JOHN BUNYAN.

JOHN BUNYAN was born at the village of Elstow, near Bedford, in the year 1628. His parents were persons

in

very humble life, his father being a travelling brazier or tinker. Although poor, they took care that their son should be sent to school, where he was taught to read ; but being of a careless disposition, and getting into bad company, the little learning he had acquired was soon forgotten. In his autobiography Bunyan says, that while yet a boy he had few equals in profanity of language. He was once sharply reproved by an ungodly woman, who was greatly shocked by his oaths and imprecations. When he was about nine or ten years of age, he was frequently in great distress at the thought of a coming judgment. He says, even in my childhood, the Lord did scare and affrighten me with fearful dreams and visions." As there is no reason to believe that his parents feared God, it has been supposed that Bunyan, being such an openly profane youth, had

attracted the attention of some of the pious people of Elstow, who reproved and warned him.

At the age of seventeen he enlisted in Cromwell's army. A narrow escape from death is recorded, which happened to him while thus employed.

He was one of

go to a certain

a number of men who were drawn to place (probably Leicester) to besiege it. His own words are, "When I was just ready to go, one of the company desired to go in my room; I consented: he took my place, and during the siege, as he stood sentinel, he was shot in the head, and died. Here was judgment and mercy, but neither of them did awaken my soul to righteousness." He was only two years in the army, and then returned to his friends. Not long after, he was married to the daughter of a pious couple, who had trained her in the fear of the Lord. This union proved a great blessing to Bunyan, for his wife, who was gentle and prudent, gained such an influence over him as to draw him away from evil companions; she also became his teacher in reading, which, in his unsettled life, he had almost forgotten. At the time of the marriage they were both so poor that they had not "a dish or a spoon between them." Mrs. Bunyan, however, inherited from her father two volumes, "The Plain Man's Pathway to

Heaven," and "The Practice of Piety."

These she reac to her husband, and thus kindled in his mind a desire for more knowledge. About this time he became acquainted with a poor Christian man, whose remarks on religion and the Scriptures touched Bunyan's heart, and he began to read the Bible. Pursuing his calling as a brazier, one day, in the streets of Bedford, he overheard three godly women conversing, as they sat on a doorstep. They spoke of the love of Christ, and what a change it had wrought in them, till the listener was deeply and permanently impressed. He now forsook for ever the company of his profane associates, desiring rather to unite himself with those who had a reputation for piety.

For a long time after this outward reformation he was tried with the most distressing doubts and spiritual conflicts, but was at last led to see in Jesus the very Saviour that was needed for him. He soon made an open profession of his faith, and after some years was invited to engage in the ministry. At first he preached privately to a few friends, but afterwards more publicly in some of the neighbouring villages. Increasing numbers attended his ministry, but as this excited the enmity of those in high position, he was arrested, and committed to Bedford jail. At the quarter sessions he was indicted,

under the Conventicle Act, as "a labourer of the town of Bedford, who had abstained from coming to church, and was a common upholder of conventicles, to the great disturbance of the good subjects of our Sovereign Lord the King."

Bunyan was unjustly detained in prison upwards of twelve years, separated from his family and from all dear to him; yet he did not yield to sullenness and despair, but occupied his time in reading and writing. He also helped to maintain his family by making tags to laces, which were sold by his faithful wife. He preached to his fellow-prisoners as often as he was allowed, with what effect will be seen at the last great day.

During the tedious years of his imprisonment, Bunyan wrote the "Pilgrim's Progress." The appearance of this work excited considerable attention, and several clergymen began to pity the sufferings of the pious and gifted author. The Bishop of Lincoln by his efforts was successful in obtaining his release. Soon after being set at liberty, Bunyan was chosen pastor of the church at Bedford, and, as the law was partially relaxed in favour of Nonconformists, the good man was permitted to labour without molestation.

The "Holy War" was published in 1682, about six

years before his death. The knowledge of military affairs, acquired while he was a soldier, appears much in this book, which ranks second only to the "Pilgrim's Progress." Macaulay says, "If the 'Pilgrim's Progress' did not exist, the 'Holy War' would be the best allegory that ever was written." It displays remarkable ac- quaintance with the deep-seated springs of human action and with the varied influences which tend to the decline and revival of religion in the soul, and cannot be too widely circulated and read.

Bunyan's preaching was very impressive, and his knowledge of the Scriptures so great, that numbers flocked to hear him. In person he was tall and robust, his countenance grave and peaceful, while his whole behaviour was such as to commend the truth he proclaimed. His last illness was brought on by exposure to cold in a journey undertaken to promote the welfare of a friend. Having reached London on his way home, the illness increased, and after ten days of suffering he departed to his rest on the 31st August, 1688, in his sixty-eighth year, and was interred in Bunhill Fields.

Bunyan was twice married. By his first wife, Elizabeth, he had four children, one of whom was blind. This little girl, to whom he was deeply attached, spent