grace abounding to the chief of sinners-第26节

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Upon　the　12th　of　this　instant；　November　1660；　I　was　desired　by　some　　of　the　friends　in　the　country　to　come　to　teach　at　SAMSELL；　by　　HARLINGTON；　in　BEDFORDSHIRE。　　To　whom　I　made　a　promise；　if　the　Lord　　permitted；　to　be　with　them　on　the　time　aforesaid。　　The　justice　　hearing　thereof　（whose　name　is　Mr　FRANCIS　WINGATE）；　forthwith　　issued　out　his　warrant　to　take　me；　and　bring　me　before　him；　and　in　　the　meantime　to　keep　a　very　strong　watch　about　the　house　where　the　　meeting　should　be　kept；　as　if　we　that　were　to　meet　together　in　that　　place　did　intend　to　do　some　fearful　business；　to　the　destruction　of　　the　country；　when　alas！　the　constable；　when　he　came　in；　found　us　　only　with　our　Bibles　in　our　hands；　ready　to　speak　and　hear　the　word　　of　God；　for　we　were　just　about　to　begin　our　exercise。　　Nay；　we　had　　begun　in　prayer　for　the　blessing　of　God　upon　our　opportunity；　　intending　to　have　preached　the　word　of　the　Lord　unto　them　there　　present：　　but　the　constable　coming　in　prevented　us。　　So　I　was　taken　　and　forced　to　depart　the　room。　　But　had　I　been　minded　to　have　　played　the　coward；　I　could　have　escaped　and　kept　out　of　his　hands。　　　For　when　I　was　come　to　my　friend's　house；　there　was　whispering　that　　that　day　I　should　be　taken；　for　there　was　a　warrant　out　to　take　me；　　which　when　my　friend　heard；　he　being　somewhat　timorous；　questioned　　whether　we　had　best　have　our　meeting　or　not；　and　whether　it　might　　not　be　better　for　me　to　depart；　lest　they　should　take　me　and　have　　me　before　the　justice；　and　after　that　send　me　to　prison　（for　he　　knew　better　than　I　what　spirit　they　were　of；　living　by　them）：　　to　　whom　I　said；　No；　by　no　means；　I　will　not　stir；　neither　will　I　have　　the　meeting　dismissed　for　this。　　Come；　be　of　good　cheer；　let　us　not　　be　daunted；　our　cause　is　good；　we　need　not　be　ashamed　of　it；　to　　preach　God's　Word；　is　so　good　a　work；　that　we　shall　be　well　　rewarded；　if　we　suffer　for　that；　or　to　this　purpose　…　（But　as　for　　my　friend；　I　think　he　was　more　afraid　of　me；　than　of　himself。）　　　After　this　I　walked　into　the　close；　where　I　somewhat　seriously　　considering　the　matter；　this　came　into　my　mind；　That　I　had　showed　　myself　hearty　and　courageous　in　my　preaching；　and　had；　blessed　be　　grace；　made　it　my　business　to　encourage　others；　therefore　thought　　I；　if　I　should　now　run；　and　make　an　escape；　it　will　be　of　a　very　　ill　savour　in　the　country。　　For　what　will　my　weak　and　newly…　converted　brethren　think　of　it；　but　that　I　was　not　so　strong　in　　deed　as　I　was　in　word？　　Also　I　feared　that　if　I　should　run　now　　there　was　a　warrant　out　for　me；　I　might　by　so　doing　make　them　　afraid　to　stand；　when　great　words　only　should　be　spoken　to　them。　　　Besides　I　thought；　that　seeing　God　of　His　mercy　should　choose　me　to　　go　upon　the　forlorn　hope　in　this　country；　that　is；　to　be　the　first；　　that　should　be　opposed；　for　the　gospel；　if　I　should　fly；　it　might　　be　a　discouragement　to　the　whole　body　that　might　follow　after。　　And　　further；　I　thought　the　world　thereby　would　take　occasion　at　my　　cowardliness；　to　have　blasphemed　the　gospel；　and　to　have　had　some　　ground　to　suspect　worse　of　me　and　my　profession；　than　I　deserved。　　　These　things　with　others　considered　by　me；　I　came　in　again　to　the　　house；　with　a　full　resolution　to　keep　the　meeting；　and　not　to　go　　away；　though　I　could　have　been　gone　about　an　hour　before　the　　officer　apprehended　me；　but　I　would　not；　for　I　was　resolved　to　see　　the　utmost　of　what　they　could　say　or　do　unto　me。　　For　blessed　be　　the　Lord；　I　knew　of　no　evil　that　I　had　said　or　done。　　And　so；　as　　aforesaid；　I　begun　the　meeting。　　But　being　prevented　by　the　　constable's　coming　in　with　his　warrant　to　take　me；　I　could　not　　proceed。　　But　before　I　went　away；　I　spake　some　few　words　of　counsel　　and　encouragement　to　the　people；　declaring　to　them；　that　they　saw　　we　were　prevented　of　our　opportunity　to　speak　and　hear　the　Word　of　　God；　and　were　like　to　suffer　for　the　same；　desiring　them　that　they　　would　not　be　discouraged；　for　it　was　a　mercy　to　suffer　upon　so　good　　account。　　For　we　might　have　been　apprehended　as　thieves　or　　murderers；　or　for　other　wickedness；　but　blessed　be　God　it　was　not　　so；　but　we　suffer　as　Christians　for　well　doing：　　and　we　had　better　　be　the　persecuted；　than　the　persecutors；　etc。　　But　the　constable　　and　the　justice's　man　waiting　on　us；　would　not　be　at　quiet　till　　they　had　me　away　and　that　we　departed　the　house。　　But　because　the　　justice　was　not　at　home　that　day；　there　was　a　friend　of　mine　　engaged　for　me　to　bring　me　to　the　constable　on　the　morrow　morning。　　　Otherwise　the　constable　must　have　charged　a　watch　with　me；　or　have　　secured　me　some　other　way；　my　crime　was　so　great。　　So　on　the　next　　morning　we　went　to　the　constable；　and　so　to　the　justice。　　He　asked　　the　constable　what　we　did；　where　we　was　met　together；　and　what　we　　had　with　us？　　I　trow；　he　meant　whether　we　had　armour　or　not；　but　　when　the　constable　told　him　that　there　were　only　met　a　few　of　us　　together　to　preach　and　hear　the　Word；　and　no　sign　of　anything　else；　　he　could　not　well　tell　what　to　say：　　yet　because　he　had　sent　for　　me；　he　did　adventure　to　put　out　a　few　proposals　to　me；　which　were　　to　this　effect；　namely；　What　I　did　there？　　And　why　I　did　not　　content　myself　with　following　my　calling？　for　it　was　against　the　　law；　that　such　as　I　should　be　admitted　to　do　as　I　did。

JOHN　BUNYAN。　　To　which　I　answered；　That　the　intent　of　my　coming　　thither；　and　to　other　places；　was　to　instruct；　and　counsel　people　　to　forsake　their　sins；　and　close　in　with　Christ；　lest　they　did　　miserably　perish；　and　that　I　could　do　both　these　without　confusion　　（to　wit）；　follow　my　calling；　and　preach　the　Word　also。

At　which　words；　he　was　in　a　chafe；　as　it　appeared；　for　he　said　that　　he　would　break　the　neck　of　our　meetings。

BUN。　　I　said；　It　may　be　so。　　Then　he　wished　me　to　get　sureties　to　　be　bound　for　me；　or　else　he　would　send　me　to　the　jail。

My　sureties　being　ready；　I　called　them　in；　and　when　the　bond　for　my　　appearance　was　made；　he　told　them；　that　they　was　bound　to　keep　me　　from　preaching；　and　that　if　I　did　preach；　their　bonds　would　be　　forfeited。　　To　which　I　answered；　that　then　I　should　break　them；　for　　I　should　not　leave　speaking　the　Word　of　God：　　even　to　counsel；　　comfort；　exhort；　and　teach　the　people　among　whom　I　came；　and　I　　thought　this　to　be　a　work　that　had　no　hurt　in　it：　　but　was　rather　　worthy　of　commendation；　than　blame。

WINGATE。　　Whereat　he　told　me；　that　if　they　would　not　be　so　bound；　　my　mittimus　must　be　made；　and　I　sent　to　the　jail；　there　to　lie　to　　the　quarter　sessions。

Now　while　my　mittimus　was　making；　the　justice　was　withdrawn；　and　in　　comes　an　old　enemy　to　the　truth；　Dr　Lindale；　who；　when　he　was　come　　in；　fell　to　taunting　at　me　with　many　reviling　terms。

BUN。　　To　whom　I　answered；　that　I　did　not　come　thither　to　talk　with　　him；　but　with　the　justice。　　Whereat　he　supposed　that　I　had　nothing　　to　say　for　myself；　and　triumphed　as　if　he　had　got　the　victory；　　charging　and　condemning　me　for　meddling　with　that　for　which　I　could　　show　no　warrant；　and　asked　me；　if　I　had　taken　the　oaths？　and　if　I　　had　not；　it　was　pity　but　that　I　should　be　sent　to　prison；　etc。

I　told　him；　that　if　I　was　minded；　I　could　answer　to　any　sober　　question　that　he　should　put　to　me。　　He　then　urged　me　again；　how　I　　could　prove　it　lawful　for　me　to　preach；　with　a　great　deal　of　　confidence　of　the　victory。

But　at　last；　because　he　should　see　that　I　could　answer　him　if　I　　listed；　I　cited　to　him　that　verse　in　Peter；　which　saith；　EVERY　MAN　　HATH　RECEIVED　THE　GIFT；　EVEN　SO　LET　HIM　MINISTER　THE　SAME；　ETC。

LIND。　　Aye；　saith　he；　to　whom　is　that　spoken？

BUN。　　To　whom；　said　I；　why　to　every　man　that　hath　received　a　gift　　from　God。　　Mark；　saith　the　apostle；　AS　EVERY　MAN　THAT　HATH　RECEIVED　　A　GIFT　FROM　GOD；　etc。；　and　again；　YOU　MAY　ALL　PROPHESY　ONE　BY　ONE。　　　Whereat　the　man　was　a　little　stopt；　and　went　a　softlier　pace：　　but　　not　being　willing　to　lose　the　day；　he　began　again；　and　said：…

LIND。　　Indeed；　I　do　remember　that　I　have　read　of　one　Alexander　a　　coppersmith；　who　did　much　oppose；　and　disturb　the　apostles；　…　　（aiming　it　is　like　at　me；　because　I　was　a　tinker）。

BUN。　　To　which　I　answered；　that　I　also　had　read　of　very　many　　priests　and　pharisees；　that　had　their　hands　in　the　blood　of　our　　Lord　Jesus　Christ。

LIND。　　Aye；　saith　he；　and　you　are　one　of　those　scribes　and　　pharisees：　　for　you；　with　a　pretence；　make　long　prayers　to　devour　　widows'　houses。

BUN。　　I　answered；　that　if　he　had　got　no　more　by　preaching　and　　praying　than　I　had　done；　he　would　not　be　so　rich　as　now　he　was。　　　But　that　scripture　coming　into　my　mind；　ANSWER　NOT　A　FOOL　ACCORDING　　TO　HIS　FOLLY；　I　was　as　sparing　of　my　speech　as　I　could；　without　　prejudice　to　truth。

Now　by　this　time　my　mittimus　was　made；　and　I　committed　to　the　　constable；　to　be　sent　to　the　jail　in　Bedford；　etc。

But　as　I　was　going；　two　of　my　brethren　met　with　me　by　the　way；　and　　desired　the　constable　to　stay；　supposing　that　they　should　prevail　　with　the　justice；　through　the　favour　of　a　pretended　friend；　to　let　　me　go　at　liberty。　　So　we　did　stay；　while　they　went　to　the　justice；　　and　after　much　discourse　with　him；　it　came　to　this：　　that　if　I　　would　come　to　him　again；　and　say　some　certain　words　to　him；　I　　should　be　released。　　Which　when　they　told　me；　I　said　if　the　words　　was　such　that　might　be　said　with　a　good　co