was given before, with that given on Sinai, yet it was not fo eafie to be read, and to be taken notice of, in that the ftones were not whole, but broken, and fo the Law written thereon fomewhat defaced, and disfigured.

But if any object and fay, tho' the fins against the one, be the fins against the other, and fo in that they do agree; yet it doth not appear, that the fame is therefore the fame Covenant of Works with the other.

Anfw. That which was given to Adam in Paradife, you will grant was the Covenant of Works; for it runs thus, Do thus, and live, Do it not, and die; nay, Thou shalt furely die. Now there is but one Covenant of Works: If therefore I prove, that that which was delivered on mount Sinai, is the Covenant of Works, then all will be put out of doubt. Now that this is fo, it is evident:

Firft, Confider the two Covenants are thus called in Scripture, the one the adminiftration of death, and the other the adminiftration of life; the one the Covenant of Works, the other of Grace; but that delivered on Sinai, is called the miniftration of death; that therefore is the Covenant of Works, 2 Cor. 3. For if (faith he) the miniftration of death, written and engraven in ftones, was glorious, &c.

Secondly, The Apoftle writing to the Galatians, doth labour to beat them off from trusting. in the Covenant of Works; but when he comes to give a difcovery of that Law, or Covenant (he labouring to take them off from trusting in it) he doth plainly tell them, it is that which was given cn Sinai, Gal. 4. 24, 25. Therefore that which was delivered in two tables of ftone

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right places, that when he speaks of the one, he doth not juftle the other out of its place. O, to be fo well enlightened, as to speak of the one, that is the Law, for to magnifie the Gospel; and alfo, to speak of the Gefpel, fo as to establifh (and yet not to idolize) the Law, nor any particular thereof, it is rare! and to be heard and found but in very few Mens breasts.

If thou fhould' ft fay, What is it to speak to each of thefe two Covenants, fo as to fet them in their right places, and alfo to ufe the terror of the one, so as to magnifie and advance the glory of the other?

To this I fhall answer alfo, Read the enfuing Dif courfe but with an understanding heart, and it is like thou wilt find a Reply therein to the fame purpose, which may be to thy fatisfaction.

Reader, If thou do find this Book empty of fantastical Expreffions, and without light, vain, whimsical Scholar-like Terms, thou must understand, it is becaufe I never went to School to Aristotle or Plato, but was brought up at my Father's House, in a very mean condition, among a company of poor Countrymen. But if thou do find a parcel of plain, yet found, Frue, and home Sayings, attribute that to the Lord Jefus his gifts and abilities, which he hath bestowed. upon such a poor Creature as I am, and have been. And if thou, being a feeing Chriftian, doft find me coming foort, though rightly touching at fome things, attribute that either to my brevity, or, if thou wilt, to my weaknesses (for I am full of them.) A word or two more, and so I fhall have done with this.

And the first is, Friend, If thou do not defire the Salvation of thy Soul, yet I pray thee to read this Book over with ferious Confideration; it may be it will ftir up in thee fome defires to look out after it, which at present thou mayeft be without.

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Secondly

Secondly, If thou do find any ftirrings in thy Heart, by thy reading fuch an unworthy Man's Works as mine are; be fure that in the first place thou give Glory to God, and give way to thy Convictions, and be not too baffy in getting them off from thy Confcience; but let them fo work till thou do fee thy felf by Nature, void of all Grace, as Faith, Hope, Knowledge of God, Chrift, and the Covenant of Grace.

Thirdly, Then in the next place, fly in all hafte to Jesus Chrift, thou being fenfible of thy Loft Condition without him, feererly perfwading of the Soul, that Jefus Chrift ftandeth open armed to receive thee, to wash away thy Sins, to cloath thee with his Righteoufnefs; and is willing, to present thee before the Prefence of the Glory of Ged, and mong the innumerable Company of Angels with exceeding Joy. This being bus, in the next place, do not fatisfie thy felf with thefe fecret and for Perfmafions, which do, or may encourage thee to come to Jefus Chrift; but be reftlefs till thou do find by bleffed Experience, the glorious Glory of this the Second Covenant extended unto thee, and fealed upon thy Soul with the very Spirit of the Lord JesusChrift. And that thou mayeft not flight this my Counsel, I beseech thee in the second place, confider these following things.

Firft, If thou do get off thy Convictions, and not the. right way, (which is by feeing thy Sins washed away by the Blood of Jefus Chrift) it is a question whether ever God will knock at thy Heart again or no; but rather say, Such a one is joined to Idols; let him alone. Hof. 4. 17. Though he be in a natural state, let him alone. Though he be in, or under the Curfe of the Law, let him alone Though be be in the very band of the Devil, let him alone. Though be be a going poft haft to Hell, let him alone. Though bis Damnation will not only be Damnation. for Sins against the Law, but also for flighting the Gospel, yet, let him alone. My Spirit, my Minifters, my Word, myy Grace, my Mercy, my Love, my Pity,. my common Providences, fhall no more ftrive with him, let him alone. 0. Sad! O miferable! who would flight Convictions that are on their Souls, which tend fo much for their good?

Secondly,

Secondly, If thou shalt not regard how thou do put off Convictions, but put them off without the precious Blood fChrift being favingly applied to thy Soul; thou are fure to have the mifpending of that Conviction to prove the hardning of thy Heart against the next time thou art to bear the Word preached or read. This is commonly feen, that thofe Souls that have not regarded thofe Convictions that are at firft fet upon their Spirits, do commonly (and that by the juft Fudgments of God upon them) grow more hard, more fexflefs, more feared and fottish in their Spirits ; for fome, who formerly would quake and weep, and relent under the bearing of the Word, do now for the prefent fit fo fenfefs, fo feared, and hardned in their Confciences, that certainly if they should have Hell fire thrown in their Faces, as it is fometimes cried up in their Ears, they would fearce be moved; and this comes upon them as a just Judgment of God, 2 Theff. 2. 11, 12.

Thirdly, If thou de flight thefe, or thofe Convictions that may be fet upon thy Heart, by reading of this Difcourfe, or hearing of any other good Man preach the Word of God fincerely; thou wilt have the fifling of these or those Convictions to account and anfwer for at the Day of Judg ment! Not only thy Sins that are commonly committed by thee in thy Calling and common Difcourfe, but thou shalt be called to a Reckoning for fighting Convictions, difres garding of Convictions, which God ufeth as a special Means to make poor Sinners fee their loft Condition, and the need of a Saviour. Now here I might add many more Confiderations befides thefe, to the end thou mayeft be wil ling to tend, and liften to Convictions; as,

Firft, Confider thou haft a precious Soul, more worth than the whole World; and this is commonly worked upon (if ever it be faved) by Convictions.

Secondly, This Soul is (for certain) to go to Hell, if thou shalt be a fighter of Convictions.

Thirdly. If thou go to Hell, thy Body must go thither too, and thence never to come out again. Now confider this, you that (are apt to) forget God (and his Cónvictions) left he tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver, Pfal. 50, 22,

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But if thou fhalt be fuch a one, that shall, notwithStanding thy reading of thy Mifery, and also of God's Mercy, fill perfift to go on in thy Sins; know in the fir place that here thou shalt be left, by things that thou readeft, without excufe; and in the World to come thy Damnation will be exceedingly aggravated, for thy not regarding of them, and turning from thy Sins; which was not only reproved by them, but alfo for rejecting of that Word of Grace that did inftruct thee how, and which way, bon fhould't be faved from them. And so farewell, 1 fall leave thee, and alfo this Difcourfe, to God, who I know will pass a righteous Judgment both upon that and thee. 1 am yours, the not to ferve your Lufts and filthy Minds, yet to reprove, infruct, and according to that proportion of Faith and Knowledge which God hath given me, to declare unto you the Way of Life and Salvation. Your judgings. railings, furmifings, and disdaining of me, that 1 fhall leave till the fiery Judgment comes, in which the Offender fhall not go unpunished, be be you or me; yet 1 fhall pray for you, with well to you, and do you what good I can. And that I might not write or speak in vain, Chriftian, pray for me to our God, with much earnestness, fervency, and fre quently, in all your knocking at y ur Father's Door, because I do very much fand in need thereof; for my Work is great, my Heart is vile, the Devil lieth at watch, the World would fain be faying, Aha, aha thus we would have it; and of my felf, keep my felf I cannot; Truft my felf 1 dare. not; if God do not help me, I am fure it will not be long before my Heart deceive me, and the World have their Advantage of me; and fo God be difhonoured by me, and thou also afham'd to own me. O therefore be much in Prayer for me, thy Fellow. I trust in that glorious Grace that is conveyed from Heaven to Sinners, by which they are not only fanctified here in this World, but fhall be glorified in that which is to come: Unto which, the Lord of his Mercy bring us all.

JOHN BUNYAN

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