A30213:74
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.
Nor doth the Lamb of God, by becoming a means through death, of the conveyance of Grace to us, at all darken the nature or glory of Grace, but rather doth set it off the more. For wherein can Grace or Love more appear, than in his laying down his Life for us? I speak now of the Grace of the Son. And wherein could the nature and glory of grace of the Father more appear than in giving his Son to death for us, that grace might in a way of Justice as well as Mercy be bestowed upon the World? Wherefore, as he saith here, that the River of Water of Life proceedeth from God, so he adds, that the Lamb, because he would have us, while we are ⟨p. 34⟩entangled and overcome with this River of Gods pleasure, not forget what it cost the Lamb of God that this Grace might come unto us.
Nor doth the Lamb of God, by becoming a means thorow death, of the conveyance of Grace to us, at all darken the nature or glory of Grace, but rather doth set it off the more. For wherein can Grace or Love more appear, than in his laying down his Life for us? I speak now of the Grace of the Son. And wherein could the nature and glory of grace of the Father more appear than in giving his Son to death for us, that grace might in a way of Justice as well as Mercy be bestowed upon the World? Wherefore, as he saith here, that the River of Water of Life proceedeth from God, so he adds, that the Lamb, because he would have us, while we are ⟨p. 34⟩intangled and overcome with this River of Gods pleasure, not forget what it cost the Lamb of God that this Grace might come unto us.
For the Riches of Grace and of Wisdom is, that Grace comes to us not only in a way of Mercy and Compassion, but in a way of Justice and Equity; but that could be by no other means, but by redeeming Blood. Which redeeming Blood came not from us, nor yet through our contrivance or advice; wherefore whatever it is to the Lamb, still all is of Grace to us. yea, the higher, the greater, the richer is Grace by how much the more it cost the Father and the Lamb, that we might enjoy it. When a man shall not only design me a Purse of Gold, but shall venture his Life to bring it to me, This is Grace indeed. But alas! what are a thousand such short Comparisons to the unsearchable Love of Christ?