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T H E By J O H N.B U N Y A N. "And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely."–Revelation 22:17 L O N D O N, Printed for Nathanael Ponder, at the Peacock in the Poultry, 1688. Published the year John Bunyan died. |
THE EPISTLE TO THE READER.
OURTEOUS READER,
I have now presented thee with something of a discourse of the water of life and
it's virtues; therefore, thou mayest, if thou wilt, call this book Bunyan's Bill
of his Master's Water of Life. True, I have not set forth at large the excellent
nature and quality thereof, nor can that so be done by the pen or tongue of men or
angels. Yet this I have said, and so saying, said truly, that whosoever shall drink
of this water shall find it in him a well of water; and not only so, but a well springing
up in him to everlasting life, let his disease be what it will. And as men, in their
bills for conviction to readers, do give an account to the country of the persons
cured, and the diseases that have been removed by liquors and preparations, they
have made for that end, so could I, were it not already (by Holy Writ) done by an
infallible pen to my hand, give you accounts of numberless numbers that have not
only been made to live, but to live for ever, by drinking of this water, this pure
water of life. Many of them indeed are removed from hence, and live where they cannot
be spoken with was yet; but abundance of them do still remain here, and have their
abode yet with men.
Only, if thou wouldst drink it, drink it by itself, and that thou mayest not be deceived
by that which is counterfeit, know it is as it comes from the hand of our Lord, without
mixture, pure and clear as crystal. I know there are many mountebanks in the world,
and every of them pretend they have this water to sell; but my advice is, that thou
go directly to the throne thyself (Heb 4:16); or as thou art bidden come to the waters
(Isa 55:1), and there thou shalt be sure to have that which is right and good, and
that which will certainly make thee well, let thy disease, or trouble, or pain, or
malady, be what it will. For the price, care not for that, it is cheap enough, this
is to be had without money or price. "I will give," saith God and the Lamb,
"unto him that is athirst, of the fountain of the water of life freely"
(Rev 21:6). Hence he says again, "Whosoever will, let him take the water of
life freely" (Rev 22:17). So that thou hast no ground to keep back because of
thy poverty; nay, for the poor it is prepared and set open, to the poor it is offered,
the poor and needy may have it of free cost (Isa 41:17,18).[1]
But let it not be slighted because it is offered to thee upon terms so full, so free.
For thou art sick, and sick unto death, if thou drinkest not of it, nor is there
any other than this that can heal thee, and make thee well. Farewell. The Lord be
thy physician! So prays thy friend,
JOHN BUNYAN.
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