Works of John Bunyan Volume III Part 135

For comparing their life with their death, their sinful, cursed lives, with their childlike, lamblike death, they think that all is well, that no d.a.m.nation is happened to them; though they lived like devils incarnate, yet they died like harmless ones. there was no whirlwind, no tempest, no band or plague in their death. They died as quietly as the most G.o.dly of them all, and had as great faith and hope of salvation, and would talk as boldly of salvation as if they had a.s.surance of it. But as was their hope in life, so was their death; their hope was without trial, because it was none of G.o.d's working, and their death was without molestation, because so was the judgment of G.o.d concerning them.

But I say, at this their survivors take heart to tread their steps, and to continue to live in the breach of the law of G.o.d; yea, they carry it stately in their villainies; for so it follows in the Psalm; 'There are no bands in their death, but their strength is firm,' &c. 'therefore pride compa.s.seth them,' the survivors, 'about as a chain, violence covereth them as a garment' (Psa 73:6). Therefore they take courage to do evil, therefore they pride themselves in their iniquity. Therefore, wherefore? Why, because their fellows died, after they had lived long in a most profane and wicked life, as quietly and as like to lambs as if they had been innocent.

Yea, they are bold, by seeing this, to conclude that G.o.d either does not, or will not, take notice of their sins. They 'speak wickedly, and speak loftily' (Psa 73:8). They speak wickedly of sin, for that they make it better than by the Word it is p.r.o.nounced to be. They speak wickedly concerning oppression that they commend, and count it a prudent act. They also speak loftily. 'They set their mouth against the heavens,' &c. 'And they say, How doth G.o.d know? and is there knowledge in the Most High?' (Psa 73:11). And all this, so far as I can see, ariseth in their hearts from the beholding of the quiet and lamblike death of their companions.

'Behold these are the unG.o.dly who prosper in the world,' that is, by wicked ways; 'they increase in riches' (Psa 73:12).

This therefore is a great judgment of G.o.d, both upon that man that dieth in his sins, and also upon his companion that beholdeth him so to die. He sinneth, he dieth in his sins, and yet dieth quietly.

What shall his companion say to this? What judgment shall he make how G.o.d will deal with him, by beholding the lamblike death of his companion? Be sure he cannot, as from such a sight, say, Woe be to me, for judgment is before him. He cannot gather that sin is a dreadful and a bitter thing, by the childlike death of Mr.

Badman. But must rather, if he judgeth according to what he sees, or according to his corrupted reason, conclude with the wicked ones of old, that 'every one that doth evil is good in the sight of the Lord, and he delighteth in them; or, Where is the G.o.d of judgment?' (Mal 2:17).

Yea, this is enough to puzzle the wisest man. David himself was put to a stand by beholding the quiet death of unG.o.dly men. 'Verily,'

says he, 'I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency' (Psa 73:13). They, to appearance, fare better by far than I: 'Their eyes stand out with fatness,' they have more than heart could wish. But all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning. This, I say, made David wonder, yea, and Job and Jeremiah too. But he goeth into the sanctuary, and then he understands their end, nor could he understand it before. 'I went into the sanctuary of G.o.d.' What place was that? Why there where he might inquire of G.o.d, and by him he resolved of this matter; 'Then,' says he, 'understood I their end.' Then I saw that thou hast 'set them in slippery places,' and that 'thou castedst them down to destruction.' Castedst them down, that is, suddenly, or, as the next words say, 'As in a moment they are utterly consumed with terrors'; which terrors did not seize[81] them on their sick-bed, for they had 'no bands' in their death. The terrors, therefore, seized them there, where also they are holden in them for ever. This he found out, I say, but not without great painfulness, grief, and p.r.i.c.king in his reins; so deep, so hard, and so difficult did he find it rightly to come to a determination in this matter.

And, indeed, this is a deep judgment of G.o.d towards unG.o.dly sinners; it is enough to stagger a whole world, only the G.o.dly that are in the world have a sanctuary to go to, where the oracle and Word of G.o.d is, by which his judgments, and a reason of many of them are made known to, and understood by them.

ATTEN. Indeed this is a staggering dispensation. It is full of the wisdom and anger of G.o.d. And I believe, as you have said, that it is full of judgment to the world. Who would have imagined, that had not known Mr. Badman, and yet had seen him die, but that he had been a man of an holy life and conversation, since he died so stilly, so quietly, so like a lamb or a chrisom-child? Would they not, I say, have concluded that he was a righteous man? or that if they had known him and his life, yet to see him die so quietly, would they not have concluded that he had made his peace with G.o.d?

Nay farther, if some had known that he had died in his sins, and yet that he had died so like a lamb, would they not have concluded that either G.o.d doth not know our sins, or that he likes them; or that he wants power, or will, or heart, or skill, to punish them; since Mr. Badman himself went from a sinful life so quietly, so peaceable, and so like a lamb as he did?

WISE. Without controversy, this is a heavy judgment of G.o.d upon wicked men; one goes to h.e.l.l in peace, another goes to h.e.l.l in trouble; one goes to h.e.l.l, being sent thither by his own hands; another goes to h.e.l.l, being sent thither by the hand of his companion; one goes thither with his eyes shut, and another goes thither with his eyes open; one goes thither roaring, and another goes thither boasting of heaven and happiness all the way he goes (Job 21:23). One goes thither like Mr. Badman himself, and others go thither as did his brethren. But above all, Mr. Badman's death, as to the manner of dying, is the fullest of snares and traps to wicked men; therefore, they that die as he are the greatest stumble to the world. They go, and go, they go on peaceably from youth to old age, and thence to the grave, and so to h.e.l.l, without noise.

'They go as an ox goeth to the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks'; that is, both senselessly and securely.

O! but being come at the gates of h.e.l.l. O! but when they see those gates set open for them. O! but when they see that that is their home, and that they must go in thither, then their peace and quietness flies away for ever. Then they roar like lions, yell like dragons, howl like dogs, and tremble at their judgment, as do the devils themselves. O! when they see they must shoot the gulf and throat of h.e.l.l! when they shall see that h.e.l.l hath shut her ghastly jaws upon them, when they shall open their eyes and find themselves within the belly and bowels of h.e.l.l! Then they will mourn, and weep, and hack, and gnash their teeth for pain.

But his must not be, or if it must, yet very rarely, till they are gone out of the sight and hearing of those mortals whom they do leave behind them alive in the world.

ATTEN. Well, my good neighbour Wiseman, I perceive that the sun grows low, and that you have come to a conclusion with Mr. Badman's life and death; and, therefore, I will take my leave of you. Only first, let me tell you, I am glad that I have met with you to-day, and that our hap was to fall in with Mr. Badman's state. I also thank you for your freedom with me, in granting of me your reply to all my questions. I would only beg your prayers that G.o.d will give me much grace, that I may neither live nor die as did Mr.

Badman.

WISE. My good neighbour Attentive, I wish your welfare in soul and body; and if aught that I have said of Mr. Badman's life and death may be of benefit unto you, I shall be heartily glad; only I desire you to thank G.o.d for it, and to pray heartily for me, that I with you may be kept by the power of G.o.d through faith unto salvation.

ATTEN. Amen. Farewell.

WISE. I wish you heartily farewell.

FOOTNOTES:

[1] Reynolds' preface to G.o.d's Revenge against Murder.

[2] Quirk, an artful or subtle evasion of a truthful home-thrust.--Ed.

[3] b.u.t.t, a mark set up to shoot at. 'Some are always exposed to the wit and raillery of their well-wishers, pelted by friends and foes, in a word, stand as b.u.t.ts.'--Spectator, No. 47.--Ed.

[4] The office of a Christian minister is like that of a king's messenger, not only to comfort and reward the king's friends, but to arrest his enemies. England was then overrun with the latter 'game.' Alas! there are too many of them now. May the revival of this shot 'light upon many.'--Ed.

[5] 'Fire to the pan,' alluding to the mode of using fire-arms, by applying a lighted match to the pan, before the fire-lock was invented.--Ed.

[6] In the single combat of quarter-staff, he who held the best end of the staff usually gained the victory.--Ed.

[7]: Pilgrim's Progress, Interpreter's House. This is a remarkable ill.u.s.tration of a difficult part of the allegory--faithful admonitions repaid by murderous revenge, but overcome by Christian courage.--Ed.

[8] 'The unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of G.o.d' (1 Cor 6:9). Instead of Christ, the Prince of peace, being theirs, the prince of the power of the air is theirs; instead of the comforts of the gospel, the curses of the law are theirs; instead of heaven, h.e.l.l is theirs and an exclusion from G.o.d and happiness for ever!

Sinner, think NOW on these things.--Mason.

[9]: These Scriptures have often been perverted to justify the most cruel punishments inflicted on helpless children. The word translated 'a rod,' is derived from the Hebrew verb 'to govern,'

and, as a noun, signifies a sceptre, a pen, or a staff, the emblems of government. Brutal punishments, as practised in our army, navy, and schools, are not only inhuman and indecent, but have one direct tendency, that of hardening the mind and instilling a vindictive ferocious disposition. After bringing up a very large family, who are a blessing to their parents, I have yet to learn what part of the human body was created to be beaten. There are infinitely better modes of instructing, correcting, and governing children, than that of bruising their flesh, or breaking their bones, or even of a box on the ear.--Ed.

[10] Peculiarly awful are the denunciations of the Scriptures against the crime of lying. The liar and the murderer are joined together to receive the curse. 'Thou shalt destroy them that speak lies--the man of blood and of deceit are abhorred of the Lord'

(Psa 5:6).

[11] The first edition has 'Saphhira and his wife.' It is not noticed in the errata, but was corrected in the later copies.--Ed.

[12] The solemn importance of instilling right principles into the mind, from the first dawn of reason, cannot be too strongly enforced. Many a wretched midnight burglar commenced his career of vice and folly by stealing fruit, followed by thieving anything that he could HANDSOMELY. Pilfering, unless severely checked, is a hotbed for the foulest crimes.--Ed.

[13] Poultry.--Ed.

[14] 'Gloating,' staring sulkily; or with an evil eye.--Ed.

[15] Point, a tag or metal point fixed on the end of a lace. Fox narrates that a martyr, brought to the stake in his shirt, took a point from his hose, and trussed in his shirt between his legs.--Ed.

[16]: 'Sin will at first, just like a beggar, crave One penny or one halfpenny to have; And if you grant its first suit, 'twill aspire From pence to pounds, and so will still mount higher To the whole soul.'--Bunyan's Caution against Sin.

[17] Christian a.s.semblies are the life, food, and nourishment of our souls; consequently the forsaking of them, and the profanation of the Sabbath, are usually the forerunners of apostacy.--Mason.

[18] Profane swearers use the language of h.e.l.l before they arrive at their awful destination. Were G.o.d to answer their imprecations they would be miserable beyond conception. 'Because of swearing the land mourneth.'--Ed.

[19] Profane cursing and swearing was awfully fashionable in Bunyan's days. This led many pious persons to denounce oaths altogether; and the time is fast coming when the world will agree with the Quakers that an affirmation is the best test of truth. It is like the controversy of the teetotallers; some who would be ashamed of taking intoxicating liquors, except as medicine, will soon throw such physics to the dogs or on the dunghill.--Ed.

[20] This is one of Bunyan's home-thrusts at Popery. Cla.s.sing the ma.s.s, our lady-saints, and beasts, among the idols or objects of divine worship. He omits an oath very common among Irish labourers, which much puzzled me when a boy, 'bloodunoons,' meaning the bleeding wounds of the Saviour. How thankful ought we to be that, in our days, profane swearing stamps, upon any one who uses it, the character of a blackguard.--ED

[21] Out of public view--obscure, contemptible. See Imperial Dictionary.--Ed.

[22] Thank Heaven such enormous brutalities have fled before the benign enlightening influence of the gospel. To suffocate a man, in order to drive out an imaginary evil spirit, was like the popular trial for witchcraft. The poor woman, if cross, and old, and ugly, her hands and legs being tied together, was thrown into deep water; if she floated, it was a proof of guilt to hang her, if she sunk and was drowned, she was declared to be innocent!--Ed.

[23] Parallels to these important proverbs are found in all languages derived from the Hebrew. 'There is nothing hid from G.o.d,' and 'There is nothing hid that shall not be known' (Jer 32; Matt 10).

In French, 'Leo murailles ont des oreilles--Walls have ears.'

Shakespeare, alluding to a servant bringing in a pitcher, as a pretence to enable her to overhear a conversation, uses this proverb, 'pitchers have ears and I have many servants.' May that solemn truth be impressed upon every heart, that however screened from human observation, 'Thou G.o.d seest me.'--Ed.

[24] No period in English history was so notorious for the publication of immoral books, calculated to debauch the mind, as the reign of Charles II. It must have been more painfully conspicuous to Bunyan, who had lived under the moral discipline of the Commonwealth.--Ed.

[25]: From __________ chief, 'my worthy arch and patron.'--King Lear; or from the Teutonic 'arg,' a rogue. It usually denotes roguish, knavish, sly, artful.--Ed.

[26] This is one among a mult.i.tude of proofs of the popularity and high esteem in which Bunyan was held, even while a prisoner for Christ's sake.--Ed.

[27] Reader, bless G.o.d that you live in a happier day than that of Bunyan. The reign of Charles II was pre-eminently distinguished for licentiousness and debauchery. Still there were some who crucified the flesh, with its l.u.s.ts, and held every obscene word in detestation and abhorrence; because it is written 'be ye holy, for I am holy.' Such must have sorely dazzled the owls of debauchery.

Can we wonder that they tormented and imprisoned them?--Ed.

[28] How often is suicide committed without poison, suffocation, the knife, or firearms. About forty years ago one of my neighbours was told by his doctor that, unless he gave up the bottle, it would send him into another world. He called his servant and ordered wine, saying, I had rather die than give up all my enjoyments. In about six months I saw his splendid funeral.--Ed.