A30213:131
The water of life, or, A discourse showing the richness and glory of the…The water of life, or, A discourse shewing the richness and glory of the…
The water of life, or, A discourse showing the richness and glory of the grace and spirit of the gospel, as set forth in Scripture by this term, The water of life by John Bunyan.The water of life, or, A discourse shewing the richness and glory of the grace and spirit of the gospel, as set forth in Scripture by this term, The water of life by John Bunyan.
London: printed for Nathanael Ponder, 1688
Title page typeset from the transcription.
OF THE River of Water OF LIFE.OF THE River of VVater OF LIFE.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Now take [pure] in this sense here, and then the meaning is, 'Tis ⟨p. 80⟩Grace without deceit, without guile; its show, and its substance is the same; it has nothing but substance in it; it is indeed what it seems to be in bulk; 'tis a River in show, and a River indeed. It comes from God and from his Throne in appearance, and really it comes from his very heart.
Now take [pure] in this sence here, and then the meaning is, 'Tis ⟨p. 80⟩Grace without deceit, without guile; its shew, and its substance is the same; it has nothing but substance in it; it is indeed what it seems to be in bulk; 'tis a River in shew, and a River indeed. It comes from God and from his Throne in appearance, and really it comes from his very heart.
The great fear of the Tempted is, that there is not so much Grace in God, and that he is not so free of it, as some Scriptures seem to import. But this word PURE, is levelled against such Objections and Objectors, for the destroying of their doubts, and the relieving of their Souls. There is no fraud, nor guile, nor fable in the business; for tho God is pleased to present us with his Grace, under the notion of a River, it is not to delude our fancies thereby; but to give us some small illustration of the exceeding Riches of his Grace, which as far for quantity ⟨p. 81⟩out-strips the biggest Rivers as the most mighty Mountain doth the least Ants Egg, or Atom in the World.
Thirdly, But again this word [pure] is set in opposition to that which is hurtful and destructive. I am pure from the blood of all men; that is, I have hurt no body. The