BUNYAN PARTING FROM HIS FAMILY. During this tedious imprisonment, or at least part of it, he had no books, except a Bible and Fox's Martyrology; yet in this situation he penned the "Pilgrim's Progress," and many other treatises. He was only thirty-two years of age when he was imprisoned. He had spent his youth in the most disadvantageous manner imaginable; had been no more than five years a member of the church at Bedford, and less time a preacher of the gospel; yet in this admired allegory he 12 Life of the Author. appears to have been most intimately acquainted with all the variety of characters which ministers, long employed in the sacred service, and eminent for judgment. and sagacity, have observed among professors or opposers of evangelical truth! He was at some times favoured by the gaolers, and permitted to see his family and friends; and, during the former part of his imprisonment, was even allowed to go out occasionally, and once to take a journey to London, probably to see whether some legal redress might not be obtained, according to some intimations given by Sir Matthew Hale, when petitions in his favour were laid before the judges. But this indulgence of the gaoler exposing him to great danger, Mr. Bunyan was afterwards more closely confined. In the last year of his imprisonment (A.D. 1671) he was chosen pastor of the Dissenting church at Bedford, though it does not appear what opportunity he could have of exercising his pastoral office, except within the precincts of the gaol. He was, however, liberated soon after, through the good offices of Dr. Barlow, Bishop of Lincoln, after many fruitless attempts had been made for that purpose. Thus terminated his tedious, severe, and even illegal imprisonment, which had given him abundant opportunity for the exercise of patience and meekness; and which seems to have been overruled both for his own spiritual improvement and the furtherance of the gospel, by leading him to study, and to form habits of close reflection and accurate investigation of various subjects, in order to pen his several treatises, when probably he would neither have thought so deeply, nor written so well, had he been more at ease, and at liberty. A short time after his enlargement he built a meetinghouse at Bedford by the voluntary contributions of his friends, and here he statedly preached to large auditories, till his death, without meeting with any re Life of the Author. 13 markable molestation. He used to come up to London every year, where he preached among the Nonconformists with great acceptance; and it is said that Dr. Owen frequently attended on these occasions, and expressed his approbation in very decided language. He also made stated circuits into other parts of England, and animated his brethren to bear the cross patiently, to obey God rather than man, and to leave all consequences with him. He was at the same time peculiarly attentive to the temporal wants of those who suffered for conscience' sake. He was very exact in family religion and the instruction of his children; being principally concerned for their spiritual interests, and comparatively indifferent about their temporal prosperity. He therefore declined the liberal proposal of a wealthy citizen of London to take his son as an apprentice without any premium, saying, "God did not send me to advance my family, but to advance the gospel;" probably disliking the business or situation as unfavourable to piety. Nothing material is recorded concerning him between his enlargement in 1672, and his death in 1688. In the last year of his life he took a journey in very bad weather from London to Reading, Berks, to make up a breach between a father and his son, with whom he had some acquaintance; and having happily effected his last work and labour of love, he returned to his lodgings on Snow Hill apparently in good health, but very wet with the heavy rain that was then falling; and soon after he was seized with a fever, which in ten days terminated his useful life. He bore his malady with great patience and composure, and died in a very comfortable and triumphant manner, August 31, 1688, aged sixty years, after having exercised his ministry about thirtytwo. He lies buried in Bunhill Fields, where a tombstone to his memory may still be seen. He was twice married; by his first wife he left four children, one of 14 Life of the Author. which, a daughter named Mary, who was blind, died before him. He was married to his second wife A. D. 1658, two years before his imprisonment, by whom he seems not to have had any children. He was undoubtedly endued with extraordinary natural talents. His understanding, discernment, memory, invention, and imagination, were remarkably sound and vigorous; so that he made very great proficiency in the knowledge of scriptural divinity, though brought up in ignorance; but he never made much progress in human learning. Even such persons as did not favour his religious principles have done ample justice to his mental powers. The celebrated Dr. Johnson ranks the "Pilgrim's Progress" among a very few books indeed of which the reader, when he comes to the conclusion, wishes they had been longer; and allows it to rank high among the works of original genius. |