grace abounding to the chief of sinners-第30节

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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　　market…place；　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　can；　in　a　neighbourly　way；　without　having　such　　meetings？

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　that　you　may　hear　other　men　preach。　　Or　to　　that　purpose。

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　done；　he　may　hear　and　learn；　and　be　　comforted　himself　of　others。

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　counted　a　traitor　to　Christ。

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；　said　he；　how　shall　we　know　that　you　have　received　a　　gift？

BUN。　　Said　I；　Let　any　man　hear　and　search；　and　prove　the　doctrine　　by　the　Bible。

COBB。　　But　will　you　be　willing；　said　he；　that　two　indifferent　　persons　shall　determine　the　case；　and　will　you　stand　by　their　　judgment？

BUN。　　I　said；　Are　they　infallible？

COBB。　　He　said；　No。

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　discover　　its　meaning。

COBB。　　But　are　you　willing；　said　he；　to　stand　to　the　judgment　of　　the　church？

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　submit　to　the　present　authority。

COBB。　　Well；　neighbour　BUNYAN；　said　he；　but　indeed　I　would　wish　you　　seriously　to　consider　of　these　things；　between　this　and　the　　quarter…sessions；　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　world？　　Pray　be　ruled。

JAILOR。　　Indeed；　Sir；　I　hope　he　will　be　ruled。

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　have　done　in　this　matter；　to　be　so　　used。　　I　speak　as　in　the　presence　of　God。

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　are　sent　by　Him。

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　for　his　civil　and　meek　　discoursing　with　me；　and　so　we　parted。

O！　that　we　might　meet　in　heaven！

Farewell。　　J。　B。


HERE　FOLLOWETH　A　DISCOURSE　BETWEEN　MY　WIFE　AND　THE　JUDGES；　WITH　　OTHERS；　TOUCHING　MY　DELIVERANCE　AT　THE　ASSIZES　FOLLOWING；　THE　WHICH　　I　TOOK　FROM　HER　OWN　MOUTH。


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　assizes；　wh