Works of John Bunyan Volume III Part 151

36. Though we are vile, he without shame Before the angels all Lays out his strength, his worth, and name, For us, who are in thrall.

37. This is he who was mock'd and beat, Spit on, and crown'd with thorns; Who for us had a b.l.o.o.d.y sweat, Whose heart was broke with scorns.

38. 'Tis he who stands so much our friend, As shortly we shall see, With open face, world without end, And in his presence be.

39. That head that once was crown'd with thorns, Shall now with glory shine; That heart that broken was with scorns, Shall flow with life divine; 40. That man that here met with disgrace, We there shall see so bright; That angels can't behold his face For its exceeding light.

41. What gladness will possess our heart When we shall see these things!

What light and life, in every part, Will rise like lasting springs!

42. O blessed face and holy grace, When shall we see this day?

Lord, fetch us to this goodly place We humbly do thee pray.

43. Next to this Lamb we shall behold All saints, both more and less, With whit'ned robes in glory roll'd, 'Cause him they did confess.

44. Each walking in his righteousness With shining crowns of gold, Triumphing still in heav'nly bliss, Amazing to behold.

45. Each person for his majesty Doth represent a king; Yea, angel-like for dignity, And seraphims that sing.

46. Each motion of their mind, and so Each twinkling of their eye; Each word they speak, and step they go, It is in purity.

47. Immortal are they every one, Wrapt up in health and light, Mortality from them is gone, Weakness is turn'd to might.

48. The stars are not so clear as they, They equalize the sun; Their glory shines to perfect day, Which day will ne'er be done.

49. No sorrow can them now annoy, Nor weakness, grief or pain; No faintness can abate their joy, They now in life do reign.

50. They shall not there, as here, be vex'd With Satan, men, or sin; Nor with their wicked hearts perplex'd, The heavens have cop'd[8] them in.

51. Thus, as they shine in their estate, So, too, in their degree; Which is most goodly to relate, And ravishing to see.

52. The majesty whom they adore, Doth them in wisdom place Upon the thrones, and that before The angels, to their grace.

53. The saints of the Old Testament, Full right to their degree; Likewise the New, in excellent Magnificency be.

54. Each one his badge of glory wears, According to his place; According as was his affairs Here, in the time of grace.

55. Some on the right hand of the Lamb, Likewise some on the left, With robes and golden chains do stand Most grave, most sage, and deft.[9]

56. The martyr here is known from him Who peaceably did die, Both by the place he sitteth in, And by his dignity.

57. Each father, saint, and prophet shall, According to his worth, Enjoy the honour of his call, And plainly hold it forth.

58. Those bodies which sometimes were torn, And bones that broken were For G.o.d's word; he doth now adorn With health and glory fair.

59. Thus, when in heav'nly harmony These blessed saints appear, Adorn'd with grace and majesty, What gladness will be there!

60. The light, and grace, and countenance, The least of these shall have, Will so with terror them advance, And make their face so grave, 61. That at them all the world will shake, When they lift up their head; Princes and kings will at them quake, And fall before them dead.

62. This shall we see, thus shall we be, O would the day were come, Lord Jesus take us up to thee, To this desired home.

63. Angels also we shall behold, When we on high ascend, Each shining like to men of gold, And on the Lord attend.

64. These goodly creatures, full of grace, Shall stand about the throne, Each one with lightning in his face, And shall to us be known.

65. These cherubims with one accord Shall cry continually, Ah, holy, holy, holy, Lord, And heavenly majesty.

66. These will us in their arms embrace, And welcome us to rest, And joy to see us clad with grace, And of the heavens possess'd.

67. This we shall hear, this we shall see, While raptures take us up, When we with blessed Jesus be, And at his table sup.

68. Oh shining angels! what, must we With you lift up our voice?

We must; and with you ever be, And with you must rejoice.

69. Our friends that lived G.o.dly here, Shall there be found again; The wife, the child, and father dear, With others of our train.

70. Each one down to the foot in white, Fill'd to the brim with grace, Walking among the saints in light, With glad and joyful face.

71. Those G.o.d did use us to convert, We there with joy shall meet, And jointly shall, with all our heart, In life each other greet.

72. A crown to them we then shall be, A glory and a joy; And that before the Lord, when he The world comes to destroy.

73. This is the place, this is the state, Of all that fear the Lord; Which men nor angels may relate With tongue, or pen, or word.

74. No night is here, for to eclipse Its spangling rays so bright; Nor doubt, nor fear to shut the lips, Of those within this light.

75. The strings of music here are tun'd For heavenly harmony, And every spirit here perfum'd With perfect sanct.i.ty.

76. Here runs the crystal streams of life, Quite through all our veins.

And here by love we do unite With glory's golden chains.

77. Now that which sweet'neth all will be The lasting of this state; This heightens all we hear or see To a transcendant rate.

78. For should the saints enjoy all this But for a certain time, O, how would they their mark then miss, And at this thing repine?

79. Yea, 'tis not possible that they Who then shall dwell on high, Should be content, unless they may Dwell there eternally.

80. A thought of parting with this place Would bitter all their sweet, And darkness put upon the face Of all they there do meet.

81. But far from this the saints shall be, Their portion is the Lord, Whose face for ever they shall see, As saith the holy word.

82. And that with everlasting peace, Joy, and felicity, From this time forth they shall increase Unto eternity.

OF h.e.l.l, AND THE ESTATE OF THOSE THAT PERISH.

1. Thus, having show'd you what I see Of heaven, I now will tell You also, after search, what be The d.a.m.ned wights of h.e.l.l.

2. And O, that they who read my lines Would ponder soberly, And lay to heart such things betimes As touch eternity.

3. The sleepy sinner little thinks What sorrows will abound Within him, when upon the brinks Of Tophet he is found.

4. h.e.l.l is beyond all though a state So doubtful[10] and forlorn, So fearful, that none can relate The pangs that there are born.

5. G.o.d will exclude them utterly From his most blessed face, And them involve in misery, In shame, and in disgrace.

6. G.o.d is the fountain of all bliss, Of life, of light, and peace; They then must needs be comfortless Who are depriv'd of these.

7. Instead of life, a living death Will there in all be found.

Dyings will be in every breath, Thus sorrow will abound.

8. No light, but darkness here doth dwell; No peace, but horror strange: The fearful d.a.m.ning wights[11] of h.e.l.l In all will make this change.

9. To many things the d.a.m.ned's woe Is liked in the word, And that because no one can show The vengeance of the Lord.

10. Unto a dreadful burning lake, All on a fiery flame, h.e.l.l is compared, for to make All understand the same.

11. A burning lake, a furnace hot, A burning oven, too, Must be the portion, share, and lot, Of those which evil sow.

12. This plainly shows the burning heat With which it will oppress All hearts, and will like burnings eat Their souls with sore distress.

13. This burning lake, it is G.o.d's wrath Incensed by the sin Of those who do reject his path, And wicked ways walk in.

14. Which wrath will so perplex all parts Of body and of soul, As if up to the very hearts In burnings they did roll.

15. Again, to show the stinking state Of this so sad a case, Like burning brimstone G.o.d doth make The hidings of his face.

16. And truly as the steam, and smoke, And flames of brimstone smell, To blind the eyes, and stomach choke, So are the pangs of h.e.l.l.

17. To see a sea of brimstone burn, Who would it not affright?

But they whom G.o.d to h.e.l.l doth turn Are in most woful plight.

18. This burning cannot quenched be, No, not with tears of blood; No mournful groans in misery Will here do any good.

19. O d.a.m.ned men! this is your fate, The day of grace is done, Repentance now doth come too late, Mercy is fled and gone.

20. Your groans and cries they sooner should Have sounded in mine ears, If grace you would have had, or would Have me regard your tears.

21. Me you offended with your sin, Instructions you did slight, Your sins against my law hath been, Justice shall have his right.

22. I gave my Son to do you good, I gave you s.p.a.ce and time With him to close, which you withstood, And did with h.e.l.l combine.

23. Justice against you now is set, Which you cannot appease; Eternal justice doth you let From either life or ease.

24. Thus he that to this place doth come May groan, and sigh, and weep; But sin hath made that place his home, And there it will him keep.

25. Wherefore, h.e.l.l in another place Is call'd a prison too, And all to show the evil case Of all sin doth undo.

26. Which prison, with its locks and bars Of G.o.d's lasting decree, Will hold them fast; O how this mars All thought of being free!

27. Out at these brazen bars they may The saints in glory see; But this will not their grief allay, But to them torment be.

28. Thus they in this infernal cave Will now be holden fast From heavenly freedom, though they crave, Of it they may not taste.

29. The chains that darkness on them hangs Still ratt'ling in their ears, Creates within them heavy pangs, And still augments their fears.

30. Thus hopeless of all remedy, They dyingly do sink Into the jaws of misery, And seas of sorrow drink.

31. For being cop'd[12] on every side With helplessness and grief, Headlong into despair they slide Bereft of all relief.

32. Therefore this h.e.l.l is called a pit, Prepared for those that die The second death, a term most fit To show their misery.

33. A pit that's bottomless is this, A gulf of grief and woe, A dungeon which they cannot miss, That will themselves undo.

34. Thus without stay they always sink, Thus fainting still they fail, Despair they up like water drink, These prisoners have no bail.

35. Here meets them now that worm that gnaws, And plucks their bowels out, The pit, too, on them shuts her jaws; This dreadful is, no doubt.

36. This ghastly worm is guilt for sin, Which on the conscience feeds, With vipers' teeth, both sharp and keen, Whereat it sorely bleeds.

37. This worm is fed by memory, Which strictly brings to mind, All things done in prosperity, As we in Scripture find.

38. No word, nor thought, nor act they did, But now is set in sight, Not one of them can now be hid, Memory gives them light.

39. On which the understanding still Will judge, and sentence pa.s.s, This kills the mind, and wounds the will, Alas, alas, alas!

40. O, conscience is the slaughter shop, There hangs the axe and knife, 'Tis there the worm makes all things hot, And wearies out the life.

41. Here, then, is execution done On body and on soul; For conscience will be brib'd of none, But gives to all their dole.

42. This worm, 'tis said, shall never die, But in the belly be Of all that in the flames shall lie, O dreadful sight to see!

43. This worm now needs must in them live, For sin will still be there, And guilt, for G.o.d will not forgive, Nor Christ their burden bear.

44. But take from them all help and stay, And leave them to despair, Which feeds upon them night and day, This is the d.a.m.ned's share.

45. Now will confusion so possess These monuments of ire, And so confound them with distress, And trouble their desire.