John Bunyan: The Strait (or Narrow) Gate Part 1

About the Author

John Bunyan (1628-1688) was one of the greatest preachers of the seventeenth century, and despite his humble beginnings and lack of formal education, has also been called "the most wonderfully gifted spiritual writer since the days of the Apostles." Next to the Bible, his Pilgrims Progress has been translated into more languages, and has passed through more editions (about four hundred), than any other book in the world. That book, along with his Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners and Holy War, are the records of his own deep spiritual experience, in which a profane and sinful man after a number of false conversions was wonderfully tranformed. He was later asked to preach to a small congregation, and after preaching to the brethren five years, and working at his trade (as a "tinker," one who repaired pots and pans) for the support of himself and family, he was arrested and thrown into Bedford jail twelve years (1660-1672) for "teaching men to worship God contrary to the law." During those years he continued to write, his only books being the Bible and Concordance, and Foxe's Book of Martyrs. He would have been released any day if he had promised not to preach; but he felt called of God to the work of the ministry, and he continually replied to his jailors, "If you release me today, I will preach again tomorrow." The renowned John Owen said that he would gladly relinquish all his learning for the tinker's preaching abilities.

THE STRAIT GATE
OR,
GREAT DIFFICULTY OF GOING TO HEAVEN

Plainly proving, by the Scripture, that not only
the Rude and Profane, but many great Professors,
will come short of that Kingdom.

By John Bunyan

Part 5: Called Out From the World

"Enter ye in at the strait gate; for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." - Matthew 7:13, 14.

Table of Contents

Part 1: Introduction

Part 2: An Explanation of the Text

Part 3: Heaven, Hell, & the Professing Christian

Part 4: This Thing You Lack

Part 5: Called Out From the World

Part 6: Scriptural Illustrations of the Saved

Part 7: Many Are Called But Few Are Chosen

Part 8: Why Many Miss Heaven

Part 9: Words of Warning

Part 10: Concluding Thoughts

PART Five: Called Out From the World

Observe how few will have heaven for their inferitance.

The World Before the Flood

In the old world, when it was most populous, even in the days of Noah, we read but of eight persons that were saved out of it: well, therefore, might Peter call them but few; but how few? Why, but eight souls; “wherein few, that is, eight souls, were saved by water’ (1 Peter 3:20). He touches a second time upon this truth, saying, “He spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly” Mark, all the rest are called the ungodly, and there were also a world of them (2 Peter 2:5). These are also taken notice of in Job, and go there also by the name of wicked men: “Hast thou marked the old way, which wicked men have trodden, which were cut down out of time, whose foundation was overflown with a flood, which said unto God, Depart from us, and what can the Almighty do for them?” (Job 22:15-19).

There were therefore but eight persons that escaped the wrath of God, in the day that the flood came upon the earth, the rest were ungodly; there was also a world of them, and they are to this day in the prison of hell (Hebrews 11:6; 1 Peter 3:19, 20).

The World After the Flood

When the world began again to be replenished, and people began to multiply therein: how few, even in all ages, do we read of that were saved from the damnation of the world?

One Abraham and his wife God called out of the land of the Chaldeans: “I called (said God) Abraham alone” (Isaiah 51:1, 2).

One Lot out of Sodom and Gomorrah, out of Admah and Zeboim; one Lot out of four cities. Indeed his wife and two daughters went out of Sodom with him; but they all three proved naught, as you may see in Genesis 19. Wherefore Peter observes, that Lot only was saved: “He turned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemning them with an overthrow, making them an example unto those that after should live ungodly, and delivered just Lot, that righteous man” (2 Peter 2:6, 7, 8). Jude says, that in this condemnation, God overthrew, not only Sodom and Gomorrah, but the cities about them also; and yet you find none but Lot could be found that was righteous, either in Sodom or Gomorrah, or the cities about them; wherefore they, all of them, suffer the vengeance of eternal fire (2 Peter 2:7).

Come we now to the time of the Judges, how few then were the godly, even then when the inhabitants of the villages ceased, they ceased in Israel! “the highways (of God) were the unoccupied” (Judges 5:6-7).

There were but few in the days of David: “Help, Lord (says he), for the godly man ceaseth, for the faithful fail from among the children of men,” (Psalm 12:1).

In Isaiah's time the saved were come to such a few, that he positively says that there were a very small number left: “God had made them like Sodom, and they had been like unto Gomorrah” (Isaiah 1:8-9).

It was cried unto them in the time of Jeremiah, that they should “run to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, and see, and know, and seek in the broad places thereof, if he can find a man, if there be any that executeth judgment, that seeketh the truth, and I will pardon it” (Jeremiah 5:1).

God shewed his servant Ezekiel how few there would be saved in his day, by the vision of a few hairs saved out of the midst of a few hairs; for the saved were a few saved out of a few (Ezekiel 5:3-5).

You find in the time of the prophet Micah, how the godly complain, that as to number, they then were so few, that he compares them to those that are left behind, when they had gathered the summer-fruit (Micah 7:1).

When Christ was come, how did he confirm this truth, that but few of them that put in claim for heaven will have it for their inheritance! But the common people could not hear it, and therefore, upon a time when he did but a little hint at this truth, the people, even all in the synagogue where he preached it, “were filled with wrath, rose up, thrust him out of the city, and led him unto the brow of the hill (whereon their city was built), that they might cast him down headlong” (Luke 4:24-30).

John, who was after Christ, saith, “The whole world lies in wickedness; that all the world wondered after the beast; and that power was given to the beast over all kindreds, tongues, and nations.” Power to do what? Why, to cause all, both great and small, rich and poor, bond and free, to receive his mark, and to be branded for him (John 5:10; Revelation 13:3; Revelation 8:16).

The shew of the countenance of the bulk of men doth witness against them, should we come to observation and experience: “They declare their sin like Sodom, they hide it not” (Isaiah 3:9). Where is the man that maketh the Almighty God his delight, and that designeth his glory in the world? Do not even almost all pursue this world, their lusts and pleasures? And so, consequently, say unto God, “Depart from us, for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways”; or, “What is the Almighty that we should serve him? It is in vain to serve God.”

So that without doubt it will appear a truth in the day of God, that but few of them that shall put in their claim to heaven will have it for their inheritance.



	About the Author John Bunyan (1628-1688) was one of the greatest preachers of the seventeenth century, and despite his humble beginnings and lack of formal education, has also been called "the most wonderfully gifted spiritual writer since the days of the Apostles." Next to the Bible, his Pilgrims Progress has been translated into more languages, and has passed through more editions (about four hundred), than any other book in the world. That book, along with his Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners and Holy War, are the records of his own deep spiritual experience, in which a profane and sinful man after a number of false conversions was wonderfully tranformed. He was later asked to preach to a small congregation, and after preaching to the brethren five years, and working at his trade (as a "tinker," one who repaired pots and pans) for the support of himself and family, he was arrested and thrown into Bedford jail twelve years (1660-1672) for "teaching men to worship God contrary to the law." During those years he continued to write, his only books being the Bible and Concordance, and Foxe's Book of Martyrs. He would have been released any day if he had promised not to preach; but he felt called of God to the work of the ministry, and he continually replied to his jailors, "If you release me today, I will preach again tomorrow." The renowned John Owen said that he would gladly relinquish all his learning for the tinker's preaching abilities. THE STRAIT GATE OR, GREAT DIFFICULTY OF GOING TO HEAVEN Plainly proving, by the Scripture, that not only the Rude and Profane, but many great Professors, will come short of that Kingdom. By John Bunyan Part 5: Called Out From the World "Enter ye in at the strait gate; for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." - Matthew 7:13, 14. Table of Contents Part 1: Introduction Part 2: An Explanation of the Text Part 3: Heaven, Hell, & the Professing Christian Part 4: This Thing You Lack Part 5: Called Out From the World Part 6: Scriptural Illustrations of the Saved Part 7: Many Are Called But Few Are Chosen Part 8: Why Many Miss Heaven Part 9: Words of Warning Part 10: Concluding Thoughts PART Five: Called Out From the World Observe how few will have heaven for their inferitance. *The World Before the Flood* In the old world, when it was most populous, even in the days of Noah, we read but of eight persons that were saved out of it: well, therefore, might Peter call them but few; but how few? Why, but eight souls; “wherein few, that is, eight souls, were saved by water’ (1 Peter 3:20). He touches a second time upon this truth, saying, “He spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly” Mark, all the rest are called the ungodly, and there were also a world of them (2 Peter 2:5). These are also taken notice of in Job, and go there also by the name of wicked men: “Hast thou marked the old way, which wicked men have trodden, which were cut down out of time, whose foundation was overflown with a flood, which said unto God, Depart from us, and what can the Almighty do for them?” (Job 22:15-19). There were therefore but eight persons that escaped the wrath of God, in the day that the flood came upon the earth, the rest were ungodly; there was also a world of them, and they are to this day in the prison of hell (Hebrews 11:6; 1 Peter 3:19, 20). *The World After the Flood* When the world began again to be replenished, and people began to multiply therein: how few, even in all ages, do we read of that were saved from the damnation of the world? *One Abraham and his wife God called out of the land of the Chaldeans:* “I called (said God) Abraham alone” (Isaiah 51:1, 2). *One Lot out of Sodom and Gomorrah,* out of Admah and Zeboim; one Lot out of four cities. Indeed his wife and two daughters went out of Sodom with him; but they all three proved naught, as you may see in Genesis 19. Wherefore Peter observes, that Lot only was saved: “He turned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemning them with an overthrow, making them an example unto those that after should live ungodly, and delivered just Lot, that righteous man” (2 Peter 2:6, 7, 8). Jude says, that in this condemnation, God overthrew, not only Sodom and Gomorrah, but the cities about them also; and yet you find none but Lot could be found that was righteous, either in Sodom or Gomorrah, or the cities about them; wherefore they, all of them, suffer the vengeance of eternal fire (2 Peter 2:7). *Come we now to the time of the Judges, how few then were the godly, even then when the inhabitants of the villages ceased, they ceased in Israel! “the highways* (of God) were the unoccupied” (Judges 5:6-7). *There were but few in the days of David:* “Help, Lord (says he), for the godly man ceaseth, for the faithful fail from among the children of men,” (Psalm 12:1). *In Isaiah's time the saved were come to such a few, that he positively says that there were a very small number left: “God had made them like Sodom, and they had been like unto Gomorrah”* (Isaiah 1:8-9). *It was cried unto them in the time of Jeremiah,* that they should “run to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, and see, and know, and seek in the broad places thereof, if he can find a man, if there be any that executeth judgment, that seeketh the truth, and I will pardon it” (Jeremiah 5:1). *God shewed his servant Ezekiel how few there would be saved in his day, by the vision of a few hairs saved out of the midst of a few hairs; for the saved were a few saved out of a few (Ezekiel 5:3-5). You find in the time of the prophet Micah, how the godly complain, that as to number, they then were so few, that he compares them to those that are left behind, when they had gathered the summer-fruit (Micah 7:1). When Christ was come, how did he confirm this truth, that but few of them that put in claim for heaven will have it for their inheritance! But the common people could not hear it, and therefore, upon a time when he did but a little hint at this truth, the people, even all in the synagogue where he preached it, “were filled with wrath, rose up, thrust him out of the city, and led him unto the brow of the hill (whereon their city was built), that they might cast him down headlong”* (Luke 4:24-30). *John, who was after Christ,* saith, “The whole world lies in wickedness; that all the world wondered after the beast; and that power was given to the beast over all kindreds, tongues, and nations.” Power to do what? Why, to cause all, both great and small, rich and poor, bond and free, to receive his mark, and to be branded for him (John 5:10; Revelation 13:3; Revelation 8:16). *The shew of the countenance of the bulk of men doth witness against them,* should we come to observation and experience: “They declare their sin like Sodom, they hide it not” (Isaiah 3:9). Where is the man that maketh the Almighty God his delight, and that designeth his glory in the world? Do not even almost all pursue this world, their lusts and pleasures? And so, consequently, say unto God, “Depart from us, for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways”; or, “What is the Almighty that we should serve him? It is in vain to serve God.” So that without doubt it will appear a truth in the day of God, that but few of them that shall put in their claim to heaven will have it for their inheritance.