grace abounding to the chief of sinners-第23章

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an　to　this　purpose：　　That　　I　went　about　to　several　conventicles　in　the　county；　to　the　great　　disparagement　of　the　government　of　the　church　of　England；　etc。　　　When　he　had　seen　it；　he　said　that　there　might　be　something　more　　against　me　than　was　expressed　in　my　mittimus；　and　that　he　was　but　a　　young　man；　therefore　he　durst　not　do　it。　　This　my　jailor　told　me；　　and；　whereat　I　was　not　at　all　daunted　but　rather　glad；　and　saw　　evidently　that　the　Lord　had　heard　me；　for　before　I　went　down　to　the　　justice；　I　begged　of　God　that　if　I　might　do　more　good　by　being　at　　liberty　than　in　prison；　that　then　I　might　be　set　at　liberty；　but　if　　not；　His　will　be　done；　for　I　was　not　altogether　without　hopes　but　　that　my　imprisonment　might　be　an　awakening　to　the　saints　in　the　　country；　therefore　I　could　not　tell　well　which　to　choose；　only　I；　　in　that　manner；　did　commit　the　thing　to　God。　　And　verily；　at　my　　return；　I　did　meet　my　God　sweetly　in　the　prison　again；　comforting　　of　me　and　satisfying　of　me　that　it　was　His　will　and　mind　that　I　　should　be　there。

When　I　came　back　again　to　prison；　as　I　was　musing　at　the　slender　　answer　of　the　justice；　this　word　dropt　in　upon　my　heart　with　some　　life；　FOR　HE　KNEW　THAT　FOR　ENVY　THEY　HAD　DELIVERED　HIM。

Thus　have　I；　in　short；　declared　the　manner　and　occasion　of　my　being　　in　prison；　where　I　lie　waiting　the　good　will　of　God；　to　do　with　me　　as　He　pleaseth；　knowing　that　not　one　hair　of　my　head　can　fall　to　　the　ground　without　the　will　of　my　Father；　which　is　in　heaven。　　Let　　the　rage　and　malice　of　men　be　never　so　great；　they　can　do　no　more；　　nor　go　any　further；　than　God　permits　them；　but　when　they　have　done　　their　worst；　We　know　all　things　shall　work　together　for　good　to　　them　that　love　God。

Farewell。


HERE　IS　THE　SUM　OF　MY　EXAMINATION　BEFORE　JUSTICE　KEELIN；　JUSTICE　　CHESTER；　JUSTICE　BLUNDALE；　JUSTICE　BEECHER；　JUSTICE　SNAGG；　ETC。


AFTER　I　had　lain　in　prison　above　seven　weeks；　the　quarter…sessions　　were　to　be　kept　in　Bedford；　for　the　county　thereof；　unto　which　I　　was　to　be　brought；　and　when　my　jailor　had　set　me　before　those　　justices；　there　was　a　bill　of　indictment　preferred　against　me。　　The　　extent　thereof　was　as　followeth：　　That　John　Bunyan；　of　the　town　of　　Bedford；　labourer；　being　a　person　of　such　and　such　conditions；　he　　hath　（since　such　a　time）　devilishly　and　perniciously　abstained　from　　coming　to　church　to　hear　Divine　service；　and　is　a　common　upholder　　of　several　unlawful　meetings　and　conventicles；　to　the　great　　disturbance　and　distraction　of　the　good　subjects　of　this　kingdom；　　contrary　to　the　laws　of　our　sovereign　lord　the　King；　etc。

THE　CLERK。　　When　this　was　read；　the　clerk　of　the　sessions　said　unto　　me；　What　say　you　to　this？

BUN。　　I　said；　that　as　to　the　first　part　of　it；　I　was　a　common　　frequenter　of　the　Church　of　God。　　And　was　also；　by　grace；　a　member　　with　the　people；　over　whom　Christ　is　the　Head。

KEELIN。　　But；　saith　Justice　KEELIN　（who　was　the　judge　in　that　　court）；　do　you　come　to　church　（you　know　what　I　mean）；　to　the　parish　　church；　to　hear　Divine　service？

BUN。　　I　answered；　No；　I　did　not。

KEEL。　　He　asked　me；　Why？

BUN。　　I　said；　Because　I　did　not　find　it　commanded　in　the　Word　of　　God。

KEEL。　　He　said；　We　were　commanded　to　pray。

BUN。　　I　said；　But　not　by　the　Common　Prayer…Book。

KEEL。　　He　said；　How　then？

BUN。　　I　said；　With　the　Spirit。　　As　the　apostle　saith；　I　WILL　PRAY　　WITH　THE　SPIRIT；　AND　WITH　THE　UNDERSTANDING。　　1　Cor。　xiv。　15。

KEEL。　　He　said；　We　might　pray　with　the　Spirit；　and　with　the　　understanding；　and　with　the　Common　Prayer…Book　also。

BUN。　　I　said；　that　the　prayers　in　the　Common　Prayer…Book　were　such　　as　was　made　by　other　men；　and　not　by　the　motions　of　the　Holy　Ghost；　　within　our　hearts；　and　as　I　said；　the　apostle　saith；　he　will　pray　　with　the　Spirit；　and　with　the　understanding；　not　with　the　Spirit　　and　the　Common　Prayer…Book。

ANOTHER　JUSTICE。　　What　do　you　count　prayer？　　Do　you　think　it　is　to　　say　a　few　words　over　before　or　among　a　people？

BUN。　　I　said；　No；　not　so；　for　men　might　have　many　elegant；　or　　excellent　words；　and　yet　not　pray　at　all；　but　when　a　man　prayeth；　　he　doth；　through　a　sense　of　those　things　which　he　wants　（which　　sense　is　begotten　by　the　Spirit）；　pour　out　his　heart　before　God　　through　Christ；　though　his　words　be　not　so　many　and　so　excellent　as　　others　are。

JUSTICES。　　They　said；　That　was　true。

BUN。　　I　said；　This　might　be　done　without　the　Common　Prayer…Book。

ANOTHER。　　One　of　them　said　（I　think　it　was　Justice　BLUNDALE；　or　　Justice　SNAGG）；　How　should　we　know　that　you　do　not　write　out　your　　prayers　first；　and　then　read　them　afterwards　to　the　people？　　This　　he　spake　in　a　laughing　way。

BUN。　　I　said；　it　is　not　our　use；　to　take　a　pen　and　paper；　and　write　　a　few　words　thereon；　and　then　go　and　read　it　over　to　a　company　of　　people。

But　how　should　we　know　it；　said　he？

BUN。　　Sir；　it　is　none　of　our　custom；　said　I。

KEEL。　　But　said　Justice　KEELIN；　It　is　lawful　to　use　the　Common　　Prayer；　and　such　like　forms：　　for　Christ　taught　His　disciples　to　　pray；　as　John　also　taught　his　disciples。　　And　further；　said　he；　　Cannot　one　man　teach　another　to　pray？　　Faith　comes　by　hearing；　and　　one　man　may　convince　another　of　sin；　and　therefore　prayers　made　by　　men；　and　read　over；　are　good　to　teach；　and　help　men　to　pray。

While　he　was　speaking　these　words；　God　brought　that　word　into　my　　mind；　in　the　eighth　of　the　Romans；　at　the　26th　verse。　　I　say；　God　　brought　it；　for　I　thought　not　on　it　before：　　but　as　he　was　　speaking；　it　came　so　fresh　into　my　mind；　and　was　set　so　evidently　　before　me；　as　if　the　scripture　had　said；　Take　me；　take　me；　so　when　　he　had　done　speaking；

BUN。　　I　said；　Sir；　the　scripture　saith；　that　IT　IS　THE　SPIRIT　THAT　　HELPETH　OUR　INFIRMITIES；　for　we　know　not　what　we　should　pray　for　as　　we　ought：　　but　the　Spirit　itself　maketh　intercession　for　us；　with　　sighs　and　groanings　which　cannot　be　uttered。　　Mark；　said　I；　it　doth　　not　say　the　Common　Prayer…Book　teacheth　us　how　to　pray；　but　the　　Spirit。　　And　it　is　THE　SPIRIT　THAT　HELPETH　OUR　INFIRMITIES；　saith　　the　apostle；　he　doth　not　say　it　is　the　Common　Prayer…Book。

And　as　to　the　Lord's　prayer；　although　it　be　an　easy　thing　to　say；　　OUR　FATHER；　etc。；　with　the　mouth；　yet　there　is　very　few　that　can；　　in　the　Spirit；　say　the　two　first　words　in　that　prayer；　that　is；　　that　can　call　God　their　Father；　as　knowing　what　it　is　to　be　born　　again；　and　as　having　experience；　that　they　are　begotten　of　the　　Spirit　of　God：　　which　if　they　do　not；　all　is　but　babbling；　etc。

KEEL。　　Justice　KEELIN　said　that　that　was　a　truth。

BUN。　　And　I　say　further；　as　to　your　saying　that　one　man　may　　convince　another　of　sin；　and　that　faith　comes　by　hearing；　and　that　　one　man　may　tell　another　how　he　should　pray；　etc。；　I　say　men　may　　tell　each　other　of　their　sins；　but　it　is　the　Spirit　that　must　　convince　them。

And　though　it　be　said　that　FAITH　COMES　BY　HEARING：　　yet　it　is　the　　Spirit　that　worketh　faith　in　the　heart　through　hearing；　or　else　　THEY　ARE　NOT　PROFITED　BY　HEARING。　　Heb。　iv。　12。

And　that　though　one　man　may　tell　another　how　he　should　pray：　　yet；　　as　I　said　before；　he　cannot　pray；　nor　make　his　condition　known　to　　God；　except　the　Spirit　help。　　It　is　not　the　Common　Prayer…Book　that　　can　do　this。　　It　is　the　SPIRIT　THAT　SHOWETH　US　OUR　SINS；　and　the　　SPIRIT　THAT　SHOWETH　US　A　SAVIOUR；　Jn。　xvi。　16；　and　the　Spirit　that　　stirreth　up　in　our　hearts　desires　to　come　to　God；　for　such　things　　as　we　stand　in　need　of；　Matt。　xi。　27；　even　sighing　out　our　souls　　unto　Him　for　them　with　GROANS　WHICH　CANNOT　BE　UTTERED。　　With　other　　words　to　the　same　purpose。　　At　this　they　were　set。

KEEL。　　But　says　Justice　KEELIN；　What　have　you　against　the　Common　　Prayer…Book？

BUN。　　I　said；　Sir；　if　you　will　hear　me；　I　shall　lay　down　my　reasons　　against　it。

KEEL。　　He　said　I　should　have　liberty；　but　first；　said　he；　let　me　　give　you　one　caution；　take　heed　of　speaking　irreverently　of　the　　Common　Prayer…Book；　for　if　you　do　so；　you　will　bring　great　damage　　upon　yourself。

BUN。　　So　I　proceeded；　and　said；　My　first　reason　was；　because　it　was　　not　commanded　in　the　Word　of　God；　and　therefore　I　could　not　use　it。

ANOTHER。　　One　of　them　said；　Where　do　you　find　it　commanded　in　the　　Scripture；　that　you　should　go　to　ELSTOW；　or　BEDFORD；　and　yet　it　is　　lawful　to　go　to　either　of　them；　is　it　not？

BUN。　　I　said；　To　go　to　ELSTOW；　or　BEDFORD；　was　a　civil　thing；　and　　not　material；　though　not　commanded；　and　yet　God's　Word　allowed　me　　to　go　about　my　calling；　and　therefore　if　it　lay　there；　then　to　go　　thither；　etc。　　But　to　pray；　was　a　great　part　of　the　Divine　worship　　of　God；　and　therefore　it　ought　to　be　done　according　to　the　rule　of　　God's　Word。

　ANOTHER。　　One　of　them　said；　He　will　do　harm；　let　him　speak　no　　further。

KEEL。　　Justice　KEELIN　said；　No；　no；　never　fear　him；　we　are　better　　established　than　so；　he　can　do　no　harm；　we　know　the　Common　Prayer…　Book　hath　been　ever　since　the　apostles'　time；　and　it　is　lawful　for　　it　to　be　used　in　the　church。

BUN。　　I　said；　Show　me　the　place　in　the　epistles；　where　the　Common　　Prayer…Book　is　written；　or　one　text　of　Scripture；　that　commands　me　　to　read　it；　and　I　will　use　it。　　But　yet；　notwithstanding；　said　I；　　they　that　have　a　mind　to　use　it；　they　have　their　liberty；　that　is；　　I　would　not　keep　them　from　it；　but　for　our　parts；　we　can　pray　to　　God　without　it。　　Blessed　be　His　name！

With　that；　one　of　them　said；　Who　is　your　God？　　Beelzebub？　　　Moreover；　they　often　said；　that　I　was　possessed　with　the　spirit　of　　delusion；　and　of　the　devil。　　All　which　sayings　I　passed　over；　the　　Lord　forgive　them！　　And　further；　I　said；　Blessed　be　the　Lord　for　　it；　we　are　encouraged　to　meet　together；　and　to　pray；　and　exhort　one　　another；　for；　we　have　had　the　comfortable　presence　of　God　among　us。　　　For　ever　blessed　be　His　holy　name！

KEEL。　　Justice　KEELIN　called　this　pedler's　French；　saying；　that　I　　must　leave　off　my　canting。　　The　Lord　open　his　eyes！

BUN。　　I　said　that　we　ought　to　exhort　one　another　daily；　while　it　is　　called　to…day；　etc。

KEEL。　　Justice　KEELIN　said　that　I　ought　not　to　preach；　and　asked　me　　where　I　had　my　authority？　with　other　such　like　words。

BUN。　　I　said　that　I　would　prove　that　it　was　lawful　for　me；　and　such　　as　I　am；　to　preach　the　Word　of　God。

KEEL。　　He　said　unto　me；　By　what　Scripture？

BUN。　　I　said；　By　that　in　the　first　epistle　of　Peter；　chap。　iv。　10；　　11；　and　Acts　xviii。；　with　other　Scriptures；　which　he　would　not　　suffer　me　to　mention。　　But　said；　Hold；　not　so　many；　which　is　the　　first？

BUN。　　I　said　this：　　AS　EVERY　MAN　HATH　RECEIVED　THE　GIFT；　EVEN　SO　　LET　HIM　MINISTER　THE　SAME　UNTO　ANOTHER；　AS　GOOD　STEWARDS　OF　THE　　MANIFOLD　GRACE　OF　GOD。　　IF　ANY　MAN　SPEAK；　LET　HIM　SPEAK　AS　THE　　ORACLES　OF　GOD；　ETC。

KEEL。　　He　said；　Let　me　a　little　open　that　Scripture　to　you：　　AS　　EVERY　MAN　HATH　RECEIVED　THE　GIFT；　that　is；　said　he；　as　every　one　　hath　received　a　trade；　so　let　him　follow　it。　　If　any　man　have　　received　a　gift　of　tinkering；　as　thou　hast　done；　let　him　follow　his　　tinkering。　　And　so　other　men　their　trades。　　And　the　divine　his　　calling；　etc。

BUN。　　Nay；　sir；　said　I；　but　it　is　most　clear；　that　the　apostle　　speaks　here　of　preaching　the　Word；　if　you　do　but　compare　both　the　　verses　together；　the　next　verse　explains　this　gift　what　it　is；　　saying；　IF　ANY　MAN　SPEAK；　LET　HIM　SPEAK　AS　THE　ORACLES　OF　GOD。　　So　　that　it　is　plain；　that　the　Holy　Ghost　d