John Bunyan

“ O let us strive to ‘run the race that is set before us,’ that we may have the standard Christ offers in the riches of his mercy, which nothing can come near in value. If we can possess ourselves to that, we have all that ought to be desireable, all that can make us eternally happy.———These are the only aims and hopes of the saints of God ; they desire to purchase nothing but Christ, and in him find all that is rich, glorious, and good, all that is lovely and amiable: the only pearl of price, the rich treasure in the field, for which we should part with all to purchase ”

“ The holy martyrs have held up their finger ends, blazing with the fire like so many torches, to light their souls to the mansions of eternal bliss, prepared for them by their Redeemer, and sung triumph and praises to the Lord Jesus, who strengthened and supported them in the midst of their trial ”

“ No worlds below, tho’ immutable, adorned with all the gaudy vanities and momentary pleasures, could balance the lead thought of eternal happiness, and many times raptures of joy, in holy and pious contemplations, have raised them to heaven itself, in imagination, whilst their bodies have remained on earth, and made them with St Paul cry out, 'That they desired to be disolved and to be with Christ'. ”

“ Could we have a prospect, though in a vision, of holy men, whole souls are redeemed from the earth, and triumphing, sing praises and hallelujahs in the highed heaven ; with what wonder and amasement the riches and mercy of our blessed Lord, transport and carry them away ”

“ If the queen of Sheba came to admire the wisdom of Solomon, ‘ Behold a greater ‘than Solomon is here !’ Behold here the wisdom of the Father, the eternal Word, by whom all things were made that are made ; and yet he offers himself with all that can be counted rich and glorious, to those that will freely embrace his tender love. ”

“ O what would not some men do for a small portion of earth, which at last they must be seperated from ? How do we behold worldlings grovelling below after vain transitory things, and sparing no pains, cost, hasard, nor danger, to acquire transitory trifles, and neglect to purchase, when such a pearl of price is to be had ! ”

“ We have a portion laid up, sufficient to satisfy the most desirous mind and craving appetite, not only in this world, but in the world to come ; the consideration of which made the apostle cry out, as in a rapture, ‘ O the heighth and depth 'of the riches and mercy of God in 'Christ Jesus.’ In this there is no fading riches, that ‘ make themselves wings and fly away,’ or are perishng and cannot reprieve us in our greatest necessity : But this is an unspeakable and everlasting treasure, beyond what the world can afford ; this treasure of riches is above the value of a thousand worlds. ”

“ This consideration caused the primitive Chlistians to seal their testimonies with their blood, running valiantly to flames and tortures, and not accepting any deliverance that might render them unworthy of the riches and mercy of their Redeemer, who had so freely laid down his life to purchase them glory and immortality, in a kingdom that last as long as God is God, and that is endless, and to all-eternity ”

“ Many times we find indeed that God withholds his hands from the righteeous, and gives them no such plenty of earthly things as the wicked commonly possess. This made David almost stumble, but when he had better considered, he greatly rejoiced. For. as our blessed Lord confessed that his kingdom was not of this world, we may well believe that those whom he loves should not have their portion here, but receive it in the kingdom prepared for them, in all fulness of joy and blessedness, even the riches of Christ shall be their part. ”

“ Would you be always in light? here needs no sun by day, nor noon by night ; the Lamb is the lamps, and the light of his countenance fills the
mansions ot eternity with dassling glory and rays of brightness, transcending all the brightness this world is carable of, far beyond what the sun affords, when shining in his full lustre. ”

“ But here let us consider ; to gain the riches of Christ we must give up ourselves wholly to his divine will, both soul and body, committing ourselves to him, as to the hands of a faithful Redeemer; for seeing he has redeemed us from cur enemies, and, therefore, we need nor Hand in fear of them, according to that of Isaiah xiv. ”

“ If we cast our anchor here, we have a sure foundation, and he that is the wise disposer of all things, will not suffer us, even in this life, to want what he sees convenient for us. ‘The earth is the Lord’s and the fulness thereof ”

“ These considerations, I think, should raise and influence the minds of men with desires suitable to the longing after a treasure so inestimable, a pearl worth more than ten thousands, a jewel no where else to be purchased, no where else to be found ”

“ Paul, when wrapt into the third heavens, though he knew not whether in the flesh or spirit, saw and heard things so unutterable, that his tongue perhaps was not capable of expressing words suitable to give mankind an account of them, tho’ he had thought sir, or been disposed to reveal them, and after that we find his mind inflamed after fuller fruition of them ”