner1 betwixt ,god and   
man it is  not so3 not that we loved    
,god1 not that we chose ,god2 but ,god  
was in  ,christ reconciling the world   
unto himself1 not imputing their        
trespasses unto them4 ,god is the first 
that seeketh peace2 and in a  way of    
entreaty1 he bids his ministers pray you
 in ,christ's stead3  ,as if ,god did   
beseech you by us1 we pray you in       
,christ's stead1 be  ye reconciled to   

,god4    ,o sinner1 wilt thou not open8 
,behold1 ,god the ,father and his ,son  
,jesus ,christ stand both at the door of
 thy heart1 beseeching there  for favor 
from thee1 that thou wilt be reconciled 
to them2 with the  promise1 if thou wilt
 comply1 to forgive thee all thy sins4  
,o grace1  ,o amazing grace6 ,to see a  
prince entreat a beggar to receive an   
alms1 would be a strange sight2 to see a
 king entreat the traitor to  accept of 
mercy1 would be a stranger sight than   
that2 but to see ,god  entreat a sinner1
 to hear ,christ say1 ,i stand at the   
door and  knock1 with a heart full and a
 heaven full of grace to bestow upon    
him that opens2 this is such a sight as 
dazzles the eyes of angels4  ,what      
sayest thou now1 sinner8 ,is not this   
,god rich in mercy8 hath  not this ,god 
great love for sinners8 ,nay1 further1  
that thou mayst  not have any ground to 
think that all this is hut              
complimenting1  there is also here      
declared1 that ,god hath made him to be 

sin for  us1 who knew no sin1 that we   
might be made the righteousness of ,god 
in him4 ,if ,god would have stuck at any
 thing1 it would have been at  the death
 of his ,son2 but he delivered him up   
for us freely3 how  shall he not then   
with him freely give us all things8     
,let us now come to the carriage of     
these sinners to ,god1 and that  from   
the first day he begins to deal with    
their souls1 even to the  time that they
 are to be taken up into heaven4    #a4 
,and to begin with ,god's ordinary      
dealing with sinners3 when at  first he 
ministers conviction to them by his     
word1 how strangely do  they behave     
themselves4 ,they love not to have their
 consciences  touched2 they like not to 
ponder upon what they have been1 what   
they  are1 or what is like to become of 
them hereafter3 such thoughts they      
count unmanly and hurtful4 ,and now they
 are for any thing rather  than the     
word3 an alehouse1 a playhouse1 sports1 
pleasures1 sleep1  the world1 and what  

not1 so they may stave of the power of  
the word  of ,god4    #b4 ,if ,god now  
comes up closer to them1 and begins to  
fasten  conviction upon the conscience1 
though such convictions be the first    
step to faith and repentance1 yea1 to   
life eternal1 yet what shifts  will they
 have to forget them and wear them off6 
,yea1 although they  now begin to see   
that they must either turn or turn1 yet 
ofttimes  they will study to waive a    
present conversion4 ,they object1 they  
are  too young to turn yet2 seven years 
hence is time enough2 when they  are    
old1 or come upon a sick bed4    ,o what
 an enemy is man to his own salvation6  
,i am persuaded that ,god  has visited  
some of you often with his word1 and you
 have thrown  water1 as fast as he hath 
by the word cast fire1 upon your        
conscience4    ,christian1 what had     
become of thee1 if ,god had taken thy   
denial for  an answer1 and said1 ,then  
will ,i carry the word of salvation to  
another1 and he will hear it8           

,sinner1 turn6 says ,god4 ,lord1 ,i     
cannot attend to it1 says the  sinner4  
,turn or burn1 says ,god4 ,i will       
venture that1 says the  sinner4 ,turn   
and be saved1 says ,god4 ,i cannot leave
 my  pleasures1 says the sinner2 sweet  
sins1 sweet pleasures1 sweet  delights1 
says the sinner4 ,but what grace is it  
in ,god thus to  parley with the sinner6
 ,o the patience of ,god to a poor      
sinner6 ,what  if ,god should now say1  
,then get thee to thy sins1 get thee to 
thy  delights1 get thee to thy          
pleasures1 take them for thy portion2   
they  shall be all thy heaven1 all thy  
happiness1 all thy portion8    #c4 ,but 
,god comes again1 and shows the sinner  
the necessity of  turning now or not at 
all2 yea1 and giveth the sinner this    
conviction so strongly that he cannot   
put it if4 ,but behold1 the  sinner has 
one spark of enmity still3 if he must   
needs turn now1 he  will either turn    
from one sin to another1 from great ones
 to little  ones1 from many to few1 or  

from all to one1 and there stop4 ,but   
perhaps convictions will not thus leave 
him4 ,why1 then he will turn  from      
profaneness to the law of ,moses1 and   
will dwell as long as ,god  will let    
him1 upon his own seeming goodness4 ,and
 now observe him1 he  is a great        
stickler for legal performance2 now he  
will be a good  neighbor1 he will pay   
every man his own1 will leave off his   
swearing1 the ale-house1 his sports1 and
 carnal delights2 he will  read1 pray1  
talk of scripture1 and be a very busy   
one in religion1  such as it is2 now he 
will please ,god1 and make him amends   
for all  the wrong he has done him1 and 
will feed him with chapters1 and        
prayers1 and promises1 and vows1 and a  
great many more such dainty  dishes as  
these2 persuading himself that now he   
must be fair for  heaven1 and thinks    
besides that he serveth ,god as well as 
any man3  but all this while he is as   
ignorant of ,christ as the stool he sits
  on1 and no nearer heaven than was the 

blind ,pharisee1 only he has  got in a  
cleaner way to hell than the rest of his
 neighbors are4    ,might not ,god now  
cast off this sinner1 and cast him out  
of his  sight8 might he not leave him to
 his own choice1 to be deluded by  and  
to fall in his own righteousness1       
because he trusts to it and  commits    
iniquity8    ,but grace1 preventing     
grace preserves him4 ,it is true1 this  
turn of  the sinner is a turning short  
of ,christ4 ,but1    #d4 ,god in this   
way of the sinner will mercifully follow
 him1 and  show him the shortness of his
 performances1 the emptiness of his     
duties1 and the uncleanness of his      
righteousness4 ,this ,i speak of  the   
sinner1 the salvation of whose soul is  
graciously intended and  contrived of   
,god2 for he shall by gospel light be   
wearied out of  all2 he shall be made to
 see the vanity of all1 and that the    
personal righteousness of ,jesus        
,christ1 and that only1 is it which  of 
,god is ordained to save the sinner from

 the due reward of his  sins4 ,but      
behold1 the sinner now1 at the sight and
 sense of his own  nothingness1 falleth 
into a kind of despair2 for although he 
hath it  in him to presume of salvation 
through the delusiveness of his own     
good opinion of himself1 yet he hath it 
not in himself to have a  good opinion  
of the grace of ,god in the             
righteousness of ,christ4  ,wherefore he
 concludeth that if salvation be alone  
of the grace of  ,god through the       
righteousness of ,christ1 and all of a  
man's own is  utterly rejected as to the
 justification of his person with ,god1 
then he is cast away4    ,now1 the      
reason of this sinking of heart is the  
sight that ,god has  given him--a sight 
of the uncleanness of his best          
performance4 ,the  former sight of his  
immoralities did somewhat distress him1 
and make  him betake himself to his own 
good deeds to ease his conscience2      
wherefore this was his prop1 his stay4  
,but behold1 now ,god has taken  this   

from under him1 and now he falls4       
,wherefore his best doth also  now      
forsake him1 and fly away like the      
morning dew4    ,besides1 this          
revelation of the emptiness of his own  
righteousness  brings also with it a    
further discovery of the naughtiness of 
his  heart1 in its hypocrisies1 pride1  
unbelief1 hardness of heart1  deadness1 
and backwardness to all gospel          
obedience2 which sight of  himself lies 
like millstones upon his shoulders1 and 
sinks him yet  further into doubts and  
fears of damnation4 ,for bid him now    
receive  ,christ2 he answers1 he cannot1
 he dares not4 ,ask him why he cannot2  
he will answer1 he has no faith nor hope
 in his heart4 ,tell him that  grace is 
offered him freely2 he says1 ,but ,i    
have no heart to  receive it4 ,besides1 
he finds not1 as he thinks1 any gracious
  disposition in his soul1 and therefore
 concludes he does not belong  to ,god's
 mercy1 nor has an interest in the blood
 of ,christ1 and  therefore dares not   

presume to believe4 ,wherefore he sinks 
in his  heart1 he dies in his thoughts1 
he doubts1 he despairs1 and  concludes  
he shall never be saved4    #e4 ,but    
behold1 the ,god of all grace leaves him
 not in this distress1  but comes up now
 to him closer than ever2 he sends the  
,spirit of  adoption1 the blessed       
,comforter1 to him to tell him ,god is  
love1 and  therefore not willing to     
reject the broken in heart2 bids him cry
  and pray for an evidence of mercy to  
his soul1 and says1  ,peradventure you  
may be hid in the day of the ,lord's    
anger4    ,at this the sinner takes some
 encouragement2 yet he can get no more  
than that which will hang upon a mere   
probability1 which1 by the  next doubt  
that ariseth in the heart1 is blown     
quite away1 and the  soul left again in 
its first plight1 or worse2 where he    
lamentably  bewails his miserable state1
 and is tormented with a thousand fears 
of perishing2 for he hears not a word   
from heaven1 perhaps for  several weeks 

together4 ,wherefore unbelief begins to 
get the mastery  of him1 and takes off  
the very edge and spirit1 of prayer1 and
  inclination to hear the word any      
longer2 yea1 the devil also claps  in   
with these thoughts1 saying1 ,all your  
prayers1 and hearing1 and  reading1 and 
godly company1 which you frequent1 will 
rise up in  judgment against you at     
last2 therefore better it is1 if you    
must be  damned1 to choose as easy a    
place in hell as you can4    ,the soul  
at this being quite discouraged1 thinks 
to do as it has  been taught1 and with  
dying thoughts it begins to faint when  
it goes  to prayer or to hear the word4 
,but behold1 when all hope seems to be  
quite gone1 and the soul concludes1 ,i  
die1 ,i perish1 in comes on a  sudden   
the ,spirit of ,god again1 with some    
good word of ,god which the  soul never 
thought of before2 which word of ,god   
commands a calm in  the soul1 makes     
unbelief give place1 encourages to hope 
and wait  upon ,god again3 perhaps it   

gives some little sight of ,christ to   
the  soul1 and of his blessed           
undertaking for sinners4    ,but behold1
 so soon as the power of things again   
begins to wear off  the heart1 the      
sinner gives place to unbelief1         
questions ,god's  mercy1 and fears      
damning again4 ,he also entertains hard 
thoughts of  ,god and ,christ1 and      
thinks former encouragements were       
fancies1  delusions1 or mere think-sos4 
,and why doth not ,god now cast the     
sinner to hell1 for thus abusing  his   
mercy and grace8 ,o no3 ,he will have   
mercy on whom he will have  mercy1 and  
he will have compassion on whom he will 
have compassion2  wherefore goodness and
 mercy shall follow him all the days of 
his  life1 that he may dwell in the     
house of the ,lord for ever4    #f4     
,god1 therefore1 after all these        
provocations1 comes by his ,spirit  to  
the soul again1 and brings sealing grace
 and pardon to the  conscience1         
testifying to it that its sins are      

forgiven and that  freely1 for the sake 
of the blood of ,christ4 ,and now has   
the sinner  such a sight of the grace of
 ,god in ,christ1 as kindly breaks his  
heart with joy and comfort4 ,now the    
soul knows what it is to eat  promises2 
it also knows what it is to eat and     
drink the flesh and  blood of ,jesus    
,christ by faith2 now it is driven by   
the power of his  grace to its knees1 to
 thank ,god for forgiveness of sins and 
for  hopes of an inheritance among them 
that are sanctified by faith  which is  
in ,christ2 now it has a calm and a     
sunshine2 now he washes  his steps with 
butter1 and the rock pours him out      
rivers of oil4    #g4 ,but after this1  
perhaps the soul grows cold again2 it   
also  forgets the grace received1 and   
waxes carnal2 begins again to hanker    
after the world2 loseth the life and    
savor of heavenly things2  grieves the  
,spirit of ,god2 wofully backslides2    
casteth off closet  duties quite1 or    
else retains only the formality of them2

 is a  reproach to religion1 and grieves
 the heart of them that are awake  and  
tender of ,god's name4    ,but what will
 ,god now do8 ,will he take this        
advantage to destroy the  sinner8 ,no4  
,will he let him alone in his apostasy8 
,no4 ,will he leave  him to recover     
himself by the strength of his now      
languishing grace8  ,no4 ,what then8    
,why1 he will seek this man out till he 
finds him1 and  bring him home to       
himself again3 ,for thus saith the ,lord
 ,god1  ,behold ,i1 even ,i1 will both  
search my sheep1 and seek them out1 as a
  shepherd seeketh out his flock in the 
day that he is among the sheep  that are
 scattered2 so will ,i seek out my      
sheep1 and will deliver  them out of all
 places where they have been scattered4 
,i will seek  that which was lost1 and  
bring again that which was driven away2 
,i  will bind up that which was broken1 
and will strengthen that which  was     
sick4 ,ezek4 #cd3aa-af4    ,of ,god's   
ordinary way of fetching the backslider 

home ,i will not now  discourse2 namely1
 whether he always breaketh his bones   
for his  sins1 as he broke ,david's1 or 
whether he will all the days of his     
life for this leave him under guilt and 
darkness2 or whether he will  kill him  
now1 that he may not be condemned in the
 day of judgment1  as he dealt with them
 at ,corinth4 ,i ,cor4 #aa3 #cj-cb4     
,god is wise1 and can tell how to       
imbitter backsliding to them he  loveth4
 ,he can break their bones and save     
them2 he can lay them in  the lowest    
pit1 in darkness and the deep1 and save 
them2 he can slay  them as to this life1
 and save them4 ,and herein appears     
wonderful  grace1 that ,israel is not   
forsaken4    #h4 ,but suppose ,god deals
 not either of these ways with the      
backslider1 but shines upon him again1  
and seals up to him the  remission of   
his sins a second time1 saying1 ,i will 
heal their  backslidings1 and love them 
freely4 ,what will the soul do now8     
,surely it will walk humbly now1 and    

holily all its days4 ,it will  never    
backslide again1 will it8 ,it may happen
 it will not2 it may  happen it will4   
,it is just as his ,god keeps him2 for  
although his  sins are of himself1 his  
standing is of ,god2 ,i say1 his        
standing  while he stands1 and his      
recovery if he falls1 are both of ,god4 
,wherefore1 if ,god leaves him a little1
 the next gap he finds1 away  he is gone
 again3 ,my people1 says ,god1 are bent 
to backsliding  from me4    ,here is    
grace4 ,so many times as the soul       
backslides1 so many times  ,god brings  
him back again--,i mean the soul that   
must be saved by  grace2 he renews his  
pardons and multiplies them4 ,yea1 for  
aught ,i  know1 there are some saints1  
and they not long-lived either1 that    
must receive1 before they enter into    
life1 millions of pardons from  ,god for
 these2 and every pardon is an act of   
grace1 through the  redemption that is  
in ,christ's blood4    ,the first step  
to the cure of a wounded conscience is  

for thee to  know the grace of ,god1    
especially the grace of ,god as to      
justification4    ,grace can pardon our 
ungodliness and justify us with         
,christ's  righteousness2 it can put the
 ,spirit of ,jesus ,christ within us2 it
  can help us when we are down2 it can  
heal us when we are wounded2 it  can    
multiply pardons1 as we through frailty 
multiply transgressions4    ,,grace     
,,abused4    ,a self-righteous man1 a   
man of the law1 takes grace and mercy   
for  his greatest enemy4    ,the best of
 things that are of this world are some 
way hurtful4  ,honey is hurtful1 wine is
 hurtful1 silver and gold are hurtful2  
but  grace is not hurtful4 ,never did   
man yet catch harm by the enjoyment  and
 fulness of the grace of ,god4 ,there is
 no fear of excess or  surfeiting here4 
,grace makes no man proud1 no man       
wanton1 no man  haughty1 no man careless
 or negligent as to his duty that is    
incumbent upon him1 towards either ,god 
or man4 ,no2 grace keeps a man  low in  

his own eyes1 humble1 self-denying1     
penitent1 watchful1  savory in good     
things1 charitable3 and makes him kindly
 affectioned  to the brethren1 pitiful  
and courteous to all men4    ,true1     
there are men in the world that abuse   
the grace of ,god1 as  some are said to 
turn it into wantonness and into        
lasciviousness4  ,but this is not       
because grace has any such tendency1 but
 because  such men are themselves empty 
of grace1 and have only done as death   
and hell have done with wisdom1 heard   
the fame thereof with their  ears4      
,some receive the rain of ,god and the  
droppings of his clouds1  because they  
continually sit under the means of      
grace4 ,but alas1  they receive it as   
stones receive showers1 or as dunghills 
receive  the rain3 they either abide as 
hard as stones still1 or else return    
nothing to heaven for his mercy1 hut as 
dunghills do1 a company of  stinking    
fumes4    ,to slight grace1 to do       
despite to the ,spirit of grace1 to     

prefer our  own works1 thus derogating  
from grace---what is it but to contemn  
,god8 to contemn him when he is on the  
throne1 when he is on the  throne of his
 glory8 ,i say again1 it is to spit in  
his face1 even  then when he commands   
thee to how before him1 to be subject   
unto  him1 and to glorify the grace of  
his glory1 that proceeds from the       
throne of his glory4 ,if men in old time
 were damned because they  glorified him
 not as ,god1 shall not they be more    
than damned1 if  more than damned can   
he1 who glorify him not for his grace8  
,and1 to  he sure1 none glorify him for 
his grace but those that close in       
therewith1 and submit themselves        
thereto4 ,talkers of grace are but      
mockers of ,god1 but flatterers of ,god4
 ,grace ,god has exalted2 has  set it   
upon the throne1 and so made it a king1 
and given it  authority to reign2 and   
thou goest by and nearest thereof1 but  
wilt  not submit thyself thereto1       
neither thy soul1 nor thy life4 ,why1   

what is this more than to flatter ,god  
with thy lips1 and than to lie  unto him
 with thy tongue8 ,what is this but to  
count him less wise  than thyself1 while
 he seeks glory by that by which thou   
wilt not  glorify him---while he        
displays his grace before thee in the   
world  from the throne1 and as thou     
goest by1 with a nod thou callest it a  
fine thing1 but followest that which    
leadeth therefrom8 ,tremble1  tremble1  
ye sinners1 that have despised the      
riches of his goodness4  ,the day is    
coming when ye shall behold and wonder  
and perish1 if  grace prevaileth not    
with you to be content to be saved by it
 to the  praise of its glory1 and to the
 glory of him who hath set it upon  the 
throne4 ,acts #ac3 #ch-da4    ,there is 
a spring that yields water good and     
clear1 but the channels  through which  
this water comes to us are muddy1 foul1 
or dirty2 now  of the channels the      
waters receive a disadvantage1 and so   
come to us  as savoring of what came not

 with them from the fountain1 hut from  
the channels4    ,this is the cause of  
the coolness1 and of the weakness1 and  
of the  flatness1 and of the many       
extravagances that attend some of our   
desires3 they come warm from the ,spirit
 and grace of ,god in us2 hut  as hot   
water running through cold pipes1 or as 
clear water running  through dirty      
convey ances1 so our desires gather     
soil4    ,,grace--,,the ,,water ,,of    
,,life4    ,and he showed me a pure     
river of water of life1 clear as        
crystal1  proceeding out of the throne  
of ,god and of the ,lamb4 ,rev4 #bb3 #a4
    ,this water of life is the ,spirit  
and grace of ,god1 and the spirit  of   
life4 ,zech4 #ab3 #aj2 ,john #d3 #aj1   
#aa1 #ad2 #g3 #cg-ci2 ,rev4 #aa3 #aa4   
,a throne is the seat of justice3       
,justice and judgment are the           
habitation of thy throne4 ,psal4 #hi3   
#ad4 ,and it is also from justice  that 
this river of grace flows to us3 justice
 to ,christ1 and justice  to those that 

are found in him4 ,rom4 #c3 #bd4 ,god   
declares that he can  justly justify1   
justly forgive3 now1 if he can justly   
justify and  justly forgive1 then can he
 give grace and cause that it should    
proceed to1 yea1 flow after us as a     
river4 ,but whence must this  come8 the 
text says1 from the throne--from the    
throne1 the seat of  justice2 for from  
thence1 by reason of what ,he hath found
 in ,christ  for us1 he in a way of     
righteousness and justice lets out to us
  rivers of his pleasures1 whoso        
original is that great and wide sea  of 
mercy that flows in his infinite heart  
beyond thought4    ,there is a river1   
clear and pleasant1 the streams whereof 
make glad  the city of ,god4    ,these  
are the waters that the doves love to   
sit by1 because by the  clearness of    
these streams they can see their pretty 
selves as in a  glass4 ,song #e3 #ab4   
,these he the streams where the doves   
wash their eyes1 and by which  they     
solace themselves and take great        

content4 ,these streams are  instead of 
a looking-glass2 their clearness        
presents us with an  opportunity of     
seeing our own features4    ,as in fair 
waters a man may see the hody of the    
sun1 and of the  moon1 and of the stars1
 and the very body of heaven2 so ho that
  stands upon the bank of this river1   
and that washeth his eyes with  this    
water1 may see the ,son of ,god1 the    
stars of ,god1 the glory of  ,god1 and  
the habitation that ,god has prepared   
for his people4 ,and  are not these     
pleasant sights8 ,is not this excellent 
water8 ,has not  this river pleasant    
streams8    ,some men fly from the river
 of the water of life1 as from a bear2  
arid some are afraid to drink of it1 for
 fear it should he poison  unto them4   
,some again1 dare not take it1 because  
it is not mixed1  and as they1 poor     
souls1 imagine1 qualified and made      
toothsome by a  little of that which is 
called the wisdom of this world4 ,thus  
one  shucks1 another shrinks1 and       

another will none of ,god4 ,meanwhile1  
whoso shall please to look into this    
river1 shall find it harmless  and      
clear2 yea1 offering itself to the      
consciences of all men to  make trial if
 it be not the only chief good1 the only
 necessary  waters1 the only profitable 
for the health of the soul1 of all the  
things that are in the world1 and as    
clear of mischief as is the sun  of     
spots4    ,in old times the ancients had
 their habitations by the rivers2 yea1  
we read of ,aroer1 that stood upon the  
brink of the river ,arnon4  ,balaam also
 had his dwelling in his city ,pethor1  
by the river of the  land of the        
children of his people4 ,o1 by the river
 side is the  pleasantest dwelling in   
the world2 and of all rivers1 the river 
of  the water of life is the best4 ,they
 that dwell there shall not  hunger nor 
thirst1 neither shall the heat or sun   
smite them2 for he  that hath mercy on  
them shall lead them1 even by springs of
 water  shall he guide them4 ,isa4 #di3 

#aj2 ,psal4 #a3 #c2 ,jer4 #ag3 #h4      
,trees planted by the rivers1 and that  
spread out their roots by the  rivers1  
they are the flourishing trees1 they    
bring forth their fruit  in their       
season4 ,and the promise is1 that men   
that take up their  dwellings by this   
river of water of life1 shall be        
fruitful as such  trees4    ,if thou be 
a ,christian1 thou hast more than an    
ordinary call and  occasion to abide by 
these waters2 thy things will not grow  
but by  these waters4 ,weeds1 and the   
excellences of most men1 we may find in 
the barren wilderness2 they grow under  
every hedge1 ,jer4 #ca3 #ab2 but  thine 
are garden1 and so choice1 things1 and  
will not thrive without  much water2 no1
 not without the water of ,god's river4 
,isa4 #ba3 #a-c4  ,dwell therefore here1
 that thy soul may be as a watered      
garden4    ,by the characters that are  
given of this water of life1 thou art   
capacitated to judge1 when a notion1 a  
doctrine1 an opinion comes to  thy ears1

 whether it is right good and wholesome1
 or how4 ,this river  is pure1 is clear1
 is pure and clear as crystal4 ,is the  
doctrine  offered unto thee so8 or is it
 muddy and mixed with the doctrines of  
men8 ,look1 man1 and see if the foot of 
the worshippers of ,bel  ,footnote3     
,story of ,bel and the dragon in the    
,apychrypha4 be not  there2 and if the  
waters be not fouled thereby4 ,what     
water is fouled  is not the water of    
life1 or at least1 not the water of life
 in its  clearness4 ,wherefore1 if thou 
findest it not right1 go up higher to   
the spring-head2 for always the nearer  
to the spring1 the more pure  and clear 
is the water4 ,fetch then thy doctrine  
from afar1 if thou  canst not have it   
good nearer hand4 ,job #cf3 #c4 ,thy    
life lies at  stake2 the counterfeit of 
things is dangerous2 every body that is 
aware1 is afraid thereof4 ,now a        
counterfeit here is most dangerous1  is 
most destructive2 wherefore take heed   
how you hear what you hear2  for1 as men

 say of the fish1 by your color it will 
be seen what  waters you swim in4       
,wherefore look you well to yourselves4 
,the grace of ,god is called a river1 to
 show that it is only suited  to those  
who are capable of living therein4      
,water1 though it is that  which every  
creature desireth1 yet is not an element
 in which every  creature can live4 ,who
 is it that would not have the benefit  
of  grace1 of a throne of grace8 ,but   
who is it that can live by grace8  even 
none but those whose temper and         
constitution is suited to  grace4       
,hence1 as the grace of ,god is compared
 to a river1 so those  that live by     
grace are compared to fish2 for that1 as
 water is that  element in which the    
fish liveth1 so grace is that which is  
the life  of the saint4 ,and there shall
 be a very great multitude of fish1     
because these waters shall come thither2
 for they shall he healed1  and every   
thing shall live whither the river      
cometh4 ,ezek4 #dg3 #i4  ,art thou a    

fish1 man--art thou a fish8 canst thou  
live in the water8  canst thou live     
always1 and nowhere else hut in the     
water8 is grace  thy proper element8    
,the fish dieth if she be taken out of  
the water1  unless she be timely put in 
again2 the saint dieth if he be not in  
this river4 ,take him from his river1   
and nothing can make him live2  let him 
have water1 water of life enough1 and   
nothing can make him  die4    ,i know   
that there are some things besides fish 
that can make a shift  to live in the   
water2 but the water is not their       
proper1 their only  proper element4 ,the
 frog can live in the water1 but not in 
the water  only2 the otter can live in  
the water1 hut not in the water only4   
,give some men grace and the world1     
grace and sin--admit them to make  use  
of their lusts for pleasure1 and of     
grace to remove their guilt1  and they  
will make a pretty good shift1 as we    
say2 they will finely  scrabble on in a 
profession4 ,but hold them to grace     

only1 confine  their life to grace1 put 
them into the river and let them have   
nothing hut river1 and they die2 the    
word1 and way1 and nature of  grace1 is 
to them as light bread1 and their soul  
can do no other but  loathe it1 for they
 are not suited and tempered for that   
element4              ,,vii4 ,,christ4  
,,the ,,incarnation ,,of ,,christ4      
,,the first main design of the life and 
conversation of the ,lord  ,jesus1 was  
that thereby ,god1 the ,eternal         
,majesty1 according to his  promise1    
might be seen by1 and dwell with1 mortal
 men4 ,for the  ,godhead being          
altogether in its own nature invisible1 
and yet  desirous to be seen by and     
dwell with the children of men1         
therefore  was the ,son1 who is the     
self-same substance with the ,father1   
clothed  with or tabernacled in our     
flesh1 that in that flesh the nature and
  glory of the ,godhead might be seen by
 and dwell with us4 ,the word  was made 
flesh and dwelt among us1 and we beheld 

his glory2 what  glory8 the glory as of 
the only begotten of the ,father1 full  
of  grace and truth4 ,again1 ,the       
life--that is1 the life of ,god in the  
works and conversation of ,christ--was  
manifest1 and we have seen it  and bear 
witness1 and show unto you that eternal 
life which was with  the ,father and was
 manifested unto us4 ,and hence he is   
called the  image of the invisible ,god2
 or he by whom the invisible ,god is    
most  perfectly presented to the sons of
 men4    ,did ,i say before that the    
,god of glory is desirous to be seen of 
us8  ,even so also have the pure in     
heart a desire that it should be so4    
,lord1 say they1 show us the ,father1   
and it sufficeth us4 ,and  therefore the
 promise is for their comfort1 that they
 shall see  ,god4 ,but how then must    
they see him8 ,why1 in the person1 and  
by the  life and works of ,jesus1 ,when 
,philip1 under a mistake1 thought of    
seeing ,god some other way than in and  
by this ,lord ,jesus ,christ1  what is  

the answer8 ,have ,i been so long time  
with you1 saith  ,christ1 and hast thou 
not known me1 ,philip8 ,he that hath    
seen me1  hath seen the ,father2 and how
 sayest thou then1 ,show us the ,father8
  ,believest thou not that ,i am in the 
,father1 and the ,father in me8  ,the   
words that ,i speak unto you1 ,i speak  
not of myself2 hut the  ,father1 that   
dwelleth in me1 he doeth the works4     
,believe me that ,i  am in the ,father1 
and the ,father in me1 or else believe  
me for the  very work's sake4    ,see1  
here1 that both the words and works of  
the ,lord ,jesus were not  to show you1 
and so to call you back to the holiness 
we had lost1  but to give us visions of 
the perfections that are in the ,father4
  ,he hath given us the knowledge of the
 glory of ,god in the face of  ,jesus   
,christ4 ,and hence it is that the      
apostle1 in that brief  collection of   
the wonderful mystery of godliness1     
places this in the  front thereof3 ,god 
was manifest in the flesh--was          

manifested in  and by the person of     
,christ1 when in the flesh he lived     
among us2  manifest1 ,i say1 for this as
 one reason1 that the pure in heart1 who
  long after nothing more1 might see    
him4 ,i beseech thee1 said  ,moses1 show
 me thy glory4 ,and will ,god indeed    
dwell with men on  the earth8 saith     
,solomon4    ,though ,adam be called the
 image or similitude of ,god1 yet but so
 as  that he was the shadow of a more   
excellent image4 ,adam was a type of    
,christ1 who only is the express image  
of his ,father's person1 and  the       
likeness of his excellent glory2 for    
those things that were in  ,adam were   
but of a human1 but of a created        
substance2 but those  things that were  
in ,christ1 of the same divine and      
eternal  excellency with the ,father4   
,is ,christ then the image of the       
,father1 simply as considered of the    
same divine and eternal excellency with 
him8 ,certainly not2 for an  image is   
doubtless inferior to that of which it  

is a figure4  ,understand1 then1 that   
,christ is the image of the ,father's   
glory1 as  born of the ,virgin ,mary1   
yet so as being very ,god also3 not that
 his  ,godhead in itself was a shadow or
 image1 but by the acts and doing  of   
that man1 every act being infinitely    
perfect by virtue of his  ,godhead1 the 
,father's perfections were made manifest
 to flesh4 ,an  image is to be looked   
upon1 and by being looked upon1 another 
thing  is seen2 so by the person and    
doings of the ,lord ,jesus1 they that   
indeed could see him as he was1         
discovered the perfection and glory  of 
the ,father4 ,philip1 he that hath seen 
me1 hath seen the ,father2  and how     
sayest thou then1 ,show us the ,father8 
,neither the ,father  nor the ,son can  
by us at all be seen1 as they are simply
 and  entirely in their own essence4    
,therefore the person of the ,father    
must be seen by us through the ,son1 as 
consisting of ,god and man2  the        
,godhead1 by working effectually in the 

manhood1 showing clearly  there through 
the infinite perfection and glory of the
 ,father4 ,the  word was made flesh1 and
 then we beheld his glory1 the glory of 
the only begotten of his ,father--he    
being in his personal  excellencies1    
infinitely and perfectly1 what is       
recorded of his  ,father1 full of grace 
and truth4    ,when ,jesus ,christ came 
down from glory1 it was that he might   
bring  us to glory2 and that he might be
 sure not to fail1 he clothed  himself  
with our nature--as if we should take a 
piece out of the  whole lump instead of 
the whole1 ,heb4 #aa3l#d--;and invested 
it with  that glory which he was in     
before he came down from heaven4 ,eph4  
#b3f4    ,,the ,,humanity ,,of ,,christ4
    ,we perceive love1 in that the human
 nature1 the nature of man1 not  of     
angels1 is taken into union with ,god4  
,whoso could consider this  as it is    
possible for it to be considered1 would 
stand amazed till  he died with wonder4 
,by this very act of the heavenly       

,wisdom we have  an inconceivable pledge
 of the love of ,christ to man2 for in  
that he  hath taken into union with     
himself our nature1 what doth it signify
  but that he intends to take into union
 with himself our persons8 ,for  this   
very purpose did he assume our nature4  
,wherefore we read that  in the flesh he
 took upon him1 in that flesh he died   
for us1 the  just for the unjust1 that  
he might bring us to ,god4    ,the      
psalmist saith of ,christ1 that he was  
fairer than the children  of men2 and   
that1 as ,i believe in his outward man  
as well as in his  inward part1 he was  
the exactest1 purest1 completest1 and   
beautifulest creature that ever ,god    
made1 till his visage was so  marred by 
his persecutions2 for in all things he  
had1 and shall have  the preeminence4   
,,the ,,humiliation ,,of ,,christ       
,christ did not only come into our      
flesh1 but also into our  condition1    
into the valley and shadow of death1    
where we were1 and  where we are1 as we 

are sinners4    ,that which would have  
been death to some--the laying aside of 
glory1  and the ,king of princes        
becoming a servant of the meanest       
form--this  he of his own goodwill was  
heartily content to do4 ,wherefore he   
that  was once the object of the fear of
 angels1 is now become a little         
creature1 a worm1 an inferior one1 born 
of a woman1 brought forth in  a stable1 
laid in a manger1 scorned of men1       
tempted of devils1 was  beholden to his 
creatures for food1 for raiment1 for    
harbor1 and a  place wherein to lay his 
head when dead4 ,in a word1 he made     
himself  of no reputation1 took upon him
 the form of a servant1 and was made  in
 the likeness of men1 that he might     
become capable to do this  kindness for 
us1 to give himself a ransom for us4    
,and it is worth your noting1 that all  
the while that he was in the  world1    
putting himself upon those other        
preparations which were to  be          
antecedent to his being made a sacrifice

 for us1 no man1 though  he told what he
 came about to many1 had1 as we read of1
 a heart once  to thank him for what he 
came about4 ,no2 they railed on him they
  degraded him1 they called him devil1  
they said he was mad and a  deceiver1 a 
blasphemer of ,god and a rebel against  
the state2 they  accused him to the     
governor2 yea1 one of his own disciples 
sold him1  another denied him1 and they 
all forsook him1 and left him to shift  
for himself in the hands of his horrible
 enemies1 who beat him with  their      
fists1 spat on him1 mocked him1 crowned 
him with thorns1  scourged him1 made a  
gazing-stock of him1 and finally1 hanged
 him up  by the hands and feet alive1   
and gave him vinegar to increase his    
affliction1 when he complained that his 
anguish had made him  thirsty4 ,and yet 
all this could not take his heart off   
the work of  our redemption4 ,to die he 
came1 die he would1 and die he did1     
before  he made his return to the       
,father1 for our sins1 that we might    

live  through him4    ,when ,christ     
betook himself to his ministry1 he lived
 upon the  charity of the people2 when  
other men went to their own houses1     
,jesus went to the mount of ,olives4    
,,the ,,glory ,,of ,,christ4    ,christ 
is rich indeed1 both in his blood1      
resurrection1  intercession1 and all his
 offices1 together with his relations1  
and  all his benefits2 all which he     
bestoweth upon every one that  receiveth
 him1 and maketh them unspeakably       
wealthy4    ,the pearl1 as it is rich1  
and so worth much1 so again it is       
beautiful and amiable1 even to take the 
eyes of all beholders2 it  hath1 ,i say1
 a very sweet and sparkling light and   
glory in it1  enough to take the eye and
 affect the heart of all those that look
  upon it4 ,and thus is ,christ to all  
that come to him1 and by him to  the    
,father4 ,my ,beloved is white and      
ruddy1 the chiefest of ten  thousand2   
his mouth is most sweet1 he is          
altogether lovely4    ,,the ,,love ,,of 

,,christ4    ,here is love1 that ,god   
sent his ,son1 his darling1 his ,son    
that never  offended1 his ,son that was 
always his delight4 ,herein is love1    
that  he sent him to save sinners2 to   
save them by bearing their sins1 by     
bearing their curse1 by dying their     
death1 and by carrying their  sorrows4  
,here is love1 in that while we were yet
 enemies1 ,christ  died for us2 yea1    
here is love1 in that while we were yet 
without  strength1 ,christ died for the 
ungodly4    ,oh1 blessed ,jesus1 how    
didst thou discover thy love to man in  
thy  thus suffering6 ,and1 ,o ,god the  
,father1 how didst thou also declare    
the purity and exactness of thy justice1
 in that1 though it was  thine only1    
holy1 innocent1 harmless1 and undefiled 
,son ,jesus1 that  did take on him our  
nature and represent our persons1       
answering for  our sins instead of      
ourselves2 thou didst so wonderfully    
pour out  thy wrath upon him1 to the    
making of him cry out1 ,my ,god1 my     

,god1  why hast thou forsaken me8 ,and1 
,o ,lord ,jesus1 what a glorious        
conquest hast thou made over the enemies
 of our souls--even wrath1  sin1 death1 
hell1 and devils--in that thou didst    
wring thyself from  under the power of  
them all4 ,and not only so1 but hast led
 them  captive which would have led us  
captive2 and also hast received for  us 
that glorious and unspeakable           
inheritance that eye hath not seen1  nor
 ear heard1 neither hath it entered into
 the heart of man to  conceive4    ,the 
great ,bringer of the gospel is the good
 ,lord ,jesus ,christ  himself2 he came 
and preached peace to them that the law 
proclaimed  war against4 ,and to touch a
 little upon the dress in which1 by the 
gospel1 ,christ presents himself unto   
us1 while he offers unto sinful  souls  
his peace by the tenders thereof3    ,he
 is set forth as born for us1 to save   
our souls4 ,isa4 #i3f2 ,luke  #b3i-ab2  
#a ,cor4 #ae3c2 ,gal4 #c3ac2 ,rom #aj3d2
 ,dan4 #i3bd4    ,he is set forth before

 us as bearing our sins for us1 and     
suffering  ,god's wrath for us4    ,he  
is set forth before us as fulfilling the
 law for us1 and as  bringing           
everlasting righteousness to us for our 
covering4    ,again1 as to the manner of
 his working out the salvation of       
sinners  for them1 that they might have 
peace and joy1 and heaven and glory  for
 ever3    ,he is set forth as sweating  
blood while he was in his agony1        
wrestling with the thoughts of death1   
while he was to suffer for our  sins1   
that he might save the soul4 ,luke      
#bb3bd4    ,he is set forth as crying1  
weeping1 and mourning under the lashes  
of  justice that he put himself under1  
and was willing to bear for our  sins4  
,he is set forth as betrayed1           
apprehended1 condemned1 spit on1        
scourged1 buffeted1 mocked1 crowned with
 thorns1 crucified1 pierced  with nails 
and a spear1 to save the soul from being
 betrayed by the  devil and sin2 to save
 it from being apprehended by justice   

and  condemned by the law2 to save it   
from being spit on in a way of  contempt
 by holiness2 to save it from being     
scourged with guilt of  sins as with    
scorpions2 to save it from being        
continually buffeted  by its own        
conscience2 to save it from being mocked
 at by ,god2 to  save it from being     
crowned with ignominy and shame for     
ever2 to save  it from dying the second 
death2 to save it from wounds and grief 
for  ever4    ,dost thou understand me1 
sinful soul8 ,he wrestled with justice1 
that  thou mightest have rest2 he wept  
and mourned1 that thou mightst  laugh   
and rejoice2 he was betrayed1 that thou 
mightest go free2 was  apprehended1 that
 thou mightst escape2 he was condemned1 
that thou  mightst be justified1 and was
 killed1 that thou mightest live2 he    
wore a crown of thorns1 that thou       
mightest wear a crown of glory2  and was
 nailed to the cross with his arms wide 
open1 to show with  what freeness all   
his merits shall be bestowed on the     

coming soul1  and how heartily he will  
receive it into his bosom4    ,all this 
he did of mere good-will1 and offers the
 benefit thereof  unto thee freely4     
,yea1 he comes unto thee in the word of 
the gospel1  with the blood running down
 from his head upon his face1 with his  
tears abiding upon his cheeks1 as with  
the holes fresh in his hands  and his   
feet1 and as with the blood still       
bubbling out of his side1  to pray thee 
to accept of the benefit1 and to be     
reconciled to ,god  thereby4    ,by this
 we may see his love1 in that as a      
forerunner he is gone into  heaven to   
take possession thereof for us2 there to
 make ready and  prepare for us our     
summer-houses1 our mansions and         
dwelling-places2  as if we were the     
lords1 and he the servant4 ,oh1 this    
love6    ,thou ,son of the ,blessed1    
what grace was manifest in thy          
condescension6 ,grace brought thee down 
from heaven2 grace stripped  thee of thy
 glory2 grace made thee poor and        

despicable2 grace made  thee bear such  
burdens of sin1 such burdens of sorrow1 
such burdens  of ,god's curse as are    
unspeakable4    ,o ,son of ,god1 grace  
was in all thy tears2 grace came        
bubbling out of  thy side with thy      
blood2 grace came forth with every word 
of thy  sweet mouth2 grace came out     
where the whip smote thee1 where the    
thorns pricked thee1 where the nails and
 spear pierced thee4 ,o  blessed ,son of
 ,god1 here is grace indeed6            
unsearchable riches of  grace6 unthought
 of riches of grace6 grace to make      
angels wonder1  grace to make sinners   
happy1 grace to astonish devils6    ,and
 what will become of them that trample  
under foot this ,son of  ,god8          
,christ is the desire of nations1 the   
joy of angels1 the delight of  the      
,father4 ,what solace then must that    
soul be filled with1 that  hath the     
possession of him to all eternity4      
,who can tell how many heart-pleasing   
thoughts ,christ had of us  before the  

world began8 ,who can tell how much he  
then was delighted  in that being we had
 in his affections1 as also in the      
consideration  of our beings1           
believings1 and being with him          
afterwards8    ,christ was never so     
joyful in all his life1 that we read of1
 as when  his sufferings grew near2 then
 he takes the sacrament of his body  and
 blood into his own hands1 and with     
thanksgiving bestows it among  his      
disciples2 then he sings a hymn1 then he
 rejoices1 then he comes  with a ,lo1 ,i
 come4 ,o the heart1 the great heart    
that ,jesus had for  us to do us good6  
,he did it with all the desire of his   
soul4    ,when a man shall not only     
design me a purse of gold1 but shall    
venture his life to bring it to me1 this
 is grace indeed4 ,but1 alas1  what are 
a thousand such short comparisons to the
 unsearchable love  of ,christ8         
,christ ,jesus has bags of mercy that   
were never yet broken up or  unsealed4  
,hence it is said1 he has goodness laid 

up2 things reserved  in heaven for his4 
,and if he breaks up one of these bags1 
who can  tell what he can do8    ,it is 
not exaltation1 nor a crown1 nor a      
kingdom1 nor a throne that  shall make  
,christ neglect his poor ones on earth2 
yea1 because he is  exalted and on the  
throne1 therefore it is that such a     
river of  life1 with its golden streams1
 proceeds with us4 ,and it shall        
proceed1 to be far higher than ever were
 the swellings of ,jordan4  ,rev4 #bb3a4
        ,how the brave sun doth peep up 
from beneath1      ,shows us his golden 
face1 doth on us breathe2      ,yea1 he 
doth compass us around with glories     
,whilst he ascends up to his highest    
stories1      ,where he his banner over 
us displays      ,and gives us light to 
see our works and ways4        ,nor are 
we now1 as at the peep of light1        
,to question is it day or is it night2  
,the night is gone1 the shadow's fled   
away1      ,and now we are most certain 
that 'tis day4        ,and thus it is   

when ,jesus shows his face1      ,and   
doth assure us of his love and grace4   
,this makes ,christ precious1 if ,i     
consider how he did deliver me3 it  was1
 ,i1 with his life1 his blood2 it cost  
him tears1 groans1 agony1  separation   
from ,god2 to do it1 he endured his     
,father's wrath1 bare  his ,father's    
curse1 and died thousands of deaths at  
once4    #b4 ,he did this while ,i was  
his enemy1 without my desires1 without  
my  knowledge1 without my deserts2 he   
did it unawares to me4    #c4 ,he did it
 freely1 cheerfully1 yea1 he longed to  
die for me2 yea1  heaven would not hold 
him for the love he had to my salvation1
 which  also he has effectually         
accomplished for me at ,jerusalem4      
,honorable ,jesus6 precious ,jesus6     
loving ,jesus6 ,jonathan's kindness     
captivated ,david1 and made him precious
 in his eyes for ever4 ,i am  distressed
 for thee1 my brother ,jonathan1 said   
he2 very pleasant  hast thou been to me2
 thy love to me was wonderful1 passing  

the love  of women4 ,why1 what had      
,jonathan done8 ,oh1 he had delivered   
,david  from the wrath of ,saul4 ,but   
how much more should ,he be precious to 
me1 who hath saved me from death and    
hell--who hath delivered me  from the   
wrath of ,god8 ,the love of ,christ     
constraineth us4 ,nothing  will so edge 
the spirit of a ,christian as1 ,thou    
wast slain1 and  hast redeemed us to    
,god by thy blood4 ,this makes the      
heavens  themselves ring with joy and   
shouting4    ,,the ,,day1 ,,before ,,the
 ,,sun-,,rising4        ,but all this   
while1 where's he whose golden rays     
,drive night away1 and beautify our     
days8      ,where's he whose goodly face
 doth warm and heal1      ,and show us  
what the darksome nights conceal8       
,where's he that thaws our ice1 drives  
cold away8      ,let's have him1 or we  
care not for the day4          ,thus    
'tis with those who are possessed of    
grace2          ,there's naught to them 
like the ,redeemer's face4    ,oh thou  

loving one1 ,oh thou blessed one1 thou  
descrvest to have me2  thou hast bought 
me2 thou deservest to have me all2 thou 
hast paid  for me ten thousand times    
more than ,i am worth6    ,o you that   
are upon this march to hell1 ,i beseech 
you1 consider a  little4 ,what1 shall   
,christ become a servant for you1 and   
will you be  drudges for the devil8     
,shall ,christ covenant with ,god for   
the  salvation of sinners1 and shall    
sinners covenant with hell1 death1  and 
the devil1 for the damnation of their   
souls8 ,shall ,christ come  down from   
heaven to earth to declare this to      
sinners2 and shall  sinners stop their  
ears against these good tidings8 ,will  
you not  hear the errand of ,christ1    
although he telleth you tidings of peace
  and salvation8 ,how if he had come1   
having taken a command from his  ,father
 to damn you and to send you to dwell   
with devils in hell8  ,sinners1 hear    
this message1 ,john #c3 #af1 #ag1 etc42 
he speaketh no  harm1 his words are     

eternal life2 all men that give ear unto
 them  have eternal advantage by        
them-advantage1 ,i say1 that never hath 
an  end4    ,besides1 do but consider   
these two things2 they may have some    
sway  upon thy soul4    #a4 ,when he    
came on his message1 he came with tears 
in his eyes1 and  did even weepingly    
tender the terms of reconciliation to   
them--,i  say1 with tears in his eyes4  
,and when he came near the city with the
  message of peace1 beholding the       
hardness of their hearts1 he wept  over 
it1 and took up a lamentation over it1  
because he saw they  rejected his mercy1
 which was tidings of peace4 ,i say1    
wilt thou  then slight a weeping ,jesus1
 one that so loveth the soul that rather
  than he will lose thee1 he will with  
tears persuade thee8    #b4 ,not only   
so1 but also when he came1 he came all  
on a gore of  blood1 to proffer mercy to
 thee1 to show thee still how dearly he 
did love thee2 as if he had said1       
,sinner1 here is mercy for thee2  but   

behold my bloody sweat1 my bloody       
wounds1 my accursed death2  behold1 and 
see what danger ,i have gone through to 
come unto thy  soul4 ,i am come indeed  
unto thee1 and do bring thee tidings of 
salvation1 but it cost me my heart's    
blood before ,i could come at  thee1 to 
give thee the fruits of my everlasting  
love4    ,,the ,,righteousness ,,of     
,,christ4    ,many there are who1 in the
 day of grace and mercy1 despise those  
things which are indeed the birthright  
to heaven1 who yet when the  declining  
days appear will cry as loud as ,esau1  
,lord1 ,lord1 open to  us2 but then1 as 
,isaac would not repent1 no more will   
,god the  ,father1 but will say1 ,i have
 blessed these1 yea1 and they shall be  
blessed2 but as for you1 ,depart1 you   
are workers of iniquity4    ,when ,i had
 thus considered these scriptures and   
found that thus to  understand them was 
not against1 but according to the       
,scriptures1  this still added further  
to my encouragement and comfort1 and    

also  gave a great blow to that         
objection--to wit1 that the ,scriptures 
could not agree in the salvation of my  
soul4    ,and now remained only the     
hinder part of the tempest1 for the     
thunder was gone beyond me1 only some   
drops did still remain that  now and    
then would fall upon me2 but because my 
former frights and  anguish were very   
sore and deep1 therefore it oft befell  
me still1  as it befalleth those that   
have been seared with the fire1 ,i      
thought  every voice was1 ,fire1 fire'6 
,every little touch would hurt my       
tender conscience4    ,but one day1 as  
,i was passing into the field1 and that 
too with some  dashes on my conscience1 
fearing lest yet all was not right1     
suddenly this sentence fell upon my     
soul3 ,thy righteousness is in  heaven2 
and methought withal ,i saw with the    
eyes of my soul ,jesus  ,christ at      
,god's right hand--there1 ,i say1 as my 
righteousness2 so  that wherever ,i was1
 or whatever ,i was doing1 ,god could   

not say to  me1 he wanted my            
righteousness1 for that was just before 
him4 ,i also  saw1 moreover1 that it was
 not my good frame of heart that made my
  righteousness better1 nor yet my bad  
frame that made my  righteousness worse2
 for my righteousness was ,jesus ,christ
 himself1  the same yesterday1 to-day1  
and for ever4    ,now did my chains fall
 off my legs indeed2 ,i was loosed frorn
 my  afflictions and irons2 my          
temptations also fled away2 so that from
  that time those dreadful scriptures   
,footnote3 ,numb4 #ae3cj2 ,jer4  #g3af2 
,heb4 #aj3ca2 #ab3bg4 of ,god left off  
to trouble me3 now went ,i  also home   
rejoicing1 for the grace and love of    
,god4 ,so when ,i came  home1 ,i looked 
to see if ,i could find that sentence1  
,thy  righteousness is in heaven1 but   
could not find such a saying2  wherefore
 my heart began to sink again1 only that
 was brought to my  remembrance1 ,he is 
made unto us of ,god wisdom1            
righteousness1  sanctification1 and     

redemption4 ,by this word ,i saw the    
other  sentence true4    ,for by this   
scripture ,i saw that the man ,christ   
,jesus1 as he is  distinct from us as   
touching his bodily presence1 so he is  
our  righteousness and sanctification   
before ,god4 ,here1 therefore1 ,i  lived
 for some time very sweetly at peace    
with ,god through ,christ4  ,oh1        
methought1 ,christ6 ,christ6 there was  
nothing but ,christ that was  before my 
eyes4 ,i was now not only for looking   
upon this and the  other benefits of    
,christ apart1 as of his blood2 burial1 
or  resurrection1 but considering him as
 a whole ,christ--as he in whom  all    
these1 and all his other virtues1       
relations1 offices1 and  operations met 
together1 and that he sat on the right  
hand of ,god in  heaven4    ,further1   
the ,lord did also lead me into the     
mystery of the union  with the ,son of  
,god--that ,i was joined to him1 and    
that ,i was flesh  of his flesh and bone
 of his bone2 and now was that a sweet  

word to  me in ,eph4 #e3cj4 ,by this    
also was my faith in him as my          
righteousness1 the more confirmed in me2
 for if he and ,i were one1  then his   
righteousness was mine1 his merits mine1
 his victory also  mine4 ,now1 ,i could 
see myself in heaven and earth at once3 
in  heaven1 by my ,christ1 by my ,head1 
by my ,righteousness and ,life1  though 
on earth by body or person4    ,let     
divine and infinite justice turn itself 
which way it will1 it  finds ,one that  
can tell how to match it4 ,for if it    
say1 ,i will  require the satisfaction  
of man1 there is a man to satisfy its   
cry2  and if it say1 ,but ,i am an      
infinite ,god1 and must and will have an
  infinite satisfaction1 here is ,one   
also that is infinite1 even  fellow with
 ,god2 fellow in his essence and being2 
fellow in his  power and strength2      
fellow in his wisdom2 fellow in his     
mercy and  grace1 together with the rest
 of the attributes of ,god4 ,so that1   
let  justice turn itself which way it   

will1 here is a complete person and  a  
complete satisfaction4    ,the law1     
sayst thou1 must be obeyed4 ,i answer1  
,christ ,jesus has  done that in his own
 person1 and justified me thereby2 and  
for my  part1 ,i will not labor now to  
fulfil the law for justification1 lest  
,i should undervalue the merits of the  
man ,christ ,jesus1 and what he  has    
done without me2 and yet will ,i labor  
to fulfil1 if it were  possible1 ten    
thousand laws1 if there were so many4   
,and ,oh1 let it  be out of love to my  
sweet ,lord ,jesus2 for the love of     
,christ  constraineth me4    ,though no 
man can be justified by the works of the
 law1 yet unless  the righteousness and 
holiness by which they attempt to enter 
into  this kingdom be justified by the  
law1 it is in vain once to think of     
entering in at this strait gate4 ,now1  
the law justifieth not1 but  upon the   
account of ,christ's righteousness2 if  
therefore thou be not  indeed found in  
that righteousness1 thou wilt find the  

law lie just  in the passage into heaven
 to keep thee out4    ,,christ ,a       
,,complete ,,saviour4    ,this is the   
,father's will which hath sent me1 that 
of all which he  hath given me1 ,i      
should lose nothing1 but should raise it
 up again  at the last day4 ,john #f3ci4
    ,the ,father therefore1 in giving   
them to him to save them1 must needs    
declare unto us the following things3   
#a4 ,that he is ,,able to answer this   
design of ,god to save them to the      
uttermost sin1 the uttermost temptation4
 ,hence he is said to lay  help on one  
that is mighty1 mighty to save4 ,sin is 
strong1 ,satan is  also strong1 death   
and the grave are strong1 and so is the 
curse of  the law2 therefore it follows1
 that this ,jesus must needs be by ,god 
the ,father accounted almighty1 in that 
he hath given his elect to  him to save 
them from these1 and that in despite of 
all their force  and power4 ,and he gave
 us testimony of this his might1 when he
 was  employed in that part of our      

deliverance that called for a           
declaration of it4 ,he abolished death2 
he destroyed him that had the  power of 
death2 he was the destruction of the    
grave2 he hath  finished sin1 and made  
an end of it2 he hath vanquished the    
curse of  the law1 nailed it to his     
cross1 triumphed over them upon his     
cross1  and made a show of these things 
openly4 ,yea1 and even now1 as a sign   
of his triumph and conquest1 he is alive
 from the dead1 and hath the  keys of   
death and hell in his own keeping4      
#b4 ,the ,father's giving them to him to
 save them1 declares unto us  that he is
 and will be ,,faithful in his office of
 ,mediator1 and that  therefore they    
shall be secured from the fruit and     
wages of their  sins1 which is eternal  
damnation4 ,and of this the ,son hath   
already  given a proof2 for when the    
time was come that his blood was by     
divine justice required for their       
redemption1 washing1 and  cleansing1 he 
as freely poured it out of his heart as 

if it had been  water out of a vessel2  
not sticking to part with his own life1 
that  the life which was laid up for his
 people in heaven might not fail  to be 
bestowed upon them4    #c4 ,the         
,father's giving of them to him to save 
them1 declares that he  is and will be  
,,gentle ,,and ,,patient towards them   
under all their  provocations and       
miscarriages4 ,it is not to be imagined1
 the trials  and provocations that the  
,son of ,god hath all along had with    
these  people that have been given to   
him to save4 ,indeed1 he is said to be  
,a ,,tried ,,stone2 for he has been     
tried not only by the devil1 guilt of   
sin1 death1 and the curse of the law1   
but also by his people's  ignorance1    
unruliness1 falls into sin1 and         
declining to errors in  life and        
doctrine4 ,were we but capable of seeing
 how this ,lord ,jesus  has been tried1 
even by his people1 ever since there was
 one of them  in the world1 we should be
 amazed at his patience and gentle      

carriages to them4 ,it is said indeed1  
,the ,lord is very pitiful1  slow to    
anger1 and of great mercy4 ,and indeed1 
if he had not been  so1 he could never  
have endured their manners as he has    
done1 from  ,adam hitherto4 ,therefore  
are his pity and bowels towards his     
church  preferred above the pity and    
bowels of a mother towards her child4   
,can a woman forget her sucking child1  
that she should not have  compassion on 
the son of her womb8 ,yea1 they may     
forget1 yet will ,i  not forget thee1   
saith the ,lord4    ,god did once give  
,moses1 as ,christ's servant1 a handful 
of his  people to carry them in his     
bosom1 but no further than from ,egypt  
to  ,canaan2 and this ,moses1 as is said
 of him by the ,holy ,ghost1 was the    
meekest man that was then to be found   
upon the earth4 ,god gave them  to      
,moses that he might carry them in his  
bosom1 that he might show  gentleness   
and patience towards them1 under all the
 provocations  wherewith they would     

provoke him from that time till he had  
brought  them to their land4 ,but he    
failed in the work2 he could not        
exercise  it1 because he had not that   
sufficiency of patience towards them4   
,but now it is said of the person       
speaking in the text1 that he  shall    
gather his lambs with his arm1 shall    
carry them in his bosom1  and shall     
gently lead them that are with young4   
#d4 ,the ,father's giving them to him to
 save them1 declares that he  hath a    
,,sufficiency ,,of ,,wisdom to wage with
 all those difficulties  that would     
attend him in his bringing his sons and 
daughters unto  glory4 ,he hath made him
 to us to be wisdom2 yea1 he is called  
,wisdom  itself4 ,and ,god saith1       
moreover1 that he shall deal prudently4 
,and  indeed1 he that shall take upon   
him to be the ,saviour of the people1   
had need be wise1 because their         
adversaries are subtle above any4  ,here
 they are to encounter the serpent1 who 
for his subtlety  outwitted our father  

and mother when their wisdom was at     
highest4  ,but if we talk of wisdom1 our
 ,jesus is wise1 wiser than ,solomon1   
wiser than all men1 wiser than all      
angels2 he is even the wisdom of  ,god4 
,and hence it is that he turneth sins1  
temptations1  persecutions1 falls1 and  
all things1 for good unto his people4   
,i do not doubt but there is virtue     
enough in the blood of ,christ1  would  
,god ,almighty so apply it1 to save the 
souls of the whole  world4 ,but it is   
the blood of ,christ1 his own blood1 and
 he may do  what he will with his own4  
,it is also the blood of ,god1 and he   
also  may restrain its merits1 or apply 
it as he sees good4 ,but the coming     
soul1 he shall find and feel the virtue 
thereof1 even the soul that  comes to   
,god by ,christ1 for he is the man      
concerned in its worth4    ,there is    
sufficiency of merit in ,christ to save 
a thousand times as  many more as are   
like to be saved by him4    ,no man     
needs at all to go about to come at life

 and peace and rest3  let him come      
directly from sin to grace1 from ,satan 
to ,jesus ,christ4    ,the cross1 it    
stands and hath stood from the beginning
 as a way-mark  to the kingdom of       
heaven4 ,art thou inquiring the way to  
heaven8 ,why1  ,i tell thee ,christ is  
the way2 into him thou must get1 into   
his  righteousness to be justified2 and 
if thou art in him1 thou wilt  presently
 see the cross3 thou must go close by   
it1 thou must touch  it1 nay1 thou must 
take it up1 or else thou wilt quickly go
 out of  the way that leads to heaven1  
and turn up some of those crooked  lanes
 that lead down to the chambers of      
death4    ,many there be that begin with
 grace and end with works1 and think    
that is the only way4 ,indeed1 works    
will save from temporal  punishments1   
when their imperfections are purged from
 them by the  intercession of ,christ2  
but to be saved and brought to glory1 to
 be  carried through this dangerous     
world from my first moving after        

,christ until ,i set foot within the    
gates of paradise1 this is the  work of 
my ,mediator1 of my ,high-priest and    
,intercessor4 ,it is he  that fetches us
 again when we are run away2 it is he   
that lifts us  up when the devil and sin
 have thrown us down2 it is he that     
quickens us when we grow cold2 it is he 
that comforts us when we  despair2 it is
 he that obtains fresh pardon when we   
have contracted  sin1 and that purges   
our consciences when they are laden with
 guilt4  ,i know that rewards do wait   
for them in heaven1 that believe in     
,christ1 and shall do well on earth2 but
 this is not a reward of  merit1 but of 
grace4 ,we are saved by ,christ1 brought
 to glory by  ,christ1 and all our works
 are no other ways made acceptable to   
,god  but by the person and personal    
excellencies and works of ,christ2      
therefore1 whatever the jewels are1 and 
the bracelets and the  pearls1 that thou
 shalt be adorned with as a reward of   
service done  for ,god in the world1 for

 them thou must thank ,christ1 and      
before  all confess that he was the     
meritorious cause thereof4    ,christ   
must be helpful to thee every way1 or he
 will be helpful to  thee no way2 thou  
must enter in by every whit of ,christ1 
or thou  shalt enter in by never a whit 
of him4 ,wherefore look not to have  him
 thy ,saviour1 if thou take him not for 
,king and ,prophet2 nay1  thou shalt not
 have him in any one1 if thou dost not  
take him in  every one of these4        
,christ shall bear the glory of our     
salvation from sin1 preservation  in the
 midst of all temptations1 and of our   
going to glory2 also he  shall bear the 
glory of our labor in the gospel1 of our
 gifts and  abilities1 of making our    
work and labor effectual to the saving  
of  sinners1 that in all things he might
 have the preeminence4    ,if you have  
indeed laid ,christ1 ,god-man1 for your 
foundation1 then  you do lay the hope of
 your felicity and joy on this1 that the
 ,son  of ,mary is now absent from his  

children in his person and humanity1    
making intercession for them and for    
thee in the presence of his  ,father4 #b
 ,cor4 #e3f4    ,and the reason that    
thou canst rejoice hereat is1 because   
thou hast  not only heard of it with    
thine ear1 but dost enjoy the sweet hope
  and faith of it in thy heart2 which   
hope and faith are begotten by  the     
,spirit of ,christ1 which ,spirit       
dwelleth in thee if thou be a  believer1
 and showeth those things to thee to be 
the only things4    ,and ,god having    
shown thee these things thus within     
thee1 by the  ,spirit that dwells in    
thee1 thou hast mighty encouragement to 
hope  for the glory that shall be       
revealed at the coming again of the man 
,christ ,jesus2 of which glory thou hast
 also greater ground to hope  for a     
share1 because that ,spirit which alone 
is able to discover to  thee the truth  
of these things1 is given to thee of    
,god as the first  fruits of that glory 
which is hereafter to be                

revealed---being  obtained for thee by  
the man ,christ ,jesus' death on        
,calvary1 and by  his blood that was    
shed there1 together with his           
resurrection from  the dead out of the  
grave where they had laid him4    ,also1
 thou believest that he is gone away    
from thee in the same body  which was   
hanged on the cross1 to take possession 
of that glory  which thou1 through his  
obedience1 shalt at his the very same   
man's  return from heaven the second    
time1 have bestowed upon thee1 he       
having all this while prepared and      
preserved it for thee2 as he  saith     
himself1 ,i go to prepare a place for   
you4 ,and if ,i go and  prepare a place 
for you1 ,i will come again and receive 
you to  myself2 that where ,i am1 there 
ye may be also4    ,again1 if thou hast 
laid ,christ1 ,god-man1 for thy         
foundation1 though  thou hast the       
,spirit of this man ,christ within thee1
 yet thou dost  not look that           
justification should be wrought out for 

thee by that  ,spirit of ,christ that   
dwells within thee2 for thou knowest    
that  salvation is already obtained for 
thee by the man ,christ ,jesus  without 
thee1 and is witnessed to thee by his   
,spirit which dwells  within thee4 ,and 
thus much doth this man ,christ ,jesus  
testify unto  us1 where he says1 ,he    
shall glorify me1 saith the ,son of     
,mary4 ,but  how8 ,why1 he shall take of
 mine---what ,i have done and am doing  
in the presence of the ,father--and     
shall show it unto you4 ,john  #af3ad4  
,,christ ,,not ,a ,,saviour ,,by ,,his  
,,example4    ,a third thing you mention
 is1 that the ,son of ,god taught men   
their  duty by his own example1 and did 
himself perform what he required of     
them2 and that himself did tread before 
us every step of that which  he hath    
told us leadeth to eternal life4        
,,answer4 ,now we are come to the point1
 namely1 that the way to  eternal life  
is1 first of all1 to take ,christ for   
our example1  treading his steps4 ,and  

the reason1 if it be true1 is weighty2  
for  he hath trod every step before us  
which he hath told us leads to  eternal 
life4    ,every step4 ,therefore he went
 to heaven by virtue of an imputative   
righteousness2 for this is one of our   
steps thither4    ,every step4 ,then he 
must go thither by faith in his own     
blood for  pardon of sin2 for this is   
another of our steps thither4    ,every 
step4 ,then he must go thither by virtue
 of his own  intercession at the right  
hand of ,god before he came thither2 for
  this is one of our steps thither4     
,every step4 ,then he must come to ,god 
and ask mercy for some great  wickedness
 which he had committed2 for this is    
also one of our steps  thither4    ,but 
again1 we will consider it the other    
way4    ,every step4 ,then we cannot    
come to heaven before we first be made  
accursed of ,god2 for so was he before  
he came thither4    ,every step4 ,then  
we must first make our body and soul an 
offering  for the sin of others2 for    

this did he before he came thither4     
,every step4 ,then we must go to heaven 
for the sake of our own  righteousness2 
for that was one of his steps thither4  
,o1 sir1 what will thy gallant1 generous
 mind do here8 ,indeed1 you  talk of his
 being an expiatory sacrifice for us1   
but you put no more  trust to that than 
to baptism or the ,lord's supper2       
counting that  with the other two but   
things indifferent in themselves4       
,you add again1 that this ,son of ,god  
being raised from the dead and  ascended
 to heaven1 is our high-priest there4   
,but you talk not at  all of his        
sprinkling the mercy-seat with his      
blood1 but clap upon  him the heathens' 
demons1 negotiating the affairs of men  
with the  supreme ,god1 and so wrap up  
,footnote3 ,that is1 dismiss the        
subject4 with a testification that it is
 needless to enlarge on the  point4     
,what man that ever had read or assented
 to the gospel1 but would  have spoken  
more honorably of ,christ than you have 

done8 ,his  sacrifice must be stepped   
over2 his intercession is needless to be
  enlarged upon4 ,but when it falleth in
 your way to talk of your human  nature1
 of the dictates of the first principles
 of morals within  you1 and of your     
generous mind to follow it1 ,oh what    
need there is  now of amplifying1       
enlarging1 and pressing it on men's     
consciences1  as if that poor heathenish
 pagan principle was the very ,spirit of
  ,god within us1 and as if             
righteousness done by that was that and 
that only that would or could fling     
heaven's gates off the hinges4    ,yea1 
a little after you tell us that the     
doctrine of sending the  ,holy ,ghost   
was to move and excite us to our duty1  
and to assist1  cheer1 and comfort us in
 the performance of it2 still meaning   
our  close adhering1 by the purity of   
our human nature1 to the dictates  of   
the law as written in our hearts as men2
 which is as false as ,god  is true4    
,for the ,holy ,ghost is sent into our  

hearts1 not to excite us to a           
compliance with our old and wind-shaken 
excellencies that came into  the world  
with us1 but to write new laws in our   
hearts1 even the law  of faith1 the word
 of faith and of grace1 and the doctrine
 of  remission of sins through the blood
 of the ,lamb of ,god1 that  holiness   
might flow from thence4    ,,christ ,a  
,,teacher4    ,at this time ,i sat under
 the ministry of holy ,mr4 ,gifford4    
whose  doctrine1 by ,god's grace1 was   
much for my stability4 ,this man made   
it much his business to deliver the     
people of ,god from all those  hard and 
unsound tests that by nature we are     
prone to4 ,he would bid  us take special
 heed that we took not up any truth upon
 trust1 as  from this or that or any    
other man or men2 but cry mightily to   
,god  that he would convince us of the  
reality thereof1 and set us down        
therein by his own ,spirit in the holy  
word2 for1 said he1 if you  do          
otherwise1 when temptation comes        

strongly upon you1 you not  having      
received them with evidence from heaven1
 will find you want  that help and      
strength now to resist1 that once you   
thought you  had4    ,this was as       
seasonable to my soul as the former and 
latter rain in  their season1 for ,i had
 found1 and that by sad experience1 the 
truth  of these his words2 for ,i had   
felt that no man1 especially when       
tempted by the devil1 can say that      
,jesus ,christ is ,lord1 but by the     
,holy ,ghost4    ,but ,o now1 how was my
 soul led from truth to truth by ,god2  
even from  the birth and cradle of the  
,son of ,god1 to his ascension and      
second  coming from heaven to judge the 
world4    ,once ,i was troubled to know 
whether the ,lord ,jesus was a man as   
well  as ,god1 and ,god as well as man2 
and truly1 in those days1 let men  say  
what they would1 unless ,i had it with  
evidence from heaven1 all  was nothing  
to me4 ,well1 ,i was much troubled about
 this point1 and  could not tell how to 

be resolved2 at last1 that in ,rev4 #e3f
 came  into my mind3 ,and ,i beheld1 and
 lo1 in the midst of the throne1 and  of
 the four beasts1 and in the midst of   
the elders1 stood a ,lamb4  ,in the     
midst of the throne--thought ,i1 there  
is the godhead2 in  the midst of the    
elders--there is his manhood3 but ,oh1  
methought  this did glister2 it was a   
goodly touch1 and gave me sweet         
satisfaction4 ,that other scripture also
 did help me much in this3  ,unto us a  
child is born1 unto us a ,son is given1 
and the government  shall be upon his   
shoulders2 and his name shall be called 
,wonderful1  ,counsellor1 the mighty    
,god1 the ever lasting ,father1 the     
,prince of  ,peace4    ,o friends1 cry  
to ,god to reveal ,jesus ,christ unto   
you2 there is none  teacheth like him4  
,it would be long to tell you in        
particular how ,god did set me down  in 
all the things of ,christ1 and how he   
did1 that he might do so1  lead me into 
his words2 yea1 and also how he did open

 them unto me1  and make them shine     
before me1 and cause them to dwell with 
me1 talk  with me1 and comfort me over  
and over1 both of his own being and the 
being of his ,son and ,spirit1 and word 
and gospel4    ,,the ,,death ,,of       
,,christ4    ,we never read that ,jesus 
,christ was more cheerful in all his    
life on  earth1 than when he was going  
to lay down his life for his enemies2   
now he thanked ,god1 now he sang4       
,christ died and endured the wages of   
sin1 and that without an  intercessor1  
without one between ,god and him4 ,he   
grappled  immediately with the eternal  
justice of ,god1 who inflicted on him   
death1 the wages of sin2 there was no   
man to hold off the hand of  ,god2      
justice had his full blow at him1 and   
made him a curse for sin4    ,a second  
thing that demonstrates that ,christ    
died the cursed death  for sin1 is the  
frame of spirit that he was in at the   
time he was to  be taken4 ,never was    
poor mortal so beset with the           

apprehensions of  approaching death as  
was this ,lord ,jesus ,christ2 amazement
 beyond  measure1 sorrow that exceeded  
seized upon his soul3 ,my soul is       
exceeding sorrowful1 even unto death4   
,and he began to be sore  amazed1 and to
 be very heavy4 ,add to this that ,jesus
 ,christ was  better able to grapple    
with death1 even alone1 than the whole  
world  joined all together4 #a4 ,he was 
anointed with the ,spirit without       
measure4 #b4 ,he had all grace perfect  
in him4 #c4 ,never had any so  much of  
his ,father's love as he4 #d4 ,never one
 so harmless and  without sin as he1 and
 consequently never man had so good a   
conscience as he4 #e4 ,never one        
prepared such a stock of good works  to 
bear him company at the hour of death as
 he4 #f4 ,never one had  greater        
assurance of being with the ,father     
eternally in the heavens  than he4 ,and 
yet1 behold1 when he comes to die1 how  
weak is he1 how  amazed at death1 how   
heavy1 how exceeding sorrowful6 and1 ,i 

say1 no  cause assigned but the approach
 of death4    ,alas1 how often is it    
seen that we poor sinners can laugh at  
destruction when it cometh2 yea1 and    
rejoice exceedingly when we  find the   
grave1 looking upon death as a part of  
our portion1 yea1 as  that which will be
 a means of our present relief and help4
 #a ,cor4  #c3bb4    ,this ,jesus could 
not do1 considered as dying for our sin2
 but the  nearer death1 the more heavy  
and oppressed with the thoughts of the  
revenging hand of ,god2 wherefore he    
falls into an agony and  sweats--not    
after the common rate1 as we do when    
death is severing  body and soul3 ,his  
sweat was as it were great drops of     
blood  falling down to the ground4      
,what should be the reason but that     
death assaulted him with his  sting8 ,if
 ,jesus ,christ had been to die for his 
virtues only1  doubtless he would have  
borne it lightly4    ,how have the      
martyrs despised death1 having peace    
with ,god by ,jesus  ,christ1 scorning  

the most cruel torments that men and    
hell could  devise and invent6 but      
,jesus ,christ could not do so1 as he   
was a  sacrifice for sin2 he died for   
us1 he was made a curse for us4 ,o1 my  
brethren1 ,christ died many deaths at   
once2 he made his grave with  the       
wicked1 and with the rich in his death4 
,it was because of sin1 the sin that was
 put into the death he died1  and the   
curse of ,god that was due to sin1 that 
that death was so  bitter to ,jesus     
,christ2 it is ,christ that died4 ,the  
apostle speaks  as if never any died but
 ,christ2 nor indeed did there1 so      
wonderful  a death as he4 ,death1       
considered simply as a deprivation of   
natural  life1 could not have these     
effects in a person personally more     
righteous than an angel2 yea1 even      
carnal wicked men1 not awakened  in     
their conscience1 how securely they can 
die6 ,it must therefore he  concluded   
that the sorrows and agony of ,jesus    
,christ came from a  higher cause1 even 

from the curse of ,god that was now     
approaching  for sin4    ,at last they  
condemn him to death1 even to the death 
of the cross1  where they hang him up by
 wounds made through his hands and feet1
  between the earth and the heavens2    
where he hanged for the space of  six   
hours4 ,no ,god yet appears for his     
help4 ,while he hangs there  some rail  
at him1 others wag their heads1 others  
tauntingly say1 ,he  saved others1      
himself he cannot save4 ,some divide his
 raiment1  casting lots for his raiment 
before his face2 others mockingly hid   
him come down from the cross2 and when  
he desires succor1 they give  him       
vinegar to drink4 ,no ,god yet appears  
for his help4    ,now the earth quakes1 
the rocks are rent1 the sun becomes     
black1 and  ,jesus still cries out1 that
 he was forsaken of ,god2 and presently 
boweth his head and dies4    ,and for   
all this there is no cause assigned from
 ,god1 but sin4 ,he  was wounded for our
 transgressions1 he was bruised for our 

iniquities2 the chastisement of our     
peace was upon him1 and by his  stripes 
we are healed4    ,,the ,,resurrection  
,,of ,,christ4    ,you shall have the   
testimony of the holy angels by the     
,scriptures1  to the resurrection of the
 ,son of ,god4 ,and first1 in ,mark #af3
 #c-g1  the words are these3    ,and    
they said among themselves1 ,who shall  
roll away the stone8  ,they had a good  
mind to see their ,lord2 but they could 
not1 as they  thought1 get away the     
stone which covered the mouth of the    
sepulchre4 ,and when they had looked1   
that is1 towards the  sepulchre1 they   
saw the stone rolled away1 for it was   
great2 and  entering into the sepulchre1
 they saw a young man1 that is1 an      
angel1 sitting on the right side1       
clothed with a long white  garment2 and 
they were affrighted4 ,and he saith unto
 them1 ,be not  afraid1 you have no     
cause for it2 you seek ,jesus of        
,nazareth1 who  was crucified2 he is not
 here1 he is risen3 behold the place    

where  they laid him4 ,what scripture   
can be plainer spoken than this8 ,here  
is an angel of the ,lord ready to       
satisfy the disciples of ,jesus that  he
 was risen from the dead4 ,and lest they
 should think it was not  the right     
,jesus he spoke of1 ,yes1 saith he1 it  
is the same ,jesus  that you mean2 you  
seek ,jesus of ,nazareth1 do you not8   
,why1 he is  risen1 he is not here4 ,but
 do you speak seriously and in good     
earnest8 ,yea1 surely2 if you will not  
believe me1 behold the place  where they
 laid him4 ,this scripture is very clear
 to our purpose4    ,but again1 in      
,matt4 #bh3 #c-g1 there is an angel as  
before bearing  witness of the          
resurrection of ,jesus4 ,his countenance
 was like  lightning1 and his raiment   
white as snow4 ,and for fear of him the 
keepers did shake1 and became as dead   
men4 ,and the angel answered  and said  
unto them1 the women who came to seek   
,jesus1 ,fear you  not2 but let them    
that seek to keep the ,lord in his grave

 fear if  they will1 for you have no    
ground of fear who seek the ,jesus that 
was crucified3 he is not here1 he is    
risen2 he cannot be here1 in  body1 and 
risen too3 if you will not believe me1  
come1 see where the  ,lord lay4 ,and go 
quickly and tell his disciples that he  
is risen  from the dead2 and behold1 he 
goeth before you into ,galilee1 there   
shall you see him4 ,but shall we be sure
 of it8 ,yea1 saith the  angel2 lo1 it  
is ,i that have told you4 ,see how      
plainly this  scripture also doth       
testify of ,christ's resurrection4      
,here1 saith  the angel1 you seek a     
,saviour1 and none will content you but 
he1  even the same that was crucified3  
well1 you shall have him1 but he  is not
 here4 ,why1 where is he then8 ,he is   
risen from the dead4  ,but are you sure 
it is the same that we look for8 ,yea1  
it is the  same that was crucified4 ,but
 where shall we find him8 ,why1 he      
goeth before you into ,galilee1 where he
 used to be in his lifetime1  before he 

was crucified4 ,and that you might be   
sure of it there to  find him1 know that
 he is an angel of ,god that has told   
you4    ,,the ,,glorification ,,of      
,,christ4    ,for ,god to adorn his ,son
 with all this glory in his ascension1  
thus  to make him ride conqueror up into
 the clouds1 thus to go up with  sound  
of trumpet1 with shout of angels and    
with songs of praises1  and let me add1 
to be accompanied also with those that  
rose from the  dead after his           
resurrection1 who were the very price of
 his  blood--this does greatly          
demonstrate that ,jesus ,christ1 by what
 he  has done has paid a full price to  
,god for the souls of sinners1 and      
obtained eternal redemption for them3 he
 had not else rode thus in  triumph to  
heaven4    ,consider those glorious     
circumstances that accompany his        
approach to  the gates of the           
everlasting habitation4 ,the everlasting
 gates are  set1 yea1 bid stand open3   
,be ye open1 ye everlasting doors1 and  

the  ,king of glory shall come in4 ,the 
,king of glory is ,jesus ,christ1 and   
the words are a prophecy of his glorious
 ascending into the heavens1  when he   
went up as the ,high-priest of the      
church1 to carry the price  of his blood
 into the holiest of all4    ,,the      
,,offices ,,of ,,christ4    ,christ as a
 ,saviour is not divided4 ,he that hath 
him not in all1  shall have him in none 
at all of his offices in a saving       
manner4    ,,christ ,,an ,,intercessor4 
,study the priesthood1 the              
high-priesthood of ,jesus ,christ1 both 
the  first and second part of it4 ,the  
first part was that when he offered  up 
himself without the gate1 when he bore  
our sins in his own body  on the tree4  
,the second part is that which he       
executes there whither he is now  gone1 
even into heaven itself1 where the      
throne of grace is4 ,i say1  study what 
,christ has done and is doing4 ,oh1 what
 is he doing now8  ,he is sprinkling his
 blood1 with his priestly robes on1     

before the  throne of grace4 ,that is   
too little thought on by the saints of  
,god3  ,we have such a ,high-priest1 who
 is set down on the right hand of  the  
,majesty in the heavens1 a minister of  
the sanctuary and of the  true          
tabernacle1 which the ,lord pitched and 
not man4 ,busy thyself1                 
fellow-,christian1 about this blessed   
office of ,christ4 ,it is full of  good1
 it is full of sweet1 it is full of     
heaven1 it is full of  relief and succor
 for the tempted and dejected4    ,the  
priestly office of ,christ is the first 
and great thing that is  presented to us
 in the gospel2 namely1 how he died for 
our sins1 and  gave himself to the      
cross1 that the blessing of ,abraham    
might come  upon us through him4 ,but   
now because this priestly office of his 
is  divided into two parts1 and because 
one of them1 to wit1 this of his        
intercession1 is to be accomplished for 
us within the veil1  therefore--as we   
say among men1 out of sight1 out of     

mind--he is too  much as to this        
forgotten by us4 ,we satisfy ourselves  
with the  slaying of the sacrifice2 we  
look not after our ,aaron as he goes    
into the holiest1 there to sprinkle the 
mercy-seat with blood upon  our account4
    ,but since his dying is his laying  
down his price1 and his  intercession   
the urging and managing the worthiness  
of it in the  presence of ,god against  
,satan1 there is glory to be found      
therein1  and we should look after him  
into the holy place4 ,the second part of
  the work of the high-priests under the
 law1 had great glory and  sanctity put 
upon it4 ,forasmuch as the holy garments
 were provided  for him to officiate in 
within the veil1 also it was there that 
the  altar stood on which he offered    
incense4 ,also there were the           
mercy-seat and the cherubim of glory1   
which were figures of the  angels1 that 
love to be continually looking and      
prying into the  management of this     
second part of the priesthood of ,christ

 in the  presence of ,god4 ,for although
 themselves are not the persons so      
immediately concerned therein as we1 yet
 the management of it1 ,i  say1 is with 
so much grace and glory1 and wisdom and 
efiectualness1  that it is a heaven to  
the angels to see it4 ,o1 to enjoy the  
odorous  scent and sweet memorial1 the  
heart-refreshing perfumes that ascend   
continually from the mercy-seat to the  
throne where ,god is1 and also  to      
behold how effectual it is to the end   
for which it is designed1  is glorious2 
and he that is not somewhat let into    
this by the grace  of ,god1 there is a  
great thing lacking to his faith1 and he
 misseth  of many a sweet bit that he   
might otherwise enjoy4 ,wherefore1 ,i   
say1  be exhorted to the study of this  
part of ,christ's work in the  managing 
of our salvation for us4    ,they who   
are justified by the blood of ,christ1  
should still look to  him for the       
remaining part of their salvation2 and  
let them look for  it with confidence1  

for it is in a faithful hand4 ,and for  
thy  encouragement to look and hope for 
the completing of thy salvation  in     
glory1 let me present thee with a few   
things4    #a4 ,the hardest or worst    
part of the work of thy ,saviour is     
over3 his  bloody work1 his bearing thy 
sin and curse1 his loss of the light of 
his ,father's face for a time4 ,his     
dying upon the cursed tree1 that  was   
the worst1 the sorest1 the hardest1 and 
most difficult part of  the work of     
redemption2 and yet this he did         
willingly1 cheerfully1  and without thy 
desires2 yea1 this he did1 as           
considering those for  whom he did it in
 a state of rebellion and enmity to him4
    #b4 ,consider also that he has made 
a beginning with thy soul to  reconcile 
thee to ,god1 and to that end has       
bestowed his justice upon  thee1 put his
 ,spirit within thee1 and begun to make 
the unwieldable  mountain and rock1 thy 
heart1 to turn towards him and desire   
after  him1 to believe in him and       

rejoice in him4    #c4 ,consider also   
that some comfortable pledges of his    
love thou  hast already received2       
namely1 as to feel the sweetness of his 
love1  as to see the light of his       
countenance1 as to be made to know his  
power in raising thee when thou wast    
down1 and how he has made thee  to stand
 while hell has been pushing at thee    
utterly to overthrow  thee4    #d4 ,thou
 mayst consider also1 that what remains 
behind of the work of  thy salvation in 
his hands1 as it is the most easy part1 
is so the  most comfortable1 and that   
part which will more immediately issue  
in  his glory2 and therefore he will    
mind it4    #e4 ,that which is behind is
 also more safe in his hand than if it  
was  in thine own4 ,he is wise1 he is   
powerful1 he is faithful1 and  therefore
 will manage that part that is lacking  
to our salvation  well1 until he has    
completed it4 ,it is his love to thee   
has made him  that he putteth no trust  
in thee3 he knows that he can himself   

bring  thee to his kingdom most surely1 
and therefore has not left that  work to
 thee1 no1 not any part thereof4        
,live in hope1 then1 in a lively hope1  
that since ,christ is risen  from the   
dead he lives to make intercession for  
thee2 and that thou  shalt reap the     
blessed benefit of this twofold         
salvation that is  wrought and that is  
working out for thee by ,jesus ,christ  
our ,lord4    ,every believer may say1  
,christ did not only die and rise again1
 but  he ascended into heaven to take   
possession thereof for me1 to  prepare a
 place for me4 ,he standeth there in the
 second part of his  suretyship to bring
 me safe thither1 and to present me in a
 glorious  manner1 not having spot or   
wrinkle1 or any such thing4 ,he is      
therefore exercising his priestly office
 for me1 pleading the  perfection of his
 own righteousness and the virtue of his
 blood4    ,he is there ready to answer 
the accusations of the law1 the devil1  
and sin1 for me4 ,here a believer may   

through faith look the devil in  the    
face and rejoice1 saying1 ,o ,satan1 ,i 
have a precious ,jesus1 a               
soul-comforting ,jesus1 a sin-pardoning 
,jesus4 ,here he may listen to  the     
thunders of the law1 and yet not be     
daunted4 ,he may say1 ,o law1  thou     
mayest roar against sin1 but thou canst 
not reach me2 thou  mayest curse and    
condemn1 but not my soul2 for ,i have a 
righteous  ,jesus1 a holy ,jesus1 a     
soul-saving ,jesus2 and he hath         
delivered me  from thy threats1 thy     
curses1 and thy condemnation4 ,i am     
brought  into another covenant1 under   
better promises of life and salvation1  
freely to comfort me without my merit1  
through the blood of ,jesus2  therefore 
though thou layest my sins to my charge 
and provest me  guilty1 yet so long as  
,christ hath brought in everlasting     
righteousness and given it to me1 ,i    
shall not fear thy threats4 ,my  ,christ
 is all1 hath done all1 and will deliver
 me from thine  accusations4 ,thus also 

thou mayest say1 when death assaulteth  
thee1  ,o death1 where is thy sting8    
,thou canst not devour2 ,i have comfort 
through ,jesus ,christ1 who hath taken  
thee captive and taken away thy         
strength2 he hath pierced thy heart and 
let out all thy  soul-destroying poison4
 ,though ,i see thee1 ,i am not afraid  
of thee2  though ,i feel thee1 ,i am not
 daunted2 for thou hast lost thy sting  
in the side of the ,lord ,jesus1 through
 whom ,i overcome thee4 ,also1 ,o       
,satan1 though ,i hear thee make a      
hellish noise1 and though thou  threaten
 me highly1 yet my soul shall triumph   
over thee so long as  ,christ is alive  
and can be heard in heaven--so long as  
he hath  broken thy head and won the    
field--so long as thou art in prison and
  canst not have thy desire4 ,when ,i   
hear thy voice1 my thoughts are  turned 
to ,christ my ,saviour2 ,i hearken to   
what he will say1 for he  will speak    
comfort3 he hath gotten the victory and 
doth give me the  crown1 and causeth me 

to triumph through his most glorious    
conquest4    ,and ,i beheld1 and lo1 in 
the midst of the throne stood a ,lamb as
 it  had been slain4 ,rev4 #e3 #f4 ,that
 in the midst of the throne is our      
sacrifice1 with the very marks of his   
death upon him1 showing to ,god  that   
sitteth upon the throne the holes of the
 thorns1 of the nails1  of the spear2   
and how he was disfigured with blows and
 blood when at  his command he gave     
himself a ransom for his people2 for it 
cannot  be imagined that either the     
exaltation or glorification of the body 
of ,jesus ,christ should make him forget
 the day in which he died the  death for
 our sins2 especially since that which  
puts worth into his  whole intercession 
is the death he died1 and the blood he  
shed upon1  the cross for our           
trespasses4    ,since ,christ is an     
intercessor1 ,i infer that believers    
should not  rest at the cross for       
comfort3 justification they should look 
for  there2 but being justified by his  

blood1 they should ascend up after  him 
to his throne4 ,at the cross you will   
see him in his sorrows and              
humiliations1 in his tears and blood2   
but follow him to where he is  now1 and 
then you shall see him in his robes1 in 
his priestly robes1  and with his golden
 girdle about him4 ,there you shall see 
him  wearing the breastplate of         
judgment1 and with all your names       
written  upon his heart4 ,then you shall
 perceive that the whole family in      
heaven and earth is named of him1 and   
how he prevails with ,god the  ,father  
of mercies for you4 ,stand still awhile 
and listen1 yea1 enter  with boldness   
unto the holiest1 and see your ,jesus as
 he now appears  in the presence of ,god
 for you2 what work he makes against the
 devil  and sin1 and death and hell1 for
 you4 ,ah1 it is brave following of     
,jesus ,christ to the holiest3 the veil 
is rent2 you may see with open  face as 
in a glass the glory of the ,lord4      
,this then is our ,high-priest2 this is 

intercession--these the  benefits of it4
 ,it lies in our part to improve it2 and
 wisdom to do  so--,,that also comes    
from the mercy-seat or throne of grace  
where he1  even our ,high-priest1 ever  
liveth to make intercession for us4 ,to 
whom he glory for ever and ever4        
,,christ ,,an ,,advocate4    ,we have an
 advocate with the ,father1 ,jesus      
,christ the righteous4  ,this           
consideration will yield relief1 when by
 ,satan's abuse of some  other of the   
offices of ,christ1 thy faith is        
discouraged and made  afraid4 ,christ1  
as a prophet1 pronounces many a dreadful
 sentence  against sin2 and ,christ1 as 
a king1 is of power to execute them3 and
  ,satan1 as an enemy1 has subtlety     
enough to abuse both these to the       
almost utter overthrow of the faith of  
the children of ,god4    ,this          
consideration will help thee to put by  
that vizor ,footnote3  ,that is1 mask4  
wherewith ,christ by ,satan is          
misrepresented to thee1  to the         

weakening and affrighting thee4 ,there  
is nothing more common  among saints1   
than thus to be wronged by ,satan2 for  
he will labor to  fetch fire out of the 
offices of ,christ to burn us3 so to    
present  him to us with so dreadful and 
so ireful a countenance1 that a man  in 
temptation and under guilt shall hardly 
be able to lift up his  face to ,god4   
,but now1 to think really that he is my 
,advocate1 this heals all4 ,put  a vizor
 upon the face of a father1 and it may  
perhaps for a while  fright the child2  
but let the father speak1 let him speak 
in his own  fatherly dialect to the     
child1 and the vizor is gone1 if not    
from  the father's face1 yet from the   
child's mind2 yea1 the child1           
notwithstanding that vizor1 will        
adventure to creep into its  father's   
bosom4    ,why1 thus it is with the     
saints when ,satan deludes and abuses   
them  by disfiguring the countenance of 
,christ to their view3 let them but     
hear their ,lord speak in his own       

natural dialect--and he doth so  indeed 
when we hear him speak as an            
advocate--and their minds are  calmed1  
their thoughts settled1 their guilt     
vanished1 and their  faith revived4     
,is ,christ ,jesus the ,lord my advocate
 with the ,father8 ,then awake1 my      
faith1 and shake thyself like a giant2  
stir up thyself and be not  faint3      
,christ is the advocate of his people2  
and as for sin1 which  is one great     
stumble to thy actings1 ,o my faith1    
,christ has not only  died for that as a
 sacrifice1 nor only carried his        
sacrifice unto  the ,father into the    
holiest of all1 but is there to manage  
that  offering as an advocate1 pleading 
the efficacy and worth thereof  before  
,god against the devil for us4    ,the  
modest saint is apt to be abashed1 to   
think what a troublesome  one he is1 and
 what a make-work he has been in ,god's 
house all his  days2 and let him be     
filled with holy blushing1 but let him  
not  forsake his ,advocate4    ,if thy  

foot slippeth1 if it slippeth greatly1  
then know thou it will  not be long     
before a bill be in heaven preferred    
against thee by the  accuser of the     
brethren2 wherefore then thou must have 
recourse to  ,christ as advocate1 to    
plead before ,god thy ,judge against the
 devil  thine adversary for thee4 ,and  
as to the badness of thy cause1 let     
nothing move thee save to humility and  
self-abasement1 for ,christ is          
glorified by being concerned for thee2  
yea1 the angels will shout  aloud to see
 him bring thee off4 ,for what greater  
glory can we  conceive ,christ to obtain
 as advocate1 than to bring off his     
people  when they have sinned1          
notwithstanding ,satan's so charging of 
them  as he doth8    ,he gloried when he
 was going to the cross to die2 he went 
up with a  shout and the sound of a     
trumpet to make intercession for us2 and
  shall we think that by his being an   
advocate he receives no  additional     
glory8    ,christ1 when he pleads as an 

advocate for his people in the presence 
of ,god against ,satan1 can plead those 
very weaknesses of his people  for which
 ,satan would have them damned1 for     
their relief and  advantage4 ,is not    
this a brand plucked out of the fire8   
,this is  part of the plea of our       
,advocate against ,satan1 for his       
servant  ,joshua1 when he said1 ,the    
,lord rebuke thee1 ,o ,satan4 ,zech4    
#ac3 #b4  ,now1 to be a brand plucked   
out of the fire1 is to be a             
saint--impatient1 weakened1 defiled1 and
 made imperfect by sin4 ,this  then is  
the next plea of our goodly ,advocate   
for us3 ,o ,satan1 this  is a brand     
plucked out of the fire4 ,as if he      
should say1 ,thou  objectest against my 
servant ,joshua1 that he is black like a
 coal1  or that the fire of sin at times
 is still burning in him4 ,and what     
then8 ,the reason why he is not totally 
extinct as tow1 is not thy  pity but rny
 ,father's mercy to him4 ,i have plucked
 him out of the  fire1 yet not so out   

but that the smell thereof is yet upon  
him2 and  my ,father and ,i1 we consider
 his weakness and pity him2 for since he
  is as a brand pulled out1 can it be   
expected by my ,father or me1  that he  
should appear before us as clear and do 
our biddings as well  as if he had never
 been there8 ,this is a brand plucked   
out of the  fire1 and must be considered
 as such1 and must be borne with as     
such4    ,his righteousness ,christ     
presents to ,god for us2 and ,god1 for  
this  righteousness' sake1 is well      
pleased that we should be saved1 and    
for it can save us and secure his honor 
and preserve the law in its  sanction4  
,for ,christ1 in pleading against ,satan
 as an advocate with1 the  ,father for  
us1 appeals to the law itself if he has 
not done it  justice2 saying1 ,most     
mighty law1 what command of thine have  
,i not  fulfilled8 ,what demand of thine
 have ,i not fully answered8 ,where is  
that jot or tittle of the law that is   
able to object against my  doings for   

want of satisfaction8    ,here the law  
is mute2 it speaks not one word by way  
of the least  complaint1 but rather     
testifies of this righteousness that it 
is  good and holy4 ,rom4 #c3bb1bc2      
#e3ae-ai4    ,now then1 since ,christ   
did this as a public person1 it follows 
that  others must be justified thereby2 
for that was the end and reason of      
,christ's taking on him to do the       
righteousness of the law4 ,nor can  the 
law object against the equity of this   
dispensation of heaven2  for why might  
not that ,god who gave the law its being
 and its  sanction1 dispose as he       
pleases of the righteousness which it   
commends8 ,besides1 if men be made      
righteous1 they are so2 and if by  a    
righteousness which the law commends1   
how can fault be found with  them by the
 law8 ,nay1 it is witnessed by the law  
and the prophets1  who consent that it  
should be unto all and upon all them    
that  believe1 for their justification4 
,rom4 #c3bj1ba4    ,and that the mighty 

,god suffereth the prince of the devils 
to do  with the law what he can against 
this most wholesome and godly  doctrine1
 it is to show the truth1 goodness1 and 
permanency thereof2  for this is as if  
it were said1 ,devil1 do thy worst4     
,when the law is in the hand of an easy 
pleader1 though the cause  that he      
pleads be good1 a crafty opposer may    
overthrow the right2  but here is the   
salvation of the children in debate1    
whether it can  stand with law and      
justice3 the opposer of this is the     
devil1 his  argument against it is the  
law2 he that defends the doctrine is    
,christ the advocate1 who in his plea   
must justify the justice of  ,god1      
defend the holiness of the law1 and save
 the sinner from all  the arguments1    
pleas1 stops1 and demurs that ,satan is 
able to put in  against it4 ,and this he
 must do fairly1 righteously1 simply1   
pleading the voice of the self-same law 
for the justification of the  soul that 
he standeth for1 which ,satan leads     

against it2 for though  it is by the new
 law that our salvation comes1 yet by   
the old law is  the new law approved of1
 and the way of salvation thereby       
consented  to4              ,,viii4     
,,the ,,holy ,,spirit4            ,,it  
is the ,spirit of ,god1 even the ,holy  
,ghost that convinceth us of  sin1 and  
so of our damnable state because of sin4
    ,therefore the ,spirit of ,god1 when
 he worketh in the heart as a  spirit of
 bondage1 doeth it by working in us by  
the law1 for by the  law is the         
knowledge of sin4 ,rom4 #f3 #bj4 ,and he
 in this his working  is properly called
 a spirit of bondage2 because by the law
 he shows  us that indeed we are in     
bondage to the law1 the devil1 and death
  and danmation4    ,he is called in his
 working the spirit of bondage1 because 
he here  also holds us--to wit1 in this 
sight and sense of our bondage          
state--so long as it is meet we should  
be so held2 which to some of  the saints
 is a longer1 and to some a shorter     

time4 ,paul was held in  it three days  
and three nights1 but the jailer and the
 three  thousand1 so far as can be      
gathered1 not above an hour2 but some in
  these later times are so held for days
 and months1 if not for years4  ,but ,i 
say1 let the time be longer or shorter1 
it is the ,spirit of  ,god that holdeth 
him under this yoke1 and it is good that
 a man  should be his time held under   
it4    ,now1 as ,i said1 the sinner at  
first is by the ,spirit of ,god held    
under this bondage2 that is1 hath such a
 discovery of his sin and of  his       
damnation for sin made to him1 and also 
is held so fast under  the sense        
thereof1 that it is not in the power of 
any man1 nor yet  of the very angels in 
heaven1 to release or set him free1     
until the  ,holy ,spirit changeth his   
ministration and comes in the sweet and 
peaceable tidings of salvation by       
,christ in the gospel to his poor       
dejected and afflicted conscience4      
,the ,spirit loveth to do what it does  

in private3 that man to whom  ,god      
intendeth to reveal great things1 he    
taketh him aside from the  lumber and   
cumber of this world1 and carrieth him  
away in the solace  and contemplation of
 the things of another world4    ,this  
water of life is the very groundwork of 
life ,,in us1 though not  the groundwork
 of life ,,for us4 ,the groundwork of   
life ,,for us is the  passion and merits
 of ,christ2 this is that for the sake  
of which  grace is given unto us1 as is 
intimated by the text1 ,rev4 #bb3a4 ,it 
proceeds from the throne of ,god1 who is
 ,christ4 ,christ then having  obtained 
grace for us1 must needs be precedent as
 to his merit1 to  that grace he hath so
 obtained4 ,besides1 it is clear that   
the ,spirit  and grace come from ,god   
through him4 ,therefore1 as to the      
communication of grace to us1 it is the 
fruit of his merit and  purchase4       
,but ,i say1 ,,in ,,us grace is the     
groundwork of life2 for though we may   
be said before to live virtually in the 

person of ,christ before ,god1  yet we  
are dead in ourselves1 and so must be   
until the ,spirit be  poured upon us    
from on high2 for the ,spirit is life1  
and its graces  are life1 and when that 
is infused by ,god from the throne1 then
 we  live1 and not till then4 ,and hence
 it is called as before1 living  water1 
the water of life1 springing up in us   
into everlasting life4  ,the ,spirit    
then and graces of the ,spirit1 which is
 the river here  spoken of1 is that1 and
 that only1 which can cause us to live2 
that  being life to the soul1 as the    
soul is life to the body4 ,all men      
therefore1 as was said afore--though    
elect1 though purchased by the  blood of
 ,christ--are dead and must be dead     
until the ,spirit of life  from ,god and
 his throne shall enter into them2 until
 they shall  drink it in by vehement    
thirst1 as the parched ground drinks in 
the  rain4 ,now when this living water  
is received1 it takes up its seat  in   
the heart1 whence it spreads itself to  

the awakening of all the  powers of the 
soul4 ,for as in the first creation1 the
 ,spirit of ,god  moved upon the face of
 the waters1 in order to the putting of 
that  creation into that excellent      
fashion and harmony which now we behold 
with our eyes1 even so the new creation1
 to wit1 the making of us  new to ,god1 
is done by the overspreading of the same
 ,spirit also4    ,as the herb that is  
planted or seed sown needs watering with
  continual showers of the mountains1 so
 our graces implanted in us by  the     
,spirit of grace must also be watered by
 the rain of ,heaven4  ,thou waterest   
the ridges thereof abundantly1 thou     
settest the  furrows thereof1 thou      
makest it soft with showers1 thou       
blessest the  springing thereof4 ,hence 
he says that our graces shall grow4 ,but
  how8 ,i will be as the dew unto       
,israel2 he shall grow as the lily1  and
 cast forth his roots as ,lebanon4 ,his 
branches shall spread1 and  his beauty  
shall be as the olive-tree1 and his     

smell as ,lebanon4  ,they that dwell    
under his shadow shall return2 they     
shall revive as  the corn1 and grow as  
the vine2 the scent thereof shall be as 
the  wine of ,lebanon4    ,all the      
warmth that we have in our communion1 is
 the warmth of the  ,spirit4 ,when a    
company of saints are gathered together 
in the name  of ,christ to perform any  
spiritual exercise1 and their souls are 
edified warmly and made glad therein1 it
 is because this water1 this  river of  
water of life1 has1 in some of the      
streams thereof1 run  into that         
assembly4 ,then are ,christians like    
those that drink wine  in bowls1 merry  
and glad2 for that they have drank into 
the ,spirit1  and had their souls       
refreshed with the sweet gales and      
strong wine  thereof4 ,this is the feast
 that ,isaiah speaks of when he saith1  
,in  this mountain shall the ,lord of   
hosts make unto all people a feast  of  
fat things1 a feast of wine on the lees1
 of fat things full of  marrow1 of wines

 on the lees well refined4 ,isa4 #be3f4 
,this is  called in another place1 ,the 
communion of the ,holy ,ghost4 #b ,cor4 
#ac3ad4 ,now he warmeth spirits1 uniteth
 spirits1 enlighteneth  spirits1        
reviveth1 cherisheth1 quickeneth1       
strengtheneth graces2  renews           
assurances1 brings old comforts to mind1
 weakens lusts1  emboldeneth and raiseth
 a spirit of faith1 of love1 of hope1 of
  prayer1 and makes the word a blessing1
 conference a blessing1  meditation a   
blessing1 and duty very delightful to   
the soul4 ,without  this water of life1 
communion is weak1 flat1 cold1 dead1    
fruitless1  lifeless2 there is nothing  
seen1 felt1 heard1 or understood1 in a  
spiritual1 heart-quickening way4 ,now   
ordinances are burdensome1 sins  strong1
 faith weak1 hearts hard1 and the faces 
of our souls dry1  like the dry and     
parched ground4    ,this drink also     
revives us when tempted1 when sick1 when
 persecuted1  when in the dark1 and when
 we faint for thirst4 ,the life of      

religion  is this water of life2 where  
that runs1 where that is received1 and  
where things are done in this spirit1   
there all things are well--the  church  
thrifty1 the soul thrifty1 graces       
thrifty1 and all is well4    ,you that  
are spiritual1 you know what a high and 
goodly lifting up  of heart one small   
gale of the good ,spirit of ,god will   
make in your  souls2 how it will make   
your lusts to languish1 and your souls  
to  love and take pleasure in the ,lord 
that saves you4 ,you know1 ,i say1  what
 a flame of love1 and compassion1 and   
self-denial1 and endeared  affection to 
,god and all saints1 it will beget in   
the soul3 ,oh1 it  is good to be here1  
saith the gracious heart4    ,this is   
the reason why so many are carried away 
with the errors that  are broached in   
these days1 because they have not indeed
 received  the ,lord ,jesus by the      
revelation of the ,spirit and with      
power1 but  by the relation of others   
only2 and so having no other witness to 

set them down withal1 but the history of
 the word and the relation  of others   
concerning the truths contained in it1  
yet not having had  the ,spirit of the  
,lord to confirm these things           
effectually to them1  they are carried  
away with delusions4              ,,ix4 
,,justification ,,by ,,faith4           
,true justifying faith is said to       
receive1 to embrace1 to obey the  ,son  
of ,god as tendered in the gospel2 by   
which expressions is showed  both the   
nature of justifying faith in its       
actings in point of  justification1 and 
also the cause of its being full of good
 works in  the world4 ,a gift is not    
made mine by my seeing it1 or because ,i
  know the nature of the thing so given2
 but it is mine if ,i receive  and      
embrace it1 yea1 and as to the point in 
hand1 if ,i yield myself  up to stand   
and fall by it4 ,now he that shall not  
only see but  receive1 not only know but
 embrace the ,son of ,god to be         
justified by  him1 cannot but bring     

forth good works2 because ,christ1 who  
is now  received and embraced by faith1 
leavens and seasons the spirit of  this 
sinner1 through his faith1 to the making
 of him so to be4 ,acts  #ae3i4 ,for    
faith has joined ,christ and the soul   
together1 and being  so joined1 the soul
 is one spirit with him3 not            
essentially1 but in  agreement and      
oneness of design4 ,besides1 when       
,christ is truly  received and embraced 
to the justifying of the sinner1 in that
 man's  heart he dwells by his word and 
,spirit through the same faith also4    
,now ,christ by his ,spirit and word    
must needs season the soul he thus      
dwells in2 so then the soul being       
seasoned1 it seasoneth the body  and    
soul1 the life and conversation4    ,if 
the receiving of a temporal gift        
naturally tends to the making of  us to 
move our cap and knee1 and binds us to  
be the servant of the  giver1 shall we  
think that faith will leave him who by  
it has  received ,christ1 to be as      

unconcerned as a stock or stone1 or that
  its utmost excellency is to provoke   
the soul to a lip-labor1 and to  give   
,christ a few fair words for his pains  
and grace1 and so wrap up  the business8
 ,no1 no2 the love of ,christ           
constraineth us thus to  judge1 that it 
is but reasonable1 since he gave his all
 for us1 that  we should give our some  
for him4 #b ,cor4 #e3ad4    ,we are said
 to be saved by faith1 because by faith 
we lay hold of1  venture upon1 and put  
on ,jesus ,christ for life3 for life1 ,i
 say1  because ,god having made him the 
,saviour1 has given him life to         
communicate to sinners2 and the life    
that he communicates to them is  the    
merit of his flesh and blood1 which     
whoso eateth and drinketh by  faith hath
 eternal life1 because that flesh and   
blood have merit  sufficient to obtain  
the favor of ,god4 ,yea1 it hath done   
so1 that  day it was offered through the
 eternal ,spirit a sacrifice of a       
sweet-smelling savor to him4 ,wherefore 

,god imputeth the  righteousness of     
,christ to him that believeth in him1 by
 which  righteousness he is personally  
justified and saved from that just      
judgment of the law that was due unto   
him4 ,john #e3bf2 #f3ec-eg2 ,eph4       
#d3cb2 #e3b2 ,rom4 #d3bc-be4    ,here   
let ,christians warily distinguish      
betwixt the meritorious and  the        
instrumental cause of their             
justification4 ,christ1 with what he    
has done and suffered1 is the           
meritorious cause of our  justification2
 therefore he is said to be made unto us
 of ,god  wisdom and righteousness1 and 
we are said to be justified by his      
blood and saved from wrath through him1 
#a ,cor4 #a3cj2 ,rom4 #e3i1aj2  for it  
was his life and blood that was the     
price of our redemption4    ,thou art   
therefore to make ,christ ,jesus the    
object of thy faith for  justification2 
for by his righteousness thy sins must  
be covered  from the sight of the       
justice of the law4 ,acts #af3ca2 ,matt4

 #a3ba4    ,,faith ,,the ,,instrumental 
,,cause ,,of ,,salvation4    ,faith as  
the gift of ,god is not the ,saviour1 as
 our act doth merit  nothing4 ,faith was
 not the cause that ,god gave ,christ1  
neither is it  the cause why ,god       
converts men to ,christ2 but faith is a 
gift  bestowed upon us by the gracious  
,god1 the nature of which is to lay     
hold on ,christ1 whom ,god before did   
give for a ransom to redeem  sinners4   
,this faith hath its nourishment and    
supplies from the same  ,god who at the 
first did give it2 and is the only      
instrument through  the ,spirit that    
doth keep the soul in a comfortable     
frame both to do  and suffer2 for       
,christ helps the soul to receive       
comfort from him1  when it can get none 
from itself1 bearing up the soul in its 
progress heavenward4 ,but that it is the
 first cause of salvation1 ,i  deny2 or 
that it is the second1 ,i deny4 ,it is  
only the instrument or  hand that       
receiveth the benefits that ,god hath   

prepared for thee  before thou hadst any
 faith2 so that we do nothing for       
salvation1 as  men4 ,but if we speak    
properly1 it was ,god's grace that moved
 him to  give ,christ a ransom for      
sinners1 and the same ,god with the same
  grace1 that doth give to the soul     
faith to believe and by believing  to   
close in with him whom ,god out of his  
love and pity did send into  the world  
to save sinners2 so that all the works  
of the creature are  shut out as to     
justification and life1 and men are     
saved freely by  grace4    ,,true ,,and 
,,false ,,faith ,,distinguished4        
,there are two sorts of good works2 and 
a man may be shrewdly guessed  at with  
reference to his faith1 even by the     
works that he chooseth  to be conversant
 in4    ,there are works that cost      
nothing1 and works that are chargeable2 
and observe it1 the unsound faith will  
choose to itself the most  easy works it
 can find3 for example1 there is        
reading1 praying1  hearing of sermons1  

baptism1 breaking of bread1             
church-fellowship1  preaching1 and the  
like2 and there is mortification of     
lusts1  charity1 simplicity1 and        
open-heartedness with a liberal hand to 
the  poor1 and their like also4 ,now1   
the unsound faith picks and chooses1    
and takes and leaves2 but the true faith
 does not so4 ,satan is  afraid that men
 should hear of justification by        
,christ1 lest they  should embrace it4  
,but yet if he can prevail with them to 
keep  fingers off1 although they do hear
 and look on and practise lesser        
things1 he can the better bear it2 yea1 
he will labor to make such  professors  
bold to conclude they shall by that kind
 of faith enjoy  ,christ1 though by that
 they cannot embrace him nor lay hold of
 him2  for he knows that how far soever 
a man engages in a profession of        
,christ with a faith that looks on but  
cannot receive nor embrace  him1 that   
faith will leave him to nothing but     
mistakes and  disappointments at last4  

,the ,son of ,god was manifest that he  
might destroy the works of the  devil1  
but these men profess his faith and keep
 these works alive in  the world4 #a    
,john1 #c4 ,shall these pass or such as 
believe to the  saving of the soul8 ,for
 a man to be content with this kind of  
faith  and to look to go to salvation by
 it1 what to ,god is a greater          
provocation8    ,the devil laugheth     
here1 for he knows he has not lost his  
vassal by  such a faith as this1 but    
that rather he hath made use of the     
gospel1 that glorious word of life1 to  
secure his captive1 through  his        
presumption of the right faith1 the     
faster in his shackles4    ,,faith ,,and
 ,,works4    ,when ,i write of          
justification before ,god from the      
dreadful curse of  the law1 then ,i must
 speak of nothing but grace1 ,christ1   
the  promise1 and faith2 hut when ,i    
speak of our justification before  men1 
then ,i must join to these good works2  
for grace1 ,christ1 and  faith are      

things invisible1 and so not to be seen 
by another1  otherwise than through a   
life that befits so blessed a gospel as 
has  declared unto us the remission of  
our sins for the sake of ,jesus         
,christ4 ,he then that would have       
forgiveness of sins1 and so be          
delivered from the curse of ,god1 must  
believe in the righteousness  and blood 
of ,christ2 but he that would show to   
his neighbors that he  hath truly       
received this mercy of ,god1 must do it 
by good works1 for  all things else to  
them is but talk2 as for example1 a tree
 is known  to be what it is1 whether of 
this or that kind1 by its fruit4 ,a tree
  it is without fruit2 but so long as it
 so abideth1 there is  minisered        
occasion to doubt what manner of tree it
 is4    ,,justification ,,and           
,,sanctification ,,distinguished4    ,a 
believer is to do nothing for           
justification1 only believe and be      
saved2 though the law be a rule for     
every one that believes to walk  by1 it 

is not for justification4 ,but if you do
 not put a difference  between          
justification wrought by the ,man       
,christ without1 and  sanctification    
wrought by the ,spirit of ,christ       
within1 teaching  believers their duty  
to their ,god for his love in giving    
,christ1 you  are not able to divide the
 word aright2 but contrariwise1 you     
corrupt the word of ,god1 and cast      
stumbling-blocks before the  people1 and
 will certainly one day most deeply     
smart for your folly1  except you       
repent4    ,to those who do believe in  
,christ aright1 and lay him for their   
foundation3 see that you are laborers   
after a more experimental  knowledge of 
our ,lord ,jesus ,christ2 fly more to   
his birth1 death1  blood1 resurrection1 
ascension1 and intercession1 and fetch  
refreshing for your souls more and more 
from him without1 through  the operation
 of his ,spirit within2 and though the  
fruits of the  ,spirit be excellent1 and
 to be owned where they are found1 yet  

have  a care you take not away the glory
 of the blood of ,christ shed on  the   
cross without the gates of ,jerusalem1  
and give it them2 which  you will do1 if
 you content yourselves and satisfy your
 consciences  with this--that you find  
the fruits of the ,spirit within        
you--and do  not go for peace and       
consolation of conscience to the blood  
of ,jesus  shed on the cross4           
,therefore learn of the saints1 or      
rather of the ,spirit1 who teaches  to  
sing this song1 ,thou art worthy to take
 the book and to open the  seals        
thereof1 for thou wast slain and hast   
redeemed us to ,god by  thy blood4 ,rev4
 #e3 #i4    ,and as for you that cannot 
yet well endure to think that you should
  be justified by the blood of the ,son 
of ,mary shed on the cross  without the 
gate1 ,i say to you1 ,kiss the ,son1    
lest he he angry and  ye perish from the
 way1 when his wrath is kindled but a   
little3  blessed are all they that put  
their trust in him4 ,psa4 #b3ab4    ,the

 work of the ,spirit is to lead us into 
the sayings of ,christ2  which1 as to   
our redemption from death1 are such as  
these3 ,i lay  down my life1 that you   
may have life2 ,i give my life a ransom 
for  many2 and the bread which ,i give  
is my flesh1 which ,i will give for  the
 life of the world4    ,the ,holy ,ghost
 breatheth nowhere so as in the ministry
 of this  doctrine2 this doctrine is    
sent with the ,holy ,ghost from heaven4 
,what is the church of ,god redeemed by 
from the curse of the law8 ,it  is by   
something done within them1 or by       
something done without them4    ,if you 
say it is redeemed by something that    
worketh in them1 then  why did the man  
,christ ,jesus hang on the cross on     
,calvary1 without  the gate of          
,jerusalem1 for the sins of his         
children8 and why do the  ,scriptures   
say that through this man is preached to
 us the  forgiveness of sins8    ,the   
answer thou givest is1 ,the church of   
,god is redeemed by ,christ  ,jesus who 

is revealed in all believers1 and       
,christ ,jesus wrought in  them         
mightily1 and it was he that wrought in 
them to will and to do4  ,this is plain 
scripture2 and the man ,christ ,jesus1  
sayest thou1  hanged on the cross on    
,calvary because they wickedly judged   
him to  be a blasphemer1 and through    
their envy persecuted him to death      
because he bore witness against them1   
and in their account he died  and hanged
 on the cross an evil-doer4    ,ha1     
friend1 ,i had thought thou hadst not   
been so much hardened4 ,art  thou not   
ashamed thus to slight the death of the 
man ,christ ,jesus on  the cross1 and   
reckon it not effectual for salvation1  
but sayest1  the church is redeemed by  
,christ ,jesus who is revealed within8  
and  to confirm it1 thou dost also      
corruptly bring in this scripture3      
,whereunto ,i labor1 according to his   
working which worketh in me  mightily2  
by which words ,paul signifies1 that as 
,god was with him  in the ministry of   

the word1 so did he also strive         
according to his  working which wrought 
in him mightily4 ,what is this to the   
purpose8    ,that thy answer is false1  
,i shall clearly prove4 ,first1 because 
thou  deniest that redemption was       
wrought out for sinners by the man      
,christ ,jesus on the cross on ,calvary2
 when the scripture says  plainly1 that 
when he did hang on the tree1 then did  
he bear our  sins there in his own body4
 ,and secondly1 in thy saying it is     
redeemed by ,christ within1 by being    
within1 when the work of the  ,spirit of
 ,christ in believers is to make known  
to the soul1 by  dwelling within1 which 
way and how they are redeemed by the man
  ,christ ,jesus on the cross4 ,and this
 ,i prove further1 because when  thou   
art forced to answer to these words1    
,why did the man ,christ  ,jesus hang en
 the cross1 on ,calvary for the sins of 
his children8  thou sayest1 ,because    
they wickedly judged him to be a        
blasphemer4  ,friend1 ,i did not ask    

thee why the ,,jews did put him to      
death2 but  why was he crucified there  
for the sins of his children8 ,but thou1
  willing to cover over thine error1    
goest on cunningly1 saying1 that        
through their envy they persecuted him  
to death for an evil-doer4    ,as for   
thy saying that salvation is ,christ    
within1 if thou mean in  opposition to  
,christ without1 instead of pleading for
 ,christ thou  wilt plead against him2  
for ,christ1 ,god-man1 without on the   
cross1  did bring in salvation for      
sinners2 and the right believing of that
  justifies the soul4 ,therefore ,christ
 within1 or the ,spirit of him  who did 
give himself a ransom1 doth not work out
 justification for  the soul in the     
soul1 but doth lead the soul out of     
itself and out  of what can he done     
within itself1 to look for salvation in 
that ,man  that is now absent from his  
saints on earth4 #b ,cor4 #e3f4 ,why so8
 ,for  it knows that there is salvation 
in none other1 ,acts #d3 #ab2 and       

therefore ,i would wish thee to have a  
care what thou doest1 for ,i  tell thee1
 that ,man who is now jeered by some1   
because he is  preached to be without   
them1 will very suddenly come the second
 time  to the great overthrow of those  
who have spoken and shall still  speak  
against him4    ,and indeed they that   
will follow ,christ aright must follow  
him  without1 to the cross without1 for 
justification on4 ,calvary              
without--that is1 they must seek for    
justification by his obedience          
without--to the grave without1 and to   
his ascension and intercession  in      
heaven without2 and this must be done   
through the operation of  his own ,holy 
,spirit that he has promised shall show 
these things  unto them1 being given    
within them for that purpose4 ,now the  
,spirit  of ,christ1 that leads also2   
but whither8 ,it leads to ,christ       
without4    ,what a poor argument is    
this to say1 that because the ,spirit of
  ,christ doth convince of sin1         

therefore whatsoever doth convince of   
sin must needs be the ,spirit of        
,christ3 as much as to say1 because  the
 saints are called the light of the     
world1 therefore the saints  are the    
,saviour of the world1 seeing ,christ   
also doth call himself  the light of the
 world2 or because the moon hath or is  
light1  therefore the moon is the sun4  
,x4 ,,conviction ,,of ,,sin4            
,,when man is taken and laid under the  
day of ,god's power1 when ,christ  is   
opening his ear to discipline1 and      
speaking to him that his heart  may     
receive instruction1 many times that    
poor man is as if the devil  had found  
him1 and not ,god4 ,how frenzily he     
imagines2 how crossly he  thinks2 how   
ungainly he carries it under            
convictions1 counsels1 and  his present 
apprehension of things6 ,i know some are
 more powerfully  dealt withal1 and more
 strongly bound at first by the word2   
but  others more in an ordinary manner1 
that the flesh and reason may be  seen  

to the glory of ,christ4 ,yea1 and where
 the will is made more  quickly to      
comply with its salvation1 it is no     
thanks to the sinner  at all4 ,it is the
 day of the power of the ,lord that has 
made the  work so soon to appear4       
,therefore count this an act of love1 in
 the  height of love2 love in a great   
degree4    ,i heard thy voice in the    
garden4 ,gen4 #c3 #aj4 ,it is a word    
from  without that does it4 ,while ,adam
 listened to his own heart1 he  thought 
fig-leaves a sufficient remedy2 but the 
voice that walked in  the garden shook  
him out of all such fancies4    ,a man's
 own righteousness will not fortify his 
conscience from fear  and terror1 when  
,god begins to come near to him to      
judgment4    ,few know the weight of    
sin4 ,when the guilt thereof takes hold 
of the  conscience1 it commands homeward
 all the faculties of the soul4    ,it  
was upon this account that ,peter and   
,james and ,john were called  the sons  
of thunder1 because in the word which   

they were to preach  there were to be   
not only lightnings1 but thunders--not  
only  illuminations1 but a great seizing
 of the heart with the dread and        
majesty of ,god1 to the effectual       
turning of the sinner to him4           
,lightnings without thunder are in this 
case dangerous1 because they  that      
receive the one without the other are   
subject to miscarry3 they  were once    
enlightened1 but you read of no thunder 
they had1 and they  were subject to fall
 into an irrecoverable state4 ,paul had 
thunder  with his lightning1 to the     
shaking of his soul2 so had the three   
thousand1 so had the jailer3 they that  
receive light without  thunder1 are     
subject to turn the grace of ,god into  
wantonness2 but  they that know the     
terror of ,god will persuade men4 ,so   
then1 when he  decrees to give the rain 
of his grace to a man1 he makes a way   
for  the lightning and thunder2 not the 
one without the other1 but the  one     
following the other4    ,we have had    

great lightnings in this land of late   
years1 but little  thunders2 and that is
 one reason why so little grace is found
 where  light is1 and why so many       
professors run on their heads in such a 
day as this is1 notwithstanding all they
 have seen4    ,the method of ,god is to
 kill and make alive1 to smite and then 
heal4    ,he that hath not seen his lost
 condition1 hath not seen a safe        
condition2 he that did never see himself
 in the devil's snare1 did  never see   
himself in ,christ's bosom4    ,grace   
proceeds from the throne1 from the      
throne of ,god and of the  ,lamb4       
,wherefore1 sinner1 here is laid a      
necessity upon thee2 one of  the two    
must be thy lot3 either thou must accept
 of ,god's grace1 and  be content to be 
saved freely thereby1 notwithstanding   
all thy  undeservings and unworthiness1 
or else thou must be damned for thy     
rebellion1 and for thy neglecting of    
this grace4 ,wherefore consider  with   
thyself1 and think what is best to be   

done4 ,is it better that  thou submit to
 the grace and mercy of ,god1 and that  
thou accept of  grace to reign for thee1
 in thee1 and over thee1 than that thou 
shouldst run the hazard of eternal      
damnation because thou wouldst  not be  
saved by grace8 ,consider of this1 ,i   
say1 for grace is now in  authority3 it 
reigns1 and proceeds from the throne4   
,this therefore  calls for thy most     
grave and sedate thoughts4 ,thou art in 
a strait2  wilt thou fly before ,moses1 
or with ,david fall into the hands of   
the  ,lord8 ,wilt thou go to hell for   
sin1 or to life by grace8 ,one of the   
two1 as was said before1 must be thy    
lot2 for grace is king1 is upon  the    
throne1 and will admit of no other way  
to glory4 ,rom4 #e3b4 ,in  and by it    
thou must stand1 if thou hast any hope1 
or canst at all  rejoice in hope of the 
glory of ,god4    ,if thou do get off   
thy convictions1 and not the right      
way--which is  by seeing thy sins washed
 away by the blood of ,jesus ,christ--it

 is a  question whether ,god will ever  
knock at thy heart again or no2 but     
rather say1 ,such a one is joined to    
idols2 let him alone4 ,my  spirit1 my   
ministers1 my word1 my mercy1 my grace1 
my love1 my pity1  my common            
providences1 shall no more strive with  
him2 let him  alone4 ,o sad6 ,o         
miserable6 who would slight convictions 
that are on  their souls1 which tend so 
much for their good8    ,in the creation
 of man1 ,god began with his outside2   
but in the work  of regeneration1 he    
first begins within1 at the heart4      
,whoever receive the grace that is      
tendered in the gospel1 they must  be   
quickened by the power of ,god1 their   
eyes must be opened1 their              
understandings illuminated1 their ears  
unstopped1 their hearts  circumcised1   
their wills also rectified1 and the ,son
 of ,god revealed  in them4             
,,xi4 ,,conversion4    ,,the            
,,difficulty ,,of ,,conversion4         
,,conversion to ,god is not so easy and 

so smooth a thing1 as some  would have  
men believe it is4 ,why is man's heart  
compared to fallow  ground1 ,god's word 
to a plough1 and his ministers to       
ploughmen1 if  the heart indeed has no  
need of breaking in order to the        
receiving  of the seed of ,god unto     
eternal life8 ,why is the conversion of 
the  the soul compared to the grafting  
of a tree1 if that be done without      
cutting8    ,,conversion ,,the ,,power  
,,of ,,god4    ,a broken heart is the   
handy-work of ,god1 a sacrifice of his  
own  preparing1 a material fitted for   
himself4 ,by breaking the heart he      
opens it1 and makes it a receptacle for 
the graces of his ,spirit2  that is the 
cabinet1 when unlocked1 where ,god lays 
up the jewels of  the gospel3 there he  
puts his fear3 ,i will put my fear in   
their  heart2 there he writes his law3  
,i will write my law in their  heart2   
there he puts his ,spirit3 ,i will put  
my ,spirit within you4    ,the heart    
,god chooses for his cabinet3 there he  

hides his treasure2  there is the seat  
of justice1 mercy1 and of every grace of
 ,god4    ,here is naught but open war1 
acts of hostility1 and shameful         
rebellion on the sinner's side2 and what
 delight can ,god take in  that8        
,wherefore1 if ,god will bend and buckle
 the spirit of such a  one1 he must     
shoot an arrow at him1 a bearded arrow1 
such as may not  be plucked out of the  
wound--an arrow that will stick fast1   
and  cause that the sinner fall down as 
dead at ,god's foot4 ,then will the     
sinner deliver up his arms1 and         
surrender up himself as one  conquered  
into the hand of ,god1 and beg for the  
,lord's pardon1 and  not till then      
sincerely4    ,and now ,god has         
overcome1 and his right hand and his    
holy arm have  gotten him the victory4  
,now he rides in triumph1 with his      
captive at  his chariot-wheel2 now he   
glories1 now the bells in heaven do     
ring1  now the angels shout for joy1    
yea1 are bid to do so3 ,rejoice with    

me1 for ,i have found my sheep which was
 lost4    ,,regeneration4    ,thou      
thinkest that thou art a ,christian2    
thou shouldst be sorry  else4 ,well1 but
 when did ,god show thee that thou wert 
no ,christian8  ,when didst thou see    
that2 and in the light of the ,spirit of
 ,christ  see that thou wert under the  
wrath of ,god because of original sin8  
,rom4 #e3ab4 ,nay1 dost thou know what  
original sin means8 ,is it not  the     
least in thy thoughts8 ,and dost thou   
not rejoice in secret that  thou art the
 same that thou ever wert8 ,if so1 then 
know for certain  that the wrath of ,god
 to this very day ahideth on thee1 ,john
 #c3cf2  and if so1 then thou art one of
 those that will fall in the  judgment1 
except thou art born again and made a   
new creature4 #b ,cor4  #e3ag    ,,the  
,,strait ,,gate4    ,the porch1 at which
 was an ascent to the temple1 had a gate
  belonging to it4 ,this gate1 according
 to the prophet ,ezekiel1 was  six      
cubits wide4 ,the leaves of this gate   

were double1 one folding  this way1 the 
other folding that4 ,ezek4 #dj3dh4      
,now here some may object1 and say1     
,since the way to ,god by these  doors  
was so wide1 why doth ,christ say the   
way and gate is narrow8    ,,answer4    
,the straitness1 the narrowness1 must   
not be understood of  the gate simply1  
but because of that cumber that some men
 carry with  them that pretend to be    
going to heaven4 ,six cubits6 ,what is  
sixteen  cubits to him who would enter  
in here with all the world on his  back8
 ,the young man in the gospel who made  
such a noise for heaven1  might have    
gone in easy enough1 for in six cubits  
breadth there is  room2 but1 poor man1  
he was not for going in thither unless  
he might  carry in his houses upon his  
shoulders too2 and so the gate was      
strait4 ,mark #aj3ag-bc4    ,wherefore1 
he that will enter in at the gate of    
heaven1 of which  this gate into the    
temple was a type1 must go in by        
himself1 and not  with his bundles of   

trash on his back2 and if he will go in 
thus1 he  need not fear but there is    
room4 ,the righteous nation that keepeth
  the truth1 they shall enter in4       
,they that enter in at the gate of the  
inner court must be clothed in  fine    
linen2 how then shall they go into the  
temple that carry the  clogs of the dirt
 of this world at their heels8 ,thus    
saith the ,lord1  ,no stranger          
uncircumcised in heart1 or uncircumcised
 in flesh1  shall enter into my         
sanctuary4    ,the wideness1 therefore1 
of this gate1 is for this cause here    
made  mention of1 namely1 to encourage  
them that would gladly enter  thereat   
according to the mind of ,god1 and not  
to flatter them that  are not for       
leaving off all for ,god4    ,wherefore 
let such as would go in remember that   
here is room1 even a  gate to enter at1 
six cubits wide4 ,we have been all this 
while but  on the outside of the temple1
 even in the courts of the house of the 
,lord1 to see the beauty and glory that 

is there4 ,the beauty hereof  made men  
cry out and say1 ,how amiable are thy   
tabernacles1 ,o ,lord  of hosts2 my soul
 longeth1 yea1 fainteth for the courts  
of the  ,lord2 and to say1 ,a day in thy
 courts is better than a thousand4      
,,coming ,,to ,,christ4    ,,question4  
,how must ,i be qualified before ,i     
shall dare to believe in  ,christ8      
,,answer4 ,come1 sensible of thy sins   
and of the wrath of ,god due unto  them1
 for thus thou art bid to come ,matt4   
#aa3bh4    ,,question4 ,did ever any    
come thus to ,christ8    ,,answer4      
,david came thus1 ,paul and the jailer  
came thus2 also  ,christ's murderers    
came thus4 ,psa4 #ea3a-c2 ,acts #i3f2   
#af3cj1 #ca2  #b3cg4    ,,question4 ,but
 doth it not seem most reasonable that  
we should first  mend and be good8      
,,answer4 ,the whole have no need of the
 physician1 but those that are  sick2   
,christ came not to call the righteous1 
but sinners to  repentance4             
,,question4 ,but is it not the best way1

 if one can1 to mend first8    ,,answer4
 ,this is just as if a sick man should  
say1 ,is it not best  for me to be well 
before ,i go to the physician8 or as if 
a wounded  man should say1 ,when ,i am  
cured ,i will lay on the plaster4       
,,question4 ,but when a poor creature   
sees its vileness1 it is afraid  to come
 to ,christ1 is it not8    ,,answer4    
,yes1 but without ground2 for he has    
said1 ,say to them that  are of a       
fearful heart1 ,be strong1 fear not2 and
 to this man will  ,i look1 even to him 
that is poor and of a contrite spirit1  
and  trembleth at my word4 ,isa4 #ce3d2 
#ff3b4    ,,question4 ,what             
encouragement can be given us thus to   
come8    ,,answer4 ,the prodigal came   
thus1 and his father received him1 and  
fell upon his neck and kissed him4 ,thus
 ,christ received the  ,colossians1 and 
consequently all that are saved4 ,luke  
#ae2 ,col4 #b3ac4    ,,question4 ,will  
you give me one more encouragement8     
,,answer4 ,the promises are so worded1  

that they that are scarlet  sinners1    
crimson sinners1 blasphemous sinners1   
have encouragement to  come to him with 
hopes of life4 ,isa4 #a3 #ah2 ,mark     
#c3bh2 ,john #f3cf2  ,luke #bd3dg2 ,acts
 #ac3cf    ,,temptations ,,of ,,the     
,,soul ,,coming ,,to ,,christ4    ,no   
sooner doth ,satan perceive what ,god is
 doing with the soul in a  way of grace 
and mercy1 but he endeavoreth what he   
may1 to make the  renewing thereof      
bitter and wearisome work to the sinner4
 ,o what  mists1 what mountains1 what   
clouds1 what darkness1 what objections1 
what false apprehensions of ,god1 of    
,christ1 of grace1 of the word1  and of 
the soul's condition1 doth he now lay   
before it1 and haunt it  with6 whereby  
he dejecteth1 casteth down1 daunteth1   
distresseth1 and  almost driveth it     
quite into despair4 ,now1 by the reason 
of these  things1 faith and all the     
grace that is in the soul is hard put to
  it to come at the promise1 and by the 
promise1 to ,christ2 as it is  said1    

when the tempest and great danger of    
shipwreck lay upon the  vessel in which 
,paul was1 ,they had much work to come  
by the boat4  ,acts #bg3af4 ,for        
,satan's design is1 if he cannot keep   
the soul from  ,christ1 to make his     
coming to him and closing with him as   
hard1 as  difficult and troublesome as  
he by his devices can4 ,but faith1 true 
justifying faith1 is a grace that is not
 weary by all that ,satan can  do2 but  
meditateth upon the word1 and taketh    
stomach and courage1  fighteth and      
crieth2 and by crying and fighting1 by  
help from  heaven1 its way is made      
through all the oppositions that appear 
so  mighty1 and draweth up at last to   
,jesus ,christ1 into whose bosom it     
putteth the soul2 where1 for the time1  
it sweetly resteth1 after its           
marvellous tossings to and fro4    ,and 
besides what hath been said1 let me yet 
illustrate this truth  unto you by this 
familiar similitude4    ,suppose a man1 
a traitor1 that by the law should die   

for his sin1 is  yet such a one that the
 king hath exceeding kindness for2 may  
not  the king of his clemency pardon    
this man1 yea1 order that his pardon    
should be drawn up and sealed1 and so in
 every sense be made sure1  and yet for 
the present keep all this close enough  
from the ears or  the knowledge of the  
person therein concerned8 ,yea1 may not 
the king  after all leave this person1  
with others under the same              
transgression1 to sue for and obtain    
this pardon with great expense  and     
difficulty1 with many tears and         
heartachings1 with many fears  and      
dubious cogitations8    ,why1 this is   
the case between ,god and the soul that 
he saveth3 he  saveth him1 pardoneth    
him1 and secureth him from the curse and
 death  that are due unto sin1 but yet  
doth not tell him so2 but he ascends  in
 his great suit unto ,god for it4 ,only 
this difference we must make  between   
,god and the potentates of this world3  
,god cannot pardon  before the sinner   

stands before him righteous by the      
righteousness  of ,christ2 because he   
has1 in judgment1 and justice1 and      
righteousness1 threatened and concluded 
that he that lacks  righteousness shall 
die4    ,,trials ,,and ,,encouragements 
,,of ,,the ,,awakened4    ,there are two
 things in special1 when men begin to be
 awakened1 that  kill their thoughts of 
being saved4    #a4 ,a sense of sin4 #b4
 ,the wages due thereto4 ,these kill the
 heart2  for who can bear up under the  
guilt of sin8 ,if our sins he upon us1  
and we pine away in them1 how can we    
then live8 ,how1 indeed6 it is          
impossible4 ,so neither can man grapple 
with the justice of ,god4 ,can  thy     
heart endure1 or thy hands be strong8   
they cannot4 ,a wounded  spirit1 who can
 bear8 ,men cannot1 angels cannot2      
wherefore1 if now  ,christ he hid1 and  
the blessing of faith in his blood      
denied1 woe be  to them3 such go after  
,saul and ,judas1 one to the sword and  
the  other to the halter1 and so        

miserably end their days4 ,for come to  
,god they dare not2 the thoughts of that
 eternal ,majesty strike them  through4 
,but now present such poor dejected     
sinners with a crucified ,christ1  and  
persuade them that the sins under which 
they shake and tremble  were long ago   
laid upon the back of ,christ1 and the  
noise and sense  and fear of damning    
begins to cease1 depart1 and fly away3  
dolors  and terrors fade and vanish1 and
 that soul conceiveth hopes of life2    
for thus the soul argueth3 ,is this     
indeed the truth of ,god1 that  ,christ 
was made to be sin to me--was made the  
curse of ,god for me8  ,hath he indeed  
borne all my sins1 and spilt his blood  
for my  redemption8 ,o blessed tidings1 
,o welcome grace6 ,bless the ,lord1 ,o  
my  soul1 and all that is within me1    
bless his holy name4 ,now is peace      
come1 now the face of heaven is altered4
 ,behold1 all things are  become new4   
,now the sinner can abide ,god's        
presence1 yea1 sees  unutterable glory  

and beauty in him2 for here he sees     
justice smile4  ,while ,jacob was afraid
 of ,esau1 how heavily did he drive1    
even  towards the promised land2 but    
when killing thoughts were turned  into 
kissing1 and the fears of the sword's   
point turned into  brotherly embraces1  
what says he8 ,i have seen thy face as  
though it  had been the face of ,god1   
and thou wast pleased with me4    ,so   
and far better is it with a poor        
distressed sinner1 at the  revelation of
 the grace of ,god through ,jesus       
,christ4 ,god was in  ,christ           
reconciling the world unto himself1 not 
imputing their  trespasses unto them4   
,o1 what work will such a word make upon
 a  wounded conscience1 especially when 
the next words follow3 ,for he  hath    
made him to be sin for us1 who knew no  
sin1 that we might be  made the         
righteousness of ,god in him4    ,now   
the soul sees qualifications able to set
 him quiet in the sight  of             
,god--qualifications prepared already4  

,prepared1 ,i say1 already1  and that by
 ,god through ,christ2 even such as can 
perfectly answer  the law4 ,what doth   
the law require8 ,if obedience1 here it 
is2 if  bloody sacrifice1 here it is2 if
 infinite righteousness1 here it is4    
,now then the law condemns no more him  
that believes before ,god2 for  all its 
demands are answered1 all its curses are
 swallowed up in the  death and curse   
,christ underwent4    ,,objection4 ,but 
reason saith1 ,since personal sin       
brought the death1  surely personal     
obedience must bring us life and glory4 
,,answer4 ,true1 reason saith so1 and so
 doth the law itself1 ,rom4  #aj3e2 but 
,god we know is above them both1 and he 
in the covenant of  grace saith         
otherwise1 to wit1 ,that if thou shalt  
confess with thy  mouth the ,lord       
,jesus1 and shalt believe in thy heart  
that ,god hath  raised hint from the    
dead1 thou shalt be saved4    ,let      
reason then hold its tongue2 yea1 let   
the law with all its  wisdom subject    

itself to him that made it2 let it look 
for sin where  ,god hath laid it2 let it
 approve the righteousness which ,god   
approveth3 yea1 though it be not that of
 the law1 but that by faith  of ,jesus  
,christ4    ,god hath made him our      
righteousness2 ,god hath made him our   
sin2 ,god  hath made him our curse2 ,god
 hath made him our blessing3 methinks   
this word1 ,god hath made it so1 should 
silence all the world4    ,i shall leave
 the obstinate where ,i found him1 and  
shall say to him  that is willing to be 
saved1 ,sinner1 thou hast the advantage 
of thy  neighbor1 not only because thou 
art willing to live1 but because  there 
are those that are willing thou         
shouldst1 to wit1 those unto  whom the  
issues of death belong2 and they are the
 ,father and the  ,son1 to whom be glory
 with the blessed ,spirit of grace4     
,i have seen some1 that have promised   
nothing at first setting out to  be     
pilgrims1 and that one would have       
thought could not have lived  another   

day1 that have yet proved very good     
pilgrims4    ,,objection4 ,i am afraid  
the day of grace is past1 and if it     
should  be1 what shall ,i do then8      
,,answer4 ,with some men indeed1 the day
 of grace is past before their  lives   
are at an end3 or thus1 the day of grace
 is past before the  day of death is    
come2 as ,christ saith1 ,if thou hadst  
known1 even  thou1 at least in this thy 
day1 the things which belong unto thy   
peace1 the word of grace or             
reconciliation2 but now they are hid    
from thine eyes4 ,luke #ai3db4 ,but for 
thy better satisfaction1 let  me ask1   
,doth the ,lord knock still at the door 
of thy heart1 by his  word and ,spirit8 
,if so1 then the day of grace is not    
passed with thy  soul2 for where he doth
 so knock1 there he doth also proffer   
and  promise to come in and sup1 that   
is1 to communicate of his love unto     
them2 which he would not do were the day
 of grace passed with the  soul4 ,rev   
#c3bj4    ,,objection4 ,but how shall ,i

 know whether ,christ doth so knock at  
my  heart as to be desirous to come in1 
that ,i may know also whether the  day  
of grace be passed with me or not8      
,,answer4 ,doth the ,lord make thee     
sensible of thy miserable state  without
 an interest in ,jesus ,christ2 and that
 naturally thou hast no  share in him1  
no faith in him1 no communion with him1 
no delight in  him1 or the least love to
 him8 ,if he hath1 and is doing this1 he
 is  knocking at thy heart4 ,doth he1   
together with this1 put into thy  heart 
an earnest desire after communion with  
him1 with holy  resolutions not to be   
satisfied without it8 ,doth he sometimes
 give  thee some secret persuasions1    
though scarcely discernible1 that thou  
mayest attain an interest in him8 ,doth 
he now and then glance in  some of the  
promises into thy heart1 causing them to
 leave some  heavenly savor1 though but 
for a short time1 on thy spirit8 ,dost  
thou at times see some little excellency
 in ,christ1 and doth it stir  up in thy

 soul some breathings after him8 ,if so1
 then fear not4 ,the  day of grace is   
not passed with thy poor soul2 for if   
the day of  grace should be passed with 
such a soul as this1 then that scripture
  must be broken1 where ,christ saith1  
,him that cometh to me1 ,i will  in no  
wise1 upon no terms whatsoever1 cast    
out4 ,john #f3cg4    ,get thy heart     
warmed with the sweet promise of        
,christ's acceptance  of the coming     
sinner1 and that will make thee make    
more haste unto  him4 ,discouraging     
thoughts are like unto cold weather2    
they benumb  the senses and make us go  
ungainly about our business2 but the    
sweet  and warm gleeds ,footnote3       
,glowing coals4 of promise are like the 
comfortable beams of the sun1 which     
enliveneth and refresheth4 ,you  see how
 little the bee and the fly do play in  
the air in  winter--why1 the cold       
hinders them from doing it3 but when the
 wind  and sun are warm1 who so busy as 
they8    ,,objection4 ,but saith        

another1 ,i am so heartless1 so slow1   
and1 as ,i  think1 so indifferent in my 
coming1 that to speak truth1 ,i know not
  whether my kind of coming ought to be 
called a coming to ,christ4    ,,answer4
 ,i read of some that are to follow     
,christ in chains--,i say1  to come     
after him in chains4 ,isa4 #de3ad4      
,surely they that come after  ,christ in
 chains1 come to him in great           
difficulty4    ,and what chain so heavy 
as those that discourage thee8 ,thy     
chain1  which is made up of guilt and   
filth1 is heavy2 it is a wretched band  
about thy neck1 by which thy strength   
doth fail4 ,but come1 though  thou      
comest in chains2 it is glory to        
,christ1 that a sinner comes  after him 
in chains4 ,the chinking of thy chains1 
though troublesome  to thee1 is not1 nor
 can be1 destruction to thy salvation4  
,it is  ,christ's work and glory to save
 thee from thy chains1 to enlarge thy   
steps1 and set thee at liberty4 ,the    
blind man1 though called1 surely  could 

not come apace to ,jesus ,christ2 but   
,jesus ,christ could stand  still and   
stay for him4    ,to slight grace1 to   
despise mercy1 and to stop the ear when 
,god  speaks1 when he speaks such great 
things so much to our profit1 is a      
great provocation4    ,he offers1 he    
calls1 he woos1 he invites1 he prays1 he
 beseeches us1  in this day of his      
grace1 to be reconciled to him2 yea1 and
 has  provided for us the means of      
reconciliation himself4 ,now1 to despise
  these must needs be a provoking2 and  
it is a fearful thing to fall  into the 
hands of the living ,god4               
,,objection4 ,but some man may say unto 
me1 ,fain ,i would be saved1  fain ,i   
would be saved by ,christ2 but ,i fear  
this day of grace is  past1 and that ,i 
shall perish1 notwithstanding the       
exceeding riches  of the grace of ,god4 
,,answer4 ,to this doubt ,i would answer
 several things4    ,first1 with respect
 to the day3 #a4 ,art thou jogged and   
shaken and  molested at the hearing of  

the word8 ,is thy conscience awakened   
and  convinced1 then1 that thou art at  
present in a perishing state1 and  that 
thou hast need to cry to ,god for mercy8
 ,this is a hopeful sign  that the day  
of grace is not past with thee4    #b4  
,are there in thy more retired          
condition1 arguings1 strugglings1  and  
strivings with thy spirit to persuade   
thee of the vanity of what  vain things 
thou lovest1 and to win thee in thy soul
 to a choice of  ,christ ,jesus and his 
heavenly things8 ,take heed and rebel   
not1 for  the day of ,god's grace and   
patience will not be past with thee till
  he saith his ,spirit shall strive no  
more with thee3 for then the woe  comes1
 when he shall depart from them1 and    
when he says to the means  of grace1    
,let them alone4    #c4 ,art thou       
visited in the night seasons with dreams
 about thy  state1 and that thou art in 
danger of being lost8 ,hast thou        
heart-shaking apprehensions1 when deep  
sleep is upon thee1 of hell1  death1 and

 judgment to come8 ,these are signs that
 ,god has not wholly  left thee1 or cast
 thee behind his back for ever4    ,all 
this while ,god has not left the sinner1
 nor is come to the end  of his patience
 towards him1 but stands at least with  
the door of  grace ajar in his hand1 as 
being loath as yet to bolt it against   
him4    #d4 ,art thou followed with     
affliction1 and dost thou hear ,god's   
angry  voice in thy affliction8 ,doth he
 send with thy affliction an            
interpreter to show thee thy vileness1  
and why or wherefore the hand  of ,god  
is upon thee and upon what thou hast1 to
 wit1 that it is for  thy sinning       
against him1 and that thou mightst be   
turned to him8 ,if  so1 thy summer is   
not quite ended1 thy harvest is not     
quite over and  gone4 ,take heed2 stand 
out no longer1 lest he cause darkness1  
and  lest thy feet stumble upon the dark
 mountains1 and lest while you  look for
 light1 he turn it into the shadow of   
death1 and make it  gross darkness4     

#e4 ,hast thou any enticing touches of  
the word of ,god upon thy mind8  ,doth  
as it were some holy word of ,god give a
 glance upon thee1 cast  a smile upon   
thee1 let fall though it be but one drop
 of its savor  upon thy spirit2 yea1    
though it stays but one moment with     
thee8 ,oh1  then1 the day of grace is   
not past1 the gate of heaven is not     
shut1  nor ,god's heart withdrawn from  
thee as yet4 ,take heed therefore1 and  
beware that thou make much of the       
heavenly gift and of that good  word of 
,god of which he has made thee taste4   
,secondly1 with respect to thy desires1 
what are they8 ,wouldst thou  be saved8 
,wouldst thou be saved with a thorough  
salvation8 ,wouldst  thou be saved from 
guilt and filth too8 ,wouldst thou be   
the servant  of thy ,saviour8 ,art thou 
indeed weary of the service of thy old  
masters1 the devil1 sin1 and the world8 
,and have these desires put  thy soul to
 the flight8 ,hast thou through desires 
betaken thyself to  thy heels8 ,dost    

thou fly to him that is a ,saviour from 
the wrath to  come1 for life8    ,if    
these be thy desires1 and if they be    
unfeigned1 fear not4 ,thou  art one of  
those runaways which ,god has commanded 
our ,lord to  receive1 and not to send  
thee back to the devil thy master again1
  but to give thee a place in his house1
 even the place which thou  likest best4
    ,but1 you say1 ,i am afraid ,i am   
not elect or chosen to salvation4    ,at
 present1 lay the thoughts of thy       
election by1 and ask thyself  these     
questions3 ,do ,i see my lost condition8
 ,do ,i see salvation is  nowhere but in
 ,christ8 ,would ,i share in this       
salvation by faith in  him8 ,and would  
,i be thoroughly saved from the filth as
 well as from  the guilt8 ,do ,i love   
,christ1 his ,father1 his saints1 his   
words and  ways8 ,this is the way to    
prove we are elect4    ,wherefore1      
sinner1 when ,satan or thine own heart  
seeks to puzzle  thee with election1 say
 thou1 ,i cannot attend to talk of this 

point  now2 but stay till ,i know that  
,i am called of ,god to the fellowship  
of his ,son1 and then ,i will show you  
that ,i am elect1 and that my  name is  
written in the book of life4    ,if poor
 distressed souls would observe this    
order1 they might save  themselves the  
trouble of an unprofitable labor under  
these  unreasonable and soul-sinking    
doubts4    ,let us therefore1 upon the  
sight of our wretchedness1 fly and      
venturously leap into the arms of       
,christ1 which are now as open to       
receive us into his bosom as they were  
when nailed to the cross4    ,let me    
tell thee1 soul1 for thy comfort1 who   
art coming in to ,christ  panting and   
sighing as if thy heart would break1 let
 me tell thee1  soul1 thou wouldst never
 have come to ,christ if he had not     
first1 by  the virtue of his blood and  
intercession1 sent into thy heart an    
earnest desire after ,christ2 let me    
tell thee also1 that it is his  business
 to make intercession for thee1 not1    

only that thou mayest  come in1 but that
 thou mayest be preserved when thou art 
come in4    ,they that are coming to    
,jesus ,christ are ofttimes heartily    
afraid  that ,jesus ,christ will not    
receive them4    ,this word1 in nowise1 
cutteth the throat of all objections2   
and it  was dropped by the ,lord ,jesus 
for that very end1 and to help the      
faith that is mixed with unbelief4      
,but ,i am a great sinner1 sayest thou4 
,i will in nowise cast out1  says       
,christ4 ,but ,i am an old sinner1      
sayest thou4 ,i will in nowise  cast    
out1 says ,christ4 ,but ,i am a         
hard-hearted sinner1 sayest thou4  ,i   
will in nowise cast out1 says ,christ4  
,but ,i have served ,satan all  my days1
 sayest thou4 ,i will in nowise cast    
out1 says ,christ4 ,but ,i  have sinned 
against light1 sayest thou4 ,i will in  
nowise cast out1  says ,christ4 ,but ,i 
have sinned against mercy1 sayest thou4 
,i will in  nowise cast out1 says       
,christ4 ,but ,i have no good thing to  

bring with  me1 sayest thou4 ,i ,,will  
,,in ,,nowise ,,cast ,,out1 says        
,christ4    ,,fears ,,in ,,coming ,,to  
,,christ4    #a4 ,this fear that ,christ
 will not receive thee is ,,for ,,cant  
,,of ,,the  ,,knowledge ,,of ,,christ4  
,thou knowest but little of the grace   
and  kindness that is in the heart of   
,christ2 thou knowest but little of  the
 virtue and merit of his blood2 thou    
knowest but little of the  willingness  
that is in his heart to save thee4      
,slowness of heart to  believe flows    
from thy foolishness in the things of   
,christ2 this is  evident to all that   
are acquainted with themselves1 and are 
seeking  after ,jesus ,christ4 ,the more
 ignorance1 the more unbelief2 the more 
knowledge of ,christ1 the more faith4   
,they that know thy name1 will  put     
their trust in thee4    #b4 ,thy fears  
that ,christ will not receive thee may  
be also ,a  ,,consequence ,,of ,,thy    
,,earnest ,,and ,,strong ,,desires      
,,after ,,thy ,,salvation ,,by  ,,him4  

,for this ,i observe1 that strong       
desires to have are attended  with      
strong fears of missing4 ,what man most 
sets his heart upon1 and  what his      
desires are most after1 he ofttimes most
 fears he shall not  obtain4 ,so1 the   
ruler of the synagogue had a great      
desire that his  daughter should live1  
and that desire was attended with fear  
that  she would not4 ,therefore ,christ 
saith unto him1 ,be not afraid4    ,now 
thou fearest the sins of thy youth1 the 
sins of thine old age1  the sins of thy 
calling1 the sins of thy ,christian     
duties1 the sins  of thine heart1 or    
something2 thou thinkest something or   
other will  alienate the heart and      
affections of ,jesus ,christ from thee4 
,but be content4 ,a little more         
knowledge of him will make thee take    
better heart2 thy earnest desires shall 
not be attended with such  burning      
fears2 thou shalt hereafter say1 ,this  
is my infirmity4    #c4 ,thy fear that  
,christ will not receive thee1 may arise

 from a  sense of ,,thy ,,own           
,,unworthiness4 ,thou seest what a poor1
 sorry1  wretched1 worthless creature   
thou art2 and seeing this1 thou fearest 
,christ will not receive thee4 ,alas1   
sayst thou1 ,i am the vilest  of all    
men1 a townsinner1 a ringleading sinner4
 ,i am not only a  sinner my self1 but  
,i have made others twofold worse the   
children of  hell also4 ,besides1 now ,i
 am under some awakenings and stirrings 
of  mind after salvation1 even now ,i   
find my heart rebellious1 carnal1  hard1
 treacherous1 desperate1 prone to       
unbelief1 to despair2 it  forgetteth the
 word1 it wandereth1 it runneth to the  
ends of the  earth4 ,there is not1 ,i am
 persuaded1 one in all the world that   
hath  such a desperate wicked heart as  
mine is4 ,my soul is careless to do     
good2 but none more earnest to do that  
which is evil4    ,can such a one as ,i 
am live in glory8 ,can a holy1 a just1  
and a  righteous ,god think1 with honor 
to his name1 of saving such a vile      

creature as ,i am8 ,saved ,i would be2  
and who is there that would not1  were  
he in my condition8 ,indeed ,i wonder at
 the madness and folly of  others1 when 
,i see them leap and skip so carelessly 
about the mouth  of hell4 ,bold sinner1 
how darest thou tempt ,god by laughing  
at the  breach of his holy law8 ,but1   
alas1 they are not so bad one way1 but  
,i am worse another2 ,i wish myself were
 any body but myself4 ,and yet1  here   
again ,i know not what to wish4 ,when ,i
 see such as ,i believe are  coming to  
,jesus ,christ1 ,oh ,i bless them4 ,but 
,i am confounded in  myself1 to see how 
unlike ,i am to a very good many in the 
world4  ,they can hear1 read1 pray1     
remember1 repent1 he humble1 and do     
every  thing better than so vile a      
wretch as ,i4    ,thus the sense of     
unworthiness creates and heightens fears
 in the  hearts of them that are coming 
to ,jesus ,christ4 ,but indeed it should
  not1 for who needs the physician but  
the sick8 ,or whom did ,christ  come    

into the world to save1 but the chief of
 sinners8 ,wherefore1  the more thou    
seest thy sins1 the faster fly thou to  
,jesus ,christ4  ,as it is with the man 
that carrieth his broken arm in a sling 
to the  bonesetter1 still1 as he thinks 
of his broken arm1 and as he feels  the 
pain and anguish1 he hastens his pace to
 the man4 ,and if ,satan  meets thee1   
and asketh1 ,whither goest thou8 tell   
him thou art  maimed1 and art going to  
the ,lord ,jesus4 ,if he objects thine  
own  unworthiness1 tell him1 that even  
as the sick seeketh the physician2  as  
he that hath broken bones seeks him that
 can set them2 so thou  art going to    
,jesus ,christ for healing for thy      
sin-sick soul4    ,but it ofttimes      
happeneth to him that flies for his     
life1 he  despairs of escaping1 and     
therefore delivers himself up into the  
hand of the pursuer4 ,but up1 up1       
sinner2 be of good cheer2 ,christ  came 
to save the unworthy one4 ,be not       
faithless1 but believing4 ,come  away1  

man4 ,the ,lord ,jesus calls thee1      
saying1 4,and him that cometh  to me1 ,i
 will in nowise cast out4    #d4 ,thy   
fear that ,christ will not receive thee1
 may arise from a  sense of ,,the       
,,exceeding ,,mercy ,,of ,,being        
,,saved4 ,besides1 the ,holy ,ghost     
hath a way to greaten heavenly things to
 the understanding of the  coming       
sinner2 yea1 and at the same time to    
greaten1 too1 the sin  and unworthiness 
of that sinner4 ,now1 the soul          
staggering by  wonders1 saying1 ,what6  
to be made like angels1 like ,christ2 to
 live  in eternal bliss1 joy1 and       
felicity6 ,this is for angels1 and for  
them that can walk like angels4    ,thus
 doth the greatness of the things       
desired quite dash and  overthrow the   
mind of the desire4 ,o1 it is too big1  
it is too big1  it is too great a mercy4
    ,but1 coming sinner1 let me reason  
with thee4 ,thou sayest it is too  big1 
too great4 ,well1 will things that are  
less satisfy thy soul8  ,will a less    

thing than heaven1 than glory and       
eternal life1 answer  thy desires8 ,no1 
nothing less4 ,yet ,i fear they are too 
big1 and too  good for me even to       
obtain4 ,well1 as big and as good as    
they are1  ,god giveth them to such as  
thou4 ,they are not too big for ,god to 
give2 no1 not too big to give freely4   
,be content2 let ,god give like         
himself2 he is that eternal ,god1 and   
giveth like himself4 ,when kings  give1 
they do not use to give as poor men do4 
,now1 ,god is a great  ,king2 let him   
give like a king2 nay1 let him give like
 himself1 and  do thou receive like     
thyself4 ,he has all1 and thou hast     
nothing4    #e4 ,thy fears that ,christ 
will not receive thee1 may arise from   
,,thine  ,,own ,,folly ,,in ,,inveting1 
yea1 in thy chalking out to ,god a way  
to  bring thee home to ,jesus ,christ4  
,some souls that are coming to ,jesus   
,christ are great tormentors of         
themselves upon this account4 ,they     
conclude that if their coming to ,jesus 

,christ is right1 they must  needs be   
brought home thus and thus4    ,now1 ,i 
say1 if ,god brings thee to ,christ1 and
 not by the way that  thou hast         
appointed1 then thou art at a loss2 and 
for thy being at a  loss1 thou mayest   
thank thyself4 ,god hath more ways than 
thou  knowest of to bring a sinner to   
,jesus ,christ2 but he will not give    
thee before-hand an account by which of 
them he will bring thee to  ,christ4    
,sometimes he hath his ways in the      
whirlwind1 but sometimes the ,lord  is  
not there4    ,if ,god will deal more   
gently with thee than with others of his
  children1 grudge not at it2 refuse not
 the waters that go softly1  lest he    
bring up to thee the waters of the      
rivers strong and many1  even those two 
smoking firebrands1 the devil and guilt 
of sin4 ,he  saith to ,peter1 ,follow   
me2 and what thunder did ,zaccheus hear 
or  see8 ,zaccheus1 come down1 said     
,christ2 and he came down1 says  ,luke1 
and received him joyfully4    ,but had  

,peter or ,zaccheus made the objection  
that thou hast  made-looking for a heavy
 load of guilt1 or fearful temptations  
of  ,satan-and directed the ,spirit of  
the ,lord as thou hast done1 they  might
 have looked long enough before they had
 found themselves  coming to ,jesus     
,christ4    ,poor creature6 ,thou       
criest1 ,if ,i were tempted1 ,i could   
come faster  and with more confidence to
 ,jesus ,christ4 ,thou sayest thou      
knowest  not what4 ,what says ,job8     
,withdraw thy hand far from me1 and let 
not  thy dread make me afraid3 then call
 thou1 and ,i will answer2 or let  me   
speak1 and answer thou me4 ,job #ac3    
#ba1 #bb4 ,it is not the  over-heavy    
load of sin1 but the discovery of       
mercy-not the roaring  of the devil1 but
 the drawing of the ,father1 that makes 
a man come  to ,jesus ,christ4 ,i myself
 know all these things4    ,true1       
sometimes they that come to ,jesus      
,christ1 come the way that  thou        
desirest-the loading1 tempted way2 but  

the ,lord also leads some  by the waters
 of comfort4 ,if ,i was to choose when  
to go a long  journey1 to wit1 whether  
,i would go it in the dead of winter or 
in  the pleasant spring-though if it was
 a very profitable journey1 as  that of 
coming to ,christ is1 ,i would choose to
 go it through fire  and water before ,i
 would lose the benefit-but ,i say1 if  
,i might  choose the time1 ,i would     
choose to go in the pleasant spring1    
because the way would be more           
delightsome1 the days longer and        
warmer1 the nights shorter1 and not so  
cold4    ,trouble not thyself1 coming   
sinner3 if thou seest thy lost condition
  by original and actual sin2 if thou   
seest thy need of the spotless          
righteousness of ,jesus ,christ2 if thou
 art willing to be found in  him1 and to
 take up thy cross and follow him1 then 
pray for a fair  wind and good weather1 
and come away4 ,stick no longer in a    
muse and  doubt about things1 but come  
away to ,jesus ,christ4    #f4 ,thy     

fears that ,christ will not receive thee
 may arise from ,,those  ,,decays ,,that
 ,,thou ,,findest ,,in ,,thy-,,soul1    
even while thou art coming to  him4     
,some1 even as they are coming to ,jesus
 ,christ1 do find  themselves grow worse
 and worse4 ,to explain myself3 there is
 such a  one coming to ,jesus ,christ1  
who1 when he first began to look out    
after him1 was sensible1 affectionate1  
and broken in spirit1 but now  is grown 
dark1 senseless1 hard-hearted1 and      
inclining to neglect  spiritual duties4 
,besides1 he now finds in himself       
inclinations to  unbelief1 atheism1     
blasphemy1 and the like2 now1 he finds  
he cannot  tremble at ,god's word1 his  
judgments1 nor the apprehension of      
hell-fire2 neither can he1 as he        
thinketh1 be sorry for these  things4   
,this man is in the wilderness among    
wild beasts4 ,here he sees a  bear1     
there a lion1 yonder a leopard1 a wolf1 
a dragon4 ,devils of  all sorts1 doubts 
of all sorts1 fears of all sorts haunt  

and molest  his soul4 ,this man feeleth 
the infirmity of his flesh2 he findeth a
  proneness in himself to be desperate4 
,now he chides with ,god1 flings  and   
tumbles like a wild bull in a net1 and  
still the guilt of all  returns upon    
himself to the crushing of him to       
pieces4 ,yet he  feeleth his heart so   
hard that he can find1 as he thinks1 no 
kindness under any of his miscarriages4 
,now1 he is a lump of  confusion in his 
own eyes1 whose spirit and actions are  
without  order4 ,now1 ,i see ,i am lost1
 says the sinner2 this is not coming  to
 ,jesus ,christ2 such a desperately hard
 and wretched heart as mine  is1 cannot 
be a gracious one1 saith the sinner4    
,and bid such a one  be better1 he says1
 ,i cannot2 no1 ,i cannot4              
,,question4 ,but what will you say to a 
soul in this condition8    ,,answer4 ,i 
will say1 that temptations have attended
 the best of ,god's  people2 ,i will say
 that temptations come to do us good2   
and ,i will  say also1 that there is a  

difference betwixt growing worse and    
worse1 and thy seeing more clearly how  
bad thou art4    ,there is a man of an  
ill-favored countenance who hath too    
high a  conceit of his heauty1 and      
wanting the benefit of a glass1 he still
  stands in his own conceit4 ,at last a 
limner is sent unto him1 who  draweth   
his ill-favored face to the life4 ,now1 
looking thereon1 he  hegins to be       
convinced that he is not half so        
handsome as he thought  he was4 ,coming 
sinner1 thy temptations are these       
painters2 they have  drawn out thy      
ill-favored heart to the life1 and have 
set it before  thine eyes1 and now thou 
seest how ill-favored thou art4    ,some
 that are coming to ,christ cannot lie  
persuaded1 until the  temptation comes1 
that they are so vile as the scripture  
saith they  are4 ,true1 they see so much
 of their wretchedness as to drive them 
to ,christ4 ,but there is an over and   
above of wickedness which they  see not4
 ,peter little thought that he had had  

in his heart cursing  and swearing and  
lying1 and an inclination to deny his   
,master1  before the temptation came2   
but when that indeed came upon him1 then
  he found it there to his sorrow4      
,it may be that thy graces must be tried
 in the fire1 that that rust  which     
cleaveth to them may be taken away1 and 
themselves proved1  both before angels  
and devils1 to be far better than gold  
that  perisheth4 ,it may be also1 that  
thy graces are to receive special       
praises and honor and glory1 at the     
coming of the ,lord ,jesus ,christ  to  
judgment1 for all the exploits that thou
 hast acted by them  against hell and   
its infernal crew1 in the day of thy    
temptation4    ,but to conclude this1   
put the worst to the worst1 and then    
things  will be bad enough3 suppose that
 thou art to this day without the  grace
 of ,god2 yet thou art but a miserable  
creature1 a sinner that  has need of a  
blessed ,saviour2 and the text presents 
thee with one  as good and kind as heart

 can wish1 who also for thy             
encouragement  saith1 ,and him that     
cometh to me1 ,i will in no wise cast   
out4    ,,mercy',s ,,experience4    ,so 
the ,interpreter addressed him to       
,mercy1 and said unto her1 ,and  what   
moved thee to come hither1 sweetheart8  
,then ,mercy blushed and trembled1 and  
for a while continued silent4    ,then  
said he1 ,be not afraid2 only believe1  
and speak thy mind4    ,then she began1 
and said1 ,truly1 sir1 my want of       
experience is that  which makes me covet
 to be in silence1 and that also that   
filleth me  with fears of coming short  
at last4 ,i cannot tell of visions and  
dreams as my friend ,christiana can1 nor
 know ,i what it is to mourn  for my    
refusing of the counsel of those that   
were good relations4    ,,interpreter4  
,what was it then1 dear heart1 that hath
 prevailed with  thee to do as thou hast
 done8    ,,mercy4 ,why1 when our friend
 here was packing up to be gone from our
  town1 the city of ,destruction1 ,i and

 another went accidentally to  see her4 
,so we knocked at the door and went in4 
,when we were within1  and seeing what  
she was doing1 we asked her what she    
meant4 ,she said  she was sent for to go
 to her husband2 and then she up and    
told us  how she had seen him in a      
dream1 dwelling in a curious place1     
among  immortals1 wearing a crown1      
playing upon a harp1 eating and drinking
  at his ,prince's table1 and singing   
praises to him for the bringing  him    
thither4 ,now methought1 while she was  
telling these things unto  us1 my heart 
burned withm ran4 ,and ,i said in my    
heart1 ',if this be  true1 ,i will leave
 my father and my mother1 and the land  
of my  nativity1 and will1 if ,i may1 go
 along with ,christiana4'    ,so ,i     
asked her further of the truth of these 
things1 and if she  would let me go with
 her2 for ,i saw how that there was no  
dwelling1  but with the danger of ruin1 
any longer in our town4 ,but yet ,i came
  away with a heavy heart2 not for that 

,i was unwilling to come away1  hut for 
thai so many of my relations were left  
behind4 ,and ,i am come  with all my    
heart1 and will1 if ,i may1 go with     
,christiana to her  husband and his     
,king4    ,,interpreter4 ,thy setting   
out is good1 for thou hast given credit 
to  the truth2 thou art a ,ruth1 who    
did1 for the love she hare to ,naomi    
and to the ,lord her ,god1 leave father 
and mother1 and the land of  her        
nativity1 to come out and go with a     
people that she knew not  before4 ',the 
,lord recompense thy work1 and a full   
reward be given  thee of the ,lord ,god 
of ,israel1 under whose wings thou art  
come to  trust4'    ,,fears ,,and       
,,encouragements ,,of ,,the ,,awakened4 
,some men are blood-red sinners1 crimson
 sinners1 sinners of a double  dye3     
dipped and dipped again before they come
 to ,jesus ,christ4 ,art  thou that     
readest these lines such a one8 ,speak  
out1 man4 ,art thou  such a one8 and art
 thou now coming to ,jesus ,christ for  

the mercy of  justification1 that thou  
mightest be made white in his blood and 
be  covered with his righteousness8     
,fear not2 forasmuch as this thy  coming
 betokeneth that thou art of the number 
of them that the  ,father hath given to 
,christ2 for he will in no wise cast    
thee out4  ,come now1 saith ,christ1 and
 let us reason together3 though your    
sins be as scarlet1 they shall be as    
white as snow2 though they be  red like 
crimson1 they shall be as wool4    ,i   
might tell you of the contests and      
battles that great sinners at  their    
conversion are engaged in1 wherein they 
find the besettings of  ,satan above any
 other of the saints4 ,at which time    
,satan assaults  the soul with darkness1
 fears1 frightful thoughts of           
apparitions2  now they sweat1 pant1 cry 
out1 and struggle for life4    ,the     
angels now come down to behold the      
sight1 and rejoice to see a  bit of dust
 and ashes overcome principalities1 and 
powers1 and  mights1 and dominions4     

,but whea these come to be a little     
settled1 they are prepared for  helping 
others1 and are great comforts unto     
them4 ,their great sins  give great     
encouragement to the devil to assault   
them2 and by these  temptations ,christ 
takes advantage to make them the more   
helpful to  the churches4    ,the       
biggest sinner1 when he is converted and
 comes into the church1  says to them   
all by his very coming in1 ,behold me1  
all you that are  men and women of a low
 and timorous spirit1 you whose hearts  
are  narrow--for that you have never had
 the advantage to know1 because  your   
sins are few1 the largeness of the grace
 of ,god--behold1 ,i say1  in me the    
exceeding riches of his grace4 ,i am a  
pattern set forth  before your faces1 on
 whom you may look and take heart4      
,christ  ,jesus makes of the biggest    
sinners bearers and supporters to the   
rest4    ,christ saved the thief1 to    
encourage thieves to come to him for    
mercy2 he saved ,magdalen1 to encourage 

other ,magdalens to come to  him for    
mercy2 he saved ,saul1 to encourage     
,sauls to come to him for  mercy2 and   
this ,paul himself doth say3 ,for this  
cause1 saith he1  ,i obtained mercy1    
that in me first ,jesus ,christ might   
show forth  all long-suffering for a    
pattern to them which should hereafter  
believe on him to life everlasting4     
,when ,christ was crucified and hanged  
up between the earth and  heavens1 there
 were two thieves crucified with him2   
and behold1 he  lays hold of one of them
 and will have him away with him to     
glory4  ,was not this a strange act and 
a display of unthought of grace8 ,were  
there none but thieves there1 or were   
the rest of that company out  of his    
reach8 ,could he not1 think you1 have   
stooped from the cross  to the ground1  
and have laid hold of some honester man1
 if he would8  ,yes1 doubtless4 ,o1 but 
then he would not have displayed his    
grace1  nor have so pursued his own     
designs1 namely1 to get himself a praise

  and a name2 but now he has done it to 
purpose4 ,for who that shall  read this 
story but must confess that the ,son of 
,god is full of  grace8 for a proof of  
the riches thereof he left behind him1  
when  upon the cross he took the thief  
away with him to glory4    ,i have one  
thing more to offer for thy             
encouragement1 who deemest  thyself one 
of the biggest sinners2 and that is1    
thou art as it were  called by thy name1
 in the first place to come in for      
mercy4 ,thou  man of ,jerusalem1 ,luke  
#bd3dg1 hearken to thy call3 men do so  
in  courts of judicature1 and presently 
cry out1 ,here1 sir2 and then  shoulder 
and crowd1 and say1 ,pray give way1 ,i  
am called into the  court4 ,why1 this is
 thy case1 thou great1 thou ,jerusalem  
sinner2 be  of good cheer1 he calleth   
thee4 ,why sittest thou still8 ,arise4  
,why  standest thou still8 ,come1 man1  
thy call should give thee authority  to 
corne4 ,begin at ,jerusalem1 is thy call
 and authority to come2  wherefore up   

and shoulder it1 man2 say1 ,stand away1 
devil1 ,christ  calls me2 stand away1   
unbelief1 ,christ calls me2 stand away1 
all ye  discouraging apprehensions1 for 
my ,saviour calls me to him to  receive 
of his mercy4 ,men will do thus1 as ,i  
said1 in courts below2  and why shouldst
 not thou approach thus to the courts   
above8 ,the  ,jerusalem sinner is first 
in thought1 first in commission1 first  
in  the record of names2 and therefore  
should give attendance with  expectation
 that he is first to receive mercy of   
,god4    ,is not this an encouragement  
to the biggest sinners to make their    
application to ,christ for mercy8 ,come 
unto me1 all ye that labor  and are     
heavy laden1 doth also confirm this     
thing2 that is1 that  the biggest sinner
 and he that hath the biggest burden1 is
 he who is  first invited4 ,christ      
pointeth over the heads of thousands as 
he  sits on the throne of grace1        
directly to such a man1 and says1       
,bring in hither the maimed1 the halt1  

and the blind2 let the  ,jerusalem      
shiner that stands there hehind1 come to
 me4 ,wherefore1  since ,christ says to 
thee1 ,come1 let the angels make a lane 
and let  all men give place1 that the   
,jerusalem sinner may come to ,christ   
for  mercy4    ,,despair ,,of ,,mercy   
,,unreasonable4    ,would ,jesus ,christ
 have mercy offered1 in the first place1
 to the  biggest sinners8 ,then this    
shows how unreasonable a thing it is for
  men to despair of mercy4    ,i am     
concerned only with the despair of those
 that would be saved1  but are too      
strongly borne down with the burden of  
their sins4 ,i  say1 therefore1 to thee 
that art thus1 ,and why despair8 ,thy   
despair1  if it was reasonable1 should  
flow from thee because found in the     
land that is beyond the grave1 or       
because thou certainly knowest  that    
,christ will not or cannot save thee4   
,but for the first1 thou art yet in the 
land of the living2 and for  the second1
 thou hast ground to believe quite the  

contrary4 ,christ  is able to save to   
the uttermost them that come to ,god by 
him2 and  if he were not willing1 he    
would not have commanded that mercy1 in 
the first place1 should be offered to   
the biggest sinners4 ,besides1  he hath 
said1 ,and let him that is athirst come1
 and whosoever will1  let him take the  
water of life freely--that is1 with all 
my heart4  ,what ground1 now1 is here   
for despair8 ,if thou sayest1 ,the      
number  and burden of my sins2 ,i       
answer1 ,nay2 that is rather a ground   
for  faith2 because such a one1 above   
all others1 is invited by ,christ to    
come unto him1 yea1 promised rest and   
forgiveness1 if he come4 ,matt4  #aa3   
#bh4 ,what ground1 then1 to despair8    
,verily1 none at all ,thy  despair1     
then1 is a thing unreasonable1 and      
without footing in the  word4    ,but ,i
 have no experience of ,god's love2 ,god
 has given me no comfort  or ground of  
hope1 though ,i have waited upon him for
 it many a day4    ,thou hast experience

 of ,god's love1 in that he has opened  
thine eyes  to see thy sins1 and in that
 he has given thee desires to be saved  
by ,jesus ,christ4 ,for by thy sense of 
sin1 thou art made to see thy  poverty  
of spirit1 and that has laid thee under 
a sure ground to  hope that heaven shall
 be thine hereafter4    ,also1 thy      
desires to be saved by ,christ have put 
thee under another  promise1 ,matt4 #e3 
#c1 #f2 so there are two to hold thee up
 in them1  though thy present burden be 
never so heavy4 ,as for what thou sayest
  as to ,god's silence to thee1 perhaps 
he has spoken to thee once or  twice    
already1 but thou hast not perceived it4
 ,job #cc3ad1 #ae4    ,besides1 ,god    
says1 ,they that wait upon the ,lord    
shall renew their  strength2 they shall 
mount up with wings as eagles2 but      
perhaps it  may be long first4 ,i waited
 patiently1 says ,david1 ,i sought the  
,lord2 and at length his cry was heard3 
wherefore1 he bids his soul  wait on    
,god1 and says1 ,for it is good so to do

 before thy  saints4 ,psalm #dj3a2      
#eb3i2 #fb3e4    ,and what if thou      
waitest upon ,god all thy days8 ,is it  
below thee8  ,and what if ,god will     
cross his book and blot out the         
handwriting  that is against thee1 arid 
not let thee know it as yet8 ,is it fit 
to  say unto ,god1 ,thou art            
hard-hearted8 ,despair not2 thou hast no
  ground to despair1 so long as thou    
livest in this world4 ,it is a sin  to  
begin to despair before one sets his    
foot over the threshold of  hell-gates4 
,for them that are there1 let them      
despair1 and spare  not2 but as for     
thee1 thou hast no ground to do it4     
,what1 despair of  bread in a land that 
is full of corn2 despair of mercy1 when 
our ,god  is full of mercy2 despair of  
mercy1 when ,god goes about by his      
ministers1 beseeching sinners to be     
reconciled to him8    ,thou scrupulous  
fool1 where canst thou find that ,god   
was ever false  to his promise1 or that 
he ever deceived the soul that ventured 

itself upon him8 ,he often calls upon   
sinners to trust him1 though  they walk 
in darkness1 and have no light4 ,isa4   
#ej3aj4 ,they have his  promise and oath
 for their salvation1 that flee for     
refuge to the  hope set before them4    
,despair1 when we have a ,god of mercy  
and a redeeming ,christ alive6  ,for    
shame1 forbear2 let them despair that   
dwell where there is no  ,god1 and that 
are confined to those chamhers of death 
which can be  reached by no redemption4 
,a living man despair1 when he is chid  
for murmuring and complaining6  ,lam4   
#c3ci4 ,oh1 so long as we are where     
promises swarm1 where mercy  is         
proclaimed1 where grace reigns1 and     
where ,jerusalem sinners are  privileged
 with the first offer of mercy1 it is a 
base thing to  despair4    ,despair     
undervalues the promise1 undervalues the
 invitation1  undervalues the proffer of
 grace4 ,despair undervalues the ability
 of  ,god the ,father1 and the redeeming
 blood of ,christ his ,son4 ,oh1        

unreasonable despair6    ,despair makes 
man ,god's judge2 it is a controller of 
the promise1 a  contradictor of ,christ 
in his large offers of mercy2 and one   
that  undertakes to make unbelief the   
great manager of our reason and         
judgment1 in determining about what ,god
 can and will do for sinners4           
,despair6 it is the devil's fellow1 the 
devil's master2 yea1 the  chains with   
which he is captivated1 and held under  
darkness for  ever3 arid to give way    
thereto1 in a land1 in a state and time 
that  flows with milk and honey1 is an  
uncomely thing4    ,i would say to my   
soul1 ,o my soul1 this is not the place 
of despair2  this is not the time to    
despair in4 ,as long as mine eyes can   
find a  promise in the ,bible1 as long  
as there is a moment left me of breath  
or life ill this world1 so long will ,i 
wait or look for mercy1 so  long will ,i
 fight against unbelief and despair4    
,this is the way to honor ,god and      
,christ2 this is the way to set the     

crown on the promise2 this is the way to
 welcome the invitation and  the        
inviter2 and this is the way to thrust  
thyself under the shelter  and          
protection of the word of grace4 ,never 
despair1 so long as our  text is alive2 
for that doth sound it out1 that mercy  
by ,christ is  offered in the first     
place to the biggest sinner4    ,let    
none despair1 let none presume3 let none
 despair1 that are sorry  for their sins
 and would he saved by ,jesus ,christ2  
let none presume  that abide in the     
liking of their sins1 though they seem  
to know the  exceeding grace of ,christ2
 for though the doors stand wide open   
for  the reception of the penitent1 yet 
they are fast enough barred and  bolted 
against the presumptuous sinner4 ,be not
 deceived1 ,god is not  mocked2         
whatsoever a man sows1 that shall he    
also reap4 ,it cannot be  that ,god     
should be wheedled out of his mercy1 or 
prevailed upon by  lips of              
dissimulation2 he knows them that trust 

in him1 and that  sincerely come to him 
by ,christ for mercy4    ,it is1 then1  
not the abundance of sins committed1 but
 the not coming  heartily to ,god by    
,christ for mercy1 that shuts men out of
 doors4    ,is it so1 that they that are
 coining to ,jesus ,christ1 are ofttimes
  heartily afraid that he will not      
receive them8 ,then this should  teach  
old ,christians to pity and pray for    
young comers4 ,you know the  heart of a 
stranger1 for you yourselves were       
strangers in the land  of ,egypt4 ,you  
know the fears and doubts and terrors   
that take hold  of them1 for they       
sometimes took hold of you4 ,wherefore1 
pity them1  pray for them1 encourage    
them2 they need all this4    ,,the      
,,power ,,of ,,the ,,gospel4    ,that   
,jesus ,christ1 by what he has done1 has
 paid full price to ,god  for sinners   
and obtained eternal redemption for     
them1 is evident1 if  you consider how  
the preaching thereof has been from that
 time to  this a mighty conqueror over  

all kinds of sinners4 ,what nation1 what
  people1 what kind of sinners have not 
been subdued by the preaching  of a     
crucified ,christ8 ,he upon the white   
horse with his bow and his  crown has   
conquered1 doth conquer1 and goeth forth
 yet conquering  and to conquer4    ,the
 doctrine of forgiveness of sin         
conquered his very murderers4  ,they    
could not withstand the grace2 those    
bloody ones that would  kill him        
whatever it cost them1 could stand no   
longer1 but received  his doctrine1 fell
 into his bosom1 and obtained the       
salvation which  is in ,christ ,jesus4  
,they shall look upon him whom they have
  pierced1 and mourn for him as one     
mourneth for his only son1 and  they    
shall be in bitterness for him as one is
 in bitterness for his  first-born4 ,now
 was the scripture eminently fulfilled1 
when the  kindness of a crucified       
,christ broke to pieces the hearts of   
them  that had before been his betrayers
 and murderers4 ,now was there a  great 

mourning in ,jerusalem2 now was there   
wailing and lamentation1  mixed with joy
 and rejoicing4    ,though ,paul was    
mad1 exceeding mad against ,jesus       
,christ of ,nazareth1  seeking to put   
out his name from under heaven2 yet the 
voice from  heaven1 ,i am ,jesus1 ,i am 
the ,saviour1 how did it conquer him1   
make  him throw down his arms1 fall down
 at ,christ's feet1 and accept of  the  
forgiveness of sins freely by grace1    
through redemption by faith  in his     
blood4    ,how was the sturdy jailer    
overcome by a promise of forgiveness of 
sins by faith in ,jesus ,christ4 ,it    
stopped his hand of self-murder1  it    
eased him of the gnawings of a guilty   
conscience and fears of  hell-fire1 and 
filled his soul with rejoicing in ,god4 
,what shall ,i say8 no man could as yet 
stand before1 and not fall  under1 the  
revelation of the forgiveness of sins   
through a crucified  ,christ2 as hanged1
 as dying1 as accursed for sinners1 he  
draws all  men unto him1 men of all     

sorts1 of all degrees4    ,shall ,i add1
 how have men broken through all        
difficulties to ,jesus1  when he hath   
been discovered to them6 ,neither lions1
 nor fires1 nor  sword1 nor famine1 nor 
nakedness1 nor peril2 neither death nor 
life2 nor angels1 nor principalities1   
nor powers2 nor things  present1 nor    
things to come2 nor height1 nor depth1  
nor any other  creature1 shall be able  
to separate us from the love of ,god    
which is  in ,christ ,jesus our ,lord4  
,,bunyan',s ,,conversion    ,i speak by 
experience3 ,i was one of these         
verminous ones1 one of  these great     
sin-breeders2 ,i infected all the youth 
of the town where  ,i was born with all 
manner of youthful vanities4 ,the       
neighbors  counted me so2 my practice   
proved me so3 wherefore ,christ ,jesus  
took  me first1 and taking me first1 the
 contagion was much allayed all  the    
town over4 ,when ,god made me sigh1 they
 would hearken1 and  inquiringly say1   
,what is the matter with ,john8 ,they   

also gave  their various opinions of me2
 but1 as ,i said1 sin cooled1 and failed
  as to his full career4 ,when ,i went  
out to seek the bread of life1  some of 
them would follow1 and the rest be put  
into a muse at home4    ,when it pleased
 the ,lord to begin to instruct my soul1
 he found me  one of the black sinners  
of the world2 he found me making a sport
 of  oaths1 and also of lies2 and many a
 soul-poisoning meal did ,i make  out of
 divers lusts1 as drinking1 dancing1    
etc41 with the wicked  ones of the      
world4 ,the ,lord finding me in this    
condition1 opened the  glass of his law 
unto me1 showing me so clearly my       
sins--both the  greatness of them1 and  
also how abominable they were in his    
sight--that ,i thought the very clouds  
were charged with the wrath of  ,god1   
and ready to let fall the fire of his   
jealousy upon me2 yet for  all this ,i  
was so wedded to my sins1 that ,i       
thought with myself1 ,i  will have them1
 though ,i lose my soul1 wretch that ,i 

was4 ,but ,god1  the great1 the rich1   
the infinitely merciful ,god1 did not   
take this  advantage of my soul to cast 
me away2 but followed me still1 arid    
won my heart by giving me some          
understanding1 not only of my  miserable
 state which ,i was very sensible of1   
but also that there  might he hopes of  
mercy2 taking away my love to lust1 and 
placing in  the room thereof a holy love
 to religion4 ,thus the ,lord won my    
heart  to some desire to hear the word1 
to grow a stranger to my old            
companions1 and to accompany the people 
of ,god1 giving me many sweet           
encouragements from several promises in 
the scriptures4 ,but after  this1 the   
,lord wonderfully set my sins upon my   
conscience2 those  sins especially that 
,i had committed since the first        
convictions3  temptations also followed 
me very hard2 especially such as tended 
to  make me question the way of         
salvation--whether ,jesus ,christ was   
the  ,saviour or not1 and whether ,i had

 best to venture my soul upon him  for  
salvation1 or take some other           
course--and ,i continued a year and     
upwards without any sound evidence as   
from ,god to my soul1 touching          
salvation as it comes by ,jesus ,christ4
 ,but at the last1 as ,i may  say1 when 
the set time was come1 the ,lord did set
 me down blessedly  in the truth of the 
doctrine of ,jesus ,christ4    ,about   
this time the state and happiness of    
these poor people at  ,bedford was thus1
 in a kind of a vision1 presented to me4
 ,i saw as  if they were on the sunny   
side of some high mountain1 there       
refreshing themselves with the pleasant 
beams of the sun1 whilst ,i  was        
shivering and shrinking in the cold1    
afflicted with frost1 snow1  and dark   
clouds4 ,methought also1 between me and 
them ,i saw a wall  that did compass    
about this mountain4 ,now1 through this 
mountain my  soul did greatly desire to 
pass2 concluding that if ,i could1 ,i   
would  even go into the very midst of   

them and there also comfort myself  with
 the heat of their sun4    ,about this  
wall ,i bethought myself to go again and
 again1 still  prying as ,i went1 to see
 if ,i could find some way or passage by
  which ,i might enter therein2 but none
 could ,i find for some time3 at  the   
last1 ,i saw as it were a narrow gap1   
like a little door-way in  the wall1    
through which ,i attempted to pass2 now 
the passage being  very strait and      
narrow1 ,i made many offers to get in1  
but all in  vain1 even until ,i was     
well-nigh quite beat out by striving to 
get  in2 at last1 with great striving1  
methought ,i at first did get in my     
head1 and after that1 by a sideling     
striving1 my shoulders and my  whole    
body2 then was ,i exceeding glad1 and   
went and sat down in the  midst of them1
 and so was comforted with the light and
 heat of their  sun4    ,now1 this      
mountain and wall1 etc41 was thus made  
out to me3 the  mountain signified the  
church of the living ,god2 the sun that 

shone  thereon1 the comfortable shining 
of his merciful face on them that  were 
therein2 the wall ,i thought was that   
which did make separation  betwixt the  
,christians and the world2 and the gap  
which was in the  wall1 ,i thought was  
,jesus ,christ1 who is the way to ,god  
the ,father4  ,but forasmuch as the     
passage was wonderful narrow1 even so   
narrow  that ,i could not but with great
 difficulty enter in thereat1 it  showed
 me that none could enter into life but 
those that were in  downright earnest1  
and unless also they left that wicked   
world  behind them2 for here was only   
room for body and soul1 but not for     
body and soul and sin4    ,this         
resemblance abode upon my spirit many   
days2 all which time ,i  saw myself in a
 forlorn and sad condition1 but yet was 
provoked to a  vehement hunger and      
desire to be one of that number that did
 sit in  the sunshine2 now also would ,i
 pray wherever ,i was1 whether at home  
or abroad1 in house or field2 and would 

also often1 with lifting up  of heart1  
sing that of the fifty-first ,psalm1 ,o 
,lord1 consider my  distress2 for as yet
 ,i knew not where ,i was4    ,neither  
as yet could ,i attain to any           
comfortahle persuasion that ,i  had     
faith in ,christ2 hut instead of having 
satisfaction here1 ,i  began to find my 
soul to be assaulted with fresh doubts  
about my  future happiness2 especially  
with such as these3 ,whether ,i was     
elected2 ,but how if the day of grace   
should be past and gone8    ,now was ,i 
in great distress1 thinking in very deed
 that this might  well be so3 wherefore 
,i went up and down bemoaning my sad    
condition2  counting myself far worse   
than a thousand fools for standing off  
thus long1 and spending so many years in
 sin as ,i had done2 still  crying out1 
,o that ,i had turned sooner6 ,o that ,i
 had turned seven  years ago6 ,it made  
me also angry with myself to think that 
,i should  have no more wit but to      
trifle away my time till my soul and    

heaven  were lost4    ,but when ,i had  
been long vexed with this fear1 and was 
scarce able  to take one step more1     
these words broke in upon my mind3      
,compel  them to come in1 that my house 
may he filled2 and yet there is  room4  
,these words1 but especially these1 and 
yet there is room1  were sweet words to 
me2 for truly ,i thought that by them ,i
 saw there  was place enough in heaven  
for me1 and moreover1 that when the     
,lord  ,jesus spake these words1 he did 
then think of me2 and that he  knowing  
that the time would come that ,i should 
be afflicted with  fear that there was  
no place left for me in his bosom1 did  
before  speak this word and leave it    
upon record1 that ,i might find help    
thereby against this vile temptation4   
,how lovely now in my eyes were all     
those that ,i thought to be  converted  
men and women4 ,they shone1 they walked 
like a people that  carried the broad   
seal of heaven about them4 ,oh1 ,i saw  
the lot was  fallen to them in pleasant 

places1 and they had a goodly heritage4 
,but that which made me sick1 was that  
of ,christ in ,mark #c3ac1 ,he  went up 
into a mountain1 and called unto him    
whom he would2 and they  came unto him4 
,this scripture made me faint and fear1 
yet it  kindled fire in my soul4 ,that  
which made me fear was this1 lest       
,christ should have no liking to me2 for
 he called whom he would4  ,but ,oh1 the
 glory that ,i saw in that condition did
 still so engage  my heart1 that ,i     
could seldom read of any that ,christ   
did call2 but  ,i presently wished1     
,would ,i had been in their clothes2    
would ,i had  been born ,peter2 would ,i
 had been born ,john2 or would ,i had   
been by  and had heard him when he      
called them1 how would ,i have cried1   
',o  ,lord1 call me also4' ,but ,oh1 ,i 
feared he would not call me4    ,,fears 
,,about ,,election    ,before thou canst
 know whether thou art elected1 thou    
must believe  in ,jesus ,christ so      
really1 that by thy faith there shall be

 life  begotten in thy soul--life from  
the condemning of the law2 life from    
the guilt of sin2 life over its filth2  
life also to walk with ,god in  his ,son
 and ways2 the life of love to ,god the 
,father1 to ,jesus  ,christ his ,son1 to
 his saints1 and to his ways1 because   
they are  holy1 harmless1 and altogether
 contrary to iniquity4    ,,young       
,,converts    ,in young converts1 hope  
and distrust1 or a degree of despair1 do
  work and answer one another as doth   
the noise of the balance of the  watch  
in the pocket4 ,life and death is always
 the motion of the mind  then2 and this 
noise continues until faith is stronger 
grown1 and  until the soul is better    
acquainted with the methods and ways of 
,god  with a sinner4 ,yea1 was but a    
carnal man in a convert's heart1 and    
could see1 he should discern these two1 
to wit1 hope and fear1 to  have a       
continual motion in the soul--wrestling 
and opposing one  another as do light   
and darkness1 in striving for the       

victory4    ,and hence it is that you   
find such people so fickle and uncertain
 in  their spirits2 now on the mount1   
then in the valleys2 now in the         
sunshine1 then in the shade2 now warm1  
then frozen2 now bonny and  blithe1 then
 in a moment pensive and sad1 as        
thinking of a portion  nowhere but in   
hell4    ,in the general1 all the days  
of our pilgrimage here are evil2 yea1   
every day has a sufficiency of evil in  
it to destroy the best saint  that      
breatheth1 were it not for the grace of 
,god4 ,but there are also  particular   
specious times1 times more eminently    
dangerous and  hazardous unto saints4   
,as1    #a4 ,there are their young days1
 the days of their youth and childhood  
in grace4 ,this day is usually attended 
with much evil towards him or  them that
 are asking the way to ,zion with their 
faces thitherward4  ,now the devil has  
lost a sinner2 there is a captive has   
broke  prison1 and one run away from his
 master2 now hell seems to be  awakened 

from sleep2 the devils are come out1    
they roar1 and roaring  they seek to    
recover their runaway2 they tempt him1  
threaten him1  flatter him1 stigmatize  
him1 throw dust in his eyes1 poison him 
with  errors1 spoil him while he is upon
 the potter's wheel2 any thing to  keep 
him from coming to ,jesus ,christ4 ,and 
is not this a needy time8  ,doth not    
such a one want abundance of grace8 ,is 
it not of absolute  necessity that thou1
 if thou art the man thus beset1        
shouldst ply it  at the throne of grace 
for mercy and grace to keep thee in such
 a  time of need as this8    ,to want a 
spirit of prayer now1 is as much as thy 
life is worth4 ,oh1  therefore1 you that
 know what ,i say1 you that are broke   
loose from  hell1 that are fled for     
refuge to lay hold on the hope set      
before  you1 and that do hear the lion  
roar after you1 and that are kept  awake
 with the continual voice of his        
chinking chain1 cry as you  fly2 yea1   
the promise is1 that they that come to  

,god with weeping1  with supplication1  
he will lead them4    ,well1 this is one
 needy time2 now thy hedge is low1 now  
thy branch  is tender1 now thou art but 
in the bud4 ,pray that thou be not      
marred  in the potter's hand4           
,,xii4 ,,the ,,christian ,,described    
,,happiness ,,of ,,the ,,christian      
,o ,,how happy is he who is not only a  
visible1 but also an invisible  saint6  
,he shall not be blotted out the book of
 ,god's eternal grace  and mercy4       
,,dignity ,,of ,,the ,,christian        
,there are a generation of men in the   
world1 that count themselves  men of the
 largest capacities1 when yet the       
greatest of their  desires lift         
themselves no higher than to things     
below4 ,if they can  with their net of  
craft and policy encompass a bulky lump 
of earth1  ,oh1 what a treasure have    
they engrossed to themselves6           
,meanwhile1 the man who comes to ,god by
 ,christ1 has laid siege to  heaven1 has
 found out the way to get into the city1

 and is resolved1  in and by ,god's     
help1 to make that his own4 ,earth is a 
drossy thing  in this man's account2    
earthly greatness and splendors are but 
like  vanishing bubbles in this man's   
esteem4 ,none but ,god as the end of    
his desires1 none but ,christ as the    
means to accomplish this his  end1 are  
things counted great by this man4 ,no   
company now is  acceptable to this man1 
but the ,spirit of ,god1 ,christ1 angels
 and  saints1 as fellow-heirs with      
himself4 ,all other men and things1 he  
deals with as strangers and pilgrims    
were wont to do4 ,this man's  mind soars
 higher than the eagle1 or stork of the 
heavens4 ,he is for  musing about things
 that are above and their glory1 and for
 thinking  what shall come to pass      
hereafter4    ,is it so1 that coming to 
,christ is by the ,father8 ,then this   
should  teach us to set a high esteem   
upon them that are indeed coming to     
,jesus ,christ1 for the sake of him by  
virtue of whose grace they are  made to 

come to ,jesus ,christ4    ,we see that 
when men1 by the help of human          
abilities1 do arrive at  the knowledge  
of1 and bring to pass that which1 when  
done1 is a  wonder to the world1 how he 
that did it is esteemed and commended4  
,yea1 how are his wits1 parts1 industry1
 and unweariedness in all1  admired2 and
 yet the man1 as to this1 is but of the 
world2 and his  work the effect of      
natural ability4 ,the things also       
attained by him1  end in vanity and     
vexation of spirit4 ,further1 perhaps1  
in the  pursuit of these his            
achievements1 he sins against ,god1     
wastes his  time vainly1 and at long run
 loses his soul by neglecting of better 
things4 ,yet he is admired4    ,but1 ,i 
say1 if this man's parts1 labor1        
diligence1 and the like1  will bring him
 to such esteem in the world1 what      
esteem should we  have of such a one    
that is1 by the gift1 promise1 and power
 of ,god1  coming to ,jesus ,christ8    
#a4 ,this is the man with whom ,god is1 

in whom ,god works and walks--a  man1   
whose motion is governed and steered by 
the mighty hand of ,god1  and the       
effectual working of his power4 ,here is
 a man6    #b4 ,this man1 by the power  
of ,god's might which worketh in him1 is
  able to cast a whole world behind him1
 with all the lusts and  pleasures of   
it1 and to charge through all the       
difficulties that men  and devils can   
set against him4 ,here is a man6    #c4 
,this man is travelling to mount ,zion1 
the heavenly ,jerusalem1  the city of   
the living ,god2 and to an innumerable  
company of angels1  and the spirits of  
just men made perfect1 to ,god the judge
 of all1  and to ,jesus4 ,here is a man6
    #d4 ,this man can look upon death   
with comfort1 can laugh at  destruction 
when it cometh1 and long to hear the    
sound of the last  trump1 and to see the
 ,judge coming in the clouds of heaven4 
,here is  a man1 indeed6    ,we pass    
through a threefold state from nature to
 glory2 the state of  grace in this     

life1 the state of felicity in paradise1
 and our state  in glory after the      
resurrection4    ,they are all kings    
that go to that world1 and so shall be  
proclaimed  there4 ,they shall also be  
crowned with crowns1 and they shall wear
  crowns of life and glory1 crowns of   
everlasting joy1 crowns of              
loving-kindness4    ,the coming man1 the
 man that comes to ,god by ,christ1 if  
his way1 all  his way thither were      
strewed with burning coals1 would       
choose1 ,god  helping him1 to tread that
 path rather than to have his portion   
with  them that perish4    ,the angel of
 the ,lord encampeth about them that    
fear him1 and  delivereth them4 ,this1  
therefore1 is a glorious privilege of   
the  men that fear the ,lord4 ,alas1    
they are some of them so mean1 that     
they are counted not worth taking notice
 of by the high ones of the  world2 but 
their betters do respect them3 the      
angels of ,god count  not themselves too
 good to attend on them1 and camp about 

them to  deliver them4 ,this then is the
 man that hath his angel to wait on     
him1 even he that feareth the ,lord4    
,it is said1 that when the church is    
fair as the sun1 and clear as  the moon1
 she is terrible as an army with        
banners4 ,the presence  of godly ,samuel
 made the elders of ,bethlehem tremble2 
yea1 when  ,elisha was sought for by the
 king of ,syria1 he durst not engage him
  but with chariots and horses1 a heavy 
host4 ,godliness is a wonderful  thing2 
it commandeth reverence1 and the        
stooping of the spirit1 even  of the    
ungodly ones4    ,godliness puts such a 
majesty and dread upon the professors of
 it1  that their enemies are afraid of  
them2 yea1 even then when they rage     
against them1 and lay heavy afflictions 
upon them4 ,it is marvellous  to see in 
what fear the ungodly are1 even of godly
 men and  godliness2 in that they stir  
up the mighty1 make edicts against      
them1 yea1 and raise up armies1 and what
 else can be imagined1 to  suppress     

them2 while the persons thus opposed1 if
 you consider them  as to their state   
and capacity in this world1 are the most
  inconsiderable--but as a dead dog or a
 flea4 ,o1 but they are clothed  with   
godliness2 the image and presence of    
,god is upon them4 ,this  makes the     
beasts of this world afraid4 ,one of you
 shall chase a  thousand4    ,the       
ornament and beauty of this lower world1
 next to ,god and his  wonders1 are the 
men that spangle and shine in godliness4
    ,,the ,,family ,,in ,,heaven ,,and  
,,earth    ,the whole family in heaven1 
and earth4 ,the difference betwixt us   
and them is1 not that we are really two1
 but one body in ,christ1 in  divers    
places4 ,true1 we are below stairs1 and 
they above2 they in  their holiday1 and 
we in our working-day clothes2 they in  
harbor1  but we in the storm2 they at   
rest1 but we in the wilderness2 they    
singing1 as crowned with joy1 we crying1
 as crowned with thorns4 ,but  we are   
all of one house1 one family1 and are   

all the children of one  ,father4       
,,feebleness ,,of ,,the ,,christian     
,israel1 as the child of ,god1 is a     
pitiful thing of himself2 one that  is  
full of weaknesses1 infirmities1 and    
defects1 should we speak  nothing of his
 transgressions4 ,he that is to be      
attended with so  many mercies1         
absolutely necessary mercies1 must needs
 be in himself  a poor indigent         
creature4 ,should you see a child       
attended with so  many engines to make  
him go1 as the child of ,god is attended
 with  mercies to make him stand1 you   
would say1 ,what an infirm1 decrepid1   
helpless thing is this6 ,would you not  
say1 ,such a one is not worth  the      
keeping1 and his father cannot look for 
any thing from him1 but  that he should 
live upon high charge and expense1 as   
long as he  liveth8 ,why1 this is the   
case4 ,israel is such a one1 nay1 a     
worse3  he cannot live without tender   
mercy1 without great mercy1 without     
rich mercy1 without manifold mercy4 ,he 

cannot stand1 if mercy doth  not compass
 him round about1 nor go1 unless mercy  
follows him4 ,yea1  if mercy that       
rejoiceth against judgment doth not     
continually  flutter over him1 the very 
moth will eat him up1 the canker will   
consume him4    ,,the ,,christian       
,,under ,a ,,sense ,,of                 
,,guilt--,,bunyan',s ,,experience    ,i 
had no sooner began to recall to my mind
 my former experience of  the goodness  
of ,god to my soul1 but there came      
flocking into my mind  an innumerable   
company of my sins and transgressions2  
amongst which  these were at this time  
most to my affliction1 namely1 my       
deadness1  dulness1 and coldness in holy
 duties2 my wanderings of heart1 my     
wearisomeness in all good things1 and my
 want of love to ,god1 his  ways1 and   
his people1 with this at the end of all3
 ,are these the  fruits of              
,christianity8 ,are these the tokens of 
a blessed man8 ,now1  ,i sunk and fell  
in my spirit1 and was giving up all for 

lost2 but1  as ,i was walking up and    
down in the house1 as a man in a most   
woful  state1 that word of ,god took    
hold of my heart1 ,ye are justified     
freely by his grace1 through the        
redemption that is in ,jesus  ,christ4  
,but ,oh1 what a turn it made upon me4  
,now was ,i as one awakened out of some 
troublesome sleep and dream2  and       
listening to this heavenly sentence1 ,i 
was as if ,i had heard it  thus spoken  
to me3 ,sinner1 thou thinkest that1     
because of thy sins  and infirmities1 ,i
 cannot save thy soul2 but behold1 my   
,son is by  me1 and upon him ,i look1   
and not on thee1 and shall deal with    
thee  according as ,i am pleased with   
him4 ,at this ,i was greatly            
enlightened in my mind1 and made to     
understand that ,god could  justify a   
sinner at any time2 it was but his      
looking upon ,christ1  and imputing his 
benefits to us1 and the work was        
forthwith done4    ,and as ,i was thus  
in a muse1 that scripture also came with

 great  power upon my spirit1 ,not by   
works of righteousness that we have     
done1 but according to his mercy he     
saved us4 ,now was ,i got on  high2 ,i  
saw myself within the arms of grace and 
mercy2 and though ,i  was before afraid 
to think of a dying hour1 yet now ,i    
cried1 ,let me  die2 now death was      
lovely and beautiful in my sight1 for ,i
 saw we  should never live indeed till  
we reach the other world4 ,oh1          
methought1 this life is but a slumber1  
in comparison of that above4  ,at this  
time also ,i saw more in these words1   
heirs of ,god1 than  ever ,i shall be   
able to express while ,i live in this   
world4 ,,heirs ,,of  ,,god6 ,god himself
 is the portion of the saints4 ,this ,i 
saw and  wondered at1 but cannot tell   
you what ,i saw4    ,sometimes ,i have  
been so loaded with my sins1 that ,i    
could not tell  where to rest nor what  
to do2 and at such times ,i thought it  
would  have taken away my senses2 but   
,god1 through grace1 hath so            

effectually applied the atonement of    
,jesus to my poor wounded1  guilty      
conscience1 and ,i have found such a    
sweet1 solid1 sober1  heart-comforting  
peace1 that it hath made me rejoice     
exceedingly2  and ,i have for a time    
been in a strait and trouble1 that ,i   
should  love and honor him no more1 the 
virtue of whose blood hath so  comforted
 my soul4    ,my sins have at times     
appeared so great1 that ,i have thought 
one of  them as heinous as all the sins 
of all the men in the world4 ,reader1   
these things are not fancies1 for ,i    
have smarted for this  experience2 yet  
the least believing view of the blood of
 ,jesus hath  made my guilt vanish to my
 astonishment1 and delivered me into    
sweet  and heavenly peace and joy in the
 ,holy ,ghost4    ,sometimes when my    
heart hath been hard1 slothful1 blind1  
and  senseless--which are sad frames for
 a poor ,christian--then hath the       
precious blood of ,christ softened1     
enlivened1 quickened1 and  enlightened  

my soul4    ,when ,i have been loaded   
with sin and harassed with temptations1 
,i  had a trial of the virtue of        
,christ's blood1 with a trial of the    
virtue of other things2 and ,i have     
found that when tears1 prayers1         
repentings1 and all other things could  
not reach my heart1 one  shining of the 
virtue of his blood hath in a very      
blessed manner  delivered me4 ,it hath  
come with such life and power1 with such
  irresistible and marvellous glory1 as 
to wipe off all the slurs1  silence all 
the outcries1 and quench all the fiery  
darts and flames  of hell-fire1 that are
 begotten by the charges of the law1    
,satan1  and doubtful remembrances of a 
sinful life4    ,,sin ,,and ,,the       
,,saviour4    ,saints are sweetly       
sensible that the sense of sin and the  
assurance  of pardon will make famous   
work in their poor hearts4 ,ah1 what    
meltings without guilt2 what humility   
without casting down2 and what  a sight 
of the creature's nothingness1 yet      

without fear1 will this  sense of sin   
work in the soul4 ,the sweetest frame1  
the most  heart-endearing frame that    
possibly a ,christian can get into while
  in this world1 is to have a warm sight
 of sin and of a ,saviour upon  the     
heart at one time4 ,now it weeps not for
 fear and through  torment1 but by      
virtue of constraining grace and mercy1 
and is at  this very time so far off of 
disquietness of heart by reason of the  
sight of its wickedness1 that it is     
driven into an ecstasy by reason  of the
 love and mercy that is mingled with the
 sense of sin in the  soul4 ,the heart  
never sees so much of the power of mercy
 as now1 nor  of the virtue1 value1 and 
excellency of ,christ in all his        
offices1  as now2 and the tongue is     
never so sweetly enlarged to proclaim   
and  cry up grace as now3 now will      
,christ come to be glorified in his     
saints and admired in them that believe4
    ,dost thou see in thee all manner of
 wickedness8 ,the best way that ,i  can 

direct a soul in such a case1 is to     
place a steadfast eye on ,him  that is  
full1 and so to look to him by faith as 
that thereby thou  mayest draw his      
fulness into thy heart4    ,the best    
saints are most sensible of their sins1 
and most apt to  make mountains of their
 molehills4    ,,the ,,christian ,,in   
,,darkness4    ,i know it is dreadful   
walking in darkness2 but if that should 
be the  ,lord's lot upon me1 ,i pray    
,god ,i may have faith enough to stay   
upon  him till death2 and then will the 
clouds blow over1 and ,i shall see  him 
in the light of the living4    ,,the    
,,valley ,,of ,,the ,,shadow ,,of       
,,death4    ,then they went on again1   
and their conductor did go before them1 
till they came to a place where was cast
 up a pit the whole breadth  of the way2
 and before they could be prepared to go
 over that1 a  great mist and a darkness
 fell upon them so that they could not  
see4  ,then said the pilgrims1 ,alas1   
what now shall we do8 ,but their  guide 

made answer1 ,fear not2 stand still1 and
 see what an end will  be put to this   
also4 ,so they staid there1 because     
their path was  marred4 ,then they also 
thought they did hear more apparently   
the  noise and rushing of the enemies2  
the fire also and smoke of the pit  was 
much easier to be discerned4 ,then said 
,christiana to ,mercy1 ,now  ,i see what
 my poor husband went through2 ,i have  
heard much of this  place1 but ,i never 
was here before now4 ,poor man6 he went 
here all  alone in the night2 he had    
night almost quite through the way2 also
  these fiends were busy about him1 as  
if they would have torn him in  pieces4 
,many have spoke of it1 but none can    
tell what the ,valley of  the ,shadow of
 ,death should mean until they come in  
themselves4 ,the  'heart knoweth its own
 bitterness2 a stranger intermeddleth   
not with  its joy4' ,to be here is a    
fearful thing4    ,this1 said ,mr4      
,greatheart1 is like doing business in  
great  waters1 or like going down into  

the deep2 this is like being in the     
heart of the sea1 and like going down to
 the bottom of the  mountains2 now it   
seems as if the earth with its bars were
 about us  for ever4 ,but let them that 
walk in darkness and have no light1     
trust in the name of the ,lord1 and stay
 upon their ,god4 ,for my part1  ,i have
 often gone through this valley1 and    
have been much harder put  to it than   
now ,i am2 and yet you see ,i am alive4 
,i would not boast1  for that ,i am not 
my own saviour2 but ,i trust we shall   
have a good  deliverance4 ,come1 let us 
pray for light to ,him that can lighten 
our  darkness1 and can rebuke not only  
these1 but all the devils in  hell4 ,so 
they cried and prayed1 and ,god sent    
light and deliverance4    ,,the         
,,christian ,,doubting4    ,it is a rare
 thing for some ,christians to see their
 graces1 but a  thing very common for   
such to see their sins1 yea1 and to feel
 them  too in their lusts and desires1  
to the shaking of their souls4          

,,question4 ,but since ,i have lusts and
 desires both ways1 how shall ,i  know  
to which my soul adheres8    ,,answer4  
,this may be known thus3    #a4 ,which  
wouldest thou have prevail2 the desires 
of the flesh1 or  the lusts of the      
spirit8 ,whose side art thou of8 ,doth  
thy soul now  inwardly say1 and that    
with a strong indignation1 ,oh1 let     
,god1 let  grace1 let my desires that   
are good1 prevail against my flesh1 for 
,jesus ,christ's sake8    #b4 ,what kind
 of secret wishes hast thou in thy soul1
 when thou  feelest the lusts of thy    
flesh to rage8 ,dost thou not inwardly1 
and  with indignation against sin1 say1 
,o that ,i might never1 never feel  one 
such motion more4 ,o that my soul were  
so full of grace1 that  there might be  
no longer room for even the least lust  
to come into  my thoughts8    #c4 ,what 
kind of thoughts hast thou of thyself1  
now thou seest those  desires of thine  
that are good so briskly opposed by     
those that are  bad8 ,dost thou not say1

 ,oh1 ,i am the basest of creatures2 ,i 
could  even spew at myself4 ,there is no
 man in all the world1 in my eyes1  so  
loathsome as myself is4 ,i abhor myself2
 a toad is not so vile as  ,i am4 ,o    
,lord1 let me be any thing but a sinner2
 any thing1 so thou  subduest mine      
iniquities for me8    #d4 ,how dost thou
 like the discovery of that which thou  
thinkest is  grace in other men6 ,dost  
thou not cry out1 ,oh1 ,i bless them in 
my  heart6 ,oh1 methinks grace is the   
greatest beauty in the world6 ,yea1  ,i 
could be content to live and die with   
those people that have the  grace of    
,god in their souls4 ,a hundred times1  
and a hundred when ,i  have been upon my
 knees before ,god1 ,i have desired1    
were it the will  of ,god1 that ,i might
 be in their condition8    #e4 ,how art 
thou1 when thou thinkest that thou      
thyself hast grace8  ,oh1 then1 says the
 soul1 ,i am as if ,i could leap out of 
myself2  joy1 joy1 joy then is in my    
heart4 ,it is1 methinks1 the greatest   

mercy under heaven to be made a gracious
 man4    ,and is it thus with thy soul  
indeed8 ,happy man6 ,it is grace that   
has  thy soul1 though sin at present    
works in thy flesh4 ,yea1 all those     
breathings are the very actings of      
grace1 even of the grace of  desire1 of 
love1 of humility1 and of the fear of   
,god within thee4 ,be  of good courage2 
thou art on the right side4    ,i find1 
says the doubting ,christian1 weakness  
and faintness as to  my graces2 my      
faith1 my hope1 my love and desires to  
these and all  other ,christian duties1 
are weak3 ,i am like the man in the     
dream1  that would have run1 but could  
not2 that would have fought1 but  could 
not1 and that would have fled1 but could
 not4    ,,answer4 ,weak graces are     
graces--weak graces may grow stronger2  
but  if the iron be blunt1 put to the   
more strength4 ,eccles4 #aj3aj4  ,christ
 seems to be most tender of the weak3   
,he shall gather lambs  with his arm1   
shall carry them in his bosom1 and shall

 gently lead  them that are with young4 
,only here thy wisdom will be           
manifested1  to wit1 that thou grow in  
grace1 and that thou use lawfully and   
diligently the means to do it4 #b ,pet4 
#c3ah2 ,phil4 #c3aj1 #aa2 ,i ,thess4    
#c3aa-ac4    ,i never heard a           
presumptuous man in my life say that he 
was afraid  that he presumed2 but ,i    
have heard many an honest1 humble soul  
say  that they have been afraid that    
their faith has been presumptive4       
,,indwelling ,,sin4    ,a man1 in mind  
and affections1 may depart from that    
which yet will  not depart from him1    
yea1 a man in mind may depart from that 
which  yet will dwell in him as long as 
he lives4    ,for instance1 there are   
many diseases that cleave to men1 from  
which  in their minds they willingly    
depart2 yea1 their greatest             
disquietment is1 that so bad a distemper
 will abide by them2 and  might they but
 have their desire accomplished1 they   
would be as far  therefrom as the ends  

of the earth are asunder3 and while they
 are  found to continue together1 the   
mind departs therefrom1 and is gone     
either to ,god or to physicians for help
 and deliverance from it4    ,and thus  
it is with the saint1 and should be with
 every one that by  way of profession   
nameth the name of ,christ1 ,rom4 #g2 he
 should  depart from his indwelling sin 
with his mind3 ,with his mind he  should
 serve the law of ,god4    ,,mr4        
,,fearing4    ,,honest4 ,it seems he was
 well at last4    ,,great-,,heart4 ,yes1
 yes2 ,i never had a doubt about him4   
,he was a man  of a choice spirit2 only 
he was always kept very low1 and that   
made  his life so burdensome to himself 
and so very troublesome to others4  ,he 
was1 above many1 tender of sin2 he was  
so afraid of doing  injuries to others1 
that he would often deny himself of that
 which  was lawful1 because he would not
 offend4    ,,honest4 ,but what should  
be the reason that such a good man      
should be  all his days so much in the  

dark8    ,,great-,,heart4 ,there are two
 sorts of reasons for it4 ,one is1 the  
wise  ,god will have it so2 some must   
pipe1 and some must weep3 now1 ,mr4     
,fearing was one that played upon the   
bass4 ,he and his fellows sound  the    
sackbut1 whose notes are more doleful   
than the notes of other  music are1     
though indeed some say the bass is the  
ground of music4  ,and1 for my part1 ,i 
care not at all for that profession that
 begins  not in heaviness of mind4 ,the 
first string that the musician usually  
touches is the bass1 when he intends to 
put all in tune2 ,god also  plays upon  
this string first1 when he sets the soul
 in tune for  himself4 ,only1 there was 
the imperfection of ,mr4 ,fearing1 he   
could  play upon no other music but this
 till towards his latter end4           
,,honest4 ,he was a very zealous man1 as
 one may see by the relation  which you 
have given of him4 ,difficulties1 lions1
 or ,vanity ,fair1 he  feared not at    
all3 it was only sin1 death1 and hell   

that were to him  a terror1 because he  
had some doubts about his interest in   
that  celestial country4    ,when he was
 come at the river where was no bridge1 
there he was in a  heavy case4 ,now1    
now1 he said1 he should be drowned for  
ever1 and  so never see that face with  
comfort1 that he had come so many miles 
to behold4 ,and here ,i took notice of  
what was very remarkable--the  water of 
that river was lower at this time than  
ever ,i saw it in all  my life2 so he   
went over at last1 not much above       
wet-shod ,when he  was going up to the  
gate1 ,mr4 ,great-heart began to take   
his leave of  him1 and to wish him a    
good reception above2 so he said1 ,i    
shall1 ,i  shall2 then parted we        
asunder1 and ,i saw him no more4        
,,encouragement ,,for ,,the ,,doubting  
,,christian4    ,doth this water of life
 run like a river1 like a broad1 full1  
and  deep river8 ,then let no man1 be   
his transgressions never so many1  fear 
at all but there is enough to save his  

soul and to spare4  ,nothing has been   
more common to many1 than to doubt the  
grace of  ,god3 a thing most unbecoming 
a sinner of any thing in the world4 ,to 
break the law1 is a fact foul enough2   
but to question the  sufficiency of the 
grace of ,god to save therefrom1 is     
worse than  sin1 if worse can be4       
,wherefore1 despairing soul1 for it is  
to thee  ,i speak1 forbear thy          
mistrusts1 cast off thy slavish fears1  
hang thy  misgivings as to this upon the
 hedge1 and believe2 thou hast an       
invitation sufficient thereto1 a river  
is before thy face4 ,and as  for thy    
want of goodness and works1 let that by 
no means daunt thee2  this is a river of
 water of life1 streams of grace and    
mercy4 ,there  is1 as ,i said1 enough   
therein to help thee1 for grace brings  
all  that is wanting to the soul4 ,thou1
 therefore1 hast nothing to do--,i  mean
 as to the curing of thy soul of its    
doubts and fears and  despairing        
thoughts--but to drink and live for     

ever4    ,,prudence4 ,can you remember  
by what means you find your annoyances1 
at times1 as if they were vanquished8   
,,christian4 ,yes2 when ,i think on what
 ,i saw at the cross1 that will  do it2 
and when ,i look upon my embroidered    
coat1 that will do it2  and when ,i look
 into the roll that ,i carry in my      
bosom1 that will do  it2 and when my    
thoughts wax warm about whither ,i am   
going1 that  will do it4    ,,prudence4 
,and what is it that makes you so       
desirous to go to mount  ,zion8         
,,christian4 ,why1 there ,i hope to see 
him alive that did hang dead on  the    
cross1 and there ,i hope to be rid of   
all those things that to  this day are  
in me1 an annoyance to me3 there1 they  
say1 there is no  death2 and there shall
 ,i dwell with such company as ,i like  
best4  ,for1 to tell you the truth1 ,i  
love him because ,i was by him eased of 
my burden2 and ,i am weary of my inward 
sickness4 ,i would fain be  where ,i    
shall die no more1 and with the company 

that shall  continually cry1 ,holy1     
holy1 holy6    ,be often remembering    
what a blessed thing it is to be saved1 
to go  to heaven1 to be made like       
angels1 and to dwell with ,god and      
,christ  to all eternity4    ,,adoption4
    ,the ,spirit cannot1 after he hath  
come to the soul as a ,spirit of        
adoption1 come again as a ,spirit of    
bondage to put the soul into his  first 
fear1 to wit1 a fear of eternal         
damnation1 because he cannot  say and   
unsay1 do and undo4 ,as a ,spirit of    
adoption1 he told me that  my sins were 
forgiven me and ,i was included in the  
covenant of  grace1 that ,god was my    
,father through ,christ1 that ,i was    
under the  promise of salvation1 and    
that this calling and gift of ,god to me
  are permanent and without repentance4 
,and do you think that1 after  he told  
me this1 and sealed up the truth of it  
to my precious soul1  he will come to me
 and tell me that ,i am yet in my sins1 
under the  curse of the law and the     

eternal wrath of ,god8 ,no1 no2 the word
 of  the gospel is not yea1 yea2 nay1   
nay4 ,it is only yea and amen2 it is    
so1 as ,god is true4 #b ,cor4 #ag3bj4   
,sin1 after that the ,spirit of adoption
 has come1 cannot dissolve the          
relations of ,father and son1 of ,father
 and child4 ,and this the  church did   
rightly assert1 and that when her heart 
was under great  hardness and when she  
had the guilt of erring from his ways2  
saith  she1 ,doubtless thou art our     
,father3 doubtless thou art1 though     
this be our case1 and though ,israel    
should not acknowledge us for  such4    
,that sin dissolveth not the relation of
 ,father and son1 is further  evident3  
,when the fulness of time was come1 ,god
 sent forth his ,son  made of a woman1  
made under the law1 that we might       
receive the  adoption of sons4 ,and     
because ye are sons1 ,god hath sent     
forth the  ,spirit of his ,son into your
 hearts1 crying1 ,father1 ,father6 ,now 
mark3 ,wherefore1 thou art no more a    

servant2 that is1 no more  under the law
 of death and damnation1 but a son2 and 
if a son1 then  an heir of ,god through 
,christ4    ,suppose a child doth       
grievously transgress against and offend
 his  father2 is the relation between   
them therefore dissolved8 ,again1       
suppose the father should scourge and   
chasten the son for such  offences1 is  
the relation between them therefore     
dissolved8 ,yea1  suppose the child     
should now1 through ignorance1 cry and  
say1 ,this  man is now no more my       
father2 is he therefore no more his     
father8  ,doth not every body see the   
folly of arguings8 ,why1 of the same    
nature is the doctrine1 the faith1 that 
after we have received the  ,spirit of  
adoption1 the ,spirit of bondage is sent
 to us again to put  us in fear of      
eternal damnation4    ,know then that   
thy sin1 after thou hast received the   
,spirit of  adoption to cry unto ,god1  
,father1 ,father1 is counted the        
transgression of a child1 not of a      

slave2 and that all that  happeneth to  
thee for that transgression is but the  
chastisement of  a father3 ,and what son
 is he whom the father chasteneth not8  
,now let not any1 from what hath been   
said1 take courage to live  loose lives1
 under a supposition that once in       
,christ they are ever  in ,christ1 and  
the covenant cannot he broken1 nor the  
relation of  ,father and child          
dissolved2 for they that do so1 it is   
evident1 have  not known what it is to  
receive the ,spirit of adoption4 ,it is 
the  spirit of the devil1 in his own    
hue1 that suggesteth this unto them1    
and that prevaileth with them to do so4 
,shall we do evil that good  may come8  
,shall we sin that grace may abound2 or 
shall we be base in  life because ,god  
by grace hath secured us from wrath to  
come8 ,god  forbid3 these conclusions   
betoken one void of the fear of ,god    
indeed1 and of the ,spirit of adoption  
too4    ,though ,god cannot1 will not   
dissolve the relation which the ,spirit 

of adoption hath made betwixt the       
,father and the sons1 for any sins  that
 such do commit2 yet he can and often   
doth take away from them  the comfort of
 their adoption1 not suffering children 
while sinning  to have the sweet and    
comfortable sense thereof on their      
hearts4    ,god can lay thee in the     
dungeon in chains1 and roll a stone upon
  thee2 he can make thy feet fast in the
 stocks1 and make thee a  gazing-stock  
for men and angels4    ,god can tell how
 to cause to cease the sweet operations 
and blessed  influences of his grace in 
thy soul2 to make those gospel-showers  
that formerly thou hast enjoyed1 to     
become now to thee nothing but  powder  
and dust4    ,god can tell how to fight 
against thee with the sword of his      
mouth1  and to make thee a butt for his 
arrows2 and this is a dispensation  most
 dreadful4    ,god can tell how to bow  
thee down with guilt and distress1 that 
thou  shalt in nowise be able to lift up
 thy head4    ,god can tell how to break

 thy bones1 and to make thee1 by reason 
of  that1 to live in continual anguish  
of spirit2 yea1 he can send a  fire into
 thy bones that shall burn1 and none    
shall quench it4    ,god can tell how to
 lay thee aside1 and make no use of thee
 as to  any work for him in thy         
generation4 ,he can throw thee aside as 
a  broken vessel4    ,god can tell how  
to kill thee1 and take thee away from   
the earth for  thy sins4    ,god can    
tell how to plague thee in thy death1   
with great plagues and  of long         
continuance4    ,what shall ,i say8 ,god
 can tell how to let ,satan loose upon  
thee2  when thou liest dying1 he can    
license him then to assault thee with   
great temptations2 he can tell how to   
make thee possess the guilt of  all thy 
unkindness towards him1 and that when   
thou1 as ,i said1 art  going out of the 
world2 he can cause that thy life shall 
be in  continual doubt before thee1 and 
not suffer thee to take any comfort  day
 or night2 yea1 he can drive thee even  

to a madness with his  chastisements for
 thy folly1 and yet all shall be done by
 him to  thee as a father chastiseth his
 son4    ,further1 ,god can tell how to 
tumble thee from off thy death-bed in a 
cloud1 he can let thee die in the dark2 
when thou art dying1 thou  shalt not    
know whither thou art going1 to wit1    
whether to heaven or  to hell4 ,yea1 he 
can tell how to let thee seem to come   
short of  life1 both in thine own eyes  
and also in the eyes of them that       
behold thee4 ,let us therefore fear1    
says the apostle--though not  with      
slavish1 yet with filial fear--lest1 a  
promise being left us  of entering into 
rest1 any of us should seem to come     
short of it4    ,now all this and much  
more can ,god do to his1 as a father by 
his rod  and a father by rebukes3 ah1   
who know but those that are under them1 
what terrors1 fears1 distresses1 and    
amazements1 ,god can bring his  people  
into8 ,he can put them into a furnace1 a
 fire1 and no tongue  can tell what1 so 

unsearchable and fearful are his        
fatherly  chastisements1 and yet never  
give them the spirit of bondage again   
to fear4 ,therefore1 if thou art a son1 
take heed of sin1 lest all  these things
 overtake thee and come upon thee4      
,dost thou fear the ,lord8 ,the mercy of
 the ,lord is from everlasting  to      
everlasting on them that fear him4      
,child of ,god1 thou that fearest ,god1 
here is mercy nigh thee1 mercy  enough1 
everlasting mercy upon thee4 ,this is   
long-lived mercy4 ,it  will live longer 
than thy sin2 it will live longer than  
temptation2  it will live longer than   
thy sorrows2 it will live longer than   
thy  persecutors4 ,it is mercy from     
everlasting to contrive thy salvation1  
and mercy to everlasting to resist all  
thy adversaries4 ,now what can  hell and
 death do to him that hath this mercy of
 ,god upon him8 ,and  this hath the man 
that feareth the ,lord4    ,take that   
other blessed word1 and ,o1 thou man    
that fearest the ,lord1  hang it like a 

chain of gold about thy neck3 ,as the   
heaven is high  above the earth1 so     
great is his mercy to them that fear    
him4 ,if  mercy as big1 as high1 and as 
good as heaven itself will be a         
privilege1 the man that feareth ,god    
shall have the privilege4    ,,christ   
,,our ,,life4    ,here is my life1      
namely1 the birth of this ,man1 the     
righteousness of  this man1 the blood of
 this man1 the death and resurrection of
 this  man1 the ascension and           
intercession of this man for me1 and the
  second coming of this man to judge the
 world in righteousness4 ,i  say1 here  
is my life1 if ,i see this by faith     
without me1 through the  operation of   
the ,spirit within me3 ,i am safe1 ,i am
 at peace1 ,i am  comforted1 ,i am      
encouraged2 and ,i know that my comfort1
 peace1 and  encouragement is true1 and 
given me from heaven by the ,father of  
mercies1 through the ,son of the ,virgin
 ,mary--the ,son of man1 the ,son  of   
,god1 the true ,god4    ,,union ,,with  

,,christ4    ,stay not in some transient
 comforts1 but abide restless till thou 
seest a union betwixt thee and this     
blessed ,one1 to wit1 that he is  a root
 and thou a branch--that he is head1 and
 thou a member4 ,and  then shalt thou   
know that the case is so between thee   
and him1 when  grace and his ,spirit    
have made thee to lay the whole stress  
of thy  justification upon him1 and have
 subdued thy heart and mind to be  one  
spirit with him4    ,,life ,,of ,,faith4
    ,o man or woman1 whoever thou art1  
that art savingly convinced by the      
,spirit of ,christ1 thou hast such an   
endless desire after the ,lord  ,jesus  
,christ1 that thou canst not be content 
with any thing below  the blood of the  
,son of ,god to purge thy conscience    
withal2 even  that blood that was shed  
without the gates4 ,also thou canst not 
be  at quiet1 till thou dost see by true
 faith that the righteousness of  the   
,son of ,mary is imputed unto thee and  
put upon thee4 ,rom4  #c3ba-bc4 ,then   

also thou canst not be at quiet1 till   
thou hast power  over thy lusts and     
corruptions1 till thou hast brought them
 into  subjection to the ,lord ,jesus   
,christ4 ,then thou wilt never think    
that  thou hast enough of faith3 no1    
thou wilt be often crying out1 ,lord1   
give me more precious faith2 ,lord1 more
 faith in thy righteousness2  more faith
 in thy blood and death2 more faith in  
thy resurrection2  and1 ,lord1 more     
faith in this--that thou art now at the 
right hand  of thy ,father in thy human 
nature1 making intercession for me a    
miserable sinner4 ,and then1 ,o poor    
soul1 if thou comest but hither1  thou  
wilt never have an itching ear after    
another gospel4    ,if thou wouldst be  
faithful to do that work that ,god has  
allotted  thee to do in this world for  
his name labor to live in the savor and 
sense of thy freedom and liberty by     
,jesus ,christ2 that is1 keep  this1 if 
possible1 ever before thee--that thou   
art a redeemed one1  taken out of this  

world and from under the curse of the   
law1 out of  the power of the devil1 and
 placed in a kingdom of grace and       
forgiveness of sins for ,christ's sake4 
,this is of absolute use in this matter2
 yea1 so absolute that it is  impossible
 for any ,christian to do his work      
christianly1 without  some enjoyment of 
it4    ,the first thing of which the    
soul is sick1 and by which the          
conscience receiveth wounding1 is the   
,,guilt of sin and fear of the  curse of
 ,god for it2 for which are provided the
 wounds and precious  blood of ,christ1 
which flesh and blood1 if the soul eat  
thereof by  faith1 give deliverance     
therefrom4 ,upon this ,,filth of sin    
appears  most odious2 for that it hath  
not only at present defiled the soul1   
but because it keeps it from doing those
 duties of love which by the  love of   
,christ it is constrained to endeavor   
the perfecting of4 ,for  filth appears  
filth1 that is1 irksome and odious to a 
contrary  principle now implanted in the

 soul2 which principle had its          
conveyance thither by faith in the      
sacrifice and death of ,christ  going   
before4 ,the love of ,christ            
constraineth us2 because we thus  judge1
 that if one died for all1 then were all
 dead3 and that he  died for all1 that  
they who live should not henceforth live
 unto  themselves1 but to him that died 
for them and rose again4    ,the man    
that has received ,christ desires to be 
holy1 because the  nature of the faith  
that lays hold on ,christ worketh by    
love1 and  longeth1 yea1 greatly        
longeth1 that the soul may be brought   
not only  into a universal conformity to
 his will1 but into his very likeness2  
and because that state agreeth not with 
what we are now1 but with  what we shall
 be hereafter3 ,therefore in this we    
groan1 being  burdened with that which  
is of a contrary nature1 earnestly      
desiring to be clothed upon with our    
house which is from heaven2  which state
 is not that of ,adam'a innocency1 but  

that which is  spiritual and heavenly1  
even that which is now in the ,lord in  
heaven4    ,blessed be ,god for ,jesus  
,christ1 and for that he took our nature
 and  sin and curse and death upon him2 
and for that he did also by  himself1 by
 one offering1 purge our sins4 ,we that 
have believed have  found rest1 even    
there where ,christ and his ,father have
 smelled a  sweet savor of rest3 because
 we are presented to ,god even now      
complete in the righteousness of him1   
and stand discharged of guilt  even by  
the faith of him2 yea1 as sins past1 so 
sins to come1 were  taken up and        
satisfied for by that offering of the   
body of ,jesus4 ,we  who have had a due 
sense of sins1 and of the nature of the 
justice  of ,god1 know that no remission
 of the guilt of any one can be1 but  by
 atonement made by blood4 ,heb4 #i3bb4  
,we also know that where faith in ,jesus
 ,christ is wanting1 there can  be      
neither good principle1 nor good        
endeavor2 for faith is the first  of all

 graces1 and without it there is nothing
 but sin4 ,rom4 #ad3bc4    ,we know also
 that faith1 as a grace in us1 severed  
from the  righteousness of ,christ1 is  
only a beholder of things1 but not a    
justifier of persons2 and that if it lay
 not hold of and applieth  not that     
righteousness which is in ,christ1 it   
carries us no further  than to the      
devils4    ,we know that this doctrine  
killeth sin1 and curseth it at the very 
roots3 ,i say1 we know it1 who have     
mourned over him whom we have  pierced1 
and who have been confounded to see that
 ,god by his blood  should be pacified  
towards us for all the wickedness we    
have done4  ,yea1 we have a double      
motive to be holy and humble before him3
 one1  because he died for us on earth2 
another1 because he now appears for  us 
in heaven1 there sprinkling for us the  
mercy-seat with his blood1  there ever  
living to make intercession for them    
that come unto ,god  by him4 ,if any man
 sin1 we have an ,advocate with the     

,father1 ,jesus  ,christ the righteous1 
who is the propitiation for our sins4   
,yet  this works in us no looseness nor 
favor to sin1 but so much the more  an  
abhorrence of it3 ,she loveth much1 for 
much was forgiven her2  yea1 she weeps1 
she washeth his feet1 and wipeth them   
with the hairs  of her head1 to the     
confounding of ,simon the ,pharisee1 and
 all such  ignorant hypocrites4         
,,divine ,,love ,,improved4    ,empty   
notions of the love of ,god and of      
,christ will do nothing but  harm2      
wherefore they are not empty notions    
that ,i press thee to rest  in1 but that
 thou labor after the knowledge of the  
savor of this  good ointment which the  
apostle calls the savor of the knowledge
 of  this ,lord ,jesus4 ,know it until  
it becomes sweet or pleasant to thy     
soul1 and then it will preserve and keep
 thee4 ,make this love of ,god  and of  
,christ thine own1 and not another's4   
,many there are that can  talk largely  
of the love of ,god to ,abraham1 to     

,david1 to ,peter1 and  ,paul4 ,but that
 is not the thing4 ,give not over until 
this love be  made thine own2 until thou
 find and feel it to run warm in thy    
heart  by the shedding of it abroad     
there1 by the ,spirit that ,god has     
given  thee4 ,then thou wilt know it    
with an obliging and engaging           
knowledge2 yea1 then thou wilt know it  
with a soul-strengthening and           
soul-encouraging knowledge4    ,wouldst 
thou improve this love of ,god and of   
,christ8 then set it  against the love  
of all other things whatsoever1 even    
until this  love shall conquer thy soul 
from the love of them to itself4        
,this is ,christian4 ,do it therefore1  
and say1 ,why should any thing  have my 
heart but ,god1 but ,christ8 ,he loves  
me with love that  passeth knowledge4   
,he loves me1 and he shall have me2 he  
loves me1  and ,i will love him2 his    
love stripped him of all for my sake2   
,lord1  let my love strip me of all for 
thy sake4 ,i am a son of love1 an       

object of love1 a monument of love1 of  
free love1 of distinguishing  love1 of  
peculiar love1 and of love that passeth 
knowledge2 and why  should not ,i walk  
in love8 in love to ,god1 in love to    
men1 in holy  love1 in love unfeigned8  
,this is the way to improve the love of 
,god for thy advantage1 for  the        
subduing of thy passions1 and for       
sanctifying of thy nature4    ,it is an 
odious thing to hear men of base lives  
talking of the love  of ,god1 of the    
death of ,christ1 and of the glorious   
grace that is  presented unto sinners by
 the word of the truth of the gospel4   
,praise is comely for the upright1 not  
for the profane4    ,therefore let him  
speak of love that is taken with love1  
that is  captivated with love1 that is  
carried away with love4 ,if this man    
speaks of it1 his speaking signifies    
something2 the powers and bands  of love
 are upon him1 and he shows to all that 
he knows what he is  speaking of4 ,but  
the very mentioning of love is1 in the  

mouth of the  profane1 like a parable in
 the mouth of fools4 ,wherefore1        
,christian1  improve this love of ,god  
as thou shouldst1 and that will improve 
thee as thou wouldst4    ,it is natural 
for children to depend upon their father
 for what they  want4 ,if they want a   
pair of shoes1 they go and tell him2 if 
they  want bread1 they go and tell him2 
so should the children of ,god do4  ,do 
you want spiritual bread8 ,go tell ,god 
of it4 ,do you want strength  of grace8 
,ask it of ,god4 ,do you want strength  
against ,satan's  temptations8 ,go and  
tell ,god of it4 ,when the devil tempts 
you1 run  home and tell your heavenly   
,father2 go pour out your complaints to 
,god2 this is natural to children--if   
any wrong them1 they go and  tell their 
father4    ,if thou wouldst improve this
 love of ,god and of ,christ1 keep      
thyself  in it3 ,keep yourselves in the 
love of ,god4 ,living a holy life is    
the way1 after a man has believed unto  
justification1 to keep  himself in the  

favor and comfort of the love of ,god4  
,and ,o that thou  wouldst indeed do so4
 ,and that because1 if thou shalt want  
the savor  of it1 thou wilt soon want   
tenderness to the commandment1 which is 
the rule by which thou must walk1 if    
thou wilt do good to thyself1  or honor 
,god in the world4 ,to him that ordereth
 his conversation  aright1 ,i will show 
the salvation of ,god4 ,he that would   
live a  sweet1 comfortable1 joyful life1
 must live a very holy life4    ,all    
,god's children are criers3 ,cannot you 
be quiet unless you are  filled with the
 milk of ,god's word8 cannot you be     
satisfied unless  you have peace with   
,god8 ,pray you consider it1 and be     
serious with  yourselves2 if you have   
not these marks1 you will fall short of 
the  kingdom of ,god1 you shall never   
have an interest there3 there is no     
intruding3 they will say1 ,lord1 ,lord1 
open unto us2 and he will  say1 ,i know 
you not4 ,no child of ,god1 no heavenly 
inheritance4 ,o  do not flatter         

yourselves with a portion among the     
sons1 unless you  live like sons4 ,when 
we see a king's son playing with a      
beggar1 this  is unbecoming2 so if you  
bo the ,king's children1 live like the  
,king's children3 if you be risen with  
,christ1 set your affections on  things 
above1 and not on things below2 when you
 come together1 talk  of what your      
,father promised you2 you should all    
love your ,father's  will1 and be       
content and pleased with the exercises  
you meet with in  the world2 if you are 
the children of ,god1 live together     
lovingly2  if the world quarrel with    
you1 it is no matter1 but it is sad if  
you  quarrel together3 if this be among 
you1 it is a sign of  ill-breeding2 it  
is according to no rules you have in the
 word of  ,god4 ,dost thou see a soul   
that has the image of ,god in him8 ,love
  him1 love him2 say1 ,this man and ,i  
must go to heaven one day2  serve one   
another1 do good for one another2 if any
 wrong you1 pray  to ,god to right you1 

and love the brotherhood4    ,,holy     
,,living4    ,remember1 man1 if the     
grace of ,god hath taken hold of thy    
soul1 thou  art a man of another world1 
and indeed a subject of another and more
  noble kingdom1 the kingdom of         
,god--which is the kingdom of the       
gospel1 of grace1 of faith1 and         
righteousness1 and the kingdom of       
heaven hereafter4 ,in these things thou 
shouldst exercise thyself1  not making  
heavenly things which ,god hath bestowed
 upon thee1 stoop  to things that are of
 the world2 but rather here beat down   
the body1  to mortify thy members1 hoist
 up thy mind to the things that are     
above1 and practically hold forth before
 all the world that blessed  word of    
life4    ,assure thyself1 thy ,god will 
not give thee straw1 but he will expect 
brick4    ,it is amiable and pleasant to
 ,god when ,christians keep their rank1 
relation1 and station1 doing all as     
becomes their quality and  calling4     
,when ,christians stand all in their    

places1 and do the work  of their       
stations1 then they are like the flowers
 in the garden1  that stand and grow    
where the gardener hath planted them2   
and then  they shall both honor the     
garden in which they are planted1 and   
the  gardener that hath so disposed of  
them4 ,from the hyssop in the wall  to  
the cedar in ,lebanon1 their fruit is   
their glory4 ,and seeing the  stock into
 which we are planted is the most       
fruitful stock1 the sap  conveyed       
thereout the most fruitful sap1 and the 
dresser of our  souls the wisest        
husband-man1 how contrary to nature1    
example1 and  expectation we should be1 
if we should not be rich in good works4 
,wherefore1 take heed of being painted  
fire1 wherein is no warmth2 of  being   
painted flowers1 which retain no smell2 
and of being painted  trees1 whereon is 
no fruit4 ,whoso boasteth himself of a  
false gift1  is like clouds and wind    
without rain4 ,farewell2 the ,lord be   
with thy  spirit1 that thou mayest      

profit for time to come4    ,,they only 
have benefit by ,christ to eternal life1
 who die by his  example as well as live
 by his blood2 for in his death was both
  merit and example2 and they are like  
to miss in the first1 that are  not     
concerned in the second4    ,as it is   
natural for the stranger1 so soon as    
ever he has entered  the gates of a     
city1 to have his feet in the streets of
 the city1 so  it is natural for the    
sinner1 so soon as ever he is entered   
into the  church of ,christ1 to have his
 feet treading in the way and paths of  
holiness4 ,wherefore it is usual in the 
holy ,scripture to call the             
transformation of the sinner from ,satan
 to ,god a holy way1 and also  to       
admonish him that is so transformed to  
walk in that way1 saying1  ,walk in the 
faith1 love1 spirit1 and newness of     
life1 and walk in  the truth1 ways1     
statutes1 and judgments of ,god4        
,jacob1 when sick1 would worship ,god1  
though so weak as not able to  do it    

without leaning upon the top of his     
staff3 a blessed example  for the       
diligent1 and reproof for those that are
 slothful4    ,,opportunities           
,,improved4    ,good opportunities are  
,god's seasons for doing the work2      
wherefore1  watch for them and take them
 as they come4 ,paul tells us1 he was in
  watchings often2 surely it was that he
 might take the season that  ,god should
 give him to do his work for him2 as he 
also says to  ,timothy1 ,watch thou in  
all things1 do the work1 etc4           
,opportunities as to some things come   
but once in one's lifetime1 as  in the  
case of ,esther1 and of ,nicodemus and  
holy ,joseph2 when ,esther  begged the  
lives of the ,jews1 and the other the   
body of ,jesus2 which  had they once let
 slip or neglected1 they could not have 
recovered  it again for ever4 ,watch1   
then1 for the opportunity3    ,because  
it is ,god's season1 which without doubt
 is the best season  and time for every 
purpose4    ,because ,satan watches to  

spoil1 by mistiming as well as by       
corrupting whatever thou shalt do for   
,god4 ,when ,i would do good1  says     
,paul1 evil is present2 that is1 either 
to withdraw me from my  purpose1 or else
 to infect my work4    ,that the        
opportunity may not slip thee1 either   
for want of care or  forecast1    #a4   
,sit always loose from an overmuch      
affecting thine own  concernments1 and  
believe that thou wast not born for     
thyself3 a  brother is born for         
adversity4    #b4 ,get thy heart        
tenderly affected with the welfare of   
all things  that bear the stamp and     
image of ,god4    #c4 ,study thy own    
place and capacity that ,god hath put   
thee in in  this world2 for suitable to 
thy place are thy work and              
opportunities4    #d4 ,make provision   
beforehand1 that when things present    
themselves1  thou mayst come up to a    
good performance3 be prepared for every 
good  work4    #e4 ,take heed of carnal 
reasonings2 keep the heart tender1 but  

set  thy face like a flint for ,god4    
#f4 ,and look well to the manner of     
every duty4    ,,good ,,works4    ,to   
stoop low is a good work1 if it be done 
in faith and love2 though  but by a cup 
of cold water1 it is really more worth  
in itself1 and  of higher esteem with   
,god1 than all worldly and perishing    
glory4    ,when holiness is lovely and  
beautiful to the soul1 and when the name
  of ,christ is more precious than life1
 then will the soul sit down  and be    
afflicted1 because men keep not ,god's  
law4 ,i beheld the  transgressors1 and  
was grieved1 because they kept not thy  
word4  ,psalm #aai3aeh4    ,the heart   
that is fullest of good works has in it 
the least room for  ,satan's            
temptations4    ,souls rightly touched1 
will labor to draw not only their       
families1  but a whole city after       
,christ4 ,john #d3bh1 #bi4              
,,self-,,denial4    ,if thou wouldst be 
faithful to do that work that ,god hath 
appointed  thee to do in this world for 

his name1 then beware thou do not stop  
and stick when hard work comes before   
thee4 ,the word and ,spirit of  ,god    
come sometimes like chainshot to us1 as 
if it would cut down  all--as when      
,abraham was to offer up ,isaac1 and the
 ,levites to slay  their brethren4 ,oh1 
how willingly would our flesh and blood 
escape  the cross for ,christ6 ,the     
comfort of the gospel1 the sweetness of 
the promise1 how pleasing is it to us6  
,like ,ephraim1 we like to  tread out   
the corn1 and to hear those pleasant    
songs and music that  gospel sermons    
make1 where only grace is preached and  
nothing of our  duty as to works of     
self-denial4 ,but as for such1 ,god will
 tread  upon their fair neck1 and yoke  
them with ,christ's yoke2 for then  they
 have a work to do1 even a work of      
self-denial4    ,whosoever will come    
after me1 let him deny himself1 and take
 up his  cross and follow me4 ,let him  
first sit down and count up the cost    
and the charge he is like to be at1 if  

he follow me2 for following  of me is   
not like following of some other        
masters4 ,the winds set  always on my   
face2 and the foaming rage of the sea of
 this world1  and the proud and lofty   
waves thereof do continually beat upon  
the  sides of the bark that myself1 my  
cause1 and my followers are in2 he      
therefore that will not run hazards1 and
 that is afraid to venture a  drowning1 
let him not set foot into this vessel4  
,some1 when they come at the cross1 will
 either there make a stop and  go no    
further1 or else1 if they can1 step over
 it2 if not1 they will  go round about4 
,do not thou do this1 but take it up and
 kiss it1 and  bear it after ,jesus4    
,where is the man that walketh with his 
cross upon his shoulder8  ,where is the 
man that is zealous of moral holiness8  
,indeed1 for  those things that have    
nothing of the cross of the purse1 or of
 the  cross of the belly1 or of the     
cross of the back1 or of the cross of   
the vanity of household affairs--for    

those things1 ,i find we have  many1 and
 very busy sticklers2 but otherwise1 the
 cross1  self-denial1 charity1 purity in
 life and conversation1 is almost  quite
 out of doors among professors4 ,but1   
man of ,god1 do thou be  singular as to 
these4    ,,obedience ,,in ,,little     
,,things4    ,little things do ofttimes 
prove us most2 for we1 through the pride
  of our hearts1 are apt to overlook    
little things1 because1 though          
commanded1 they are but little4         
,sometimes ,god would have men exact to 
a word1 sometimes even to a  tack or pin
 or loop1 sometimes to a step4 ,be      
careful1 then1 in  little things1 but   
yet leave not the other undone4         
,,motives ,,to ,,holt ,,living4 ,when   
,god shows a man the sin he has         
committed1 the hell he has deserved1 the
 heaven he has lost--and yet  that      
,christ and grace and pardon may be     
had--this will make him  serious1 this  
will make him melt1 this will break his 
heart1 this  will show him that there is

 more than air1 than a noise1 than an   
empty sound in religion2 and this is the
 man whose heart1 whose  life1 whose    
conversation and all will be engaged in 
the matter of  the eternal salvation of 
his precious and immortal soul4         
,though there are many mercies that lay 
an obligation upon men to be  holy1 yet 
he that shall want the obligation that  
is begotten by the  faith of redeeming  
mercy1 wanteth the main principle of    
true  holiness2 nor will any other be   
found sufficiently to sanctify the      
heart to the causing of it to produce   
such a life2 nor can such  holiness be  
accepted1 because it comes not forth in 
the name of  ,christ4 ,that which       
constrained ,david was forgiving and    
redeeming  mercy1 and that which        
constrained ,paul was the love that     
,christ  showed to him in dying for his 
sins and in rising from the dead4       
,paul also beseecheth the ,romans by the
 redeeming1 justifying1  preserving1 and
 electing mercy of ,god1 that they      

present their body  a living sacrifice1 
holy1 acceptable to ,god1 which1 saith  
he1 is  your reasonable service4 ,hence 
all along1 they that are exhorted to    
holiness in the ,new ,testament1 are    
exhorted to it upon the  supposition of 
the benefit of redemption which they    
have received by  ,jesus ,christ4 ,walk 
in love1 as ,christ loved us4    ,can   
you give me some motive to self-denial8 
,yes1 the ,lord ,jesus  denied himself  
for thee3 what sayest thou to that8     
,oh1 ,i have thought sometimes what     
bloody creatures hath sin made us4  ,the
 beasts of the field must be slain by   
thousands before ,christ  came1 to      
signify to us that we should have 'a    
,saviour2 and after  that1 he must come 
himself and die a worse death than died 
those  beasts1 before the work of saving
 could be finished4 ,o redemption1      
redemption by blood1 is the             
heart-endearing consideration6 ,this is 
that which will make the water stand in 
our eyes1 that will break a  heart of   

flint1 and that will make one do as they
 do that are in  bitterness for their   
firstborn4    ,perhaps in the day of thy
 conversion thou wast more unruly than  
many4 ,like a bullock unaccustomed to   
the yoke1 hardly tamed1 thou  wast      
brought home by strong hands4 ,thou     
wouldst not drive3 the ,lord  ,jesus    
must take thee up1 lay thee upon his    
shoulder1 and carry thee  home to his   
,father's house4 ,this should engage thy
 heart to study to  advance the grace of
 ,god4    ,it may do thee no harm but   
good to cast an eye over thy shoulder1  
at  those that now lie roaring under the
 vengeance of eternal fire2 it  may put 
thee in mind of what thou wast once1 and
 of what thou must  yet assuredly be1 if
 grace by ,christ preventeth not3 keep  
then thy  conscience awake with wrath   
and grace1 with heaven and hell2 but let
  grace and heaven bear sway4    ,get   
thou thy soul possessed with the spirit 
of the ,son1 and believe  thou art      
perfectly set free by him from          

whatsoever thou by sin hast  deserved at
 the hand of revenging justice4 ,this   
doctrine unlooseth  thy hands1 takes off
 thy yoke1 and lets thee go upright2    
this  doctrine puts spiritual and       
heavenly inclinations into thy soul1 and
  the faith of this truth doth show thee
 that ,god hath so surprised  thee and  
gone beyond thee with his blessed and   
everlasting love1  that thou canst not  
but reckon thyself his debtor for ever4 
,therefore1 brethren1 we are debtors not
 to the flesh1 to live after  the flesh4
 ,rom4 #h3 #ab4    ,if thou wouldst be  
faithful to that work that ,god hath    
allotted thee  to do in this world for  
his name1 then labor to see a beauty and
  glory in holiness and in every good   
work2 this tends much to the  engaging  
of thy heart4 ,o worship the ,lord in   
the beauty of holiness2  fear before him
 all the earth2 and for thy help in     
this1 think much  on this in general1   
that thus saith the ,lord is the wind-up
 of  every command2 for indeed much of  

the glory and beauty of duties  doth lie
 in the glory and excellency of the     
person that doth command  them2 and     
hence it is1 that ,be it enacted by the 
king's most  excellent majesty is the   
head of every law1 that that law should 
therefore be reverenced by and be made  
glorious and beautiful to  all4 ,and we 
see upon this very account1 what power  
and place the  precepts of kings do take
 in the hearts of their subjects1 every 
one  loving and reverencing the statute 
because there is the name of  their     
king4 ,will you rebel against the king8 
is a word that shakes  the world4 ,well 
then1 turn these things about for an    
argument to the  matter in hand1 and let
 the name of ,god1 seeing he is wiser   
and  better and of more glory and beauty
 than kings1 beget in thy heart a       
beauty in all things that are commanded 
thee of ,god4 ,and indeed1 if  thou do  
not in this act thus1 thou wilt stumble 
at some of thy duty  and work thou hast 
to do2 for some of the commands of ,god 

are in  themselves so mean and low1 that
 take away from them the name of ,god   
and thou wilt do as ,naaman the ,syrian1
 despise instead of obeying4  ,what is  
there in the ,lord's supper1 in baptism1
 yea1 in preaching  the word and prayer1
 were they not the appointments of ,god8
 ,his name  being entailed to them makes
 them every one glorious and beautiful4 
,wherefore no marvel if he that looks   
upon them without their  title-page1    
goeth away in a rage like ,naaman1      
preferring others  before them4 ,what is
 ,jordan8 ,are not ,abana and ,pharpar1 
rivers of  ,damascus1 better than all   
the waters in ,israel8 ,may ,i not wash 
in  them and be clean8 saith he4 ,this  
was because he remembered not  that the 
name of ,god was in the command4        
,israel's trumpets of  rams'-horns1 and 
,isaiah's walking naked1 and ,ezekiel's 
wars against  a tile1 would doubtless   
have been ignoble acts1 but that the    
name of  ,god was that which gave them  
reverence1 power1 glory1 and beauty4    

,set therefore the name of ,god and thus
 saith the ,lord against all            
reasonings1 defamings1 and reproaches   
that either by the world or  thy own    
heart thou findest to arise against thy 
duty2 and let his  name and authority   
alone be a sufficient argument with     
thee1 to  hehold the beauty that he hath
 put upon all his ways1 and to inquire  
in his temple4    ,christians should so 
manage their time and the work that ,god
 hath  appointed them to do for his name
 in this world1 that they may not  have 
part thereof to do when they should be  
departing this world2  because1 if they 
do not1 dying will be a hard work with  
them1  especially if ,god awakeneth them
 about their neglect of their duty4     
,the way of ,god with his people is to  
visit their sins in this life2  and the 
worst time for thee to be visited by    
them is when thy life  is smitten down  
as it were to the dust of death1 even   
when all  natural infirmities break in  
like a flood upon thee-sickness1        

fainting1 pains1 wearisomeness1 and the 
like3 now1 ,i say1 to be  charged also  
with the neglect of duty when in no     
capacity to do  it-yea1 when perhaps so 
feeble1 as scarce able to abide to hear 
thy  dearest friend in this life speak  
to thee-will not this make dying  hard8 
yea1 when thou shalt seem both in thine 
own eyes and also in  the eyes of       
others1 to fall short of the kingdom of 
heaven for this  and the other          
transgressions2 will not this make dying
 hard8 ,david  found it hard when he    
cried1 ,o spare me a little1 that ,i may
  recover strength1 before ,i go hence  
and be no more4 ,david at this  time was
 chastened for some iniquity1 yea1      
brought for his folly to  the doors of  
the shadow of death4 ,but here he could 
not enter  without great distress of    
mind2 wherefore he cries out for        
respite1  and time to do the will of    
,god and the work allotted him4 ,so     
again3  ,the pains of hell caught hold  
upon me1 the sorrows of death  compassed

 me about1 and ,i found trouble and     
sorrow2 then ,i cried  unto the ,lord4  
,aye1 this will make thee cry1 though   
thou he as good  as ,david4 ,wherefore  
learn by his sorrow1 as he himself also 
learned  at last to serve his own       
generation by the will of ,god1 before  
he  fell asleep4 ,god can tell how to   
pardon thy sins1 and yet make them  such
 a bitter thing and so heavy a burden to
 thee that thou wouldst  not1 if thou   
wast but once distressed with it1 come  
there again for  all this world4 ,ah1 it
 is easy with him to have this pardon in
 his  bosom1 even when he is breaking   
all thy bones and pouring out thy  gall 
upon the ground--yea1 to show himself   
then unto thee in so  dreadful a        
majesty1 that heaven and earth shall    
seem to thee to  tremble at his         
presence4 ,let then the thoughts of this
 prevail with  thee as a reason of great
 weight1 to provoke thee to study to    
manage  thy time and work in wisdom     
while thou art well4    ,,obedience     

,,rewarded4    ,keep those grounds and  
evidences that ,god hath given you of   
your  call to be partakers of this love 
of ,christ1 with all clearness upon     
your hearts and in your minds4 ,for he  
that lacks that sight of them1  or a    
proof that they are true and good1 can  
take but little comfort  in this love4  
,there is a great mystery in the way of 
,god with his  people4 ,he will justify 
them without their works1 he will pardon
  them for his ,son's sake4 ,but they   
that are careless1 carnal1 and not  holy
 in their lives1 shall have but little  
comfort of what he hath  done1 doth1 and
 will do for them4    ,nor shall they   
have their evidences for heaven at hand1
 nor out of  doubt with them2 yea1 they 
shall walk without the sun1 and have    
their comforts by bits and knocks2 while
 others sit at their  ,father's table1  
have liberty to go into the wine-cellar1
 rejoice at  the sweet and pleasant face
 of their heavenly ,father towards them1
  and know it shall go well with them at

 the end4    ,those that make conscience
 of walking in the commandments of ,god1
  they shall be blessed with the bread  
of life1 when others shall be           
hunger-bit4    ,the greatest part of    
professors nowadays take up their time  
in  contracting guilt and asking for    
pardon1 and yet are not much the        
better4 ,whereas1 if they had but the   
grace to add to their faith1  virtue1   
etc41 they might have more peace1 live  
better lives1 and not  have their heads 
so often in a bag1 as they have4 ,to him
 that  ordereth his conversation aright1
 will ,i show the salvation of ,god4    
,and all the days of ,enoch were three  
hundred sixty and five years4  ,and     
,enoch walked with ,god1 and was not1   
for ,god took him4 ,enoch  therefore    
lived here but a while3 he was too good 
to live long in  this world2 the world  
was not worthy of him2 neither could he 
be  spared so long out of heaven1 for   
,god took him4    ,the end of walking   
with ,god1 or the pathway thereof1 leads

 men to  heaven1 to the enjoyment of the
 glory of ,god4 ,thus also it was with  
blessed ,elijah2 he followed ,god from  
place to place1 till at length  he was  
caught up into heaven4    ,those that   
shall be found1 in the day of their     
resurrection1 the  people of ,god most  
laborious for ,god while here1 they     
shall at that  day enjoy the greatest   
portion of ,god1 or shall be possessed  
of most  of the glory of the ,godhead   
then4 ,for that is the portion of the   
saints in general4 ,and why shall he    
that doeth most for ,god in this  world1
 enjoy most of him in that which is to  
come1 but because by  doing and acting1 
the heart and every faculty of the soul 
are  enlarged and more capacitated1     
whereby more room is made for glory8    
,every vessel of glory shall at that day
 be made full of it3 but  every one will
 not be capable to contain a like       
measure2 and so if  they should have it 
communicated to them1 would not be able 
to stand  under it2 for there is an     

eternal weight in the glory that saints 
shall then enjoy2 and every vessel must 
be at that day filled1 that  is1 have   
its heavenly load of it4                
,,self-,,examination4    ,examine3 ,dost
 thou labor after those qualifications  
that the  ,scriptures describe a child  
of ,god by-that is1 faith1 yea1 the     
right  faith1 the most holy faith1 the  
faith of the operation of ,god8 ,and    
also1 dost thou examine whether there is
 a real growth of grace in  thy soul1 as
 love1 zeal1 self-denial1 and a seeking 
by all means to  attain1 if possible1 to
 the resurrection of the dead2 that is1 
not  to satisfy thyself until thou be   
dissolved and rid of this body of       
death1 and be transformed into that     
glory that the saints shall be  in after
 the resurrection-day8    ,and in the   
mean time1 dost thou labor and take all 
opportunities to  walk as near as may be
 to the mark1 though thou knowest thou  
canst  not attain it perfectly8 ,yet ,i 
say1 thou dost aim at it1 seek after    

it1 press towards it1 and hold on in thy
 race2 thou shunnest that  which may any
 way hinder thee1 and also closest in   
with what may any  way further the same1
 knowing that that must be1 or desiring 
that it  should be1 thine eternal frame2
 and therefore1 out of love and  liking 
to it1 thou dost desire and long after  
it1 as being the thing  that doth most  
please thy soul4    ,or how is it with  
thy soul8 ,art thou such a one as       
regards not these  things1 but rather   
busiest thy thoughts about the things   
here below1  following those things that
 have no scent of divine glory upon     
them8  ,if so1 look to thyself2 thou art
 an unbeliever1 and so under the  wrath 
of ,god1 and wilt for certain fall into 
the same place of  torment that thy     
fellows have fallen into before thee1 to
 the grief  of thy own soul and thy     
everlasting destruction4    ,consider   
and regard these things1 and lay them to
 thy heart before  it be too late to    
recover thyself1 by repenting of the one

 and  desiring to close in with the     
other4    ,oh1 ,i say1 regard1 regard2  
for hell is hot1 ,god's hand is up1 the 
law is resolved to discharge against thy
 soul4 ,the judgment-day is  at hand2   
the graves are ready to fly open2 the   
trumpet is near the  sounding2 the      
sentence will ere long be past1 and then
 you and ,i  cannot call time again4    
,reckon with thy own heart every day    
before thou lie down to sleep1  and cast
 up what thou hast received from ,god   
and done for him1 and  where thou hast  
also been wanting4 ,this will beget     
praise and  humility1 and put thee upon 
redeeming the day that is past2 whereby 
thou wilt be able1 through the continual
 supplies of grace1 in some  good       
measure to drive thy work before thee1  
and to shorten it as thy  life doth     
shorten1 and mayst comfortably live in  
the hope of  bringing both ends sweetly 
together4    ,,watchfulness4    ,he that
 will keep water in a sieve1 must use   
more than ordinary  diligence4 ,our     

heart is a leaky vessel2 and therefore  
we ought to  give the more earnest heed 
to the things which we have heard1 lest 
at any time we should let them slip4    
,,constitution-,,sins4    ,they that    
name the name of ,christ1 let them      
depart from their  constitution-sin1 or 
if you will1 the sin that their temper  
most  inclines them to4 ,every man is   
not alike inclined to the same sin1  but
 some to one1 and some to another4 ,now1
 let the man that  professes the name of
 ,christ religiously consider with      
himself1  ,unto what sin or vanity am ,i
 most inclined8 is it pride8 is it      
covetousness8 is it fleshly lust8 and   
let him labor by all means to  leave off
 and depart from that4 ,this is that    
which ,david called his  own iniquity1  
and saith1 ,i was also upright before   
him1 and ,i kept  myself from mine      
iniquity4 ,psa4 #ah3bc4 ,rightly are    
these two put  together1 for it is not  
possible that he should be an upright   
man  that indulgeth or countenanceth his

 constitution-sin2 but on the  contrary1
 he that keeps himself from that will be
 upright as to all  the rest2 and the   
reason is1 because if a man has grace to
 trample  upon and mortify his darling1 
his bosom1 his only sin1 he will more   
easily and more heartily abhor and fly  
the rest4    ,and indeed1 if a man will 
depart from iniquity1 he must depart    
from  his darling sin first2 for as long
 as that is entertained1 the  other1 at 
least those that are most suiting to    
that darling1 will  always be haunting  
of him4 ,there is a man that has such   
and such  haunt his house and spend his 
substance1 and would be rid of them1    
but cannot2 but now1 let him rid himself
 of that for the sake of  which they    
haunt his house1 and then he shall with 
ease be rid of  them4 ,thus it is with  
sin4 ,there is a man that is plagued    
with many  sins1 perhaps because he     
embraceth one2 well1 let him turn that  
one  out of doors1 and that is the way  
to be rid of the rest4 ,keep thee  from 

thy darling1 thy bosom1 thy             
constitution-sin4    ,among the motives 
to prevail with thee to fall in with    
this  exhortation1 are1    #a4 ,there   
can no great change appear in thee1 make
 what profession of  ,christ thou wilt1 
unless thou cast away thy bosom sin4 ,a 
man's  constitution-sin is1 as ,i may   
call it1 his visible sin2 it is that  by
 which his neighbors know him and       
describe him1 whether it be  pride1     
covetousness1 lightness1 or the like4   
,now1 if these abide  with thee1 though 
thou shouldst be much reformed in thy   
notions and  in other parts of thy life1
 yet say thy neighbors1 ,he is the same 
man still3 his faith has not saved him  
from his darling4 ,he was  proud before1
 and is proud still2 was covetous       
before1 and is  covetous still2 was     
light and wanton before1 and is so      
still2 he is  the same man1 though he   
has got a new mouth4 ,but now1 if thy   
constitution-sin be parted with1 if thy 
darling be cast way1 thy  conversion is 

apparent2 it is seen of all2 for the    
casting away of  that is death to the   
rest1 and ordinarily makes a change     
throughout4    #b4 ,so long as thy      
constitution-sin remains1 as winked at  
by thee1 so  long thou art a hypocrite  
before ,god1 let thy profession be what 
it  will2 also1 when conscience shall   
awake and be commanded to speak to  thee
 plainly what thou art1 it will tell    
thee so1 to thy no little  vexation and 
perplexity4    ,,the ,,christian        
,,professor ,,admonished4    ,o thou    
professor6 thou lamp-carrier6 have a    
care and look to  thyself2 content not  
thyself with only that which will       
maintain thee  in a profession1 for that
 may be done without saving grace2 but  
,i  advise thee to go to ,aaron1 to     
,christ the trimmer of our lamps1 and   
beg of him thy vessel full of oil1 that 
is1 grace for the seasoning  of thy     
heart1 that thou mayest have wherewith  
not only to bear thee  up now1 but at   
the day of the bridegroom's coming when 

many a lamp  will go out and many a     
professor be left in the dark4    ,sin  
is in the best of men2 and as long as it
 is so1 without great  watchfulness and 
humble walking with ,god1 we may be     
exposed to shame  and suffering for it4 
,it is possible for ,christians to      
suffer for  evil-doing1 and therefore   
let ,christians beware2 it is possible  
for  ,christians to be brought to public
 justice for their faults1 and          
therefore let ,christians beware4    ,a 
,christian can never be overcome unless 
he should yield of himself4    ,there is
 no way to kill a man's righteousness   
but by his own  consent4 ,this ,job's   
wife knew full well2 hence she tempted  
him to  lay violent hands on his own    
integrity4 ,job #b3i4    ,,failings     
,,and ,,sins ,,of ,,christians4    ,and 
,noah began to lie a husbandman1 and he 
planted a vineyard4 ,and  he drank of   
the wine1 and was drunken2 and he was   
uncovered within  his tent4    ,this is 
the blot in this good man's scutcheon2  

and a strange blot it  is1 that such a  
one as ,noah should be thus overtaken   
with evil4 ,one  would have thought that
 ,moses would now have begun with a     
relation  of some eminent virtues and   
honorable actions of ,noah1 since now he
  was delivered from the death that     
overtook the whole world2 and was       
delivered1 both he and his children1 to 
possess the whole earth  himself4       
,indeed1 he stepped from the ark to the 
altar1 as ,israel of  old did sing on   
the shore of the ,red sea2 but as they1 
,,he soon  forgot2 he rendered evil to  
,god for good4    ,neither is ,noah     
alone in this matter4 ,lot also1 being  
delivered from  that fire from heaven   
which burnt up ,sodom and ,gomorrah1    
falls soon  after into lewdness4 ,gideon
 also1 after he was delivered out of the
  hands of his enemies1 took that very  
gold which ,god had given him as  the   
spoil of them that hated him1 and made  
himself idols therewith4    ,what shall 
,i say of ,david1 and of ,solomon also1 

who1 after he had  been twenty years at 
work for the service of the true ,god1  
both in  building and preparing for his 
worship1 and in writing proverbs by     
divine inspiration1 did after this make 
temples for idols1 yea1  almost for the 
gods of all countries8 ,yea1 he did it  
when he was  old1 when he should have   
been preparing for his grave and for    
eternity4    ,all these were sins       
against mercies1 yea1 and doubtless     
against  covenants and the most solemn  
resolutions to the contrary4 ,for who   
can imagine but that when ,noah was     
tossed with the flood1 and ,lot  within 
the scent and smell of the fire and     
brimstone that burned  down ,sodom with 
his sons and daughters1 and ,gideon1    
when so fiercely  engaged with so great 
an enemy1 and delivered by so strange a 
hand1  should in the most solemn manner 
both promise and vow to ,god8 ,but      
behold1 now they in truth are delivered 
and saved1 they recompense  all with    
sin3 ,lord1 what is man8 how abominable 

and filthy is man1  who drinketh in     
iniquity like water6    ,let these      
things teach us to cease from man1 whose
 breath is in his  nostrils2 for wherein
 is he to be accounted of8 ,indeed1 it  
is a  vain thing to build our faith upon
 the most godly man in the world1       
because he is subject to err2 yea1      
better men than he have been so4  ,if   
,noah and ,lot and ,gideon and ,david   
and ,solomon--who wanted not  matter    
from arguments1 and that of the         
strongest kind1 as arguments  that are  
drawn from mercy and goodness be1 to    
engage to holiness and  the fear of     
,god--yet1 after all1 did so foully fall
 as we see1 let  us admire grace that   
any stand2 let the strongest fear1 lest 
he  fearfully fall2 and let no man but  
,jesus ,christ himself be the  absolute 
platform and pattern of faith and       
holiness3 as the prophet  saith1 ,let us
 cease from man4    ,,the ,,backslider4 
,none knows the things that haunt the   
backslider's mind2 his new sins  are all

 turned talking devil's1 threatening    
devils1 roaring devils1  within him4    
,besides1 he doubts of the truth of his 
first conversion1  consequently he has  
it lying upon him as a strong suspicion1
 that  there was nothing of truth in all
 his first experience2 and this  also   
adds lead to his heels1 and makes him   
come1 as to sense and  feeling1 more    
heavily and with the greater difficulty1
 to ,god by  ,christ4 ,as the           
faithfulness of other men kills him1 he 
cannot see an  honest1 humble1 holy1    
faithful servant of ,god1 but he is     
pierced and  wounded at the heart4 ,aye1
 says he within himself1 that man fears 
,god2 that man hath faithfully followed 
,god2 that man1 like the elect  angels1 
has kept his place2 but ,i am fallen    
from my station like a  devil4 ,that man
 honoreth ,god1 edifieth the saints1    
convinceth the  world and condemneth    
them1 and is become 'heir of the        
righteousness  which is by faith4' ,but 
,i have dishonored ,god1 stumbled and   

grieved  saints1 made the world         
blaspheme1 and1 for aught ,i know1 been 
the  cause of the damnation of many4    
,these are the things1 ,i say1  together
 with many more of the same kind1 that  
come to him2 yea1  they will come with  
him1 yea1 and will stare him in the     
face1 will  tell him of his baseness and
 laugh him to scorn1 all the way that he
  is coming to ,god by ,christ-,i know  
what ,i say-and this makes his  coming  
to ,god by ,christ hard and difficult to
 him4 ,shame covereth  his face all the 
way he comes4 ,he doth not know what to 
do2 the ,god  that he is returning to is
 the ,god that he has slighted1 the ,god
  before whom he has preferred the      
vilest lusts2 and he knows ,god  knows  
it1 and has before ,him all his ways4   
,the man that has been a backslider1 and
 is returning to ,god1 can  tell strange
 stories1 and yet such as are very true4
 ,no man was in  the whale's belly1 and 
came out again alive1 but backsliding   
and  returning ,jonah2 consequently no  

man could tell how he was there1  what  
he felt there1 what he saw there1 and   
what workings of heart he  had when he  
was there1 so well as he4    ,the       
returning again of the backslider gives 
a second testimony to  the truth of     
man's state being by nature miserable1  
of the vanity of  this world1 of the    
severity of the law1 certainty of death1
 and  terribleness of judgment to come4 
,his first coming to ,god by ,christ    
told them so1 but his second coming     
tells them so with a double             
confirmation of the truth4 ,it is so1   
saith his first coming2 ,,oh1  ,,it is  
,,so6 saith his second4    ,the         
backsliding of a ,christian comes       
through the overmuch persuading  of     
,satan and lust1 that the man was       
mistaken1 and that there was no  such   
horror in the things from which he fled1
 nor so much good in  the things to     
which he hasted4 ,turn again1 fool1 says
 the devil1  turn again to thy former   
course4 ,i wonder what frenzy it was    

that  drove thee to thy heels1 and that 
made thee leave so much good  behind    
thee1 as other men find in the lusts of 
the flesh and the  good of the world4   
,as for the law1 and death1 and an      
imagination of  the day of judgment1    
they are but mere scarecrows1 set up by 
polite  heads to keep the ignorant in   
subjection4 ,well1 says the  backslider1
 ,i will go back again and see2 so1 fool
 as he is1 he  goes back1 and has all   
things ready to entertain him3 his      
conscience  sleeps1 the world smiles1   
flesh is sweet1 carnal company          
compliments  him1 and all that can be   
got is presented to this backslider to  
accommodate him4 ,but behold1 he doth   
again begin to see his own  nakedness1  
and he perceives that the law is        
whetting his axe3 as for  the world1 he 
perceives it is a bubble2 he also smells
 the smell of  brimstone1 for ,god hath 
scattered it upon his tabernacle and it 
begins to burn within him4 ,oh1 saith   
he1 ,i am deluded2 ,oh1 ,i am  ensnared4

 ,my first sight of things was true4 ,i 
see it so again4 ,now  he begins to be  
for flying again to his first refuge3 ,o
 ,god1 saith  he1 ,i am undone2 ,i have 
turned from thy truth to lies2 ,i       
believed  them such at first1 and find  
them such at last3 have mercy upon me1  
,o ,god4    ,this1 ,i say1 is a         
testimony1 a second testimony by the    
same man4    ,and him that cometh to me1
 ,i will in no wise cast out4 ,i shall  
here speak a word or two to him that is 
coming1 after backsliding1  to ,jesus   
,christ for life4    ,thy way1 ,o thou  
sinner of a double dye1 thy way is open 
to come to  ,jesus ,christ4 ,i mean     
thee1 whose heart1 after long           
backsliding1 doth  think of turning to  
him again4 ,thy way1 ,i say1 is open to 
him1 as is  the way of the other sorts  
of comers2 as appears by what follows4  
#a4 ,because the text makes no exception
 against thee4 ,it doth not  say1 ,and  
any one but a backslider2 any one but   
him4 ,the text doth  not thus object1   

but indefinitely openeth wide its golden
 arms to  every coming soul1 without the
 least exception4 ,therefore thou       
mayest come4 ,and take heed that thou   
shut not that door against thy  soul by 
unbelief1 which ,god has opened by his  
grace4    #b4 ,nay1 the text is so far  
from excepting against thy coming1 that 
it strongly suggesteth that thou art one
 of the souls intended1 ,o  thou coming 
backslider2 else why need that clause   
have been so  inserted1 ,i will in no   
wise cast out8 as if he should say1     
,though  those that come now are such as
 have formerly backslidden1 ,i will in  
no wise cast away the fornicator1 the   
covetous1 the railer1 the  drunkard1 or 
other common sinners1 nor yet the       
backslider neither4    ,if thou yet1    
instead of repenting and doing thy first
 works1 dost  remain a backslider1      
#a4 ,then remember that thou must die2  
and remember also1 that when  the       
terrors of ,god1 of death1 and a        
back-slidden heart meet  together1 there

 will be sad work in that soul3 this is 
the man that  hangeth tilting over the  
mouth of hell1 while death is cutting   
the  thread of his life4    #b4         
,remember1 that though ,god doth        
sometimes1 yea1 often1 receive          
backsliders1 yet it is not always so4   
,some draw back unto perdition2  for1   
because they have flung up ,god and     
would none of him1 he in  justice flings
 up them and their souls for ever4      
,prov4 ,i3 #bd-bh4              ,,xiii4 
,,the ,,christian ,,race4               
,they that will go to heaven must run   
for it1 because1 as the way is  long1 so
 the time in which they are to get to   
the end of it is very  uncertain2 the   
time present is the only time3 it may be
 thou hast no  more time allotted thee  
than that thou now enjoyest3 ,boast not 
thyself of to-morrow1 for thou knowest  
not what a day may bring  forth4 ,do not
 say1 ,i have time enough to get to     
heaven seven years  hence2 for ,i tell  
thee the bell may toll for thee before  

seven days  more be ended2 and when     
death comes1 away thou must go1 whether 
thou  art provided or not2 and therefore
 look to it--make no delays--it is  not 
good dallying with things of so great   
concernment as the  salvation or        
damnation of thy soul4 ,you know1 he    
that hath a great  way to go in a little
 time1 and less by half than he thinks  
of1 he  had need to run for it4    ,they
 that will have heaven must run for it1 
because the devil1 the  law1 sin1 death1
 and hell1 follow them4 ,there is never 
a poor soul  that is going to heaven1   
but the devil1 the law1 sin1 death1 and 
hell make after that soul4 ,your        
adversary the devil1 as a roaring  lion1
 walketh about seeking whom he may      
devour4 ,and ,i will assure  you the    
devil is nimble2 he can run apace1 he is
 light of foot1 he  hath overtaken many1
 he hath turned up their heels1 and hath
 given  them an everlasting fall4 ,also 
the law1 that can shoot a great way2    
have a care thou keep out of the reach  

of those great guns the ten             
commandments4 ,hell also hath a wide    
mouth2 it can stretch itself  further   
than you are aware of4 ,and as the angel
 said to ,lot1 ,take  heed2 look not    
behind thee1 neither tarry thou in all  
the  plain--that is1 anywhere between   
this and the mountain--lest thou  be    
consumed2 so say ,i to thee1 ,take heed2
 tarry not1 lest either  the devil1     
hell1 death1 or the fearful curses of   
the law of ,god1 do  overtake thee and  
throw thee down in the midst of thy     
sins2 then  thou1 as well as ,i1 wouldst
 say1 ,they that will have heaven must  
run  for it4    ,they that go to heaven 
must run for it1 because1 perchance1 the
  gates of heaven may be shut shortly4  
,sometimes sinners have not  heaven's   
gates open to them so long as they      
suppose1 and if they be  once shut      
against a man1 they are so heavy that   
all the men in the  world and all the   
angels in heaven are not able to open   
them4 ,i  shut1 and no man can open1    

saith ,christ4 ,and how if thou shouldst
  come but one quarter of an hour too   
late8 ,i tell thee it will cost  thee an
 eternity to bewail thy misery in4      
,francis ,spira ,footnote3  ,francis    
,spira1 an eminent lawyer of ,padua1    
,italy1 flurished in the  first half of 
the sixteenth century4 ,he embraced the 
reformed  religion1 and advocated       
evangelical sentiments with very great  
zeal4  ,but at legnth1 terrified by the 
threats of the papal church1 he made  a 
public recantation of his religious     
opinions4 ,his apostasy from  the faith 
threw him into despair1 and amid        
intolerable mental  agonies1 refusing   
all sustenance and comfort1 and         
affirming his  certain condemnation for 
having abjured the known truth1 he      
miserably expired4 ,see ,sleidan's      
,history of the ,reformation1 page      
#dge4 can tell thee what it is to stay  
till the gate of mercy be  quite shut2  
or to run so lazily that they be shut   
before thou get  within them4 ,what1 to 

be shut out--what1 out of heaven6       
,sinner1  rather than lose it1 run for  
it2 yea1 and so run that thou mayest    
obtain4    ,be not daunted though thou  
meetest with never so many              
discouragements in thy journey thither4 
,that man that is resolved  for heaven1 
if ,satan cannot win him by flatteries1 
he will endeavor  to weaken him by      
discouragements1 saying1 ,thou art a    
sinner1 thou  hast broke ,god's law1    
thou art not elected1 thou comest too   
late1  the day of grace  past1 ,god doth
 not care for thee1 thy heart is        
naught1 thou art lazy--with a hundred   
other discouraging  suggestions4 ,then  
thou must encourage thyself with the    
freeness of  the promises1 the          
tender-heartedness of ,christ1 the      
freeness of his  invitations to come in1
 the greatness of the sin of others that
 have  been pardoned1 and that the same 
,god through the same ,christ holdeth   
forth the same grace free as ever4 ,if  
these be not thy meditations1  thou wilt

 draw very heavily in the way to heaven 
if thou do not give  up all for lost2   
therefore ,i say1 take heart in thy     
journey1 and say  to them that seek thy 
destruction1 ,rejoice not against me1 ,o
 my  enemy1 for when ,i fall ,i shall   
arise1 when ,i sit in darkness the      
,lord shall be a light unto me4    ,let 
me give thee a few motives along with   
thee4 ,it may be they will  be as good  
as a pair of spurs to prick on thy      
lumpish heart in this  rich journey4    
#a4 ,consider there is no way but this2 
thou must either win or lose4  ,if thou 
winnest1 then heaven1 ,god1 ,christ1    
glory1 ease1 peace1 life1  yea1 life    
eternal1 are thine2 thou shalt be made  
equal to the angels  in heaven2 thou    
shalt sorrow no more1 sigh no more1 feel
 no more  pain2 thou shalt be out of the
 reach of sin1 hell1 death1 the devil1  
the grave1 and whatever else may        
endeavor thy hurt4    ,but contrariwise1
 if thou lose1 then thy loss is heaven1 
glory1 ,god1  ,christ1 ease1 peace1 and 

whatever else tends to make eternity    
comfortable to the saints2 besides1 thou
 procurest eternal death1  sorrow1 pain1
 blackness and darkness1 fellowship with
 devils1  together with the everlasting 
damnation of thy own soul4    #b4       
,consider that this devil1 this hell1   
death1 and damnation follow  after thee 
as hard as they can1 and have their     
commission so to do  by the law1 against
 which thou hast sinned2 and therefore  
for thy  soul's sake make haste4    #c4 
,if they seize upon thee before thou get
 to the city of refuge1  they will put  
an everlasting stop to thy journey4     
,this also cries1  ,run for it4    #d4  
,know also1 that now heaven-gates1 the  
heart of ,christ with his  arms are wide
 open to receive thee ,o methinks that  
this  consideration1 that the devil     
followeth after to destroy1 and that    
,christ standeth open-armed to receive1 
should make thee reach out  and fly with
 all haste and speed6    #e4 ,keep thine
 eyes upon the prize3 be sure that thine

 eyes be  continually upon the profit   
thou art like to get4 ,the reason why   
men  are so apt to faint in their race  
for heaven1 lies chiefly in either  of  
these two things3    7#a47 ,they do not 
seriously consider the worth of the     
prize2 or else  if they do1 they are    
afraid it is too good for them4         
,therefore keep  thine eye much upon the
 excellency1 the sweetness1 the beauty1 
the  comfort1 the peace that is to be   
had there by those that win the  prize4 
7#b47 ,and do not let the thoughts of   
the rareness of the place make  thee say
 in thy heart1 ,this is too good for me2
 for ,i tell thee1  heaven is prepared  
for whosoever will accept of it1 and    
they shall  he entertained with hearty  
good welcome4    #f4 ,think much of them
 that are gone before2 how safe they are
 in the  arms of ,jesus4 ,would they be 
here again for a thousand worlds8 ,or if
  they were1 would they be afraid that  
,god would not make them  welcome8 ,what
 would they judge of thee if they knew  

thy heart began  to fail thee in thy    
journey1 or thy sins began to allure    
thee and to  persuade thee to stop thy  
race8 ,would they not call thee a       
thousand  fools1 and say1 ,o that he did
 but see what we see1 feel what we      
feel1 and taste of the dainties that we 
taste of8 ,o if he were one  quarter of 
an hour to behold1 to feel1 to taste1   
and enjoy but the  thousandth part of   
what we enjoy1 what would he do8 ,what  
would he  suffer8 ,what would he leave  
undone8 ,would he favor sin8 ,would he  
love this world below8 ,would he be     
afraid of friends1 or shrink at  the    
most fearful threatenings that the      
greatest tyrants could invent  to give  
him8 ,nay1 those who have had but a     
sight of these things by  faith1 when   
they have been as far off from them as  
heaven from  earth1 yet they have been  
able to say with a comfortable and merry
  heart as the bird that sings in the   
spring1 that this and more shall  not   
stop them from running to heaven4       

,sometimes when my base heart  hath been
 inclining to this world1 and to loiter 
in my journey  towards heaven1 the very 
consideration of the glorious saints and
  angels in heaven hath caused me to    
rush forward--to disdain these  poor1   
low1 empty1 beggarly things1 and say to 
my soul1 ,come soul1  let us not be     
weary2 let us see what this heaven is2  
let us even  venture all for it1 and try
 if that will quit the cost4 ,surely    
,abraham1 ,david1 ,paul1 and the rest of
 the saints of ,god1 were as  wise as   
any are now1 and yet they lost all for  
this glorious  kingdom4    #g4 ,to      
encourage thee a little further1 set to 
work1 and when thou  hast run thyself   
down weary1 then the ,lord ,jesus will  
take thee up  and carry thee4 ,is not   
this enough to make any poor soul begin 
his  race8 ,thou perhaps criest1 ,o1 but
 ,i am feeble1 ,i am lame2 well1  but   
,christ has a bosom2 consider1          
therefore1 when thou hast run  thyself  
down weary1 he will put thee in his     

bosom4 ,he shall gather  the lambs with 
his arms1 and carry them in his bosom4  
,this is the  way that fathers take to  
encourage their children1 saying1 ,run1 
sweet babe1 until thou art weary1 and   
then ,i will take thee up and  carry    
thee4    #h4 ,or else he will convey new
 strength from heaven into thy soul4    
#i4 ,again1 methinks the very industry  
of the devil1 and the industry  of his  
servants1 should make you that have a   
desire to heaven and  happiness1 run    
apace4 ,why1 the devil he will lose no  
time1 spare no  pains1 also neither will
 his servants1 both to seek the         
destruction  of themselves and others2  
and shall not we be as industrious for  
our  own salvation8 ,shall the world    
venture the damnation of their souls    
for a poor corruptible crown1 and shall 
not we venture the loss of a  few       
trifles for an eternal crown8 ,shall    
they venture the loss of  eternal       
friends1 as ,god to love1 ,christ to    
redeem1 the ,holy ,spirit  to comfort1  

heaven for habitation1 saints and angels
 for company1  and all this to get and  
hold communion with sin and this world1 
and  a few base wretches like           
themselves8 ,and shall not we labor as  
hard1  run as fast1 seek as diligently1 
nay1 a hundred times more  diligently1  
for the company of these glorious       
eternal friends1  though with the loss  
of such as these1 nay1 with the loss of 
a  thousand times better than these     
poor1 low1 base1 contemptible  things8  
,shall it be said at the last day1 that 
wicked men made more  haste to hell than
 you did make to heaven2 that they spent
 more  hours1 days1 and that early and  
late1 for hell1 than you spent for  that
 which is ten thousand thousand of      
thousand times better8 ,o let  it not be
 so1 but run with all might and main4   
,is the soul such an excellent thing1   
and is the loss thereof so  unspeakably 
great8 ,then this commends those for the
 wise ones that  above all business     
concern themselves with the salvation of

 their  souls2 those that make all other
 matters but things by the by1 and  the 
salvation of their soul the one thing   
needful4    ,let me then encourage those
 that are of this mind to be strong and 
hold on their way4 ,soul1 thou hast     
chosen right2 ,i will say of thy        
choice1 as ,david said of ,goliath's    
sword1 ,there is none like that1  give  
it me4    ,but who told thee that thy   
soul was such an excellent thing as by  
thy practice thou declarest thou        
believest it to be8 ,what1 set more  by 
thy soul than by all the world8 ,what1  
cast a world behind thy  back for the   
welfare of a soul6 ,is not this to play 
the fool in the  account of sinners1    
while angels wonder at and rejoice for  
thy  wisdom8    ,what a thing is this1  
that thy soul and its welfare should be 
more  in thy esteem than all these      
glories wherewith the eyes of the world 
are dazzled6 ,surely1 thou hast looked  
upon the sun1 and that makes  gold look 
like a clod of clay in thine eyesight4  

,but who put the thoughts of the        
excellencies of the things that are     
eternal--,i say1 who put the thoughts of
 the excellency of those  things into   
thy mind in this wanton age1 in an age  
wherein the  thoughts of eternal life   
and the salvation of the soul are with  
too  many like the ,morocco ambassador  
,footnote3 ,evelyn1 who lived in the    
times of ,charles ,i41 ,cromwell4       
,charles ,,ii41 and ,william1 refers in 
his ,diary to this ambassador1 named    
,hamet4 ,when presented to the  king1 he
 and his retinue were clad in the       
,moorish habite1 cassocks  of colored   
cloth or silk1 with buttons and loopes2 
over this an  ,,alhaga or white woolen  
mantle1 so large as to wrap both head   
and  body2 a shash or small turban2     
naked legg'd and armed1 but with        
leather socks like the ,turks2 rich     
scymeters1 and large  calico-sleeved    
shirts4 ,the ambassador had a string of 
pearls oddly  woven in the turban4      
,their presents were lions and estridges

  7ostriches47 ,but the concourse and   
tumult of the people was  intolerable1  
so as the officers could keep no order4 
and his men  of strange faces1 in       
strange habits1 with strange gestures   
and  behaviors1 monsters to behold8     
,but where hadst thou that heart that   
gives entertainment to these  thoughts1 
these heavenly thoughts8 ,these thoughts
 are like the  ,french ,protestants1    
,footnote3 ,by the famous edict of      
,nantes1 which  was granted the         
,huguenots by ,henry ,,iv41 they were   
allowed liberty of  conscience and the  
free exercise of religion4 ,louis       
,,xiv41 grandson  of ,henry1 after a    
series of arbitrary infractions of that 
edict by  his father and himself at the 
instigation of the ,jesuits1 at length  
in #afhe abrogated it1 and banished the 
,protestants from the kingdom  under    
circumstances of aggravated cruelty4    
,great numbers of them  were dispersed  
through all the countries of ,europe4   
,evelyn1 in his  ,diary1 says that in   

#afhe1 there had now been numbered to   
passe  through ,geneva onely forty      
thousand towards ,swisserland4 ,in      
,holland1  ,denmark1 and all ,germany   
were dispersed some hundred thousands1  
besides those in ,england4 ,in the      
,memoirs of the ,reformation in  ,france
 prefixed to ,saurin's ,sermons1 it is  
stated that eight hundred  thousand were
 banished from ,france1 and that they   
carried with them  more than twenty     
millions of property4 ,the refugees     
charged their  sufferings on the        
,,religion of ,rome1 for ,pope ,innocent
 ,,xi highly  approved of this          
persecution4 ,he wrote a brief to the   
king1 assuring  him that what he had    
done against the heretics of his kingdom
 would  be immortalieied by the eulogies
 of the ,catholic church4 ,he  delivered
 a discourse in the ,consistory in      
#afhi1 in which he said1  ,the most     
,christian king's zeal and piety did    
wonderfully appear in  extirpating      
heresy4 ,he ordered the ,,te ,,deum to  

be sung4 ,evelyn says1  ,i was show'd   
the harangue which the bishop of        
,valentia on ,rhone  made in the name of
 the cleargie1 celebrating the ,french  
king for  persecuting the poor          
,protestants2 with this expression in   
it3 ',his  victory over heresy was      
greater than all the conquests of       
,alexander  and ,caesar4' banished      
thence where they willingly would have  
harbor3 how came they to thy house1 to  
thy heart1 and to find  entertainment in
 thy soul8 ,the ,lord keep them in every
 imagination  of the thoughts of thy    
heart for ever1 and incline thine heart 
to  seek him more and more4    ,and     
since the whole world have slighted and 
despised and counted  foolish the       
thoughts wherewith thy soul is          
exercised1 what strong  and mighty      
supporter is it upon and with which thou
 bearest up thy  spirit1 and takest     
encouragement in this thy forlorn1      
unoccupied1  and singular way1 for so ,i
 dare say it is with the most8 ,but     

certainly it is something above thyself1
 and that is more mighty to  uphold thee
 than is the power1 rage1 and malice of 
all the world to  cast thee down1 or    
else thou couldst not bear up1 now the  
stream and  the force thereof are       
against thee4    ,,objection4 ,i know my
 soul is an excellent thing1 and that   
the world  to come and its glories1 even
 in the smallest glimpse thereof1 do    
swallow up all the world that is here2  
my heart also doth greatly  desire to be
 exercised about the thoughts of        
eternity1 and ,i count  myself never    
better than when my poor heart is filled
 with them2 and  as for the rage and    
fury of this world1 it swayeth very     
little with  me1 for my heart is come to
 a point2 but yet for all that1 ,i meet 
with many discouragements1 and such     
things as indeed do weaken my  strength 
in the way4    ,but1 brave soul1 pray   
tell me what the things are that        
discourage  thee1 and that weaken thy   
strength in the way4    ,why1 the       

amazing greatness of this my enterprise4
 ,i am now pursuing  things of the      
highest1 the greatest1 the most         
enriching nature1 even  eternal things2 
and the thoughts of the greatness of    
them drowned  me3 for when the heat of  
my spirit in the pursuit after them is a
  little returned and abated1 methinks  
,i hear myself talking thus to  myself3 
,fond fool1 canst thou imagine that such
 a gnat1 a flea as  thou art1 can take  
and possess the heavens1 and mantle     
thyself up in  the eternal glories8 ,if 
thou makest first a trial of the        
successfulness of thy endeavors upon    
things far lower1 more base1  but much  
more easy to obtain1 as crowns1         
kingdoms1 earldoms1  dukedoms1 gold1    
silver1 or the like1 how vain are these 
attempts of  thine1 and yet thou        
thinkest to possess thy soul of heaven4 
,away1  away6 by the height thereof1    
thou mayest well conclude it is far     
above1 out of thy reach2 and by the     
breadth thereof1 it is too large  for   

thee to grasp2 and by the nature of the 
excellent glory thereof1  too good for  
thee to possess4 ,these are the thoughts
 that sometimes  discourage me1 and that
 weaken my strength in the way4         
,,answer4 ,the greatness of thy         
undertakings does but show the          
nobleness of thy soul1 in that it       
cannot1 will not be content with  such  
low and dry things as the base-born     
spirits that are in the  world can and  
do content themselves withal4    ,and as
 to the greatness of the things thou    
aimest at1 though they  be1 as they are 
indeed1 things that have not their like1
 yet they  are not too big for ,god to  
give2 and he has promised to give them  
to  the soul that seeketh him2 yea1 he  
hath prepared the kingdom1 and  laid up 
in the kingdom of heaven the things that
 thy soul longeth  for1 presseth after1 
and cannot he content without4    ,art  
thou got into the right way8 ,art thou  
in ,christ's righteousness8  ,do not    
say1 ,yes1 in thy heart1 when in truth  

there is no such  matter4 ,it is a      
dangerous thing1 you know1 for a man to 
think he is  in the right way1 when he  
is in the wrong4 ,it is the next way for
  him to lose his way2 and not only so1 
but if he run for heaven1 as  thou      
sayest thou dost1 even to lose that too4
 ,o this is the misery  of most men1 to 
persuade themselves that they are right1
 when they  never had one foot in the   
way6 ,the ,lord give thee understanding 
here1 or else thou art undone for ever4 
,prithee1 soul1 search when  it was thou
 turnedst out of thy sins and           
righteousness into the  righteousness of
 ,jesus ,christ4 ,i say1 dost thou see  
thyself in him2  and is he more precious
 to thee than the whole world8 ,is thy  
mind  always musing on him2 and lovest  
thou to be walking with him8 ,dost  thou
 count his company more precious than   
the whole world8 ,dost thou  count all  
things but poor1 lifeless1 empty1 vain  
things1 without  communion with him8    
,doth his company sweeten all things2   

and his  absence imbitter all things8   
,soul1 ,i beseech thee be serious1 and  
lay it to heart1 and do not take things 
of such weighty concernment  as the     
salvation or damnation of thy soul      
without good ground4    ,art thou       
unladen of the things of this world2 as 
pride1 pleasures1  profits1 lusts1      
vanities8 ,what1 dost thou think to run 
fast enough1  with the world1 thy sins  
and lusts in thy heart8 ,i tell thee1   
soul1  they that have laid all aside1   
every weight1 every sin1 and are got    
into the nimblest posture1 they find    
work enough to run2 so to run  as to    
hold out4 ,to run through all the       
opposition1 all the jostles1  all the   
rubs1 over all the stumbling-blocks1    
over all the snares1  from all the      
entanglements that the devil1 sin1 the  
world1 and their  own hearts lay before 
them--,i tell thee1 if thou art going   
heavenward1 thou wilt find it no small  
or easy matter4    ,art thou therefore  
discharged or unladen of these things8  

,never talk  of going to heaven if thou 
art not4 ,it is to be feared thou wilt  
be  found among the many that shall seek
 to enter in and shall not be  able4 ,if
 so1 then in the next place1 what will  
become of them that  are grown weary    
before they are got half-way thither8   
,why1 man1 it  is he that holdeth out to
 the end1 that must be saved2 it is he  
that  overcometh1 that shall inherit all
 things2 it is not every one that       
begins4 ,agrippa took a fair step for a 
sudden3 he steps almost into  the bosom 
of ,christ in less than half an hour4   
,almost1 saith he to  ,paul1 thou       
persuadest me to be a ,christian4 ,ah1  
it was but ,,almost2  and so he had as  
good have never been a ,,whit2 he       
stepped fair  indeed1 but yet he stepped
 short2 he was hot while he was at it1  
but  he was quickly out of wind4 ,o this
 ,,but ,,almost6 ,i tellyou1 this ,,but 
,,almost lost his soul4 ,methinks ,i    
have seen sometimes how these poor      
wretches that get but almost to heaven1 

how fearfully their almost  and their   
but almost will torment them in hell2   
when they shall cry  out in the         
bitterness of their souls1 saying1      
,almost a ,christian4 ,i  was almost got
 into the kingdom1 almost out of the    
hands of the  devil1 almost out of my   
sins1 almost from under the curse of    
,god2  almost1 and that was all2 almost1
 but not altogether4 ,o that ,i  should 
be almost at heaven1 and should not go  
quite through6  ,friend1 it is a sad    
thing to sit down before we are in      
heaven1 and  to grow weary before we    
come to the place of rest2 and if it    
should  be thy case1 ,i am sure thou    
dost not so run as to obtain4           
,,evangelist4 ,the crown is before you1 
and it is an incorruptible one2  ,so    
run1 that you may obtain it4 ,some there
 be that set out for  this crown1 and   
after they have gone far for it1 another
 comes in  and takes it from them3 ,hold
 fast1 therefore1 that ye have2 let no  
man take your crown3 you are not yet out

 of the gunshot of the  devil2 you have 
not resisted unto blood1 striving       
against sin3 let  the kingdom be always 
before you1 and believe stead-fastly    
concerning things that are invisible2   
let nothing that is on this  side the   
other world get within you2 and1 above  
all1 look well to  your own hearts and  
to the lusts thereof1 for they are      
deceitful  above all things1 and        
desperately wicked3 set your faces like 
a  flint2 you have all power in heaven  
and earth on your side4    ,though the  
way to heaven be but one1 yet there are 
many crooked  lanes and by-paths that   
shoot down upon it1 as ,i may say4 ,and 
again1  notwithstanding the kingdom of  
heaven be the chief city1 yet usually   
those by-paths are most beaten1 most    
travellers go those ways2 and  therefore
 the way to heaven is hard to be found1 
and as hard to be  kept in1 by reason of
 these4 ,yet1 nevertheless1 it is in    
this case  as it was with the harlot of 
,jericho2 she had one scarlet thread    

tied in her window1 by which her house  
was known3 so it is here2 the  scarlet  
streams of ,christ's blood run          
throughout the way to the  kingdom of   
heaven2 therefore mind that3 see if thou
 do find the  besprinkling of the blood 
of ,christ in the way2 and if thou do1  
be  of good cheer1 thou art in the right
 way4              ,,xiv4 ,,trials ,,of 
,,the ,,christian    ,,affliction--,,its
 ,,nature ,,and ,,benefits4             
,the school of the cross is the school  
of light2 it discovers the  world's     
vanity1 baseness1 and wickedness1 and   
lets us see more of  ,god's mind4 ,out  
of dark afflictions comes a spiritual   
light4    ,in times of affliction1 we   
commonly meet with the sweetest         
experiences of the love of ,god4    ,the
 end of affliction is the discovery of  
sin2 and of that1 to bring  us to a     
,saviour4    ,doth not ,god ofttimes    
even take occasion1 by the hardest of   
things  that come upon us1 to visit our 
souls with the comforts of his  ,spirit1

 to lead us into the glory of his word  
and to cause us to  savor that love that
 he has had for us even from before the 
world  began till now8 ,a nest of bees  
and honey did ,samson find even in the  
belly of that lion that roared upon him4
 ,and is all this no good2 or  can we do
 without such holy appointments of ,god8
 ,let these things be  considered by us1
 and let us learn like ,christians to   
kiss the rod1  and love it4    ,the     
lamps of ,gideon were discovered1 when  
his soldiers' pitchers  were broken3 if 
our pitchers are broken for the ,lord   
and his  gospel's sake1 those lamps will
 then be discovered that before lay  hid
 and unseen4    ,people that live high  
and in idleness bring diseases upon the 
body2  and they that live in all fulness
 of gospel ordinances1 and are not      
exercised with trials1 grow gross1 are  
diseased and full of bad  humors in     
their souls4    ,the righteous are apt  
to be like well-fed children1 too       
wanton1 if  ,god should not appoint them

 some fasting-days4    ,the ,lord useth 
his flail of tribulation to separate the
 chaff from  the wheat4    ,observe     
,paul3 he died daily1 he was always     
delivered unto death1 he  despaired of  
life4 ,and this is the way to be        
prepared for any  calamity4 ,when a man 
thinks he has only to prepare for an    
assault by  footmen1 how shall he       
contend with horses2 or if he looks no  
further  than to horses1 what will he do
 at the swellings of ,jordan8    ,oh1   
when every providence of ,god unto thee 
is like the messengers of  ,job1 and the
 last to bring more heavy tidings than  
all that went  before him2 when life1   
estate1 wife1 children1 body and soul1  
and  all at once1 seem to be struck at  
by heaven and earth1 here are hard      
lessons--now to behave myself even as a 
weaned child3 now to say1  ,the ,lord   
gave1 and the ,lord hath taken away2    
blessed be the name of  the ,lord4      
,our afflictions work out for us a far  
more exceeding and eternal  weight of   

glory4 ,our afflictions do it1 not only 
because there is  laid up a reward for  
the afflicted according to the measure  
of  affliction1 but because afflictions1
 and so every service of ,god1  make the
 heart more deep1 more experimental1    
more knowing and  profound1 and so1 more
 able to hold1 to contain1 and bear     
more4    ,let ,christians beware that   
they set not times for ,god1 lest all   
men  see their folly4 ,it is not for you
 to know the times and the  seasons     
which the ,father hath put in his own   
power2 yea1 ,i say  again1 take heed    
lest1 for thy setting of ,god a         
seven-day's time1 he  set thee so many  
as seven times seven4    ,god's time is 
the time1 the best time1 because it is  
the time  appointed by him for the proof
 and trial of our graces1 and that in   
which so much of the rage of the enemy  
and of the power of ,god's  mercy1 may  
the better be discovered unto us4 ,i the
 ,lord do hasten  it in his time2 not   
before1 though we were the signet upon  

his  hand4    ,afflictions are governed 
by ,god1 both as to time1 number1       
nature1  and measure4 ,in measure1 when 
it shooteth forth1 thou wilt debate     
with it3 ,he stayeth his rough wind in  
the day of his east wind4  ,our times1  
therefore1 and our conditions in these  
times1 are in the  hand of ,god1 yea1   
and so are our souls and bodies1 to be  
kept and  preserved from the evil while 
the rod of ,god is upon us4    ,ease and
 release from persecution and affliction
 come not by chance1  or by the good    
moods and gentle dispositions of men2   
but the ,lord  doth hold them back from 
sin1 the ,lord restraineth them4 #b     
,chron4  #ah3ca4    ,and he stayed yet  
other seven days4 ,it is not ,god's way 
with his  people to show them all their 
troubles at once1 but first he shows    
them a part3 first1 forty days1 after   
that1 seven other days1 and  yet again1 
seven days more2 that coming upon them  
by piecemeal1 they  may the better be   
able to travel through them4 ,when      

,israel was in  affliction in ,egypt1   
they knew not the trial which would meet
 them  at the ,red sea4 ,again1 when    
they had gone through that1 they little 
thought that yet for forty years they   
must be tempted and proved in  the      
wilderness4    ,and ,noah removed the   
covering of the ark1 and looked2 the    
failing  again of his expected comforter
 caused him to be up and doing4         
,probably he had not as yet uncovered   
the ark1 that is1 to look round  about  
him1 if the dove1 by returning1 had     
pleased his humor2 but she  failing1 he 
stirs up himself4    ,thus it should    
also be with the ,christian now4 ,doth  
the dove forbear  to come to thee with a
 leaf in her bill as before8 ,let not   
this make  thee sullen and mistrustful1 
but uncover the ark and look2 and by    
looking1 thou shalt see a further       
testimony of what thou receivest  by the
 first manifestations4 ,he looked1 and  
behold the earth was  dry4    ,god doth 
not let us see the hills for our help   

before we have first  of all seen them  
drowned4 ,look not to them1 therefore1  
while the  water is at the rising2 but  
if they begin to cease their raging1 if 
they begin to fall1 and with that the   
tops of the mountains be seen1  you may 
look upon them with comfort2 they are   
tokens of ,god's  deliverance4 ,gen4 #h4
    ,it was requisite that the hills1   
,gen4 #g3ai1 should be covered1 that    
,noah might not have confidence in them2
 but surely this dispensation  of ,god  
was a heart-shaking providence to ,noah 
and them that were  with him2 for here  
indeed was his faith tried1 there was no
 hill  left in all the world2 now were  
his carnal helpers gone1 there was  none
 shut up or left4 ,now therefore1 if    
they could rejoice1 it must  be only in 
the power of ,god4    ,noah was to have 
respect in his deliverance not only to  
himself and  family1 but to the good of 
all the world4 ,men's spirits are too   
narrow for the mind of ,god1 when their 
chief end1 or their only  design in     

their enjoying this or the other mercy1 
is for the sake of  their own selves    
only4 ,it cannot be according to ,god1  
that such  desires should be encouraged4
 ,none of us liveth unto himself2 why1  
then1 should we desire life only for    
ourselves8    ,the church cries out     
thus3 ,god be merciful to us and bless  
us1 and  cause his face to shine upon   
us4 ,why8 ,that thy way may be known    
upon earth1 and thy saving health among 
all nations4 ,so ,david3  ,restore unto 
me the joy of thy salvation1 and uphold 
me with thy  free ,spirit2 then will ,i 
teach transgressors thy ways1 and       
sinners  shall be converted unto thee4  
,so then1 we must not desire to come out
 of trials and afflictions  alone or by 
ourselves1 but that in our deliverance  
the salvation of  many may be concerned4
    ,in every affliction and            
persecution1 the devil's design is to   
impair  ,christ's kingdom2 wherefore1 no
 marvel that ,god designs in our        
deliverance the impairing and lessening 

the kingdom of sin and  ,satan4         
,wherefore1 ,o thou church of ,god1     
which art now upon the waves  of        
affliction and temptation1 when thou    
comest out of the furnace1  if thou come
 out at the bidding of ,god1 there shall
 come out with  thee the fowl1 the      
beast1 and abundance of creeping things4
 ,gen4  #h3ag4 ,o ,judah1 he hath set a 
harvest for thee1 when ,i returned the  
captivity of my people4                 
,,persecution4    ,there are several    
degrees of suffering for righteousness3 
there is  the scourge of the tongue1 the
 ruin of an estate1 the loss of         
liberty1 a jail1 a gibbet1 a stake1 a   
dagger4 ,now answerable to  these are   
the comforts of the ,holy ,ghost        
prepared1 like to like1  part           
proportioned to part2 only the          
consolations are said to abound4  #b    
,cor4 #a3e4    ,but the lighter the     
sufferings are1 the more difficult it is
 to  judge of the comforts of the       
,spirit of ,god2 for it is common for a 

man to be comfortable under sufferings  
when he suffereth but little1  and knows
 also that his enemy can touch his      
flesh1 his estate1 or  the like1 but    
little4 ,and this maybe the joy of the  
flesh1 the  result of reason2 and may be
 very much1 if not altogether1 without a
  mixture of the joy of the ,holy ,ghost
 therewith4 ,the more deep1  therefore1 
and the more dreadful the sufferings    
are1 the more  clearly are seen the     
comforts of the ,spirit4 ,when a man has
 comfort  where the flesh is dead1      
stirreth not1 and can do nothing2 when a
  man can be comfortable at the loss of 
all2 when he is under sentence  of      
death1 or at the place of execution--if 
yet a man's cause1 a  man's conscience1 
the promise1 and the ,holy ,ghost1 have 
all one  comfortable voice1 and do all  
together with their trumpets make one   
sound in the soul1 then good are the    
comforts of ,god and his ,spirit4       
,there are several degrees of           
sufferings2 wherefore it is not to be   

expected that he that suffers but little
 should partake of the  comforts that   
are prepared for them that suffer much4 
,he that has  only the scourge of the   
tongue1 knows not what are the comforts 
that  are prepared for him that meets   
with the scourge of the whip4 ,and  how 
should a man know what manner of        
comforts the ,holy ,ghost doth  use to  
give at the jail and the gibbet1 when   
himself for  righteousness never was    
there8    ,persecution of the godly was 
never intended of ,god for their        
destruction1 but for their glory1 and to
 make them shine the more  when they are
 beyond this valley of the shadow of    
death4    ,we that are ,christians have 
been trained up by his ,son in his      
school this many a day1 and have been   
told what a ,god our ,father is1  what  
an arm he has1 and with what a voice he 
can thunder2 how he can  deck himself   
with majesty and excellency1 and array  
himself with  beauty and glory2 how he  
can cast abroad the rage of his wrath1  

and  behold every one that is proud and 
abase him4 ,have we not talked of  what 
he did at the ,red sea and in the land  
of ,ham1 many years ago2  and have we   
forgot him now8 ,have we not vaunted and
 boasted of our  ,god1 both in church1  
pulpit1 and books1 and spake to the     
praise of  them that attempted to drive 
antichrist out of the world with their  
lives and their blood instead of stones2
 and are we afraid of our  ,god8 ,he was
 ,god1 a ,creator1 then2 and is he not  
,god now8 and will he  not be as good to
 us as to them that have gone before us8
 or would  we limit him to appear in    
such ways as only smile upon our flesh1 
and have him stay and not show himself  
in his heart-shaking  dispensations     
until we are dead and gone8 ,what if we 
must now go to  heaven1 and what if he  
is thus come to fetch us to himself8 ,if
 we  have been as wise as serpents and  
innocent as doves--if we can say1       
,neither against the law of the ,jews1  
neither against the temple1 nor  against

 ,caesar1 have we offended any thing at 
all--of what should we  be afraid8 ,let 
heaven and earth come together2 ,i dare 
say they will  not hurt us4    ,religion
 that is pure is a hot thing2 and il    
usually burns the  fingers of those that
 fight against it4    ,ah1 when ,god    
makes the bed1 he must needs lie easy   
whom weakness  hath cast thereon3 a     
blessed pillow hath4 that man for his   
head1  though to all beholders it is    
hard as a stone4 ,psa4 #da3a-c4    ,it  
is as ordinary as for the light to      
shine1 for ,god to make back  and dismal
 dispensations usher in bright and      
pleasing4    ,christian reader1 let me  
beg of thee that thou wilt not be       
offended  either with ,god or men1 if   
the cross is laid heavy upon thee4 ,not 
with ,god1 for he doeth nothing without 
a cause2 nor with men1 for  they are the
 hand of ,god3 and will they1 nill they1
 they are the  servants of ,god to thee 
for good4 ,psa4 #ag3ad2 ,jer4 #bd3e4    
,take1  therefore1 what comes from ,god 

by them thankfully4 ,if the messenger   
that brings it is glad that it is in his
 power to do thee hurt and  to afflict  
thee1 if he skips for joy at thy        
calamity1 be sorry for  him1 pity him1  
and pray to thy ,father for him3 he is  
ignorant1 and  understandeth not the    
judgment of thy ,god2 yea1 he showeth by
 this  his behavior1 that though he as  
,god's ordinance serveth thee by        
afflicting thee1 yet means he nothing   
less than to destroy thee3 by  the which
 also he prognosticates before thee that
 he is working out  his own damnation by
 doing thee good4 ,lay therefore the    
woful state  of such to heart1 and      
render him that which is good for his   
evil1  and love for his hatred to thee2 
then shalt thou show that thou art      
moved by a spirit of holiness1 and art  
like thy heavenly ,father4 ,and  be it  
so1 that thy pity and prayers can do    
such a one no good1 yet  they must light
 somewhere1 or return again1 as ships   
come laden from  the ,indies1 full of   

blessings into thine own bosom4    ,poor
 man1 thou hast thy time to be afflicted
 by thy enemies1 that  thy golden graces
 may shine the more2 thou art in the    
fire and they  blow the bellows4 ,but   
wouldst thou change places with them8   
,wouldst  thou sit upon their place of  
ease8 ,dost thou desire to be with them8
  ,o rest thyself contented2 in thy     
patience possess thy soul1 and pity  and
 bewail them in the condition in which  
they are4    ,the cup that ,god's people
 in all ages have drank of1 even the cup
 of  affliction and persecution1 it is  
not in the hand of the enemy1 but  in   
the hand of ,god2 and he1 not they1     
poureth out of the same4    ,there are  
but two ways of obeying3 the one to do  
that which ,i in my  conscience do      
believe that ,i am bound to do1         
actively2 and where ,i  cannot obey     
actively1 there ,i am willing to lie    
down and to suffer  what they shall do  
unto me4    ,a ,christian1 when he sees 
trouble coming upon him1 should not fly 

in  the face of the instrument that     
brings1 but in the face of the cause  of
 its coming4 ,now the cause is thyself1 
thy base self1 thy sinful  self1 and thy
 unworthy carriages towards ,god under  
all the mercy1  patience1 and           
long-suffering that ,god has bestowed   
upon thee1 and  exercised towards thee4 
,here thou mayest quarrel1 and be       
revenged1  and spare not1 so thou take  
vengeance in a right way2 and thou wilt 
do so1 when thou takest it by godly     
sorrow4 #a ,cor4 #g3aj1aa4    ,it is a  
rare thing to suffer aright1 and to have
 thy spirit in  suffering beat only     
against ,god's enemy1 sin4    ,let them 
that are ,god's sufferers pluck up a    
good heart2 let them  not be afraid to  
trust ,god with their souls1 and with   
their eternal  concerns4 ,let them cast 
all their care upon ,god1 for he careth 
for  them4    ,but ,i am in the dark4 ,i
 answer1 never stick at that4 ,it is    
most  bravely done to trust ,god with   
the soul in the dark1 and to resolve  to

 serve ,god for nothing1 rather than    
give out4 ,not to see and yet  to       
believe1 and to be a follower of the    
,lamb and yet to be at  uncertainty what
 we shall have at last1 argues love1    
fear1 faith1  and an honest mind1 and   
gives the greatest sign of one that hath
  true sincerity in his soul4 ,it was   
this that made ,job and ,peter so       
famous2 and the want of it took away    
much of the glory of the faith  of      
,thomas4 ,wherefore1 believe verily that
 ,god is ready1 willing2  yea1 that he  
looks for and expects that thou1 who art
 a sufferer1  shouldst commit the       
keeping of thy soul to him as unto a    
faithful  ,creator4    ,is there nothing
 in dark providences1 for the sake of   
the sight and  observation of which such
 a day may be rendered lovely1 when it  
is  upon us8 ,is there nothing of ,god1 
of his wisdom and power and  goodness1  
to be seen in thunder and lightning1 in 
hailstones1 in  storms and darkness and 
tempests8 ,why then is it said1 he hath 

his  way in the whirlwind and storm8    
,and why have ,god's servants of old    
made such notes1 and observed from them 
such excellent and wonderful  things8   
,there is that of ,god to be seen in    
such a day1 which cannot  be seen in    
another4 ,his power in holding up some1 
his wrath in  leaving others2 his making
 shrubs to stand1 and his suffering     
cedars  to fall2 his infatuating the    
counsels of men1 and his making the     
devil to outwit himself2 his giving his 
presence to his people1 and  his leaving
 his foes in the dark2 his discovering  
the uprightness of  the hearts of his   
sanctified ones1 and laying open the    
hypocrisy of  others1 is a working of   
spiritual wonders in the day of his     
wrath  and of the whirlwind and storm4  
,these days1 these days of trial1 are   
the days that do most aptly  give an    
occasion to ,christians to take the     
exactest measures and  scantlings of    
ourselves4 ,we are apt to overshoot in  
days that are  calm1 and to think       

ourselves far higher and more strong    
than we find  we are when the trying day
 is upon us4 ,the mouth of ,gaal1       
,judges  #i3ch1 and the boasts of       
,peter1 were great and high before the  
trial  came2 but when that came1 they   
found themselves to fall far short of   
the courage they thought they had4 ,we  
also1 before the temptation  comes1     
think we can walk upon the sea2 but when
 the winds blow1 we  feel ourselves     
begin to sink4 ,hence such a time is    
rightly said to  be a time to try us1 or
 to find out what we are2 and is there  
no  good in this8 ,is it not this that  
rightly rectifies our judgment  about   
ourselves1 that makes us to know        
ourselves1 that tends to cut  off those 
superfluous sprigs of pride and         
self-concitedness1  wherewith we are    
subject to be overcome8 ,is not such a  
day the day  that bends us1 humbles us1 
and that makes us bow before ,god for   
our  faults committed in our prosperity8
 ,and yet doth it yield no good  unto   

us8 ,we could not live without such     
turnings of the hand of ,god  upon us4  
,thine own doubts and mistrusts about   
what ,god will do and about  whither    
thou shalt go1 when thou for him hast   
suffered awhile he can  resolve1 yea1   
dissolve1 crush1 and bring to nothing4  
,he can make  fear flee far away1 and   
place heavenly confidence in its room4  
,he  can bring invisible and eternal    
things to the eye of thy soul1 and  make
 thee see ,,that1 in those things in    
which thine enemies shall see  nothing1 
that thou shalt count worth the loss of 
ten thousand lives  to enjoy4 ,he can   
pull such things out of his bosom1 and  
can put such  things into thy mouth2    
yea1 can make thee choose to be gone1   
though  through the flames1 rather than 
to stay here and die in silken  sheets4 
,yea1 he can himself come near1 and     
bring his heaven and  glory to thee4    
,the ,spirit of glory and of ,god       
resteth upon them that  are but         
reproached for the name of ,christ4 ,and

 what the ,spirit of  glory is1 and what
 is his resting upon his sufferers1 is  
quite  beyond the knowledge of the      
world1 is but little felt by saints at  
peace4 ,they that are engaged1 that are 
under the lash for  ,christ--they1 ,i   
say1 have it1 and understand something  
of it4    ,look not upon the sufferings 
of ,god's people for their religion1 to 
be tokens of ,god's great anger4 ,it is1
 to be sure1 as our heavenly  ,father   
orders it1 rather a token of his love2  
for suffering for the  gospel and for   
the sincere profession of it1 is indeed 
a dignity put  upon us1 a dignity that  
all men are not counted worthy of4      
,count it  therefore a favor that ,god  
has bestowed upon thee his truth1 and   
grace to enable thee to profess it1     
though thou be made to suffer  for it4  
,let ,god's people think never the worse
 of religion because of the  coarse     
entertainment it meeteth with in the    
world4 ,it is better'to  choose ,god and
 affliction1 than the world1 and sin1   

and carnal  peace4    ,it is necessary  
that we should suffer1 because we have  
sinned2 and  if ,god will have us suffer
 a little while here for his word1      
instead  of suffering for our sins in   
hell1 let us be content1 and count it a 
mercy with thankfulness4    ,the wicked 
are reserved to the day of destruction1 
they shall be  brought forth to the day 
of wrath4 ,how kindly1 therefore1 doth  
,god  deal with us1 when he chooses to  
afflict us but for a little1 that  with 
everlasting kindness he may have mercy  
upon us4    ,since the rod is ,god's as 
well as the child1 let us not look upon 
our troubles as if they came from and   
were managed only by hell4 ,it  is true1
 a persecutor has a black mark upon him2
 but yet the  ,scriptures say that all  
the ways of the persecutor are ,god's4  
,wherefore as we should1 so again we    
should not1 be afraid of men3 we  should
 be afraid of them1 because they will   
hurt us2 but we should  not be afraid of
 them as if they were let loose to do to

 us and with  us what they will4 ,god's 
bridle is upon them1 ,god's hook is in  
their  nose2 yea1 and ,god hath         
determined the bounds of their rage2 and
 if  he lets them drive his church into 
the sea of troubles1 it shall he  hut up
 to the neck2 and so far it may go and  
not he drowned4 ,isaiah  #h3g1 #h4      
,may we not fly in a time of            
persecution8 ,your pressing upon us that
  persecution is ordered and managed by 
,god1 makes us afraid to fly4    ,thou  
mayest do in this even as it is in thy  
heart4 ,if it is in thy  heart to fly1  
fly2 if it be in thy heart to stand1    
stand4 ,anything  but a denial of the   
truth4 ,he that flies1 has warrant to do
 so2 he  that stands1 has warrant to do 
so4 ,yea1 the same man may both fly  and
 stand1 as the call and working of ,god 
with his heart may be4  ,moses fled1    
,moses stood2 ,jeremiah fled1 ,jeremiah 
stood2 ,christ  withdrew himself1       
,christ stood2 ,paul fled1 ,paul stood4 
,but in flying1 fly not from religion2  

fly not1 for the sake of a  trade2 fly  
not1 that thou mayest have care for the 
flesh3 this is  wicked1 and will yield  
neither peace nor profit to thy soul1   
neither  now1 nor at death1 nor at the  
day of judgment4    ,the hotter the rage
 and fury of men are against righteous  
ways1 the  more those that love         
righteousness grow therein4 ,for they   
are  concerned for it1 not to hide it1  
but to make it spangle2 not to          
extinguish it1 but to greaten it1 and to
 show the excellency of it  in all its  
features and in all its comely          
proportion4 ,now such an  one will make 
straight steps for his feet1 lest that  
which is lame  be turned out of the way4
 ,heb4 #ab3 #ac4    ,now he shows to all
 men what faith is1 by charity1 by      
self-denial1  by meekness1 by           
gentleness1 by long-suffering1 by       
patience1 by love  to enemies1 and by   
doing good to them that hate us4 ,now he
 walketh  upon his high places1 yea1    
will not now admit that so slovenly a   

conversation should come within his     
doors1 as did use to haunt his  house in
 former times4 ,now it is ,christ-mas1  
now it is  suffering-time1 now we must  
keep holy day every day4    ,the reason 
is1 that a man when he suffereth for    
,christ1 is set upon  a hill1 upon a    
stage1 as in a theatre1 to play a part  
for ,god in the  world4 ,and you know1  
when men are to play their parts upon a 
stage1  they count themselves if        
possible more bound to circumspection2  
and  that for the credit of their       
master1 the credit of their art1 and    
the credit of themselves4 ,for then the 
eyes of every body are fixed1  they gape
 and stare upon them1 ,psalm #bb3ag1 and
 a trip here is as  bad as a fall in    
another place4 ,also now ,god himself   
looks on4 ,yea1  he smileth1 as being   
pleased to see a good behavior attending
 the  trial of the innocent4    ,there  
are some of the graces of ,god that are 
in thee1 that as to  some of their acts 
cannot show themselves1 nor their       

excellency1 nor  their power1 nor what  
they can do1 but as thou art in a       
suffering  state4 ,faith and patience in
 persecution have that to do1 that to   
show1 and that to perform1 that cannot  
be done1 shown1 nor  performed1 anywhere
 else but there4 ,there is also a       
patience of  hope1 a rejoicing in hope  
when we are in tribulation1 that is over
  and above that which we have when we  
are at ease and quiet4 ,that  also that 
all graces can endure and triumph over1 
shall not be  known1 but when and as we 
are in a state of affliction4 ,now these
  acts of our graces are of such worth  
and esteem with ,god1 and he so  much   
delighteth in them1 that occasion1      
through his righteous  judgment1 must be
 ministered for them to show their      
beauty and what  bravery there is in    
them4    ,it is also to be considered   
that those acts of our graces that      
cannot be put forth or show themselves  
in their splendor but when we           
christianly suffer1 will yield such     

fruit to those whose trials call  them  
into exercise1 as will in the day of    
,god abound to their  comfort and tend  
to their perfection in glory4 #a ,peter1
 #a3g2 #b ,cor4  #d3ag4    ,why then    
should we think that our innocent lives 
will exempt us from  sufferings1 or that
 troubles shall do us harm8    ,alas1 we
 have need of those bitter pills at     
which we so much wince4  ,i see that ,i 
still have need of these trials2 and if 
,god will by  these judge me1 as he     
judges his saints1 that ,i may not he   
condemned  with the world1 ,i will cry1 
,grace1 grace1 for ever4    ,shall we   
deserve correction1 and be angry because
 we have it8 ,or  shall it come to save 
us1 and shall we he offended with the   
hand  that brings it8 ,our sickness is  
so great that our enemies take  notice  
of it2 let them know too that we take   
our purges patiently4    ,we are willing
 to pay for those potions that are given
 us for the  health of our body1 how    
sick soever they make us2 and if ,god   

will  have us pay too for that which is 
to better our souls1 why should we      
grudge thereat8 ,those that bring us    
these medicines have little  enough for 
their pains2 for my part1 ,i profess ,i 
would not for a  great deal be bound1   
for their wages1 to do their work4      
,true1  physicians are for the most part
 chargeable1 and niggards are too  loath
 to part with their money to them2 but  
when necessity says they  must either   
take physic or die1 of two evils they   
desire to choose  the least4 ,why1      
affliction is better than sin2 and if   
,god sends the  one to cleanse us from  
the other1 let us thank him1 and be also
  content to pay the messenger4         
,,bunyan',s ,,trial ,,and               
,,imprisonment4 ,,from ,,bunyan',s      
,,examination ,,before  ,,justices      
,,keeling1 ,,chester1 ,footnote3 ,on the
 restoration of the  house of ,stuart1  
,charles ,,ii4 entered ,london1 in ,may1
 #afjj4 ,in  ,november of that year1    
,bunyan was indicted for an upholder of 

unlawful assemblies and conventicles1   
and for not conforming to the  church of
 ,england4 ,he was sentenced1 ,,etc4    
,,keeling4 ,justice ,keeling said that  
,i ought not to preach1 and asked  me   
where ,i had my authority2 with many    
other such like words4    ,,bunyan4 ,i  
said that ,i would prove that it was    
lawful for me1 and  such as ,i am1 to   
preach the word of ,god4    ,,keeling4  
,he said unto me1 ,by what scripture8   
,,bunyan4 ,i said1 by that in the first 
epistle of ,peter1 fourth  chapter and  
eleventh verse1 and ,acts eighteenth1   
with other  scriptures2 which he would  
not suffer me to mention1 but said1     
,hold1  not so many3 which is the first8
    ,,bunyan4 ,i said1 ,this3 ,as every 
man hath received the gift1 even so  let
 him minister the same unto another1 as 
good stewards of the  grace of ,god4 ,if
 any man speak1 let him speak as the    
oracles of  ,god4    ,,keeling4 ,he     
said1 ,let me a little open that        
scripture to you4 ,as  every man hath   

received the gift2 that is1 said he1 as 
every man  hath received a trade1 so let
 him follow says ,crosby1 to perpetual  
banishment1 in pursuance of an act made 
by the then parliament4  ,this sentence 
was never executed1 but he was kept in  
prison for more  than twelye years4     
,subsequently to this year1 #affj1      
several oppressive acts were  passed1 as
 the ,corporation act1 #affa1 the act of
 ,uniformity1 #affb1  the ,five-mile    
act1 #affe1 the ,conventicle acts1 #afff
 and #afga1 and  the ,test act1 #afgc4  
,the act of ,uniformity required that   
every  clergyman should be reordained2  
should declare his assent to every      
thing contained in the ,book of ,common 
,prayer1 etc4 ,by this act1  about two  
thousand dissenting ministers were      
ejected from their  livings1 and the    
most cruel persecution followed4 ,the   
,five-mile and  ,conventicle acts       
imposed various fines1 imprisonment1 and
 death upon  all persons above sixteen  
years of age1 who attended divine       

service  where the liturgy was not read2
 ordained that no non-conformist        
minister should live within five miles  
of any town2 and aimed to  suppress all 
meetings for worship among the          
non-conformists4 ,these  in a short time
 made frightful desolations1 and all the
 jails in the  kingdom soon became      
filled with men who were the brightest  
ornaments  of ,christianity4 ,the       
persecuted included both sexes and all  
ages1  from the child of nine or ten    
years1 to the hoary-headed saint of     
eighty4 ,in ,picart's ,religious        
,ceremonies1 it is stated that the      
number of dissenters of all sects1 who  
perished in prison under  ,charles      
,,ii41 was ,,eight ,,thousand4 ,on the  
accession of ,william ,,iii41  these    
penalties and disabilities were removed 
by the ,toleration act4  ,the           
,corporation and ,test acts1 however1   
disgraced the statute-book  of ,england 
till the year #ahbh1 when they were     
triumphantly repealed4  ,offer's        

,introduction1 ,hume's ,history1 and    
,ency4 ,amer4 it4 ,if any man  hath     
received a gift of tinkering1 as thou   
hast done1 let him follow  his          
tinkering2 and so other men their       
trades1 and the divine his  calling1    
etc4    ,,bunyan4 ,nay1 sir1 said ,i1   
but it is most clear that the apostle   
speaks here of preaching the word3 if   
you do but compare both the  verses     
together1 the next verse explains this  
gift what it is2  saying1 ,if any man   
speak1 let him speak as the oracles of  
,god2 so  that it is plain that the     
,holy ,ghost doth not so much in this   
place  exhort to civil callings1 as to  
the exercising of those gifts that  we  
have received from ,god4 ,i would have  
gone on1 but he would not  give me      
leave4    ,,keeling4 ,he said we might  
do it in our families1 but not          
otherwise4    ,,bunyan4 ,i said1 if it  
was lawful to do good to some1 it was   
lawful  to do good to more4 ,if it was a
 good duty to exhort our families1 it   

is good to exhort others2 but if they   
held it a sin to meet together  to seek 
the face of ,god1 and exhort one another
 to follow ,christ1 ,i  should sin      
still2 for so we should do4             
,,keeling4 ,he said he was not so well  
versed in scripture as to  dispute1 or  
words to that purpose4 ,and said1       
moreover1 that they  could not wait upon
 me any longer2 but said to me1 ,then   
you confess  the indictment2 do you not8
 ,now1 and not till now1 ,i saw ,i was  
indicted4    ,,bunyan4 ,i said1 ,this ,i
 confess3 we have had many meetings     
together  both to pray to ,god and to   
exhort one another1 and we have had the 
sweet comforting presence of the ,lord  
among us for encouragement2  blessed be 
his name therefor4 ,i confessed myself  
guilty no  otherwise4    ,,keeling4     
,then said he1 ,hear your judgment4 ,you
 must be had back  again to prison1 and 
there lie for three months following2   
and at  three months' end1 if you do not
 submit to go to church to hear  divine 

service1 and leave your preaching1 you  
must be banished the  realm3 and if1    
after such a day as shall be appointed  
you to be  gone1 you shall be found in  
this realm1 or be found to come over    
again without special license from the  
king1 you must stretch by the  neck for 
it2 ,i tell you plainly4 ,and so he bid 
my jailer have me  away4    ,,bunyan4 ,i
 told him1 as to this matter ,i was at a
 point with him2 for  if ,i was out of  
prison today1 ,i would preach the gospel
 again  tomorrow1 by the help of ,god4  
,i continued in prison till the next    
assizes1 which are called  midsummer    
assizes1 being then kept in ,august1    
#affa4    ,now at that assizes1 because 
,i would not leave any possible means   
unattempted that might be lawful1 ,i    
did1 by my wife1 ,footnote3  ,this      
courageous woman his second wife and    
lord chief-justice ,hale  and ,bunyan   
have long since met in heaven2 but how  
little could they  recognize each       
other's character on earth6 ,how little 

could the  distressed1 insulted wife    
have imagined1 that beneath the judge's 
ermine there was beating the heart of a 
child of ,god1 a man of  humility1      
integrity1 and prayer6 ,how little could
 the great1 learn-  ed1 illustrious1 and
 truly pious judge have dreamed that the
 man1  the obscure tinker whom he was   
suffering to languish in prison for     
want of a writ of error1 would one day  
be the subject of greater  admiration   
and praise than all the judges in the   
kingdom of ,great  ,britain4 ,dr4       
,cheever's ,lectures on ,pilgrim's      
,progress1 p4 #aeh4  present a petition 
to the judges three times1 that ,i might
 be heard1  and that they would         
impartially take my case into           
consideration4    ,the first time my    
wife went1 she presented it to ,judge   
,hale1 who  very mildly received it at  
her hand1 telling her that he would do  
her and me the best good he could2 but  
he feared1 he said1 he could  do none4  
,the next day again1 lest they should   

through the multitude  of business      
forget me1 we did throw another petition
 into the coach  to ,judge ,twisdon1    
who1 when he had seen it1 snapt her up1 
and  angrily told her ,i was a convicted
 person1 and could not be released      
unless ,i would promise to preach no    
more1 etc4    ,well1 after this1 she    
again presented another to ,judge ,hale1
 as he  sat on the bench1 who1 as it    
seemed1 was willing to give her         
audience2 only ,justice ,chester being  
present1 stept up and said that  ,i was 
convicted in the court1 and that ,i was 
a hot-spirited fellow1  or words to that
 purpose2 whereat he waived it1 and did 
not meddle  with it4 ,but yet1 my wife  
being encouraged by the high-sheriff1   
did  venture once more into their       
presence1 as the poor widow did to the  
unjust judge1 to try what she could do  
with them for my liberty  before they   
went forth of the town4 ,the place where
 she went to them  was to the ,swan     
,chamber1 where the two judges and many 

justices and  gentry of the country were
 in company together4 ,she then1 coming 
into the chamber with abashed face and a
 trembling heart1 began her  errand to  
them in this manner4    ,,woman4 ,my    
lord-directing herself to ,judge        
,hale--,i make bold to come  once again 
to your lordship to know what may be    
done with my  husband4    ,,judge       
,,hale4 ,to whom he said1 ,woman1 ,i    
told thee before ,i could do  thee no   
good1 because they have taken that for a
 conviction which  thy husband spoke at 
the sessions2 and unless there be       
something  done to undo that1 ,i can do 
thee no good4    ,,woman4 ,my lord1 said
 she1 he is kept unlawfully in prison2  
they  clapped him up before there was   
any proclamation against the  meetings2 
the indictment also is false2 besides1  
they never asked  him whether he was    
guilty or no2 neither did he confess the
  indictment4    ,,one ,,of ,,the       
,,justices4 ,then one of the ,justices  
that stood by1 whom  she knew not1 said1

 ,my lord1 he was lawfully convicted4   
,,woman4 ,it is false1 said she2 for    
when they said to him1 ,do you  confess 
the indictment8 he said only this1 that 
he had been at  several meetings1 both  
where there was preaching the word and  
prayer1 and that they had ,god's        
presence among them4    ,,judge         
,,twisdon4 ,whereat ,judge ,twisdon     
answered very angrily1 saying1  ,what1  
you think we can do as we list6 ,your   
husband is a breaker of  the peace1 and 
is convicted by the law1 etc4 ,whereupon
 ,judge ,hale  called for the           
statute-book4    ,,woman4 ,but1 said    
she1 my lord1 he was not lawfully       
convicted4    ,,chester4 ,then ,justice 
,chester said1 ,my lord1 he was lawfully
  convicted4    ,,woman4 ,it is false1  
said she2 it was but a word of discourse
 that  they took for conviction4        
,,chester4 ,but it is recorded1 woman1  
it is recorded1 said ,justice  ,chester2
 as if it must of necessity be true1    
because it was  recorded4 ,with which   

words he often endeavored to stop her   
mouth1  having no other argument to     
convince her but1 ,it is recorded1 it is
  recorded4    ,,woman4 ,my lord1 said  
she1 ,i was a while since at ,london1 to
 see if ,i  could get my husband's      
liberty2 and there ,i spoke with my     
,lord  ,burkwood1 one of the ,house of  
,lords1 to whom ,i delivered a petition1
  who took it of me and presented it to 
some of the rest of the ,house  of      
,lords for my husband's releasement2    
who1 when they had seen it1  said that  
they could not release him1 but had     
committed his  releasement to the judges
 at the next assizes4 ,this he told me2 
and  now ,i come to you to see if any   
thing can be done in this business1  and
 you give neither releasement nor       
relief4 ,to which they gave her  no     
answer1 but made as if they heard her   
not4    ,,chester4 ,only ,justice       
,chester was often up with this1 ,he is 
convicted1 and it is recorded4          
,,woman4 ,if it be1 it is false1 said   

she4    ,,chester4 ,my lord1 said       
,justice ,chester1 he is a pestilent    
fellow2  there is not such a fellow in  
the country again4    ,,twisdon4 ,what1 
will your husband leave preaching8 ,if  
he will do so1  then send for him4      
,,woman4 ,my lord1 said she1 he dares   
not leave preaching as long as he  can  
speak4    ,,twisdon4 ,see here3 what    
should we talk any more about such a    
fellow8  ,must he do what he lists8 ,he 
is a breaker of the peace4    ,,woman4  
,she told him again1 that he desired to 
live peaceably and to  follow his       
calling1 that his family might be       
maintained2 and  moreover said1 ,my     
lord1 ,i have four small children that  
cannot help  themselves1 of which one is
 blind2 and we have nothing to live upon
  but the charity of good people4       
,,hale4 ,whereat ,justice ,hale1 looking
 very soberly on the matter1  said1     
,alas1 poor woman6    ,,twisdon4 ,but   
,judge ,twisdon told her that she made  
poverty her cloak2  and said1 moreover1 

that he understood ,i was maintained    
better by  running up and down a        
preaching1 than by following my calling4
    ,,hale4 ,what is his calling8 said  
,judge ,hale4    ,,answer4 ,then some of
 the company that stood by said1 ,a     
tinker1 my  lord4    ,,woman4 ,yes1 said
 she1 and because he is a tinker and a  
poor man1  therefore he is despised and 
cannot have justice4    ,,hale4 ,then   
,judge ,hale answered1 very mildly1     
saying1 ,i tell thee1  woman1 seeing it 
is so that they have taken what thy     
husband spake  for a conviction1 thou   
must apply thyself to the king1 or sue  
out  his pardon1 or get out a writ of   
error4    ,,chester4 ,but when ,justice 
,chester heard him give her this        
counsel1  and especially1 as she        
supposed1 because he spoke of a writ of 
error1 he chafed and seemed to be very  
much offended1 saying1 ,my  lord1 he    
will preach and do what he lists4       
,,woman4 ,he preacheth nothing but the  
word of ,god1 said she4    ,,twisdon4   

,he preach the word of ,god6 said       
,twisdon--and withal she  thought he    
would have struck her--he runneth up and
 down and doeth  harm4    ,,woman4 ,no1 
my lord1 said she1 it is not so2 ,god   
hath owned him1 and  done much good by  
him4    ,,twisdon4 ,god6 said he2 his   
doctrine is the doctrine of the devil4  
,,woman4 ,my lord1 said she1 when the   
righteous ,judge shall appear1 it  will 
be known that his doctrine is not the   
doctrine of the devil4    ,,twisdon4 ,my
 lord1 said he to ,judge ,hale1 do not  
mind her1 but send  her away1    ,,hale4
 ,then said ,judge ,hale1 ,i am sorry1  
woman1 that ,i can do thee no  good3    
thou must do one of those three things  
aforesaid1 namely1  either to apply     
thyself to the king1 or sue out his     
pardon1 or get a  writ of error2 but a  
writ of error will be cheapest4         
,,woman4 ,at which ,chester again seemed
 to be in a chafe1 and put off  his hat1
 and as she thought scratched his head  
for anger2 but when ,i  saw1 said she1  

that there was no prevailing to have my 
husband sent  for1 though ,i often      
desired them that they would send for   
him1 that  he might speak for himself1  
telling them that he could give them    
better satisfaction than ,i could in    
what they demanded of him1 with  several
 other things which now ,i forget3 only 
this ,i remember1 that  though ,i was   
somewhat timorous at my first entrance  
into the  chamber1 yet before ,i went   
out ,i could not but break forth into   
tears1 not so much because they were so 
hard-hearted against me and  my husband1
 but to think what a sad account such   
poor creatures will  have to give at the
 coming of the ,lord1 when they shall   
there answer  for all things whatsoever 
they have done in the body1 whether it  
be  good or whether it be bad4 ,so when 
,i departed from them1 the book of      
statutes was brought2 but what they said
 of it ,i know nothing at  all1 neither 
did ,i hear any more from them4         
,,martyrs4    ,in the house of the      

forest of ,lebanon you find pillars1    
pillars2 so  in the church in the       
wilderness4 ,oh the mighty ones of which
 the  church was compacted2 they were   
all pillars1 strong1 bearing up the     
house against wind and weather2 nothing 
but fire and sword could  dissolve them4
 ,as therefore this house was made up of
 great timber1  so this church in the   
wilderness was made up of giants in     
grace4  ,these men had the faces of     
lions2 no prince1 no king1 no threat1 no
  terror1 no torment could make them    
yield4 ,they loved not their lives  unto
 the death4 ,they have laughed their    
enemies in the face1 they  have         
triumphed in the flames4 ,none ever     
showed higher saints than  were they in 
the church in the wilderness4 ,others   
talked1 these have  suffered2 others    
have said1 these have done2 these have  
voluntarily  taken their lives in their 
hands1 for they loved them not to the   
death1 and have fairly and in cool blood
 laid them down before the  world1 ,god1

 angels1 and men1 for the confirming of 
the truth which  they have professed4   
,that which makes a martyr1 is suffering
 for the word of ,god after a  right    
manner4 ,and that is when he suffereth  
not only for  righteousness1 but for    
righteousness' sake2 not only for truth1
 but  of love to truth2 not only for    
,god's word1 but according to it1 to    
wit1 in that holy1 humble1 meek manner  
that the word of ,god  requireth4 ,a man
 may give his body to be burned for     
,god's truth1 and  yet be none of ,god's
 martyrs4 #a ,cor4 #ac3a-c4             
,,christian ,,courage4    ,when we see  
our brethren before us fall to the earth
 by death1  through the violence of the 
enemies of ,god1 for their holy and     
,christian profession1 we should covet  
to make good their ground  against them1
 though our turn should be next4 ,we    
should valiantly do  in this matter as  
is the custom of soldiers in war2 take  
great care  that the ground be          
maintained1 and the front kept full and 

complete4    ,there are but few when    
they come to the cross1 cry1 ,welcome1  
cross6  as some of the martyrs did to   
the stake they were burned at4          
,therefore1 if you meet with the cross  
in thy journey1 in what manner  soever  
it be1 be not daunted and say1 ,alas1   
what shall ,i do now8 but  rather take  
courage1 knowing that by the cross is   
the way to the  kingdom4 ,can a man     
believe in ,christ1 and not be hated by 
the devil8  ,can he make a profession of
 ,christ1 and that sweetly and          
convincingly1 and the children of ,satan
 hold their tongue8 ,can  darkness agree
 with light8    ,,the ,,christian       
,,warfare4    ,departing from iniquity  
is not a work of an hour1 or a day1 or a
  week1 or a month1 or a year2 but it is
 a work that will last thee  thy        
lifetime1 and there is the greatness and
 difficulty of it4 ,were  it to be done 
presently1 or were the work to be       
quickly over1 how  many are there that  
would be found to have departed from    

iniquity2  but for that it is a work of 
continuance1 and not worth any thing    
unless men hold out to the end2         
therefore it is that so few are  found  
actors or overcomers therein4 ,departing
 from iniquity1 with  many1 is but like 
the falling out of two neighbors2 they  
hate one  another for a while1 and then 
renew their old friendship again4       
,but again1 since to depart from        
iniquity is a work of time1 of all  thy 
time1 no wonder if it dogs thee1 and    
offereth to return upon  thee again and 
again2 for sin is mischievous1 and seeks
 nothing less  than thy ruin4           
,wherefore1 thou must in the first place
 take it for  granted that thus it will 
be1 and so cry the harder to ,god for   
the  continuing of his presence and     
grace upon thee in this blessed work1   
that as thou hast begun to depart from  
iniquity1 so thou mayest have  strength 
to do it to the last gasp of thy life4  
,and further1 for that departing from   
iniquity is a kind of warfare  with     

it-for iniquity will hang in thy flesh  
what it can1 and will  not be easily    
kept under-therefore no marvel if thou  
find it  wearisome work1 and that the   
thing that thou wouldst get rid of is   
so unwilling to let thee depart from it4
    ,and since the work is so weighty1  
and makes thee to go groaning on1  ,i   
will for thy help give thee here a few  
things to consider of3 ,and1    #a4     
,remember that ,god sees thee1 and has  
his eyes open upon thee1  even then when
 sin and temptation are flying at thee  
to give them  some entertainment4 ,this 
was the thought that made ,joseph depart
  from sin1 when solicited to embrace it
 by a very powerful argument4  ,genesis 
#ci3f1 #g4    #b4 ,remember that ,god's 
wrath burns against it1 and that he will
  surely be revenged on it1 and on all  
that give it entertainment4  ,this made 
,job afraid to countenance it1 and put  
him upon departing  from it3 ,for       
destruction from ,god was a terror to   
me1 and by reason  of his highness ,i   

could not endure4 ,job #ca3 #bc4    #c4 
,remember the mischiefs that it has done
 to those that have  embraced it1 and   
what distress it has brought upon       
others4 ,this made  the whole           
congregation of ,israel tremble to think
 that any of their  brethren should give
 countenance to it4 ,joshua #bb3 #af-ah4
    #d4 ,remember what ,christ hath     
suffered by it1 that he might deliver   
us from the power of it4 ,this made     
,paul so heartily depart from it1  and  
wish all ,christians to do so as well as
 he4 #b ,cor4 #e3 #ad4    #e4 ,remember 
that those that are now in hell-fire    
went thither for  that they loved       
iniquity1 and would not depart from it4 
,psalm #i3 #ag2  #aa3f4    #f4 ,remember
 that a profession is not worth a pin1  
if they that make  it do not depart from
 iniquity4 ,james #b3af1 #ag4    #g4    
,remember that thy death-bed will be    
very uneasy to thee1 if thy  conscience 
at that day shall be clogged with the   
guilt of thy  iniquity4 ,hos4 #g3 #ac1  

#ad4    #h4 ,remember that at the       
judgment-day ,christ will say1 ,depart  
from  me1 to those that have not here   
departed from their sin and  iniquity4  
,luke #ac3bg2 ,matt #be3da4    ,lastly1 
,remember well1 and think much upon what
 a blessed reward the  ,son of ,god will
 give to them at that day1 that have    
joined to their  profession of faith in 
him a holy and blessed conversation4    
,he that will depart from iniquity must 
be well fortified with faith  and       
patience and the love of ,god2 for      
iniquity has its beauty-spots  and its  
advantages attending on it2 hence it is 
compared to a woman1  ,zech4 #e3 #g1 for
 it allureth greatly4 ,therefore ,i say1
 he that will  depart there-from had    
need have faith2 that being it which    
will help  him to see beyond it1 and    
that will show him more in things that  
are  invisible1 than can be found in    
sin1 were it ten thousand times more    
entangling than it is4 #b ,cor4 #d3ah4  
,he has need of patience also to  hold  

out in this work of departing from      
iniquity4 ,for indeed1 to  depart from  
that is to draw my mind off from that   
which will follow  me with continual    
solicitations4 ,samson withstood his    
,delilah for a  while1 but she got the  
mastery of him at the last4 ,why so8    
because  he wanted patience2 he grew    
angry and was vexed1 and could withstand
  her solicitations no longer4 ,judges  
#af3 #ae-ag4 ,many there be1 also1  that
 can well enough be contented to shut   
sin out of doors for a  while2 but      
because sin has much fair speech1       
therefore it overcomes  at last4 ,prov4 
#g3ba4 ,for sin and iniquity will not be
 easily said  nay4 ,wherefore1 departing
 from iniquity is a work of length1 as  
long  as life shall last4 ,a work1 did  
,i say8 ,it is a war1 a continual       
combat2 wherefore1 he that will         
adventure to set upon this work1  must  
needs be armed with faith and patience1 
a daily exercise he  will find himself  
put to by the continual attempts of     

iniquity to be  putting forth itself4   
,matt4 #bd3 #ac2 ,rev4 #c3aj4    ,,the  
,,christian ,,armor4    ,the war that   
the church makes with antichrist is     
rather defensive  than offensive4 ,a    
,christian also1 if he can but defend   
his soul in  the sincere profession of  
the true religion1 doth what by duty1 as
  to this1 he is bound4 ,wherefore1     
though the ,new ,testament admits him   
to put on the whole armor of ,god1 yet  
the whole and every part  thereof is    
spiritual1 and only defensive4 ,true1   
there is mention  made of the sword1 but
 that sword is the word of ,god-a weapon
 that  hurteth none1 none at all but the
 devil and sin1 and those that love  it4
 ,indeed1 it was made for ,christians to
 defend themselves and  their religion  
with1 against hell and the angels of    
darkness4    ,,objection4 ,but he that  
shall use none other than this1 must    
look to  come off a loser4    ,,answer4 
,in the judgment of the world this is   
true1 but not in the  judgment of them  

that have skill and a heart to use it4  
,for this  armor is not ,saul's which   
,david refused1 but ,god's2 by which the
  lives of all those have been secured1 
that put it on and handled it  well4    
,you read of some of ,david's mighty men
 of valor1 that their  faces were as the
 faces of lions1 and that they were as  
swift of  foot as the roes upon the     
mountains4 ,why1 ,god's armor makes a   
man's  face look thus2 also it makes him
 that useth it more lively and  active  
than before4 ,god's armor is no burden  
to the body1 nor clog  to the mind1 but 
rather a natural1 instead of an         
artificial  fortification4    ,but this 
armor comes not to any1 but out of the  
,king's hand4 ,christ  distributeth his 
armor to his church4 ,hence it is said1 
,it is given  to us to suffer for him4  
,it is given to us by himself1 and on   
his  behalf4    ,i saw also1 that the   
,interpreter took him again by the hand 
and led  him into a pleasant place1     
where was builded a stately palace      

beautiful to behold2 at the sight of    
which ,christian was greatly  delighted3
 he saw also upon the top thereof       
certain persons walking1  who were      
clothed all in gold4    ,then said      
,christian1 ,may we go in thither8      
,then the ,interpreter took him1 and led
 him up towards the door of  the palace2
 and behold1 at the door stood a great  
company of men1 as  desirous to go in1  
but durst not4 ,there also sat a man at 
a little  distance from the door1 at a  
table-side1 with a book and his         
ink-horn before him1 to take the name of
 him that should enter  therein2 he saw 
also1 that in the doorway stood many men
 in armor to  keep it1 being resolved to
 do to the men that would enter what    
hurt  and mischief they could4    ,now  
was ,christian somewhat in a maze2 at   
last1 when every man  started back for  
fear of the armed men1 ,christian saw a 
man of a  very stout countenance come up
 to the man that sat there to write1    
saying1 ,set down my name1 sir2 the     

which when he had done1 he saw  the man 
draw his sword1 and put a helmet upon   
his head1 and rush  towards the door    
upon the armed men1 who laid upon him   
with deadly  force2 but the man was not 
at all discouraged1 but fell to cutting 
and hacking most fiercely4 ,so after he 
had received and given many  wounds to  
those that attempted to keep him out1 he
 cut his way  through them all1 and     
pressed forward into the palace2 at     
which  there was a pleasant voice heard 
from those that were within1 even  of   
those that walked upon the top of the   
palace1 saying1    ,come in1 come in2   
,eternal glory thou shalt win4    ,so he
 went in1 and was clothed with such     
garments as they4 ,then  ,christian     
smiled and said1 ,i think verily ,i know
 the meaning of  this4    ,in the       
description of the ,christian armor1 we 
have no provision for  the back4        
,,xv4 ,,temptations4    ,,temptations   
,,of ,,satan4            ,satan1 even   
from himself1 besides the working of our

 own lust1 doth  do us wonderful injury1
 and hits our souls with many a fiery   
dart1  that we think comes either from  
ourselves or from heaven and ,god       
himself4    ,satan diligently waiteth to
 come in at the door1 if ,careless has  
left it a little ajar4    ,there is     
nothing that ,satan more desires than to
 get good men in his  sieve to sift them
 as wheat1 that if possible he may leave
 them  nothing but bran2 no grace1 but  
the very husk and shell of religion4    
,so long as we retain the simplicity of 
the word1 we have ,satan at  the end of 
the staff2 for unless we give way to a  
doubt about that1  about the truth and  
simplicity of it1 he gets no ground upon
 us4 ,in  time of temptation1 it is our 
wisdom and duty to keep close to the    
word that prohibits and forbids the sin2
 and not to reason with  ,satan1 of how 
far our outward and worldly privileges  
go1 especially  of those privileges that
 border upon the temptation1 as ,eve    
here  did3 ,we may eat of all but one4  

,by this she goeth to the outside  of   
her liberty1 and sees herself upon the  
brink of the danger4  ,christ might have
 told the tempter1 when he assaulted    
him1 that he  could have made stones    
bread1 and that he could have descended 
from  the pinnacle of the temple1 as    
afterwards he did2 but that would  have 
admitted of other questions2 wherefore  
he chooseth to lay aside  such needless 
and unwarrantable reasonings1 and       
resisteth him with a  direct word of    
,god1 most pertinent to quash the       
tempter and also to  preserve himself in
 the way4 ,to go to the outside of      
privileges1  especially when tempted of 
the devil1 is often if not always very  
dangerous and hazardous4    ,as long as 
the devil is alive there is danger2 and 
though a strong  ,christian may lie too 
hard for1 and may overcome him in one   
thing1  he may be too hard for1 yea1 and
 may overcome the ,christian two for    
one afterwards4 ,thus he served ,david1 
and thus he served ,peter1 and  thus he 

in our day has served many more4 ,the   
strongest are weak1 the  wisest are     
fools1 when suffered to be sifted as    
wheat in ,satan's  sieve2 yea1 and have 
often been so proved1 to the wounding of
 their  great hearts and the dishonor of
 religion4    ,it is usual with the     
devil in his temptings of poor          
creatures1 to  put a good and bad       
together1 that by show of the good the  
tempted  might be drawn to do that which
 in truth is evil4 ,thus he served      
,saul2 he spared the best of the herd   
and flock1 under pretence of            
sacrificing to ,god1 and so transgressed
 the plain command4 ,but this  the      
apostle said was dangerous1 and         
therefore censureth such as in a  state 
of condemnation4 ,thus he served ,adam2 
he put the desirableness  of sight and a
 plain transgression of ,god's law      
together1 that by  the loveliness of the
 one they might the easier be brought to
 do the  other4 ,o1 poor ,eve1 do we    
wonder at thy folly8 ,doubtless we had  

done  as bad with half the argument of  
thy temptation4    ,satan by tempting   
one may chiefly intend the destruction  
of another4  ,by tempting the wife1 he  
may aim at the destruction of the       
husband2  by tempting the father1 he may
 design the dsstruction of his          
children2 and by tempting the king1 he  
may design the ruin of his  subjects1   
even as in the case of ,david3 ,satan   
stood up against  ,israel1 and provoked 
,david to number the people4 ,he had a  
mind to  destroy seventy thousand1      
therefore he tempted ,david to sin4     
,i have sent you here enclosed a drop of
 that honey that ,i have taken  out of  
the carcass of a lion4 ,i have eaten    
thereof myself1 and am  much refreshed  
thereby4 ,temptations1 when we meet them
 at first1 are  as the lion that roared 
upon ,samson2 but if we overcome them1  
the  next time we see them we shall find
 a nest of honey within them4           
,,temptations ,,of ,,the ,,world4    ,if
 thou wouldst be faithful to do that    

work that ,god hath appointed  thee to  
do in this world for his name1 then     
labor always to possess  thy heart with 
a right understanding1 both of the      
things that this  world yieldeth1 and of
 the things that shall be hereafter4 ,i 
am  confident that most if not all the  
miscarriages of the saints and  people  
of ,god have their rise from deceivable 
thoughts here4 ,the  things of this     
world appear to us more1 and those that 
are to come  less1 than they are2 and   
hence it is that many are so hot and    
eager  for things that be in the world1 
and so cold and heartless for those     
that be in heaven4 ,satan is here a     
mighty artist1 and can show us  all     
earthly things in a multiplying-glass2  
but when we look up to  things above1 we
 see them as through sackcloth of hair4 
,but take  thou heed2 be not ruled by   
thy sensual appetite that can only savor
  fleshly things1 neither be thou ruled 
by carnal reason which always  darkeneth
 the things of heaven2 but go to the    

word1 and as that  says1 so judge thou4 
,that tells thee all things under the   
sun are  vanity1 nay1 worse1 vexation of
 spirit2 that tells thee the world is   
not1 even when it doth most appear to   
be3 wilt thou set thine heart  upon that
 which is not8 for riches certainly make
 themselves wings1  and fly away as an  
eagle towards heaven4 ,the same may be  
said for  honors1 pleasures1 and the    
like2 they are poor1 low1 base things to
  be entertained by a ,christian's      
heart4 ,the man that hath most of  them 
may in the fulness of his sufficiency be
 in straits2 yea1 when  he is about to  
fill his belly with them1 ,god may cast 
the fury of  his wrath upon him2 so is  
every one that layeth up treasure for   
himself on earth1 and is not rich       
towards ,god4 ,a horse that is laden    
with gold and pearls all day1 may have a
 foul stable and a galled  back at      
night4 ,and woe to him that increaseth  
that which is not  his1 and that ladeth 
himself with thick clay4 ,o man of ,god1

 throw  this bone to the dogs2 suck not 
at it1 there is no marrow there4  ,set  
thy affections on things that are above1
 where ,christ sitteth  on the right    
hand of ,god4 ,colos4 #c3a-d4           
,,encouragements ,,for ,,the ,,tempted4 
,let us cast ourselves upon this love of
 ,christ4 ,no greater  encouragement can
 be given us1 than what is in the text1 
,eph4  #c3ah1ai1 and about it4 ,it is   
great2 it is love that passeth          
knowledge4 ,men that are sensible of    
danger1 are glad when they hear  of such
 helps upon which they may boldly       
venture for escape4 ,why1  such a help  
and relief the text helpeth trembling   
and fearful  consciences to4 ,fear and  
trembling as to misery hereafter1 can   
flow  but from what we know1 feel1 or   
imagine2 but the text speaks of a  love 
that passeth knowledge1 consequently of 
a love that goes beyond  all these4     
,besides1 the apostle's conclusion upon 
this subject  plainly makes it manifest1
 that this meaning which ,i have put    

upon  the text is the mind of the ,holy 
,ghost4 ,now unto him1 saith he1  that  
is able to do exceeding abundantly above
 all that we ask or  think1 according to
 the power that worketh in us1 unto him 
be glory  in the church by ,christ      
,jesus throughout all ages1 world       
without  end4 ,amen4 ,what can be more  
plain8 ,what can be more full8 ,what can
  be more suitable to the most          
desponding spirit in any man8 ,he can do
  more than thou knowest he will4 ,he   
can do more than thou thinkest he  can4 
,what dost thou think8 ,why1 ,i think1  
saith the sinner1 that ,i am  cast away4
 ,well1 but there are worse thoughts    
than these2 therefore  think again4     
,why1 saith the sinner1 ,i think that my
 sins are as many  as all the sins in   
the world4 ,indeed this is a very black 
thought1  but there are worse thoughts  
than this2 therefore prithee think      
again4 ,why1 ,i think1 saith the sinner1
 that ,god is not able to  pardon all my
 sins4 ,aye1 now thou hast thought      

indeed2 for this  thought makes thee    
look more like a devil than a man2 and  
yet1  because thou art a man and not a  
devil1 see the condescension and        
boundlessness of the love of thy ,god4  
,he is able to do above all  that we    
think4 ,couldst thou1 sinner1 if thou   
hadst been allowed1  thyself express    
what thou wouldst have expressed--the   
greatness of  the love thou             
wantest--with words that could have     
suited thee  better8 ,for it is not said
 he can do above what we think1 meaning 
our thinking at present1 but above all  
we can think2 meaning1 above  the worst 
and most soul-dejecting thoughts that we
 have at any time4  ,sometimes the      
dejected have worse thoughts than they  
have at other  times4 ,well1 take them  
at their worst times1 at times when they
  think1 and think1 till they think     
themselves down into the very  pangs of 
hell1 yet this word of the grace of ,god
 is above them1 and  shows that he can  
yet recover and save these miserable    

people4    ,and now ,i am upon this     
subject1 ,i will a little further walk  
and  travel with these desponding ones1 
and will put a few words in their       
mouths for their help against           
temptations that may come upon them     
hereafter4 ,for as ,satan follows such  
now with charges and  applications of   
guilt1 so he may follow them with       
interrogatories  and appeals2 for he can
 tell how by appeals1 as well as by     
charging  of sin1 to sink and drown the 
sinner whose soul he has leave to       
engage4 ,suppose1 therefore1 that some  
distressed man or woman should  after   
this way be engaged1 and ,satan should  
with his interrogatories  and appeals be
 busy with them1 to drive them to       
desperation2 the  text last mentioned1  
,eph4 #c3 #ah1ai1 to say nothing of the 
subject of  our discourse1 yields plenty
 of help for the relief of such a one4  
,says ,satan1 ,dost thou not know that  
thou hast horribly sinned8 ,yes1  says  
the soul1 ,i do4 ,says ,satan1 ,dost    

thou not know that thou art  one of the 
vilest in all the pack of professors8   
,yes1 says the soul1  ,i do4 ,says      
,satan1 ,doth not thy conscience tell   
thee that thou art  and hast been more  
base than any of thy fellows can imagine
 thee to  be8 ,yes1 says the soul1 my   
conscience tells me so4 ,well1 saith    
,satan1 now will ,i come upon thee with 
my appeals4 ,art thou not a  graceless  
wretch8 ,yes4 ,hast thou a heart to be  
sorry for this  wickedness8 ,no1 not as 
,i should4 ,and albeit1 saith ,satan1   
thou  prayest sometimes1 yet is not thy 
heart possessed with a belief that  ,god
 will not regard thee8 ,yes1 says the   
sinner4 ,why then1 despair1  and go hang
 thyself1 saith the devil4 ,and now we  
are at the end of  the thing designed   
and driven at by ,satan4 ,and what shall
 ,i now do1  saith the sinner8 ,i       
answer1 take up the words of the text   
against  him3 ,christ loves with a love 
that passeth knowledge4 ,and answer  him
 further1 saying1 ,satan1 though ,i     

cannot think that ,god loves me1  though
 ,i cannot think that ,god will save me1
 yet ,i will not yield to  thee2 for    
,god can do more than ,i think he can4  
,and whereas thou  appealedst unto me1  
if whether1 when ,i pray1 my heart is   
not  possessed with the belief that ,god
 will not regard me1 that shall  not    
sink me neither2 for ,god can do        
abundantly above what ,i ask or  think4 
,thus this text helpeth where           
obstructions are put in against  our    
believing1 and thereby casting ourselves
 upon the love of ,god in  ,christ for  
salvation4    ,and yet this is not all2 
for the text is yet more full3 ,he is   
able  to do abundantly more1 yea1       
exceeding abundantly more1 or above all 
that we ask or think4 ,it is a text made
 up of words picked and  packed together
 by the wisdom of ,god2 picked and      
packed together on  purpose for the     
succor and relief of the tempted2 that  
they may1  when in the midst of their   
distresses1 cast themselves upon1 the   

,lord their ,god4 ,he can do abundantly 
more than we ask4 ,o1 says the  soul1   
that he would but do so much for me as  
,i could ask him to do3  how happy a man
 should ,i then be4 ,why1 what wouldst  
thou ask for1  sinner8 ,you may be sure1
 says the soul1 ,i would ask to be saved
 from  my sins4 ,i would ask for faith  
in1 and love to1 ,christ2 ,i would ask  
to be preserved in this evil world1 and 
ask to be glorified with  ,christ in    
heaven4 ,he that asketh for all this1   
doth indeed ask for  much1 and for more 
than ,satan would have him believe that 
,god is  able or willing to bestow upon 
him4 ,but mark3 the text doth not say   
that ,god is able to do all that we can 
ask or think1 but that he is  able to do
 above all1 yea1 abundantly above all1  
yea1 exceeding  abundantly above all    
that we ask or think4 ,what a text is   
this6 ,what  a ,god have we6 ,god       
foresaw the sins of his people1 and what
 work the  devil would make with their  
hearts about them2 and therefore1 to    

prevent their ruin by his temptation1 he
 has thus largely1 as you  see1         
expressed his love by his word4 ,let us 
therefore1 as he has  bidden us1 make   
this good use of this doctrine of grace1
 to cast  ourselves upon this love of   
,god in the times of distress and       
temptation4    ,the bird in the air     
knows not the notes of the bird in the  
snare1  until she comes thither herself4
    ,when ,i have been laden with sin1  
and pestered with several  temptations1 
and in a very sad manner1 then have ,i  
had the trial of  the virtue of         
,christ's blood1 with trial of the      
virtue of other  things2 and ,i have    
found that when tears would not do1     
prayers would  not do1 repentings and   
all other things could not reach my     
heart1 ,o  then one touch1 one drop1 one
 shining of the virtue of ,,the ,,blood1
 of  that blood that was let out with a 
spear1 it hath in such a blessed  manner
 delivered me1 that it hath made me to  
marvel4 ,o1 methinks it  hath come with 

such life1 such power1 with such        
irresistible and  marvellous glory1 that
 it wipes off all the slurs1 silences   
all the  outcries1 and quenches all the 
fiery darts and all the flames of       
hell-fire1 that are begotten by the     
charges of the law1 ,satan1 and         
doubtful remembrances of my sinful life4
    ,there are three things that do     
usually afflict the soul that is        
earnestly looking after ,jesus ,christ4 
#a4 ,dreadful accusations from ,satan4  
#b4 ,grievous1 defiling1 and  infectious
 thoughts4 #c4 ,a strange readiness in  
our nature to fall in  with both4 ,by   
the first1 of these1 the heart is made  
continually to  tremble4 ,hence his     
temptations are compared to the roaring 
of a  lion4 ,for as the lion by roaring 
killeth the heart of his prey1 so  doth 
,satan kill the spirit of those that    
hearken to him2 for when he  tempteth1  
especially by way of accusation1 he doth
 to us as  ,rabshakeh did to the ,jews2 
he speaks to us in our own language4 ,he

  speaks our sin at every word2 our     
guilty conscience knows it4 ,he  speaks 
our death at every word2 our doubting   
conscience feels it4    #b4 ,besides    
this1 there do now arise even in the    
heart such defiling  and soul-infectious
 thoughts1 as put the tempted to his    
wit's end1  ,for now it seems to the    
soul that the very flood-gates of the   
flesh  are opened1 and that to sin there
 is no stop at all2 now the air  seems  
to be covered with darkness1 and the man
 is as if he was  changed into the      
nature of a devil4 ,now1 if ignorance   
and unbelief  prevail1 he concludeth    
that he is a reprobate1 made to be taken
 and  destroyed4    #c4 ,now also he    
feeleth in him a readiness to fall in   
with every  temptation--a readiness1 ,i 
say1 continually present4 ,romans #g3ba4
  ,this throws all down4 ,now despair   
begins to swallow him up2 now he  can   
neither pray1 nor read1 nor hear1 nor   
meditate on ,god1 but fire  and smoke   
continually burst forth of the heart    

against him2 now sin  and great         
confusion puts forth itself in all4     
,yea1 and the more the  sinner desireth 
to do a duty sincerely1 the further off 
he always  finds himself2 for by how    
much the soul struggleth under these    
distresses1 by so much the more doth    
,satan put forth himself to  resist1    
still infusing more poison1 that if     
possible it might never  struggle more1 
for stragglings are also as poison to   
,satan4    ,the fly in the spider's web 
is an emblem of the soul in such a      
condition3 the fly is entangled in the  
web2 at this the spider shows  himself2 
if the fly stirs again1 down comes the  
spider to her1 and  claps a foot upon   
her2 if yet the fly makes a noise1 then 
with  poisoned mouth the spider lays    
hold upon her2 if the fly struggles     
still1 then he poisons her more and     
more3 what shall the fly do now8  ,why1 
she dies1 if somebody does not quickly  
release her4 ,this is the  case of the  
tempted2 they are entangled in the web1 

their feet and  wings are entangled2 now
 ,satan shows himself2 if the soul now  
struggleth1 ,satan laboreth to hold it  
down2 if it now shall make a  noise1    
then he bites with blasphemous mouth1   
more poisonous than the  gall of a      
serpent4 ,if it struggle again1 then he 
poisoneth more and  more2 insomuch that 
it must needs at last die in the net1 if
 the  man1 the ,lord ,jesus1 helps not  
out4 ,the afflicted conscience          
understands my words4    ,further1      
though the fly in the web is altogether 
incapable of  looking for relief1 yet   
this awakened1 tempted ,christian1 is   
not4  ,what must he do1 therefore8 ,how 
should he entertain hopes of life8  ,if 
he looks to his heart1 there is         
blasphemy2 if he looks to his  duties1  
there is sin2 if he strives to mourn and
 lament1 perhaps he  cannot2 unbelief   
and hardness hinder4 ,shall this man lie
 down and  despair8 ,no4 ,shall he trust
 to his duties8 ,no4 ,shall he stay from
  ,christ till his heart is better8 ,no4

 ,what then8 ,let him ,,now look to     
,jesus ,christ crucified2 then shall he 
see his sins answered for1  then shall  
he see death dying1 then shall he see   
guilt borne by  another1 and then shall 
he see the devil overcome4 ,this sight  
destroys the power of the first         
temptation1 purifies the heart1 and     
inclines the mind to all good things4   
,didst thou never learn to outshoot the 
devil with his own bow1 and  to cut off 
his head with his own sword1 as ,david  
served ,goliath1 who  was a type of     
,satan8    ,,question4 ,o how should a  
poor soul do this8 ,this is rare indeed4
    ,,answer4 ,why1 truly thus3 ,doth   
,satan tell thee thou prayest but       
faintly1 and with very cold devotion8   
answer him thus1 and say1 ,i am  glad   
you told me1 for this will make me trust
 the more to ,christ's  prayers1 and the
 less to my own2 also ,i will endeavor  
henceforward  to groan1 to sigh1 and to 
be so fervent in my crying at the throne
  of grace1 that ,i will1 if ,i can1    

make the heavens rattle again with  the 
mighty groans thereof4 ,and whereas thou
 sayest that ,i am so weak  in          
believing1 ,i am glad you remind me of  
it2 ,i hope it will  henceforward stir  
me up to cry the more heartily to ,god  
for strong  faith1 make me the more     
restless till ,i have it4 ,and seeing   
thou  tellest me that ,i run so softly1 
and that ,i shall go near to miss of    
glory1 this also shall be through grace 
to my advantage1 and cause  me to press 
the more earnestly towards the mark for 
the prize of the  high calling of ,god  
in ,christ ,jesus4 ,and seeing thou dost
 tell me  that my sins are wondrous     
great1 hereby thou bringest the         
remembrance of the unsupportable        
vengeance of ,god into my mind if ,i    
die out of ,jesus ,christ1 and also the 
necessity of the blood1 death1  and     
merits of ,christ to help me2 ,i hope it
 will make me fly the  faster and press 
the harder after an interest in him4    
,and so all  along1 if he tell thee of  

thy deadness1 dulness1 coldness1 or     
unbelief1 or the greatness of thy sins1 
answer him and say1 ,i am  glad you told
 me2 ,i hope it will be a means to make 
me run faster1  seek more earnestly1 and
 be the more restless after ,jesus      
,christ4 ,if  thou didst but get this   
art1 so as to outrun him in his own     
shoes1  as ,i may say1 and to make his  
own darts to pierce himself1 then thou  
mightest also say1 ,now do ,satan's     
temptations1 as well as all other       
things1 work together for my good4      
,,objection4 ,but ,i find so many       
weaknesses in every duty that ,i        
perform1 as when ,i pray1 when ,i read1 
when ,i hear or attempt any  other duty1
 that it maketh me out of conceit with  
myself2 it maketh  me think that my     
duties are nothing worth4    ,,answer4  
,thou by this means art taken off from  
leaning on any thing  below ,jesus for  
eternal life4 ,it is likely1 if thou    
wast not  sensible of many by-thoughts  
and wickednesses in thy best            

performances1 thou wouldst go near to be
 some proud1 abominable  hypocrite1 or a
 silly1 proud1 dissembling wretch at the
 best2 such a  one as wouldst send thy  
soul to the devil in a bundle of thy own
  righteousness4    ,would ,jesus       
,christ have mercy offered1 in the first
 place1 to the  biggest sinner8 ,let the
 tempted harp upon this string for their
 help  and consolation4 ,the tempted1   
wherever he dwells1 always thinks       
himself the biggest sinner1 one most    
unworthy of eternal life4    ,this is   
,satan's master-argument3 ,thou art a   
horrible sinner1 a  hypocrite1 one that 
has a profane heart1 and one that is an 
utter  stranger to a work of grace4 ,i  
say1 this is his maul1 his club1 his    
masterpiece2 he does with this1 as some 
do by their most enchanting  songs1     
singing them everywhere4 ,i believe     
there are but few saints  in the world  
that have not had this temptation       
sounding in their  ears4 ,but were they 
but aware1 ,satan by all this does but  

drive them  to the gap out at which they
 should go1 and so escape his roaring4  
,saith he1 ,thou art a great sinner1 a  
horrible sinner1 a  profane-hearted     
wretch1 one that cannot be matched for a
 vile one in  the country4    ,and all  
this while ,christ says to his          
ministers1 ,offer4 mercy in the  first  
place to the biggest sinners4 ,so that  
this temptation drives  thee directly   
into the arms of ,jesus ,christ4    ,was
 therefore the tempted but aware1 he    
might say1 ,aye1 ,satan1 so ,i  am1 ,i  
am a sinner of the biggest size1 and    
therefore have most need  of ,jesus     
,christ2 yea1 because ,i am such a      
wretch1 therefore ,jesus  ,christ calls 
me2 yea1 he calls me first--the first   
proffer of the  gospel is to be made to 
the ,jerusalem sinner4 ,i am he2        
wherefore  stand back1 ,satan1 make way 
for me1 my right is first to come to    
,jesus ,christ4    ,this now will be    
like for like4 ,this would foil the     
devil4 ,this  would make him say1 ,i    

must not deal with this man4 thus2 for  
then ,i  put a sword into his hand to   
cut off my head4    ,well1 sinner1 thou 
now speakest like a ,christian2 but say 
thus in a  strong spirit in the hour of 
temptation1 and then thou wilt1 to thy  
commendation and comfort1 quit thyself  
well4    ,this improving of ,christ in  
dark hours is the life1 though the      
hardest part of our ,christianity4 ,we  
should neither stop at  darkness1 nor at
 the raging of our lusts1 but go on in a
 way of  venturing and casting the whole
 of our concerns for the next world  at 
the foot of ,jesus ,christ4 ,this is the
 way to make the darkness  light1 and   
also to allay the raging of our         
corruption4    ,what a brave            
encouragement is it for one that is come
 for grace to  the throne of grace1 to  
see so great a number already there on  
their  seats1 in their robes1 with their
 palms in their hands and their  crowns 
upon their heads1 singing of salvation  
to ,god and the ,lamb6    ,and ,i say   

again--and speak now to the             
dejected--methinks it would  be strange1
 ,o thou that art so afraid that the    
greatness of thy sins  will be a bar    
unto thee1 if amongst all this great    
number of pipers  and harpers that are  
got to glory1 thou canst not espy one   
that1  when here1 was as vile a sinner  
as thyself4 ,look1 man2 they are  there 
for thee to view them1 and for thee to  
take encouragement to  hope1 when thou  
shalt consider what grace and mercy have
 done for  them4 ,look again1 ,i say1   
now thou art upon thy knees1 and see if 
some that are among them have not done  
worse than thou hast done4  ,and yet    
behold1 they are set down2 and yet      
behold1 they have crowns  on their      
heads1 their harps in their hands1 and  
sing aloud of  salvation to their ,god  
and the ,lamb4 ,behold1 tempted soul2   
dost thou  not yet see what a throne of 
grace here is1 and what multitudes are  
already arrived thither1 to give thanks 
unto ,his name that sits  thereon1 and  

to the ,lamb for ever and ever8 ,and    
wilt thou hang thy  harp upon the       
willows1 and go drooping up and down the
 world1 as if  there was no ,god1 no    
grace1 no throne of grace1 to apply     
thyself  unto for mercy and grace to    
help in time of need8 ,hark2 dost thou  
not hear them what they say8 ,worthy1   
say they1 is the ,lamb that  was slain  
to receive power1 and riches1 and       
wisdom1 and strength1  and honor1 and   
glory1 and blessing4 ,and every creature
 which is in  heaven--where they        
are--and on the earth--where thou       
art--and  under the earth1 and such as  
are in the sea1 and all that are        
therein1 heard ,i saying1 ,blessing1 and
 honor1 and glory1 and power1  be unto  
,him that sitteth upon the throne1 and  
unto the ,lamb1 for  ever and ever4     
,and this is written for our learning1  
that we through patience and  comfort of
 the ,scriptures might have hope2 and   
that the drooping  ones might come      
boldly to the throne of grace1 to obtain

 mercy and  find grace to help in time  
of need4    ,in general1 ,god was       
pleased to take this course with me3    
,first1 to  suffer me to be afflicted   
with temptations concerning the truths  
of  the gospel1 and then reveal them to 
me2 as sometimes ,i should lie  under   
great guilt for sin1 even crushed to the
 ground therewith2 and  then the ,lord  
would show me the death of ,christ1 yea1
 and so  sprinkle my conscience with his
 blood1 that ,i should find1 and that   
before ,i was aware1 that in that       
conscience where but just now did  reign
 and rage the law1 even there would rest
 and abide the peace  and love of ,god  
through ,christ4    ,thus by the strange
 and unusual assaults of the tempter1 my
 soul was  like a broken vessel driven  
as with the winds1 and tossed1 sometimes
  headlong into despair1 sometimes upon 
the covenant of works1 and  sometimes to
 wish that the new covenant and the     
conditions thereof  might1 so far forth 
as ,i thought myself concerned1 be      

turned another  way and changed4 ,but in
 all these1 ,i was as those that jostle 
against the rocks2 more broken1         
scattered1 and rent4 ,oh1 the  unthought
 of imaginations1 frights1 fears1 and   
terrors that are  effected by a thorough
 application of guilt yielding to       
desperation4  ,this is the man that hath
 his dwelling among the tombs1 with the 
dead--that is always crying out1 and    
cutting himself with stones4  ,but ,i   
say1 all in vain2 desperation will not  
comfort him1 the old  covenant will not 
save him3 nay1 heaven and earth shall   
pass away  before one jot or tittle of  
the word and law of grace will fail or  
be removed4 ,this ,i saw1 this ,i felt1 
and under this ,i groaned4 ,yet  this   
advantage ,i got thereby1 namely1 a     
further confirmation of the  certainty  
of the way of salvation1 and that the   
,scriptures were the  word of ,god4 ,oh1
 ,i cannot now express what ,i then saw 
and felt of  the steadfastness of ,jesus
 ,christ1 the ,rock of man's salvation3 

what  was done could not be undone1     
added to1 nor altered4    ,often when ,i
 have been making towards the promise1  
,john #f3cj1 ,i have  seen as if the    
,lord would refuse my soul for ever2 ,i 
was often as if  ,i had run upon the    
pikes1 and as if the ,lord had thrust at
 me1 to  keep me from him1 as with a    
flaming sword4 ,then would ,i think of  
,esther1 who went to petition the king  
contrary to the law4 ,i thought  also of
 ,benhadad's servants1 who went with    
ropes upon their heads to  their enemies
 for mercy4 ,the woman of ,canaan also1 
that would not be  daunted though called
 a ,,dog by ,christ1 and the man that   
went to  borrow bread at midnight1 were 
also great encouragements unto me4    ,i
 never saw such heights and depths in   
grace and love and mercy1 as  ,i saw    
after this temptation4 ,great sins draw 
out great grace2 and  where guilt is    
most terrible and fierce1 there the     
mercy of ,god in  ,christ1 when showed  
to the soul1 appears most high and      

mighty4 ,when  ,job had passed through  
his calamity1 he had twice as much as he
 had  before4 ,blessed be ,god for      
,jesus ,christ our ,lord4    ,if ever   
,satan and ,i did strive for any word of
 ,god in all my life1  it was for this  
good word of ,christ3 ,him that cometh  
to me1 ,i will  in nowise cast out2 he  
at one end1 and ,i at the other4 ,oh1   
what  work we made4 ,it was for this1 in
 ,john4#f3cj1 ,i say1 that we did so    
tug and strive3 he pulled1 and ,i       
pulled2 but1 ,god be praised1 ,i        
overcame him and got sweetness from it4 
,i prayed to ,god1 in prison1 that he   
would comfort me1 and give me  strength 
to do and suffer what he should call me 
to2 yet no comfort  appeared1 but all   
continued hid4 ,i was also at this time 
so really  possessed with the thought of
 death1 that oft ,i was as if on the    
ladder with a rope about my neck3 only  
this was some encouragement  to me3 ,i  
thought ,i might now have an opportunity
 to speak my last  words unto a         

multitude1 which ,i supposed would come 
to see me die2  and thought ,i1 if it   
must be so1 if ,god will but convert one
 soul by  my last words1 ,i shall not   
count my life thrown away nor lost4     
,but yet all the things of ,god were    
kept out of my sight1 and still  the    
tempter followed me with1 ,but whither  
must you go when you die8  ,what will   
become of you8 ,where will you be found 
in another world8  ,what evidence have  
you for heaven and glory1 and an        
inheritance  among them that are        
sanctified8 ,thus was ,i tossed for many
 weeks1  and knew not what to do2 at    
last1 this consideration fell with      
weight upon me1 ,that it was for the    
word and way of ,god that ,i was  in    
this condition2 wherefore1 ,i was       
engaged not to flinch a hair's  breadth 
from it4    ,i thought1 also1 that ,god 
might choose whether he would give me   
comfort now1 or at the hour of death2   
but ,i might not therefore  choose      
whether ,i would hold my profession or  

no4 ,i was bound1 but he  was free3 yea1
 it was my duty to stand to his word1   
whether he would  ever look upon me1 or 
save me at the last4 ,wherefore1 thought
 ,i1 the  point being thus1 ,i am for   
going on and venturing my eternal state 
with ,christ1 whether ,i have comfort   
here or no3 if ,god doth not come  in1  
thought ,i1 ,i will leap off the ladder 
even blindfold into  eternity1 sink or  
swim1 come heaven come hell4 ,lord      
,jesus1 if thou  wilt catch me1 do2 if  
not1 ,i will venture for thy name4      
,before ,i had got thus far out of these
 my temptations1 ,i did greatly  long to
 see some ancient godly man's           
experience1 who had writ some  hundreds 
of years before ,i was born2 for those  
who had writ in our  days1 ,i           
thought--but ,i desire them now to      
pardon me--that they had  writ only that
 which others felt2 or else had1 through
 the strength  of their wits and parts1 
studied to answer such objections as    
they  perceived others were perplexed   

with1 without going themselves down     
into the deep4 ,well1 after many such   
longings in my mind1 the ,god in  whose 
hands are all our days and ways1 did    
cast into my hand one day  a book of    
,martin ,luther's3 it was his ,comment  
on the ,galatians2 it  was also so old  
that it was ready to fall piece from    
piece1 if ,i did  but turn it over4 ,now
 ,i was pleased much that such an old   
book had  fallen into my hands2 the     
which when ,i had but a little way      
perused1  ,i found my condition in his  
experience so largely and profoundly    
handled1 as if this book had been       
written out of my heart4 ,this made  me 
marvel2 for thus thought ,i1 this man   
could not know any thing of  the state  
of ,christians now1 but must needs write
 and speak the  experience of former    
days4    ,besides1 he doth most gravely 
also1 in that book1 debate of the rise  
of these temptations1 namely1 blasphemy1
 desperation1 and the like2  showing    
that the law of ,moses1 as well as the  

devil1 death1 and  hell1 hath a very    
great hand therein3 the which1 at first1
 was very  strange to me2 but           
considering and watching1 ,i found it so
 indeed4  ,but of particulars here ,i   
intend nothing2 only this methinks ,i   
must  let fall before all men1 ,i do    
prefer this book of ,martin ,luther upon
  the ,galatians1 excepting the ,holy   
,bible1 before all the books that  ever 
,i have seen1 as most fit for a wounded 
conscience4              ,,xvi4         
,,security ,,of ,,christians4           
,christians1 were you awake1 here would 
be matter of wonder to you1  to see a   
man assaulted with all the power of     
hell1 and yet come off  a conqueror4 ,is
 it not a wonder to see a poor creature1
 who in  himself is weaker than the     
moth1 stand against and overcome all    
devils1 all the world1 all his lusts and
 corruptions8 ,or if he fall1  is it not
 a wonder to see him1 when devils and   
guilt are upon him1  rise again1 stand  
upon his feet again1 walk with ,god     

again1 and  persevere after all this in 
the faith and holiness of the gospel8   
,he  that knows himself1 wonders2 he    
that knows temptation1 wonders2 he  that
 knows what falls and guilt mean1       
wonders3 indeed1 perseverance  is a     
wonderful thing and is managed by the   
power of ,god2 for he only  is able to  
keep us from falling1 and to present us 
faultless before  the presence of his   
glory1 with exceeding joy4    ,he that  
is saved must1 when this world can hold 
him no longer1 have  a safe conduct to  
heaven2 for that is the place where they
 that are  saved must to the full enjoy 
their salvation4 ,here we are saved by  
faith and hope of glory2 but there we   
that are saved shall enjoy the  end of  
our faith1 and hope1 even the salvation 
of our souls4    ,but now for a poor    
creature to be brought thither1 this is 
the life  of the point4 ,but how shall  
,i come thither8 ,there are heights and 
depths to hinder4 ,rom4 #h3ch1 #ci4     
,suppose the poor ,christian is upon  a 

sick-bed1 beset with a thousand fears1  
and ten thousand at the end  of         
that--sick-bed fears1 and they are      
sometimes dreadful ones3  fears that are
 begotten by the review of the sin      
perhaps of forty  years'                
profession--fears that are begotten by  
fearful suggestions of  the devil1 the  
sight of death and the grave1 and it may
 be of hell  itself--fears that are     
begotten by the withdrawing and silence 
of  ,god and ,christ4 ,but now1 out of  
all these the ,lord will save his       
people2 not one sin1 nor fear1 nor devil
 shall hinder1 nor the grave  nor hell  
disappoint thee4 ,but how must this be8 
,why1 thou must have  a safe conduct to 
heaven4 ,what conduct8 ,a conduct of    
angels4 ,are  they not all ministering  
spirits1 sent forth to minister for them
  that shall be heirs of salvation8     
,these angels therefore are not to fail 
them that are saved1 but  must1 as      
commissioned of ,god1 come down from    
heaven to do this  office for them4     

,they must come1 ,i say1 and take the   
care of our  souls1 to conduct them     
safely into ,abraham's bosom4 ,it is not
 our  meanness in the world1 nor our    
weakness of faith1 that shall hinder    
this2 nor shall the loathsomeness of our
 diseases make these  delicate spirits  
shy of taking this charge upon them4    
,lazarus the  beggar found this a       
truth--a beggar so despised of the rich 
glutton  that he was not suffered to    
come within his gate2 a beggar full of  
sores and noisome putrefaction--yet     
behold1 when he dies angels come  from  
heaven to fetch him thither4    ,true1  
death-bed temptations are ofttimes the  
most violent1 because  then the devil   
plays his last game with us2 he is never
 to assault  us more4 ,besides1 perhaps 
,god suffereth it thus to be that the   
entering into heaven may be the sweeter1
 and ring of this salvation  the louder4
 ,o it is a blessed thing for ,god to be
 our ,god and our  guide1 even unto     
death1 and then for his angels to       

conduct us safely  to glory4 ,this is   
saving indeed4    ,mercy seems to be    
asleep when we are sinking2 for then we 
are as if  all things were careless of  
us2 but it is but as a lion couchant1 it
  will awake in time for our help4      
,there are those that have been in the  
pit1 ,psa4 #dj3b1 now upon mount  ,zion1
 with the harps of ,god in their hands1 
and with the song of the  ,lamb in their
 mouths4    ,god hath set a ,saviour    
against sin1 a heaven against a hell1   
light  agamst darkness1 good against    
evil1 and the breadth and length and    
depth and height of the grace that is in
 himself for my good1  against all the  
power and strength and subtlety of every
 enemy4    ,is it not a thing amazing1  
to see one poor inconsiderable man1 in a
  spirit of faith and patience1 overcome
 all the threatenings1  cruelties1      
afflictions1 and sorrows that a whole   
world can lay upon  him8 ,none can quail
 him1 none can crush him1 none can bend 
down his  spirit2 none can make him     

forsake what he has received of ,god1 a 
commandment to hold fast4 ,his holy1    
harmless1 and profitable  notions1      
because they are spiced with grace1     
yield to him more  comfort1 joy1 and    
peace2 and do kindle in his soul a      
goodly fire of  love to and zeal for    
,god that all the waters of the world   
shall  never be able to quench4    ,now1
 a creation none can destroy but a      
creator1 wherefore1 here is  comfort4   
,but again1 ,god hath created us in     
,christ ,jesus2 that's  another thing4  
,the sun is created in the heavens2 the 
stars are  created in the heavens2 the  
moon is created in the heavens4 ,who can
  reach them1 touch them1 destroy them1 
but the ,creator8 ,why1 this is  the    
case of the saint1 because he has to do 
with a ,creator3 he is  fastened to     
,christ1 yea1 is in him by an act of    
creation4 ,so that  unless ,christ and  
the creation of the ,holy ,ghost can be 
destroyed1  he is safe that is suffering
 according to the will of ,god1 and that

  hath committed the keeping of his soul
 to him in well-doing1 as unto  a       
faithful ,creator4    ,the strife is    
now1 ,who shall be ,lord of all3 whether
 ,satan the  prince of this world1 or   
,christ ,jesus the ,son of ,god2 or     
which can  lay the best claim to ,god's 
elect1 he that produces their sins      
against them1 or he that laid down his  
heart's blood a price of  redemption for
 them4 ,who then shall condemn1 when    
,christ has died  and does also make    
intercession8    ,stand still1 angels1  
and behold how the ,father divides his  
,son a  portion with the great1 and how 
he divides the spoil with the  strong2  
because he hath poured out his soul unto
 death1 and was  numbered with the      
transgressors1 and did bear the sin of  
many1 and  made intercession for the    
transgressors4 ,the grace of ,god and   
the  blood of ,christ will1 before the  
end of the world1 make brave work  among
 the sons of men4 ,they shall come for a
 wonderment to ,god by  ,christ1 and--be

 saved for a wonderment for ,christ's   
sake4  ,behold1 these shall come from   
far2 and lo1 these from the north and   
from the west1 and these from the land  
of ,sinim4    ,what man is he that      
feareth the ,lord8 says ,david2 him     
shall he  teach in the way that he shall
 choose4    ,now1 to be taught of ,god1 
what is like it8 ,yea1 what is like     
being  taught in the way that them shalt
 choose8 ,thou hast chosen the way  to  
life1 ,god's way2 hut perhaps thy       
ignorance about2 it is so great1  and   
those that tempt thee to turn aside are 
so many and so subtle1  that1 they seem 
to outwit thee and confound thee with   
their guile4  ,well1 but the ,lord whom 
thou fearest will not leave thee to thy 
ignorance1 nor yet to thine enemies'    
power or subtlety1 but will  take it    
upon himself to be thy teacher and thy  
guide1 and that in  the way that thou   
hast chosen4 ,hear1 then1 and beliold   
thy  privilege1 ,o thou that fearest the
 ,lord2 and--whoever wanders1 turns     

aside1 and swerveth from the way of     
salvation1 whoever is benighted  and    
lost in the midst of darkness--thou     
shalt find the way to heaven  and the   
glory that thou hast chosen4    ,there  
is between those that have taken        
sanctuary in ,christ1 and the           
bottomless pit1 an invincible and mighty
 wall of grace and heavenly  power1 and 
of the merits of ,christ to save to the 
utmost all and  every one that are thus 
fled to him for safety4    ,oh1 how my  
soul did at this time while in spiritual
 darkness prize  the preservation that  
,god did set about his people4 ,ah1 how 
safely  did ,i see them walk whom ,god  
had hedged in4 ,now did those blessed   
places that spake of ,god's keeping his 
people1 shine like the sun  before me1  
though not to comfort me1 yet to show me
 the blessed  state and heritage of     
those whom the ,lord had blessed4 ,now  
,i saw  that as ,god had his hand in all
 the providences and dispensations  that
 overtake his elect1 so he had his hand 

in all the temptations  that they had to
 sin against him2 not to animate them in
 wickedness1  but to choose their       
temptations and troubles for them1 and  
also to  leave them for a time to such  
things only as might not destroy1 but   
humble them--as might not put them      
beyond1 but lay them in the way  of the 
renewing of his mercy4 ,but ,oh1 what   
love1 what care1 what  kindness and     
mercy did ,i now see1 mixing itself with
 the most severe  and dreadful of all   
,god's ways to his people6 ,he would let
 ,david1  ,hezekiah1 ,solomon1 ,peter1  
and others fall2 but he would not let   
them  fall into the sin unpardonable1   
nor into hell for sin4 ,o1 thought ,i1  
these be the men that ,god hath         
loved--these be the men that ,god1      
though he chastiseth them1 keeps in     
safety by him1 and whom he makes  to    
abide under the shadow of the ,almighty4
    ,surely his salvation1 his saving1  
pardoning grace1 is nigh them that  fear
 him2 that is1 to save them out of the  

hand of their spiritual  enemies4 ,the  
devil and sin and death do always wait  
even to devour  them that fear the      
,lord2 but to deliver them from these1  
his  salvation doth attend them4 ,so1   
then1 if ,satan tempts1 here is their   
salvation nigh2 if sin by breaking forth
 beguiles them1 here is  ,god's         
salvation nigh them2 yea1 if death      
itself shall suddenly seize  upon them1 
why1 here is their ,god's salvation nigh
 them4    ,i have seen that great men's 
little children must go no whither      
without their nurses be at hand4 ,if    
they go abroad1 their nurses  must go   
with them2 if they go to meals1 their   
nurses must go with  them2 if they go to
 bed1 their nurses must go with them2   
yea1--and  if they fall asleep1 their   
nurses must stand by them4    ,o1 my    
brethren1 those little ones that fear   
the ,lord are the  children of the      
highest2 therefore they shall not walk  
alone1 be at  their spiritual meats     
alone1 go to their sick-beds or to their

  graves alone3 the salvation of their  
,god is nigh them1 to deliver  them from
 the evil4 ,this is then the glory that 
dwells in the land  of them that fear   
the ,lord4    ,he will fulfil the desire
 of them that fear him4 ,where now is   
the  man that feareth the ,lord8 let him
 hearken to this4 ,what sayest  thou1   
poor soul8 ,will this content thee8 the 
,lord fulfil thy  desires4 ,o thou that 
fearest the ,lord1 what is thy desire8  
,all my  desire1 says ,david1 is all my 
salvation2 so sayest thou1 ,all my      
salvation is all my desire8 ,well1 the  
desire of thy soul is granted  thee2    
yea1 ,god himself hath engaged himself  
even to fulfil this thy  desire4 ,he    
will fulfil the desires of them that    
fear him2 he will  hear their cry1 and  
will save them4 ,o this desire1 when it 
cometh1  what a tree of life will it be 
to thee6 ,thou desirest to be rid of    
thy present trouble2 the ,lord shall rid
 thee out of trouble4 ,thou  desirest to
 be delivered from temptation2 the ,lord

 shall deliver  thee out of temptation4 
,thou desirest to be delivered from thy 
body  of death2 and the ,lord shall     
change this thy vile body1 that it may  
be like to his glorious body4 ,thou     
desirest to be in the presence of  ,god1
 and among the angels in heaven2 this   
thy desire also shall be  fulfilled1 and
 thou shalt be made equal to the angels4
 ,exod4 #f3f2 #b  ,peter1 #b3i2 ,phil4  
#c3bj1 #ba2 ,luke #af3bb2 #bf3ce1 #cf4  
,oh1 but it is  long first4 ,well1 learn
 first to live upon thy portion in the  
promise of it1 and that will make thy   
expectation of it sweet4 ,god  will     
fulfil thy desires2 ,god will do it1    
though it tarry long3 ,wait  for it1    
because it will surely come1 it will not
 tarry4              ,,xvii4 ,,the      
,,promises4            ,,god hath       
strewed all the way from the gate of    
hell where thou wast1  coming sinner1 to
 the gate of heaven whither thou art    
going1 with  flowers out of his own     
garden4 ,behold how the promises1       

invitations1  calls1 and encouragements1
 like lilies1 lie about thee4 ,take heed
  thou dost not tread them under foot4  
,you say you believe the ,scriptures to 
be the word of ,god4 ,i say1  ,wert thou
 ever quickened from a dead state by the
 power of the  ,spirit of ,christ       
through the covenant of promise8 ,i tell
 thee from  the ,lord1 if thou hast     
been1 thou hast felt such a quickening  
power  in the words of ,christ1 that    
thou hast been lifted out of the dead   
condition thou before wert in2 and that 
when thou wast under the  guilt of sin1 
the curse of the law1 the power of the  
devil1 and the  justice of the great    
,god1 thou hast been enabled by the     
power of ,god  in ,christ1 revealed to  
thee by the ,spirit through and by the  
,scripture1 to look sin1 death1 hell1   
the devil1 and the law1 and all  things 
that are at enmity with thee1 with      
boldness and comfort in  the face1      
through the blood1 death1 resurrection1 
and intercession  of ,christ1 made      

mention of in the ,scriptures4    ,on   
this account1 ,o how excellent are the  
,scriptures to thy soul6 ,o  how much   
virtue dost thou see in such a promise1 
in such an  invitation6 ,they are so    
large as to say1 ,christ will in nowise 
cast  me out4 ,my crimson sins shall be 
as white as snow4    ,i tell thee1      
friend1 there are some promises through 
and by which  the ,lord has helped me to
 lay hold of ,jesus ,christ1 that ,i    
would not  have out of the ,bible for as
 much gold and silver as can lie between
  ,york and ,london piled up to the     
stars2 because through them ,christ  is 
pleased by his ,spirit to convey comfort
 to my soul4 ,i say1 when  the law      
curses1 when the devil tempts1 when     
hell-fire flames in my  conscience1 my  
sins with the guilt of them tearing of  
me1 then is  ,christ revealed so sweetly
 to my poor soul through the promises1  
that all is forced to fly and leave off 
to accuse my soul4 ,so also  when the   
world frowns1 when the enemies rage and 

threaten to kill  me1 then also the     
precious promises do weigh down all1 and
 comfort  the soul against all4    ,the 
grace of ,god and the ,spirit of grace  
are called or compared to a  river1 to  
answer those unsatiable desires1 and to 
wash away those  mountainous doubts1    
that attend those who indeed do thirst  
for that  drink4 ,the man that thirsteth
 with spiritual thirst1 fears nothing   
more than that there is not enough to   
quench his thirst3 all the  promises and
 sayings of ,god's ministers to such a  
man1 seem but as  thimbles instead of   
bowls3 ,i mean1 so long as his thirst   
and doubts  walk hand in hand together4 
,there is not enough in this promise1 ,i
  find not enough in that promise1 to   
quench the drought of my  thirsting     
soul4 ,he that thirsteth aright1 nothing
 but ,god can quench  his thirst4 ,my   
soul thirsteth for ,god1 for the living 
,god4 ,psalm  #dc3b2 #fc3a2 #adc3f4     
,well1 what shall he done for this man8 
,will his  ,god humor him1 and answer   

his desires8 ,mark what follows3 ,when  
the  poor and needy seek water1 and     
there is none--when all the promises    
seem to be dry1 and like clouds that    
return after the rain--and  their tongue
 faileth for thirst1 ,i the ,lord will  
hear them1 ,i the  ,god of ,israel will 
not forsake them4 ,aye1 but1 ,lord1 what
 wilt thou  do to quench their thirst8  
,i will open rivers1 saith he1 in high  
places1 and fountains in the midst of   
the valleys3 ,i will make the           
wilderness a pool of water1 and the dry 
land springs of water4  ,behold1 here   
are rivers and fountains1 a pool and    
springs1 and all  to quench the thirst  
of them that thirst for ,god4    ,what  
greater argument to holiness1 than to   
see the scriptures so  furnished with   
promises of grace and salvation by      
,christ1 that a man  can hardly cast his
 eye into the ,bible but he espies one  
or another  of them8 ,who would not live
 in such a house1 or he a servant to    
such  a prince2 who1 besides his        

exceeding in good conditions1 has gold  
and silver as common in his palace as   
stones are by the highway  side8    ,it 
sometimes so falleth out1 that the very 
promise we have thought  could not reach
 us to comfort us by any means1 has at  
another time  swallowed us up with joy  
unspeakable3 ,christ the true prophet   
has  the right understanding of the word
 as an ,advocate1 has pleaded it  before
 ,god against ,satan2 and having        
overcome him at the common law1  he has 
sent to let us know it by his good      
,spirit1 to our comfort and  the        
confusion of our enemies4               
,,xviii4 ,,christian ,,graces4          
,,faith4            ,,faith6 ,peter     
saith1 faith1 in the very trial of it1  
is much more  precious than gold that   
perisheth4 ,if so1 what is the worth or 
value  that is in the grace itself8     
,faith is so great an artist in arguing 
and reasoning with the soul1  that it   
will bring over the hardest heart that  
it hath to deal with4  ,it will bring to

 my remembrance at once1 both my        
vileness against  ,god1 and his goodness
 towards me2 it will show me1 that      
though ,i  deserve not to breathe in the
 air1 yet ,god will have me an heir of  
glory4    ,faith is the mother-grace1   
the root-grace1 the grace that has all  
others in the bowels of it1 and that    
from which all others flow4    ,faith   
will suck sweetness out of ,god's rod2  
but unbelief can find no  comfort in his
 greatest mercies4    ,faith makes great
 burdens light2 but unbelief maketh     
light ones  intolerably heavy4    ,faith
 helpeth us when we are down2 but       
unbelief throws us down when  we are up4
    ,unbelief may be called the ,,white 
,,devil2 for it often-times1 in its     
mischievous doing in the soul1 shows as 
if it was an angel of light2  yea1 it   
acteth like a counsellor of heaven4     
,it is that sin above all others that   
most suiteth the wisdom of our  flesh4  
,the wisdom of our flesh thinks it      
prudent to question a  while1 to stand  

back a while1 to hearken to both sides a
 while2 and  not to be rash1 sudden1 or 
unadvised in too bold a presuming upon  
,jesus ,christ4    ,there is nothing    
like faith to help at a pinch2 faith    
dissolves  doubts1 as the sun drives    
away the mists4 ,and that you may not be
  put out1 know your time of believing  
is always4 ,there are times when  some  
graces may be out of use2 but there is  
no time wherein faith  can be said to be
 so4 ,faith is the eye1 the mouth1 the  
hand1 and one  of these is of use all   
day long4 ,faith is to see1 to receive1 
to  work1 or to eat2 and a ,christian   
should be seeing1 or receiving1 or      
working1 or feeding1 all day long4 ,let 
it rain1 let it blow1 let it  thunder1  
let it lighten1 a ,christian must still 
believe4    ,above all1 taking the      
shield of faith1 wherewith you shall be 
able  to quench all the fiery darts of  
the wicked3 to quench them1 though  they
 come from him as kindled with the very 
fire of hell4 ,none  knows1 save he that

 feels it1 how burning hot the fiery    
darts of  ,satan are2 and how1 when     
darted1 they kindle upon our flesh and  
unbelief2 neither can any know the power
 and worth of faith to  quench them1 but
 he that hath it and hath power to act  
it4    ,there are three things in faith1
 that directly tend to make a man       
depart from iniquity4    #a4 ,it        
apprehendeth the truth of the being and 
great ness of ,god1 and  so it aweth the
 spirit of a man4    #b4 ,it            
apprehendeth the love of this ,god in   
,christ1 and so it  conquereth and      
overcometh the spirit of a man4    #c4  
,it apprehendeth the sweetness and      
blessedness of the nature of  the       
godhead1 and thence persuadeth the soul 
to desire here communion  with him1 that
 it may be holy1 and the enjoyment of   
him when this  world is ended1 that it  
may be happy in and by him for ever4    
,there is a man sows his field with     
wheat1 but as he sows1 some is  covered 
with great clods3 now1 that grows as    

well as the rest1  though it runs not   
upright as yet2 it grows1 and yet is    
kept down4  ,so do thy desires--when one
 shall remove the clod1 the blade will  
soon point upward ,i know thy mind2 that
 which keeps thee that thou  canst not  
yet arrive to this1 to desire to depart 
and to be with  ,christ1 is because some
 strong douht or clod of unbelief as to 
thy  eternal welfare lies hard upon thy 
desiring spirit4 ,now let but  ,jesus   
,christ remove this clod1 and thy       
desires will quickly start up  to be    
gone4    ,,upon ,,the ,,swallow4        
,this pretty bird1 ,o how she flies and 
sings6 ,but could she do so if  she had 
not wings8 ,her wings bespeak my faith1 
her songs my peace4  ,when ,i believe   
and sing1 my doubtings cease4           
,,trust4    ,why1 this is the case1 thou
 art bound for heaven1 but the way      
thither is dangerous4 ,it is beset      
everywhere with evil angels1 who  would 
rob thee of thy soul4 ,what now8 ,why1  
if thou wouldst go  cheerfully on in thy

 dangerous journey1 commit thy treasure1
 thy  soul1 to ,god to keep4 ,and then  
thou mayest say with comfort1 ,well1    
that care is over4 ,for whatever ,i meet
 with in my way thither1 my  soul is    
safe enough2 the thieves1 if they meet  
me1 cannot come at  that2 ,i know to    
whom ,i have committed my soul1 and ,i  
am persuaded  that he will keep that to 
my joy and everlasting comfort against  
the  great day4    ,when a tyrant goes  
to dispossess a neighboring prince of   
what is  lawfully his own1 the men that 
he employeth at arms to overcome and    
get the land1 fight for half-crowns and 
the like1 and are content  with the     
wages2 but the tyrant is for the        
kingdom1 nothing will  serve him but the
 kingdom4 ,this is the case3 ,men1 when 
they  persecute1 are for the stuff2 but 
the devil is for the soul1 nor  will any
 thing less than that satisfy him4 ,let 
him then that is a  sufferer1 commit the
 keeping of his soul to ,god1 lest stuff
 and soul  and all be lost at once4     

,now1 to commit this soul to ,god1 is to
 carry it to him1 to lift it  to him    
upon bended knees1 and to pray him for  
the ,lord ,jesus  ,christ's sake1 to    
take it into his holy care1 and to let  
it be under  his keeping4 ,also1 that he
 will please to deliver it from all     
those  snares that are laid for it      
between this and the next world1 and    
that he will see that it be forthcoming1
 safe and sound1 at the  great and      
terrible judgment1 notwithstanding so   
many have engaged  themselves against   
it4    ,,faith ,,and ,,hope4    ,no     
faith1 no hope4 ,to hope without faith1 
is to see without eyes1 or  to expect   
without grounds2 for faith is the       
substance of things  hoped for1 as well 
with respect to the grace1 as to the    
doctrine of  faith4    ,faith has its   
excellency in this1 hope in that1 and   
love in another  thing4 ,faith will do  
that which hope cannot do1 hope can do  
that  which faith cannot do1 and love   
can do things distinct from both  their 

doings4 ,faith goes in the van1 hope in 
the body1 and love  brings up the rear2 
and thus now abideth faith1 hope1 and   
charity4    ,faith is the mother-grace1 
for hope is born of her1 but charity    
floweth from them both4    ,faith comes 
by hearing1 hope by experience4 ,faith  
comes by hearing  the word of ,god1 hope
 by the credit that faith has given to  
it4  ,faith believes the truth of the   
word1 hope waits for the fulfilling  of 
it4 ,faith lays hold of that end of the 
promise that is next to  us1 to wit1 as 
it is in the ,bible2 hope lays hold of  
that end of the  promise that is        
fastened to the mercy-seat4 ,for the    
promise is like  a mighty cable that is 
fastened by one end to a ship1 and by   
the  other to the anchor4 ,the soul is  
the ship where faith is1 and to  which  
the hither end of this cable is         
fastened2 but hope is the  anchor that  
is at the other end of this cable1 and  
which entereth  into that within the    
veil4    ,thus faith and hope getting   

hold of both ends of the promise1 they  
carry it safely ,,all away4    ,faith   
looks to ,christ as dead1 buried1 and   
ascended2 and hope to his  second       
coming4 ,faith looks to him for         
justification1 hope for glory4    ,faith
 fights for doctrine1 hope for a reward2
 faith for what is in  the ,bible1 hope 
for what is in heaven4    ,faith        
purifies the heart from bad principles1 
hope from bad manners4  #b ,peter1      
#c3aa1 #ad4    ,faith sets hope at work1
 hope sets patience at work4 ,faith says
 to  hope1 ,look for what is promised2  
hope says to faith1 ,so ,i do1 and  will
 wait for it too4    ,faith looks       
through the word of ,god in ,christ2    
hope looks through  faith1 beyond the   
world1 to glory4    ,thus faith saves1  
and thus hope saves4 ,faith saves by    
laying hold of  ,god by ,christ2 hope   
saves by prevailing with the soul to    
suffer all  troubles1 afflictions1 and  
adversities that it meets with betwixt  
this and the world to come1 for the sake

 thereof4 ,take the matter in  this     
plain similitude3    ,there was a king  
that adopted such a one to be his child1
 and  clothed him with the attire of the
 children of the king1 and  promised him
 that if he would fight his father's    
battles and walk in  his father's ways1 
he should at last share in his father's 
kingdom4  ,he has received the adoption 
and the king's robe1 but not yet his    
part in the kingdom2 but now1 hope of a 
share in that will make him  fight the  
king's battles1 and also tread the      
king's paths4 ,yea1 and  though he      
should meet with many things that have a
 tendency to deter  him from so doing1  
yet thoughts of the interest promised in
 the  kingdom1 and hopes to enjoy it1   
will make him cut his way through  those
 difficulties1 and so save him from the 
ruin that those  obstructions would     
bring upon him1 and will1 in conclusion1
 usher  him into a personal possession  
and enjoyment of that inheritance4      
,hope has a thick skin1 and will endure 

many a blow2 it will put on  patience as
 a vestment1 it will wade through a sea 
of blood1 it will  endure all things if 
it be of the right kind1 for the joy    
that is  set before it4 ,hence patience 
is called patience of hope1 because  it 
is hope that makes the soul exercise    
patience and long-suffering  under the  
cross1 until the time conies to enjoy   
the crown4    ,learn of ,abraham not to 
faint1 stumble1 or doubt1 at the sight  
of  your own weakness2 for if you do1   
hope will stay below1 and creak in  the 
wheels as it goes1 because it will want 
the oil of faith4    ,,hope4    ,hope is
 the grace that relieves the soul when  
dark and weary4 ,hope  calls upon the   
soul not to forget how far it is arrived
 in its  progress towards heaven4 ,hope 
will point and show it the gate afar    
off2 and therefore it is called the     
,,hope ,,of ,,salvation4    ,true hope1 
in the right exercise of it upon ,god1  
makes no stumble at  weakness or        
darkness1 but rather worketh up the soul

 to some comfort  by these4 ,thus       
,abraham's hope wrought by his weakness4
 ,and as for  the dark1 it is its       
element to act in that1 ,for hope which 
is seen  is not hope4    ,hope is a     
head-grace and governing4 ,there are    
several lusts in the  soul that cannot  
be mastered1 if hope be not in          
exercise-especially  if the soul be in  
great and sore trials4 ,there is        
peevishness and  impatience1 there is   
fear and despair1 there is doubting and 
misconstruing of ,god's present hand2   
and all these become masters1  if hope  
be not stirring2 nor can any grace      
besides put a stop to  their tumultuous 
raging in the soul4 ,but now1 hope in   
,god makes them  all hush1 takes away   
the occasion of their working1 and lays 
the  soul at the foot of ,god4          
,,patience4 ,and he stayed yet other    
seven days4 ,this staying shows  us that
 lie exercised patience1 waiting ,god's 
leisure till the flood  should be taken 
away4 ,this grace1 therefore1 has yet   

seven days'  work to do1 before he      
obtained any further testimony that the 
waters  were decreasing4 ,o this staying
 work is hard work4 ,alas1 sometimes    
patience is accompanied with so much    
heat and feverishness1 that  every hour 
seems seven until the end of the trial1 
and the blessing  promised be possessed 
by the waiting soul4 ,it may be1 ,noah  
might not  be altogether herein a       
stranger4 ,i am sure the psalmist was   
not1 in  that he often under affliction 
cries1 ,but how long1 ,o ,lord2 for     
ever8 ,make haste4 ,o ,lord1 how long8  
,,love4    ,love is the very            
quintessence of all the graces of the   
gospel4    ,,fear4    ,it seems to me as
 if this grace of fear was the darling  
grace1 the  grace that ,god sets his    
heart upon at the highest rate4 ,as it  
were1  he embraces and lays in his bosom
 the man that hath and grows strong  in 
this grace of the fear of ,god4    ,this
 grace of fear is the softest and most  
tender of ,god's honor of  all the      

graces4 ,it is that tender1 sensible1   
and trembling grace1  that keepeth the  
soul upon its continual watch4 ,to keep 
a good watch  is1 you know1 a wonderful 
safety to a place that is in continual  
danger because of the enemy4 ,why1 this 
is the grace that setteth the  watch1   
and that keepeth the watchman awake4    
,a man cannot watch as he should1 if he 
be destitute of fear3 let him  be       
confident1 and he sleeps2 he unadvisedly
 lets into the garrison  those that     
should not come there4    ,this fear of 
the ,lord is the pulse of the soul2 and 
as some pulses  heat stronger1 some     
weaker1 so is this grace of fear in the 
soul4  ,they that beat best are a sign  
of best life2 but they that beat  worst1
 show that life is present4 ,as long as 
the pulse beats1 we  count not that the 
man is dead1 though weak2 and this fear1
 where it  is1 preserves to everlasting 
life4 ,pulses there are also that are   
intermitting2 to wit1 such as have their
 times of beating for a  little1 a      

little time to stop1 and beat again3    
true1 these are  dangerous pulses1      
which1 nevertheless1 are a sign of life4
 ,this fear  of ,god also is sometimes  
like this intermitting pulse2 there are 
times when it forbears to work1 and then
 it works again4 ,david had  an         
intermitting pulse2 ,peter had an       
intermitting pulse1 as also many  other 
of the saints of ,god4 ,i call that an  
intermitting pulse1 with  reference to  
the fear we speak of1 when there is some
 obstruction by  the workings of        
corruption in the soul3 ,i say1 some    
obstruction from  and hinderance of the 
continual motion of this fear of ,god2  
yet none  of these--though they are     
various1 and some of them signs of      
weakness--are signs of death1 but life4 
,i will put my fear in their  heart1 and
 they shall not depart from me4         
,where the fear of the ,lord and sin    
are1 it will be with the soul as  it was
 with ,israel when ,amri and ,tibni     
strove to reign among them  both at     

once4 ,one of them must be put to death1
 they cannot live  together4 ,sin must  
down1 for the fear of the ,lord         
begetteth in the  soul a hatred against 
it1 an abhorrence of it2 therefore sin  
must  die1 that is1 as to the affections
 and lusts of it4    ,thy heart shall   
fear and be enlarged--enlarged towards  
,god1  enlarged to his ways1 enlarged to
 his holy people1 enlarged in love      
after the salvation of others4 ,indeed1 
when this fear of ,god is  wanting1     
though the profession be never so       
famous1 the heart is shut  up and       
straitened1 and nothing is done in that 
princely free spirit1  which is called  
the spirit of the fear of the ,lord1 but
 with  grudging1 legally1 or with desire
 of vain glory4 ,psa4 #ea3ab2 ,isa4     
#aa3b4    ,if a king will keep a town   
secure to himself1 let him be sure to   
man  sufficiently the main fort thereof4
 ,if he have twenty thousand men  well  
armed1 if they lie scattered here and   
there1 the town may be  taken for all   

that2 but if the main fort be well      
manned1 then the  town is more secure4  
,what if a man had all the parts1 yea1  
all the  arts of men and angels1 that   
will not keep the heart to ,god4    ,but
 when the heart1 this principal fort1 is
 possessed with the fear  of ,god1 then 
he is safe1 not else4    ,o they are a  
sweet couple1 to wit1 a ,christian      
conversation coupled  with fear4        
,your great1 ranting1 swaggering        
roysters1 that are ignorant of the      
nature of this fear of ,god1 count it a 
poor1 sneaking1 pitiful1  cowardly      
spirit in men to fear and tremble before
 the ,lord4 ,but  whoso looks back to   
jails and gibbets1 to the sword and the 
burning  stake1 shall see in the martyrs
 ,,there the most mighty and invincible 
spirit that has been in the world4      
,this grace of fear can make the man    
that in many other things is not        
capable of serving ,god1 serve him      
better than those that have all  else   
without it4 ,poor ,christian man1 thou  

hast scarce been able to  do any thing  
for ,god all thy days1 but only to fear 
the ,lord4 ,thou  art no preacher1 and  
so canst not do him service that way3   
thou art  no rich man1 and so canst not 
do him service with outward substance3  
thou art no wise man1 and so canst not  
do any thing that way2 but  here is thy 
mercy1 thou fearest ,god4 ,though thou  
canst not preach1  thou canst fear ,god4
 ,though thou hast no bread to feed the 
belly1  nor fleece to clothe the back of
 the poor1 thou canst fear ,god4 ,o  how
 blessed is the man that feareth the    
,lord1 because this duty of  fearing of 
,god is an act of the mind1 and may be  
done by the man  that is destitute of   
all things but that holy and blessed    
mind4    ,blessed1 therefore1 is that   
man2 for ,god hath not laid the comfort 
of his people in the doing of external  
duties1 nor the salvation of  their     
souls1 but in believing1 loving1 and    
fearing ,god4 ,neither hath  he laid    
these things in actions done in their   

health1 nor in the due  management of   
their most excellent parts1 but in the  
receiving of  ,christ1 and fear of ,god2
 the which1 good ,christian1 thou mayest
 do1  and do acceptably1 even though    
thou shouldst lie bedrid all thy  days2 
thou mayest also be sick and believe1 be
 sick and love1 be  sick and fear ,god1 
and so be a blessed man4    ,and here   
the poor ,christian hath something to   
answer them that  reproach him for his  
ignoble pedigree1 and shortness of the  
glory of  the wisdom of the world4      
,true1 may that man say1 ,i was taken   
out of  the dunghill1 ,i was born in a  
base and low estate2 but ,i fear ,god4  
,i  have no worldly greatness1 nor      
excellency of natural parts1 but ,i     
fear ,god4    ,when ,obadiah met with   
,elijah1 he gave him no worldly and     
fantastical  compliment1 nor did he     
glory in his promotion by ,ahab the king
 of  ,israel1 but gravely and after a   
gracious manner said1 ,i thy servant    
fear the ,lord from my youth4 ,also1    

when the mariners inquired of  ,jonah1  
saying1 ,what is thine occupation1 and  
whence comest thou2  what is thy        
country1 and of what people art thou8   
this was the  answer he gave them3 ,i am
 a ,hebrew1 and ,i fear the ,lord1 the  
,god of  heaven1 which hath made the sea
 and the dry land4 ,jonah #a3h1 #i4     
,indeed this answer is the highest and  
most noble in the world1 nor  are there 
any1 save a few1 that in truth can thus 
express  themselves1 though other       
answers they have enough3 most can say1 
,i  have wisdom1 or might1 or riches1 or
 friends1 or health1 or the  like2 these
 are common1 and are greatly boasted in 
by the most2 but  the man that feareth  
,god can say1 when they say to him1     
,what art  thou8 ,i thy servant do fear 
the ,lord3 he is the man of many1 he is 
to be honored of men1 though this1 to   
wit1 that he feareth the ,lord1  is all 
that he hath in this world4 ,he hath the
 thing1 the honor1 the  life1 and glory1
 that is lasting2 his blessedness will  

abide when  all men's but his is buried 
in the dust1 in shame and contempt4     
,dost thou fear ,god8 ,the least        
,,drachm of that fear giveth the        
privilege to be blessed with the        
greatest saint3 ,he will bless them     
that fear the ,lord1 small and great4   
,psalm #aae3ac4 ,art thou in  thine own 
thoughts1 or in the thoughts of others1 
of these last  small ones1 small in     
grace1 small in gifts1 small in esteem  
upon  this account8 ,yet if thou fearest
 ,god1 if thou fearest ,god indeed1     
thou art certainly blessed with the best
 of saints4 ,the least star  stands as  
fixed as the brightest of them all1 in  
heaven4 ,he shall  bless them that fear 
him1 small and great4 ,he shall bless   
them1  that is1 with the same blessing  
of eternal life4 ,for the difference  in
 degrees of grace in saints doth not    
make the blessing1 as to its  nature1   
differ4 ,it is the same heaven1 the same
 life1 the same  glory1 and the same    
eternity of felicity1 that they are in  

the text  promised to be blessed with4  
,christ at the day of judgment          
particularly mentioneth and owneth the  
least3 ,inasmuch as ye did it  not to   
one of the least4 ,the least then was   
there1 in his kingdom  and in his glory1
 as well as the greatest of all4        
,dost thou fear ,god8 ,why1 the ,holy   
,ghost hath on purpose indited for  thee
 a whole psalm to sing concerning       
thyself4 ,so that thou mayest  even as  
thou art1 in thy calling1 bed1 journey1 
or whenever1 sing  out thine own blessed
 and happy condition to thine own       
comfort1 and  the comfort of thy        
fellows4 ,the psalm is called the #abhth
 ,psalm4    ,ye that fear the ,lord1    
trust in the ,lord2 he is their help and
  their shield4 ,psalm #aae3aa4 ,now    
what a privilege is this3 an            
exhortation in general to sinners1 as   
sinners1 to trust in him1 is a          
privilege great and glorious2 but for a 
man to be singled out from  his         
neighbors1 for a man to be spoken to    

from heaven as it were by  name1 and to 
be told that ,god has given him a       
license1 a special and  peculiar grant  
to trust in him1 this is abundantly     
more2 and yet  this is the grant that   
,god has given that man that feareth the
 ,lord4    ,o fear the ,lord1 ye his    
saints1 for there is no want to them    
that  fear him4 ,the young lions do     
lack1 and suffer hunger2 but they that  
seek the ,lord--that fear him--shall    
want no good thing4 ,psalm  #cd3i1 #aj4 
,not any thing that ,god sees good for  
them1 shall those men want that  fear   
the ,lord4 ,if health will do them good1
 if sickness will do them  good1 if     
riches will do them good1 if poverty    
will do them good1 if  life will do them
 good1 if death will do them good1 then 
they shall  not want them2 neither shall
 any of these come nigh them1 if they   
will not do them good4    ,sinner1 hast 
thou deferred to fear the ,lord8 ,is thy
 heart still so  stubborn as not to say 
yet1 ,let us fear the ,lord8 ,o1 the    

,lord hath  taken notice of this thy    
rebellion1 and is preparing some        
dreadful  judgments for thee4 ,shall ,i 
not visit for these things1 saith the   
,lord2 shall not my soul be avenged of  
such a nation as this8    ,sinner1 why  
shouldst thou pull vengeance down upon  
thee8 why  shouldst thou pull vengeance 
down from heaven upon thee8 ,look up2   
perhaps thou hast already been pulling  
this great while1 to pull it  down upon 
thee4 ,oh1 pull no longer2 why shouldst 
thou be thine own  executioner8 ,fall   
down upon thy knees1 man1 and up with   
thy heart  and thy hands to the ,god    
that dwells in the heavens2 cry1 yea1   
cry  aloud1 ,lord1 unite my heart to    
fear thy name1 and do not harden  mine  
heart from thy fear4 ,thus holy men have
 cried before thee1 and  by crying have 
prevented judgment4    ,,humility4    ,i
 take the pinnacles on the top of the   
temple to be types of those  lofty1 airy
 notions1 with which some delight       
themselves1 while they  hover like birds

 above the solid and godly truths of    
,christ4 ,satan  attempted to entertain 
,christ ,jesus with this type and       
antitype at  once1 when he set him on   
one of the pinnacles of the temple1 and 
offered to thrust him upon a false      
confidence in ,god1 by a false and      
unsound interpretation of a text4 ,matt4
 #d3e1f2 ,luke #d3i-aa4    ,you have    
some men who cannot be content to       
worship in the temple1  but must be     
aloft2 no place will serve them but     
pinnacles--pinnacles1  that they may be 
speaking in and to the air1 that they   
may be promoting  their heady notions1  
instead of solid truth--not considering 
that now  they are where the devil would
 have them be4 ,they strut upon their   
points1 their pinnacles2 but let them   
look to it3 there is difficult  standing
 upon pinnacles2 their neck1 their soul1
 is in danger4 ,we read1  ,god is in his
 temple1 not upon these pinnacles4      
,psalm #d2 ,hab4 #b3bj4    ,it is true1 
,christ was once upon one of these2 but 

the devil set him  there1 with intent to
 dash him in pieces by a fall2 and yet  
even  then told him1 if he would venture
 to tumble down1 he should be kept  from
 dashing his foot against a stone4 ,to  
be there1 therefore1 was  one of        
,christ's temptations2 consequently one 
of ,satan's stratagems3  nor went he    
thither of his own accord1 for he knew  
that there was  danger2 he loved not to 
clamber pinnacles4    ,this should teach
 ,christians to be low and little in    
their own eyes1  and to forbear to      
intrude into airy and vain speculations1
 and to  take heed of being puffed up   
with a foul and empty mind4    ,,zeal4  
,the loaves or showbread in the temple  
were to have frankincense  strewed upon 
them as they stood upon the golden      
table1 which was a  type of the sweet   
perfumes of the sanctification of the   
,holy ,ghost4    ,they were to be set   
upon the pure table1 new and hot1 to    
show that  ,god delights in the company 
of new and warm believers4 ,i remember  

thee1 the kindness of thy youth2 when   
,israel was a child1 ,i loved  him4 ,men
 at first conversion are like to a cake 
well baked1 and new  taken from the     
oven2 they are warm1 and cast forth a   
very fragrant  scent1 especially when1  
as warm1 sweet increase is strewed upon 
them4    ,when the showbread was old and
 stale1 it was to be taken away1 and    
new and warm put in its place1 to show  
that ,god has but little  delight in the
 service of his own people1 when their  
duties grow  stale and mouldy4          
,therefore he removed his old1 stale1   
mouldy church  of the ,jews from before 
him1 and set in their room upon the     
golden  table the warm church of the    
,gentiles4    ,zeal without knowledge is
 like a mettled horse without eyes1 or  
like  a sword in a madman's hand2 and   
there is no knowledge where there is    
not the word4    ,,repentance4          
,repentance carries with it a divine    
rhetoric1 and persuades ,christ  to     
forgive a multitude of sins committed   

against him4    ,one difference between 
true and false repentance lieth in this3
 the  man who truly repents crieth out  
against his heart2 but the other1  as   
,eve1 against the serpent1 or something 
else4    ,there are abundance of        
dry-eyed ,christians in the world1 and  
abundance of dry-eyed duties too--duties
 that never were wet with  the tears of 
contrition and repentance4    ,take heed
 that a sin in thy life goes not        
unrepented of1 for that  will make a    
flaw in thine evidence1 a wound in thy  
conscience1 and a  breach in thy peace2 
and a hundred to one if at last it doth 
not  drive all the grace in thee into so
 dark a corner of thy heart1 that  thou 
shalt not be able1 for a time1 by all   
the torches that are  burning in the    
gospel1 to find it out to thy own       
comfort and  consolation4    ,as vices  
hang together1 and have the links of a  
chain1 dependence  one upon another1    
even so the graces of the ,spirit also  
are the  fruits of one another1 and have

 such dependence on each other that  the
 one cannot be without the other4    ,no
 faith1 no fear of ,god3 devil's faith1 
devil's fear2 saints'  faith1 saints'   
fear4              ,,xix4 ,,prayer4     
,,characteristics ,,of ,,prayer4        
,,what is prayer8 ,a sincere1 sensible1 
affectionate pouring out of the  soul to
 ,god1 through ,christ1 in the strength 
and assistance of the  ,spirit1 for such
 things as ,god hath promised4    ,the  
best prayers have often more groans than
 words4    ,alas1 how few there be in   
the world whose heart and mouth in      
prayer  shall go together4 ,dost thou1  
when thou askest for the ,spirit1 or    
faith1 or love to ,god1 to holiness1 to 
saints1 to the word1 and the  like1 ask 
for them with love to them1 desire of   
them1 hungering  after them8 ,oh1 this  
is a mighty thing2 and yet prayer is no 
more  before ,god than as it is seasoned
 with these blessed qualifications4     
,wherefore it is said1 that while men   
are praying1 ,god is searching  the     

heart to see what is the meaning of the 
,spirit1 or whether there  be the       
,spirit and his meaning in all that the 
mouth hath uttered1  either by words1   
sighs1 or groans1 because it is by him  
and through  his help only that any make
 prayers according to the will of ,god4 
,rom4 #h3bf1bg4    ,,preparation ,,for  
,,prater4    ,before you enter into     
prayer1 ask thy soul these questions3   
,to what  end1 ,o my soul1 art thou     
retired into this place8 ,art thou not  
come  to discourse the ,lord in prayer8 
,is he present1 will he hear thee8  ,is 
he merciful1 will he help thee8 ,is thy 
business slight1 is it not  concerning  
the welfare of thy soul8 ,what words    
wilt thou use to move  him to           
compassion8    ,,the ,,throne ,,of      
,,grace4    ,we know the throne of grace
 from other thrones by the glory that it
  always appears in when revealed to us 
of ,god3 its glory outshines  all2 there
 is no such glory to be seen anywhere   
else1 either in  heaven or earth4 ,but  

,i say1 this comes by the sight that    
,god gives1  not by any excellency that 
there is in my natural understanding1 as
  such3 my understanding and            
apprehension1 simply as natural1 are    
blind and foolish2 wherefore1 when ,i   
set to work in mine own spirit  and in  
the power of mine own abilities1 to     
reach to this throne of  grace and to   
perceive somewhat of the glory thereof1 
then am ,i dark1  rude1 foolish2 ,i see 
nothing1 and my heart grows flat1 dull1 
savorless1 lifeless1 and has no warmth  
in the duty2 but it mounts up  with     
wings like an eagle when the throne is  
truly apprehended4    ,this throne is   
the seat of grace and mercy1 and        
therefore it is  called the mercy-seat  
and throne of grace4 ,this throne turns 
all  into grace1 all into mercy2 this   
throne makes all things work  together  
for good4 ,it is said of ,saul's sons1  
#b ,sam4 #ba3aj-ad1 they  were not      
buried after they were hanged until     
water dropped upon them  out of heaven2 

and it may be said of us1 there is      
nothing suffered  to come near us until 
it is washed in that water that proceeds
 from  the throne of grace4 ,hence      
afflictions flow from grace2            
persecutions  flow from grace2 poverty1 
sickness1 yea1 death itself is now made 
ours by the grace of ,god through       
,christ4 ,psa4 #aai3fg-ga2 #a ,cor4     
#c3bb2 ,rev4 #c3ai2 ,heb4 #ab3e-g4 ,o   
grace1 ,o happy church of ,god6 all     
things that happen to thee are for      
,christ's sake turned into grace4  ,they
 talk of the philosopher's stone1 and   
how if one had it1 it  would turn all   
things into gold4 ,oh1 but can it turn  
all things into  grace--can it make all 
things work together for good8 ,no1 no2 
this  quality1 virtue1 excellency--what 
shall ,i call it8--nothing has in  it   
but the grace that reigns on the throne 
of grace1 the river that  proceeds from 
the throne of ,god4 ,this1 this turns   
majesty1  authority1 the highest        
authority1 glory1 wisdom1 faithfulness1 

justice1 and all into grace4 ,here is a 
throne2 may ,god let us see  it4 ,john  
had the honor to see it1 and to see the 
streams proceeding  from it4 ,o sweet   
sight1 ,o heart-cherishing sight6 ,he   
showed me a  pure river of water of life
 proceeding out of the throne of ,god4  
,indeed1 as was hinted before1 in the   
days of the reign of antichrist  there  
are not those visions of this throne1   
nor of the river that  proceedeth       
therefrom3 now he holdeth back the face 
of his throne1  and spreadeth a cloud   
upon it2 but the preserving1 saving     
benefits  thereof we have1 as also have 
all the saints in the most cloudy and   
dark day4 ,and since we can see so      
little1 we must believe the more2  and  
by believing1 give glory to ,god4 ,we   
must also labor for more  clear         
scripture knowledge of this throne1 for 
the holy word of ,god  is the           
perspective-glass by which we may1 and  
the magnifying-glass  that will cause us
 to behold with open face the glory of  

this ,lord4  #b ,cor4 #c3 #ah4    ,a    
throne was set in heaven1 and one sat on
 the throne2 that is1  ,god4 ,and this  
intimates his desirable rest for ever2  
for to sit is  to rest1 and ,christ is  
his rest for ever4 ,was it not therefore
 well  worth the seeing-yea1 if ,john   
had taken the pains to go up thither    
upon his hands and knees8    ,it is     
grace that chooses1 it is grace that    
calleth2 it is grace that  preserveth1  
and it is grace that brings to glory1   
even the grace  that1 like a river of   
water of life1 proceeds from this throne
 of  grace2 and hence it is1 that from  
first to last1 we must cry1  ,grace1    
grace1 unto it4    ,thus you see what a 
throne the ,christian is invited to3 it 
is a  throne of grace whereon doth sit  
the ,god of all grace2 it is a  throne  
of grace before which the ,lord ,jesus  
ministers continually  for us2 it is a  
throne of grace sprinkled with the      
blood1 and in the  midst of which is a  
,lamb as it had been slain2 it is a     

throne with a  rainbow round about it1  
which is the token of the everlasting   
covenant1 and out of which proceeds a   
river1 a pure river of water  of life1  
clear as crystal4    ,look then for     
these signs of the throne of grace1 all 
you that would  come to it1 and rest not
 until by some of them you know that you
 are  even come to it3 they are all to  
be seen1 have you but eyes2 and the     
sight of them is very delectable1 and   
has a natural tendency to  revive and   
quicken the soul4    ,,prayer ,,in ,,the
 ,,name ,,of ,,chuist4    ,he that      
thinks to find grace at ,god's hand1 and
 yet enters not into  the holiest by the
 blood of ,jesus1 will find himself     
mistaken1 and  will find a dead instead 
of a living way4 ,for if not any thing  
below  or besides blood can yield       
remission on ,god's part1 how should    
remission be received by us without our 
acting faith therein8 ,we are  justified
 by his blood1 through faith in his     
blood4    ,wherefore look1 when thou    

approachest the throne of grace1 that   
thou  give diligence to seek for the    
,lamb as it had been slain1 that is  in 
the midst of the throne of grace2 and   
then thou wilt have not  only a sign    
that thou presentest thy supplication to
 ,god where and  as thou shouldst1 but  
there also wilt thou meet with matter to
  break1 to soften1 to bend1 to bow1 and
 to make thy heart as thou  wouldst have
 it4 ,this sight shall dissolve and melt
 down the spirit  of that man that is   
upon his knees before the throne of     
grace for  mercy2 especially when he    
shall see1 that not his prayers1 nor his
  tears1 nor his wants1 but the blood of
 the ,lamb1 has prevailed with  a ,god  
of grace to give mercy and grace to an  
undeserving sinner4    ,god hath        
prepared a golden altar for thee to     
offer thy prayers and  tears upon1      
coming sinner4 ,a golden altar6 ,it is  
called a golden  altar1 to show what    
worth it is of in ,god's account2 for   
this  golden altar is ,jesus            

,christ--this altar sanctifies thy gift1
 and  makes thy sacrifice acceptable4   
,this altar then makes thy groans golden
 groans1 thy tears golden  tears1 and   
thy prayers golden prayers1 in the eye  
of that ,god thou  comest to4           
,,benefit ,,of ,,prayer4    ,pray often2
 for prayer is a shield for the soul1 a 
sacrifice to ,god1  and a scourge for   
,satan4    ,look yonder6 ,ah1 methinks  
mine eyes do see ,clouds edged with     
silver1  as fine garments be2 ,they look
 as if they saw the golden face ,that   
makes black clouds most beautiful with  
grace4    ,unto the saints' sweet       
incense of their prayer1 ,these smoky   
curled  clouds ,i do compare2 ,for as   
these clouds seem edged or laced with   
gold1 ,their prayers return with        
blessings manifold4    ,prayer is as the
 pitcher that fetcheth water from the   
brook1  therewith to water the herbs3   
break the pitcher and it will fetch no  
water1 and for want of water the garden 
withers4    ,the godly have found all   

other places1 the throne of grace       
excepted1  empty1 and places that hold  
no water4 ,they have been at mount      
,sinai  for help1 but could find nothing
 there but fire and darkness1 but       
thunder and lightning1 but earthquakes  
and trembling1 and a voice of  killing  
words4    ,they have sought for grace by
 their own performances2 but1 alas1     
they have yielded them nothing but wind 
and confusion2 not a  performance1 not a
 duty1 not an act in any part of        
religious  worship1 but they1 looking   
upon it in the glass of the ,lord1 do   
find  it specked and defective4    ,they
 have sought for grace by their         
resolutions1 their vows1 their          
purposes1 and the like2 but alas1 they  
all do as the other1 discover  that they
 have been very imperfectly managed1 and
 so are such as can  by no means help   
them to grace4    ,they have gone to    
their tears1 their sorrow1 and          
repentance1 if  perhaps they might find 
some help there2 but all has fled away  

like  the early dew4    ,they have gone 
to ,god as the great ,creator1 and have 
beheld how  wonderful his works have    
been2 they have looked to the heavens   
above1 to the earth beneath1 and to all 
their ornaments2 but neither  have      
these1 nor what is of them1 yielded     
grace to those that had  sensible want  
thereof4    ,they have gone with these  
pitchers to their fountains1 and have   
returned empty and ashamed2 they found  
no water1 no river of water  of life4   
,paul1 not finding it in the law1       
despairs to find it in any thing  else  
below1 but presently betakes himself to 
look for it where he  had not yet found 
it3 he looked for it by ,jesus ,christ1 
who is the  throne of grace1 where he   
found it1 and rejoiced in hope of the   
glory of ,god4    ,o1 when a ,god of    
grace is upon a throne of grace1 and a  
poor sinner  stands by and begs for     
grace1 and that in the name of a        
gracious  ,christ1 in and by the help of
 the ,spirit of grace1 can it be        

otherwise but such a sinner must obtain 
mercy and grace to help in  time of     
need8    ,all the sorrow that is mixed  
with our ,christianity proceeds1 as the 
procuring cause1 from ourselves1 not    
from the throne of grace2 for  that is  
the place where our tears are wiped     
away1 and also where we  hang up our    
crutches3 the streams thereof are pure  
and clear1 not  muddy nor frozen1 but   
warm and delightful1 and they make glad 
the  city of ,god4    ,,discouragements 
,,in ,,prayer4    ,there is an aptness  
in those that come to the throne of     
grace1 to  cast every degree of faith   
away that carries not in it             
self-evidence  of its own being and     
nature1 thinking that if it be faith1 it
 must  be known to the soul2 yea1 if it 
be faith1 it will do so and  so--even so
 as the highest degree of faith will do3
 when1 alas1  faith is sometimes in a   
calm1 sometimes up1 and sometimes down1 
and  sometimes in conflict with sin1    
death1 and the devil4 ,faith now has    

but little time to speak peace to the   
conscience2 it is now  struggling for   
life1 it is now fighting with angels1   
with infernals2  all it can do now1 is  
to cry1 groan1 sweat1 fear1 fight1 and  
gasp  for life4    ,i know what it is to
 go to ,god for mercy1 and stand all the
 while  through fear afar off1 being    
possessed with this1 ,will not ,god now 
smite me at once to the ground for my   
sins8 ,david thought something  so when 
he said as he prayed1 ,cast me not away 
from thy presence1  and take not thy    
,holy ,spirit from me4    ,none know1   
but those that have them1 what turns and
 returns1 what  coming on and going off1
 there are in the spirit of a man that  
indeed is awakened1 and that stands     
awakened before the glorious  ,majesty  
in prayer4    ,it is a great matter1 in 
praying to ,god1 not to go too far2 nor 
come  too short2 and a man is very apt  
to do one or the other4 ,the  ,pharisee 
went so far1 he was too bold2 he came   
into the temple  making1 such a ruffle  

with his own excellencies1 there was in 
his  thoughts no need of a ,mediator4   
,it has been the custom of praying men  
to keep their distance1 and  not to be  
rudely bold in rushing into the presence
 of the holy and  heavenly ,majesty1    
especially if they have been sensible of
 their own  vileness and sins1 as the   
prodigal1 the lepers1 and the poor      
publican were4 ,yea1 ,peter himself1    
when upon a time he perceived  more than
 commonly he did of the majesty of      
,jesus his ,lord1 what  doth he do8 ,he 
fell down at ,jesus' knees1 saying1     
,depart from me1  for ,i am a sinful    
man1 ,o ,lord4    ,oh1 when men see ,god
 and themselves1 it fills them with holy
 fear of  the greatness of the majesty  
of ,god1 as well as with love to1 and   
desire after1 his mercy4    ,what is    
poor sorry man1 poor dust and ashes1    
that he should crowd  up1 and go        
jostlingly into the presence of the     
great ,god8    ,for my part1 ,i find it 
one of the hardest things that ,i can   

put my  soul upon1 even to come to ,god1
 when warmly sensible that ,i am a      
sinner1 for a share in grace1 in mercy4 
,oh1 methinks it seems to me  as if the 
whole face of the heavens were set      
against me4 ,yea1 the  very thought of  
,god1 strikes me through2 ,i cannot bear
 up1 ,i cannot  stand before him2 ,i    
cannot but with a thousand tears say1   
,god be  merciful to me a sinner4 ,ezra 
#i3 #ae4    ,at another time1 when my   
heart is more hard and stupid1 and when 
his  terror doth not make me afraid1    
then ,i can come before him and ask     
mercy at his hand1 and scarce be        
sensible of sin or grace1 or that       
indeed ,i am before ,god4 ,but above    
all1 they are the rare times1 when  ,i  
can go to ,god as the publican1 sensible
 of his glorious majesty1  sensible of  
my misery1 and bear up1 and             
affectionately cry1 ,god be  merciful to
 me a sinner4    ,at certain times the  
most godly man in the world may be hard 
put to  it by the sin that dwelleth in  

him2 yea1 so hard put to it1 that  there
 can be no way to save himself from a   
fall1 but by imploring  heaven and the  
throne of grace for help4 ,this is      
called the  needy-time1 the time when   
the wayfaring man that knocked at       
,david's  door shall knock at ours2 or  
when we are got into the sieve into     
which ,satan did get ,peter2 or when    
those fists are about our ears  that    
were about ,paul's2 and when that thorn 
pricks us that ,paul said  was in his   
flesh4 ,but why1 or how comes it to     
pass1 that the godly  are so hard put to
 it at these times1 but because there is
 in  them--that is1 in their flesh--no  
good thing1 but consequently all        
aptness to close in with the devil and  
his suggestions1 to the  overthrow of   
the soul8    ,but now1 here we are      
presented with a throne of grace1 unto  
which1  as ,david says1 we must         
continually resort2 and that is the way 
to  ohtain relief and to find help in   
time of need4    ,,discouragements ,,to 

,,prayer ,,removed4    ,,query4 ,what   
would you have a poor creature do1 that 
cannot tell how  to pray8    ,,answer4  
,thou canst not1 thou complainest1 pray2
 canst thou see thy  misery8 ,hath ,god 
showed thee that thou art by nature     
under the curse  of his law8 ,if so1 do 
not mistake4 ,i know thou dost groan1   
and that  most bitterly2 ,i am persuaded
 thou canst scarcely be found doing any 
thing in thy calling4 ,but prayer breaks
 from thy heart4 ,have not thy  groans  
gone up to heaven from every corner of  
thy house8 ,i know it  is thus3 and so  
also doth thine own sorrowful heart     
witness thy  tears and thy forgetfulness
 of thy calling4 ,is not thy heart so   
full  of desires after the things of    
another world1 that many times thou     
dost even forget the things of this     
world8 ,prithee1 read this  scripture3  
,job #bc3 #ab4    ,,query4 ,yea1 but    
when ,i go in secret1 and intend to pour
 out my soul  before ,god1 ,i can scarce
 say any thing at all4    ,,answer4 ,ah1

 sweet soul1 it is not thy words that   
,god so much  regards1 that he will not 
mind thee except thou comest before him 
with some eloquent oration4 ,his eye is 
on the brokenness of thy  heart2 and    
that it is which makes the compassions  
of the ,lord run  over3 ,a broken and a 
contrite heart1 ,o ,god1 thou wilt not  
despise4    ,the stopping of thy        
words--may arise from overmuch trouble  
in thy  heart4 ,david was so troubled   
sometimes that he could not speak4 ,but 
this may comfort all such sorrowful     
hearts as thine1 that though  thou canst
 not through the anguish of thy spirit  
speak much1 yet the  ,holy ,spirit stirs
 up in thy heart groans and sighs so    
much the more  vehement4                
,,affectionate ,,confidence ,,in        
,,prayer4    ,god has given thee his    
,son's righteousness to justify thee2 he
 has  also1 because thou art a son1 sent
 forth the ,spirit of his ,son into  thy
 heart to satisfy thee1 and to help thee
 to cry unto him1 ,father1  ,father6    

,wilt thou not cry8 wilt thou not       
desire8 ,thy ,god has bidden  thee open 
thy mouth2 he has bid thee open it wide1
 and promised1  saying1 and ,i will fill
 it2 and wilt thou not desire8    ,oh1  
thou hast a license1 a leave1 a grant to
 desire2 wherefore1 be  not afraid to   
desire great mercies of the ,god of     
heaven4    ,,objection4 ,but ,i am an   
unworthy creature4    ,,answer4 ,that is
 true2 but ,god gives to no man for his 
worthiness1  nor rejects any for their  
sinfulness1 that come to him sensible of
  the want and worth of mercy for them4 
,besides1 the desires of a  righteous   
man1 and the desires or his ,god1 agree4
 ,god has a desire  to thee1 thou hast a
 desire to him4 ,god desires truth in   
the inward  parts and so dost thou with 
all thy heart4 ,god desires mercy1 and  
to  show it to the needy2 that is what  
thou also wantest1 and what thy  soul   
craves at his hand4    ,seek1 man2 ask1 
knock1 and do not be discouraged2 the   
,lord will  grant all thy desires4 ,thou

 sayest thou art unworthy to ask the    
greatest things1 things spiritual and   
heavenly3 well1 will carnal  things     
serve thee1 and answer the desires of   
thy heart8 ,canst thou  be content to be
 put off with a belly well filled and a 
back well  clothed8    ,oh1 better ,i   
never had been born4    ,see6 thou wilt 
not ask the best1 and yet canst not make
 shift  without them4    ,shift8 no2 no 
shift without them2 ,i am undone without
 them1 undone  for ever and ever1 sayest
 thou4    ,well then1 desire4    ,so ,i 
do1 sayest thou4    ,ah1 but desire with
 more strong desires2 desire with more  
large  desires2 desire spiritual gifts1 
covet them earnestly2 thou hast a       
license too to do so4 ,god bids thee do 
so1 for he hath said1 ,the  desire of   
the righteous shall be granted4         
,,god',s ,,method ,,of ,,answering      
,,prayer4    ,the desire of the         
righteous shall be granted4 ,but ,i find
 it not  so1 says one2 for though ,i    
have desired and desired a thousand     

times  upon my knees1 for something that
 ,i want1 yet ,i have not my desire2    
and indeed1 the consideration of this   
has made me question whether ,i  am one 
of those to whom the promise of granting
 desires is made4    ,,answer4 ,what are
 the things thou desirest2 are they     
lawful or  unlawful8 for a ,christian   
may desire unlawful things4    ,but we  
will suppose that the thing thou4       
desirest is good1 and that  thy heart   
may be right in asking1 as1 suppose thou
 desirest more  grace2 yet there are    
several things for thy instruction may  
be  applied to thy objection3 as1    #a4
 ,thou1 though thou desirest more of    
this1 mayest not yet be so  sensible of 
the worth of what thou askest1 as       
perhaps ,god will have  thee be before  
he granteth thy desire4    #b4 ,hast    
thou well improved what thou hast       
received already8    #c4 ,when ,god     
gives to his people the grant of their  
desires1 he doth  it so as may be best  
for our advantage3 as1    7#a47 ,just   

before a temptation comes2 then if it   
rains grace on thee  from heaven1 it may
 be most for thy advantage4 ,this is    
like ,god's  sending plenty in ,egypt   
just before the years of famine came4   
7#b47 ,christians1 even righteous men1  
are apt to lean too much to  their own  
doings2 and ,god1 to wean them from     
them1 ofttimes defers  to do1 what they 
by doing expect1 until in doing their   
spirits are  spent1 and they1 as to     
doing1 can do no longer4 ,when they that
 cried  for water1 had cried till their 
spirits failed1 and their tongue did    
cleave to the roof of their mouth for   
thirst1 then the ,lord did  hear1 and   
then the ,god of ,israel did give them  
their desire4 ,the  righteous would be  
too light in asking1 and would too much 
owrprize  their works1 if their ,god    
should not sometimes deal in this manner
  with them4    7#c47 ,it is also to the
 advantage of the righteous1 that they  
be kept  and led in that way which will 
best improve grace already received1    

and that is1 when they spin it out and  
use it to the utmost2 when  they do with
 it as the prophet did with that meal's 
meat that he ate  under the             
juniper-tree1 go in the strength of it  
forty days and  forty nights1 even to   
the mount of ,god4 ,or when they do as  
the  widow did--spend upon their handful
 of flour in the barrel1 and upon  that 
little oil in the cruse1 till ,god shall
 send more plenty4    ,a little true    
grace will go a great way1 yea1 and do  
more wonders  than we are aware of4 ,if 
we have but grace enough to keep us     
groaning after ,god1 it is not all the  
world that can destroy us4    #d4       
,perhaps thou mayest be mistaken4 ,the  
grace thou prayest for may  in a great  
measure be come unto thee4    ,thou hast
 been desiring of ,god1 thou sayest1    
more grace1 but hast it  not4    ,but   
how1 if while thou lookest for it to    
come to thee at one door1  it come to   
thee at another8 ,and that we may a     
little inquire into  the truth of this1 

let us a little1 consider what are the  
effects of  grace in its coming to the  
soul1 and then see if it has not been   
coming unto thee almost ever since thou 
hast set upon this fresh  desire after  
it4    7#a47 ,grace1 in the general     
effect of it1 is to mend the soul1 and  
to  make it better disposed4 ,hence1    
when it comes1 it brings convincing     
light along with it1 by which a man sees
 more of his baseness than  at other    
times4 ,if1 then1 thou seest thyself    
more vile than  formerly1 grace by its  
coming to thee has done this for thee4  
7#b47 ,grace1 when it comes1 breaks and 
crumbles the heart in the  sense and    
sight of its own vileness4 ,a man stands
 amazed and  confounded in himself2     
breaks and falls down on his face before
 ,god2  is ashamed to lift up so much as
 his face to ,god1 at the sight and     
apprehension of how wicked he is4       
7#c47 ,grace1 when it comes1 shows to a 
man more of the holiness and  patience  
of ,god2 his holiness to make us wonder 

at his patience1 and  his patience to   
make us wonder at his mercy1 that yet1  
even yet1  such a vile one as ,i am     
should be admitted to breathe in the    
land of  the living1 yea more1 suffered 
to come to the throne of grace4    7#d47
 ,grace is of a heart-humbling nature2  
it will make a man account  himself the 
most unworthy of any thing1 of all      
saints4 ,it will make  a man put all    
others before him1 and be glad too if he
 may be one  beloved1 though least      
beloved because most unworthy4 ,it will 
make  him with gladness accept of the   
lowest room1 as counting all saints     
more worthy of exaltation than himself4 
7#e47 ,grace will make a man prize other
 men's graces and gracious  actions     
above his own2 as he thinks every man's 
candle burns  brighter than his1 every  
man improves grace better than he1 every
  good man does more sincerely his duty 
than he4 ,and if these be not  some of  
the effects of the renewings of grace1  
,i will confess ,i have  taken my mark  

amiss4    7#f47 ,renewings of grace     
beget renewed self-bemoanings1          
self-condemnations1 self-abhorrences4   
,and say thou prayest for communion     
with1 and the presence of ,god4  ,god   
can have communion with thee and grant  
thee his presence1 and  all this shall1 
instead of comforting thee at present1  
more confound  thee and make thee see   
thy wickedness4    ,some people think   
they never have the presence and        
renewings of  ,god's grace upon them1   
but when they are comforted and when    
they are  cheered up--when1 alas1 ,god  
may be richly with them1 while they cry 
out by these visions1 ,my sorrows are   
multiplied2 or1 ,because ,i have  seen  
,god1 ,i shall die4    ,and tell me now1
 all these things considered1 has not   
grace1 even  the grace of ,god which    
thou hast so much desired1 been coming  
to  thee and working in thee in all     
these hidden methods8 ,thus therefore   
thy desire is accomplishing1 and when it
 is accomplished will be  sweet to thy  

soul4    #e4 ,but we will follow thee a 
little in the way of thy heart4 ,thou   
sayest thou desirest1 and desirest      
grace1 yea1 hast been a thousand  times 
upon thy knees before ,god for more     
grace1 and yet thou canst  not attain4  
,i answer1 7#a47 ,it maybe1 the grace   
which thou prayest for is worth  thy    
being upon thy knees yet a thousand     
times more4 ,we find that  usually they 
that go to king's courts for preferment1
 are there at  great expenses1 yea1 and 
wait a great while1 even until they have
  spent their whole estates1 and worn   
out their patience too4    ,yet they at 
last prevail1 and the thing desired     
comes2 yea1 and when  it is come1 it    
sets them up anew and makes them better 
men1 though  they did spend all they had
 to obtain it1 than ever they were      
before4 ,wait1 therefore1 wait1 ,i say1 
on the ,lord2 bid thy soul  cheer up and
 wait4 ,blessed are all they that wait  
for him4    7#b47 ,thou must consider   
that great grace is reserved for great  

service4 ,thou desirest abundance of    
grace2 thon doest well1 and thou  shalt 
have what shall qualify thee for the    
service that ,god has for  thee to do   
for him1 and for his name in the world4 
,the apostles  themselves were to stay  
for great grace until the time their    
work  was come4 ,i will not allot thy   
service1 but assure thyself1 when thy   
desire cometh1 thou wilt have occasion  
for it--new work1 new trials1  new      
sufferings1 or something that will call 
for the power and virtue  of all the    
grace thou shalt have to keep thy spirit
 even1 and thy  feet from slipping1     
while thou art exercised in new         
engagements4    ,assure thyself thy ,god
 will not give thee straw1 but he will  
expect  brick4 ,for unto whomsoever much
 is given1 of him much shall be         
required4 ,wherefore1 as thou art busy  
in desiring more grace1 be  also        
desirous that wisdom to manage it with  
faithfulness may also be  granted unto  
thee4    ,thou wilt say1 ,grace1 if ,i  

had it1 will do all this for me4    ,it 
will1 and will not4 ,it will1 if thou   
watch and be sober2 it will  not1 if    
thou be foolish and remiss4 ,men of     
great grace may grow  consumptive in    
grace1 and idleness may turn him that   
wears a plush  jacket into rags4 ,david 
was once a man of great grace1 but his  
sin  made the grace which he had so to  
shrink up and dwindle away as to  make  
him cry out1 ,o take not thy ,spirit    
utterly from me6    7#c47 ,or1 perhaps  
,god withholds what thou wouldst have1  
that it may  be the more prized by thee 
when it comes4 ,hope deferred maketh the
  heart sick2 but when the desire       
cometh1 it is a tree of life4    7#d47  
,lastly4 ,but dost thou think that thy  
more grace will exempt  thee from       
temptations8 ,alas1 the more grace1 the 
greater trials4  ,thou must be1 for all 
that1 like the ship of which thou       
readest3  sometimes high1 sometimes low2
 sometimes steady1 sometimes            
staggering2 and sometimes even at the   

end of thy very wits3 ,for so  he brings
 us to our desired haven4    ,yet grace 
is the gold and preciousness of the     
righteous man3 yea1  and herein appears 
the uprightness of his soul1 in that1   
though all  these things attend the     
grace of ,god in him1 yet he chooseth   
grace  here above all1 for that it makes
 him the more like ,god and his         
,christ1 and for that it seasons his    
heart best to his own content2  and also
 for that it capacitates him to glorify 
,god in the world4    ,,relief ,,in     
,,prayer4    ,if from a sense of thy    
vileness thou do pour out thy heart to  
,god1  desiring to be saved from the    
guilt and cleansed from the filth with  
all thy heart1 fear not2 thy vileness   
will not cause the ,lord to  stop his   
ear from hearing thee4 ,the value of the
 blood of ,christ1  which is sprinkled  
upon the mercy-seat1 stops the course of
 justice1  and opens a floodgate for the
 mercy of the ,lord to be extended unto 
thee4    ,,faith ,,in ,,prayer4    ,of  

old1 beggars did use to carry their     
bowls in their laps when they  went to a
 door for alms2 consequently1 if their  
bowls were but  little1 they ofttimes   
came off with a loss1 though the charity
 of  the giver was large4 ,art thou a   
beggar1 a beggar at ,god's door8 be     
sure thou gettest a great bowl1 for as  
thy bowl is1 so will be thy  mess4      
,according to thy faith be it unto thee4
    ,,wrestling ,,prayer4    ,a         
wrestling spirit of prayer is a         
demonstration of an ,israel of ,god2    
this ,jacob had1 this he made use of1   
and by this he obtained the  name of    
,israel4 ,a wrestling spirit of prayer  
in straits1  difficulties1 and          
distresses--a wrestling spirit of prayer
 when  alone1 in private1 in the night1 
when no eye seeth but ,god's1 then  to  
be at it1 then to lay hold of ,god1 then
 to wrestle1 to hold fast1  and not to  
give over until the blessing is         
obtained1 is a sign of  one that is an  
,israel of ,god4    ,as this word1 ,,let

 ,israel hope in the ,lord1 is sometimes
 equivalent  to a command1 so it is     
expressed sometimes also to show a      
grant1  leave1 or license to do a thing1
 such are these that follow3 ,let us    
come boldly to the throne of grace2 let 
us draw near with a true  heart2 let us 
hold fast the profession of our faith   
without  wavering4 ,understand the word 
thus1 and it shows you how muddy how    
dark those of ,israel are1 and how      
little they are acquainted with  the    
goodness of their ,god who stand        
shrinking at his door like  beggars1 and
 dare not in a godly sort be bold with  
his mercy4  ,wherefore standest thou    
thus with thy ifs and thy ,o-buts1 ,o   
thou  poor benighted ,israelite8        
,wherefore puttest thou thy hand in thy 
bosom1 as being afraid to touch the hem 
of the garment of thy ,lord8    ,,the   
,,publican',s ,,prayer4    ,god be      
merciful to me a sinner4 ,herein the    
publican showeth  wonderful wisdom4     
,for1    #a4 ,by this he thrusts himself

 under the shelter and blessing of the  
promise2 and ,i am sure it is better and
 safer to do so than to rely  upon the  
best excellencies that this world can   
afford4 ,hosea #ad3  #a-d4    #b4 ,he   
takes the ready way to please ,god2 for 
,god takes more delight  in showing     
mercy than in any thing that we can do4 
,hosea #f3f2 ,matt4  #i3ac2 #ab3g4 ,yea1
 and that also is the man that pleaseth 
him1 even he  that hopes in his mercy4  
,psalm #adg3 #a4 ,the publican1         
therefore1  whatever the ,pharisee might
 think1 stood all this while upon sure  
ground1 and had by far the start of him 
for heaven4 ,alas1 his dull  head could 
look no further than to the conceit of  
the pitiful beauty  and splendor of his 
own righteousness2 nor durst he leave   
that to  trust wholly to the mercy of   
,god4 ,but the publican comes out1      
though  in his sins1 yet like an        
awakened1 enlightened1 resolved man2 and
  first abases himself1 then gives ,god 
the glory of his justice1 and  after    

that the glory of his mercy1 by saying1 
,god be merciful to me  a sinner4 ,and  
thus in the ears of the angels he did   
ring the  changes of heaven4 ,and1      
#c4 ,the publican1 in his thus putting  
himself upon mercy1 showeth  that in his
 opinion there is more virtue in mercy  
to save1 than  there is in the law and  
sin to condemn4 ,and although this is   
not  counted a great matter to do1 while
 men are far from the law and  while    
their conscience is asleep within them1 
yet when the law comes  near and        
conscience is awake1 whoso tries it will
 find it a  laborious work4 ,cain could 
not do thus for his heart1 no1 nor soul2
  nor ,judas neither4 ,this is another  
kind of thing than most men think  it to
 be1 or shall find it whenever they     
shall behold ,god's angry  face1 and    
when they shall hear the words of his   
law4    ,however1 our publican did it1  
and ventured his body1 soul1 and  future
 condition for ever in this bottom1 with
 other the saints and  servants of ,god2

 leaving the world to swim over the sea 
of ,god's  wrath1 if they1 will1 in     
their weak and simple vessels of        
bulrushes1  or to lean upon their       
cobweb-hold1 when he shall arise to the 
judgment that he hath appointed4    ,he 
would not lift up his eyes to heaven4   
,why8 ,surely because shame  had covered
 his face4 ,shame will make a man blush 
and hang his head  like a bulrush4      
,shame for sin is a virtue1 a comely    
thing1 yea1 a  beauty-spot in the face  
of a sinner that cometh to ,god for     
mercy4    ,oh1 to stand1 or sit1 or lie1
 or kneel1 or walk before ,god in       
prayer1 with blushing cheeks for sin1 is
 one of the excellent sights  that can  
be seen in the world4    ,,posture ,,in 
,,prayer4    ,there is no stinted order 
presented for our behaving ourselves in 
prayer1 whether kneeling1 or standing1  
or walking1 or lying1 or  sitting2 for  
all these postures have been used by the
 godly4 ,paul  kneeled down and prayed2 
,abraham and the publican stood and     

prayed2  ,david prayed as he walked2    
,abraham prayed lying upon his face2    
,moses  prayed sitting4 ,and indeed     
prayer1 effectual fervent prayer1 may be
  and often is made unto ,god under all 
these circumstances4 ,for ,god  has not 
tied us up to any of them2 and he that  
shall tie himself or  his people to any 
of these1 doeth more than he hath       
warrant for from  ,god4 ,and let such   
take care of innovating2 it is the next 
way to  make men hypocrites and         
dissemblers in those duties in which    
they  should be sincere4 ,acts #bj3cf2  
#b ,sam4 #ae3cj1 #ca2 ,gen4 #ag3ag1 #ah2
  ,exod4 #ag3ab4    ,,closet-,,iniquity4
    ,let those that name the name of    
,christ depart from the iniquity of     
their closet--when men have a closet to 
talk of1 not to pray in2 a  closet to   
look upon1 not to bow before ,god in1 a 
closet to lay up  gold in1 but not to   
mourn in for the sins of the life2 a    
closet  that1 could it speak1 would say1
 ,my owner is seldom here upon his      

knees before the ,god of heaven1 seldom 
here humbling himself for the  iniquity 
of his heart1 or to thank ,god for the  
mercies of his life4    ,then also a man
 is guilty of closet-iniquity when1     
though he doth  not utterly live in the 
neglect of duty1 he formally1 carnally1 
and  without reverence and godly fear1  
performs it4 ,also when he asketh  ,god 
for that which he cannot abide should be
 given him2 or when he  prayeth for that
 in his closet1 that he cannot abide in 
his house  nor his life4    ,it is a    
great thing to be a closet-,christian1  
and to hold it2 he  must be a           
close-,christian that will be a         
closet-,christian4 ,when ,i  say a      
close-,christian1 ,i mean one that is so
 in the hidden part1 and  that also     
walks with ,god4 ,many there be that    
profess ,christ1 who do  oftener        
frequent the coffee-house than their    
closet2 and that sooner  in a morning   
run to make bargains1 than to pray unto 
,god and begin  the day with him4 ,but  

for thee1 who professest the name of    
,christ1  do thou depart from all these 
things2 do thou make conscience of      
reading and practising2 do thou follow  
after righteousness2 do thou  make      
conscience of beginning the day with    
,god4 ,for he that begins it  not with  
him1 will hardly end it with him2 he    
that runs from ,god in  the morning1    
will hardly find him at the close of the
 day2 nor will  he that begins with the 
world and the vanities thereof in the   
first  place1 be very capable of walking
 with ,god all the day after4 ,it is  he
 that finds ,god in his closet1 that    
will carry the savor of him  into his   
house1 his shop1 and his more open      
conversation4 ,when ,moses  had been    
with ,god in the mount his face shone1  
he brought of that  glory into the camp4
 ,exod4 #cd4    ,,formal ,,prayer4      
,thy kingdom come2 thy will be done4    
,wouldst thou have the kingdom  of ,god 
come indeed1 and also his will to be    
done in earth as it is  in heaven8 ,nay1

 notwithstanding thou sayest1 ,thy      
kingdom come1 yet  would it not make    
thee ready to run mad1 to hear the      
trumpet sound1  to see the dead arise1  
and thyself just now to go and appeal   
before  ,god1 to reckon for all the     
deeds thou hast done in the body8 ,nay1 
are not the very thoughts of it         
altogether displeasing to thee8    ,and 
if ,god's will should be done on earth  
as it is in heaven1 must  it not be thy 
ruin8 ,there is never a rebel against   
,god in heaven2  and if he should so    
deal on earth1 must he not whirl thee   
down to  hell8 ,and so of the rest of   
the petitions4    ,ah1 how sadly would  
even these men look1 and with what      
terror would  they walk up and down the 
world1 if they did but know the lying   
and  blaspheming that proceedeth out of 
their mouth1 even in their most         
pretended sanctity6    ,,the            
,,prayerless4    ,i tell thee who never 
prayest1 the ravens shall rise up in    
judgment  against thee2 for they will1  

according to their kind1 make signs and 
a noise for something to refresh them   
when they want it2 but thou  hast not   
the heart to ask for heaven1 though thou
 must eternally  perish in hell if thou 
hast it not4              ,,xx4 ,,false 
,,profession4            ,as there are  
trees and herbs that are wholly right   
and noble1 fit  indeed for the vineyard1
 so there are also their semblance1 but 
wild2 not right1 but ignoble4 ,there is 
the grape1 and the wild  grape2 the     
vine1 and the wild vine2 the rose1 and  
the canker-rose2  flowers1 and wild     
flowers2 the apple1 and the wild apple1 
which we  call the crab4 ,now1 fruit    
from these wild things1 however they may
  please the children to play with1 yet 
the prudent and grave count  them of    
little or no value4 ,there are also in  
the world a generation  of professors   
that1 notwithstanding their profession1 
are wild by  nature2 yea1 such as were  
never cut out or off from the wild      
olive-tree1 nor ever yet planted into   

the good olive-tree4 ,now these  can    
bring forth nothing but wild            
olive-berries2 they cannot bring  forth 
fruit unto ,god4 ,such are all those    
that have lightly taken up  a           
profession1 and crept into the vineyard 
without a new birth and  the blessing of
 regeneration4    ,the porch ,footnote3 
,this passage is from ,the ,house of the
 ,forest  of ,lebanon1 which ,bunyan    
regarded as a type of the church in her 
persecuted state4 is but the entrance of
 the house1 whither many go  that yet   
step not into the house1 but make their 
retreat from  thence2 but it is because 
they are non-residents3 they only come  
to  see2 or else1 if they pretended     
more1 it was not from the heart4  ,they 
went out from us1 said ,john1 but they  
were not of us2 for if  they had been of
 us1 they would no doubt have continued 
with us2 but  they went out that it     
might be made manifest that they were   
not all  of us4    ,and forasmuch as    
this porch was fifty cubits long1 men   

may take many  a step straightforward   
therein1 and be but in the porch yet2   
even as  we have seen men go as one     
would think till they are out of view1  
in  the porch of this church in the     
wilderness2 but presently you have  them
 without the door again4    ,true1 this 
porch was made of pillars2 and so to    
every one1 at first  entrance1 it seemed
 the power of the place4 ,the church in 
the  wilderness also is so builded1 that
 men may see that it is ordained  for   
defence4 ,men also1 at their first offer
 to step over the  threshold there1 with
 mouth profess that they will dwell as  
soldiers  there4 ,but words are but     
wind3 when they see the storm coming1   
they  will take care to shift for       
themselves4 ,this house or church in the
  wilderness must see to itself for all 
them4    ,the church also in the        
wilderness1 even in her porch or first  
entrance into it1 is full of            
pillars--apostles1 prophets1 and        
martyrs of ,jesus4 ,there also hang up  

the shields that the old  warriors have 
used1 and there are plastered upon the  
walls the brave  achievements which they
 have done4 ,there also are such        
encouragements there for those that     
stand1 that one would think none  that  
came thither with pretence to serve     
there1 would for very shame  attempt to 
go back again2 and yet not to their     
credit be it spoken1  they will forsake 
the place without blushing1 yea1 and    
plead for  this their so doing4         
,there is the wilfully ignorant         
professor1 or he that is afraid to  know
 more for fear of the cross4 ,he is for 
picking and choosing of  truth1 and     
loveth not to hazard his all for that   
worthy name by  which he would be       
called4 ,when he is at any time overset 
by  arguments or awakenings of          
conscience1 he uses to heal all by1 ,i  
was not brought up in this faith2 as if 
it were unlawful for  ,christians to    
know more than hath been taught them at 
first  conversion4 ,there are many      

scriptures that lie against this man1 as
  the mouths of great guns4    ,there is
 another professor2 and he is for ,god  
and for ,baal too3 he  can be any thing 
for any company2 he can throw stones    
with both  hands2 his religion alters as
 fast as his company2 he is a frog of   
,egypt1 and can live in the water and   
out of the water2 he can live  in       
religious company1 and again as well    
out4 ,nothing that is  disorderly comes 
amiss to him2 he can hold with the hare 
and run  with the hound2 he carries fire
 in one hand and water in the other2  he
 is a very1 any thing but what he should
 be4 ,this is also one of  the many that
 will seek to enter in1 and will not be 
able4    ,christian and ,hopeful1 after 
their headstrong manner1 7said ,mr4     
,by-ends17 conclude that it is their    
duty to rush on their journey  all      
weathers2 and ,i am for waiting for wind
 and tide4 ,they are for  hazarding all 
for ,god at a clap2 and ,i am for taking
 all advantages  to secure my life and  

estate4 ,they are for holding their     
notions1  though all other men be       
against them2 but ,i am for religion in 
what  and so far as the times and any   
safety will bear it4 ,they are for      
religion when in rags and contempt2 but 
,i am for him when he walks  in golden  
slippers1 in the sunshine1 and with     
applause4    ,then ,i saw in my dream   
that ,christian and ,hopeful forsook    
him1 and  kept their distance before    
him2 but one of them looking back1 saw  
three men following ,mr4 ,by-ends2 and  
behold1 as they came up with  him he    
made them a very low congee1 and they   
also gave him a  compliment4 ,the men's 
names were1 ,mr4 ,hold-the-world1 ,mr1  
,money-love1 and ,mr4 ,save-all2 men    
that ,mr4 ,by-ends had formerly been    
acquainted with1 for in their minority  
they were schoolfellows1 and  were      
taught by one ,mr4 ,gripe-man1 a        
schoolmaster in ,love-gain1 which  is a 
market-town in the county of ,coveting1 
in the ,north4 ,this  schoolmaster      

taught them the art of getting1 either  
by violence1  cozenage1 flattery1 lying1
 or by putting on a guise of religion2  
and  these four gentlemen had attained  
much of the art of their master1  so    
that they could each of them have kept  
such a school themselves4    ,the       
,interpreter takes them out into his    
garden1 and had them to a  tree whose   
inside was all rotten and gone1 and yet 
it grew and had  leaves4 ,then said     
,mercy1 ,what means this8 ,this tree1   
said he1  whose outside is fair and     
whose inside is rotten1 is it which may 
be compared to them that are in the     
garden of ,god1 who with their  mouths  
speak high in behalf of ,god1 but in    
deed will do nothing for  him2 whose    
leaves are fair1 but their heart good   
for nothing but to  be tinder for the   
devil's tinder-box4    ,this is the     
reason of that evil-favoredness that you
 see attending  some men's lives and    
professions2 they have been corrupted1  
as ,adam  was1 either by evil words or  

bad examples1 even till the very face   
of their lives and professions are      
disfigured as with the pox or  canker4  
,as the bramble said to the rest of the 
trees1 so saith ,christ to  feigned     
thanksgivers1 who pretend to give thanks
 for liberty1 but  rather use their     
liberty as an occasion for the flesh3   
,if in truth  ye anoint me king over    
you1 then come and put your trust under 
my  shadow2 submit to my law1 and be    
governed by my testament4               
,,hypocrisy4    ,hypocrisy is one of the
 most abominable of iniquities4 ,it is a
 sin  that dares it with ,god4 ,it is a 
sin that saith ,god is ignorant1 or     
that he delighteth in iniquity4 ,it is a
 sin that flattereth1 that  dissembleth1
 that offereth to hold ,god1 as it were1
 fair in hand1  about that which is     
neither purposed nor intended4 ,it is   
also a sin  that puts a man upon        
studying and contriving to beguile and  
deceive  his neighbor as to the bent and
 intent of the heart1 and also as to    

the cause and end of actions4 ,it is a  
sin that persuadeth a man to  make a    
show of civility1 morality1 or religion1
 as a cloak1 a  pretence1 a guise to    
deceive withal4 ,it will make a man     
preach for a  place and praise1 rather  
than to glorify ,god and save souls2 it 
will  put a man upon talking1 that he   
may be commended2 it will make a  man1  
when he is at prayer in his closet1     
strive to be heard without  door2 it    
will make a man ask for that he desireth
 not1 and show zeal  in duties when his 
heart is as cold1 as senseless1 and as  
much  without savor as a clod2 it will  
make a man pray to be seen and  heard of
 men1 rather than to be heard of ,god2  
it will make a man  strive to weep when 
he repenteth not1 and to pretend much   
friendship  when he doth not love2 it   
will make a man pretend to experience   
and  sanctification when he has none1   
and to faith and sincerity when he      
knows not what they are4 ,there is      
opposed to this sin1 simplicity1        

innocence1 and godly sincerity1 without 
which three graces thou wilt  be a      
hypocrite4 ,believe that a hypocrite1   
with the cunning and  shrouds for his   
hypocrisy1 can go unseen no further than
 the grave2  nor can he longer flatter  
himself with thoughts of life4    ,a    
hypocrite and a false professor may go a
 great way2 they may pass  through the  
first and second watch1 to wit1 may be  
approved by  ,christians and churches2  
but what will they do when they come at 
the  iron gate that leadeth into the    
city8    ,as ,luther says1 ,in the name 
of ,god begins all mischief4 ,for       
hypocrites have no other way to bring   
their evils to maturity1 but  by using  
and mixing the name of ,god and religion
 therewith4 ,thus  they become whited   
walls2 for by this white1 the white of  
religion1  the dirt of their actions is 
hid4    ,religion to most men is but a  
by-business1 with which they use to     
fill up spare hours2 or as a            
stalking-horse1 which is used to catch  

the game4    ,the ,pharisees did carry  
the bell and wear the garland for       
religion4    ,a fawning dog and a wolf  
in sheep's clothing2 they differ a      
little  in outward appearance1 but they 
can both agree to worry ,christ's       
lambs4    ,,christ',s ,,love ,,abused4  
,take heed of abusing this love of      
,christ1 ,eph4 #c3 #ah1 #ai4 ,this      
exhortation seems needless2 for love is 
such a thing as one would  think none   
could find in their hearts to abuse4    
,but for all that1 ,i  am of opinion    
that there is nothing that is more      
abused among  professors at this day1   
than is this love of ,god4 ,and what can
 such  a one say for himself in the     
judgment1 that shall be charged with    
the abuse of love8 ,christians1 deny    
yourselves1 deny your lusts1  deny the  
vanities of this present life1 devote   
yourselves to ,god1  become lovers of   
,god1 lovers of his ways1 and a people  
zealous of  good works2 then shall you  
show to one another and to all men that 

you have not received the grace of ,god 
in vain4 ,and what a thing  will it be  
to be turned off at last1 as one that   
abused the love of  ,christ2 as one that
 presumed upon his lusts1 this world1   
and all  manner of naughtiness1 because 
the love of ,christ to pardon sins was  
so great6 ,what an unthinking1 what a   
disingenuous one wilt thou be  counted  
at that day2 yea1 thou wilt be found to 
be the man that made  a prey of love1   
that made a stalk ing-horse of love1    
that made of  love a slave to sin1 the  
devil1 and the world2 and will not that 
be  had8    ,,objection4 ,if it be so1  
then men need not care what they do2    
they  may live in sin1 seeing ,christ   
hath made satisfaction4    ,,answer4 ,if
 ,i were to point out one under the     
power of the devil1  going hastily to   
hell1 ,i would look no further for such 
a man than  to him that would make such 
a use as this of the grace of ,god4     
,what1  because ,christ is a ,saviour1  
thou wilt be a sinner2 because his      

grace abounds1 therefore thou wilt      
abound in sin6 ,o wicked wretch1  let me
 tell thee before ,i leave thee1 as     
,god's covenant with  ,christ for his   
children stands sure1 immutable1 and    
unchangeable1 so  also hath ,god taken  
such a course with thee1 that unless he 
deny  himself1 it is impossible that    
thou shouldst go to heaven1 dying in    
that condition4 ,they tempted ,god1     
proved him1 and turned his grace  into  
lasciviousness2 so he sware in his      
wrath1 ,they shall not enter  into my   
rest4 ,no1 saith ,god1 if ,christ and   
heaven will not satisfy  them1 hell must
 devour them4 ,god hath more places than
 one in which  to put sinners3 if they  
do not like heaven1 hell must be their  
residence2 if they do not love ,christ1 
they must dwell for ever with  devils4  
,,perversion ,,of ,,the ,,truth4 ,let   
those that name the name of ,christ     
depart from the iniquity that cleaveth  
to opinions4 ,this is a sad  age for    
that3 let opinions in themselves be     

never so good1 never so  necessary1     
never so innocent1 yet there are spirits
 in the world  that will entail iniquity
 to them1 and will make the vanity so   
inseparable from the opinion1 that it is
 almost impossible with some  to take in
 the opinion and leave out the iniquity 
that by craft and  subtlety of ,satan is
 joined thereto4 ,nor is this a thing   
new and of  yesterday2 it has been thus 
almost in all ages of the church of     
,god1  and that not only in things small
 and indifferent1 but in things         
fundamental and most substantial4 ,i    
need instance in none other for  proof  
hereof1 but the doctrine of faith and   
holiness4 ,if faith be  preached as that
 which is absolutely necessary to       
justification1  then faith fantastical1 
and looseness and remissness in life1   
with  some1 are joined therewith4 ,if   
holiness of life be preached as         
necessary to salvation1 then faith is   
undervalued and set below its  place1   
and works1 as to justification with     

,god1 set up and made  copartners with  
,christ's merits in the remission of    
sins4 ,thus  iniquity joineth itself    
with the greatest and most substantial  
truths of the gospel2 and it is hard to 
receive any good opinion  whatever1 but 
iniquity will join itself thereto4    ,a
 ,,latitudinarian4    ,what you say     
about doubtful opinions1 alterable      
modes1 rites1 and  circumstances in     
religion1 ,i know none so wedded thereto
 as  yourselves1 ,for you thus argue3   
,whatsoever of such are commended by    
the custom of the place we live in1 or  
commanded by superiors1 or  made by any 
circumstance convenient to be done1 our 
,christian  liberty consists in         
this-that we have leave to do them4     
,so that1 do but call them things       
indifferent1 things that are the        
customs of the place we live in1 or made
 by any circumstance  convenient1 and a 
man may not doubt but he hath leave to  
do them1  let him live at ,rome or      
,constantinople1 or amidst the greatest 

corruption of worship and government4   
,there are therefore1  doubtless1 a     
third sort of fundamentals1 by which you
 can wrestle  with conviction of        
conscience1 and stifle it-by which you  
can suit  yourself for every fashion1   
mode1 and way of religion4 ,here you may
  hop from ,presbyterianism to a        
prelatical mode2 and if time and  chance
 should serve you1 backwards and        
forwards again3 yea1 here you  can make 
use of several consciences1 one for this
 way now1 another  for that anon2 now   
putting out the light of this by a      
sophistical1  delusive argument4 then   
putting out the other by an argument    
that  best suits the time4 ,yea1 how oft
 is the candle of the wicked put  out by
 such glorious learning as this4 ,nay1  
,i doubt not but a man  of your         
principles1 were he put upon it1 would  
not stick to count  those you call      
gospel-positive precepts1    ,footnote3 
,latitudinarian4 ,this term is used of a
 remarkable  class of divines1 who      

flourished in ,england about the middle 
and  towards the close of the           
seventeenth century4 ,coleridge1 in his 
,literary ,remains1 says that they were 
generally ,platonists1 and all  of them 
admirers of ,grotius4 ,they fell into   
the mistake of finding  in the ,greek   
philosophy many anticipations of the    
,christian faith1  which in fact were   
but its echoes4 ,the inference is as    
perilous as  inevitable1 namely1 that   
even the mysteries of ,christianity     
needed  no revelation1 having been      
previously discovered and set forth by  
unaided reason4 ,they are thus          
characterized by ,dr4 ,wm4 ,r4          
,williams1  7,miscellanies1 p4 #aif37   
,against infidelity and popery they did 
good service in the cause of truth4     
,their dread of enthusiasm made  them   
frigid1 and their mastery of the ancient
 philosophy made them  profound4 ,their 
doctrines were generally ,arrninian4    
,their notions of  church power were    
less rigid than those of the rival      

party1 and they  were also more tolerant
 of difference in opinion4 ,but in their
  preaching they laid the whole stress1 
well-nigh1 of their efforts  upon       
morals1 to the neglect of doctrine2 and 
in their theology1 they  attributed to  
human reason a strength and authority   
which gradually  opened the way to the  
invasion of the gravest heresies4 ,of   
generally  purer character than their   
opponents1 they were also abler         
preachers4 ,but while valuable as moral 
treatises1 their sermons were  most     
defective2 for the peculiar doctrines   
and spirit of the gospel  were          
evaporated4 ,it cannot be doubted1 that 
a class which included  such men as     
,henry ,more1 ,cudworth1 ,tillotson1 and
 ,burnet1 hardly  deserves the wholesale
 reprobation hurled upon it by ,bunyan4 
,that  some of them carried their       
,,liberalism to a dangerous extreme1 and
  that all of them allowed too great    
latitude of sentiment in  theology1 and1
 by their philosophical speculations1   

obscured the  simple glory of the       
gospel1 is indeed true2 but some who    
bore this  name were men of             
unquestionable piety1 as well as of     
eminent genius  and scholarship4    ,it 
is interesting to contrast the mixture  
of divine truth and human  speculation1 
and the almost melancholy doubts1       
exhibited in the  writings of so        
excellent a man as ,cudworth1 with the  
strong and  certain convictions1 and the
 clear1 well-defined views of ,christian
  doctrine of ,john ,bunyan1 connected  
as they were in his case with the       
almost exclusive study of the word of   
,god4 ,we learn thereby not to  despise 
learning and philosophy1 but to beware  
of lowering the  authority and of no    
value at all in the ,christian religion2
 for now1  even now1 you do not stick to
 say that even the duty of going to ,god
  by ,christ is one of these1 and such a
 one as1 if absolutely  considered in   
itself1 is neither good nor evil4       
,how1 then1 if ,god should cast you into

 ,turkey1 where ,mahomet reigns  as     
lord8 it is but reckoning that it is the
 religion and custom of  the country1   
and that which is authorized by the     
power that is  there2 wherefore1 it is  
but sticking to your dictates of human  
nature1 and remembering that coming to  
,god by ,christ is a thing of  an       
indifferent nature in itself1 and then  
for peace' sake and to  sleep in a whole
 skin1 you may comply and do as your    
superior  commands4 ,why8 because in    
,turkey are your first sort of          
fundamentals  all found2 there are men  
that have human nature and the law of   
morals written in their hearts2 they    
have also the dictates thereof  written 
within them1 which teach them those you 
call the eternal  laws of righteousness3
 wherefore you both would agree in your 
essential and immutable differences of  
good and evil1 and differ  only about   
these positive laws--indifferent things4
 ,yea1 and ,mahomet  also for the time1 
because by a custom it is made          

convenient1 might  be now accounted     
worshipful2 and the circumstances that  
attend his  worship1 especially those of
 them that clash not with the dictates  
of your human nature1 might also be     
swallowed down4    ,behold you here     
then1 good reader1 a glorious           
,latitudinarian1 that  can1 as to       
religion1 turn and twist like an eel on 
the hook2 or  rather like the           
weathercock that stands on the steeple4 
,,changing ,,sins4    ,dost thou profess
 the name of ,christ1 and dost thou     
pretend to be a  man departing from     
iniquity8 ,then take sufficiency of     
divine  revelation before human reason  
and speculation1 and to acknowledge     
with humble gratitude the rich rewards  
of an earnest and prayerful  study of   
the ,english ,scriptures4 heed thou dost
 not deceive thyself1  by changing one  
bad way of sinning for another bad way  
of sinning4  ,this was a trick that     
,israel played of old2 for when ,god's  
prophets  followed them hard with       

demands of repentance and reformation1  
then  they would gad about to change    
their ways4 ,jer4 #b3 #cf4 ,but behold1 
they would not change a bad way for a   
good1 but one bad way for  another2     
hopping as the squirrel from bough to   
bough1 but not  willing to forsake the  
tree4 ,many times men change their      
darling  sins1 as some change their     
servants2 that which would serve for    
such  a one this year1 may not serve for
 the year ensuing4 ,hypocrisy would  do 
awhile ago1 but now debauchery4         
,profaneness would do when  profaneness 
was in fashion1 but now a deceitful     
profession4 ,take  heed1 professor1 that
 thou dost not throw away thy old       
darling sin  for a new one4 ,men's      
tempers alter4 ,youth is for pride and  
wantonness2 middle age for cunning and  
craft2 old age for the world  and       
covetousness4 ,take heed1 therefore1 of 
deceit in this thing4    ,dost thou     
profess the name of ,christ1 and dost   
thou pretend to be a  man departing from

 iniquity8 take heed lest thy departing 
from  iniquity should be but for a time4
 ,some do depart from iniquity1 as      
persons in wrangling fits depart from   
one another1 to wit1 for a  time2 but   
when the quarrel is over1 by means of   
some intercessor  they are reconciled   
again4 ,oh1 ,satan is the intercessor   
between the  soul and sin2 and though   
the breach between these two may seem to
 be  irreconcilable1 yea1 though the    
soul has sworn it will never more  give 
countenance to so vile a thing as sin   
is1 yet he can tell how  to make up this
 difference1 and to fetch them back to  
their vomit  again1 who1 one would have 
thought1 had quite escaped his sins and 
been gone4 #b ,pet4 #b3 #ah--bb4 ,take  
heed1 therefore1 ,o professor1 for      
there is danger of this1 and the height 
of danger lies in it2 and ,i  think that
 ,satan1 to do this thing1 makes use of 
those sins again to  begin1 this        
rejoinder1 which he findeth most        
suitable to the temper  and constitution

 of the sinner4 ,these are1 as ,i may   
call them1 the  master-sins1 they suit1 
they agree with the temper of the soul4 
,these1 as the little end of the wedge1 
enter with ease1 and so make  way for   
those that come after1 with which ,satan
 knows he can rend  the soul in pieces4 
,wherefore1    ,to help this1 take heed 
of parleying with thy sins again1 when  
once  thou hast departed from them3 sin 
has a smooth tongue2 if thou  hearken to
 its enchanting language1 ten thousand  
to one but thou art  entangled4 ,take   
heed1 therefore1 of listening to the    
charms  wherewith sin enchanteth the    
soul4 ,in this1 be like the deaf adder2 
stop thine ear1 plug it up to sin1 and  
let it only be open to hear  the words  
of ,god4    ,,the ,,unholy ,,professor4 
,a professor that hath not forsaken his 
iniquity1 is like one that  comes out of
 the pest-house1 among the whole1 with  
his plague-sores  running upon him4     
,this is the man that hath the breath of
 a dragon2  he poisons the air round    

about him4 ,this is the man that slays  
his  children1 his kinsmen1 his friend1 
and himself4 ,what shall ,i say8  ,a man
 that nameth the name of ,christ1 and   
that departeth not from  iniquity1 to   
whom may he be compared8 ,the           
,pharisees1 for that they  professed    
religion but walked not answerably      
thereto1 unto what doth  ,christ compare
 them but to serpents and vipers2 what  
does he call  them but hypocrites1      
whited walls1 painted sepulchres1 fools1
 and  blind1 and tells them that they   
made men more the children of hell  than
 they were before8 ,matt4 #bc4          
,wherefore1 such a one cannot go out  of
 the world by himself2 for as he gave   
occasion of scandal when he  was in the 
world1 so is he the cause of the        
damnation of many4 ,the  apostle did use
 to weep when he spake of these         
professors1 such an  offence he knew    
they were and would be in the world4    
,acts #bj3cj2  ,phil4 #c3ah1 #ai4       
,these are the chief of the engines of  

,satan2 with these he worketh  wonders4 
,one ,balaam1 one ,jeroboam1 one ,ahab1 
,o how many fish such  bring to ,satan's
 net4 ,these are the tares that he      
strives to sow  among the wheat1 for he 
knows they are mischief to it4          
,wherefore  let every one that nameth   
the name of ,christ depart from         
iniquity4    ,those that religiously    
name the name of ,christ and do not     
depart  from iniquity1 how will they    
die2 and how will they look that ,man in
  the face1 unto the profession of whose
 name they have entailed an  unrighteous
 conversation2 or do they think that he 
doth not know  what they have done1 or  
that they may take him off with a few   
cries  and wringing of hands1 when he is
 on the throne to do judgment  against  
transgressors4 ,o1 it had been better   
they had not known1 had  not professed2 
yea1 better they had never been born4   
,and as ,christ  says it had been good1 
so ,peter says it had been better1 ,mark
 #ad3ab2  #ad3bb2 #b ,pet4 #b3 #bj1     

#bl--good they had not been born1 and   
better  they had not known and made     
profession of the name of ,christ4      
,we read that the tail of the dragon1 or
 that the dragon by his tail1  did draw 
and cast down abundance of the stars of 
heaven to the  earth4 ,rev4 #ab3d2 ,isa4
 #i3ad1ae4 ,the prophet that speaketh   
lies  either by opinion or practice1 he 
is the tail1 the dragon's tail1  the    
serpentine tail of the devil4 ,isa4     
#i3ad1ae4 ,and so in his order1  every  
professor that by his iniquity draweth  
both himself and others  down to hell1  
he is the tail4 ,nor can ,satan work    
such exploits by  any1 as he can by     
unrighteous professors4 ,these he useth 
in his hand  as the giant useth his     
club2 he1 as it were1 drives all before 
him  with it4 ,it is said of ,behemoth1 
that he moveth his tail like a  cedar4  
,job #dj3ag4 ,behemoth is a type of the 
devil2 but behold how  he handleth his  
tail1 even as if a man should swing     
about a cedar4  ,this is spoken to show 

the hurtfulness of the tail1 as it is   
also  said in another place1 ,rev4      
#i3e1aj1ai4 ,better no professor than a 
wicked professor2 better openly profane1
 than a hypocritical namer  of the name 
of ,christ2 and less hurt shall such a  
one do to his own  soul1 to the poor    
ignorant world1 to the name of ,christ1 
and to the  church of ,god4    ,there is
 the sin of professors2 there is a      
profession that will  stand with an     
unsanctified heart and life4 ,the sin of
 such will  overpoise the salvation of  
their souls1 the sin-end being the      
heaviest end of the scale3 ,i say1 that 
being the heaviest end which  hath sin  
in it1 they tilt over1 and so are1      
notwithstanding their  glorious         
profession1 drowned in perdition and    
destruction4    ,the iniquity that      
cleaveth to men that profess1 if they   
cast it not  away1 but countenance it1  
will all prove nettles and briars to    
them2  and ,i will assure thee1 yea1    
thou knowest1 that nettles and thorns   

will sting and scratch but              
ill-favoredly4 ,i went1 saith ,solomon1 
by the field of the slothful1 and by the
 vineyard of the man void  of           
understanding2 and lo1 it was all grown 
over with thorns1 and  nettles had      
covered the face thereof1 and the stone 
wall thereof was  broken down4 ,prov4   
#bd3cj1ca4    ,suppose a man were1 after
 work all day1 to be turned into a bed  
of  nettles at night2 or1 after a man   
had been about such a business1  should 
be rewarded with chastisements of briars
 and thorns2 this  reward for work would
 be but little help1 relief1 or comfort 
to him4  ,but this is the reward of a   
wicked man1 of a wicked professor from  
,god3 nettles and thorns are to cover   
over the face of his vineyard1  his     
field1 his profession1 and that at the  
last of all2 far this  covering over the
 face of his vineyard with nettles and  
thorns1 is  to show what fruit the      
slovenly1 slothful1 careless professor  
will  reap out of his profession when   

reaping-time shall come4    ,nor can he 
whose vineyard1 whose profession is     
covered over with  these nettles and    
thorns of iniquity1 escape being        
afflicted with  them in his conscience2 
for1 as they cover the face of his      
vineyard  through his sloth now1 so will
 they cover the face of his conscience  
in the day of judgment4 ,for profession 
and conscience cannot be  separated     
long3 if a man then shall make          
profession without  conscience of ,god's
 honor in his conversation1 his         
profession and  conscience will meet in 
the day of his visitation4 ,nor will he 
whose  condition this shall be1 be able 
to ward off the guilt and sting of  a   
slothful and bad conversation from      
covering the face of his  conscience1 by
 retaining in his profession the name of
 ,jesus ,christ2  for naming and        
professing the name of ,christ will1    
instead of  salving such a conscience1  
put venom1 sting1 and keenness into     
those  nettles and thorns that then     

shall be spread over the face of such   
consciences4 ,i beseech you1 consider   
this1 namely1 that the man that         
professeth the name of ,christ and yet  
liveth a wicked life1 is the  greatest  
enemy that ,god has in the world1 and   
consequently one that  ,god will most   
eminently set his face against4    ,,the
 ,,fruitless ,,professor4               
,barren-fig-tree1 thou art not licensed 
by thy profession1 nor by the  ,lord of 
the vineyard1 to bear these clusters of 
,gomorrah2 neither  shall the vineyard1 
nor thy being crowded among the trees   
there1  shelter thee from the sight of  
the eye of ,god4 ,many make religion    
their cloak and ,christ their           
stalking-horse1 and by that means cover 
themselves and hide their own wickedness
 from men3 but ,god seeth  their hearts1
 hath his print upon the heels of their 
feet1 and  pondereth all their goings2  
and at last1 when their iniquity is     
found to be hateful1 he will either     
smite them with hardness of  heart and  

so leave them1 or awaken them to bring  
forth fruit4 ,fruit  he looks for1      
seeks1 and expects1 ,o thou barren      
fig-tree4    ,but what1 come into the   
presence of ,god to sin ,what1 come into
 the  presence of ,god to hide thy sin6 
,alas1 man1 the church is ,god's        
garden1 and ,christ ,jesus is the great 
,apostle and ,high-priest of our        
profession4 ,what1 come into the house  
that is called by his name1  into the   
place where his honor dwelleth1 where   
his eyes and heart  are                 
continually--what1 come there to sin1 to
 hide thy sin1 to cloak  thy sin6 ,his  
plants are an orchard with pleasant     
fruits2 and every  time he goeth into   
his garden1 it is to see the fruits of  
the  valley1 and to see if the vines    
flourish and if the pomegranates  bud4  
,yea1 he came seeking fruit on this     
fig-tree4 ,the church is the place  of  
,god's delight1 where he ever desires to
 be2 there he is night and  day4 ,he is 
there to seek for fruit1 to seek for    

fruit of all and  every tree in the     
garden4 ,wherefore assure thyself1 ,o   
fruitless one1  that thy ways must needs
 be open before the eyes of the ,lord4  
,one  black sheep is soon espied1       
although in company with many2 it is    
taken with the first cast of the eye2   
its different color still  betrays it4  
,i say1 therefore1 a church and a       
profession are not  places where the    
workers of iniquity may hide themselves 
from ,god1  that seeks for fruit3 ,my   
vineyard1 saith ,god1 which is mine1 is 
before me4 ,song #h3ab2 ,psa4 #bf3h2 #a 
,kings1 #i3c2 ,song #d3ac-ae4    ,barren
 soul1 how many showers of grace1 how   
many dews from heaven1  hast thou       
enjoyed6 ,how many times have the silver
 streams of the  city of ,god run       
gliding by thy roots1 to cause thee to  
bring forth  fruit6 ,these showers and  
streams1 and the drops that hang upon   
thy  boughs1 will all be accounted for2 
and will they not testify against  thee1
 that thou oughtest of right to be      

burned8 ,hear and tremble1 ,o  thou     
barren professor6    ,when a man seeks  
for fruit on a tree1 he goes round it   
and round it1  now looking into this    
bough and then into that2 he peeps into 
the  inmost boughs and the lowermost    
boughs1 if perhaps fruit may be         
thereon4 ,barren fig-tree1 ,god will    
look into all thy boughs4    ,there is a
 man that hath a hundred trees in his   
vine yard1 and at  the time of the      
season he walketh into his vineyard to  
see how the  trees flourish2 and as he  
goes and views and pries and observes   
how  they are hung with fruit1 behold1  
he cometh to one where he findeth       
naught but leaves4 ,now he makes a      
stand1 looks upon it again and  again2  
he looks also here and there1 above and 
below2 and if1 after  all this seeking1 
he finds nothing but leaves thereon1    
then he  begins to cast in his mind how 
he may know this tree next year1 what   
stands next it1 or how far it is off the
 hedge2 but if there be  nothing there  

that may be as a mark to know it by1    
then he takes his  hook and giveth it a 
private mark1 saying1 ,go thy way1      
fruitless  fig-tree1 thou hast spent    
this season in vain4    ,yet doth he not
 cut it down--,i will try it another    
year2 may be  this was not a hitting    
season4 ,therefore he comes again next  
year  to see if now it have fruit2 but  
as he found it before1 so he finds  it  
now1 barren1 barren1 every year barren2 
he looks again1 but finds  no fruit4    
,now he begins to have second thoughts4 
,how1 neither hit  last year nor this6  
,surely the barrenness is not in the    
season1 sure  the fault is in the tree2 
however1 ,i will spare it this year     
also1  but will give it a second mark2  
and1 it may be1 he toucheth it with  a  
hot iron1 because he begins to be angry4
    ,well1 at the third season he comes 
again for fruit1 but the third  year is 
like the first and second1 no fruit yet2
 it only cumbereth  the ground4 ,what   
now must be done with this fig-tree8    

,why1 the ,lord  will lop its boughs    
with terror2 yea1 the thickets of those 
professors with iron4 ,i have waited1   
saith ,god1 these three years2 ,i  have 
missed of fruit these three years2 it   
hath been a cumber-ground  these three  
years2 cut it down4 ,precept hath been  
upon precept1 and  line upon line1 one  
year after another1 for these three     
years1 hut  no fruit can be seen2 ,i    
find none3 fetch out the axe4    ,lord1 
let it alone this year also4 ,here is   
astonishing grace  indeed2 astonishing  
grace1 that the ,lord ,jesus should     
concern  himself with a barren fig-tree2
 that he should step in to stop the     
blow from a barren fig-tree6 ,true1 he  
stopped the blow but for a  time2 but   
why did he stop it at all8 ,why did he  
not fetch out the  axe8 ,why did he not 
do execution8 ,why did he not cut it    
down8    ,barren fig-tree1 it is well   
for thee that there is a ,jesus at      
,god's  right hand1 a ,jesus of that    
largeness of pity to have compassion for

  a barren fig-tree2 else justice had   
never let thee alone to cumber  the     
ground1 as thou hast done4    ,see the  
care1 the love1 the labor1 and way which
 the ,lord ,jesus1 the  dresser of the  
vineyard1 is fain to take with thee1 if 
haply thou  mayest be made fruitful4    
,lord1 let it alone this year4 ,lord1 a 
little longer2 let us not  lose a soul  
for want of means4 ,i will try1 ,i will 
see if ,i can make  it fruitful2 ,i will
 not beg a long life1 nor that it might 
still be  barren1 and so provoke thee4  
,i beg for the sake of the soul1 the    
immortal soul2 ,lord1 spare it one year 
only1 one year longer1 this  year also2 
if ,i do any good to it1 it will be in  
little time4 ,thou  shalt not be        
overwearied with waiting2 one year and  
then--    ,barren fig-tree1 dost thou   
hear what a striving there is between   
the  vinedresser and the husbandman for 
thy life8    ,cut it down1 says one2    
,lord1 spare it1 says the other4 ,it is 
a  cumber-ground1 saith the ,father2    

,one year longer1 prays the ,son3  let  
it alone this year also4    ,till ,i    
shall dig about it and dung it4 ,i doubt
 if it is not too  much ground-bound4   
,the love of this world and the         
deceitfulness of  riches lie too close  
to the roots of the heart of this       
professor4  ,the love of riches1 the    
love of honors1 the love of pleasures1  
are  the thorns that choke the word2 how
 then can there be fruit brought  forth 
to ,god8    ,barren fig-tree1 see how   
the ,lord ,jesus by these words suggests
 the  cause of thy fruitlessness of     
soul4 ,the things of this world lie too 
close to thy heart2 the earth and its   
things have bound up thy  roots2 thou   
art an earth-bound soul1 thou art       
wrapped up in thick  clay4 ,if any man  
love the world1 the love of the ,father 
is not in  him2 how then can he be      
fruitful in the vineyard8    ,this kept 
,judas from the fruit of caring for the 
poor4 ,this kept  ,demas from the fruit 
of self-denial4 ,and this kept ,ananias 

and  ,sapphira his wife from the goodly 
fruit of sincerity and truth4 ,i  ,john1
 #b3ae1 #af2 ,john #ab3 #f2 #b ,tim4    
#d3aj2 ,acts #e3 #e-aj2 ,i ,tim4 #f3 #i1
  #aj4    ,and if it bear fruit1 well4  
,and if the outlay of all my labor doth 
make this fig-tree fruitful1 ,i shall   
count my time1 my labor1 and  means1    
well bestowed upon it2 and thou also1 ,o
 my ,god1 shalt be  therewith much      
delighted2 for thou art gracious and    
merciful1 and  repentest thee of the    
evil which thou threatenest to bring    
upon a  people4    ,these words         
therefore inform us1 that if a barren   
figtree1 a barren  professor1 shall now 
at last bring forth fruit to ,god1 it   
shall go  well with that professor1 it  
shall go well with that poor soul4 ,his 
former barrenness1 his former tempting  
of ,god1 his abuse of ,god's  patience  
and long-suffering1 his misspending year
 after year1 shall  now be all forgiven 
him4 ,yea1 ,god the ,father and our     
,lord ,jesus  ,christ will now pass by  

and forget all1 and say1 ,well done1 at 
the  last4    ,and if not1 then after   
that thou shalt cut it down4 ,there is  
nothing more exasperating to the mind of
 a man1 than to find all his  kindness  
and favor slighted2 neither is the ,lord
 ,jesus so provoked  with any thing1 as 
when sinners abuse his means of grace4  
,if it be  barren and fruitless under my
 gospel1 if it turn my grace into       
wantonness1 if1 after digging and       
dunging and waiting1 it yet remain      
unfruitful1 ,i will let thee cut it     
down4    ,gospel-means applied are the  
last remedy for a barren professor2 if  
the gospel1 if the grace of the gospel  
will not do1 there can be  nothing      
expected but1 ,cut it down4    ,o       
,jerusalem1 ,jerusalem1 thou that       
killest the prophets and stonest  them  
that are sent unto thee1 how often would
 ,i have gathered thy  children         
together1 as a hen gathereth her        
chickens under her wings1  and ye would 
not6 ,behold1 your house is left unto   

you desolate4  ,matt4 #bc3cg1ch4    ,yet
 it cannot be but that this ,lord       
,jesus1 who at first did put a  stop to 
the execution of his ,father's justice1 
because he desired to  try more means   
with the fig-tree--it cannot be but that
 a heart so  full of compassion as his1 
should be touched to behold this        
professor must now be cut down4 ,and    
when he was come near1 he  beheld the   
city and wept over it1 saying1 ,if thou 
hadst known1 even  thou1 at least in    
this thy day1 the things that belong to 
thy peace6  but now they are hid from   
thine eyes4    ,when ,christ giveth thee
 over1 there is no intercessor1 no      
mediator1  no more sacrifice for sin2   
all is gone but judgment1 but the axe1  
but a certain fearful looking for of    
judgment and fiery  indignation1 which  
shall devour the adversaries4 ,heb4     
#aj3bf-bh4    ,the day of grace ends    
with some men before ,god takes them out
 of  this world4 ,now1 then1 ,i would   
show you by some signs how you may  know

 that the day of grace is ended1 or near
 to ending with the  barren professor4  
,first sign4 ,the day of grace is like  
to be past1 when a professor  hath      
,,withstood1 ,,abused1 ,,and ,,worn     
,,out ,,god',s ,,patience3 then he is in
  danger2 this is a provocation2 now    
,god cries1 ,cut it down4    ,there are 
some men that steal into a profession1  
nobody knows how1  even as this fig-tree
 was brought into the vineyard by other 
hands  than ,god's2 and there they abide
 lifeless1 graceless1 careless1 and     
without any good conscience to ,god at  
all4 ,perhaps they came in for  the     
loaves1 for a trade1 for credit1 for a  
blind2 or it may be1 to  stifle and     
choke the checks and grinding pangs of  
an awakened and  disquieted conscience4 
,now1 having obtained their purpose1    
like the  sinners of ,zion1 they are at 
ease and secure1 saying1 like ,agag1    
,surely the bitterness of death is past3
 ,i am well2 ,i shall be saved  and go  
to heaven4 ,thus in these vain conceits 

they spend a year1  two1 or three2 not  
remembering that at every season of     
grace1 and at  every opportunity of the 
gospel1 the ,lord comes seeking fruit4  
,well1 sinner1 well1 barren fig-tree1   
this is but an evil beginning4  ,god    
comes for fruit4 ,what have ,i here8    
saith ,god4 ,what a fig-tree is  this1  
that hath stood this year in my         
vineyard1 and brought me forth  no      
fruit6 ,i will cry unto him1 ,professor1
 barren fig-tree1 be  fruitful2 ,i look 
for fruit1 ,i expect fruit1 ,i must have
 fruit2  therefore bethink thyself4 ,at 
these the professor pauses2 but these   
are words1 not blows2 therefore off goes
 this consideration from the  heart4    
,when ,god comes the next year1 he finds
 him still as he was1 a  barren1        
fruitless cumber-ground4 ,and now again 
he complains1 ,here  are two years gone1
 and no fruit appears2 well1 ,i will    
defer mine  anger for my name's sake4 ,i
 will yet wait to be gracious4 ,but this
  helps not1 this hath not the least    

influence upon the barren  fig-tree3    
,tush1 saith he1 here is no threatening2
 ,god is merciful1  he will defer his   
anger1 he waits to be gracious2 ,i am   
not yet  afraid4 ,o1 how ungodly men1   
that are unawares crept into the        
vineyard1 how do they turn the grace of 
our ,god into lasciviousness6    ,well1 
he comes the third year for fruit1 as he
 did before1 but still  he finds but a  
barren fig-tree2 no fruit4 ,now he cries
 out again1 ,o  thou dresser of my      
vineyard1 come hither3 here is a        
fig-tree hath  stood these three years  
in my vineyard1 and hath at every season
  disappointed my expectation2 for ,i   
have looked for fruit in vain4  ,cut it 
down2 my patience is worn out1 ,i shall 
wait on this fig-tree  no longer4       
,and now he begins to shake the fig-tree
 with his threatenings3 ,fetch  out the 
axe4 ,now the axe is death2 death       
therefore is called for4  ,death1 come1 
smite me this fig-tree4 ,and withal the 
,lord shakes this  sinner1 and whirls   

him upon a sick-bed1 saying1 ,take him1 
death2 he  hath abused my patience and  
forbearance1 not remembering that it    
should have led him to repentance and to
 the fruits thereof3 death1  fetch away 
this fig-tree to the fire1 fetch this   
barren professor to  hell4 ,at this1    
death comes with grim looks into the    
chamber1 yea1  and hell follows with him
 to the bedside1 and both stare this    
professor in the face1 yea1 begin to lay
 hands upon him4 ,one smites  him with  
pains in his body1 with headache1       
heartache1 backache1  shortness of      
breath1 fainting qualms1 trembling of   
joints1 stopping  at the chest1 and     
almost all the symptoms of a man past   
all  recovery4 ,now1 while death is thus
 tormenting the body1 hell is busy  with
 the mind and conscience1 striking them 
with its pains1 casting  sparks of fire 
in thither1 wounding with sorrows and   
fears of  everlasting damnation the     
spirit of this poor creature4 ,and now  
he  begins to bethink himself1 and to   

cry to ,god for mercy3 ,lord1 spare  me2
 ,lord1 spare me4 ,nay1 saith ,god1 you 
have been a provocation to  me these    
three years4 ,how many times have you   
disappointed me6 ,how  many seasons have
 you spent in vain6 ,how many sermons   
and other  mercies did ,i of my patience
 afiord you2 but to no purpose at all4  
,take him1 death4 ,o good ,lord1 saith  
the sinner1 spare me but this  once2    
raise me but this once4    ,indeed ,i   
have been a barren professor1 and have  
stood to no purpose  at all in thy      
vineyard2 hut spare1 ,o spare me this   
one time1 ,i  beseech thee1 and ,i will 
he better4 ,away1 away1 you will not2 ,i
 have  tried you these three years      
already2 you are naught3 if ,i should   
recover you again1 you would he as bad  
as you were before4 7,and all  this talk
 is while death stands by47 ,the sinner 
cries again1 ,good  ,lord1 try me this  
once2 let me get up again this once1 and
 see if ,i  do not rnend4 ,but will you 
promise me to mend8 ,yes indeed1 ,lord1 

and  vow it too4 ,i will never be so bad
 again1 ,i will he better4 ,well1  saith
 ,god1 ,death1 let this professor alone 
for this time3 ,i will try  him a little
 longer2 he hath promised1 he hath      
vowed1 that he will  amend his ways4 ,it
 may be he will mind to keep his        
promises4 ,vows  are solemn things2 it  
may he he may fear to break his vows4   
,arise  from off thy bed4 ,and now ,god 
lays down his axe4 ,at this the poor    
creature is very thankful1 praises ,god1
 and fawns upon him1 shows as  if he did
 it heartily1 and calls to others to    
thank him too4 ,he  therefore riseth1 as
 one would think1 to be a new creature  
indeed4  ,but by that he hath put on his
 clothes1 is come down from his bed1    
and ventured into the yard or shop1 and 
there sees how all things  are gone to  
sixes and sevens1 he begins to have     
second thoughts1 and  says to his folks1
 ,what have you all been doing8 ,how are
 all things  out of order6 ,i am ,i     
cannot tell how much behindhand2 one may

 see if  a man be but a little laid     
aside1 that you have neither wisdom nor 
prudence to order things4 ,and now1     
instead of seeking to spend the  rest of
 his time for ,god1 he doubleth his     
diligence after this  world4 ,alas1 he  
saith1 all must not be lost2 we must    
have provident  care4 ,and thus1 quite  
forgetting the sorrows of death1 the    
pains of  hell1 the promises and vows   
which he made to ,god to be better1     
because judgment was not speedily       
executed1 therefore the heart of  this  
poor creature is fully set in him to do 
evil4    ,these things proving          
ineffectual1 ,god takes hold of his axe 
again1  sends death to a wife1 to a     
child1 to his cattle4 ,i will blast him1
  cross him1 disappoint him1 cast him   
down2 and will set myself  against him  
in all that he putteth his hand unto4   
,at this the poor  barren professor     
cries out again1 ,lord1 ,i have sinned2 
spare me once  more1 ,i beseech thee4 ,o
 take not away the desire of mine eyes2 

spare  my children1 bless me in my      
labors1 and ,i will mend and be better4 
,no1 saith ,god1 you lied to me last    
time1 ,i will trust you in this no      
longer2 and withal he tumbleth the wife1
 the child1 the estate1 into  a grave4  
,at this the poor creature is afflicted 
and distressed1 rends his  clothes1 and 
begins to call the breaking of his      
promise and vows to  mind2 he mourns and
 prays1 and like ,ahab1 a while walks   
softly at  the remembrance of the       
justness of the hand of ,god upon him4  
,and now  he renews his promises3 ,lord1
 try me this one time more1 take off    
thy hand and see2 they go far that never
 turn4 ,well1 ,god spareth him  again1  
sets down his axe again3 ,many times he 
did deliver them1 but  they provoked him
 with their counsels1 and were brought  
low for  their iniquities4 ,now they    
seem to be thankful again1 and are as if
  they resolved to be godly indeed4 ,now
 they read1 they pray1 they go  to      
meetings1 and seem to be serious for a  

while2 but at last they  forget4 ,their 
lusts prick them1 suitable temptations  
present  themselves2 wherefore1 they    
return to their own crooked ways again4 
,yet again1 the ,lord will not leave    
this barren professor1 ,luke #ac3  #f-i1
 but will take up his axe again1 and    
will put him under a more               
heart-searching ministry1 a ministry    
that shall search him and turn  him over
 and over--a ministry that shall meet   
with him1 as ,elijah  met with ,ahab1 in
 all his acts of wickedness3 and now the
 axe is  laid to the roots of the tree4 
,besides1 this ministry doth not only   
search the heart1 but presenteth the    
sinner with the golden rays of  the     
glorious gospel3 now is ,christ ,jesus  
set forth evidently1 now is  grace      
displayed sweetly2 now1 now are the     
promises broken1 like  boxes of         
ointment1 to the perfuming of the whole 
room4 ,but alas1  there is yet no fruit 
on this fig-tree4 ,while his heart is   
searched1  he wrangles2 while the       

glorious grace of the gospel is         
unveiled1  this professor wags and is   
wanton1 gathers up some scraps thereof1 
tastes the good word of ,god and the    
power of the world to come1  drinketh in
 the rain that cometh oft upon him1 but 
bringeth not  forth fruit meet for him  
whose gospel it is2 takes no heed to    
walk  in the law of the ,lord ,god of   
,israel with all his heart1 but         
counteth that the glory of the gospel   
consisteth in talk and show1  and that  
our obedience thereto is a matter of    
speculation--that good  works lie in    
good words1 and if men can finely talk1 
they may think  they bravely please     
,god4 ,he thinks the kingdom of ,god    
consisteth  only in word1 not in power2 
and thus proves ineffectual this fourth 
means also4    ,well1 now the axe begins
 to be heaved higher1 for now indeed    
,god is  ready to smite the sinner3 yet 
before he will strike the stroke1 he    
will try one way more at last2 and if   
that misseth1 down goes the  fig-tree4  

,now this last way is to labor and      
strive with this professor by his       
,spirit4 ,therefore the ,spirit of the  
,lord is now come to him2 but not       
always to strive with man1 ,gen4 #f3h2  
yet awhile he will strive with  him1 he 
will awaken1 he will convince1 he will  
call to remembrance  former sins1 former
 judgments1 the breach of former vows   
and  promises1 the misspending of former
 days4 ,he will also present  persuasive
 arguments1 encouraging promises1       
dreadful judgments1 the  shortness of   
time to repent in2 and that there is    
hope if he come4  ,he will show him the 
certainty of death and of the judgment  
to come1  yea1 he will pull and strive  
with this sinner4 ,but behold1 the      
mischief now lies here2 here is laboring
 and striving on both sides4  ,the      
,spirit convinces1 the man turns a deaf 
ear to ,god2 the ,spirit  saith1        
,receive my instruction and live1 but   
the man pulls away his  shoulder2 the   
,spirit shows him whither he is going1  

but the man  closeth his eyes against   
it2 the ,spirit offers violence1 the man
  strives and resists3 he has done      
despite unto the ,spirit of grace4      
,heb4 #aj3bi4 ,the ,spirit parleyeth    
a'second time and urgeth reasons of  a  
new nature1 but the sinner answereth1   
,no2 ,i have loved strangers1  and after
 them will ,i go4 ,amos #d3 #f-ab4 ,at  
this1 ,god comes out of  his holy-place1
 and is terrible2 now he sweareth in his
 wrath they  shall never enter into his 
rest4 ,ezek4 #cd3ac4 ,i exercised       
towards  you my patience1 yet you have  
not turned unto me1 saith the ,lord4 ,i 
smote you in your person1 in your       
relations1 in your estate1 yet you  have
 not returned unto me1 saith the ,lord4 
,cut it down2 why  cumbereth it the     
ground8    ,the second sign that such a 
professor is almost1 if not quite past  
grace1 is when ,god hath ,,given ,,him  
,,over1 or lets him alone and  suffers  
him to do any thing1 and that without   
control2 helpeth him  not either in     

works of holiness1 or in straits and    
difficulties3  ,ephraim is joined to    
idols2 let him alone4 ,woe be to them   
when ,i  depart from them4 ,i will laugh
 at their calamity2 ,i will mock when   
their fear cometh4    ,barren fig-tree1 
thou hast heretofore been digged about2 
,god's  mattock has heretofore been at  
thy roots2 thou hast heretofore been    
striven with1 convinced1 awakened1 made 
to taste and see1 and cry1 ,o  the      
blessedness6 ,thou hast heretofore been 
met with under the word2  thy heart has 
melted1 thy spirit has fallen1 thy soul 
has trembled1  and thou hast felt       
something of the power of the gospel4   
,but thou  hast sinned1 thou hast       
provoked the eyes of his glory1 thy     
iniquity  is found to be hateful2 and   
now perhaps ,god has left thee1 given   
thee up1 and lets thee alone4           
,heretofore thou wast tender2 thy       
conscience startled at the  temptation  
to wickedness1 for thou wert taken off  
from the  pollutions of the world       

through the knowledge of our ,lord and  
,saviour ,jesus ,christ1 #b ,pet4 #b3   
#bj-bb2 but that very vomit that once   
thou wert turned from1 now thou lappest 
up again1    ,seest thou a man that     
heretofore had the knowledge of ,god1   
and that  had some awe of majesty upon  
him2 seest thou such a one sporting     
himself in his own deceivings1 ,rom4    
#a3cj1 #ca1 turning the grace of  ,god  
into lasciviousness1 and walking after  
his own ungodly lusts8  ,his judgment   
now of a long time lingereth not1 and   
his damnation  slumbereth not4 #b ,pet4 
#b3ac4    ,dost thou hear1 barren       
professor8 ,it is astonishing to see how
 those  who once seemed sons of the     
morning1 and were making preparations   
for eternal life1 now at last1 for the  
rottenness of their hearts1  by the just
 judgment of ,god are permitted1 being  
past feeling1 to  give themselves over  
unto lasciviousness1 to work all        
uncleanness  with greediness4 ,eph4     
#d3ah1 #ai4 ,a great number of such were

 in the  first gospel days2 against whom
 ,peter and ,jude and ,john pronounce   
the just judgment of ,god4 #b ,pet4     
#b3c-h2 ,jude #e-h4 ,barren fig-tree1   
dost thou hear8 ,these are beyond all   
mercy2 these are beyond all  promises2  
these are beyond all hopes of           
repentance2 these have no  intercessor1 
nor any more share in the one sacrifice 
for sin4 ,for  these there remains      
nothing but a fearful looking for of    
judgment4    ,these men go whither they 
will1 do what they will2 they may range 
from opinion to opinion1 from notion to 
notion1 from sect to sect1  but are     
steadfast nowhere3 they are left to     
their own uncertainties2  they have not 
grace to establish their hearts2 and    
though some of  them have boasted       
themselves of this liberty1 yet ,jude   
calls them  wandering stars1 to whom is 
reserved the blackness of darkness for  
ever4 ,they are left to be fugitives and
 vagabonds in the earth1 to  wander     
everywhere but to abide nowhere1 until  

they shall descend to  their own place1 
with ,cain and ,judas1 men of the same  
fate with  themselves4    ,look thou    
certainly1 fruitless professor1 for an  
eternal  disappointment in the day of   
,god2 for it must be2 thy lamp will he  
out at the first sound the trump of ,god
 shall make in thine ears2  thou canst  
not hold up at the appearance of the    
,son of ,god in his  glory2 his very    
looks will he to thy profession as a    
strong wind is  to a blinking candle1   
and thou shalt he left only to smoke4   
,oh1 the alteration that will befall a  
foolish virgin4 ,she thought  she was   
happy1 and that she should have received
 happiness with  those that were right  
at the heart2 but behold the contrary3  
her  lamp is going out1 she has now to  
seek for saving grace1 when the  time of
 grace is over2 her heaven she thought  
of has proved a hell1  and her god has  
proved a devil4 ,god hath cast her out  
of his  presence1 and closes the door   
upon her4 ,she pleads her profession    

and the like1 and she hath for her      
answer repulses from heaven4 ,so  are   
the paths of all that forget ,god2 and  
the hypocrite's hope shall  perish2     
whose hope shall be cut off1 and whose  
trust shall be the  spider's web3 though
 he lean upon his house1 it shall not   
stand2 he  shall hold it fast1 but it   
shall not endure4    ,take heed1        
therefore2 thy soul1 heaven1 and        
eternity lie at stake2  yea1 they turn  
either to thee or from thee upon the    
hinge of thy  faith1 ,if it be right1   
all is thine2 if wrong1 then all is     
lost1  however thy hope and expectations
 are to the contrary4    ,there are bare
 notions1 there are common workings1 and
 there is a  work that is saving and    
that will do the soul good to eternity4 
#a4 ,there are bare notions1 and they   
that have them are such unto  whom the  
gospel comes in word only1 #a ,thess4   
#a3e2 #a ,cor4 #d3ai1 #bj2  such whose  
religion stands in word only1 and is not
 attended with a  power suitable3 that  

is1 there goes not with the word a power
  sufficient to subdue and work over the
 heart to a cordial and  gracious close 
with thut word that comes to them4 ,yet 
such is the  noise and sound of the     
word1 that they are willing to become   
professors thereof2 there is some kind  
of musicalness in it1  especially when  
well handled and fingered by a skilful  
preacher4  ,and lo1 saith ,god unto such
 preachers1 when their auditory is made 
up of such kind of hearers1 lo1 thou art
 unto them as a very lovely  song of one
 that hath a pleasant voice1 and can    
play well on an  instrument2 for they   
hear thy words1 but they do them not4   
#b4 ,but then1 besides these there is   
another sort1 and they go  further than 
these4 ,for to them the word came1 not  
in word only but  also in power3 though 
not in such a power as is sufficient1   
absolutely against all attempts         
whatsoever1 to bring the soul to  glory4
    7#a47 ,they attain light or         
illumination to see much of their state 

by  nature4 ,heb4 #f3d4    7#b47 ,this  
light stands not in bare speculation1   
but lets fall upon  the conscience      
convincing arguments to the bowing and  
humbling of  the spirit4 #a ,kings1 #ba3
 #bg-bi4    7#c47 ,they submit to these 
convictions and reforms1 and may for a  
time not only come out from them that   
live in error1 but escape the           
pollutions of the world by the knowledge
 of our ,lord and ,saviour  ,jesus      
,christ4 #b ,peter1 #b3ah-bj2 ,gal4     
#c3d2 #d3bj4    7#d47 ,yea1 so powerful 
will this dispensation be1 that it will 
prevail with them to do and suffer many 
things for the vindication  of the truth
 of that gospel which they profess4 ,for
 the word will be  sweet unto them2     
,christ1 the gift of ,god1 will be      
relished by them4  ,heb4 #f3d1 #e4 ,the 
powers of the world to come will be in  
them2 some  workings of the ,holy ,ghost
 will be in them2 and joy1 which is as  
oil  to the wheels1 will be with their  
souls4 ,luke #h3ac4    ,thus is it with 

some professors1 who yet cannot be said 
to depart  from iniquity1 because the   
things that now are upon them abide with
  them but awhile3 ,for awhile they     
believe2 they rejoice in the light  for 
a season1 and after that return to their
 old course1 and are  again entangled   
with their iniquities and overcome4     
,now the causes of this declension1 or  
falling away again unto  iniquity1 are  
many4    ,one is1 that this work1 this  
work of power which they have been made 
partakers of1 has not been thorough     
enough upon all the powers of  their    
souls4 ,their understandings1 their     
judgments and consciences  have been    
dealt with1 but the power of ,god has   
not been upon their  wills and minds and
 affections rightly to subdue them to   
the grace  of the gospel4    ,therefore 
also such persons1 upon the withdrawing 
of those  influences that at present are
 mighty upon them1 do forthwith forget  
both what they had and what work it made
 upon them4 ,straightway they  forget   

what manner of men they were4 ,it is    
said of ,israel1 ,they  sang his        
praises2 they soon forgat his word4 ,so 
these2 they forget4    ,they forget what
 light and what convictions they had4   
,they forget  what sorrow for sin they  
had4 ,they forget what tastes of ,christ
 and  his word they had4    ,they forget
 what joy and comfort they had4 ,they   
forget how fair for  heaven they were4  
,and they forget how cleansed once they 
were4 ,they  have forgotten that they   
were purged from their old sins4 #b     
,pet4  #a3i4    ,now1 forgetfulness     
makes things that are past as nothings2 
and if  so1 then it can lay no          
obligations upon the mind to engage it  
to  delight in them2 no1 not in thoughts
 of them1 as if they were  remembered by
 us4    ,forgetfulness is a very        
dangerous thing2 it makes preaching     
vain1  profession vain1 faith vain1 and 
all to no purpose4 #a ,cor4 #ae3a1 #b4  
,such profession is but a dream2 and    
such professors but as dreamers2  all   

vanishes in the morning4 ,this made     
,paul so caution the  ,corinthians that 
they should forget not the preaching2   
arid the  writer to the ,hebrews so     
earnestly call them1 in their           
backsliding1  back to the remembrance of
 former days1 and to the recollecting   
what  it was that then made them so     
willingly endure their great fight of   
affliction4    ,forgetfulness1 ,i say1  
makes things nothings2 it makes us as if
  things had never been2 and so takes   
away from the soul one great  means of  
stay1 support1 and encouragement4 ,when 
choice ,david was  dejected1 the        
remembrance of the hill ,hermon was his 
stay2 when he  was to go out against    
,goliath1 the remembrance of the lion   
and the  bear was his support2 so when  
those that have had the power of the    
things of ,god upon them1 can think of  
this when they are withdrawn1  it will1 
even the thinking of it1 have some kind 
of operation upon  the soul4 ,and       
therefore you shall find1 that the      

recovering of a  backslider usually     
begins at the remembrance of former     
things4  ,remember from whence thou art 
fallen1 and repent and do thy first     
works4    ,it is marvellous to see how  
some men are captivated with this       
forgetfulness4 ,those that sometimes    
have prayed1 cried1 groaned1 and  sighed
 for eternal life2 those that sometimes 
thought no pains too  much1 no way too  
far1 no hazards too great to run1 for   
eternal life2  those that sometimes were
 captivated with the word1 and with the 
comforts and joy thereof1 and who1 had  
it been possible1 would have  pulled out
 their eyes1 and have given them to     
gospel ministers1 so  dear and sweet    
were the good tidings which they        
brought4 to such4 ,i  say1 it is        
marvellous to see how such men are      
captivated with the  forgetfulness of   
this4 ,they are as if they had never    
been those men2  they are as if they had
 had no such things1 or as if they never
 had  thought about them4 ,yea1 they are

 strange1 and carry it strangely to  all
 those that still are under the power of
 that word1 and of that  mighty hand by 
which sometimes themselves were guided4 
,should one say to them1 ,art not thou  
the man that ,i once saw crying  under a
 sermon1 that ,i once heard cry out1    
,what must ,i do to be  saved8 and that 
some time ago ,i heard speak well of the
 holy word  of ,god8 how askew will they
 look upon one2 or if they will         
acknowledge that such things were with  
them once1 they do it more  like images 
and rejected ghosts1 than men4 ,they    
look as if they were  blasted1 withered1
 cast out and dried to powder1 and now  
fit for  nothing but to be cast into the
 fire and burned4 ,john #ae4    ,,the   
,,unpardonable ,,sin4    ,,the ,,man    
,,in ,,the ,,iron ,,cage4    ,now1 said 
,christian1 let me go hence4 ,nay1 stay1
 said the  ,interpreter1 till ,i have   
showed thee a little more1 and after    
that  thou shalt go on thy way4 ,so he  
took him by the hand again1 and led  him

 into a very dark room1 where there sat 
a man in an iron cage4    ,now the man  
to look on1 seemed very sad4 ,he sat    
with his eyes  looking down to the      
ground1 his hands folded together1 and  
he sighed  as if he would break his     
heart4 ,then said ,christian1 ,what     
means  this8 ,at which the ,interpreter 
bid him talk with the man4    ,then said
 ,christian to the man1 ,what art thou8 
,the man answered1  ,i am what ,i was   
not once4    ,,cristian4 ,what wert thou
 once8    ,the man said1 ,i was once a  
fair and flourishing professor1 both in 
mine own eyes1 and also in the eyes of  
others2 ,i once was1 as ,i  thought1    
fair for the celestial city1 ,luke      
#h3ac1 and had then even  joy at the    
thoughts that ,i should get thither4    
,,christian4 ,well1 but what art thou   
now8    ,,man4 ,i am now a man of       
despair1 and am shut up in it as in this
  iron cage4 ,i cannot get out3 ,o ,,now
 ,i cannot4    ,,christian4 ,but how    
earnest thou in this condition8         

,,man4 ,i left off to watch and be      
sober2 ,i laid the reins upon the  neck 
of my lusts2 ,i sinned against the light
 of the word1 and the  goodness of ,god2
 ,i have grieved the ,spirit1 and he is 
gone2 ,i  tempted the devil1 and he is  
come to me2 ,i have provoked ,god to    
anger1 and he has left me2 ,i have so   
hardened my heart that ,i ,,cannot      
repent4    ,then said ,christian to the 
,interpreter1 ,but is there no hope for 
such a man as this8 ,ask him1 said the  
,interpreter4    ,then said ,christian1 
,is there no hope but you must be kept  
in the  iron cage of despair8    ,,man4 
,no1 none at all4    ,,christian4 ,why8 
the ,son of the ,blessed is very        
pitiful4    ,,man4 ,i have crucified him
 to myself afresh2 ,i have despised his 
person1 ,i have despised his            
righteousness1 ,i have counted his blood
  an unholy thing4 ,i have done despite 
to the ,spirit of grace1 ,luke  #ai3ad2 
,heh4 #f3d-f2 #aj3bh1 #bi2 therefore ,i 
have shut myself out of  all the        

promises1 and there now remains to me   
nothing but  threatenings1 dreadful     
threatenings1 fearful threatenings of   
certain  judgment and fiery indignation 
which shall devour me as an  adversary4 
,,christian4 ,for what did you bring    
yourself into this condition8    ,,man4 
,for the lusts1 pleasures1 and profits  
of this world2 in the  enjoyment of     
which ,i did then promise myself much   
delight2 but now  every one of those    
things also bites me and gnaws me like a
 burning  worm4    ,,christian4 ,but    
canst thou not repent and turn8         
,,man4 ,god hath denied me repentance4  
,his word gives me no  encouragement to 
believe2 yea1 himself hath shut me up in
 this iron  cage3 nor can all the men in
 the world let me out4 ,o eternity1     
eternity6 how shall ,i grapple with the 
misery that ,i must meet with  in       
eternity8    ,then said the ,interpreter
 to ,christian1 ,let this man's misery  
he  remembered by thee1 and be an       
everlasting caution to thee4    ,well1  

said ,christian1 this is fearful6 ,god  
help me to watch and  he sober1 and to  
pray that ,i may shun the cause of this 
man's  miseiy4    ,we that religiously  
name the name of ,christ should depart  
from  iniquity1 because the ,spirit of  
the ,father will else be grieved4  ,eph4
 #d3cj4 ,the countenancing of iniquity1 
the not departing  therefrom1 will      
grieve the ,spirit of ,god1 by which you
 are sealed to  the day of redemption2  
and that is a sin of a higher nature    
than men  commonly are aware of4 ,he    
that grieveth the ,spirit of ,god shall 
smart for it here1 or in hell1 or both4 
,and that ,spirit that  sometimes did   
illuminate1 teach1 and instruct them1   
can keep  silence1 can cause darkness1  
can4 withdraw itself1 and sufler the    
soul to sin more and more2 and this last
 is the very judgment of  judgments4 ,he
 that grieves the ,spirit1 quenches it2 
and he that  quenches it1 vexes it2 and 
he that vexes it1 sets it against       
himself1 and tempts it to hasten        

destruction upon himself4 #a ,thess4    
#e3ai4    ,wherefore take heed1         
professors1 ,i say1 take heed1 you that 
religiously name the name of ,christ1   
that you meddle not with  iniquity1 that
 you tempt not the ,spirit of the ,lord 
to do such  things against you2 whose   
beginnings are dreadful1 and whose end  
in  working of judgments is             
unsearchable4 ,isa4 #fc3aj2 ,acts #e3i4 
,a man knows not whither he is sjoing1  
nor where he shall stop1 that  is but   
entering into temptation2 nor whether he
 shall ever turn  back1 or go out at the
 gap that is right before him4    ,he   
that has begun to grieve the ,holy      
,ghost1 may be sufiered to go on  until 
he has sinned that sin which is called  
the sin against the  ,holy ,ghost4 ,and 
if ,god shall once give thee up to that1
 then1 thou  art in the ,,iron ,,cage1  
out of which there is neither           
deliverance nor  redemption4    ,there  
is a sin called the sin against the     
,holy ,ghost1 from which  there is no   

redemption1 and this sin doth more than 
ordinarily  befall professors2 for there
 are few1 if any1 that are not          
professors1 that are at present capable 
of sinning this sin4 ,they  which were  
once enlightened1 and have tasted the   
heavenly gift1 and  were made partakers 
of the ,holy ,ghost1 and have tasted the
 good word  of ,god1 and the powers of  
the world to come1 ,heb4#f3d1 #e--of    
this  sort are they that commit this    
sin4 ,peter also describes them to be   
such1 that sin the unpardonable sin3    
,for if after they have escaped  the    
pollution of the world1 through the     
knowledge of our ,lord and  ,saviour    
,jesus ,christ1 they are again entangled
 therein and overcome1  the latter end  
is worse with them than the beginning4  
#b ,pet4 #b3b4    ,the other passage in 
the tenth of the ,hebrews holdeth forth 
the same  thing3 ,for if we sin         
wilfully1 after we have received the    
knowledge  of the truth1 there remaineth
 no more sacrifice for sin4 but a       

certain fearful looking for of judgment 
and fiery indignation that  shall devour
 the adversaries4    ,these1 therefore1 
are the persons that are the prey for   
this sin4  ,this sin feedeth upon       
professors1 and they that are such do   
often  fall into the rnouth of this     
eater4    ,the unpardonable sin1 the sin
 against the ,holy ,ghost1 is a sin of  
this nature3 ,for a man after he hath   
made some profession of  salvation to   
come alone by the blood of ,jesus1      
together with some  lightand power of   
the same upon his spirit--,i say1 for   
him  knowingly1 wilfully1 and           
despitefully to trample upon the blood  
of  ,christ shed on the cross1 and to   
count it an unholy thing1 or no  better 
than the blood of another man2 and      
rather to venture his soul  any other   
way1 than to be saved by this precious  
blood4    ,it is called the sin against 
the ,holy ,ghost1 because such sin      
against the manifest light of the       
,spirit2 that is1 they have been        

formerly enlightened into the nature of 
the gospel1 and the merits  of the man  
,christ1 and his blood1 righteousness1  
intercession1 etc41  and also have      
professed and confessed the same1 with  
some life and  comfort in and through   
the profession of him2 yet now against  
all  that light1 they maliciously and   
with despite to all their former        
profession1 turn their backs1 and       
trample upon the same4    ,this sin is  
immediately committed against the       
motions and  convictions and light of   
that ,holy ,spirit of ,god1 that makes  
it his  business to hand forth and      
manifest the truth and reality of the   
merits and virtue of the ,lord ,jesus4  
,to some men that have grievously sinned
 under a profession of the  gospel1     
,god4 gives this token of his           
displeasure3 they are denied  the power 
of repentance2 their heart is bound1    
they cannot repent4  ,it is impossible  
they should ever repent1 should they    
live a  thousand years4 ,it is          

impossible for those fall-aways to be   
renewed  again unto repentance1 seeing  
they crucify to themselves the ,son of  
,god afresh1 and put him to open shame4 
,now1 to have the heart so  hardened1 so
 judicially hardened1 this is as a bar  
put in by the  ,lord ,god against the   
salvation of this sinner4 ,this was the 
burden  of ,spira's complaint3 ,i cannot
 do it2 ,o1 now ,i cannot do it4        
,this man sees what he has done1 what   
should help him1 and what will  become  
of him2 yet he cannot repent4 ,he pulled
 away his shoulder  before1 he shut his 
eyes before1 and in that very posture   
,god left  him2 and so he stands to this
 very day4 ,i have had a fancy that     
,lot's wife1 when she was turned into a 
pillar of salt1 stood yet  looking over 
her shoulder1 or else with her face     
towards ,sodom2 as  the judgment caught 
her1 so it bound her1 and left her for a
  monument of ,god's anger to           
after-generations4    ,i have been the  
more plain and simple in my writing1    

because the sin  against the ,holy      
,ghost is in these days more common than
 formerly1  and the way unto it more    
beautified with color and pretence of   
truth  ,i may say of the way to this    
sin1 it is1 as was once the way to      
,jerusalem1 strewed with boughs and     
branches1 and by some there is  cried a 
kind of ,hosanna to them that are       
treading these steps to  hell4 ,oh1 the 
plausible pretences1 the golden names1  
the feigned  holiness1 the demure       
behavior mixed with damnable hypocrisy1 
that  attend the persons that have      
forsaken the ,lord ,jesus1 that have    
despised his person1 trampled upon him1 
and counted the blood of  the covenant  
wherewith they were sanctified an unholy
 thing4 ,they  have crucified him to    
themselves1 and think that they can go  
to  heaven without him1 yea1 pretend    
they love him1 when they hate him2      
pretend they have him1 when they have   
cast him off2 pretend they  trust in    
him1 when they bid defiance to his      

undertakings for the  world4    ,so they
 both went on1 and ,ignorance he came   
after4 ,now1 when they  had passed him a
 little way1 they entered into a very   
dark lane1  where they met a man whom   
seven devils had bound with seven strong
  cords1 and were carrying him back to  
the door that they saw on the  side of  
the hill4 ,matt4 #ab3 #de2 ,prov4 #e3   
#bb4 ,now good ,christian  began to     
tremble1 and so did ,hopeful1 his       
companion2 yet as the  devils led away  
the man1 ,christian looked to see if he 
knew him2 and  he thought it might be   
one ,turn-away that dwelt in the town of
  ,apostasy4 ,but he did not perfectly  
see his face2 for he did hang his  head 
like a thief that is found4 ,but being  
gone past1 ,hopeful looked  after him1  
and espied on his back a paper with this
 inscription3  ,wanton professor and    
damnable apostate4              ,,xxi4  
,,the ,,church4    ,,from ,,the         
,,preface ,,to ,,the ,,holy ,,city4     
,,upon a certain ,first-day1 ,i being   

together with my brethren in our        
prison-chamber1 they expected that1     
according to our custom1  something     
should be spoken out of the word for our
 mutual  edification2 but at that time  
,i felt myself--it being my turn to     
speak--so empty1 spiritless1 and barren1
 that ,i thought ,i should  not have    
been able to speak among them so much as
 five words of  truth1 with life and    
evidence3 but at last it so fell out    
that  providentially ,i cast my eye upon
 the #aath verse of the #bast chapter   
of this prophecy of ,revelation2 upon   
which when ,i had considered  awhile1   
methought ,i perceived something of that
 ,jasper1 in whose  light you there find
 this holy city is said to come or      
descend3  wherefore1 having got in my   
eye some dim glimmerings thereof1 and   
finding also in my heart a desire to see
 further thereinto1 ,i1 with  a few     
groans1 did carry my meditation to the  
,lord ,jesus for a  blessing4 ,this he  
did forthwith grant1 according to his   

grace2 and  helping me to set before my 
brethren1 we did all eat and were all   
refreshed2 and behold also1 that while  
,i was in the distributing of  it1 it so
 increased in my hand that1 of the      
fragments that we left  after we had    
well dined1 ,i gathered up this         
basketful4 ,methought the  more ,i cast 
my eye upon the whole discourse1 the    
more ,i saw lie in  it4 ,wherefore1     
setting myself to a more narrow search1 
through  frequent prayer to ,god--what  
first with doing1 and then with         
undoing1 and after that with doing      
again--,i thus did finish it4    ,but   
yet1 notwithstanding all my labor and   
travail in this matter1 ,i  do not1     
neither can ,i1 expect that every godly 
heart should in every  thing see the    
truth and excellency of what is here    
discoursed2  neither would ,i have them 
imagine that ,i have so thoroughly      
viewed  this holy city1 but that much   
more than ,i do here crush out is yet   
left in the cluster4 ,alas1 ,i shall    

only say thus3 ,i have crushed out  a   
little juice to sweeten their lips      
withal2 not doubting but in a  little   
time more large measures of the         
excellency of this city1 and  of its    
sweetness and glory1 will by others be  
opened and unfolded1  yea1 if not by the
 servants of the ,lord ,jesus1 yet by   
the ,lord  himself1 who will have this  
city builded and set in its own place4  
,,church-,,fellowship4    ,it is the    
ordinance of ,god1 that ,christians     
should be often  asserting the things of
 ,god to each other2 and that by their  
so  doing1 they should edify one        
another4    ,the doctrine of the gospel 
is like the dew and the small rain1 that
  distilleth upon the tender grass1     
wherewith it doth flourish and is  kept 
green4    ,christians are like the      
several flowers in a garden1 that have  
upon  each of them the dew of heaven2   
which being shaken with the wind1  let  
fall their dew at each other's roots1   
whereby they are jointly  nourished and 

become nourishers of one another4       
,church-fellowship1 rightly managed1 is 
the glory of all the world4  ,no place1 
no community1 no fellowship is adorned  
and bespangled with  such beauties1 as  
is a church rightly knit together to    
their ,head1  and lovingly serving one  
another4    ,the church and a profession
 are the best of places for the upright2
  but the worst in the world for the    
cumberground4    ,,the ,,church ,a      
,,light4    ,the ,holy ,ghost is well   
pleased to bring in the shining virtues 
of  the church1 under the--notion of a  
shining moon2 because1 as the  church   
herself is compared to the moon1 so her 
virtues are as  naturally compared to a 
shining light3 as ,christ saith1 ,let   
your  light so shine2 and again1 ,let   
your loins be girded1 and your  lights  
burning4 ,for indeed1 while we are here1
 that church and  congregation of the   
,lord doth most shine1 and most send    
forth the  golden rays and pleasant     
beams of ,christianity1 that is most in 

the  exercise of the aforementioned     
virtues4 ,take away the moon1 and the   
night is doubtful2 or1 though the moon  
be in the firmament1 if she  hath lost  
her light1 the night is not thereby made
 more comfortable4  ,and thus1 ,i say1  
it is first with the world1 where there 
is no  church to shine1 or where there  
is a church that doth not so shine  that
 others may see and be lighted4         
,,spiritual ,,character ,,of ,,the      
,,church4    ,she meddleth not with any 
man's matters but her own2 she comes all
  along by the king's highway2 that is1 
only by the rules that her  ,lord hath  
prescribed for her in his testament4    
,the governors of this  world need not  
at all fear a disturbance from her1 or a
 diminution  of aught they have4 ,she   
will not meddle with their fields nor   
vineyards1 neither will she drink of the
 water of their wells4 ,only  let her go
 by the king's highway1 and she will not
 turn to the right  hand or to the left1
 until she has passed all their borders 

,it is a  false report that the         
governors of the nations have received  
against  the city1 this new ,jerusalem1 
if they believe according to the tale   
that is told of her1 that she is and has
 been of old a rebellious  city1 and    
destructive to kings1 and a diminisher  
of their revenues4  ,she is not for     
meddling with any thing that is theirs1 
from a thread  even to a shoe-latchet4  
,her glory is spiritual and heavenly1   
and she  is satisfied with what is her  
own4 ',tis true1 the kings and nations  
of this world shall one day bring their 
glory and honor to this  city2 but yet  
not by outward force or compulsion3 none
 shall  constrain them but the love of  
,christ1 and the beauty of this city4   
,the ,gentiles shall come to thy light1 
and kings to the brightness  of thy     
rising4 ,the light and beauty of this   
city1 these only shall  engage their    
hearts and overcome them4    ,indeed1 if
 any shall1 out of mistrust or enmity   
against this city  and her prosperity1  

bend themselves to disappoint the       
designs of the  eternal ,god concerning 
her building and glory1 then they must  
take  what follows4 ,her ,god in the    
midst of her is mighty2 he will rest in 
his love1 and rejoice over her with     
singing1 and will ,,undo all that       
afflict her4 ,wherefore1 associate      
yourselves1 ,o ye people1 and ye  shall 
he broken in pieces2 for ,god is with   
us4    ,,warning ,,to ,,the ,,professor4
    ,he that sins himself out of the    
church1 can find no good in the  world2 
and they that have sinned ,god out1 can 
find no good in the  church4 ,a church  
that has sinned ,god away from it1 is a 
sad lump  indeed4 ,you1 therefore1 that 
are in ,god's church1 take heed of      
sinning yourselves out thence2 also take
 heed1 that while you keep  in1 you sin 
not ,god away1 for thenceforth no good  
is there4 ,yea1  woe unto them when ,i  
depart from them1 saith the ,lord4      
,,church-,,order4    ,it is hard to have
 all things according to rule in the day

 of the  church's affliction1 because of
 the weakness and fearfulness of  some1 
and because possibly those who have most
 skill in that matter  may for a time be
 laid up in chains4 ,but when the church
 has rest  and quietness1 then as she   
praises ,god1 so she conceives and      
brings  forth governors and good        
government and rule among her members4  
,david1 a man of blood1 could not build 
the house to the ,lord1 which  peaceable
 ,solomon1 that man of rest1 afterwards 
did4 ,when armies are  engaged and hot  
in battle1 it is harder to keep them in 
rank and  file than when they have rest 
and time for discipline4    ,,the       
,,church ,,in ,,affliction4    ,when the
 church of ,god is afflicted1 both      
heaven and hell have their  hand        
therein2 but from a differing           
consideration1 and to a diverse  end4   
,from heaven it comes1 that we may      
remember we have sinned1 and  that we   
may be made white and tried2 but from   
hell1 that we might  sin the more1 and  

that we might despair and be damned4    
,,satan',s ,,hostility ,,to ,,the       
,,church4    ,satan has tried many ways 
to be at amity with the church--not     
because he loves her holiness1 but      
because he hates her welfare4 ,and  that
 he might bring about his enterprise1 he
 sometimes has allured  her with the    
dainty delicacies of this world1 the    
lusts of the flesh  and of the eyes1 and
 the pride of life4 ,this being         
fruitless1 he has  attempted to entangle
 and bewitch her with his glorious      
appearance  as an angel of light2 and to
 that end he has made his ministers of  
righteousness1 preaching up             
righteousness1 and contending for a     
divine and holy worship4 ,but this      
failing also1 he has taken in hand  at  
length to fright her into friendship    
with him1 by stirring up the  hellish   
rage of tyrants to frighten and molest  
her2 by finding out  strange inventions 
to torment and afflict her children2 by 
making  many bloody examples of her own 

bowels before her eyes1 if by that      
means he might at last obtain his       
purpose4 ,but behold1 all has been  in  
vain2 there can be no reconciliation4   
,and why1 but because ,god  himself     
maintains the enmity8 ,god hath put     
enmity between the devil  and the woman2
 between that old serpent called the    
devil and ,satan1  and the holy and     
beloved and espoused wife of ,christ4   
,,security ,,of ,,the ,,church4    ,gold
 is a metal so invincible and           
unconquerable1 that no fire can  consume
 it3 it may burn it indeed1 and melt it2
 the dross indeed  doth consume and give
 way to the power of the fire1 but the  
gold  remains and holds its ground1 yea1
 it gets ground even of the  furnace and
 fire itself2 for the more it is burned 
and melted1 the  more it recovers its   
color1 and the more it shakes off its   
dross and  dishonor4    ,just thus it is
 with the people of ,god1 and hath been 
so even from  the beginning3 the more   
men oppressed them1 the more they grew4 

,his  church has been now for many      
hundred years in the king of ,babylon's 
furnace2 all which time she hath most   
gloriously endured and  withstood the   
heat2 and at last1 when the fire hath   
done its worst  against her1 behold1    
there comes out a city of gold4         
,wherefore1 let  her be bold to say1    
even before she comes out of the fire1  
,when ,i  am tried1 ,i shall come forth 
as gold4    ,so long as the church      
endured hardship and affliction1 she was
  greatly preserved from revolts and    
backslidings2 but after she had  turned 
her face from the sun1 and had found the
 plain of ,shinar1  ,genesis #aa1 that  
is1 the fleshly delights that the       
pleasures and  profits and honors of    
this world afford1 she1 forgetting the  
word  and order of ,god1 was content to 
dwell in the land of ,babel4    ,as the 
sins of ,god's people brought them into 
captivity1 so their  sins can hold them 
there2 yea1 and when the time comes that
 grace  must fetch them out1 yet the    

oxen that draw this cart may stumble1   
and the way1 through roughness1 may     
shake it sorely4 ,however1 heaven  rules
 and overrules3 and by one means and    
another1 as the captivity  of ,israel   
did seem to linger1 so it came out at   
the time appointed1  in the way that    
best pleased ,god1 that most profited   
them1 and that  most confounded those   
that were their implacable enemies4     
,this  therefore should instruct those  
that yet dwell where the woman  sitteth1
 to quietness and patience4    ,to      
quietness2 for ,god rules and has the   
disposal of things4 ,besides1  it is a  
kind of arraigning of his wisdom1 to be 
discontent at that  which at present is 
upon the wheel4 ,above all1 it          
displeases him  that any should seek1 or
 go about to revenge their own injuries1
 or  to work their own deliverances2 for
 that is the work of ,god3 nor is  he   
weak1 nor has he missed the opportunity2
 nor does he sleep1 but  waketh1 and    
waiteth to be gracious4    ,this also   

should teach them to be patient1 and put
 them upon bearing  what at present they
 may undergo1 patiently ,let them wait  
upon ,god2  patiently let them wait upon
 men1 and patiently let them bear the   
fruits of their own transgressions2     
which though they should be none  other 
but a deferring of the mercy wished for1
 is enough to try1 and  crack1 and break
 their patience1 if a continual supply  
and a daily  increase thereof be not    
given by the ,god of heaven4    ,and    
before ,i conclude this1 let me add one 
word more1 to wit1 to  exhort them to   
look that they may see what ,god at     
present may be  doing among the         
,babylonians4    ,when ,god had his     
people into ,babylon of old1 he         
presented them with  such varieties     
there as he never showed them in their  
own country4  ,and is there nothing now 
to be seen by them that are not yet     
delivered from that oppression1 that may
 give them occasion to stay  themselves 
and wonder8 ,what1 is preservation      

nothing8 ,what1 is  baffling and        
befooling the enemies of ,god's church  
nothing8 ,in the  ,maryan ,footnote3    
,upon the accession of ,mary to the     
throne of  ,england1 the sanguinary laws
 against heretics were revived1 and     
those shocking scenes of cruelty        
followed which have fixed upon this     
princess the epithet of ,bloody ,queen  
,mary4 ,her gloomy bigotry caused  that 
two hundred and seventy-seven persons   
should be committed to  the flames1     
including prelates1 private clergymen1  
laymen of all  ranks1 women1 and even   
children4    ,among the number were     
archbishop ,cranmer1 bishops ,ridley4   
,latimer1  and ,hooper1 ,john ,rogers1  
,john ,bradford1 and ,john ,philpot4    
,bishops ,latimer and ,ridley were burnt
 together4 ,when they came to  the      
stake1 ,dr4 ,ridley embraced ,latimer   
fervently1 and bade him be of  good     
heart2 he then knelt by the stake1 and  
after earnestly praying  together1 they 
had a short private conversation4 ,a    

lighted fagot was  laid at ,dr4         
,ridley's feet1 which caused the other  
to say1 ,be of  good cheer1 ,ridley1 and
 play the man4 ,we shall this day1 by   
,god's  grace1 light up such a candle in
 ,england1 as ,i trust will never be    
put out4 ,when ,dr4 ,ridley saw the     
flame approaching him1 he  exclaimed1   
,into thy hands1 ,o ,lord1 ,i commend my
 spirit4 ,latimer  ceased not to say1 ,o
 ,father of heaven1 receive my soul4    
,sanders1 another martyr1 was offered a 
pardon2 but he rejected it1  and        
embraced the stake1 saying1 ,welcome the
 cross of ,christ6  welcome1 everlasting
 life6 ,fox's ,book of ,martyrs and     
,hume's ,hist4  ,eng days here at home1 
there were such sweet songs sung in the 
fire1 such sweet notes answering them   
from prison1 and such  providences1 like
 coals of burning fire1 still dropping  
here and  there upon the heads of those 
that hated ,god1 that it might1 and     
douhtless did1 make those that did      
wisely consider of ,god's doings1  think

 ,god was yet near in behalf of his     
despised and afflicted  people4    ,deep
 things are seen by them that are upon  
the waters4 ,they that go  down to the  
sea in ships1 that do business in great 
waters1 these  see the works of the     
,lord and his wonders in the deep4      
,indeed it  oft falls out that the      
church sees more of ,god in affliction1 
than  when she is at rest and ease2 when
 she is tumbled to and fro with  waters1
 then she sees the works of ,god and his
 wonders in the deep4  ,and this makes  
persecution so pleasant a thing2 this   
makes the ark  go upon the face of the  
waters4 ,she sees more in this her      
state1  than in all the treasures of    
,egypt4    ,nothing is more natural to  
the church1 while in a wilderness       
condition1 than such cups and draughts  
as the cup of the ,lord's  fury1 the cup
 of trembling1 the cup of astonishment4 
,hence she is said to be clothed in     
sackcloth1 to mourn1 to weep1 to  cry   
out1 and to be in pain as a woman in    

travail4 ,since the church  in the      
wilderness has been so persecuted1 so   
distressed1 so  oppressed1 and made the 
seat of so much war1 so much blood1 and 
so  many murders of her children within 
her1 can it be imagined that she  drank 
of more of these cups8 ,yes1 yes1 she   
has drunk the red wine at  the ,lord's  
hand1 even the cup of blood1 of fury1 of
 trembling1 and  of astonishment2       
witness her own cries1 sighs1 tears1 and
  tremblings1 with the cries of the     
widows1 children1 and orphans  within   
her4    ,but all these cups are of pure 
gold4 ,they are of ,god's ordaining1    
appointing1 filling2 and also sanctified
 by him for good to those of  his that  
drink them4 ,hence ,moses chose rather  
to drink a brimmer of  these1 than to   
enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season4
    ,the sourness1 bitterness1 and      
wormwood of them1 therefore1 is only  to
 the flesh1 that loveth neither ,god1   
nor ,christ1 nor grace4 ,the            
afflictions1 therefore1 that the church 

in the wilderness hath met  with1 these 
cups of gold1 are of more worth than are
 all the  treasures of ,egypt2 they are 
needful and profitable1 and             
praiseworthy also1 and tend to the      
augmenting of our glory when the  next  
world shall come4    ,besides1 they are 
signs1 tokens1 and golden-marks of love1
 and  jewels that set off the beauty of 
the church in the sight of ,god the     
more4 ,they are also a means by which   
men are proved to be sound1  honest1    
faithful1 and true lovers of ,god2 to be
 those whose graces  are not            
counterfeit1 feigned1 or unsound1 but   
true1 and such as will  be found to     
praise and honor and glory at the       
appearing of ,jesus  ,christ4    ,and   
this has been the cause that the men of 
our church in the  wilderness have      
gloried in tribulation1 taking pleasure 
in  reproaches1 in necessities1 in      
persecutions1 and in distresses1 for    
,christ's sake4 ,yea1 this is the reason
 why they have bade one  another        

rejoice1 when they fell into divers     
temptations1 saying1  ,happy is the man 
that endureth temptations2 and1 ,behold1
 we count  them happy that endure4 ,and 
again1 ,if ye be reproached for the     
name of ,christ1 happy are ye4          
,these1 therefore1 are vessels of pure  
gold1 though they contain such  bitter  
draughts1 at which we make so many wry  
faces before we can  get them down4     
,do you think that a ,christian1 having 
even this cup in his hand to  drink1    
would change it for a draught of that   
which is in the hand of  the woman that 
sits on the back of the scarlet-colored 
beast8 ,no1  verily2 for he knows that  
her sweet is poison2 and that his bitter
  is to purge his soul1 body1 life1 and 
religion1 of death4    ,god sends his   
love-tokens to his church two ways2     
sometimes by her  friends1 sometimes by 
her enemies4 ,when they come by the hand
 of a  friend1 as by a minister1 a      
brother1 or by the ,holy ,ghost1 then   
they  come smoothly1 sweetly1 and are   

taken1 and go down like honey4 ,but     
when these love-tokens come to them by  
the hand of an enemy1 then  they are    
handed to them roughly4 ,pharaoh handed 
love-tokens to them  roughly2 the king  
of ,babylon handed these love-tokens to 
them  roughly4 ,they bring them of      
malice2 ,god sends them of love4 ,they  
bring them and give them to us1 hoping  
they will be our death2 they  give them 
therefore with many a foul curse2 but   
,god blesses them  still4    ,nor is    
this cup so bitter but that our ,lord   
himself drank deep of  it1 before it was
 handed to his church4 ,he did1 as      
loving mothers  do1 drink thereof       
himself1 to show us it is not poison1   
also to  encourage us to drink it for   
his sake1 and for our endless health4   
,therefore the cup is called ,christ's  
cup3 ,are ye able to drink of  the cup  
that ,i drink of8 ,ye shall indeed drink
 of my cup4 ,here you  see they are     
joined in a communion in this cup of    
affliction4    ,but these are not all   

the cups that belong to the church in   
the  wilderness4 ,there is also a cup1  
out of which1 at times1 is drunk  what  
is exceeding sweet4 ,it is called the   
cup of consolation1 the  cup of         
salvation2 a cup in which ,god himself  
is1 as ,david said1 ,the  ,lord is the  
portion of my cup4    ,this cup1 they   
that are in the church in the wilderness
 have usually  for an after-draught to  
that bitter one that went before4 ,thus1
 as  tender mothers give their children 
plums or sugar to sweeten their  palate 
after they have drunk a bitter potion1  
so ,god gives his  children the cups of 
salvation and consolation after they    
have  suffered awhile3 ,for as the      
sufferings of ,christ abound in us1 so  
our consolation aboundeth by ,christ4   
,some of these cups are filled until    
they run over2 as ,david said his  did1 
when the valley of the shadow of death  
was before him3 ,thou  preparest a table
 before me in the presence of mine      
enemies2 thou  anointest my head with   

oil2 my cup runneth over4    ,this is   
that which the apostle calls            
exceeding--that which is  beyond        
measure4 ,i am1 says he1 filled with    
comfort2 ,i am  exceeding joyful in all 
our tribulation4    ,now he has one     
answering the other3 ,thou hast made    
summer and  winter2 thou hast made the  
warm beams of thy sun answerable to the 
cold of the dark night4 ,this may yet be
 signified by the building  of this     
house1 this type of the church in the   
wilderness1 in so  pleasant a place as  
the forest of ,lebanon was4 ,lebanon6   
,lebanon was  one of the sweetest places
 in all the land of ,canaan4 ,therefore 
we  read of the fruit of ,lebanon1 of   
the streams from ,lebanon2 the  scent1  
the smell1 the glory of ,lebanon2 and   
also of the wine and  flowers of        
,lebanon4    ,lebanon6 ,that was one    
thing that wrought with ,moses to desire
 that  he might go over ,jordan1 that he
 might see that goodly mountain1 and    
,lebanon4 ,the glory and excellent      

beauty of the church ,christ also       
setteth forth by comparing her to       
,lebanon3 ,thy lips1 ,o my spouse1  drop
 as a honeycomb2 honey and milk are     
under thy tongue1 and the  smell of thy 
garments is like the smell of ,lebanon4 
,i know there are extravagant opinions  
in the world about the kingdom  of      
,christ1 as if it consisted in temporal 
glory in part2 and as if  he would take 
it to him by carnal weapons1 and so     
maintain it in its  greatness and       
grandeur4 ,but ,i confess myself an     
alien to these  notions1 and believe and
 profess quite the contrary1 and look   
for  the coming of ,christ to judgment  
personally2 and betwixt this and  that1 
for his coming in ,spirit and in the    
power of his word2 to  destroy          
antichrist1 to inform kings1 and so to  
give quietness to his  church on earth3 
which shall assuredly be accomplished   
when the  reign of the beast1 the false 
prophet1 and the man of sin is out4     
,let this teach men not to think that   

the church is cursed of ,god1  because  
she is put in a wilderness state4 ,alas1
 that is but to train  her up in a way  
of solitariness1 to make her ,canaan the
 more welcome  to her4 ,rest is sweet to
 a laboring man4    ,yea1 this condition
 is the first step to heaven2 yea1 it is
 a  preparation to that kingdom4 ,god's 
ways are not as man's3 ,i have  chosen  
thee1 saith he1 in the furnace of       
affliction4 ,when ,israel  came out of  
,egypt1 they were led of ,god into the  
wilderness4 ,but  why8 ,that he might   
have them to a land that he had espied  
for them1  that he might bring them to a
 city of habitation4    ,the world know 
not the way of the ,lord1 nor the       
judgment of our ,god4  ,do you think    
that saints that dwell in the world1 and
 that have more  of the mind of ,god    
than the world1 could so rejoice in     
,god1 in the  cross1 in tribulations and
 distresses1 were they not assured that 
through many tribulations is the very   
road to heaven8    ,let this then       

encourage the saints to hope1 and to    
rejoice in hope  of the glory of ,god1  
notwithstanding present tribulations4   
,this is  our seed-time1 our winter3    
afflictions are to try us of what mettle
  we are made2 yea1 and to shake off    
worm-eaten fruit1 and such as are       
rotten a core4    ,troubles for         
,christ's sake are but like the prick of
 an awl in the  tip of the ear1 in order
 to hang a jewel there4    ,let this    
also put the saints upon patience4 ,when
 we know that a  trial will have an end1
 we are encouraged to exercise patience4
 ,i  have a bad master1 but ,i have only
 a year to serve under him1 and  that   
makes me serve him with patience4 ,i    
have but a mile to go in  this dirty    
way1 and then ,i shall have my path     
pleasant and green1  and this makes me  
tread the dirty way with patience4    ,i
 am now in my rags2 but by that a       
quarter of a year is come and  gone1 two
 hundred ,footnote3 ,that is1 pounds3 a 
large income in the  ,england ,bunyan's 

day4 a year comes into my hand2         
wherefore ,i will  wait and exercise    
patience4 ,thus might ,i multiply       
comparisons4    ,be patient1 then1 my   
brethren4 ,but how long8 ,to the coming 
of the  ,lord4 ,but when will that be8  
,the coming of the ,lord draweth nigh4  
,how unseen the strength of the church  
under persecution is of all  that are   
without her4 ,alas1 they think that she 
will be run down  with a push2 or1 as   
they said1 ,what do these feeble ,jews8 
,will they  fortify themselves8 will    
they sacrifice8 will they make an end in
 a  day8 will they revive the stones out
 of the heaps of rubbish which  are     
burnt8 ,alas1 if a fox go up1 he will   
even break down their stone  wall4      
,but do you think these men saw the     
strength of the ,jews8 ,no1 no2  their  
pillars were within1 and so were        
shadowed from their eyes4  ,david       
himself could not tell what judgment to 
make of the way of the  world against   
the people of ,god1 until he went into  

the sanctuary of  ,god4    ,how then can
 the world judge of the condition of the
 saints8 ,alas1  had they known the     
church's strength1 surely they would not
 have so  furiously assaulted her4 ,but 
what have they got by all they have     
done1 either1 against the ,head or body 
of the church8    ,she has yet being in 
the world1 and will have1 shall have1   
though  all the nations on earth should 
gather themselves together against  her4
 ,nor is it the cutting off of many that
 will make her cease to  flourish4      
,alas1 were she not sometimes pruned and
 trimmed1 her  boughs would stand too   
thick4 ,those therefore that are taken  
away  with ,god's pruning-hooks1 are    
removed that the under branches may     
grow the better4    ,no man needs be    
afraid to let ,jesus ,christ be chief in
 the world3 he  envies nobody2 he       
designs the hurt of none3 his kingdom is
 not of  this world1 nor doth he covet  
temporal matters3 let but his wife1  his
 church1 alone1 to enjoy her purchased  

privileges1 and all shall  be well2     
which privileges of hers1 since they are
 soul-concerns1  make no infringement   
upon any man's liberties4 ,let but faith
 and  holiness walk the streets without 
control1 and you may be as happy  as the
 world can make you4 ,i speak now to    
them that contend with  him4    ,but if 
seasonable counsel will not go down1 if 
hardness of heart and  blindness of mind
 and so perishing from the way shall    
overtake you1  it is but what you of old
 have been cautioned of3 ,be wise now1  
therefore1 ,o ye kings2 be instructed1  
ye judges of the earth4 ,serve  the     
,lord with fear1 and rejoice with       
trembling4 ,kiss the ,son1 lest  he be  
angry1 and ye perish from the way when  
his wrath is kindled  but a little4     
,blessed are all they that put their    
trust in him4    ,the very name of      
,jesus is the very tower of the         
,christian church1  and that by which   
she frights the world1 not designedly1  
but through  their misunderstanding2 for

 neither she nor her ,jesus is for doing
  them any hurt4 ,however1 this is that 
which renders her yet1 in their  eye1   
terrible as an army with banners4       
,always when antichrist made his inroads
 upon the church in the  wilderness1 to 
slay1 to cut off1 and to kill1 yet some 
of the  pillars stood2 they were not all
 burnt in the fire1 nor cut down4  ,they
 said indeed1 ,come1 let us cut them off
 from being a nation1  that the name of 
,israel may be no more in remembrance4  
,but what  then8 ,there is a difference 
betwixt saying and doing2 the bush was  
not therefore consumed because it was   
set on fire2 the church shall  not be   
consumed1 although she be afflicted4    
,and the reason is1 because ,god has his
 reserve3 therefore if ,abel  falls by  
the hand of ,cain1 ,seth is put in his  
place2 if ,moses is  taken away1 ,joshua
 shall succeed him2 and if the devil    
break the  neck of ,judas1 ,matthias is 
at hand to take his office4 ,god has a  
succession of pillars in his house2 he  

has to himself a reserve4    ,they      
therefore brought out ,faithful1 to do  
with him according to  their law2 and   
first they scourged him1 then they      
buffeted him1 then  they lanced his     
flesh with knives2 after they had stoned
 him with  stones1 they pricked him with
 their swords2 and last of all1 they    
burned him to ashes at the stake4 ,thus 
came ,faithful to his end4 ,now  ,i saw 
in my dream that ,christian went not    
forth alone1 for there was  one whose   
name was ,hopeful--being so made by the 
beholding of  ,christian and ,faithful  
in their words and behavior in their    
sufferings at the fair--who joined      
himself unto him2 and entering  into a  
brotherly covenant1 told him that he    
would be his companion4    ,thus one    
died to bear testimony to the truth1 and
 another rises out  of his ashes1 to be 
a companion with ,christian in his      
pilgrimage4    ,and she bare a son1 and 
called his name ,seth2 for ,god1 saith  
she1  hath appointed me another seed    

instead of ,abel1 whom ,cain slew4      
,gen4 #d4 ,when ,seth comes1 then the   
ground is made good again2 then a       
living saint is found to stand1 and     
maintain that truth which but  now his  
brother bled for4    ,,the ,,future     
,,glory ,,of ,,the ,,church4    ,thy    
children shall all be holy or righteous1
 and great shall be the  peace of thy   
children2 and the nations of them that  
are saved shall  walk in the light of   
it4 ,surely the ,holy ,ghost would never
 have  spoken such a word as this if he 
had not intended to show us that at  the
 day of the setting up of this          
,jerusalem1 a great harvest of  sinners 
shall be gathered by the grace of the   
gospel4 ,but the truth  is1 the         
,scriptures go with open arms towards   
the latter end of the  world1 even as if
 they would grasp and compass about     
almost all  people then upon the face of
 the whole earth with the grace and     
mercy of ,god3 ,the earth shall be      
filled with the knowledge of the  glory 

of the ,lord1 as the waters cover the   
sea4    ,never was fair weather after   
foul1 nor warm weather after cold1 nor  
a sweet and beautiful spring after a    
heavy and nipping and terrible  winter1 
so comfortable1 sweet1 and desirable and
 welcome to the poor  birds and beasts  
of the field1 as this day will be to the
 church of  ,god4 ,darkness6 it was the 
plague of ,egypt2 it is an empty1       
forlorn1  desolate1 solitary1 and       
discomforting state4 ,wherefore light1  
even  the illuminating grace of ,god1   
especially in the measure that it  shall
 be communicated unto us at that day1 it
 must needs be  precious4 ,in light     
there is warmth and pleasure4 ,it is by 
the light  of the sun that the whole    
universe appears unto us distinctly1 and
  it is by the heat thereof that every  
thing groweth and flourisheth2  all     
which will now be gloriously and        
spiritually answered in this  holy and  
new ,jerusalem4 ,o how clearly will all 
the spiders and  dragons and owls and   

foul spirits of antichrist1 at that day1
 be  discovered by the light hereof4    
,now also will all the pretty and       
little birds in the ,lord's field1 most 
sweetly send forth their  pleasant      
notes1 and all the flowers and herbs in 
his garden spring4  ,then will it be    
said to the church by her husband and   
,saviour1 ,rise  up1 my love1 my fair   
one1 and come away2 for lo1 the winter  
is past1  the rain is over and gone1 the
 flowers appear on the earth1 the time  
of the singing of birds is come1 and the
 voice of the turtle is  heard in our   
land2 the fig-tree putteth forth her    
green figs1 and  the vine with her      
tender grapes give a good smell4 ,you   
know how  pleasant this is1 even to be  
fulfilled in the letter of it1 not only 
to birds and beasts1 but to men2        
especially it is pleasant to such  men  
as have for several years been held in  
the chains of affliction4  ,it must     
needs therefore be most pleasant and    
desirable to the  afflicted church of   

,christ1 who hath lain now in the       
dungeon of  antichrist for4 above a     
thousand years4 ,but1 ,lord1 how will   
this  lady1 when she gets her liberty   
and when she is returned to her own     
city1 how will she then take pleasure in
 the warmth and spangling  beams of thy 
shining grace1 and solace herself with  
thee in the  garden1 among the nuts and 
pomegranates1 among the lilies and      
flowers1 and all the chief spices6      
,and in the midst of the street of it1  
and on either side of the  river1 was   
there the tree of life1 which bare      
twelve manner of  fruits1 and yielded   
her fruit every month2 and the leaves of
 the  tree were for the healing of the  
nations4    ,this tree of life is the   
,lord ,jesus ,christ2 and that he is    
here  called a tree1 is to show how     
fruitful and exceeding advantageous he  
in all his benefits will be to the      
inhabitants of this city4 ,this is  the 
tree under whose branches the fowls of  
heaven shall now most  safely lodge1 and

 find relief from the hot and fainting  
beams of the  persecuting sun of this   
world4    ,in that he saith this city   
hath a tree of life in it1 he alludes to
  the garden of ,eden1 the pleasant     
paradise that ,god began the world      
withal2 whereby he signifies1 that as   
the world began with a  paradise1 so    
also it shall end with a paradise1 when 
sin and ,satan  have done their worst4  
,this new ,jerusalem shall be the       
wind-up of  the world2 and in it shall  
stand the tree of life1 as there stood  
one in the goodly garden which was the  
beginning thereof4    ,now this tree of 
life being in the midst of this city1 it
 signifies  that the inhabitants of it  
shall be sweetly shadowed1 refreshed1   
and  defended with its coolness1 and    
also sweetly nourished and comforted    
with its dainties4 ,as the apple-tree is
 among the trees of the  wood1 so is my 
,beloved among the sons4 ,i sat under   
his shadow with  great delight1 and his 
fruit was sweet to my taste4 ,indeed the

  shadow of this tree of life1 as always
 it is refreshing to the  tempted and   
weary1 so now it will be far more3 ,they
 that dwell  under his shadow shall     
return2 they shall revive as the corn   
and  grow as the vine1 and the scent    
thereof shall be as the wine of         
,lebanon4 ,his shadow will make us      
return1 that is1 to our first  love--to 
the days of our youth1 to our young1    
fresh1 tender1 and  flourishing faith1  
love1 and self-denial1 that we received 
in the  day of our espousals4    ,o they
 will be green1 savory1 reviving1       
flourishing1 growing  ,christians that  
shall walk the streets of the new       
,jerusalem4    ,now there shall be a    
oneness of judgment and understanding in
 the  hearts of all saints2 they shall  
be now no more two1 but one in the      
,lord's hand4    ,alas1 the saints are  
yet but as an army routed1 and are apt  
sometimes through fear1 and sometimes   
through forgetfulness1 to  mistake the  
word of their ,captain-general the ,son 

of ,god1 and are  also too1 too prone to
 shoot and kill even their very         
right-hand  man4 ,but at that day all   
such doing shall be laid aside1 for the 
knowledge of the glory of the ,lord     
shall cover the earth1 as the  waters   
cover the sea3 which knowledge shall    
then strike through the  heart and liver
 of all swerving and unsound opinions in
 ,christ's  matters2 for then shall     
every one of the ,christians call upon  
the  name of the ,lord1 and that with   
one pure lip1 or language1 to serve  him
 with one consent4              ,,xxii4 
,the ,ministry4    ,importance of the   
ministry4            ,the church itself1
 without its watchmen1 is a weak1       
feeble1 and very  helpless thing4 ,what 
can the lady or mistress do to defend   
herself  against thieves and sturdy     
villains1 if there be none but she at   
home8 ,it is said1 when the shepherd is 
smitten1 the sheep will be  scattered4  
,what could the temple do without its   
watchmen8 #a ,chron4  #i3bd4    ,then   

let the churches love their pastors1    
hear their pastors1 be  ruled by their  
pastors1 and suffer themselves to be    
watched over1  and to be exhorted1      
counselled1 and if need be1 reproved and
 rebuked  by their pastors4 ,and let the
 ministers not sleep1 but be watchful1  
and look to the ordinances1 to the souls
 of the saints1 and the  gates of the   
church4 ,watch1 man2 ,,watch1 ,,man2    
,,watch6    ,duty ,of ,churches ,to ,the
 ,ministry4    ,o churches1 let your    
ministers be beautified with your love2 
that  they may beautify you with their  
love1 and also be an ornament unto  you1
 and to that gospel they minister to    
you1 for ,jesus ,christ's  sake4        
,different ,classes ,of ,ministers4     
,is the soul such an excellent thing1   
and is the loss thereof so  unspeakably 
great8 ,then this should teach the      
people to be very  careful to whom they 
commit the teaching and guidance of     
their  souls4    ,this is a business of 
the greatest concern3 men will be       

careful to  whom they commit their      
children1 whom they make the executors  
of  their wills1 in whose hand they     
trust the writing and evidences of      
their lands2 but how much more careful  
should we be1 unto whom we  commit the  
teaching and guidance of our souls4 ,and
 yet most men are  in these matters     
least of all careful4    ,there are idol
 shepherds4 ,zech4 #aa3g4 ,there are    
foolish shepherds4  ,zech4 #aa3ae4      
,there are shepherds that feed          
themselves1 and not their  flocks4      
,ezek4 #cd3b4 ,there are hard-hearted   
and pitiless shepherds4  ,zech4 #aa3c4  
,there are shepherds that instead of    
healing1 smite1  push1 and wound the    
diseased4 ,ezek4 #cd3d1 #ba4 ,there are 
shepherds  that cause their flocks to go
 astray4 ,jer4 #ej3f4 ,and there are    
shepherds that feed their flocks3 these 
are the shepherds to whom  thou shouldst
 commit thy soul for teaching and for   
guidance4    ,then said the             
,interpreter1 ,come in2 ,i will show    

thee that which  will be profitable to  
thee4 ,so he commanded his man to light 
a  candle1 and bade ,christian follow   
him4 ,so he had him into a private      
room1 and bid his man open a door3 the  
which when he had done1  ,christian saw 
the picture of a very grave person hang 
up against the  wall2 and this was the  
fashion of it3 it had eyes lifted up to 
heaven1 the best of books in its hand1  
the law of truth was written  upon its  
lips1 the world was behind its back2 it 
stood as if it  pleaded with men1 and a 
crown of gold did hang over its head4   
,then said ,christian1 ,what meaneth    
this8    ,,interpreter4 ,the man whose  
picture this is1 is one of a thousand2  
he can beget children1 #a ,cor4 #d3ae1  
travail in birth with children1  ,gal4  
#d3ai1 and nurse them himself when they 
are born4 ,and whereas  thou seest him  
with his eyes lifted up to heaven1 the  
best of books  in his hand1 and the law 
of truth written on his lips2 it is to  
show  thee that his work is to know and 

to unfold dark things to sinners2  even 
as also thou seest him stand as if he   
pleaded with men4 ,and  whereas thou    
seest the world as cast behind him1 and 
that a crown  hangs over his head2 that 
is to show thee that1 slighting and     
despising the things that are present   
for the love that he hath to  his       
,master's service1 he is sure1 in the   
world that comes next1 to  have glory   
for his reward4    ,now1 said the       
,interpreter1 ,i have showed thee this  
picture first1  because the man whose   
picture this is1 is the only man whom   
the ,lord  of the place whither thou art
 going hath authorized to be thy guide  
in all difficult places thou mayest meet
 with in the way2 wherefore1  take good 
heed to what ,i have showed thee1 and   
bear well in thy mind  what thou hast   
seen1 lest in thy journey thau meet with
 some that  pretend to lead thee right1 
but their way goes down to death4       
,,duty ,,of ,,ministers4    ,would      
,jesus ,christ have mercy offered in the

 first place to the  biggest sinners8   
then let ,god's ministers tell them so4 
,there is a tendency in us1 ,i know not 
how it doth come about1 when  we are    
converted to contemn them that are left 
behind4 ,poor fools as  we are1 we      
forget that we ourselves were so4       
,but would it not become us better1     
since we have tasted that the  ,lord is 
gracious1 so to act towards them that we
 may give them  convincing ground to    
believe that we have found that mercy   
which  also sets open the door for them 
to come and partake with us8            
,austerity doth not become us1 neither  
in doctrine nor in  conversation4 ,we   
ourselves live by grace2 let us give as 
we receive1  and labor to persuade our  
fellow-sinners whom ,god has left behind
  us1 to follow after1 that they may    
partake with us of grace4 ,we are  saved
 by grace1 let us live like them that   
are gracious4 ,let all our  things to   
the world be done in charity towards    
them2 pity them1 pray  for them1 be     

familiar with them for their good4 ,let 
us lay aside our  foolish1 worldly1     
carnal grandeur2 let us not walk the    
streets1 and  have such behaviors as    
signify we are scarce for touching the  
poor  ones that are left behind1 no1 not
 with a pair of tongs4    ,remember your
 ,lord2 he was familiar with publicans  
and sinners to a  proverb4 ,behold a    
gluttonous man and a wine-bibber2 a     
friend of  publicans and sinners4 ,matt4
 #aa3ai4 ,the first part1 concerning his
  gluttonous eating and drinking1 to be 
sure1 was a horrible slander2  but for  
the other1 nothing was ever spoken truer
 of him by the  world4    ,now why      
should we lay hands cross on this text2 
that is1 choose good  victuals and love 
the sweet wine better than the salvation
 of the  poor publican8 ,why not be     
familiar with sinners1 provided we hate 
their spots and blemishes1 and seek that
 they may be healed of them8  ,why not  
be fellowly with our carnal neighbors1  
if we take occasion  to do so that we   

may drop and be distilling some good    
doctrine upon  their souls8 ,why not go 
to the poor man's house1 and give him a 
penny and a scripture to think upon8    
,,ministers ,,warned4    ,there were    
giants in the earth in those days4      
,these words seem to  be spoken to show 
us the hazards that ,noah run while he  
preached the  truth of ,god2 he incurred
 the displeasure of the giants1 who     
doubtless made all men tremble and kept 
the whole world in awe4 ,but  ,noah must
 engage the giants1 he must not fear the
 face of a giant4    ,this way ,god also
 took with ,moses and with his people of
 ,israel4  ,they must go to possess the 
land of the giants1 a people high and   
tall as the cedars1 a people of whom    
went the proverb1 ,who can  stand before
 the children of ,anak8 ,they must not  
be afraid of ,og  the king of ,bashan1  
though his head be as high as the ridge 
of a  house1 and his bedstead a bedstead
 of iron4    ,this should teach us not  
to fear the faces of men2 no1 not the   

faces  of the mighty2 not to fear them  
in the matters of ,god1 though they     
should run upon us like a giant4        
,persecution1 or the appearance of the  
giants against the servants of  ,god1 is
 no new business2 not a thing of        
yesterday1 but of old1 even  when ,noah 
did minister for ,god in the world4     
,and ,noah began to be a husbandman4    
,this trade he took up for want  of     
better employment2 or rather1 in mine   
opinion1 from some liberty  he took to  
himself to be remiss in his care and    
work as a preacher4  ,for seeing the    
church was now at rest1 and having the  
world before  them1 they still retaining
 outward sobriety1 poor ,noah1 good man1
  now might think with himself1 ,i need 
not now be so diligent1  watchful1 and  
painful in my ministry as formerly2 the 
church is but  small1 without opposition
 and also well settled in the truth2 ,i 
may  now take to myself a little time to
 tamper with worldly things4 ,so  he    
makes an essay upon husbandry3 ,he began

 to be a husbandman4 ,ha1  ,noah1 it was
 better with thee when thou wast better 
employed2 yea1  it was better with thee 
when a world of ungodly men set         
themselves  against thee--yea1 when     
every day thy life was in danger to be  
destroyed by the giants1 against whom   
thou wast preacher above a  hundred     
years--for then thou didst walk with    
,god3 then thou wast  better than all   
the world2 but now thou art in the      
relapse4    ,,ministers1 ,,servants ,,of
 ,,the ,,church4    ,gifts and office   
make no men sons of ,god2 as so1 they   
are but  servants2 though these1 as     
ministers and apostles1 were servants of
  the highest form4 ,it is the church1  
as such1 that is the lady1 a  queen1 the
 bride1 the ,lamb's wife2 and prophets1 
apostles1 and  ministers are but        
servants1 stewards1 laborers for her    
good4    ,as therefore the lady is above
 the servant1 the queen above the       
steward1 or the wife above all her      
husband's officers1 so is the  church1  

as such1 above these officers4          
,,gifts ,,and ,,grace ,,in ,,ministers4 
,a tinkling cymbal1 #a ,cor4 #ac3a1 #b1 
is an instrument of music with  which a 
skilful player can make such melodious  
and heart-inflaming  music1 that all who
 hear him play can scarcely hold from   
dancing2  and yet behold1 the cymbal    
hath not life1 neither comes the music  
from it1 but because of the art of him  
that plays therewith2 so then  the      
instrument at last may come to naught   
and perish1--though in  times past such 
music hath been made upon it4    ,just  
thus ,i saw it was and will be with them
 that have gifts1 but  want saving      
grace3 they are in the hand of ,christ1 
as the cymbal in  the hand of ,david2   
and as ,david could with the cymbal make
 that  mirth in the service of ,god as  
to elevate the hearts of the            
worshippers1 ,christ can so use these   
gifted men1 as with them to  affect the 
souls of his people in his church2 and  
yet when he hath  done all1 hang them   

by1 as lifeless1 though sounding        
cymbals4    ,a man may be used as a     
servant in the church of ,god1 and may  
receive  many gifts and much knowledge  
of the things of heaven1 and yet at     
last1 himself be no more than a very    
bubble and nothing4    ,this our day    
doth indeed abound with gifts2 many     
sparkling wits are  seen in every       
corner2 men have the word and truths of 
,christ at  their fingers' ends4 ,but   
alas1 with many1 yea a great many1 there
 is  naught but wits and gifts3 they are
 but words2 all their religion  lieth in
 their tongues and heads2 the power of  
what they say and  know is seen in      
others1 not in themselves4 ,these are   
like the lord  on whom the king of      
,israel leaned2 they shall see the      
plenty1 the  blessed plenty that ,god   
doth provide and will bestow upon his   
church1 but they shall not taste        
thereof4    ,alas1 great light1 great   
parts1 great works1 and great confidence
 of  heaven1 may be where there is no   

faith of ,god's elect1 no love of  the  
,spirit1 no repentance unto salvation1  
no sanctification of the  ,spirit1 and  
so1 consequently1 no saving grace4      
,,the ,,false ,,minister4    ,so        
,christian and ,hopeful went on1 and    
,ignorance followed4 ,they went  then   
till they came to a place where they saw
 a way put itself into  their way1 and  
seemed withal to lie as straight as the 
way which  they should go2 and here they
 knew not which of the two to take1 for 
both seemed straight before them2       
therefore1 here they stood still  to    
consider4    ,and as they wore thinking 
about the way1 behold1 a man black of   
flesh1 but covered with a very light    
robe1 came to them1 and asked  them why 
they stood there4 ,they answered1 that  
they were going to  the celestial city1 
but knew not which of these ways to     
take4  ,follow me1 said the man2 it is  
thither that ,i am going4 ,so they      
followed him in the way that but now    
came into the road1 which by  degrees   

turned1 and turned them so far from the 
city that they  desired to go to1 that  
in a little time their faces were turned
 away  from it2 yet they followed him4  
,but by and by1 before they were  aware1
 he led them both within the compass of 
a net1 in which they  were both so      
entangled that they knew not what to do2
 and with that  the white robe fell off 
from the black man's back3 then they saw
  where they were4 ,wherefore1 there    
they lay crying some time1 for  they    
could not get themselves out4    ,then  
said ,christian to his fellow1 ,now do  
,i see myself in an error4  ,did not the
 shepherds bid us beware of the         
flatterer8 ,thus they lay  bewailing    
themselves in the net4 ,at last they    
spied a shining one  coming towards them
 with a whip of small cords in his hand4
 ,when he  was come to the place where  
they were1 he asked them whence they    
came1 and what they did there4 ,they    
told him that they were poor  pilgrims  
going to ,zion1 but were led out of     

their way by a black man  clothed in    
white1 who bid us1 said they1 follow    
him1 for he was  going thither too4     
,then said he with the whip1 ,it is     
,flatterer1 a  false apostle that hath  
transformed himself into an angel of    
light4  ,so he rent the net1 and let the
 men out4    ,then said he to them1     
,follow me1 that ,i may set you in your 
way  again4 ,so he led them back to the 
way which they had left to follow  the  
flatterer4 ,then he asked them1 saying1 
,where did you lie the  last night8     
,they said1 ,with the shepherds upon the
 delectable  mountains4 ,he asked them  
then1 if they had not a note of         
direction  for the way4 ,they answered1 
,yes4 ,but did you not1 said he1 when   
you were at a stand1 pluck out and read 
your note8 ,they answered1  ,no4 ,he    
asked them1 ,why8 ,they said they       
forgot4 ,he asked1  moreover1 if the    
shepherds did not bid them beware of the
 flatterer4  ,they answered1 ,yes2 but  
we did not imagine1 said they1 that this

  fine-spoken man had been he4 ,rom4    
#af3ag1 #ah4    ,then ,i saw in my dream
 that he commanded them to lie down1    
,deut4  #bi3b2 which when they did1 he  
chastised them sore1 to teach them the  
good way wherein they should walk1 #b   
,chron4 #f3bf1 #bg2 and as he  chastised
 them he said1 ,as many as ,i love1 ,i  
rebuke and chasten2 be  zealous         
therefore and repent4 ,this done1 he bid
 them go on their  way1 and take heed to
 the other directions of the shepherds4 
,so they  thanked him for his kindness1 
and went softly along the right way1    
singing4    ,another reason why         
delusions do so easily take place in the
 hearts  of the ignorant1 is because    
those that pretend to be their teachers 
do behave themselves so basely among    
them4 ,and indeed ,i may say of  these1 
as our ,lord said of the ,pharisees in  
another case1 ,all the  blood of the    
ignorant1 from the beginning of the     
world1 shall be  laid to the charge of  
this generation4 ,they that pretend they

 are  sent of the ,lord1 and come       
saying1 ,thus saith the ,lord2 we are   
the  servants of the ,lord2 our         
commission is from the ,lord--,i say1   
those  who pretend themselves to be the 
preachers of truth1 but are not1 do  by 
their loose conversation render the true
 doctrine of ,god and his  ,son ,jesus  
,christ contemptible1 and do give the   
adversary mighty  encouragement to cry  
out against the truths of our ,lord     
,jesus  ,christ1 because of their wicked
 walking4 ,now shall not his soul be    
avenged on such a nation as this8 who   
pretend to be teachers of the  people in
 goodness1 when1 as for the most part of
 them1 they are the  men that at this   
day do harden their hearers in their    
sins1 by  giving them such ill examples 
that none goeth beyond them for         
impiety8 ,as for example1 ,would a      
parishioner learn to be proud8 he  or   
she need look no further than to the    
priest1 his wife1 and  family2 for there
 is a notable pattern before them4      

,would the people  learn to be wanton8  
they may also see a pattern among their 
teachers4 ,would they learn to be       
drunkards8 they may also have that  from
 some of their ministers2 for indeed    
they are ministers in this1  to minister
 ill examples to their congregations4   
,again1 would the  people learn to be   
covetous8 they need but look to their   
ministers1  and they shall have a       
lively1 or rather a deadly1 resemblance 
set  before them1 in both riding and    
running after great benefices and       
parsonages1 by night and by day2 nay1   
they among themselves will  scramble for
 the same4 ,i have seen1 that so soon as
 a man hath but  departed from his      
benefice as he calls it1 either by death
 or out of  covetousness of a bigger1 we
 have had one priest from this town1 and
  another from that1 so run for these   
tithe-cocks and handfuls of  barley1 as 
if it were their proper trade and       
calling to hunt after  the same4    ,a  
covetous minister is a base thing2 a    

pillar more symbolizing ,lot's  wife1   
than a holy apostle of ,jesus ,christ4  
,the unbelieving world slight the       
,scriptures because carnal priests      
tickle the ears of their hearers with   
vain philosophy and deceit1  and thereby
 harden their hearts against the        
simplicity of the gospel  and word of   
,god2 which things the apostle          
admonished those that have  a mind to   
close in with ,christ1 to avoid1 saying1
 ,beware lest any  man1 be he what he   
will1 spoil you through philosophy and  
vain  deceit1 after the traditions of   
men and rudiments of the world1 and  not
 after ,christ4    ,and you who muzzle  
up your people in ignorance1 with       
,aristotle1  ,plato1 and the rest of the
 heathenish philosophers1 and preach    
little if any thing of ,christ          
rightly--,i say unto you1 that you will 
find you have sinned against ,god and   
beguiled your hearers1 when ,god  shall 
in the judgment-day lay the cause of the
 damnation of many  thousands of souls  

to your charge1 and say1 ,i will require
 their  blood at your hands4    ,,the   
,,minister ,,at ,,the ,,day ,,of        
,,judgment4    ,some men1 it is to be   
feared1 at the day of judgment1 will be 
found  to be the authors of destroying  
whole nations4 ,how many souls1 do  you 
think1 ,balaam with his deceit will have
 to answer for8 ,how many  ,mahomet8    
,how many the ,pharisees that hired the 
soldiers to say the  disciples stole    
away ,jesus1 and by that means stumbled 
their  brethren to this day8    ,how    
many poor souls hath ,bonner to answer  
for1 think you2 and  several filthy1    
blind priests8 ,how many souls have they
 been the  means of destroying by their 
ignorance and corrupt doctrine8         
preaching that which was no better for  
their souls than ratsbane to  the body1 
for filthy lucre's sake4 ,they shall see
 that they1 many of  them it is to be   
feared1 will have whole towns to answer 
for1 whole  cities to answer for4 ,ah1  
friend1 ,i tell thee1 thou that hast    

taken  in hand to preach to the people1 
it may be thou hast taken in hand  thou 
canst not tell what4 ,will it not grieve
 thee to see thy whole  parish come     
bellowing after thee to hell1 crying    
out1 ,this we may  thank thee for2 thou 
didst not teach us the truth2 thou didst
 lead  us away with fables2 thou wast   
afraid to tell us of our sins1 lest  we 
should not put meat fast enough into thy
 mouth4 ,o cursed wretch1  that ever    
thou shouldst beguile us thus1 deceive  
us thus1 flatter us  thus4 ,we would    
have gone out to hear the word abroad1  
but that thou  didst reprove us1 and    
also tell us that that which we see now 
is the  way of ,god was heresy and a    
deceivable doctrine1 and wast not       
contented1 blind guide as thou wert1 to 
fall into the ditch thyself1  but hast  
also led us thither with thee4    ,i    
say1 look to thyself1 lest thou cry out 
when it is too late1 ,send  ,lazarus to 
my people1 my friends1 my children1 my  
congregation to  whom ,i preached1 and  

whom ,i beguiled through my folly4 ,send
 him to  the town in which ,i did preach
 last1 lest ,i be the cause of their    
damnation4    ,,bunyan',s ,,ministry4   
,in my preaching of the word1 ,i took   
special notice of this one  thing1      
namely1 that the ,lord did lead me to   
begin where his word  begins with       
sinners2 that is1 to condemn all flesh1 
and to open and  allege that the curse  
of ,god by the law doth belong to1 and  
lay hold  on all men as they come into  
the world1 because of sin4    ,now this 
part of my work ,i fulfilled with great 
feeling2 for the  terrors of the law1   
and guilt for my transgressions1 lay    
heavy on my  conscience3 ,i preached    
what ,i felt1 what ,i smartingly did    
feel2 even  that under which my poor    
soul did groan and tremble to           
astonishment4    ,indeed1 ,i have been  
as one sent to them from the dead2 ,i   
went myself  in chains1 to preach to    
them in chains2 and carried that fire in
 my  own conscience1 that ,i persuaded  

them to be aware of4 ,i can truly  say1 
and that without dissembling1 that when 
,i have been to preach1  ,i have gone   
full of guilt and terror even to the    
pulpit-door1 and  there it hath been    
taken off1 and ,i have been at liberty  
in my mind  until ,i have done my work2 
and then immediately1 even before ,i    
could  get down the pulpit-stairs1 ,i   
have been as bad as ,i was before2 yet  
,god carried me on1 but surely with a   
strong hand1 for neither guilt  nor hell
 could take me off my work4    ,thus ,i 
went on for the space of two years1     
crying out against men's  sins1 and     
their fearful state because of them4    
,after which the ,lord  came in upon my 
soul with some sure peace and comfort   
through  ,christ2 for he did give me    
many sweet discoveries of his blessed   
grace through him3 wherefore now ,i     
altered my preaching--for still ,i      
preached what ,i saw and felt4 ,now1    
therefore1 ,i did much labor to  hold   
forth ,jesus ,christ in all his offices1

 relations1 and benefits  unto the      
world2 and did strive also to discover1 
to condemn1 and  remove those false     
supports and props on which the world   
doth both  lean and by them fall and    
perish4 ,on these things also ,i staid  
as  long as on the other4    ,when ,i   
have been preaching1 ,i thank ,god1 my  
heart hath often all the  time of this  
and the other exercise1 with great      
earnestness cried to  ,god that he would
 make the word effectual to the         
salvation of the  soul2 still being     
grieved lest the enemy should take the  
word away  from the conscience1 and so  
it should become unfruitful3 wherefore  
,i  have labored so to speak the word1  
as that thereby1 if it were  possible1  
the sin and person guilty might be      
particularized by it4    ,and when ,i   
have done the exercise1 it hath gone to 
my heart to think  the word should now  
fall as rain on stony places2 still     
wishing from  my heart1 ,oh1 that they  
who have heard me speak this day did but

 see  as ,i do1 what sin1 death1 hell1  
and the curse of ,god are2 and also     
what the grace1 and love1 and mercy of  
,god are1 through ,christ2 to  men in   
such a case as they are who are yet     
estranged from him4 ,and  indeed1 ,i did
 often say in my heart before the ,lord1
 that if ,i  should be hanged up        
presently before their eyes1 and it     
would be a  means to awaken them and    
confirm them in the truth1 ,i gladly    
should  be contented4    ,for ,i have   
been in my preaching1 especially when ,i
 have been engaged  in the doctrine of  
life by ,christ without works1 as if an 
angel of  ,god had stood at my back to  
encourage me4 ,oh1 it hath been with    
such  power and heavenly evidence upon  
my own soul1 while ,i have been         
laboring to unfold it1 to demonstrate   
it1 and to fasten it upon the           
consciences of others1 that ,i could not
 be contented with saying1 ,i  believe1 
and am sure4 ,methought ,i was more than
 sure--if it be  lawful thus to express 

myself--that those things which then ,i 
asserted were true4    ,if any of those 
who were awakened by my ministry did    
after that fall  back--as sometimes too 
many did--,i can truly say1 their loss  
hath  been more to me than if my own    
children1 begotten of my body1 had  been
 going to their grave4 ,i think verily  
,i may speak it without any  offence to 
the ,lord1 nothing has gone so near me  
as that2 unless it  was the fear of the 
loss of the salvation of my own soul4 ,i
 have  counted as if ,i had goodly      
buildings and lordships in those places 
where my children were born3 my heart   
hath been so wrapped up in the  glory of
 this excellent work1 that ,i counted   
myself more blessed and  honored of ,god
 by this1 than if he had made me emperor
 of the  ,christian world or the lord of
 all the glory of the earth without  it4
 ,oh these words3 ,he that converteth   
the sinner from the error of  his way1  
shall save a soul from death4 ,the fruit
 of the righteous  is a tree of life2   

and he that winneth souls is wise4 ,they
 that be  wise shall shine as the       
brightness of the firmament2 and they   
that  turn many to righteousness1 as the
 stars for ever and ever4 ,for  what is 
our hope1 our joy1 our crown of         
rejoicing8 ,are not even ye  in the     
presence of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ at 
his coming8 ,for ye are  our glory and  
joy4 ,these1 ,i say1 with many others of
 a like nature1  have been great        
refreshments to me4    ,i have observed 
that a word cast in by the by1 hath done
 more  execution in a sermon1 than all  
that was spoken besides3 sometimes      
also1 when ,i have thought ,i did no    
good1 then ,i did the most of all2  and 
at other times1 when ,i thought ,i could
 catch them1 ,i have fished  for        
nothing4    ,,bunyan',s ,,character     
,,and ,,principles    ,for my descent1  
it was1 as is well known by many1 of a  
low and  inconsiderable generation2 my  
father's house being of that rank that  
is meanest and most despised of all the 

families of the land4  ,wherefore ,i    
have not1 as others1 to boast of noble  
blood and of any  high-born estate      
according to the flesh2 though all      
things  considered1 ,i magnify the      
heavenly ,majesty for that by this door 
he  brought me into the world1 to       
partake of the grace and life that is   
in ,christ by the gospel4    ,what need 
you1 before you have showed one syllable
 of a reasonable  argument in opposition
 to what ,i assert1 thus trample my     
person1 my  gifts1 and grace--have ,i   
any--so disdainfully under your feet1   
because of my low descent among men2    
stigmatizing me for a person of  that   
rank that need not to be heeded4 ,and   
what1 is my rank so mean  that the most 
gracious and godly among you may not    
duly and soberly  consider what ,i have 
said8 ,was it not the act of the false  
apostles  to say thus--to bespatter a   
man that his doctrine might be          
disregarded8 ,is not this the carpenter8
 and1 ,his bodily presence  is weak and 

his speech contemptible1 did not use to 
be in the  mouths of the saints2 for    
they knew the wind blew where it listed4
  ,neither is it high birth1 worldly    
breeding1 or wealth2 but electing  love1
 grace1 and the wisdom that comes from  
heaven1 that those who  strive for      
strictness of order in4 the things and  
kingdom of ,christ1  should have in     
regard and esteem4 ,need ,i read you a  
lecture8 ,hath  not ,god chosen the     
foolish1 the weak1 the base1 yea and    
even things  that are not to bring to   
naught things that are8 ,why then do you
  despise my rank1 my state1 and quality
 in the world8    ,since you would know 
by what name ,i would be distinguished  
from  others1 ,i tell you1 ,i would be1 
and ,i hope ,i am1 ,a ,,christian2 and  
choose1 if ,god should count me worthy1 
to be called ,a ,,christian1 ,a         
,,believer1 or other such name which is 
approved by the ,holy ,ghost4    ,your  
artificial1 squibbling suggestions to   
the world about myself1  my             

imprisonment1 and the like1 ,i freely   
bind unto me as an ornament  among the  
rest of my reproaches1 till the ,lord   
shall wipe them off  at his coming4     
,faith and holiness are my professed    
principles1 with an endeavor1 so  far as
 in me lieth1 to be at peace with all   
men4 ,what shall ,i say8  ,let mine     
enemies themselves be judges1 if any    
thing in these  following doctrines1 or 
if aught that any man hath heard me     
preach1  doth or hath1 according to the 
true intent of my words1 savored  either
 of heresy or rebellion4 ,i say again1  
let them themselves be  judges1 if aught
 they find in my writing or preaching   
doth render me  worthy of almost twelve 
years' imprisonment1 or one that        
deserveth  to be hanged or banished for 
ever1 according to their tremendous     
sentence4 ,indeed my principles are such
 as lead me to a denial to  communicate 
in the things of the kingdom of ,christ 
with the ungodly  and open profane2     
neither can ,i consent that my soul     

should be  governed in any of my        
approaches to ,god by the superstitious 
inventions of this world1 because       
commanded to the contrary1 or  commended
 for so refusing4 ,wherefore1 excepting 
in this one  thing--for which ,i ought  
not to be rebuked--,i shall1 ,i trust1  
in  despite of slandor and falsehood1   
discover myself at all times a          
peaceable anl obedient subject4 ,but if 
nothing will do1 unless ,i  make my     
conscience a continual butchery or      
slaughter-shop--unless1  putting out    
mine own eyes1 ,i commit myself to the  
blind to lead me1  as ,i doubt not is   
desired by some--,i have determined1 the
 ,almighty  ,god being my help and      
shield1 yet to suffer1 if frail life    
might  continue so long1 even till the  
moss shall grow on mine eyebrows1       
rather than thus to violate my faith and
 principles4    ,to the reader4 ,i      
marvel not that both yourself and others
 do think  my long imprisonment         
strange--or rather strangely of me for  

the sake  of that--for verily ,i should 
also have done it myself1 had not the   
,holy ,ghost long since forbidden me4 #a
 ,pet4 #d3 #ab2 #a ,john1 #c3 #ac4      
,nay1 verily1 notwithstanding that1 had 
the adversary but fastened  the         
supposition of guilt upon me1 my long   
trials might by this time  have put it  
beyond dispute2 for ,i have not hitherto
 been so sordid1  as to stand to a      
doctrine right or wrong2 much less1 when
 so weighty  an argument as above eleven
 years' imprisonment is continually     
dogging of me to weigh and pause and    
weigh again the grounds and  foundation 
of those principles for which ,i thus   
have suffered4 ,but  having not only at 
my trial asserted them1 but also        
since--even all  this tedious tract of  
time1 in cool blood1 a thousand         
times--by the  word of ,god examined    
them1 and found them good1 ,i cannot1 ,i
 dare not  now revolt or deny the same1 
on pain of eternal damnation4           
,,xxiii4 ,,antichrist4    ,,antichrist  

,,described4            ,,antichrist is 
the adversary of ,christ2 an adversary  
really1 a friend  pretendedly4 ,so then 
antichrist is one that is against       
,christ2 one  that is for ,christ1 and  
one that is contrary to him2 and this is
  that mystery of iniquity4    ,against 
him in deed2 for him in word1 and       
contrary to him in  practice3 antichrist
 is so proud as to go before ,christ1 so
 humble  as to pretend to come after    
him1 and so audacious as to say that    
himself is ,,he4 ,antichrist will cry up
 ,christ2 antichrist will cry  down     
,christ2 antichrist will proclaim that  
himself is one above  ,christ4          
,antichrist is the man of sin1 the son  
of perdition2 a beast that  hath two    
horns like a lamb1 but speaks as a      
dragon4    ,christ is the ,son of ,god2 
antichrist is the son of hell4          
,christ is holy1 meek1 and forbearing2  
antichrist is wicked1  outrageous1 and  
exacting4    ,christ seeketh the good of
 the soul2 antichrist seeks his own     

avarice and revenge4    ,christ is      
content to rule by his word2 antichrist 
saith the word is  not sufficient4      
,christ preferreth his ,father's will   
above heaven and earth2  antichrist     
preferreth himself and his traditions   
above all that is  written1 or that is  
called ,god or worshipped4    ,christ   
has given us such laws and rules as are 
helpful and healthful  to the soul2     
antichrist seeketh to abuse those rules 
to our hurt and  destruction4    ,the   
spirit or soul or life of antichrist is 
that spirit of error1  that wicked1 that
 mystery of iniquity1 that under color  
and  pretence of verity draws men from  
truth to falsehood4    ,the body or     
flesh of antichrist is that church or   
synagogue of ,satan  in which the spirit
 of antichrist dwells1 or unto which the
 spirit  of antichrist is become a soul 
and life4    ,but ,god will destroy both
 soul and body4    ,antichrist therefore
 is a mystical man1 so made or begotten 
of the  devil1 and sent into the world1 

,satan himself being the chief and      
highest part of him4    ,three things   
therefore go to the making up of        
antichrist3 the head1  body1 and soul4  
,the devil1 he is the head2 the         
synagogue of ,satan1  that is the body2 
that wicked spirit of iniquity1 that is 
the soul  of antichrist4    ,christ then
 is the head of his church1 the devil is
 the head of  antichrist2 the elect are 
the body of ,christ1 the reprobate      
professors are the body of antichrist2  
the ,holy ,ghost is the ,spirit  of life
 that acteth ,christ's body2 that wicked
 spirit of iniquity is  that which      
acteth the body of antichrist4    ,thus 
therefore are the two great mighties set
 forth before us1 who  are the heads of 
those two bodies4    ,,rise ,,and       
,,progress ,,of ,,antichrist4    ,the   
reason why ,christ came into the world  
was1 that he might destroy  all the     
works of the head of antichrist1 and    
them which he endeavors  to complete by 
his wicked spirit working in his body4  

,and the reason  why antichrist came    
into the world was1 that the church1    
which is  the body of ,christ1 might be 
tried and made white by suffering under 
his tyranny1 and by bearing witness     
against his falsehoods4 ,for1 for  the  
trial of the faithful and for the       
punishment of the world1  antichrist was
 admitted to come4 ,but when he came1 he
 first appeared  where one would have   
thought there had been no place nor     
corner for  his reception4    ,here     
therefore was his first appearance1 even
 in the church of ,god4  ,not that the  
church did willingly admit him there to 
sit as such2 he  had covered his cloven 
foot2 he had plums in his dragon's      
mouth1 and  so came in by flatteries1   
promising to do for ,christ and his     
church  that which he never meant to    
perform2 for he showed himself that he  
was ,god1 and in appearance set his     
heart to do as the heart of ,god4       
,and who could have found in their heart
 to shut the door upon such a  one8     

,true1 he came1 when he came thither1   
out of the bottomless pit2  but there   
came such a smoke out thence with him1  
and that smoke so  darkened the light of
 the sun1 of the moon1 of the stars1 and
 of the  day1 that had they been upon   
their watch1 as they were not1 they     
could not have perceived him from       
another man4 ,besides1 there came  with 
him so many locusts to usher him into   
the house of ,god1 and  they so suited  
the flesh and reason of the godly of    
that day1 that  with good words and fair
 speeches1 by their crafty and cunning  
sleights whereby they lay in wait to    
deceive1 they quite got him in1  and set
 him up and made him a great one1 even  
the chief1 before they  were aware4     
,further1 he quickly got him a beast to 
ride on1 far1 for  sumptuous glory1     
beyond--though as to nature as assish a 
creature  as--that on which ,balaam was 
wont to ride2 and by this exaltation he 
not only became more stately1 but the   
horns of the beast would push  for him4 

,again1 this man of sin1 when he came   
into the world1 had the art of          
metamorphosing1 and could change        
himself1 both in form and shape1  into  
the likeness of a beast1 a man1 or      
woman4    ,a lily among thorns1 a pearl 
on a dunghill1 and beauty under a veil1 
will make one turn aside to look on it4 
,answerable to this1 the  church1 even  
in the wilderness or under persecution1 
is compared not  only to a woman1 but to
 a comely and delicate woman4 ,thus the 
church1 though in her weeds of          
widowhood1 is become the desire of  the 
eyes of the nations2 for indeed her     
features are such  considering who is   
her head1 where mostly to the eye beauty
 lies1  that whoso sees but the utmost  
glimpse of her is easily ravished  with 
her beauties4 ,the church1 the very name
 of the church of ,god is  beautiful in 
the world2 and as among women1 she that 
has beauty has  her head desired1 if it 
might be1 to stand upon another woman's 
shoulders2 so this and that and every   

nation that beholds the beauty  of the  
church1 would fain be called by that    
name4    ,the church1 one would think1  
was but in a homely dress when she was  
coming out of captivity2 and yet then   
the people of the countries  desired to 
be one with her3 ,let us1 said they to  
,zerubbabel and to  the fathers of the  
church1 build with you1 for we seek your
 ,god as  you do4    ,the very name of  
the church is striven for of the world2 
but that is  the church which ,christ   
has made so2 her features also remain   
with  herself4 ,hear the relation that  
the ,holy ,ghost gives of the  intrinsic
 beauty of the church when she was to go
 to be in a  persecuted state3 ,she was 
clothed with the sun1 had the moon under
  her feet1 and had upon her head a     
crown of twelve stars4 ,and yet  now the
 dragon stood by4 ,but ,i say1 here is a
 woman6 ,let any one who  will attempt  
it show such another in the world if he 
can4    ,they therefore that have any   
regard to morality1 civility1 or to     

ceremonial comeliness1 covet to be of   
the church of ,god1 or to  appropriate  
that glorious title to themselves4      
,and here indeed antichrist came in4    
,she took this name to herself2  and    
though she could not come at the sun1   
nor moon1 nor stars1 to  adorn herself  
with them1 yet she has found something  
that makes her  comely in her followers'
 eyes4 ,see how the ,holy ,ghost sets   
her  forth3 she was arrayed in purple   
and scarlet color1 and decked with  gold
 and precious stones and pearls1 having 
a golden cup in her  hand4 ,hence she is
 called the well-favored harlot1 the    
lady of  kingdoms4    ,but because the  
chaste matron1 the spouse of ,christ1   
would not allow  this harlot to run away
 with this name therefore she gets upon 
the  back of her beast1 and by him      
pushes this woman into the dirt2 but    
because her faith and love to her       
husband remain1 she turns again  and    
pleads by her titles1 her features1 and 
ornaments1 that she and  she only is she

 whose square answereth to the          
characters which her  ,lord had given of
 his own2 and so the strife began4 ,for 
so soon as  this mistress became a dame 
in the world1 and found that she had her
  stout abettors1 she attempts to turn  
all things topsy-turvy1 and to  set them
 and to make of them what she lists4    
,,corruption ,,of ,,the ,,church ,,by   
,,antichrist4    ,mischief must needs   
follow this ugly deed of the man of sin4
 ,if a  house be on fire1 though it is  
not burnt down1 the smell of the  flame 
may long remain there3 also we count it 
no wonder to see some  of the effects   
upon rafters1 beams1 and some of the    
principal posts  thereof4 ,the calf that
 was set up at ,dan defiled that people 
until  the captivity of the land4       
,for by antichristian darkness1 though  
they might call it light1 the  true     
light was darkened1 and so the eye made 
dim1 even the eye of  the truly godly4  
,also the ,holy ,ghost did much withdraw
 himself from  the church2 so the       

doctrines1 traditions1 and rudiments of 
the world  took more hold there1 and    
spread themselves more formidably over  
the  face of that whole church4    ,and 
this being the effect of light against  
light at first1 is the  cause of what to
 this day we see in the church among the
 true  brotherhood4 ,for as a cause     
produceth an effect1 so oftentimes an   
effect sets on foot another cause4      
,witness the jars1 the  oppositions1 the
 contentions1 emulations1 strifes1      
debates1  whisperings1 tumults1 and     
condemnations1 that like cannon-shot    
have  so frequently on all sides been   
let fly against one another4    ,the    
godly all hold the ,head2 for there     
antichrist could never divide  them4    
,their divisions therefore are only     
about smaller things4    ,i do not say  
that the antichristian darkness has done
 nothing in the  church as to the       
hurting it in the great things of ,god4 
,but ,i say1  it has not been able to do
 that which could sever their ,head from

  them4 ,otherwise1 there appears even  
too much of its doings there4  ,for even
 as to the offices of our ,lord1 some   
will have his authority  more large1    
some more strait2 some confine his rules
 to themselves  and to their more       
outward signification1 and some believe 
they are  extended further2 some will   
have his power in the church purely     
spiritual1 others again would have it   
mixed2 some count his word  perfect and 
sufficient to guide in all religious    
matters1 others  again hold that an     
addition of something human is          
necessary4    ,this darkness could not  
sever the true church from her ,head2   
yet it  has eclipsed the glory of       
things4 ,by two lights a man cannot see 
this or that thing so exactly as by one 
single light2 no1 they both  make all   
confused1 though they make not all      
invisible4 ,as for  instance1 sunlight  
and moonlight together1 firelight and   
sunlight  together1 candlelight and     
moonlight together1 make things more    

obscure than to look on them by a single
 light4 ,the word reflecting  upon the  
understanding without the interposing of
 man's traditions1  makes the mind of   
,god to a man more clear than when      
attended with  the other4    ,things    
therefore will never be well in the     
church of ,god so long as  there is thus
 light against light therein4 ,when     
there is but one  ,lord among us1 and   
his name one2 and when divisions1 by the
 consent  of the whole1 are banished--,i
 mean1 not persecuted1 but abandoned in 
all by a joint consent1 and when every  
man shall submit his own  single opinion
 to those truths that by their being    
retained are for  the health of         
all--then look for good days1 and not   
till then4    ,,conflict ,,between ,,the
 ,,church ,,and ,,antichrist4    ,they  
that are the church do in ,god's light  
see light but they that  are not1 do in 
their own way see4 ,and let a man and a 
beast look out  at the same window1 the 
same door1 the same casement1 yet the   

one  will see like a man1 and the other 
but like a beast4    ,no marvel then if 
there is here a disagreement2 the beast 
can but  see as a beast1 but the church 
is resolved not to be guided by the  eye
 of a beast1 though he pretends to have 
his light by that very  window by which 
the church has hers4 ,the beast is      
moon-eyed1 and  puts darkness for light1
 yea1 and hates the light that is so    
indeed2  but the saints will not hear   
him1 for they know the voice of their   
,lord4    ,on both sides they are       
resolved to stand by their way3 the     
church is  confident1 the man of sin is 
confident2 they both have the same      
windows--that is1 the word--to see by1  
and so they manage their  matters2 yet  
not so simply by the windows as by the  
diverse judgment  they make of that     
which shineth in at them4 ,each one     
therefore that  hath the true or false  
profession will be confident of his own 
way3  he that was right1 knew he was    
right2 and he that was wrong1 thought   

he was right2 and so the battle began3  
,there is a way that seemeth  right to a
 man1 but the end thereof are the ways  
of death4    ,nor is it in man to help  
it3 there has been reasoning1 there has 
been disputing1 there has blood also    
been spilt on both sides1  through the  
confidence that each had of the goodness
 of his own way3  but no reconciliation 
is made2 the enmity is set here of ,god2
 iron  and clay cannot mix2 ,god will   
have things go on thus in the world     
till his word shall be fulfilled2 the   
deceived and the deceiver are  his4     
,things therefore must have their course
 in the church in the  wilderness till  
the mystery of ,god shall be fulfilled4 
,god will get  to himself great glory by
 permitting the hoar1 the man of sin and
  the dragon1 to revel in the church of 
,god2 for they by setting up  and       
contending for their darkness1 and      
calling it the light1 and by  setting it
 against that light which is light in   
very deed1 do not  only prove the power 

of truth where it is1 but illustrate it 
so much  the more2 for as black sets off
 white1 and darkness light1 so error    
sets off truth4 ,he that calls a man a  
horse1 doth but fix the belief  of his  
humanity so much the more in the        
apprehension of all rational  creatures4
    ,it is not therefore to be wondered 
at that we hear both parties  plead so  
much for their authority1 crying out    
against each other as  those that       
destroy religion4 ,so doth the church1  
so doth the man of  sin4 ,the living    
child is mine1 saith one4 ,nay1 but the 
dead child is  thine1 and the living    
child is mine1 says the other4 ,and thus
 they  spake before the king4    ,the   
church will not give place1 for she     
knows she has the truth2 the  dragon and
 his angels1 they will not give place1  
but as beaten back  by the power of     
truth4 ,therefore there will1 there     
must1 there  cannot but be a spiritual  
warfare here1 and that until one of the 
two is destroyed1 and its body given to 

the burning flame4    ,,fall ,,of       
,,antichrist4    ,antichrist had a time 
to come into the world1 and so must he  
have a  time to go out again4 ,for      
although he saith that he is a god1 yet 
he  must he subject to the will of ,god1
 and must go as well as come  according 
to that will4 ,nor can all the fallen   
angels1 with all the  members and limbs 
of antichrist1 cause this1 that their   
brat should  abide so much as one day   
longer than our ,god's prefixed time4   
,the  ,lord ,jesus shall consume him1   
and cause him to melt away2 not all at  
once1 but now this part and then that1  
now his soul and after that  his body1  
even until soul and body are both       
destroyed4    ,and that you may be      
convinced of the truth of this thing1 do
 but  look back and compare antichrist  
four or five hundred years ago1  with   
antichrist as he is now1 and you shall  
see what work the ,lord  ,jesus has     
begun to make with him1 even with the   
spirit and soul and  life of antichrist1

 both in confounding and blasting it by 
the  ,spirit of his mouth1 as also by   
forcing it to dishonorable retreats1    
and by making it give up to him as the  
conqueror1 not only some of  his        
superstitious and diabolical rites and  
ceremonies to be  destroyed1 but many a 
goodly truth which this vile one had    
taken  from his church1 to be renewed to
 them4 ,nay1 further1 he has also       
already begun to take from him both     
kingdoms and countries1 though  as to   
some not so absolutely as he shall do by
 and by4    ,and how has this long ago  
been fulfilled here in ,england1 as also
 in  ,scotland1 ,holland1 ,germany1     
,france1 ,sweden1 ,denmark1 ,hungary1   
and  other places4 ,nor has this spirit 
of antichrist1 with all his art  and    
artifices1 been able to reduce to       
antichrist again those people1  nations1
 or parts of nations1 that by the       
,spirit of ,christ's mouth  and the     
brightness of his coming have been made 
to forsake him1 and  to turn from him to

 ,christ4    ,the reason is1 that the   
,lord has not retreated1 but is still   
going  on in the ,spirit of his mouth   
and in his brightness to make that      
conquest over him that is determined1 in
 the way that is determined2  for the   
pathway that he goeth is as the shining 
light which shines  more and more unto  
noon4    ,the first and chief proceeding
 of the ,lord with the man of sin is to 
slay his soul1 that his body may also be
 consumed2 and when the  spirit of      
antichrist shall be made to leave both  
the body and  ordinances of antichrist1 
it will be easy to deal both with the   
one  and the other4    ,and first1 for  
the ordinances of antichrist1 because   
the spirit of  error is in them as well 
as in the body itself4 ,when that spirit
 has  left them1 they will of themselves
 even moulder away and not be2 as  we   
have seen by experience here in         
,england1 and as others also have  seen 
in other countries4    ,for as          
concerning his masses1 prayers for the  

dead1 images1  pilgrimages1 monkish     
vows1 sinful fasts1 and the beastly     
single life  of their priests1 though   
when the spirit of antichrist was in    
them  they did bear some sway in the    
world1 yet now of what esteem are  they1
 or who has reverence for them8 ,they   
are now blown together  under hedges as 
the dry leaves1 for the mice and frogs  
to harbor in4  ,by ordinances of        
antichrist1 ,i do not intend things that
 only  respect matters of worship in    
antichrist's kingdom1 but those civil   
laws that impose and enforce them also1 
yea1 enforce that worship  with pains   
and penalties1 as in the ,spanish       
inquisition4    ,these are the very     
pillars and sinews by which             
antichristianism  remains2 and were     
these dispirited1 the whole building    
would quickly  become a ruinous heap4   
,what could the king of ,babylon's      
golden image have done1 had it not  been
 for the burning fiery furnace that     
stood within view of the  worshippers8  

,yea1 what could that horrible command  
to pray for  thirty days to neither ,god
 nor man but to the king1 have done1 had
  it not been for the dark den and the  
roaring lions there in  readiness to    
devour those that disobeyed it8    ,as  
therefore the burning fiery furnace and 
the den of lions were the  support of   
the horrible religion of the            
,babylonians of old1 so  popish edicts  
are the support of the religion of      
antichrist now2 and  as long as there is
 spirit1 that is1 authority in them1    
they are  like to those now mentioned4  
,the spirit of such laws it is that     
makes them dreadful3 for as the furnace 
would have been next to  nothing if void
 of fire1 and the den as little         
frightful if  destitute of lions1 so    
these laws will be as insignificant when
  ,christ has slain the spirit that is  
in them--that spirit which  causes that 
as many as will not worship the image of
 the beast  should be killed4           
,,manner ,,of ,,antichrist',s           

,,destruction4    ,antichrist shall be  
brought to ruin gradually2 a part after 
a part3  here a fenced city and there a 
high tower1 even until she is made to   
lie even with the ground4    ,as for the
 order of the angels that pour forth    
this wrath1 they  plainly show that this
 enemy must come down by degrees2 for   
these  vials are by them poured out one 
after another4 ,now1 since by these     
vials antichrist must fall1 it is       
evident that this man of sin1 this  son 
of perdition1 is to fall and die by     
degrees4 ,he would not die at  all1 as  
is manifest by his wrestling with it2   
but it is an almighty  ,god that judges1
 and therefore he must come down4 ,his  
friends also1  with what cordials they  
can1 will labor to lengthen out his     
tranquillity2 but ,god hath set his     
bounds1 and he cannot go beyond  the    
time appointed4    ,we must also put a  
difference betwixt his being fought with
 and  wounded1 and that of his dying the
 death4 ,michael and his angels  have   

been holding him in play a long season1 
but yet he is not dead2  but1 as ,i     
said1 he shall descend into battle and  
perish1 and shall  be found no more for 
ever4    ,and the cities of the nations 
fell1 ,rev4 #af3ai2 the cities of the   
nations1 the antichristian churches1    
otherwise called the daughters  of the  
mother of harlots4 ,this is a second    
stroke that ,god will give  this man of 
sin1 and a third cometh quickly4        
,wherefore it follows1 upon the downfall
 of those cities of the  nations1 that  
great ,babylon came into remembrance    
before ,god1 to  give unto her the cup  
of the wine of the fierceness of his    
wrath4  ,now then1 strike at great      
,babylon4 ,great ,babylon6 ,what is     
that8 ,why1  ,i take it to be the       
mother1 the metropolitan1 the great     
harlot  herself4 ,for though sometimes  
by great ,babylon we may understand the 
church of antichrist in general1 yet by 
it is meant more properly  the mother of
 the daughters1 of whose overthrow we   

have spoken  before4    ,we are now1    
then1 come to the threshold of the door 
of the house of  the old one--to the    
door of the mother of harlots and       
abomination of  the earth4 ,this then   
that but now is said to come into       
remembrance  with ,god1 is that which   
gave being to the cities destroyed      
before1  to wit1 the ministers1 the     
queen1 the mother-church as she calls   
herself4    ,and this is the wisdom of  
,god concerning her1 that she should not
 be  the first that should die1 but that
 she should live to see the  destruction
 of her daughters1 and pine away under  
the fright and  sense of that1 even     
until judgment also shall overtake      
herself4    ,thus ,pharaoh and his chief
 ones did live to see the greatest part 
of  ,egypt destroyed1 before judgment   
overtook them2 but at last it came  to  
their doors also4 ,zedekiah lived to see
 his children slain before  his face1   
before judgment overtook him to his own 
personal  destruction4    ,babylon also1

 when ,god sent the cup of his fury unto
 her1 yet was to  live to see the       
nations drink before her4    ,from all  
which ,i conclude that the mother1 the  
metropolitan1 the  lady of kingdoms1    
shall live to see her daughters executed
 before  her face2 after which1 she     
shall come into consideration herself1  
for she must assuredly drink of the cup4
    ,this destruction must be last for  
this reason also1 because she most      
deserves the bottom of the cup4 ,the    
bottom is the dregs1 the most  bitter   
part1 and that where the most heat and  
fiercest wrath of ,god  do lie4 ,and    
great ,babylon came into remembrance    
before ,god3 ,to give  unto her the cup 
of the wine of the fierceness of his    
wrath4    ,now then is the time of      
iniquity1 when it will be come to the   
full2  and now also is the time of      
,god's anger1 when it will be come to   
the  full4 ,now therefore must the      
murders and thefts and blasphemies and  
fornications belonging to this mother of

 harlots1 be recompensed to  the full1  
to wit1 with the dregs of this cup4 ,yet
 since the  hailstones come by weight   
and the wrath comes by measure--for so a
  talent and a cup imports1 ,rev4       
#af3ag-ba--;it follows that the         
almighty ,god1 even in the midst of the 
heat of all this anger1 will  keep to   
the rules of justice and judgment while 
he is dealing with  this enemy3 he has  
not passions to carry him beyond rules  
of  judgment1 nor weakness to cause him 
to fall short of doing justice2         
therefore he has his judgments for her  
by weight1 and his  indignation by      
measure4 ,but yet this weight and       
measure are not  suited to her          
constitution1 not with an intent to     
purge or refine  her2 but it is disposed
 according to the measure and nature of 
her  iniquity1 and comes to sweep her as
 with the besom of destruction1  until  
she is swept off from the face of all   
the earth4    ,now since she is dying1  
let us ring her passing-bell2 for when  

she  is dead1 we that live to see it    
intend to ring out4    ,,present ,,state
 ,,of ,,antichrist4    ,now ,i saw in my
 dream1 that at the end of this valley  
lay blood1  bones1 ashes1 and mangled   
bodies of men1 even of pilgrims that had
  gone this way formerly2 and while ,i  
was musing what should be the  reason1  
,i spied a little before me a cave1     
where two giants1 ,pope  and ,pagan1    
dwelt in old time2 by whose power and   
tyranny the men  whose bones1 blood1 and
 ashes lay there1 were cruelly put to   
death4  ,but by this place ,christian   
went without much danger1 whereat ,i    
somewhat wondered2 but ,i have learnt   
since1 that ,pagan has been dead  many a
 day2 and1 as for the other1 though he  
be still alive1 he is1  by reason of    
age1 and also of the many shrewd brushes
 that he met  with in his younger days1 
grown so crazy and stiff in his joints1 
that he now can do little more than sit 
in his cave's mouth1  grinning at       
pilgrims as they go by1 and biting his  

nails because he  cannot come at them4  
,,slaying ,,of ,,the ,,witnesses4       
,thus1 as to sense and reason1 all shall
 be hush1 all shall be quiet  and still1
 ,rev4 #aa3g-ae3 the followers of the   
,lamb shall be down2  the followers of  
the beast shall be up1 shall cry1 ,peace
 and safety1  and be as secure as a hard
 heart1 false peace1 and a deceitful    
devil  can make4 them4 ,but behold1     
while they thus sing in the window1     
death is striding over the threshold6   
,while they are crying peace  and       
safety1 sudden destruction cometh4 ,by  
that they have well  settled themselves 
at their table with ,adonijah1 #a       
,kings1 #a1 they  shall hear it         
proclaimed with sound of trumpet1 ,the  
witnesses are  risen again4    ,now the 
,christians' pipes will go again1 and   
surely the earth will  be rent with the 
sound of their shouts and acclamations1 
while they  cry with joyful sound1 ,the 
kingdoms of this world are become the   
kingdoms of our ,lord and of his        

,christ2 and he shall reign for ever    
and ever4    ,,reasons ,,for            
,,antichrist',s ,,destruction4          
,antichrist must be destroyed1 for that 
he has usurped the name and  attributes 
of ,god upon himself4 ,he hath said1 ,i 
am ,god4 ,for that  antichrist has thus 
taken the place of ,god1 prescribed and 
imposed a  worship as a ,god1 got the   
world to worship and wonder after him as
  after a ,god2 therefore he shall die  
the death of the uncircumcised1  both in
 the soul1 spirit1 body1 or flesh of    
antichrist4 ,therefore  will ,god       
enlighten and gather and set the kings  
and nations against  him1 that both he  
and his may be buried1 and have their   
dolesome  withdrawing-rooms from the    
world in the sides of the pit's mouth4  
,antichrist must be destroyed1 because  
he hath set himself against  the ,son of
 ,god2 against the ,father1 and against 
the ,son4 ,he had a  spite against the  
,son betimes1 even then when he came    
forth but in  little things1 when he    

attempted to deny that ,he was come in  
the  flesh4 ,but seeing he could make no
 earnings of that1 he has changed  his  
methods1 and seeks to run him out and   
down by other means and  ways4 ,because1
 therefore1 he hath set himself against 
the ,son of  ,god1 the ,king1 therefore 
he must die4    ,that he hath also set  
himself against the ,son of ,god1 is    
evident2  for he has his name from      
thence3 he is therefore called          
,anti-,christ4    ,that he hath set     
himself against ,him1 is yet further    
evident2 for  that he has endeavored to 
take from him his headship once1 and his
  offices for and in the church1 which  
is his body2 and has called  himself the
 head of the universal church of ,god4  
,antichrist must he destroyed1 because  
of his exceeding covetousness4          
,religion1 such as it is1 is the thing  
pretended to2 but the great  things of  
this world are the things really        
intended by him in all  his seeming     
self-denials and devotions4 ,and for    

this covetousness  also it is that this 
destruction is to fall upon him4 ,woe to
 him  that coveteth an evil covetousness
 to his house1 7to his church17  that he
 may set his nest on high3 for he could 
not do the one before  he had obtained  
the other4 ,for then indeed they began  
to be high1  when they had so inveigled 
,constantine that he bestowed upon them 
much riches and honor2 and then it was  
cried1 by an angel1 and the  cry was    
heard in the city of ,constantinople1   
,woe6 woe6 woe6 this day  is venom      
poured into the church of ,god4    ,nor 
has any generation1 since the world     
began1 been so insatiably  greedy of    
gain1 as these ,,poor people have been4 
,they have got  kingdoms1 they have got 
crowns1 they have got--what have they   
not  got8 ,they have got every thing but
 grace and pardon4 ,did ,i say  before  
that religion was their pretence8 ,doth 
not the whole course  of their way      
declare it to their face8 ,every one of 
them1 from the  least even to the       

greatest1 is given to covetousness2 from
 the  prophet even to the priest1 every 
one dealeth falsely4 ,money1 money1     
,footnote3 ,similar is the testimony of 
an eminent historian4 ,in  every        
misapplication which the popes now      
7thirteenth century7 made  of their     
power1 money was the object4 ,every new 
operation which they  performed1 was one
 of extortion2 and every new act of     
oppression was  on their part1 a        
financial speculation4 ,planck4 ,v4     
#egd4    ,says ,luther1 in his address  
to the ,german nobility1 speaking of the
  pope1 ,he is a shepherd3 yes1 so far  
as you have money1 and no  farther4 ,the
 above passage from ,bunyan is          
altogether in the manner  of ,luther    
when describing the rapacity and avarice
 of ,rome4 hath  removed them4 ,and     
these seeds has antichrist sown where   
the kingdom  of ,christ should stand4 as
 the pedlar cries1 broken or whole1 is  
the sinews of their religion2 and it is 
for that they set kingdoms1  crowns1    

principalities1 places1 preferments1    
sacraments1 pardons1  prayers1          
indulgences1 liberty1 yea1 and souls and
 bodies of men1  women1 and children1 to
 sale2 yea1 it is for this that they    
have  invented so many places1 offices1 
names1 titles1 orders1 vows1 etc43  it  
is to get money1 to rob countries1 that 
they may make their nests  on high4 ,and
 indeed they have done it1 to the       
amazement of all the  world4 ,they are  
clambered up above kings and princes and
 emperors2  they wear the triple crown2 
they have made kings bow at their feet1 
and emperors stand barefoot at their    
gates2 they have kicked the  crowns of  
princes from their heads1 and set them  
on again with their  toes4 ,thus their  
covetousness hath set them on high1 even
 above the  suns1 moons1 and stars of   
this world3 but to what end8 that they  
may  be cast down to hell4              
,antichrist must be destroyed1 because  
he stands in the way of the  setting up 
of the kingdom of ,christ in the world4 

,many princes were  in ,edom before     
there was a king in ,israel2 and ,christ
 has suffered  antichrist to set up     
before him2 and he stands in ,christ's  
way1 and  has so overspread the world in
 all places with that which is  directly
 contrary to him1 that he cannot set up 
his kingdom until  that which is        
antichrist's is tumbled down to the     
ground4 ,even as a  man whose ground is 
full of thorns and briars and weeds1    
cannot sow  in expectation of a crop1   
until he hath removed them4 ,and these  
seeds has antichrist sown where the     
kingdom of ,christ should stand4        
,when ,god came from ,egypt with his    
people to set up his kingdom in         
,canaan1 he cast out the heathen before 
them1 in order thereunto3  ,thou hast   
brought a vine out of ,egypt2 thou hast 
cast out the  heathen and planted it4   
,wherefore antichrist must be removed   
and  destroyed for this2 for antichrist 
is in flat opposition to ,christ1  as   
,tibni was to ,omri2 wherefore          

antichrist must die4    ,the reason is1 
because ,christ's kingdom shall be      
peaceable1 without  molestation1 and    
glorious without the fumes and fogs of  
antichristian darkness4 ,because also1  
as the world has seen the  manner of the
 reign of antichrist1 and how tyrannical
 and outrageous  a kingdom his is2 so   
they shall see the reign of ,christ by  
his word  and ,spirit in his people1 how
 peaceable1 how fruitful in blessedness 
and prosperity his kingdom is4 ,and     
hence it is1 that ,god purposes to  bury
 antichrist before he sets glory in the 
land of the living2 as  also you read in
 the book of ,revelation1 for there you 
find the  kingdom of antichrist was     
destroyed before the new ,jerusalem was 
set  up4 ,when men intend to build a new
 house1 if in the place where the  old  
one stood1 they first pull down the old 
one and raze the  foundation1 and then  
they begin their new4 ,now ,god1 as ,i  
said1 will  have his primitive          
church-state set up in this world1 even 

where  antichrist has set up2 wherefore1
 in order to this1 antichrist must  be  
pulled down1 stick and stone2 and then  
they that live to see it1  will behold  
the new ,jerusalem come down from       
heaven1 as a bride  adorned for her     
husband4    ,,time ,,of ,,antichrist',s 
,,destruction4    ,the time of her fall 
is not certainly known by the saints1   
nor at  all believed by her2 wherefore  
her plagues must come unlooked for by   
her4 ,and as to the saints1 their       
guesses as to the time of her ruin  must
 needs be conjectural and uncertain4    
,for her part1 she shall  say1 and that 
when she stands where she must suddenly 
fall1 ,i shall  be a lady for ever4     
,nor have ,i been without thought but   
that this mistake of the godly  may     
become a snare to antichrist1 and a trap
 to her upholders4 ,for  what can be a  
greater judgment1 or more effectually   
harden the  hearts of the wicked1 than  
for them to behold that the predictions1
  prophecies1 expectations1 and hopes of

 their enemies as to their  ruin1 should
 quite1 as to the time1 be frustrate and
 made void8    ,it is to be bewailed1   
namely1 the forwardness of some in this 
matter  who have predicted concerning   
the time of the downfall of  antichrist1
 to the shame of them and their         
brethren2 nor will the  wrong that such 
by their boldness have1 done to the     
church of ,god be  ever repaired by them
 nor their works4 ,but the judgments of 
,god are  a great deep2 and therefore   
who can tell1 since the enemy of ,god   
would not be convinced by the power of  
truth and the virtuous lives  of some1  
but that ,god might leave them to be    
snared1 hardened1 and  emboldened to run
 upon their unavoidable destruction by  
the lies and  lightness of others8 ,they
 begin to vaunt it already1 and to say1 
,where is the word of the ,lord as to   
this8 let it come now4 ,but when  ,agag 
said1 ,surely the bitterness of death is
 passed1 then was the  time for him to  
be hewn in pieces4    ,i shall not      

therefore meddle with the times and     
seasons which the  ,father has put in   
his own power--no1 though they1 as to   
antichrist's  ruin1 are                 
revealed--because by the ,holy ,ghost   
there is a challenge  made1             
notwithstanding the time is set1 and by 
the word referred to  the man of wisdom 
to find it out if he can4    ,if        
,sampson's riddle was so puzzling1 what 
shall we think of this8  ,and though the
 angel hath intimated that this sealed  
matter shall be  opened towards the time
 of the end1 yet it is evident some have
  either been too hasty1 or presumed too
 much upon their own  abilities2 for ,i 
am sure they have missed the mark1      
hardened the  heart of the enemy1       
stumbled the weak1 and shamed them that 
love  them4    ,,signs ,,of             
,,antichrist',s ,,destruction4          
,forbearance is no payment3 ,god's      
patience is not a sign that he          
forgetteth to take vengeance1 but rather
 that he waiteth till his  own are come 

out of her1 and until her iniquity is   
filled up2 for  then he will execute the
 judgment written1 and will remember the
  ,babylonians and all their ways4      
,must antichrist be destroyed8 ,then    
this should make us glad when we  see   
the signs of his fall presenting        
themselves to our view4 ,indeed1  the   
signs of his fall1 or those that forerun
 it1 are terrible and  amazing to       
behold4 ,but what of that1 since the    
wrinkles that are in  their faces       
threaten not us but them8 ,a man is     
angry and will  punish2 yea1 whets his  
sword and makes his rod2 and he speaks  
not a  word1 but blood1 blood is in it4 
,indeed this should make them that are  
concerned in that anger  afraid4 ,but   
what terror is there in all this to     
those for the  pleading of whose cause  
he is so angry with the other8 ,nothing 
whereat the innocent should be afraid4  
,cold blasts in ,november are not       
received with such gentleness as are    
colder in ,march and ,april2 for that   

these last cold ones are but the        
farewell notes of a piercing winter2    
they also bring with them the  signs and
 tokens of a jomfortable summer4 ,why1  
the church is now at  the rising of the 
year2 let then the blasts at present or 
to come be  what they will1 antichrist  
is surely drawing towards his downfall4 
,and though the devil1 knowing what is  
to be done to him and to his  kingdom1  
shall so blind his disciples and fright 
the godly1 and do  something like it    
upon the church of ,christ1 yet we      
should look  through these paper        
windows1 and espy in all this that fear1
 yea1  certain terrible judgments1 are  
following him at the heels1 by which    
not only the soul1 spirit1 and life of  
antichrist1 but the body  thereof--yea1 
body and soul and head--are quickly to  
go down  thither1 from whence they1 as  
such1 shall not arise again4 ,amen4     
,,hope ,,of ,,antichrist',s             
,,destruction4    ,is antichrist to be  
destroyed8 then let us live in the      

expectation  of it2 and let this be one 
of our songs in the house of our        
pilgrimage4 ,god bids his people1 while 
in ,babylon1 to let ,jerusalem  come    
into their mind2 and writes to them that
 were then in her1 to  acquaint them    
that he remembered them still1 and would
 assuredly  deliver them from that place
 and state4 ,and wherefore doth he thus1
  but to beget an expectation in them of
 their salvation and  deliverance8 ,the 
,lord is so pleased with the faith and  
expectation  of his people as to this1  
that they seldom are herein concerned as
  they should1 but he steps in with them
 and warms their hearts4 ,the  reason   
is1 because the faith of ,god's people  
as to the downfall of  ,babylon1 stands 
upon so sure a foundation as doth the   
salvation of  their souls2 and that next
 to that1 ,god is as much delighted in  
what  he has purposed to do against     
,babylon1 as in any thing else in the   
earth3 and therefore1 if you consider it
 well1 the great and  glorious promises 

that are to be fulfilled on earth1 are  
to be  fulfilled when antichrist is dead
 and buried4 ,these dainties are too    
good even for his children to have1 so  
long as this dog is by1 lest  he should 
snatch at the crumbs thereof2 wherefore 
they are reserved  until he is gone4    
,jer4 #ai3 #ca1 #cb4    ,,effects ,,of  
,,antichrist',s ,,destruction4    ,it   
shall be done unto antichrist as he hath
 done to the church of  ,god4 ,as he    
hath made women childless1 so shall he  
be made childless2  as he has made ,zion
 sit upon the ground1 so now must this  
wicked one  come down to sit in the     
dust2 yea1 as he has made many churches 
desolations1 so now shall he lie also   
made a desolation4 ,wherefore1  whoso   
will find his body1 must look for it in 
the side of the pit's  mouth2 and whoso 
will find his friends and companions1   
must look for  them there likewise4     
,now then ,babylon is gone down1 when   
all these things shall be  fulfilled4   
,and what remains now but to talk of her

 as folk use to do  of them that are    
dead2 for the day will come1 that the   
church of ,god  shall have no more of   
antichrist1 ,babylon1 or the mother of  
harlots1  than only the remembrance of  
her2 that there was such an enemy of    
,god in the world2 that there was such a
 superstitious1 idolatrous1  bloody     
people in the world4 ,wherefore1 the    
people1 that shall be  born1 that shall 
live to serve ,god in these happy days1 
shall see  antichrist only in its ruins2
 they shall1 like the sparrows1 the     
little robins1 and the wren1 sit and    
sing1 and chirp one to another1  while  
their eyes behold this dead hawk4 ,here1
 shall they say1 did  once the lion     
dwell2 and there once a dragon          
inhabited3 here did  they live that were
 the murderers of the saints2 and there 
another  that did use to set his throat 
against the heavens3 but now in the     
places where these ravenous creatures   
lay1 grows grass1 with reeds  and       
rushes2 now their habitation is cursed2 

nettles grow1 and so do  thorns and     
brambles1 where their palaces were wont 
to be4    ,a day is coming when         
antichrist shall be unknown2 not seen   
nor felt  by the church of ,god4 ,there 
are men to be born who shall not know   
antichrist1 but as they read in the word
 that such a thing has been4  ,these    
shall talk of her as ,israel's          
children's children were to talk  of    
,pharaoh--of his cruelty1 of his tasks1 
of his pride1 of the ,red  sea1 and how 
he was drowned there4 ,they shall talk  
of them as of  those that have been long
 dead2 as of those who1 for their       
horrible  wickedness1 are laid in the   
pit's mouth4 ,this will be some of that 
sweet chat that the saints shall at     
their spare hours have1 in time  to     
come4    ,there will he a strange       
alteration when antichrist is dead2 and 
that  both in the church and in the     
world4 ,the church and the members of   
it then shall wear the name of their    
,god in their foreheads2 that  is1 they 

shall be bold in the profession of their
 ,king and ,god1 yea1  it shall be their
 glory to be godly1 and carnal men shall
 praise  them for it2 the praise of the 
whole earth shall the church of ,god  be
 in those days4 ,now the world shall    
return and discern1 between  the        
righteous and the wicked2 yea1 they     
shall cleave to and  countenance the    
people of ,god1 being persuaded1 as     
,laban was of  ,jacob1 that the ,lord   
will bless them for his people's sake4  
,now will he broken up those prophecies 
and promises that to this day  lie as   
under lock and key1 and that cannot be  
opened until they be  fulfilled4 ,now   
the church of ,god shall read with great
 plainness the  depths of providence1   
and the turnings and windings of all    
,god's  dark and intricate              
dispensations1 through which she hath   
waded in  the cloudy and dark day3 now1 
,i say1 they shall see there was a      
harmony in them1 and that1 if one of    
them had been wanting1 the work  and way

 of her deliverance could not have been 
so full of the wisdom  and justice and  
goodness of ,god4 ,wherefore now will   
that song be  sung with clearer notes   
than ever3 ,great and marvellous are thy
  works1 ,lord ,god ,almighty2 just and 
true are thy ways1 thou ,king of        
saints4 ,who shall not fear thee1 ,o    
,lord1 and glorify thy name8 for  thou  
only art holy3 for all nations shall    
come and worship before  thee2 for thy  
judgments are made manifest2            
,,warning ,,against ,a ,,return ,,to    
,,antichrist4    ,must antichrist be    
destroyed8 ,then what mean they who were
 to  appearance once come out1 but now  
are going thither again4    ,if it cost 
,lot's wife dear for but looking hack1  
shall it not cost  them much dearer that
 are going back1 that are gone back     
again2 and  that after the angel had    
flown through the midst of heaven1      
preaching the gospel to those that dwell
 on the earth8    ,they that received   
the mark of the beast at first1 before  

this angel  came forth1 are1 when       
compared with these1 excusable4         
,wherefore they  are not threatened with
 the smoking wrath that these are4      
,you dread that which is like to become 
of them that will be so mad  as to run  
into a house when fire is put to the    
gunpowder barrel in  order to its       
blowing up4 ,why1 thus do they1 let     
their pretended  cause he what it will1 
that are returning again to ,babylon4   
,are her  plagues pleasant or easy to be
 borne8 ,or dost thou think that ,god is
  at play with thee1 and that he        
threateneth but in jest8 ,her plagues   
are death and mourning and famine and   
fire2 are these things to be            
overlooked8 ,and they that1 as before   
hinted1 shall receive the mark  of the  
beast in their forehead or in their     
hand1 and shall worship  him1 they shall
 drink the wine of the wrath of ,god4   
,and will this be  a delightsome        
draught8    ,,from ,,the ,,introduction 
,,to ,,the ,,holy ,,city4    ,my fourth 

word is to the lady of kingdoms1 the    
well-favored harlot1  the mistress of   
witchcrafts and the abominations of the 
earth4    ,i suppose ,i have nothing    
here that will either please your wanton
  eye1 or go down with your voluptuous  
palate4 ,here is bread indeed1  as also 
milk and meat2 but here is neither paint
 to adorn thy  wrinkled face1 nor crutch
 to uphold or undershore thy shaking1   
tottering1 staggering kingdom of ,rome2 
but rather a certain presage  of thy    
sudden and fearful final downfall1 and  
of the exaltation of  that holy matron  
whose chastity thou dost abhor1 because 
by it she  reproveth and condemneth thy 
lewd and stubborn life4 ,wherefore1     
lady1 smell thou mayest of this1 but    
taste thou wilt not4 ,i know  that both 
thy wanton eye1 with all thy mincing    
brood that are  intoxicated with thy cup
 and enchanted with thy fornications1   
will1  at the sight of so homely and    
plain a dish as this1 cry1 ,foh6 will   
snuff1 put the branch to the nose1 and  

say1 ,contemptible6 ,but  wisdom is     
justified of all her children4 ,the     
virgin-daughter of  ,zion hath despised 
thee1 and laughed thee to scorn2        
,jerusalem hath  shaken her head at     
thee2 yea1 her ,god hath smitten his    
hands at thy  dishonest gains and       
freaks4 ,rejoice ye with ,jerusalem and 
be glad  with her1 all ye that love her2
 rejoice for joy with her1 all ye  that 
mourn for her1 that ye may suck and be  
satisfied with the  breasts of her      
consolations1 and be delighted with the 
abundance of  her glory4    ,,the       
,,wooden ,,cross4    ,some have thought 
the altar to mean the cross on which the
 body of  ,christ was crucified when he 
gave himself an offering for sin2 but   
they are greatly deceived1 for he also  
himself was the altar through  which he 
offered himself2 and this is one of the 
treasures of wisdom  which are hid in   
him1 and of which the world and         
antichrist are  utterly ignorant4       
,the altar is always greater than the   

gift1 and since the gift was  the body  
and soul of ,christ--for so saith the   
scripture1 ,he gave  himself for our    
sins--the altar must be something else  
than a sorry  bit of wood1 or than the  
accursed tree4    ,wherefore ,i will say
 to such1 as one wiser than ,solomon    
said to the  ,jews when they            
superstitiously magnified the gift1 in  
counting it  more honorable than the    
altar1 ,ye fools and blind2 for whether 
is  greater1 the gift1 or the altar that
 sanctifieth the gift8    ,if the altar 
be greater than the gift1 and yet the   
gift so great a  thing as the very      
humanity of ,christ1 can it--,i will now
 direct my  speech to the greatest      
fool--can that greater thing be the     
cross8  ,was the cross1 the wooden      
cross1 the cursed tree that some        
worship1  greater than the gift1 to wit1
 the sacrifice which ,christ offered1   
when he gave himself for our sins8 ,o   
idolatry6 ,o blasphemy6    ,but what    
then was the altar8    ,the divine      

nature of ,christ1 that eternal ,spirit1
 by and in the  assistance of which he  
offered himself without spot1 to ,god4  
,he  through the eternal ,spirit offered
 himself4    ,and it must be this1      
because1 as was said1 the altar is      
greater than  the gift2 but there is    
nothing but ,christ's divine nature     
greater  than his human4 ,to be sure1 a 
sorry bit of wood1 a tree1 the stock  of
 a tree1 is not4    ,it must be this1   
because the ,scripture says plainly1 the
 altar  sanctifies the gift1 that is1   
puts worth and virtue into it4 ,but was 
it the tree1 or the godhead of ,christ1 
that put virtue and efficacy  into this 
sacrifice that he offered to ,god for   
us8 ,if thou canst but  count thy       
fingers1 judge4    ,let the tree then be
 the tree1 the sacrifice the sacrifice1 
and the  altar the altar2 and let men   
have a care how1 in their worship1 they 
make altars upon which1 as they pretend1
 they offer the body of  ,christ2 and   
let them leave off foolishly to doat    

upon wood and the  works of their hands4
              ,,xxiv4 ,,death4          
,seeing man was taken from the ground1  
he is neither ,god nor angel1  hut a    
poor earthen vessel1 such as ,god can   
easily knock in pieces  and cause to    
return to the ground again4    ,and the 
time of need is the day of death1 when  
,i am to pack up all  to be gone from   
hence1 the way of all the earth4 ,now   
the greatest  trial is come1 except that
 of the day of judgment4 ,now a man is  
to  he stripped of all but that which   
cannot be shaken4 ,now a man grows  near
 the borders of eternity4 ,now he begins
 to see into the skirts  of the next    
world4 ,now death is death1 and the     
grave the grave  indeed4 ,now he begins 
to see what it is for soul and body to  
part1  and what to go and appear before 
,god4 ,now the dark entry and the       
thoughts of what is in the way from a   
death-bed to the gate of the  holy      
heaven1 come nearer the heart than when 
health and prosperity  do compass a man 

about4    ,some men are cut off like the
 tops of the ears of corn1 and some are 
even nipped by death in the very bud of 
their spring2 but the safety  is when a 
man is ripe1 and shall be gathered to   
his grave as a shock  of corn to the    
barn in its season4    ,,death ,,of     
,,the ,,sinner4    ,death is the axe    
which ,god often useth1 therewith to    
take the barren  fig-tree out of the    
vineyard1 out of a profession1 and also 
out of  the world at once4 ,but this axe
 is now new-ground2 it cometh well      
edged to the roots of this barren       
fig-tree4 ,it hath been whetted by  sin1
 by the law1 and by a formal profession1
 and therefore must and  will make deep 
gashes1 not only in the natural life1   
but in the  heart and conscience also of
 this professor4 ,the wages of sin is   
death1 the sting of death is sin4       
,wherefore1 death comes not to this  man
 as he doth to saints1 muzzled1 or      
without his sting1 but with  open mouth1
 in all his strength2 yea1 he sends his 

first-born1 which  is guilt1 to devour  
his strength and to bring him to the    
king of  terrors4    ,the dark entry    
which the barren professor is to go     
through will be a  sore amazement to    
him1 for fears shall be in the way1 yea1
 terrors  will take hold on him when he 
shall see the yawning jaws of death     
gape upon him1 and the doors of the     
shadow of death open to give him        
passage out of the world4 ,now1 who will
 meet me in this dark entry8  ,how shall
 ,i pass through this dark entry into   
another world8    ,there is no judgment 
to be made by a quiet death of the      
eternal  state of him that so dieth4    
,suppose one man should die quietly1    
another should die suddenly1 and a third
 should die under great  consternation  
of spirit2 no man can judge of their    
eternal condition  by the manner of any 
of these kinds of death4 ,he that dies  
quietly1  suddenly1 or under            
consternation of spirit1 may go to      
heaven1 or may  go to hell2 no man can  

tell whither a man goes by any such     
manner of  death4 ,the judgment1        
therefore1 that we make of the eternal  
condition of man1 must be gathered from 
another consideration1 to  wit1 ,did the
 man die in his sins8 ,did he die in    
unbelief8 ,did he die  before he was    
born again8 ,he that is a good man1 a   
man that hath  faith and holiness1 a    
lover and worshipper of ,god by ,christ1
  according to his word1 may die in     
consternation of spirit2 for ,satan     
will not be wanting to assault good men 
upon their death-bed4 ,but  they are    
secured by the word and power of ,god1  
yea1 and are also  helped1 though with  
much agony of spirit1 to exercise       
themselves in  faith and prayer2 the    
which he that dieth in despair can by no
 means  do4    ,,death ,,of ,,the       
,,christian4    ,let dissolution come   
when it will1 it can do the ,christian  
no harm1  for it will be but only a     
passage out of a prison into a palace2  
out  of a sea of troubles into a haven1 

of rest2 out of a crowd of  enemies to  
an innumerable company of true1 loving1 
and faithful  friends2 out of shame1    
reproach1 and contempt1 into exceeding  
great  and eternal glory4    ,another   
improvement of ,christ's death for us   
was this3 by it he slew  for us our     
infernal foes2 by it he abolished death2
 by death he  destroyed him that had the
 power of death2 by death he took away  
the  sting of death2 by death he made   
death a pleasant sleep to saints1  and  
the grave for a while an easy house and 
home for the body4    ,we change our    
drossy dust for gold1 ,from death to    
life we fly3 ,we  let go shadows1 and   
take hold ,of immortality4    ,blood    
takes away the guilt2 inherent grace    
weakens the filth2 but  the grave is the
 place1 at the mouth of which sin and   
the saved must  have a perfect and final
 parting4 ,not that the grave of itself 
is of  a sin-purging quality1 but ,god  
will follow ,satan home to his own      
door1 for the grave is the door or gate 

of hell1 and will there1  where the     
devil thought to have swallowed us up1  
even there by the  power of his mercy1  
make us shine like the sun and look like
 angels4    ,,the ,,christian ,,wishing 
,,to ,,depart4    ,i have a desire to   
depart1 and to be with ,christ4    ,the 
strength of this desire is such that it 
is ready1 so far forth  as it can1 to   
dissolve that sweet knot of union that  
is betwixt body  and soul--a knot more  
dear to a reasonable creature than that 
can be  which is betwixt wife and       
husband1 parent and child1 or a man and 
his estate2 for even all that a man hath
 will he give for his life1  and to keep
 body and soul firmly knit together4    
,but now1 when this  desire comes1 this 
silver cord is loosed1 is loosed by     
consent4 ,this  desire delightfully     
grants to him that comes to dissolve    
this union1  leave to do it4 ,we are    
confident and willing rather to be      
absent  from the body1 and to be present
 with the ,lord4    ,the strength of    

this desire shows itself in this1 that  
it is willing  to grapple with the king 
of terrors1 rather than to be detained  
from  that sweet communion which the    
soul looks for when it comes into the   
place where its ,lord is4 ,death is not 
to be desired for itself2 the  apostle  
chose rather to be clothed upon with his
 house which is from  heaven1 that      
mortality might be swallowed up of life4
    ,but yet rather than he would be    
absent from the ,lord1 he was willing   
to be absent from the body4 ,death1 in  
the very thought of it1 is  grievous to 
flesh and blood2 and nothing can so     
master it in our  apprehensions as that 
by which we attain to these desires4    
,these  desires do deal with death1 as  
,jacob's love to ,rachel dealt with the 
seven long years which he was to serve  
for her4 ,it made them seem  few1 or but
 a little time2 so do these desires deal
 with death  itself4 ,they make it seem 
little1 nay1 a servant1 nay1 a          
privilege1  because by that a man may   

come to enjoy the presence of his       
beloved  ,lord4 ,i have a desire to     
depart1 to go from the world and        
relations1  to go from my body1 that    
great piece of myself--,i have a desire 
to  venture the tugs and pains1 and the 
harsh handling of the king of  terrors1 
so ,i may be with ,jesus ,christ4 ,these
 are the desires of the  righteous4     
,are not these therefore strong desires8
 ,is there not life and mettle  in them8
 ,have they not in them power to loose  
the bands of nature1  and to harden the 
soul against sorrow8 ,flow they not1    
think you1  from faith of the finest    
sort1 and are they not bred in the bosom
 of  a truly mortified soul8 ,are these 
the effect of a purblind spirit8  ,are  
they not rather the fruits of an        
eagle-eyed confidence8 ,oh1  these      
desires6 they are peculiar to the       
righteous4    ,christ in glory is worth 
the being with4 ,if the man out of whom 
the  ,lord ,jesus cast a legion1 prayed 
that he might be with him               

notwithstanding all the trials that     
attended him in this life1 how  can it  
be but that a righteous man must desire 
to be with him1 now  he is in glory8    
,to see ,jesus ,christ1 to see him as he
 is1 to see him as he is in  glory1 is a
 sight that is worth going from         
relations and out of the  body and      
through the jaws of death to see2 for   
this is to see him  ,head over all1 to  
see him possessed of heaven for his     
church1 to see  him preparing           
mansion-houses for those his poor ones  
that are now by  his enemies kicked to  
and fro like footballs in the world3 and
 is  not this a blessed sight8          
,secondly1 ,i have a desire to be with  
him1 to see myself with him2  this is   
more blessed still3 for a man to see    
himself in glory1 this  is a sight worth
 seeing4    ,sometimes ,i look upon     
myself and say1 ,where am ,i now8 and do
 quickly  return answer to myself again1
 ,why1 ,i am in an evil world1 a great  
way from heaven1 in a sinful body1 among

 devils and wicked men2  sometimes      
benighted1 sometimes beguiled1 sometimes
 fearing1  sometimes hoping1 sometimes  
breathing1 sometimes dying4 ,but then ,i
  turn the tables1 and say1 ,but where  
shall ,i be shortly8 ,where shall  ,i   
see myself anon1 after a few more times 
have passed over me8 ,and  when ,i can  
but answer this question thus3 ,i shall 
see myself with  ,jesus ,christ2 this   
yields glory1 even glory to one's spirit
 now4    ,thirdly1 ,i have a desire to  
be with ,christ3 there the spirits of   
the  just are perfected2 there the      
spirits of the righteous are as full  as
 they can hold4 ,a sight of ,jesus in   
the word2 some know how it  will change 
them from glory to glory4 ,but how then 
shall we be  changed and filled1 when we
 shall see him as he is8 ,when he shall 
appear1 we shall be like him1 for we    
shall see him as he is4    ,moses and   
,elias appeared to ,peter and ,james and
 ,john1 at the  transfiguration of      
,christ1 in glory4 ,hew so8 ,why1 they  

had been in  the heavens1 and came      
thence with some of the glories of      
heaven upon  them4 ,gild a bit of wood1 
yea1 gild it seven times over1 and it   
must  not be compared1 in difference    
from wood which is not gilt1 with the   
soul that but a little while has been   
dipt in glory4    ,glory is a strange   
thing to men that are on this side of   
heaven2 it  is that which eye hath not  
seen nor ear heard1 nor hath entered    
into  the heart of man3 only the        
,christian has a word and ,spirit that  
at  times give a little of the          
glimmering thereof unto him4    ,but    
,oh1 when he is in the ,spirit and sees 
in the ,spirit1 do you  think his tongue
 can tell8 ,but if the sight of heaven  
at so vast a  distance is so excellent a
 prospect1 what will it be when one is  
in  it8    ,no marvel1 then1 if the     
desires of the righteous are to be with 
,christ4    ,there is a man upon a bed  
of languishing2 but ,oh1 he dares not   
die1  for all is not as he would have it

 betwixt ,god and his poor soul2  and   
many a night he lies thus in great      
horror of mind2 but do you  think that  
he doth not desire to depart8 ,yes1 yes2
 he also waits and  cries to ,god to set
 his desires at liberty4 ,at last the   
visitor  comes and sets his soul at     
ease1 by persuading him that he belongs 
to ,god2 and what then8 ,oh1 ,now let me
 die2 welcome death6    ,,the ,,dying   
,,christian4    ,when men are faithful  
to ,god in this world1 to do the work he
 hath  appointed for them1 by this means
 a dying bed is made easier4    #a4 ,by 
reason of that present peace such shall 
have1 even in their  time of            
languishing4    #b4 ,by reason of the   
good company such shall have at their   
departure4  ,the angels of heaven shall 
wait upon them1 as they did upon the    
blessed ,lazarus1 to carry them into    
,abraham's bosom4 ,i know all that  go  
to paradise are by these holy ones      
conducted thither2 but yet1  for all    
that1 such as die under the clouds for  

unchristian walking  with ,god1 may meet
 with darkness in that day--may go      
heavily hence1  notwithstanding that2   
yea1 their bed may be as uncomfortable  
to them  as if they lay upon nothing but
 the cords1 and their departing from    
it1 as to appearance1 more uncomfortable
 by far4    ,but as for those who have  
been faithful to their ,god1 they shall 
see  before them2 shall know their      
tabernacle shall be in peace2 the       
everlasting gates shall be opened unto  
them3 in all which from  earth they     
shall see the glory of heaven4          
,,death ,,of ,,mr4 ,,badman',s ,,wife4  
,,attentive4 ,and how did his good wife 
take it when she saw that he  had no    
amendment1 but that he returned to his  
old courses again8    ,,wiseman4 ,why1  
it broke her heart2 it was a worse      
disappointment to  her than the cheat   
that he gave her in marriage2 at least  
she laid  it more to heart1 and could   
not so well grapple with it4 ,you must  
think that she had put up many a prayer 

to ,god for him before1 even  all the   
time that he had carried it so badly to 
her2 and now when he  was so affrighted 
in his sickness1 and so desirous that he
 might  live and mend1 poor woman1 she  
thought that the time was come for  ,god
 to answer her prayers2 nay1 she did not
 fail with gladness to  whisper out     
amongst her friends that it was so4 ,but
 when she saw  herself disappointed by  
her husband turning rebel again1 she    
could  not stand up under it1 but fell  
into a languishing distemper1 and in  a 
few weeks gave up the ghost4            
,,attentive4 ,pray how did she die8     
,,wiseman4 ,die6 she died bravely2 full 
of comfort in the faith of her  interest
 in ,christ1 and by him in the world to 
come4 ,she had many  brave expressions  
in her sickness1 and gave to those that 
came to  visit her many signs of her    
salvation4 ,the thoughts of the grave1  
especially of her rising again1 were    
sweet thoughts to her4 ,she  would long 
for death1 because she knew it would be 

her friend4 ,she  expressed herself like
 one that was making herself ready to go
 to  meet her bridegroom4 ',now1' said  
she1 ',i am going to rest from my       
sorrows1 my sighs1 my tears1 my         
mournings1 and complaints3 ,i have      
heretofore longed to be among the       
saints1 but might by no means be        
suffered to go2 but now ,i am going1 and
 no man can stop me1 to the  great      
meeting1 'to the general assembly and   
church of the first-born  which are     
written in heaven4' ,there ,i shall have
 my heart's desire2  there ,i shall     
worship without temptation or other     
impediment2 there  ,i shall see the face
 of my ,jesus whom ,i have loved1 whom  
,i have  served1 and who now ,i know    
will save my soul4 ,i have prayed often 
for my husband that he might be         
converted1 but there has been no  answer
 of ,god in that matter4 ,are my prayers
 lost2 are they  forgotten2 are they    
thrown over the bar8 ,no2 they are      
hanged upon  the horns of the golden    

altar1 and ,i must have the benefit of  
them  myself that moment that ,i shall  
enter into the gates1 in at which  the  
righteous nation that keepeth truth     
shall enter3 ,i say1 ,i shall  have the 
benefit of them4 ,i can say as holy     
,david--,i say1 ,i can say  of my       
husband as he could of his enemies1 ',as
 for me1 when they were  sick1 my       
clothing was of sackcloth2 ,i humbled my
 soul with fasting1  and my prayer      
returned into my bosom4' ,my prayers are
 not lost1 my  tears are yet in ,god's  
bottle2 ,i would have had a crown and   
glory  for my husband1 and for those of 
my children that follow his steps2  but 
so far as ,i can see yet1 ,i must rest  
in the hope of having all  myself4'     
,when she drew near her end she called  
for her husband1 and when he  was come  
to her1 she told him that now he and she
 must part2 and1  said she1 ',god knows1
 and thou shalt know1 that ,i have been 
a  loving1 faithful wife unto thee2 and 
as for all the abuses that ,i  have     

received at thy hand1 those ,i freely   
and heartily forgive1 and  still shall  
pray for thy conversion1 even as long as
 ,i breathe in  this world4 ,but1       
husband1 ,i am going thither where no   
bad man shall  come2 and if thou dost   
not turn1 thou wilt never see me more   
with  comfort4 ,let not my plain words  
offend thee2 ,i am thy dying wife1  and 
of my faithfulness to thee would leave  
this exhortation with  thee3 ,break off 
thy sins1 fly to ,god for mercy while   
mercy's gate  stands open3 remember that
 the day is coming when thou1 though now
  lusty and well1 must lie at the gates 
of death1 as ,i do2 and what  wilt thou 
then do1 if thou shalt be found with a  
naked soul to meet  the cherubims with  
their flaming swords8 ,yea1 what wilt   
thou then do  if death and hell shall   
come to visit thee1 and thou in thy sins
 and  under the curse of the law8'      
,when she saw that she was not regarded1
 she fetched a deep sigh and  lay still4
 ,so he went down2 and then she called  

for her children1  and began to talk to 
them4 ,and first she spoke to those that
 were  rude1 and told them the danger of
 dying before they had grace in  their  
hearts4 ,she told them also1 that death 
might be nearer than  they were aware   
of2 and bid them look1 when they went   
through the  churchyard again1 if there 
were not little graves there4 ',and ah1 
children1' said she1 'will it not be    
dreadful to you1 if we only  shall meet 
at the day of judgment1 and then part   
again and never see  each other more8'  
,and with that she wept2 the children   
also wept4 ,so  she held on her         
discourse3 ',children1' said she1 ',i am
 going from  you4 ,i am going to ,jesus 
,christ2 and with him there is neither  
sorrow nor sighing1 nor pain nor tears1 
nor death3 thither would ,i  have you go
 also2 but ,i can neither carry you nor 
fetch you thither4  ,but if you shall   
turn from your sins to ,god1 and shall  
beg mercy at  his hands by ,jesus       
,christ1 you shall follow me1 and shall1

 when you  die1 come to the place where 
,i am going1 that blessed place of rest2
  and then we shall be for ever         
together1 beholding the face of our     
,redeemer1 to our mutual and eternal    
joy4' ,so she bade them remember  the   
words of a dying mother when she was    
cold in her grave1 and  themselves were 
hot in their sins1 if perhaps her words 
might put a  check to their vice1 and   
they might remember and turn to ,god4   
,then they all went down but her        
darling1 to wit1 the child that she  had
 most love for1 because it followed her 
ways4 ,so she addressed  herself to     
that3 ',come to me1' said she1 'my sweet
 child1 thou art  the child of my joy2  
,i have lived to see thee a servant of  
,god2 thou  shalt have eternal life4 ,i1
 my sweetheart1 shall go before1 and    
thou  shalt follow after1 if thou shalt 
hold the beginning of thy  confidence   
steadfast to the end4 ,when ,i am gone1 
do thou still  remember my words4 ,love 
thy ,bible1 follow my ministers1 deny   

ungodliness still1 and if troublesome   
times shall come1 set a higher  price   
upon ,christ1 his word and ways1 and the
 testimony of a good  conscience1 than  
upon all the world besides2 carry it    
kindly and  dutifully to thy father1 but
 chose none of his ways4    ',i would   
have thee also1 my dear child1 to love  
thy brothers and  sisters1 but learn    
none of their naughty tricks2 ',have no 
fellowship  with the unfruitful works of
 darkness1 but rather reprove them4'    
,thou hast grace2 they have none4 ,do   
thou therefore beautify the way  of     
salvation before their eyes1 by a godly 
life and conversation  conformable to   
the revealed will of ,god1 that thy     
brothers and  sisters may see and be the
 more pleased with the good ways of the 
,lord4'    ,thus she talked to her      
children and gave them counsel2 and     
after  she had talked to this a little  
longer1 she kissed it and bid it go     
down4    ,well1 in short1 her time drew 
on1 and the day that she must die4 ,so  

she died with a soul full of grace1 a   
heart full of comfort1 and by  her death
 ended a life of trouble4    ,,death    
,,of ,,standfast4    ,when ,mr4         
,standfast had thus set things in order1
 and the time being  come for him to    
haste him away1 he went down to the     
river4 ,now there  was a great calm at  
that time in the river2 wherefore ,mr4  
,standfast1  when he was about half way 
in1 stood a while and talked to his     
companions that had waited upon him     
thither3 and he said1 ,this  river has  
been a terror to many2 yea1 the thoughts
 of it also have  often frightened me3  
now1 methinks1 ,i stand easy2 my foot is
 fixed  upon that on which the feet of  
the priests that bare the ark of the    
covenant stood1 while ,israel went over 
this ,jordan4    ,the waters indeed are 
to the palate bitter and to the stomach 
cold2  yet the thoughts of what ,i am   
going to1 and of the convoy that waits  
for me on the other side1 doth lie as a 
glowing coal at my heart4 ,i  see myself

 now at the end of my journey2 my       
toilsome days are ended4  ,i am going to
 see that head that was crowned with    
thorns1 and that  face that was spit    
upon for me4 ,i have formerly lived by  
hearsay and  faith1 but now ,i go where 
,i shall live by sight1 and shall be    
with  him in whose company ,i delight   
myself4 ,i have loved to hear my ,lord  
spoken of2 and whenever ,i have seen the
 print of his shoe in the  earth1 there 
,i have coveted to set my foot too4 ,his
 name has been to  me as a civet-box1   
yea1 sweeter than all perfumes4 ,his    
voice to me  has been most sweet1 and   
his countenance ,i have more desired    
than  they that have most desired the   
light of the sun4 ,his words ,i did  use
 to gather for my food1 and for         
antidotes against my faintings4  ,he has
 held me1 and hath kept me from mine    
iniquities1 yea1 my steps  have been    
strengthened in his way4    ,now while  
he was thus in discourse1 his           
countenance changed2 his  strong man    

bowed under him2 and after he had said1 
,take me1 for ,i  am come unto thee1 he 
ceased to be seen of them4    ,but      
glorious it was to see how the open     
region was filled with  horses and      
chariots1 with trumpeters and pipers1   
with singers and  players on stringed   
instruments1 to welcome the pilgrims as 
they  went up1 and followed one another 
in at the beautiful gate of the  city4  
,,death ,,of ,,christian ,,and          
,,hopeful4    ,they then addressed      
themselves to the water1 and entering1  
,christian  began to sink1 and crying   
out to his good friend ,hopeful1 he     
said1  ,i sink in deep waters2 billows  
go over my head1 all his waves go  over 
me4    ,then said the other1 ,be of good
 cheer1 my brother2 ,i feel the  bottom1
 and it is good4    ,then said          
,christian1 ,ah1 my friend1 the sorrow  
of death hath  compassed me about4 ,i   
shall not see the land that flows with  
milk  and honey4 ,and with that a great 
darkness and horror fell upon           

,christian1 so that he could not see    
before him2 also he in a great  measure 
lost his senses1 so that he could       
neither remember nor  orderly talk of   
any of those sweet refreshments that he 
had met wilh  in the way of his         
pilgrimage4 ,but all the words that he  
spake still  tended to discover that he 
had horror of mind1 and heart-fears that
  he should die in that river and never 
obtain entrance in at the  gate4        
,here also1 as they that stood by       
perceived1 he was much in  troublesome  
thoughts of the sins that he had        
committed both since  and before he     
began to be a pilgrim4 ,it was also     
observed that he  was troubled with     
apparitions of hobgoblins and evil      
spirits2 for  ever and anon he would    
intimate so much by words4    ,hopeful  
therefore here had much ado to keep his 
brother's head above  water2 yea1       
sometimes he would be quite gone down1  
and then1 ere a  while1 he would rise up
 again half dead4 ,hopeful did also     

endeavor  to comfort him1 saying1       
,brother1 ,i see the gate1 and men      
standing  by to receive us2 but         
,christian would answer1 ,it is you1 it 
is you  they wait for2 you have been    
hopeful ever since ,i knew you4    ,and 
so have you1 said he to ,christian4     
,ah1 brother1 said he1 surely if ,i was 
right1 he would now arise  to help me2  
but for my sins he hath brought me into 
the snare1 and  hath left me4    ,then  
said ,hopeful1 ,my brother1 you have    
quite forgot the text1  where it is said
 of the wicked1 ',there are no bands in 
their death1  but their strength is     
firm3 they are not troubled as other    
men1  neither are they plagued like     
other men4' ,these troubles and         
distresses that you go through in these 
waters1 are no sign that ,god  hath     
forsaken you1 but are sent to try you   
whether you will call to  mind that     
which heretofore you have received of   
his goodness1 and  live upon him in your
 distresses4    ,then ,i saw in my dream

 that ,christian was in a muse a while4 
,to whom  also ,hopeful added these     
words3 ,be of good cheer2 ,jesus ,christ
  maketh thee whole4    ,and with that  
,christian broke out with a loud voice1 
,oh1 ,i see him  again1 and he tells me1
 ',when thou passest through the waters1
 ,i  will he with thee2 and through the 
rivers1 they shall not overflow  thee4' 
,then they both took courage1 and the   
enemy was after that as still  as a     
stone until they were gone over4        
,christian therefore presently  found   
ground to stand upon1 and so it followed
 that the rest of the  river was but    
shallow2 thus they got over4    ,now    
upon the bank of the river1 on the other
 side1 they saw the two  shining men    
again1 who there waited for them4       
,wherefore1 being come  out of the      
river1 they saluted them1 saying1 ,we   
are ministering  spirits1 sent forth to 
minister to those that shall be heirs of
  salvation4 ,thus they went along      
towards the gate4    ,,bunyan',s        

,,death4    ,,from ,,the ,,first        
,,biography ,,of ,,bunyan4    ,he       
comforted those that wept about him1    
exhorting them to trust in  ,god1 and   
pray to him for mercy and forgiveness of
 their sins2  telling them what a       
glorious exchange it would be1 to leave 
the  troubles and cares of a wretched   
mortality to live with ,christ for      
ever1 with peace and joy inexpressible2 
expounding to them the  comfortable     
scriptures by which they were to hope   
and assuredly come  unto a blessed      
resurrection in the last day4 ,he       
desired some to pray  with him1 and he  
joined with them in prayer2 and his last
 words1  after he had struggled with a  
languishing disease1 were these3 ',weep 
not for me1 but for yourselves4 ,i go to
 the ,father of our ,lord ,jesus        
,christ1 who will1 through the mediation
 of his blessed ,son1 receive  me1      
though a sinner2 where ,i hope we ere   
long shall meet to sing the  new song1  
and remain everlastingly happy1 world   

without end4'              ,,xxv4 ,,the 
,,resurrection4            ,the doctrine
 of the resurrection1 however questioned
 by heretics and  erroneous persons1 yet
 is such a truth1 that almost all the   
holy  scriptures of ,god point at and   
centre in it4    ,there is a poor dry   
and wrinkled kernel cast into the       
ground2 and  there it lieth1 swelleth1  
breaketh1 and1 one would think1         
perisheth4  ,but behold1 it receiveth   
life1 it chippeth1 it putteth forth a   
blade1 and groweth into a stalk4 ,there 
also appeareth an ear2 it  also sweetly 
blossoms1 with a full kernel in the ear4
 ,it is the same  wheat2 yet behold how 
the fashion doth differ from what was   
sown4  ,and our ,,bran will be left     
behind1 when we rise again4 ,the body   
ariseth1 as to the nature of it1 the    
self-same nature2 but as to the  manner 
of it1 how far transcendent6 ,the glory 
of the terrestrial is  one1 and the     
glory of the celestial is another4      
,it is sown in weakness1 it is raised in

 power4 ,at our first  appearance1 the  
world will tremble4 ,behold1 the gates  
of death and  the bars of the grave are 
now carried away on our shoulders1 as   
,sampson carried away the gates of the  
city4 ,death quaketh1 and  destruction  
falleth down dead at our feet4 ,what    
then can stand  before us8 ,we shall    
then carry such grace1 majesty1 terror1 
and  commanding power in our souls1 that
 our countenances shall be as           
lightning4 ,then shall death be         
swallowed up of victory4    ,glory is   
the sweetness1 comeliness1 purity1 and  
perfection of a  thing4 ,the light is   
the glory of the sun1 strength is the   
glory of  youth1 and gray hairs are the 
glory of old age4 ,that is1 it is the   
excellency of these things and that     
which makes them shine4  ,therefore to  
arise in glory1 it is to arise in all   
the beauty and  utmost completeness that
 is possible for a human creature to    
possess1 in all its features and members
 inconceivably beautiful4  ,sin and     

corruption have made mad work in our    
bodies as well as in  our souls2 'tis   
sin commonly that is the cause of all   
that deformity  and ill-favoredness that
 now cleaveth to us1 and that rendereth 
us  so dishonorable at our death4 ,but  
now at our rising1 we shall be  raised  
incorruptible2 we shall appear in such  
perfection that all  the beauty and     
comeliness1 sweetness and amiableness   
that hath at  any time been in this     
world1 it shall be swallowed up a       
thousand  times told with this glory4   
,the body when it ariseth will be so    
swallowed up of life and  immortality1  
that it will be as if it had lost its   
own human nature4  ,you know that things
 which are candied by the art of the    
apothecary1  are so swallowed up with   
the sweetness and virtue of that in     
which  they are candied1 that they are  
now as though they had no other  nature 
than that in which they are boiled4     
,just thus1 at the last  day1 it will be
 with our bodies4 ,we shall be so       

candied by being  swallowed up of life1 
that we shall be as if we were all      
spirit2  when in truth1 it is but this  
body that is swallowed up of life4      
,the body is also gathered up into      
glory1 but not simply for its own  sake1
 or because it is capable of itself to  
know and understand the  glories of its 
,maker1 but that it has been a companion
 with the soul  in this world1 and has  
also been its house1 its mantle1 its    
cabinet1  and tabernacle here3 it has   
also been that by which the soul hath   
acted1 in which it hath wrought1 and by 
which its excellent  appearances have   
been manifested2 and it shall also there
 be its  copartner and sharer in its    
glory4    ,in this world the soul of the
 regenerate is a gracious soul2 and in  
that world it shall be a glorious one4  
,in this world the body was  conformable
 to the soul as it was gracious1 and in 
that world it  shall be conformable to  
it as it is glorious4 ,yea1 it shall    
have an  additional glory to adorn and  

make it yet the more capable of being   
serviceable to and with the soul in its 
great acts before ,god in  eternal      
glory4    ,if a man receive the mercy of
 the resurrection of the body1 what a   
bundle of mercies will be received as   
wrapt up in that4 ,he will  receive     
perfection1 immortality1 heaven1 and    
glory4 ,and what is  folded up in these 
things1 who can tell8    ,as to the     
manner of the change of the body in its 
rising1 this  similitude also doth fitly
 suit3 as1 #a4 ,it is sown a dead corn1 
it  is raised a living one4 #b4 ,it is  
sown dry1 and without comeliness2  it   
riseth green and beautiful4 #c4 ,it is  
sown a single corn1 it  riseth a full   
ear4 #d4 ,it is sown in the husk1 but in
 its rising it  leaveth that husk behind
 it4    ,further1 though the kernel thus
 die1 be buried1 and meet with all  this
 change in these things1 yet none of    
them can cause the nature  of the kernel
 to cease2 it is wheat still4 ,wheat was
 sown1 and wheat  arises2 only it was   

sown dead1 dry1 and barren wheat1 and   
riseth  living1 beautiful1 and fruitful 
wheat4 ,god giveth it a body as it      
pleaseth him2 but to every seed his own 
body4    ,all the glory that a glorified
 soul can help this body to1 it at  this
 day shall enjoy4 ,that soul that has   
been these hundreds or  thousands of    
years in the heavens1 in the bosom of   
,christ1 it shall  in a moment come     
spangling into the body again1 and      
inhabit every  member and vein of the   
body1 as it did before its departure4   
,that  ,spirit of ,god also1 that took  
its leave of the body when it went to   
the grave1 shall now in all perfection  
dwell in the body again4 ,i  tell you1  
the body at this day will shine brighter
 than the face of  ,moses or ,stephen1  
even as bright as the sun1 the stars and
 angels4  ,when ,christ who is our life 
shall appear1 we shall appear with him  
in glory4    ,christ has showed us what 
our body at the resurrection shall be1  
by  showing us in his word what his body

 was at and after his  resurrection4 ,we
 read that his body after he was risen  
from the  dead1 though it yet retained  
the very same flesh and bones that did  
hang upon the cross1 yet how angelical  
was it at all times1 upon all           
occasions6 ,he could come in to his     
disciples with that very body1  when the
 doors were shut upon them4 ,he could at
 pleasure1 to their  amazement1 appear  
in the twinkling of an eye in the midst 
of them4  ,he could be visible and      
invisible1 as he pleased1 when he sat at
  meat with them4 ,in a word1 he could  
pass and repass1 ascend and  descend in 
that body with far more pleasure and    
ease than the bird  by the art of her   
wing4    ,now ,i say1 as we have in this
 world borne the image of our first     
father2 so at that day we shall have the
 image of ,jesus ,christ1 and  be as he 
is4 #a ,cor4 #ae3di4    ,to mount up to 
heaven1 and to descend again with       
pleasure1 shall  with us in that day be 
ordinary4 ,if there were ten thousand   

bars of  iron1 or walls of brass1 to    
separate between us and our pleasure and
  desire at that day1 they should as    
easily be pierced by us as is the       
cobweb1 or as air by the beams of the   
sun4 ,and the reason is1  because to the
 ,spirit1 wherewith we shall be         
inconceivably filled at  that day1      
nothing is impossible2 and the working  
of it at that day  shall be in such     
nature and measure as to swallow up all 
impossibilities4 ,who shall change our  
vile body1 that it may be  fashioned    
like unto his glorious body--now        
mark--according to the  working whereby 
he is able even to subdue all things    
unto himself4    ,nay further1 we do not
 only see what operation the ,spirit    
will have  in our body by the carriage  
of ,christ after his resurrection1 but  
even by many a saint before his death4  
,the ,spirit used to catch  ,elijah     
away1 no man could tell whither4 ,it    
carried ,ezekiel hither  and thither4   
,it carried ,christ from the top of the 

pinnacle of the  temple into ,galilee2  
through it he walked on the sea4 ,the   
,spirit  caught away ,philip from the   
eunuch1 and carried him as far as       
,azotus4    ,thus the great ,god has    
given us a taste of the power and glory 
that  are in himself1 and how easily    
they will help us1 by possessing us  at 
the resurrection1 to act and to do like 
angels2 as ,christ saith1  ,they that   
shall be counted worthy of that world   
and of the  resurrection from the dead1 
they shall not die1 but be equal to the 
angels4    ,,salvation ,,complete ,,at  
,,the ,,resurrection4    ,now we shall  
see him1 to wit1 ,christ in his glory4  
,not by  revelation only1 as we do now1 
but then face to face2 and he will  have
 us with him to this very end4 ,though  
,john was in the ,spirit  when he had   
the vision of ,christ1 yet it made him  
fall at his feet  as dead2 and also     
turned ,daniel's beauty into corruption1
 it was so  glorious and so overweighing
 a glory that he appeared in4 ,but we   

shall at the day of our resurrection be 
so furnished1 that we shall  with the   
eagle be able to look upon the sun in   
his strength4 ,we  shall then see ,him  
as he is1 who now is in the light that  
no eye  hath seen1 nor any man can see  
till that day4    ,now we shall see into
 all things2 there shall not be any     
thing hid  from us4 ,for the ,spirit1   
with which we shall in every cranny of  
soul  and body be filled1 searcheth all 
things1 yea1 the deep things of  ,god4  
,we see what strange things have been   
known by the prophets and  saints of    
,god2 and that when they knew but in    
part4 ,abraham could by  it tell to a   
day how long his seed should be under   
persecution in  ,egypt4 ,elisha by it   
could tell what was done in the king of 
,assyria's bedchamber4 ,abijah by this  
could know ,jeroboam's wife so  soon as1
 yea1 before her feet entered within his
 door1 though he saw  her not4 ,the     
prophet of ,judah could tell by this    
what ,god would do  to ,bethel for the  

idolatry there committed1 and could also
 point out  the man by name that should 
do the execution1 long before he was    
born4    ,what shall ,i say8 ,enoch by  
it could tell what should be done at the
  end of the world4 ,how did the        
prophets circumstantially prophesy of   
,christ's birth1 his death1 his burial1 
of their giving him gall and  vinegar1  
of their parting his raiment and        
piercing his hands and  feet1 of his    
riding on an ass also4 ,all this they   
saw when they  spake of him4 ,peter     
also1 though half asleep1 could at the  
very  first word call ,moses and ,elias 
by their names1 when they appeared  to  
,christ in the holy mount4 ,he is very  
ignorant of the operation of  the       
,spirit that scrupleth these things4    
,but now1 ,i say1 if these things have  
been done1 seen1 and known by  spiritual
 men while their knowledge has been but 
in part1 how  shall we know1 see1 and   
discern1 when that which is perfect is  
come6 which will be at the resurrection3

 ,it is raised a spiritual  body4       
,paul said to the ,philippians that he  
was confident that he who had  begun a  
good work in them1 would perform it     
until the day of  ,christ4 ,which day of
 ,christ was not the day of their       
conversion1  for that day was past with 
them already1 they were now the children
  of ,god2 but this day of ,christ is   
the same which in other places is       
called the day when he shall come with  
the sound of the last trump  to raise   
the dead4 ,for you must know that the   
work of salvation is  not at an end with
 them that are now in heaven2 no1 nor   
ever will be  until their bodies be     
raised again4 ,god has made our bodies  
the  members of ,christ1 and ,god does  
not count us thoroughly saved1 until    
our bodies be as well redeemed and      
ransomed out of the grave and  death1 as
 our soul from the curse of the law and 
dominion of sin4    ,though ,god's      
saints have felt the power of much of   
his grace1 and  have had many a secret  

word fulfilled on them1 yet one word    
will be  unfulfilled on their particular
 person1 so long as the grave can  shut 
her mouth upon them4 ,but when the gates
 of death do open before  them1 and the 
bars of the grave do fall asunder1 then 
shall be  brought to pass that saying   
which is written1 ,death is swallowed up
  of victory4 ,and then will they hear  
that most pleasant voice1  ,awake and   
sing1 ye that dwell in the dust2 for thy
 dew is as the  dew of herbs1 and the   
earth shall cast forth her dead4    ,the
 body is no such ridiculous thing in the
 account of ,christ as it  was in the   
account of the ,sadducees4 ,the body is 
not for  fornication1 but for the ,lord1
 and the ,lord for the body2 and that   
not only in this world1 but in that     
which is to come4              ,,xxvi4  
,,the ,,judgment4            ,oh my     
heart1 it is in vain now to dissemble1  
or to hide1 or to  lessen               
transgressions2 for there is a judgment 
to come1 a day in  which ,god will judge

 the secrets of men by his ,son4        
,,the ,,saints ,,judged4    ,when the   
saints are raised1 they must give an    
account of all things  that they have   
done while they were in the world1 of   
all things  whether they be good or bad4
    #a4 ,of all their bad4 ,but mark1   
not under the consideration of  vagabond
 slaves and sinners1 but as sons1       
stewards1 and servants of  the ,lord    
,jesus4 ,we must all stand before the   
judgment-seat of  ,christ2 we saints2   
for it is written1 ,as ,i live1 saith   
the ,lord1  every knee shall bow to me1 
and every tongue shall confess to ,god4 
,it is true1 ,god loveth his people2 but
 yet he loveth not their sins1  nor any 
thing they do1 though with the greatest 
zeal for him1 if it  be contrary to his 
word4 ,wherefore1 as truly as ,god will 
give a  reward to his saints and        
children1 for all that they have indeed 
well done1 so truly will he at this day 
distinguish their good and  bad2 and    
when both are manifest by the righteous 

judgment of ,god1 he  will burn up their
 bad1 with all their labor and travail  
in it1 for  ever4 ,he can tell how to   
save his people1 and yet take vengeance 
on  their inventions4    ,that is an    
observable place1 #a ,cor4 #c3ab-ae3 ,if
 any man build upon  this foundation1   
7,christ17 gold1 silver1                
precious-stones1 wood1 hay1  stubble1   
every man's work shall be manifest2 for 
the day shall  declare it2 because it   
shall be revealed by fire1 and the fire 
shall  try every man's work of what sort
 it is4 ,if any man's work shall  abide 
that he hath built thereupon1 he shall  
receive a reward4 ,if  any man's work   
shall be burned1 that man shall suffer  
loss1 but he  himself shall be saved1   
yet so as by fire4    ,i am persuaded   
that there are many things done by the  
best of  saints1 which then they will   
gladly disown and be ashamed of2 yea1   
they have and do still do this with     
great devotion4 ,in many things  now1 we
 offend all2 and then we shall see the  

many offences we have  committed1 and   
shall ourselves judge them as they are4 
,but yet take notice1 that in this day  
when the saints are thus  accounting for
 their evil before their ,saviour and   
,judge1 they shall  not then1 as now at 
the remembrance and confession of sin1  
be filled  with that guilt1 confusion1  
and shame1 that now1 through the        
weakness of faith1 attend their souls3  
neither shall they in the  least be     
grieved or offended that ,god has1      
before the angels and the  rest of their
 holy brethren1 laid open to a tittle   
their infirmities  from the least and   
first to the biggest and last4    ,for  
the ,god to whom they confess all1 they 
will now more perfectly  than ever see  
he doth love them and free them from    
all1 even when  and before they confess 
and acknowledge them to him2 and they   
shall  have their soul so full of the   
ravishing raptures of the life and      
glory that now they are in1 that they   
shall be of it swallowed up in  that    

measure and manner that neither fear1   
nor guilt1 nor confusion  can come near 
them or touch them4 ,their ,judge is    
their ,saviour1  their husband1 and     
head2 who1 though he will bring every   
one of them  for all things to judgment1
 yet will keep them for ever out of     
condemnation4 ,perfect love casteth out 
fear1 even while we are here2  much more
 then when we are with the ,saviour1 our
 ,jesus1 being passed  from death to    
life4    ,,saints ,,rewarded ,,at ,,the 
,,judgment4    ,now the saved having    
accounted for all their evil1 and       
confessed to  ,god's glory how they fell
 short and did not the truth in this or 
that particular1 and having received    
their eternal acquittance from  the     
,lord and ,judge1 in the sight of both  
angels and saints1  forthwith the ,lord 
,jesus will make inquiry into all the   
good and  holy actions they do in the   
world4 ,now here shall all things be    
reckoned up1 from the very first good   
thing that was done by ,adam or  ,abel1 

to the last that will fall out to be    
done in the world--the  good of all the 
holy prophets1 of all apostles1 pastors1
 teachers1  and helps in the            
church--here also will be brought forth 
to light  all the good deeds of masters 
of families1 of parents1 of children1   
of servants1 of neighbors1 or whatever  
good things any man doeth4    #a4 ,here 
will be a recompense for all that have  
labored sincerely in  the word and      
doctrine4 ,now shall ,paul the planter1 
and ,apollos the  waterer1 with every   
one of their companions1 receive the    
reward that  is according to their      
works4    ,now all the preaching1       
praying1 watching1 and labor thou hast  
been  at1 in thy endeavoring to catch   
men from ,satan to ,god1 shall be       
rewarded with spangling glory4 ,not a   
soul thou hast converted to the  ,lord  
,jesus1 not a soul thou hast comforted1 
strengthened1 or helped  by thy         
wholesome counsel1 admonition1 and      
comfortable speech1 but it  shall stick 

as a pearl in that crown which the ,lord
 the righteous  ,judge shall give thee  
at that day2 that is1 if thou doest it  
willingly1 delighting to lift up the    
name of ,god among men2 if thou  doest  
it with love1 and longing after the     
salvation of sinners3  otherwise thou   
wilt have only thy labor for thy pains1 
and no more4  ,if ,i do this willingly1 
,i have a reward2 but if against my     
will1 a  dispensation of the gospel is  
committed to my charge4    ,but if thou 
do it graciously1 then a reward         
followeth2 for what is  our hope1 or    
joy1 or crown of rejoicing8 ,are not    
even ye1 says  ,paul1 in the presence of
 our ,lord ,jesus ,christ at his coming8
 ,for  ye are our glory and joy4    ,let
 him therefore that ,christ has put into
 his harvest1 take comfort  in the midst
 of all his sorrows2 and know that ,god 
acknowledges that  he that converteth a 
sinner from the error of his way1 doth  
even  save that soul from death1 and    
covereth a multitude of sins4           

,wherefore1 labor to convert1 labor to  
water1 labor to build up and  to feed   
the flock of ,god which is among you1   
taking the oversight  thereof not by    
constraint1 but willingly2 not for      
filthy lucre1 but  of a ready mind2 and 
when the chief ,shepherd shall appear1  
ye shall  receive a crown of glory that 
fadeth not away4    #b4 ,and as the     
ministers of ,christ's gospel shall at  
this day be  recompensed1 so shall also 
those more private saints be with tender
  affections and love looked on and     
rewarded for all their work and  labor  
of love which they have showed to the   
name of ,christ1 in  ministering to his 
saints and suffering for his sake4      
,whatsoever  good thing any man doeth1  
the same shall he receive of the ,lord1 
whether he be bond or free4    ,ah1     
little do the people of ,god think how  
largely and thoroughly ,god  will at    
that day own and recompense all the good
 and holy acts of  his people4 ,every   
bit1 every drop1 every rag1 and every   

night's  harbor though but in a wisp of 
straw1 shall be rewarded in that day    
before men and angels3 ,whosoever shall 
give to drink to one of  these little   
ones1 a cup of cold water only1 in the  
name of a  disciple1 verily ,i say unto 
you1 saith ,christ1 he shall in no wise 
lose his reward4 ,therefore1 when thou  
makest a feast1 saith he1  call the     
poor1 the maimed1 the lame1 and the     
blind1 and thou shalt  be blessed2 for  
they cannot recompense thee2 for thou   
shalt be  recompensed at the            
resurrection of the just4    ,if there  
be any repentance among the godly at    
that day1 it will be  because the ,lord 
,jesus1 in his person1 members1 and     
word1 was no  more owned1 honored1      
entertained1 and provided for by them1  
when  they were in this world2 for it   
will be ravishing to all to see what    
notice the ,lord ,jesus will then take  
of every widow's mite4 ,he will  call to
 mind even all those acts of mercy and  
kindness which thou  hast showed to him 

when thou wast among men4 ,he will      
remember1 cry  up1 and proclaim before  
angels and saints those very acts of    
thine  which thou hast either forgotten 
or through bashfulness wilt not at  that
 day count worth the owning4 ,he will   
reckon them up so fast and  so fully    
that thou wilt cry1 ,lord1 when did ,i  
do this1 and when did  ,i do the other8 
,when saw we thee hungry and fed thee4  
or athirst and  gave thee drink8 ,when  
saw we thee a stranger and took thee in1
 or  naked and clothed thee8 ,or when   
saw we thee sick or in a prison1 and    
came unto thee8 ,and the ,king shall    
answer and say unto them1  ,verily ,i   
say unto you1 inasmuch as ye did it unto
 one of the least  of these my brethren1
 ye did it unto me4 ,the good works of  
some are  manifest beforehand1 and they 
that are otherwise cannot be hid4       
,whatever thou hast done to one of the  
least of these my brethren1  thou hast  
done it unto me4 ,i felt the nourishment
 of thy food and  the warmth of thy     

fleece2 ,i remember thy loving and holy 
visits1  when my poor members were sick 
and in prison and the like4 ,when they  
were strangers and wanderers in the     
world1 thou tookest them in4  ,well     
done1 thou good and faithful servant2   
enter thou into the joy  of thy ,lord4  
#c4 ,here also will be a reward for all 
that hardness and ,christian  enduring  
of affliction that thou hast met with   
for thy ,lord1 while  thou wast in the  
world4 ,here now will ,christ begin from
 the greatest  suffering even unto the  
least1 and bestow a reward on them all1 
from  the blood of the suffering saint  
to the loss of a hair4    #d4 ,there is 
also a reward at this day for all the   
more1 secret and  more retired works of 
,christianity4 #a4 ,there is not now one
 act of  faith in thy soul1 either upon 
,christ or against the devil and        
antichrist1 but it shall in this day be 
found out1 and praised1  honored1 and   
glorified in the face of heaven4 #b4    
,there is not one  groan to ,god in     

secret against thy own lusts1 and for   
more grace1  light1 ,spirit1            
sanctification1 and strength to go      
through this world  like a ,christian1  
but it shall even at the coming of      
,christ he  rewarded openly4 #c4 ,there 
has not one tear dropped from thy tender
  eye against thy lusts1 the love of the
 world1 or for more communion  with     
,jesus ,christ1 but as it is now in the 
bottle of ,god1 so then it  shall bring 
forth such plenty of reward1 that it    
shall return upon  thee with abundance  
of increase4 ,blessed are ye that weep  
now1 for  ye shall laugh4 ,thou tellest 
my wanderings and puttest my tears in   
thy bottle2 are they not in thy book8   
,they that sow in tears shall  reap in  
joy4 ,he that goeth forth and weepeth1  
bearing precious seed1  shall doubtless 
come again with rejoicing1 bringing his 
sheaves with  him4    ,if thou indeed   
and in truth close in with ,jesus1 thou 
shalt be  lovingly received and tenderly
 embraced of ,christ at that day1 when  

he hath thousands of noble saints1 as   
,abraham1 ,isaac1 ,jacob1 ,david1       
,isaiah1 ,jeremiah1 with all the        
prophets1 apostles1 and martyrs1        
attending on him2 and many thousands of 
glittering angels  ministering before   
him4 ,when the ungodly shall appear     
there1 with  their pale faces1 with     
their guilty consciences and trembling  
souls--who would then give thousands of 
worlds1 if they had so many1  if they   
could enjoy but one loving look from    
,christ--then shalt thou  have the hand 
of ,christ reached to receive thee1     
saying1 ,come1 thou  blessed1 step up   
hither2 thou wast willing to leave all  
for me1 and  now ,i will give all to    
thee4 ,here is a throne1 a crown1 a     
kingdom2  take them4 ,thou wast not     
ashamed of me when thou wast in the     
world  among my enemies1 and now will   
not ,i be ashamed of thee before thine  
enemies1 but will1 in the view of all   
these devils and damned  reprobates1    
promote thee to honor and dignity4      

,come1 ye blessed of  my ,father1       
inherit the kingdom prepared for you    
from the foundation  of the world4 ,thou
 shalt see that those who have served me
 in truth  shall lose nothing1 but they 
shall be as pillars in my temple and    
inheritors of my glory1 and shall have  
place to walk in among my  saints and   
angels4 ,oh1 who would not be in this   
condition8 who would  not be in this    
glory8    ,at the day of judgment1      
,israel will be sufficiently weary of   
this  world2 they will even as it were  
inexpressibly groan to be taken up  from
 hence3 wherefore the ,lord will come1  
as making use of the  weariness and     
groaning of his people1 and will take   
them up into his  chambers of rest1 and 
will wipe away all tears from their     
eyes4    ,that we are justified in the  
sight of the divine ,majesty by free    
grace1 through that one offering of the 
body of ,jesus ,christ once  for all1 ,i
 bless ,god ,i believe it2 and that we  
shall be brought to  glory by the same  

grace1 through the same most blessed    
,jesus1 ,i  thank ,god ,i believe that  
also ,again1 that the glory to which we 
shall be brought by free grace through  
the only merits of ,jesus1 is           
unspeakably glorious and complete1 ,i   
question no more than ,i  question the  
blessed truths but now confessed4       
,but notwithstanding all this1 there is 
a reward for the righteous1 a  reward   
for their works of faith and love1      
whether in a doing or in a  suffering   
way1 and that not principally to be     
enjoyed here1 but  hereafter3 ,great is 
your reward in heaven4    ,paul was as  
great a maintainer of the doctrine of   
,god's free grace1  and of justification
 from sin by the righteousness of       
,christ imputed  by grace1 as any one   
that ever lived in ,christ's service    
from the  world's beginning till now2   
and yet he was for this doctrine3 he    
expected himself1 and encouraged others 
also to look for such a  reward for     
doing and suffering for ,christ1 which  

he calls a far  more exceeding and      
eternal weight of glory4 ,surely1 as    
,christ says  in a case not distant from
 this in hand1 ,if it were not so1 he   
would have told us4    ,wherefore a     
reward ,i find1 and that laid up in     
heaven2 but what it  is ,i know not1    
neither is it possible for any here to  
know it any  further than by certain    
general words of ,god1 such as these3   
,praise1 honor1 glory1 a crown of       
righteousness1 a crown of glory1        
thrones1 judging of angels1 a kingdom1  
with a far more exceeding and  eternal  
weight of glory4    ,wherefore1 though  
in the day of judgment thou shouldst    
there slight  all thou didst on earth   
for thy ,lord1 saying1 ,when1 ,lord1    
when did  we do it8 he will answer1     
,then1 even then when ye did it to the  
least of these my brethren1 ye did it   
unto me4    ,,sinners ,,judged4         
,there shall be a resurrection of the   
dead1 both of the just and  unjust4 ,for
 as the just go before the unjust in    

name and dignity  and honor1 so they    
shall1 in the last day1 go before them  
in the  resurrection4    ,now then1 when
 the saints have risen out of their     
graves1 given up  their accounts1       
received their glory1 and are set upon  
their  thrones--when they are all of    
them in their royal apparel1 with       
crowns of glory1 every one presenting   
the person of a king1 then  come the    
unjust out of their graves1 to receive  
their judgment for  what they have done 
in the body4 ,we must all appear before 
the  judgment-seat of ,christ1 that     
every one1 both saints and sinners1  may
 receive the things done in his body1   
according to that he hath  done1 whether
 it be good or bad4    ,and the windows1
 or floodgates1 of heaven were opened4  
,this  opening of the floodgates of     
heaven was a type of the way that shall 
be made for the justice of ,god upon    
ungodly men1 when ,christ has  laid     
aside his mediatorship2 for he indeed is
 the sluice that stops  this justice of 

,god from its dealing according to its  
infinite power  and severity with men4  
,he stands like ,moses1 and as it were  
holdeth  the hands of ,god4 ,oh1 but    
when he shall be taken away1 when he    
shall  have finished his mediatorial    
work1 then will the floodgates of       
heaven be opened1 and then will the     
justice and holiness of ,god deal  with 
men without stint or diminution1 even   
till it has filled the  vessels of wrath
 with vengeance till they run over4 ,it 
is a fearful  thing to fall into the    
hands of the living ,god1    ,the ,judge
 is the almighty and eternal ,god3 the  
law broken is the  holy and perfect rule
 of ,god1 in itself a consuming fire3   
sin is so  odious1 and a thing so       
abominable1 that it is enough to make   
all the  angels blush to hear it but so 
much as once mentioned in so holy a     
place as that is1 where the great ,god  
doth sit to judge4 ,this sin  now hangs 
about the neck of him that has committed
 it1 yea1 it  covers him as doth a      

mantle4    ,doubtless before the flood  
had carried off the ark1 others besides 
would with gladness have had there a    
lodgingroom though no better  than a    
dog-kennel2 but now it was too late1    
,the ,lord had shut the  door4    ,as   
the just shall rise in power1 so the    
wicked and unjust in  weakness and      
astonishment4 ,sin and guilt bring      
weakness and  faintness in this life2   
how much more when both1 with all their 
force and power1 like a giant fasten on 
them8 ,as ,god saith1 ,can thy  hands be
 strong1 and can thy heart endure in the
 day that ,i shall  deal with thee8 ,now
 will the ghastly jaws of despair gape  
upon  thee1 and now will condemnings of 
conscience1 like thunderclaps1          
continually batter against thy weary    
spirit4 ,it is the godly that  have     
boldness in the day of judgment2 but the
 wicked will be like  the chaff which   
the wind driveth away4    ,now when the 
wicked are thus raised out of their     
graves1'they shall1  together with all  

the angels of darkness1 their           
fellow-prisoners1 be  brought up1 being 
shackled in their sins1 to the place of 
judgment2  where there shall sit upon   
them ,jesus ,christ1 the ,king of kings 
and  ,lord of lords1 the ,lord          
,chief-judge of things in heaven1 and   
earth1  and things under the earth4 ,on 
whose right hand and left shall sit  all
 the princes and heavenly nobles1 the   
saints and prophets1 the  apostles and  
witnesses of ,jesus2 every one in his   
kingly attire upon  the throne of his   
glory4 ,then shall be fulfilled that    
which is  written1 ,but those my        
enemies1 which would not that ,i should 
reign  over them1 bring hither and slay 
them before me4    ,when every one is   
thus set in his proper place1 the ,judge
 on his  throne with his attendants1 and
 the prisoners coming up to judgment1   
forthwith there shall issue forth a     
mighty fire and tempest from  before the
 throne1 which shall compass it round   
about4 ,which fire  shall be as bars and

 bounds to the wicked1 to keep them at a
 certain  distance from the heavenly    
,majesty4 ,our ,god will come and not   
keep  silence2 a fire shall devour      
before him1 and it shall be very        
tempestuous round about him4 ,his throne
 was like the fiery flame1  and his     
wheels like burning fire4 ,a fiery      
stream issued1 and came  forth from     
before him4    ,this preparation being  
made--to wit1 the ,judge with his       
attendants  on the throne1 the bar for  
the prisoners1 and the rebels all       
standing with ghastly faces to look for 
what comes after--presently  the books  
are brought forth1 the books both of    
death and life1 and  every one of them  
opened before the sinners now to be     
judged and  condemned2 for after that he
 had said1 ,a fiery stream issued1 and  
came forth from before him1 he adds1    
,thousands1 thousands  ministered to    
him1 and ten thousand times ten thousand
 stood before  him4 ,the judgment was   
set1 and the book was opened4 ,and      

again1 ,i  saw a great white throne and 
him that sat upon it1 from whose face   
the earth and the heaven fled away1 and 
there was found no more  place for      
them'1 and ,i saw the dead1 small and   
great1 stand before  ,god2 and the books
 were opened2 and another book was      
opened1 which  is the book of life4 ,and
 the dead were judged out of the things 
that  were written in the books1        
according to their works4    ,for many  
will seek to enter in1 and shall not be 
able4 ,they will  put on all the        
confidence they can2 they will trick and
 trim up  their profession1 and adorn it
 with what bravery they can4 ,thus the  
foolish virgins sought to enter in2 they
 did trim up their lamps1  and made     
themselves as fine as they could4 ,they 
made shift to make  their lamps to shine
 a while2 but the ,son of ,god          
discovering  himself1 their confidence  
failed1 their lamps went out1 the door  
was  shut upon them1 and they were kept 
out4    ,they will make a stop at this  

gate1 this beautiful gate of heaven2    
they will begin to stand without at the 
gate1 as being loath to go  any further4
 ,never did malefactor so unwillingly   
turn off the ladder  when the rope was  
about his neck1 as these will turn away 
in that  day from the gates of heaven to
 hell4    ,it may be that when thou     
hearest that the dust of the street1    
that  cleaveth to a minister of the     
gospel while thou rejectest his word  of
 salvation1 shall be a witness against  
thee at the day of  judgment1 thou wilt 
be apt to laugh1 and say1 ,the dust a   
witness6  witnesses will be scarce when 
dust is forced to come in to plead      
against a man4    ,well1 sinner1 mock   
not2 ,god doth use to confound the great
 and  mighty by things that are not1 and
 that are despised4    ,when once the   
master of the house is risen up1 that   
is1 when ,christ  hath laid aside his   
mediation for sinners1 and hath taken   
upon him  only to judge and condemn1    
then will the wicked begin to stand     

without1 and to knock and contend for a 
portion among them that are  blessed4   
,ah1 how will their hearts twitter while
 they look upon the  kingdom of glory6  
,and how will they ache and throb at    
every view of  hell1 their proper place2
 still crying1 ,o that we might inherit 
life1 and ,o that we might escape       
eternal death6    ,thus you see how     
loath the sinner is now to take a hay of
 life  everlasting4 ,he that once would 
not be persuaded to close with the      
,lord ,jesus1 though one should have    
persuaded him with tears of  blood1     
behold how fast he now hangs about the  
,lord3 what arguments  he frames with   
mournful groans2 how with shifts and    
words he seeks  to gain time1 and to    
defer the execution4 ,lord1 open unto   
us6 ,lord1  ,lord1 open unto us6 ,lord1 
thou hast taught in our streets1 and we 
have both taught in thy name1 and in thy
 name have we cast out  devils4 ,we have
 eat and drank in thy presence4 ,and    
when did we see  thee hungry1 or        

thirsty1 or a stranger1 or naked1 or    
sick1 or in  prison1 and did not        
minister to thee8 ,o1 poor hearts2 how  
loath1  how unwillingly do they turn    
away from ,christ2 how loath are they to
  partake of their ungodly doings6      
,christ must say1 ,depart1 once1  and   
,depart1 twice1 before they will depart4
 ,when he hath shut the  door upon them1
 yet they knock1 and cry1 ,lord1 open   
unto us3 when  he hath given them their 
answer1 that he knows them not1 yet they
  plead and mourn4 ,wherefore1 he is    
fain to answer again1 ,i tell you1  ,i  
know you not whence you are2 depart4    
,o this word1 depart1 how dreadful is   
it2 with what weight will it  fall on   
the head of every condemned sinner6 ,for
 you must note1 that  while the ungodly 
stand thus before the ,judge1 they      
cannot choose  but have a most distinct 
view both of the kingdom of heaven1 and 
of  the damned spirits in hell4 ,now    
they see the ,god of glory1 the ,king   
of glory1 the saints of glory1 and the  

angels of glory2 and the  kingdom in    
which they have their eternal abode4    
,now they also begin  to see the worth  
of ,christ and what it is to be smiled  
upon by him1  from all which they must  
depart2 and as ,i say they shall have   
the  view of this1 so they will most    
clearly behold the pit1 the  bottomless 
pit1 the fire1 the brimstone1 and the   
flaming beds that  justice hath prepared
 for them of old4    ,at the day of     
judgment1 will be tried whether thou art
 within that  part of the book of life  
wherein all the elect are recorded2 for 
all  the elect are written here1 as     
,christ saith1 ,rejoice that your  names
 are written in heaven4    ,now then1 if
 thy name be not found either among the 
prophets or  apostles or the rest of    
saints1 thou must be put by as one that 
is  cast away1 as one polluted1 and as  
an abominable branch4 ,thy name is      
wanting in the genealogies and rolls of 
heaven2 thou art not marked  for        
everlasting life2 therefore thou must   

not be delivered from that  soul-amazing
 misery3 for there are no souls can1    
though they would  give a thousand      
worlds1 be delivered at the day of ,god1
 but such  that are found written in    
this book4 ,every one of those that are 
written1 though never a one of those    
that are not written1 shall in  that day
 be delivered from the wrath to come4   
,but ,o methinks1 with what careful     
hearts will the damned now begin  to    
look for their names in this book4      
,those that1 when once the              
long-suffering of ,god waited on them1  
made light of all admonition1  and      
slighted the counsel of making their    
calling and election sure1  would now   
give thousands of treasures1 that they  
could but spy their  names1 though last 
and least among the sons of ,god4 ,but1 
,i say1 how  will they fail2 how will   
they faint2 how will they die and       
languish  in their souls1 when they     
shall still1 as they look1 see their    
names  wanting6 ,what a pinch will it be

 to ,cain1 to see his brother there     
recorded1 and he himself left out4      
,absalom will now swoon and be as  one  
that giveth up the ghost1 when he shall 
see ,david his father1  and ,solomon his
 brother written here1 while he withal  
is written in  the earth1 among the     
damned4 ,thus1 ,i say1 will sadness be  
added to  sadness in the soul of the    
perishing world1 when they fail of      
finding their names in this part of the 
book of life of the ,lamb  slain from   
the foundation of the world4            
,,sinners ,,without ,,excuse ,,at ,,the 
,,judgment4    ,observe1 that among all 
the objections and cavils that are made 
and  will be made by the ungodly in the 
day of the ,lord ,jesus1 they have  not 
one about election1 and reprobation3    
they murmur not at all that  they were  
not predestinated to eternal life2 and  
the reason is1  because then they shall 
see1 though now they are blind1 that    
,god  could in his prerogative royal1   
without prejudice to them that are      

damned1 choose and refuse at pleasure2  
and besides1 they at this day  shall be 
convinced that there was so much        
reality1 and downright  willingness in  
,god1 in every tender of grace and mercy
 to the worst  of men1 and also so much 
goodness1 justness1 and reasonableness  
in  every command of the gospel of      
grace1 which they were so often         
entreated and beseeched to embrace1 that
 they will be drowned in the  conviction
 of this1 that they did refuse love1    
grace1 and  reason--love1 ,i say1 for   
hatred1 grace for sin1 and things       
reasonable for things unreasonable and  
vain4 ,now they shall see they  left    
glory for shame1 ,god for the devil1    
heaven for hell1 light for  darkness4   
,now they shall see1 that though they   
made themselves  beasts1 yet ,god made  
them reasonable creatures2 and that he  
did with  reason expect that they should
 have adhered to1 and have delighted    
in1 things that are good and according  
to ,god4 ,yea1 now they shall  see and  

be convinced1 that though ,god did not  
determine to bring  them to heaven      
against their hearts and wills1 and the 
love that  they had to their sins1 yet  
that ,god was far from infusing any     
thing  into their souls1 that should in 
the least hinder1 weaken1 obstruct1  or 
let them in seeking the welfare of their
 souls4 ,now1 men will  tattle and      
prattle at a mad rate about election and
 reprobation1 and  conclude that because
 all are not elected1 therefore ,god is 
to blame  that any are damned4 ,but then
 they will see that they are not damned 
because they were not elected1 but      
because they sinned2 and also1  that    
they sinned1 not because ,god put any   
weakness into their souls1  but because 
they gave way1 and that wilfully1       
knowingly1 and  desperately1 to ,satan  
and his suggestions2 and so turned away 
from  the holy commandment delivered    
unto them4 ,yea1 then they will see1    
that though ,god at some times did      
fasten his cords about their heads  and 

heels and hands1 both by godly education
 and smarting  convictions1 yet they    
rushed away with violence from all1     
saying1  ,let us break their bonds      
asunder1 and cast away their cords from 
us4 ,god will be justified in his       
sayings1 and clear when he  judgeth2    
though men's proud ignorance thinks to  
have and to multjply  cavils against    
him4    ,now shall be brought before    
thee and all men1 how many strugglings  
,god had with thy heart1 on the         
sick-bed1 to do thee good2 yea1 and  at 
such times1 how many vows1 promises1    
engagements1 and resolutions  thou      
madest before ,god to turn1 if he would 
release thee from thy  affliction and   
turn off his rod from thy back2 and yet 
how thou  didst1 like the man possessed1
 break and snap in twain all these      
chains of iron with which thou hadst    
bound thy soul2 and that for a  very    
lust or sin4 ,here also will be opened  
before thee how often  thou hast sinned 
against thy light and knowledge2 how    

often thou  hast laid violent hands on  
thy own conscience2 how often thou hast 
labored to put out that light that hath 
stood in thy way to hinder  thee from   
sinning against thy soul4 ,ah1 ,lord1   
what a condition will  the ,christless  
soul be in at that day2 how will every  
one of these  things afflict the damned 
soul they will pierce like arrows1 and  
bite like serpents1 and sting like an   
adder4 ,with what shame will  that man  
stand before the judgment-seat of       
,christ1 who must have all  things he   
hath done against ,god to provoke the   
eyes of his glory to  jealousy1 laid    
open before the whole host of the       
heavenly train4 ,it  would make a man   
blush to have his pockets searched for  
things that  are stolen1 in the midst of
 a market1 especially if he stand upon  
his reputation and honor4 ,but thou must
 have thy heart searched1 the  bottom of
 thy heart searched2 and that1 ,i say1  
before thy neighbor  whom thou hast     
wronged1 and before the devils whom thou

 hast served2  yea1 before ,god whom    
thou hast despised1 and before the      
angels1  those holy and delicate        
creatures1 whose holy and chaste faces  
will  scarce forbear blushing4          
,,ignorance ,,condemned ,,at ,,the      
,,judgment4    ,while ,i was gazing at  
all these things1 ,i turned my head to  
look  back1 and saw ,ignorance come up  
to the riverside2 but he soon got  over1
 and that without half the difficulty   
which the other two men  met with4 ,for 
it happened that there was then in that 
place one  ,vain-hope1 a ferryman1 that 
with his boat helped him over4 ,so he1  
as  the others ,i saw1 did ascend the   
hill to come up to the gate2 only  he   
came alone1 neither did meet with any   
the least encouragement4  ,when he was  
come up to the gate1 he looked up to the
 writing that  was above1 and then began
 to knock1 supposing that entrance      
should  have been quickly administered  
to him2 but he was asked by the men     
that looked over the top of the gate1   

,whence come you8 and what  would you   
have8 ,he answered1 ,i have eat and     
drank in the presence  of the ,king1 and
 he has taught in our streets4 ,then    
they asked him  for his certificate1    
that they might go in and show it to the
 ,king4  ,so he fumbled in his bosom for
 one1 and found none4 ,then said they1  
,have you none8 ,but the man answered   
never a word4 ,so they told the  king2  
but he would not come down to see him1  
but commanded the two  shining ones that
 conducted ,christian and ,hopeful to   
the city1 to go  out and take           
,ignorance1 and bind him hand and foot1 
and have him  away4 ,then they took him 
up and carried him through the air to   
the  door that ,i saw in the side of the
 hill1 and put him in there4 ,then  ,i  
saw that there was a way to hell even   
from the gates of heaven1 as  well as   
from the city of ,destruction4          
,,xxvii4 ,,heaven4    ,,happiness ,,and 
,,glory ,,of ,,heaven4                  
,,heaven6 ,it is called the paradise of 

,god--a paradise1 to show how  quiet1   
harmless1 sweet1 and beautiful heaven   
shall be to them that  possess it4      
,the street of the city was pure gold4  
,all the visions were rich1  but this   
the richest1 that the floor of the house
 should be covered  with gold4 ,the     
floor and street are walking-places1 and
 how rich  will our steps be then6      
,alas1 here we sometimes step into the  
mire1  and then again stumble upon      
blocks and stones4 ,here we sometimes   
fall into the holes1 and have our heel  
often catched in a snare2 but  there    
will be none of these4 ,gold6 gold6 all 
will be gold1 and  golden perfections1  
when we come into the holy place4    ,if
 a sight of sin and the love of ,god    
will make such work in that  soul where 
yet there is unbelief1 blindness1       
mistrust1 and  forgetfulness2 what will 
a sight of sin do in that soul which is 
swallowed up of love1 which is sinless  
and temptationless1 which  hath all     
faculties of soul and body strained by  

love and grace to  the highest pin of   
perfection that is possible to be in    
glory  enjoyed and possessed8    ,o the 
wisdom and goodness of ,god1 that he at 
the day of judgment  should so cast     
about the worst of our things1 even     
those that  naturally tend to sink us   
and damn us1 for our great advantage4   
,all  things shall work together for    
good1 indeed1 to them that love ,god4   
,those sins that brought a curse upon   
the whole world1 that spilt the         
heart-blood of our dearest ,saviour1 and
 that laid his tender soul  under the   
flaming wrath of ,god1 shall1 by his    
wisdom and love1 tend  to the exaltation
 of his grace1 and the inflaming of our 
affections  to him for ever and ever4   
,these visions1 that the saved in heaven
 shall have of the love of  ,christ1    
will far transcend our utmost knowledge 
here2 even as far as  the light of the  
sun at noon goes beyond the light of a  
blinking  candle at midnight4    ,as    
there are great saints and small ones in

 the church on earth1 so  there are     
angels of divers degrees in heaven2 some
 greater than  some2 but the smallest   
saint1 when he gets to heaven1 shall    
have an  angel's dignity1 an angel's    
place4        ,what goodly mansions ,he 
for them provides1      ,though here    
they meet rough winds and swelling      
tides2      ,how brave a calm they will 
enjoy at last1      ,who to the ,lord   
and to his ways hold fast4              
,,employments ,,of ,,heaven4    ,this   
love of ,christ1 if ,i may so say1 will 
keep the saints in an  employ1 even when
 they are in heaven2 though not an      
employ1 that is  laborsome1 tiresome1   
burdensome1 yet an employ that is       
dutiful1  delightful1 and profitable2   
for although the work and worship of    
saints in heaven is not particularly    
revealed as yet1 and so it doth  not yet
 appear what we shall be1 yet in the    
general we may say1  there will be that 
for them to do that has not yet by them 
been  done2 and by that work which they 

shall do there1 their delight will  be  
unto them4 ,nor will this at all        
derogate from their glory4 ,the  angels 
now wait upon ,god1 and serve him2 the  
,son of ,god is now a  minister1 and    
waiteth upon his service in heaven4     
,some saints have  been employed about  
service for ,god after they have been in
 heaven2  and why we should be idle     
spectators when we come thither1 ,i see 
not  reason to believe4 ,it may be said1
 ,they there rest from their  labors4   
,true1 but not from their delights4 ,all
 things then that once  were burdensome1
 whether in suffering or service1 shall 
be done  away1 and that which is        
delightful and pleasurable shall remain4
    ,now1 just as the gates were opened 
to let in the men1 ,i looked in  after  
them1 and behold1 the city shone like   
the sun2 the streets  also were paved   
with gold1 and in them walked many men  
with crowns  on their heads1 palms in   
their hands1 and golden harps to sing   
praises withal4 ,there were also of them

 that had wings2 and they  answered one 
another without intermission1 saying1   
,holy1 holy1 holy  is the ,lord4 ,and   
after that they shut up the gates2 which
 when ,i  had seen1 ,i wished myself    
among them4    ,strive to enter in4     
,enter in--into heaven1 that is the     
meaning1  where the saved are and shall 
be--into heaven1 that place1 that       
glorious place where ,god and ,christ   
and angels are1 and the souls of  just  
men made perfect4 ,enter in3 that thing 
included though not  expressed in the   
words1 is called in another place the   
mount ,zion1  the heavenly ,jerusalem1  
the general assembly and church of the  
first-born which are written in heaven4 
,and therefore the words  signify unto  
us that there is a state most glorious1 
and that when  this world is ended2 and 
that this place and state is likewise to
 be  enjoyed by a generation of men     
forever4 ,besides1 this word enter  in  
signifies that salvation to the full is 
to be enjoyed only  there1 and that     

there only is eternal safety2 all other 
places and  conditions are hazardous1   
full of snares1 imperfections1          
temptations1 and afflictions4 ,but there
 all is well2 there is no  devil to     
tempt1 no desperately wicked heart to   
deliver us up1 no  deceitful lust to    
entangle1 nor any enchanting world to   
bewitch us2  there all shall be well to 
all eternity4 ,further1 all the parts of
  and circumstances that attend         
salvation1 are only there to be         
enjoyed3 there only is immortality and  
eternal life2 there is the  glory and   
fulness of joy and the everlasting      
pleasures2 there is ,god  and ,christ to
 be enjoyed by open vision2 and more1   
there are the  angels and the saints2   
there is no death nor sickness1 no      
sorrow nor  sighing for ever2 there is  
no pain1 nor persecution1 nor darkness  
to  eclipse our glory4 ,o this mount    
,zion6 ,o this heavenly ,jerusalem6     
,,soul ,,and ,,body ,,glorified ,,in    
,,heaven4    ,when this corruptible     

shall have put on incorruption1 and this
  mortal shall have put on immortality1 
then shall be brought to pass  that     
saying that is written1 ,death is       
swallowed up in victory4    ,so when    
this comes to pass1 then we shall be    
saved1 then will  salvation in all the  
parts of it meet together in our glory1 
then we  shall be every way saved3 saved
 in ,god's decree1 saved in ,christ's   
undertakings1 saved by faith1 saved in  
perseverance1 saved in soul1  and in    
body and soul together1 in the heavens2 
saved perfectly1  everlastingly1        
gloriously4    ,i would discourse a     
little of the state of our body and soul
 in  heaven1 when we shall enjoy this   
blessed state of salvation4    #a4 ,of  
the soul4 ,it will then be filled in all
 the faculties of it  with as much his  
and glory as ever it can hold4    ,the  
understanding will then be perfect in   
knowledge4 ,now we know in  part--we    
know ,god1 ,chrit1 heaven1 and glory1   
but in part2 butswhen  that which is    

perfect is come1 then that which is in  
part shall be  done away4 ,then shall we
 have perfect and everlasting visions of
  ,god1 and that blessed ,one his ,son  
,jesus ,christ2 a good thought of  whom 
doth sometimes so fill us1 while in this
 world1 that it causeth  joy unspeakable
 and full of glory4    ,then shall our  
will and affections be ever in a burning
 flame of  love to ,god and his ,son    
,jesus ,christ4 ,our love here hath ups 
and  downs2 but there it shall be always
 perfect with that perfection  which is 
not possible in this world to be        
enjoyed4    ,then will1 our conscience  
have that peace and joy1 that neither   
tongue or pen of men or angels can      
express4    ,then will our memory be so 
enlarged as to retain all things that   
happened to us in this world2 so that   
with unspeakable aptness we  shall call 
to mind all ,god's providences1 all     
,satan's malice1 all  our weaknesses1   
all the rage of men1 and how ,god made  
all work  together for his glory and our

 good1 to the everlasting ravishing of  
our hearts4    #b4 ,for our body1 it    
shall be raised in power1 in            
incorruption1 a  spiritual body and     
glorious4    ,it is compared to the     
brightness of the firmament1 and to the 
shining of the stars for ever and ever4 
,it is compared to the  shining of the  
sun4 ,it is said that then our vile body
 shall be like  the glorious body of    
,jesus ,christ4 ,their state is then to 
be equally  glorious with angels4       
,and now when body and soul are thus    
united1 who can imagine what  glory they
 both possess8 ,they will now be both in
 capacity without  jarring to serve the 
,lord2 with shouting1 thanksgivings1 and
 with a  crown of everlasting joy upon  
their head4    ,in this world there     
cannot he the harmony and oneness of    
body and  soul that there will he in    
heaven4 ,here the body sometimes sins   
against the soul1 and the soul again    
vexes and perplexes the body  with      
dreadful apprehensions of the wrath and 

judgment of ,god4 ,while  we are in this
 world1 the body oft hangs this way1 and
 the soul  quite the contrary2 but there
 in heaven they shall have such perfect 
union as never to jar more4 ,the glory  
of the body shall so suit with  the     
glory of the soul1 and both so perfectly
 suit with the heavenly  state1 that it 
passeth words and thoughts4    ,oh      
sinner1 what sayest thou8 ,how dost thou
 like being saved8 ,doth  not thy mouth 
water8 ,doth not thy heart twitter at   
being saved8 ,why1  come then4 ,the     
,spirit and the bride say1 ,come2 and   
let him that  heareth say1 ,come2 and   
let him that is athirst come2 and       
whosoever  will1 let him take the water 
of life freely4    ,,christ ,,the       
,,glory ,,of ,,heaven4    ,for the glory
 of ,god did lighten it1 and the ,lamb  
is the light  thereof4 ,mark1 though now
 there shall be no need of temple1 sun1 
or  moon1 yet ,christ the ,lamb1 or the 
man who was offered in sacrifice  for   
our redemption1 shall be of use and     

benefit2 for the glory of  ,god did     
lighten it1 and the ,lamb is the light  
thereof4 ,wherefore1  all that we who   
are the saved shall enjoy of glory and  
sweetness in  another world1 though we  
shall not enjoy it from ,god through    
,christ  by and in the ordinances1 yet  
we shall enjoy it through ,christ the   
,lamb without them2 for the ,lamb is the
 light of it4    ,by this word ,lamb he 
would have us understand1 that when we  
are in  glory1 the blood1 death1 and    
bloody conquest that the man ,christ did
  get over our infernal enemies1 will be
 of eternal use to us2 because  that    
benefit of ,christ shall not only for   
ever be the foundation of  our eternal  
felicity1 but the burden of our song of 
glory in all our  raptures among the    
angels4 ,it will he the blood1 the      
blood1 the  redeeming blood of the      
,lamb4 ,blessing1 and honor1 and glory1 
and  power be unto him that sits upon   
the throne1 and unto the ,lamb1 for     
ever and ever4 ,it is he in whom will be

 found the seven eyes1 the  seven       
,spirits of ,god2 in whose light we     
shall see the heights and  depths of    
those springs and everlasting fountains 
and depths of  glory for ever4 ,and     
indeed the conceit of the contrary is   
foolish4  ,is not ,christ the head1 and 
we the members8 ,and do not the members 
receive their whole light1 guidance1 and
 wisdom from it8 ,is not he  also the   
price1 the ground1 and bottom of our    
happiness1 both in  this world and that 
which is to come8 ,and is it possible it
 should  be forgotten1 or that by it our
 joy1 light1 and heaven should not be   
made the sweeter to all eternity8 ,our  
soul is now bound up in him as  in a    
bundle of life2 and when we come thither
 he is still the  ,christ1 our life2 and
 it is by our being where he is that we 
shall  behold his glory and our glory1  
because he is glorified3 ,for the  glory
 of ,god did lighten it1 and the ,lamb  
is the light thereof4 ,as  he said1 ,ye 
now therefore have sorrow2 but ,i will  

see you again1  and your heart shall    
rejoice and your joy no man taketh from 
you4    ,,the ,,glory ,,of ,,salvation4 
,what a surprise will it be to them that
 now have come to ,god by  ,christ1 to  
see themselves in heaven indeed1 saved  
indeed1 and  possessed of everlasting   
life indeed4 ,for alas1 what is faith to
  possession8--faith that is mixed with 
many tears1 that is opposed  with many  
assaults1 and that seems sometimes to be
 quite  extinguished--,i say1 what is   
that to a seeing myself in heaven8      
,hence it is said that he shall then    
come to be admired in them that  now    
believe2 then they shall admire that it 
was their lot to  believe when they were
 in the world4 ,they shall also admire  
to  think1 to see1 and behold what      
believing has brought them to2 while    
the rest1 for refusing to come to ,god  
by ,christ1 drink their tears  mixed    
with burning brimstone4    ,what a joy  
will it be to the truly godly to think  
now that they are  come to ,god by      

,christ4 ,it was their mercy to begin to
 come2 it was  their happiness that they
 continued coming2 but it is their glory
  that they are come1 that they are come
 to ,god by ,christ4    ,to ,god6 why1  
he is all in all2 all that is good1     
essentially good1  and eternally good4  
,to ,god1 the infinite ocean of good4   
,oh that ,i  could imagine1 ,oh that ,i 
could think1 that ,i might write more   
effectually to thee of the happy estate 
of them that come to ,god by  ,christ4  
,,heaven4        ,what gladness shall   
possess our heart1          ,when we    
shall see these things2      ,what light
 and life in every part          ,rise  
like eternal springs6      ,o1 blessed  
face2 ,o1 holy grace1          ,when    
shall we see this day8      ,lord1 fetch
 us to this goodly place1          ,we  
humbly to thee pray4        ,thus when  
in heavenly harmony          ,these     
blessed saints appear1      ,adorned    
with grace and majesty1          ,what  
gladness will be there6      ,thus shall

 we see1 thus shall we be1          ,o1 
would the day were come3      ,lord     
,jesus1 take us up to thee1          ,to
 this desired home4        ,angels we   
also shall behold1          ,when we on 
high ascend1      ,each shining like to 
men of gold1          ,and on the ,lord 
attend4      ,these goodly creatures1   
full of grace1          ,shall stand    
about the throne1      ,each one with   
lightning in his face1          ,and    
shall to us be known4        ,there     
cherubim1 with one accord1              
,continually do cry1      ,ah1 holy1    
holy1 holy ,lord1          ,and heavenly
 majesty6      ,these will us in their  
arms embrace1          ,and welcome us  
to rest1      ,and joy to see us clad   
with grace          ,and of the heavens 
possest4              ,,xxviii4 ,,hell4 
,,hell is a place and state utterly     
unknown to any in this visible  world1  
excepting the souls of men2 nor shall   
any for ever be capable  of             
understanding the miseries thereof1 save

 souls and fallen angels4    ,now ,i    
think as the joys of heaven stand not   
only in speculation or  in beholding of 
glory1 but in a sensible enjoyment and  
unspeakable  pleasure which these       
glories will yield to the soul2 so the  
torments  of hell will not stand in the 
present lashes and strokes which by  the
 flames of eternal fire ,god will       
scourge the ungodly with2 but  the      
torments of hell stand much1 if not in  
the greatest part of  them1 in those    
deep thoughts and apprehensions which   
souls in the  next world will have of   
the nature and occasion of sin1 of ,god1
 and  of separation from him--of the    
eternity of those miseries1 and of  the 
utter impossibility of their help1 ease1
 or deliverance for  ever4 ,oh1 damned  
souls will have thoughts that will clash
 with  glory1 clash with justice1 clash 
with law1 clash with themselves1  clash 
with hell1 and with the everlastingness 
of misery4    ,miseries as well as      
mercies sharpen and make quick the      

apprehensions  of the soul4 ,behold     
,spira in his book1 ,cain in his guilt1 
and ,saul  with the witch of ,endor1 and
 you shall see men ripened1 men enlarged
  and greatened in their fancies1       
imaginations1 and apprehensions1  though
 not about ,god and heaven and glory1   
yet about their loss1  their misery1    
their woe1 and their hell4    ,a man may
 endure to touch the fire with a short  
touch1 and away2 but  to dwell with     
everlasting burnings1 that is fearful4  
,oh then1 what  is dwelling with them   
and in them for ever and ever8 ,we use  
to say1  ,light burdens carried far are 
heavy3 what then will it be to bear     
that burden1 that guilt1 that the law   
and the justice and the wrath  of ,god  
will lay upon the lost soul for ever8   
,now tell the stars1 now  tell the drops
 of the sea1 and now tell the blades of 
grass that are  spread upon the face of 
all the earth1 if thou canst2 and yet   
sooner  mayest thou do this than count  
the thousands of millions of  thousands 

of years that a damned soul shall lie in
 hell6 ,suppose  every star that is now 
in the firmament was to burn by himself 
one  by one1 a thousand years apiece1   
would it not be a long while before  the
 last of them was burnt out8 and yet    
sooner might that be done  than the     
damned soul be at the end of punishment4
    ,he that has lost his soul has lost 
himself4 ,he is1 as ,i may say1 now  out
 of his own hands2 he has lost himself1 
his soul self1 his own  self1 his whole 
self1 by sin and wrath2 and hell hath   
found him4 ,he  is now no more at his   
own dispose1 but at the dispose of      
justice1 of  wrath and hell4 ,he is     
committed to prison1 to hell prison1    
there to  abide1 not at pleasure1 not as
 long and as little time as he will1    
but the term appointed by his ,judge2   
nor may he there choose his own         
affliction1 neither for manner1 measure1
 or continuance4 ,it is ,god  that will 
spread the fire and brimstone under him1
 and it is ,god  himself that will blow 

the fire4 ,isa4 #cj3cc4    ,there will  
be no such grace as patience in hell    
with him who has  lost himself3 here    
will also be wanting a bottom for       
patience1 to  wit1 the providence of    
,god2 for a providence of ,god1 though  
never so  dismal1 is a bottom for       
patience to the afflicted2 but men go   
not to  hell by providence1 but by sin4 
,depart from me1 ye cursed1 into        
everlasting fire1 prepared for the      
devil and his angels4 ,this curse is the
 chief and highest of all  kinds of     
curses4 ,it lieth in a deprivation of   
all good1 and in a  being swallowed up  
of all the most fearful miseries1 that a
 holy and  just and eternal ,god can    
righteously inflict1 or lay upon the    
soul  of a sinful man4    ,now let      
reason here come in and exercise itself 
in the most  exquisite manner1 yea1 let 
it now count up all and all manner of   
curses and torments that a reasonable   
and immortal soul is or can be  made    
capable of1 and able to suffer under2   

and when it has done1 it  shall come    
infinitely short of this great anathema1
 this  master-curse1 which ,god has     
reserved amongst his treasures1 and     
intends to bring out in that day of     
battle and war which he  purposeth to   
make upon damned souls in that day4     
,the sting of death is sin4 ,sin in the 
general of it is the sting  of hell1 for
 there would be no such thing as torment
 even there1  were it not that sin is   
there with sinners2 for the fire of     
hell1  the indignation and wrath of ,god
 can fasten and kindle upon nothing  but
 for or because of sin4 ,sin then1 as   
sin1 is the sting and the  hell of      
hells1 of the lowest and upmost         
hells--sin1 ,i say1 in the  nature of   
it1 simply as it is concluded both by   
,god and the damned  to be a breach of  
his holy law1 so it is the sting of the 
second  death1 which is the worm of     
hell4    ,but then1 as sin is such a    
sting in itself1 so it is heightened1   
sharpened1 made more keen and sharp1 by 

those circumstances that  attend it in  
every act2 for there is not a sin at any
 time committed  by man1 but there is   
some circumstance or other attends it   
that  makes it1 when charged home by    
,god's law1 bigger and sharper and  more
 venomous and poisonous to the soul1    
than if it could be  committed without  
them2 and this is the sting of the      
hornet1 the  great sting4 ,i sinned     
without a cause1 to please a base lust1 
to  gratify the devil3 here is the      
sting4 ,again1 ,i preferred sin before  
holiness1 death before life1 hell before
 heaven1 the devil before  ,god1 and    
damnation before a ,saviour3 here is the
 sting4 ,again1 ,i  preferred moments   
before everlastings1 temporals before   
eternals1 to  be racked and always      
slaying before the life that is blessed 
and  endless3 here is the sting4 ,also1 
this ,i did against light1 against      
convictions1 against conscience1 against
 persuasions of friends and  ministers1 
and the godly lives which ,i beheld in  

others3 here is the  sting4 ,also1 this 
,i did against warnings2 yea1 though ,i 
saw others  fall before my face by the  
mighty hand of ,god for committing the  
same3 here is the sting4    ,sinners1   
would ,i could persuade you to hear me  
out3 a man cannot  commit a sin1 but by 
the commission of it he doth by some    
circumstance or other sharpen the sting 
of hell1 and that to pierce  himself    
through and through and through with    
many sorrows4    ,also1 the sting of    
hell to some will be1 that the damnation
 of  others stands upon their score2 for
 that by imitating them1 by being       
deluded by them1 persuaded by them1     
drawn in by them1 others perish  in hell
 for ever4    ,ah1 this will be the     
sting of those that are principal1      
chief1 and  as ,i may call them1 the    
captain and ringleading sinners4 ,vipers
 will  come out of other men's fire and 
flames1 and settle upon1 seize  upon1   
and for ever abide upon their           
consciences2 and this will be  the sting

 of hell1 the great sting of hell to    
them4    ,i will yet add to this1 how   
will the fairness of some for heaven1   
even the thoughts of that1 sting them   
when they come to hell4 ,it  will not be
 so much their fall into the pit1 as    
from whence they  fell into it1 that    
will be to them the buzzing noise and   
sharpened  sting of the great and       
terrible hornet4 ,how art thou fallen   
from  heaven1 ,o ,lucifer6--there is the
 sting4 ,thou that art exalted up to    
heaven1 shalt be thrust down to hell2   
though thou hast made thy nest  among   
the stars1 from thence will ,i fetch    
thee down3 there is a  sting4 ,to be    
pulled1 for and through love to some    
vain lust1 from  the everlasting gates  
of glory1 and caused to be swallowed up 
for it  in the belly of hell1 and made  
to lodge for ever in the darksome       
chambers of death3 there is the piercing
 sting4    ,but again1 as there is the  
sting of hell1 so there is the strength 
of that sting2 for a sting1 though never

 so sharp or venomous1 yet  if it       
wanteth strength to force it to the     
designed execution1 it  doth but little 
hurt4 ,but this sting hath strength to  
cause it to  pierce into the soul3 ,the 
sting of death is sin1 and the strength 
of sin is the law4 ,i ,cor4 #ae3ef2     
,rom4 #g3h2 #d3ae4    ,here then is the 
strength of the sting of hell3 it is the
 law in the  perfect penalty of it2 for 
without the law1 sin is dead2 yea1 where
  no law is1 there is no transgression4 
,the law then followeth1 in the         
executive part of it1 the soul into     
hell2 and there strengthened  sin1 that 
sting in hell1 to pierce the soul for   
ever and ever by its  unutterable       
charging of sin on the conscience4 ,nor 
can the soul  justly murmur or repine at
 ,god or his law2 for that then the     
sharply  apprehensive soul will well    
discern the justness1 righteousness1    
reasonableness1 and goodness of the law1
 and that nothing is done by  the law   
unto it1 but that which is just and     

equal4    ,this1 therefore1 will put    
great strength and force into sin to    
sting  the soul1 and to strike it with  
the lashes of a scorpion4    ,and       
besides these1 the abiding life of ,god1
 the ,judge and ,god of  this law1 will 
never die4 ,when princes die1 the law   
may be altered  by which at present     
transgressors are bound in chains2 but  
,oh1 here  is also that which will make 
this sting so sharp and keen3 the ,god  
that executes it will never die4 ,it is 
a fearful thing to fall into  the hands 
of the living ,god4 ,heb4 #aj3 #cj1 #ca4
    ,this shall they have of my hand1   
they shall lie down in sorrow2  they    
shall lie down in it1 they shall make   
their bed there1 there  they shall lie4 
,and this is the bitter pill that they  
must swallow  down at last2 for after   
all their tears1 their sorrows1 their   
repentings1 their wishings and          
wouldings1 and all their inventings  and
 desires to change their state for a    
better1 they must lie down  in sorrow4  

,the poor condemned man that is upon the
 ladder or scaffold1 has1 if  one knew  
them1 many a long wish and long desire  
that he might come  down again alive1 or
 that his condition was as one of the   
spectators1 that are not condemned and  
brought thither to be  executed as he4  
,how carefully also does he look with   
his failing  eyes1 to see if some one   
comes not from the king with a pardon   
for  him1 all the while endeavoring to  
fumble away1 as well as he can1  and to 
prolong the minute of his execution4    
,but at last1 when he has  looked1 when 
he has wished1 when he has desired and  
done whatever he  can1 the blow with the
 axe1 or the turn with the ladder1 is   
his lot3  so he goes off the scaffold2  
so he goes from among men4    ,and thus 
will it be with those we have under     
consideration3 when all  comes to all1  
and they have said and wished and done  
what they  could1 the judgment must not 
be reversed2 they must lie down in      
sorrow4              ,,xxix4            

,,miscellaneous4    ,,the ,,sabbath4    
,,this day is called the ,lord's day1   
the day in which he rose from the  dead4
 ,the ,lord's day3 every day1 say some1 
is the ,lord's day4 ,indeed  this1 for  
discourse' sake1 may he granted2 but    
strictly1 no day can  so properly be    
called the ,lord's day1 as this first   
day of the week2  for that no day of the
 week1 or of the year1 has those hadges 
of the  ,lord's glory upon it1 nor such 
divine grace put upon it1 as his  first 
day of the week4    ,there is nothing1  
as ,i know of1 that bears this title but
 the ,lord's  supper1 and this day4 ,and
 since ,christians count it an abuse to 
allegorize the first1 let them also be  
ashamed to fantasticalize the  last4    
,the ,lord's day is doubtless the day in
 which he rose from the dead4  ,to be   
sure1 it is not the old seventh day2 for
 from the day that he  arose1 to the end
 of the ,bible1 we find not that he did 
hang so much  as one twist of glory upon
 that2 but this day is beautified with  

glory upon glory1 and that both by the  
,father and the ,son1 by the  prophets1 
and those that were raised from the dead
 thereon3  therefore this day must be   
more than the rest4    ,as for the      
seventh day1 that is gone to its grave  
with the signs and  shadows of the ,old 
,testament4 ,yea1 and has such a dash   
left upon it  by apostolical authority1 
that is is enough to make a ,christian  
fly  from it for ever4 #b ,cor4 #c4     
,god the ,father leaves such a stamp of 
divine note and honor upon  this day1 as
 he never before did leave upon any1    
where he saith to  our ,lord1 ,thou art 
my ,son1 this day have ,i begotten thee2
 still  having respect to the first day 
of the week1 for that and no other  is  
the day here intended by the apostle3   
,,this ,,day1 saith ,god1 is the  day4  
,and as concerning that he raised him up
 from the dead1 now no  more to return  
to corruption1 he saith on this wise1 ,i
 will give  thee the sure mercies of    
,david2 wherefore he saith in another   

psalm1 ,thou wilt not suffer thy ,holy  
,one to see corruption4    ,now shall   
not ,christians1 when they read that    
,god saith1 ,,this ,,day1  and that too 
with reference to a work done on it by  
him so full of  delight to him1 and so  
full of life and heaven to them1 set    
also a  mark upon it8 ,this was the day 
of ,god's pleasure1 for that his ,son   
did rise thereon2 and shall it not be   
the day of my delight in  him8    ,shall
 kings and princes and great men set a  
mark upon the day of  their birth and   
coronation1 and expect that both        
subjects and  servants should do them   
high honor on that day2 and shall the   
day in  which ,christ was both begotten 
and born be a day contemned by          
,christians8    ,if ,god remembers it1  
well may ,i4 ,if ,god says1 and that    
with all  gladness of heart1 ,thou art  
my ,son1 this day have ,i begotten thee2
  may not1 ought not ,i also to set this
 day apart to sing the songs of  my     
redemption in8    ,this day my          

redemption was finished4    ,this day my
 dear ,jesus revived4    ,this day he   
was declared to be the ,son of ,god with
 power4    ,yea1 this is the day in     
which the ,lord ,jesus finished a       
greater work  than ever yet was done in 
the world2 yea1 a work in which the     
,father  himself was more delighted than
 he was in making heaven and earth2  and
 shall darkness and the shadow of death 
stain this day8 ,or shall  a cloud dwell
 on this day8 ,shall ,god regard this   
day from above1 and  shall not his light
 shine upon this day8 ,what shall be    
done to them  that curse this day1 and  
would not that the stars should give    
their  light thereon8 ,,this ,,day6     
after this day was come1 ,god never1    
that we  read of1 made mention with     
delight of the old seventh-day ,sabbath 
more4    ,the woman which thou gavest to
 be with me1 she gave me of the  tree4  
,gen4 #c4 ,the woman was given for a    
help1 not a hinderance2 but  ,satan     
often maketh that to become our snare   

which ,god hath given us  as a blessing4
    ,and the ,lord ,god said unto the   
woman1 ,what is this that thou hast     
done8 ,gen4 #c4 ,what is this8 ,god     
seems to speak as if he were  astonished
 at the inundation of evil which the    
woman by her sin had  overflowed the    
world withal4 ,what is this that thou   
hast done8 ,thou  hast undone thyself1  
thou hast undone thy husband1 thou hast 
undone  all the world2 yea1 thou hast   
brought a curse upon the whole          
creation1 with an overplus of evils1    
plagues1 and distresses4    ,what is    
this that thou hast done8 ,thou hast    
defiled thy body and  soul1 thou hast   
disabled the whole world from serving   
,god2 yea1  moreover1 thou hast let in  
the devil at the door of thy heart1 and 
hast also made him the prince of the    
world4 ,what is this that thou  hast    
done8 ,ah1 little1 little do sinners    
know what they have done1  when they    
have transgressed the law of the ,lord4 
,as death and the curse came into the   

world by a woman1 so also did  life and 
health3 ,god sent forth his ,son1 made  
of a woman4 ,yea1 to  show how much     
those that came after did abhor the act 
of the mother1  this sex1 in the ,old   
,testament1 coveted children1 if happily
 this or  that woman might be the mother
 of the ,saviour of the world4 ,i will  
say again1 that when the ,saviour was   
come1 woman rejoiced in him1  before    
either man or angel4 ,i read not that   
ever man did give unto  ,christ so much 
as one groat2 but the women followed him
 and  ministered unto him of their      
substance4 ,it was a woman that washed  
his feet with tears1 and a woman that   
anointed his body to the  burial4 ,they 
were women that wept when he was going  
to the cross2  and women that followed  
him from the cross1 and that sat by his 
sepulchre when he was buried4 ,they were
 women that were first with  him at his 
resurrection-morn1 and women that       
brought tidings first  to the disciples 
that he was risen from the dead4 ,women 

therefore  are highly favored1 and show 
by these things that they are sharers   
with us in the grace of life4    ,all   
the glory of this world1 had not ,adam  
had a wife1 could not have  completed   
this man's blessedness4 ,he would yet   
have been wanting4    ,,the ,,family4   
,a master of a family and a mistress of 
the same are those that are  entrusted  
of ,god with those under their tuition  
and care to be  brought up for him1 be  
they children or servants4    ,look to  
it and consider with thyself whether    
thou hast done such  duty and service   
for ,god in this matter1 that1 setting  
common  facilities aside1 thou canst    
with good conscience lift up thy face   
unto ,god2 the which to be sure thou    
canst by no means do1 if  iniquity to   
the utmost be not banished out of thy   
house4    ,and will it not be a sad     
complaint that thy servant shall take up
  against thee before the ,judge1 at the
 last day1 that he learnt the  way to   
destruction in thy house1 who art a     

professor8 ,servants1  though themselves
 be carnal1 expect1 when they come into 
the house  of professors1 that there    
they shall see religion in spangling    
colors2 but behold1 when he enters thy  
door1 he finds sin and  wickedness      
there4 ,there is pride instead of       
humility1 and height of  raillery       
instead of meekness and holiness of     
mind4 ,he looked for a  house full of   
virtue1 and behold nothing but          
spider-webs2 fair and  plausible abroad1
 but like the sow in the mire at home4  
,bless me1 saith such a servant1 are    
these the religious people8  are these  
the servants of ,god1 where iniquity is 
made so much of and  is so highly       
entertained8    ,and now is his heart   
filled with prejudice against all       
religion1 or  else he turns hypocrite   
like his master and mistress1 wearing1  
as  they1 a cloak of religion to cover  
all abroad1 while all is naked  and     
shameful at home4    ,but perhaps thy   
heart is so hard and thy mind so united 

to the  pleasing of thy vile affections1
 that thou wilt say1 ,what care ,i  for 
my servant8 ,i took him to do my work1  
not to train him up in  religion4 ,well1
 suppose the soul of thy servant be thus
 little  worth in thine eyes2 yet what  
wilt thou say for thy children1 who     
behold all thy ways1 and are as capable 
of drinking up the poison of  thy       
footsteps1 as the swine is of drinking  
up swill3 ,i say1 what  wilt thou do for
 them8 ,children will learn to be wicked
 of  parents--of professing parents     
soonest of all2 they will be tempted  to
 think all that they do is right4 ,i    
say1 what wilt thou say to  this8 ,or   
art thou like the ostrich whom ,god hath
 deprived of wisdom1  and hath hardened 
her heart against her young8 ,will it   
please thee1  when thou shalt see that  
thou hast brought forth children to the 
murderer8 or when thou shalt hear them  
cry1 ,i learnt to go on in the  paths of
 sin by the carriage of professing      
parents8 ,if it was  counted of old a   

sad thing for a man to bring forth      
children to the  sword1 as ,ephraim did2
 what will it be for a man to bring up  
children for hell8 ,hos4 #i3ac4    ,and 
,jared lived after he begat ,enoch eight
 hundred years1 and begat  sons and     
daughters4 ,he lived therefore to see   
the fruit of his good  rule and         
government in the church1 even to see   
his teachable and  dedicated son caught 
up to ,god and to his throne4    ,a good
 encouragement to all rulers in the     
house of ,god1 and also to  all godly   
parents1 to teach and rule in the fear  
of ,god2 for that is  the way to part   
with church-members and children with   
comfort2 yea1  that is the way1 if we   
shall outlive them1 to send them to     
heaven  and to ,god before us4    ,if   
parents carry it lovingly towards their 
children1 mixing their  mercies with    
loving rebukes1 and their loving rebukes
 with fatherly  and motherly            
compassions1 they are more likely to    
save their  children than by being      

churlish and severe towards them4 ,but  
if they  do not save them1 if their     
mercy do them no good1 yet it will      
greatly ease them at the day of death to
 consider1 ,i have done by  love as much
 as ,i could to save and deliver my     
child from hell4    ,let them that name 
the name of ,christ depart from         
family-iniquity4  ,there is a           
house-iniquity--an iniquity that loves  
not to walk  abroad1 but to harbor      
within doors4 ,this the holy man ,david 
was  aware of2 therefore he said that he
 would behave himself wisely1 in  a     
perfect way2 yea1 saith he1 ,i will walk
 within my house with a  perfect heart4 
,many that show like saints abroad1 yet 
act the part of devils when  they are at
 home by giving way to this             
house-iniquity4 ,this iniquity  meeteth 
the man and his wife at the very        
threshold of the door1 and  will not    
suffer them to enter1 no1 not with one  
foot into the house1  in peace3 but how 
far this is from walking together as    

heirs of the  grace of life1 is easy to 
be determined4 ,men should carry it in  
love  to their wives1 as ,christ doth to
 his church2 and wives should carry  it 
to their husbands1 as the church ought  
to carry it to her  ,saviour1 ,eph4 #e3 
#ba-bh2 #a ,pet4 #c3 #g2 and until each 
relation be  managed with respect to    
these things1 this house-iniquity will  
be  cherished there4 ,oh1 ,god sees     
within doors as well as without1 and    
will judge too for the iniquity of the  
house as well as for that  more open4   
,a man's house and his conduct there do 
more bespeak the nature and  temper of  
his mind than all public profession4 ,if
 ,i were to judge of  a man for my life1
 ,i would not judge of him by his open  
profession1  but by his domestic        
behaviors4    ,open profession is like a
 man's best cloak1 which is worn by him 
when he walks abroad1 and with many is  
made but little use of at  home4 ,but   
now what a man is at home1 that he is   
indeed4 ,there is  abroad1 my house1 my 

closet1 my heart2 and my house1 my      
closet1 show  most what ,i am3 though   
not to the world1 yet to my family and  
to  angels4    ,to make religion and the
 power of godliness the chief of my     
designs  at home1 before those among    
whom ,god by a special hand has placed  
me1 is that which is pleasing to ,god1  
and which obtaineth a good  report of   
him4 ,genesis #ah3ag-ai4    ,,character 
,,of ,,talkative4 ,he talketh of prayer1
 of repentance1 of  faith1 and of the   
new birth2 but he knows but only to talk
 of them4  ,i have been in his family1  
and have observed him both at home and  
abroad4 ,his house is as empty of       
religion as the white of an egg is  of  
savor4 ,there is there neither prayer   
nor sign of repentance for  sin2 yea1   
the brute in his kind serves ,god far   
better than he4 ,he is  the very stain1 
reproach1 and shame of religion to all  
that know  him3 it can hardly have a    
good word in all that end of the town   
where he dwells1 through him4 ,thus say 

the common people1 that know  him1 ,a   
saint abroad and a devil at home4 ,his  
poor family find it  so3 he is such a   
churl1 such a railer at1 and so         
unreasonable with  his servants1 that   
they neither know how to do for or speak
 to him4    ,domestic iniquity stands   
also in the disorders of children and   
servants4 ,children's unlawful carriage 
to their parents is a great             
house-iniquity1 yea1 and a common one   
too4 #b ,tim4 #c3b1 #c4    ,disobedience
 to parents is one of the sins of the   
last days4 ,o it is  horrible to behold 
how irreverently1 how saucily1 and      
malpertly1  children1 yea1 professing   
children1 at this day carry it to their 
parents2 snapping and checking1 curbing 
and rebuking them1 as if  they had never
 received their being by them1 or had   
never been  beholden to them for        
bringing them up2 yea1 as if the        
relation was  lost1 or as if they had   
received a dispensation from ,god to    
dishonor  and disobey parents4    ,i    

will add1 that this sin reigns in little
 and great2 for not only  the small and 
young1 but men are disobedient to their 
parents2 and  indeed this is the sin    
with a shame1 that men shall be         
disobedient  to parents4 ,where nowadays
 shall we see children that are come to 
men and women's estate1 carry it as by  
the word they are bound1 to  their aged 
and worn-out parents8 ,i say1 where is  
the honor they  should put upon them8   
,who speak to their aged parents with   
that due  regard to that relation1 to   
their age1 to their worn-out condition1 
that becomes them8 ,is it not common    
nowadays for parents to be  brought into
 bondage and servitude by their         
children2 for parents to  be under1 and 
children above2 for parents to be       
debased1 and  children to lord it over  
them8    ,this sin is1 ,i fear1 grown to
 such a height in some1 as to make them 
weary of their parents1 and of doing    
their duty to them4 ,yea1 ,i wish  that 
some be not murderers of fathers and    

mothers by their thoughts1  while they  
secretly long after and desire their    
death1 that the  inheritance may be     
theirs1 and that they may be delivered  
from  obedience to their parents4 #a    
,tim4 #a3i4 ,this is a sin in the house1
  in the family2 a sin that is kept     
close2 but ,god sees it1 and has        
declared his dislike against it1 by an  
implicit threatening to cut  them off   
that are guilty of it4 ,eph4 #e3a-c4    
,many that have had very hopeful        
beginnings for heaven1 have1 by  virtue 
of the mischiefs that have attended     
unlawful marriages1 ,deut4  #g3d1e2 #b  
,cor4 #f3ad1 miserably and fearfully    
miscarried4 ,soon after  such marriages1
 conviction1 the first step towards     
heaven1 hath  ceased2 prayers1 the next 
step towards heaven1 have ceased2       
hungerings and thirstings after         
salvation1 another step towards the     
kingdom of heaven1 have ceased4 ,in a   
word1 such marriages have  estranged    
them from the word1 from their godly and

 faithful friends1  and have brought    
them again into carnal company1 among   
carnal  friends1 and also into carnal   
delights2 where and with whom they      
have1 in conclusion1 both sinfully abode
 and miserably perished4    ,servants   
are goers as well as comers3 take heed  
that thou give them  no occasion to     
scandal the gospel when they are gone1  
for what they  observed thee            
unrighteously to do when they were with 
thee4    ,though thy parents be never so
 low1 and thou thyself never so high1   
yet he is thy father1 and she thy       
mother1 and they must be in thine  eyes 
in great esteem4    ,,bunyan',s         
,,domestic ,,character4    ,but         
notwithstanding these helps from ,god1  
,i found myself a man  encompassed with 
infirmities2 the parting with my wife   
and poor  children1,footnote3 ,bunyan   
had four children1 all by his first     
marriage4 ,about #afeh1 some three years
 after his baptism1 he married  his     
second wife1 the heroic ,elizabeth4 ,in 

#affj he was first  imprisoned4 hath    
often been to me in this place as the   
pulling the  flesh from the bones2 and  
that not only because ,i am somewhat too
  fond of these great mercies1 but also 
because ,i should have often  brought to
 my mind the many hardships1 miseries1  
and wants that my  poor family was like 
to meet with1 should ,i be taken from   
them2  especially my poor blind child1  
who lay nearer my heart than all        
beside4 ,oh1 the thoughts of the        
hardships which my poor blind one  might
 undergo1 would seem to break my heart  
in pieces4 ,poor child1  thought ,i1    
what sorrow art thou like to have for   
thy portion in this  world6 thou must he
 beaten1 must beg1 suffer hunger1 cold1 
nakedness1 and a thousand calamities1   
though ,i cannot now endure the  wind   
should blow upon thee4 ,but yet1        
recalling myself1 thought ,i1 ,i  must  
venture you all with ,god1 though it    
goeth to the quick to leave  you4 ,oh1  
,i saw in this condition ,i was as a man

 who was pulling down  his house upon   
the heads of his wife and children2 yet1
 thought ,i1 ,i  must do it1 ,i must do 
it3 and now ,i thought on those two     
milch kine  that were to carry the ark  
of ,god into another country1 and to    
leave  their calves behind them4 #a ,sam
 #f3aj4    ,,dr4 ,,owen4    ,what if1 as
 you suggest1 the sober ,dr4 ,owen1     
though he told me and  others1 at first1
 he would write an epistle to my book1  
7,peaceable  ,principles and ,true17 yet
 waved it afterwards2 this was also to  
my  advantage2 because it was the       
earnest solicitations of several of  you
 that at that time stopped his hand3 and
 perhaps it was more for  the glory of  
,god that truth should1 go naked into   
the world1 than as  seconded by so      
mighty an armor-bearer as he4           
,,truth4    ,the truth is of that       
nature1 that the more it is opposed1 the
 more  glory it appears in2 and the more
 the adversary objects against it1  the 
more it will clear itself4    ,there    

belongs to every true notion of truth1 a
 power2 the notion is  the shell1 the   
power the kernel and life4    ,it is    
impossible that a carnal heart should   
conceive of the weight  that truth lays 
upon the conscience of a believer4 ,they
 see nothing1  alas1 nothing at all but 
a truth2 and1 say they1 ,are you such   
fools  as to stand groaning to bear up  
that1 or what is contained therein8     
,they see not the weight1 the glory1 the
 weight of glory1 that is in  a truth of
 ,god2 and therefore they laugh at them 
that will count it  worth the while to  
endure so much to support it from       
falling to the  ground4    ,truths are  
often delivered to us1 like wheat in    
full ears1 to the  end we should rub    
them out before we eat them1 and take   
pains about  them1 before we have the   
comfort of them4    ,,style4        ,i  
could1 were ,i so pleased1 use          
higher-strains1      ,and for applause  
on tenters stretch my brains2      ,but 
what needs that8 ,the arrow out of sight

      ,does not the sleeper nor the     
watchman fright3      ,to shoot too high
 doth make but children gaze1      ',tis
 that which hits the man doth him amaze4
            ,should all be forced their 
brains to lay aside1          ,that     
cannot regulate the flowing tide        
,by this or that man's fancy1 we should 
have          ,the wise unto the fool   
become a slave4    ,words easy to be    
understood do often hit the mark1 when  
high and  learned ones do only pierce   
the air4 ,he also that speaks to the    
weakest1 may make the learned understand
 him2 when he that striveth  to be high1
 is not only for the most part          
understood but of a sort1  but also many
 times is neither understood by them nor
 by himself4    ,,the ,,old ,,and ,,new 
,,dispensations4    ,there is as great a
 difference between their dispensation  
and ours  for comfort1 as there is      
between the making of a bond with a     
promise  to seal it1 and the actual     
sealing4 ,it was made indeed in their   

time1 but it was not sealed until the   
blood was shed on ,calvary4    ,,the    
,,pilgrim ,,in ,,new ,,england4         
,my ,pilgrim's book has travelled sea   
and land2      ,yet could ,i never come 
to understand      ,that it was         
slighted1 or turned out of door      ,by
 any kingdom1 were they rich or poor4   
,in ,france1 and ,flanders1 where men   
kill each other      ,my ,pilgrim is    
esteemed a friend1 a brother4      ,in  
,holland too1 'tis said1 as ,i am told1 
,my ,pilgrim is with some worth more    
than gold2      ,highlanders and wild   
,irish can agree      ,my ,pilgrim      
should familiar with them be4      ',tis
 in ,new ,england under such advance1   
,receives there so much loving          
countenance1      ,as to be trimmed1 new
 clothed1 and decked with gems1         
,that it may show its features and its  
limbs4      ,yet more1 so public doth my
 ,pilgrim walk1      ,that of him       
thousands daily sing and talk4          
,,notices ,,of ,,bunyan4    ,,this      

wonderful book1 the ,pilgrim's          
,progress1 while it obtains  admiration 
from the most fastidious critics1 is    
loved by those who  are too simple to   
admire it4 ,dr4 ,johnson1 all whose     
studies were  desultory1 and who hated1 
as he said1 to read books through1 made 
an  exception in favor of the ,pilgrim's
 ,progress4 ,that work1 he said1  was   
one of the two or three which he wished 
longer4 ,in every nursery  the          
,pilgrim's ,progress is a greater       
favorite than ,jack the  ,giant-killer4 
,every reader knows the strait and      
narrow path as well  as he knows a road 
in which he has gone backward and       
forward a  hundred times4 ,this is the  
highest miracle of genius--that things  
which are not should be as though they  
were1 that the imaginations  of one mind
 should become the personal             
recollections of another4  ,cowper said1
 forty or fifty years ago1 that he dared
 not name ,john  ,bunyan in his verse1  
for fear of moving a sneer4 ,we live in 

better  times2 and we are not afraid to 
say1 that though there were many  clever
 men in ,england during the latter half 
of the seventeenth  century1 there were 
only two great creative minds4 ,one of  
those  minds produced the ,paradise     
,lost1 the other the ,,pilgrim',s       
,,progress4    ,the style of ,bunyan is 
delightful to every reader1 and         
invaluable as  a study to every person  
who wishes to obtain a wide command over
 the  ,english language4 ,the vocabulary
 is the vocabulary of the common        
people4 ,there is not an expression1 if 
we except a few technical  terms of     
theology1 which would puzzle the rudest 
peasant4 ,we have  observed several     
pages which do not contain a single word
 of more  than two syllables4 ,yet no   
writer has said more exactly what he    
meant to say4 ,for magnificence1 for    
pathos1 for vehement  exhortation1 for  
subtle disquisition1 for every purpose  
of the poet1  the orator1 and the       
divine1 this homely dialect1 the dialect

 of  plain working-men1 was sufficient4 
,there is no book in our  literature on 
which we could so readily stake the fame
 of the old  unpolluted ,english        
language--no book which shows so well   
how rich  that language is in its own   
proper wealth1 and how little it has    
been improved by all that it has        
borrowed4 ,t4 ,b4 ,macaulay--,essays4   
,to the names of ,baxter and ,howe must 
be added the name of a man far  below   
them in station and in acquired         
knowledge1 but in virtue their  equal1  
and in genius their superior1 ,john     
,bunyan4 ,bunyan had been  bred a       
tinker1 and had served as a private     
soldier in the  parliamentary army4     
,early in his life he had been fearfully
 tortured  by remorse for his youthful  
sins1 the worst of which seem1 however1 
to have been such as the world thinks   
venial4 ,his keen sensibility  and his  
powerful imagination made his internal  
conflicts singularly  terrible4 ,he     
fancied that he was under sentence of   

reprobation1 that  he had committed     
blasphemy against the ,holy ,ghost1 that
 he had sold  ,christ1 that he was      
actually possessed by a demon4          
,sometimes loud  voices from heaven     
cried out to warn him4 ,sometimes fiends
 whispered  impious suggestions in his  
ear4 ,he saw visions of distant         
mountain-tops1 on which the sun shone   
brightly1 but from which he  was        
separated by a waste of snow4 ,he felt  
the devil behind him  pulling his       
clothes4 ,he thought1 that the brand of 
,cain had been set  upon him4 ,he feared
 that he was about to burst asunder like
 ,judas4  ,his mental agony disordered  
his health4 ,one day he shook like a man
  in the palsy4 ,on another day he felt 
a fire within his breast4 ,it is        
difficult to understand how he survived 
sufferings so intense and so            
long-continued4 ,at length the clouds   
broke4 ,from the depths of  despair the 
penitent passed to a state of serene    
felicity4 ,an  irresistible impulse now 

urged him to impart to others the       
blessing  of which he was himself       
possessed4 ,he joined the ,baptists1 and
  became a preacher and writer4 ,his    
education had been that of a  mechanic4 
,he knew no language but the ,english1  
as it was spoken by  the common people4 
,he had studied no great model of       
composition1  with the exception--an    
important exception undoubtedly--of our 
noble translation of the ,bible4 ,his   
spelling was bad4 ,he frequently        
transgressed the rules of grammar4 ,yet 
his native force of genius1  and his    
experimental knowledge of all the       
religious passions1 from  despair to    
ecstasy1 amply supplied in him the want 
of learning4 ,his  rude oratory roused  
and melted hearers who listened without 
interest  to the labored discourses of  
great logicians and ,hebraists4 ,his    
works were widely circulated among the  
humbler classes4 ,one of them1  the     
,pilgrim's ,progress1 was in his own    
lifetime translated into  several       

foreign languages4 ,it was1 however1    
scarcely known to the  learned and      
polite1 and had been during nearly a    
century the delight  of pious cottagers 
and artisans before it was publicly     
commended by  any man of high literary  
eminence4 ,at length critics            
condescended to  inquire where the      
secret of so wide and so durable a      
popularity lay4  ,they were compelled to
 own that the ignorant multitude had    
judged  more correctly than the learned1
 and that the despised little book  was 
really a masterpiece4 ,bunyan is indeed 
as decidedly the first of  allegorists  
as ,demosthenes is the first of orators1
 or ,shakspeare  the first of           
dramatists4 ,other allegorists have     
shown equal  ingenuity1 but no other    
allegorist has ever been able to touch  
the  heart1 and to make abstractions    
objects of terror1 of pity1 and of      
love4    ,it may be doubted whether any 
,english dissenter had suffered more    
severely under the penal laws than ,john

 ,bunyan4 ,of the twenty-seven  years   
which had elapsed since the             
,restoration1 he had passed twelve  in  
confinement4 ,he still persisted in     
preaching2 but that he might  preach1 he
 was under the necessity of disguising  
himself like a  carter4 ,he was often   
introduced into meetings through back   
doors  with a smockfrock on his back1   
and a whip in his hand4 ,if he had      
thought only of his own ease and safety1
 he would have hailed the  indulgence   
with delight4 ,he was now at length free
 to pray and  exhort in open day4 ,his  
congregation rapidly increased2         
thousands  hung upon his words2 and at  
,bedford1 where he ordinarily resided1  
money was plentifully contributed to    
build a meeting-house for him4  ,his    
influence among the common people was   
such that the government  would         
willingly have bestowed on him some     
municipal office2 but his  vigorous     
understanding and his stout ,english    
heart were proof  against all delusion  

and all temptation4 ,he felt assured    
that the  proffered toleration was      
merely a bait intended to lure the      
,puritan  party to destruction2 nor     
would he1 by accepting a place for which
  he was not legally qualified1         
recognize the validity of the           
dispensing power4 ,one of the last acts 
of his virtuous life was to  decline an 
interview to which he was invited by an 
agent ,of the  government4 ,t4 ,b4      
,macaulay--,history of ,england4    ,the
 demeanor of ,sir ,matthew ,hale in the 
case of ,john ,bunyan1 the  author of   
the ,pilgrim's ,progress1 shows him     
paying respect both to  the rules of law
 and to the dictates of humanity4 ,this 
wonderful  man--who1 though bred a      
tinker1 showed a genius little inferior 
to  that of ,dante--having been         
illegally convicted by the court of     
,quarter-sessions1 was lying in prison  
under his sentence in the jail  of      
,bedford4 ,soon after the restoration of
 ,charles ,,ii41 the young  enthusiast  

had been arrested while he was preaching
 at a meeting in  a private house2 and1 
refusing to enter into an engagement    
that he  would preach no more1 had been 
indicted as a person who devilishly  and
 perniciously abstained from coming to  
church to hear divine  service1 and a   
common upholder of unlawful meetings and
  conventicles1 to the great disturbance
 and distraction of the good  subjects  
of this realm4    ,little do we know    
what is for our permanent good4 ,had    
,bunyan then  been discharged and       
allowed to enjoy liberty1 he no doubt   
would have  returned to his trade1      
filling up his intervals of leisure with
  field-preaching2 his name would not   
have survived his own  generation1 and  
he could have done little for the       
religious  improvement of mankind4 ,the 
prison-doors were shut upon him for     
twelve years4 ,being cut off from the   
external world1 he communed  with his   
own soul2 and inspired by ,him who      
touched ,isaiah's hallowed  lips with   

fire1 he composed the noblest of        
allegories1 the merit of  which was     
first discovered by the lowly1 but which
 is now lauded by  the most refined     
critics1 and which has done more to     
awaken piety  and to enforce the        
precepts of ,christian morality1 than   
all the  sermons that have been         
published by all the prelates of the    
,anglican  church4 ,lord ,campbell4     
,the ,pilgrim's ,progress is a book     
which makes its way through the  fancy  
to the understanding and the heart4 ,the
 child peruses it with  wonder and      
delight2 in youth we discover the genius
 which it  displays2 its worth is       
apprehended as we advance in years2 and 
we  perceive its merits feelingly in    
declining age4 ,if it is not a well  of 
,english undefiled1 to which the poet as
 well as the philologist  must repair if
 they would drink of the living waters1 
it is a clear  stream of current        
,english1 the vernacular of his         
age--sometimes  indeed in its rusticity 

and coarseness1 but always in its       
plainness  and its strength4 ,robert    
,southey4    ,no man of common-sense and
 common integrity can deny that ,bunyan1
  the tinker of ,elstow1 was a practical
 atheist1 a worthless  contemptible     
infidel1 a vile rebel to ,god and       
goodness1 a common  profligate4 ,now be 
astonished1 ,o heaven1 to eternity2 and 
wonder1 ,o  earth and hell1 while time  
endures4 ,behold this very man become a 
miracle of mercy1 a mirror of wisdom1   
goodness1 holiness1 truth1 and  love4   
,see his polluted soul cleansed and     
adorned by divine grace1  his guilt     
pardoned1 the divine law inscribed upon 
his heart1 the  divine image1 or the    
resemblance of ,god's moral perfections 
impressed upon his soul4 ,mr4 ,ryland4  
,it has been the lot of ,john ,bunyan1  
an unlettered artisan1 to do  more than 
one in a hundred millions of human      
beings1 even in  civilized society1 is  
usually able to do4 ,he has produced a  
work of  imagination of such decided    

originality as not only to have         
commanded profound admiration on its    
first appearance1 but amidst  all       
changes of time and style and modes of  
thinking1 to have  maintained its place 
in the popular literature of every      
succeeding  age1 with the probability   
that1 so long as the language in which  
it  is written endures1 it will not     
cease to be read by a great number  of  
the youth of all future generations at  
that period of life when  their minds1  
their imaginations1 and their hearts are
 most  impressible with moral           
excellence1 splendid picture1 and       
religious  sentiment4 ,it would be      
difficult to name another work of any   
kind in  our native tongue1 of which so 
many editions have been printed1 of     
which so many readers have lived and    
died1 the character of whose  lives and 
deaths must have been more or less      
affected by its lessons  and examples1  
its fictions and realities4 ,james      
,montgomery4    ,i know of no book1 the 

,bible excepted as above all comparison1
 which  ,i1 according to my judgment and
 experience1 could so safely  recommend 
as teaching and enforcing the whole     
saving truth1  according to the mind    
that was in ,christ ,jesus1 as the      
,pilgrim's  ,progress4 ,it is in my     
conviction the best ,summa ,theologiae  
,evangelicae ever produced by a writer  
not miraculously inspired4  ,coleridge's
 ,remains4    ,so great was ,bunyan's   
popularity as a preacher1 that an       
eyewitness  says1 when he preached in   
,london1 ,if there were but one day's   
notice given1 there would be more people
 come together to hear him  preach than 
the meeting-house would hold4 ,i have   
seen1 to hear him  preach1 about twelve 
hundred at a morning lecture1 by seven  
o'clock  on a working-day1 in the dark  
winter time4 ,charles ,doe4    ,i hold  
,john ,bunyan to have been a man of     
incomparably greater genius  than any of
 them1 the old ,english divines1 and to 
have given a far  truer and more        

edifying picture of ,christianity4 ,his 
,pilgrim's  ,progress seems to be a     
complete reflection of ,scripture1 with 
none  of the rubbish of the theologians 
mixed up with it4 ,thomas ,arnold1  ,d4 
,d    ,o thou whom1 borne on fancy's    
eager wing ,back to the season of       
life's happy spring1 ,i pleased         
remember1 and while memory yet ,holds   
fast her office here1 can ne'er forget2 
,ingenious ,dreamer6 in whose  weil-told
 tale1 ,sweet fiction and sweet truth   
alike prevail2 ,whose  humorous vein1   
strong sense1 and simple style1 ,may    
teach the gayest1  make the gravest     
smile2 ,witty1 and well-employed1 and   
like thy ,lord1  ,speaking in parables  
his slighted word2 ,i name thee not1    
lest so  despised a name ,should move a 
sneer at thy deserved fame2 ,yet e'en   
in transitory life's late day1 ,that    
mingles all my brown with sober  gray1  
,revere the man1 whose ,pilgrim marks   
the road ,and guides the  ,progress of  
the soul to ,god4 ,cowper