A30213:136
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.
And here I may say, tho Grace is pure, and not hurtful at all; yet one altogether carnal, sinful, and graceless, having to do with the Doctrine of it, by the force of HIS Lusts which tamper with it, he will unavoidably bring himself into the highest ruins thereby. An unwary man may destroy himself by the best of things, not because there is in such things, an aptness to destroy; but because of the abuse and misuse of them. Some know the way of Life, 1the Water of Life, by knowledge that is naked and speculative only; and it had been better for such if they had not known, than to know and turn from what they know; then to know and make that knowledge subservient to their Lusts. Some receive the Rain of God, and the droppings o his Clouds, because they continually sit under the means of his Grace. But alas! they receive it as Stones receive Showers, or as Dung-hills receive ⟨p. 85⟩the Rain: They either abide as hard Stones still, or else return nothing to Heaven for his mercy, but as the Dung-hills do, a company of stinking Fumes. These are they that drink in the Rain that comes often upon them, and that instead of bringing forth Herbs meet for the dresser, bring forth Briars and Thorns: and 2these are they who are nigh unto cursing whose end is to be burned.
And here I may say, tho Grace is pure, and not hurtful at all; yet one altogether carnal, sinful, and graceless, having to do with the Doctrine of it, by the force of HIS Lusts which tamper with it, he will unavoidably bring himself into the highest ruines thereby. An unwary man may destroy himself by the best of things, not because there is in such things, an aptness to destroy; but because of the abuse and misuse of them. Some know the way of Life, 1the Water of Life, by knowledge that is naked and speculative only; and it had been better for such if they had not known, than to know and turn from what they know; then to know and make that knowledge subservient to their Lusts. Some receive the Rain of God, and the droppings o his Clouds, because they continually sit under the means of his Grace. But alas! they receive it as Stones receive Showers, or as Dung-hills receive