John Bunyan - The heavenly footman : or, a description of the man that gets to heaven: together with the way he runs in, the marks he goes by: ... By John Bunyan

The Heavenly Footman

or

A Description of the man that gets to Heaven Together with the way he runs in, the marks he goes by; also, some directions how to run so as to obtain. by

John Bunyan

Translated into Modern English
by
Gary J. Hall
And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed. Genesis 19:17

Translators Preface
John Bunyans The Heavenly Footman should to be read by this generation of believers. The only obstacle may be with the language that is used in the original work. It is

necessary therefore to update the language so that the modern reader can enjoy the
important message that Bunyan sought to bring to the church. This edition came after I read The Heavenly Footman , and desired that the members of my church read it too. The resulting work was more than a translation, for I soon found that it had to be a paraphrase too. I sought to retain as much of Bunyans original as possible, but almost immediately I encountered phrases, words, and idioms that did not support the authors intention if simply translated word for word. In such cases an equivalent phrase, word, or idiom was found. Nevertheless, I have purposely chosen to use the same Bible (KJV) as John Bunyan. I pray that this small book would encourage, convict, and provoke you as much as it did me.
Gary J. Hall
August 2001
AN EPISTLE TO ALL THE SLOTHFUL AND CARELESS PEOPLE
Friends,
Solomon says, that, The desire of the slothful killeth him, and if so, what will slothfulness itself do to those that allow it in their lives? (Proverbs 21:25). The proverb is, He that sleepeth in harvest is a son that causeth shame. (Proverbs 10:5). Can I be so bold to say that, no greater shame can come upon a man, that to see that he has lost his soul through foolish living, and sinned away eternal life. Yet I am certain that there is another way to do this; namely, by being slothful; slothful, I say, in the work of salvation. The vineyard of the slothful man, with regards to the things of this life, is not as full of brambles, nettles, and weeds, than that of a man who is slothful for the things of heaven. He that is slothful for heavenly things is full of heat-choking and soul-damning sin. Slothfulness has these two evils: First, to neglect the time that should be spent in seeking God; and because of this does, in the Second place, bring him to repentance too late. I assure you, that he, who will lose his soul through slothfulness, shall have no reason to rejoice in it when he stands in hell.
Slothfulness and carelessness usually go hand in hand, and carelessness for the most part is a product of senseless living; and senseless living gives slothfulness its strength, and through it the soul is left without any means of recovery. Slothfulness shuts out Christ; slothfulness shames the soul. I sleep, but my heart waketh: it is the voice of my beloved that knocketh, saying, Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled: for my head is filled with dew, and my locks with the drops of the night. I have put off my coat; how shall I put it on? I have washed my feet; how shall I defile them? My beloved put in his hand by the hole of the door, and my bowels were

moved for him. (Songs of Solomon 5:2-4). The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath
nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat. (Proverbs 13:4). Slothfulness is condemned by even the weakest of all creatures. Go to the ant, thou sluggard, consider her ways and be wise. (Proverbs 6:6). The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold (Proverbs 20:4); that is, he will not break up the fallow ground of his heart (Hosea 10:12), because there needs to be some effort in him that will do it; therefore shall he beg in the harvest. This means, when the saints of God receive the rewards of heaven, the sluggard will have nothing, that is, he will never be better though he cry out for mercy, just as is recorded in Matthew 25:10-12, And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. If you want to know who is a sluggard in the things of God, simply compare him with a sluggard in the things of this world. This is how you may notice him: (1) The slothful person is too lazy even to begin his work; so it is with those who are slothful regarding the things of God. (2) The slothful person seeks ways to delay the work, so it is with those who are slothful regarding the things of God. (3) The sluggard will allow the slightest of personal problems to keep him from work, so it is with those who are slothful regarding the things of God. (4) The slothful person, if he does work, will only complete half the job, so it is with those who are slothful regarding the things of God. He may almost, but will fully obtain complete deliverance from hell; he may almost, but will never be a saint, unless he mends his ways. (5) The slothful usually miss the opportunity for getting things done, and so it is with those who are slothful regarding the things of God. (6) They who are slothful rarely or never produce good fruit, so it is with the soul- sluggard. (7) They that are slothful are rebuked for their laziness, so also will Christ deal with those who are not active for Him. You wicked or slothful servant, out of your own mouth will I judge you; you said I was thus and thus, why did you give my money to the bank? &c. (Luke 19:22). Take the unprofitable servant, and cast him into utter darkness where there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (Matthew 25:26-30). What shall I say? Times runs, and will you continue to be slothful? Youve wasted so much of your life, and will you continue to be slothful? Your soul is worth a thousand worlds, so will you continue to be slothful? The day of death and judgement is at the door, so will you continue to be slothful? The curse of God hangs over your head, and will you continue to be slothful? Nevertheless, the demons are earnest, hard working, and seek all possible means every day, through every sin, to keep you out of heaven, and destroy your salvation, so will you continue to be slothful? Also, others around you are diligent for the things that perish, and will you continue to be slothful concerning the things that are eternal? Are you willing to be damned for slothfulness? Are you willing for the angels of God to fail to bring your soul to heaven when your body dies, while demons wait to drag you to hell? Was Christ slothful in the work of your redemption? Are His ministers slothful in bringing this message to you? Finally, if all this does not move you, I tell you God will not be slothful or negligent to damn you (such damnation

that is over you even now), nor will the devils fail to take you, nor hell willing to receive
you.
Sluggard, are you still asleep? Are you determined to sleep the sleep of death? Will neither truth about heaven or hell awaken you? Will you continue to say, Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, and a little folding of the hands to sleep? (Proverbs 6:10). Will you continue to turn yourself in your sloth as a door is turned upon its hinges? I wish that I was skilful in lamentation, and that I had an aching heart towards you, how greatly I would pity you! How I would weep over you! O that I could, like Jeremiah, let my tears run like rivers of water for you! Poor soul, lost soul, dying soul, how hard my heart must be if I cannot mourn over you! If you lost just one limb, a child, or a friend that would not be as great as losing your soul. If it should spend a day, or a year, or ten thousand years in hell, it cannot be compared with eternity. Yes, hell is for ever! That word ever cuts deep. How dreadful that word will be when you hear God say, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire! (Matthew 25:41). Objection: But if I should mend my ways, and run as you want me to, then I must run from all my friends; for none of them are running this way. Answer: If you do this, you will run into the arms of Christ and of God, so what harm will that do you?