“These lines I at this time present
   To all that will them heed,
   Wherein I show to what intent
   God saith, ‘Convert with speed.’ 
   For these four things come on apace,
   Which we should know full well,
   Both death and judgment, and, in place
   Next to them, heaven and hell.”

The following lines are from “Ebal and Gerizim":—­

   “Thou art like one that hangeth by a thread
   Over the mouth of hell, as one half dead;
   And oh, how soon this thread may broken be,
   Or cut by death, is yet unknown to thee. 
   But sure it is if all the weight of sin,
   And all that Satan too hath doing been
   Or yet can do, can break this crazy thread,
   ’Twill not be long before among the dead
   Thou tumble do, as linked fast in chains,
   With them to wait in fear for future pains.”

The poetical effusion entitled “Prison Meditations” does not in any way rise above the prosaic level of its predecessors.  But it can be read with less weariness from the picture it presents of Bunyan’s prison life, and of the courageous faith which sustained him.  Some unnamed friend, it would appear, fearing he might flinch, had written him a letter counselling him to keep “his head above the flood.”  Bunyan replied in seventy stanzas in ballad measure, thanking his correspondent for his good advice, of which he confesses he stood in need, and which he takes it kindly of him to send, even though his feet stand upon Mount Zion, and the gaol is to him like a hill from which he could see beyond this world, and take his fill of the blessedness of that which remains for the Christian.  Though in bonds his mind is free, and can wander where it will.

   “For though men keep my outward man
   Within their locks and bars,
   Yet by the faith of Christ, I can
   Mount higher than the stars.”

Meanwhile his captivity is sweetened by the thought of what it was that brought him there:—­

   “I here am very much refreshed
   To think, when I was out,
   I preached life, and peace, and rest,
   To sinners round about.

   My business then was souls to save
   By preaching grace and faith,
   Of which the comfort now I have
   And have it shall till death.

   That was the work I was about
   When hands on me they laid. 
   ’Twas this for which they plucked me out
   And vilely to me said,

   ’You heretic, deceiver, come,
   To prison you must go,
   You preach abroad, and keep not home,
   You are the Church’s foe.’

   Wherefore to prison they me sent,
   Where to this day I lie,
   And can with very much content
   For my profession die.

   The prison very sweet to me
   Hath been since I came here,
   And so would also hanging be
   If God would there appear.

   To them that here for evil lie
   The place is comfortless;
   But not to me, because that I
   Lie here for righteousness.