Works of John Bunyan Volume II Part 140

By this example too he shews them how To keep their garments clean, their knees to bow Before the king, when he comes into place; And when they do him supplicate for grace.

Another bade 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 By false intruders, doctrines, or (perchance) By the misplacing of an ordinance.[7]

These also are to see they wander not From place or duty, lest they get a blot To their profession, or bring some disease Upon the whole, or get a trick to lease, Or lie unto their G.o.d, by doing what By 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[8] 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 lethargy, a fever, or the gout, G.o.d blessing of their skill, you need not doubt A cure, for long experience has made These officers the masters of their trade.[9]

Their physic works by purge and vomit too, Fear not, nor full nor fasting but 'twill do, Have but a care, and see you catch no cold, And with their physic then you may be bold.

You may them Prophets call, for they can tell Of things to come, yea, here they do excel.

They prophesy of man's future event, Whether to weal or woe 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 forced to say, Woe unto them who wander from the way.

Art bound for h.e.l.l against all wind and weather?

Or art thou one a going backward thither?

Or dost thou wink, because thou would'st not see?

Or dost thou sideling go, and would'st not be Suspected? Yet these prophets can thee tell, Which way thou art a going down to h.e.l.l.

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, G.o.d's now, the devil's then; or if delays Thou mak'st of coming to thy G.o.d for life; Or if thy light, and l.u.s.ts are at a strife About who should be master of thy soul, And lovest one, the other dost control; 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 despond?

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 bestowed 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.

This officer is also call'd a guide, Nor should the people but keep by his side; Or tread his steps in all the paths they walk, By his example they should do and talk.

He is to be to them instead of eyes, He must before them go in any wise; And he must lead them by the water side, This is the work of this our Faithful Guide.

Since snares, and traps, and gins are for us set, Since here's a hole, and there is spread a net, O let no body at my muse deride, No man can travel here without a guide.

Here's tempting apples, here are baited hooks, With turning, twisting, cramping, tangling crooks Close by the way; woe then to them betide, That dare to venture here without a guide.

Here haunt the fairies with their chanting voice; Fiends like to angels, to bewitch our choices; Baits for the flesh lie here on every side: Who dares set here one foot without a guide Master delusion dwelleth by our walks, Who with confusion, sings and prays and talks; He says the straight path's his, and ours the wide: What then can we do here without a guide Let G.o.d then give our leaders always eyes; Yea, let him make them holy, bold, and wise; And help us fast by them for to abide, And suffer not the blind to be our guide.[10]

4. Here are of rulers, yet another sort, Such as direct our manners to comport With our professed faith, that we to view, May let beholders know that we are new.

These are our conversations to inspect, And us in our employments to direct, That we in faith and love do every thing, That reacheth from the peasant to the king.

That there may be no scandal in our ways, Nor yet in our profession all our days.

These should after our busy-bodies look, Tale-bearers also, they have undertook To keep in order, also they must see None that can work among us idle be; Jars, discords, frauds, with grievances and wrongs, These they're to regulate; to them belongs The judgment of all matters of this kind, And happy is the house thus disciplined.

5. Another sort of officers we have, Deacons we call them 'cause their work's to save And distribute those crumbs of charity Unto the poor, for their subsistency, That contributed is for their relief, Which of their bus'ness is indeed the chief.

These must be grave, not of a double tongue, Not given to wine, not apt to do a wrong Unto the poor, through love to lucre. (Just In this their office, faithful to their trust) The wife must answer here as face doth face; The husband's fitness to his work and place, That ground of scandal or of jealousy Obstructs not proof that he most zealously Performs his office well, for then shall he Be bold in faith, and get a good degree Of credit with the church; yea what is more, He shall possess the blessings of the poor.

His wisdom teach him will, to find out who Is poor of idleness, and who comes to A low estate by sickness, age, or 'cause The want of limbs, or sight, or work it was That brought them to it; or such destiny As sometimes maketh low, who once were high.

They must remember too, that some there are Who halt before they're lame, while others care Not to make known their want, they'll rather die, Than charge the churches with their poverty.

This done, they must bestow as they see cause; Making the word the rule, and want the laws By which they act, and then they need not pause.

The table of the Lord, he also must Provide for, 'tis his duty and his trust.

The teacher too should have his table spread By him; thus should his house be clad and fed; Thus he serves tables with the church's stock, And so becomes a blessing to the flock.[11]

I read of widows also that should be Employed here for further decency; I dare not say they are in office, though A service here they are appointed to: They must be very aged, trusty, meek, Such who have done much good, that do not seek Themselves; they must be humble, pitiful, Or they will make their service void and null.

These are to teach the younger women what Is proper to their s.e.x and state, what not: To be discreet, keepers at home, and chaste; To love their husbands, to be good; shamefac'd: Children to bear, to love them, and to fly What to the gospel would be infamy.

I think those to the sick should look also, A work unfit for younger ones to do.

Wherefore he saith, The younger ones refuse; Perhaps because their weakness would abuse Them, and subject them unto great disgrace, When such a one as Amnon is in place.

And since the good old woman this must do 'Tis fit she should be fed and clothed too, Out of the deacon's purse, let it so be; And let this be her service constantly.[12]

IX.

THE ORDER AND MANNER OF THE GOVERNMENT HERE.

As I have shew'd you who in office are, So I will tell you how, and with what care Those here intrusted with the government, Keep to the statutes made to that intent.

By rules divine this house is governed; Not sanguinary ones, nor taught nor fed By human precepts: for the scripture saith, The word's our ghostly food; food for our faith.

Nor are all forced to the same degree In things divine, tho' all exhorted be To the most absolute proficiency That law or duty can to them descry.

Alas! here's children, here are great with young; Here are the sick and weak, as well as strong.

Here are the cedar, shrub, and bruised reed; Yea, here are such who wounded are, and bleed.

As here are some who in their grammar be, So here are others in their A, B, C.

Some apt to teach, and others hard to learn; Some see far off, others can scarce discern That which is set before them in the gla.s.s; Others forgetful are, and so let pa.s.s, Or slip out of their mind what they did hear But now; so great our differences appear Wherefore our Jacob's must have special care They drive their flocks, but as their flocks can bear; For if they be o'erdriven, presently They will be sick, or cast their young, or die.

The laws therefore are more and less of force, According as they bring us to the source, Or head, or fountain, or are more remote To what at first we should ourselves devote.

Be we then wise in handling of the laws, Not making a confused noise like daws In chambers, yea let us seek to excel, To each man's profit; this is ruling well.

With fundamentals then let us begin, For they strike at the very root of sin.

So the foundation being strongly laid, Let us go on, as the wise builder said, For I don't mean, we should at all disdain Those that are less, we always should maintain That due respect to either which is meet; This is the way to sit at Jesus' feet.

Repent I must, or I am cast away; Believe I must, or nothing I obey: Love G.o.d I must, or nothing I can do, That's worth so much as loosing of my shoe.

If I do not, bear after Christ, my cross; If love to holiness is at a loss; If I my l.u.s.ts seek not to mortify; If to myself, my flesh, I do not die; What law, should I observe'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 G.o.d 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 die To sin, I cover folly with a lie.

At the Lord's table, I do eat; what though?

There some have eat their own d.a.m.nation 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 anise are.

Not that I would the least of duty slight, Because the least command, of divine right, Requires that I myself subject thereto; Willful resisters do themselves 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 enjoined; 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 sh.e.l.l.

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 to Consummate what we have begun to do.

1. My brother I must love, in very deed.

I'm taught of G.o.d to do it: let me heed This divine duty, and perform it well, Who loves his brother, G.o.d in him doth dwell; The argument which on me this imposes, Smells like to ointment, or the sweetest roses.

Shall G.o.d love, shall he keep his faith to me?

And shall not I? shall I unfaithful be?

Shall G.o.d love me a sinner? and shall I Not love a saint? Yea, shall my Jesus die To reconcile me to my G.o.d? and shall I hate his child, nor hear his wants that call For my little a.s.sisting of him? fie On such a spirit, on such cruelty; Fie on the thought that would me alienate, Or tempt me my worst enemy to hate.[13]

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 master's mind fulfil.

If this be so, then what should they do here, Who in their antic 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 inhabit 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 delivered be, But by another's death and misery?