The Works of John Bunyan Volume 3

so early this morning? Methinks you look as if you were concerned about someth

me, for I am, as you say, concerned in my heart, but it is because of the badness of the times. And, Si

ng as sin is so high, and those that study its nourishment so many. God bring it down, and those that nourish it, to repentance, and then, my good neighbour, you will be concerned, not as you are now; now you are concerned because times are so

ayed for, such times I have longed for; but I

es into good. God give long life to them that are good, and especially to those of them that are capable of doing him service in th

n said this, he g

so deeply; is it for ought else than that for the

e cause of that sigh, of the which, as I see, you take notice. I sighed at the re

. Goodman your neighbo

that he had

or that the world had lost a light; but the man that I am concerned for now was one that never was good, therefore such an one who is not dead only, but damned. He die

o think on. But, good neighbour Wiseman, be pleased to tell me wh

n stay, I will tell y

thus conc

ray God your discourse may take hold on my heart, that I may be bettered thereby.

reason of my being so concerned at his death is, not for that he was at all related to me, or for that any good conditions di

is more dreadful and fearful than any man can imagine. Indeed if a man had no soul, if his state was not truly immortal, the matter would not be so much; but for a man to be so disposed of by his Maker, as to be appointed a sensible being

so by reason, and the exercise thereof, in the midst of torment, all present affliction is aggravated, and that three manner of ways:-1. Reason will consider thus with himself. For what am I thus tormented? and will easily find it is for nothing but that base and filthy thing, sin; and now will vexation be mixed with punishment, and that will greatly heighten the affliction. 2. Reason will consider thus with himself. How long must this be my state? And will soon return to

to such a state. Hell! who knows that is yet alive, what the t

, the very name of hell is so dreadful, what is the place itself, and what are the punishments that are

me to stay, and therefore pray tell me what it is t

But first, do you kno

me

s there more o

isters, and yet all of them the children of a

them therefore w

ld in sin; but the sinner that dies a

at makes you think

h, especially since the manner of his d

manner of his death, if yo

desire not to see another such man, wh

therefore le

se even orderly of him. First, we will begin with his life, and then proceed to his death:

then so well

, when he was but a boy, and I made spec

unt of his life; but be as brief as you can,