Unknown - "The Koran"

Herman Melville - "Moby Dick; or The Whale"

Robert Alexander Wason - "Happy Hawkins"

Inez Haynes Irwin - "The Native Son"

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




(2.) Wouldst thou know whether Jesus Christ is thine advocate? Then
I ask again, Hast thou revealed thy cause unto him?-I say, Hast
thou revealed thy cause unto him? For he that goeth to law for his
right, must not only go to a lawyer, and say, Sir, I am in trouble,
and am to have a trial at law with mine enemy, pray undertake my
cause; but he must also reveal to his lawyer his cause. He must
go to him and tell him what is the matter, how things stand, where
the shoe pinches, and so. Thus did the church of old, and thus doth
every true Christian now; for though nothing can be hid from him,
yet he will have things out of thine own mouth; he will have thee
to reveal thy matters unto him (Matt 20:32). "O Lord of hosts,"
said Jeremiah, "that judgest righteously, that triest the reins and
the heart, let me see thy vengeance on them: for unto thee have I
revealed my cause" (Jer 11:20). And again; "But, O Lord of hosts,
that triest the righteous, and seest the reins and the heart, let
me see thy vengeance on them; for unto thee have I opened my cause"
(Jer 20:12). Seest thou here, how saints of old were wont to do?
how they did, not only in a general way, entreat Christ to plead
their cause, but in a particular way, go to him and reveal, or open
their cause unto him?

O! it is excellent to behold how some sinners will do this when
they get Christ and themselves in a closet alone; when they, upon
their bare knees, are pouring out of their souls before him; or,
like the woman in the gospel, telling him all the truth (Mark 5).
O! saith the soul, Lord, I am come to thee upon an earnest business;
I am arrested by Satan; the bailiff was mine own conscience, and I
am like to be accused before the judgment-seat of God. My salvation
lies at stake; I am questioned for my interest in heaven; I am afraid
of the Judge; my heart condemns me (I John 3:20). Mine enemy is
subtle, and wanteth not malice to prosecute me to death, and then
to hell. Also, Lord, I am sensible that the law is against me, for
indeed I have horribly sinned, and thus and thus have I done. Here
I lie open to law, and there I lie open to law; here I have given
the adversary advantage, and there he will surely have a hank11
against me. Lord, I am distressed, undertake for me! And there are
some things that thou must be acquainted with about thine Advocate,
before thou wilt venture to go thus far with him. As,

(a.) Thou must know him to be a friend, and not an enemy, unto whom
thou openest thy heart; and until thou comest to know that Christ
is a friend to thee, or to souls in thy condition, thou wilt never
reveal thy cause unto him, not thy whole cause unto him. And it
is from this that so many that have soul causes hourly depending
before the throne of God, and that are in danger every day of eternal
damnation, forbear to entertain Jesus Christ for their Advocate,
and so wickedly conceal their matters from him; but "he that hideth
his sins shall not prosper" (Prov 28:13)

FOOTNOTE: Quoted from the Genevan, or Puritan translation.-ED. This,
therefore, must first be believed by thee before thou wilt reveal
thy cause unto him.

(b.) A man, when his estate is called in question, I mean his
right and title thereto, will be very cautious, especially if he
also questions his title to it himself, unto whom he reveals that
affair; he must know him to be one that is not only friendly, but
faithful, to whom he reveals such a secret as this. Why, thus it
is with Christ and the soul. If the soul is not somewhat persuaded
of the faithfulness of Christ-to wit, that if he can do him no
good, he will do him no harm, he will never reveal his cause unto
him, but will seek to hide his counsel from the Lord. This, therefore,
is another thing by which thou mayest know that thou hast Christ
for thine Advocate, if thou hast heartily and in very deed revealed
thy cause unto him. Now, they that do honestly reveal their cause
to their lawyer, will endeavour to possess him, as I hinted before,
with the worst; they will, with words, make it as bad as they may;
for, think they, by that means I shall prepare him for the worst
that mine enemy can do. And thus souls deal with Jesus Christ; see
Psalms 51 and 38, with several others that might be named, and see
if God's people have not done so. "I said," saith David, "I will
confess my transgressions unto the Lord; and thou forgavest the
iniquity of my sin." But,

(3.) Hast thou Jesus Christ for thine Advocate? or wouldst thou
know if thou hast? Then I ask again, Hast thou committed thy cause
to him? When a man entertains12 his lawyer to stand for him and
to plead his cause, he doth not only reveal, but commit his cause
unto him. "I would seek unto God," says Eliphaz to Job, "and unto
God would I commit my cause" (Job 5:8). Now there is a difference
betwixt revealing my cause and committing of it to a man. To reveal
my cause is to open it to one; and to commit it to him is to trust
it in his hand. Many a man will reveal his cause to him unto whom
he will yet be afraid to commit it; but now, he that entertains a
lawyer to plead his cause, doth not only reveal but commit his cause
into him. As, suppose right to his estate be called in question;
why, then, he not only reveals his cause to his lawyer, but puts
into his hands his evidences, deeds, leases, mortgages, bonds, or
what else he hath, to show a title to his estate by. And thus doth
Christians deal with Christ; they deliver up all unto him-to wit,
all their signs, evidences, promises, and assurances, which they
have thought they had for heaven and the salvation of their souls,
and have desired him to peruse, to search, and try them every one.
"And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way
everlasting" (Psa 139:23-24). This is committing of thy cause to
Christ, and this is the hardest task of all, for the man that doth
thus, he trusteth Christ with all; and it implieth, that he will
live and die, stand and fall, lose and win, according as Christ
will manage his business. Thus did Paul, (II Tim 1:12), and thus
Peter admonishes us to do. Now he that doth this must be convinced,

(a.) Of the ability of Jesus Christ to defend him; for a man will
not commit so great a concern as his all is to his friend. No; not
to his friend, be he never so faithful, if he perceives not in
him ability to save him, and to preserve what he hath, against all
the cavils of an enemy. And hence it is that the ability of Jesus
Christ, as to the saving of his people, is so much insisted on in
the Scripture; as, "I have laid help upon one that is mighty" (Psa
89:19). "I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save" (Isa 63:1).
And again, "He shall send them a Saviour, and a great one" (Isa
19:20).

(b.) As they must be convinced of his ability to help them, so they
must of his courage; a man that has parts sufficient may yet fail
his friend for want of courage; wherefore, the courage and greatness
of Christ's Spirit, as to his undertaking of the cause of his
people, is also amply set out in Scripture. "He shall not fail nor
be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth," "till he
send forth judgment unto victory" (Isa 42:4; Matt 12:20).

(c.) They must also be convinced of his willingness to do this for
them; for though one be able and of courage sufficient, yet if he
is not willing to undertake one's cause, what is it the better?
Wherefore, he declareth his willingness also, and how ready he is
to stand up to plead the cause of the poor and of them that are
in want. "The Lord will plead their cause, and spoil the soul of
those that spoiled them" (Prov 22:23).

(d.) They must also be convinced of this-that Christ is tender,
and will not be offended at the dullness of his client. Some men
can reveal their cause to their lawyers better than some, and are
more serviceable and handy in that affair than others. But, saith
the Christian, I am dull and stupid that way, will not Christ be
shuff13 and shy with me because of this? Honest heart! He hath a
supply of thy defects14 in himself, and knoweth what thou wantest,
and where the shoe pinches, though thou art not able distinctly
to open matters to him. The child is pricked with a pin, and lies
crying in the mother's lap, but cannot show its mother where the pin
is; but there is pity enough in the mother to supply this defect
of the child; wherefore she undresses it, opens it, searches
every clout from head to the foot of the child, and so finds where
the pin is. Thus will thy lawyer do; he will search and find out
thy difficulties, and where Satan seeketh an advantage of thee,
accordingly will provide his remedy.

(e.) O, but will he not be weary? The prophet complains of some,
"that they weary God" (Isa 7:13). And mine is a very cross and
intricate cause; I have wearied many a good man while I have been
telling my tale unto him, and I am afraid that I shall also weary
Jesus Christ. Answer. Soul, he suffered and did bear with the manners
of Israel forty years in the wilderness; and hast thou tried him
half so long? (Acts 13:18). The good souls that have gone before
thee have found him "a tried stone," a sure one to be trusted to
as to this (Isa 28:16). And the prophet saith positively that "he
fainteth not, neither is weary"; and that "there is no searching of
his understanding" (Isa 40:28). Let all these things prevail with
thee to believe, that if thou hast committed by cause unto him, he
will bring it to pass, to a good pass, to so good a pass as will
glorify God, honour Christ, save thee, and shame the devil. But,

(4.) Wouldst thou know whether Jesus Christ is thine Advocate,
whether he has taken in hand to plead thy cause? Then, I ask, dost
thou, together with what has been mentioned before, wait upon him
according to his counsel, until things shall come to a legal issue?
Thus must clients do. There is a great many turnings and windings
about suits and trials at law; the enemy, also, with his supersedeas15
cavils, and motions, often defers a speedy issue; wherefore, the man
whose is the concern must wait; as the prophet said, "I will look,"
said he, "unto the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation."
But how long, prophet, wilt thou wait? Why, says he, "until he
plead my cause, and execute judgment for me" (Micah 7:7-10).

Perhaps when thy cause is tried, things for the present are upon
this issue; thy adversary, indeed, is cast, but whether thou shalt
have an absolute discharge, as Peter had, or a conditional one,
as David, and as the Corinthians had, that is the question (II Sam
12:10-14). True, thou shalt be completely saved at last; but yet
whether it is not best to leave to thee a memento of God's displeasure
against thy sin, by awarding that the sword shall never depart from
thy house, or that some sore sickness or other distresses shall
haunt thee as long as thou livest, or, perhaps, that thou shalt
walk without the light of God's countenance for several years and
a day. Now, if any of these three things happen unto thee, thou must
exercise patience, and wait; thus did David-"I waited patiently";
and again he exercises his soul in this virtue, saying "My soul,
wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him" (Psa 62:5).
For now we are judged of the Lord, that we may not be condemned
with the world. And by this judgment, though it sets us free from
their damnation, yet we are involved in many troubles, and, perhaps,
must wait many a day before we can know that, as to the main, the
verdict hath gone on our side. Thus, therefore, in order to thy
waiting upon him without fainting, it is meet that thou shouldest
know the methods of him that manages thy cause for thee in heaven;
and suffer not mistrust to break in and bear sway in thy soul, for
"he will" at length "bring thee forth to the light, and thou shalt
behold his righteousness. She, also, that is thine enemy shall see
it, and shame shall cover her which saith unto thee, Where is the
Lord thy God?" (Micah 7: 9-10).

Question. But what is it to wait upon him according to his counsel?

Answer. (a.) To wait is to be of good courage, to live in expectation,
and to look for deliverance, though thou hast sinned against thy
God. "Wait on the Lord, be of good courage, and he shall strengthen
thine heart; wait, I say, on the Lord" (Psa 27:14).

(b.) To wait upon him is to keep his way, to walk humbly in his
appointments. "Wait on the Lord, and keep his way, and he shall
exalt thee to inherit the land" (Psa 37:34).

(c.) To wait upon him is to observe and keep those directions
which he giveth thee; to observe even while he stands up to plead
thy cause; for without this, or not doing this, a man may mar his
cause in the hand of him that is to plead it; wherefore, keep thee
far from an evil matter, have no correspondence with thine enemy,
walk humbly for the wickedness thou hast committed, and loathe and
abhor thyself for it, in dust and ashes. To these things doth the
Scripture everywhere direct us.

(d.) To wait, is also to incline, to hearken to those further directions
which thou mayest receive from the mouth of thine advocate, as to
any fresh matters that may forward and expedite a good issue of
thine affair in the court of heaven. The want of this was the reason
that the deliverance of Israel did linger so long in former times.
"O," says he, "that my people had hearkened unto me, and Israel
had walked in my ways! I should soon have subdued their enemies,
and turned my hand against their adversaries. The haters of the Lord
should have submitted themselves unto him; but their time should
have endured for ever" (Psa 81:13-15).

(e.) Also, if it tarry long, wait for it. Do not conclude that thy
cause is lost because at present thou dost not hear from court.
Cry, if thou wilt, O, when wilt thou come unto me? But never let
such a wicked thought pass through thy heart, saying, "This evil
is of the Lord; what should I wait for the Lord any longer?" (II
Kings 6:33).

(f.) But take heed that thou turnest not thy waiting into sleeping.
Wait thou must, and wait patiently too; but yet wait with much
longing and earnestness of spirit, to see or hear how matters go
above. You may observe, that when a man that dwells far down in
the country, and has some business at the term, in this or another
of the king's courts, though he will wait his lawyer's time and
convenience, yet he will so wait as still to inquire at the post
house, or at the carrier's, or if a neighbour comes down from term,
at his mouth, for letters, or any other intelligence, if possibly he
may arrive to know how his cause speeds, and whether his adversary,
or he, has the day. Thus, I say, thou must wait upon thine Advocate.
His ordinances are his post house, his ministers are his carriers,
where tidings from heaven are to be had, and where those that are
sued in that court by the devil may, at one time or another, hear
from their lawyer, their advocate, how things are like to go. Wherefore,
I say, wait at the posts of wisdom's house, go to ordinances with
expectation to hear from thy Advocate there; for he will send in
due time; "though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely
come, it will not tarry" (Hab 2:1-3). And now, soul, I have answered
thy request, and let me hear what thou sayest unto me.

Soul.-Truly, says the soul, methinks that by what you have said,
I may have this blessed Jesus to be mine Advocate; for I think,
verily, I have entertained him to be mine Advocate. I have also
revealed my cause unto him, yea, committed both it and myself unto
him; and, as you say, I wait; oh! I wait! and my eyes fail with
looking upward. Fain would I hear how my soul standeth in the sight
of God, and whether my sins, which I have committed since light
and grace were given unto me, be by mine Advocate, taken out of the
hand of the devil, and by mine Advocate removed as far from me as
the ends of the earth are asunder; whether the verdict has gone
on my side, and what a shout there was among the angels when they
saw it went well with me! But alas! I have waited, and that a long
time, and have, as you advise, run from ordinance to minister, and
from minister to ordinance, or, as you phrase it, from the post to
the carrier, and from the carrier to the post house, to see if I
could hear aught from heaven how matters went about my soul there. I
have also asked those that pass by the way, "if they saw him whom
my soul loveth," and if they had anything to communicate to me? But
nothing can I get or find but generals; as, that I have an Advocate
there, and that he pleadeth the cause of his people, and that he
will thoroughly plead their cause. But what he has done for ME,
of that as yet I am ignorant. I doubt if my soul shall by him be
effectually secured, that yet a conditional verdict will be awarded
concerning me, and that much bitter will be mixed with my sweet,
and that I must drink gall and wormwood for my folly; for if David,
and Asa, and Hezekiah and such good men, were so served for their
sins, (II Chron 16:7,12), why should I look for other dealing
at the hand of God? But as to this, I will endeavour to "bear the
indignation of the Lord, because I have sinned against him," (Micah
7:9), and shall count it an infinite mercy, if this judgment comes
to me from him, that I may "not be condemned with the world" (I
Cor 11:32). I know it is dreadful walking in darkness; but if that
also shall be the Lord's lot upon me; I pray God I may have faith
enough to stay upon him till death, and then will the clouds blow
over, and I shall see him in the light of the living.

Mine, enemy, the devil, as you see, is of an inveigling temper;
and though he has accused my before the judgment-seat of God, yet
when he comes to me at any time, he glavers16 and flatters as if he
never did mean me harm; but I think it is that he might get further
advantage against me. But I carry it now at a greater distance than
formerly; and O that I was at the remotest distance, not only from
him, but also from that self of mine, that laboureth with him for
my undoing!

But although I say these things now, and to you, yet I have
my solitary hours, and in them I have other strange thoughts; for
thus I think, my cause is bad, I have sinned, and I have been vile.
I am ashamed myself of mine own doings, and have given mine enemy
the best end of the staff. The law, and reason, and my conscience,
plead for him against me, and all is true; he puts into his charge
against me, that I have sinned more times than there be hairs on
my head. I know not anything that ever I did in my life but it had
flaw, or wrinkle, or spot, or some such thing in it. Mine eyes have
seen vileness in the best of my doings; what, then, think you, must
God needs see in them? Nor can I do anything yet, for all I know
that I am accused by my enemy before the judgment-seat of God,
better than what already is imperfect. "I lie down in my shame,
and my confusion covers my face." "I have sinned, what shall I do
unto thee, O thou preserver of men" (Jer 3:25, Job 7:20).

Reply.-Well, soul, I have heard what thou hast said, and if all be
true which thou hast said, it is good, and gives me ground of hope
that Jesus Christ is become thine Advocate; and if that be so,
no doubt but thy trial will come to a good conclusion. And be not
afraid because of the holiness of God; for thine Advocate has this
for his advantage, that he pleads before a judge that is just, and
against an enemy that is unholy and rejected. Nor let the thoughts
of the badness of thy cause terrify thee overmuch. Cause thou hast
indeed to be humble, and thou dost well to cover thy face with shame;
and it is no matter how base and vile thou art in thine own eyes,
provided that it comes not by renewed acts of rebellion, but through
a spiritual sight of thine imperfections. Only let me advise thee
here to stop. Let not thy shame nor thy self-abasing apprehension
of thyself, drive thee from the firm and permanent ground of hope,
which is the promise, and the doctrine of an Advocate with the
Father. No; let not the apprehension of the badness of thy cause
do it, forasmuch as he did never yet take cause in hand that was
good, perfectly good of itself; and his excellency is, to make a
man stand that has a bad cause; yea, he can make a bad cause good,
in a way of justice and righteousness.

[THE PRIVILEGES OF THOSE WHO HAVE CHRIST FOR AN ADVOCATE.]

FOURTHLY, And for thy further encouragement in this matter, I will
here bring in the fourth chief head-to wit, to show what excellent
privilege (I mean over and above what has already been spoken of)
they have that are made partakers of the benefit of this office:-"If
any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the
righteous."

First Privilege. Thy Advocate pleads to a price paid, to a
propitiation made; and this is a great advantage; yea, he pleads
to a satisfaction made for all wrongs done, or to be done, by his
elect-"For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that
are sanctified" (Heb 10:10,14; 9:26). "By one offering"-that is, by
the offering of himself-by one offering once offered, once offered
in the end of the world. This, I say, thine Advocate pleads. When
Satan brings in fresh accusations for more transgressions against
the law of God, he forces not Christ to shift his first plea. I say,
he puts him not to his shifts at all; for the price once paid hath
in it sufficient value, would God impute it to that end, to take
away the sin of the whole world. There is a man that hath brethren;
he is rich, and they are poor (and this is the case betwixt Christ
and us), and the rich brother goeth to his father, and saith, Thou
art related to my brethren with me, and out of my store, I pray
thee, let them have sufficient, and for thy satisfaction I will
put into thy hand the whole of what I have, which perhaps is worth
an hundred thousand pounds by the year; and this other sum I also
give, that they be not disinherited. Now, will not this last his
poor brethren to spend upon a great while? But Christ's worth can
never be drawn dry.

Now, set the case again, that some ill-conditioned man should take
notice that these poor men live all upon the spend (and saints do
so), and should come to the good man's house, and complain to him
of the spending of his sons, and that while their elder brother
stands by, what do you think the elder brother would reply, if he
was as good-natured as Christ? Why, he would say, I have yet with
my father in store for my brethren, wherefore then seekest thou to
stop his hand? As he is just, he must give them for their convenience;
yea, and as for their extravagances, I have satisfied for them
so well, that, however he afflicteth them, he will not disinherit
them. I hope you will read and hear this, not like them that say,
"Let us do evil that good may come," but like those whom the love
of Christ constrains to be better. However, this is the children's
bread, that which they have need of, and without which they cannot
live; and they must have it, though Satan should put pins into
it, therewith to choke the dogs.17 And for the further clearing of
this, I will present you with these few considerations:

1. Those that are most sanctified have yet a body of sin and death
in them, and so also it will be, while they continue in this world
(Rom 7:24). 2. This body of sin strives to break out, and will
break out, to the polluting of the conversation, if saints be not
the more watchful (Rom 6:12). Yea, it has broken out in a most
sad manner, and that in the strongest saints (Gal 5:17). 3. Christ
offereth no new sacrifice for the salvation of these his people.
"For, being raised from the dead, he dieth no more" (Rom 6:9). So
then, if saints sin, they must be saved, if saved at all, by virtue
of the offering already offered; and if so, then all Christ's pleas,
as an Advocate, are grounded upon that one offering which before,
as a Priest, he presented God with, for the taking away of sin.
So then, Christians live upon this old stock; their transgressions
are forgiven for the sake of the worth, that yet God finds in the
offering that Christ hath offered. And all Christ's pleadings, as
an Advocate, are grounded upon the sufficiency and worth of that
one sacrifice; I mean, all his pleadings with his Father, as to the
charge which the accuser brings in against them. For though thou
art a man of infirmity, and so incident to nothing [so much] as to
stumble and fall, if grace doth not prevent, and it doth not always
prevent; yet the value and worth of the price that was once paid
for thee is not yet worn out; and Christ, as an Advocate, still
pleadeth, as occasion is given, that, with success, to thy salvation.
And this privilege they have, who indeed have Christ for their
Advocate; and I put it here, in the first place, because all other
do depend upon it.

Second Privilege. Thine Advocate, as he pleadeth a price already
paid, so, and therefore, he pleads for himself as for thee. We are
all concerned in one bottom; if he sinks, we sink; if we sink, he
sinks. 18 Give me leave to make out my meaning.