Pierre Loti - "Madame Chrysantheme, v2"

General Sir John Ayde - "Indian Frontier Policy"

Paul Severing - "Marvels of Modern Science"

Frances Boyd Calhoun - "Miss Minerva and William Green Hill"

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




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,[3] 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 were 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Now while my mittimus was making, the justice was withdrawn; and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, &c.

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, "As every
man hath received the gift, even so let him minister the same,"
&c.

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," &c. 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 he now 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, &c.

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 were such
that might be said with a good conscience, I should, or, else,
I should not. So through their importunity I 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 anything that might either
dishonour him, or wrong my own soul, or be a grief or discouragement
to any that was inclining after the Lord Jseus Christ.

Well, when I came to the justice again, there was Mr. Foster of
Bedford, who coming out of another room, and seeing of me by the
light of the candle, for it was dark night when I came thither, he
said unto me, Who is there? John Bunyan? with such seeming affection,
as if he would have leaped in my neck and kissed[4] 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," &c. 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; but the justice hearing thereof, said
I, was pleased to send his warrant to fetch me before him, &c.

Foster. 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, &c.

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 were 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 believeth 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? &c.

Bun. To whom I said, that if that was his opinion, that none could
understand the Scriptures but those that had the original Greek,
&c., 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 were the wise as well as the foolish
that do hear me; and again, those that are 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 those 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 was none but a company of poor,
simple, ignorant people that came to hear me.

Bun. I told him that the foolish and 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, &c.

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 the 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 run to this purpose: That
I went about to several conventicles in this county, to the great
disparagement of the government of the church of England, &c. 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, and, therefore, he durst not do it. This my jailer told me;
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.[5]

When I came back again to prison, as I was musing at the slender
answer of the justice, this word dropt in upon my heart with some
life, "For he knew that for envy they had delivered him."

Thus have I, in short, declared the manner and occasion of my being
in prison; where I lie waiting the good will of God, to do with me
as he pleaseth; knowing that not one hair of my head can fall to
the ground without the will of my Father which is in heaven. Let
the rage and malice of men be never so great, they can do no more,
nor go no further, than God permits them; but when they have done
their worst, "We know that all things work together for good to
them that love God" (Rom 8:28). Farewell.

Here is the sum of my Examination before Justice Keelin, Justice
Chester, Justice Blundale, Justice Beecher, and Justice Snagg, &c.

After I had lain in prison above seven weeks, the quarter-sessions
was to be kept in Bedford, for the county thereof, unto which I was
to be brought; and when my jailer had set me before those justices,
there was a bill of indictment preferred against me. The extent
thereof was as followeth: 'That John Bunyan, of the town of
Bedford, labourer, being a person of such and such conditions, he
hath, since such a time, devilishly and perniciously abstained from
coming to church to hear Divine service, and is a common upholder
of several unlawful meetings and conventicles, to the great
disturbance and distraction of the good subjects of this kingdom,
contrary to the laws of our sovereign lord the King,' &c.

The Clerk. When this was read, the clerk of the sessions said unto
me, What say you to this?

Bun. I said, that as to the first part of it, I was a common
frequenter of the church of God. And was also, by grace, a member
with the people over whom Christ is the Head.

Keelin. But, saith Justice Keelin, who was the judge in that court?
Do you come to church, you know what I mean; to the parish church,
to hear Divine service?

Bun. I answered, No, I did not.

Keel. He asked me why?

Bun. I said, Because I did not find it commanded in the Word of
God.

Keel. He said, We were commanded to pray.

Bun. I said, But not by the Common Prayer Book.

Keel. He said, How then?

Bun. I said, With the Spirit. As the apostle saith, "I will pray
with the Spirit, and--with the understanding" (1 Cor 14:15).

Keel. He said, We might pray with the Spirit, and with the
understanding, and with the Common Prayer Book also.

Bun. I said that the prayers in the Common Prayer Book were such as
were made by other men, and not by the motions of the Holy Ghost,
within our hearts; and as I said, the apostle saith, he will pray
with the Spirit, and with the understanding; not with the Spirit
and the Common Prayer Book.

Another Justice. What do you count prayer? Do you think it is to
say a few words over before or among a people?

Bun. I said, No, not so; for men might have many elegant, or
excellent words, and yet not pray at all; but when a man prayeth,
he doth, through a sense of those things which he wants, which sense
is begotten by the Spirit, pour out his heart before God through
Christ; though his words be not so many and so excellent as others
are.

Justices. They said, That was true.

Bun. I said, This might be done without the Common Prayer Book.

Another. One of them said (I think it was Justice Blundale, or
Justice Snagg), How should we know that you do not write out your
prayers first, and then read them afterwards to the people? This
he spake in a laughing way.

Bun. I said, It is not our use, to take a pen and paper, and write
a few words thereon, and then go and read it over to a company of
people.

But how should we know it, said he?

Bun. Sir, it is none of our custom, said I.

Keel. But, said Justice Keelin, it is lawful to use Common Prayer,
and such like forms: for Christ taught his disciples to pray, as
John also taught his disciples. And further, said he, cannot one
man teach another to pray? "Faith comes by hearing"; and one man
may convince another of sin, and therefore prayers made by men,
and read over, are good to teach, and help men to pray.

While he was speaking these words, God brought that word into my
mind, in the eighth of the Romans, at the 26th verse. I say, God
brought it, for I thought not on it before: but as he was speaking,
it came so fresh into my mind, and was set so evidently before me,
as if the scripture had said, Take me, take me; so when he had done
speaking,

Bun. I said, Sir, the Scripture saith, that it is the Spirit that
helpeth our infirmities; for we know not what we should pray for as
we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us, with
[sighs and] groanings which cannot be uttered. Mark, said I, it
doth not say the Common Prayer Book teacheth us how to pray, but
the Spirit. And it is "the Spirit that helpeth our infirmities,"
saith the apostle; he doth not say it is the Common Prayer Book.

And as to the Lord's prayer, although it be an easy thing to say,
"Our Father," &c., with the mouth; yet there are very few that
can, in the Spirit, say the two first words in that prayer; that
is, that can call God their Father, as knowing what it is to be
born again, and a having experience, that they are begotten of the
Spirit of God; which if they do not, all is but babbling, &c.[6]

Keel. Justice Keelin said, that that was a truth.

Bun. And I say further, as to your saying that one man may convince
another of sin, and that faith comes by hearing, and that one man
may tell another how he should pray, &c., I say men may tell each
other of their sins, but it is the Spirit that must convince them.

And though it be said that "faith comes by hearing," yet it is the
Spirit that worketh faith in the heart through hearing, or else
they are not profited by hearing (Heb 4:12).

And that though one man may tell another how he should pray; yet,
as I said before, he cannot pray, nor make his condition known to
God, except the Spirit help. It is not the Common Prayer Book that
can do this. It is the Spirit that showeth us our sins, and the
Spirit that showeth us a Saviour (John 16:16); and the Spirit that
stirreth up in our hearts desires to come to God, for such things
as we stand in need of (Matt 11:27), even sighing out our souls
unto him for them with "groans which cannot be uttered." With other
words to the same purpose. At this they were set.

Keel. But, says Justice Keelin, what have you against the Common
Prayer Book?

Bun. I said, Sir, if you will hear me, I shall lay down my reasons
against it.

Keel. He said, I should have liberty; but first, said he, let me
give you one caution; take heed of speaking irreverently of the
Common Prayer Book; for if you do so, you will bring great damage
upon yourself.

Bun. So I proceeded, and said, My first reason was, because it was
not commanded in the Word of God, and therefore I could not use
it.

Another. One of them said, Where do you find it commanded in the
Scripture, that you should go to Elstow, or Bedford, and yet it is
lawful to go to either of them, is it not?

Bun. I said, To go to Elstow, or Bedford, was a civil thing, and
not material, though not commanded, and yet God's Word allowed me
to go about my calling, and therefore if it lay there, then to go
thither, &c. But to pray, was a great part of the Divine worship
of God, and therefore it ought to be done according to the rule of
God's Word.

Another. One of them said, He will do harm; let him speak no further.

Keel. Justice Keelin said, No, no, never fear him, we are better
established than so; he can do no harm; we know the Common Prayer
Book hath been ever since the apostles' time, and is lawful for it
to be used in the church.

Bun. I said, Show me the place in the epistles where the Common
Prayer Book is written, or one text of Scripture that commands me
to read it, and I will use it. But yet, notwithstanding, said I,
they that have a mind to use it, they have their liberty;[7] that
is, I would not keep them from it; but for our parts, we can pray
to God without it. Blessed be his name.

With that, one of them said, Who is your God? Beelzebub? Moreover,
they often said that I was possessed with the spirit of delusion,
and of the devil. All which sayings I passed over; the Lord
forgive them! And further, I said, blessed be the Lord for it, we
are encouraged to meet together, and to pray, and exhort one another;
for we have had the comfortable presence of God among us. For ever
blessed be his holy name!

Keel. Justice Keelin called this pedlar's French, saying, that I
must leave off my canting. The Lord open his eyes!

Bun. I said, that we ought to "exhort one another daily, while it
is called to-day," &c. (Heb 3:13).

Keel. Justice Keelin said, that I ought not to preach; and asked
me where I had my authority? with other such like words.

Bun. I said, that I would prove that it was lawful for me, and such
as I am, to preach the Word of God.

Keel. He said unto me, By what scripture?

I said, By that in the first epistle of Peter, chapter 4, the 10th
verse, and Acts 18 with other scriptures, which he would not suffer
me to mention. But said, Hold; not so many, which is the first?

Bun. I said, this: "As every man hath received the gift, even so
minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold
grace of God. If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of
God," &c.

Keel. He said, Let me a little open that scripture to you: 'As every
man hath received the gift'; that is, said he, as every one hath
received a trade, so let him follow it. If any man have received a
gift of tinkering, as thou hast done, let him follow his tinkering.
And so other men their trades; and the divine his calling, &c.

Bun. Nay, Sir, said I, but it is most clear, that the apostle speaks
here of preaching the Word; if you do but compare both the verses
together, the next verse explains this gift what it is, saying, 'If
any man speak let him speak as the oracles of God.' So that it is
plain, that the Holy Ghost doth not so much in this place exhort
to civil callings, as to the exercising of those gifts that we have
received from God. I would have gone on, but he would not give me
leave.

Keel. He said, We might do it in our families, but not otherwise.

Bun. I said, If it was lawful to do good to some, it was lawful to
do good to more. If it was a good duty to exhort our families, it
is good to exhort others; but if they held it a sin to meet together
to seek the face of God, and exhort one another to follow Christ,
I should sin still; for so we should do.

Keel. He said he was not so well versed in Scripture as to dispute,
or words to that purpose. And said, moreover, that they could
not wait upon me any longer; but said to me, Then you confess the
indictment, do you not? Now, and not till now, I saw I was indicted.

Bun. I said, This I confess, we have had many meetings together,
both to pray to God, and to exhort one another, and that we had the
sweet comforting presence of the Lord among us for our encouragement;
blessed be his name therefore. I confessed myself guilty no otherwise.

Keel. Then, said he, hear your judgment. You must be had back again
to prison, and there lie for three months following; and at three
months' end, if you do not submit to go to church to hear Divine
service, and leave your preaching, you must be banished the realm:
and if, after such a day as shall be appointed you to be gone, you
shall be found in this realm, &c., or be found to come over again
without special license from the king, &c.,[8] you must stretch by
the neck for it, I tell you plainly; and so bid my jailer have me
away.

Bun. I told him, as to this matter, I was at a point with him;
for if I was out of prison to-day I would preach the gospel again
to-morrow, by the help of God.

Another. To which one made me some answer; but my jailer pulling
me away to be gone, I could not tell what he said.

Thus I departed from them; and I can truly say, I bless the Lord
Jesus Christ for it, that my heart was sweetly refreshed in the
time of my examination; and also afterwards, at my returning to
the prison. So that I found Christ's words more than bare trifles,
where he saith, "I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your
adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist" (Luke 21:15).
And that his peace no man can take from us.