T H E B O O K
THE BUNYAN FEST
A COMPLE T E RE C ORD
T H E U NVE IL I NG OF T H E S T A T U E
H I S R E T H E DU KE F B E DF ORD G A C O ,
JU N E 1 0 , 1 874 .
zhiszh a t: u fi b u nrit Efi n fi h s bw y; g tb g .
E DI T D B H I E W Y L . E Y W . .
W ITH I R A L KE H S TO I C S TCH B Y T H E R E V . J. B ROWN , B . A .,
O B M B r u n a n eeti n ed d . f y g , fo
3 0mm : E S CLA KE C0 “ CHR JAM R . IS T I N D I , A WORL OFF CE ,
1 3, F LE E T S TRE E T, E C.
" ROWLAND HILL SONS , MERCURY OFFICE, HIGH ST REET , BEDFORD.
1 874.
A DE R M E OR E H U R T L A N O O S ,
MA Y OR OF B EDF RD O ,
A N D T H E
E B E R O F T H E C O R PORA T I M M S ON ,
Mia mzm uriaI fi g ht ing
B Y T H EI R S PECI A L PERMI S S I ON
E PE T F LL EDI A T E R S C U Y D C D.
CONT E NT S .
A T T t h e R ev. J. B r ow n B . . IS ORIC L S K E C . B A N H A H y ,
T E F ESTIV L T B EDFORD J E 1 0 1 874. B th e E di t r . H A A , UN , y o
Prepa ra to ry S erm ons
R elics o f B u n ya n
T h e Pro ce s s ion t o t h e S ta tu e
T h e U n ve ilin g o f t h e S t a tu e
T h e S ta tu e
' M e eting in t h e E xch a n g e
. i r M Op en a. eeting s
T re a t to t h e Childr en
L e u r b R C . M B ir r l ct e y ev. . e l
T h e H o s pita lities o f. t h e Da y
T E PRISO ER OF B EDFORD . B A lderm a n Geor e H u r s t H N y g , M a yor of B edfor d
T B t R A T E R C ER OF JO . B h e e . P C V r ev . H HA A HN UNYAN y y .
ta n l . o s t m t r S ey , D D Dea n f We i n s e
E S T LE T E RC D B B t h e Ri ht D N C . A AN Y , H HU H , AN UNYAN y g
- H on . E a r l ow er K. . Lor d Li eu t en a n t o B ed C p , G , f
for ds hi r e
D R ELI IO S L IB ERT . B t h R ev. B r ck D W. o D B N G e . . UNYA AN U Y y ,
T E L ITER R G E I S OF JO B . the Ker H en r H A Y N U HN UNYAN B y . y
A lla n , D. D. Con t n ts e . PA GE
S T T T T M B t h e R B T E E D E I E . o w B A ev. J. n . . 75 H A U AN H y r ,
‘ '
B U N Y A N P M . B h . M B s ERSO L PIL RI E t e Rev. r ll NA G AG y C . i re 79
T O E B B t R T E S CE ER D C R C ERS . h e ev J. H N Y AN HA A UN YAN y . D ou h t n . S t g o , D .
’ T I B S Whi tb ea d T E S EC RE OF B N S N FL E CE . . H UNYA U N y r ,
M . P E s q . , .
THE N EW SPAP ER PRESS ON THE CELEB RATION
l —T h e T s T h e Pa ra lys ed De m o n o f I n to e ra n ce . i m e
’ — B u nya n s B e dford L ife Da i ly N ew s — Va nity F a ir a n d t h e Pilg r i m Da i ly T elegr ap h
la - h A To r y C o u n terb s t . T e S ta n da r d
“ ’ ” — T h e Pilgrim s Chief S e rvic e t o M a n kind T h e E ch o
u —T h e S e t a t o T h e V ictory o f G eni s . p c r
a d - u n ch B u n ya n t B edfo r . P
i i Ti m —E n li s h I n de en den t T h e Wh rlig g o f e . g p
h a A n E e -w i t T h e Tr i u m p o f Chris ti n Ch a rity. y
n es s i n t h e F r eem a n
Popis h a n d Clerical Sla n der a g a ins t B unya n T H E B OOK
OF T H E
A L B U N Y A N F E S T I V .
a isturizal hru 3 fi (S b .
R B Y T H RE V . JO H N B O N . W B A . E ,
B u a M ee i n Of n y n t g .
H A VI N G been asked to wr ite a pr efa ce to this M em o r ia l C o f volume , it occurs to me that I can best keep lear the o f t h e various lines thought pursued by others , and add to
general interest , by a little historical sketch which shall o f g ive the old story in the light some recent researches . a n d with some little additions which circumstances have
placed within my reach . The name o f Bunyan as a surname o f the livi ng h a s ’ a l m ost died out from Bunyan s native county . I only r e r member to ha ve met with it once o twice . Yet it i s o f c o n e onsiderable antiquity, and was at time far from rare . E c m n o w . u s . A do u ent being edited by H Go gh , q , shows
a B o n o n o f that one Willi m y y , Stanbridge , in Leighton u e o r B zzard , was a m mber of a guild fraternity at Luton , 1 in 1 5 8. The name is found variously spelt . In the u o f Ch rch Registers Elstow and Wootton , it is written thus ,
r u n B u n n i o n o B nio . In the original accounts o f the real a n d personal estates of delinquents seized by the Parlia n 1 642 d 1 648 t h e me t of England , between the years an , ’ 2 B n h u g/e n s Birt pla ce .
o f B n n i on o f rent Sir George y , delinquent , in the parish £22 d “ hi 3 1 1 8 . 4 fi Eaton Socon , Bedfords re , is returned at t h e From same account it appears that the land o f Mr . F o f S t r et l t h e oster, delinquent , in the parish y, was let by B n n f £ 0 i s u n o o 3 . year to John y , tenant , at a rent It , a o f o f perh ps , worthy notice , that the farm this John B u n n o n v l o f S a m s ell e y , was not far from that i lage wher o u r e John Bunyan was apprehended for preaching . Wer
o n h i s they kinsmen , and had the tinker been a visit to more prosperous relative when he fell into trouble Quite h a s recently also it been discovered that between October, 1 581 1 645 B u n n i o n o r n , and January, , the name Bunio occur s no less than sixteen times i n the Register o f t h e h o r r Parish Church at Wootton , a village some t ree fou miles from Elstow . There can be little doubt that these different modes o f spelling are simply variations o f t h e i e fi e c same name , and their long ex stence in the county t u a lly di sposes of the groundless supposition that the Bun yans were gypsies . o f df Mr . Blower, Be ord , who has long taken deep inte
i n i n o t rest all that belongs , to Bunyan , mainta ns that it is strictly correct to s a y that he was born in Elstow parish . di The tra tion held .many years ago by the oldest inhabit . ants was that the cottage where he was born stood in a field a little way over the pari sh boundary in the hamlet o f a Harrowden and parish o f Carding ton . The cottage h s b een u t h e long pulled down , and the field ploughed p , but O ’ a ll o f pl ce is sti called Bunyan s End , and a part a neigh ’ u b ou r in g farm used to be pointed o t as Bunyan s Walk . But ’ hi r o r n o t u whether t s tradition be t ue , B nyan s personal o f I t relations with Elstow parish were the closest kind . was in Elstow Church that he looked up with reverential
awe to Christopher Hall , the Puritan preacher, who held
n the livi g in the Commonwealth days it was in the tower , perh aps once united to the Ch u r ch by t h e Conventual
3“ A di io n a l M S S . d t , S 3 Bunya n a s a oldier.
i n o w di build ngs , but stan ng separate , that he rang the bells and w a s harassed by his fears and misgi vings ; i t was in the o ld Moot Hall on the Green that he is said to s o have danced with the Elstow lasses , an exercise much to his mind , that , as he says , it was a full year before I o n could quite leave that it was the Green itself , which to s o this day lies charmingly in the summer sunlight , that he joined in the village sports and heard t h e s e inward voices which filled his soul wi th the terrors o f the u n seen ; and there can be no doubt it was to the a upre tending cottage by the roadside as you enter Elsto w that e he brought home his bride . Ther it was that the young i people started life together with large faith, kindl ng “ e h pe , and clinging love , with these three , faith , hope , “ fo r and love , but with not much else , , says he , we
s o came together as poor as poor might be , not having ” u ff di o r a b et w ix t u much household St as a sh spoon s both .
But before his marriage , and during his Elstow days , ’ Bunyan s soldi ering experiences came in . On which side u in the civil wars he took p arms is still a moot point . ff O e r . o n er . C His most recent biographers , Mr and Mr p , are both o f them strongly o f Opinion that he was a s Royali t , the latter gentleman holding that there is not a ” tittle o f evidence in favour o f his being o n the side o f the F r o n . o w di f Parliament my part , I have been led to a
o . fer nt conclusion It is true that , some fifteen years after
r C n the fi st ivil war came to an end , Bu yan Speaks with f o . loyalty the then reigning King When Cobb , the Clerk
o f m i n n the Peace , ca e to him prison , Bu yan repudiated the conduct o f those who had just raised the Venner o f insurrection in London , and all who met for political o f “ purposes , under cover religious exercises , and said , I look upon it as my duty to behave myself un der the King ’ s Government both as becomes a man and a Chris o fi er e d l tian , and if the occas ion were me , I should wi lingly m o anifest my loyalty to my Prince b th by word and deed . 1 —2 ’ 4 P a r t n B d /a ecfio r é /zzr e . It would greatly have strengthened his words if he could h b e o n e ave added that , in y g years , he had taken up arms ’ a for the King s father . He does not s y this when he might h h i s ave said it to purpose , and all that words can be made to mean is that he was no plotter at the meetings to which
- di he gathered the people , but that he was a law abi ng , ul peaceable man , and ready to prove his loyalty to lawf ly constituted authority . But at the time when Bunyan was a soldier, it was a disputed question which was the — lawfully- constitu ted authority o f the realm King o r Par lia m en t ; and Bedfordshi re gave its verdict most u n m i s
t a k a b l . y for the Parliament , and against the King It is D v e s o f u true that Sir Lewis y , Bromham , fo ght as a o f Royalist , and once made a raid upon the town Bedford , with brief success ; several o f the gentr y of the county w n l o f also sympathised ith the King, as is show by the ists ’ those who compou nded fo r their estates at Goldsmiths o f Hall . But the majority the inhabitants were strongly 1 634 u . P ritan In , Archbishop Laud reports to the King “ that his visitors fo u nd Bedfordshire most tainted o f any ” part of the diocese o f Lincoln ; and when the great
u h o f o n str ggle began , wit in four months the day which w a s the Royal Standard raised at Nottingham , there was exhibited in the market - places o f Bedford a n d Cambridge “ u A . Remonstrance and Petition , anno ncing that the h o f o f in abitants these two counties , with those Bucks and
Herts , had associated themselves and taken up arms , and did Go d solemnly protest and covenant before , and with o n e h w anot er , that they will illingly and resolutely sacri
fi ce their lives in this religious and just quarrel , and will h never lay down their arms till this , w ich is called the ’ ” King s army, be dissolved . To this strenuous resolution ’ w a s d Bedfordshire certainly true , till Bunyan s sol iering
o f o r days were over . Therefore , if, at the age sixteen a seventeen , he may be supposed to have had strong Roy list
di fi u n f convictions , the f c lty of his carryi g them into e fect a A m 5 B a nya n N o t i n th e Roy l r y .
practically was enormous . For all along the north , the
- o n e o f west , and south west , Bedfordshire was shut in by the stro n gest lines o f defence which the Parliamentary “ forces possessed . Newport Pagnell , being geometrically situated between the associated counties and the Royalist I t o f . operations in the west , was held as first importance D v e s n was early seized by Sir Lewis y for the Ki g, but was
1 643 . recaptured for the Parliament , November , The “ o f following month , an ordinance Parliament states that
a n d the Lords Commons , taking into their serious con sideration the great importance o f the town o f Ne W po r t
Pa u el o f u o f g , in the county B cks , to the safety the d o f country a jacent , and all the associated counties under
o f o f the command the Earl Essex , do ordain and order d that the said town shall be strongly fortified, an furnished ” i h e for garrison . Th s garrison was placed under t com o f o f CO le mand Sir Samuel Luke , p , as Governor , and for the next three years it was a powerful base o f operations for the safe keeping o f Bedfordshire and the parts adja o f cent . Thus , then , the case against the probability Bunyan ’ s being in the Royal army at the siege of Leicester n o t o f is this First , it is likely that he , a mere lad sixteen o r seventeen , listening to a Puritan preacher, and living u in a co nty intensely Puritan , should have come to different concl u sions from t h e majority o f his neigh
o n bours the great question then agitating the nation .
r Next , even if this were the case , it is ve y improbable that he would be able to make his way to the King ’ s o f quarters through strong lines Parliament forces , and n u alo g roads jealously g arded . And , finally, the fact has been overlooked that the King did not move upon Leicester 2 t h o f . On 6 from the south , but from the north the May ,
1 645 S t a fi o r ds h i r e , he marched from Stone , in , to Ashby,
o n S l s t . and from Ashby to Leicester, which he besieged the Looking at all the facts o f the case as far as we know ’ i t l n n them , seems to me more than probab e that Bu ya s 6 r d n fire P es s e M e . soldiering experiences were i n the service o f the Parlia t o f Pa n el men , and confined to the garrison Newport g ; for there is positive evidence that the villages of Bedford shire had to furnish levies o f men as soldiers for the garri s o n i and labourers for the fortifications . The Parl amentary “ o f Ordinance , already quoted, provides That the county Bedford within fourt een days shall send into the said
2 2 5 m garrison able and armed en for souldiers . Sir ’ r Samuel Luke s Letter Book , du ing the years he was
o f u Governor Newport, extends to three vol mes , and is f still pr e s er ve dfi From this we learn that the levies were
r very systematically made from every hund ed in the county, 1 645 ” and that as late as April, , prest men were sent in hi from Bedfords re to Newport . Some letters show that
M a r ch exemption was very di fficult to obtain . Under date 1 7 1 644 t , , there is an earnest en reaty from William Dell , “ o f o f the Rector Yelden , that John Gell , his parish , a hi i ” man w ch hath a family, and is engaged in serv ce , “ m a o n e o w y be excused ; and Paul Godfrey, a lusty fell
that hath neither wife nor child , nor any certain employ ” ment , may be ordered in his roome . I suspect that John o f Bunyan , answering very much to the description Paul t Godfrey, found his way to Newpor Garrison , with very
little choice in the matter, and for some months , at least ,
took part in the scenes enacted there . The only reference Bunyan himself makes to his mili tary experiences is the well - known passage When I was o u t a soldier , I , with others , were drawn to go to such a b o n e place to esiege it ; but when I was just ready to go , o f the company desired to go in my room , to which , when S I had consented, he took my place , and coming to the iege ,
as he stood sentinel , he was shot into the head with a ” musket bullet , and died . This is the passage which has f been supposed to refer to the siege o Leicester . It more probably refers to some su dden call m ade upon the garrison
i f - - E e o n M S S . 785 6 7. g rt , h B ‘ ’ h h 7 F orm a tion of t e echb m C urc .
a t N ewfpo r t fo r m en to assist i n the Parliamentary opera B u t i t C tions in the west . wherever it was , is lear that fo Bunyan did not go to the siege referred to , r he says that f i A n d a substitute of ered h mself and went in his place . it is somewhat curious th at with his o w n words before them o f o f most his biographers give graphic descriptions a siege , a s if‘ Bunyan were present when he s o plainly says he was not ; and a recent illustration o f the Grace Abounding d epicts hi m in the attitude o fcontemplating the dead body — o fhis comrade a thi ng whi ch must have been very di fficult
to do , seeing that he was certainly many miles away at the
time the man was shot . To pass now to other matters Bunyan has told us him s elf as only he could , how he went through spiritual stress a n d d i n storm , and how he came to find help an home the f little Church at Bedford which had Gif ord for its pastor . It was only a year o r two before his joinin g i t that the Church had been formed by twelve brethren and sisters
banding themselves together . As among these twelve were the three o r four poor women whom B u nyan s a w sitting at a i n s u n o f i door the , and overheard talking the higher l fe , ” as if joy did make them Speak , it may be well to give “ their names to a wider circle . They were Mr . John
Grew and his wife , Mr . John Eston and his wife , Anthony iff Harrington and his wife , Mr . John G ord , Sister Coven
M u n n e s ton , Sister Bosworth , Sister , Sister Fenne , and N Sister orton , and Sister Spencer, all ancient and grave
- k n o w n e Christians , well one to another , Sister Norton being ” ’ the youngest . Bunyan s name is the 1 9th in the list o f b u t o f n o t d members , as the acts the Church are recorde 1 656 o r s i x it s till , years after formation , we have no account o f his reception among them besides that which he gives
himself . The first mention o f him beyond the record o f 1 6 57 his name is in , and there are about a dozen references to him from this date to the time o f his imprisonment i n 1 0 66 . A n entry in the autumn o f 1 657 shows that by that ’ 8 P ers ec tion b Pr es h ter z u y y a n s . tim e he had become an important member o f the brother I t u hood . r ns as follows Whereas there hath hereto f ore been time spent in seeking God to direct u s in choyce o f di t o th e officers necessary for ye congregation , accor ng order o f the G o s pell ; and whereas heretofore there were
o u r S en el . c . nominated and appointed for tryall bro p y, bro
. t h . s e Bunyan , bro Coventon , and bro Wallis , to exerci e o f office Deacons ; and bro . Bunyan being taken o ff by o f o s ell the preaching the G p ; We are agreed That bro . Bunyan being otherwise i m plo ye d : o u r other thr ee brethren
- in before named be continued . John Fenne was added ’ n Bu yan s place . e It was not long , however , before his zeal brought troubl hi s 2 t h upon himself and anxiety upon brethren . On the 5 1 658 3r d da o f March , , It was agreed that the y the next month h e s et apart to s eek e G o d in the behalf o f t h e f a fi a i r e s f r o u r Church af aires , and the of the nation , and o h f . : o r bro Whitbread , who hat bene long ill and also coun saile what to doe with respect to the in di ctment against ”
. s bro Bunyan at ye Assizes for preaching at Eaton . Thi o f w a s in the Presbyterian days the Commonwealth . ’ Clearly the tinker s preaching orders were irregular i n the eyes of presbyter as well as priest . Religious liberty h a d not yet come to mean liberty all round , but only liberty for a certain recognised section . The Quakers of Bedford
un o u t s s shire fo d that as well as Bunyan ; for, as Be se tell u s o r f , a year two be ore , Isabel Parlour was sent to Bride b e well for a month , with an order to whipt , for exhorting the people in Ampthill Market to repentance ari d amend “ f o f R i s el s d ment o life . The same year the Priest y cau e thr ee men and two women to be s et in the stocks for three hou rs because in meeting w ith h i m they had reproved h i m r o in a Scriptu ral manner . No doubt they were very p y o n e l h u ul n oking, but wou d ave tho ght this wo d have bee sufficient w ithout follo w ing it up the next Qu arter Sessions t h e: by sending them to Bridewell for a month . About ’ B ir t S rm n 9 unya n s F s e o .
“ e m e t w o u I m e o f sam ti also other Q akers , John p y, fo r Barton , and his wife , were imprisoned three months ha ving taken each oth er i n marriage o therwise th an in t h e ” m h e u t o for appointed by t Directory . How B nyan came di d escape we have no means o f knowing n o w . That he s t e cape seems certain , as we hear no more of the indictmen at the Assizes , and he himself makes no reference to any 1 60 imprisonment previous to 6 . The last ent ry in the church book refe r ring to Bunyan r t o f 1 660 a n d before his imprisonment is in the early pa , “ is to this effect : It was ordered accordi ng to o u r agree
o u r r t o ment that b o . Bunyan do prepare to speake a word us the next Church meeting , and that our bro . Whiteman ” n o t o f h O e r fail to speake to him it . Let us p brothe o f Whiteman did not fail , for the opportunities hearing brother Bunyan will be but fe w for some years to come . ” The time t hey have fixed for him to speake a word is t h e time which destiny has fixed for King Charles to make that landing at Dover which will bring many changes t o them and to others . Bunyan was o n e o f the very first to feel the ill effects o f
o f t the Restoration, for under an unrepealed Act Parliamen 35 ’ . . i a n d s i x o f [ Eliz , c ! , within months the King s arrival , he was arrested for preaching at S a m s ell by Harlington . The Chamber in which he appeared before the neighbouring i t justice , Francis Wingate , is still preserved very much as was then . Wingate tried remonstrance first , but finding I t that unavailing he sent his prisoner o n to Bedford Gaol . i s most probable that Bunyan would have to walk the thir e hi a n d t en miles w ch lay between Harlington and Bedford , if he went along the most obvious road which is marked o n o ld u l h an co ntry map of that time , after trave ling throug the beautiful surroundi ngs o f Silsoe o n to Clophill and
h l i n Wilshamstead , he would have to walk throug E stow — t h e custody o f the constable a n event which we m a y b e
C o ld f Pa s t sure reated no small stir among his neighbours . J l 1 0 us tice Ke ynge .
t h e cottage door where he had lived with h er w h o w a s n o w i n heaven ; past the o ld green and the ploughed fields as s o ci a t e d S with his piritual struggles , along the road where he had once thought o f putting his faith to t h e test o f m t o iracle , and where God was now putting it a nobler test hi s o n than that, he makes way to Bedford and over lk Bedford Bridge, constable and he still wa ing together, till a t last they come to the grim structure o f the county
o f . g aol , at the corner what is now the Silver Street T t o ld w hey quickly pass wi hin , and as the gate s ings h eavily behind them it shuts some pleasant things o u t from h i m s h u t s i n , but it with him a divine compensation , for it “ is of this very journey he speaks when he says , Blessed be ’ t h e Lord , I went away to prison with God s comfort in ” m ul y poor so .
After he had lain there some seven weeks , the Quarter
S o n essions came , and in a document into which the lawyers had put more than their usual professional b earti n di ess , Bunyan was in cted for devilishly and perniciously ” a bstaining from coming to church . He has immortalised the country gentlemen who that day acted as Justices o f t h e K el n e Peace . John y g , who lived somewhere between
S o f . hefford and Southill , was Chairman the Sessions He
had been trained for the bar, and a few weeks before B unyan ’ s trial he had acted as junior counsel for the f Crown in the trial o the regicides . Two years later he f c onducted the prosecution o Sir Harry Vane . His zeal s o commended him to the ru ling party that he rose rapidly e in his profession , and in brief space became Lord Chi f ’ J o f ustice . The report Bunyan s trial shows that
K el n e o n e y g was a violent man . He once fined a jury hundred marks each because they acqui tted a few poor people who met one Sunday with Bibles without Prayer
B e o f ooks . He had the r putation being more fit to charge Roun dheads under Prince Rupert than to charge juries f f of . o rom the bench justice But , like men his bullying
’ n I m m 1 2 Buny/a s p r is on en t.
28th o f t h e neglected through the increase of trouble , the
t a i n e 6 h 1 661 a . month ( ) the Church , through mercy, g met ” i r t o u . Agreed , among other th ngs , that bro Bunyan be sen ” to Robert Nelson and Sister Manley . The next month
u h we find this We desire bro . B nyan and bro . Jo n k f ” Pe co c o o . s Fenne to go again to Sister , Ok ly Thi
comparative liberty was , however, but of brief duration . The next se ven years were years o f deep darkness and ’ u n o t trouble , and during all that time B nyan s name is
even mentioned in the Records . The Records them 1 668 F o r u selves are very scanty till . fo r years and a half after the passing o f the Conventicle Act there is a
gap without a single entry . Then , after this long interval , o n 30t h 8th 1 6 68 t the day of the month , , it is agreed tha
u . bro . Bunyan sho ld speake with bro . Robt Nelson , and h admonish him for withdrawing from the Churc , and
ro other miscarriages . It was desired also that b . B u nyan
and bro . Harrington send for bro . Merrill , and admonish h i m r concerning his withd awing from the Church , and ’ ” n f m i o his co or ty to the world s way f worship . Eleven
n months later, and again two months after that , Bu yan
was sent to this backsliding brother with fresh admonition , which , however, seems to have been to little purpose , for “ a short time afterwards Humphrey Merrill openly r e ” u canted his profession at a General Q arter Sessions .
1 6 68 1 6 72 u From till his release in , B nyan is frequently m t h e e entioned in the records of Church . That he had som measure of liberty during five years o u t o f the twelve is tolerablyclear, though whether the story of his going abroad and coming back o f his o w n accord in time to save the gaoler f t s o . and himsel is true or not , is not clear It is somewha remarkable that a precisely similar story is told by John f 1 68 i n o . 3 Gratton , a Quaker, himself In he was confined him e Derby gaol , and he relates how the gaoler gave leav to go home sometimes , his home being at a distance from
. o n e u h e Derby On occasion an exercise fell pon him, and ’
John B n hh s P etition s . 1 3
retu rned sooner than the gaoler expected . He goes o n t o “ s a y When I had been a little time at the gaol , there came t w o hi gh priest s and one called a gentleman with s ee m e s o them to me and asked for , I came to them , but when they s a w me they had nothing to s a y to me when they were gone the gaoler rejoiced greatly and said he £40 t would not for but that I had been there tha day, for o n e o f the priests was the chief priest o f Derby to w n and t h e other was very high ; and he was s o pleased th at he let ” me go home again the same day . Is it possible that the
S o f u imilar story about Bunyan sprang out this , for B nyan does not relate the story himself B u t though his confinement was somew hat relaxed it was irksome enough, we may be sure . A man of the name o f n i n John Bubb , from Leighto Buzzard , who was Bedford
w u gaol along ith B nyan , and who was there only about
o f 1 66 5- 6 t nine months , sent a most plaintive peti ion to the
i m r i s o n m en t h e King , saying , that during his p hath suffered a s much misery as s e e di s m a ll a place could be capable ’ u to inflict , and so is likely to perish witho t Your Majestie s farther compassion and mercy towards In a o f petition which he also sent to Sir William Morton , one t h e o f f Judges Assize at Bed ord , he desires to be released from prison whe r e he hath long remained in a calamitous ” c o n di o n o f o f c . John Bubb was clearly not the mind ’ ’ those who make light o f Bunyan s twelve years imprison ment in Bedford gaol because it had some mitigations , but ’ then John Bubb spoke from nine months experience , and these gentlemen do not . It may be worth while to mention
h o n by the way, t at this man was ultimately released the ” t o f en tlew om a n s u r eon o f estimony a g g good repute .
s u r eon Dorothy . Sparkes , g , of Woburn , testified that the man whom Bubb w a s said to have killed lived a month a w di fter the blo he received , and really ed from anothe r
S a t e a e s Do m s i . a s . I I l . e . V o . cxcu . 33 . t P p r t c Ch , , 1 4 B ’ R a n /i a rt s elea s e .
Unfortunately this gentlewoman surgeon was n o t
- able to help Bunyan as she had helped his fellow prisoner . She w a s not able to certify that nobody was really t h e ’ s o o n worse for Bunyan s preaching , he had to tarry for ” i x co n di o n B u t s c . ur n years more in calamitous his t ,
too , came at last . It has been repeatedly affirmed that his
u o f release was bro ght about through the kind offices Dr . f o . s o Barlow , Bishop Lincoln Bishops in those days did
o f o n e ul many things which we are sorry to hear , that wo d have been glad to be able to place this humane act to the f o f credit o my Lord Lincoln . But I am afraid truth for
o f bids . During the greater part his Episcopal life he was ’ o f a near neighbour Bunyan s it is true , for he loved his palace between Kimbolton and Huntingdon more than h i s “ dr o f B u den Cathe al , and is described as the Bishop g ” that never s a w Lincoln . But he was certainly not the ’ u un o f means of B nyan s release , for B yan was out prison
three years before Barlow was made Bishop at all . On i df his subsequent Episcopal v sitations at Be ord , he may h ave been kind to the Nonconformist preacher in the
i n ul I . t orchard Mill Lane , but even that I fear is doubtf is true that in 1 660 Dr . Barlow wrote to Sir Robert Boyle o f 1 6 79 h i s in favour toleration , but in he had changed
o n views , for in that year he published a treatise the canon o f t h e law for whipping heretics , with evident approval 1 684 ‘ said law . And in he published a charge to his clergy, calling upon them to enforce the la ws against the Dis o f senters , agreeably to the resolution the Bedfordshire ” Justices adopted at Ampthi ll o n the previous 1 4t h o f
January . In this charge he both justifies and enforces the “ persecution o f Dissenters as necessary to bring them to a sense o f their duty by the blessing o f Go d fo r that ‘ ” ll m t a i ti a ti ti o da t i n t e ectu . c o i n fi c In fact , a li tle more fl ’ Bedford gaol might have even brought Bunyan s i n t el lecta s u p to that standard o f robust mediocrity which
f o f . I is said to be o the essence a Bishop Poor Dr . Barlow Ca h ll to t e P a s to ra te . 1 5
o e t h e o n h i s So n aft r Toleration Act came in , he went
s a w . way , and men him no more Offe r o t o The documents which Mr . s patiently brought light Show that the Quakers had a good deal to do with ’ n Bu yan s release , but also , I think it came about largely 1 6 72 t h e because in that same year, , there was a lull in o st rm which had now lasted for twelve years . Possibly from some momentary weariness I n the cruel work o f s u p “ s o ui o f pression , seeing that there is little fr t all these ” r o r t o forcible cou ses , more probably from a policy meant De favour Rome , the prison doors were thrown open . A ela r a t i o n o f e Indulgence was issued , under which mor ’ s than licences to preach were granted , and Bunyan
n e fi was o of the rst . The little Church meeting in that barn in the orchard i n “ f e Mill Lane felt the approach o relief . A m eting was held at Bedford o n the 6t h day o f the tenth moneth to pray f n o . and consult about the choyce bro Bu yan to office , and a general meeting was sum moned for the 21 s t o f t h e ” r m same month . This last was a g eat eeting indeed , as the following record shows “ At a full assembly o f df 21 s t o f l 0th the Church at Be ord , the the moneth ; 1 6 72 r [January, after much seeking God by praye h a d n and sober conference formerly , the congregatio did at this meeting with joynt consent (signi fied by the solemn lifting up o f their hands) call forth and appoint u r o r o bro . John B un yan to the pastoral office elder
u ship ; and he accepting thereof , gave p himself to serve
i n o f Christ and His Church that charge , and received ” the elders the right hand of fellowship . e It was a Pentecostal season , indeed, for at the sam f o n time the tongue o fire seemed to rest many heads . “ o n The record goes to say, The same time , and after the same manner, the Church did solemnly approve the gifts o f (and called to the work o f the mini stry) e o o o thes brethren J hn Fenne , Oliver Scott , Luke Astw d , 1 6 Bi ho Ba n a n s p y . T d homas Cooper, Edward Dent , Edwar Isaac , Nehemiah o f e o f Coxe , for the furtherance the w rke God , and carry i n g o n thereof in the meetings usually m aintained by this
congregation in the villages around! , as occasion a n d opportunity shall by Providence be min i stered to t ” hem . The congregation did also determine to keep th e 2 6th o f this instant as a day of fasting and prayer, both here
Ga m li n h a and at Hawnes and at g y, solemnly to commend t o the grace of God bro . Bunyan , bro . Fenne , and the rest o f the brethren and to intreat His gracious assistance and w o r k e presence with them in their respective , whereunto ” He hath called them . o ld While turning over these Church records , a hallowed
n e feeling comes over o . Through the lines of fading ink the undying Spirits of the holy dead seem to be looking “ ” u o f o f forth . In their m ch seeking God , in their days “ ” o f fasting and prayer , do they not give us the secret — their power o f that noble constancy at which men wonder s till The temptation to linger yet longer among these o ld days i s strong upon me , but I must forbear , for I greatly fear I have trespassed far already beyond my fitting space .
S da ome other y, if life be spared , I may tell this story , and g ive these records at greater length . Suffice it now to say, t i n o u t hat for the next seventeen years , instant season and “ ” o f u season , B nyan stood as if he pleaded with men . H i s ministrations all the country round made him a Bishop i ndeed . Almost his first act after his liberation was to apply for licences for preachers and preaching places far and n fi dl ear . In the State Paper Of ce , in a bun e of more than m o f three thousand applications , ade from all parts the
. 1 6 72 country in , I lighted the other day upon the actual
s o w n . heet which Bunyan sent in , in his handwriting He a s ks for the following licences under the Declaration o f Indulgence a /z 0c P urita n P r e c ers . 1 7
Jo n Do n n e fo r hi s o w n a n d t h e o u s e o f h , h e o F w l i n K a is G rge o e r ho w . Willia m Ja is fo r h i s o w n e o u s e i n R i g e m o n rv , h d t ’ a n d fo r G eo rge Pa lm er s ho u s e i n r a n fi ld C e . K en fo r Willia m Am is h i s o u s e i n T o s . h t, , h
Cr a n fi eld .
Jo n W i fo r t h e La e - o u s e b a n in B lu n h r ght, k h r h a m . ’ Na a n iel Al o fo r Jo n Tin e s o u s e a t F o d th c ck , h g y h r
E n d . ’ Jo n B u n o n fo r Jo s ia s R o u h ea d s o u s e i n h y , g h h i s o a i n o rch rd B e df rd . E w a s a a fo r t h e h o u s e o f G il e Ashle d rd I c , b rt y l n lin o n Go d gt . o m a s o o e fo r t h e o u s e o f Willi a m F in don Th C p r, h i n k l O e ey . Jo n S ew s e fo r t h e o u s e o f Jo n B a e i n h t r, h h xt r m K e p s to n . Jo n Whi em a n fo r t h e o u s e o f F a n e s W i e h t , h r c h t m a n w i o w i n a i n o n . , d , C rd gt Jo n F en n e fo r t h e o u s e o f Willia m M a n i n h , h S t a d d g e en . S a m u el F en n e fo r t h e h o u s e o f Willia m M a e , x y i n Ha n e s . Ne em ia o e fo r t h e o u s e o f S a a o m in s h h C x , h r h T k , w i o w i n M a u l en d , d E w a Den fo r G eo e Pr i dden s o u s e i n d rd t , rg h E w o h d rt . S e en Ha w o n fo r h i s o w n o u e i n s u v . t ph th r , h T r y Jo n A llen fo r t h e o u s e o f t h e Wido w h , h Rea e i n S n o d teve t n . ’ Da n iel N e o o s fo r Ro e C i n e s o u s e in g , b rt h h n m Pa ve ha . Geo e F o w le fo r t h e o u s e o f Jo n o o e i n rg r, h h C k h U pt o rpe . Ja m es Ro e s fo r t h e o u s e o f Jo h n Ha n es g r , h y i n W o n di t ch in Kim b o lto n Pa ris h .
o s . B e fo r Jo h n M o o e h i s a n i n W o l Th r tt , r , b r t o la s n . ’ T o s . E m u n ds fo r Jo n B o o s o u i n W o l h d , h r k h s e la o n s t . h is o e S a n le fo r h i s o w n o u s e i n B r a fi eld-in C r t ph r t y , h - t h e Gre en . L u e A s w o o d fo r h i s o w n o u s e in Ga m li n h a k t , h g y . Jo n a i fo r h i s o w n u W e o s e i n o . h t , h T ft
H e r o r ds hi r e fo r t h e o u s e o f o o rr i i n f h Th s . M s e A s ll hw e .
’ B u cks . Jo n Gi s fo r Willia m S m s a n a n d h bb , yth b r h i s o w n ho u s e i n N e w po rt Pa n ell g . Willia m B en s m a n fo r J o s e K en h i s a n i n , ph t , b r ln e O y . 1 8 T i m Bra ve Recorder o B a rd f a y .
Th us with a large - hearted care Bun yan sought to make fo r Spiritual provision all the country round , and while m o f hi s h aking Bedford the centre work , and its Churc h is special care , during the next seventeen years he was in the habit o f preachi ng far and near ; but n o t w ithout i anxieties and threatenings . In the tenth year o f h s m inistry we catch a little glimpse o f the state o f things at o f w h o , Bedford from the Entering Book Roger , Morrice n o w lies sleeping side by side with Bunyan in B u n h ill
. m Fields This Roger Morrice , after his ejection fro
Du ffield z , in Derbyshire , was chaplain to Den il , Lord
Holli s . His manuscripts are compiled chiefly from col o f t lections in the library Lord Hollis , and contain a grea a i m ny curious things wh ch have never yet seen the light . A m ong them is the following account o f what took place at the Privy Council while Bun yan was minister a t Bedford “ o f un Mr . Audley, the Temple , was accused at the co sell
table as a very great enemy to the Government , and to the
ur o f o f co n ven Ch ch England , and a great countenancer t i cler s and ph a n a t i ck s in the town o f Bedford where h e was Recorder . And though there was many other alder m en f o f disaf ected, yet he was the great head and pillar di s a ife ct e d the party, and therefore it was moved by the
o f - o f t Earl Aylesbury, Lord Lieutenant that county, tha he and other aldermen mi ght be displaced by virtu e o f w the Corporation Act . The to n was very much troubled l t o o d . at this charge , and Mr Audley was prevailed with a ea r e o n t o f pp at the counsell table behal e the town , and M a e s t i e Re did s o . He then told His j he was corder (I think r before the warr) , that he was an officer under his fathe r t h e King Charles I . th oughout the whole war , that when war w a s at an end he was driven out o f the k i n g do m e
h r a t i o u s w a s toget er with his g master , that his estate ’ s equestered , that upon his master the King s restoration
“ he w a s resto red to h i s estate and to hi s Recordershi p a n d
’ 2 0 B n a ya n s B ea /a.
’ that l ong wet ride from Reading was m o re than nature s force could rally from . He was stricken for death, but it was probably some days before the Worst symptoms showed themselves , and during that interval he sent the “ short treatise , The Acceptable Sacrifice or, the Excellency o f b e b a Broken Heart , to printed at the Hand and Bi le o n o f - London Bridge . Some the proof sheets he was able b u t to revise , before the entire book was printed the fever o f had done its work . The rest the sheets fell into the o f o ld hands an friend , who , with loving care , did what was needfu l for this the last child o f his brain . John
o f . Strudwick, the grocer , was a deacon the Rev George ’ Co k a n s Co k a n y Church in Red Cross Street, and George y ’ o ld o f was not only an and valued friend Bunyan s , but df o f also a Be ordshire man , a native Cople , close by Bed ford . He was older than Bunyan, and by the Act of Uni formity had been ejected from the famous City Church o f
Pancras in S e per Lane . During the evil days which fol lowed , he was often among his relatives in Bedfordshire . o f i t One Matthew Morgan , Cardington , thought worth k n f n m t . C o a o while to report to the Gover en what Geo y ,
Soper Lane , London , had said while preaching and praying ’ a t John Co k a yn s house in Cardington in the month o f 1 662 “ January, He prayed , it seems , for the deliver ” ance o f the godly imprisoned in the nation . The faces o f dear friends were present , both to him and the others in that little meeting as thus he prayed . It may be that o n n his way to Cardi gton he had called at Bedford gaol ,
u where Bunyan then was , and the tho ght of his friend had
o u t hi s . drawn heart in prayer Be that as it may, when ' B u nyan lay in John S tr u dw i ck s hou se Co k a yn and he a n d had known each other for many a long year , now at ’ the end Co k a yn was there to close the Dreamer s eyes in ’ s a w death . He also his friend s last book through the u s h o w press , and wrote a loving preface to it , telling the
22 . i h . . o l. i . S a s Do m e s . a s V ta te P per . t c C II xc , H is L a s t Book 2 1 .
“ o d a n d i n L r had removed that friend , to the great loss ; expressible grief o f many precious souls . He tell us also that B u nyan had written that book o n the excellency of a ” “ r o u t o f o w n w h o broken hea t , his heart ; for God , had much work for him to do , was still hewing and hammering a i him by His Word , and sometimes also by more th n ord ” s o nary temptations and desertions . He says this was , i n because some thorn in the flesh was needed , and God e mercy sent it him l st , under his extraordinary cir cu m s t a n ce s l , he shou d be exalted above measure , which perhaps was the evil that did more easily beset him than ” - k t . Co a n any other With heart words like these , y sen ’ h i a m o n th o f forth Bunyan s last book into the world , wit n B the day o n which he had buried him in u n hi ll Fields . ’ And since B u nyan s dust was not to rest among us i n
b u t fitt i n l Bedford , more g y, perhaps , in the great city
’ ’ o f u which is the centre his nation s life , it is a pleas re
“ to Bedfordsh ire men to feel that it was h i s o ld Cople friend w h o f who closed his eyes in death , and read the words o ’ v S t r u dw i ck s Christian hope o er the sleeper in John grave .
B R I N JOHN O V .
B e or d Ju l 9th 1 874. df , y , T H F T IV A A T B DF O D E E S L E R ,
JU N 1 0 1 874 . E ,
“ I N 1 6 72 , when the Indulgence was granted to Dis t h e senters , George Whitehead , Quaker, prevailed upon
King Charles II . to pardon such as were in prison ; and the order o f release sent to Bedford gaol in the September o f that year contained , in addition to eight others , the name ” o f B u n n i o n John , who thereupon became the first Non c onformist minister that was licensed to preach in England . t Exactly two hundred years after this notable libera ion , when the Pilgrim walked forth from t h e den i n which o f he had written the first part his immortal book , the ninth Duke o f Bedford paid a visit to the town whose name o f n he bears for the purpose openi g the Corn Exchange . In “ : a speech to the citizens , his Grace said The Mayor o f
Bedford (Dr . Coombs) wishes me simply to allude to a
h a d h i m short conversation I have with . I am at this fo r o f moment having a cast taken a statue John Bunyan , who is so closely connected with this town ; and if you o f i t think it worthy your acceptance , will be a great satis ” faction to me if yo u accept it . These simple words o f his ’ i n 1 872 Grace , uttered , the bicentenary of Bunyan s release , h u h were eard by all with pleas re , w ile they sent a thrill through many hearts ; for there were present those who
t h e knew that the speaker, besides exemplifying in this act liberal spirit which has always characterised the house o f
o f u Russell , was prompted to the expression pio s regard for . a great memory by the recollection th at th e first book given ' 3 T /i e Ga i/i em ny a t Bedford. 2
’l‘= h is m o th er to him, when he was a child , by was the Pil ’ ” g rim s Progress . Thus there was in the act that touch o f nature which makes the whole world kin : it brought hi o f e o f t ogether the c ld the p asant and the child the peer . T h e proffered statue was seen to be much more than a d u ff r cal benefaction , inasmuch as it was an o e ing from the d m i heart o f filial piety . Be ford ght well be proud to accept s uch a gift . The measure o f her pride and joy was seen o n W e dn es 1 0th day, the of June , which had been fixed for the ' unveiling o f the statue . Great were the preparations made by the civic authorities and the people o f the good o ld e t ow n . Every political and cclesiastical distinction was s ubmerged under the flowing tide o f a generous emotion that was at once national and Christian in its character . T h e feeling was warmly shared by all the dw ellers i n the great tract of fertile country that is watered by the Ouse a region o f England whose qui et natural aspects are s trangely blended with moral associations that stir the soul like a trumpet , for it is the land of Cromwell and n o f o f Bu yan , Cowper and Howard , William Carey and Robert Hall ; and the crowds that poured into Bedford tow n o n the morning o f the eventful da y from all the neighbouring shires sufficed to show that the o ld Puritan spirit is still the ruli ng power inthat province which has been a prolific mother o f great men . Nor was the gatherin g
9" F a n is a le s Ha s in s Ru s s ell n in Du e o f B e o i s t h e r c Ch r t g , th k df rd , S o n o f t h e la e M a o -G en e a l L o G eo e Willia m Ru s s ell o e o f t j r r rd rg , br th r t h s en Du e b Eli z a e An n e o n l h il o f t h l e e e a e H o n . Jo n v th k , y b th , y c d t h
h e o ilu s Ra w o n . T h e D u e w a s o n O o e 1 6 1 81 9 a n d s u c T ph d k b r ct b r , , c d d h i s o u s in Willia m t h e i Du o f o i e e e e e B e n 1 872 . H c , ghth k df rd , e
P . fo r B o o m 1 1 t 1 2 . s a t a M . s i o s — e df rd h re fr 8 7 87 H i s Gra c e h a s t w o o h e s L o A u Ru s s ell M . P . fo r a vi s o a n d L o O d br t r rd rth r , T t ck , rd o h - Ru s s ell t e w ell n o w n ip lo m a is . H i s G a e m a ie i n 1 844 , k d t t r c rr d , , L a Eliz a e S a ck vi lle ~ W e s t el e s a u e o f t h e fi Ea l dy b th , d t d ght r fth r D ela w a r r b w o m h e h a s i s s u e livin tw o s o n s a n d t w o a u , y h , g , d ghters . T h e m o ther o f t h e Du ke w a s o n e o f t h e in tim a te frien ds o f t h e la te l l t h w t h n u M r s . o m a s a e e i e o f e is i is u o e a . I n a l Th C r y , f d t g h d th r e tter
o m M r s . a l le t o t h e la e S i r Ge o e S in la i o f U l s e w i fr C r y t rg c r, b t r, h ch h a s e en u li s e i n t h e li e o f t h e B a o n e a e in e e s in b p b h d f r t, v ry t r t g refer e n e i s m a e t o B e s s ie Ra w o n c d d . 4 P r a r t r rm 2 ep a o y S e ons .
merely that of a single province ; for distant cities in t h e south and the north sent representatives to take part in t h e t h e o f s ea e pious festival , and even from other side the cam o f m descendants the Pilgri Fathers , rejoicing that they o f too were members this good old stock , and could claim
in i o f to have a family interest the proceed ngs the day .
rs ar s tur a nt a na fi p g S . On the preceding Sabbath special sermons had been o n co n fo rm i s t o f preached , not only in N , but also in some the Established Churches of the town . At Holy Trinity
. . . c Church , the Rev C A Greaves , who prea hed 2 — 2 w . 7 3 n u from Matthe xxiii , said they were about to o f h i s veil the statue a righteous man , if not to garnish sepulchre ; and there were those who , like the Scribes and
ul t h e Pharisees , sho d not rejoice that they lived not in days o f their fathers to be partakers with them in perse
n r em a i n e d i n cu t i g good men . There the present day many who persecuted still . Those who claimed with arrogance
e i n o r a all the truth for themselves , wh ther a church
Little Bethel of their own , possessed a harsh spirit , and l o f u were the chi dren those who locked p Bunyan . The preacher urged his hearers to be tolerant as well a s o f faithful in obeying the voice truth . At Bunyan B A R e v. . n . . n Meeting , the J Brow , , preached from Joh 3 . 7 iv , to a crowded congregation
r In a few days , he said , they would do special honou ’ to Bunyan s memory, but others would be honoured in him . 1 6 69 In there were in Bedfordshire , with its then scanty ti n a h popula o , more th n forty conventicles , and more t an r m h i s I c s o n s in regular attendance upon the . T at 2 5 0c B eclfor ds /i i r e Wiin esses .
o f x o f t h e to say, after nine long weary years e perience o f i of o f t h e Act Un formity, the Conventicle Act, and - i n o f Five mile Act, there were chiefly the villages Bed fo r ds h i r e more than persons , Baptist, Independent ,
Quaker , and Presbyterian , who still claimed and who still exercised the right t o worship God accordin g to their read o f t o 1 o f ing His Word . All honour them , said he Some s a w t them were ruined by fines . The farmer his whea carried OE and hi s horses and cattle put up to auction to ’ pay h is fines ; the tradesman s goods were cleared o u t o f his shop the workman ’s tools and housewife ’s Spinningwheel were seized and sold ; the skillet in which a poor widow hi was bearing milk to her two sick c ldren was , the milk r o ff i n being th own away, borne triumph to help to pay the fifteen shillings fine for going to pray with her brethren and sisters who loved the Lord Jesus Christ . All these things and more were done yet these people held o n their h o f way and quietly said , Whether it be rig t in the sight ” o u h 1 God to hearken unto y more t an unto God, judge ye W e o f owe much to these godly people the Puritan days . England would not have been the England sh e is to - day for us and o u r children if they had weakly yielded and o w e surrendered their liberties . We it to them to main tain the great principles which were dear to their hearts , o w e o f and we it to ourselves , for the blessings freedom and spiritual life can only be retained whi le they are kept in the same high Spirit in which they were won at first . The greatest honour they could pay to the past was to hold f n the truth faith ullyin the present and hand it o to the future . If the brave o ld Noncon formist preacher could stand o n W among them ednesday next , if he could look at the crowd with those piercing eyes of his that used to look men hr u t ough and through, he (the preacher) thought he wo ld s a d y, Friends , this is kind of you , your love glad ens my b u t heart ; above all things b e true to that Christ whom I. ’ love and who loved me . Read my Pilgrim , with admira o u tion if y will , but above all things be pilgrims your
selves . 2 6 We M orn in o Me Cel or a i n g f e t o .
ait s s f 3 1 m an B 5 ); .
It was in the Spirit o f these words that many thousands a ssembled in Bedford o n the morning o f the joyfu l cele o f bration . The people the town and neighbouring ’ villages , including Elstow, Bunyan s birthplace , made it a holiday ; all the she ps in the borough were clos ed ; the hospitable burgesses kept open house for friends from a ’ n f di o o . stance ; as the morning wore , the bells St Peter s ’ u f s a n d . o St Paul s rang merrily, and tho sands visitor o f a rrived by rail and road . Two arches evergreens were ’ e . o n rected at St Peter s Green , and flags were displayed
e u . very hand , with mottoes and Script re texts The weather b u t in the morning had threatened rain , before noon all f o n ears this head were dispelled , and sweet sunshine flashed upon the flags and banners with which the streets o f were canopied . Many the visitors took an early drive t o w s e e t Elsto , to the cottage where the tinker dwel , or rather the cottage which stands o n the same site ; and
u i fe w B nyan Meeting was v sited by not a , who were shown ,
o f - in a corner the vestry, the veritable arm chair in which o f ur the famous o ld pastor the ch ch used to sit . In the
Corn Exchange , where the great meeting of the day was to be held , there had been arranged for inspection some ’ — n deeply interesting relics Bu yan s will , found in his house a t 23 1 685 Bedford , dated December , yellow with age , b u t u the signature distinct a page from the ch rch records , i written by Bunyan h mself, stating in clear language and p enman ship h o w certain brethren and sisters were called before the church and admonished for various fau lts ; an ’ ” e 1 641 o f o f r dition (dated ) Foxe s Book Marty s , which
u Bunyan had with him, helping to sustain his so l , in prison , o n h a d and where three separate pages he , in homely verse , recorded his admiration o f witnesses w h o went to the
2 8 P o s s n o r ce io t Me S ta tue .
i n George Hurst, robes and chain, accompanied by o f K a G . the Lord Lieuten nt Bedfordshire , Earl Cowper , . f . o : and Dr Stanley , the Dean Westminster Dr . Brock, late
Baptist minister at Bloomsbury Chapel , London ; Mr . C . M .
Birrell , late Baptist minister at Pembroke Chapel , Liver pool ; and Dr . Henry Allon , Independent minister at Union M P Chapel , Islington Mr . F . Bassett, . . for Bedfordshire ;
t - Mr . Samuel Whi bread and Captain F . C . Polhill Turner ,
: - the members for the borough the Deputy Mayor, Mr , i t h e Councillor Young , with Mr . H . Young , jun . , P mlico ,
founder who cast the statue past Mayors , Messrs . W . W . J . n W . . . Kilpin , Thos Bar ard , Nash , James Howard , R Couch E A . R man , . Burch , Dr . Coombs , Alderman Gray, and J . . Bull
e s s o : Aldermen J pp, Sergeant , and Carter town councillors , lb u r n e t . . . Co . . Messrs W Harrison , J (Cap ) , J Barraud , W fi fl u t li e . . R o . . C c . . , J E . , J Horsford , T Bull , H Thody, A G
: . . . Shelton , and W . Roberts county magistrates , Col W B Pi t h ill c s . . . Higgins , ; Mr J N Foster , Sandy Place ; Mr . G .
Higgins , Castle Close , Bedford ; Mr . W . F . Higgins , M a n i a c Turvey House , and Mr . g , Colworth House borough
M . e s s r s W . . . magistrates , H Jackson , T S Trapp , Frederick h . : . t e Howard , T . J . Jackson , and J . T Wing Dr Prior , h borough coroner , and Mr . J . Wyatt, the boroug
: . . . treasurer Mr R E Roberts , the gaoler ; and other officers
o f the Corporation . These were followed by residents and
n - o f visitors , includi g the Rev . F . Fanshawe , head master ‘
. o f the Bedford Grammar School ; Rev . C Brereton , rector ’ B A e . L . . r St . Mary s , and rural d an ; Rev J Brown , , ministe f . CO n e r o o f . Bunyan Meeting ; Rev J p , vicar Elstow ; o f Rev . J . Frost , the Cotton End Training Institute ; h D D . : . Rev . J . Stoughton , . . , London ; Rev W H Smit ’ rector o f St . Peter s ; Messrs . Edwin Ransom and T . G . E .
o f a . Elger , members the Inaugur tion Committee ; Revs f t . o R . Speed , Baptis ; J . J Rew, chaplain the county
S u t clifi e W e d prison ; C . E . , Moravian ; Canon arm ,
Roman Catholic ; W . Parker Irving, Howard Chapel ; H . Un vei in o file S ta t e 29 l g f u .
. w . Jones and F He itt , Wesleyans ; and D Cartwright , n Catholic Apostolic Church ; Mr . J . S . Wright , Birmi gham ff Rev . E . Je ery ; Rev. T . Arnold , Congregationalist, North fi l t a r . . S o d ampton ; Messrs . R B . , M . Sharman, R Hil ,
J . F . Nutter, and E . Coleman ; Capt . Toseland ; Rev . H . o f Wood , vicar Biddenham ; Major Benning, Dunstable ;
. . D Mr F Wykes , Ravensden ; Mr . Gutteridge , unstable ; R ll . . . a s . . . . & c . Mr C W y , LL D , London ; Hon Mr Coke ,
( s s t i llin o f t e tatue fi g di g h S .
’ t h e ul -o r St . Peter s Green, site chosen by the sc pt himself
f- o n e s o for the statue , was reached at hal past but great was the pressure o f the crowd in the streets that the pro
i n ; l cession was cut two , and the last ha f came struggling through the throng into the enclosure in somewhat sorry i ff plight . A gaily decorated platform, wh ch a orded stand 2 00 o f ing room for persons , had been erected in the rear o f the statue . On one side were a large number ladies ; a n d o n fi the other the of cials and their guests , the latter o f including many ministers , both the Established and
u i n Free Ch rches , who did not walk the procession , also o f M r the venerable Mr . John Howard , Bedford , and B h ' . . o e m t h e . J E , sculptor The metropolitan and pro c i a l - fi ve press sent twenty representatives , these including
f h r i s ti a n o r ld . o C W Mr James Clarke , the Editor the ; and reporters were present from the London offices o f the N ew
or Y k T r i b u n e and the H er a ld o f the same city . The cere mony o f unveiling the statue di d not occupy many m i nutes . o f t h e S h o w t h e First all Mayor made a peech , showing c o f df is o f hief glory Be ord the name Bunyan , and praising n fi en o f their good Duke for hi s m u i c ce . One his remarks — m erits special note that a s tatue has comparatively a ’ D S a n e s S c/i 30 ea n t l y p ee .
' t limited moral power, unless it be placed in a locality tha is intimately connected with the person whom it com e hi ’ m o r a t es . a At his Wors p s invitation , the Lady August o f o f o f Stanley, wife the Dean Westminster, and a sister o f the late Earl Elgin , gracefully advances and unveils the
n statue . Ringi g cheers from ten thousand voices greet the appearance o f what is perceived at a glance to be o n e o f the noblest works of t h e kind in England ; the band plays t h e l National Anthem , and si ence only is restored when the Mayor requests the company to be perfectly still for a
in o r m ute two , until the scene shall have been caught by ’ the photographer s art . Then follows a speech from Dean e fl e ct i ve Stanley, perhaps the shortest and most that was e o n o f ver delivered such an occasion . It consisted the following sentences
s a ds The Mayor has called upon me to y a few wor , m k I h hi . and S all obey The Mayor has done his wor , the hi s t Duke of Bedford has done , the sculptor and ar ist n o w o u c o m have done theirs , and I ask y to do yours in m em o r a t in o n e o f h a s g John Bunyan . Every you who i ’ ” not read the Pilgr m s Progress , if there be any such person , read it without delay ; those who have read it a hundred times , read it for the hundred and first time . ’ Follow o u t in your lives the lessons whi ch the Pilgrim s ” o f Progress teaches , and then you will all you be even better monuments o f John B u nyan than this magnificent f statue which the Duke o Bedford has given you .
hn Mr . Jo Bright was expected to come , but he has w ritten to s a y that o n account o f the state o f hi s health he
s o . dare not venture ; and his Birmingham chairman , Mr
m a n o f J . S . Wright , takes his place , and not only as a the people , but also as a representative of the Baptists of Bir m i n h a m g , expresses his joy . He confessed the scene was ” hi m k to li e a story in the Arabian Nights , and he had been especially gladdened to hear the ringing o f the church o f bells . This speech closed the ceremony unveiling at T /t e S ta tue; 3 1
five m inutes to two ; and as the vast gathering slowly separated , cheers were given with the utmost enthusiasm
u d o f for Lady Aug sta Stanley, the Duke an Duchess Bed
o n e . ford, and cheer for the Mayor
ue 8?s S tat .
We are n o w at liberty to survey the wo rk o f art whi ch
df o f . has brought us to Be ord . It is a production Herr J t m . d n s E . Boeh The figure is ten feet high , an contai abou
a - f o f n two and half tons o bronze . It was cast can on and o f bells lately brought from China . The likeness Bunyan t h e is taken from a contemporary painting by Sadler, now in f o . . m o f possession the Rev Mr Clive . The costu e is that the ’ — o f h - Puritans Bunyan s day the long cloak , wit tight but h toned tunic , broad collar, and knee breeches . The idea whic the s culpto r has striven to work o u t is embodied i n the o f is m inscription at the back the pedestal, which taken fro ’ Bunyan s description o f the pictu re he s a w hung u p ’ “ against the wall in Interpreter s house o f a very grave
n person . The lines o the pedestal run thus
It h a d eye s u plifte d t o hea ven ; T h e b e s t o f b o o k s i n h i s h a n d T h e la w o f tru th w a s w ritten o n h i s li U p p s . It s to o d a s if it plea de d m n With e .
It h a s b een q u es tio n e d w hether this i s t h e m o s t ju dicio u s cho ice tha t co u ld ha ve b e en m a de t o de s crib e t h e m o tif o f t h e a rtis t ; a n d th e ” u o a io n i s e a in l in a u a e in a s m u a s i i e s t h e w o i q t t c rt y cc r t , ch t g v rd t , ” in s o f h e in t h fi s a n d fi lin T h e a w a s s u e s e ea e e s . e t d , r t fth xtr ct gg t d a s a a i u l e s i io n o f t h e s a u e b t h R a m s o n er M . A . e e v . J e C f thf d cr pt t t y p , , vi a o f Els o w in t h e e a e a e Fe u a 1 9 1 874 t o T h e He o c r t , pr f c , d t d br ry , , r ” o f El o o r t h S o o f t h Pil im u n a n M r s w e e a e o f Jo n B . . t ; , t ry gr g h y Co n e r w a s n o t a w a e w h e t e t h e s u l o w en e a in h i s des i n p r h r c pt r, h pr p r g g , h a d i n h i s m em o e s e w o s o f n e e e ry th rd I t rpr t r . 3 2 77 m S /a tue a n d B u s B eli e ves . The “ glorious dreamer is standing in a most natural a t h e ttitude , holding an open Bible in his left hand , f H is fingers o his right hand resting upon the page . face , turned upwards , yet not averted from the persons di n with whom he is supposed to be plea g , is radiant i i h s . w th the trut he setting forth There is , perhaps , less o f robust vigou r in the expression than we look for in a ’ o f u man B nyan s mould , and a more strongly pronounced s mile than would often be seen lighting up featu res which a r e t u described by contemporaries as habi ally grave , and e ven stern ; yet the moment seized by the artist is o n e in whi ch implicit faith and exultant joy are animating
' t h e s o ul o f the preacher as he tenderly pleads with men , a n d there cannot be two Opinions as to the strong moral impression which the countenance o f th is earnest preacher
n is calculated to make o the beholder . The effect is ex c e e di n l g y vivid and pleasing . A broken fetter at his feet typifies the imprisonment to which for twelve years he was hi doomed for the heinous offence o f preac ng . His right t h e foot is forward , the left being in close proximity to s n tone pillar o whi ch the prison shackles lie . The lengthy
d ul locks roop in curls over his sho ders , and the moustaches a r e twirled Sharply upwards . On the bronze tablet beneath “ u the figure is a bold copy of the autograph , John B nyan , a a - s rn i le On f c i o f the o n e appended to his will . the front a n d two Sides of the pedestal are scenes in very bold relief ’ ” o n e from the Pilgrim s Progress . The front represents ’ t h e termin ation o f C h ristian s fight with Apollyon the left illustration shows Evangelist di rectin g Christian to the ’x‘ ’ i - a t w cket g e the right the Pilgrim s release from his load, a n d the thr ee Shi ning Ones pointing o u t to him the
- b a S o m e thi n k t h e w icket ga te s ho u ld n o t h a ve b een repre s en te d y c o m m o n o u n r fi eld - a e in ee h a i s o u l n o t h a e e en m t r o c t y g t d d , t t t h d v b d u ced i n a n s a e in o t h e i u e s in e Ch r is ia n o u l n o t s e e i . h p t p ct r . —c t c d t h a s a ls o een o in e o u t a s a e e b u t i i s e a in ly a t n v1 a l o n e I—t p t d d f ct t c rt th a t t h e Pilg rim i n t w o o f t h e r eli eve s i s repres en te d a s w ea rin g a
m o u s a e w ile in th e i h e h a s n o n e . t ch , h th rd Al oe/i n i n til e E r e/t a g m e . 33
. r eli ev e s Celestial City The , like the statue , deserve the most cordial praise , and will doubtless inspire salu tary thoughts in many a heart . The statue is placed at ’ - . s the south west corner Of St Peter Green , where four f roads meet . The picturesque church o St . Peter with the
u r trees form a pretty background . The statue is s rounded by a railing , consisting of massive stone pillars and an elegant chain and the railings of the green have been i diverted and carried beh nd the statue . The Opinion has i t s been expressed that the pedestal , especially plinth , is too small in proportion to the colossal size Of the figure that
r . w su mounts it Take it for all in all , ho ever , we do not know that we can point to a work Of the kind in this l country which we regard as more successfu .
rtin i t e t rlau e ale g u h éi g g .
Of course the brief talk o n the green could not s u fli ce a s an expression o f the emotion with which every heart was a t charged , and this found vent in a great meeting held ’ 0 1 n hi fo r three clock the Corn Exchange , and w ch lasted upwards Of two hours . Admission was by ticket , and the di buil ng was crammed to the utmost limit Of its capacity . dr o r Rarely, if ever , have we heard better ad esses , seen a more sympathetic audience ; and the delightfu l unity Of feeling exhibited from first to last was a foretaste o f that happy time for which s o many are praying and ’ w — n working and come it ill , for a that when the pri ciple s which John Bunyan expounded will take possession ’ o f Of the nation s heart and rule the life England . Before a form lly Opening the meeting , the Mayor mentioned that he had received letters from various distinguished persons
w h o . had intended , but were unable , to be present Lord 3 ’ 34 Dea n S ta n ley s A ddres s .
Shaftesbur y was to have taken part in the unveiling Of ’ r e r e s the statue , but Archbishop Tait s Bill for the p sion o f Ritualism had detain ed him at Westminster .
- Baroness Burdett Coutts , Lord Mayor Lusk, the Lord
o f w . Provost Glasgo , the Mayor Of Southampton (Mr
Of r Edwin Jones) and the Mayor Salisbu y , Colonel
M P n Gilpin , . . , the Revs . C . H . Spurgeo , Of London ; ‘ M La r en H . Stowell Brown , Of Liverpool ; Alexander , B A . . , Of Manchester ; R . W . Dale, C . Vince , and George
S u ffi eld Dawson , Of Birmingham ; R . R . , Of Croy “ don Mr . Edw ard Maitland , author Of The Pilgrim ” hr and the S ine , and Sir Charles Reed , were among the
- f apologists . The last named sent a letter o such interest a r that it was read to the meeting . Sir Ch rles desi ed that M 8 I ‘S OI I1 " attention Should be called to the name Of Thomas , the Luton ironmonger, who succoured Bunyan , and de ’ cli n e d release that he might remain B u nyan s fellow prisoner in Bedford gaol , and from whose daughter Mr .
u Russell G rney, the Recorder Of London , claims to be directly descended . The Mayor then made a somewhat — n elaborate speech , in which he expressed his belief herei , — by the way, agreeing with Macaulay that Bunyan, in the depth Of his remorse , exaggerated his own vices . He also lauded him for the absence from his works Of all ’ hi political bias . Dean Stanley s address , w ch was pro bably the very happiest o f his efforts as a platform
- a o f ur speaker, occupied nearly three qu rters an ho in the delivery, and was listened to with rapt attention and f as requent bursts Of applause . Both to its substance and s tyle, it was simply perfection , and even the ecclesiastical ’ aspects Of Bunyan s life were s o felicitously reviewed that n o t a single Nonconformist present could have felt any i sl nclination to be critical . With a y touch Of sarcasm , ha n t t excited loud laughter , especially from the stra gers , the Dean s e t o u t by saying that the on ly title Of Bed ford to universal and lasting fame w a s derived fro m the
36 k r . Bro c n d r A lto n . D a D .
t o o town we were in a much better place , became almost s tron g to be resisted when we s a w t h e Earl followed by a o f u — Baptist preacher the B nyan type the Mayor, who is N o r a Churchman , introducing Dr . Brock as his friend . h a d h i s Worship any cau se given him to be ashamed o f
hi - t s frank confession . The ex pastor of Bloomsbury car ries a letter o f introduction in his face which no audienc e
u in England would ref se to honour . He stepped forward , a truly typical Briton ; and in his speech there was t h e blunt sincerity and fearlessness which Joh n Bull always r espects . On su ch an occasion there is a temptation to speak o f o n r only a part the truth , and the other hand a dange o f t o o saying much . Dr . Brock , trusting doubtless to the
o f e spontaneous feeling the moment, said neither too littl t o o nor much . He hit the golden mean , and was as loudly
w a s applauded by Churchmen as by Dissenters . Very fine hi s u o f o n t h e trib te to the house Russell , his panegyric t o Lady Rachel , which came from the heart, bringing tears many eyes but the main part of his speech was a vigorous plea for religious equality . The Baptist was followed by a representative o f the
r o f n Dr othe branch the great Congregatio al family and . ’ A l lon s paper deserved to be bracketed with that o f Dean n l f Sta ey as the literary treat o the day . It was chiefly devoted to a review o f the characteristics o f Bunyan as an
w a s author , and claimed for him a greater spontaneity than n Of exhibited even by Shakespeare , and the disti ction being a s a the author of the first English novel . His merits theologian and as a sacred orator were also glanced at by the essayist . W t h e In a speech , uniting modesty ith manly dignity,
B n A . o f Rev . J . Brown , . , minister Bunyan Meeti g , moved T h e a vote o f thanks to the Duke o f Bedford fo r his gift . w a y in which this was done was worth y o f o n e w h o stands in the pu lpit occu pied two centuries ago by John su s Bunyan . It is saying much to assert that Mr . Brown ' n - A i r M ti n s 3 7 Op e ee y . t a in e d Of , in the estimation the great assembly , the peril o u s honour with which he is invested ; and yet it is the ! s imple truth . Profound interest was excited by his state ’ u o n ment that Bunyan s ch rch was founded the principle , s o f i till observed , requir ng from members Simply faith in C o f i o r hrist and holiness life , without respect to th s that c ircumstance o r Opinion i n outward and circumstantial “ ” l . things . On this truly catho ic basis , exclaimed Mr o n o f Brown , and not that mere ecclesiastical organisa l — a tion , may the Church Of the future stand sentiment Co n e r which was loudly cheered . The Rev . James p , Vicar ’ o f o f Elstow, who has lately published a sketch Bunyan s o f life , seconded the resolution thanks , which was carried with great heartiness ; and the Hundredth Psalm having, been sung , Dean Stanley pronounced the benediction , with w hich the meeting was brought to a close .
na - ir a tta Gha S w ge.
There were o f course thousands o f people in the town w h o could not find admission to the Corn Exchange ; but t hey were provided for by a happy thought o f some
t - Baptis friends , who arranged for two great Open air
. o f meetings As soon as the Mayor knew their intention , he kindly placed the platform and gallery erected for the
M r . B ro w n w ill fo rgive t h e Edito r o f t h e pre s en t vo lu m e fo r here r l t e a l n g a n a n e cdo te w hich w o u ld h a ve deligh te d t h e la te gen ia l a n d u ly v en e a le De a n Ra m s a o f E in u h w h o fo r s o m a n ea s tr r b y , d b rg , y y r w a s t h e S a n le o f t h e S o c E i y s o a l Ch u . A n e s ee m e . t c t h p c p rch t d m m i s t er o f B u n a n C a el u in g a S o i s o u vis i e Glenl o n y h p , d r c tt h t r, t d y , w h h e e e w a s in o u e b y a ien t o a w o h y Hi h la n e a s r ’ tr d c d fr d rt g d r ” B u n a n s s u y cce s s o r . T h e Highla n dm a n lo o ke d a t t h e s tra n ger fr o m t o t o t o e a n ‘ ’ p , d e la im e i E h m o n ! b u t o u ll a e a w o t o xc d , , y h v h rd rk fi ll hi s s ho o n 3 8 T ile P ilgrim s to E ls to w .
M o f n o t unveiling at their disposal . ost the speakers had been fully apprised Of the design till after they arrived a t f Bedford ; yet the speeches were varied and ef ective , giving
historic references , striking citations from the life and works o f A s . Bunyan , practical le sons , and salutary counsels p r eci a t i ve p attention was paid to the speakers , both by the u o f h ndreds people that stood around , and by many per t sons a the windows o f adjacent houses . The afternoon m n o f eeti g , presided over by Mr . J . Pratt , Bedford , lasted
from three till four ; and the speakers were the Revs . T .
V o s e o f un . . y y, Sandy, and W . Abbott , Of Bl ham ; Mr G Gun
o f L o n la n d o f ton , Bedford ; Mr . John g , Yardley Hastings f o . and Mr . William Ashton , Uxbridge The evening meet ’
s i x . ing , at O clock , was also presided over by Mr Pratt , and very numerously attended . The first speaker was the “
. . o f . a r e Rev A C . Gray, Luton Most Of you , he said , s ll o f Bedford hire people , and may we be proud John 00 . 5 Bunyan I was born nearly miles from Bedford , but , ’ ’ in my boyhood , used to read the Pilgrim s Progress , and hi n k o f t John Bunyan and Elstow, where he was born , in n l o f the same way, o y in a lesser degree , as I thought the o f Holy Land , where the prophets wrote and spake . One the first visits I made after coming to Bedfordshire was t o s e e o f e Elstow , to the cottage , or a relic the cottage , wher n f t h e Bu yan lived . And I marvelled not to find , rom o f t t h e record visitors kep there , that great numbers from
t h e o f d. east and west , from north and south the Unite o m s e e fo r Kingd m and from A erica , came to that cottage h e crowds , through Bunyan , all over the world , ave start d — o n t h e grandest of all pilgrimages leaving the City o f ” Destruction to tread the path to Heaven . The Rev . J . W . o f Genders , Luton , directed attention to the leading charac t er i i a r a h r s t cs o f Bunyan as a man and p e c e ; and the Rev .
R i d em o u n o f M u Do c . t . s . W Hillier, , Of g , spoke Bunyan
f o n e as a writer , naming his dif erent works up to sixty , f i in f e a o . for e ch year his l fe He also , a , very ef ectiv ' e /i ilclr n 39 Ji ea t to fl e C e .
a d s o f m nner , cite the te timonies learned men w ith respect ’ — u Of . hn to B nyan s literary genius that Dr Jo son , who “ ’ ” d read the Pilgrim s Progress through , and wishe it o f longer ; Dean Swift, who read it with delight o f ul r l Lord Maca ay, who pronounced its w iter an origina f o . w . genius ; Dr John O en , who told Charles II he would give up all his learning for the power to preach
o f . and write like the tinker ; Dr Arnold , who thought
o f r o Bunyan the best writer of English ; Toplady , who p
n o u n c e d o f the allegory the finest extant ; Southey, and di many others , inclu ng Dean Stanley, Dr . Brock , and Dr .
M r f f . . o Allon The other speakers were Attack , Hocklif e , f . . o A ll and Messrs J . Usher and G Gunton , Bedford . the
speakers made reference , in grateful expressions , to the gene o f o f rous and noble gift the Duke Bedford . By these meet ul ings the m titude found suitable vent for their emotions , while at the same’ time they heard the Gospel proclaimed with tenderness and power at the foot Of the newly - unveiled
hn n o f . i statue Jo Bunyan Though not the programme, this ’ was a feature without which the day s proceedi ngs would
hardly have been complete .
r£at tn t e ilhrru ! h di h .
During the afternoon ab o ut chi ldren o f the Sunday - schools in Bedford and Elsto w were entertained at t e a h o n e o f o f , eac them receiving an illustrated copy the ’ f s t a fi Pilgrim s Progress as a memorial o the day . A f o f 350 o . . . teachers , under the direction Mr W B Graham ,
- o f late deputy chief constable the county, took the super
t o n t o f vi sion o f the little ones . A and a quar er cake was o f 1 00 provided , and Six butts tea, each containing gallons . 40 L ct re b R C Birr ll e ev . M u y . e .
w a s There was a grand procession , in which precedence ’ - given to the scholars from Elstow, Bunyan s birthplace , hi i the Church and Dissenting c ldren walk ng side by side ,
i i . under the leadersh p and care Of Mr . W . J . Rob nson di After the Elstow schools , the Primitive Metho st school o f h Bedford came first , and the Cat olic Apostolic school
brought up the rear . Grace was said before tea by the ’ Rev . C . Brereton , rector of St . Mary s ; and not less than
people were present in the field , pleased spectators o f u n i On hi t a w ch , we hope , will seem less s range to the rising generation when they grow up than it did to their fathers . Three bands discoursed music for the plea
o f . sure the children , and the Mayor and Mr Whitbread , M P . . s e e , came to the happy gathering . The clergyman ’ f and teachers of St . Paul s Church school re used to take part in the festival , on grounds which they call religious o f n c Of but the children the school , happily in o ent sectarian
u o f scr ples , came , and were attended to by the teachers other schools . The arrangements for this gigantic tea
. party were carried out by Messrs . J . B . Sergeant , J . U
Taylor, P . S . Fry, J . Atkins , S . Ward , George Carruthers , u t R fl . o . J C r is , , and J . Harris , with Mr Hillhouse as secretary .
fet ture h let a rrett Z p fil . fit . 111 B . At seven o ’clock there was a large gathering at Bunyan
“ u o n u Meeting to hear a lect re B nyan by the Rev . C . M . o f Birrell , late Liverpool . Mr . Birrell gave the substance o f u T O f the lect re in the same place in 1 853 . not a e w
o f this charming address was , perhaps , the chief source
o f . l pleasure in the whole the proceedings It was gratefu , after the bustle of the day, to retire from the crowd into ’ /z r s in n er 41 T e M ayo D .
s l the quietne s of the Meeting , with all its ha lowed memo ries o f the immortal d r eamer ; and in thi s still hour o f
u s . meditation , who better fitted to speak to than Mr ? u u t w o Birrell Though the lect re occ pied more than hours , h it was with the greatest reluctance t at strangers , obliged
n v to catch trai s before its close , could tear themsel es a way when the lecturer paused to g ive them an o ppo r ’ t u it n o f . y for retiring . One happy feature Mr Birrell s lecture was its exhibition o f the fact that to the Society of ’ Friends must be ascribed the merit o f securing Bunyan s liberation ; and it was meet that thi s obligation to the
o n Quakers should be publicly acknowledged such a day, ’ which it would not have been b u t for Mr . Birrell s wis e di provision . Cor al thanks were given to the lecturer by h e o n t . the congregation , the motion Of Rev . J . Brown A s h a d uggestion by Mr . Birrell t t Be ford should erect a s i t s e tatue to second great citizen , John Howard , was hail d with loud cheers .
' S e us italities h f t e a h l p h g g .
We have already said that the bur gesses kept open h ouse for their fri ends ; and we ought to add that 1 00 guests were entertained at luncheon by Mr . Edwin Ransom , t h e o f B ed o r ds h ir e T i m e proprietor the f s . In the evening the Mayor entertained about eighty guests at dinner at the S w an Hotel ; and after an elegant repast a most interest ing toast list was gone through . Dr . Brock , along with a local clergyman , the Rev . W . H . Smith , responded for “ ” o f The Bishop Of the Diocese and the Ministers Religion .
Dr . Brock said he believed if John Bunyan were at that gatherin g he would b e quite at home in responding to t h e 2 Wi 4 e F os ter F a ni ilv.
fi t h e t o . O o r toast , as according Mr he was Chaplain to h T h e Lord Mayor of London after e came o u t o f prison . o f in o f hn w a s toast the even g, The Memory Jo Bunyan , proposed by the Rev . Dr . Stoughton in an interesting t h e s . M P . peech , and drank in silence Mr . Bassett , . , gave ’ a Lord Lieuten nt s health, to which Earl Cowper replied, closing his speech with a toast to the Duke o f Bedford .
o f u a n d Colonel Higgins proposed the toast the D chess ,
n o t s a incidentally remarked , as a layman , that he would y — Bedford had gone m a d about Bunyan h e believed it had
- o f only just come to its senses . Dr . Coombs , ex Mayor df t Be ord , proposed the health of Herr Boehm , the sculp or
- t h e and Mr . F . T . Young, vice chairman, responded to
' f t h e r toast o the Mayor and Corporation . Among othe speakers were the representatives of Bedford in Parliament ,
- M a n i a c h u r . Mr . W itbread and Captain Polhill T ner, Mr g ,
- ex Member for St . Ives , and Mr . James Howard , formerly fo r u hi s t Member the boro gh , and who , with excellen brother, was foremost in making the preparations for a day that must ever be looked back upon as one of the most o f memorable in the annals the town . Opposite the hotel , On o f t h e o f fir e the other side river, there was a display works after dark ; and this was closed with a magnificent o f fi r e e centre piece , which brought out , in letters , the nam f H A N o J O N B U N Y . In addition to those whose names have been already men t i o n e d o f , many representative men from various parts the o f country were present . The Baptists the Biggleswade district were represented by the Rev . Philip Griffiths . ’ Oliver Cromwell s native town sent the Rev . J . H . Millard , A i B f . n o . . . , secretary the Baptist Union , and Mr M Foster, the house of whose ancestors John Bunyan used to preach at ’5 night when he was under the ban of the law . Cambridge
Du in t h ei n s o f h a le I I n d m I I h o u s e o f t h e e C s . a Ja e s . t e r g r g r , h F o s e s a t P e s o n n ea Hi h i n w a s a n a s lu m fo r e r s e u e m in is t r r t , r tc , y p c t d e s . h e e Jo h n B u n a n w en n o t i n B e fo a o l u s e t o m a e h i s t r T r y , h d rd g , d k o m e i n r ea chi n e u s io n s a o u th e n ei o u r h o o a n d n o t a fe w h p g xc r b t ghb d ,
44 B n a n i n til e Ro a li s t A rm u y y y . s ci e n t i e u s organism , and it is fair to affirm that his d elinquencies were far less atrocious than he himself s eemed to imagine . This idiosyncrasy led him almost w holly to religious considerations , and he displayed during hi s u n life scarcely any political bias , like the other great o f w h o genius that period , John Milton , was the powerful d o f u u efender the Parliament and Rep blicanism . D ring t h n the s ruggle between the Parliament and the King, Jo hi s Bunyan was in the Royalist army, and probably, from u i s u Script ral reading , he became conv nced that he had p ported the righteous cause , as we do not find in his works t h e u slightest hints , even when he s ffered such severe per n o f sco tion under the Restoration , regret that he had o f u fought in the cause Royalty . D ring his imprisonment ’ h e composed his popular work the Pilgrim s Progress and other equally original and excellent books , and it is remarkable that the highest works o f human genius have a ll had religion as their object , and have been produced u u o f f nder circ mstances great af liction . If we go back to — — remote antiqu ity nearly three thousand years to the Im m orta l drea m tha t c o u ld b egu ile ’ T h e li n o ld m a n Of S io s o is le b d c r cky , d own to more modern times , when Milton dictated his s ublime poems to be written down by the hands o f hi s d aughters , these two grand poems that have never been a flli ct in equalled , were composed under the g circumstances “ ” o f blindness . It would seem that corporeal light denied, t h e b eca m e m e r e . mental vision clear, pure , and intensified . T h e t w o most renowned poets o f Italy suffered much from t yranny and oppression . Dante was banished, and was fo r many years a wan derer from the co u ntry he dearly loved- a country whose greatest renown and pride is o f i h i s o ld hav ng been birthplace . The stern exile underwent ffl g reat a iction , composed his Divina Commedia and the o o f n f e ther name , u ading reputation , Tass , from imputed n madness , was co fined for many years w ithin the gloomy r estriction Of a madhouse , where he in imagination
Revelle a m o n m en a n d in s Di in e d g th g v , A n d o u e hi s s i i o ve Pa le s in e p r d p r t r t , I n o n o u o f t h e s a e w a r fo r H i m h r cr d , h h n d i s i n ea en T e Go d w h o w a s o n ea r t a h v . And Je h n Bunyan during an imprisonment for t w elve /i 4 Bung/ a n a s a Pr ea c er . 5
tedious years was enabled , besides labouring for his family, to conceive his unequalled allegory, and which with freedom he could never have accomplished . As a preacher u u he was a man Of stern , powerful , and un sual eloq ence . h i n o r W en he preached at his chapel this town , in any o f . the surrounding villages , though they were at that b u t i time thinly populated , he attracted mmense crowds , i who came many m les to listen to his discourses , and when in London such was his popularity his congregation num a t bered tho u sands of individuals . Then if he had been libert y the claims fo r his services would have allowed hi m but little leisure fo r literary achievements . The two men o f transcendent genius o f that period were John Milton o f o n e s and John Bunyan, and the great work seem naturally to follow the other . Milton described the fall ’ “ o f angelic beings , and man s first disobedience that brought ”
o u r . death into the world and all woe Bunyan , finding o f u hi s e man in a state destr ction , makes Christian escap from thence to pursue his hard and difficult pilgrimage to recover the blessedness that had been sacrificed ; h e x passes onward through troubles and an ieties , some t times desponding, at o hers deviating from his course , to b u t t again endure trouble , frequently receiving suppor and encouragement from the Evangelist— the blessed — Gospel , but in his way sinking down into the misery o f despair, again emerging , and with determination con hi s tinning way onwards , till , travelling the gloomy valley o f o f d the shadow death , he ultimately sinks into the ark a waves of death and Oblivion , to emerge from thence b ea t i fie d spirit , and his griefs and wanderings being over, he is received into the mansions o f the blessed t o enjoy an o f eternity unalloyed happiness . 46 B 7 ’ unya n a n a B ecfio r a .
S te S har arter e f !tutu fiuupau :
L CA L E CLE I A S T I CA L U N I VE R S A L . O , C S ,
L . S . . B Y T H . A . P TAN Y D O E R EV E , ,
Dea n of Wes tm i n s t er .
As I walked throu gh the w ildern ess o f this world I h ” lighted u pon a certain place w ere was a den . These n words have been translated into hu dreds Of lang uages , and h undreds and thou sands in all parts o f the world and a ll “ c o f lasses mankind have asked , Where was that place , ‘ a n d where was that den P and the answer has been given “ t n o f hat the ame the place was Bedford , and that the e den was Bedford ga l . This it is which has given o f d — s a to the town Be ford its chief may I y, without
o f . f ence , its only title to universal and everlasting fame It is now two hundr ed years ago since Bunyan must have — — r esolved o n th e grea t ventur e s e it seemed to hi m o f publi shing the work which has given to Bedford this i m m ortal renown ; and Bedford is this day endeavouring to o f hi p a y back some part the debt w ch it owes to him . It has seemed to me that I shou ld best discharge the — t rust with which I have been honoured and a very high h o b e—b on ur I consider it to y saying a few words , first o n o n the local , then the ecclesiastical and political cir c u m s t a n ces o n un o , and then the iversal character of y ur i llustrious townsman . 1 n o t o f o f n . I shall , in speaking the local claims Bunya , s u r render without a struggle the share w hich England at f l h a s . o arge in those claims Something a national , some o f thing even a cosmopolitan colour, was given to his career by the wandering gipsy life w hi ch drew the tinker with hi s ’ humble wares from his brazier s shop , as well as by the m ore serious circuits which he m ade as an itinera nt pastor o n what were regarded as his episcopal visitations . When n i I leave Bedford this eve ng in order to go to Leicester, I s h a ll o n o f u n still be the track the yo g soldier, —who , w hether in the Royal o r the Parliamentary arm y for T /i B i r t/i la ce a n d fire P ris on 47 e p . — i t is still matter o f di S pu t e s e narrowly escaped the s hot which laid his comrade low ; and from the siege “ o f its ancient walls gathered the imagery for the Holy ” M n s e u l War and the Siege of a . When it was my lot l ’ years ago to explore the Pi grims Way to Canterbury, I was tempted to lend a willing ear to the ingenious o o n fficer the Ordnance Survey, who conjectured that in that devious pathway and o n those S u rrey downs the Pilgrim of the seventeenth century may have caught the ifli u lt idea o f the Hill D c y and the Delectable Mountains . o f n On the familiar banks the Ken ett , at Reading , I recog nise the scenes to which tradition has assigned his secret vi sits , disguised in the slouched hat , white smock frock , ’ a n d o f carter s whip a waggoner , as well as the last charit f a ble enterprise which cost him his li e . In the great Babylon o f London I find myself in the midst o f what must have given him his notion o f Vanity Fair ; where
also , as the Mayor has reminded you , he attracted thou s a t Z ands round his pulpit oar Chapel in Southwark , and i n o f where he rests at last the grave his host , the grocer f B u n hi ll S u o . tr dwick , in the cemetery Fields But none of these places can compete for closeness
o f w . o association ith his birthplace at Elstow The c ttage , o r W hat might have been the cottage of his early home t h e venerable church where first he joined i n the prayers — o f our pub lic worship the antique pew where he s a t t h e massive tower whose bells he s o lustily rang till struck — b y the pangs o f a morb id conscience the village green where he played his rustic games and was haunted by his terri fic visions—the puddles in the road on which he thought to try his first miracles - all these are still with u dl — s . And even Elstow can har y rival the den whether t h e legendary prison o n the bridge o r t h e hi storical prison not far from where his monument stands— for which the
whole world inquiringly turns to Bedford . Most fitting, t h e therefore , has it been that the first statue erected to memory o f t h e most illustrious citizen o f Bedford should have been the o fi er i n g of the noble head o f the illustri ous tl t house to which Bedford has given its chief ti e . Mos ’ f fitting it is that St . Peter s Green at Bed ord should in — this way if I may use an expression I have myself else —L ’ where employed h a ve been annexed t o the Poet s Corner 48 T h e Ba tis t C/i /i p ur c .
t o n e Of Westmins er Abbey, and should contain the effigy o f o f which England possesses the first human allegorists . o f o f Claim him , citizens Bedford and inhabitants Bedford
shire ; claim him as your own . It is the strength o fa county and of a town to have its famous men held in everlasting
remembrance . They are the links by which you are bou nd e to the history of your country , and by which the whol o f u r consciousness a great nation is bound together . In yo Bedfordshire lanes he doubtless found the original of his
Slough o f Despond . In the halls and gardens o f o f u Wrest, Haynes , and Wob rn , he may have snatched u the first glimpses o fhis House Beautif l . In the turbid waters o f your O u se at flood time he saw the likeness o f “ ” the River Very Deep , which had to be crossed befor
reaching the Celestial City . You have become immortal throu gh him ; s e e that his glory never fades away amongst
you . 2 . And here this local connection passes into an eccle s ia s ti ca l association o n whi ch I would dwell for a fe w o f moments . If Elstow was the natural birthplace Bunyan , he himself woul d certainly have named as hi s spiritual birthplace the meeting - hou se at Bedford and the stream o f o f u h e the Ouse , near the corner D ck Mill Lane , where
- r e . s was in middle life baptized There , and in those dell o f W a i n w e o d S a m s e ll h e and , where in the hard times secretly ministered to his scattered flock , he became the most famous preacher o f the religious communion which
- o w n . claims him as its The Baptist or Ana baptist Church , which Once struck terror by i t s very name thr ou ghout the ’ n e w u States Of Europe , , and even in B nyan s time , u h a s : subsiding into a q iet , loyal , peaceful community, — numbered o n its roll many illustrious names a Havelock i t s amongst its soldiers , a Carey and a Marshman among R o b e r t missionaries , a Hall among its preachers , and I B u t speak now on ly o f the dead . neither amongst the dead nor the living who have adorned the Baptist name i s there any before whom other chu rches b o w their heads s o reverently as he who i n this place derived his chief spiritu al inspirations from them ; and amongst their titles hi r o f to a gh place in English Ch istendom , the conversion
John B u nyan is their chief and su fficient guarantee . We m inisters and members o f the National Church have much M i ton B n a n e oe . 49 l , u y ,D f
b e a s t o n e w hereof to glory . We , and we justly boast , that o f o u r claims o n the grateful affection o f our country o u r o u r o u r is that institutions , our learning, liturgy, o f n l version the Bible , have sustained and e arged the general culture even o f those who dis sent from much that we teach and from much that we hold dear . But we know that even this boast is not ours exclusively . You remember Lord Macaulay’ s saying that the seven t e e n t h century produced in England two men only o f — orig inal gen ius . These were both Nonconformists one n was John Milton , and the other was Joh Bunyan . I will ‘ t h e o f venture to add this yet further remark , that whole English literature has produ ced only two prose works o f o f universal popularity, and both these also were by Non — o n e o f conformists is the work a Presbyterian journalist, a n d it is called Robinson Crusoe and the other is the o f work a Baptist preacher, and its name is the Pil ’ ” grim s Progress . Every time that we open those well
known pages , or look at that memorable face , they remind u s Chu rchmen that No n co n fo r m i s t s have their own s plendid literature they remind you Nonconformists that literature and culture are channels o f grace n o less spiritual than
s o r . acraments or doctrines , than preaching revivals There were m any bishops eminent for their piety and learning in the seventeenth century ; but few were more de s er vin o f the name than h e who by the popular voice of Bedfordshire
w a s called Bishop Bun yan .
3 . And now , having rendered honour to whom honour — n o f d r is due honour to the tow Be ford , and honou to — m y Nonconformist brethren let me take that somewhat
wider survey to which, as I have said , this occasion i o n nvites me ; only let me , before entering that survey, touch for an instant o n the contrast which is presented by o f the recollections which we have just been speaking , and
the occasion which brings us here together . There are c o f ertain places which we pass by in the valley life , i s a w like to that which the P lgrim , in which two giants “ “ d o f welt Old time , who , he says , were either dead many a da o f s o y, or else , by reason age , have grown crazy and s t ifl in their joints tha t they n o w do little more than s it at ’ ” their cave s mouth , grinning at pilgrims as they go by . ’ i s m o n th - It at such a cave s that we are to day . We s ee at 7 n 50 Ola I n tolera ce.
o f w h o the long distance two hundred years , a giant , in ’
m w a s u . w e Bunyan s ti e , very sto t and hearty What shall call him His name was Old Intolerance , that giant who o f first, under the Commonwealth , in the shape the Pres “ b t er i a n ul n o t o f y clergy, co d bear with the preaching ” il i n an literate t nker and an unordai ed minister, and then , o f u u in the shape the Episcopal clergy, sh t him p for twelve i s years in Bedford gaol . All this gone for ever . But let : o ld us not rejoice prematurely the giant is still alive . o n He may be seen in many shapes , all sides , and with “ o f S many voices . The spirit burning and the pirit o f ” judgment have not , as some lament , altogether departed o r f either from Churchmen from Noncon ormists . But his joints are very s t ifi and crazy ; and when o n this day t h e clergy and the magistrates o f Bedford are seen rejoicing in c r ommon with their Dissenting breth en, at the inaugura tion o f a memorial of hi m who once suffered at the hands o f S all their piritual forefathers , it is a proof that the world has at least , in this respect , become a little more Christian , because a little more charitable and a little m o r e enlight — ened a little more capable o f seein g the inward good behi nd outward differences . o n co n fo r m i s t An excellent and laborious N , who devoted hi s life to the elucidation o f the times and works o f u B nyan , describes , with just indignation , the persecuting i m o f . r i law Charles II , under which John Bunyan was p e is d s ned , and he then adds , This now the law of the lan
i n . m we live No , y good Nonconformist brother, no , nk Go d ! n e w tha it is not , nor has for many a long year, y been in force amongst us . In the very ear in whi ch
John Bunyan died , that Revolution took place to which , when compared with all the numerous revolutions which have Since swept over other countries , may be well accorded “ ” o ld o f i o n e o f t h e the good name Glorious , and wh ch ui most glorious fr ts was the Toleration Act , by which such cruelties and follies as the Conventicle and Five Mile Acts A became thenceforth and for ever impossible . That ct fi was , no doubt , only the rst imperfect beginning we have
l o f . B u t sti l , even now, all us much to learn in this respect we have gained somethi n g ; and this day is another pledge o f v o f l the ictory the Christian faith , another nai knocked into the coffin o f ou r ancient enemy . It required a union
52 T li e Ca t/i olici tg o/ Bung a n .
l n o n e o f amusement both o f o d a d young . It is the few books which has struck a chord which vibrates alike amongst the humblest peasants and amongst the most fasti dieus critics . Let u s pause for an instant to reflect how great a b o o n n is conferred upon a nation by o e such uniting element . o f m How deeply extended is the power sy pathy, and the o f force argument , when the preacher or the teacher knows n f that he can e orce his appeal by a name which , like that o f o r an apostle evangelist , comes home as if with canonical weight to every one who hears him ; by fi gures o f Speech which need only be tou ch ed in order to elicit an electric
spark of understanding and satisfaction . And when we ask wherein this power consists , let me name three points . i ’ ” First , it is because the Pilgr m s Progress , as I have — already indicated , is entirely catholic that is , universal in u its expression and its tho ghts . I do not mean to say — i t w ould be an exaggeration that it contains no sentiments l o r o f distastefu to this that section Christians , that it has t t o r t n o a cer ain tinge of the Calvi nist the Puri an . But w hat is remarkable is that this peculiar colou r is so very ’ u o w n slight . We know what was B nyan s passionate ”
d On . h O e esire this point I would be , he says , as I p ‘ ’ t h es e o f I am , a Christian , but as for factious titles o r Anabaptist , Independent , Presbyterian , the like , I
conclude that they come neither from Jerusalem nor Antioch , ”
b u t o r . from hell Babylon It was this universal charity , “ t h e n s e e that he expressed in his last sermon , Dost a o f ? soul that has the image God in him Love him , love i L o e n him . This man and I must go to heaven one day . v o e ” d . i s cr i another , and do good for one another It was this m i n a t i n g forbearance that he expressed in his account o f the ’ ’ “ ” Interpreter s Garden . Behold , he says , the flowers are u diverse in stature , in q ality, in colour , in smell , and in virtue ; and some are better than some ; also where the gardener has s et them there they stan d and quarrel not
with one another . There is no compromise in his words , there is no faltering in his convictions ; b u t his love and admiration are reserved on the whole for that which all o n good men love , and his detestation the whole is reserved
for that which all good men detest . And if I may for a o f his moment enter into detail, even in the very forms 5 T/i e B urn s of E ngla n d. 3
' narrative we find something as universal as hi s doctrine n o t Protestant , Puritan , Calvinist as he was , yet he did fear to take the fr amework o f his story and the figures o f o ld a r il his drama from the medi eval Chu ch , and the lus t r a t i o n s in which the modern editions o f hi s book abound ’ r give us the pilgrim with his pilg im s hat , the wayside
- cross , the crusading knight with his red cross shield , the winged angels at the Celestial Gate , as naturally and as gracefully as though it had been a story from the Golden ” o r o f hi s Legend , from the favourite romance early boy f ” o . hood , Sir Bevis Southampton Such a combination o f Protestant ideas with Catholic forms had never been i n seen before , perhaps never since it is , itself a union of r Ch istendom in the best sense , to which neither Catholic nor Protestant, neither Churchman nor Nonconformist , can possibly demur . The form , the substance , the tendency of ’ ” th e Pilgrim s Progress in these respects may be called latitudinarian , but it is a latitudinarianism which was an indispensable condition for its influence throughout the
. dm world By it , as has been well said by an a irable living authority learned in all the learning of t h e Nonconform i s t s o f , John Bunyan became the teacher , not any par t i cu la r b u t f o . sect , the universal Church dl i Secon y, th s wonderful book , with all its freedom , is
never profane ; with all its devotion , is rarely fanatical ; a ll it s e with homeliness , is n ver vulgar . In other words , it w o r k o f is a pure art and true genius , and wherever these
are we mount at once into a fr eer a n d loftier air . Bun an o f On i o f was in this sense the Burns England . the t nker o n o f Bedfordshire , as the ploughman Ayrshire , the heavenly fire had been breathed which transformed the — common clay and made him a poet , a philosopher may we not s a y a gentleman and a nobleman in spite o f “ ”
. o u W himself If y ere to polish the style , says Cole ”
o f t h e . ridge , you would destroy the reality vision He o n e o f dared (and it was , for his straitened school and u a n o f scanty c lture , act immense daring) to communicate
o f . his religious teaching in the form fiction , dream , poetry It is one o f the most striking proofs of the superiority of e literature over polemics , of poetry over pros , as a mes o f senger heavenly truth . I have been better entertained ” o f and more informed , says Dean S wift, by a few pages 54 ’ Buny a n a n d Me Dea n s w o rd L ectures . the Pilgrim’ s Progress than by a long discourse on the ” I ” will and the intellect . have , says Arnold, always I been struck by its piety . am now equally struck , and ” even more , by its profound wisdom . It might perhaps
have been thought that Bunyan , with his rough and imper fe ct u o d— ed cati n , must have erre as it may be he has some — times erred i n defective appreciation o f virtues and weak nesses not his o w n ; but one prevailing characteristic o f hi s i s work the breadth and depth o f his intellectual insight .
f - o M r s . For the sincere tremors poor , Much afraid he has as good a word o f consolation as he has for the ardent o f aspirations Faithful and Hopeful . For the dogmatic nonsense o f Talkative he has a word o f rebuk e as strong as he has for the gloomy dungeons o f Dou bting Castle ; and for the treasures o f the past he has a feeling as tender a n d as pervasive as if he had been brought up in the Cloisters o f o r Oxford Westminster Abbey . When (if I may for a moment speak o f myself) in early youth I lighted o n the passage where the Pilgrim is taken “ to the House Beautiful to s e e the pedigree o f the Ancient o f o f Days , and the rarities and histories that place , both ” I ancient and modern , determined that if ever the time should arrive when I should become a professor o f eccle s i a s t i ca l l history, these shou d be the opening words in which I would describe the treasures o f that magnificent store
. s o o u t house Accordingly when , many years after, it fell , I coul d find no better mode o f beginning my course at Oxford than by redeeming that early pledge ; and when I r the course came to an end, and wished to draw a pictu e o f the prospects yet reserved for the future of Christendom , I foun d again that the best words I could su pply were those o n u in which , leaving the Beautiful ho se , Christian was shown in the di stance the view o f the Delectable Moun hi u tains , w ch , they said , wo ld add to his comfort because ” they were nearer to the desired haven . What was my o w n experience in one special branch of knowledge may also be the experience of many others . And for the nation fi o f at large , all who appreciate the dif cult necessity refining the atmosphere and cultivating the taste o f the uneducated and the half- educated may be thankful that in this instance i s o f there a well of English language and Christian thought , u n de file d t h e t h e pure and , at which least instructed and 55 Pi ct ur e of Jo/ m Bunya n . best instructed may alike come to quench their mental On n o t l . hirst , and to refresh their intel ectual labours o ther occasion cou ld such a rustic assemblage have been s een taking part in the glorification o f a literary work as . 1 8 r u we have wi tnessed thi s day in Bedford . That a t e — h We k n o w n ot e ducation of the people a n education whic O perhaps whether to call denominational o r u n den om m a r ul t i o n a l i s r l ul hr i 1 , , but which t u y national , tr y C st an t y di i v ne . c i Lastly, there is the practical , homely, energeti ins ght o f o f n into the heart man , and the spiritual needs huma ’ t h e l d nature , which make his picture of Pi grim s heavenwar
road a living drama , not a dead disquisition , a thing to be
t . imi ated, not merely to be read Look at John Bunyan hi m lf h e o u i se as stands before y , whether in the descript on l u ll o f hi s own contemporaries or in the image now s o ski f y u c arved amongst you by the hand o f the scu lptor . As s rely
a s , he walked your streets with his lofty, stalwart form o f w i i tall stature , strong boned , th Sparkling eyes , wear ng
his hair o n his upper lip after the old British fashion , his hi s h i s hair reddish , but in latter days sprinkled with grey, o u t nose well , his mouth moderately large , his forehead s omething high , and his habit always plain and modest ; a s surely also as he was known amongst his neighbours as “ o f m u in countenance a ste and ro gh temper, but in his c f n u onversation mild and af able , not given to loquacity o cca s i o n r e u i r e d o f less q it, observing never to boast him s o w n elf, but rather seeming low in his eyes , and submit t in g himself to the judgment o f others ; abhorring lying a n d swearing , being just in all that lay in his power to his
word , not seeming to revenge injuries , but loving to recon c ff n ile di ere ces and make friendship with all , with a sharp , o f quick eye , accomplished with an excellent discerning o f person , being good judgment and quick wit as surely a s s o a s o n e he seemed when he was alive , as surely he was “ ” o f o f o u . yourselves , a man the people, as y heard at St ’ i o f o f Peter s Green th s morning, a man the people Eng — land and the people o f Bedford s o surely is the pilgrim age which he described the pilgrimage o f every o n e a m s o o f ongst us , surely are the combinations the neigh u s a w bo rs , the friends , the enemies whom he in his dream s ee i n o u r u t he same as we act al lives . You and I , as well 56 E a r Co w er on ea n S ta n l p D ley .
B - - , . . as he have met with Mr y ends , and Mr Facing both
, . . o f ways and Mr Talkative Some us , perhaps , may have s . N o o o d Li l . e li t v o o s e H a t e h . een Mr g and Mr , Mr . g and Mr m I . o f placable All us have at times been like Mr . Ready - . N o h e a r t to halt, Mr Feeblemind , and Faintheart, and , and S lo w a ce S h o r t w i n d P , and , and Sleepyhead , and the young ” n A ll o f woman whose ame was Dull . us need to be o f cheered by the help Greatheart , and Standfast , and i o ld o f u s Val ant for the Truth , and good Honest . Some o f have been in Doubting Castle , some in the Slough Despond ; some have experienced the temptations o f Vanity
‘ i u s o f u s Fa r ; all of have to climb the Hill Difficulty, all need to be instructed by the Interpreter in the Hous e Beautiful ; all o f u s bear the same burden ; all o f u s need t h e same armour in o u r fight with Apollyon ; all o f us have o f s to pass through the wicket gate , all us have to pas through the dark river and for a ll o f u s (if G o d so will) there wait the Shi ning Ones at the gates o f the Celestial “ ( t w w e n t y, hich , when see , we wish ourselves amo gs iiem t .
ran S tan le t e fi un aa h un an g g , h b b , fi g .
R B Y T H E IG H T H O N . A L O W P K. G . E R C ER , ,
L or d Li eu a o B d s t en n t f e for d h i r e . In some respects I feel myself rather unfortunate in coming after the Dean o f Westmi n ster but in o n e r e spect this is a time o f all oth ers for me to s a y anything which I wish to s a y ; for the feelin g that is uppermost in my o w n mind at this moment must be u pperm ost in all u o n e u yo r minds , and it is of intense gratit de to the Dean ' o f Westminster for having come do w n h er e to - day to take o u t h e part in the proceedings . He has told y that only , o r n o f almost the o ly, claim the town of Bedford to a world - wide repu tation is the name o f John B u nyan ; and o f u b u t I s a that is , course , q ite true ; may perhaps y — with equ al truth thou gh we may expect to hear other u — t h e t h e able and eloquent disco rses that if not only, yet T /t e ke o Bed ord 57 Du f f . chief claim o f this gathering to u niversal fame will be t h e fact that the Dean o f W estm inster has given u s that adm i rable and forcible address on the great subject o f this ca n t gathering . Nobody feel more how exhaustive tha I w speech was than do at this moment , who have to follo I o f o f a n d him . had intended to speak the house Russell , their services i n the cause o f liberty and other great causes but that ground has been cut from under my feet . For a long t M e I did not think I should speak at all here d I t o to ay, but as soon as knew that I should be expected s o I I m i o f s do , began to consider that ght talk the scene ’ o f s e e Bunyan s youth around us , which you every day, and I very often b u t I find these much more graphically described by a stranger , who comes from London , than they could be even by those who have been familiar with
n n r . them all their lives . O o e o two previous occa sions I have met the Dean o f Westminster at local meet I o u t ings , and , strange to say , always find he picks some thi ng either i n local archaeology o r history on which h e i s k n ows more tha n even the inhabitants themselves . It t o f o f me as a Bed ord man , holding the position Lord o f Lieutenant this county, a great gratification to be pre
- o f sent to day . We all know how intimately the town Bedford is associated with the great name o f John u w o f m B nyan ; we kno that people all countries , fro A m m i ca particularly , make pilgrimages to this neighbour ' s ee - - o f hood , to the birth place and dwelling place John i n t - o u Bunyan , the same way as hey do to Stratford s ee o f t Avon , to the home Shakespeare and now that tha u u s e statue is put p , what strikes more than anything els f is why o n earth it should not have been thought o before . I n Stratford - o h - Avon every corner o f every street has a o f o f b u t memorial some sort to the memory Shakespeare , i we have had noth ng till now . The defect has now o n e been remedied , and remedied by to whom we shall l — e all be eternal y grateful the Duke o f Bedford . Ther is nobody by whom we feel the gift cou ld be more fi in l hi m I t h e t t g y made than by . am glad that chi ef part to - da y has been taken by a minister o f the f i s Ch u rch o f England . The hi story o John Bunyan o n e which must fill every member o f the Church with i o f o f h t feel ngs reproach and grief , w en we consider wha 5 3 Re i io s Un it i n B d rd lg u y e fo .
f his life was , and what intolerance was mani ested with hi hi . I regard to him T s would not happen now, and t nk we may feel that if John Bunyan had lived in o u r days his statue would n o t have been placed with his back to the
Church , as it now is , but with his face to it , even though , ik de cli n e d t o l e many other good men , he might have enter it . I have been connected with the neighbourhood o f Bed i I ford for some t me , and think everybody who knows the town will agree with me that this i s a place in which the
Protestants o f all denom i nations are closely united . I am c hairman o f a school in this neighbourhood founded o n a h a d broad Protestant foundation , and, though we have o u r ik o n e ha d difficulties , l e every else , we have never a single difficulty from cau ses connected with religion . All I ca n s a i s di u y , the ffic lties which people might imagine ri in such a case h ave never a sen here . All have worked ha s n well together, and that shown me that the feeli g o u r which pervades Bedford is a desire to sink differences , and to unite in furt hering those great tru ths in which we a hi gree . I cannot but express a hope that the statue w ch has been thi s day unveiled m a y long continue in t h i s town . I am glad that a memorial o f the great man has at last e I been erect d, and am glad that it has been erected by the D o f uke Bedford .
’ 60 Ba n s A rr s t a S a m ell ya n e t s .
ments and honour touching matters that were religious , he felt himself under obligation to decline both the emolument and the honou r ; and if the hu m an law came and threatened w r him ith pains and penalties , he thought it right to incu
b - - b them all , and thus thinking and thus resolving , y and y di d u o f he publicly take p with the practice free prayer , i n u h i s contradistinction from the Lit rgy, and , deeming it G duty to preach the ospel , he determined that he would u l o preach it wheresoever and whensoever he co d . The p o r t u n it i e s p were not very frequent , unless he would dis n f o u r guise himself ; a . d some o y recollect how g aphically di s Lord Macaulay describes the disguising . Unless he o f n d i n g uised himself , and preached at dead night , a s u . ecl ded places , opportunities for preaching were but few But Bunyan thoroughly disliked disguise in all forms and
. w a s shapes It most foreign to his nature , and he would h e not consent to be dr essed up any more . What he did o f o f resolved to do openly, in the face day , in the cause his Divine Master ; and s o o n e day there was an arrange m m ll d ent made that he should preach at S a s e . He was tol if s o ul u that he did the constable wo d be pon his track , and he wou ld certainly be taken up ; and there is not a more instructive passage in all his writin gs than that in which h e tells us o f the exercise o f his mind in that very matter . F o r o n s example , he says God has chosen me to go thi forlorn hope o f preaching His blessed Gospel in this cou ntry ; and I shou ld discourage those who are coming I after me if should be afraid and fly . Besides , the world would take occasion from my cowardliness to blaspheme t h e ”
s o I u . n Gospel ; m st needs go and preach Accordi gly ,
u S a m s ell. when the time came , he was fo nd at his post at If so be the magistrate would enforce the law in regard t o preaching and religious worship it must be s o . He would u h e obey the magistrate actively if he co ld , and if not would passively obey by enduring the penalty, whatever
a n d . that penalty may be . So he went , the service began a n d There was the due attention to psalmody , prayer , and ’ t h e the reading o f God s Word ; and then there came “ o f o n o f announcement his text , Dost thou believe the Son God ? In walked a constable with his warrant for t h e f arrest o John B u nyan there and then . The congregation o f broke up , course , and he was taken into custody forth H is R ig/at to P r ea c/L. 6 1 N with . ext day he was taken before the magistrate , and then ensued o n e o f the most singular dialogues or discu s sions o n e has ever read . You remember that Bunyan was insisting upon it that he had a right to preach , and the h ? justice asked , W at right has a tinker to preach ” “ Well , Bunyan said , as a tinker he has no right , but then as a man o f whom the tinker is made up he has a o r h a s right , should have a right , and presuming that he the physical and intellectual and spiritual qualifications h e t h e h certain ly has the right . In case Churc to which he th a t belongs recognises the right , all the better ; but it is w n u hf hich co stit tes his right , that he is a fait ul man , and ’ able to teach others also . Then you won t give up your ” n preaching said the justice . Never , replied the ti ker ; as a m a n has received the gift s o let him minister accord v ing to the ability which God has gi en to him . If you must e nforce your human law against w hat I believe to be Divine I l I s o . law, be it wou d obey you actively if could ; as I I cannot do that , am ready to obey you passively by
submitting to the penalty, even if it should be death ” hi m i l . tse f And believing that he had ability given to , he insisted upon it that he was under no obligation to the b u t magistrate , under the highest obligation to God to go
and exercise that ability forthwith . Well , the dialogue o n went , and here and there was still more curious , but o f the end it was , as you know, that he was committed to — I gaol that gaol which , suppose , he had in his eye as the
n o w . den , as was intimated just by the Dean Some excite
ment was created , and it was very generally known that o n a u l he was sent to gaol th t partic ar account . Efforts were made by more than one person o f consideration to hi s get him to change his mind , and to renounce deter
mination to preach . They talked to him about the gaol a n d 32 u its irksomeness to a man of , in the f ll vigour of i l fe and health , accustomed to the open air and open
country . He knew that better than they did . It was s u f ’ ” fe r i n ff g , but then it was su ering for conscience sake , and ul i t he determined that he wo d bear even unto the end , for
he would not give up . You remember the strong expres s o n o n e ion which he used occasion , when he was defend o f h ing the practice certain C ristian brethren . Being I t e pressed and pressed again , he became , suppose , a lit l ’ ’ 62 Ba n a n s S n er zn s a n d ict r y fi y V o y .
f m resent ul , and he said , The moss shall g row on y eye ” u . o n brows before I give p that principle Well , he went , thus pertinacious ly adhering to his determination in this s ix n matter . For years he ever left that den . We have o n s i x it , I believe , conclusive evidence that the first years o f were very severe , and some the passages in his writings o f indicative of his feelings at that time , and the fact origi n i nating the feeli gs , will a little dissipate the opin on I have heard expressed that after all there was not much severity i in his mprisonment . His imprisonment was s o severe o u t o f s that he was pressed measure , above strength, o
‘ o f ' that sometimes he despaired even life . During the s i x second years there was a moderation . He made I friends with the gaoler . believe he made friends o n e o f with everybody . He was the most pleasant, s a w B agreeable , neighbourly men the world ever . y - b o f and y, in the providence God , deliverance came . He o f fr was released , and came out gaol , but was molested e
quently after that, and had to stand up for liberties and
rights , and stand up he did . He never shirked , he never
shrank from doing his duty in that direction , and he left o n e o f every those liberties unbetrayed , and all those rights A n d uncompromised . in doing all that he was sowing the o f - seed whi ch we are reaping the harvest to day . Wh o S a m s ell I ul would go and disturb a meeting at now , sho d lik e to know ? Who would s e t the constable or the magi s trate going now in regard to the freedom o f religious prao ‘ o r P tice religious thought Let a man be an honest , upright, straightforward citizen and neighbour ; let hi m live a quiet ul d and peacef life in all honesty and go liness , not violating e promises which he has deliberat ly made , nor betraying t o a trusts which have been committed his c re , and he may
go and pray in free prayer anywhere , and he may go and o r n o r preach in City Temples in Metropolitan Taber acles ,
o r . Agricultural Halls , in country barns Why, if Bunyan ' a t t h e could come back , he might preach Cotton End in ' a t morning, at Elstow in the afternoon , and at Bedford
. night, and anywhere else he liked He would be consigned to no den ; not because he would have come over to the ’ e magistrates opinion , but because the magistrates hav o u t come over to his . Persecuting is almost of fashion and f ou r w e o u t o date , though, as friend the Dean intimated, 7 H o s - R s s 3 7 m u e of u ell. 6
m a b e t m a t u o u r i n a e . y a li tle pre re in joy that m tt r Still , i t is l o u t o f hi l as o u t o f going rapid y fas on , as wel date , and t h e harvest which we are n o w rea ping should m ake us e tha nkful beyond all expre ssion . Our fr edom is not an a ccident ; it is a cons equence and it is a result . If those pre decessors o f ours had i n gloriously succumbed to t h e c to r e t d o intoleran e which they we e subj c e , that int lerance would ha ve been i n the asce ndant tod a y ; and it is t o ’ ’ o n t o Milt n s plea for unlicensed printi g, and Bunyan s r t o f c s n a n d c p ac ice unli en ed preachi g , , in justi e let ’ to r o f me add, Je emy Taylor s assertion the liberty o f a o u r a re Go d t o prophesying , th t privileges , under ,
n o w . n b e as cribed Well , the , let the cry and the watch word be the maintena n ce o f those principles ; no revocation f o f o r e - v i m li o Acts Emancipati n ; no enactment , e en by p c o f o r m i o f ation, Test Corporation Acts no sub ssion the ’ peo ple s privileges either to the sacerdotal pretension s o f — — the pries t bad enou g h a s they a r e o r to the i mperious a o f I e ul dict tion the doctrinaire , which susp ct wo d be
found to be a goo d dea l worse . Let ther e be n o with . dra w a l fr om any reputable citiz en of any privilege a s o hi o i n wh t ever w ch we ourselves enjoy, and t uch g these m a tters o f reli g ious thoug ht and reli gious pr a c c ali fo r a ll a fo r ti e , let it be equ ty us , and ascend ncy I n s ll - da none . cannot help maki g a pas ing a usion to y to a nobleman whose attachm ent t o o u r constitutiona l fr ee dom led him to a most illustrious and a right venerable A ll to l end . honour Lord Wil iam Russell , whose martyr ’ i n o f i I n n u dom those fields L ncoln s gave such a moment m , ’ such an immense impulse t o o u r count ry s determin a tion t o a c r t o bring politic l and ec lesiastical ty anny the dust. The plebeia n o f Els to w di d hi s pa rt heroica lly ; the patri ia n o f h is h er o i ca ll I s a c Woburn Abbey did yy and may y n i o f ex e cu with more solem ty still , for under the axe the ti o n er he m aintained that the individual and the na tion A ll s . o hould be free honour to L rd William Russell , and o u r t o h is i - o f equal h no brave and h gh minded lady, one the purest and the saintliest and the perfect est helpmeets tha t
Go d m a n . I c l s ever gave to ould not help the a lu ion , gathered as we are t o - da y at the ina uguration o f a statue o f S o f John Bunyan , the generous and pontaneous gift Gr a c o f d T h e o o f his e the Duke Bedfo r . ass ciations the ’ 64 a n a n a s L o M o Clt a l i n B y rd ay r s p a .
’ house o f Russell with o u r nation s freedom are manifold a n d f full o interest . We have another added to the rest of - o n e o f ul them to day, the most gracef and grateful and c o f I ongenial them all ; and it stands there , and will stand, di o f hope , as long as Bedford shall remain , an in cation w h a o f t the house Russell is in continuance , even as it has I been in so many times that are past , and as hope it will be to the very end of time .
’ n At the Mayor s dinner in the eve ing Dr . Brock , in “ responding to the toast of The Bishop of , the Diocese , a n d o f v other Ministers Religion , said he belie ed if John Bunyan were at that gathering he would be quite a t home f in responding to the toast , as , according to Mr . O for , he was made Chaplain to the Lord Mayor of London , in token o f n o t the civic admiration and respect . This was gener u o f hi s a lly known . No doubt Bunyan did the d ties C d haplaincy very well in eed, those which were connected with the hospitalities o f the Mansion House among the
. fo r rest He (Dr . Brock) thanked them having connected his name with the toast . Not long ago he was in a c u ompany nearly as large and a gust as this , when o n e o f the bishops said that although an effort had been made some two centuries ago to get rid o f the C i hurch of England, it was ev dent that the people u s a would still have it . He then vent red to y that the c ountry would evidently have Nonconformity as well . T hat one moiety o f t h e community preferred to worshi p in t h e church was not to be denied ; b u t that the other moiety preferred to worship i n the meeting - house was safely to be affirmed . The reverend gentleman who u o f preceded him, and he himself , were eq ally the objects ’ the country s choice . They could all , however , meet in ’ ’ w a s n o t m — goodwill . One man s way another an s there f o f b u t was a dif erence of gifts and a variety operations , t hen all could labou r with o n e object in their view “ e xhorting their several congregations to honour all men , t o v Go d love the brotherhood , to ser e , and honour the
Queen . ' T /ze Pr o r ess o Cfir is lza n Cl a y f rity . 6 5
z itzrar es ta s s f s a un an d b it g fi E t fi g .
B Y T H E R E V . H N Y AL LO N D. D E R ,
We recognise to - day a great deal more than the geni us o u t o f John Bunyan . If one were looking for a theme for
moralising , the most suggestive is , that we who have
- gathered together to day thus combine to recognise it . To right - hearted men fe w things could be more grateful than s o f uch an exorcism of the spirit the past, or a better I i n a o f . ugury for the spirit the future It is not, th k , any violation o f the noble catholicity o f feeli ng which has I v brought us here nor will it , trust , be in idiously con s t r u e d o f , that such a recognition the vast change in religious and ecclesiastical feeling which thi s inauguration i marks should fall from Nonconformist l ps . I am sure o n e o f that there is no here that hails it with more hearty,
- thankful gladness , than my noble hearted friend , Dean o n e o f Stanley, whose presence here is only many expres sions of a catholic recognition of good in all churches and c o f s o lasses men . In him, however, it is not much a dic o f r t h e tate Ch istian duty as it is a necessary sympathy, o f essential feeling a noble nature , to which intolerance a n d m assumption are si ply impossible . And with this feeling thousands o f English Episcopalians are in s ym pathy the donation o f thi s statue o f John Bunyan by the
Duke of Bedford is only a representative expression of it . To be delivered from the spirit o f intolerance is really a e great r salvation than to be delivered from its endurance . I hi And this salvation has , t nk, been experienced by us all . I am not sure that the proud resentment o f the Noncon fo r m i s t has not been often as impracticable and repellant a s n f the scor ul oppression of his opponent . Religious per s e cu t io n i i u has th s ev l also to answer for, that it s o rs the w o f t s eet charities Christian hear s , hardens mere prefer m i o f e ees nto matters conscience, and makes endurance a
pride . It is a great and gracious progress o f Christian charity in o u r entire national life that we celebrate ; and in our progress towards it it is doubtful o n which side the 6 6 T im e ! b e A veng er .
h a s e e I t grace b en great st . neither expect nor desire tha religious par ties in England w ill ever all subscribe t h e n a same creeds o r be gathered into o e ecclesi stical body . ’ la w This could be only at the cost, either of God s great o f m o r o f t h e diversity in hu an nature , moral sincerity in o f I hin s expression it . But this inauguration, t k, expresse hi o f n l c n i s the much gher grace a ma y re og tion , a generou e charity, and a true religious brotherhood in the presenc o f s L e t such diver ities . us thank God that we have lived t o s ee the day when good men are s o free fr om the bli n d passion o f religious party as to recognise good in a ll nl a t o parties , and are fearless enough Ope y to do hom ge it : when they can maintain and debate their difi e r en ce s wi thout the immolation as a war - s a cr ifi ce o f the sweet c i s o f t h e har tie life , and without injuring in any way d i o f ff el cate sensitiveness brotherly a ection . t o - t h e Of all the retrospective imaginations of day, i s a o f most impossible , th t the anticipation such a cele bration should have occurred t o Bunyan hi mself . Bunyan was greatest when he was dreami ng but his wildest dr e h i t h e b i - ams could not have surmised t s day, when cen t en a r y o f hi s release from pri son would b e celebrated b y t h e inauguration o f a public statue to hi mself in h i s o w n town o f Bedford ; the gift o f a descendant o f the Earl o f df Be ord , of whom perhaps he had heard with distant awe , e t o hi elevat d the ghest rank of the English peerage , and , i o f can we doubt, representing the adm ring appreciation o u r gracious and noble - hearted Sovereign consecrated by a ul picturesque and eloquent e ogy, such as can fall from n o li o n e o f u i other ps , from the most accomplished dig ta ries o f the very Church in whose name he was persecuted hi No n co n fo r m i s t presided over by the mayor, mself not a and hailed by his fellow townsm en as their most illustrious
. c citizen And that by a singular coincidence , a eulogisti biography o f hi m should at the same time be published by o f e the Vicar of Elstow , all places in the world , the villag in the church o f whi ch he had s o morbidly and madly done
5" When Qu e en Victo ria s to o d s p o n s o r a t t h e b a ptis m o f t h e elde s t s o n o f t h e in e o f W a le s s h e e s en e t o h er a n h il a s ilve Pr c , pr t d gr dc d r s ta tu ette o f t h e la te Prin c e Co n s o rt in t h e cha ra cter o f Chris tia n ’ i n t h a ll o e il i . w a s e P gr m s Pro gr e s s Thu s H er M a je s ty —r y bef re t h e Du e o f B i n n u n a n E D . k e dfo rd i n do n g ho o u r t o Jo h B ! .
’ 6 8 Ba nya n s I m p ri so n m en t .
la x ed. hi s o n s To honour be it sp ke , Barlow, the Bi hop o f a a the diocese , is s id to h ve interceded for Bunyan o n d is a a although, the other han , it said th t cert in bis hops in Lo ndon were s o an gry when they hea rd of
a t o a f u i . the relax i n, th t they sent down an o ficer to inq re
i e l r m w a s mp l ed t o ret urn to pr iso n . The ga o ler g u
o o o fli c er r d S n after, the a rived, and demande to see B u n ya n ' a n d depa rted sa t is fied : t hus the ga oler esca ped ” hi s o n o u m a Well, said he to pris er, y y go out again u a s e n o t o et r j st you think prop r, for you k w when r u n ” e t I b t er than ca n te ll yo u . Bunyan tells us that he availed hims elf o f hi s lib er ty to follo w hi s wonte d course “ of prea chi ng and exhorti n g the peo ple t o be st ea dfa st t h e fa it h o f s t t o ta k e h eed a e in Jesu Chris , and th t th y ” A l a t o uche d n o t the Bo ok o f Co mmon Prayer . so th t he “ ” m ee a did go at Ch r is t a s to Lo ndon. He s ms to h ve bee n so me w ha t dis a ppointed at the lenie n c y with whi ch “ w a s ea d t o a u dl e he tr te . He expect ed h ve been ro n y d alt ” ’ “ ” t h a a s di o o o f a s wi l, and had speci lly tu ed Foxe s B k M rtyr e fo r tif h r - w a s e ca e in ord r to y is m a tyr spirit . He not ven ll d a t t he e es i of 1 66 1 o g h a d up Novemb r s s ons , alth u h he hope d tha t at lea st his n a m e would ha ve appea re d in the ” h e i s t o ca lenda r among the felons . No doubt w hed e T h r a i l 1 6 72 t s tify befor e the ju dg es . e e he rem ined unt “ ” m a o u r o o f B d a s in the co mon g ol for c unty e ford, it er I I is des c rib ed in the orde r for his relea s e und Cha rles . t he a o n t e g i h h a s so It was not, therefore , g ol h brid e, wh c long clai m ed the traditiona l h onour . From pris o n he went to the m o r e r eg ula r dis charge of his duties a s pa s t o r o f a t s c n r a df r to c o fi ce the B p i t o g eg tion in Be o d, whi h he had f b een elec te d during t h e ele venth year o h i s impris onment . u i e e a n d t o -da a S ch th ngs w re wh n Bunyan lived, y the n me of Joh n Bunyan I S a ho u s eho ld word thr oug ho ut t he world ;
Ho ma ge t o genius o r t o goodnes s is t he e xpres s i o n of all t is b e s t in m a T he r ea t er t he ex cellen of an t ha a n . g cy y w r t h e e t h e r ea t t h e r e e en ce a o k of Cr ator, g er v r th t it ’ JZ I m n s fia b l ess T ru e Gen i s 6 9 e pe en of u .
de a n ds D c f e e i s a o f m . efe t o rever nc defect in th t part o u r nature whi ch renders it s supreme wors hip t o th e l o f Creato r Himse f . The refusal homage to any genuine form o f great ness is simply the indi cati on o f o u r o w n little incapacity ; for power o f reverence is th e h ighest quality o f t r e noble na u s . Perhaps the great lesson o f the celebra tion o f t o - day is
the pe rsiste nce and imperishableness o f true genius . Thanks t o o f o o t o the divine art printing , a b k once given the i - world s well n gh an imperishable possession . Manu i — scripts often perished s ometimes they were not even copied ; through accident o r design it was comparatively a t o r H o w e sy dest oy them . much the world has lost by t h e intolerance o f religious passion we can never know . e h We should have known a great deal mor about C ristianity , and perhaps have been spared generations of m isconcepti on i ts t o o m t h e and blundering , had zealous cha pions spared n o f i ts n a o s t o i writi gs a t gonists . It is almost imp s ible k ll it s o w n o f a printed bo ok . It can perish only by lack n vitality . However obscure its origi , however vigilant and
i ts i t s t o d . implacable foes , it finds way unsuspecte places s it s e o s a There it bide time , while cont mp rary pa sions r ge , whi le even greater men than Justice Keeling are less ex cu s a b l s ee o f y blind , and in the John Bunyan their day only o a tinker fit for a ga l , and in its Defoe only a scribbler fit fo r . o a pillory The quiet b ok remains , and if the divine o f b e mark genius is upon it, it will again and again o r brought up for judgment ; and when , sooner later, fierce h a s a passion subsided , and prejudice is exorcised , so that ” s ju t judgment can be formed , it will be crowned in t hat Academy o f Literature which neither Le gislature nor o f o r Church can control . No power either tyranny of per ’ sco ntion can hinder a Pilgrim s Progress o r a Robin ” s o n Crusoe fro m beco m ing the delight o f nurs ery and e o f i to schoolroom , the int rpreter l fe all who are perplexed t it s wi h problems , and the practical guide and solace of all
who need counsel and sympathy . The change in literary appreciation which i s indicat ed t o u l a by the honour done B nyan is very remarkable . C e rly , e a n d lit rary criticism moves now in a freer atmosphere , A literary judgments are formed with a juste r ta ste . br oader and more genuine catholicity of lite ra ry a ppr e cia h a s e e o f e t tion b n attained . The creator a new typ in li e ’ 70 T /ze 0c E s tim a t n /e e of Ba g/ w a Wa r . rat ure does not wait long for just recognition ; a moment o f of puzzled wonder, a second moment critical pedantry, and the appreciation is general , generous , and jubilant . No
K o r n o w - a - eats Wordsworth could , days , be killed , or for h is half a generation arrested in progress to fame , by the i petulant th s will never do o f an arbitrary critic . o f a Like the far transcendant creations Sh kespeare , the Pilgrim ’ s Progress was a revolt ‘ of imperial genius against the modes and reg ulations of literary pedantry . It was an appeal to human natur e ; and yet it was long before u o f u r its great q alities , as a new type literat e , were fully dl recognised . It soon became popu lar among the mid e di n and lower classes . Eight e tions were published withi thirty years ; but for more th an a centu ry it was the o f n i n t Pariah literary ge us . It was taken for gra ed that its appeal was on ly to the fanatical vulgarity o f the con en t i le e v c . Every dition was printed for only plebeian Co a r s e a e r i w readers . p p , small type , rude engrav ngs , ere u its only embodiment . Literary j dgments disparaged it, A n d o f art disregarded it . yet the latent qualities it waited fo r its recogn ition a s t h e greatest o f reli giou s allegories f t o t h e o . . and mother English fic ion Dr Johns n , indeed, w h o u i rarely read thro gh a book , paid it the h gh compli B u t u a i f i n . s w ment o w shi g it longer Dr . Yo ng in it noth ng n ui s to disti g h it from the dreary prolixity, the leaden ’ o f D U r fe liveliness , a French romance of pages , by — ul — then very pop ar, now utterly forgotten and which it wou ld be an adequate test o f modern san i ty to read at all . Other high literary authoriti es classifi ed it wi th “ Jack the ” — Giant - Ki ller not s o bad a compari son after all ; fo r a lengthened religiou s allegory that can charm juvenile “ ” readers m ore than Jack the Giant - Killer must possess h r high qualities . Even Cowper , w ose natu al genius and reli giou s sympathies alike qualified h i m for appreciating i s m w h m d in r a nd v it, so e at ti i his p aise , did not enture to name s o rude a prophet o f t h e conventicle
I n a m e h e e n o t le s s o de s is e a n am e t , t p d S o u l m o v e a s n e e a t t h de s e v e a m e h d r y r d f , n en io u s d e a m e I i n w o s e w e ll- o l t a le I g r r h t d , S w e e t fi ctio n a n d s w e e t t r u t h a like preva il W o s e u m o r o u s vein s o n s en s e a n d s im le s t le h h , tr g , p y M a ea h t h e a e s t m a e t h e r a ve s s m ile y t c g y , k g t ; ‘’ Vs i t t a n d w ell e m lo e a n d li e t h 1 o r d y p y d , , k y , ” — r Q w o oi i u m . S p ea kin g in pa r a ble s H i s s lig ht e s t w o d . n G N on conform is t M en of en ius .
T h e inconsiderable generation o f Bunyan w a s the grea t s - o f a n tumbling block . Genius could not be the dower t o illiterate tinker ; nor could its creations be demeaned s uch a Puritan embodiment nor could the rude Amos o f ’ - a Baptist meeting house be conceived o f as God s prophet . T o Southey and Macaulay belong the hono ur o f placing
B unyan in hi s true niche in the Pantheon o f literature . E ven s o just and dispassionate a critic as Henry Hallam is h i s hesitating in praise , and suggests a common rank , and t f o n e s i r i tu elle hat an in erior , to the p and imaginative genius o f t h e s hl Bunyan , and reali tic and somewhat eart y literary a r t of Defoe . Gen i us is o f no sect ; it h a s intrinsic qualities whi ch i o f nstinctively transcend all sectarianism . In spite i s ca r s tself even , it and ranges above the jealous en c a m pm en t s and the fierce party strifes amid which it may a i t s ccidentally work . It touches human life , and asserts
c i s . atholic affinities with all that common in it Milton, ” i n i o f the divine magination the Paradise Lost , soars t r a n s ce n da n t ly above both his political republicanism and “ ” hi s di religious Puritanism . Robinson Crusoe gives no in ’ o f c ations Defoe s vehement Nonconformity . Who from “ ’ ” ’ ? the Pilgrim s Progress co u ld identify Bun yan s s ect M a hi y I , without violating t s broad catholicity , traverse t h e o f charge intellectual paucity and narrowness , some n r e times urg ed against Puritans and Nonco formists , by o f o u r i minding you that the author greatest Engl sh epic , o f o u r a n d the author greatest religious allegory, the a o f o u r u d uthor most popular fiction , w ere all P ritans an Nonconformists ? The claim to be the father o f English romance , which has sometimes been preferred for Defoe , r i eally pertains to B u nyan . Defoe may cla m the parent a e o f o f g a species , but Bunyan is the creator the A l g enus . though intensely religious in purpose , cha ’ ” r a ct er l i , and interest, the Pi gr m s Progress is the first
English novel . As an allegory it had ma ny predecessors — h a s and affinities with what in every age , and in various f l f u o u . orms , has been a pop ar form literat re The “ ” u f it Faerie Q een is only the supreme form o . But s o a s it is much more than allegory that , in absolute a s o f t o ense as can be affirmed any book , it may fairly claim b e f i t n a type o s o w . If this element allies it with 2 T fie C a n n 7 re tive Ge ius of Bu ya n .
di a it s hi n me eval allegory, dramatic story and its huma pas sion and interest give it much more in com m on with t h e o f s realistic character modern fiction . Nor is it the les ori ginal because it is s o largely drawn from the two great. — sources o f religious inspiration the Bible as o u r supreme o f o f revelation theology, and the religious experiences ’ human nature . Into the grand mould o f Bunyan s gen i us these two rich streams o f material flow ; the result i s a creation o f concrete forms in whi ch all that is di vinest h a n d t in divine conception and teac ing, all that is nobles in the religious stru ggles and passions and realisations o f u human life , are embodied in imperishable tr th, beauty , il ’ and grandeur . In the P grim s Progress there is more o f t h e the Bible than there is in Paradise Lost ; and , in hi o f hi o f m gher range experience w ch it treats , more hu an nature than there is in Shakespeare . It may be that in Bu nyan power o f dramatic representation was greater tha n o f o n e the power creative conception . And yet , cannot help di n i r feeling that the moul ng, combi ng, and colouring powe o f Bunyan are to the materials employed what the geniu s o f the sculptor is t o the pure marble and graceful model w hi m ith which nature supplies . Like all creators Bunyan di d not kn ow wh at h e did . He di d not purpose a manufacture o r a bui ld o f ing, the completed plan which has to be shaped o hi n bef re it is begun . He produced a living t g , de velo e d o f p from its germ, the germinant possibilities di d —a t which he not suspect , first a faint suggestion , de velo e d p and shaped , filled in and perfected , by instinctive
- - i and half conscious power, by quick witted imag nation , by intui tive touch ; whi ch seized o n analogies and developed characteristics into typical embodiments , and casual inci o f h a s dents into normal conditions action ; and w ich , a r completed whole , in its epical unity, underlying t uth , and s e o n e s o a s arti tic proportion and beauty, surpris d no much — i t s author if indeed he ever realised at all how great a hi s t ng he had done . We can well believe him when he ays , ” w r w a s n o t He rote a s if j o y did make him w ite . It literary a r t w a s o f , it the natural instinct genius beneath which the ’ Pilgrim s Progress grew ; whi ch s o unerringly relegated s o incidents to their proper place , and fearlessly accepted m a — o f fo r circu st ntial incongruities , the death Faithful , ' rit i 73 T /ze E lya li of P u a n sm .
o f d il r i instance , at Vanity Fair , in the middle the i eal p g i n o n n o f . c mage , and without crossi g the river death But ru it i e s n o t t di g are merely inevitable in an ex ended , versi fi e d — , and dramatic allegory they are the legitimate liber o f t o t h e ties genius , which boldly subordinates the letter spirit, the lower truth to the higher . In creative genius Shakespeare stands supreme among i n o f h is men , and yet the fearless freedom great s pirit he di d not h e s t it a t e to d evelop his grand creations o u t of the material o f obscure chr oniclers o r I - m u talian tale writers . Handel again seized any s i ca l w a s ideas that lay ready t o his hand . Bunyan s u s more spontaneou s than either . He can scarcely be ect e d o p f literary imitation o r suggestion . It is doubtful ” whether the Faerie Queen was ever known to hi m . ’ Assuredly the Pilgrim s Prog ress is as u n like it as co m d mon English life is unlike a Greek tragedy . Christian , an f Faith ul , and Greatheart are as remote from the frigid per so n i fi ca ti o n s aroun d whi ch Spenser grouped s o much cold ’ sublimity and distant goodness , as Shakespeare s Macbeth ’ ’ fr Om H o lin s h e d r is s Histo y o f Scotland . Bunyan s bold er s o n ifi ca t i o n s ul o f p are exaggerated types , but they are f l u fo r h man nature ; diversified and novel , they interpret o f us almost every experience and mood religious life , just ’ as the passionate expressions o f David s Psalms do . We th rob with sympathy and tremble with excitement ; we melt s to tears , and burn with ardours ; every touch penetrate o u r hum a n sou ls and int erprets o u r most sacred expe r i o m en ce . Probably ore tears o f tru e and wholesome emo tion have been shed over the “ Pilgrim ’ s Progress ” than ’ h l er s on i fi over any book ever writt en . W i e Spenser s p cations are mere lay figures , which command intellectual ’ dm a iration and moral approval , Bunyan s characters are to u ched wi th emotion ; in a marvellous way they blend a abstract qualities with hum n sympathies , moral strength with gentle considerateness , rich , keen satire with unspeak d able tenderness . Its aring imaginations are forgotten in n t —a the absorbi g sense of reality . Its personages exis u s o few rapid touches , and living men and women take int o u r e x e their confidence , and identify themselves with p r i a s en ces . o f Bunyan is the Elijah Puritanism , as tender i s a s a s he strong , as loving he is fearless . We are excited 74 B n a n a s a P r ea c/z r u y e .
by fam i ly interests ; we are e difi e d more than by a thousand s o u r —o u r ermons . He touches all the springs o f souls — o u r o u r o u r hi penitence, prayer, holiness , wors p and fills o u r We sentiment o f religion with its highest inspirations . a r e ready to fight with Apollyon , to climb Hills Difficulty, t o a o f gaze upon Delectable Mount ins , to rest in the Land Beulah, and to wait with calm expectation until o u r s u m m t h e ons shall come to pass over the river . We enter into feeling with which the glorious dreamer s a w those pilgrim s — e nter who were preferred before him the feelin g whi ch finds such perfect expression in the serene words o f the close o f the first dream and that finds relief from the h - o f ighly wrought description the Celestial City, by an i ni mitable touch o f simple nature : And after that they s hi h hut up the gates , w ch , w en I had seen , I wished myself ” a hi mong them . And all t s presented in vi vid dramatic f di orm; in a style that is vigorous , concise , and i omatic , as s — hi hi o f imple as it is rich w ch , like all t ngs pure nature ,
s m . atisfies all tastes , char s all ears , and touches all hearts s Another proof, if uch were wanting, that household w uf o f li ords s fice for every form literature, for all possibi t f ies o passion . ’ I have spoken only o f the Pilgrim s Progress . I t ’ overshadows all Bunyan s other writings , just as
Robinson Crusoe eclipses all those o f Defoe . But o f r it the Holy War would be supreme aft er its kind . ’ A s h i s a theological writer , Bunyan s vigorous thought, e s n pigrammatic entences , and his passionate ear estness g ive him no mean place among the masculine thinkers and theologians who make its Puritan literature the glory o f E u nglish Protestantism . As a preacher B nyan had great o f — g ifts oratory not in Bedfordshire only, but in London , c rowds filled to overflow ing the largest buildin g whenever “ ”
n . it was k own that he was going to preach I have seen, says a n u i early biographer, about twelve h ndred at a morn ng ’ o n a w o r k i n lecture , by seven o clock , g day, in the dark winter t ime . I also computed about three thousand that came to ’ ’ h ear him o n e Lord s - day at London at a town s - end meeting h s o o f ouse, that half were fain to go back again for want ‘ r a n d m s n oom, then hi elf was fai , at a back door, to be pulled h i a lmost over people to get upstairs to s pulpit . Dr . John O w hi m en heard preach , and when King Charles asked
’ 76 T i fl n/c i i n i P m e e s Gl ld ood a n d t e ilg ri . c F o r w in s o . e s ee haracter, and rightly if we look round this great gathering gentlemen holdin g high official s e e o positions in the town and county, and we als honour ed friends from other places who really represent thousands more who would have been with u s if they c o hi uld, and who would have passed t s resolution with all o f m their hearts . Very varied classes the com unity are w i u s - o f a r e th to day . Even the gaolers the county gaol — h a o f here they are ere by sort prescriptive right , for I doubt not they are in the true succession o f that o ld Bed o f 200 o f n ford gaoler years ago who had charge Bu yan , a n d w h o w a s o n e o f the best friends Bun yan ever had . w a s ha w a s In fact , he a much better man t n he a gaoler, a n d I hope that whi le the present warders are n o t les s a s worthy as men they are more trustworthy gaolers , and do n o t suffer their prisoners to sally forth o n preachi ng ex cu r s i o n s r o f through the count y . The erection a statue to s o hi s i John Bunyan , in the town closely associated with l fe , hi s hi s f i s labours , and su ferings , as has been said , felt at o s o i n o w is nce to be a thing right and fitt ng , that it done , t hat o n e wonders it was n o t done generations a g o . And et o f s y , looking far afield upon the movements the age , thi was perhaps the most fitting time to bring thi s tri bute o f h o s o n e nour . And if it w a to be done by any man rather o n e s o than by the nation, by no could the tribute be g racefully rendered as by the head o f that house o f ’ i t s Russell which derives title from Bunyan s town , and which h a s always stood in the van o f the movement for c hi m u n ifi cen t o n ivil and religious liberty . T s act the part o f hi s Grace is in perfect keeping with the honour able r f. i s o . t aditions his house But more than that , it an act o f dr r o f t h e real personal homage . The won ous sto y Dreamer was blended w ith the early associations o f t h e ’ D hi dh a s u r a s uke s c l ood with o s , and has stirred his heart
‘ h hi n o t it a s stirred the hearts o f thousands more . T s is o n e o f those condescendi n g acts o f patron age whi ch make o u r n h b u t ma ood wince , an honourable tribute honourably rendered to high creative genius , spiritual power, incor r u t i l f b e o . p integrity, and simplicity life We have seen to - day a new proof o f the power o f genius to go o n i n s ri h a s l piring the genius o f others . The Pilg m a ready
o o f S t o th a r dt . called f rth the illustrations , Chas Bennett , T /ze Wa r/v of H err B ee/m t . 77
d - an others . And now in the bas reliefs on the pedestal of u the statue we have an independent contrib tion , and I think a real addition , to the art treasures of the country . The dwellers in tife to w n and the pilgrims who come here from afar w i ll have in those three vivid scenes a sort o f r speaking Bible . Right in front is a pictu e of that grim and unceasing battle with evil which ought to be the ’ f s erious work of every man s li e . On one side is the way - o n to the wicket gate , and the other we seem to hear the s alutation o f the three shi ni ng ones by that cross which f in - o f opens up the way o peace to s burdened men . And the statue itself it is suffi cient to s a y that it is a creation ’ worthy of the sculptor s high reputation . There is about it that deep repose and that lofty spirit u al ideality which o f we are in danger losing in these busy, restless times , ' and which it is the province o f the artist and the poet to a d preserve to us . It is an admirable conception , and as u hi m ir a b ly placed . With leafy pleasant surro ndings w ch o u t give restfulness to the eye , the form yet stands with m i o f due pro nence and clearness outline . It occurs , how e - di ver , to the Lord Lieutenant that stan ng where he does , B u nyan seems t o be repeatin g his o ld offence in turning his back o n the parish church . But I am sure o u r Church friends will judge him kindly . It is not an easy thin g for o f o f men his metal to face about at the word command . He is only showing that he still belongs to those whom f Dean Stanley has . described as Noncon orming members ” o f. the Chur ch of England . The event of this day and the spirit i n which it is being celebrated seem to bring s omewhat nearer that oth er day for which some o f u s are longing when the first question asked o f a man shall not “ m o r be , Is he a Church an a Dissenter but rather, Is he a worthy man does he live as he believes has he any power by which he can serve the ‘ Common wealth By the honour done ' to Bunyan it is admitted that a m a n may not be one whit less an Englishman because he comes to conclusions somewhat different from his neighbo u rs o n the deepest questions o f his
life . For if ever there w a s a true Englishman this “
. is man was one His book a well of English , pure and ” u n de file d o f , racy the soil from which it sprang, vigorous t o with homely vigour, and steeped the very heart in the e o f t h e eo e m o m n hi g nius p pl a ng who it was bor . But s ' fie l mr /t o M F 78 T O c f e uture .
book w a s n ot mo re thoroughly English than t h e spirit f o h i s life . The man who when a warrant was o u t hi m ill h e against w not flee when he may, because , as s a s i n ays , he ought to be strong in deed as he had been word the man who when told that he might get o u t o f i trouble by merely say ng a few words , replies that if they were such words as might be said with a good conscienc e s a n o t o r he would y them , else ; the man who with with o u t reason be gan to suppose tha t h i s imprisonment might end o n a scaffold was yet only concerned that h e might not yield at last because it would be a shame to die w i th a pale face and tottering kn ees for such a cause as thi s ; thi s man h a s surely as much o f the real s t u fi o f ‘ an Englishm an about him as the men who won victory o n o f e o r o n s the field Wat rloo , quelled mutiny the plain o f o f India . Though (as the Dean Westminster has u s n o t s fo r told ) intolerance is dead by any mean , though the present a separatin g line runs through much o f o ur e f o n e cclesiastical and social li e , we are yet only nation , a s t not two . The men who still think Bunyan though a r e as proud o f the traditions o f their countr y and a s loyal to the lawful authority o f the realm as the men who stand o n the privileged ground o f t h e Established
Church . And I hope , nay, I am sure , we are nearing the t m e when ecclesiastical barriers between good men w o f ill fall , and when there shall be a true brotherhood s i n — a godly soul this land , brotherhood which shall s e ul u how itself by arnest work , sho der to sho lder, in f w t h e great caus e o God and man . Certainly this a s r f r - the desi e o the man whose memory we honou to day . In that cas e before us are the Records o f the Church with whi ch Bun yan was connected for fi ve - and - thir ty e years , and at the outset there are these memorabl words N o w the principle upon whi ch they thus en t er e d o i o n e int fellowsh p with another, and upon which they did aft er wards receive those th at were added t o w as their body and fellowship , Faith in Christ and ’ o f w i o r Holiness Life , thout respect to this that circum ” m s tance o r o pinion in outward and circu stantial things . hi a o n On t s truly catholic b sis , and not that of mere e a n i o f f e cclesi stical orga sation , may the Church the utur s ! e s ur . tand I hav plea e, Mr Mayor , in proposing the resolutio n . ’ 79 B zm ya n s Ch ief/ mod a n d Y o um .
’ rr un s l il rim a e fina gan a fi s fi g g .
B T H E V C . M . B I LL . Y E R . RRE
I . The man whose memory h a s just been honoured b y persons o f the highest d istinction for rank and learning i um t hi e tells us , w th that manly h ili y w ch is equally remot “ t o f i n from shame and pride , tha he came a low and t i considerable generation . Soon af er the Open ng of that seventeenth century which was s o fruitful o f great e vents r i n and g eat men , he might have been seen gambolling rags about the cottage door o f one of the poorest denizens f w n ot f in s t r u c o Elsto . His father was indif erent to his h im i of tion, for he sent to school to obta n the rudiments learn i ng at a time when education was much less accessibl e to the working classes than it is now ; and i t was perhaps ’ ’ neither the father s nor the son s fault that what the little fellow acquired at that time he afterwards forgot even ” a almost utterly, for he was driven by poverty to bear hand at the anvil inste ad of remaining at hi s horn - b ook until he had riveted his scanty attainments upon t h e memory . A s he emerged from his boyhood with vast and u n r e g u o f n o t d lated force character, it is surprising that he shoul d il have sought a sterner fiel of action than the v lage green . 1 628 hi t Born in , the very year in w ch the Parliamen o f passed the Bill Rights , by the time he was seventeen b u the civi l war was approaching its crisis . He makes t n t o a o e allusion the fact that he joined the army. It was t h e subject which , when all was over, he was willing to let o n o t l s u f people forget , and theref re does dwe l upon it at fi ci en t o n length even to let us know which side he fought . a t He says he was present a siege which , from the general t a s date , mus have been th t of Leicester ; but even this doe u s w w a s not help to ascertain his politics , for that to n besieged by Royalists and Parliamentarians in succession r in the course of two o three days . The sympathies of t h e e 0 0 i o n a o people went with the Parliam ntary tr ps , ch efly ’ n n a 80 Bu ya s M rriag e .
o f count of their better treatment them , for, as Clarendon c o n e onfesses , the side seemed to fight for Monarchy with t h e f weapons of con usion, and the other to destroy the king and government w ith a ll the principles and regularity ” f B o . VI I . Monarchy . ( If we add to this that Bedford shire was o n e o f the first counties to declare against the
king, we can scarcely doubt that Bunyan was in the o f i n l s ervice the Parliament . He was all probabi ity 1 n e present at Naseby, and took part the battle which det r o f mined the result of the civil war , for the second siege r t Leicester occurred a day o two after tha event . It was then that the incident happened wh ich led hi m to refer to
hi s . military experience When I was a soldier I , with o o u t thers , was drawn to go to such a place to besiege it ; but when I was just ready to go o n e o f the company de hi sired to go in my room , to w ch , when I had consented , he took my place , and coming to the siege , as he stood s entinel , he was shot into the head with a musket bullet w a n d died . That narro escape impressed him after w ards more than it did at the time , and he returned home after his discharge with a store of warlike imagery to be after wards used to good purpose , but with no improvement in i n his character, which he paints dark colours .
II .
The day, however, began to brighten . It is said that the first circumstance which has a determining influence o n a o f man is the character his mother, and the next the
o f . character his wife With respect to the first, he must a take wh t is appointed ; but with regard to the second , hi m there is conceded to a little choice . It was well for — Bunyan th at he obtained what no young man should — i despise some assistance in th s weighty matter . The ” few friends he had , says his first biographer, a personal h acquaintance, thought t at changing his condition to the ri m i hi m ur hi m mar ed state ght reform , and therefore ged ” co n to it as a seasonable and comfortable advantage ; but, t i n u e s o f the good man , his poverty and irregular course life made it very difficult for hi m to get a wife suitable to h i s inclination . Of course they did and yet that serious h i m h people should interest themselves in , and t at any ul s h e hi m good young woman sho d fancy could reform , is x t rn a R rm a ti n 81 H E e l efo o . s d i howe that there were , gleam ng through his rough f n o . exterior , a few sparks a better ature Upon such a w di s a d person as he wanted , not ithstanding his grave “ ” ”
it . vantages , my mercy was , he says , to light The u yo ng pair took u p house in very sorry plight . We came a s i together as poor poor m ght be , not having so much ” household stuff as a dish or sp o on betwixt us both . But e the godly father, who , as you may g uess , was not aliv t w when this match was made , had lef his daughter a do ry ’ ” o f — d two books the Plain Man s Pathway to Heaven , an ”
o f . the Practice Piety With these instruments , and with the self - forgetful devotedness which you can find i n i t s et its h ghest form only in a vir uous woman , she to work to tame the spirit which had higher destinies than s h e r S h e o f hi s d eamed of . did not begin with complaining m habits , nor treat him to hot words when he came home fro hi s village riots , but beguiled him into the occasional ’ reading of the volumes which s h e loved for her father s s h e t m s o sake , and which inves ed with the char of many ’ ’ reminiscences o f the old man s goodness that John s vene r a t i ve s nature was touched , and he stumbled over the word o f r hi s by the glimmer his scanty fire , until he recove ed ” reading, and found things that were somewhat pleasing .
In short , a mighty external reformation soon made its A r appearance . One thing was given up after another . s e mon from the parson against Sabbath - breaking smote him l i n with terror, and suspended his zea that direction for a dl ” time ; a woman who , though an ungo y wretch , pro h i m fessed herself shocked by his swearing, made break o ff o f d the habit profanity, which , till that moment , seeme
- necessary to his existence ; dancing and bell ringing, which he reckoned dangerou s from the associations into which ’ hi m t h e they led , after a year s deliberation , went with rest ; and , to crown all , he took to going to church “ a - w t h e twice day, and that , too , ith foremost .
t . The neighbours stared , and thought the experimen o f domestic life had succeeded to admiration , while the o n a fl e ct i o n a t e young wife , doubtless , looked with pride . Neither s h e n o r her husband then k new the number o f n e roads , some better and clea er than others , that wer o f u n o r s a w found within the City Destr ction , that a man might walk up and down for a long time in great reput e o e with ut ver stepping beyond its walls . ’ T /i W m B ’ r a e P o o r o en of eafo .
h im s The suspicion of this began to visit . His attempt v to keep the di ine law did not always succeed , even to his own
- l s atisfaction . To day he thought himse f as good as any man in England ; to - morrow he broke down a n d did not o f know what to make it . His great mental powers were aroused, and fell upon him , as they had done in his child fi r n d ff h im hood , with terri c fu y . Startli g reams a righted l e at night, and thri ling voices penetrat d his soul when
‘ u o f about his common occ pations . Deep as was the horror u great darkness into which these bro ght him , and terrible as were the thunderings and lightnings that flashed and roared incessantly , nothing could , for a long time , persuade hi m that the road to heaven did not lie by the way o f Sinai at all , but, improbable as it appeared to be , through the ” wicket gate . One day, however, as he was working at his h trade in the streets of Bedford , soldering and patc ing the h e cooking utensils of the poor folk , came to a door where s a w o r s u n o f he three four women sitting in the , talking the f n o . things God Findi g what they were about , and being i “ ” by th s time a brisk talker on theology, he went near to u them, to find scope for his arg mentative abilities . But he presently found himself beyond his depth . They were not b u t disputing at all , telling each other what had been pass i n g i n their minds ; with what words and promises they had been refreshed ; h o w they had felt the delights of the o f i love Jesus , and w th what small esteem they regarded their own righteousness . As you see the poor tinker lean o f ing his heavy shoulder upon the wall the house , hearkening o f to this sort discourse , you can fancy his countenance o f relaxing into an expression doubt and wonder , as if
- s oun ds from some far o fl planet had reached hi s ear . “ Methou ght they spake as if joy did make them speak ; i o f u they spake w th such pleasantness Scripture lang age , s o f a ll t h e and with uch appearance grace in y said, that — they w ere to me as if they had found a n e w world as if they were people t hat dwelt alone and were not to b e ’ r i h a d m e t eckoned among their ne ghbours . Bunyan w h i n it many brisk talkers like himself, who were all,
some degree , necessary to his education , and have been immortalised in his works ; but none ever equalled these three o r four godly women for the enlightenment o f h i s
’ - 84 B a aya rz s Sp irit Ba ttles .
o n e o f — e n e being them invit d him to become their mi ist r . h h t o . w o They had no reason repent their c oice Bunyan , “ ” o f afterwards depicted him under the name Evangelist , w o f speaks ith gratitude his ministry . He says his teach “ ing w a s a s seasonable to his soul a s the early and t h e ” u s i t o latter rain . It may be permitted , at the same t me , question whether the mode o f acquiri n g settlement in the h i m truth recommended by , and probably suggested by his o w n o f experience , had not much to do with the length ’ w a s Bunyan s subsequent conflicts . Great importance o f attached to sudden impressions , direct gleams light , o f touches isolated words and phrases , and truths which “ ” wou ld bolt into the mind without any apparent cause . What the untrained strength o f his genius needed was a o f a d calm and orderly exhibition evangelical truth , as it is i n i h dressed the Scriptures to the understand ng, and throug
that medium applied to the heart by the Holy Ghost .
V. But it was permitted for profounder reasons than could have been elicited by human wis dom that he should be s precipitated into the depths o f agony . Doleful voice and rushi ngs to and fro surrounded and assaulted h i m
to an extent u n paralleled in his previous experience . It is with deeper sign i ficance than strikes mo st readers o f o f hi m his allegory that he says the pilgrim , I heard s o here sigh bitterly, for the pathway was here dark that ofttimes when he lifted up his foot to s et forw ard et he kn ew n o t where o r upon what he should s it next . l in o f The Bible , which he searched perpetua ly, stead
hi s . r bringing him comfort, added to tortures Eve y i m N thr eatening seemed levelled at h . ot only did Esau ri b n Ou r and Judas se up efore him , shouti g fate shall be ” s e e yours , but says he , Methought I should as if Peter , ul n di d and Pa , and Joh , and all the , writers look with ” “ e scorn upon me and hold m e in deri sion . One sentenc o f Scriptur e did more a fli i ct and terrify me than an army
o f forty thousand men that might come against me . “ ” n o t These were things , he says finely, that cared ’ di d s o for Christian s sword , as Apollyon before , that he was forced to pu t up his sword and betake himself t o o th er o e A ll-P r a er s o h e an weap n call d y , cried in my i L t M eeting w it/ M a rtin a t er .
d e l o l. l hearing , O Lor , I bese ch Thee , de iver my s u We l l might he represent that va ley as miles in length, for in hi s n l a case it required years to travel, with o y moment ry “ pauses to prepare for new conflicts . Nothing now for two years together would abide with me but damn ation and a n o f s a n ul expectation damnation . I y nothi g now wo d abide with me but this , save some few moments for relief . S o fearful and prolonged was the battle that one cannot ul uffer wonder that his health sho d s . The brain violently e s xercised acted upon the other great vital organ . His “ - I n l breast bone seemed to him broken , and was sudde y and violently seized with much weakness in my outward ”
n o t . man, insomuch that I thought I could live Body d f “ s . and min closed in deadly tri e Live , cried he, I ” n o t — I d must die are not . I do n o t kno w that any o ther such hi story o f the s truggles o f s o great a soul ha s met the eye o f the o f w h o u n world save that him was fo d , after sore spirit n o o f his e battles , se seless up n the floor cell in the monast ry a t o f Erfurt . It was through similar seas terror and blasphemy that the great German Reformer ploughed h is w a y ; and few incidents are more remarkable than the m n d - o f eeti g in mi ocean , and at the height the tempest, o f those two mighty and chastened spirits ! Who o f the s o o f o f ns men was better fitted , though at a distance a c entury and a half, to shout a passing cheer to Bunyan t a t o I h n Martin Luther ? Yet that came pass . did ” u ff s e e dl greatly long , said the s erer , to some ancient go y ’ man s experience who had writ some hu n dreds o f years before I was bo r n ; for those who had writ in o u r days I thought (but I desire them now to pardon me) that they l hi o th er s o r had writ on y that w ch felt, else had , through o f the strength their wits and parts , studied to answer s uch objections as they perceived others were perplexed
with , without going down themselves into the deep . Well , a t i n Go d f er many such longings my mind , the in whose o u r di d o n e hand are all days and ways , cast into my hand ’ da o f hi s m o n y a book Martin Luther s . It was com ent t h e Galatians it was also so o ld that it was ready to fall N w a s piece from piece if I did but turn it over . ow I pleased much that such an o ld book had fallen into my h ds e e e an , the which, when I had but a littl way p rus d , I 86 - T h e Day Brea k .
s o found my condition , in his experience , largely and pro fo u n dly handled as if hi s book were written o u t o f m y h I — m . a n heart This made me marvel , for thus thoug t this n o t o f a o f r n o w could know anything the st te Ch istians , but must needs wr ite and speak the expe rience o f form er ” “
. n l hi s days Of particulars here I intend nothing, o y t methi nks I must let fall before all men : I do prefer thi s o f t h e book Martin Luther upon the Galatians , excepting a s Holy Bible , before all the books that ever I have seen , ” fo r most fit a wounded cons cience .
VI . ’ Bunyan s life ' a t this time was spent in travelling about r 1 n a i n the count y his work , h v g no settled dwelling place , ’ but throwing dow n his weary limbs in any good man s a s u n s e t b rn when the had , and getting up to his book as soon a s the mornin g streamed its level rays through the cracks o f
u . s e e the wall , or above and below the r de door You can hi m i a n d; going forth to some qu et spot in the fresh air, s o n i n itting down with the Bible his knees , and Luther the o ld tome lying by his side till his turn come to help h i s Wh hri i n brother in distress . en C stian had travelled ' u s this disconsolate condition some considerable time , r n
the fine vein of poetry, in which he seems to allude to it, “ o f e he thought he heard the voice a man , as going befor o f t h e him , saying, Though I walk through the valley h ” s adow of death I will fear none ill , for Thou art with me . — fi r s t e Then was he glad , and that for these reasons , becaus he gathered from thence that some who feared God w a s i n
this valley as well as himself ; secondly, for that he per
c e ive d Go d was with them though in that dark and di smal. s n o t w m e n tate , and why , thought he , ith , though by reaso o f the impediment that attends this place I cannot perceive hi r h it ; and t dly, for that he oped, could he overtake them to have company b y- and- b y and b y- and - b y the da ri t h e y broke ; and then said Ch stian , He hath turned s hadow into the morning . A f o u r u n o t ter this friend seems gradually, altho gh “ w o ff ithout occasional gratings , to have been floated o f o f d the rocks the law Moses , and fairly launche hr I t upon the ocean o f the grace that is in Jesus C ist . w as indispensable to h i s due preparation for the work. /i S on o Va ia n t 8 T e y f l . 7
u a il which lay before him (altho gh; h pp y, it is not necessary for every man) to be led through this long s u c cession o f sorrows . By those means he acquired that o f a variety of experience , that vividness conception , th t o f profound sympathy with the Bible , and that mastery direct and 1 di o m a t i c phraseology wh ich gave such force to l o f his preaching, and render vita every line the immortal l f o f al egory . Upon some minds the e fect strong religious conflict is to produce an egot istic and malign fanaticism which cares f0 1 men only as tools to promote t h e purposes — o f ambition such men h ave headed sects fro m M a h o m e — danism do w n to Mormonism but in di vinely in structed o f i t 1 0 du ce t h e Spirits , like that Bunyan , has served to p u i most to ching lowl ness , and a certain indescribable deli o f w w cacy tenderness to ards the burdened and the sorro ful . To whatever extent the chief enemy o f the human soul persecuted him—and who can question that he availed him s l h t o f e f wit hear less cruelty the imaginative , temperament, t h e f ? and the distractednerves , and unin ormed understanding - h e singularly defeated his own ob j e ct ; for not only did m u h he lose his victi , but q alified him , as he who fights wit o f a skilful enemy acquires the wisdom his foe , for carry ing on the war against hi s kingdom with rare po w er and o f hi perseverance . On taking leave t s part of his life we m u s i n may fancy h i . g the words which he puts into the “ ” h a hi e mout of Vali nt , and w ch , it has b en , perhaps
justly , remarked , would make a lyrical gem even in the ' pa g e s o f Shakespeare
Wh o w o uld u e va lo u s e e tr r , L e t hi m c o m e h ither 0 11 9 h e e w ill o n s a n b e r c t t ,
Co m e w in o m e w ea e . d , c th r ’ There s n o dis co u ra ge m e n t S h a ll m a ke h i m o n ce relen t ’ H i s firs t a vo w d in ten t o b a l m T e pi gri .
Who s o b e s e t hi m ro u n d W i is m a l s o ie s th d t r , Do b u t th e m s elve s co n fo u n d i n th t h m o H s s tre g e re i s . N o lio n ca n h i m i h t fr g , ’ H e ll w i th a ia n fi g t ght , B u t h e w ill h a ve a righ t l T o b e a pi grim . 8 I n il P 8 tolera n ce of t e a rlia m en t .
Ho o lin n o r o ul fi en bg b f d, Ca n da u n t hi s s pirit ; H e kn o w s h e a t t h e en d S ha ll life in herit . en a n ie s fl a w a Th , f c , y y ’ H e ll n o t fea r w ha t m en s a y ’ He ll la bo u r n ight a n d da y T o b e a pilgrim .
VII .
T h e on ly allu sion we have hi therto made to the public e vents which were occurring contemporaneously w ith these Spiritual conflicts was occasioned by our hero ’s short con t i n n ec o w a s 1 645 . with the army . That in Four years f w a ter ards Charles was beheaded , and from that moment ri became ter ble . The nation , which had been sickened by h i s u l dissim ation , and excited to madness by his tyranny, n o w thr obbed with pity and remorse at the sight o f his s ff ca old . He met death with unquestionable dignity ; and o f the execution a king, under any circumstances , smites f n o f s en the heart o a generous people . The stre gth that ’ t im en t ul di complicated Cromwell s diffic ties , and ctated the adoption o f severer measures than he would otherwise have n f n f r hi s chosen . It was an u ortu ate necessity ; o while
o f u l w a s . ideas civil liberty were great , his r e despotic H is c principles , in fa t , were embarrassed by his policy, and the m ilitary measur es o f the Commonwealth held freedom o r n o t l o f in check f ha lf an age . It was unti the close the ri century had ar ved that it began visibly to advance , and we o w e it very much to the fact that civil war has since un k o f been nown in England , that the theoretical views s o Cromwell have made , and do still make , great progress a n mo gst us . The time has surely c cm e w h en i t is possible to speak impartially o f the events o f those days ; and althou gh o n w r i t o o I know hich side you sympath es lie , I have great confidence in your good sense n o t t o venture o n o f e n the expression my Opinion , that in cond mni g the w b efel m u tyranny hich Nonconfor ists nder the Monarchy, we have been in danger o f forgetting the intolerance which prevailed during the peri od o f the Commonwealth . There o f i s s a n d are some systems which bigotry a neces ary part , there are others to whi ch it adh eres on ly for a season b u t ’ 89 Crom w ell s I nj un ction of 1 6 56 .
u d u d n s it wo l have been mirac lous if, in a perio of inte e o f h a d excitement, and before the province the civil power s d been defined , men holding any sy tem ha acted with o undeviating charity . It is imp ssible to forget that the Parliament which had Opposed the tyranny of Ch arles e u a n d njoined the Solemn Leag e Covenant, an engage v ment which, had it been proposed by the State for e en o b ec voluntary adoption , would have been open to great j o f tion , but when enforced on all classes as the pledge o n e loyalty, presented of the most intolerant instruments o n o f ever wielded . It was defended the ground the o f necessity securing political unity, but why not for that p u rpose apply a political test ? The Government having established its supremacy was entitled to require s u b ul o u o w n ffi i n mission , partic arly the part of its o cers t o Church and State , but to demand for that end adhesion a religious creed was to insult truth and to violate the u n o f rights of conscience . By the relenting application
that oath, the Government committed itself to a contest o f o f with some the noblest Spirits , for several thousands
the clergy, with a decision which it is impossible not to f admire , and which ought not to be forgotten , suf ered
ejection from their livings rather than submit to it . When e Cromw ll came to the Protectorate , he sought to moderate h i m s o the fiery elements around , but intimately blended h a d s o di religion and politics become , and in spensable was it to the security of a position which had been gained by o f the sword to use forcible means repression , that he
resorted to laws , in comparison with which even the Cove nl nant was liberal , and which certai y were in diametrical u l Opposition to his spec ative opinions . He issued an order i e fi ect o n 1 1 656 wh ch took January , , requiring that no e jected Episcopal minister should live as chaplain in any o r family ; preach the Gospel in any place , public private ;
administer the sacraments ; solemnise marriage , or use the Book o f Common Prayer ; and that no schoolmaster w h o had been sequestrated should be retained i n any family as
teacher, or be allowed to keep any school , public or private . Archbishop Usher waited o n him to entreat the withdrawal o f this injunction , that the Episcopalians might have the s ame liberty as other Protestants , but though he at first s e d fu eem d disposed to comply, he afterwar s finally re sed . 90 T ne Ro a is t Rea ction y l .
If thi s were a lect u r e o n Cromwell it would have been proper to have shown the strong temptations under which he lay t o make such an enactment ; with what extreme leniency w a s f i t it en orced , and how correctly, as well as honestly , t “ was confessed by Bishop Kenne , that the prejudice he had to the Episcopal party was more from their being Royalists than from their being o f the good Old Church ; b u t im i t o o f my purpose is l ted the point indicating , as m m o n e o f co on fairness seemed to demand , the causes in n o f which , dur g the next reign, brought dow a storm reactionary persecution . That storm was , in fact, stored in the political fir m a m en t before the second Ch arles became s f vi ible from the clif s o f Dover . The drops began to fall before he reached the steps o f the thr one and immediately a ft erwards it came down in such torrents as had seldom o u drenched r soil before . The Commons decreed that the Solemn League and Covenant should be burned by the o f o n hangman , and that every member the House , pain of s u instant expulsion , ho ld take the Holy Sacrament after u the fashion o f the Episcopal Ch rch . Episcopal ordina tion and the reception by assent and consent o f everything con tained in the Book o f Com mon Prayer were made i m e r a t ive o n o f b en e fice s o f p all holders , and then the glory — — the min i stry the conservative power o fthe nation walked forth to penury and exile , unattended by circumstances which had softened the parallel scene under the Common hi s t h e wealth . The King , notwithstanding vows to t u hi s Presby erians , who tho ght they had s ecured him, and ' r espect for Popery, which he loved with as much sincerity a s i i h his nature would adm t of , passed Acts wh ch made bot these par ties droop their plumage . It was made a crime hi to attend any Dissenting place o f wors p . A justice
o fi e n ce . might commit , for such an , without a jury For o f o f the third breach the law, sentence transportation for m i r e seven years ght be passed, and should the criminal f s turn be fore that time he might suf er death . The minister who had been ejected , as well as others who refused the i i m i o f a test, were proh bited from coming with n five les
' r n o r o f corpo ate tow , any place where they had formerly resided . These , and similar laws , were enforced with the u fo r ttermost rigour , the bishops having been brought up f r di o ld . o f rom thei oceses to their places in the House Lords ,
9 2 T a ken Pris on er a t S a m s ell. did visit yo ur souls On this occasion about forty had m e t o u t u , and the preacher had given the text Dost tho believe o n the Son o f God This di d not foretell a very treasonable sermon , but a demand for entrance startled the c o f ongregation . The door was opened . A justice the peace and a posse o f constables made their appearance . B unyan w a s advised to s li p o u t at a back door and escape through a neighbouri ng wood ; but he chose to stand his g round . The magistrate desired him t o come down from h i hi s s . m place John infor ed him that , since he was about M ’ aster s business , he would , for the present , remain where
n . he was . A constable w a s ordered to fetch him dow He s z hi m un w i ei ed by the coat for that purpose , but B yan , th in hi s hi s h i m w the Bible open hand , fixed eyes upon ; hen h e turned pale , let go his hold , and stood back . Forgetting o f hi s o w n i hi s the paralysing force look , wh ch all contem — po r a r i es s a y was very striking for he was about the middle s tature ; with ruddy locks the beard coverin g the upper n o f lip and decorati g the lower ; a forehead ample room , a n d eyes lighted u p by imagination and the memories o f ’ S fli ul piritual con ct , which looked down into other men s so s — ” “ S ee h o w i l forgetting this , , said he , th s man tremb es a t o f Go d ! w a s m m the Word He , however, su oned in i ’ the K ng s name to surrender, and knowing it was useless i to resist , he came down , and w th a few parting words to
w s o f . the people , ent to the hou e the justice Sureties O ffered themselves for his appearance at the quarter s es s h ions , but they were not accepted , because he declared t at h e should reckon it his duty to preach the Gospel as soon a s s e t w a s h he was free . He t erefore marched to prison , a n d hi m the bolts turned upon . The indictment eventually a s o f preferred was follows That John Bunyan , t h e n o f tow Bedford , labourer , hath devilishly and pern i ciously abstained from coming to church to hear v e o f Divine ser ic , and is a common upholder several unlaw fu l n meeti gs and conventicles , to the great disturbance and di o f o f i n straction the good subjects th s ki gdom, contrary ” t r o the laws o fo u Sovereign Lord the King . To this he was u r requested to plead g ilty o not guilty . He answered thus
We have had many meetings together to pray to God , a n d o n e to exhort another, and we have had the sweet com forting presence o fth e Lord among u s for o u r enco u ragement 9 /i L n a e . 3 Dia log ue w it Dr . i d l — blessed b e His name therefor . I confess myself guilty w o f no other ise . No witnesses were examined , but a plea
guilty was recorded . His sentence was in these words fo r You must be had back again to prison , and be there ’ h l i o u t ree months fo low ng ; at the three months end , if y m i v do not sub t , and go to church to hear Divine ser ice , and i leave your preach ng , you must be banished the realm ; and if after such a day a s shall be appointed you to b e a un hi gone you sh ll be fo d in t s realm, you shall stretch by ” w r the neck for it . We are at a loss to kno whethe astonishment or indignation has the predominance in o u r breasts , when we contemplate such an act . Grateful and glad we are that o u r civil institutions do n o w restrain i n tolerance from such a consum mation w e It might not , ho ever, be without service to all whos o f r views an authoritative ministry are obscure , whethe n f n o u t s u n Co ormists or Nonco formists , to come and them ’ o f . n selves in the noontide Bunyan s sense . His impriso On ment turned very much upon that point . the morning ’ just mentioned as he was waiting i n the justices room for ” “ h i s th e mittimus , in comes , says he , an old enemy of
truth , Dr . Lindale , who fell to taunting me in very reviling
. a n terms After a shower of these missiles , Bunyan s w er e d that he had not come there to talk to h i m but t o
the Justice , yet if he was minded he could answer any rea
sonable question . Thus encouraged , he put what he deemed “ n a i l i t the u nswerable nterrogatory, how he cou d prove ” hi m ? cr e den lawful for to preach John , resorting to his t i a ls o f h , instantly produced the First Epistle Peter, fourt “ l : chapter, and tenth verse , and read as fol ows As every t o n e man hath received the gif , even so minister the same , a s o f o f to another , good stewards the manifold grace ” ” “ A hi s hi t God . y, said catec ser, to whom is tha “ ” s poken ? To whom ? responded the better t h e o lo ‘ ’ gian , why, to every man that hath received the gift . ” Indeed , said the doctor (who does seem to have dipped “ o o f int the New Testament) , I do remember to have read ’ ’ o n e Al m i exander, a Ooppers ith a ming tis like at me , s - e say Bunyan , for I was a tinker who did much oppos ” a n d o n e disturb the apostles . Our friend had more than o f e battle to fight for the validity his orders , for the Justic thought fit to attack hi m when h e came befo re him at t h e 94 T fie C erk o tne P ea ce l f .
s . ha i essions Let me a little open t t Scr pture to you, said t h e worthy magistrate, after the prisoner had adduced it . ‘ A s if i s every man hath received the g t that , as every o n e a t r a de s o hi m hath received , let follow it . If any man h i ti n keri n ath received a g ft of g , as thou hast done , let him f ti n ker i n s o h t ollow his g , and ot er men their rades , and the divine his calling . Bunyan could have no objection t o Justice Keeling preaching but he was disposed to ’ i r . s q uestion his hermeneutics Nay, , said I but it is most clear that the apostle speaks here o f prea ch ing the Word ; if you do but compare both the — verses together , the next verse explains this gift what ‘ i s — S i it ay ng , If any man Speak, let him Speak as the ’ o o f s o racles God , that it is plain that the Holy Spirit d s o oth not much in this place exhort to civil callings , as t o the exercising of those gifts that we have received from
G o d . o n I would have gone , but he would not give me leave . It was a discreet decision . After he had been several m onths in gaol they sent the Clerk o f the Peace to argue o f with him , and he took up another point attack upon the i ’ p ersecuted text . Cobb was th s worthy s name , and he put t h e t : case with great shrewdness , af er this fashion But ? h o w shall we know that you have received the gift will you be willing that two indifferent persons shall determine t h e case , and will you stand by their judgment “ ? ” B u n ya n : Are they infallible “ ” Co b b No . m Then , said I , it is possible my judg ent may b e as good as theirs but I will pass by [both parties! , and in this case be judged by the Scripture — I ur . am s e that is infallible , and cannot err But ” a r e w i you lling , said he , to stand to the judgment ‘ “ o f Y e s s i r the Church , , said I , to the approbation ’ o f the Church o f God ; the Church s judgment is best ex ”
i n r . . d1 d pressed Scriptu e Mr Cobb , perhaps , not know that Bunyan had just touched the foundation - stone o f Pr o t e s t a n t i s m s a w , but he he was immovable , and left the prison , e h O e t o xpressing the p , inwhich the gaoler seems have joined , “ that hi s obstinacy might not lead to his being sent beyond o r o r r e the seas , into Spain Constantinople, some other f ” mote part o the world . i s o f o u It , course , possible en ugh that pon the
’
96 . B n a n s S u er i n s i n Pris on u y fi y .
the horrid con di tion o f this place which first rivette d — the atte ntion o f the immortal Howard another bright name o n the roll o f Nonconformity and in the annals o f hi s o n Bedford . In work lazarettos and prisons , pub li s h e d 1 789 o n e o f u s in , he fixes upon it those r gged note which o w e their force t o somethin g stern er than fine co m : position The men and women felons associate together , their night - rooms are two dungeons ; only o n e court for ” in fi r m a r N t debtors and felons ; no y ; no bath . o less ’ o w n characteristic , and even more laconic , is Bunyan s “ h u l o f note , As I walked t ro gh the wi derness this world I lighted o n a certain place where was a DE N ! With no room for air o r exercise ; with little space fo r even c hanging h i s position with hardly a chink fo r seeing the o f o n e face nature , and with , at time , as many as sixty n a w ul fellow Dissenters , crammed i to a sp ce hich co d
not , with common convenience , hold more than twenty — - hi o f hi s o f n to a man in the thirty t rd year age , stro g
physical constitution , accustomed to great activity, and permitted to pour o u t his soul in moving appeals and
invitations all round the country , such an incarceration , i o n i n fli c v ewed even the lowest grounds , was no trifling i . s tion He had , it true , what the oppressor can never — n l take away a clear conscience and a ma y spirit . He hi s o f carried with him Bible , the prime nourisher both “ ” hi s o f t hi intellect and his immor al hopes , into w ch, s o n l a s he says , I never had great i et now
F o r tho u gh m en keep m o u tw a r d m a n Wi in ei lo ok s a n a s th th r b r , et b t h e a i o f C r i s I ca n Y , y , f th h t ” a n t h a Mo u n t hi gher th e s t rs .
e o Ther were times , however, when the hero subsided int ll hi m the man , and you wi not complain if I let describe the fact in h i s o w n touching words Notwithstanding i n t , hese helps I found myself a man . encompassed with e n w n fi r m iti s . The parti g ith my wife and poor childre hath often been to me in this place as the pulling the flesh from the bones and then not only because I am somewhat t o o o f u fond those great mercies , but also beca se I should a e h ve oft n brought to my , mind the many hardships , t o miseries , and wants , that my poor family were like o b li n d chi ld w h o meet with , especially my p or , lay nearer 9 E liz a b eth Bunya n . 7
my heart than all I had beside . The thoughts of the hardships I thought my b lin d o n e might go under would break my heart to pieces . Poor child , thought I , what sorrow art thou like to have for t h y portion in this world f Thou must be beaten , must beg , suf er hunger, cold , nakedness , and a thousand calamities , though I cannot
w . now endure the wind should blo upon thee But yet , o u recalling myself, thought I , I must venture y all with ” t u o o . God , though it goeth the quick to leave y Bunyan all u des in t hi s passage not to the wife who had been a blessing to h i m when he was little more than nineteen o f years of age , but to another , worthy to be a successor l the first , whom he had lately married . We cou d have pardoned a little more talk about both o f these excellent women , but with all his communicativeness , he preserves a o n f modest silence af airs which were purely domestic , and ’ u s o co ld not benefit his reader . Elizabeth s mind was f s o af ected when her husband , soon after their marriage , s h e was thrown into prison , that was ill , nigh unto death , and immediately o n her recovery s et to work with great ’ energy to seek his enlargement . At the King s coronation there was to be a release of prisoners if they sued o u t their pardon within a twelvemonth . She first travelled to London , a n d n o u t B a r k w o o d , fi ding Lord , presented a petition to f him . His Lordship gave her a civil answer , to the ef ect o f that the matter rested with the judges o f assize . One o f co m those judges was a man proverbial integrity , who m a n ded o f o f the respect both Cromwell and Charles , and whose personal piety qualified him to understand better than most men in his position at that day the grievances under which the Nonconformists were suffering— I mean w Sir Matthe Hale . Baxter, in a very interesting passage , tells us that when he resided near Hale , he was often per m i t t e d to hold his meetings , though contrary to the o f la w o f letter the , with the perfect knowledge the “ u d e fi r n m j g His natu al reserve , as well as the u oved
H e w a s a m a n o f n o u i u e a n e b u t s a e w i ea ea s o n . q ck tt r c , p k th gr t r H e w a s m o s t pre cis ely j u s t ; in s o m u ch th a t I believe h e w o u ld ha ve ll h h a d i n t h w o l n o a n u n u w h o a lo s a e e a e a d s a ct . e t r d r th r th j t I , h rd a n d ea h i s s e io u s e e s s io n s o f t h e o n e n m en s o f e e n i a n d r d r xpr c c r t t r ty , s a w h i s lo e t o a ll o o m en a n d t h e la m ele s s n e s s o f h i s li e o u v g d , b f , th ght o f h i o f w t h o l o w i n a n d b e tter s piety tha n m y o n . Wh en e p e p e cr de d o u t o f m o u s e t o ea h e o en l s o w e m e s o ea r e s ct e o e y h h r, p y h d gr t pg b f r ’ 98 T h e Wi e s A ea f pp l .
ri b efit t e d exte or which his office , doubtless kept secret from Elizabeth Bunyan the depth o f sympathy for
her which he really cherished . Her first petition he “ ” received mildly, telling her he would do what he could .
A second s h e presented to him while he s a t upon the bench . s a He was going to y something , when Judge Chester
u - stepped up , and said B nyan was a hot spirited fellow , and had been convi cted in the court o n which the e x per i
ment fell through .
But Elizabeth was nothing daunted . There was a “ ” w h public room in the town, called the S an C amber,
having two large windows opening upon the river, and
commanding a view of the bridge prison . There , o n o n e occasion, the judges , many justices , and gentry o f the country were assembled . With great trem s h e n , bling ventured in among “ them and presenti g her self before Hale , said she had made bold to come again to
h i s w . Lordship , to know what could be done ith her husband T w i s den c Chester, , and the justi es , each in his turn , and a ll o f sometimes them together, interrupted and badgere d her in such a style as makes the self- possession of her a answers quite remarkable . Their gre t argument was that
he had pleaded guilty, and was lawfully convicted . When o u t this was denied , Judge Chester bawled , “ My lord , he is a pestilent fellow ; there is not such a ” u fellow in the co ntry again . “ T w i s den ! then struck in and demanded , What will your ? s o d husband leave preaching If he will do , then sen for ” him . ’ My lord, said Elizabeth, with her husband s soul , he ” da r es n o t leave preaching as long as he can speak . ” “ T w i s den u l See here , said , what sho d we talk any ? more about such a fellow , must he do what he lists
he is a breaker of the peace . ’ Elizabeth s answer , that her husband was willing to work o f at his trade to support his family four small children , s o o f if they would only let him do , moved the heart
em a t t h e do o a n d n e e s a e a w o d a a in s i a s w a s n o s m a ll th r, v r p k r g t t , e n co u ra ge m en t t o t h e co m m o n p eo ple t o g o o n ; tho u gh t h e o ther s o rt m u ttere d fm u rm u red! th a t a ju dge s ho u ld s e em s o fa r t o co u n ten a n ce ” ’ a w i e o o t o b e a a in s t h e la w —0 rm e s Li e o Ri ch a r d th t h ch th y t k g t . f f
B a n t er . 274 5 . , pp ,
1 M i ton a n d B n a n a Co n tra s t 00 l u y .
port , and with his courage and faith to comfort ; exercising i n his ministry only occasional messages to the Church , and in expounding the Scriptures to his fellow- prisoners ; r hi s o f s k en iching fancy with the few glimpses river and y, wh ich his grated window permitted ; or dwelling with the fond eye o f geniu s o n the spider which wove her tissue u l upon the bars , and the swallow that darted in ex ting — f r eedom across the surface o f the stream a tone o f tran quillity stole across his nature favourable to that cal m activity o f the imagination ; to the delineation o n the soul of l o f u that ful and defined image religious tr th , and to the o f going forth that tender and large charity to men , which were indispensable to the work to whi ch he now u n co n i l s c o u s y advanced . Th ere is an interesting difference discernible in the manner in which the Epic Poem and the Christian o f Allegory that age were approached . Milton moved towards his enterprise with deliberate intention . He ” ” - ff o . smelled the battle , like the war horse , afar h e Referring to the period when was yet a youth in Italy, l “ he says , lofti y, I began to assent to an inward r prompting which now grew daily upon me , that by labou and intense study (whi ch I take to be my portion in this o f life) , joined with the strong propensity nature , I might perhaps leave something so written to after times as they ” n t di e should o willingly let it . Through thirty years he a n d o ld a e steadily maintained that purpose , then in blind g formed the vast stores o f h is intellect into creations whi ch “ ” n the world now could not , if it would , let die . Bu yan , o n t h e the other hand , like the Hebrew bards , when under o f influence the Supreme Spirit, seized the harp without definite purpose and when the music had quelled his soul into deep stillness his lips Opened and poured forth their h i s t h e melody, as much to own wonder as to that of world I did n o t u n ders ta n d
a a t a ll s h o u l m a e a lit t le o o , Th t I ' d k b k I n s u h a m o de n a h a d u n e o o c y . I d rt k T o m a e a n o h e w i w e n a lm o s o n e k t r h ch h t d , ” B e o r e I w s a w a r h i a e I s e u n . f , t b g
It is remarkable , too , that while he was not slow to exhibit — many o f his compositions to his companions entertaining dl o f o r them with a rid e in verse , a few lines consolation, a R n l Ol u g a n Rea ding his A lleg org i n Ga ol. — t r eatise o n some Scriptural topic h e kept secret the lay o f the pilgrim , as if there were something sing ular and sacred i n it : as if it came from a higher region than his other thoughts , and was destined , peradventure , to a wider a di u tory . It was not until it was quite finished , that he ventured to read it aloud N o r w a s i t t o a n y m o r t a l kn o w n ” ill h a d o n e i t T I d . When we think o f the little knot o f Noncon formists in that dreary den , gathered about their brother to hear the tale which s o many generations in s o many c limes and languages have Since that day pondered when we fancy them Sitting in all directions and in all postures about a place which was never meant to a cco m m o — d ate such a company when we s e e the tears and smiles chasing each other across faces reflecting sou ls which knew — how to s u ffe r for Christ while the s e er h i m s e lfstands near h i s the window , holding up rude manuscript to the light , and o u t h a s g iving it as it never been given since , we are ready “ s a o n to y, as Christian did another occasion , which , when I had seen , I wished myself among them o f That the scene this meeting , supposing it to have ’ o ur l cc red in Bunyan s apartment , was actual y in the gaol , a n d o f not as some have conjectured in the house the gaoler , I ha ve interesting testimony in a letter from my late highly e E s o f steemed friend, William Brodie Gurney, q , Denmark ” “ H n o i n ill . There is doubt , he remarks , that consequence
‘ o fhis estimable character th e k e e pe r showed him indulgences s o when he dared to do , and that there were times at which hi s he was permitted to leave the prison and visit family , w but he was , in company ith others , generally imprisoned ” “ in a room (too comfortable a word) in the gaol ; and hi s when my father was in Bedford , as a youth , grandfather o f t showed him the window that room , which was si uated ” ' o ve r t h e gateway .
But how came this gentleman , the great g rand f o f ather my correspondent , to be a credible witness to that point ? He was the personal friend and s o n i n - law o f o n e o f the No n co n fo r m i s t s incarcerated in that i n place at the same time with Bunyan . We are thus t r o du ced t o o n e o f the very in dividuals o f the little captive M a r s o m h is t g roup . Mr . frequently stated to family tha 1 T h m a a rs om 02 Bra ve o s M . when Bunyan had finished the manuscript of the first part ’ ’ o f - s the Pilgrim s Progress , he read it to his fellow prisoner with a view o f obtaini ng their Opinion as to its publication . The sing ular descriptions o f some o f the characters intro du ced hi s di , very much disturbed the gravity of au tors , and at the first readin g some o f them doubted the propriety o f
printing it .
S o m a i i i o s s a i n o t s o . e s Jo n , n , e d h pr t t th r d ” S o m e s a id it m i gh t do go o d ; o thers s a id n o .
o n M a r s o m m e But , reflection , Mr . requested per ission to tak t h e o w n manuscript into his cell , to read it quietly alone — “ ’ fancy the first reader o f the Pilgrim s Progress and o n i it s a d th s perusal he discovered value , and strongly ” n vised Bunyan to pri t it . Brave Thomas M a r s o m ! Is there anything more ? w i about him Yes ; a single fact , which I cannot th ” “ e hold . I mention it , says Mr . Gurney, to illustrat o f i the justice God , and at the same t me the Christian o f h u o f s spirit my ono red ancestor . One the most infamou o f the informers often swore that he would lodge ' M a r s o m hi s o fi o f in gaol , even if legs rotted in pursuit a o f him ; and he did lodge him in gaol . After the ch nge times this man was imprisoned in Bedford gaol for some f crime , and while in gaol was af ected with a complaint, in h e consequence o f whi ch his legs literally rotted . But f whom he had once persecuted , and who had suf ered m i prisonment through his wicked agency, acting in
o f ur vi l. the spirit the Saviour, ret ned him good for e Immedi ately o n hearing o f h i s distress he went over df f to Be ord (he was pastor o a church at Luton) , made an
arrangement by which a dinner was supplied to him daily, d a n instead o f the straw upon which his diseased body lay, o n hi sent him in a bedstead and a mattress , w ch he reposed ” till he died . It is intimated i n this letter that the gaoler w a s
w a s . lenient to Bunyan . Such the fact For a long time he appears to have been pretty much a prisoner a t is name occu rs repeatedly o n the chu rch books a s having been present at its meetings ; and o n o n e occasion a d we hear o f his having actu ally visited London . These u d h vent res , however, would have prove disastrous to bot ward and keeper had not the g u ardian angels been more
1 04 Whitehea d the Qu a h er .
The elucidation o f the mystery was reserved for the anti u a r i a n f u hi s t h e q zeal of Mr . Of or, who fo nd way to State t h e o f o f papers , minutes the Privy Council , and the records
o f ri . the Society F ends , relative to this transaction From these it distinctly appears that the movement originated f with the Quakers . They had suf ered more severely than any other sect ; and at this juncture nearly five hundred o f
‘ f w . o n e o them ere in prison at once Whitehead , their f i en leading men , pressed in spirit by their suf er ngs , and c o u r a g e d by a recent Act o f permission to Dissenting wor
t h e h . ship , wrote to King , beseec ing an interview He was l “ invited to a meeting of the Privy Counci , and , from the o f upper end the council board, pleaded their cause with s u ch effect that the King ended the matter by sayi ng “ ’ bluntly, I ll pardon them . He was as good as his word , and ordered the necessary writings to be instantly drawn o u t Wh o f hi . en the other Nonconformists heard t s success , u they sought to be incl ded in the same patent , to which the Quakers , forgetting their treatment in controversy at
o f . the hands their brother Dissenters , freely assented The o f o f fees demanded the prisoners , most whom had been w o r ldl u utterly ruined in their circ mstances , arrested ! o n B u t them the threshold . when Charles did a chivalrous i u f o f th ng he did it gracef lly . On being in ormed the cir c u m s t a n ce m m by the indefatigable Whitehead , he co anded o n e that all prisoners should be treated as man , and be
o n o n e . liberated in a body, the payment of fee In this o f n hi act ge eral enlargement , w ch occurred in the month f m o 1 6 72 u u . Septe ber , , B nyan was incl ded His name may be seen several times repeated in the Magna Charta, pre o f o f served in the archives the Society Friends , and to them , under Divine mercy, is undoubtedly due the honour o f n liberati g the pilgrim . ! I .
u B nyan lived for sixteen years after his liberation . Although frequently searched for during the recur rence o f o f o f persecution in the latter part the reign Charles , he
Nea rly p ers o n s a r e s a id t o ha ve s u ffered dea th thro u gh i m pri s o n m en t fo r No n co n fo rm ity du rin g this p ers e cu tio n ; a n d fro m exi s tin g o u m en s i a ea s a e w a s l s m h a m a u s e s a o u d c t t pp r t—h t th re o t fro t e s e c b t h a lf -a -m illio n s terlin g a n im m en s e s u m t o b e dr a w n a t tha t perio d o m t h e m i le a n d u m le la s s e s fr dd h b r c . 5 Bu ng a n a s a T h eolog ia n . 1 0 was never seized ; nor was he ever seriously interrupted in that course o f extensive usefulness which termi n a t e d with his pilgrimage in the memorable year o f o u r — 1 88 r Revolution 6 . He had w itten and published ‘ n i n t several awakeni g books while gao , and af er his release he penned s o many more that when even par t ia ll y collected , some years after his decease , they formed t w o o f those folios which , at that time , were reckoned the most characteristic monuments of o u r weightiest o f fo r theologians . Several these were controversial , though he never attacked the Quakers again , he was drawn into a prolonged debate w ith men o f the greatest
o w n . mark in his denomination They held the principle , I common , believe , to nearly all religious denominations , that external baptism is a necessary preliminary to par ’ t i ci a t i o n o f u p the Lord s S pper , while he maintained , as he had been taught by Gifford , and as numberless indi vi du a ls and some churches now maintain , that Christian o r ca n character alone , with without baptism , be demanded fo r o f that purpose . They did not , course , settle the u a dva n matter, but the debate bro ght many incidental ’ tages , and while it lasted , did not prevent Bunyan s ardent Spirit from producing tracts and volumes o f universal interest . It is a most encouraging illustration o f the strengthen ing and purifyi ng power o f Christianity that a man o f such humble beginni ng ; with no early education al a dva n tages ; much worse o ff than the bo y s in o u r ragged s — d o f chools although , it must be admitte , great native t t — r o f alen should come to w ite treatises such force , and s o imbued with a spirit great and Scriptural , that o n e o f o f o u r the most competent judges times , n o f n u m the late Dr . Arnold , echoi g the sentiments “ o f o u r bers in the highest places literature , said , I hold Joh n Bunyan to have been a man of incomparably o f o u r greater genius than any [ divines! , and to have given a far truer and more edifying picture of It may please some literary sentimentalists to style the whole body o f o u r Puritan wri ters the M eg a th eri u m s and m a s t o don s o f o f a past era , who can be interest to the present
’ Dea n S a n le s l i e Of A n ol o l V . . . 65 . t y f r d , II , p ’ 1 06 B u a P ng n s P o w er i n the ulp it . day only as unwieldy curiosities to be stored up in musty b u t m i receptacles , it ght benefit even them , as it certainly would enrich the soul o f every docile student o f religious
‘ truth , to give some days and nights to the practical o f treatises Bunyan . That these compositions , when delivered in the oral form from the pulpit , should have n w a s produced a powerful effect, is not surprisi g . He n o t o n e o f o f e those preachers whom W bster, the American statesman , said that they take their text from St . Paul , ” and their sermons from the newspapers ; for all hi s ' sentiments are n o t merely buttressed b y verbal quota f tions from Scripture , but en orced with the very spirit r that breathes th ough the Divine volume , while every sentence seems as if it had been heated in the forge o f h i s o w n u o f soul . S ch things , uttered under the impulse o f profound conviction, and with passionate love souls , would not fail even in o u r days to repeat the scenes hi s hi s which occurred in , and respecting which friend
Charles Doe observes , I have seen by my computation , o n a about persons to hear him at morning lecture , ” working day , in dark winter time , and at another place t i s o t o and me , as many as that half were fain go back again for want o f room and it cou ld not have
o r . w been mere tinsel that attracted these crowds , Dr O en n o t u t would have replied to the King , when he ta n ed hi m with going to hear a tinker prate Ma it ik please your Majesty, if I could preach l e that tinker, ” I would willingly part with all my learning . u u It cannot however, I pres me , be q estioned that the work for which this man was especially endowed and edu ca t e d u um hi u n i was the prod ction of that vol e w ch , from its versal reception , the world seems to have been waiting hi b e for . The period at w ch he appeared was rich yond precedent in writers qualified for the enforcement
o f ' o f and defence religion . There were some great acquisitions who laid the tru ths o f Chris tian i ty o n a foundation of evidence ; and others who di scu ssed with un surpassed acuteness the phi losophical relations o f those h trut s . There were reasoners who expended their vigour in deducing from Scripture systems o f ecclesiastical government ; and orators who girded themselves , like s t o dm i ri t h e trong men for a race , carry a tted doct nes to
’ I h T r n la t i n h P m s s e a s o s of t e ilgri P rog res .
manuscript in concealment , and it was only because he was unable to obtain a unanimous verdict in its favour h a d from the few to whom he entrusted its contents , that ” he resolved to cast the lot into the lap , and to leave the ” disposing thereof unto the Lord . It crept forth , at u o f : length , in a small d odecimo coarse paper the humble fo r m w h i ch o f ‘ suited the convenience the travelling book ’ B u t sellers and the w eight of the poor man s purse . s eldom has any book acquired a more rapid, perhaps not o n e n u a more extensive a d end ring circulation . Before t h e second part was issued , which was six years after the t h e — appearance of first , it had been hailed who can tell — with what delight b y those brother pilgrims who had quitted o u r shores for forced expatriation to the forests of New England ; it had delighted the kilted Highlander in — the language o f the Ga el kindled the wild eye o f the — Irish peasant in the tones o f the Celtic and e difi e d the dwellers in Cambrian valleys in the language o fAncient
Britain . France had not deemed it too grave to introduce to her liveliest circles nor Holland too gay to be read by her soberest citizens . Nearly every country of Europe , in o f marvellously short time , possessed itself the treasure ; a n d n o w , since the world has been opened by Christian o n missions , there is scarcely a spot which the human race i ” s found where you may not track the steps o f Pilgrim . The Burman reads the story in the round letters o f his - hi s mother tongue the Chinese , in the symbol pictures of hi the degenerate Arab , in the fairy characters by w ch his fathers expressed some o f the finest literature of the world a n d o f s a d , by the ruined walls Jerusalem , the Jew regales his fancy, and feels his heart soften towards Jesus the u u Nazarene , by per sing it in the sq are unpointed Hebrew
o f . eldest shrine celestial allegory, dream , and poem o u o f Travel whither y choose , along the stream the Ganges — -through the rich groves o f Ceylon b y the sparkling — s hores of Polynesia o r under the broad - leaved bananas o f Z o u New ealand, y shall meet thousands who rejoice and ” tremble over the vicissitudes of Christian . The African hi s o f chief has thrown aside spear , joined the group Chris o f tian listeners , and obtained his first glimpse redeeming love through the veil o f the parable while in Madagascar f s u o f i n ore ts the persec ted flock God , by pondering it the ’
. S o h n h Dr t ug to s Sp eec . 1 09 manuscript volumes which they had written with their o w n n hands , have fitted their souls for the steel , the poiso , ’ the precipice , and the martyr s crown a hi s s i x When the good man , after having att ined to t i et h year , and travelled from Reading to London in o f heavy rain , sought the home a Christian tradesman o n f Snow Hill , and spent there ten days in meek suf ering hi s and edifying conversation , he breathed forth redeemed spirit to go to a world I n which he was to be better h 1 n known t an he had been this . Already numbers from o w n n n o f his country were there , presenti g so gs thanks Go d A giving to for blessings received through his pen . s o n o f u n n time moved , men neighbo ri g la ds , divided below u n by lang ages and religions , joined the thro g , and with
o n e . r e heart united in the strain When , at length , the gions which had dwelt in the night o f heatheni sm sent u p — their tribes - unseen in those realms before they mingled in the thickenin g multitude and blended their new voices in the anthem until it rose to the thunder o f many waters and if it continues to be the pleasure o f G o d that ' every o n e w h o t r a n s la t e s the Bible into a new tongue shall o u t o f send in its train the annals the Pilgrim , we shall u o reach , witho t any extravagance of thought , this instru n tive conclusion , that, when we have excepted the i spired u o f writers , there will , probably, be no individ al the hu man family o f gre ater interest to s o large a number o f t h e o f n o n e redeemed inhabitants heave , than who, in the a o f i fo r w n me relig on , was condemned t elve years to a d df ungeon in Be ord .
s 1111 21 11 (Illa S t run g aa h ét bar artrrs f 356 11 .
D. O . B Y T H E R E V . J. S TO U G H TO N ,
it h e Dr . Stoughton said was by quite an accident that
was there that day ; he was not an invited g uest , but in a
- c e rtain sense a self proffered o n e . When he heard what w a s going o n at Bedford he was extremely anx ious to be o f present , and as the Dean Westminster asked him to w a s v u come , he in ited to this dinner thro gh the kindness o f a friend . The Mayor had requested him to give as a ’ T n n n 1 1 0 h e Rea lis m of B u g a s Ge ius .
“
o f . toast , The Memory John Bunyan Before doing s o ul s a he wo d just y, that when he attended at a dinner not long ago he heard it remarked that an a fter dinner spe ech should not consist o f more than twelve f s . o entences The memory John Bunyan was , however,
a very large subject , yet as they had heard much respect ing it he was afraid o f treading ground whi ch ha d been
well trodden by those who had preceded him . He wished , ’
h . ur owever , that they should again do hono to Bunyan s o n e g enius . It had been spoken of already, but there was
point he should like to impress upon them , and it was this — u that whilst his geni s was eminently idealistic , it was h i s e qually realistic . The characters in works were alle o r i ca l er s o n i fi ca t i o n s o f u g p vices and virt es , yet people rose from readi n g his dream with impressions o f character as lively as those derived from the perusal o f Sir Walter Scott i u o r Will am Shakespeare . There was this pec liarity in — a lmost all his characters they were just like people in the l Midland counties , like those who lived and wa ked in the f s o . e treets Bedford Moreover, it had b en said that Bunyan had not the power o f word - painting : yet he ri brought before their eyes scenes extraordina ly vivid . He
(Dr . Stoughton) had , while sitting in that room, heard con versation with reference to places Bunyan might have had in view ; but he must difi e r from some o f h i s fri ends who u ur t hought B nyanhad in his mind scenes in this neighbo hood .
Depend upon it , he had never seen anything corresponding f o f a w to the Valley o the Shadow Death . He never s any k o f o r t hing li e the Land Beulah the Delectable Mountains . A n d yet in hi s second dream he referred to the scenery o f t h e first as though the whole were a reality, even as we are i n the habit o f alludi n g to localities with which we are m i fa lia r from day to day . Next the speaker invited the ’ r un guests to do honour to Bunyan s cha a cter . B yan was ' fa r removed from the A n glican t yp e o f religious life- a s far as could be from such a character as George Herbert ; he was a Puritan o u t and o u t ; and the Puri tan stamp in h i s dreams was actually reproduced i n his o w n Christian
life and character . He was Christian , Evangelist , and o n e r o f Greatheart all in a pilg im to heaven , a preacher t h e e ui o f Gospel , the lead r and g de a church , acting the part o f him who conducted Chr istiana and: her children to t h e v o f o f t h e ri er death, whence they passed to the gates
’ 1 1 2 T h S cr t o un n l en e e e f B g a n s I f u ce .
a a During the many years I h ve known Bedford , I h ve
never seen the town look better, or the people more happy, o r o f o n e more united in the promotion object , than to o f day . The work art presented to the town by the k o n e h as e Du e of Bedford is a noble , and the gift b en well
appreciated . It was my good fortune to be amongst those who thi s afternoon I n the Corn Exchange listened with u nbounded interest to those admirable essays o n the character and — writings o f B u nyan essays which I am glad to kn ow are u s - not for alone , they will be carried to morrow by the
newspapers to the whole country . A n d as I listened t o speaker after speaker endeavouring to account fo r the ’ marvellous hold which B u nyan s writings had taken upon o f the world , I was reminded a passage in Grace Abound ” n ul ing, that wonderful work describi g his so tossed from m joy to doubt , fro doubt almost to despair, and anon back o n e again to joy , where Bunyan says that at time he greatly longed to s e e the experi ence o f some ancient godly man who had written long before ; for o f those who wr ote i n his own day he thought that they wrote only that whi ch
others felt without themselves going down into the dee p . ’ At that time Mart in Luther s comment on the Ga latians
came into his hands , and he says of it , when he had a little w a s o y perused it , I found my condition in his experience a if hi s largely and profoundly h ndled , as book had been o f written out my heart . ’ And that is the story of the influence which Bunyan s u works exercise over s . He had penetrated deeply into the
human heart , and he spoke his experience frankly . The outward appearance o f this town has S o much changed that he wou ld not know it now ; o u r ways and manners have changed too b u t the springs of action in the u human heart are the same , and it is well that we sho ld ’ hi u n if o . have t s stat e St Peter s Green , for no other reason , that it may remind us that deep down in our hearts are the o f fires sectarian hatred , ready, unless we learn to school
o u r . them well , to break forth in day as in his
I hope those present will pardon this short digression . I know that it is not within my commission to speak o n this subject ; but I could not pass by the monument of this great man wi thout casting my humble tribute there . ’ ' ’ i 1 1 3 H ung a n s B eafo r a L fe .
r ticu fi lm fi rtaspaprr firm s ca tbs d i lrh a .
D D M L T H E PAR AL Y S E E ON OF INTO ERANCE . It is but natural that Bunyan should have a statue at
Bedford , and the only marvel is that the tribute should have been delayed so long . People are generally eager enough t o s o pay all honour to immortal memories , the more when they may hope to shine themselves in the reflected lustre . n In this case , however , the seeming eglect may be easily ’ o f u m explained . In the lustre B nyan s fa ous book , his c onnection with Bedford had been almost forgotten . It is hi s not actions that have made his name immortal , but n u t o o e single work o f his . A greater trib te the memory o f the g r eat Dissenter than the inauguration of any number o f statues is the fact that a disting u ished dignitary of the Church should have been chosen to pl a y the chief part i n the ceremony—the more so that the circumst ance strikes B o n e . no as extraordinary So far, at least , as unyan is o f personally concerned, he has paralyzed that demon Old I n t o ler a n ceg t h e giant Dean Stanley alluded to as crippled , o n e if not killed . No now cares to remember whether the a uthor o f the most fascinating allegory that ever struck d u o f —T h e espair into the so ls imitators was a Dissenter .
T i m es .
’ B L B U NY AN S ED FORD IFE .
If Bunyan never had made himself immortal , if he had “ ” never proved himself the Prince Of Dreamers , if , m a ’ ” r word , he had never written the Pilgrim s Prog ess , Bed ford would still have a right to remember and to cherish “ ”
. i n his name It was in Bedford that he was converted , i n Bedford that he ministered , Bedford gaol that he was o f held for many years under fluctuating conditions duresse , o n now like a favoured military prisoner parole , free to do a o r lmost anything, go almost anywhere he pleased , and now coerced and restricted like the commonest criminal ; a n d it was in Bedford that his preaching and his pastoral o rganisations acquired such subsequent influence that 8 ’ 4 T ile P i rim s B es t M on m en t 1 1 lg u . people called him Bishop Bunyan . Dante is not more e closely associat d in history with Florence , nor Shake t speare with S ratford , nor Rabelais with Meudon , nor
. Wordsworth , with Rydal , than Bunyan is with Bedford Art has again and again busied itself with some passage o f ’ h e Bunyan s Bedford life , as he preached in his gaol , as d t h e ma e his tagged laces there , as he worked there at n l Opening passages of his immortal allegory . It was o y by a chance that Bunyan did not e n d his career i n the town u which he has made famo s . Great inspirations o f genius had before Bunyan ’ s time been first moulded into shape in f the atmosphere o a prison . If the story be not true which “ ” so long asserted that Don Q u ixote was begun in t h e — gaol o f a little town of La Mancha a story which derives k some plausibility, at least , from some words in the boo — itself then assuredly the finest work o f imagination ever begun within the walls of a prison was begun in Bedford n —Da i l ew s gaol by Bunya y N .
V A N I TY F A I R A N D HE L R M T PI G I . All the world knows why the Tinker o f Elstow should receive the posthumous honours o f Vanity Fair : a ll t h e — ’ world has heard of him all the world s readers read h i m — b e it the pilgrim progressing slowly and tearfully through the snares and mockeries o f its booths ; be it a - b . e Mr Worldly Wiseman , who merely loves good writing ; — hful o r - - it Fait , be it Lord Facing both ways everybody ’ n has read John Bunyan s wonderful book . With that o e piece o f rude b u t real genius he has carved his o w n statue and built himself a monu m ent which must be still fresh when the bronzed figure unveiled to - day in Bedford i s - o f ancient and time worn . The roysterers the Restoration
who clapped the glorious Tinker into the bilboes could not , n e with all their locks and bolts , confine his mi d . Ston m r walls do not a prison ake , nor iron bars a cage . Neve did any man justify that proud sayi ng s o thorou ghly a s f “ ’ the wr iter o the Pilgrim s Progress . In the flesh h e o f n was a prisoner the E glish Cavaliers , making three hi s w tagged laces to keep ife and family in bread , and all those cruel years fed himself o n gaol food ; but in the i w sp rit he was free along ith Christian and Faithful , — s o — walking upon that road imaginary, but plain feigned ,
1 1 6 T fi Victor o G n i s e y f e u . t ens o f thousands o f souls have had to than k hi m fo r reading their o w n story aright and escaping the dread o f dungeons Giant Despair, even when they had , like — w a T h e E cho . Christian , wandered far from the right y
THE VI C TORY OF G ENI U S .
hi o r h There is not ng , very little , t at is new to be said ’ ” o r about John Bunyan , the Pilgrim s Progress , or Alle a rt gory as an , and yet it is just at this moment so hard to abstain from saying something . The irony of circumstance s o o f u s o is delicious , the victory genius over prej dice per m u feet, the triu ph of the writer over the sq ire and the — magistrate the trium ph o f the really strong over the a p — a r en tl s o o f 1 6 74 p y strong suggestive hope . In , Bed ford imprisoned a travelling tinker for hi s impudence in preaching what he had to preach , which , as it happened , o f 1 874 was a moderated form Calvinism . In , Bedford raises a statue , given by a Duke , to her greatest citizen , that u h o r very travelling tinker who never tho g t anything, did hi o r anyt ng , said anything which the world has cared to n remember , except writi g , amidst the foulnesses and the o f stenches her borough gaol , a story embodying the theo
. n m o f u logy he preached The a es the sq ires are forgotten , o r remembered as the Lucys o f Charlecote are remem u bered, as Lilliputians who imprisoned G lliver , and whose ’ names have lived for ages becau se a bu tcher s man con descended to hold them in contempt ; the wretched bour e o i s g are mould , possibly yielding corn ; and the new gene “ ”
a . ration raises statue to their victim, the low tinker The o n e victory is too perfect , too complete , to pass without —h e or . a pleasurable word T S p ect t .
D B U N Y A N A T B E F O R D .
Bunyan the Pilgrim , dreamer , preacher
Sinner and soldier , tinker and teacher , F o r u heresy scoffed , sco rged , put in prison The day of Tolerance yet u n - risen Who heard from the dark o f his dungeon lair l The roar and turmoi of Vanity Fair, ’ And shadowed Man s pilgrimage forth with passion ,
- - Heroic , in God guided poet fashion , T he Wa n t o o ur A 1 f ye . 1 7
Has now his revenge ; he loo ks down at you - i In a ducally comm ssioned Statue , A right good artist gave life and go to it ’ i t But his name s Boehm , and Rhyme says no to
And the Dean of Westminster, frank and fluent ,
- u Spoke Broad Church tr ths of the Baptist truant .
P u n ch u l likes the D ke and he ikes the Dean , u m And the summer air in the s mer green , When the Anabaptist poet and clo w n Was set up as the glory o f Bedford town B u t ducal and decanal folk should learn That to deal with the Past is o f small concern ’ ’ That light for the day s life is each day s need , That the Tinker - Teacher has sown his seed And we want o u r Bunyan to show the way Through the Sloughs o f Despond that are round u s to da O u r u i g de for straggling souls to wait ,
- And lift the latch of the w icket gate .
T h e u r Ch rches now debate and w angle , Strange doubts theology entangle
Each sect to the other doth freedom grudge , u o Archbishop asks r ling f a judge .
, , Why comes no , pilgrim with eye of fire o i n t e th To tell us where p minster spire , w f To sho , though critics may sneer and scof , The path to The Land that is very far o ff 9 o f The People are weary vestment vanities , C f litigation about inanities ,
And fain would listen , O Preacher and Peer , To a voice like that of this Tinker - Seer r m Who guided the Pilg i up , beyond T h e o f d Valley of Death , and the Slough Despon ,
And Doubting Castle , and Giant Despair, T o un those Delectable Mo tains fair,
And over the River, and in at the Gate Where for weary Pilgrims the Angels w ait
P u n ch . 1 1 8 7 7m T ri h Chris tia n Cha rit ump of y .
H I I —I O F M THE W R L G G TI E .
Looked at in any aspect the scene was remarkable . That “ a noble Duke should raise a statue to a low tinker is a social triumph that a literary Dean should pay homage to the genius o f an uncultured man shows the fraternity o f the world o f letters ; that the memory and work o f a Cal vi n i s t preacher should be honoured by representatives o f all creeds is a victory o f pure religion over sectarianism ;
but , above all , that a man once imprisoned for daring to preach the Gospel to the poor shou ld have the anniversary o f his release kept with pu blic rejoicing in the very town in whose dun geon he was confined is a grand indisputable o f l testimony to the progress religious iberty . It is alto r gether very wonderful , and no more notewo thy incident h s u o f a happened during this last q arter a century . That s tatue o f John Bunyan marks the spot to which the tide o f
ecclesiastical intolerance has receded at the present time . n o t We do forget , and the reflection is tinged with melan ch o l y, that it has taken no less than two hundred years to overcome the bigotry and prejudice o fwhich Justice Keeling w a s simply the representative and exponent , and that this result has been ach ieved only by means o f a leng thened
. o n e and painful conflict The retrospect is not a pleasant , yet Nonconformists have no need to be ashamed o f the
part their ancestors took in the struggle . And we cannot
forget that the conflict is not yet over . We have to continue the warfare against the last remnants o f the o ld system o f h intolerance w ich are existing in society at the present hour . The erection o f a statue to John Bunyan is an encourage ment to the advocates o f religi ous equality to persevere s o their endeavours . Having accomplished much we need not despair o f bringing public opinion completely t o o u r - l d n den n i s I n e e t . side . E g h p
THE TRIU M PH O F C HRI S TIAN C HARITY . The church bells were ringing in honour o f John Bunyan ! A ll the , distinctions with which Englishmen are only too familiar had vanished under what Dr; Chalmers would h ave called the blessed expulsive force o f a generou s u emotio n . Ch rchman and Dissenter had come together as
’ ’ 0 B u n /a n s Or i n a ti t V 1 2 g ia y i n di ca tea . t h e Church o r the Nonco nformists have the right to claim t h e i or ginal work . This mendacious cha r ge against Bunyan was first made ’ b F r eem a n s Jou r n a l y a Roman Catholic in the , September, 1 859 di , and was thoroughly investigated and sproved by ff o f m Mr . O or . Two clergymen , ore learning and larger S t r a c e a r di a n . Gu s et h heart than Mr y, wrote to the to t at
m i . f . . . o gentle an r ght These were the Revs T A Carr, f ’ h . o t m . . S o u a Cranbrook , and C E Steward , St Peter s , p i ’ ton . In the ntroduction to the Hansard Knollys Society s “ ’ e dition o f the Pilgrim s Progress will be found an ” a o f P l r em a e n nalysis The y g g of the Sowle , draw from a c u b areful per sal of the original edition y Caxton , compared w 1 41 a ith the manuscript written in 3 . This an lysis leaves ’ u no doubt o f John B nyan s originality . ’ h A r o os o f . S t r a ce s t e p p Mr y letter, writer of Table ” Talk in the Gu a r di a n made an interesting note A letter i n o u r Co rr e s po n den ce la s t w e ek m en t io n s t h e Pelerin a ge ’ de l A m e o f G u y o r G u illa u m e de Gu ilevill e a s ha vin g given B u n y a n n o t o n l t h e i ea b u t e e n i n m a n y la e s t h e e w o s o f h i s a lle y d , v p c v ry rd h P l in a w a s u li e i n 1 a n d 1 in En li b o . T e e e e s 858 859 s g ry r g p b h d g h , y
. i n t a n u n o m m o n o r m a n u s s o o . h e e a e M is s C . J C t it c b k T r y po in ts ’ ’ o f e s em la n e e w e en i a n d t h e il im s o r e s s b u t e a r e r b c b t t P gr Pr g , th y n o t gr ea ter tha n m igh t b e exp e cte d w here t h e s u bj ect w a s a lm o s t i en i a l a n d t h e en e a l r i o f t h e e a in th e s a m e . e e t h e d t c , g r d ft t ch g Th r ' r es em b a n ce c ea s e s . T h e s ta tem en t th a t B u n ya n m a de a ver b a ti m n u u d u il v ll i n r n c o py h a s lo g b e en ref te d . G y e G e i e w r o te F e ch a n d i n ver s e o u a n e a l o s e ve s io n i s i n ex i s en e a n d w a s a m o n t h e , th gh r y pr r t c g ’ t o en l e e a t t h e B u l n o n lu . Oa x n s r a n s la o M S S . rec t y xhibit d r i gt C b t ti n w a s u s e b M is s Cu s . i s in o s e in e s e s e w i o e r a n d a d y t It pr , t r p r d th p t y , C o py o f t h e o rig in a l m a y v ery pro b a bly ha ve be en s e en a n d re a d b y ill n t o w v b v ea s t o la im t h F B un a n . w o e e e e e en y It , h r, ry y c r ch m e iae a l m o n fo r o u r u a n m o e a n t h e En lis in e o f d v k Ch rch , y r th g h t k r t h e s even e en en u . m i b e e a s ie t o la im Ca o n t o w o m t th c t ry It ght r c xt , h ” h l m o f la n l lo m a b m a n y o f t h e te c n ica ter s ter E g is h theo gy y e tr a ce d .
T a b tet The , Roman Catholic paper , devoted a paragraph
t o . S t r a ce the subject , in which it was asserted that Mr y “ ” “ h a d revealed the curious fact that beyond his o w n i ignorant interpolations , John Bunyan had noth ng ‘ ’ ’ t o do with the Pilgrim s Progress .
W . S PE A I G H T SON S Prin t er s F et do , , t er La n e, Lon n .