The Riches of Bunyan: Selected from His WorksBunyan, John
Religion
The Riches of Bunyan: Selected from His Works
Bunyan, John
Theology, Doctrinal
These angels therefore are not to fail them that are saved, but
must, as commissioned of God, come down from heaven to do this
office for them. They must come, I say, and take the care of our
souls, to conduct them safely into Abraham's bosom. It is not our
meanness in the world, nor our weakness of faith, that shall hinder
this; nor shall the loathsomeness of our diseases make these
delicate spirits shy of taking this charge upon them. Lazarus the
beggar found this a truth--a beggar so despised of the rich glutton
that he was not suffered to come within his gate; a beggar full of
sores and noisome putrefaction--yet behold, when he dies angels come
from heaven to fetch him thither.
True, death-bed temptations are ofttimes the most violent, because
then the devil plays his last game with us; he is never to assault
us more. Besides, perhaps God suffereth it thus to be that the
entering into heaven may be the sweeter, and ring of this salvation
the louder. O it is a blessed thing for God to be our God and our
guide, even unto death, and then for his angels to conduct us safely
to glory. This is saving indeed.
Mercy seems to be asleep when we are sinking; for then we are as if
all things were careless of us; but it is but as a lion couchant, it
will awake in time for our help.
There are those that have been in the pit, Psa. 40:2, now upon mount
Zion, with the harps of God in their hands, and with the song of the
Lamb in their mouths.
God hath set a Saviour against sin, a heaven against a hell, light
agamst darkness, good against evil, and the breadth and length and
depth and height of the grace that is in himself for my good,
against all the power and strength and subtlety of every enemy.
Is it not a thing amazing, to see one poor inconsiderable man, in a
spirit of faith and patience, overcome all the threatenings,
cruelties, afflictions, and sorrows that a whole world can lay upon
him? None can quail him, none can crush him, none can bend down his
spirit; none can make him forsake what he has received of God, a
commandment to hold fast. His holy, harmless, and profitable
notions, because they are spiced with grace, yield to him more
comfort, joy, and peace; and do kindle in his soul a goodly fire of
love to and zeal for God that all the waters of the world shall
never be able to quench.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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