(Continued from page 435).
IN 1672, through the suspension of the Conventicle Act, the Nonconformists enjoyed a brief period of rest from persecution. In 1675-6 Bunyan, however, was again back in prison, and it was during this imprisonment that Dr Brown concludes the “Pilgrim’s Progress” was written. Dr Brown’s surmise has been confirmed by the discovery of the warrant for Bunyan’s imprisonment (Brown’s John Bunyan, Tercentenary edition, p. 266). The second part of the “Progress” was not published until early in 1685 or in 1684 Old Style. The place of the “Pilgrim’s Progress” in the world of literature is assured, and in a chapter devoted to the subject Dr Brown gives innumerable testimonies by competent literary critics to its excellence as a work of literature. But to the Church of Christ its value lies not so much in this feature as the marvellous religious experience it portrays. After the Bible it holds the first place, and though not now read as it used to be, still throughout the English-speaking world it has thousands of readers. The book has a perennial interest, and it is with the purpose of inducing our younger readers to peruse Bunyan’s immortal allegory that we are reproducing it in sections in the Magazine. It is to be hoped that parents will induce their children to read these sections as they appear from time to time, and thus familiarise their offspring with one of the most notable books ever written.
Another notable book written by Bunyan was “The Life and Death of Mr Badman,” which was published in 1680. This was meant to be a companion of the “Pilgrim’s Progress.” In 1682 appeared the second greatest of his works—”The Holy War.” It is a marvellous production; Bunyan has lost none of his inimitable descriptive powers, and some of his pen-pictures are ineffably impressed upon the mind of the reader. As a masterpiece of allegory it takes its place in the world of English literature second to the “Pilgrim’s Progress.” It portrays the Christian fighting the good fight, warring in Immanuel’s strength against a formidable array of enemies.
Bunyan continued after this assiduously preaching and issuing from the press productions of his pen. His fame as an author brought him many requests for preaching, and thus widened the circle of his admirers. Charles Doe, who heard the everlasting Gospel from the lips of Bunyan, says that “when Mr Bunyan preached in London, if there were but one day’s notice given, there would be more people come together to hear him preach than the meeting-house could hold. I have seen to hear him preach, by my computation, to about 1200 at a morning lecture by seven o’clock on a working day, in the dark winter time.” On the 19th August, 1688, Bunyan preached his last sermon on John i. 13, in Mr Gamman’s meeting house, near Whitechapel. The last words he uttered from the pulpit were: “Be ye holy in all manner of conversation. Consider that the holy God is your Father, and let this oblige you to live like the children of God, that you may look your Father in the face with comfort another day.” On the Tuesday after preaching at Whitechapel he was seized with a violent fever, and all that skill and love could do was done, but done in vain. One who was present, George Cokayn, tells us that he bore his sufferings “with much constancy and patience; and expressed himself as if he desired nothing more than to be dissolved and to be with Christ, in that case esteeming death as gain, and life only a tedious delaying of felicity expected and finding his vital strength decay, having settled his mind and affairs, as well as the shortness of his time and the violence of his disease would admit, with a constant and Christian patience, he resigned his soul into the hands of his most merciful Redeemer, following his pilgrim from the City of Destruction to the New Jerusalem; his better part having been all along there, in holy contemplation, panting, and breathings after the hidden manna and water of life.” He passed away on 31st August, 1688, in London, and the sorrowful tidings reached his congregation at Bedford as they were assembling for worship. The following entry in the Church Book is of interest: “Wednesday, 4th September, was kept in prayer and humiliation for this heavy stroke upon us, the death of dear Brother Bunyan. Appointed also that Wednesday next be kept in prayer and humiliation on the same account.” Other meetings for a similar purpose were held on the 11th and 18th of the same month. The entry in connection with the latter is as follows: “Tuesday the 18th was the whole congregation met to humble themselves before God by fasting and prayer for His heavy and severe stroke upon us in taking away our honoured Brother Bunyan by death.” His body was laid to rest in Bunhill Fields, where so many of the bodies of God’s redeemed lies waiting the resurrection. The original tombstone bore the simple inscription: “Here lies the body of Mr John Bunyan, Author of the ‘Pilgrim’s Progress,’ aged 59, who dived Aug. 17, 1688.” Of him it may be truly said: “The righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance” (Ps. cxii, 6).
(Concluded).
They that know God will be humble; they that know themselves cannot be proud.—Flavel.