The Works of John Bunyan, vol 3, John Bunyan [ebook reader color screen TXT] 📗

Nor seeming penitence.

29. No high profession here can stand,

Unless sincerity

Hath been therewith commixed, and

Brought forth simplicity.[7]

30. No mask nor vizor here can hide

The heart that rotten is;

All cloaks now must be laid aside,

No sinner must have bliss.

31. Though most approve of thee, and count Thee upright in thy heart;

Yea, though preferred and made surmount

Most men to act thy part,

32. In treading where the godly trod,

As to an outward show;

Yet this hold still, the grace of God

Takes hold on but a few,

33. So as to make them truly such

As then shall stand before

This Judge with gladness; this is much

Yet true for evermore.

34. The tree of life this paradise

Doth always beautify,

‘Cause of our health it is the rise

And perpetuity.

35. Here stands the golden throne of grace From out of which do run

Those crystal streams that make this place Far brighter than the sun.

36. Here stands mount Zion with her king.

Jerusalem above,

That holy and delightful thing,

So beautified with love.

37. That, as a mother succours those

Which of her body be,

So she far more, all such as close

In with her Lord; and she

38. Her grace, her everlasting doors

Will open wide unto

Them all, with welcome, welcome, poor,

Rich, bond, free, high and low,

39. Unto the kingdom which our Lord

Appointed hath for all

That hath his name and word ador’d;

Because he did them call

40. Unto that work, which also they

Sincerely did fulfil,

Not shunning always to obey

His gracious holy will.

41. Besides, this much doth beautify

This goodly paradise,

That from all quarters, constantly,

Whole thousands as the price

42. Of precious blood, do here arrive;

As safe escaping all,

Sin, hell, and satan did contrive

To bring them into thrall.

43. Each telling his deliverance

I’ th’ open face of heaven;

Still calling to remembrance

How fiercely they were driven

44. By deadly foe, who did pursue

As swift as eagles fly;

Which if thou have not, down thou must

With those that then shall die

The second death, and be accurs’d

Of God. For certainly,

45. The truth of grace shall only here

Without a blush be bold

To stand, whilst others quake and fear,

And dare not once behold.

46. That heart that here was right for God Shall there be comforted;

But those that evil ways have trod,

Shall then hang down the head.

47. As sore confounded with the guilt

That now upon them lies,

Because they did delight in filth

And beastly vanities.

48. Or else because they did deceive

With hypocritical

Disguises, their own souls, and leave

Or shun that best of all

49. Approved word of righteousness,

They were invited to

Embrace, therefore they no access

Now to him have, but woe.

50. For every one must now receive

According to their ways;

They that unto the Lord did cleave,

The everlasting joys.

51. Those that did die in wickedness,

To execution sent,

There still to grapple with distress,

Which nothing can prevent.

52. Of which two states I next shall write, Wherefore I pray give ear,

And to them bend with all our might

Your heart with filial fear.

OF HEAVEN.

1. Heaven is a place, also a state,

It doth all things excel,

No man can fully it relate,

Nor of its glory tell.

2. God made it for his residence,

To sit on as a throne,

Which shows to us the excellence

Whereby it may be known.

3. Doubtless the fabric that was built

For this so great a king,

Must needs surprise thee, if thou wilt

But duly mind the thing.

4. If all that build do build to suit

The glory of their state,

What orator, though most acute,

Can fully heaven relate?

5. If palaces that princes build,

Which yet are made of clay,

Do so amaze when much beheld,

Of heaven what shall we say?

6. It is the high and holy place;

No moth can there annoy,

Nor make to fade that goodly grace

That saints shall there enjoy.

7. Mansions for glory and for rest

Do there prepared stand;

Buildings eternal for the blest

Are there provided, and

8. The glory and the comeliness

By deepest thought none may

With heart or mouth fully express,

Nor can before that day.

9. These heav’ns we see, be as a scroll, Or garment folded up,

Before they do together roll,

And we call’d in to sup.

10. There with the king, the bridegroom, and By him are led into

His palace chambers, there to stand

With his prospect to our view.

11. And taste and smell, and be inflam’d, And ravished to see

The buildings he hath for us fram’d,

How full of heaven they be.

12. Its state also is marvellous,

For beauty to behold;

All goodness there is plenteous,

And better far than gold.

13. Adorn’d with grace and righteousness, While fragrant scents of love

O’erflow with everlasting bliss,

All that do dwell above.

14. The heavenly majesty, whose face

Doth far exceed the sun,

Will there cast forth its rays of grace

After this world is done.

15. Which rays and beams will so possess All things that there shall dwell,

With so much glory, light, and bliss,

That none can think or tell.

16. That wisdom which doth order all

Shall there be fully shown;

That strength that bears the world there shall By every one be known.

17. That holiness and sanctity

Which doth all thought surpass,

Shall there in present purity

Outshine the crystal glass.

18. The beauty and the comeliness

Of this Almighty shall

Make amiable with lasting bliss

Those he thereto shall call.

19. The presence of this God will be

Eternal life in all,

And health and gladness, while we see

Thy face, O immortal!

20. Here will the Lord make clear and plain How sweetly did agree

His attributes, when Christ was slain

Our Saviour to be.

21. How wisdom did find out the way,

How strength did make him stand,

How holiness did bear the sway,

And answer just demand.

22. How all these attributes did bend

Themselves to work our life,

Through the Christ whom God did send

To save us by his might.

23. All this will sparkle in our eye

Within the holy place,

And greatly raise our melody,

And flow our hearts with grace.

24. The largest thought that can arise

Within the widest heart

Shall then be filled with surprize,

And pleas’d in every part.

25. All mysteries shall here be seen,

And every knot, unty’d;

Electing love, that hid hath been,

Shall shine on every side.

26. The God of glory here will be

The life of every one;

Whose goodly attributes shall we

Possess them as our own.

27. By wisdom we all things shall know,

By light all things shall see,

By strength, too, all things we shall do, When we in glory be.

28. The Holy Lamb of God, also,

Who for our sakes did die,

The holy ones of God shall know,

And that most perfectly.

29. Those small and short discoveries

That we have of him here,

Will there be seen with open eyes,

In visions full and clear.

30. Those many thousand acts of grace

That here we feel and find,

Shall there be real with open face

Upon his heart most kind.

31. There he will show us how he was

Our prophet, priest, and king;

And how he did maintain our cause,

And us to glory bring.

32. There we shall see how he was touch’d With all our grief and pain

(As in his word he hath avouch’d),

When we with him shall reign;

33. He’ll show us, also, how he did

Maintain our faith and love,

And why his face sometimes he hid

From us, who are his dove;

34. These tempting times that here we have, We there shall see were good;

Also that hidden strength he gave,

The purchase of his blood.

35. That he should stand for us before

His Father, thus we read.

But then shall see, and shall adore

Him for his gracious deed.

36. Though we are vile, he without shame Before the angels all

Lays out his strength, his worth, and name, For us, who are in thrall.

37. This is he who was mock’d and beat,

Spit on, and crown’d with thorns;

Who for us had a bloody sweat,

Whose heart was broke with scorns.

38. ‘Tis he who stands so much our friend, As shortly we shall see,

With open face, world without end,

And in his presence be.

39. That head that once was crown’d with thorns, Shall now with glory shine;

That heart that broken was with scorns,

Shall flow with life divine;

40. That man that here met with disgrace, We there shall see so bright;

That angels can’t behold his face

For its exceeding light.

41. What gladness will possess our heart When we shall see these things!

What light and life, in every part,

Will rise like lasting springs!

42. O blessed face and holy grace,

When shall we see this day?

Lord, fetch us to this goodly place

We humbly do thee pray.

43. Next to this Lamb we shall behold

All saints, both more and less,

With whit’ned robes in glory roll’d,

‘Cause him they did confess.

44. Each walking in his righteousness

With shining crowns of gold,

Triumphing still in heav’nly bliss,

Amazing to behold.

45. Each person for his majesty

Doth represent a king;

Yea, angel-like for dignity,

And seraphims that sing.

46. Each motion of their mind, and so

Each twinkling of their eye;

Each word they speak, and step they go,

It is in purity.

47. Immortal are they every one,

Wrapt up in health and light,

Mortality from them is gone,

Weakness is turn’d to might.

48. The stars are not so clear as they,

They equalize the sun;

Their glory shines to perfect day,

Which day will ne’er be done.

49. No sorrow can them now annoy,

Nor weakness, grief or pain;

No faintness can abate their joy,

They now in life do reign.

50. They shall not there, as here, be vex’d With Satan, men, or sin;

Nor with their wicked hearts perplex’d,

The heavens have cop’d8 them in.

51. Thus, as they shine in their estate, So, too, in their degree;

Which is most goodly to relate,

And ravishing to see.

52. The majesty whom they adore,

Doth them in wisdom place

Upon the thrones, and that before

The angels, to their grace.

53. The saints of the Old Testament,

Full right to their degree;

Likewise the New, in excellent

Magnificency be.

54. Each one his badge of glory wears,

According to his place;

According as was his affairs

Here, in the time of grace.

55. Some on the right hand of the Lamb,

Likewise some on the left,

With robes and golden chains do stand

Most grave, most sage, and deft.[9]

56. The martyr here is known from him

Who peaceably did die,

Both by the place he sitteth in,

And by his dignity.

57. Each father, saint, and prophet shall, According to his worth,

Enjoy the honour of his call,

And plainly hold it forth.

58. Those bodies which sometimes were torn, And bones that broken were

For God’s word; he doth now adorn

With health and glory fair.

59. Thus, when in heav’nly harmony

These blessed saints appear,

Adorn’d with grace and majesty,

What gladness will be there!

60. The light, and grace, and countenance, The least of these shall have,

Will so with terror them advance,

And make their face so grave,

61. That at them all the world will shake, When they lift up their head;

Princes