Newsgroups: bit.listserv.christia
Date:         Mon, 31 Aug 1992 15:42:55 EDT
From:         JEK@NIHCU.BITNET
Subject:      John Bunyan (31 August 1688)
X-To:         CHRISTIA@ASUACAD.BITNET, BSTUDY-L@UTARLVM1.BITNET,
              IVCF-L@UBVM.BITNET

JOHN BUNYAN, WRITER (31 AUGUST 1688)

Bunyan was born in 1628 near Bedford, in the agricultural midlands
of England. He was the son of a tinker (a maker and mender of metal
pots). He had little schooling. During the English Civil War, he
served in the Parliamentary Army. He underwent a period of acute
spiritual anxiety, and finally found peace in a Baptist
congregation. He became a lay preacher, while earning his living as
a tinker.
     After the Restoration in 1660, Bunyan (under suspicion for
having fought on the anti-Anglican side) was ordered to preach no
more, and, since he refused to desist, he was several times
sentenced to jail, where he spent his time studying,preaching to his
fellow prisoners, and writing. His first substantial work was an
autobiography, GRACE ABOUNDING TO THE CHIEF OF SINNERS. This was
followed by other works, of which by far the most read and most
loved is his THE PILGRIM'S PROGRESS FROM THIS WORLD TO THAT WHICH IS
TO COME, usually called THE PILGRIM'S PROGRESS. For a century and
more thereafter, there were many Christians whose were thoroughly
familiar with only two books, The Bible and Pilgrim's Progess.
Two extracts follow:

   Now when he [Christian] was got up to the top of the Hill,
   there came two men running up against him amain; the name of
   the one was Timorous, and the name of the other Mistrust. To
   whom Christian said, "Sirs, what's the matter you run the wrong
   way?" Timorous answered that they were going to the city of
   Sion, and had got up that difficult place; "But," said he, "the
   further we go, the more danger we meet with, wherefore we
   turned, and are going back again."
        "Yes," said Mistrust, 'for just before us lie a couple of
   lions in the way, whether sleeping or waking we know not and we
   could not think, if we came within reach, but they would
   presently pull us in pieces."
         Then said Christian, "You make me afraid, but whither
   shall I fly to be safe? If I go back to mine own country, that
   is prepared for fire and brimstone, and I shall certainly
   perish there. If I can get to the Celestial City, I am sure to
   be in safety there. I must venture: to go back is nothing but
   death, to go forward is fear of death, and life everlasting
   beyond it. I will yet go forward." So Mistrust and Timorous ran
   down the Hill, and Christian went on his way.


        Now I saw in my dream, that these two men [Christian and
   Hopeful] went in at the Gate; and lo, as these entered they
   were transfigured, and they had raiment put on that shone like
   gold. There was also that met them, with harps and crowns, and
   gave them to them, the harp to praise withal, and the crowns in
   token of honour. Then I heard in my dream, that all the bells
   in the City rang again for joy; and that it was said unto them,
   "ENTER YE INTO THE JOY OF YOUR LORD." I also heard the men
   themselves, that they sang with a loud voice, saying,
   "BLESSING, HONOUR, GLORY, AND POWER, BE TO HIM THAT SITTETH
   UPON THE TRONE AND TO THE LAMB FOR EVER AND EVER."
        Now just as the Gates were opened to let in the men, I
   looked in after them; and behold, the City shone like the sun,
   the streets also were paved with gold, and in them walked many
   men with crowns on their heads, palms in their hands, and
   golden harps to sing praises withal.
        There were also of them that had wings, and they answered
   one another without intermission, saying, HOLY, HOLY, HOLY, IS
   THE LORD. And after that, they shut up the Gates: which when
   I had seen, I wished myself among them.

PRAYER
   Almighty God, who by thy Holy SPirit dost give to some the word
   of wisdom, to others the word of knowledge, and to others the
   word of faith: We priase thy name for the gifts of grace
   manifested in thy servant John Bunyan, and we pary that by his
   teaching we may be led to a fuller knowledge of the truth which
   thou has revealed in thy Son our Saviour Jesus Christ, who
   liveth and reigneth with thee and the same Spirit, one God,
   now and for ever.
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