The Water of Life, Title page – To the reader
THE Water of Life: OR, A DISCOURSE SHEWING The Richness and Glory of the Grace and Spirit of the Gospel, as set forth in Scripture by this Term, The Water of Life.
By JOHN BUNYAN.
And whosoever will, let him take the Water of Life freely, Revel. 22. 17.
LONDON, Printed for Nathanael Ponder, at the Peacock in the Poultrey, 1688.
THE EPISTLE TO THE READER.
Courteous Reader,
I Have now presented thee with something of a Discourse of the Water of Life and its Virtues, therefore thou mayest, if thou wilt, call this Book, Bunyan's Bill of his Masters 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 Countrey 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 as yet, but abundance of them do still remain here, and have their abode yet with Men.
Only, if thou would'st drink it, drink it by it self, 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 thy self, or Heb. 4. 18.as thou art bidden, come to Isa. 55. 1.the Waters, 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, 'tis cheap enough, this is to be had without Money or Price. I will give, saith God and the Lamb, to him that is a thirst Revel. 21. 6.of the Fountain of the Water of Life freely. Hence be says again, Whosoever will chap. 22. 17.let him take the Water of Life freely; so that thou hast no Ground to keep back because of thy Poverty: Nay, for the Poor 'tis prepared, and set open, to the Poor it is offered, the Poor and Needy may have Isa. 41. 17▪ 18.it of free cost.
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. Farewel. The Lord be thy Physician: So prayes
thy Friend, John Bunyan.