Frances Hodgson Burnett - "A Little Princess"

Gua Shen - "Meng Xi Bi Tan, Vol. 7 10 [1031 1095 A.D.]"

John Lothrop Motley - "The Rise of the Dutch Republic, 1582 84"

Thomas Bulfinch - "Legends of Charlemagne"

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 3

J >> John Bunyan >> The Works of John Bunyan Volume 3




By these words, the blind and the lame, the woman with child, and
her that travaileth, he would have us understand thus much-

1. That the way of God shall, by the illuminating grace of Christ,
be made so pleasant, so sweet, and so beautiful in the souls of
all at that day, that even the blindest shall not stumble therein,
neither shall the lame refuse it for fear of hurt; yea, the blind,
the lame, the woman with child, and her that travaileth shall,
though they be of all in most evil case to travel, and go the
journey, yet, at this day, by reason of the glorious light and
sweetness that now will possess them, even forget their impediments,
and dance, as after musical tabrets.

2. This city, upon the time of her rebuilding, shall have her blind
men see, her halt and lame made strong; she also that is with
child, and her that travaileth, shall jointly see the city-work
that at this day will be on foot, and put into form and order, yet
before the end. 'Behold, at that time I will undo all that afflict
thee,' saith the Lord to his people, 'and I will save her that
halteth, and gather her that was driven out, and I will get them
praise and fame in every land where they have been put to shame.
At that time will I bring you again, even in the time that I gather
you, for I will make you a name and a praise among all people of
the earth, when I turn back your captivity before your eyes, saith
the Lord' (Zeph 3:19,20).

'And her light was like unto a stone most precious.' In that he
saith her light is like unto 'A STONE MOST PRECIOUS,' he showeth
us how welcome, and with what eagerness of spirit this light will
at this day be embraced by the Lord's people. 'Truly the light is
sweet,' saith Solomon, 'and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes
to behold the sun' (Eccl 11:7). And if so, then how beautiful,
desirable, and precious will that light be, that is not only heavenly,
and from Christ, but that will be universal among all saints, to
show them the same thing, and to direct them to and in the same
work. The want of this hath, to this day, been one great reason
of that crossness of judgment and persuasion that hath been found
among the saints, and that hath caused that lingering and disputing
about the glorious state of the church in the latter days; some
being for its excellency to consist chiefly in outward glory; and
others, swerving on the other side, conclude she shall not have
any of this: some conceiving that this city will not be built
until the Lord comes from heaven in person; others again concluding
that when he comes, then there shall be no longer tarrying here,
but that all shall forthwith, even all the godly, be taken up into
heaven: with divers other opinions in these matters. And thus
many 'run to and fro,' but yet, God be thanked, knowledge does
increase, though the vision will be sealed, even to the time of
the end (Dan 12:4). But now, I say, at the time of the end, the
Spirit shall be poured down upon us from on high (Isa 32:15);
now 'they also that erred in spirit shall come to understanding'
(Isa 29;24); the city shall descend in the light of a stone most
precious. The sun will be risen upon the earth, when Lot goeth
from Sodom unto Zoar (Gen 19:23).

Now there shall be an oneness of judgment and understanding in the
hearts of all saints; they shall be now no more two, but one in
the Lord's hand (Eze 37:19-21). Alas! the saints are yet but as
an army routed, and are apt sometimes through fear, and sometimes
through forgetfulness, to mistake the word of their captain-general,
the Son of God, and are also too prone to shoot and kill even their
very right-hand man; but at that day all such doing shall be laid
aside, for the knowledge of the glory of the Lord shall cover the
earth as the waters cover the sea (Isa 11:9,13). Which knowledge
shall then strike through the heart and liver of all swerving and
unsound opinions in Christ's matters; for then shall every one of
the Christians call upon the name of the Lord, and that with one
pure lip or language, 'to serve him with one consent' (Zeph 3:9).
It is darkness, and not light, that keepeth God's people from knowing
one another, both in their faith and language; and it is darkness
that makes them stand at so great a distance both in judgment and
affections, as in these and other days they have done. But then,
saith God, 'I will plant in the wilderness,' that is, in the church
that is now bewildered, 'the cedar, the shittah tree, the myrtle,
and the oil tree; I will set in the desert the fir tree, the pine,
and the box tree together; that they may see and know, and consider
and understand together, that the hand of the Lord hath done this,
and the holy One of Israel hath created it' (Isa 41:19,20). And
again, 'The glory of Lebanon shall come unto thee, the fir tree,
and the pine tree, and the box together,' to beautify the house of
my glory, and to 'make the place of my feet glorious' (Isa 60:13).

Never was fair weather after foul-nor warm weather after cold-nor
a sweet and beautiful spring after a heavy, and nipping, and
terrible winter, so comfortable, sweet, desirable, and welcome
to the poor birds and beasts of the field, as this day will be to
the church of God. Darkness! it was the plague of Egypt: it is
an empty, forlorn, desolate, solitary, and discomforting state;
wherefore light, even the illuminating grace of God, especially in
the measure that it shall be communicated unto us at this day, it
must needs be precious. In light there is warmth and pleasure; it
is by the light of the sun that the whole universe appears unto us
distinctly, and it is by the heat thereof that everything groweth
and flourisheth; all which will now be gloriously and spiritually
answered in this holy and new Jerusalem (2 Thess 2). O how clearly
will all the spiders, and dragons, and owls, and foul spirits of
Antichrist at that day be discovered by the light hereof! (Rev
18:1-4). Now also will all the pretty robins and little birds in
the Lord's field most sweetly send forth their pleasant notes, and
all the flowers and herbs of his garden spring. Then will it be
said to the church by her Husband and Saviour, 'Rise up, my love,
my fair one, and come away; for lo, the winter is past the rain
is over and gone, the flowers appear on the earth, the time of
the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard
in our land; the fig tree putteth forth her green figs, and the
vines with the tender grape give a good smell' (Cant 2:10-13).
You know how pleasant this is, even to be fulfilled in the letter
of it, not only to birds and beasts, but men; especially it is
pleasant to such men that have for several years been held in the
chains of affliction. It must needs, therefore, be most pleasant
and desirable to the afflicted church of Christ, who hath lain
now in the dungeon of Antichrist for above a thousand years. But,
Lord, how will this lady, when she gets her liberty, and when
she is returned to her own city, how will she then take pleasure
in the warm and spangling beams of thy shining grace! and solace
herself with thee in the garden, among the nuts and the pomegranates,
among the lilies and flowers, and all the chief spices (Cant
7:11-13).

'Even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal.' These words are the
metaphor by which the Holy Ghost is pleased to illustrate the
whole business. Indeed similitudes, if fitly spoke and applied, do
much set off and out[3] any point that either in the doctrines of
faith or manners, is handled in the churches. Wherefore, because
he would illustrate, as well as affirm, the glory of this Jerusalem
to the life, therefore he concludes his general description of this
city with these comparisons:-I saw, saith he, the holy city, the
Lamb's wife; I saw her in her spangles, and in all her adorning,
but verily she was most excellent. She was shining as the jasper,
and as pure and clear as crystal. The jasper, it seems, is a
very beautiful and costly stone, inasmuch as that, above all the
precious stones, is made use of by the Holy Ghost to show us the
glory and shining virtues of the Lord Jesus in this New Jerusalem;
and yet, behold, the jasper is too short and slender to do the
business, there must another stone be added, even like a jasper
stone, clear as crystal. Yea, saith the Lord Jesus, her checks are
like rows of jewels, and so are the joints of her thighs; even like
the jewels that are 'the work of the hands of a cunning workman'
(Cant 1:9,10; 7:1).

The crystal is a stone so clear and spotless, that even her greatest
adversaries, in the midst of all their rage, are not able justly
to charge her with the least mote or spot imaginable; wherefore
when he saith, that this city in her descending is even like the
jasper for light, and like the crystal for clearness; he would
have us further learn, that at the day of the descending of this
Jerusalem, she shall be every way so accomplished with innocency,
sincerity, and clearness in all her actions, that none shall have
from her, or her ways, any just occasion given unto them to slight,
contemn, or oppose her. For,

First, As she descends, she meddleth not with any man's matters
but her own; she comes all along by the King's highway; that is,
alone by the rules that her Lord hath prescribed for her in his
testament. The governors of this world need not at all to fear
a disturbance from her, or a diminishing of ought they have. She
will not meddle with their fields nor vineyards, neither will she
drink of the water of their wells: only let her go by the King's
highway, and she will not turn to the right hand or to the left,
until she hath passed all their borders (Num 20:18,19: 21:22).
It is a false report then that the governors of the nations have
received against the city, this New Jerusalem, if they believe,
that according to the tale that is told them, she is and hath been
of old a rebellious city, and destructive to kings, and a diminisher
of their revenues. I say, these things are lying words, and forged
even in the heart of 'Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest
of their companions' (Eze 4:7). For verily this city, in her
descending, is clear from such things, even as clear as crystal.
She is not for meddling with anything that is theirs, from a thread
even to a shoe-latchet. Her glory is spiritual and heavenly, and
she is satisfied with what is her own.[4] It is true, the kings and
nations of this world shall one day bring their glory and honour
to this city; but yet not by outward force or compulsion; none
shall constrain them but the love of Christ and the beauty of this
city. 'The Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the
brightness of thy rising' (Isa 60:3). The light and beauty of
this city, that only shall engage their hearts and overcome them.
Indeed, if any shall, out of mistrust or enmity against this city
and her prosperity, bend themselves to disappoint the designs of
the eternal God concerning her building and glory, then they must
take what followeth. Her God in the midst of her is mighty, he
will rest in his love, and rejoice over her with singing, and will
UNDO all that afflict her (Zeph 3:17-19). Wherefore, 'associate
yourselves, O ye people, and ye shall be broken in pieces; and
give ear, all ye of far countries; gird yourselves, and ye shall
be broken in pieces; gird yourselves, and ye shall be broken in
pieces. Take counsel together, and it shall come to naught; speak
the word and it shall not stand; for God is with us' (Isa 8:9,10).

What work did he make with Og the king of Bashan, and with Sihon,
king of the Amorites, for refusing to let his people go peaceably
by them, when they were going to their own inheritance (Num
21:22-35). God is harmless, gentle, and pitiful; but woe be to
that people that shall oppose or gainsay him. He is gentle, yet
a lion; he is loth to hurt, yet he will not be crossed; 'Fury is
not in me,' saith he; yet if you set the briars and thorns against
him, He 'will go through them, and burn them together' (Isa
27:4). Jerusalem also, this beloved city, it will be beautiful
and profitable to them that love her; but a cup of trembling, and
a burthensome stone to all that burden themselves with her; 'all
that burthen themselves with it, shall be cut in pieces, though all
the people of the earth be gathered together against her' (Zech
12:2,3).

Again, she will be clear as crystal in the observation of all her
turns and stops, in her journeying from Egypt to Canaan, from
Babylon to this Jerusalem state. She will, I say, observe both
time and order, and will go only as her God doth go before her;
now one step in this truth, and then another in that, according
to the dispensation of God, and the light of day she lives in. As
the cloud goes, so will she; and when the cloud stays, so will
she (Rev 14:4; Exo 40:36-38). She comes in perfect rank and file,
'terrible as an army with banners' (Cant 6:10). No Balaam can
enchant her; she comes 'out of the wilderness like pillars of
smoke, perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, with all spices[5] of
the merchants' (Cant 3:6). Still 'leaning upon her beloved' (Cant
8:5). The return of Zion from under the tyranny of her afflictors, and
her recovery to her primitive purity, is no headstrong brain-sick
rashness of her own, but the gracious and merciful hand and
goodness of God unto her, therefrom to give her deliverance. 'For
thus saith the Lord, That after seventy years be accomplished
at Babylon [that is, the time of the reign of Antichrist, and his
tyranny over his church] I will visit you, and perform my good word
toward you, in causing you to return to this place' (Jer 29:10).
'Therefore they shall come and sing in the height of Zion, and
shall flow together to the goodness of the Lord, for [spiritual]
wheat, and for wine, and for oil, and for the young of the flock
and of the herd; and their soul shall be as a watered garden; and
they shall not sorrow any more at all' (Isa 57:11; Jer 31:12).


[SECOND. A Discovery of its Defence, Entrances, and Fashion in
Particular.]

Verse 12. 'And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates,
and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which
are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel.'
These words do give us to understand, that this holy city is now
built, and in all her parts complete, they give us also to understand
the manner of her strength, &c.

'And had a wall.' Having thus, I say, given us a description of
this city in general, he now descends to her strength and frame
in particular: her frame and strength, I say, as she is a city
compact together: as also of her splendour and beauty.

And observe it, that of all the particulars that you read of, touching
the fence, fashion, or frame of this city, and of all her glory,
the firs thing that he presenteth to our view is her safety and
security; she 'had a wall.' A wall, you know, is for the safety,
security, defence, and preservation of a place, city, or town;
therefore it is much to the purpose that in the first place after
this general description, he should fall upon a discovery of
her security and fortification; for what of all this glory and
goodness, if there be no way to defend and preserve it in its high
and glorious state? If a man had in his possession even mountains
of pearl and golden mines, yet if he had not wherewith to secure
and preserve them to himself, from those that with all their might
endeavour to get them from him, he might not only quickly lose
his treasure, and become a beggar, but also through the very fear
of losing them, even lose the comfort of them, while yet in his
possession. To speak nothing of the angels that fell, and of the
glory that they then did lose. I may instance to you the state
of Adam in his excellency; Adam, you know, was once so rich and
wealthy, that he had the garden of Eden, the paradise of pleasure,
yea, and also the whole world to boot, for his inheritance; but
mark, in all his glory, he was without a wall; wherefore presently,
even at the very first assault of the adversary, he was not only
worsted as touching his person and standing, but even stripped of
all his treasure, his paradise taken from him, and he in a manner
left so poor, that forthwith he was glad of an apron of fig-leaves
to cover his nakedness, and to hide his shame form the face of
the sun (Gen 3:7). Wherefore, I say, John speaks to the purpose in
saying she had a wall; a wall for defence and safety, for security
and preservation. Now then she shall lie no longer like blasted
bones in an open field or valley; that was her portion in the days
of her affliction (Eze 37:1,2).

[The wall of the city.]

'And had a wall.' It is said of old Jerusalem, that she had a wall
and a wall, two walls for her defence and safety (Jer 39:4; Jer
52:7); which two, in my judgment, did hold forth these two things.
The one, their eternal preservation and security from the wrath of
God, through the benefits of Christ; and the other, that special
protection and safeguard that the church hath always had from and
by the special providence of her God in the midst of her enemies,
Wherefore one of these is called by the proper name of salvation,
which salvation I take in special to signify our fortification
and safety from the wrath of God, and the curse and power of the
law and sin (Isa 26:1; Acts 4:12). The other is called, A wall of
fire round about her; and alludeth to the vision that the prophet's
servant was made to see for his comfort, when he was put in fear,
by reason of the great company of the enemies that were bending
their force against the life of his master (Eze 2:5; 2 Kings 6:17).

But now in those days, though there were for the defence of the
city those two walls, yet they stood a little distance each from
other, and had a ditch between them, which was to signify that though
then they had the wall of salvation about them, with reference to
their eternal state, yet the wall of God's providence and special
protection was not yet so nearly joined thereto but that they might,
for their foolishness, have that broken down, and they suffered
to fall into the ditch that was between them both (Isa 22:10-12).
And so he saith by the prophet, 'I will tell you what I will do
to my vineyard [that is, to this city for the wickedness thereof],
I will take away the hedge thereof, and it shall be eaten up;
and break down the wall thereof, and it shall be trodden down'
(Isa 5:5-7). Which hedge and wall could not be that of eternal
salvation, for that stood sure, though they should be scattered
among the nations 'as wheat is sifted in a sieve' (Amos 9:9).
It must therefore be the wall of her special preservation in her
outward peace and happiness, which wall was often in those days
broken down, and they made havoc of, of all that dwelt about them.

But now touching the safety of New Jerusalem, the city of which I
here discourse, she is seen in the vision by John to have but one
only wall; to signify that at this day the wall of her eternal
salvation, and of God's special providence to protect and defend
her, in her present visible and gospel glory, shall be so effectually
joined together, that now they shall be no more two, that is, at
a distance, with a ditch between, but one sound and enclosing wall;
to show us that now the state of this Jerusalem, even touching
her outward glory, peace, and tranquility, will be so stable,
invincible, and lasting, that unless that part of the wall which
is eternal salvation, can be broken down, the glory of this city
shall never be vailed more. Wherefore the prophet, when he speaks
with reference to the happy state and condition of this city, he
saith, 'Violence shall no more be heard in thy land, wasting nor
destruction within thy borders; but thou shalt call thy walls
salvation, and thy gates praise' (Isa 60:18); as he saith also in
another place, 'Thine eye shall see Jerusalem a quiet habitation,
a tabernacle that shall not be taken down, not one of the stakes
thereof shall ever be removed, neither shall any of the cords thereof
be broken' (Isa 33:20). The walls are now conjoined, both joined
into one; the Father hath delivered up the great red dragon into
the hand of Christ, who hath shut him up and sealed him down, even
down for a thousand years (Rev 20:1-3). Wherefore from the Lord
shall there be 'upon every dwelling-place of Mount Zion, and
upon her assemblies a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a
flaming fire by night; for upon all her glory shall be a defence'
(Isa 4:5). And 'in that day shall this song be sung: We have a
strong city, salvation will God appoint for walls and bulwarks'
(Isa 26:1,2). The same in effect hath our prophet John, saying 'I
saw the holy city, the New Jerusalem,' descending out of heaven
from God, 'prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard
a great voice out of heaven, saying,--The tabernacle of God is
with men, and he will dwell with them:--and God himself shall be
with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears
from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow,
nor crying; neither shall there be any more pain; for the former
things are passed away' (Rev 21:1-4).

'And had a wall great and high.' These words, great and high, are
added for illustration, to set out the matter to the height; and
indeed the glory of a wall lieth in this, that it is great and
high; the walls of the Canaanites were terrible upon this account,
and did even sink the hearts of those that beheld them (Deu 1:28).
Wherefore this city shall be most certainly in safety, she hath a
wall about her, a great wall: a wall about her, an high wall. It
is great for compass, it incloseth every saint; it is great for
thickness, it is compacted of all the grace and goodness of God,
both spiritual and temporal; and for height, if you count from
the utmost side to the utmost, then it is higher than heaven, who
can storm it? (Heb 7:26) and for depth, it is lower than hell, who
can undermine it? (Job 11:8).

Great mercies, high mercies, great preservation, and a high arm
to defend, shall continually at this day encamp this city: God
himself will be a continual life-guard to this city; 'I will encamp,'
saith he, 'about mine house, because of the army, because of him
that passeth by, and because of him that returneth; and no oppressor
shall pass through them any more; for now have I seen with mine
eyes' (Zech 9:8).

[The gates of the city.]

'And had twelve gates.' Having thus showed us her wall, he now
comes to her gates; it had gates, it had twelve gates. By gates
in this place we are to understand the way of entrance; gates, you
know, are for coming in, and for going out (Jer 17:19,20); and do
in this place signify two things. First, An entrance into communion
with the God and Saviour of this city. Secondly, Entrance into
communion with the inhabitants and privileges of this city; in
both which the gates do signify Christ: for as no man can come to
the knowledge and enjoyment of the God, and glorious Saviour, but
by and through the Lord Christ; so no man can come into true and
spiritual communion with these inhabitants, but by him also: 'I
am the way,' saith he, 'and the truth, and the life; no man cometh
unto the Father but by me': and again, 'I am the door, by me if
any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and
find pasture' (John 10:1-9; 14:6).

'And had twelve gates.' In that he saith twelve gates, he alludeth
to the city of Jerusalem that was of old, which had just so many
(Neh 3: 12:37-29); and are on purpose put into the number of
twelve, to answer to the whole number of the elect of God, which
are comprehended within the number of the twelve tribes, whether
they are natural Jews or Gentiles; for as all the godly Jews are
the seed of Abraham after the flesh, though to godly, because
they are the children of the flesh of Abraham; so all the godly
Gentiles are the children of Abraham after the spirit, though not
by that means made the children of the flesh of Abraham. They both
meet then in the spirit and faith of the gospel, as God saith to
the Jews, 'when a stranger shall sojourn with thee, and will keep
the passover to the Lord,' that is, become godly, and receive the
faith of Christ, let all his males be circumcised, and then let
them come near, and keep it, &c. (Exo 12:48). For they that are
of faith, are the children of faithful Abraham, who is called the
very father of us all (Gal 3:7; Rom 4:16). Thus you see all the
godly come under the title of the children of Abraham, and of the
Jews; and so under the denomination also of being persons belonging
to the tribes, the twelve tribes, who answer to those twelve gates.
Wherefore the Psalmist minding this, speaking indefinitely of all
the godly, under the name of the tribes of Israel; saying, 'Our
feet shall stand within thy gates, O Jerusalem. Jerusalem is
builded as a city that is compact together, whither the tribes go
up, the tribes of the Lord, unto the testimony of Israel, to give
thanks unto the name of the Lord' (Psa 122:2-4).