The Strait Gate, Title page – To the reader
THE STRAIT GATE, OR, Great Difficulty of Going to HEAVEN;
PLAINLY Proving by the Scriptures, that not only the rude and profane; but many great professors will come short of that Kingdom.
By John Bunyan.
Enter ye in at the strait gate, for wide is the gate, and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction, and many there be that go in there▪ at▪ Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way that leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
Matt. 7. 13, 14.
LONDON.
Printed for Francis Smith at the Elephant and Castle near the Royall Exchange in Cornhill. 1676.
To the READER.
Courteous Reader,
GOd (I hope) hath put it into my heart to write unto thee another time, and that about matters of greatest moment (for now we discourse not about things controverted among the godly, but directly about the saving or damning of the soul, yea, moreover this discourse is about the …ewne▪s of them that shall be saved, and … proves, that many an high professor will come …hort of eternal life;) wherefore the matter must needs be sharp and so disliked by some, but …et it not be rejected by thee. The text calls for▪ sharpness, so do the times, ye…, the faithful discharge of my duty towards thee, hath put me upon it.
I do not now pipe but mourn, and 't will be well for the…, if thou canst gratiously lament, M… ▪ 11. 17. Some (say they) make the gate of heaven too wide, and some make it too narrow: for my part I have here presented thee with as true a measure of it as by the word of God I can: reade me therefore, yea, reade me and compare me with the bible; and if thou findest my doctrine, and that book of God concur; embrace it, as thou wilt answer the contrary in the day of Judgment: This awakning work (if God will make it so) was prepared for thee▪ If there be need and it wounds, get …ealing by blood; if it disquiets g…t peace by blood: if it takes away all thou hast because 'twas naught, (for this book is not prepared to take away true grace from any) then buy of Christ gold tried in the fire, that thou maist be rich, and white rayment that thou maiest be cloathed, and that the shame of thy nakedness doth not appear, and anoint thine eyes with eye-salve that thou maiest see, Revel. 3. 18 Self-flatteries, self-deceivings, are easie and pleasant, but damnable! the Lord give thee an heart / to Judge right of thy self, right of this book, and so to prepare for eternity, that thou maist not only expect entrance, but he received into the kingdome of Christ and of God, Amen.
So prays thy friend, J. B.