THIS admirable Treatise upon the most important of all subjects, that of the soul's salvation, was first published in a pocket volume in 1675. This has become rare but is inserted in every edition of the author's collected works. Our copy is reprinted from the first edition published after the author's decease, in a small folio volume of his works, 1691. Although it is somewhat encumbered with subdivisions, it is plain, practical, and written in Bunyan's strong and energetic style, calculated to excite the deepest attention and to fix the mind upon those solemn realities that alone can unite earth with heaven.
How extensive is the meaning of that little sentence, 'Saved by Grace!' It includes in it redemption from the curse of sin, which oppresses the poor sinner with the fears of everlasting burnings, while it elevates the body, soul, and spirit to an eternal and exceeding weight of glory—to the possession of infinite treasures, inconceivable, and that never fade away.
In opening and deeply investigating this subject, Bunyan shows his master hand in every page. It was a subject which, from his first conviction of sin while playing a gat at a cat on a Sunday, had excited his feelings intensely, absorbing all the powers of his soul. It was eminently to him the one thing needful—the sum and substance of human happiness. He felt that it included the preservation and re-structure of the body—raised from filth and vileness—from sickness, pain, and disease—from death and the grave—to be perfected in immortality like the Saviour's glorious body. That included in this salvation is the death of death and the swallowing up of the grave, to be no more seen forever. The soul will be perfect and, reunited with the body, be filled 'with bliss and glory, as much as ever it can hold;' all jars and discord between soul and body will be finished, and the perfect man be clothed with righteousness; in a word, be like Christ and with him. All this is the work of grace performed by the ever-blessed Trinity.
In displaying the feelings and experience of the inquiring, alarmed, quickened sinner, we are instructed by a continual illustration of the Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners. He manifests profound knowledge of the devices of Satan—the workings of unbelief—the difficulties thrown by the wicked one in the way of the sinner to prevent his approach to Christ. He fastens conviction upon conviction and gives blow upon blow to human pride, proving that nothing in our fallen nature can be found to recommend the sinner to God—all is of grace—from the foundation to the top stone of a sinner's salvation. Above all, he clearly shows that salvation by grace is the most sin-killing doctrine in the world and the most consoling tidings that can be brought to a sin-sick soul. 'O, when a God of grace is upon a throne of grace, and a poor sinner stands by and begs for grace, and that in the name of a gracious Christ, in and by the help of the Spirit of grace, can it be otherwise but that such a sinner must obtain mercy and grace to help in time of need? O, then, COME BOLDLY!'
But I must not detain the reader from entering upon this solemn subject, only for a moment, while I quote another passage conceived in all the ardor of Bunyan's feelings:—' O Son of God! Grace was in all thy tears—grace came out where the. Whip smote thee, where the thorns pricked thee, where the nails and spear pierced thee! O blessed Son of God! Here is grace indeed!' Unsearchable riches of grace! Grace to make angels wonder, make sinners happy, and astonish devils! And what will become of them that trample underfoot this Son of God?'
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