The Riches of Bunyan eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 591 pages of information about The Riches of Bunyan.

The Riches of Bunyan eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 591 pages of information about The Riches of Bunyan.

Therefore let him speak of love that is taken with love, that is captivated with love, that is carried away with love.  If this man speaks of it, his speaking signifies something; the powers and bands of love are upon him, and he shows to all that he knows what he is speaking of.  But the very mentioning of love is, in the mouth of the profane, like a parable in the mouth of fools.  Wherefore, Christian, improve this love of God as thou shouldst, and that will improve thee as thou wouldst.

It is natural for children to depend upon their father for what they want.  If they want a pair of shoes, they go and tell him; if they want bread, they go and tell him; so should the children of God do.  Do you want spiritual bread?  Go tell God of it.  Do you want strength of grace?  Ask it of God.  Do you want strength against Satan’s temptations?  Go and tell God of it.  When the devil tempts you, run home and tell your heavenly Father; go pour out your complaints to God; this is natural to children—­if any wrong them, they go and tell their father.

If thou wouldst improve this love of God and of Christ, keep thyself in it:  “Keep yourselves in the love of God.”  Living a holy life is the way, after a man has believed unto justification, to keep himself in the favor and comfort of the love of God.  And O that thou wouldst indeed do so.  And that because, if thou shalt want the savor of it, thou wilt soon want tenderness to the commandment, which is the rule by which thou must walk, if thou wilt do good to thyself, or honor God in the world.  “To him that ordereth his conversation aright, I will show the salvation of God.”  He that would live a sweet, comfortable, joyful life, must live a very holy life.

All God’s children are criers:  Cannot you be quiet unless you are filled with the milk of God’s word? cannot you be satisfied unless you have peace with God?  Pray you consider it, and be serious with yourselves; if you have not these marks, you will fall short of the kingdom of God, you shall never have an interest there:  there is no intruding:  they will say, “Lord, Lord, open unto us;” and he will say, “I know you not.”  No child of God, no heavenly inheritance.  O do not flatter yourselves with a portion among the sons, unless you live like sons.  When we see a king’s son playing with a beggar, this is unbecoming; so if you bo the King’s children, live like the King’s children:  if you be risen with Christ, set your affections on things above, and not on things below; when you come together, talk of what your Father promised you; you should all love your Father’s will, and be content and pleased with the exercises you meet with in the world; if you are the children of God, live together lovingly; if the world quarrel with you, it is no matter, but it is sad if you quarrel together:  if this be among you, it is a sign of ill-breeding; it is according to no rules you have in the word of God.  Dost thou see a soul that has the image of God in him?  Love him, love him; say, “This man and I must go to heaven one day;” serve one another, do good for one another; if any wrong you, pray to God to right you, and love the brotherhood.

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Project Gutenberg
The Riches of Bunyan from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.