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
- 243 "For if when we were enemies, we were reconciled to G.o.d by the death of his Son," &c. (Rom 5:6,8,10) Out of these words I gather these three things.1. That Christ by G.o.d's appointment died for us.2. That by his death he reconciled us to
- 242 So that the question is not, Do I find that I am righteous? But am I so? Doth G.o.d find me so, when he seeth that the righteousness of his Son is upon me, being made over to me by an act of his grace?For I am justified freely by his grace, through the re
- 241 Christ then did not fulfil the law for himself, for he had no need thereof. Christ again did fulfil the law for himself, for he had need of the righteousness thereof; he had need thereof for the covering of his body, and the several members thereof; for t
- 240 A great saying, I promise you. I doubt this is more than our glorious just.i.tiaries can say, except they say and lie. Well, but yet, "I am not hereby justified." (1 Cor 4:4, Phil 3:7) Nor will I dare to venture the eternal salvation of my soul
- 239 But what aileth the Pharisee? Doth the poor Publican stand to vex thee? Doth he touch thee with is dirty garments; or doth he annoy thee with his stinking breath? Doth his posture of standing so like a man condemned offend thee? True, he now standeth with
- 238 [FIRST MERCY.] If mercy, what mercy? Temporal things G.o.d giveth to the unthankful and unholy; nor doth he use to SELL the world to man for righteousness. The earth hath he GIVEN to the children of men. But this is not the thing; thou wouldest have etern
- 237 (Luke 16:15) That is, that conversion, that men, as men, flatter themselves that they have, is such. But the Pharisee will be a converted man, he will have more to shew for heaven than his neighbour, "I am not as other men are"; to wit, in a sta
- 236 "Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a Publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, G.o.d, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this Publican.
- 235 First, To the PERSONS in the text.Secondly, To the CONDITION of the persons in the text.Thirdly, To the CONCLUSION that Christ makes upon them both.First, For the PERSONS. They were, as you see, far one from another in their own apprehension of themselves
- 234 Now these things are nothing else but conscience, nature, or the law, for a natural man hath nothing else that dwelleth within him to convince him of sin; only these things have a new name put upon them. And poor creatures hearing the name Christ, being i
- 233 Again, every one that is, or shall be saved, must, and shall have the Spirit of Christ within them; yet doth it not follow, that to preach Christ (only) within, is the only doctrine of salvation. For then also the preaching of the blood of Christ shed on
- 232 Ha Friend? I had thought thou hadst not been so much hardened; art thou not ashamed thus to slight the death of the Man Chris Jesus on the cross; and reckon it not effectually for salvation, but sayest, the church is redeemed by Christ Jesus which is reve
- 231 2. You say that Christ is crucified within, dead within risen and ascended within; which also you have no word of scripture to prove.3. Your society affirm, that the coming of the Spirit into the hearts of believers do plainly hold forth, that the coming
- 230 Again thou sayest, thou deniest those that say, "That light which every one hath as he comes into the world, is conscience; though some call it Christ falsely." Answ. Friend, What wilt thou have it called; Christ. No, if not conscience, then cal
- 229 and is not the Spirit, as some do think it is. This creature hath one faculty of its own nature, called conscience, which hath its place in the soul, where it is as a judge to discern of things good or bad, and judge them accordingly, as the apostle saith
- 228 Yet the substance of my discourse then published by me, standeth uncontrolled by scripture, as from him or others. I do not say he doth not wrangle with them, but I say, he doth not by any one plain scripture contradict them. As for instance: 1. The first
- 227 2. What is the church of G.o.d redeemed by, from the curse of the law? Is it by something that is done within them, or by something done without them? If thou answer, it is redeemed from the curse of the law by something that worketh in them; then I ask,
- 226 Quest. How do men come by this righteousness and everlasting life?Ans. By faith men lay hold upon it, and apply it to their own souls in particular (Gal 2:20). For it is by faith they are justified, as also saith the scripture (Rom 5:1). That his faith la
- 225 (4.) Art thou born again? Then thou canst not be quiet till thou seest G.o.d smile, and lift up the light of his countenance upon thee (2 Cor 4:6; Psa 4:6) and that through the face of the Son of Mary, the Son of G.o.d.(5.) Thou knowest that G.o.d hath gi
- 224 Yes, for the scripture saith, 'There is one G.o.d, and one mediator between G.o.d and men, the man Christ Jesus' (1 Tim 2:5). And in that 8th to the Hebrews made mention of before; where the Apostle is speaking of Christ's priestly office,
- 223 I. That the Son of Mary is very G.o.d.II. That he made the world.III. That he is our Saviour, and how.IV. That he died for sinners, and how, namely, not in his divine nature, but in his human, in his own body, and in his own flesh (Col 1:22) redeeming his
- 222 13. Never was there any that could overcome death in his own power, but the true G.o.d (Hosea 13:14; 2 Tim 1:10; Heb 1:2). Jesus the Son of the Virgin Mary did overcome death by himself (Heb 3:14).Therefore he is the true G.o.d as well as man.14. He that
- 221 The stubborn Jews also confessed the sceptre to be departed, when before Pontius Pilate a Roman governor of Judea, they cried out against Christ: 'We have no king but Cesar' (John 19:15).Nay farther, the Jews from that day to this, have been wit
- 220 Thirdly, The more thou art rooted and set down from heaven in the faith of these truths of Christ, to believe fully the glorious reality of them, and their interest in them, the more heavenly peace and joy thou wilt have (1 Peter 1:7,8) and also thou wilt
- 219 3. All men have not faith, this the Apostle witnesseth in so many words as we find (2 Thess 3:2; Deut 32:20). Also in Timothy 1:15 'Unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure,'&c. It appeareth also in this, that all do not attain
- 218 19 "Famously," plainly, openly; in this sense obsolete. Tillotson used the words "famous malefactors." Sermon on 1 John 4:9.--Ed.20 Bunyan here alludes to men convicted of crime; but how many innocent, nay, pious servants of Christ, ha
- 217 And to that end doth pa.s.s the sentence of eternal death upon them, saying, "Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels" (Matt 25:41). You are now by the book of the creatures, by the book of G.o.d&#
- 216 Sometimes again, they think they are righteous, and so have not so much need; mark, and yet both alike rotten and base; because, as the last is altogether senseless, so the first is not at all savingly sensible (Mark 10:17-22; Luke 18:11,12).Sometimes aga
- 215 Further, the inclination of thy heart towards fruitless and unprofitable creatures, doth fore-preach to thee, the inclination of the heart of G.o.d towards thee in the judgment. If thou hast either cow, or any other beast, that is now unprofitable to thee
- 214 Wherefore, so soon as ever they are risen out of their graves; they will feel a continual sinking under every remembrance of every sin, and thoughts of judgment; in their rising they fall--fall, I say, from thenceforth, and for ever. And for this reason t
- 213 First then, those that shall be found in the day of their resurrection, when they shall have all their good things brought upon the stage; they I say, that then shall be found the people most laborious for G.o.d while here; they shall at that day enjoy th
- 212 Now at the time of the Lord's coming, there will be found in the world alive both saints and sinners. As for the saints that then shall be found alive, they shall, so soon as all the saints are raised out of their graves, not die, but be changed, and
- 211 Again, as to the manner of its change in its rising, this similitude also doth fitly suit; as, It is sown a dead corn; it is raised a living one. It is sown dry, and without comeliness; it riseth green and beautiful. It is sown a single corn; it riseth a
- 210 Third. [The resurrection spoken of is a thing yet to come;] the resurrection here mentioned, is a resurrection to come, not already enjoyed, either by saints or sinners--"There shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust." N
- 209 ADVERTIs.e.m.e.nT BY THE EDITOR.This very important treatise, judging from the style in which it is written, was, probably, one of the first books composed by Bunyan.The form in which it is prepared, with minute divisions to a.s.sist the memory, and its c
- 208 When G.o.d came from Egypt with his people, to set up his kingdom in Canaan, he cast out the heathen before them in order thereunto; 'Thou hast brought a vine out of Egypt: thou hast cast out the heathen, and planted it' (Psa 80:8). Wherefore, A
- 207 Be not angry with them, no, not in thy thought; but consider, if they go not on in the work of reformation so fast as thou wouldest they should, the fault may be thine; know that thou also hast thy cold and chill frames of heart, and sittest still when th
- 206 2. When her enemies forbear to plead against her by argument, and rather betake themselves to blows (Matt 10:19).3. When the spirit of testimony-bearing is taken from the church; for that is not essential to Christianity, but is given and taken away as th
- 205 Thus you see their death is before their deliverance. Also their death is to be by the hand of the beast; to wit by the men that have and hold his mark, and that of his image, and that are of the number of his name. You see also that their death is not on
- 204 The time of Pharaoh's tyranny, of his life, and of the deliverance of the children of Israel, came out much together; as any will discern that shall consider the history of them (Gen 15:13).David, when Saul did sorely prosecute him, fled last into th
- 203 And hence we read that this city falls first in a tenth part thereof, even while nine parts remain yet standing: Nor doth this tenth part, notwithstanding the faith and faithful testimony of the two witnesses, quite fall, until they are slain, and also ra
- 202 Nor are we without instances of this kind nearer home: who is now afraid of the act for burning of those that papists call heretics, since by the king and parliament, as by the finger of G.o.d, the life and soul is taken out of it. I bring this to shew yo
- 201 1. Take heed of over-looking, or of shutting your eyes upon your own guilt: 'He that covereth his sins, shall not prosper.' It is incident to some men, when they find repentance is far from them, to shut their eyes upon their own guilt, and to p
- 200 13 "Improving," not in quality but by extending the benefits, employing to good purpose; turning to profitable account.--Ed.14 How delightfully has Bunyan brought forth the marrow of this important text. He felt that those who were filled with a
- 199 Full of joy unspeakable, and full of glory (1 Peter 1:8).Full of joy (1 John 1:4).Full of good works (Acts 11:36).Being filled with the knowledge of his will (Col 1:9).Being filled with the spirit (Eph 5:18).Filled with the fruits of righteousness, which
- 198 (4.) They, it may fairly be presumed, had they been taken, and we left, and made partakers in our sted, while we had been shut out, as they are, would not have put Christ so to it, now in heaven (pray bear with the expression, because I want a better) as
- 197 1. Before we can know this love of Christ, as afore, we must necessarily know the nature of sin, that is, what sin is, what sin is in itself. But no man knows the nature of sin to the full; not what sin in itself is to the full. The Apostle saith, "T
- 196 But this is not all. He did not only die, but died such a death, as indeed cannot be expressed. He was content to be counted the sinner: yea, to be counted the sin of the sinner, nor could this but be odious to so holy a Lamb as he was, yet willing to be
- 195 I will add one word more, notwithstanding there is such a revelation of Him in his word, in the book of creatures, and in the book of providences; yet the scripture says, "Lo, these are parts of his ways: but how little a portion is heard of him?&quo
- 194 The Works of John Bunyan.Volume 2.by John Bunyan.THE SAINTS' KNOWLEDGE OF CHRIST'S LOVE; OR, THE UNSEARCHABLE RICHES OF CHRIST.BY JOHN BUNYAN PREFATORY REMARKS BY THE EDITOR.This treatise is one of those ten distinct works, which the author had
- 193 [18] It is not usual to call the rich young man a hypocrite. To outward appearance he was in earnest. Negatively, he had kept the commandments. Now he is required to perform positive duties, and to live by faith. Here the mask falls off, and he concludes
- 192 There are four things that are unlawful to be desired. To desire the life of thine enemy is unlawful (1 Kings 3:11; Deut 5:21). To desire anything that is thy neighbour's is unlawful. To desire to share in the prosperity of the wicked is unlawful (Ps
- 191 But now, desires, desires that are right, will carry a man quite away to G.o.d, and to do his will, let the work be never so hard.Take an instance or two for this.You may see it in Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The text says plainly, they were not mindful of
- 190 Christ made himself known to them in breaking of bread; who, who would not then, that loves to know him, be present at such an ordinance? (Luke 24:35). Ofttimes the Holy Ghost, in the comfortable influence of it, has accompanied the baptized in the very a
- 189 (1.) He is taken sometimes as to or for his best part, or as he is a second creation, as these scriptures declare: 'If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature,--all things are become new' (2 Cor 5:17). 'Created in Christ Jesus' (Eph
- 188 FOURTH. The righteous man therefore in the text is, and ought to be, thus described: 1. He is one whom G.o.d makes righteous, by reckoning him so. 2. He is one that G.o.d makes righteous, by possessing of him with a principle of righteousness. 3. He is on
- 187 'Jesus can make a dying bed Feel soft as downy pillows are, While on his breast I lean my head, And breath my life out sweetly there.'--Dr. Watts.THE DESIRE OF THE RIGHTEOUS GRANTED; OR, A DISCOURSE OF THE RIGHTEOUS MAN'S DESIRES.ADVERTIs.e
- 186 6. The man that is tender of G.o.d's glory in this world, still ruling and governing his affairs by the Word, and desirous to be faithful to the work and employment that G.o.d hath appointed him to do for his name; that man shall still be let into th
- 185 2. A continual remembrance that to every day thou hast thy work allotted thee; and that sufficient for that day are the evils that attend thee (Matt 6:34). This remembrance set Paul upon his watch daily; made him die to himself and this world daily, and p
- 184 3. Learn also in this to be confident, that thy sufferings have their sound and a voice before G.o.d and men. First, Before G.o.d, to provoke him to vengeance, 'when he maketh inquisition for blood'(Psa 9:12; Gen 4:9-11). The blood of Abel cried
- 183 [17] These frightful exhibitions, by drawing a criminal from Newgate to Tyburn to be executed, were of common occurrence until the reign of George III, when such numbers were put to death that it was found handier for the wholesale butchery to take place
- 182 USE SIXTH. Lastly, If a broken heart be a thing of so great esteem with G.o.d as has been said, and if duties cannot be rightly performed by a heart that has not been broken, then this shows the vanity of those peoples' minds, and also the invalidity
- 181 [Second]--to the Directions.1. Labour after a deep knowledge of G.o.d to keep it warm upon thy heart; knowledge of his presence, that is everywhere. 'Do not I fill heaven and earth, saith the Lord?' (Jer 23:24). (1.) Knowledge of his piercing ey
- 180 Now, this cannot but be an excellent thing, if we consider, that by such a heart, unfeigned obedience is yielded unto him that calleth for it. 'Ye have obeyed from the heart,' says Paul to them at Rome, 'that form of doctrine which was deli
- 179 Nor is there any thing that will prevail with these to the saving of their souls, until their hearts are broken. David, after he had defiled Bathsheba, and slain her husband, yet boasted himself in his justice and holiness, and would by all means have the
- 178 4. Now he is, in his own eyes, the greatest fool in nature; for that he sees he has been so mistaken in his ways, and has not yet but little, if any true knowledge of G.o.d. Every one now, says he, have more knowledge of G.o.d than I; every one serves him
- 177 2. But when seconded by mighty power, then the same Word is as the roaring of a lion, as the piercing of a sword, as a burning fire in the bones, as thunder and as a hammer that dashes all to pieces (Jer 25:30; Amos 1:2, 3:8; Acts 2:37; Jer 20:9; Psa 29:3
- 176 But mark the text, 'A broken and a contrite heart, O G.o.d, thou wilt not despise,' but rather accept; for not to despise is with G.o.d to esteem and set a high price upon.[II. THE DOCTRINE, a.s.sERTION, DEMONSTRATION, AND CONCLUSION, THAT A BRO
- 175 SHOWING THE NATURE, SIGNS, AND PROPER EFFECTS OF A CONTRITE SPIRIT.BEING THE LAST WORKS OF THAT EMINENT PREACHER AND FAITHFUL MINISTER OF JESUS CHRIST, MR. JOHN BUNYAN, OF BEDFORD.WITH A PREFACE PREFIXED THEREUNTO BY AN EMINENT MINISTER OF THE GOSPEL IN L
- 174 1. How many thousands rush into the presence of G.o.d with unholy, thoughtless familiarity, by repeating the form called the Lord's prayer. His infinite holiness should make us tremblingly apply to his throne of grace. In the name of the Redeemer, an
- 173 3. Another needy time is a time when men are low and empty, as to worldly good; this time is full of temptations and snares. At this time, men will, if they look not well to their doings and goings, be tempted to strain curtesies both with conscience and
- 172 3. But again, a third thing that was to precede the execution of the second part of this his priestly office was, the manner and order of his going into the holiest; I say, the manner and order of his going. He was to go thither in that robe of which ment
- 171 (Heb 4:14). Such an high priest as is 'made higher than the heavens'(Heb 7:26). And why doth he thus dilate upon the dignity of his person, but because thereby is insinuated the excellency of his sacrifice, and the prevalency of his intercession
- 170 Now, believing is to be according to the sound of the beginning of the gospel, which presenteth us, not first with Christ as ascended, but as Christ dying, buried, and risen.[16] 'For I delivered unto you first of all, that which I also received; how
- 169 Again, as the grace that we here read of is said, as it comes from this throne, to come as a river of water of life; so it is said to be pure and clear as crystal. Pure is set in opposition to muddy and dirty waters, and clear is set in opposition to thos
- 168 [What is to be inferred from the term 'throne of grace.']Second. We will in the next place show what is to be inferred from hence. And, 1. To be sure this is inferred, that converted men are not every way, or in every sense, free from the being
- 167 FOOTNOTES: 1 Dr. Watt's Guide to Prayer.2 Vol iii., p. 346.3 Vol iii., p. 298.4Pilgrimage of Perfection, 4to, 1526, vol. iii., p. 9.5 Effectual fervent prayer is wrought in the heart by the Holy Ghost, and those objects for which HE inclines the soul
- 166 Answ. Yes.1. Let every soul that would be saved pour out itself to G.o.d, though it cannot through temptation conclude itself a child of G.o.d. And, 2. I know if the grace of G.o.d be in thee, it will be as natural to thee to groan out thy condition, as i
- 165 O! the starting-holes that the heart hath in the time of prayer; none knows how many bye-ways the heart hath, and back-lanes, to slip away from the presence of G.o.d. How much pride also, if enabled with expressions. How much hypocrisy, if before others.
- 164 2. Sometimes there is a sweet sense of mercy received; encouraging, comforting, strengthening, enlivening, enlightening mercy, &c.Thus David pours out his soul, to bless, and praise, and admire the great G.o.d for his loving-kindness to such poor vile wre
- 163 [20] See 2 Samuel 2:23, 3:27. To smite under the fifth rib is to give a mortal blow.--Ed.[21] Human laws we must obey, unless they infringe upon the prerogative of G.o.d and upon conscience; to such we must refuse obedience, and count it an honour to suff
- 162 They will have him to be a Saviour, but it must not be by fulfilling of the law for us; but it must not be by the putting of his glorious righteousness, that which he performed by subjecting himself to the law, on our behalf, upon us; but it must not be b
- 161 This is a way that G.o.d, nor any child of his, need be ashamed of before any that shall call in question the legality and justice of this procedure. For why may not G.o.d be merciful, and why may not G.o.d be just? And since he can be both merciful and j
- 160 Third. A third thing that I infer from these words is, What a loving G.o.d has Israel! 'Truly G.o.d is good to Israel. Let the redeemed of the Lord say so.' A loving G.o.d, that should take this care of him, and bestow so many mercies upon him.
- 159 Indeed mercy, the best of mercies, are little worth to a self-righteous man, or a sinner fast asleep; we must not, therefore, make our esteems of mercy according to the judgment of the secure and heedless man, but according to the verdict of the Word; nay
- 158 [THIRD. Inferences from the exhortation.]Now we come to those inferences that do naturally flow from this exhortation, and they are in number four.First. That hope and the exercise of it, is as necessary in its place, as faith, and the exercise of it. All
- 157 Answ. 1. You must look well to your faith, that that may prosper, for as your faith is, such your hope will be. Hope is never ill when faith is well; nor strong if faith be weak. Wherefore Paul prays that the Romans might be filled 'with all joy and
- 156 FOOTNOTES: 1. Cruden.2. Pilgrim's Progress.Israel's Hope Encouraged; 'Let Israel hope in the LORD: for with the LORD there is mercy, and with him is plenteous redemption.'--Psalms 130:7 This Psalm is said to be one of 'the Psalms
- 155 Answ. I answer, it may be it is thy mercy that thou art sensible of infirmities in thy best things thou doest; ay, a greater mercy than thou art aware of.Quest. Can it me a mercy for me to be troubled with my corruptions?Can it be a privilege for me to be
- 154 1. Because they sin against the manifest light of the Spirit, as I said before; it is a sin against the light of the Spirit--that is, they have been formerly enlightened into the nature of the Gospel and the merits of the Man Christ, and His blood, righte
- 153 There is a great difference between their dispensation and ours for comfort, even as much as there is between the making of a bond with a promise to seal it, and the sealing of the same. It was made indeed in their time, but it was not sealed until the ti
- 152 Second. In the next place, you know I told you that a man might go a great way in a profession, and have many excellent gifts, [Second use]. so as to do many wondrous works, and yet be but under the Law; from hence you may learn not to judge yourselves to
- 151 4. They that are in this covenant are in a very happy state; for though there be several conditions in the Gospel to be done, yet Christ Jesus doth not look that they should be done by man, as man, but by His own Spirit in them, as it is written, "Th
- 150 (Rom 3:24). As if G.o.d had said, Sinner, thou thinkest because that thou hast had so many infirmities and weaknesses in thy soul while thou hast been professing of Me, therefore now there can be no hopes of mercy; but be it known unto thee, that it was n
- 149 6. There is a faith that is called in Scripture a dead faith, the faith of devils, or of the devil; they also that have only this, they are like the devil, and as sure to be d.a.m.ned as he, notwithstanding their faith, if they get no better into their he
- 148 Object. But is it possible that He should so soon give infinite justice a satisfaction, a complete satisfaction? for the eternal G.o.d doth require an eternal lying under the curse, to the end He may be eternally satisfied.Answ. Indeed, that which is infi
- 147 2. Their qualifications were in them in a very scanty way; but Jesus was every way qualified in an infinite and full way.3. They were consecrated but for a time, but He for evermore (Heb 7:23,24).4. They were made without an oath, but He with an oath (Ver
- 146 Second. As to the manner of it [The offering of the types, and so answerable thereto, to show the fitness of the sacrifice of the body of Christ]--1. The sacrifice, before it was offered, was to have all the sins of the children of Israel confessed over i
- 145 3. The choice was also made then, even before man had a being in this world, as it is evident where he saith, "Blessed be the G.o.d and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places IN Christ: ac
- 144 Answ. Though this be true, yet the conditional promises in the New Testament do not call to the same people in the same state of unregeneracy to fulfill them upon the same conditions.The Law and the Gospel being two distinct covenants, they are made in di