The reason why I say a young, or shaken Christian; it is because some that are not young, but of an ancient standing, may not only be a.s.saulted with violent temptations, concerning gospel principles, but a second time may become a child, a babe, a shallow man, in the things of G.o.d; especially, either when by backsliding he hath provoked G.o.d to leave him, or when some new, unexpected, and, as to present strength, over-weighty objection doth fall upon the spirit; by means of which, great shakings of mind do commonly attend such a soul, in the most weighty matters of the concerns of faith, which this is one that have supposed in the above-named question. Wherefore pa.s.sing other things, I will come directly to that, and briefly propose some helps to a soul in such a case.
THE FIRST PREPARATIVE.
First, then, be sure thou keep close to the word of G.o.d; for that is the revelation of the mind and will of G.o.d, both as to the truth of what is either in himself or ways; and also as to what he requireth and expecteth of thee, either concerning faith in, or obedience to, what he hath so revealed. Now for thy better performing of this I shall give thee in brief these following directions.
1. Suffer thyself, by the authority of the word, to be persuaded that the scripture indeed is the word of G.o.d; the scriptures of truth, the words of the holy one; and that they therefore must be every one true, pure, and for ever settled in heaven.
2. Conclude therefore from the former doctrine, that that G.o.d whose words they are, is able to make a reconciliation and most sweet and harmonious agreement with all the sayings therein, how obscure, cross, dark, and contradictory soever they seem to thee.
To understand all mysteries, to have all knowledge, to be able to comprehend with all saints, is a great work; enough to crush the spirit, and to stretch the strings of the most capacious and widened soul that breatheth on this side glory, be they notwithstanding exceedingly enlarged by revelation. Paul, when he was caught up to heaven, saw that which was unlawful, because impossible for man to utter. And saith Christ to the reasoning Pharisee, "If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?" (John 3:12). It is great lewdness, and also insufferable arrogancy to come to the word of G.o.d, as conceiting already that whatever thou readest, must either by thee be understood, or of itself fall to the ground as a senseless error. But G.o.d is wiser than man, wherefore fear thou him, and tremble at his word, saying still, with G.o.dly suspicion of thine own infirmity, what I see not, teach thou me, and thou art G.o.d only wise; but as for me, "I was as a beast before thee" (Psa 73:22).
3. Take heed of taking a part of the word only, lest thou thereby go away with the truth as mangled in pieces. For instance, where thou readest, "The LORD our G.o.d is one Lord" (Deut 6:4); there take heed that thou dost not thence conclude, Then there are not three persons in the G.o.dhead: Or when thou readest of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, then take heed of concluding, there must therefore either be three G.o.ds, or else that Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost are not true G.o.d, but the Father only. Wherefore to help thee here, observe,
THE SECOND PREPARATIVE.
1. That Christian religion requireth credit concerning every doctrine contained in the word; credit, I say, according to the true relation of every sentence that the Holy Ghost hath revealed for the a.s.serting, maintaining, or vindicating that same truth.
2. And therefore hence it is that a Christian is not called a doer, a reasoner, an objector, and perverse disputer; but a BELIEVER.
Be thou an example to the believer. "And believers were the more added to the Lord," &c. (Acts 5:14; 1 Tim 4:12).
3. Therefore know again that the word, if it saith and expresseth that this or that is so and so, as to the matter in hand, thou art bound and obliged both by the name, profession, and the truth, unto which thou hast joined thyself, to a.s.sent to, confess and acknowledge the same, even then when thy carnal reason will not stoop thereto. "Righteous art thou, O Lord," saith Jeremiah, "yet let me talk with thee: Wherefore doth the way of the wicked prosper?" (Jer 12:1). Mark, first he acknowledgeth that G.o.d"s way with the wicked is just and right, even then when yet he could not see the reason of his actings and dispensations towards them.
The same reason is good as to our present case. And hence it is that the apostle teacheth, the spiritual armour of Christians should be much exercised against those high-towering and self-exalting imaginations, that within our own bosoms do exalt themselves against the knowledge of G.o.d. That every thought, or carnal reasoning, may be not only taken, but brought as captive into obedience to Christ; that is, be made to stoop to the word of G.o.d, and to give way and place to the doctrine therein contained, how cross soever our thoughts and the word lie to each other.
And it is observable that he here teacheth, They exalt themselves against the knowledge of G.o.d, which cannot be understood that our carnal or natural reason doth exalt itself against an eternal deity, simply considered; for that nature itself doth gather from the very things that are made, even his eternal power and G.o.dhead; it must be then that they exalt themselves against that G.o.d as thus and thus revealed in the word, to wit, against the knowledge of one G.o.d consisting of three persons, Father, Son, and Spirit; for this is the doctrine of the scriptures of truth; and therefore it is observable these thoughts must be brought captive, and be made subject in particular to the Lord Jesus Christ, as to the second person in the G.o.dhead; for the Father is ever acknowledged by all that profess the least of religion; but the Son is that stubmling-stone, and rock of offence, against which thousands dash themselves in pieces; though in him are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, and in him dwells the fulness of the G.o.dhead bodily.
OF THE LAW AND A CHRISTIAN.
The law was given twice upon mount Sinai, but the appearance of the Lord when he gave it the second time, was wonderfully different from that of his [appearance], when at the first he delivered it to Israel (Exo 19 and 34).
1. When he gave it the first time, he caused his terror and severity to appear before Moses, to the shaking of his soul, and the dismaying of Israel (Exo 19:16; Heb 12:18-20). But when he gave it the second time, he caused all his goodness to pa.s.s before Moses, to the comfort of his conscience, and the bowing of his heart (Exo 34:8).
2. When he gave it the first time, it was with thunderings and lightnings, with blackness and darkness, with flame and smoke, and a tearing sound of the trumpet (Exo 19:16-18). But when he gave it the second time, it was with a proclamation of his name to be merciful, gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity, transgressions and sins (Exo 34:6,7).
3. When he gave it the first time, Moses was called to go up to receive it through the fire, which made him exceedingly fear and quake (Exo 19:18; Heb 12:21). But when he went to receive it the second time, he was laid in a clift of the rock (Exo 31:22).
4. From all which I gather, that, though as to the matter of the law, both as to its being given the first time, and the second, it binds the unbeliever under the pains of eternal d.a.m.nation, if he close not with Christ by faith; yet as to the manner of its giving at these two times, I think the first doth more princ.i.p.ally intend its force as a covenant of works, not at all respecting the Lord Jesus; but this second time not, at least in the manner of its being given, respecting such a covenant, but rather as a rule, or directory, to those who already are found in the clift of the rock, Christ: for the saint himself, though he be without law to G.o.d, as it is considered the first or old covenant, yet even he is not without law to him as considered under grace, not without law to G.o.d, but under the law to Christ (1 Cor 9:21).
5. Though therefore it be sad with the unbeliever, because he only and wholly standeth under the law, as it is given in fire, in smoke, in blackness, and darkness, and thunder; all which threaten him with eternal ruin if he fulfil not the utmost t.i.ttle thereof; yet the believer stands to the law under no such consideration, neither is he so at all to hear or regard it, for he is now removed from thence to the blessed mountain of Zion, to grace and forgiveness of sins; he is now, I say, by faith in the Lord Jesus shrouded under so perfect and blessed a righteousness, that this thundering law of mount Sinai cannot find the least fault or diminution therein; but rather approveth and alloweth thereof either when, or wherever it find it (Heb 12). This is called the righteousness of G.o.d without the law, and is also said to be witnessed by both the law and the prophets: even the righteousness of G.o.d, which is by faith in Jesus Christ "unto all and upon all them that believe, for there is no difference" (Rom 3:22).
6. Wherefore whenever thou who believest in Jesus, dost hear the law in its thundering and lightning fits, as if it would burn up heaven and earth; then say thou, I am freed from this law, these thunderings have nothing to do with my soul; nay even this law, while it thus thunders and roareth, it doth both allow and approve of my righteousness. I know that Hagar would sometimes be domineering and high, even in Sarah"s house and against her; but this she is not to be suffered to do, nay though Sarah herself be barren; wherefore serve IT also as Sarah served her, and expel her out from thy house. My meaning is, when this law with its thundering threatenings doth attempt to lay hold on thy conscience, shut it out with a promise of grace; cry, the inn is took up already, the Lord Jesus is here entertained, and here is no room for the law.
Indeed if it will be content with being my informer, and so lovingly leave off to judge me; I will be content, it shall be in my sight, I will also delight therein; but otherwise, I being now made upright without it, and that too with that righteousness, which this law speaks well of and approveth; I am not, will not, cannot, dare not make it my saviour and judge, nor suffer it to set up its government in my conscience; for by so doing I fall from grace, and Christ Jesus doth profit me nothing (Gal 5:1-5).
7. Thus therefore the soul that is married to him that is raised up from the dead, both may and ought to deal with this law of G.o.d; yea, it doth greatly dishonour its Lord and refuse its gospel privileges, if it at any time otherwise doth, whatever it seeth or feels. The law hath power over the wife so long as her husband liveth, but if her husband be dead she is freed from that law, so that she is no adulteress though she be married to another man (Rom 7:1-3). Indeed so long as thou art alive to sin, and to thy righteousness which is of the law, so long thou hast them for thy husband and they must reign over thee: But when once they are become dead unto thee, as they then most certainly will, when thou closest with the Lord Jesus Christ; then I say, thy former husbands have no more to meddle with thee, thou art freed from their law. Set a case, a woman be cast into prison for a debt of hundreds of pounds, if after this she marry; yea, though while she is in the gaoler"s hand, in the same day that she is joined to her husband, her debt is all become his; yea, and the law also that arrested and imprisoned this woman, as freely tells her, go, she is freed, saith Paul, from that, and so saith the law of this land.
The sum then of what hath been said is this, the Christian hath now nothing to do with the law, as it thundereth and burneth on Sinai, or as it bindeth the conscience to wrath and the displeasure of G.o.d for sin; for from its thus appearing, it is freed by faith in Christ. Yet it is to have regard thereto, and is to count it holy, just and good (Rom 7:12); which that it may do, it is always whenever it seeth or regards it, to remember that he who giveth it to us is "merciful, and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth," &c. (Exo 34:6).
SCRIPTURAL POEMS; BEING SEVERAL PORTIONS OF SCRIPTURE DIGESTED INTO ENGLISH VERSE
viz.,
I. The Book of Ruth II. The History of Samson III. Christ"s Sermon on the Mount IV. The Prophecy of Jonah V. The Life of Joseph VI.
The Epistle of James
BY JOHN BUNYAN
Licensed According to Order.
London: Printed for J. Blare, at the Looking Gla.s.s, on London Bridge, 1701.
ADVERTIs.e.m.e.nT BY THE EDITOR.
This very interesting little volume of poems, we believe, has not been reprinted since the year 1701, nor has it ever been inserted in any edition or catalogue of Bunyan"s works. This may have arisen from the author"s having sold his entire copyright--a fact which prevented Charles Doe from publishing many other of Bunyan"s treatises, when he projected his edition of the entire works, of which the first volume only was printed. With some other of Bunyan"s rarest tracts, it escaped the researches of Wilson, who published the works in 1737, and also of Whitefield, Mason, and all other editors of Bunyan"s works. Mr. Doe, in his very interesting pages called "The Struggler, for the Preservation of Mr. John Bunyan"s Labours," gives a catalogue table of his books in the order in which they were published; but he had not discovered these poems, nor the Emblems, nor the Exhortation to Peace and Unity.
The volume from which this edition is printed consists of one hundred pages in crown octavo, with a very rude cut of Ruth and Boaz. It is of extreme rarity, if not unique, in a perfect state.
The imprint is--London, for J. Blare, at the Looking Gla.s.s, on London Bridge, 1701. It forms part of the Editor"s extensive collection of the original or early editions of Bunyan"s tracts and treatises; the scarcity of which may be accounted for, from their having been printed on very bad paper, and worn out by use, being so generally and eagerly read by pious persons among the labouring cla.s.ses of the community.
The style and substance of these scriptural poems are entirely Bunyan"s. His veneration for the holy oracles appears through every page, by his close adherence to the text. He fully proves what he a.s.serts in his address to the reader--
"The WORD are for the most part all the same, For I affected plainness more than fame."
However uncouth it may appear to use a plural verb after a singular noun, it really expresses his meaning, which is evidently, that portions of the WORD of G.o.d are rendered into poetry as nearly as possible, word for word with the original; and he immediately apologizes for this rudeness, in neglecting the rules of grammar, by stating his earnest plainness of speech, and his want of education in early life.
"Nor could"st thou hope to have it better done, For I"m no poet, nor a poet"s son, But a mechanic, guided by no rule, But what I gained in a grammar school In my minority."
How exactly does this agree with his account of himself in boyhood,--"It pleased G.o.d to put it into my parent"s heart to put me to school, to learn both to read and write; though, to my shame I confess, I did soon lose that I learnt, even almost utterly."[1]
Our surprise will be excited, not by little inaccuracies of style or departures from the rules of grammar, but at the talent of a poor mechanic, in so faithfully rendering scripture histories in such simple and striking language. As Mr. Burton says, in commending his Gospel Truths Vindicated,--"This man hath not the learning or wisdom of man, yet through grace he hath received the teaching of G.o.d, and the learning of the Spirit of Christ, which is the thing that makes a man both a Christian and a minister of the gospel (Isa 50:4). He was not chosen out of an earthly, but out of the heavenly University, and hath taken these three heavenly degrees--Union with Christ--The Anointing of the Spirit, and Experience of the Temptations of Satan; far better than all the University learning and degrees that can be had." May Bunyan"s desire be realized, and his verses prove to all our readers
"As delighting To thee in reading, as to me in writing."
GEO. OFFOR.
Hackney, August 22, 1849
SCRIPTURAL POEMS
TO THE READER.