Hector Malot - "Conscience, v2"

Mungo Park - "Travels in the Interior of Africa Volume 2"

Jacob Abbott - "History of King Charles II of England"

Joel Chandler Harris - "Uncle Remus"

New Philadelphia Book Publisher Highlights Local Talent
Book and Publishing News from Publishers Newswire(tm)

Looking for Child to be on Cover of a New Book, 'The Model Child'
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. -- The Philadelphia literary world will celebrate the launch of two new players today, April 10th: Kay Square Press, a new publishing company focused on Philadelphia-area artists, their stories, and their art; and Kay Square's first release, 'With the Rich and Mighty: Emlen Etting of Philadelphia' (ISBN: 978-0-9815129-0-7), a critical biography by Kenneth C. Kaleta.

FlatSigned Press Alleges Don Imus Remarks Damage Legacy of President Gerald R. Ford
NEW YORK, N.Y. -- Nathan Yungerberg, an accomplished model scout and professional child photographer is launching a nation-wide casting call to find the cover model for his highly anticipated book release, 'The Model Child: A Parents Guide to the Child Modeling Industry' (ISBN: 978-0-9817018-0-6).

Books: The Works of John Bunyan Volume 1

J >> John Bunyan >> The Works of John Bunyan Volume 1




123. Also, besides these teachings of God in his Word, the Lord
made use of two things to confirm me in these things; the one was
the errors of the Quakers, and the other was the guilt of sin; for
as the Quakers did oppose his truth, so God did the more confirm
me in it, by leading me into the scriptures that did wonderfully
maintain it.[31]

124. 'The errors that this people then maintained were, 1. That the
holy Scriptures were not the Word of God. 2. That every man in the
world had the spirit of Christ, grace, faith, &c. 3. That Christ
Jesus, as crucified, and dying 1600 years ago, did not satisfy
divine justice for the sins of the people. 4. That Christ's flesh
and blood was within the saints. 5. That the bodies of the good
and bad that are buried in the churchyard shall not arise again. 6.
That the resurrection is past with good men already. 7. That that
man Jesus, that was crucified between two thieves on Mount Calvary,
in the land of Canaan, by Jerusalem, was not ascended up above the
starry heavens. 8. That he should not, even the same Jesus that
died by the hands of the Jews, come again at the last day, and as
man judge all nations, &c.'

125. 'Many more vile and abominable things were in those days
fomented by them, by which I was driven to a more narrow search of
the Scriptures, and was, through their light and testimony, not
only enlightened, but greatly confirmed and comforted in the truth';
and, as I said, the guilt of sin did help me much, for still as that
would come upon me, the blood of Christ did take it off again, and
again, and again, and that too, sweetly, according to the Scriptures.
O friends! cry to God to reveal Jesus Christ unto you; there is
none teacheth like him.

126. It would be too long for me here to stay, to tell you in
particular how God did set me down in all the things of Christ,
and how he did, that he might so do, lead me into his words; yea,
and also how he did open them unto me, make them shine before me,
and cause them to dwell with me, talk with me, and comfort me over
and over, both of his own being, and the being of his Son, and
Spirit, and Word, and gospel.

127. Only this, as I said before I will say unto you again, that
in general he was pleased to take this course with me; first, to
suffer me to be afflicted with temptation concerning them, and then
reveal them to me: as sometimes I should lie under great guilt for
sin, even crushed to the ground therewith, and then the Lord would
show me the death of Christ; yea, and so sprinkle my conscience
with his blood, that I should find, and that before I was aware,
that in that conscience where but just now did reign and rage the
law, even there would rest and abide the peace and love of God
through Christ.

128. Now had I an evidence, 'as I thought, of my salvation' from
heaven, with many golden seals thereon, all hanging in my sight;
now could I remember this manifestation and the other discovery
of grace, with comfort; and should often long and desire that the
last day were come, that I might for ever be inflamed with the
sight, and joy, and communion with him whose head was crowned with
thorns, whose face was spit on, and body broken, and soul made
an offering for my sins: for whereas, before, I lay continually
trembling at the mouth of hell, now methought I was got so far
therefrom that I could not, when I looked back, scarce discern
it; and, oh! thought I, that I were fourscore years old now, that
I might die quickly, that my soul might be gone to rest.[32]

129. 'But before I had got thus far out of these my temptations,
I did greatly long to see some ancient godly man's experience, who
had writ some hundreds of years before I was born; for those who
had writ in our days, I thought, but I desire them now to pardon
me, that they had writ only that which others felt, or else had,
through the strength of their wits and parts, studied to answer such
objections as they perceived others were perplexed with, without
going down themselves into the deep. Well, after many such longings
in my mind, the God in whose hands are all our days and ways, did
cast into my hand, one day, a book of Martin Luther; it was his
comment on the Galatians--it also was so old that it was ready to
fall piece from piece if I did but turn it over. Now I was pleased
much that such an old book had fallen into my hands; the which,
when I had but a little way perused, I found my condition, in his
experience, so largely and profoundly handled, as if his book had
been written out of my heart. This made me marvel; for thus thought
I, This man could not know anything of the state of Christians now,
but must needs write and speak the experience of former days.'

130. 'Besides, he doth most gravely, also, in that book, debate
of the rise of these temptations, namely, blasphemy, desperation,
and the like; showing that the law of Moses as well as the devil,
death, and hell hath a very great hand therein, the which, at first,
was very strange to me; but considering and watching, I found it
so indeed. But of particulars here I intend nothing; only this,
methinks, I must let fall before all men, I do prefer this book of
Martin Luther upon the Galatians, excepting the Holy Bible, before
all the books that ever I have seen, as most fit for a wounded
conscience.'

131. 'And now I found, as I thought, that I loved Christ dearly;
oh! methought my soul cleaved unto him, my affections cleaved
unto him. I felt love to him as hot as fire; and now, as Job said,
I thought I should die in my nest; but I did quickly find that my
great love was but little, and that I, who had, as I thought, such
burning love to Jesus Christ, could let him go again for a very
trifle; God can tell how to abase us, and can hide pride from man.
Quickly after this my love was tried to purpose.'

132. For after the Lord had, in this manner, thus graciously
delivered me from this great and sore temptation, and had set me
down so sweetly in the faith of his holy gospel, and had given me
such strong consolation and blessed evidence from heaven touching
my interest in his love through Christ; the tempter came upon me
again, and that with a more grievous and dreadful temptation than
before.

133. And that was, To sell and part with this most blessed Christ,
to exchange him for the things of this life, for anything. The
temptation lay upon me for the space of a year, and did follow me
so continually that I was not rid of it one day in a month, no,
not sometimes one hour in many days together, unless 'when' I was
asleep.

134. And though, in my judgment, I was persuaded that those who
were once effectually in Christ, as I hoped, through his grace,
I had seen myself, could never lose him for ever--for "the land
shall not be sold for ever, for the land is mine," saith God (Lev
25:23)[33]--yet it was a continual vexation to me to think that I
should have so much as one such thought within me against a Christ,
a Jesus, that had done for me as he had done; 'and yet then I had
almost none others, but such blasphemous ones.'

135. But it was neither my dislike of the thought, nor yet any
desire and endeavour to resist it that in the least did shake or
abate the continuation, or force and strength thereof; for it did
always, in almost whatever I thought, intermix itself therewith in
such sort that I could neither eat my food, stoop for a pin, chop
a stick, or cast mine eye to look on this or that, but still the
temptation would come, Sell Christ for this, or sell Christ for
that; 'sell him, sell him.'

136. Sometimes it would run in my thoughts, not so little as a
hundred times together, Sell him, sell him, sell him; against which
I may say, for whole hours together, I have been forced to stand as
continually leaning and forcing my spirit against it, least haply,
before I were aware, some wicked thought might arise in my heart
that might consent thereto; and sometimes also the tempter would
make me believe I had consented to it, then should I be as tortured
upon a rack for whole days together.

137. This temptation did put me to such scares, lest I should and
some times, I say, consent thereto, and be overcome therewith, that
by the very force of my mind, in labouring to gainsay and resist
this wickedness, my very body also would be put into action or
motion by way of pushing or thrusting 'with my hands or elbows,'
still answering as fast as the destroyer said, Sell him; I will
not, I will not, I will not, I will not; no, not for thousands,
thousands, thousands of worlds. Thus reckoning lest I should in
the midst of these assaults, set too low a value of him, even until
I scarce well knew where I was, or how to be composed began.

138. 'At these seasons he would not let me eat my food at quiet;
but, forsooth, when I was set at table at my meat, I must go hence
to pray; I must leave my food now, and just now, so counterfeit
holy also would this devil be. When I was thus tempted, I should
say in myself, Now I am at my meat, let me make an end. No, said
he, you must do it now, or you will displease God, and despised
Christ. Wherefore I was much afflicted with these things; and because
of the sinfulness of my nature, imagining that these things were
impulses from God, I should deny to do it, as if I denied God; and
then should I be as guilty, because I did not obey a temptation of
the devil, as if I had broken the law of God indeed.'

139. But to be brief, one morning, as I did lie in my bed, I was,
as at other times, most fiercely assaulted with this temptation,
to sell and part with Christ; the wicked suggestion still running
in my mind, sell him, sell him, sell him, sell him, 'sell him,' as
fast as a man could speak; against which also, in my mind, as and
other times, I answered, No, no, not for thousands, thousands,
thousands, at least twenty times together. But at last, after much
striving, even until I was almost out of breath, I felt this thought
pass through my heart, Let him go, if he will! and I thought also,
that I felt my heart 'freely' consent thereto. 'Oh, the diligence
of Satan! [34] Oh, the desperateness of man's heart!'

140. Now was the battle won, and down fell I, as a bird that is
shot from the top of a tree, into great guilt, and fearful despair.
Thus getting out of my bed, I went moping into the field; but God
knows, with as heavy a heart as mortal man, I think, could bear;
where, for the space of two hours, I was like a man bereft of life,
and as now past all recovery, and bound over to eternal punishment.

141. And withal, that scripture did seize upon my soul, "Or profane
person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat, sold his birthright;
for ye know, how that afterward, when he would have inherited the
blessing, he was rejected; for he found no place of repentance, so
he sought it carefully with tears" (Heb 12:16,17).

142. 'Now was I as one bound, I felt myself shut out unto the
judgment to come; nothing now for two years together would abide
with me, but damnation, and an expectation of damnation; I say,
nothing now would abide with me but this, save some few moments
for relief, as in the sequel you will see.'

143. These words were to my soul like fetters of brass to my legs,
in the continual sound of which I went for several months together.
But about ten or eleven o'clock one day, as I was walking under a
hedge, full of sorrow in guilt, God knows, and bemoaning myself for
this hard hap, that such a thought should arise within me; suddenly
this sentence bolted in upon me, The blood of Christ remits all
guilt. At this I made a stand in my spirit; with that, this word
took hold upon me, begin, "The blood of Jesus Christ, his Son,
cleanseth us from all sin" (1 John 1:7).

144. Now I began to conceive peace in my soul, in methought I saw
as if the tempter did leer[35] and steal away from me, as being
ashamed of what he had done. At the same time also I had my sin,
and the blood of Christ thus represented to me, that my sin, when
compared to the blood of Christ, was no more to it, then this little
clot or stone before me, is to this vast and wide field that here
I see. This gave me good encouragement for the space of two or
three hours; in which time also, methought I saw, by faith, the
Son of God, as suffering for my sins; but because it tarried not,
I therefore sunk in my spirit, under exceeding guilt again.

145. 'But chiefly by the afore-mentioned scripture, concerning
Esau's selling of his birthright; for that scripture would lie all
day long, all the week long, yea, all the year long in my mind,
and hold me down, so that I could by no means lift up myself; for
when I would strive to turn me to this scripture, or that, for
relief, still that sentence would be sounding in me, "For ye know,
how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing-he
found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with
tears."'

146. Sometimes also, [36] I should have a touch from that in Luke
22:32, "I have prayed for the, that thy faith fail not"; but it
would not abide upon me; neither could I indeed, when I considered
my state, find ground to conceive in the least, that there should
be the root of that grace within me, having sinned as I had done.
Now was I tore and rent in heavy case, for many days together.

147. Then began I with sad and careful heart, to consider of the
nature and largeness of my sin, and to search in the Word of God,
if I could in any place espy a word of promise, or any encouraging
sentence by which I might take relief. Wherefore I began to consider
that third of Mark, All manner of sins and blasphemies shall be
forgiven unto the sons of men, wherewith soever they shall blaspheme.
Which place, methought, at a blush, did contain a large and glorious
promise, for the pardon of high offences; but considering the place
more fully, I thought it was rather to be understood as relating
more chiefly to those who had, while in a natural estate, committed
such things as there are mentioned; but not to me, who had not
only received light and mercy, but that had, both after, and also
contrary to that, so slighted Christ as I had done.

148. I feared therefore that this wicked sin of mine, might be that
sin unpardonable, of which he there thus speaketh. "But he they
shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but
is in danger of eternal damnation" (Mark 3:29). And I did the rather
give credit to this, because of that sentence in the Hebrews common
"For ye know, how that afterward, when he would have inherited the
blessing, he was rejected; for he found no place of repentance,
though he sought it carefully with tears." 'And this stuck always
with me.'

149. 'And now was I both the burden and a terror to myself, nor
did I ever so know, as now, what it was to be weary of my life,
and yet afraid to die. Oh, how gladly now would I have been anybody
but myself! Anything but a man! and in any condition but mine own!
for there was nothing did pass more frequently over my mind, than
that it was impossible for me to be forgiven my transgression, and
to be saved from wrath to come.'

150. And now began I to labour to call again time that was past;
wishing a thousand times twice told, that the day was yet to come,
when I should be tempted to such a sin! concluding with great
indignation, both against my heart, and all assaults, how I would
rather have been torn in pieces, than found a consenter thereto.
But, alas! these thoughts, and wishings, and resolvings, were now
too late to help me; the thought had passed my heart, God hath let
me go, and I am fallen. Oh! thought I, "that it was with me as in
months past, as in the days when God preserved me!" [Job 29:2]

151. Then again, being loath and unwilling to perish, I began to
compare my sin with others, to see if I could find that any of those
that were saved had done as I had done. So I considered David's
adultery and murder, and found them most heinous crimes; and those
too committed after light and grace received; but yet but considering,
I perceived that his transgressions were only such as were against
the law of Moses; from which the Lord Christ could, with the consent
of his Word, deliver him: but mine was against the gospel; yea,
against the Mediator thereof; 'I had sold my Saviour.'

152. Now again should I be as if racked upon the wheel,[37] when
I considered, that, besides the guilt that possessed me, I should
be so void of grace, so bewitched. What, thought I, must it be no
sin but this? Must it needs be the great transgression? (Psa 19:13)
Must that wicked one touch my soul? (1 John 5:18) Oh, what stings
did I find in all these sentences!

153. 'What, thought I, is there but one sin that is unpardonable?
But one sin that layeth the soul without the reach of God's mercy;
and must I be guilty of that? Must it needs be that? Is there
but one sin among so many millions of sins, for which there is no
forgiveness; and must I commit this? Oh, unhappy sin! Oh, unhappy
man! These things would so break and confound my spirit, that
I could not tell what to do; I thought, at times, they would have
broke my wits; and still, to aggravate my misery, that would run in
my mind, "Ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited
the blessing, he was rejected." Oh! none knows the terrors of those
days but myself.'

154. After this I came to consider of Peter's sin, which he committed
in denying his master; and indeed, this came nighest to mine, of
any that I could find; for he had denied his Saviour, as I, and that
after light and mercy received; yea, and that too, after warning
given him. I also considered, that he did both once and twice; and
that, after time to consider betwixt. But though I put all these
circumstances together, that, if possible, I might find help, yet
I considered again, that his was but a denial of his master, but
mine was a selling of my Saviour. Wherefore I thought with myself,
that I came nearer to Judas, than either to David or Peter.

155. Here again my torment would flame out and afflicte me; yea, it
would grind me, as it were, to powder, to discern the preservation
of God towards others, while I fell into the snare; for in my thus
considering of other men's sins, and comparing of them with my
own, I could evidently see how God preserved them, notwithstanding
their wickedness, and would not let them, as he had let me, to
become a son of perdition.

156. But oh, how did my soul, at this time, prize the preservation
that God did set about his people! Ah, how safely did I see them
walk, whom God had hedge in! They were within his care, protection,
and special providence; though they were full as bad as I by nature;
yet because he loved them, he would not suffer them to fall without
the range of mercy; but as for me, I was gone, I had done it; he
would not preserve me, nor keep me; but suffered me, because I was
a reprobate, to fall as I had done. Now, did those blessed places,
that spake of God's keeping his people, shine like the sun before
me, though not to comfort me, but to show me the blessed state and
heritage of those whom the Lord had blessed.

157. 'Now I saw, that as God had his hand in all providences and
dispensations that overtook his elect, so he had his hand in all
the temptations that they had to sin against him, not to animate
them unto wickedness, but to choose their temptations and troubles
for them; and also to leave them, for a time, to such sins only as
might not destroy, but humble them; as might not put them beyond,
but lay them in the way off the renewing of his mercy. But oh,
what love, what care, what kindness and mercy did I now see, mixing
itself with the most severe and dreadful of all God's ways to his
people! He would let David, Hezekiah, Solomon, Peter, and others
fall, but he would not let them fall into sin unpardonable, nor
into hell for sin. Oh! thought I, these be the men that God hath
loved; these be the men that God, though he chastiseth them, keeps
them in safety by him, and them whom he makes to abide under the
shadow of the Almighty. But all these thoughts added sorrow, grief,
and horror to me, as whatever I now thought on, it was killing to
me. If I thought how God kept his own, that was killing to me. If
I thought of how I was falling myself, that was killing to me. As
all things wrought together for the best, and to do good to them
that were the called, according to his purpose; so I thought that
all things wrought for my damage, and for my eternal overthrow.'

158. Then, again, I began to compare my sin with the sin of Judas,
that, if possible, I might find that mine differed from that which,
in truth, is unpardonable. And, oh! thought I, if it 'should differ
from it,' though but the breadth of an hair, what a happy condition
is my soul in! And, by considering, I found that Judas did his
intentionally, but mine was against my 'prayer and' strivings;
besides, his was committed with much deliberation, but mine in a
fearful hurry, on a sudden; 'all this while' I was tossed to and
fro, like the locusts, and driven from trouble to sorrow; hearing
always the sound of Esau's fall in mine ears, and of the dreadful
consequences thereof.

159. Yet this consideration about Judas, his sin was, for a
while, some little relief unto me; for I saw I had not, as to the
circumstances, transgressed so foully as he. But this was quickly
gone again, for, I thought with myself, there might be more ways
than one to commit the unpardonable sin; 'also I thought' that
there might be degrees of that, as well as of other transgressions;
wherefore, for ought I yet could perceive, this iniquity of mine
might be such, as might never be passed by.

160. 'I was often now ashamed, that I should be like such an ugly
man as Judas; I thought, also, how loathsome I should be unto
all the saints at the day of judgment; insomuch, that now I could
scarce see a good man, that I believed had a good conscience, but
I should feel my heart tremble at him, while I was in his presence.
Oh! now I saw a glory in walking with God, and what a mercy it was
to have a good conscience before him.'

161. 'I was much about this time tempted to content myself, by
receiving some false opinion; as that there should be no such thing
as a day of judgment, that we should not rise again, and that sin
was no such grievous thing; the tempter suggesting thus, For if
these things should indeed be true, yet to believe otherwise, would
yield you ease for the present. If you must perish, never torment
yourself so much before hand; drive the thoughts of damning out of
your mind, by possessing your mind with some such conclusions that
Atheists and Ranters do use to help themselves withal.'

162. 'But, oh! when such thoughts have led through my heart, how,
as it were, within a step, hath death and judgment been in my view!
Methought the judge stood at the door, I was as if it was come
already; so that such things could have no entertainment. But,
methinks, I see by this, that Satan will use any means to keep
the soul from Christ; he loveth not an awakened frame of spirit;
security, blindness, darkness, and error is the very kingdom and
habitation of the wicked one.'

163. 'I found it hard work now to pray to God, because despair was
swallowing me up; I thought I was, as with a tempest, driven away
from God, for always when I cried to God for mercy, this would
come in, It is too late, I am lost, God hath let me fall; not to my
correction, but condemnation; my sin is unpardonable; and I know,
concerning Esau, how that, after he had sold his birthright,
he would have received the blessing, but was rejected. About this
time, I did light on that dreadful story of that miserable mortal,
Francis Spira;[38] a book that was to my troubled spirit as salt,
when rubbed into a fresh wound; every sentence in that book, every
groan of that man, with all the rest of his actions in his dolours,
as his tears, his prayers, his gnashing of teeth, his wringing of
hands, his twining and twisting, languishing and pining away under
that mighty hand of God that was upon him, was as knives and daggers
in my soul; especially that sentence of his was frightful to me,
Man knows the beginning of sin, but who bounds the issues thereof?
Then would the former sentence, as the conclusion of all, fall
like a hot thunderbolt again upon my conscience; "for you know how
that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was
rejected; for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it
carefully with tears."'

164. Then was I struck into a very great trembling, insomuch that
at sometimes I could, for whole days together, feel my very body, as
well as my mind, to shake and totter under the sense of the dreadful
judgment of God, that should fall on those that have sinned that
most fearful and unpardonable sin. I felt also such a clogging
and heat at my stomach, by reason of this my terror, that I was,
especially at some times, as if my breast bone would have split
in sunder; then I thought of that concerning Judas, who, by his
falling headlong, burst asunder, and all his bowels gushed out
(Acts 1:18).