grace abounding to the chief of sinners-第30章
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e again； how I could prove it lawful for me to preach； with a great deal of confidence of the victory。
But at last； because he should see that I could answer him if I listed； I cited to him that verse in Peter； which saith； EVERY MAN HATH RECEIVED THE GIFT； EVEN SO LET HIM MINISTER THE SAME； ETC。
LIND。 Aye； saith he； to whom is that spoken？
BUN。 To whom； said I； why to every man that hath received a gift from God。 Mark； saith the apostle； AS EVERY MAN THAT HATH RECEIVED A GIFT FROM GOD； etc。； and again； YOU MAY ALL PROPHESY ONE BY ONE。 Whereat the man was a little stopt； and went a softlier pace： but not being willing to lose the day； he began again； and said：…
LIND。 Indeed； I do remember that I have read of one Alexander a coppersmith； who did much oppose； and disturb the apostles； … （aiming it is like at me； because I was a tinker）。
BUN。 To which I answered； that I also had read of very many priests and pharisees； that had their hands in the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ。
LIND。 Aye； saith he； and you are one of those scribes and pharisees： for you； with a pretence； make long prayers to devour widows' houses。
BUN。 I answered； that if he had got no more by preaching and praying than I had done； he would not be so rich as now he was。 But that scripture coming into my mind； ANSWER NOT A FOOL ACCORDING TO HIS FOLLY； I was as sparing of my speech as I could； without prejudice to truth。
Now by this time my mittimus was made； and I committed to the constable； to be sent to the jail in Bedford； etc。
But as I was going； two of my brethren met with me by the way； and desired the constable to stay； supposing that they should prevail with the justice； through the favour of a pretended friend； to let me go at liberty。 So we did stay； while they went to the justice； and after much discourse with him； it came to this： that if I would come to him again； and say some certain words to him； I should be released。 Which when they told me； I said if the words was such that might be said with a good conscience； I should or else I should not。 So through their importunity went back again； but not believing that I should be delivered： for I feared their spirit was too full of opposition to the truth to let me go； unless I should； in something or other； dishonour my God and wound my conscience。 Wherefore； as I went； I lifted up my heart to God； for light and strength to be kept； that I might not do any thing that might either dishonour Him； or wrong my own soul； or be a grief or discouragement to any that was inclining after the Lord Jesus Christ。
Well； when I came to the justice again； there was Mr FOSTER of Bedford； who； coming out of another room； and seeing me by the light of the candle （for it was dark night when I went thither）； he said unto me； Who is there？ JOHN BUNYAN？ with such seeming affection； as if he would have leaped on my neck and kissed me； which made me somewhat wonder； that such a man as he； with whom I had so little acquaintance； and； besides； that had ever been a close opposer of the ways of God； should carry himself so full of love to me； but； afterwards； when I saw what he did； it caused me to remember those sayings； THEIR TONGUES ARE SMOOTHER THAN OIL； BUT THEIR WORDS ARE DRAWN SWORDS。 And again； BEWARE OF MEN； ETC。 When I had answered him； that blessed be God； I was well； he said； What is the occasion of your being here？ or to that purpose。 To whom I answered； that I was at a meeting of people a little way off； intending to speak a word of exhortation to them； the justice hearing thereof； said I； was pleased to send his warrant to fetch me before him； etc。
FOST。 So （said he）； I understand： but well； if you will promise to call the people no more together； you shall have your liberty to go home； for my brother is very loath to send you to prison； if you will be but ruled。
BUN。 Sir （said I）； pray what do you mean by calling the people together？ my business is not anything among them； when they are come together； but to exhort them to look after the salvation of their souls； that they may be saved； etc。
FOST。 Saith he； We must not enter into explication； or dispute now； but if you will say you will call the people no more together； you may have your liberty； if not； you must be sent away to prison。
BUN。 Sir； said I； I shall not force or compel any man to hear me； but yet； if I come into any place where there is a people met together； I should； according to the best of my skill and wisdom； exhort and counsel them to seek out after the Lord Jesus Christ； for the salvation of their souls。
FOST。 He said； That was none of my work； I must follow my calling； and if I would but leave off preaching； and follow my calling； I should have the justice's favour； and be acquitted presently。
BUN。 To whom I said； that I could follow my calling； and that too； namely； preaching the Word： and I did look upon it as my duty to do them both； as I had an opportunity。
FOST。 He said； To have any such meetings was against the law； and； therefore； he would have me leave off； and say； I would call the people no more together。
BUN。 To whom I said； that I durst not make any further promise； for my conscience would not suffer me to do it。 And again； I did look upon it as my duty to do as much good as I could； not only in my trade； but also in communicating to all people wheresoever I came the best knowledge I had in the Word。
FOST。 He told me that I was the nearest the Papists of any； and that he would convince me of immediately。
BUN。 I asked him； Wherein？
FOST。 He said； In that we understood the Scriptures literally。
BUN。 I told him that those that were to be understood literally； we understood them so； but for those that was to be understood otherwise； we endeavoured so to understand them。
FOST。 He said； Which of the Scriptures do you understand literally？
BUN。 I said this； HE THAT BELIEVES SHALL BE SAVED。 This was to be understood just as it is spoken； that whosoever believeth in Christ shall； according to the plain and simple words of the text； be saved。
FOST。 He said that I was ignorant； and did not understand the Scriptures； for how； said he； can you understand them when you know not the original Greek？ etc。
BUN。 To whom I said； that if that was his opinion； that none could understand the Scriptures but those that had the original Greek； etc。； then but a very few of the poorest sort should be saved （this is harsh）； yet the Scripture saith； THAT GOD HIDES THESE THINGS FROM THE WISE AND PRUDENT （that is； from the learned of the world）； AND REVEALS THEM TO BABES AND SUCKLINGS。
FOST。 He said there were none that heard me but a company of foolish people。
BUN。 I told him that there was the wise as well as the foolish that do hear me； and again； those that were most commonly counted foolish by the world are the wisest before God； also； that God had rejected the wise； and mighty； and noble； and chosen the foolish； and the base。
FOST。 He told me that I made people neglect their calling； and that God had commanded people to work six days； and serve Him on the seventh。
BUN。 I told him that it was the duty of people； （both rich and poor）； to look out for their souls on them days as well as for their bodies； and that God would have His people exhort one another daily； while it is called to…day。
FOST。 He said again that there were none but a company of poor； simple； ignorant people that come to hear me。
BUN。 I told him that the foolish and the ignorant had most need of teaching and information； and； therefore； it would be profitable for me to go on in that work。
FOST。 Well； said he； to conclude； but will you promise that you will not call the people together any more？ and then you may be released and go home。
BUN。 I told him that I durst say no more than I had said； for I durst not leave off that work which God had called me to。
So he withdrew from me； and then came several of the justice's servants to me； and told me that I stood so much upon a nicety。 Their master； they said； was willing to let me go； and if I would b
