Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners

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John Bunyan. Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners

A PREFACE

GRACE ABOUNDING TO THE CHIEF OF SINNERS. OR, A BRIEF RELATION OF THE EXCEEDING MERCY OF GOD IN CHRIST, TO HIS POOR SERVANT, JOHN BUNYAN

A brief Account of the Author’s Call to the Work of the Ministry

A Brief Account of the Author’s Imprisonment

The Conclusion

A Relation of my Imprisonment in the Month of November 1660

A Continuation of Mr Bunyan’s Life; beginning where he left off, and concluding with the Time and Manner of his Death and Burial: together with his true Character, etc

A brief Character of Mr John Bunyan

POSTSCRIPT

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In this my relation of the merciful working of God upon my soul, it will not be amiss, if in the first place, I do in a few words give you a hint of my pedigree, and manner of bringing up; that thereby the goodness and bounty of God towards me, may be the more advanced and magnified before the sons of men.

2.  For my descent then, it was, as is well known by many, of a low and inconsiderable generation; my father’s house being of that rank that is meanest, and most despised of all the families in the land.  Wherefore, I have not here, as others, to boast of noble blood, or of any high-born state, according to the flesh; though, all things considered, I magnify the heavenly Majesty, for that by this door He brought me into the world, to partake of the grace and life that is in Christ by the gospel.

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56.  This resemblance abode upon my spirit many days; all which time I saw myself in a forlorn and sad condition, but yet was provoked to a vehement hunger and desire to be one of that number that did sit in the sunshine: Now also I should pray wherever I was: whether at home or abroad; in house or field; and would also often, with lifting up of heart, sing that of the fifty-first Psalm, O Lord, consider my distress; for as yet I knew not where I was.

57.  Neither as yet could I attain to any comfortable persuasion that I had faith in Christ; but instead of having satisfaction here, I began to find my soul to be assaulted with fresh doubts about my future happiness; especially with such as these, whether I was elected?  But how, if the day of grace should now be past and gone?

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