grace abounding to the chief of sinners-第24章

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　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　have　gone　on；　but　he　would　　not　give　me　leave。

KEEL。　　He　said；　We　might　do　it　in　our　families；　but　not　otherways。

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　you　not？　　Now；　and　not　till　now；　I　saw　I　was　　indicted。

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　be　His　name　therefore。　　I　confessed　myself　　guilty　no　otherwise。

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　to…day；　I　would　preach　the　Gospel　again　to…　morrow；　by　the　help　of　God。

ANOTHER。　　To　which　one　made　me　some　answer：　　but　my　jailor　pulling　　me　away　to　be　gone；　I　could　not　tell　what　he　said。

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　WISDOM；　WHICH　ALL　YOUR　　ADVERSARIES　SHALL　NOT　BE　ABLE　TO　GAINSAY；　NOR　RESIST。　　Luke　xxi。　　15。　　And　that　His　peace　no　man　can　take　from　us。

Thus　have　I　given　you　the　substance　of　my　examination。　　The　Lord　　make　this　profitable　to　all　that　shall　read　or　hear　it。　　Farewell。


THE　SUBSTANCE　OF　SOME　DISCOURSE　HAD　BETWEEN　THE　CLERK　OF　THE　PEACE　　AND　MYSELF；　WHEN　HE　CAME　TO　ADMONISH　ME；　ACCORDING　TO　THE　TENOR　OF　　THAT　LAW；　BY　WHICH　I　WAS　IN　PRISON。


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　followeth。

COBB。　　When　he　was　come　into　the　house　he　sent　for　me　out　of　my　　chamber；　who；　when　I　was　come　unto　him；　he　said；　Neighbour　BUNYAN；　　how　do　you　do？

BUN。　　I　thank　you；　Sir；　said　I；　very　well；　blessed　be　the　Lord。

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　that。

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　　statute…law　is　directly　against　it；　and　I　am　sent　to　you　by　the　　justices　to　tell　you　that　they　do　intend　to　prosecute　the　law　　against　you　if　you　submit　not。

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　disturb　the　　peace　of　the　nation。

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　Prince；　both　by　word　and　deed。

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　law　not　abridge　you　of　it。　　It　is　your　　private　meetings　that　the　law　is　against。

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；　why　not　to　four；　and　so　to　　eight？　etc。

COBB。　　Ay；　saith　he；　and　to　a　hundred；　I　warrant　you。

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　MEETINGS；　UNDER　COLOUR　OR　　PRETENCE　OF　RELIGION；　ETC。

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　tolerates　only　public；　you　may　meet　in　　public。

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　　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　　edi