The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1849-03-03
John Bunyan.


To the names of Baxter and Howe must
be added the name oil man far below
them in station and in acquired knowledge
but in virtue their equal, and in genius
their superior John Bunyan. Bunyan had
been bred a tinker, and had served us pri.
vale soldier in The Parliamen ,ary Army
Early in his life he had been fearfnlly toriu
red by rem orse for his youthful sins, the
worst OF which seem, however, 10 have been
such as the world thinks venial. His keen
sensibilly and his powerful Imagination
made his internal conflicts singularly terri
ence Of reprobalion that he had committed
5asphemy against the Holy Ghost that he
had sold Christ, that he was actually pos
sessod by demon. Sometimes loud vol
ces from Heaven cried out to warn him.
Sometimes fends whispered impious sug
seslions in his ear. He saw visions of
distant mountain tops, on which the sun
shone brightly, but from which he was sep
atated by waste ofsnow. He felt the dev
il behind him pulling his clothes. He
thought that the brand OF Cain lad been
set upon him. He feared lha, he was
about 10 ourst asunJer like Judas. His men
tai agony disordered his health. One day
he shook like a man in the palsy On an
other day he felt fire within his breast.
1t is difficult 10 understand how he snrvi
we'd sutieru2s so nle nse ard SO long conlin
ued. 4. length the cloud broke. From
the depths ofdespair the penilent passed to
state of serene felicity. An irresistible
impulse now urged him 10 impart 10 others
the blessings of which he was himselfpos
sessed. He joined the Bapus,s, and be
came preacher and writer. His ecnca
cation had been that ola mechanic. He
| knew no language but the English as il was
spoken by the common people, lie had
studied no great model of composition
with the exception, an important exception
undoubtedly, of our noble translation Of the
Bible. His spelling was bad. He frequent
ly transgressed the rules of grammar. Yet
the native force ofgenius, and his expert
mental knowledge of all the religious pas
sions, from despair 10 ecstacy amply sup>
piled in him the want OF learning. His
|
listened without interes, to the labored dis
courses of great logicians and Hebrass.
His wotks were widely circulated among
The humber classes. One of them, the Pill
grila's Progress, was in his own life time,
translated into several foreign languages. 1t
was, however, scarcely known 10 the learn
ell and polite, and had been during near
century, the delight of pious cottagers and
artisans, before ii was publicly commend
ed by any man Of high literary eminence.
AT length Grill cs condescended to inquire
where the secret of so wide and so durable
a popularity lay. They were compelled 10
own that the ignorant mullitude had judged
more correctly than the learned and that
the despised little book was really mas
Ter piece. Bunyan is indeed as decidedly
the first Of aIlegorists, as Demoshenes is
the first of orators, Or Shakespeare the first
Of diama'ists. Other alegorists have shown
equal ingenuity, but no other allegorist has
ever been able to touch the heart, and 10
make distractions objects of terror, Of pity
| and of love.
1t may be doubted whether any English
Dlssen!er had suffered more severely under
the pena! laws than John Bunyan. OF the
twenty seven years which had elapsed since
the Restoration, he had pas ed twelve years
in confinement. He still persisted in preach
ing, but, that he might preach he was un
der the necessity of Disgusting himself like
carter. He was often introduced into
meetings through back doors, with smock
irock on his back and whip in his hand.
If lie had thought only OF his own ease and
safety he would have hailed The indulgence
with delight, He was now, at length free
10 pray and exhor, in open day His con
greg alton rapidly increased thousands hung
upon his words, and at Bedford, where he
originally resided, money was plen'iiully
contributed 10 build meeting house for
him. His influence among the common
people was such that The government would
willingly have bestowed on him some mu
nicial office; but his vigorous understand
Ing and his stout English heart were proof
against all deuson and all temptation lie
felt assured that the pro(iered federation was
merely bait to lure The Puritan party TO
destruction, nor would he, by accepting a
place for which he was not legally quail
Ged, recognize the validity of the dispens
inq power. One OF the last acts Of his virtn
Gus lie was 10 decline an interview TO
which he was invited by an agent Of gov
erRment.