grace abounding to the chief of sinners-第26章

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and　have　nothing　to　live　　upon；　but　the　charity　of　good　people。

HALE。　　Hast　thou　four　children？　said　Judge　Hale；　thou　art　but　a　　young　woman　to　have　four　children。

WOM。　　My　lord；　said　she；　I　am　but　mother…in…law　to　them；　having　not　　been　married　to　him　yet　full　two　years。　　Indeed；　I　was　with　child　　when　my　husband　was　first　apprehended；　but　being　young；　and　　unaccustomed　to　such　things；　said　she；　I　being　smayed　at　the　news；　　fell　into　labour；　and　so　continued　for　eight　days；　and　then　was　　delivered；　but　my　child　died。

HALE。　　Whereat；　he　looking　very　soberly　on　the　matter；　said；　Alas；　　poor　woman！

TWIS。　　But　Judge　TWISDON　told　her；　that　she　made　poverty　her　cloak；　　and　said；　moreover；　that　he　understood　I　was　maintained　better　by　　running　up　and　down　a　preaching；　than　by　following　my　calling。

HALE。　　What　is　his　calling？　said　Judge　Hale。

ANSWER。　　Then　some　of　the　company　that　stood　by；　said；　A　tinker；　my　　lord。

WOM。　　Yes；　said　she；　and　because　he　is　a　tinker；　and　a　poor　man；　　therefore　he　is　despised；　and　cannot　have　justice。

HALE。　　Then　Judge　HALE　answered　very　mildly；　saying；　I　tell　thee；　　woman；　seeing　it　is　so；　that　they　have　taken　what　thy　husband　spake　　for　a　conviction；　thou　must　either　apply　thyself　to　the　King；　or　　sue　out　his　pardon；　or　get　a　writ　of　error。

CHEST。　　But　when　Justice　CHESTER　heard　him　give　her　this　counsel；　　and　especially　（as　she　supposed）　because　he　spoke　of　a　writ　of　　error；　he　chafed；　and　seemed　to　be　very　much　offended；　saying；　My　　lord；　he　will　preach　and　do　what　he　lists。

WOM。　　He　preacheth　nothing　but　the　Word　of　God；　said　she。

TWIS。　　He　preach　the　Word　of　God！　said　Twisdon；　and　withal；　she　　thought　he　would　have　struck　her；　he　runneth　up　and　down；　and　doth　　harm。

WOM。　　No；　my　lord；　said　she；　it　is　not　so；　God　hath　owned　him；　and　　done　much　good　by　him。

TWIS。　　God！　said　he；　his　doctrine　is　the　doctrine　of　the　devil。

WOM。　　My　lord；　said　she；　when　the　righteous　Judge　shall　appear；　it　　will　be　known　that　his　doctrine　is　not　the　doctrine　of　the　devil。

TWIS。　　My　lord；　said　he；　to　Judge　Hale；　do　not　mind　her；　but　send　　her　away。

HALE。　　Then　said　Judge　Hale；　I　am　sorry；　woman；　that　I　can　do　thee　　no　good；　thou　must　do　one　of　those　three　things　aforesaid；　namely；　　either　to　apply　thyself　to　the　King；　or　sue　out　his　pardon；　or　get　　a　writ　of　error；　but　a　writ　of　error　will　be　cheapest。

WOM。　　At　which　Chester　again　seemed　to　be　in　a　chafe；　and　put　off　　his　hat；　and　as　she　thought；　scratched　his　head　for　anger：　　but　　when　I　saw；　said　she；　that　there　was　no　prevailing　to　have　my　　husband　sent　for；　though　I　often　desired　them　that　they　would　send　　for　him；　that　he　might　speak　for　himself；　telling　them；　that　he　　could　give　them　better　satisfaction　than　I　could；　in　what　they　　demanded　of　him；　with　several　other　things；　which　now　I　forget；　　only　this　I　remember；　that　though　I　was　somewhat　timorous　at　my　　first　entrance　into　the　chamber；　yet　before　I　went　out；　I　could　not　　but　break　forth　into　tears；　not　so　much　because　they　were　so　hard…　hearted　against　me；　and　my　husband；　but　to　think　what　a　sad　account　　such　poor　creatures　will　have　to　give　at　the　coming　of　the　Lord；　　when　they　shall　there　answer　for　all　things　whatsoever　they　have　　done　in　the　body；　whether　it　be　good；　or　whether　it　be　bad。

So；　when　I　departed　from　them；　the　book　of　statutes　was　brought；　　but　what　they　said　of　it　I　know　nothing　at　all；　neither　did　I　hear　　any　more　from　them。


SOME　CARRIAGES　OF　THE　ADVERSARIES　OF　GOD'S　TRUTH　WITH　ME　AT　THE　　NEXT　ASSIZES；　WHICH　WAS　ON　THE　19TH　OF　THE　FIRST　MONTH；　1662。


I　SHALL　pass　by　what　befell　between　these　two　assizes；　how　I　had；　　by　my　jailor；　some　liberty　granted　me；　more　than　at　the　first；　and　　how　I　followed　my　wonted　course　of　preaching；　taking　all　occasions　　that　were　put　into　my　hand　to　visit　the　people　of　God；　exhorting　　them　to　be　steadfast　in　the　faith　of　Jesus　Christ；　and　to　take　heed　　that　they　touched　not　the　Common　Prayer；　etc。；　but　to　mind　the　Word　　of　God；　which　giveth　direction　to　Christians　in　every　point；　being　　able　to　make　the　man　of　God　perfect　in　all　things　through　faith　in　　Jesus　Christ；　and　thoroughly　to　furnish　him　unto　all　good　works。　　2　　Tim。　iii。　17。　　Also　how　I　having；　I　say；　somewhat　more　liberty；　did　　go　to　see　the　Christians　at　LONDON；　which　my　enemies　hearing　of；　　were　so　angry；　that　they　had　almost　cast　my　jailor　out　of　his　　place；　threatening　to　indict　him；　and　to　do　what　they　could　against　　him。　　They　charged　me　also；　that　I　went　thither　to　plot　and　raise　　division；　and　make　insurrection；　which；　God　knows；　was　a　slander；　　whereupon　my　liberty　was　more　straitened　than　it　was　before；　so　　that　I　must　not　now　look　out　of　the　door。　　Well；　when　the　next　　sessions　came；　which　was　about　the　10th　of　the　11th　month　（1661）；　I　　did　expect　to　have　been　very　roundly　dealt　withal；　but　they　passed　　me　by；　and　would　not　call　me；　so　that　I　rested　till　the　assizes；　　which　was　held　the　19th　of　the　first　month　（1662）　following；　and　　when　they　came；　because　I　had　a　desire　to　come　before　the　judge；　I　　desired　my　jailor　to　put　my　name　into　the　calendar　among　the　　felons；　and　made　friends　of　the　judge　and　high…sheriff；　who　　promised　that　I　should　be　called：　　so　that　I　thought　what　I　had　　done　might　have　been　effectual　for　the　obtaining　of　my　desire：　　but　　all　was　in　vain；　for　when　the　assizes　came；　though　my　name　was　in　　the　calendar；　and　also　though　both　the　judge　and　sheriff　had　　promised　that　I　should　appear　before　them；　yet　the　justices　and　the　　clerk　of　the　peace；　did　so　work　it　about；　that　I；　notwithstanding；　　was　deferred；　and　was　not　suffered　to　appear：　　and　although　I　say；　　I　do　not　know　of　all　their　carriages　towards　me；　yet　this　I　know；　　that　the　clerk　of　the　peace　（Mr　Cobb）　did　discover　himself　to　be　　one　of　my　greatest　opposers：　　for；　first　he　came　to　my　jailor　and　　told　him　that　I　must　not　go　down　before　the　judge；　and　therefore　　must　not　be　put　into　the　calendar；　to　whom　my　jailor　said；　that　my　　name　was　in　already。　　He　bid　him　put　it　out　again；　my　jailor　told　　him　that　he　could　not：　　for　he　had　given　the　judge　a　calendar　with　　my　name　in　it；　and　also　the　sheriff　another。　　At　which　he　was　very　　much　displeased；　and　desired　to　see　that　calendar　that　was　yet　in　　my　jailor's　hand；　who；　when　he　had　given　it　him；　he　looked　on　it；　　and　said　it　was　a　false　calendar；　he　also　took　the　calendar　and　　blotted　out　my　accusation；　as　my　jailor　had　written　it　（which　　accusation　I　cannot　tell　what　it　was；　because　it　was　so　blotted　　out）；　and　he　himself　put　in　words　to　this　purpose：　　That　John　　Bunyan　was　committed　to　prison；　being　lawfully　convicted　for　　upholding　of　unlawful　meetings　and　conventicles；　etc。　　But　yet　for　　all　this；　fearing　that　what　he　had　done；　unless　he　added　thereto；　　it　would　not　do；　he　first　ran　to　the　clerk　of　the　assizes；　then　to　　the　justices；　and　afterwards；　because　he　would　not　leave　any　means　　unattempted　to　hinder　me；　he　came　again　to　my　jailor；　and　told　him；　　that　if　I　did　go　down　before　the　judge；　and　was　released；　he　would　　make　him　pay　my　fees；　which　he　said　was　due　to　him；　and　further；　　told　him；　that　he　would　complain　of　him　at　the　next　quarter　　sessions　for　making　of　false　calendars；　though　my　jailor　himself；　　as　I　afterwards　learned；　had　put　in　my　accusation　worse　than　in　　itself　it　was　by　far。　　And　thus　was　I　hindered　and　prevented　at　　that　time　also　from　appearing　before　the　judge：　　and　left　in　　prison。

Farewell。

JOHN　BUNYAN。


A　CONTINUATION　OF　Mr　BUNYAN'S　LIFE；　BEGINNING　WHERE　HE　LEFT　OFF；　　AND　CONCLUDING　WITH　THE　TIME　AND　MANNER　OF　HIS　DEATH　AND　BURIAL：　　　TOGETHER　WITH　HIS　TRUE　CHARACTER；　ETC。


READER；　the　painful　and　industrious　author　of　this　book；　has　　already　given　you　a　faithful　and　very　moving　relation　of　the　　beginning　and　middle　of　the　days　of　his　pilgrimage　on　earth；　and　　since　there　yet　remains　somewhat　worthy　of　notice　and　regard；　which　　occurred　in　the　last　scene　of　his　life；　the　which；　for　want　of　　time；　or　fear；　some　over…censorious　people　should　impute　it　to　him　　as　an　earnest　coveting　of　praise　from　men；　he　has　not　left　behind　　him　in　writing。　　Wherefore；　as　a　true　friend；　and　long　acquaintance　　of　Mr　BUNYAN'S　that　his　good　end　may　be　known；　as　well　as　his　evil　　beginning；　I　have　taken　upon　me；　from　my　knowledge；　and　the　best　　account　given　by　other　of　his　friends；　to　piece　this　to　the　thread　　too　soon　broke　off；　and　so　lengthen　it　out　to　his　entering　upon　　eternity。

He　has　told　you　at　large；　of　his　birth　and　education；　the　evil　　habits　and　corruptions　of　his　youth；　the　temptations　he　struggled　　and　conflicted　so　frequently　with；　the　mercies；　comforts；　and　　deliverances　he　found；　how　he　came　to　take　upon　him　the　preaching　　of　the　Gospel；　the　slanders；　reproaches　and　imprisonments　that　　attended　him；　and　the　progress　he　notwithstanding　made　（by　the　　assistance　of　God's　grace）　no　doubt　to　the　saving　of　many　souls：　　　therefore　take　these　things；　as　he　himself　hath　methodically　laid　　them　down　in　the　words　of　verity；　and　so　I　pass　on　to　what　remains。

After　his　being　freed　from　his　twelve　years'　imprisonment　and　　upwards；　for　nonconformity；　wherein　he　had　time　to　furnish　the　　world　with　sundry　good　books；　etc。；　and　by　his　patience；　to　move　DR　　BARLOW；　the　then　Bishop　of　LINCOLN；　and　other　church…men；　to　pity　　his　hard　and　unreasonable　sufferings；　so　far　as　to　stand　very　much　　his　friends；　in　procuring　his　enlargement；　or　there　perhaps　he　had　　died；　by　the　noisomeness　and　ill　usage　of　the　place。　　Being　now；　I　　say；　again　at　liberty；　and　having　through　mercy　shaken　off　his　　bodily　fetters；　…　for　those　upon　his　soul　were　broken　before　by　the　　abounding　grace　that　filled　his　heart；　…　he　went　to　visit　those　　that　had　been　a　comfort　to　him　in　his　tribulation；　with　a　　Christian…like　acknowledgment　of　their　kindness　and　enlargement　of　　charity；　giving　encouragement　by　his　example；　if　it　happened　to　be　　their　hard　haps　to　fall　into　affliction　or　trouble；　then　to　suffer　　patiently　for　the　sake　of　a　good　conscience；　and　for　the　love　of　　God　in　Jesus　Christ　towards　their　souls；　and　by　many　cordial　　persuasions；　supported　some　whose　spirits　began　to　sink　low；　　through　the　fear　of　danger　that　threatened　their　worldly　　concernment；　so　that　the　people　found　a　wonderful　consolation　in　　his　discourse　and　admonitions。

As　often　as　opportunity　would　admit；　he　gathered　them　together　　（though　the　law　was　then　in　force　against　meetings）　in　convenient　　places；　and　fed　them　with　the　sincere　milk　of　the　Word；　that　they　　might　grow　up　in　grace　thereby。　　To　such　as　were　anywhere　taken　and　　imprisoned　upon　these　accounts；　he　made　it　another　part　of　his　　business　to　extend　his　charity；　and　gather　relief　for　such　of　them　　as　wanted。

He　took　great　care　to　visit　the　sick；　and　strengthen　them　against　　the　suggestions　of　the　tempter；　which　at　such　times　are　very　　prevalent；　so　that　they　had　cause　for　ever　to　bless　God；　Who　had　　put　it　into　his　heart；　at　such　a　time；　to　rescue　them　from　the　　power　of　the　roaring　lion；　who　sought　to　devour　them；　nor　did　he　　spare　any　pains　or　labour　in　travel；　though　to　remote　counties；　　where　he　knew　or　imagined　any　people　might　stand　in　need　of　his　　assistance；　insomuch　that　some；　by　these　visitations　that　he　made；　　which　was　two　or　three　every　year　（some；　though　in　a　jeering　manne