Works of John Bunyan Volume III Part 161

Her songs, her food, and sunshine day, Are emblems of those foolish toys, Which to destruction lead the way, The fruit of worldly, empty joys.

The arguments this child doth choose To draw to him a bird thus wild, Shows Christ familiar speech doth use To make's to him be reconciled.

The bird in that she takes her wing, To speed her from him after all, Shows us vain man loves any thing Much better than the heavenly call.

XXVIII.

OF MOSES AND HIS WIFE.

This Moses was a fair and comely man, His wife a swarthy Ethiopian; Nor did his milk-white bosom change her sin.

She came out thence as black as she went in.

Now Moses was a type of Moses' law, His wife likewise of one that never saw Another way unto eternal life; There's mystery, then, in Moses and his wife.

The law is very holy, just, and good, And to it is espoused all flesh and blood; But this its goodness it cannot bestow On any that are wedded thereunto.

Therefore as Moses' wife came swarthy in, And went out from him without change of skin, So he that doth the law for life adore, Shall yet by it be left a black-a-more.

XXIX.

OF THE ROSE-BUSH.

This homely bush doth to mine eyes expose A very fair, yea, comely ruddy rose.

This rose doth also bow its head to me, Saying, Come, pluck me, I thy rose will be; Yet offer I to gather rose or bud, Ten to one but the bush will have my blood.

This looks like a trapan,[34] or a decoy, To offer, and yet snap, who would enjoy; Yea, the more eager on't, the more in danger, Be he the master of it, or a stranger.

Bush, why dost bear a rose if none must have it.

Who dost expose it, yet claw those that crave it?

Art become freakish? dost the wanton play, Or doth thy testy humour tend its way?

Comparison.

This rose G.o.d's Son is, with his ruddy looks.

But what's the bush, whose p.r.i.c.ks, like tenter-hooks, Do scratch and claw the finest lady's hands, Or rend her clothes, if she too near it stands?

This bush an emblem is of Adam's race, Of which Christ came, when he his Father's grace Commended to us in his crimson blood, While he in sinners' stead and nature stood.

Thus Adam's race did bear this dainty rose, And doth the same to Adam's race expose; But those of Adam's race which at it catch, Adam's race will them p.r.i.c.k, and claw, and scratch.

x.x.x.

OF THE GOING DOWN OF THE SUN.

What, hast thou run thy race, art going down?

Thou seemest angry, why dost on us frown?

Yea, wrap thy head with clouds and hide thy face, As threatening to withdraw from us thy grace?

O leave us not! When once thou hid'st thy head, Our horizon with darkness will be spread.

Tell who hath thee offended, turn again.

Alas! too late, intreaties are in vain.

Comparison.

Our gospel has had here a summer's day, But in its sunshine we, like fools, did play; Or else fall out, and with each other wrangle, And did, instead of work, not much but jangle.

And if our sun seems angry, hides his face, Shall it go down, shall night possess this place?

Let not the voice of night birds us afflict, And of our misspent summer us convict.[35]

x.x.xI.

UPON THE FROG.

The frog by nature is both damp and cold, Her mouth is large, her belly much will hold; She sits somewhat ascending, loves to be Croaking in gardens, though unpleasantly.

Comparison.

The hypocrite is like unto this frog, As like as is the puppy to the dog.

He is of nature cold, his mouth is wide To prate, and at true goodness to deride.

He mounts his head as if he was above The world, when yet 'tis that which has his love.

And though he seeks in churches for to croak, He neither loveth Jesus nor his yoke.

x.x.xII.

UPON THE WHIPPING OF A TOP.

'Tis with the whip the boy sets up the top, The whip makes it run round upon its toe; The whip makes it hither and thither hop: 'Tis with the whip the top is made to go.

Comparison.

Our legalist is like unto this top, Without a whip he doth not duty do; Let Moses whip him, he will skip and hop; Forbear to whip, he'll neither stand nor go.

x.x.xIII.

UPON THE PISMIRE.

Must we unto the pismire go to school, To learn of her in summer to provide For winter next ensuing. Man's a fool, Or silly ants would not be made his guide.

But, sluggard, is it not a shame for thee To be outdone by pismires? Pr'ythee hear: Their works, too, will thy condemnation be When at the judgment-seat thou shalt appear.

But since thy G.o.d doth bid thee to her go, Obey, her ways consider, and be wise; The p.i.s.s-ant tell thee will what thou must do, And set the way to life before thine eyes.

x.x.xIV.

UPON THE BEGGAR.

He wants, he asks, he pleads his poverty, They within doors do him an alms deny.

He doth repeat and aggravate his grief, But they repulse him, give him no relief.

He begs, they say, Begone; he will not hear, But coughs, sighs, and makes signs he still is there; They disregard him, he repeats his groans; They still say nay, and he himself bemoans.

They grow more rugged, they call him vagrant; He cries the shriller, trumpets out his want.

At last, when they perceive he'll take no nay, An alms they give him without more delay.

Comparison.

This beggar doth resemble them that pray To G.o.d for mercy, and will take no nay, But wait, and count that all his hard gainsays Are nothing else but fatherly delays; Then imitate him, praying souls, and cry: There's nothing like to importunity.

x.x.xV.

UPON THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER.

There's one rides very sagely on the road, Showing that he affects the gravest mode.

Another rides tantivy, or full trot, To show much gravity he matters not.