Works of John Bunyan Volume II Part 167

Q. How doth faith come gradually?--A. Perhaps at first it is but like a grain of mustard-seed, small, and weak (Matt 17:20).

Q. Will you explain it further?--A. Faith, at first, perhaps may have its excellency lie in view only, that is, in seeing where justification and salvation is; after that it may step a degree higher, and be able to say, it may be, or who can tell but I may obtain this salvation? again, it may perhaps go yet a step higher and arrive to some short and transient a.s.surance (Heb 11:13; Joel 2:13,14; Zeph 2:3; Psa 30:7).[16]

Q. But doth faith come only by hearing?--A. It is usually begotten by the word preached, but after it is begotten, it is increased several ways. It is increased by prayer (Luke 17:5; Mark 9:24). It is increased by christian conference (Rom 1:12). It is increased by reading (Rom 16:25,26). It is increased by meditation (1 Tim 4:12-16). It is increased by the remembrance of former experiences (Matt 16:8,9).

Q. What do these things teach us?--A. They teach us, that the men of this world are very ignorant of, and as much without desire after faith: they neither hear, nor pray, confer, nor read, nor meditate for the sake of faith.

Q. But you said even now, that this faith was distinguished from that which profiteth not to salvation, as by the manner of its coming, so by its operation: pray what is its operation?--A. It causeth the soul to see in the light thereof, that there is no righteousness in this world that can save the sinner (Isa 64:6).

Q. How doth it give the soul this sight?--A. By giving him to understand the law, and his own inability to fulfil it (Gal 2:16).

Q. And doth it always shew the soul where justifying righteousness is?--A. Yes. It shews that justifying righteousness is only to be found in the Lord Jesus Christ, in what he hath done and suffered in the flesh (Isa 45:24,25; Phil 3:3-9).

Q. How doth faith find this righteousness in Christ?--A. By the word, which is therefore called the word of faith, because faith, by that, findeth sufficient righteousness in him (Rom 10:6-9).

Q. How else doth it operate in the soul?--A. It applieth this righteousness to the sinner, and also helps him to embrace it (Rom 3:21,22; 1 Cor 1:30; Gal 2:20).

Q. How else doth it operate?--A. By this application of Christ, the soul is quickened to life, spiritualized and made heavenly. For right faith quickeneth to spiritual life, purifies and sanctifies the heart; and worketh up the man that hath it, into the image of Jesus Christ (Col 2:12,13; Acts 15:9, 26:18; 2 Cor 3:18).

Q. How else doth it operate?--A. It giveth the soul peace with G.o.d through Jesus Christ (Rom 5:1).

Q. Surely Christ is of great esteem with them that have this faith in him, is he not?--A. Yes, Yes. Unto them therefore which believe he is precious, precious in his person, precious in his undertakings, precious in his Word (1 Peter 2:7, 1:18,19; 2 Peter 1:3,4).

Q. Can these people then, that have this faith, endure to have this Christ spoken against?--A. O! No! This is a sword in their bones, and a burden that they cannot bear (Psa 42:10; Zeph 3:19).[17]

Q. Doth it not go near them when they see his ways and people discountenanced?--A. Yes; and they also choose rather to be despised and persecuted with them, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season (Heb 11:24,25).

Q. Do they not pray much for his second coming?--A. Yes, yes; they would fain see him on this side the clouds of heaven, their 'conversation is in heaven, from whence also they look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ' (Phil 3:20).

Q. And do they live in this world as if he were to come presently?--A.

Yes; for his coming will be glorious and dreadful, full of mercy and judgment. 'The day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pa.s.s away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought we to be in all holy conversation and G.o.dliness' (2 Peter 3:10,11).

Of Prayer.

Q. Well, I am glad that you have shewed me that I must wors.h.i.+p G.o.d by confession of sin, and faith in Jesus Christ: Is there any other thing a part of the true wors.h.i.+p of G.o.d?--A. Yes, several; I will mention only two more at this time.

Q. What are they?--A. Prayer and self-denial.

Q. Is prayer then a part of the wors.h.i.+p of G.o.d?--A. Yes; a great part of it.

Q. How do you prove that?--A. 'O come let us wors.h.i.+p and bow down: let us kneel before the Lord our maker' (Psa 95:6).

Q. Is there another scripture proves it?--A. Yes; 'Then came she and wors.h.i.+ped him, saying, Lord, help me' (Matt 15:25).

Q. What is prayer?--A. A sincere, sensible, affectionate pouring out of the soul to G.o.d in the name of Christ for what G.o.d hath promised (Prov 15:8; Jer 31:18,19; Psa 42:2-5; John 14:13,14; 1 John 5:14).

Q. Doth not every body pray?--A. No; 'The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after G.o.d: G.o.d is not in all his thoughts' (Psa 10:4).

Q. What will become of them that do not pray?--A. They do not wors.h.i.+p G.o.d, and he will destroy them; 'Pour out thy fury [said the prophet] upon the heathen,--and upon the families that call not on thy name' (Jer 10:25; Psa 79:6).

Q. But seeing G.o.d knoweth what we want, why doth he not give us what we need, without praying?--A. His counsel and wisdom leadeth him otherwise. 'Thus saith the Lord G.o.d, I will yet for this be enquired of by the house of Israel, to do it for them' (Eze 36:37).

Q. Why will G.o.d have us pray?--A. Because he would be acknowledged by thee, that he is above thee, and therefore would have thee come to him as the mean come to the mighty. Thus Abraham came unto him (Gen 18:27,30).

Q. Is there another reason why I should pray?--A. Yes. For by prayer thou acknowledgest, that help is not in thine own power (2 Chron 20:6,12).

Q. What reason else have you why I should pray?--A. By prayer thou confessest that help is only in him (Psa 62:1).

Q. What other reason have you?--A. By prayer thou confessest thou canst not live without his grace and mercy (Matt 14:30; Heb 4:16).

Q. Are all that pray heard of the Lord?--A. No; 'They looked,'

that is prayed, 'but there was none to save; even unto the Lord, but he answered them not' (2 Sam 22:42).

Q. To what doth G.o.d compare the prayers which he refuseth to answer?--A. He compareth them to the howling of a dog (Hosea 7:14).

Q. Who be they whose prayers G.o.d will not answer?--A. Theirs, who think to be heard for their much speaking, and vain repet.i.tion (Matt 6:7).

Q. Is there any other whose prayer G.o.d refuseth?--A. Yes; There are that ask and have not, because what they ask, they would spend upon their l.u.s.ts (James 4:3).

Q. Is there any other whose prayer G.o.d refuseth?--A. Yes; 'If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me' (Psa 66:18).[18]

Q. Is the regarding of sin in our heart such a deadly hinderance to prayer?--A. 'Son of man,' saith G.o.d, 'these men have set up their idols in their heart, and have put the stumblingblock of their iniquity before their face; should I be enquired of at all by them? I will set my face against that man, and will make him a sign and a proverb. And I will cut him off from the midst of my people' (Eze 14:3,8).

Q. Whose prayers be they that G.o.d will hear?--A. The prayers of the poor and needy (Psa 34:6; Isa 41:17).

Q. What do you mean by the poor?--A. Such as have poverty in spirit (Matt 5:3).

Q. Who are they that are poor in spirit?--A. They that are sensible of the want and necessity of all those things of G.o.d, that prepare a man to the kingdom of heaven.

Q. What things are they?--A. Faith, hope, love, joy, peace, a new heart, the Holy Ghost, sanctification. See James 2:5; 2 Thessalonians 2:16; Ezekiel 36:26,27.

Q. What do you mean by the needy?--A. Those whose souls long and cannot be satisfied without the enjoyment of these blessed things (Psa 63:1, 119:20).

Q. Will G.o.d hear the prayers of such?--A. Yes; 'For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness' (Psa 107:9).

Q. How shall I know that I am one of those to whom G.o.d will give these things?--A. If thou seest a beauty in them beyond the beauty of all other things (Psa 110:3).

Q. How else shall I know [that] he heareth me?--A. If thou desirest them for their beauty's sake (Psa 90:14,17).

Q. How else should I know I shall have them?--A. When thy groanings after them are beyond expression (Rom 8:26).[19]

Q. How else should I know, and so be encouraged to pray?--A.

When thou followest hard after G.o.d in all his ordinances for the obtaining of them (Isa 4:1,3, 64:5).

Q. How else should I know?--A. When thou makest good use of that little thou hast already (Rev 3:8).

Q. Are here all the good signs that my prayers shall be heard?--A.

No; there is one more without which thou shalt never obtain.