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Christian Behavior With a word of direction to all backsliders. By J O H N.B U N Y A N. 1674. Written in 1663, while imprisoned in Bedford Prison. This was John Bunyan's third book during his first incarceration. |
DUTIES OF NEIGHBOURS EACH TO OTHER.
aving thus in few words showed you what is duty under your several
relations, I shall now at last speak, in a word or two, touching good neighbourhood,
and then draw towards a conclusion. Touching neighbourhood, there are these things
to be considered and practised, if thou wilt be found in the practical part of good
neighbourhood.
First, Thou must be of a good and sound conversation in thy own family, place, and
station, showing to all, the power that the gospel and the things of another world
hath in thy heart, 'That ye may be blameless, and harmless, the sons of God, without
rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights
in the world' (Phil 2:15, 16).
Second, As persons must be of good behavior at home, that will be good neighbours,
so they must be full of courtesy and charity to them that have need about them (Luke
10:36, 37). Right good neighbourhood is for men readily to communicate, as of their
spirituals, so of their temporalities, as food, raiment, and help to those that have
need; to be giving to the poor as thou seest them go by thee, or to inquire after
their condition, and according to thy capacity to send unto them (Job 31:15-17, &c).
Third, Thou must be always humble and meek among them, as also grave and gracious;
not light and frothy, but by thy words and carriage ministering 'grace to the hearers'
(Eph 4:29). Thus also Job honoured God among his neighbours (Job 29:6-12).
Fourth, Thy wisdom will be, rightly to discountenance sin, and to reprove thy neighbour
for the same (Lev 19:17), denying thyself in some things, for the preventing an injury
to thy neighbour, that thou mayest please him for his edification (Rom 15:2).
Fifth, If thou wouldest be a good neighbour, take heed of thy tongue upon two accounts.
1. That thou with it give no offensive language to thy neighbour, to the provoking
of him to anger. Bear much, put up wrongs, and say little: 'It is an honour for a
man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling' (Prov 20: 3). And again,
'He loveth transgression that loveth strife' (Prov 17:19).
2. And as thou shouldest take heed that thou be not the original of contention and
anger, so also take heed that thou be not an instrument to beget it between parties,
by tale-bearing and a gossiping spirit: 'He that passeth by, and meddleth with strife
belonging not to him, is like one that taketh a dog by the ears. As coals are to
burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife' (Prov
26:17-21). I do observe two things very odious in many professors; the one is a head-strong
and stiff-necked spirit, that will have its own way; and the other is, a great deal
of tattling and talk about religion, and but a very little, if anything, of those
Christian deeds that carry in them the cross of a Christian in the doing thereof,
and profit to my neighbour.
(1.) When I say a head-strong and stiff-necked spirit, I mean, they are for pleasing
themselves and their own fancies, in things of no weight, though their so doing be
as the very slaughter-knife to the weak conscience of a brother or neighbour. Now
this is base. A Christian, in all such things as intrench not the matters of faith
and worship, should be full of self- denial, and seek to please others rather than
themselves; 'Give none offence - to the Jews, nor to the [18] Greeks, nor to the
church of God: - not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may
be saved' (1 Cor 10:32, 33).
(2.) And the second is as bad, to wit, when professors are great prattlers and talkers,
and disputers, but do little of anything that bespeaketh love to the poor, or self-denial
in outward things. Some people think religion is made up of words; a very wide mistake!
Words without deeds is but a half-faced religion: 'Pure religion, and undefiled before
God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction,
and to keep himself unspotted from the world' (James 1:27). Again, 'If a brother
or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, and one of you say unto them, Depart
in peace, be warmed and filled,' which are very fine words, yet if you 'give them
not those things that are needful to the body, what doth it profit?' (James 2:15,
16).
[Sins which interfere with the duties of Christian Brotherhood and Civil Neighbourhood.]
Now then, before I go any farther, I will here take an occasion to touch a little
upon those sins that are so rife in many professors in this day: and they are, covetousness,
pride, and uncleanness. I would speak a word to them in this place, the rather because
they are they which spoil both Christian brotherhood, and civil neighbourhood, in
too great a measure.
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