knew not, said, My Lord, he was lawfully convicted.
Wom. It is false, said she; for when they said to him, Do you confess
the indictment? he said only this, that he had been at several
meetings, both where there was preaching the Word, and prayer, and that
they had God’s presence among them.
Judge Twisdon. Whereat Judge Twisdon answered very angrily, saying,
‘What! you think we can do what we list; your husband is a breaker of
the peace, and is convicted by the law,’ &c. Whereupon Judge Hale
called for the Statute Book.
Wom. But, said she, my Lord, he was not lawfully convicted.
Chester. Then Justice Chester said, ‘My Lord, he was lawfully
convicted.’
Wom. It is false, said she; it was but a word of discourse that they
took for a conviction, as you heard before.
Chest. ‘But it is recorded, woman, it is recorded,’ said Justice
Chester; as if it must be of necessity true, because it was recorded.
With which words he often endeavoured to stop her mouth, having no
other argument to convince her, but ‘it is recorded, it is
recorded.’[13]
Wom. My Lord, said she, I was a while since at London, to see if I
could get my husband’s liberty; and there I spoke with my Lord
Barkwood, one of the House of Lords, to whom I delivered a petition,
who took it of me and presented it to some of the rest of the House of
Lords, for my husband’s releasement: who, when they had seen it, they
said that they could not release him, but had committed his releasement
to the judges, at the next assizes. This he told me; and now I come to
you to see if anything may be done in this business, and you give
neither releasement nor relief. To which they gave her no answer, but
made as if they heard her not.[14]
Chest. Only Justice Chester was often up with this, ‘He is convicted,’
and ‘It is recorded.’
Wom. If it be, it is false, said she.
Chest. My Lord, said Justice Chester, he is a pestilent fellow, there
is not such a fellow in the country again.
Twis. What, will your husband leave preaching? If he will do so, then
send for him.
Wom. My Lord, said she, he dares not leave preaching, as long as he can
speak.
Twis. See here, what should we talk any more about such a fellow? Must
he do what he lists? He is a breaker of the peace.
Wom. She told him again, that he desired to live peaceably, and to
follow his calling, that his family might be maintained; and, moreover,
said, My Lord, I have four small children that cannot help themselves,
of which one is blind, and have nothing to live upon, but the charity
of good people.
Hale. Hast thou four children? said Judge Hale; thou art but a young
woman to have four children.
Wom. My Lord, said she, I am but mother-in-law to them, having not been
married to him yet full two years. Indeed, I was with child when my
husband was first apprehended; but being young, and unaccustomed to
such things, said she, I being smayed[15] at the news, fell into
labour, and so continued for eight days, and then was delivered, but my
child died.[16]
Hale. Whereat, he looking very soberly on the matter, said, ‘Alas, poor
woman!’
Twis. But Judge Twisdon told her, that she made poverty her cloak; and
said, moreover, that he understood I was maintained better by running
up and down a preaching, than by following my calling.
Hale. What is his calling? said Judge Hale.
Answer. Then some of the company that stood by said, ‘A tinker, my
Lord.’
Wom. Yes, said she, and because he is a tinker, and a poor man,
therefore he is despised, and cannot have justice.
Hale. Then Judge Hale answered, very mildly, saying, ‘I tell thee,
woman, seeing it is so, that they have taken what thy husband spake for
a conviction; thou must either apply thyself to the King, or sue out
his pardon, or get a writ of error.’
Chest. But when Justice Chester heard him give her this counsel; and
especially, as she supposed, because he spoke of a writ of error, he
chafed,[17] and seemed to be very much offended; saying, ‘My Lord, he
will preach and do what he lists.’
Wom. He preacheth nothing but the Word of God, said she.
Twis. He preach the Word of God! said Twisdon; and withal she thought
he would have struck her; he runneth up and down, and doth harm.
Wom. No, my Lord, said she, it is not so; God hath owned him, and done
much good by him.
Twis. God! said he; his doctrine is the doctrine of the devil.
Wom. My Lord, said she, when the righteous Judge shall appear, it will
be known that his doctrine is not the doctrine of the devil.
Twis. My Lord, said he, to Judge Hale, do not mind her, but send her
away.
Hale. Then said Judge Hale, ‘I am sorry, woman, that I can do thee no
good; thou must do one of those three things aforesaid; namely, either
to apply thyself to the King, or sue out his pardon, or get a writ of
error; but a writ of error will be cheapest.’
Wom. At which Chester again seemed to be in a chafe, and put off his
hat, and as she thought, scratched his head for anger: but when I saw,
said she, that there was no prevailing to have my husband sent for,
though I often desired them that they would send for him, that he might
speak for himself, telling them, that he could give them better
satisfaction than I could in what they demanded of him, with several
other things, which now I forget; only this I remember, that though I
was somewhat timorous at my first entrance into the chamber, yet before
I went out, I could not but break forth into tears, not so much because
they were so hard-hearted against me and my husband, but to think what
a sad account such poor creatures will have to give at the coming of
the Lord, when they shall there answer for all things whatsoever they
have done in the body, whether it be good or whether it be bad.[18]
So, when I departed from them, the Book of Statute was brought, but
what they said of it I know nothing at all, neither did I hear any more
from them.
Some Carriages of the Adversaries of God’s Truth with me at the next
Assizes, which was on the 19th of the First Month, 1662.
I shall pass by what befell between these two assizes, how I had, by my
jailer, some liberty granted me, more than at the first, and how I
followed my wonted course of preaching, taking all occasions that were
put into my hand to visit the people of God; exhorting them to be
steadfast in the faith of Jesus Christ, and to take heed that they
touched not the Common Prayer, &c., but to mind the Word of God, which
giveth direction to Christians in every point, being able to make the
man of God perfect in all things through faith in Jesus Christ, and
thoroughly to furnish him unto all good works (2 Tim 3:17).[19] Also,
how I, having, I say, somewhat more liberty, did go to see Christians
at London; which my enemies hearing of, were so angry, that they had
almost cast my jailer out of his place, threatening to indict him, and
to do what they could against him. They charged me also, that I went
thither to plot and raise division, and make insurrection, which, God
knows, was a slander; whereupon my liberty was more straitened than it
was before: so that I must not look out of the door. Well, when the
next sessions came, which was about the 10th of the eleventh month, I
did expect to have been very roundly dealt withal; but they passed me
by, and would not call me, so that I rested till the assizes, which was
the 19th of the first month following; and when they came, because I
had a desire to come before the judge, I desired my jailer to put my
name into the calendar among the felons, and made friends of the judge
and high sheriff, who promised that I should be called; so that I
thought what I had done might have been effectual for the obtaining of
my desire; but all was in vain: for when the assizes came, though my
name was in the calendar, and also though both the judge and sheriff
had promised that I should appear before them, yet the justices and the
clerk of the peace did so work it about, that I, notwithstanding, was
deferred, and might not appear; and although, I say, I do not know of
all their carriages towards me, yet this I know, that the clerk of the
peace did discover himself to be one of my greatest opposers: for,
first, he came to my jailer, and told him that I must not go down
before the judge, and therefore must not be put into the calendar; to
whom my jailer said, that my name was in already. He bid him put me out
again; my jailer told him that he could not, for he had given the judge
a calendar with my name in it, and also the sheriff another. At which
he was very much displeased, and desired to see that calendar that was
yet in my jailer’s hand; who, when he had given it him, he looked on
it, and said it was a false calendar; he also took the calendar and
blotted out my accusation, as my jailer had writ it. Which accusation I
cannot tell what it was, because it was so blotted out; and he himself
put in words to this purpose: ‘That John Bunyan was committed to
prison, being lawfully convicted for upholding of unlawful meetings and
conventicles,’ &c. But yet, for all this, fearing that what he had
done, unless he added thereto, it would not do; he first run to the
clerk of the assizes, then to the justices, and afterwards, because he
would not leave any means unattempted to hinder me, he comes again to
my jailer, and tells him, that if I did go down before the judge, and
was released, he would make him pay my fees, which, he said, was due to
him; and further told him, that he would complain of him at the next
quarter sessions for making of false calendars; though my jailer
himself, as I afterwards learned, had put in my accusation worse than
in itself it was by far. And thus was I hindered and prevented, at that
time also, from appearing before the judge, and left in prison.
Farewell.
John Bunyan.
***
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.
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 that 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 has methodically laid them down in the words of verity; and so
I pass on as 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, &c.; and, by his patience, to move Dr. Barlow, the then
Bishop of Lincoln,[20] and other churchmen, 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
noisesomeness 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 in
convenient places, though the law was then in force against meetings,
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 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 the remote counties, where he knew, or imagined, any people
might stand in need of his assistance, insomuch that some of these
visitations that he made, which was two or three every year, some,
though in 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 he 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,[21] his piercing with
penetrated the veil, and found that it was not for the Dissenters’ sake
they were so suddenly freed from the 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 Poliphemus, 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 that 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 averting
the impendent judgments, which he saw, like a black tempest hanging
over our heads, for our sins, and ready to break 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 had
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 were 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 a university.
During these things, there were regulators sent into all cities and
towns corporate, to new-model the government in the magistracy, &c., 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
it is 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 nonconformists,
and used his talent to the great good liking of the hearers; and even
some, to whom he had been misrepresented, upon the account of his
education, were convinced of his worth and knowledge in sacred things,
as perceiving him to be a man of sound judgment, delivering himself
plainly and powerfully; insomuch that many who came as mere spectators,
for novelty’s sake, rather than to be edified and 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 had 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 prayers of the faithful, and answer
them, even for those 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, on 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 of his sufferings; but within
six years afterwards [from his first imprisonment] he was again taken
up, viz., in the year 1666, and was then confined for six years more,
when even the jailer took such pity of his rigorous sufferings that he
did as the Egyptian jailer did to Joseph, put all the care and trust
into his hands. When he was taken this last time, he was preaching on
these words, viz., “Dost thou believe on 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 these following books, viz.:
Of Prayer by the Spirit, The Holy City, Resurrection, Grace Abounding,
Pilgrim’s Progress, the first part.
[Defence of Justification by Jesus Christ.]
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 of
Matthew, in our Saviour’s sermon out of a ship, all his method 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 inconvencies 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 on 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 Jude, he 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
exhortations; being in this like Joshua, as that 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, &c., his earthly treasures 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.