Year: 1869




Lecture BY Rev. Stephen Hs Tying, Jr., n
Trcnor's Lyric Hall.


Under the auspices OF the Young Mems Christian
Association Rev. Stephen H. Tying, Jr., delivered an


address last evening at Trenor's Lyric Hall. on the
subject of "John Bunyan and his relations to Church
and State.n There was very respectable attend
ance, and the lecture which occupied an hour ana
half In delivery was listened to with earnest atten-
ton.


Introductory to his lecture the reverend speaker
gave hurried but highly interesting resume Of the
leading facts more particularly as connected with
Church and state matters OF the latter part Of the
reign OF Charles the Second and fore part Of the
reign Of James the First OF England The profit
gacy OF the times OF the first named king was, he
claimed, the precursor to the religious moderation
that folowed-the moderation that melted to such
prosecutions OF the Quakers that led to tine banish-
ment Of two thousand ministers from their pupts
and finally led to the bloodshed OF black
Bartholomew's Day. 1t was in these times
that Baxter was born. The humble tinker
accomplish more than any man before or after him
more than Luther or Cromwell or Baxter or any
llglous liberty. Though humbly he did his work. ne
did u faithfully and well. He next proceeded to
give the leading facts connected with the biography
OF John Bunyan from his birth, in 1923, up to the
date OF his death. In early life Bunyan
was High Churchman. and he quoted some Of the
latter's statements to this effect. Rapidly passing
over his early career he spoke OF his arragnment
charge Of treason to the Established Church, and
M 'a a. singular fact
son-that one OF bis principal accusers as well as
Judge was DIR. Stubbs. At Tins time, when put into
devotion to his religious belief. For some years
ne was kept confined In the jail. His room was
days In labor nm making iacss FOR the maintenancs ps
OF his family whom occasionally he was permitted to
visit and they come to him. His evenings were spent
much the incidents Of each recurring day-for life
him was mOn0ton0us-but giving vent on the
wTen m pages to his inner emotions and
gious experiences. The speaker here drew .
graphic picture OF Bunyan's devotion to his blind
trasted his own life and that Of his oflsprng. and
from the contrast felt that he had nothing OF which
Of his an s
portion OF the lecture, and the bold genius Of the
work-the finest Of all modern alegories-was
ing characteristics Around this old Bedford
jail having many associations never to be forgotten
in history 1t here that the philanthropist How
ard began his noble career In connection with the
prison reform But above everything else, 1t was
hero was brought to the notice Of the world that
was here his soul took Its IOltlest flight and gave
Inference TO that divine prose poem-Bunyan's
dwet upon the leading incidents in the life OF his
subject during his pastoral care OF the Bedford
church, OF Wnlcn, In 1872, ne was CHOSEN pastor.
and the plan simple pulpit In which, from Sabbath
to Sabbath, he preached to his CONGREGATION


He also took his hearers through that ancient
churchyard and recited some OF the singular unique


Dut characteristic eptaphs inscribed on the crum-


bling tombstones The earnest eloquence but strik-


ing simplicity Of his dlscourses were described at
length and his every day religious life among his
parshioners Though uneducated In the schools he
had drunk in lessons OF sublime wisdom in the
/ twelve years OF his prison life He showed the


effects OF this higher teaching in his pulpit dis


courses He cited numerous references to his power


as pulpit orator, which showed, as he alleged con-
clusively that he was as preacher as popular,
In the popular sense IN which this term
| was used, as ever were Wesley or Whitfield.
After reciting the incidents or his death


dying, as he said, in the harness and in the OF
charity, having got wet and caught cold ana fever


from going TO visit an old man to reconcile him to a
| dissolute son-he entered upon an analysis Of his


leading mental and moral characteristics. His ''Pil-
grim's Progress" was work, the world
acknowledged, Of the very highest genus--of
the furthest grasp OF the fancy, of the most


perfect completeness as symb0zing the religion OF
the Bible and its holy teachings. Bunyan drank hts
inspiration from the Bibe-from the great fountain
head of divine wisdom. No book had ever sold like
/ 1t; no book save the Bible had been productive OF
such good to the cause OF religion and humanity.
4 over hundred thousand copies were sold
/ in England In his lifetime, and besides
1 1t was translated into all the leading European
| languages. At the present time there was not q
civilized nation on the face OF the globe but had
| its translation OF Bunyan's ssPilgrim's Progress
Coming TO speak OF his moral characteristics. he
compared him first 10 Martin Luther next to John
Brown and then TO Abraham Lincoln. In conclusion
he urged that the day of the curtailment0f religious
liberty was ended and In the course OF his remarks


upon the present intolerance OF churches he referred
forgotten, and invoked de!iverauce from such in
tolerance.