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grace abounding to the chief of sinners-第35章

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eth 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 understand them when you know  not the original Greek? etc。

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 the learned of the world);  AND REVEALS THEM TO BABES AND SUCKLINGS。

FOST。  He said there were none that heard me but a company of  foolish people。

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; and mighty; and noble; and chosen the foolish;  and the base。

FOST。  He told me that I made people neglect their calling; and  that God had commanded people to work six days; and serve Him on  the seventh。

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 to…day。

FOST。  He said again that there were none but a company of poor;  simple; ignorant people that come to hear me。

BUN。  I told him that the foolish and the ignorant had most need of  teaching and information; and; therefore; it would be profitable  for me to go on in that work。

FOST。  Well; said he; to conclude; but will you promise that you  will not call the people together any more? and then you may be  released and go home。

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 called me to。

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 people no more together; I might have my  liberty; etc。

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 market…place; 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 those that were the  cause of my coming among them to meetings。  Thus we parted。

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 comfort in my poor soul。

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 mind that I  should be there。

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

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

Farewell。


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


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

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

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

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

BUN。  I answered; No; I did not。

KEEL。  He asked me; Why?

BUN。  I said; Because I did not find it commanded in th
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