Works of John Bunyan: THE STRAIT GATE. 373

 

[MOTIVE TO STRIVE TO ENTER INTO THIS KINGDOM.]

God calls for faith, good conscience, moderation, self-denial, humility, heavenly-mindedness, love to saints and enemies, and conformity in heart, in word, and life to his will, but where is it? (Mark 11:22, 1 Peter 3:16, Heb 13:5, Phil 4:5, Matt 10:37-39, Col 3:1-4, Micah 6:8, Rev 2:10, John 15:17, 1 John 4:21, Matt 5:44, Prov 23:26, Col 4:6)

[Import of the words I SAY UNTO YOU.]

"For many, I say unto you." These latter words carry in them a double argument to prove the truth asserted before: First, he directly pointed at his followers: "I say unto you": Many, I say unto you, even to you that are my disciples, to you that have eaten and drunk in my presence. I know that sometimes Christ hath directed his speech to his disciples, not so much upon their accounts, as upon the accounts of others; but here it is not so; the "I say unto you," in this place, it immediately concerned some of themselves: I say unto you, ye shall begin to stand without and to knock, "saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us, and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are; then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets. But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity"; it is you, you, YOU, that I mean! "I say unto you." When they hear a thoughtful and thundering sermon, it is familiar with professing people to say, Now has the preacher paid off the drunkard, the swearer, the liar, the covetous, and adulterer, forgetting that these sins may be committed spiritually and mystically. There is spiritual drunkenness and spiritual adultery, and a man may be a liar who calls God his Father when he is not or who calls himself a Christian and is not.

Wherefore, perhaps all these thunders and lightning in this terrible sermon may more concern thee than thou art aware of: "I say unto you"; unto you, professors, maybe the application of all this thunder. (Rev 2:9, 3:9)

"I say unto you!" Had not the Lord Jesus designed by these words to show what an overthrow will one day be made among professors, he needed not to have you'd it at this rate, as in the text, and afterward, he has done; the sentence had run intelligible enough without it; I say, without his saying, "I say unto you." But the truth is, the professor is in danger; the preacher and the hearer, the workers of miracles, and workers of wonders, may all be in danger of damning, notwithstanding all their attainments. And to awaken us all about this truth, the text must run thus: "For many, I say unto YOU, shall seek to enter in, and shall not be able."

See you not yet that the professor is in danger and that those words, "I say unto you," are a prophecy of the everlasting perdition of some famous in the congregation of saints? I say, if you do not see it, pray God your eyes may be opened, and beware that thy portion be not as the portion of one of those that are wrapped up in the 28th verse of the chapter: "There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of heaven, and you thrust out."

"For many, I say unto you." These words, I told you, carry in them a double argument for confirmation of the truth asserted before: first, that professors are here particularly pointed at; and, secondly, it is the saying of the Truth himself: for these words, "I say," are words total of authority; I say it, I say unto you, says Christ, as he saith in another place, "It is I that speak; behold it is I!" The person whose words we have now under consideration was no blundering, raw-headed preacher. Still, the very wisdom of God, his Son, and him that hath lain in his bosom from everlasting, and consequently had the most perfect knowledge of his Father's will, and how it would fare with professors at the end of this world. And now hearken what himself doth say of the words which he hath spoken; "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away." (Matt 24:35)

"I say unto you." The prophets did not speak after this manner, nor yet the holy apostles; thus, to speak is to press things to be received upon their own authority. They used to say, Thus saith the Lord, or Paul, or Peter, an apostle, or a servant of God. But now we are dealing with the words of the Son of God; HE hath said it; we find the truth of the perishing of many professors asserted and confirmed by Christ's mouth. This consideration carried great awakening in it, but into such a fast sleep are many nowadays fallen that nothing will awaken them but that shrill and terrible cry, "Behold, the Bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him."