Published four years after John Bunyan's death. This may inform us of the reason of the deplorable state of a professing people. It is allotted to them in this world to be so. Let this teach men not to think that the church is cursed of God, because she is put in a wilderness state. Alas, that is but to train her up in a way of solitariness, to make her Canaan the more welcome to her.
Rest is sweet to the labouring man.
God's ways are not as man's. The world know not the way of the Lord, nor the judgment of our God. Let this then encourage the saints to hope, and to rejoice in hope of the glory of God, notwithstanding present tribulations. Troubles for Christ's sake are but like the prick of an awl in the tip of the ear, in order to hang a jewel there. I am now in my rags, but by that a quarter of a year is come and gone, two hundred a year comes into my hand, wherefore I will wait, and exercise patience.