_A Continuation of_ Mr BUNYAN’S LIFE; _beginning where he left off_, _and
concluding with the Time and Manner of his Death and Burial_: _together
with his true Character_, _etc._
READER, the painful and industrious author of this book, has already
given you a faithful and very moving relation of the beginning and middle
of the days of his pilgrimage on earth; and since there yet remains
somewhat worthy of notice and regard, which occurred in the last scene of
his life, the which, for want of time, or fear, some over-censorious
people should impute it to him as an earnest coveting of praise from men,
he has not left behind him in writing. Wherefore, as a true friend, and
long acquaintance of Mr _Bunyan’s_ that his good end may be known, as
well as his evil beginning, I have taken upon me, from my knowledge, and
the best account given by other of his friends, to piece this to the
thread too soon broke off, and so lengthen it out to his entering upon
eternity.
He has told you at large, of his birth and education; the evil habits and
corruptions of his youth; the temptations he struggled and conflicted so
frequently with, the mercies, comforts, and deliverances he found, how he
came to take upon him the preaching of the Gospel; the slanders,
reproaches and imprisonments that attended him, and the progress he
notwithstanding made (by the assistance of God’s grace) no doubt to the
saving of many souls: therefore take these things, as he himself hath
methodically laid them down in the words of verity; and so I pass on to
what remains.
After his being freed from his twelve years’ imprisonment and upwards,
for nonconformity, wherein he had time to furnish the world with sundry
good books, etc., and by his patience, to move _Dr Barlow_, the then
Bishop of _Lincoln_, and other church-men, to pity his hard and
unreasonable sufferings, so far as to stand very much his friends, in
procuring his enlargement, or there perhaps he had died, by the
noisomeness and ill usage of the place. Being now, I say, again at
liberty, and having through mercy shaken off his bodily fetters,—for
those upon his soul were broken before by the abounding grace that filled
his heart,—he went to visit those that had been a comfort to him in his
tribulation, with a Christian-like acknowledgment of their kindness and
enlargement of charity; giving encouragement by his example, if it
happened to be their hard haps to fall into affliction or trouble, then
to suffer patiently for the sake of a good conscience, and for the love
of God in Jesus Christ towards their souls, and by many cordial
persuasions, supported some whose spirits began to sink low, through the
fear of danger that threatened their worldly concernment, so that the
people found a wonderful consolation in his discourse and admonitions.
As often as opportunity would admit, he gathered them together (though
the law was then in force against meetings) in convenient places, and fed
them with the sincere milk of the Word, that they might grow up in grace
thereby. To such as were anywhere taken and imprisoned upon these
accounts, he made it another part of his business to extend his charity,
and gather relief for such of them as wanted.
He took great care to visit the sick, and strengthen them against the
suggestions of the tempter, which at such times are very prevalent; so
that they had cause for ever to bless God, Who had put it into his heart,
at such a time, to rescue them from the power of the roaring lion, who
sought to devour them; nor did he spare any pains or labour in travel,
though to remote counties, where he knew or imagined any people might
stand in need of his assistance; insomuch that some, by these visitations
that he made, which was two or three every year (some, though in a
jeering manner no doubt, gave him the epithet of Bishop _Bunyan_) whilst
others envied him for his so earnestly labouring in Christ’s vineyard;
yet the seed of the Word he (all this while) sowed in the hearts of his
congregation, watered with the grace of God, brought forth in abundance,
in bringing in disciples to the church of Christ.
Another part of his time is spent in reconciling differences, by which he
hindered many mischiefs, and saved some families from ruin, and in such
fallings-out he was uneasy, till he found a means to labour a
reconciliation, and become a peace-maker, on whom a blessing is promised
in holy writ; and indeed in doing this good office, he may be said to sum
up his days, it being the last undertaking of his life, as will appear in
the close of this paper.
When in the late reign, liberty of conscience was unexpectedly given and
indulged to dissenters of all persuasions, his piercing wit penetrated
the veil, and found that it was not for the dissenters’ sakes they were
so suddenly freed from the hard prosecutions that had long lain heavy
upon them, and set in a manner, on an equal foot with the Church of
_England_, which the papists were undermining, and about to subvert: he
foresaw all the advantages that could have redounded to the dissenters
would have been no more than what _Polyphemus_, the monstrous giant of
_Sicily_, would have allowed _Ulysses_, _viz._: That he would eat his men
first, and do him the favour of being eaten last: for although Mr
_Bunyan_, following the examples of others, did lay hold of this liberty,
as an acceptable thing in itself, knowing God is the only Lord of
conscience, and that it is good at all times to do according to the
dictates of a good conscience, and that the preaching the glad tidings of
the Gospel is beautiful in the preacher; yet in all this he moved with
caution and a holy fear, earnestly praying for the averting impending
judgments, which he saw, like a black tempest, hanging over our heads for
our sins, and ready to break in upon us, and that the _Ninevites’_ remedy
was now highly necessary: hereupon he gathered his congregation at
_Bedford_, where he mostly lived, and had lived and spent the greatest
part of his life; and there being no convenient place to be had for the
entertainment of so great a confluence of people as followed him upon the
account of his teaching, he consulted with them for the building of a
meeting-house, to which they made their voluntary contributions with all
cheerfulness and alacrity; and the first time he appeared there to edify,
the place was so thronged, that many was constrained to stay without,
though the house was very spacious, every one striving to partake of his
instructions, that were of his persuasion, and show their good-will
towards him, by being present at the opening of the place; and here he
lived in much peace and quiet of mind, contenting himself with that
little God had bestowed upon him, and sequestering himself from all
secular employments, to follow that of his call to the ministry; for as
God said to _Moses_, He that made the lips and heart, can give eloquence
and wisdom, without extraordinary acquirements in an university.
During these things, there were regulators sent into all cities and towns
corporate, to new model the government in the magistracy, etc., by
turning out some, and putting in others: against this Mr _Bunyan_
expressed his zeal with some weariness, as foreseeing the bad consequence
that would attend it, and laboured with his congregation to prevent their
being imposed on in this kind; and when a great man in those days, coming
to _Bedford_ upon some such errand, sent for him, as ’tis supposed, to
give him a place of public trust, he would by no means come at him, but
sent his excuse.
When he was at leisure from writing and teaching, he often came up to
_London_, and there went among the congregations of the non-conformists,
and used his talent to the great good-liking of the hearers; and even
some to whom he had been mis-represented, upon the account of his
education, were convinced of his worth and knowledge in sacred things, as
perceiving him to be a man of round judgment, delivering himself plainly
and powerfully; insomuch that many, who came mere spectators for novelty
sake rather than to edify and be improved, went away well satisfied with
what they heard, and wondered, as the Jews did at the Apostles, _viz._:
Whence this man should have these things; perhaps not considering that
God more immediately assists those that make it their business
industriously and cheerfully to labour in His vineyard.
Thus he spent his latter years in imitation of his great Lord and Master,
the ever-blessed Jesus; he went about doing good, so that the most prying
critic, or even Malice herself, is defied to find, even upon the
narrowest search or observation, any sully or stain upon his reputation,
with which he may be justly charged; and this we note, as a challenge to
those that have the least regard for him, or them of his persuasion, and
have one way or other appeared in the front of those that oppressed him;
and for the turning whose hearts, in obedience to the commission and
commandment given him of God, he frequently prayed, and sometimes sought
a blessing for them, even with tears, the effects of which, they may,
peradventure, though undeservedly, have found in their persons, friends,
relations, or estates; for God will hear the prayer of the faithful, and
answer them, even for them that vex them, as it happened in the case of
_Job’s_ praying for the three persons that had been grievous in their
reproach against him, even in the day of his sorrow.
But yet let me come a little nearer to particulars and periods of time,
for the better refreshing the memories of those that knew his labour and
suffering, and for the satisfaction of all that shall read this book.
After he was sensibly convicted of the wicked state of his life, and
converted, he was baptized into the congregation, and admitted a member
thereof, _viz._, in the year 1655, and became speedily a very zealous
professor; but upon the return of King _Charles_ to the crown in 1660, he
was the 12th of _November_ taken, as he was edifying some good people
that were got together to hear the word, and confined in _Bedford_ jail
for the space of six years, till the act of Indulgence to dissenters
being allowed, he obtained his freedom, by the intercession of some in
trust and power, that took pity on his sufferings; but within six years
afterwards he was again taken up, _viz._, in the year 1666, and was then
confined for six years more, when even the jailor took such pity of his
rigorous sufferings, that he did as the Egyptian jailor did to _Joseph_,
put all the care and trust in his hand: When he was taken this last time,
he was preaching on these words, viz.: _Dost thou believe the Son of
God_? And this imprisonment continued six years, and when this was over,
another short affliction, which was an imprisonment of half a year, fell
to his share. During these confinements he wrote the following books,
viz.: _Of Prayer by the Spirit_: _The Holy City’s Resurrection_: _Grace
Abounding_: _Pilgrim’s Progress_, the first part.
In the last year of his twelve years’ imprisonment, the pastor of the
congregation at _Bedford_ died, and he was chosen to that care of souls,
on the 12th of _December_ 1671. And in this his charge, he often had
disputes with scholars that came to oppose him, as supposing him an
ignorant person, and though he argued plainly, and by Scripture, without
phrases and logical expressions, yet he nonplussed one who came to oppose
him in his congregation, by demanding, Whether or no we had the true
copies of the original Scriptures; and another, when he was preaching,
accused him of uncharitableness, for saying, _It was very hard for most
to be saved_; saying, by that he went about to exclude most of his
congregation; but he confuted him, and put him to silence with the
parable of the stony ground, and other texts out of the 13th chapter of
_St Matthew_, in our Saviour’s sermon out of a ship; all his methods
being to keep close to the Scriptures, and what he found not warranted
there, himself would not warrant nor determine, unless in such cases as
were plain, wherein no doubts or scruples did arise.
But not to make any further mention of this kind, it is well known that
this person managed all his affairs with such exactness, as if he had
made it his study, above all other things, not to give occasion of
offence, but rather suffer many inconveniences, to avoid being never
heard to reproach or revile any, what injury soever he received, but
rather to rebuke those that did; and as it was in his conversation, so it
is manifested in those books he has caused to be published to the world;
where like the archangel disputing with Satan about the body of _Moses_,
as we find it in the epistle of _St Jude_, brings no railing accusation
(but leaves the rebukers, those that persecuted him) to the Lord.
In his family he kept up a very strict discipline in prayer and
exhortation; being in this like _Joshua_, as the good man expresses it,
viz., _Whatsoever others did_, _as for me and my house_, _we will serve
the Lord_: and indeed a blessing waited on his labours and endeavours, so
that his wife, as the Psalmist says, _was like a pleasant vine upon the
walls of his house_, _and his children like olive branches round his
table_; _for so shall it be with the man that fears the Lord_, and though
by reason of the many losses he sustained by imprisonment and spoil, of
his chargeable sickness, etc., his earthly treasure swelled not to
excess; he always had sufficient to live decently and creditably, and
with that he had the greatest of all treasures, which is content; for as
the wise man says, _That is a continual feast_.
But where content dwells, even a poor cottage is a kingly palace, and
this happiness he had all his life long; not so much minding this world,
as knowing he was here as a pilgrim and stranger, and had no tarrying
city, but looked for one made with hands eternal in the highest heavens:
but at length was worn out with sufferings, age, and often teaching, the
day of his dissolution drew near, and death, that unlocks the prison of
the soul, to enlarge it for a more glorious mansion, put a stop to his
acting his part on the stage of mortality; heaven, like earthly princes,
when it threatens war, being always so kind as to call home its
ambassadors before it be denounced, and even the last act or undertaking
of his, was a labour of love and charity; for it so falling out that a
young gentleman, a neighbour of Mr _Bunyan’s_, happening into the
displeasure of his father, and being much troubled in mind upon that
account, and also for that he heard his father purposed to disinherit
him, or otherwise deprive him of what he had to leave; he pitched upon Mr
_Bunyan_ as a fit man to make way for his submission, and prepare his
father’s mind to receive him; and he, as willing to do any good office,
as it could be requested, as readily undertook it; and so riding to
_Reading_ in _Berkshire_, he then there used such pressing arguments and
reasons against anger and passion, as also for love and reconciliation,
that the father was mollified, and his bowels yearned to his returning
son.
But Mr _Bunyan_, after he had disposed all things to the best for
accommodation, returning to _London_, and being overtaken with excessive
rains, coming to his lodgings extremely wet, fell sick of a violent
fever, which he bore with much constancy and patience, and expressed
himself as if he desired nothing more than to be dissolved, and be with
Christ, in that case esteeming death as gain, and life only a tedious
delaying felicity expected; and finding his vital strength decay, having
settled his mind and affairs, as well as the shortness of time, and the
violence of his disease would permit, 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, pantings and breathings after the hidden manna and water
of life, as by many holy and humble consolations expressed in his letters
to several persons in prison, and out of prison, too many to be inserted
at present. He died at the house of one Mr _Struddock_, a grocer, at the
Star on _Snow Hill_, in the parish of _St Sepulchre’s_, _London_, on the
12th of _August_ 1688, and in the sixtieth year of his age, {241} after
ten days’ sickness; and was buried in the new burying place near the
Artillery Ground; where he sleeps to the morning of the resurrection, in
hopes of a glorious rising to an incorruptible immortality of joy and
happiness; where no more trouble and sorrow shall afflict him, but all
tears be wiped away; when the just shall be incorporated as members of
Christ their head, and reign with Him as kings and priests for ever.
_A brief Character of Mr_ JOHN BUNYAN
HE appeared in countenance to be of a stern and rough temper, but in his
conversation mild and affable; not given to loquacity or much discourse
in company, unless some urgent occasion required it; observing never to
boast of himself or his parts, but rather seem low in his own eyes, and
submit himself to the judgment of others, abhorring lying and swearing,
being just in all that lay in his power to his word, not seeming to
revenge injuries, loving to reconcile differences, and make friendship
with all; he had a sharp quick eye, accompanied with an excellent
discerning of persons, being of good judgment and quick wit. As for his
person, he was tall of stature, strong boned, though not corpulent,
somewhat of a ruddy face, with sparkling eyes, wearing his hair on his
upper lip, after the old British fashion; his hair reddish, but in his
latter days, time had sprinkled it with grey; his nose well set, but not
declining or bending, and his mouth moderate large; his forehead somewhat
high, and his habit always plain and modest. And thus have we
impartially described the internal and external parts of a person, whose
death hath been much regretted; a person who had tried the smiles and
frowns of time; not puffed up in prosperity, nor shaken in adversity;
always holding the golden mean.
In him at once did three great worthies shine,
Historian, poet, and a choice divine:
Then let him rest in undisturbed dust,
Until the resurrection of the just.