Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners [64]
was as followeth.
COBB. When he was come into the house he sent for me out of my chamber; who, when I was come unto him, he said, Neighbour BUNYAN, how do you do?
BUN. I thank you, Sir, said I, very well, blessed be the Lord.
COBB. Saith he, I come to tell you, that it is desired you would submit yourself to the laws of the land, or else at the next sessions it will go worse with you, even to be sent away out of the nation, or else worse than that.
BUN. I said that I did desire to demean myself in the world, both as becometh a man and a Christian.
COBB. But, saith he, you must submit to the laws of the land, and leave off those meetings which you was wont to have; for the statute-law is directly against it; and I am sent to you by the justices to tell you that they do intend to prosecute the law against you if you submit not.
BUN. I said, Sir, I conceive that that law by which I am in prison at this time, doth not reach or condemn either me, or the meetings which I do frequent; that law was made against those, that being designed to do evil in their meetings, making the exercise of religion their pretence, to cover their wickedness. It doth not forbid the private meetings of those that plainly and simply make it their only end to worship the Lord, and to exhort one another to edification. My end in meeting with others is simply to do as much good as I can, by exhortation and counsel, according to that small measure of light which God hath given me, and not to disturb the peace of the nation.
COBB. Every one will say the same, said he; you see the late insurrection at LONDON, under what glorious pretences they went; and yet, indeed, they intended no less than the ruin of the kingdom and commonwealth.
BUN. That practice of theirs, I abhor, said I; yet it doth not follow that, because they did so, therefore all others will do so. I look upon it as my duty to behave myself under the King's government, both as becomes a man and a Christian, and if an occasion were offered me, I should willingly manifest my loyalty to my Prince, both by word and deed.
COBB. Well, said he, I do not profess myself to be a man that can dispute; but this I say, truly, neighbour BUNYAN, I would have you consider this matter seriously, and submit yourself; you may have your liberty to exhort your neighbour in private discourse, so be you do not call together an assembly of people; and, truly, you may do much good to the church of Christ, if you would go this way; and this you may do, and the law not abridge you of it. It is your private meetings that the law is against.
BUN. Sir, said I, if I may do good to one by my discourse? why may I not do good to two? And if to two, why not to four, and so to eight? etc.
COBB. Ay, saith he, and to a hundred, I warrant you.
BUN. Yes, Sir, said I, I think I should not be forbid to do as much good as I can.
COBB. But, saith he, you may but pretend to do good, and instead, notwithstanding, do harm, by seducing the people; you are, therefore, denied your meeting so many together, lest you should do harm.
BUN. And yet, said I, you say the law tolerates me to discourse with my neighbour; surely there is no law tolerates me seduce any one; therefore if I may by the law discourse with one, surely it is to do him good; and if I by discoursing may do good to one, surely, by the same law, I may do good to many.
COBB. The law, saith he, doth expressly forbid your private meetings; therefore they are not to be tolerated.
BUN. I told him that I would not entertain so much uncharitableness of that Parliament in the 35th of ELIZABETH, or of the Queen herself, as to think they did, by that law, intend the oppressing of any of God's ordinances, or the interrupting any in way of God; but men may, in the wresting of it, turn it against the way of God; but take the law in itself, and it only fighteth against those that drive at mischief in their hearts and meeting, making religion only their cloak, colour, or pretence;
COBB. When he was come into the house he sent for me out of my chamber; who, when I was come unto him, he said, Neighbour BUNYAN, how do you do?
BUN. I thank you, Sir, said I, very well, blessed be the Lord.
COBB. Saith he, I come to tell you, that it is desired you would submit yourself to the laws of the land, or else at the next sessions it will go worse with you, even to be sent away out of the nation, or else worse than that.
BUN. I said that I did desire to demean myself in the world, both as becometh a man and a Christian.
COBB. But, saith he, you must submit to the laws of the land, and leave off those meetings which you was wont to have; for the statute-law is directly against it; and I am sent to you by the justices to tell you that they do intend to prosecute the law against you if you submit not.
BUN. I said, Sir, I conceive that that law by which I am in prison at this time, doth not reach or condemn either me, or the meetings which I do frequent; that law was made against those, that being designed to do evil in their meetings, making the exercise of religion their pretence, to cover their wickedness. It doth not forbid the private meetings of those that plainly and simply make it their only end to worship the Lord, and to exhort one another to edification. My end in meeting with others is simply to do as much good as I can, by exhortation and counsel, according to that small measure of light which God hath given me, and not to disturb the peace of the nation.
COBB. Every one will say the same, said he; you see the late insurrection at LONDON, under what glorious pretences they went; and yet, indeed, they intended no less than the ruin of the kingdom and commonwealth.
BUN. That practice of theirs, I abhor, said I; yet it doth not follow that, because they did so, therefore all others will do so. I look upon it as my duty to behave myself under the King's government, both as becomes a man and a Christian, and if an occasion were offered me, I should willingly manifest my loyalty to my Prince, both by word and deed.
COBB. Well, said he, I do not profess myself to be a man that can dispute; but this I say, truly, neighbour BUNYAN, I would have you consider this matter seriously, and submit yourself; you may have your liberty to exhort your neighbour in private discourse, so be you do not call together an assembly of people; and, truly, you may do much good to the church of Christ, if you would go this way; and this you may do, and the law not abridge you of it. It is your private meetings that the law is against.
BUN. Sir, said I, if I may do good to one by my discourse? why may I not do good to two? And if to two, why not to four, and so to eight? etc.
COBB. Ay, saith he, and to a hundred, I warrant you.
BUN. Yes, Sir, said I, I think I should not be forbid to do as much good as I can.
COBB. But, saith he, you may but pretend to do good, and instead, notwithstanding, do harm, by seducing the people; you are, therefore, denied your meeting so many together, lest you should do harm.
BUN. And yet, said I, you say the law tolerates me to discourse with my neighbour; surely there is no law tolerates me seduce any one; therefore if I may by the law discourse with one, surely it is to do him good; and if I by discoursing may do good to one, surely, by the same law, I may do good to many.
COBB. The law, saith he, doth expressly forbid your private meetings; therefore they are not to be tolerated.
BUN. I told him that I would not entertain so much uncharitableness of that Parliament in the 35th of ELIZABETH, or of the Queen herself, as to think they did, by that law, intend the oppressing of any of God's ordinances, or the interrupting any in way of God; but men may, in the wresting of it, turn it against the way of God; but take the law in itself, and it only fighteth against those that drive at mischief in their hearts and meeting, making religion only their cloak, colour, or pretence;