Works of John Bunyan: REASONS WHY FEW ARE SAVED. 384

 

[USE AND APPLICATION OF THE WHOLE.]

I come now to make some brief use and application of the whole and

[USE FIRST.]—My first word shall be to the open profane. Poor sinner, thou read that, but a few will be saved; many who expect heaven will go without heaven. What sayest thou to this, poor sinner? Let me say it over again. There are but few to be saved, but very few. Let me add, but few professors—but few eminent professors. What sayest thou now, sinner? If judgment begins at the house of God, what will the end of them be if they do not obey the gospel of God? This is Peter's question. Canst thou answer it, sinner? Yea, I say again, if judgment must begin at them, will it not make thee think, What shall become of me? And I add, when thou shalt see the stars of heaven to tumble down to hell, canst thou think that such a muck-heap of sin as thou art shall be lifted up to heaven? To wit, Peter asks thee another question: "If the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?" (1 Peter 4:18) Canst thou answer this question, sinner?

Stand among the righteous thou mayest not: "The ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous." (Psa 1:5). Stand among the wicked thou then wilt not dare to do. Where wilt thou appear, sinner? To stand among the hypocrites will avail thee nothing. The hypocrite "shall not come before him," that is, with acceptance, but shall perish. (Job 13:16) Because it concerns you much, let me repeat it! When thou shalt see fewer sinners than thou art, bound up by angels in bundles, to burn them, where wilt thou appear, sinner? Thou mayest wish thyself another man, but that will not help thee, sinner. Thou mayest wish I had been converted in time, but that will not help thee either. And if, like the wife of Jeroboam, thou shouldst feign thyself to be another woman, the Prophet, the Lord Jesus, would soon find thee out! What wilt thou do, poor sinner? Heavy tidings, heavy tidings, will attend thee, except thou repent, poor sinner! (1 Kings 14:2,5,6, Luke 13:3,5) O, the dreadful state of a poor sinner, an open, profane sinner! Everybody that hath but common sense knows that this man is in the broad way to death, yet he laughs at his own damnation.

Shall I come to particulars with thee?

1. Poor unclean sinner, the "harlot's house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death." (Prov 2:18, 5:5, 7:27)

2. Poor swearing and thievish sinner, God hath prepared the curse, that "everyone that stealth shall be cut off as on this side according to it; and everyone that swears shall be cut off as on that side, according to it." (Zech 5:3)

3. Poor drunken sinner, what shall I say to thee? "Woe to the drunkards of Ephraim," "woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine, and men of—strong drink; they shall not inherit the kingdom of heaven." (Isa 28:1, 5:22, 1 Cor 6:9,10)

4. Poor covetous worldly man, God's Word says, that "the covetous the Lord abhorred"; that the "covetous man is an idolater"; and that the covetous "shall not inherit the kingdom of God." (Psa 10:3, Eph 5:5, John 2:15, 1 Cor 6:9,10)

5. And thou liar, what wilt thou do? "All liars shall have their part in the lake which burn with fire and brimstone." (Rev 21:8,27)

I shall not enlarge, poor sinner, let no man deceive thee; "for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience." (Eph 5:6) I will give thee a short call, and so leave thee.

Sinner, awake: yea, I say unto thee, awake! Sin lieth at thy door, God's axe at thy root, and hell-fire is proper underneath thee. (Gen 4:7) I say again, Awake! "Therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire." (Matt 3:10)

Poor sinner, awake; eternity is coming, and HIS SON, they are both coming to judge the world; awake, art yet asleep, poor sinner? Let me set the trumpet to the ear once again! The heavens will be shortly on a burning flame; the earth, and the works thereof, shall be burned up, and then wicked men shall go into perdition; dost thou hear this, sinner? (2 Peter 3) Hark again, the sweet morsels of sin will then be fled and gone, and their bitter, burning fruits only left. What sayest thou now, sinner? Canst thou drink hellfire? Will the wrath of God be a pleasant dish to thy taste? This must be thine every day's meat and drink in hell, sinner!

I will propound to you God's ponderous question, and then for this time leave thee: "Can thine heart endure, or can thine hands be strong, in the days that I shall deal with thee?" saith the Lord. (Eze 22:14) What sayest thou? Will you answer this question now, or will you take time? Or wilt thou be desperate and venture all? And let me put this text in thine ear to keep it open; and so the Lord have mercy upon thee: "Upon the wicked shall the Lord rain snares, fire and brimstone, and a horrible tempest; this shall be the portion of their cup." (Psa 11:6) Repent, sinners!