Dana Gatlin - "Missy"

Edith A. How - "People of Africa"

Yei Theodora Ozaki - "Japanese Fairy Tales"

Charles de Bernard - "Gerfaut, v4"

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




Thus have I given you the substance of my examination. The Lord
make these profitable to all that shall read or hear them. Farewell.

The Substance of some Discourse had between the Clerk of the Peace
and myself, when he came to admonish me, according to the tenor of
that Law by which I was in Prison.

When I had lain in prison other twelve weeks, and now not knowing
what they intended to do with me, upon the 3rd of April 1661,
comes Mr. Cobb unto me, as he told me, being sent by the justices
to admonish me; and demanded of me submittance to the Church of
England, &c. The extent of our discourse was as followeth:--

Cobb. When he was come into the house he sent for me out of my
chamber; who, when I was come unto him, he said, Neighbour Bunyan,
how do you do?

Bun. I thank you, Sir, said I, very well, blessed be the Lord.

Cobb. Saith he, I come to tell you that it is desired you would submit
yourself to the laws of the land, or else at the next sessions it
will go worse with you, even to be sent away out of the nation, or
else worse than that.

Bun. I said that I did desire to demean myself in the world, both
as becometh a man and a Christian.

Cobb. But, saith he, you must submit to the laws of the land, and
leave off those meetings which you was wont to have; for the statute
law is directly against it; and I am sent to you by the justices
to tell you that they do intend to prosecute the law against you
if you submit not.

Bun. I said, Sir, I conceive that that law by which I am in prison
at this time doth not reach or condemn either me or the meetings
which I do frequent; that law was made against those that, being
designed to do evil in their meetings, making the exercise of religion
their pretence, to cover their wickedness. It doth not forbid the
private meetings of those that plainly and simply make it their only
end to worship the Lord, and to exhort one another to edification.
My end in meeting with others is simply to do as much good as I
can, by exhortation and counsel, according to that small measure
of light which God hath given me, and not to disturb the peace of
the nation.

Cobb. Every one will say the same, said he; you see the late
insurrection at London, under what glorious pretences they went;
and yet, indeed, they intended no less than the ruin of the kingdom
and commonwealth.[9]

Bun. That practice of theirs I abhor, said I; yet it doth not follow
that, because they did so, therefore all others will do so. I look
upon it as my duty to behave myself under the King's government,
both as becomes a man and a Christian, and if an occasion were
offered me, I should willingly manifest my loyalty to my Prince,
both by word and deed.

Cobb. Well, said he, I do not profess myself to be a man that can
dispute; but this I say, truly, neighbour Bunyan, I would have you
consider this matter seriously, and submit yourself; you may have
your liberty to exhort your neighbour in private discourse, so be
you do not call together an assembly of people; and, truly, you
may do much good to the church of Christ, if you would go this way;
and this you may do, and the law not abridge you of it. It is your
private meetings that the law is against.

Bun. Sir, said I, if I may do good to one by my discourse, why may
I not do good to two? and if to two, why not to four, and so to
eight? &c.

Cobb. Ay, saith he, and to a hundred, I warrant you.

Bun. Yes, Sir, said I, I think I should not be forbid to do as much
good as I can.

Cobb. But, saith he, you may but pretend to do good, and indeed,
notwithstanding, do harm, by seducing the people; you are, therefore,
denied your meeting so many together, lest you should do harm.

Bun. And yet, said I, you say the law tolerates me to discourse
with my neighbour; surely there is no law tolerates me to seduce any
one; therefore, if I may, by the law, discourse with one, surely
it is to do him good; and if I, by discoursing, may do good to one,
surely, by the same law, I may do good to many.

Cobb. The law, saith he, doth expressly forbid your private meetings;
therefore they are not to be tolerated.

Bun. I told him that I would not entertain so much uncharitableness of
that Parliament in the 35th of Elizabeth, or of the Queen herself,
as to think they did, by that law, intend the oppressing of any of
God's ordinances, or the interrupting any in the way of God; but
men may, in the wresting of it, turn it against the way of God;
but take the law in itself, and it only fighteth against those that
drive at mischief in their hearts and meetings, making religion
only their cloak, colour, or pretence; for so are the words of the
statute: 'If any meetings, under colour or pretence of religion,'
&c.[10]

Cobb. Very good; therefore the king, seeing that pretences are
usually in and among people, as to make religion their pretence
only, therefore he, and the law before him, doth forbid such private
meetings, and tolerates only public; you may meet in public.

Bun. Sir, said I, let me answer you in a similitude: Set the case
that, at such a wood corner, there did usually come forth thieves,
to do mischief; must there therefore a law be made that every one
that cometh out there shall be killed? May there not come out true
men as well as thieves out from thence? Just thus it is in this
case; I do think there may be many that may design the destruction
of the commonwealth; but it does not follow therefore that all
private meetings are unlawful; those that transgress, let them
be punished. And if at any time I myself should do any act in my
conversation as doth not become a man and Christian, let me bear
the punishment. And as for your saying I may meet in public, if
I may be suffered, I would gladly do it. Let me have but meeting
enough in public, and I shall care the less to have them in private.
I do not meet in private because I am afraid to have meetings in
public. I bless the Lord that my heart is at that point, that if any
man can lay anything to my charge, either in doctrine or practice,
in this particular, that can be proved error or heresy, I am willing
to disown it, even in the very market place; but if it be truth,
then to stand to it to the last drop of my blood. And, Sir, said I,
you ought to commend me for so doing. To err and to be a heretic are
two things; I am no heretic, because I will not stand refractorily
to defend any one thing that is contrary to the Word. Prove anything
which I hold to be an error, and I will recant it.

Cobb. But, Goodman Bunyan, said he, methinks you need not stand so
strictly upon this one thing, as to have meetings of such public
assemblies. Cannot you submit, and, notwithstanding, do as much
good as you can, in a neighbourly way, without having such meetings?

Bun. Truly, Sir, said I, I do not desire to commend myself, but to
think meanly of myself; yet when I do most despise myself, taking
notice of that small measure of light which God hath given me,
also that the people of the Lord, by their own saying, are edified
thereby. Besides, when I see that the Lord, through grace, hath in
some measure blessed my labour, I dare not but exercise that gift
which God hath given me for the good of the people. And I said
further, that I would willingly speak in public, if I might.

Cobb. He said, that I might come to the public assemblies and hear.
What though you do not preach? you may hear. Do not think yourself
so well enlightened, and that you have received a gift so far above
others, but that you may hear other men preach. Or to that purpose.

Bun. I told him, I was as willing to be taught as to give instruction,
and looked upon it as my duty to do both; for, saith I, a man that
is a teacher, he himself may learn also from another that teacheth,
as the apostle saith: "Ye may all prophesy, one by one, that all
may learn" (1 Cor 14:31). That is, every man that hath received a
gift from God, he may dispense it, that others may be comforted;
and when he hath done, he may hear and learn, and be comforted
himself of others.

Cobb. But, said he, what if you should forbear awhile, and sit
still, till you see further how things will go?

Bun. Sir, said I, Wicliffe saith, that he which leaveth off preaching
and hearing of the Word of God for fear of excommunication of
men, he is already excommunicated of God, and shall in the day of
judgment be counted a traitor to Christ.[11]

Cobb. Ay, saith he, they that do not hear shall be so counted
indeed; do you, therefore, hear.

Bun. But, Sir, said I, he saith, he that shall leave off either
preaching or hearing, &c. That is, if he hath received a gift for
edification, it is his sin, if he doth not lay it out in a way of
exhortation and counsel, according to the proportion of his gift;
as well as to spend his time altogether in hearing others preach.

Cobb. But, said he, how shall we know that you have received a
gift?

Bun. Said I, Let any man hear and search, and prove the doctrine
by the Bible.

Cobb. But will you be willing, said he, that two indifferent persons
shall determine the case, and will you stand by their judgment?

Bun. I said, Are they infallible?

Cobb. He said, No.

Bun. Then, said I, it is possible my judgment may be as good as
theirs. But yet I will pass by either, and in this matter be judged
by the Scriptures; I am sure that is infallible, and cannot err.

Cobb. But, said he, who shall be judge between you, for you take
the Scriptures one way, and they another?

Bun. I said, The Scripture should, and that by comparing one
scripture with another; for that will open itself, if it be rightly
compared. As, for instance, if under the different apprehensions of
the word Mediator, you would know the truth of it, the Scriptures
open it, and tell us that he that is a mediator must take up the
business between two, and "a mediator is not a mediator of one,
but God is one," and "there is one mediator between God and men,
[even] the man Christ Jesus" (Gal 3:20; 1 Tim 2:5). So likewise
the Scripture calleth Christ a complete, or perfect, or able high
priest. That is opened in that he is called man, and also God.
His blood also is discovered to be effectually efficacious by the
same things. So the Scripture, as touching the matter of meeting
together, &c., doth likewise sufficiently open itself and discover
its meaning.

Cobb. But are you willing, said he, to stand to the judgment of
the church?

Bun. Yes, Sir, said I, to the approbation of the church of God;
the church's judgment is best expressed in Scripture. We had much
other discourse which I cannot well remember, about the laws of
the nation, and submission to government; to which I did tell him,
that I did look upon myself as bound in conscience to walk according
to all righteous laws, and that whether there was a king or no;
and if I did anything that was contrary, I did hold it my duty to
bear patiently the penalty of the law, that was provided against
such offenders; with many more words to the like effect. And said,
moreover, that to cut off all occasions of suspicion from any,
as touching the harmlessness of my doctrine in private, I would
willingly take the pains to give any one the notes of all my
sermons; for I do sincerely desire to live quietly in my country,
and to submit to the present authority.

Cobb. Well, neighbour Bunyan, said he, but indeed I would wish
you seriously to consider of these things, between this and the
quarter-sessions, and to submit yourself. You may do much good if
you continue still in the land; but alas, what benefit will it be
to your friends, or what good can you do to them, if you should be
sent away beyond the seas into Spain, or Constantinople, or some
other remote part of the world? Pray be ruled.

Jailer. Indeed, Sir, I hope he will be ruled.

Bun. I shall desire, said I, in all godliness and honesty to behave
myself in the nation, whilst I am in it. And if I must be so dealt
withal, as you say, I hope God will help me to bear what they shall
lay upon me. I know no evil that I have done in this matter, to be
so used. I speak as in the presence of God.

Cobb. You know, saith he, that the Scripture saith, "the powers
that be are ordained of God."

Bun. I said, yes, and that I was to submit to the king as supreme,
also to the governors, as to them that are sent by him.

Cobb. Well then, said he, the King then commands you, that you should
not have any private meetings; because it is against his law, and
he is ordained of God, therefore you should not have any.

Bun. I told him that Paul did own the powers that were in his day,
as to be of God; and yet he was often in prison under them for all
that. And also, though Jesus Christ told Pilate, that he had no
power against him, but of God, yet he died under the same Pilate;
and yet, said I, I hope you will not say that either Paul, or
Christ, were such as did deny magistracy, and so sinned against
God in slighting the ordinance. Sir, said I, the law hath provided
two ways of obeying: The one to do that which I, in my conscience,
do believe that I am bound to do, actively; and where I cannot obey
actively, there I am willing to lie down, and to suffer what they
shall do unto me. At this he sat still, and said no more; which,
when he had done, I did thank him for his civil and meek discoursing
with me; and so we parted.

O that we might meet in heaven!

Farewell. J.B.

Here followeth a discourse between my Wife and the Judges, with
others, touching my Deliverance at the Assizes following; the which
I took from her own Mouth.

After that I had received this sentence of banishing, or hanging,
from them, and after the former admonition, touching the determination
of the justices, if I did not recant; just when the time drew nigh,
in which I should have abjured, or have done worse, as Mr. Cobb
told me, came the time in which the King was to be crowned.[12]
Now, at the coronation of kings, there is usually a releasement of
divers prisoners, by virtue of his coronation; in which privilege
also I should have had my share; but that they took me for a convicted
person, and therefore, unless I sued out a pardon, as they called
it, I could have no benefit thereby; notwithstanding, yet, forasmuch
as the coronation proclamation did give liberty, from the day the king
was crowned to that day twelvemonth, to sue them out; therefore,
though they would not let me out of prison, as they let out thousands,
yet they could not meddle with me, as touching the execution of
their sentence; because of the liberty offered for the suing out
of pardons. Whereupon I continued in prison till the next assizes,
which are called Midsummer assizes, being then kept in August 1661.

Now, at that assizes, because I would not leave any possible means
unattempted that might be lawful, I did, by my wife, present a
petition to the judges three times, that I might be heard, and that
they would impartially take my case into consideration.

The first time my wife went, she presented it to Judge Hale, who
very mildly received it at her hand, telling her that he would
do her and me the best good he could; but he feared, he said, he
could do none. The next day, again, lest they should, through the
multitude of business, forget me, we did throw another petition
into the coach to Judge Twisdon; who, when he had seen it, snapt
her up, and angrily told her that I was a convicted person, and
could not be released, unless I would promise to preach no more,
&c.

Well, after this, she yet again presented another to Judge Hale,
as he sat on the bench, who, as it seemed, was willing to give her
audience. Only Justice Chester being present, stept up and said,
that I was convicted in the court and that I was a hot-spirited
fellow, or words to that purpose, whereat he waived it, and did
not meddle therewith. But yet, my wife being encouraged by the high
sheriff, did venture once more into their presence, as the poor
widow did to the unjust judge, to try what she could do with them
for my liberty, before they went forth of the town. The place where
she went to them was to the Swan Chamber, where the two judges, and
many justices and gentry of the country, were in company together.
She then, coming into the chamber with abashed face, and a trembling
heart, began her errand to them in this manner:--

Woman. My Lord (directing herself to Judge Hale), I make bold to
come once again to your Lordship, to know what may be done with my
husband.

Judge Hale. To whom he said, Woman, I told thee before, I could do
thee no good; because they have taken that for a conviction which
thy husband spoke at the sessions; and unless there be something
done to undo that, I can do thee no good.

Wom. My Lord, said she, he is kept unlawfully in prison; they clapped
him up before there was any proclamation against the meetings; the
indictment also is false. Besides, they never asked him whether he
was guilty or no; neither did he confess the indictment.

One of the Justices. Then one of the justices that stood by, whom
she knew not, said, My Lord, he was lawfully convicted.

Wom. It is false, said she; for when they said to him, Do you confess
the indictment? he said only this, that he had been at several
meetings, both where there was preaching the Word, and prayer, and
that they had God's presence among them.

Judge Twisdon. Whereat Judge Twisdon answered very angrily, saying,
'What! you think we can do what we list; your husband is a breaker
of the peace, and is convicted by the law,' &c. Whereupon Judge
Hale called for the Statute Book.

Wom. But, said she, my Lord, he was not lawfully convicted.

Chester. Then Justice Chester said, 'My Lord, he was lawfully
convicted.'

Wom. It is false, said she; it was but a word of discourse that
they took for a conviction, as you heard before.

Chest. 'But it is recorded, woman, it is recorded,' said Justice
Chester; as if it must be of necessity true, because it was recorded.
With which words he often endeavoured to stop her mouth, having
no other argument to convince her, but 'it is recorded, it is
recorded.'[13]

Wom. My Lord, said she, I was a while since at London, to see if
I could get my husband's liberty; and there I spoke with my Lord
Barkwood, one of the House of Lords, to whom I delivered a petition,
who took it of me and presented it to some of the rest of the House
of Lords, for my husband's releasement: who, when they had seen
it, they said that they could not release him, but had committed
his releasement to the judges, at the next assizes. This he told
me; and now I come to you to see if anything may be done in this
business, and you give neither releasement nor relief. To which
they gave her no answer, but made as if they heard her not.[14]

Chest. Only Justice Chester was often up with this, 'He is convicted,'
and 'It is recorded.'

Wom. If it be, it is false, said she.

Chest. My Lord, said Justice Chester, he is a pestilent fellow,
there is not such a fellow in the country again.

Twis. What, will your husband leave preaching? If he will do so,
then send for him.

Wom. My Lord, said she, he dares not leave preaching, as long as
he can speak.

Twis. See here, what should we talk any more about such a fellow?
Must he do what he lists? He is a breaker of the peace.

Wom. She told him again, that he desired to live peaceably, and
to follow his calling, that his family might be maintained; and,
moreover, said, My Lord, I have four small children that cannot
help themselves, of which one is blind, and have nothing to live
upon, but the charity of good people.

Hale. Hast thou four children? said Judge Hale; thou art but a
young woman to have four children.

Wom. My Lord, said she, I am but mother-in-law to them, having not
been married to him yet full two years. Indeed, I was with child when
my husband was first apprehended; but being young, and unaccustomed
to such things, said she, I being smayed[15] at the news, fell into
labour, and so continued for eight days, and then was delivered,
but my child died.[16]

Hale. Whereat, he looking very soberly on the matter, said, 'Alas,
poor woman!'

Twis. But Judge Twisdon told her, that she made poverty her cloak;
and said, moreover, that he understood I was maintained better by
running up and down a preaching, than by following my calling.

Hale. What is his calling? said Judge Hale.

Answer. Then some of the company that stood by said, 'A tinker, my
Lord.'

Wom. Yes, said she, and because he is a tinker, and a poor man,
therefore he is despised, and cannot have justice.

Hale. Then Judge Hale answered, very mildly, saying, 'I tell thee,
woman, seeing it is so, that they have taken what thy husband spake
for a conviction; thou must either apply thyself to the King, or
sue out his pardon, or get a writ of error.'

Chest. But when Justice Chester heard him give her this counsel; and
especially, as she supposed, because he spoke of a writ of error,
he chafed,[17] and seemed to be very much offended; saying, 'My
Lord, he will preach and do what he lists.'

Wom. He preacheth nothing but the Word of God, said she.

Twis. He preach the Word of God! said Twisdon; and withal she thought
he would have struck her; he runneth up and down, and doth harm.

Wom. No, my Lord, said she, it is not so; God hath owned him, and
done much good by him.

Twis. God! said he; his doctrine is the doctrine of the devil.

Wom. My Lord, said she, when the righteous Judge shall appear, it
will be known that his doctrine is not the doctrine of the devil.

Twis. My Lord, said he, to Judge Hale, do not mind her, but send
her away.

Hale. Then said Judge Hale, 'I am sorry, woman, that I can do thee
no good; thou must do one of those three things aforesaid; namely,
either to apply thyself to the King, or sue out his pardon, or get
a writ of error; but a writ of error will be cheapest.'

Wom. At which Chester again seemed to be in a chafe, and put off
his hat, and as she thought, scratched his head for anger: but when
I saw, said she, that there was no prevailing to have my husband
sent for, though I often desired them that they would send for him,
that he might speak for himself, telling them, that he could give
them better satisfaction than I could in what they demanded of
him, with several other things, which now I forget; only this I
remember, that though I was somewhat timorous at my first entrance
into the chamber, yet before I went out, I could not but break forth
into tears, not so much because they were so hard-hearted against
me and my husband, but to think what a sad account such poor
creatures will have to give at the coming of the Lord, when they
shall there answer for al things whatsoever they have done in the
body, whether it be good or whether it be bad.[18]

So, when I departed from them, the Book of Statute was brought,
but what they said of it I know nothing at all, neither did I hear
any more from them.

Some Carriages of the Adversaries of God's Truth with me at the
next Assizes, which was on the 19th of the First Month, 1662.

I shall pass by what befell between these two assizes, how I had,
by my jailer, some liberty granted me, more than at the first, and
how I followed my wonted course of preaching, taking all occasions
that were put into my hand to visit the people of God; exhorting
them to be steadfast in the faith of Jesus Christ, and to take heed
that they touched not the Common Prayer, &c., but to mind the Word
of God, which giveth direction to Christians in every point, being
able to make the man of God perfect in all things through faith in
Jesus Christ, and thoroughly to furnish him unto all good works (2
Tim 3:17).[19] Also, how I, having, I say, somewhat more liberty,
did go to see Christians at London; which my enemies hearing of,
were so angry, that they had almost cast my jailer out of his place,
threatening to indict him, and to do what they could against him.
They charged me also, that I went thither to plot and raise division,
and make insurrection, which, God knows, was a slander; whereupon
my liberty was more straitened than it was before: so that I must
not look out of the door. Well, when the next sessions came, which
was about the 10th of the eleventh month, I did expect to have
been very roundly dealt withal; but they passed me by, and would
not call me, so that I rested till the assizes, which was the 19th
of the first month following; and when they came, because I had a
desire to come before the judge, I desired my jailer to put my name
into the calendar among the felons, and made friends of the judge
and high sheriff, who promised that I should be called; so that I
thought what I had done might have been effectual for the obtaining of
my desire; but all was in vain: for when the assizes came, though
my name was in the calendar, and also though both the judge and
sheriff had promised that I should appear before them, yet the
justices and the clerk of the peace did so work it about, that I,
notwithstanding, was deferred, and might not appear; and although,
I say, I do not know of all their carriages towards me, yet this
I know, that the clerk of the peace did discover himself to be one
of my greatest opposers: for, first, he came to my jailer, and told
him that I must not go down before the judge, and therefore must
not be put into the calendar; to whom my jailer said, that my name
was in already. He bid him put me out again; my jailer told him that
he could not, for he had given the judge a calendar with my name
in it, and also the sheriff another. At which he was very much
displeased, and desired to see that calendar that was yet in my
jailer's hand; who, when he had given it him, he looked on it, and
said it was a false calendar; he also took the calendar and blotted
out my accusation, as my jailer had writ it. Which accusation I
cannot tell what it was, because it was so blotted out; and he himself
put in words to this purpose: 'That John Bunyan was committed to
prison, being lawfully convicted for upholding of unlawful meetings
and conventicles,' &c. But yet, for all this, fearing that what he
had done, unless he added thereto, it would not do; he first run
to the clerk of the assizes, then to the justices, and afterwards,
because he would not leave any means unattempted to hinder me,
he comes again to my jailer, and tells him, that if I did go down
before the judge, and was released, he would make him pay my fees,
which, he said, was due to him; and further told him, that he would
complain of him at the next quarter sessions for making of false
calendars; though my jailer himself, as I afterwards learned, had
put in my accusation worse than in itself it was by far. And thus
was I hindered and prevented, at that time also, from appearing
before the judge, and left in prison. Farewell.