113. ONE THING IS NEEDFUL;

OR,

SERIOUS MEDITATIONS UPON THE FOUR LAST THINGS:

DEATH, JUDGMENT, HEAVEN, AND HELL.

PAST WHICH IS ADDED

EBAL AND GERIZZIM, OR THE BLESSING AND THE CURSE.

WITH PRISON MEDITATIONS, AND A CATALOGUE OF ALL THIS AUTHOR'S BOOKS. THE THIRD EDITION.—BY JOHN BUNYAN.

London: Printed for N.15, Powder, at the Peacock in the Poultry, 1658. According to Charles Doe, in that curious sheet called The Struggler for the Preservation of Mr. John Bunyan's Labours, these poems were published about the year 1664, while the author was suffering imprisonment for conscience sake, very probably in separate sheets or tracts, to be sold by his wife or children, to aid in their humble maintenance. They were afterwards united to form a neat little volume, 52mo. The editor is the fortunate possessor of the third edition, being the last that was printed during the author's lifetime, and with his latest corrections. From this the present edition has been accurately reprinted. The three tracts are distinct as to pages; a strong indication that they were originally separate little volumes. A copy of the fourth edition of this extremely rare book, without date, and somewhat larger in size, is in the British Museum, in which the pages are continued throughout the volume. The third poem, called Prison Meditations, we have already published in our first volume, as a suitable close to Bunyan's account of his trying and tedious imprisonment. These poems are upon subjects the most solemn and affecting to all mankind, and, like all Bunyan's other works, were evidently written, not for display, but to impress upon the heart those searching realities upon which depend our everlasting destiny. Die we must; yes, reader, you and I must follow our fathers to the unseen world. Heaven forbid that we should be such mad fools, as to make no provision for the journey; no inquiries about our prospects in that eternity into which we must so soon enter. True it is, that unless Heaven stops us in our mad career, we shall plunge into irretrievable ruin. In the first of these poems, many of the minute circumstances attendant on death are pressed upon the memory. Very soon, as Bunyan awfully expresses the thought, we must look death in the face, and 'drink with him.' Soon some kind friend or relative will close our eyelids, and shut up our glassy eyes for ever; tie up the fallen jaw, and prepare the corrupting body for its long, but not final resting-place. Our hour-glass is fast ebbing out; time stands ready with his scythe to cut us down; the grave yawns to receive us. 'Man dieth and wasteth away; yea, man giveth up the ghost, and where is he.' Job six. 10. The answer is ready, sure, certain—he goes to the judgment of the great day. There every thought that has passed over his mind, while on earth, will be manifested and scrutinized; every action, every sin, and every supposed good work, however private, will then be published. It is an awful thought. Thousands of works which are thought good will be weighed in the unerring balances of truth, will be found wanting, and proved to be bad, not arising from evangelical motives; while all our thoughts, words, and actions will appear in their real colours tainted by sin. Those only who are clothed in the Redeemer's righteousness, and cleansed by his purifying, sanctifying sufferings, can stand accepted, and will receive the invitation, Come, ye blessed, inherit the kingdom of your father, and your God, by adoption into his family; while an innumerable multitude will be hurried away by the voice of the judge, Go, ye cursed, into everlasting torment. ¹ On the reverse of the title-page is the following singular advertisement:—'This author having published many books, which have gone off very well, there are certain ballad-sellers about Newgate, and on London bridge, who have put the two first letters of this author's name, and his effigies, to their rhymes and ridiculous books, suggesting to the world as if they were his. Now know, that this author published his name at large to all his books, and what you shall see otherwise, he disowns.'—(Ed.) ONE THING IS NEEDFUL

Solemn consideration. Reader, have you fled for refuge to the hope set before you in the gospel? Have you felt the alarm in your soul under a sense of sin and judgment? Were you dead, and are you made alive? O, then, while you bless the Saviour for such unspeakable mercies, seek with all diligence, as life is prolonged, to extend the blessing to others. There is no work nor device in the grave, whither we are all hastening, that can benefit mortals. The great gulf will be fixed, and our state be finally decided for eternity. O, then, if you have not yet attained that good hope of heavenly felicity, sure and stedfast—hasten—yes, 'Hasten, O sinner, to be blest,

And stay not for the morrow's sun;

For fear the curse should thee arrest

Before the morrow be begun.'

SERIOUS MEDITATIONS UPON THE FOUR LAST THINGS—DEATH, JUDGMENT, HEAVEN, AND HELL. AN INTRODUCTION TO THE ENSITING DISCOURSE.

1. These lines I at this time present

To all that will them heed,

Wherein I show to what intent

God saith, Convert* with speed.

2. For these four things come on space,

Which we should know full well,

Both death and judgment, and, in place

Next to them, heaven and hell.

3. For doubtless man was never born

For this life and no more:

No, in the resurrection morn

They must have weal or woe.

4. Can any think that God should take

That pains, to form a man

So like himself, only to make

Him here a moment stand?

5. Or that he should make such ado,

By justice, and by grace;

By prophets and apostles too,

That men might see his face?

6. Or that the promise he hath made,

Also the threatenings great,

Should in a moment end and fade?

O! no, this is a cheat.

7. Besides, who is so mad, or worse,

To think that Christ should come

From glory, to be made a curse,

And that in sinners' room,

8. If nothing should by us be had

When we are gone from hence,

But vanities, while here? O mad

And foolish confidence.

9. Again, shall God, who is the truth,

Say there is heaven and hell

And shall men play that trick of youth

To say, But who can tell?

10. Shall he that keeps his promise sure

In things both low and small,

Yet break it like a man impure,

In matters great'st of all?

11. O, let all tremble at that thought,

That puts on God the lie,

That saith men shall turn unto nought

When they be sick and die.

12. Alas, death is but as the door

Through which all men do pass,

To that which they for evermore

Shall have by wrath or grace.

13. Let all therefore that read my lines,

Apply them to the heart:

Yes, let them read, and turn betimes,

And get the better part.

14. Mind therefore what I treat on here,

Yes, mind and weigh it well;

'Tis death and judgment, and a clear

Discourse of heaven and hell.