THE STRAIT GATE BY THE AUTHOR PILGRIM’S PROGRESS, JOHN BUNYAN-ARE THERE FEW THAT BE SAVED-WHAT DO?

JOHN BUNYAN(AUTHOR OF PILGRIMS PROGRESS) SPEAKS TO HIS READERS AS A PREFACE TO HIS SERMON, ‘THE STRAIT GATE’COURTEOUS READER,God, I hope, hath put it into my heart to writeunto thee another time, and that about mattersof greatest moment—for now we discourse notabout things controverted among the godly, butdirectly about the saving or damning of thesoul; yea, moreover, this discourse is about thefewness of them that shall be saved, and itproves that many a high professor will comeshort of eternal life; wherefore the matter mustneeds be sharp, and so disliked by some, but letit not be rejected by thee. The text calls forsharpness, so do the times, yea, the faithfuldischarge of my duty towards thee hath put meupon it.I do not now pipe, but mourn; and it will bewell for thee if thou canst graciously lament.(Matt 11:17) Some, say they, make the gate ofheaven too wide, and some make it too narrow;for my part, I have here presented thee with astrue a measure of it as by the Word of God I can. Read me, therefore, yea, read me, andTHE STRAIT GATE 3TO THE READER.compare me with the Bible; and if thou findestmy doctrine and that book of God concur,embrace it, as thou wiltanswer the contrary inthe day of judgment. This awakening work—ifGod will make it so—was prepared for thee: ifthere be need, and it wounds, get healing byblood: if it disquiets, get peace by blood: if ittakes away all thou hast, because it was naught(for this book is not prepared to take away truegrace from any), then buy of Christ “gold triedin the fire, that thou mayest be rich, and whiteraiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and thatthe shame of thy nakedness do not appear, andanoint thine eyes with eye-salve, that thoumayest see.” (Rev 3:18) Self- flatteries, self-deceivings, are easy and pleasant, butdamnable. The Lord give thee a heart to judgeright of thyself, right of this book, and so toprepare for eternity, that thou mayest not onlyexpect entrance, but be received into thekingdom of Christ and of God. Amen.So prays thy Friend,1676 JOHN BUNYAN