grace abounding to the chief of sinners-第25章

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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；　which　are　　called　MIDSUMMER　ASSIZES；　being　then　kept　in　AUGUST；　1661。

Now；　at　that　assizes；　because　I　would　not　leave　any　possible　means　　unattempted　that　might　be　lawful；　I　did；　by　my　wife；　present　a　　petition　to　the　judges　three　times；　that　I　might　be　heard；　and　that　　they　would　impartially　take　my　case　into　consideration。

The　first　time　my　wife　went；　she　presented　it　to　Judge　HALE；　who　　very　mildly　received　it　at　her　hand；　telling　her　that　he　would　do　　her　and　me　the　best　good　he　could；　but　he　feared；　he　said；　he　could　　do　none。　　The　next　day；　again；　lest　they　should；　through　the　　multitude　of　business；　forget　me；　we　did　throw　another　petition　　into　the　coach　to　Judge　TWISDON；　who；　when　he　had　seen　it；　snapt　　her　up；　and　angrily　told　her　that　I　was　a　convicted　person；　and　　could　not　be　released；　unless　I　would　promise　to　preach　no　more；　　etc。

Well；　after　this；　she　yet　again　presented　another　to　judge　Hale；　as　　he　sat　on　the　bench；　who；　as　it　seemed；　was　willing　to　give　her　　audience。　　Only　Justice　CHESTER　being　present；　stept　up　and　said；　　that　I　was　convicted　in　the　court；　and　that　I　was　a　hot…spirited　　fellow　（or　words　to　that　purpose）；　whereat　he　waived　it；　and　did　　not　meddle　therewith。　　But　yet；　my　wife　being　encouraged　by　the　　high…sheriff；　did　venture　once　more　into　their　presence　（as　the　　poor　widow　did　before　the　unjust　judge）　to　try　what　she　could　do　　with　them　for　my　liberty；　before　they　went　forth　of　the　town。　　The　　place　where　she　went　to　them；　was　to　the　SWAN…CHAMBER；　where　the　　two　judges；　and　many　justices　and　gentry　of　the　country；　was　in　　company　together。　　She　then　coming　into　the　chamber　with　a　bashed　　face；　and　a　trembling　heart；　began　her　errand　to　them　in　this　　manner：…

WOMAN。　　My　lord　（directing　herself　to　judge　Hale）；　I　make　bold　to　　come　once　again　to　your　Lordship；　to　know　what　may　be　done　with　my　　husband。

JUDGE　HALE。　　To　whom　he　said；　Woman；　I　told　thee　before　I　could　do　　thee　no　good；　because　they　have　taken　that　for　a　conviction　which　　thy　husband　spoke　at　the　sessions：　　and　unless　there　be　something　　done　to　undo　that；　I　can　do　thee　no　good。

WOMAN。　　My　lord；　said　she；　he　is　kept　unlawfully　in　prison；　they　　clapped　him　up　before　there　was　any　proclamation　against　the　　meetings；　the　indictment　also　is　false。　　Besides；　they　never　asked　　him　whether　he　was　guilty　or　no；　neither　did　he　confess　the　　indictment。

ONE　OF　THE　JUSTICES。　　Then　one　of　the　justices　that　stood　by；　whom　　she　knew　not；　said；　My　Lord；　he　was　lawfully　convicted。

WOM。　　It　is　false；　said　she；　for　when　they　said　to　him；　Do　you　　confess　the　indictment？　he　said　only　this；　that　he　had　been　at　　several　meetings；　both　where　there　were　preaching　the　Word；　and　　prayer；　and　that　they　had　God's　presence　among　them。

JUDGE　TWISDON。　　Whereat　Judge　TWISDON　answered　very　angrily；　　saying；　What；　you　think　we　can　do　what　we　list；　your　husband　is　a　　breaker　of　the　peace；　and　is　convicted　by　the　law；　etc。　　Whereupon　　Judge　HALE　called　for　the　Statute　Book。

WOM。　　But；　said　she；　my　lord；　he　was　not　lawfully　convicted。

CHESTER。　　Then　Justice　CHESTER　said；　My　lord；　he　was　lawfully　　convicted。

WOM。　　It　is　false；　said　she；　it　was　but　a　word　of　discourse　that　　they　took　for　a　conviction　（as　you　heard　before）。

CHEST。　　But　it　is　recorded；　woman；　it　is　recorded；　said　Justice　　CHESTER；　as　if　it　must　be　of　necessity　true；　because　it　was　　recorded。　　With　which　words　he　often　endeavoured　to　stop　her　mouth；　　having　no　other　argument　to　convince　her；　but　it　is　recorded；　it　is　　recorded。

WOM。　　My　Lord；　said　she；　I　was　a　while　since　at　LONDON；　to　see　if　I　　could　get　my　husband's　liberty；　and　there　I　spoke　with　my　lord　　BARKWOOD；　one　of　the　House　of　Lords；　to　whom　I　delivered　a　　petition；　who　took　it　of　me　and　presented　it　to　some　of　the　rest　of　　the　House　of　Lords；　for　my　husband's　releasement；　who；　when　they　　had　seen　it；　they　said；　that　they　could　not　release　him；　but　had　　committed　his　releasement　to　the　judges；　at　the　next　assizes。　　This　　he　told　me；　and　now　I　am　come　to　you　to　see　if　any　thing　may　be　　done　in　this　business；　and　you　give　neither　releasement　nor　relief。　　　To　which　they　gave　her　no　answer；　but　made　as　if　they　heard　her　　not。

CHEST。　　Only　Justice　CHESTER　was　often　up　with　this；　…　He　is　　convicted；　and　it　is　recorded。

WOM。　　If　it　be；　it　is　false；　said　she。

CHEST。　　My　lord；　said　Justice　CHESTER；　he　is　a　pestilent　fellow；　　there　is　not　such　a　fellow　in　the　country　again。

TWIS。　　What；　will　your　husband　leave　preaching？　　If　he　will　do　so；　　then　send　for　him。

WOM。　　My　lord；　said　she；　he　dares　not　leave　preaching　as　long　as　he　　can　speak。

TWIS。　　See　here；　what　should　we　talk　any　more　about　such　a　fellow？　　　Must　he　do　what　he　lists？　　He　is　a　breaker　of　the　peace。

WOM。　　She　told　him　again；　that　he　desired　to　live　peaceably；　and　to　　follow　his　calling；　that　his　family　might　be　maintained；　and　　moreover；　said；　My　Lord；　I　have　four　small　children；　that　cannot　　help　themselves；　one　of　which　is　blind；　and　have　nothing　to　live　　upon；　but　the　charity　of　good　peop