Works of John Bunyan Volume II Part 138

FOOTNOTE:

1. This same sentiment is well expressed in Bunyan's verses at the conclusion of the Pilgrim, part First.

'Nor let my figure or similitude Put thee into a laughter or a feud; Leave this to boys and fools, but as for thee, Do thou the substance of my matter see.'

A DISCOURSE OF THE BUILDING, NATURE, EXCELLENCY, AND GOVERNMENT OF THE HOUSE OF G.o.d; WITH COUNSELS AND DIRECTIONS TO THE INHABITANTS THEREOF.

BY JOHN BUNYAN, OF BEDFORD.

'Lord, I have loved the habitation of thy house, and the place where thine honour dwelleth.'--Psalm 26:8

ADVERTIs.e.m.e.nT BY THE EDITOR.

Beautiful in its simplicity is this treatise on the Church of Christ, by John Bunyan. He opens, with profound knowledge and eminent skill, all those portions of sacred writ which ill.u.s.trate the nature, excellency, and government of the house of G.o.d, with the personal and relative duties of its inhabitants. It was originally published in a pocket volume of sixty-three pages, by G. Larkin, 1688, and is now for the first time reprinted. We are deeply indebted to the unknown owner of this rare volume, and to Mr.

Creasy, bookseller, Sleaford, through whom the copy was borrowed to enrich this edition.

What is the church? is a question upon which all the subtilty of jesuitic schoolmen and casuists has been exhausted, to mystify and mislead the honest inquirer in every age. The Jews, Papists, Greeks, English, have each claimed the divine favour as being exclusively limited to their respective sects. Apostolic descent has been considered to depend upon human ceremonies, instead of its consisting in a similarity of mind and conduct to that of the apostles, through the powerful influences of the Holy Spirit upon the heart. Judging from this latter mode, we conclude that Bunyan the brazier was very nearly related to, and descended from, Paul the tentmaker, and the other apostles. But we form a very different judgment as to the descent of Bonner and other persecuting bishops.

A visible church of Christ is a congregation of the faithful, who having personally and individually given themselves to the Saviour, unite together to promote each other's spiritual happiness. Such were the churches to whom the epistles in the New Testament were addressed. The instructions given to this spiritual community, in the following treatise, are drawn solely from the sacred volume, and are full of peace and righteousness--tending purely to its happiness and prosperity. If these directions were strictly and constantly followed, our churches, notwithstanding the liability of the members to err, would each present 'a little heaven below.'

The officers in these communities are--I. Bishops, or preaching elders, to dispense the word and ordinances; a plurality in every church, to supply the services of such as suffered under affliction of body, or were imprisoned for conscience-sake. II. Ruling elders, to a.s.sist the preachers--to admit the serious inquirer, or shut out the profane backslider, and to re-admit the penitent--to watch over the members, that they be diligent in their worldly callings, that there be no drones or idlers--to heal offences--to feed the church with admonitions, and to visit and comfort the sick. III.

Deacons, to manage the temporal affairs--provide for the Lord's table and for that of the bishops and elders--and to distribute the alms to the infirm and needy. IV. Female deacons, to nurse the sick, and direct their attention to that home where there shall be no more sorrow; and generally to aid the deacons and elders.

The duty of the private members is to walk humbly with G.o.d, and to be devoted to each other's happiness. In all these particulars Dr. John Cotton of New England, in his 'True Const.i.tution of a Visible Church,'[1] fully concurs with Bunyan, as does also Dr.

John Owen, in his 'Nature of a Gospel Church,' excepting that he is silent as to female deacons. Let every church be thus affectionately and scripturally governed, and in their works of faith and labours of love they will become terrible to the enemy 'as an army with banners' (Cant 6:4).

At the present day, great laxity of discipline has crept in. Some offices have been discontinued, others altered, and it becomes us most solemnly to judge ourselves by the unerring word of the living G.o.d, whether we have deviated from the order recorded by the Holy Ghost, and if so, to repent and return to the scriptural model.--GEO. OFFOR

A DISCOURSE OF THE BUILDING, &c., OF THE HOUSE OF G.o.d.

I.

BY WHOM THIS HOUSE IS BUILT.

The builder's G.o.d, 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, His working-tools his ordinances are, By them he doth his stones and timber square, Affections knit in love, the couplings are; Good doctrine like to mortar doth cement The whole together, schism to prevent: His compa.s.s, his decree; his hand's the Spirit By which he frames, what he means to inherit, A holy temple, which shall far excel That very place, where now the angels dwell.

Call this a temple or a house of prayer, A palace, oracle, or spouse most fair; Or what you will: G.o.d's love is here displayed, And here his treasure safely up is laid; For his own darling none can find a place, Where he, as here, is wont to show his face.

What though some slight it, it a cottage call, Give't the reproachful name of beggar's hall; Yea, what though to some it an eyesore is, What though 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 sapphires are; Her goodly windows made of agates 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 polish'd everywhere; Her beams are cedars, fir her rafters be, Her terraces are of the algum-tree; The thorn or crab-tree here are not of us; Who thinks them here utensils, puts abuse Upon the place, yea, on the builder too; Would they be thus controll'd in what they do?

With carved-work of lily, and palm-tree, With cherubims and chains adorned be The doors, the walls, and pillars of this place; Forbidden beasts here must not show 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 p.r.i.c.k'd more than once or twice (The oft'ner p.r.i.c.k'd, still of the higher price) Wrought by his SON, put on her by his merit, Applied by faith, revealed by the Spirit.

III.

OF THE CONVENIENCES OF THIS HOUSE.

Within these walls the builder did devise That there the householders 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 censors, here's the throne of grace; None of the householders need go elsewhere, To offer incense, or good news to hear.

A throne for judgment he did here erect, Virtue 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 wholesome taught is every brother To fear his G.o.d, 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 elsewhere, All else turn to profuseness, sin, and care.

So situate it is, so roomy, fair, So warm, so blessed, with such wholesome air, That 'tis enticing: whoso wishes well To his soul's health, should covet here to dwell.

Here's necessaries, and what will delight The G.o.dly ear, the palate, with the sight Of each degree and s.e.x; here's everything 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 music do incline, Here are both harps and psalteries divine: Her cellars and banqueting-house have been, In former days, a palace for a queen.

O house! what t.i.tle 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; Fear 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 G.o.d the Lord encamping round about His dwelling place; nor ought we once to doubt But that he as a watchman 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 h.e.l.l; Safety! where is it, if it is not here?

G.o.d 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,[2]

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 yield.

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 crystal streams minister like to those That here of love to her, make their repose.

Sweet is her aid, (as one may well infer) 'Cause 'tis the breathings of the comforter.

The pomegranates at all her gates do grow, Mandrakes and vines, with other dainties mo;[3]