James Sheridan Knowles - "The Hunchback"

Christopher Pierce Cranch - "The Last of the Huggermuggers"

Grant Allen - "Michael's Crag"

Oscar Wilde - "Poems"

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




(4.) They feel wearisomeness in religious duties, but a natural
propensity to things of the flesh. They feel a desire to go beyond
bounds both at board, and bed, and bodily exercise, and in all
lawful recreation.

(5.) They feel in themselves an aptness to take the advantage of
using of things that are lawful, as food, raiment, sleep, talk,
estates, relations, beauty, wit, parts, and graces, to unlawful
ends. These things, with many more of the like kind, the justified
man finds and feels in himself, to his humbling and often casting
down; and to save him from the destroying evil of these, Christ
ever liveth to make intercession for him.

[Imperfect in their graces.]--Again; the justified man is imperfect
in his graces, and therefore needeth to be saved by the intercession
of Christ from the bad fruit that that imperfection yields.

Justifying righteousness is accompanied with graces--the graces of
the Spirit. Though these graces are not that matter by and through
which we are justified, nor any part thereof, that being only the
obedience of Christ imputed to us of mere pleasure and good will;
but, I say, they come when justification comes. (Rom 9) And though
they are not so easily discerned at the first, they show forth
themselves afterwards. But I say, how many soever they are, and how
fast soever they grow, their utmost arrivement here is but a state
short of perfection. None of the graces of God's Spirit in our
hearts can do their work in us without shortness, and that because
of their own imperfections, and also because of the oppositions
that they meet with from our flesh.

(1.) Faith, which is the root-grace, the grand grace, its shortness
is sufficiently manifest by its shortness of apprehension of things
pertaining to the person, offices, relations, and works of Christ,
now in the heavenly place for us. It is also very defective in its
fetching of comfort from the Word to us, and in continuing of it
with us, when at any time we attain unto it; in its receiving of
strength to subdue sin, and in its purifyings of the heart, though
indeed it doth what it doth in reality, yet how short is it of doing
of it thoroughly? Oftentimes, were it not for supplies by virtue
of the intercession of Christ, faith would fail of performing its
office in any measure. (Luke 22:31,32)

(2.) There is hope, another grace of the Spirit bestowed upon us;
and how often is that also, as to the excellency of working, made
to flag? 'I shall perish,' saith David; 'I am cut off from before
thine eyes,' said he. (Psa 31:22) And now where was his hope, in the
right gospel discovery of it? Also all our fear of men, and fears
of death, and fears of judgment, they arise from the imperfections
of hope. But from all those faults Christ saves us by his intercessions.

(3.) There is love, that should be in us as hot as fire. It is
compared to fire, to fire of the hottest sort; yea, it is said to
be hotter than the coals of juniper. (Cant 8:6,7) But who finds this
heat in love so much as for one poor quarter of an hour together?
Some little flashes, perhaps, some at some times may feel, but where
is that constant burning of affection that the Word, the love of
God, and the love of Christ call for? yea, and that the necessities
of the poor and afflicted members of Christ call for also. Ah! love
is cold in these frozen days, and short when it is at the highest.

(4.) The grace of humility, when is it? who has a thimbleful thereof?
Where is he that is 'clothed with humility,' and that does what he
is commanded 'with all humility of mind'? (1 Peter 5:5, Acts 20:19)

(5.) For zeal, where is that also? Zeal for God against sin,
profaneness, superstition, and idolatry. I speak now to the godly,
who have this zeal in the root and habit; but oh, how little of it
puts forth itself into actions in such a day as this is!

(6.) There is reverence, fear, and standing in awe of God's Word
and judgments, where are the excellent workings thereof to be found?
And where it is most, how far short of perfect acts is it?

(7.) Simplicity and godly sincerity also, with how much dirt is it
mixed in the best; especially among those of the saints that are
rich, who have got the poor and beggarly art of complimenting? For
the more compliment, the less sincerity. Many words will not fill
a bushel. But 'in the multitude of words there wanteth not sin.'
(Prov 10:19) Plain men are thin come up in this day; to find a
mouth without fraud and deceit now is a rare thing. Thus might one
count up all the graces of the Spirit, and show wherein every one
of them are scanty and wanting of perfection. Now look, what they
want of perfection is supplied with sin and vanity; for there is a
fullness of sin and flesh at hand to make up all the vacant places
in our souls. There is no place in the souls of the godly but it
is filled up with darkness when the light is wanting, and with sin
so far forth as grace is wanting. Satan, also, diligently waiteth
to come in at the door, if Careless has left it a little achare.7
But, oh! the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, who ever liveth to
make intercession for us, and that, by so doing, saves us from all
the imperfect acts and workings of our graces, and from all the
advantages that flesh, and sin, and Satan getteth upon us thereby.

[Imperfect in their Duties.]--Further, as Christ Jesus our Lord doth
save us, by his intercession, from that hurt that would unavoidably
come upon us by these, so also, by that we are saved from the
evil that is at any time found in any or all our holy duties and
performances that is our duty daily to be found in. That our duties
are imperfect, follows upon what was discoursed before; for if our
graces be imperfect, how can our duties but be so too?

(1.) Our prayers, how imperfect are they! With how much unbelief
are they mixed! How apt is our tongue to run, in prayer, before
our hearts! With how much earnestness do our lips move, while our
hearts lie within as cold as a clod! Yea, and ofttimes, it is to
be feared, we ask for that with out mouth that we care not whether
we have or no. Where is the man that pursues with all his might
what but now he seemed to ask for with all his heart? Prayer is
become a shell, a piece of formality, a very empty thing, as to the
spirit and life of prayer at this day. I speak now of the prayers
of the godly. I once met with a poor woman that, in the greatest of
her distresses, told me she did use to rise in the night, in cold
weather, and pray to God, while she sweat with fears of the loss
of her prayers and desires that her soul might be saved. I have
heard of many that have played, but of few that have prayed, till
they have sweat, by reason of their wrestling with God for mercy
in that duty.

(2.) There is the duty of almsgiving, another gospel performance;
but how poorly is it done in our days! We have so many foolish
ways to lay out money, in toys and fools' baubles for our children,
that we can spare none, or very little, for the relief of the poor.
Also, do not many give that to their dogs, yea, let it lie in their
houses until it stinks so vilely that neither dog nor cat will
eat it; which, had it been bestowed well in time, might have been
a succour and nourishment to some poor member of Christ?

(3.) There is hearing of the Word; but, alas! the place of hearing
is the place of sleeping with many a fine professor. I have often
observed that those that keep shops can briskly attend upon a
twopenny customer; but when they come themselves to God's market,
they spend their time too much in letting their thoughts to wander
from God's commandments, or in a nasty drowsy way. The heads,
also, and hearts of most hearers are to the Word as the sieve is
to water; they can hold no sermons, remember no texts, bring home
no proofs, produce none of the sermon to the edification and profit
of others. And do not the best take up too much in hearing, and
mind too little what, by the Word, God calls for at their hands,
to perform it with a good conscience?

(4.) There is faithfulness in callings, faithfulness to brethren,
faithfulness to the world, faithfulness to children, to servants,
to all, according to our place and capacity. Oh! how little of it
is there found in the mouths and lives, to speak nothing of the
hearts, of professors.

I will proceed no further in this kind of repetition of things;
only thus much give me leave to say over again, even many of the
truly godly are very faulty here. But what would they do if there
were not one always at the right hand of God, by intercession,
taking away these kind of iniquities?

2. Are those that are justified by the blood of Christ such, after
that, as have need also of saving by Christ's intercession? From
hence, then, we may infer, that as sin, so Satan will not give over
from assaulting the best of the saints.

It is not justification that can secure us from being assaulted
by Satan: 'Simon, Simon, Satan has desired to have you.' (Luke
22:31,32) There are two things that do encourage the devil to set
upon the people of God:--

(1.) He knows not who are elect; for all that profess are not, and,
therefore, he will make trial, if he can get them into his sieve,
whether he can cause them to perish. And great success he hath had
this way. Many a brave professor has he overcome; he has cast some
of the stars from heaven to earth; he picked one out from among the
apostles, and one, as it is thought, from among the seven deacons,8
and many from among Christ's disciples; but how many, think you,
nowadays, doth he utterly destroy with his net?

(2.) If it so happeneth that he cannot destroy, because Christ, by
his intercession, prevaileth, yet will he set upon the church to
defile and afflict it. For (a), If he can but get us to fall, with
Peter, then he has obtained that dishonour be brought to God, the
weak to be stumbled, the world offended, and the gospel vilified
and reproached. Or (b), If he cannot throw up our heels, yet, by
buffeting of us, he can grieve us, afflict us, put us to pain, fright
us, drive us to many doubts, and make our life very uncomfortable unto
us, and make us go groaning to our Father's house. But blessed be
God for his Christ, and for that 'he ever liveth to make intercession
for us.'

3. Are those that are justified by the blood of Christ such as,
after that, have need to be saved by Christ's intercession? Then,
hence I infer that it is dangerous going about anything in our own
name and strength. If we would have helps from the intercession of
Christ, let us have a care that we do what we do according to the
word of Christ. Do what he bids us as well as we can, as he bids
us, and then we need not doubt to have help and salvation in those
duties by the intercession of Christ. 'Do all,' says the apostle,
'in the name of the Lord Jesus.' (Col 3:17) Oh, but then the devil
and the world will be most of all offended! Well, well, but if you
do nothing but as in his fear, by his Word, in his name, you may
be sure of what help his intercession can afford you, and that can
afford you much help, not only to begin, but to go through with
your work in some good measure, as you should; and by that also you
shall be secured from those dangers, if not temptations to dangers,
that those that go out about business in their own names and strength
shall be sure to meet withal.

4. Are those that are justified by the blood of Christ such as,
after that, have need of being saved by Christ's intercession? Then,
hence I infer again, that God has a great dislike of the sins of
his own people, and would fall upon them in judgment and anger much
more severely than he doth, were it not for Christ's intercession.
The gospel is not, as some think, a loose and licentious doctrine,
nor God's discipline of his church a negligent and careless discipline;
for, though those that believe already have also an intercessor,
yet God, to show his detestation against sin, doth often make them
feel to purpose the weight of his fingers. The sincere, that fain
would walk oft with God, have felt what I say, and that to the
breaking of their bones full oft. The loose ones, and those that
God loves not, may be utter strangers as to this; but those that
are his own indeed do know it is otherwise.9

'You only have I known' above all others, says God, 'therefore I
will punish you for all your iniquities.' (Amos 3:2) God keeps a
very strict house among his children. David found it so, Haman found
it so, Job found it so, and the church of God found it so; and I
know not that his mind is ever the less against sin, notwithstanding
we have an Intercessor. True, our Intercessor saves us from damning
evils, from damning judgments; but he neither doth nor will secure
us from temporal punishment, from spiritual punishment, unless we
watch, deny ourselves, and walk in his fear. I would to God that
those who are otherwise minded did but feel, for three or four
months, something of what I have felt for several years together
for base sinful thoughts! I wish it, I say, if it might be for
their good, and for the better regulating of their understandings.
But whether they obtain my wish or no, sure I am that God is no
countenancer of sin; no, not in his own people; nay, he will bear
it least of all in them. And as for others, however he may for
a while have patience towards them, if, perhaps, his goodness may
lead them to repentance; yet the day is coming when he will pay the
carnal and hypocrites' home with devouring fire for their offences.

But if our holy God will not let us go altogether unpunished,
though we have so able and blessed an Intercessor, that has always
to present God with, on our behalf, so valuable a price of his own
blood, now before the throne of grace, what should we have done
if there had been no day's-man, none to plead for us, or to make
intercession on our behalf? Read that text, 'For I am with thee,
saith the Lord, to save thee; though I make a full end of all
nations whither I have scattered thee, yet will I not make a full
end of thee; but I will correct thee in measure, and will not leave
thee altogether unpunished.' (Jer 30:11) If it be so, I say, what
had become of us, if we had had no Intercessor? And what will
become of them concerning whom the Lord has said already, 'I will
not take up their names into my lips'? (Psa 16:4) 'I pray not for
the world.' (John 17:9)

5. Are those that are already justified by the blood of Christ yet
such as have need of being saved by his intercession? Then, hence,
I infer that Christ is not only the beginner, but the completer
of our salvation; or, as the Holy Ghost calls him, 'the author and
finisher of our faith,' (Heb 12:2); or, as it calls him again, 'the
author of eternal salvation.' (Heb 5:9) Of salvation throughout,
from the beginning to the end, from first to last. His hands have
laid the foundation of it in his own blood, and his hands shall
finish it by his intercession. (Zech 4:9) As he has laid the beginning
fastly, so he shall bring forth the headstones with shoutings, and
we shall cry, Grace, grace, at the last, salvation only belongeth
to the Lord. (Zech 4:7, Psa 3:8, Isa 43:11)

Many there be that begin with grace, and end with works, and
think THAT is the only way. Indeed works will save from temporal
punishments, when their imperfections are purged from them by the
intercession of Christ; but to be saved and brought to glory, to
be carried through this dangerous world, from my first moving after
Christ till I set my foot within the gates of paradise, this is the
work of my Mediator, of my high priest and intercessor; it is he
that fetches us again when we are run away; it is he that lifteth
us up when the devil and sin has thrown us down; it is he that
quickeneth us when we grow cold; it is he that comforteth us when
we despair; it is he that obtains fresh pardon when we have contracted
sin; and he that purges our consciences when they are loaden with
guilt. (Eze 34:16, Psa 145:14)

I know also, that rewards do wait for them in heaven that do believe
in Christ, and shall do well on earth; but this is not a reward of
merit, but of grace. We are saved by Christ; brought to glory by
Christ; and all our works are no otherwise made acceptable to God
but by the person and personal excellencies and works of Christ;
therefore, whatever the jewels are, and the bracelets, and the
pearls, that thou shalt be adorned with as a reward of service done
to God in the world, for them thou must thank Christ, and, before
all, confess that he was the meritorious cause thereof. (1 Peter
2:5, Heb 13:15) He saves us, and saves our services too. (Rev 5:9-14)
They would be all cast back as dung in our faces, were they not
rinsed and washed in the blood, were they not sweetened and perfumed
in the incense, and conveyed to God himself through the white hand
of Jesus Christ; for that is his golden-censer; from thence ascends
the smoke that is in the nostrils of God of such a sweet savour.
(Rev 7:12-14, 8:3,4)

6. Are those that are already justified by the blood of Christ,
such as do still stand in need of being saved by his intercession?
Then hence I infer again, that we that have been saved hitherto,
and preserved from the dangers that we have met with since our
first conversion to this moment, should ascribe the glory to Jesus
Christ, to God by Jesus Christ. 'I have prayed that thy faith fail
not: I pray that thou wouldest keep them from the evil,' is the
true cause of our standing, and of our continuing in the faith and
holy profession of the gospel to this very day. Wherefore we must
give the glory of all to God by Christ: 'I will not trust in my
bow,' said David, 'neither shall my sword save me. But thou hast
saved us from our enemies, and hast put them to shame that hated
us. In God we boast all the day long, and praise thy name for ever.
Selah'! 'He always causeth us to triumph in Christ.' 'We rejoice in
Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.' (Psa 44:6-8,
2 Cor 2:14, Phil 3:3) Thus you see that, both in the Old and
New Testament, all the glory is given to the Lord, as well for
preservation to heaven as for justification of life. And he that
is well acquainted with himself will do this readily; though light
heads, and such as are not acquainted with the desperate evil that
is in their natures, will sacrifice to their own net. But such will
so sacrifice but a while. Sir Death is coming, and he will put them
into the view of what they see not now, and will feed sweetly upon
them, because they made not the Lord their trust. And therefore,
ascribe thou the glory of the preservation of thy soul in the faith
hitherto, to that salvation which Christ Jesus our Lord obtaineth
for thee by his intercession.

7. Are those that are already justified by the blood of Christ such
as do still stand in need of being saved by his intercession? Then
is this also to be inferred from hence, that saints should look to
him for that saving that they shall yet have need of betwixt this
and the day of their dissolution; yea, from henceforward, even to
the day of judgment. I say, they should still look to him for the
remaining part of their salvation, or for that of their salvation
which is yet behind; and let them look for it with confidence, for
that it is in a faithful hand; and for thy encouragement to look and
hope for the completing of thy salvation in glory, let me present
thee with a few things--

(1.) The hardest or worst part of the work of thy Saviour is over;
his bloody work, his bearing of thy sin and curse, his loss of the
light of his Father's face for a time; his dying upon the cursed
tree, that was the worst, the sorest, the hardest, and most difficult
part of the work of redemption; and yet this he did willingly,
cheerfully, and without thy desires; yea, this he did, as considering
those for whom he did it in a state of rebellion and enmity to him.

(2.) Consider, also, that he has made a beginning with thy soul
to reconcile thee to God, and to that end has bestowed his justice
upon thee, put his Spirit within thee, and began to make the
unweldable mountain and rock,10 thy heart, to turn towards him,
and desire after him; to believe in him, and rejoice in him.

(3.) Consider, also, that some comfortable pledges of his love
thou hast already received, namely, as to feel the sweetness of
his love, as to see the light of his countenance, as to be made to
know his power in raising of thee when thou wast down, and how he
has made thee stand, while hell has been pushing at thee, utterly
to overthrow thee.

(4.) Thou mayest consider, also, that what remains behind of the
work of thy salvation in his hands, as it is the most easy part,
so the most comfortable, and that part which will more immediately
issue in his glory, and therefore he will mind it.

(5.) That which is behind is also more safe in his hand than if
it were in thine own; he is wise, he is powerful, he is faithful,
and therefore will manage that part that is lacking to our salvation
well, until he has completed it. It is his love to thee that has
made him that 'he putteth no trust in thee'; he knows that he can
himself bring thee to his kingdom most surely; and therefore has
not left that work to thee, no, not any part thereof. (Job 5:18,
15:15)

Live in hope, then, in a lively hope, that since Christ is risen
from the dead, he lives to make intercession for thee, and that
thou shalt reap the blessed benefit of this twofold salvation that
is wrought, and that is working out for thee, by Jesus Christ our
Lord. And thus have we treated of the benefit of his intercession,
in that he is able to save to the uttermost. And this leads me to
the third particular.

[III. THE PERSONS INTERESTED IN THE INTERCESSION OF CHRIST.]

THIRD, The third particular is to show WHO ARE THE PERSONS INTERESTED
IN THIS INTERCESSION OF CHRIST; and they are those that come to
God by him. The words are very concise, and distinctly laid down;
they are they that come, that come to God, that come to God by him.
'Wherefore he is able also to save them, to save to the uttermost
them that come to God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make
intercession for them.'

[Of coming to God by Christ.]--A little, first, to comment upon
the order of the words, 'that come unto God by him.'

There are that come unto God, but not 'by him'; and these are not
included in this text, have not a share in this privilege. Thus the
Jews came to God, the unbelieving Jews, 'who had a zeal of God, but
not according to knowledge.' (Rom 9:30-34, 10:1-4) These submitted
not to Christ, the righteousness of God, but thought to come to
him by works of their own, or at least, as it were, by them, and
so came short of salvation by grace, for that reigns to salvation
only in Christ. To these Christ's person and undertaking were a
stumbling stone; for at him they stumbled, and did split themselves
to pieces, though they indeed were such as came to God for life.

As there are that come to God, but not by Christ, so there are that
come to Christ, but not to God by him:11 of this sort are they, who
hearing that Christ is Saviour, therefore come to him for pardon,
but cannot abide to come to God by him, for that he is holy, and
so will snub their lusts, and will change their hearts and natures.
Mind me what I say. There are a great many that would be saved
by Christ, but love not to be sanctified by God through him. These
make a stop at Christ, and will go no further. Might such have
pardon, they care not whether ever they went to heaven or no. Of
this kind of coming to Christ I think it is, of which he warneth
his disciples when he saith, 'In that day ye shall ask me nothing.
Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father
in my name, he will give it you.' (John 16:23) As who should say,
when you ask for anything, make not a stop at me, but come to
my Father by me; for they that come to me, and not to my Father,
through me, will have nothing of what they come for. Righteousness
shall be imputed to us, 'if we believe on him that raised up
Jesus our Lord from the dead.' (Rom 4:24,25) To come to Christ for
a benefit, and stop there, and not come to God by him, prevaileth
nothing. Here the mother of Zebedee's children erred; and about
this it was that the Lord Jesus cautioned her. Lord, saith she,
'Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand,
and the other on the left, in thy kingdom.' But what is the answer
of Christ? 'To sit on my right hand and on my left, is not mine to
give, but for whom it is prepared of my Father.' (Matt 20:21-23)
As who should say, Woman, of myself I do nothing, my Father worketh
with me. Go therefore to him by me, for I am the way to him; what
thou canst obtain of him by me thou shalt have; that is to say,
what of the things that pertain to eternal life, whether pardon or
glory.

It is true, the Son has power to give pardon and glory, but he
gives it not by himself, but by and according to the will of his
Father. (Matt 9:6, John 17:22) They, therefore, that come to him
for an eternal good, and look not to the Father by him, come short
thereof; I mean, now, pardon and glory. And hence, though it be
said the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins--to wit,
to show the certainty of his Godhead, and of the excellency of his
mediation; yet forgiveness of sin is said to lie more particularly
in the hand of the Father, and that God for Christ's sake forgiveth
us. (Eph 4:32)