第 27 节
作者:
童舟 更新:2021-02-20 15:23 字数:9321
h that might be said with a good conscience; I should or else I should not。 So through their importunity went back again; but not believing that I should be delivered: for I feared their spirit was too full of opposition to the truth to let me go; unless I should; in something or other; dishonour my God and wound my conscience。 Wherefore; as I went; I lifted up my heart to God; for light and strength to be kept; that I might not do any thing that might either dishonour Him; or wrong my own soul; or be a grief or discouragement to any that was inclining after the Lord Jesus Christ。
Well; when I came to the justice again; there was Mr FOSTER of Bedford; who; coming out of another room; and seeing me by the light of the candle (for it was dark night when I went thither); he said unto me; Who is there? JOHN BUNYAN? with such seeming affection; as if he would have leaped on my neck and kissed me; which made me somewhat wonder; that such a man as he; with whom I had so little acquaintance; and; besides; that had ever been a close opposer of the ways of God; should carry himself so full of love to me; but; afterwards; when I saw what he did; it caused me to remember those sayings; THEIR TONGUES ARE SMOOTHER THAN OIL; BUT THEIR WORDS ARE DRAWN SWORDS。 And again; BEWARE OF MEN; ETC。 When I had answered him; that blessed be God; I was well; he said; What is the occasion of your being here? or to that purpose。 To whom I answered; that I was at a meeting of people a little way off; intending to speak a word of exhortation to them; the justice hearing thereof; said I; was pleased to send his warrant to fetch me before him; etc。
FOST。 So (said he); I understand: but well; if you will promise to call the people no more together; you shall have your liberty to go home; for my brother is very loath to send you to prison; if you will be but ruled。
BUN。 Sir (said I); pray what do you mean by calling the people together? my business is not anything among them; when they are come together; but to exhort them to look after the salvation of their souls; that they may be saved; etc。
FOST。 Saith he; We must not enter into explication; or dispute now; but if you will say you will call the people no more together; you may have your liberty; if not; you must be sent away to prison。
BUN。 Sir; said I; I shall not force or compel any man to hear me; but yet; if I come into any place where there is a people met together; I should; according to the best of my skill and wisdom; exhort and counsel them to seek out after the Lord Jesus Christ; for the salvation of their souls。
FOST。 He said; That was none of my work; I must follow my calling; and if I would but leave off preaching; and follow my calling; I should have the justice's favour; and be acquitted presently。
BUN。 To whom I said; that I could follow my calling; and that too; namely; preaching the Word: and I did look upon it as my duty to do them both; as I had an opportunity。
FOST。 He said; To have any such meetings was against the law; and; therefore; he would have me leave off; and say; I would call the people no more together。
BUN。 To whom I said; that I durst not make any further promise; for my conscience would not suffer me to do it。 And again; I did look upon it as my duty to do as much good as I could; not only in my trade; but also in communicating to all people wheresoever I came the best knowledge I had in the Word。
FOST。 He told me that I was the nearest the Papists of any; and that he would convince me of immediately。
BUN。 I asked him; Wherein?
FOST。 He said; In that we understood the Scriptures literally。
BUN。 I told him that those that were to be understood literally; we understood them so; but for those that was to be understood otherwise; we endeavoured so to understand them。
FOST。 He said; Which of the Scriptures do you understand literally?
BUN。 I said this; HE THAT BELIEVES SHALL BE SAVED。 This was to be understood just as it is spoken; that whosoever believeth in Christ shall; according to the plain and simple words of the text; be saved。
FOST。 He said that I was ignorant; and did not understand the Scriptures; for how; said he; can you understand them when you know not the original Greek? etc。
BUN。 To whom I said; that if that was his opinion; that none could understand the Scriptures but those that had the original Greek; etc。; then but a very few of the poorest sort should be saved (this is harsh); yet the Scripture saith; THAT GOD HIDES THESE THINGS FROM THE WISE AND PRUDENT (that is; from the learned of the world); AND REVEALS THEM TO BABES AND SUCKLINGS。
FOST。 He said there were none that heard me but a company of foolish people。
BUN。 I told him that there was the wise as well as the foolish that do hear me; and again; those that were most commonly counted foolish by the world are the wisest before God; also; that God had rejected the wise; and mighty; and noble; and chosen the foolish; and the base。
FOST。 He told me that I made people neglect their calling; and that God had commanded people to work six days; and serve Him on the seventh。
BUN。 I told him that it was the duty of people; (both rich and poor); to look out for their souls on them days as well as for their bodies; and that God would have His people exhort one another daily; while it is called to…day。
FOST。 He said again that there were none but a company of poor; simple; ignorant people that come to hear me。
BUN。 I told him that the foolish and the ignorant had most need of teaching and information; and; therefore; it would be profitable for me to go on in that work。
FOST。 Well; said he; to conclude; but will you promise that you will not call the people together any more? and then you may be released and go home。
BUN。 I told him that I durst say no more than I had said; for I durst not leave off that work which God had called me to。
So he withdrew from me; and then came several of the justice's servants to me; and told me that I stood so much upon a nicety。 Their master; they said; was willing to let me go; and if I would but say I would call the people no more together; I might have my liberty; etc。
BUN。 I told them there were more ways than one in which a man might be said to call the people together。 As for instance; if a man get upon the market…place; and there read a book; or the like; though he do not say to the people; Sirs; come hither and hear; yet if they come to him because he reads; he; by his very reading; may be said to call them together; because they would not have been there to hear if he had not been there to read。 And seeing this might be termed a calling the people together; I durst not say; I would not call them together; for then; by the same argument; my preaching might be said to call them together。
WING。 AND FOST。 Then came the justice and Mr Foster to me again; (we had a little more discourse about preaching; but because the method of it is out of my mind; I pass it); and when they saw that I was at a point; and would not be moved nor persuaded; Mr Foster; the man that did at first express so much love to me; told the justice that then he must send me away to prison。 And that he would do well; also; if he would present all those that were the cause of my coming among them to meetings。 Thus we parted。
And; verily; as I was going forth of the doors; I had much ado to forbear saying to them that I carried the peace of God along with me; but I held my peace; and; blessed be the Lord; went away to prison; with God's comfort in my poor soul。
After I had lain in the jail five or six days; the brethren sought means; again; to get me out by bondsmen; (for so ran my mittimus; that I should lie there till I could find sureties)。 They went to a justice at Elstow; one Mr Crumpton; to desire him to take bond for my appearing at the quarter sessions。 At the first he told them he would; but afterwards he made a demur at the business; and desired first to see my mittimus; which ran to this purpose: That I went about to several conventicles in the county; to the great disparagement of the government of the church of England; etc。 When he had seen it; he said that there might be something more against me than was expressed in my mittimus; and that he was but a young man; therefore he durst not do it。 This my jailor told me; and; whereat I was not at all daunted but rather glad; and saw evidently that the Lord had heard me; for before I went down to the justice; I begged of God that if I might do more good by being at liberty than in prison; that then I might be set at liberty; but if not; His will be done; for I was not altogether without hopes but that my imprisonment might be an awakening to the saints in the country; therefore I could not tell well which to choose; only I; in that manner; did commit the thing to God。 And verily; at my return; I did meet my God sweetly in the prison again; comforting of me and satisfying of me that it was His will and mind that I should be there。
When I came back again to prison; as I was musing at the slender answer of the