The Riches of Bunyan: Selected from His WorksBunyan, John
Religion
The Riches of Bunyan: Selected from His Works
Bunyan, John
Theology, Doctrinal
A throne is the seat of justice: "Justice and judgment are the
habitation of thy throne." Psal. 89: 14. And it is also from justice
that this river of grace flows to us: justice to Christ, and justice
to those that are found in him. Rom. 3: 24. God declares that he can
justly justify, justly forgive: now, if he can justly justify and
justly forgive, then can he give grace and cause that it should
proceed to, yea, flow after us as a river. But whence must this
come? the text says, from the throne--from the throne, the seat of
justice; for from thence, by reason of what He hath found in Christ
for us, he in a way of righteousness and justice lets out to us
rivers of his pleasures, whoso original is that great and wide sea
of mercy that flows in his infinite heart beyond thought.
There is a river, clear and pleasant, the streams whereof make glad
the city of God.
These are the waters that the doves love to sit by, because by the
clearness of these streams they can see their pretty selves as in a
glass. Song 5: 12.
These he the streams where the doves wash their eyes, and by which
they solace themselves and take great content. These streams are
instead of a looking-glass; their clearness presents us with an
opportunity of seeing our own features.
As in fair waters a man may see the hody of the sun, and of the
moon, and of the stars, and the very body of heaven; so ho that
stands upon the bank of this river, and that washeth his eyes with
this water, may see the Son of God, the stars of God, the glory of
God, and the habitation that God has prepared for his people. And
are not these pleasant sights? Is not this excellent water? Has not
this river pleasant streams?
Some men fly from the "river of the water of life," as from a bear;
arid some are afraid to drink of it, for fear it should he poison
unto them. Some again, dare not take it, because it is not mixed,
and as they, poor souls, imagine, qualified and made toothsome by a
little of that which is called the wisdom of this world. Thus one
shucks, another shrinks, and another will none of God. Meanwhile,
whoso shall please to look into this river, shall find it harmless
and clear; yea, offering itself to the consciences of all men to
make trial if it be not the only chief good, the only necessary
waters, the only profitable for the health of the soul, of all the
things that are in the world, and as clear of mischief as is the sun
of spots.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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