A30213:61
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.
A River will take away the very stink of a dead Dog, nor doth all the Soil and Draught that is cast into Rivers, cause that those that can should be afraid to make use thereof: All that have need do betake themselves to this River notwithstanding. But how much more virtue is there in this sweet River of Grace that is designed, yea opened on purpose to wash away Sin and Uncleanness in, to carry away all our Filth, and to remain as virtuous still?
A River will take away the very stink of a dead Dog, nor doth all the Soil and Draught that is cast into Rivers, cause that those that can should be afraid to make use thereof: All that have need do betake themselves to this River notwithstanding. But how much more virtue is there in this sweet River of Grace that is designed, yea opened on purpose to wash away Sin and Uncleanness in, to carry away all our Filth, and to remain as vertuous still?
IV. It is called a River, to show that it yields a continual supply, as I may call it, of new and fresh Grace. Rivers yield continually fresh and new Water. For tho the Channel or Water-course in which the Water runs, is the same, yet the Waters ⟨p. 23⟩themselves are always new. That Water that but one Minute since, stood in this place or that of the River, is now gone, and new and fresh is come in its place. And thus it is with the River of God, which is full of Water; it yieldeth continually fresh Supplies, fresh and new Supplies of Grace to those that have Business in these Waters. And this is the reason that when Sin is pardoned, it seems as if it were carried away. These Waters have with their continual Streams, carried away the filth of the Sinner from before his Face. It is not so with Ponds, Pools and Cisterns; they will be foul and stink, if they be not often emptied, and filled again with fresh water. We must then put a difference between the Grace that dwelleth in us, and this River of Water of Life. We are but as Ponds, Pools and Cisterns that can hold but little, and shall also soon stink notwithstanding ⟨p. 24⟩