Works of John Bunyan Novel Chapters
List of most recent chapters published for the Works of John Bunyan novel. A total of 543 chapters have been translated and the release date of the last chapter is Apr 02, 2024
Latest Release: Chapter 1 : The Works of John Bunyan.Volume 1.by John Bunyan.MEMOIR OF JOHN BUNYAN THE FIRST PERIOD.
The Works of John Bunyan.Volume 1.by John Bunyan.MEMOIR OF JOHN BUNYAN THE FIRST PERIOD.THIS GREAT MAN DESCENDED FROM IGn.o.bLE PARENTS--BORN IN POVERTY--HIS EDUCATION AND EVIL HABITS--FOLLOWS HIS FATHER'S BUSINESS AS A BRAZIER--ENLISTS FOR A SOLDIER
- 343 Ans. The resurrection simply considered, is not the doctrine of baptism, but Christ's, and mine by him. Besides, there is more in it than the mystery of this resurrection; there is my death first, and then my rising with him.But you add, 'Under
- 342 You have answered already, 'That they ought to be ashamed, and to repent of that abomination [their sprinkling] BEFORE they come to have a sight of the pattern of the house of G.o.d, the goings in and the comings out thereof' (Eze 43:10,11). But
- 341 15. One of the most touching scenes in the Pilgrim's Progress beautifully ill.u.s.trates this fact. When Christian led Hopeful into Bye-path Meadow, so that they fell into the hands of Giant Despair, Hopeful says, 'I wold have spoke plainer, but
- 340 I say, it is of greater concernment with us, and of far more profit to our brother; than our agreeing in, or contesting for the business of water baptism (John 16:13; 1 Cor 14:26; 2 Cor 10:8, 12:19; Eph 4:12; 2 Tim 3:17; 1 Cor 8:1, 13:1-4). That the edifi
- 339 (1.) 'The called of Christ Jesus' (Rom 1:6). (2.) Men that have drank into the Spirit of Jesus Christ (1 Cor 12:13). (3.) Persons in whom was G.o.d the Father (Eph 4:6). (4.) They were all made partakers of the joy of the gospel (Phil 1:7). (5.)
- 338 6. I believe, that this faith is effectually wrought in none, but those which before the world were appointed unto glory. 'And as many as were ordained unto eternal life believed' (Acts 13:48).'That he might make known the riches of his glo
- 337 TO THE READER.Sir, I marvel not that both you 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 myself, had not the Holy Ghost long since forbidden me (1 Peter 4:12; 1
- 336 Hast thou forgotten that most solemn vow Thou mad'st to G.o.d, when thou didst crave he bow His ear unto thee would, and give thee grace, And would thee also in his arms embrace?That vow, I say, whereby thou then didst bind Thyself to him, that now t
- 335 This house then is no nurse to idleness; Fig-trees are here to keep, and vines to dress; Here's work for all; yea, work that must be done; Yet work, like that, to playing in the sun; The toil's a pleasure, and the labour sweet, Like that of Davi
- 334 Pride is the unbecoming'st thing of all: Besides, 'tis the forerunner of a fall.He that is proud, soon in the dirt will lie, But honour followeth humility.Let each then count his brother as his better, Let each esteem himself another's debt
- 333 By this example too he shews them how To keep their garments clean, their knees to bow Before the king, when he comes into place; And when they do him supplicate for grace.Another bade this officer doth wear, Is that of overseer; because the care Of the w
- 332 Her gardens yield the chief, the richest spice, Surpa.s.sing them of Adam's paradise: Here be sweet ointments, and the best of gums; Here runs the milk, here drops the honey-combs.Here are perfumes most pleasant to the sense, Here grows the goodly tr
- 331 FOOTNOTE: 1. This same sentiment is well expressed in Bunyan's verses at the conclusion of the Pilgrim, part First.'Nor let my figure or similitude Put thee into a laughter or a feud; Leave this to boys and fools, but as for thee, Do thou the su
- 330 19 This is a most beautiful pa.s.sage, unequalled by any ancient or modern author. Such a view of church fellows.h.i.+p does honour to the head and heart of the prince of allegorists. It is worthy to be printed in letters of gold, and presented to every c
- 329 5. Consider, that this is the way to convince all men, that the power of G.o.d's things hath taken hold of thy heart I speak to them that hold the head 20and say what thou wilt, if thy faith be not accompanied with a holy life, thou shalt be judged a
- 328 OF PRIDE.Second, I come, in the second place, to speak a word of pride, and loftiness of heart and life.1. Pride, in general, it is that which causeth a man to think of man and his things, above what is written (1 Cor 4:6).2. It hath its seat in the heart
- 327 CONCERNING SERVANTS.Servants also, they have a work to do for G.o.d, in their place and station among men.The apostles a.s.sert masters under a threefold consideration. First, The believing master. Second, The unbelieving master. Third, The froward master
- 326 Answer.Indeed there are some wives in great slavery by reason of their unG.o.dly husbands; and as such should be pitied, and prayed for; so they should be so much the more watchful and circ.u.mspect in all their ways.1. Therefore be thou very faithful to
- 325 1. Do it in terms and words easy to be understood: affect not high expressions, they will drown your children. Thus G.o.d spake to his children (Hosea 12:10), and Paul to his (1 Cor 3:2).2. Take heed of filling their heads with whimsies, and unprofitable
- 324 But if thou walk otherwise, know, thou walkest not charitably, and so not to edification, and so not to Christ's honour, but dost sin against Christ, and wound thy weak brother, for whom Christ died (Rom 14:15; 1 Cor 8:12). But I say, all this while
- 323 that is, by faith, 'should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again' (2 Cor 5:14,15).'Love,' saith the wise man, 'is strong as death; Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the flo
- 322 Advertis.e.m.e.nt by the Editor This valuable practical treatise, was first published as a pocket volume about the year 1674, soon after the author's final release from his long and dangerous imprisonment. It is evident from the concluding paragraph
- 321 Third, To this end, shun those professors that are loose of life and conversation: 'From such withdraw thyself,' saith Paul, and follow 'righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.' (1 Tim
- 320 Danger 2. Nor may men s.h.i.+ft this danger by their own neglect of inquiring into the truth of their separation from iniquity, for that G.o.d himself will search them. I search the reins and the heart, saith he, 'to give unto every one of you accord
- 319 (3.) When the extravagancies of servants are not discountenanced and rebuked by their superiors, and the contrary taught them by word and life.Those to be imputed to the servants themselves are: (1.) Their want of reverence to their superiors. (2.) Their
- 318 No fas.h.i.+on, no vanity, no profuseness, and yet no n.i.g.g.ardliness, but is found among professors. They pinch the poor, and nip from them their due, to maintain their own pride and vanity. I shall not need to instance particulars; for from the rich t
- 317 We shun not the sins of others as we should. This is made appear, (1.) For that we shun not the company of base men as we should.(2.) Nor shun or refuse to imitate them in their evil, as we should.How easily are good men persuaded to comply with bad men&#
- 316 Second [Cause of falling away.] Therefore such persons upon the withdrawing of those influences that at present are mighty upon them, do forthwith; forget, both what they had, and what work it made upon them. Straightway they forget what manner of men the
- 315 Question. But some may say, I go from it and it follows me; I reject it and it returns upon me; I have said it nay, a thousand times, and yet it offereth itself and its deceits to me again, what would you have me do?Answer. I would answer thus; Departing
- 314 31:22) (5.) And for those that have yet believed they were in his favour, this iniquity hath driven them to fear that G.o.d would cast them away, and take all his good things from them. (Psa. 51) Yea, he that would know the hurt that iniquity hath done to
- 313 We know it is not the seeing, but taking of a potion, that maketh it work as it should, nor is the blood of Christ a purge to this or that conscience, except received by faith. (Heb. 9:14) Shall that then be counted right believing in Christ unto justific
- 312 [34] "A graceless clergy"!! So numerous as to cover the ground of our land!! How awful a fact--taking the name of G.o.d on polluted lips, and professing to teach what they do not comprehend. Men in a state of rebellion against heaven, calling up
- 311 "And the whole earth was of one language." By these words therefore, we may conceive the reason why so great a judgment as that great wickedness, Babel, should be contrived, and endeavoured to be accomplished. The mult.i.tude was one. Not but th
- 310 Ver. 9. "He was a mighty hunter before the LORD: wherefore it is said, even as Nimrod the mighty hunter before the LORD."He was a mighty hunter. That is, a persecutor: Wherefore Saul's persecuting of David is compared to hunting (1 Sam 26:2
- 309 Ver. 22. "And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brethren without."Ham was the unsanctified one, the father of the children of the curse of G.o.d. He saw the nakedness of his father, and he blazed abroad
- 308 The cloud then that here is spoken of, must be understood of the judgment of G.o.d for sin, like those before, and at the overthrow of the world; only with this difference, they were clouds, judgments without mercy, but these judgments mixed therewith; an
- 307 Noah having thus waded through these great temptations, and being made also to partake of the mercy of G.o.d, in preserving and saving him from the evil thereof, and being brought to partake of the beginning of a new world, while the unG.o.dly that were b
- 306 why then should we desire life only for ourselves.The church cries thus, "G.o.d be merciful unto us, and bless us; and cause his face to s.h.i.+ne upon us." Why? "That thy way may be known upon earth, thy saving health among all nations&quo
- 305 Note therefore, That G.o.d, in the overthrow of the kingdom of Antichrist, and at the a.s.swaging of the rage of her tumultuous waves, will send forth his birds amongst her fat ones, to partake of the banquet that he hath appointed; who when they shall be
- 304 In these words you have the effects of the flood, which was punctually according to the judgment threatened. But observe, I pray you, how the Holy Ghost, by repeating, doth amplify the matter. "All flesh," "All in whose nostrils was the bre
- 303 Ver. 10. "And it came to pa.s.s after seven days, that the waters of the flood were upon the earth."Just as the Lord had denounced before: Look therefore, what G.o.d hath said, shall a.s.suredly come to pa.s.s, whether it be believed, or counted
- 302 Because in that family did now reside the whole of the visibility of the church upon the earth; all the rest were lost, as Peter also intimates, when he calleth Noah the eighth person, or one, and the chief of the eight that made up the visible church, or
- 301 Ver. 13. "And G.o.d said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth.""And G.o.d said unto Noah," or told Noah his purpose: The
- 300 "And when the sons of G.o.d came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men"; much like to the giants. The fruit therefore of unG.o.dly communion is monstrous, and of a very strange complexion. They
- 299 These words [after he begat Methuselah] may have respect either to his beginning to walk with G.o.d, or to the number of the years that he lived after the birth of Methuselah, or both.If it respect the fist, then it sheweth that the only encouragement tha
- 298 "An hundred and thirty years." Behold the rage of h.e.l.l! For until Seth stood in Abel's place, religion was greatly hindered, and that was after the world had stood an hundred and thirty years. Indeed, Abel, while he had his breath, did h
- 297 "And he builded a city," &c. Note, That it is the design of Satan, and the deceitful heart of man, to labour to quiet a guilty conscience, not by faith in the blood of Christ, but by over much business in the things of this world."And calle
- 296 "Where is Abel thy brother?" This word, thy brother, must not be left out, because it doth greatly aggravate his wickedness. He slew "his brother"; which horrid act the very law and bond of nature forbiddeth. But when a man is given up
- 295 Answ. Not so: For though it be true among men, that the gift makes way for the acceptance of the person, yet in the order of grace it is after another manner; for if the person be not first accepted, the offering must be abominable; for it is not a good w
- 294 Again, Let not the sorrows, crosses, and afflictions, that attend the G.o.dly in the things of this life, weaken their faith in the promise of grace, and forgiveness of sins; for such things may befal the dearest Christian.Ver. 18. "Thorns also and t
- 293 "Hast thou eaten of the tree?" That is, If thou hast been shewed thy nakedness, thou hast indeed sinned; for the voice of the Lord G.o.d will not charge guilt, but where and when a law hath been transgressed. G.o.d therefore, by these words, dri
- 292 Ver. 6. "And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof," &c.This verse presents us with the use that Eve made of the reasoni
- 291 Ver. 19. "And out of the ground the Lord G.o.d formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air."This proveth further what I said at first, That in the first chaos was contained all that was made upon the earth."And brought them u
- 290 "And G.o.d said, Behold I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth; and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat" (Gen 1:29).These herbs and trees are types
- 289 "And G.o.d saith, Let there be a firmament" (v 6).This firmament he calleth heaven (v 8). Now this firmament, or heaven, was to make a separation, or to divide between the waters and the waters (v 7); To separate, I say, the waters from the wate
- 288 And of the Son he saith, and "when he bringeth in the first begotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of G.o.d wors.h.i.+p him" (Heb 1:6).Fourthly, The Father and Son have really these distinct, but heavenly, relative properties,
- 287 'Dost thou love picking meat? Or would'st thou see A man i' th'clouds, and hear him speak to thee?'--Ed.8. A cover, a booth, bower, or hut made of the boughs of trees.--Ed.9. 'He owes,' a contraction for 'he owneth.
- 286 Hearken, my brethren, hath not G.o.d elected The poor, who by this world have been rejected; Yet rich in faith, and of that kingdom heirs, Which G.o.d will give his foll'wers to be theirs?But you, my brethren, do the poor despise.Do not the rich men
- 285 CHAP. XLVIII.And now when Joseph heard his father lay Even at the point of death he hastes away To visit him, and took along with him His son Mana.s.seh, and's son Ephraim.Whereof when Jacob heard he strength'ned Himself, and rose and sat upon t
- 284 Peace, peace, said he, let not fear seize upon you For I had the disposing of your money: G.o.d, unto whom you and your father bow, Hath giv'n you treasure in your sacks I trow.And then releasing Simon, who had been Confin'd in Joseph's hou
- 283 The prison-keeper took no care at all, Of ought that he entrusted him withal; Because he saw that G.o.d was with him, and All things did prosper that he took in hand.CHAP. XL.And now, whilst Joseph in confinement lay, It came to pa.s.s upon a certain day,
- 282 Now unto Jonah, old Amittai's son, Thus did the word of the Almighty come, And said, Arise, go thou forthwith and cry 'Gainst that great city Nineveh; for why, The sins thereof are come up in my sight.But he arose, that he to Tars.h.i.+sh might
- 281 MATTHEW, CHAP. V.And Jesus, seeing the mult.i.tudes, ascended Up to a mount, where sitting, and attended By his disciples, he began to preach; And on this manner following did them teach.Blessed are all such as are poor in spirit, For they the heavenly ki
- 280 THE HISTORY OF SAMSON JUDGES, CHAP. XIII.When Israel's sins th' Almighty did provoke, To make them subject to Philistine yoke For forty years: in Zorah dwelt a man, His name Manoah, of the tribe of Dan; His wife was barren, unto whom appeared Th
- 279 Whoe'er thou art that shall peruse this book, This may inform thee, when I undertook To write these lines, it was not my design To publish this imperfect work of mine: Composed only for diversion's sake.But being inclin'd to think thou may&
- 278 The reason why I say a young, or shaken Christian; it is because some that are not young, but of an ancient standing, may not only be a.s.saulted with violent temptations, concerning gospel principles, but a second time may become a child, a babe, a shall
- 277 I told you also in the epistle, that if the fifth commandment was the first that was with promise; then it follows, that the fourth, or that seventh day sabbath, had no promise entailed to it. Whence it follows, that where you read in the prophet of a pro
- 276 1. The first day of the week! Why it was the day of our life. 'After two days he will revive us,' and in the third day 'we shall live in his sight.' 'After two days' there is the Jews' preparation, and seventh day sabbat
- 275 But when the consciences of good men are captivated with an error, none can stop them from a prosecution thereof, as if were itself of the best of truths.Obj. But Paul preached frequently on the old sabbath, and that after the resurrection of Christ.Ans.
- 274 Now what another signal [applause] was here put upon the first day of the week! The day in which our Lord rose from the dead, a.s.sembled with his disciples, poured out so abundantly of the Spirit, and gathered even by the first draught that his fishermen
- 273 Fourth, The psalmist speaks of a day that the Lord Jehovah, the Son of G.o.d, has made; and saith, 'we will rejoice and be glad in it.' But what day is this? Why the day in which Christ was made the 'head of the corner,' which must be
- 272 And in that ministration it is that this seventh day sabbath is found.But shall we think that the apostle speaks any thing of all here said, to wean saints off from the law of nature, as such! No verily, that he retains in the church, as being managed the
- 271 The seventh day sabbath therefore was not from paradise, nor from nature, nor from the fathers, but from t he wilderness, and from Sinai.QUESTION III.Whether when the seventh day sabbath was given to Israel in the wilderness the Gentiles, as such, was con
- 270 Besides, to grant this, is to run into a grievous error; for this doth not only make the law of nature the first of prophets, contrary to Genesis 3:10 compared with John 1:1 but it seems to make the will of G.o.d, made known by revelation, a needless thin
- 269 They will then find that an hearty affectionate trusting in Christ for all his salvation, as freely promised to us, hath naturally enough in it to work in our souls a natural bent and inclination to, and ability for, the practice of all holiness.--Ryland
- 268 THIRD REASON.--G.o.d may will and command that his gospel, and so the grace thereof, be tendered to those that shall never be saved, (besides what hath been said) to shew to all spectators what an enemy sin, being once embraced, is to the salvation of man
- 267 1. Lieth not in reprobation, the elect themselves being as much unable to receive it as the other.2. Neither is it because the reprobate is excluded in the tender, for that is universal.3. Neither is it because there wanteth arguments in the tenders of th
- 266 But again, to come yet more close to the point: the reprobate quarrels with G.o.d, because he hath not elected him; well, but is not G.o.d the master of his own love? And is not his will the only rule of his mercy? And may he not, without he give offence
- 265 Ans. That G.o.d hath ordained (Jude 4), the d.a.m.nation of some of his creatures, it is evident; but whether this his determination be positive and absolute, there is the question: for the better understanding whereof, I shall open unto you the variety o
- 264 First, Reprobation is before the person cometh into the world, or hath done good or evil: This is evident by that of Paul to the Romans: 'For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of G.o.d according t
- 263 34. Fowler's picture of the want of uniformity in the preachers of his sect, all being under the 'Act of Uniformity,' is very amusing and instructive!!--Ed.35. Undoubtedly so; because the good works of a man who is under the influence and p
- 262 5. Penn (p. 25 [p. 21 ed. 1684]), 'Since therefore there can be no admittance had, without performing that righteous will, and doing those holy, and perfect sayings; alas! to what value will an imputative righteousness amount?' &c.Fowler (p. 16)
- 261 Your book, Sir, is begun in ignorance, managed with error, and ended in blasphemy.Now the G.o.d of glory, if it may stand with his glory, give you a sight of your sins, against the Son of G.o.d, that you may, as Saul, lie trembling, and being astonished,
- 260 2. 'We have joy and peace through believing' (Rom 15:13).3. 'a.s.surance comes also through believing' (John 6:69; Heb 10:22).4. Yea, and the sealings up to eternal life; 'In whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with t
- 259 So that to be tender of conscience, especially in things of divine wors.h.i.+p, binding up the soul to the words of the everlasting testament, in such things especially, as a fool can call little, and insignificant trivial matters, rendereth a man such an
- 258 But I pa.s.s this, and come to the twentieth chapter, which is to learn us by what measure and standard we are to judge of doctrines; and that is by the design of Christianity as stated, you must know, by Mr. Fowler. Wherefore it will be requisite here ag
- 257 But you add, 'The faith which ent.i.tles a sinner to so high a privilege as that of justification, must needs be such as complieth with all the purposes of Christ's coming into the world,' &c. (p.222).Ans. By this supposition, faith justifi
- 256 1. That when Christ was sent, it was to shew us upon what terms G.o.d was reconcilable to us, viz. By laying 'before us all the parts of that holiness, which is necessary to restore our natures to his own likeness;--and most pathetically, moreover to
- 255 First, you say, It is not possible a wicked man should have G.o.d's pardon (p. 119,130).Secondly, You suppose it to be impossible for Christ's righteousness to be imputed to an unrighteous man (p. 120).Ans. To both which, a little briefly; G.o.d
- 254 That which is the dictates of his human nature, &c.] and in keeping our consciences void of offence, both towards G.o.d and towards men, and in studying the gospel to enable us, not to discourse, or only to believe, but also and above all things to do wel
- 253 Answer. 1. This makes nothing for the holiness which we lost in Adam: for the proof of which you bring that text (Acts 5:31).2. But for Christ to take way guilt, and the curse, from before the face of G.o.d, is one thing; and to make that discovery, is an
- 252 (p. 7). Then, in p. 9 he tells you what these positive precepts under the gospel, or things indifferent, are: 'THAT of going to G.o.d by Christ, is one; and the other two, are the inst.i.tutions of baptism, and the Lord's supper.' Such ther
- 251 Third, The righteousness you have described, cannot be that which justifieth us before G.o.d, because of its imperfections, and that both with respect to the principle, and the power with which it is managed: for though you have talked of a sound complexi
- 250 Ans. If, as was said before, there is no soundness of soul in man, as man, and no such thing as a purity of our nature, abstract from that which is sin; then where shall we find so healthful a complexion, or temperature of soul, as to maintain in life and
- 249 Bunyan's views of the kingly office of Christ are very striking: not only is he king over the church requiring personal obedience, but over the universe for the benefit of believers. 'Christ is as well a Lord for us, as to, or over us; and it hi
- 248 19 Sin-sick souls alone seek the Great Physician, and are the proper subjects of Christ's healing power. Pride and unbelief bar the door of mercy and grace; and if not subdued by the blood of the cross, will ruin the soul.--Ryland.20 "Thou art b
- 247 2. Smiting upon the breast is sometimes a token of indignation and abhorrence of something thought upon. I read in Luke, that when Christ was crucified, those spectators that stood to behold the barbarous usage that he endured at the hands of his enemies,
- 246 And the third is, because of the infinite distance that is betwixt G.o.d and us, which is intimated by those words, "For G.o.d is in heaven, and thou upon earth."The Publican therefore shewed great wisdom, holy shame, and humility, in this brave
- 245 Second. The second thing that we made mention of in the Publican's prayer was, an imploring of help against this malady; G.o.d BE MERCIFUL TO ME A SINNER. In which pet.i.tion I shall take notice of several things.I. That a man's help against sin
- 244 Suppose a man sick of an apoplexy unto death, and should for his remedy make use only of those things that are good against the second ague, would not this demonstrate that this man was not sensible of the nature and danger of this disease. The same may b