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
- 143 (Matt 27:3).3. Men may not only be convinced, and also repent for their sins, but they may also desire the prayers of the children of G.o.d for them too, and yet be under this covenant and curse, "Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron, in haste, an
- 142 1. Therefore, they that are under the law, they are in a sad condition, because they are under that which is more ready, through our infirmity, to curse than to bless; they are under that called the ministration of condemnation, that is, they are under th
- 141 [Object.] But if any object and say, though the sins against the one be the sins against the other, and so in that they do agree, yet it doth not appear that the same is therefore the same Covenant of Works with the other.Answ. That which was given to Ada
- 140 First, If thou dost get off thy convictions, and not the right way (which is by seeing thy sins washed away by the blood of Jesus Christ), it is a question whether ever G.o.d will knock at thy heart again or no; but rather say, such an one "is joined
- 139 "The third o' the' world is yours, which with a snaffle, You may pace easy, but not such a wise."Antony and Cleopatra.--Ed.[28] How familiar but striking an ill.u.s.tration. Reader, look well to the mainspring, and see also that the wh
- 138 A word to hypocrites.Hypocrites, my last word is to you; the hypocrite is one that would appear to be that in men's eyes that is nothing of in G.o.d's--thou hypocrite, that wouldest be esteemed to be one that loves and that fears G.o.d, but does
- 137 Seventh. Wouldest thou grow in this grace of fear? then keep always close to thy conscience the authority of the Word; fear the commandment as the commandment of a G.o.d both mighty and glorious, and as the commandment of a father, both loving and pitiful
- 136 First. Let G.o.d's distinguis.h.i.+ng love to you be a motive to you to fear him greatly. He hath put his fear in thy heart, and hath not given that blessing to thy neighbour; perhaps not to thy husband, thy wife, thy child, or thy parent. O what an
- 135 [USE FIRST, of Examination.]FIRST USE shall be a USE OF EXAMINATION. Is this fear of G.o.d such an excellent thing? Is it attended with so many blessed privileges?Then this should put us, every soul of us, upon a diligent examination of ourselves, to wit,
- 134 power or subtlety, but will take it upon himself to be thy teacher and thy guide, and that in the way that thou hast chosen. Hear, then, and behold thy privilege, O thou that fearest the Lord; and whoever wanders, turns aside, and swerveth from the way of
- 133 Eleventh. This grace of fear also flows from a sense of the impartial judgment of G.o.d upon men according to their works. This also is manifest from the text mentioned above. And give unto every man according to his works or ways, "that they may fea
- 132 Answ. 1. By giving the lie, and by prevailing with us to give it too, to the work of grace wrought in our hearts, and to the testimony of the Holy Spirit of adoption. Or, 2. By abusing of our ignorance of the everlasting love of G.o.d to his in Christ, an
- 131 Besides, the direct tendency of the fear that the Spirit of G.o.d, as a spirit of bondage, worketh in the soul, is to cause us to come repenting home to G.o.d by Jesus Christ, but these latter fears tend directly to make a man, he having first denied the
- 130 Many also at this day are possessed with this unG.o.dly fear; and you may know them by this,--they cannot abide conviction for sin, and if at any time the word of the law, by the preaching of the word, comes near them, they will not abide that preacher, n
- 129 Also his name, I am, Jah, Jehovah, with several others, what is by them intended but his nature, as his power, wisdom, eternity, goodness, and omnipotency, &c., might be expressed and declared.The name of G.o.d is therefore the object of a Christian'
- 128 Thus also is the song, that new song that is said to be sung by the hundred forty and four thousand which stand with the Lamb upon Mount Sion, with his Father's name written in their foreheads. These are also called harpers, harping with their harps:
- 127 Fifth. The LOVE and MERCY of G.o.d are more seen in and by this doctrine than any other way. Mercy and love are seen, in that G.o.d gives us rain and fruitful seasons, and in that he filleth our hearts with food and gladness; from that bounty which he bes
- 126 First. It is said, he shall choose our inheritance for us--'He shall choose our inheritance for us; the excellency of Jacob whom he loved. Selah. G.o.d is gone up with a shout,' &c. (Psa 47:4,5). These latter words intend the ascension of Jesus
- 125 Sixth. How were the Ephesians, who were sometimes far from G.o.d; how, I say, were they made nigh by the blood of Christ! (Eph 2:13).Seventh. The Colossians, though sometimes dead in their sins, yet how were they quickened by G.o.d, through the forgivenes
- 124 This name is said, in another place, to be a name above every name that is named, 'not only in this world, but also in that which is to come' (Eph 1:21).But should JESUS have been such a name, since he undertook for sinners, had this undertaker
- 123 Fourth. We are said to be made nigh to G.o.d by his blood--'But now in Christ Jesus, ye who sometimes were far off, are made nigh by the blood of Christ' (Eph 2:13).Fifth. Peace is said to be made by his blood. 1. Peace with G.o.d (Col 1:20). 2.
- 122 1. Despair would not rise in his heart, for his flesh did rest in hope; and said, even when he suffered, 'Thou wilt not leave my soul in h.e.l.l' (Acts 2:27).2. The everlastingness of the punishment, therefore, nor the terrors that accompany suc
- 121 In this word 'curse' are two things comprised, 1. The reality of sin; for there can be no curse where there is no sin, either of the person's own, or made to be his by his own consent or the imputation of Divine justice. And since sins are
- 120 SECOND. But, secondly CHRIST WAS MADE UNDER THE LAW--'When the fulness of the time was come, G.o.d sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law' (Gal 4:4).Of right, being found in flesh, he must needs be under the law, for that there
- 119 HOW JESUS CHRIST ADDRESSED HIMSELF TO THE WORK OF OUR REDEMPTION.I come, then, in the next place, to show you how Jesus Christ addressed himself to the work of man's redemption.The Scripture saith, 'he became poor,' that he made himself of
- 118 Thus have I showed you what it was for Jesus to come into the world--namely, to be born of a woman, to take flesh, and to become G.o.d-man in one person. I come now to the third question; but before I speak particularly to that, I will produce further tes
- 117 There were also divers other sacrifices, as bulls, goats, and birds, which were types of him, which I here omit.3. Insensible creatures were his types. As, (1.) The man in the wilderness (Exo 16). And that as it came down from heaven, for so did Christ--&
- 116 To be of David's seed is to spring from his loins, to come of his race according to the flesh; and therefore as he is David's G.o.d, so likewise is he David's Son; the root and also the offspring of David. And this the Lord himself acknowle
- 115 "Sinner, O why so thoughtless grown? Why in such dreadful hast to die?"--Ed.13 "Tend it," or attend to it. What madness does sin engender and foster! The trifles of time entirely occupy the attention, while the momentous affairs of ete
- 114 Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the Lord." (Jer 23:24) (9.) Be often meditating upon death and judgment. (Eccl 11:9, 12:14) (10.) Be often thinking what a dreadful end sinners that have neglected Christ will make at that day of death and judgme
- 113 The parable runs thus:--"The kingdom of heaven," the gospel, "is like unto a net which was cast into the sea," the world, "and gathered of every kind," good and bad, "which when it was full, they drew to sh.o.r.e,"
- 112 FIRST. I shall speak chiefly, and yet but briefly, to the first of these observations; to wit, That when men have put in all the claim they can to the kingdom of heaven, but few will have it for their inheritance. The observation standeth of two parts. Fi
- 111 But now we are dealing with the words of the Son of G.o.d; it is HE that hath said it; wherefore we find the truth of the peris.h.i.+ng of many professors a.s.serted, and confirmed by Christ's own mouth.This consideration carrieth great awakening in
- 110 Idleness clothes a man with rags, and the vineyard of the slothful is grown over with nettles. (Prov 23:21, 24:30-32) Profession that is not attended with spiritual labour cannot bring the soul to heaven. The fathers before us were "not slothful in b
- 109 So that when he saith, "Strive to enter in," it is as if he should say, Blessed are they that shall be admitted another day to enter into the kingdom of heaven; but they that shall be counted worthy of so unspeakable a favour, must be well prepa
- 108 26 In the edition of 1692, this sentence is "subject to the Father of spirits and love." It is a very singular mode of expression to call G.o.d "the Father of love." G.o.d is love, and that author and source of all holy love. Bunyan wa
- 107 The gospel shows us that there was abundance of pity, love, bowels, and compa.s.sion in G.o.d towards us; and accordingly we should be full of bowels, pity, love, and compa.s.sion to others.The gospel shows us that in G.o.d there is a great deal of willin
- 106 1. It ministereth to him matter of joy; for he that knows this grace aright, he knows G.o.d is at peace with him, because he believeth in Jesus Christ, who by grace tasted death for every man; "by whom also we have access by faith into this grace whe
- 105 What shall I say? Grace and mercy are everlasting. They are built up for ever. They are the delight of G.o.d. They rejoice against judgment. And therefore it is the most safe and secure way of salvation, and therefore hath G.o.d chosen to save us by his g
- 104 But to pa.s.s these, and to come to some other demonstrations for the clearing of this-- Let us a little consider, What man is, upon whom the Father, the Son, and the Spirit bestows this grace.1. [An enemy to G.o.d.] By nature he is an enemy to G.o.d, an
- 103 14. By this good Spirit we are sealed to the day of redemption (Eph 1:14).15. And by this good Spirit we are made to wait with patience until the redemption of the purchased possession comes (Gal 5:5).Now all these things are so necessary to our salvation
- 102 7. The Father's grace saveth us by multiplying pardons to us, for Christ's sake, day by day--"In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace" (Eph 1:7).8. The Father's g
- 101 Fifth. To be saved calls for more than all this; he that is saved, must, when this world can hold him no longer, have a safe-conduct to heaven, for that is the place where they that are saved must to the full enjoy their salvation. This heaven is called &
- 100 In this little book thou art presented with a discourse of the GRACE of G.o.d, and of salvation by that grace. In which discourse, thou shalt find how each Person in the G.o.dhead doth his part in the salvation of the sinner. I. The Father putteth forth h
- 99 13. To divert or turn aside from an intended course; not to divert or amuse.--Ed.14. Bunyan, in his Creation Spiritualized, or Exposition on Genesis, has shown that the fig-leaf ap.r.o.ns are a type of man's attempt to cover his sins by his own good
- 98 Answ.--First. What other matters? What matters besides, above, or beyond the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ, and of our acceptance with G.o.d through him? What spirit, or doctrine, or wisdom soever it be that centres not in, that cometh not from, and tha
- 97 Second. As it is said, he hath purged our sins by himself, so it was by himself at once--'For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified' (10:14). Now by this word 'at once,'or by 'one offering,' is c
- 96 Answer. The consequences are not true; for by these words, 'The doers of the law shall be justified,' there is no more proof of a possibility of saving thyself by the law than there is by these: 'For by the works of the law shall no man liv
- 95 The occasion of these words was, for that the Pharisee murmured against the woman that washed Jesus' feet, because 'she was a sinner'; for so said the Pharisee, and so saith the Holy Ghost (v 37). But, saith Christ, Simon, I will ask thee a
- 94 And then he counteth up several of his privileges, to which he at last adjoineth the righteousness of the moral law, saying, 'Touching the righteousness which is in the law, [I was] blameless' (Phil 3:4-6). And it is proper to call the righteous
- 93 Now, then, we will speak of this first, as to how Christ prepared himself thus mysteriously to act. He took hold of our nature. I say, he took hold of us, by taking upon him flesh and blood. The Son of G.o.d, therefore, took not upon him a particular pers
- 92 NO WAY TO HEAVEN BUT BY JESUS CHRIST.ADVERTIs.e.m.e.nT BY THE EDITOR.This is one of those ten excellent ma.n.u.scripts which were found among Bunyan's papers after his decease in 1688. It had been prepared by him for publication, but still wanted a f
- 91 Third. Coming sinner, I will add another encouragement for thy help.1. G.o.d hath prepared a mercy-seat, a throne of grace to sit on; that thou mayest come thither to him, and that he may from thence hear thee, and receive thee. "I will commune with
- 90 Fourth, Art thou come to the Lord Jesus? What hast thou found in him, since thou camest to him?Peter found with him the word of eternal life (John 6:68). They that Peter makes mention of, found him a living stone, even such a living stone as communicated
- 89 3. It is the sin that most suiteth with our sense of feeling. The coming sinner feels the workings of sin, of all manner of sin and wretchedness in his flesh; he also feels the wrath and judgment of G.o.d due to sin, and ofttimes staggers under it. Now, s
- 88 1. If Jesus Christ should allow thee once to think that he will cast thee out, he must allow thee to think that he will falsify his word; for he hath said, "I will in no wise cast out." But Christ would not that thou shouldst count him as one th
- 87 Here is now room for fears of being cast away. Now I see I am lost, says the sinner. This is not coming to Jesus Christ, says the sinner; such a desperate, hard, and wretched heart as mine is, cannot be a gracious one, saith the sinner. And bid such an on
- 86 Now thou fearest the sins of thy youth, the sins of thine old age, the sins of thy calling, the sins of thy Christian duties, the sins of thine heart, or something; thou thinkest something or other will alienate the heart and affections of Jesus Christ fr
- 85 (2.) What providence was it that there should be a tree in the way for Zaccheus to climb, thereby to give Jesus opportunity to call that chief of the publicans home to himself, even before he came down therefrom (Luke 19).(3.) Was it not also wonderful th
- 84 [COMING TO CHRIST NOT BY THE POWER OF MAN, BUT BY THE DRAWING OF THE FATHER.]OBSERVATION FIRST. First, then, coming to Christ is not by the will, wisdom, or power of man, but by the gift, promise, and drawing of the Father. This observation standeth of tw
- 83 2. It is called h.e.l.l. "It is better for thee to enter halt" or lame "into life, than having two feet to be cast into h.e.l.l" (Mark 9:45).3. It is called the wine-press of the wrath of G.o.d. "And the angel thrust in his sickle
- 82 "Simon, Simon," said Christ, "Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat." But did he prevail against him? No: "But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not." As who should say, Simon, Satan hath des
- 81 First. [The newly-awakened comer.]--For the first of these: the sinner that hath never, while of late, began to come, his way is more easy; I do not say, more plain and open to come to Christ than is the other--those last not having the clog of a guilty c
- 80 2. Christ also suggesteth by these words, that he very well knoweth who are given to him; not by their coming to him, but by their being given to him. "All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh," &c. This him he knoweth
- 79 So then the present want of faith and repentance cannot make this promise of G.o.d of none effect; because that this promise hath in it to give what others call for and expect. I will give them an heart, I will give them my Spirit, I will give them repent
- 78 Therefore is every sincere comer to Jesus Christ called also a child of the promise. "Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise," (Gal 4:28); that is, we are the children that G.o.d hath promised to Jesus Christ, and given to h
- 77 Thus to do is horrible; but mayest thou not judge amiss in this matter? How can I judge amiss, when I judge as I feel? Poor soul!Thou mayest judge amiss for all that. Why, saith the sinner, I think that these questionings come from my heart. Let me answer
- 76 "All that the Father giveth me SHALL COME." In these last words there is closely inserted an answer unto the Father's end in giving of his elect to Jesus Christ. The Father's end was, that they might come to him, and be saved by him; a
- 75 The text, in the general, standeth of TWO PARTS, and hath special respect to the Father and the Son; as also to their joint management of the salvation of the people: "All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will i
- 74 2 What indescribable consolations flow into the Christina's soul from communion with G.o.d, especially to the most deeply afflicted.Thus the wisdom casts her care upon her heavenly Father--her Creator, Christ; for all things were made by him. He is h
- 73 Again; it is yet more manifest that Christ receiving of his life again was the death and destruction of the enemy of his people; and to manifest that it was so, therefore he adds (after he had said, 'And, behold, I am alive for evermore. Amen'),
- 72 So, then, those men that are at ease in a sinful course, or that come not to G.o.d by Christ, they are such as have no faith, and must therefore perish with the vile and unbelievers. (Rev 21:8) The whole world is divided into two sorts of men--believers a
- 71 This, I say, is a testimony, a second testimony, by the same man, as to the miserable state of man, the severity of the law, the emptiness of the world, the certainty of death, and the terribleness of judgment. This man hath seen it, and seen it again.A r
- 70 2. As he must know himself, and what a wretch he is, so he must know the world, and what an empty thing it is. Cain did see himself, but saw not the emptiness of this world; and therefore instead of going to G.o.d by Christ, he went to the world, and ther
- 69 2. Are those that are justified by the blood of Christ such, after that, as have need also of saving by Christ's intercession? From hence, then, we may infer, that as sin, so Satan will not give over from a.s.saulting the best of the saints.It is not
- 68 2. As this text respecteth persons, so it respecteth things. There are some things with which some are attended that are coming to G.o.d, by Christ, that make their coming hard and very difficult.(1.) There is a more than ordinary breaking up of the corru
- 67 Third, I come now to the third thing, namely, to show you what is to be inferred from Christ's making intercession for us.1. This is to be inferred from hence, that saints--for I will here say nothing of those of the elect uncalled--do ofttimes give
- 66 20 In the first edition of this treatise, this quotation is from Joshua 3:4, an error which has been continued through every edition to the present one.-ED.21 "A demur"; now called a demurrer, is when a defect or legal difficulty is discovered,
- 65 My brethren, is it not reasonable that we should stand up for him in this world? Yea, is it not reason that in all things we should study his exaltation here, since he in all things contrives our honour and glory in heaven? A child of G.o.d should study i
- 64 [THE USE AND APPLICATION.]SEVENTHLY, Having thus spoken to these objections, let us now come to make some use of the whole. And, Use First. I would exhort the children to consider the dignity that G.o.d hath put upon Jesus Christ their Saviour; for by how
- 63 And this he must do fairly, righteously, simply, pleading the voice of the self-same law for the justification of what he standeth for, which Satan pleads against it; for though it is by the new law that our salvation comes, yet by the old law is the new
- 62 1. Christ pleads the value and virtue of the price of his blood and sacrifice for us. And admit of this horrible supposition a little, for argument's sake, that though Christ pleads the worth of what, as Priest, he offereth, yet the soul for whom he
- 61 Again; as he is an Advocate for the children, so he is also, as before was hinted, for the strong and experienced; for no strength in this world secureth from the rage of h.e.l.l; nor can any experience, while we are here, fortify us against his a.s.sault
- 60 Suppose so many cattle in such a pound, and one goes by whose they are not, doth he concern himself? No; he beholds them, and goes his way. But suppose that at his return he should find his own cattle in that pound, would he now carry it toward them as he
- 59 (Joel 3:2. Isa 66:16. Eze 38:22. Jer 2.) For though in some places of Scripture Christ is said to plead for his with men, and that by terrible arguments, as by fire, and sword, and famine, and pestilence, yet this is not that which is intended by this tex
- 58 Fourth Object.-If Christ be my Advocate once, he will always be troubled with me.-Answ. He is an Advocate to the utmost SEVENTH.-USE AND APPLICATION Use First.-To consider the dignity G.o.d hath put upon Christ, by offices, places of trust, and t.i.tles o
- 57 Nor have I left the dejected souls without directions how to entertain this Advocate to plead their cause; yea, I have also shown that he will be with ease prevailed with, to stand up to plead for such, as one would think, the very heavens would blush to
- 56 15 Nothing more properly excited horror throughout Christendom, than the conduct of the Algerines in making slaves of their captives; because their victims had white skins, and were called Christians.Hundreds of thousands of pounds sterling were paid to r
- 55 But, brave soul, pray tell me what the things are that discourage thee, and that weaken thy strength in the way?Why, the amazing greatness of this my enterprise, that is one thing. I am now pursuing things of the highest, the greatest, the most enriching
- 54 O besotted wretch! But I tell thee, the more company, the more sorrow; the more fuel, the more fire. Hence the d.a.m.ned man that we read of in Luke desired that his brethren might be so warned and prevailed with as to be kept out of that place of torment
- 53 There is an art by which a man may make his neighbour look so ghastly, that he shall fright himself by looking on him, especially when he thinks of himself, that he is of the same show also. It is said concerning men at the downfall of Babylon, that they
- 52 I. For the law. G.o.d has given it for a rule of life, either as written in their natures, or as inserted in the Holy Scriptures; I say, for a rule of life to all the children of men. But what have men done, or how have they carried it to this law of thei
- 51 These cry alas! But all in vain; They stick fast in the mire; They would be rid of present pain, Yet set themselves on fire.Darkness is their perplexity, Yet do they hate the light; They always see their misery, Yet are themselves, all night.They are all
- 50 He that loseth his life for Christ, shall save it; but he that loseth himself for sin, and for the world, shall lose himself to perfection of loss; he has lost himself, and there is the full point.There are several things fall under this first head, upon
- 49 The body clothing for the soul.2. The body is called the clothing and the soul that which is clothed therewith. Now, everybody knows that 'the body is more than raiment,' even carnal sense will teach us this. But read that pregnant place: '
- 48 2. There is, also, belonging to the soul, the conscience, in which I may say, is placed the Seat of Judgment; for, as by the understanding things are let into the soul, so by the conscience the evil or good of such things are tried; especially when in the
- 47 2. Because I perceive that this so great a thing, and about which persons should be so much concerned, is neglected to amazement, and that by the most of men; yea, who is there of the many thousands that sit daily under the sound of the gospel that are co
- 46 16 Among all the wondrous sights that angels witness, one gives them peculiar joy--it is the poor penitent prodigal returning to G.o.d, Luke 15:10.--Ed.17 This was printed in the first edition, 'the biggest sin.'--Ed.18 How strongly does this di
- 45 (4.) Art thou followed with affliction, and dost thou hear G.o.d's angry voice in thy afflictions? Doth he send with the affliction an interpreter, to show thee thy vileness; and why, or wherefore, that hand of G.o.d is upon thee, and upon what thou
- 44 And by his wiles and stratagems he undoes a world of men; but there is a seed, and they shall serve him, and it shall be counted to the Lord for a generation. These shall see their sins, and that Christ is the way to happiness. These shall venture themsel