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KEEL。 He said unto me； By what Scripture？
BUN。 I said； By that in the first epistle of Peter； chap。 iv。 10； 11； and Acts xviii。； with other Scriptures； which he would not suffer me to mention。 But said； Hold； not so many； which is the first？
BUN。 I said this： AS EVERY MAN HATH RECEIVED THE GIFT； EVEN SO LET HIM MINISTER THE SAME UNTO ANOTHER； AS GOOD STEWARDS OF THE MANIFOLD GRACE OF GOD。 IF ANY MAN SPEAK； LET HIM SPEAK AS THE ORACLES OF GOD； ETC。
KEEL。 He said； Let me a little open that Scripture to you： AS EVERY MAN HATH RECEIVED THE GIFT； that is； said he； as every one hath received a trade； so let him follow it。 If any man have received a gift of tinkering； as thou hast done； let him follow his tinkering。 And so other men their trades。 And the divine his calling； etc。
BUN。 Nay； sir； said I； but it is most clear； that the apostle speaks here of preaching the Word； if you do but compare both the verses together； the next verse explains this gift what it is； saying； IF ANY MAN SPEAK； LET HIM SPEAK AS THE ORACLES OF GOD。 So that it is plain； that the Holy Ghost doth not so much in this place exhort to civil callings； as to the exercising of those gifts that we have received from God。 I would have gone on； but he would not give me leave。
KEEL。 He said； We might do it in our families； but not otherways。
BUN。 I said； If it was lawful to do good to some； it was lawful to do good to more。 If it was a good duty to exhort our families； it was good to exhort others； but if they held it a sin to meet together to seek the face of God； and exhort one another to follow Christ； I should sin still； for so we should do。
KEEL。 He said he was not so well versed in Scripture as to dispute； or words to that purpose。 And said； moreover； that they could not wait upon me any longer； but said to me； Then you confess the indictment； do you not？ Now； and not till now； I saw I was indicted。
BUN。 I said； This I confess； we have had many meetings together； both to pray to God； and to exhort one another； and that we had the sweet comforting presence of the Lord among us for our encouragement； blessed be His name therefore。 I confessed myself guilty no otherwise。
KEEL。 Then； said he； bear your judgment。 You must be had back again to prison； and there lie for three months following； and at three months' end； if you do not submit to go to church to hear Divine service； and leave your preaching； you must be banished the realm： and if； after such a day as shall be appointed you to be gone； you shall be found in this realm； etc。； or be found to come over again without special licence from the king； etc。； you must stretch by the neck for it； I tell you plainly： and so he bid my jailor have me away。
BUN。 I told him； as to this matter； I was at a point with him； for if I were out of prison to…day； I would preach the Gospel again to… morrow； by the help of God。
ANOTHER。 To which one made me some answer： but my jailor pulling me away to be gone； I could not tell what he said。
Thus I departed from them； and I can truly say； I bless the Lord JESUS CHRIST for it； that my heart was sweetly refreshed in the time of my examination； and also afterwards； at my returning to the prison。 So that I found Christ's words more than bare trifles； where He saith； I WILL GIVE YOU A MOUTH AND WISDOM； WHICH ALL YOUR ADVERSARIES SHALL NOT BE ABLE TO GAINSAY； NOR RESIST。 Luke xxi。 15。 And that His peace no man can take from us。
Thus have I given you the substance of my examination。 The Lord make this profitable to all that shall read or hear it。 Farewell。
THE SUBSTANCE OF SOME DISCOURSE HAD BETWEEN THE CLERK OF THE PEACE AND MYSELF； WHEN HE CAME TO ADMONISH ME； ACCORDING TO THE TENOR OF THAT LAW； BY WHICH I WAS IN PRISON。
WHEN I had lain in prison other twelve weeks； and now not knowing what they intended to do with me； upon the third of April 1661； comes Mr Cobb unto me （as he told me）； being sent by the justices to admonish me； and demand of me submittance to the church of England； etc。 The extent of our discourse was as followeth。
COBB。 When he was come into the house he sent for me out of my chamber； who； when I was come unto him； he said； Neighbour BUNYAN； how do you do？
BUN。 I thank you； Sir； said I； very well； blessed be the Lord。
COBB。 Saith he； I come to tell you； that it is desired you would submit yourself to the laws of the land； or else at the next sessions it will go worse with you； even to be sent away out of the nation； or else worse than that。
BUN。 I said that I did desire to demean myself in the world； both as becometh a man and a Christian。
COBB。 But； saith he； you must submit to the laws of the land； and leave off those meetings which you was wont to have； for the statute…law is directly against it； and I am sent to you by the justices to tell you that they do intend to prosecute the law against you if you submit not。
BUN。 I said； Sir； I conceive that that law by which I am in prison at this time； doth not reach or condemn either me； or the meetings which I do frequent； that law was made against those； that being designed to do evil in their meetings； making the exercise of religion their pretence； to cover their wickedness。 It doth not forbid the private meetings of those that plainly and simply make it their only end to worship the Lord； and to exhort one another to edification。 My end in meeting with others is simply to do as much good as I can； by exhortation and counsel； according to that small measure of light which God hath given me； and not to disturb the peace of the nation。
COBB。 Every one will say the same； said he； you see the late insurrection at LONDON； under what glorious pretences they went； and yet； indeed； they intended no less than the ruin of the kingdom and commonwealth。
BUN。 That practice of theirs； I abhor； said I； yet it doth not follow that； because they did so； therefore all others will do so。 I look upon it as my duty to behave myself under the King's government； both as becomes a man and a Christian； and if an occasion were offered me； I should willingly manifest my loyalty to my Prince； both by word and deed。
COBB。 Well； said he； I do not profess myself to be a man that can dispute； but this I say； truly； neighbour BUNYAN； I would have you consider this matter seriously； and submit yourself； you may have your liberty to exhort your neighbour in private discourse； so be you do not call together an assembly of people； and； truly； you may do much good to the church of Christ； if you would go this way； and this you may do； and the law not abridge you of it。 It is your private meetings that the law is against。
BUN。 Sir； said I； if I may do good to one by my discourse？ why may I not do good to two？ And if to two； why not to four； and so to eight？ etc。
COBB。 Ay； saith he； and to a hundred； I warrant you。
BUN。 Yes； Sir； said I； I think I should not be forbid to do as much good as I can。
COBB。 But； saith he； you may but pretend to do good； and instead； notwithstanding； do harm； by seducing the people； you are； therefore； denied your meeting so many together； lest you should do harm。
BUN。 And yet； said I； you say the law tolerates me to discourse with my neighbour； surely there is no law tolerates me seduce any one； therefore if I may by the law discourse with one； surely it is to do him good； and if I by discoursing may do good to one； surely； by the same law； I may do good to many。
COBB。 The law； saith he； doth expressly forbid your private meetings； therefore they are not to be tolerated。
BUN。 I told him that I would not entertain so much uncharitableness of that Parliament in the 35th of ELIZABETH； or of the Queen herself； as to think they did； by that law； intend the oppressing of any of God's ordinances； or the interrupting any in way of God； but men may； in the wresting of it； turn it against the way of God； but take the law in itself； and it only fighteth against those that drive at mischief in their hearts and meeting； making religion only their cloak； colour； or pretence； for so are the words of the statute： IF ANY MEETINGS； UNDER COLOUR OR PRETENCE OF RELIGION； ETC。
COBB。 Very good； therefore the king； seeing that pretences are usually in and among people； so as to make religion their pretence only； therefore he； and the law before him； doth forbid such private meetings； and tolerates only public； you may meet in public。
BUN。 Sir； said I； let me answer you in a similitude： Set the case that； at such a wood corner； there did usually come forth thieves； to do mischief； must there therefore a law be made； that every one that cometh out there shall be killed？ May not there come out true men as well as thieves out from thence？ Just thus is it in this case； I do think there may be many that may design the destruction of the commonwealth； but it doth not follow therefore that all private meetings are unlawful； those that transgress； let them be punished。 And if at any time I myself should do any act in my conversation as doth not become a man and Christian； let me bear