John Bunyan

“God who is rich in mercy…. loved us even when we were dead in our sins [and] quickened us together with Christ.” Why did he do all this? “That in ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace, in his kindness towards  us in Christ Jesus” (Eph 2:4-7). So he allures others and their children to come to him and partake of the same grace through Jesus Christ.
As the Jerusalem sinners were of the highest sort among the Jews, so these Ephesian sinners were of the highest sort among the Gentiles (Eph 2:1-3; 2:11, 12)…. When God saves one great sinner, it is to encourage another great sinner to come to him for mercy.
—John Bunyan “The Jerusalem Sinner Saved”

I have a significant amount I would like and hope to say on The dreamer, John Bunyan over the coming time, (DV); but for now, I offer two poems on this man of God. One from William Cowper, the other from Rudyard Kipling.

May we all learn to live our faith, with the convictions of the immortal dreamer, Bunyan, and have our consciences bound to God alone as he did.

William Cowper:

“Oh thou, whom borne on fancy’s eager wing,
Back to the season of Life’s happy spring,
I pleased remember and while memory yet holds
Fast her office here can never forget.
Ingenious dreamer, in whose well-told tale
Sweet fiction and sweet truth alike prevail;
Whose humorous vein strong sense and simple style
May teach the gayest, make the bravest smile;
Witty and well employed, and like thy Lord,
Speaking in parables His slighted word.”
“Rather Than Thus to Violate My Faith and Principle”

Rudyard Kipling:

“A tinker out of Bedford,
A vagrant oft in quod,
A private under Fairfax,
A minister of God;
Two hundred years and thirty
Ere Armageddon came
His single hand portrayed it,
And Bunyan was his name.
“All enemy divisions,
Recruits of every class,
And highly screened positions
For flame or poison-gas;
The craft that we call modern,
The crimes that we call new,
John Bunyan had ‘em typed and filed
In Sixteen Eighty-two.
“He mapped for those who followed,
The world in which we are —
This famous town of ‘Mansoul’
That makes the Holy War.
Her true and traitor people
The gates along her wall,
From Eye Gate into Feel Gate,
John Bunyan showed them all.”

Learn to judge of the sufficiency of the merits of Christ… the unsearchable riches of Christ. Consider what offer he makes—after his resurrection—-of his grace to sinners… There is sufficiency in his blood to save the biggest sinners (Acts 13:38, 39)… Remission of sins is through faith in his blood (Eph. 1:7)… The biggest of sinners cannot be saved but by the abundance of grace.
“It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Heb. 10:31). He will grip hard, his fist is stronger than a lion’s paw. Take heed of him. He will be angry if you despise his Son. And will you stand guilty in your trespasses when he offers you his grace and favour?
—John Bunyan “The Jerusalem Sinner Saved”

These therefore must have the cream of the gospel… The Lord Jesus takes more care, as appears by three parables,  for the lost sheep, the lost goat, and the prodigal son, than for the other sheep, the other pence,  or for the son that said he had never transgressed (Luke 15)… The mind of Christ was set on the salvation of the biggest sinners in his lifetime.
The apostles, after the ascension of Christ, preached to the very worst of these Jerusalem sinners, even to those that were the murderers of Jesus Christ (Acts 2:23). Peter said if they were sorry for what they had done, and would be baptized for the remission of their sins in his name, they should receieve the gift of the Holy Ghost (Acts 2:37, 38)
—John Bunyan, “The Jerusalem Sinner Saved.”

I believe that election is free and permanent, being founded in grace and the unchangeable will of God. I believe that we are predestinated to be conformed to the image of his Son (Rom. 8:29, 300).
I believe that without Christ Jesus there is neither election, grace, nor salvation (Eph 1:3-14)… I believe that no man can know his election but by his calling… Election does not foretell or prevent the means which are appointed of God to bring us to Christ, to grace and to glory (II Pet. 1:8-11).
I believe that in effectual calling the Holy Ghost must accompany the work of the Gospel, and that with mighty power… Calling is the fruit of electing love (1 Thess 1:4-1)… an effectual awakening about the evil of sin, and especially of unbelief… and great awakenings about the world to come and the glory of unseen things.
–John Bunyan “A confession of Faith.”

Lean to judge of the sufficiency of the merits of Christ… the unsearchable riches of Christ. Consider what offer he makes—after his resurrection—of his grace to sinners… There is sufficiency in his blood to save the biggest sinners (Acts 13:38, 39)… Remission of sins through faith in his blood (Eph. 1:7)… The biggest of sinners cannot be saved but by the abundance of grace.
“It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Heb. 10:31). He will grip hard, his fist is stronger than a lion’s paw. Take heed of him. He will be angry if you despise His Son. And will you stand guilty in your trespasses when he offers you his grace and favour?
—John Bunyan “The Jerusalem Sinner Saved.”

Let a king who of grace sends out to his rebellious people an offer of pardon if they accept it by such a day, yet beheads or hangs those that come not in for mercy until the expiry time be past, so Christ Jesus has set the sinner a day–a day of salvation—an acceptable time, but he who will not come and goes on in rebellion beyond that time, is liable to come off with the loss of all his soul.
To slight grace, to despise mercy, and to stop the ear when God speaks…so much to our profit is a great provocation. He offers, he calls, he woos, he invites, he prays, he beseeches us, in this his day of grace. He has provided us with the means of reconciliation himself. This despising must needs be provoking.
—-John Bunyan “The Jerusalem Sinner Saved.”

If God had said he will forgive one sin, it would have been undeserved grace. But when he says he will pardon all but one, this is grace of the highest order. Nor is that one unpardonable [sin] otherwise but because the Saviour that should save them is rejected and put away.
We read of Jacob’s ladder. Christ is Jacob’s ladder that reaches up to heaven, and he that refuses to go by this ladder will not, though using other means, bet up so high. There is none other name given under heaven among men whereby we must be saved. There is also none other sacrifice for sin than his. He also, and He alone, is the Mediator that reconciles men to God. And sinner, if you would be saved by him, his benefits are yours…even though you are a great and Jerusalem transgressor.
—John Bunyan “The Jerusalem Sinner Saved.”

The man who does not know the nature of the Law, cannot know the nature of sin.
—John Bunyan

How many souls have blind priests been the means of destroying by their ignorance? Preaching that was no better for their souls than rats-bane to the body. Many of them, it is to be feared, have whole towns to answer for. Ah! Friend, I tell thee, thou that hast taken in hand to preach to the people, it may be thou  hast taken in hand thou canst not tell what. Will it not grieve thee to see thy whole parish come bellowing after thee into hell? Crying out, “This we have to thank thee for, thou wast afraid to tell us of our sins, lest we should not put meat fast ernough into thy mouth. O cursed wretch, who wast not content, blind guide as thou wast, to fall into the ditch theyself, but hast also led us hither with thee.
—-John Bunyan “Sighs from hell.”

Let minister’s follow the steps of their blessed Lord, who by word and deed showed his love to the salvation of the world in such a way as declared him to prefer their salvation before his own private concern.
Love your Saviour. Show one to another that you love him, not only by a seeming love of affection, but with the love of duty. Practical love is best. Many love Christ with nothing but the lick of the tongue.Alas!
The devil… knows that a loose professor in the Church does more mischief to religion than ten can do to it than are in the world.
–John Bunyan

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The first Church, the Jerusalem Church, was a church made up of Jerusalem sinners. These great sinners were the most shining monuments to the shining grace of God…when his ministers first began to preach thee he joined his power to the word, to the converting of thousands of his betrayers and murderers, and also many of the ring-leading priests, to the faith.
Christ would have mercy offered in the first place to the biggest sinners, to the Jerusalem sinners. Why? Because the biggest sinners have the most need of it. He that has the most need should be helped first. “Begin at Jerusalem.”
–John Bunyan — The Jerusalem Sinner Saves

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I believe that effectual calling… also produces love. That is why Paul, when he had put the Church in remembrance that they were called of God, adds that concerning brotherly love they had no need that he should write to them… If God be so kind to us to forgive our sins, save our souls, and give us the kingdom of heaven, let these be motives beyond all other, to provoke us to love again. If we that are thus beloved of God are made members of one body, all partakers of his grace, all clothed with his glorious righteousness, and are appointed to be the children of God of the next world, should we not love one another?
—John Bunyan “A Confession of Faith.”

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Manasseh the king was a ringleading sinner, the great idolater, and chief of devilism. The whole land flowed with wickedness, “for he made them to sin” and to do worse than the heathen that dwelt round about them. But when God converted him, the whole land was reformed. Down went the groves, the idols, and altars of Baal, and up went true religion in much of the power and purity of it…The king reformed by [royal] power, and by example too (II Chron. 33; II Kings 17:41).
When God takes hold of the hearts of the most notorious, this would make hell to sign, to the great suppression of sin, the glory of Christ, and the joy of the angels of God.
—John Bunyan “The Jerusalem Sinner Saved.”

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Faith is the eye, the mouth, the hand… Faith is to see, to receive, to work to eat. A Christian should be receiving, seeing, working, or feeding all day long. Let it rain, let it blow, let it thunder, let it lighten, a Christian must still believe.
—John Bunyan, “The Jerusalem Sinner Saved.”

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Faith and holiness are my professed principles, with an endeavour—as far as lies in me—to be at peace with all men.
I believe that there is but one only true God: the Father, the Word and the Holy Ghost …I believe that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust…they that have done good, to the resurrection of life, and they that have done evil, to the resurrection of damnation. (John 5:28-29).
I believe…that none can be saved without the means of a Redeemer …I believe that Jesus Christ our Lord is Himself the Redeemer …I believe that He is both God and man, the Christ of the Living God (Luke 2:10-14).
I believe that the righteousness and redemption by which believers stand just before God—saved from the curse of the Law—is the righteousness and redemption…of Jesus the God-man. (II Cor 9:19, 21)John Bunyan “A confession of Faith.” 

 The whole text from that work can be read HERE

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Faith and holiness are my professed principles, with an endeavour—as far as lies in me—to be at peace with all men.
I believe that there is but one only true God: the Father, the Word and the Holy Ghost …I believe that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust…they that have done good, to the resurrection of life, and they that have done evil, to the resurrection of damnation. (John 5:28-29).
I believe…that none can be saved without the means of a Redeemer …I believe that Jesus Christ our Lord is Himself the Redeemer …I believe that He is both God and man, the Christ of the Living God (Luke 2:10-14).
I believe that the righteousness and redemption by which believers stand just before God—saved from the curse of the Law—is the righteousness and redemption…of Jesus the God-man. (II Cor 9:19, 21)John Bunyan “A confession of Faith.” 

 The whole text from that work can be read HERE

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When Christ was crucified and hanged up between the earth and the heavens, their were two thieves crucified with him. Behold, he lays hold o one of them, and will have him away with him to glory. Was not this a strange act and a display of extraordinary grace?
Christ would have offered mercy in the first place to the biggest sinners because, by their forgiveness and salvation, others hearing of it will be encouraged all the more to come to him for life. For the physician by curing by curing the most desperate at the first, not only gets himself a name but begets encouragement in the minds of other diseased folk to come to him for help (Matt. 24:24-25). As Christ did with outward cures, so he does in the proffers of his grace…to the biggest sinners, that others may take heart to come to him to be saved.
–John Bunyan, “The Jerusalem sinner saved.”

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In a word, Jerusalem was now become the shambles, the very slaughter-shop for saints …wherein the prophets, Christ and his people were most horribly persecuted and murdered…This is the city and these are the people; this is their character and these are their sins.
I will now show you what it is to preach the gospel to them: [to announce] repentance and remission of sins in Christ’s Name.. to bid them to repent and believe the gospel [Luke 24:47; Mark 1:15].
Christ would have Jerusalem have the first offer of the gospel. Not because they had any more right than any of the nations of the world, [but to manifest] his mere grace… compassion… and mercy [to those] in the most deplorable condition of any people under the heavens.
—John Bunyan

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Only faith knows how to deal with mercy. Don’t displace faith as presumption [wild faith]. Presumption puts itself in the place of faith when it tampers with the promise of life while the soul is a stranger to repentance. You  have in the text,  [Luke 24:47], to prevent doing thus, both repentance and remission of sins to be offered to Jerusalem; not remission without repentance, for all that repent shall not perish.
Men presume when they are resolved to abide in their sins, and yet expect to be saved by God’s grace through Christ…It cannot be that God should be wheedled out of his mercy, or prevailed upon by lips of dissimulation. He knows them that trust in him and that sincerely come to him by Christ, for mercy.
—John Bunyan

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Jesus Christ would have mercy offered in the first place to the biggest sinners because…if they receive it, that’s the way to weaken the kingdom of Satan….The biggest sinners are Satan’s colonels, captains, leaders [in the war] against the Son of God. Let these first be conquered, and his kingdom will be weak.
Christ came to destroy the works of the devil, and to destroy by converting grace as well as by redeeming blood…The way, the most direct way…is to deal with such sinners by the word of his gospel and by the merits of his passion…I speak by experience: I was one of these.
—John Bunyan

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Learn to judge the sufficiency of the merits of Christ…the unsearchable riches of Christ. Consider what offer he makes—after his resurrection–of his grace to sinners…There is sufficiency in his blood to save the biggest sinners (Acts 13:38-39)…Remission of sins is through faith in his blood  (Eph 1:7)…The biggest of sinners cannot be saved but by the abundance of  grace.
“It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God, (Heb 10:31). He will grip hard, his fist is stronger than a lions paw. Take heed of him. He will be angry if you despise his Son. And will you stand guilty in your trespasses when he offers you his grace and favour?
—John Bunyan

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You can do no more than pray, after you have prayed, but you cannot do more than pray until you have prayed
—John Bunyan
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I believe, we being sinful creatures in ourselves, that no good thing done by us can procure of God the imputation of the righteousness of Christ. That imputation is an act of grace, a free gift without deserving (Rom. 3:23-26)…I believe that offer of this righteousness, as tendered in the Gospel, is to be received by faith (Acts 13:38; Rom. 5:1)…Faith receives, accepts, embraces, and trusts God’s offer (John 1:12; 1 Tim. 1:15)…I believe that such faith is found only in those whom the Spirit of God, by mighty power, does work it. All others, being fearful and incredulous, dare not venture their souls and eternity upon it.
I believe that this faith is effectually wrought in none but those which, before the world were ordained unto eternal life. (Acts 13:48; 1 Thess. 1:1-10).
—John Bunyan
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God’s  Word has two edges…if it does you no good, it will do you hurt. It is the savour of life to those who receive it, but unto death to to them that refuse it. (II Cor2:15-16)
—-John Bunyan
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This man has most need, he is furthest from God, nearest to hell, and so one that has the most need, of mercy.
Mercy arises from compassion… from a feeling of the condition of those in misery (Isa. 63:9; James 5:11)… Mercy seems to be out of its proper channel when it deals with self-righteous men; but it runs with a full stream when it extends itself to the biggest sinner.
—John Bunyan
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Faith is the eye, the mouth, the hand… Faith is to see, to receive, to work or to eat. A Christian should be receiving, seeing,  working, or feeding all day day long. Let it rain, let it blow, let it thunder, let it lighten, a Christian must still believe.

—John Bunyan

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