John Bunyan............................................................................................................................................1

CHILDREN, Grace be with you. AMEN. I being taken from you in presence, and so tied up that I cannot

perform that duty, that from God doth lie upon me to youward, for your farther edifying and building up in

faith and holiness, etc., yet that you may see my soul hath fatherly care and desire after your spiritual and

everlasting welfare, I now once again, as before, from the top of SHENIR and HERMON, so now from THE

LIONS' DENS, FROM THE MOUNTAINS OF THE LEOPARDS (Song iv. 8), do look yet after you all,

I thank God upon every remembrance of you; and rejoice, even while I stick between the teeth of the lion in

the wilderness, that the grace and mercy, and knowledge of Christ our Saviour, which God hath bestowed

upon you, with abundance of faith and love; your hungerings and thirstings after farther acquaintance with

the Father, in the Son; your tenderness of heart, your trembling at sin, your sober and holy deportment also,

before both God and men, is a great refreshment to me; FOR YE ARE OUR GLORY AND JOY. 1 Thess. ii.

I have sent you here enclosed, a drop of that honey that I have taken out of the carcase of a lion. Judg. xiv.

58. I have eaten thereof myself, and am much refreshed thereby. (Temptations, when we meet them at first,

are as the lion that roared upon SAMSON; but if we overcome them, the next time we see them, we shall find

a nest of honey within them.) The PHILISTINES understand me not. It is something of a relation of the work

of God upon my soul, even from the very first, till now, wherein you may perceive my castings down, and

risings up: for He woundeth, and His hands make whole. It is written in the Scripture, Isa. xxxviii. 19, THE

FATHER TO THE CHILDREN SHALL MAKE KNOWN THY TRUTH. Yea, it was for this reason I lay so

long at Sinai, Lev. iv. 10, 11, to see the fire, and the cloud, and the darkness, THAT I MIGHT FEAR THE

Moses, Numb. xxxiii. 1, 2, writ of the journeys of the children of ISRAEL, from EGYPT to the land of

CANAAN; and commanded also that they did remember their forty years' travel in the wilderness. THOU

viii. 2. Wherefore this I have endeavoured to do; and not only so, but to publish it also; that, if God will,

others may be put in remembrance of what He hath done for their souls, by reading His work upon me.

It is profitable for Christians to be often calling to mind the very beginnings of grace with their souls. IT IS A

CHILDREN OF ISRAEL IN THEIR GENERATIONS. Exod. xii. 42. O MY GOD (saith DAVID), Ps. xlii.

LAND OF JORDAN, AND OF THE HERMONITES, FROM THE HILL MIZAR. He remembered also the

lion and the bear, when he went to fight with the giant of GATH. 1 Sam. xvii. 36, 37.

It was PAUL'S accustomed manner, Acts xxii., and that, when tried for his life, Acts xxiv., even to open

before his judges the manner of his conversion: he would think of that day, and that hour, in which he first

did meet with grace; for he found it supported him. When God had brought the children of Israel out of the

Red Sea, far into the wilderness, yet they must turn quite about thither again, to remember the drowning of

their enemies there, Numb. xiv. 25, for though they sang his praise before, yet they soon forgat his works.

In this discourse of mine, you may see much; much I say, of the grace of God towards me: I thank God, I can

count it much; for it was above my sins and Satan's temptations too. I can remember my fears and doubts, and

sad months, with comfort; they are as the head of GOLIAH in my hand: there was nothing to DAVID like

GOLIAH'S sword, even that sword that should have been sheathed in his bowels; for the very sight and

remembrance of that did preach forth God's deliverance to him. Oh! the remembrance of my great sins, of my

great temptations, and of my great fear of perishing for ever! They bring afresh into my mind, the

remembrance of my great help, my great supports from heaven, and the great grace that God extended to such

My dear children, call to mind the former days, and years of ancient times: remember also your songs in the

night, and commune with your own Hearts, Ps. lxxiii. 512. Yea, look diligently, and leave no corner therein

unsearched for that treasure hid, even the treasure of your first and second experience of the grace of God

towards you. Remember, I say, the word that first laid hold upon you: remember your terrors of conscience,

and fear of death and hell: remember also your tears and prayers to God; yea, how you sighed under every

hedge for mercy. Have you never a hill MIZAR to remember? Have you forgot the close, the milkhouse, the

stable, the barn, and the like, where God did visit your souls? Remember also the word, the word, I say, upon

which the Lord hath caused you to hope: if you have sinned against light, if you are tempted to blaspheme, if

you are drowned in despair, if you think God fights against you, or if heaven is hid from your eyes; remember

I could have enlarged much in this my discourse, of my temptations and troubles for sin; as also of the

merciful kindness and working of God with my soul: I could also have stepped into a style much higher than

this, in which I have here discoursed, and could have adorned all things more than here I have seemed to do,

but I dare not: God did not play in tempting of me; neither did I play, when I sunk as into the bottomless pit,

when the PANGS OF HELL CAUGHT HOLD UPON ME; wherefore I may not play in relating of them, but

be plain and simple, and lay down the thing as it was; he that liketh it, let him receive it, and he that doth not,

IN this my relation of the merciful working of God upon my soul, it will not be amiss, if in the first place, I

do in a few words give you a hint of my pedigree, and manner of bringing up; that thereby the goodness and

bounty of God towards me, may be the more advanced and magnified before the sons of men.

2. For my descent then, it was, as is well known by many, of a low and inconsiderable generation; my father's

house being of that rank that is meanest, and most despised of all the families in the land. Wherefore, I have

not here, as others, to boast of noble blood, or of any highborn state, according to the flesh; though, all

things considered, I magnify the heavenly Majesty, for that by this door He brought me into the world, to

3. But yet, notwithstanding the meanness and inconsiderableness of my parents, it pleased God to put it into

their hearts, to put me to school, to learn both to read and write; the which I also attained, according to the

rate of other poor men's children: though, to my shame, I confess, I did soon lose that I had learned, even

almost utterly, and that long before the Lord did work His gracious work of conversion upon my soul.

4. As for my own natural life, for the time that I was without God in the world, it was, indeed, ACCORDING

OF DISOBEDIENCE. Eph. ii. 2, 3. It was my delight to be 'taken captive by the devil AT HIS WILL,' 2 Tim.

ii. 26; being filled with all unrighteousness; the which did also so strongly work, and put forth itself, both in

my heart and life, and that from a child, that I had but few equals (especially considering my years, which

were tender, being but few) both for cursing, swearing, lying, and blaspheming the holy name of God.

5. Yea, so settled and rooted was I in these things, that they became as a second nature to me; the which, as I

have also with soberness considered since, did so offend the Lord, that even in my childhood he did scare and

affrighten me with fearful dreams, and did terrify me with fearful visions. For often, after I have spent this

and the other day in sin, I have in my bed been greatly afflicted, while asleep, with the apprehensions of

devils and wicked spirits, who still, as I then thought, laboured to draw me away with them, of which I could

6. Also I should, at these years, be greatly afflicted and troubled with the thoughts of the fearful torments of

hellfire; still fearing, that it would be my lot to be found at last among those devils and hellish fiends, who

are there bound down with the chains and bonds of darkness, unto the judgment of the great day.

7. These things, I say, when I was but a child, but nine or ten years old, did so distress my soul, that then in

the midst of my many sports and childish vanities, amidst my vain companions, I was often much cast down,

and afflicted in my mind therewith, yet could I not let go my sins: yea, I was also then so overcome with

despair of life and heaven, that I should often wish, either that there had been no hell, or that I had been a

devil; supposing they were only tormentors; that if it must needs be, that I went thither, I might be rather a

8. A while after those terrible dreams did leave me, which also I soon forgot; for my pleasures did quickly cut

off the remembrance of them, as if they had never been: wherefore with more greediness, according to the

strength of nature, I did still let loose the reins of my lust, and delighted in all transgressions against the law

of God: so that until I came to the state of marriage, I was the very ringleader of all the youth that kept me

9. Yea, such prevalency had the lusts and fruits of the flesh in this poor soul of mine, that had not a miracle of

precious grace prevented, I had not only perished by the stroke of eternal justice, but had also laid myself

open, even to the stroke of those laws which bring some to disgrace and open shame before the face of the

10. In these days the thoughts of religion were very grievous to me; I could neither endure it myself, nor that

any other should; so that when I have seen some read in those books that concerned Christian piety, it would

be as it were a prison to me. THEN I SAID UNTO GOD, DEPART FROM ME, FOR I DESIRE NOT THE

KNOWLEDGE OF THY WAYS. Job xxi. 14, 15. I was now void of all good consideration, heaven and hell

were both out of sight and mind; and as for saving and damning, they were least in my thoughts. O LORD,

11. But this I well remember, that though I could myself sin with the greatest delight and ease, and also take

pleasure in the vileness of my companions; yet, even then, if I had at any time seen wicked things, by those

who professed goodness, it would make my spirit tremble. As once above all the rest, when I was in the

height of vanity, yet hearing one to swear, that was reckoned for a religious man, it had so great a stroke upon

12. But God did not utterly leave me, but followed me still, not now with convictions, but judgments; yet

such as were mixed with mercy. For once I fell into a creek of the sea, and hardly escaped drowning. Another

time I fell out of a boat into BEDFORD river, but, mercy yet preserved me alive: besides, another time, being

in a field, with one of my companions, it chanced that an adder passed over the highway, so I having a stick

in my hand, struck her over the back; and having stunned her, I forced open her mouth with my stick, and

plucked her sting out with my fingers; by which act had not God been merciful unto me, I might by my

13. This also I have taken notice of, with thanksgiving: When I was a soldier, I with others, were drawn out to

go to such a place to besiege it; but when I was just ready to go, one of the company desired to go in my

room: to which, when I had consented, he took my place; and coming to the siege, as he stood sentinel, he

14. Here, as I said, were judgments and mercy, but neither of them did awaken my soul to righteousness;

wherefore I sinned still, and grew more and more rebellious against God, and careless of my own salvation.

15. Presently after this, I changed my condition into a married state, and my mercy was, to light upon a wife

whose father was counted godly: This woman and I, though we came together as poor as poor might be (not

having so much household stuff as a dish or a spoon betwixt us both), yet this she had for her part: THE

PLAIN MAN'S PATHWAY TO HEAVEN and THE PRACTICE OF PIETY; which her father had left her

when he died. In these two books I would sometimes read with her, wherein I also found some things that

were somewhat pleasing to me (but all this while I met with no conviction). She also would be often telling

of me what a godly man her father was, and how he would reprove and correct vice, both in his house, and

among his neighbours; what a strict and holy life he lived in his days, both in word and deed.

16. Wherefore these books, with this relation, though they did not reach my heart, to awaken it about my sad

and sinful state, yet they did beget within me some desires to religion: so that because I knew no better, I fell

in very eagerly with the religion of the times; to wit, to go to church twice a day, and that too with the

foremost; and there should very devoutly, both say and sing, as others did, yet retaining my wicked life; but

withal, I was so overrun with the spirit of superstition, that I adored, and that with great devotion, even all

things (both the highplace, priest, clerk, vestment, service, and what else) belonging to the church; counting

all things holy that were therein contained, and especially, the priest and clerk most happy, and without

doubt, greatly blessed, because they were the servants, as I then thought, of God, and were principal in the

17. This conceit grew so strong in a little time upon my spirit, that had I but seen a priest (though never so

sordid and debauched in his life), I should find my spirit fall under him, reverence him, and knit unto him;

yea, I thought, for the love I did bear unto them (supposing them the ministers of God), I could have laid

down at their feet, and have been trampled upon by them; their name, their garb, and work did so intoxicate

18. After I had been thus for some considerable time, another thought came in my mind; and that was,

whether we were of the ISRAELITES or no? For finding in the scripture that they were once the peculiar

people of God, thought I, if I were one of this race, my soul must needs be happy. Now again, I found within

me a great longing to be resolved about this question, but could not tell how I should: at last I asked my

father of it; who told me, NO, WE WERE NOT. Wherefore then I fell in my spirit, as to the hopes of that,

19. But all this while, I was not sensible of the danger and evil of sin; I was kept from considering that sin

would damn me, what religion soever I followed, unless I was found in Christ: nay, I never thought of Him,

20. But one day (amongst all the sermons our parson made) his subject was, to treat of the Sabbath day, and

of the evil of breaking that, either with labour, sports or otherwise. (Now, I was, notwithstanding my religion,

one that took much delight in all manner of vice, and especially that was the day that I did solace myself

therewith): wherefore I fell in my conscience under his sermon, thinking and believing that he made that

sermon on purpose to show me my evil doing. And at that time I felt what guilt was, though never before,

that I can remember; but then I was, for the present, greatly loaden therewith, and so went home when the

21. This, for that instant did benumb the sinews of my best delights, and did imbitter my former pleasures to

me; but hold, it lasted not, for before I had well dined, the trouble began to go off my mind, and my heart

returned to its old course: but oh! how glad was I, that this trouble was gone from me, and that the fire was

put out, that I might sin again without control! Wherefore, when I had satisfied nature with my food, I shook

the sermon out of my mind, and to my old custom of sports and gaming, I returned with great delight.

22. But the same day, as I was in the midst of a game of Cat, and having struck it one blow from the hole, just

as I was about to strike it the second time, a voice did suddenly dart from heaven into my soul, which said,

this I was put to an exceeding maze; wherefore leaving my cat upon the ground, I looked up to heaven, and

was, as if I had, with the eyes of my understanding, seen the Lord Jesus looking down upon me, as being very

hotly displeased with me, and as if He did severely threaten me with some grievous punishment for these and

23. I had no sooner thus conceived in my mind, but, suddenly, this conclusion was fastened on my spirit (for

the former hint did set my sins again before my face), THAT I HAD BEEN A GREAT AND GRIEVOUS

WOULD NOT FORGIVE ME, NOR PARDON MY TRANSGRESSIONS. Then I fell to musing on this

also; and while I was thinking of it, and fearing lest it should be so; I felt my heart sink in despair, concluding

it was too late; and therefore I resolved in my mind I would go on in sin: for, thought I, if the case be thus,

my state is surely miserable; miserable if I leave my sins, and but miserable if I follow them; I can but be

damned, and if I must be so, I had as good be damned for many sins, as be damned for few.

24. Thus I stood in the midst of my play, before all that then were present: but yet I told them nothing: but I

say; having made this conclusion, I returned desperately to my sport again; and I well remember, that

presently this kind of despair did so possess my soul, that I was persuaded I could never attain to other

comfort than what I should get in sin; for heaven was gone already, so that on that I must not think;

wherefore I found within me great desire to take my fill of sin, still studying what sin was yet to be

committed, that I might taste the sweetness of it; and I made as much haste as I could to fill my belly with its

delicates, lest I should die before I had my desire; for that I feared greatly. In these things, I protest before

God, I lye not, neither do I feign this form of speech; these were really, strongly, and with all my heart, my

25. And I am very confident, that this temptation of the devil is more usual among poor creatures, than many

are aware of, even to overrun the spirits with a scurvy and seared frame of heart, and benumbing of

conscience, which frame he stilly and slily supplieth with such despair, that, though not much guilt attendeth

souls, yet they continually have a secret conclusion within them, that there is no hope for them; FOR THEY

26. Now therefore I went on in sin with great greediness of mind, still grudging that I could not be so

satisfied with it, as I would. This did continue with me about a month, or more; but one day, as I was standing

at a neighbour's shop window, and there cursing and swearing, and playing the madman, after my wonted

manner, there sate within, the woman of the house, and heard me; who, though she also was a very loose and

ungodly wretch, yet protested that I swore and cursed at that most fearful rate, that she was made to tremble

to hear me; and told me further, THAT I WAS THE UNGODLIEST FELLOW FOR SWEARING, THAT

SHE EVER HEARD IN ALL HER LIFE; AND THAT I, BY THUS DOING, WAS ABLE TO SPOIL ALL

27. At this reproof I was silenced, and put to secret shame; and that too, as I thought, before the God of

heaven; wherefore, while I stood there, and hanging down my head, I wished with all my heart that I might be

a little child again, that my father might learn me to speak without this wicked way of swearing; for, thought

I, I am so accustomed to it, that it is in vain for me to think of a reformation; for I thought it could never be.

28. But how it came to pass, I know not; I did from this time forward, so leave my swearing, that it was a

great wonder to myself to observe it; and whereas before I knew not how to speak unless I put an oath before,

and another behind, to make my words have authority; now I could, without it, speak better, and with more

pleasantness than ever I could before. All this while I knew not Jesus Christ, neither did I leave my sports and

29. But quickly after this, I fell into company with one poor man that made profession of religion; who, as I

then thought, did talk pleasantly of the scriptures, and of the matters of religion; wherefore falling into some

love and liking to what he said, I betook me to my Bible, and began to take great pleasure in reading, but

especially with the historical part thereof; for as for Paul's Epistles, and such like scriptures, I could not away

with them, being as yet ignorant, either of the corruptions of my nature, or of the want and worth of Jesus

30. Wherefore I fell to some outward reformation both in my words and life, and did set the commandments

before me for my way to heaven; which commandments I also did strive to keep, and, as I thought, did keep

them pretty well sometimes, and then I should have comfort; yet now and then should break one, and so

afflict my conscience; but then I should repent, and say, I was sorry for it, and promise God to do better next

time, and there get help again; for then I thought I pleased God as well as any man in ENGLAND.

31. Thus I continued about a year; all which time our neighbours did take me to be a very godly man, a new

and religious man, and did marvel much to see such a great and famous alteration in my life and manners;

and indeed so it was, though yet I knew not Christ, nor grace, nor faith, nor hope; for, as I have well seen

32. But, I say, my neighbours were amazed at this my great conversion, from prodigious profaneness, to

something like a moral life; and truly, so they well might; for this my conversion was as great, as for Tom of

Bethlehem to become a sober man. Now therefore they began to praise, to commend, and to speak well of

me, both to my face, and behind my back. Now I was, as they said, become godly; now I was become a right

honest man. But oh! when I understood these were their words and opinions of me, it pleased me mighty

well. For, though as yet I was nothing but a poor painted hypocrite, yet, I loved to be talked of as one that was

truly godly. I was proud of my godliness, and indeed, I did all I did, either to be seen of, or to be well spoken

33. Now you must know, that, before this, I had taken much delight in ringing, but my CONSCIENCE

beginning to be tender, I thought such PRACTICE was but vain, and therefore forced myself to leave it; yet

my mind hankered; wherefore I would go to the steeple house, and look on, though I durst not ring: but I

thought this did not become religion neither; yet I forced myself, and would look on still, but quickly after, I

began to think, HOW IF ONE OF THE BELLS SHOULD FALL? Then I chose to stand under a main beam,

that lay overthwart the steeple, from side to side, thinking here I might stand sure; but then I should think

again, should the bell fall with a swing, it might first hit the wall, and then, rebounding upon me, might kill

me for all this beam; this made me stand in the steepledoor; and now, thought I, I am safe enough; for if the

bell should now fall, I can slip out behind these thick walls, and so be preserved notwithstanding.

34. So after this I would yet go to see them ring, but would not go any farther than the steepledoor; but then

it came into my head, how if the steeple itself should fall? And this thought (it may for aught I know) when I

stood and looked on, did continually so shake my mind, that I durst not stand at the steepledoor any longer,

35. Another thing was, my dancing; I was a full year before I could quite leave that; but all this while, when I

thought I kept this or that commandment, or did, by word or deed, anything that I thought was good, I had

great peace in my conscience, and should think with myself, God cannot choose but be now pleased with me;

yea, to relate it in mine own way, I thought no man in ENGLAND could please God better than I.

36. But poor wretch as I was! I was all this while ignorant of Jesus Christ; and going about to establish my

own righteousness; and had perished therein, had not God in mercy showed me more of my state by nature.

37. But upon a day, the good providence of God called me to BEDFORD, to work on my calling; and in one

of the streets of that town, I came where there were three or four poor women sitting at a door, in the sun,

talking about the things of God; and being now willing to hear them discourse, I drew near to hear what they

said, for I was now a brisk talker also myself, in the matters of religion; but I may say, I HEARD BUT

UNDERSTOOD NOT; for they were far above, out of my reach. Their talk was about a new birth, the work

of God on their hearts, also how they were convinced of their miserable state by nature; they talked how God

had visited their souls with His love in the Lord Jesus, and with what words and promises they had been

refreshed, comforted, and supported, against the temptations of the devil: moreover, they reasoned of the

suggestions and temptations of Satan in particular; and told to each other, by which they had been afflicted

and how they were borne up under his assaults. They also discoursed of their own wretchedness of heart, and

of their unbelief; and did contemn, slight and abhor their own righteousness, as filthy, and insufficient to do

38. And, methought, they spake as if joy did make them speak; they spake with such pleasantness of scripture

language, and with such appearance of grace in all they said, that they were to me, as if they had found a new

world; as if they were PEOPLE THAT DWELT ALONE, AND WERE NOT TO BE RECKONED AMONG

39. At this I felt my own heart began to shake, and mistrust my condition to be naught; for I saw that in all

my thoughts about religion and salvation, the newbirth did never enter into my mind; neither knew I the

comfort of the word and promise, nor the deceitfulness and treachery of my own wicked heart. As for secret

thoughts, I took no notice of them; neither did I understand what Satan's temptations were, nor how they were

40. Thus, therefore, when I had heard and considered what they said, I left them, and went about my

employment again, but their talk and discourse went with me; also my heart would tarry with them, for I was

greatly affected with their words, both because by them I was convinced that I wanted the true tokens of a

truly godly man, and also because by them I was convinced of the happy and blessed condition of him that

41. Therefore I should often make it my business to be going again and again into the company of these poor

people; for I could not stay away; and the more I went amongst them, the more I did question my condition;

and as I still do remember, presently I found two things within me, at which I did sometimes marvel

(especially considering what a blind, ignorant, sordid and ungodly wretch but just before I was). The one was

a very great softness and tenderness of heart, which caused me to fall under the conviction of what by

scripture they asserted, and the other was a great bending in my mind, to a continual meditating on it, and on

42. By these things my mind was now so turned, that it lay like an horseleech at the vein, still crying out,

GIVE, GIVE, Prov. xxx. 15; yea, it was so fixed on eternity, and on the things about the kingdom of heaven

(that is, so far as I knew, though as yet, God knows, I knew but little), that neither pleasures, nor profits, nor

persuasions, nor threats, could loose it, or make it let go its hold; and though I may speak it with shame, yet it

is in very deed, a certain truth, it would then have been as difficult for me to have taken my mind from

heaven to earth, as I have found it often since, to get again from earth to heaven.

43. One thing I may not omit: There was a young man in our town, to whom my heart before was knit, more

than to any other, but he being a most wicked creature for cursing, and swearing, and whoreing, I now shook

him off, and forsook his company; but about a quarter of a year after I had left him, I met him in a certain

lane, and asked him how he did: he, after his old swearing and mad way, answered, he was well. But, Harry,

44. About this time I met with some Ranters' books, that were put forth by some of our countrymen, which

books were also highly in esteem by several old professors; some of these I read, but was not able to make

any judgment about them; wherefore as I read in them, and thought upon them (seeing myself unable to

judge), I would betake myself to hearty prayer in this manner. O LORD, I AM A FOOL, AND NOT ABLE

DESPISE IT; IF IT BE OF THE DEVIL, LET ME NOT EMBRACE IT. LORD, I LAY MY SOUL IN THIS

one religious intimate companion all this while, and that was the poor man I spoke of before; but about this

time, he also turned a most devilish Ranter, and gave himself up to all manner of filthiness, especially

uncleanness: he would also deny that there was a God, angel, or spirit; and would laugh at all exhortations to

sobriety; when I laboured to rebuke his wickedness he would laugh the more, and pretend that he had gone

through all religions, and could never light on the right till now. He told me also, that in a little time I should

see all professors turn to the ways of the Ranters. Wherefore, abominating those cursed principles, I left his

company forthwith, and became to him as great a stranger, as I had been before a familiar.

45. Neither was this man only a temptation to me, but my calling lying in the country, I happened to light into

several people's company, who though strict in religion formerly, yet were also swept away by these Ranters.

These would also talk with me of their ways, and condemn me as legal and dark; pretending that they only

had attained to perfection, that could do what they would and not sin. Oh! these temptations were suitable to

my flesh, I being but a young man and my nature in its prime; but God, who had, as I hoped, designed me for

better things, kept me in the fear of His name, and did not suffer me to accept such cursed principles. And

blessed be God, Who put it into my heart to cry to Him to be kept and directed, still distrusting my own

wisdom; for I have since seen even the effects of that prayer, in His preserving me, not only from Ranting

errors, but from those also that have sprung up since. The Bible was precious to me in those days.

46. And now methought, I began to look into the Bible with new eyes, and read as I never did before, and

especially the epistles of the apostle St Paul were sweet and pleasant to me; and indeed I was then never out

of the Bible, either by reading or meditation; still crying out to God, that I might know the truth, and way to

47. And as I went on and read, I lighted upon that passage, TO ONE IS GIVEN, BY THE SPIRIT, THE

ANOTHER FAITH, etc. 1 Cor. xii. And though, as I have since seen, that by this scripture the Holy Ghost

intends, in special, things extraordinary, yet on me it did then fasten with conviction, that I did want things

ordinary, even that understanding and wisdom that other Christians had. On this word I mused, and could not

tell what to do, especially this word 'Faith' put me to it, for I could not help it, but sometimes must question,

whether I had any faith, or no; but I was loath to conclude, I had no faith; for if I do so, thought I, then I shall

48. No, said I, with myself, though I am convinced that I am an ignorant sot, and that I want those blessed

gifts of knowledge and understanding that other people have; yet at a venture I will conclude, I am not

altogether faithless, though I know not what faith is; for it was shewn me, and that too (as I have seen since)

by Satan, that those who conclude themselves in a faithless state, have neither rest nor quiet in their souls;

49. Wherefore by this suggestion I was, for a while, made afraid to see my want of faith; but God would not

suffer me thus to undo and destroy my soul, but did continually, against this my sad and blind conclusion,

create still within me such suppositions, insomuch that I could not rest content, until I did now come to some

certain knowledge, whether I had faith or no, this always running in my mind, BUT HOW IF YOU WANT

FAITH INDEED? BUT HOW CAN YOU TELL YOU HAVE FAITH? And besides, I saw for certain, if I

50. So that though I endeavoured at the first to look over the business of Faith, yet in a little time, I better

considering the matter, was willing to put myself upon the trial whether I had faith or no. But alas, poor

wretch! so ignorant and brutish was I, that I knew not to this day no more how to do it, than I know how to

begin and accomplish that rare and curious piece of art, which I never yet saw or considered.

51. Wherefore while I was thus considering, and being put to my plunge about it (for you must know, that as

yet I had in this matter broken my mind to no man, only did hear and consider), the tempter came in with this

WORK SOME MIRACLE; urging those scriptures that seem to look that way, for the enforcing and

strengthening his temptation. Nay, one day, as I was between ELSTOW and BEDFORD, the temptation was

hot upon me, to try if I had faith, by doing some miracle; which miracle at this time was this, I must say to

the PUDDLES that were in the horsepads, BE DRY; and to the DRY PLACES, BE YOU PUDDLES: and

truly one time I was going to say so indeed; but just as I was about to speak, this thought came into my mind;

when I had concluded to pray, this came hot upon me; That if I prayed, and came again and tried to do it, and

yet did nothing notwithstanding, then to be sure I had no faith, but was a castaway, and lost; nay, thought I,

52. So I continued at a great loss; for I thought, if they only had faith, which could do so wonderful things,

then I concluded, that for the present I neither had it, nor yet for the time to come, were ever like to have it.

Thus I was tossed betwixt the devil and my own ignorance, and so perplexed, especially at some times, that I

53. About this time, the state and happiness of these poor people at Bedford was thus, IN A KIND OF A

VISION, presented to me, I saw as if they were on the sunny side of some high mountain, there refreshing

themselves with the pleasant beams of the sun, while I was shivering and shrinking in the cold, afflicted with

frost, snow and dark clouds: methought also, betwixt me and them, I saw a wall that did compass about this

mountain, now through this wall my soul did greatly desire to pass; concluding, that if I could, I would even

go into the very midst of them, and there also comfort myself with the heat of their sun.

54. About this wall I bethought myself, to go again and again, still prying as I went, to see if I could find

some way or passage, by which I might enter therein: but none could I find for some time: at the last, I saw,

as it were, a narrow gap, like a little doorway in the wall, through which I attempted to pass: Now the

passage being very strait and narrow, I made many offers to get in, but all in vain, even until I was wellnigh

quite beat out, by striving to get in; at last, with great striving, methought I at first did get in my head, and

after that, by a sideling striving, my shoulders, and my whole body; then I was exceeding glad, went and sat

down in the midst of them, and so was comforted with the light and heat of their sun.

55. Now this mountain, and wall, etc., was thus made out to me: The mountain signified the church of the

living God: the sun that shone thereon, the comfortable shining of His merciful face on them that were

therein; the wall I thought was the word, that did make separation between the Christians and the world; and

the gap which was in the wall, I thought, was Jesus Christ, Who is the way to God the Father. John xiv. 6;

Matt. vii. 14. But forasmuch as the passage was wonderful narrow, even so narrow that I could not, but with

great difficulty, enter in thereat, it showed me, that none could enter into life, but those that were in

downright earnest, and unless also they left that wicked world behind them; for here was only room for body

56. This resemblance abode upon my spirit many days; all which time I saw myself in a forlorn and sad

condition, but yet was provoked to a vehement hunger and desire to be one of that number that did sit in the

sunshine: Now also I should pray wherever I was: whether at home or abroad; in house or field; and would

also often, with lifting up of heart, sing that of the fiftyfirst Psalm, O LORD, CONSIDER MY DISTRESS;

57. Neither as yet could I attain to any comfortable persuasion that I had faith in Christ; but instead of having

satisfaction here, I began to find my soul to be assaulted with fresh doubts about my future happiness;

especially with such as these, WHETHER I WAS ELECTED? BUT HOW, IF THE DAY OF GRACE

58. By these two temptations I was very much afflicted and disquieted; sometimes by one, and sometimes by

the other of them. And first, to speak of that about my questioning my election, I found at this time, that

though I was in a flame to find the way to heaven and glory, and though nothing could beat me off from this,

yet this question did so offend and discourage me, that I was, especially sometimes, as if the very strength of

my body also had been taken away by the force and power thereof. This scripture did also seem to me to

trample upon all my desires; IT IS NOT OF HIM THAT WILLETH, NOR OF HIM THAT RUNNETH;

59. With this scripture I could not tell what to do: for I evidently saw, unless that the great God, of His

infinite grace and bounty, had voluntarily chosen me to be a vessel of mercy, though I should desire, and

long, and labour until my heart did break, no good could come of it. Therefore this would stick with me,

60. O Lord, thought I, what if I should not indeed? It may be you are not, said the Tempter; it may be so

indeed, thought I. Why then, said Satan, you had as good leave off, and strive no farther; for if indeed, you

should not be elected and chosen of God, there is no talk of your being saved; FOR IT IS NOT OF HIM

61. By these things I was driven to my wits' end, not knowing what to say, or how to answer these

temptations: (indeed, I little thought that Satan had thus assaulted me, but that rather it was my own prudence

thus to start the question): for that the elect only attained eternal life; that, I without scruple did heartily close

62. Thus therefore, for several days, I was greatly assaulted and perplexed, and was often, when I have been

walking, ready to sink where I went, with faintness in my mind; but one day, after I had been so many weeks

oppressed and cast down therewith as I was now quite giving up the ghost of all my hopes of ever attaining

life, that sentence fell with weight upon my spirit, LOOK AT THE GENERATIONS OF OLD, AND SEE;

63. At which I was greatly lightened, and encouraged in my soul; for thus, at that very instant, it was

IN THE LORD, AND WERE CONFOUNDED. So coming home, I presently went to my Bible, to see if I

could find that saying, not doubting but to find it presently; for it was so fresh, and with such strength and

64. Well, I looked, but I found it not; only it abode upon me: Then did I ask first this good man, and then

another, if they knew where it was, but they knew no such place. At this I wondered, that such a sentence

should so suddenly, and with such comfort and strength, seize, and abide upon my heart; and yet that none

65. Thus I continued above a year, and could not find the place; but at last, casting my eye upon the

APOCRYPHA books, I found it in ECCLESIASTICUS, Eccles. ii. 10. This, at the first, did somewhat daunt

me; but because by this time I had got more experience of the love and kindness of God, it troubled me the

less, especially when I considered that though it was not in those texts that we call holy and canonical; yet

forasmuch as this sentence was the sum and substance of many of the promises, it was my duty to take the

comfort of it; and I bless God for that word, for it was of God to me: that word doth still at times shine before

66. After this, that other doubt did come with strength upon me, BUT HOW IF THE DAY OF GRACE

SHOULD BE PAST AND GONE? How if you have overstood the time of mercy? Now I remember that one

day, as I was walking in the country, I was much in the thoughts of this, BUT HOW IF THE DAY OF

GRACE IS PAST? And to aggravate my trouble, the Tempter presented to my mind those good people of

BEDFORD, and suggested thus unto me, that these being converted already, they were all that God would

save in those parts; and that I came too late, for these had got the blessing before I came.

67. Now I was in great distress, thinking in very deed that this might well be so; wherefore I went up and

down, bemoaning my sad condition; counting myself far worse than a thousand fools for standing off thus

long, and spending so many years in sin as I had done; still crying out, Oh! that I had turned sooner! Oh! that

I had turned seven years ago! It made me also angry with myself, to think that I should have no more wit, but

68. But when I had been long vexed with this fear, and was scarce able to take one step more, just about the

same place where I received my other encouragement, these words broke in upon my mind, COMPEL

THEM TO COME IN, THAT MY HOUSE MAY BE FILLED; AND YET THERE IS ROOM. Luke xiv. 22,

23. These words, but especially those, AND YET THERE IS ROOM, were sweet words to me; for truly I

thought that by them I saw there was place enough in heaven for me; and moreover, that when the Lord Jesus

did speak these words, He then did think of me: and that He knowing that the time would come, that I should

be afflicted with fear, that there was no place left for me in His bosom, did before speak this word, and leave

it upon record, that I might find help thereby against this vile temptation. This I then verily believed.

69. In the light and encouragement of this word I went a pretty while; and the comfort was the more, when I

thought that the Lord Jesus should think on me so long ago, and that He should speak those words on purpose

for my sake; for I did think verily, that He did on purpose speak them to encourage me withal.

70. But I was not without my temptations to go back again; temptations I say, both from Satan, mine own

heart, and carnal acquaintance; but I thank God these were outweighed by that sound sense of death, and of

the day of judgment, which abode, as it were, continually in my view: I would often also think on

EARTH. Dan. v. 18, 19. Yet, thought I, if this great man had all his portion in this world, one hour in

71. I was also made, about this time, to see something concerning the beasts that MOSES counted clean and

unclean: I thought those beasts were types of men; the CLEAN, types of them that were the people of God;

but the UNCLEAN, types of such as were the children of the wicked one. Now I read, that the clean beasts

CHEWED THE CUD; that is, thought I, they show us, we must feed upon the word of God: they also

PARTED THE HOOF. I thought that signified, we must part, if we would be saved, with the ways of

ungodly men. And also, in further reading about them, I found, that though we did chew the cud, as the

HARE; yet if we walked with claws, like a dog; or if we did part the hoof, like the SWINE, yet if we did not

chew the cud, as the sheep, we were still, for all that, but unclean: for I thought the HARE to be a type of

those that talk of the word, yet walk in the ways of sin; and that the SWINE was like him that parted with his

outward pollutions, but still wanteth the word of faith, without which there could be no way of salvation, let a

man be never so devout. Deut. xiv. After this, I found by reading the word, that those that must be glorified

with Christ in another world MUST BE CALLED BY HIM HERE; called to the partaking of a share in His

word and righteousness, and to the comforts and first fruits of His Spirit; and to a peculiar interest in all

those heavenly things, which do indeed prepare the soul for that rest, and house of glory, which is in heaven

72. Here again I was at a very I great stand, not knowing what to do, fearing I was not called; for, thought I, if

I be not called, what then can do me good? None but those who are effectually called inherit the kingdom of

heaven. But oh! how I now loved those words that spake of a CHRISTIAN'S CALLING! as when the Lord

said to one, FOLLOW ME; and to another, COME AFTER ME: and oh, thought I, that He would say so to

73. I cannot now express with what longings and breathings in my soul, I cried to Christ to call me. Thus I

continued for a time, all on a flame to be converted to Jesus Christ; and did also see at that day, such glory in

a converted state, that I could not be contented without a share therein. Gold! could it have been gotten for

gold, what would I have given for it? Had I had a whole world, it had all gone ten thousand times over for

74. How lovely now was every one in my eyes, that I thought to be converted men and women. They shone,

they walked like a people that carried the broad seal of heaven about them. Oh! I saw the lot was fallen to

them in pleasant places, and they had a goodly heritage. Psalm xvi. But that which made me sick, was that of

75. This scripture made me faint and fear, yet it kindled fire in my soul. That which made me fear, was this;

lest Christ should have no liking to me, for He called WHOM HE WOULD. But oh! the glory that I saw in

that condition, did still so engage my heart, that I could seldom read of any that Christ did call, but I presently

76. And truly, the Lord let me go thus many months together, and shewed me nothing; either that I was

already, or should be called hereafter: but at last after much time spent, and many groans to God, that I might

be made partaker of the holy and heavenly calling; that word came in upon me: I WILL CLEANSE THEIR

BLOOD, THAT I HAVE NOT CLEANSED, FOR THE LORD DWELLETH IN ZION. Joel iii. 21. These

words I thought were sent to encourage me to wait still upon God; and signified unto me, that if I were not

77. About this time I began to break my mind to those poor people in BEDFORD, and to tell them my

condition; which when they had heard, they told Mr Gifford of me, who himself also took occasion to talk

with me, and was willing to be well persuaded of me, though I think from little grounds: but he invited me to

his house, where I should hear him confer with others, about the dealings of God with their souls; from all

which I still received more conviction, and from that time began to see something of the vanity and inward

wretchedness of my wicked heart; for as yet I knew no great matter therein; but now it began to be discovered

unto me, and also to work at that rate as it never did before. Now I evidently found, that lusts and corruptions

put forth themselves within me, in wicked thoughts and desires, which I did not regard before; my desires

also for heaven and life began to fail; I found also, that whereas before my soul was full of longing after God,

now it began to hanker after every foolish vanity; yea, my heart would not be moved to mind that which was

good; it began to be careless, both of my soul and heaven; it would now continually hang back, both to, and

in every duty; and was as a clog on the leg of a bird, to hinder me from flying.

78. Nay, thought I, now I grow worse and worse: now I am farther from conversion than ever I was before.

Wherefore I began to sink greatly in my soul, and began to entertain such discouragement in my heart, as laid

me as low as hell. If now I should have burned at the stake, I could not believe that Christ had love for me:

alas! I could neither hear Him, nor see Him, nor feel Him, nor favour any of His things; I was driven as with

a tempest, my heart would be unclean, and the CANAANITES would dwell in the land.

79. Sometimes I would tell my condition to the people of God; which, when they heard, they would pity me,

and would tell me of the promises; but they had as good have told me, that I must reach the sun with my

finger, as have bidden me receive or rely upon the promises: and as soon I should have done it. All my sense

and feeling were against me; and I saw I had an heart that would sin, and that lay under a law that would

80. These things have often made me think of the child which the father brought to Christ, WHO, WHILE

AND TORN BY HIM, THAT HE LAY DOWN AND WALLOWED, FOAMING. Luke ix. 42; Mark ix. 20.

81. Further, in these days, I would find my heart to shut itself up against the Lord, and against His holy word:

I have found my unbelief to set, as it were, the shoulder to the door, to keep Him out; and that too even then,

when I have with many a bitter sigh, cried, Good Lord, break it open: LORD, BREAK THESE GATES OF

BRASS, AND CUT THESE BARS OF IRON ASUNDER. Psalm cvii. 16. Yet that word would sometimes

create in my heart a peaceable pause, I GIRDED THEE, THOUGH THOU HAST NOT KNOWN ME. Isaiah

82. But all this while, as to the act of sinning, I was never more tender than now: my hinder parts were

inward: I durst not take a pin or stick, though but so big as a straw; for my conscience now was sore, and

would smart at every touch: I could not now tell how to speak my words, for fear I should misplace them. Oh,

how gingerly did I then go, in all I did or said! I found myself as on a miry bog, that shook if I did but stir,

and was, as there, left both of God and Christ, and the Spirit, and all good things.

83. But I observed, though I was such a great sinner before conversion, yet God never much charged the guilt

of the sins of my ignorance upon me; only He showed me, I was lost if I had not Christ, because I had been a

sinner: I saw that I wanted a perfect righteousness to present me without fault before God, and this

84. But my original and inward pollution; That, that was my plague and affliction, that I saw at a dreadful

rate, always putting forth itself within me; that I had the guilt of, to amazement; by reason of that, I was more

loathsome in mine own eyes than was a toad, and I thought I was so in God's eyes too: Sin and corruption, I

said, would as naturally bubble out of my heart, as water would bubble out of a fountain: I thought now, that

every one had a better heart than I had; I could have changed heart with any body; I thought none but the

devil himself could equalise me for inward wickedness and pollution of mind. I fell therefore at the sight of

my own vileness deeply into despair; for I concluded, that this condition that I was in, could not stand with a

state of grace. Sure, thought I, I am forsaken of God; sure, I am given up to the devil, and to a reprobate

85. While I was thus afflicted with the fears of my own damnation, there were two things would make me

wonder; the one was, when I saw old people hunting after the things of this life, as if they should live here

always: the other was, when I found professors much distressed and cast down, when they met with outward

losses; as of husband, wife, child, etc. Lord, thought I, what ado is here about such little things as these!

What seeking after carnal things, by some, and what grief in others for the loss of them! if they so much

labour after, and shed so many tears for the things of this present life, how am I to be bemoaned, pitied, and

prayed for! My soul is dying, my soul is damning. Were my soul but in a good condition, and were I but sure

of it, ah! how rich should I esteem myself, though blessed but with bread and water! I should count those but

small afflictions, and should bear them as little burthens. A WOUNDED SPIRIT WHO CAN BEAR!

86. And though I was much troubled, and tossed, and afflicted, with the sight and sense and terror of my own

wickedness, yet I was afraid to let this sight and sense go quite off my mind: that unless guilt of conscience

was taken off the right way, that is, by the blood of Christ a man grew rather worse for the loss of his trouble

of mind, than better. Wherefore, if my guilt lay hard upon me, then I should cry that the blood of Christ might

take it off: and if it was going off without it (for the sense of sin would be sometimes as if it would die, and

go quite away), then I would also strive to fetch it upon my heart again, by bringing the punishment of sin in

hell fire upon my spirit; and should cry, LORD, LET IT NOT GO OFF MY HEART, BUT THE RIGHT

TO MY SOUL, for that scripture lay much upon me, WITHOUT SHEDDING OF BLOOD IS NO

REMISSION. Heb. ix. 22. And that which made me the more afraid of this, was, because I had seen some,

who though when they were under wounds of conscience, would cry and pray; yet seeking rather present ease

from their trouble, than pardon for their sin, cared not how they lost their guilt, so they got it out of their

mind: now, having got it off the wrong way, it was not sanctified unto them; but they grew harder and

blinder, and more wicked after their trouble. This made me afraid, and made me cry to God the more, that it

87. And now I was sorry that God had made me man, for I feared I was a reprobate; I counted man as

unconverted, the most doleful of all the creatures. Thus being afflicted and tossed about my sad condition, I

88. Yea, I thought it impossible that ever I should attain to so much goodness of heart, as to thank God that

He had made me a man. Man indeed is the most noble by creation, of all creatures in the visible world; but by

sin he has made himself the most ignoble. The beasts, birds, fishes, etc. I blessed their condition; for they had

not a sinful nature; they were not obnoxious to the wrath of God; they were not to go to hellfire after death;

89. In this condition I went a great while, but when comforting time was come, I heard one preach a sermon

on these words in the song, Song iv. 1, BEHOLD, THOU ART FAIR, MY LOVE, BEHOLD, THOU ART

FAIR. But at that time he made these two words, MY LOVE, his chief and subject matter: from which, after

he had a little opened the text, he observed these several conclusions: 1. THAT THE CHURCH, AND SO

90. But I got nothing by what he said at present; only when he came to the application of the fourth particular,

this was the word he said; IF IT BE SO, THAT THE SAVED SOUL IS CHRIST'S LOVE, WHEN UNDER

91. So as I was going home, these words came again into my thoughts; and I well remember, as they came in,

I said thus in my heart, WHAT SHALL I GET BY THINKING ON THESE TWO WORDS? This thought

had no sooner passed through my heart, but these words began thus to kindle in my spirit, THOU ART MY

LOVE, THOU ART MY DOVE, twenty times together; and still as they ran in my mind, they waxed

stronger and warmer, and began to make me look up; but being as yet, between hope and fear, I still replied

in my heart, BUT IS IT TRUE, BUT IS IT TRUE? At which that sentence fell upon me, HE WIST NOT

92. Then I began to give place to the word which with power, did over and over make this joyful sound

THEE FROM MY LOVE. And with that my heart was filled full of comfort and hope, and now I could

believe that my sins should be forgiven me; yea, I was now so taken with the love and mercy of God, that I

remember I could not tell how to contain till I got home: I thought I could have spoken of His love, and have

told of His mercy to me, even to the very crows, that sat upon the ploughed lands before me, had they been

capable to have understood me: wherefore I said in my soul, with much gladness, WELL, I WOULD I HAD

SURELY I WILL NOT FORGET THIS FORTY YEARS HENCE. But, alas! within less than forty days I

93. Yet still at times I was helped to believe, that it was a true manifestation of grace unto my soul, though I

had lost much of the life and favour of it. Now about a week or a fortnight after this I was much followed by

this scripture, SIMON, SIMON; BEHOLD, SATAN HATH DESIRED TO HAVE YOU, Luke xxii. 31, and

sometimes it would sound so loud within me, yea, and as it was, call so strongly after me, that once, above all

the rest, I turned my head over my shoulder, thinking verily that some man had behind me, called me; being

at a great distance, methought he called so loud: it came, as I have thought since, to have stirred me up to

prayer, and to watchfulness: it came to acquaint me, that a cloud and a storm was coming down upon me: but

94. Also, as I remember, that time that it called to me so loud, was the last time that it sounded in mine ears;

but me thinks I hear still with what a loud voice these words, SIMON, SIMON, sounded in mine ears. I

thought verily, as I have told you, that somebody had called after me, that was half a mile behind me: and

although that was not my name, yet it made me suddenly look behind me, believing that he that called so

95. But so foolish was I, and ignorant, that I knew not the reason of this sound; (which as I did both see and

feel soon after, was sent from heaven as an alarm, to awaken me to provide for what was coming,) only I

should muse and wonder in my mind, to think what should be the reason of this scripture, and that at this rate,

so often and so loud, should still be sounding and rattling in mine ears: but, as I said before, I soon after

96. For, about the space of a month after, a very great storm came down upon me, which handled me twenty

times worse than all I had met with before; it came stealing upon me, now by one piece, then by another:

First, all my comfort was taken from me; then darkness seized upon me; after which, whole floods of

blasphemies, both against God, Christ, and the scriptures, were poured upon my spirit, to my great confusion

and astonishment. These blasphemous thoughts were such as stirred up questions in me against the very

being of God, and of His only beloved Son: As, whether there were in truth, a God or Christ? And whether

the holy scriptures were not rather a fable, and cunning story, than the holy and pure word of God?

97. The tempter would also much assault me with this, HOW CAN YOU TELL BUT THAT THE Turks

THINK HIS OWN RELIGION RIGHTEST, BOTH Jews AND Moors, AND Pagans; AND HOW IF ALL

98. Sometimes I have endeavoured to argue against these suggestions, and to set some of the sentences of

blessed PAUL against them; but alas! I quickly felt, when I thus did, such arguings as these would return

99. These suggestions, (with many others which at this time I may not, and dare not utter, neither by word or

pen,) did make such a seizure upon my spirit, and did so overweigh my heart, both with their number,

continuance, and fiery force, that I felt as if there were nothing else but these from morning to night within

me; and as though indeed there could be room for nothing else; and also concluded, that God had, in very

wrath to my soul, given me up to them, to be carried away with them, as with a mighty whirlwind.

100. Only by the distaste that they gave unto my spirit, I FELT THERE WAS SOMETHING IN ME THAT

REFUSED TO EMBRACE THEM. But this consideration I then only had, when God gave me leave to

swallow my spittle; otherwise the noise, and strength, and force of these temptations would drown and

overflow, and as it were, bury all such thoughts, or the remembrance of any such thing. While I was in this

temptation, I often found my mind suddenly put upon it to curse and swear, or to speak some grievous thing

101. Now I thought, SURELY I AM POSSESSED OF THE DEVIL: at other times, again, I thought I should

be bereft of my wits; for instead of lauding and magnifying God the Lord, with others, if I have but heard

Him spoken of, presently some most horrible blasphemous thought or other would bolt out of my heart

against Him; so that whether I did think that God was, or again did think there was no such thing, no love,

102. These things did sink me into very deep despair; for I concluded that such things could not possibly be

found amongst them that loved God. I often, when these temptations had been with force upon me, did

compare myself to the case of such a child, whom some gipsy hath by force took up in her arms, and is

carrying from friend and country. Kick sometimes I did, and also shriek and cry; but yet I was bound in the

wings of the temptation, and the wind would carry me away. I thought also of Saul, and of the evil spirit that

did possess him: and did greatly fear that my condition was the same with that of his. 1 Sam. x.

103. In these days, when I have heard others talk of what was the sin against the Holy Ghost, then would the

tempter so provoke me to desire to sin that against sin, that I was as if I could not, must not, neither should be

quiet until I had committed it; now no sin would serve but that. If it were to be committed by speaking of

such a word, then I have been as if my mouth would have spoken that word, whether I would or no; and in so

strong a measure was this temptation upon me, that often I have been ready to clap my hand under my chin,

to hold my mouth from opening; and to that end also, I have had thoughts at other times, to leap with my

104. Now again I beheld the condition of the dog and toad, and counted the estate of every thing that God had

made, far better than this dreadful state of mine, and such as my companions were. Yea, gladly would I have

been in the condition of a dog or horse: for I knew they had no souls to perish under the everlasting weight of

hell, or sin, as mine was like to do. Nay, and though I saw this, felt this, and was broken to pieces with it; yet

that which added to my sorrow was, I could not find, that with all my soul I did desire deliverance. That

scripture did also tear and rend my soul in the midst of these distractions, THE WICKED ARE LIKE THE

105. And now my heart was, at times, exceeding hard; if I would have given a thousand pounds for a tear, I

could not shed one: no nor sometimes scarce desire to shed one. I was much dejected, to think that this would

be my lot. I saw some could mourn and lament their sin; and others again, could rejoice and bless God for

Christ; and others again, could quietly talk of, and with gladness remember the word of God; while I only

was in the storm or tempest. This much sunk me, I thought my condition was alone, I should therefore much

106. While this temptation lasted, which was about a year, I could attend upon none of the ordinances of God,

but with sore and great affliction. Yea, then I was most distressed with blasphemies. If I had been hearing the

word, then uncleanness, blasphemies and despair would hold me a captive there: if I have been reading, then

sometimes I had sudden thoughts to question all I read: sometimes again, my mind would be so strangely

snatched away, and possessed with other things, that I have neither known, nor regarded, nor remembered so

107. In prayer also I have been greatly troubled at this time; sometimes I have thought I have felt him behind

me pulling my clothes: he would be also continually at me in time of prayer, to have done, break off, make

haste, you have prayed enough, and stay no longer; still drawing my mind away. Sometimes also he would

cast in such wicked thoughts as these; that I must pray to him, or for him: I have thought sometimes of that,

108. Also, when because I have had wandering thoughts in the time of this duty, I have laboured to compose

my mind, and fix it upon God; then with great force hath the tempter laboured to distract me, and confound

me, and to turn away my mind, by presenting to my heart and fancy, the form of a bush, a bull, a besom, or

the like, as if I should pray to these: To these he would also (at sometimes especially) so hold my mind, that I

was as if I could think of nothing else, or pray to nothing else but to these, or such as they.

109. Yet at times I should have some strong and heartaffecting apprehensions of God, and the reality of the

truth of His gospel. But, oh! how would my heart, at such times, put forth itself with unexpressible groanings.

My whole soul was then in every word; I should cry with pangs after God, that He would be merciful unto

me; but then I should be daunted again with such conceits as these: I should think that God did mock at these

my prayers, saying, and that in the audience of the holy angels, THIS POOR SIMPLE WRETCH DOTH

110. Then hath the tempter come upon me, also, with such discouragements as these: YOU ARE VERY HOT

BEEN AS HOT AS YOU FOR A SPURT, BUT I HAVE QUENCHED THEIR ZEAL (and with this, such

and such, who were fallen off, would be set before mine eyes). Then I should be afraid that I should do so

too: But, thought I, I am glad this comes into my mind: well, I will watch, and take what care I can.

INSENSIBLY, BY DEGREES, BY LITTLE AND LITTLE. WHAT CARE I, saith he, THOUGH I BE

111. These things brought me into great straits; for as I at present could not find myself fit for present death,

so I thought, to live long, would make me yet more unfit; for time would make me forget all, and wear even

the remembrance of the evil of sin, the worth of heaven, and the need I had of the blood of Christ to wash me,

both out of mind and thought: but I thank Christ Jesus, these things did not at present make me slack my

crying, but rather did put me more upon it (LIKE HER WHO MET WITH ADULTERER, Deut. xxii. 26), in

which days that was a good word to me, after I had suffered these things a while: I AM PERSUADED

OF GOD WHICH IS IN CHRIST JESUS OUR LORD. Rom. viii. 38, 39. And now I hoped long life would

112. Yet I had some supports in this temptation, though they were then all questioned by me; that in JER. III.

at the first was something to me; and so was the consideration of verse 5 of that chapter; that though we have

spoken and done as evil things as we could, yet we should cry unto God, MY FATHER, THOU ART THE

113. I had, also, once a sweet glance from that in 2 Cor. v. 21: FOR HE HATH MADE HIM TO BE SIN

HIM. I remember that one day, as I was sitting in a neighbour's house, and there very sad at the consideration

of my many blasphemies; and as I was saying in my mind, WHAT GROUND HAVE I TO SAY THAT,

word came suddenly upon me, WHAT SHALL WE SAY TO THESE THINGS? IF GOD BE FOR US, WHO

CAN BE AGAINST US? Rom. viii. 31. That also was an help unto me, BECAUSE I LIVE, YE SHALL

LIVE ALSO. John xiv. 19. But these words were but hints, touches, and short visits, though very sweet when

present; only they lasted not; but, LIKE TO Peter's SHEET, OF A SUDDEN WERE CAUGHT UP FROM

114. But afterwards the Lord did more fully and graciously discover Himself unto me, and indeed, did quite,

not only deliver me from the guilt that, by these things was laid upon my conscience, but also from the very

filth thereof; for the temptation was removed, and I was put into my right mind again, as other Christians

115. I remember that one day, as I was travelling into the country, and musing on the wickedness and

blasphemy of my heart, and considering the enmity that was in me to God, that scripture came into my mind,

HAVING MADE PEACE THROUGH THE BLOOD OF HIS CROSS. Col. i. 20. By which I was made to

see, both again and again, that God and my soul were friends by His blood; yea, I saw that the justice of God,

and my sinful soul could embrace and kiss each other, through His blood. This was a good day to me; I hope

116. At another time, as I sat by the fire in my house, and was musing on my wretchedness, the Lord made

that also a precious word unto me, FORASMUCH THEN AS THE CHILDREN ARE PARTAKERS OF

SUBJECT TO BONDAGE. Heb. ii. 14, 15. I thought that the glory of these words was then so weighty on

me, that I was both once and twice ready to swoon as I sate; yet not with grief and trouble, but with solid joy

117. At this time also I sate under of holy Mr GIFFORD, whose doctrine, by God's grace, was much for my

stability. This man made it much his business to deliver the people of God from all those false and unsound

tests, that by nature we are prone to. He would bid us take special heed, that we took not up any truth upon

trust; as from this, or that, or any other man or men; but to cry mightily to God, that He would convince us of

the reality thereof, and set us down therein by His own Spirit in the holy word; FOR, said he, IF YOU DO

118. This was as seasonable to my soul, as the former and latter rains in their season (for I had found, and that

by sad experience, the truth of these his words: for I had felt NO MAN CAN SAY, especially when tempted

by the devil, THAT JESUS CHRIST IS LORD, BUT BY THE HOLY GHOST). Wherefore I found my soul,

through grace, very apt to drink in this doctrine, and to incline to pray to God, that in nothing that pertained to

God's glory, and my own eternal happiness, He would suffer me to be without the confirmation thereof from

heaven; for now I saw clearly, there was an exceeding difference betwixt the notion of the flesh and blood,

and the revelations of God in heaven: also a great difference betwixt that faith that is feigned, and according

to man's wisdom, and that which comes by a man's being born thereto of God. Matt. xvi. 15; 1 John v. 1.

119. But, oh! now, how was my soul led from truth to truth by God! Even from the birth and cradle of the

120. Truly, I then found, upon this account, the great God was very good unto me; for, to my remembrance,

there was not any thing that I then cried unto God to make known, and reveal unto me, but He was pleased to

do it for me; I mean, not one part of the gospel of the Lord Jesus, but I was orderly led into it: methought I

saw with great evidence, from the relation of the four evangelists, the wonderful work of God, in giving Jesus

Christ to save us, from His conception and birth, even to His second coming to judgment: methought I was as

if I had seen Him born, as if I had seen Him grow up; as if I had seen Him walk through this world, from the

cradle to the cross; to which also, when He came, I saw how gently He gave Himself to be hanged, and nailed

on it for my sins and wicked doings. Also as I was musing on this His progress, that dropped on my spirit,

121. When I have considered also the truth of His resurrection, and have remembered that word, TOUCH ME

NOT, MARY, etc., I have seen as if He had leaped out of the grave's mouth, for joy that He was risen again,

and had got the conquest over our dreadful foes. John xx. 17. I have also in the spirit, seen Him a man, on the

right hand of God the Father for me; and have seen the manner of His coming from heaven, to judge the

world with glory, and have been confirmed in these things by these scriptures following, Acts i. 9, 10, and

112. Once I was troubled to know whether the Lord Jesus was man as well as God, and God as well as man:

and truly, in those days, let men say what they would, unless I had it with evidence from heaven, all was

nothing to me; I counted myself not set down in any truth of God. Well, I was much troubled about this point,

and could not tell how to be resolved; at last, that in Rev. v. 6 came into my mind: AND I BEHELD, AND,

ELDERS, STOOD A LAMB, AS IT HAD BEEN SLAIN. In the midst of the throne, thought I, there is the

Godhead; in the midst of the elders, there is His manhood; but, oh! methought this did glister! It was a goodly

touch, and gave me sweet satisfaction. That other scripture also did help me much in this, FOR UNTO US A

123. Also besides these teachings of God in His word, the Lord made use of two things to confirm me in this

truth; the one was the errors of the Quakers and the other was the guilt of sin; for as the Quakers did oppose

this truth, so God did the more confirm me in it, by leading me into the scripture that did wonderfully

'3. That Christ Jesus, as crucified, and dying sixteen hundred years ago, did not satisfy divine justice for the

'5. That the bodies of the good and bad that are buried in the churchyard, shall not arise again.

'7. That that man Jesus, that was crucified between two thieves, on mount CALVARY, in the land of

'8. That He should not, even the same Jesus that died by the hands of the Jews, come again at the last day; and

125. Many more vile and abominable things were in those days fomented by them, by which I was driven to a

more narrow search of the scriptures, and was through their light and testimony, not only enlightened, but

greatly confirmed and comforted in the truth: And, as I said, the guilt of sin did help me much; for still as that

would come upon me, the blood of Christ did take it off again, and again, and again; and that too sweetly,

according to the scripture. O FRIENDS! CRY TO GOD TO REVEAL JESUS CHRIST UNTO YOU;

126. It would be too long here to stay, to tell you in particular, how God did set me down in all the things of

Christ, and how He did, that He might so do, lead me into His words; yea, and also how He did open them

unto me, and make them shine before me, and cause them to dwell with me, talk with me, and comfort me

over and over, both of His own being, and the being of His Son, and Spirit, and word, and gospel.

127. Only this, as I said before, I will say unto you again, that in general, He was pleased to take this course

with me; first, to suffer me to be afflicted with temptations concerning them, and then reveal them unto me;

as sometimes I should lie under great guilt for sin, even crushed to the ground therewith; and then the Lord

would show me the death of Christ; yea, so sprinkle my conscience with His blood, that I should find, and

that before I was aware, that in that conscience, where but just now did reign and rage the law, even there

128. Now I had an evidence, as I thought, of my salvation, from heaven, with many golden seals thereon, all

hanging in my sight. Now could I remember this manifestation, and the other discovery of grace, with

comfort; and should often long and desire that the last day were come, that I might be for ever inflamed with

the sight, and joy, and communion of Him, Whose head was crowned with thorns, Whose face was spit upon,

and body broken, and soul made an offering for my sins. For whereas before I lay continually trembling at the

mouth of hell, now methought I was got so far therefrom, that I could not, when I looked back, scarce discern

it! And oh! thought I, that I were fourscore years old now, that I might die quickly, that my soul might be

129. But before I had got thus far out of these my temptations, I did greatly long to see some ancient godly

man's experience, who had writ some hundreds of years before I was born; for those who had writ in our

days, I thought (but I desire them now to pardon me) that they had writ only that which others felt; or else

had, through the strength of their wits and parts, studied to answer such objections as they perceived others

were perplexed with, without going down themselves into the deep. Well, after many such longings in my

mind, the God, in Whose hands are all our days and ways, did cast into my hand (one day) a book OF

MARTIN LUTHER'S; it was his Comment on the GALATIANS; it also was so old, that it was ready to fall

piece from piece if I did but turn it over. Now I was pleased much that such an old book had fallen into my

hand, the which when I had but a little way perused, I found my condition in his experience so largely and

profoundly handled, as if his book had been written out of my heart. This made me marvel: for thus thought I,

130. Besides, he doth most gravely also in that book, debate of the rise of these temptations, namely,

blasphemy, desperation, and the like; showing that the law of MOSES, as well as the devil, death, and hell,

hath a very great hand therein: the which, at first, was very strange to me; but considering and watching, I

found it so indeed. But of particulars here, I intend nothing; only this methinks I must let fall before all men

I do prefer this book of MARTIN LUTHER upon the GALATIANS (excepting the Holy Bible) before all the

131. And now I found, as I thought, that I loved Christ dearly: Oh! methought my soul cleaved unto Him, my

affections cleaved unto Him; I felt love to Him as hot as fire; and now, as JOB said, I THOUGHT I

SHOULD DIE IN MY NEST; but I did quickly find, that my great love was but little; and that I, who had, as

I thought, such burning love to Jesus Christ, could let Him go again for a very trifle, God can tell how to

abase us, and can hide pride from man. Quickly after this my love was tried to purpose.

132. For after the Lord had, in this manner, thus graciously delivered me from this great and sore temptation,

and had set me down so sweetly in the faith of His holy gospel, and had given me such strong consolation

and blessed evidence from heaven, touching my interest in His love through Christ; the tempter came upon

133. And that was, TO SELL AND PART WITH THIS MOST BLESSED CHRIST, TO EXCHANGE HIM

FOR THE THINGS OF THIS LIFE, FOR ANY THING. The temptation lay upon me for the space of a year,

and did follow me so continually, that I was not rid of it one day in a month: no, not sometimes one hour in

134. And though, in my judgment, I was persuaded, that those who were once effectually in Christ (as I

hoped, through His grace, I had seen myself) could never lose Him for ever; THE LAND SHALL NOT BE

SOLD FOR EVER, FOR THE LAND IS MINE, saith God. Lev. xxv. 23. Yet it was a continual vexation to

me, to think that I should have so much as one such thought within me against a Christ, a Jesus, that had done

for me as He had done; and yet then I had almost none others, but such blasphemous ones.

135. But it was neither my dislike of the thought, nor yet any desire and endeavour to resist, that in the least

did shake or abate the continuation or force and strength thereof; for it did always, in almost whatever I

thought, intermix itself therewith, in such sort, that I could neither eat my food, stoop for a pin, chop a stick,

or cast mine eye to look on this or that, but still the temptation would come, SELL CHRIST FOR THIS, OR

136. Sometimes it would run in my thoughts, not so little as a hundred times together, SELL HIM, SELL

HIM, SELL HIM: against which, I may say, for whole hours together, I have been forced to stand as

continually leaning and forcing my spirit against it, lest haply, before I were aware, some wicked thought

might arise in my heart, that might consent thereto; and sometimes the tempter would make me believe I had

consented to it; but then I should be, as tortured upon a rack for whole days together.

137. This temptation did put me to such scares, lest I should at some times, I say, consent thereto, and be

overcome therewith, that by the very force of my mind, in labouring to gainsay and resist this wickedness, my

very body would be put into action or motion, by way of pushing or thrusting with my hands or elbows; still

answering, as fast as the destroyer said, SELL HIM; I WILL NOT, I WILL NOT, I WILL NOT, I WILL

NOT; NO, NOT FOR THOUSANDS, THOUSANDS, THOUSANDS OF WORLDS: thus reckoning, lest I

should, in the midst of these assaults, set too low a value on Him; even until I scarce well knew where I was,

138. At these seasons he would not let me eat my food at quiet; but, forsooth, when I was set at the table at

my meat, I must go hence to pray; I must leave my food now, just now, so counterfeit holy also would this

devil be. When I was thus tempted, I would say in myself, NOW I AM AT MEAT; LET ME MAKE AN

CHRIST. Wherefore I was much afflicted with these things; and because of the sinfulness of my nature

(imagining that these were impulses from God), I should deny to do it, as if I denied God, and then should I

be as guilty, because I did not obey a temptation of the devil, as if I had broken the law of God indeed.

139. But to be brief: one morning as I did lie in my bed, I was, as at other times, most fiercely assaulted with

this temptation, TO SELL AND PART WITH CHRIST; the wicked suggestion still running in my mind,

SELL HIM, SELL HIM, SELL HIM, SELL HIM, SELL HIM, as fast as a man could speak: against which

also, in my mind, as at other times, I answered, NO, NO, NOT FOR THOUSANDS, THOUSANDS,

THOUSANDS, at least twenty times together: but at last, after much striving, even until I was almost out of

breath, I felt this thought pass through my heart, LET HIM GO, IF HE WILL; and I thought also, that I felt

my heart freely consent thereto. Oh! the diligence of Satan! Oh! the desperateness of man's heart!

140. Now was the battle won, and down fell I as a bird that is shot from the top of a tree, into great guilt, and

fearful despair. Thus getting out of my bed, I went moping into the field; but God knows, with as heavy a

heart as mortal man, I think, could bear; where for the space of two hours, I was like a man bereft of life; and,

141. And withal, that scripture did seize upon my soul: OR PROFANE PERSONS AS ESAU, WHO FOR

PLACE OF REPENTANCE, THOUGH HE SOUGHT IT CAREFULLY WITH TEARS. Heb. xii. 16, 17.

142. Now was I as one bound, I felt myself shut up unto the judgment to come; nothing now, for two years

together, would abide with me, but damnation, and an expectation of damnation: I say, nothing now would

abide with me but this, save some few moments for relief, as in the sequel you will see.

143. These words were to my soul, like fetters of brass to my legs, in the continual sound of which I went for

several months together. But about ten or eleven o'clock on that day, as I was walking under an hedge (full of

sorrow and guilt, God knows), and bemoaning myself for this hard hap, that such a thought should arise

within me, suddenly this sentence rushed in upon me, THE BLOOD OF CHRIST REMITS ALL GUILT. At

this I made a stand in my spirit: with that this word took hold upon me, THE BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST

144. Now I began to conceive peace in my soul, and methought I saw, as if the tempter did leer and steal

away from me, as being ashamed of what he had done. At the same time also I had my sin, and the blood of

Christ, thus represented to me, That my sin, when compared to the blood of Christ, was no more to it, than

this little clod or stone before me, is to this vast and wide field that here I see. This gave me good

encouragement for the space of two or three hours; in which time also, methought, I saw, by faith, the Son of

God, as suffering for my sins: but because it tarried not, I therefore sunk in my spirit, under exceeding guilt

145. But chiefly by the aforementioned scripture concerning ESAU'S selling of his birthright; for that

scripture would lie all day long, all the week long, yea, all the year long in my mind, and hold me down, so

that I could by no means lift up myself; for when I would strive to turn to this scripture or that, for relief, still

that sentence would be sounding in me; FOR YE KNOW, HOW THAT AFTERWARDS, WHEN HE

146. Sometimes, indeed, I should have a touch from that in Luke xxii. 31, I HAVE PRAYED FOR THEE

THAT THY FAITH FAIL NOT; but it would not abide upon me; neither could I, indeed, when I considered

my state, find ground to conceive in the least, that there should be the root of that grace in me, having sinned

147. Then began I with sad and careful heart to consider of the nature and largeness of my sin, and to search

into the word of God, if I could in any place espy a word of promise, or any encouraging sentence, by which I

might take relief. Wherefore I began to consider that of Mark iii. 28: ALL SINS SHALL BE FORGIVEN

BLASPHEME. Which place, methought at a blush, did contain a large and glorious promise for the pardon of

high offences; but considering the place more fully, I thought it was rather to be understood, as relating more

chiefly to those who had, while in a natural estate, committed such things as there are mentioned; but not to

me, who had not only received light and mercy, but that had both after, and also contrary to that, so slighted

148. I feared, therefore, that this wicked sin of mine, might be that sin unpardonable, of which He there thus

FORGIVENESS, BUT IS IN DANGER OF ETERNAL DAMNATION. Mark iii. 29. And I did the rather

give credit to this, because of that sentence in the Hebrews: FOR YOU KNOW HOW THAT

149. And now was I both a burthen and a terror to myself; nor did I ever so know, as now, what it was to be

weary of my life, and yet afraid to die. Oh! how gladly now would I have been anybody but myself! anything

but a man, and in any condition but my own! For there was nothing did pass more frequently over my mind,

than that it was impossible for me to be forgiven my transgression, and to be saved from the wrath to come.

150. And now I began to call again time that was spent; wishing a thousand times twice told, that the day was

yet to come when I should be tempted to such a sin; concluding with great indignation, both against my heart,

and all assaults, how I would rather have been torn in pieces, than be found a consenter thereto. But alas!

these thoughts, and wishings, and resolvings were now too late to help me; this thought had passed my heart,

God hath let me go, and I am fallen. Oh! thought I, THAT IT WERE WITH ME AS IN MONTHS PAST, AS

151. Then again, being loth and unwilling to perish, I began to compare my sin with others to see if I could

find that any of those that were saved, had done as I had done. So I considered DAVID'S adultery, and

murder, and found them most heinous crimes; and those too committed after light and grace received: but yet

by considering that his transgressions were only such as were against the law of MOSES, from which the

Lord Christ could, with the consent of His word, deliver him: but mine was against the gospel; yea, against

152. Now again should I be as if racked upon the wheel, when I considered, that, besides the guilt that

possessed me, I should be so void of grace, so bewitched. What, thought I, must it be no sin but this? Must it

needs be the GREAT TRANSGRESSION? Ps. xix. 13. Must THAT WICKED ONE touch my soul? 1 John

153. What, thought I, is there but ONE sin that is unpardonable? but ONE sin that layeth the soul without the

reach of God's mercy; and must I be guilty of THAT? must it needs be that? Is there but one SIN among SO

MANY millions of sins, for which there is no forgiveness; and must I commit this? Oh! unhappy SIN! Oh!

unhappy MAN! These things would so break and confound my spirit, that I could not tell what to do; I

thought at times, they would have broke my wits; and still, to aggravate my misery, that would run in my

154. After this I began to consider of PETER'S sin, which he committed in denying his Master: and indeed,

this came nighest to mine of any that I could find, for he had denied his Saviour, as I, after light and mercy

received; yea, and that too, after warning given him. I also considered, that he did it both once and twice; and

that, after time to consider betwixt. But though I put all these circumstances together, that, if possible I might

find help, yet I considered again, that his was but A DENIAL OF HIS MASTER, but mine was, A SELLING

OF MY SAVIOUR. Wherefore I thought with myself, that I came nearer to JUDAS, than either to DAVID or

155. Here again my torment would flame out and afflict me; yea, it would grind me, as it were to powder, to

consider the preservation of God towards others, while I fell into the snare; for in my thus considering of

other men's sins, and comparing them with mine own, I could evidently see, God preserved them,

notwithstanding their wickedness, and would not let them, as He had let me, become a son of perdition.

156. But oh! how did my soul at this time prize the preservation that God did set about His people! Ah, how

safely did I see them walk, whom God had hedged in! They were within His care, protection, and special

providence: though they were full as bad as I by nature; yet because He loved them, He would not suffer

them to fall without the range of mercy: but as for me, I was gone, I had done it: He would not preserve me,

nor keep me; but suffered me, because I was a reprobate, to fall as I had done. Now did those blessed places

that speak of God's keeping His people, shine like the sun before me, though not to comfort me, yet to show

157. Now I saw, that as God had His hand in all the providences and dispensations that overtook His elect; so

He had His hand in all the temptations that they had to sin against Him; not to animate them to wickedness,

but to choose their temptations and troubles for them; and also to leave them for a time, to such sins only that

might not destroy, but humble them; as might not put them beyond, but lay them in the way of the renewing

His mercy. But oh! what love, what care, what kindness and mercy did I now see, mixing itself with the most

severe and dreadful of all God's ways to His people! He would let DAVID, HEZEKIAH, SOLOMON,

PETER, and others, fall; but He would not let them fall into sin unpardonable, nor into hell for sin. Oh!

thought I, these be the men that God hath loved; these be the men that God, though He chastiseth them, keeps

them in safety by Him; and them whom He makes to abide under the shadow of the Almighty. But all these

thoughts added sorrow, grief, and horror to me, as whatever I now thought on, it was killing to me. If I

thought how God kept His own, that was killing to me; if I thought of how I was fallen myself, that was

killing to me. As all things wrought together for the best, and to do good to them that were the called,

according to His purpose, so I thought that all things wrought for my damage, and for my eternal overthrow.

158. Then again I began to compare my sin with the sin of JUDAS, that, if possible, I might find if mine

differed from that, which in truth is unpardonable: and oh! thought I, if it should differ from it, though but the

breadth of an hair, what a happy condition is my soul in! And by considering, I found that JUDAS did this

intentionally, but mine was against my prayer and strivings: besides, his was committed with much

deliberation, but mine in a fearful hurry, on a sudden: all this while I was tossed to and fro like the locusts,

and driven from trouble to sorrow; hearing always the sound of ESAU'S fall in mine ears, and the dreadful

159. Yet this consideration about JUDAS'S sin was, for awhile, some little relief to me; for I saw I had not, as

to the circumstances, transgressed so fully as he. But this was quickly gone again, for I thought with myself,

there might be more ways than one to commit this unpardonable sin; also I thought there might be degrees of

that, as well as of other transgressions; wherefore, for aught I yet could perceive, this iniquity of mine might

160. I was often now ashamed that I should be like such an ugly man as Judas: I thought also how loathsome

I should be unto all the saints at the day of judgment: insomuch that now I could scarce see a good man, that I

believed had a good conscience, but I should feel my heart tremble at him, while I was in his presence. Oh!

now I saw a glory in walking with God, and what a mercy it was to have a good conscience before Him.

161. I was much about that time tempted to content myself by receiving some false opinion; as, that there

should be no such thing as a day of judgment; that we should not rise again; and that sin was no such

grievous thing: the tempter suggesting thus: FOR IF THESE THINGS SHOULD INDEED BE TRUE, YET

162. But oh! when such thoughts have led through my heart, how, as it were, within a step, hath death and

judgment been in my view! methought the judge stood at the door; I was as if it was come already; so that

such things could have no entertainment. But methinks, I see by this, that Satan will use any means to keep

the soul from Christ; he loveth not an awakened frame of spirit; security, blindness, darkness, and error, is the

163. I found it a hard work now to pray to God, because despair was swallowing me up; I thought I was as

with a tempest driven away from God; for always when I cried to God for mercy, this would come in, 'TIS

BUT WAS REJECTED. About this time I did light on that dreadful story of that miserable mortal Francis

Spira; a book that was to my troubled spirit, as salt, when rubbed into a fresh wound: every sentence in that

book, every groan of that man, with all the rest of his actions in his dolours, as his tears, his prayers, his

gnashing of teeth, his wringing of hands, his twining and twisting, and languishing, and pining away under

that mighty hand of God that was upon him, were as knives and daggers in my soul; especially that sentence

of his was frightful to me, MAN KNOWS THE BEGINNING OF SIN? BUT WHO BOUNDS THE ISSUES

THEREOF? Then would the former sentence, as the conclusion of all, fall like an hot thunderbolt again upon

164. Then should I be struck into a very great trembling, insomuch that at sometimes I could, for whole days

together, feel my very body, as well as my mind, to shake and totter under the sense of this dreadful judgment

of God, that should fall on those that have sinned that most fearful and unpardonable sin. I felt also such a

clogging and heat at my stomach, by reason of this my terror, that I was, especially at some times, as if my

breastbone would split asunder; then I thought of that concerning Judas, who by FALLING HEADLONG,

165. I feared also that this was the mark that the Lord did set on CAIN, even continual fear and trembling,

under the heavy load of guilt that he had charged on him for the blood of his brother ABEL. Thus did I wind,

and twine, and shrink under the burthen that was upon me; which burthen also did so oppress me, that I could

166. Yet that saying would sometimes come into my mind, HE HATH RECEIVED GIFTS FOR THE

REBELLIOUS. Psalm lxviii. 18. The REBELLIOUS, thought I! why surely they are such as once were under

subjection to their Prince; even those who after they have sworn subjection to His government, have taken up

arms against Him; and this, thought I, is my very condition: I once loved Him, feared Him, served Him; but

now I am a rebel; I have sold Him, I have said, LET HIM GO, IF HE WILL; but yet He has gifts for rebels;

167. This sometimes I thought on, and should labour to take hold thereof, that some, though small

refreshment, might have been conceived by me; but in this also I missed of my desire; I was driven with force

beyond it; I was like a man going to execution, even by THAT place where he would fain creep in and hide

168. Again, after I had thus considered the sins of the SAINTS in particular, and found MINE went beyond

them, then I began to think with myself, Set the case I should put ALL THEIRS together, and MINE ALONE

against them, might I not then find some encouragement? for if MINE, though bigger than any one, yet

should be but equal to all, then there is hopes; for that blood that hath virtue enough in it to wash away all

theirs, had virtue enough in it to do away mine, though this one be full as big, if not bigger than all theirs.

Here again, I should consider the sin of DAVID, of SOLOMON, of MANASSEH, of PETER, and the rest of

the great offenders; and should also labour, what I might with fairness, to aggravate and heighten their sins by

169. I should think with myself that DAVID shed blood to cover his adultery, and that by the sword of the

children of AMMON; a work that could not be done, but by continuance, deliberate contrivance, which was a

great aggravation to his sin. But then this would turn upon me: Ah! but these were but sins against the law,

from which there was a Jesus sent to save them; but yours is a sin against the Saviour, and who shall save you

170. Then I thought on SOLOMON, and how he sinned in loving strange women, falling away to their idols,

in building them temples, in doing this after light, in his old age, after great mercy received: but the same

conclusion that cut me off in the former consideration, cut me off as to this; namely, that all those were but

sins against the law, for which God had provided a remedy; BUT I HAD SOLD MY SAVIOUR, and there

171. I would then add to these men's sins, the sins of MANASSEH; how that he built altars for idols in the

house of the Lord; he also observed times, used enchantments, had to do with wizards, was a wizard, had his

familiar spirits, burned his children in the fire in sacrifice to devils, and made the streets of JERUSALEM run

down with the blood of innocents. These, thought I, are great sins, sins of a bloody colour, but yet it would

turn again upon me, THEY ARE NONE OF THEM OF THE NATURE OF YOURS; YOU HAVE PARTED

172. This one consideration would always kill my heart, MY SIN WAS POINT BLANK AGAINST MY

SAVIOUR; and that too, at that height, that I had in my heart said of Him, LET HIM GO, IF HE WILL. Oh!

methought this sin was bigger than the sins of a country, of a kingdom, or of the whole world, NO one

pardonable; nor ALL of them together, was able to equal mine; mine outwent them every one.

173. Now I should find my mind to flee from God, as from the face of a dreadful judge, yet this was my

torment, I could not escape His hand: (IT IS A FEARFUL THING TO FALL INTO THE HANDS OF THE

LIVING GOD. Hebrew x.) But, blessed be His grace, that scripture, in these flying fits, would call, as

running after me, I HAVE BLOTTED OUT, AS A THICK CLOUD, THY TRANSGRESSIONS; AND AS

A CLOUD, THY SINS: RETURN UNTO ME, FOR I HAVE REDEEMED THEE. Isaiah xliv. 22. This, I

say, would come in upon my mind, when I was fleeing from the face of God; for I did flee from His face; that

is, my mind and spirit fled before Him; by reason of His highness, I could not endure: then would the text

cry, RETURN UNTO ME; it would cry aloud with a very great voice, RETURN UNTO ME, FOR I HAVE

REDEEMED THEE. Indeed, this would make me make a little stop, and, as it were, look over my shoulder

behind me, to see if I could discern that the God of grace did follow me with a pardon in His hand; but I

could no sooner do that, but all would be clouded and darkened again by that sentence, FOR YOU KNOW,

could not refrain, but fled, though at some times it cried, RETURN, RETURN, as if it did hollow after me:

but I feared to close in therewith, lest it should not come from God; for that other, as I said, was still sounding

174. Once as I was walking to and fro in a good man's shop, bemoaning of myself in my sad and doleful

state, afflicting myself with selfabhorrence for this wicked and ungodly thought; lamenting also this hard

hap of mine for that I should commit so great a sin, greatly fearing that I should not be pardoned; praying also

in my heart, that if this sin of mine did differ from that against the Holy Ghost, the Lord would show it me.

And being now ready to sink with fear, suddenly there was, as if there had rushed in at the window, the noise

of wind upon me, but very pleasant, and as if I heard a voice speaking, DID'ST THOU EVER REFUSE TO

BE JUSTIFIED BY THE BLOOD OF CHRIST? and withal, my whole life of profession past, was in a

moment opened to me, wherein I was made to see, that designedly I had not: so my heart answered

groaningly, NO. Then fell, with power, that word of God upon me, SEE THAT YE REFUSE NOT HIM

THAT SPEAKETH. Hebrew xii. 25. This made a strange seizure upon my spirit; it brought light with it, and

commanded a silence in my heart, of all those tumultuous thoughts, that did before use, like masterless

hellhounds, to roar and bellow, and make an hideous noise within me. It showed me also that Jesus Christ

had yet a word of grace and mercy for me, that He had not, as I had feared, quite forsaken and cast off my

soul; yea, this was a kind of chide for my proneness to desperation; a kind of threatening of me, if I did not,

notwithstanding my sins, and the heinousness of them, venture my salvation upon the Son of God. But as to

my determining about this strange dispensation, what it was, I know not; or from whence it came, I know not;

I have not yet in twenty years' time been able to make a judgment of it; I THOUGHT THEN WHAT HERE I

SHOULD BE LOTH TO SPEAK. But verily that sudden rushing wind was, as if an angel had come upon

me; but both it, and the salutation, I will leave until the day of judgment: only this I say, it commanded a

great calm in my soul; it persuaded me there might be hope: it showed me, as I thought, what the sin

unpardonable was, and that my soul had yet the blessed privilege to flee to Jesus Christ for mercy. But I say,

concerning this dispensation; I know not yet what to say unto it; which was also, in truth, the cause, that at

first I did not speak of it in the book; I do now also leave it to be thought on by men of sound judgment. I lay

not the stress of my salvation thereupon, but upon the Lord Jesus, in the promise; yet seeing I am here

unfolding of my secret things, I thought it might not be altogether inexpedient to let this also show itself,

though I cannot now relate the matter as there I did experience it. This lasted in the savour of it for about

175. Wherefore still my life hung in doubt before me, not knowing which way I should tip; only this I found

my soul desire, even to cast itself at the foot of grace, by prayer and supplication. But oh! 'twas hard for me

now, to have the face to pray to this Christ for mercy, against Whom I had thus most vilely sinned: 'twas hard

work, I say, to offer to look Him in the face, against Whom I had so vilely sinned; and indeed, I have found it

as difficult to come to God by prayer, after backsliding from Him, as to do any other thing. Oh! the shame

that did now attend me! especially when I thought, I am now agoing to pray to Him for mercy, that I had so

lightly esteemed but a while before! I was ashamed; yea, even confounded, because this villany had been

committed by me: but I saw that there was but one way with me; I must go to Him, and humble myself unto

Him, and beg that He, of His wonderful mercy, would show pity to me, and have mercy upon my wretched

176. Which, when the tempter perceived, he strongly suggested to me, THAT I OUGHT NOT TO PRAY TO

HIS PRESENCE: WHEREFORE NOW TO PRAY, IS BUT TO ADD SIN TO SIN; YEA, NOW TO PRAY,

VOICE TO HIM; AND THEREFORE HE LET YOU SIN THIS SIN, THAT YOU MIGHT BE QUITE CUT

OFF; AND WILL YOU PRAY STILL? This the devil urged, and set forth that in NUMBERS, when MOSES

said to the children OF ISRAEL, THAT BECAUSE THEY WOULD NOT GO UP TO POSSESS THE

178. As it is said in another place, Exodus xxi. 14, THE MAN THAT SINS PRESUMPTUOUSLY SHALL

BE TAKEN FROM GOD'S ALTAR, THAT HE MAY DIE; even as JOAB was by King SOLOMON, when

he thought to find shelter there. 1 Kings ii. 27, 28, etc. These places did pinch me very sore; yet my case

being desperate, I thought with myself, I can but die; and if it must be so, it shall once be said, THAT SUCH

AN ONE DIED AT THE FOOT OF CHRIST IN PRAYER. This I did, but with great difficulty, God doth

know; and that because, together with this, still that saying about ESAU would be set at my heart, even like a

flaming sword, to keep the way of the tree of life, lest I should take thereof and live. Oh! who knows how

179. I did also desire the prayers of the people of God for me, but I feared that God would give them no heart

to do it; yea I trembled in my soul to think, that some or other of them would shortly tell me, that God hath

said those words to them, that He once did say to the prophet concerning the children of Israel, PRAY NOT

FOR THIS PEOPLE, FOR I HAVE REJECTED THEM. Jeremiah xi. 14. So, PRAY NOT FOR HIM, FOR I

HAVE REJECTED HIM, yea, I thought that He had whispered this to some of them already, only they durst

not tell me so; neither durst I ask them of it, for fear if it should be so, it would make me quite beside myself:

180. About this time I took an opportunity to break my mind to an ancient Christian, and told him all my

case: I told him also, that I was afraid that I had sinned the sin against the Holy Ghost; and he told me, HE

THOUGHT SO TOO. Here therefore I had but cold comfort; but talking a little more with him, I found him,

though a good man, a stranger to much combat with the devil. Wherefore I went to God again, as well as I

181. Now also did the tempter begin to mock me in my misery, saying, THAT SEEING I HAD THUS

ONE WAY; AND THAT WAS, to pray that God the Father would be a Mediator betwixt His Son and me;

182. Then did that scripture seize upon my soul, HE IS OF ONE MIND, AND WHO CAN TURN HIM! Oh!

I saw, it was as easy to persuade Him to make a new world, a new covenant, or a new Bible, besides that we

have already, as to pray for such a thing. This was to persuade Him, that what He had done already was mere

folly, and persuade Him to alter, yea, to disannul the whole way of salvation. And then would that saying

rend my soul asunder; NEITHER IS THERE SALVATION IN ANY OTHER; FOR THERE IS NONE

183. Now the most free, and full and gracious words of the gospel, were the greatest torment to me; yea,

nothing so afflicted me, as the thoughts of Jesus Christ, the remembrance of a Saviour; because I had cast

Him off, brought forth the villany of my sin, and my loss by it, to mind; nothing did twinge my conscience

like this: every time that I thought of the Lord Jesus, of His grace, love, goodness, kindness, gentleness,

meekness, death, blood, promises, and blessed exhortations, comforts, and consolations, it went to my soul

like a sword; for still unto these my considerations of the Lord Jesus, these thoughts would make place for

themselves in my heart: AYE, THIS IS THE JESUS, THE LOVING SAVIOUR, THE SON OF GOD,

SAID IN YOUR HEART, Let Him go, if He will. NOW, THEREFORE, YOU ARE SEVERED FROM

YOURSELF TO BE NO PARTAKER OF IT. Oh! thought I, what have I lost, what have I parted with! What

has disinherited my poor soul! Oh! 'tis sad to be destroyed by the grace and mercy of God; to have the Lamb,

the Saviour, turn lion and destroyer. Rev. vi. I also trembled, as I have said, at the sight of the saints of God,

especially at those that greatly loved Him, and that made it their business to walk continually with Him in this

world; for they did, both in their words, their carriages, and all their expressions of tenderness and fear to sin

against their precious Saviour, condemn, lay guilt upon, and also add continual affliction and shame upon my

soul. THE DREAD OF THEM WAS UPON ME, AND I TREMBLED AT GOD'S SAMUELS. 1 Sam. xvi.

184. Now also the tempter began afresh to mock my soul another way, saying, THAT CHRIST INDEED

YET I COULD HAVE NO BENEFIT OF HIM. These things may seem ridiculous to others, even as

ridiculous as they were in themselves, but to me they were most tormenting cogitations: every one of them

augmented my misery, that Jesus Christ should have so much love as to pity me, when yet He could not help

me; nor did I think that the reason why He could not help me, was, because His merits were weak, or His

grace and salvation spent on others already, but because His faithfulness to His threatening, would not let

Him extend His mercy to me. Besides, I thought, as I have already hinted, that my sin was not within the

bounds of that pardon, that was wrapped up in a promise; and if not, then I knew assuredly, that it was more

easy for heaven and earth to pass away, than for me to have eternal life. So that the ground of all these fears

of mine did arise from a steadfast belief I had of the stability of the holy word of God, and also from my

185. But oh! how this would add to my affliction, to conceit that I should be guilty of such a sin, for which

He did not die. These thoughts would so confound me, and imprison me, and tie me up from faith, that I

knew not what to do. But oh! thought I, that He would come down again! Oh! that the work of man's

redemption was yet to be done by Christ! how would I pray Him and entreat Him to count and reckon this sin

among the rest for which He died! But this scripture would strike me down as dead; CHRIST BEING

186. Thus, by the strange and unusual assaults of the tempter, my soul was like a broken vessel, driven as

with the winds, and tossed sometimes headlong into despair; sometimes upon the covenant of works, and

sometimes to wish that the new covenant, and the conditions thereof, might so far forth, as I thought myself

concerned, be turned another way, and changed, BUT IN ALL THESE, I WAS AS THOSE THAT JOSTLE

imaginations, frights, fears, and terrors, that are affected by a thorough application of guilt yielding to

DEAD; THAT IS ALWAYS CRYING OUT, AND CUTTING HIMSELF WITH STONES. Mark v. 1, 2, 3.

But, I say, all in vain; desperation will not comfort him, the old covenant will not save him: nay, heaven and

earth shall pass away, before one jot or tittle of the word and law of grace will fail or be removed. This I saw,

this I felt, and under this I groaned; yet this advantage I got thereby, namely, a farther confirmation of the

certainty of the way of salvation; and that the scriptures were the word of God. Oh! I cannot now express

what then I saw and felt of the steadiness of Jesus Christ, the rock of man's salvation: What was done, could

not be undone, added to, nor altered. I saw, indeed, that sin might drive the soul beyond Christ, even the sin

which is unpardonable; but woe to him that was so driven, for the word would shut him out.

187. Thus I was always sinking, whatever I did think or do. So one day I walked to a neighbouring town, and

sate down upon a settle in the street, and fell into a very deep pause about the most fearful state my sin had

brought me to; and after long musing, I lifted up I sat my head, but methought I saw, as if the sun that shineth

in the heavens did grudge to give light; and as if the very stones in the street, and tiles upon the houses, did

bend themselves against me. Methought that they all combined together to banish me out of the world. I was

abhorred of them, and unfit to dwell among them, or be partaker of their benefits, because I had sinned

against the Saviour. O how happy now was every creature over I was! For they stood fast, and kept their

188. Then breaking out in the bitterness of my soul, I said to myself with a grievous sigh, HOW CAN GOD

COMFORT SUCH A WRETCH! I had no sooner said it, but this returned upon me, as an echo doth answer a

voice: THIS SIN IS NOT UNTO DEATH. At which I was, as if I had been raised out of the grave, and cried

out again, LORD, HOW COULDST THOU FIND OUT SUCH A WORD AS THIS! For I was filled with

admiration at the fitness, and at the unexpectedness of the sentence; the fitness of the word, the rightness of

the timing of it; the power, and sweetness, and light, and glory that came with it also, were marvellous to me

to find: I was now, for the time, out of doubt, as to that about which I was so much in doubt before; my fears

before WERE, that my sin was not pardonable, and so that I had no right to pray, to repent, etc., or that, if I

did, it would be of no advantage or profit to me. But now, thought I, if THIS SIN is not unto death, then it is

pardonable; therefore from this I have encouragement to come to God by Christ for mercy, to consider the

promise of forgiveness, as that which stands with open arms to receive me as well as others. This therefore

was a great easement to my mind, to wit, that my sin was pardonable, that it was not the sin unto death (1

John v. 16, 17). None but those that know what my trouble (by their own experience) was, can tell what relief

came to my soul by this consideration: it was a release to me from my former bonds, and a shelter from the

former storm: I seemed now to stand upon the same ground with other sinners, and to have as good right to

189. Now I say, I was in hopes that my sin was not unpardonable, but that there might be hopes for me to

obtain forgiveness. But oh! how Satan did now lay about him for to bring me down again! But he could by no

means do it, neither this day, nor the most part of the next, for this good sentence stood like a millpost at my

back: yet towards the evening of the next day, I felt this word begin to leave me, and to withdraw its

supportation from me, and so I returned to my old fears again, but with a great deal of grudging and

peevishness, for I feared the sorrow of despair; nor could my faith now long retain this word.

190. But the next day at evening, being under many fears, I went to seek the Lord, and as I prayed, I cried,

and my soul cried to Him in these words, with strong cries: O LORD, I BESEECH THEE, SHOW ME

THAT THOU HAST LOVED ME WITH EVERLASTING LOVE. Jer. xxxi. 3. I had no sooner said it, but

with sweetness this returned upon me, as an echo, or sounding again, I HAVE LOVED THEE WITH AN

EVERLASTING LOVE. Now I went to bed in quiet; also when I awakened the next morning, it was fresh

191. But yet the tempter left me not; for it could not be so little as an hundred times, that he that day did

labour to then break my peace. Oh! the combats and conflicts that I did then meet with; as I strove to hold by

this word, that of ESAU would fly in my face like lightning: I should be sometimes up and down twenty

times in an hour; yet God did bear me up, and keep my heart upon this word; from which I had also, for

several days together, very much sweetness, and comfortable hopes of pardon: for thus it was made out unto

192. Yet I saw my sin most barbarous, and a filthy crime, and could not but conclude, and that with great

shame and astonishment, that I had horribly abused the holy Son of God: wherefore I felt my soul greatly to

love and pity Him, and my bowels to yearn towards Him; for I saw He was still my friend, and did reward me

good for evil; yea, the love and affection that then did burn within to my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, did

work at this time such a strong and hot desire of revengement upon myself for the abuse I had done unto

Him, that to speak as I then thought, had I had a thousand gallons of blood within my veins, I could freely

193. And as I was thus in musing, and in my studies, considering how to love the Lord, and to express my

love to Him, that saying came in upon me, IF THOU, LORD, SHOULDST MARK INIQUITIES, O LORD,

FEARED. Psalm cxxx. 3, 4. These were good words to me, especially the latter part thereof; to wit, that there

is forgiveness with the Lord, that He might be feared; that is, as then I understood it, that He might be loved,

and had in reverence; for it was thus made out to me, THAT THE GREAT GOD DID SET SO HIGH AN

194. And now was that word fulfilled on me, and I was also refreshed by it; THAT THOU MAYEST

SAITH THE LORD GOD. Ezek. xvi. 63. Thus was my soul at this time (and as I then did think for ever) set

195. But before many weeks were gone, I began to despond again, fearing, lest, notwithstanding all that I had

enjoyed, that I might be deceived and destroyed at the last; for this consideration came strong into my mind,

196. Now began my heart again to ache, and fear I might meet with a disappointment at last. Wherefore I

began with all seriousness to examine my former comfort, and to consider whether one that had sinned as I

had done, might with confidence trust upon the faithfulness of God, laid down in those words, by which I had

been comforted, and on which I had leaned myself: but now were brought those sayings to my mind. FOR IT

197. Now was the word of the gospel forced from my soul; so that no promise or encouragement was to be

found in the Bible for me: and now would that saying work upon my spirit to afflict me, REJOICE NOT, O

ISRAEL, FOR JOY, AS OTHER PEOPLE. Hos. ix. 1. For I saw indeed, there was cause of rejoicing for

those that held to Jesus; but for me, I had cut myself off by my transgressions, and left myself neither

foothold, or handhold, among all the stays and props in the precious word of life.

198. And truly, I did now feel myself to sink into a gulph, as an house whose foundation is destroyed; I did

liken myself in this condition, unto the case of some child that was fallen into a mill pit, who though it could

make some shift to scramble and sprawl in the water, yet because it could find neither hold for hand nor foot,

therefore at last it must die in that condition. So soon as this fresh assault had fastened on my soul, that

scripture came into my heart, This FOR MANY DAYS. Dan. x. 14. And indeed I found it was so; for I could

not be delivered, nor brought to peace again, until well nigh two years and a half were completely finished.

Wherefore these words, though in themselves, they tended to discouragement, yet to me, who feared this

condition would be eternal, they were at some times as an help and refreshment to me.

199. For, thought I, MANY DAYS are not for ever, MANY DAYS will have an end; therefore seeing I was

to be afflicted not a few but MANY DAYS, yet I was glad it was but FOR MANY DAYS. Thus, I say, I

would recall myself sometimes, and give myself an help, for as soon as ever the words came into my mind, at

first, I knew my trouble would be long, yet this would be but sometimes; for I could not always think on this,

200. Now while the scriptures lay before me, and laid sin anew at my door, that saying, in Luke xviii. 1, with

others, did encourage me to prayer: then the tempter laid again at me very sore, suggesting, THAT NEITHER

COULD THEY HELP ME FOR MY SIN; THEREFORE IT WAS BUT IN VAIN TO PRAY. Yet, thought I,

I WILL PRAY. BUT, said the tempter, YOUR SIN IS UNPARDONABLE. Well, said I, I WILL PRAY. 'Tis

to no boot, said he. Yet said I, I WILL PRAY. So I went to prayer to God; and while I was at prayer, I uttered

words to this effect: LORD, SATAN TELLS ME, THAT NEITHER THY MERCY, NOR CHRIST'S

201. And as I was thus before the Lord, that scripture fastened on my heart (O man, great is thy faith), Matt.

xv. 28, even as if one had clapped me on the back, as I was on my knees before God: yet I was not able to

believe this, that this was a prayer of faith, till almost six months after; for I could not think that I had faith, or

that there should be a word for me to act faith on; therefore I should still be, as sticking in the jaws of

202. There was nothing now that I longed for more than to be put out of doubt, as to this thing in question,

and as I was vehemently desiring to know, if there was indeed hope for me, these words came rolling into my

lxxvii. 79. And all the while they run in my mind, methought I had still this as the answer, 'TIS A

QUESTION WHETHER HE HATH OR NO: IT MAY BE HE HATH NOT. Yea, the interrogatory seemed

to me to carry in it a sure affirmation that indeed He had not, nor would so cast off, but would be favourable:

that His promise doth not fail, and that He had not forgotten to be gracious, nor would in anger shut up tender

mercy. Something also there was upon my heart at the same time, which I cannot now call to mind, which,

with this text, did sweeten my heart, and make me conclude, that His mercy might not be quite gone, nor

203. At another time I remembered, I was again much under this question, WHETHER THE BLOOD OF

CHRIST WAS SUFFICIENT TO SAVE MY SOUL? in which doubt I continued from morning, till about

seven or eight at night: and at last, when I was, as it were, quite worn out with fear, lest it should not lay hold

on me, these words did sound suddenly within my heart: HE IS ABLE. But methought, this word ABLE, was

spoke loud unto me; it showed a GREAT WORD, it seemed to be writ in GREAT LETTERS, and gave such

a jostle to my fear and doubt (I mean for the time it tarried with me, which was about a day) as I never had

204. But one morning as I was again at prayer, and trembling under the fear of this, THAT NO WORD OF

GOD COULD HELP ME, that piece of a sentence darted in upon me, MY GRACE IS SUFFICIENT. At this,

methought I felt some stay, as if there might be hopes. But, oh! how good a thing it is for God to send His

word! for, about a fortnight before, I was looking on this very place, and then I thought it could not come

near my soul with comfort, therefore I threw down my book in a pet: then I thought it was not large enough

for me; no, not large enough; but now it was as if it had arms of grace so wide, that it could not only enclose

205. By these words I was sustained, yet not without exceeding conflicts, for the space of seven or eight

weeks; for my peace would be in it, and out, sometimes twenty times a day; comfort now, and trouble

presently; peace now, and before I could go a furlong, as full of fear and guilt as ever heart could hold. And

this was not only now and then, but my whole seven weeks' experience: for this about THE SUFFICIENCY

OF GRACE, and THAT of ESAU'S parting with his birthright, would be like a pair of scales within my

mind; sometimes one end would be uppermost, and sometimes again the other; according to which would be

206. Therefore I did still pray to God, that He would come in with this scripture more fully on my heart; to

wit, that He would help me to apply the whole sentence, for as yet I could not: that He gave, that I gathered;

but farther I could not go, for as yet it only helped me to hope there might be mercy for me; MY GRACE IS

SUFFICIENT: And though it came no farther, it answered my former question, to wit, That there was hope;

yet because FOR THEE was left out, I was not contented, but prayed to God for that also. Wherefore, one

day, when I was in a meeting of God's people, full of sadness and terror; for my fears again were strong upon

me; and, as I was now thinking, my soul was never the better, but my case most sad and fearful, these words

did with great power suddenly break in upon me; MY GRACE IS SUFFICIENT FOR THEE, MY GRACE

IS SUFFICIENT FOR THEE, MY GRACE IS SUFFICIENT FOR THEE, three times together: And oh!

methought that every word was a mighty word unto me; as MY, and GRACE, and SUFFICIENT, and FOR

207. At which time my understanding was so enlightened, that I was as though I had seen the Lord Jesus look

down from heaven, through the tiles upon me, and direct these words unto me. This sent me mourning home;

it broke my heart, and filled me full of joy, and laid me low as the dust; only it stayed not long with me, I

mean in this glory and refreshing comfort; yet it continued with me for several weeks, and did encourage me

to hope: but as soon as that powerful operation of it was taken from my heart, that other, about ESAU,

returned upon me as before: so my soul did hang as in a pair of scales again, sometimes up, and sometimes

208. Thus I went on for many weeks, sometimes comforted, and sometimes tormented; and especially at

sometimes my torment would be very sore, for all those scriptures forenamed in the HEBREWS, would be

set before me, as the only sentences that would keep me out of heaven. Then again I would begin to repent

that ever that thought went through me; I would also think thus with myself: WHY, HOW MANY

GOD MISS THEM, AND SAVE ME FOR ALL THEM? Sometimes again I would think, OH! IF IT WERE

209. Then methought I should see as if both PETER and PAUL, and JOHN, and all the writers, did look with

scorn upon me, and hold me in derision; and as if they had said unto me, ALL OUR WORDS ARE TRUTH,

HOLD UPON, BUT THESE AND SUCH AS THESE; IT IS IMPOSSIBLE, Heb. vi.; THERE REMAINS

210. These, as the elders of the city of refuge, I saw, were to be judges both of my case and me, while I stood

with the AVENGER of blood at my heels, trembling at their gate for deliverance; also with a thousand fears

211. Thus I was confounded, not knowing what to do, or how to be satisfied in this question, WHETHER

THE SCRIPTURES COULD AGREE IN THE SALVATION OF MY SOUL? I quaked at the apostles; I

212. And I remember one day, as I was in divers frames of spirit, and considering that these frames were

according to the nature of several scriptures that came in upon my mind; if this of grace, then was I quiet; but

of that of ESAU, then tormented. Lord, thought I, IF BOTH THESE SCRIPTURES SHOULD MEET IN MY

HEART AT ONCE, I WONDER WHICH OF THEM WOULD GET THE BETTER OF ME. So methought I

had a longing mind that they might come both together upon me; yea, I desired of God they might.

213. Well, about two or three days after, so they did indeed; they bolted both upon me at a time, and did work

and struggle strangely in me for a while; at last that about ESAU'S birthright began to wax weak, and

withdraw, and vanish; and this, about the sufficiency of grace prevailed with peace and joy. And as I was in a

muse about this thing, that scripture came in upon me, MERCY REJOICETH AGAINST JUDGMENT.

214. This was a wonderment to me; yet truly, I am apt to think it was of God; for the word of the law and

wrath, must give place to the word of life and grace; because, though the word of condemnation be glorious,

yet the word of life and salvation doth far exceed in glory. 2 Cor. iii. 811. MARK ix. 57. JOHN vi. 37.

Also that MOSES and ELIAS must both vanish, and leave Christ and His saints alone.

215. This scripture also did now most sweetly visit my soul; AND HIM THAT COMETH TO ME, I WILL

IN NO WISE CAST OUT. Oh! the comfort that I had from this word, IN NO WISE! As who should say, BY

NO MEANS, FOR NOTHING WHATEVER HE HATH DONE. But Satan would greatly labour to pull this

promise from me, telling of me, THAT CHRIST DID NOT MEAN ME AND SUCH AS I, BUT SINNERS

HIM: HIM THAT COMETH TO ME I WILL IN NO WISE CAST OUT. And this I well remember still, that

of all the slights that Satan used to take this scripture from me, yet he never did so much as put this question,

BUT DO YOU COME ARIGHT? And I have thought the reason was, because he thought I knew full well

what coming aright was; for I saw that to come aright, was to come as I was, a vile and ungodly sinner, and to

cast myself at the feet of mercy, condemning myself for sin. If ever Satan and I did strive for any word of

God in all my life, it was for this good word of Christ; he at one end, and I at the other: Oh! what work did

we make! It was for this in JOHN, I say, that we did so tug and strive, he pulled, and I pulled; but God be

216. But notwithstanding all these helps, and blessed words of grace, yet that of ESAU'S selling of his

birthright, would still at times distress my conscience: for though I had been most sweetly comforted, and

that but just before, yet when that came into my mind, 'twould make me fear again: I could not be quite rid

thereof, 'twould every day be with me: wherefore now I went another way to work, even to consider the

nature of this blasphemous thought, I mean, if I should take the words at the largest, and give them their own

natural force and scope, even every word therein: so when I had thus considered, I found, that if they were

fairly taken, they would amount to this; THAT I HAD FREELY LEFT THE LORD JESUS CHRIST TO HIS

CHOICE, WHETHER HE WOULD BE MY SAVIOUR OR NO; for the wicked words were these, LET

HIM GO, IF HE WILL. Then that scripture gave me hope, I WILL NEVER LEAVE THEE, NOR

FORSAKE THEE. Heb. xiii. 5. 'O Lord,' said I, BUT I HAVE LEFT THEE. Then it answered again, BUT I

217. Yet I was grievous afraid He should, and found it exceeding hard to trust Him, seeing I had so offended

Him: I could have been exceeding glad that this thought had never befallen; for then I thought I could with

more ease and freedom in abundance, have leaned on His grace. I saw it was with me, as it was with

JOSEPH'S brethren; the guilt of their own wickedness did often fill them with fears that their brother would

218. Yet above all the scriptures that I yet did meet with that in JOSHUA xx. was the greatest comfort to me,

which speaks of the slayer that was to flee for refuge: AND IF THE AVENGER OF BLOOD PURSUE THE

AND HATED HIM NOT AFORETIME. Oh! blessed be God for this word: I was convinced that I was the

slayer; and that the avenger of blood pursued me, I felt with great terror; only now it remained that I inquire

whether I have right to enter the city of refuge: so I found, that he must not, WHO LAY IN WAIT TO SHED

BLOOD: It was not the wilful MURDERER, but he who UNWITTINGLY did it, he who did it unawares; not

out of spite, or grudge, or malice, he that shed it unwittingly: even he who did not HATE HIS NEIGHBOUR

219. I thought verily I was the man that must enter, because I had smitten my neighbour UNWITTINGLY,

AND HATED HIM NOT AFORETIME. I hated Him not aforetime; no, I prayed unto Him, was tender of

sinning against Him; yea, and against this wicked temptation I had strove for a twelvemonth before; yea, and

also when it did pass through my heart, it did in spite of my teeth: wherefore I thought I had a right to enter

this city, and the elders, which are the APOSTLES, were not to deliver me up. This therefore was great

220. Yet being very critical, for my smart had made me that I knew not what ground was sure enough to bear

me, I had one question that my soul did much desire to be resolved about; and that was, WHETHER IT BE

CHRIST? The which after I had much considered, I found the answer was, No, they could not; and that for

221. FIRST, Because those that have sinned that sin, they are debarred a share in the blood of Christ; and

being shut out of that, they must needs be void of the least ground of hope, and so of spiritual comfort; FOR

TO SUCH THERE REMAINS NO MORE SACRIFICE FOR SIN. Heb. x. 26, 27. SECONDLY, Because

they are denied a share in the promise of life: IT SHALL NEVER BE FORGIVEN HIM NEITHER IN THIS

WORLD, NEITHER IN THE WORLD TO COME. Matt. xii. 32. THIRDLY, The Son of God excludes them

also from a share in His blessed intercession, being for ever ashamed to own them, both before His holy

222. When I had with much deliberation considered of this matter, and could not but conclude that the Lord

had comforted me, and that too after this my wicked sin: then methought I durst venture to come nigh unto

those most fearful and terrible scriptures, with which all this while I had been so greatly affrighted, and on

which indeed, before I durst scarce cast mine eye (yea, had much ado an hundred times, to forbear wishing

them out of the Bible), for I thought they would destroy me; but now, I say, I began to take some measure of

encouragement, to come close to them to read them, and consider them, and to weigh their scope and

223. The which when I began to do, I found their visage changed: for they looked not so grimly, as before I

thought they did: and first I came to the sixth of the HEBREWS, yet trembling for fear it should strike me;

which when I had considered, I found that the falling there intended, was a falling QUITE AWAY; that is as I

conceived, a falling from and absolute denying of the gospel, of remission of sins by Jesus Christ; for, from

them the apostle begins his argument, verses 1, 2, 3, 4. SECONDLY, I found that this falling away, must be

openly, even in the view of the world, even so as TO PUT CHRIST TO AN OPEN SHAME. THIRDLY, I

found those he there intended, were for ever shut up of God, both in blindness, hardness, and impenitency: IT

particulars, I found to God's everlasting praise, my sin was not the sin in this place intended.

FIRST, I confessed I was fallen, but not fallen away; that is, from the profession of faith in Jesus unto eternal

SECONDLY, I confessed that I had put Jesus Christ to SHAME by my sin, but not to open SHAME; I did

THIRDLY, Nor did I find that God had shut me up, or denied me to come (though I found it hard work

indeed to come) to Him by sorrow and repentance: blessed be God for unsearchable grace!

224. Then I considered that in the 10th chapter of the HEBREWS, and found that the WILFUL SIN there

mentioned, is not every wilful sin, but that which doth throw off Christ, and then His commandments too.

SECONDLY, That must be done also openly, before two or three witnesses, to answer that of the law,

VERSE 28. THIRDLY, This sin cannot be committed, but with great despite done to the Spirit of Grace;

despising both the dissuasions from that sin, and the persuasions to the contrary. But the Lord knows, though

225. And as touching that in the 12th of the HEBREWS, about ESAU'S selling of his birthright; though this

was that which killed me, and stood like a spear against me, yet now I did consider, FIRST, that his was not a

hasty thought against the continual labour of his mind, but a thought consented to, and put in practice

likewise, and that after some deliberation, Gen. xxv. SECONDLY, It was a public and open action, even

before his brother, if not before many more; this made his sin of a far more heinous nature than otherwise it

would have been. THIRDLY, He continued to slight his birthright: HE DID EAT AND DRINK, AND

WENT HIS WAY: thus Esau DESPISED HIS BIRTHRIGHT, yea, twenty years after he was found to

despise it still. And Esau said, I HAVE ENOUGH, MY BROTHER, KEEP THAT THOU HAST UNTO

226. Now as touching this, THAT Esau SOUGHT A PLACE OF REPENTANCE; thus I thought: FIRST,

This was not for the BIRTHRIGHT, but THE BLESSING: this is clear from the apostle, and is distinguished

by Esau himself; HE TOOK AWAY MY BIRTHRIGHT (that is, formerly); AND BEHOLD NOW HE

HATH TAKEN AWAY MY BLESSING. Gen. xxvii. 36. SECONDLY, Now, this being thus considered, I

came again to the apostle, to see what might be the mind of God, in a NewTestament style and sense

concerning ESAU'S sin; and so far as I could conceive, this was the mind of God, THAT THE

BIRTHRIGHT signified REGENERATION, and the BLESSING, the ETERNAL INHERITANCE; for so

the apostle seems to hint. LEST THERE BE ANY PROFANE PERSON, AS Esau, WHO FOR ONE

MORSEL OF MEAT SOLD HIS BIRTHRIGHT; as if he should say, That shall cast off all those blessed

beginnings of God, that at present are upon him, in order to a newbirth; lest they become as ESAU, even be

227. For many there are, who, in the day of grace and mercy, despise those things which are indeed the

birthright to heaven, who yet when the deciding day appears, will cry as lord as ESAU, LORD, LORD,

OPEN TO US; but then, as ISAAC would not repent, no more will God the Father, but will say, I HAVE

BLESSED THESE, YEA, and THEY SHALL BE BLESSED; but as for you, DEPART, YOU ARE THE

228. When I had thus considered these scriptures, and found that thus to understand them, was not against,

but according to other scriptures; this still added further to my encouragement and comfort, and also gave a

great blow to that objection, to wit, THAT THE SCRIPTURES COULD NOT AGREE IN THE

SALVATION OF MY SOUL. And now remained only the hinder part of the tempest, for the thunder was

gone beyond me, only some drops did still remain, that now and then would fall upon me; but because my

former frights and anguish were very sore and deep, therefore it oft befall me still, as it befalleth those that

have been scared with fire. I thought every voice was, FIRE! FIRE! Every little touch would hurt my tender

229. But one day, as I was passing in the field, and that too with some dashes on my conscience, fearing lest

yet all was not right, suddenly this sentence fell upon my soul, THY RIGHTEOUSNESS IS IN HEAVEN;

and methought withal, I saw with the eyes of my soul, Jesus Christ at God's right hand: there, I say, was my

righteousness; so that wherever I was, or whatever I was doing, God could not say of me, HE WANTS MY

RIGHTEOUSNESS; for that was just before Him. I also saw moreover, that it was not my good frame of

heart that made my righteousness better, nor yet my bad frame that made my righteousness worse; for my

righteousness was Jesus Christ Himself, THE SAME YESTERDAY, TODAY, AND FOR EVER. Heb. xiii.

230. Now did my chains fall off my legs indeed; I was loosed from my afflictions and irons; my temptations

also fled away; so that from that time those dreadful scriptures of God left off to trouble me: now went I also

home rejoicing, for the grace and love of God; so when I came home, I looked to see if I could find that

sentence; THY RIGHTEOUSNESS IS IN HEAVEN, but could not find such a saying; wherefore my heart

began to sink again, only that was brought to my remembrance, 1 Cor. i. 30, CHRIST JESUS, WHO OF

231. For by this scripture I saw that the Man Christ Jesus, as He is distinct from us, as touching His bodily

presence, so He is our righteousness and sanctification before God. Here therefore I lived, for some time,

very sweetly at peace with God through Christ; Oh! methought, Christ! Christ! there was nothing but Christ

that was before my eyes: I was not now (only) for looking upon this and the other benefits of Christ apart, as

of His blood, burial, or resurrection, but considering Him as a whole Christ! as He in whom all these, and all

His other virtues, relations, offices and operations met together, and that He sat on the right hand of God in

232. 'Twas glorious to me to see His exaltation, and the worth and prevalency of all His benefits, and that

because now I could look from myself to Him and should reckon, that all those graces of God that now were

green on me, were yet but like those cracked groats and fourpencehalfpennies that rich men carry in their

purses, when their gold is in their trunks at home: Oh! I saw my gold was in my trunk at home! In Christ my

Lord and Saviour. Now Christ was all; all my wisdom, all my righteousness, all my sanctification, and all my

233. Further, the Lord did also lead me into the mystery of union with the Son of God; that I was joined to

Him, that I was flesh of His flesh, and bone of His bone; and now was that word sweet to me in Eph. v. 30.

By this also was my faith in Him, as my righteousness, the more confirmed in me; for if He and I were one,

then His righteousness was mine, His merits mine, His victory also mine. Now could I see myself in heaven

and earth at once: in heaven by my Christ, by my head, by my righteousness and life, though on earth by my

234. Now I saw Christ Jesus was looked upon of God; and should also be looked upon by us, as that common

or public person, in whom all the whole body of His elect are always to be considered and reckoned; that we

fulfilled the law by Him, died by Him, rose from the dead by Him, got the victory over sin, death, the devil,

and hell, by Him; when He died, we died, and so of His resurrection. THY DEAD MEN SHALL LIVE,

TOGETHER WITH MY DEAD BODY SHALL THEY ARISE, saith He. Isa. xxvi. 19. And again, AFTER

SHALL LIVE IN HIS SIGHT. Hosea vi. 2. Which is now fulfilled by the sitting down of the Son of Man on

the right hand of the Majesty in the heavens; according to that to the EPHESIANS, AND HATH RAISED

235. Ah! these blessed considerations and scriptures, with many others of like nature, were in those days

made to spangle in mine eyes; so that I have cause to say, PRAISE YE THE LORD. PRAISE GOD IN HIS

236. Having thus in a few words given you a taste of the sorrow and affliction that my soul went under, by

the guilt and terror that this my wicked thought did lay me under; and having given you also a touch of my

deliverance therefrom, and of the sweet and blessed comfort that I met with afterwards, which comfort dwelt

about a twelvemonth with my heart, to my unspeakable admiration: I will now (God willing), before I

proceed any farther, give you in a word or two, what, as I conceive, was the cause of this temptation; and also

237. For the causes, I conceived they were principally two: of which two also I was deeply convinced all the

time this trouble lay upon me. The first was, for that I did not, when I was delivered from the temptation that

went before, still pray to God to to keep me from the temptations that were to come; for though, as I can say

in truth, my soul was much in prayer before this trial seized me, yet then I prayed only, or at the most

principally, for the removal of present troubles, and for fresh discoveries of His love in Christ, which I saw

afterwards was not enough to do; I also should have prayed that the great God would keep me from the evil

238. Of this I was made deeply sensible by the prayer of holy DAVID, who when he was under present

mercy, yet prayed that God would hold him back from sin and temptation to come; THEN, saith he, SHALL I

BE UPRIGHT, AND I SHALL BE INNOCENT FROM THE GREAT TRANSGRESSION. Psalm xix. 13.

By this very word was I galled and condemned quite through this long temptation.

239. That was also another word that did much condemn me for my folly, in the neglect of this duty. Heb. iv.

OBTAIN MERCY, AND FIND GRACE TO HELP IN TIME OF NEED. This I had not done, and therefore

was thus suffered to sin and fall, according to what is written, PRAY THAT YE ENTER NOT INTO

TEMPTATION. And truly this very thing is to this day of such weight and awe upon me, that I dare not,

when I come before the Lord, go of my knees, until I intreat Him for help and mercy against the temptations

that are to come; and I do beseech thee, reader, that thou learn to beware of my negligence, by the afflictions,

240. Another cause of this temptation was, that I had tempted God; and on this manner did I do it: Upon a

time my wife was great with child, and before her full time was come, her pangs, as of a woman in travail,

were fierce and strong upon her, even as if she would have fallen immediately in labour, and been delivered

of an untimely birth: now at this very time it was, that I had been so strongly tempted to question the being of

God; wherefore, as my wife lay crying by me, I said, but with all secrecy imaginable, even thinking in my

241. I had no sooner said it in my heart, but her pangs were taken from her, and she was cast into a deep

sleep, and so continued till morning; at this I greatly marvelled, not knowing what to think; but after I had

been awake a good while, and heard her cry no more, I fell asleep also; so when I awaked in the morning, it

came upon me again, even what I had said in my heart the last night, and how the Lord had showed me, that

He knew my secret thoughts, which was a great astonishment unto me for several weeks after.

242. Well, about a year and a half afterwards, that wicked sinful thought, of which I have spoken before,

went through my wicked heart, even this thought, LET CHRIST GO, IF HE WILL: so when I was fallen

under the guilt for this, the remembrance of my other thought, and of the effect thereof, would also come

upon me with this retort, which also carried rebuke along with it, NOW YOU MAY SEE THAT GOD DOTH

243. And with this, that of the passages that were betwixt the Lord, and His servant GIDEON, fell upon my

spirit; how because that GIDEON tempted God with his fleece, both wet and dry, when he should have

believed and ventured upon His word; therefore the Lord did afterwards so try him, as to send him against an

innumerable company of enemies, and that too, as to outward appearance, without any strength or help.

Judges vi. 7. Thus He served me, and that justly, for I should have believed His word, and not have put an IF

244. And now to show you something of the advantages that I also have gained by this temptation: and first,

by this I was made continually to possess in my soul a very wonderful sense both of the blessing and glory of

God, and of His beloved Son; in the temptation that went before, my soul was perplexed with unbelief,

blasphemy, hardness of heart, questions about the being of God, Christ, the truth of the word, and certainty of

the world to come: I say, then I was greatly assaulted and tormented with atheism, but now the case was

otherwise; now was God and Christ continually before my face, though not in a way of comfort, but in a way

of exceeding dread and terror. The glory of the holiness of God, did at this time break me to pieces; and the

bowels and compassion of Christ did break me as on the wheel; for I could not consider Him but as a lost and

rejected Christ, the remembrance of which, was as the continual breaking of my bones.

245. The scriptures also were wonderful things unto me; I saw that the truth and verity of them were the keys

of the kingdom of heaven; THOSE that the scriptures favour, THEY must inherit bliss; but THOSE that they

oppose and condemn, MUST perish for evermore: Oh! this word, FOR THE SCRIPTURES CANNOT BE

BROKEN, would rend the caul of my heart: and so would that other, WHOSE SINS YE REMIT, THEY

ARE REMITTED; BUT WHOSE SINS YE RETAIN, THEY ARE RETAINED. Now I saw the apostles to

be the elders of the city of refuge. Joshua xx. 4. Those that they were to receive in, were received to life; but

246. Oh! one sentence of the scripture did more afflict and terrify my mind, I mean those sentences that stood

against me (as sometimes I thought they every one did) more, I say, than an army of forty thousand men that

might have come against me. Woe be to him against whom the scriptures bend themselves!

247. By this temptation I was made to see more into the nature of the promises than ever I was before; for I

lying now trembling under the mighty hand of God, continually torn and rent by the thundering of His

justice: this made me with careful heart, and watchful eye, with great fearfulness to turn over every leaf, and

with much diligence, mixed with trembling, to consider every sentence, together with its natural force and

248. By this temptation also I was greatly holden off from my former foolish practice of putting by the word

of promise when saw it came into my mind; for now, though I could not suck that comfort and sweetness

from the promise, as I had done at other times; yet, like to a man sinking, I would catch at all I saw: formerly

I thought I might not meddle with the promise, unless I felt its comfort, but now 'twas no time thus to do; the

249. Now therefore I was glad to catch at THAT word which yet I feared I had no ground or right to own;

and even to leap into the bosom of that promise that yet I feared did shut its heart against me. Now also I

should labour to take the word as God hath laid it down, without restraining the natural force of one syllable

thereof: O! what did I now see in that blessed sixth of John: AND HIM THAT COMETH TO ME, I WILL

IN NO WISE CAST OUT. John vi. 37. Now I began to consider with myself, that God hath a bigger mouth

to speak with, than I had a heart to conceive with; I thought also with myself, that He spake not His words in

haste, or in an unadvised heat, but with infinite wisdom and judgment, and in very truth and faithfulness. 2

250. I should in these days, often in my greatest agonies, even flounce towards the promise (as the horses do

towards sound ground, that yet stick in the mire); concluding (though as one almost bereft of his wits through

fear) on this I will rest and stay, and leave the fulfilling of it to the God of heaven that made it. Oh! many a

pull hath my heart had with Satan, for that blessed sixth of John: I did not now, as at other times, look

principally for comfort (though, O how welcome would it have been unto me!). But now a word, a word to

lean a weary soul upon, that it might not sink for ever! 'twas that I hunted for.

251. Yea, often when I have been making to the promise, I have seen as if the Lord would refuse my soul for

ever; I was often as if I had run upon the pikes, and as if the Lord had thrust at me, to keep me from Him, as

with a flaming sword. Then I should think of ESTHER, who went to petition the king contrary to the law.

Esther iv. 16. I thought also of Benhadad's servants, who went with ropes upon their heads to their enemies

for mercy. 1 Kings xx. 31, etc. The woman of Canaan also, that would not be daunted, though called dog by

Christ, Matt. xv., 22, etc., and the man that went to borrow bread at midnight, Luke xi. 58, etc., were great

252. I never saw those heights and depths in grace, and love, and mercy, as I saw after this temptation; great

sins to draw out great grace; and where guilt is most terrible and fierce, there the mercy of God in Christ,

when showed to the soul, appears most high and mighty. When JOB had passed through his captivity, HE

HAD TWICE AS MUCH AS HE HAD BEFORE. Job xlii. 10. Blessed be God for Jesus Christ our Lord.

Many other things I might here make observation of, but I would be brief, and therefore shall at this time

omit them; and do pray God that my harms may make others fear to offend, lest they also be made to bear the

I had two or three times, at or about my deliverance from this temptation, such strange apprehensions of the

grace of God, that I could hardly bear up under it: it was so out of measure amazing, when I thought it could

reach me, that I do think if that sense of it had abode long upon me, it would have made me incapable for

253. Now I shall go forward to give you a relation of other of the Lord's dealings with me at sundry other

seasons, and of the temptations I then did meet withal. I shall begin with what I met with when first I did join

in fellowship with the people of God in BEDFORD. After I had propounded to the church, that my desire was

to walk in the order and ordinances of Christ with them, and was also admitted by them: while I thought of

that blessed ordinance of Christ, which was His last supper with His disciples before His death, that scripture,

DO THIS IN REMEMBRANCE OF ME, Luke xxii. 19, was made a very precious word unto me; for by it

the Lord did come down upon my conscience with the discovery of His death for my sins; and as I then felt,

did as if He plunged me in the virtue of the same. But behold, I had not been long a partaker at that

ordinance, but such fierce and sad temptations did attend me at all times therein, both to blaspheme the

ordinance, and to wish some deadly thing to those that then did eat thereof: that lest I should at any time be

guilty of consenting to these wicked and fearful thoughts, I was forced to bend myself all the while, to pray to

God to keep me from such blasphemies: and also to cry to God to bless the bread and cup to them, as it went

from mouth to mouth. The reason of this temptation, I have thought since, was, because I did not with that

254. Thus I continued for three quarters of a year, and could never have rest nor ease: but at the last the Lord

came in upon my soul with that same scripture, by which my soul was visited before: and after that, I have

been usually very well and comfortable in the partaking of that blessed ordinance; and have, I trust, therein

discerned the Lord's body, as broken for my sins, and that His precious blood hath been shed for my

255. Upon a time I was something inclining to a consumption, wherewith about the spring I was suddenly

and violently seized, with much weakness in my outward man; insomuch that I thought I could not live. Now

began I afresh to give myself up to a serious examination after my state and condition for the future, and of

my evidences for that blessed world to come: for it hath, I bless the name of God, been my usual course, as

always, so especially in the day of affliction, to endeavour to keep my interest in the life to come, clear before

256. But I had no sooner began to recall to mind my former experience of the goodness of God to my soul,

but there came flocking into my mind an innumerable company of my sins and transgressions; amongst

which these were at this time most to my affliction; namely, my deadness, dulness, and coldness in holy

duties; my wanderings of heart, of my wearisomeness in all good things, my want of love to God, His ways

and people, with this at the end of all, ARE THESE THE FRUITS OF CHRISTIANITY? ARE THESE

257. At the apprehensions of these things my sickness was doubled upon me; for now I was sick in my

inward man, my soul was clogged with guilt; now also was my former experience of God's goodness to me,

quite taken out of my mind, and hid as if they had never been, or seen: now was my soul greatly pinched

between these two considerations, LIVE I MUST NOT, DIE I DARE NOT. Now I sunk and fell in my spirit,

and was giving up all for lost; but as I was walking up and down in the house as a man in a most woeful state,

that word of God took hold of my heart, YE ARE JUSTIFIED FREELY BY HIS GRACE, THROUGH THE

REDEMPTION THAT IS IN CHRIST JESUS. Rom. iii. 24. But oh! what a turn it made upon me!

258. Now was I as one awaked out of some troublesome sleep and dream; and listening to this heavenly

sentence, I was as if I had heard it thus expounded to me: SINNER, THOU THINKEST, THAT BECAUSE

AM PLEASED WITH HIM. At this I was greatly lightened in my mind, and made to understand, that God

could justify a sinner at any time; it was but His looking upon Christ, and imputing His benefits to us, and the

259. And as I was thus in a muse, that scripture also came with great power upon my spirit, NOT BY

HATH SAVED US, ETC. 2 Tim. i. 9; Tit. iii. 5. Now was I got on high, I saw myself within the arms of

grace and mercy; and though I was before afraid to think of a dying hour, yet, now I cried, LET ME DIE:

Now death was lovely and beautiful in my sight, for I saw WE SHALL NEVER LIVE INDEED, TILL WE

BE GONE TO THE OTHER WORLD. Oh! methought this life is but a slumber, in comparison with that

above. At this time also I saw more in these words, HEIRS OF GOD, Rom. viii. 17, than ever I shall be able

to express while I live in this world: HEIRS OF GOD! God Himself is the portion of the saints. This I saw

260. Again, as I was at another time very ill and weak, all that time also the tempter did beset me strongly

(for I find he is much for assaulting the soul; when it begins to approach towards the grave, then is his

opportunity), labouring to hide from me my former experience of God's goodness: also setting before me the

terrors of death, and the judgment of God, insomuch that at this time, through my fear of miscarrying for ever

(should I now die), I was as one dead before death came, and was as if I had felt myself already descending

into the pit; methought I said, There were no way, but to hell I must: but behold, just as I was in the midst of

those fears, these words of the angel's carrying LAZARUS into ABRAHAM'S bosom darted in upon me, as

who should say, SO IT SHALL BE WITH THEE WHEN THOU DOST LEAVE THIS WORLD. This did

sweetly revive my spirit, and help me to hope in God; which when I had with comfort mused on a while, that

word fell with great weight upon my mind, O DEATH, WHERE IS THY STING? O GRAVE, WHERE IS

THY VICTORY? 1 Cor. xv. 55. At this I became both well in body and mind at once, for my sickness did

261. At another time, though just before I was pretty well and savoury in my spirit, yet suddenly there fell

upon me a great cloud of darkness, which did so hide from me the things of God and Christ, that I was as if I

had never seen or known them in my life: I was also so overrun in my soul with a senseless heartless frame of

spirit, that I could not feel my soul to move or stir after GRACE and LIFE by CHRIST; I was as if my loins

were broken, or as if my hands and feet had been tied or bound with chains. At this time also I felt some

weakness to seize upon my outward man, which made still the other affliction the more heavy and

262. After I had been in this condition some three or four days, as I was sitting by the fire, I suddenly felt this

word to sound in my heart, I MUST GO TO JESUS. At this my former darkness and atheism fled away, and

the blessed things of heaven were set in my view. While I was on this sudden thus overtaken with surprise,

Wife (said I), is there ever such a scripture, I MUST GO TO JESUS? She said, she could not tell; therefore I

sat musing still, to see if I could remember such a place: I had not sat above two or three minutes, but that

came bolting in upon me, AND TO AN INNUMERABLE COMPANY OF ANGELS; and withal, Hebrews

263. Then with joy I told my wife, O! NOW I KNOW, I KNOW! But that night was a good night to me, I

never had but few better; I longed for the company of some of God's people, that I might have imparted unto

them what God had showed me. Christ was a precious Christ to my soul that night; I could scarce lie in my

bed for joy, and peace, and triumph, through Christ. This great glory did not continue upon me until morning,

yet the twelfth of the Author to the Hebrews, Heb. xii. 22, 23, was a blessed scripture to me for many days

264. The words are these: YE ARE COME TO MOUNT SION, AND UNTO THE CITY OF THE LIVING

sentence the Lord led me over and over, first to this word, and then to that; and showed me wonderful glory

in every one of them. These words also have oft since that time, been great refreshment to my spirit. Blessed

265. And now I am speaking my experience, I will in this place thrust in a word or two concerning my

preaching the word, and of God's dealing with me in that particular also. For after I had been about five or six

years awakened, and helped myself to see both the want and worth of Jesus Christ our Lord, and also enabled

to venture my soul upon Him; some of the most able among the saints with us, I say, the most able for

judgment and holiness of life, as they conceived, did perceive that God had counted me worth to understand

something of His will in His holy and blessed word, and had given me utterance in some measure, to express

what I saw to others, for edification; therefore they desired me, and that with much earnestness, that I would

be willing, at sometimes to take in hand, in one of the meetings, to speak a word of exhortation unto them.

266. The which, though at the first it did much dash and abash my spirit, yet being still by them desired and

entreated, I consented to their request, and did twice at two several assemblies (but in private), though with

much weakness and infirmity, discover my gift amongst them; at which they not only seemed to be, but did

solemnly protest, as in the sight of the great God, they were both affected and comforted; and gave thanks to

267. After this, sometimes, when some of them did go into the country to teach, they would also that I should

go with them; where, though as yet, I did not nor durst not, make use of my gift in an open way, yet more

privately, still, as I came amongst the good people in those places, I did sometimes speak a word of

admonition unto them also; the which they, as the other, received with rejoicing at the mercy of God to

268. Wherefore, to be brief; at last, being still desired by the church, after some solemn prayer to the Lord,

with fasting, I was more particularly called forth, and appointed to a more ordinary and public preaching of

the word, not only to and amongst them that believed, but also to offer the gospel to those who had not yet

received the faith thereof; about which time I did evidently find in my mind a secret pricking forward thereto;

though I bless God, not for desire of vainglory; for at that time I was most sorely afflicted with the fiery

269. But yet could not be content, unless I was found in the exercise of my gift, unto which also I was greatly

animated, not only by the continual desires of the godly, but also by that saying of PAUL to the

270. By this text I was made to see that the Holy Ghost never intended that men who have gifts and abilities,

should bury them in the earth, but rather did command and stir up such to the exercise of their gift, and also

did commend those that were apt and ready so to do. THEY HAVE ADDICTED THEMSELVES TO THE

MINISTRY OF THE SAINTS. This scripture, in these days, did continually run in my mind, to encourage

me, and strengthen me in this my work for God; I have also been encouraged from several other scriptures

and examples of the godly, both specified in the word, and other ancient histories: ACTS viii. 4 and xviii. 24,

271. Wherefore, though of myself of all the saints the most unworthy; yet I, but with great fear and trembling

at the sight of my own weakness, did set upon the work, and did according to my gift, and the proportion of

my faith, preach that blessed gospel that God had showed me in the holy word of truth: which when the

country understood, they came in to hear the word by hundreds, and that from all parts, though upon sundry

272. And I thank God, He gave unto me some measure of bowels and pity for their souls, which also did put

me forward to labour, with great diligence and earnestness, to find out such a word as might, if God would

bless, lay hold of, and awaken the conscience; in which also the good Lord had respect to the desire of His

servant; for I had not preached long, before some began to be touched, and be greatly afflicted in their minds

at the apprehension of the greatness of their sin, and of their need of Jesus Christ.

273. But I first could not believe that God should speak by me to the heart of any man, still counting myself

unworthy; yet those who thus were touched, would love me and have a particular respect for me; and though

I did put it from me, that they should be awakened by me, still they would confess it, and affirm it before the

saints of God: they would also bless God for me (unworthy wretch that I am!) and count me God's instrument

274. Wherefore seeing them in both their words and deeds to be so constant, and also in their hearts so

earnestly pressing after the knowledge of Jesus Christ, rejoicing that ever God did send me where they were;

then I began to conclude it might be so, that God had owned in His work such a foolish one as I; and then

came that word of God to my heart, with much sweet refreshment, THE BLESSING OF HIM THAT WAS

275. At this therefore I rejoiced; yea, the tears of those whom God did awaken by my preaching, would be

both solace and encouragement to me: for I thought on those sayings, WHO IS HE THEN THAT MAKETH

ME GLAD, BUT THE SAME WHICH IS MADE SORRY BY ME? 2 Cor. ii. 2. And again, IF I BE NOT

APOSTLESHIP ARE YE IN THE LORD. 1 Cor. ix. 2. These things, therefore, were as another argument

276. In my preaching of the word, I took special notice of this one thing, namely, that the Lord did lead me to

begin where His word begins with sinners; that is, to condemn all flesh, and to open and allege, that the curse

of God by the law, doth belong to, and lay hold on all men as they come into the world, because of sin. Now

this part of my work I fulfilled with great sense; for the terrors of the law, and guilt for my transgressions, lay

heavy on my conscience: I preached what I felt, what I smartingly did feel; even that under which my poor

277. Indeed, I have been as one sent to them from the dead; I went myself in chains, to preach to them in

chains; and carried that fire in my own conscience, that I persuaded them to be aware of. I can truly say, and

that without dissembling, that when I have been to preach, I have gone full of guilt and terror, even to the

pulpit door, and there it hath been taken off, and I have been at liberty in my mind until I have done my work;

and then immediately, even before I could get down the pulpit stairs, I have been as bad as I was before; yet

God carried me on, but surely with a strong hand, for neither guilt nor hell could take me off my work.

278. Thus I went on for the space of two years, crying out against men's sins, and their fearful state because

of them. After which, the Lord came in upon my own soul, with some staid peace and comfort through

Christ; for He did give me many sweet discoveries of His blessed grace through Him; wherefore now I

altered in my preaching (for still I preached what I saw and felt); now therefore I did much labour to hold

forth Jesus Christ in all His offices, relations, and benefits unto the world; and did strive also to discover, to

condemn, and remove those false supports and props on which the world doth both lean, and by them fall and

279. After this, God led me into something of the mystery of the union of Christ; wherefore that I discovered

and showed to them also. And, when I had travelled through these three chief points of the word of God,

about the space of five years or more, I was caught in my present practice, and cast into prison, where I have

lain above as long again to confirm the truth by way of suffering, as I was before in testifying of it according

280. When I have been in preaching, I thank God my heart hath often all the time of this and the other

exercise, with great earnestness cried to God that He would make the word effectual to the salvation of the

soul; still being grieved lest the enemy should take the word away from the conscience, and so it should

become unfruitful: wherefore I should labour to speak the word, as that thereby, if it were possible, the sin

281. And when I have done the exercise, it hath gone to my heart, to think the word should now fall as rain

on stony places; still wishing from my heart, Oh! that they who have heard me speak this day, did but see as I

do, what sin, death, hell, and the curse of God is; and also what the grace, and love, and mercy of God is,

through Christ, to men in such a case as they are, who are yet estranged from Him. And indeed, I did often

say in my heart before the Lord, THAT IF TO BE HANGED UP PRESENTLY BEFORE THEIR EYES,

282. For I have been in my preaching, especially when I have been engaged in the doctrine of life by Christ,

without works, as if an angel of God had stood by at my back to encourage me: Oh! it hath been with such

power and heavenly evidence upon my own soul, while I have been labouring to unfold it, to demonstrate it,

and to fasten it upon the conscience of others; that I could not be contented with saying, I BELIEVE, AND

AM SURE; methought I was more than sure (if it be lawful to express myself) that those things which then I

283. When I first went to preach the word abroad, the doctors and priests of the country did open wide

against me. But I was persuaded of this, not to render railing for railing; but to see how many of their carnal

professors I could convince of their miserable state by the law, and of the want and worth of Christ: for,

284. I never cared to meddle with things that were controverted, and in dispute among the saints, especially

things of the lowest nature; yet it pleased me much to contend with great earnestness for the word of faith,

and the remission of sins by the death and sufferings of Jesus: but I say, as to other things, I should let them

alone, because I saw they engendered strife; and because that they neither in doing, nor in leaving undone,

did commend us to God to be His: besides, I saw my work before me did run into another channel, even to

285. I never endeavoured to, nor durst make use of other men's lines, Rom. xv. 18 (though I condemn not all

that do), for I verily thought, and found by experience, that what was taught me by the word and Spirit of

Christ, could be spoken, maintained, and stood to, by the soundest and best established conscience; and

though I will not now speak all that I know in this matter, yet my experience hath more interest in that text of

286. If any of those who were awakened by my ministry, did after that fall back (as sometimes too many did),

I can truly say, their loss hath been more to me, than if one of my own children, begotten of my own body,

had been going to its grave: I think verily, I may speak it without any offence to the Lord, nothing has gone

so near me as that; unless it was the fear of the loss of the salvation of my own soul. I have counted as if I had

goodly buildings and lordships in those places where my children were born; my heart hath been so wrapped

up in the glory of this excellent work, that I counted myself more blessed and honoured of God by this, than

if He had made me the emperor of the Christian world, or the lord of all the glory of the earth without it! Oh

SAVE A SOUL FROM DEATH. James v. 20. THE FRUIT OF THE RIGHTEOUS IS A TREE OF LIFE;

AND HE THAT WINNETH SOULS IS WISE. Prov. xi. 30. THEY THAT BE WISE SHALL SHINE AS

AS THE STARS FOR EVER AND EVER. Dan. xii. 3. FOR WHAT IS OUR HOPE, OR JOY, OR CROWN

COMING? FOR YE ARE OUR GLORY AND JOY. 1 Thes. ii. 19, 20. These, I say, with many others of a

287. I have observed, that where I have had a work to do for God, I have had first, as it were, the going of

God upon my spirit, to desire I might preach there: I have also observed, that such and such souls in

particular, have been strongly set upon my heart, and I stirred up to wish for their salvation; and that these

very souls have, after this, been given in as the fruits of my ministry. I have observed, that a word cast in,

bythebye, hath done more execution in a sermon, than all that was spoken besides: sometimes also, when I

have thought I did no good, then I did the most of all; and at other times, when I thought I should catch them,

288. I have also observed, that where there has been a work to do upon sinners, there the devil hath begun to

roar in the hearts and by the mouths of his servants: yea, oftentimes, when the wicked world hath raged most,

there hath been souls awakened by the word: I could instance particulars, but I forbear.

289. My great desire in my fulfilling my ministry was to get into the darkest places of the country, even

amongst those people that were farthest off of profession; yet not because I could not endure the light (for I

feared not to show my gospel to any) but because I found my spirit did lean most after awakening and

converting work, and the word that I carried did lean itself most that way also; YEA, SO HAVE I STRIVED

290. In my preaching I have really been in pain, and have, as it were, travailed to bring forth children to God;

neither could I be satisfied unless some fruits did appear in my work. If I were fruitless, it mattered not who

commanded me: but if I were fruitful, I cared not who did condemn. I have thought of that: LO! CHILDREN

291. It pleased me nothing to see people drink in opinions, if they seemed ignorant of Jesus Christ, and the

worth of their own salvation, sound conviction for sin, especially for unbelief, and a heart set on fire to be

saved by Christ, with strong breathings after a truly sanctified soul: that it was that delighted me; those were

292. But in this work, as in all other, I had my temptations attending me, and that of divers kinds; as

sometimes I should be assaulted with great discouragement therein, fearing that I should not be able to speak

a word at all to edification; nay, that I should not be able to speak sense unto the people; at which times I

should have such a strange faintness and strengthlessness seize upon my body, that my legs have scarce been

293. Sometimes again when I have been preaching, I have been violently assaulted with thoughts of

blasphemy, and strongly tempted to speak the words with my mouth before the congregation. I have also at

some times, even when I have begun to speak the word with much clearness, evidence, and liberty of speech,

yet been, before the ending of that opportunity, so blinded and so estranged from the things I have been

speaking, and have been also so straightened in my speech, as to utterance before the people, that I have been

as if I had not known, or remembered what I have been about; or as if my head had been in a bag all the time

294. Again, when as sometimes I have been about to preach upon some smart and searching portion of the

word, I have found the tempter suggest, WHAT! WILL YOU PREACH THIS! THIS CONDEMNS

295. But I thank the Lord, I have been kept from consenting to these so horrid suggestions, and have rather,

as Sampson, bowed myself with all my might, to condemn sin and transgression, wherever I found it; yea,

though therein also I did bring guilt upon my own conscience: LET ME DIE (thought I), WITH THE

PHILISTINES, Judges xvi. 29, 30, rather than deal corruptly with the blessed word of God. THOU THAT

TEACHEST ANOTHER, TEACHEST THOU NOT THYSELF? It is far better that thou do judge thyself,

even by preaching plainly unto others, than that thou, to save thyself, imprison the truth in righteousness.

296. I have also, while found in this blessed work of Christ, been often tempted to pride and liftings up of

heart: and though I dare not say, I have not been affected with this, yet truly the Lord of His precious mercy,

hath so carried it towards me, that for the most part I have had but small joy to give way to such a thing: for it

hath been my every day's portion to be let into the evil of my own heart, and still made to see such a

multitude of corruptions and infirmities therein, that it hath caused hanging down of the head under all my

gifts and attainments; I have felt this thorn in the flesh, 2 Cor. xii. 8, 9, the very mercy of God to me.

297. I have also had, together with this, some notable place or other of the word presented before me, which

word hath contained in it some sharp and piercing sentence concerning the perishing of the soul,

notwithstanding gifts and parts: as, for instance, that hath been of great use to me: THOUGH I SPEAK

298. A tinkling cymbal is an instrument of music, with which a skilful player can make such melodious and

heartinflaming music, that all who hear him play, can scarcely hold from dancing; and yet behold the

cymbal hath not life, neither comes the music from it, but because of the art of him that plays therewith; so

then the instrument at last may come to nought and perish, though in times past such music hath been made

299. Just thus I saw it was, and will be, with them who have gifts, but want saving grace; they are in the hand

of Christ, as the cymbal in the hand of DAVID: and as DAVID could with the cymbal make that mirth in the

service of God, as to elevate the hearts of the worshippers, so Christ can use these gifted men, as with them to

affect the souls of His people in His church; yet when He hath done all, hang them by, as lifeless, though

300. This consideration therefore, together with some others, were for the most part, as a maul on the head of

pride, and desire of vainglory. What, thought I, shall I be proud because I am a sounding brass? Is it so

much to be a fiddle? hath not the least creature that hath life, more of God in it than these? Besides, I knew

'twas love should never die, but these must cease and vanish: so I concluded, a little grace, a little love, a little

of the true fear of God, is better than all the gifts: yea, and I am fully convinced of it, that it is possible for

souls that can scarce give a man an answer, but with great confusion as to method; I say, it is possible for

them to have a thousand times more grace, and so to be more in the love and favour of the Lord, than some

301. Thus therefore I came to perceive that, though gifts in themselves were good, to the thing for which they

are designed, to wit, the edification of others; yet empty, and without power to save the soul of him that hath

them, if they be ALONE: neither are they, as so, any sign of a man's state to be happy, being only a

dispensation of God to some, of whose improvement, or non improvement, they must when a little love

more is over, give an account to Him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead.

302. This showed me too, that gifts being alone, were dangerous, not in themselves, but because of those

evils that attend them that have them, to wit, pride, desire of vain glory, selfconceit, etc., all which were

easily blown up at the applause and commendation of every unadvised Christian, to the endangering of a poor

303. I saw therefore that he that hath gifts, had need be let into a sight of the nature of them, to wit, that they

come short of making of him to be in a truly saved condition, lest he rest in them, and so fall short of the

304. He hath cause also to walk humbly with God and be little in his own eyes, and to remember withal, that

his gifts are not his own, but the churches; and that by them he is made a servant to the church; and he must

also give at last an account of his stewardship unto the Lord Jesus, and to give a good account will be a

305. Let all men therefore prize a little with the fear of the Lord (gifts indeed are desirable), but yet great

grace and small gifts are better than great gifts and no grace. It doth not say, the Lord gives gifts and glory,

but the Lord gives grace and glory; and blessed is such an one, to whom the Lord gives grace, true grace; for

306. But when Satan perceived that his thus tempting and assaulting of me, would not answer his design; to

wit, to overthrow the ministry, and make it ineffectual, as to the ends thereof: then he tried another way,

which was, to stir up the minds of the ignorant and malicious to load me with slanders and reproaches: now

therefore I may say, that what the devil could devise, and his instruments invent, was whirled up and down

the country against me, thinking, as I said, that by that means they should make my ministry to be abandoned.

307. It began therefore to be rumoured up and down among the people, that I was a witch, a Jesuit, a

308. To all which, I shall only say, God knows that I am innocent. But as for mine accusers, let them provide

themselves to meet me before the tribunal of the Son of God, there to answer for all these things (with all the

rest of their iniquities) unless God shall give them repentance for them, for the which I pray with all my heart.

309. But that which was reported with the boldest confidence, was, that I had my MISSES, my WHORES,

my BASTARDS; yea, TWO WIVES at once, and the like. Now these slanders (with the others) I glory in,

because but slanders, foolish or knavish lies, and falsehoods cast upon me by the devil and his seed; and,

should I not be dealt with thus wickedly by the world, I should want one sign of a saint, and a child of God.

BLESSED ARE YE (said the Lord Jesus) WHEN MEN SHALL REVILE YOU AND PERSECUTE YOU,

310. These things therefore, upon mine own account, trouble me not; no, though they were twenty times more

than they are. I have a good conscience, and whereas they speak evil of me, as an evil doer, they shall be

311. So then, what shall I say to those who have thus bespattered me? Shall I threaten them? Shall I chide

them? Shall I flatter them? Shall I entreat them to hold their tongues? No, not I. Were it not for that these

things make them ripe for damnation, that are the authors and abettors, I would say unto them, REPORT IT,

312. Therefore I bind these lies and slanders to me as an ornament; it belongs to my Christian profession to

be vilified, slandered, reproached and reviled; and since all this is nothing else, as my God and my conscience

313. I also call all these fools or knaves, that have thus made it any thing of their business to affirm any of the

things aforenamed of me; namely, That I have been naught with other women, or the like. When they have

used the utmost of their endeavours, and made the fullest inquiry that they can, to prove against me truly, that

there is any woman in heaven, or earth, or hell, that can say, I have at any time, in any place, by day or night,

so much as attempted to be naught with them; and speak I thus to beg my enemies into a good esteem of me?

No, not I: I will in this beg belief of no man: believe or disbelieve me in this, all is acase to me.

314. My foes have missed their mark in this shooting at me: I am not the man: I wish that they themselves be

guiltless. If all the fornicators and adulterers in ENGLAND were hanged up by the neck till they be dead,

JOHN BUNYAN, the object of their envy, would be still alive and well. I know not whether there be such a

thing as a woman breathing under the copes of the whole heaven, but by their apparel, their children, or by

315. And in this I admire the wisdom of God, that He made me shy of women from my first conversion until

now. Those shy of women know, and can also bear me witness, with whom I have been most intimately

concerned, that it is a rare thing to see me carry it pleasant towards a woman: the common salutation of

women I abhor; 'tis odious to me in whomsoever I see it. Their company alone, I cannot away with; I seldom

so much as touch a woman's hand; for I think these things are not so becoming me. When I have seen good

men salute those women that they have visited, or that have visited them, I have at times made my objection

against it; and when they have answered, that it was but a piece of civility, I have told them, it is not a comely

sight. Some indeed have urged the holy kiss; but then I have asked why they made baulks? why they did

salute the most handsome, and let the illfavoured go? Thus, how laudable soever such things have been in

316. And now for a windup in this matter, I calling not only men, but angels, to prove me guilty of having

carnally to do with any woman save my wife: nor am I afraid to do it a second time; knowing that it cannot

offend the Lord in such a case, to call God for a record upon my soul, that in these things I am innocent. Not

that I have been thus kept, because of any goodness in me, more than any other; but God has been merciful to

me, and has kept me; to whom I pray that He will keep me still, not only from this, but every evil way and

317. Now as Satan laboured by reproaches and slanders, to make me vile among my countrymen; that, if

possible, my preaching might be made of none effect; so there was added hereto, a long and tedious

imprisonment, that thereby I might be frightened from my service for Christ, and the world terrified, and

made afraid to hear me preach; of which I shall in the next place give you a brief account.

318. Having made profession of the glorious gospel of Christ a long time, and preached the same about five

years, I was apprehended at a meeting of good people in the country (among whom, had they let me alone, I

should have preached that day, but they took me away from amongst them), and had me before a justice;

who, after I had offered security for my appearing at the next sessions, yet committed me, because my

sureties would not consent to be bound that I should preach no more to the people.

319. At the sessions after I was indicted for an upholder and maintainer of unlawful assemblies and

conventicles, and for not conforming to the national worship of the church of ENGLAND; and after some

conference there with the justices, they taking my plain dealing with them for a confession, as they termed it,

REFUSED TO CONFORM. So being again delivered up to the jailer's hands, I was had home to prison, and

there have lain now complete twelve years, waiting to see what God would suffer these men to do with me.

320. In which condition I have continued with much content, through grace, but have met with many turnings

and goings upon my heart, both from the Lord, Satan, and my own corruptions; by all which (glory be to

Jesus Christ) I have also received among many things, much conviction, instruction, and understanding, of

which at large I shall not here discourse; only give you a hint or two, a word that may stir up the godly to

bless God, and to pray for me; and also to take encouragement, should the case be their own NOT TO

321. I never had in all my life so great an inlet into the word of God as now: those scriptures that I saw

nothing in before, are made in this place and state to shine upon me; Jesus Christ also was never more real

and apparent than now; here I have seen and felt Him indeed: Oh! that word, WE HAVE NOT PREACHED

UNTO YOU CUNNINGLY DEVISED FABLES, 2 Pet. i. 16, and that, GOD RAISED CHRIST FROM THE

322. These three or four scriptures also have been great refreshments in this condition to me: John xiv. 14;

John xvi. 33; Col. iii. 3, 4; Heb. xii. 2224. So that sometimes when I have been in the savour of them, I have

been able to laugh at destruction, AND TO FEAR NEITHER THE HORSE NOR HIS RIDER. I have had

sweet sights of the forgiveness of my sins in this place, and of my being with Jesus in another world: OH!

have been sweet unto me in this place: I have seen that here, that I am persuaded I shall never, while in this

world, be able to express: I have seen a truth in this scripture, WHOM HAVING NOT SEEN, YE LOVE; IN

323. I never knew what it was for God to stand by me at all turns, and at every offer of Satan to afflict me,

etc., as I have found Him since I came in hither: for look how fears have presented themselves, so have

supports and encouragements; yea, when I have started, even as it were, at nothing else but my shadow, yet

God, as being very tender of me, hath not suffered me to be molested, but would with one scripture or

another, strengthen me against all; insomuch that I have often said, WERE IT LAWFUL, I COULD PRAY

FOR GREATER TROUBLE, FOR THE GREATER COMFORT'S SAKE. Eccl. vii. 14; 2 Cor. i. 5.

324. Before I came to prison, I saw what was coming, and had especially two considerations warm upon my

heart; the first was, how to be able to encounter death, should that be here my portion. For the first of these,

that scripture, Col. i. 11, was great information to me, namely, to pray to God TO BE STRENGTHENED

LONGSUFFERING WITH JOYFULNESS. I could seldom go to prayer before I was imprisoned; but for

not so little as a year together, this sentence, or sweet petition would, as it were, thrust itself into my mind,

and persuade me, that if ever I would go through long suffering, I must have all patience, especially if I

325. As to the second consideration, that saying (2 Cor. i. 9) was of great use to me, BUT WE HAD THE

GOD, WHICH RAISETH THE DEAD. By this scripture I was made to see, That if ever I would suffer

rightly, I must first pass a sentence of death upon every thing that can properly be called a thing of this life,

even to reckon myself, my wife, my children, my health, my enjoyments, and all as dead to me, and myself as

326. The second was to live upon God that is invisible, as Paul said in another place; the way not to faint is,

ARE ETERNAL. And thus I reasoned with myself, if I provide only for a prison, then the whip comes at

unawares; and so doth also the pillory: Again, if I only provide for these, then I am not fit for banishment.

Further, if I conclude that banishment is the worst, then if death comes, I am surprised: so that I see, the best

way to go through sufferings, is to trust in God through Christ, as touching the world to come; and as

touching this world, TO COUNT THE GRAVE MY HOUSE, TO MAKE MY BED IN DARKNESS; TO

327. But notwithstanding these helps, I found myself a man and compassed with infirmities; the parting with

my wife and poor children, hath often been to me in this place, as the pulling the flesh from the bones, and

that not only because I am somewhat too fond of these great mercies, but also because I should have often

brought to my mind the many hardships, miseries, and wants that my poor family was like to meet with,

should I be taken from them, especially my poor blind child, who lay nearer my heart than all besides: Oh!

the thoughts of the hardship I thought my poor blind one might go under, would break my heart to pieces.

328. Poor child! thought I, what sorrow art thou like to have for thy portion in this world! Thou must be

beaten, must beg, suffer hunger, cold, nakedness, and a thousand calamities, though I cannot now endure the

wind should blow upon thee. But yet recalling myself, thought I, I must venture you all with God, though it

goeth to the quick to leave you: Oh! I saw in this condition I was as a man who was pulling down his house

upon the head of his wife and children; yet, thought I, I must do it, I must do it: and now I thought on those

329. But that which helped me in this temptation, was divers considerations, of which, three in special here I

will name, the first was the consideration of these two scriptures, LEAVE THY FATHERLESS CHILDREN,

TO ENTREAT THEE WELL IN THE TIME OF EVIL, AND IN TIME OF AFFLICTION. Jer. xlix. 11; xv.

330. I had also this consideration, that if I should not venture all for God, I engaged God to take care of my

concernments: but if I forsook Him and His ways, for fear of any trouble that should come to me or mine,

then I should not only falsify my profession, but should count also that my concernments were not so sure, if

left at God's feet, whilst I stood to and for His name, as they would be if they were under my own care,

though with the denial of the way of God. This was a smarting consideration, and as spurs unto my flesh.

That scripture also greatly helped it to fasten the more upon me, where Christ prays against Judas, that God

would disappoint him in his selfish thoughts, which moved him to sell his Master. Pray read it soberly: Psalm

331. I had also another consideration, and that was, the dread of the torments of hell, which I was sure they

must partake of that for fear of the cross, do shrink from their profession of Christ, His words and laws before

the sons of men: I thought also of the glory that He had prepared for those that in faith, and love, and

patience, stood to His ways before them. These things, I say, have helped me, when the thoughts of the

misery that both myself and mine, might for the sake of my profession be exposed to, hath lain pinching on

332. When I have indeed conceited that I might be banished for my profession, then I have thought of that

thought they were too bad to dwell and abide amongst them. I have also thought of that saying, THE HOLY

GHOST WITNESSETH IN EVERY CITY, THAT BONDS AND AFFLICTIONS ABIDE ME. I have verily

thought that MY soul and IT have sometimes reasoned about the sore and sad estate of a banished and exiled

condition, how they were exposed to hunger, to cold, to perils, to nakedness, to enemies, and a thousand

calamities; and at last, it may be, to die in a ditch, like a poor and desolate sheep. But I thank God, hitherto I

have not been moved by these most DELICATE reasonings, but have rather, by them, more approved my

333. I will tell you a pretty business: I was once above all the rest, in a very sad and low condition for many

weeks; at which time also, I being but a young prisoner, and not acquainted with the laws, had this lying

THAT I COULD TELL. Now therefore Satan laid hard at me, to beat me out of heart, by suggesting thus

EVIDENCE UPON YOUR SOUL FOR A BETTER STATE HEREAFTER? (for indeed at that time all the

334. Wherefore, when I at first began to think of this, it was a great trouble to me; for I thought with myself,

that in the condition I now was in, I was not fit to die, neither indeed did I think I could, if I should be called

to it; besides, I thought with myself, if I should make a scrambling shift to clamber up the ladder, yet I should

either with quaking, or other symptoms of fainting, give occasion to the enemy to reproach the way of God

and His people for their timorousness. This, therefore, lay with great trouble upon me, for methought I was

335. Wherefore I prayed to God that He would comfort me, and give me strength to do and suffer me what

He should call me to; yet no comfort appeared, but all continued hid: I was also at this time, so really

possessed with the thought of death, that oft I was as if I was on a ladder with the rope about my neck; only

this was some encouragement to me; I thought I might now have an opportunity to speak my last words to a

multitude, which I thought would come to see me die; and, thought I, if it must be so, if God will but convert

one soul by my very last words, I shall not count my life thrown away, nor lost.

336. But yet all the things of God were kept out of my sight, and still the tempter followed me with, BUT

AND AN INHERITANCE AMONG THEM THAT ARE SANCTIFIED? Thus was I tossed for many weeks,

and knew not what to do; at last this consideration fell with weight upon me, THAT IT WAS FOR THE

337. I thought also, that God might choose whether He would give me comfort now, or at the hour of death;

but I might not therefore choose whether I would hold my profession or no: I was bound, but He was free;

yea, 'twas my duty to stand to His word, whether He would ever look upon me or save me at the last:

wherefore, thought I, save the point being thus, I am for going on, and venturing my eternal state with Christ,

whether I have comfort here or no; if God doth not come in, thought I, I WILL LEAP OFF THE LADDER

338. I was no sooner fixed in this resolution, but the word dropped upon me, DOTH JOB SERVE GOD FOR

NOUGHT? As if the accuser had said, LORD, JOB IS NO UPRIGHT MAN, BE SERVES THEE FOR

How now! thought I, is this the sign of an upright soul, to desire to serve God, when all is taken from him? Is

he a godly man that will serve God for nothing, rather than give out! Blessed be God! then I hope I have an

upright heart, for I am resolved (God giving me strength) never to deny my profession, though I have nothing

at all for my pains: and as I was thus considering, that scripture was set before me: Psalm xliv. 12, etc.

339. Now was my heart full of comfort; for I hoped it was sincere: I would not have been without this trial for

much; I am comforted every time I think of it, and I hope I shall bless God for ever, for the teaching I have

had by it. Many more of the dealings towards me I might relate, BUT THESE OUT OF THE SPOILS WON

1. OF all the temptations that ever I met with in my life, to question the being of God, and truth of His gospel

is the worst, and the worst to be borne; when this temptation comes, it takes away my girdle from me, and

removeth the foundation from under me: Oh! I have often thought of that word, HAVE YOUR LOINS GIRT

2. Sometimes, when after sin committed, I have looked for sore chastisement from the hand of God, the very

next that I have had from Him, hath been the discovery of His grace. Sometimes when I have been

comforted, I have called myself a fool for my so sinking under trouble. And then again, when I have been

cast down, I thought I was not wise, to give such way to comfort; with such strength and weight have both

3. I have wondered much at this one thing, that though God doth visit my soul with never so blessed a

discovery of Himself, yet I have found again, that such hours have attended me afterwards, that I have been

in my spirit so filled with darkness, that I could not so much as once conceive what that God and that comfort

4. I have sometimes seen more in a line of the Bible, than I could well tell how to stand under; and yet at

another time, the whole Bible hath been to me as dry as a stick; or rather, My heart hath been so dead and dry

unto it, that I could not conceive the refreshment, though I have looked it all over.

5. Of all fears, they are best that are made by the blood of Christ; and of all joy, that is the sweetest that is

mixed with mourning over Christ: Oh! it is a goodly thing to be on our knees, with Christ in our arms, before

6. I find to this day seven abominations in my heart: 1. Inclining to unbelief; 2. Suddenly to forget the love

and mercy that Christ manifesteth; 3. A leaning to the works of the law; 4. Wanderings and coldness in

prayer; 5. To forget to watch for that I pray for; 6. Apt to murmur because I have no more, and yet ready to

abuse what I have; 7. I can do none of those things which God commands me, but my corruptions will thrust

7. These things I continually see and feel, and am afflicted and oppressed with, yet the wisdom of God doth

order them for my good; 1. They make me abhor myself; 2. They keep me from trusting my heart; 3. They

convince me of the insufficiency of all inherent righteousness; 4. They show me the necessity of flying to

Jesus; 5. They press me to pray unto God; 6. They show me the need I have to watch and be sober; 7. And

provoke me to pray unto God, through Christ, to help me, and carry me through this world.

WHEN, by the good hand of my God, I had for five or six years together, without any interruption, freely

preached the blessed gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ; and had also, through His blessed grace, some

encouragement by His blessing thereupon; the devil, that old enemy of man's salvation, took his opportunity

to inflame the hearts of his vassals against me, insomuch that at the last, I was laid out for by the warrant of a

justice, and was taken and committed to prison. The relation thereof is as followeth:

Upon the 12th of this instant, November 1660, I was desired by some of the friends in the country to come to

teach at SAMSELL, by HARLINGTON, in BEDFORDSHIRE. To whom I made a promise, if the Lord

permitted, to be with them on the time aforesaid. The justice hearing thereof (whose name is Mr FRANCIS

WINGATE), forthwith issued out his warrant to take me, and bring me before him, and in the meantime to

keep a very strong watch about the house where the meeting should be kept, as if we that were to meet

together in that place did intend to do some fearful business, to the destruction of the country; when alas! the

constable, when he came in, found us only with our Bibles in our hands, ready to speak and hear the word of

God; for we were just about to begin our exercise. Nay, we had begun in prayer for the blessing of God upon

our opportunity, intending to have preached the word of the Lord unto them there present: but the constable

coming in prevented us. So I was taken and forced to depart the room. But had I been minded to have played

the coward, I could have escaped and kept out of his hands. For when I was come to my friend's house, there

was whispering that that day I should be taken, for there was a warrant out to take me; which when my friend

heard, he being somewhat timorous, questioned whether we had best have our meeting or not; and whether it

might not be better for me to depart, lest they should take me and have me before the justice, and after that

send me to prison (for he knew better than I what spirit they were of, living by them): to whom I said, No, by

no means, I will not stir, neither will I have the meeting dismissed for this. Come, be of good cheer; let us not

be daunted; our cause is good, we need not be ashamed of it; to preach God's Word, is so good a work, that

we shall be well rewarded, if we suffer for that; or to this purpose (But as for my friend, I think he was

more afraid of me, than of himself.) After this I walked into the close, where I somewhat seriously

considering the matter, this came into my mind, That I had showed myself hearty and courageous in my

preaching, and had, blessed be grace, made it my business to encourage others; therefore thought I, if I should

now run, and make an escape, it will be of a very ill savour in the country. For what will my weak and

newly converted brethren think of it, but that I was not so strong in deed as I was in word? Also I feared that

if I should run now there was a warrant out for me, I might by so doing make them afraid to stand, when great

words only should be spoken to them. Besides I thought, that seeing God of His mercy should choose me to

go upon the forlorn hope in this country; that is, to be the first, that should be opposed, for the gospel; if I

should fly, it might be a discouragement to the whole body that might follow after. And further, I thought the

world thereby would take occasion at my cowardliness, to have blasphemed the gospel, and to have had some

ground to suspect worse of me and my profession, than I deserved. These things with others considered by

me, I came in again to the house, with a full resolution to keep the meeting, and not to go away, though I

could have been gone about an hour before the officer apprehended me; but I would not; for I was resolved to

see the utmost of what they could say or do unto me. For blessed be the Lord, I knew of no evil that I had said

or done. And so, as aforesaid, I begun the meeting. But being prevented by the constable's coming in with his

warrant to take me, I could not proceed. But before I went away, I spake some few words of counsel and

encouragement to the people, declaring to them, that they saw we were prevented of our opportunity to speak

and hear the Word of God, and were like to suffer for the same; desiring them that they would not be

discouraged, for it was a mercy to suffer upon so good account. For we might have been apprehended as

thieves or murderers, or for other wickedness; but blessed be God it was not so, but we suffer as Christians

for well doing: and we had better be the persecuted, than the persecutors, etc. But the constable and the

justice's man waiting on us, would not be at quiet till they had me away and that we departed the house. But

because the justice was not at home that day, there was a friend of mine engaged for me to bring me to the

constable on the morrow morning. Otherwise the constable must have charged a watch with me, or have

secured me some other way, my crime was so great. So on the next morning we went to the constable, and so

to the justice. He asked the constable what we did, where we was met together, and what we had with us? I

trow, he meant whether we had armour or not; but when the constable told him that there were only met a

few of us together to preach and hear the Word, and no sign of anything else, he could not well tell what to

say: yet because he had sent for me, he did adventure to put out a few proposals to me, which were to this

effect, namely, What I did there? And why I did not content myself with following my calling? for it was

JOHN BUNYAN. To which I answered, That the intent of my coming thither, and to other places, was to

instruct, and counsel people to forsake their sins, and close in with Christ, lest they did miserably perish; and

that I could do both these without confusion (to wit), follow my calling, and preach the Word also.

At which words, he was in a chafe, as it appeared; for he said that he would break the neck of our meetings.

BUN. I said, It may be so. Then he wished me to get sureties to be bound for me, or else he would send me to

My sureties being ready, I called them in, and when the bond for my appearance was made, he told them, that

they was bound to keep me from preaching; and that if I did preach, their bonds would be forfeited. To which

I answered, that then I should break them; for I should not leave speaking the Word of God: even to counsel,

comfort, exhort, and teach the people among whom I came; and I thought this to be a work that had no hurt in

WINGATE. Whereat he told me, that if they would not be so bound, my mittimus must be made, and I sent

Now while my mittimus was making, the justice was withdrawn; and in comes an old enemy to the truth, Dr

Lindale, who, when he was come in, fell to taunting at me with many reviling terms.

BUN. To whom I answered, that I did not come thither to talk with him, but with the justice. Whereat he

supposed that I had nothing to say for myself, and triumphed as if he had got the victory; charging and

condemning me for meddling with that for which I could show no warrant; and asked me, if I had taken the

I told him, that if I was minded, I could answer to any sober question that he should put to me. He then urged

me again, how I could prove it lawful for me to preach, with a great deal of confidence of the victory.

But at last, because he should see that I could answer him if I listed, I cited to him that verse in Peter, which

saith, EVERY MAN HATH RECEIVED THE GIFT, EVEN SO LET HIM MINISTER THE SAME, ETC.

BUN. To whom, said I, why to every man that hath received a gift from God. Mark, saith the apostle, AS

PROPHESY ONE BY ONE. Whereat the man was a little stopt, and went a softlier pace: but not being

LIND. Indeed, I do remember that I have read of one Alexander a coppersmith, who did much oppose, and

BUN. To which I answered, that I also had read of very many priests and pharisees, that had their hands in

LIND. Aye, saith he, and you are one of those scribes and pharisees: for you, with a pretence, make long

BUN. I answered, that if he had got no more by preaching and praying than I had done, he would not be so

rich as now he was. But that scripture coming into my mind, ANSWER NOT A FOOL ACCORDING TO

HIS FOLLY, I was as sparing of my speech as I could, without prejudice to truth.

Now by this time my mittimus was made, and I committed to the constable, to be sent to the jail in Bedford,

But as I was going, two of my brethren met with me by the way, and desired the constable to stay, supposing

that they should prevail with the justice, through the favour of a pretended friend, to let me go at liberty. So

we did stay, while they went to the justice; and after much discourse with him, it came to this: that if I would

come to him again, and say some certain words to him, I should be released. Which when they told me, I said

if the words was such that might be said with a good conscience, I should or else I should not. So through

their importunity went back again, but not believing that I should be delivered: for I feared their spirit was too

full of opposition to the truth to let me go, unless I should, in something or other, dishonour my God and

wound my conscience. Wherefore, as I went, I lifted up my heart to God, for light and strength to be kept,

that I might not do any thing that might either dishonour Him, or wrong my own soul, or be a grief or

Well, when I came to the justice again, there was Mr FOSTER of Bedford, who, coming out of another room,

and seeing me by the light of the candle (for it was dark night when I went thither), he said unto me, Who is

there? JOHN BUNYAN? with such seeming affection, as if he would have leaped on my neck and kissed me,

which made me somewhat wonder, that such a man as he, with whom I had so little acquaintance, and,

besides, that had ever been a close opposer of the ways of God, should carry himself so full of love to me;

but, afterwards, when I saw what he did, it caused me to remember those sayings, THEIR TONGUES ARE

MEN, ETC. When I had answered him, that blessed be God, I was well; he said, What is the occasion of your

being here? or to that purpose. To whom I answered, that I was at a meeting of people a little way off,

intending to speak a word of exhortation to them; the justice hearing thereof, said I, was pleased to send his

FOST. So (said he), I understand: but well, if you will promise to call the people no more together, you shall

have your liberty to go home; for my brother is very loath to send you to prison, if you will be but ruled.

BUN. Sir (said I), pray what do you mean by calling the people together? my business is not anything among

them, when they are come together, but to exhort them to look after the salvation of their souls, that they may

FOST. Saith he, We must not enter into explication, or dispute now; but if you will say you will call the

people no more together, you may have your liberty; if not, you must be sent away to prison.

BUN. Sir, said I, I shall not force or compel any man to hear me; but yet, if I come into any place where there

is a people met together, I should, according to the best of my skill and wisdom, exhort and counsel them to

FOST. He said, That was none of my work; I must follow my calling; and if I would but leave off preaching,

and follow my calling, I should have the justice's favour, and be acquitted presently.

BUN. To whom I said, that I could follow my calling, and that too, namely, preaching the Word: and I did

FOST. He said, To have any such meetings was against the law; and, therefore, he would have me leave off,

BUN. To whom I said, that I durst not make any further promise; for my conscience would not suffer me to

do it. And again, I did look upon it as my duty to do as much good as I could, not only in my trade, but also

in communicating to all people wheresoever I came the best knowledge I had in the Word.

FOST. He told me that I was the nearest the Papists of any, and that he would convince me of immediately.

BUN. I told him that those that were to be understood literally, we understood them so; but for those that was

BUN. I said this, HE THAT BELIEVES SHALL BE SAVED. This was to be understood just as it is spoken;

that whosoever believeth in Christ shall, according to the plain and simple words of the text, be saved.

FOST. He said that I was ignorant, and did not understand the Scriptures; for how, said he, can you

BUN. To whom I said, that if that was his opinion, that none could understand the Scriptures but those that

had the original Greek, etc., then but a very few of the poorest sort should be saved (this is harsh); yet the

Scripture saith, THAT GOD HIDES THESE THINGS FROM THE WISE AND PRUDENT (that is, from

BUN. I told him that there was the wise as well as the foolish that do hear me; and again, those that were

most commonly counted foolish by the world are the wisest before God; also, that God had rejected the wise,

FOST. He told me that I made people neglect their calling; and that God had commanded people to work six

BUN. I told him that it was the duty of people, (both rich and poor), to look out for their souls on them days

as well as for their bodies; and that God would have His people exhort one another daily, while it is called

FOST. He said again that there were none but a company of poor, simple, ignorant people that come to hear

BUN. I told him that the foolish and the ignorant had most need of teaching and information; and, therefore,

FOST. Well, said he, to conclude, but will you promise that you will not call the people together any more?

BUN. I told him that I durst say no more than I had said; for I durst not leave off that work which God had

So he withdrew from me, and then came several of the justice's servants to me, and told me that I stood so

much upon a nicety. Their master, they said, was willing to let me go; and if I would but say I would call the

BUN. I told them there were more ways than one in which a man might be said to call the people together. As

for instance, if a man get upon the marketplace, and there read a book, or the like, though he do not say to

the people, Sirs, come hither and hear; yet if they come to him because he reads, he, by his very reading, may

be said to call them together; because they would not have been there to hear if he had not been there to read.

And seeing this might be termed a calling the people together; I durst not say, I would not call them together;

for then, by the same argument, my preaching might be said to call them together.

WING. AND FOST. Then came the justice and Mr Foster to me again; (we had a little more discourse about

preaching, but because the method of it is out of my mind, I pass it); and when they saw that I was at a point,

and would not be moved nor persuaded, Mr Foster, the man that did at first express so much love to me, told

the justice that then he must send me away to prison. And that he would do well, also, if he would present all

And, verily, as I was going forth of the doors, I had much ado to forbear saying to them that I carried the

peace of God along with me; but I held my peace, and, blessed be the Lord, went away to prison, with God's

After I had lain in the jail five or six days, the brethren sought means, again, to get me out by bondsmen; (for

so ran my mittimus, that I should lie there till I could find sureties). They went to a justice at Elstow, one Mr

Crumpton, to desire him to take bond for my appearing at the quarter sessions. At the first he told them he

would; but afterwards he made a demur at the business, and desired first to see my mittimus, which ran 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

When I came back again to prison, as I was musing at the slender answer of the justice, this word dropt in

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

AFTER I had lain in prison above seven weeks, the quartersessions 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

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

KEELIN. But, saith Justice KEELIN (who was the judge in that court), do you come to church (you know

BUN. I said, With the Spirit. As the apostle saith, I WILL PRAY WITH THE SPIRIT, AND WITH THE

KEEL. He said, We might pray with the Spirit, and with the understanding, and with the Common

BUN. I said, that the prayers in the Common PrayerBook 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,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 PrayerBook teacheth us how

to pray, but the Spirit. And it is THE SPIRIT THAT HELPETH OUR INFIRMITIES, saith the apostle; he

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

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

And though it be said that FAITH COMES BY HEARING: yet it is the Spirit that worketh faith in the heart

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 PrayerBook 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

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 PrayerBook; 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

ANOTHER. One of them said, Where do you find it commanded in the Scripture, that you should go to

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

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

BUN. I said, Show me the place in the epistles, where the Common PrayerBook 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

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

BUN. I said that we ought to exhort one another daily, while it is called today, etc.

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

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

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

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

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 doth not so much in

this place exhort to civil callings, as to the exercising of those gifts that we have received from God. I would

BUN. I said, If it was lawful to do good to some, it was lawful to do good to more. If it was a good duty to

exhort our families, it was good to exhort others; but if they held it a sin to meet together to seek the face of

God, and exhort one another to follow Christ, I should sin still; for so we should do.

KEEL. He said he was not so well versed in Scripture as to dispute, or words to that purpose. And said,

moreover, that they could not wait upon me any longer; but said to me, Then you confess the indictment, do

BUN. I said, This I confess, we have had many meetings together, both to pray to God, and to exhort one

another, and that we had the sweet comforting presence of the Lord among us for our encouragement; blessed

KEEL. Then, said he, bear your judgment. You must be had back again to prison, and there lie for three

months following; and at three months' end, if you do not submit to go to church to hear Divine service, and

leave your preaching, you must be banished the realm: and if, after such a day as shall be appointed you to be

gone, you shall be found in this realm, etc., or be found to come over again without special licence from the

king, etc., you must stretch by the neck for it, I tell you plainly: and so he bid my jailor have me away.

BUN. I told him, as to this matter, I was at a point with him; for if I were out of prison today, I would

ANOTHER. To which one made me some answer: but my jailor pulling me away to be gone, I could not tell

Thus I departed from them; and I can truly say, I bless the Lord JESUS CHRIST for it, that my heart was

sweetly refreshed in the time of my examination, and also afterwards, at my returning to the prison. So that I

found Christ's words more than bare trifles, where He saith, I WILL GIVE YOU A MOUTH AND

Thus have I given you the substance of my examination. The Lord make this profitable to all that shall read

WHEN I had lain in prison other twelve weeks, and now not knowing what they intended to do with me,

upon the third of April 1661, comes Mr Cobb unto me (as he told me), being sent by the justices to admonish

me; and demand of me submittance to the church of England, etc. The extent of our discourse was as

COBB. When he was come into the house he sent for me out of my chamber; who, when I was come unto

COBB. Saith he, I come to tell you, that it is desired you would submit yourself to the laws of the land, or

else at the next sessions it will go worse with you, even to be sent away out of the nation, or else worse than

BUN. I said that I did desire to demean myself in the world, both as becometh a man and a Christian.

COBB. But, saith he, you must submit to the laws of the land, and leave off those meetings which you was

wont to have; for the statutelaw is directly against it; and I am sent to you by the justices to tell you that they

BUN. I said, Sir, I conceive that that law by which I am in prison at this time, doth not reach or condemn

either me, or the meetings which I do frequent; that law was made against those, that being designed to do

evil in their meetings, making the exercise of religion their pretence, to cover their wickedness. It doth not

forbid the private meetings of those that plainly and simply make it their only end to worship the Lord, and to

exhort one another to edification. My end in meeting with others is simply to do as much good as I can, by

exhortation and counsel, according to that small measure of light which God hath given me, and not to

COBB. Every one will say the same, said he; you see the late insurrection at LONDON, under what glorious

pretences they went; and yet, indeed, they intended no less than the ruin of the kingdom and commonwealth.

BUN. That practice of theirs, I abhor, said I; yet it doth not follow that, because they did so, therefore all

others will do so. I look upon it as my duty to behave myself under the King's government, both as becomes a

man and a Christian, and if an occasion were offered me, I should willingly manifest my loyalty to my

COBB. Well, said he, I do not profess myself to be a man that can dispute; but this I say, truly, neighbour

BUNYAN, I would have you consider this matter seriously, and submit yourself; you may have your liberty

to exhort your neighbour in private discourse, so be you do not call together an assembly of people; and,

truly, you may do much good to the church of Christ, if you would go this way; and this you may do, and the

BUN. Sir, said I, if I may do good to one by my discourse? why may I not do good to two? And if to two,

BUN. Yes, Sir, said I, I think I should not be forbid to do as much good as I can.

COBB. But, saith he, you may but pretend to do good, and instead, notwithstanding, do harm, by seducing

the people; you are, therefore, denied your meeting so many together, lest you should do harm.

BUN. And yet, said I, you say the law tolerates me to discourse with my neighbour; surely there is no law

tolerates me seduce any one; therefore if I may by the law discourse with one, surely it is to do him good; and

if I by discoursing may do good to one, surely, by the same law, I may do good to many.

COBB. The law, saith he, doth expressly forbid your private meetings; therefore they are not to be tolerated.

BUN. I told him that I would not entertain so much uncharitableness of that Parliament in the 35th of

ELIZABETH, or of the Queen herself, as to think they did, by that law, intend the oppressing of any of God's

ordinances, or the interrupting any in way of God; but men may, in the wresting of it, turn it against the way

of God; but take the law in itself, and it only fighteth against those that drive at mischief in their hearts and

meeting, making religion only their cloak, colour, or pretence; for so are the words of the statute: IF ANY

COBB. Very good; therefore the king, seeing that pretences are usually in and among people, so as to make

religion their pretence only; therefore he, and the law before him, doth forbid such private meetings, and

BUN. Sir, said I, let me answer you in a similitude: Set the case that, at such a wood corner, there did usually

come forth thieves, to do mischief; must there therefore a law be made, that every one that cometh out there

shall be killed? May not there come out true men as well as thieves out from thence? Just thus is it in this

case; I do think there may be many that may design the destruction of the commonwealth; but it doth not

follow therefore that all private meetings are unlawful; those that transgress, let them be punished. And if at

any time I myself should do any act in my conversation as doth not become a man and Christian, let me bear

the punishment. And as for your saying I may meet in public, if I may be suffered, I would gladly do it. Let

me have but meeting enough in public, and I shall care the less to have them in private. I do not meet in

private because I am afraid to have meetings in public. I bless the Lord that my heart is at that point, that if

any man can lay any thing to my charge, either in doctrine or in practice, in this particular, that can be proved

error or heresy, I am willing to disown it, even in the very marketplace; but if it be truth, then to stand to it

to the last drop of my blood. And, Sir, said I, you ought to commend me for so doing. To err and to be a

heretic are two things; I am no heretic, because I will not stand refractorily to defend any one thing that is

contrary to the Word. Prove any thing which I hold to be an error, and I will recant it.

COBB. But, goodman BUNYAN, said he, methinks you need not stand so strictly upon this one thing, as to

have meetings of such public assemblies. Cannot you submit, and, notwithstanding, do as much good as you

BUN. Truly, Sir, said I, I do not desire to commend myself, but to think meanly of myself; yet when I do

most despise myself, taking notice of that small measure of light which God hath given me, also that the

people of the Lord (by their own saying), are edified thereby. Besides, when I see that the Lord, through

grace, hath in some measure blessed my labour, I dare not but exercise that gift which God hath given me for

the good of the people. And I said further, that I would willingly speak in public if I might.

COBB. He said, that I might come to the public assemblies and hear. What though you do not preach? you

may hear. Do not think yourself so well enlightened, and that you have received a gift so far above others, but

BUN. I told him, I was as willing to be taught as to give instruction, and I looked upon it as my duty to do

both; for, said I, a man that is a teacher, he himself may learn also from another that teacheth, as the apostle

saith, WE MAY ALL PROPHESY ONE BY ONE, THAT ALL MAY LEARN. 1 Cor. xiv. 31. That is, every

man that hath received a gift from God, he may dispense it, that others may be comforted; and when he hath

COBB. But, said he, what if you should forbear awhile, and sit still, till you see further how things will go?

BUN. Sir, said I, WICKLIFFE saith, that he which leaveth off preaching and hearing of the Word of God for

fear of excommunication of men, he is already excommunicated of God, and shall in the day of judgment be

COBB. Ay, saith he, they that do not hear shall be so counted indeed; do you, therefore, hear?

BUN. But, Sir, said I, he saith, he that shall leave off either preaching or hearing, etc. That is, if he hath

received a gift for edification, it is his sin, if he doth not lay it out in a way of exhortation and counsel,

according to the proportion of his gift; as well as to spend his time altogether in hearing others preach.

COBB. But will you be willing, said he, that two indifferent persons shall determine the case; and will you

BUN. Then, said I, it is possible my judgment may be as good as theirs. But yet I will pass by either, and in

this matter be judged by the Scriptures; I am sure that is infallible, and cannot err.

COBB. But, said he, who shall be judge between you, for you take the Scriptures one way, and they another?

BUN. I said the Scripture should: and that by comparing one Scripture with another; for that will open itself,

if it be rightly compared. As for instance, if under the different apprehensions of the word MEDIATOR, you

would know the truth of it, the Scriptures open it, and tell us that he that is a mediator must take up the

business between two, and a mediator is not a mediator of one, BUT GOD IS ONE, AND THERE IS ONE

MEDIATOR BETWEEN GOD AND MEN, EVEN THE MAN CHRIST JESUS. Gal. iii. 20; 1 Tim. ii. 5. So

likewise the Scripture calleth Christ a COMPLETE, or perfect, or able HIGH PRIEST. That is opened in that

He is called man, and also God. His blood also is discovered to be effectually efficacious by the same things.

So the Scripture, as touching the matter of meeting together, etc., doth likewise sufficiently open itself and

BUN. Yes, Sir, said I, to the approbation of the church of God; (the church's judgment is best expressed in

Scripture). We had much other discourse which I cannot well remember, about the laws of the nation, and

submission to governments; to which I did tell him, that I did look upon myself as bound in conscience to

walk according to all righteous laws, and that, whether there was a king or no; and if I did any thing that was

contrary, I did hold it my duty to bear patiently the penalty of the law, that was provided against such

offenders; with many more words to the like effect. And said, moreover, that to cut off all occasions of

suspicion from any, as touching the harmlessness of my doctrine in private, I would willingly take the pains

to give any one the notes of all my sermons; for I do sincerely desire to live quietly in my country, and to

COBB. Well, neighbour BUNYAN, said he, but indeed I would wish you seriously to consider of these

things, between this and the quartersessions, and to submit yourself. You may do much good if you continue

still in the land; but alas, what benefit will it be to your friends, or what good can you do to them, if you

should be sent away beyond the seas into SPAIN, or CONSTANTINOPLE, or some other remote part of the

BUN. I shall desire, said I, in all honesty to behave myself in the nation, whilst I am in it. And if I must be so

dealt withal, as you say, I hope God will help me to bear what they shall lay upon me. I know no evil that I

COBB. You know, saith he, that the Scripture saith, THE POWERS THAT BE, ARE ORDAINED OF GOD.

BUN. I said, Yes, and that I was to submit to the King as supreme, and also to the governors, as to them who

COBB. Well then, said he, the King then commands you, that you should not have any private meetings;

because it is against his law, and he is ordained of God, therefore you should not have any.

BUN. I told him that PAUL did own the powers that were in his day, to be of God; and yet he was often in

prison under them for all that. And also, though JESUS CHRIST told PILATE, that He had no power against

him, but of God, yet He died under the same PILATE; and yet, said I, I hope you will not say that either

PAUL, or Christ, were such as did deny magistracy, and so sinned against God in slighting the ordinance. Sir,

said I, the law hath provided two ways of obeying: the one to do that which I, in my conscience, do believe

that I am bound to do, actively; and where I cannot obey actively, there I am willing to lie down, and to suffer

what they shall do unto me. At this he sat still, and said no more; which when he had done, I did thank him

AFTER that I had received this sentence of banishing, or hanging, from them, and after the former

admonition, touching the determination of the justices if I did not recant; just when the time drew nigh, in

which I should have abjured, or have done worse (as Mr Cobb told me), came the time in which the King was

to be crowned. Now, at the coronation of kings, there is usually a releasement of divers prisoners, by virtue of

his coronation; in which privilege also I should have had my share; but that they took me for a convicted

person, and therefore, unless I sued out a pardon (as they called it), I could have no benefit thereby,

notwithstanding, yet, forasmuch as the coronation proclamation did give liberty, from the day the King was

crowned, to that day twelvemonth, to sue them out; therefore, though they would not let me out of prison, as

they let out thousands, yet they could not meddle with me, as touching the execution of their sentence;

because of the liberty offered for the suing out of pardons. Whereupon I continued in prison till the next

Now, at that assizes, because I would not leave any possible means unattempted that might be lawful, I did,

by my wife, present a petition to the judges three times, that I might be heard, and that they would impartially

The first time my wife went, she presented it to Judge HALE, who very mildly received it at her hand, telling

her that he would do her and me the best good he could; but he feared, he said, he could do none. The next

day, again, lest they should, through the multitude of business, forget me, we did throw another petition into

the coach to Judge TWISDON; who, when he had seen it, snapt her up, and angrily told her that I was a

convicted person, and could not be released, unless I would promise to preach no more, etc.

Well, after this, she yet again presented another to judge Hale, as he sat on the bench, who, as it seemed, was

willing to give her audience. Only Justice CHESTER being present, stept up and said, that I was convicted in

the court, and that I was a hotspirited fellow (or words to that purpose), whereat he waived it, and did not

meddle therewith. But yet, my wife being encouraged by the highsheriff, did venture once more into their

presence (as the poor widow did before the unjust judge) to try what she could do with them for my liberty,

before they went forth of the town. The place where she went to them, was to the SWANCHAMBER,

where the two judges, and many justices and gentry of the country, was in company together. She then

coming into the chamber with a bashed face, and a trembling heart, began her errand to them in this manner:

WOMAN. My lord (directing herself to judge Hale), I make bold to come once again to your Lordship, to

JUDGE HALE. To whom he said, Woman, I told thee before I could do thee no good; because they have

taken that for a conviction which thy husband spoke at the sessions: and unless there be something done to

WOMAN. My lord, said she, he is kept unlawfully in prison; they clapped him up before there was any

proclamation against the meetings; the indictment also is false. Besides, they never asked him whether he was

ONE OF THE JUSTICES. Then one of the justices that stood by, whom she knew not, said, My Lord, he

WOM. It is false, said she; for when they said to him, Do you confess the indictment? he said only this, that

he had been at several meetings, both where there were preaching the Word, and prayer, and that they had

JUDGE TWISDON. Whereat Judge TWISDON answered very angrily, saying, What, you think we can do

what we list; your husband is a breaker of the peace, and is convicted by the law, etc. Whereupon Judge

WOM. It is false, said she; it was but a word of discourse that they took for a conviction (as you heard

CHEST. But it is recorded, woman; it is recorded, said Justice CHESTER; as if it must be of necessity true,

because it was recorded. With which words he often endeavoured to stop her mouth, having no other

WOM. My Lord, said she, I was a while since at LONDON, to see if I could get my husband's liberty; and

there I spoke with my lord BARKWOOD, one of the House of Lords, to whom I delivered a petition, who

took it of me and presented it to some of the rest of the House of Lords, for my husband's releasement; who,

when they had seen it, they said, that they could not release him, but had committed his releasement to the

judges, at the next assizes. This he told me; and now I am come to you to see if any thing may be done in this

business, and you give neither releasement nor relief. To which they gave her no answer, but made as if they

CHEST. Only Justice CHESTER was often up with this, He is convicted, and it is recorded.

CHEST. My lord, said Justice CHESTER, he is a pestilent fellow, there is not such a fellow in the country

TWIS. What, will your husband leave preaching? If he will do so, then send for him.

TWIS. See here, what should we talk any more about such a fellow? Must he do what he lists? He is a

WOM. She told him again, that he desired to live peaceably, and to follow his calling, that his family might

be maintained; and moreover, said, My Lord, I have four small children, that cannot help themselves, one of

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 motherinlaw 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

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.

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

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

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

TWIS. He preach the Word of God! said Twisdon; and withal, she thought he would have struck her; he

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

WOM. My lord, said she, when the righteous Judge shall appear, it will be known that his doctrine is not the

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;

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,

So, when I departed from them, the book of statutes was brought, but what they said of it I know nothing at

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 highsheriff, 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.

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 overcensorious 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,

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

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 churchmen, 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 Christianlike 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

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 manner no doubt, gave him the epithet of Bishop BUNYAN) whilst others

envied him for his so earnestly labouring in Christ's vineyard; yet the seed of the Word he (all this while)

sowed in the hearts of his congregation, watered with the grace of God, brought forth in abundance, in

Another part of his time is spent in reconciling differences, by which he hindered many mischiefs, and saved

some families from ruin, and in such fallingsout he was uneasy, till he found a means to labour a

reconciliation, and become a peacemaker, on whom a blessing is promised in holy writ; and indeed in doing

this good office, he may be said to sum up his days, it being the last undertaking of his life, as will appear in

When in the late reign, liberty of conscience was unexpectedly given and indulged to dissenters of all

persuasions, his piercing wit penetrated the veil, and found that it was not for the dissenters' sakes they were

so suddenly freed from the hard prosecutions that had long lain heavy upon them, and set in a manner, on an

equal foot with the Church of ENGLAND, which the papists were undermining, and about to subvert: he

foresaw all the advantages that could have redounded to the dissenters would have been no more than what

POLYPHEMUS, the monstrous giant of SICILY, would have allowed ULYSSES, VIZ.: That he would eat

his men first, and do him the favour of being eaten last: for although Mr BUNYAN, following the examples

of others, did lay hold of this liberty, as an acceptable thing in itself, knowing God is the only Lord of

conscience, and that it is good at all times to do according to the dictates of a good conscience, and that the

preaching the glad tidings of the Gospel is beautiful in the preacher; yet in all this he moved with caution and

a holy fear, earnestly praying for the averting impending judgments, which he saw, like a black tempest,

hanging over our heads for our sins, and ready to break in upon us, and that the NINEVITES' remedy was

now highly necessary: hereupon he gathered his congregation at BEDFORD, where he mostly lived, and had

lived and spent the greatest part of his life; and there being no convenient place to be had for the

entertainment of so great a confluence of people as followed him upon the account of his teaching, he

consulted with them for the building of a meeting house, to which they made their voluntary contributions

with all cheerfulness and alacrity; and the first time he appeared there to edify, the place was so thronged, that

many was constrained to stay without, though the house was very spacious, every one striving to partake of

his instructions, that were of his persuasion, and show their goodwill towards him, by being present at the

opening of the place; and here he lived in much peace and quiet of mind, contenting himself with that little

God had bestowed upon him, and sequestering himself from all secular employments, to follow that of his

call to the ministry; for as God said to MOSES, He that made the lips and heart, can give eloquence and

During these things, there were regulators sent into all cities and towns corporate, to new model the

government in the magistracy, etc., by turning out some, and putting in others: against this Mr BUNYAN

expressed his zeal with some weariness, as foreseeing the bad consequence that would attend it, and laboured

with his congregation to prevent their being imposed on in this kind; and when a great man in those days,

coming to BEDFORD upon some such errand, sent for him, as 'tis supposed, to give him a place of public

When he was at leisure from writing and teaching, he often came up to LONDON, and there went among the

congregations of the non conformists, and used his talent to the great goodliking of the hearers; and even

some to whom he had been misrepresented, upon the account of his education, were convinced of his worth

and knowledge in sacred things, as perceiving him to be a man of round judgment, delivering himself plainly

and powerfully; insomuch that many, who came mere spectators for novelty sake rather than to edify and be

improved, went away well satisfied with what they heard, and wondered, as the Jews did at the Apostles,

VIZ.: Whence this man should have these things; perhaps not considering that God more immediately assists

those that make it their business industriously and cheerfully to labour in His vineyard.

Thus he spent his latter years in imitation of his great Lord and Master, the everblessed Jesus; he went about

doing good, so that the most prying critic, or even Malice herself, is defied to find, even upon the narrowest

search or observation, any sully or stain upon his reputation, with which he may be justly charged; and this

we note, as a challenge to those that have the least regard for him, or them of his persuasion, and have one

way or other appeared in the front of those that oppressed him; and for the turning whose hearts, in obedience

to the commission and commandment given him of God, he frequently prayed, and sometimes sought a

blessing for them, even with tears, the effects of which, they may, peradventure, though undeservedly, have

found in their persons, friends, relations, or estates; for God will hear the prayer of the faithful, and answer

them, even for them that vex them, as it happened in the case of JOB'S praying for the three persons that had

But yet let me come a little nearer to particulars and periods of time, for the better refreshing the memories of

those that knew his labour and suffering, and for the satisfaction of all that shall read this book.

After he was sensibly convicted of the wicked state of his life, and converted, he was baptized into the

congregation, and admitted a member thereof, VIZ., in the year 1655, and became speedily a very zealous

professor; but upon the return of King CHARLES to the crown in 1660, he was the 12th of NOVEMBER

taken, as he was edifying some good people that were got together to hear the word, and confined in

BEDFORD jail for the space of six years, till the act of Indulgence to dissenters being allowed, he obtained

his freedom, by the intercession of some in trust and power, that took pity on his sufferings; but within six

years afterwards he was again taken up, VIZ., in the year 1666, and was then confined for six years more,

when even the jailor took such pity of his rigorous sufferings, that he did as the Egyptian jailor did to

JOSEPH, put all the care and trust in his hand: When he was taken this last time, he was preaching on these

words, viz.: DOST THOU BELIEVE THE SON OF GOD? And this imprisonment continued six years, and

when this was over, another short affliction, which was an imprisonment of half a year, fell to his share.

During these confinements he wrote the following books, viz.: OF PRAYER BY THE SPIRIT: THE HOLY

In the last year of his twelve years' imprisonment, the pastor of the congregation at BEDFORD died, and he

was chosen to that care of souls, on the 12th of DECEMBER 1671. And in this his charge, he often had

disputes with scholars that came to oppose him, as supposing him an ignorant person, and though he argued

plainly, and by Scripture, without phrases and logical expressions, yet he nonplussed one who came to

oppose him in his congregation, by demanding, Whether or no we had the true copies of the original

Scriptures; and another, when he was preaching, accused him of uncharitableness, for saying, IT WAS VERY

HARD FOR MOST TO BE SAVED; saying, by that he went about to exclude most of his congregation; but

he confuted him, and put him to silence with the parable of the stony ground, and other texts out of the 13th

chapter of ST MATTHEW, in our Saviour's sermon out of a ship; all his methods being to keep close to the

Scriptures, and what he found not warranted there, himself would not warrant nor determine, unless in such

But not to make any further mention of this kind, it is well known that this person managed all his affairs

with such exactness, as if he had made it his study, above all other things, not to give occasion of offence, but

rather suffer many inconveniences, to avoid being never heard to reproach or revile any, what injury soever

he received, but rather to rebuke those that did; and as it was in his conversation, so it is manifested in those

books he has caused to be published to the world; where like the archangel disputing with Satan about the

body of MOSES, as we find it in the epistle of ST JUDE, brings no railing accusation (but leaves the

In his family he kept up a very strict discipline in prayer and exhortation; being in this like JOSHUA, as the

good man expresses it, viz., WHATSOEVER OTHERS DID, AS FOR ME AND MY HOUSE, WE WILL

SERVE THE LORD: and indeed a blessing waited on his labours and endeavours, so that his wife, as the

THAT FEARS THE LORD, and though by reason of the many losses he sustained by imprisonment and

spoil, of his chargeable sickness, etc., his earthly treasure swelled not to excess; he always had sufficient to

live decently and creditably, and with that he had the greatest of all treasures, which is content; for as the

But where content dwells, even a poor cottage is a kingly palace, and this happiness he had all his life long;

not so much minding this world, as knowing he was here as a pilgrim and stranger, and had no tarrying city,

but looked for one made with hands eternal in the highest heavens: but at length was worn out with

sufferings, age, and often teaching, the day of his dissolution drew near, and death, that unlocks the prison of

the soul, to enlarge it for a more glorious mansion, put a stop to his acting his part on the stage of mortality;

heaven, like earthly princes, when it threatens war, being always so kind as to call home its ambassadors

before it be denounced, and even the last act or undertaking of his, was a labour of love and charity; for it so

falling out that a young gentleman, a neighbour of Mr BUNYAN'S, happening into the displeasure of his

father, and being much troubled in mind upon that account, and also for that he heard his father purposed to

disinherit him, or otherwise deprive him of what he had to leave; he pitched upon Mr BUNYAN as a fit man

to make way for his submission, and prepare his father's mind to receive him; and he, as willing to do any

good office, as it could be requested, as readily undertook it; and so riding to READING in BERKSHIRE, he

then there used such pressing arguments and reasons against anger and passion, as also for love and

reconciliation, that the father was mollified, and his bowels yearned to his returning son.

But Mr BUNYAN, after he had disposed all things to the best for accommodation, returning to LONDON,

and being overtaken with excessive rains, coming to his lodgings extremely wet, fell sick of a violent fever,

which he bore with much constancy and patience, and expressed himself as if he desired nothing more than to

be dissolved, and be with Christ, in that case esteeming death as gain, and life only a tedious delaying felicity

expected; and finding his vital strength decay, having settled his mind and affairs, as well as the shortness of

time, and the violence of his disease would permit, with a constant and christian patience, he resigned his soul

into the hands of his most merciful Redeemer, following his pilgrim from the City of Destruction, to the New

JERUSALEM; his better part having been all along there, in holy contemplation, pantings and breathings

after the hidden manna and water of life, as by many holy and humble consolations expressed in his letters to

several persons in prison, and out of prison, too many to be inserted at present. He died at the house of one

Mr STRUDDOCK, a grocer, at the Star on SNOW HILL, in the parish of ST SEPULCHRE'S, LONDON, on

the 12th of AUGUST 1688, and in the sixtieth year of his age, after ten days' sickness; and was buried in the

new burying place near the Artillery Ground; where he sleeps to the morning of the resurrection, in hopes of

a glorious rising to an incorruptible immortality of joy and happiness; where no more trouble and sorrow

shall afflict him, but all tears be wiped away; when the just shall be incorporated as members of Christ their

HE appeared in countenance to be of a stern and rough temper, but in his conversation mild and affable; not

given to loquacity or much discourse in company, unless some urgent occasion required it; observing never to

boast of himself or his parts, but rather seem low in his own eyes, and submit himself to the judgment of

others, abhorring lying and swearing, being just in all that lay in his power to his word, not seeming to

revenge injuries, loving to reconcile differences, and make friendship with all; he had a sharp quick eye,

accompanied with an excellent discerning of persons, being of good judgment and quick wit. As for his

person, he was tall of stature, strong boned, though not corpulent, somewhat of a ruddy face, with sparkling

eyes, wearing his hair on his upper lip, after the old British fashion; his hair reddish, but in his latter days,

time had sprinkled it with grey; his nose well set, but not declining or bending, and his mouth moderate large;

his forehead somewhat high, and his habit always plain and modest. And thus have we impartially described

the internal and external parts of a person, whose death hath been much regretted; a person who had tried the

smiles and frowns of time; not puffed up in prosperity, nor shaken in adversity; always holding the golden

In him at once did three great worthies shine, Historian, poet, and a choice divine: Then let him rest in

IN this his pilgrimage, God blessed him with four children, one of which, named MARY, was blind, and died

some years before; his other children were THOMAS, JOSEPH, and SARAH; his wife ELIZABETH having

lived to see him overcome his labour and sorrow, and pass from this life to receive the reward of his work,

long survived him not; but in 1692 she died, to follow her faithful pilgrim from this world to the other,

whither he was gone before her; whilst his works, which consist of sixty books, remain for the edifying of the