Believe I must or nothing I Obey Love God I must or nothing I can do That 's worth so much as loosing of my Shooâ— If I do not bear after Christ my Cross If Love to Holiness is at a loss If I my Lusts seek not to mortifie If to my self my Flesh I do not dye What Law should I observ 't can do me good In little Duties Life hath never stood One Reads he Prays he Catechises too But doth he nothing else what doth he do I Read to know my Duty I do pray To God to help me do it day by day If this be not my end in what I do I am a Sot an Hypocrite also I am Baptiz'd what then unless I dye To Sin I cover Folly with a Lye. At the Lords Table I do eat what tho There some have eat their own Damnation too I will suppose I Hear I Sing I Pray And that I am Baptiz'd without delay I will suppose I do much knowledge get And will also suppose that I am fit To be a Preacher yet nought profits me If to the first poor I a stranger be They are more weighty therefore in compare These unto them but Mint and Annis are Not that I would the least of Duty slight Because the least Command of Divine Right Requires that I my self subject thereto Wilful Resisters do them selves undo But let 's keep order let the first be first Repent Believe and Love and then I trust I have that Right which is Divine to all That is enjoyned be they great or small Only I must as cautionary speak In one word more a little to the Weak Thou must not suffer men so to enclose Thee in their Judgments as to discompose Thee in that Faith and Peace thou hast with him This would be like the losing of a Limb Or like to him who thinks he doth not well Unless he lose the Kernel for the Shell Thou art no Captive but a Child and Free Thou wast not made for Laws but Laws for thee And thou must use them as thy light will bear it They that say otherwise do rend and tear it More like to wicked Tyrants who are cruel And add unto a little Fire more Fuel But those who are True Shepherds of the Sheep To quench such burnings would most gladly Weep But I am yet but upon Generals Particulars our Legislator calls For at our Hands and that in order too Consummate what we have begun to do 1. My Brother I must Love in very deed I 'm taught of God to do it let me heed This Divine Duty and perform it well Who loves his Brother God in him doth dwell The argument which on me this imposes â—mells like to Oyntment or the Sweetest Roses â—hall God Love shall he keep his Faith to me And shall not I shall I unfaithful be Shall God love me a Sinner and shall I Not love a Saint Yea shall my JESUS dye To reconcile me to my God and shall â— hate his Child nor hear his wants that call For my little Assisting of him sie On such a spirit on such cruelty Fie on the thought that would me alienate Or tempt me my worst Enemy to hate 2. He that dwells here must also be a sharer In others griefs must be a burden-bearer Among his Brethren or he cannot do That which the blessed Gospel calls him to In order hereunto Humility Must be put on it is our Livery We must be clothed with it if we will The Law Obey our Masters mind fulfil If this be so then what should they do here Who in their Antick pranks of Pride appear Let lofty Men among you bear no sway The Lord beholds the Proud Man far away It is not fit that he inhabits there Where humbleness of mind should have the chair Can Pride be where a Soul for Mercy craves Shall Pride be found among Redeemed Slaves Shall he who Mercy from the Gallows brought Look High or Strut or entertain a thought That tends to tempt him to forget that fate To which for Sin he destin'd was of late And could not then at all deliver'd be But by anothers Death and Misery Pride is the unbecoming'st thing of all Besides 't is the fore runner of a fall He that is Proud soon in the dirt will lye But Honour followeth Humility Let each then count his Brother as his bettter Let each esteem himself anothers Debtor Christ bids us learn of him humble to be Profession's Beauty is Humility 3. Forgive is here another Statute Law To be revenged is not worth a Straw He that forgives shall also be forgiven Who doth not so must lose his part in Heaven â—or must thou weary of this Duty be Cause God's not weary of Forgiving thee Thou livest by Forgiveness should a stop Be put thereto one moment thou wouldst drop â—nto the Mouth of Hell. Then let this move Thee thy dear Brother to forgive in Love. And we are bid in our forgivenesses To do as God doth in forgiving his If any has a quarrel against any As quarrels we have oft against a many Why then as God for Christs sake pardons you For Christs sake pardon thou thy Brother too We say What freely comes doth freely go Then let all our forgivenesses be so â—'m sure God heartily forgiveth thee My loving Brother prethee forgive me But then in thy forgiveness be upright Do 't with thy Heart or thou' rt an Hypocrite 4. As we forgive so we must watch and pray For Enemies we have that night and day Should we not watch would soon our Graceâ— spoileâ— Should we not pray would our poor Souls defileâ— Without a watch resist a Foe who can Who prays not is not like to play the man Complain that he is overcome he may But who would win the Field must Watch and Pray Who watches should know who and who 's together Know we not Friends from Foes how know we whether Of them to Fight or which to entertain Some have instead of Foes Familiars slain Sometimes a Lust will get into the place Or Work or Office of some worthy grace Till it has brought our Souls to great decay Unless we diligently Watch and Pray Our Pride will our Humility precede By th' Nose our Unbelief our Faith will lead self-Self-love will be where Self-Denyal should And Passion heat what Patience sometime coold And thus it will be with us Night and Day Unless we diligently Watch and Pray Besides what these Domesticks do there are Abroad such Foes as wait us to ensnare Yea they against us stand in Battle-'ray And will us spoil unless we Watch and Pray There is the World with all its Vanities There is the Devil with a thousand Lyes There are False Brethren with their fair Colusions Also False Doctrines with their strong delusions These will us take yea carry us away From what is Good unless we Watch and Pray Long Life to many is a fearful
A DISCOURSE OF THE Building Nature Excellency and Government Of the HOVSE of GOD. WITH Counsels and Directions To the Inhabitants thereof By JOHN BVNYAN of Bedford Psal. 26.8 Lord I have loved the Habitation of thy House the place where thine Honour dwelleth LONDON Printed and are to be Sold by George Larkin at the Two Swans without Bishopsgate 1688. A DISCOURSE OF THE Building Nature Excellency and Government Of the HOVSE of GOD. I. By whom this HOVSE is Built THe Builder's God Materials his Elect His Son 's the Rock on which it is Erect The Scripture is his Rule Plummet or Line Which gives proportion to this House divine â—is Working-Tools his Ordinances are By them he doth his Stones and Timber square Affections knit in Love the Couplings are â—ood Doctrine like to Morter doth cement The whole together Schisme to prevent His Compass his Decree his Hand 's the Spirit By which he Frames what he means to inherit A Holy Temple which shall far excell That very place where now the Angels dwell Call this a Temple or a House of Prayer A Pallace Oracle or Spouse most fair Or what you will God's Love is here display'd And here his Treasure safely up is laid For his own Darling none can find a place Where he as here is wont to shew his Face What tho some slight it it a Cottage call Give 't the reproachful name of Beggars-Hall Yea what tho to some it an Eye-sore is What tho they count it base and at it hiss Call it an Alms-House Builded for the Poor Yet Kings of Old have begged at the door II. Of the Beauty of the Church LO her Foundations laid with Saphirs are Her goodly Windows made of Agats fair Her Gates are Carbuncles or Pearls nor one Of all her borders but 's a precious stone None Common nor o' th' baser sort are here Nor rough but squar'd and polisht every where Her Beams are Caedars Firr her Rafters be Her Tarrases are of the Algum-Tree The Thorn or Crab-Tree here are not of use Who thinks them here Utensils puts abuse Upon the place yea on the Builder too Would they be thus controul'd in what they do With Carved-work of Lilly and Palm-Tree With Cherubims and Chains adorned be The Doors the Walls and Pillars of this Place Forbidden Beasts here must not shew their face With Grace like Gold as with fine Painting he Will have this House within enriched be Fig-leaves nor Rags must here keep out no cold This Builder covers all with Cloth of Gold Of Needle-Work prickt more then once or twice The oftner prickt still of the higher price Wrought by his Son put on her by his merit Apply'd by Faith revealed by the Spirit III. Of the Conveniencies of this House WIthin these Walls the Builder did devise That there the Housholders might Sacrifice Here is an Altar and a Laver too And Priests abundance Temple-Work to do Nor want they Living Offerings nor yet Fire Nor holy Garments what Divine Desire Commands it has bestowed on this place Here be the Censers here 's the Throne of Grace None of the Housholders need go else where To Offer Incense or Good-News to hear A Throne for Judgment he did here Erect Vertue to cherish Folly to detect Statutes and Laws unto this House he gave To teach who to Condemn and who to Save By things thus wholsom taught is every Brother To fear his God and to love one another And now for Pleasure Solace Recreation Here 's such as helpeth forward Man's Salvation Equal to these none can be found else where All else turn to Profuseness Sin and Care. So situate it is so roomthy fair So Warm so Blessed with such wholsome Air That 't is enticing who so wishes well To his Souls health should covet here to dwell Here 's necessaries and what will delight The godly Ear the Pallate with the Sight Of each degree and Sex here 's every thing To please a Beggar and delight a King. Chambers and Galleries he did invent Both for a Prospect and a Retirement For such as unto Musick do incline Here are both Harps and Psalteries divine Her Cellars and Banqueting-House have been In former days a Pallace for a Queen O House what Title to thee can be given So fit as that which Men do give to Heaven IV. Of the Strength and Defence of this House THis House you may be sure will always stand She 's builded on a Rock not on the Sand Storms Rain yea Floods have oft upon her beat Yet stands She here 's a proof She is no cheat â—ear not therefore in her for to abide She keeps her ground come Weather Wind or Tide Her Corner-Stone has many times been try'd But never could the Scorn or Rage or Pride Of all her Foes by what force they could make Destroy her Battlements or Ground-Work shake Here 's God the Lord encamping round about His dwelling place nor ought we once to doubt But that he as a Watch-Man succour will Those that do dwell upon his Holy Hill. A Wall of Fire about her I will be And Glory in the midst of her and she Shall be the place where I my name record Here I will come and bless you saith the Lord. The holy Watchers at her Gates do stand With their destroying Weapons in their hand Those to defend that in this House do dwell From all her Enemies in Earth and Hell Safety Where is it If it is not here God dwelleth in her doth for her appear To help her early and her Foes confound And unto her will make his Grace abound Safety is here and also that advance Will make a Beggar sing a Cripple dance V. The Delicateness of the Situation of this House AS her Foundation and her Beauty 's much Conveniences and her Defences such As none can parallel so doth the Field About her richest rarest Dainties yiâ—ld Moriah where Isaac was Offered Where David from his Sin was ransomed Where Solomon the Temple did erect Compar'd with this is worthy no respect Under the very Threshold of this place Arise those goodly springs of lasting grace Whose Christal Streams minister Life to those That here of Love to her make their repose Sweet is her Air as one may well infer Cause 't is the breathings of the Comforter The Pomgranates at all her gates do grow Mandrakes and Vines with other dainties mo Her Gardens yield the Chief the richest Spice Surpassing them of Adam's Paradice Here be sweet Oyntments and the best of Gums Here runs the Milk here drops the Honey-Combs Here are Perfumes most pleasant to the sence Here grows the goodly Trees of Frankinsence Her Arbors Walks Fountains and pleasant Springs Delightful formerly have been to Kings Such Mountains round about this House do stand As one from thence may see the Holy Land Her Fields are fertile do abound with Corn The Lillies fair her Valleys do adorn The Birds
And he 's the cause of Man's Regeneration 'T is he by whom the Heavens were garnished With all their host they then abroad did spread Like Spangles Pearls Diamonds or richest Gems Far Richer then the fairest Diadems 'T was he who with his Cloven Tongues of fire Made all those wise ones of the World admire Who heard his Breathing in unlearned men O Blessed Ruler now the same as then His work our mind is to illuminate With things divine and to accommodate Us with those Graces which will us adorn And make us look like men indeed New-Born For our Inheritance he makes us meet He makes us also in this World discreet Prudent and Wise in what we take in hand To do and suffer at our Lords command 'T is he that leads us to the Tomb and Cross When Jesus Crucifi'd and Bury'd was He shews us also that he did revive And doth assure us that he is alive And doth improve the merit of his Blood At Graces Throne for our Eternal Good. Dark Riddles he doth here to us unfold Yea makes us things Invisible behold He sheds abroad God's Love in every Heart Where he doth dwell yea to them doth impart Such tokens of a future Happiness That 's past the Tongue of Angels to express 'T is he which helpeth us that to perform Whether Becalm'd or whether in a Storm Which God commands without him we do nought That 's Good either in Deed or Word or Thought 'T is he that doth with Jewels us bedeck 'T is he puts chains of Gold about our Neck 'T is he that doth us with fine Linnen gird That maketh us oft times live as a Bird. That cureth us of all our doubts and fears Puts Bracelets on our Hands Rings on our Ears He Sanctifies our Persons he perfumes Our Spirits also he our Lust consumes Our Stinking Breath he sweetens so that we To God and all good Men sweet-scented be He sets Gods mark upon us and doth seal Us unto Life and Life to us reveal 3. Another sort of Officers here are But such as must not with these first compare They 're under-Officers but serviceable Not only here to Rule but wait at Table Those clothed are with Linnen fine and white They glitter as the Stars of darksome Night They have Saint Peters Keys and Aarons Rod They ope and shut they bind and loose for God. The chief of these are Watch-men they have power To mount on high and to ascend the Tower Of this brave Fabrick and from thence to see Who keeps their ground and who the straglers be These have their Trumpet when they do it sound The Mountains Eccho yea it shakes the ground With it they also sound out an Alarm When they perceive the least mischief or harm Is coming so they do this House secure There from or else prepare it to endure Most manfully the Cross and so attain The Crown which for the Victor doth remain This Officer is call'd a Steward too 'Cause with his Masters Cash he has to do And has Authority it to disburst To those that want or for that Treasure thirst The Distributor of the word of Grace He is and at his Mouth when he 's in place They seek the Law he also bids them do it He shews them Sin and learns them to eschew it By this example too he shews them how To keep their Garments clean their knees to bowâ— Before the King when he comes into place And when they do him supplicate for Grace Another Badge this Officer doth wear Is that of Overseer because the care Of the Whole House is with him he 's to see They nothing want nor yet abused be â—y false Intruders Doctrines or perchance â—y the misplacing of an Ordinance â—hese also are to see they wander not â—rom Place or Duty least they get a blot â—o their Profession or bring some Disease â—pon the whole or get a trick to lease Or Lye unto their God by doing what â—y Sacred Statutes he commanded not Call them your Cooks they 're skill'd in dressing Food To nourish Weak and Strong and cleanse the Blood They 've Milk for Babes strong Meat for Men of Age Food fit for who are Simple who are Sage When the great Pot goes on as oft it doth They put not Coloquintida in Broth As do those Younglings Fondlings of their skill Who make not what 's so apt to cure as kill They are your Sub-Physicians and know What sickness you are incident unto Let them but feel your Pulse and they will tell You quickly whether you are Sick or Well Have you the Staggers They can help you there Or if the Falling-Sickness or do fear A Lethergy a Fever or the Gout God blessing of their skill you need not doubâ— A cure for long Experience has made These Officers the Masters of their Trade Their Physick works by Purge and Vomit too Fear not nor full nor fasting but t' will do Have but a care and see you catch no Cold And with their Physick then you may be bold You may them Prophets call for they can telâ— Of things to come yea here they do excell They Prophesie of Mans future event Whether to Weal or Wo his mind is bent Yea so expert are they in their Predictions Their Arguments so full are of Convictions That none who hear them but are forc'd 〈◊〉 say Wo unto them who wander from the way Art bound for Hell against all wind and weather Or art thou one a going backward thither Or dost thou wink because thou wouldst not see Or dost thou sideling go and wouldst not be Suspected Yet these Prophetes can the tell Which way thou art a going down to Hell. For him that would Eternal Life attain Yet will not part with all that Life to gain But keepeth some thing close he should forsake Or slips the time in which he should awake Or saith he lets go all yet keepeth some Of what will make him lose the world to come These Prophets can tell such a man his state And what at last will surely be his fate If thou art one who tradeth in both ways God's now the Devil 's then or if delays Thou mak'st of coming to thy God for Life Or if thy Light and Lusts are at a strife About who should be master of thy Soul And lovest one the other dost controul These Prophets tell thee can which way thou bendest On which thou frown'st to which a hand thou lendest Art one of those whose fears do go beyond Their faith when thou should'st hope dost thou dispond Dost keep thine Eye upon what thou hast done And yet hast Licence to look on the Sun Dost thou so covet more as not to be Affected with the Grace bestow'd on thee Art like to him that needs must step a Mile At every stride or think it not worth while To follow Christ These Prophets they can tell To cure this thy Disease and make thee well
coming of the Lord. 9. To entertain Good Men let 's not forget Some by so doing have had benefit Yea for to Recompence this act of theirs Angels have lodged with them unawares Yea to encourage such a work as this The Lord himselfe makes it a note of his When Hungry or when Thirsty I have been Or when a Stranger you did take me in Strangers should not to Strangers but be kind Specially if conferring Notes they find Themselves tho Strangers here one Brotherhood And Heirs joynt Heirs of Everlasting Good These should as Mothers Sons when they do meet In a strange Countrey one another greet With welcom come in Brother how dost do Whether art wandring Prethee let me know Thy state Do'st want or Meat or Drink or Cloth Art weary Let me wash thy Feet I 'm loth Thou shouldst depart abide with me all Night Pursue thy Journey with the Morning Light. X. The way of reducing what 's amiss into Order here ALtho this House thus honourable is Yet 't is not Sinless many things amiss Do happen here wherefore them to redress We must keep to our Rules of Righteousness Nor must we think it strange if Sin shall be Where Vertue is do'nt not all men plainly see That in the holy Temple there was dust That to our very Gold there cleaveth rust In Abrahams Family was a Derider I' th' Palace of a King will be the Spider Who saith We have no Sin doth also say We have no need at all to watch and pray To live by Faith the Flesh to Mortify Or of more of the Spirit to Sanctify Our Nature All this wholly needless is With him who as to this has nought amiss But we confess 'cause we would not be Liers That we still feel the motions and desires Of Sin within us and should fall away Did not Christ intercede and for us pray We therefore do conclude that Sin is here But that it may not to our shame appear We have our Rules thereby with it to deal And Plaisters too our deadly Wounds to heal And seeing Idleness gives great occasions To 'th Flesh to make it's rude and bold invasisions Upon good Orders 't is ordain'd we see That none dwell here but such as workers be So plain's the Law for this and so compleat It bids who will not work forbear to eat Let then each one be diligent to do What Grace or Nature doth oblige them to Who have no need to work for Meat or Cloath Should work for those that want Not that the Sloath Of Idleness should be encouraged But that those poor indeed be Clad and Fed. Dorcas did thus and 't is to sacred Story Committed for her praise and lasting Glory This House then is no Nurse to Idleness Fig-Trees are here to keep and Vines to dress Here 's work for all yea work that must be done Yet work like that to playing in the Sun The Toyl's a pleasure and the Labour sweet Like that of David's Dancing in the street The work is short the wages is for ever The work like me the wages like the Giver No Drone must hide himself under those Eaves Who sows not will in Harvest Reap no Sheaves The sloathful man himself may plainly see The Honey's gotten by the working Bee. But here 's no work for Life that 's freely given Meat Drink and Cloth and Life we have from Heaven Work 's here enjoyned 'cause it is a pleasure â—ice to suppress and augment Heavenly Treasure Moreover 't is to shew if men profess The Faith and yet abide in Idleness Their Faith is vain no man can ever prove Hee 's right but by the Faith that works by love If this good Counsel is by thee rejected If work and labour is by thee neglected If thou like David lollest on thy Bed Or art like to a Horse pamper'd and fed With what will fire thy Lusts and so lays Snares For thine own Soul when thou should be i' th' Wars Then take what follows Sin must be detected And thou without Repentance quite rejected This is the House of God his Dwelling-place 'T is here that we behold his lovely Face But if it should polluted be with Sin And so abide he quickly will begin To leave it desolate and then wo to it Sin and his Absence quickly will undo it And since Sin is of things the worst of all And watcheth like a Serpent on a Wall Or flyeth like an Eagle in the Air Or runs as desperate Ships void of all care Or as great Solomon hath wisely said Is as the way of Wantons with a Maid Who tick and toy and with a tempting giggle Provoke to lust and by degrees so wriggle Them into their affections that they go The way to death so do themselves undo As it is said This mischief to prevent Let all men watch yea and be diligent Observers of its motions and then flie This is the way to live and not to die ☞ He that would never fall must never slip Who would obey the Call must fear the Whip God would also that every stander by That in the Grass doth see the Adder lie Should cry as he did Death is in the Pot That many by its Poyson perish not But if that beastly thing shall hold its hold And make the man possessed basely bold In pleading for it or shall it deny Or it shall seek to cover with a lie Then take more aid and make a fresh assault At it again diminish not the fault But charge it home If yet he will not fear But still unto his wickedness adhere Then tell the house thereof But if he still Persist in his abomination will Then fly him 'cause he is a leaprous man Count him with Heathens and the Publican But if he falls before thee at the first Then be thou to him faithful loving just Forgive his sin tell it not to a Brother Lest thou thy self be serv'd so by another If he falls not but in the second charge Spread not his wickedness abroad at large But if thou think his sorrow to be sound Forgive his sin and hide it under ground If he shall stand the first and second shot If he before the Church repenteth not Deal with him as the matter shall require Let not the House for him be set on fire If after all he shall repent and turn To God and you you must not let him burn For ever under sence of sin and shame You must his sin forgive in Christ his name Confirm your love to him in Christ you must By all such ways as honest are and just Shy be not of him carry 't not alooff But rather give him of your love such proof â—hat he may gather thence ye do believe â—o mercy Christ again doth him receive Two things monish you as to this I would The first to shew the Church wherein she should â—n all her actions so her self