Works of John Bunyan Volume II Part 166

Q. If such a poor sinner as I am would be saved from the wrath to come, how must I believe?--A. Thy first question should be on whom must I believe? (John 9:35,36).

Q. On whom then must I believe?--A. On the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 16:31).

Q. Who is Jesus Christ that I might believe in him?--A. He is the only begotten Son of G.o.d (John 3:16).

Q. Why must I believe on him?--A. Because he is the Saviour of the world (2 Peter 1:1; 1 John 4:14).

Q. How is he the Saviour of the world?--A. By the Father's designation and sending: 'For G.o.d sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through him might be saved' (John 3:17).

Q. How did he come into the world?--A. In man's flesh, in which flesh he fulfilled the law, died for our sins, conquered the devil and death, and obtained eternal redemption for us (Gal 4:4; Rom 10:4, 8:3; Heb 2:14,15, 6:20).

Q. But is there no other way to be saved but by believing in Jesus Christ?--A. 'There is none other name under heaven, given among men, whereby we must be saved' (Acts 4:12); and therefore 'he that believeth not, shall be d.a.m.ned' (Mark 16:16; John 3:18,36).

Q. What is believing on Jesus Christ?--A. It is a receiving of him with what is in him, as the gift of G.o.d to thee a sinner (John 1:12).

Q. What is in Jesus Christ to encourage me to receive him?--A.

Infinite righteousness to justify thee, and the Spirit without measure to sanctify thee (Isa 45:24,25; Dan 9:24; Phil 3:7-9; John 3:34).

Q. Is this made mine if I receive Christ?--A. Yes; If thou receive him as G.o.d offereth him to thee (John 3:16).

Q. How doth G.o.d offer him to me?--A. Even as a rich man freely offereth an alms to a beggar, and so must thou receive him (John 6:32-35).

Q. Hath he indeed made amends for sin? and would he indeed have me accept of what he hath done?--A. That he hath made amends for sin it is evident, because G.o.d, for Christ's sake, forgiveth thee. And it is as evident that he would have thee accept thereof, because he offereth it to thee, and hath sworn to give thee the utmost benefit, to wit, eternal life, if thou dost receive it; yea, and hath threatened thee with eternal d.a.m.nation, if, after all this, thou shalt neglect so great salvation (Eph 4:32; Rom 3:24; Matt 28:18-20; Acts 13:32-39; Heb 6:17,18, 2:3; Mark 16:16).

Q. But how must I be qualified before I shall dare to believe in Christ?--A. Come sensible of thy sins, and of the wrath of G.o.d due unto them, for thus thou art bid to come (Matt 11:28).

Q. Did ever any come thus to Christ?--A. David came thus (Psa 51:1-3); Paul and the jailor came thus (Acts 9:6, 16:30); also Christ's murderers came thus (Acts 2:37).

Q. But doth it not seem most reasonable that we should first mend and be good?--A. The 'whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick'; Christ came 'not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance' (Mark 2:17).

Q. But is it not the best way, if one can, to mend first?--A. This is just as if a sick man should say, Is it not best for me to be well before I go to the physician; or as if a wounded man should say, When I am cured I will lay on the plaster.[14]

Q. But when a poor creature sees its vileness, it is afraid to come to Christ, is it not?--A. Yes; but without ground, for he hath said, 'Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not': and 'to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word' (Isa 35:4, 66:2).

Q. What encouragement can be given us thus to come?--A. The prodigal came thus, and his father received him, and fell upon his neck and kissed him (Luke 15). Thus he received the Colossians, and consequently all that are saved (Col 2:13).

Q. Will you give me one more encouragement?--A. The promises are so worded, that they that are scarlet sinners, crimson sinners, blasphemous sinners, have encouragement to come to him with hopes of life (Isa 1:18; Mark 3:28; John 6:37; Luke 24:42,43; Acts 13:26).

Q. Shall every one that believeth be saved?--A. If they believe as the Scriptures have said, if the Scriptures be fulfilled in their believing (John 7:38; James 2:23).

Q. What do you mean by that?--A. When faith, which a man saith he hath, proveth itself to be of the right kind by its acts and operations in the mind of a poor sinner (James 2:19-23).

Q. Why, are there many kinds of faith?--A. Yes. There is a faith that will stand with a heart as hard as a rock; a short-winded faith, which dureth for a while, and in time of temptation such fall away (Luke 8:13).

Q. Is there any other kind of faith?--A. Yes. There is a faith that hath no more life in it than hath the body of a dead man (James 2:26).

Q. Is there yet another of these unprofitable faiths?--A. Yes. There is a faith that is of ourselves, and not of the special grace of G.o.d (Eph 2:8).

Q. Tell me if there be yet another?--A. There is a faith that standeth 'in the wisdom of men,' and not 'in the power of G.o.d' (1 Cor 2:5).

Q. Is here all?--A. No. There is a faith that seems to be holy, but it will not do, because it is not the most holy faith (2 Peter 2:9; Jude 20).

Q. Alas! if there be so many kinds of faith that will not profit to salvation, how easy is it for me to be deceived?--A. It is easy indeed, and therefore the Holy Ghost doth in this thing so often caution us, 'Be not deceived' (1 Cor 6:9). 'Let no man deceive you' (Eph 5:6), and 'If a man think himself to be something when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself' (Gal 6:3).

Q. But is there no way to distinguish the right faith from that which is wrong?--A. Yes; and that by the manner of its coming and operation.

Q. What do you mean by the manner of its coming?--A. Nay, you must make two questions of this one; that is, what is it for faith to come, and in what manner doth it come?

Q. Well then, what is it for faith to come?--A. This word, faith comes, supposeth thou wert once without it; it also supposeth that thou didst not fetch it whence it was; it also supposeth it hath a way of coming (Gal 3:23-25).

Q. That I was once without it, you intimated before, but must I take it without proof for granted?--A. I will give you a proof or two: 'G.o.d hath concluded them all in unbelief' (Rom 11:32). And again it is said, 'faith cometh' (Rom 10:17). And again, the Holy Ghost insinuateth our estate to be dreadful 'before faith came'

(Gal 3:23).

Q. Why, how is it with men, before faith comes?--A. Without faith, or before faith comes, it is impossible to please G.o.d, for whether their actions be civil or religious, they sin in all they do. The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination, and the ploughing of the wicked is sin (Prov 21:4,27).

Q. Is not this a very sad condition?--A. Yes; but this is not all, for their present unbelief bindeth them over to wrath, by shutting them up to the law; it also draweth them away from G.o.d, and will drown them in everlasting d.a.m.nation, if the grace of G.o.d prevent not (Gal 3:23; Heb 3:17,18; John 3:36).

Q. What if a man saw himself in this condition?--A. There are many see themselves in this condition.

Q. How came they to see it?--A. By the preaching and hearing the Word of G.o.d (John 16:8,9).

Q. And what do such think of themselves?--A. They do not only think, but know that in this condition they are 'without Christ, without hope, and without G.o.d in the world' (Eph 2:12).

Q. Are not they happy that see not themselves in this condition?--A.

Yes. If they have seen themselves delivered therefrom by a work of faith in their souls, else not.

Q. How do you mean?--A. I mean if they have seen themselves delivered from this state, by being by the Word and Spirit of G.o.d implanted into the faith of Christ (Rom 11:17-19).

Q. Are not they happy that are never troubled with this sad sight of their condition?--A. They are just so happy as is that man who lieth fast asleep in his house while it is on fire about his ears. Can a man be happy, that is ignorant that he is without G.o.d and Christ, and hope? Can a man be happy that is ignorant that he is hanging over h.e.l.l by the poor weak thread of an uncertain life? For this is the state of such an one.[15]

Q. But may not faith come to a man without he see himself to be first in this condition?--A. It is G.o.d's ordinary way to convince men of this their sad condition before he revealeth to them the righteousness of faith, or work faith in them to lay hold of that righteousness (John 16:9-11; Gal 3:23-25).

Q. How then do you conclude of them that never saw themselves shut up by unbelief under sin and the curse of G.o.d?--A. I will not judge them for the future, G.o.d may convert them before they die; but at present their state is miserable: for because they are shut up and held prisoners by the law, by their l.u.s.ts, and by the devil, and unbelief; therefore they cannot so much as with their hearts desire that G.o.d would have mercy upon them, and bring them out of their snares and chains.

Q. Then do you count it better for a man to see his condition by nature than to be ignorant thereof?--A. Better a thousand times to see it in this world than to see it in h.e.l.l fire, for he must see it there or here: now if he sees it here, this is the place of prayer; here is the preaching of the word, which is G.o.d's ordinance, to beget faith. Besides, here G.o.d applieth promises of mercy to the desolate, and Christ also hath protested that he that cometh to him he 'will in no wise cast out' (John 6:37).

Q. I am convinced that I was once without faith, and also that I cannot fetch it, but pray tell me the way of its coming?--A. 'Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of G.o.d' (Rom 10:17).

Q. How by hearing?--A. G.o.d mixeth it with the Word when he absolutely intendeth the salvation of the sinner (Heb 4:2; Acts 13:48).

Q. And how do men hear when faith is mixed with the Word?--A. They hear the Word, 'not as the word of men, but, as it is in truth, the Word of G.o.d, which effectually worketh also in you that believe'

(1 Thess 2:13).

Q. Pray tell me now the manner of its coming?--A. It comes through difficulty, it comes gradually.

Q. What are the difficulties which oppose it at its coming?--A.

Sense of unworthiness, guilt of conscience, natural reason, unbelief, and arguments forged in h.e.l.l, and thence suggested by the devil into the heart against it (Luke 5:8; Mark 9:24; Isa 6:5; Rom 4:18-21).