Appearance
Excerpt
Excerpt from Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners, by John Bunyan
CHILDREN, Grace be with you. Amen. I being taken from you in
presence, and so tied up that I cannot perform that duty, that from God
doth lie upon me to you-ward, for your farther edifying and building up
in faith and holiness, etc., yet that you may see my soul hath fatherly
care and desire after your spiritual and everlasting welfare, I now once
again, as before, from the top of Shenir and Hermon, so now from the
lions’ dens, from the mountains of the leopards (Song iv. 8), do look
yet after you all, greatly longing to see your safe arrival into THE
desired Haven.
I thank God upon every remembrance of you; and rejoice, even while I
stick between the teeth of the lion in the wilderness, that the grace and
mercy, and knowledge of Christ our Saviour, which God hath bestowed upon
you, with abundance of faith and love; your hungerings and thirstings
after farther acquaintance with the Father, in the Son; your tenderness
of heart, your trembling at sin, your sober and holy deportment also,
before both God and men, is a great refreshment to me; For ye are our
glory and joy. 1 Thess. ii. 20.
I have sent you here enclosed, a drop of that honey that I have taken out
of the carcase of a lion. Judg. xiv. 5–8. I have eaten thereof myself,
and am much refreshed thereby. (Temptations, when we meet them at first,
are as the lion that roared upon Samson; but if we overcome them, the
next time we see them, we shall find a nest of honey within them.) The
Philistines understand me not. It is something of a relation of the
work of God upon my soul, even from the very first, till now, wherein you
may perceive my castings down, and risings up: for He woundeth, and His
hands make whole. It is written in the Scripture, Isa. xxxviii. 19, The
father to the children shall make known Thy truth. Yea, it was for this
reason I lay so long at Sinai, Lev. iv. 10, 11, to see the fire, and the
cloud, and the darkness, that I might fear the Lord all the days of my
life upon earth, and tell of His wondrous works to my children. Psalm
lxxviii. 3–5.
Explanation
Detailed Explanation of the Excerpt from Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners by John Bunyan
1. Context of the Work
Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners (1666) is a spiritual autobiography by John Bunyan (1628–1688), the Puritan preacher and author best known for The Pilgrim’s Progress. Written during Bunyan’s imprisonment (1660–1672) for unauthorized preaching, the work recounts his spiritual struggles—his conviction of sin, despair, and eventual assurance of salvation through God’s grace. The excerpt is addressed to his congregation (his "children" in faith), whom he cannot physically shepherd due to his imprisonment. It serves as both a pastoral letter and a testimony of God’s work in his life, intended to encourage believers in their own spiritual journeys.
2. Breakdown of the Excerpt
A. Opening Address: A Father’s Longing for His Spiritual Children (First Paragraph)
"CHILDREN, Grace be with you. Amen. I being taken from you in presence, and so tied up that I cannot perform that duty... yet that you may see my soul hath fatherly care and desire after your spiritual and everlasting welfare..."
- Tone & Audience: Bunyan addresses his congregation as "children", emphasizing his pastoral and paternal role. Despite physical separation (imprisonment), he remains spiritually connected.
- Imagery of Separation:
- "tied up" → Imprisonment (Bunyan was jailed for preaching without a license under the Conventicle Act).
- "cannot perform that duty" → His inability to preach or shepherd them in person.
- Metaphorical Locations:
- "top of Shenir and Hermon" (Deut. 3:9, Ps. 133:3) → Symbolizes elevated spiritual perspective (Mount Hermon was a place of divine revelation).
- "lions’ dens, mountains of the leopards" (Song of Solomon 4:8) → Represents persecution and danger (lions and leopards symbolize adversaries, likely referring to his jailers or spiritual trials).
- "desired Haven" → Heaven (Heb. 6:19–20; the ultimate goal of the Christian pilgrimage, a key theme in The Pilgrim’s Progress).
Purpose: Despite suffering, Bunyan’s primary concern is their spiritual welfare, framing his letter as a father’s blessing and guidance from afar.
B. Joy in Their Spiritual Growth (Second Paragraph)
"I thank God upon every remembrance of you; and rejoice... that the grace and mercy, and knowledge of Christ our Saviour... your hungerings and thirstings after farther acquaintance with the Father, in the Son..."
- Apostolic Echo: Mirrors Paul’s letters (e.g., 1 Thess. 2:20, Phil. 1:3–4), reinforcing Bunyan’s role as a spiritual father.
- Evidence of Grace in Them:
- "grace and mercy... knowledge of Christ" → Salvation and doctrinal understanding.
- "abundance of faith and love" → Genuine Christian virtues (1 Cor. 13:13).
- "hungerings and thirstings" (Matt. 5:6) → Spiritual desire for God.
- "tenderness of heart, trembling at sin" → Conviction and repentance (Isa. 66:2).
- "sober and holy deportment" → Visible sanctification (Titus 2:12).
- Contrast with His Suffering:
- "while I stick between the teeth of the lion" → His persecution is ongoing, yet he rejoices in their faith (like Paul in prison, Phil. 1:12–18).
- "ye are our glory and joy" (1 Thess. 2:20) → His ministry’s fruit is his comfort.
Significance: Bunyan finds joy in their spiritual maturity, despite his own trials, demonstrating selfless pastoral love.
C. The "Honey from the Lion’s Carcase" (Third Paragraph)
"I have sent you here enclosed, a drop of that honey that I have taken out of the carcase of a lion... Temptations, when we meet them at first, are as the lion that roared upon Samson; but if we overcome them, the next time we see them, we shall find a nest of honey within them."
Biblical Allusion: References Judges 14:5–8, where Samson kills a lion and later finds honey in its carcass.
- Lion = Temptation/Persecution (1 Pet. 5:8, "your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion").
- Honey = Spiritual Sweetness (Ps. 19:10, "sweeter than honey").
Metaphor Explained:
- Initial Fear: Temptations roar like a lion (terrifying, overwhelming).
- Victory’s Reward: After overcoming, they yield honey—spiritual insight, strength, or joy.
Application to Bunyan’s Life:
- His imprisonment (the "lion") became the means of writing Grace Abounding and The Pilgrim’s Progress—honey for future believers.
- His spiritual struggles (despair, doubt) led to deeper faith, which he now shares.
"The Philistines understand me not":
- Philistines = Unbelievers (or his persecutors) who cannot comprehend spiritual truths (1 Cor. 2:14).
- His suffering and writing are mysteries to the world but treasures for the faithful.
Literary Device: Extended metaphor (lion/honey) to illustrate God’s redemptive work in trials.
D. Purpose of His Testimony (Final Lines)
"It is something of a relation of the work of God upon my soul... wherein you may perceive my castings down, and risings up: for He woundeth, and His hands make whole... that I might fear the Lord all the days of my life upon earth, and tell of His wondrous works to my children."
- Themes of Suffering and Restoration:
- "castings down, and risings up" → Spiritual cycles of despair and hope (Ps. 42:5–11).
- "He woundeth, and His hands make whole" (Job 5:18, Hos. 6:1) → God’s sovereign discipline and healing.
- Purposes of His Writing:
- Obedience to Scripture:
- "The father to the children shall make known Thy truth" (Isa. 38:19) → Passing on spiritual heritage.
- "tell of His wondrous works to my children" (Ps. 78:4) → Testimony as discipleship.
- Personal Sanctification:
- "I lay so long at Sinai" (Ex. 19–20) → God’s law convicted him deeply (Rom. 7:7–13).
- "to see the fire, and the cloud, and the darkness" → Experiencing God’s holiness and mystery (Ex. 24:17).
- "that I might fear the Lord all my days" → Trials produced reverence and faith.
- Obedience to Scripture:
Significance: Bunyan’s suffering was not wasted—it deepened his faith and provided a guide for others.
3. Key Themes
- Divine Sovereignty in Suffering:
- God wounds and heals (Deut. 32:39); trials are purposeful.
- Pastoral Love & Discipleship:
- Bunyan’s fatherly care extends beyond physical presence.
- Victory in Spiritual Warfare:
- Temptations, though fierce, yield sweetness when overcome by grace.
- Testimony as Encouragement:
- Sharing one’s spiritual battles strengthens others (2 Cor. 1:4).
- Pilgrimage Motif:
- Life is a journey to the "desired Haven" (heaven), with trials as refining steps.
4. Literary Devices
| Device | Example | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Metaphor | "lions’ dens," "honey from a lion" | Vividly conveys spiritual conflict and reward. |
| Allusion | Judges 14, Song of Solomon 4:8, Isaiah 38 | Roots his experience in biblical narrative. |
| Contrast | Suffering vs. joy, fear vs. honey | Highlights God’s transformative power. |
| Apostrophe | Direct address to "children" | Creates intimacy and urgency. |
| Parallelism | "castings down, and risings up" | Emphasizes cyclical spiritual growth. |
5. Significance & Legacy
- Personal: Bunyan’s imprisonment became his pulpit—his writings outlasted his physical ministry.
- Theological: Reinforces Puritan views on grace, suffering, and perseverance.
- Literary: Influenced autobiographical spiritual writing (e.g., Augustine’s Confessions, modern Christian memoirs).
- Pastoral: Models how leaders can shepherd from afar through written testimony.
6. Conclusion: The Honey of Affliction
Bunyan’s excerpt is a microcosm of his life’s message: God turns suffering into sweetness. His imprisonment (the lion’s den) produced honey—Grace Abounding—a work that has nourished believers for centuries. By framing his trials as divine discipline and his testimony as a father’s legacy, Bunyan transforms personal agony into collective hope, urging his "children" to press on toward the desired Haven.
Final Thought: Just as Samson found honey in the lion he slew, Bunyan found grace in the jaws of persecution—and shared it with the world.