Works of John Bunyan Volume I Part 37

24. Though they say then that we are fools Because we here do lie, I answer, goals are Christ his schools, In them we learn to die.

25. 'Tis not the baseness of this state Doth hide us from G.o.d's face, He frequently, both soon and late, Doth visit us with grace.

26. Here come the angels, here come saints, Here comes the Spirit of G.o.d, To comfort us in our restraints Under the wicked's rod.

27. G.o.d sometimes visits prisons more Than lordly palaces, He often knocketh at our door, When he their houses miss.

28. The truth and life of heavenly things Lift up our hearts on high, And carry us on eagles' wings, Beyond carnality.

29. It take away those clogs that hold The hearts of other men, And makes us lively, strong and bold Thus to oppose their sin.

30. By which means G.o.d doth frustrate That which our foes expect; Namely, our turning th' Apostate, Like those of Judas' sect.

31. Here comes to our rememberance The troubles good men had Of old, and for our furtherance, Their joys when they were sad.

32. To them that here for evil lie The place is comfortless, But not to me, because that I Lie here for righteousness.

33. The truth and I were both here cast Together, and we do Lie arm in arm, and so hold fast Each other; this is true.

34. This goal to us is as a hill, From whence we plainly see Beyond this world, and take our fill Of things that lasting be.

35. From hence we see the emptiness Of all this world contains; And here we feel the blessedness That for us yet remains.

36. Here we can see how all men play Their parts, as on a stage, How good men suffer for G.o.d's way, And bad men at them rage.

37. Here we can see who holds that ground Which they in Scripture find; Here we see also who turns round Like weatherc.o.c.ks with wind.

38. We can also from hence behold How seeming friends appear But hypocrites, as we are told In Scripture every where.

39. When we did walk at liberty, We were deceiv'd by them, Who we from hence do clearly see Are vile deceitful men.

40. These politicians that profest For base and worldly ends, Do now appear to us at best But Machiavellian friends.

41. Though men do say, we do disgrace Ourselves by lying here Among the rogues, yet Christ our face From all such filth will clear.

42. We know there's neither flout nor frown That we now for him bear, But will add to our heavenly crown, When he comes in the air.

43. When he our righteousness forth brings Bright shining as the day, And wipeth off those sland'rous things That scorners on us lay.

44. We sell our earthly happiness For heavenly house and home; We leave this world because 'tis less, And worse than that to come.

45. We change our drossy dust for gold, From death to life we fly: We let go shadows, and take hold Of immortality.

46. We trade for that which lasting is, And nothing for it give, But that which is already his By whom we breath and live.

47. That liberty we lose for him, Sickness might take away: Our goods might also for our sin By fire or thieves decay.

48. Again, we see what glory 'tis Freely to bear our cross For him, who for us took up his, When he our servant was.

49. I am most free that men should see A hole cut thro' mine ear; If others will ascertain me, They'll hang a jewel there.

50. Just thus it is we suffer here For him a little pain, Who, when he doth again appear, Will with him let us reign.

51. If all must either die for sin A death that's natural; Or else for Christ, 'tis beset with him Who for the last doth fall.

52. Who now dare say we throw away Our goods or liberty, When G.o.d's most holy Word doth say We gain thus much thereby?

53. Hark yet again, you carnal men, And hear what I shall say In your own dialect, and then I'll you no longer stay.

54. You talk sometimes of valour much, And count such bravely mann'd, That will not stick to have a touch With any in the land.

55. If these be worth commending then, That vainly show their might, How dare you blame those holy men That in G.o.d's quarrel fight?

56. Though you dare crack a coward's crown, Or quarrel for a pin, You dare not on the wicked frown, Nor speak against their sin.

57. For all your spirits are so stout, For matters that are vain; Yet sin besets you round about, You are in Satan's chain.

58. You dare not for the truth engage, You quake at prisonment; You dare not make the tree your stage For Christ, that King, potent.

59. Know then, true valour there doth dwell Where men engage for G.o.d, Against the devil, death, and h.e.l.l, And bear the wicked's rod.

60. These be the men that G.o.d doth count Of high and n.o.ble mind; These be the men that do surmount What you in nature find.

61. First they do conquer their own hearts, All worldly fears, and then Also the devil's fiery darts, And persecuting men.

62. They conquer when they thus do fall, They kill when they do die: They overcome then most of all, And get the victory.

63. The worldling understands not this, 'Tis clear out of his sight; Therefore he counts this world his bliss, And doth our glory slight.

64. The lubber knows not how to spring The nimble footman's stage; Neither can owls or jackdaws sing If they were in the cage.

65. The swine doth not the pearls regard, But them doth slight for grains, Though the wise merchant labours hard For them with greatest pains.

66. Consdier man what I have said, And judge of things aright; When all men's cards are fully played, Whose will abide the light?

67. Will those, who have us. .h.i.ther cast?

Or they who do us scorn?

Or those who do our houses waste?

Or us, who this have borne?

68. And let us count those things the best That best will prove at last; And count such men the only blest, That do such things hold fast.

69. And what though they us dear do cost, Yet let us buy them so; We shall not count our labour lost When we see others' woe.

70. And let saints be no longer blam'd By carnal policy; But let the wicked be asham'd Of their malignity.