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Content JOHN BUNYAN: •HIS LITERARY REPUTATION IN ENGLAND, 1656-1830 WITH AN APPENDIX BRIEFLY CONSIDERING HIS REPUTATION IN THE VICTORIAN ERA AND IN CONTEM PORARY TIMES £ --------------------------- 3 ? A T h e s is P re s e n te d to th e F a c u lty o f th e D epartm ent o f E n g lis h U n iv e r s ity o f S o u th e rn C a l i f o r n i a I n P a r t i a l F u lf i llm e n t o f th e R e q u irem en ts f o r th e D egree D o c to r o f P h ilo so p h y by Anne L o h r li Ju n e , 1937 UMI Number: DP22985 All rights reserved INFORMATION TO ALL U SERS T he quality of this reproduction is d ep en d en t upon the quality of the copy subm itted. In the unlikely event that the author did not sen d a com plete m anuscript and th ere are missing p ag es, th e se will be noted. Also, if m aterial had to be rem oved, a note will indicate th e deletion. Dissertation Publishing UMI D P22985 Published by P roQ uest LLC (2014). Copyright in the D issertation held by the Author. Microform Edition © ProQ uest LLC. All rights reserved. This work is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United S ta te s C ode P roQ uest LLC. 789 E ast E isenhow er Parkway P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arbor, Ml 4 8 1 0 6 -1 3 4 6 This dissertation, written by ANNE LOHRLI : , under the guidance of h ev Faculty Committee on Studies, and approved by all its members, has \ * been presented to and accepted by the Council on Graduate Study and Research, in partial ful fillment of requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPH Y Secretary D a te...... MAX. r... .19. o!7.. Com m ittee on Studies Chairman ACKNOWLEDGMENT M a te r ia l f o r t h i s stu d y h as been o b ta in e d from th e C o lg a te -R o c h e s te r D iv in ity S ch o o l, R o c h e s te r, New York; th e Henry E. H u n tin g to n L ib r a r y , San M arino, C a lif o r n i a ; th e B e rk e ley B a p tis t D iv in it y S ch o o l, B e rk e le y ; and th e U n iv e r s ity o f C a lif o r n i a a t Los A n g e le s, a s w e ll a s from th e Los A n g eles P u b lic L ib r a r y an d from th e Doheny M em orial L ib r a r y , U n iv e r s ity o f S o u th e rn C a l if o r n i a , W I d id i t m ine own s e l f to G r a t i f i e . w — Jo h n Bunyan TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE PREFACE.................................................... 1 I . THE LITERARY REPUTATION OF JOHN BUNYAN IN THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY (1656-1700 I n c lu s i v e ) . 9 INTRODUCTION ............................................................... 10 S urvey o f m a te r ia l ....................... . 13 BUNYAN AS DOCTRINAL AND PRACTICAL WRITER 35 I n tr o d u c tio n .................................. . . . . . 35 “An A p o s tle o f o u r Age” .. .. .. . 36 An ig n o r a n t s e c t a r i a n .......................... 70 BUNYAN AS CONTROVERSIAL W R IT E R .................... 98 I n tr o d u c tio n .......................................................... 98 “A m ost b la c k -m o u th 'd C a lu m n ia to r" . . 102 BUNYAN AS POET . ...................................................... 118 A p o e t f o r th e sim p le . ............................. 118 BUNYAN AS AUTOBIOGRAPHER........................................127 "The c h i e f o f s i n n e r s " . 127 BUNYAN AS ALLEGORIST AND NARRATIVE WRITER 136 "A u th o r o f The P i l g r i m 1 s P r o g r e s s " . . 136 An in e le g a n t w r i t e r o f d a rk s i m i li t u d e s .............................................166 SUMMARY............................ 174 V CHAPTER PAGE I I . THE LITERARY REPUTATION OP JOHN BUNYAN IN THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY TO THE PUBLICATION OP THE THIRD POLIO EDITION OP HIS W ORK S (1767) . . . 179 INTRODUCTION................................. 180 BUNYAN AS DOCTRINAL W RITER............................. . 184 BUNYAN AS P O E T ...........................................................195 BUNYAN AS AUTOBIOGRAPHER ....................................... 198 BUNYAN AS ALLEGORIST AND NARRATIVE WRITER 208 Bunyan, an o r i g i n a l w r i t e r ......................... 208 Bunyan, th e s ta n d a r d o f b a th o s . . . . 233 SUMMARY............................................................................. 246 I I I . THE LITERARY REPUTATION OP JOHN BUNYAN PROM 1767 TO THE PUBLICATION OF HEPTINSTALL * S EDITION OP THE PILGRIM'S PROGRESS (1796) . . 250 INTRODUCTION...................................... 251 BUNYAN AS CONTROVERSIAL AN D DOCTRINAL W R IT E R .................................................................... 255 I n tr o d u c tio n ............................. 255 A r e s p e c t a b le c o u n s e lo r . . . .................... 258 " T h is man o f G o d " ............................................ 267 BUNYAN AS P O E T ...........................................................278 BUNYAN AS AUTOBIOGRAPHER................................... 281 I n tr o d u c tio n .......................................................... 281 "H onest Jo h n B u n y a n " ...................................283 A v is io n a r y e n t h u s i a s t . . . .................... 293 v l CHAPTER PAGE BUNYAN AS ALLEGORIST AND NARRATIVE W R IT E R . 300 "The S p e n se r o f th e p e o p l e " ..........................300 "B unyans and ‘P r a c t i c e s o f P i e t y '" . 337 SUMMARY.............................................................................. 348 IV. THE LITERARY REPUTATION OP JOHN BUNYAN PROM 1796 TO THE PUBLICATION OF SOUTHEY'S EDITION OP THE PILGRIM'S PROGRESS (1830) . 352 INTRODUCTION .................................................................. 353 BUNYAN AS DOCTRINAL AND CONTROVERSIAL W R IT E R ......................................................................... 357 BUNYAN AS P O E T ................................................................ 372 R iv a l to F e l i c i a Hemans . ..........................372 An e x e c r a b le p o e t ..................................................377 BUNYAN AS AUTOBIOGRAPHER . . . . . . . . 384 I n t r o d u c t i o n ........................................................ 384 A b ra n d p lu c k e d fro m th e b u rn in g . . 388 Bunyan w ith th e L a u r e a t e 's c a r d . . . 408 BUNYAN AS ALLEGORIST AND NARRATIVE WRITER . . . . 436 " P rin c e o f a l l a l l e g o r i s t s i n p ro s e " 436 A hum ble w r i t e r i n a c r i t i c a l a g e . . 538 SU M M A R Y ......................................................................... 555 vli vCHAPTER CONCLUSION............................................................................................... 562 APPENDIX: THE LITERARY REPUTATION OF JOHN BUNYAN IN THE VICTORIAN ERA AN D IN CONTEMPORARY TIMES 580 INTRODUCTION............................ 581 THE LITERARY REPUTATION OF JOHN BUNYAN DURING THE VICTORIAN ERA (1 8 3 0 -1 8 8 5 ) . . 584 i Jo h n Bunyan an d t h e P r in c e C o n so rt . 584 1 1 A P h i l i s t i n e o f g e n iu s ” . . . . . . 621 THE LITERARY REPUTATION OF JOHN BUNYAN IN M ODERN TIMES (1 8 8 5 -1 9 2 8 ) .................... . . . 627 BIBLIOGRAPHY . 671 EDITIONS OF THE W ORK S OF JOHN BUNYAN CITED FOR TEXT REFERENCE IN THIS STUDY . . .... . . 672 SOURCE MATERIAL: BOOKS AND PERIODICALS . . . . 673 SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL AND SOURCE MATERIAL OF A P P E N D IX ................................. 688 (a ) B o o k s .......................................................................688 (b ) P e r i o d i c a l s .........................................................700 BOOKS OF REFERENCE A N D BIBLIOGRAPHY.............................. 702 PREFACE "The b la z e o f r e p u t a t i o n can n o t b e blow n o u t , " w ro te Samuel Jo h n so n ; "b u t I t o f te n d i e s I n i t s s o c k e t .. . . " I T h is s tu d y i s an a tte m p t to m easu re th e b la z e o f Bunyan*s r e p u t a t i o n r a t h e r m in u te ly d u rin g some one h u n d re d s i x t y y e a r s , and, i n a b r i e f e r m anner, to n o te w h e th e r t h a t r e p u t a ti o n i s to d a y s t i l l b r i g h t o r w h eth e r i t h a s in d e e d d ie d i n i t s s o c k e t. The p e r io d c o v e re d b e g in s w ith th e y e a r 1656, d u r in g w hich th e Q uaker Edward B urro u g h h u r le d h is c r i t i c i s m a g a in s t Bunyan*s f i r s t p u b lis h e d w ork, and ends w ith th e y e a r 1830, d u rin g w hich M ajor an d M urray p u b lis h e d an e d i t i o n o f The P ilg rim * s P r o g r e s s , w hich, f o r i t s a tte m p t a t a s c h o la r ly t e x t , i t s handsom e fo rm a t, an d , p a r t i c u l a r l y , i t s p r e f a c e by th e P o e t L a u re a te , may b e ta k e n a s m ark in g th e b e g in n in g o f m odern w e l l - e d i t e d e d i t i o n s o f Bunyan. The l i f e o f Bunyan by R o b e rt S o u th ey p r e f a c e d to t h i s e d i t i o n was th e f i r s t e x te n d e d d i s c u s s io n o f th e a l l e g o r i s t by a man o f em inence and s ta n d in g i n th e E n g lis h w o rld o f l e t t e r s . As i s made e v id e n t d u rin g t h i s e s s a y , Jo h n Bunyan h a s to many g e n e r a tio n s and to many w r i t e r s b ee n synonym ous 1 Samuel Jo h n so n to M rs. T h ra le , May 1 , 1780, L e t t e r s to and fro m th e L a te Samuel Jo h n so n , LL.D. To w hich a r e addedHSome Poems n e v e r b e f o r e P rln te c L ~ P u B lls h e d From tE e~ "O rlg ln al MBS, i n h e r p o s s e s s io n , by H e s te r Lynch fflo z z l (London: A. S tra E a n and f . C a d e ll, Ty8 8 ), l l , i l 6 . 2 w ith The P i l g r i m 1s P r o g r e s s . The d is c u s s io n o f Bunyan*s r e p u t a t i o n a s an a l l e g o r i s t , 2 t h e r e f o r e , i s n e c e s s a r i l y m ore e x te n d e d t h a t t h a t o f h i s r e p u t a t i o n a s a d o c t r i n a l and c o n t r o v e r s i a l w r i t e r , o r a s a p o e t and a u to b io g ra p h e r . n e v e r t h e le s s , i t i s i n a l l f i v e p h a s e s o f h i s work t h a t Bunyan i s h e r e c o n s id e re d , c r i t i c i s m s and com m ents b e in g a rra n g e d i n c h r o n o lo g ic a l se q u e n c e , u n d er th e two d i v i s i o n s o f com m endation and d e r o g a tio n . An a tte m p t i s made to e v a lu a te th e s i g n i f i c a n c e and im p o rta n c e o f a comment by c o n s id e r in g th e co n tem p o rary l i t e r a r y s ta n d in g o f t h e w r i t e r t h e r e o f , by d e f in in g h i s a t t i t u d e p a r t i c u l a r l y to w ard r e l i g i o n , and by ta k in g in to a c c o u n t th e c irc u m s ta n c e s m o tiv a tin g h i s w ords. The s o u rc e m a t e r i a l f o r t h i s stu d y in c lu d e s p r im a r i l y l i v e s o f Bunyan, b io g r a p h ic a l, c r i t i c a l , and a p p r e c i a t i v e p r e f a c e s to v a r io u s e d i tio n s o f h i s w orks, and a r t i c l e s i n e n c y c lo p a e d ia s an d b io g r a p h ic a l d i c t i o n a r i e s . I t em braces a l s o l i t e r a r y , p o l i t i c a l , and e c c le s i a s t i c a l h i s t o r i e s o f E n g lan d , a s w e ll a s l e t t e r s , a u to b io g r a p h ie s , J o u r n a ls , and w orks on to p o g ra p h y ; n o v e ls , e s s a y s , p o e tr y , and dram a. 2 R e fe re n c e s to Bunyan a s a n a r r a t i v e w r i t e r , t h a t i s , a s th e a u th o r o f The L if e and D eath o f Mr. Badman, a r e v e ry in f r e q u e n t u n t i l th e m id d le and l a t e r y e a r s o f th e n in e t e e n th c e n tu r y , w h e re fo re th e y a r e , i n t h i s d is c u s s io n , J o i n t l y c o n s id e re d w ith c r i t i c i s m s on Bunyan a s an a l l e g o r l s t . I t I s r e a l i z e d , o f c o u rs e , t h a t th e comment t h a t f in d s r e c o r d i n books an d p e r i o d i c a l s g iv e s e x p r e s s io n to b u t a p a r t o f th e e n t i r e body o f o p in io n r e g a r d in g a w r i t e r an d h i s w o rk s. The " v e r d i c t o f th e u n i v e r s i t y ” much m ore f r e q u e n tly f i n d s i t s way in to p r i n t th a n d o es what B i r r e l l h a s c a l l e d th e v e r d i c t "o f th e k i t c h e n . ”3 The a d m ira tio n f e l t f o r Bunyan by th e g e n e r a l i n a r t i c u l a t e p u b lic , how ever, may be th o u g h t to h av e fo u n d e x p re s s io n i n th e l a r g e num ber o f cheap e d i tio n s an d a b rid g m e n ts o f h i s w orks I s s u e d to m eet th e dem and, a s w e ll a s in th e many a d a p ta t io n s and i m i t a t i o n s , p a r t i c u l a r l y o f The P ilg rim * s P r o g r e s s , com posed by p e rs o n s w hose names a r e t o t a l l y unknown to l i t e r a t u r e . A n o th e r e le m e n t o f t h i s p o p u la r r e p u t a t i o n i s seen in th e v e n e r a tio n e x p re s s e d a t v a r io u s tim e s f o r Bunyan r e l i c s , i n th e i n t e r e s t shown i n th e p la c e s a s s o c ia t e d w ith him , and i n th e e n th u sia sm d is p la y e d i n th e e r e c t i o n o f monuments and m em o rials i n h i s h o n o r. T hese f a c t o r s a r e ta k e n i n t o c o n s id e r a tio n i n t h i s s tu d y o f Bunyan*s l i t e r a r y r e p u t a t i o n . I n t e r e s t i n th e m a tte r o f Bunyan*s r e p u t a t i o n — o r , more a c c u r a te ly , i n th e r e p u t a t i o n o f The P ilg rim * s P r o g r e s s — f i r s t b eg an to m a n ife s t I t s e l f i n th e l a t t e r p a r t o f th e e ig h te e n th c e n tu r y , when such w r i t e r s a s 3 A u g u stin e B i r r e l l , "Sam uel R ic h a r d s o n ," Col l e c t e d E s s a y s and A d d re sse s (London: J . M. D ent and Sons, 1 9 2 2 ) , I , 202. 4 Jam es G ra n g er and Andrew K lp p ls i n s e r t e d i n t h e i r b io g r a p h ic a l d i c t i o n a r i e s th e com m endatory w ords o f e a r l i e r c r i t i c s , i n an e f f o r t to show t h a t Bunyan was n o t un w o rth y o f a p la c e i n t h e i r c o m p ila tio n s . The f i r s t im p o rta n t d i s c u s s io n o f th e m a tte r , how ever, d id n o t a p p e a r u n t i l th e n in e te e n th c e n tu r y , when M acaulay a t some le n g th , and S o u th ey more b r i e f l y , g av e i t s p e c i f i c c o n s id e r a ti o n , i n p r a i s i n g an a u th o r whom th e y f e l t th e e ig h te e n th c e n tu ry h ad n e g le c te d o r d e s p is e d . M a c a u la y 's c o n c lu s io n a s to B u n y an 's r e p u t a t i o n i n th e p re v io u s c e n tu ry was l a r g e l y b a s e d on th e d e ro g a to r y m e n tio n o f Bunyan by c e r t a i n e ig h te e n th c e n tu ry a u th o r s t h a t h ap p en ed to come to h i s m ind w h ile he was w r i tin g , i n s u b s t a n t i a t i o n o f h i s c o n te n tio n t h a t The P ilg r im * s P ro g re s s was p e rh a p s t h e one e x c e p tio n to th e r u l e t h a t "when th e e d u c a te d m in o r ity an d th e common p e o p le d i f f e r a b o u t th e m e rit o f a book, th e o p in io n o f th e e d u c a te d m in o r ity f i n a l l y p r e v a i l s . " 4 The f i r s t a tte m p t to e v a lu a te m ore s p e c i f i c a l l y b o th s id e s o f th e q u e s tio n a p p e a re d o n ly a s l a t e a s 1880, a t w hich tim e a w r i t e r i n th e S a tu rd a y Review p o in te d o u t t h a t M a cau lay ’ s e s tim a te was n o t e n t i r e l y c o r r e c t , and t h a t Bunyan had n o t been h e ld i n su ch s l i g h t 4 T. B. M acaulay, "John Bunyan" ( 1 8 5 4 ) ,The M is c e lla n e o u s Works o f L ord M acaulay ("T em ple B ar E d i t i o n . " Lady T re v e ly a n , e d i t o r ; New Y ork and London: G. P. P u tn a m 's S ons, n . d . ) , V II, 41. 5 esteem a s M acaulay h ad im p lie d by th e p a r t i c u l a r comments t h a t he h ad q u o te d and by th e I n t e r p r e t a t i o n t h a t h e h ad g iv e n them . T h is a r t i c l e am ended M a cau lay ' s c o n c lu s io n by c i t i n g i n a d d i t i o n c e r t a i n com m endatory o p in io n s t h a t Bunyan*s work h ad c a l l e d f o r t h fro m Im p o rta n t w r i t e r s o f th e e ig h te e n th c e n t u r y .5 S in c e 1880 co m m en tato rs on Bunyan*s l i t e r a r y r e p u ta t i o n h a v e done l i t t l e m ore th a n r e s t a t e , w ith an o c c a s io n a l new a d d i t i o n , th e comments r e c o rd e d by M acaulay and, p a r t i c u l a r l y , by th e w r i t e r i n t h e S a tu rd a y R evlew . Jo h n Brown, f o r in s t a n c e , m e re ly r e s t a t e d th e s e q u o ta tio n s i n th e m anner i n w hich th e y h ad b ee n p r e s e n te d by th e two fo rm e r w r i t e r s , r a t h e r th a n i n th e a c t u a l w ords o f th e o r i g i n a l e ig h te e n th c e n tu ry a u t h o r s . The g e n e ra l t r e n d o f n in e te e n th and tw e n t ie t h c e n tu r y b io g r a p h e r s h a s b een to l i s t th e com m endatory comments on Bunyan, i n an e f f o r t to r e f l e c t h o n o r on t h a t w r i t e r . D e ro g a to ry c r i t i c i s m s o f th e e ig h te e n th c e n tu r y h av e g e n e r a lly b een p o in te d to a s an i n d i c a t i o n o f t h a t cen t u r y 's b ad t a s t e , o r h av e been m in im ized an d d is m is s e d a s u n im p o rta n t. In th e c o n c lu d in g c h a p te r o f h i s l i f e o f Bunyan (1 8 3 9 ), R o b e rt P h i l i p , f o r in s t a n c e , s t a t e d t h a t h e 5 "L ord M acaulay and t h e P i l g r i m 1s P r o g r e s s . * S a tu rd a y R eview . L (A ugust 7, 1 8 8 0 ), 1 6 6 -7 . 6 In te n d e d to co m p ile a l i s t b o th of c r i t i c a l and p o p u la r o p in io n s on The P ilg r im * s P ro g re s s to be p u b lis h e d In h i s e d i t i o n o f th e a l l e g o r y . 6 “N o t," h e h a s te n e d to add, " t h a t Bunyan n e e d s 1l e t t e r s o f com m endation* from th e c r i t i c s , o r to th e p u b lic ; b u t t h a t i t may b e se e n a t a g la n c e , how m inds o f a l l o r d e r s , and men o f a l l p a r t i e s , h av e a s s i m i l a t e d aro u n d t h i s m a g n e tic c e n tr e o f u n i t y . " P h i l i p was o f th e o p in io n t h a t c r i t i c i s m o f th e a l le g o r y had i n g e n e ra l b een com m endatory, and t h a t th e "few " e x c e p tio n s * 7 w ere " a l l p i t i a b l e o r c o n t e m p t ib le .,H A u g u stin e B l r r e l l , w r i t i n g i n 1928, e x p re s s e d th e same o p in io n a s to th e d e ro g a to ry comment on th e a l l e g o r y : S p eak in g g e n e r a lly , Bunyan h a s , w ith o u t c h a lle n g e o r dem ur, ta k e n h i s p la c e a t th e h ig h t a b l e o f E n g lis h l i t e r a t u r e , w here h e com posedly h o ld s h i s own, an d f a r more th a n h i s own, th o u g h an u n o rd a in e d B a p tis t p r e a c h e r , among th e H ookers and th e T a y lo rs and th e o th e r b ig -w ig s o f th e E sta b lis h m e n t.® E ver s in c e The P ilg r im * s P ro g r e s s "began to b e n o tic e d a t a l l by th e r a c e o f p r o f e s s i o n a l c r i t i c s , * * w ro te B i r r e l l , " i t h a s b e e n , w ith no e x c e p tio n s w o rth m e n tio n in g , p r a i s e d 9' w ith o u t s t i n t , r e s e r v e , o r q u a l i f i c a t i o n . " I h av e b een u n a b le to o b ta in a copy o f t h i s e d i t i o n . ^ R o b e rt P h i l i p , The L i f e , T im es, an d C h a r a c te r l s - fclcs o f Jo h n Bunyan. A u th o r o f th e P ilg r im * s P ro g re s s (New Y ork: W illiam C a rlto n R egand, 1 8 8 8 ), 596. ® A u g u stin e B i r r e l l , "Jo h n Bunyan" (1 9 2 8 ), Et C e te r a . A C o lle c tio n &c. (L ondon: C h a tto an d W indus, 1 9 3 0 ), 102. 9 I M d . . 1 0 1 -2 . 7 Y et B i r r e l l was aw are o f H um e's low r e g a r d f o r t h e a l le g o r y , and u n d o u b te d ly , to o , o f th e l i t t l e esteem I n w hich Bunyan was h e ld by such a u th o r s a s A d d iso n a n d B urke. One c a n n o t u n d e rs ta n d h i s d is m is s a l o f th e o p in io n o f su ch em inent w r i t e r s a s b e in g n o t w o rth th e m e n tio n . To g iv e th e o p in io n s o f su ch a u th o r s t h e p la c e t h a t th e y d e s e rv e an d th e s i g n i f i c a n c e t h a t i s r i g h t f u l l y t h e i r s , i n t h e i r b e a r in g on B u n y a n 's l i t e r a r y r e p u t a t i o n , i s , t h e r e f o r e , one o f th e p u rp o s e s o f t h i s s tu d y . I t f u r t h e r b r in g s fo rw a rd f o r c o n s id e r a ti o n th e v e ry i n t e r e s ti n g rem a rk s o f such e ig h te e n th c e n tu ry w r i t e r s a s C la ra R eeve, R o b e rt R o b in so n , and Jo h n Newton, many o f w hich h av e n e v e r b een n o tic e d by b io g r a p h e r s o r c r i t i c s ; i t a tte m p ts to c o l l e c t m ore c o m p le te ly th a n h a s y e t b een done by any one w r i t e r th e e n t i r e body o f comment, b o th com m endatory an d d e r o g a to ry , n o t o n ly on The P il g r im 1s P r o g r e s s , b u t a l s o on B u n y an 's o t h e r w r i t i n g s ; and to a r r a n g e t h i s m a te r ia l i n a m anner t h a t w i l l b e s t show th e v i c i s s i t u d e s o f B unyan*s l i t e r a r y r e p u t a t i o n d u rin g su c c e s s iv e g e n e r a tio n s , p a r t i c u l a r l y from h i s own tim e to 1830, and, more b r i e f l y , from t h a t d a te to c o n tem p o ra ry tim e s . The stu d y may p e rh a p s m e r it th e com m endation b esto w ed by Dowden on some o f t h e c o m p ila tio n s o f th e la b o r io u s R o b e rt S o u th ey : "To s h i f t know ledge i n t o 8 more c o n v e n ie n t p o s i t i o n s i s to re n d e r no u n im p o rta n t * 1 0 s e r v ic e to m a n k in d .” ^ Edward Dowden, Southe.v ( ''E n g lis h Men o f L e tte rs * 1 s e r i e s . New Y ork: H a rp e r and B r o th e r s , n . d . ), 116. CHAPTER I THE LITERARY REPUTATION OP JOHN BUNYAN IN THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY (1656-1700 I n c lu s iv e ) INTRODUCTION " I t would h av e am azed D ryden to b e t o l d t h a t h i s w orks sh o u ld b e d e a d , w h ile B unyan*s would s u r v iv e ," w r i t e s a r e c e n t Bunyan e n t h u s i a s t .^ The s ta te m e n t i s o f c o u r s e u n tr u e a s f a r a s a c o n s id e r a ti o n o f th e two w r i t e r s by l i t e r a r y h i s t o r i a n s i s c o n c e rn e d , th o u ^ i i t i s u n d o u b te d ly a c c u r a te i n i n d i c a t i n g th e a c q u a in ta n c e o f t h e g e n e ra l u n acad em ic p u b lic w ith th e two w r i t e r s to d a y . The s ta te m e n t b r in g s to m ind, how ever, th e i n t e r e s t i n g c o n t r a s t b e tw e e n t h e two fa m o u s w rite rs o f P u r i t a n and R e s to r a ti o n tim e s : o n e, a C am bridge g r a d u a te , w ith c o n n e c tio n s o f n o b i l i t y , p o p u la r a s a p la y w rig h t an d f e a r e d a s a m a s te r o f s a t i r e , m a in ta in in g a m ild ly i n d i f f e r e n t a t t i t u d e o f s c e p tic is m on th e g ra v e m a tte r s o f r e l i g i o u s tu r m o il t h a t d i s t u r b e d th e age; th e o th e r , th e u n e d u c a te d son o f a b r a z i e r , p e rh a p s th e m ost p o p u la r p r e a c h e r o f th e d ay , ta k in g th e m a tte r o f heav en an d h e l l so s e r i o u s l y t h a t h e b e h e ld i n p e r s e c u tio n by man a d iv in e h o n o u r from God. The co n tem p o rary r e p u t a t i o n s o f th e tw o w r i t e r s w ere s l m l l a r l l y in c o n t r a s t . Known i n g e n e ra l p a r la n c e 1 Edmund A rb u th n o tt Knox, Jo h n Bunyan i n R e la tio n to h i s Tim es (London: Longmans, G reen and Company, 1 9 2 8 ), a s "Mr. D ryden t h e p o e t , ”2 t h a t w r i t e r was p r a is e d by A d d iso n , h e ld i n esteem a t c o u r t, and crow ned by C h a rle s I I w ith th e t i t l e s o f L a u re a te and H is t o r i o g r a p h e r - r o y a l . T r a d itio n h a s i t t h a t C h a rle s h ad a ls o h e a rd o f a c e r t a i n "m echanick" p r e a c h e r named Bunyan; in d e e d , i t i s n o t u n lik e ly t h a t Bunyan*s fam e a s a p r e a c h e r , n o t o n ly in B e d fo r d s h ir e b u t a l s o i n London, sh o u ld h a v e re a c h e d th e e a r s o f o th e r p ro m in e n t men a s w e ll, b u t, w ith a v e ry few e x c e p tio n s , no c o n te m p o ra ry w r i t e r s o f n o te r e f e r r e d to Bunyan a t a l l . In p o l i t e c i r c l e s i n w hich D ryden, E th e re g e , R o c h e s te r, and o th e r w its o f th e day w ere f a m i l i a r f i g u r e s , th e t a l e s o f th e f a i r A phra Behn, a s M asson rem ark ed , w ere " c e r t a i n l y m ore re a d " th a n The P l l g r l m 1s P r o g r e s s . 5 The p r a i s e t h a t Bunyan won fro m h i s c o n te m p o ra rie s came from th e p en s o f p io u s n o n c o n fo rm is ts l i k e h im s e lf , who r e g a r d e d him a s a sound d o c t r i n a l t e a c h e r and a man o f v a s t I n f lu e n c e i n s p re a d in g th e t r u t h s o f th e g o s p e l. T h is a p p l ie d to B unyan*s a l l e g o r i c a l and p o e t i c a l w orks a s w e ll a s to h i s r e l i g i o u s t r e a t i s e s a d o rn e d w ith no such l i t e r a r y d e v ic e s . A ll o f Bunyan*s w r i t i n g was m o tiv a te d by th e one d e s i r e t o s p re a d th e t r u e d o c t r i n e s o f r e l i g i o n , 2 Edmund G osse, A H is to r y o f E ig h te e n th C en tu ry L i t e r a t u r e ( 1 6 6 0 -1 7 8 0 ) TNew Y ork; M acm illan Company, 1 9 2 4 ), 11. 2 D avid M asson, B r i t i s h N o v e lis ts and t h e i r S ty le s ; B ein g a C r i t i c a l S k e tc h o f th e Hi s t o ry o f B r i t i s h P ro s e F i c t i o n (C am bridge: M acm illan and'"Company, 1 8 5 9 ), 78. 12 and The P ilg r im * s P r o g r e s s , I n common w ith s u c h w orks A Few S ig h s from H e ll and The D o c trin e o f th e Law and G race U n fo ld e d , was r e f e r r e d to a s a r e l i g i o u s " t r a c t . " C en su re o f B unyan*s w orks came from s e c t a r i a n s and churchm en a l i k e . To th o s e who d i f f e r e d fro m Bunyan on m a tte r s o f d o c t r i n e t h a t w r i t e r seem ed a f a l s e t e a c h e r , le a d in g an u n to ld num ber o f s o u ls a s t r a y . As a d o c t r i n a l w r i t e r and c o n t r o v e r s i a l i s t , Bunyan was a s s a i l e d by h i s a n t a g o n i s t s w ith s e v e re ac rim o n y . B unyan*s o p p o n e n ts expended t h e i r en e rg y l a r g e l y i n co m b atin g th e f a l s i t y and Ig n o ra n c e d is p la y e d i n t h a t w r i t e r 's s t r i c t l y d o c t r i n a l and c o n t r o v e r s i a l w orks, r a t h e r th a n on th o s e w orks i n w hich h e expounded h i s te a c h in g s u n d e r th e g u is e o f a l l e g o r y and p o e tr y . Y et h i s a d o p tio n o f th e s e d e v ic e s d id n o t seem e n t i r e l y J u s t i f i e d to some d ev o u t s o u ls o f th e a g e , w h ile th e d o c t r i n e s ta u g h t i n The P ilg r im * s P r o g r e s s , f o r in s t a n c e , seem ed to one w r i t e r , a t l e a s t , e n t i r e l y In a d e q u a te . The p e r io d c o n s id e re d i n t h i s c h a p te r b e g in s w ith th e y e a r 1656, i n w hich th e f i r s t a n t a g o n i s t i c p a m p h let was is s u e d a g a in s t Bunyan, and ends w ith th e y e a r 1700, i n w hich an anonym ous s k e tc h o f Bun y an * s l i f e made i t s a p p e a ra n c e . T h is b io g r a p h ic a l a c c o u n t was e v id e n tly w r i t t e n by a c o n te m p o ra ry o f Bunyan, and t h e r e f o r e b e lo n g s r i g h t l y to th e s e v e n te e n th , r a t h e r th a n to th e b e g in n in g o f th e e i g h te e n th , c e n tu r y . IS L ik e t h i s b io g r a p h ic a l s k e tc h , much o f th e m a te r ia l on w hich t h i s c h a p te r i s b a s e d was p u b lis h e d anonym ously, o r i s t h e work o f w r i t e r s whose nam es a r e no lo n g e r remem b e re d . Much o f i t , a l s o , i s d i f f i c u l t o f a c c e s s , and f o r th e s e r e a s o n s i t i s n e c e s s a r y to i d e n t i f y i n d i v i d u a l l y each o f t h e v a r io u s w r i t i n g s t h a t w i l l be m e n tio n e d d u r in g t h i s c h a p te r . S urvey o f M a te r ia l The docum ents on w hich t h i s c h a p te r i s b a s e d a r e o f f i v e k in d s ; t h e com m endatory e p i s t l e s p r e f a c e d to c e r t a i n o f Bunyan*s I n d iv id u a l t r e a t i s e s ; th e e d i t o r i a l m a te r ia l a n n o u n c in g and accom panying th e p u b l i c a t i o n o f th e f i r s t f o l i o volum e o f B unyan*s w orks; th e b io g r a p h ic a l s k e tc h e s o f Bunyan; c e r t a i n b io g r a p h ic a l n a r r a t i v e s c o n ta in in g r e f e r e n c e s to Bunyan; and, f i n a l l y , th e c o n t r o v e r s i a l p a m p h le ts w r i t t e n a g a in s t Bunyan and h i s te a c h i n g s . P r e f a to r y e p i s t l e s acco m p an ied t h r e e o f th e w orks t h a t Bunyan p u b lis h e d d u rin g h i s l i f e t i m e : h i s Some G o s o e l- tr u th s Opened4 was p r e f a c e d by a l e t t e r fro m Jo h n 4 Some G o s p e l - tr u th s Opened a c c o rd in g to th e S c r ip t u r e s . O r. The D iv in e and Humane N a tu re o f C h r is t J e s u s . h i s com ing i n t o th e W orld: h i s R ig h te o u s n e s s , D eath , Re s u r r e c t i o n , A sc e n sio n , I n t e r e e s a l o n , and se co n d commlng to Judgm ent7^ p l a i n l y d e m o n s tra te d and p ro v e d . And a l s o . Ans w ers to s e v e r a l l Q u e s tio n s , w ith p r o f i t a b l e d i r e c t i o n s to s ta n d f a s t i n th e D o c trin e o f J e s u s th e son o f M ary, a g a in s t th o s e b l u s t r l n g sto rm s o f th e D e v ils te m p ta tio n s , w hich do a t t h i s d a y , l i k e so many S c o rp io n s , b re a k lo o s e from t h e b o tto m le s s p i t , to b i t e and to rm e n t th o s e t h a t h av e n o t t a s t e d th e v e r tu e o f J e s u s by th e r e v e l a t i o n o f th e S p i r i t o f God. P u b lis h e d f o r th e good o f Gods ch o sen o n e s , by t h a t unw orthy s e rv a n t o f C h r is t Jo h n Bunnyan, o f B e d fo rd . By th e g ra c e o f God, P re a c h e r o f th e G ospel o f h i s d e a r Son. London: P r i n t e d f o r J . W right th e y o u n g er a t th e K in g s h e a d i n th e O ld - b a lly , 1656. B u rto n ,® I n tr o d u c in g Bunyan t o th e w o rld i n h i s f i r s t a p p e a ra n c e a s a n a u th o r ; h i s seco n d book,® v in d i c a t i n g h i s f i r s t , was commended I n a b r i e f p r e f a t o r y n o t i c e w r i t t e n by John B u rto n , R ic h a rd S p en cly , and Jo h n C h i ld ;7 Jo h n B u rto n was Jo h n G if fo r d * s s u c c e s s o r a s m in is t e r a t B e d fo rd , d u r in g th e y e a r s 1 6 5 5 /6 -1 6 6 0 . G if f o r d and B u rto n w ere r e a l l y r e c t o r s o f th e p a r i s h o f S t. Jo h n u n d e r C rom w ell’ s E s ta b lis h e d C hurch (Jo h n Brown, Jo h n Bunyan ( 1 6 2 8 -1 6 8 8 . H is L i f e , Tim es, an d Work. "T e rc e n te n a ry E d itio n , F ran k M ott H a r ris o n , e d i t o r . London: H u lb e rt P u b lis h in g Company, 1 9 2 8 ), 396. 6 A V in d ic a tio n o f th e Book C a lle d Some G o so el- f r u t h s O pened: A c c o rd in g to th e S c r i p t u r e s , and th e O p p o s itio n made a g a i n s t itHSiy Edward B o rro u g h , a p r o f e s s e d Q uaker (b u t p ro v e d a n enem le to t h e T ru th ) exam ined an d c o n fu te d by th e Word o f God. And AI so‘ , The th in g s t h a t w ere th e n l a i d down, and d e c la r e d to t h e w o rld by me, a r e a s e c o n d -tim e b o rn w itn e s s t o . a c c o r d in g to t r u t h : w ith t h e A nsw er o f Edward B orro u g h to th e Q u a e rle s th e n l a i d down, and i n Book re p ro v e d . And a l s o , a p l a i n Answer to h i s Q u a e rle s . g iv e n i n s l m p l l c l t l e o f s o u l : and i s now a ls o p r e s e n te d to th e w o rld , o r who e l s e may r e a d , o r h e a r them : to th e end ( i f God w lllT t h a t T ru th may b e d is c o v e r e d th e r e b y . By Jo h n B unyan. P re a c h e r o f th e G ospel o f C h r i s t . London: P r i n t e d f o r Jo h n W right a t th e K in g 's h ea d i n th e o ld B a ily , 1657. 7 G eorge O ffo r, i n The Works o f Jo h n Bunyan (E d in b u rg h an d London: B la c k ie and Son, 1 8 5 3 ), I I , 129, sp e a k s o f th e s e t h r e e w r i t e r s a s B unyan1s " b r e th r e n In th e m i n i s t r y ." Of R ic h a rd S p en cly I h av e b ee n a b le to g a in no f u r t h e r in f o r m a tio n . Jo h n C h ild (1 6 3 8 [? ]-1 6 S 4 ), how e v e r, was a w ell-k n o w n f i g u r e i n s e v e n te e n th c e n tu ry r e l i g i o u s c i r c l e s . He was a m i n i s t e r , a s s o c i a t e d w ith th e B a p t i s t s f o r a b o u t tw en ty y e a r s , w h e r e a f te r h e con form ed, a c c o rd in g to B enjam in K each, f o r w o rld ly r e a s o n s . H is te r m in a tin g h i s " g u ilty c o u rs e by th e a w fu l a c t o f s u ic id e " g av e him th e r e p u t a t i o n o f a seco n d F r a n c is S p lr a . C h ild I s d is c u s s e d a t l e n g t h by J o s e o h Iv im ey , ^ Hi s to r y o f th e E n g lis h B a p t i s t s (London, 1 8 1 1 -3 0 ), I I , 6 0 5 -6 9 7 . and h i s A Few S ig h s fro m H e ll8 was I n tr o d u c e d by a com m en d ato ry e p i s t l e s ig n e d by th e i n i t i a l s W I . G . ff9 In a d d i t io n t h e r e a r e t h e la u d a to r y p r e f a c e to The A ccep t a b le S a c r i f i c e * w r i t t e n by G eorge Cockayne H who saw Q A Few S ig h s from H e ll, O r, The G ro an s o f a damned S o u l. O r, An E x p o s itio n o f those~~Wr o rd s i n “ th e s i x t e e n t h o f L uke, “"C oncerning th e R ic h Man and th e B e g g a r: W herein i s d is c o v e r e d th e L am e n tab le S t a t e o f th e dam ned; t h e i r c r i e s , t h e i r d e s i r e s i n t h e i r -d i s t r e s s e s , w ith th e d e te r m in a tio n o f God upon them . A good w a rn in g Word to S in n e r s , b o th Old and Young, to t a k e i n t o C o n s id e r a tio n b e tim e s , and to se e k by F a ith i n J e s u s C h r is t to a v o id , l e s t th e y come i n t o th e same p la c e o f to rm e n t. A lso A b r i e f D is c o u rs e to u c h in g th e p r o f i t a b l e n e s s o f th e S c r i p t u r e s f o r o u r I n s t r u c t i o n I n th e way o f R ig h te o u s n e s s , a c c o rd in g to th e te n d e n c y o f t h e s a i d P a r a b le . By t h a t P o o r a n d Con te m p tib le S e rv a n t o f J e s u s r Cfhr 1 s t , Jo h n B unyan. London: P r in t e d by R alp h Wood, f o r M . W rig h t, a t th e K in g s Head i n th e O ld B a ile y , 1658. 9 The i d e n t i t y o f " I .G ." i s n o t e s t a b l i s h e d w ith c e r t a i n t y , b u t, a s Jo h n Brown p o i n t s o u t, I .G . was c e r t a i n l y n o t Jo h n G if f o r d ( a s assum ed by G eorge O ffo r, o£ . c l t . , I I I , 6 6 7 ), f o r G if f o r d had d ie d i n 1655. The w r i t e r o f th e e p i s t l e , a s Brown c o n je c tu r e s , was p ro b a b ly John G ib b s, m in i s t e r o f N ew port P a g n e l (Jo h n Brown, Jo h n Bunyan, - 1 1 2 -3 ). W illia m York T in d a ll (Jo h n Bunyan, M echanlck P r e a c h e r . 82, and e ls e w h e re ) a c c e p ts w ith o u t q u e s tio n th e i d e n t i f i c a t i o n o f " I.G . M a s Jo h n G ibbs o f N ew port P a g n e l. ^ Tbe A c c e p ta b le S a c r i f i c e ; Or th e E x c e lle n c y o f & B roken H e a r t; Shew ing th e N a tu re . S ig n s an d P ro p e r E f f e c t s o f a C o n tr it e S p i r i t . B ein g The L a s t Works o f t h a t E m lnsnt P r e a c h e r , and F a i t h f u l M in is te r o f J e s u s C h r i s t . Mr. John Bunyan o f B e d fo rd . W ith a P r e f a c e p r e f ix e d th e r e u n to , by an E m inent M in is te r o f th e G ospel i n London! London: P r in te d f o r , and a r e T o be S o ld by ""George L ark in , a t th e Two Swans w ith o u t B1sh o p sg a te s, 1689. G eorge C ockayne ( o r Cokayn o r Cokeyn) h ad b een a fo rm e r B e d fo r d s h ir e n e ig h b o r o f Bunyan, and was, a t th e tim e o f B u n y a n 's d e a th , p a s t o r o f th e c o n g r e g a tio n i n Red C ro ss S t r e e t , London, 16 t h i s posthum ous p u b l i c a t i o n th ro u g h th e p r e s s s h o r t l y a f t e r B u n y a n 's d e a th , and th e i n c i d e n t a l re m a rk s to th e r e a d e r accom panying C h a rle s D oe*s p u b l i c a t i o n o f The H eavenly Footm an i n 1 6 9 8 .^ The m a t e r ia l an n o u n c in g and accom panying th e is s u a n c e o f th e f i r s t f o l i o volum e o f B unyan’ s w orks i n c lu d e s , f i r s t , th e " P ro p o s a ls ” f o r p u b l i c a t i o n w hich w ere is s u e d on a sm a ll f o l i o s h e e t, s h o r t l y a f t e r B unyan’ s 12 d e a th . T hese " P ro p o s a ls " b e g in w ith some com m endatory rem a rk s on Banyan, m e n tio n th e t i t l e s to be in c lu d e d i n th e p r o j e c t e d volum e and th e p r i c e to b e a s k e d , name W illia m M a rs h a ll a s th e " u n d e r t a k e r ,” and c o n c lu d e w ith a The H eav en ly F o o t-m an : O r, A D e s c r i p tio n o f The Man t h a t g e ts to H eaven, T o g e th e r, W ith th e Way h e Runs i n , th e M arks h e Goes" ~b.y: A lso some D i r e c t i o n s , how to Hun, so a s to O b ta in . B rle fl.y O b serv ed , and P u b lis h e d By Jo h n B unyan, To w hich i s a d d e d , A C a ta lo g u e o f a l l Mr. B unyanf s B ooks, b e in g S ix ty , w ith th e T i t l e - P ag es a t l e n g t h . London: P r i n t e d f o r C h a rle s Doe, Comb-maker, i n th e B orough S outhw ark, n e a r L o n d o n -B rid g e, 1698. C h a rle s Doe’ s c a ta lo g u e o f B unyan’ s w r i t i n g s i s in tr o d u c e d by some re m a rk s to th e r e a d e r . Doe, who came to known Bunyan d u rin g t h e l a s t two y e a r s o f B unyan’ s l i f e (C h a rle s Doe, "The S t r u g g l e r , " Works o f John B unyan, I I I , 7 6 8 ), and who fo llo w e d him a s B o sw ell fo llo w e d Jo h n so n , d id much to p r e s e r v e th e w orks o f Bunyan f o r f u t u r e g e n e r a tio n s . H is becom ing a b o o k s e lle r , f o r th e p u rp o se o f d i s t r i b u t in g B unyan’ s w r i t i n g s , seem ed to Doe th e b e s t work t h a t h e c o u ld do f o r Cod (C h a rle s Doe, A C o lle c tio n o f E x p e rie n c e o f th e Work o f G ra ce, c i t e d by Jo h n Brown, Jo h n Bunyan, 41577“ — 12 The o r i g i n a l , s t a t e s O ffo r (o p . c l t . , I I I , lx x x ) , I s p r e s e r v e d I n th e B r i t i s h Museum. l i s t o f th e f i f t e e n p e rs o n s who w ere s p o n s o rin g th e pub l i c a t i o n . Second a r e C h a rle s D o e 's ''R easo n s why C h r i s t i a n P e o p le sh o u ld P rom ote by S u b s c r ip tio n s th e P r i n t i n g i n P o lio th e L ab o u rs o f Mr. Jo h n B unyan," w hich Doe f i r s t p u b lis h e d a s a c i r c u l a r I n 1691, d u rin g h i s " s t r u g g le s " to b r in g a b o u t th e p u b l i c a t i o n o f th e volum e, an d w hich h e t h e r e a f t e r ap p en d ed to th e w ork when I t was p u b lis h e d i n 1 692. D o e 's e d i t o r i a l work c o n tr ib u te d to w a rd s t h i s volum e I n c lu d e s a l s o "A C a ta lo g u e — T ab le o f Mr, B u n y a n 's Books"**5 an d a s h o r t d is c o u r s e w ith th e lo n g t i t l e "The S tr u g g l e r (F o r th e p r e c e d in g p r e s e r v a t i o n o f Mr. Jo h n B u n y a n 's L ab o u rs i n f o l i o ) th i n k s i t may a n sw e r th e d e s i r e s o f many to h av e th e f o llo w in g r e l a t i o n " — w hich r e l a t i o n c o n ta in s a b r i e f a c c o u n t o f B u n y a n 's l i f e , s e v e r a l a n e c d o te s c o n c e rn in g him , a n d c e r t a i n o b s e r v a tio n s on th e p r i n t i n g , th e f r o n t i s p i e c e , and th e in d e x o f th e f o l i o volum e. The t h i r d docum ent c o n n e c te d w ith t h i s volum e i s th e p r e f a t o r y e p i s t l e "To th e S e r io u s , J u d ic io u s and I m p a r t i a l R ead er, "* 4 s ig n e d by E b en e zer C h a n d le r and Jo h n "A C ataL o g u e-T ab le o f Mr. B u n y a n 's Books, and T h e ir s u c c e s s io n i n P u b lis h in g , m ost a c c o r d in g t o h i s own R e c k o n in g ," r e p r i n t e d i n Works o f Jo h n Bunyan, I I I , 763. T h is c a ta lo g u e l i s t s s i x t y w orks an d i n d i c a t e s w hich o f th e s e w ere in c lu d e d i n th e f i r s t f o l i o e d i t i o n . 14 . T h is e p i s t l e was r e p r i n t e d i n The Works o f t h a t E m inent S e rv a n t o f C h r i s t . Mr. Jo h n Bunyan. L a te M in i s te r o f th e G o sp e l, an d f ra s to r o f th e C o n g re g a tio n a t B e d fo rd . B eing S e v e r a l D is c o u rs e s upon V a rio u s D iv in e S u b je c ts . Second L f o lio ] e d i t i o n (London: 1736-771 I , l i i - v i , from w hich e d i t i o n th e q u o ta tio n s from th e e p i s t l e a r e ta k e n . 18 W ils o n ,15 w hieh I s I n th e n a t u r e o f a com m endation o f B unyan’ s w r i t i n g and p re a c h in g r a t h e r th a n an a c c o u n t o f h i s l i f e . Of th e b io g r a p h ic a l a c c o u n ts o f Bunyan p u b lis h e d d u rin g th e s e v e n te e n th c e n tu r y , th e m ost a u t h o r i t a t i v e p e rh a p s i s th e anonym ous " C o n tin u a tio n o f Mr. Bunyan*s L ife,**15 p u b lis h e d i n 1692 a s a c o n c lu s io n to G race A bounding. T h is i s a s h o r t a c c o u n t by a p io u s man o f some l e a r n i n g 1* '’ who knew Bunyan p e r s o n a lly i n h i s p r i v a t e a s w e ll a s i n h i s p u b lic l i f e . The a u th o r s t y l e d h im s e lf "A t r u e f r i e n d , a n d lo n g a c q u a in ta n c e o f Mr. B unyan*s, " and b a s e d h i s b io g r a p h ic a l s k e tc h on h i s own know ledge an d on " th e b e s t a c c o u n t g iv e n by o th e r o f h i s C i.e .B u n y a n * s ] f r i e n d s . w18 15 E b en e z er C h a n d le r, a n open-com m union B a p t i s t , and a le a r n e d man, was Bunyan* s s u c c e s s o r a s m i n i s t e r a t B e d fo rd . Jo h n W ilson was th e f i r s t p a s t o r o f th e ch u rch a t H itc h in , H e r t f o r d s h i r e , b e in g s e n t t h e r e by th e c h u rc h a t B ed fo rd , a s r e c o rd e d i n a l e t t e r s ig n e d by f i f t e e n members o f th e c h u rc h at" B e d fo rd , among them Jo h n Bunyan (J o s e p h Iv im ey , A H is to r y o f th e E n g lis h B a p t i s t s . I I , 1 9 1 -2 ). 16 "A C o n tin u a tio n o f Mr. B unyan’ s L if e ; B e g in n in g w here h e l e f t o f f , and c o n c lu d in g w ith th e Time and Man n e r o f h i s D eath an d B u r ia l, to g e t h e r w ith h i s T rue C h arac t e r , 1 1 r e p r i n t e d i n Works o f Jo h n Bunyan. I , 6 2 -5 . 17 He show s, f o r I n s ta n c e , an a c q u a in ta n c e w ith th e O dyssey i n h i s r e f e r e n c e to "P olyphem us, th e m o n stro u s g ia n t o f S i c i l y , " and some know ledge o f A r i s t o t l e i n h i s m en tio n o f th e " g o ld e n mean. " 18 "A C o n tin u a tio n o f Mr. B unyan’ s L i f e , " Works o f Jo h n Bunyan. I , 62. 19 A seco n d b io g ra p h y , d a te d th e same y e a r and e n t i t l e d "An A cco u n t o f th e L if e and A c tio n s o f Mr. Jo h n B u n y a n .. . from h i s C ra d le to h i s G ra v e ," 19 I s , a s Jo h n Brown ob s e r v e s , e v id e n tly a m ere p ie c e o f l i t e r a r y h ac k -w o rk , p ie c e d to g e t h e r from G race A bounding. "W here th e w r i t e r i s o r i g i n a l h e I s m a n if e s tly w ro n g ," a s i n h i s e rro n e o u s prt a c c o u n t o f Bunyan a t th e s ie g e o f L e i c e s t e r . w Much s u p e r io r i s th e b io g r a p h ic a l s k e tc h p u b lis h e d i n 1700 w ith t h e t i t l e , "Some A ccount o f th e L i f e and D eath o f Mr. Jo h n B u n y a n ."21 T h is was w r i t t e n by an anonym ous c o n te m p o ra ry — an a d m irin g f r i e n d who made Bun y a n ’ s a c q u a in ta n c e on t h e o c c a s io n o f v i s i t i n g him i n 19 "An A ccount o f th e L i f e and A c tio n s o f Mr. Jo h n Bunyan, L a te I n h a b i ta n t o f th e Town o f B e d fo rd , Prom h i s C ra d le to h i s G rav e. W herein Gods w o n d e rfu l M e rc ie s a n d G oodness to w a rd s him a r e l i v e l y s e t f o r t h , and many o t h e r m a tte r s a n d t h i n g s . " London: P r i n t e d f o r J . D eacon i n G u i l t - s p u r - s t r e e t , J . B ack, and J . B la re on L o n d o n -B rid g e, 1692. T h is was p r i n t e d , w ith s e p a r a t e p a g in g and t i t l e p a g e , a t th e end o f t h e s p u r io u s t h i r d p a r t o f The P i l g r i m 1s P r o g r e s s . London, 1 6 9 3 . In 1831 Jo s e p h Iv im ey r e p r i n t e d t h i s l i f e w ith an " E x p la n a to ry a d v e r t is e m e n t." 20 Jo h n Brown, Jo h n B unyan. 4 4 -5 . T h is l i f e , a n d th e one d is c u s s e d Im m e d ia te ly b elo w , b o th c o n t a in th e e rro n e o u s s ta te m e n t, o f t e n s i n c e r e p e a te d , t h a t B unyan’ s p r o v i d e n t i a l e s c a p e from d e a th by s h o o tin g , a s re c o r d e d i n G race A bo u n d in g , o c c u rr e d a t th e s ie g e o f L e i c e s t e r I n 1654* T h is , a s Brown d e m o n s tra te s ( i b i d . . 4 4 -6 ), c o u ld n o t h a v e b een th e c a s e . The a u th o r o f th e " L if e an d D eath o f Mr. Jo h n B u n y an ," d is c u s s e d b elo w , e v i d e n tly c o n fu se d two s t o r i e s . 21 "Some A ccount o f th e L i f e and D ea th o f Mr. Jo h n B u n y a n ." T h is a c c o u n t was r e p r i n t e d i n The Works o f t h a t E m inent S e rv a n t o f C h r i s t . Mr. Jo h n B unyan. L a te M in i s te r o f th e G o sp e l, and P a s t o r o f th e C o n g re g a tio n a t B e d fo rd . Second [ f o l i o ] e d i t i o n TLondon, 1 7 3 6 -7 ), I* l x - x i i i , from w hich e d i t i o n t h e q u o ta tio n s o c c u r r in g I n t h i s s tu d y a r e ta k e n . 20 p r i s o n . T h e p e r s o n a l o b s e r v a tio n s o f t h i s a u th o r , d e a l in g w ith th e l a t t e r y e a r s o f B u n y a n 's l i f e , a r e t h e r e f o r e i n t e r e s t i n g ; f o r th e d a t a c o n c e rn in g B u n y a n 's e a r ly l i f e th e a u th o r was l a r g e l y In d e b te d t o G race A bo u n d in g , a s 23 h e h im s e lf s t a t e d . I n a d d i t i o n to th e s e l i v e s o f Bunyan, two o th e r w orks o f b io g r a p h ic a l n a tu r e m ust b e m e n tio n e d a s c o n ta in in g I n c i d e n t a l r e f e r e n c e s to him , th e N a r r a t iv e o f A gnes Beaumont an d A C o l le c tio n o f E x p e rie n c e o f th e Work o f G race by C h a rle s Doe. The f i r s t o f th e s e , The N a r r a tiv e o f t h e P e rs e c u - 24 t l o n o f Agnes Beaumont i n 1674. fo rm e rly one o f th e b e s t known r e c o r d s o f th e s p i r i t u a l e x p e rie n c e s o f non 22 "Some A ccount o f th e L if e and D eath o f Mr. Jo h n B u n y an ," o p . c l t . . x l l . ^ F o r i n s t a n c e , th e a u th o r w r i t e s : "As CBunyan] h im s e lf p h r a s e s i t , h i s Change o f L if e and M anners was a s R em ark ab le, a s f o r a Tom o f B edlam to becom e a S o b er man" ( i b i d . , x ) . 24 The N a r r a tiv e e x i s t s i n two m a n u s c rip t c o p ie s i n th e B r i t l s h M useunTTEgerton 2414 and E g e rto n 2 1 2 8 ); i t was f i r s t p r i n t e d i n 1760 w ith c e r t a i n o t h e r a c c o u n ts , u n d e r th e t i t l e An A b s tr a c t o f t h e G ra c io u s D e a lin g s o f God. W ith s e v e r a l E m inent C h r l s t l a n s . t h e i r c o n v e rs io n s and s u f f e r i n g s . T aken fro m A u th e n tic M a n u s c rip ts . And p u b lls h e d , F or th e c o m fo rt and E s ta b lls h m e n t o f S e rio u s M inds, by S a m u a m e s . T h is w ork was v e ry p o p u la r , th e t e n t h e d i t i o n b e in g p u b lis h e d i n 1842. I n 1801 th e N a r r a tiv e h ad b ee n I s s u e d s e p a r a t e ly a s a tw o -p en n y t r a c t e n t i t l e d R e al R e l i g i o n : e x e m p lifie d i n th e s in g u l a r ex p e r ie n c e and g r e a t s u f f e r i n g s o f Agnes B eaum ont. o f E dw orth, i n th e C ounty o f B e d fo rd . I t h a s r e c e n t l y b e e n e d i te d w ith an I n t r o d u c t i o n by G .B .H a rris o n (London: C o n s ta b le and Company, 1 9 2 9 ). 2 1 c o n f o rm is ts i n th e s e v e n te e n th c e n tu r y , t e l l s o f th e h a r s h tr e a tm e n t acco rd ed to Agnes by h e r f a t h e r b e c a u se of h e r g o in g to m e etin g w ith John Bunyan, and o f t h e su b se q u en t a c c u s a tio n b ro u g h t a g a in s t h e r t h a t she was g u i l t y o f h e r f a t h e r ’ s d e a th . The second, A C o l le c tio n o f E x p e rie n c e pg o f th e Work o f G ra ce, i s a c o m p ila tio n o f s p i r i t u a l b io g r a p h ie s o f v a r io u s c o n v e rts — t h e i r s i n f u l c h ild h o o d s and t h e i r su b se q u en t r e f o r m a tio n s , s i m i l a r to th e A b s tr a c t o f t h e G ra c io u s D e a lin g s o f God i n which Agnes Beaum ont’ s n a r r a t i v e was f i r s t g iv e n to th e w o rld . I n t h i s work Doe fo u n d o c c a s io n to e x p re ss h i s r e v e r e n t a d m ira tio n f o r Bunyan’ s p r e a c h in g and w r itin g , a s w e ll a s to r e c o r d h i s own e f f o r t s , a s b o o k s e lle r , to g iv e g r e a t e r c i r c u l a t i o n to B u n y an 's i n s t r u c t i v e and u s e f u l t r a c t s . Among t h e m ost im p o rta n t so u rc e s o f in f o rm a tio n c o n c e rn in g th e contem porary r e p u t a t i o n o f Bunyan a r e th e p a m p h le ts w r i t t e n a g a in s t him and h i s te a c h in g s by th o s e w ith whom he engaged i n d o c t r i n a l d i s p u t e . The f i r s t o f th e s e c o n t r o v e r s i e s i n which Bunyan to o k p a r t was t h a t w ith th e Q uakers, who w ere r e p r e s e n te d a t f i r s t by t h e i r v ig o ro u s and com bative spokesman 25 C h a rle s Doe, A C o lle c tio n o f E x p e rle n c e o f th e Work o f G ra ce: ( Never b e f o r e P rin te d T T o r th e S p i r i t o f God w orking upon th e S o u ls o f s e v e r a l P e r s o n s . . . . London: P r in t e d f o r C h a rle s Doe, 1700. I have been u n a b le to o b ta in a copy o f t h i s book; q u o ta tio n s g iv e n i n t h i s e ssa y a r e ta k e n from John Brown, John Bunyan. 2 2 Edward B urrough, "son o f T h u n d e r,1,26 and l a t e r by George Fox h im s e lf . T h is c o n tro v e rs y began a s a r e s u l t o f Bun y a n 's f i r s t p u b lis h e d work, Some G o s o e l- tr u th s Opened (1 6 5 6 ), w h erein he e x p re sse d h i s p r o t e s t a g a in s t what he th o u g h t to be th e d an g ero u s m y stic ism o f Q uaker te a c h in g s which p ro p o se d a q u e s tio n a b le s a l v a t i o n by means o f th e 27 in w ard l ig h t * B u n y an 's book was im m ed iately answ ered by B urrough i n h i s T rue F a ith o f th e G ospel o f P e a c e ,28 28 Edward B urrough (1634-1662) was one o f th e m ost p ro m in en t o f th e e a r ly F rie n d s , f e r v e n t and e a r n e s t i n cham pioning th e p r i n c i p l e s t h a t he had a d o p te d , and f e a r l e s s and meek u n d e r th e p e r s e c u tio n th a t he s u f f e r e d , B urrough d ie d i n Newgate, a m a rty r to h i s f a i t h , a t th e age o f tw e n ty - e ig h t. H is p r i n c i p a l w r i tin g s were c o l l e c t e d a f t e r h i s d e a th and p u b lis h e d a s The Memorable Works o f a Son o f Thunder and C o n s o la tio n , Namely t h a t T rue P ro p h e t and F a i t h f u l "Servant o f God"*and S u f f e r e r f o r th e T estim ony o f J e s u s , Edward B urrough, 27 T h is c o n tro v e rs y , a s W illiam York T in d a ll s t a t e s (op. c i t . , 4 6 ), was b u t “a n o th e r o f t h e C h r i s t - w lth in C h r is t- w ith o u t d e b a t e s , " which h ad b een i n p ro g r e s s f o r some y e a rs and which "depended upon argum ent and som etim es l o g i c to s e t t l e a m a tte r o f tem peram ent and i n d iv i d u a l t a s t e . " 28 The T rue F a i t h of th e G ospel o f P eace C ontended F o r , I n th e S p i r i t o f M eekness: And th e M ystery o f S a l v a tio n ( C h r is t w i t h i n , th e Hope o f G lo ry ) V in d ic a te d i n th e S p i r i t o f Love, a g a i n s t th e s e c r e t O p p o s itio n o f Jo h n Bunyan. A P r o f e s s e d M in is te r i n B e d fo r d s h ir e . O r. An Answer to h i s Book c a l l e d . Some G ospel T ru th s Opened. &c. W herein a l s o he h a th m ixed many W e s and S la n d e rs . and h a th s e c r e t l y g a in - saved t h e way o f t r u t h , and doc t r i n e o f s a l v a t i o n , u n d er th e a c c o u n t of E r r o r and H e r e s ie . a s th e G e n e ra tio n o f C h ief P r l e s t s ev e r d i d . Or. A r e t u r n o f t r u t h i n s i m p l i c i t y . In th e d e n i a l l o f h i s f a l s e a c c u s a t i o n s , and h i s d a rk v a l l e o f f a l s e re p ro a c h e s ta k e n o f f , and th e Innocenc.v o f th e u p r ig h t a p p e a r in g . W ith some Q u e rie s g iv e n f o r t h f o r him to Answer, t h a t T ru th may f u r t h e r a p p e a r , and d e c e i t may be asham ed, w herever i t i s fo u n d . By one who h a th chosen r a t h e r to s u f f e r a f f l i c t i o n w ith th e d e s p is e d P e o p le , th e n to en.loy th e p le a s u re s ..of S in . E.B. London: P r i n t e d f o r G ile s C a lv e r t a t th e B la c k -S p re a d -E a g le a t th e West End o f P a u ls , 1656, 23 whereupon Bunyan, n o th in g l o a th , c o n tin u e d th e c o n tro v e rs y , r e i t e r a t i n g th e c h a rg e s s t a t e d i n h i s f i r s t t r e a t i s e .^ ® T h is second work of Bunyan a p p a r e n tly b ro u g h t f o r t h t h r e e s e p a r a te an sw ers from th e Q uakers, w ith w hich th e con tr o v e r s y f i n a l l y came t o an end, Bunyan n o t d e ig n in g to r e p l y . Two o f th e s e answ ers were by t h e ’ ’Son o f Thunder, w th e f i r s t , a p p e a rin g i n F e b ru a ry , 1657, e n t i t l e d A R eply u nto h i s Second Book, ^ and th e second, p u b lis h e d i n May o f th e same y e a r, T ru th ( th e S tro n g e s t o f a l l ) W itn essed f o r t h i n th e S p i r i t o f T ru th , a g a in s t a l l D e c e it. 31 Not y e t s a t i s f i e d , how ever, t h a t th e f a l s i t y o f Bunyan’ s doc t r i n e s had been c l e a r l y enough exposed, o r th e venom o f h i s s la n d e r s s u f f i c i e n t l y c o u n te r a c te d , B urrough su g g e s te d to G eorge Fox t h a t th e Founder h im s e lf w r i te a f u r t h e r 29 John Bunyan, A V in d ic a tio n o f th e Book C a lle d Some G o sp e l-T ru th s Opened, 1657. 30 Edward B urrough, A R eply u nto h i s Second Book c a l l e d *A V in d ic a tio n , 1 1 &c. &c. and t h i s to C le a r th e T ru th from Above 100 o f John B u n io n 1s F o u le D ir ty Lyes and S la n d e r s : By a F rle n d o f th e T ru th : ~5nd n o t a s i t i s i n Mens C arn n al A p p re h e n sio n s. London: P r i n t e d f o r G ile s C a lv e r t, 1657. 31 Edward B urrough, T ru th ( th e S tr o n g e s t of a l l ) W itnessad f o r t h i n th e S p i r i t o f T ru th , a g a i n s t a l l D e c e it: And P le a d in g i n R l g h te o u s n e s s e T t s owne c a u se , to ” th e u n d e rs ta n d in g o f t h e S im p le, a g a i n s t a v e r y g r e a t number o f l y e s , s l a n d e r s , p e r v e r t in g o f th e S c r i p t u r e s , c o n tr a d i c t i o n s and f a l s e dam nable doct r i n e s ” , h e ld rorth"~W th e In d ep en d a n t s . And I n p a r f T c u la r by one JoHn~~Bunlon, Tone o f Gogs Army) i n two s e v e r a l l Bookes p u t f o r t h by him , a g a in s t th e d e s p is e d s c a t t e r e d Peo p le c a l l e d Q uakers. London: P r i n t e d f o r G ile s C a lv e r t, 1657. 24 r e f u t a t i o n . T his a p p e a re d i n December o f th e f o llo w in g y e a r a s The G re at M is te ry o f th e G reat Whore U nfoldedt p r e f a c e d by some rem arks by Edward B urrough. But though Bunyan d id n o t r e p ly to th e s e t r e a t i s e s , ^ h e remembered th e a n ta g o n ism of th e Q uakers and n u rs e d h i s h a t r e d o f them. And i n th e summer o f 1659, when a s c a n d a l a r o s e w ith in t h a t s e c t, c o n c e rn in g M a rg a re t P ry o r and h e r te s tim o n y t h a t she had been tra n s fo rm e d i n t o a bay mare by th e w i t c h c r a f t o f a Q u akeress, Bunyan f e l t i t n e c e s s a r y to g iv e h i s view s on th e m a tte r , u rg ed t h e r e to e i t h e r by a d e s i r e f o r r e t a l i a t i o n o r by a norm al s e v e n te e n th c e n tu ry a n t ip a t h y f o r w i t c h e s .^3 No copy o f th e pam phlet o r b ro a d s id e t h a t Bunyan ^ In a d d i t i o n t o th e t r e a t i s e s d i r e c t l y r e f u t i n g B u n y an 's p r i n c i p l e s , m ention s h o u ld be made o f c e r t a i n t r a c t s m erely c o n ta in in g r e f e r e n c e to h i s d i s p u t e w ith th e Q uakers, nam ely, Thomas C o l l i e r , A L o o k ln g -G la sse f o r th e Q u ak ers, London: P r i n t e d f o r Thomas B re w ste r, 1656; R ic h a rd Blome, ’ ’A ppendix” to Thomas Sm ith, A Gagg f o r th e Q u ak e rs, 1659; and Thomas U n d e r h ill, H e ll b ro k e L o o se: o r An H is to r y o f th e Q uakers, London: P r in t e d f o r Simon M il le r , 1659 ( r e f e r e n c e s from W illiam York T in d a l l, o p . c l t . , 2 3 6 ). 33 T h is a f f a i r i s f u l l y d is c u s s e d by W illiam York T in d a ll i n h i s A ppendix to John Bunyan. M echanlck P r e a c h e r . Dr. T in d a l l, who i s th e f i r s t o f Bunyan s c h o la r s to men t i o n B unyan's c o n n e c tio n w ith t h i s sc a n d a lo u s h i s t o r y , a t t r i b u t e s th e o m issio n of such d is c u s s io n by o th e r b io g ra p h e rs " r a t h e r to th e decency th a n to th e n e g lig e n c e o f th e s e e x c e l l e n t m en." George O ffo r, f o r in s t a n c e , was a p p a r e n tly f a m i l i a r w ith th e s t o r y , b u t d is m is s e d w ith contem pt what he th o u g h t re p u g n a n t to th e fam e o f h i s h e ro (G eorge O ffo r, Works o f John Bunyan. I , x l l v - x l v l ) . 25 c o n t r ib u t e d to t h i s a f f a i r h as been d i s c o v e r e d ; ^ Bunyan h im s e lf a p p a re n tly d id n o t remember i t w ith p r i d e i n h i s a f t e r y e a r s and c o n t r iv e d to keep i t unknown from even C h a rle s Doe, h i s c l o s e f r i e n d and f i r s t b i b l i o g r a p h e r . The Q uakers, how ever, w ere f u l l y a c q u a in te d w ith B u n y an 's meddlesome and s la n d e r o u s t r a c t : Alderman B la c k le y , one o f th e le a d in g r e s i d e n t Q uakers o f Cam bridge, gave i t due and p r o p e r r e f u t a t i o n i n h i s re v ie w of th e w i t c h c r a f t sc a n d a l, A L ying Wonder D isc o v e re d , and a Quaker b ro ad s id e , p u b lis h e d some e le v e n y e a r s l a t e r , a g a in r e f e r r e d to i t w ith r ig h te o u s a b h o rre n c e . S h o rtly a f t e r th e t r i a l i n 1659, i n w hich th e Q uakeress was a c q u i t t e d o f th e c h a rg e o f w i t c h c r a f t , two t r a c t s a p p e a re d , i n a b e l a te d e f f o r t to keep th e s c a n d a l f r e s h : one o f th e s e was B u n y a n 's, h e r e d is c u s s e d , th e o th e r was th e anonymous S tra n g e & T e r r i b le Newes from Cam b r id g e , London, 1659. The two w ere u n d o u b te d ly s im ila r i n n a t u r e and p a r a l l e l i n i n t e n t i o n . Prom B la c k le y 's r e f u t a t i o n o f th e s e two t r a c t s , i n h i s L ying Wonder D is c o v e re d , T in d a ll r e c o n s t r u c t s th e p ro b a b le t i t l e o f B u n y an 's t r a c t to r e a d : A P ap er Touching W itc h c ra ft g iv e n F o rth to y o u r Wonderment. we James B la c k le y , A L ying Wonder D is c o v e re d , and The S tra n g e and T e r r i b l e Itfewes from Cambridge pro v ed f a l s e . Which f a l s e Mews i s p u b lis h e d i n a L i b e l , C oncerning a w icked s la n d e r c a s t upon a Q uaker, b u t th e A uthor o f th e s a id L ib e l was asham ed to s u b s c r ib e h i s name to i t . A1so T h is c o n ta in s an answ er to John B unions P a p e r to u c h in g th e s a id im agined w i t c h c r a f t , w hich he h a th g iv e n f o r t h ‘ to 'your wonderment ( a s he s a l t h ) h u t i t l_s a l s o p ro v ed a Lye and a s la n d e r by many c r e d i b l e w itn e s s e s h e r e a f t e r “ m e n tio n e d . London: P r in t e d f o r Thomas Simmons a t th e B u ll and Mouth n e a r A ld e r s g a te , 1659. 36 A Testim ony from th e P eo p le o f God, C a lle d Q uakers. A g a in s t Many L ying and S la n d e ro u s Books. 1670. 26 But Bunyan*s a c t i v i t i e s b ro u g h t him i n t o c o n f l i c t w ith r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s o f o th e r r e l i g i o u s b o d ie s th a n th e Q uakers— p a r t i c u l a r l y w ith members o f th e E s ta b lis h e d C hurch. I n th e same summer o f 1659, d u rin g w hich he to o k p a r t i n th e w i t c h c r a f t s c a n d a l, Bunyan had a ro u se d th e a n im o sity o f th e R everend Thomas S m ith ,37 v i c a r o f th e p a r i s h o f C a ld e c o te , C am b rid g esh ire , by h i s e v a n g e l i s t i c encroachm ents a s "m echanlck” p r e a c h e r . S m ith condescended to o b j e c t to B u n y an 's p re a c h in g a t a s e r v i c e h e ld by Bun yan i n th e b a rn o f D a n ie l A n g ler o f T o ft, and gfive h i s v e r s io n o f th e a f f a i r i n h i s L e t t e r S ent to Mr. E. o f T a f t . 58 T h is l e t t e r , w hich c o n ta in e d uncom plim entary rem arks on c e r t a i n pro m in en t Q uakers, a s w e ll a s on John Bunyan, provoked an answ er from Henry Denne, G en eral Thomas Sm ith, M.A., B .D ., was a fo rm id a b le a n t a g o n is t , b e in g n o t o n ly v i c a r o f C a ld e c o te , b u t a ls o k e e p e r o f th e U n iv e r s ity L ib ra ry , l e c t u r e r i n r h e t o r i c i n C h r i s t ’ s C o lle g e , and s tu d e n t of A ra b ic and c o l la b o r a t o r i n W a lto n 's P o ly g lo t B ib le (W illiam York T in d a ll, op c l t . , 47, c i t i n g a s h i s r e f e r e n c e , John P e i l e , B io g ra p h ic a l R e g is te r o f C h r l s t ’a C o lle g e . 1505-1905, I , 4681. 38 Thomas Sm ith, A L e t t e r S ent to Mr. E. o f T a f t, Four m ile s from C am bridge, To w hlch no Answer""hath b een r e t u r n e d . T his was p u b lis h e d ’ a s an a p p e n d ix to Thomas "Smith, The Quaker D isa rm ’d , o r a. True R e la tio n Of a L a te P u b llc k D isp u te H eld a t Cambridge By T hree Em inent Q u ak e rs. a g a in s t One S c h o la r o f Cam bridge. With a L e t t e r in D efence o f th e M in is tr y , And A gain st Lay- P re a c h e r s . A lso S e v e ra l Q u e rie s p ro p o sed to th e Q uakers to be answ ered i f th e y c a n . London: P r in t e d f o r J .C . and a re s o ld n e e r th e L i t t l e N orth-D oor o f S. P a u ls Church, -1659. 39 Henry Denne, The Quaker no P a p i s t . London: P r i n t e d f o r F r a n c is Sm ith, 1659. 2? B a p tis t m in i s te r , which was r e p l i e d to by Sm ith i n h i s A Gagg f o r th e Q uakers. T h is second book by Sm ith v i r t u a l l y ig n o re d Bunyan i n f a v o r o f Denne and th e Q uakers, and Bunyan w is e ly a llo w e d th e u n p le a s a n t q u a r r e l to d i e in th e hands o f th o s e who had ta k e n i t o v e r, he h im s e lf c o n t r i b u t i n g no w r i t t e n a rg u m e n ta tio n to th e d e b a te . Some y e a r s l a t e r , how ever, Bunyan a g a in fo u n d him s e l f a t ta c k e d by a clergym an o f th e Church o f E ngland. T h is c o n tro v e rs y was o c c a sio n e d by B unyan's w r i tin g a r e f u t a t i o n o f Edward Fowler* s D esign o f C h r l s t l a n l t y , ^ a copy ct which had re a c h e d him d u rin g th e l a s t y e a r o f h i s lo n g im p riso n m en t. Bunyan p r o t e s t e d a g a i n s t F o w le r 's book b e c a u se he f e l t t h a t i t was a l i e n t o th e e v a n g e l i s t i c s p i r i t o f th e A r t i c l e s o f th e Church o f E ngland, and t h e r e f o r e to th e G ospel i t s e l f ; b e c a u se i t s t r e s s e d re fo rm a t i o n r a t h e r th a n r e g e n e r a tio n and th e new b i r t h ; and 40 Edward F ow ler, The D esign o f C h r l s t l a n l t y . o r a p l a i n demons t r a t i on and Improvement o f t h i s P r o p o s i t i o n , t h a t t h e ' In d u in g Men" w ith inw ard r e a l R ig h te o u s n e s s o r t r u e h o lin e s s was th e tf ltlm a te end o f o ur S a v io u r* s com ing i n t o th e w o rld , and i s th e g r e a t Intendm ent o f h i s B le s s e d G ospel, 1671. Edward Fow ler, D.D*I (1652-17147, l a t e r B ishop o f G lo u c e s te r, was a t t h i s tim e r e c t o r o f N o r t h i l l i n B e d fo rd s h ire . On th e p a s s a g e o f th e A ct o f U n ifo rm ity (1 6 6 2 ), Fow ler had a t f i r s t been I n c lin e d to feast h i s l o t w ith th e n o n c o n fo rm is ts , b u t had l a t e r conform ed. I t i s t h i s t h a t Bunyan r e f e r r e d to i n c a l l i n g F ow ler an " u n s ta b le w ea th erco c k s p i r i t . " Fow ler was a p p a re n tly unknown to Bunyan p e r s o n a lly , s in c e Bunyan s a id o f him : "I know you n o t by f a c e , much l e s s y o u r p e r s o n a l p r a c t i c e . . . " (John Bunyan, A D efence o f th e D o c trin e o f J u s t i f i c a t i o n , i n Works. I I , “ 314). 28 b e c a u se i t made to o l i g h t o f C h r i s t ’ s g r e a t s a c r i f i c e i n i t s c h a r a c t e r a s an e x p i a ti o n f o r human g u i l t . More o v e r, th e n o n c o n fo rm ist so u l o f Bunyan r e b e l l e d a t F o w le r’ s s ta te m e n t t h a t i n m a tte r s o f w o rsh ip one h a s le a v e to do w hatever i s commahded by s u p e r io r s o r made c o n v e n ie n t by custom . These o b je c ti o n s to F o w le r’ s te a c h in g s Bunyan s e t f o r t h a t some le n g th , and w ith no l i t t l e vehemence, i n a t r e a t i s e d a te d "From P ris o n , 1671 [ O . S . a n d e n t i t l e d A D efense o f th e D o c trin e o f J u s t i f i c a t i o n By F a lth i n J e s u s C h r i s t . Having d e a l t " r a t h e r c l o s e l y and i n some r e s p e c t s n o t a l t o g e t h e r f a i r l y " w ith F o w le r’ s b o o k , Bunyan had n o t lo n g to w ait f o r an answ er, which came f o r t h u n d er th e t i t l e D ir t Wlp*t O f f : o r A m a n ife s t D isc o v e ry o f th e 41 T h is summary, o f B u n y an 's t r e a t i s e i s g iv e n by John Brown, John Bunyan, 175-6. 42 .. A D efence o f th e D o c trin e o f . l u s t l f i c a t l o n , By F a ith i n J e s u s C h rl s t Shewing, T rue G ospel- H o lln e s s flo w s Trom Thence. Or^ Mr. F o w l e r ^ P re te n d e d D esign o f C hrl s t l a n l t y , B ro v e d T o T5e n o th in g more th e n to tra m p l e u n d er Foot th e Blood o f th e Son o f God; and th e I d o l i z i n g o f M an's ow nT K lghteousness. As 5 l s o , How w h ile he p r e te n d s to he a M in is te r o f th e Church o f E ngland, he o v e rth ro w e th th e wholesom D o c tr in e c o n ta in e d i n th e 1 0 th . 1 1 th . and 1 5 th . o f th e T h ir ty Mine A r t i c l e s o f th e same, and t h a t he f a l l e t h i n w ith " th e Q uaker, and R om anist, a g a in s t them . By John ~ Bunyan. P r i n t e d f o r F r a n c is Sm ith, a t th e E le p h a n t and C a s tle , w ith o u t Tem ple-B ar, 1672. 43 John Brown, John Bunyan, 218. 29 G ross Ig n o ra n c e , E rro n e o u sn e ss and m ost U n c h r is tia n and 44 Wicked S p i r i t o f one John Bunyan, Though t h i s book ap p e a re d anonym ously, p r o f e s s in g to be w r i t t e n on F ow ler*s b e h a lf by a f r i e n d who d id n o t w ish to d iv u lg e h i s name on th e o c c a s io n o f b e in g so m eanly em ployed, i t h as g e n e r a lly b een a c c e p te d a s th e work o f F ow ler h im s e lf, w r i t t e n p ro b a b ly w ith th e a s s i s t a n c e o f h i s c u r a t e . 4® Bunyan made no r e j o i n d e r to t h i s a t t a c k , f o r he was by t h i s tim e engaged i n c o n tro v e rs y t h a t con cern ed him more n e a r ly — c o n tro v e rs y w ith th e B a p t i s t s r e g a r d in g b a p tism and communion. W hile s t i l l i n p r i s o n Bunyan had composed A Con f e s s i o n o f my F a ith , And A Reason o f my P r a c t i c e , 46 a D ir t Wip *t O ff: o r A m a n ife s t D isco v ery o f th e G ross Ig n o ra n c e , E rro n e o u sn e ss and m ost U n c h r is tia n and Wicked! S p i r i t o f one John Bunyan, L a y -p re a c h e r in Bed f o r d , Which he "Eatfc shewed i n a V ile P am phlet P u b lls h * t f hlm , a g a ln st~ T h e D esign o f ‘ C h r i s t i a n i t y . W ritte n f o r e d i s a b u s i n g o f th o s e poor d e lu d e d p e o p le t h a t a r e f o llo w e r s o f him , and such I l k e T e a c h e rs , and to p re v e n t t h e i r f a r t h e r d e lu d in g o f o t h e r s , and p o is o n in g them w ith L ic e n tio u s and d e s t r u c t i v e P r i n c i p l e s . London: P r i n t e d by R. N. f o r R ic h a rd R oyston B o o k - s e lle r to H is most S acred M ajesty , 1672. 45 A lex an d er Gordon (D ic tio n a r y of N a tio n a l B io g ra p h y , V II, 524) s t a t e s t h a t t h i s book i s "w ith to o much re a s o n c o n n e c te d w ith Fow ler, n o r i s th e m a tte r mended by th e s u g g e s tio n t h a t f o r some of h i s v o c a b u la ry o f ab u se he may have been I n d e b te d to h i s c u r a t e . w W illiam York T in d a ll sim ply sp e ak s o f th e work a s w r i t t e n by F ow ler. 4® [John B unyan], A C o n fe s sio n o f my F a i t h , And A R eason o f my P r a c t i c e : Or, W ith who, and who n o t , I can h o ld C h u rc h -fe llo w s h lp , o r th e Communion o f S a i n t s . Shewing, By d iv e r s e A rgum ents, t h a t though JE d a re n o t Communicate w ith th e open P rophane, y e t ,1 can w ith th o s e v i s i b l e S a in ts t h a t d i f f e r about W a te r-b a p tlsm . W herein I s a l s o d is c o u r s e d w h eth er t h a t b e th e e n t r l n g O rdinance In to F e llo w s h ip , o r n o . London: P r i n t e d f o r F ra n c is Sm ith, a t th e E le p h a n t and C a s tle w ith o u t Tem ple-B ar, 1672. 30 k in d o f work, a s T in d a ll rem a rk s, "which i t was custom ary f o r b o th in d i v i d u a l s and c h u rc h e s to i s s u e i n e x p la n a tio n o f t h e i r p r e j u d i c e s . " 47 T h is t r a c t c o n ta in e d , i n a d d i t i o n to a s ta te m e n t o f B unyan's t h e o lo g ic a l view s, a lo n g e x p la n a tio n of h i s b e l i e f on th e o rd in a n c e o f b a p tism , a s w e ll a s a s ta te m e n t o f h i s c o n v ic tio n , a s an open-communion B a p t i s t , t h a t p io u s i n t e r c o u r s e w ith p a e d o b a p ti s ts d i s t i n g u ish e d by s a i n t l i n e s s , o r th e t r u e b a p tism o f th e s p i r i t , r a t h e r th a n th e ou tw ard cerem ony, was n o t s i n f u l . T h is t r e a t i s e o c c a s io n e d two r e p l i e d from th e B a p t i s t s . One o f th e s e , Some S e rio u s R e f l e c t i o n s , 4^ was g iv e n f o r t h by W illiam K i f f l n and Thomas P a u l ; 4® th e o th e r , T ru th O ut- 47 W illiam York T in d a ll, op. c i t . , 54. 4® W illiam K i f f i n and Thomas P a u l, Some S e rio u s R e f l e c t i o n s On t h a t P a r t o f Mr. B u n io n 's C o n fe ssio n o f F a i t h : T ouching. . . Communion w ith U n b a p tiz e d . P e rs o n s . L ondo n im p rin ted f o r F ra n c is Smlth^ 1673 (W illiam York T in d a l l, o p . c i t . , 2 4 0 ). 4,0 About Thomas Paul no in f o rm a tio n i s a v a i l a b l e ; W illiam K if f ln (1 6 1 6 -1 7 0 1 ), how ever, was a w ell-know n f i g u r e o f th e tim e , b e in g a w e a lth y and i n f l u e n t i a l London mer ch an t and a le a d e r among th e London B a p t i s t s . Ivim ey, who w ro te K if f ln * a b io g ra p h y (1 8 3 3 ), made no m ention i n k * 8 H is to ry o f th e E n g lis h B a p t i s t s o f K if f ln * s J o in in g P au l i n th e w r i t i n g o f t h i s t r e a t i s e ; i n s t e a d he s t a t e d t h a t ''th e o n ly work p u b lis h e d by Mr. K i f f i n " was A Sober D is c o u rs e o f R ig h t to Church Communion (1 6 8 1 ), m en tio n ed below (page ) . T h is may h av e b ee n th e o n ly work t h a t K i f f i n w ro te by h im s e lf , b u t h i s c o l l a b o r a t i o n w ith P aul I*1 Some S e rio u s R e f l e c t i o n s was a p p a r e n tly acknow ledged a t th e tim e , f o r Bunyan m entioned lilm by name i n h i s r e p l y to t h a t t r e a t i s e . Ivim ey p r a is e d K i f f l n h ig h ly th ro u g h o u t h i s H is to r y o f th e E n g lis h B a p t i s t s ( f o r exam ple, I I , 296-328; I I I , 312-22)', and even Bunyan seemed to s h a re a k in d ly f e e l in g tow ard K i f f l n . I n h i s p r e f a c e to D if f e r e n c e s i n Judg ment ( Works, I I , 6 1 7 ), a f t e r r e f e r r i n g to th e "unhandsome b ra n d s" t h a t h i s b r e t h r e n had l a i d upon him , Bunyan added: "What Mr. K i f f i n h a th done i n th e m a tte r I f o r g iv e , and lo v e him none th e w orse, b u t must s ta n d by ray p r i n c i p l e s . . . . " 31 w eighing E rro r,.5® by Jo h n Denne, th e son o f Henry Denne who had d efen d ed Bunyan f o u r te e n y e a rs e a r l i e r . B u n y an 's s i answ er, D if f e r e n c e s I n Judgm ent ab o u t W ater- B aptism , was a d d re s s e d to K i f f l n and P a u l, whose t r e a t i s e had s t a t e d th e c o n s e r v a tiv e B a p tis t p o in t o f view r e g a r d in g th e o rd in a n c e s o f b a p tism and communion. I n t h i s work Bunyan r e s t a t e d h i s p l e a f o r t o l e r a t i o n o f th o s e who w ere m isg u id ed i n t h e m a tte r o f b a p tis m b u t w ere n e v e r t h e le s s " v i s i b l e s a i n t s . " Thomas P au l a p p e a rs to h av e r e p l i e d 52 to B unyan's second book i n a pam phlet now l o s t , and Henry D 'A nvers53 d id r e p ly i n a p o s t s c r i p t to h i s B A John Denne, T ru th O utw eighing E r r o r , b e in g an Answer to a T r e a t i s e o f J . Bunyan * s e n t l t u l e d A C onfes s io n o f h i s F a i t h . London: P r i n t e d f o r th e A uthor, and s o ld by F. Sm ith, 1673. Frank M ott H a r ris o n (in John Brown, John Bunyan, 223) c a r e l e s s l y a t t r i b u t e s t h i s work to W illiam Penn i n s t e a d o f to John Denne. 51 D if f e r e n c e s i n Judgm ent ab o u t W ater-B ap tism , No Bar to Communion: Or To Communicate w ith S a i n t s , a s ‘ S a i n t s , pro v ed l a w f u l . In Answer to a Book w r i t t e n by ‘ th e B a p t i s t s , and p u b lis h e d by Mr. T .P . and Mr. W.K. e n t l t u l e d , Some S e r io u s R e f l e c t i o n s on t h a t p a r t o f Mr. Bunyan '~i~ Conf e s s i on o f F a ith , to u c h in g C hurch- Communion w ith U n b ap tlzed B e l i e v e r s . W herein, T h e ir O b je c tio n s and A rgum ents a r e A nsw ered, and th e D o c trin e o f Communion s t i l l A s s e rte d and V in d ic a te d . Here i s a l s o Mr. Henry J e s s e 's Judgm ents i n th e c a s e , f u l l y d e c l a r i n g th e D o c trin e 1 have A s s e r te d . " By John Bunyan. London: P r i n t e d f o r John W ilk in s, and a r e t o be s o ld a t h i s Shop i n E xch an g e-A lley , n e x t d o o r to th e E xchange-.C offee-H ouse, o v e r a g a in s t th e R oyal-E xchange, 1673. 52 W illiam York T in d a ll, op., c i t . , 56. 53 Henry D 'A nvers (d. 1686 o r 87) was, a c c o rd in g to Ivim ey (H is to ry o f th e E n g lis h B a p t i s t s , I I , 335), "a p e rs o n o f g r e a t n o te among th e B a p t i s t s , h a v in g d escen d e d from v ery r e p u t a b l e p a r e n t s , and b e in g o f c o n s id e r a b le l e a r n i n g , o f g r e a t p i e t y , and e x te n s iv e u s e f u l n e s s ." 32 T r e a t i s e o f B aptlsm P4 Bunyan*s p u b l i c a t i o n o f P eace a b le P r i n c i p l e s and T ru e , 55 In answ er to b o th P aul and D*Anvers, was In te n d e d to p u t an end to t h e c o n tro v e rs y , John Denne, how ever, made one more d i r e c t r e f u t a t i o n 56 o f B u n y an 's p r i n c i p l e s i n h i s H y p o c rIs le D e te c te d , and W illiam K if f ln , iii a t r e a t i s e w r i t t e n some y e a rs l a t e r , a g a in an sw ered B unyan's arg u m en ts, th o u g h w lth - 5 7 o u t m e n tio n in g Bunyan by name. The two o t h e r c o n tr o v e r te d m a tte r s In w hich Bunyan to o k a p a r t , t h a t c o n c e rn in g th e r i g h t o f th e women o f a c o n g r e g a tio n to meet by th e m se lv e s f o r 54 Henry D 'A nvers, A T r e a t i s e o f B a p tlsm . - .And, A B r i e f Answer to Mr. Bunyan ab o u t Communion w ith P e rso n s U n b a p tlz e d . London: P r i n t e d f o r F r a n c is Sm ith, 1673. 55 P e a c e a b le P r i n c i p l e s and T ru e : o r , A B r ie f Answer t o Mr. D 'A nvers and Mr. P a u la s Books a g a i n s t my C o n fe ssio n o f F a i t h , and~~D lfferences i n Judgm ent about B aptism no B ar to Communion. W herein t h e i r £jcr 1 p t u r e l e s s n o tio n s a r e o v erth ro w n and my P e a c e a b le P r i n c i p l e s s t i l l m a in ta in e d . By J . Bunyan. 1674. 56 John Denne, H y p o c rIs le D e te c te d , o r P eace a b le and T rue P r i n c i p l e s a s so p re te n d e d by John Bunyan, tr y e d and found F a ls e and Unsound, 1674. No copy o f t h i s work I s known to e x i s t (W illiam York T in d a ll, o p . c i t . ♦ 2 4 1 ). 5 7 W illiam K i f f i n , A Sober D isc o u rse o f R ig h t to Church-Communion. W herein I s p ro v e d . . . T hat no Un b a p tlz e d p e rs o n may be R e g u la rly a d m itte d to th e L ords S upper. London: P r i n t e d by G-eorge L a rk in , f o r Enoch P r o s s e r , 1681. 33 w o r s h i p , a n d t h a t c o n c e rn in g th e se v e n th day s a b b a th ,59 b ro u g h t f o r t h no w r i t t e n r e f u t a t i o n s t h a t h av e been p r e se rv e d . The t r a c t s d is c u s s e d above, t h e r e f o r e , c o n s t i t u t e th e body o f m a te r ia l upon which B unyan's r e p u t a t i o n a s c o n t r o v e r s i a l and d o c t r i n a l w r i t e r can be r e c o n s t r u c t e d . And th e s e t r a c t s , to g e th e r w ith th e docum ents l i s t e d above— th e p r e f a t o r y l e t t e r s , th e m a t e r i a l announc in g and accom panying th e f i r s t f o l i o volume o f B u n y an 's w orks, th e b io g r a p h ic a l s k e tc h e s o f Bunyan and th e v a r io u s works c o n ta in in g i n c i d e n t a l r e f e r e n c e s to him , s e rv e , I n c o n ju n c tio n w ith a c o n s id e r a ti o n o f th e number o f e d i t i o n s th ro u g h w hich h i s v a r io u s works p a s s e d , a s th e b a s i s on w hich an e s tim a te may b e form ed o f B unyan's r e p u t a t i o n 5 3 Bunyan d is p o s e d of t h i s problem i n h i s A Case o f C o n scien ce R e so lv e d V iz. W hether, where a Church o f IS h rls t i s S i t u a t e , i t i s th e Duty o f th e Women o f t h a t "C ongregation,' O r d i n a r i l y , and by A p p o in tm en t, to S e p a r a te th e m se lv e s from t h e i r B r e th re n , and so to Assem ble t o - f e t h e r , to p erfo rm some p a r t s o f D iv in e W orship, a s r a y e r , &c. w ith o u t t h e i r Men? And The A rgum ents made u se o f f o r t h a t P r a c t i c e , Exam ined. B£ 'John Bunyan. London: P r i n t e d f o r B en j. A lsop, a t th e A ngel and B ib le i n th e P o u ltr e y , 1683. ® 9 Bunyan s t a t e d h i s view s i n th e t r e a t i s e e n t i t l e d Q u e stio n s About th e N a tu re and P e r p e tu it y o f th e S ev en th - day S a b b a th . And P r o o f , T hat t h e F i r s t day o f th e Week I s th e t r u e C h r ls tla n - S a b b a th . By Jo h n Bunyan. London: P r i n t e d f o r Ngth. Ponder, a t th e Peacock i n th e P o u ltr y , 1685. 60 C opies o f many o f th e s e t r a c t s and p am p h lets a r e n o t a v a i l a b l e f o r t h i s stu d y ; i n such c a s e s q u o ta tio n s a r e ta k e n , i f p o s s i b l e , from c i t a t i o n s g iv e n by c r i t i c s and b io g r a p h e r s . 34 a s d o c t r i n a l , c o n t r o v e r s i a l , and a u to b io g r a p h ic a l w r i t e r , and a s p o e t, n a r r a t o r , and a l l e g o r i s t , i n th e s e v e n te e n th c e n tu ry . BUNYAN AS A DOCTRINAL AND PRACTICAL WRITER INTRODUCTION In th e r e l i g i o u s w orld o f h i s own day Bunyan was famous a s a p r e a c h e r many y e a r s b e f o r e he happened to w r ite th e book on which h i s l a s t i n g fame a s a w r i t e r now r e s t s . In d eed , th ro u g h o u t h i s l i f e he was u s u a lly r e f e r r e d t o , n o t a s a w r i t e r , b u t as a p r e a c h e r who, fo llo w in g th e custom o f la y p r e a c h e r s o f h i s tim e, made u se o f th e book a s w e ll a s th e p u l p i t i n d is s e m in a tin g h i s te a c h in g s . Bunyan th e d o c t r i n a l w r i t e r , t h e r e f o r e , can n o t b e c o n s id e re d a s w holly a p a r t from Bunyan th e p r e a c h e r . In d eed , a s h i s e a r l y e d i t o r s p o in te d o u t, Bunyan*s p u rp o se i n b o th th e s e r o l e s was th e same: H is D esign was, i n P re a c h in g , and P u b lis h in g (w hat he p r e a c h 'd ) to recommend th e T ru th and G race o f God to a l l , t h a t e i t h e r h e a rd him , o r sh o u ld r e a d h i s W o r k s .... Each o f th e two s e c tio n s o f t h i s d is c u s s io n , t h e r e f o r e , i s I n tro d u c e d by a c o n s id e r a ti o n o f Bunyan as a p r e a c h e r , a s seen, f i r s t , by h i s b r e th r e n and f r i e n d s , and, second, by h i s a n t a g o n i s t s . N e ith e r t h i s c o n s id e r a ti o n o f Bunyan a s a doc t r i n a l w r i t e r , n o r th e fo llo w in g d is c u s s io n o f him a s a 61 E benezer C h an d ler and Jo h n W ilson, "To th e S e rio u s , J u d ic io u s and I m p a r tia l R e a d e r ,1 1 ojo. c i t . , v. 36 c o n t r o v e r s i a l i s t , makes an a tte m p t to d e f in e h i s th e o lo g i c a l p o s i t i o n , n o r y e t to enum erate th e d o c t r i n a l p o i n t s on which he d i f f e r e d from h i s a n t a g o n i s t s o r even from h i s f r i e n d s . The d i s c u s s i o n s a r e m erely a r e c o r d o f t h e o p in io n s e x p re s s e d c o n c e rn in g h i s te a c h in g s . "AN APOSTLE OP OUR AGE" As th e a u th o r o f d o c t r i n a l and p r a c t i c a l works Bunyan was r e g a rd e d w ith h ig h esteem and v e n e r a tio n by h i s s e c t a r i a n c o n te m p o ra rie s . He was, how ever, more renowned a s a p r e a c h e r th a n as a w r i t e r , a t l e a s t u n t i l th e p u b l i c a t i o n o f h i s P i l g r i m 1s P ro g re s s i n th e l a t t e r y e a r s o f h i s l i f e . A b r i e f c o n s id e r a ti o n o f th e r e p u ta t i o n t h a t Bunyan g a in e d by h i s e v a n g e l i s t i c elo q u en ce i n th e p u l p i t , t h e r e f o r e , w i l l s e rv e a s a back g ro u n d f o r a d is c u s s io n o f th e fame as a sound d o c t r i n a l te a c h e r t h a t he a t t a i n e d by th e e x e r c is e o f h i s pen. The r e f e r e n c e s to Bunyan a s a "v e ry a b le and ex c e l l e n t m in is te r,* ® ^ a s "an e x c e l l e n t , em in en t, and famous g o s p e l m i n i s t e r , a r e num erous, and t h e r e can C h a rle s Doe, "R easons why C h r i s t i a n P eo p le sh o u ld Prom ote by S u b s c r ip tio n s th e P r i n t i n g i n P o lio th e L abours o f Mr. John B unyan," Works o f Jo h n Bunvan. I l l , 764. fi ^ P ro p o s a ls f o r p u b lis h in g B u n y an 's works, Works o f John Bunyan, I I I , lx x x . 37 be no doubt a s to th e p o p u la r a p p e a l o f h i s e n t h u s i a s t i c p re a c h in g , to l a r g e c o n g re g a tio n s o f h i s d a y . The a t t i tu d e o f i d o l a t r o u s v e n e r a tio n f e l t by a t l e a s t some o f h i s p a r i s h i o n e r s to w ard t h e i r fam ous p r e a c h e r may be seen i n th e N a r r a tiv e o f Agnes Beaumont, who, r i d i n g b e h in d Bunyan to a n e ig h b o rin g m e e tin g -h o u se , f e l t h e r h e a r t " p u f f t vp w^*1 p r id e " a t b e in g seen i n h i s company. H I b e g a n ,” a s ,s h e n a iv e ly r e l a t e s , " to haue h ig h th o u g h ts o f my s e l f e , and p ro u d to th in c k e I sh o u ld r i d e b e h in d fiit such A man as he w a s .. . . * A cc o rd in g t o Bunyan’ s s e c t a r i a n e u l o g i s t s , t h a t w o rth y 's a b i l i t y i n p re a c h in g , a s i n w r i t i n g , had b een b estow ed upon him "n o t by human a r t , b u t by th e S p i r i t gg o f C h r i s t , ” H aving, a s C h a rle s Doe r e l a t e s , "a g i f t o f u t t e r a n c e , and lo v e to th e c o n v ic tio n o f s in n e r s , ” Bunyan "p re a c h e d ab o u t th e c o u n try th e same s a l v a t i o n he fo u n d by e x p e rie n c e h im s e lf sto o d i n n eed o f , by f a i t h and r e p e n t a n c e .. . . ,|66 I n t h i s la y th e power o f 64 The N a r r a tiv e o f th e P e r s e c u tio n o f Agnes Beaumont i n 1674 (0. §T H a r ris o n , e d i t o r ; London: C o n s ta b le and Company, 1 9 2 9 ), 16. A gnes' f e e l i n g f o r h e r p a s t o r , a s th e e d i t o r n o te s ( x iv - x v ) , had p a s s e d from d e v o tio n to a d o r a tio n . 65 John B u rto n , "To th e R e a d e r ," p r e f a t o r y e p i s t l e to Some C o s o e l- tr u th s Opened, Works o f John Bunyan. I I , 141. 66 C h a rle s Doe, "The S t r u g g l e r , " Works o f John Bunyan, I I I , 765. 38 his appeal: H is P re a c h in g , f o r th e M a tte r o f i t , was much w hat he b e f o r e had th e Savour o f on h i s own S p i r i t , (h e w alk in g c l o s e w ith God) and t h e r e f o r e came from him w ith no sm all D egree o f L i v e l i n e s s an d V ig o u r.67 P re a c h in g from such a back g ro u n d o f p e r s o n a l r e l i g i o u s e x p e rie n c e , Bunyan s to o d i n no n eed of w o rld ly le a r n i n g , “f o r a s God s a id to Moses, he t h a t made th e l i p s and h e a r t , can g iv e e lo q u e n c e and wisdom, w ith o u t e x t r a o r - 68 d ln a r y a c q u ire m e n ts i n a u n i v e r s i t y . " The power t h a t Bunyan e x e r c is e d o v e r h i s h e a r e r s was e x tr a o r d in a r y . Prom h i s f i r s t a tte m p ts a t e x e r c is in g h i s g i f t p r i v a t e l y b e f o r e a few b r e th r e n , who p ro f e s s e d “t h e i r S o u ls v e ry g r e a t l y e d i f i e d t h e r e b y , " 6^ to h i s l a s t sermon, p re a c h e d s h o r t l y b e f o r e h i s d e a th , h e 67 E benezer C h an d ler and John W ilson, “To t h e S e rio u s , J u d ic io u s and I m p a r tia l R e a d e r ," o p . c i t . , v. “A C o n tin u a tio n o f Mr. B unyan's L i f e , " Works o f John Bunyan. I , 63. Cf. a l s o C h a rle s Doe: “Our Bunyan b e in g so g r a c i o u s ly , by th e Lord o f t h e h a r v e s t, t h r u s t i n t o la b o u r, c l e a r l y shows to u s . . . t h a t God i s n o t bound to human means o f le a r n e d e d u c a tio n (though l e a r n i n g may be u s e f u l i n i t s p l a c e ) , b u t can, when he w i l l , make a m i n i s t e r o f th e g o sp e l w ith o u t m an's f o r e c a s t o f e d u c a tio n , and i n s p i t e o f a l l t h e men in th e w orld t h a t would oppose i t , though i t be above s i x te e n h u n d red y e a r s a f t e r th e a p o s t l e s " (C h a rle s Doe, "R easons why C h r i s t i a n P eople sh o u ld Prom ote by Sub s c r i p t i o n s , " e t c . , Works o f John Bunyan. I l l , 7 6 4 ). "Some A ccount o f th e L if e and D eath o f Mr. John B unyan," o£. c i t . . x l . 39 had th e a b i l i t y to move h i s l i s t e n e r s : In d eed , i n th e b e g in n in g o f h i s M in is tr y , God d id own him i n t h a t Work, beyond what i s o r d in a r y : And i n h i s l a t t e r y e a r s , few , i f any, were more s u c c e s s f u l i n t h e i r Work, we mean, w ith r e s p e c t to C o n v ersio n . God was w ith him from f i r s t to l a s t . . . . 70 The f r i e n d who v i s i t e d Bunyan i n p r is o n r e l a t e d t h a t i n th e m id st o f a l l th e c o n fu s io n t h a t r e ig n e d i n t h a t p la c e , h e ’ ’h e a rd Mr. Bunyan b o th P re a c h and P ray w ith t h a t m ighty S p i r i t o f F a ith , and P le ro p h o ry o f D iv in e A s s is ta n c e , t h a t h a s made me s ta n d and w onder”; and C h a rle s Doe d e c la r e d t h a t Thousands o f C h r i s t i a n s i n c o u n try and c i t y , can t e s t i f y t h a t t h e i r co m fo rt u n d er h i s m in is t r y h a s been to a d m ira tio n , so t h a t t h e i r jo y h a th showed i t s e l f by much w eeping. A contem p o rary e l e g i s t , d e s c r ib in g th e em o tio n a l p r o f u n d ity o f B u n y an 's p re a c h in g , a ls o n o te d i t s v i s i b l e e f f e c t on Bunyan’s l i s t e n e r s : When f o r c o n v ic tio n , on th e law he f e l l , You’d th in k you h e a r d th e dam ned's g ro a n s i n h e l l : And th e n a lm o st a t every word he spake, Mens l i p s would q u iv e r and t h e i r h e a r t s wou’d ach : 70 E benezer C h a n d ler and John W ilson, ”To th e S e rio u s , J u d ic io u s and I m p a r tia l R e a d e r," ojo. c i t . , v. 71 "Some A ccount o f th e L if e and D eath o f Mr. John Bunyan, * oja. c i t . , x l i . 7 ^ C h a rle s Doe, "The S t r u g g l e r , " Works o f John Bunyan. I l l , 766. 40 But when he came to speak t ' a d o u b tin g s o u l, H is v e r y b o w els would w ith in him r o u l . 73 But B u n y an 's e f f e c t i v e a p p e a l in f lu e n c e d n o t o n ly h i s f r i e n d l y , b u t a l s o h i s a n t a g o n i s t i c , h e a r e r s ; th o s e who came to s c o f f rem a in ed to p r a y . 74 B u n y a n 's anonymous 7 ^ E p ita p h to A R e la tio n o f th e Im prisonm ent o f Mr. John Bunyan, M in i s te r of the~~Gospel a t B e d fo rd , i n 'November, 1660. H is E x am in atio n b e f o r e th e J u s t i c e s , H Is "Con£ereTice w ith th e C le rk o f th e P e a c e , what ^Passed be tw een th e Ju d g e s and H is W ife when she p r e s e n te d a P e t i t i o n f o r h i s D e liv e r a n c e , &c. , q u o te d by W illiam Zork T in d a ll, op. c i t . , 171. T his r e l a t i o n o f B u n y an 's im prisonm ent was l e f t i n m a n u s c rip t u n t i l 1765, b u t th e e p ita p h i s e v id e n tly by a co n tem p o rary . The e p ita p h i s n o t p r i n t e d by O ffo r. 74 An o f t q u o te d in s t a n c e of t h i s i s r e l a t e d by th e a u th o r o f th e l i t t l e s k e tc h o f B unyan's l i f e pub l i s h e d i n 1700: Bunyan "b e in g to p re a c h i n a church, in a c o u n try v i l l a g e (b e fo re th e R e s t o r a t i o n o f k in g C h a r le s ) i n C a m b rid g e sh ire , an d th e p e o p le b e in g g a th e r e d to g e th e r i n th e church-ya;rd, a Cambridge s c h o la r , and none o f th e s o b e r e s t o f them n e i t h e r , e n q u ire d what th e m eaning o f t h a t c o n c o u rse o f p e o p le was, i t b e in g a w eek-day; and b e in g t o l d t h a t one. Bunyan a t i n k e r was to p r e a c h th e r e , he gave th e boy tw opence t o h o ld h i s h o r s e , sa y in g he was r e s o lv e d to h e a r th e t i n k e r p r a t e ; and so h e went i n t o th e ch u rc h t o h e a r him . But Cod met him th e r e , by h i s m in i s tr y , so t h a t he came o u t much changed, and would by h i s g o o d -w ill, h e a r none b u t th e t i n k e r f o r a lo n g tim e a f t e r ; he h im s e lf becom ing a v ery em inent m i n i s t e r i n t h a t c o u n try a f te r w a r d s " ( c i t e d by Thomas C rosby, The H is to r y o f th e E n g lis h B a p t i s t s . I l l , 6 5 ). John Brown, b a s in g h i s c o n je c tu r e on a t r a d i t i o n a s re c o r d e d i n th e m a n u sc rip t memoirs o f th e R everend John C eard, m i n i s t e r o f th e B a p tis t church a t H itc h in from 1775 to 1831, th o u g h t t h a t th e C a m b rid g e 's c h o la r m ight " p o s s ib ly " have b een W illiam B edford, th e fo u n d e r i n a f t e r d ay s o f C o n g re g a tio n a lism i n R oyston (Jo h n Brown, John Bunyan. 114; se e a l s o , 233, and n o te by P ran k 1/fott H a r ris o n , 2 3 8 ). 41 f r i e n d w ro te o f him : When he was a t l e i s u r e from w r i t i n g and te a c h in g , he o f t e n came up to London, and t h e r e went among th e c o n g re g a tio n s o f th e non c o n f o r m is ts , and u se d h i s t a l e n t s to t h e g r e a t good l i k i n g o f t h e h e a r e r s ; and even some, to whom he had b een m is r e p r e s e n te d , upon th e a c - e o u n t o f h i s e d u c a tio n , were co n v in ced o f h i s w o rth and know ledge i n s a c re d th in g s , a s p e r c e iv in g him to be a man o f sound judgm ent, d e l i v e r i n g h im s e lf p l a i n l y and p o w e rfu lly ; insom uch t h a t many who came s p e c t a t o r s , f o r n o v e l t y 's sak e, r a t h e r th a n to be e d i f i e d and Im proved, went away w e ll s a t i s f i e d w ith w hat th e y h e a rd , and w ondered, a s th e Jews d i d a t t h e a p o s t l e s , v i z . , whence t h i s man s h o u ld have t h e s e t h i n g s . . . . 75 As t h e w r i t e r o f th e e le g y on Bunyan n o te d , He from above h ad g a i n 'd t h a t h e a v e n ly a r t * To c a p t i v a t e th e s t o u t e s t s i n n e r 's h e a r t . 75 The most s i n c e r e and b e a u t i f u l t r i b u t e to th e power o f B u n y an 's p r e a c h in g i n w in n in g to h i s s id e an u n sy m p a th e tic l i s t e n e r i s t h a t o f C h a rle s Doe. H e a rin g t h a t Bunyan came som etim es to London to p re a c h , Doe "had a mind to h e a r h im ," b e c a u se h e had r e a d some o f B u n y an 's books and was a c q u a in te d w ith h i s "fam e." "And a c c o rd in g l y , " he r e l a t e d , " I d i d a t Mr. M o re 's m e e tin g i n a p r i v a t e h ouse; and h i s t e x t was, 'T he f e a r s o f th e w icked s h a l l come upon him, b u t th e d e s i r e s o f th e r i g h t e o u s s h a l l be g r a n t e d '" : 75 "A C o n tin u a tio n o f Mr. B unyan's L i f e , " Works o f John Bunyan. I , 63. 76 E p ita p h to A R e la tio n o f th e Im prisonm ent o f Mr. Jo h n Bunyan, c i t e d by W illiam York T i n d a l l , p p . c i t . , 171. ----- 42 But I was o ffe n d e d a t th e t e x t , b e c a u s e n o t a New T estam ent one, for- th e n I was v ery j e a lo u s o f b e in g c h e a te d by m e n 's s o p h i s t i c a t in g o f S c r i p t u r e to se rv e t h e i r tu r n o r o p in io n , I b e in g th e n come i n t o New T estam en t l i g h t i n th e lo v e o f God and th e p ro m is e s , h a v in g had enough f o r th e p r e s e n t o f th e h i s t o r i c a l and d o in g f o r f a v o u r i n th e O ld T e s ta m ent. But Mr. Bunyan went on, and p re a c h e d so New T e s ta m e n t-lik e t h a t he made me a d m ire , and weep f o r jo y , and g iv e him my a f f e c t i o n s . And he was th e f i r s t man t h a t e v e r I h e a rd p re a c h to my u n e n lig h te n e d u n d e r s ta n d in g and e x p e rie n c e , f o r m ethought a l l h i s serm ons were a d a p te d to my c o n d itio n , and had a p t s i m i l i t u d e s , b e in g f u l l o f th e lo v e o f God and th e manner o f i t s s e c r e t w orking upon th e s o u l, and o f th e so u l u n d er th e se n se o f i t , t h a t I c o u ld weep f o r jo y m ost p a r t o f h i s serm ons; and so by a l e t t e r , I in tr o d u c e d m y se lf in t o h i s a c q u a in ta n c e , and, in d e e d , I h ave n o t s in c e met w ith a man I have l i k e d so The v a s t c o n g r e g a tio n s t h a t g a th e r e d to h e a r Bun yan p re a c h a r e m e n tio n e d by many co n tem p o rary w r i t e r s and r e c o r d e d i n v a r io u s t r a d i t i o n s . On th e o c c a s io n o f Bunyan*s a p p e a rin g , i n 1672, " to e d ify " i n t h e b a rn o f J o s i a s Roughed, f o r I n s ta n c e , " th e p la c e was so th ro n g e d , t h a t many w ere c o n s tr a in e d to s ta y w ith o u t, though th e rpQ h o u se was very s p a c i o u s . . . . " As th e e n t r i e s i n th e Church Book i n d i c a t e , 7® 77 C h a rle s Doe, A C o l le c tio n of E x p e rie n c e o f th e Work o f G race, c i t e d by John Brown, Jo h n Bunvan. 369-70. 7® "A C o n tin u a tio n o f Mr. Bunyan*s L i f e , " Works o f John Bunyan. I , 63. A cco rd in g to John Brown t h i s g r e a t g a t h e r in g was n o t h e ld i n th e new m e e tin g -h o u se o f B ed fo rd c h u rc h (a s th e w r i t e r o f th e " C o n tin u a tio n " d e c l a r e s ) , b u t i n th e b a rn o f J o s i a s R o u g h e d 's o rc h a rd . 79 The C hurch Book o f Bunyan M e e tin g . 1650-1821 (F a c s im ile r e p r o d u c tio n , G.B. H a rris o n , e d i t o r ; London: J . M. Dent and Sons, 1 9 2 8 ). 43 th e p a s t o r a t e o f Bunyan ex ten d ed to a w id e s p re a d com m unity o f b e l i e v e r s , and a s Bunyan*s f i r s t e d i t o r s t e s t i f i e d , "H is so lo n g C o n tin u an c e i n th e Work o f t h e M in is tr y , was a g r e a t B le s s in g to th e Church o f C h r is t , in and a b o u t B e d fo rd i n p a r t i c u l a r , o v er w hich th e Holy G host made him O v e r s e e r . I n th e n e ig h b o rin g s h i r e o f H e r ts , as t r a d i t i o n r e c o r d s , Bunyan a ls o p re a c h e d to g r e a t num bers o f p e o p le . "I h av e u n d e r s to o d ," r e c o rd e d John G eard, “t h a t a th o u sa n d p e o p le have m e t . . . a t mid n ig h t to h e a r Mr. Bunyan p r e a c h “ i n a d a le i n Wain Wood, 81 n e a r P r e s to n . I n London, to o , as w e ll a s i n B ed fo rd and th e a d j o in in g c o u n t ie s , Bunyan p re a c h e d th e g o s p e l "w ith v e ry g r e a t s u c c e s s , b e in g m ig h tily f o llo w e d e v e r y w h e r e . H e i s known to h av e d e l i v e r e d a t l e a s t one o f h i s sermons a t th e m ost famous o f P u r ita n m e e tin g -h o u s e s i n London— 83 P in n e r s ' H a ll, and to have o c c a s io n a lly p re a c h e d from E b en ezer C h a n d ler and John W ilson, “To th e S e rio u s , J u d ic io u s and I m p a r tia l H e a d e r," op. c i t . , v. 81 John G eard, A necd o tes o f th e F o s te r Fam ily (1 8 3 2 ), c i t e d by W illiam Urwick, N onconform ity i n H e rts (London: H a z e ll, W atson, and V Iney, 1 8 8 4 ), 649. 82 C h a rle s Doe, "The S t r u g g l e r , " Works o f John Bunyan, I I I , 766. The t i t l e p a g e o f Bunyan*s The G re a tn e s s o f Soul and U n sp e a k a b le n e ss of th e L oss t h e r e o f s t a t e s t h a t t h i s sermon was " F i r s t ^ re a c h e d a t P i n n e r s ' H a l l ." Ivim ey (A H is to ry o f th e E n g lis h B a o t l s t s . I l l , 373) s t a t e s t h a t t h i s h a l l was " c o n s id e re d a s one o f th e m ost c e l e b r a t e d P la c e s o f w o rsh ip among th e P r o t e s t a n t D i s s e n t e r s ." 44 th e p u l p i t o f h i s f r i e n d John Owen84 i n W h ite 's A lle y , M o o r f ie ld s ,85 w here Owen’ s c o n g r e g a tio n in c lu d e d some prom i n e n t s e v e n te e n th c e n tu ry p e r s o n a g e s .86 John Owen, tho u g h a f r i e n d o f Bunyan, l e f t no r e c o r d e d comment on t h a t w r i t e r and p r e a c h e r . A cc o rd in g to Bunyan (P e a c e a b le P r i n c i p l e s and T ru e . Works. 1 1 ,6 4 9 ), " th e s o b e r Dr. Owen8 had a t one tim e a g r e e d to w r ite a p r e f a t o r y e p i s t l e to one o f B unyan’ s books, b u t was d i s suaded from d o in g so by c e r t a i n o f th e B a p t i s t s , who a f t e r w ards J e e r e d a t Bunyan on t h a t a c c o u n t. I t i s a ls o t r a d i t i o n a l l y re c o r d e d t h a t C h a rle s I I once ask ed Gwen how h e, b e in g so le a r n e d , c o u ld l i s t e n to th e p r e a c h in g o f an ig n o r a n t t i n k e r , t o which Owen i s s a id to h av e r e p l i e d : "May i t p le a s e y o u r M a je sty , c o u ld I p o s s e s s th e t i n k e r ’ s a b i l i t i e s f o r p r e a c h in g , I w ould m ost g la d ly r e l i n q u i s h a l l my l e a r n i n g ” (Jo se p y Ivim ey, The L if e o f John Bunyan, 177 n . ). 85 Jo h n Brown, John Bunyan, 368. 86 B io g ra p h e rs o f Bunyan a r e fo n d o f a s s o c i a t i n g w ith h i s name th e names o f p e r s o n s o f some Im p o rta n c e i n t h e s e v e n te e n th c e n tu ry who may o c c a s i o n a lly have h e a rd him p r e a c h . B ecause John Owen's c o n g re g a tio n In c lu d e d such p e r s o n s a s Lord C h a rle s F leetw o o d , S i r John and Lady H arto p , C o lo n el D esborough ( b r o t h e r - i n - l a w o f C rom w ell), S ir Thomas O verbury, Lady Abney, Lady Vere W ilk in so n , and th e C o u n tess o f A n g lesey (John Brown, John Bunyan, 3 6 8 ), th e s e p e r s o n s a r e som etim es spoken o f a s a d m ire rs o f Bun yan 's p re a c h in g , s in c e he i s known to have d e l i v e r e d an o c c a s io n a l sermon i n Owen's m e e tin g -h o u se . A s i m i l a r a tte m p t to a s s o c i a t e B u n y an 's name w ith t h a t o f an im p o rta n t p e rso n a g e o f th e s e v e n te e n th c e n tu r y , S ir John S h o rte r , Lord Mayor o f London, r e s u l t s from th e m i s i n t e r p r e t a t i o n o f a p a s s a g e i n th e E l l i s C o rresp o n d en ce (G. Agar E l l i s , e d i t o r ; London, 1829), I I , 161, where i t i s s t a t e d t h a t "Few d ay s b e f o r e d ie d B unian, h i s l o r d s h i p 's te a c h e r o r c h a p la in ; a man s a id to be g i f t e d i n t h a t way though once, a c o b b l e r ." T hat t h i s "B unian" was John Bun yan o f B ed fo rd i s a c c e p te d , f o r in s t a n c e , by Canon Thomp son i n h i s ac co u n t o f S i r John S h o r te r (Southw ark C ath e d ra l: I t s H is to r y and A n t i q u i t i e s , 2 2 9 ). "Of c o u r s e ," a s John Brown re m a rk s, " th e B e d fo rd s h ir e p a s t o r n e v e r was c h a p la in to th e Lord Mayor, " th o u g h i t i s n o t im p o s s ib le t h a t S h o r te r , whose I n t e r e s t i n n o n c o n fo rm ity i s w e ll known, may h ave o c c a s i o n a lly f re q u e n te d n o n c o n fo rm ist p la c e s o f w o rsh ip and may h av e h e a rd Bunyan p re a c h . The a tte m p t o f F rank M ott H a r ris o n (John Brown, John Bunyan, 380) to v e r i f y th e s u p p o s itio n t h a t S h o r te r was Bunyan' s f r i e n d i n d i c a t e s t h a t i t i s w ith o u t f o u n d a tio n . 45 "When Mr. Bunyan p re a c h e d i n L o n d o n ," s t a t e d h i s a d m ire r C h a rle s Doe, " i f th e r e were b u t one d a y 's n o t i c e g iv e n , th e r e would b e more p e o p le come t o g e t h e r to h e a r him p r e a c h th a n th e m e e tin g -h o u se would h o l d . " I h ave seen to h e a r him p re a c h , by my com- p u t a t i o n , a b o u t tw e lv e h u n d red a t a m orning l e c t u r e , by sev en o ’c lo c k , on a w orking day, i n th e d a rk w in te r tim e . I a l s o com puted a b o u t t h r e e th o u sa n d t h a t came to h e a r him, one L o r d 's - day, a t London, a t a to w n 's end m e e tin g -h o u se ; so t h a t h a l f w ere f a i n to go b ack a g a in f o r want o f room, and th e n h im s e lf was f a i n , a t a b ac k d o o r, to be p u l l e d a lm o st o v e r p e o p le to g e t u p s t a i r s to h i s p u lp it .® ” T hese f e llo w r e l i g i o n i s t s of Bunyan, who adm ired h i s p re a c h in g and fo u n d th e m se lv e s moved t o t e a r s by i t s f o r c e f u l n e s s and t r u t h , were a l s o th e y who d e r iv e d b en e f i t from Bunyan*s w r i t t e n te a c h in g s , who p o re d o v e r th e i n d i v i d u a l t r e a t i s e s a s th e y came from t h e p r e s s and s tr u g g le d to p r e s e r v e th e w r i t i n g s o f th e " g r e a t con v e r t '1 ^® i n a more perm anent fo rm . They w ere th e f r i e n d s who w ro te th e p r e f a c e s and com m endatory e p i s t l e s to th e v a r io u s works, r e f e r r e d to them w ith e u l o g i s t i c comment, d e fe n d e d them and t h e i r a u th o r a g a i n s t th e a t t a c k s o f h i s d e fa m e rs, and p a s s e d judgm ent on B u n y a n 's d o c t r i n a l and p r a c t i c a l w r i t i n g s as b e in g sound i n te a c h in g , o r y C h a rle s Doe, "The S tr u g g l e r , " Works o f John Bunyan. I l l , 7 6 6 -7 . C h a rle s Doe, "R easons why C h r i s t i a n P e o p le s h o u ld Prom ote by S u b s c r i p t i o n s , " e t c . , Works of John Bunyan. I l l , 765. 46 t o l e r a n t i n a t t i t u d e , and e f f e c t i v e and p o w e rfu l i n t h e i r acco m p lish m en t. T hat t h e r e was a demand f o r Bunyan*s e x p e rim e n ta l and p r a c t i c a l w r i tin g s on r e l i g i o n , a s w e ll a s f o r h i s p r i n t e d serm ons, and t h a t , t h e r e f o r e , th e y were w id ely r e a d by t h e d ev o u t o f h i s tim e , i s e v id e n t from th e s e v e r a l e d i t i o n s o f t h e v a r io u s works t h a t b o o k s e l l e r s found i t e x p e d ie n t o r p r o f i t a b l e t o i s s u e to m eet th e demands o f Bunyan*s re a d e rs .® ^ QQ E ig h te e n o f B u n y a n 's works w ere l e f t i n manu s c r i p t a t h i s d e a th . Of th e s e f i f t e e n were g iv e n to th e p u b lic d u r in g th e re m a in in g y e a r s o f th e s e v e n te e n th cen tu ry ," tho u g h (w ith th e e x c e p tio n o f The A c c e p ta b le S a c r i f i c e ) th e y d i d n o t p a s s th ro u g h more th a n th e s i n g l e e d i t i o n . — Of th e e ig h te e n w orks, tw o, v i z . , A P o c k e t Con c o rd a n c e to t h e S c r i p t u r e s and A C h r i s t i a n D ia lo g u e , may n e v e r have been p r i n t e d ; no c o p ie s a r e known to e x i t t . Twelve were p u b lis h e d f o r th e f i r s t tim e i n t h e f i r s t f o l i o e d i t i o n o f 1692, v i z . , ( l ) An E x p o s itio n o f th e F i r s t Ten C h a p te rs of G -enesls, &c. ~T2) Of J u s t i f i c a tio n by Tmputed P tlg H te o u sn e ss; Or, No Way to Heaven ' b u t by TTesus C h r i s t ; (5) PauTr s D e p a rtu re and drown: (4) (5f .th e T r i n i t y , and a C h r i s t i a n : ( 5) Of th e Law, and a C h r i s t i a n : (6) I s r a e l * s Hopie E n co u rag e d : o r , Iffhat Hope i s , and How d i s t l n g u l s h e d from F a i t h , w ith Bncouragem ent f o r a h o p in g P e o p le : (7) The D e s ire s o f th e R ig h te o u s G ra n te d : Or, A D is c o u rs e o f t h e R ig h te o u s Man*s D e s i r e s : (8 ) The S a in t * s P r l v l l e d g e and P r o f i t : T9) C h r is t a Com pleat S a v lo u r r Or, The I n t e r c e s s i o n o f C h r is t and who a re p r l v l l e d g * d i n it,; (10)- The C a in tT s Knowledge o f C h r is t *s L ove: O r, The U n se a rc h a b le R ic h e s o f C h r i s t : t l l T Of The H ouse o f th e F o r e s t o f L ebanon: and li£ ) Of A n t i c h r i s t , and H is H u ln e : And t h e S la y in g o f t h e W itn e ss. The A c c e p ta b le S a c r i f i c e and Mrs. Jo h n Bunyan*s L a s t Sermon w ere b o th p r i n t e d i n 1689; The H eavenly Footman was p u b lis h e d by C h a rle s Doe i n 1698, w h ile A R e la t io n o f j h e Im prisonm ent o f Mr. John Bunyan rem ain ed i n m a n u s c rip t u n t i l 1765. 47 Among Bunyan*s works t h a t p a s s e d th ro u g h more 90 th a n a s i n g l e e d i t i o n d u rin g th e s e v e n te e n ty c e n tu ry were h i s two serm ons, The Holy C ity 91 and The G re a tn e s s o f th e S o u l,92 a s w e ll a s th e d o c t r i n a l t r e a t i s e Q3 e n t i t l e d R e p ro b a tio n A s s e r te d . The J e ru s a le m S in n e r 99 A D is c o u rs e Upon th e P h a r is e e and th e P u b ll- cane and I n s t r u c t i o n f o r th e I g n o ra n t may a ls o have p a s s e d th ro u g h more th a n one e d i t i o n i n th e s e v e n te e n th c e n tu r y . The P h a r is e e and t h e P u b lic a n e , p u b lis h e d I n 1685, re a c h e d I t s t h i r d e d i t i o n i n 1704, and may, t h e r e f o r e , have re a c h e d i t s seco n d b e f o r e 1700; I n s t r u c t i o n f o r th e I g n o ra n t, w hich came o u t i n 1675, re a c h e d i t s s i x t h e d i t i o n i n 1728, and may t h e r e f o r e a l s o h av e b ee n p u b ls ih e d more th a n once b e f o r e th e y e a r 1700. 91 The Holy C i t y : Or, The New J e r u s a le m : W herein I t s Goodly L i g h t , W a lls , Grates, A n g e ls, and t h e manner o f t h e i r s ta n d in g , a r e Expounded: A ls o , H er L ength and B re a d th , T o g eth e r w ith th e G olden- M easu rin g -R eed , Ex p l a i n e d : And The G lory o f a l l u n f o ld e d . As a l s o , The Num erousness o f i t s I n h a b i t a n t s And what th e T ree and W ater o f L if e a r e , by which th e y a r e s u s t a i n e d . By John Bunyan, a S e rv a n t of C h r l s t . London, 1665. T h e B rltis h Museum c o n ta in s a n o th e r copy, a d u p l i c a t e o f th e p re c e d in g , w ith a new t i t l e p age d a te d 1669. Q p The G re a tn e s s o f th e S o u l, And u n s p e a k a b le n e s s o f th e L oss t h e r e o f : w ith th e C auses o f th e L o sin g ItT F i r s t P re ach e d a t P in n e r s H a l l , and now e n la r g e d , and P u b lis h e d f o r Good. By John Bunyan. London: P r i n t e d f o r Ben. A lso p , a t th e S ig n o f th e A ngel and B ib le i n th e P o u ltr y , 1683. The B r i t i s h Museum h as a n o th e r e d i t i o n d a te d 1691. 93 R e p ro b a tio n A s s e r te d : O r, The D o c tr in e Of E te r n a l E le c tio n & R e p ro b a tio n P ro m lsc u o u sly h a n d le d , I n ^ le v e n “ Chap t e r s '. “ W herein The m ost m a t e r i a l O b je c tio n s made fay 'the C pposers o f th e D o c tr in e , a r e f u l l y A nsw ered: s e v e r a l B o u b ts Removed? and sundry Cas'es of C o n scien ce R e so lv e d . By JoHn bunyan of B e d fo rd , a L over o f P eace and T ru th . Lon don: P r i n t e d f o r G .W and a r e to b e s o ld i n T u r n - S tile - A lle y i n H olbourn L1674j. Second e d i tio n , r e v i s e d and c o r r e c t e d , 1696 (B r l t l s h Museum C a ta lo g u e ) . The a u t h e n t i c i t y o f t h i s work h a s been q u e s tio n e d by com m entators, i n p a r t i c u l a r by John Brown (Jo h n Bunyan. 2 2 8 ), who b a s e s h i s o p in io n m ainly on m a tte r s of s t y l e and on th e " p i t i l e s s l o g i c ” d is p la y e d i n th e t r e a t i s e . P i t i l e s s l o g i c , how ever, was c h a r a c t e r i s t i c o f C a lv in ism . Doe I n c lu d e d t h i s t r e a t i s e i n h i s l i s t o f Bunyan*s w orks; S te b b in g r e p r i n t e d i t w ith o u t q u e s tio n in g i t s g e n u in e n a t u r e ; and O ffo r a ls o In c lu d e d i t i n h i s e d i t i o n o f Bunyan. 48 Saved, l e s s commonly known a s Good News f o r th e V i l e s t o f 94 Men, a t r e a t i s e on one o f Bunyan1s f a v o r i t e them es, t h a t th e r e was room i n G od's mercy f o r even t h e most w icked o f mankind, went th ro u g h a t l e a s t t h r e e e d i t i o n s b e f o r e th e end of th e s e v e n te e n th c e n tu ry , a s d id a l s o 95 The A c c e p ta b le S a c r i f i c e , B u n y a n 's l a s t work, p u b lis h e d i n 1689 im m e d ia te ly a f t e r h i s d e a th , and h i s t r e a t i s e on 96 p r a y e r , I w i l l p ra y w ith th e S p i r i t . I n w hich h e r e co rd e d h i s re a s o n s a g a i n s t u s in g th e book o f Common P ra y e r o f th e Church o f E ngland. B u n y an 's h ig h ly In g e n io u s i n t e r p r e t a t i o n o f B ib lic a n sym bolism , Solom on1s 94 Good News f o r th e V i l e s t o f Men, Or a H elp f o r D espairing; S o u ls . Being: a D is c o u rs e upon Luke 24. 47. th e l a t t e r p a r t o f th e V e rs e . Shewing T hat J e s u s C h r is t would have Mercy i n th e F i r s t P la c e o f f e r e d to th e B ig g e s t S in n e r s . By John Bunyan o f B e d fo rd . London: P r i n t e d , and a r e to be S o ld by G eorge L a rk in , a t th e Two Swans w ith o u t B is h o p s g a te , 1688. The seco n d e d i t i o n o f t h i s work a p p e a re d i n 1689; th e t h i r d , i n 1697; t h e n in th , i n 1715 ( B r i t i s h Museum C a ta lo g u e ) . 95 For th e co m p lete t i t l e o f t h i s t r e a t i s e , se e s u p r a , page 15 n. The t h i r d e d i t i o n o f t h i s work a p p e a re d i n 1698 ( B r i t i s h Museum C a ta lo g u e ) . 96 2 w i l l p ra y w ith th e S p i r i t , and _I w i l l p ray w ith th e U n d e rsta n d in g a l s o : O r. A D is c o v rs e . T ouching P r a y e r . From 1 C or. 1 4 , 1 5 . Whereiln i s b r i e f l y d i s c o v e re d , 1. What P ra y e r i s . 2. What I t I s t o p ra y w ith -the S p i r i t . 3. What i t i s to pra.v w ith th e S p i r i t , and w ith t h e U n d e rsta n d ln g a l s o . By Jo h n Bunyan. London: P r i n t e d ^ f o r th e A u th o r L1663], A cco rd in g to th e B r i t i s h Museum C a ta lo g u e , th e t h i r d e d i t i o n o f t h i s work was is s u e d i n London, p ro b a b ly i n th e y e a r 1685. 49 97 Temple S p i r i t u a l i z e . was a l s o p o p u la r enough to be Is s u e d t h r e e tim e s d u r in g th e s e v e n te e n th c e n tu ry . Two o f Bunyan*s p r a c t i c a l t r e a t i s e s p a s s e d th ro u g h f o u r e d i t i o n s b e f o r e 1700. The f i r s t o f t h e s e was QQ C h r i s t i a n B e h a v io u r. one o f th e most i n t e r e s t i n g o f h i s books, b e in g a s ta te m e n t o f th e p r a c t i c a l d u ty o f C h r i s t i a n s I n t h e i r p e r s o n a l r e l a t i o n s h i p s a s husband, w ife , and c h i l d , m a s te r, s e rv a n t and n e ig h b o r; and th e 9 9 second was The B a rre n F i g - t r e e , w h erein Bunyan 97 Solomon* s Temple S p l r l t u a l l z *d o r G ospel- l i g h t F e tc h t o u t o f th e Temple a t J e r u s a le m , To l e t us more e a s ily I n to The G lory o f New- T estam e n t- T r u th s . By John Bunyan. London: P r i n t e d f o r , and S o ld by G eorge L a r k in , a t th e Two Swans w ith o u t B is h o p s g a te , 1688. The t h i r d e d i t i o n o f t h i s work a p p e a re d I n 1698 ( B r i t l s h Museum C a ta lo g u e ) . 98 C h r i s t i a n B e h a v io u r: Or The F r u i t s o f t r u e C h r i s t i a n i t y . Shewing th e Ground from whence th e y flo w , I n t h e i r G o d lik e o r d e r I n th e Duty o f R e l a t i o n s , a s H usbands, W ives, P a r e n t s , C h ild r e n , M a s te rs , S e r v a n ts , &o. With a Word o f D ir e c t io n to a l l B a c k s l i d e r s . By John Bunyan, a P r is o n e r o f Hope. London: P r i n t e d f o r Fl Sm ith, a t th e E le p h a n t and C a s tle w ith o u t Temple B ar [1 6 6 3 ]. C h a rle s Doe^s " C a ta lo g u e -T a b le ” o f Bun y a n 's works (Works o f Jo h n Bunyan, I I I , 763) s t a t e s t h a t f o u r e d i t i o n s o f t h i s t r e a t i s e a p p e a re d b e f o r e 1692. 99 The B a rre n F i g - t r e e O r, The Doom & Downfal o f th e F r u i t l e s s P r o f e s s o r . Shew ing, T hat th e Day of G race may be p a s t w ith him lo n g b e f o r e h i s L if e I s ended. 'The~~Slgns a l s o by which su ch m ls e r a b le M o rta ls may be known. By Jo h n Bunyan L probably 1682 1. The second e d i t i o n a p p e a re d I n 1688 (F ran k M ott H a rris o n , A B ib lio g ra p h y o f th e Works of Jo h n Bunyan, 3 2 ); th e t h i r d i n 1692, and th e f o u r t h i n 1695. Of th e f i f t h e d i t i o n I have b e e n a b le to f i n d no r e c o r d ; i t may have a p p e a re d b e f o r e 1700, s in c e th e s i x t h was p u b lis h e d i n 1709 ( B r l t i s h Museum C a ta lo g u e ) . 50 expounded th e m a n ifo ld m eanings t h a t he r e a d in to th e B i b l i c a l p a r a b l e . Even more p o p u la r was Come and Wel come to J e s u s C h r i s t , 1 a p le a to t h e s i n n e r who i s h e s i t a n t i n a n sw e rin g th e c a l l to r e p e n ta n c e and th e h o ly l i f e ; t h i s work was is s u e d a t l e a s t s i x tim e s d u rin g th e s e v e n te e n th c e n tu ry . Most i n demand of a l l B unyan's d o c t r i n a l w orks, how ever, was a p p a r e n tly A Few S ig h s from H e l l . ^ an e x p la n a tio n and commentary on th e p a r a b l e o f D ives and L a z a ru s, w hich p a s s e d th ro u g h a t l e a s t n in e e d i t i o n s b e f o r e th e end o f th e s e v e n te e n th c e n tu ry . As C h a rle s Doe n o te d w ith some s a t i s f a c t i o n , Bunyan h ad in d e e d " w r it much" t h a t had "gone o f f w e l l . 1 1 * 5 Come & Welcome, To J e s u s C h r i s t . O r, A p l a i n and P r o f i t a b l e D is c o u rs e upon th e S ix th o f Jo h n , 57 V e rs. Shewing th e C ause, T ru th , and Manner o f th e Coming o f a S in n e r to J e s u s d h r l s t ; w ith h i s Happy R e c e p tio n , and~~Blessed E n te r ta ln m e n t. W r itte n by J . Bunyan. London: P r i n t e d f o r B. H a r r i s a t th e S ta tlo n e rs ~ ’Arras i n S w ith in g s R en ts i n C o rn h ll by th e Royal Exchange, 1678. The B r l t l s h Museum C a ta lo g u e r e c o r d s th e second e d i t i o n , 1684j th e t h i r d , 1686; th e s i x t h , 1691; and t h e e le v e n th , 1715. p F or th e co m p lete t i t l e o f t h i s t r e a t i s e , see s u p r a , p age 15 n. A cc o rd in g to C h a rle s Doe ("A C a ta lo g u e - T ab le o f Mr. B u n y an 's B ooks," Works o f John Bunyan. I l l , 7 6 3 ), n in e e d i t i o n s of t h i s work w ere I s s u e d b e f o r e 1692. The t e n t h e d i t i o n may h ave a p p e a re d b e f o r e 1700, s in c e th e e le v e n th , a c c o rd in g to th e B r i t i s h Museum C a ta lo g u e , a p p e a re d i n 1702. 3 C h a rle s Doe, "R easons why C h r i s t i a n P eo p le s h o u ld Prom ote by S u b s c r i p t i o n s ," e t c . , Works o f John Bunyan, I I I , 765. Doe, who became b o o k s e lle r i n 1686, re c o rd e d i n 1700, i n h i s C pll.egjbj.Qn g£ Exp.erl.en.cfi ( c i t e d by John Brown, Jo h n Bunyan, 4 1 5 ), t h a t he had s o ld a b o u t t h r e e th o u sa n d o f B u n y an 's boo k s. I n t h e B o d le ia n copy o f D o e's volume i s a m a rg in a l m a n u s c rip t n o te i n a contem p o ra ry h an d which r e a d s : " to s e l l such l y i n g books i s th e D e v i l 's work" (W illiam York T i n d a l l , op. c l t . . 285). 51 D e s p ite th e s e v e r a l p r i n t i n g s o f th e v a r io u s t r e a t i s e s , how ever, many o f th e I n d iv id u a l w orks w e re grow ing s c a r c e to w ard th e end o f th e c e n tu r y and were d i f f i c u l t to o b ta in . "Many o f them have b een o u t o f p r i n t many y e a r s , " w ro te C h a rle s Doe i n 1691. S e v e ra l o f th e t r e a t i s e s t h a t Doe c o l l e c t e d f o r h i s f o l i o volume w ere, he d e c la r e d , " o th e rw is e n o t to b e b o u g h t" : . . . a n d t h a t I h ave p ro v ed by o f te n t r y i n g most London b o o k s e l l e r s , and b e f o r e t h a t g iv e n them above tw ic e th e p r i c e f o r a book; and I know n o t how to g e t a n o th e r o f th o s e s o r t s f o r any p r i c e w h a ts o e v e r .4 T h is s c a r c i t y i s no doubt a t t r i b u t a b l e , i n a l a r g e m easure, to th e e a g e rn e s s w ith which B u n y a n 's f o l lo w e rs and f e llo w r e l i g i o n i s t s bou g h t and k e p t h i s w orks; b u t t h i s ca n n o t be ta k e n a s th e s o le c a u se . The r a i d s o f a u t h o r i t i e s upon th e e s ta b lis h m e n ts o f b o o k s e l l e r s who w ere th o u g h t to be s e l l i n g th e w orks o f d i s s e n t e r s m ust a ls o b e ta k e n in t o a c c o u n t. F r a n c is Sm ith, t h e p u b l i s h e r o f many o f B u n y an 's e a r l y w orks, t e l l s o f th e c o n f is c a t i o n fro m h i s p r i n t shop o f c o p ie s o f a book by Bunyan;® r e p e a te d r a i d s l i k e t h i s , a s Brown re m a rk s, would go f a r 4 C h a rle s Doe, "R easons why C h r i s t i a n P eo p le sh o u ld Prom ote by S u b s c r i p t i o n s ," e t c . , Works o f John Bunvan. I l l , 765. 5 F ra n c is Sm ith, An A ccount of th e I n j u r i o u s P ro c e e d in g s o f S ir G eorge J e f f r e y s R n t. L a te R e co rd er .af London, A g a in s t F r a n c is S m ith , B o o k s e lle r . S e p t. 16, 1680. London: P r i n t e d f o r F r a n c is Sm ith. T in d a l l th in k s t h a t th e book m en tio n ed by Sm ith may h av e b een B u n y an 's Holy C ity (W illiam York T in d a ll, o p . c i t . , 2 6 3 ). 52 to w ard a c c o u n tin g f o r th e s c a r c i t y o f B unyan’ s e a r l i e r w r i t i n g s . ^ A f t e r th e p u b l i c a t i o n o f The P i l g r i m ’ s P ro g r e s s b o o k s e l l e r s began to see th e v a lu e o f Bunyan’ s name a s an ite m o f p o p u la r a p p e a l, and to s e t on i t a h ig h m onetary c o n s i d e r a t i o n . T his p la c e d a n o th e r d i f f i c u l t y i n th e way o f C h a rle s Doe, who was u n a b le to o b ta in a l l th e t r e a t i s e s th a t he d e s i r e d f o r h i s f o l i o c o l l e c t i o n b e c a u se , a s C h an d ler an d W ilson e x p la in e d , " th e P ro p r i e t y o f s e v e r a l P ie c e s a lr e a d y P r in t e d , i s l o d g 'd i n p a r t i c u l a r P e rs o n s h an d s, who w ere n o t w i l l i n g to r e s i g n up t h e i r R ig h t a t r e a s o n a b le R a t e s . I n d e e d , t h i s was th e f a c t o r t h a t had p r e v e n te d Doe from b r i n g i n g o u t th e c o l l e c t e d e d i t i o n i n B u n y an 's l i f e t i m e : I have s tr u g g le d to b r in g about t h i s g r e a t good work; and i t had su c cee d ed i n Mr. B u n y an 's l i f e t i m e , even a l l h i s la b o u r s l h f o l i o , b u t t h a t an I n t e r e s t e d b o o k s e lle r opposed i t . 8 The seco n d volume f o l i o , which th e e d i t o r s had p ro m ised "as soon a s th e C o p ies can b e o b t a i n e d , w a s n e v e r pub l i s h e d , Doe a p p a r e n tly h a v in g been u n s u c c e s s f u l i n h i s John Brown, John Bunyan. 172. ^ E b en ezer C h an d ler and Jo h n W ilson, "To th e S e rio u s , J u d ic io u s and I m p a r tia l R e a d e r ,n o p . c i t . , v i . ® C h a rle s Doe, "The S t r u g g l e r , " Works o f John Bunyan. I l l , 767. 9 E b en ezer C h an d ler and Jo h n W ilson, l o c . c i t . 53 e n d e av o rs to o b t a i n th e v a r io u s t r a c t s i n h i s d e a lin g s w ith th e b o o k s e l l e r s . D o e 's s u c c e s s i n s e l l i n g s u b s c r i p t i o n s f o r th e f i r s t volum e, how ever, speaks I n I t s e l f f o r t h e p o p u l a r i ty o f t h e p r a c t i c a l and d o c t r i n a l t r e a t i s e s t h a t composed i t : . . . n o t w i t h s t a n d i n g t h e many d is c o u ra g e m ents I have met w ith i n my s t r u g g l e s i n t h i s so g r e a t a work, we have— and I may b e l i e v e by t h e b l e s s i n g o f th e Lord— g o t t e n ab o u t f o u r h u n d red s u b s c r i p t i o n s , w hereof ab o u t t h i r t y a r e m i n i s t e r s ; w hich a ls o shows th e g r e a t esteem o u r a u t h o r 's la b o u r s a r e I n among C h ris t i a n p e o p l e .10 C oncerning B u n y a n 's w orks t h a t had b een I s s u e d b e f o r e th e p u b l i c a t i o n of th e f o l i o e d i t i o n , C h a n d ler and W ilson d e c la r e d t h a t " th e A cc ep ta n ce o f them i s known to a lm o st a l l th a t c o n v e rs e w ith T h e o lo g ic a l c o m p o su re s":11 The A cc ep ta n ce w hich h i s fo rm e r Works have met w ith i n th e W orld, and t h e A dvantage t h a t many h aue r e c e iv e d by them, d o th a s s u r e u s, t h a t h i s Rem ains w i l l be welcome a l s o to th o s e t h a t would e i t h e r grow I n G race th e m s e lv e s , o r h av e o t h e r s won o v e r to J e s u s C h r is t.* * ' In d eed , th e y f e l t t h a t B u n y an 's name i t s e l f would g u a r a n te e a f a v o r a b le r e c e p t i o n to th e volume o f c o l l e c t e d w orks, and t h a t no f u r t h e r recom m endation was n e c e s s a r y : ^ C h a rle s Doe, "The S t r u g g l e r , " Works o f John Bunyan. I l l , 767. 11 E benezer C h a n d ler and John W ilson, "To th e S e r io u s , J u d ic io u s and I m p a r tia l R e a d e r," op. c i t . .1 1 1 . 1 2 I b i d . , v 54 The en su in g T r e a t i s e s a r e s u f f i c i e n t l y recommended to a l l ( t h a t lo v e th e T ru th a s i t i s i n J e s u s ) by th e Name o f th e A u th o r o f them. They n eed n o t any M an's T estim ony o r Recommenda t i o n to u s h e r them i n t o th e W orld.13 The p io u s w o rth ie s who b ro u g h t o u t t h e f i r s t f o l i o volume lo o k e d upon t h e i r work as a l a b o r o f lo v e t h a t would p r e s e r v e f o r p o s t e r i t y a g r e a t r e l i g i o u s monument. C h an d ler and W ilson e x p la in e d : The Reason why t h e r e a r e so many T r e a t i s e s p u t i n t o one V o lu m e ...is , t h a t th e y may b e p r e s e rv e d to f u t u r e A ges, f e a r i n g t h a t t h e i r con t i n u i n g s i n g l e , o r th e r e s t b e in g p r i n t e d so, may h a z a rd t h e i r b e in g l o s t , and so o u r P o s t e r i t y d e p r iv e d o f t h a t B e n e f it w hich we now hope th e y may r e c e iv e from th e m .14 C h a rle s Doe w ro te even more e m p h a tic a lly and e n t h u s i a s t i c a l l y : T h is p r e s e r v a t i o n w i l l p r e s e r v e th e name o f Jo h n Bunyan, a cham pion o f o u r age to f u t u r e a g e s ; whereby i t may be s a i d i n th e p u l p i t , The g r e a t c o n v e rt Bunyan s a id so and s o . 15 Bunyan1e H la b o u r s i n w r i t i n g , " i n s i s t e d Doe, " d e s e rv e p r e s e r v a t i o n by p r i n t i n g a s much a s any o th e r famous m a n 's t h a t h a v e w r i t s in c e th e a p o s tle d tim e . In d e e d , t h a t a d m irin g d i s c i p l e f e l t c o n v in c e d t h a t Bunyan 13 E benezer C h a n d ler and John W ilson, "To th e S e rio u s , J u d ic io u s an d I m p a r tia l R e a d e r ," o p . c i t . , i l l . 14 I b i d . , v i . C h a rle s Doe, "R easons why C h r i s t i a n P e o p le sh o u ld Prom ote by S u b s c r i p t i o n s , " e t c . , Works of John Bunyan, I I I , 765. 16 I b i d . , 764. 55 was "an a p o s t l e o f o u r age, i f we h ave any, h1,? and a rg u e d h i s c a s e w ith some c o n v ic tio n : However some s u b t i l l y and v a i n - g l o r i o u s l y p r e te n d to be th e o n ly la w f u l s u c c e s s o r s o f t h e a p o s t l e s , y e t c e r t a i n I am, from s a f e r r e a s o n s o f f a i t h , t h a t o u r a u th o r Bunyan was r e a l l y , s i n c e r e l y , a n d e f f e c t u a l l y a la w f u l s u c c e s s o r o f th e a p o s t l e s , and a s la w f u l as any have b een above t h i s th o u sa n d y e a r s . Nay, may I say, h e was a second P a u l; f o r t h a t h i s c o n v e rs io n was i n a g r e a t m easure l i k e t h a t g r e a t a p o s t l e 's , who, o f a g r e a t enemy to g o d lin e s s , was, by s tr o n g and i r r e s i s t i b l e w o rk in g s o f s o v e re ig n g ra c e , made a g r e a t m i n i s t e r o f , and s u f f e r e r f o r , th e g o s p e l. D o e 's l a b o r i n p r e s e r v in g th e w r i t i n g s o f t h i s "seco n d P a u l" seemed to him s i m i l a r to t h a t o f th e e a r l y C h r i s t i a n s who k e p t and handed down to p o s t e r i t y th e r e c o r d s o f th e fo u n d in g o f th e C h r i s t i a n f a i t h : I f God had n o t p u t i t i n t o th e h e a r t o f some C h r i s t i a n s o r Chprch to p r e s e r v e t h e E p i s t l e s o f t h e A p o s tle to th e Romans, C orin t h i a n s , G a la tia n s , and o t h e r s , we i n t h i s age o f th e w o rld sh o u ld i n a l l p r o b a b i l i t y n e v e r have known t h a t t h e r e ev e r w ere any such C h r i s t i a n s and d o c t r i n e s ; t h e i r names and d o c t r i n e s m ig h t h av e b ee n l o s t , and we m ight h ave p e r is h e d , and t h a t would h ave b een d re a d f u l ; f o r God m o stly w orks by second c a u s e s . And t h e r e f o r e , he c o n tin u e d , Why sh o u ld any C h r i s t i a n p e o p le , t h a t h ave r e a s o n to re c k o n th e m se lv e s o b lig e d h e r e i n , s e t th e m se lv e s a s i d e from com m unicating to o t h e r C h r i s t i a n s and th e a g e s to come th e C h a rle s Doe, "R easons why C h r i s t i a n P eo p le sh o u ld Prom ote by S u b s c r i p t i o n s , H e t c . , Works o f John Bunyan, I I I , 764, T8 C h a rle s Doe, "The S tr u g g l e r , " Works o f John Bunyan, I I I , 766. C h a rle s Doe, "R easons why C h r i s t i a n P eo p le sh o u ld Prom ote by S u b s c r i p t i o n s , " e t c . , l o c . c i t . 56 g o s p e l la b o u r s o f so em inent a m i n i s t e r a s God so g r a c io u s ly h o n o u red an d a s s i s t e d them w i t h ? 2 0 21 The w r i t i n g s o f "o u r e x c e l l e n t author," w hich h i s c o n te m p o ra rie s th u s la b o r e d to p r e s e r v e , th e y h e ld to be sound i n d o c t r i n a l te a c h in g , t o l e r a n t i n a t t i t u d e , and e m in e n tly u s e f u l i n th e work o f c o n v e rs io n . The d o c t r i n a l soundness o f Bunyan’ s te a c h in g s , b a s e d on h i s r i g h t u n d e r s ta n d in g o f th e Holy S c r i p t u r e s , was much s t r e s s e d by Bunyan’ s b r e t h r e n . The w r i t e r o f th e p r e f a t o r y e p i s t l e to B u n y a n 's A Few S ig h s from H e ll h e ld t h a t t h i s d is c o u r s e , " to g e th e r w ith h i s fo rm e r, t h a t have b e e n b ro u g h t to p u b lic v ie w ," would " t e s t i f y " t h a t th e a u t h o r was "none o f th o s e l i g h t f a n a t i c s p i r i t s t h a t o u r ag e abounds w i t h a l " : F or among o t h e r th in g s t h a t may b e a r r e c o r d to him h e r e in , you s h a l l f i n d him m a g n ify in g and e x a l t i n g th e Holy S c r i p t u r e s , and l a r g e l y show ing th e w o rth , e x c e lle n c y , and u s e f u ln e s s o f th e m .22 "Some t h i n g s he t r e a t s o f , a r e D o c tr in a l and C o n v e r te d ," w ro te C h a n d ler and W ilson, in t r o d u c i n g to t h e r e a d e r th e f i r s t c o l l e c t e d e d i t i o n o f Bunyan’ s w orks: T h ere y o u ’l l f i n d h i s Soundness, and a g r e a t D egree o f C le a rn e s s ; deep T hings b ro u g h t i n to a f a m i l i a r P h ra s e . The r e s t o f h i s W ritin g s 2 0 C h a rle s Doe, "R easons why C h r i s t i a n P e o p le sh o u ld Prom ote by S u b s c r i p t i o n s ," e t c . , Works o f John Bunyan, I I I , 764. PI C h a rle s Doe, "The S tr u g g l e r , " Works o f John Bunyan, I I I , 765. ^ I . C . , "To th e R e a d e r," p r e f a c e to A Few S ig h s from H e l l . Works o f Jo h n Bunyan, I I I , 672. 57 (and th e y a r e th e g r e a t e s t P a r t ) a r e p r a c t i c a l , and t h e r e f o r e to h e esteem ed a s u s e f u l by a l l s o u n d -h e a rte d C h r i s t i a n s . 2^ John B u rto n , i n t r o d u c i n g Some G o s p e l - t r u t h s Opened, a ls o em phasized th e soun d n ess o f B u n y an 's te a c h i n g s and h i s s e n s ib le a v o id a n c e o f m a tte r s t h a t w ere c o n t r o v e r te d 0 4 among M th e s a l n t s ": R eader, i n t h i s book th o u w i l t n o t m eet w ith h ig h flo w n a i r y n o tio n s , w hich some de l i g h t i n , c o u n tin g them h ig h m y s te r ie s , b u t th e sound, p l a i n , common, (an d y e t s p i r i t u a l and m y s te rio u s ) t r u t h s o f th e g o s p e l, and i f th o u a r t a b e l i e v e r , th o u m ust n eed s re c k o n them s o . . . . N e ith e r d o th t h i s t r e a t i s e o f f e r to th e e d o u b tf u l c o n t r o v e r s i a l t h i n g s , o r m a tte r s o f o p in io n , a s some books c h i e f l y do, w hich when i n s i s t e d upon, th e w e ig h t ie r th in g s o f th e g o s p e l h av e alw ays done more h u r t th a n good* But h e r e th o u h a s t t h i n g s c e r t a i n , and n e c e s s a r y to be b e lie v e d , w hich th o u c a n s t n o t to o much s t u d y . 2° B u n y an 's t o l e r a n t a t t i t u d e , i n s t r e s s i n g what seemed to him th e l a r g e and fu n d a m e n ta l t r u t h s o f r e l i g io n , r a t h e r th a n d w e llin g on th e m inor s e c t a r i a n d i f f e r e n c e s of o p in io n , was h ig h ly commended by h i s e d i t o r s . W ith p a r t i c u l a r r e f e r e n c e to th e m a tte r o f open o r c lo s e d communion, f o r i n s t a n c e , th e y w ro te: E ben ezer C h a n d le r and John W ilson, "To th e S e rio u s , J u d ic io u s and I m p a r tia l R e a d e r," ojd. c i t . , v i . 24 B u n y a n 's p r o f e s s i o n o f p a c i f i c i s m and non- s e c t a r i a n C h r i s t i a n i t y , a s w e ll as h i s d i s c i p l e s ' a s c r i p t i o n to him of th e s e a d m ira b le q u a l i t i e s , m s a c o n v e n tio n of th e tim e , as W illiam York T in d a l l (op. c i t . , 44) p o i n t s o u t. John B u rto n , "To th e R e a d e r," p r e f a t o r y e p i s t l e Some G o s p e l - t r u t h s Opened, Works of John Bunvan, I I , 140. 58 He was from f i r s t to l a s t o f (and e s t a b l i s h e d in , and re a d y to m a i n t a i n , ) t h a t God l i k e P r i n c i p l e o f h av in g Communion w ith S a in ts a s such, w ith o u t any r e s p e c t to d i f f e r e n c e i n O p in io n i n t h i n g s d i s p u t a b l e among t h e G odly, a t r u e L over o f a l l t h a t lo v e Our L ord J e s u s C h r i s t , and d id o f t e n b e w a il t h e th e d i f f e r e n t and d i s t i n g u i s h i n g A p p e lla t i o n s t h a t a r e among th e g o d ly , sa y in g , he d i d b e l i e v e a lim e woudd come when th e y sh o u ld a l l be B u r i e d .26 In d e e d , th o u g h th e e d i t o r s d i f f e r e d from Bunyan on c e r t a i n d o c t r i n a l p o i n t s , th e y em phasized t h e i r o p in io n t h a t w ith r e g a r d to th e g r e a t t r u t h s o f r e l i g i o n t h a t w r i t e r was fu n d a m e n ta lly sound: We g r a n t, t h a t w ith r e s p e c t to some C ir c u m s ta n t ia l s , o r T hings o f l e s s e r Moment, t h e A u th o r* s S e n tim e n ts w ere d i f f e r e n t from o u r s ; i f th o u f i n d e s t them, and th y Judg ment be o th e r w is e , ta k e th e L ib e r ty o f th y C o n scie n ce, a s we do, and i s th e Duty o f a l l to g iv e ; y e t I n t h e g r e a t T ru th s o f t h e G ospel t h a t h e h a n d le s , we ju d g e him to b e v e ry sound, and can t h e r e f o r e recommend t h e Work. 27 I t was e v id e n t from B u n y an 's w r i t i n g s , th e y d e c la r e d , t h a t " h is u n d e r s ta n d in g was l a r g e and co m p re h e n siv e ” and " h is Judgm ent sound and deep i n th e F u n d am en tals o f th e G o s p e l.”2® T hese same t r a i t s were d w e lt on by B u n y a n 's 26 E b en e zer C h an d ler and Jo h n W ilson, "To th e S e rio u s , J u d ic io u s and I m p a r tia l R e a d e r ,” ojd. c i t . , i v . 27 I b i d . , v . C h an d ler was an open-communion B a p t i s t . 88 I b i d . , l v . 59 b r e t h r e n who w ro te th e p r e f a t o r y e p i s t l e to h i s second t r e a t i s e . They th o u g h t I t t h e i r "d u ty to b e a r w itness'* to th e t r u t h s ta u g h t by Bunyan I n t h a t w r i t i n g and ex p r e s s e d th e m se lv e s a s “h av in g ( th ro u g h g r a c e ) some b le s s e d f a i t h and e x p e rie n c e o f th e t r u t h s d e c l a r e d i n t h i s b o o k ," and a s knowing them to be t r u t h s , "h av in g 29 t r i e d them by th e s c r i p t u r e s i n th e l i g h t o f th e S p i r i t . " T h is so u n d n ess o f Bunyan*s te a c h i n g s , i t was e v i d e n t to h i s f o llo w e r s and f r i e n d s , p ro c e e d e d from t h a t w r i t e r 's r i g h t u n d e r s ta n d in g o f t h e S c r i p t u r e s and h i s own e x p e rim e n ta l know ledge o f and a c q u a in ta n c e w ith r e l i g io n . H is w r i t i n g s w ere b a s e d on no t h e o r e t i c a l s p e c u la t i o n , b u t on s p i r i t u a l c e r t a i n t y . T h is was em phasized, f o r exam ple, by G eorge Cockayne, th e London m i n i s t e r who saw th ro u g h th e p r e s s B u n y an 's l a s t t r e a t i s e . Cockayne commended The A c c e p ta b le S a c r i f i c e b e c a u s e i t s t e a c h i n g s w ere " t r a n s c r i b e d o u t o f t h e a u t h o r 's h e a r t i n t o th e book": The a u th o r o f t h e e n s u in g d is c o u r s e — now w ith God, r e a p in g th e f r u i t o f a l l h i s la b o u r , d i l i g e n c e , and s u c c e s s , i n h i s M a s t e r 's s e r v i c e — d id e x p e rie n c e i n h im s e lf , th ro u g h th e g r a c e o f God, th e n a t u r e , e x c e lle n c y , and com f o r t o f a t r u l y b ro k en and c o n t r i t e s p i r i t . So t h a t what i s h e r e w r i t t e n i s b u t a t r a n s c r i p t o u t o f h i s own h e a r t : f o r God— who had much work f o r him to do— was s t i l l hew ing P 9 R ic h a rd S p en cly , Jo h n B u rto n , and John C h ild , p r e f a t o r y e p i s t l e t o A V in d ic a tio n o f th e Book C a lle d Some G o sp el- T ru th s Opened. Works o f Jo h n Bunyan. I I . 181. 60 and hammering him by h i s Word, and som etim es a l s o by more th a n o rd in a ry te m p ta tio n s and d e s e r t i o n s . 30 Bunyan* s p e r s o n a l know ledge o f r e l i g i o n , which gave f o r c e and t r u t h f u l n e s s to h i s w r i t i n g and p r e a c h in g , was commented on a l s o by o t h e r w r i t e r s . The e d i t o r s o f th e f i r s t f o l i o e d i t i o n , f o r i n s t a n c e , w ro te o f him: He knew th e Worth o f an I n t e r e s t i n C h r is t , by h i s own E x p e rie n c e o f th e Goodness o f God; shew ing him on th e one hand h i s n a t u r a l P o llu t i o n , G u ilt and Enm ity, an d t h a t W rath t h a t was due to him th e re b y ; and th e v e r tu e o f th e B lood o f C h r i s t on th e o t h e r to f r e e from a l l . And from t h a t e x p e rim e n ta l Knowledge d i d flo w h e a r t y D e s ir e s and f e r v e n t P r a y e r s , t h a t th e Work o f God m ight be e f f e c t u a l l y w rought on S in n e r s , e s p e c i a l l y th o s e among whom he la b o u re d i n t h e Word and D o c trin e s ; and m a tte r o f G r ie f was i t to him, when he d i d n o t se e C o n v e rsio n - work on f o o t . SI* And a g a in : H is E x p e rie n c e o f S a t a n 's T e m p ta tio n s, i n th e Power and P o lic y o f them, and o f C h r i s t 's P re s e n c e i n and by h i s Word and S p i r i t to su c c o u r and co m fo rt him, was more th a n o r d in a r y ; th e G race o f God was m a g n ifie d i n him and b£. him, and a r i c h a n o i n tin g o f th e S p i r i t was upon him; and y e t t h i s g r e a t S a in t was alw ay s i n h i s own ey es th e c h i e f e s t o f S in n e r s , and th e l e a s t o f S a i n t s : e ste e m in g any, where he d i d b e l i e v e t h e T ru th o f G race, b e t t e r th a n h i m s e l f . 32 30 G eorge Cockayne. "A P r e f a c e to th e Reader" (d a te d S eptem ber 21, 1 6 8 8 ), The A c c e p ta b le S a c r i f i c e . Works o f John Bunyan, I , 686. 31 E b en ezer C h a n d ler and Jo h n W ilson, "To th e S e r io u s , J u d ic io u s and I m p a r tia l R eader, " oja. c i t . , v. 32 Tv,_ . I b i d . , l v . 61 C h a rle s Doe, I n tr o d u c in g Bunyan’ s H eavenly F o o t man and g iv in g h i s r e a d e r s "a c a ta lo g u e o f a l l t h a t g r e a t C o n v e r t's W o rk s," a l s o s t r e s s e d th e p e r s o n a l ex p e r ie n c e o f r e l i g i o n t h a t Bunyan m a n ife s te d i n a l l h i s w r i t i n g s : " I do a l s o lo v e th e m ," h e w ro te , "and w ould h ave you do so to o , a s th e y a r e th e E x p e rie n c e and Knowledge o f a g r e a t C o n v e rt, w hich in d e e d i s a g r e a t Monument o f th e m ig h ty power o f G race, and a f i t F e llo w - T r a v e l l e r f o r a H eavenly F o o t-m a n .* 33 T e s tim o n ie s to t h e u s e f u ln e s s o f B unyan’ s w r i t i n g s i n b r in g in g s i n n e r s to an u n d e r s ta n d in g o f C h r i s t , and i n i n s p i r i n g s a i n t s to c o n tin u e i n th e way, a r e num erous: C h a n d le r and W ilson d e c la r e d t h a t " to o u r know ledge, th o s e Books t h a t h e h im s e lf p u t f o r t h , w ere b l e s t to th e good o f many S o u l s ; " 34 John B u rto n t e s t i f i e d t h a t Bun yan ' s Some G o s o e l - t r u t h s Opened had b e e n h e l p f u l to him , and e x p re s s e d th e hope t h a t i t m ight "be p r o f i t a b l e to many o t h e r s a s w e l l ; " 35 and th e a u th o r o f t h e e p i s t l e p r e f i x e d to A Few S ig h s from H e ll d e c la r e d t h a t "to 33 C h a rle s Doe, "Running R e a d e r ," p r e f a c e to l i s t o f Bunyan’ s w orks, appended to The H eavenly F o o t man (1 6 9 8 ), c i t e d by Jo h n Brown, John Bunyan. 430. 34 E b en ezer C h a n d le r and Jo h n W ilson, "To th e S e rio u s , J u d ic io u s and I m p a r tia l R e a d e r," 0£ . c i t . . i v . John B u rto n , "To th e R ead er, " p r e f a t o r y e p i s t l e to Some G o s p e l - tr u th s Opened, Works o f John Bunyan. I I , 141. 62 my know ledge t h e r e a r e d iv e r s who have f e l t th e power o f 36 th e word" a s ta u g h t by Bunyan. None o f Bunyan’ s c o n te m p o ra rie s , how ever, s t r e s s e d th e u s e f u l n e s s and e f f e c t u a l i t y o f t h a t w r i t e r ’ s t r e a t i s e s more th a n d id C h a rle s Doe, t h e a r d e n t a d m ire r o f Bunyan who p r id e d h im s e lf on ’ ’b e in g th e P e rso n t h a t f i r s t moved and p r o c u re d t h e P r i n t i n g i n F o lio above Twenty o f o u r A uthor B u n y a n 's p i e c e s . " D e s c r ib in g h i s a c q u a in ta n c e w ith B u n y a n 's w r i t i n g s , Doe w ro te : I n March, 1686, a s I was r e a d in g Mr. Bun y a n ’ s book "Saved by G ra c e ," I th o u g h t c e r t a i n l y t h i s i s th e b e s t Book t h a t was e v e r w r i t o r I r e a d e x c e p t th e B ib le , and th e n I remem b e r e d t h a t I h ad r e c e iv e d a g r e a t d e a l o f co m fo rt i n a l l o f h i s Books. 3 f The " p l a i n and sim p le (and y e t g l o r i o u s ) t r u t h s 38 o f o u r L ord J e s u s C h r is t " t h a t Bunyan expounded w ere e x p re s s e d , a c c o r d in g to h i s b r e t h r e n , i n an e f f e c t i v e and f o r c e f u l m anner. H is f a m i l i a r and hom ely s t y l e , how e v e r, th e y w ere f o r c e d t o a d m it, was by no means f a u l t l e s s o r even commendable, tho u g h i t was f i t t e d to th e p u rp o se f o r w hich he w ro te . I t was a s t y l e , f i r s t o f a l l , t h a t was w holly 36 I . G . , "To th e R e a d e r," p r e f a c e t o A Few S ig h s from H e l l . Works o f Jo h n Bunyan. I l l , 672. C h a rle s Doe, A Coll e c t i o n o f E x p e rie n c e , c i t e d by Jo h n Brown, Jo h n Bunyan. 415. 38 John B u rto n , fTo th e R e a d e r," p r e f a t o r y e p i s t l e Some G o s p e l - tr u th s Opened. Works o f Jo h n Bunyan. I I . 141. 63 h i s own, s t a t e d h i s a d m ire rs . B u n y a n 's books w ere w r i t t e n by Bunyan h im s e lf , s o l e l y w ith th e h e lp and g u id a n c e o f th e S p i r i t , and w ith o u t th e h e lp o f man. The t r e a t i s e s t h a t Bunyan p r e p a r e d f o r th e p r e s s b e f o r e h i s d e a th , s t a t e d C h a n d ler an d W ilson i n t h e i r i n t r o d u c t i o n to t h e f o l i o e d i t i o n i n w hich many o f th e s e w orks w e re r e p r i n t e d , " a re a s he l e f t them , w ith o u t any M an's C u l t i v a t i o n , th e y n e e d in g none f o r t h e M a tte r o f th e m ." Not o n ly th e m at t e r , b u t t h e w ords and p h r a s ln g s w ere B u n y a n 's own, th e y c o n tin u e d : The A uthor In d e e d had a p e c u l i a r p h r a s e to h im s e lf i n e x p r e s s in g th e C o n c e p tio n s o f h i s Mind; h i s Words w ere h i s own, a s w e ll a s h i s M a tte r . The M a tte r and C o n te x tu re o f t h a t w hich i s New (n e v e r b e f o r e p r i n t e d ) i n t h i s Volume, w i l l e a s i l y in d u c e any who knew th e A u th o r, to b e l i e v e t h a t i t was h i s own; and we may say a s much h i s own, a s any M an's Works t h a t e v e r came i n t o th e P u b lic k , he n o t hav in g th o s e H elp s, t h a t o t h e r s have b een , o r a r e , b l e s s 'd w i t h a l : L ik e t h e S p id e r, a l l came from h i s own Bowels; w hat th e S p i r i t o f God gave i n to him , by P ra y e r and S tudy, t h a t he f r e e l y gave o u t, and com m unicated to o th e r s , c lo a th e d i n a f a m i l i a r S t y l e . ’ 9 These two w r i t e r s , i t i s c l e a r , u p h e ld and p ro m u lg a te d B u n y a n 's co n tem p o rary r e p u t a t i o n f o r i n s p i r e d i l l i t e r a c y and freed o m from c o n ta m in a tio n o f w o rld ly l e a r n i n g and l i t e r a r y i n f l u e n c e s , w hich Bunyan h im s e lf so u g h t to 40 m a in ta in . 39 E b en ezer C h a n d ler and Jo h n W ilson, "To th e S e rio u s , J u d ic io u s and I m p a r t i a l R e a d e r," o£. c i t . ,1 1 1 . 40 T h is m a tte r i s w e ll d is c u s s e d by W illia m Z ork T in d a l l, Jo h n Bunyan. M echanlck P r e a c h e r . 8 1 -5 , 207-208, and e ls e w h e re . 64 Bunyan*s p l a i n an d f a m i l i a r s t y l e , how ever, f e l t o th e r o f h i s b r e th r e n , m ight n o t be e q u a lly a c c e p ta b le to a l l r e a d e r s . In d e e d , th e y h ad l i t t l e d o u b t b u t t h a t B u n y an 's t r e a t i s e s c o n ta in e d e x p r e s s io n s t h a t m ight o ffe n d t h e n i c e l y f a s t i d i o u s and p r e ju d ic e them a g a in s t t h a t a u t h o r 's w r i t i n g s , T h is th e y so u g h t to a v e r t . The w r i t e r o f th e p r e f a c e to A Few S ig h s from H e l l , f o r i n s t a n c e , p le a d e d w ith m in g led p r i d e and a p o lo gy t h a t th e r e a d e r "be n o t o ffe n d e d " a t t h e " p l a i n and d o w n rig h t la n g u a g e " i n which Bunyan e x p re s s e d h im s e lf ; " i t i s f o r th e d is c h a r g e o f th e a u t h o r 's c o n s c ie n c e , and th y p r o f i t , " h e e x p la in e d ; " b e s id e s th e s u b je c t n e c e s s a r i l y l e a d s him to i t " ; I f any e x p r e s s io n th o u m e e te s t w ith may (h a p ly ) o f f e n d th e e , do n o t th ro w a s i d e th e w hole, and r e s o l v e to re a d o f i t no m ore; f o r tho u g h some one may o f f e n d th e e , y e t o t h e r s ( I hope) may a f f e c t th e e ; o r i f t h e r e b e t h a t w hich some may c a l l ta u to lo g y , b e n o t d i s p l e a s e d a t i t ; f o r t h a t word t h a t may n o t f a s t e n upon th y h e a r t i n one page, may I n a n o th e r ; and a lth o u g h i t may b e g r ie v o u s to th y eye ( i f th o u b e e s t n ic e and c u r i o u s ) , y e t b e a r w ith i t , i f i t may b e p r o f i t a b l e to th y s o u l. B ut r e a d e r s m ig h t be p r e j u d i c e d a g a i n s t B u n y a n 's w r i t i n g n o t o n ly b e c a u s e o f i t s p la i n n e s s and la c k o f e le g a n c e , b u t a l s o b e c a u s e i t la c k e d th e sa v o u r o f a c a dem ic l e a r n i n g . T h is , to o , B u n y a n 's a p o l o g i s t s had .to 41 I.G . "To th e R e a d e r," p r e f a c e to A Few S ig h s from H e l l . Works o f Jo h n Bunyan. I l l , 672. ~ 65 ta k e I n to c o n s i d e r a t i o n In recom m ending h i s w orks, and t h e i r t y p i c a l d e fe n s e to o k th e form o f an e l e v a t i o n o f ig n o ra n c e and s o c i a l i n f e r i o r i t y to a v i r t u e , f o r w hich B i b l i c a l p r e c e d e n t c o u ld be c i t e d . " L e a rn in g i n i t s p la c e i s o f e x c e l l e n t u s e ( i f s a n c t i f i e d , ) " w ro te C h an d ler and W ilson: Y et c e r t a i n l y , a s th o s e Men a r e J u s t l y c h a rg e a b le w ith P o lly , and some d e g re e o f Mad n e s s , t h a t w i l l r e j e c t wholesome Pood, i f n o t b ro u g h t i n a S i l v e r D ish; so th o s e a r e b e s id e s t h e R u le, t h a t w i l l d e s p is e a l l th o s e Works in w hich t h e r e i s n o t th e S avour o f L o g ic a l E x act n e s s , o r A cadem ical P r e p a r a t i o n s ; th o u g h much o f t h e A n o in tin g o f th e S p i r i t , may b e se en to h av e b ee n on th e Heads o f t h e A u th o rs, w hich d o th c l e a r l y a p p e a r to h av e b ee n on th e Head o f t h i s A u th o r, by th e S p i r i t u a l i t y , Soundness, and C le a rn e s s o f h i s W ritin g s . The l a c k o f l e a r n i n g w ith vfoich B u n y a n 's enem ies ta u n te d him, h i s f r i e n d s were o b lig e d to a d m it, b u t th e y i n s i s t e d t h a t t h i s l a c k made Bunyan n e i t h e r l e s s sound n o r l e s s u s e f u l i n te a c h in g t h e t r u t h s o f r e l i g i o n . He who had th e wisdom o f God c o u ld w e ll d is p e n s e w ith t h e l e a r n i n g o f man. "P or humane L e a rn in g , i t ' s t r u e , he had n o n e ;" w ro te C h a n d ler and W ilson, "But l e t i t n o t be t h e r e f o r e s a id , t h a t w hat was done by him, i s n o t w o rth o u r Time o r P a in s to r e a d : " 42 E b en ezer C h a n d ler and John W ilson, "To th e S e rio u s , J u d ic io u s and I m p a r t i a l R e a d e r," p p . c i t . , i i i . ----- 6 6 F or a s C o n v ersio n -w o rk , o r th e N e w -b lrth , h o t o f B lo o d , n o r o f th e W ill o f th e F le s h , n o r o f th e W ill o f Man, b u t o f God; so th e A u th o r 's Knowledge and I n s i g h t i n t o G ospel M y s te r ie s , was g iv e n to him by God h im s e lf ; we d o n 't say , by Im m ediate I n s p i r a t i o n , b u t by P ra y e r and S tudy, w ith o u t any o th e r e x t e r n a l H elp s. H is B u s in e ss was to c o n v e rs e much w ith th e Word o f God, and to p ra y o v e r i t ; h i s L abours t h e r e i n were I n d e f a t i g a b l e , and God b l e s s 'd him i n so d o in g , w ith a more th a n o r d in a r y d e g re e o f K now ledge.4^ W ritin g f o u r y e a r s a f t e r B u n y an 's d e a th , th e s e w r i t e r s f e l t t h a t Bunyan was " s t i l l ' ' d e s p is e d by many b e c a u se o f th e "m eanness o f h i s e d u c a tio n " : I t ' s e v id e n t, t h a t many i n h i s L i f e - t i m e d id d e s p is e him , and a l l done by him, f o r th e m eanness o f h i s E d u c a tio n and C a llin g t h a t he was i n s t r u c t e d i n , and d i d i n t h e M orning o f h i s Days f o llo w , a s i f no good T hing c o u ld come o u t o f N a z a re th : and i t ' s p r o b a b le some may s t i l l be re a d y to h av e mean and c o n te m p tib le T houghts o f h i s Works f o r t h a t R eason; a s a l s o b e c a u se h e h a d n o t t h a t a c q u ir e d L e a rn in g t h a t o th e r s h a v e .44 D efen d in g Bunyan a g a i n s t th e s e c h a rg e s , th e w r i t e r s con tin u e d : F or th e f i r s t r e a s o n , t h e r e i s no m anner o f gro u n d f o r i t ; to such a s make th e l a s t t h e i r P le a , we w ould say , T h at a s L e a rn in g h a t h b een to o much tra m p le d on, by them i n whom Ig n o ra n c e h a th p r e v a i l e d , ( I g n o t l n u l l a c u p ld o , ) so i t h a t h been, and i s to o much I d o l i z e d by th o s e t h a t have been P r o f i c i e n t s i n i t ; a s th o u g h none m ig h t, o r o u g h t to jk *» ' E ben ezer C h a n d le r and Jo h n W ilson, "To th e S e r io u s , J u d ic io u s and I m p a r t i a l R eader, * 0£ . c i t . , i l l . 44 Loc. c i t . 67 engage i n th e Work o f t h e M in is tr y , o r pub l i s h i n g T r e a t i s e s o f t h i s N a tu re , b u t P e rs o n s u n d e r t h e i r C irc u m s ta n c e s : Not c o n s id e r in g , t h a t a t th e same tim e , th e E te r n a l S p i r i t d o th b l e s s t h e S tu d ie s o f th o s e t h a t h a v e L e a rn in g , w ith g r e a t Knowledge i n G-ospel M y s te r ie s , (c o m p a ra tiv e ly g r e a t , y e t a b s o l u t e l y , th e B e st o f men know b u t i n p a r t ) and a l s o makes t h e i r L ab o u rs i n th e M in is tr y o f th e G ospel s u c c e s s f u l , where G race d o th r u l e and r e i g n i n t h e H e a rt, and P r a y e r , t o g e t h e r w ith a f i d u c i a l r e l i a n c e on th e T e a c h in g s and H elp o f th e S p i r i t , do accompany w hat th e y u n d e rta k e ; I sa y , n o t c o n s id e r in g t h a t th e same S p i r i t may, an d e v i d e n tl y d o th I n s t r u c t t h e U n le a rn e d (more humano) a l s o , i f g r a c io u s and p a i n f u l , i n th e deep th i n g s o f th e G ospel, and g iv e them g r e a t know ledge t h e r e i n , and t r u l y q u a l i f i e , and f i t them b o th f o r P re a c h in g , and W ritin g , an d b l e s s them i n so d o i n g ,45 Jo h n B u r to n 's d e fe n s e o f Bunyan, a s p o s s e s s in g s p i r i t u a l wisdom r a t h e r th a n w o rld ly l e a r n i n g , was p h ra s e d i n th e form o f an e l a b o r a t e c o n c e i t . "T h is m a n ," h e w ro te , " i s n o t chosen o u t o f a n e a r t h l y , b u t o u t o f th e h e a v e n ly u n i v e r s i t y , th e c h u rc h o f C h r i s t . n He h a th , th r o u g h g ra c e ta k e n th e s e t h r e e h e a v e n ly d e g r e e s , t o w it, u n io n w ith C h r i s t , th e a n o i n tin g o f t h e S p i r i t , and e x p e rie n c e o f t h e te m p ta tio n s o f S a ta n , w hich do m ore f i t a man f o r t h a t m ighty work o f p r e a c h in g th e g o s p e l th a n a l l u n i v e r s i t y l e a r n i n g and d e g r e e s t h a t can be h a d .46 Though B a n y a n 's "o u tw ard c o n d i tio n a n d fo rm e r employment was mean, a n d h i s human l e a r n i n g s m a l l , " l e t 45 E b en ezer C h a n d le r and Jo h n W ilson, "To th e S e rio u s , J u d ic io u s and I m p a r tia l R e a d e r," op. c i t . , i l i - l v . ----- 46 John B u rto n , "To th e R e a d e r ," p r e f a t o r y e p i s t l e to Some G o s p e l - tr u th s Opened. Works o f Jo h n Bunvan. I I . 1 4 1 . — 68 th e r e a d e r n o t on t h a t ac co u n t be p r e ju d ic e d e i t h e r a g a i n s t th e a u th o r , o r th e m anner o f d e l i v e r y , e n t r e a t e d 4 7 Bunyan1s a p o l o g i s t s . Be n o t o ffe n d e d b e c a u se C h r is t, h o ld s f o r t h t h e g l o r i o u s t r e a s u r e o f t h e g o s p e l to th e e i n a p o o r e a r th e n v e s s e l , by one who h a t h n e i t h e r th e g r e a t n e s s n o r th e wisdom o f t h i s w o rld to commend him to th e e ; f o r a s th e s c r i p t u r e s a i t h , C h r i s t , (who was low and con t e m p t i b l e i n th e w o rld h im s e lf ) o r d i n a r i l y c h o o s e th such f o r h im s e lf , and f o r th e d o in g o f h i s work. F o r "God h a th ch o sen t h e f o o l i s h th in g s o f th e w o rld to confound th e w ise ; and God h a t h chosen th e weak t h i n g s o f th e w o rld t o co n fo u n d th e t h i n g s w hich a r e m ig h ty .. . . "49 The f a v o r i t e argum ent by w hich B u n y a n 's b r e t h r e n e x a lte d t h a t " g r e a t c o n v e r t , " t h e a p o s t l e o f t h e i r a g e , was one b a s e d on a co m p ariso n o f Bunyan w ith th e a p o s t l e s o f B i b llc a n tim e s , which r a i s e d m eanness and want o f w o rld ly l e a r n i n g to t h e s t a t u s o f a v i r t u e . C h a rle s Doe, d e s c r i b i n g Bunyan i n h i s y o u th a s "a v e ry g r e a t p r o - 47 See, f o r I n s ta n c e , I . G . , "To th e R e a d e r," p r e f a c e to A Few S ig h s from H e l l , Works o f John Bunyan, I I I , 672. “ 48 Jo h n B u rto n , "To th e R e a d e r ," p r e f a t o r y e p i s t l e to Some G ospel- t r u t h s Opened, Works o f John Bunyan, XI, 140. 49 T h is f a v o r i t e B i b l i c a l p a s s a g e , 1 . C or. 2 7 ., was f r e q u e n t l y q u o te d w ith r e f e r e n c e t o Bunyan, as by John B u rto n , l o c . c i t . , and by I . G . , "To t h e R e a d e r,* o p . c i t . , 673. Bunyan a ls o f r e q u e n t l y n o te d i t s a p p l i c a b i l i t y to h im s e lf , a s , f o r i n s t a n c e , i n The Holy C ity ( Works, I I I , 3 9 7 ), i n D if f e r e n c e s i n Judgm ent ab o u t W ater B ap tism ( W orks. I I , 6 1 9 ), and i n th e in tr o d u c t o r y comment "To th e R e a d e r ,M p r e f a c e d to A Book f o r Boys an d G i r l s . 69 fa n e s in n e r , an d an I l l i t e r a t e p o o r man, " d w e lt w ith s a t i s f a c t i o n on th e "p ro fo u n d u n d e rs ta n d in g " and "ap o s t o l i c a l le a r n in g " t h a t God b esto w ed on Bunyan I n a f t e r years;® ® and a n o th e r e u l o g i s t w ro te : C a st t h i n e eye b ack to th e b e g in n in g o f th e g o sp e l d i s p e n s a t i o n . . . , and th o u s h a l t se e what m ethod t h e Lord d id ta k e a t t h e f i r s t to e x a l t h i s son J e s u s : h e g o es n o t am ongst t h e J e w ish r a b b l e s , n o r to t h e s c h o o ls o f l e a r n i n g , to f e t c h o u t h i s g o s p e l p r e a c h e r s , b u t to th e t r a d e s , and th o s e most c o n te m p tib le to o ; y e t l e t n o t any from h en c e c o n c e iv e t h a t I u n d e rv a lu e th e g i f t s and g r a c e s o f su ch who h av e them, o r now a r e endued w ith them, n o r y e t sp eak a g a i n s t l e a r n i n g b e in g k e p t i n i t s p la c e ; b u t my m eaning i s , t h a t th o s e t h a t a r e le a r n e d s h o u ld n o t d e s p i s e th o s e t h a t a r e n o t; o r th o s e t h a t a r e n o t, sh o u ld n o t d e s p is e th o s e t h a t a r e , who a r e f a i t h f u l i n t h e L o rd ’ s w o rk ,51 Thus, u n d e f i l e d by w o rld ly l e a r n i n g and i n s p i r e d s o l e l y by th e S p i r i t , John Bunyan h ad w r i t t e n d o c t r i n a l and p r a c t i c a l w orks t h a t had met w ith th e a p p ro v a l o f h i s b r e t h r e n and h i s f r i e n d s , and had r e c e iv e d a w ide a c c e p ta n c e among them, w orks t h a t th e y c o n s id e r e d sound i n te a c h in g , t o l e r a n t i n a t t i t u d e , u s e f u l and e f f e c t i v e i n t h e i r r e s u l t s , and a c c e p ta b le i n s t y l e f o r t h e p u rp o se f o r which th ey w ere composed, C h a rle s Doe p ro b a b ly ex p r e s s e d th e s e n tim e n t o f o t h e r b r e t h r e n th a n h im s e lf , when h e w rote o f Bunyan: 50 C h a rle s Doe, "R easons why C h r i s t i a n P eo p le sh o u ld Prom ote by S u b s c r i p t i o n s , " e t c . , Works o f John Bunyan, I I I , 764, 51 I.G . "To th e R e a d e r," p r e f a c e to A Pew S ie h s from H e l l , Works o f Jo h n Bunyan, I I I , 573. ~ 70 A ll th in g s c o n s id e r e d ; t h a t I s , h i s own fo rm e r p r o f a n e n e s s , p o v e r ty , u n le a r n e d n e s s , t o g e t h e r w ith h i s g r e a t n a t u r a l p a r t s , th e g r e a t change made by g ra c e , a n d h i s lo n g Im p ris o n m e n t, and t h e g r e a t m a tu r ity o f g r a c e and p re a c h in g he a t t a i n e d t o , I say o u r d e c e a s e d Bunyan h a t h n o t l e f t i n E ngland, o r th e w o rld , h i s e q u a l b e h in d him, a s I know o f . And t h i s i s th e u n fe ig n e d b e l i e f o f , Your C h r i s t i a n b r o t h e r , C h a rle s Doe. ^ AN IGNORANT SECTARIAN I n th e r o l e o f l a y p r e a c h e r and t e a c h e r Bunyan was s i m i l a r to o t h e r u n e d u c a te d "m e e h a n lc k s1 1 o f th e s e v e n te e n th c e n tu r y who f e l t th e m se lv e s d i v i n e l y endowed w ith th e g i f t o f th e m i n i s t r y an d who, t u r n i n g n e c e s s i t y to a v i r t u e , g l o r i e d i n th e r e p r o a c h e s c a s t a t t h e i r lo w ly o r i g i n and t h e i r u n ta u g h t p r e a c h in g o f th e word. Nor w ere such r e p r o a c h e s i n f r e q u e n t . B oth a s a p r e a c h e r and a s a w r i t e r o f d o c t r i n a l w orks, Bunyan was th e c e n t e r o f a b u s iv e c r i t i c i s m , le a d in g , on one o c c a s io n , to h i s in d ic tm e n t a t a l o c a l a s s i z e f o r th e o p in io n s e x p re s s e d in h i s p u l p i t o r a t o r y . 83 The o b j e c t i o n s r a i s e d by A n g lic a n m i n i s t e r s a g a i n s t eg ° C h a rle s Doe, ’ 'R easons why C h r i s t i a n P e o p le sh o u ld Prom ote by S u b s c r ip tio n s , B e t c . , Works o f John Bunyan. I l l , 765. 53 Bunyan was I n d i c t e d a t th e a s s i z e s a t E aton, F e b ru a ry , 1658 ( C hurch Book, f . 2 0 ); se e a l s o W illiam York T i n d a l l , op. c i t . , 4 7 . 71 I t i n e r a n t e v a n g e l i s t s , who p r e te n d e d to t h e m in i s tr y and i n tr u d e d on th e p a r i s h e s o f th e e s t a b l i s h e d c h u rc h e s, w ere c i t e d a g a i n s t Bunyan w ith p a r t i c u l a r f o r c e , f o r Bunyan*s e n d e a v o rs to sp re a d th e l i g h t by i t i n e r a n t p r e a c h in g w ere c a r r i e d on so a c t i v e l y t h a t , a s h i s b io g ra p h e r n o te d , he was J e e r i n g l y dubbed "B ishop Bunyan" by th e p r o f a n e . 54 The a c t i v i t i e s o f t h i s "w an d erin g p r e a c h in g t i n k e r " were denounced a s g r o s s p re su m p tio n by th e le a r n e d A n g li can Thomas Sm ith o f Cam bridge, who summed up h i s I n te n s e d i s l i k e o f th e i t i n e r a n c y o f such e v a n g e l i s t i c l a y p r e a c h e r s a s Bunyan by d e c l a r i n g : One t h a t t h r u s t s h im s e lf i n to p r e a c h i n a n o th e r mans p a r i s h a g a i n s t h i s c o n s e n t i s re c k o n e d by th e H. G host among no h o n e s t e r men th a n a T h ie f and a M u rd e re r .55 Sm ith f u r t h e r r a i s e d a c h a rg e a g a i n s t Bunyan w hich, a s T i n d a l l r i g h t l y re m a rk s, "we can o n ly t r u s t b u t n e v e r know to be a s l a n d e r " : But a l l t h i s y o u r T [ i n k e r ] h a th b e e n g u i l t y o f , and much m ore. F or he h a th n o t o n ly i n tr u d e d i n t o P u l p i t s i n t h e s e p a r t s , and c a u se d th e p e o p le o f y o u r Town to h a t e t h e i r la w f u l M in i s te r , (Mr. Jo h n E l l i s sen) [ b u t ] (a s he t o l d me) e n c o u ra g ed them to p ro c e e d so f a r a s to c u d g e l him , and b re a k open th e C hurch d o o rs _ 54 «A C o n tin u a tio n o f Mr. Bunyan*s L i f e , " Works o f Jo h n Bunyan, I , 63. --------- 55 Th0mas S m ith, A L e t t e r S ent to Mr. E. o f T a f t, F our m ile s from C am bridge, To w hich no Answer h a t h b ee n r e t u r n e d (1659)-, c i t e d by W illia m York T i n d a l l , p p .“ c i t . , 48. ----- 72 by v io le n c e . 1 w onder w hat example o r p r e c e p t I n S c r i p t u r e h e h a th f o r t h i s . 56 As an I t i n e r a n t la y p r e a c h e r Bunyan was p o s s e s s e d o f In n u m e ra b le c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s t h a t r e n d e r e d him , a c c o rd in g to h i s a n t a g o n i s t s , a d a n g e r to t r u e r e l i g i o n : I n p a r t i c u l a r , h i s e v a n g e l i s t i c e n th u sia s m , h i s l a c k o f c h a r i t y , and h i s want o f l e a r n i n g . The R ev eren d Thomas Sm ith l e v e l e d a g a i n s t Bunyan c h a rg e s o f e n th u sia s m , m e lan c h o ly , and m a d n e s s ,57 and c l e a r l y d e m o n s tra te d , from Bunyan*s own w ords, t h a t Bunyan was u n c h a r i t a b l e , "and b e in g u n c h a r i t a b l e , was u n f i t to p r e a c h ." 5® The A n g lic a n a u th o r o f D i r t Win11 O ff f u r t h e r d e m o n s tra te d t h a t Bunyan was i g n o r a n t and t h e r e f o r e a d a n g e r to th e p u l p i t . C itin g c e r t a i n s ta te m e n ts from Bunyan *s D efen se o f th e D o c trin e o f J u s t i f i c a t i o n , t h i s a u th o r w rot e : . . . i f th e y d o n * t n e c e s s a r i l y speak him g u i l t y o f th e h i g h e s t I m p ie ty , th e y d e m o n s tra te 56 Thomas S m ith, ojo. c i t . , c i t e d by W illia m York T in d a l l, o p . c i t . , 48. John Brown was n a t u r a l l y u n w ill in g to f i n d even a s u s p ic io n o f t r u t h i n t h i s c h a rg e , s a y in g : "We may r e a s o n a b ly su p p o se t h a t t h e r e i s some m is u n d e rs ta n d in g h e r e , o r t h a t t h i s p r o f e s s o r o f r h e t o r i c was d raw in g upon a r h e t o r i c a l im a g in a tio n " (Mohn Brown, John Bunyan, 1 1 6 ). 57 Thomas S m ith, c i t e d by W illiam York T i n d a l l , l o c . c i t . Rg Thomas S m ith, o p . c l t . , c i t e d by John Brown, Jo h n Bunyan, 115. D i r t W lp 't O ff (41) a l s o r a i s e d th e c h a rg e o f "inhum ane u n c h a r i t a b l e n e s s " a g a i n s t Bunyan, though i n p a r t i c u l a r r e f e r e n c e t o Bunyan*s w r i t i n g r a t h e r th a n h i s p r e a c h in g . 73 him m ost w o fu lly I g n o r a n t , and t h e r e f o r e ju d g e how d an g e ro u s a t h i n g i t must n eed s be f o r q such a one to be s u f f e r e d to p re a c h th e G -ospel;oy and a g a in , w ith sa rc asm : You se e he i s so u se d t o t a l k and s c r i b b l e n o n -s e n s e , t h a t h e ca n n o t e a s i l y w r i t e s e n s e when p r e p a r e d to h i s h a n d .. . . I s n o t t h i s a r i g h t g o o d ly Tool to make a P re a c h e r o f t 60 I n a d d i t i o n to th e s e p e r s o n a l a c c u s a t i o n s c i t e d a g a i n s t Bunyan a s a p r e a c h e r was th e c h a rg e o f f a l s i t y r a i s e d a g a i n s t th e d o c t r i n e s t h a t he ta u g h t. The Rev e re n d Thomas S m ith, i n h i s L e t t e r S ent to Mr. E. o f T a f t , s t a t e d t h a t he w ould f i r s t d e m o n s tra te Bunyan*s " f a l s e d o c t r i n e , and th e n p ro v e ' t i s a d a n g e ro u s s i n i n him to p re a c h ( a s h e d i d so p u b l l c k l y ) , and i n th e p e o p le to h e a r h im .1 1 61 In d e e d , th e v i c a r grew q u i t e e lo q u e n t i n h i s e x h o r t a t i o n s t o Mr. E. t h a t he be n o t m is le d by th e g ro s s e r r o n e o u s n e s s o f Bunyan*s te a c h i n g s : And now, s i r , l e t me b e s e e c h you f o r God*s sa k e , f o r C h r i s t ’ s sa k e, f o r th e C h u rch ’ s sak e, f o r y o u r r e p u t a t i o n ’ s sak e, f o r y o u r c h i l d r e n ’ s sa k e, f o r y o u r c o u n t r y ’ s sa k e , f o r y o u r own im m o rtal s o u l 's sa k e , to c o n s id e r t h e s e t h i n g s s a d ly and s e r i o u s l y , n o t to t h i n k a t i n k e r more i n f a l l i b l e th a n th e p u re Spouse o f C h r i s t , and to f o r e s e e what w i l l be th e sa d c o n se q u e n c e s b o th to th e s o u ls , and b o d ie s , and e s t a t e s o f you and y o u r c h i l d r e n I n f o llo w in g su ch s t r a n g e r s . 2 59 D i r t W lp’t O ff. 41. 60 I b i d . . 28. 63- Thomas Sm ith, ox>. c i t . , c i t e d by Jo h n Brown, John Bunyan, 116. 62 I b i d . , c i t e d by John Brown, John Bunvan. 1 1 5 -7 . — 74 The manner of Bunyan’ s d e l i v e r y , as w e ll a s th e s u b je c t o f h i s d is c o u r s e s , came i n f o r c r i t i c i s m by A n g lic a n clerg y m en . The a u th o r o f D i r t W lp 't O ff w arned Bunyan n o t t o t h i n k h im s e lf a s a i n t b e c a u s e he had z e a l, . . . o r b e c a u s e he p r e a c h e th and makes lo n g p r a y e r s , f o r b e s id e s t h a t ( i f fame b e l l e s him n o t) th o s e a r e su ch , a s a lo n e d e c l a r e him n o t o n ly a v e ry a b s u rd b u t n a u g h ty man, I say b e s id e s t h i s , th e Abom i n a b l e P h a r ls e e s w ere a s good a t th o s e th i n g s a s h e f o r h i s h e a r t can b e . 4 3 ,5 The c r i t i c i s m of B unyan’ s s e c t a r i a n a n t a g o n i s t s d i f f e r e d from t h a t o f h i s A n g lic a n a d v e r s a r i e s o n ly i n k in d , and n o t i n i n t e n s i t y . B unyan’ s hum ble o r i g i n , h i s la y p r e a c h in g , h i s e v a n g e l i s t i c e n th u sia sm , an d h i s la c k o f l e a r n i n g c o u ld n o t be c i t e d a g a i n s t him by s e c t a r i a n a n t a g o n i s t s o r d i n a r i l y c h a r a c t e r i z e d by t h e s e same t r a i t s . T h e ir o b j e c t i o n s to Bunyan a s a p r e a c h e r , t h e r e f o r e , to o k th e form o f a c c u s a tio n s o f h y p o c r is y and m ercen ary m o tiv e . Bunyan’ s h y p o c ris y was p o in te d o u t by th e B a p t i s t John Denne®4 and by th e Q uaker Edward B urrough, who w ro te : I t seems th y to n g u e sp e a k s one th in g , and a n o th e r t h i n g i s i n th y h e a r t , and t h i s i s H y p o c r is ie . 65 63 D i r t W lp’t O ff , 47. ®4 John D e n n e 's a c c u s a tio n o f h y p o c r is y i s s t a t e d i n th e t i t l e o f h i s t r e a t i s e , H y p o c r is ie D e te c te d . o r P e a c e a b le and T rue P r i n c i p l e s a s so p r e te n d e d by John Bunyan, t r y e d and found F a ls e and Unsound T l 6 7 4 ) . 65 Edward B urrough, The T rue F a ith o f th e G ospel o f P e a c e , 17. 75 Even more r e p r e h e n s i b l e was th e h y p o c ris y im p lie d by Bunyan *s p r e te n s e to a c a l l to t h e m in i s tr y . The Q uakers, who b e l ie v e d , l i k e Bunyan, t h a t t h e o f f i c e o f m i n i s t e r was one b esto w ed by d i v i n e command, r a t h e r th a n by th e d e c i s i o n o f man, d o u b te d s e r i o u s l y w h eth e r Bunyan had a c t u a l l y r e c e iv e d su ch a c a l l , and r e f e r r e d to him c o n te m p tu o u sly a s "a p r o f e s s e d M i n i s t e r 1 1 o f Bedford.®® Edward B urrough f e l t t h a t Bunyan*s p r e a c h in g was o f no p r o f i t to h i s h e a r e r s b e c a u s e h e ta u g h t w ith o u t h a v in g b e e n s e n t by God: . . . i t i s e a s y ly knowne o f what s p i r i t th o u a r t , and t h a t th o u g o es on i n th y owne w i l l , b e f o r e God l e a d s th e e , and s c o rn e s to w a it t i l l t h e s p i r i t o f God moove upon th e e , o r s c o rn e s them who d o th w a it, b u t th o u r u n s , and i s n o t s e n t. L ik e u n to th y f o r e f a t h e r s ; and t h e r e f o r e th o u d o th n o t p r o f i t p e o p le a t a l l .® ? And G eorge Fox n o t o n ly c a s t d o u b t upon B unyan’ s c a p a b i l i t y a s a p r e a c h e r , b u t a l s o commented s c e p t i c a l l y upon h i s c la im to t h e g i f t o f i n s p i r a t i o n . The c h a rg e t h a t Bunyan*s p r e a c h in g was b u t a m ercenary v e n tu r e , by w hich he so u g h t to r a i s e h i s r e p u t a t i o n among th e p e o p le and e n r ic h h i s c o f f e r s , was r a i s e d by B urrough who, i n h i s f i r s t t r e a t i s e a g a i n s t 66 Edward B urrough, The T rue F a i t h o f th e G ospel o f P e a c e , p r e f a c e to th e "R e a d e r” ; a l s o , t i t l e page. 67 I M d . , 1 9 -2 0 . ® ® G eorge Fox, The G re a t M ls te rv o f t h e G re a t Whore U n fo ld ed (1 6 5 9 ), c i t e d and r e f e r r e d to by W illia m York T i n d a l l , op. c i t . , 47, 229. 76 Bunyan, a c c u s e d him o f "m akelng M erch an d ize o f s o u le s " and w a lk in g i n t h e s t e p s o f th e " f a l s e P ro p h e ts'* : I f we sh o u ld d i l i g e n t l y s e a r c h we s h o u ld f i n d th e e i n t h e i r s te p p s , th ro u g h f a i n e d w ords, th ro u g h c o v e te o u s n e s s e , m akelng M erch an d ize o f s o u le s , lo v in g th e wages o f u n r ig h te o u s n e s s e , and such w ere th e s c o f f e r s , w hich P e t e r sp e ak s o f , among w hich th o u a r t fo u n d , i n th y p r a c t i c e , among them who a r e P re a c h in g f o r h i r e , and lo v e s ^ th e e r r o r o f B alaam , who to o k g i f t s and re w a rd s . I n a n o th e r p am p h let a g a i n s t Bunyan, B urrough r e tu r n e d t o th e c h a rg e t h a t Bunyan was a c c e p tin g money f o r h i s p a s t o r a l s e r v i c e s : Thou se em e st to be g r ie v e d , and c a l l s t h i s a f a l s e a c c u s a tio n . But l e t ’s t r y ; t h e c a u se a d m its d i s p u t e . A rt n o t th o u i n t h e i r s t e p s , and among them t h a t do t h e s e th in g s ? Ask John B u rto n , w ith whom th o u a r t jo in e d c l o s e to v i n d i c a t e him and c a l l him b r o t h e r . H ath he n o t so much y e a r l y , 150 1 . o r more (e x c e p t th o u h a s t some o f i t ) , w hich i s u n r ig h te o u s w ages, an d h i r e , and g i f t s , and re w a rd s? What s a y e s t th o u ? A rt th o u n o t i n h i s s te p s ,, and among and w ith him and them t h a t do t h e s e th in g s ? I f he be th y b r o t h e r , and th o u so own him, what i s e v i l i n him whom th o u v i n d i c a t e s , I la y upon th e e . Though th o u b i d me h av e a c a r e o f r e c e i v i n g by h e a r s a y , what I 69 Edward B urrough, The T rue F a i t h o f th e G ospel q£. P e a c e . 2 3 -4 . I n th e q u e s tio n s a f f i x e d to t h i s t r e a t i s e f o r Bunyan to p o n d er o v e r, B urrough a g a in r e f e r r e d to t h i s c h a rg e o f m e rcen ary m o tiv e , a s k in g Bunyan i n Query Ho. 10 (p . 2 9 ): "W hether to P re a c h f o r h i r e , f o r g i f t s and re w a rd s, and to D iv in e f o r money, and to make M erchandize o f p e o p le f o r so much a y e a r f o r p r e a c h in g to them, i s n o t t r u e m arks and s ig n s o f a f a l s e P ro p h e t, o r can any g iv e t r u e r s ig n s o f th e f a l s e P ro p h e ts , th e n I s a i a h and M leah gave, y e a o r nay?" 77 h av e s a i d and r e c e i v e d I n . t h i s I s t r u t h , th o u g h th o u evade I t n e v e r so m uch,70 I n th e l i g h t o f t h e Q uaker p r i n c i p l e t h a t th e g i f t o f I n s p i r a t i o n was f r e e l y b esto w ed by God upon h i s ch o sen m i n i s t e r , and t h a t t h i s g i f t was to be a s f r e e l y d i s p e n se d by th e m i n i s t e r f o r th e good o f h i s fe llo w -m e n , t h i s c h a rg e o f m e rcen ary m o tiv e was a v e r y s e r i o u s o n e. Bunyan o f c o u rs e d e n ie d t h e a c c u s a tio n , and, In d e e d , I t seems h a r d ly p r o b a b le t h a t i t sh o u ld h av e b e e n t r u e . The w oeful in a d e q u a c y o f Bunyan a s a p r e a c h e r was f u r t h e r a l l e g e d by Jam es B la c k le y , i n h i s r e f u t a t i o n o f th e c h a rg e s t h a t Bunyan h ad c a s t upon th e Q uakers d u r in g th e w i t c h c r a f t s c a n d a l o f 1659. R i d ic u l in g Bunyan f o r h i s n a iv e b e l i e f o f s u p e r s t i t i o u s s t o r i e s , B la c k le y j e e r e d : What, th o u a p r e a c h e r to th e p e o p le an d so g iv e n o v e r to b e l i e v e l y e s , and f a l s e dream s w hich th o u h a s t t o l d , l i k e t h e f a l s e p r o p h e ts whom God was a g a i n s t .* . . . And w hat, w i l l John B unions h e a r e r s own him i n such r e p o r t s a s t h e s e ? 7^ - T hese a n t a g o n i s t s o f Bunyan— A n g lic a n , B a p t i s t , and Q uaker— em p h atic i n t h e i r d e n u n c ia tio n o f "B ishop Bunyan" a s a p r e a c h e r , w ere e q u a lly em p h atic i n t h e i r 70 Edward B urrough, c i t e d by R o b e rt S o u th ey , " L if e o f Jo h n B u n y a n ," S e le c t B io g r a p h ie s . Cromwell and Bunyan (London: Jo h n M urray, 1 8 4 4 ), 135. S outhey d o es n o t make i t c l e a r w h e th e r he i s q u o tin g from B urrough*s R eply u n to h i s Second Book o r h i s T ru th ( t h e S tr o n g e s t o f a l l ) Tlfftnessed f o r t h . . . . T hroughout h i s q u o ta tio n s from B u rro u g h ,S o u th e y emended h i s a u th o r * s t e x t . 71 Jam es B la c k le y , A Ly1ng Wonder D is c o v e re d , c i t e d by W illia m Y ork T in d a l l, oo. c i t . , 221. 78 co n dem nation o f Bunyan a s a w r i t e r o f d o c t r i n a l t r e a t i s e s t h a t w ere b u t an e x te n s io n o f t h a t p r e a c h in g . T hese th e y fo u n d to be c h a r a c t e r i z e d by ig n o r a n c e , blasphem y, and u n so u n d n e ss o f p r i n c i p l e . One of t h e o u ts t a n d in g c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s t h a t h i s a n t a g o n i s t s fo u n d i n Bunyan, a s a w r i t e r o f d o c t r i n a l and t h e o l o g i c a l t r e a t i s e s , was ig n o ra n c e , Edward B urrough, none to o much d e f i l e d by l e a r n i n g o r even l i t e r a c y him s e l f , th re w th e e p i t h e t co n te m p tu o u sly a t h i s a d v e rs a r y , np a d d r e s s in g Bunyan a s "th o u i g n o r a n t M an." The B a p t i s t s a ls o h e l d t h i s c h a r a c t e r i s t i c to be one o f B u n y a n 's o u t s ta n d in g t r a i t s , K i f f i n and P a u l f in d in g B u n y a n 's con c l u s i o n s to be " t o p f u l o f ig n o ra n c e and prejudice."73 Nor d id th e l e a r n e d a u th o r o f D i r t W lp1t O ff d is c o v e r any d i f f i c u l t y i n d e m o n s tr a tin g and e x e m p lify in g t h i s t r a i t i n B u n y an 's w r i t i n g s ; In d e e d , h e f e l t i t n e c e s s a r y to o f f e r an ap o lo g y to h i s r e a d e r s f o r u n d e r ta k in g to 74 answ er s e r i o u s l y such "w re tch e d S c r i b b l e s " a s th o s e o f Bunyan. " R e a d e r," h e began h i s p r e f a c e , 72 Edward B urrough, The T rue F a i t h o f th e G ospel o f P e a c e , 14. W illiam K i f f i n an d Thomas P a u l, Some S e r io u s R e f l e c t i o n s On t h a t P a r t o f Mr, B u n io n ' s C o n fe s s io n o f F a i t h : T o u ch in g . . . Communion w ith U n b a o tlz e d P e r s o n s , c i t e d by Jo h n Bunyan, D if f e r e n c e s i n Judgm ent a b o u t W ater B a p tism , Works. I I , 634. 74 D i r t Wlp >t O f f , "The P r e f a c e to t h e R e a d e r ." 79 I T hink my s e l f o b lig e d to make my a p o lo g y to th e e f o r t h e w r i t i n g and P u b l i c a t i o n o f t h e s e P a p e rs ; f o r I know th o u w i l t b e te m p te d to wonder, how any one b u t o f o r d in a r y d i s c r e t i o n c o u ld p ersw ad e h im s e lf t o s e t h i s w it a g a i n s t so la m e n ta b le a p i e c e o f p ro u d f o l l y , and n o t d i s d a i n to d e f i l e h i s f i n g e r s w ith so v e ry d i r t y a C r e a tu r e as i s t h e p e rs o n I h av e to do w ith i n th e f o llo w in g s h e e t s : and th o u m ayst a l s o c o n c lu d e , t h a t I am asham ed t o b e se en so m eanly im ployed by my c o n c e a lin g my name from t h e e . 1 ''© The i g n o r a n t Bunyan had w r i t t e n n o th in g i n h i s e n t i r e t r e a t i s e , i n s i s t e d th e anonymous a u t h o r th ro u g h o u t h i s s e v e n ty - e ig h t p a g e s o f r e f u t a t i o n , t h a t was w orthy o f an an sw er, and i t was o n ly h i s a l t r u i s t i c C h r i s t i a n d e s i r e to u n d e c e iv e th o s e whom Bunyan was mie-~ l e a d i n g t h a t had c a u se d him to u n d e r ta k e t h e "d ru d g ery " o f r e p l y i n g : Not t h a t t h e r e i s any th in g , t h a t t h i s Jo h n Bunyan h a t h p u b l i s h t a g a i n s t The D esig n o f C h r i s t i a n i t y , t h a t an i n t e l l i g e n t R ead er can o th e rw is e e n t e r t a i n th a n w ith co n tem p t and sc o rn ; b u t th e i n t o l e r a b l e I n s o le n c e and n a u g h tin e s s o f th e man, t o g e t h e r w ith th e w eakness o f th o s e many p o o r S o u ls i n t o whose good o p in io n h e h a t h and may, t o t h e i r i n f i n i t e d a n g e r, i n s i n u a t e h im s e lf , made i t , i n my o p in io n , a g r e a t p ie c e o f C h a rity to u n d e r ta k e t h i s d r u d g e r y .76 " I p r o f e s s m ost u n f e lg n e d ly . " s t a t e d th e a u th o r , " t h a t I n e v e r knew any one so exp o se h im s e lf , n o r g iv e h i s A d v e r s a r ie s so many a d v a n ta g e s o f d i s c o v e r i n g h i s sham eful Ig n o ra n c e , E rro n e o u s n e s s , d is h o n e s ty and b a s e 75 D i r t Wip’ t O ff. "The P r e f a c e to t h e R ead er. " 7 6 T Loc. c i t . 80 n a tu r e " a s Bunyan had done In h i s book a g a i n s t F ow ler. In d e e d , th e mere p e r u s a l o f B u n y a n 's book seemed to th e a u th o r an i n s u l t t o th e i n t e l l i g e n c e : "The m ere r e a d in g i t o v e r c a n n o t b u t be a v e ry g r e a t p a i n t o any u n d e r s ta n d in g and good s p i r i t e d p e rs o n . B u n y a n 's " g r o s s Ig n o ra n c e , "^8 h i s "m ost w oful i g n o r a n c e , t h e a u t h o r o f D i r t W lp♦t O ff c a l l e d a t t e n t i o n t o th ro u g h o u t h i s r e f u t a t i o n , r e p e a t e d l y p o i n t i n g 80 81 o u t Bunyan*s " h id e o u s n o n -s e n s e " and " s o t t i s h p r a t e , " and f r e q u e n t l y i n t e r r u p t i n g h i s d is c o u r s e to ex c laim , "Now s e e how i g n o r a n t l y he t a l k s , " 82 o r "O bserve h i s non- 83 se n se a g a i n . 8 In d e e d , "from t h e b e g in n in g to th e end" o f h i s t r e a t i s e , Bunyan h ad done l i t t l e more, a c c o r d in g to t h i s a u th o r , th a n b e t r a y " h i s Ig n o ra n c e and d i s h o n e s t y . " 84 B u n y a n 's w re tc h e d Ig n o ra n c e , com bined w ith m a li c io u s d is h o n e s ty , showed I t s e l f f i r s t o f a l l i n h i s woe- 77 D i r t W lp 't O ff , "The P r e f a c e to t h e R e a d e r ." 78 I b i d . . 26. 79 I b i d . . 56. 80 I b i d . , 30. 81 I b i d . , 38. 82 I b i d . , 42. 83 I b i d . , 55. 84 I b i d . , 27. 81 f u l m is u n d e rs ta n d in g a n d m i s r e p r e s e n t a t i o n of F o w le r’ s book, a c c o r d in g to t h e r e c t o r ’ s d e f e n d e r. Thus, a f t e r s t a t i n g F o w le r 's p r i n c i p l e s c o r r e c t l y , th e a u t h o r tu r n e d to th e r e a d e r and a s k e d : What t h l n k e s t th o u now, R ead er, c a n s t th o u fa n c y th e D e sig n o f C h r i s t i a n i t y to b e a n o th e r L e v ia th a n ? o r r a t h e r a r t th o u a b l e to r e t a i n any t o l e r a b l e o p in io n o f t h a t man t h a t c a l l s I t so, and r e p r e s e n t s i t a s such a p i e c e o f m onstrouB D ev illsm ? Nay, can h e h im s e lf have su c h a B razen F o re h ead , a s n o t to b e confo u n d ed to th i n k what he h a t h done, upon h i s r e a d i n g o v e r ( i f he can b e p ersw ad ed t o i t ) b u t t h i s s h o r t a c c o u n t o f t h a t T r e a t ! s e ? ° & But B u n y a n 's ig n o r a n c e was r e s p o n s i b l e n o t o n ly f o r h i s m is u n d e r s ta n d in g o f F o w le r 's w r i t i n g s , b u t a l s o O f S f o r h i s a tte m p ts t o r e f u t e by " o ld T h re a d -b a re A rgum ents" d o c t r i n e s t h a t w ere a c c e p te d by su ch l e a r n e d d iv i n e s a s Fow ler and B a x te r. In d e e d , had Bunyan h ad th e s e n s e to r e a d one o f B a x t e r 's books on th e s e m a t t e r s — and t h e w it to u n d e r s ta n d i t — he w ould n e v e r have made h im s e lf so r i d i c u l o u s a s to g iv e p u b l i c e x p r e s s io n t o h i s o p in io n s : B e fo re I go f a r t h e r , l e t me t e l l th e R e a d e r, t h a t t h i s whole D o c tr in e o f Sir. F* s c o n c e rn in g J u s t i f i c a t i o n by F a i t h i s m ost i n v i n c i b l y d e fe n d e d by A bundance o f th e O rth o dox D iv in e s o f t h e Church o f E n g lan d , an d by none more e f f e c t u a l l y th a n by Mr. B a x te r i n h i s Book a g a i n s t Crandon lo n g s in c e w r i t t e n , and i n many o t h e r o f h i s w orks. Which, i f i t b e p o s s i b l e , th o u s h o u ld e s t y e t be d i s s a t i s f i e d c o n c e rn in g i t , th o u w i l t do w e ll to 85 D ir t W lp 't O ff . 16. 86 I b i d . , 55. 82 p e r u s e ; and w hich I f t h i s I,.B» had e v e r re a d , ( o r b u t anyone o f them, and h ad th e w it to u n d e r s ta n d i t ) he had r^ever made h im s e lf so in fam o u s a s to p u b l i s h t o th e w o rld su ch f i l t h y s t u f f ; n o r b ro u g h t o u t th e w o rs t o f th o s e w o fu l arg u m en ts f o r t h e d e fe n c e o f h i s d o c t r i n e , t h a t h av e b een an sw ered a th o u s a n d and a th o u s a n d tim e s .S '7 R ic h a rd B a x te r ’ s ag reem en t w ith th e i d e a s e x p re s s e d by F o w ler i n h i s D esig n o f C hrl s ti a n it .v was one o f th e s tr o n g p o i n t s o f argum ent o f t h e a u th o r o f D i r t Wlp* t O ff . 88 f o r B a x te r he r e g a r d e d a s a “L e a rn e d D i v i n e ," w hereas Bunyan h e view ed w ith contem pt a s a “P e s t i l e n t S chism a- t l c k . C i t i n g c e r t a i n p r o p o s i t i o n s from B a x t e r ’s t r e a t i s e , f o r i n s t a n c e , th e a u th o r q u e r ie d ; Whose judgm ent R eader, d o s t th o u t h i n k i s to b e p r e f e r r e d c o n c e rn in g t h e s e I n f e r e n c e s , w h e th e r t h i s w orthy a b le D iv in e , o r p o o r J . B ’ s. (who makes a v ery Turk o f Mr. F ow ler upon th e a c c o u n t o f them ?)90 T h is co m p ariso n o f Bunyan and B a x te r g iv e s a good i n d i c a t i o n o f th e r e l a t i v e s ta n d in g o f th e two men i n o rth o d o x t h e o l o g i c a l c i r c l e s o f th e s e v e n te e n th c e n tu ry . But B unyan’ s a r r o g a n t p re su m p tio n — a c o r o l l a r y o f h i s Ig n o ra n c e — was n o t c o n fin e d t o h i s d i f f e r i n g i n o p in io n from F o w ler and B a x te r; i t showed i t s e l f f u r t h e r 87 D i r t Wlp’t O ff. 55. 88 I b i d . , 79. " I b i d . . 2. 90 I b i d . . 77. 83 I n h i s d a r in g to d is a g r e e w ith th e o p in io n s o f th e g r e a t p r o t e s t a n t l e a d e r s — "men fam ous f o r l e a r n i n g and G o d li n e s s . 1 1 T h is t h e a u th o r o f D i r t Wlp * t O ff p o i n t e d o u t I n c e n s u r in g one o f B unyan’ s p ag e s t h a t had h i t h e r t o e sc a p e d h i s s t r i c t u r e s : T here I s so m e th in g I h av e l e t p a s s i n h i s 29. page, t h a t I ’l e ta k e n o t i c e o f , b e f o r e I c o n c lu d e , w hich I s t h i s , t h a t w hereas Mr. F. s a i t h , t h a t G a lv in , P e t e r M a rty r, M usculus, Zanchy, and o t h e r s d id n o t q u e s t i o n , b u t t h a t God c o u ld h av e p a rd o n e d S i n , w ith o u t any o th e r s a t i s f a c t i o n , th a n th e R e p e n ta n c e o f th e S in n e r , h e L l . e . , Bunyan] s a i t h to i t , I t m a tte r s n o th in g to me, 1 have n e i t h e r made my C reed o u t o f them , n o r any o t h e r th a n th e h o ly S c r i p t u r e s . ^ Then, w ith sarcasm : What John ! b e c a u s e you h av e n o t made y o u r C reed o u t o f them , do th e judgm ent o f so many men fam ous f o r L e a rn in g and G o d lin e s s s i g n i f l e n o th in g w ith you? T h is I s l i k e a s a y in g o f y o u r own, t h a t I s , o f one composed 0:f P r id e and I g n o r a n c e : how came such a p i e c e o f n o th in g a s th o u a r t to be so h ig h ly c o n c e ite d o f t h i n e own Judgm ent? He s a i t h , h e h a th made h i s C reed o u t o f th e S c r i p t u r e s , b u t who a r e b e s t a c c o m p lls h t f o r th e u n d e r s ta n d in g o f them ? th e L e a rn e d o r I d i o t s ? t h a t would h av e b ee n i n an u t t e r i n c a p a c i t y o f u n d e r s ta n d in g one l i n e o f th e B ib le w ith o u t th e h e lp o f th e L e a rn e d , and m ust now t r u s t t h e i r s k i l l a s to t h e r i g h t T r a n s la t i o n o f e v e ry word o f i t ; an d c a n n o t h av e th e l e a s t g u e s s a t th e m eaning o f a d i f f i c u l t p la c e b u t by t h e i r a s s ls ta n c e .D 2 In d e e d , i t was e lse w h e re p o in te d o u t i n D i r t 91 D i r t Wlp»t O ff, 54. Loc. c i t . 84 Wlp1t O f f , th e I g n o r a n t p re s u m p tio n of Bunyan was so g r e a t t h a t even th e S c r i p t u r e s m ight n o t he c o u n te d s a f e from h i s blasphem ous h a n d s: And who now s e e s n o t, t h a t th e Holy S c rip t u r e s th e m s e lv e s c a n n o t be s e c u r e from b e in g c h a rg e d w ith a g r e a t number o f Im pious and blasphem ous e x p r e s s io n s by t h i s p re s u m p tio u s man, sh o u ld h i s im pudence once r i s e so h ig h a s to d e a l by them ^ as h e h a t h done by t h e S a y in g s o f Mr. P . 93 As th e A p o s tle h ad s a i d , "E v il men and S e d u c e rs s h a l l wax w orse and w o rse , an d , i f so, God a lo n e can t e l l us w here th e y s h a l l s t o p . 1,94 The a u th o r o f D i r t W lp*t O ff p la c e d Bunyan i n t h e dilem m a o f b e in g e i t h e r g r o s s l y ig n o r a n t i n t h e o l o g i c a l m a tte r s , o r blasp h em o u s and m a lic io u s . D is a g r e e in g w ith Buhyan on a p o i n t a t i s s u e , f o r i n s t a n c e , t h i s w r i t e r a d d r e s s e d h i s a d v e r s a r y d i r e c t l y , c h a lle n g in g him w ith th e c h o ic e b etw een ig n o ra n c e and m a lic e , and a c c u s in g him o f b o th : Go now and c o n fe s s t h a t you a r e e i t h e r m ost sh a m e fu lly ig n o r a n t , ( a s n o t know ing t h e d i f f e r e n c e b etw een a m o ral and p o s i t i v e Law) o r e l s e t h a t you do m ost w i t t i n g l y and d e s ig n e d ly c a lu m n ia te and defam e y o u r b r o t h e r . A l l men o f any u n d e r s ta n d in g w i l l t e l l you, t h a t one o f t h e s e i s most t r u e o f you, when th e y r e a d t h i s , and t h e r e f o r e ta k e y o u r own c h o ic e . But h e t h a t r e a d s t h i s whole Pamph- w i l l n o t, c a n n o t d o u b t ( i f he b e n o t g r o s s l y p r e ju d ic e d ) t h a t you a r e n o t l e s s m a lic io u s th a n you a r e Ignorant. 9 5 9 3 D i r t W lp 't O f f , 26 9 4 I b i d . , 27. 95 I b i d . , 43. 85 And a g a in , c i t i n g c e r t a i n s ta te m e n ts from B u n y a n 's t r e a t i s e , t h e a u th o r tr iu m p h a n tly announced: . . . i f th e y d o n 't n e c e s s a r i l y speak him g u i l t y o f th e h i g h e s t im p ie ty , th e y demon s t r a t e him m ost w o fu lly i g n o r a n t . . . . But even i f Bunyan had "been w i l l i n g t o a d m it t h e l a t t e r c h a rg e i n o r d e r to e sc a p e th e fo rm e r, he c o u ld n o t h av e v i n d i c a t e d h im s e lf i n t h e o p in io n o f h i s a n t a g o n i s t , f o r D i r t Wlp1t O ff had o th e r i n s t a n c e s o f B u n y a n 's im p i e t y an d blasphem y re a d y f o r c i t a t i o n . H is o p in io n r e g a r d in g th e h o l i n e s s o f th e " s a i n t s " on e a r t h , f o r exam ple, was a c a s e i n p o i n t : O bserve h e r e t h a t t h i s m o n stro u s p i e c e o f im pudence s a i t h , t h a t t h e S a i n t s on e a r t h a r e a s p e r f e c t l y h o ly a s C h r is t h i m s e l f . . . . How I w i l l c ry Blasphem y to o , and t h a t upon m ost J u s t g ro u n d s. T here i s a l s o a n o th e r p la c e h e a b u s e th to f a v o u r t h i s B lasphem y, v i z . 1 Jo h n 2. 8. b u t l e t th e R ead er se e how t h a t makes f o r him . I s e d a te ly , and w ith o u t th e l e a s t i n c l i n a t i o n to p a s s io n , p r o f e s s ; t h a t I c a n n o t remember I e v e r knew such a shame l e s s a b u s e r and p e r v e r t e r o f th e h o ly S c r ip t u r e s i n a l l my d a y e s .9” B u n y a n 's u n d e r s ta n d in g o f th e B ib le , In d e e d , was so i n c o r r e c t t h a t i t s e rv e d t h e a u th o r a s an example o f th e f a r t h e s t extrem e i n ig n o r a n t m i s i n t e r p r e t a t i o n ; "none b u t a Bunyan, " he f e l t , c o u ld so n o t o r i o u s l y p e r v e r t th e 9 6 D i r t W ip 't O ff. 41. •E'bl’ C U . 40. The l a s t word i n t h i s q u o ta tio n r e a d s "d a p es" i n th e t e x t , b u t i s c l e a r l y a ty p o g r a p h i c a l e r r o r . 86 th e S e r l p t u r e s : To say a word o r two more to h i s f r a n t l c k d o c t r i n e o f t h e H o lin e s s t h a t i s i n th e S a i n t s ; he p o s s i b l y may t h i n k t h a t Eph. 1.17.. i s a f r i e n d to i t ; where ' t i s s a id , T h at C h r is t may d w e ll i n y o u r h e a r t s by f a i t h : B ut none b u t a Bunyan t h a t r e a d s th e f o r e g o in g v e r s e w ith i t , can d o u b t t h a t th e A p o s t l e 's m eaning i s any o t h e r th a n t h i s , nam ely, T hat C h r l s t may d w e ll by h i s S p i r i t , o r th e g r a c e s an d f r u i t s o f h i s S p i r i t i n y o u r h e a r t s , by o r th ro u g h f a i t h o r an e f f e c t u a l b e l i e v i n g th e C o s p e l not by h i s I n d i v i d u a l R ig h te o u s n e s s im p u ted to them, o r a c c o u n te d t h e i r s . But Bunyan was a s s a i l e d a s a d o c t r i n a l w r i t e r n o t o n ly f o r ig n o r a n c e and blasphem y, b u t a l s o f o r th e u n so u n d n e ss o f h i s te a c h i n g s . B u n y a n 's C a l v i n l s t i c o p p o s it io n to t h e Q uaker d o c t r i n e o f th e " I n n e r l i g h t " and to Q uaker m y stic ism i n g e n e r a l, n a t u r a l l y drew from th e spokesm an o f t h a t s o c i e t y th e a c c u s a t i o n t h a t Bunyan h im s e lf d i d n o t r i g h t l y u n d e r s ta n d t h e S c r i p t u r e s , and t h a t h i s d o c t r i n e s w ere th o s e o f t h e d e v i l : A l i a r and s l a n d e r e r th o u a r t , a p e r v e r t e r and w r e s te r o f th e r i g h t way o f God an d o f th e S c r i p t u r e s , a h y p o c r i t e an d d is s e m b le r , a h o l d e r f o r t h o f dam nable d o c t r i n e s , an e n v io u s man and f a l s e a c c u s e r , — and a l l th y l i e s , s la n d e r s , d e c e i t s , c o n f u s io n s , h y p o c r i s i e s , c o n t r a d i c t i o n s , and dam nable d o c t r i n e s o f d e v i l s , w ith im pudency h e l d f o r t h by th e e , s h a l l be consumed i n th e p i t o f v en g e a n c e . — A la s , a l a s , f o r th e e , Jo h n Bunyan I th y s e v e r a l m o n th s' t r a v a i l i n g r i e f and p a in was a f r u i t l e s s b i r t h , and p e r i s h e s a s an u n tim e ly f i g ; and i t s p r a i s e i s b l o t t e d o u t among men, and i t ' s p a s t away a s smoke. T ru th i s a - to p o f th e e , D ir t W lp 't O ff . 4 1 -2 87 and o u tr e a c h e s th e e , and i t s h a l l s ta n d f o r e v e r to con fo u n d th e e and a l l i t s en em ies; and th o u g h th o u w i l t n o t s u b je c t th y mind to s e rv e i t w i l l i n g l y , y e t a s la v e to i t m ust th o u b e; and w hat th o u d o s t i n th y w ic k e d n e ss a g a i n s t i t , th e end th e re o f , b r i n g s f o r t h th e g lo r y o f i t , and th y own confound in g and s h a m e ." B u n y a n 's " f a l s e dam nable d o c tr in e s " - 1 - p ro c e e d e d i n a l l p r o b a b i l i t y fro m th e d e v i l , i n t i m a t e d B urrough, f o r i t was n o t C h r i s t , b u t " th e P r in c e o f D ark n esse" who was Bunyan*s " k in g " 2 and who p e rs u a d e d him t o b e l i e v e 3 l i e s . "The d e s ig n e o f th e D e v il i n d e c e iv in g s o u ls , i s th y ow n," w ro te B urrough to h i s a n t a g o n i s t . 4 I f th e Q uakers fo u n d B u n y a n 's a f f i l i a t i o n w ith s u p e r n a t u r a l pow ers o f d a r k n e s s somewhat d i f f i c u l t to p ro v e , th e y e x p e rie n c e d l i t t l e d i f f i c u l t y i n d e m o n s tra t in g h i s a f f e c t i o n f o r th e d o c t r i n e s o f th e te m p o ra l pow ers o f d a r k n e s s — t h e P a p i s t s . I n B u r r o u g h 's eyes B u n y a n 's o p p o s it io n to t h e Q uaker d o c t r i n e s p la c e d t h a t w r i t e r i n th e r a n k s o f th e p e r s e c u t o r s and P a p i s t s ; th e s e , h e s t a t e d , w ere "o f one G e n e ra tio n , p e r s e c u t i n g QQ Edward B urrough, c i t e d by R o b e rt S o u th ey , " L if e o f John B unyan," op. c i t . , 136. Southey does n o t make i t c l e a r w h e th e r t h i s q u o t a t i o n i s from B urrough*s R eply u n to h i s Second Book o r h i s T ru th ( t h e S tr o n g e s t o f a l l T W itn essed f o r t h . B urrough r e f e r r e d to Bunyan*s " f a l s e dam nable d o c t r i n e s " i n th e t i t l e o f h i s T ru th ( th e S tr o n g e s t o f a l l ) W itn e sse d f o r t h . 2 Edward B urrough, The T rue F a i t h o f th e G ospel o f P e a c e . 3. 3 I b i d . , 9 . 4 I b i d . , 11 88 th e l i f e u n d e r th e z e a l o f p r o f e s s i o n o f t h e w o rd s ." 5 Bunyan*s i n c l i n a t i o n to Romish d o c t r i n e was a l s o c l e a r l y e v id e n t i n h i s i d o l a t r o u s r e v e r e n c e f o r th e name o f th e V ir g in . The Q uaker fo u n d Bunyan " d i s p i s l n g th e l i g h t w ith in , and w o rs h ip p in g t h e Name o f (M ary) i n th y i m a g i n a t i o n s . . . . "6 ,rI may h a v e ground to ju d g e th o u w o rs h ip s" th e name o f Mary " a s t h e P a p i s t s d o e , " h e w rote.*7 E q u a lly a b o m in ab le to Q uaker view was B u n y a n 's d o c t r i n a l u n so u n d n e ss t h a t r e s u l t e d from h i s " c a r n a l" i n t e r p r e t a t i o n of th e B ib le . "A rgum ents th o u h a s t made, to w hich I s h a l l say l i t t l e , " w ro te th e Q uaker spokes man, " o n ly Mind th e e o f th y C a r n a ll s o t t l s h n e s s e , who sp e ak s o f C h r is t t o be f o u r , o r f i v e f o o t lo n g " : L e t shame c o v e r th y l l p p s th o u b l i n d s o t, when d i d you se e C h r i s t i n t h a t l e n g t h h a s t th o u n o t h e r e spoken o f t h a t w hich th o u knowes n o t, and a r t a busybody I n t r u d i n g i n t o t h i n g s , - w h ereo f th o u a r t i g n o r a n t, b u t f o o l e s lo v e s to be m e d lin g , to M a n ife s t t h e i r owne f o l l y , among whom th o u a r t , and much m ore s t u f f e w hich I p a s s e by, a s n o t w o rth Name- in g , o n ly th y M a lic e i s a g a i n s t th e kingdom e o f h ea v en w ith in and u t t e r s th y C a r n a ll se n - s u a l l know ledge o f th e t h i n g s o f God, w hich th y im a g in a tio n s s h a l l n e v e r know.® The B a p t i s t s who h e ld to s t r i c t communion a l s o 5 Edward B urrough, The T rue F a i t h o f th e G ospel o f P e a c e . 10. 6 I b i d . , 22. 7 Eoo. c i t . 8 I b i d . , 23. 89 a s s a i l e d Bunyan on th e ground o f unsound d o c t r i n e . They found h i s c o n c lu s io n s t o b e 1 1 d e v i l i s h ” and Bunyan h im s e lf to be "one o f M a c h ia v e l's s c h o l a r s . ”® Bunyan*s d o c t r i n a l d iv e rg e n c e from them, th e y f e l t , a r o s e l a r g e l y fro m th e p ro u d an d p resu m p tu o u s n a t u r e o f a man vdio w ish e d to make h im s e lf known by th e s i n g u l a r i t y o f h i s f a i t h and p r a c t i c e ; th e y fo u n d i n him " th e s p i r i t o f D lo tr e p h e s o f o l d , . . . w h o lo v e d t o h ave t h e p r e - e m i n e n c e , a n d c o n f r o n te d him w ith th e q u e s tio n : W hether y o u r p r i n c i p l e and p r a c t i c e i s n o t e q u a lly a g a i n s t o t h e r s a s w e ll a s u s— v i z . E p is c o p a l, P r e s b y t e r i a n s , and In d e p e n d e n ts , who a r e a l s o o f o u r s i d e , f o r o u r p r a c t i c e , th o u g h th e y d i f f e r w ith u s a b o u t th e m a tte r o f b a p tis m . Do you d e l i g h t to h av e y o u r hand a g a i n s t ev ery man?!-*- And a g a in , I a s k y o u r own h e a r t , w h e th e r p o p u l a r i t y and a p p la u s e o f v a r i e t y of p r o f e s s o r s , be n o t i n t h e b o tto m o f what you h av e s a id ; t h a t h a t h . b e e n y o u r s n a re to p e r v e r t t h e r i g h t ways o f th e Lord, and to l e a d o t h e r s i n t o a p a t h w h erein we can f i n d none o f th e f o o t s t e p s o f t h e f l o c k i n th e f i r s t a g e s? 1 2 To th e C hurch o f E ngland, Bunyan*s d o c t r i n e s n a t u r a l l y r e p r e s e n t e d th e ex trem e i n f a n a t i c d i s s e n t and W illia m K i f f i n and Thomas P a u l, Some S e rio u s R e f l e c t i o n s , c i t e d by Jo h n Bunyan, D1 ffe re n c e s~ ~ In Judg ment a b o u t W ater B a p tis m . Works, I I , 634. 10 I b i d . . 641. ^ Loc. c i t . 12 I b i d . , 640. 90 o p p o s it io n to r e s p e c t a b l e o rth o d o x y , w h ile h e h im s e lf was d e s c r ib e d a s a p e r s o n "m ost in fam o u s i n th e Town and County o f B e d fo rd , f o r a v e ry P e s t i l e n t Schism a- t i c k , —a "w re tc h , who a b o m in a te s any t h i n g ( i f one may ju d g by h i s ru d e b e h a v io u r) t h a t b a r e t h th e name o f th e C hurch o f England. Y e t , n o te d t h e a u th o r o f D i r t W lp 't O ff w ith some amused s a t i s f a c t i o n , how ever much Bunyan h a t e d th e d o c t r i n e s o f th e E s ta b lis h m e n t, h e was n o t above t u r n i n g h e r a r t i c l e s to h i s u s e when such co n d u c t s e rv e d h i s p u rp o s e : " 'T i s p l e a s a n t to o b s e r v e ," he w ro te , t h a t Bunyan "sh o u ld c i t e t h r e e o f h e r A r t i c l e s a s m ain O rth o d o x y ’ s, i n o r d e r t o t h e more e f f e c t u a l de fam ing o f Mr. F o w ler. T h is i s J u s t l i k e t h e D e v ils mak in g u s e o f S c r i p t u r e to a s s i s t him i n h i s m a lic io u s d e s ig n s a g a i n s t o u r S a v io u r. B u n y a n 's a tte m p t to d is p a r a g e F o w l e r 's d o c t r i n e s by p a r a l l e l i n g them w ith th o s e o f th e P a p i s t s and Q uakers, th e r e c t o r ' s d e f e n d e r made l i g h t o f , a d m i t t i n g m agnani m ously: T h ere i s n o t an H e r e tic k i n th e w o rld , b u t h a t h some good S a y in g s, t h i s J .B . h im s e lf (a s 13 D i r t Wlpf t O f f . 2. "T h is no d o u b t was th e e s tim a te o f Bunyan h e l d i n th e a v e ra g e c o u n try r e c t o r i e s and v ic a r a g e s o f B e d f o r d s h i r e ," s t a t e s Jo h n Brown, Jo h n Bunyan, 218. 14 D i r t W lp 't O f f . 56. Loc. c i t . 91 g r o s ly e rro n e o u s a s he i s ) i s n o t o u t i n e v e ry t h i n g . And no w ise man w ill: lo v e t r u t h one J o t th e w orse f o r h e a r i n g i t from th e D e v ils m outh. And I f r e e l y d e c l a r e , t h a t I f t h e P a p i s t s an d Q uakers d i d a s s e r t no w orse t h i n g s th a n th o s e £.B*_ h a t h c i t e d , and w ith a l u n d e r s to o d them a s he by h i s p a r a l l e l makes them t o do, I w ould a s h e a r t i l y d e fe n d th e p r i n c i p l e s o f b o th , a s I now oppose th e m .16 In d e e d , he i n s i s t e d , i t was n o t F ow ler, b u t r a t h e r Bunyan h im s e lf , whose p r i n c i p l e s were t a i n t e d w ith s e c t a r i a n and Rom ish h e r e s i e s : E very body k n o w s ..., t h a t t h i s J .B . and h i s B re th re n Joyn h an d s b o th w ith Q uakers and P a p i s t s , i n n o t a few O p in io n s and P r a c t i c e s a s th e y a r e enem ies to th e C hurch o f E n g la n d , b u t d o th he t h i n k h im s e lf and them one J o t t h e more h e r e t i c k s upon t h a t a c c o u n t! 17 But D i r t Wlp1t O ff h u r l e d an even more s e r i o u s c h a rg e o f d o c t r i n a l u n so u n d n e ss a g a i n s t "o u r n o ta b le M u s te r-m a s te r o f dam nable d o c t r i n e s " ^ 9— t h a t o f A n tin o - m ianlsra. B u n y a n 's " sa d S c r i b l e " a g a i n s t F o w ler was " s t u f f e d " w ith " t h a t f i l t h y d o c t r i n e o f A n tin o m la n ls m ," d e m o n s tra te d th e anonymous w r i t e r ; nay, n o t o n ly B u n y a n 's book a g a i n s t F o w ler, b u t a ls o " h i s o t h e r la m e n ta b le w r i t in g s , " from which i t was p l a i n l y e v id e n t t h a t h e was " a s ra n k a n d R a n tin g an A n tin o m lan a s e v e r f o u l 'd p a p e r . " 1® 16 D i r t W lp 't O ff. 5 8 -9 . 1 7 I b i d . . 59. 18 I b i d . . 20. 19 I b i d . . 17. 92 In d e e d , so e x tre m e w ere B u n y a n 's s e n tim e n ts t h a t " t h i s man™ c o u ld h a r d ly he c a l l e d hy so m o d e ra te a te rm a s a ”R a n tin g A n tln o m la n " : " r a t h e r ( I f he knows what he s a i t h ) , " he I s e n t i t l e d to no o t h e r c l a s s i f i c a t i o n th a n t h a t o f H a down r i g h t R a n t e r . "^0 The s t y l e o f Bunyan*s w r i t i n g s e s c a p e d t h e c e n s u re of h i s a n t a g o n i s t s no more th a n d id h i s s u b j e c t m a tte r , c h a r a c t e r i z e d a s t h a t was hy i t s d is p l a y of ig n o ra n c e , blasphem y, a n d f a l s e d o c t r i n e . Prom t h e p l e a s o f Bunyan*s b r e th r e n an d f r i e n d s , t h a t r e a d e r s b e n o t p r e j u d i c e d a g a i n s t h i s d o c t r i n a l and p r a c t i c a l w r i t i n g s on a c c o u n t o f t h e i r p l a i n n e s s o f s t y l e , I t i s e v id e n t t h a t t h i s was a c h a rg e f r e q u e n t l y r a i s e d a g a i n s t them , and t h a t t h e i r in e le g a n c e o f ex p r e s s i o n , t h e i r t a u to lo g y , and t h e i r f a i l u r e to d i s p l a y th e s ig n s o f acad em ic l e a r n i n g w ere c u r r e n t l y c r i t i c i z e d i n Bunyan *s own day* ^ Bunyan h im s e lf was aw are t h a t th e s e w ere th e c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s o f h i s w r i tin g a g a i n s t w hich th e u s u a l c r i t i c i s m s w ere r a i s e d , a n d sh rew d ly d e fe n d e d h im s e lf by ack n o w led g in g them . I n th e f i r s t s e c t i o n o f h i s " E p i s t l e to f o u r s o r t s o f R e a d e r s ,M p r e f a c e d to The Holy C ity . 20 P l r t W lp 't O ff. 40. See s u p r a , p a g e s 64 f f . 93 f o r i n s t a n c e , Bunyan s t a t e d t h a t i t was p o s s i b l e t h a t some o f th e M s a i n t s ” m ight t h i n k th e y fo u n d i n t h a t t r e a t i s e “n o u g h t a t a l l b u t w ords, a s many tim e s i t f a l l e t h o u t even i n t h e i r r e a d in g th e S c r i p t u r e s o f G-od th e m s e lv e s ." But l e t th e s a i n t s r e a d c h a r i t a b l y and ju d g e m o d e s tly , he u rg e d , and l e t them . . . t a k e h e e d o f c o n c lu d in g t h a t b e c a u s e th e y f o r th e p r e s e n t see n o th in g i n t h i s o r t h a t p a s s a g e , t h a t t h e r e f o r e t h e r e i s n o th in g i n i t : p o s s i b l y from t h a t which th o u m ayest c a s t away a s an empty bone, o t h e r s may p ic k b o th good and wholesome b i t s , y ea , and a ls o o u t o f t h a t suck much n o u r is h in g m a r r o w . 2 2 A more d e v a s t a t i n g argum ent, Bunyan c o n c e iv e d , would be r a i s e d by th e “L earn ed R e a d e r," whom h e t h e r e f o r e a d d r e s s e d i n th e second p a r t o f th e e p i s t l e : S i r , — I su p p o se , i n y o u r r e a d in g o f t h i s d i s c o u r s e , you w i l l b e a p t to blam e me f o r two t h i n g s : F i r s t , B ecause I have n o t so b e a u t i f i e d my m a tte r w ith a c u te n e s s o f l a n guage a s you c o u ld w ish o r d e s i r e . S eco n d ly , B ecause a l s o I h av e n o t g iv e n you, e i t h e r i n th e l i n e o r i n t h e m arg en t, a c lo u d o f sen te n c e s from t h e l e a r n e d f a t h e r s , t h a t h av e , a c c o r d in g to t h e i r wisdom, p o s s i b l y , h a n d le d th e s e m a tte r s lo n g b e f o r e me. 23 I n an sw er t o th e f i r s t o f th e s e acad em ic c r i t i c i s m s , Bunyan t a c t f u l l y a d m itte d h im s e lf to be a “weak and low" p e r s o n to a tte m p t to t r e a t o f m a tte r so " e x c e l l e n t and 22 Jo h n Bunyan, “The E p i s t l e to Four S o r ts o f R e a d e r s ," The Holy C ity . Works o f John Bunyan. I I I . 398. — 23 „ Loc. c i t . 94 h ig h , " b u t he re m in d e d th e r e a d e r t h a t t h e L ord r e g a rd e d n o t " h i g h - s w e l lin g words o f v a n ity * 1 b u t r a t h e r th e w p u re and n ak e d t r u t h , " an d ad d ed t h e s a r c a s t i c comment: He a l s o t h a t sp e a k s to th e w e a k e st, may make th e l e a r n e d u n d e rs ta n d him ; when he t h a t s t r i v e t h to be h ig h , i s n o t o n ly f o r t h e m ost p a r t u n d e rs to o d b u t o f a s o r t , b u t a l s o many tim e s i s n e i t h e r u n d e rs to o d by them n o r by h im s e lf* 4 I n r e s p o n s e to th e seco n d o f t h e s e c r i t i c i s m s , t h a t h i s work la c k e d r e f e r e n c e s to l e a r n e d w r i t i n g s , Bunyan p ro u d l y r e i t e r a t e d h i s o f t e n s t a t e d in d e p e n d e n c e o f th e w orks o f men and h i s r e l i a n c e on th e B ib le and D iv in e i n s p i r a t i o n : The r e a s o n why you f i n d me empty o f t h e la n g u a g e o f t h e le a r n e d , I mean t h e i r sen te n c e s and w ords w hich o t h e r s u se , i s b e c a u s e I h av e them n o t, n o r have n o t r e a d them : had i t n o t b e e n f o r t h e B ib le , I had n o t o n ly n o t th u s done i t , b u t n o t a t a l l* L a s t l y , I do f i n d i n m ost such a s p i r i t o f whoredom and I d o l a t r y c o n c e rn in g th e l e a r n i n g o f t h i s w o rld , and wisdom o f th e f l e s h , and G o d 's g lo ry so much s t a i n e d and d im in is h e d th e r e b y ; t h a t had I a l l t h e i r a i d an d a s s i s t a n c e a t command, I d u r s t n o t make u s e o f o u g h t t h e r e o f , and t h a t f o r f e a r l e s t t h a t g r a c e , and t h e s e g i f t s t h a t th e Lord h a th g iv e n me, sh o u ld be a t t r i b u t e d to t h e i r w its , r a t h e r th a n th e l i g h t o f th e Word and S p i r i t o f God* 25 B ut i f B u n y a n 's p l a i n la n g u a g e f a r e d i l l a t th e h an d s o f h i s a n t a g o n i s t s , h i s p r e t e n s e t o a l e a r n i n g 24 John Bunyan, "The E p i s t l e to F our S o r ts o f R e a d e rs, M 0£>. c l t . , 398. 25 Loc. c l t* 95 t h a t h e d id n o t h av e , a s by h i s o c c a s io n a l u s e o f a word from t h e le a r n e d la n g u a g e s (o r even th e u s e o f a p o ly s y l l a b i c word i n E n g lis h I ) f a r e d even worse* The Bap t i s t s , a s Bunyan h im s e lf n o te d , mocked him M f o r speak in g a word i n L a tin , and t h e a u th o r o f D i r t Win * t O ff d e v o te d s e v e r a l p a r a g r a p h s to d e m o n s tr a tin g t h a t Bunyan1s t r e a t i s e a g a i n s t F o w ler, m is e r a b le and I n e f f e c t u a l th o u g h i t was, was y e t a work t h a t t h e ig n o r a n t Bunyan c o u ld n o t h av e w r i t t e n u n a id e d . T hat Bunyan had b e e n a s s i s t e d by h i s b r e t h r e n , d e m o n s tra te d t h i s a u th o r , was p l a i n l y e v id e n t, f i r s t from th e q u o t a t i o n s fro m t h e J e s u i t Campian, whose w r i t i n g s Bunyan h im s e lf c o u ld n e v e r h av e r e a d , and, se co n d , fro m th e s m a tte r i n g o f acad em ic la n g u a g e s and l o g i c , which Bunyan c o u ld l a y no c la im t o . W ith c a s u a l sa rc asm , t h e l e a r n e d a u th o r w ro te: By th e way ta k e n o t i c e , t h a t t h i s la m e n ta b le p i e c e o f work i s t h e la b o u r o f more clum sy B r a in s th a n t h i s p o o r J . B . ' s. For F i r s t , How s h o u ld he come by S a y in g s o u t o f Cam pian? b u t S eco n d ly , (w hich I s more c o n s id e ra b le )" he h a th a company o f Terms and P h ra s e s , t h a t h e was n e v e r i n a c a p a c ity of u n d e r s ta n d in g , a s Com m ix ed , R a d i c a l s . A b s t r a c t , R e p l i c a t i o n . &c. d e r i v e d from t h e L a t i n . A g a in d h a r a c t e r l s t l - c a l , D i a m e t r i c a l , P a r e n t h e s i s , P a r a g r a p h , &c. b o rro w ed from t h e G reek L anguage. And he i s up w ith h i s a r g u in g from a t h i n g to a t h i n g , h a b i t and a c t , w hich sm e ll o f one whose name h a t h had th e ho n o u r to s ta n d a l i t t l e w h ile i n a C o lle d g e B u tte r y Book, and t h a t h ad th e pg John Bunyan, P e a c e a b le P r i n c i p l e s and T ru e. Works. I I , 653. 96 l u e k som etim es to h e a r h i s M a ste rs ch o p p in g L o g lc k t o g e t h e r : F o r I *16 w a rra n t him , who e v e r was J . B . ' s f e l l o w - l a b o u r e r i n t h i s w orthy p e rfo rm a n c e , I s a f e llo w t h a t n e v e r was u n d e r a much h ig h e r d i s p e n s a t i o n . And * t i s h e I presum e t h a t h a t h h e l p t o u r A u th o r to h i s a f t e r - c o n c l u s i o n s , p . 9 . a s i f t h e r e w ere f o r e - c o n c l u s i o n s . 27 B ut i f th e l i t t l e acad em ic l e a r n i n g t h a t th e t r e a t i s e showed h ad b e e n g iv e n t o i t by Bunyan*s b r e t h r e n , Bun yan h im s e lf s h o u ld n o t be ro b b ed o f th e g lo r y o f h a v in g w r i t t e n th e n o n se n se and calum ny w hich c o n s t i t u t e d t h e f a r g r e a t e r p a r t , i n s i s t e d h i s a n t a g o n i s t : T h ir d ly , The w hole i s a m o tly t h i n g p i e c ’ t and p a t c h * t t o g e t h e r , as i f i t w ere t h e p r o d u c t o f n o t so few a s tw o, b u t a Club o f W lse- a k e r s . But y e t a l l t h a t u n d e r s ta n d J . B . ' s m anners, a b i l i t y and te m p e r, w i l l a c c u s e me a s i n j u r i o u s , s h o u ld I ro b him o f th e h o n o u r o f t h e d o w n -rig h t n o n -s e n s e , k n a v e ry , C alum nies and v i l e la n g u a g e , w hich make a v e ry g r e a t , i f n o t th e f a r g r e a t e r p a r t o f th e P a m p h le t.28 Bunyan*s l a c k o f w o rld ly l e a r n i n g was a c h a r a c t e r i s t i c t h a t h i s a n t a g o n i s t s d e l i g h t e d to d w e ll upon and one t h a t e n te r e d l a r g e l y i n t o t h e i r c o n c e p tio n o f him . In d e e d , t h e re m a rk s o f nI.G .,w p r e f a c e d to A Few S ig h s from H e l l , i n d i c a t e what may w e ll b e ta k e n to r e p r e s e n t th e g e n e r a l a t t i t u d e o f th e l e a r n e d w orld to w a rd th e d o c t r i n a l w r i t i n g s o f an ig n o r a n t s e c t a r i a n : I t i s m a rv e llo u s to see how th e t r u t h i s q u a r r e l l e d a t t h a t comes from one, t h a t 27 D i r t Wlp * t O f f . 57. Loc. c l t . 97 w ould be e a s i l y r e c e iv e d i f i t d i d d ro p from a n o th e r ; and I d o u b t n o t, i f t h i s book had some o t h e r hand a t i t , t h e r e I s s c a r c e any e x p r e s s io n t h a t may be now c a r p t a t by some, b u t w ould h av e b ee n sw allow ed w ith o u t s t r a i n i n g . W e a r e now f a l l e n i n t o such an a g e ( th e good L o rd h e lp u s ) t h a t t r u t h , upon i t s own a c c o u n t, can c h a lle n g e b u t l i t t l e a c c e p ta n c e , e x c e p t th e a u th o r b e l i k e d , o r h i s l i n e s p a i n t e d w ith h i s own w i t . 29 29 I.G -., (,To th e R ead er, n p r e f a c e to A Few S ig h s from H e l l . Works o f Jo h n Bunyan. I l l , 672. BUNYAN AS CONTROVERSIAL WRITER INTRODUCTION Bunyan*s l i t e r a r y c a r e e r owed i t s o r i g i n to h i e c o n t r o v e r s i a l n a t u r e , w hich in d u c e d him, i n 1656, to e n t e r i n t o argum ent w ith th e Q uakers i n a n en d e av o r t o e n l i g h t e n them c o n c e rn in g c e r t a i n m is ta k e n n o tio n s t h a t th e y h e l d r e g a r d in g t h e C h r i s t w i t h i n and t h e C h r is t w ith o u t. Some tw e lv e y e a r s l a t e r , h i s d e s i r e to p r e v e n t a m is u n d e rs ta n d in g o f t h e d o c t r i n e o f j u s t i f i c a t i o n hy f a i t h and th e p r i n c i p l e o f im p u te d r i g h t e o u s n e s s a g a in made him th e c e n t e r o f c o n tr o v e r s y , t h i s tim e w ith a member o f th e Church o f E n g lan d ; and i n th e two f o llo w in g y e a r s h i s d i f f e r e n c e s o f o p in io n from th o s e o f h i s own B a p t i s t b r e t h r e n , c o n c e rn in g th e m a tte r o f w a te r b a p tis m an d th e m a t t e r o f open o r c lo s e d communion, i n v o lv e d hira i n a d i s p u t e w ith th o s e whom he h im s e lf u n d e r sto o d to b e th e “s a i n t s . " These c o n t r o v e r s i a l works o f Bunyan, w r i t t e n d u r in g th e e a r l y and m id d le p a r t o f h i s l i t e r a r y c a r e e r , b e f o r e he had a t t a i n e d fame a s th e a u t h o r o f a l l e g o r i c a l t r a c t s , w ere, from t h e i r v e ry n a t u r e , o f tem p o rary im p o rta n c e , s e r v in g t h e i r p u rp o s e a t th e tim e , b u t g o in g th ro u g h no f u r t h e r e d i t i o n s i n th e s e v e n te e n th c e n tu r y . T h e ir c i r c l e o f r e a d e r s was p re su m a b ly composed 99 o f Bunyan*s b r e t h r e n a n d f r i e n d s , who r e c e i v e d them a s th e work of t r u t h , an d h i s a n t a g o n i s t s , a g a i n s t whom th e y w ere d i r e c t e d , an d who u n d e rto o k th e t a s k o f a n - - sw e rln g them . T hat h i s d i s p u t e s w ith th e Q uak ers, f o r I n s ta n c e , took t h e i r p l a c e I n t h e p u b lic c o n s c io u s n e s s I s e v id e n t from r e f e r e n c e s to them i n v a r io u s t r a c t s o f t h e time,*-® The spokesman o f th e S o c ie ty o f F r ie n d s , who f e l t h im s e lf c a l l e d upon to r e p l y to B u n y a n 's g r o s s s l a n d e r s and f a l s e te a c h in g s , was Edward B urrough, to whose em p h atic r e f u t a t i o n G eorge Fox h im s e lf added a c o n f ir m a tio n , w h ile Jam es B la c k le y a l s o c a l l e d a t t e n t i o n to B u n y an 's ig n o r a n c e . The " a p o s t o l i c blow s and k n o ck s" b esto w ed upon Bunyan by t h e E s t a b l i s h e d Church came fro m th e l e a r n e d Thomas S m ith and th r o u g h th e medium o f th e anonymous t r e a t i s e e n t i t l e d D i r t Wit?*t O f f , w h ile th e r e f u t a t i o n of B u n y a n 's s e c t a r i a n e r r o r s i n d o c t r i n e an d p r a c t i c e was s t a t e d by th e B a p t i s t s W illiam K i f f i n and Thomas P a u l, Jo h n Denne an d Henry D 'A n v e rs .31 30 See s u p r a , p ag e 24, n o te 32. 31 Many o f th e p a m p h le ts w r i t t e n s g a ln s t Bunyan a r e r a r e and d i f f i c u l t o f a c c e s s ; o f some no c o p ie s a r e known to e x i s t . F o r t h e p r e s e n t stu d y o n ly two o f th e c o n t r o v e r s i a l t r a c t s w r i t t e n a g a i n s t him a r e a v a i l a b l e i n e n t i r e l y , B u r ro u g h 's T rue F a i t h o f th e G ospel o f P eac e and th e anonymous D i r t W lp11 £>ff. d l t a t i o n s from o t h e r t r a c t s a r e ta k e n from q u o t a t i o n s g iv e n by commenta t o r s on, o r b io g r a p h e r s o f , Bunyan, o r by Bunyan h im s e lf i n h i s r e f u t a t i o n o f th e v a r io u s a t t a c k s . 1 0 0 The number o f d i s p u t a n t s who th o u g h t I t n e c e s s a ry to e n t e r I n t o d o c t r i n a l d e b a te w ith Bunyan, an d th e vehem ent m anner I n w hich th e y a s s a i l e d him , c a n n o t, how e v e r, be ta k e n as an a b s o lu te s ta n d a r d o f Bunyan*s im p o rta n c e a s a r e l i g i o u s f i g u r e i n h i s own day. For a r i g h t e v a lu a t io n o f Bunyan*s s ta n d in g a s a c o n tr o v e r s i a l i s t , i t m ust b e ta k e n i n t o c o n s i d e r a t i o n t h a t r e l i g i o n was a. v e r y r e a l m a t t e r to th e P u r i t a n ele m e n t o f sev en t e e n t h c e n tu ry E n g lan d , t h a t r e l i g i o u s h e r e s y was h e ld i n a b o m in a tio n , t h a t d o c t r i n a l d i f f e r e n c e s w ere m a tte r s o f g ra v e and s e r i o u s co n seq u en c e, and t h a t a w r i t e r who ta u g h t w hat was h e l d to be f a l s e d o c t r i n e n e e d e d be o f no o u ts t a n d in g im p o rta n c e to c a l l upon h im s e lf th e a t t a c k s o f th o s e who d i f f e r e d from him . I t m ust a l s o be rem em bered t h a t s e v e n te e n th c e n tu r y c o n tr o v e r s y on m a tte r s o f r e l i g i o n was n o t o r i o u s l y s c u r r i l o u s and a b u s iv e , and t h a t even a h ig h - s o u le d M ilto n w ould con d e sc e n d to s o i l h i s pen by c a s t i n g mean p e r s o n a l a s p e r - 32 s io n s on h i s a n t a g o n i s t s . C ontem porary r e f e r e n c e s t o Bunyan a s a c o n tr o - 32 As, f o r exam ple, h i s r e f e r e n c e to B ishop H a llJ "For c e r t a i n e y o u r c o n f u t a t i o n [ o f t h e t r e a t i s e by "Sm ectym nuus1 *] h a t h a tc h ie v * d n o th in g a g a i n s t i t , and l e f t n o th in g upon I t , b u t a f o u l e t a s t e o f y o u r s k i l l e t f o o t , and a more p e r f e c t and d i s t i n g u i s h a b l e o d o u r o f y o u r so c k s, th e n o f y o u r n i g h t - c a p . And how t h e B ishop sh o u ld c o n f u s t a book w ith h i s f o o t , u n l e s s e h i s b r a i n e s w ere d r o p t i n t o h i s g r e a t to e , I c a n n o t m eet w ith any man t h a t can r e s o l v e m e ...( J o h n M ilto n , A n im a d v e rsio n s Upon th e R e m o n stra n ts D efence, a e a l n s t Smectvmnuus (1 6 4 1 ). f o r k s , h i , P t. I , 1767 * ------------------------------------------------- 1 0 1 v e r s i a l i s t a r e fo u n d , f o r th e m ost p a r t , i n th e t r e a t i s e s o f th o s e w r i t e r s w ith whom Bunyan engaged I n d o c t r i n a l d i s p u t e , and a r e , t h e r e f o r e , n a t u r a l l y a n t a g o n i s t i c I n s p i r i t . B u n y a n 's b r e t h r e n and f r i e n d s , even vsfoen recom m ending th o s e v e ry books t h a t h i s enem ies found to be m ost a c rim o n io u s and s la n d e r o u s , made no r e f e r e n c e to Bunyan a s a c o n t r o v e r s i a l w r i t e r . In d e e d , th e y f e l t , even a s d id Bunyan h i m s e l f , 33 t h a t I n h i s l i f e , a s i n h i s w r i t i n g s , t h a t w o rth y m i n i s t e r showed a m ost meek an d p e a c e a b le s p i r i t . 33 I n view o f th e many d i s p u t e s i n w hich he engaged, B u n y a n 's p r e t e n s i o n to s e c t a r i a n t o l e r a n c e and h i s e x p r e s s io n o f d i s l i k e f o r c o n tr o v e r s y i s c u r io u s : I n p e a c e a b le P r i n c i p l e s and T rue Bunyan spoke o f him s e l f a s ’ *a C h r i s t i a n , a B e l i e v e r , " r a t h e r th a n a se c t a r i a n , d e c l a r i n g : "a s f o r th o s e f a c t i o u s t i t l e s o f A n a b a p tis ts , In d e p e n d e n ts , P r e s b y t e r i a n s , o r t h e l i k e , I c o n c lu d e , t h a t th e y came n e i t h e r from J e ru s a le m n o r A n tio c h , b u t r a t h e r from h e l l and B abylon; f o r th e y n a t u r a l l y te n d to d i v i s i o n s . . . " ( Works o f Jo h n Bunyan. I I , 6 4 9 ); and i n G race A bounding (Jo h n Brown, e d i t o r ; C am bridge: a t t h e U n iv e r s ity P r e s s , 1 9 0 7 ), p . 86, he s t a t e d even more s p e c i f i c a l l y : " I n e v e r c a r e d to m eddle w ith th i n g s t h a t w ere c o n t r o v e r te d , and i n d i s p u t e am ongst th e S a i n t s , e s p e c i a l l y t h i n g s o f th e lo w e s t Na t u r e ; y e t i t p le a s e d me much to c o n te n d w ith g r e a t e a r n e s t n e s s f o r t h e Word o f F a i t h , and th e R e m issio n o f S in s by th e D eath and S u f f e r i n g s o f J e s u s ; b u t I say , a s to o t h e r t h i n g s , I sh o u ld l e t them a lo n e , b e c a u s e I aaw th e y en g e n d re d s t r i f e . . . . " W illiam York T in d a l l, s t a t i n g t h a t " I t was th e custom o f m ost p r e a c h e r s b e n e v o le n tly to e x p r e s s p a c i f i c p r i n c i p l e s v /h ile th e y d e v o te d th e m s e lv e s to w a r," f e e l s t h a t "we can s a f e l y ig n o r e B u n y a n 's p r o f e s s i o n o f p a c i f i c i s m and n o n - s e c t a r i a n C h r i s t i a n i t y a s b o th h a rm le s s and c o n v e n tio n a l (W illiam York T in d a l l, Jo h n Bunyan. M echanlck P r e a c h e r . 4 4 ). 102 " I t i s w e ll known, " w ro te th e a u th o r o f th e " C o n t i n u a t i o n ," " t h a t t h i s p e r s o n managed a l l h i s a f f a i r s w ith such e x a c tn e s s a s i f he had made i t h i s stu d y , above a l l o t h e r t h i n g s , n o t to g iv e o c c a s io n o f o f f e n c e , b u t r a t h e r s u f f e r many in c o n v e n ie n c e s to a v o id i t . " I n h i s c o n v e r s a tio n , c o n tin u e d t h i s f r i e n d , Bunyan was " n e v e r h e a rd to r e p r o a c h o r r e v i l e any, what i n j u r y so e v e r he r e c e iv e d , b u t r a t h e r to re b u k e th o s e t h a t d id . " And a s i t was i n h i s c o n v e r s a tio n , so i t i s m a n ife s te d i n th o s e books he h a s c a u s e d to be p u b lis h e d to t h e w o rld ; w here, l i k e t h e a r c h a n g e l d i s p u t i n g w ith S a ta n a b o u t th e body o f Moses, as we f i n d i t i n t h e e p i s t l e o f Ju d e , he b r i n g s no r a i l i n g a c c u s a tio n , b u t l e a v e s th e r e b u k e r s , t h o s e t h a t o e r s e c u te d him, to th e L o r d .34 "A MOST BLACK-MOUTH'D CALUMNIATOR" Q u ite a n o th e r view o f Bunyan, how ever, was ex p r e s s e d by th o s e who engaged w ith him i n c o n tr o v e r s y . I f B u n y a n 's f r i e n d s fo u n d "no r a i l i n g a c c u s a tio n " i n h i s b o o k s, h i s enem ies found such a c c u s a t i o n to be one o f t h e o u ts t a n d in g c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s o f h i s c o n t r o v e r s i a l w r i t i n g ; i f h i s f r i e n d s a s s e r t e d t h a t h e a v o id e d con t r o v e r s y , h i s enem ies d e c l a r e d t h a t B u n y a n 's r e l i g i o n 34 C o n tin u a tio n o f Mr. B u n y an 's L i f e , " Works o f Jo h n Bunyan. I , 64. 103 r e l i g i o n c o n s i s t e d , f o r th e m ost p a r t , " in d i s p u t e s , •Z c and e o n tr o v e r s y e s , and q u e ry in g , and many w o r d s .M "F o o le s lo v e to be m e d lin g , th o u g h l i t t l e to t h e p u r - 36 p o s e , " commented Edward B u rro u g h d r y ly . B u n y a n 's a n g a t o n i s t s — Q uaker, B a p t i s t , and C hurch o f E n g lan d a l i k e — w ere unanim ous i n f i n d i n g Bunyan, a s a c o n t r o v e r s i a l i s t , s la n d e r o u s i n h i s a c c u s a t i o n s and a b u s iv e i n h i s la n g u a g e , u n f a i r i n h i s m ethods and i n e f f e c t i v e i n h i s a rg u m e n ts. B u n y a n 's v i t u p e r a t i v e la n g u a g e and h i s s la n d e r o u s a t t a c k s a g a i n s t h i s a d v e r s a r i e s w ere s t r e s s e d i n p a r t i c u l a r . Edward B u r r o u g h 's T rue F a i t h of t h e G ospel o f P e a c e , f o r I n s ta n c e , abounds w ith d e n u n c ia t io n s o f th e "w icked s l a n d e r , " ^ 7 t h e f a l s e accu satio n s,* ^® and th e "w icked r e p r o a c h e s "39 t h a t Bunyan had c a s t upon th e Q uakers i n h i s Some G o s p e l- 1 r u th s Opened. "I w i l l n o t b r i n g a r a i l i n g a c c u s a tio n a g a i n s t t h e e , " w ro te B u rro u g h m ild ly , "b u t th e L ord re b u k e th e e th o u u n c le a n s p i r i t , who h a t h f a l s e l y a c c u s e d th e In n o c e n t to c l e a r th y s e l f from g u i l t , b u t a t th y d o o r 33 Edward B urrough, The T rue F a i t h o f th e G ospel o f P e a c e . 28. 36 I b i d . . 10. 37 l b i d . , 8 . 38 I b i d . , 22. 39 I b i d . . 25. 104 g u i l t lo d g e s , and I le a v e i t w ith th e e , c l e a r th y s e l f i f th o u a r t a b l e . " And th y w icked re p r o a c h e s we p a t i e n t l y b e a r , t i l l th e L ord a p p e a r f o r u s , and we a r e n o t g r e a t e r th a n o u r L ord, who was s a i d to h av e a D e v il, by th y G e n e ra tio n . And t h e i r m easu re o f w ic k e d n e ss e th o u f u l f i l s , and a r t one o f th e D ragons Army, a g a i n s t t h e Lamb and h i s f o llo w e r s , and th y weapons a r e s l a n d e r s , and th y r e f u g e i s l i e s . . . . ^ Bunyan had s la n d e r e d th e Q aukers, c o n te n d e d t h e i r spokesm an, i n c h a rg in g them w ith f a l s e d o c t r i n e s h e l d by o t h e r s e c t s and i n a c c u s in g them o f h y p o c r is y . "Thou s l a n d e r e r , " w ro te B urrough i n i n d i g n a t i o n , "when d i d s t th o u h e a r e any of th e Q uakers b o a s t, o r s e e them l i v e i n h y p o c r is y , God s h a l l ju d g e t h e e th o u d e c e i t f u l l h e a r t . . . . ,|4^ In d e e d , p u f f e d up i n s l a n d e r s , a s Bunyan was, Bur ro u g h f e l t t h a t th e c h a r a c t e r o f a " n o t i o n i s t , " which Bunyan had m e n tio n e d i n h i s t r e a t i s e a g a i n s t th e Q uakers, f i t t e d Bunyan h im s e lf to a n i c e t y : And w h ereas th o u g iv e s t h i s C h a r a c te r o f a N o t i o n i s t . Such a one i s p u f f e d up i n h i s f l e s h l y mind, and a d v a n c e th h im s e lf above o t h e r s , &c. T h is i s th y own c o n d i tio n , and th o u h a s t r e a d th y own C h a r a c te r , who a r t p u f f t up i n th y l i e s and s l a n d e r s , an d ad v a n c e th th y s e l f above th e i n n o c e n t . . . . 42 Bunyan* s s la n d e r o u s a c c u s a t i o n s a g a i n s t th e Q uakers 40 Edward Bur ro u g h , The T rue Fa.1 t h o f t h e G ospel o f P e a c e . 25. 41 I b i d . . 13. 4 2 I b i d . , 9 . 105 w ere n o t o r i o u s l y f a l s e , d e c l a r e d Edward B u rro u g h , sup p o r t i n g h i s c o n t e n ti o n by th e c i t a t i o n o f s p e c i f i c i n s t a n c e s : Thou a c c u s e s u s o f sad b la sp h em y e s, and h o r r i b l e d o c t r i n e s , b u t names n o th in g , and so s la n d e r s w ith o u t w itn e s s e , and ta k e b a c k e th y owne w ords f o r th e y b e lo n g to th e e , a s i s s u f f i c i e n t l y p ro v e d i n t h i s an sw ere to th y b ooke, l e t t h e w ise i n h e a r t ju d g e , and th o u s a y s t th o u w onders t h a t th e ground d o th n o t open and sw allow u s up, o r e l s e th e D e v i l l f e t c h us away a l i v e , &c. And t h i s m ost f u l l y d i s c o v e r s th y s p i r i t to be w ith o u t th e f e a r e o f God i n any M easure, who u t t e r s su c h w icked L anguage, f o r w hich th o u h a s t no exam ple among a l l th e C h ild re n of God, and i s n o t t h i s h o r r i b l e d o c t r i n e , and l i t t l e l e s s th a n blasphem y s . .. . 4« 3 B u rro u g h 1s i n d i g n a t i o n a g a i n s t B u n y a n 's u n s u b s t a n t i a t e d a c c u s a t i o n s a p p e a rs th ro u g h o u t h i s t r e a t i s e : The n e x t t h i n g I o b s e rv e i s , "where th o u a r t p ro o v in g t h e r e s u r r e c t i o n and s l a n d e r s t h e Q uakers, w ith m akelng l i g h t o f i t ; b u t y e t a g a in w ic k e d ly num brlng them w ith o t h e r I n f l d e l l s , t h a t th o u m ight h ave a c o v e r f o r th y s la n d e r , b u t I p u t th e e to p ro v e , w here th e y made l i g h t o f th e r e s u r r e c t i o n , o r e l s e p ro v e th y s e l f e a I y e r i n th e s i g h t o f a l l J u s t Men, who s e c r e t l y s l a n d e r s , b u t p r o v e s n o t h i n g . 44 Bunyan u t t e r e d h i s s la n d e r o u s l i e s , s t a t e d B urrough, a s th o u g h h e " s h o u ld n e v e r i n t h i s l i f e b e p u t to p ro v e them , n o r i n t h e tim e to come, sh o u ld n e v e r an sw er f o r them . The B a p t i s t s , a s w e ll a s th e Q uakers, h e l d Bunyan 43 Edward B u rrough, The T rue F^iith o f th e Go so e l o f P e a c e . 20. 44 I b i d . . 23. 45 I b i d . , 9 . 106 to be g u i l t y o f s la n d e r o u s a t t a c k s : ”Have you d e a l t b r o t h e r l y , o r l i k e a C h r i s t i a n , " a sk e d W illia m K i f f i n and Thomas P a u l, M to th ro w so much d i r t upon y o u r b r e t h r e n , I n p r i n t , i n th e f a c e o f th e w o rld , when you had o p p o r tu n ity to c o n v e rs e w ith them o f r e p u t a t i o n am ongst u s , b e f o r e p r i n t i n g . . . . " 48 T hese a u th o r s a c c u se d Bunyan o f r a g i n g and e x p r e s s in g h im s e lf i n l a n guage t h a t " w a n te th c h a r i t y . Even more v ig o r o u s I n h i s d e n u n c ia t io n s o f Bun yan *s a b u s iv e s p i r i t was th e anonymous a u t h o r o f D i r t Win* t O f f . In d e e d , th e v e ry d e s ig n of t h i s book, th e a u th o r s t a t e d , was M t o w ipe o f f t h e d i r t * t h a t Bunyan h ad s la n d e r o u s ly M f lu n g upon th e D esig n of C h r i s t i a n i t y ” and i t s a u t h o r , Edward F o w le r .48 F o w ler h im s e lf , s t a t e d th e book, h ad g iv e n Bunyan "a s l i t t l e te m p ta tio n to a c c u se him [ l . e . , F o w le r] so h ig h ly , a s d i d o u r b l e s s e d S a v io u r th e m a lic io u s P h a r i s e e s to f a s t e n upon him th e Im p u ta tio n o f a s f e a r f u l c rim e s , v i z . p r o f a n e company k e e p in g , T re a so n , w i t c h c r a f t , and B la sp h e m y .1,49 And th o u g h Bun yan was lo u d i n h i s d e n u n c ia tio n o f p e r s e c u t i o n and i n t o l e r a n c e , i t was he who e x e m p lifie d t h e s e q u a l i t i e s i n 48 W illia m K l f f l n and Thomas P a u l, Some S e rio u s R e f l e c t i o n s , c i t e d by Jo h n Bunyan, D if f e r e n c e s i n Ju d g ment a b o u t W ater B a p tism . W orks. I I , 640. 47 I b i d . , 618. 48 D i r t W lp»t O ff , 62. 49 I b i d . , 1 6 -7 . 107 th e ex tre m e: N ever d i d any more c ry o u t o f P e r s e c u t i o n , n o r I n v e ig h a g a i n s t o t h e r s a s P e r s e c u t o r s , th a n he h a t h d o n e ; b u t I n th e mean tim e no one i s o f a f i e r c e r and more p e r s e c u t i n g S p i r i t th a n h e h i m s e l f . 50 D i r t W lp 't O ff c o n ta in s num erous r e f e r e n c e s to B u n y a n 's "d efam in g Pen and Tongue, " 5- L h i s " h o r r i b l e Re- v i l i n g s , and m ost A bom inable S c u r r i l i t i e s , " 5^ and h i s " b r u t i s h b a r k in g s " — w hich w ould b e t t e r h a v e b een c a l l e d " d e v i l i s h c o n tu m e lie s " : I f you w onder, R ead er, t h a t I s h o u ld u s e su ch an e x p r e s s io n a s b r u t i s h b a r k i n g s , do b u t t u r n to th e C a ta lo g u e I h av e g iv e n you o f some, and b u t some o f h i s most s c u r r i l o u s and v i l e la n g u a g e a t t h e end o f t h i s P am p h le t, and t h e r e see a t w hat a r a t e h e r a v e s a t Mr. P. and h i s T r e a t i s e . . . . I say , do b u t t u r n to t h a t C a ta lo g u e , and th e n th o u w i l t acknow ledg t h a t I m ig h t h av e s a i d d e v l l l l s h c o n tu m e lie s i n s t e a d o f b r u t i s h b a r k i n g s , an d _ n o t have f o u le d my P en w ith u nseem ly w ords. 3 In d e e d , B u n y a n 's p am p h let a g a i n s t F o w l e r 's D esig n o f C h r i s t i a n i t y , w ro te t h i s d e f e n d e r o f t h e r e c t o r , was n o th in g more th a n a l i b e l , w h e re in Bunyan h ad " in th e g r o s s e s t m anner im a g in a b le c a lu m n ia te d an d ab u sed " b o th Mr. F o w ler and h i s book. B u n y a n 's t r e a t i s e p ro v e d 50 D i r t W lp*t O ff, 2. 51 I b i d . , 46. 52 I b i d . , 69. e Ibid., "The Preface to the Reader." 54 Loc. clt. 108 him to be a "m ost u n s u f f e r a b l e a b u s iv e an d p ro v o k in g 0 0 man,"®® and "a m ost B la c k -m o u th ’d C a lu m n ia to r ." Con c i s e l y s t a t e d , Bunyan*s d o c t r i n e and p r a c t i c e a s a con t r o v e r s i a l i s t , sum m arized th e a u t h o r o f D i r t W lpT t O ff, was sim p ly t h i s : " S la n d e r l u s t i l y and so m e th in g w i l l s t i c k . 1,57 N e v e r th e le s s , he c o n te n d e d , how ever a b u s iv e Bun yan m ig h t be i n h i s c o n t r o v e r s i a l w r i t i n g s , Bunyan was h im s e lf so c o n te m p tib le a c r e a t u r e t h a t h i s a b u se c o u ld h av e b u t l i t t l e w e ig h t w ith good and m e r i t o r i o u s men, - . . • i t b e in g a s im p o s s ib le f o r such a t h i n g a s h e to d i s g r a c e e i t h e r t h e w r i t i n g s o r P e r s o n o f Mr. P. by a l l h i s r a i l i n g s , a s i t i s f o r t h e l i k e ’ ru d e c r e a t u r e s to e c l i p s e t h e Moon by b a r k in g a t h e r , o r t o make P a la c e s c o n te m p tib le by t h e i r l i f t i n g up t h e i r l e g s a g a i n s t them *58 In d e e d , he c o n tin u e d , i t was B unyan’ s a p p r o b a tio n , r a t h e r th a n h i s v i t u p e r a t i o n , t h a t a r i g h t e o u s man w ould d re a d to r e c e i v e : Nay, f o r my p a r t , I sh o u ld t h i n k my s e l f m ost e f f e c t u a l l y d is p a r a g e d , sh o u ld any body t e l l me t h a t t h i s man p r a i s ’d me, and t h e r e upon sh o u ld a s k t h a t Q u e s tio n o f S o c r a te s upon th e l i k e a c c o u n t, what e v i l h av e I_ d o n e?59 The Q uakers, to o , f e l t t h a t B u n y a n 's f r i e n d s h i p 55 D ir t W lp’t O ff, 43. 56 I b i d . , 3. Loc. c l t . CQ Ibid., "The Preface to the Reader." Loc. clt. 109 w ould be an i n s u l t , and p r e f e r r e d h i s enmity to h i s lo v e : 1 1 Of more p r i c e t o u s i s th y h a t r e d and envy, th a n th y lo v e can b e , ” w r o t e Edward B urrough, " e x c e p t th e g ro u n d w ere b e t t e r i n w hich you s t a n d . "60 B ut Bunyan was n o t o n ly s c u r r l l o u s l y a b u s iv e a s a c o n t r o v e r s i a l i s t , b u t a ls o n o t o r i o u s l y d i s h o n e s t and u n f a i r , c o n te n d e d h i s a n t a g o n i s t s . T h is c h a rg e th e a u th o r o f D i r t Wip' t O ff s u p p o r te d by c i t i n g i n s t a n c e s i n w hich M o u r h o n e s t John*1 had m is c o u n te d t h e h e a d s o f F o w le r 's arguments®-*- and had m a lic io u s ly f a t h e r e d doc t r i n e s on F ow ler t h a t th e r e c t o r had n e v e r ta u g h t® ^ — w hich, commented th e a u th o r s a t i r i c a l l y , " i s th e p a r t o f a m a r v e llo u s ly h o n e s t m a n ."63 An even more s c a n d a lo u s I n s t a n c e o f B u n y a n 's d is h o n e s ty was h i s w il f u l m is q u o tin g o f F o w l e r 's w r i t i n g s , a t l e a s t i n th e one s p e c i f i c i n s t a n c e o f h i s I n te r c h a n g in g t h e word " b a re ly " w ith th e word " h e a r t y ." T h is was no m ere p r i n t e r ' s e r r o r , s t a t e d th e r e c t o r ' s d e f e n d e r , f o r i t was n o t l i s t e d among th e e r r a t a o f B u n y a n 's t r e a t i s e , Edward B u rro u g h , r The T rue F a i t h o f th e G ospel o f P e a c e . 25, 61 D i r t W lp 't O ff. 20. 62 X bld. . 20, 24. 63 I b i d . , 20. 1 1 0 and t h e r e f o r e n 'tw a s done d e s i g n e d l y ." 64 "1 can g iv e s e v e r a l more i n s t a n c e s o f t h i s m a n 's u n c h r i s t i a n d e a l in g s w ith Mr. P . 's S a y i n g s ," h e c o n tin u e d , "and I d o u b t n o t b u t many h av e e sc a p e d my n o t i c e , f o r I h av e n o t n a rro w ly l o o k t f o r any...."®® In d e e d , l e t th e r e a d e r o f B u n y a n 's w r i t i n g s be w arned, h e c a u tio n e d , a g a i n s t a c c e p tin g B u n y a n 's q u o t a t i o n s a s a c c u r a t e : . . . l e t t h e H ead er, when h e f i n d s any t h i n g c i t e d by him o u t o f Mr. F 's Book, t h a t lo o k s s t r a n g e l y ; c o n s u lt th e book i t s e l f , and I d a r e p ro m is e him h e s h a l l f i n d , t h a t by e i t h e r a l t e r i n g t h e S e n te n c e , o r o m it tin g p a r t o f i t , o r b a s e l y w r e s tin g th e w ords to a n o th e r s e n s e th a n th e C o n te x t w i l l b e a r , J .B . h a t h a b u s e d Mr. F. i n i t . DD S im ila r c h a rg e s o f d is h o n e s t p r a c t i c e w ere c i t e d b g a i n s t Bunyan by h i s Q uaker d i s p u t a n t , Edward B urrough, who s e iz e d p a r t i c u l a r l y upon B u n y a n 's e v a s iv e an sw e rs to q u e r ie s , h i s m i s s t a t i n g o f Q uaker d o c t r i n e s , and h i s w r e s tin g even S c r i p t u r e p a s s a g e s from t h e i r t r u e mean- D i r t Win11 O ff, 59. I h av e b een u n a b le to o b t a i n a copy o f F o w le r 's D esig n o f C h r i s t i a n i t y , and t h e r e f o r e have n o t b e e n a b le to v e r i f y t h i s a u t h o r 's s ta te m e n t c o n c e rn in g B u n y a n 's i n c o r r e c t q u o t a t i o n . G eorge O ffo r, how ever, i n c h e c k in g B u n y a n 's q u o t a t i o n s from Edward B urrough, found Bunyan u n ifo rm ly a c c u r a t e i n h i s c i t a t i o n s : "Upon c o l l a t i o n o f B u n y a n 's q u o ta t i o n s w ith th e o r i g i n a l e d i t i o n s o f B u r r o u g h 's ex c e e d in g ly r a r e t r a c t s , " he w r i t e s , "my g r a t i f i c a t i o n was g r e a t to f i n d t h a t ev e ry e x t r a c t made by Jo h n Bunyan was p e r f e c t l y f a i t h f u l " (G eorge O ffo r, Works o f John Bunyan. I I , 1 3 1 ). 65 I b i d . , 61. ® ® Loc. c l t . I l l l n g . 67 C o n c ern in g a q u e s tio n t h a t Bunyan h ad p ro p o u n d ed and an sw e re d i n h i s Some G o s o e l - t r u t h s O pened, B urrough d e c la r e d : Thou h a s t p ro v e d d e c e i t f u l l i n a n s w e rin g th y s e l f , and s h u f f l e d , and I may much f e a r th o u w i l t n o t he f a i t h f u l l i n a n s w e rin g m ine, how ever i t r e s t s upon th e e to answ er i t , o r to s to p th y m outh. Even more s e r i o u s th a n Bunyan*s e v a s iv e n e s s , a s an e v id e n c e o f h i s c o n t r o v e r s i a l d is h o n e s ty , was h i s c h a rg in g t h e Q uakers w ith c e r t a i n d o c t r i n e s t h a t w ere h e ld , a c c o r d in g to B u rrough, o n ly by th e R a n te r s , th e F a m i l y i s t s , and o t h e r e x tr a v a g a n t s e c t a r i a n s : M Thou h a s t . . . num bered t h e g u i l t l e s s e w ith th e g u i l t y , ” a c c u s e d B urrough, ”and h a s t s h o t s e c r e t l y i n th e d a r k , and f a r m isse d th y aim.. . . Burrough c h a rg e d Bunyan w ith ” s e c r e t l y s m itin g th e j u s t , m ix in g th e t r u t h w ith l i e s , t h a t th e r e b y th y s l a n d e r s may b e c o v e re d , and th y d e c e i t Such a c c u s a t i o n s w ere, o f c o u rs e , t h e s to c k i n tr a d e o f s e v e n te e n th c e n tu r y r e l i g i o u s c o n tr o v e r s y , and w ere h u r le d a s f r e e l y by Bunyan a g a i n s t h i s a n ta g o n i s t s , a s by them a g a i n s t him . In d e e d , t h i s ty p e o f c o n tr o v e r s y c o n tin u e d i n th e e i g h t e e n t h c e n tu r y , a s se e n , f o r i n s t a n c e , i n T o p la d y 's a c c u s a t i o n o f u n f a i r q u o ta t i o n and e v a s iv e a n s w e rin g c i t e d a g a i n s t Jo h n W esley ( W A L e t t e r to t h e Rev. Mr. Jo h n W esley: R e l a t i v e to h i s P r e te n d e d A bridgm ent o f Z a n c h iu s on P r e d e s t i n a t i o n ,” Works o f A u g u stu s M. T o p iad v . V, 342, and e ls e w h e r e ) . Edward B u rro u g h , The T ru e F a i t h o f th e G ospel o f P e a c e . 11. 69 Ibid. , 8. 1 1 2 70 h i d , " and a g a in h e a s s e r t e d : " to c o v e r th y w icked n e s s an d im pudency, th o u h a s t changed and m ixed th e te a rm [ i . e . t e r r a ] o f w ords, t h a t th o u may h a v e a gro u n d f o r th y s la n d e r . 1 1 To t h e a c c u s a t i o n t h a t Bunyan had r a i s e d a g a i n s t th e Q u ak ers, t h a t th e y w re s te d c e r t a i n s c r i p t u r a l p a s s a g e s from t h e i r t r u e i n t e n t , B urrough r e t a l i a t e d by c i t i n g th e same c h a rg e a g a i n s t Bunyan h i m s e l f : W re s tin g i s th y own, and n o t o u r s , f o r we ta k e th e S c r i p t u r e i n p l a i n w ords, w ith o u t a d d in g o r d im in is h in g , a s o u r enem ies s h a l l w ltn e s s e f o r u s . Then how w ic k e d ly d o e s t th o u say we w re s t i t , when we n e i t h e r ad d n o r d im in is h . But th y f o l l y m ust a p p e a r by th y much m e d lin g . W hether such g r o s s m i s i n t e r p r e t a t i o n o f t h e B ib le was due to Bunyan*s ig n o r a n c e o r to h i s s a t a n i c s u b t l e t y i n arg u m en t, B urrough was somewhat i n d o u b t: "1 f i n d th e e w r e s tin g some S c r i p t u r e s , " he w ro te , "w h e th e r th ro u g h s u b t i l t y , o r f o r w ant o f w it, I s h a l l n o t j u d g e . . . . 73 L et shame c o v e r th y l i p s . " Y et, even w h ile em ploying d is h o n e s t weapons o f c o n tr o v e r s y , Bunyan rem a in ed i n e f f e c t i v e an d in a d e q u a te 70 Edward B u rro u g h , The T rue F a i t h o f th e G ospel o f P e a c e . 1 1 . On t h e f o llo w in g p ag e B u rro u g h a g a in c i t e d an I n s t a n c e i n w hich Bunyan " s e c r e t l y s m ite s i n ra isin g some t r u t h " w ith h i s l i e s . 71 I b i d ,.. 1 0 . 72 I b i d . . 1 5 . 73 I b i d . . 1 1 -1 2 113 a s a d i s p u t a n t , c o n te n d e d M s a n t a g o n i s t s . The a u th o r o f D i r t Wlpf t O ff s t a t e d t h a t B unyan’ s t r e a t i s e a g a i n s t F ow ler f a i l e d m is e r a b ly o f th e p u rp o s e t h a t I t was i n te n d e d to a c c o m p lis h . I n s t e a d o f a d v a n c in g c o n c lu s iv e d e m o n s tr a tio n s and arg u m e n ts a g a i n s t F o w le r ’ s d o c t r i n e s , s t a t e d th e r e c t o r ’ s d e f e n d e r, Bunyan h ad p r e s e n t e d n o th in g more th a n "ab u n d an ce o f r e p e t i t i o n s , v i l e r a i l i n g , and th e m ost f o o l i s h c a v i l l s t h a t e v e r man r e a d . 4,74 Of s u b s ta n c e , Bunyan* s s ta te m e n ts h a d no more th a n a cob web: The t r u t h i s , a l l t h i s mans c a v i l s h a v e n o th in g so much s u b s ta n c e i n them a s a Cob web h a th ; th e y a r e r a t h e r to be l i k e n e d to t h e A p p les o f Sodom, do b u t to u c h them and th e y f a l l to d u s t, nay, to a p e r f e c t n o t h i n g . 75 Thus, th o u g h Bunyan " p r e te n d s t o h av e c o n fu te d e f f e c t u a l l y th e D o c tr in e s he so r a g e t h a g a i n s t , 1 1 summed up th e anonymous a u t h o r , " t h i s i s t h e Sum o f h i s w hole p e rfo rm a n c e : 1 . S p i t t i n g h i s venome a t them a l l I n g e n e r a l . 2. U rg in g w o fu lly a rg u m e n ts a g a i n s t s e v e r a l o f them . 3. W retch ed ly m is r e p r e s e n ti n g many o f them : p u t t i n g them i n t o B e a rs S k in s an d th e n r u d e ly b a i t i n g them . 4 . M aking D o c tr in e s f o r Mr. F. w hich he n e v e r d r e a m 't o f : S e t t i n g up men o f S tra w and th e n f i g h t i n g w ith them . 5. E x c la im in g and r a v in g a t t h e m ost h o r r i b l e r a t e a g a i n s t Mr. F . ' s P e rs o n . 74 D i r t W lp’ t O ff, 44 75 I b i d . . 5 2 -3 . 114 6 . I n te r m ix in g a many n o n - s e n s i c a l and w icked o p in io n s o f h i s own. 7 . R unning o v e r and o v e r In n u m e ra b le tim e s th e v e ry same t h i n g s . 76 The Q uakers v iew ed w ith th e same d i s d a i n th e t r e a t i s e s t h a t Bunyan h ad w r i t t e n a g a i n s t them . Edward B u rro u g h fo u n d Some G -o s p e l- tr u th s Opened t o be th e work o f a m e d d lin g f o o l , a t r e a t i s e t h a t ra m b le d o v e r much g ro u n d 77 and abounded i n c o n t r a d i c t i o n and c o n fu s io n , r e s u l t i n g from Bunyan*s h e a te d s p i r i t o f c o n tr o v e r s y . "Thou h a d s t b e t t e r h av e s a i d n o th in g , th e n by m u lt itu d e o f words to l a y open th y sh a m e ,M a d v is e d Bur r o u g h .7 ® B u n y a n 's te n d e n c y , s t a t e d t h i s same a n t a g o n i s t , was to c o v e r t h e t r u t h "u n d er th e v a i l e o f th y many w o rd s ," 7® to "d a rk e n " know ledge "by w ords w ith o u t w ls - do m e."88 "Many words th o u h a s t u t t e r e d , " h e w ro te , ^ y e t l i t t l e to t h e p u r p o s e . "81 The c o n t r a d i c t i o n o f B u n y a n 's a rg u m e n ts and th e c o n f u s io n o f h i s th o u g h t, which r e n d e r e d h i s t r e a t i s e i n e f f e c t i v e , was a l s o much d w e lt on by h i s Q uaker d i s p u t a n t . As a s p e c i f i c i n s t a n c e o f t h e f i r s t c h a rg e , B u rro u g h w ro te : 76 D i r t W lp 't O f f . 27. 77 Edward B u rro u g h , The T rue F a i t h o f t h e G o sp el o f P e a c e . 10. 78 I b i d . , 14. 79 I b i d . . 20. 80 I b i d . , 25. 81 I b i d . , 23. 115 Thou h a s t c o n f e s s e d t h a t th e l i g h t w i t h i n w hich c o n v in c e s o f s i n I s t h e l i g h t o f God and C h r i s t , and now th o u s a y e s t t h e D e v i l l to d e c e iv e s o u ls b id s t u r n e t o Mind t h e l i g h t w ith in , w hich d o th c o n v in c e o f s in ; th o u h a s t l i e d o f th e d e v i l J oh th o u b l i n d P r e i s t whom God h a th co n fo u n d ed i n th y L anguage, was e v e r such a t h in g spoken t h a t t h e D e v i l l can d e c e iv e any by th e L ig h t o f C h r i s t , o r t h a t he u s e s any such d o c t r i n e . . . . 82 The m ere c i t a t i o n o f B u n y a n 's c o n t r a d i c t o r y s t a t e m ents, f e l t B u rrough, sh o u ld be s u f f i c i e n t t o d e m o n s tra te th e i n v a l i d i t y and f u t i l i t y o f Bunyan*s a rg u m e n ts; " I summe up th y c o n f u s io n and c o n t r a d i c t i o n s , 1 1 h e w ro te, Q * T "and doe le a v e them f o r th e e to r e a d " ; an d a g a in : I t i s an sw er s u f f i c i e n t t o g a t h e r up th y C o n fu sio n , and send i t th e e to r e a d , i f t h e r e b e any h o n e s ty i n th y h e a r t , r e p e n t and c e a s e th y w lc k e d n e ss e l e s t God s m ite th e e w ith a C u rse, and make t h e e an exam ple o f d e s t r u c t i o n 84 "H ere th y c o n f u s io n i s seen a t l a r g e , ”88 w ro te B urrough e ls e w h e re a f t e r d e m o n s tr a tin g th e i l l o g i c a l n a t u r e o f c e r t a i n o f B u n y a n 's a rg u m e n ts, and a g a in h e c i t e d an i n s t a n c e o f B u n y a n 's c o n f u s io n w h e re in t h a t w r i t e r 's ”w ra th ” overcam e h i s " s e n s e ." On a n o t h e r p a g e , Op Edward B u rro u g h , The T rue F a i t h o f th e Go sn e l o f P e a c e , 18. 8 3 I b i d . , 23. 8 4 I b i d . , 20. B u rr o u g h 's p am p h let e x h i b i t s much o f r e i t e r a t i o n , a s w e ll a s o f i l l i t e r a c y . On p a g e 16 he w ro te : " I re c k o n up th y c o n fu s io n , and l e a v e i t f o r th e e to r e a d , and them whom t h i s may c o m e .” 85 ^ l d . , 17. 86 I b i d . , 24. 1 1 6 e n l i g h t e n i n g Bunyan on c e r t a i n t r u t h s c o n c e rn in g t h e C h r i s t w ith in , w hich Bunyan h ad m is u n d e rs to o d and m is s t a t e d , B urrough g a v e f u r t h e r m e n tio n to h i s a n t a g o n i s t ’ s c o n fu s io n t h a t came a b o u t a s a r e s u l t o f i l l - n a t u r e and m a l i c e : L e t shame c o v e r, i f th y h e a r t b e n o t a l t o g e t h e r h a rd e n e d , was e v e r such d o c t r i n e p re a c h e d , s u r e ly m a lllc e h a t h c a r r y e d t h e e o u t o f s e n s e , e l s e th o u w ould n o t h av e u t t e r e d t h e s e t h i n g s , b u t i t i s an sw e re enough to re c k o n th y c o n f u s io n , up i n t o a summe, and I l e a v e i t to e v e ry h o n e s t h e a r t to r e a d , and Ju d g e t h e r e o f , The a p p e a l to th e ’ ’h o n e s t h e a r t ” to p a s s judgm ent on Bun- y a n ’ s s la n d e r o u s , a b u s iv e , an d u n f a i r c o n t r o v e r s i a l w r i t in g s i s t y p i c a l o f t h e m anner o f th o s e who engaged w ith him i n c o n tr o v e r s y , So endowed w ith a l t r u i s m a n d C h r i s t i a n v i r t u e d i d B unyan’ s a n t a g o n i s t s s t a t e th e m s e lv e s ito b e, t h a t th e y vowed t h a t th e y h a d u n d e r ta k e n th e u n p le a s a n t t a s k o f a n s w e rin g him m e re ly f o r th e p u rp o s e o f d is a b u s in g h i s d e lu d e d f o llo w e r s and f o r th e sa k e o f h i s own e n l i g h t e n m ent. The a u th o r o f D i r t Wlp’ t O f f , who view ed h i s w r i t in g o f t h a t p am p h let a s "a g r e a t p i e c e o f C h a rity , 1,88 h e a r t i l y p ra y e d f o r B unyan’ s r e p e n ta n c e , th o u g h he was somewhat s c e p t i c a l o f i t s a c t u a l a c c o m p lish m e n t: 87 Edward B u rrough, The T rue F a i t h o f th e G ospel o f P e a c e . 19. 88 D i r t Wlo’ t O f f , ’ ’The P r e f a c e to t h e R e a d e r .” 117 I h e a r t i l y . . . p r a y , t h a t t h i s p l a i n a n d m ost h o n e s t d e a l i n g may be s u c c e s s f u l to h i s t r u e R e p e n ta n c e ; b u t I t I s s c a r c e l y to b e hoped i t w i l l , so lo n g a s he p e r s i s t s i n . h i s g r o s s c o n c e i t s c o n c e rn in g t h e b l e s s e d d o c t r i n e o f . j u s t i f i c a t i o n by f a i t h , and I m p u ta tio n o f d h r l s t s R ig h te o u s n e s s . . . . And Bunyan*s Q uaker a n t a g o n i s t , who had f e l t u rg e d to w r i t e h i s p am p h let I n o r d e r " t h a t t r u t h may be em braced, and d e c e i t condemned, an d th e l i g h t o f t h e w o rld may be f o l l o w e d ,w90 e x p r e s s e d h i s a l t r u i s t i c s p i r i t by o f f e r i n g 91 Bunyan th e a d v ic e : "R ep en t, and c e a s e th y c o n f u s io n ." 89 D i r t W lp*t O f f , 48. 90 Edward B u rro u g h , The T^ue F a i t h o f th e G ospel o f P e a c e , p r e f a c e to t h e "R ead e r. " 91 A I b i d . . 22. BUNYAN AS POET A POET FOR THE SIMPLE You se e th e ways th e F is h e r-m a n d o th t a k e To c a t c h th e F is h ; what E n g in e s d o th h e make! B ehold How he e n g a g e th a l l h i s w its ; w ro te Bunyan I n h i s p r e f a c e t o The P ilg rim * s P r o g r e s s , and a g a in , em ploying a d i f f e r e n t f i g u r e , How d o es th e F ow ler se e k to c a tc h h i s game By d i v e r s m e a n s.V .?&& B unyan1 s e v a n g e l i s t i c a tte m p t to be ’ ’c a tc h i n g G i r l s an d B o y s ,1 1 a s w e ll a s grown men and women im m ature and f e e b l e I n th o u g h t, .. . B o y s w ith B e a rd s, and G i r l s t h a t be B ig a s o ld Women, w a n tin g G r a v i t y ,93 l e d him to t h e a d o p tio n o f t h e d e v ic e s o f a l l e g o r y and v e r s e f o r t h e more e f f e c t u a l l u r i n g to God o f th o s e who w ere to o weak to s ta n d th e s t r o n g meat o f h i s u n ad o rn ed p r o s e t r e a t i s e s . B u n y a n 's p o e t i c a l works w r i t t e n w ith Jo h n Bunyan, ’’The A u t h o r 's Apology f o r h i s B o o k ,” The P ilg rim * s P r o g r e s s , P a r t I (Jo h n Brown, e d i t o r ; C am bridge: U n iv e r s ity P r e s s , 1 9 0 7 ), 137. 93 Jo h n Bunyan, ”To th e R e a d e r ,” A Book f o r Boys and G i r l s : o r , C ountry Rhymes f o r C h ild re n ~ ! f a c - s im lle r e p r o d u c tio n o f th e u n iq u e f i r s t e d i t i o n pub l i s h e d i n 1686, d e p o s i t e d i n th e B r i t i s h Museum; w ith i n t r o d u c t i o n by Jo h n Brown; London: E l l i o t S to ck , 1 8 8 9 ). 119 t h i s p u rp o s e I n c lu d e seven s e p a r a t e w o rk s ,94 w hich a r e I n a d d i t i o n to t h e rhym ed p r e f a c e s I n t r o d u c i n g th e two p a r t s o f The P ilg rim * s P r o g r e s s and The Holy War, th e i n c i d e n t a l l y r i c s i n s e r t e d i n t h e f i r s t o f t h e s e a l l e g o r i e s , and th e se v e n s ta n z a s o c c u r r in g i n The G re a tn e s s o f t h e S o u l. The b u lk o f Bunyan*s v e r s e was c o n s id e r a b le , and h e seems to h a v e g a in e d some r e c o g n i t i o n i n h i s own tim e a s a p o e t . I t was d u r in g t h e e a r l y y e a r s o f h i s im p riso n m e n t t h a t Bunyan f i r s t t r i e d h i s han d a t v e r s e , f o u r o f h i s p r i s o n works com ing o u t i n p o e t i c form : P r o f i t a b l e Medi t a t i o n s , 95 a su p p o sed c o n v e r s a tio n b etw een S a ta n and t h e te m p te d s o u l; One T hing i s N e e d fu l, 95 a c o n s id e r a t i o n o f th e i n e v i t a b i l i t y of d e a th , t h e I m p a r t i a l i t y o f 94 , G eorge Of f o r ( Works o f Jo h n Bun.van. I I , 65?) a l s o p r i n t s a s h o r t poem e n t i t l e d "Of th e Love o f C h r i s t , " b u t g iv e s no i n f o r m a ti o n r e g a r d in g i t . T hat poem i s n o t in c lu d e d i n th e seven works m e n tio n e d , n o r a r e t h e S c r i p t u r a l Poems, w hich a r e a c c e p te d by th e b e s t a u t h o r i t i e s a s a p o c ry p h a l. 95 P r o f i t a b l e M e d i t a t i o n s , F i t t e d t o Mans D if fe re n t; C o n d itio n . T n a C o n fe re n c e Between C h r i s t and a S in n e r- ^ In N in e 7 a r l f i c u l a r s . By JohnJB unyan, S e rv a n t lio th e Tord~~Jesus. P r i n t e d f o r F r a n c is S m ith , a t th e sTgn o f th e E le p h a n t and C a s tle , w ith o u t T em ple-B ar [1 6 6 1 J. 96 Qne T hing i s N e e d fu l: O r, S e r io u s M ed ita t i o n s Upon th e F our L a s t T h in g s , D e a th , Ju d g m e n t. Heaven and H e l l . 1664. 1 2 0 th e judgm ent p a s s e d on s a i n t and s in n e r , t h e b l i s s f u l s t a t e e n jo y e d by t h e fo rm e r i n h ea v en , and th e f e a r f u l to rm e n t s u f f e r e d by th e 1 1 damned w ig h ts " who a r e to p a s s t h e i r e t e r n i t y i n h e l l ; E bal and G e rlz lm . a poem i n rhym ed c o u p l e t s , e x h o r tin g s i n n e r s to come t o God and w arn in g th o s e who f a i l t o " c lo s e w ith J e s u s " o f what i s QQ i n s t o r e f o r them ; an d P r is o n M e d i t a t i o n s , a s t a n z a i c d e s c r i p t i o n of t h e d e l i g h t s o f p r i s o n to one who s u f f e r s f o r c o n s c ie n c e ' sa k e . The l a s t t h r e e o f th e s e p o e t i c a t t e m p t s w ere a p p a r e n tly p u b lis h e d a s s e p a r a te s h e e ts o r t r a c t s , b u t 99 w ere soon a f t e r w a r d u n i t e d t o form a l i t t l e volum e, w hich p a s s e d th ro u g h t h r e e , o r p e r h a p s f o u r , 1 e d i t i o n s i n t h e s e v e n te e n th c e n tu r y . L a t e r i n h i s l i f e Bunyan a g a in t u r n e d to v e r s e f o r t h e e f f e c t u a l e x p r e s s io n o f h i s m oral an d e v a n g e li s t i c t e a c h i n g s . I n 1684 he p u b lis h e d A C a u tio n to S t i r 97 E bal a n d G e rlz lm : O r, The B l e s s i n g an d th e C u rse . 1664. 98 P r ls o n M e d i t a t i o n s : D e d ic a te d to th e H e a rt o f S u f f e r in g S a i n t s an d R e ig n in g S in n e r s . By Jo h n Bunyan, i n P r i s o n , 1665. QQ G eorge O ffo r, Works o f Jo h n Bunyan, I I I , 725. 1 The t h i r d e d i t i o n o f t h e volum e c o n t a in i n g One T h in g i s N e e d fu l. E bal and G e rlz lm . and P r is o n M e d ita tio n s a p p e a re d i n 1688. A copy of t h e f o u r t h e d i t i o n o f t h i s book, w ith o u t d a t e , i s i n th e B r i t i s h Museum; th e museum c a ta lo g u e a s s i g n s t o i t t h e a p p ro x im a te d a t e o f 1700. 121 up to Watch a g a i n s t S i n , 2 a b r o a d s id e p e r h a p s in te n d e d 3 to be hung on th e w a ll o r p a s t e d i n th e f a m ily B ib le . The o n ly co n tem p o rary r e f e r e n c e t o t h i s work i s t h a t o f N a r c is s u s L u t t r e l l , who p u rc h a s e d a copy f o r one penny on th e same day on w hich i t was i s s u e d . 4 L u t t r e l l ' s I n t e r e s t i n t h i s p ie c e was o f "course n o t t h a t o f a Bunyan e n t h u s i a s t , b u t r a t h e r t h a t o f a b i b l i o g r a p h e r i n t e n t on a d d in g t o h i s c o l l e c t i o n o f f u g l t i v e p o e t i c a l t r a c t s and b r o a d s id e s r e l a t i v e to h i s own tim e . I t i s i n t e r e s t i n g , n e v e r t h e l e s s , t o n o te t h a t h e n o t o n ly l a i d o u t a penny f o r a copy o f t h i s one work o f B u n y a n 's, b u t a l s o expended a s ix p e n c e f o r a copy o f A Book f o r Bo.vs and G i r l s w hich a p p e a re d f o u r y e a r s l a t e r * ® A C a u tio n to S t i r up to Watch a g a i n s t S in . By J . Bunyan. B ro a d s id e on h a l f s h e e t o f copy p a p e r i n L u t t r e l l C o l l e c t i o n , B r i t i s h Museum ( o r i g i n a l l y i n Stowe L ib r a r y ) (Jo h n Brown, John Bunyan, 3 2 8 ). ® T h is i s th e s u g g e s tio n o f G eorge O ff o r, Works o f Jo h n Bunyan, I I , 575. 4 On h i s copy o f t h i s b r o a d s id e , now i n th e B r i t i s h Museum, L u t t r e l l n o te d t h e p r i c e t h a t he had p a id f o r th e p ie c e , an d th e d a t e o f p u r c h a s e , "8 A p r i l ! , 1684" (Jo h n Brown, " I n t r o d u c t i o n , " A Book f o r Boys an d G i r l s , x ) . 5 On t h e t i t l e page o f h i s copy o f t h i s book, now i n th e B r i t i s h Museum, L u t t r e l l n o te d t h a t he had bou g h t t h e work f o r s ix p e n c e , t h e p r i c e a t w hich i t was f i r s t I s s u e d , on May 12, 1688 (Jo h n Brown, l o c . c l t . ). 1 2 2 Bunyan*s Book f o r Boys a n d G i r l s was a work s e r v in g a t once a s a n a l p h a b e t , a r e a d e r , and a g u id e to d o c t r i n e , c o n t a i n i n g a s e r i e s o f m o r a liz in g v e r s e s f o r t h e i n s t r u c t i o n o f t h e young I n mind, a s w e ll a s f o r t h e young i n y e a r s . I n th e l a s t y e a r o f h i s l i f e Bunyan i s s u e d w hat may be r e g a r d e d a s h i s m ost c o n s i d e r a b l e p o e t i c a l v e n t u r e ,^ a lo n g s t a n z a i c t r e a t i s e o f n e a r l y f o u r t e e n h u n d re d l i n e s , on t h e c h u rc h o f C h r i s t and t h e r i g h t c o n d u c t o f i t s o f f i c e r s and members, w ith th e t i t l e A D is c o u rs e o f t h e B u i ld in g , N a tu r e , E x c e lle n c y , and Governm ent Of th e House o f God.® T h ese p o e t i c t r e a t i s e s i s s u e d i n t h e l a s t y e a r o f Bunyan*s l i f e w ere n o t, o f c o u r s e , r e p u b l i s h e d d u r in g th e s e v e n te e n th c e n tu r y , b u t t h e b o o k le t c o n t a i n i n g t h r e e o f h i s p r i s o n e f f u s i o n s was r e p u b lis h e d , a s h a s b een n o te d , a t l e a s t t h r e e tim e s b e f o r e 1700, i n d i c a t i n g t h a t 6 A Book f o r Boys and G i r l s : O r, C o u n try Rhymes f o r C h i ld r e n , 1686. T h is book, l i s t e d by C h a rle s Doe a s M e d ita tio n s on S e v e n ty -f o u r T h in g s , o r i g i n a l l y con t a i n e d s e v e n ty - f o u r poem s. T w e n ty -fiv e o f t h e s e w ere d ro p p ed , and many o f t h e r e m a in in g o n es w ere r e v i s e d , i n th e se co n d e d i t i o n w hich came o u t i n 1701, u n d e r th e t i t l e , A Book f o r Boys and G i r l s : o r T em poral T h in g s S p i r i t u a l i z e d . I n t h e n i n t h e d i t i o n (l7 2 4 ) th e t i t l e was ch anged to r e a d , D iv in e Emblems: o r , T em poral T h in g s S p i r i t u a l i z e d : t h i s I s th e t i t l e t h a t th e book h a s r e t a i n e d s in c e t h a t tim e . ^ Jo h n Brown, " I n t r o d u c t i o n , " John Bunyan, A Book f o r Boys an d G i r l s , x lx . ® A D is c o u rs e o f t h e B u ild in g , N a tu re , E x c e lle n c y , and Government Of th e - H ouse o f God. W ith C o u n se ls and O 'irec11 o n s To~ t h e I n h a b i t a n t s t h e r e 071 By Jo h n Bunyan o f B edford^ London: P r i n t e d , and to b e S o ld by G eorge L a r k in , a t th e Two Swans w ith o u t B ls h o p s g a te , 1688. 123 Bunyan e n jo y e d a c o n s i d e r a b l e p o p u l a r i t y a s p o e t I n h i s own d ay . In d e e d , th e w r i t e r o f t h e '’C o n tin u a tio n , ” f e e l i n g t h a t B u n y a n 's p o e t i c w orks c o n s t i t u t e d one o f t h e t h r e e p o i n t s o f em inence on w hich h i s fame w ould r e s t i n a f t e r y e a r s , w ro te o f him: I n him a t o n ce d i d t h r e e g r e a t w o r t h ie s s h in e , H i s t o r i a n , p o e t , and a c h o ic e d i v i n e . 9 But th o u g h h e was d i g n i f i e d w ith th e t i t l e " p o e t" by th o s e who sy m p a th iz e d w ith h i e la u d a b le a e s t h e t i c a tte m p t to l u r e to God s i n n e r s to o weak o r f e e b l e to p r o f i t by h i s p r o s e t r e a t i s e s , Bunyan d id n o t e s c a p e d e ro g a t o r y c r i t i c i s m i n h i s r o l e a s v e r s i f i e d , a s i s e v id e n t from t h e d e f e n s e s t h a t h e f e l t h im s e lf o b l i g e d t o i n s e r t i n h i s v a r io u s p o e t i c a l w orks. The fo re m o s t o f th e c r i t i c i s m s p a s s e d a g a i n s t him r e s u l t e d from t h e s c ru p u lo u s a n t i p a t h y f e l t by th e d e v o u t o f th e s e v e n te e n th c e n tu r y to t h e u s e o f su c h a d u b io u s ly j u s t i f i a b l e d e v ic e a s v e r s e , even f o r m o ral p u r p o s e s . I n h i s f i r s t p o e t i c t r e a t i s e , t h e r e f o r e , Bunyan f e l t i t n e c e s s a r y to p le a d : Take none o f f e n c e , F rie n d , a t my m ethod h e r e , Cause th o u i n V e rse s s im p le T ru th d o s t se e : B ut t o them s o b e r ly i n c l i n e t h i n e e a r , And w ith t h e T ru th i t s e l f a f f e c t e d b e . 9 "A C o n tin u a tio n o f Mr. B u n y a n 's L i f e , " Works o f Jo h n Bunyan. I , 65. fl" 1 2 4 'T l s n o t th e M ethod, b u t t h e T ru th a lo n e S h o u ld p l e a s e a S a in t, an d m o l l l f i e h i s h e a r t : T ru th I n o r o u t o f M eeter I s b u t one; And t h i s th o u know st, I f th o u a C h r i s t i a n a r t . 10 A Book f o r Boys and G i r l s , Bunyan f e l t , n eed ed n o t o n ly an ap o lo g y f o r I t s u s e o f v e r s e , b u t a l s o a n e x p la n a t i o n o f h i s w i l l i n g n e s s to c a s t a s i d e h i s b e a r d and h i s g r a v i t y and p la y " th e v e ry D o t t r i l " to a t t r a c t th e a t t e n t i o n o f t h e Im m ature. T h is he had d o n e, d e c la r e d Bunyan, n o t fro m s i m p l i c i t y i n h im s e lf , b u t from a d e s i r e to be o f b e n e f i t t o t h e s im p le . Nor do I b lu s h , a lth o u g h I t h i n k some may C a ll me a Baby 'c a u s e I w ith them p l a y . . . . 11 I n h i s d e f e n s e o f t h i s c h i l d i s h p o s e Bunyan tu r n e d t o t h e A p o s tle : P a u l se em 'd to p la y t h e F o o l, t h a t h e m ig h t g a in T hose t h a t w ere f o o l s in d e e d , i f n o t i n G r a i n . . . . I n j u s t i f i c a t i o n o f th e hum ble t h i n g s , such a s f r o g s an d s p i d e r s , c a n d le s and t o p s , from w hich he h ad drawn h i s o b j e c t l e s s o n s — . . . t h e i n c o n s i d e r a b l e n e s s Of t h i n g s , by w hich I do my mind e x p r e s s 13 — Bunyan tu r n e d a g a in to th e B ib le , c a l l i n g a t t e n t i o n to 10 Jo h n Bunyan, P r o f i t a b l e M e d i t a t i o n s , c i t e d by W illia m Y ork T i n d a l l , Jo h n Bunyan, M echanlck P r e a c h e r , 183.. P r o f i t a b l e M e d ita tio n s i s n o t in c lu d e d i n O f f o r 's e d i t i o n o f B unyan1s w orks. Jo h n Bunyan, "To th e R e ad e r, " A Book f o r Boys and G i r l s . 1 2 L oc- c i t . Loc. c i t . 125 t h e " t h i n g s n o t m anly" by w h ich g r e a t d e e d s h a d b ee n done— t h e a s s ' s Jawbone w ie ld e d by Samson and t h e o x 's goad u s e d by Shamgar, and f u r t h e r rem in d ed h i s r e a d e r s t h a t Wise Solomon d i d f o o l s t o P i s s - a n t s sen d , To l e a r n t r u e Wisdom, and t h e i r L iv e s to mend. Y ea, God by S w allow s, Cuekows, and t h e A ss; Shows th e y a r e P o o ls who l e t t h a t s e a s o n p a s s , Which he p u t i n t h e i r h an d , t h a t to o b t a i n Which i s b o th p r e s e n t , and E t e r n a l G ain.-1 * 4 "What th o my T ext seem s m ean," h e dem anded, "my M orals b e G rave, a s I f f e t c h t from a S u b lim e r T re e . "15 The "homely rhym es" i n w hich he e x p r e s s e d h im s e lf would a l s o b e c r i t i c i z e d by some, f e l t Bunyan: Some, I p ersw ad e me, w i l l b e f i n d i n g F a u l t , C o n c lu d in g , h e r e I t r i p , an d t h e r e 1 h a l t , No d o u b t some c o u ld th o s e g r o v e lin g N o tio n s r a i s e By f i n e - s p u n Terms t h a t c h a lle n g e m ig h t t h e Bays. A tte m p tin g to f o r e s t a l l such c r i t i c i s m , Bunyan s t a t e d t h a t h e c o u ld w e ll h av e u se d h ig h e r s t r a i n s had h e b ee n so m inded, and t h a t h i s s e l e c t i o n o f a lo w e r o r d e r o f p o e t r y p ro c e e d e d o n ly fro m h i s d e s i r e to be o f s p i r i t u a l s e r v i c e to th e s im p le : I c o u ld , w ere I so p l e a s 'd , u se h i g h e r S t r a i n s . And f o r A p p la u se , o r T e n te r s s t r e t c h my B r a in s , But what n e e d s t h a t ? The A rrow o u t o f S ig h t, Does n o t t h e S le e p e n , n o r th e Watchman f r i g h t . 1 4 Jo h n Bunyan, "To t h e R e ad e r, " A Book f o r Boys and G i r l s . L oc. c i t . 1 6 T L oc. c i t . To sh o o t to o h ig h d o th make b u t C h ild r e n g az e, T is t h a t w hich h i t s th e man, d o th him a m a z e .17 T hus, th o u g h Bunyan a d m itte d t h a t " th e w is e r s o r t my Rhimes may s l i g h t , h e y e t c lu n g to t h e id e a t h a t h i s p o e tr y se rv e d a l a u d a b l e p u rp o s e i n g i v i n g d o c t r i n a l and m o ral i n s t r u c t i o n t o th o s e who w ere to o n i c e to a c c e p t t r u t h u n a d o rn e d and th o s e who w ere to o f e e b l e to u n d e r s ta n d i t e x c e p t by way o f v e r s e and s t o r y . ^ Jo h n Bunyan, "To th e R e a d e r, " A Book f o r Boys and G i r l s . BUNYAN AS AUTOBlOGRAPHER "THE CHIEF OF SINNERS" Bunyan*s " r e l a t i o n of th e m e r c if u l w orking o f 19 Cod” upon h i s s o u l was one of th e many s p i r i t u a l a u t o b io g r a p h ie s w r i t t e n by th e r e l i g i o u s e n t h u s i a s t s — B a p t i s t , R a n te r , M u g g le to n la n , an d Q uaker— o f th e s e v e n te e n th c e n tu r y , th e c h i e f p u rp o s e o f w hich, a s T i n d a l l n o te s , was t o s e r v e a s an " a d v e r tis e m e n t o f t h e a u t h o r 's e x p e rie n c e a n d g if ts '* an d a s a g u id e -b o o k f o r th e c o n v e rs io n o f o th e r s i n n e r s . The p o p u l a r i t y o f such w r i t i n g s may be d educed from th e v ery f a c t t h a t so many were p u b lis h e d , and fro m th e f u r t h e r c o n s i d e r a t i o n t h a t m ost of them a r e s i m i l a r i n r e c o r d in g a c o n v e r s io n t h a t co n fo rm s t o th e a c c e p te d 19 G race Abounding; to t h e c h i e f of S i n n e r s : Or, A B r l e f a n d F a i t h f u l R e l a t i o n Of th e E x c e e d in g !Mercy o f God i n C h r i s t , to h i s p o o r S e r v a n t Jo h n Bunyan. W herein i s p a r t i c u l a r l y shew ed, (The m anner o f h i s Con v e r s i o n . h i s f i g h t and tr o u b l e f o r S in , h is H P re a d f u l T e m p ta tio n s , a l s o how h e d e s p a ir e d o f Gods m ercy , a n d how th e L ord a t l e n g t h th o ro w C h r i s t " d id d e l i v e r him from a l l th e g u i l t an d t e r r o u r t h a t l a y upon him . W hereunto i s a d d e d . A B r l e f R e l a t i o n o f h i s C a ll to th e Work o f t h e M i n i s t r y , o f h i s T e m p ta tio n s t h e r e i n , a s a l s o w hat h e h a t h met w ith i n P r i son. STl w hich was w r i t t e n by HTs own h an d t h e r e , an d now p u b lis h e d f o r "the support; oT th e weak and te m p te d - P e o p le o f God. London: P r i n t e d by G eorge L a rk in , 1566. 20 W illia m York T in d a l l, Jo h n Bnnyan. M echanlok P r e a c h e r , 25. T i n d a l l 's second c h a p te r i s an e x c e ll e n t s tu d y o f su ch a u t o b io g r a p h ie s . 128 p a t t e r n o f o rth o d o x y , th u s show ing t h a t one i n f l u e n c e d a n o th e r . The t y p i c a l r e l a t i o n i s t h a t of a w icked s in n e r , n o t o r i o u s f o r h i s blasphem y and i r r e l i g i o n , u n d e rg o in g c o n v e rs io n and becom ing, by th e g r a c e o f God, a s a i n t . B unyanTs G race A bounding to th e C h ie f o f S in n e r s may be su p p o se d t o have b een e q u a lly p o p u la r among h i s B a p t i s t b r e t h r e n a s was L au ren c e C l a r k s o n 's L o st Sheep pi Found among th e M u g g le to n ia n s , Jo sp p h S a lm o n 's H e ig h ts o p I n D ep th s and D ep th s I n H e ig h ts among t h e R a n te r s , and 23 Edward B u rro u g h * s True D e s c r i p t i o n o f my M anner o f L i f e among t h e Q uak ers. P u b lis h e d i n 1666, B u n y a n 's a u to b io g ra p h y p a s s e d th ro u g h s i x e d i t i o n s b e f o r e h i s d e a th and th r o u g h e i g h t L a u re n c e C la rk so n , The L o s t Sheep Found: o r The P r o d i g a l r e t u r n e d t o h i s F a th e r s h o u s e , a f t e r many ® sad and weary J o u rn e y th ro u g h many R e l i g i o u s C o u n tre y s . London: P r i n t e d f o r th e A u th o r, 1660. J o s e p h Salm on, H e ig h ts i n D ep th s and D epths I n H e ig h t s . W herein i s d is c o v e r e d how th e a u t h o r h a t h b ee n a c t e d i n and redeem ed from , th e unknown p a t h s o f d a r k n e s s . London: P r i n t e d by Tho Newcomb, 1651. 23 Edward B u rrough, A T rue D e s c r i p t i o n of my M anner o f L i f e , Of w hat h av e b e e n i n My P r o f e s s i o n £ £ ft-e^-lg to n u n to t h l s v e ry D ay: and What am a t P r e s e n t , J2 2 L th e G race o f God. London: P r i n t e d f o r R o b e rt W ilson, 1663. 129 b e f o r e t h e end of th e s e v e n te e n th c e n t u r y , 24 p r o v in g I t s p o p u l a r i t y w ith a l a r g e c i r c l e of r e a d e r s , few of whom, how ever, r e c o r d e d t h e i r o p in io n o f th e work o r even r e f e r r e d to I t s p e c i f i c a l l y . I t a p p e a r s , n e v e r t h e l e s s , t h a t G race A bounding was fam ous, f i r s t o f a l l , as one o f B unyan1 s p r i s o n w r i t i n g s , i t b e in g m e n tio n e d a s such i n "The S t r u g g l e r , 1,25 i n t h e " C o n tin u a tio n " o f B u n y a n 's l i f e , 26 an d i n "Some A ccount o f th e L i f e and D eath o f Mr. Jo h n B u n y a n ."2,7 I t was I m p o rta n t, i n th e second p l a c e , as s o u r c e m a t e r i a l f o r B u n y a n 's b io g r a p h e r s , who, b e in g a c q u a in te d w ith him o n ly d u r in g h i s l a t e r y e a r s , w ere f o r c e d t o r e l y upon 24 The s i x t h e d i t i o n a p p e a re d i n 1688; th e s e v e n th i n 1692, and th e e i g h t h i n 1 6 9 3 [ ? ], a c c o r d in g to th e B r l t l s h Museum C a ta lo g u e . G-race A bounding c o n s i s t s o f two p a r t s , an a c c o u n t o f B unyan' s c o n v e rs io n and "A B r i e f A ccount o f th e A u t h o r 's C a ll to th e Work of th e M i n i s t r y . " An e a r l y e d i t i o n added some f i v e p a r a g r a p h s to th e se c o n d o f t h e s e p a r t s , r e f u t i n g c e r t a i n s c a n d a ls t h a t h ad b e e n r a i s e d c o n c e rn in g B u n y a n 's r e l a t i o n s h i p w ith women; a l a t e r e d i t i o n (1672) added "A B r i e f a c c o u n t of th e A u t h o r 's Im p ris o n m e n t," w h e re in Bunyan sp e a k s o f h a v in g " l a i n now c o m p le te tw e lv e y e a r s i n p r i s o n . " Bunyan a l s o w ro te "A R e l a t i o n o f th e Im p ris o n ment of- Mr. John Bunyan, M i n i s t e r o f th e G ospel a t Bed f o r d , i n November, 1 6 6 0 . . . , " w hich, how ever, rem a in ed i n m a n u s c rip t u n t i l 1765. 25 C h a rle s Doe, "The S t r u g g l e r , " Works o f John Bunyan, I I I , 766. 26 "A C o n tin u a tio n o f Mr. B u n y a n 's L i f e , " Works o f J o h n Bunyan, I , 64. 27 "Some A ccount of th e L i f e an d D eath o f Mr. Jo h n B u n y a n ," oo. c i t . , x l i . 130 th e a u to b io g ra p h y f o r much o f t h e i r I n f o r m a t io n c o n c e rn in g h i s y o u th . The f r i e n d who v i s i t e d Bunyan i n p r i s o n , f o r I n s ta n c e , b a s e d much of h i s a c c o u n t on t h e a u to b io g ra p h y , p O i n some c a s e s , in d e e d , c i t i n g p a r t i c u l a r p a s s a g e s . w C h a rle s Doe was o f c o u r s e a l s o f a m i l i a r w ith B u n y a n 's a u to b io g ra p h y , r e f e r r i n g to i t s p e c i f i c a l l y i n m e n tio n - 29 in g th e d e a th o f B u n y a n 's b l i n d d a u g h te r . The w r i t e r o f t h e " L if e an d A c tio n s o f Mr. Jo h n B u n y a n ," how ever, a lth o u g h he b a s e d h i s m a k e s h if t b io g ra p h y on G-race Abound i n g , seem ed u n w illi n g t o acknow ledge h i s s o u rc e , p o s in g a s a f r i e n d who h a d h e a r d th e a c c o u n t t h a t h e r e c o r d e d 30 from B u n y a n 's own l i p s . S p e a k in g , f o r I n s ta n c e , o f B u n y a n 's f i r s t s u p e r f i c i a l r e f o r m a tio n , th e a u th o r w ro te : " In d e e d a l l t h a t tim e h e was a s f a r from th e Way o f L i f e , a s when h e was th e m ost P ro p h an e; t h o ' a s h i m s e l f P h r a s e s i t , h i s Change o f L i f e and M anners was a s R em arkable, a s f o r a Tom o f Bedlam to become a S o b er man" ( i b i d . , 3 $ . The r e f e r e n c e i s from G-race A bounding (Jo h n Brown, e d i t o r ; C am bridge: U n iv e r s it y P r e s s , 1 9 0 7 ), 15. C h a rle s Doe, "The S t r u g g l e r , " Works o f Jo h n Bunyan, I I I , 766. 30 R e l a t i n g , f o r exam ple, th e i n c i d e n t of Bunyan*s b e in g r e b u k e d by a woman o f i l l r e p u te f o r h i s n o t o r i o u s sw e a rin g , a s t o l d i n O race A bounding, p . 13, t h e b i o g r a p h e r in tr o d u c e d h i s a c c o u n t w ith th e w ords: . "Yet one day I remember h e d e c la r e d , t h a t th e f i r s t Im p u lse upon h i s Mind, was t h e s h a rp reb u k e o f a Woman, who was h e r s e l f r e p u te d to b e o f a s le n d e r V e r t u e . . . " ("An A ccount o f th e L i f e a n d A c tio n s o f Mr. Jo h n B u n y a n .. . From h i s C ra d le t o h i s G r a v e ," 1 8 ). 131 Though G race Abounding: was n o t I n c lu d e d I n t h e s i n g l e f o l i o volum e o f B u n y a n 's w orks t h a t a p p e a re d I n 1692, C h a n d le r and W ilson, I n t h e i r p r e f a t o r y e p i s t l e to th e volum e s t a t e d t h a t th e y f e l t i t u n n e c e s s a r y to g iv e an a c c o u n t o f B u n y a n 's l i f e , on t h e a s s u m p tio n t h a t B u n y a n 's own a c c o u n t was c o n v e n ie n tly a v a i l a b l e to a l l t h e i r r e a d e r s : We s h a l l n o t h e r e d e la y th e e w ith an Ac c o u n t o f t h e A u t h o r 's P e d ig r e e , E d u c a tio n , C o n v e rsio n , o r C a ll to t h e M in is tr y , i t b e in g done f o r th e e by h i s own h an d , i n h i s T re a tis e ,,.. G race abounding; to th e C h ie f o f S i n n e r s . . . . The w r i t e r o f th e "C o n tin u a tio n " o f B u n y a n 's l i f e n a t u r a l l y a l s o to o k f o r g r a n te d on th e p a r t o f h i s r e a d e r s a know ledge o f B u n y a n 's G race A bounding, w hich h e d e s c r i b e d a s "a f a i t h f u l and v e ry moving r e l a t i o n o f th e b e g in n in g and m id d le o f t h e d a y s o f h i s [ i . e . , B u n y a n 's ] p ilg r im a g e on e a r t h . The w ic k e d n e ss o f B u n y a n 's u n c o n v e rte d y o u th , and t h e t r u t h f u l n e s s w ith which Bunyan h ad d e s c r ib e d i t , w ere f u r t h e r d w e lt on by th e a u th o r o f th e " C o n tin u a t i o n , " who w r o te o f th e a u to b lo g r a p h e r : He h a s t o l d you a t l a r g e o f h i s b i r t h a n d e d u c a tio n ; th e e v i l h a b i t s and c o r ru p t i o n s o f h i s y o u th ; t h e te m p ta tio n s he 31 E b en e zer C h a n d le r and Jo h n W ilson, "To th e S e r io u s , J u d i c i o u s and I m p a r t i a l R ead er, " ojd. c i t . , l v . „ , , H A C o n tin u a tio n o f Mr. B u n y a n 's L i f e , " Works o f Jo h n Bunyan, I , 62. --------- 132 s t r u g g l e d and c o n f l i c t e d so f r e q u e n t l y w ith ; th e m e rc ie s , c o m fo rts , and d e l i v e r a n c e s he f o u n d .. . . T h e r e f o re ta k e t h e s e t h i n g s a s he h im s e lf h a s m e th o d ic a lly l a i d them down i n th e w ords o f v e r i t y . . . . 3 ’ L ik e t h i s a u t h o r , a l l B u n y a n 's s e v e n te e n th cen tu r y b i o g r a p h e r s a c c e p te d l i t e r a l l y th e a u t o b i o g r a p h e r 's a c c o u n t of h im s e lf a s " th e c h i e f o f s in n e r s " i n h i s y o u th . B oth th e a u t h o r o f th e " C o n tin u a tio n " and t h e a u th o r o f t h e " L if e and A c tio n s o f Mr. Jo h n Bunyan" c o n t r a s t e d B u n y a n 's " e v i l b e g in n in g " w ith h i s "good end. The l a t t e r b io g r a p h e r d e c l a r e d t h a t a s "a c h i l d , o r a t l e a s t a s t r i p l i n g Y outh, " Bunyan "had b u t few E q u a ls f o r L ying, S w earin g , and B lasphem ing Gods Holy Name, 1,35 and r e f e r r e d t o t h e " c a r n a l d e l i g h t s and p l e a s u r e s " t h a t th e young Bunyan h ad b e e n accu sto m ed t o . 33 The a u th o r o f t h e " L if e a n d D eath of Mr. Jo h n Bunyan" a l s o spoke o f t h e g r e a t " N a tu ra l D e p r a v ity " o f Bunyan, o f h i s " P ro n e n e ss to a l l E v i l , " and o f h i s b e i n g so woe f u l l y a d d i c te d i n h i s v e ry c h ild h o o d t o " C u rs in g , Swear in g , L y in g and B lasp h em in g , t h a t h e had few E q u a ls i n •X * "A C o n tin u a tio n o f Mr. B u n y a n 's L i f e , " Works o f Jo h n Bunyan, • ' I , 63. ^ I b i d . , I , 62; an d "An A ccount o f th e L i f e and A c tio n s o f Mr. Jo h n B u n y a n .. . From h i s C ra d le to h i s G r a v e ," 8. "An A ccount o f t h e L i f e a n d A c tio n s o f Mr. Jo h n B u n y a n .. . From h i s C ra d le to h i s G ra v e ," 9 . 36 Ibid., 16. 133 W ic k e d n e s s .1 1 3^ E v a n g e l i c a l l y m inded a s w ere B u n y a n 's e a r l y b io g r a p h e r s , th e y c o u ld n o t h av e b e e n e x p e c te d t o c o n je c t u r e t h a t B u n y a n 's l i t e r a r y g e n iu s m ig h t, c o n s c io u s ly o r u n c o n s c io u s ly , h a v e p a i n t e d h i s s i n f u l y o u th i n b l a c k e r c o l o r s t h a t i t d e s e r v e d , i n o r d e r t h a t i t c o n t r a s t more s h a r p ly w ith t h e l i f e o f th e c o n v e r te d s a i n t . As B u n y a n 's b io g r a p h e r s a c c e p te d l i t e r a l l y Bun y a n 's d e p i c t i o n o f h im s e lf a s t h e " c h i e f o f s i n n e r s , " so to o d id th e y a c c e p t h i s p r e s e n t a t i o n of h i m s e l f a s a non c o n f o r m is t m a rty r s u f f e r i n g im p riso n m en t f o r th e sa k e o f t r u t h . 38 The a u th o r o f t h e " L if e an d D eath o f Mr. John Bunyan" s t a t e d t h a t t h a t w o rth y b o r e h i s " t e d i o u s Im p ris o n ment i n an u n c o m fo rta b le and c l o s e P r is o n , and som etim es u n d e r c r u e l and o p p r e s s i v e C o a le r s [ s i c ], w ith t h a t C h r is t i a n P a t i e n c e and P re s e n c e o f Mind, a s becam e a M i n i s t e r o f J e s u s C h r i s t , and su ch a Cause a s h e was e n g a g 'd i n and s u f f e r 'd f o r . " 39 T h is " B le s s e d M an," h e d e c la r e d , 3^ "Some A ccount of th e L i f e and D eath o f Mr. Jo h n B u n y a n ," l x . 38 I t c a n n o t be assum ed, o f c o u rs e , t h a t B u n y a n 's b io g r a p h e r s , m ost o f whom were p e r s o n a l l y a c q u a in te d w ith Bunyan h im s e lf , b a s e d t h e i r comments h e r e r e c o r d e d e n t i r e l y o r m e re ly on th e ac co u n t of th e im p riso n m en t g iv e n by Bunyan, th o u g h a l l o f them w ere u n d o u b te d ly f a m i l i a r w ith t h a t a c c o u n t. 39 "Some A ccount o f th e L i f e a n d D ea th of Mr. Jo h n B u n y a n ," x l l . 134 " s u f f e r e d Tw elve Y e a rs and a h a l f Im p riso n m en t f o r th e T estim ony o f a good C o n s c ie n c e ." 4^ C h a n d le r and W ilson p i c t u r e d Bunyan d u r in g h i s c o n fin e m e n t a s b e h a v in g " l i k e C h r i s t 's S o l d i e r , b e in g f a r from any s i n f u l com p l i a n c e t o sav e h i m s e l f , " b u t c h e e r f u l l y b e a r i n g th e 41 C ro ss o f C h r i s t . A c o n t r a s t to t h e s e e u l o g i s t i c p r e s e n t a t i o n s o f Bunyan a s a s u f f e r i n g m a rty r i s fo u n d i n t h e sound, i f somewhat h a r s h l y s t a t e d , view e x p r e s s e d by th e a u th o r °** W in*t O f f , w hich may b e h e r e r e c o r d e d , d e s p i t e th e f a c t t h a t th e a u t h o r p r o b a b ly h e a r d o f B u n y a n 's im p riso n m en t from c u r r e n t rum or r a t h e r th a n fro m th e a u t o b i o g r a p h e r 's own a c c o u n t. T h is a u th o r w ro te o f B unyan: I f he f l a t t e r h im s e lf w ith a fo n d c o n c e i t ( a s no doubt h e d o th ) t h a t s u f f e r i n g p e r s e c u t i o n i s a .g r e a t e v id e n c e o f h o l i n e s s , t h e Q u a k e rs, w hich h e h im s e lf c o u n ts m ost dam nable H e r e ti c k s , h av e s u f f e r e d a s much, and many o f them f a r more th a n e v e r h e h a t h done, whose p e r s e c u t i o n s h av e b ee n b u t f l e a b i t e s o r n o t so b ad , nay no o t h e r th a n su ch a s h av e c o n t r i b u t e d t o h i s p u r s e , f a r more p l e n t i f u l l y th a n e v e r h i s c a s t o f t r a d e c o u l d . . . . I n a word, t h e D e v il h a t h h i s M a rty r s a s w e ll a s J e s u s C h r i s t . ^ 4^ "Some A ccount o f th e L i f e and D eath o f Mr. Jo h n B unyan," x l i . 41 E b e n e z e r C h a n d le r an d Jo h n W ilso n , "To th e S e r io u s , J u d i c i o u s and I m p a r t i a l R e a d e r," op. c i t . , v. 42 D i r t W ln 't O f f . 47. 135 R ead f o r t h e m ost p a r t by h i s b r e t h r e n and f r i e n d s , r a t h e r th a n by h i s a n t a g o n i s t s , B unyan*s a u to b io g ra p h y o c c a s io n e d no s p e c i f i c d e r o g a t o r y comments i n th e s e v e n te e n th c e n tu r y so f a r a s h av e b e e n r e c o r d e d . R eg ard ed a s one o f B u n y a n 's u s e f u l and i n s t r u c t i v e p r o s e t r a c t s , i t was u n d o u b te d ly in c lu d e d i n th e l a u d a t o r y r e f e r e n c e s a p p l i e d to B u n y a n 's w orks i n g e n e r a l , and - o c c a s io n e d a s w e ll some few s p e c i f i c com m endatory r e m arks. As i s e v id e n t from t h e many e d i t i o n s t h a t i t was n e c e s s a r y to i s s u e d u r in g t h e s e v e n te e n th c e n tu r y , G race Abounding: en jo y e d a l a r g e p o p u l a r i t y among th e d e v o u t, who a c c e p te d l i t e r a l l y ( a s Bunyan m eant i t to be a c c e p te d ) th e r e l a t i o n o f th e c o n t e s t b etw een God and S a ta n f o r th e so u l o f a d e p ra v e d s i n n e r . BUNYAN AS ALLEGORIST AND NARRATIVE WRITER "AUTHOR OF THE PILGRIM* S PROGRESSH B u n y a n 's hum ble d e s c r i p t i o n o f h i m s e l f , on th e t i t l e p a g e s o f h i s e a r l y w orks, a s " t h a t u n w o rth y s e r - A*T v a n t o f C h r i s t " o r a s " t h a t P o o r and C o n te m p tib le C r e a tu r e , Jo h n Bunyan o f B e d f o r d ," 44 g ave way, some y e a r s a f t e r h i s p u b l i c a t i o n o f th e f i r s t p a r t o f h i s m ost fam o u s work, to th e l i t e r a r y d e s i g n a t i o n o f h i m s e l f a s "John Bunyan, A u th o r o f t h e P i l g r i m 's P r o g r e s s . " 46 T h is i d e n t i f i c a t i o n o f Bunyan a s th e a u th o r o f h i s fam ous a l l e g o r y may b e a c c e p te d a s an I n d i c a t i o n t h a t even i n h i s own l i f e t i m e t h e book on which h i s fame was T i t l e p a g e o f Some G o s p e l - t r u t h s Opened (1 6 5 6 ), c i t e d s u o r a . p a g e 13 n . Edward B urrough, i n h i s r e p l y to t h i s book, a d r o i t l y s e iz e d on B u n y a n 's s e l f - d e p r e c i a t o r y d e s c r i p t i o n o f h im s e lf , to rem ark t h a t t h a t a u th o r " h a th t r u l y , c a l l e d h lm s e lf e i n h i s T i t l e , Un w o rth y . . . . ( Edward B u rrough, p r e f a c e to th e "R eaderT ^ The T rue F a i t h o f th e G o sp el o f P e a c e ) . 44 T i t l e p ag e o f The D o c tr in e of th e Law and G race U n fo ld e d (1659) (F ran k M ott H a r r is o n , A B i b lio g rap h y o f t h e Works o f Jo h n Bunyan. 9 ) . “ 45 T h is d e s i g n a t i o n o c c u r s on t h e t i t l e p a g e s o f th e f o llo w in g w o rk s: The L i f e and D ea th o f Mr. Bad- man (1680,); The H oly War (1 6 8 2 ): and The Work o f J e s u s C h r l s t a s an A d v o ca te (1 6 8 8 ). A ls o , when B u n y a n 's Mapp Shew ing t h e O rd e r & C auses o f S a l v a t i o n & D am nation ( c a . 1664) was r e p u b l i s h e d a f t e r h i s d e a th , i n 1691, t h e w ords, "A uthor o f t h e P i l g r i m 's P r o g r e s s ," w ere ad d ed to h i s name on t h e t i t l e p ag e (G eorge O ffo r, Works o f Jo h n Bunyan, I I I , v i ) . 137 to r e s t i n l a t e r c e n t u r i e s h ad a l r e a d y become re c o g n iz e d a s h i s m ost n o t a b l e w r i t i n g . To i n t e r p r e t B u n y a n 's fame a s " a u th o r o f The P i l g r i m 1s P r o g r e s s " i n th e l i t e r a r y te rm s o f fame a s an © l l e g o r i s t , how ever, i s n o t s t r i c t l y a c c u r a t e , f o r to Bunyan and h i s s e c t a r i a n c o n te m p o r a r ie s t h i s a l l e g o ry w as, a s th e y c o r r e c t l y d e s c r i b e d i t , m e re ly a " t r a c t , w46 f u r t h e r ex p o unding t h e t e a c h i n g s t h a t h i s " o th e r G-ospel- b o o k s" 47 and p r i n t e d serm ons t a u g h t , i t s v a lu e l y i n g i n i t s p o p u la r ap p ro a c h to d o c t r i n e a n d i d e a l , i t s d i r e c t i o n to sound c o n v e r s io n , and i t s d r a m a tic e x p o s u re o f th e ways and t e n e t s of s e c t a r i a n e n e m ie s .4® S e c u la r w r i t e r s , to o , r e c o g n iz e d th e t r a c t a r i a n n a t u r e o f The P i l g r i m 1s P r o g r e s s . A nthony \ Wood, f o r i n s t a n c e , c l a s s i f y i n g i t among t h e " s e v e r a l u s e f u l and p r a c t i c a l b o o k s" t h a t Bunyan had com posed.4® C h a rle s Doe, Thomas Sherman ("T he A u t h o r 's Apology f o r h i s B o o k ," The Second P a r t o f th e P i l g r i m 1s P r o g r e s s ) . and th e a u t h o r o f "An A ccount of th e L if e an d A c tio n s o f Mr. Jo h n Bunyan" r e f e r r e d t o B u n y a n 's a l l e g o r y a s a " t r a c t . " See a l s o W illia m York T i n d a l l , Jo h n Bunyan. M echanlck P r e a c h e r , 179. 47 C h a rle s Doe, "The S t r u g g l e r , * Works o f Jo h n Bunyan. I l l , 766. 48 W illia m York T i n d a l l , o&. c i t . . 68. 4® A nthony a Wood, A th e n a e O x o n le n s e s , An E x ac t H is to r y o f a l l The W r ite r s an d B ish o p s who h a v e h ad t h e i r E d u c a tio n i n t h e U n i v e r s i t y o f O x fo rd . To w hich a r e Added t h e F a s t i , o r A n n a ls o f th e S a id U n lv e rs lt.y T1691) T P h l l l p B l i s s , e d i t o r ; London, 1 8 1 3 -2 0 ), IV, c o l . 612. 138 B unyan’ s p u r p o s e i n w r i t i n g The P i l g r i m * s P r o g r e s s * and h i s p l a c e i n th e t r a d i t i o n o f a l l e g o r i c a l w r i t e r s w ith m o ral and d i d a c t i c i n t e n t , was r e c o g n iz e d an d s t a t e d by Thomas Sherman, who i n 1683 d e p lo r e d t h e d e b a u c h e ry o f an ag e t h a t d e l i g h t e d o n ly i n n o v e ls , ro m an c es, an d p la y s , t o t h e n e g l e c t o f d i v i n i t y and th e ,fd is c o u r a g e ment an d d e c a y o f P i e t y and R e l i g i o n " : The o b s e r v a t i o n w h ereo f p u t some e m in e n t and in g e n io u s p e r s o n s upon w r i t i n g some R e lig i o u s D is c o u r s e s , which th e y d e s ig n e d f o r a G e n e ra l Use i n sueh k in d o f m eth o d s a s m ig h t i n c l i n e many to r e a d them, f o r th e m ethods sa k e , w h ich o th e r w is e w ould n e v e r h av e b e e n p e r s u a d e d t o h a v e p e ru s e d them , a s B e r n a r d 1s I s l e o f Man. G e n t i l e S i n n e r . &c. H oping t h a t t h e Power o f th o s e p l a i n T ru th s w hich th e y th e r e b y d e l i v e r e d , i n so much p l a i n e s s and f a m i l i a r i t y , t h a t made them th e more e a sy to be u n d e r s to o d by m ost i l l i t e r a t e p e r s o n s , and m e an est c a p a c i t i e s ; and y e t a f f o r d p l e a s u r e , d e l i g h t and s a t i s f a c t i o n to t h e m ost J u d i c i o u s , L e a rn in g and Knowing R e a d e r. And t h i s c o n s i d e r a t i o n was t h e M otive w hich p u t t h e A u th o r o f t h e F i r s t P a r t o f th e P i l g r i m s P r o g r e s s , upon compos in g and p u b l i s h i n g t h a t n e c e s s a r y an d u s e f u l T r a c t . . . . 50 T h at B unyan’ s a l l e g o r y was v a lu e d n o t f o r i t s l i t e r a r y m e r i t , b u t p r i m a r i l y f o r i t s in g e n io u s and e f f e c t i v e p r e s e n t a t i o n o f r e l i g i o u s t r u t h , i s a l s o e v id e n t from th e s ta te m e n t o f C h a rle s Doe, t h a t f i r s t o f Bunyan T .S ., "The A u th o r 's A pology f o r h i s B ook," The Second P a r t o f t h e P i l g r i m 's P r o g r e s s , from T h is P r e s e n t W orld o f~ 1 7 lc k ed n e ss and M is e ry , T o a n E t e r n l t y o f H o lin e s s and F e l i c i t y ; E x a c tly D e s c rib e d u n d e r th e S i m i l i t u d e o f a Dream. R e l a t i n g th e M anner an d O cc asio n o f h i e S e t t i n g o u t fro m , and d i f f i c u l t and d a n g e ro u s J o u rn e y th ro u g h th e W orld: an d s a f e A r r i v a l a t l a s t t o E te r n a l H a p p in e ss (London; P r i n t e d f o r Tho M a lth u s a t t h e Sun i n t h e P o u l t r y , 1 6 8 3 ). W illia m Y ork T in d a l l o l t . . 40, 235) i d e n t i f i e s " T .S ." a s Thomas Sherman; a B a p t i s t . 139 e n t h u s i a s t s ; I re c k o n I s h a l l n o t h e o u t o f t h e way, i f I o b s e rv e and say-—What h a t h t h e d e v i l o r h i s a g e n ts g o t t e n by p u t t i n g o u r g r e a t g o s p e l- m i n i s t e r , Bunyan, i n p r is o n ? f o r i n p r i s o n . . . h e w ro te many e x c e l l e n t b o o k s, t h a t h a v e pub l i s h e d to t h e w o rld h i s g r e a t g r a c e , an d g r e a t t r u t h , and g r e a t judgm ent, an d g r e a t i n g e n u i t y ; and to I n s t a n c e i n one, t h e P i l g r i m 1s P r o g r e s s , h e h a t h s u i t e d to th e l i f e o f a t r a v e l l e r so e x a c t l y and p l e a s a n t l y , and t o th e l i f e o f a C h r i s t i a n , t h a t t h i s v e ry book, b e s i d e s th e r e s t , h a t h done t h e s u p e r s t i t i o u s s o r t o f men and t h e i r p r a c t i c e more harm , o r r a t h e r good, a s I may c a l l i t , th a n i f h e h ad b e e n l e t a lo n e a t h i s m e e tin g a t B e d fo rd , t o p r e a c h t h e g o s p e l t o h i s own a u d i t o r y , a s i t m ight have f a l l e n o u t; f o r none b u t p r i e s t - r i d d e n p e o p le know how t o c a v i l a t i t , i t w ins so sm o o th ly upon t h e i r a f f e c t i o n s , and so i n s e n s i b l y d i s t i l s t h e g o s p e l i n t o them , and h a t h b een p r i n t e d i n P ra n c e , H o lla n d , New E n g lan d , and i n W elsh, and a b o u t a h u n d re d th o u s a n d i n E n g lan d , w hereby th e y a r e made some m eans o f g r a c e , and th e a u th o r become fam ous; and may b e th e c a u s e o f s p r e a d in g h i s o t h e r g o s p e l-b o o k s o y e r t h e E uropean an d A m erican w o rld , and i n p r o - c e s s o f tim e may b e so to th e w hole u n i v e r s e . 1 E x c e p t f o r t h e s ta te m e n ts o f su ch p io u s w r i t e r s , no c r i t i c a l o r even a p p r e c i a t i v e comment o n The P ilg r im * s P r o g r e s s i s to be fo u n d i n t h e s e v e n te e n th c e n tu r y . The Im p o rta n t w r i t e r s o f t h e R e s t o r a t i o n p e r i o d , i f th e y r e a d 52 th e a l l e g o r y a t a l l , d id n o t deem i t w o rth th e m e n tio n , ^ C h a rle s Doe, M The S t r u g g l e r , ” Works o f Jo h n Bunyan, I I I , 766. s 52 (jkg a l l e g o r y was f a m i l i a r , how ever, t o A nthony a Wood and Tom Brown, and u n d o u b te d ly t o W illia m C ongreve. Wood r e f e r r e d t o th e book, a s s t a t e d ab o v e, and m e n tio n e d s p e c i f i c a l l y i t s num erous e d i t i o n s and i t s t r a n s l a t i o n i n t o D utch and F re n c h . F o r B row n's m e n tio n , se e below , p a g e s 1 8 4 -5 . C ongreve i n The Way o f th e W orld (A ct I I I , s c . i v ) h ad Lady W is h fo rt u r g e M rs .G a rw o o d to amuse h e r s e l f , w h ile w a it in g , w ith th e w orks o f Q u a rle s , P ry n , C o l l i e r , a n d Bunyan. 140 and t h e hum ble, d e v o u t, and n o n - l i t e r a r y r e a d e r s , whose a p p r o b a tio n may be d ed u c ed from t h e many c o p i e s o f th e a l l e g o r y I s s u e d , and from t h e v e ry n a t u r e o f I t s a p p e a l, l e f t t h e i r comments u n re c o rd e d , b e in g , as B i r r e l l r e m arks, " I n no way a d d i c t e d to w r i t i n g a p p r e c i a t i o n s o f t h e i r f a v o r i t e a u t h o r s . " 53 A s ta te m e n t o f B u n y a n 's p o p u l a r i t y a s an a l l e g o r i s t i n h i s own c e n tu r y , t h e r e f o r e , m ust r e s t l a r g e l y upon an e n u m e ra tio n o f t h e many e d i t i o n s th ro u g h w hich The P ilg rim * s P r o g r e s s p a s s e d , th e i m i t a t i o n s t h a t I t i n s p i r e d , and t h e e n t h u s i a s t i c comments o f th e a u th o r h im s e lf a s to t h e many r e a d e r s t h a t h e l d h i s P i l g r i m i n h ig h estee m . 54 B u n y a n 's o t h e r Im p o rta n t a l l e g o r i c a l w ork, The 53 A u g u s tin e B i r r e l l , "Jo h n B u n y a n ," E t C e te r a . A C o l l e c t i o n & c ., 100. T hese w ere by no means t h e o n ly w orks i n w hich Bunyan u s e d t h e d e v ic e o f a l l e g o r y , w hich was a f a v o r i t e one w ith him , a s w ith many o r h i s contem p o r a r i e s . Such w orks a s The S t r a i t G ate, The B a rre n F i g - t r e e , an d The H eavenly Footm an a r e a l l e g o r i c a l i n t i t l e , and t o some e x t e n t i n t r e a t m e n t . T h e re i s , how e v e r, an e v id e n t d i s t i n c t i o n b e tw e e n them an d t h e two a l l e g o r i e s d i s c u s s e d a b o v e . Though b o th g ro u p s a r e m oral i n a t t i t u d e and d i d a c t i c i n p u rp o s e , t h e fo rm e r a r e r a t h e r o f t h e n a t u r e o f serm ons, d e f i n i t e l y b a s e d on a t e x t , w hich th e y e x p l a in and e l a b o r a t e , and comment upon, w h i l e t h e l a t t e r a r e d e f i n i t e l y n a r r a t i v e s w ith c h a r a c t e r s and a p l o t t h a t p r o g r e s s e s from b e g in n in g to end. I n The Holy C i t y , on th e o t h e r h an d , a s G.B. H a r r is o n o b s e rv e s (Jo h n Bunyan. A Study i n P e r s o n a l i t y . 1 0 7 ), Bunyan i s " d e c o d in g an a l l e g o r y . " T h is i s a l s o t r u e o f Solomon*s Temple S p i r i t u a l i z e d . A l l th e s e w orks, t h e r e f o r e , h av e i n t h i s s tu d y b e e n c o n s id e r e d a s p r a c t i c a l and d o c t r i n a l , s i n c e i t i s t h a t e le m e n t t h a t p r e d o m in a te s o v e r any a tte m p t a t a l l e g o r i c a l n a r r a t i v e . 141 H oly W ar,55 a l s o a t t a i n e d some d e g re e o f p o p u l a r i t y I n th e s e v e n te e n th c e n tu r y , p a s s i n g th ro u g h t h r e e e d i t i o n s b e f o r e 1 6 9 2 ,56 and s e r v in g to s u g g e s t t o B enjam in Keach, Bunyan*s r i v a l a s a p o p u la r r e l i g i o u s a l l e - g o r i s t , t h e c o m p o s itio n o f a work on a s i m i l a r them e gg The Holy War, Made by S haddal Upon D la b o lu s . f o r th e R e g a in in g o f t h e M e tr o p o lis o f th e f ro r ld . O r, The L o s in g and Tak1ng A g ain Of The Town o f M ansoul. By Jo h n Bunyan, t h e A u th o r o f th e P ilg r im s “ P r o g r e s s . Lon don: P r i n t e d f o r Dorman Hewman a t th e K i n g 's Arms i n t h e P o u l t r y ; and B en jam in A lsop a t th e A ngel and B ib le i n th e P o u l t r y , 1682. C h a rle s Doe, ”A C a ta lo g u e - T a b le o f Mr. B u n y a n 's B o o k s ,B Works o f Jo h n Bunyan, I I I , 763. T h is i n d i c a t e s , how ever, t h a t The Holy War was l e s s p o p u la r th a n c e r t a i n o f Bunyan*s p r a c t i c a l w orks and p r i n t e d serm ons, s e v e r a l o f w hich p a s s e d th r o u g h a s many o r more e d i t i o n s by 1692. The p o p u la r A Few S ig h s from H e l l , f o r i n s t a n c e , w hich came o u t i n 1658, w ent th ro u g h n in e e d i t i o n s b e f o r e 1692, and Come and Welcome to J e s u s C h r i s t (1678) a t t a i n e d f o u r e d i t i o n s b e f o r e t h a t d a t e . The B a rre n F i g - t r e e , p u b lis h e d i n th e same y e a r a s The Holy War'.' a t t a i n e d an e q u a l number o f e d i t i o n s a s d i d t h a t a l l e g o r y by th e y e a r 1692, w h ile The J e ru s a le m S in n e r S av ed , f i r s t pub l i s h e d s i x y e a r s a f t e r The Holy War, h a d r e a c h e d i t s t h i r d e d i t i o n by 1691. 57 , B enjam in K each (1 640-1704) was a w ell-k n o w n B a p t i s t m i n i s t e r , th e a u th o r o f some f o r t y o r f i f t y w orks, c h i e f l y o f c o n t r o v e r s i a l o r a l l e g o r i c a l n a t u r e . J o s e p h Iv im ey , i n h i s H is to r y o f t h e E n g lis h B a p t l s t s (1 8 1 1 -3 0 ), had much p r a i s e f o r t h e " d x c e l l e n t B enjam in K each1 * ( I I , 1 5 7 ), and d e v o te d some t w e n t y - f i v e p a g e s to a c o n s i d e r a t i o n o f h i s l i f e and work ( I I , 3 6 0 -8 6 ). 142 C Q and I n a s i m i l a r s t y l e . I n h i s L i f e and D eath o f Mr. eg Badman, w hich th e a u t h o r h i m s e l f r e g a r d e d a s a con t r a s t t o t h e h eav en w ard jo u r n e y o f C h r i s t i a n , i n n a r r a t in g th e p r o g r e s s o f th e u n g o d ly i n h i s way to w a rd H e ll, Bunyan d i d n o t make u s e o f a l l e g o r y , e x c e p t f o r th e f a c t t h a t th e s t o r y i s t o l d i n t h e form o f a d ia lo g u e b etw een th e s y m b o lic a l c h a r a c t e r s , Mr. Wiseman and Mr* A tte n tiv e * T h is work a l s o met w ith th e f a v o r a b l e a c c e p ta n c e o f B u n y a n 's c o n te m p o r a r ie s ; t h r e e e d i t i o n s w ere i s s u e d i n th e s e v e n te e n th c e n tu r y , th e t h i r d o f C O B enjam in K each, The P r o g r e s s o f S i n : o r t h e T r a v e ls o f U n g o d lin e s s . . . .In an a p t and P l e a s a n t A l l e g ory? T o g e th e r w ith th e g r e a t V i c t o r i e s h e h a t h o b ta in e d . . .A s a l s o . The M anner o f h i s A p p re h e n s io n . A rra g ln m e n t, T r v a l . C ondem nation and E x e c u tio n . London, 1684. T i n d a l l (op. c l t . , 1 4 6 ) c a l l s t h i s work a " b o ld i m i t a t i o n o f B unyan1s Holy War* * The c h a r t e r , governm ent, la w s, and d e f e n s e o f R e a c h 's c i t y , he f i n d s , a r e " c l o s e l y m odeled upon M a n s o u l's " ( o p . c l t . . 2 6 7 ). Keach a p p a r e n t l y fo u n d Bunyan a s a t i s f a c t o r y model to f o llo w , f o r i n a d d i t i o n to t h i s w ork s u g g e s tiv e o f The H oly War, he a l s o com posed an a l l e g o r y i n i m i t a t i o n o f The P i l g r i m 's P r o g r e s s ( s e e i n f r a , p a g e l5 0 f ) . Bunyan, i n t u r n , how ever, h ad fo u n d en co u rag em en t and p o s s i b l y m a t e r i a l f o r The H oly War i n two a l l e g o r i e s o f s p i r i t u a l c o n f l i c t by K each, h i s War w ith th e D e v i l : o r t h e Young Mans C o n f l i c t w ith th e Pow ers o f D a rk n e s s . . . and t h e N a tu re o f t r u e C o n v e rs io n . . . c h i e f l y I n te n d e d f o r t h e I n s t r u c t i o n o f th e Y ounger s o r t an d h i s G lo r lo u s L o v e r. A D iv in e Poem. Upon th e A d o ra b le M ystery o f S in n e r s R edem ption (1 6 7 9 )” The p r o b a b le i n f l u e n c e o f t h e s e two s e c t a r i a n a l l e g o r i s t s upon each o t h e r i s d i s c u s s e d by W illia m York T i n d a l l , Jo h n Bunyan. M echanlck P r e a c h e r . 200 f f . 59 The L l f e a n d D eath o f Mr. Badman, P r e s e n te d ;To i n a F a m il ia r D ia lo g u e Between Mr. Wiseman. A tt e n t i v e . By Jo h n Bunyan, t h e A u th o r o f th e P ilg r im s , Pr o g r e s s . London: P rinted"15y J7 A 7 ~ fo r“ N ath. P onder a t th e P eac o ck i n th e P o u ltr e y , n e e r t h e C hurch, 1680. 143 t h e s e b e in g a d o rn e d w ith " c u t s . 1,60 N e it h e r The Holy War n o r The L i f e an d D eath of Mr. Badman, how ever, c a l l e d f o r t h any c o n te m p o ra ry comment t h a t h a s b e e n r e c o r d e d f o r p o s t e r i t y , w h e r e fo re th e c o n s i d e r a t i o n o f Bunyan a s a n a r r a t o r and, p a r t i c u l a r l y , a s an a l l e g o r i s t , m ust r e s t l a r g e l y on a c o n s i d e r a t i o n o f him a s t h e a u th o r o f h i s m ost fam ous w ork. Bunyan h i m s e l f , who had much t o say c o n c e rn in g The P i l g r i m 1s P r o g r e s s "and how i t h ad b e e n a c c e p ta b le t o many i n t h i s N a tio n , s t a t e d t h a t h i s a l l e g o r y h ad fo u n d f a v o r a b l e a c c e p ta n c e w ith t h e r i c h an d th e p o o r a l i k e , b u t i n more s p e c i f i c e n u m e ra tio n h e seem ed c u r io u s l y e a g e r to c la im a s h i s r e a d e r s th e "B rave G a ll a n ts " and t h e "young G e n tle -w o m e n ," r a t h e r th a n t h e more hum ble f o l k : B rav e G a l l a n t s do my P ilg r im hug an d lo v e , E steem i t much, y e a v a lu e i t above T h in g s o f a g r e a t e r b u lk , y e a , w ith d e l i g h t , Say, my L a r k *s l e g i s b e t t e r th a n a K i t e . Young L ad y s, and young G entle-w om en to o , Do no s m a ll k in d n e s s t o my P i l g r i m shew; T h e ir C a b in e ts , t h e i r Bosoms, and t h e i r H e a rts My P ilg r im h a s , 'c a u s e h e t o them I m p a r ts H is p r e t t y r i d d l e s i n su ch wholesome s t r a i n s , As y i e l d s them p r o f i t d o u b le to t h e i r p a i n s Of r e a d i n g . Yea, I t h i n k I may b e b o ld To say some p r i z e him f a r above t h e i r G old. The B r i t i s h Museum c o n t a i n s a copy o f The L i f e and D ea th o f Mr. Badman. t h i r d e d i t i o n , w i t h th e a d d i t i o n o f c u t s , London, 1696. ^ Jo h n Bunyan, "The A u th o r to th e R e a d e r ," The L i f e an d D eath o f Mr. Badman (J o h n Brown, e d i t o r ; Cam b r id g e : U n iv e r s ity P r e s s , 1 9 0 5 ), 3. 144 The very. C h ild r e n t h a t do w a lk th e s t r e e t , I f th e y do b u t my h o ly P i l g r i m m eet, S a l u t e him w i l l , w i l l w ish him w e ll and sa y , He i s th e o n ly S t r i p l i n g o f th e D ay.& <i B ut th e e u l o g i s t i c comments o f t h e s e b r a v e g a l l a n t s and g e n t l e f o l k h a v e n o t b ee n p r e s e r v e d f o r p o s t e r i t y . I n s t e a d t h e r e i s o n ly t h e g e n e r a l s ta te m e n t o f N a th a n ie l P o n d er, made i n th e y e a r f o llo w in g h i s p u b l i c a t i o n o f t h e f i r s t p a r t o f The P ilg rim * s P r o g r e s s , t h a t th e a l l e g o r y h ad met " w ith good a c c e p t a t i o n among t h e p e o p l e ” ; th e o b s e r v a t i o n o f t h e anonymous b io g r a p h e r o f 1692 t h a t t h e f i r s t p a r t o f t h e a l l e g o r y , a s w e ll a s ”d l v e r s o t h e r T r a c t s ” by Bunyan, h ad ’ ’g a in e d much 64 A p p ro b a tio n and A p p la u s e ” ; an d t h e a s s e r t i o n o f S h e r man t h a t B u n y a n 's a l l e g o r y h ad " d e s e r v e d ly o b t a i n e d . . . an U n iv e r s a l e ste e m an d co m m en d a tio n .”® ® 62 Jo h n Bunyan, "The A u th o rs Way o f S en d in g f o r t h h i s Second P a r t o f t h e P i l g r i m , " The P i l g r i m 1s P r o g r e s s . 285. N a th a n ie l P o n d er, " A d v e rtis e m e n t from th e B o o k s e l l e r , " i n f o u r t h e d i t i o n o f The P ilg rim * s P ro g r e s s (1 6 7 8 /8 0 ), c i t e d by F ra n k M ott H a r r is o n , " N a th a n ie l P o n d e r: The P u b l i s h e r o f The P ilg r im * s P r o g r e s s . " The L i b r a r y (Decem ber, 1 9 3 4 ), XV, 269. 64 "An A ccount o f th e L i f e and A c tio n s o f Mr. Jo h n B u n y a n .. . From h i s C ra d le t o h i s G ra v e ," 38. Thomas Sherm an, "The A u t h o r 's A pology f o r h i s B o o k ," The Second P a r t o f th e P ilg rim * s P r o g r e s s . 1 4 5 The m ost s u b s t a n t i a l and t a n g i b l e p r o o f o f t h i s " A p p ro b a tio n and A p p la u se " w ith w hich B unyan*s a l l e g o r y was r e c e i v e d , I s fo u n d , o f c o u r s e , I n t h e l a r g e num ber o f e d i t i o n s th ro u g h w hich I t p a s s e d . The P i l g r i m 1 s P ro g r e s s fo u n d Im m e d la te la c c e p ta n c e on th e p u b l i c a t i o n o f th e f i r s t p a r t i n 1678, two e d i t i o n s o f t h i s p a r t b e in g p u b lis h e d I n t h a t same y e a r . E le v e n e d i t i o n s o f P a r t I w ere I s s u e d d u r in g Bunyam? s l i f e t i m e , and f o u r t e e n e d i t i o n s b e f o r e th e end o f th e s e v e n te e n th c e n t u r y . 66 Of P a r t I I f o u r e d i t i o n s w ere p u b lis h e d d u r in g Bunyan*s l i f e tim e , and seven e d i t i o n s b e f o r e th e end o f t h e c e n tu ry .® 7 No d e f i n i t e I n f o r m a tio n I s a v a i l a b l e a s to th e a c t u a l num ber o f c o p i e s o f Bunyan*s a l l e g o r y p u b lis h e d d u r in g t h e s e v e n te e n th c e n tu r y , b u t th e r e I s t h e s t a t e ment o f C h a rle s Doe t h a t "a b o u t a h u n d re d th o u s a n d " c o p ie s w ere p r i n t e d i n E n g la n d ,68 w hich, a s Jo h n Brown o b s e r v e s , I s "a r e m a rk a b le f a c t I n an age when b u y e r s an d r e a d e r s o f b ooks w ere r e l a t i v e l y few . "69 The s a l e o f The P ilg rim * s 66 Jam es B la n to n Wharey, e d i t o r , Jo h n Bunyan, The P ilg r im * s P r o g r e s s (O x fo rd : C la re n d o n P r e s s , 1 9 2 8 ), 3 3 5 -8 . 67 S. D. A le x a n d e r, " E d iti o n s o f th e P i l g r i m ’ s P r o g r e s s ," P r i n c e t o n R eview ( A p r il, 1 8 5 9 ), XXXI, 2 4 9 -5 0 . 68 C h a rle s Doe, "The S t r u g g l e r , * Works o f Jo h n Bunyan. I l l , 766. 6 9 Jo h n Brown, Jo h n B unyan. 444. 1 4 6 P r o g r e s s , I t I s e v i d e n t , th u s s u r p a s s e d by some n i n e t y th o u s a n d c o p ie s th e com bined s a l e o f B enjam in K e a c h 's two m ost p o p u la r a l l e g o r i e s . 70 Bunyan h i m s e l f , r e f e r r i n g , how ever, to h i s r e a d e r s on th e c o n t i n e n t and i n th e A m erican c o l o n ie s a s w e ll , a l s o num bered h i s a d m ire rs by t h e th o u s a n d s : . . . so com ely d o th my P ilg r im w alk, tn^at o f him th o u s a n d s d a i l y S in g and T a lk .71 The cheap and shoddy fo rm i n w hich many o f th e e a r l y e d i t i o n s w ere p u t f o r t h — G ra n g e r r e l a t e s t h a t th e y 72 w ere " lo n g p r i n t e d on t o b a c c o - p a p e r " — c a n n o t be ta k e n a s an i n d i c a t i o n t h a t t h e a l l e g o r y was h e l d i n l i t t l e esteem , b u t r a t h e r t h a t i t was e x c e e d in g ly p o p u la r w ith r e a d e r s o f th e lo w e r and m id d le c l a s s e s who c o u ld n o t spend l a r g e sums f o r th e p u r c h a s e o f a book. The same may be s a id c o n c e rn in g th e i l l u s t r a t i o n s c o n ta in e d i n t h e e a r l y e d i t i o n s , w hich w ere o f th e r u d e s t 70 W illia m York T in d a l l, op. c l t . . 211. John D unton, The L i f e and E r r o r s (1705T, 2 3 6 f. , w ro te o f K each: "H is p r a c t i c a l Books h a v e met w ith a k in d R ecep t i o n , and I b e l l eve h i s*War w ith t h e D e v il, an d T r a v e ls o f T rue G o d lin e s s ( o f w hich I p r i n t e d Ten Thousand.) w i l l s e l l t o th e end o f T im e ." 71 Jo h n Bunyan, "The A u th o rs Way o f S en d in g F o r th h i s Second P a r t o f t h e P i l g r i m , " The P i l g r i m 's P r o g r e s s . 282. Jam es G ra n g e r, A B io g r a p h ic a l H is to r y o f Eng la n d ( F i f t h e d i t i o n ; London: P r i n t e d f o r W illia m B aynes and Son, 1 8 2 4 ), XV, 56. 147 k in d . The f i r s t and seco n d e d i t i o n s had no i l l u s t r a t i o n s w h a te v e r; th e t h i r d (1679) and f o u r t h (1680) h a d o n ly t h e “s le e p in g " p o r t r a i t o f Bunyan a s a f r o n t i s p i e c e , w h ile t h e f i f t h (1680) had an i n f e r i o r copy o f t h e p o r t r a i t an d one ru d e e n g ra v in g o f th e m artyrdom o f F a i t h f u l . The s i x t h e d i t i o n (1681) h a d a b e t t e r e n g ra v e d p o r t r a i t th a n th e f i f t h and re p ro d u c e d th e same wood e n g ra v in g o f t h e b u r n in g o f C h r i s t i a n ’ s f e l l o w p i l g r i m . The s e v e n th e d i t i o n (1681) was a much more w o rth y e d i t i o n th a n th e two p r e c e d in g o n e s, c o n t a in i n g a new b u t p o o r p o r t r a i t and s e v e r a l " c u t s . " The e i g h th (1 682) and n in th (1683 and 1684, two i s s u e s ) d i s p l a y e d th e same i l l u s t r a t i o n s and added two m ore, one a ru d e e n g r a v in g o f G ia n t D e s p a ir, and t h e o t h e r , a b e t t e r one, a r e p r e s e n t a t i o n o f t h e p i l g r i m s s o a r in g th ro u g h th e c lo u d s a f t e r c r o s s in g t h e r i v e r . I n th e t e n t h e d i t i o n (1685) t h e p i c t u r e o f G ia n t D e s p a ir was o m itte d , w h ile t h e two o t h e r i l l u s t r a t i o n s r e m a in e d .73 I n th e e l e v e n t h e d i t i o n o f 1688, th e l a s t t h a t was p u b lis h e d d u r in g Bunyan*s l i f e t i m e , g r e a t c h a n g e s were made i n t h e m a t t e r o f i l l u s t r a t i o n . T h is e d i t i o n re p r o d u c e d th e t h r e e I l l u s t r a t i o n s o f t h e 7 A p r e c e d in g e d i t i o n s and added tw e lv e o t h e r s . 7 3 Jo h n Brown, J o h n B unyan. 441. 7 4 T hese w ere a s f o llo w s : (1) C h r i s t i a n m e e tin g w ith E v a n g e l i s t , (2) C h r i s t i a n and W orldly Wiseman, (3 ) At th e W lc k e t-g a te , (4 ) The B urden f a l l i n g o f f , (5) I n th e A rb o r, (6) P a s s in g th e L io n s , (7) D esc en d in g i n t o th e V a lle y o f H u m ilia tio n , (8) The F ig h t w ith A p o lly o n , (9) V a lle y o f t h e Shadow o f D e a th , (10) F a i t h f u l on h i s T r i a l , (11) The P i l g r i m s and th e S h ep h erd s, and (12) The P i l g r i m s s o a r in g th ro u g h th e c lo u d s (J o h n Brown, Jo h n Bunyan, 4 4 2 - 3 ). 148 The t w e l f t h e d i t i o n (1689) re p r o d u c e d th e same f i f t e e n i l l u s t r a t i o n s t h a t h ad a p p e a re d i n th e e l e v e n t h . The t h i r t e e n t h , p u b lis h e d i n 1695, s u b s t i t u t e d f o r one o f th e E n g lis h p i c t u r e s a c o p p e r - p l a t e e n g r a v in g made by th e em inent D utch a r t i s t J a n L u i k i n , 75 w h ile th e f o u r t e e n t h (1695) added a l l b u t two o f th e n in e D utch e n g r a v in g s . The E n g lis h c o p ie s o f t h e s e w e l l - e x e c u t e d D utch o r i g i n a l s becam e r u d e r and c o a r s e r by r e p e t i t i o n , u n t i l th e y w ere a t l a s t a lm o st u n r e c o g n i z a b l e . The demand f o r p o r t r a i t s o f Bunyan a l s o i n d i c a t e s th e p o p u l a r i t y w hich ”th e a u t h o r o f The P ilg rim * s P ro g r e s s ” h ad g a in e d . T h re e co n te m p o ra ry p o r t r a i t s o f Bun yan e x i s t , a l l o f w hich w ere draw n a f t e r t h e p u b l i c a t i o n o f h i s fam ous a l l e g o r y . The e a r l i e s t o f t h e s e i s t h e p e n c i l s k e tc h by R o b e rt W hite, a p e r s o n a l f r i e n d o f Bunyan. T h is p o r t r a i t , p r o b a b ly th e m ost l i f e - l i k e , c e r t a i n l y t h e m ost e x p r e s s iv e o f t h e t h r e e , 7® s e rv e d a s t h e p r e lim in a r y f o r t h e " s l e e p i n g p o r t r a i t ” f i r s t i s s u e d a s 75 L u ik in * s e n g ra v in g s w ere o r i g i n a l l y made to i l l u s t r a t e t h e (F le m ish ) F re n c h t r a n s l a t i o n o f The P ilg r im * s P r o g r e s s , p u b l i s h e d by J o a n n e s B o e k h o lt, Amsterdam, 1685. 76 Jo h n Brown, Jo h n Bunyan. 443. 77 R o b e rt W hite a l s o drew p o r t r a i t s o f G eorge H e r b e r t an d Thomas B arlow . " P e rh a p s no a r t i s t e v e r i s s u e d more p o r t r a i t s o f h i s em in en t c o n te m p o r a r ie s th a n d i d R o b e rt W h ite ,” s t a t e s Jo h n Brown, o id. c l t . . 386. no Jo h n Brown, l o c . c l t . 1 4 9 t h e f r o n t i s p i e c e t o th e t h i r d e d i t i o n o f The P i l g r i m 1s 79 P r o g r e s s (1679) and a l s o a s t h e b a s i s f o r t h e f u l l l e n g t h r e p r e s e n t a t i o n o f Bunyan t h a t a p p e a r e d a s a f o l d in g p l a t e I n th e f i r s t e d i t i o n o f The H oly War. A seco n d p o r t r a i t o f Bunyan i s t h e 1685 o i l p a i n t in g by Thomas S a d le r ; t h i s was n o t re p ro d u c e d u n t i l t h e e i g h t e e n t h c e n tu r y when i t a p p e a r e d a s th e f r o n t i s p i e c e o f th e 1767 f o l i o e d i t i o n o f B unyan*s w orks. The t h i r d c o n te m p o ra ry p o r t r a i t 88 o f Bunyan, n o t now known to be i n e x i s t e n c e , i s t h a t o f w hich an e n g ra v in g was p r e f i x e d t o t h e f i r s t f o l i o volum e o f B unyan*s w orks (1 6 9 2 ). C h a rle s Doe, s p e a k in g o f th e p o r t r a i t , d i d n o t s t a t e by whom i t was draw n, b u t m e re ly d e s c r i b e d i t a s "an o r i g i n a l p a i n t , done t o t h e l i f e , 1 1 by Bunyan*s ’’v e ry good f r i e n d , a lim n e r . * * 8^ The e n g r a v in g o f t h i s p o r t r a i t , "somewhat v ig o r o u s ly e x e c u te d , b u t h a r s h and u n p le a s in g , was made by S t u r t . 8 ^ 79 A w oodcut r e p r o d u c tio n o f t h i s p o r t r a i t a l s o a p p e a re d a s a f r o n t i s p i e c e t o A T r e a t i s e o f th e F e a r o f God, p u b lis h e d by N a th a n ie l P o n d e r i n 1679. 88 I n a d d i t i o n t o th e s e p o r t r a i t s , w hich Jo h n Brown s p e a k s o f a s t h e th r e e "c o n te m p o ra ry M r e p r e s e n t a t i o n s o f Bunyan, he m e n tio n s a l s o a n o th e r e n g ra v in g t h a t a p p e a re d a s th e f r o n t i s p i e c e to A D is c o u rs e Upon t h e P h a r i s e e and th e P u b lic a n (1 6 8 5 )7 w ith th e w ords, "v e r a e f f i g i e s J o h a n ls Bunyan A e t a t i s Suae 5 7 * * (Jo h n Brown, Jo h n Bunyan, 4 1 3 ). 81 C h a rle s Doe, "The S t r u g g l e r , * * Works o f Jo h n Bunyan, I I I , 767. oo Jo h n Brown, Jo h n B unyan, 385. 150 C h a rle s Doe*s I n t e r e s t i n g n o t i c e , i n r e f e r e n c e t o t h i s p o r t r a i t , t h a t th o s e r e a d e r s "who d e s i r e i t s i n g l e , t o p u t i n a fra m e , may h a v e i t a t t h i s b o o k s e l l e r ’ s— 83 Mr. M a rsh a l" i s a n o t a b l e i n d i c a t i o n o f t h e r e p u t a t i o n t h a t Bunyan h a d a t t a i n e d by t h e y e a r 1692. B ut th e l a r g e number o f e d i t i o n s , w ith t h e i r g r a d u a l a d d i t i o n o f p o r t r a i t s an d i l l u s t r a t i o n s , th r o u g h w hich B unyan*s a l l e g o r y passed* was b u t one o f th e s e v e r a l s ig n s o f i t s p o p u l a r i t y . A n o th e r, e q u a lly con v in c in g , was th e p u b l i c a t i o n , by v a r io u s a u t h o r s , o f I m i t a t i o n s and a d a p t a t i o n s o f t h e a l l e g o r y , and th e a tte m p t o f b o o k s e l l e r s to a s s u r e t h e s u c c e s s o f c e r t a i n o f t h e i r p u b l i c a t i o n s by s e n d in g them f o r t h u n d e r th e name o f th e now fam ous a u th o r , o r to i s s u e p i r a t e d e d i t i o n s o f th e g e n u in e a l l e g o r y I t s e l f . P i r a t i c a l p u b l i c a t i o n s o f The P ilg rim * s P r o g r e s s b eg an s h o r t l y a f t e r t h e is s u a n c e o f t h e f i r s t e d i t i o n . In d e e d , w ith in t h r e e m onths a f t e r t h e l i c e n s i n g o f t h i s book®4 Bunyan*s p u b l i s h e r , N a th a n ie l P o n d e r, e n t e r e d an a c t i o n a t c o u r t a g a i n s t Thomas B r a d y ll, p r i n t e r , a c c u s in g him o f h a v in g p ro d u c e d c o p ie s o f th e a l l e g o r y w hich P o n d e r o n ly was l i c e n s e d to p u b lis h .® 5 C h a rle s Doe, "The S t r u g g l e r , " Works o f John Bunyan, I I I , 767. 84 The P ilg rim * s P r o g r e s s was th e o n ly one o f Bun- y a n ’ s books l i c e n s e d d u r in g h i s l i f e t i m e (F ra n k M ott H a r r is o n , " N a th a n ie l P o n d e r," The L i b r a r y , XV, 2 6 7 ). 85 I b i d . > 2 6 7 -8 . 151 I n F e b ru a ry 1 6 7 8 /8 0 P o n d er b ro u g h t h i s c o m p la in t a g a i n s t th e u n s c ru p u lo u s p u b l i s h e r b e f o r e Bunyan*s r e a d e r s , by i n s e r t i n g i n th e f o u r t h e d i t i o n o f th e a l l e go ry an " A d v e rtis e m e n t from th e B o o k s e l l e r , " t h a t r e a d : P ilg r im * s P r o g r e s s , h a v in g s o l d s e v e r a l I m p r e s s io n s , and w ith good a c c e p ta n c e among t h e P e o p le , ( t h e r e a r e some m a lic io u s men o f o u r p r o f e s s i o n , o f lew d p r i n c i p l e s , h a t i n g h o n e s ty , and C o v e tin g o t h e r m e n 's r i g h t s , and w hich we c a l l Land P i r a t e s , one o f t h i s s o c i e t y i s Thomas B ra d y l a P r i n t e r , who I fo u n d A c tu a lly p r i n t i n g my Book f o r h im s e lf , and f i v e o f h i s C o n f e d e r a te s .) b u t i n t r u t h he h a t h so abom in a b ly an d b a s e l y f a l s i f i e d t h e t r u e C o p ie, and ch an g ed t h e N o te s , t h a t th e y h a v e a b u s e d t h e A u th o r i n t h e s e n c e , and t h e P r o p r i a t o r o f h i s r i g h t , (an d i t d o th s t e a l a b ro a d , th e y p u t a c h e a t upon t h e P e o p l e , ) 86 T h is c a s e o f P o n d er a g a i n s t B r a d y ll was e v i d e n tl y 87 n o t p ro c e e d e d w ith ; some y e a r s l a t e r , how ever (1 6 9 7 ), a n o t h e r d i s p u t e a r o s e b etw e en t h e b o o k s e l l e r and th e p r i n t e r , i n w hich t h e fo rm e r r a i s e d a g a i n s t t h e l a t t e r f o u r c h a rg e s , t h r e e o f w hich c e n t e r e d om B unyan*s a l l e g o r y . P o n d e r 's d e c l a r a t i o n i n t h i s s u i t was, f i r s t , t h a t h e had co m m issio n ed B r a d y ll to p r i n t t e n th o u s a n d c o p ie s o f P a r t I , b u t t h a t B r a d y ll had I n s t e a d p r i n t e d tw ic e t h a t num ber and h ad p a i d n o th in g f o r them , a lth o u g h h e had s o ld 9 ,5 0 0 c o p ie s t o two London b o o k s e l l e r s ; seco n d , t h a t he h ad com m issioned B r a d y ll to p r i n t f i v e th o u s a n d 86 N a th a n ie l P o n d e r, " A d v e rtis e m e n t fro m th e Book s e l l e r , " c i t e d by F ra n k M ott H a r r is o n , " N a th a n ie l P o n d e r," The L i b r a r y . XV, 269. 87 Frank Mott Harrison, ibid., 270, 152 c o p ie s o f P a r t I I , b u t t h a t B r a d y l l had s o ld , u n a u th o r iz e d , f i v e h u n d re d c o p ie s to P e t e r P a r k e r , b o o k s e l l e r ; t h i r d , t h a t I n s t e a d o f p r i n t i n g f i v e th o u s a n d c o p ie s o f S ra c e A bounding, a s a u t h o r i z e d by P o n d e r, B r a d y ll h ad p r i n t e d an e x t r a two th o u s a n d f o r h im s e lf ; an d , f o u r t h , t h a t B r a d y ll h a d p r i n t e d t h e s p u r io u s t h i r d p a r t o f t h e a l l e - 88 g o ry . ^ I n r e p l y to t h e s e a c c u s a t i o n s , B r a d y ll p le a d e d t h a t h e had p r i n t e d no c o p ie s o t h e r th a n t h o s e o r d e r e d by P o n d e r, w h ile h e r e p u d i a t e d th e c h a rg e t h a t he had b e e n c o n n e c te d w ith t h e p r i n t i n g o f th e t h i r d p a r t o f th e a l l e g o r y . Thomas B r a d y ll was p r o b a b ly t r u t h f u l i n d e c l a r i n g h im s e lf in n o c e n t o f h a v in g p r i n t e d th e s p u r io u s t h i r d p a r t o f The P i l g r i m 's P r o g r e s s , f o r t h i s was p r i n t e d , a c c o r d in g t o t h e n o t i c e on t h e t i t l e p ag e , by E. M i l l e t , f o r f o u r London p u b l i s h e r s . One o f t h e s e was Jo se p h B la r e a t t h e L o o k in g - g la s s on London B rid g e , a man o f r a t h e r shady p r o f e s s i o n a l r e p u t a t i o n , who was c o n c e rn e d i n b r i n g i n g o u t t h r e e o t h e r s p u r io u s w orks u n d e r Ban yan* s name. T h is s p u r io u s t h i r d p a r t o f t h e a l l e g o r y was a d i r e c t a tte m p t to d e c e iv e th e r e a d e r i n t o b e l i e v i n g t h a t 88 P ra n k M ott H a r r is o n , " N a th a n ie l P o n d e r ," The L i b r a r y , XV, 2 8 2 -3 . 153 i t was t h e work o f Bunyan. The t i t l e p ag e d e c l a r e d i t to be The P i l g r i m 1s P r o g r e s s fro m t h i s W orld to t h a t w hich i s to Come: The T h ird P a r t . . . t o w hich i s a d d e d . The L i f e and D eath o f Jo h n Bunyan. A u th o r o f th e F i r s t QQ and Second P a r t : t h i s C o m p le a tln g th e w hole P r o g r e s s . 00 and t h e ,fP r e f a c e to t h e C h r i s t i a n R e a d e rn was s ig n e d w ith t h e i n i t i a l s M J . B . M w hich m ight c o n v e n ie n tly s ta n d f o r th e name o f J o h n Bunyan a s w e ll a s f o r t h a t o f e i t h e r o f th e p u b l i s h e r s , J . Back o r J o s e p h B la r e . T hat t h i s a l l e g o r y was c u r r e n t l y a c c e p te d i n i t s own day a s a g e n u in e work o f Bunyan i s e v id e n t from th e f a c t t h a t P o n d er th o u g h t i t n e c e s s a r y , i n th e y e a r f o llo w in g i t s p u b l i c a t i o n , to p u b l i s h an announcem ent s t a t i n g t h a t t h i s t h i r d p a r t o f 1693 . . . i s an I m p o s te r t h r u s t I n t o th e w o rld by a n a m e le ss a u t h o r , and w ould i n s i n u a t e to t h e B u y e rs t h a t ' t l s B unyan*s, by a d d in g a f a l s e A ccount o f h i s L i f e and D eath , n o t c o m p le a tln g t h e work a s i s s a i d , &C.9G OQ The P i l g r i m 1s P r o g r e s s from t h i s W orld to t h a t w hich i s to dome: T he" T h ird F a r t . D e liv e r e d u n d e r t h e S i m i l i t u d e o f a Dream shew ing t h e s e v e r a l D i f f i c u l t i e s and d a n g e r s he met w i t h , and t h e many V i c t o r i e s he ob t a i n e d o v e r t h e W orld, th e F l e s h , and th e D e v il. To g e t h e r , W ith h i s happy A r r i v a l a t th e d e l e s t l a l C i t y , and t h e G lo ry and J o y he fo u n d to h i s E t e r n a l C o m fo rt. To w hlch i s a d d e d , T he~X lfe an d D eath o f Jo h n Bunyan, A u th o r o f th e F i r s t an d Second P a r t : t h i s C o m p leatln g th e w hole P r o g r e s s . London: P r i n t e d by E. M i l l e t , f o r J . Deacon, a t t h e A ngel i n G i l t - s p u r - s t r e e t , w ith o u t Nev/gate; Back, a t t h e B lack Boy, on L o n d o n -b rid g e ; and J . B la r e , a t th e L o o k in g - g la s s e on L o n d o n -b rld g e , 1693. 90 Jo h n Brown, Jo h n Bunyan, 457. T h is announcem ent o c c u r s on th e v e rs o o f t h e t i t l e page o f t h e t h i r t e e n t h e d i t i o n o f .The P ilg rim * s P r o g r e s s , P a r t I (1 6 9 3 ). 154 Seven y e a r s a f t e r t h i s p u b l i c a t i o n B la r e is s u e d 91 a work e n t i t l e d The P r o g r e s s o f th e C h r i s t i a n P i l g r i m . T h is was m e re ly The P i l g r i m 1s P r o g r e s s u n d e r a t h i n d i s g u is e , th e names o f th e c h a r a c t e r s , f o r I n s t a n c e , b e in g s l i g h t l y a l t e r e d , b u t th e t i t l e p ag e made no m e n tio n o f B unyan*s name. I n a d d i t i o n t o th e s e s p u r io u s a l l e g o r i e s , o t h e r w orks n o t by Bunyan w ere f a t h e r e d on him by u n s c ru p u lo u s p u b l i s h e r s — two o f them by th e same shrew d p u b l i s h e r s who h ad b ee n i n s t r u m e n t a l i n b r i n g i n g o u t t h e t h i r d p a r t . In th e y e a r o f Bunyan*s d e a th J o s e p h B la r e pub l i s h e d a book e n t i t l e d The S a i n t s * T rium ph; o r . The G lo ry o f th e S a i n t s w ith J e s u s C h r i s t . D e s c r ib in g th e J o y s an d C om forts a B e l i e v e r r e a p s i n H eaven, a f t e r h i s p a i n f u l P ilg r im a g e and S u f f e r i n g s on e a r t h , by J .B . T hese I n i t i a l s , t o g e t h e r w ith th e p o r t r a i t o f Bunyan t h a t a p p e a re d on th e t i t l e p a g e , n a t u r a l l y im p lie d , th o u g h th e y d i d n o t d i r e c t l y a f f i r m , t h a t th e work was by Bunyan. Two y e a r s l a t e r B la r e i s s u e d a volum e o f S c r ip t u r a l Poems w hich he d e c l a r e d to be w r i t t e n by Bunyan, b u t w h ich was p r o b a b ly a n o th e r a tte m p t o f t h a t p u b l i s h e r 91 London, 1700. The t h i r d e d i t i o n o f t h i s w ork, a c c o r d in g to t h e B r i t i s h Museum C a ta lo g u e , was i s s u e d i n 1705. 155 to p r o f i t by B unyan’ s r e p u t a t i o n . Two o t h e r w orks o f d o u b t f u l a u t h e n t i c i t y w ere I s s u e d a s th e w r i t i n g s o f Bunyan, b o th I n t h e y e a r 1688. The f i r s t o f t h e s e , p u b lis h e d on S eptem ber 10, a lm o st Im m e d ia te ly a f t e r B u n y a n 's d e a th , was a p a m p h le t o f s i x o r e i g h t sm a ll o c ta v o p a g e s, e n t i t l e d Mr. Jo h n B unyan* s D ying S a y in g s . M ost o f th e p io u s u t t e r a n c e s t h a t i t con t a i n s r e c o r d su c h s e n tim e n ts a s Bunyan m ig h t w e ll h a v e spoken i n h i s serm ons, some o f w hich, how ever, i t I s d i f f i c u l t t o Im a g in e Bunyan a s s a y in g on h i s d e a th - b e d . The p r o b a b i l i t y , a s Jo h n Brown c o n c lu d e s , i s t h a t t h i s c o l l e c t i o n was a c o m p ila tio n from v a r io u s s o u r c e s , pub l i s h e d i n h a s t e by a p u b l i s h e r v/ho had a shrew d eye to b u s in e s s and was b e n t on ta k in g a d v a n ta g e o f th e f e e l i n g s t i r r e d up by t h e t i d i n g s o f Bunyan s sudden d e a th . 92 S in c e no su c h c o l l e c t i o n o f poems i s m e n tio n e d by C h a rle s Doe, who saw i n t h e p o s s e s s io n o f B u n y a n 's e l d e s t son a l l t h e m a n u s c r ip ts t h a t t h a t a u t h o r l e f t b e h in d him a t h i s d e a th , an d s in c e th e s e S c r i p t u r a l Poems f a l l to show th e pow er and o c c a s i o n a l e v id e n c e o f g e n iu s t h a t i s e v id e n t i n even th e p o o r e s t o f Bunyan*s p o e t i c a l a t te m p ts , t h i s volum e was r e g a r d e d by Jo h n Brown a s I n c o r r e c t l y a s c r i b e d to Bunyan (Jo h n Brown, Jo h n Bunyan, 3 5 ). S te b b in g a l s o d o u b te d th e a u t h e n t i c i t y o f t h e poems and d id n o t r e p r i n t them ( S te b b in g , Works o f Jo h n Bunyan, IV, 4 7 5 ). O ffo r, how ever, lo o k e d on th e s i l e n c e o f p r e v io u s e d i t o r s r e g a r d in g t h e s e poems m e re ly a s an i n d i c a t i o n o f t h e i r ig n o r a n c e c o n c e r n in g them , and r a t h e r p r i d e d h i m s e l f on h a v in g r e d i s c o v e r e d and r e p r i n t e d th e w ork. The " s t y l e and s u b s ta n c e " o f th e poems, he f e l t , was " e n t i r e l y B unyan’ s" (G eorge O ffo r, Works o f Jo h n B unyan, I I , 3 8 9 ). 93 Jo h n Brown, Jo h n Bunyan, 433. 156 A second work, a l s o p u b lis h e d im m e d ia te ly a f t e r B u n y a n 's d e a th and a s c r i b e d t o him by th e p u b l i s h e r , was An E x h o r ta tio n to P eace an d U n ity . T h is t r e a t i s e a p p e a re d w ith th e seco n d e d i t i o n o f B u n y a n 's B a rre n F ig - t r e e . th e b la c k - b o r d e r e d t i t l e p a g e a f f i r m i n g t h a t b o th works w ere h i s . As i n th e c a s e o f th e volume d is c u s s e d above, how ever, t h e r e i s h e r e a s tr o n g c o n s e n su s o f 94 o p in io n a g a i n s t a c c e p tin g t h i s work a s g e n u in e . T hat o t h e r p a m p h le ts, a p p a r e n tly o f humorous r a t h e r th a n o f solem n o r r e l i g i o u s n a t u r e , w ere i s s u e d u n d er B u n y a n 's name (th o u g h p e rh a p s w ith o u t s e r i o u s e x p e c t a t i o n , o f d e c e iv in g t h e i r r e a d e r s ) i s e v id e n t from t h e c o m p la in t o f N a th a n ie l P o n d er t h a t 94 The two c h i e f arg u m e n ts a g a i n s t th e a u t h e n t i c i t y o f t h i s t r e a t i s e a r e t h a t i t was n o t in c lu d e d by C h a rle s Doe i n e i t h e r o f h i s c a ta lo g u e s o f B u n y a n 's w orks, and t h a t th e s e n tim e n ts e x p re s s e d a r e n o t th o s e c h a r a c t e r i s t i c o f Bunyan. See R o b e rt R o b in so n , The G en e ra l D o c tr in e o f T o l e r a t i o n A p p l1ed to t h e ~P a r t i c u l a r Case o f F re e Communion (1781)", i n M is c e lla n e o u s Works, I I I , 144 ("d iscu ssed i n f r a , p a g e s 275— 7!); a l s o John Brown, Jo h n Bunyan, 433; and G eorge O ffo r, Works of Jo h n Bunyan, I I , 7 4 2 .. The E x h o r ta tio n to P eace and U nity was r e p r i n t e d w ith th e t h i r d e d i t i o n o f The B a rre n F ig - t r e e i n 1692, a n a a g a in i n th e seco n d f o l i o e d i t i o n o f Bun- y a n ’s w orks in 1736, b u t was in c lu d e d i n m ost su b se q u e n t e d i t i o n s o n ly u n d e r p r o t e s t . O ffo r r e p r i n t e d i t , th o u g h w ith " s e r i o u s d o u b ts " a s to i t s a u t h e n t i c i t y (Works o f John Bunyan, I I , 7 4 2 ); S te b b ln g , tho u g h he a d m itte d t h a t i t s a u t h e n t i c i t y was "very r e a s o n a b ly s u s p e c t e d , " y e t f e l t t h a t " n o n e . . . o f th e common o b j e c t i o n s " u rg ed a g a i n s t i t s a u t h o r s h i p by Bunyan seemed to be "o f much w e ig h t" (Henry S te b b in g , Works o f John Bunyan, IV, 3 9 4 ). 157 . . . t h e r e a r e c e r t a i n b a l l a d - s e l l e r s a b o u t New gate and on London B rid g e , who h a v e p u t th e two f i r s t l e t t e r s o f t h i s a u t h o r 's name and h i s e f f i g i e s t o t h e i r r im e s and r i d i c u l o u s bookg^ s u g g e s tin g t o th e w o rld a s I f th e y w ere h i s.*' A l l t h e s e v a r i o u s b o o k s an d p a m p h le ts t h a t p r e te n d e d , s e r i o u s l y o r o th e r w is e , t o b e w r i t t e n by Bunyan a p p e a re d a f t e r t h e p u b l i c a t i o n o f The P i l g r i m 's P r o g r e s s * some, in d e e d , a f t e r t h e d e a th o f Bunyan. Even th o u g h th e y a r e n o t i m i t a t i o n s o f t h e a l l e g o r y , t h e r e f o r e , th e y may f a i r l y b e ta k e n a s I n d i c a t i n g th e w id e - s p r e a d r e p u t a t i o n t h a t B unyan’ s a l l e g o r y h ad b u i l t f o r him , o r , a t l e a s t , t h e f i n a n c i a l v a lu e a t t a c h e d to t h e name o f t h e a l l e g o r i s t on t h e t i t l e page o f a p u b l i c a t i o n . Though t h e s p u r io u s t h i r d p a r t o f The P ilg rim * s P r o g r e s s , d i s c u s s e d above, a p p e a re d a f t e r B u n y a n 's d e a th , o t h e r su ch v e r s i o n s t h a t a tte m p te d to p o se a s g en ttln e w orks o f Bunyan m ust h av e made t h e i r a p p e a ra n c e d u r in g h i s l i f e t i m e . T h is one may g a t h e r from B u n y a n 's p r e f a c e to P a r t I I o f h i s a l l e g o r y , w h e re in h e r e p r e s e n t s t h e ' seco n d p a r t a s c o m p la in in g to i t s a u t h o r t h a t . . . some t h e r e b e T h at C o u n t e r f e i t t h e P i l g r i m and h i s name, S eek, by d i s g u i s e to seem th e v e ry same; T h is a p p e a r e d a s an " A d v e rtis e m e n tM on th e v e rs o o f t h e t i t l e p a g e o f th e 1688 e d i t i o n o f B u n y a n 's One T h in g i s N e e d fu l. I t i s c i t e d by F ra n k M ott H a r r is o n i n Jo h n Brown, Jo h n Bunyan, 35 n. 158 to w hich th e a u th o r r e p l i e s : •T is t r u e , some h av e o f l a t e , t o C o u n t e r f e i t My P ilg r im , to t h e i r own, my t i t l e s e t ; Yea o t h e r s , h a l f my Name, and T i t l e to o ; Have s t i t c h e d to t h e i r Book, to make them d o . . . . * '0 I n a d d i t i o n t o t h e s e s p u r io u s w orks, how ever, t h e r e a p p e a re d s e v e r a l d i r e c t I m i t a t i o n s o f The P ilg r im * s P ro g r e s s w hich, th o u g h m o d e lle d on Bunyan*s a l l e g o r y , made no a tte m p t " to seem th e v e ry same” a s th e g e n u in e P i l grim* s P r o g r e s s , F o rem o st o f t h e s e was t h e work t h a t a p p e a re d u n d e r th e t i t l e The Second P a r t o f th e P ilg rim * s P r o g r e s s , fro m t h i s P r e s e n t W orld o f W ickedness and M ise ry to an E t e r n i t y 97 o f H o lin e s s and F e l i c i t y , T h is was p u b l i s h e d I n 1683, a b o u t a y e a r b e f o r e th e a p p e a ra n c e o f th e g e n u in e seco n d p a r t , and was in t e n d e d n o t t o " c o u n t e r f e i t " Bunyan*s a l l e g o ry , b u t to Im prove on i t , Thomas Sherm an, t h e a u t h o r o f t h i s book, e x p la in e d t h a t he h ad a tte m p te d t o su p p ly w hat h e c o n s id e r e d l a c k in g i n t h e f i r s t p a r t o f t h e a l l e g o r y . P r e s s e d by th e I m p o r tu n ity o f o t h e r s , he d e c l a r e d , he h ad I s s u e d h i s m e d i t a t i o n s 96 Jo h n Bunyan, "The A u th o rs Way o f S en d in g f o r t h H is Second P a r t o f t h e P i l g r i m , " The P ilg r im * s P r o g r e s s . 283. 97 The e n t i r e t i t l e o f t h i s book i s c i t e d s u p r a , p ag e 138 n . The a u t h o r ’ s i n i t i a l s , " T .S ." a p p e a r a t t h e end o f "The A u t h o r 's Apology f o r h i s B ook." 159 . . . I n su ch a m ethod a s m ig h t s e rv e a s a S upplym ent, o r a Second P a r t to i t : w h e re in I h av e e n d e a v o u re d to su p p ly a f o u r f o l d D e f e c t, w hich I o b s e rv e , th e b r e v i t y o f Qt h a t d i s c o u r s e n e c e s s i t a t e d t h e A u th o r i n t o . w T h is w r i t e r ' s a tte m p t was to com pose a P i l g r i m 's P r o g r e s s more t h e o l o g i c a l and d o c t r i n a l th a n B u n y a n 's, and to t r e a t a s e r i o u s s u b j e c t w ith t h e so le m n ity r i g h t l y b e lo n g in g th e r e u n to , w h ich h e f e l t t h a t Bunyan h a d n o t d o n e . " T h is "im proved'' second p a r t o f The P i l g r i m 's P ro g r e s s was f o llo w e d by s e v e r a l o t h e r I m i t a t i o n s , some s e r i o u s and o f d o c t r i n a l I n t e n t , o t h e r s b u r l e s q u e . One o f th e s e r i o u s n a t u r e was The P ilg rim * s G uide from h i s C ra d le to h i s D e a th -B e d , w r i t t e n by J . D unton and pub l i s h e d i n 1 6 8 4 .^ I n th e same y e a r B enjam in Keach p u t f o r t h h i s T r a v e ls o f T rue G o d lin e s s From t h e B e g in n in g 98 Thomas Sherm an, "The A u t h o r 's A pology f o r h i s B o o k ," The Second P a r t o f t h e P i l g r i m ' s P r o g r e s s . 99 See i n f r a , p a g e s 170, 1 7 1 -2 . Jo h n Brown, Jo h n Bunyan. 458. F ra n k M ott H a r r is o n m e n tio n s a book e n t i t l e d The P llg ra m * s [ s i c ] G uide From h i s C ra d le to h i s D e a th Bed, w ith h i s G lo r io u s P a s s a g e from T hence t o th e New Jerusal_em . C o l le c te d by R o b e rt R u s s e l l i n S u s s e x ; P r i n t e d f o r J . B l a r e a t th e L o o k in g - g la s s on London B rid g e , n . d . , o f w hich t h e t i t l e p ag e o n ly e x i s t s i n t h e B r i t i s h Museum (F ra n k M ott H a r r is o n i n Jo h n Brown, Jo h n Bun.van, 458 n. ) . T h is may be i d e n t i c a l w ith t h e work m e n tio n e d above. 160 P o f th e W orld to t h i s P r e s e n t Day. T hree y e a r s l a t e r a p p e a re d th e C o n v ic tio n o f W o rld ly V a n ity : o r . The Wan d e r in g P r o d ig a l an d h i s R e tu r n , I n two p a r t s ,® and I n th e f o llo w in g y e a r The P i l g r i m *s P r o g r e s s from Q uaker1 sm to C h r i s t i a n i t y , 4 a book o f s e c t a r i a n p u rp o s e by F r a n c i s Bugg, avowed enemy to t h e S o c ie ty of F r ie n d s . I n a d d i t i o n t o t h e s e s e r i o u s t r e a t m e n t s o f th e a l l e g o r y , t h e r e a p p e a re d a b o u t 1685 a b u r le s q u e a l l e g o r y fo u n d e d on Bun yan *s w ork, w ith t h e t i t l e A Hue and Cry a f t e r C o n s c le n c e . o r The P ilg r im * s P r o g r e s s by C a n d l e - l i g h t . The number and v a r i e t y o f t h e s e i m i t a t i o n s e v id e n c e t h e f a m i l i a r i t y w hich r e a d e r s an d w r i t e r s had g a in e d w ith t h e p o p u la r model t h a t Bunyan had s e t f o r t h . E q u a lly i n d i c a t i v e o f th e a p p e a l o f Bunyan*s a l l e g o r y , how ever, w ere t h e a tte m p ts o f two c o n te m p o ra ry p o e t s to t u r n t h e p i l g r i m s to r y I n t o v e r s e . The f i r s t o f t h e s e , The H eav en ly P a s s e n g e r v by H S.M. , n was a con B enjam in K each, The T r a v e ls o f T rue Q -odllness From t h e B e g in n in g of t h e W orld t o t h i s p r e s e n t Day: I n an a p t and p l e a s a n t A lle g o r y . London: P r i n t e d f o r Jo h n T5unton, 1684. ^ London, 1687 (Jo h n P. A nderson, M B i b l i o g r a p h y , w In Edmund V e n a b le s, L i f e o f Bunyan. x x ix ) . 4 London, 1688 (Jo h n Brown, Jo h n Bunyan, 4 5 8 ). 5 The H eav en ly P a s s e n g e r : Or, The P ilg rim * s P ro - f r e s s , From t h i s W o rld , to t h a t wKlch I s t o come. De- l v e r *d u n d e r th e " fflm ll1 1ude o f a Dream. 'W herein i s D is c o v e re d , t h e m anner o f h la " s e T tln g o u t , h i s faangerous J o u r n e y , and s a f e A r r i v a l a t th e a e s ire d " C o u n try . Newly done l n to '~ ~ V ,e r s e > By S. M. "London: P r i n t e d f o r J . Deacon, a t th e S ig n o f th e AngeX i n G u i l t - S p u r - S t r e e t , w ith o u t N ew gate, 1687. 1 6 1 d e n s e d n a r r a t i o n o f th e a d v e n tu r e s o f C h r i s t i a n , i n rhym ed c o u p l e t s . I t was p u b lis h e d i n th e y e a r b e f o r e B u n y a n 's d e a th , and d i s p l a y e d on i t s t i t l e p a g e a wood- c u t o f t h e " s le e p in g " p o r t r a i t o f Bunyan. The o t h e r v e r s i f i c a t i o n o f th e a l l e g o r y , t h e P ilg r im * s P a s s a g e i n P o e s i e , was th e work o f a w r i t e r who s ig n e d h im s e lf 0 "Ager S c h o la e . " T hese v a r i o u s i m i t a t i o n s an d a d a p t a t i o n s o f The P ilg r im * s P r o g r e s s n a t u r a l l y made u s e o f B unyan*s p h r a s e o lo g y and h i s m anner o f w r i t i n g . M eanw hile, how ever, c e r t a i n f a v o r i t e p h r a s e s o f h i s h ad become f a m i l i a r on th e l i p s o f o t h e r o f h i s r e a d e r s a l s o , and a p p e a re d i n t h e i r w r i t i n g s . Bunyan*s f i g u r e o f th e p i l g r i m p a s s i n g from t h e C ity o f D e s t r u c t i o n to t h e H oly J e r u s a le m seem ed to be th e m ost a d a p t a b l e and t h e m ost commonly u s e d . The a u t h o r o f t h e 1700 b io g ra p h y , f o r I n s t a n c e , i n r e c o u n t i n g t h e m anner o f B u n y a n 's d e a th , r e l a t e d t h a t t h a t w o rth y man " b r e a th e d o u t h i s S oul i n t o t h e Hands o f h i s B le s s e d R edeem er, f o llo w in g h i s happy P i l g r i m from 7 th e C ity o f D e s t r u c t i o n t o t h e H eavenly J e r u s a le m . " The a u t h o r o f t h e " C o n tin u a tio n " em ployed t h e same f i g u r e , w r i t i n g t h a t Bunyan " r e s i g n e d h i s s o u l i n t o th e h an d s o f The P i l g r i m * s P a s s a g e i n P o e s i e , by A ger S c h o la e , A.M ., 1698. 7 "Some A ccount o f th e L i f e and Dea t h o f Mr. J o h n B unyan," 0]3. c l t . . x l i i . 1 6 2 h i s m ost m e r c if u l Redeem er, f o llo w in g h i s p i l g r i m from ft th e C ity o f D e s t r u c t i o n to t h e New J e r u s a l e m . A g a i n , i n r e l a t i n g th e d e a th o f B unyanf s w ife E l i z a b e t h , t h i s a u th o r u s e d th e p i l g r i m f i g u r e : E l i z a b e t h d ie d i n 1692, s t a t e d t h a t w r i t e r , 1 1 t o f o llo w h e r f a i t h f u l p i l g r i m from t h i s w o rld t o t h e o t h e r , w h ith e r h e h ad gone b e f o r e h e r . " ^ The a u t h o r o f "A S h o rt E leg y i n Memory o f Mr* J o b n Bunyan. " who s ig n e d h im s e lf "a D ear F rie n d o f H i s , " made somewhat more e x te n s iv e u se o f t h e f i g u r a t i v e la n g u a g e o f The P i l g r i m 1s P r o g r e s s , an d p e r h a p s had i n mind a l s o th e f i g u r e o f Bunyan1 s " h e a v e n ly footm an'*: The P i l g r i m t r a v e l l i n g t h e w o rld s v a s t s ta g e , A t l a s t d o e s end h i s w eary P ilg r im a g e : He now. i n p l e a s a n t V a lle y s d o e s s i t down, And f o r h i s t o i l r e c e i v e s a g l o r i o u s Crown. The S torm s a r e p a s t , t h e T e r r o u r s v a n i s h a l l , W hich i n h i s way d i d so a f f r i g h t i n g f a l l : He g r i e v e s n o r s ig h s no m ore, h i s R ace i s ru n S u c c e s s f u l, t h a t was so w e ll b e g u n .10 The i d e n t i f i c a t i o n o f Bunyan a s " a u th o r o f The P i l g r i m 1s P r o g r e s s , " and t h e te n d e n c y to i d e n t i f y him f u r t h e r w ith t h e P i l g r i m h im s e lf , w ould c e r t a i n l y seem to h av e e s t a b l i s h e d beyond d o u b t th e m a t t e r o f a u t h o r s h i p ® M A C o n tin u a tio n o f Mr. B unyanf s L i f e , " Works o f Jo h n Bunyan, I , 64. 9 I b i d . , 6 5 . 10 "A S h o rt E leg y i n Memory o f Mr. Jo h n Bunyan. Who D e p a rte d t h i s L i f e A ugust th e 1 7 th . 1688, and i n th e 59 Y ear o f h i s Age. W r itte n by a D ear F r ie n d o f H is, & c .1 1 T h is e le g y i s p r i n t e d a t th e end o f "An A ccount o f th e L i f e and A c tio n s o f Mr. Johfa B u n y a n ... From h i s C ra d le to h i s G rave" (1 6 9 2 ), 43. 163 o f th e a l l e g o r y . Prom B unyan’ s own w ords, how ever, i t I s c l e a r t h a t t h i s was n o t s o , Bunyan*s d e c l a r a t i o n o f in d e p e n d e n t a u t h o r s h i p , w hich he th o u g h t i t n e c e s s a r y to i s s u e f o u r y e a r s a f t e r th e p u b l i c a t i o n o f P a r t I o f th e a l l e g o r y , makes i t e v id e n t e i t h e r t h a t h i s e n t i r e c la im to a u t h o r s h i p was c a l l e d i n t o q u e s tio n by th o s e who f e l t t h a t th e g e n u in e a l l e g o r y was to o good a work to h a v e b ee n w r i t t e n by an i g n o r a n t "m ech an ick " p r e a c h e r , o r t h a t h i s c la im t o u n a s s i s t e d c o m p o s itio n was r e g a r d e d w ith s c e p t l c i s m : - ^ Some say t h e P i l g r i m s P r o g r e s s i s n o t m ine, I n s i n u a t i n g a s i f I w ould s h in e I n name and fame by th e w o rth o f a n o t h e r , L ik e some made r i c h by r o b b in g o f t h e i r B r o th e r . Or t h a t so fo n d I am o f b e in g S i r e , I ' l e f a t h e r B a s ta r d s : o r i f n e e d r e q u i r e , I ’l e t e l l a l y e i n P r i n t t o g e t a p p la u s e . I s c o rn i t ; Jo h n su ch d i r t - h e a p n e v e r was, S in c e God c o n v e r te d h im ....-* -2 B u n y a n 's e m p h a tic , i f somewhat i n e l e g a n t , d e n i a l o f t h i s c h a rg e was a p p a r e n t l y e f f e c t i v e , f o r h e d i d n o t f e e l h im s e lf c a l l e d upon to r e p e a t i t a t any l a t e r tim e , and h e seems to h av e b e e n a c c e p te d th r o u g h o u t t h e re m a in in g y e a r s o f th e c e n tu r y a s " a u th o r o f The P ilg rim * s P r o g r e s s . " W illia m Y ork T i n d a l l (Jo h n Bunyan, M echanlck P r e a c h e r , 1 9 4 -5 ) s e t s th e se co n d o f t h e s e i n t e r p r e t a t i o n s upon Bunyan*s w ords, a c c e p tin g them a s r e p u d i a t i n g t h e i n s i n u a t i o n s o f s c e p t i c a l an d Im p io u s c o n te m p o r a r ie s t h a t Bunyan*s " i n s p i r e d i l l i t e r a c y " was n o t w h o lly f r e e from t h e c o n ta m in a tio n o f p r o f a n e l e a r n i n g . The o t h e r I n t e r p r e t a t i o n , how ever, seems f u l l y a s l e g i t i m a t e . 12 John Bunyan, "An A d v e rtis e m e n t to th e R e a d e r," The Holy War (Jo h n Brown, e d i t o r ; C am bridge: U n i v e r s i t y P r e s s , 1 9 0 5 ), 432. 1 6 4 In d e e d , t h i s becam e h i s mark o f i d e n t i f i c a t i o n . Toward th e end o f h i s l i f e B u n y a n 's fam e a s an a u th o r may b e s a i d to h ave e q u a lle d h i s fam e a s a p r e a c h e r , and h e was e q u a lly w e ll known a s " a u th o r o f The P ilg rim * s P r o g r e s s " a s h e was a s "o u r g r e a t g o s p e l M i n i s t e r . I t was i n t h i s d u a l r o l e t h a t h e was i d e n t i f i e d by t h e w r i t e r s who p ro p o s e d t h e p u b l i c a t i o n o f h i s w orks s h o r t l y a f t e r h i s d e c e a s e : T h e ir volum es, th e y s t a t e d , w ere to c o n t a i n " th e l a b o u r s o f Jo h n Bunyan, a u th o r o f t h e P i l g r i m 's P r o g r e s s , l a t e m i n i s t e r o f t h e 14 G ospel and P a s t o r o f th e c o n g r e g a tio n a t B e d f o r d , . . . " But i t was sim p ly a s " a u th o r of The P ilg r im * s P r o g r e s s , " one may f a i r l y assum e, t h a t Bunyan a ro u s e d th e I n t e r e s t o f Jo h n B a g fo rd to such a d e g r e e t h a t t h a t p r i n t e r and b o o k s e l l e r "w alked o n c e i n t o t h e c o u n try " on p u rp o s e to see Bunyan*s s t u d y , a n d it was as X3 C h a rle s Doe, "The S t r u g g l e r , " Works o f Jo h n Bunyan, I I I , 766. 14 " P ro p o s a ls f o r p u b l i s h i n g a l l Bunyan*s W orks," Works o f Jo h n Bun.yan, I I I , lx x x . 15 Jo h n B a g fo rd (1650— 1715) was a b o o k s e l l e r an d p r i n t e r who c o l l e c t e d books on c o ra ls s io n f o r th e t r a d e and p r i v a t e b u y e r s . Thomas H earn e r e l a t e s o f him ( i n a d i a r y e n t r y d a t e d A p r i l 7, 1 7 2 3 ): " I h e a r d Mr. Bag f o r d (some tim e b e f o r e he dyed) sa y , t h a t he w alked o n ce i n t o th e c o u n try on p u rp o s e to s e e th e s tu d y o f John Bunyan. When h e came, Jo h n r e c e i v e d him v e ry c i v i l l y an d c o u r te o u s ly , b u t h i s s tu d y c o n s i s t e d o n ly o f a B ib le an d a p a r c e l l o f b o o k s, ( t h e P i l g r i m 's P r o g r e s s c h i e f l y , ) w r i t t e n by h im s e lf , a l l l y i n g on a s h e l f o r s h e lv e s " (R e liq u i a e H e a r n la n a e : The R em ains o f Thomas H earne, M .A., o f Edmund H a l l . B ein g E x t r a c t s from h i s M S .D ia rie s . I I , 1 5 7 J . ------------------ 165 " a u th o r o f Tv»e P ilg rim * s P r o g r e s s ” t h a t Bunyan was r e s p o n s i b le f o r th e nicknam e " N a th a n ie l ( a l i a s Bunyan) P o n d e r," b esto w e d on th e p u b l i s h e r o f h i s a l l e g o r y . I t was c h i e f l y on B u n y a n 's fame a s a u t h o r o f h i s b e s t known work t h a t p r e d i c t i o n s o f h i s l i t e r a r y im m o r t a lit y w ere b a s e d : The anonymous b io g r a p h e r o f 1692 p r o p h e s ie d t h a t th e f i r s t p a r t o f The P ilg r im * s P r o g r e s s , t o g e t h e r w ith " d i v e r s o t h e r T r a c t s " t h a t Bunyan had w r i t t e n , w ould make h i s name " l i v e to th e end o f t h e W o r l d , a n d th e a u t h o r o f t h e "E leg y " on B u n y a n 's d e a th , i d e n t i f y i n g Bunyan h im s e lf w ith th e p i l g r i m who had ended h i s "w eary P i l g r i m a g e , " w ro te w ith e l a b o r a t e c o n c e i t : Y o u 'l l say h e ' s d e a d : A la s J he c a n n o t dye, H e 's o n ly c h a n g 'd to I m m o r ta lity . 1 P \ John D unton, The L i f e and E r r o r s o f John Dun to n L a te C i t i z e n o f L ondon: W r itte n by H im se lf i n S o l i t u d e . W ith an I d e a o f a New L i f e : W herein i s Shewn How h e 'd T h in k , 'Speak, and S e t , m ig h t he t»lve~ ~over h i s Days a g a i n : I n te r m ix e d w ith th e New D is c o v e r ie s The A u th o r h a s made i n h i s ' t r a v e l s A b ro a d , and i n h i s P r i v a t e Con v e r s a t i o n a t Home. T o g e th e r w ith th e L iv e s an d C h a r a c te r s o f a Thousand P e rs o n s now L iv in g i n London. &c. D ig e s te d i n t o Seven S ta g e s , w ith t h e i r R e s p e c tiv e I d e a s (London: P r i n t e d f o r " S . M a ith u s, 1 7 0 5 ), 437. 17 "An A ccount o f th e L i f e and A c tio n s o f Mr. Jo h n B u n y a n .. . From h i s C ra d le to h i s G ra v e ," 38.., 18 "A S h o rt E le g y i n Memory o f Mr. Jo h n Bunyan, " a f f i x e d t o "An A ccount o f th e L i f e and A c tio n s o f Mr. Jo h n B u n y a n .. , From h i s C ra d le to h i s G ra v e ," 44. AN INELEGANT WHITER OF DARK SIMILITUDES 1 6 6 D e s p ite t h e a p p r o b a t io n an d a p p la u s e w hich w ere a c c o rd e d to The P i l g r i m ’ s P r o g r e s s and w hich e x te n d e d , i n some d e g re e , to The Holy War, Bunyan d i d n o t e n t i r e l y e s c a p e d e r o g a to r y c r i t i c i s m i n h i s r o l e o f a l l e g o r i c a l s t o r y - t e l l e r . The d i s l i k e f o r works o f f i c t i o n an d rom ance, w hich c h a r a c t e r i z e d t h e d e v o u t an d p io u s o f t h e se v en t e e n t h c e n tu r y , c a u s e d many t o lo o k a s k a n c e a t Bunyan*s a d o p tio n o f t h i s v e h i c l e f o r d is s e m in a tio n o f h i s m o ral and d o c t r i n a l te a c h i n g s , w h ile t h e t e a c h i n g s th e m s e lv e s w ere v a r i o u s l y fo u n d to be in a d e q u a te , to b e o b s c u re , o r to b e to o c h e e r f u l l y s e t f o r t h . Such c r i t i c i s m o f B anyan*s a l l e g o r y b e g a n even w h ile th e work was s t i l l i n m a n u s c r ip t, a s one l e a r n s from B unyan*s own a c c o u n t o f h i s r e a d in g th e s t o r y to h i s f e l l o w p r i s o n e r s and th e r e a c t i o n o f h i s a u d ie n c e : W ell, when I h ad th u s p u t my ends t o g e t h e r , I sh e w 'd them o t h e r s , t h a t I n ig h t s e e w h e th e r They would condemn them, o r them J u s t i f i e : And some s a i d , l e t them l i v e ; some l e t them d i e : Some s a id , Jo h n P r i n t i t ; o t h e r s s a i d , n o t so: Some s a i d i t m ig h t do good; o t h e r s s a i d , N o . ^ John Bunyan, ttThe A u th o rs A pology f o r h i s Book, * * The P ilg r im * s P r o g r e s s . 136. I f one may ju d g e from Bunyan*s "A pology" w ith i t s e l a b o r a t e d e f e n s e o f f i c t i t i o u s and a l l e g o r i c a l w r i t i n g f o r m o ral p u r p o s e s , one o f th e m ain o b j e c t i o n s The P llg rlm K s P r o g r e s s r a i s e d by t h o s e c r i t i c s who ’ ’w ere n o t f o r i t s com ing f o r t h " was t h a t t h e w ork was f i c t i t i o u s — " f e i g n e d , "20 w hereupon Bunyan to o k o c c a s io n to e x p o s t u l a t e : May I n o t w r i t e i n such a s t y l e a s t h i s ? I n su ch a M ethod to o , and y e t n o t m is s 2 1 My end, th y good? why may i t n o t b e done? r t The o b j e c t i o n to B u n y a n 's a l l e g o r i c a l m ethod, how ever, d i d n o t c e a s e t o b e a m a tte r o f c o n c e rn t o th e g o d ly a s t h e y e a r s w ent by and t h e a l l e g o r y g a i n e d i n p o p u l a r i t y , f o r i n 1684 Bunyan a g a in r e f e r r e d to i t , r e p r e s e n t i n g th e se c o n d p a r t a s c o n f id in g to i t s a u t h o r : B ut some lo v e n o t th e m ethod o f y o u r f i r s t , Romance th e y c o u n t I t , th ro w * t i t away a s d u s t . . . . 22 D e s p ite t h i s a n im a d v e rs io n on th e p a r t o f some r e a d e r s , how ever, t h e r e must have b ee n o t h e r s who, l i k e Thomas Sherm an, r e c o g n iz e d B unyan’ s p l a c e i n t h e t r a d i t i o n o f a l l e g o r i c a l m o r a l i s t s an d a llo w e d h i s u s e o f d i d a c t i c f i c t i o n to b e l e g i t i m a t e f o r h i s p u r p o s e s . ^ 2® Jo h n Bunyan, "The A u th o rs A pology f o r h i s Book, The P ilg rim * s P r o g r e s s . 137. 21 I b i d . . 1 3 6 . 22 Jo h n Bunyan, "The A u th o rs W a y o f S en d in g F o r t h H is Second P a r t o f t h e P i l g r i m ," The P i l g r i m 's P r o g r e s s . 28 6 . ; — 2^ See s u p r a , p a g e 1 3 8 ,f o r q u o t a t i o n . 168 Such r e a d e r s , n e v e r t h e l e s s , h a d a n o t h e r and an e q u a lly s e r i o u s s t r i c t u r e to u rg e a g a i n s t B u n y a n 's a l l e g o r y — i t s c r u d i t y , i t s o v e r - f a m l l l a r l t y , and i t s w ant o f p r o p e r d i g n i t y . The e l a b o r a t e p a r a p h r a s e o f t h e s im p le o p e n in g o f th e a l l e g o r y : As I w alked th r o u g h th e W ild e rn e s s o f t h i s W orld, I l i g h t e d on a c e r t a i n P la c e , w here was a Den: and I l a i d me down i n t h a t p l a c e to s l e e p : And a s I s l e p t I dream ed a Dream; w hich one of B u n y a n 's c o n te m p o r a r ie s v e r s i f i e d to r e a d : When P hoebus d i d h e r g u i l d e d Beams d i s p l a y , I n t o a s i l e n t shade I to o k my way, T h e re to d i v e r t and sp en d an h o u rs s p a c e , I n s o l i d s o r t w ith o u t a s i l e n t p la c e ; W ith sw eet c o n t e n t, f o r none m o le s te d me, Then down I s a t b e n e a th a s p a c io u s T re e , Each p l e a s a n t o b j e c t d i d my fa n c y p l e a s e , T i l l s i l e n t slu m b e r d i d ray s e n s e s s e i z s e . I Dreamed, and b e h o ld J . . . may w e ll b e ta k e n a s an exam ple o f th e o r n a t e d r e s s i n w hich c e r t a i n r e a d e r s would h a v e p r e f e r r e d Biinyan’ s P llg r1 m to a p p e a r . What was r e g a r d e d a s t h e b o i s t e r o u s humor o f The P i l g r i m * s P r o g r e s s a l s o a r o u s e d t h e d is a p p r o v a l o f Bun- y a n 's s e r i o u s c o n te m p o r a r ie s . T h is c h a r a c t e r i s t i c o f h i s s t o r y was a p p a r e n tly ta k e n e x c e p tio n to by some o f h i s Jo h n Bunyan, The P ilg r im * s P r o g r e s s . 142. The H eav en ly P a s s e n g e r : O r, The P ilg r im s P r o g r e s s , From t h i s W orld, to t h a t w hich i s to come. . . . Newly done i n t o V e r s e . By S.M. (1 6 8 7 ), 1 . 169 f i r s t a u d i t o r s — i n p a r t i c u l a r by Thomas M arson, who i s r e p u te d to h av e s a i d "No," when Jo h n q u e r ie d o f h i s h e a r e r s w h e th e r o r n o t he s h o u ld p r i n t h i s m a n u s c r ip t. Marsom, Iro n m o n g er an d p a s t o r o f a B a p t i s t c h u rc h a t L u to n i n B e d f o r d s h ir e , who s e rv e d a p r i s o n s e n te n c e i n company w ith Bunyan, i s s a id t o h a v e r e l a t e d to h i s f a m ily an a c c o u n t o f B unyan’ s r e a d i n g th e a l l e g o r y to h i s f e l l o w p r i s o n e r s : The d e s c r i p t i o n s n a t u r a l l y e x c i t e d a l i t t l e p l e a s a n t r y , and Marsom, who was o f a s e d a te t u r n , g av e h i s o p in io n a g a i n s t t h e p u b l i c a t i o n ; b u t on r e f l e c t i o n r e q u e s t e d p e r m is s io n to t a k e th e m a n u s c rip t to h i s own c e l l , t h a t he m ight r e a d i t a lo n e . Hav i n g done so , h e r e t u r n e d i t w ith an e a r n e s t p_ reco m m en d atio n t h a t i t s h o u ld be p u b lis h e d . I t may w e ll have b e e n t h i s m i r t h f u l r e c e p t i o n a c c o rd e d h i s f i r s t r e a d i n g o f The P ilg rim * s P r o g r e s s t h a t c a u se d Bunyan to c o n c lu d e h i s a l l e g o r y w ith a w arn in g to h i s r e a d e r s t h a t th e y b e n o t moved to un seem ly l e v i t y by h i s u s e o f f i g u r e s and s i m i l i t u d e s . 2® 27 S. D. A le x a n d e r, ’ ’E d i t i o n s o f t h e P i l g r i m 's P r o g r e s s ," P r i n c e t o n R evlew .XXXI ( A p r il, 1 8 5 9 ), 2 3 5 -6 . 28 Jo h n Bunyan, "The C o n c l u s i o n ," The P ilg rim * s P r o g r e s s (P a r t I ), 280: "Take h e e d a l s o , t h a t th o u be n o t ex tre am , I n p la y in g w ith th e o u t - s i d e o f my dream : Nor l e t my f i g u r e , o r s i m i l i t u d e , P u t th e e i n t o a l a u g h t e r , o r a fe u d , L eave t h i s f o r Boys a n d F o o l s . . . . " 170 B ut t h e c r i t i c i s m o f B u n y a n 's P i l g r i m , " t h a t h e 29 la u g h s to o l o u d , " c o n tin u e d , an d was, In d e e d , one o f th e m ain r e a s o n s t h a t In d u c e d Thomas Sherman to compose an Im proved v e r s i o n o f th e a l l e g o r y : H I h a v e e n d e a v o u re d ," he w ro te , " to d e l i v e r t h e w hole i n su c h s e r i o u s and s p i r i t u a l p h r a s e s , t h a t may p r e v e n t t h a t l i g h t n e s s and l a u g h t e r , w hich t h e r e a d i n g o f some p a s s a g e s t h e r e i n [ t h a t i s , i n B u n y a n 's v e r s i o n ] , o c c a s io n i n some v a in and 30 f r o t h y m in d s ." Sherm an n o te d w ith some s a t i s f a c t i o n t h a t h i s v e r s i o n o f The P i l g r i m 's P r o g r e s s h ad re m e d ie d t h i s d e f e c t to su ch an e x te n t t h a t h i s book w ould be h ig h ly a p p r o p r i a t e f o r p r e s e n t a t i o n a t f u n e r a l s , i n s t e a d o f th e c u sto m a ry g i f t s o f "R in g s, G lo v e s , Wine o r B l s k e t. But th e i n e l e g a n t humor o f B u n y a n 's f i g u r e s and s i m i l i t u d e s was b u t one o f th e o b j e c t i o n s r a i s e d a g a i n s t them ; a n o th e r was t h a t o f o b s c u r i t y . Some o f B u n y a n 's r e a d e r s , a c c o r d in g t o t h e a u th o r h im s e lf , to o k e x c e p tio n to t h e P i l g r i m b e c a u s e " h i s h e a d i s i n a c l o u d ," w h ile o t h e r s c o m p la in e d t h a t 29 Jo h n Bunyan, "The A u th o rs Way o f S en d in g f o r t h H is Second P a r t o f t h e P i l g r i m , " The P ilg rim * s P r o g r e s s . 285, 30 Thomas Sherm an, "The A u th o r 's A pology f o r h i s B o o k ," The Second P a r t o f th e P ilg r im * s P r o g r e s s . 31 T Loc. c l t . 171 . . . h i s Words and S to r y s a r e so d a r k , They know n o t how, by them, to f i n d h i s mark.*5* 2 The c r i t i c i s m s o f t h e s e " c a r p e r s , " w ith Bunyan*s a n sw e rs to t h e i r c o m p la in ts , t h e a l l e g o r l s t p r e s e n t e d i n a sup p o se d d ia lo g u e b e tw e e n h im s e lf and a r e p r e s e n t a t i v e o f t h a t c l a s s : W e ll, y e t I, am n o t f u l l y s a t i s f y * d , T h at t h i s y o u r Book w i l l s t a n d , when so u n d ly t r y * d . Why, t h a t ' s t h e m a tte r ? lib I s d a r k , w hat th o ? But i t is, f e i g n e d : What o f t h a t ? I t r o , Some men, by f e i g n e d w ords, a s d a rk a s m ine, Make t r u t y to s p a n g le , and i t s R ays to s h in e . B ut th e y w ant s o l i d n e s s : sp e ak , man, th y m lnd:^_ They drown*d t h e weak M e tap h o rs make u s b l i n d . R e a d e rs b e t t e r v e r s e d i n w r i t i n g s o f a l l e g o r i c a l n a t u r e , how ever, w ere n o t b l i n d e d by B u n y a n 's m e ta p h o rs, n o r d i d th e y e x p e r ie n c e d i f f i c u l t y i n i n t e r p r e t i n g h i s "d a rk " s i m i l i t u d e s . Tbey u n d e r s to o d t h e d o c t r i n a l im p l i c a t i o n o f h i s a l l e g o r y p l a i n l y enough, and o b je c te d to i t o n ly on t h e g ro u n d o f in a d e q u a c y . The B a p t i s t w r i t e r who so u g h t t o Im prove on The P ilg rim * s P r o g r e s s s t a t e d i t s d o c t r i n a l d e f e c t s to be t h r e e - f o l d : F i r s t , t h e r e i s n o th in g s a i d o f t h e S t a t e o f Man i n h i s f i r s t C r e a tio n : Nor S e c o n d ly , o f t h e M isery o f Man i n h i s L apsed E s t a t e b e f o r e C o n v e rs io n . T h ir d ly , a to o b r i e f p a s s in g 32 Jo h n Bunyan, "The A u th o rs Way o f S en d in g f o r t h H is Second P a r t o f t h e P i l g r i m ," The P ilg r im * s P r o g r e s s . 233. 33 Jo h n Bunyan, "The A u th o rs A p o lo g y f o r h i s B o o k ," The P i l g r i m * s P r o g r e s s , 137. 172 o v e r t h e M ethods o f D iv in e G oodness, i n t h e C o n v in c in g , C o n v e rtin g , and R econ c i l i n g o f S in n e r s to h i m s e l f . 34 I n h i s im p ro v ed v e r s i o n o f t h e a l l e g o r y , t h e r e f o r e , t h i s a u th o r a tte m p te d t o su p p lem en t B u n y a n 's t e a c h i n g s by d w e llin g on t h e p r e l i m i n a r y s t a t e of s i n o f c r e a t e d man, a s w e ll a s upon t h e o r g a n iz e d c h u rc h , i t s s a c r a m ents and o r d in a n c e s , and th e g e n e r a l r a t h e r th a n th e 35 p a r t i c u l a r o r i n d i v i d u a l c a l l . D e s p ite t h e o b j e c t i o n s r a i s e d a g a i n s t th e s u b j e c t m a t t e r o f B u n y a n 's a l l e g o r y on th e g ro u n d o f i t s i n adeq u acy an d w ant o f " s o l i d n e s s , " and th e s t r i c t u r e s l e v e l e d a g a i n s t i t s s t y l e , a s b e in g o b s c u re , " r u d e ," and l a c k i n g i n d e c e n t s o le m n ity , The P ilg rim * s P r o g r e s s fo u n d an e v e r- w id e n in g c i r c l e o f e u l o g i s t i c a d m ir e r s i n th e s e v e n te e n th c e n tu r y , a s t h e a u t h o r h im s e lf was w e ll aw are. B u n y a n 's p r e f a t o r y "A pology" to P a r t I , which h a d b een h e s i t a n t i n to n e and d e f e n s i v e i n n a t u r e , gave way, i n P a r t I I , to h i s e x p l a n a t o r y p r e f a c e , w ith i t s a t t i t u d e o f c o n f id e n t a u t h o r i t y and i t s a w a re n e ss o f s u c c e s s . Though Bunyan a d m itte d , c o n c e r n in g th e P i l g r i m , t h a t th e r e , w ere . ..s o m e who d i d n o t lo v e him a t th e f i r s t , B ut c a l l ' d him F o o l and Noddy. . . , 36 34 Thomas Sherm an, "The A u t h o r 's A pology f o r h i s B o o k ," The Second P a r t o f t h e P ilg rim * s P r o g r e s s . W illia m Y ork T i n d a l l , o p . c i t . , 40, 64. 35 Jo h n Bunyan, "The A u th o rs Way o f S en d in g f o r t h H is Second P a r t o f t h e P i l g r i m , " The P ilg rim * s P r o g r e s s . 235. 173 h e now f e l t t h a t s u c h p r e j u d i c e d r e c e p t i o n o f h i s popu l a r t r a c t c o u ld be c a u se d o n ly b y "some 111 r e p o r t ” c o n c e r n in g I t t h a t h ad come to t h e e a r s of c e r t a i n In d i v i d u a l s , o r by t h e same u n f o r t u n a t e p e c u l i a r i t y I n human b e i n g s t h a t m akes some a v e r s e to c h e e s e , o r f i s h , j 37 o r p i g . But such c a r p i n g r e a d e r s w ere i n th e m in o r ity , a s Bunyan knew, an d m ig h t w e ll b e ig n o r e d , w h ile t h e l a r g e r g ro u p o f hum ble and p io u s s o u ls w ere e a g e r to em brace h i s seco n d p a r t a s th e y h ad em braced h i s '‘f i r s t l i n g . ,,3S 37 Jo h n Bunyan, "The A u th o rs Way o f S en d in g f o r t h H is Second P a r t o f t h e P i l g r i m , " The P i l g r i m 1s P r o g r e s s . 287 • ■IQ Ibid., 283. SUM M ARY Jo h n Bunyan*s e v a n g e l i s t i c a c t i v i t y a s l a y - p r e a c h e r made him known i n th e s e v e n te e n th c e n tu r y t o a w ide c i r c l e o f h e a r e r s , n o t o n ly i n B e d fo rd and th e n e ig h b o r in g s h i r e s , b u t a l s o i n London, w here v a s t c o n g r e g a tio n s a r e s a i d to h av e th r o n g e d to h e a r him p r e a c h th e w ord. B unyan’ s p u b l i s h e d w o r k s - - c o n t r o v e r s l a l and doc t r i n a l , a l l e g o r i c a l an d p o e t i c a l i k e — w ere b u t an e x te n s io n o f h i s work a s p r e a c h e r , an d met w ith th e same e u lo g i s t i c a c c e p ta n c e on t h e p a r t o f h i s f r i e n d s a s d i d h i s e lo q u e n t o r a t o r y . T h is i s e v id e n t h o t o n ly from t h e num erous e d i t i o n s th ro u g h w hich many o f B unyan’ s w orks / p a s s e d i n th e s e v e n te e n th c e n tu r y , b u t a l s o fro m t h e en e rg y w ith w h ich h i s a d m ir e r s l a b o r e d to p r e s e r v e h i s w r i t i n g s by a t t e m p t i n g to i s s u e h i s c o m p le te w orks i n f o l i o , and from t h e c o m p a r a tiv e ly l a r g e num ber o f sub s c r i p t i o n s w hich w ere o b ta in e d f o r t h e s i n g l e volum e t h a t was p u b lis h e d o f t h i s f o l i o e d i t i o n . The m a j o r i t y o f t h e s e a d m irin g r e a d e r s , how ever, w ere hum ble and n o n - l i t e r a r y f o l k , who l e f t no w r i t t e n r e c o r d o f t h e i r v e n e r a t i o n and r e g a r d f o r t h e " g r e a t c o n v e r t , ” th e a p o s t l e o f t h e i r a g e . I t i s , t h e r e f o r e , m a in ly fro m t h e com m endatory e p i s t l e s and p r e f a t o r y com m ents accom panying t h e p u b l i c a t i o n o f c e r t a i n o f B unyan’ s w orks, from th e b i o g r a p h i c a l s k e tc h e s o f Bunyan, and fro m 175 c e r t a i n o t h e r i n c i d e n t a l comment, t h a t a n id e a can be form ed o f t h e a d m ir a tio n w ith w hich Bunyan was r e g a r d e d by a v a s t m u l t i t u d e o f h i s d e v o u t c o n te m p o r a r ie s . Many o f t h e s e com m endatory w r i t e r s , l i k e C h a rle s Doe, t h e com b-m aker, w ere men o f l i t t l e m ore e d u c a tio n th a n Bunyan h im s e lf , th o u g h o t h e r s , l i k e E b e n e z e r C h a n d le r, w ere men o f some l e a r n i n g . Most o f them , l i k e Jo h n B u rto n , Jo h n W ilson, and E b e n e z e r C h a n d le r, w ere m i n i s t e r s o f th e g o s p e l. Some few s e c u l a r w r i t e r s , how ever, a l s o o c c a s io n a l l y r e f e r r e d to Bunyan*s w orks w ith o u t d e r o g a to r y im p l i c a t i o n , a s Ini t h e c a s e o f A nthony a Wood, whom Iv lm ey 39 c a l l e d t h a t " g ra n d l i b e l l e r o f t h e N o n c o n fo rm is ts . " K ing C h a r le s I I i s s a i d to h a v e h e a r d o f B u n y a n 's name, and to h av e spoken o f him to B u n y a n 's f r i e n d Jo h n Owen. The b o o k s e l l e r Jo h n B a g fo rd th o u g h t i t w o rth h i s w h ile to pay Bunyan a v i s i t , and th e fam ous d i a r i s t N a r c is s u s L u t t r e l l to o k th e p a i n s to p u r c h a s e two o f B u n y a n 's p o e t i c a l t r a c t s a s th e y were i s s u e d from th e p r e s s . B u n y a n 's name, t h e r e f o r e , was n o t e n t i r e l y unknown to th e l i t e r a r y w o rld , th o u g h h i s fame was l a r g e l y con f i n e d to th e w o rld o f t h e hum ble and t h e d e v o u t. B u n y a n 's a n t a g o n i s t s l i k e w i s e num bered a l l c l a s s e s 39 J o s e p h Iv lm ey , A H is to r y o f th e E n g lis h B a p t i s t s . XXy 176 o f s o c i e t y . The Q u ak ers, I l l i t e r a t e an d l e a r n e d a l i k e , fo u n d i n Bunyan on e o f th e c h i e f en em ies to th e t r u t h ; th e B a p t i s t s , somewhat more e d u c a te d th a n t h e t y p i c a l r e p r e s e n t a t i v e o f th e S o c ie ty o f F r ie n d s , r e g a r d e d Bun yan a s a d e f i l e r o f h i s own n e s t ; and t h e a c ad e m ic d i v i n e s o f th e C hurch o f E n g lan d , I n t e n s e l y a n t a g o n i s t i c to l a y - p r e a c h e r s and s e c t a r i a n h e r e t i c s i n g e n e r a l, con s i d e r e d Bunyan a s one o f th e e x tre m e r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s o f b o th e v i l s . W hile B u n y a n 's a d m ir e rs h e l d him t o be a second P a u l, a d o c t r i n a l w r i t e r o f t o l e r a n t a t t i t u d e , sound d o c t r i n e , an d g r e a t u s e f u l n e s s , h i s enem ies fo u n d him to be a h y p o c r i t i c a l s e c t a r i a n , whose t r e a t i s e s w ere c h a r a c t e r i z e d o n ly by ig n o r a n c e , b lasp h em y , and f a l s i t y o f d o c t r i n e . W hile B u n y a n 's f r i e n d s h e l d t h a t t h a t wor t h y 's 'i n s p i r a t i o n by t h e S p i r i t made amends f o r h i s l a c k o f w o rld ly l e a r n i n g — o r , r a t h e r , made t h a t l e a r n i n g s u p e r f lu o u s , h i s en em ies ta u n te d him w ith th e u n s c h o o le d m anner o f h i s w r i t i n g . To h i s f r i e n d s , Bunyan seem ed a man o f p a c i f i c p r i n c i p l e s , u n w i l l i n g to engage i n d o c t r i n a l arg u m en t; to h i s en em ies, B u n y a n 's a c t i v i t y r i g h t l y seem ed to be c o n s t i t u t e d l a r g e l y o f c o n tr o v e r s y c h a r a c t e r i z e d by s la n d e r o u s a c c u s a t i o n , a b u s iv e la n g u a g e , u n f a i r m ethods, and i n e f f e c t i v e a r g u m e n ta tio n . B u n y a n 's a d o p tio n o f t h e d e v i c e s o f v e r s e and 177 a l l e g o r y , f o r th e m ore e f f e c t u a l I n s t r u c t i o n o f s i n n e r s who c o u ld n o t be r e a c h e d th r o u g h h i s s t r a i g h t - f o r w a r d p r o s e t r e a t i s e s , a l s o b ro u g h t him b o th com m endation an d c r i t i c i s m i n h i s own d ay . T hat he e n jo y e d some d e g r e e o f p o p u l a r i t y a s a p o e t i s e v id e n t from t h e e d i t i o n s th ro u g h w hich c e r t a i n o f h i s poems p a s s e d d u r in g th e s e v e n te e n th c e n tu r y , b u t t h a t h i s u s e o f v e r s e was lo o k e d a t a s k a n c e by t h e more s t r i c t o f t h e r e l i g i o u s l y m inded i s e v id e n t fro m t h e d e f e n s e s t h a t h e f e l t i t n e c e s s a r y to I n s e r t i n h i s p o e t i c a l v e n t u r e s . Of l i k e n a t u r e was t h e o b j e c t i o n r a i s e d a g a i n s t Bunyan*s u s e o f a l l e g o r y f o r th e e x p r e s s io n o f h i s doc t r i n a l an d m o ral i n s t r u c t i o n . The P ilg rim * s P r o g r e s s , a s w e ll a s , i n a l e s s e r d e g r e e , The Holy War, fo u n d a w ide a c c e p ta n c e i n th e s e v e n te e n th c e n tu r y , w in n in g p r a i s e a s a sound an d u s e f u l " t r a c t " ; b u t i t a l s o drew upon I t s e l f t h e c r i t i c i s m o f u s in g th e u n j u s t i f i a b l e d e v ic e o f a l l e g o r i c a l f i c t i o n and o f b e in g m a rre d by unseem ly l e v i t y , by o b s c u r i t y , and by In a d e q u a c y o f doc t r i n a l t e a c h i n g . E x tr a v a g a n tly p r a i s e d and s c u r r i l o u s l y ab u se d , B unyan’ s name was i n no d a n g e r o f s in k in g i n t o o b s c u r i t y i n h i s own c e n tu r y ; t h a t i t c o n tin u e d t o b e known to s u c c e e d in g c e n t u r i e s , how ever, was due s o l e l y to t h e 178 happy a c c i d e n t o f g e n iu s t h a t d i s t i n g u i s h e d Bunyan from th e m u l t i t u d e o f o t h e r ’’m e c h a n lc k ” l a y - p r e a c h e r s who, l i k e him , d is s e m in a te d th d 3 r d o c t r i n a l t e a c h i n g s th r o u g h p r o s e t r e a t i s e s and th r o u g h a l l e g o r i c a l an d p o e t i c d i s c o u r s e s , d e fe n d e d t h e i r p r e j u d i c e s th r o u g h c o n t r o v e r s y , and a d v e r t i s e d t h e i r g i f t s o f i n s p i r a t i o n th ro u g h a u t o b io g ra p h y . 40 B unyan’ s some s i x t y w orks ( o f w hich p e r h a p s f o u r a r e rem em bered to d a y ) a l l r e c e iv e d t h e i r d e g r e e of ad m i r a t i o n from B unyan’ s f r i e n d l y c o n te m p o r a r ie s , some o f th e t r a c t s , in d e e d , w hich a r e t o t a l l y unknown to d a y , b e in g among t h e m ost p o p u la r . Toward th e end o f h i s l i f e , i t i s t r u e , Bunyan becam e known a s th e ’ ’A u th o r o f t h e P ilg rim * s P r o g r e s s , 1 1 b u t th ro u g h o u t th e tw e lv e y e a r s o f h i s l i t e r a r y c a r e e r t h a t p r e c e d e d t h a t p u b l i c a t i o n , h e had e s t a b l i s h e d a r e p u t a t i o n among h i s f r i e n d s and b r e t h r e n a s an i n s p i r e d t e a c h e r and p r e a c h e r , and, among h i s e n e m ie s, § s an i g n o r a n t , t i m e - s e r v i n g h y p o c r i t e an d a M p e s t i l e n t S c h l s m a t i c k .” 40 The p l e a s i n g i l l u s i o n c h e r i s h e d by c e r t a i n w r i t e r s t h a t Bunyan was a ’ ’p h o e n ix ” o f h i s a g e h a s b e e n e f f e c t u a l l y d e m o lish e d by W illiam York T i n d a l l i n h i s e x c e l l e n t s tu d y o f Bunyan, Jo h n Bunyan. M echanlck P r e a c h e r . CHAPTER II THE LITERARY REPUTATION OF JOHN BUNYAN IN THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY TO THE PUBLICATION OF THE THIRD FOLIO EDITION OF HIS WORKS (1767) INTRODUCTION Bunyan, who i n t h e s e v e n te e n th c e n tu r y had b een th e c e n t e r o f h e a te d r e l i g i o u s c o n tr o v e r s y and t h e r e c i p i e n t o f th e l a v i s h a d m ir a tio n o f h i s p io u s contem p o r a r i e s , sank, i n th e o p e n in g y e a r s o f t h e f o llo w in g c e n tu r y , i n t o a lm o s t c o m p le te i n s i g n i f i c a n c e . B oth th e l i t e r a r y and t h e r e l i g i o u s t e n d e n c i e s o f t h e tim e o p e r a t e d a g a i n s t him . An ag e t h a t ad m ired l i t e r a r y c o r r e c t n e s s and e le g a n c e c o u ld c l e a r l y h av e l i t t l e b u t c e n s u r e f o r t h e w r i t i n g s of t h e hum ble a l l e - g o r i s t ; and a n ag e t h a t f e l t l i t t l e sym pathy f o r " s e c t s t h a t f a l l s h o r t o f t h e c h u rc h o f England"'*- c o u ld c e r t a i n l y g iv e him b u t sm a ll p r a i s e a s a r e l i g i o u s t e a c h e r . The a t t i t u d e o f J o n a th a n S w ift i s a n o t a b l e ex c e p t i o n to t h e l a t t e r s ta te m e n t, a s t h a t o f E l i z a b e t h C a r t e r i s to t h e fo rm e r, b u t i n g e n e r a l t h e s e y e a r s o f th e e i g h t e e n t h c e n tu r y , e x te n d in g to t h e p u b l i c a t i o n o f th e t h i r d f o l i o e d i t i o n o f B u n y a n 's w orks i n 1767, may b e ta k e n a s m a rk in g t h e lo w e s t p o i n t t h a t B u n y a n 's l i t e r a r y r e p u t a t i o n r e a c h e d . M a c a u la y 's re m a rk t h a t “o u r r e f i n e d f o r e f a t h e r s " p r o b a b ly r e g a r d e d L ord Roscom m o n 's E ssay on T r a n s l a t e d V e rse and th e Duke o f Buck i n g h a m s h i r e 's E ssay on P o e tr y a s i n f i n i t e l y s u p e r i o r ^ J o s e p h A d d iso n , The S p e c t a t o r . No. 101 (O c to b e r, 20, 1 3 1 1 ), Works o f J o s e p h A d d iso n (G porge W ashington G reene, e d i t o r ; New Y ork: D erby and J a c k s o n , 1 8 5 7 -8 ), V, 483. 181 to t h e a l l e g o r y o f a p r e a c h in g t i n k e r 2 I s u n d o u b te d ly t r u e . R e f e re n c e s t o Bunyan, i n g e n e r a l , w ere com para t i v e l y i n f r e q u e n t . They a r e to b e fo u n d c h i e f l y i n in f o rm a l l e t t e r s , i n d i s c u s s i o n s o f a e s t h e t i c s , and i n p e r i o d i c a l e s s a y s i n su c h p u b l i c a t i o n s a s th e S p e c t a t o r and t h e G entlem an* s M ag azin e. H i s t o r i e s o f p r o s e l i t e r a t u r e w ere n o t y e t w r i t t e n , and h i s t o r i e s o f E n g lan d , w hich d u r i n g t h i s tim e w ere b e g in n in g to ta k e th e p la c e o f th e a n n a ls , c h r o n i c l e s , a n d p o l i t i c a l m em oirs o f t h e p r e v io u s c e n tu r y , d e a l t l a r g e l y w ith p o l i t i c a l r a t h e r th a n w ith s o c i a l and d o m e s tic m a tte r s . C u s to m a rily , a s i n th e c a s e o f Hume and S m o l l e t t , h i s t o r i a n s gave t h e s e v e n te e n th c e n tu r y s e c t a r i a n no men t i o n w h a te v e r .3 The se co n d e d i t i o n o f The G re a t H i s t o r i c a l . Geo g r a p h ! e a l , G e n e a lo g ic a l an d P o e t i c a l D i c t i o n a r y , e d i t e d by Jerem y C o l l i e r i n 1 7 0 1 ,4 made r e c o r d o f t h e 2 T. B. M acau lay , "John B unyan” (1 8 5 1 ), Mis c e l l a n e o u s W orks, I I , 270* 3 Thomas C a r t e 's H is to r y o f E n g lan d and F e rd in a n d W a rn e r’s E c c l e s i a s t i c a l H is to r y o f E n g lan d I h a v e b e e n u n a b le to o b t a i n . 4 The G re a t H i s t o r i c a l . G e o g r a p h ic a l. G enealo g i c a l an d P o e t l c a l D i c t i o n a r y : B eing A C u rio u s M is c e lla n y o f " fitacred and P ro p h a n e H i s t o r y . . . The Second E d i t i o n R e v is e d , C o r r e c te d and E n l a r g 'd t o th e Yea.r 1 6 8 8 : by J~er. d o l l l e r , A.M. London, 1 7 0 1 .TThe f i r s t e d i t i o n o f t h i s w ork, w hich was b a s e d l a r g e l y on th e e i g h t h e d i t i o n o f Lew is M o re ry ’ s e n c y c lo p a e d ia , was p u b lis h e d i n 1694; to t h e se c o n d e d i t i o n o f 1701 two a p p e n d ix volum es w ere added, one i n 1705, t h e o t h e r i n 172L) l i v e s and w r i t i n g s o f such s e v e n te e n th c e n tu r y r e l i g i o u s w r i t e r s a s D a n ie l F e a t le y and R o b e rt B a r c l a y , 5 b u t fo u n d no s p a c e i n w h ich to g iv e a n a c c o u n t o f Jo h n Bunyan. The B lo g ra p h la B r l t a n n i c a , 6 how ever, w hich a p p e a re d a b o u t t h e m id d le o f t h e e i g h t e e n t h c e n tu r y , w ith th e la u d a b l e p u rp o s e o f ’ ’c o l l e c t i n g i n t o one body, w ith o u t any r e s t r i c t i o n o f tim e o r p l a c e , p r o f e s s i o n o r c o n d i t i o n , th e m em oirs o f such o f o u r co u n try m en a s h a v e b een em in en t, and by t h e i r p e rfo rm a n c e s o f any k in d d e s e rv e to be rem em bered, d e v o te d t o t h a t s e c t a r i a n w r i t e r th e s p a c e o f a lm o s t a f o l i o p a g e . T h is may b e r e g a r d e d a s t h e f i r s t I n d i c a t i o n o f a r e c o g n i t i o n t h a t Bunyan was e n t i t l e d to some n o t i c e i n a d i s c u s s i o n o f E n g lish m en whose names w ere known to th e w o rld o f l e t t e r s and were w o rth y o f rem em brance. g I n t h i s e n c y c lo p a e d ia t h e A n g lic a n p r e a c h e r and d i s p u t a n t , D a n ie l F e a t l e y (1 5 2 8 -1 6 4 5 ), and th e Q uaker a p o l o g i s t , R o b e rt B a rc la y (1 648-1690) w ere each a c c o rd e d more th a n t w i c e th e num ber of l i n e s a c c o rd e d , f o r i n s t a n c e , to C h a u ce r. F e a t l e y , a u th o r o f some a c rim o n io u s d i a t r i b e s a g a i n s t t h e B a p t i s t s , was c h a r a c t e r i z e d a s a "L e a rn e d , P io u s , G en ero u s, and C h a r i t a b l e P e r s o n . " ^ B lo g r a p h la B r l t a n n i c a : o r th e L iv e s o f t h e m ost E m inent P e r s o n s who h a v e f l o u r i s h e d i n G re a t B r i t a i n and I r e l a n d , from th e e a r l i e s t a g e s , down to t h e p r e s e n t tim e s C o l l e c t e d fro m th e b e s t a u t h o r i t i e s , b o th P r i n t e d and M a n u s c r ip t, and d i g e s t e d i n th e m anner o f Mr. B a y le 1s H i s t o r i c a l and C r i t i c a l D i c t i o n a r y . London, 1747-66. * * I k l d . > I , v i l i . 183 I n t e r e s t I n any o f Bunyan*s w r i t i n g s o t h e r th a n The P ilg r im * s P r o g r e s s was p r a c t i c a l l y n e g l i g i b l e d u r in g t h i s p e r i o d . T h at one w ork, how ever, c o n tin u e d to be a d m ire d by th e v u l g a r and was known to th e w o rld o f l e t t e r s , p a r t i c u l a r l y f o r i t s phenom enal s a l e an d i t s p o p u l a r i t y w ith th e u n e d u c a te d p u b l i c , w hich f a c t was h e l d a g a i n s t i t a s I n d i c a t i v e o f i t s sm a ll l i t e r a r y v a lu e . The r i d i c u l e w ith w hich The P llg r lm ^ s P r o g r e s s was m e n tio n e d was m ore p ro n o u n c e d d u r in g t h i s p e r io d th a n d u r in g any o t h e r , and t h e e m p h a tic a lly e x p re s s e d d e n u n c ia t io n s o f Bunyan a s a low and mean w r i t e r , by men o f h i g h e s t em inence i n th e w o rld o f l e t t e r s , w ere more s e v e r e th a n i n any s u c c e e d in g a g e . BUNYAN AS DOCTRINAL WRITER "T heology was n o t d i s r e g a r d e d u n d e r th e f i r s t and se c o n d G e o rg e s ," w r i t e s Jo h n D ennis; " I t was o n ly r e l i g i o n t h a t h ad f a l l e n i n t o d i s r e p u t e . " 8 Of d o c t r i n a l c o n t r o v e r s y t h e r e was no la c k i n t h e f i r s t p a r t o f t h e e i g h t e e n t h c e n t u r y ,^ b u t th e hum ble o p in io n s o f John Bunyan w ere no l o n g e r r e f e r r e d t o . The q u a r r e l s i n w hich he h ad en gaged e i t h e r no lo n g e r i n t e r e s t e d t h e a g e , ^ o r w ere h a n d le d by f a r a b l e r d i s p u t a n t s who h ad no n e e d o f r e f e r r i n g t o t h e o p in io n s o f an ig n o r a n t l a y - p r e a c h e r i n s u p p o r t o f t h e i r t h e o l o g i c a l p r e j u d i c e s . Bunyan th e c o n t r o v e r s i a l i s t , i n r e f u t a t i o n o f whose o p in io n s h i s c o n te m p o r a r ie s h a d f e l t i t n e c e s s a r y to expend a l l t h e s c u r r i l i t y and a b u se a t t h e i r command, was e n t i r e l y f o r g o t t e n , e x c e p t f o r such an o c c a s i o n a l s a t i r i c a l r e f e r e n c e a s t h a t o f Tom Brown, who, how ever, was r e a l l y a c o n te m p o ra ry o f Bunyan r a t h e r th a n a w r i t e r Q ° Jo h n D e n n is, The Age o f Pope (London: G. B e ll and S ons, 1 9 2 8 ), 9 . 9 As s e e , f o r I n s t a n c e , t h e B a n g o rla n c o n t r o v e r s y . •J A B u n y a n 's i d e a s on Im p u ted r i g h t e o u s n e s s w ere r e f e r r e d t o l a t e r i n t h e c e n tu r y by Jo h n W esley ( a s se e h i s "Some Rem arks on Mr. H i l l ' s R eview o f a i l th e D o c tr in e s ta u g h t by Mr. Jo h n Wes3.ey" (1 7 7 1 ), Works o f th e Rev. Jo h n W esley. XV, 4 4 ). B u n y a n 's o p in io n on t h e m a tte r o f open and c l o s e d communion among t h e B a p t i s t s , th e p o i n t on w h ich h e h a d d i f f e r e d from members o f h i s own s e c t , was ta k e n up f o r d i s c u s s i o n by R o b e rt R o b in so n i n 1781 ( s e e i n f r a , p a g e s 264 f f . ) . 185 o f t h e a g e f o llo w in g him . I n h i s “L e t t e r s from t h e Dead to th e L iv in g " (1 702) Brown r e p r e s e n t e d th e famous in d e p e n d e n t d i v i n e Hugh P e t e r s a s w r i t i n g t o D a n ie l B u rg e s s " i n Rogue Lane, " o f h i s h a v in g come i n t o c o n v e r s a tio n i n t h e I n f e r n a l r e g i o n s w ith a shoem aker, a f e l l o w who " t a l k e d v e ry n o ta b ly o f r e l i g i o n ; nay, much b e t t e r th a n h e d i d o f a s h o e - s o le , o r an u p p e r - l e a t h e r " : He h a d su c h an a s s u r a n c e o f h i s p a r t s , a s t o c h a lle n g e Bunyan th e t i n k e r t o chop l o g i c w ith him ; and N a y le r t h e q u a k e r, who was o f a p r i n c i p l e b etw een b o th , was th o u g h t th e b e s t q u a l i f i e d p e r s o n i n a l l h e l l f o r an i m p a r t i a l m odera t o r . B ut y o u r n im b le -c h o p p e d p u p i l was to o c u n n in g f o r t h e P i l g r i m a u t h o r , a s a fo x i s f o r a b a d g e r, so t h a t a t l a s t t h e shoem aker g o t h i s e n d s, and l e f t t h e p o o r t i n k e r w ith o u t one arg u m en t i n h i s b u d g e t . ^ F o r th e m ost p a r t , how ever, Bunyan t h e d i s p u t a n t was no l o n g e r r e f e r r e d to , and Bunyan t h e p r e a c h e r was v o c c a s i o n a l l y m e n tio n e d o n ly i n th e com m endatory w ords o f h i s a d m ir e r s . As w ith B u n y a n 's c o n t r o v e r s i a l w orks, so w ith h i s d o c t r i n a l w r i t i n g s ; o f a n t a g o n i s t i c comment r e g a r d in g them t h e r e i s p r a c t i c a l l y none i n t h e s e y e a r s o f th e e i g h t e e n t h c e n tu r y . Those who c o n c e rn e d th e m s e lv e s w ith them a t a l l w ere, f o r th e m ost p a r t , d e v o u t s o u ls 11 Tom Bro\vn, " L e t t e r s from th e Dead t o t h e L iv in g , " Amusements Sftr l o u s and Com ical and o t h e r Works ( A r th u r L. Hayward, e d i t o r ; New York; Dodd, Mead an d Company, 1 9 2 7 ), 399. 186 l i k e Samuel W ilson'1 '2 who i n h e r i t e d th e sim p le r e l i g i o u s p i e t y o f t h e i r s e v e n te e n th c e n tu r y d i s s e n t i n g a n c e s t o r s , h e ld t o th e o r th o d o x ie s o f e v a n g e l i c a l r e l i g i o n , and r e g a r d e d B u n y a n 's w orks a s e x p r e s s in g t r u t h s t h a t th e y d i d n o t f e e l th e m s e lv e s e n t i t l e d to q u e s tio n . Such a g ro u p e x i s t e d , d e s p i t e t h e p r e v a i l i n g t e n dency o f t h e c e n tu r y t o t a k e f o r g r a n te d a com m on-sense r e l i g i o n t h a t a v o id e d t h e e x tre m e s o f f a n a t i c i s m and s c e p t i c i s m a l i k e , and shunned t h e d re a d e d e r r o r s o f s u p e r s t i t i o n and e n th u s ia s m . I t was com posed o f p e r s o n s who fo u n d i n B u n y a n 's t r e a t i s e s " I n s t r u c t i o n f o r t h e I g n o r a n t, E ncouragem ent f o r t h e Weak, M ilk f o r B abes, and Meat f o r 13 ii s tr o n g Men"; i t in c lu d e d t h e W orthy P e r s o n s , whose Z eal f o r P r i m i t i v e C h r i s t i a n i t y . . . engaged them t o e n c o u ra g e th e R e p r i n t i n g o f Mr. B u n y a n 's Works" i n th e seco n d f o l i o e d i t i o n , ^ and num bered i n i t s r a n k s 12 Samuel W ilso n ( d ie d 1 7 5 0 ), B a p t i s t m i n i s t e r and e d i t o r o f t h e se c o n d f o l i o e d i t i o n o f B u n y a n 's w orks, was th e grandsom o f Jo h n W ilson who, w ith E b e n e z e r C h a n d le r, h a d w r i t t e n t h e p r e f a t o r y e p i s t l e to th e f i r s t f o l i o e d i t i o n . Sam uel W ilson, a s Iv im ey p r o u d ly n o te d , was "d e sc e n d e d fro m g o d ly p r o t e s t a n t D i s s e n t i n g m i n i s t e r s , b o th by h i s f a t h e r ' s an d m o th e r 's s id e " ( J o s e p h Iv lm ey , A H is to r y o f t h e E n g l1 sh B a p t i s t s , I I I , 5 4 3 ). For f u r t h e r i n f o r m a ti o n c o n c e r n in g W ils o n 's e v a n g e l i s t i c a t t i t u d e , se e i n f r a , p ag e 207 n o te 66. ^ Samuel W ilso n , "The P r e f a c e ? ( d a te d F eb r u a r y 5, 1 7 3 5 /6 ) , The Works o f t h a t E m inent S e r v a n t o f C h r i s t , Mr. J o h n Bunyan, L a te M i n i s t e r o f th e Co sp e l ~ an d P a s to r o f t h e C o n g re g a tio n a t B e d fo rd . B ein g S e v e r a l ^D iscourses upon V a rio u s D iv in e 'S u b je c ts (S eco n d [ f o l i o J e d i t i o n : London, 1 7 3 6 - ^ ), 1, v i i l . Ibid., vli 187 t h e r e a d e r s f o r whom th e b o o k s e l l e r s fo u n d I t p r o f i t a b l e to p u b l i s h t h e num erous e d i t i o n s o f B u n y a n 's v a r io u s I n d i v i d u a l t r e a t i s e s t h a t i s s u e d from th e p r e s s d u r in g th e e a r l y p a r t o f th e e i g h t e e n t h c e n tu r y . J u d g in g from t h e number o f e d i t i o n s i s s u e d d u r in g " I K th e p e r i o d 1 7 0 0-1767, t h e m ost p o p u la r o f B u n y a n 's t r e a t i s e s seems t o h a v e b e e n The D is c o u rs e upon th e P h a r i s e e an d t h e P u b l i c a n . T h is work, o f w h ich th e t h i r d e d i t i o n was i s s u e d i n 1704, r e a c h e d i t s t w e l f t h e d i t i o n 16 by a b o u t th e y e a r 1 720. N ext i n p o p u la r demand a p p e a r to h a v e b e e n The J e r u s a le m S in n e r S aved. The H eavenly Footm an, an d Solomon * s Temple S p l r 1t u a l l z e d . The J e r u s a lem S in n e r S av ed , i s s u e d f o r t h e t h i r d tim e i n 1700, a t t a i n e d i t s t e n t h e d i t i o n i n 1 7 2 8 ;^ 7 The H eavenly 15 The d a t a h e r e g iv e n c o n c e rn in g t h e number o f e d i t i o n s a r e n e c e s s a r i l y in c o m p le te , an d c o n s i s t o n ly o f su ch i n f o r m a ti o n a s i s a v a i l a b l e i n t h e B r l t l s h Museum C a ta lo g u e . O th e r o f B u n y a n 's w orks th a n th o s e h e r e n o te d w ere u n d o u b te d ly r e i s s u e d d u r in g t h i s p e r i o d , and t h o s e m e n tio n e d may h av e gone th r o u g h m ore e d i t i o n s th a n th e y h av e b e e n c r e d i t e d w ith i n t h i s d i s c u s s i o n . 1 fi The B r i t i s h Museum C a ta lo g u e r e c o r d s t h e f o llo w in g : T h ird e d i t i o n , 1704; f o u r t h e d i t i o n , 1705; f i f t h e d i t i o n [1705?]* t w e l f t h e d i t i o n , c o r r e c t e d , to w hich i s added B u n y a n 's L a s t Sermon” and h i s ’ ’D ying S a y in g s ," London [1 7 2 0 ? ]; a n o t h e r copy o f th e t w e l f t h e d i t i o n , a d u p l i c a t e o f t h e p r e c e d in g , w ith a new t i t l e p ag e , London, 1730. 17 The B r i t i s h Museum C a ta lo g u e r e c o r d s t h e n i n t h e d i t i o n , w ith c u t s , London, 1715; th e t e n t h e d i t i o n , London, 1728. 188 Footm an, th e f o u r t h e d i t i o n o f w hich was p u b l i s h e d i n 18 1708, r e a c h e d i t s t e n t h e d i t i o n i n 1760; and Solomon * s Temple S p i r i t u a l i z e d , o f w h ich th e t h i r d e d i t i o n h a d b e e n p u b lis h e d i n 1698, r e a c h e d i t s e i g h t h London e d i t i o n i n 1707, i t s n i n t h i n 1756, and i t s t e n t h i n 1762, t h e I n d i v i d u a l e d i t i o n s b e in g r e p u b l i s h e d i n 19 D u b lin , E d in b u rg h , and G lasgow r e s p e c t i v e l y . The D o c tr in e o f th e Law an d G race U n fo ld e d p a s s e d Of) th ro u g h f o u r e d i t i o n s i n t h e p e r i o d u n d e r c o n s i d e r a t i o n , w and A Few S ig h s fro m H e ll r e t a i n e d i t s p o p u l a r i t y s u f f i - 21 6 is e n tly to be I s s u e d a t l e a s t t h r e e tim e s . The B a rre n 18 The B r i t i s h Museum C a ta lo g u e r e c o r d s th e f o u r t h e d i t i o n , 1708; t h e t e n t h e d i t i o n , to w hich a r e a d d e d "The L i f e and D eath o f Jo h n Bunyan'1 and a l s o h i s "L a s t Serm on," B erw ick, 1760. 19 B r i t i s h Museum C a ta lo g u e h a s r e c o r d o f th e e i g h t h e d i t i o n , London, 1707; e i g h t h e d i t i o n , D u b lin , 1754; n i n t h e d i t i o n , London, 1756; n i n t h e d i t i o n , E d in b u rg h , 1760; t e n t h e d i t i o n , London, 1 7 62; t e n t h e d i t i o n , Glasgow, 1763. 20 The f o llo w in g London e d i t i o n s a r e r e c o r d e d i n th e B r i t i s h Museum C a ta lo g u e : t h i r d , 1708; f o u r t h , 1736; s i x t h , 1760. 2 1 £i Few S ig h s from H e l l h ad b ee n I s s u e d n in e tim e s by 1692; th e t e n t h e d i t i o n may h a v e a p p e a re d i n th e l a s t y e a r s o f th e s e v e n te e n th c e n tu ry o r i n th e e a r l y y e a r s o f t h e e i g h t e e n t h . The e le v e n t h was I s s u e d i n 1702; th e t w e l f t h , i n 1707; and th e t h i r t e e n t h , i n 1715, a c c o r d in g to t h e B r l t l s h Museum C a ta lo g u e . O th e r e d i t i o n s , o f w hich no r e c o r d i s a t p r e s e n t a v a i l a b l e , w ere u n d o u b te d ly is s u e d b e f o r e 1767. 189 22 23 F i g - t r e e and The A c c e p ta b le S a c r i f i c e p a s s e d th ro u g h a t l e a s t two e d i t i o n s each b e f o r e 1767, a s d i d a l s o Pome 24 and Welcome to J e s u s C h r i s t and The Work o f J e s u s C h r i s t pc a s an A d v o c a te . S p eak in g p a r t i c u l a r l y o f t h e f i r s t volum e o f t h e f o l i o e d i t i o n o f B unyan*s w orks, w hich c o n t a in e d o n ly p r a c t i c a l and d o c t r i n a l t r e a t i s e s , Samuel W ilso n p r a i s e d th e s e d i s c o u r s e s a s b e in g "n o t t h e l e a s t v a l u a b le " o f B unyan’ s w orks, and spoke o f them a s h a v in g b e e n "so w e ll r e c e i v e d by t h e C hurch o f Cod, t h a t th e y n ee d no C om m endation.1 ?2® H is com m endatory p r e f a c e , n e v e r t h e l e s s , 22 The f o u r t h e d i t i o n o f The B a rre n F i g - t r e e a p p e a re d i n 1695; t h e f i f t h may h av e a p p e a re d i n th e l a s t y e a r s o f th e s e v e n te e n th c e n tu r y o r i n th e e a r l y y e a r s o f th e e i g h t e e n t h . A c c o rd in g t o th e B r l t l s h Museum C a ta lo g u e , th e s i x t h e d i t i o n a p p e a re d i n London, 1709; a n o th e r e d i t i o n was i s s u e d i n 1762. 23 B r i t i s h Museum C a ta lo g u e r e c o r d s t h e f o u r t h e d i t i o n , 1702, and t h e f i f t h , 1718. 24 The B r i t i s h Museum C a ta lo g u e r e c o r d s t h e e l e v e n t h e d i t i o n o f 1715, w h ich was r e p r i n t e d i n 1756; and t h e t w e l f t h e d i t i o n o f 1 7 1 9 , w hich was r e p r i n t e d i n 1762. The t e n t h e d i t i o n was a l s o r e p r i n t e d d u r in g t h i s p e r i o d , a p p e a r in g i n 1756. 25 The B r i t i s h Museum C a ta lo g u e r e c o r d s an e d i t i o n i s s u e d a b o u t 1720, and a n o th e r w ith th e d a t e 1725. A n o th e r copy, im p e r f e c t, i s a d u p l i c a t e o f th e p r e c e d in g , w ith a new t i t l e p ag e on -which i t i s s t a t e d t o be o f t h e f i f t h e d i t i o n . 26 Samuel W ilso n , "The P r e f a c e , " o n . c l t . . v l i . 190 p o i n t e d o u t t h e p rim a ry q u a l i f i c a t i o n s o f B unyan’ s d o c t r i n a l t r e a t i s e s t h a t made them w orthy o f p e r u s a l and s tu d y , nam ely, t h e i r u s e f u l n e s s I n l e a d i n g s i n n e r s to C h r i s t , and t h e i r sound e x p r e s s io n o f t h e o rth o d o x t r u t h s o f e v a n g e l i c a l C h r i s t i a n i t y . Many o f B u n y a n 's d i s c o u r s e s , w ro te W ilso n , w ere " a d m ira b ly a d a p te d to in fo rm , and e n c o u ra g e S in n e r s i n q u i r i n g t h e Way to Z io n . " b e c a u s e Bunyan h i m s e l f had b e e n " a b u n d a n tly f u r n i s h 'd , from h i s own E x p e r ie n c e ," w ith a know ledge o f t h e t r u t h s o f w hich h e w ro te , he " h a v in g b e e n lo n g i n t h e S e r v ic e o f S in , ' t i l l a t l e n g t h G-od o p e n in g h i s E yes, h e was e n a b le d to d l s c o v e r t h e im a g in a ry S a t i s f a c t i o n o f th e c a r n a l A p p e t i t e , i n a C ourse o f Im p ie ty , to b e m eer V a n ity , F o l l y , and D elu s i o n "27 And a s h e h a s s k i l f u l l y r e p r e s e n t e d S in , I n i t s o d io u s M a lig n ity , as t h e ab o m in a b le E v il w hich God h a t e s , and c a r e f u l l y t r a c e d I t to i t s O r i g i n a l , I n th e f i r s t Adam1s A p o sta c y , p o i n t i n g o u t t h e d a n g e ro u s E f f e c t s o f t h i s m ost d e a d ly D is e a s e , a s i t s u l l i e s t h e B e au ty ,, d e s t r o y s th e P e a c e , and e n d a n g e rs t h e S a f e ty o f t h e Im m o rtal S o u l: So i t i s n o t e a s y to sa y , w h e th e r w i t h g r e a t e r Judgm ent, o r A ff e c t i o n , h e h a s d e s c r i b e d th e Remedy, when t r e a t in g on t h e Im p u ted R ig h te o u s n e s s o f C h r i s t , and t h e M y stery o f P a rd o n in g G ra c e , i n t h e B lo o d o f th e E v e r l a s t i n g C o v e n a n t,28 27 Samuel W ilso n , "The P r e f a c e , " op. c i t . , v l l . 28 Loc. c i t . 191 "T h is in d e e d ," sum m arized W ilso n , "ru n s th r o u g h th e g r e a t e s t P a r t o f h i s W orks, a s a fu n d a m e n ta l T ru th on w hich t h e w hole F a b r ic k o f th e G o sp el, and t h e B e l i e v e r s Hopes a r e b u i l t . " B u n y a n 's z e a l f o r p u r i t y o f h e a r t an d p i e t y o f l i f e , com bined w ith h i s c a u tio n a g a i n s t t h e v a i n c o n c e it t h a t man can b e sa v e d by w orks o f r i g h t e o u s n e s s a lo n e , was a l s o h e a r t i l y commended by W ilso n , a s was B u n y a n 's a s s e r t i o n and i l l u s t r a t i o n o f " o t h e r I m p o r ta n t M y s te r ie s o f th e e v e r l a s t i n g G o s p e l ," su c h a s t h e d o c t r i n e o f t h e t r i n i t y , t h e b e l i e f i n p r e d e s t i n a t i o n and i n t h e e l e c t i o n o f s a i n t s , t h e c o n v i c t i o n t h a t c o n v e r s io n i s an e v id e n c e o f th e h a n d o f God, and t h a t g r a c e , once b e sto w e d , can 30 n e v e r b e w h o lly l o s t . B u n y a n 's ex p o u n d in g o f s c r i p t u r a l p r o m is e s , and h i s a t te m p t a t r e c o n c i l i n g seem ing d i f f e r e n c e s b etw e en them an d c e r t a i n d i s p e n s a t i o n s o f p r o v id e n c e , was a l s o deemed w o rth y o f com m endation by th e e d i t o r : Nor d o es h e o v e r lo o k th e many e x c e e d in g g r e a t an d p r e c i o u s P ro m is e s , w h eth e r made to t h e C hurch i n g e n e r a l , o r B e l i e v e r s i n p a r t i c u l a r , and a s i t comes b e f o r e him , r e c o n c i l e s t h e seem ing C o n t r a d i c t i o n b etw e en t h e P ro m ise an d c e r t a i n D e s p e n s a tio n s o f P ro v id e n c e , by v i n d i c a t i n g t h e D iv in e F a i t h f u l n e s s , s i n c e Samuel W ilso n , "The P r e f a c e , " obU c l t . , v l i . ^ I b i d . , v i l - v l l l . 192 w h e th e r t h e S a i n t can se e i t o r no, a l l t h i n g s do work t o g e t h e r f o r good t o them t h a t lo v e God, an d a r e t h e C a lle d a c c o r d in g to h i s P u r p o s e .31 E q u a lly sound an d com mendable a s h i s d o c t r i n a l t r e a t i s e s , w ere B u n y a n 's p r a c t i c a l d i s c o u r s e s , d e c l a r e d W ilson: B e s id e s t h e s e g l o r i o u s T r u th s o f t h e e v e r l a s t i n g G o sp e l, you w i l l m eet w ith a la rfe e A ccount o f t h e s e v e r a l D u tie s o f C h r i s t i a n s , w h e th e r a s Members o f C i v i l S o c ie ty , o r r e l a t e d to p a r t i c u l a r Com m u n it ie s , o r c o n c e rn e d i n th e Management o f P r i v a t e F a m il ie s , t o g e t h e r w ith th e s p i r i t u a l M anner i n id ilch th e y a r e to b e p e rfo rm e d , th e D iv in e A s s i s t a n c e w hich i s n e c e s s a r y to i t , an d th e M e r it s o f th e S a v io u r, w hich a lo n e can r e n d e r them a c c e p t a b l e to God. "What we a p p ro v e o u r s e l v e s , w w ro te t h e e d i t o r o f B u n y a n 's works w ith r e f e r e n c e to them, "We a r e a p t to recommend to o t h e r s . " W ilson, who h ad " lo n g b e e n o f O p in io n t h a t t h e W r itin g s o f t h i s e x c e l l e n t A u th o r" w ere "w e ll w o rth th e P e r u s a l o f th o s e who h a v e t a s t e d t h a t th e L ord i s g r a c i o u s , "33 n o te d w ith some s a t i s f a c t i o n t h a t t h e " r i s i n g G e n e r a t i o n , " to whom he p a r t i c u l a r l y r e commended th e l a b o r s o f Bunyan, h a d a l s o l e n t t h e i r en co u rag em en t to w ard t h e is s u a n c e o f th e se c o n d f o l i o 34 e d i t i o n ; he was, t h e r e f o r e , by no means t h e o n ly 31 Samuel W ilso n , "The P r e f a c e , " op., c l t . . v i i i . 32 Loc. c i t . 33 I b i d . , v i l . 34 i*>ia. « v i i i . 193 r e a d e r who a p p ro v e d o f B u n y a n 's t r e a t i s e s , th o u g h he seems t o h a v e b e e n one o f t h e few t o r e c o r d h i s com m e n d a tio n s. E x p re s s io n s o f o p in io n on B u n y a n 's d o c t r i n a l w r i t in g s a r e v e ry few d u r in g t h i s p e r i o d and o f t e n f a i l t o o c c u r i n th e w orks o f a u t h o r s fro m whom th e y m ig h t b e e x p e c te d . The B a p t i s t h i s t o r i a n Thomas C ro sb y , f o r i n s t a n c e , made no o r i g i n a l comment w h a ts o e v e r, i n h i s c u r i o u s l y in a d e q u a te a c c o u n t o f Bunyan, o f t h a t w o r t h y 's w r i t i n g s , beyond s t a t i n g t h a t h i s w orks w ere "m an y ." C r o s b y 's c h a r a c t e r i z a t i o n o f The Holy C lt.v. C h r l s t l a n B e h a v io u r, The R e s u r r e c t i o n o f t h e Dead, an d G race Abound in g a s " s e v e r a l e x c e l l e n t and u s e f u l t r e a t i s e s , "35 can s c a r c e l y b e ta k e n a s o f much s i g n i f i c a n c e , when i t i s r e a l i z e d t h a t t h i s i s m e rely a v e r b a tim q u o t a t i o n from th e anonymous 1700 l i f e o f Bunyan. The e x a c t i n t e r p r e t a t i o n to b e p u t on J o s e p h A d d is o n 's co m p a riso n o f Bunyan w ith th e C hurch F a t h e r s , on th e b a s i s o f h i s S o lo m o n 's Temple S p i r i t u a l i z e d , ^ 3$ Thomas C ro sb y , The H is to r y o f th e E n g lis h Bap t i s t s , from The R e fo rm a tio n to th e B e g in n in g o f th e R e ig n o f K ing G eorge I. (London, 1 7 3 8 -4 0 ), I I I , 74, c i t i n g w ith o u t acknow ledgm ent from "Some A ccount of th e L i f e and D e a th o f Mr. Jo h n B unyan," op. c l t . , x i l . 3(5 « ...M r . A d d iso n s a id , w hoever h ad r e a d Mr. B unyan' s S o lo m o n 's te m p le s p i r i t u a l i z e d , h a d r e a d a s g r e a t a f a t h e r a s any o f th e m ,h r e c o r d s R o b e rt R o b in so n , Ah- E ssa y on t h e C o m p o sitio n o f a Serm on. T r a n s l a t e d from tE e o r i g i n a l F re n c h o f The Rev5 . Jo h n C la u d e . . . . W ith N o te s . By R o b e rt R o b in so n (C am bridge and London, 1 7 7 9 ), T T 5 T n. 194 I s d u b io u s . R o b e rt R o b in so n , who v i o l e n t l y d i s l i k e d t h e " s p i r i t u a l i z i n g " o r a l l e g o r i z i n g of s c r i p t u r a l com m ent, h e l d A d d iso n * s w ords to h a v e a d e r o g a to r y im p l ic a t i o n . “Many o f th e F a t h e r s . " he w ro te , "w ere r e m a rk a b le f o r t h i s h a b i t o f s p i r i t u a l i z i n g ; an d on t h i s a c c o u n t, I su p p o se , Mr. A d d iso n s a id , w hoever h ad r e a d Mr. B u n y a n 's S olom on1s Temple S p i r i t u a l i z e d , h a d r e a d a s g r e a t a f a t h e r a s any o f them . W hatever was th e a t t i t u d e o f s e c u l a r w r i t e r s to w a rd B u n y a n 's d o c t r i n a l w orks, how ever, t h a t o f t h e r e l i g i o u s was p e r h a p s b e s t e x p r e s s e d i n th e w ords of Samuel W ilso n , who was p e rs u a d e d t h a t B u n y a n 's name w ould r e t a i n " i t s F ra g ra n c y w ith a l l s e r i o u s P e r s o n s , who a t an y tim e s h a l l b e a c q u a in te d w ith h i s W r i t i n g s . " 3® *^7 R o b e rt R o b in so n , n o t e s to C l a u d e 's E ssay on th e C o m p o sitio n o f a Sermon, I , 51. 38 Samuel W ilso n , "The P r e f a c e , " op. c i t . , v i i i . BUNYAN AS POET B unyan’ s p o e t i c works su ch as One T h in g I s Need- 39 f u l , E b al and G -erlzlm , and P r is o n M e d i t a t i o n s , w hich had e n jo y e d a c o n s i d e r a b l e p o p u l a r i t y I n th e s e v e n te e n th c e n tu r y , p a s s in g th r o u g h t h r e e o r f o u r e d i t i o n s , w ere a p p a r e n t l y n o t r e i s s u e d i n th e c e n tu r y f o llo w in g , p ro b a b ly b e in g th o u g h t u n s u i t e d t o th e t a s t e o f t h e ag e . Book f o r Boys and Q -lrls , how ever, o f w h ich o n ly t h e th e f i r s t e d i t i o n h ad b e e n i s s u e d i n B u n y a n 's c e n tu r y , p a s s e d th r o u g h t e n e d i t i o n s I n t h e p e r i o d u n d e r c o n s id e r a t i o n , th o u g h so r e v i s e d and a l t e r e d , i n c o n t e n t t h a t Bunyan would p r o b a b ly h av e f a i l e d to r e c o g n i z e th e work i n w hich he h ad c a s t a s i d e g r a v i t y f o r t h e p u rp o s e o f a p p e a li n g to t h e young and im m atu re. I n t h e se c o n d e d i t i o n o f t h i s book, w h ich a p p e a re d i n 1701, th e "H elp t o C h ild re n to l e a r n to r e a d E n g l i s h , w c o n s i s t i n g o f an a l p h a b e t , a t a b l e o f names and num bers, and a l i s t o f w ords I n v a r io u s s y l l a b l e s , was o m itte d , and, a s a c o n se q u e n c e , a l s o th e l a s t tw e lv e l i n e s o f t h e a d d r e s s to th e r e a d e r . The o r i g i n a l number o f s e v e n ty - f o u r emblems was m o reo v e r re d u c e d by th e e n t i r e o m is s io n 39 T hese t h r e e p i e c e s , how ever, a s w e ll a s A C a u tio n to S t i r up t o Watch a g a i n s t S in , a p p e a r e d I n t h e second f o l i o e d i t i o n o f B unyan' s w orks (1 7 3 6 -7 ); th e f o u r , w ith th e a d d i t i o n o f D iv in e Emblems, w ere a l s o r e p r i n t e d i n t h e t h i r d f o l i o e d i t i o n (1 7 6 7 ). 196 o f t w e n t y - f i v e , w h ile t h e r e m a in d e r w ere s u b je c te d to r a t h e r s tr e n u o u s r e v i s i o n . T hese r e v i s i o n s , c e r t a i n l y n o t I n e v e ry c a s e im p ro v em en ts, tam ed down and w eakened B u n y a n 's h e a r t y p h r a s e o lo g y , and o f t e n e x p r e s s e d l e s s w e ll th e th o u g h t t h a t he h a d in te n d e d to co n v ey . I n t h e emblem m o r a li z in g on a w atch , f o r i n s t a n c e , Bunyan had w r i t t e n : Or e l s e y o u r w atc h , w ere i t a s good a g a in , Would n o t w ith tim e and t i d e you e n t e r t a i n . T his t h e e d i t o r o f 1701 r e v i s e d to r e a d : Or e l s e y o u r w a tc h w i l l n o t e x a c t l y go— n • T w ill s ta n d o r ru n to o f a s t , o r move to o slow . u Even t h e s u b - t i t l e o f B unyan’ s book, "C o u n try Rhymes f o r C h i l d r e n , " was c o n s id e r e d somewhat to o r u s t i c by th e e d i t o r o f 1701, who a l t e r e d i t to r e a d , "T em poral T h in g s S p i r i t u a l i z e d . " W ith t h e p u b l i c a t i o n o f t h e t h i r d e d i t i o n i n 1707, t h e Book f o r Boys and G i r l s f i r s t b eg a n to be I l l u s t r a t e d , w h ile c u t s " f e a r f u l t o s e e " 4'* ’ a d o rn e d t h e n i n t h e d i t i o n o f 1 7 2 4 .42 I f B u n y a n 's s u b - t i t l e h a d seemed in a d e q u a te to t h e e d i t o r o f 1701, even B u n y a n 's m ain t i t l e f a i l e d to p l e a s e 40 Jo h n Brown, " I n t r o d u c t i o n , " Jo h n Bunyan, A Book f o r Boys and G i r l s , x v i i . 41 I b i d . , x x v l . 42 Of t h e f i v e e d i t i o n s o f t h i s book t h a t m ust h av e a p p e a re d i n th e s e v e n te e n y e a r s e l a p s i n g b etw een th e d a t e s o f t h e s e two e d i t i o n s , t h e r e i s no r e c o r d . 197 th e more f a s t i d i o u s e d i t o r o f 1724, who s e n t th e hook f o r t h a s D iv in e Emblems: o r . T em poral T h in g s S p i r i t u a l i z e d . The t e n t h e d i t i o n o f D iv in e Emblems, u n d e r w hich t i t l e t h e book was now known, a p p e a r e d more th a n th irty - y e a r s a f t e r th e n i n t h , b e in g p u b l i s h e d by E. D i l l y , a t th e R ose and Grown i n t h e P o u l t r y . I t was e m b e llis h e d w ith a new s e r i e s o f e n g r a v i n g s ,4 * 5 e x e c u te d i n b e t t e r s t y l e th a n th o s e I n t h e p r e v io u s e d i t i o n s , an d c o n ta in e d a c u r io u s p r e f a c e ( t h e e x a c t c o n n e c tio n o f w hich w ith t h e book i s n o t e n t i r e l y c l e a r ) , a d d r e s s e d to " t h e G-reat Boys i n P o lio and t h e L i t t l e Ones i n C o a ts ," and s ig n e d J * D .44 A l a t e r e d i t i o n o f t h e emblems, I s s u e d i n 1767 by ” W illia m J o h n s to n o f L u d g a te H i l l , m arks th e t e n t h pub l i c a t i o n o f t h i s p o p u la r c h i l d r e n ’ s book i n th e p e r i o d u n d e r c o n s i d e r a t i o n . A sid e from t h i s e v id e n c e o f p o p u l a r i t y se e n i n th e p u b l i c a t i o n o f num erous e d i t i o n s of t h i s one work o f B u n y a n 's , how ever, no in f o r m a ti o n i s a v a i l a b l e on w hich an e s t i m a t e of h i s p o e t i c a l r e p u t a t i o n w ith r e a d e r s o f th e p e r i o d ca n be fo rm e d . The l y r i c s i n The P i l g r i m 1s P r o g r e s s , r e a l l y d e s e r v in g o f com m endation, e l i c i t e d no comment u n t i l th e e a r l y y e a r s o f th e n i n e t e e n t h c e n tu r y . The e n g r a v in g s o f D i l l y ' s e d i t i o n w ere r e p e a t e d l y r e p r i n t e d ; th e y a r e to b e s e e n i n t h e e d i t i o n p u t o u t by B ic k e r s and Son (London, n . d . ), w ith p r e f a c e by th e G lasgow p o e t A le x a n d e r S m ith . 44 Jo h n Brown, " I n t r o d u c t i o n , " Jo h n Bunyan, A Book f o r Boys and G i r l s , x x v i i . BUNYAN AS AUTOBIOGRAPHER G race A bounding to t h e C h ie f o f S in n e r s c o n tin u e d to b e p o p u la r w ith e v a n g e l i c a l l y m inded r e a d e r s I n th e e i g h t e e n t h c e n tu r y , a s I n th e s e v e n te e n th . The t w e l f t h e d i t i o n , w hich a p p e a re d i n 1701, was r e p u b l i s h e d i n 1749, w h ile t h e n i n t h , t e n t h , and e le v e n th w ere r e p r i n t e d I n 1716, 1759, an d 1761 r e s p e c t i v e l y . 45 A ls o , to w a rd t h e end o f t h i s p e r i o d a n o t h e r a u t o b i o g r a p h i c a l w ork, A Re- 46 l a t l o n o f t h e Im p riso n m en t o f Mr. Jo h n B unyan, was A T ? g iv e n to t h e p u b l i c f o r t h e f i r s t tim e I n I t s e n t i r e t y . I t was t h i s r e l a t i o n o f B u n y a n 's im p riso n m e n t, r a t h e r th a n h i s more I m p o rta n t a c c o u n t o f h i m s e l f I n G race A bounding, t h a t s e rv e d a s th e c h i e f b a s i s f o r two o f t h e t h r e e b i o g r a p h i c a l c o n s i d e r a t i o n s o f him t h a t a p p e a re d d u r in g t h i s tim e . I n t e r e s t I n B u n y a n 's l i f e was 45 R e co rd ed I n th e B r i t i s h Museum C a ta lo g u e . The c a ta l o g u e a l s o g i v e s r e c o r d o f an u n i d e n t i f i e d e d i t i o n o f 1750. 46 A R e l a t i o n o f th e Im p rlso n m en t o f Mr. Jo h n Bunyan, M i n i s t e r o f t h e G o sp el a t B e d fo rd , i n November, 1 6 6 0 . H is E x a m in a tio n b e f o r e th e J u s t i c e s , h i s Con- f e r e n c e w ith t h e C le r k o f th e P e a c e , what p a s s e d b etw e en th e J u d g e s and h i s W ife , when sh e p r e s e n t e d a P e t i t i o n f o r h i s D e l1v e r a n c e , &c. W r itte n by h i m s e l f , and n e v e r b e f o r e p u b lis h e d . London: P r i n t e d f o r Jam es B uckland, a t th e Buck, I n P a te rn o s te r -R o w , 1765. 47 As n o te d b e lo w (p ag e 203 ), C rosby I n 1739-40 h ad q u o te d a t some l e n g t h from t h i s work w h ile i t was s t i l l I n m a n u s c r ip t. 199 v e ry s l i g h t d u r in g t h e e i g h te e n th c e n tu r y ; no c o m p le te b i o g r a p h i e s w h a te v e r a p p e a re d d u r in g th e p e r i o d u n d e r c o n s id e r a tio n ,^ ® and o n ly t h r e e b i o g r a p h i c a l s k e tc h e s , t h a t i n th e f i r s t e d i t i o n o f t h e B lo g ra p h ia B r l t a n n i c a , t h a t i n C r o s b y 's H is to r y o f th e E n g lis h B a p t i s t s , and t h a t i n t h e G entlem an* s M agazine o f 1765. To th e w r i t e r o f t h e f i r s t o f t h e s e a c c o u n ts , 49 t h a t i n t h e B lo g ra p h la B r l t a n n i c a , t h e R e l a t i o n o f th e Im p riso n m en t was o f c o u r s e n o t a v a i l a b l e , n o r d id t h e w r i t e r seem t o h a v e th o u g h t t h e r e a d in g o f G race A bounding n e c e s s a r y f o r th e w r i t i n g o f h i s b i o g r a p h i c a l s k e tc h , w hich i s e v i d e n t l y b a s e d on t h e anonym ous ’ 'A ccount o f th e L i f e and D eath o f Mr. Jo h n Bunyan” (1700) and th e , 50 " C o n tin u a t io n ” o f B u n y a n 's l i f e (1 6 9 2 ). The n a r r a ,tiv e and even th e p h r a s e o lo g y o f t h e s e two b i o g r a p h e r s , t h i s w r i t e r f o llo w e d w ith some c o n s is te n c y i n r e c o r d i n g t h e few f a c t s c o n c e r n in g Bunyan t h a t h e th o u g h t i t e s s e n t i a l to n o te — h i s mean e x t r a c t i o n , h i s n a t u r a l d i s p o s i t i o n 48 Qf L i f e De a t h ” o f Bunyan in c lu d e d i n t h e t e n t h e d i t i o n o f The H eavenly Footman (R. T a y lo r, B erw ick, 1760) and i n th e t h i r t i e t h and t h i r t y - f i r s t e d i t i o n o f The P i l g r i m 1s P r o g r e s s , I h a v e b e e n u n a b le to o b t a i n a copy. From i t s t i t l e , how ever, i t a p p e a r s to b e a r e p r i n t o f t h e 1700 b io g ra p h y e n t i t l e d "Some A ccount o f t h e L i f e and D eath o f Mr. Jo h n B unyan." ^ V ol. I I , i n w hich th e a c c o u n t o f Bunyan a p p e a r s , was p u b l i s h e d i n 1747. 50 The w r i t e r ack n o w led g ed h i s d ep en d en ce on t h e " C o n t i n u a t i o n ,” b u t made no r e f e r e n c e to t h e o t h e r work a s th e s o u rc e o f much o f h i s m a t e r i a l . T h is work h a d by t h i s tim e b een r e p u b l i s h e d i n th e seco n d f o l i o e d i t i o n o f B u n y a n 's w r i t i n g s (1 7 3 6 -7 ). 200 to w ard w ick e d n ess and h i s g r a d u a l re fo rm , h i s c a r e e r a s a s o l d i e r and h i s p re s e n c e a t t h e s ie g e o f L e i c e s t e r , 51 h i s j o i n i n g th e B a p t i s t ch urch and becom ing a p o p u la r p r e a c h e r , h i s Im prisonm ent and h i s r e l e a s e th ro u g h th e 52 agency o f B ishop B arlow , Any s p e c i f i c a c c o u n t o f th e 51 T h is i s o f c o u rse i n c o r r e c t ; se e s u p r a , p age 19 n. 52 The la c k o f d e f i n i t e and a c c u r a te in f o r m a tio n c o n c e r n in g B u n y a n 's v a r io u s p e r io d s o f Im prisonm ent l e d th e B lo g ra p h ia B r l t a n n i c a in t o a c u r io u s c o n t r a d i c t i o n o f s ta te m e n t. The a r t i c l e on Bunyan a t t r i b u t e d B u n y an 's r e l e a s e to th e in f l u e n c e o f B ishop Barlow, w hich in fo rm a t i o n th e w r i t e r o f th e a r t i c l e e v id e n tly to o k from th e 1700 anonymous l i f e o f Bunyan, The a r t i c l e on John Owen (V ol.V , p . 3294 f . n o t e ) , how ever, g ave a lo n g (th o u g h unacknow ledged) c i t a t i o n from A s t y 's L if e o f John Owen p ro v in g t h a t B arlow had r e f u s e d to ac c e d e to Owen' s r e q u e s t t h a t h e i n t e r c e d e i n b e h a lf o f B u n y a n 's r e l e a s e . An a c c u r a te s ta te m e n t o f t h e v a r io u s tim e s and p la c e s o f B u n y an 's te rm s o f im p riso n m en t was a r r i v e d a t o n ly a s l a t e a s 1885, by John Brown, Bunyan was im p ri soned t h r e e v a r io u s tim e s : In 1660 he was im p riso n e d i n B ed fo rd county j a i l w here he rem a in ed f o r s i x y e a r s ; a t t h a t tim e he was r e l e a s e d , a s th e w r i t e r o f th e "C o n tin u a tio n " n o te d , f o r a s h o r t p e r io d , p ro b a b ly some weeks, w h e r e a f te r he was a g a in r e t u r n e d to th e same j a i l f o r s i x y e a r s . H is r e l e a s e a t t h i s tim e was th e r e s u l t o f a g e n e r a l p a rd o n , w itn e s s e d a t W e stm in ste r, Septem ber 13, 1672, Is s u e d a t th e i n s t i g a t i o n o f th e Q uakers ( e s p e c i a l l y G eorge W hitehead, a s r e c o r d e d i n The C h rlg - t l a n P r o g r e s s o f G eorge W hitehead [ l7 2 5 j, i n The F r i e n d s ' L ib r a r y , V III, 3 5 3 ), p a r t i c u l a r l y f o r th e b e n e f i t o f members of t h e i r own s e c t . T hree y e a r s l a t e r , d u rin g th e w in te r and e a r l y s p r in g o f 1 6 7 5 -6 , Bunyan was a g a in im p riso n e d f o r s i x m onths ( d u rin g which he w ro te The B l l g r l m 's P r o g r e s s ) . t h i s tim e n o t i n th e co u n ty j a i l , b u t i n t h e B ed fo rd town J a i l on th e b r id g e . A s ty ’ s a c c o u n t (L i f e o f Jo h n Owen) o f O w en's a tte m p t to s e c u re th e i n t e r c e s s i o n o f B arlow i n B u n y an 's b e h a lf i s r e l a t e d w ith r e f e r e n c e to B u n y an 's r e l e a s e i n 1672; b u t th o u g h A s t y 's f a c t s a r e c o r r e c t , h i s d a t e i s c l e a r l y n o t, a s Barlow, co n c ern ed i n th e m a tte r n o t a s a f r i e n d b u t i n h i s o f f i c i a l c a p a c ity a s b is h o p o f th e d io c e s e , d id n o t become B ishop o f L in c o ln u n t i l 1675. I t was, t h e r e f o r e , w ith r e g a r d to B u n y a n 's r e l e a s e from h i s t h i r d im p ris o n ment t h a t Owen and B arlow were con cern ed - (See John Brown, John Bunyan. 1 5 2 -3 , 2 4 1 -2 .) 201 r e l i g i o u s e x p e rie n c e s th ro u g h which Bunyan w ent, and th e d i v i n e p ro v id e n c e s t h a t were m a n ife s te d un to him, t h i s w r i t e r c a r e f u l l y av o id ed , a s w e ll as any r e s t a t e ment of th e b i o g r a p h i c a l eulogy t h a t he fo u n d i n th e two works t h a t s e rv e d him as a so u rc e . The w r i t e r ’ s s e c u la r a t t i t u d e i s se en i n h i s r e f e r e n c e to Bunyan, i n h i s re fo rm e d c h a r a c t e r , as h a v in g ’’a r r i v e d a t a h ig h d e g re e o f t h a t s a i n t s h ip , which p r e v a i l e d i n th o s e tim e s o f e n th u siasm . The second o f th e b i o g r a p h i c a l a c c o u n ts of Bunyan t h a t a p p e a re d d u rin g t h i s p e r i o d was t h a t by Thomas 54 Crosby i n h i s H is to r y o f th e E n g l1 sh B a p t i s t s . T h is work was w r i t t e n w ith th e p u rp o se o f d o in g j u s t i c e to a s e c t t h a t th e a u t h o r f e l t had been s la n d e r e d by D an ie l Neal i n h i s H is to r y o f th e P u r i t a n s , a h i s t o r y which, ^ B lo g ra p h ia B r l t a n n i c a , I I , 1028-9. 54 Thomas Crosby, The H is to r y o f th e E n g lis h B a p t i s t s , from The R e fo rm a tio n to th e B eg in n in g o f th e Reign o f King George I.(L o n d o n , 1 7 3 8 -4 0 ). C ro sb y ’ s i s i n th e main n o t an u n tr u s tw o r th y r e c o r d o f e v e n ts , and i s v a lu a b le f o r i t s b io g r a p h i c a l n o t i c e s of e a r l y Bap t i s t m i n i s t e r s , th o u g h i t has no r e g a r d f o r t h e w idely d i f f e r i n g groups among th e B a p t i s t s th e m s e lv e s . The m a t e r i a l i s n o t w e ll a rr a n g e d . Ivlm ey (H i s t o r y o f t h e E n g lis h B a p t i s t s , I , v l l ) s t a t e d t h a t th e work was 1 1 so b a d ly w r i t t e n , t h a t an abridgm ent and a rran g em en t of i t s c o n t e n t s have lo n g been th o u g h t d e s i r a b l e . ” 5 5 D a n ie l N eal, H is to r y o f t h e P u r i t a n s , o r P ro t e s t a n t N o n c o n fo rm ists: from t h e R e fo rm a tio n i n 1517. to th e R e v o lu tio n i n 1 6 8 8 : c o m p rlsin g an A ccount o f t h e i r P r i n c i p l e s : t h e i r A ttem p ts a t a f a r t h e r r e f o r m a tio n i n th e c h u r c h : t h e i r s u f f e r i n g s : and th e l i v e s and c h a ra c t e r s o f t h e i r mo s t c o n s i d e r a b l e d l v i n e s , 1720-38. 202 I n c i d e n t a l l y , had o m itte d a l l m ention of such w ell-know n K g n o n c o n fo rm is ts a s K l f f l n , Keach, and Bunyan. Crosby b a s e d h i s b io g r a p h i c a l a c c o u n t o f th e e a r l y p a r t o f B u n y a n 's l i f e on G race Abounding and t h e anonymous l i f e o f 1700, n o tin g B unyan's low p a r e n ta g e and h i s n a t u r a l d e p r a v i ty , h i s c o n v e r s a tio n w ith a r e l i g io u s man which in f l u e n c e d him tow ard outw ard re fo rm a t i o n and h i s o v e r h e a rin g t h e t a l k o f some r e l i g i o u s s o u ls o f B edford which showed him th e meaning o f s p i r i t u a l r e f o r m a tio n , h i s becom ing a member o f G i f f o r d 's ch urch and h is i n f lu e n c e as a p r e a c h e r . Of t h e m ir a c u lo u s p ro v id e n c e s t h a t showed th e m s e lv e s i n B unyan's l i f e , o f h i s v i s i o n s , and h i s h e a r in g t h e v o ic e o f God, t h i s h i s t o r i a n made no m e n tio n w h ate v er. D aniel Neal (1678-1743) c h a r a c t e r i z e d th e B a p t i s t s a s " f o r th e most p a r t o f th e m eanest o f th e p e o p le . T h e ir p r e a c h e r s , " h e w rote, "were g e n e r a l l y i l l i t e r a t e , and went ab o u t t h e c o u n try making p ro s e l y t e s o f a l l who would subm it to im m ersion, w ith o u t a due r e g a r d to t h e i r a c q u a in ta n c e w ith t h e p r i n c i p l e s o f r e l i g i o n , o r t h e i r m oral c h a r a c t e r . The w r i t e r s o f t h e s e tim e s r e p r e s e n t them as t i n c t u r e d w ith a k in d o f e n t h u s i a s t i c f u r y a g a i n s t a l l t h a t opposed them" (N eal, H is to ry o f th e P u r i t a n s , Toulraln e d i t i o n , I , 498). Crosby c i t e d t h i s p a s s a g e w ith g r e a t i n d i g n a t i o n , ex c la im in g , "What a m a lic io u s s l a n d e r i s t h i s J " (C rosby, op. c i t . , I , v ) . N e a l 's o c c a s i o n a l l y s e r i o u s m is r e p re s e n t a t i o n o r s u p p r e s s io n o f f a c t s d i d n o t p a s s un c h a lle n g e d e i t h e r by th e A n g lic a n s o r th e s e c t a r i a n s . Crosby among th e B a p t i s t s , Gough among th e Q uakers, and I s a a c Maddox and Z achary Grey among th e A n g lic a n s a l l p o in te d o u t N e a l 's p a r t i a l i t y . Dr. Jo sh u a Toulmin (1740- 1815), who e d i t e d th e f i v e volume e d i t i o n o f N e a l 's h i s t o r y p u b lis h e d i n 1793-7 ( r e p r i n t e d i n 1822), i n c o r p o r a te d i n h i s n o te s much m a tte r from Cr osby and Gough. 203 H is acco u n t of B unyan's t r i a l and im prisonm ent Crosby to o k from t h e th e n u n p u b lis h e d m a n u s c rip t, A R e l a t i o n o f t h e Im prisonm ent o f Mr. John Bunyan. T his, he n o te d , was to o e x te n d e d t o be g iv en i n f u l l , bu t he q u o ted c o p io u s ly from th e n a r r a t i v e , s to p p in g on one o c c a s io n t o n o te how Bunyan had answ ered Dr. L in d a le 57 i n such a way "a s soon p u t him to s i l e n c e . " T his rem ark was C rosby*s one o r i g i n a l comment, on Bunyan, Again f o llo w in g t h e l i f e o f 1700, t h i s h i s t o r i a n gave 58 Bishop Barlow c r e d i t f o r B unyan's r e l e a s e from p r i s o n , and, t u r n i n g t o t h e " C o n tin u a tio n " o f B u n y a n 's l i f e , he a d a p te d t h i s a u th o r * s e s tim a te o f B unyan's " c h a r a c t e r . " A p p a re n tly c o n s id e r in g h im s e lf a r e c o r d e r , r a t h e r th a n an i n t e r p r e t e r , o f f a c t s , Crosby c o n t r i b u t e d p r a c t i c a l l y n o th in g i n t h e way o f o r i g i n a l comment on th e l i f e o f t h e man whom he term ed " th e famous Mr. John 59 Bunyan, " d e v o tin g t o t h i s ac co u n t ab o u t a t h i r d o f t h e RO space t h a t he a c c o rd e d to th a t o f Benjam in Keach. 57 Thomas C rosby, op. c l t . , I I I , 67, 58 I b i d . , I I , 93; I I I , 73. 59 I b i d . , I I , 92. Crosby d e a l t w ith Bunyan i n Vol. I I , p . 92, and V o l . I l l , pp. 63-75; and w ith Keach i n V o l . I I , p p . 185-209; V o l . I l l , pp. 1 4 3 -5 ; V ol.IV , pp. 268-314, I n f a i r n e s s to Crosby, however, h i s r e a s o n f o r h i s ex te n d e d tr e a tm e n t o f Keach must be s t a t e d ; "As I have been b l e s s e d w ith th e h a p p in e s s o f a good w ife, t h e y o u n g est o f f s p r i n g of t h e re v e r e n d gentlem an whose memory i s h e reb y r e v iv e d ; so th e many y e a r s I have en jo y ed t h e b l e s s i n g h a s g iv e n me an o p p o r tu n ity o f b e in g more p a r t i c u l a r , th a n i n th e many w o rth ie s i n t h i s h i s t o r y m entioned, and may be a s u f f i c i e n t ap o lo g y f o r th e le n g t h o f t h i s a c c o u n t" (IV, 268). 204 The p u b l i c a t i o n i n 1765 o f t h e m a n u s c rip t a c c o u n t o f B u n y an 's im p riso n m en t, from w h ich Crosby had quoted i n h i s s k e tc h o f B u n y an 's l i f e , gave o c c a s io n f o r an a r t i c l e on Bunyan i n t h e Gentleman* s M agazine of t h a t y e a r. T h is a r t i c l e p r e f a c e d i t s e x ten d ed q u o t a t i o n of p a s s a g e s from th e R e l a t i o n by a b r i e f i d e n t i f i c a t i o n o f Bunyan, f o r which the w r i t e r was p ro b a b ly in d e b te d to Orace A bounding: Jo h n was a t i n k e r , and had been e x tre m e ly p r o f l i g a t e i n h i s y o u th , b u t a c c i d e n t a l l y f a l l i n g i n company w ith some p o o r b u t r e l i g io u s p e o p le , he became a z e a lo u s Non c o n fo rm is t. and a t l e n g t h a c e l e b r a t e d p r e a c h e r . 61 U n lik e Crosby, who had quoted from th e r e l a t i o n of Bun y a n 1 s im prisonm ent w ith p r a c t i c a l l y no comment, t h i s w r i t e r I n t e r s p e r s e d t h e a c c o u n t w ith numerous rem arks and i n t e r p r e t a t i o n s o f h i s own. B u n y an 's u n w illin g n e s s to g iv e h i s p ro m ise t h a t he would no t i n th e f u t u r e h o ld c o n v e n t i c l e s , t h i s w r i t e r a t t r i b u t e d to t h a t w o r t h y 's " su p p o sin g h im s e lf 62 c a l l e d to p re a c h th e G ospel, by a g i f t from G o d .. . . " I n B u n y an 's c o n v e r s a tio n w ith th e v a r io u s o f f i c i a l s who " P a r t i c u l a r s o f th e L i f e o f John Bunyan, " G e n tle m a n 's M agazine. XXXV ( A p r il, 1765), 168. In th e t a b l e o f c o n t e n ts to t h i s volume t h i s a r t i c l e i s l i s t e d as i n two s e c t i o n s , th e f i r s t as q u o te d above, and t h e second e n t i t l e d "A d ia lo g u e betw een Ju d g es H ales and Twisden, and B unyan's w if e ." The e n t i r e d is c u s s io n , how e v e r, i s r e a l l y one a r t i c l e c o v e rin g pp. 168-71. 6 2 Ibid.. 169. 205 c o n f r o n te d him d u r in g h i s t r i a l and im p riso n m en t, th e w r i t e r n o te d t h a t on one o c c a s io n 1 1 John made a v ery good d i s t i n c t i o n , a n d t h a t , i n a n o th e r i n s t a n c e , t h e " s i l l y q u e s tio n " o f one o f th e j u s t i c e s "gave John an o p p o r tu n ity to t r i u m p h ," whereby "one o p p o r tu n ity o f v i c t o r y was l o s t " by t h e law . Bunyan*s w ell-know n an tag o n ism to th e Book o f Common P ra y e r , combined w ith h i s a d m issio n t h a t i t was n e v e r t h e l e s s la w f u l to u se th e L o r d 's P ra y e r a s an ex p r e s s i o n o f p e r s o n a l d e v o tio n , l e d t h i s w r i t e r to show th e in ad eq u acy o f B u n y an 's argum ent a g a i n s t t h e p r a y e r book o f th e Church o f E ngland. To J u s t i c e K e e l i n g 's c h a rg e t h a t i t was a llo w a b le t o p ra y by a form , Bunyan r e p l i e d , as t h i s w r i t e r n o te d , t h a t " t h o 1 i t be an easy t h in g to say Our F a th e r w ith t h e mouth, y e t t h e r e a r e v e ry few t h a t can, i n th e S p i r i t say th e two f i r s t words o f t h a t p r a y e r . . . . " T h is K e e lin g acknow ledged to be t r u e , b u t d i d n o t d e t e c t John i n e lu d in g th e ques t i o n : He sh o u ld have o b se rv e d , t h a t i f i t be allow ed t h a t t h e words o f any form may be so u sed a s to e x p re s s th e s p i r i t o f p r a y e r , w hich Jo h n a llo w e d i n th e words o u r f a t h e r : th e n a form, a s such, does n o t n e c e s s a r i l y p r e c l u d e p r a y e r w ith th e s p i r i t ; and th o u g h " P a r t i c u l a r s o f th e L i f e of John Bunyan. " G entlem an*s M agazine. XXXV ( A p r il, 1765), 169. 64 Ibid., 170. 206 i t be t r u e t h a t t h e Common-prayer may, l i k e t h e L o r d 's P ra y e r , be pronounced w ith o u t p r a y in g , Jo h n co u ld n o t have shewn, t h a t , a llo w in g i t p o s s i b l e to p ra y by th e words o f t h e L o r d 's P ra y e r, i t i s Im p o s s ib le to p ra y by th e words o f a n o th e r form. J o h n 's argum ent c e r t a i n l y pro v ed to o much, f o r i t pro v ed th a t- every man should p ra y i n such te rm s as were s u g g e s te d by h i s own mind, and t h a t no man c o u ld p ra y by a p p r o p r i a t i n g t h e words o f a n o th e r ; whence i t would fo llo w , t h a t when an u n p re m e d ita te d p r a y e r was u t t e r e d i n p u b llc k , none co u ld p ray b u t th e s p e a k e r, and t h a t t h e r e f o r e t h e r e c o u ld be no such t h i n g as p u b l i c k p r a y e r by one v o i c e . 65 E v id e n tly a member o f th e E s t a b l i s h e d Church, t h i s c o n t r i b u to r to t h e G-entleman' s M agazine d is a p p ro v e d o f Bunyan' s s ta n d i n r e g a r d t h e Book o f Common P ra y e r, b u t f e l t t h a t Bunyan had a c q u i t t e d h im s e lf r a t h e r w e ll d u r in g h i s t r i a l , n o t o n ly by h i s common-sense a n sw e rs, b u t by h i s . t a k i n g a d v a n ta g e o f some o f t h e " s i l l y " q u e s tio n s ask ed , and by h i s shrewd e v a sio n o f q u e s tio n s t h a t he f e l t i t in e x p e d i e n t to answ er. None of t h e s e w r i t e r s , i t i s e v id e n t, f e l t a stu d y o f B u n y an 's famous a u to b io g ra p h y p a r t i c u l a r l y n e c e s s a r y f o r th e w r i t i n g o f a b i o g r a p h i c a l s k e tc h o f th e a u th o r, and none o f them r e g a r d e d i t , as i t had b een re g a r d e d i n th e s e v e n te e n th c e n tu r y and a s i t was to be r e g a rd e d by th e e v a n g e l i c a l l y minded o f t h e l a t e r e i g h t e e n t h and n i n e t e e n t h c e n tu ry , as an e x t r a o r d i n a r y and v i v i d l y moving 65 " P a r t i c u l a r s o f th e L if e of John B u n y an ," G e n tle m a n 's M agazine, XXXV ( A p r il, 1765), 170. 2 0 ? ac co u n t o f G od's m e rc ie s to t h e " c h ie f o f s i n n e r s . " The o n ly e x p r e s s io n , d u r in g t h i s p e r i o d , of th e e v a n g e l i s t i c a t t i t u d e tow ard Bunyan and h i s l i f e came from t h e B a p t i s t Samuel W ilson. Well a c q u a in te d w ith G race A bounding. W ilson, i n h i s p r e f a t o r y rem ark s to th e second f o l i o e d i t i o n o f B unyan's works, f e l t i t u n n ec es sa ry to "add any t h i n g t o th e A ccount" t h a t Bunyan had g iv e n of h im s e lf and t h a t g iv e n by C handler and W ilson i n t h e i r i n t r o d u c t o r y e p i s t l e to th e f i r s t e d i t i o n . Bunyan, "a b u rn in g and s h in in g L ig h t, i n h i s Day," a man "now triu m p h in g i n th e P re s e n c e o f t h a t Redeemer, who so w o n d e rfu lly p l u c k 'd him a s a Brand o u t o f th e B u rn in g ," was to Samuel W ilson "above o u r P r a i s e . " ^ 60 Samuel W ils o n 's s p i r i t u a l k in s h i p to John Bunyan can be a p p r e c i a t e d from t h e in f o rm a tio n c o n c ern - him g iv e n by J o se p h Ivlm ey: "D uring h i s in fa n c y and y o u t h , " re c o r d e d t h i s h i s t o r i a n , Samuel W ilson "was fa v o u re d w ith many p r o v i d e n t i a l p r e s e r v a t i o n s and de l i v e r a n c e s . He s e v e r a l tim e s, when b a th in g , n e a r l y escap ed [ J 3 drow ning, was exposed to im m inent d an g er by th e b lo o d y f l u x , and was c u t n e a r th e eye by a c a t - s t i c k . A ccounts o f t h e s e p r e s e r v a t i o n s , i n d i c a t i n g t h e s p e c i a l c a re o f P ro v id e n c e o v e r him, he com m itted to w r i t i n g , c o n s id e r in g them as p r o o f s o f G od's h a v in g saved him w h ile i n h i s u n r e g e n e r a te s t a t e , f o r th e p u rp o se o f c a l l in g him, by h i s g r a c e , to r e v e a l h i s Son i n him, and t o p u t him i n t o t h e m in i s tr y " (J o s e p h Ivlmey, H is to r y o f t h e Eng11 sh B a p t i s t s . I l l , 5 4 3 -4 ). Pf7 Samuel W ilson, "The P r e f a c e ," 0£ . c i t . , v i i i . BUNYAN AS ALLEGORIST AND NARRATIVE WRITER BUNYAN, AN ORIGINAL WRITER When John Bunyan was b u r l e d i n B u n h lll F i e l d s i n th e v a u l t o f h i s f r i e n d John S trudw ick, g r o c e r , a p p a r e n t ly no i n s c r i p t i o n was p la c e d on th e v a u l t to I n d i c a t e th e r e s t i n g p l a c e o f t h e a u th o r . I n th e f i r s t p a r t o f th e e i g h t e e n t h c e n tu ry , however, p ro b a b ly a t th e tim e of th e d e a th o f S tr u d w ic k 's s o n - in -la w , who was b u r ie d i n th e same p la c e , t h e names o f t h e dead w i t h i n were I n s c r i b e d f o r t h e f i r s t tim e on th e t a b l e t w ith o u t. The i n s c r i p t i o n commemorative o f Bunyan r e a d : 6® H ere l y e s t h e body o f M r John Bunyan, a u th o r o f t h e P i l g r i m 's P r o g r e s s , aged 59, who dyed Aug. 17, 1688 B u n y an 's I d e n t i f i c a t i o n a s " a u th o r o f The P ilg rim * s P r o g r e s s , " which had begun i n t h e l a t t e r y e a r s o f th e s e v e n te e n th c e n tu r y , c o n tin u e d th ro u g h o u t th e e i g h te e n th ; 68 H .J .S . i n N otes and Q u e r ie s , T h ird S e r i e s , Vol. V (1 8 6 4 ), 474, c i t i n g t h e i n s c r i p t i o n a s c o p ie d by Dr. R ic h a r d R aw llnson (d. 1735) a s a MS n o te i n h i s copy o f C u r l l ' s L i s t o f I n s c r i p t i o n s , &c. i n th e D is s e n te r* s B u r ia l P la c e n e a r B u n h lll F I e ld s (1717). The i n s c r i p t i o n was n o t r e c o r d e d by C u r l l . The d a t e o f B u n y an 's d e a th , as n o te d by John Brown, i s p ro b a b ly i n c o r r e c t . C h a rle s Doe r e c o r d e d t h a t Bunyan d ie d on August 31. 209 h i s o t h e r works were l a r g e l y f o r g o t t e n by th e l i t e r a r y w orld, and i t was o n ly a s th e a u th o r o f h i s one famous a l l e g o r y t h a t he was remembered. The a r t i c l e on Bunyan t h a t a p p e ared i n th e Blo g r a p h ia B r i t a n n i c a , though i t r e f e r r e d to t h e f o l i o e d i t i o n of B u n y an 's works, m entioned b u t one o f t h e s e works by name, and t h a t , i n i t s d e s c r i p t i o n o f Bunyan a s " th e ftQ c e l e b r a t e d a u th o r of th e P i l g r i m 's P r o g r e s s ": a w r i t e r i n th e G-entleman' s M agazine some y e a r s l a t e r w ro te o f 70 John Bunyan a s " th e a u th o r of a book w e ll kn o w n ," a s though t h e o t h e r two s c o re works o f Bunyan w ere non e x i s t e n t . E d iti o n s o f The P ilg rim * s P ro g r e s s c o n tin u e d to m u lt ip ly d u r in g t h i s tim e. The t h i r t y - s e c o n d e d i t i o n o f P a r t I a p p e a re d a t th e end o f th e p e r io d u n d e r c o n s id e r a t i o n (1767); th e t w e n t y - f i f t h e d i t i o n o f P a r t I I was i s s u e d i n th e same y e a r , w h ile t h e f i f t y - f o u r t h e d i t i o n o f P a r t s I and I I , combined w ith th e s p u r io u s P a r t I I I , 71 a p p e a re d i n London f o u r y e a r s e a r l i e r . I n a d d i t i o n to B lo g ra p h ia B r l t a n n i c a . I I (1747), 1028. I n th e a r t i c l e on John Owen (Vol.V, p. 3294 n . ), a s w e ll as i n th e in d e x o f t h e work ( V o l.V I I), Bunyan was a ls o i d e n t i f i e d a s th e " a u th o r o f The P ilg rim * s P r o g r e s s . " 70 " P a r t i c u l a r s o f th e L i f e o f John Bunyan, a u th o r o f th e Pi l g r i m 's P r o g r e s s , " G-entleman*s M agazine, XXXV ( A p r il, 1765), 168. --------- 71 R ecorded i n t h e B r l t l s h Museum C a ta lo g u e . th e s e , v a r io u s e d i t i o n s came o u t elsew h ere th a n In 72 London. The g r e a t fre q u e n c y w ith which e d i t i o n s o f B u n y an 's a l l e g o r y a p p e a re d made i t , In d eed , t h e s ta n d a r d o f popu l a r i t y . A rb u th n o t, w r i t i n g to S w ift a few d ay s a f t e r th e p u b l i c a t i o n o f G u l l i v e r 1 s T r a v e ls — a work t h a t met w ith in s t a n ta n e o u s s u c c e s s — d e c l a r e d h im s e lf w i l l i n g to make o v e r to S w ift a l l th e p r o f i t s on h i s own book a b o u t 73 to be p u b lis h e d , " f o r th e p r o p e r t y o f G u l l i v e r 's T ra v e ls which he b e l i e v e d would have "as g r e a t a r u n a s John Bun- 74 y a n , " and L aurence S te rn e , some y e a r s l a t e r , p r e d i c t e d t h a t The L i f e and O pinions o f T ris tr a m Shandy were " l i k e l y to make some n o is e i n t h e w o r l d , " to " ta k e i n a l l ra n k s , p r o f e s s i o n s , and d en o m in atio n s o f men w h a t e v e r ," and to 7 ^ "be no l e s s read than the P ilg r im ' s P ro g ress I t s e l f . " 7? As th e d a t e o f f i r s t a p p e a ra n c e o f a p u b l i c a t i o n o f The P i l g r i m 's P ro g r e s s i n o t h e r towns th a n London, d u rin g t h e p e r io d u n d er c o n s i d e r a t i o n , John Brown l i s t s th e f o llo w in g . I n some of th e p l a c e s m entioned, he s t a t e s , s e v e r a l s u c c e s s iv e e d i t i o n s were I s s u e d : Glasgow, 1717; N ew castle-on-T yne, 1744; B r i s t o l ( a b r id g e d ) , 1748; Edin burgh, 1759; N ottingham , 1765 (John Brown, John Bunyan, 453). ^ T ab le s o f A n c ie n t C o in s, W eig h ts, and M e asu res. 74 John A rb u th n o t to J o n a th a n S w ift, 1726, c i t e d in The P ro s e Works o f J o n a th a n S w ift (Temple S c o tt, e d i t o r London: George B e ll and S o n s,1 9 1 9 -2 2 ), V II I, x v i. L aurence S te rn e , The L i f e and O p in io n s o f T rls tr a m Shandy, Gentlem an (1 7 5 9 -6 7 ), The Works and L i f e o f L aurence S te rn e ( W ilbur L. C ross, e d i t o r ; New York: J. F. T a y lo r and Company, 1904), I , 11. 211 Though th e m a jo rity o f th e e d i tio n s o f B unyan's a l le g o r y p u b lis h e d d u r in g t h i s p e r io d were of o rd in a r y or i n f e r i o r q u a l ity , Is s u e d to meet th e demands of r e a d e r s of th e low er o r m iddle c l a s s , an a tte m p t a t a more e l a b o r a t e work was p u b lis h e d e a r ly i n th e c e n tu ry (1728) by J . C lark e, s u c c e s s o r o f N ich o las Boddlngton a t th e G-olden B a ll i n Duck-Lane. T his was th e tw enty- second e d i t i o n "adorned w ith tw enty-tw o copper p l a t e s engraven by J . S t u r t . 1 1 The i l l u s t r a t i o n s o f t h i s e d itio n , f o r s i x o f which S t u r t was l a r g e l y in d e b te d to Ja n L u l k l n ’s p i c t u r e s o f 1685, were s u p e r io r to th o s e p r e v io u s ly p u b lis h e d i n England, though th ey were i n f e r i o r to th e Dutch o r i g i n a l s , and, i n many i n s t a n c e s , b ad ly drawn and g r o te s q u e i n con- 76 c e p tio n . The p r i n t i n g , to o , which th e w r i t e r of th e p r e f a c e d e c la r e d to have been done w ith g r e a t c a re , con t a i n e d many e r r o r s ; n e v e r t h e l e s s , th e w r i t e r f e l t t h a t th e whole would "g iv e such e n t i r e s a t i s f a c t i o n to th e p u b lic i n g e n e ra l, a s w e ll a s to th o s e w orthy gentlem en i n p a r t i c u l a r who have so handsom ely and g e n e ro u s ly c o n t r i b u t e d to t h i s b e a u t i f u l e d i t i o n , by t h e i r l a r g e 76 In one c a se , f o r I n s ta n c e , n o te s John Brown (John Bunyan, 446), " C h r is tia n i s r e p r e s e n te d a s c lo th e d i n f i g u r e d flo w in g d re ssin g -g o w n and i n s l i p p e r s , and as ru n n in g up th e H i l l D i f f i c u l t y a t a p ace which i n d i c a te d c o n s id e r a b le a t h l e t i c power on h i s p a r t and must have c o n s id e r a b ly a s to n is h e d th e b e h o l d e r s ." 212 77 s u b s c r i p t i o n s , as w i l l f u l l y answ er t h e i r e x p e c t a t i o n s . H T hat t h i s w r i t e r ’ s e x p e c t a t i o n was i n some d e g re e f u l f i l l e d i s e v id e n t from th e comment o f Samuel W ilson, who some y e a r s l a t e r e x p re s s e d h im s e lf a s n o t a l i t t l e p le a s e d ”to se e th e Encouragem ent which th e p o l i t e P a r t o f Mankind l a t e l y gave to t h e new C lo a th ln g " o f B unyan's *78 P i l g r i m * In a d d i t i o n to t h e numerous e d i t i o n s o f B unyan's a l l e g o r y — e l a b o r a t e and o th e r w is e — t h a t were p u b lis h e d i n t h i s p e r io d , t h e r e a p p e a re d a l s o v a r io u s i m i t a t i o n s and a d a p t a t i o n s of t h a t work, w h ile a t th e same tim e book s e l l e r s of th e e i g h t e e n t h c e n tu r y , l i k e th o s e of th e s e v e n te e n th , c o n tin u e d to i s s u e v a r io u s o t h e r v/orks u n d e r B unyan's name, w ith t h e p u rp o se o f p ro m o tin g t h e i r s a l e by d i s p l a y i n g t h e name o f th e p o p u la r a l l e g o r i s t . Two o f th e works th u s a t t r i b u t e d to Bunyan had been p r e v io u s l y p u b lis h e d i n good f a i t h by t h e i r r e s p e c t i v e a u t h o r s , and were s p u r io u s ly c r e d i t e d to Bunyan o n ly i n t h e i r l a t e r p r i n t i n g s . One o f th e s e was George L a r k i n 's 79 The World to Come, which t h a t p u b l i s h e r and a u th o r b ro u g h t 77 P r e f a c e to th e tw e n ty -s e c o n d e d i t i o n o f The P i l g r i m 's P ro g r e s s , c i t e d by Jo h n Brown, John Bunyan, 445. Samuel W ilson, "The P r e f a c e , " op. c l t .^ v i i i . ^ The World to Come: t h e G lo r ie s o f Heaven and th e T e r r o r s of H e ll l i v e l y d ls p l a y e d u n d er t h e s i m i l i t u d e o f a V i s i o n : by G.L. London, 1711. 213 ou t I n 1711. T h is was r e p u b lis h e d f o u r t e e n y e a r s l a t e r by Edward M idw inter, s u c c e s s o r to J . B la re a t th e L o o k in g -G lass, who I s s u e d an e x a c t r e p r i n t o f L a r k i n ’ s book u n d e r th e a l t e r e d t i t l e The V is io n s o f Jo h n Bunyan. T h is book was r e p u te d on th e t i t l e page to be th e " l a s t re m a in s ” o f Bunyan and to be "recommended by him as n e c e s s a r y t o be had i n a l l fa m ilie s " ® ^ — a recom m endation which th e shrewd p u b l i s h e r e v i d e n t l y th o u g h t would s e l l him many a copy. A nother work f a l s e l y a t t r i b u t e d to Bunyan was th e l i t t l e book e n t i t l e d H e a r t 1s - e a s e I n H e a rt T ro u b le , w r i t t e n i n 1690 by James Bardwood, e j e c t e d m i n i s t e r o f D artm outh, who s ig n e d h im s e lf " J .B ., a s e r v a n t o f C h r i s t . " I n 1762 an e n t e r p r i s i n g p u b l i s h e r , p u t t i n g a new c o n s tr u c t i o n on t h e i n i t i a l s , s e n t th e book f o r t h w ith th e name p r e f a c e , b u t changed th e s i g n a t u r e to r e a d "Thy humble 81 s e rv a n t, John B un y an .” The o r i g i n a l d a t e , however, was l e f t unchanged, and Bunyan was th u s made to s ig n th e p r e f a c e o f a work p u b lis h e d a y e a r and h a l f a f t e r h i s d e a th . 50 John Brown, John Bunyan, 434. 51 The t i t l e p ag e o f an e d i t i o n .is s u e d i n 1804 r e a d s : H e a r t 1s- e a se i n h e a r t t r o u b l e . Or a s o v e re ig n remedy a g a i n s t a l l t r o u b l e o f h e a r t t h a t CfEtrlst1 s d i s c i p l e s a r e s u b je c t t o , u n d er a l l k in d s of a f f l i c t i o n s i n t h i s l i f e . P r e s c r i b e d by t h e g r e a t P h y s ic ia n th e Lord J e s u s C h r l s t , which h a th n e v e r f a i l e d th o s e t h a t have used i t , o r e v e r w i l l , to th e end o f th e W orld. By J . Bunyan, Mini s t e r of th e G o sp el. 214 Two Edinburgh p u b l i s h e r s a l s o v e n tu re d to t r a d e on B u n y an 's r e p u t a t i o n among t h e common p e o p le by i s s u in g s p u r io u s works u n d e r h i s name. One o f t h e s e was th e book e n t i t l e d The R ic h es o f C h r i s t : o r . The g l o r i o u s g o t r e a s u r e o f H eavenly J o y s : th e o th e r , a f e e b l e p ro d u c t io n c o n s i s t i n g o f p io u s p l a t i t u d e s , b o re th e t i t l e R est f o r a W earied S o u l, and r e p u te d i t s e l f to be " th e 83 l a s t le g a c y o f Mr. Jo h n Bunyan o f B e d f o r d s h i r e . " I n a d d i t i o n to t h e s e works f a l s e l y i s s u e d u n d er B unyan's name, t h e r e a p p e a re d v a r io u s a d a p t a t i o n s o r i m i t a t i o n s o f The P i l g r i m 's P r o g r e s s , and a t l e a s t one v e r s io n o f th e a l l e g o r y i n v e r s e . Three of th e s e i m i t a t i o n s were p u b lis h e d i n th e e a r ly p a r t of th e e i g h t e e n t h c e n tu r y , Henry W ils o n 's 84 The S p i r i t u a l P i l g r i m . L au ren ce H ow el's D e s l d e r l u s . 82 The R1ches o f C h r i s t : o r , th e g l o r i o u s t r e a s u r e o f H eavenly J o y s . W ith a devout P r a y e r . By J . Bunyan TJohn Brown, John Bunyan, 455). 83 R e st f o r a W earled S o u l, b e in g t h e l a s t le g a c y of Mr. John Bunyan o f B e d f o r d s h i r e . E dinburgh, 1741. T his work was a l s o p u b lis h e d a g e n e r a tio n l a t e r i n G las gow, s t a t e s John Brown, l o c . c l t . 84 Henry W ilson, The S p i r i t u a l P i l g r i m : Or, The C h r i s t i a n 's Jo u rn ey to th e New J e ru s a le m . London, 1710. (John Brown, John Bunyan, 4 5 8 ). 215 o r th e o r i g i n a l P i l g r i m , 85 and th e work e n t i t l e d I t e r C a e le s te (1721). L a te r a p p e a re d The Female P i l g r i m , o r th e T r a v e ls o f H ep h zlb ah , an a tte m p t to i n t e n s i f y th e d o c t r i n a l te a c h i n g s o f B unyan's a l l e g o r y , and, some y e a r s a f t e r , The C h r i s t i a n P i l g r i m : o r , th e T ra v e ls o f 87 th e C h ild re n o f I s r a e l s p i r i t u a l i z e d , by John A lle n . 85 D e s l d e r l u s , o r th e o r i g i n a l P i l g r i m : a d l v i n e d ia lo g u e from th e S p a n is h . By th e Rev. ""Laurence""Howel. London, 1717. The e x a c t n a t u r e o f t h i s work i s n o t c l e a r . R o b ert P h i l i p (The L if e , Times, and C h a r a c t e r i s t i c s o f John Bunyan, 565) l i s t s i t a s one of th e books t h a t a r e " e v id e n tl y modern i m i t a t i o n s " o f The P i l g r i m ' s P r o g r e s s . 86 The Female P i l g r i m : o r th e T ra v e ls o f H epzl- b a h : u n d er th e s i m i l i t u d e of a dream . London, 1762. "We have seen an a b s u rd a l l e g o r y , " w ro te M acaulay i n 1831, " th e h e r o in e o f which i s named H ephzlbah, w r i t t e n by some r a v in g S u p r a la p s a r i a n p r e a c h e r who was d i s s a t i s f i e d w ith th e m ild th e o lo g y of th e P i l g r i m 's P ro g re s s " (T.B. M acaulay, "John Bunyan," B llsc e lla n eo u s Works, I I , 267). 87 London, 1765. Brown g iv e s th e y e a r 1800 a s th e ' d a t e o f The C h r i s t i a n P i l g r i m , b u t th e work a p p e a rs m erely t o have been r e p r i n t e d a t t h a t d a t e . The d a t e of f i r s t p u b l i c a t i o n i s g iv e n by Ivlmey as 1765. John A lle n was a B a p t i s t m i n i s t e r , p r e a c h in g f o r some y e a r s in London and th e n i n th e A m erican s t a t e s . H is h i s t o r y i n London c o n s i s t e d l a r g e l y o f a m e r c a n til e v e n tu r e end in g i n bankruptcy, a t r i a l f o r f o r g e r y , and im prisonm ent f o r d e b t . The ch u rch i n P e t t i c o a t Lane, n e a r W hitechapel B ars, o f which he became p a s t o r on coming t o London, w ith drew from him i n 1767 "on a c c o u n t of h i s immoral c o n d u c t." A lle n p u b lis h e d a number o f books, some o f which a c c o rd in g to Ivim ey, were w e ll known, "having been f r e q u e n t l y r e p r i n t e d , and even recommended by th e Rev. Mr. Romaine, who, p ro b a b ly , was not. a c q u a in te d w ith th e c h a r a c t e r o f th e w r i t e r " (Jo se p h Ivim ey, A H is to ry of th e E n g lis h B a p t i s t s , IV, 238). 216 But The P i l g r i m * s P r o g r e s s was a d a p te d n o t o n ly f o r p u rp o s e s o f m oral and r e l i g i o u s i n s t r u c t i o n , "but a ls o f o r p o l i t i c a l p ro p ag an d a. I n 1741 a p p e a re d The QQ S ta te s m a n ' s P r o g r e s s ; o r , a P ilg rim a g e to G -reatness, s a t i r i z i n g S i r R o b e rt W alpole and h i s c o r r u p t i o n o f P a r lia m e n t by b r i b e r y . T his book r e p r e s e n t e d W alpole, un d er t h e name o f Badman, as g o in g to G re a tn e s s H a ll, where grew th e Golden P ip p in s , by means o f which he 89 e x e r c is e d a b s o lu te sway. V e r s i f i e d a l r e a d y i n th e s e v e n te e n th c e n tu r y , even B efo re B unyan's d e a th , The P ilg rim * s P r o g r e s s c o n tin u e d i n t h e e i g h t e e n t h c e n tu ry to s e rv e a s so u rc e m a t e r i a l t h a t m ight c r e d i t a b l y be tu r n e d i n t o d e c e n t v e rs e . F ra n c is H o ffm an 's p o e t i c v e r s io n o f th e allegory®*-* r e s u l t e d in a lo n g poem I n h e r o i c c o u p le ts , c l o s e l y f o l low ing B unyan's n a r r a t i v e and i n most c a s e s even h i s ^he S tatesm an * s P r o g r e s s ; o r , a P ilg rim a g e to G r e a tn e s s . D e liv e r e d u n d er th e S im il itu d e o f a Dream. By John Bunyan. London, 1741. A nother e d i t i o n , e n t i t l e d The Mew P i l g r i m ' s P r o g r e s s ; o r a P ilg rim a g e to G r e a tn e s s , was p u b l i s h e d by J . Warcus, London, 1765; and a n o th e r e d i t i o n i n 1886 (B r i t i s h Museum C a ta lo g u e ) . Q Q John Brown, John Bunyan, 458. 90 The P ilg rim * s P ro g r e s s from t h i s World to That which i s to Come; D e liv e r *d u n d e r th e S i m i l i t u d e of a Dream: W herein i s D is c o v e re d . The Manner o f h i s S e t t i n g o u t . His D angerous J o u r n e y , And S afe A r r i v a l a t th e D e s ire d C o u n try . By John Bunyan. And now done i n t o V erse by F r a n c ls Hoffman. London: P r i n t e d by R. Tookey, and a r e to be Sold by th e B o o k s e lle rs of London and W estm in ster, 1706. 217 la n g u a g e , though o c c a s i o n a l l y w eakening h i s v i v i d p h r a s e o l o g y ,91 f r e q u e n t l y in d u lg in g i n awkward i n v e r s i o n s , 92 and em ploying f i g u r e s t h a t Bunyan h l s s e l f would n ev er have u s e d . 93 The poem, i s s u e d i n 1706, a p p a r e n tly met w ith some su c c e s s , f o r a t h i r d e d i t i o n was p u b lis h e d i n 91 In Bunyan’ s v e r s io n , f o r i n s t a n c e , A pollyon t h r e a t e n s to " s p i l l ” th e so u l of C h r i s t i a n (p. 187); i n Hoffman’ s, th e v i l e f i e n d i s c o n te n t w ith t h r e a t e n in g to " l e t o u t" h i s a n t a g o n i s t ’ s so u l (p. 6 2 ), As, f o r example, i n t h i s acco u n t o f G iant D e s p a ir (p. 110): "With H ast he r o s e h i s P r i s ' n e r s to p u rsu e , But l n t o ’ s F i t s h i s F r i g h t th e G i a n t •t h r e w . " 93 In d e s c r i b i n g th e martyrdom o f F a i t h f u l , Hoffman w rote (p. 9 6 ): "Thus w h ile i n Flames, l i k e t h ’ P h o e n ix . F a i t h f u l d ie s , A nother does ou t o f h i s Ashes r i s e . ’ ’ L a te r, r e c o r d in g t h e c o n v e r s a tio n o f C h r i s t i a n and Hope f u l , c o n c e rn in g b a c k s l i d e r s , Hoffman r e p r e s e n t e d th e l a t t e r a s e x p l a in i n g t h a t s i n n e r s , though f o r a tim e co n v in ced of t h e i r s in , would f a l l back i n i t a g a in , and i l l u s t r a t e d w ith th e f i g u r e (p. 1 3 5 ): " . . . N a t u r e w i l l r e t u r n l i k e Pope to Pork, A l t h o ’ th o u s h o u ld ’ s t e x p e ll i t w ith a F o rk ." To t h i s h ig h ly o r i g i n a l s im ile Hoffman th o u g h t i t n e c e s s a r y to add a f o o t n o t e , e x p la in in g t h a t "One o f th e Popes alw ays u s ’d to h av e a F is h o f Pork; b e in g s ic k , h i s P h y s ic ia n s o r d e r ’d i t n o t to be b ro u g h t in ; a t which th e Pope b e in g e n r a g ’d s a id , Give me my Pork i n s p lg h t of God; o r a s i n I t a l . I n d e s p e tto de D io. * ’ 94 John P. A nderson, " B ib lio g r a p h y ," o p . c l t .. x x ix . 218 The com plim ent o f i m i t a t i o n and a d a p t a t i o n th u s p a id to The P i l g r i m 1s P r o g r e s s i n d i c a t e d r a t h e r a c c u r a t e l y th e g e n e r a l f a m i l i a r i t y o f th e age w ith Bunyan’ s a l l e g o r y , a s w e ll as th e c o n tin u e d p o p u l a r i t y of th e work. That such g e n e r a l p o p u l a r i t y was an i n d i c a t i o n o f th e m e r it o f a book— a p r i n c i p l e to be s t a t e d e m p h a tic a lly by Jo h n so n i n th e l a t e r y e a r s o f t h i s c e n tu r y — was u rg e d i n b e h a l f of th e a l le g o r y by a w r i t e r i n t h e D a ily G azet t e e r , who w rote i n 1741: . . . I f we c o n s id e r th e u n i v e r s a l good Recep t i o n i t h a th met w ith a t home and ab ro ad , we must e i t h e r a llo w t h a t i t h as M e rit, o r t h a t o u r s e lv e s and our N eighbours a r e v o id o f P e n e t r a t i o n and t r u e Judgm ent. ° B e sid e s, c o n tin u e d th e w r i t e r , . . . t h i s i s n o t th e o n ly Book o f i t s Kind, t h e r e have been many o t h e r s p u b lis h e d w ith t h e same View, t h o ’ n o t i n t h e same Manner, which, t h o ' w r i t t e n by l e a r n e d and j u d i c i o u s Men, have y e t met w ith an I n d i f f e r e n t Recep t i o n , compared w ith t h a t a f f o r d e d to t h e P i l g r i m 's P ro g r e s s o f Bunyan. He h a th t h e r e f o r e , a c c o rd in g to th e R u le s, a R ig h t to Fame, w hich sh o u ld n e v e r be d e n y ’d him.'-® T h is d e f e n s e o f B u n y an 's r i g h t to fame was s u p p o rte d i n th e p e r i o d u n d er c o n s i d e r a t i o n by c e r t a i n s p e c i f i c com m ents i n - p r a i s e o f The P ilg rim * s P ro g r e s s i n i t s d o c t r i n a l 9 5 M .B ., "Of O r i g i n a l s and W ritin g . From th e D a ily G a z e tte e r , S ep t. 25. To R alph Freeman, E s q .," G en tlem an ' s M agazine, XI (Septem ber, 1741), 488. 96 Loc. c l t . 219 a s p e c t , and by some I n c i d e n t a l r e f e r e n c e s im p ly in g a f a m i l i a r i t y w ith i t , and an a p p r e c i a t i o n o f i t , on th e p a r t o f e d u c a te d r e a d e r s . That th e d o c t r i n a l and m oral a s p e c t o f The P i l g rim 1 s P r o g r e s s was r a r e l y commented on i n t h e f i r s t p a r t o f th e e i g h t e e n t h c e n tu ry was p e rh a p s due to th e f a c t t h a t th e " f i n e f o l k s ’* o f t h e p e r io d , as E l i z a b e t h G a r te r n o te d w ith some d i s g u s t , were n o t g iv e n to th e a d m ira tio n o f works i n which t h e d i d a c t i c o r i n s t r u c t i o n a l elem ent r e q u i r e d p a r t i c u l a r l y to be ta k e n n o t i c e o f : To be s u re th e f i n e f o l k s o f t h i s w o rld a r e a s s a g a c io u s i n f i n d i n g o u t th e fo rm id a b le g e n iu s o f I n s t r u c t i o n , however b e a u t i f u l l y d is g u i s e d , and ru n away from i t w ith as much h o r r o r a s good p e o p le do from a c lo v e n f o o t . 9” Such w r i t e r s a s p r a i s e d th e u n d e r ly in g p u rp o se and m o tiv e o f The P ilg rim * s P r o g r e s s , how ever, p r a i s e d i t u n s t i n t e d l y . The anonymous a u th o r o f a d is c o u r s e c o n c e rn in g r i d i c u l e and ir o n y , f o r i n s t a n c e , o b se rv e d t h a t Bunyan* s a l l e g o r y "had I n f i n i t e l y o u td o n e th e T ale o f a Tub, * * t h a t work h av in g p e rh a p s "not made one c o n v e rt q n E l i z a b e t h C a r t e r to M iss T a lb o t, March 18, 1754. A S e r i e s o f L e t t e r s Between Mrs. E l i z a b e t h C a r t e r and Miss C a th e r in e T a l b o t , From th e y e a r 1741 to 1770. . . (Montagu P en n in g to n , e d i t o r ; t h i r d e d i t i o n , London: P r i n t e d f o r F.C. and J . R lv in g to n , 1819), I I , 46. Cf. Jo se p h A ddison ( S p e c t a t o r . No. 179, Works, V, 437), "The very t i t l e o f a m oral t r e a t i s e h a s som ething i n i t a u s t e r e and sh o c k in g to th e c a r e l e s s and i n c o n s i d e r a t e . " 220 to I n f i d e l i t y ; w hereas th e P i l g r i m ’s P r o g r e s s had con- Q Q v e r te d many s in n e r s to C h r i s t . ” The a u th o r of The T ale o f a Tub, how ever, whose work was th u s u n fa v o ra b ly c o n t r a s t e d w ith t h a t o f Bunyan by t h i s anonymous w r i t e r , a l s o had h ig h p r a i s e f o r th e a l l e g o r i s t , which p r a i s e , coming from a d i v i n e who was by ho means a l o v e r o f s e c t a r i a n s , d e s e r v e s to c a r r y much w e ig h t. R i d i c u l i n g th e p h i l o s o p h i c a l and meta p h y s i c a l a b s t r a c t i o n s w ith which a c a d e m ic a lly e d u c a te d m i n i s t e r s were a p t to f i l l t h e i r sermons, S w ift w ro te; I have been b e t t e r e n t e r t a i n e d , and more In fo rm ed by a c h a p te r i n t h e ’ ’P i l g r i m ’ s P ro g r e s s , ” th a n by a lo n g d i s c o u r s e upon th e w i l l and t h e i n t e l l e c t , and sim p le o r complex i d e a s . yy T h e w i t e r o f an a r t i c l e on Bunyan t h a t a p p e a re d i n th e Gentleman* s M agazine o f 1765 a l s o d w e lt on t h e u s e f u l m oral i n f l u e n c e o f The P ilg rim * s P r o g r e s s , a f t e r f i r s t v i n d i c a t i n g th e a l l e g o r y from th e charge t h a t i t i n c u l c a te d p r i n c i p l e s a n t a g o n i s t i c to r a t i o n a l r e l i g i o n . Such a c c u s a tio n , d e c la r e d th e w r i t e r , co u ld n o t r i g h t l y be b ro u g h t a g a i n s t t h i s ’ ’most e x c e l l e n t epitom e and QQ T his d i s c o u r s e was p u b lis h e d i n 1729; th e c i t a t i o n i s from th e B lo g ra p h la B r l t a n n l c a , second e d i t i o n (1 7 7 8 -9 3 ), I I I , 13 n . , q u o tin g from O ld y s * M a n u s c rip t. 99 J o n a th a n S w ift, "A L e t t e r to a Young C lerg y man, l a t e l y e n te r e d i n t o Holy O rd e rs (1 7 1 9 -2 1 ), The P ro se Works o f J o n a th a n S w i f t . P .P . , I I I , 213. 221 i l l u s t r a t i o n o f C a l v l n i s t l c d i v i n i t y , ” which was b ased , save f o r a v e ry few p a r t i c u l a r s , on th e p r i n c i p l e s con t a i n e d i n th e T h i r t y - n i n e A r t i c l e s of th e Church o f E n g la n d .1 P o in tin g o u t th e b e n e f i c i a l i n f l u e n c e of th e a l l e g o r y , th e a u th o r s t a t e d : I t i n c u l c a t e s R e lig io n a t th e same tim e t h a t i t im p re s s e s a l i v e l y se n se o f i t s im p o rta n c e ; i t a t once shews th e ground and t h e g o a l, and s t r o n g l y s t i m u l a t e s to r u n th e r a c e . ^ The P ilg rim * s P r o g r e s s , f e l t t h i s a u th o r , was to be p a r t i c u l a r l y commended on i t s m oral i n f l u e n c e on th e young. " I t i s , ” he w rote, "p e rh a p s one o f th e most- p o w erfu l a d d r e s s e s to t h e p a s s i o n s of y o u th i n fa v o u r o f R e lig io n i n th e w orld; and b e s t a d a p te d to awake i n t h e most gay and t h o u g h t l e s s p a r t o f l i f e , an' a t t e n t i o n to f u t u r i t y , and an aw ful se n se t h a t E te r n a l L if e an d D eath a r e s e t b e f o r e u s . " 3 That th e a l l e g o r y was a t t h i s tim e i n f a v o r w ith th e young f o r whom i t was so h e a r t i l y recommended i s e v id e n t, f o r I n s ta n c e , from th e comment o f Thomas H o lc r o f t, th e a c t o r , who, as a p io u s l i t t l e l a d chose " P a r t i c u l a r s o f th e L i f e o f John B u n y a n ," G-entleman* s M agazine, XXXV ( A p r il, 1765), 168. 2 I b i d . , 1 6 8 -9 . 3 I b i d . , 168. 222 The Whole Duty of Man and H o rn e c k 's C r u c i f i e d J e s u s a s two o f h i s f a v o r i t e books, b u t, a s he s t a t e d , ran k ed John Bunyan as "among th e most d i v i n e a u t h o r s I had ever r e a d . " 4 W illiam Cowper was d u rin g t h e s e y e a r s a ls o f i n d i n g p l e a s u r e i n th e book t h a t he was l a t e r to p r a i s e . John Wesley, t h e main f i g u r e i n th e e v a n g e li c a l movement t h a t was to show much I n t e r e s t i n Bunyan l a t e r i n th e c e n tu ry , lo o k e d on B u n y an 's a l l e g o r i c a l works a s a p t v e h i c l e s f o r m oral i n s t r u c t i o n , th ough, i n l i n e w ith h i s p r e d i l e c t i o n f o r s h o r t and easy ways to l e a r n i n g . 4 Memoirs of th e L a te Thomas H o l c r o f t , i n The Complete Works o f W illiam H a z l l t t (W aller and G lover e d i t i o n , P .P . Howe, e d i t o r ; London: J.M. Dent and Sons, 1932), I I I , 43. 5 W e sle y 's am using fo n d n e ss f o r a b rid g m e n ts and " s h o r t c u ts " to l e a r n i n g can be seen from th e t i t l e s of some o f h i s numerous p u b l i c a t i o n s — A S h o rt E n g l1 sh Grammar (1748), A S h o rt L a ti n Grammar (1 7 4 8 ), A S hort Hebrew G-rammar (1751), A S h o rt F rench Grammar T l 7 5 l ) , A C oncise Hi s to r y o f E ngland (1775), and A S h o rt Method o f C o n v e rtin g A ll th e Roman C a th o li c s i n th e Kingdom o f I r e l a n d (1752) W e sle y 's a b rid g m e n ts in c lu d e d n o t o n ly th e works o f such p r o s e w r i t e r s a s John Bunyan and W illiam Law, b u t a l s o th e works o f such p o e t s as Young, H e rb e r t, and M ilto n . I n en d e a v o rin g to make " th e main" o f The P a r a d l s e L o st " c l e a r and i n t e l l i g i b l e to any u n e d u c a te d p e rs o n o f a t o l e r a b l e u n d e r s t a n d i n g , " Wesley o m itte d a l l th o s e l i n e s which he d e s p a ir e d o f e x p l a in i n g w ith o u t th e u se o f "abundance o f w o r d s ," added s h o r t and easy n o te s o f e l u c i d a t i o n , and h e l p f u l l y i n d i c a t e d th o s e p a s s a g e s which h i s judgment deemed to be " p e c u l i a r l y e x c e l l e n t " (R ic h ard G reene, The Works of John and C h a rle s W esley. A B i b l i o graphy , 1 2 6 ). As one com m entator i s s a id t o have rem arked, " I t i s a wonder Mr. Wesley d i d n o t a b r id g e t h e Gospel a c c o rd in g to S t. John" (Osborn, c i t e d by G reene, i b i d . , 1 7 1 ). ------- 223 he f e l t t h a t B u n y an 's a l l e g o r i e s would b e s t s e rv e tow ard t h i s commendable end by means o f a b rid g m e n ts . I n 1743, t h e r e f o r e , Wesley b ro u g h t ou t h i s r u t h l e s s ab rid g m e n t6 o f The P ilg rim * s P r o g r e s s , 7 " d o u b tle s s f o r t h e b e n e f i t o f t h e p o o r , t o be s o ld f o r fo u rp e n c e , and, i n 1754, 6 W e sle y 's p r i n c i p l e o f ab rid g m e n t, which sanc t i o n e d h i s d e l e t i o n o f w h ate v er he " d is a p p ro v e d o f, " l e d him, as he h im s e lf rem arked, "to om it t h e f a r g r e a t e r p a r t o f s e v e r a l a u t h o r s " ("Some Remarks on Mr. H i l l ' s Review o f a l l t h e D o c tr in e s ta u g h t by Mr. Jo h n W e sle y ," The Works o f t h e Rev. John W esiey, XV, 4 1 ). H is a b r id g m ents, however l a u d a b l e i n t h e i r i n t e n t , t h e r e f o r e , can by no means be c a l l e d s u c c e s s f u l . I n th e c a s e o f Bunyan, Wesley made an a tte m p t to d e l e t e p a s s a g e s i n d i c a t i v e o f C a lv in ism . Toplady, a n im a d v e rtin g on W esley 's manner o f abridgm ent and e d i t i n g , w ro te : "Which o f our a n c i e n t d i v i n e s have you n o t e v a p o ra te d and s p o ile d ? and th e n made them speak a la n g u a g e , when dead, which .they would have s t a r t e d from, w ith h o r r o r , when a l i v e ? " ("A L e t t e r to t h e Rev. Mr. Jo h n Wesley: R e l a t i v e to. h i s P re te n d e d Abridgm ent o f Z an ch iu s on P r e d e s t i n a t i o n , " Works o f A.M. T o p lad y , V, 327). The P i l g r i m ' s P ro g r e s s from t h l s World to t h a t which i s to come. A bridged by John Wesley, M.A., P e llo w o f~ T ln c o ln C o lle g e , O xford. N ew castle upon Tyne: P r i n t e d by John Gooding, on th e S id e; s o ld by R. Aken- head, on T yne-B ridge, N ew castle; by T. T yre, a t G r a y 's - I n n - g a t e , H olbourn; a t th e Poundery, n e a r Upper-Moor- F l e l d s , London; and a t th e New School i n t h e Horse F a ir , B r i s t o l , 1743. T his ab rid g m en t was r e p u b l i s h e d a s f o l low s: second e d i t i o n , N ew castle, 1744; a n o t h e r e d i t i o n , London, 1745; t h i r d e d i t i o n , B r i s t o l , 1748; f o u r t h e d i t i o n , London, 1758; f i f t h e d i t i o n , B r i s t o l , 1766; s i x t h e d i t i o n , London, 1787; e ig h th e d i t i o n , London, 1802 (R ic h a rd Greene, op. c l t . , 28). 8 R ic h a rd G reene, o p . c l t . , 28. 224 h i s abridgm ent of The Holy War. 9 somewhat more m ild ly d e a l t w ith . Commendations o f B unyan's a l le g o r y from th e l i t e r a r y p o i n t o f view, l i k e th o s e from th e d o c t r i n a l s ta n d p o in t, a r e i n f r e q u e n t i n th e f i r s t p a r t o f th e e i g h t e e n t h c e n tu r y , th o u g h two c o n t r i b u t o r s to p e r i o d i c a l s had th e c o u r a g e to p r a i s e The P i l g r i m 's P ro g r e s s as a work o f l i t e r a t u r e . The f i r s t o f t h e s e w r i t e r s , who s ig n e d h im s e lf M.B., c o n t r i b u t e d to t h e D a lly G a z e t t e e r an a r t i c l e i n which he urged a u t h o r s to e x c e l l by " s t r i k in g o u t new P a t h s , " r a t h e r th a n by " tr e a d in g v ery circum s p e c tly i n th e o ld o n e s , " and c i t e d H u d lb ras and The T ale o f a Tub as i n s t a n c e s o f E n g lis h works t h a t had a c h ie v e d fame on ;the b a s i s o f o r i g i n a l i t y , r a t h e r than on t h a t of i m i t a t i o n . To th e s e , he c o n tin u e d , T h is ab rid g m en t ap p e a re d i n Vol. XXXII (1754) o f th e com pendious work i n f i f t y volumes t h a t Wesley p u t f o r t h u n d er th e t i t l e A C h r i s t i a n L i b r a r y : C o n s is t in g of E x t r a c t s from , and A bridgm ents o f . th e C h o ice st P ie c e s o f P r a c t i c a l D lv ln lt y which have b ee n p u b l i s h 1d i n th e E n g lis h Tongue, 1747-55. This c o l l e c t i o n , which c o n ta in e d such m a t e r i a l as e x t r a c t s from t h e sermons of South, T l l l o t s o n , Howe, and B e v erid g e, s e l e c t i o n s from C ow ley's e s s a y s , and th e l i v e s o f Hooker, Donne, and H e rb e rt, was d e s ig n e d c h i e f l y f o r p r e a c h e r s . Wesley f e l t g r e a t d isa p p o in tm e n t when i t d id n o t s e l l r e a d i l y , th o u g h he c h e ere d h im s e lf w ith th e v a in hope t h a t su b seq u en t g e n e r a t i o n s would v a lu e i t . The second e d i t i o n of th e l i b r a r y was i s s u e d a f t e r W e sle y 's d e a th , i n 1819-26, u n d er th e e d i t o r s h i p o f Thomas Ja c k so n . Toplady, r e f e r r i n g t o W e sle y 's manner o f ab rid g m e n t and e d i t i n g employed i n t h i s c o m p ila tio n , r e f e r r e d to i t as "what Mr. Wesley m i s c a l l s , The C h r i s t i a n L ib r a r y " ("A L e t t e r to th e Rev. Mr. John. Wesley: R e l a t i v e to h i s P re te n d e d A bridgm ent o f Z anchius on P r e d e s t i n a t i o n , " Works of A.M. T oplady, V, 327 n . ). 225 I w i l l a d d .. . an o r i g i n a l o f an o p p o s it e Kind, th e P i l g r i m 1s P r o g r e s s o f h o n e s t John Bunyan, a Man, who, i f he w anted L e a rn in g , w anted l i k e w i s e any S o rt o f A rt o r F raud, and whose E x p re ssio n , I f i t be homely, i s a t th e same tim e so j u s t and n a t u r a l , and so e x a c t l y o f a P ie c e w ith th e S t r u c t u r e of h i s T a le , t h a t , ta k e i t a l l t o g e t h e r , t h e r e n e v e r was an A lle g o ry b e t t e r d e s ig n e d , o r b e t t e r sup ported.^-® Thus, on th e b a s i s o f h i s b e in g an " o r i g i n a l " r e s t e d Bunyan’s c la im to l i t e r a r y r e c o g n i t i o n i n th e o p in io n o f a w r i t e r who a p p e a rs to have b een th e f i r s t s e c u l a r c r i t i c 1 1 to p r a i s e The P ilg rim * s P ro g r e s s as a work o f l i t e r a t u r e . The o r i g i n a l i t y o f B u n y an 's a l l e g o r y was a l s o a s tr o n g p o i n t i n i t s f a v o r w ith th e w r i t e r who d is c u s s e d t h a t work i n th e G e n tle m a n 's M agazine some f o u r t e e n y e a r s l a t e r . "As a work o f i m a g i n a t i o n . . . i l l u s t r a t i n g a p a r t i c u l a r s e t o f r e l i g i o u s p r i n c i p l e s , " he w ro te, " th e P i l g rim ' s P ro g r e s s i s c e r t a i n l y a work o f o r i g i n a l and uncommon g e n iu s . ^ M.B. , "Of O r i g i n a l s and W r itin g ," Gentleman* s M agazine, XI (Septem ber, 1741), 488. 1 1 The e i g h t e e n t h c e n tu ry had much i n t e r e s t i n " o r i g i n a l " g e n iu s e s . A ddison i n th e S p e c t a t o r d e v o ted an essay (No. 160) to th e s u b j e c t , d i s c u s s i n g th o s e w r i t e r s who "by t h e meer s t r e n g t h o f n a t u r a l p a r t s , an d w ith o u t any a s s i s t a n c e of a r t o r l e a r n i n g , have p ro d u ced works t h a t were th e d e l i g h t o f t h e i r own tim e s, and t h e wonder o f p o s t e r i t y " (Jo se p h A ddison, Works, V, 3 8 3 -4 ). " P a r t i c u l a r s o f th e L i f e of John B unyan," G e n tle m a n 's M agazine, XXXV ( A p r il, 1765), 168. 226 . . . C u r i o s i t y i s f o r c i b l y r a i s e d , and c o n s t a n t l y g r a t i f i e d ; th e mind i s a r d e n t l y and t e n d e r l y i n t e r e s t e d f o r th e h e ro , h i s d a n g e rs p ro d u ce s u r p r i s e and t e r r o r , and h i s esc a p e s a d m ira tio n and jo y . Every r e a d e r i s , in d e ed , th e v ery p i l g r i m whose p r o g r e s i s e x h i b ite d , and t h e r e f o r e n e c e s s a r i l y r e f e r s h i s d a n g e rs and d e l i v e r a n c e s to him s e l f ; i s alarm ed by th e same f e a r s , and an im ated by th e same hopes; h e f e e l s him s e l f u rg ed to f l e e from th e w ra th to come, and i s d i r e c t e d i n th e c o u rs e he i s to run; t h e a r t s o f v a r i o u s c h a r a c t e r s who would seduce him from i t a r e d e t e c t e d , and he i s shewn to be s u p e r i o r to any f o r c e t h a t may a s s a i l him i n i t . 1* 5 B unyan's a l l e g o r y , a d m itte d t h i s w r i t e r , i s " f r e q u e n tl y bro k en , by a m ix tu re o f l i t e r a l and m e ta p h o r ic a l s e n s e ," a s i n th e d u al e x p la n a tio n o f th e Slough o f Despond: The a u th o r r e p r e s e n t s h i s p i l g r i m a s f a l l in g i n t o a slo u g h c a l l e d t h e slo u g h o f Despond, j u s t a t h i s s e t t i n g o u t; w hich I s a good em blem o f th e t e r r o r s t h a t f r e q u e n t l y f o llo w what o u r d i v i n e s have c a l l e d th e f i r s t con v i c t i o n s o f s in ; b u t when, c o n tin u in g h i s f i g u r e , he i s a c c o u n tin g f o r th e b a d n e s s o f th e ground i n t h i s p la c e , he says t h a t th e f e a r s , d o u b ts , and d ls c o u r a g ln g a p p re h e n s io n s which r i s e i n th e s i n n e r 's so u l, when f i r s t awakened, g e t t o g e t h e r and s e t t l e t h e r e . 14 D e s p ite such d i s c r e p a n c i e s i n th e management o f th e a l l e gory, however, The P i l g r i m 's P r o g r e s s , a c c o r d in g to t h i s w r i t e r , was "an a l l e g o r y h ig h ly e n t e r t a i n i n g and a f f e c t - in g . »1E The p io u s Samuel W ilson a l s o allo w ed h im s e lf to " P a r t i c u l a r s o f th e L i f e o f John B unyan," G entlem an' s M agazine. XXXV ( A p r il, 1765), 168. 14 I b i d . , 168 n. 15 Ibid., 169. 227 f i n d The P ilg rim * s P r o g r e s s e n jo y a b le r e a d in g ; " th e A lle g o ry i s so e x c e e d in g ly e n t e r t a i n i n g , " he s t a t e d , " t h a t when we once e n t e r upon i t , we c a n ' t t e l l how to le a v e i t w ith o u t g o in g th ro u g h th e whole o f i t . 1,16 E q u a lly i f n o t more i n d i c a t i v e o f a n ,i n c r e a s i n g a p p r e c i a t i v e a t t i t u d e tow ard The P i l g r i m 's P r o g r e s s a r e th e i n c i d e n t a l r e f e r e n c e s to i t s c h a r a c t e r s , sc en es, and I n c i d e n t s found I n th e l e t t e r s of p e r s o n s o f educa t i o n and c u l t u r e o f th e p e r io d . The le a r n e d E l i z a b e t h C a r t e r , whose l i t e r a r y t a s t e was r e p r e s e n t a t i v e o f t h e so u n d e st o f th e e i g h t e e n t h cen tu r y , th o u g h u n i t e d w ith a f e e l i n g of r e l i g i o u s r e v e r e n c e 17 o f te n l a c k i n g i n o t h e r w r i t e r s o f th e p e r io d , had an 1 & Samuel W ilson, "The P r e f a c e , " erg,, c l t . , v l i l . 17 The b e s t e v id e n c e o f E l i z a b e t h C a r t e r 's sound t a s t e (w hich in c lu d e d , o f c o u rs e , a p ro p e r a p p r e c i a t i o n of such much adm ired e i g h te e n th c e n tu ry works a s Y oung's "N ight T h o u g h ts," G e s n e r 's D eath o f A b el, and v a r io u s volumes o f serm ons), i s seen i n h e r s t o u t d e f e n s e o f F i e l d i n g a s a g a i n s t R ic h a rd so n . Though Mrs. C a r t e r was no l e s s a l o v e r of C l a r i s s a th a n was Miss T a lb o t, she was u n a b le t o a g re e w ith h e r f r i e n d t h a t Tom J o n e s was d e t e s t a b le , and e x p re s s e d h e r s e l f b o ld ly i n f a v o r o f F i e l d i n g 's n o v el (Mrs. C a r t e r to Miss T a lb o t, June 20, 1749; ojd. c l t . I , 2 6 1 -2 ). "You w i l l la u g h a t me," she w ro te on a n o th e r o c c a s io n to Miss T a lb o t, " f o r my c h a r i t y to a l l k in d s of p e o p le , as some f o l k s la u g h a t me f o r ray c h a r i t y to a l l k in d s o f b o o k s . . . " (Mrs. C a r t e r to Miss T a lb o t, August 12, 1752; o p . c l t . , I , 3 8 2 -3 ). For C h e s t e r f i e l d and V o l t a i r e , however, E l i z a b e t h C a r t e r c o u ld f i n d no c h a r i t y ; th e w o rld ly m o r a l i t y of th e fo rm e r and th e blasphem y o f th e l a t t e r c a l l e d f o r t h h e r d e t e s t a t i o n . The works o f "such a w re tch " a s V o l t a i r e , i n f a c t , she r e f u s e d to re a d , sa y in g , "I sh o u ld a s soon t h i n k o f p la y in g w ith a to a d o r a v ip e r , a s of r e a d i n g such blasphem y and im p ie ty a s I am t o l d a r e c o n ta in e d i n some o f h i s works" (Mrs. C a r t e r to M iss T a lb o t, May 24, 1744; oj3. c l t . , I , 48). 228 a p p r e c i a t i o n f o r B u n y an 's humble a l l e g o r y . The l e a r n e d t r a n s l a t o r o f E p i c t e t u s a p p a r e n tly knew h e r P llg rlm '.s P ro g r e s s by h e a r t and s e v e r a l tim es r e f e r r e d to i t s sc e n e s and c h a r a c t e r s i n h e r l e t t e r s to " th e d i s t i n g u i s h e d M iss T a l b o t . " 1® R e co u n tin g to h e r f r i e n d th e r o u t i n e o f h e r days sp e n t a t D eal, d u r in g th e y e a r 1744, f o r i n s t a n c e , she w rot e : I g e t up a t f o u r , re a d f o r an h o u r, th e n s e t f o r t h a w alking, and w ith o u t v a n i t y I may p r e t e n d to be one o f th e b e s t w a lk e rs o f th e age. I had a t f i r s t engaged t h r e e o r f o u r p o o r s o u ls to t h e i r sorrow i n t h i s am b u lato ry scheme, and ' t l s n o t to be t o l d th e t r a c t s o f la n d we ram bled o v e r; b u t I happen to be much to o v o l a t i l e f o r my s u f f e r i n g f e l l o w - t r a v e l l e r s , who come p a n t in g and g ru m b lin g a t a c o n s i d e r a b le d i s t a n c e , and l a b o r a lo n g l i k e C h r i s t i a n c lim b in g up t h e h i l l D i f f i c u l t y , t i l l a t le n g th th e y q u i t e s in k i n t o th e Slough o f Despond. L aughingly com p lim en tin g M iss T a lb o t, some y e a r s l a t e r , on th e co u rag e t h a t e n a b le d h e r t o spend a whole n ig h t i n th e m oated S h erb o rn e C a s tle , " t h a t does r e a l l y lo o k 18 C a th e r in e T a l b o t (1721-1770) was so renowned f o r h e r p r o f i c i e n c y I n m usic ana draw ing, and h e r know ledge o f la n g u a g e s , astronom y, geography, t h a t "when she was no t more th a n tw en ty y e a r s o f age, she was spoken o f by t h e a p p e l l a t i o n o f 't h e c e l e b r a t e d Miss T a l b o t 1, " r e c o r d s Montagu P e n n in g to n , A S e r i e s o f L e t t e r s Between M rs. E l i z a b e t h C a r te r and Miss C a th e r in e T a l b o t , I , ix . 19 Mrs. Carter to Miss Talbot, May 24, 1744; pp. Jli_t» , I, 48. 229 as i f a g i a n t , o r a t l e a s t a s c o r e o f k n i g h t s , armed 20 cap a - p l e , were to s a l l y o u t o v e r th e d r a w b r i d g e ," Mrs. C a r t e r w ro te: I g r e a t l y ad m ire y o u r co u rag e o u s s p i r i t , which i n d e f i a n c e o f Grim SIay-G ood. G ia n t D e s p a ir , and M iss M u ch afrald h i s d a u g h te r, and a l l th e g i a n t s and g i a n t e s s e s one r e a d s o f i n books, would e n a b le you to v e n t u r e y o u r s e l f a n i g h t i n t h a t same f o rm id a b le e n c h a n te d c a s tle * ^3- I n th e f i r s t l e t t e r i n which she had made m ention of B u n y an 's C h r i s t i a n and h i s a d v e n tu r e s , Mrs. C a r t e r had added t h e query, a s an a f t e r t h o u g h t : "Have you ever r e a d 'P i l g r i m 's P r o g r e s s ' ?"22 M iss T a lb o t had no t im m e d ia te ly r e p l i e d to th e q u e s tio n , b u t i f she had n e v e r b e f o r e r e a d B unyan's a l l e g o r y i n A rchbishop S e e k e r 's l i b r a r y , she to o k p a i n s to make good t h i s d is c re p a n c y i n h e r r e a d in g , and sh e, i n t u r n , began to ad o p t p h r a s e s from t h a t work. C o n fe s sin g to Mrs. C a r t e r th e " I n f i r m i t y , o r f a u l t y In d o le n c e " which k e p t h e r from a c c o m p lish in g a n y th in g w ith h e r days spent a t S t. P a u l 's Deanery, sh e co n clu d ed h e r s e l f - a c c u s a t i o n w ith th e p l e a : M iss T a lb o t to Mrs. C a r te r , O cto b er 10, 1748; op. c i t . , I , 244. pi Mrs. C a r t e r to M iss T a lb o t, O ctober 22, 1748; op . c l t . , I , 247. ^ Mrs. Carter to Miss Talbot, May 24, 1744; op. clt., I, 48* 230 F o rg iv e my ru n n in g on upon such a s e lf i s h , s u b j e c t , I would g iv e you a. t r u e s k e tc h o f my d i s p o s i t i o n , i n hopes o f your h e l p in g hand to r a i s e me o u t o f t h i s Slough o f Despond. On a n o th e r o c c a s io n , when M iss T a lb o t was spend in g some days w ith r e l a t i v e s i n "a very p r e t t y p l a c e i n S u r r e y , M she found h e r s e l f " re a d in g i d l e books, to w h ile away t h e h o u rs o f p r e s c r i b e d s o l i t u d e , w — t h e i d l e books in c l u d i n g some works o f C onstance P h i l i p s and J a c k Conner: "F ie upon i t i " she w rote to h e r f r i e n d . Why was n o t y o u r E p i c t e t u s p r i n t e d i n a f a i r l a r g e l e t t e r , and s ta n d in g upon t h e s h e lv e s I n s t e a d o f a l l t h i s ru b b ish ? 2 4 "Poor S o u l," r e p l i e d th e k in d ly E liz a b e t h C a r t e r , " t h a t you sh o u ld ever be sh u t up i n a room w ith such r a c k e t t i n g p e o p le a s Con. P h i l i p s , and J a c k Conner": I t was q u i t e inhuman to c o n fin e you i n such company; and I can n e v e r g iv e my c o n s e n t t o y o u r spending a n o th e r week i n S urrey, u n l e s s you a r e s u f f e r e d to walk q u i e t l y and s o b e r ly th ro u g h t h e w o rld w ith John Bunyan.25 I n th e l e t t e r s o f a n o th e r "Blue S to c k in g " o f th e p e r io d a l s o a p p e ared r e f e r e n c e s to B unyan's a l l e g o r y . Mrs. E l i z a b e t h Montagu, w i t t y and w o rld ly in. h e r e a r l y P 'Z Miss T a lb o t to Mrs. C a r te r , J a n u a ry 19, 1754; op. c l t . , I I , 36-7. 24 Miss T a lb o t to Mrs. C a r t e r [no d a t e ] ; o]o. c l t . . I , 380. 25 Mrs. Carter to Miss Talbot, August 12, 1752; op. cit., I, 382. 231 y e a r s and i n c l i n e d to la u g h a t Bunyan and h i s a l l e g o r y , m o d ifie d h e r t a s t e s u f f i c i e n t l y , a t l e a s t i n w r i t i n g to th e p io u s G i l b e r t West, to speak o f t h e a l l e g o r i s t a s " th e g r e a t B u n y an ," though she s t i l l r e t a i n e d a s u f f i c i e n t se n se o f t h e r i d i c u l o u s to en a b le h e r , some y e a r s •- l a t e r , to m ention Bunyan s l i g h t i n g l y i n a l e t t e r to S t i l l i n g f l e e t . 26 D e s c rib in g to G i l b e r t West h e r v i s i t t o "poor Dr. C ourayer, " who lo d g e d ato p Mrs. C h e n e v ix 's to y shop, Mrs. Montagu w rote: I was o b lig e d to p a s s th ro u g h a l l t h e gay v a n i t i e s o f Mrs. Chenevix, and th e n a s c e n d a most s te e p and d i f f i c u l t s t a i r c a s e to g e t a t t h e l i t t l e p h ilo s o p h e r ; t h i s way to wisdom th ro u g h th e v a n i t i e s and s p le n d id to y s o f th e w orld, m ight be p r e t t i l y a l l e g o r i z e d by t h e pen o f th e g r e a t B unyan;27 ® See i n f r a , page 240. Matthew Montagu, nephew of Mrs. Montagu and e d i t o r o f h e r l e t t e r s , n o te d w ith c o n c e rn t h a t Mrs. M ontagu's e a r l y e d u c a tio n was n o t s u f f i c i e n t l y t i n c t u r e d w ith r e l i g i o n . I t was on ly from h e r in tim a c y w ith G i l b e r t West and L ord L y t t l e t o n , t h a t she l a t e r i n l i f e r e c e i v e d " s t r o n g im p re s s io n s o f th e t r u t h of d i v i n e r e v e l a t i o n , " which se rv e d to " c o r r e c t th e ex u b e ra n t s p i r i t o f h e r g e n iu s, and to g iv e th e l a s t to u c h e s o f improvem ent to h e r c h a r a c t e r " (M atthew Montagu, e d i t o r , The L e t t e r s of Mrs. E l i z a b e t h Montagu w ith some of th e l e t t e r s of h e r c o r r e s p o n d e n ts . London: P r i n t e d f o r T. C a d e ll and W . D av ie s, S tra n d ; by W . Bulmer and Company; t h i r d e d i t i o n , I , 6 ) . I n h e r m id d le age, n o te d th e e d i t o r w ith s a t i s f a c t i o n , Mrs. Montagu became "as re m a rk a b le f o r d i s c r e t i o n o f co n d u c t, and p r o p r i e t y of demeanour, as she had been i n h e r c h ild h o o d and y o u th f o r v i v a c i t y and s p r i g h t l i n e s s " (ox>. c l t . . I I , 315). on E l i z a b e t h Montagu to G i l b e r t West, O ctober 31, 1751; 0£ . c l t . . I l l , 172-3. 232 and th e good p e r e h im s e lf , h i s head crowned w ith a cap, ornam ented w ith a g o ld o r r i s , seemed to Mrs. Montagu to a f f o r d an am ple s u b je c t to some "e m b lem atizin g g e n iu s . Though many o f th e w r i t e r s of t h i s p e r i o d had no o c c a s io n to m en tio n The P ilg rim * s P r o g r e s s , e i t h e r by way of commendation o r r i d i c u l e , a knowledge of i t was ta k e n f o r g r a n te d . Even C h e s t e r f i e l d f e l t t h a t i t con s t i t u t e d a p a r t o f th e re a d in g o f a w e ll - e d u c a t e d p e r son, by im p ly in g an a c q u a in ta n c e w ith i t on t h e p a r t o f h i s model son. G iv in g young Stanhope some g e n e r a l a d v ic e on th e r e a d i n g o f h i s t o r y — a d v i s i n g him to skim l i g h t l y o ver t h e "common ru n o f e v e n ts" and to c o n c e n t r a t e h i s a t t e n t i o n on what was epoch making, th e E a rl w ro te: Some p e o p le r e a d h i s t o r y a s o t h e r s r e a d t h e P ilg r im * s P ro g r e s s ; g i v i n g eq u al a t t e n t i o n to , and i n d i s c r i m i n a t e l y lo a d in g t h e i r memories w ith every p a r t a l i k e . 9 From th e "W orldly Wiseman" o f t h e age, ^ even la c k o f E l i z a b e t h Montagu to G i l b e r t West, O ctober 31, 1751; 0£. b i t . , I l l , 173. 29 The E a rl o f C h e s t e r f i e l d to h i s son, November 1, 1750 L O .S.j, l e t t e r CCXXXII, The L e t t e r s o f th e E a r l o f C h e s t e r f i e l d to h i s Son (C h a rle s S tra c h e y , e d ito r? New York: G.P. P utnam 1s Sons, 1927), I I , 7 7 -8 . 30 A u g u stin e B i r r e l l a p p l i e s t h i s t i t l e to C h e s t e r f i e l d ("L o rd C h e s t e r f i e l d , " C o lle c te d E ssay s and A d d re sse s, I , 189) and li k e w i s e to S h a fte s b u ry ("John W esley," i b i d . , I , 305). 233 r i d i c u l e of t h i s r e l i g i o u s a l l e g o r y may p e rh a p s be r e g a rd e d a s a r a t h e r h ig h o r d e r o f commendation. Thus, lo v e d by th e common p e o p le o f th e e i g h t e e n t h c e n tu ry a s by th o s e o f th e s e v e n te e n th , commended by s e c t a r i a n s — and, on o c c a s io n , even by A n g lic a n s — f o r i t s i n s t r u c t i o n a l u s e f u l n e s s , g a in in g r e c o g n i t i o n as a work o f l i t e r a t u r e , and f i n d i n g a p p r e c i a t i v e m ention i n th e w r i t i n g s o f e d u c a te d p e r s o n s o f th e p e r io d , The P i l g r i m 1s P r o g r e s s was s t e a d i l y a d v an cin g to w ard a r e s p e c ta b le p o s i t i o n . I f i t s a u th o r was n o t deemed w orthy o f a p l a c e i n N e a l 's H is to ry o f t h e P u r i t a n s , t h e book, a t l e a s t , found so b e r m ention i n th e l e t t e r s o f th e most p o l i s h e d c o u r t i e r o f t h e age, who m ight w e ll have been ex p ecte d to a r r a y h im s e lf w ith th o s e p e r s o n s o f c o r r e c t t a s t e hy whom th e a l l e g o r y was re g a r d e d w ith sc o rn . BUNYAN, THE STANDARD OF BATHOS To a l a r g e group of w i t t y and w o rld ly r e a d e r s o f th e e i g h te e n th c e n tu ry The P i l g r i m 1s P r o g r e s s was a w e ll a c c e p te d o b j e c t f o r r i d i c u l e , p a r t i c u l a r l y on th e ground o f i t s I n e le g a n c e o f s t y l e and i t s a p p e a l to a humble a u d ie n c e . The book became " th e W i t l i n g 's J e s t , " ^ ! 3 1 "Particulars of the Life of John Bunyan," G-entleman's Magazine, XXXV (April, 1765), 168. 234 and th e w r i t e r I n th e D a lly G a z e t t e e r . who f e l t t h a t "W its may p erh ap s ta k e O ffence a t th e R e sp e c t I pay to t h i s R e lig io u s Romance, was p e rh a p s n o t wrong i n h i s c o n j e c t u r e . C e r ta in o f th e c r i t i c i s m s r a i s e d by s e v e n te e n th c e n tu ry r e a d e r s a g a i n s t th e a l l e g o r y , as t h a t i t was o b sc u re and o v e r - b o i s t e r o u s i n i t s humor, were no lo n g e r c i t e d a g a i n s t i t i n th e e i g h te e n th c e n tu ry , though o t h e r s , among them an o b j e c t i o n to i t s d o c t r i n a l te a c h in g s , r e mained i n f o r c e . The P i l g r i m 1s P r o g r e s s , w ro te an anonymous con t r i b u t o r to th e Gentleman * s M agazine In 1765, had f r e q u e n tly been r i d i c u l e d by w its "who n e i t h e r knew n o r c a re d w h eth e r th e p r i n c i p l e s upon which i t was w r i t t e n were f a l s e or t r u e , " w hile i t was "always d e c r i e d " by th o s e who supposed t h e s e p r i n c i p l e s to be f a l s e , "as e s t a b l i s h i n g F a n a tic is m upon th e r u i n s of r a t i o n a l 33 r e l i g i o n . " T y p ic a l o f th e l a t t e r group was t h e w e ll- known to p o g ra p h e r Thomas Cox, who found "an A ntlnom ian S p i r i t " i n The P i l g r i m 1s P ro g r e s s a s w e ll a s i n what he 32 M .B., "Of O r i g in a ls and W r itin g ," r e p r i n t e d i n G entlem an1s M agazine, XI (Septem ber, 1741), 488. 33 "Particulars of the Life of John Bunyan," Gentleman1s Magazine, XXXV (April, 1765), 168. 235 V T A v ag u e ly term ed B u n y an 's " s e v e r a l o th e r l i t t l e books. The common-sense r e a c t i o n a g a in s t t h e C a l v i n i s - t i c d o c t r i n e s , on which th e a l l e g o r y was b a s e d , was e x p re s s e d by th e g en tlem an r e f e r r e d to i n a p e r i o d i c a l a s " th e l a t e c e l e b r a t e d Mr James P o s te r , " who used to say " t h a t n o t one of th e c h a r a c t e r s i n t h e P ilg rim * s P r o g r e s s t a l k e d common sense b u t Ig n o ra n c e , whom th e 45 a u th o r had co n d u cted th e back way to H e l l * " W hile some a t t e n t i o n , t h e r e f o r e , was p a i d to t h e d o c t r i n a l a s p e c t o f The P ilg rim * s P r o g r e s s , even by th o s e who d i s l i k e d t h e a l l e g o r y , t h e main p o in t on which i t was s u b je c te d to c r i t i c i s m i n th e e i g h t e e n t h c e n tu r y was i t s meanness o f s t y l e , which was u n d e rs to o d to a p p e a l o n ly to humble p e rs o n s d e s t i t u t e o f t a s t e * In d eed , th e v e ry p o p u la r i t y of The P ilg rim * s [Thomas Cox], Magna B r i t a n n i a e t H i b e r n i a , A n tig u a & Nova.. Or, a New Survey o f G re a t B r i t a i n , W herein to th e TopograpTjicaT Account g iv e n by Mr. Cambden and th e l a t e e d i t o r s o f h i s B r i t a n n i a , i s added a more l a r g e ~ l S s t o r y , not o n ly o f th e C i t i e s , B oroughs, Towns, and P a r i s h e s m entioned by them , b u t a l s o o f many o t h e r P la c e s o f B o te , and A n t i q u i t i e s s in c e d i s c o v e r e d . . . . C o l le c te d and com posed by an I m p a r t i a l Band ( [London]," I n th e 'Savoy: i 7 2 0 - 3 T T ,T , 153. A cco rd in g t o G-ough (B r i t i s h Topography, I , 33) C o x 's Survey was f i r s t p u b lis h e d i n m onthly numbers a s a supplem ent to t h e f i v e volum es o f A t l a s G eographus, 1711-17. Cox (d ie d 1734) was a to p o g r a p h e r and t r a n s l a t o r , and m i n i s t e r o f th e Church o f E ngland. 35 "Particulars of the Life of John Bunyan," Gentleman's Magazine, XXXV (April, 1765), 168. 236 P ro g r e s s w ith humble r e a d e r s was c i t e d a g a i n s t i t by w r i t e r s o f t h e u p p er c l a s s e s . Thomas Cox, I n h i s h i s to r y o f B e d fo rd s h ire , com plained t h a t th e a l l e g o r y was "too f r e q u e n t l y t o b e met w ith i n th e Hands o f th e common P e o p l e , ” and Jo se p h A ddison w ro te d i s p a r i n g l y : I n ev e r y e t knew an a.uthor t h a t had n o t h i s a d m ire rs . Bunyan and Q u a rle s have p a s s e d th ro u g h s e v e r a l e d i t i o n s , and p l e a s e a s many r e a d e r s as Dryden and T i l l o t s o n . Thomas Cox, o p . c l t . . I , 33, 3 7 Jo se p h A ddison, The W hlg-Exam iner, No. 2, Septem ber 21, 1719; Works of J o s e p h A d d iso n , I I , 595. George W ashington Greene'1 s p r a i s e o f A ddison a s a c r i t i c , t h a t "he was one of th e f i r s t to c a l l a t t e n t i o n to th e a n c ie n t b a l l a d , and th e f i r s t to p r a i s e M ilto n j u d i c i o u s l y " ( i b i d . , I , 203, n. ), cannot be ex te n d e d to A d d is o n 's a t t i t u d e tow ard Bunyan. The famous d iv in e John T i l l o t s o n (1630-1694), h e r e c o n t r a s t e d w ith Bunyan and Q u a rle s , sto o d o f c o u rse i n h ig h esteem i n th e s e v e n te e n th and e i g h t e e n t h c e n t u r i e s . So p o p u la r was he t h a t , when he d ie d , h i s widow r e c e iv e d 2500 g u in e a s — th e l a r g e s t sum th e n e v e r y e t p a id f o r an E n g lis h book— f o r th e c o p y r ig h t o f h i s m a n u sc rip t serm ons (Edmund Gosse, A H is to r y of E lg h te e n th C entury L i t e r a t u r e , 8 8 - 9 ). Dryden p r a i s e d T i l l o t s o n 1s s t y l e a s a s ta n d a r d o f e x c e lle n c e , and A ddison r e g a r d e d t h e d i v i n e h ig h ly . F r a n c is Q u arles (1596-1644) d u r in g th e same p e r i o d and even l a t e r was i n v e ry low r e p u t e . C h e s t e r f i e l d (December 18, 1763) w ro te o f t h a t p o e t as h a v in g "de g rad ed and v i l i f i e d " th e word Emblem " to such a d e g re e , t h a t i t i s im p o s s ib le to make u se o f i t a f t e r h i m ... ( L e t t e r No. CCCLXXV, L e t t e r s , I I , 430); John Wesley r e f e r r e d to Q u a rle s a s an example o f an i n f e r i o r p o e t ("T houghts on th e C h a ra c te r and W ritin g s o f Mr. P r i o r , " Works o f John Wesley, XV, 427); and Thomas Campbell i n 1819 w ro te o f Q u a rle s as t y p i f y i n g th e o b j e c t i o n a b l e q u a l i t i e s o f " q u a in tn e s s and f l a t n e s s " ( Specim ens o f th e B r i t i s h P o e t s , I , 187; see a l s o , I I , 3 1 5 -6 ). 237 Thus, th o u g h Samuel W ilson n o te d w ith some s a t i s f a c t i o n th e encouragem ent g iv e n to B u n y an 's a l l e g o r y by " th e p o l i t e P a r t o f M ankind,"38 i t was n o t th e " p o l i t e " p e rs o n who was o r d i n a r i l y u n d e rs to o d , by t h e l i t e r a r y w orld o f t h e tim e , to b e th e r e p r e s e n t a t i v e r e a d e r o f The P i l g r i m 1s P r o g r e s s . As i s e v id e n t from th e comment o f th e p e r io d , humble p e rs o n s o f sm all i n t e l l i g e n c e and mean w o rld ly p o s i t i o n were r a t h e r th o u g h t o f as t y p i c a l Bunyan d e v o te e s . In h i s s a t i r i c a l b u r le s q u e o f D efoe, f o r I n s ta n c e , C h a rle s G-ildon r e p r e s e n t e d t h a t a u th o r a s s a y in g to h i s son C rusoe: . . . t h e r e i s n o t an o ld women t h a t can go to t h e P r i c e o f i t , b u t buys th y L if e and Adven t u r e s , and l e a v e s i t a s a Legacy, w ith t h e P i l grim 1s P r o g r e s s , th e P r a c t i c e o f P i e t y , and G od's Revenge a g a i n s t M u rth e r, to h e r P o s t e r i t y . 39 3® Samuel W ilson, "The P r e f a c e , " op. p i t . , v i l l . 39 C h a rle s G ildon, The L i f e and S tra n g e S u r p r iz - in g A d v en tu res o f Mr. D De F— , o f London, H o s ie r , Who Has l l v * d above f i f t y Y ears by h i m s e l f , i n th e King doms o f N orth and South B r i t a i n . The v a r i o u s Shapes he h a s a p p e a r 1d i n , and th e D is c o v e r ie s he h a s made f o r t h e B e n e f it o f h i s C o u n try . I n a D ia lo g u e betw een Him, R obinson C rusoe, and h i s Man F r id a y . . ."I (Second e d i t i o n ; London: " P rin te d f o r J .R o b e r ts i n la rw lc k -L a n e , 1719), i x - x . C h a rle s G ild o n (1665-1724) was a m is c e lla n e o u s w r i t e r o f no g r e a t t a l e n t . He came i n t o c o n f l i c t w ith Pope and i s m entioned by him i n t h e " E p i s t l e to A rb u th n o t" and i n "The D u n c ia d ." The P r a c t i c e o f P i e t y , w r i t t e n by Lewis B ayly, B ishop o f Bangor ( d ie d 1631), h e r e and e l s e where ( s e e i n f r a , page 339) jo i n e d i n r i d i c u l e w ith The P i l g r i m 's P r o g r e s s , was a v ery famous d e v o t io n a l work, much b e lo v e d by th e p io u s and much d e r id e d by th e w i t t y th ro u g h o u t th e s e v e n te e n th and e i g h t e e n t h c e n t u r i e s . The d a te o f f i r s t p u b l i c a t i o n i s unknown, b u t th e t h i r d e d i t i o n ' a p p e a re d i n 1613. T his book and The P l a i n M an's Pathway Ji° Heaven, a s Bunyan r e c o r d s (G race Abounding, l6~), co'n- s t i t u t e d th e s c a n ty p o s s e s s io n s t h a t h i s f i r s t w ife b ro u g h t to h e r b r id e g r o o m 's house. 238 A d o g g e re l poem p r i n t e d i n th e Gentleman* s Maga z in e o f 1731 c a r r i e d th e same I m p lic a ti o n a s to t h e t y p i c a l r e a d e r s o f Bunyan. T h is p u r p o r te d I t s e l f to he t h e "L a st W ill o f Mr Matthew A y> l a t e Bed-maker and Sweeper a t Cambridge i n New England, " who l e f t to h i s w ife h i s "whole E s t a t e , " c o n s i s t i n g o f such p r i z e d p o s s e s s i o n s as A Tub o f Soap, A lo n g C a rt Rope, A F ry in g Pan and K e t t l e , An Ashen P a i l , A T h re sh in g F l a i l , An I r o n Wedge and B e e tle . A ra g g e d Mat, A Tub o f F a t, A Book p u t o u t by Bunyan, A n o th er Book By R obin Rook, > n A S k ain o r two o f S pun-Y arn.w An am using scene i n Jo h n Gay1s The What D*Ye C a ll I t r e p r e s e n t e d a n o t h e r c l a s s o f humble r e a d e r s by whom Bunyan*s a l l e g o r y was f a m i l i a r l y and a f f e c t i o n a t e l y known: The l u d i c r o u s Timothy P eascod, ab o u t to be ex e c u te d , i s u rg ed by a countrym an to r e p e n t h i s s i n s and r e a d i n " t h i s good book"; Timothy t a k e s th e volume, and th e n s t u t t e r s th ro u g h h i s t e a r s : 40 L a s t W ill o f Mr Matthew A y, l a t e Bed- maker and Sweeper a t Cambridge i n New E n g la n d ," G entlem an*s M agazine, I I (May, 1732), 770* 239 I w i l l , I w i l l . Lend me t h e h a n k e rc h e r— The P ilg rim * s P ro — (Heads and weeps, ( I cannot see f o r t e a r s ) P ro — P r o g r e s s — oh 1 — The P ilg rim * s P r o g r e s s — e i t h t h e - d i - t l - o n . Lon-don— P r i n - t e d — f o r — N i- c h o - la s — B o d - d in g - to n : With new a d - d i - t i o n s n e - v e r made b-e-f o r e . — O h i ' t i s so moving, I can r e a d no more* A lthough t h e s e r e f e r e n c e s to The P ilg rim * s P r o g r e s s , as John Brown h a s o b s e rv e d w ith r e g a r d t h a t o f John G-ay, u n d o u b te d ly p ro v e much a s to th e p o p u l a r i t y o f B unyan's 4-P a l l e g o r y , ^ th e y a ls o s e rv e a s an i n d i c a t i o n o f th e ty p e o f humble r e a d e r to whom, i n th e o p in io n o f th e l i t e r a r y w orld of th e tim e , t h e a l l e g o r y was p a r t i c u l a r l y th o u g h t to a p p e a l. F u r th e r i n d i c a t i o n of t h i s i s seen i n th e la u g h in g r i d i c u l e o f a comment by th e young E l i z a b e t h Montagu, who, In 1741, was f o r c e d to spend some tim e a t Hayton farm i n Kent, i n th e r u s t i c com panionship o f co u n try s q u ir e s and c a lv e s — o f which ’’two creatu res,* * she con f e s s e d , she l i k e d th e l a t t e r b e s t . E l i z a b e t h 's rem arks 41 John G-ay, The What D'Ye C a ll I t , a Tragi-C om l- P a s t o r a l , * * Act I I , scen e i , I n A C o l l e c t i o n o f th e Most Esteemed F a rc e s and E n te r ta ln m e n ts . P erform ed on th e B r i t i s h S ta g e (E dinburgh: P r i n t e d f o r S i l v e s t e r Doig and W illiam A nderson, 1792). A cco rd in g to G-iles Jacob ( The P o e t i c a l R e g i s t e r , I I , 1 1 5 ), t h i s f a r c e was " a c te d w ith A pplause" a t th e T h e a tre Royal i n 1715. Jaco b c u r i o u s ly r e f e r s to i t as " a l l e g o r i c a l . " Johnson ( L iv e s o f t h e E n g lis h P o e t s , I I , 271) spoke o f i t a s "one of th e lu c k y t r i f l e s t h a t g iv e p l e a s u r e by n o v e lty . " John Brown, John Bunyan. 443 240 on r e a d i n g and books l e d h e r to w r ite : As f o r some o f o u r s q u i r e s , they r e a d n o th in g b u t p a r i s h law, and books o f h u s b an d ry , o r p e rh a p s , f o r t h e i r p a r t i c u l a r e n te r ta in m e n t, Q u a r l e s 's Emblems, th e P i l g r i m 's P r o g r e s s , A e s o p 's F a b le s , and, to f u r n i s h them w ith a l i t t l e re a d y w it, Jo e M i l l e r ' s J e s t s . 45 Some y e a r s l a t e r Mrs. Montagu a g a in jo in e d t h e names o f Q u a rle s and Bunyan a s f a v o r i t e a u t h o r s o f t h e lo w er c l a s s e s , la u g h in g ly r e f e r r i n g to them, i n a l e t t e r to Benjam in S t i l l i n g f l e e t , a s f t h o s e c l a s s i c s o f t h e a r t i f i c e r s i n l e a t h e r . " 44 O th er w r i t e r s o f th e p erio 'd , r a n k in g among th e most em inent o f th e e i g h t e e n t h c e n tu r y , were n o t c o n te n t m erely w ith r i d i c u l e , b u t c i t e d B u n y an 's w r i t i n g as an extrem e example o f in e g e g a n c e o f s t y l e and d e p r a v i t y of t a s t e . Most d e n u n c ia to r y o f t h e s e c r i t i c s w ere Hume .and Burke, though t h e S p e c t a to r a l s o u t t e r e d a m ild comment o f d isp a ra g e m e n t, f i n d i n g Bunyan to be t o t a l l y l a c k i n g i n th e su b lim e. 43 E l i z a b e t h Montagu to Mrs. D o n n ellan , A p ril 20, 1741; The L e t t e r s o f Mrs. E liz a b e t h M ontagu. I , 158. E l i z a b e t h Montagu was, o f c o u rs e , E l i z a b e t h Robinson a t t h i s tim e, h e r m a rria g e to Edward Montagu n o t ta k in g p la c e u n t i l th e f o llo w in g y e a r . 44 E l i z a b e t h Montagu to Benjam in S t i l l i n g f l e e t , E s q ., June 13, 1758; i b i d . , IV, 78. In th u s l i n k i n g th e names o f Q u a rle s and Bunyan, Mrs. Montagu was p ro b ably.' f o llo w in g th e example o f A ddison, w ith whose w r i t i n g s she, as a w e ll re a d woman o f th e age, was o f c o u rse w e ll a c q u a in te d . 241 The fo n d n e ss o f e i g h te e n th c e n tu ry r e a d e r s f o r a l l e g o r y and a l l e g o r i c a l dreams and v i s i o n s I s e v id e n t from th e fre q u e n c y w ith which p e r s o n i f i e d a b s t r a c t i o n s wander th ro u g h th e p a g e s of t h e S p e c ta to r and o th e r 45 such p e r i o d i c a l s o f t h e tim e. The ty p e o f a l l e g o r y p a r t i c u l a r l y i n f a v o r , however, was t h a t m ild ly m oral i n i t s p u rp o se and l i t e r a r y i n i t s e f f e c t , t y p i f i e d by A d d is o n 's c e l e b r a t e d "V isio n o f M irzah, 1,46 r a t h e r th a n t h a t c h a r a c t e r i z e d by th e " q u a ln tn e s s " o f a John Bunyan. Thus, i n an a l l e g o r i c a l v i s i o n p i c t u r i n g th e s t r a i t and narrow p a th s l e a d i n g tow ard th e b r i g h t p i l l a r o f heaven and th e wide and cro o k ed p a th s te r m i n a t i n g a t th e b la c k and fla m in g tow er o f h e l l , c o n t r i b u t e d to th e S p e c ta to r by an anonymous Glasgow c o rre s p o n d e n t, t h a t p e r i o d i c a l 45 A ddison c o u ld f r e q u e n t l y "not f o r b e a r " throw in g h i s th o u g h ts " i n t o a l i t t l e k in d o f a l l e g o r y or f a b le " ( S p e c t a to r No. 55, Works, V, 151), as see, f o r i n s t a n c e , S p e c t a to r Nos. 55, 63, 159, 183, e t c . 46 S p e c t a to r No. 159. James B e a t t i e r e g a rd e d th e "V isio n o f M irzah" a s " th e f i n e s t p i e c e of th e k in d I have e v e r seen" ("On F ab le and Romance," D i s s e r t a t i o n s Moral and C r i t i c a l , 511). A d d is o n 's a l l e g o r i c a l e s s a y s were o f c o u rse ta k e n a s th e s ta n d a r d o f e x c e ll e n c e . P r a i s i n g a c e r t a i n a l l e g o r y i n th e A d v e n tu r e r , f o r i n s t a n c e , Miss T a lb o t w ro te to Mrs. C a r t e r t h a t i t was "e q u al to any o f A d d is o n 's " (M iss T a lb o t to Mrs. C a r t e r , June 19, 1753, A S e r i e s o f L e t t e r s b etw een Mrs. E l i z a b e t h C a r t e r and M iss C a th e rin e T a lb o t, I I , 1 5 ). Even i n th e n in e t e e n t h c e n tu ry Mrs. B a r b a u ld 's e d i t o r la u d e d t h a t w orthy women's a l l e g o r i c a l t a l e s by s t a t i n g t h a t th e " H ill of S c ie n c e " " s u s t a i n e d no d e f e a t" when compared w ith th e a l l e g o r i e s o f A ddison (Grace A tk in s o n E l l i s , A Memoir o f M rs. Anna L a e t l t i a B a rb a u ld , I , 332). 242 a d m itte d t h a t t h e r e was " s o m e th in g .. . o f t h e S p i r i t o f Jo h n Bunyan, " though a t the same tim e i t m a in ta in e d t h a t th e e s sa y was c h a r a c t e r i z e d by "a c e r t a i n Sublim e, which t h a t A uthor was n e v e r m a s te r of.*1,47 David Hume a l s o found o c c a s io n to make r e f e r e n c e to Bunyan. Expounding h i s th e o ry t h a t t h e r e i s a r e c o g n i z a b l e and d e f i n i t e s ta n d a r d o f t a s t e , Hume n o te d t h a t th e axiom, t h a t t a s t e s d i f f e r , had p a s s e d i n t o p r o v e r b i a l l o r e and had a t t a i n e d t h e s a n c tio n of common- sense; t h e r e was, n e v e r t h e l e s s , he co n ten d ed , c e r t a i n l y "a s p e c ie s o f common-sense which opposes i t , " i n su p p o rt o f which s ta te m e n t he c i t e d t h e names o f two a u th o r s o f such famed r e p u t a t i o n t h a t he knew a l l would a llo w t h e i r e x c e lle n c e , and two a u t h o r s of such I n f e r i o r m e r it t h a t he f e l t a l l would adm it t h e i r m eanness: Whoever would a s s e r t an e q u a l i t y of g e n iu s and e le g a n c e betw een O gilby and M ilto n , o r Bunyan and A ddison, would be th o u g h t to d efen d no l e s s an e x tra v a g a n c e , th a n i f he had main t a i n e d a m o l e h i l l t o be a s h ig h a s T e n e r i f f e , o r a pond as e x t e n s iv e a s th e ocean. Though t h e r e may be fo u n d p e rs o n s , who g iv e th e p r e f e r e n c e to t h e fo rm e r a u t h o r s ; no one pays a t t e n t i o n to such a t a s t e ; and we pronounce, The S p e c t a t o r , No. 524, O ctober 31, 1712. A lex a n d er Chalm ers ( The S p e c t a t o r , A New E d i t i o n : New York: D. A ppleton and Company, 1854; VI, 44 n . ), s t a t e s t h a t t h e v i s i o n was p ro b a b ly w r i t t e n by A lex an d er Dunlop, th e n Greek P r o f e s s o r a t th e U n iv e r s it y o f G las gow, and a Mr. Montgomery, a gentlem an i n th e m e r c a n t i l e l i n e . 243 w ith o u t s c r u p le , th e se n tim e n t o f th e s e p r e te n d e d c r i t i c s to be a b s u rd and r i d i c u lo u s . Edmund Burke, a l s o d i s c u s s i n g t h e s ta n d a r d o f t a s t e , o b se rv e d t h a t th e re a s o n t h a t a man m ight f i n d no d e l i g h t i n th e A e n e ld , w h ile he r e a d Don B e l l l a n l s w ith p l e a s u r e , la y i n h i s p r o b a b le i n a b i l i t y to u n d er s ta n d ’ ’th e r e f i n e d lan g u ag e" o f V i r g i l . Such a r e a d e r , d e c la r e d Burke, would f in d eq u a l charm i n t h e A eneld as he d i d i n th e m e t r i c a l rom ance, were t h e fo rm e r 49 "d eg rad ed i n t o th e s t y l e o f th e ’P i l g r i m 's P r o g r e s s '. " The meanness o f B unyan's p r o s e was a l s o im p lie d by Edward Young, who coupled i t w ith th e v e r s e of th e 48 David Hume, "Of th e S ta n d a rd of T a s t e , " i n "E ssays, M oral, P o l i t i c a l and L i t e r a r y " ( f i r s t pub l i s h e d i n 1741 and 17 4 2 ), The Works o f David Hume (London: Henry Frowde, 1 9 0 3 -1 9 0 4 ), I , 235. John O gilby (1600-1676), h e r e c o n t r a s t e d w ith M ilto n , was a p r i n t e r , m is c e lla n e o u s w r i t e r , and p o e t, who w rote in f a i r commonplace E n g lis h , though w ith o u t a t r a c e o f p o e t i c f e e l i n g . He was th e s ta n d a r d b u t t o f r i d i c u l e o f th e tim e a s an example o f th e o r d i n a r y and low p o e t; Dryden i n "MacFlecknoe" ( v e r s e s 102 and 174) and Pope i n "The D unclad" (Bk. I , v e r s e s 141 and 328) b o th c a s t r i d i c u l e a t him, though Pope d id n o t d i s d a i n to borrow from O g ilb y 's v e r s io n o f V i r g i l ' s "E clogues" and h i s t r a n s l a t i o n o f Homer. In A d d is o n 's S p e c t a t o r , No. 37, O g ilb y ' s V i r g i l h ead s th e l i s t o f books i n L e o n o r a 's l i b r a r y , which she had bought " e i t h e r b ec a u se she had h e a rd them p r a i s e d , o r b e c a u se she had seen th e a u t h o r s o f them" (Addison, Works, V ,1 0 5 ). 49 Edmund Burke, "A P h i l o s o p h i c a l I n q u ir y i n t o th e O rig in o f o u r I d e a s on th e Sublim e and B e a u ti f u l , w ith an i n t r o d u c t o r y D is c o u rs e c o n c e rn in g T a s te , and S e v e ra l o t h e r A d d itio n s " ( f i r s t p u b lis h e d i n 1756; r e p u b lis h e d w ith a d d i t i o n s , 1757), - The W r itin g s and S peeches of th e R ig h t H onourable Edmund Burke (B oston: L i t t l e , Brown and Company, 1 9 0 1 ) , 1 , 91-2. 244 50 m ediocre p o e t Thomas D 'U rfey . T his, in d e e d , r e p r e s e n te d th e t y p i c a l a t t i t u d e o f a l a r g e p a r t o f th e le a r n e d w orld i n t h e f i r s t p a r t o f th e e i g h t e e n t h cen tu r y , who r e g a rd e d Bunyan as a low and I n e l e g a n t w r i t e r , a p p e a lin g — i n A d d is o n 's p h r a s e o lo g y - - o n ly to " th e 51 r u s t i c p a r t of th e s p e c i e s . " The ab sen ce o f comment on The P i l g r i m 's P r o g r e s s where one would e x p e c t to to o c c u r, c a n n o t, o f co u rse , be ta k e n as im p ly in g c e n su re o f t h a t a l l e g o r y . Nor i s i t , p e rh a p s , c u r io u s t h a t John Dunton i n 1705 sh o u ld 52 p r e d i c t Im m o rta lity f o r th e works o f Benjam in Keach, B unyan's r i v a l as a p o p u la r s e v e n te e n th c e n tu r y a l l e - g o r i s t , and should say n o th in g o f Bunyan, s in c e Dunton was t h e p u b l i s h e r of K e a c h 's a l l e g o r i e s w h ile Ponder was th e p u b l i s h e r of th o s e o f h i s r i v a l . N e v e r th e le s s , D u n to n 's r e c o r d t h a t t h e p u b l i s h e r o f The P i l g r i m 's P r o g r e s s had, by t h a t f a c t , a t t a i n e d th e nicknam e o f "Bunyan P o n d e r ," m ig h t, one t h i n k s , have c a l l e d f o r some f u r t h e r comment i n The L i f e and E r r o r s . 50 Edward Young, Love o f Fame, th e U n iv e rs a l P a s s i o n . In Seven G h a r a c t e r l s t l c a l S atire's^ 1 1 S a t i r e V. On Women,"!r~ The Works o f th e A uthor o f th e N ig h t- Thoughts (new. e d i t i o n , London: P r i n t e d f o r J . B uckland, W . Bowyer, J . and F. R lv ln g to n , [ e t c . ], 1774), I , 129. 51 Jo se p h A ddison, S p e c t a t o r . No. 119, Works, V, 317. See s u p r a , p ag e 146, n o te 70. 245 Thomas C r o s b y 's f a i l u r e to m ention The P i l g r i m 's P r o g r e s s I s , a t f i r s t r e a d in g , more to be wondered a t , b u t can be e x p la in e d by th e f a c t t h a t t h a t h i s t o r i a n was e x c e e d in g ly s p a r in g o f o r i g i n a l comment o r n o t a t i o n and d id n o t t h i n k to m ention a work to which a t t e n t i o n was n o t s p e c i f i c a l l y c a l l e d i n t h e b i o g r a p h i e s t h a t se rv e d him as so u rc e . SUMMARY I n t h e A ugustan Age, w ith i t s a d m ir a tio n o f e le g a n c e and c o r r e c t n e s s i n l i t e r a t u r e , and i t s s c e p t i cism i n m a tte r s o f r e l i g i o n , Bunyan as a l i t e r a r y f i g u r e found h i s fe w e st a d m ire rs and h i s most s e v e r e d e t r a c t o r s . I n t e r e s t i n h i s l i f e and w r i t i n g s was s l i g h t , though he d id r e c e i v e t h e r e c o g n i t i o n o f b e in g a c c o rd e d a p la c e i n th e f i r s t e d i t i o n o f th e B io g ra p h !a B r l t a n n l c a , Based on se c o n d a ry s o u rc e s, r a t h e r th a n on G race A bounding, and m e n tio n in g o f B u n y an 's works o n ly The P ilg rim * s P r o g r e s s , t h i s a r t i c l e was r a t h e r a c c u r a t e l y r e p r e s e n t a t i v e o f th e g e n e ra l in f o r m a tio n c u r r e n t in th e l i t e r a r y w o rld o f th e p e r io d c o n c e rn in g t h i s a u th o r and h i s w r i t i n g s . Bunyan was known, as h e was i d e n t i f i e d i n th e B lo g ra p h la B r i t a n n i c a , a s t h e " a u th o r o f The P i l g r i m 's P r o g r e s s , " and th o u g h e d i t i o n s o f h i s G race Abounding c o n tin u e d to be p u b lis h e d , th e y c a l l e d f o r t h no comment. No b io g r a p h ie s o f Bunyan were w r i t t e n , and o n ly th r e e b i o g r a p h i c a l d i s c u s s i o n s made t h e i r ap p e a ra n c e . As a p o e t Bunyan c o n tin u e d i n s u f f i c i e n t p o p u l a r i t y w ith c e r t a i n r e a d e r s to w a rra n t t h e p u b l i c a t i o n o f numerous e d i t i o n s o f h i s Book f o r Boys and G i r l s , r e v i s e d and p o l i s h e d t o meet th e s ta n d a r d o f e i g h te e n th c e n tu r y t a s t e . 247 As a w r i t e r of c o n t r o v e r s i a l works he was p r a c t i c a l l y f o r g o t t e n ; o r, p e rh a p s , i t would be more a c c u r a t e to say t h a t h i s t r a c t s , o r i g i n a l l y w r i t t e n a s r e f u t a t i o n s o f t h e f a l s e p r i n c i p l e s of h i s a n t a g o n i s t s , had become a c c e p te d , by th o se to whom h i s d o c t r i n a l t r e a t i s e s a p p e a le d , as s ta te m e n ts o f sound d o c t r i n e . These were a l l in c lu d e d i n t h e second f o l i o e d i t i o n o f h i s works t h a t a p p e a re d i n 1 7 3 6 -7 / As a d o c t r i n a l w r i t e r , In d ee d , Bunyan c o n tin u e d to f i n d r e a d e r s and a d m ire rs i n t h e e i g h t e e n t h c e n tu ry , d e s p i t e th e grow ing ten d en cy away from f a n a t i c a l and e v a n g e l i c a l r e l i g i o u s i d e a s . U n e v a n g e llc a l r e a d e r s , a s a m a tte r o f f a c t , n e g l e c t e d h i s d o c t r i n a l works alm o st e n t i r e l y , a c c o r d in g them n o t even th e t r i b u t e o f d e ro g a t o r y a l l u s i o n , and i t was only i n th e l a u d a t o r y comments o f h i s a d m ire rs t h a t t h e works were m entioned d u r in g t h i s p e r io d . As th e a b u s e and infam y c a s t upon B unyan’ s doc t r i n a l w r i t i n g s c e a s e d w ith th e end o f t h e s e v e n te e n th c e n tu ry , so, w ith th e b e g in n in g o f th e e i g h te e n th , a new ty p e o f comment began to f i n d e x p r e s s io n w ith r e s p e c t to h i s a l l e g o r i c a l w r i t i n g . C r i t i c i s m o f The P i l g r i m 1s P r o g r e s s i n t h e seven t e e n t h c e n tu ry had been u t t e r e d l a r g e l y from th e r e l i g i o u s and m oral a n g le s . Not o n ly had th e a l l e g o r y been s p e c i f i c a l l y c e n su re d f o r i t s i n s u f f i c i e n c y o f d o c t r i n e , b u t i t 248 had a l s o been o b j e c t e d to f o r I t s employment o f f i c t i t i o u s n a r r a t i v e and i t s c h a r a c t e r i s t i c o f humor, t h e s e d e v ic e s b e in g th o u g h t Im proper f o r a work acknow ledged to be a v e h i c l e o f r e l i g i o u s and m oral I n s t r u c t i o n . C r i t i c i s m o f I n e le g a n c e o f s t y l e , i t i s t r u e , had begun to be r a i s e d a g a i n s t B unyan's a l l e g o r y d u r in g th e seven t e e n t h c e n tu ry , b u t t h i s c r i t i c i s m came i n t o a c t u a l f o r c e o n ly i n t h e e i g h te e n th , making I t s e l f more e f f e c t i v e by em ploying th e weapon o f r i d i c u l e . The p o p u l a r i t y o f The P i l g r i m 's P r o g r e s s c o n tin u e d , as i s e v id e n t from t h e numerous e d i t i o n s t h a t were i s s u e d . I t was known n o t o n ly to p e rs o n s o f th e lo w e r c l a s s e s , b u t- - b y t i t l e a t l e a s t - - a l s o to r e p r e s e n t a t i v e a u d ie n c e s o f th e t h e a t r e and r e a d e r s o f n o v e ls , so t h a t d r a m a t i s t s and n o v e l i s t s c o u ld m ention i t i n t h e i r works w ith o u t need o f e x p la n a to ry n o te . The ty p e o f r e a d e r , however, f o r whom t h e l i t e r a r y w orld supposed The P ilg rim * s P r o g r e s s to e x e r c i s e a p a r t i c u l a r a p p e a l, was th e r e a d e r o f sm all i n t e l l i g e n c e and low w o rld ly p o s i t i o n . The v ery p o p u l a r i t y o f th e work w ith such p e r s o n s gave i t t h e r e p u t a t i o n o f an o r d in a r y and low o r d e r o f co m p o sitio n , among th e l e a d e r s o f e i g h t e e n t h c e n tu r y t a s t e . I t s r e c o g n iz e d p o p u l a r i t y w ith th e m asses o f t h e p e o p le was ta k e n a s i n d i c a t i v e o f i t s v u l g a r i t y . To th e l i t e r a r y d i c t a t o r s o f th e p e r io d , who e s t a b l i s h e d and bowed to t h e c e n t u r y 's i d e a l 249 o f c o r r e c t n e s s and e le g a n c e i n w r i t i n g , The P i l g r i m 1s P r o g r e s s se rv e d as t h e sto c k example o f d e p r a v i t y of t a s t e and meanness o f s t y l e ; and by th o s e d o c i l e w r i t e r s who fo llo w e d t h e s e d i c t a t o r s , t h e same i d e a s were echoed. I n th e w o rld o f l e t t e r s o f th e f i r s t p a r t o f t h e e i g h t e e n t h c e n tu r y , o n ly In d e p en d e n t t h i n k e r s l i k e Jo n a th a n S w ift and E l i z a b e t h C a r t e r , who a llo w e d them s e lv e s th e p r i v i l e g e o f form ing t h e i r own c o n c lu s io n s , found som ething o f m e r it i n The P ilg rim * s P r o g r e s s and re g a rd e d i t a s a work o f g e n iu s and o r i g i n a l i t y i n i t s own b e h a l f , and n o t a s a q u a in t companion t o th e works o f F r a n c is Q u a rle s . At th e tim e o f t h e p u b l i c a t i o n o f t h e t h i r d f o l i o e d i t i o n o f Bunyan*s works i n 1767, t h a t w r i t e r had by no means a t t a i n e d r e c o g n i t i o n i n t h e w orld o f l e t t e r s ; he had su cceeded o n ly i n r e c e i v i n g th e commendation o f a few w r i t e r s who, i n d e f ia n c e o f th e t a s t e o f th e p e r io d , d a re d to e x p re s s t h e i r a d m ir a tio n o f a work, d e s p is e d by th e e l e g a n t , t h a t s e rv e d a d m ira b ly a s th e ,fW itlin g * s je s t.* ' CHAPTER III THE LITERARY REPUTATION OF JOHN BUNYAN FROM 176? TO THE PUBLICATION OF HEPTINSTALL»S EDITION OF THE PILGRIM * 3 PROGRESS (1796) INTRODUCTION I n t h e y e a r 1767 was p u b lis h e d th e t h i r d f o l i o e d i t i o n o f Bunyan*s co m p lete works, recommended to t h e C h r i s t i a n r e a d e r i n a p r e f a c e by George W h i t e f l e l a . T h is e d i t i o n was v ery s i g n i f i c a n t i n t h e h i s t o r y o f B u n y an 's l i t e r a r y r e p u t a t i o n . I t marked, f i r s t o f a l l , t h e b e g in n in g o f th e more num erous p u b l i c a t i o n s o f h i s works. Thus f a r t h e e i g h t e e n t h c e n tu ry had b ro u g h t f o r t h b u t one e d i t i o n , t h a t e d i t e d by Samuel W ilson i n 1736-7; t h e p a r t o f t h e e i g h t e e n t h c e n tu ry c o n s id e r e d i n t h i s c h a p te r , however, though b u t h a l f a s lo n g a s t h a t c o n s id e re d i n t h e fo rm e r, saw t h e p u b l i c a t i o n o f a t l e a s t f i v e e d i t i o n s o f Bunyan*s works, a f a c t t h a t was s t r o n g l y i n d i c a t i v e o f th e i n c r e a s e d a t t e n t i o n t h a t he was r e c e i v i n g . The t h i r d f o l i o e d i t i o n was s i g n i f i c a n t a l s o i n a n o th e r r e s p e c t . I t s p r e f a c e by th e famous M e th o d ist p r e a c h e r was an e x p r e s s io n o f t h e i n t e r e s t f e l t by evan g e l i s t i c C h r i s t i a n s o f t h e p e r i o d i n t h e works o f t h e i r s p i r i t u a l f o r e f a t h e r s — t h e d i s s e n t e r s o f t h e s e v e n te e n th c e n tu r y . The e v a n g e l i s t i c r e v i v a l , which, th o u g h begun i n th e e a r l i e r y e a r s o f t h e e i g h t e e n t h c e n tu r y , d is p l a y e d much o f i t s f o r c e d u r in g t h i s p e r io d , i n f l u e n c i n g n o t o n ly n o n c o n fo rm is ts b u t a l s o churchmen such a s t h e famous John Newton, r e v i v e d an I n t e r e s t , a s W h i te f ie l d s t a t e d , 252 i n t h e w r i t i n g s o f t h e s e v e n te e n th c e n tu ry P u r i t a n s and was t h e most im p o r ta n t f a c t o r i n b r i n g i n g a b o u t a renew ed a t t e n t i o n to John Bunyan d u rin g t h e s e y e a r s . The l i t e r a r y te n d en cy t h a t marked t h e c l o s i n g y e a r s of t h i s p e r io d — t h e b e g in n in g o f t h e ro m a n tic i n t e r e s t — which m ight be th o u g h t to have s t i m u l a t e d an I n t e r e s t i n th e w r i t i n g s o f Bunyan, was a p p a r e n t l y o f sm all I n f l u e n c e i n t h i s r e s p e c t . Of th e w r i t e r s t y p i c a l l y a s s o c i a t e d w ith t h i s ro m a n tic Im pulse i n l i t e r a t u r e , o n ly James B e a t t i e and W illiam Consper seem to have ex p r e s s e d an a p p r e c i a t i o n f o r Bunyan, and C ow per's i n t e r e s t can more a c c u r a t e l y b e i n t e r p r e t e d a s m o tiv a te d by an i n t e r e s t i n e v a n g e l i c a l r e l i g i o n , r a t h e r th a n by i n t e r e s t i n th e r e v i v a l o f a l i t e r a r y c l a s s i c o f a fo rm e r age. N e v e r th e le s s , B unyan's l i t e r a r y r e p u t a t i o n , which had b een a t i t s lo w e s t d u rin g th e f i r s t p a r t o f th e cen tu r y , was d u r in g t h e s e y e a r s d e f i n i t e l y on t h e i n c r e a s e . Not o n ly d i d e d i t i o n s o f h i s co m p lete works I n c r e a s e i n number, b u t e d i t i o n s o f The P i l g r i m 'a P r o g r e s s m u l t i p l i e d w ith a s t o n i s h i n g r a p i d i t y , and such famous a r t i s t s a s Thomas S t o t h a r d began to t u r n t h e i r t a l e n t to t h e i l l u s t r a t i o n o f th e a l l e g o r y . R e fe re n c e s to and d i s c u s s i o n s o f Bunyan and h i s works a l s o became more f r e q u e n t . H i s t o r i e s o f England-*- 1 The h i s t o r i e s o f E ngland by R o b e rt Brady, John Oldmixon, James R alph, L aurence E achard, R o b e rt Henry, and Bars. C a th e r in e M acaulay I h av e been u n a b le to o b t a i n . 253 d u r in g t h i s p e r io d , however, s t i l l d e a l t l a r g e l y w ith p o l i t i c a l r a t h e r th a n w ith s o c i a l e v e n ts , and such m ed io cre c o m p ila tio n s a s th o s e o r G oldsm ith^ and Mac- 3 p h e rso n gave no m e n tio n t o Bunyan. A c tu a l h i s t o r i e s o f p r o s e l i t e r a t u r e were n o t y e t w r i t t e n i n E ngland d u r in g t h e e i g h t e e n t h c e n tu r y , b u t w r i t e r s who gave some a t t e n t i o n t o p ro s e f i c t i o n ac c o rd ed Bunyan a t l e a s t p a s s i n g r e f e r e n c e . Thus, one f i n d s h i s name m en tio n ed by C la r a Reeve, and h i s P i l g r i m 1s P r o g r e s s d is c u s s e d a t some l e n g t h by James B e a t t i e i n h i s im p o r ta n t d i s c u s s i o n "On F a b le and R om ance," and even r e f e r r e d to by Lord Karnes i n a f o o t n o t e to one o f th e c h a p t e r s o f h i s S k e tc h e s o f t h e H is to r y o f Man. Samuel J o h n s o n 's c r i t i c a l d i c t a on Bunyan, p e rh a p s t h e most im p o rta n t o f th e p e r io d , were spoken r a t h e r th a n w r i t t e n , b u t were f a i t h f u l l y r e c o r d e d by B o s w e ll.a n d Mrs. P i o z z l . O th er m e n tio n s o f Bunyan d u r in g t h e p e r i o d o c c u r i n t h e b i o g r a p h i c a l d i c t i o n a r i e s o f th e tim e , i n c o l l e c t i o n s o f l e t t e r s , and i n th e works o f such e v a n g e l i s t i c 2 O liv e r G oldsm ith, The H is to r y o f E n g lan d , from th e E a r l i e s t Times to th e D eath o f George I I . London: P r i n t e d f o r T. D av ies, B ecket and De Hondt, and T. C a d e ll, 1771. 3 James M acpherson, The H is to r y o f G re a t B r i t a i n from th e R e s t o r a t i o n , t o t h e A c c e ssio n of t h e House o f H anover. London: P r i n t e d f o r W . S tra h a n and T. C a d e ll, 1775. 254 ■writers a s John Newton and R o b e rt R obinson. I n t e r e s t i n Bunyan’ s d o c t r i n a l and c o n t r o v e r s i a l works showed an i n c r e a s e d u r in g t h i s p e r io d ; i n t e r e s t i n h i s l i f e rem ained r e l a t i v e l y s l i g h t , th o u g h i t was s u f f i c i e n t t o i n d i c a t e th e two o p p o sin g te n d e n c i e s o f r e l i g i o u s and p s y c h o lo g ic a l i n t e r p r e t a t i o n t h a t were to become s t r o n g l y pronounced i n t h e f o llo w in g p e r i o d . As a p o e t Bunyan a ro u s e d p r a c t i c a l l y no a t t e n t i o n , b u t a s an a l l e g o r i s t he c a l l e d f o r t h ex te n d e d comment. T h is p e r io d saw th e f i r s t a tte m p ts a t c r i t i c a l d i s c u s s i o n o f The P i l g r i m 1s P r o g r e s s and th e b e g in n in g o f th e i n t e r e s t i n a n a lo g u e s and p r o t o t y p e s o f t h a t a l l e g o r y , a s w e ll a s o f The Holy War. The g e n e ra l a t t i t u d e was one o f com m e n d atio n o f Bunyan a s a s k i l f u l a l l e g o r i s t , jo in e d w ith a d i s m i s s a l o f him a s a v ery humble and c ru d e one. R i d i c u le and contem pt o f t h e a l l e g o r y , which had s tr o n g ly m arked t h e p r e c e d in g y e a r s , c o n tin u e d d u r in g t h i s p e r io d , b u t i n l e s s e n e d i n t e n s i t y . BUNYAN AS CONTROVERSIAL AND DOCTRINAL WRITER INTRODUCTION The g r e a t e s t i n f l u e n c e d u r in g t h i s p e r i o d i n b r i n g i n g ab o u t a renew ed I n t e r e s t i n Bunyan as a con t r o v e r s i a l and d o c t r i n a l w r i t e r , and even as a p r e a c h e r , was t h e r e a s s e r t e d f o r c e o f P u r ita n is m seen i n t h e Metho d i s t r e v i v a l , which had i t s o r i g i n i n th e p r e c e d in g p e r io d , and th e e v a n g e l i c a l r e v i v a l w ith in t h e Church o f England I t s e l f , which came a b o u t d u rin g t h e p e r io d u n d er c o n s i d e r a t i o n , l a r g e l y a s a r e s u l t o f Methodism. The E v a n g e lic a ls , as L e s l i e S tephen s t a t e s , d i s co v e re d t h a t by b r i n g i n g o u t once more th e o ld p i c t u r e s o f h eav en and h e l l , and s u b s t i t u t i n g dogmatism f o r ab s t r a c t argum ent, th e y c o u ld move an a u d ie n c e to f re n z y and p e rm a n e n tly r a i s e th e warmth o f r e l i g i o u s f e e l i n g s . 4 4 L e s l i e S tephen, H is to r y o f E n g lis h Thought i n th e E ig h te e n th C entury (T h ird e d i t i o n . New York: G -. P. P u tn a m 's Sons, 1902), I I , 429. The s i m i l a r i t y o f th e a p p e a l and e f f e c t o f e v a n g e l i c a l p r e a c h in g i n t h i s cen tu r y to t h a t o f t h e s e v e n te e n th c e n tu ry — p a r t i c u l a r l y t h a t o f John Bunyan— i s seen i n th e a n e c d o te r e l a t e d by Toplady o f W h ite f ie ld : One o f W h i t e f i e l d 's sermons was a t te n d e d by a man who had lo a d e d h i s p o c k e ts w ith s to n e s , " in o r d e r to f l i n g them a t t h a t em in en tly p r e c i o u s am b a s s a d o r o f C h r i s t , " b u t d u rin g t h e sermon t h i s s i n n e r was moved by W h i t e f i e l d 's p re a c h in g , and a f te r w a r d came to him, sa y in g , " S ir , I came to h e a r you t h i s day, w ith a view to b re a k y o u r head; b u t t h e S p i r i t o f God, th ro u g h y o u r m i n i s t r y , h as g iv e n me a b ro k en h e a r t " (A ugustus Montague Toplady, "A necdotes, I n c i d e n t s , and H i s t o r i c P a s s a g e s ," Works, IV, 1 5 6 ). 256 T his new P u rita n is m , though bu t a f a i n t r e f l e c t i o n o f t h e g r a n d e r P u r it a n is m of t h e s e v e n te e n th c e n tu r y , r e s t a t e d t h e b e l i e f s o f th e e a r l i e r P u r i t a n s , d w e llin g In p a r t i c u l a r on th e c o r r u p t i o n o f human n a t u r e , and i t s c o r o l l a r y t h a t , I f n a t u r e were c o r r u p t, t h e D iv in e elem ent must be s u p e r n a t u r a l . T h is P u r ita n is m e x p re s se d i t s e l f v a r i o u s l y , ta k in g on i n Wesley an A rm lnian te n d e n cy , w h ile i n th e M e th o d ist W h ite f ie ld , as w e ll a s i n th e famous e v a n g e l i s t i c p r e a c h e r s o f t h e Church o f England— A ugustus Montague Toplady, W illiam Romaine, and John Newton— i t a d o p te d t h e s t r i c t C a l v i n i s t i c a t t i t u d e . E v a n g e l i s t i c t e a c h e r s o f b o th t e n d e n c i e s , how ever, r e a l i z e d th e m se lv e s to be d e s c e n d a n ts o f th e e a r l i e r P u r i t a n s , and showed g r e a t i n t e r e s t i n t h e w r i t i n g s o f t h e i r s p i r i t u a l f o r e f a t h e r s . "For t h e s e t h i r t y y e a r s p a s t , • w r o t e W hite- f i e l d , "1 have rem arked, t h a t th e more t r u e and v i t a l r e l i g i o n had r e v iv e d , e i t h e r a t home o r a b ro a d , t h e more t h e good o l d P u r i t a n i c a l w r i t i n g s , o r a u t h o r s o f a l i k e stam p, who l i v ’d and d ie d i n th e communion o f t h e ch u rch o f England, h av e been c a l l e d fo r." ® George W h lte f ie ld , “The Recommendatory P r e f a c e , " The Works o f t h a t em inent S e rv a n t o f C h r is t Mr. John Bunyan, M i n i s t e r o f t h e G o sp el, and f o rm e rly P a s t o r o f a C o n g re g a tio n a t B edford (T h ird e d i t i o n . P r i n t e d f o r W . J o h n s to n , l n “ X udgate S t r e e t ; and E. and C. D l l l y , i n th e P o u ltr y , n e a r th e M ansion-H ouse,1767), I , i l l . 257 Among t h e s e ’’good o ld P u r i t a n i c a l w r i t i n g s , ” th o s e o f John Bunyan came i n f o r t h e i r s h a re o f la u d a t i o n . The t h i r d e d i t i o n o f Bunyan*s works was recom mended by G-eorge W h ite f le ld , who was so w e ll re c o g n iz e d as an a d m ire r o f Bunyan t h a t t h a t a u th o r c o u ld be r e - f e r r e d t o a s W h i t e f i e l d ’ s " f a v o u r i t e ”; t h e Heavenly Footman was a b r id g e d f o r more c o n v e n ie n t r e a d i n g by t h e M e th o d ist John F l e t c h e r ; The P ilg rim * s P r o g r e s s and The Holy War, which had been a b r id g e d by Wesley some y e a r s e a r l i e r , w ere now a c c o rd e d d o c t r i n a l n o te s and e x p l a n a t io n s , w h ile th e f i r s t o f t h e two a l l e g o r i e s se rv e d Jo h n Newton i n p a r t i c u l a r as a b a s i s f o r evan g e l i s t i c i n s t r u c t i o n . E x t r a c t s from Bunyan*s d o c t r i n a l w r i t i n g s were r e c o r d e d by Toplady, a s w orthy o f remem b ra n c e , and Bunyan*s alm o st f o r g o t t e n c o n t r o v e r s i a l d i s p u t e s were r e d i s c o v e r e d by th e n o n c o n fo rm ist R o b e rt R obinson, M e th o d ist tu r n e d B a p t i s t . David Bogue and James B e n n e t t , The Hi s to r y o f D i s s e n t e r s , from th e R e v o lu tio n to th e Y ear 1808 TLondon: F r e d e r ic k W estley and A.H. D avis, 183377 I I , 55. 258 A RESPECTABLE COUNSELOR As a background f o r h i s i n t e r e s t I n Bunyan as a 7 c o n t r o v e r s i a l i s t , must be n o te d R o b e rt R o b in s o n 'a h ig h Q v e n e r a tio n f o r Bunyan a s a p r e a c h e r . R obinson r e g a r d e d R o b e rt R obinson (17 3 5 -1 7 9 0 ), th e son o f Church o f England p a r e n t s , became a M e th o d ist u n d e r t h e i n f l u ence o f W h ite f le ld ; he l a t e r l e f t t h e M e th o d is ts and founded a sm all in d e p e n d e n t C a l v i n ! s t i c c h u rc h a t Norwich, from which he was c a l l e d i n 1759 to p re a c h to a sm all B a p t i s t c o n g r e g a tio n a t Cambridge. R obinson was very famous a s a p r e a c h e r and h ig h ly th o u g h t o f by t h e d i s s e n t e r s o f h i s tim e . H is w r i t i n g s a r e num erous, in c l u d in g serm ons, works on e c c l e s i a s t i c a l h i s t o r y and d o c t r i n e , and t r a n s l a t i o n s , p a r t i c u l a r l y from th e F re n c h . H is l i t e r a r y a t t a i n m e n t s were c o n s id e r a b le . R o b in s o n 's bons m o ts, a s h i s a d m ire r Henry Crabb R obinson t e s t i f i e d , ^formed a s t a p l e o f a f t e r - d i n n e r c o n v e r s a t i o n ” i n a l l d i s s e n t i n g c i r c l e s o f h i s tim e (H.C. R obinson, D ia ry . R e m in isc e n c e s, and C o rre sp o n d e n ce , I I , 3 3 8 ). H.C. R obin son m en tio n ed R o b ert R obinson s e v e r a l tim e s i n h i s D iary (a s , f o r example, I , 101, 228; I I , 338), and "A ppendix” ), and a l s o p u b lis h e d a sm all c o l l e c t i o n o f "A n ec d o tes” con c e rn in g him i n th e C h r i s t i a n R eform er o f 1845. Q The o c c a s io n o f R o b in s o n 's e x p r e s s in g h i s g r e a t i n t e r e s t i n Bunyan a s a p r e a c h e r was h i s t r a n s l a t i n g An Essay on th e Co m o o s ltlo n o f a Sermon, w r i t t e n by J e a n tJlaude (1618-1687), m i n i s t e r o f th e F rench Reformed Church a t C h aren to n . C la u d e 's E ssa y , a s t h e t i t l e im p lie s , i s a t r e a t i s e g iv in g r u l e s f o r t h e composing o f a sermon— from th e c h o o sin g o f a t e x t to t h e w r i t i n g o f t h e p e r o r a t i o n — a s w e ll a s a d v ic e f o r d e l i v e r i n g th e sermon when com p l e t e d . R o b in s o n 's c u r io u s and volum inous n o te s to t h i s t r a n s l a t i o n ( c o n ta in in g , In d eed , more m a t e r i a l th a n th e o r i g i n a l Essay i t s e l f ) i l l u s t r a t e w ith i n f i n i t e v a r i e t y and n o t a l i t t l e humor th e v a r i o u s d i s r e p u t a b l e p r a c t i c e s a g a i n s t which Claude w arns, a s w e ll as th e commendable and e f f e c t i v e p r a c t i c e s t h a t he a d v i s e s . R o b in s o n 's exam ples c o v e r a wide ra n g e o f p r e a c h e r s and a g r e a t v a r i a t i o n i n d e g r e e s o f e x c e lle n c e o f serm ons— r a n g in g from one o f Dr. Grauden' s— " th e f i l t i e s t sermon t h a t e v e r I re a d " ( I , 383 n . ; se e a l s o I I , 99 n . )— to th o s e o f S a u rin , c o n c e rn in g whom th e a n n o t a t o r f r a n k l y c o n fe s s e d , "My ap o lo g y f o r such lo n g e x t r a c t s from M onsieur S a u rin i s p e rh a p s weak enough* i t i s my fo n d n e ss f o r t h a t w r i t e r . ( I I , 233 n.). 259 Bunyan a s one o f th e g l o r i e s o f t h e n o n c o n fo rm ist p u l p i t , 9 an i l l u s t r i o u s exponent of e v a n g e li c a l p re a c h in g , which th o u g h i t "h a s been, and y e t c o n tin u e s to be r e p u te d f o o l i s h n e s s , n i s n e v e r t h e l e s s M a wisdom and a power, by which i t p l e a s e t h God to save th e s o u ls o f m en.1,10 The " t r u e o r i g i n a l m ethod” o f p r e a c h in g — t h a t employed, in d e e d , by S t. P a u l h im s e lf , s a id R obinson, combined a d w e llin g on th e g u i l t and m is e ry o f s i n n e r s w ith an a s s u r a n c e o f t h e d i v i n e goodness; t h i s was t h e method, he a f f ir m e d , which " th e h o ly s p i r i t had su cceeded . . . t o t h e c o n v e rs io n o f s o u ls " : W l e k ll f f , L u th e r, Knox, L a tim e r, G ilp in , Bunyan, L iv in g s to n e , F ranck, B l a i r , E l l i o t , Edwards, W h i t f i e l d , T enent, and a l l , who have been e m in e n tly b l e s s e d to t h e r e v i v a l o f p r a c t i c a l g o d lin e s s , have c o n s t a n t l y a v a i l e d them s e l v e s o f t h i s method; and, p r e j u d i c e a p a r t , 9 D is c u s s in g co n tem p o rary p re a c h in g and a f f ir m in g t h a t t h e E n g lis h P r o t e s t a n t d i s s e n t e r s h ad "pro duced some o f th e g r e a t e s t p r e a c h e r s i n th e w orld, " R obinson w ro te; "The p a t i e n t l a b o r i o u s Fox, t h e s i l v e r B a te s , t h e m e ltin g B a x te r, th e p i e r c i n g Mead, t h e g e n e ro u s W illiam s, t h e i n s t r u c t i v e Henry, th e s o f t and c a n d id D oddridge; R ld g ley ,, and G ale, and Bunyan, and B urgess, i n a l l t h e i r v a r i e g a t e d b e a u t i e s y e t f l o u r i s h i n o u r p u l p i t s , e x e r c i s i n g t h e i r d i f f e r e n t t a l e n t s f o r m utual e d i f i c a t i o n ? - - " A B r i e f D i s s e r t a t i o n on t h e M i n i s t r a t i o n o f t h e D iv in e Word by P u b lic k P re a c h in g , " p r e f a c e d to An Essay on t h e C om position o f a Sermon. T r a n s l a t e d from t h e o r i g i n a l F ren ch o f The R‘eva . John C lau d e, M i n i s t e r o f th e F ren ch Reformed Church a t C harenton ( Cam bridge: T r i n t e d f o r F r a n c is Godson; s o ld fey J . B uckland, London, and T. F l e t c h e r , Cambridge, 1779), I I , l x i v - l x v . 10 I b i d . , I I , i v - v . 2 6 0 I t i e Im p o s s ib le to deny, t h a t g r e a t and e x c e l l e n t m oral e f f e c t s h av e f ollow ed.-LJ- E lsew h ere, c o n t r a s t i n g i n h i s f a v o r i t e manner t h e e x c e l l e n t w ith th e Ig n o b le , R obinson w ro te: We sometim es amuse o u r s e l v e s w ith con t r a s t i n g t h e g r e a t d o e rs w ith th e g r e a t s u f f e r e r s i n r e l i g i o n i n t h e d ays o f o u r a n c e s t o r s . We w eigh th e m e r i t s o f Fox and C o v e rd a le a g a i n s t th o s e o f Cranmer and Cox — W e s e t C a rtw r ig h t a g a i n s t W h i t g i f t - - B a x te r and B a te s a g a i n s t Laud and C o sin s— W atts a g a i n s t A tte r b u r y — Bunyan a g a i n s t 1 1 R obert R obinson, n o t e s to C la u d e 1s Essay on th e C om position o f a Sermon, I I , 364. I t i s i n t e r e s t in g to i d e n t i f y Tfrom t h e in d e x t o R o b in so n ’ s n o te s ) th e names o f th e w o r t h ie s w ith whom Bunyan i s c l a s s e d a s an e f f e c t i v e p r e a c h e r : The f i r s t f o u r names, o f c o u rs e , a r e w e ll known; i n th e c a se o f t h e n e x t f o u r ( e x c e p tin g Bunyan) no f u r t h e r i d e n t i f i c a t i o n i s g iv en , ex c ep t t h a t F ran ck i s r e f e r r e d to a s “P r o f e s s o r F ra n c k ." G ilp in , however, must be R ic h a rd G ilp in (1625-1700), n o n c o n fo rm ist d i v i n e and p h y s ic ia n , whose prea.chlng Calamy d e s c r i b e d i n e n t h u s i a s t i c term s; and L iivingstone i s p ro b a b ly John L iv in g s to n e (1603-1673), th e S c o ts d i v i n e "w idely remembered as a p r e a c h e r o f e x t r a o r d i n a r y p o p u la r g i f t s " (P i c t l o n a r y o f N a tio n a l B io g ra p h y . XI, 1281). B l a i r i s i d e n t i f i e d i n t h e n o te s a s th e R everend R obert B l a i r , and may b e e i t h e r th e a u th o r o f "The Grave" (1699-1745) o r h i s g r a n d f a t h e r o f t h e same name (15 9 3 -1 6 6 6 ). " E l l i o t " i s John E l i o t (1 6 0 4 -1 6 9 0 ), th e m is s io n a ry t o t h e A m erican I n d ia n s ; Edwards i s J o n a th a n Edwards, e i t h e r t h e E n g lis h c o n t r o v e r s i a l i s t o f t h a t name (1 6 2 9 -1 7 2 2 ), o r, more p ro b a b ly , th e A m erican clergym an and th e o l o g i a n (17 0 5 -1 7 5 8 ). T enant i s id e n t i f i e d a s th e R everend G i l b e r t T enent, c o n c e rn in g whom th e D ic t io n a r y o f N a tio n a l B iography g iv e s no in fo rm a t i o n . R obinson c o u ld s c a r c e l y have p a id Bunyan a g r e a t e r com plim ent th a n t h a t o f p l a c i n g him i n a group o f d i v i n e s t h a t in c lu d e d W h i te f le l d — t h e man o f whom R obinson spoke d u r in g h i s e a r l y m i n i s t r y a s h i s " s p i r i t u a l f a t h e r " (B enjam in Flow er, "Memoir o f t h e L if e and W ritin g s o f R o b ert R obinson, " p r e f a c e d to M is c e lla n e o u s Works o f R o b e rt R o b in so n . I , x v i l ) . 2 6 1 Bugg— and so on; and we e n q u i r e — No, we w i l l n o t e n q u ir e . C l a u d l t e .1am r l v o s . p u e r l , s a t p r a t a b l b e r u n t . 1^ The m eaning o f th e p a r a g r a p h , one a d m its , i s n o t s t a r - tlin g ly c l e a r , an d one re m a in s i n some d o u h t a s to R o b in s o n ’ s e x a c t c o n t e n t i o n u n t i l one c o n s u l t s t h e v e ry in f o r m a t i v e in d e x to h i s n o t e s an d d i s c o v e r s t h a t h i s i m p l i c a t i o n i s t h a t t h e m e r it o f Pox was ’’g r e a t e r th a n t h a t o f C r a n m e r , a n d t h a t C o v e rd a le was " f a r s u p e r i o r to Cox” ;'*’4 t h a t C a r tw r ig h t was M a g r e a t e r d i v i n e th a n W h i t g l f t , B a x te r a ’ ’b e t t e r d i v i n e ” th a n Laud,""*"® an d B a te s ”f a r s u p e r i o r . . . to su ch a man a s Bp. Co s i n s ; t h a t A tte r b u r y , a s c o n t r a s t e d w ith W a tts, was ’ ’n o t p r e f e r r e d f o r h i s p i e t y , a n d , f i n a l l y , t h a t Bugg was ’ ’n o t c a r e s s e d f o r h i s a b i l i t i e s o r p i e t y , " a s c o n t r a s t e d w ith Bunyan who was ’’n o t s l i g h t e d " f o r w ant o f e i t h e r o f t h e s e q u a l i t i e s J ^ The m i n i s t e r who s e r v e s a s a con t r a s t to Bunyan i s , o f c o u r s e , F r a n c i s Bugg o f u n s a v o ry 12 A R o b e rt R o b in so n , n o t e s to C laude * s E ssa y on t h e C o m p o sitio n o f a Serm on. I I , 1 3 1 -2 . 13 I b i d . . in d e x 14 I b i d . . 516. 15 I b i d . . 511. 16 I b i d . , 507. 17 Loc. c l t . 18 I b i d . , 506. 19 I b i d . , 509. 262 name, a u t h o r o f The P i l g r i m 1s P r o g r e s s fro m Q uakerism to C h r i s t i a n i t y . ^ As a c o n t r o v e r s i a l i s t Bunyan was a w r i t e r whose a b i l i t i e s w ere n o t to be d e s p is e d , h e l d R o b in so n , th o u g h he a d m itte d t h a t Bunyan d id a t tim e s v e rg e on p h r a s e o lo g y t h a t a lm o s t r e q u i r e d an a p o lo g y . R o b in s o n 's i n t e r e s t I n d i s p u t e d p o i n t s o f d o c t r i n e was such t h a t h e f o llo w e d Bunyan th ro u g h two o f t h e s e v e r a l d i s p u t e s I n w hich t h e s e v e n te e n th c e n tu r y w r i t e r h ad en g ag ed . I n t h e f i r s t o f t h e s e , t h a t o r i g i n a t i n g from B u n y a n 's an sw e r to F o w le r 's D esig n o f C h r i s t i a n i t y , ^ R o b in so n n o te d t h a t Bunyan h a d sp o k en o f t h e m i n i s t e r s o f t h e C hurch o f E n g lan d i n none o f th e m ost g e n t l e o r d e l i c a t e te rm s , c h a r a c t e r i z in g them a s "a gang o f r a b l l n g c o u n t e r f e i t c l e r g y , who l i k e a p e s blow up t h e g l o r y o f tru m p e ry , an d c o v e r th e f i l t h y p a r t s w ith t h e i r t a i l s . " T h is , com mented R o b in so n , pC "was c o m m ittin g t h e u n p a rd o n a b le s i n , " an d b ro u g h t 20 See s u o ra . p a g e 160. 21 F o r t h e d e t a i l s o f t h i s c o n t r o v e r s y , se e s u p r a . p a g e s 2 7 -9 . 22 R o b e rt R o b in so n , n o t e s to C l a u d e 's E ssay on th e C o m p o sitio n o f a Serm on. I I , 105. R o b in so n a l s o made f i g u r a t i v e u s e o f t h i s t h e o l o g i c a l te rm i n s p e a k in g o f th e work o f h i s f a v o r i t e w r i t e r C lau d e: "When God c r e a t e d Jo h n C lau d e, h e l a i d him u n d e r th e f a t a l n e c e s s i t y o f c o m m ittin g th e u n p a rd o n a b le s i n i n th e a c c o u n t o f th o s e d e s p o t i c h y p o c r i t e s , p o p is h p r e l a t e s . T h ese men n e v e r f o r g iv e t h e man, who h a s p e n e t r a t i o n enough t o d i s c o v e r t h e t r u e s p r i n g s o f t h e i r a c t i o n s , and r e c t i t u d e and b e n e v o le n c e enough t o a b h o r and ex p o se them " ("M em oirs o f t h e L i f e of", th e Rev. Jo h n C l a u d e ," p r e f a c e d to E ssay on t h e Composi t i o n o f a Serm on. I , x l i x - 1 ) . 263 a b o u t t h e p u b l i c a t i o n o f D i r t W lp 't O ff a s a r e f u t a t i o n . A l l th ro u g h t h i s book, w ro te R o b in so n w ith hum orous sa rc a sm , " D e v il and D am nation, two b o u n d - b a i l i f f s r e t a i n e d t o s e r v e t h e c h u rc h , a r e o u t a f t e r one Jo h n Bunyan. A t l e n g t h th e y s e i z e him , and b r i n g him b e f o r e h i s s o v e r e ig n l o r d , t h e p r i e s t , " who " c o n d e sc e n d s" to show him t h e e r r o r o f h i s ways, p a r t i c u l a r l y i n r e g a r d h i s o b s t i n a t e i n s i s t e n c e on b a s i n g h i s b e l i e f s o l e l y on th e S c r i p t u r e s and h i s own u n d e r s ta n d in g t h e r e o f , r a t h e r th a n on t h e i n t e r p r e t a t i o n g iv e n by su c h a u t h o r i t i e s a s C a lv in and Zanchy. The a b s u r d i t y o f t h e . p r i e s t ' s a rg u m e n ts, mocked R o b in so n , made i t even u n n e c e s s a r y to a p o l o g iz e f o r Bun yan* s u n c o m p lim e n ta ry c h a r a c t e r i z a t i o n o f t h e E n g lis h churchm en: " I was g o in g to a p o l o g iz e f o r t h e t a i l s o f J o h n 's a p e s ," h e re m a rk e d , " b u t i t i s n e e d l e s s , f o r some a p e s h a v e lo n g t a i l s , I s e e . " And th e re u p o n he p ro c e e d e d to c o n c o c t a f a c e t i o u s im a g in a ry d ia lo g u e ( b a s e d , how ever, upon th e a c t u a l w ords o f D i r t Wjp* t O f f ) b e tw e e n th e p r i e s t and Bunyan, g i v i n g th e fo rm e r much th e w o rs t o f th e a rg u m e n t: C a lv in , Z anchy, and o t h e r s s a i d so a n d so . Very w e ll. What th e n ? Why th e n I , th e p a r i s h p r i e s t , I ap e t h e s e g r e a t men, and c h a t t e r a f t e r them Very w e l l . What th e n ? 2 6 4 Why th e n you, Jo h n Bunyan, you v e ry d i r t y c r e a t u r e , you f i e r c e and f i e r y bedlam , you p e s t i l e n t in fa m o u s s c h i s m a t i e a l laym an, you m ust say a f t e r me, a s I do a f t e r o t h e r s J No, s a y s J o h n , t h i s w ould b u c k le a t a i l 23 o f c o n se q u e n c e on t h e p o s t e r i o r s o f an a p e J B unyan*s engagem ent i n t h e B a p t i s t d i s p u t e r e g a r d in g open and c l o s e d communion, R o b in so n a p p ro a c h e d i n a more s e r i o u s and s c h o l a r l y m anner th a n t h a t i n w hich h e h a d t r e a t e d t h e p r e c e d in g c o n t r o v e r s y . I n h i s t r e a t i s e e n t i t l e d “The G e n e ra l D o c tr in e o f T o l e r a t i o n a p p l i e d to t h e P a r t i c u l a r Case o f F re e Com m union" (1 7 8 1 ), R o b in so n gave a b r i e f h i s t o r y o f t h i s m a tte r , t r a c i n g i t from th e b e g in n in g o f t h e r e i g n o f 24 C h a rle s I to t h e tim e a t w hich h e h im s e lf was w r i t i n g . H ere, l i s t i n g th e v a r i o u s w orks t h a t h ad b e e n p u b lis h e d on th e s u b j e c t , h e m e n tio n e d B unyan*s C o n fe s s io n o f my 23 R o b e rt R o b in so n , n o t e s to C l a u d e 's E ssay on th e C o m p o sitio n o f a Serm on, I I , 106. T h is d ia lo g u e i s p r i n t e d s o l i d by R o b in so n , b u t can b e m ore e a s i l y fo llo w e d i f sp a c e d ( a s above) t o show th e ch an g e o f s p e a k e r . 24 R o b in s o n 's i n t i m a t e know ledge o f t h e c o n t r o v e r s i a l l i t e r a t u r e o f s e v e n te e n th and e i g h t e e n t h c e n tu r y t h e o l o g i a n s was r e m a rk a b le : Toward th e c l o s e o f t h i s t r e a t i s e , a f t e r h a v in g d is c u s s e d a l l t h e w r i t e r s who con t r i b u t e d p a m p h le ts and volum es to t h e d i s p u t e , h e re m a rk e d t h a t h e h a d " c a r e f u l l y r e a d a l l t h e s e p i e c e s , " and con f e s s e d t h a t how ever back w ard h e m ig h t b e i n c o n t r o v e r t i n g th e v a r i o u s p o i n t s a t i s s u e , h e was "alw ay s e d i f i e d by r e a d i n g th e c o n t r o v e r s i e s " (R o b e rt R o b in so n , M is c e lla n e o u s W orks. I l l , 1 4 5 ). 265 F a i t h , i n w h ich t h a t a u t h o r h a d " p le a d e d w arm ly f o r m lx t com m union," and t h e an sw er t o B unyan1s t r e a t i s e by K i f f i n and P a u l. "T hese g e n tle m e n t r e a t e d Jo h n v e ry c a v a l i e r l y , " re m a rk e d R o b in so n s a r c a s t i c a l l y : Your c o n c l u s i o n , say th e y , i s d e v i l i s h t o p f u l o f I g n o r a n c e and p r e j u d i c e : b u t t h i s we f o r g i v e them , f o r Jo h n was a t i n k e r w ith o u t d i s h o r sp o o n , and a t b e s t b u t a c o u n tr y t e a c h e r , and t h e Rev. Mr. W illia m K i f f i n was a London m i n i s t e r , and w o rth f o r t y th o u s a n d p o u n d s .25 R o b in so n n o te d s p e c i f i c a l l y each o f B unyan1s t h r e e t r e a t i s e s d e a l i n g w ith t h i s m a t t e r , 25 and o b s e rv e d t h a t t h a t w r i t e r th r o u g h o u t " c o n tin u e d u n ifo rm i n h i s s e n t i m e n ts, d e c l a r i n g h e w ould a b id e by h i s f a i t h and p r a c t i c e 27 t i l l t h e moss s h o u ld grow upon h i s ey e b ro w s. " R o b in so n a r r i v e d a t no d e f i n i t e c o n c lu s io n r e g a r d in g t h e m a tte r o f open o r c l o s e d communion. N o th in g , he f e l t , c o u ld "be a rg u e d f o r o r a g a i n s t t h i s r i g h t fro m th e g r e a t names i n o u r c h u rc h e s em ployed i n t h i s c o n tr o v e r s y . " The o p in io n s o f su ch men a s K i f f i n , Bunyan, an d o t h e r s en g ag ed i n t h e d i s p u t e do n o t, h e s t a t e d , c o n s t i t u t e 25 R o b e rt R o b in so n , "The G-eneral D o c tr in e o f T o le r a t i o n A p p lie d to t h e P a r t i c u l a r C ase o f F re e Communion," M ls c e lla n e o u s W orks, I I I , 143. 25 T hat i s , A C o n fe s s io n o f my F a i t h (1 6 7 2 ); D if f e r e n c e s i n Judgm ent a b o u t W ater B a p tism (1 6 7 3 ); and P e a c e a b le P r i n c i p l e s and T rue (1 6 7 4 ). p*7 R o b e rt R o b in so n , "The G e n e ra l D o c tr in e o f T o l e r a t i o n A p p lie d to th e P a r t i c u l a r C ase o f F re e Com m union, " o p . c i t . , I I I , 144. 266 " th e law o f th e c a s e , " th o u g h su c h w r i t e r s " a r e r e s p e c t a b l e a s c o u n s e l p le a d in g on d i f f e r e n t s i d e s o f th e q u e s t i o n . " 2® No l o n g e r la u d e d , a s h e h a d b e e n by h i s b r e t h r e n , a s a man o f p a c i f i c p r i n c i p l e s , n o r y e t d efam ed, a s h e h ad b e e n by h i s c o n te m p o ra ry a n t a g o n i s t s , a s a b l a s phemous and ig n o r a n t s l a n d e r e r , Bunyan a s a d i s p u t a n t was ack n o w led g ed t o h a v e h ad some a b i l i t y i n t h e a r t o f c o n tr o v e r s y an d to h av e em ployed t h e w eapons o f a b u s e and calum ny c u s to m a r il y u s e d i n h i s tim e . E x c e p t f o r R o b in s o n 's r e v ie w o f B unyan*s c o n tr o v e r s i a l a c t i v i t i e s , how ever, I n t e r e s t t h e r e i n , even among th e e v a n g e l i c a l l y m inded, fo u n d no e x p r e s s io n , w h ile among t h e l e s s e n t h u s i a s t i c c o m m en tato rs, J o s e p h Towers r i g h t l y rem a rk e d o f Bunyan: I t m u st, in d e e d , b e ack n o w led g ed , t h a t h e was e x tre m e ly b i g o t t e d , an d v e ry c e n s o r io u s a g a i n s t th o s e who op p o sed t h e C a l v i n ! s t l c a l d o c t r i n e s , to w hich h e was v e h e m e n tly a t t a c h e d . 29 R o b e rt R o b in so n , "The G e n e ra l D o c tr in e o f T o l e r a t i o n A p p lie d to th e P a r t i c u l a r Case o f F re e Com m union, " op> c l t . , I I I , 152. 29 J o s e p h Towers i n B io g ra p h la B r l t a n n l c a : o r th e L iv e s o f t h e M ost Em inent P e r s o n s who h a v e f l o u r i s h e d i n G re a t B r i t a i n a n d I r e l a n d , fro m th e E a r l i e s t A ges. t o th e P r e s e n t T im es: C o l l e c t e d from th e b e s t a u t h o r i t i e s , p r i n t e d and m a n u s c r ip t, and d i g e s t e d i n th e m anner o f Mr. B e y le 1s H i s t o r i c a l an d C r i t i c a l D ic t io n a r y TBecond e d itio n ^ London: P r i n t e d f o r Jo h n R iv in g to n , J u n ., 1 7 7 8 -1 7 9 3 ), I I I , 12. 267 M THIS M AN OP GOD" More im p o r ta n t th a n th e s p e c i f i c i n t e r e s t o f R o b e rt R o b in so n i n Bunyan*s c o n t r o v e r s i a l w r i t i n g s was th e g e n e r a l i n t e r e s t i n h i s d o c t r i n a l w orks, w hich e v a n g e l i c a l l y m inded r e a d e r s o f th e e i g h t e e n t h c e n ttirv r e a d w ith e a g e r n e s s and r e g a r d e d w ith an a d m ir a tio n s i m i l a r t o t h a t o f Bunyan*s d e v o u t b r e t h r e n and f r i e n d s o f th e s e v e n te e n th c e n t u r y . As W h i t e f i e l d n o te d i n 1767, . . . t h e r e v e r e n d Mr. Jo h n Bunyan*s w o rk s, w ith th e u n p a r a l l e l * d com m entary o f th e good Mr. M atthew H enry, th e p io u s an d p r a c t i c a l w r i t i n g s o f t h e e x c e l l e n t Mr. F l a v e l , and t h e c r i t i c a l an d j u d i c i o u s co m m e n ta rie s and t r a c t s o f t h e a c c u r a t e D o c to r Gwen, I h e a r a r e en q u ir e d a f t e r an d b o u g h t up, m ore an d more e v e ry day. 30 Bunyan*s w orks, some o f w h ich , a s W h i t e f i e l d o b - s e rv e d , h a d "gone th r o u g h a g r e a t v a r i e t y o f e d i t i o n s , * * c o n tin u e d to b e p u b lis h e d , b o th a s s i n g l e t r e a t i s e s a n d i n e d i t i o n s o f h i s c o m p le te w r i t i n g s . T hose t h a t w ere r e p u b l i s h e d from th e tim e o f W h ite f ie l d * s rem a rk to t h e y e a r 1796 I n c lu d e d a t l e a s t s i x o f Bunyan*s d o c t r i n a l t r e a t i s e s . * 52 The D o c tr in e o f t h e Law and G ra ce U n fo ld e d 33 * 5 0 G eorge W h i te f ie l d , "The Recom m endatory P re f a c e , " OJ3. c l t . , i v . 31 I b i d . , i l l . 32 ^ The d a t a h e r e g iv e n , a s i n t h e c a s e o f th e p r e v io u s p e r i o d , a r e n e c e s s a r i l y in c o m p le te , b e in g b a s e d o n ly on su c h r e c o r d a s i s g iv e n by t h e B r l t l e h Museum C a ta lo g u e . 33 S ix th e d i t i o n , c o r r e c t e d , London, 1781; a new e d i t i o n , London, 1788 ( B r i t i s h Museum C a ta lo g u e ). 268 and The B a rre n F i g - t r e e 54 w ere ea ch I s s u e d tw ic e d u r in g * 2 C t h i s p e r io d , w h ile A Few S ig h s fro m H e ll and The W ater o f L i f e 56 w ere ea ch p u b lis h e d t h r e e tim e s . The H eav en ly Footman n o t o n ly p a s s e d th ro u g h t h r e e e d i t i o n s , b u t was a l s o th o u g h t w o rth y o f an a b rid g m e n t c o m p ile d by th e 37 M e th o d is t c o n v e r t Jo h n F l e t c h e r . Solomon* s Temple S p i r i t u a l i z e d a t t a i n e d f o u r e d i t i o n s d u r in g t h i s p e r i o d , 56 a s d id a l s o Come an d Weicome t o J e s u s C h r i s t . Though t h e s e s i x t r e a t i s e s may h a v e fo u n d th e l a r g e s t number o f r e a d e r s d u r in g t h i s p e r io d , o n ly t h r e e o f th e m - - The B a rre n F i g - t r e e , The H eavenly Footm an, and Solomon * s Temple S p i r i t u a l i z e d — w ere l i s t e d I n th e se c o n d 34 The B r i t i s h Museum C a ta lo g u e h a s r e c o r d o f a London e d i t i o n , 1784, and a L eeds e d i t i o n , 1793. 55 A c c o rd in g t o t h e Br i t i s h Museum Catalogue, t h i s t r e a t i s e was i s s u e d a t G lasgow [1 7 7 0 ? ], London, 1774, and L e e d s, 1795. The B r i t i s h Museum C a ta lo g u e r e c o r d s a n e d i t i o n p u b lis h e d a t London, 1785; one a t L eeds, 1791; and one a t B erw ick , 1795. 37 h Race f o r e t e r n a l L i f e ; b e in g an e x t r a c t fro m Tor r a t h e r an a b rid g m e n t o f ] The H eavenly F ootm an. . . [ e d i t e d ] by t h e R ev. Mr. F l e t c h e r . London, 1782 (B r i t i s h Museum C a ta l o g u e d J o h n F l e t c h e r , t h a t I s , J e a n G u illa u m e de l a Fldchfere (1 7 2 9 -1 7 8 5 ), was a n a t i v e o f S w itz e r la n d , c o n v e r te d t o t h e t e a c h i n g s o f W esley, who w ro te h i s b i o g ra p h y I n 1786. 58 The B r l t l s h Museum C a ta lo g u e r e c o r d s a n e d i t i o n a t London [1 7 7 0 ? ]; one a t E d in b u rg h , 1786; one a t New c a s t l e , 1789; an d one a t B erw ick , 1792. 39 * British Museum C a ta lo g u e r e c o r d s an e d i t i o n o f 1774 (no p l a c e g iv e n ) ; an e d i t i o n o f 1778, G lasgow ; and two e d i t i o n s t o w hich I s a d d e d "One T h in g I s N e e d f u l ,” G lasgow , 1770, and B erw ick , 1790. 2 6 9 e d i t i o n o f t h e B lo g r a p h la B r l t a n n l c a a s among t h e "m ost c o n s i d e r a b l e p i e c e s o f o u r a u t h o r . "40 The e d i t o r s o f t h e B lo g ra p h la h e l d The J e ru s a le m S in n e r S a v e d , A D is c o u r s e upon th e P h a r i s e e and t h e P u b lic a n , The House o f th e F o r e s t o f L ebanon, A D is c o u r s e T ouching P r a y e r , C h r i s t i a n B e h a v io u r, an d The H oly C i t y to b e m ore w o rth y o f m e n tio n th a n The D o c tr in e o f t h e Law an d G race U n fo ld e d , A Few S ig h s from H e l l , an d The W ater o f L i f e . I n a d d i t i o n t o t h e p u b l i c a t i o n o f v a r i o u s o f Bun- y a n ’ s i n d i v i d u a l d o c t r i n a l t r e a t i s e s , h i s c o m p le te w orks w ere i n s u f f i c i e n t demand d u r in g t h i s tim e to w a r ra n t t h e p u b l i c a t i o n o f a t l e a s t f o u r i s s u e s , a p a r t fro m t h e t h i r d e d i t i o n o f 1767 p r e f a c e d by W h i te f ie l d . The f i r s t two o f t h e s e , ea ch d e s i g n a t e d a s th e s i x t h e d i t i o n , w ere i s s u e d i n E d in b u rg h i n 1771, one i n two volum es v o l l o , t h e o t h e r i n e i g h t volum es q u a r t o . 41 A s i x volum e o c ta v o e d i t i o n was p u b lis h e d by A le x a n d e r Hogg i n 1780, an d a n o t h e r e d i t i o n , a l s o s i x volum es o c ta v o , e d i t e d by Mason, was p u b lis h e d i n London i n 1 7 8 4 . R e f e r e n c e s t o B u n y a n 's d o c t r i n a l an d p r a c t i c a l 40 B lo g ra p h la B r l t a n n l c a . Second e d i t i o n , I I I , 13. 4 1 P u b lis h e d by H. G a l b r a i t h . T h is e d i t i o n con t a i n e d a l l th e p r e f a t o r y m a t e r i a l t h a t acco m p a n ied t h e se co n d f o l i o e d i t i o n . ^ Jo h n Brown sp e a k s o f The P i l g r i m 1s P r o g r e s s and The H oly War a s fo rm in g t h e s e v e n th volum e o f t h i s e d i t i o n . 4 * ^ S.A. A llib o n e , A C r i t i c a l D i c t io n a r y o f E n g lis h L i t e r a t u r e . I I , 284. 270 w r i t i n g s , d u r in g t h i s p e r i o d a s d u r in g t h e p r e c e d in g , o c c u r l a r g e l y i n th e comments o f w r i t e r s who w ere sympa t h e t i c t o h i s t e a c h i n g s , and a r e t h e r e f o r e e u l o g i s t i c i n s p i r i t . O nly an o c c a s i o n a l d e r o g a to r y re m a rk i s m et w ith , a s , f o r I n s t a n c e , t h a t o f th e R e v e re n d Jam es G ra n g e r, A n g lic a n m i n i s t e r , who d is p o s e d o f B u n y a n 's some s i x t y w orks by s t a t i n g t h a t many o f them w ere "on s i m i l a r s u b j e c t s ” an d t h e r e f o r e “v e ry much a l i k e , ” and d i s c o v e r e d i n them t h e t a i n t o f "A n tin o m ian p r i n c i p l e s . Jam es G ra n g e r, A B lo g r a p h lc a l H i s t o r y o f E n g la n d . from E g b e r t th e G r e a t to t h e R e v o l u t l o n : c o n s i s t i n g o f C h a r a c te r s D isp o se d l n ~ f f l f f e r e n t C l a s s e s , an d a d a p te d to a "M eth o d ical"^C atalo g u e o f E n g rav ed B r i t i s h H ead s, I n te n d e d a s an E ssa y to w a rd s r e d u c in g o u r B io g ra p h y to S ystem , and a H elp t o t h e K nowledge o f P o r t r a i t s : I n t e r s p e r s e d w ith A V a r ie t y o f A n e c d o te s , an d M emoirs o f a g r e a t number o f p e r s o n s . . . (London: P r i n t e d f o r W illia m B aynes and Son, 1 8 2 4 ), XV, 56. T h is work was f i r s t i s s u e d i n two volum es (London, 1 7 6 9 ); a su p p le m e n ta ry volum e, c o n s i s t i n g o f c o r r e c t i o n s and l a r g e a d d i t i o n s , a p p e a re d i n 1 7 7 4 . The f i f t h e d i t i o n o f t h i s w ork, i n s i x vo lu m es, a p p e a re d i n 1824. The e d i t i o n from w h ich q u o t a t i o n s h e r e r e c o r d e d a r e ta k e n i s th e f i f t h e d i t i o n , " t h r e e volum es e x te n d e d to e i g h t e e n , ” w ith num erous b la n k p a g e s on w h ich th e p o s s e s s o r o f t h e work was to a f f i x p o r t r a i t s t h a t h e was a b l e to o b t a i n o f th e v a r i o u s p e r s o n s d i s c u s s e d . The volum e I n w hich th e d i s c u s s i o n o f Bunyan o c c u rs i s V ol.-X V o f t h i s p a r t i c u l a r e d i t i o n , w hich i s a c t u a l l y V ol. I l l o f a p r e v i o u s e d i t i o n , th e p a g in g o f w hich i t r e t a i n s . The a rra n g e m e n t o f m a t e r i a l i n t h i s b i o g r a p h i c a l d i c t i o n a r y i s n o t a l p h a b e t i c a l , b u t c h r o n o l o g i c a l . The d i s c u s s i o n o f Bunyan a p p e a r s u n d e r th e h e a d o f "The C le rg y " o f th e r e i g n o f C h a r le s I I , w hich c l a s s i f i c a t i o n i n c l u d e s ( l) " A r c h b is h o p s and B ish o p s ( e . g . , T i l l o t s o n ) ; (2) " D i g n i t a r i e s o f th e C hurch, an d i n f e r i o r C lergym en" ( e . g . , S o u th , F u l l e r , L i g h t f o o t ) ; (3) "Non c o n f o r m i s t s ” ( e . g . , Owen, B a x te r, G oodw in); (4) " C le rg y men o f t h e C hurch o f Rome” ; an d (5) "A L a y -P re a c h e r" ( i . e . , J o h n B unyan). 271 I n c o n t r a s t to G ra n g e r* s a t t i t u d e s ta n d s th e o p in io n o f B unyan*s a d m ir e r s , who c o n s id e r e d h i s doc t r i n a l w r i t i n g s a s sound, c o n s i s t e n t , an d t o l e r a n t , and lo o k e d upon t h a t d o c t r i n a l t e a c h e r h im s e lf a s an e x e m p li f i c a t i o n o f t h e d e i t y ' s w e l l - e s t a b l i s h e d cu sto m o f p r e s e n t i n g t h e g r e a t and g l o r i o u s g o s p e l t r u t h s I n e a r t h e n v e s s e l s . The h ig h esteem i n w hich Bunyan*s d o c t r i n a l w r i t in g s w ere h e l d by e v a n g e l i c a l r e a d e r s was g iv e n e x p r e s s io n by G eorge W h i t e f i e l d I n h i s "Recom m endatory P r e f a c e " t o t h e " l a r g e , and e l e g a n t e d i t i o n o f th e R e v e re n d Mr. Jo h n Bunyan*s w o rk s ," w h ich he s e n t f o r t h w ith t h e " e a r n e s t p r a y e r " t h a t th e y "be b l e s t to b e g e t, p ro m o te and I n c r e a s e . . . d i v i n e f r u i t s o f r e a l and u n d e f i l e d r e l i g i o n I n th e h e a r t s , l i p s an d l i v e s o f r e a d e r s , o f a l l r a n k s and d e n o m in a tio n s . " C h r i s t i a n R e a d e r, " w ro te W h i t e f i e l d : I f su ch th o u a r t i n r e a l i t y , o r in d e e d i f o n ly a b a r e o u tw a rd p r o f e s s o r , th o u n e e d e s t n o t be In fo rm e d , t h a t t h e a l l - g r a c i o u s Em anuel, I n th e d ay s o f h i s f l e s h , a f t e r he h ad g iv e n u s a g l o r i o u s d i s p l a y o f th e D iv in e S o v e r e ig n ty i n d i s p e n s i n g th e E v e r l a s t i n g G o sp e l, b ro k e f o r t h I n t o th e s e e m p h a tic w ords, " I th a n k t h e e , Holy F a th e r , L ord o f h e a v e n and e a r t h , t h a t th o u h a s t h i d t h e s e t h i n g s from th e w is e an d p r u d e n t, an d h a s t r e v e a l e d them u n to b a b e s . Even so, F a t h e r , f o r so i t seemed good i n th y s i g h t . " A g re e a b le to t h i s , s a y s th e g r e a t A p o s tle o f th e G e n t i l e s , "God h a t h c h o s e n th e f o o l i s h th i n g s o f t h i s w o rld to co n fo u n d th e w is e : an d God h a th c h o se n t h e weak t h i n g s o f t h e w o rld , to co n fo u n d t h e t h i n g s w hich a r e m ig h ty ; and b a s e t h i n g s o f 45 G eorge W h i te f ie l d , "The Recom m endatory P r e f a c e , " o p . c i t . , I v . 272 t h e w o rld , and t h i n g s w h ich a r e d e s p is e d h a t h God c h o se n , y e a , and t h i n g s w hich a r e n o t, t o b r i n g to n o u g h t t h i n g s t h a t a r e . " — And why? T h at no f l e s h s h o u ld g lo r y i n h i s p r e s e n c e . . P e rh a p s , n e x t to th e f i r s t p u b l i s h e r s o f th e G ospel o f th e b l e s s e d God, t h e s e s a y in g s w ere n e v e r more s t r o n g l y e x e m p lif ie d i n any s i n g l e i n d i v i d u a l ( a t l e a s t i n t h i s o r t h e l a s t c e n tu r y ) th a n i n th e c o n v e rs io n , m i n i s t r y and w r i t i n g s o f t h a t em in en t s e r v a n t o f J e s u s C h r i s t , Mr. Jo h n Bunyan, who was o f th e m e an est o c c u p a tio n , a n o t o r i o u s s a b b a th - b r e a k e r , d ru n k a rd , s w e a re r, b la s p h e m e r, &c. by h a b i t u a l p r a c t i c e : And y e t , th ro u g h r i c h , f r e e , s o v e re ig n , d i s t i n g u i s h i n g G ra ce , c h o sen , c a l l e d , and a f t e r w a r d s fo rm e d , by th e a l l - p o w e rfu l o p e r a t i o n s o f th e Holy G h o st, to b e a s c r i b e r e a d y i n s t r u c t e d t o t h e kingdom o f God. " P re g n a n t p r o o f s " o f t h i s a c c e p ta n c e by t h e L o rd o f t h e hum ble Jo h n Bunyan a s a w o rth y t e a c h e r , W h i t e f i e l d saw i n th e " g r e a t s u c c e s s " t h a t a t t e n d e d B u n y a n 's w r i t i n g s " i n p u l l i n g down S a t a n 's s t r o n g - h o l d s i n s i n n e r s h e a r t s . " 4^ "B ut t h i s , I m ust own, m ore p a r t i c u l a r l y e n d e a rs Mr. Bunyan to my h e a r t , " c o n tin u e d W h i t e f i e l d : He was o f a c a t h o l i c s p i r i t , — The w ant o f a d u l t b a p tis m w ith t h i s man o f God, was no b a r to o u tw a rd C h r i s t i a n communion — And I am p e r su a d e d t h a t i f , l i k e him , we w ere more d e e p ly an d e x p e r i m e n ta lly b a p t iz e d i n t o th e b e n ig n and g r a c i o u s i n f l u e n c e s o f th e b l e s s e d S p i r i t , we s h o u ld be l e s s b a p t i z e d I n t o th e W aters o f - , S t r i f e , a b o u t c i r c u m s t a n t i a l s and n o n - e s s e n t i a l s . 4^ What p a r t i c u l a r l y e n d e a re d Bunyan t o t h e h e a r t o f 4 ® G eorge W h i te f ie l d , "The Recom m endatory P r e f a c e , " o p . c l t . , i l l . 47 Loc. c l t . AQ I b i d . , i v . A u g u s tin e B i r r e l l q u o te s t h i s p a s s a g e , an d th e c o n c lu d in g w ords o f t h e p a r a g r a p h i n w hich i t o c c u r s , a s "one b i t o f W h i t e f i e l d 's w r i t i n g s t h a t h a s alw a y s moved me" ("G e o rg e W h i t e f i e l d , " Et C e t e r a . A C o l l e c t i o n &c. . 1 2 6 - 7 ) . 273 Jo h n Newton4® was t h a t w r i t e r ' s s i m i l a r i t y o f s p i r i t u a l e x p e r ie n c e t o t h a t o f Newton h i m s e l f . I n one o f h i s l e t t e r s CA o f a d v ic e and c o n f e s s io n I n th e s e a u a l to C a rd lp h o n la , Jo h n Newton (1 7 2 5 -1 8 0 7 ), m i n i s t e r o f t h e C hurch o f E n g lan d , e v a n g e l i s t i c i n h i s v ie w s an d C a l v i n i s t i c i n h i s d o c t r i n e s , i s "best rem em bered f o r h i s f r i e n d s h i p w ith Cowper. N ew to n 's a c c o u n t o f th e d e b a u c h e ry o f h i s e a r l y d a y s, f o llo w e d by h i s c o n v e rs io n , r e a d s l i k e t h a t o f Jo h n Bunyan i n G race A bounding, A f t e r h i s r e f o rm , Newton b e came a n e n t h u s i a s t i c d i s c i p l e o f W h i t e f i e l d , and l a t e r a l s o th e f r i e n d o f W esley. N e w to n 's e v a n g e l i s t i c a t t i tu d e i s se e n , f o r I n s t a n c e , I n h i s d e f e n s e o f e n th u s ia s m I n t h e m i n i s t r y ( s e e i n f r a , p ag e 292) and i n h i s b e l i e f i n th e m a n i f e s t a t i o n s o f D iv in e P ro v id e n c e th ro u g h o u t h i s l i f e , b u t p a r t i c u l a r l y d u r in g h i s e a r l y d ay s when he was c o n n e c te d w ith s l a v e t r a d i n g , a s r e c o r d e d I n h i s fam ous A u th e n tic N a r r a t i v e o f Some R em ark ab le and I n t e r e s t i n g P a r t i c u l a r s i n t h e L i f e o f Mr. Newton (1764TI The h i s t o r y o f h i s A f r ic a n a d v e n tu r e s , n o te d Newton, showed him to be "one o f th e m ost a s t o n i s h i n g i n s t a n c e s o f t h e f o r b e a r a n c e and m ercy o f God, upon th e f a c e o f th e e a r t h ” ( " L e t t e r to th e Rev. Mr. B * * * * ," S eptem ber 14, 1765, C a rd lp h o n ia , Vforks, I , 5 0 0 ). Newton was s t r i c t l y C a l v i n i s t i c I n h i s d o c t r i n a l v ie w s: " I f I was n o t a C a l v i n i s t , " he w ro te , " I t h i n k I s h o u ld h a v e no more hope o f s u c c e s s i n p r e a c h in g to men th a n t o h o r s e s o r cows" ( " L e t t e r to M r.* * * * ," i b i d . , I , 472; s e e a l s o , L e t t e r s to V a rio u s P e r s o n s , i b i d . , IV, 500, and 5 9 7 ). As a m i n i s t e r o f t h e C hurch o f E n g lan d , how ever, he r i g h t l y r e g a r d e d h im s e lf a s "a s o r t o f s p e c k le d b i r d among my C a l v i n i s t i c a l b r e t h r e n . " I n h i s A p o lo g ia : F our L e t t e r s t o a M i n i s t e r o f an In d e p e n d e n t C h u rch , b y A M ini s t e r o f th e C hurch o f E n g lan d (1784V, Newton s t r o n g l y d e fe n d e d h i s b e lo n g in g to t h e E s t a b l i s h e d C hurch r a t h e r th a n t o a d i s s e n t i n g body. C a r d lp h o n la : o r . The U tte r a n c e o f t h e H e a r t. i n th e C o u rse o f a R e a l C o rre sp o n d e n c e (1781) and L e t t e r s to V a rio u s P e r s o n s , I n te n d e d a s a S e q u e l to C a rd lp h o n la opened to Newton h i s m ost d i s t i n c t i v e o f f i c e i n th e e v a n g e l i s t i c r e v i v a l — t h a t o f a w r i t e r o f s p i r i t u a l l e t t e r s o f g u id a n c e , I n s p i r a t i o n , and c o n f e s s io n . An i d e a o f New t o n 's a t t i t u d e th r o u g h o u t th e s e l e t t e r s c a n b e g a in e d from h i s " L e t t e r to th e Rev. Mr. 0 * * * ," w h e re in he w ro te : " I number my C h r i s t i a n c o r r e s p o n d e n ts among my p r i n c i p a l b l e s s in g s ; a few J u d i c i o u s , p io u s f r i e n d s , to whom, when I can g e t l e i s u r e to w r i t e , I send my h e a r t by t u r n s . I can t r u s t them w ith my In m o st s e n tim e n ts , and can w r i t e w ith no more d i s g u i s e th a n I t h i n k " ( C a rd lp h o n la . W orks. I , 4 0 7 ). 274 Newton a n a ly z e d w hat seemed t o him h i s s p i r i t u a l f a i l in g s , and c o n tin u e d : John Bunyan, i n h i s a d v a n c e d y e a r s , to o k n o t i c e o f th e a b o m in a tio n s t h a t had s t i l l to o much p l a c e i n h i s h e a r t ; one o f them w as, he s a y s , a s e c r e t c l e a v i n g to t h e c o v e n a n t o f w o rk s. I am s u r e t h i s i s no sm a ll a b o m in a tio n i n a b e l i e v e r ; b u t, a l a s i i t c le a v e s a s c l o s e to me a s my s k in , an d c o s t s me many a s i g h . 51 A u g u stu s M ontague T o p la d y 5^ a l s o fo u n d B u n y a n 's d o c t r i n a l w r i t i n g s sound and w o rth y o f p e r u s a l an d remem b r a n c e . I n h i s l i s t o f " E x c e lle n t p a s s a g e s from em in en t p e r s o n s , " t h i s d i v i n e In c lu d e d f o u r p a s s a g e s from Bunyan, th e two o f a d o c t r i n a l n a t u r e comiing u n d e r t h e h e a d in g s "G race" and " S in . 51 John Newton, L e t t e r X I I I , "To M iss* * * * ," no d a t e , L e t t e r s to V a rio u s P e r s o n s I n The Works o f th e R ev. Jo h n Newton (New Haven: N ath an W h itin g , 18247T IV, 256. ^ T oplady (1 7 4 0 -1 7 7 8 ), d i v i n e o f t h e Church o f E n g lan d , was th e f i e r c e s t d e f e n d e r o f e x tre m e C a lv in is m o f h i s tim e . Much o f h i s w r i t i n g i s k e e n an d b r i l l i a n t , b u t m a rre d by th e venom o f h i s h a t r e d a g a i n s t W esley a n d h i s f o l l o w e r s . T o p lad y i s to d a y f o r g o t t e n , th o u g h one o f h i s hymns, "Rock o f A g e s ," s t i l l l i v e s . A u g u s tin e B l r r e l l ("G eo rg e W h i t e f i e l d ," Et C e te r a , 126) c a l l s th e s i x volum es o f T o p la d y 's th e o lo g y " s to n e d e a d ," b u t I h a v e fo u n d them r a t h e r i n t e r e s t i n g . C U nder t h e h e a d in g "G race" T oplady n o te d B u n y a n 's s ta te m e n t: "A p e n i t e n t , th o u g h f o rm e r ly a s b ad a s th e w o rs t o f men, may by g r a c e , become a s .g o o d a s t h e b e s t . " Under t h e h e a d in g " S in ," h e r e c o r d e d t h a t w r i t e r ' s w ords: "No s i n can be l i t t l e , b e c a u s e i t i s co m m itted a g a i n s t th e g r e a t God o f h e a v e n and e a r t h . To commit l i t t l e s i n s , t h e s i n n e r m ust f i n d o u t a l i t t l e God" ( " E x c e l l e n t p a s s a g e s from em in en t P e r s o n s ," W orks. IV, 377, 4 3 9 ). The o t h e r two q u o t a t i o n s fro m Bunyan a r e u n d e r t h e h e a d in g s " T r i a l s " and " P r e a c h i n g ." 275 R o b e rt R o b in s o n ’ s I n t e r e s t I n B u n y a n 's w r i t i n g s u n d o u b te d ly e x te n d e d to a l l h i s d o c t r i n a l w o rk s, b u t h i s s p e c i f i c m e n tio n d e a l t o n ly w ith B unyan’ s a t t i t u d e to w a rd w a te r b a p tis m . U n lik e W h i te f ie l d , how ever, R o b in s o n 's p rim a ry i n t e r e s t i n t h i s m a tte r c o n c e rn e d n o t B u n y a n 's t o l e r a n t a t t i t u d e i n t h i s r e g a r d , b u t r a t h e r 54 th e c o n s i s t e n c y o f h i s o p in io n s c o n c e r n in g i t . Bunyan, a s R o b in so n h ad p ro v e d i n h i s r e v ie w o f th e d i s p u t a n t ’ s c o n t r o v e r s y w ith th e c lo s e d communion B a p t i s t s , re m a in e d u n ifo rm i n h i s s e n tim e n ts on b a p tis m , and i t was on t h i s b a s i s t h a t R o b in so n a d v a n c e d h i s o p in io n t h a t t h e t r e a t i s e e n t i t l e d An E x h o r t a ti o n t o P e a c e and U n ity , " in w hich i t i s d e c l a r e d t h a t b a p tis m i s e s s e n t i a l t o c h u rc h com m union," was n o t a g e n u in e w ork o f B unyan. u T h is d o c t r i n e an d "some o t h e r s " c o n t a in e d i n t h i s w ork, s t a t e d R o b in so n , w ere " d i a m e t r i c a l l y " o p p o sed to B u n y a n 's avowed p r in c ip le s .® ® R o b in s o n 's o r d e r l y a r r a y o f f a c t s i n s u p p o r t o f t h i s c o n t e n t i o n shows n o t o n ly a d e t a i l e d know ledge o f 54 I n h i s H i s t o r y o f B a p tism (D avid B e n e d ic t, e d i t o r ; B o sto n , L in c o ln an d Edw ards, 1817) R o b in so n d i d n o t d i s c u s s Bunyan a t l e n g t h , m e re ly n o t i n g t h a t "John Bunyan, T in k e r o f B e d fo rd " was among th o s e who " h e ld f o r r e b a p t i z a t l o n " ( H i s t o r y o f B a p tism , 4 1 8 ). ® ® See s u p r a , p ag e 156 and n o te . 56 R o b e rt R o b in so n , "The G e n e ra l D o c tr in e o f T o l e r a t i o n A p p lie d t o t h e P a r t i c u l a r Case o f F re e Com munion," M ls c e lla n e o u s W orks. I l l , 144. 276 B u n y a n 'a w r i t i n g s and t h e h i s t o r y o f t h e i r p u b l i c a t i o n , b u t a l s o so th o ro u g h a f a m i l i a r i t y w ith B u n y a n 's s t y l e t h a t he f e l t h im s e lf e n t i t l e d t o b a s e a p a r t o f h i s argum ent on th e m a t t e r o f I n t e r n a l e v id e n c e , and m arks him a s one o f th e f i r s t c r i t i c s t o d i s c u s s i n a s c h o l a r l y m anner t h e canon o f B u n y a n 's w o rk s. H is w e l l - s u b s t a n t i a t e d r e a s o n s , p r o v in g t h a t Bunyan was n o t th e a u t h o r o f An E x h o r t a t i o n , R o b in so n l i s t e d a t l e n g t h : 1 . The d o c t r i n e i s n o t h i s , and th e ab ove a r t i c l e and some o t h e r s a r e d i a m e t r i c a l l y o p p o s it e t o h i s avowed p r i n c i p l e s . 2 . The s t y l e i s n o t h i s , a s a c o m p a riso n b e tw e e n t h i s and h i s g e n u in e w orks w i l l c l e a r l y d e m o n s tr a te . I v e n t u r e to a f f i r m , Bunyan c o u ld n o t w r i t e i n such a s t y l e , m ig h t h e h a v e b e e n f r e e d fro m Im p riso n m en t f o r d o in g so . 3. The q u o t a t i o n s a r e none o f h i s . How c o u ld he q u o te P l u t a r c h , C am bden's B r i t a n n i a , G reek and Roman h i s t o r y , books h e n e v e r saw, n o r c o u ld have r e a d h ad h e se e n them? t 4 . The w r i t e r o f t h i s d i s c o u r s e t a l k s L a t i n to o , an d c o n c lu d e s w ith V a le . I r e c o l l e c t o n ly one s c ra p o f l a t i n i n J o h n 's w orks, an d he h a s p u t o p p o s i t e to t h a t i n t h e m a rg in , t h e L a t i n I b o rro w . 5. T h ere i s no m e n tio n o f t h i s p i e c e i n t h a t l i s t o f h i s w orks, w hich was p u b lis h e d by t h a t g r e a t a d m ir e r o f him Mr. C h a rle s Doe, who knew him p e r s o n a l l y , and who b o u g h t some m a n u s c r ip ts o f h i s son a f t e r h i s d e c e a s e , and p u b lis h e d them , p a r t i c u l a r l y The h e a v e n ly fo o tm a n , an d a lo n g w ith i t a c o r r e c t l i s t o f a l l h i s g e n u in e w orks, w ith d a t e s , s i z e s , &c. 57 R o b e rt R o b in so n , "The G e n e ra l D o c tr in e o f T o l e r a t i o n A p p lie d t o th e P a r t i c u l a r C ase o f F re e Com m union, " M ls c e lla n e o u s W orks, I I I , 144. 27? " T h is t h e r e f o r e , " c o n c lu d e d R o b in so n , " i s one o f t h e many s p u r io u s p i e c e s a s c r i b e d t o Bunyan by some p o v e r t y - s t r u c k s c r i b b l e r s , who s t o l e h i s g o ld e n name to g iv e c u r re n c y 58 to t h e i r own b a s e c o i n . " Bunyan*s r e p u t a t i o n a s a d o c t r i n a l w r i t e r was s a f e w ith h i s e v a n g e l i c a l a d m ire rs o f t h e e i g h t e e n t h c e n tu r y , who sp o k e o f him a s a "man o f God" and r e v e r e n c e d h i s " g o ld e n n a m e ." 58 R o b e rt R o b in so n , "The G e n e ra l D o c tr in e o f T o l e r a t i o n A p p lie d to t h e P a r t i c u l a r C ase o f F re e Com m union, " M is c e lla n e o u s W orks. I l l , 1 4 4 -5 . BUNYAN AS POET The o n ly i n d i c a t i o n o f B unyan*s c o n t in u e d popu l a r i t y a s a p o e t d u r in g t h i s p e r i o d i s s e e n i n t h e CO s i n g l e p u b l i c a t i o n o f h i s One T h in g i s N e e d fu l an d th e s e v e r a l p u b l i c a t i o n s o f h i s Book f o r Boys and G i r l s , now known a s D iv in e Emblems. D iv in e Emblems was f i r s t I n c lu d e d i n an e d i t i o n o f Bunyan*s c o m p le te w orks i n 1767, and n e x t i n th e e d i t i o n o f t h e w orks I s s u e d by A le x a n d e r Hogg i n 1780, w hich Jo h n Brown m e n tio n s a s a "handsom e e d i t i o n , w ith s u p e r i o r i l l u s t r a t i o n s . " I n t h e y e a r 1790 two s e p a r a t e e d i t i o n s o f th e D iv in e Emblems w ere I s s u e d , one by C. D i l l y , London, and t h e o t h e r a l s o i n London, "E n g rav ed , p r i n t e d , and s o l d by T. B e n n e tt o f P lo u g h C o u rt, B e t t e r L a n e ." T h is " v e ry p r e t t y e d i t i o n , " s t a t e s Brown, was re m a rk a b le n o t m e re ly f o r th e e x c e ll e n c e o f i t s i l l u s t r a t i o n s , b u t a l s o f o r th e u n u s u a l c ir c u m s ta n c e t h a t n o t o n ly t h e s e , b u t th e e n t i r e book from t h e t i t l e p ag e t o th e end, was e n g ra v e d Come and Welcome to J e s u s C h r l s t , t o w hich i s ad d ed One T h in g 1 b N e e d fu l, B erw ick , 1790. 60 T h ird f o l i o e d i t i o n , 1767, w ith "Recommenda to r y P r e f a c e " by W h i t e f i e l d . Jo h n Brown, " I n t r o d u c t i o n " to Jo h n Bunyan, A Book f o r Boys an d G i r l s , x x v i i i . 279 flp and p r i n t e d fro m c o p p e r - p l a t e s . T hese e d i t i o n s o f B unyan’ s emblems d i d n o t, o f c o u r s e , r e p r o d u c e th e o r i g i n a l s e v e n t y - f o u r m e d i t a t i o n s c o n ta in e d i n t h e Booh f o r Boys and G -lrls i s s u e d by Bunyan I n 1686, b u t r a t h e r t h e f o r t y - n i n e poem s, r e v i s e d and p o l i s h e d , a s p r i n t e d i n t h e e d i t i o n o f 1701, and u n d e r t h e t i t l e f i r s t b e sto w e d on th e book i n 1724— D iv in e Emblems; Or T em poral T h in g s S p l r l t u a l l z e d . The number an d c h a r a c t e r o f t h e e d i t i o n s i s s u e d I n d i c a t e a r e p u t a b l e p o p u l a r i t y o f Bunyan a s a p o e t, n o t o n ly w ith t h e hum ble and p o o r r e a d e r s , b u t a l s o w ith t h o s e who c o u ld a f f o r d to pay f o r a w e l l - p r i n t e d a n d i l l u s t r a t e d copy o f th e rhym ed d i d a c t i c i s m . I n t h i s p e r i o d , a s i n t h e p r e c e d in g , how ever, th e s e poems c a l l e d f o r t h no r e c o r d e d com m endation fro m th o s e who m ust h a v e b e e n t h e i r a d m ir e r s . And th e o n ly d e r o g a to r y r e f e r e n c e — f o r e r u n n e r o f more f r e q u e n t o n e s t h a t w ere to f i n d e x p r e s s io n i n th e f o l l o w i n g c e n tu r y — i s fo u n d i n th e w ords o f Andrew K ip p ls , who, e x p r e s s in g h i s d is a g re e m e n t w ith G ra n g e r t h a t Bunyan m ig h t h av e p r o duced a g r e a t p o e t i c w ork, h ad h e b e e n l e a r n e d i n num bers, w r o t e :o f Bunyan: T h ere i s su c h a p o v e r ty i n th e sp e c im e n s he h a t h g iv e n o f v e r s i f i c a t i o n , n o t o n ly Jo h n Brown, ’ ’I n t r o d u c t i o n " t o Jo h n Bunyan, A Book f o r Boys an d G i r l s , x x v l i - x x v i i i . w ith r e g a r d t o num bers b u t to f a n c y , t h a t , w ith t h e b e s t a d v a n ta g e s o f e d u c a tio n , h e w ould s c a r c e l y h a v e a t t a i n e d to c o m p le te p o e t i c a l c o m p o s itio n . He h a d th e in v e n t i o n , b u t n o t t h e o t h e r n a t u r a l q u a l i f i c a t i o n s w hich a r e n e c e s s a r y t o c o n s t i t u t e a g r e a t p o e t.® ^ 63 Andrew K lp p ls i n B lo g ra p h la B r l t a n n l c a . Second E d i t i o n , I I I , 13 n. BUNYAN AS AUTOBIOGRAPHER INTRODUCTION B u n y a n 's a u to b io g ra p h y was l e s s f r e q u e n t l y i s s u e d d u r in g t h i s p e r i o d th a n d u rin g t h e f i r s t p a r t o f th e e i g h t e e n t h c e n tu r y ; n e v e r t h e l e s s , i t c o n tin u e d to f i n d an a u d ie n c e o f a p p r e c i a t i v e r e a d e r s , an d , i n a d d i t i o n to th e t h i r t e e n t h e d i t i o n , p u b l i s h e d i n 1778, t h e f o u r t e e n t h an d f i f t e e n t h e d i t i o n s a l s o p r o b a b ly made t h e i r 64 a p p e a ra n c e d u r in g t h i s tim e . I n t e r e s t I n Bunyan*s l i f e , how ever, i n c r e a s e d b u t s lo w ly , a n d a p p a r e n t l y o n ly two b i o g r a p h i e s o f t h a t a u th o r a p p e a re d — t h e anonymous L i f e o f J o h n Bunyan (1787) w r i t t e n "by a F r ie n d o f t h e G o s p e l , a n d th e l i f e by G eorge B u rd e r o f C o v e n try , b o th u n d o u b te d ly e v a n g e l i s t i c i n t h e i r d i s c u s s i o n o f t h e r e l i g i o u s w r i t e r . A s id e from t h e s e w orks, s h o r t b i o g r a p h i c a l s k e tc h e s o f Bunyan a p p e a re d o n ly i n t h e B io g r a p h ic a l H is to r y o f CIA The B r i t i s h Museum C a ta lo g u e r e c o r d s t h e t h i r t e e n t h e d i t i o n , London, 1778; and t h e s i x t e e n t h , London T 1799?]. The f o u r t e e n t h an d f i f t e e n t h , t h e r e f o r e , w ere p r o b a b ly p u b l i s h e d d u r in g t h e 1 7 8 0 's o r e a r l y 1 7 9 0 ' s . 66 Jo h n Brown, Jo h n B unyan, 484. No copy o f t h i s book i s a v a i l a b l e to me. T h is was a f f i x e d to B u r d e r 's e d i t i o n o f The P ilg rim * s P r o g r e s s , 1786. I h a v e b e e n u n a b le t o o b t a i n a copy. F o r i n f o r m a ti o n c o n c e r n in g B u rd e r, s e e i n f r a , p a g e 308, n o te 18. 282 E n g lan d and i n t h e se c o n d e d i t i o n o f t h e B lo g r a p h la B r l t a n n l c a . ^ 7 T hese d i s c u s s i o n s , how ever, a s w e ll a s v a r io u s i n c i d e n t a l r e f e r e n c e s to B u n y a n 's l i f e t h a t o c c u r r e d i n w r i t i n g s o f th e tim e , w ere b a s e d m a in ly on t h e one book t h a t m ust n e c e s s a r i l y s e r v e a s t h e so u rc e o f any a u t h e n t i c b io g ra p h y o f Bunyan— G race A bounding, and w ere n o t com p i l e d , a s w ere th o s e o f th e p r e v io u s p e r i o d , l a r g e l y from se c o n d a ry m a t e r i a l . B u n y a n 's a u to b io g ra p h y , t h e r e f o r e , may b e s a i d to h av e b e e n f a i r l y w e ll known d u r in g t h i s p e r i o d . R e fe r e n c e s t o i t , how ever, c a n n o t be c l a s s i f i e d , a s i n th e c a s e o f o t h e r o f h i s w orks, on t h e b a s i s o f com m endation o r d e r o g a t io n , b u t r a t h e r on t h e b a s i s o f r e l i g i o u s o r p s y c h o l o g i c a l i n t e r p r e t a t i o n . By e v a n g e l i c a l l y m inded r e a d e r s o f t h i s p e r io d , Bunyan was r e g a r d e d w ith t h e a d m irin g a t t i t u d e w hich was t y p i c a l o f h i s d e v o u t c o n te m p o r a r ie s a n d o f p io u s r e a d e r s o f a l l c e n t u r i e s : he a p p e a re d a s a r e m a rk a b le i n s t a n c e o f G o d 's m ir a c u lo u s c o n v e rs io n o f a d e p ra v e d s i n n e r who becam e an i n s p i r e d m i n i s t e r o f t h e word and s u f f e r e d th e p e r s e c u t i o n o f h i s en em ies f o r th e sake o f 67 The seco n d e d i t i o n o f t h e B lo g ra p h la B r l t a n n l c a r e p r i n t e d , p r a c t i c a l l y v e r b a t im , t h e t e x t o f t h e a r t i c l e on Bunyan c o n ta in e d i n th e f i r s t e d i t i o n . Tow ers a d d e d an addendum, an d K ip p is , c o p io u s f o o t n o t e s . O nly th e added m a t e r i a l i s d i s c u s s e d i n t h i s c h a p t e r . V o l . I l l , w hich c o n t a i n s t h e a c c o u n t o f Bunyan, was p u b lis h e d i n 1784. 283 t r u t h an d c o n s c ie n c e . T h is o r th o d o x e v a n g e l i c a l a t t i t u d e fo u n d s tr o n g e x p r e s s io n d u r in g t h i s tim e , b u t d u r in g th e same y e a r s a new i n t e r p r e t a t i o n o f Bunyan a l s o b eg an to m a n if e s t I t s e l f . H e a d e rs l e s s e n t h u s i a s t i c and more s c e p t i c a l th a n th e e v a n g e l i c a l , r e a d i n g B unyan*s a u to b io g ra p h y w ith an eye t o p s y c h o l o g i c a l i n t e r p r e t a t i o n , b e g a n t o d i s c o u n t t h a t w r i t e r ' s g r a v e a c c o u n t o f h i s e a r l y w ic k e d n e s s , t o c o n s id e r h i s i n s p i r e d p r e a c h in g a s t h e i g n o r a n t ja r g o n o f an e n t h u s i a s t , and t o i n t e r p r e t h i s im p riso n m e n t a s a p e r s e c u t i o n i n w hich h e g l o r i e d a s d i s t i n g u i s h i n g him from th e r a n k s o f th o s e whom God h ad n o t deemed w o rth y o f s u f f e r i n g f o r H is s a k e . Though o n ly s u g g e s te d a t t h i s tim e , t h i s a t t i t u d e was t o g a i n much s t r e n g t h i n t h e f o llo w in g c e n tu r y an d t o f i n d i t s c u lm in a tio n i n t h e b i o g r a p h i e s o f su ch w r i t e r s a s R o b e rt S ou th ey an d Jam es A nthony F ro u d e . "HONEST JOHN BUNYAN" Among th o s e who r e a d B unyan*s a u tb b io g ra p h y s y m p a t h e t i c a l l y , o r c a s u a l l y , r a t h e r th a n i n th e l i g h t o f p s y c h o l o g i c a l i n t e r p r e t a t i o n , m ust be c l a s s e d Jam es G ra n g e r, c o m p ile r o f t h e B io g r a p h ic a l H i s t o r y o f E n g la n d , who b a s e d h i s b r i e f d i s c u s s i o n o f Bunyan on t h e a u t o b io g ra p h y , t h e "C o n tin u a tio n " commonly a f f i x e d t o t h a t w ork, and t h e r e l a t i o n o f B u n y a n 's im p ris o n m e n t. 284 D e s p ite t h e f a c t t h a t G ra n g e r was a m i n i s t e r o f t h e C hurch o f E n g lan d , h e c a s t no a s p e r s i o n s on Bunyan*s v i s i o n a r y and e n t h u s i a s t i c t e n d e n c i e s . In d e e d , h e r e c o rd e d from G race A bounding Bunyan*s a c c o u n t o f h i s su d d e n ly s ta n d in g i n awe, i n t h e m id s t o f h i s S a b b a th - day game o f " c a t , 1 1 on h e a r i n g t h e h e a v e n ly v o ic e t h a t w arned him , "W ilt th o u le a v e th y s i n s an d go t o h e a v e n , o r h a v e th y s i n s and go t o h e l l ? " On h e a r i n g t h e s e w o rd s, s t a t e d G ra n g e r s o b e r ly , Bunyan " l i f t e d up h i s e y e s, i n g r e a t am azem ent, to w a rd s h e a v e n , whence th e v o ic e came, and th o u g h t he saw C h r i s t lo o k in g down upon him . T h is h ad a g r e a t e f f e c t upon h i s M i n d . G r a n g e r f u r t h e r n o te d Bunyan*s c o n v e r s a t i o n w ith some p o o r women o f Bed f o r d on t h e s u b j e c t o f t h e new b i r t h , w hich in f l u e n c e d him to w a rd s e r i o u s r e l i g i o u s th o u g h t, an d s t a t e d t h a t Bunyan " i n a few y e a r s , becam e a p r e a c h e r an d w r i t e r o f n o t e . " G ra n g er m e n tio n e d a l s o B u n y a n 's im p ris o n m e n t, an d h i s e x te n d e d l a y - p r e a c h i n g , w h ich s e c u r e d him th e n icknam e "B ishop Bunyan."®® A m i n i s t e r o f t h e E s t a b l i s h e d C hurch, o rth o d o x i n h i s v ie w s , G ra n g e r showed no i n t e r e s t i n t h e circ u m s ta n c e o f Bunyan*s l i f e t h a t a p p e a le d m ost s t r o n g l y t o ° Jam es G ra n g e r, o p . c l t . , 56. Loc. c i t . 285 s e c t a r i a n and e v a n g e l i c a l b i o g r a p h e r s — B u n y an ’ s mean o r i g i n and h i s d e p ra v e d h a b i t s a s a y o u t h ,70 w hich h e overcam e i n h i s s te a d y p r o g r e s s to w a rd s a i n t l i n e s s . T h is a s p e c t o f t h a t a u t h o r 's b io g ra p h y was l e f t f o r t h e d i s c u s s i o n o f t h e e m in en t M e th o d is t p r e a c h e r G ecrg e W h i te f ie l d . I n h i s "Recom m endatory P r e f a c e " to th e t h i r d f o l i o e d i t i o n o f B u n y a n 's w orks, W h i t e f i e l d made no p r e t e n s e o f d i s c u s s i n g B unyan1s l i f e . Such i n c i d e n t a l r e f e r e n c e a s he made t o h i s c h a r a c t e r , how ever, i s I m p o r ta n t i n i l l u s t r a t i n g t h e e v a n g e l i s t i c a t t i t u d e to w a rd Bunyan— an a t t i t u d e t h a t h a d p r e v a i l e d i n th e s e v e n te e n th c e n tu r y and was t o f i n d f e r v e n t e x p r e s s io n i n t h e n i n e t e e n t h . W h i t e f i e l d i n t e r p r e t e d to h i s own s a t i s f a c t i o n B u n y a n 's s e v e r e c h a r a c t e r i z a t i o n o f h i m s e l f I n G ra ce A bounding, a n d d e s c r i b e d t h a t a u t h o r a s a man " o f th e m e a n e st o c c u p a tio n , a n o t o r i o u s s a b b a th - b r e a k e r , d r u n k a rd , s w e a re r, b la s p h e m e r, &c. by h a b i t u a l p r a c t i c e , " who y e t , " th ro u g h r i c h , f r e e , s o v e r e ig n , d i s t i n g u i s h i n g G r a c e ," was c a l l e d t o be a 71 c h o se n v e s s e l o f t h e L o rd . G ra n g e r m e re ly s t a t e d t h a t Bunyan was th e "so n o f a t i n k e r , I n B e d f o r d s h ir e , w here he f o r some tim e fo llo w e d h i s f a t h e r ' s o c c u p a tio n " ( o p . c l t . . 5 6 ). 71 G eorge W h i te f ie l d , "The Recom m endatory P re f a c e , " o p . c l t . . i l l . One c a n n o t b u t w onder, on r e a d in g t h i s , a s to t h e e x a c t i m p l i c a t i o n o f W h i t e f i e l d 's e lo q u e n t "& c." The s u b j e c t o f Bunyan*s im p riso n m e n t— a m a tte r on w hich t h a t w o r th y ’ s d e f e n d e r s c u s to m a r il y e x p r e s s e d g r e a t i n d i g n a t i o n — d i d n o t c a l l f o r t h th e s p e c i f i c con d e m n a tio n o f W h i t e f i e l d . Though he n o te d t h a t The P i l grim *s P r o g r e s s “was w ro te when th e a u th o r was c o n f in e d i n B e d f o r d - g a o l ,0 th e M e th o d is t w r i t e r was m a in ly con c e rn e d w ith s t a t i n g h i s c o n v i c t i o n t h a t " m i n i s t e r s n e v e r w r i t e o r p r e a c h so w e ll a s when u n d e r t h e c r o s s , " and s c a r c e l y Im p lie d a c e n s u r e o f a p e r s e c u t i o n w h ich had a c h ie v e d so a d m ira b le an d l a u d a b l e a r e s u l t a s t h a t o f m aking "thje P u r i t a n s o f th e l a s t c e n tu r y su c h b u r n in g and s h i n i n g l i g h t s . " 7 ^ J o s e p h Tow ers, how ever, n o te d s p e c i f i c a l l y t h a t Bunyan*s c o n fin e m e n t was s e v e r e a n d u n j u s t : The lo n g an d s e v e r e im p riso n m e n t w h ich h e u n d e rw e n t, m e re ly f o r e n d e a v o u rin g to p r o p a g a te h i s r e l i g i o u s t e n e t s , was a __ f l a g r a n t v i o l a t i o n o f J u s t i c e an d h u m a n ity .73 And R o b e rt R o b in so n , a n im a d v e rtin g on t h e " tw e lv e y e a r s and s i x m onths im p riso n m e n t, w ith v a r i o u s o t h e r c r u e l p e r s e c u t i o n s , " w hich h a d " c h a g r in e d an d s o u re d " B unyan’ s 74 good n a t u r e , u s e d a l l t h e w it and sa rc a sm a t h i s com- 72 G-eorge W h i te f ie l d , "The Recom m endatory P r e f a c e , o p . c l t . , i v . 73 J o s e p h Towers i n B lo g r a p h la B r l t a n n l c a . S econd E d i t i o n , I I I , 12. 7 4 R o b e rt R o b in so n , n o t e s to G la u d e 's E ssay on th e C o m p o sitio n o f a Serm on. I I , 105. 287 mand t o p o i n t o u t t h e a b s u r d i t y o f th e c h a rg e s u n d e r w hich Bunyan h a d b e e n c o n v ic te d . R o b in s o n 's I n t e r e s t i n t h i s m a tte r c e n t e r e d i n t h e in d ic tm e n t u n d e r w hich Bunyan h a d b e e n s e n t to p r i son— t h a t docum ent s e r v i n g t h e com m entator a s a c l a s s i c exam ple o f an I n s t a n c e i n w hich t h e " c o o l e q u i ty " w hich s h o u ld d o m in a te C h r i s t i a n t e a c h i n g — a s w e ll a s j u d i c i a l p r o c e d u r e — was la m e n ta b ly l a c k i n g . To make h i s r e f u t a t i o n more e m p h a tic , and to g iv e p o i n t to h i s w i t , R o b in so n q u o te d t h e w ell-k n o w n p o r t i o n o f th e in d ic tm e n t c o n t a in i n g t h e c h a rg e s a g a i n s t th e p r e a c h e r : Jo h n B u n y a n .. . h a t h d e v i l i s h l y and p e r n i c i o u s l y a b s t a i n e d from com ing t o c h u rc h t o h e a r d i v i n e s e r v i c e : and i s a common up h o l d e r o f s e v e r a l u n la w fu l m e e tin g s and con v e n t i c l e s , to th e d i s t u r b a n c e an d d i s t r a c t i o n o f th e good s u b j e c t s o f t h i s kingdom , con t r a r y to t h e la w s o f o u r s o v e r e ig n l o r d t h e k in g . S e t t i n g , th e a c t u a l f a c t s o f th e c a s e b e s i d e t h e s e c h a r g e s , R o b in so n w ro te : The two f a c t s a r e t h e s e . Bunyan d i d n o t w o rs h ip A lm ig h ty G-od i n t h e p a r i s h m e e tin g h o u s e . Bunyan d i d w o rsh ip A lm ig h ty God i n a fa rm -h o u s e . Now th e s e two f a c t s a r e in n o c e n t i n th e m s e lv e s , i n o f f e n s i v e to s o c i e t y , and a l t o g e t h e r u n c o n n e c te d w ith p l o t s o f sub v e r t i n g c i v i l g o v ern m en t, c o n s e q u e n tly t h e c i t i z e n , who d id them , o u g h t n o t to h a v e b e e n c r im i n a te d f o r t h e s e a c t i o n s . 75 75 R o b e rt R o b in so n , n o t e s to C l a u d e 's E ssay on th e C o m p o sitio n o f a Sermon. I I , 228. 288 "But s e e , " h e e x c la im e d , "w hat r h e t o r i e k c a n do .' " C a ll t h e p a r i s h m e e tin g -h o u s e th e c h u rc h — name t h e c e re m o n ie s p e rfo rm e d t h e r e s e r v i c e — a s s e r t t h e book t h a t c o n t a i n s them to b e d i v i n e — make th e w hole o f r e l i g i o n t o c o n s i s t i n h e a r i n g a p r i e s t r e a d i t — a f f i r m t h a t a d e v i l , o r a d e v i l k i n comes fro m h e l l to p e r s u a d e Bunyan n o t to h e a r i t — say t h a t B u n y a n 's a b s e n c e i s o f so much c o n se q u e n c e a s t o be p e r n i c i o u s , o r d e s t r u c t i v e to th e d i v i n e book— C a ll t h e f a r m e r 's p a r l o u r , h e l d i n f e e - s i m p l e , a c o n v e n t i c l e o r m e e tln g - p l a c e , sa y , i f s i x t e e n h a r v e s t-m e n an d t h e i r w iv e s m eet t h e r e on th e t w e n t i e t h o f A u g u st a n d g e t d ru n k a t h a r v e s t-h o m e , th e p a r l o u r i s a la w f u l c o n v e n t i c l e ; and t h a t i f th e y m eet t h e r e on th e t w e n t y - f i r s t o f A u g u st to r e p e n t o f d ru n k e n n e s s , and g e t Bunyan t o p ra y to God t h e r e t o a c c e p t t h e i r r e p e n ta n c e , and to t e l l them o u t o f th e b l b l e w h e th e r God w i l l a c c e p t i t , t h a t th e n i t i s an u n la w f u l c o n v e n t i c l e — sa y , t h a t th e p r a y e r s and t e a r s o f t h e s e s e v e n te e n p o o r w re tc h e s d l s t u r b and d i s t r a c t a l l th e good s u b j e c t s o f th e k in g dom, who may h ap p e n to be a t th e v e ry tim e e x tre m e ly m erry a t o p e r a s , p la y h o u s e s , t a v e r n s , a l e h o u s e s , an d o t h e r p l a c e s , a n d know n o th in g a b o u t i t — b e d iz e n a l l t h i s w ith th e name o f o u r s o v e r e ig n l o r d t h e k in g — a n d l o I t h i s r h e t o r i c a l o b j e c t i o n s h a l l se n d Bunyan to J a i l f o r tw e lv e y e a r s an d s i x m onths i O th e r a d m ir e r s o f Bunyan, how ever, w ere n o t con t e n t w ith so m ild and c o n s e r v a t i v e a co n d e m n a tio n o f B u n y a n 's p e r s e c u t i o n a s t h a t o f J o s e p h T ow ers, o r so w i t t y a r e f u t a t i o n o f t h e c h a rg e s c i t e d a g a i n s t Bunyan, a s t h a t o f R o b e rt R o b in so n , b u t tu r n e d r a t h e r to t h e a n g le o f 76 R o b e rt R o b in so n , n o t e s to C l a u d e 's E ssay on t h e C o m p o sitio n o f a Sermon, I I , 2 2 8 -9 . 289 •'human i n t e r e s t " an d t h e m ethod o f e f f u s i v e s e n t i m e n t a l i t y , t o d e m o n s tr a te to t h e i r r e a d e r s th e h a r d s h i p o f Bunyan*s c r u e l im p riso n m e n t. R e p r e s e n t a t i v e o f such w r i t e r s was W illia m P a r r y , who was l e d t o r e f e r to Bunyan*s u n j u s t c o n fin e m e n t i n I l l u s t r a t i n g h i s c o n te n t i o n t h a t r e l i g i o u s t e s t s commonly work h a r d s h i p s upon th e w o r t h i e s t o f men. P a r r y u s e d a l l t h e l i t t l e s k i l l a t h i s d i s p o s a l i n a t te m p tin g to draw a p a t h e t i c and m oving p i c t u r e o f " h o n e s t Jo h n B u n y a n ,* p a l e an d e m a c ia te d i n body, b u t u n d a u n te d i n s o u l, p a t i e n t l y u n d e rg o in g h i s m artyrdom : Look i n t o t h a t damp and d r e a r y c e l l , th r o u g h t h e n a rro w c h in k w hich a d m its a few s c a n ty r a y s o f l i g h t , to r e n d e r v i s i b l e t o th e w re tc h e d h i s ab o d e o f woe. B e h o ld , by t h e g lim m e rin g o f t h a t f e e b l e lam p, a p r i s o n e r , p a l e and e m a c ia te d , s e a t e d on t h e hum id e a r t h , and p u r s u in g h i s d a l l y t a s k , t o e a rn t h e m o rse l w h ich p r o lo n g s h i s e x i s t e n c e and c o n fin e m e n t t o g e t h e r . N ear him , r e c l i n e d i n p e n s iv e s a d n e s s , l i e s a b l i n d daugh t e r , c o m p e lle d t o e a t t h e b r e a d o f a f f l i c t i o n from th e h a r d e a r n i n g s o f an im p ris o n e d f a t h e r i P a t e r n a l a f f e c t i o n b in d s h e r to h i s h e a r t , and f i l i a l g r a t i t u d e h a s lo n g made h e r th e d a l l y com panion o f h i s c a p t i v i t y . Ho o t h e r s o l a c e re m a in s to him , sa v e t h e m o u rn fu l one a r i s i n g from th e o c c a s i o n a l v i s i t s o f f i v e o t h e r d i s t r e s s e d c h i l d r e n , an d an a f f e c t i o n a t e w ife , W illia m P a r r y (1 7 5 4 -1 8 1 9 ), son o f a B a p t i s t d ea co n , was a C o n g r e g a t i o n a l i s t m i n i s t e r an d t u t o r , v e r y a c t i v e i n th e s o c i a l w e lf a r e o f d i s s e n t e r s . He was o r d a in e d p a s t o r o f t h e c h u rc h a t L i t t l e Baddow i n 1780, and i n 1799 becam e t u t o r a t Wymondley Academy i n H e r t f o r d s h i r e . L iv in g c l o s e t o B e d fo rd , P a r r y u n d o u b te d ly f a m i l i a r i z e d h i m s e l f p e r s o n a l l y w ith t h e i n t e r i o r a n d e x t e r i o r o f B e d fo rd j a i l , I n a n e f f o r t to l e n d r e a l i s m to h i s d r a m a t i z a t i o n o f th e c o n f in e d B u n y a n 's l i f e . 290 whom p in c h in g w ant and g r i e f have worn down to t h e g a te o f d e a th . More th a n t e n sum m ers' su n s h ave r o l l e d o v e r th e s t o n e - r o o f e d m an sio n o f h i s m is e ry , whose r e v i v i n g r a y s h a v e n e v e r o n ce p e n e t r a t e d h i s sa d a b o d e . "S e a so n s r e t u r n , " b u t n o t t o him r e t u r n s th e c h e e r in g l i g h t o f day, t h e s m ilin g bloom o f s p r i n g , o r sound o f human jo y i U n f o r tu n a te c a p t i v e .' What i s h i s g u i l t , what h i s c rim e s? I s he a t r a i t o r , o r a p a r r i c i d e ? A lew d a d u l t e r e r , o r a v i l e in c e n d ia r y ? No, h e i s a C h r i s t i a n s u f f e r e r .' U nder a l l h i s c a l a m i t i e s p e a c e r e i g n s i n h i s b r e a s t , h e a v e n ly h o p e g l i s t e n s i n h i s eye, an d p a t i e n c e s i t s th r o n e d on h i s p a l l i d c h e e k . He i s none o t h e r th a n h o n e s t Jo h n Bunyan, l a n g u i s h i n g th r o u g h t h e t w e l f t h y e a r o f h i s Im p riso n m en t i n B e d fo rd J a i l f o r te a c h in g p l a i n c o u n tr y p e o p le th e know ledge o f t h e S c r i p t u r e s an d t h e p r a c t i c e o f v i r t u e J — I t r e q u i r e s th e e n e rg y o f Fox, t h e e lo q u e n c e o f o f B urke, an d t h e p a th o s o f S h e rid a n , to p a i n t th e e f f e c t o f su c h a sc e n e on t h e f e e l i n g s o f H um anity. My f e e b l e p en d r o p s from t h e t a s k , and l e a v e s s e n s i b i l i t y to e n d u re t h o s e s e n s a t i o n s o f co m p a ssio n an d so rro w , w hich i t f a i l s to d e s c r i b e . ” ® The same a t t i t u d e to w a rd Bunyan a s a s u f f e r i n g m a rty r was e n t e r t a i n e d by W illia m B u ll, C o n g r e g a t l o n a l i s t m i n i s t e r a t N ew port P a g n e l, who made i t h i s custom , when c r o s s i n g B e d fo rd tow n b r i d g e , so le m n ly to p a u s e and do r e v e r e n t homage to B u n y a n 's memory, e x p l a i n i n g on one 7ft W illia m P a r r y , T h o u g h ts on su ch P e n a l R e l i g io u s S t a t u t e s a s a f f e c t t h e P r o t e s t a n t D i s s e n t e r s (Lon- don, 1 7 9 0 ), c i t e d by R o b e rt P h i l i p , The L i f e , T im es, an d C h a r a c t e r i s t i c s o f J o h n Bunyan, 3 6 8 -9 . P a r r y 's book i s d a te d 1790 by Jo h n Brown (Jo h n Bunyan, 154) and W illia m U rw ick ( N o n co n fo rm ity i n H e r t s , 633 n . ), b u t t h e D ic t i o n a r y o f N a tio n a l B io g ra p h y d a t e s I t a s 1 7 9 1 . Such s e n t i m e n t a l s c e n e s o f Bunyan a n d t h e b l i n d d a u g h te r a s t h a t d e p i c t e d by P a r r y w ere f a v o r i t e s w ith i l l u s t r a t o r s o f B unyan*s l i f e and w orks; s e e , f o r exam ple, th e p i c t u r e I n J o h n P. G u l l i v e r 's e d i t i o n o f B u n y a n 's w orks (San F r a n c is c o , 1 8 7 5 ), f a c i n g p a g e 328. 291 7Q o c c a s io n t o th e f r i e n d who was w ith him t h a t h e d id so b e c a u s e Bunyan on t h a t s p o t h a d s u f f e r e d im p ris o n - 80 ment f o r c o n s c ie n c e ' s a k e . Samuel W h itb re a d th e e l d e r 81 e x p r e s s e d h i s a d m ir a tio n f o r th e n o n c o n fo r m is t m a rty r i n a more t a n g i b l e way, l e a v i n g by h i s w i l l to th e d i s s e n t i n g c h u rc h o f B e d fo rd , o f w hich h e was p a s t o r , f i v e h u n d re d p ounds b an k s to c k , th e i n t e r e s t o f w hich was to b e d i s t r i b u t e d a n n u a lly i n b r e a d t o t h e p o o r o f DO th e m e e tin g , b e tw e e n M ichaelm as and C h ris tm a s . A d i s c u s s i o n o f th e e i g h t e e n t h c e n tu r y a t t i t u d e to w ard Bunyan a s a n a u t o b i o g r a p h e r m ust a l s o t a k e i n t o c o n s i d e r a t i o n t h a t c e n t u r y 's a t t i t u d e to w a rd th e much d i s c u s s e d q u a l i t y o f e n th u s ia s m . To p o e t s a n d a r t i s t e a " f i n e f r e n z y ” was a llo w e d by c r i t i c s o f t h e p e r io d , b u t i n r e l i g i o u s w r i t e r s and p r e a c h e r s e n th u s ia s m was r e g a rd e d w ith a v e r s i o n by a l l s o b e r and o rth o d o x s o u ls . "The w ord e n t h u s i a s m ,” a s a fam ous e v a n g e l i c a l clerg y m an o f th e E s t a b l i s h e d C hurch n o te d i n 1800, " i s o f t e n u s e d by t h e same p e r s o n , i n two v e ry d i f f e r e n t s e n s e s ” : Thomas K l l p l n o f B e d fo rd , d ie d 1849. 80 Jo h n Brown, Jo h n B unyan. 2 2 4 -5 . 81 Samuel W h itb re a d th e e l d e r d ie d i n 1796; he was t h e f a t h e r o f Sam uel W h itb re a d (1 7 5 8 -1 8 1 5 ) member o f p a r l i a m e n t f o r B e d f o r d s h ir e . The a d m ir a tio n o f th e W h itb re a d s f o r Bunyan was w e ll known; s e e i n f r a , p a g e s 3 3 8 -9 , and 4 0 5 -6 . * & 82 J o s e p h Iv im e y , The L i f e o f Jo h n Bunyan. 193 n. 292 I t i s a te rm o f com m endation when a p p l i e d to o r a t o r s , p o e t s , p a i n t e r s , o r s c u l p t o r s , and e x p r e s s e s th e en e rg y o f g e n i u s . . . . B ut i t h a s q u i t e a n o t h e r a c c e p t a t i o n i n r e l i g i o u s c o n c e rn s . I f a m i n i s t e r o f th e G ospel i s warm and e a r n e s t , he i s f r e q u e n t l y s tig m a t i z e d a s a n e n t h u s i a s t , t h a t i s , a s t h e ira p o se rs o f t h e name w ould h a v e i t u n d e r s to o d , a p e r s o n o f a weak mind and d i s o r d e r e d ju d g m ent, i f h e b e r e a l l y s i n c e r e ; f o r many a r e w i l l i n g to su p p o se t h a t h i s e n th u s ia s m i s no more th a n a mask o r v e i l , assum ed t o c o v e r t h e a r t f u l v ie w s o f a d e s ig n in g h y p o c r i t e . 05 The f i r s t e d i t i o n o f t h e B lo g ra p h la B r l t a n n l c a . a s p r e v i o u s l y n o te d , h ad p r a c t i c a l l y p la c e d Bunyan i n t h a t c l a s s i f i c a t i o n o f e n t h u s i a s t s by s t a t i n g t h a t . . . t h r o * a g r a d u a l p r o g r e s s i n t h e r e f o rm a t i o n of h i s l i f e , h e a r r i v e d a t an h ig h d e g re e o f t h a t s a i n t s h i p , w hich p r e v a i l e d i n th o s e tim e s o f e n t h u s ia s m .34 The n o n c o n fo rm is t p r e a c h e r Andrew K lp p is e v i d e n t l y r e a d a d e r o g a to r y i m p l i c a t i o n i n t h e s e w ords, f o r i n r e p r o d u c in g th e a r t i c l e i n h i s se co n d e d i t i o n o f t h e B lo g r a p h la , h e s i g n i f i c a n t l y a l t e r e d t h i s s e n te n c e to s t a t e o f Bunyan t h a t . . . th r o u g h a g r a d u a l p r o g r e s s i n t h e r e f o r m a t i o n o f h i s l i f e , h e a r r i v e d a t an 83 Jo h n Newton, "The C o n s tr a in in g I n f l u e n c e o f th e Love o f C h r i s t , " W orks. IV, 519. 84 B lo g ra p h la B r l t a n n l c a . F i r s t E d i t i o n (1 7 4 7 ), I I , 1 0 2 8 -1 0 2 9 . See s u p r a , p a g e 201. 293 h ig h d e g re e o f $&at p i e t y , ^dilch p r e v a i l e d i n th o s e t i m e s . 85 T h at Bunyan was a n o t o r i o u s s i n n e r , m i r a c u l o u s l y c o n v e r te d by th e han d o f God, an d u n j u s t l y p e r s e c u t e d by h i s en e m ie s, w as th u s th e b e l i e f o f h i s a d m ir e r s — p a r t i c u l a r l y th o s e o f an e v a n g e l i c a l t r e n d — g a in e d from t h e i r r e a d in g o f h i s a u t o b i o g r a p h i c a l w o rk s. A VISIONARY ENTHUSIAST Though th e e v a n g e l i c a l view o f B u n y an 1s l i f e , w hich r e g a r d e d i t a s d i v i n e l y s u p e r v is e d i n a l l i t s p a r t i c u l a r s , fo u n d e x p r e s s io n d u r in g t h i s tim e , a c o n t r a r y te n d e n c y a l s o came i n t o b e in g d u r in g t h e l a t t e r y e a r s o f th e 85 B lo g ra p h la B r l t a n n l c a . Second E d i t i o n , I I I , 11. K i p p l s ' m e t h o d o f e d i t i n g t h e B lo g r a p h la B r l t a n n l c a was v e ry u n s a t i s f a c t o r y . I n s t e a d o f r e w r i t i n g th e a r t i c l e s from th e f i r s t e d i t i o n w hich w ere i n c o r r e c t o r o b s o l e t e , h e t e x t u a l l y r e p r o d u c e d t h e s e a r t i c l e s I n th e se c o n d e d i t i o n a n d p o i n t e d o u t e r r o r s an d o m is s io n s I n f o o t n o t e s and a d d e n d a . The r e s u l t i s a k in d o f l i t e r a r y c o n t r o v e r s y b e tw e e n e d i t o r and a u t h o r . A f t e r b e g in n in g h i s work a s e d i t o r , K ip p ls fo u n d t h e t a s k to o l a r g e f o r him an d o b ta in e d t h e a s s i s t a n c e o f J o s e p h T ow ers. B oth Towers an d K ip p is , a s h a s b e e n n o te d , c o n t r i b u t e d to th e a r t i c l e on Bunyan, Towers w r i t i n g a n addendum to th e o r i g i n a l a r t i c l e , and K ip p ls a d d in g com pendious f o o t n o t e s . Which o f t h e two e d i t o r s r e v i s e d th e p a s s a g e c o n c e r n in g e n th u s ia s m , n o te d ab o v e , c a n n o t b e d e f i n i t e l y s t a t e d , b u t th e r e v i s i o n was p r o b a b ly th e work o f K ip p ls , th e o r i g i n a l and m ain e d i t o r , s in c e Tow ers, i n _ h i s c o n tin u a t i o n o f th e a r t i c l e , a s n o te d b elow (p a g e 298) o p e n ly ra n k e d Bunyan a s a n e n t h u s i a s t . 294 e i g h t e e n t h c e n tu r y — a te n d e n c y to w a rd p s y c h o lo g ic a l I n t e r p r e t a t i o n o f t h e phenom ena o f r e l i g i o u s e x p e r ie n c e , w hich g av e a new e x p l a n a t i o n o f B u n y a n 's a l l e g e d w icked n e s s , h i s Im p riso n m e n t, and h i s d i v i n e i n s p i r a t i o n . The f i r s t I n d i c a t i o n o f t h i s i s se e n i n th e w ords o f J o s e p h Tow ers, c o - e d i t o r w ith K ip p ls , o f t h e B lo g ra p h ia B r l t a n n l c a . U n lik e many e v a n g e l i c a l b i o g r a p h e r s , Towers drew no c o n t r a s t b etw e en B unyan’ s lo w ly o r i g i n and h i s l a t e r em inence; h e a t t a c h e d no s tig m a t o B u n y a n 's p o v e r ty o r to h i s h a v in g b e e n b r o u g h t up t o t h e t i n k e r ' s c r a f t , an d th o u g h he a d m itte d t h a t Bunyan a p p e a re d to h av e b e e n v i c i o u s a t an e a r l y p e r i o d o f h i s l i f e , h e was i n c l i n e d t o s u s p e c t th e a u t o b i o g r a p h i c a l r e c o r d o f t h i s w ic k e d n e ss a s b e in g somewhat o v e r - s t a t e d : I t a p p e a r s t h a t Bunyan, th o u g h v e ry v i c i o u s a t an e a r l y p e r i o d o f l i f e , y e t h ad even th e n v e ry s t r o n g im p r e s s io n s o f r e l i g i o n ; and p e r h a p s h i s t h e o l o g i c a l sy stem , which l e d him to c o n s i d e r a l l m ankind a s n a t u r a l l y p ro n e t o w ic k e d n e ss , h a s o c c a s io n e d him t o sp e ak even o f h i s own c r i m i n a l c o n d u c t I n te rm s o f exag g e r a t i o n . 86 B u n y a n 's "m oral c h a r a c t e r " d u r in g " th e g r e a t e r p a r t o f h i s l i f e , " c o n c lu d e d Tow ers, "seem s to h a v e b e e n unex c e p t i o n a b l e . 86 J o s e p h Tow ers I n B lo g ra p h la B r l t a n n l c a . Second E d i t i o n , I I I , 12. Loc. c l t . 295 S i m i l a r to t h i s p s y c h o lo g ic a l i n t e r p r e t a t i o n o f Bunyan*s s e l f - c o n f e s s e d w ic k e d n e ss was t h e new a t t i t u d e to w a rd Bunyan*s im p riso n m e n t w hich b eg an t o m a n if e s t i t s e l f a t t h i s tim e . The r e l i g i o u s a t t i t u d e , v o ic in g g r e a t i n d i g n a t i o n a t t h e c r u e l an d u n j u s t c o n fin e m e n t to w hich Bunyan was s u b j e c t e d , fo u n d e m p h a tic r e i t e r a t i o n d u r in g t h i s p e r io d , a s i t d i d d u r in g a l l c e n t u r i e s ; b u t t h e p s y c h o lo g ic a l e x p l a n a t i o n t h a t Bunyan, l i k e a l l m a r ty r s o r p se u d o m a r ty r s , g l o r i e d i n t h e p e r s e c u t i o n o f h i s en em ies, an d would n o t h a v e w ish e d i t rem oved o r d im in is h e d , a l s o b eg an to f i n § s u g g e s tio n . "The s u f f e r i n g f o r o n e 's o p i n i o n ," re m a rk e d R ic h a r d G ra v es w is e ly , " g iv e s a man an a i r o f c o n se q u e n c e i n h i s own ey es; a s i t su p p o se s him to t h i n k f o r h i m s e l f , and to be d i s t i n g u i s h e d from t h e h e r d o f m ankind, who l i v e and d i e u n r e g a r d e d , c o n t e n t 88 w ith t h e h e r e d i t a r y n o t i o n s o f t h e i r u n th in k i n g a n c e s t o r s . " The S p i r i t u a l Q u ix o te , G ra v e s ' am using s a t i r e on t h e Q Q M e th o d is ts , ^ whom h e r e g a r d e d , a s d i d th o s e s e c t a r i a n s th e m s e lv e s , as th e s p i r i t u a l d e s c e n d a n ts o f t h e se v en t e e n t h c e n tu r y P u r i t a n s , r i d i c u l e d i n th o s e " i l l i t e r a t e 88 R ic h a r d G ra v e s, The S p i r i t u a l Q u ix o te : O r, The Summer * s Ramble o f Mr. G e o ffry W ild g o o se. A Comic Romance 71772) i n The B r i t i s h N o v e l l s t s ( LVole. XXXII and XXXIIIJ M rs. B a rb a u ld , e d i t o r ; London, 1 8 2 0 ), I , 40. 89 C la r a R eeve (TJhe P r o g r e s s o f Romance. I I , 54) d e s c r i b e d t h i s book a s "an A n tid o te to M eth o d ism ." 296 90 p l e b e i a n s ” t h e t r a i t s t h a t c h a r a c t e r i z e I t i n e r a n t e v a n g e l i s t s i n g e n e r a l — t h e i r i n t e r p r e t a t i o n o f e v e ry t r i v i a l i t y a s a m a n i f e s t a t i o n o f th e Hand o f God, t h e i r f i n d i n g s p i r i t u a l g u id a n c e i n t h e m ost a b s t r u s e and i r r e l e v a n t S c r i p t u r a l t e x t , t h e i r b e l i e f i n t h e i r d i v i n e i n s p i r a t i o n , and t h e i r i l l i t e r a t e h a r a n g u e s , co u ch ed i n ’’g o s p e l l i n g o ”91 an d d e l i v e r e d to e q u a lly i l l i t e r a t e a u d ie n c e s , ■ w ho a r e m ost moved when l e a s t t h e y u n d e r s ta n d th e ja r g o n o f t h e i r e v a n g e l i s t . The lo n g in g f o r m a rty r dom, t y p i c a l o f su c h e n t h u s i a s t i c f a n a t i c s , a l s o came i n f o r G ra v e s ' la u g h in g r i d i c u l e . G e o ffry W ild g o o se, t h e h e r o o f G ra v e s ' rom ance — whose e v a n g e l i c a l i n t e r e s t owed i t s o r i g i n t o a p e t t y p e r s o n a l an n o y an ce, and i t s c e s s a t i o n to t h e flo w o f b lo o d from an a r t e r y , w hich c l e a r e d h i s h e a d o f n o n s e n s e — h ad p e r u s e d t h e w r i t i n g s o f s e v e n te e n th c e n t u r y non c o n f o r m is ts an d t h e j o u r n a l s o f h i s own M e th o d is t con te m p o r a r i e s u n t i l h e came to t h e c o n c lu s io n t h a t h e , to o , was d i v i n e l y i n s p i r e d and c o u ld n o t r i g h t l y h i d e h i s l i g h t u n d e r a b u s h e l : B e s id e s , from th e a c c o u n ts o f G o d 's d e a l in g s w ith s e v e r a l o f h i s s a i n t s , p a r t i c u l a r l y w ith Jo h n Bunyan, who, i n h i s y o u th h ad b e e n g r e a t l y a d d i c t e d to th e d i a b o l i c a l d i v e r s i o n s o f r i n g i n g b e l l s , d a n c in g a t m a y -p o le s , an d 90 R ic h a r d G ra v e s, 0£ . c i t . , I I , 299. 91 I b i d . . I , 73. 297 o t h e r p r o f a n e am usem ents ( a s h e h i m s e lf i n fo rm s u s , ) y e t i n h i s ad v a n c e d a g e , w as th o u g h t w o rth y , f o r h i s p io u s l a b o u r s i n G o d 's v i n e y a r d , to be s e n t t o New gate; from p e r u s i n g th e s e I say , and t h e A c ts o f o u r m odern A p o s tle s , c o n ta in e d i n t h e i r J o u r n a l s ab o v e m e n tio n e d , Mr. W ildgoose was a m b itio u s o f e m u la tin g t h e i r s p i r i t u a l a d v e n tu r e s , and even b u r n t w ith z e a l to i m i t a t e them i n t h e i r s u f f e r i n g s , and w ish e d f o r n o th in g so much a s to b e p e r s e c u t e d f o r t h e sa k e o f h i s r e l i g i o n . T h ro u g h o u t h i s I t i n e r a n c y W ild g o o se " la n g u is h e d f o r a l i t t l e p e r s e c u t i o n ( a s Mr. W h i t e f i e l d h a d o f t e n d o n e ) ," and " th o u g h t t h i n g s w ere n o t r i g h t " w h ile th e y w ent on sm oothly.® ® I n l i e u o f t h e g l o r i o u s m artyrdom f o r w hich he t h i r s t e d , how ever, p o o r W ildgoose i n a m odern a g e h ad t o c o n t e n t h i m s e l f w ith such hum ble p e r s e c u t i o n a s b e in g p e l t e d w ith o f f a l and dung and d e lu g e d w ith th e c o n t e n t s o f cham ber p o t s . T hus, when on one o c c a s io n more r i g o r o u s p e r s e c u t i o n was i n s i g h t , W ild g o o se was ex c e e d in g ly an n o y ed a t th e a p p e a ra n c e o f a n a c q u a in ta n c e who c o u ld a f f o r d him p r o t e c t i o n , f o r h e . . . w a s a f r a i d o f b e in g d i s a p p o i n t e d i n w hat h e r e a l l y w ish e d f o r , t h e b e in g p e r s e c u t e d f o r t h e G o s p e l 's sa k e , a s h e e ste e m e d i t , an d ( l i k e h o n e s t Jo h n Bunyan) t h e s in g in g o f p sa lm s i n a g a o l . 94 QP R ic h a r d G ra v e s, 0£>. c l t . . I , 3 9 -4 0 . 9 3 I b i d . , I I , 50. 94 Ibid., II, 104. 298 A t h i r d m a n i f e s t a t i o n o f t h e te n d e n c y to w a rd p s y c h o l o g i c a l a n a l y s i s , r a t h e r t h a n d e v o u t a p p r e c ia t i o n o f su c h r e l i g i o u s t e a c h e r s a s Bunyan, i s se e n i n th e a t t i t u d e to w a rd t h e i r m i n i s t r y . To B u n y a n 's e v a n g e l i c a l a d m ir e r s , th e f e r v e n t and m oving p r e a c h in g o f an u n ta u g h t laym an seem ed a d i r e c t m a n i f e s t a t i o n o f d i v i n e i n s p i r a t i o n ; to more s o b e r t h i n k e r s , how ever, i t was sim p ly an exam ple o f f a n a t i c e n th u s ia s m . W hether o r n o t Bunyan was to be c l a s s i f i e d a s an e n t h u s i a s t was n o t d e f i n i t e l y s e t t l e d by t h e B lo g r a p h la B r l t a n n l c a . The s u g g e s tio n c o n ta in e d i n t h e f i r s t e d i t i o n o f t h e B l o g r a p h la . t h a t h e m ig h t b e num bered among e n t h u s i a s t s , was, a s h a s b e e n o b s e rv e d , c a r e f u l l y d e l e t e d by th e n o n c o n fo rm is t e d i t o r Andrew K ip p ls . I n t h e addendum t o t h i s same a r t i c l e , how ever, w r i t t e n by J o s e p h Tow ers, B u n y a n 's e n th u s ia s m was o p e n ly a d m itte d . Bunyan, w ro te t h a t e d i t o r , "was much u n d e r t h e I n f l u e n c e 95 o f e n th u s ia s m ; b u t h i s p i e t y was s i n c e r e . . . . M I s a a c D i s r a e l i a l s o th o u g h t o f Bunyan a s an en t h u s i a s t . W r itin g on th e s e l f - e d u c a t i o n of men o f g e n iu s , and r e f e r r i n g t o Bunyan a s a n exam ple, D i s r a e l i o b s e rv e d t h a t g e n iu s w ould m a n if e s t i t s e l f d e s p i t e t h e In cu m b ran ce 95 J o s e p h Tow ers i n B lo g r a p h la B r l t a n n l c a . Second E d iti o n , I I I , 12. ------------------- o f ig n o r a n c e , and "even a m id s t t h e deep p e r p le x e d f e e l in g s and t h e tu m u ltu o u s th o u g h ts o f t h e m o st v i s i o n a r y i e n t h u s i a s t , who i s o f t e n o n ly a man o f g e n iu s m is p la c e d ." T h is a t t i t u d e to w a rd B u n y a n 's m i n i s t r y and, ev en more, t h e I n t e r p r e t a t i o n by Tow ers and G ra v es o f B u n y a n 's c o n f e s s e d w ic k e d n e ss and h i s " m a rty rd o m ," m ark th e b e g in n in g o f th e te n d e n c y to w a rd p s y c h o l o g i c a l a n a l y s i s o f B u n y a n 's m o tiv e s t h a t was t o f i n d f u r t h e r d ev e lo p m e n t i n t h e f o llo w in g c e n tu r y . I s a a c D i s r a e l i , The L i t e r a r y C h a r a c t e r : Or th e H is to r y o f Men o f G e n iu s . Drawn fro m t h e i r own f e e l i n g s and C o n f e s s io n s (1795) (London: F r e d e r ic k Warne and C o m p a n y ,18677, 60. BUNYAN AS ALLEGORIST AND NARRATIVE WRITER **TH E SPENSER GF THE PEOPLE** The l a t t e r y e a r s o f t h e e i g h t e e n t h c e n tu r y m ark a g ro w in g p o p u l a r i t y o f B unyan*s P ilg r im * s P r o g r e s s , a s se en n o t o n ly i n th e I n c r e a s e d c o n s i d e r a t i o n t h a t th e a l l e g o r y r e c e i v e d a s a work o f l i t e r a t u r e , and th e ex p r e s s i o n o f p e r s o n a l a p p r e c i a t i o n t h a t i t was a c c o rd e d , h u t a l s o i n t h e num ber o f e d i t i o n s p u b l i s h e d an d t h e a t te m p ts a t more e l a b o r a t e i l l u s t r a t i o n th a n i n t h e p r e c e d in g y e a r s . Of P a r t I , v iiie h h a d r e a c h e d i t s t h i r t y - s e c o n d e d i t i o n i n 1767, some t w e n t y - f i v e e d i t i o n s m ust h av e b ee n i s s u e d d u r in g t h e p e r i o d u n d e r c o n s i d e r a t i o n , s i n c e th e f i f t y - s e v e n t h e d i t i o n a p p e a r e d i n D u b lin i n 1789. P a r t I I was l e s s f r e q u e n t l y i s s u e d s i n g l y , and o n ly Q7 a b o u t t h r e e e d i t i o n s were p u b l i s h e d d u r in g t h i s tim e . The c o m p le te a l l e g o r y , how ever, u n i t e d w ith t h e s p u r io u s t h i r d p a r t , was i s s u e d so f r e q u e n t l y t h a t i t i s d i f f i c u l t to o b t a i n a n a c c u r a t e r e c o r d o f t h e num ber o f pub l i c a t i o n s . An i n d i c a t i o n o f t h e num ber, how ever, i s se e n i n th e f a c t t h a t t h e t h r e e p a r t s o f t h e a l l e g o r y 97 P a r t I I h ad r e a c h e d i t s t w e n t y - f i f t h e d i t i o n i n 1767; t h e t w e n t y - s i x t h was i s s u e d i n 1 7 71; t h e tw e n ty - s e v e n th i n 1775, and t h e tw e n t y - e ig h th i n 1780 ( B r i t i s h Museum C a ta lo g u e ) . 301 w hich had r e a c h e d t h e f i f t y - f o u r t h e d i t i o n i n 1762, a p p e a re d i n London i n 1791 i n an e d i t i o n d e s i g n a t e d 98 a s th e one h u n d re d n i n e t i e t h . Many o f t h e s e p u b l i c a t i o n s o f th e a l l e g o r y , l i k e th o s e i n th e p r e c e d in g p e r io d , w ere u n d o u b te d ly cheap e d i t i o n s w ith mean i l l u s t r a t i o n s , i s s u e d to m eet t h e p o p u la r demand. T y p ic a l, p ro b a b ly , was t h e e d i t i o n w ith " d r e a d f u l w o o d c u ts ,” i s s u e d i n o c ta v o fo rm i n 1768 by 9Q D. Bunyan o f F l e e t S t r e e t . 4 7 8 7 In d e e d , even r e s p e c t a b l e h o u s e s l i k e C addel and D odsley i n 1785, J o h n R iv in g to n and Sons i n 1783, and O sborne and G r i f f i n i n 1787, s e n t f o r t h e d i t i o n s w ith w re tc h e d i l l u s t r a t i o n s . The e d i t o r o f t h e e d i t i o n o f Bunyan*s w orks pub l i s h e d by A le x a n d e r Hogg i n 1780 t r u l y o b s e rv e d t h a t th e c o p p e r - p l a t e s to t h e o ld e d i t i o n s h ad b e e n a d i s g r a c e r a t h e r th a n an e m b e llis h m e n t, and p r e s e n t e d th e i l l u s t r a t i v e p l a t e s i n t h a t e d i t i o n a s more w o rth y o f B u n y a n 's a l l e g o r y , s t a t i n g t h a t t h e m ost a b le and renow ned a r t i s t s i n t h e kingdom had b e e n em ployed to make t h e i l l u s t r a t i o n s c o r r e s p o n d w ith t h e d i g n i t y a n d e le g a n c e o f QQ Jo h n B ro w n 's r e c o r d o f th e f i r s t p u b l i c a t i o n o f th e a l l e g o r y , d u r in g t h i s p e r i o d , i n o t h e r E n g lis h c i t i e s th a n London, i s a s f o l l o w s . I n some o f th e s e p l a c e s , he s t a t e s , more th a n one e d i t i o n was is s u e d : W olverham pton, 1769; D u b lin , 1795; and B a th , 1796 (Jo h n Brown, Jo h n Bunyan. 4 5 1 ). 99 Jo h n Brown, Jo h n B unyan, 445. 302 th e w orks t h a t th e y w ere I n te n d e d to e m b e llish .'* ’ Though th e t h i r t e e n p l a t e s i l l u s t r a t i v e o f The P i l g r i m 1s P ro g r e s s i n t h i s e d i t i o n a r e o f no s p e c i a l m e r i t , th e y n e v e r t h e l e s s i n d i c a t e th e a tte m p t to p u b l i s h e d i t i o n s o f a more a m b itio u s and a r t i s t i c n a t u r e th a n had h i t h e r t o a p p e a re d . Somewhat b e t t e r th a n t h e i l l u s t r a t i o n s i n H ogg*s e d i t i o n w ere t h e e n g r a v in g s p u b l i s h e d i n 1786 by H a r r i s o n and t h o s e i s s u e d i n 1792 by C. S h ep p ard o f D o c to r* s Com mon. The new and l a r g e r s e r i e s o f i l l u s t r a t i o n s i n o b lo n g q u a r to i s s u e d by S h ep p ard two y e a r s l a t e r , to b e s o l d s e p a r a t e l y from th e t e x t o f th e book, a r e , how ever, q u i t e d e v o id o f im a g in a tiv e pow er. Though t h e s e y e a r s were th u s c h a r a c t e r i z e d l a r g e l y by I l l u s t r a t i o n s o f l i t t l e a r t i s t i c a b i l i t y , th e y m arked a l s o t h e b e g in n in g o f a p e r io d i n w hich w orks o f r e a l a r t i s t i c m e r it w ere t o be p ro d u c e d to accom pany B unyan’ s P i lg r im s t o r y . M ost n o t a b l e o f t h e s e w ere t h e s i x t e e n d e s ig n s f o r The P ilg r im * s P r o g r e s s draw n by Thomas S to th a r d , R .A ., w hich Jo h n Brown i n 1885 f e l t h a d " n e v e r y e t b e e n s u r p a s s e d . M S to th a r d * s d e s ig n s a r e m arked by a r t i s t i c f e e l in g , and some o f them , t h a t r e p r e s e n t i n g th e t h r e e The p l a t e s to The P ilg rim * s P r o g r e s s i n t h i s e d i t i o n w ere c h i e f l y drawn and e n g ra v e d by G -. B u rd er (Jo h n Brown, Jo h n Bunyan, 4 4 6 ). 303 S h in in g Ones by t h e C ro s s , f o r exam ple, a r e c h a r a c t e r i z e d by r e a l g r a c e and s o f t n e s s . 2 T h ese p i c t u r e s , e n g ra v e d I n h i s b e s t s t y l e by t h e a n t i q u a r i a n a r t i s t J o s e p h S t r u t t , w ere f i r s t p u b lis h e d s e p a r a t e l y from t h e a l l e g o ry , by Thane o f th e H aym arket i n 1788. F o u r y e a r s l a t e r th e y w ere p r e s e n t e d w ith th e t e x t I n an e d i t i o n o f th e a l l e g o r y p u b lis h e d by M atthew o f t h e S t r a n d . 3 A lso o f a r t i s t i c m e r it w ere th e f o u r e n g ra v in g s t h a t acco m p an ied t h e p u b l i c a t i o n o f The P i l g r i m 1s P ro g r e s s i n C o o k e 's p o c k e t e d i t i o n o f th e S a c r e d C l a s s i c s , w hich a p p e a re d i n 1 796. D u rin g t h i s same y e a r , which m arks t h e end of th e p e r i o d u n d e r c o n s i d e r a t i o n , T. H e p t l n s t a l l o f F l e e t S t r e e t p u b l i s h e d h i s w ell-k n o w n o c ta v o e d i t i o n o f th e a l l e g o r y , i l l u s t r a t e d by e i g h t new e n g ra v in g s , t h r e e o f them by S t o t h a r d and t h e r e m a in in g 4 f i v e by Wooley and C o rb o u ld . The number o f e d i t i o n s o f The Holy War p u b lis h e d d u r in g t h i s p e r i o d I n d i c a t e s t h a t t h i s a l l e g o r y was a l s o g a i n in g i n th e num ber o f i t s a d m ir e r s , th o u g h i t con t i n u e d c o n f e s s e d ly l e s s p o p u la r th a n The P i l g r i m 's P r o g r e s s . The B r i t i s h Museum C a ta lo g u e r e c o r d s e i g h t e d i t i o n s 2 Jo h n Brown, J o h n Bunyan. 447. 3 To t h i s e d i t i o n w ere ap p en d ed "N o te s by a B a c h e lo r o f A r t s o f t h e U n i v e r s i t y o f O x fo rd " [ i . e . , J . B r a d f o r d ] , 4 T hese w ere e n g rav e d by N ea g le, S p r in g s g u th , C o l l i e r , S a n d e rs , and R o th w e ll (Jo h n Brown, Jo h n Bunyan, 447). — 304 of The Holy War, I s s u e d i n London and e ls e w h e r e , d u r in g t h e y e a r s 1 7 6 7 -1 7 9 6 ,5 one o f t h e s e , t h a t p u b l i s h e d i n Birm ingham by R. M a rtin i n 1789, b e in g " e m b e llis h e d w i t h co p p e r p l a t e s . " The H oly War was a ls o a c c o rd e d i l l u s t r a t i o n i n a t l e a s t two e d i t i o n s o f Bunyan*s c o m p le te w orks i s s u e d d u r in g t h i s p e r i o d . The t h i r d e d i t i o n o f 1767, p r e f a c e d by W h i te f ie l d , c o n t a in e d c o p p e r - p l a t e s a d a p te d to The H oly War, as d i d a l s o t h e e d i t i o n o f t h e w orks p u b lis h e d by A le x a n d e r Hogg i n 1780. The p l a t e s f o r The Holy War i n H o g g 's e d i t i o n w ere s u p e r i o r t o th o s e accom panying The P i l g r i m 's P r o g r e s s i n t h a t p u b l i c a t i o n . They w ere drawn by H a m ilto n and e n g ra v e d by G r a in g e r, W alker, G o ld a r, an d T h o rn to n , and w ere m arked by c o n s i d e r - a b l e s o f t n e s s a n d d e p th . The Holy War, w hich was t o s e r v e a s t h e b a s i s f o r a d r a m a tic c o m p o s itio n i n th e f o llo w in g c e n tu r y , c a l l e d f o r t h no i m i t a t i o n s o r a d a p t a t i o n s i n th e p e r i o d u n d e r c o n s i d e r a t i o n , an d The P ilg rim * s P r o g r e s s s e r v e d a s t h e b a s i s o f fe w e r su ch i m i t a t i v e a tte m p ts th a n i n any p r e v io u s o r s u c c e e d in g p e r i o d s . E x cep t f o r The P i l g r i m 's P r o g r e s s from t h e Town o f D e c e it to th e Kingdom o f G lo r y , i s s u e d anonym ously i n 1790, no w orks a p p e a r e d w hich ® The r e c o r d i n th e B r i t i s h Museum C a ta lo g u e I s a s f o l l o w s : An e d i t i o n i s s u e d a t P a i s l e y , 1777, and one a t G lasgow , 1777; a London e d i t i o n , i l l u s t r a t e d w ith n o te s by W . Mason, 1782; two o t h e r London e d i t i o n s , 1782 and 1785; a n o th e r e d i t i o n , w ith n o te s , B irm ingham , 1789; a new e d i t i o n , London, 1792; an d a new e d i t i o n w ith n o t e s by S. Adams, London, 1795. 6 nJohn Brown, J o h n Bunyan, 446. 305 a tte m p te d to couch d o c t r i n a l o r i n s t r u c t i o n a l c o u n s e l i n B u n y a n 's m anner. No p e r io d , h o w ev er, c o u ld h e c o m p le te w ith o u t i t s p o e t i c a l v e r s i o n o f B u n y a n 's p o p u la r a l l e g o r y . L ik e th e anonym ous. " S .M ." i n 1687, an d F r a n c is Hoffm an i n 1706, t h e r e f o r e a p h y s i c i a n named J . S . Dodd t r i e d h i s hand a t v e r s i f y i n g t h a t work i n 1795, r e n d e r i n g B unyan1s 7 p r o s e i n t o h la n k v e r s e . C om m entators on The P ilg rim * s P r o g r e s s , w h e th e r d e a l i n g w ith i t from th e r e l i g i o u s o r l i t e r a r y p o i n t o f view , p o i n t e d o u t, f i r s t o f a l l , i t s p o p u l a r i t y and i t s w ide a p p e a l. Andrew K ip p ls i n 1769 n o te d t h a t i t h a d " p a s s e d th ro u g h upw ards o f f i f t y e d i t i o n s " and had b e e n t r a n s l a t e d i n t o v a r io u s la n g u a g e s ;® W h l te f ie l d n o te d th e num erous t r a n s l a t i o n s ; ® J o h n so n was o f t h e o p in io n t h a t "few b o o k s" had h a d "a more e x t e n s iv e s a l e " th a n The P ilg rim * a Progress, a n d G ra n g e r spoke o f i t a s "one 7 The P i l g r i m 's P r o g r e s s .. O r i g i n a l l y w r i t t e n by Jo h n Bunyan, an d r e n d e r e d i n t o b la n k v e r s e , by J . S. Dodd, M .D ., D u b lin , 1795. 8 Andrew K ip p ls i n B lo g r a p h la B r l t a n n l c a , Second E d iti o n , I I I , 13 n . 9 G eorge W h l t e f i e l d , "The Recom m endatory P r e f a c e , " o p . c l t . , i l l . B o s w e ll' s L i f e o f Jo h n so n t o g e t h e r w ith B o s w e ll1s J o u r n a l o f a T our to t h e H e b rid e s an d J o h n s o n ' s D iary o f a J o u rn e y i n t o tJo rth W ales (G eorge B lrk b e c k H i l l , e d i t o r ; R e v is e d and e n la r g e d e d i t i o n by L .F . P o w e ll; O xford: C la re n d o n P r e s s , 1 9 3 4 ), I I , 238. 306 o f t h e m ost p o p u la r ” b ooks I n th e E n g lis h la n g u a g e .11 The a p p e a l o f Bunyan to s e c u l a r a s w e l l a s to r e l i g i o u s r e a d e r s was rem a rk e d upon by W h l t e f l e l d , who w ro te H is P ilg r im * s P r o g r e s s . . . to t h i s day i s r e a d w ith th e g r e a t e s t p l e a s u r e , n o t o n ly by t h e t r u l y s e r i o u s , o f d i v e r s r e l i g i o u s p e r s u a s io n s , b u t l i k e w i s e by t h o s e to whom p l e a s u r e i s th e end o f reading. 1 2 The p o p u l a r i t y o f th e a l l e g o r y w ith th e lo w e r c l a s s e s was a l s o a r e c o g n iz e d f a c t : L o rd Kames d e c la r e d t h a t The P ilg rim * s P r o g r e s s a n d R o b in so n C ru so e w ere ’ ’g r e a t f a v o r i t e s o f th e v u lg a r , ttl^ and B e a t t i e , a d o p tin g Jam es G ra n g e r, ojo. c l t . , 56. 12 G-eorge W h l te f le l d , ’ ’The Recom m endatory P r e f a c e , ” o p . c l t . , i l l . 13 H enry Home, L ord Kames, S k e tc h e s o f th e H is to r y o f Man. C o n s id e ra b ly e n la r g e d by t h e L a s t A d d itio n s and 'S o r r e c t lo n s o f th e A u th o r (E d in b u rg h : P r i n t e d f o r W illia m C reech , E d in b u rg h ; and f o r A. S tr a h a n and T. C a d e ll, London, 1 7 8 8 ), I , 250 n . T h is w ork was f i r s t p u b lis h e d anonym ously i n tw o volum es (E d in b u rg h , 1 7 7 4 ), and I n a n e n la r g e d fo rm p a s s e d th r o u g h f o u r p u b l i c a t i o n s b e f o r e th e end o f th e e i g h t e e n t h c e n tu r y . The volum es, w ro te Kames, w ere ’ ’i n te n d e d f o r th o s e who, f r e e from t h e c o r r u p t i o n o f o p u le n c e and d e p r e s s i o n o f b o d ily la b o u r a r e fo n d o f u s e f u l k now ledge; who, even i n th e d e l i r i u m o f y o u th , f e e l th e dawn o f p a t r i o t i s m , and who, I n r i p e r y e a r s , e n jo y i t s m e r id ia n w arm th” ( ’ ’P r e f a c e , ” I , v ) . The f i r s t volum e, i n w hich r e f e r e n c e t o The P ilg rim * s P r o g r e s s o c c u r s , d e a l s w ith th e o r i g i n s o f s o c i e t y and la n g u a g e . Soon a f t e r th e p u b l i c a t i o n o f t h e f i r s t e d i t i o n , B e a t t i e w ro te t o Mrs. M ontagu: "L ord Kames*s S k e tc h e s I h av e s e e n . They a r e n o t much d i f f e r e n t from what I e x p e c te d . A man who r e a d s t h i r t y y e a r s , w ith a view to c o l l e c t f a c t s i n s u p p o r t o f two o r t h r e e w him si c a l t h e o r i e s , may, no d o u b t, c o l l e c t a g r e a t number o f f a c t s , and make a v e ry l a r g e b o o k ” (Jam es B e a t t i e to M rs. M ontagu, May 3, 1774, i n S i r W illia m F o rb e s, An A ccount o f th e L i f e and W r itin g s o f Jam es B e a t t i e . I , 3 4 4 . Jo h n so n , who th o u g h t r a t h e r w e ll o f Kames* E lem en ts o f C r i t i c i s m , th o u g h t r a t h e r i n d i f f e r e n t l y o f h i s o t h e r w orks, 307 almost his same words, wrote: Few books h a v e gone th r o u g h so many e d i t i o n s , I n so s h o r t a tim e , a s th e P i l g r i m 's P r o g r e s s . I t h a s b ee n r e a d b y p e o p le o f a l l r a n k s an d c a p a c i t i e s . The l e a r n e d h a v e n o t th o u g h t i t belo w t h e i r n o t i c e : and. among th e v u lg a r i t i s a u n i v e r s a l f a v o u r i t e . Such p o p u l a r i t y w ith a l l c l a s s e s , how ever, was n o t c i t e d a s a d is p a ra g e m e n t o f t h e a l l e g o r y , b u t r a t h e r , a s i s e v id e n t from th e c o n te x t i n w hich t h e re m a rk s o c c u r, a s an i n d i c a t i o n o f i t s m e r i t . Jo h n so n , i n a c c o rd a n c e w ith h i s o p in io n t h a t b o o k s "w hich h av e s to o d th e t e s t o f t i m e , b o o k s t h a t h a v e b e e n a c c la im e d by th e g e n e r a l p u b l i c i r r e s p e c t i v e o f c r i t i c a l o p in io n , had t h e b e s t c la im to a r e a d e r 's r e g a r d , g r a n t e d The P ilg rim * s P r o g r e s s h ig h com m endation on t h i s a c c o u n t. 14 Jam es B e a t t i e , "On F a b le and R om ance," D i s s e r t a t i o n s M oral and C r i t i c a l (London: P r i n t e d f o r W . S tr a h a n ; and T. C a d e ll, i n th e S tra n d ; and W . C ree ch a t E d in b u rg h , 1 7 8 3 ), 5 1 3 -4 . 15 "B o lle a u j u s t l y re m a rk s , t h a t th e b o o k s w hich h av e s to o d th e t e s t o f t i m e . . . h a v e a b e t t e r c la im to o u r r e g a r d th a n any m odern can b o a s t , b e c a u s e t h e lo n g c o n tin u a n c e o f t h e i r r e p u t a t i o n p r o v e s t h a t th e y a r e a d e q u a te to o u r f a c u l t i e s , and a g r e e a b l e to n a t u r e " (Sam uel Jo h n so n , R a m b le r. No. 9 2 , F e b ru a ry 2, 171 i n Works o f Samuel J o h n s o n : S i r J o h n H aw kins, e d i t o r ; VI, 1 2 9 ). C f. J o h n s o n 's c o n c u rr e n c e w ith th e o p in io n o f th e "common r e a d e r " c o n c e r n in g G r a y 's " E le g y " : " . . . b y t h e common se n se o f r e a d e r s u n c o r r u p te d by l i t e r a r y p r e j u d i c e s , a f t e r a l l th e r e f i n e m e n t s o f s u b t i l t y and th e dogm atism o f l e a r n i n g , m ust b e f i n a l l y d e c id e d a l l c la im to p o e t i c a l h o n o u rs" (L iv e s o f t h e E n g lis h P o e ts . I l l , 4 4 1 ). ---------------------------- -------------------- 308 The a l l e g o r y , h e s t a t e d , "h a s th e b e s t e v id e n c e o f i t s m e r i t , t h e g e n e r a l an d c o n tin u e d a p p r o b a tio n o f man k in d . "17 Com m endations o f The P i l g r i m 1s P r o g r e s s d u r in g t h e s e y e a r s c o n c e rn , f o r t h e m ost p a r t , I t s l i t e r a r y a s p e c t , r a t h e r th a n i t s m o ral o r r e l i g i o u s i n f l u e n c e . N e v e r th e le s s , much i n t e r e s t may be th o u g h t to h av e ce n t e r e d i n i t s r e l i g i o u s a s p e c t d u r in g t h i s p e r i o d w hich saw t h e f i r s t u s e o f th e a l l e g o r y a s th e b a s i s o f a s e r i e s o f serm ons, th e f i r s t d i v i s i o n o f th e a l l e g o r y i n t o ch ap t e r s f o r t h e more c l e a r u n d e r s ta n d in g o f i t s t e a c h i n g s , t h e f i r s t e x p l a n a t io n o f i t s m eaning, and t h e i s s u a n c e o f a n n o t a te d e d i t i o n s . The d i v i s i o n o f The P i l g r i m 1s P r o g r e s s i n t o c h a p - 18 t e r s was th e work o f t h e e v a n g e l i s t i c G eorge B u rd e r, who f u r t h e r so u g h t to a i d r e a d e r s by a f f i x i n g compen d io u s n o te s to ea ch o f h i s d i v i s i o n s . 17 B o sw ell * s L i f e o f J o h n s o n , I I , 238. 18 G eorge B u rd e r (1 7 5 2 -1 8 3 2 ) was a C ongrega- t i o n a l i s t m i n i s t e r , i n f l u e n c e d i n h i s egtrly l i f e by t h e p r e a c h in g o f W h l t e f l e l d an d R om aine. B u rd e r was m ost fam ous f o r h i s V i l l a g e Serm ons (1 7 9 7 -1 8 2 0 ; 8 v o l s . ); h e was a l s o e d i t o r o f t h e E v a n g e lic a l M agazine f o r many y e a r s . B u r d e r 's i n t e r e s t i n Bunyan i s se e n n o t o n ly i n h i s e d i t i n g The P i l g r i m 's P r o g r e s s (C o v e n try , 1 7 8 6 ;o f t e n r e p r i n t e d ) and The H oly War (1 8 0 3 : se e i n f r a , p ag e s 4 6 8 -9 ) d i v i d i n g b o th w orks i n t o c h a p t e r s and a d d in g le n g th y n o te s , b u t a l s o i n h i s c o n v e r t in g The P ilg rim * s P r o g r e s s i n t o a n e p ic poem, a p p a r e n t l y f i r s t p u b lis h e d a f t e r h i s d e a th i n 1845 (A le x a n d e r G ordon, D ic t io n a r y o f N a tio n a l B io g ra p h y . I l l , 2 9 4 - 5 ). 309 A n o th e r a tte m p t a t e x p l a in i n g B unyan*s a l l e g o r y I s se e n i n th e p u b l i c a t i o n , i n 1790, o f a w ork e n t i t l e d A Key to th e P ilg rim * s P r o g r e s s , i n a S e p le s o f L e t t e r s to a F r i e n d , by A n d ro n lc u s . 19 T h is was a p p a r e n t l y th o u g h t to f i l l a l o n g - f e l t n e e d , f o r i t fo u n d s u f f i c i e n t r e a d e r s to w a r r a n t th e p u b l i c a t i o n o f a se co n d e d i t i o n some y e a r s l a t e r . S p e c i f i c r e f e r e n c e s t o The P ilg rim * s P r o g r e s s a s a r e l i g i o u s docum ent a r e n o t f r e q u e n t , how ever, and, e x c e p t i n t h e c a s e o f T oplady and Newton, n o t p a r t i c u l a r l y e m p h a tic . G ra n g e r m e re ly n o te d t h a t t h e a l l e g o ry g a v e "a c l e a r a n d s u c c i n c t i d e a o f C a l v i n ! s t i c a l 20 d i v i n i t y , " and K ip p is , im p ly in g t h a t B unyan*s t h e o l o g i c a l i d e a s d i d n o t c o in c id e w ith h i s own, re m a rk e d t h a t " b o th t h e a l l e g o r y o f h i s P i l g r i m 's P r o g r e s s , and t h e c h a r a c t e r s I n tr o d u c e d i n i t , a r e , a c c o r d in g t o h i s own t h e o l o g i c a l i d e a s , e x c e l l e n t l y s u p p o r t e d . M ^ C la r a R e e v e 's s u r p r i s i n g a s c r i p t i o n o f a "m oral te n d e n c y " to a num ber o f books w hich in c lu d e d n o t o n ly The P i l g r i m 's P r o g r e s s b u t a l s o T r ls tr a m S handy, The 19 London, 1790; se c o n d e d i t i o n , 1797. 20 Jam es G ra n g e r, o|). c l t . , 56 n . 21 Andrew K ip p ls i n B lo g ra p h la B r l t a n n l c a . Second E d iti o n , I I I , 1 3 n . 22 C a s t l e o f O t r a n t o , and Jo h n B u n c le , can s c a r c e l y b e c o n s id e r e d a judgm ent b a s e d on much o f th o u g h t o r r e a s o n . W h l te f le l d , e x c e p t f o r h i s re m a rk t h a t The P i l g r i m 1 s P r o g r e s s was much a d m ire d by ’’t h e t r u l y s e r l - O'* o u s, o f d i v e r s r e l i g i o u s p e r s u a s i o n s , n c u r i o u s l y made no m e n tio n o f I t s u s e f u l n e s s and r e l i g i o u s s i g n i f i c a n c e , a s m ight h a v e b e e n e x p e c te d from h i s e v a n g e l i c a l te n d e n c i e s . The o n ly w r i t e r s to m e n tio n t h i s a s p e c t o f t h e a l l e g o r y w ith d e c id e d p r a i s e w ere A u g u stu s M ontague T oplady an d Jo h n Newton, b o th w ell-k n o w n C a l v i n l s t l c m i n i s t e r s o f t h e E s t a b l i s h e d C hurch. T o p lad y , p r o p h e s y in g t h e im m o r t a lit y o f The P i l g r i m 1s P r o g r e s s , d e s c r i b e d th e work a s . . . p e r h a p s th e f i n e s t a l l e g o r i c a l book e x t a n t , d e s c r i b i n g e v e ry s ta g e o f a b e l i e v e r ’ s e x p e r ie n c e , from c o n v e r s io n t o g l o r i f i c a t i o n , i n t h e m ost a r t l e s s s i m p l i c i t y o f la n g u a g e , y e t p e c u l i a r l y r i c h w ith s p i r i t u a l u n c t io n , an d g lo w in g w ith t h e m ost v i v i d , J u s t , an d w e ll c o n d u c te d m a c h in e ry th r o u g h o u t; i t i s i n s h o r t , a m a s te r p ie c e o f p i e t y and g e n iu s ; an d w i l l , I d o u b t n o t, b e o f s ta n d in g u s e to th e p e o p le o f God, so lo n g a s t h e su n and moon e n d u re . C la r a R eeve, The P r o g r e s s o f Rom ance, th ro u g h T im es, C o u n t r i e s , and M anners: w ith R em arks on t h e good and b ad e f f e c t s o f i t , on them r e s p e c t i v e l y : i n a c o u r s e o f E v en in g C o n v e r s a tio n s (1785) (New Y ork: The Fac s i m i l e T ex t S o c ie ty , 1 9 3 0 ), I I , 5 3 -4 . 23 G eorge W h l te f le l d , "The Recom m endatory P r e f a c e , op. c l t . , l i i . P4- A u g u stu s M ontague T o p lad y , " O b s e r v a tio n s and R e f l e c t i o n s , ” W orks, IV, 3 0 1 -2 . 311 Jo h n Newton, who f o r some y e a r s made O lney th e 25 c e n t e r o f e v a n g e l i c a l a c t i v i t y i n E n gland, d e v o te d to th e d i s c u s s i o n o f The P i l g r i m ^ P r o g r e s s an e n t i r e s e r i e s o f e v e n in g l e c t u r e s — f o r e r u n n e r s , one may sup p o s e , o f su ch p o n d e ro u s e x p l a n a t io n s and e l u c i d a t i o n s o f a s im p le a l l e g o r y a s th o s e by t h e R ev eren d G eorge 26 B. C h eev er and t h e R e v e re n d Jam es B la c k i n l a t e r y e a r s . Newton w ro te : Soon a f t e r I r e t u r n e d fro m Y o rk s h ire , I b e g a n to expound t h e P i l g r i m 's P r o g r e s s i n o u r m e e tin g s on T uesday e v e n in g ; and th o u g h we h a v e b e e n a lm o s t seven m onths t r a v e l l i n g w ith th e p i l g r i m , we h a v e n o t y e t l e f t t h e h o u s e B e a u t i f u l ; b u t I b e l i e v e s h a l l s e t o f f f o r th e V a lle y o f H u m ilia tio n i n a b o u t t h r e e w eeks. I f i n d t h i s book so f u l l o f m a t t e r , t h a t I ca n seldom go th ro u g h m ore th a n a p ag e o r a h a l f a p ag e a t a tim e . I h ope th e a tte m p t h a s b e e n g r e a t l y b l e s s e d 25 The c u ra c y o f O lney was N ew to n 's e a r l i e s t c h a rg e ; h e s e rv e d t h e r e from 1764 to 1779, a t w hich tim e h e had f a l l e n i n t o d i s f a v o r w ith some o f h i s p a r i s h i o n e r s . On h i s rem o v al to London, Newton drew l a r g e c o n g r e g a tio n s by h i s e x tem p o re p r e a c h in g . 26 C h e e v e r' s p o p u la r L e c tu r e s on The P ilg rim * s P r o g r e s s (New Y ork, 1844; s e v e n th e d i t i o n , 1847 J ) i s t y p i c a l o f su ch p io u s e x p o s i t i o n s , i n t e r p r e t i n g e v e ry s t e p i n t h e a l l e g o r y and ab o u n d in g w ith fu lso m e p r a i s e o f th e a u t h o r . Jam es B l a c k 's Bunyan * s P i l g r i m 's P r o g r e s s , An E x p o s iti o n o f th e C h r l s t l a n L i f e (London, 1873) c a r r i e s o u t th e same p l a n th ro u g h two cumbersome v olum es. The P i l g r i m 's P r o g r e s s was su ch a f a v o r i t e w ith p io u s e x p o s i t o r s and h o m i l e t i c w r i t e r s t h a t a r e v ie w e r i n th e C h r i s t i a n O b s e rv e r (XLVI, 501; A u g u st, 1846) was l e d to o b s e rv e t h a t he h ad "yawned o v e r so many e x p o s i t i o n s " o f th e a l l e g o r y t h a t h e d i d *not lo o k fo rw a rd to r e v ie w in g a n o t h e r . He e x p re s s e d h im s e lf , how ever, a s p l e a s e d w ith t h a t o f C heever. 312 am ongst u s ; an d f o r m y s e lf, I t h a s p e r h a p s g iv e n me a d e e p e r I n s i g h t I n t o Jo h n B u n y an r s kn o w led g e, ju d g m e n t, and e x p e r ie n c e I n th e C h r i s t i a n l i f e , th a n I s h o u ld e v e r h a v e had w ith o u t I t . 7 N ew ton1s l a b o r i o u s and d e t a i l e d e x p o s i t i o n o f The P i l g r i m *s P r o g r e s s , w hich n e c e s s i t a t e d se v e n m onths o f w eekly d i s c u s s i o n s b e f o r e C h r i s t i a n a r r i v e d even a t t h e House B e a u t i f u l , m ust h a v e e x te n d e d w e ll o v e r a y e a r and a h a l f b e f o r e th e P i l g r i m was s a f e l y d is p o s e d o f I n th e h e a v e n ly c i t y . A p p a r e n tly , how ever, Newton fo u n d t h a t t h e l e c t u r e s f u l f i l l e d t h e i r e v a n g e l i c a l p u rp o s e , f o r some y e a r s l a t e r h e b eg a n a n o t h e r p i lg r im a g e w ith C h r i s t i a n f o r t h e e d i f i c a t i o n o f h i s p a r i s h i o n e r s . I n 1772 one f i n d s him w r i t i n g : We a r e to s e t o u t t o - n i g h t from t h e I n t e r p r e t e r ' s h o u se to w a rd s t h e h i l l d i f f i c u l t y . and hope to b e f a v o u r e d w ith a s i g h t o f th e c r o s s by t h e w a y .28 F o r Newton, B unyan*s p r a is e w o r th y p u r p o s e i n w r i t in g made am ple am ends f o r t h a t w r i t e r ’ s hum ble l i t e r a r y s t y l e . ”A p e r s o n o f s p i r i t u a l d is c e r n m e n t, ” he w r o te , ’’w ould r a t h e r b e th e a u th o r o f one p ag e w r i t t e n i n t h e 27 Jo h n Newton, « ‘To M iss ” J u l y 20, 1768, L e t t e r s to V a rio u s P e r s o n s , W orks, IV, 251. Cowper was a t t h i s tim e l i v i n g w ith M rs. Unwin a t ’ ’O rc h a rd S id e , ” O lney, h a v in g come t h e r e i n 1767. A c l o s e f r i e n d o f Newton, and I d e n t i f i e d w ith th e s p i r i t u a l l i f e o f th e v i l l a g e , Cowper may h a v e a t t e n d e d th e s e T uesday e v e n in g l e c t u r e s . 28 Jo h n Newton, ’ ’To M r s .* * * * ,” 1772, C a r d lp h o n la , W orks, I , 568. 313 hum ble g a r b o f Bunyan, upon a s e r i o u s s u b j e c t , th a n t o be a b l e t o r i v a l t h e s p r i g h t l i n e s s and e le g a n c e o f Lady M. W . M ontague, u n l e s s i t c o u ld b e w ith a v iew to e d i f i c a t i o n . N e w to n 's r e f e r e n c e t o B u n y a n 's "hum ble g a rb " s t r i k e s a n o te o f c r i t i c i s m t h a t r e c u r s , a s w i l l b e n o te d , th r o u g h o u t t h i s p e r i o d i n w r i t e r s who w ere d i s c u s s i n g B u n y a n 's w r i t i n g s a s w orks o f l i t e r a t u r e . The r e c o g n i t i o n t h a t Bunyan h ad g a in e d i n th e f i r s t p a r t o f t h e e i g h t e e n t h c e n tu r y , a s an a l l e g o r l s t who d e s e r v e d a t l e a s t p a s s in g m e n tio n i n a d i s c u s s i o n o f w ell-k n o w n E n g lis h w r i t e r s , was s u b s t a n t i a t e d d u r in g t h i s p e r i o d p a r t i c u l a r l y by m e n tio n o f him i n su c h s ta n d a r d w orks a s t h e B i o g r a p h ic a l H is to r y o f E n g la n d and t h e B io - g r a p h la B r l t a n n l c a , a s w e ll a s i n th e c r i t i c a l e s s a y s o f B e a t t i e , an d i n i n c i d e n t a l comments o f o t h e r w r i t e r s , w hich, ta k e n t o g e t h e r , c o n s t i t u t e a more s p e c i f i c d i s c u s s io n and a n a l y s i s o f h i s a l l e g o r y , from t h e l i t e r a r y p o i n t o f v iew , th a n h ad y e t b e e n a c c o rd e d i t . One a s p e c t o f t h i s more d e t a i l e d c o n s i d e r a t i o n i s se e n i n t h e b e g in n in g o f w hat was to become a f a v o r i t e p a s tim e w ith c r i t i c s and co m m en tato rs i n t h e f o llo w in g c e n tu r y — t h e s e a r c h in g f o r s o u r c e s an d a n a lo g u e s f o r 29 Jo h n Newton, "To M r s .* * * * ," S ep te m b er 17, 1776, C a r d lp h o n la , W orks, X, 448. 314 The P i l g r i m 1s P r o g r e s s and, i n a l e s s e r d e g re e , f o r The Holy War. ^ Of t h e v a r i o u s w orks t h a t w ere to f i n d m e n tio n i n th e n i n e t e e n t h c e n tu r y a s show ing a s i m i l a r i t y to B unyan’ s a l l e g o r i e s , o r a s h a v in g p o s s i b l y s e rv e d t h a t w r i t e r a s a s o u r c e o r m odel, o n ly f o u r w ere b r o u g h t f o r w ard a t t h i s tim e — The D iv in e Comedy, The F a e r i e Q ueene, The, I s l e o f Man, an d The P a r a b le o f t h e P i l g r i m . D an te and S p e n s e r w ere m e n tio n e d by Samuel Jo h n so n , who seems to h av e b e e n th e f i r s t c r i t i c to e x p r e s s an 31 i n t e r e s t i n t h i s m a t t e r o f s o u r c e s and a n a lo g u e s : " I t i s re m a rk a b le , ” s t a t e d Jo h n so n o f The P ilg r im * s P r o g r e s s , " t h a t i t b e g in s v e ry much l i k e th e poem o f D an te; y e t t h e r e was no t r a n s l a t i o n o f D an te when Bunyan w ro te . T h ere i s r e a s o n to t h i n k t h a t h e h ad r e a d S p e n s e r. "^2 T h ree y e a r s a f t e r J o h n s o n ’ s o b s e r v a t i o n , T o p lad y , w r i t i n g i n t h e G o sp el M agazine o f 1776, m e n tio n e d 30 The b e s t d i s c u s s i o n o f t h i s m a t t e r i s th e stu d y made by Jam es B la n to n W harey, to w hich r e f e r e n c e w i l l be made th r o u g h o u t t h i s e s s a y , A S tudy o f th e S o u rc e s o f Bunyan ’ s A l l e g o r i e s w ith Bpecia.1 R e fe re n c e to D e G - u lle v llle *s P ilg r im a g e o f Man. B a ltim o re : J.H . F u r s t Company, 1904. 31 I b i d . , 1 . 32 B o sw e ll *s L i f e o f J o h n s o n , I I , 238. 315 R ic h a r d B e r n a r d 's I s l e o f Man33 a s th e book w hich " in a l l p r o b a b i l i t y s u g g e s te d to Mr. J o h n Bunyan t h e f i r s t i d e a o f h i s 'P i l g r i m 's P r o g r e s s ' and h i s 'H o ly W a r'." T o p lad y a l s o m e n tio n e d B ishop P a t r i c k ' s P a r a b l e o f th e P i l g r i m I n t h i s c o n n e c tio n , b u t a t t a c h e d no im p o r- 34 ta n c e to i t a s a p o s s i b l e s o u rc e o f Bupy.an's a l l e g o r y . Jam es B e a t t i e , m e n tio n in g P a t r i c k 's P a r a b l e ,. r e f e r r e d to i t a s an I m i t a t i o n , r a t h e r th a n a s o u rc e o f B u n y a n 's a l l e g o r y : The P ilg rim * s P r o g r e s s , h e w ro te , "h as b e e n i m i t a t e d , b u t w ith l i t t l e s u c c e s s ." The l e a r n e d B ish o p P a t r i c k w ro te t h e P a r a b l e o f t h e P i l g r i m : b u t I am n o t s a t i s f i e d , t h a t he b o rro w ed t h e h i n t , a s i t i s g e n e r a l l y th o u g h t h e d id , fro m Jo h n Bunyan. 33 R ic h a r d B e rn a rd (1 5 6 7 -1 6 4 1 ), The I s l e o f Man o r t h e L eg a l P ro c e e d in g s i n M a n sh lre a g a i n s t S in , 1627. T h is e x c e e d in g ly p o p u la r book h a d r e a c h e d i t s f o u r t e e n t h e d i t i o n b e f o r e The P ilg r im * s P r o g r e s s was p u b lis h e d , and i t s s i x t e e n t h b e f o r e t h e p u b l i c a t i o n o f The H oly War. I n s p i r i t and s t y l e i t i s s i m i l a r to b o th a l l e g o r i e s , and th o u g h i t d o e s n o t even s u g g e s t t h e germ o f t h e f i r s t a l l e g o r y , i t d o es c o n t a i n th e germ o f th e se c o n d . Jam es B la n to n Wharey (A S tu d y o f th e S o u rc e s o f Bunyan * s A l l e g o r i e s , 91) c o n c lu d e s : "T hat Bunyan was f a m i l i a r w ith B e r n a r d 's a l l e g o r y , and t h a t h e was i n f l u e n c e d by i t , p o s s i b l y i n t h e P ilg rim * s P ro g r e s s , c e r t a i n l y i n t h e Holy War, s c a r c e l y a d m its o f d o u b t . " 34 Jam es B la n to n W harey, o p . c i t . , 1 . I h av e b e e n u n a b le to o b t a i n a copy o f t h i s i s s u e o f th e G ospel M agazine. I n h i s " O b s e r v a tio n s and R e f l e c t i o n s , " h o w ev er, T o p lad y r e c o r d e d th e same i d e a c o n c e r n in g The I s l e o f Man a s th e p r o b a b le s o u rc e o f B u n y a n 's two a l l e g o r i e s (T o p la d y , W orks, IV, 3 0 1 ). 316 T h e re i s no r e s e m b la n c e i n t h e p la n ; n o r d o e s th e B ish o p sp e a k a word o f th e P i l g r i m 's P r o g r e s s , w hich I t h i n k h e w ould h a v e done, i f he h ad se e n i t . 35 The i n c r e a s e d i n t e r e s t t h a t The P ilg r im * s P r o g r e s s was c r e a t i n g a t t h i s tim e i s s e e n n o t o n ly i n t h e s e a t te m p ts t o f i n d a n a lo g u e s and s o u r c e s , b u t a l s o i n th e num erous com m endations o f th e a l l e g o r y a s a work o f l i t e r a t u r e , w hich c a l l e d p a r t i c u l a r a t t e n t i o n to i t s o r i g i n a l i t y , i t s e f f e c t i v e u s e o f d ia lo g u e an d n a r r a t i o n , and i t s s k i l f u l em ploym ent o f t h e d e v ic e o f a l l e g o r y . E x cep t i n a v ery few i n s t a n c e s , how ever, su c h g e n e r a l com m endation o f The P i l g r i m 1s P r o g r e s s was so In te rw o v e n w ith s t r i c t u r e s on t h e s t y l e and m anner o f w r i t i n g , t h a t i t i s somewhat d i f f i c u l t to d e c id e w h e th e r t h e w e ig h t o f th e w r i t e r ' s f i n a l judgm ent i n c l i n e to w ard p r a i s e o r c e n s u r e . The com m endation o f W h l te f ie l d , o f c o u r s e , i s one o f t h e e x c e p tio n s , a s i s a l s o t h a t o f O ld y s. The 35 Jam es B e a t t i e , "On F a b le and R om an ce," o p . c i t . , 5 1 3 -4 . The P a r a b le o f th e P i l g r i m , by Simon P a t r i c k (1627-170771 B1shop o f E ly , was c o m p le te d i n 1663, an d p u b lis h e d i n 1664. B e a t t i e 's i n t e r e s t i n g com ment t h a t i t was " g e n e r a l l y th o u g h t" t h a t P a t r i c k had b o rro w ed th e s u g g e s tio n o f h i s p a r a b l e from B u n y a n 's a l l e g o r y r e s u l t e d , o f c o u r s e , fro m t h e l a c k o f in fo rm a t i o n a s to th e d a t e o f f i r s t p u b l i c a t i o n o f The P ilg rim * s P r o g r e s s , w hich was n o t d e f i n i t e l y s e t t l e d u n t i l a copy o f t h e f i r s t e d i t i o n was d i s c o v e r e d i n t h e n i n e t e e n t h c e n tu r y . P a t r i c k ' s p a r a b l e , t h e r e f o r e , w i l l o c c a s i o n a l l y b e fo u n d c i t e d a s an I n f l u e n c e on Bunyan. 317 l a t t e r w r i t e r o b s e rv e d t h a t The P i l g r i m ' s P r o g r e s s was . . . so a c c e p t a b l e to th e common p e o p le , by- r e a s o n o f t h e am using and p a r a b o l i c a l m anner o f I t s c o m p o s itio n , by way o f v i s i o n : a m ethod he [ I . e . Bunyan] was th o u g h t to h a v e su ch an e x t r a o r d i n a r y knack I n , t h a t some th o u g h t t h e r e w ere co m m u n icatio n s made t o him I n d re a m s, and t h a t h e f i r s t r e a l l y d ream t o v e r t h e m a t t e r c o n t a in e d i n su c h o f h i s w r i t i n g s . 3® G eorge W h i te f ie l d , i n h i s p r e f a c e to t h e t h i r d f o l i o e d i t i o n o f B u n y a n 's w orks, ch o se t h e s a f e and by t h i s tim e w e l l - e s t a b l i s h e d a s p e c t o f th e o r i g i n a l i t y o f The P i l g r i m 1s P r o g r e s s to comment on, and th o u g h t to f i n d a r e a s o n f o r t h e s u c c e s s o f t h e a l l e g o r y i n t h e f a c t t h a t i t was w r i t t e n i n p r i s o n — t h a t m ost a u s p i c i o u s p la c e f o r t h e c r e a t i o n o f w orks o f g e n iu s : S u r e ly i t i s an o r i g i n a l , and we may say o f i t , to u s e t h e w ords o f t h e g r e a t D o c to r Goodwin i n h i s p r e f a c e t o th e e p i s t l e t o t h e E p h e s ia n s , t h a t i t s m e lls o f t h e p r i s o n . I t was w ro te when th e a u t h o r was c o n f in e d i n B e d fo r d - g a o l. And m i n i s t e r s n e v e r w r i t e o r p r e a c h so w e ll a s when u n d e r th e c r o s s : The S p i r i t o f C h r i s t and o f g lo r y th e n r e s t s upon th e m .37 L o rd Kames, some y e a r s l a t e r , th o u g h t to f i n d t h e r e a s o n f o r th e p o p u l a r i t y o f The P i l g r i m 1s P r o g r e s s an d R o b in so n C ru so e i n t h e f a c t t h a t t h e s e b o o k s w ere "com p o se d i n a s t y l e , e n liv e n e d l i k e t h a t o f Homer, by a • T C O ld y s * M a n u s c r ip t, q u o te d by K ip p ls i n B io g ra p h la B r l t a n n l c a . Second E d i t i o n , I I I , 13 n. 37 G eorge W h i te f ie l d , "The Recom m endatory P r e - f a c e , " o p . c l t . , i l l . 318 38 p r o p e r m ix tu re o f th e d r a m a tic and n a r r a t i v e . " K ip p is , q u o tin g Karnes* comment I n t h e B lo g ra p h la B r l t a n n l c a . o b s e rv e d t h a t t h a t w r i t e r ' s o b s e r v a t i o n was " j u s t , H and p ro c e e d e d to e n l a r g e upon i t a t some l e n g t h , b u t w ith no o r i g i n a l th o u g h t w h a te v e r: A m ix tu re o f t h e d r a m a tic and n a r r a t i v e i s a d m ira b ly a d a p te d to g iv e v i v a c i t y t o c o m p o s itio n , and i s e x tre m e ly s u i t a b l e to men who h a v e n o t le a r n e d to a b s t r a c t and g e n e r a l i z e t h e i r id e a s . I t I s a mode o f w r i t i n g t h a t n a t u r a l l y and p a r t i c u l a r l y p r e v a i l s i n th e e a r l y p e r i o d s o f s o c i e t y ; to w hich c ir c u m s ta n c e i t I s ow ing t h a t we h a v e so much o f i t i n Homer, and t h a t i t abounds so g r e a t l y i n th e s a c r e d w r i t i n g s . Bunyan, who h ad r e a d b u t few b o o k s, e x c e p tin g th o s e o f th e O ld and New T e sta m e n t, w ould h en ce e a s i l y f a l l i n t o i t ; and D efoe m ig h t a d o p t i t from h i s know ledge o f human n a t u r e and from Judgm ent, a s w e ll a s from h i s I n t i m a t e a c q u a in ta n c e w ith th e S c r i p t u r e s . 39 The d i s t i n c t i o n i n t h e r e a s o n s f o r w hich Bunyan and D efoe, a c c o r d in g to K ip p is , a d o p te d t h i s m anner o f w r i t i n g i s i n t e r e s t i n g , i n i t s c u r io u s i m p l i c a t i o n t h a t D efoe was g i f t e d w ith a "know ledge o f human n a t u r e " and " ju d g m e n t," w hich w ere a p p a r e n t l y d e n ie d to Bunjran. The f i r s t d e t a i l e d d i s c u s s i o n o f The P ilg rim * s P r o g r e s s a s a w ork o f l i t e r a t u r e d u r in g t h i s p e r io d , how ever, was t h a t o f t h e R ev eren d Jam es G ra n g e r i n th e B lo g r a p h lc a l H is to r y o f E n g la n d , who condem ned th e 38 Henry Home, L ord Kames, o&. c l t . . I , 2 5 0 -1 , n. • Z Q Andrew K ip p is i n B lo g r a p h la B r l t a n n l c a . Second E d i t i o n , 13 n . 319 r i d i c u l e f r e q u e n t l y c a s t on Bunyan, a n d f e l t t h a t t h a t a u th o r d e s e r v e d "a much h i g h e r r a n k 1 1 i n l i t e r a t u r e th a n was ’ ’commonly im a g in e d ." In B u n y a n 's ’ ’m a s te r p ie c e , " o b s e rv e d (3-ranger, " th e a l l e g o r y i s a d m ira b ly c a r r i e d on, and th e c h a r a c t e r s j u s t l y draw n, a n d u n if o rm ly sup p o r t e d . h4<^ By l i m i t i n g t h i s com m endation t o P a r t I o f The P i l g r i m 's P r o g r e s s , how ever, G ra n g e r becam e th e f i r s t co m m entator to d i f f e r e n t i a t e b e tw e e n th e two p a r t s o f t h e a l l e g o r y i n c r i t i c a l comment. G r a n g e r 's d i s c u s s i o n o f The P i l g r i m ' s P r o g r e s s , w hich he h e l d to be "one o f t h e m ost in g e n io u s b ooks i n t h e E n g lis h l a n g u a g e , " i s an i n t e r e s t i n g m ix tu re o f p r a i s e and c e n s u r e : "The a u t h o r 's o r i g i n a l and p o e t i c g e n i u s ," h e w r o te , " s h i n e s th ro u g h th e c o a r s e n e s s and v u l g a r i t y o f h i s la n g u a g e , and I n t i m a t e s , t h a t i f h e h a d b e e n a m a s te r o f num bers, he m ig h t h av e com posed a poem w o rth y o f S p e n s e r h i m s e l f . I n s u p p o r t o f t h i s b o ld a s s e r t i o n , w hich am ounted a lm o s t to a c o m p ariso n o f Bunyan an d S p e n se r, G ra n g e r f e l t i t n e c e s s a r y to c i t e t h e s u b s t a n t i a t i n g o p in io n o f acad em ic a u t h o r i t i e s who h e ld t h e same v iew . "As t h i s o p in io n may b e deemed p a r a d o x i c a l , " h e c o n tin u e d , " I s h a l l v e n t u r e t o name tw o p e r s o n s o f t h e same s e n tim e n ts ; 40 Jam es G ra n g e r, 0£>. c l t . , 56 n . Loc. c l t . 320 one, th e l a t e Mr. M e rric k , o f R e ad in g , " who was h e a rd to rem a rk t h a t B u n y a n 's " I n v e n ti o n was l i k e t h a t o f Homer, " and th e o t h e r , "Dr. R o b e r ts , now f e l l o w o f E to n C o lle g e . 1,42 W ritin g some y e a r s a f t e r G ra n g e r, Jam es B e a t t i e , p r o f e s s o r o f "M oral P h ilo s o p h y an d L ogick" i n th e U ni v e r s i t y o f A b erd een , a l s o p o i n t e d to t h e " in v e n tio n " o f The P i l g r i m 's P r o g r e s s a s one o f i t s com m endable q u a l i t i e s . C o n t r a s t i n g B u n y a n 's a l l e g o r y w ith Simon P a t r i c k ' s P a r a b le o f th e P i l g r i m , B e a t t i e fo u n d th e f i r s t to be " f u l l o f I n c i d e n t , " and th e l a t t e r to b e " d ry , d i d a c t l c k , v e rb o s e , an d e x c e e d in g ly b a r r e n i n th e i n v e n t i o n . " 4* ^ I n th e same l i n e o f th o u g h t, B e a t t i e a g a in r e f e r r e d to The P ilg rim * s P r o g r e s s i n s u b s t a n t i a t i n g h i s a s s e r t i o n t h a t " f a b l e s i n w hich t h e r e i s n e i t h e r lo v e n o r g a l l a n t r y , may b e m a d e .h ig h ly i n t e r e s t i n g even to th e fa n c y and a f f e c t i o n s o f a m odern r e a d e r . T h is a p p e a r s n o t o n ly from t h e w r i t i n g s o f S h a k e s p e a re , and o t h e r g r e a t a u t h o r s , " h e w ro te , " b u t from t h e P i l g r i m 's P r o g r e s s , and t h e h i s t o r y 44 o f R o b in so n C r u s o e ." Jam es G ra n g e r, o p . c l t . , 56 n . 43 Jam es B e a t t i e , "On F a b le and R om ance," o p . c l t . , 514. 44 Jam es B e a t t i e , "On P o e tr y and M usic" ( f i r s t p r i n t e d i n 1 7 7 6 ), E s s a y s ; On P o e tr y and M u sic , As They A f f e c t t h e M ind; on L a u g h te r , and L u d ic ro u s d o m p o s ltio n : on th e U t i l i t y o f C l a s s i c a l L e a rn in g ' ( E d in b u rg h : P r i n t e d f o r W illia m C ree ch ; London; P r i n t e d f o r Edward and C h a rle s D i l l y , 1 7 7 8 ), 205. 321 B e a t t i e , in d e e d , l i k e G ran g er, in te r m ix e d h i s p r a i s e o f Bunyan w ith much of c e n s u re , and— l i k e G ranger a g a in - - h e f e l t t h a t Bunyan m ight have a c co m p lish e d some t h i n g r e a l l y w orthy o f a p l a c e i n l i t e r a t u r e , had he had th e b e n e f i t o f an e d u c a tio n . W ritin g o f t h e “u n i v e r s a l fa v o u r" which The P i l g r i m 1s P r o g r e s s had found w ith a l l c l a s s e s , th e a u th o r o f "The M i n s t r e l " c o n tin u e d : I g r a n t , t h e s t y l e i s r u d e , and even i n d e l i c a t e som etim es; t h a t t h e i n v e n tio n i s f r e q u e n t l y e x t r a v a g a n t ; . . . But th e t a l e i s am using, though th e d ia lo g u e be o f t e n low: and some of th e a l l e g o r i e s a r e w e ll c o n t r iv e d , and p ro v e t h e a u th o r to have p o s s e s s e d pow ers o f in v e n tio n , w hich, i f th e y had been r e f i n e d by l e a r n i n g , m ight have p ro d u ced som ething v ery n o b l e . 45 No g e n e ra l agreem ent on t h e i n t e r e s t i n g s p e c u l a t i o n o f what Bunyan "m ight have d o n e , " had he been an e d u c a te d man, was a p p a r e n tly re a c h e d by th e two e d i t o r s o f th e second- e d i t i o n o f t h e B lo g ra p h la B r l t a n n l c a . Dr. Towers, i n h i s d i s c u s s i o n o f Bunyan rem arked: He was c e r t a i n l y a man o f g e n iu s , and m ight have made a g r e a t f i g u r e i n th e l i t e r a r y w orld, i f he had r e c e iv e d t h e a d v a n ta g e s o f a l i b e r a l e d u c a t i o n .46 But K ip p is , on th e f o llo w in g page, v o ic e d h i s d i s a g r e e ment w ith G ranger t h a t Bunyan m ight have p ro d u ced a work eq u al to one o f S p e n s e r ’ s. Though he a g re e d w ith G ran g er 45 James B e a t t i e , "On F a b le and R om ance," on. c l t . , 514. 46 J o se p h Towers i n B lo g ra p h la B r l t a n n l c a . Second E d iti o n , 12, 322 I n t h i n k i n g t h a t Bunyan d e s e rv e d H a much h i g h e r ran k as a w r i t e r , th a n i s commonly im a g in e d ," and even ad m it te d t h a t he ’’h ad c e r t a i n l y a f i n e im a g i n a t i o n , " t h i s c r i t i c n e v e r t h e l e s s f e l t t h a t Bunyari la c k e d th e o t h e r " n a t u r a l q u a l i f i c a t i o n s " n e c e s s a ry t o p ro d u ce a 47 g r e a t p o e t i c g e n iu s . To I s a a c D i s r a e l i , w r i t i n g a t t h e v e r y end o f t h e p e r i o d u n d er c o n s i d e r a t i o n , t h e u n io n o f th e names o f S p en se r and Bunyan d id n o t seem so in c o n g ru o u s a s i t d i d to K ip p is , tho u g h he, to o , m oderated h i s p r a i s e o f Bunyan*s g e n iu s by p ro n o u n c in g t h a t w r i t e r ’ s s t y l e to be "rude and r u s t i c . " "Never can t h e n a t i v e f a c u l t y o f g e n iu s w ith i t s c r e a t i v e warmth be c ru s h e d o u t o f th e human s o u l , " w r o t e D i s r a e l i : I t w i l l work I t s e l f o u t b e n e a th t h e en cumbrance o f th e most u n c u l t i v a t e d m inds, even a m id st th e deep p e r p le x e d f e e l i n g s and t h e tu m u ltu o u s th o u g h ts o f t h e most v i s i o n a r y e n t h u s i a s t . . . . Bunyan i s t h e S penser o f th e p e o p le . The f i r e burned to w ard s Heaven, a l tho u g h th e a l t a r was ru d e and r u s t i c . 4® I n c o n t r a s t t o t h e I n v o lv e d s ta te m e n ts w eighing B unyan's g e n iu s f o r in v e n tio n and o r i g i n a l i t y a g a in s t h i s p o v e rty o f s t y l e , i s t h e b o ld c r i t i c a l pronouncem ent o f Samuel Johnson, spoken i n th e p r e s e n c e o f members o f th e 47 Andrew K ip p is i n B lo g ra p h la B r l t a n n l c a .S ecan d E d itio n , I I I , 13 n. ~ 48 I s a a c D i s r a e l i , The L i t e r a r y C h a r a c t e r . 60. 323 L i t e r a r y Club. Jo y n so n , n o te d B osw ell, “p r a i s e d John Bunyan h i g h l y , M f i n d i n g The P ilg rim * s P r o g r e s s to be of " g r e a t m e r i t , b o th f o r i n v e n tio n , im a g in a tio n , and « 4 9 th e conduct of th e s t o r y . 8 Mrs. P i o z z i ' s p r a i s e o f Bunyan a s a g r e a t “o r i g i n a l" was p ro b a b ly in f lu e n c e d by th e h ig h o p in io n o f t h a t w r i t e r h e l d by h e r f r i e n d Dr. Johnson. W ritin g about 1789, Mrs. P io z z i s t a t e d t h a t C o rre g g io was p e rh a p s one o f t h e most p o w e rfu l g e n iu s e s t h a t had a p p e a re d on e a r t h — a man who had l e f t g l o r i o u s p r o o f s o f what u n i n s t r u c t e d man m ight do, and added: The F a t a l C u r i o s i t y and P i l g r i m 1s P r o g r e s s w i l l l i v e a s lo n g a s th e P r i n c e of A b y s s in ia o r Les A v a n tu re s de Telemaque p e rh a p s ; and who s h a l l d a r e say th a t L l l l o , Bunyan, and A ntonio C o rreg g io were n o t n a t u r a l l y eq u a l to Jo hnson, M ichael A ngelo, and th e A rchbishop o f Cambray?5^ The o r i g i n a l i t y o f The P ilg rim * s P r o g r e s s was a l s o th e c h a r a c t e r i s t i c o f t h a t work which in d u c e d C la ra Reeve to g iv e i t m ention i n h e r P r o g r e s s o f Romance, one o f t h e f i r s t E n g lis h h i s t o r i e s o f p r o s e f i c t i o n , d e l i v e r e d th ro u g h th e medium of a s e r i e s o f "e v en in g c o n v e r s a t i o n s ," i n which E u p h ra s ia s e rv e d a s th e w r i t e r ' s spokesman, to 49 B o s w e ll' s L i f e o f J o h n s o n , I I , 238. Mrs. P i o z z i , c i t e d i n "Lord M acaulay and t h e P i l g r i m ’ s P r o g r e s s ," S a tu rd a y R evlew , L (August 7, 1880), 166. I have been u n a b le to f i n d t h i s p a s s a g e i n any o f Mrs. P i o z z i ' s w r i t i n g s . 324 th e g r e a t e n lig h te n m e n t of S o p h ro n ia and H o rte n s iu s . ^ A f t e r d is p o s in g o f e a r l y rom ances, E u p h ra sia rem arked, "You w i l l now g iv e me le a v e to r e a d you my l i s t of N ovels and S t o r i e s O r i g in a l and uncommon" — w hich l i s t in c lu d e d The P i l g r i m 1s P r o g r e s s i n th e very r e s p e c t a b l e company o f The T a le o f _a Tub, G u l l i v e r * s T r a v e l s , R obinson C ru so e, and P a t r i c k ' s P a r a b le o f th e P i l g r i m , and i n t h e more d u b io u s a s s o c i a t i o n w ith R e v e r ie , o r F l i g h t to t h e P a r a d is e o f F o o ls and A rs a c e s , P r in c e o f B e t l i s . "These a r e a l l of g r e a t m e r it i n t h e i r k in d , and o f m oral t e n d e n c y ," o b se rv e d E u p h ra s ia , who was u n f o r t u n a t e l y k e p t from making more s p e c i f i c comment by r e a s o n o f h a v in g to b r in g h e r d i s c o u r s e to a c l o s e . ^ I n an e a r l i e r s e c t i o n o f The P r o g r e s s o f Romance S o phronia had found t h e "courage to d e c l a r e " t h a t she th o u g h t t h e A rc a d ia "a very f i n e Rom ance,"5^ t o which E u p h ra s ia had r e p l i e d w ith g r e a t d e c is io n : 51 C la ra R e e v e’ s p u rp o se i n t h i s book was " to t r a c e t h e p r o g r e s s o f t h i s s p e c i e s o f c o m p o sitio n , th ro u g h a l l i t s s u c c e s s iv e s t a g e s and v a r i a t i o n s , to p o in t o u t i t s most s t r i k i n g e f f e c t s and i n f l u e n c e s upon th e m anners, and to a s s i s t a c c o r d in g to my b e s t judgm ent, th e r e a d e r ’ s c h o ic e , am id st t h e alm o st i n f i n i t e v a r i e t y i t a f f o r d s , i n a s e l e c t i o n o f such as a r e most w orthy o f a p l a c e i n th e l i b r a r i e s o f r e a d e r s o f e v e ry c l a s s , who seek e i t h e r f o r in f o r m a tio n o r e n te r ta in m e n t" ( C la ra Reeve, o p . c l t . , I , " P r e f a c e ," l v ) . KO I b i d . , I I , 53-4. 53 Ibid., I, 78. 325 So do many o t h e r s , and I do n o t see any re a s o n wty p e o p le sh o u ld be ashamed to avow t h e i r t a s t e . 54 As i s e v id e n t from th e g u ard ed com mendations o f Bunyan1s a l l e g o r y , however, e i g h te e n th c e n tu r y c r i t i c s were f r e q u e n t l y "ashamed to avow t h e i r t a s t e , " o r a t a l l e v e n ts h e s i t a n t i n d o in g so w ith o u t c i t i n g i n s u b s t a n t i a - • t i o n t h e r e o f t h e o p in io n o f t h e i r le a r n e d p r e d e c e s s o r s . G ranger f e l t i t n e c e s s a r y to r e f e r to th e o p in io n of Mr. M e rric k and Dr. R o b e rts ; K ip p is c i t e d Oldys and Lord Karnes; and w h ile t h e s e c r i t i c s condescended to f i n d th e a l l e g o r y "amusing" — to th e v u lg a r , th ey e x p r e s s e d no p e r s o n a l d e l i g h t w h a te v e r i n r e a d i n g t h e work. I t was on ly a. w r i t e r l i k e Dr. Jo hnson, r e s p e c t o r o f no l i t e r a r y a u t h o r i t i e s , who c a re d to "avow h i s t a s t e " openly and w ith o u t r e s t r i c t i o n . "A las, Madam J " he s a i d on one o c c a s io n to Mrs. T h ra le , "how few books a r e t h e r e o f w hich one e v e r can p o s s i b l y a r r i v e a t t h e l a s t page i Was t h e r e ev er y e t any t h i n g w r i t t e n by mere man t h a t was w ished lo n g e r by i t s r e a d e r s , e x c e p tin g Don Q uixote, R obinson Crusoe, and t h e P i l g r i m ’ s Progress?"® ® 54 C la ra Reeve, 0£. c l t . , I , 79. 55 H e sth e r Lynch P i o z z i , A necdotes o f th e L ate Samuel Jo h n so n , LL-D*» D uring t h e L a st Twenty Y ears o f h i s L i f e (Cam bridge: a t th e U n iv e r s it y P r e s s , 1925), 1 79-80. B osw ell m ight p e rh a p s have th o u g h t h i s J o u r n a l r i g h t l y I n c lu d e d i n th e l i s t o f books t h a t Johnson w ished were l o n g e r — o r b i g g e r , i f in d e e d t h e r e be a d i s t i n c t i o n i n th e te rm s : Jo h n so n " re a d t h i s day a good d e a l o f my T mS] J o u r n a l , " n o te d t h a t b io g r a p h e r, "and was p le a s e d , f o r he s a id , ' I w ish th y books were tw ic e a s b i g ’ " (B o sw ell, J o u r n a l o f a Tour to th e H e b r id e s , i n G.B. H i l l ’ s e d i t i o n o f Bosw ell * s L if e o f Jo h n so n , V, 307). 326 Samuel Jo h n so n and W illiam Cowper a r e t h e f i r s t two E n g lis h w r i t e r s o f n o te o f whom i t can be s a i d t h a t th e y lo v e d B u n y an 's a l l e g o r y . Whereas Jo h n so n , however, p r a i s e d t h a t a u t h o r u n h e s i t a t i n g l y to members o f th e L i t e r a r y Club and to h i s p e r s o n a l f r i e n d s , Cowper, from h i s h e rm ita g e a t Olney, d a re d e x p r e s s o n ly f u r t i v e l y h i s a d m ir a tio n f o r t h e humor, th e s tr o n g s e n s e , and t h e sim ple s t y l e o f Bunyan*s " w e l l - t o l d t a l e " : Oh th o u , whom, b o rn e on f a n c y 's e a g e r wing Back t o t h e se a so n o f l i f e ' s happy s p r in g , I p l e a s ' d remember, and, w h ile mem'ry y e t Holds f a s t h e r o f f i c e h e r e , can n ' e r f o r g e t ; In g e n io u s dream er, i n whose w e l l - t o l d t a l e Sweet f i c t i o n and sweet t r u t h a l i k e p r e v a i l ; Whose h u m 'ro u s v e in , s tr o n g se n se , and sim ple s t y l e , May te a c h th e g a y e s t, make th e g r a v e s t sm ile; W itty , and w e ll em ploy'd, and, l i k e th y Lord, Speaking i n p a r a b l e s h i s s l i g h t e d word; I name th e e n o t, l e s t so d e s p i s 'd a name Should move a s n e e r a t th y d e s e rv e d fame; Yet e 'e n i n t r a n s i t o r y l i f e ' s l a t e day, That m in g les a l l my brown w ith so b er g ra y , R ev ere t h e man, whose P ilg r im marks t h e road* And g u id e s t h e P r o g r e s s o f th e so u l t o G od.56 But " T ir o c in i u m ," w ith i t s famous r e f e r e n c e to Bunyan— f i r s t n o te d by Thomas S c o tt o f A shton S andford, and t h e r e a f t e r in c lu d e d i n p r a c t i c a l l y a l l d i s c u s s i o n s o f Bunyan— was n o t th e o n ly work i n which t h a t p o e t showed a f a m i l i a r i t y w ith The P ilg rim * s P r o g r e s s . In 56 W illiam Cowper, "T iro c in iu m : o r , A Review o f S c h o o ls 1 1 (1785), Complete P o e t i c a l Works o f W illiam Cowper (O xford E d i t i o n , London: Henry Frowde, 1905), 245. 327 a t l e a s t two o f t h e "Olney Hymns," a s no c r i t i c h as a s y e t p o i n t e d o u t, Cowper borrow ed th e p h ra s e o lo g y and symbolism o f t h e a l l e g o r y t h a t he lo v e d b u t was a f r a i d to p r a i s e . The background o f Cowper*s hymns, l i k e t h a t o f Bunyan*s a l l e g o r y , I s , o f c o u rs e , th e B ib le I n t e r p r e t e d th ro u g h th e C a l v i n i s t i c b e l i e f i n th e c o n v i c t i o n o f s i n and t h e s a l v a t i o n o f th e s i n n e r th ro u g h f a i t h ; n e v e r t h e l e s s , Cowper*s r e f e r e n c e i n Hymn XXXII to th e t e r r o r t h a t th e awakened s i n n e r f e e l s , h i s q u e s tio n , "W hither s h a l l I f l y ? ” and h i s s e e in g th e " s h in in g l i g h t " t h a t i s to make th e way i n which t h e "P ilg rim " i s to "run, * * a r e s t r o n g l y s u g g e s tiv e o f th e o p en in g o f Bunyan*s a l l e gory, w h erein C h r i s t i a n , r e a l i z i n g t h a t h e i s l i v i n g I n th e C ity o f D e s t r u c t i o n and t h a t he i s "condemned to d i e , " r e a d s t h e parchm ent t h a t d i r e c t s him to "Fly from t h e w ra th t o come," and l i s t e n s to E v a n g e lis t* s query, "Do you see yonder s h in in g l i g h t ?** The S h in in g L ig h t My fo rm e r hopes a r e f l e d , My t e r r o r now b e g in s ; I f e e l , a l a s .* t h a t I am dead I n t r e s p a s s e s and s i n s . Ah, w h ith e r s h a l l I f l y t I h e a r t h e th u n d e r ro ar;. The law p ro c la im s d e s t r u c t i o n n ig h , And vengeance a t th e door. When I re v ie w my ways, I d re a d im pending doom; But s u re , a f r i e n d l y w h isp e r sa y s, "F le e from th e w ra th to co m e." I see, o r t h i n k I see, A g lim m 'rin g from a f a r ; A beam o f day t h a t s h in e s f o r me, To save me from d e s p a i r . F o re -ru n n e r o f t h e sun, I t marks th e P i l g r i m ’ s way; I fl l gaze upon I t w h ile I ru n And w ateh th e r i s i n g d a y . 57 C ow per's dependence on B unyan's a l l e g o r y I s even more e v id e n t i n t h e hymn e n t i t l e d "The V a lle y o f th e Shadow o f D e a th ," b a s e d a g a in on B i b l i c a l p h ra s e o lo g y , b u t p h ra s e o lo g y t h a t Bunyan had r e n d e re d memorable by h i s u se o f i t i n The P i l g r i m 's P r o g r e s s . The t i t l e o f t h e hymn, t h e r e f e r e n c e to t h e " h e a v 'n ly p i l g r i m a g e , " d u r in g which th e P ilg r im i s c o n f r o n te d by " f i e r c e A p o lly o n ," th e m e n tio n o f th e " e v e r-b u rn in g l a k e , " from which r i s e th e l e g i o n s o f h i s f o e s " l i k e a smoky c l o u d , " s h o o tin g a t him t h e i r " f i e r y arro w s" and sh a k in g h i s so u l w ith "b la sp h em ies" t h a t he t r i e s h a rd to r e s i s t , a r e c l e a r l y r e m in i s c e n t o f C h r i s t i a n 's jo u rn e y th ro u g h th e V a lle y o f H u m ilia tio n , w h e re in he i s a t t a c k e d by A p o lly o n w ith h i s " fla m in g D a r t s , " and th ro u g h th e V a lle y o f t h e Shadow o f D eath, w ith i t s "flam e and smoke" and i t s " b u rn in g P i t , " i n h a b i t e d by "a company o f F ie n d s , " one o f whom w h is p e r in g ly s u g g e s ts t o C h r i s t i a n "many g r ie v o u s b la s p h e m ie s ," which he i s p o w e rle s s to combat: 57 W illiam Cowper, P o e t i c a l Works, 453. I n th e "Olney Hymns" a s f i r s t p u b lis h e d (1779) t h i s was Hymn V III, Book I I I . 329 The V alle y o f th e Shadow o f Death My so u l i s sad and much d ism a y ’d; See, Lord, what l e g i o n s o f my fo e s , W ith f i e r c e A p o lly o n a t t h e i r head, My h e a v 'n l y p ilg r im a g e oppose i See, from th e e v e r- b u r n in g la k e How l i k e a smoky clo u d th e y r i s e W ith h o r r i d b l a s t s my so u l th e y shake, W ith storm s o f b la sp h e m ie s and l i e s . T h e ir f i e r y arro w s r e a c h th e mark, My th r o b b in g h e a r t w ith a n g u is h t e a r ; Each l i g h t s upon a k in d r e d sp ark , And f i n d s ab u n d an t f u e l t h e r e . I h a t e th e th o u g h t t h a t wrongs th e L ord; Oh, I would d r i v e i t from my b r e a s t , W ith th y own sh a rp tw o-edged sword, F ar as th e e a s t i s from t h e w est. Come th e n , and ch ase th e c r u e l h o s t, H eal th e deep wounds I have r e c e i v 'd i Nor l e t th e p o w 'rs o f d a rk n e s s b o a s t go T hat I am f o i l ' d , and th o u a r t g r i e v 'd . ' The P ilg r im * s P r o g r e s s , a s Cowper i n t i m a t e d i n " T iro c in iu m ,'1 was a f a v o r i t e book o f h i s y o u th , f a m i l i a r to him lo n g b e f o r e h i s a s s o c i a t i o n w ith th e R everend John Newton. N e v e r th e le s s , s in c e t h e hymns were w r i t t e n a t th e s u g g e s tio n o f Newton, d u rin g th e y e a r s 1771 and 1772, a t a tim e when he was c o n d u c tin g h i s p a r i s h i o n e r s on a p ilg r im a g e w ith B unyan's C h r i s t i a n , i t i s i n t e r e s t in g to s p e c u l a t e as to w hether C ow per's a d o p tio n o f t h i s a l l e g o r i c a l p h ra s e o lo g y may i n d i c a t e an a s p e c t o f N ew ton's CQ W illiam Cowper, P o e t i c a l Works. 458. T h is o r i g i n a l l y Hymn XX, Book I I I . 330 l i t e r a r y I n f l u e n c e on th e p o e t. A side from C ow per's r a t h e r e x t e n s iv e a d o p tio n o f 59 B unyan's p h ra s e o lo g y , showing t h a t ? / r l t e r ' s in f lu e n c e , o th e r exam ples of such u se a r e I n f r e q u e n t d u r in g t h i s p e r io d . One, how ever, i s found i n a l e t t e r o f W illiam Mason who w ro te to H orace W alpole t h a t n o th in g o f conse quence had o c c u rre d i n h i s " p r o g re s s o r p ilg r im a g e 59 Some c r i t i c s have th o u g h t to f i n d th e i n f lu e n c e o f B unyan's a l l e g o r y i n a t l e a s t one o f J o h n s o n 's R am b le rs. The e d i t o r s o f Hannah M o re's Works (London: H. F is h e r , R. F i s h e r , and P. Ja c k so n , 1 8 3 7 ) , I , 197, s t a t e t h a t J o h n s o n 's e ssay on Obldah (R am b ler. No. 65; O cto b er 30, 1750) "was e v id e n tly w r i t t e n a f t e r r e a d in g th e f i r s t p a r t o f P i l g r i m 's P r o g r e s s ." The rese m b lan c e o f t h i s essay to B u n y an 's a l l e g o r y does n o t seem p a r t i c u l a r l y s t a r t l i n g . A d e c id e d re se m b la n c e to B unyan's a l l e g o r i c a l w r i t i n g s , ^however, i s seen i n t h e work o f Hannah More h e r s e l f , p a r t i c u l a r l y i n "The P ilg r im s , an a l l e g o r y , " "The V a lle y of T e a rs, A V is io n ; o r, Bear ye one a n o t h e r ’ s B u rd e n s," "The S t r a i t G-ate and th e Broad Way, An A lle g o r y ," and " P a rle y t h e P o r t e r , An A l l e g o r y . " The e d i t o r s o f h e r works, however, seemed r a t h e r u n w illi n g to m i t i g a t e th e o r i g i n a l i t y o f t h a t devout l a d y 's w r i t i n g s , f o r th e y s t a t e d , con c e r n in g t h e s e a l l e g o r i e s , t h a t though th e y would " b rin g to th e r e a d e r ' s mind t h e two books o f Bunyan, h i s ' P i l g r i m 's P r o g r e s s ' and 'H oly W ar;' h e r e i s no d i r e c t i m i t a t i o n ; th e o b j e c t s of i n s t r u c t i o n a r e th e same, b u t th e manner i s d i f f e r e n t " (l o c . c l t . ). C h a r l o t t e M . Yonge, i n h e r b io g ra p h y of Hannah More, r i g h t l y rem arked t h a t " P a rle y t h e P o r t e r " was b a s e d on th e same id e a as B unyan's "Holy War, th o u g h she th o u g h t t h a t "P ro b ab ly Hannah had n e v e r h e a rd o f th e l a t t e r , s in c e she d i d n o t l i k e a l l e g o r y ; and n e v e r r e a d t h e 'P i l g r i m 's P r o g r e s s ' t i l l a f t e r she had emerged i n t o t h e l i t e r a r y w orld" ( C h a r l o t t e M. Yonge, Hannah More. 1 4 1 ). 331 th ro u g h t h i s v a l l e y o f l i f e ( to speak In t h e s t y l e of John B unyan)," s in c e he had l a s t w r i t t e n to h i s f r i e n d . ^ A nother o c c u rs In a l e t t e r w r i t t e n by Mrs. B arb au ld , In 1789, i n which she r e f e r r e d t o th e B a s t i l l e a s " t h a t t i l l now Im p reg n ab le C a s tle o f G ia n t D e s p a i r . A n d Toplady, i n a l e t t e r of c o n s o l a t i o n w r i t t e n some y e a r s e a r l i e r , made m en tio n o f Mr. R e a d y - to - h a lt and th e scene a 62 a t th e R iv e r J o rd a n . Mrs. T h ra le , w r i t i n g t o Samuel Johnson, a l s o r e f e r r e d to th e c h a r a c t e r s of a book t h a t she knew t h e , d o c t o r re v e re n c e d , i n se e k in g to l e s s e n th e m orbid r e f l e c t i o n s c o n ta in e d i n a l e t t e r t h a t Jo h n so n had w r i t t e n to h e r w h ile on h i s to u r o f th e H e b rid e s . "The gloomy r e f l e c t i o n s made on y o u r b i r t h - d a y , " she w ro te, " a re a p ro o f t h a t th e b e s t men n e v e r p l e a s e th e m se lv e s, and th e bad n e v e r p l e a s e any b u t th e m s e lv e s " : I know your h o r r o r o f p resu m p tio n , and y o u r id e a t h a t t h e f e a r i n g C h r i s t i a n i s most i n th e fa v o u r o f Heaven; b u t r e c o l l e c t W illiam Mason to H orace W alpole, J u ly 1, 1778, The C o rresp o n d en ce o f Horace W alp o le, E a rl o f O rfo rd , and th e Rev. W illiam Mason ( J . M ltfo rd , e d i t o r ; London: R ic h a rd B e n tle y , 185171 l7* 385. " I Mrs. Anna L a e t i t i a B a rb a u ld to Mrs. B e e c ro ft, •August, 1789. G race A tk in so n E l l i s , A Memoir of Mrs. Anna L a e t i t i a B a rb a u ld , w ith Many o f h e r L e1 1 ers (B o s to n : James R. Osgood and dompany, 1874), I , 181. 62 A ugustus Montague Toplady to Mrs. S. H ., F eb ru ary 5, 1773. Works. IV, 164. 332 t h a t H onest and H opeful g o t o v e r th e r i v e r "b e tter th a n C h r i s t i a n and M u c h afra id i n th e P i l g r i m 's P ro g r e s s ; and o u r c h i l d r e n say, th e y d o n 't p e r c e iv e t h a t th e o t h e r s w ere b e t t e r r e c e i v e d when th e y had c r o s s e d t h e r i v e r , 63 The p a r t i c u l a r scene i n t h e a l l e g o r y t h a t Mrs. T h ra le chose to r e f e r to f o r J o h n s o n 's c o n s o l a t i o n was, 04 one s u s p e c ts , one t h a t t h e " C h r i s t i a n m o r a l i s t " him s e l f had p o in te d o u t t o h i s v iv a c io u s f r i e n d a s i l l u s t r a t i n g B unyan's u n d e r s ta n d in g o f th e C h r i s t i a n r e l i g i o n ; a t a l l e v e n ts , i t was a l s o a f a v o r i t e scene w ith t h a t " v e te r a n C h r i s t i a n " ^ W illiam W llberforce,® ® who . . . o f t e n m entioned i t as a p ro o f o f g r e a t wisdom, t h a t w h ile th e younger be l i e v e r i s d e s c r ib e d by Bunyan i n h i s P i l g r i m 's P r o g r e s s a s p a s s in g e a s i l y th ro u g h t h e stre a m o f d e a th , a l e s s buoyant hope and a d e e p e r f l o o d i s r e p r e s e n t e d as t h e p o r t i o n o f t h e aged C h r i s t i a n . " I t i s t h e p e c u l i a r i t y , " he s a id , "of th e C h r i s t i a n r e l i g i o n , t h a t Mrs. T h ra le to Dr. Jo hnson, O ctober 7, 1773. L e t t e r s to and From t h e L a te Samuel Jo h n so n , LL.D. To which a r e added Some Poems Never B efore P r i n t e d , Pub l i s h e d from th e O r i g i n a l MSS, i n h e r p o s s e s s i o n , by H e s te r Lynch P I o z z l (London: P r i n t e d f o r A. S tra h a n ; and T. C a d e ll, 1788), I , 193. 64 Jo se p h Epes Brown th u s d e s i g n a t e s Samuel Jo h n so n (The C r i t i c a l O p in io n s o f Samuel Jo h n so n , " I n t r o d u c t i o n , " x l l i ) . 65 R o b ert I s a a c W llb e r fo r c e and Samuel W llb e rfo rc e , The L i f e of W illiam W llb e rfo rc e (London: John Murray, 1S387T~V, 363. 66 W illiam W llb e rfo rc e (1759-1833) b e lo n g e d to th e s o - c a l l e d "Clapham S ect" o f e v a n g e l i c a l l y minded s o u ls . 333 h u m i l i t y and h o l i n e s s i n c r e a s e i n eq u a l p r o p o r t i o n s . 67 Meanwhile The P i l g r i m 1s P ro g r e s s was f i n d i n g commendation a s a work s u i t e d to r e a d e r s t o whom i t had 60 p e rh a p s alw ays a p p e a le d — c h i l d r e n . In d eed , a s Beau R u efu l a d m itte d , th e a l l e g o r y was a s f a m i l i a r i n th e £»q n u rs e ry as J a c k t h e G-lant K i l l e r . Mrs. T h ra le * s c h i l d r e n , as i s e v id e n t from h e r l e t t e r q u o te d above, were w e ll a c q u a in te d w ith C h ris t i a n ' s heavenw ard jo u rn e y , p ro b a b ly as a r e s u l t o f J o h n s o n 's in f l u e n c e , f o r th e d o c to r to o k much I n t e r e s t ® R o b ert I s a a c W llb e rfo rc e and Samuel W llber f o r c e , ojD. c l t . , V, 357. These b io g r a p h e r s r e l a t e t h a t W llb e rfo rc e a n n o ta te d w ith " c a re and d i l i g e n c e " h i s c o p ie s o f such books a s The P ilgrim * s P ro g r e s s . D o d d rid g e 's Sermons, and J o n a th a n E dw ards'- Works, a s w e ll a s C icero , Hume, and B u t l e r ' s H u d lb ra s , showing, i n a l l , g r e a t c a t h o l i c i t y of t a s t e f l b l d . , I , 312). In 1765 The P ilg rim * s P ro g r e s s had been r e f e r r e d t o by a w r i t e r i n th e G entlem an' s Magazine a s an ad m ira b le book f o r th e young (s e e s u p r a , page 22 1 ). E ig h te e n th c e n tu ry c h i l d r e n were p e rh a p s somewhat more s e r i o u s i n t h e i r l i t e r a r y t a s t e s th a n c h i l d r e n o f l a t e r c e n t u r i e s ; one remembers young Thomas H o lc r o f t w ith h i s lo v e f o r p io u s a u t h o r s (s e e s u p r a , p ag e s 221-2) and Lady G-rey's b o o k -lo v in g l i t t l e d a u g h te r, " j u s t tu r n e d o f f i v e , " who to o k no d e l i g h t i n " i d l e s t o r i e s , " b u t chose N ew ton's D i s s e r t a t i o n s on th e P ro p h e c ie s a s one o f h e r f a v o r i t e books, l e a r n i n g i t "alm o st by h e a r t " and g iv in g " th e most c o n n e c te d and r a t i o n a l a c c o u n t o f i t " (M iss T alb o t to E l i z a b e t h C a r t e r , A p r i l 13, 1756. L e t t e r s , I I , 9 4 ). R ic h a rd G raves, The S p i r i t u a l Q u ix o te , I , 226 (s e e i n f r a , page 338). 334 i n t h e i r e d u c a tio n and e x e r c is e d some s u p e r v i s i o n o v e r t h e i r re a d in g .^ ® In d eed , i f Johnson, I n s t e a d o f C la ra Reeve, had ta k e n th e tim e to s e l e c t a number o f recom mended books f o r c h i l d r e n , even though I n te n d e d " c h i e f l y f o r t h e fem ale Sex, one may be s u re t h a t h e would have in c lu d e d The P i l g r i m 1s P r o g r e s s i n s t e a d o f John N ew bery's books and th e i n s i p i d s t o r i e s o f Mrs. B a rb a u ld 72 and Mrs. Trimmer which he d e t e s t e d . Johnson com piled no such l i s t , how ever, and h i s recom m endation o f The P ilg r im * s P r o g r e s s as a book f o r 70 See, f o r i n s t a n c e , J o h n s o n 's l e t t e r to Susanna A. T h ra le (November 18, 1783), recommending t h a t she r e a d th e T a t l e r s and make them a p a r t o f h e r l i b r a r y (L e t t e r s to and From th e L a te Samuel Johnson, I I , 3 2 7 -8 ). 71 C la r a Reeve appended such a l i s t to h e r P ro g r e s s o f Romance, recommending N ew bery's books, Mrs. B a r b a u ld 's and Mrs. T rim m er's s t o r i e s , e t c . , f o r c h i l d r e n , and Hannah M o re's S acred Dramas, firs. Row e's L e t t e r s , M oore's F a b le s f o r th e Female Sex, e t c . , f o r ’’young l a d i e s " (The P ro g r e s s of Romance, I I , 1 0 1 -1 0 4 ). 72 Johnson u sed to re p rim a n d Mrs. T h ra le f o r p u t t i n g N ew bery's books i n t o h e r c h i l d r e n ! s hands, "as to o t r i f l i n g to engage t h e i r a t t e n t i o n . " " 'B a b ie s do n o t want ( s a i d he) to h e a r a b o u t b a b ie s ; th e y l i k e to be t o l d of g i a n t s and c a s t l e s , and o f som ething which can s t r e t c h and s t i m u l a t e t h e i r l i t t l e m i n d s . ' When i n a n s w e r ," r e c o rd e d Mrs. T h ra le , "I would u rg e th e numerous e d i t i o n s and q u ic k s a l e o f Tommy P ru d e n t o r G-oody Two Shoes: 'Remember alw ays ( s a i d he) t h a t th e p a r e n t s buy th e books, and t h a t th e c h i l d r e n n e v e r r e a d th e m '" (H e sth e r Lynch P i o z z i , A necdotes o f th e L a te Samuel Jo h n so n , 1 3 -1 4 ). 335 c h ild re n i s reco rd ed r a t h e r In h i s a c tio n s th an in h i s words. According to a b io g rap h e r, Dr. Johnson one day took Bishop P e rc y ’s l i t t l e daughter upon h is knee, and asked h er what she thought of P ilg r im ’ s P ro g re s s . The c h ild r e p l i e d th a t she had not read i t . "No i " r e p l i e d the Doctor; "then I would not g iv e one f a r t h i n g f o r y o u ;” and he s e t h er down and took no f u r t h e r n o tic e of h e r.? 3 But i f Bishop P e r c y 's l i t t l e daughter was allow ed to remain in Ignorance of Bunyan's a lle g o ry , o th e r c h ild re n of t h i s p e rio d were not so u n fo rtu n a te . Young Robert Southey, about t h i s tim e, was re a d in g The Pilgrim * s P ro g re s s , and th e boy C harles Lamb was d e l ig h tin g i n th e rude c u ts of an o ld e d itio n t h a t he loved. The lame l i t t l e W alter S c o tt, i n h is f a t h e r ' s house in Edinburgh, was b e g u ilin g th e tedium of d u ll P re s b y te ria n Sabbaths by re ad in g such books as were p e rm itte d on t h a t holy day— Rowe's L e t t e r s , The Death of A bel, and The P ilg r im 1s O A P ro g r e s s ; and th e p reco c io u s Humphry Davy, choosing AEsop's Fables and Bunyan's a lle g o ry as h i s f a v o r i t e books, could r e c i t e "a g re a t p a r t ” of th e l a t t e r "even 73 C ro c k e r's e d itio n of B o sw e ll's L ife of Johnson, 838, c i t e d by G.B. H i l l , Boswell * s' L if e o f Johnson, I I , 238-9 n. ^ S ir W alter S co tt, "Memoir of h i s E arly Years, w r itte n by h im s e lf ," in John Gibson Lockhart, The L ife of S ir W alter S co tt (New York; Thomas Y. Crowell and Company, n . d . ), 18. 336 75 b e fo re he could w ell re a d i t . " Young Adam Clark, w ith an ’ ’in te n s e and unconquerable” lo v e of re a d in g , was denying h im self sweetmeats th a t he might save h i s pence f o r books to add to h i s c o lle c t!o n --w h ic h in c lu d e d The Holy War and The P ilg r im 1 s P ro g r e s s .*^ Many of th e s e young re a d e rs of Bunyan's a l l e g o r i e s , l a t e r to w rite o f Bunyan as a l i t e r a r y f ig u r e , th u s gained t h e i r acq u ain tan ce w ith t h a t a u th o r in a cen tu ry in which Bunyan's p la c e as an a l l e g o r i s t was not y e t secu rely e s ta b lis h e d . I t was an age th a t g ran te d The P ilg r im 's P ro g ress g r e a t m e rit as a moral and i n s t r u c t i o n a l t r e a t i s e , and even p e rm itte d I t s e l f , in d is c u s s in g th e a lle g o ry as a work of l i t e r a t u r e , to f in d i n i t th e commendable q u a l i t i e s o f o r i g i n a l i t y , w e ll-c o n triv e d a lle g o ry , and s k i l f u l use of d ia lo g u e and n a r r a tio n ; but i t was an age th a t, fo r th e most p a r t, put forw ard th e se commendations w ith something of h e s i t a t i o n , and produced only two w r i te r s of reco g n ized eminence of whom i t could be sa id th a t they loved th e ’ ’ingenious d re a m e r." 75 John Davy, "Memoirs of the L ife of S ir Humphry Davy," p re fa ce d to The C o lle c te d Works of S ir Humphry Davy (London: Smith, E lder and Company, 1839), I, 2-3. ^ Account of the In fa n c y , R e lig io u s and L ite r a r y L if e , of Adam C lark , LL.D.. F.A.S. &c» w ritte n by one who was in tim a te ly a c q u ain ted w ith him from h is Boyhood to th e S i x t i e t h Year of h i s Age [ i . e . , Adam Clark h im s e lf- ] (New York: W . Waugh and T. Mason, 1833), I , 25. 1 1 BUNYANS AND ‘PRACTICES OF PIETY*" 337 An I n d ic a tio n of th e r i d i c u l e t h a t Bunyan and h i s a lle g o ry commonly c a lle d f o r t h from th e c le v e r and th e w itty of t h i s and th e p reced in g p e rio d s i s seen i n th e comments of th e w r ite r s who attem pted to defend t h a t au th o r a g a in s t what they co n sid ered u n ju s t d erisio n * The Reverend James Granger, f o r in s ta n c e , remarked in 1769 t h a t Bunyan had "been mentioned among th e l e a s t and low est of our w r i te r s , and even r i d i c u l e d as a d r i v e l l e r by th o se who had never read him, "77 and the Reverend Andrew K ippis in 1784 ag ain condemned th e " r i d i c u l e which has been c a s t upon John Bunyan."1 7 ® Such lau g h in g mockery, however, co n tin u ed and i s w ell t y p i f i e d by th e r e f e r e n c e to The P ilg r im 1s P ro g ress t h a t o ccurs in R ichard G raves' s a t i r e o f th e M ethodists, The S p i r i t u a l Q uixote: The very absurd Geoffry Wildgoose, having adopted th e f a n a t i c a l d o c trin e s and th e P u r i t a n i c a l moral code of th e M ethodists, fin d s h im self in th e company of such superannuated r e l i c s o f th e s o c ia l world as Lady Booby and Beau R ueful. Shocked a t Lady Booby's d e s c r ip tio n of th e gay l i f e a t Bath, James Granger, oj). c l t . , 56 n. 78 Andrew K ippis in B lographla B rlta n n lc a . Second E d itio n , I I I , 13 n. ------------------------- 338 Wlldgoose remarks: . . . I am so f a r from th in k in g i t even a g r e e a b le , t h a t i t appears to me a mere scene of v a n ity and f o l l y . Pray Madam, c o n tin u es Wildgoose, d id you ever re a d th e P ilg r im ’s P ro g re ss . --Ha .' ha I ha J c r i e s R ueful, in a h o rse laugh; I b e lie v e we may a l l have read t h a t , and Jack th e G ian t- K i l l e r too, in th e n u rsery . — Well, s i r , you may laugh; I now only mention th a t o r i g i n a l a u th o r upon a lu d ic ro u s o ccasio n , as I th in k h i s account of Vanity F a ir, seems to be no bad d e s c r ip tio n of th e i n s i p i d in te r c o u r s e (to say no worse of i t ) th a t u s u a lly p asses between th e thought l e s s c r e a tu r e s , a t most of th o se p u b lic assem b lies. The S p i r i t u a l Quixote i s of course a s a t i r e , i n which n e i t h e r the r i d i c u l e of Beau R ueful, w ith h i s h o rse laugh, nor the commendation of Wildgoose, w ith h i s p io u s p r a te , can be ac ce p ted as th e o p in io n of Graves h im self. N ev e rth e less, in making Wildgoose— th e absurd p re te n d e r to i n s p i r a t i o n — p r a i s e Bunyan's a lle g o ry , Graves was fo llo w in g th e tre n d of w r ite r s of th e p re v io u s p erio d who had accepted The P ilg r im 1s P ro g ress as a work beloved by humble re a d e rs who supplemented w ith p ie ty what they lack ed in i n t e l l i g e n c e . Two o th e r s a t i r i s t s of th e p erio d , Wolcot and Burns, r e f e r r e d to Bunyan in th e same s p i r i t . "P eter Pindar" Wolcot, in one of h is numerous s a t i r e s on George I I I , re p re s e n te d t h a t monarch as saying to Samuel Whitbread, who was a t th e time p a rlia m e n t member f o r R ichard Graves, The S p i r i t u a l Q uixote. I, 225-6. 339 B ed fo rd sh ire, and w ell known f o r h i s ad m ira tio n of Bunyan: I ’m to ld you send B ib le s to your v o tes, P r a y 'r books In s te a d of cash to buy them co a ts— Bunyans and ’P r a c tic e s of Piety';®'-' and In h i s "P in d a ria n a ” Wolcot drew th e amusing p ic tu r e of Dinah, "my L ad y 's h ousekeeper," who p rete n d ed to p ie ty by in c lu d in g Bunyan in h er d ev o tio n al re ad in g , Robert Burns, w ith a s li g h t n o te of r i d i c u l e fo r th e th re e books found in every p io u s S c o ttis h household, charged h i s f r ie n d to r e tu r n in h a s te th e co p ies of Thomas Reid and Adam Smith th a t he was sending him, l e s t the p o et succumb to e v a n g e lic a l enthusiasm : For now I rm grown sae cursed douce I pray a n 1 ponder b u tt th e house: My sh in s, my land, I th e r e s i t r o a s t i n ', P eru sin g Bunyan, Brown a n ’ Boston; T i l l by a n ' by, i f I haud on, I ' l l g ru n t a r e a l G o sp el-g ro an .82 I t i s now, however, in th e w ritin g s of th e se John Wolcot, c i t e d by John Brown, John Bunyan, 55. Concerning th e P r a c tic e of Pi e ty , see su p ra , page 237, n o te 39. Q "1 John Wolcot, "P in d aria n a; or P e t e r 's P o rt f o l i o , " The Works of P e te r P in d a r , Esq. (London, 1816), I I I , 314. g o R obert Bum s, " L e tte r to James Tennant, G le n c o n n e r," The L ife and Works of Robert Burns (Robert Chambers, e d ito r ; e d itio n r e v is e d by William Wallace. Edinburgh and London: W . and R. Chambers, 1896), 111,77. The Brown h ere m entioned i s probably John Brown of Haddington (1727-1787), au th o r o f the S e lf- I n t e r p r e t i n g B ib le : Boston i s Thomas Boston .'of. E t t r l c k (1676-1732), au th o r of The F ourfold S t a t e . These two books, w ith The P i l g r i m 's P ro g re s s , "used to be found in every pious S c o ttis h h o u s e h o ld ," n o te s Burns' e d ito r ( i b i d . , 77 n . ). 340 a u th o rs who r e f e r r e d to Bunyan's a lle g o ry humorously and Jocosely th a t the a c tu a l d ero g ato ry c r i t i c i s m of The P i l g r i m 's P ro g re ss i s found. Such c r i t i c i s m occurs r a t h e r i n th e words of those w r i te r s who frowned a t th e r i d i c u l e c a s t a t Bunyan and se t them selves up as th a t a u t h o r 's d efen d e rs. D esp ite th e f a c t th a t they f e l t t h a t Bunyan deserved a h ig h e r rank i n l i t e r a t u r e than th a t commonly accorded him, th e s e w r i te r s were n e v e rth e le s s eager to p o in t out the d e f e c ts of h i s w ritin g — i n p a r t i c u l a r , i t s In e le g a n t s t y l e and v u lg a r language, and to watch sh arp ly l e s t he be accorded commendation t h a t out- Q rz stepped th e bounds of c o n s e rv a tiv e Judgment. ^ Granger, as has been noted, could not commend th e genius of Bunyan w ithout rem arking on th e "coarseness and v u lg a r ity of h i s language,"84 and D i s r a e l i could not accord Bunyan p r a i s e w ithout m entioning t h a t w r i t e r 's "rude and r u s t i c " s t y l e . Even Newton and Robinson, fond ad m irers o f Bunyan Q *Z D erogatory c r i t i c i s m of The P i l g r i m 's P ro g ress during t h i s p e rio d d e a ls e n t i r e l y w ith th e l i t e r a r y asp ect of th a t work, r a t h e r than th e r e l i g i o u s or doc t r i n a l , save f o r th e remark of B e a ttie , who observed th a t th e a lle g o ry "in more than one p l a c e . . . ten d s to convey erroneous n o tio n s in theology" (James B e a ttie , "On F able and Romance," op_. c l t . , 514). 84 _ James Granger, op. c l t . . 56 n. Is a a c D i s r a e l i , The L ite r a r y C h a ra c te r. 60. 341 t h a t they were, commented on th e a l l e g o r i s t 's humble and unp o lish ed s t y l e . Newton, as has been noted, r e f e r r e d to Bunyan's "humble garb,"®® and Robinson reg ard ed Bunyan's w ritin g in g e n e ra l as sim ple and elem entary, and remarked t h a t i t was unadorned w ith th e marks of le a rn in g save fo r th e words Carne & Sanguine C h r l s t l , to which Bunyan had a f f ix e d th e ex p la n a tio n , "The L a tin e I b o rro w ."8^ Robinson c o n tra s te d Bunyan's s ty l e unfavorably w ith th a t of An E x h o rta tio n to Peace and U n ity , w ritin g , I v en tu re to a ffirm , Bunyan could not w rite in such a s ty le , might he have bgen f r e e d from imprisonment f o r doing s o .88 R obinson's in tim a tio n t h a t Bunyan's w ritin g s were p a r t i c u l a r l y s u ite d to r e a d e rs of humble t a s t e s and sm all acquirem ents occurs i n h i s d is c u s s io n of th e t r a i t s t h a t a m in is te r should p o sse ss who would be use f u l to so lowly a co n gregation. Such a m in is te r, ob served Robinson, must be w illi n g to v i s i t w ith h i s un le a rn e d p a r is h io n e r s , l i s t e n to t h e i r i l l i t e r a t e 88 John Newton, C ardlphonla. Works, I, 448. 87 This o ccu rs in The P ilg r im 's P ro g r e s s ,P a rt I I , 343. 88 Robert Robinson, "The General D o ctrin e of T o le ra tio n a p p lie d to th e P a r t i c u l a r Case o f Free Com munion, " M iscellaneous Works, I I I , 144. 342 c o n v e rsatio n s, and " tr y to ta k e th e ton of h i s poor people, I f he would do them r e a l s p i r i t u a l good": I t w ill he h i s glory sometimes to he rude In speech, to conceal h i s a b i l i t i e s , to adapt h im se lf to t h e i r weaknesses, to p r e f e r Bunyan b e fo re Beza, Dodd's sayings, and W rig h t's poems b efo re th e c a s u is tr y of Hoadley, and th e p o e try of M ilton or Young.89 S ir John Hawkins was undoubtedly a man of too much le a rn in g to " p re fe r Bunyan b e fo re B e za ,M though h i s 90 re f e re n c e to Bunyan's "simple and unornamented" language i s not In i t s e l f d ero g ato ry . Taken in i t s co n tex t, how ever, p a r t i c u l a r l y in i t s ju x ta p o s itio n w ith a comment re g a rd in g th e la c k of gram m atical c o rr e c tn e s s and elegance in th e work which he noted to be w r itte n in a s ty l e s im ila r to Bunyan's, th e r e f e r e n c e may seem to imply t h a t Hawkins d id not th in k very h ig h ly of Bunyan. At a l l events, he understood in th e s p i r i t in which i t was spoken G a r r i c k 's dero g ato ry r e f e r e n c e to The P i l g r i m 's P ro g re s s , as re co rd ed But i f Hawkins' re fe re n c e to Bunyan's s ty l e i s open Robert Robinson, n o te s to C lau d e's Essay on th e Composition of a Sermon, I, 348. 90 D iscussing th e t r a n s l a t i o n of Lobo' s Voyage to A b y ssin ia , Hawkins wrote: "Were we to r e s t our judg ment on i n t e r n a l evidence, Jo h n so n 's claim to th e t i t l e of t r a n s l a t o r of t h i s would would be d is p u ta b le ; i t has sc arc e a f e a t u r e resem bling him; th e language i s as simple and uno.rnamented as John Bunyan's; th e s ty l e i s f a r from e le g a n t, and sometimes i t i s not even cor r e c t" (S ir John Hawkins, The L ife of Samuel Johnson, LL.D., 22). 343 to two I n t e r p r e t a t i o n s , B e a t t i e 's c e r t a i n l y i s not. O ste n sib ly p r a is i n g Bunyan's powers of in v e n tio n , which "might have produced something noble" i f " r e f in e d by le a r n in g ," B e a ttie thought i t n ecessary to g ra n t th a t th e s t y l e was "rude, and even I n d e l i c a t e som etim es," and to p o in t out th a t th e in v e n tio n was " fre q u e n tly ex trav ag an t" and th e d ia lo g u e o fte n "low. Andrew K ippis, some y e a rs l a t e r , r e f e r r i n g to G ra n g e r's h e s i t a n t e x p ressio n o f opinion t h a t Bunyan might have produced a work worthy of Spenser had he been a m aster of numbers, expressed "some doubt w hether th e encomium" bestowed upon Bunyan's genius "by th a t worthy B io g rap h er," and "a u th o riz e d by the re s p e c ta b le names of Mr. M errick and Dr. R oberts, be not c a r r i e d r a t h e r too f a r . " Whether Bunyan "would ever have been capable o f r i s i n g to a p ro d u c tio n worthy of S penser," f e l t K ippis, "may reaso n ab ly be q u estio n ed ": He had th e in v e n tio n , but not th e o th e r n a tu r a l q u a l i f i c a t i o n s which a re n e c essary to c o n s t i t u t e a g re a t poet. I f h i s g en iu s had 91 James B e a ttie , "On Fable and Romance," op. c l t ., 514. The key to B e a t t i e 's c r i t i c i s m of Bunyan i s seen in h is In c lu s io n o f th e "eleg a n t" in h i s d e f i n i tio n of t a s t e : "Im agination, u n ite d w ith some o th e r mental powers, and o p e ra tin g merely as a p r e c i p ie n t fa c u lty , i n conveying s u i t a b l e im pressions o f what i s e le g a n t, sublime, o r b e a u t i f u l in a r t and n a tu re , i s c a lle d T a s te " (James B e a ttie , "Of Memory and I m a g in a tio n ," D is s e r t a tio n s Moral and C r i t i c a l , 146). 344 In ten d ed him to be any th in g more than a p o et i n prose, i t would probably, l i k e S h ak sp e are's, have broken through every d i f f i c u lty of b i r t h and s t a t i o n . W e advance, how ever, th e s e sentim ents w ith due d e fe re n c e to th e o p in io n s of such a b le judges as Mr. M errick and Dr. R oberts. Another re a d e r who must have f e l t th a t G ranger’ s encomium was " c a r r ie d r a t h e r too fa r" was Horace Walpole, who expressed h i s low re g a rd f o r the a l l e g o r i s t in a l e t t e r to Mason w herein he r i d i c u l e d th e a r t of epic p o e t r y - - t h e "art of b ein g as long as p o s s ib le in t e l l i n g an u n i n te r e s ti n g s t o r y . " P o in tin g out th e " i n s i p i d im i t a t i o n " of Homer w r i tte n by V ir g il, th e "monstor" pro duced by M ilton, and th e bombast and f u s t i a n of such w r i te r s as Lucan, Glaudian, and S t a t i u s , he continued: Dante was e x tra v a g a n t, absurd, d is g u s tin g , in sh o rt a M ethodist P arson i n Bedlam. A rio sto was a more a g re e a b le Amadis de Gaul, and Spencer, John Bunyan in rhyme.®^ To David G arrick , a ls o , The Pilgrim * s P ro g ress Andrew K ippis in B iographia B rita n n ic a . Second E d itio n , I I I , 13 n. 93 Horace Walpole to W illiam Mason, June 25, 1782, The Correspondence of Horace W alpole, I I , 299. John Brown’ s m is i n t e r p r e t a t i o n of t h i s r e f e r e n c e as commendatory of Bunyan — "Horace W alpole.. . e v id e n tly th in k s he i s paying Edmund Spenser a compliment when he speaks of him as ’John Bunyan in rhym e'," — r e s u l t s from th e f a c t th a t Brown q u ite e v id en tly did not check and v e r if y the v a rio u s l i t e r a r y r e fe re n c e s to Bunyan which he mentioned on page 462 of h i s biography, but merely copied them from the a r t i c l e d e a lin g w ith Bunyan, r e p u ta tio n which had appeared in th e Saturday Review some f i v e y e a rs p rev io u s to h i s w ritin g . 345 appeared a very low form of l i t e r a t u r e , as i s evident from h is comment to S ir John Hawkins. U nsuccessful in h i s attem p t to educate th e p u b lic ta ste - to an appre c i a t i o n of good drama, th e actor-m anager f i n a l l y found h im self o b lig e d to p re s e n t th e pantomimes and f a r c e s th a t appealed to th e t a s t e of h i s D ru ry -lan e audience: "Prom t h a t t i m e ," re p o r te d Hawkins, "Mr. G arrick gave up th e hope of c o r r e c tin g th e p u b lic k t a s t e , and a t le n g th became so i n d i f f e r e n t about i t , th a t he once t o l d me, th a t i f th e town re q u ir e d him to e x h ib it th e 'P i l g r i m 's P ro g r e s s ' in a drama, he would do i t ." ® 4 Though meanly reg ard ed by G arrick and Walpole, censured f o r i t s in e le g a n c e and rudeness by such c r i t i c s as B e a ttie and K ippis, and mockingly r e f e r r e d to by such s a t i r i c a l h u m o rists as Graves, Wolcot, and Burns, P i l g r i m 's P ro g re ss c e r t a i n l y stood i n no g re a t d i s re p u te toward th e end of th e e ig h te e n th ce n tu ry . Such censure and r i d i c u l e as i t re c e iv e d were s u re ly o f f s e t by th e commendation accorded i t d u rin g t h i s same p e rio d — th e w hole-hearted la u d a tio n of th e e v a n g e lic a l John Newton, th e re c o g n itio n as a work of l i t e r a t u r e by such c r i t i c s as Granger and B e a ttie , K ippis and Lord Kames, and— most weighty of a l l — th e u n s tin te d p r a i s e of Samuel Johnson, echoed by Mrs. P io z z i. 94 S ir John Hawkins, The L ife of Samuel Johnson. !98. 346 William Cowper's f e a r of m entioning Bunyan’s name, In 1784, l e s t I t draw th e scorn o f th e w orldly: I name th e e n o t, l e s t so d e s p l s ’s a name Should move a sneer a t th y deserved fame;9® cannot, th e re fo r e , be regarded as an e n t i r e l y a c c u ra te in d ic a t io n of th e a t t i t u d e -toward Bunyan a t t h i s tim e. Cowper’ s u n w illin g n e ss to mention W h lte fie ld — . . . (beneath w ell-sounding.G reek) I s l u r a name a p o et must not sp e ak ,96 was d o u b tle s s j u s t i f i e d in 1781, i n view o f the a t t i t u d e of th e fa s h io n a b le w orld toward Methodism; but th e p o e t 's h e s ita n c y i n m entioning Bunyan must be i n t e r p r e te d to some e x te n t as th e s a t i r i c a l a t t i t u d e of a r e c lu s e , morbidly s e n s i t i v e i n m a tte rs t h a t p e r ta in e d not only to r e l i g i o n , but a ls o to th e world, and cannot be given th e weight accorded i t by M acaulay,9* ? as an 95 W illiam Cowper, "Tirocinium , " P o e tic a l Works, 245, 96 W illiam Cowper, "Hope,” i b i d . , 71. 97 T. B. Macaulay, "John Bunyan" (1831), Mis ce lla n eo u s Works, I I , 270. M acaulay's a t t i t u d e i s cussed i n th e S aturday Review, L (August 7, 1880), 116-7, More a c c u r a te than t h i s h i s t o r i a n ’ s i n t e r p r e t a t i o n o f Cowper's comment was th a t of Southey, who remarked th a t th e p o e t 's om ission of Bunyan's name "could h a rd ly have been n ee d fu l" d u rin g th e 1780's , "fo r though a j u s t a p p r e c ia tio n of our e ld e r and b e t t e r w r i te r s was a t t h a t time f a r l e s s general th an i t ap p ears to be a t p re s e n t, the a u th o r of th e P i l g r i m 's P ro g re ss was even then in h ig h re p u te " (Robert Southey, "L ife of John Bunyan," S e le c t B io g rap h ies, 89). a b s o lu te I n d ic a tio n of Bunyan*s ignominous r e p u ta tio n w ith the l i t e r a r y world of th e l a t t e r e ig h te e n th cen tury* SUM M ARY The y e a rs 1767-1796, b eginning w ith th e iss u a n c e of th e t h i r d f o l i o e d itio n of Bunyan*s works and ending w ith th e p u b lic a tio n of H e p t l n s t a l l ' s w e ll - p r in te d ed i t i o n of The Pilgrim .* s P ro g re s s , mark th e estab lish m e n t of John Bunyan i n E n g lish l i t e r a t u r e as th e s k i l f u l au th o r of an I n s t r u c t i v e and e n t e r ta in i n g a lle g o ry . The p e rio d , indeed, saw accorded to Bunyan some of th e h ig h e s t and soundest commendation th a t he has ever r e ceived a t th e hands of an eminent man of l e t t e r s — t h a t of Samuel Johnson. But though The Pilgrim * s P ro g re s s , i n t h i s as in a l l p e rio d s , stood out above a l l h i s works, Bunyan's o th e r w ritin g s a ls o re c e iv e d in c re a s e d a t t e n t i o n over th a t accorded them in th e p re v io u s p erio d , Bunyan's com plete works were regarded as of su f f i c i e n t im portance to be is s u e d a t l e a s t f i v e tim es d u rin g th e p erio d , and h i s d o c t r in a l and c o n tr o v e r s ia l t r e a t i s e s in p a r t i c u l a r c a lle d f o r t h th e p r a i s e of e v a n g e lic a lly minded re a d e rs as being sound and t o l e r a n t in t h e i r te a c h in g , and em inently u s e fu l in t h e i r e f f e c t in p u lli n g down S a ta n 's stro n g h o ld s. By such men as W h itefield , Robinson, and Toplady, Bunyan was h ig h ly re v e re d as a d o c t r i n a l te a c h e r. 349 Bunyan th e man was also looked upon w ith re v e r ence by the e v a n g e lic a l so u ls of th e p e rio d , drace Abounding was re g a rd e d by such r e a d e rs as a rem arkable account of th e m iraculous conversion of a depraved sin n e r, who ro s e to such eminence as a man o f God th a t he became an i n s p i r e d p re a c h e r and w illin g ly underwent c ru e l and severe p e rs e c u tio n f o r th e sake of r e l i g i o u s t r u t h . Less p io u s and more s c e p t i c a l re a d e rs , however, gave e x p re ssio n to an a t t i t u d e of p sy c h o lo g ic a l r a t h e r than r e l i g i o u s i n t e r p r e t a t i o n of th e re co rd ed f a c t s of Grace Abounding, seein g i n them an ex ag g eratio n of Bunyan’ s wickedness and th e d e p ic tio n of a v is io n a ry e n th u s ia s t, a man who longed f o r p e r s e c u tio n by h i s fe llo w men as g iv in g him added im portance In th e eyes of h i s fo llo w e rs . This was th e b eginning of th e p sy c h o lo g ica l a t t i t u d e toward Grace Abounding, which, j o i n t l y w ith th e r e l i g i o u s , was to fin d f u r t h e r e la b o r a tio n and more emphatic expres sio n in th e fo llo w in g p erio d . In Bunyan's p o e t i c a l works th e re was but l i t t l e I n t e r e s t during th e s e y ea rs, except f o r th e p u b lic a tio n of s e v e ra l e d itio n s of h is D ivine Emblems. Bunyan*s v erse, however, c a lle d f o r t h th e d ero g ato ry c r i t i c i s m of K ippis f o r I t s p o v erty of ex p ressio n , which c r i t i c i s m was a g a in a fo re ru n n e r of th e cen so rio u s c r i t i c i s m t h a t 350 Bunyan*8 p o e t i c a l atte m p ts were to re c e iv e a t th e hands of c r i t i c s of th e succeeding p e rio d . As an a l l e g o r i s t , however, Bunyan was acknowledged to be t r u l y adm irable. I t was on th e b a s i s of h i s famous book t h a t he was accorded a p la c e i n G ranger’s B io g ra p h ic a l H isto ry of England, in K ip p is 1. second e d i- i t i o n of th e B lographla B r lta n n lc a , and i n such works as C lara R eeve's P ro g re ss of Romance and B e a t t i e 's D is s e r ta tio n s Moral and C r i t i c a l . This p e rio d saw not only th e p e rso n a l a d m ira tio n The P i l g r i m 's P ro g ress by such men as Johnson and Cowper, but also th e beginning of an i n t e r e s t in th e d isc o v ery of p ro to ty p e s and analogues f o r th e work, th e beg in n in g of th e more d e t a i l e d d is c u s s io n of i t s v a rio u s elem ents, and th e s p e c if ic commendation of i t s o r i g i n a l i t y , i t s e f f e c t i v e use of d ialo g u e and n a r r a tio n , and i t s s k i l f u l employment of th e device of a lle g o ry . Except i n th e case of a w r ite r l i k e Samuel Johnson, however, such commendation was h e a v ily w eighted w ith s t r i c t u r e s on the s t y l e and th e manner of w ritin g , and was advanced w ith some h e s i t a t i o n . Bunyan's "humble g a r b ," h i s rude and o f te n i n d e l i c a t e s ty l e , could not be s u f f i c i e n t l y dw elt on by such c r i t i c s as K ippis and B e a ttie , who were p ro fe s s e d ly commending th e work as a p ie c e of l i t e r a t u r e . 351 In D i s r a e l i 's words, Bunyan was th e 1 1 S penser o f th e p e o p le ." The a t t i t u d e th a t re g a rd e d th e app eal o f The P ilg rim * s P ro g re s s to u neducated r e a d e r s a s a cen su re o f th e a lle g o r y , had, how ever, l a r g e l y p a s s e d w ith th e e a r l i e r y e a rs of th e c e n tu ry , and i t s p o p u la r it y was c o n s id e re d by most w r i t e r s , b u t p a r t i c u l a r l y by Johnson, as a s tr o n g i n d i c a t i o n o f i t s m e r it. Though r i d i c u l e and even contem pt o f th e a lle g o r y c o n tin u e d to f i n d e x p re s s io n , such a t t i t u d e s were l e s s pronounced th a n i n th e e a r l i e r y e a rs of th e c e n tu ry , and Cowper’ s f e a r th a t th e m ention o f Bunyan’ s name would move a sn e e r cannot be re g a rd e d a s an a c c u r a te e x p re s s io n o f th e g e n e ra l e s tim a tio n in which Bunyan and The P i l g rim ' s P ro g re s s were h e ld . The l i t e r a r y r e p u t a t i o n o f Bunyan was d e f i n i t e l y in c r e a s in g , and t h i s p e r io d marked th e p r e p a r a to r y s ta g e f o r th e crow ning o f Bunyan, in th e fo llo w in g y e a rs , a s th e " P rin c e o f a l l a l l e g o r l s t s in p r o s e . " CHAPTER IV THE LITERARY REPUTATION OP JOHN BUNYAN FROM 1796 TO THE PUBLICATION OP SOUTHEY’ S EDITION OF THE PILGRIM’S PROGRESS (1830) INTRODUCTION The y e a rs 1796-1830, b e g in n in g w ith th e is s u a n c e o f H e p t i n s t a l l ’s e d i t i o n o f The P i l g r i m 1s P ro g re s s and en d in g w ith t h a t e d i te d by S outhey, em brace th e p e r io d c h a r a c te r iz e d by th e r e v i v a l of ro m an ticism in E n g lis h l i t e r a t u r e , and mark th e e s ta b lis h m e n t o f Bunyan, on th e b a s i s o f The P i l g r i m 1s P r o g r e s s , a s a l i t e r a r y c l a s s i c . The l i t e r a r y tr e n d of th e age s tim u la te d an i n t e r e s t i n th e r e s u r r e c t i o n o f th e works of s e v e n te e n th c e n tu ry w r i t e r s which i t was f e l t th e e ig h te e n th c e n tu r y had g iv e n b u t s c a n t a t t e n t i o n . From th e r e l i g i o u s p o in t o f view , th e e v a n g e lic a l i n t e r e s t was s t i l l s tr o n g , and o p e ra te d t o Bunyan’ s ad v a n ta g e w ith p io u s r e a d e r s , w h ile , w ith s e c u la r c r i t i c s — e x c e p t p e rh a p s in th e c a se o f S o u th ey , who, in h i s l a t e r y e a r s , became v e ry o rth o d o x i n m a tte rs o f r e l i g i o n — B u n y an 's b e lo n g in g to a d i s s e n t i n g s e c t was no lo n g e r h e ld a g a in s t him. I n t e r e s t in B unyan's l i f e and w r i tin g s showed a marked in c re a s e d u rin g th e s e y e a r s , and though th e a l l e g o r i s t c o n tin u e d to be known c h i e f l y a s " th e a u th o r °T The P i l g r i m 's P r o g r e s s , 1 1 h i s o th e r im p o rta n t n a r r a t i v e and a l l e g o r i c a l w orks, The L ife and D eath o f Mr. Badman 354 and The Holy War, c a l l e d f o r t h a p p r e c ia t io n an d , f o r th e f i r s t tim e , some l i t t l e c r i t i c a l d is c u s s io n . Bunyan*s d o c t r i n a l t r e a t i s e s a ls o r e c e iv e d com m en d atio n , p a r t i c u l a r l y from e v a n g e lic a l r e a d e r s , though th e y were n o t d e s p is e d even by S outhey; w h ile Bunyan’ s p o e t ic a tte m p ts , though d ism isse d a s beyond d isp a ra g em e n t by c e r t a i n c r i t i c s , found d u rin g t h i s p e r io d t h e i r f i r s t d is c r i m i n a t i v e a p p r e c ia t io n . I n t e r e s t i n Bunyan’s l i f e was e x te n s iv e . S lig h t m ention was made in R o b e rt W a tt’ s B ib lio th e c a B r i t a n n i c a . b u t more ex ten d ed d is c u s s io n a p p e a re d in such s ta n d a rd works o f r e f e r e n c e a s A lexander C halm ers1 G en e ra l Bio g r a p h ic a l D ic tio n a ry and th e E n c y c lo p a e d ia B r i t a n n i c a . Bunyan was acco rd ed a p la c e in th e h i s t o r i e s o f d i s s e n t e r s , a s t h a t by Bogue and B e n n e tt, t h a t by Jo sh u a Toulm in, and t h a t b y Jo sep h Ivim ey. The l a t t e r w r i t e r f u r t h e r com piled a l i f e o f Bunyan, re p ro d u c in g th e e n t i r e t e x t o f Bunyan’ s a u to b io g r a p h ic a l w r i t i n g s , w ith i n t e r s p e r s e d comment on th e p a r t of Ivim ey. P re fa c e s to v a r io u s e d i t i o n s of Bunyan’s w orks, a s th o s e by S outhey, Montgomery, Thomas S c o tt, and George B u rd e r, a s w e ll a s th e rev iew o f S o u th ey ’ s l i f e b y S ir W alter S c o t t , a ls o showed much i n t e r e s t in Bunyan’ s l i f e , a l l th e s e d is c u s s io n s e x e m p lify in g in a marked d e g re e th e two d iv e rg e n t te n d e n c ie s o f i n t e r p r e t i n g 35§ G race Abounding from tb e o rth o d o x ly r e l i g i o u s o r from th e p s y c h o lo g ic a l p o in ts o f view . C o n s id e ra tio n o f B unyan's w r i tin g s a l s o a p p e a re d , o f c o u r s e , in th e s e p r e f a c e s and e n c y c lo p a e d ic s k e tc h e s , w h ile works t h a t d e a l t m ainly w ith th e l i t e r a r y a s p e c t o f th e a u th o r in c lu d e d H a z l i t t 's L e c tu re s on th e E n g lis h P o e t s . M ontgom ery's L e c tu re s on G en eral L i t e r a t u r e . Thomas C am p b ell's "E ssay on E n g lis h P o e tr y ," C o le r id g e 's m a rg in a lia and l e c t u r e s , and John D u n lo p 's H is to r y o f F i c t i o n . Even Mrs. B arbauld gave m ention to Bunyan in one of h e r s h o r t s k e tc h e s o f p ro s e romance. In a d d i t i o n , r e f e r e n c e s , b o th c r i t i c a l and a p p r e c i a t i v e , app eared w ith fre q u e n c y p a r t i c u l a r l y i n th e l e t t e r s and m is c e lla n e o u s e s s a y s , b u t a l s o in th e n o v e ls and poems o f th e p e r io d . C r i t i c a l i n t e r e s t in th e a l le g o r y showed i t s e l f n o t o n ly in th e ex te n d e d a t t e n t i o n d ev o ted to th e m a tte r o f p r o to ty p e s and s o u r c e s , b u t a l s o in th e d e t a i l e d d i s c u s s io n o f i t s s c e n e s , c h a r a c t e r s , and i n c i d e n t s , i t s s t y l e and la n g u a g e . The g e n e ra l a t t i t u d e o f th e p e r io d was one of l a v i s h a d m ira tio n of The P ilg rim * s P ro g re s s b y e v a n g e lic a l a d m ire rs , f o r i t s i n s t r u c t i o n a l and m oral u s e f u ln e s s , and o f a lm o st e q u a lly e n t h u s i a s t i c a p p r e c i a t i o n by s e c u la r c r i t i c s o f th e a l le g o r y a s a work o f a r t . 356 Yet an a n a l y s i s o f th e commendation a c co rd ed to The P ilg rim * s P ro g re s s by such w r i t e r s a s S o u th ey , S ir W alter S c o tt, and Thomas C am pbell, makes i t e v id e n t t h a t th e a l l e g o r y , though a d m itte d to be a work of a r t , was s t i l l re g a rd e d w ith som ething o f a p a t r o n iz in g and co n d escen d in g a t t i t u d e , a s b e in g th e f a v o r i t e o f th e u n ed u c ate d m asses. BUNYAN AS DOCTRINAL AND CONTROVERSIAL WRITER D uring th e p e r io d 1796-1830 B unyan's d o c t r i n a l and c o n t r o v e r s i a l w r i t i n g s , a s a w hole, re c e iv e d th e custom ary l a v i s h p r a i s e o f e v a n g e lic a l a d m ire rs , w h ile some few in d iv id u a l t r e a t i s e s c a l l e d f o r t h s p e c i f i c m e n tio n , and even com m endation, from s e c u la r b io g r a p h e rs . Such comments, how ever, were somewhat a r b i t r a r y , and made no a tte m p t to s e l e c t what was b e s t from th e v a s t volume o f th e s e w r i t i n g s o r f a i r l y t o e v a lu a te th e m e rits o f th e in d iv id u a l t r e a t i s e s . I n t e r e s t in th e d o c t r i n a l w r i tin g s was n o t e x t e n s iv e , and no d e f i n i t i v e s tu d y was 1 th o u g h t n e c e s s a ry . Even i n th e ca se of r e l i g i o u s w r i t e r s , 1 The in ad eq u acy o f knowledge among s e c u la r w r i t e r s and laymen in g e n e ra l c o n c e rn in g B unyan's d o c t r i n a l t r e a t i s e s i s e v id e n t from th e e n t r i e s i n th e B i b lio th e c a B r i t a n n i c a : o r a G e n e ra l Index to B r i t i s h and F o re ig n L i t e r a t u r e com piled b y R obert W att, M. D. ^E d in b u rg h , 1 8 2 4 ), V ol. I , c o l . 170 c . Of B unyan's d o c t r i n a l and c o n t r o v e r s i a l w r i t i n g s o n ly tw elv e w ere l i s t e d i n t h i s w ork, and th e s e n o t alw ays c o r r e c t l y ; I n s t r u c t i o n f o r th e I g n o r a n t, f o r i n s t a n c e , ap p eared a s I n s t i t u t i o n f o r th e I g n o r a n t. Two s p u rio u s w orks, H e a r t' s Ease i n H e a r t- tr o u b le and News from P e n n s y lv a n ia . were a t t r i b u t e d to Bunyan. The P ilg rim * s P r o g r e s s . w ith v a r io u s o f i t s e d i t i o n s , was re c o rd e d , b u t no m ention w h atev er was made o f B unyan's th r e e o th e r impor t a n t w orks, Grace A bounding. The Holy War, o r The L ife and D eath o f Mr. Badman. The B a p t i s t m in is te r Jo se p h Ivim ey was b e t t e r inform ed on th e canon o f B unyan's w orks, p o in ti n g o u t th e sp u rio u s n a tu re o f b o th th e t h i r d p a r t o f The P ilg rim * s P ro g re s s and H e a r t' s Ease in H e a r t- tr o u b le ( The L ife o f John Bunyan. 2 9 8 ), and q u e s tio n in g w h eth er th e *'Dying S ayings" were a c t u a l l y d e l iv e r e d by Bunyan on h i s d e a th -b e d ( i b i d . , 185 n . ) . 358 a t t e n t i o n was tu rn e d to B unyan's f o u r o u ts ta n d in g w orks, r a t h e r th a n to th e some f i f t y o t h e r t r e a t i s e s t h a t f i l l e d th e la r g e f o l i o volum es. Among b io g ra p h e rs who showed an i n t e r e s t in B unyan's d o c t r i n a l and c o n t r o v e r s i a l t r e a t i s e s a r e c h i e f l y to be 3 n o te d Jo se p h Ivim ey, B a p tis t m i n i s t e r and h i s t o r i a n , 2 Jo sep h Ivim ey (1 7 7 3 -1 8 3 4 ), C a l v i n i s t i c B a p t i s t , had an e x te n s iv e i n t e r e s t i n Bunyan. In 1809 he p u b lis h e d h i s L ife o f Bunyan (re p ro d u c in g e n t i r e th e t e x t of Grace Abounding and A R e la t io n of th e Im prisonm ent) , and in 1832 h i s e d i t i o n o f th e anonymous 1692 b io g ra p h y of Bunyan. He a ls o e d i t e d The P ilg rim * s P ro g re s s w ith n o te s (1 8 2 1 ), and composed a c o n tin u a tio n to th e a l l e g o r y u nder th e t i t l e P ilg rim s of th e N in e te e n th C entury (1 8 2 7 ). I n a d d i t i o n , he gave ex te n d e d m ention to Bunyan in h i s H is to r y o f th e E n g lis h B a p t i s t s (1 8 1 1 -1 8 3 0 ), p a r t i c u l a r l y in V o ls. I and I I . In h i s i n t r o d u c t io n to th e t h i r d volume o f h i s H is to r y Ivim ey s t a t e d h i s a t t i t u d e and s ta n d a s an h i s t o r i a n — w hich a p p l i e s a ls o t o h i s a t t i t u d e a s a b io g r a p h e r and g e n e ra l com m entator on Bunyan: N o tin g th e q u a l i f i c a t i o n s l i s t e d by S tra d a as r e q u i s i t e f o r one who would be a c h r o n ic le r o f e v e n ts , nam ely, t h a t he sh o u ld be of no c o u n try , no o r d e r o f men, no p a r t y , and no r e l i g i o n , Ivim ey d e c la r e d : "The w r i t e r o f t h i s H is to r y makes no p r e te n s io n s to such q u a l i f i c a t i o n s . He i s an E n g lish m an , who v e n e ra te s th e e x c e l l e n t and l i b e r a l c o n s t i t u t i o n s e t t l e d a t th e p e r io d o f th e g lo r io u s R e v o lu tio n i n 1688; he i s a P r o t e s t a n t , who ad m ires th e p r i n c i p l e s o f th e R e fo rm a tio n ; he i s a D i s s e n t e r . who c la im s th e r i g h t o f p r i v a t e judgm ent i n m a tte r s o f r e l i g i o n , and who r e j o i c e s t h a t t h i s r i g h t i s re c o g n iz e d and co n firm ed by th e Act of T o le r a tio n ; he i s a B a p t i s t , who r e j e c t s P aed o b ap tism , b ec au se he c o n s id e r s i t an u n - s c r i p t u r a l in n o v a tio n ; and he i s a C a l v i n i s t . who g l o r i e s i n th e d o c t r in e s of f r e e g ra c e a s e x h ib ite d in th e g o s p e l, b e c a u se no one owes more to s o v e re ig n g r a c e , o r e x p e c ts more from i t , th a n h im s e lf 1 1 (H is to r y of th e E n g lis h B a p t i s t s , I I I , " P re fa c e ," i i i J ~ . 359 3 and R o b ert S outhey, o rth o d o x churchm an, two w r i t e r s o f d i a m e t r i c a l l y o p p o s ite a t t i t u d e s , whose comments, in d e e d , c o n s t i t u t e a la r g e p o r t i o n of th e d is c u s s io n of Bunyan d u r in g t h i s p e r io d . E v a n g e lic a l a d m ire rs o f Bunyan, o f whom Ivim ey was t y p i c a l , saw in t h a t w o rth y ’ s d o c t r i n a l w r i t i n g s a m a n if e s ta tio n of th e same s p i r i t t h a t had made him em inent a s a p r e a c h e r . Ivim ey, in d e e d , c i t e d th e same w e ll known B i b l i c a l t e x t which Bunyan’ s c o n te m p o ra rie s had a p p lie d to him , i n s u b s t a n t i a t i n g h i s c o n te n tio n t h a t th e s e v e n te e n th .c e n tu r y w r i t e r was “e m in e n tly q u a l i f i e d f o r te a c h in g men th e way to s a l v a t i o n " ; I t must be a lm o st a d m itte d t h a t th e g i f t s which he p o s s e s s e d were d e riv e d im m ediately from C h r is t: b e in g b o rn i n o b s c u r it y , and sp ending so many y e a rs in s i n , he had n e i t h e r o p p o r tu n ity nor i n c l i n a t i o n to o b ta in human l e a r n in g ; and when he was b ro u g h t to th e knowledge o f th e t r u t h , h a v in g a fa m ily which r e q u ir e d a l l h i s a t t e n t i o n , 3 P ro p e rly to e v a lu a te th e im portance of S o u th e y ’s L if e o f Bunyan and h i s o th e r r e f e r e n c e s to t h a t a u th o r and h i s w orks, th e h ig h e s tim a tio n in which Southey s to o d w ith h i s c o n te m p o ra rie s must be re c o g n iz e d . S c o tt h e ld Southey i n h ig h re g a rd a s a p o e t; Landor li k e d Madoc and T h alab a so much t h a t , when he found Southey h e s i t a t i n g to w r ite more poems o f a s i m i l a r k in d b e c a u se th ey d id n o t p ay , he o f f e r e d to b e a r th e expense of p u b l i c a t i o n ( F o r s t e r , L ife of W a lte r Savage L andor, I , 2 0 9 -3 1 4 ); even Byron adm ired S o u th e y 's p o e try and h e ld t h a t h i s p ro s e was " p e r f e c t" (B yron, L e t t e r s and J o u r n a l s , e d ite d by P r o th e r o , I I , 3 3 1 ). T his m a tte r i s d is c u s s e d by M argaret B a l l , S ir W a lte r S c o tt a s a C r i t i c o f L i t e r a t u r e (New York: Columbia U n iv e r s ity P r e s s , 1 8 0 7 ), 9 1 -3 . 360 he was s t i l l o b lig e d to la b o u r , w orking w ith h i s h an d s. H is b e in g i l l i t e r a t e , t h e r e f o r e , was n o t h i s d is g r a c e , a s th e r e can be no doubt b u t a man o f h i s good se n se would have o b ta in e d th e ad v a n ta g e s o f l i t e r a r y a tta in m e n t, had th e y b een i n h i s power. But in t h i s in s t a n c e , a s w e ll a s i n many o t h e r s , God a p p e a rs to have chosen th e f o o l i s h th in g s o f th e w orld to confound th e w is e . and th e weak th in g s of th e w orld to c o n found th e th in g s which a r e m ig h ty . . . . [ l . Gor. 2 7 ]^ Ivim ey found in a l l Bunyan’s works “a p r a c t i c a l te n d e n c y ,” s t a t i n g t h a t t h a t w r i t e r ap p e a re d “to have a f firm e d c o n s t a n t l y , t h a t th o se who had b e l ie v e d in God sh o u ld be c a r e f u l to m a in ta in good w o rk s. a s th in g s w hich 5 were good and a c c e p ta b le u n to men. " Bunyan’ s w r i t i n g s , ^ Jo sep h Ivim ey, The L ife o f John Bunyan. M in is te r o f th e G ospel a t B e d fo rd ; in w hich i s e x e m p lifie d th e Power o f E v a n g e lic a l P r i n c i p l e s ^ T h ird e d i t i o n , im proved. O xford; P r in t e d f o r B a r t l e t t and H in to n ; and B. J . H oldsw orth,London, 1823) ,.,116.'- . (The f i r s t e d i t i o n o f t h i s book ap p eared in 1 8 0 9 .) Iv im ey ’s e x ten d ed d e fe n s e of i t i n e r a t e and i l l i t e r a t e m i n i s t e r s , such a s Bunyan, a p p e a rs in h i s H is to r y of th e B a p t i s t s : “I t i s t r u e t h a t many who have been p a s to r s o f th e B a p tis t ch u rch e s have b een m echanics and trad e sm en ; and some o f th e s e conducted b u s in e s s in c o n n e c tio n w ith t h e i r m in is tr y — b u t none w i l l c o n s id e r th e s e c irc u m s ta n c e s a s d is h o n o u ra b le , who remember t h a t th e A p o stle s were fish e rm e n and te n t-m a k e rs , whose hands m in is te re d to t h e i r n e c e s s i t i e s ; t h a t many who have b een b u t l i t t l e a c q u a in te d w ith la n g u a g e s o r s c ie n c e s , have y e t b ee n c o n v e rs a n t w ith d iv in e t r u t h , and n o t a l i t t l e s u c c e s s f u l i n th e tu r n in g o f s in n e r s to God by J e s u s C h r i s t . . . . "That th e P a s to r s and E ld e r s in th e B a p t i s t ch u rch e s have b e e n ' f a i t h f u l m in i s te r s o f C h r i s t ' we may s a f e l y a p p e a l to t h e i r i n d e f a t i g a b l e la b o u r s , and t h e i r p a t i e n t s u f f e r i n g s . I t w i l l s a t i s f y any u n p re ju d ic e d p e rs o n t h a t t h i s s ta te m e n t can be s u b s t a n t i a t e d , who h e a rs th e names of Bunyan, K each, G i f f o r d , C h eare. G ra n th a n . G r i f f i t h . B a m fie ld . and D elaune # ( H is to r y o f th e B a p t i s t s . I I , v i i - v i i i J T 5 Ibid.. 203. 361 " c o n s id e re d e i t h e r in a d o c t r i n a l , e x p e rim e n ta l, o r p r a c t i c a l p o in t of v ie w ," Ivim ey h e ld to e x h i b i t " s t r e n g th of i n t e l l e c t , and a d e v o tio n a l mind; a re g a rd to th e d iv in e 6 h o n o u r, and a lo v e to th e s o u ls of men." H olding th e same d o c t r i n a l c o n c e p ts a s Bunyan, Ivim ey re g a rd e d t h a t w r i t e r 's s e n tim e n ts a s sound and commendable. "They w ere d e c id e d ly O a l v i n i s t i c ," he w ro te , "and sq u a re d w ith th e r u le l a i d down by th e c e le b r a t e d Mr. H ervey, a s th e s ta n d a r d o f r e l i g i o u s t r u t h . " They have a d e c id e d te n d e n c y to ^'hum ble th e s i n n e r , to e x a l t th e S a v io u r, and to prom ote h o l i n e s s . " H is r e l i g i o u s o p in io n s were e q u a lly d i s t a n t from A ntinom ianism and A rm inianism ; th e two t h i e v e s , a s th e l a t e Mr. Booth used to sa y , betw een which th e p u re g o sp e l was c r u c i f i e d . ” A ll B unyan's w r i t i n g s , c o n tin u e d t h i s b io g r a p h e r, prove t h a t he b e lie v e d " th e a b s o lu te n e c e s s i t y o f th e om nipotent e n e r g ie s o f th e Holy S p i r i t to renew th e h e a r t o f e v e ry f a l l e n son o f Adam: y e t he sa y s n o th in g t h a t would le a d a s in n e r to conclude t h a t h i s d e p r a v ity was n o t h i s crim e , b u t r a t h e r h i s m is fo r tu n e , a s some have seemed to in tim a te s ® Jo sep h Ivim ey, The L ife o f John B unyan, 198. rf Loc. c i t . The rem ark t h a t Ivimey a t t r i b u t e s to Booth i s v e ry s im i l a r to t h a t o f Toplady: " C h r is t i s s t i l l c r u c i f i e d betw een two th ie v e s : A ntinom ianism and P h a risa ism " (" O b s e rv a tio n s and R e f l e c t i o n s ," Works, IV, 2 6 5 ). 8 Loc. c i t . 362 Adam C la rk e , though he d i f f e r e d from Bunyan in c e r t a i n p o i n t s o f d o c t r i n e , n e v e r th e le s s re c o g n iz e d him to he a w r i t e r o f m e r it on s u b je c ts o f d i v i n i t y . Had Bunyan p o s s e s s e d “th e a d v a n ta g e s o f a l i b e r a l ed u c atio n ,'* and had he l i v e d i n timeB o f g r e a t e r t o l e r a n c e , s t a t e d C la rk e , th e s e v e n te e n th c e n tu ry w r i t e r would have o ccu p ied "a most r e s p e c ta b le p la c e amongst th e b e s t w r i t e r s on e t h i c , p o le m ic , and e x p e rim e n ta l d i v i n i t y o f h i s day. A f te r "m a tu rely c o n s id e rin g " B unyan's v a r io u s w orks, and th e " v a s t a c c u m u la tio n o f d is a d v a n ta g e s u n d er w hich he 9 Adam C lark e (1 7 6 2 ? -1 8 3 2 ), W esleyan p r e a c h e r , com m entator, and th e o l o g i c a l w r i t e r , was th e m ost n o ted s c h o la r of th e W esleyan body, re c o g n iz e d p a r t i c u l a r l y f o r h i s o r i e n t a l s t u d i e s . H is e v a n g e lic a l te n d e n c y and h i s s p i r i t u a l k in s h ip w ith such w r i t e r s as Bunyan, can be se e n from th e ac co u n t o f h i s e a r l y l i f e : Though b ro u g h t up in th e f e a r of God, C la rk e , l i k e Bunyan, had h i s u n re g e n e ra te days d u r in g which he lo v e d d a n c in g and p le a s u r e (An Account o f th e I n f a n c y , R e lig io u s and L i t e r a r y L i f e , of Adam C la r k e . I , 3 7 ); h e , to o , e x p e rie n c e d D iv in e p ro v id e n c e which saved him from d e a th f o r a l i f e d e s tin e d f o r h ig h p u rp o se s ( i b i d . , I , 3 8 -9 ); he underw ent c o n v e rs io n (th o u g h by no " v io le n t a w a k en in g "), and t h e r e a f t e r would o f te n w alk in th e f i e l d s w ith h i s s i s t e r Hannah, th e two t a l k i n g "ab o u t God and t h e i r s o u ls " ( i b i d . , 47, 6 3 ). 10 Adam C la rk e , " P o s ts c r i p t to a L if e o f John Bunyan" (1 8 0 9 ), p r e f ix e d to C. C. V. G. Li. e . , Mrs. Dawson W e th e r e lt] , B unyanfs P i l g r i m 's P r o g r e s s . c o n v e rte d in t o An E pic Poem, a c c o rd in g to th e S u g g e stio n of th e L ate D octor Adam C larke ( P a rso n sto w n : S h e ild s and Son, 1 8 4 4 ) , 4 5 . 363 c o n t i n u a l l y la b o u re d in e x e c u tin g th e m ,” C lark e e x p re s s e d h im s e lf a s f in d in g B unyan's "g e n iu s and p ie ty " h ig h ly r e s p e c t a b l e . In d eed , he f e l t "no d i f f i c u l t y " i n s u b s c r ib in g t o A d d iso n 's o p in io n t h a t had Bunyan liv e d i n th e tim e o f th e p r i m i t i v e F a th e r s , he would have been a s g r e a t a F a th e r a s any o f th e m .1* S outhey, r e g a r d in g B unyan's d o c t r i n a l w r i t i n g s ob j e c t i v e l y , found t h e i r e x p r e s s io n o f C alv in ism t o b e , in th e m ain, u n o b je c tio n a b le : "Some p a s sa g e s o c c u r in them w hich make us s h u d d e r;" he w ro te ; " th e s e a r e v e ry few , and i n what may p ro b a b ly be deemed h i s e a r l i e r w orks, b e c a u se such p a s s a g e s a re found i n th em ." But th e g e n e r a l te n o r o f h i s w r i tin g s i s m ild , and t o l e r a n t , and c h a r i t a b l e ; and i f C a lv in ism had n e v e r worn a b la c k e r ap p e aran c e th a n in B unyan's w o rk s, i t co u ld n e v e r have become a term o f r e p ro a c h ; n o r have d r iv e n so many p io u s m in d s, in h o r r o r o f i t , to an o p p o s ite e x tre m e .12 ^ Adam C la rk e , ," B o s t s c r i p t ; t d .a L if e o f John Bunyan" (1 8 0 9 ), 4 5 -6 . ................ R obert S o u th ey , " L ife o f John B u n y a n , i n S e le c t B io g r a p h ie s . Cromwell and Bunyan (London: John M urray, 1844) , 155. S o u th e y 's b io g ra p h y was f i r s t p u b lis h e d a s a p r e f a c e to an e d i t i o n o f The P ilg rim * s P ro g re s s is s u e d by M ajor and M urray, London, 1830. S o u th e y 's famous dictu m on th e s p i r i t o f B unyan's works i s e x tre m e ly im p o rta n t, p a r t i c u l a r l y in th e l i g h t o f h i s a t t i t u d e tow ard C a lv in ism . S o u th ey , a s M acaulay n o te d ( "John B unyan," M isc e lla n e o u s Works. I I , 3 6 7 ), had "no lo v e f o r th e C a l v i n i s t s . " In d e e d , a s Southey h im s e lf w rote t o - Jo sep h C o ttle : " U ltra -C a lv in is m i s a s l i t t l e to my l i k i n g a s i t i s to y o u r s . . . " (Southey to Joseph C o t t l e , A p ril 7, 1825, i n Jo se p h C o t t l e , R em iniscences o f Samuel T a y lo r C o le rid g e and R obert S outhey, , 240T^ 364 The s t r o n g e s t and most u n re a s o n a b le p r e ju d ic e w hich th e o rth o d o x Southey n o te d i n Bunyan’ s w r i tin g s was h i s d i s l i k e o f th e Book of Common P ra y e r. In more s p e c i f i c comment, Bunyan’s c r i t i c s found him to be t o l e r a n t in h i s c o n t r o v e r s i a l w r itin g s and e n t i t l e d to some commendation f o r h i s d o c t r i n a l t r e a t i s e s . In Bunyan' s D if fe re n c e s of Judgment a b o u t Water B aptism , a s w e ll a s i n h i s P e a c e a b le P r i n c i p l e s and T r u e . d i r e c t e d a g a in s t h i s B a p tis t b r e t h r e n , Ivim ey f e l t t h a t t h a t w r i t e r m a n ife s te d "much C h r i s t i a n tem per and m o d e ra tio n ." In th e s e w orks, d e c la r e d Ivim ey, Bunyan " f ir m ly and c a n d id ly " s t a t e d h i s s e n tim e n ts , w hich, "w hether th e y a r e tr u e o r f a l s e , were c e r t a i n l y to h i s h onour, and sh o u ld have p r e s e rv e d him from th e ch arg e o f b i g o t r y , " w hich t h a t w r i t e r f e l t had 13 u n f a i r l y b e e n b ro u g h t a g a in s t Bunyan. S outhey, who a l s o d is c u s s e d t h i s c o n tr o v e rs y , a s w e ll a s Bunyan’ s q u a r r e l w ith th e Q u ak e rs, f e l t t h a t in g e n e ra l Bunyan had no g r e a t l i k i n g f o r c o n tro v e rs y , and t h a t h is m ain i n t e r e s t was i n aw akening r e l i g i o u s f e e l i n g . In h i s d is p u t e w ith th e B a p t i s t s , n o te d S outhey, Bunyan d is p la y e d a t o l e r a n t s p i r i t : Throughout t h i s c o n tro v e rs y Bunyan a p p e a rs to g r e a t ad v an tag e a s a meek, good man, beyond th e 13 Jo se p h Ivim ey, The L if e o f John Bunyan. 2 0 1 -3 . 365 g e n e r a l s p i r i t of h ie age in t o l e r a t i o n , and f a r beyond t h a t o f h i s f e llo w s e c t a r i a n s . He was in deed so c a t h o l i c a s p i r i t , t h a t though c irc u m s ta n c e s had made him a s e c t a r i a n , he l i k e d n o t t o be c a l l e d by th e d en o m in atio n of h i s s e c t . 3*4 The i n t e r e s t o f th e n o n co n fo rm ist h i s t o r i a n s Bogue and B e n n e t t ^ c e n te r e d r a t h e r i n Bunyan th e p re a c h e r th a n i n Bunyan th e d o c t r i n a l w r i t e r , though th e y commended h i s r e l i g i o u s to le r a n c e and l i b e r a l i t y , and found him p a c i f i c and m ild i n c o n tro v e rs y : I n s te a d o f th e v a n i ty , o r th e ru d e n e s s , which to o o f t e n d is c o lo u r th e v i r t u e s of th o s e who, l i k e Bunyan, have emerged from o b s c u r ity to f l a t t e r i n g d i s t i n c t i o n , he d is p la y e d u n a f f e c te d h u m il ity and g e n t le n e s s , an d , by ta k in g c a re n e v e r t o f o r g e t h i s form er d e g r a d a tio n , he d isa rm ed a l l who would have throw n i t in h i s 14 R obert S o u th ey , “L if e o f John B unyan," op,, c i t . . 157. As W illiam York T in d a ll (o p . c i t . . 4 4 , and e lse w h e re ) h a s p o in te d o u t, on th e b a s i s o f h i s e x te n s iv e r e s e a r c h on B unyan's c o n t r o v e r s i a l a c t i v i t i e s , t h a t w r i t e r was by no means a s p a c i f i c and t o l e r a n t a s he r e p r e s e n te d h im s e lf to b e , o r a s Southey h e re d e p i c ts him. See s u p r a , page 101, n o te 33. 15 David Bogue (1750-1825) and James B e n n ett (1774-1862) were b o th C o n g r e g a tio n a l! s t m i n i s t e r s . T h e ir H is to r y o f D is s e n te r s ( f i r s t e d i t i o n , 1 8 0 9 ), though a t tim e s somewhat p a r t i s a n and e m b itte r e d , shows th e e v i dence o f r e s e a r c h and p a in s ta k in g z e a l , and i s a s ta n d a r d work on th e h i s t o r y o f d i s s e n t (A. B. O ro s a rt i n D ic tio n a r y o f R a tio n a l B io g ra p h y , I I , 756). 366 t e e t h . In d is c u s s in g B unyan's d o c t r i n a l t r e a t i s e s Ivim ey p o in te d out th e c o r r e c t s e n tim e n ts t h a t u n d e rla y th e 17 ’’b e a u t i f u l l i t t l e p i e c e , 'Come and Welcome to J e s u s C h r i s t ' , ” and r e f e r r e d to th e “e x c e l l e n t argum ents on th e d o c tr in e o f j u s t i f i c a t i o n by th e b lo o d and r ig h te o u s n e s s o f C h r i s t ” c o n ta in e d in B unyan's D efense o f th e D o c trin e o f J u s t i - 16 David Bogue and James B e n n e tt, The H is to ry o f D i s s e n t e r s . from th e R e v o lu tio n to th e y e a r 1808 ( “Second E d i t i o n ’ * [ so c a l l e d on t i t l e p ag e ; t h i s , how ever, i s a p p a r e n tly a r e p r i n t i n g o f th e second e d i t i o n which had b e e n p u b lis h e d i n 1813. The D ic tio n a r y o f N a tio n a l Bio g rap h y ( I I , 765) r e f e r s to th e e d i t i o n o f 1833 a s th e " t h i r d e d i tio n " ], e d i t e d by James B e n n e tt. London: F re d e r ic k W estley and A. H. D a v is, 1 8 3 3 ), I , 466. The d is c u s s io n o f Bunyan in t h i s work o c c u rs i n th e s e c tio n e n t i t l e d “L iv es o f Em inent D i s s e n t e r s , ” w h e re in t r i b u t e i s a l s o p a id to such w e ll known men a s John Owen, R ich ard B a x te r, and John Howe, a s w e ll a s to some dozen l e s s e r known d iv in e s whose names were once famous in th e a n n a ls o f th e d i s s e n t i n g m in i s tr y . "Such b io g ra p h y i s recommended to u s , " s t a t e d th e a u t h o r s , "by th e a u t h o r i t y and example o f th e in s p i r e d w r i t e r s , who, w h ile engaged in n a r r a t i n g th e h i s t o r y o f th e w o rld , and o f th e ch u rc h , e x h i b i t a sk e tc h o f th e c h a r a c te r and co n d u c t o f th e most em in en t s a i n t s ” ( H is to r y of D i s s e n t e r s . I , 4 1 7 ). 17 Joseph Ivim ey, A H is to r y o f th e E n g lis h B a p t i s t s (London, 1 8 1 1 -1 8 3 0 ), I I I , 263. T h is work i s e n t i t l e d A H is to ry o f th e E n g lis h B a p t i s t s . b u t each o f th e fo u r volum es b e a r s a f u r t h e r t i t l e , i n d i c a t i n g th e s p e c i f i c p e rio d and s u b je c t co v ered t h e r e i n (se e B ib lio g r a p h y ) . The re c o rd o f p r i n t e r and p u b lis h e r d i f f e r s i n th e v a r io u s volum es, a s does d a te o f p u b l i c a t i o n . V ol. I ap p e a re d in 1811; V ol. I I , in 1814; V ol. I l l , i n 1833, and V ol. IV in 1830. Ivim ey a t one tim e p ro p o se d th e w r i t i n g o f a f i f t h volume (H is to r y of th e E n g lis h B a p t i s t s . I l l , " P re f a c e ” ) , b u t on r e f l e c t i o n d e c id e d to l i m i t h im s e lf to fo u r ( i b i d . , IV, " P r e f a c e " ) . 367= lft f i c a t i o n . ° and commended, in th e fo llo w in g w o rd s, th e p r i n c i p l e s t h a t Bunyan had " c l e a r l y and e x p r e s s ly " s t a t e d i n A C o n fe ssio n o f My F a ith and a Reason o f my P r a c t i c e : He f a i t h f u l l y c h a rg e s s in n e r s w ith t h e i r g u i l t , and w arns them of t h e i r d an g e r: and p e r s u a d e s , e n t r e a t s , and e x h o r ts them w ith much m eekness, and g r e a t e a r n e s t n e s s , to seek u nto Cod f o r th e p a rd o n o f a l l t h e i r s i n s , in th e name o f Je su s C h r i s t ; d e c l a r i n g , a c c o rd in g to th e p ro m ise , t h a t a l l t h a t se ek s h a l l f i n d . He seems t o have th o u g h t t h a t th e i n v i t a t i o n s o f th e g o sp e l were i n d e f i n i t e and g e n e r a l, and t h a t th e p ro m ise s were d e f i n i t e and p a r t i c u l a r ; t h a t th e form er were a d d re s s e d to a l l s in n e r s w ith o u t d i s t i n c t i o n , and t h a t th e l a t t e r r e l a t e d o n ly to b e l i e v e r s . 19 Southey found Some G o s p e l- tr u th s Opened t o be a "calm , w e ll- a r r a n g e d , and w e ll-s u p p o r te d s ta te m e n t" of S c r i p t u r a l d o c t r in e s on c e r t a i n p o i n t s w hich i t s a u th o r o n h e ld th e Q uakers to m is c o n s tru e . u He p r a is e d th e s t r a i g h t fo rw a rd language i n w hich th e book was w r i t t e n , though he f e l t t h a t a s Bunyan had o r i g i n a l l y penned th e t r e a t i s e i t m ight w e ll have had "as t i n k e r l y an ap p e aran c e" a s h i s w re tch e d v e r s e s , and m ight have needed th e d e l e t i o n o f "some v u lg a ris m s" from th e pen o f B unyan's p a s t o r B u rto n . ^•8 Joseph Ivim ey, The L ife o f John Bunyan, 174. 19 I b i d . . 198-1S9. R obert S o u th ey , "L ife o f John Bunyan," op. c i t . . 131-2. 81 Ibid., 131. 3 68 A p a ssa g e from The H eavenly Footman Southey th o u g h t w o rth th e q u o tin g "because i t i s i n B ishop L a tim e r 's v e i n . 1,22 C o le r id g e , i n a n n o ta tin g h i s e d i t i o n of S o u th e y 's b io g ra p h y , showed more i n t e r e s t i n th e p a ra g ra p h , f i n d i n g in i t "th e v e ry echo o f th e c h a p te r on th e Law and G o sp el, in L u th e r 's T able T a lk ." B unyan's w ords, in d e e d , se rv e d him to sub s t a n t i a t e h i s c o n te n tio n t h a t th e s e v e n te e n th c e n tu ry w r i t e r was— e x c e p t f o r h i s A n ti-p a e d o b a p tis m , " to which to o he a s s ig n s no sa v in g im p o rta n c e "— L u th e ra n , r a t h e r prt th a n C a l v i n i s t i c in h i s d o c t r i n a l s e n tim e n ts . 22 R obert S o u th ey , "L ife o f John B unyan," o p . c i t . , 159. 23 Samuel T a y lo r C o le rid g e , " L ite r a r y R em ains," The Com plete Works of Samuel T ay lo r C o le rid g e ( e d i t e d by W . G. T. Shedd. Hew York: H arp er and B r o th e r s , 1 8 5 4 ), V, 256. The m a rg in a l n o te s on Bunyan t h a t a p p e a r i n " L i t e r a r y Remains" w ere w r i t t e n , a c c o rd in g to Henry H elson C o le rid g e (" P re fa c e " to " L ite r a r y R em ains," i b i d . , x i i ) , in 1833; t h i s , how ever, c a n n o t be e n t i r e l y c o r r e c t , s in c e c e r t a i n o f th e n o te s a r e d a te d 1830 by C o le rid g e h im s e lf (a s on pp. 252, 260, 2 6 3 ). S ince th e e x a c t d a te o f some o f th e n o te s i s in d o u b t, t h e r e f o r e , and s in c e th e id e a s and s e n tim e n ts e x p re s s e d in a l l th e n o te s i s s i m i l a r , th e whole body o f comment h as b e e n c o n s id e re d i n th e fo llo w in g d is c u s s io n w ith o u t s p e c i f i c n o te o f th e d a te . C o l e r id g e 's i n t e r e s t in Bunyan was c u r io u s l y l i m i t e d . Though he s t a t e d t h a t a s a boy he " re a d e v e ry book t h a t came in my way w ith o u t d i s t i n c t i o n , " he made no r e f e r e n c e to The P ilg rim * s P ro g re s s in r e c o r d in g h i s c h ild h o o d re a d in g ; n e i t h e r d id h i s b io g ra p h e r (Henry H elson C o le rid g e , " B io g ra p h ic a l Supplem ent t o th e B io g ra p h ia L i t e r a r i a , " i b i d . . I l l , 6 0 8-9; 6 05-6; 6 0 7 ). C o le rid g e ap p a r e n t l y p o s s e s s e d a copy o f The P ilg rim * s P ro g re s s ( P a r ts I and I I , p lu s th e s p u rio u s P a r t I I I ) , e d i te d b y R. Edw ards, 1820. In h i s w r i t i n g s , how ever, o c c u rs b u t one r e f e r e n c e to Bunyan ( i n "A C ourse of L e c tu r e s ," 1818, W orks, IV, 247) b e f o re th e d a te o f S o u th e y 's L ife (1 8 3 0 ), w hich he a n n o ta te d . T h is seems to im ply t h a t S o u th e y ’ s L ife gave C o le rid g e an i n t e r e s t i n Bunyan which he had h i t h e r t o n o t p o s s e s s e d . 369 In Bunyan’ s t r a c t s c o n ta in in g th e s u b s ta n c e o f h i s serm ons, Southey found l i t t l e t o commend; th e h ig h p r a i s e t h a t th e sermons had c a l l e d f o r t h from Bunyan’ s contem p o r a r i e s , f e l t t h a t c r i t i c , was u n d o u b te d ly due to Bunyan’ s p a 35 vehem ent and v ig o ro u s d e l i v e r y . Samuel P a r r had th e same a t t i t u d e tow ard th e sermons and tow ard “Bunyan th e t i n k e r " a s a p r e a c h e r , c l a s s i n g him w ith "Newton th e mid shipm an" and "Boehmen th e sh o e m a k e r,” w ith W h ite f ie ld , W esley, Romaine, and " o th e r nam eless r h a p s o d i s t s , ” a s p re a c h in g in a manner t h a t m ight be u n d e rsto o d and a d - raited i n c o n v e n tic le s , b u t was n o t w e ll a d a p te d to th e 34 R obert S o u th ey , "L ife o f John B unyan," o p . c i t . , 154. S ir ¥ /a lte r S c o tt r e i t e r a t e d t h i s o p in io n in h i s re v ie w , " S o u th e y 's L if e o f John B unyan," p u b lis h e d i n th e Q . u a r t e r l y R eview , O c to b e r, 1830 ( " P e r i o d i c a l C r iti c is m ," I I , M is c e lla n e o u s W orks, X V III. E dinburgh: Adam and C h a rle s B la c k , 1 8 8 1 ), 93. 35 Samuel P a r r (1 7 4 7 -1 8 3 5 ), pedagogue, d iv in e , and volum inous a u th o r and c o rre s p o n d e n t— n o to r io u s f o r h i s d is p l a y of Greek and L a ti n q u o ta tio n s , h is p o m p o sity and v e r b o s i t y of s t y l e , and h i s i l l e g i b i l i t y of h a n d w ritin g — " h e a r t i l y d e t e s t e d th e e v a n g e lic a ls " ( L e s lie S tephen in D ic tio n a ry o f N a tio n a l B io g ra p h y , XV, 3 6 3 ). The e x te n t of P a r r ’ s i n t e r e s t in Bunyan can be se en from th e f a c t t h a t h i s f i n e l i b r a r y o f t e n th o u san d volum es, r i c h in t h e o l o g i c a l l i t e r a t u r e , c o n ta in e d b u t one Bunyan item — a 16mo. e d i t i o n o f The P i l g r i m ’ s P r o g r e s s . ( B i b lio th e c a P a r r i a n a , 5 1 4 ). On th e f l y le a v e s o f c e r t a i n o f h i s books P a rr re c o rd e d a comment a s to t h e i r n a t u r e , h i s o p in io n o f th e volum es, e t c . ; t h i s he d id n o t do in th e c a se o f The P i l g r i m ’ s P r o g r e s s . 370 26 p u l p i t o f th e Church of E ngland. In d is c u s s in g Bunyan a s a p r e a c h e r ,^ 7 b o th Ivim ey and S o u th ey , i t i s i n t e r e s t i n g to n o te , r e l a t e d th e w e ll - known e u lo g y supposed to have b e e n spoken by John Owen: I t i s s a id , t h a t C h a rle s I I . once ask ed Dr. Owen, how h e , b e in g so le a r n e d , co u ld s i t and h e a r an i l l i t e r a t e t i n k e r p r a t e ; to which he r e p l i e d , "May i t p le a s e your M a je sty , c o u ld I p o s s e s s th e t i n k e r ’ s a b i l i t i e s f o r p r e a c h in g , I would most g la d ly r e l i n q u i s h a l l my l e a r n i n g . "^S W hereas Ivim ey, how ever, re c o rd e d t h i s a s a happy in s ta n c e o f s e v e n te e n th c e n tu ry a p p r e c ia t io n of Bunyan’ s e lo q u e n c e , S outhey d is m is s e d i t a s a re p ro a c h to John Owen’ s good judgm ent: 26 Samuel P a r r , "Appendix to th e Uote upon Mr. F o x ’ s H is to r y o f th e R eign of James I I , " a f f i x e d to " C h a ra c te r o f C h a rle s James Fox, by F h i l o p a t r i s V ar- v i c e n s i s " [ i . e . , Samuel P a r r j (1 8 0 9 ), The Works o f Samuel P a r r . . . , w ith Memoirs o f h i s L ife and W r iti n g s . and a S e le c tio n from h i s C o rresp o n d e n ce. by John Jo h n sto n e TTondon: Longman, R ees, Orme, Brown, and G reen, 1828), IV, 545. 27 As i s e v id e n t from h i s d is c u s s io n o f John G if f o r d , S outhey had no v e ry h ig h c o n c e p tio n o f th e q u a l i f i c a t i o n s r e q u i s i t e to th o se who "u n d erto o k th e cu re o f s o u ls " in th e s e v e n te e n th c e n tu ry : I f th e r e were b u t a s u f f i c i e n t sto c k o f b o ld n e s s to b e g in w ith , he rem arked, i t s u f f i c e d f o r them t h a t th e y were e n t h u s i a s t i c ( " L ife o f John B unyan," o p . c i t . , 1 0 1 ). pQ Jo sep h Ivim ey, The L ife o f John Bunyan. 177, n. Ivim ey, by p la c in g t h i s an e cd o te i n a f o o tn o te , a d m itte d t h a t i t s a u t h e n t i c i t y was n o t e n t i r e l y e s t a b l i s h e d . zm T h is o p in io n would be d i s c r e d i t a b l e to Owen’ s judgm ent, i f he r e a l l y e n t e r t a i n e d i t , and th e a n e c d o te were e n t i t l e d to b e l i e f . 9 As w i l l be se en i n th e d is c u s s io n o f Bunyan a s an a u to - b io g r a p h e r , th e a t t i t u d e of each o f th e s e w r i t e r s tow ard t h i s a n e c d o te t y p i f i e s h i s a t t i t u d e tow ard Bunyan and h i s works in g e n e r a l. I n t e r e s t i n B unyan's d o c t r i n a l and c o n t r o v e r s i a l w r i t i n g s , i t i s e v i d e n t , was n o t e x te n s iv e d u rin g t h i s p e r io d . W rite rs whose a p p r e c ia t io n o f Bunyan was p r i m a rily r e l i g i o u s had by t h i s tim e tu rn e d to th e b e t t e r known w o rk s, Grace Abounding;. The Holy War, and even The L if e and D eath o f Mr. Badman—b u t , i n p a r t i c u l a r , to The P i l g r i m 1s P r o g r e s s . a s w r i tin g s on w hich to b ase t h e i r e u l o g i s t i c com mendations o f Bunyan a s a sound d o c t r i n a l te a c h e r . 29 R obert S o u th ey , " L ife of John B unyan," op> c i t . , 1 5 4 . BUNYAN AS POET RIVAL TO FELICIA HEMANS The e a r l y y e a rs o f th e n in e te e n th c e n tu r y mark th e b e g in n in g o f a d i s c r i m i n a t i v e a p p r e c ia t io n of th e two poems w r i t t e n by John Bunyan t h a t a r e r e a l l y d e s e r v in g of p r a i s e , "He t h a t i s down needs f e a r no f a l l , " and "Who would t r u e V alour s e e ," b o th from th e Second P a r t o f The P i l g r i m 8s P r o g r e s s , H is more a m b itio u s p o e t i c a tte m p ts a p p e a r to have b e e n f o r g o tt e n . The D ivine Emblems. tho u g h p u b lis h e d a t l e a s t th r e e tim e s d u rin g t h i s p e r io d , d id n o t m e rit th e a t t e n t i o n o f c r i t i c s . The rhymed i n t r o d u c t i o n t o The P i l g r i m 1s P r o g r e s s , however— c e r t a i n l y n o t s u p e r io r to th e Emblems in p o e t ic m e r it— found f a v o r a b le m en tio n from b o th S i r W a lte r S c o tt and C h a rles Lamb. Lamb’ s a f f e c t i o n f o r Bunyan was t h a t f o r an o ld a u th o r whose work he had re a d and lo v e d a s a c h i l d . I t was a p a r t o f h i s "o ld h o n e s t d e l i g h t . . . i n books n o t q u ite con temporary,"^ and em braced, a s w i l l be n o te d , n o t o n ly The 20 D ivine Emblems was p u b lis h e d by J . Mawman, in th e P o u ltr y , 1802; by M. Lockman, C o v en try , n. d . ; and by N. M erridew , 1806. These e d i t i o n s , s t a t e s John Brown ( " I n t r o d u c t io n ," to John Bunyan, A Book f o r Boys and G i r l s , x x v i i i ) , c a l l f o r no s p e c ia l rem ark. 3^ C h a rle s Lamb, "Lepus P a p e r s ," I I , "R eaders a g a i n s t th e G ra in " ( f i r s t p r i n t e d i n The New Times, J a n u a ry 13, 1 8 2 5 ), The Works o f C h a rle s and Mary Lamb ( e d ite d by E. V. L ucas; London: M ethuen and Company, 1 9 0 3 -0 5 ), I , 274. 373 P ilg rim * s P r o g r e s s . b u t a ls o th e l e s s e r known a l l e g o r y , The Holy War, and made him , in d e e d , a champion o f Bunyan’ s humble p o e tr y — and by no means th e b e s t o f t h a t p o e tr y — a t a tim e when i t se rv e d l a r g e l y a s a b u t t o f r i d i c u l e o r a s ta n d a r d of th e b a th o s to w hich v e r s i f i c a t i o n c o u ld s in k . Lamb had l i t t l e use f o r new and s p le n d id e d i t i o n s o f The P i l g r i m 1s P r o g r e s s . and when B ern ard B a r t o n ^ i n form ed him in 1828 t h a t such an e d i t i o n was to be b ro u g h t f o r t h by B a rto n ’ s f r i e n d John M ajo r, th e p u b l i s h e r , Lamb r e p l i e d w ith d e l i g h t f u l in d ig n a tio n : A s p le n d id e d i t i o n o f B u n y an 's P ilg r im — why, th e th o u g h t i s enough to t u r n o n e 's m oral stom ach. H is c o c k le - h a t and s t a f f tra n sfo rm e d to a sm art cockd b e a v e r and a jemmy c a n e , h i s am ice g r e y , to th e l a s t R egent S t r e e t c u t , and h i s p a i n f u l P a lm e r's pace t o th e modern sw agger. Stop th y f r i e n d 's s a c r i l e g i o u s hand. N othing can be done f o r B. b u t to r e p r i n t th e o ld c u ts i n a s homely b u t good a s t y l e a s p o s s i b l e . The V a n ity F a i r , and th e p ilg r im s t h e r e — th e s i l l y sm oothness i n h i s s e t t i n g - o u t c o u n ten an c e— th e C h r is t ia n id io c y ( i n a good se n se ) o f h i s a d m ira tio n o f th e S hepherds on th e D e le c ta b le M ountains— th e L ions so t r u l y A l l e g o r i c a l , and r e mote from any s im ilit u d e to P id c o c k 's . The g r e a t h ead ( th e a u t h o r 's ) , c a p a c io u s o f dream s and sim i l i t u d e s dream ing in th e dungeon. "P erh ap s you d o n 't know mjr e d i t i o n , " c o n tin u e d Lamb, "what I had when a c h ild : i f you d o , can you b e a r new d e s ig n s ® B a r to n 's l e t t e r to Lamb I have n o t b een a b le to o b ta in . I t does n o t a p p e a r i n S e le c tio n s ffom th e Poems and L e t t e r s o f B ernard B a rto n , e d i t e d by h i s d a u g h te r ITT e . , Mrs. Edward F itz G e r a ld ] , London, 1829. I t i s to be r e g r e t t e d th a t so few of B a r t o n 's l e t t e r s have b een p u b lis h e d . 374 from — M a rtin , enam eld in t o co p p er o r s i l v e r p l a t e by— H eath , accom panied w ith v e r s e s from Mrs. Heman‘ s pen 0 how u n lik e h i s own— W ouldst th o u d i v e r t t h y s e l f from melancholy?. W ouldst th o u s be p l e a s a n t , y e t be f a r from f o l l y ? W ouldst th o u re a d r i d d l e s , and t h e i r e x p la n a tio n ? Or e l s e be drowned in th y c o n te m p la tio n ? D ost th o u lo v e p ic k in g m eat? Or w o u ld st th o u see A man i ' t h ’ c lo u d s , and h e a r him speak to th e e ? W ouldst th o u be i n a dream , and y e t n o t s le e p ? Or w o u ld st th o u in a moment la u g h and weep? Or w o u ld st th o u l o s e t h y s e l f , and c a tc h no harm And f i n d t h y s e l f a g a in w ith o u t a charm? W ouldst re a d t h y s e l f , and r e a d th o u k n o w 's t n o t w hat, And y e t know w h eth e r th o u a r t b l e s t o r n o t By re a d in g th e same l i n e s ? Oh th e n come h i t h e r , And la y my b ook, th y head and h e a r t t o g e t h e r . John Bunyan. “Shew me such p o e t r y ," c h a lle n g e d Lamb, " in any one o f th e 15 fo rth c o m in g co m b in atio n s o f show and e m p tin e s s , y c le p t A n n u a ls .“33 In th e l i g h t o f su b se q u en t e v e n t, Lamb’ s w h im sical p r o t e s t to B a rto n a g a i n s t p r e f a t o r y v e r s e s to The P ilg rim * s P ro g r e s s i s r a t h e r am using, f o r th e v e r s e s — s t r e t c h e d seven s ta n z a s lo n g — t h a t p re f a c e d t h i s e d i t i o n o f th e a l le g o r y 34 when i t a t l a s t a p p e a re d , w ere n o t from th e s e n tim e n ta l p e n of F e l i c i a Hemans, b u t from th e p io u s one o f B a rto n h im s e lf . ^ 33 C h a rles Lamb to B ernard B a rto n , O cto b er 11, 1828. W orks. V II, 779. T his was th e e d i t i o n p re fa c e d by R o b e rt S outhey, p u b lis h e d by M ajor and Murray in 1830. 375 Lam b's comment i s im p o rta n t i n b e in g one of th e f i r s t f a v o r a b le o p in io n s e x p re s se d on B unyan's p o e tr y — and c e r t a i n l y th e most e n t h u s i a s t i c a l l y w orded. S ir W a lte r S c o tt, two y e a rs l a t e r , q u o te d th e same l i n e s from th e a l l e g o r i s t , an d , though r i g h t l y d e s c r ib in g them a s " c a r e l e s s l y and ro u g h ly fo rm e d ," p r a is e d them f o r b o th • 7 C id e a and power of e x p r e s s io n . S c o tt a ls o c a l l e d a t t e n t i o n to th e r e a l l y a d m ira b le l y r i c i n The P i l g r i m 1s P r o g r e s s . o f which Lamb had c u r io u s l y made no m en tio n . "Taken in co n n ex io n w ith th e scene o f re p o se i n th e p ro s e n a r r a t i v e , " th e song o f th e shepherd boy, b e g in n in g He t h a t i s down needs f e a r no f a l l , He t h a t i s low , no P rid e : "has a s i m p l i c i t y , " s a id S c o tt, "which ap p ro a c h e s e l e g a n c e ." 3® I t was t h i s song t h a t S c o tt had p la c e d on th e l i p s o f Madge W i l d f i r e , in h i s n o v el w r i t t e n some y e a rs e a r l i e r , a s one 37 o f th e " d i t t i e s " of h e r f a v o r i t e a u th o r. The o th e r a d m ira b le l y r i c in The P ilg rim * s P ro g re s s 33 S ir W alter S c o tt, " S o u th e y 's L ife o f B unyan," o p . c i t . , 115. Loc. c i t » 3^ S ir W a lte r S c o tt, The H e a rt o f M id lo th ia n (1818) ("M odern S tu d e n t's L ib r a r y . New York: C h a rle s S c r i b n e r 's S o n s), Chap. XXXI. 376 38 was p o in te d o u t by James Montgomery. T bis c r i t i c r e g ard ed Bunyan’s tem peram ent a s “c o n s t i t u t i o n a l l y p o e t i c a l , ” a s e v id e n c e d by th e “innum erable p a s sa g e s i n a l l h i s w r i t i n g s ” where “th e most f e l i c i t o u s p h r a s e s , th e l o f t i e s t c o n c e p tio n s , and th e m ost s p le n d id m e tap h o rs, (u n c o n s c io u s ly to h i m s e l f ) , f l a s h o u t a m id st th e o r d in a r y and even c o a rs e m a tte r o f h i s p r o s e . ” Yet w henever Bunyan a tte m p ts v e r s e , c o n tin u e d Montgomery, " f i r e , f a n c y , f e e l i n g , a l l f o rs a k e him; and th ro u g h o u t h i s numerous m e tr i c a l c o m p o s itio n s , th e r e w i l l s c a r c e ly be found a hundred l i n e s t h a t d e s e rv e 38 James Montgomery (1771-1854) was a c r i t i c and p o e t. As a c r i t i c he was th o ro u g h ly i m p a r t i a l , b u t showed l i t t l e i n s i g h t ; "he i s a t o l e r a b l y s a fe g u id e where no g u id e i s n ee d ed ," s t a t e s R ich ard G a rn e tt ( D ic tio n a ry of N a tio n a l B io g ra p h y , X I I I , 7 6 5 ). As a p o e t Montgomery was v e ry p o p u la r in h i s own tim e , p a r t i c u l a r l y among r e l i g i o u s c i r c l e s , and h i s p r a i s e o f Bunyan th e n c a r r i e d more w eig h t th a n i t d o es to d ay when i t s h a l f - f o r g o t t e n a u th o r i s c h a r a c t e r i z e d , w ith la m e n ta b le t r u t h f u l n e s s , a s “som ething l e s s th a n a g e n iu s and som ething more th a n a m e d io c rity " (R ic h a rd G a r n e tt, i b i d . , 7 6 6 ). Montgomery m entioned Bunyan in h i s L e c tu re s on G en eral L i t e r a t u r e . P o e try &c. ( d e liv e r e d a t th e Royal I n s t i t u t i o n , S h e f f i e l d , i n 1830 and 1831; p u b lis h e d 1 8 3 3 ), and c o n t r ib u t e d a p r e f a t o r y e s s a y to an e d i t i o n of The P ilg r im ’ s P ro g r e s s p u b lis h e d in Glasgow, 1828. (T h is was r e p u b lis h e d i n 1861. from w hich p u b l i c a t i o n th e q u o ta tio n s h e re g iv e n a r e ta k e n .) George G i l f i l l a n , w r i tin g in 1850, c o n s id e re d t h i s e s s a y to be th e " f i n e s t t r i b u t e " p a id to The P ilg rim * s P ro g re s s "o f l a t e y e a r s ." — George G i l f i l l a n , “James Montgomery** (A G a lle r y o f L i t e r a r y P o r t r a i t s , Second S e r i e s ) , F i r s t and Second G a l l e r i e s o f L i t e r a r y P o r t r a i t s ( E dinburgh: James Hogg; London: R. Groom bridge and S ons, 1 8 5 4 ), 523. 39 th e name o f p o e t r y . ” The a s c r i p t i o n to Bunyan of even a hundred l i n e s t h a t "d e se rv e th e name o f p o e try " was c e r t a i n l y g en e ro u s enough; th e s e l e c t i o n of Who would t r u e V alo u r see L e t him come h i t h e r ; a s th e b e s t o f Bunyan’ s l y r i c s was a l s o a d is c r i m in a te 40 c h o ic e . O ther c r i t i c s were n e i t h e r so d i s c r i m i n a t i v e n or so g e n e ro u s . AN EXECRABLE POET D uring Bunyan’ s im p riso n m en t, h i s l i b r a r y c o n s is te d — a s h i s b io g r a p h e rs a r e fond o f r e l a t i n g — o f b u t two w orks, th e B ib le and John F o x e’ s A cts and Monuments i n a th r e e volume e d i t i o n . Bunyan’ s copy of t h i s m a rty ro lo g y , marked w ith h i s own name i n la r g e c a p i t a l s , c o n ta in s u n d er v a r io u s of th e w oodcuts c e r t a i n d o g g e re l v e r s e s t h a t may o r may n o t have b e e n th e work o f th e a l l e g o r i s t . 39 James M ontgomery, “I n tr o d u c to r y E ssay " (1 8 3 8 ), p r e f a c e d to The S e le c t Works o f John Bunyan: C o n ta in in g th e P i l g r i m ’ s P r o g r e s s , The H oly War, and G race Abounding to th e C hief of S in n e rs ("Glasgow: W illiam C o l l i n s , 1 8 6 1 ), x x v ii. 40 James Montgomery, " I n tr o d u c to r y E s s a y ," o p . c i t . , xxvii. 378 These rhymes were f i r s t n o te d by Jo se p h Ivim ey, in h i s L if e o f John Bunyan. who s t a t e d t h a t i n v a r io u s p a r t s o f th e Book of M a rty rs th e a l l e g o r i s t had " w r i t t e n v e r s e s s u i t e d t o th e d i f f e r e n t s u b je c ts o f w hich i t t r e a t s . " 4^ Ivim ey q u o te d f o u r o f th e s ta n z a s , b u t made no c r i t i c a l comment th e re o n . In R obert S o u th e y 's l i f e of Bunyan v a r io u s of th e s e s ta n z a s a g a in made t h e i r a p p e a ra n c e , b u t t h i s tim e n o t w ith o u t comment. On th e b a s i s o f t h e i r ap p e aran c e in Bunyan’ s copy of Foxe, Southey re g a rd e d th e s e rhymes a s "u n d o u b te d ly " th e work o f B unyan,4^ p ro b a b ly h i s " f i r s t a tte m p ts i n v e r s e ," o f which th e a l l e g o r i s t , in h i s sim p l i c i t y , may even have b een proud: He had no doubt found d i f f i c u l t y enough in t i n k e r i n g them to make him pro u d o f h i s work when i t was done; f o r o th e rw is e he would n o t have w r i t t e n them in a book w hich was th e most v a lu a b le of a l l h i s goods and c h a t t e l s . 4* Joseph Ivim ey, The L ife o f John Bunyan. 172. 42 rR obert S o u th ey , "L ife o f John B unyan," ojd. c i t . . 124. John Brown i s "somewhat s ta g g e re d " to f i n d t h a t "so consummate a judge a s Southey" sh o u ld have re g a rd e d th e s e rhymes a s th e g enuine work o f Bunyan, and g iv e s th r e e re a s o n s "which seem to be c o n c lu s iv e a g a in s t t h i s o p in io n " : f i r s t , t h a t no d o g g e re l of B unyan's i s a s bad a s t h a t w hich a p p e a rs below th e s e w oodcuts; se co n d , t h a t th e h a n d w ritin g i n w hich th e y a re w r i t t e n i s v e ry d i f f e r e n t from what i s known to be B u n y an 's; an d , t h i r d , t h a t t h i s h a n d w ritin g i s th e same a s t h a t o f a n o th e r s ig n a tu r e t h a t a p p e a rs on th e v e r s e o f th e f r o n t i s p i e c e p o r t r a i t o f Volume I (John Brown, John B unyan, 1 5 4 ). 4^ R o b ert S o u th ey , " L ife o f John B unyan," op. c i t . , 127. 379 R a th e r in g e n io u s ly Southey e x p la in e d to h i s r e a d e r s why i t was p ro p e r to rep ro d u ce i n h i s b io g ra p h y such "w retched v e r s e s ," in d e e d , "such i l l i t e r a t e and s e n s e le s s ii 44 v e r s e s " : ^ ...As i t h a s b e e n proper* t o l a y b e f o r e th e r e a d e r th e v iv id r e p r e s e n t a t i o n of Bunyan i n h i s f e v e r i s h s t a t e of e n th u sia s m , t h a t th e s o b r i e t y o f mind in to w hich he s e t t l e d may be th e b e t t e r a p p r e c ia te d and th e more ad m ired ; so f o r a l i k e r e a s o n i t i s f i t t i n g t h a t i t sh o u ld be se e n from how g ro s s and d e p lo ra b le a s t a t e o f ig n o ra n c e t h a t i n t e l l e c t w hich produced th e ‘P i l g r i m ’ s P r o g r e s s ' worked i t s w ay.45 W hatever may have b e e n S o u th e y 's re a s o n f o r in tr o d u c in g w hat he term ed " th e s e T in k e r 's t e t r a s t i c k s , h i s r i d i c u l e o f th e d o g g e re l s e r v e d , a t a l l e v e n ts , t o g iv e p o in t to h i s g e n e ro u s commendation o f B unyan's w e l l - w r i t t e n p ro s e . The v e r s e s p r i n t e d u n d er th e w oodcuts of e a r l y e d i t i o n s of The P i l g r i m 's P ro g re s s Southey d id n o t a t t r i b u te to Bunyan, though he n o te d t h a t th e rhymes w r i t t e n i n th e a l l e g o r i s t * s copy o f The Book o f M a rty rs were "much i n th e manner" o f th o s e a p p e a rin g u n d er th e i l l u s t r a t i o n s ° i ib e P i l g r i m * sav e t h a t th e y w ere "very much w orse th a n even th e w o rs t o f th o s e . 44 R obert S o u th ey , " L ife o f John B unyan," op. c i t . . 131. 45 I b i d . , 125. 46 T . . Loc* cj/t • 47 I b i d . , 1 2 4 -5 . 380 Of th e p o e tr y w r i t t e n somewhat l a t e r i n Bunyan1s l i f e , Southey d is p o s e d v e ry s h o r t l y , m erely n o tin g t h a t i t w as, "w ith a few r a r e e x c e p ti o n s ," o f "R o b ert W isdom's s c h o o l, and som ething below th e p i t c h o f S te rn h o ld and 48 H o p k in s." One c a n n o t b u t th in k t h a t th e L a u re a te m ight w e ll have sp a re d some o f h i s d e r i s i v e comment on th e dog g e r e l t h a t he m erely c o n je c tu re d to be B u n y a n 's, to d is c u s s more a t le n g th th e s e "few e x c e p ti o n s ," w hich to d a y f i n d t h e i r r e s p e c ta b le p la c e in th e O xford Book o f S e v e n te e n th 49 C entury .Verse. 48 R o b ert S o u th ey , "L ife o f John B unyan," o p . c i t . , 137. S te rn h o ld and H opkins, s e rv e d , o f c o u r s e , th ro u g h o u t th e e ig h te e n th and n in e te e n th c e n t u r i e s a s th e s ta n d a rd i l l u s t r a t i o n of bad t a s t e in p o e t r y . The C r i t i c a l Review (II, 358) o f November, 1756, f o r in s t a n c e , spoke of th o s e in g e n io u s b a rd s M e ssie u rs S te rn h o ld and H o p k in s. so de s e rv e d ly c e le b r a t e d f o r t h e i r e x c e l l e n t b u r le s q u e on th e psalm s o f D a v i d . . . , " and James B e a t t i e in 1783 d ism isse d th e two w r i t e r s a s " c o n fe s s e d ly b e n e a th c r i t i c i s m . . . " ( " I l l u s t r a t i o n s o f S u b lim ity ," D i s s e r t a t i o n s M oral and C r i t i c a l . 6 4 5 ). 49 The O xford Book o f S e v e n te e n th C entury V e rs e , cho sen by H. J . C. G rie rs o n and G. B u llough (O xford: C larendon P r e s s , 1 9 3 4 ), in c lu d e s , pp. 815-818, th r e e o f B unyan's poems: "He t h a t i s down, needs f e a r no f a l l , " and "Who would tr u e V alour s e e ," b o th from th e Second P a r t o f The P ilg rim * s P r o g r e s s . and th e f i r s t te n s ta n z a s of "My l i t t l e b i r d , how c a n s t th o u s i t , " from th e D iv in e Emblems. 381 In review ing S o u th e y 's L ife of Bunyan. S ir W alter S c o tt u n h e s i t a t i n g l y follow ed th e b io g ra p h e r in a c c e p tin g a s th e work of Bunyan th e rhymes s c rib b le d in The Book of M a rty rs , term ing them, as Southey had done, th e " b a se st 50 d o g g e r e l." Bunyan "had a c o n s id e ra b le n o tio n of h is g i f t " in th e way of p o e try , w rote S c o tt, b u t th e a l l e g o r i s t ' s "m echanical edu catio h " p re v en te d h i s a c c e ss to b e t t e r models th a n th o se of the R obert Wisdom ty p e , and "of v e rse he knew n o th in g b u t th e n e c e s s i t y of ta g g in g s y l l a b l e s of a c e r t a i n C l amount w ith very s lo v e n ly rhym es." S c o tt was n o t so i n t e n t , however, on drawing a sharp c o n t r a s t between Bunyan's e x c e ll e n t prose and h i s w retched v e r s e , as Southey had been, and th e r e f o r e , as has been no ted , accorded more j u s t c o n s id e r a tio n t o th e in c i d e n t a l l y r i c s in The P i l g r i m 's P r o g r e s s . These poems, n e v e r t h e le s s , gained a p p r e c ia t io n b u t slo w ly , and i t i s p ro b a b le t h a t a t th e time of S c o t t 's w r i t i n g , many w r i t e r s would s t i l l have ex p ressed t h e i r agreem ent w ith th e c r y p t i c comment u t t e r e d by John Dunlop some few y e a rs e a r l i e r : "The o c c a sio n a l p o e try in tro d u ced " 50 S ir W alter S c o tt, "S o u th ey 's L ife of John Bunyan," o p . c i t . , 115. 51 Ib id . , 114. 382 *n The P ilg r im 1s P r o g r e s s . w rote t h a t c r i t i c , “i s e x e c ra b le . 53 Thomas S c o tt of Ashton Sandford made no such sweeping g e n e r a l i z a t i o n about Bunyan's a tte m p ts a t v e r s e , c a r e f u l l y l i m i t i n g h is e q u a lly damning c r i t i c i s m to th e rhymed in tr o d u c to ry p assag e s of th e a l le g o r y . "Mr. Bunyan p re fa c e d each p a r t of th e P i l g r i m 's P ro g re ss w ith a copy o f v e r s e s ," e x p la in e d t h a t e d i t o r in h i s in tr o d u c t io n to th e a l le g o r y ; "but as h i s p o e try does not s u i t th e t a s t e of th e s e d ay s, and i s by no means equal to th e work i t s e l f , i t h a th been deemed e x p e d ien t to om it th e m .1,54 John Dunlop, The H is to ry of F i c t i o n : Being a c r i t i c a l account of th e most c e le b r a t e d p ro se works o f f i c t i o n . from th e e a r l i e s t Greek romances to the novels o f the p r e s e n t age (London: Longman, H u rs t, Rees, Orme, and Brown, 1814), I I I , 58. D unlop's h i s t o r y i s d e s c rib e d by H. R. Tedder ( D ic tio n a ry of N atio n al B iography. VI, 208) as " s t i l l th e most complete and u s e f u l h i s t o r y of p ro se f i c t i o n . ” 53 Thomas S c o tt (1747-1821), B ible commentator, famous f o r h i s a u to b io g ra p h ic a l Force of T ru th . succeeded John Newton in 1781 as c u ra te of Olney. The most famous t r i b u t e p a id to him i s t h a t of John Henry Newman, who as an u n d erg rad u ate "admired and d e lig h te d in " S c o t t 's works, and rev eren c ed him as "the w r i t e r who made a deeper im pres s io n on my mind th a n any o th e r , and to whom (humanly speak ing) I alm ost owe my s o u l . . . (John Henry Newman, A pologia Pro V ita S u a. 5. 54 Thomas S c o tt, " P re fa c e ," to John Bunyan, The P i l g r i m 's P ro g re ss (H a rtfo rd : S i l a s Andrus, 1828), v i i . This e d i t i o n of The P i l g r i m 's P r o g r e s s , w ith p r e f a c e , "e x p la n a to ry n o te s ," and a s h o r t l i f e of Bunyan by S c o tt, was f i r s t p u b lis h e d in 1801. 383 With the in tr o d u c to ry l i n e s e x p e d ie n tly o m itte d , Thomas S c o t t 1s e d i t i o n of The P i l g r i m 1s P ro g re ss would have been even l e s s to th e t a s t e of C harles Lamb th a n was th e e le g a n t Major and Murray e d i t i o n w ith which Bernard B arto n had th re a te n e d him ! C e rta in ly John Bunyan stood in no very h ig h re p u te a s a p o e t d u rin g th e s e y e a rs , w ith h i s b e s t a tte m p ts a t p o e tr y dfeemed e x e c r a b le , and h i s more mediocre ones en t i r e l y d e le te d . I t was w ell f o r h i s D ivine Emblems. one f e e l s , t h a t they found no c r i t i c a l m ention. What such a c r i t i c as Thomas Campbell would have tho u g h t of them may be g a th e re d from h i s comment on the s im ila r poems of F ra n c is Q u arles, which he d e s c rib e d as " p e r f e c t specimens" B5 of b a th o s . 55 Thomas Campbell, Specimens of th e B r i t i s h P o e t s ; With b io g r a p h ic a l and c r i t i c a l n o t i c e s . and An Essay on E n g lish P o etry fTondon: J 0hn Murray, 1819), I I I , 315. BUNYAN AS AUTOBIOGRAPHER INTRODUCTION "The j u s t l y a c q u ire d c e l e b r i t y of th e A uthor of th e P ilg rim * s P ro g re s s ," w rote Joseph Ivimey i n 1809, "has ren d ered every p a r t i c u l a r r e l a t i n g to h is l i f e ex trem ely £ T i n t e r e s t i n g to th e r e l i g i o u s p u b l i c ." ° Ivim ey’ s s ta te m e n t was undoubtedly t r u e , though n o t em bracive enough, f o r even th e s e c u la r p u b lic of t h i s p e rio d showed an in c re a s e d i n t e r e s t in Bunyan* s l i f e and a u to b io g ra p h ic a l w r i t i n g s . The e a r l y p a r t of th e n in e te e n th ce n tu ry saw th e p u b l i c a t i o n not only of th e f i r s t ex tended biography of Bunyan t h a t was not anonymous, b u t a ls o of the f i r s t b io g rap h y w r i t t e n by a man of eminence and s ta n d in g in th e w orld of l e t t e r s . The L ife o f John Bunyan by Joseph Ivim ey, ap p e arin g in 1809, and t h a t by R obert Southey, p u b lis h e d in 1830, a re th e f i r s t two im p o r ta n t b io g r a p h ic a l s tu d ie s of Bunyan. One o th e r s h o r t work, o f somewhat d i f f e r e n t c h a ra c t e r , should a ls o be mentioned— The P o l i t i c a l Sentim ents of John Bunyan, p u b lis h e d i n 1798. This was an a ttem p t by 56 Joseph Ivim ey, "A dvertisem ent," The L ife of John Bunyan. 87 This book was b r i e f l y reviewed in the Gentleman* s M agazine, LXIX, P t . i (Ja n u a ry , 1799), 47. I have been unable to o b ta in a copy of th e work. 385 th e B a p tis t m in is te r John M artin to e x h i b it to d is s e n te rs ; d u rin g the p e rio d of th e French r e v o lu ti o n , th e s in g u l a r 58 l o y a l t y of Bunyan to governm ental a u t h o r i t i e s of h is tim e. Other b r i e f d is c u s s io n s and b io g r a p h ic a l n o tic e s p u b lis h e d d u rin g t h i s p e rio d a r e , f o r th e most p a r t , of minor im portance, b ase d , l i k e th o se of the e ig h te e n th c e n tu ry , m ainly on secondary m a te r ia l . No atte m p t was made to i n v e s t i g a t e o r v e r i f y th e w ritin g s of Bunyan's contem porary b io g r a p h e rs . The f a c t s concerning h is b r i e f m i l i t a r y ex p e rien ce and the term s of h is imprisonment were n o t y e t e s ta b li s h e d ; i n a l l th e se d is c u s s io n s , as w ell as i n th e b io g ra p h ie s of Ivimey and Southey, Bunyan was s t i l l s a id t o have been p r e s e n t a t th e sie g e of L e i c e s t e r , and h i s r e le a s e from p r i s o n in 1672 was commonly connected w ith the agency of Bishop B arlow .^9 The b r i e f sk e tc h o f Bunyan t h a t appeared in th e t h i r d 00 e d i t i o n of th e E ncyclopaedia B r ita n n ic a (1797) made no p r e te n s e a t b io g r a p h ic a l co m p leten ess, b u t m erely reco rd ed th e b are f a c t s of th e a l l e g o r i s t ' s l i f e . More space was George O ffo r, “Memoir of John Bunyan," Works of John Bunyan, I I I , v i i i . 59 For the f a c t s concerning th e se m a tte rs see su p ra page 1 9 ,n o te 20; page 2 0 0 ,n o te 52. ^ E ncyclopaedia B r i t a n n i c a . Third E d iti o n , 1797, Vol. I l l , p. 776, d e v o te s l e s s th a n h a l f a column to Bunyan. 386 devoted to Bunyan’ s l i f e in C halm ers' G eneral B io g ra p h ic a l D i c t i o n a r y b u t t h i s ac c o u n t, m erely rep ro d u cin g the m a te r ia l g iv e n by p re v io u s b io g ra p h e rs and no t even men tio n i n g Grace Abounding, i s of no value in i n d ic a t in g an a t t i t u d e toward Bunyan on th e p a r t of the w r i t e r . The d is c u s s io n of Bunyan g iv e n by Bogue and B ennett i n t h e i r H isto ry of D i s s e n t e r s , was a ls o l a r g e l y based on 63 secondary m a te r ia l , w hile t h a t in Joshua Toulmin’s The G eneral B io g ra p h ic a l D ic tio n a r y : C ontaining an H i s t o r i c a l and C r i t i c a l Account o f th e L ives and W ritin g s of th e Most Eminent P ersons in every n a t i o n : P a r t i c u l a r l y th e B r i t i s h and I r i s h : from th e E a r l i e s t Accounts to th e P re s e n t tim e. A New E d itio n , Revised and E nlarged by A lexander Chalmers iLondon, 1812-1817), V III (18131, 288-393. The account o f Bunyan's h e a rin g the voice from heaven ( Grace Abounding. p. 1 2 ), f o r in s ta n c e , i s q u ite e v i d e n tly ta k e n from the anonymous l i f e of 1700, r a t h e r th an from B unyan's own v e r s io n of th e in c id e n t . In a d d i tio n to th e 1700 l i f e , th e "C o n tin u atio n " a ls o serv ed th e w r i t e r of t h i s a r t i c l e as source m a te r ia l . S3 Bogue and B ennett were f a m i l i a r w ith Grace Abounding and A R e la tio n of the Imprisonment of Mr. John Bunyan, b u t t h e i r more s p e c i f i c so u rc e s of in fo rm a tio n in c lu d ed C harles D oe's b r i e f sk e tch of Bunyan, th e anonymous l i f e of 1700, and C ro sb y 's H isto ry o f the E n g lish B a p t i s t s . Prom th e l a s t named work Bogue and B ennett c a r e l e s s l y reproduced C ro sb y 's erro n eo u s sta te m e n t (a sta te m e n t f r e q u e n tly reproduced, indeed) t h a t Bunyan was born a t " E l s t o n .1 1 The some f i v e pages devoted to Bunyan in t h i s H i s t o r y , as compared w ith th e te n devoted to John Owen, pro b ab ly re p r e s e n t r a t h e r f a i r l y th e a u th o r s ' c o n c e p tio n o f the r e l a t i v e im portance of th e two men— th e one of v a s t le a r n in g and high s o c i a l sta n d in g and in f lu e n c e , th e o th e r sprung "from the lo w est rank in s o c ie ty " and in famous f o r th e d e p r a v ity and ignorance of h i s youth. The once famous B a p t i s t , Benjamin Keach, however, i s d isp o sed o f in l e s s th an h a l f th e space g iv e n to Bunyan, showing t h a t , w ith the passage of tim e , t h a t worthy was f a s t sin k in g to h i s r i g h t l e v e l — though Ivimey in 1814 (H isto ry o f th e B a p t i s t s , I I , 363) s t i l l r e f e r r e d to two of K each's " c e le b ra te d l i t t l e works" as w r itin g s which "continue to be read w ith i n t e r e s t a t the p r e s e n t tim e ." 387 6 4 H i s t o r i c a l View of P r o t e s t a n t D i s s e n t e r s , though i t shows an acq u ain ta n c e w ith Grace Abounding, was ta k en l a r g e l y from Crosby, G ranger, and K ip p is. Toulmin f e l t t h a t h i s a r t i c l e had p erh ap s been M c a r r i e d to a le n g th beyond th e p ro p o r tio n o f room i t should occupy in a work not p r o f e s s e d ly b io g r a p h i c a l , " b u t was o f th e o p in io n t h a t the " s i n g u l a r i t y of the c h a ra c te r" d is c u s s e d would be "adm itted as an a p o l o g y . " ^ S ir W alter S c o t t ’ s c o n s id e r a tio n of Bunyan’ s l i f e , ap p e a rin g i n h is review of S o u th ey ’s b io g ra p h y , i s l i t t l e more th a n a condensed re s ta te m e n t and endorsem ent of t h a t b io g r a p h e r ’ s 66 view s. 64 Joshua Toulmin, An H i s t o r i c a l View o f . . . P r o t e s t a n t D is s e n te r s from th e R e v o lu tio n to th e A ccession of~§ueen Anne. London, 1^14. Toulmin (1740-1815), d is s e n tin g m in i s te r o f S ocinian view s, was a voluminous w r i t e r of h i s t o r y and biog rap h y . 65 I b i d . , a r t i c l e on Bunyan reproduced as appendix to John 0. Choules' e d i t i o n of (T oulm in's e d i t i o n of) D an iel H eal, H isto ry o f th e P u r i t a n s . 398. 66 Indeed, w hether S c o tt had a copy o f Grace Abounding b e fo re him i s v ery d o u b tfu l. The Bunyan item s in th e Abbots fo rd l i b r a r y were v ery l im ite d , in c lu d in g — i n a d d i tio n to Major and Murray e d i t i o n of The P ilg r im ’ s P ro g re ss w ith l i f e by Southey, which S c o tt was rev iew in g — only th e tw e n ty - th ird e d i t i o n of The Pilgrim * s P ro g re ss (London, 1714), w ith p l a t e s by S t u r t , and two of Bunyan's a l l e g o r i e s e d i te d by George Bmrder, namely, The P i l g r i m »s P ro g re ss (London, 1808), and The Holy War (London, 1834). — C atalogue of th e L ib ra ry a t A bbotsford (Edinburgh: J . C o n stab le , 1838). 388 Joseph Iv im ey 's l i f e of Bunyan, ta k en in con n ectio n w ith h i s extended account of t h a t a u th o r in h i s H is to ry of th e E n g lish B a p t i s t s and R obert Southey’ s l i f e of th e a l l e g o r i s t , a r e , th u s , th e only two im portant b io g r a p h ic a l c o n s id e r a tio n s of Bunyan w r i t t e n d u rin g t h i s p e rio d , as w e ll a s th e most im p o rtan t to be p u b lis h e d sin c e the se v e n te e n th c e n tu ry acco u n ts of Bunyan's c o n tem p o raries. Based p r im a r ily on Grace Abounding to th e Ohief of S in n e rs , th e two b io g r a p h ie s a re d i a m e t r i c a l l y o p p o site in t h e i r i n t e r p r e t a t i o n of t h a t work, and, indeed, in t h e i r i n t e r p r e t a t i o n o f Bunyan h im s e lf, Iv im ey 's b ein g the most em p h a t ic e x p re s s io n of th e .e v a n g e lis tic a t t i t u d e , S o u th e y 's , th e v ery p o l i t e and s c h o la r ly p r e s e n t a t i o n of th e psycho l o g i c a l . A BRAND PLUCKED FROM THE BURNING With e v a n g e lic a l re a d e rs of t h i s p e r io d Grace Abounding to th e Chief of S in n e rs had come in to i t s own a s a g r e a t r e l i g i o u s c l a s s i c re c o rd in g the w onderful d e a l in g s of God w ith th e soul of a depraved w re tc h . "The g r e a t 67 In h is H is to ry of the E n g lish B a p t i s t s Ivimey gave an account of Bunyan's l i f e , m in is tr y , and w r itin g s (Vol. I I , 33-45) and an extended account o f h is in d ic tm e n t, t r i a l , and imprisonment (Vol. I , 399-306). R eferences to Bunyan a l s o occur elsew here th ro u g h o u t th e s e two volumes, a s w ell a s in V ols. I l l and IV of the H i s to r y . 389 a c c e p ta n c e which t h a t work has met w ith from th e p u b l i c ," wrote Ivim ey, " is e v i d e n t from i t s having p assed through more th a n f i f t y e d i t i o n s . " As f o r h im s e lf, th e B a p tis t b io g ra p h e r d e c la re d t h a t "he had seen b u t few, i f any books, t h a t a re so f u l l of what may be denominated h e a r t r e l i g i o n , o r what P aul would c a l l the power of g o d l i n e s s .*^ Indeed, th e " p le a s u re and p r o f i t " t h a t Ivimey had d e riv e d from re a d in g Bunyan’s a u to b io g ra p h ic a l account of h i s r e l i g i o u s ex p e r ie n c e s "made him d e s ir o u s , i f p o s s i b le , to g iv e i t a s t i l l more e x te n s iv e c i r c u l a t i o n , " th u s m o tiv a tin g h i s L ife of John Bunyan, which reproduced w ith o u t a l t e r i n g 69 "a s in g l e l i n e " th e e n t i r e te x t of Grace Abounding. His L ife o f John Bunyan. . . i n which i s e x e m p lifie d th e Power of E v a n g e lic a l P r i n c i p l e s . Ivimey s e n t f o r t h w ith " th e s in c e r e d e s ir e and a rd e n t p ra y e r" 68 Joseph Ivimey, "A d v ertisem en t," The L ife of John Bunyan. 69 Loc. c i t . Ivimey, as n o ted below, speaks of him s e l f as th e " e d ito r" o f t h i s work, which i s , as a m a tte r of f a c t , a c o m p ila tio n , rep ro d u cin g th e e n t i r e t e x t of Grace Abounding and A R e la tio n of the Im prisonm ent. and, w ith some changes, a ls o th e "C ontinuation" of Bunyan's l i f e . Ivimey m erely d iv id e d th e se documents in to c h a p te rs and a f f i x e d to each a s e c tio n e n t i t l e d " R e f le c tio n s ," w herein he s t a t e d h i s se n tim e n ts and o b s e rv a tio n s . 390 That a d iv in e b l e s s in g may a tte n d t h i s humble a tte m p t, by making i t a mean of awakening and c o n v e rtin g s i n n e r s , i n s t r u c t i n g and co m fo rtin g s a i n t s , and i n s p i r i n g g r a t i t u d e in th e h e a r t s of E n g lis h C h r i s t i a n s , f o r th e in v a lu a b le b l e s s in g s th ey e n jo y , b o th o f a c i v i l and r e l i g i o u s n a tu re ; and, above a l l , t h a t th e g lo ry o f Cod, in th e d is p e n s a tio n s b o th of h i s providence and g ra c e , m ay b e em inently p ro m o te d .. . . 7 0 “The E d ito r of t h i s W ork,” w rote Ivimey, “e x p e c ts to be asked what a re h is reaso n s f o r p u b lis h in g i t . “ His answer i s t h i s : th e r e s p e c t he b e a r s to th e memory of Mr. Bunyan induced him to hope he might c o n trib u te something tow ards i t s b e in g had in e v e r l a s t i n g remembrance.71 A B a p tis t m i n i s t e r , s tr o n g ly C a l v i n i s t i c in h is s e n tim e n ts , e n t h u s i a s t i c in h i s a d m ira tio n f o r th e P u r it a n no n co n fo rm ists of the se v e n te e n th ce n tu ry and t h e i r Metho- 72 d i s t d escen d an ts of th e e ig h te e n th , Joseph Ivimey was 70 Joseph Ivim ey, “A d v e rtis e m e n t,” The L ife of John Bunyan. ?1 Lac. c i t . 7 ? “The most p le a s in g ev e n t of a r e l i g i o u s n a t u r e ” t h a t took p la c e in th e e ig h te e n th c e n tu ry , d e c la re d Ivimey, “was th e r i s e of th e M e th o d ists'1 (H is to ry o f th e E n g lish B a p t i s t s . I l l , 290): “What w ith th e a n t i - e v a n g e l i c a l and moral d is c o u rs e s which p r e v a ile d among th e p r i n c i p a l P resby t e r i a n m i n i s t e r s , th e s t i f f re g a rd to p r e c i s i o n of d i s c i p l i n e among th e In d ep en d en ts, and th e c o ld , d ry , u n i n t e r e s t i n g doc t r i n a l sta te m e n ts of th e le a d in g B a p t i s t s , had no t God r a i s e d up the M e th o d ists, men of a n o th e r c h a ra c te r from each, and u n ite d the e x c e ll e n c i e s of a l l of them, th e r a p id d e c lin e of th e churches must have gone on w ith an a c c e l e r a t e d m otion ( i b i d . . 281). Ivimey had h ig h p r a i s e f o r th e “j u s t l y c e le b r a te d George W h ite fie ld " ( i b i d . , 363, and elsew here) and the " b le s s e d e f f e c t s ” of h i s m in is tr y on the s t a t e o f E n g lish churches ( i b i d . . 290). W h i t e f i e l d 's "zealo u s contem porary" Ivimey a l s o adm ired, as b ein g "anim ated by th e same holy s p i r i t of b u rn in g a p o s t o l i c z e a l ” m a n ife ste d in W h ite fie ld ; b ein g a s t r i c t C a l v i n i s t , however, Ivimey h e ld th e Arminian Wesley to be le s s c o r r e c t in h i s " r e li g io u s se n tim e n ts" th a n W h ite fie ld ( lo c . c i t . ). 391 t y p i c a l o f e v a n g e l i s t i c re a d e rs o f t h i s p e r io d , who saw in Bunyan a v ic io u s s in n e r , m ira c u lo u s ly tran sfo rm ed by d iv in e g ra c e , to become an em inent te a c h e r :of g o sp e l t r u t h s . Such re a d e rs ac c e p te d l i t e r a l l y Bunyan*s account of h i s e a r l y w ickedness. In Grace Abounding, ac co rd in g to t h e i r spokesman, Bunyan had " f a i t h f u l l y reco rd ed " the " a f f e c t i n g h i s t o r y of h is d e p r a v ity b e fo re h i s c o n v e r s io n .1,73 Joshua Toulmin p i c tu r e d the young t i n k e r as " c u rs in g and 74 sw earing in a vehement m anner," and Bogue and B e n n ett, d is c u s s in g Bunyan*s "impudence in s i n , " 75 d e c la r e d : His e a r l y y e a rs gave no in d ic a t io n s of f u tu re eminence; except i t be thought t h a t th e n a tiv e v ig o u r of h is c h a r a c te r was proved by th e d e p r a v ity f o r which he was infamous. By c u rs in g and sw earing w ith in f e r n a l elo q u en ce, he became a c a p ta i n of the p ro fa n e band, and sometimes even shocked th o se who were them selves profane.?® The g lo ry o f tu r n in g t h i s wicked w retch from h i s p a th o f c o rr u p tio n to a l i f e of g o d lin e s s was a t t r i b u t e d by e v a n g e lic a l w r i t e r s to th e g ra c e of God, m a n ife s tin g i t s e l f through such a g en cie s as Bunyan*s good w ife , who was of in flu e n c e in " re c la im in g th e re p ro b a te husband from 73 Joseph Ivim ey, A H is to r y of the E n g lish B a p t i s t s . I I , 40. 74- Joshua Toulmin, o£. c i t . . 595. 75 David Bogue and James B e n n e tt, o p . c i t . . I , 464. 76 I b i d . . 462. 392 77 some of h i s g r o s s e r v i c e s , ” th e p io u s women of Bedford whose c o n v e rs a tio n Bunyan o v e rh e a rd , and th e Reverend John G if fo r d , h im se lf “plucked as a brand from the burning,"^® who became "the honoured E v a n g e lis t ," p o in tin g out th e w ick et g a te to "the wicked T inker o f E lsto w ," and "tu rn in g him from dark n ess to l i g h t and from the power of Satan unto G o d ." ^ L i t t l e d id G iffo rd t h in k , w rote Ivimey, t h a t "such •a chosen v e s s e l 1 was se n t to h i s house, when he opened h is door to adm it the p o o r, th e d ep rav ed , and th e d e s p a ir in g Bunyan. S u re ly , Bunyan i s a monument r a is e d up to ex em p lify the mercy of God, on which i s w r i t t e n i n c h a r a c te r s t h a t a l l may re a d , Bx g race a re ye sa v e d : f o r could e i t h e r d e p r a v ity or r e b e l l i o n have p rev en ted th e e x e rc is e of d iv in e com passion, h i s would have done it.Q h Indeed, th ro u g h o u t BunyanJs l i f e , e v a n g e lic a l b i o g ra p h e rs saw in s ta n c e s of the hand o f P ro v id en ce, as Bunyan h im self had p o in te d them ou t; "As i f to show th e obduracy of th e h e a r t on which d iv in e g ra ce was to d is p la y i t s 7 7 David Bogue and James B e n n ett, o£. c i t . . I , 463. 7© Joseph Ivimey, A H is to ry o f the E n g lis h B a p t i s t s , I I , 29. 79 Loc. c i t . ^ hoc, c i t . 81 Joseph Ivim ey, The L ife o f John B unyan, 91. 393 o m nipotence, M w rote Bogue and B e n n e tt, "m ercies were mingled w ith t e r r o r s " in Bunyan's l i f e , as seen in h i s tw ice b e in g saved from drawning and in h is escape from b ein g shot.®** Ivim ey, speaking of t h i s l a t t e r in c id e n t w rote: Hone can doubt t h a t Mr. Bunyan was an o b je c t of th e g ra c io u s c a re o f God w hile l i v i n g in r e b e l l i o n a g a in s t him. The h a i r b re a d th escap es from d e a th which he ex p erien ce d a re a f i n e ex p o si t i o n o f what Jude says of th o se who a re th e e l e c t of God; they a re p re se rv e d in C h ris t J e s u s . 83 I f ev er a s in n e r a l t e r s h i s mind, and "pursues th e h eavenly and d iv in e o b j e c t s , i t must be through the power o f th e Holy S p i r i t , " w rote Joseph Ivimey, "This g ra c io u s „84 change Mr. Bunyan e x p e rie n c e d ." Not a l l who are con v e r te d a re le d in th e same way, however, observed th e b i o g ra p h e r; God, who drew "the l a t e Mr. Newton"— a s in n e r p erh ap s e q u a lly as " v ile " as Bunyan— "by th e sweet and g e n tle co rd s of lo v e ," answered Bunyan "by t e r r i b l e th in g s . . , , „85 in r ig h te o u s n e s s ." Bunyan*s s p i r i t u a l tu rm o il a f t e r h i s f i r s t a c q u a in tan c e w ith r e l i g i o n , which c o n tin u e d , in d e ed , f o r many y e a rs , Ivimey a t t r i b u t e d to th e "power of Satan over th e human m ind, " w hich, he n o te d , "i s e x c e e d in g ly g r e a t . I t i s s a id , 8^ David Bogue and James B e n n ett, o p . c i t . . I , 462. 83 Joseph Ivim ey, The L ife of John Bunyan. 23. 84 I b i d . , 25. 85 I b i d . , 90. 394 by some, t h a t the s c r i p t u r a l account of th e d e v i l i s an e a s t e r n a lle g o r y ; b u t Bunyan found i t to be j u s t and 86 l i t e r a l . 1 1 Indeed, w rote Ivim ey, even " a f t e r Bunyan had p u b l i c l y p u t on C h r i s t , by being b a p tiz e d in to h i s name, he seems to have been, i f p o s s i b l e , a tta c k e d by th e d e v i l 87 w ith in c re a s e d v i o l e n c e . ” When Bunyan "had been awakened upwards of f iv e y e a r s ," re co rd e d Ivimey, "he was s tr o n g ly s o l i c i t e d by some members o f th e church, who were most d is t in g u is h e d f o r judgment and h o lin e s s o f l i f e , to speak a word of e x h o r ta tio n among them ." With t h i s Bunyan com plied, and th u s began h i s c a r e e r a s a te a c h e r of "the way of s a l v a t i o n ," f o r which he was "emi n e n tly q u a l if i e d " on th e b a s i s of h i s own e x p e rim e n ta l Q Q knowledge of r e l i g i o n . 00 Bunyan’ s im prisonm ent, d e s c rib e d even in the En c y c lo p a e d ia B r ita n n ic a as a "long and c r u e l c o n fin e m e n t," 89 se rv e d h i s e v a n g e lic a l b io g ra p h e rs as an example of the p e r s e c u tio n bestow ed by the w orld on the s a i n t s o f whom i t i s unworthy, as w e ll as an in s ta n c e of th e w e ll-o r d e re d ways o f Providence which shapes a l l to th e r i g h t end. The 88 Joseph Ivim ey, The L ife of John Bunyan, 91. 87 I b i d . , 97. 88 Joseph Iv im ey , A H is to ry of the E n g lis h B a p t i s t s . I I , 33-34. O Q E ncyclopaedia B r i t a n n i c a . t h i r d e d i t i o n , I I I , 776. 395 i n j u s t i c e and c r u e l t y of the confinem ent were a ls o dw elt upon, and Bunyan’ s adamant s p i r i t adm ired. Joshua Toulmin, c i t i n g what he c a l l e d th e " r id ic u lo u s in d ic tm e n t" a g a in s t Bunyan, w rote: A ll, i t has been j u s t l y observ ed , t h a t John Bunyan had been g u i l t y o f , though i t was a lle g e d to be th u s ’d e v i l i s h and p e r n i c i o u s . a.nd so w ickedly c a lc u l a te d to d i s t u r b th e good people o f E n g la n d ,1 was m erely w orshipping God ac co rd in g to th e d i c t a t e s of h i s own c o n s c ie n c e , and endeavouring to p ro p ag ate h i s own r e l i g i o u s o p in io n s .90 Toulmin d e s c rib e d Bunyan as en d u rin g "the e v i l s o f t h i s 91 long confinem ent w ith p e r f e c t r e s i g n a t i o n and p a t ie n c e ." A w r i t e r in the Gentleman* s Magazine of 1806 r e f e r r e d to th e " te d io u s imprisonment" of "the c e le b r a te d N o n - c o n f o r m i s t , "92 and a n o th e r w r i t e r , some y e a rs e a r l i e r , lam ented th a t Bunyan had " s u f f e r e d so much from th e tu rb u le n c e of th e tim es in which he l i v e d . . . . B o g u e and B ennett reg a rd e d w ith ad m ir a tio n Bunyan's stau n ch d e fia n c e of h i s p e r s e c u to r s and h i s u n w illin g n e s s to be l i b e r a t e d from p r is o n on the con d i t i o n o f prom ising to preach no more. They read Bunyan1s Joshua Toulmin, op. c i t . , 396. ^ k o c. c i t . 92 "C le ric u s L e i c e s t r i e n s i s ," "Tour to th e N ether la n d s , in the Autumn o f 1793," Gentleman* s M agazine. LXXVI, P t. i ( A p r il, 1806), 301. "Review o f New P u b l i c a t i o n s ," G entlem an1s M agazine. LXIX, P t . i (Ja n u a ry , 1799), 47. 396 95 account of h i s "long and c r u e l" imprisonm ent in the s p i r i t i n which Bunyan had w r i t t e n i t , as re c o rd in g "the h ig h s a t i s f a c t i o n which he enjoyed in s u f f e r i n g th e most u n ju s t s e v e r i t i e s f o r Him who had f r e e l y pardoned the 96 enormous g u i l t of h i s form er y e a r s ." 97 Ivimey found in th e same account a " f in e d is p la y " o f Bunyan's c h a r a c te r , "co n sid ered e i t h e r as a pio u s C h r i s t i a n , th e z e a lo u s m i n i s t e r , o r the i n t r e p i d E n g lish man, r e s i s t i n g th e la w le s s encroachm ents of a r b i t r a r y Q Q powers upon th e r i g h t s of c o n s c ie n c e ." Though Bunyan m ight e a s i l y have escaped a r r e s t , s t a t e d Ivim ey, he s u f f e r e d h im s e lf to be ta k e n t h a t h i s avoidance o f p e r s e c u tio n 95 David Bogue and James B e n n ett, ojd. c i t . . I , 451. 96 I b i d . . I , 464. Q7 The re a s o n t h a t the acco u n t of Bunyan's im prison ment was not p r in te d " t i l l upwards of se v en ty y e a rs a f t e r th e d e a th of i t s A u th o r," h e ld Ivim ey, la y p erh ap s in th e re g a rd f e l t f o r th e f a m i l i e s of h i s p e r s e c u to r s , "whose names do n o t appear in the most r e s p e c ta b le l i g h t " ("Ad v e r tis e m e n t," The L ife o f John Bunyan). 99 Joseph Ivim ey, "A d v ertisem en t," The L ife of John Bunyan. Ivimey s e v e r e ly ce n su red D aniel Neal f o r o m ittin g from h is H is to r y o f th e P u rita n s th e names of "such men as Cheare, Bunyan, G if fo r d , Keach, K i f f i n , and S te n n e tt; men who s u f f e r e d more f o r th e p r i n c i p l e s of non co n fo rm ity i n th e r e ig n s of C h a rles and James, th an any o th e r s o f th e p u r i t a n m i n i s t e r s , w hether P r e s b y te r ia n s o r Independents" (H is to ry of the E n g lis h B a p t i s t s . I l l , 418). 397 t5 might n o t d isc o u ra g e o th e rs from '‘c le a v in g to th e S a v io u r." His r e s o lu t e d e te rm in a tio n to preach th e g o sp el was the only cause of h i s b e in g committed to p r is o n ; and even a f t e r t h i s , had he b u t a p p lie d f o r a pardon, he might have o b ta in e d i t . But as t h i s would have been a t a c i t acknowledgment of g u i l t , he p r e f e r r e d even a te d io u s imprisonm ent to any v i o l a t i o n of the p r i n c i p l e s of c i v i l and r e l i g i o u s l i b e r t y . 99 Somewhat i n c o n s i s t e n t l y , Ivimey c h a r a c te r i z e d Bunyan1s whole term o f imprisonm ent as " p a i n f u l , 2 " s e v e re ," and " te d io u s ," and y e t noted t h a t , because of the e x c e lle n c e o f h i s c h a r a c t e r , Bunyan was, d u rin g 3 th e f i r s t f i v e y e a r s , l e s s s t r i c t l y c o n fin ed th a n o th e r p r i s o n e r s : The r e s p e c t a b i l i t y of h i s c h a r a c te r , and the p r o p r i e t y o f h i s co n d u c t, appear to have o p e ra te d p o w e rfu lly on th e mind of th e j a i l o r , who shewed him much k in d n ess in p e r m ittin g him to go out to v i s i t h i s f r i e n d s o c c a s io n a lly , and once to tak e a journey to London; as a l s o by re p o s in g t r u s t in him, and com m itting th e management o f the 99 Joseph Ivim ey, "A dvertisem ent," The L if e of John Bunyan■ 1 Loc. c i t . 2 I b i d . , 176. 3 „ Because of th e inadequacy of in fo rm a tio n concern ing Bunyan’ s term s of im prisonm ent, Ivimey h e ld t h a t th e twelve y e a r confinem ent was unbroken by p e r io d s of r e l e a s e . He reg ard ed the "C o n tin u atio n " a s in c o r r e c t in i t s reco rd o f t h i s m a tte r, s t a t i n g t h a t i t co n ta in e d " s e v e r a l f l a g r a n t e r r o r s " in t h i s r e g a rd , which he proceeded to c o r r e c t i n h i s b io g ra p h y ( l o c . c i t . ). 398 prison to his care. Ivimey f e l t t h a t Bunyan*s s e p a r a tio n from h is fa m ily d u rin g h i s imprisonm ent “must have a f f l e e t e d h i s h e a r t w ith th e most p o ig n an t g r i e f . " What he has h im s e lf r e l a t e d upon t h i s head, and e s p e c i a l l y t h a t which respect® h i s f e e l i n g s on account of h is b lin d c h i l d , i s so te n d e r and a f f e c t i n g , t h a t a p a r e n t 's h e a r t may be tr a c e d through every s e n te n c e , and, by those who have been e x e rc is e d in a s im ila r way, f e l t in every w o rd .5 Joseph Ivim ey, The L ife of John Bunyan. 165. Ivimey d id no t p o in t o u t, of c o u rs e , t h a t t h i s tre a tm e n t of r e s p e c ta b le p e rs o n s , im prisoned f o r r e l i g i o u s re a s o n s , was by no means uncommon in th e se v e n te e n th c e n tu ry . The Quaker jo u r n a ls of the tim e re c o rd numerous in s ta n c e s o f th e co n fid en ce rep o sed in th e F rie n d s by o f f i c i a l s . During t h e i r long im prisonm ents th e y were o f t e n g ra n te d r e c e s s e s t h a t th ey might mow t h e i r f i e l d s and p l a n t t h e i r cro p s; and the r e s p o n s i b i l i t y f o r t h e i r im prisonm ent was allow ed to r e s t w ith them. Thomas Ellwood, f o r example, re c o rd s t h a t some s i x t y o r se v en ty F rie n d s , among them John Whitehead and Is a a c P ennington, were a t one time c o n fin e d in a p la c e t h a t “la y so open, t h a t th e p r is o n e r s might have gone ou t a t p le a s u r e . But th e se were p u rp o se ly p u t t h e r e , i n co n fid en ce t h a t th e y would n o t go o u t, t h a t th e r e m ight be room in the p r i s o n f o r o t h e r s , of o th e r p r o f e s s io n s and names, whom th e g a o le r d id not t r u s t th e r e ( The H is to ry of th e L ife o f Thomas Ellwood in The F rie n d s * L i b r a r y . V II, 374; see a l s o , i b i d . . 390, and e ls e w h e re ). This m a tte r i s d is c u s s e d in my "Study of Friends* J o u rn a ls " (u n p u b lish ed M a s te r's t h e s i s , O c c id e n ta l C o lle g e , Los A ngeles, 1928), Chap. V. 5 Loc. c i t . 399 But p a i n f u l as t h i s confinem ent undoubtedly was to Bunyan, h i s fa m ily , and h is f r i e n d s , i t was no l e s s th a n a m a n if e s ta tio n of the d iv in e P rovidence: The wisdom of th e d iv in e co nduct, in so o r d e r in g and d is p o s in g a l l th e circ u m sta n c e s of h i s p e o p le , a s to make a l l th in g s work to g e th e r f o r t h e i r good and h is own g lo r y , i s rem arkably m a n ife ste d in th e imprisonment of Mr. Bunyan. T i l l t h i s ev en t took p la c e , he was so f u l l y employed a s a t r a v e l l i n g t i n k e r , to su p p o rt h i s fa m ily , and in c o n s ta n tl y p re a c h in g a s he had o p p o rtu n ity ; t h a t i t was im p o ssib le he ev er could" have w r i t t e n any th in g w ith o u t a change of h i s c irc u m sta n c e s . But by th e s e means he was as e f f e c t u a l l y c a lle d away from mending h i s p o ts and k e t t l e s , a s th e a p o s t l e s were from mend in g t h e i r n e t s ; an d . . . through i t , he has c o n t r i b u te d , bo th by h i s example and w r i t i n g s , to s tr e n g th e n th e f a i t h and anim ate the hopes of b e l i e v e r s to th e end of tim e.® B unyan's im prisonm ent, r e i t e r a t e d Ivimey, gave t h a t w r i t e r "abundant o p p o r tu n ity f o r th e e x e r c is e of p a tie n c e and m eekness," and seemed " to have been o v e r r u le d , b o th f o r h i s own improvement and th e f u rth e ra n c e of th e g o s p e l, by le a d in g him to stu d y , and form h a b i t s of c lo s e r e f l e c t i o n and a c c u r a te i n v e s t i g a t i o n of v a r io u s s u b j e c t s , in o r d e r to pen h i s s e v e r a l t r e a t i s e s , which p ro b ab ly he would never have w r i t t e n so w e ll had he been more a t ease and l i b e r t y . 1,7 6 Joseph Ivim ey, The L ife o f John Bunyan. ^173-4. 7 Ibid., 176. 400 U n ju stly c o n fin e d , f o r th e love t h a t he b o re “to th e 8 cause of Je su s C h r i s t ," Bunyan d id no t la c k s o la c e in h i s s o l i t u d e . "They may p u t Bunyan and Joseph in p r is o n , b u t Q God w i l l be w ith th e m ." More ta n g ib ly , Bunyan had the word of God in th e B ib le and th e examples of G od's s a i n t s i n The A cts and Monuments to su p p o rt him. In th e l a t t e r , a work which Ivimey f e l t was " p e c u lia r l y s u i t a b l e " to Bunyan*s s i t u a t i o n , th e p r is o n e r saw b e fo re him examples o f th e h e r o ic s p i r i t which h i s s p i r i t u a l f o r e f a t h e r s had m a n ife ste d "under s u f f e r i n g s more d i s t r e s s i n g th a n h i s own," which would have a n a t u r a l tendency to produce on h i s p a r t "a s im ila r p a tie n c e and r e s o l u t i o n . " - ^ A wicked s in n e r , tran sfo rm ed by h i s c o n v e rsio n to such a s t a t e of s a i n t l i n e s s t h a t he w i l l i n g l y endured p e r s e c u tio n f o r th e sake of th e g o s p e l, a man o f no e d u c a tio n , speaking S c r i p t u r a l t r u t h s more f o r c e f u l l y th a n le a r n e d churchmen— Bunyan was regarded by h i s evan g e l i c a l ad m irers as a "chosen v e s s e l , " a man p re o rd a in e d f o r th e s e r v ic e o f God, and d i v i n e l y in s p i r e d in h is m in i s tr y . 8 Joseph Ivim ey, "A dv ertisem en t* " The L ife of John Bunyan. 9 Ibid. . 166. Loc. c i t . 401 " I t may be t r u l y s a i d ," d e c la re d Adam C lark e, " th a t Mr. Bunyan was d i v i n e l y f i t t e d f o r e x t r a o r d in a r y u s e f u ln e s s ." H is n a t u r a l powers were of an uncommon o rd e r; as r e c i p i e n t s of in f lu e n c e , th e y q u a l i f i e d him to be e i t h e r a wide w astin g p la g u e , o r a g e n e ra l b l e s s i n g . While th e in flu e n c e of th e s tro n g man armed m ain ta in ed i t s ground, Mr. Bunyan served S atan w ith a l l h i s s tr e n g th : when th e g race of C h r is t trium phed, and i t d id so f i n a l l y in him, he se rv e d God and h i s g e n e r a tio n w ith an u n d iv id ed h e a r t . 11 "Of th e v a r io u s in s ta n c e s o f th e power of d iv in e g r a c e ," s t a t e d Ivim ey, "Mr. Bunyan was p erh ap s no t the l e a s t s ig n a l" : ...F ro m one of th e v i l e s t of men, he was tra n sfo rm e d , th ro u g h a knowledge of th e g o s p e l, to one o f th e most eminent s a i n t s ; and from th e lo w est o b s c u r i t y , b o th of p o v e rty and w retch e d n ess, was r a i s e d , by h i s firm attach m en t to t r u t h and h o l i n e s s , to th e h ig h e s t p i t c h of honour in the church of God; one of th e most u s e f u l m in is te r s o f the g o sp e l i n the day in which he l i v e d . 12 "Mr. Bunyan was a w onderful man," em phasized George Burder: C a lle d by d iv in e grace out o f a s t a t e of ig n o r an ce, v ic e , and o b s c u r ity , he became, w ith o u t th e a id of human c u l t u r e , a most u s e f u l m i n i s t e r of th e g o s p e l, and a very em inent w r i t e r ; — a w r i t e r 11 Adam C lark e, " P o s ts c r i p t to a L ife of John Bunyan," o p . c i t . . 45. Had Adam Clarke w r i t t e n a l i f e of Bunyan, as he a t one tim e In te n d e d to do ( i b i d . , 4 3 ), i t would have b e e n , one may assume, a s tr o n g ly e v a n g e lic a l b io g ra p h y , d e a lin g w ith a l i f e which w as, in some p a r t i c u l a r s , v e ry l i k e h ip own. See s u p r a . page 368, n o te 9. ^ Joseph Ivim ey, "A d v ertisem en t," The L ife of John Bunyan. 402 b o em inent, t h a t though he has been dead more th a n a c e n tu ry , h i s works s t i l l l i v e , and a re d e s e rv e d ly p o p u l a r . . . . I 3 James Montgomery found in Bunyan*s c o n v e rsio n from w ick ed n ess, and h i s subsequent em inence, a " s ig n a l p ro o f o f th e power of r e l i g i o n on th e soul and a l l the f a c u l t i e s of man." No o th e r cause th an r e l i g i o n , f e l t t h i s w r i t e r , could have quickened Bunyan*s powers in to a c t i v i t y : Now, had Bunyan co n tin u ed in h is headlong h e e d le s s c a r e e r of v ic e and f o l l y , he must have l i v e d a p e s t to c i v i l i s e d s o c i e t y , and 'd ie d as a dog d i e t h ; ' h i s memory had p e ris h e d w ith the r e c o l l e c t i o n s of h i s immediate d e s c e n d a n ts, and a t t h i s day i t would have been no more known th a t such a man e x i s te d th a n what shape the cloud wore from which th e f i r s t shower f e l l upon h is head. T h is, th e n , h a th th e g o sp e l done in c o n f u ta tio n of t h a t l i e o f th e f a t h e r o f l i e s , which he him s e l f i s most fond of t e l l i n g t o the w ise , th e le a r n e d , and th e s e l f - r i g h t e o u s , ( h is v e r i e s t d u p e s ) ,— t h a t r e l i g i o n narrows th e a f f e c t i o n s , weakens th e i n t e l l e c t , and d eg rad es th e m a n . The o p in io n of th e s e " v e r i e s t dupes" t h a t Bunyan was an e n t h u s i a s t — in th e sense of b e in g a man "of a h o t im a g in a tio n and v i o l e n t p a s s io n s ," who " v a in ly imagined he had p r i v a t e r e v e l a t i o n s " —was e m p h a tic a lly r e f u te d by Joseph Ivimey in h i s anim adversions on th e words o f Joseph Towers, who had le v e le d t h i s charge a g a in s t th e se v e n te e n th c e n tu ry w r i t e r . George B u rd er, "P reface by th e E d ito r" (1803), John Bunyan, The Holy War (E x e ter: J . and B. W illiam s, 1837) i i i . James Montgomery, " I n tro d u c to r y E ssa y ," op., c i t . , 9 iv* 403 I f Towers meant "e n th u sia sm ” i n a "good s e n s e ," in te n d in g by i t an " e le v a tio n of fancy" and " e x a l t a t i o n o f id e a s ," Ivimey had no q u a r r e l w ith him on th e s u b j e c t , " fo r i t i s ad m itted on a l l hands t h a t Bunyan p o sse sse d a s tro n g and v ig o ro u s fa n c y , and a r i c h fund of e x a lte d s e n t i m e n t ." To be an e n t h u s i a s t i c i n t h i s se n se , was to h i s honour, and what b u t v e ry few a t t a i n t o , though i t be t h a t which a l l a d m ire , w hether i t be mani f e s t e d in th e army or the navy, in th e s e n a te or a t th e b a r . Why th e n , when i t i s d is p la y e d in the p u l p i t , should i t expose any to contempt? I f i t be p ro p e r in any c h a r a c t e r , o r in any p la c e , th e C h r i s t i a n p re a c h e r i s w a rra n te d in s a y in g , w ith a l l th e energy of a p p r o p r ia te f e e l i n g , "On such a theme * t i s impious to be calm."15 B u t, co n tin u ed Ivim ey, Towers had p ro b a b ly not in te n d e d h i s words i n t h i s commendatory s e n s e , b u t r a t h e r w ith th e d e ro g a to ry im p lic a tio n t h a t Bunyan was a man who p r iz e d th e "v ain co n fid en ce of having in te r c o u r s e w ith God" and c a rr y in g on a w a rfa re w ith th e d e v i l , a man who imagined t h a t he saw v is io n s and h eard v o ic e s : " I f to speak of a s u p e r n a tu r a l agency on th e mind be e n th u sia sm ," read Ivimey*s d e fe n s e , "th en i t i s im p o ssib le to b e lie v e th e B ib le w ith o u t i t , as th e S c r ip tu r e s p l a i n l y speak, both of th e in flu e n c e o f th e Holy S p i r i t , and of th e d e v i l , on th e mind of m an."16 15 Joseph Ivim ey, The L ife o f John Bunyan, 203. 16 Ifrid - . 203-303. 404 Defending Bunyan*s e x p la n a tio n of h ie a g i t a t i o n s of s p i r i t , and th e fe rv e n c y o f h i s ap p e als t o s i n n e r s , Ivimey co n tin u ed : I f a man r e a l l y b e lie v e s t h a t he i s such a s in n e r a g a in s t God, t h a t he i s exposed to a l l the ■ ‘c u r s e s t h a t a re w r i t t e n in h i s book“ a g a in s t t r a n s g r e s s o r s , he must f e e l d i s t r e s s . I t would be h ig h ly i r r a t i o n a l i f he d id n o t b u t were to e x h i b i t th e s t o i c on th e b r in k of the b u rn in g la k e . I f he r e a l l y b e lie v e d , t h a t " i t i s a f a i t h f u l say in g , and worthy of a l l a c c e p ta ti o n , t h a t J e s u s C h ris t came i n t o th e w orld to save s i n n e r s ," and t h a t h im s e lf should be saved through f a i t h in h i s b lo o d ; he must r e j o i c e ; i t would be v e ry i r r a t i o n a l i f th e pardoned c r im in a l, who r e c e iv e s a f r e e r e p r ie v e o f a l l o f fe n c e s , were to tak e i t w ith o u t an e x p re s s io n o f g r a t i t u d e . Those who r e a l l y b e l ie v e th e s e t r u t h s must f e e l f o r th e s o u ls of o t h e r s , and be in e a r n e s t when w arning them to f l e e from the w rath to come, and when p e rs u a d in g s in n e r s to be r e c o n c ile d to God. But where th e se le a d in g p r i n c i p l e s a re no t so b e lie v e d , b u t on th e c o n tra ry , where an i m p l i c i t ' f a i t h in th e d o c t r in e s of th e B ib le i s d e s p is e d , and reaso n e x a lte d to the s t a t i o n o f umpire in m a tte rs of f a i t h , p ro u d ly r e j e c t i n g ev ery th in g which cannot be comprehended on n a t u r a l p r i n c i p l e s , we do no t wonder t h a t th e c o ld - h e a r te d D e is t, and th e c le a r-h e a d e d S o c in ia n , a s k , w ith a s c o rn f u l s n e e r , How can th e s e th in g s b e ? nor t h a t th e y d e s p is e th e humble C h r is t ia n , who m odestly a s k s , Hath God indeed s a id so?^? I v i n e y 's d efen se of en th u siasm in th e m in i s tr y , s i m i l a r t o t h a t of John Hewton some y ea rs e a r l i e r , i s a fo re ru n n e r of the more em phatic r e f u t a t i o n s o f s e c u la r views e x p ressed w ith re g a rd to Bunyan and h i s l i f e , which were t o f i n d some of t h e i r s tr o n g e s t r e i t e r a t i o n a f t e r th e 17 Joseph Ivim ey, The L ife of John Bunyan. 303. 405 p u b l i c a t i o n of S o u th e y 's b io g rap h y . To e v a n g e lic a l r e a d e rs Bunyan could no t be d isp o sed o f as a t y p i c a l s e v e n te e n th c e n tu ry e n t h u s i a s t . Indeed, even C o lerid g e re g ard ed him a s an e n t h u s i a s t o n ly in th e commendable sense o f t h a t word, a s b ein g synonmymous w ith g e n i u s , and d e f i n i t e l y s t a t e d t h a t Bunyan was "a man of 18 too much g en iu s to be a f a n a t i c . " The w r i t t e n t r i b u t e s t h a t B unyan's a d m ire rs p a id him ex p re ssed b u t a p a r t of th e v e n e r a tio n t h a t th ey f e l t f o r "th e c h ie f of s in n e rs " who had been "plucked as a b ran d from th e b u r n in g ," to become one o f th e most em inent o f s a i n t s . A v ery m a te r ia l m a n if e s ta tio n of t h i s re g a rd was seen a l s o i n t h e i r i n t e r e s t in c o l l e c t i n g an e cd o te s about h i m , ^ in t h e i r f e e l i n g of atta c h m e n t to th e p la c e s a t which he had p re a c h e d , and in t h e i r p r i s i n g th e p o s s e s s io n s t h a t he had once owned. When Bunyan*s p u l p i t B ible was o f f e r e d f o r s a le i n 1814, as a p a r t of the l i b r a r y of the Reverend Samuel Palm er o f Hackney, Samuel W hitbread, Member 1 8 ° Samuel T aylor C o le rid g e , "The L i t e r a r y Remains," Works. V, 357. IQ Ivim ey, f o r exam ple, c o l l e c t e d an e cd o te s from th e Reverend John Geard of H itc h in , and re c o rd e d them in h i s L ife of John Bunyan. 178 n. 406 o f P a rlia m e n t f o r Bedford and son o f a Bunyan e n t h u s i a s t , s e n t a r e p r e s e n t a t i v e to p u rch ase th e hook, i n s t r u c t i n g him to b id as much f o r i t as he thought W h itb read fs f a t h e r , were he l i v i n g , would g iv e f o r th e r e l i c t h a t he would have p r iz e d so h ig h ly . The B ib le was a c c o rd in g ly o b ta in e d f o r 30 W hitbread f o r the sum o f tw enty g u in e a s. V en eratio n f o r Bunyan ap p e a rs throughout th e works of such s e c t a r i a n w r i t e r s a s Joseph Ivimey and W alter W ilso n ,21 20 Joseph Ivim ey, i b i d . , 193 n . ; R obert Southey, "L ife of John Bunyan," op', c i t . . 164. Samuel W hitbread (1758-1S15) had been r i d i c u l e d by " P e te r P in d a r" W olcot, some y e a rs e a r l i e r , f o r h i s known a f f e c t i o n f o r Bunyan; see s u p r a , pages 338-9. 21 W alter W ilson (1781T-1847) was a nonconform ist b io g r a p h e r, b e s t known f o r h i s th r e e volume Memoir of th e L ife and Times of D aniel Defoe (1830) and h i s H is to r y . «. o f D is s e n tin g C hurches. m entioned below. This work, in which W ilson re c o rd s f a c t s w ith scru p u lo u s f a i r n e s s (A lexander Gordon, i n D ic tio n a r y of N a tio n a l B io g rap h y , XXI, 6 1 5 -6 ), re c e iv e d th e h ig h commendation of Joseph Ivimey as a work of " e x te n siv e r e s e a rc h " and " a c c u ra te i n v e s t i g a t i o n . " Ivimey f e l t t h a t d i s s e n t e r s d id not p ro p e r ly a p p r e c ia te t h e i r candid and im p a r t ia l h i s t o r i a n (Ivimey, H is to ry o f th e E n g lish B a p t i s t s . I l l , " P re fa c e ," x i - x i i ; a l s o , L ife o f John Bunyan. 183 n . ) . C harles Lamb, c o lle a g u e o f W ilson a t th e I n d ia House, w rote to him i n 1829: "I v ery much hope you w i l l g iv e us an account o f Dunton, &c. But what I should more l i k e t o see would be a L ife and Times o f Bunyan" (C h arles Lamb to W alter W ilson, November 15, 1829. Works, V II, 819-20). 407 w ith t h e i r numerous re f e r e n c e s to "the c e l e b r a t e d John 32 Bunyan" and "the j u s t l y c e le b r a te d John Bunyan." Indeed, even th e s e t i t l e s d id n o t a d e q u a te ly e x p re ss th e f e e l i n g t h a t Bunyan*s a d m ire rs f e l t f o r th e man, and on one oc c a s io n , a t l e a s t , th e y a p p lie d to him th e t i t l e t h a t more sober Englishm en re s e rv e f o r th e g r e a t Anglo-Saxon churchman Bede: To e v a n g e lic a l e n t h u s i a s t s th e se v e n te e n th c e n tu ry P u r i t a n became "th e v e n e ra b le Bunyan. 22 W alter W ilson, in h i s H is to ry and A n t i q u i t i e s of D is s e n tin g Churches and M eeting H ouses. in London. Westmin s t e r . and Southwark: in c lu d in g th e Lives of t h e i r M i n i s t e r s . from th e R ise of Nonconformity to th e P re s e n t Time. With an Appendix on the O r i g i n . P r o g r e s s . and P r e s e n t S ta te of C h r i s t i a n i t y in B r i t a i n (London, 1808-1814), had l i t t l e o c c a s io n to d e a l w ith Bunyan; he c o n tr iv e d , n e v e r t h e le s s , to r e f e r to him f o u r tim e s— u n f a i l i n g l y h e r a ld in g h i s name w ith h i s f a v o r i t e e p i t h e t : On one o cc asio n he mentioned David C ro ssley as having been a c q u a in te d in e a r l y l i f e w ith "th e c e le b r a t e d Mr. John Bunyan" ( I I , 573); and, on a n o th e r, he d is c u s s e d the r e l e a s e from p r i s o n "of th e c e le b r a t e d Mr. John Bunyan" ( I , 275); elsew here he noted t h a t i t was a t th e house o f Mr. Strudw ick t h a t "the c e le b r a t e d Mr. John Bunyan b re a th e d h i s l a s t " ( I , 345 n . ); and, f i n a l l y , he rec o rd e d t h a t in B u n h ill F i e l d s , b eneath a handsome tomb, "the rem ains of th e c e le b r a te d Mr. John B u n y a n ...a r e de p o s ite d " ( I , 244). Joseph Ivimey a ls o r e f e r r e d numerous tim es to th e " c e le b ra te d " o r th e " j u s t l y c e le b r a te d " John Bunyan, i n h i s H is to r y of th e E n g lis h B a p t i s t s . I , 299; I I , 36; 187; IV, 414. 23 Joseph Ivim ey, A H is to ry o f the E n g lis h B a p t i s t s . II, 371. 408 BUNYAN WITH THE LAUREATE'S OARD R obert S o u th e y 's l i f e of Bunyan, which appeared in 1830, p re fa c e d to an e d i t i o n of The P i l g r i m 's P r o g r e s s , was th e f i r s t b io g rap h y of th e se v e n te e n th c e n tu ry a u th o r w r i t t e n by a man of reco g n ized s ta n d in g in th e wor}.d of l e t t e r s . I t b re a k s th e s e r i e s o f e u l o g i s t i c and p io u s b io g r a p h ie s and s t a r t s th e s e r i e s of s e c u la r , m a t t e r - o f - f a c t y e t a p p r e c ia t iv e tr e a tm e n ts c o n tin u e d by such w r i t e r s as T. B. Macaulay and James Anthony Froude. Southey may f a i r l y be s a id ' to have rescu ed Bunyan from th e hands of p io u s b io g ra p h e rs and to have g iv e n him c o n s id e r a ti o n as an a u th o r, and h i s work c o n s id e r a ti o n as a p ie c e of l i t e r a t u r e , r a t h e r th a n m erely as an adm onition to th e r ig h te o u s l i f e . Indeed, what he h im se lf s a id in commendation of h i s L ife of Wesley may a l s o be s a id in p r a is e of h i s b io g rap h y o f Bunyan: I t s m e rit w i l l h a r d ly be a p p r e c ia te d by any p e rs o n , u n le s s i t be compared w ith what h i s [ i . e . , W e sle y 's ] form er b io g ra p h e rs have d o n e .. . . 2 4 To Robert Southey, a u th o r by p r o f e s s io n , th e w r i tin g o f th e l i f e of Bunyan was, he d e c la r e d , "a t a s k no t of 25 lu c r e b u t of lo v e ." W ritin g to George O ffo r about the 24 Robert Southey to Grosvenor 0. B edford, March 26, 1820. The L ife and Oorrespondence o f R obert Southey (C h arle s C uthbert Southey, e d i t o r ; London: Longman, Brown, Green, and Longmans, 1849-50), V, 34. Robert Southey t o Mrs. Hodson, Ja n u ary 20, 1830. I b i d . . VI, 85. 409 a u th o r whose b io g rap h y he was w r i t i n g , Southey d e s c rib e d h im se lf a s "one who lo v e s and honours" th e memory of Bunyan, and m entioned The Pilgrim * s P ro g re ss as a book t h a t 26 " I have loved from my c h ild h o o d ." And t o Joseph O o ttle he exclaim ed: "You need no t be t o l d how d e a r ly I lo v e John B unyan."^7 But th e "love" t h a t Southey f e l t f o r Bunyan was som ething q u ite d i f f e r e n t from th e " re s p e c t" f o r "the v e n e ra b le Bunyan" t h a t Joseph Ivimey b o re . S outhey’s f e e l i n g im plied an a p p r e c ia t iv e a t t i t u d e on th e p a r t of 38 an orthodox layman of th e Church of England; Iv im e y 's , th e e n t h u s i a s t i c v e n e ra tio n o f an e v a n g e l i s t i c s e c t a r i a n m in i s te r . E q u a lly as d iv e rg e n t were th e a t t i t u d e s toward B unyan's a u to b io g ra p h ic a l w r i t i n g s . To e v a n g e l i s t i c r e a d e r s Grace Abounding to the Chief of S in n ers was a work f i l l e d w ith "th e power of g o d lin e s s " ; to more w o rld ly 26 R obert Southey to George O ffo r, A p ril 16, 1829. Joseph C o t t l e , o p . c i t . . 351 n. 27 R obert Southey to Joseph C o t tle , November 4, 1828. I b i d . . 248. 28 in h is r e a c t i o n a g a in s t h i s e a r l y unorthodoxy, Southey, a s S a in ts b u ry remarks ( Cambridge H is to ry o f E n g lish L i t e r a t u r e . XI, 1 8 5 ), c a r r i e d r a t h e r to an extrem e the d isa p ^ p ro v a l of a l l forms o f p r o t e s t a n t d i s s e n t w hich, h e ld and ex p ressed m od erately , i s l o g i c a l l y incumbent on an A nglican. 410 and m a t t e r - o f - f a c t s o u ls i t was an i n t e r e s t i n g document o f p h ilo s o p h ic a l o r p s y c h o lo g ic a l, r a t h e r th a n r e l i g i o u s , OQ i n t e r e s t . C oleridge c a l l e d i t ”a stu d y f o r a p h ilo s o p h e r ” ; 30 Southey, n o tin g i t s ’’f e r v i d la n g u a g e ,” commended i t as f a i t h f u l l y re c o rd in g what Bunyan had e x p e rie n c e d in h i s ’ ’r e v e r i e s , ” and h e ld i t ,to c o n ta in e x c e l l e n t m a te r ia l f o r 29 Samuel T aylor C o le rid g e , ”Specimens of th e Table T alk o f th e Late Samuel T aylor C o le rid g e ” (E d ite d by Henry H elson C o le rid g e ), Works, VI, 332-3. C o n sid erin g C o le rid g e ’ s i n t e r e s t i n r e l i g i o u s c o n fe s s io n s and a u to b io g ra p h ie s , which was so wide as t o in c lu d e not o n ly Woolman's J o u r n a l and B a x te r ’ s l i f e , b u t ’’even a M e th o d is t's ’E x p e rie n c e ’ in th e Gospel M agazine” ( ’’B io g ra p h ic a l Supplement to th e B io g ra p h ia L i t e r a r i a , ” Works. I l l , 600), one i s r a t h e r s u r p r i s e d t h a t C o lerid g e d id not a n n o ta te a copy of Bunyan's a u to b io g ra p h y . 30 Robert Southey, ’’L ife of John B unyan,” pp. c i t . , 121. The only o th e r r e f e r e n c e to th e s t y l e of Grace Abound in g d u rin g t h i s p e r io d appears to be t h a t o f W alter W ilson— though i t is not c l e a r l y worded and may r e f e r e q u a lly w e ll to s u b je c t m a tte r. Commenting on Towers' o p in io n t h a t DeFoe ’ ’was, w ith re g a rd to s i m p l i c i t y o f s t y l e , somewhat in d e b te d to Bunyan, an a u th o r whom he must have read in h i s y o u th , and whose r e l i g i o u s p r i n c i p l e s a re obvious in th e second volume of Robinson C ru so e. ” W ilson w rote: "In j u s t i f i c a t i o n of t h i s remark i t may be added, th a t exam ples o f the l i k e n e s s may be adduced from Moll F la n d e rs , a s compared w ith B unyan's ’Grace abounding to th e c h i e f of S i n n e r s : ' and t h a t i t may be a l s o tr a c e d in some of th e o th e r w r i t i n g s o f DeFoe” (W alter W ilson, Memoirs o f th e L ife and Times o f D aniel DeFoe: c o n ta in in g a Review of h i s O pinions upon a V a rie ty of Im p o rtan t M a tte rs , C iv il and E c c l e s i a s t i c a l . I l l , 640TT 411 th e p s y c h o lo g is t o r p s y c h i a t r i s t : How l i t t l e would some o f th e most f r e q u e n t and c o n ta g io u s d is o r d e r s of th e human mind be under sto o d , i f a s u f f e r e r were not now and th e n found c o l l e c t e d _enough, even in th e paroxysms of the d i s e a s e , to observe i t s symptoms, and d e t a i l them when in a s t a t e to d is c r im in a te betw een what had been r e a l and what im aginary 1 51 S o u th e y 's l i f e o f Bunyan was th e f i r s t extended d is c u s s io n w herein Bunyan1s r e l i g i o u s e x p e rie n c e was i n t e r - 32 p r e te d on a p s y c h o lo g ic a l and p h y s ic a l b a s i s . . In i t , ^ Robert Southey, "L ife o f John Bunyan," op. c i t . , 114. 32 The tendency toward t h i s type o f c r i t i c i s m and i n t e r p r e t a t i o n was r a p i d l y g a in in g ground. The C h r is t ia n O bserver (XXXII, 607) o f 1832 p a sse d i t s s t r i c t u r e s on th e a t t i t u d e t h a t c o n s id e rs "a wounded c o n sc ie n c e " n o th in g more th a n "the p h a n ta sy o f a s ic k b r a i n , " and in 1850 George G i l f i l l a n w ro te: "There i s a c a n t i n th e p re s e n t d a y ...a b o u t h e a l t h , h e a lth y sy stem s, h e a lth y view s, h e a lth y r e g u l a t i o n of body, as pro d u cin g a h e a lth y to n e of mind, as i f the so u l and stomach were i d e n t i c a l , a s i f good d i g e s t i o n were th e same th in g w ith h a p p in e s s , as i f a l l gloomy and d i s t r e s s i n g th o u g h ts sprung from b i l e , as i f one had only to l i e down under th e 'w et s h e e t ' to un d er sta n d th e o r i g i n of e v i l , to so lv e a l l th e c o g n a te , t r e mendous problem s of th e u n iv e rs e , and to o b ta in th a t ’r e c o n c ilia tio n * a f t e r which a l l e a r n e s t s p i r i t s a s p i r e . Easy th e p ro c e s s now f o r o b ta in in g 't h e peace which p a s s e th u n d e r s ta n d in g ! ' Poor John Bunyan, why d i d s t th o u s t r u g g l e , w r i th e , and madden, wade th ro u g h h e l l s o f f i r e and se a s of b lo o d , to g a in a r e s u l t to which cold b a th in g and b a rk s would have le d th e e i n a month? F o o lish Thomas C a rly le , why a l l t h a t p o th e r about e v e r l a s t i n g noes and y e a s, in s te a d o f a n t i c i p a t i n g Buiwer i n th e b a p tis m a l r e g e n e r a tio n o f th e g o ld -w a te r cu re?" (George G i l f i l l a n , "John S t e r l i n g , " i n "Second G a lle ry of L i t e r a r y P o r t r a i t s , " op. c i t . . 5 7 8 -9 ). 412 t h e s u g g e s tio n s of such e ig h te e n th c e n tu ry w r i t e r s as Joseph Towers and R ichard G raves, t h a t Bunyan*s e a r l y w ickedness was o v e r s t r e s s e d , t h a t h i s imprisonm ent was n o t w holly d is a g r e e a b le to him, and t h a t h i s b e l i e f in h i s d iv in e m in is tr y was t h a t o f a r e l i g i o u s e n t h u s i a s t , found t h e i r f i r s t com plete and em phatic e x p re s s io n . As was to be ex p e c te d , Southey’ s b io g ra p h y of Bunyan c a l l e d f o r t h th e cen su re o f s e c t a r i a n s and churchmen in g e n e r a l, as h i s l i f e o f Wesley had some y e a rs b e fo re c a l l e d f o r t h th e s t r i c t u r e s o f M eth o d ists in p a r t i c u l a r N e v e r t h e l e s s , i t a ls o found a d m ire rs , and may be ta k e n as g e n e r a lly r e p r e s e n tin g th e p o in t of view of o rth o d o x and s c e p t i c r e a d e rs o f th e p e rio d . Bunyan’s h av in g been b ro u g h t up to h i s f a t h e r ' s humble tr a d e as a t i n k e r — which e v a n g e l i s t i c b io g ra p h e rs 33 As see, f o r example, R ich ard Watson, O b serv atio n s on "Southey* s L ife of W esley: " Being a Defence of the C h a r a c te r . L ab o u rs, and O pinions, of Mr. W esley. A gainst th e M is re p re s e n ta tio n s of t h a t p u b l i c a t i o n (New York: N. Bangs and T. Mason, 18217. I t i s only f a i r t o s t a t e t h a t Southey r e a l i z e d t h a t he would "be abused on a l l sid e s" f o r h i s bio g rap h y o f Wesley: " I t i s w r i t t e n w ith too f a i r a s p i r i t to s a t i s f y any p a r t i c u l a r s e t of men," he w rote to Grosvenor C. Bedford (March 26, 1820. L ife and C o rres pondence , V, 34, 3 5 ). "For th e b i g o t I s h a l l be f a r too p h i l o s o p h i c a l ; " he w rote else w h e re ; ('for th e l i b e r t i n e f a r too p io u s . The U ltra-churchm an w i l l th in k me l i t t l e b e t t e r th a n a M e th o d ist, and th e M eth o d ists w i l l wonder what I am." (R obert Southey to C. W . W . Wynn, January 1, 1818. I b i d . . IV, 2 9 3 -4 ). Concerning h is l i f e of Bunyan, however, Southey seemed to have no such a p p re h e n sio n s. 413 loved to d w ell upon as a f f o r d in g a c o n t r a s t w ith h is l a t e r eminence— Southey could not u n d e rsta n d as so v e ry d eg rad in g a circ u m sta n c e : "Wherefore t h i s sh o u ld have been so mean and d e s p is e d a c a l l i n g , " he w ro te , " i s n o t . . .a p p a r e n t , when i t was fo llo w ed no t as a vagabond employment; b u t , a s in t h i s c a s e , e x e rc is e d by one who had a s e t t l e d h a b i t a t i o n and who, mean as h i s c o n d itio n was, was n e v e r th e le s s a b le t o pu t h i s son to sch o o l in an age when v ery few of the 34 poor were ta u g h t to re a d and w r i t e . " S i r W alter S c o tt, who made some a tte m p t to e x p la in why the t i n k e r ' s c r a f t 35 "should have come to be esteem ed so mean," b r i e f l y d i s posed of Bunyan's e a r l y e d u c a tio n by term ing i t "clow nish and v u lg a r. R obert Southey, "L ife of John Bunyan," op. c i t . . 91. C u rio u sly , however, Southey remarked i n t h i s same d is c u s s io n t h a t in some of B unyan's d o c t r i n a l t r e a t i s e s "th e smut of h i s old o ccu p atio n " had been " l e f t upon th e paper" ( i b i d . , 155). S ir W alter S c o tt, (" S o u th e y 's L ife of John Bunyan," o p . c i t . . 75) w rote: "We b e l ie v e th e rea so n to be t h a t th e t i n k e r s ' c r a f t i s , i n G reat B r i t a i n , commonly p r a c t ic e d by g i p s i e s ; and we surm ise th e p r o b a b i l i t y t h a t Bunyan*s own f a m ily , though re c la im e d and s e t t l e d , might have sprung from t h i s c a s te of vagabonds." The c o n je c tu re a s to th e g ip s y o r i g i n of Bunyan's fa m ily i s g e n e r a lly reg a rd e d by a u t h o r i t i e s as e n t i r e l y unfounded (Frank Mott H a rris o n , i n John Brown, John Bunyan. 490); n e v e r t h e l e s s , the id e a has g iv e n o c c a s io n to numerous d is c u s s io n s of th e s u b j e c t , th e most em phatic exponent of the g ip s y o r i g i n b e in g James Simson, The G ip sie s a s I l l u s t r a t e d by John Bunyan (New York C ity , 1883); Simson a ls o advanced h is views in h is n o te s to the second e d i t i o n o f W alter Sim son's A H isto ry o f th e G ip sie s (second e d i t i o n , New York C ity , 1875J. Loc. c i t . 414 Concerning B unyan's a l le g e d w ickedness, b o th w r i t e r s f e l t t h a t th e a u to b io g ra p h e r had g r e a t l y o v e r s ta te d th e n a tu r e arid e x te n t of h i s y o u th fu l f o l l i e s , and t h a t h i s s e l f - a c c u s a t i o n s were to be r e c e iv e d “w ith some m i s t r u s t , n o t o f h i s s i n c e r i t y , b u t o f h i s so b er ju d g m e n t."37 To a c c e p t Bunyan*s s ta te m e n ts l i t e r a l l y , as e v a n g e lic a l b i o g r a p h e rs ac ce p te d them, th e s e c r i t i c s reg ard ed a s an in j u s t i c e t o , and a m isu n d e rsta n d in g o f , th e se v e n te e n th c e n tu ry w r i t e r . "The w ickedness of the T in k e r," d e c la r e d Southey, "has been g r e a t l y overcharged; and i t i s ta k in g th e language of s e l f - a c c u s a t i o n to o l i t e r a l l y , to pronounce 38 of John Bunyan t h a t he was a t any tim e d ep ra v e d ." Southey h e ld t h a t Bunyan, i n w r i tin g g ra c e Abounding, "was no t co n scio u s t h a t he e x a g g e ra te d th e c h a r a c te r of 39 h i s o f f e n c e s ." B ut, ex p la in e d th e b io g ra p h e r, Bunyan 40 was never a " v ic io u s" o r a "depraved man," i n whom the 41 sense of d i s t i n c t i o n between r i g h t and wrong was e x tin g u is h e d . 37 Robert Southey, L ife o f John B unyan,” op . c i t . . 92. *20 I b i d . . 123. S outhey’s s t r i c t u r e was d ir e c te d p a r t i c u l a r l y a t Joseph Iv im e y 's d e s c r i p t i o n of Bunyan as "the wicked Tinker of E lsto w ," th e "poor, th e dep rav ed , and th e d e p a ir in g Bunyan," which he c i t e d . 39 I b i d . , 97. 40 I b i d . , 123. 41 I b i d . . 92. 415 He d id n o t in d u lg e in “th o se h a b i t u a l s i n s ” which i n f i x a deep s t a i n on a man’s c h a r a c te r ; he was n o t a d ru n k ard , n o r d id he le a d an immoral l i f e w ith women, as h i s own 42 em phatic d e n ia l of such a charge d e c la r e d . “The w o rs t, i f not th e o n ly , s in " to which Bunyan was e v e r a d d ic te d , 43 d e c la re d Southey, was p ro fan e sw earing; o r , as he e l s e where worded th e c h a rg e , sw earing and c u rs in g c o n s t i t u t e d "th e o n ly a c t u a l s in " of which Bunyan can be d e c la re d 44 g u i l t y . The w orst of what he was in h i s w orst days i s to be ex p re sse d in a s in g le word, f o r which we have no synonyme, th e f u l l meaning o f which no c irc u m lo c u tio n can convey, and w hich, though i t may h a rd ly be deemed p r e s e n ta b le i n s e r io u s co m p o sitio n , I s h a l l u s e , as Bunyan h im s e lf (no mealy-mouthed w r i t e r ) would have used i t , had i t i n h i s days b o rn e the same a c c e p t a t i o n in which i t i s now u n i v e r s a l l y u n d e rs to o d ;— in t h a t word, th e n , he had been a b la c k g u a r d ;— The v ery head and f r o n t o f J i i s o ffe n d in g Hath t h i s e x t e n t , no m ore.4® ^ Robert Southey, “L ife of John Bunyan,” pp. c i t . . 93. 43 I b i d . , 123. 44 I b i d . , 97. 45 I b i d . , 123. The meaning o f t h i s word as “u n i v e r s a l l y understood*’ in S outhey’ s tim e may be a s c e r t a i n e d from i t s u s e , f o r example, by Thomas Campbell: In s u b s t a n t i a t i n g h i s sta te m e n t t h a t a w r i t e r does not n e c e s s a r i l y fre q u e n t “th e h au n ts o f d i s s i p a t i o n ” m erely b ecau se h i s muse “i s g e n e r a lly found i n low com pany,” Campbell d e c la re d ; " F ie ld in g was not a b la c k g u a rd , though he wrote th e a d v e n tu re s of Jo n ath an Wild" (op., c i t . , I I , 6 8 ). The word, one would con clu d e, had a d a rk e r c o n n o ta tio n th a n t h a t which Southey a t t r i b u t e d to i t . 416 In t h i s p arag rap h Southey s t a r t e d th e famous '•blackguard" c o n tro v e rs y , which raged th ro u g h many y e a r s , p io u s w r i t e r s co n ten d in g t h a t th e term e n t i r e l y f a i l e d to e x p re s s th e w ickedness from which Bunyan had emerged to 46 become a s a i n t of g o d lin e s s , and common-sense laymen d e c la r in g t h a t such a term was much too b r u t a l to be ap- 4 7 p l i e d t o Bunyan w ith h i s few y o u th fu l f o l l i e s . During th e p e r io d under c o n s id e r a ti o n , however, the e p i t h e t was adopted by b o th C o lerid g e and S c o tt as d e s d r ib - ing w ith e n t i r e e x a c ti tu d e Bunyan1s e a r ly l i f e . 46 T his view i s w e ll e x p re s se d in th e C h r is t ia n O b se rv e r, XXXII (Septem ber, 1833), 601: "Even i f Bunyan have o v e r - s t a t e d f a c t s , i t i s s t i l l f a r from t r u e t h a t h is form er l i f e was d e s t i t u t e of many f l a g r a n t ’h a b i t u a l s i n s ; 1 and t h a t he was m erely a ’blackguard* in h a b i t s , and not an o ffe n d e r in m o r a l s .. . . S u rely v ic e and u n g o d lin e ss were worse th a n mere b la c k g u a r d is m .. . . " 47 This view i s w ell e x p re s se d by Macaulay, in h i s review of Southey’ s l i f e (December, 1831): " I t i s q u ite c l e a r , as Mr. Southey most j u s t l y rem arks, t h a t Bunyan never was a v ic io u s m a n ....'H e had b e e n ,' says Mr. Southey, 'a b la c k g u a r d .' Even t h i s we th in k too h ard a c e n su re . Bunyan was n o t, we a d m it, so f i n e a gentlem an as. Lord Digby; b u t he was a b la ck g u ard no o th e rw ise th a n a s e v e ry la b o r in g man t h a t e v e r liv e d has been a b la ck g u ard " (M iscellan eo u s Works, I I , 264). The rev iew er of S o u th e y 's b io g ra p h y in F razer.’ s Magazine I I I , (F eb ru a ry , 1831) 55, d id no t e x a c tl y f in d S o u th e y 's term to o s e v e re , b u t u n h e s i t a t i n g l y ac c e p te d i t in th e s p i r i t in whl&hSouthey had meant i t , f in d in g in B unyan's p r o f a n i t y "th e s p e c ie s of blackguardism " in which th e a u t o b io g r a p h e r ’ s " c h a r a c t e r i s t i c energy f i r s t m an ife ste d i t s e l f . " 417 C o lerid g e, whose main i n t e r e s t in Bunyan— as in N elson and B ax ter— c e n te r e d in “t h a t mood of mind which e x a g g e r a te s , and s t i l l more, m is ta k e s , th e inward d ep rav a - 48 t i o n , “ h e ld t h a t Southey had reduced th e o f t - r e p e a t e d charge of Bunyan*s w ickedness to i t s p ro p e r v a lu e , and t h a t in so do in g "our e x c e l l e n t L au reate" had perform ed "an 49 im p o rta n t s e rv ic e to m o r a li ty ." To th e p assag e in S o u th ey ’ s b io g rap h y which s t a t e s t h a t a u th o r* s c o n v ic tio n in t h i s r e g a r d , C o lerid g e a f f ix e d th e comment: A ll t h i s n a r r a t i v e , w ith th e r e f l e c t i o n s on th e f a c t s , i s ad m irab le and w orthy of R obert Southey: f u l l of good sense and kind f e e l i n g — th e wisdom o f l o v e . 50 C o le rid g e r e i t e r a t e d Southey’ s a s s e r t i o n t h a t th e young t i n k e r was " c h a s te , s o b e r, h o n e s t," n ev er, " in our r e c e iv e d sense of th e word, w icked," b u t m erely "a b i t t e r b la c k g u a rd ," in t h a t he "damned h i s own and h i s n e ig h b o r 's C l eyes on s l i g h t o r no o c c a sio n , and was fond o f a row." Samuel T ay lo r C o le rid g e , "Table T a lk ," Works, VI, 332. ^ Samuel T ay lo r C o le rid g e , "L ib e ra ry Remains," i b i d . , V, 256. 50 I M 4 - , V, 254. 51 I b id ., 256. 418 E q u a lly in sympathy w ith S outhey’s view , S ir W alter S c o tt a ls o endorsed t h a t b io g r a p h e r ’ s o p in io n . Indeed, S c o t t ’s review o f S o u th e y 's l i f e was l i t t l e more th a n an endorsem ent and a r e i t e r a t i o n . "The young t i n k e r , i n th e w ild e s t p e r io d of h i s l i f e , had never been a d d ic te d t o intem perance, o r to u nlaw ful in te r c o u r s e w ith women," w rote S c o tt: . . . h i s lo o s e r h a b i t s , in s h o r t , seem o n ly to have been th o se which every ig n o ra n t and c a r e l e s s young f e llo w , of th e low est ra n k s , f a l l s in to ; and p ro b a b ly , p ro fa n e sw ea rin g , s a b b a th -b re a k in g , and a mind a d d ic te d to the games and i d l e s p o r ts of V anity F a i r , were the most im p o rtan t s t a i n s upon th e c h a r a c te r of h is y o u th :— as Mr. Southey sums i t up, John Bunyan had been a b la c k g u a r d ♦ 53 Bunyan1s q u ick and pow erful im a g in a tio n , however, was a t work on h i s te n d e r c o n s c ie n c e , s t a t e d S c o tt, and as soon as th e s u b je c t of r e l i g i o n began to f i x h i s a t t e n t i o n , " h is mind ap p e a rs to have been agonized w ith th e r e t r o s p e c t of a m ispent y o u th ," and h i s pen tended to p a i n t h i s " y o u th fu l f a u l t s " in "b la c k e r c o lo u rs th a n 55 th e t r u t h a u th o r iz e d ." The s p i r i t u a l to rm en ts t h a t Bunyan s u f f e r e d , and th e keen s h a f t s o f rem orse t h a t he f e l t and re c o rd e d in Grace Abounding, were th e r e s u l t , s t a t e d Southey, not of 52 S ir W alter S c o tt, " S o u th e y 's l i f e o f John Bunyan," o p . c i t . , 76. 53 L O C . C i t . 419 a g u i l t y c o n s c ie n c e , b u t of th e C a l v i n i s t i c d o c tr in e of th e c o r r u p tio n o f man: F a ls e n o tio n s of t h a t c o r r u p tio n of o u r n a tu r e , which i t i s alm ost a s p e r i l o u s to e x a g g e ra te as to d iss e m b le , had l a i d upon him a b u rd e n heavy as t h a t w ith which h i s own C h r i s t i a n b eg in s h is p ilg r im a g e .54 “In an e v i l hour were th e d o c t r in e s o f th e Gospel s o p h i s t i c a t e d w ith q u e s tio n s which should have been l e f t i n th e sc h o o ls f o r th o se who a re unwise enough to employ th e m selv es in e x c o g ita tio n s of u s e l e s s s u b t l e t y , ” w rote Southey. Many a re th e poor c r e a t u r e s whom such q u e s tio n s have d riv e n to d e s p a ir , and madness, and s u ic id e ; and no one ev e r more narrow ly escaped from such a c a ta s tro p h e th a n B u n y a n .55 C o le rid g e , r i s i n g to th e d e fe n se of th e o lo g y , f e l t t h a t Southey had h ere m istak en th e source of Bunyan1s r e l i g i o u s p e r p l e x i t i e s . “W h a t . . . , " he w ro te , “had Bunyan t o do w ith th e S c h o o ls? ” C o lerid g e h eld t h a t Bunyan's s p i r i t u a l tu rm o il a ro s e r a t h e r from “th e o p e r a tio n o f h i s R obert S outhey, “L ife o f John B unyan,” op. c i t . . 107. Of. th e e v a n g e lic a l view , which re g a rd ed Southey "incom petent as a b io g r a p h e r, e i t h e r of th e co n v erted moral John Wesley, o r th e co n v e rted immoral John Bunyan: incom petent on th e v e ry ground of a d e f e c tiv e n e s s of view i n r e l a t i o n to t h a t d o c tr in e o f th e 'c o r r u p t i o n of our n a tu re ,* which he th in k s i t so 'p e r i l o u s to e x a g g e r a te ;' b u t to which p e r i l we see l i t t l e ten d en cy , w hile we see s tro n g te n d e n c ie s to e x te n u a te i t , and i n f i n i t e danger in so doing" ( C h r is t ia n O b se rv e r, XXXII, 601— 60 2 ). 55 Robert Southey, ibid., 104. 420 own a c t i v e b u t unarmed mind on th e words o f th e A p o s tle ," and t h a t i f any th in g were to be a r r a ig n e d , i t would have to be th e B ib le i n E n g lis h . Yet th e c r i t i c would not have had Bunyan avoid th e s e p e r p l e x i t i e s a t th e c o s t of rem ain in g ig n o ra n t of th e B ib le , f o r he h e ld t h a t Wthe o c c a s io n a l and p a r t i a l e v i l s " r e s u l t i n g from prom iscuous B ib le r e a d in g were n e g l i g i b l e when compared w ith th e good r e s u l t i n g t h e r e - j p 56 from. I f Bunyan's s e c u la r b io g ra p h e r d id not share evan g e l i c a l views on r e l i g i o n , he n e v e r th e le s s accorded to 56 Samuel T ay lo r C o le r id g e , " L ite r a r y Rem ains," Works. V, 253. The n a iv e and u n c r i t i c a l manner in which such men a s Bunyan read th e B ib le was a ls o p o in te d ou t by C o lerid g e in commenting on th e scene in th e House B e a u tifu l where C h r is t ia n i s shown the rod o f Moses and th e hammer and n a i l w ith which J a e l slew S is e r a ( The P i l g r i m 1s P r o g r e s s . 183): "I q u e s tio n w hether i t would be p o s s i b l e to in s ta n c e more s t r i k i n g l y th e power of a predom inant i d e a . . . o n every o b j e c t b rought b e fo r e th e eye of th e mind th ro u g h i t s medium, th a n t h i s c o n ju n c tio n o f Moses1 rod w ith th e hammer of the tr e a c h e r o u s a s s a s s i n J a e l , and s i m i l a r e n c o m ia stic r e f e r e n c e s to the same d e t e s t a b l e m urder, by Bunyan, and men l i k e Bunyan, good, p io u s , p u r e ly - a f f e c t i o n e d d i s c i p l e s of the meek and ho ly J e s u s ; y e t th e erro n e o u s p re c o n c e p tio n t h a t w hatever i s u t t e r e d by a S c r ip tu r e personage i s , in f a c t , u t t e r e d by th e in f a l l i b l e S p i r i t of God, makes Deborahs of them a l l . But what b e s id e s ought we to i n f e r from t h i s and s i m i l a r f a c t s ? S u re ly , t h a t th e f a i t h i n th e h e a r t overpowers and re n d e rs in n o cen t th e e r r o r s o f th e u n d e rsta n d in g and th e d e lu s io n s o f the im a g in a tio n , and th a t s i n c e r e l y p io u s men p u rch ase by in c o n s is te n c y , exem ption from th e p r a c t i c a l consequences o f p a r t i c u l a r e r r o r s " ( i b i d . . 26 1 ). 421 B unyan's r e l i g i o u s e x p e rie n c e — from h i s e a r l i e s t im pulses tow ard s p i r i t u a l re fo rm a tio n , to h i s f i n a l b e l i e f in h im s e lf a s one o f th e e l e c t — th e d i s t i n c t i o n o f d e t a i l e d a n a l y t i c d i s c u s s io n , e x p r e s s ly s t a t i n g h i s d is s e n s io n , i n t h i s re g a rd , from th e o p in io n of Thomas S c o tt, who had h e ld i t in a d v is a b le to r e c a p i t u l a t e th e im p re s sio n s of Bunyan's r e l i g i o u s c o n f l i c t : B unyan's c h a r a c t e r would be im p e rfe c tly under s to o d , and could n o t be j u s t l y a p p r e c ia t e d , i f t h i s p a r t of h i s h i s t o r y were k ep t ou t o f s i g h t . To r e s p e c t him as he d e s e r v e s , t o adm ire him as he ought to be adm ired, i t i s n e c e ss a ry t h a t we should be inform ed not o n ly o f th e c o a rs e n e s s and b r u t a l i t y of h i s y o u th , bu t of th e extrem e ig norance out of which he worked h i s way, and the s ta g e s o f burning en thusiasm through which he p a s s e d . . . . I t was, in d e e d , not w ith a la c k o f i n t e r e s t in Bunyan's r e l i g i o u s l i f e t h a t S o u th e y 's e v a n g e l i s t i c c r i t i c s could ta x him; i t was, r a t h e r , w ith h i s f a i l u r e to w r ite "of th e s e m a tte r s as one who r e a l l y u n d e rsta n d s th e m ."58 A case in p o in t i s S o u th e y 's i n t e r p r e t a t i o n of a w ell-know n p assage in th e e a r l y p a r t of Grace Abounding w h erein Bunyan t e l l s o f h is h e a rin g a sermon which l e f t a g r e a t burden on h i s s p i r i t ; "but b e h o ld ," he ad d s, " i t 57 Robert Southey, "L ife of John Bunyan," op. c i t . , 98. 58 "S o u th ey 's E d itio n of th e P i l g r i m 's P r o g r e s s ," C h r i s t i a n O b serv e r. XXXII (Septem ber, 1832), 598. 422 l a s t e d n o t; f o r b e fo re I bad w e ll d in e d , th e tr o u b le began t o go o ff my mind, and my h e a r t r e tu r n e d to i t s o ld 59 c o u r s e ." This sta te m e n t Southey p a ra p h ra s e d to read: Home he went w ith a g r e a t burden upon h i s s p i r i t s ; b u t d in n e r removed t h a t bu rd en ; h i s anim al s p i r i t s re co v e red from t h e i r d e p r e s s io n ; he shook th e sermon out of h is mind, and away he went w ith g r e a t d e l i g h t to h i s o ld s p o r t s ; 60 w hich, one must adm it w ith S o u th e y 's c r i t i c s , was a t w i s t i n g of Bunyan*s lam ent as to th e t r a n s i e n t c h a r a c te r of h i s rem orse in to an unw arranted c o n c lu s io n . Both Southey and Toulmin r e l a t e d th e in c id e n t of Bunyan’ s sto p p in g s h o r t in th e m id st o f h i s Sabbath game o f " c a t , " on h e a rin g a vo ice rep rim an d in g him f o r h i s w ick ed n ess. Whereas e a r l i e r b io g r a p h e r s , however, had p i c t u r e d Bunyan as lo o k in g up to heaven, ’’whence th e v o ic e came,"®** Toulmin r e p r e s e n te d him a s lo o k in g up to heaven "whence th e v o ice seemed to come." In t h i s "supposed phenomenon" Toulmin saw th e i n d i c a t i o n o f a s t a t e of mind John Bunyan, grace Abounding to th e Chief of S i n n e r s . 12. 60 R obert Southey, "L ife o f John Bunyan," o p . c i t . , 95. "S outhey’ s E d itio n o f th e P i l g r i m 's P r o g r e s s ," C h r i s t i a n O b se rv e r. XXXII (Septem ber, 1832), 603. 62 James G ranger, op. c i t . , 56. 423 "much a g i t a t e d and a f f e c t e d w ith co n scio u s g u i l t , a id e d by th e f o rc e and v i v a c i t y of an im a g in a tio n s tr o n g ly t i n c t u r e d w ith enthusiasm . S outhey’s acco u n t of t h i s in c id e n t was l e s s "blunt, c o n ta in in g , in d eed , th e s u g g e s tio n t h a t though Bunyan " b e lie v e d " t h a t th e v o ic e was from heaven and deemed i t r e a l , th e good man was n e v e r t h e le s s " s e n s ib le t h a t th e 64 v is i o n was only seen w ith th e m in d 's ey e ." Bunyan1s f e a r t h a t th e b e l l tow er might f a l l upon him, Southey m entioned a s an i l l u s t r a t i o n o f th e " s t a t e o f nervous weakness" to which "a d is e a s e d f e e l i n g " had b ro u g h t B unyan's " s tro n g body and s tr o n g mind."®5 For a man in such a s t a t e , John G iffo rd was con s id e r e d by Bunyan1s so b e r b io g r a p h e rs as a most u n f o rtu n a te and even dangerous s p i r i t u a l a d v i s e r . G if f o r d , w rote S ir W alter S c o tt, was "about a s w ild an e n t h u s i a s t i c as our t i n k e r h im s e lf ," and was c e r t a i n l y "but l i t t l e q u a l i f i e d 66 to g iv e sound advice to such a mind so t o r t u r e d . " 63 Joshua Toulmin, op. c i t . , 395. 64 R obert Southey, "L ife of John Bunyan," op., c i t . . 95. 65 I b i d . , 98. 66 Sir Walter Scott, "Southey's Life of John Bunyan," op. cit.,80. 424 Southey a l s o reg ard ed G if f o r d , w ith h i s "most p e r i l o u s " d o c t r in e t h a t h i s h e a r e r s n o t be c o n te n te d '‘t i l l t h e i r b e l i e f sh o u ld be confirm ed by a p a r t i c u l a r r e v e l a t i o n , " as one of th e harm ful and e x tra v a g a n t en t h u s i a s t s of th a t age o f f a n a tic is m . His te a c h in g s ac corded w e ll w ith B unyan's "a rd e n t tem peram ent," b u t se rv e d only to in c r e a s e t h a t d i s c i p l e ' s d is q u ie tu d e of mind, making him c o n sc io u s of o r i g i n a l s i n and inward p o l l u t i o n , loathsom e in h i s own ey es and in th o se of h i s c r e a t o r . Doubts and f e a r s now a f f l i c t e d Bunyan more th a n e v e r . He was e a g e r, and y e t a f r a i d , to t r y h i s newly gained f a i t h by working m ir a c le s , co n cern in g which S c o tt sa n e ly observed: So stro n g is th e power of th e human im a g in a tio n , t h a t he who s e r i o u s l y e x p e c ts to see m ir a c le s , does n o t long e x p e ct them in v a i n . S7 Wicked s u g g e s tio n s and b lasp h em ies a s s a u l t e d th e s u f f e r e r . Thoughts which "th e w ise and w e ll-in fo rm ed " s h rin k from w ith h o r r o r , Bunyan t r e a t e d "w ith an a t t e n t i o n which th e mere s u g g e s tio n o f c a s u a l fa n c y could h a rd ly d e s e r v e ," w rote W alter S c o tt: . . . t h e d read f o r c e o f h i s p o s s i b le e x c lu s io n from th e p a le o f th e rig h te o u s rushed ;over and anon w ith such v i v i d fo rc e on th e mind of th e fi7 Sir Walter Scott, "Southey's Life of John Bunyan," op. cit.,81. 425 u n f o rtu n a te Bunyan, as to make him a c c e p t f o r f a t a l argum ents a g a i n s t h im s e lf , the w i l d e s t and most t r a n s i t o r y coinage of h i s own f a n c y , w h ile , t o f i l l up every p a u s e , he was t o r t u r e d by th e e q u a lly t e r r i b l e s u s p ic io n t h a t he was g u i l t y o f the most unpardonable of c rim e s, a s an h a b i t u a l d o u b te r of the e f f i c a c y of d iv in e g ra c e . Concerning Bunyan1s d e s i r e , a t S a ta n 's p ro v o c a tio n , to commit th e s in a g a in s t th e Holy Ghost, Southey had l i t t l e comment to make. Bunyan*s te m p ta tio n to s e l l C h r is t , however— indeed a "g rie v o u s and d re a d fu l" th o u g h t— Southey termed "an alm ost unim aginable te m p ta tio n ." 89 This " s tra n g e 68 S ir W alter S c o tt, "S o u th e y 's L ife o f John Bunyan," o p . c i t . , 79-80. R obert Southey, "L ife o f John Bunyan," op. c i t . , 113. The rev iew er of S o u th e y 's b io g ra p h y in th e C h r is t ia n O bserver was shocked to f in d Southey speaking o f t h i s tem pta t i o n as u n p a r a l le le d and alm ost unimaginable,, remarking:; "Our L au re a te h e re p ro v es h im s e lf l e s s v e rse d in 'P u r i t a n i c a l ' s t u d i e s th a n we had im a g in e d .. . . To ' s e l l C h r i s t , ' h a s , in e v e ry C h r i s t i a n age and ch u rch , b ee n an i n t e l l i g i b l e f i g u r a t i v e e x p re s s io n in c o n s ta n t u s e , and we can n o t comprehend how Dr. Southey could miss i t s meaning" (XXXII, 618). The rev ie w e r e x p la in e d th e term by say in g : "We may be s a id t o s e l l o r b e t r a y th e Lord o f l i f e and g lo r y , by our s i n s , our u n b e l i e f s , our i n c o n s i s t e n c i e s , our want of z e a l and a f f e c t i o n , our p r e f e r e n c e of th e w orld to h i s f a v o u r . . . " (l o c . c i t . ). The o n ly ground, th e n , co n tin u ed th e w r i t e r , H upon which we can imagine Dr. Southey fa n c y in g B unyan's te m p ta tio n to have been a th in g u n p a r a l l e l e d and u n im a g in a b le , i s , t h a t Bunyan m eant, what i s a b s u rd , l i t e r a l l y to s e l l C h r is t; and not f i g u r a t i v e l y , as when we speak o f a m an's s e l l i n g h i s honour, h i s fa m ily , o r h i s c o n s c ie n c e . The L a u re a te seems h ere to have re a d B unyan's l i f e as some c h i l d r e n re a d th e P i l g r i m 's P r o g r e s s , ta k in g th e s t o r i e s l i t e r a l l y , and n o t as 'g l o r i o u s ' dreams and s i m i l i t u d e s . . . " ( i b i d . , 6 1 9 ). 426 s t a t e o f mind" co n tin u ed f o r th e space o f a y e a r, f i n a l l y le a d in g to Bunyan's co n sen t to th e " h a te f u l sug g e s tio n " of s e l l i n g h i s S av io u r. T h e r e a f te r , Bunyan d e s p is e d h im s e lf as worse th a n Ju d a s, though he was "yet sane enough," s a id Southey, to c o n s id e r t h a t th e s i n o f Judas had been d e l i b e r a t e l y com m itted, whereas h i s own was a g a in s t h i s p ra y e r and s t r i v i n g . 71 These to rm en ts of Bunyan, w rote Southey, were accompanied by a " p r u rie n t s c r u p u l o s i t y , which Bunyan, when he became h i s own b io g ra p h er looked back upon as a p a r t of th e same te m p ta tio n , 72 p ro c ee d in g im m ediately from th e E v il One." S c o tt e x p la in e d Bunyan's blasphem ous th o u g h ts i n th e same way, s t a t i n g t h a t Bunyan had "formed to h im s e lf an h y p o th e s is " to acco u n t f o r th e b lasp h em ies t h a t d i s t r a c t e d h i s mind, "im puting them, in s h o r t , to th e im m ediate s u g g e s tio n of th e d e v i l . " 73 T his, w rote S c o tt, f u r n is h e d Bunyan w ith "a th e o ry t o account f o r th e b la c k 70 R obert Southey, "L ife o f John Bunyan," op. c i t . . 113. 71 I b i d . . 114. 72 I b i d . . 112-3. 73 S ir W alter S c o tt, "S o u th e y 's L ife o f John Bunyan," o p . c i t . , 80. 427 s u g g e s tio n s which (as he says) he d ared no t to u t t e r , * 7 A e i t h e r w ith word o r p e n . . . . " Bunyan's "hideous a p p re h e n sio n s of unpardonable crim es com m itted, and e x t e r n a l judgment in c u rr e d " were d i s p e l l e d from tim e to tim e, n o te d S c o tt, by S c r i p t u r a l p ro m ises borne in on th e mind o f th e " s u f f e r e r " w ith a f o r c e so t o t a l l y i r r e s i s t i b l e t h a t they had, "to him a t ni e l e a s t , " th e appearance o f "undoubted i n s p i r a t i o n . " C o le rid g e , i n th e same s p i r i t , noted th e "bandying o f t e x t s and h a l f - t e x t s , and d e m i-s e m i-te x ts , j u s t as memory happened to su g g e st them, o r chance b ro u g h t them b e f o r e B unyan's m ind," a s an in s ta n c e o f "genuine su p er s t i t i o n . "7® To Southey, th e v o ic e s t h a t a s s a i l e d Bunyan's e a r s and th e v i s i o n s t h a t f la s h e d b e f o re h i s e y e s, were the "sh a p in g s" of B unyan's e x c ite d mind77 and th e p ro d u c ts of h i s " d ise a se d i m a g i n a t i o n . B u n y a n ' s f l u c t u a t i o n s 7^ s ir W alter S c o t t , " S o u th e y 's L ife o f John Bunyan," o p . c i t . , 81. 75 I b i d . , 82. Samuel T ay lo r C o le rid g e , "Table T a lk ," Works, V I, 352. 77 R obert Southey, "L ife o f John Bunyan," op,, c i t . . 108. 78 Ibid., 114. 428 o f s p i r i t from d e p r e s s iv e gloom to c h e e r f u ln e s s and e l a t i o n , t h a t b io g ra p h e r d e s c rib e d a s "hot and co ld f i t s 79 o f a s p i r i t u a l a g u e ," and, f u r t h e r c a rr y in g out h i s p h y s io l o g ic a l n o m e n cla tu re, spoke of Bunyan's g ra d u a l approach to a more calm s t a t e o f mind as h i s " s p i r i t u a l c o n v a le s c e n c e ." 80 A " s e l f - t o r m e n t e r ," however, Bunyan co n tin u ed to be d u rin g th e whole p e r io d of h i s in c e s s a n t a g i t a t i o n s and w re tc h e d n e ss . I t was c l e a r , th o u g h t Southey, t h a t a weaker body th a n Bunyan's would have sunk under t h a t d r e a d f u l co u rse of s u f f e r i n g , and i t was "alm ost m irac u lo u s" t h a t any mind should have escaped w ith o u t p a s s in g in to " in c u ra b le 81 i n s a n i t y . " G ra d u a lly , however, Bunyan*s th o u g h ts became more q u i e t and re a s o n e d , though, added Southey, i t was some tim e b e fo re he a t t a i n e d "th e s e l f - c o n t r o l which b e - 82 lo n g s to a sane m ind." I t i s e v id e n t t h a t , whereas B unyan's p io u s b io g r a p h e rs sought to em phasize th e moral d e p r a v ity of B unyan's youth to se rv e as a c o n t r a s t to th e s a i n t l i n e s s of h i s l a t e r y e a r s , Southey a tte m p ted to s t r e s s th e f a n a tic is m ^ R obert Southey, "L ife of John Bunyan," o p . c i t . . 108. 80 I b i d . , 117. 81 I b i d . , 120. GO Ibid., 122. 429 and en th u siasm of Bunyan*s e a r l y days to se rv e a s a c o n t r a s t 83 t o the commendable “s o b r i e t y o f mind" in to which he l a t e r s e t t l e d . The same u n se n tim e n ta l a t t i t u d e and p s y c h o lo g ic a l i n t e r p r e t a t i o n t h a t u n d e rla y S o u th ey ’s d is c u s s i o n of Bunyan*s r e l i g i o u s h i s t o r y a l s o gave d i r e c t i o n to h is judgment co n cern in g t h a t a u t h o r 's im prisonm ent. Indeed, Southey atte m p te d to show t h a t the a u t h o r i t i e s had good cause to c o n fin e Bunyan, sin c e "he was known to be h o s t i l e to th e r e s t o r e d Church, and p ro b a b ly i t m ight be remembered 84 t h a t he had served in th e P a r l i a m e n t 's arm y." Robert Southey, "L ife of John Bunyan," o p . c i t . , 125. 84 i b i d . , 140. The second o f th e s e r e a s o n s , one must a d m it, i s s c a r c e ly more th a n a h a s t i l y formed con j e c t u r e on th e p a r t of Southey. The rev ie w e r of S o u th e y 's l i f e in th e C h r is tia n O b se rv er, XXXII (O cto b er, 1832), 680, indeed re g a rd e d i t a s "a mere g r a t u i t o u s g u ess of Dr. S o u th e y 's i n ralcing to g e th e r a l l p o s s i b le o r c o n c eiv a b le a p o lo g ie s f o r a bad d ee d ," and c o n tin u e d , w ith d e l i g h t f u l r i d i c u l e : " I f e v e ry man was t o be im prisoned a t the R e s to r a t i o n , who happened many y e a rs b e f o r e , w i l l i n g o r u n w illin g , when a mere boy, to have been a Commonwealth s o l d i e r , t r u l y p r i s o n room had been s c a n t in m erry England. And to suppose t h a t any judge or m a g is tr a te could in common f e e l i n g or j u s t i c e have 'rem em bered' such an o ld o ffe n c e a s an a g g rav a t i o n of Bunyan's s i n of n o n -co n fo rm ity , would have been v ery l i k e h u r l i n g th e most w orthy o f a l l L a u re a te s from the summit of h i s own Skiddaw, and p le a d in g in excuse t h a t we remembered he once w rote Wat T y l e r ." James Anthony F ro u d e 's b io g ra p h y o f Bunyan had much th e same a t t i t u d e as t h a t of Southey, which o cc asio n ed John Brown ( John Bunyan, 155) t o remark t h a t Froude seemed "to have a c c e p te d a b r i e f on b e h a lf o f Bunyan*s p e r s e c u t o r s ." 430 Bunyan’ b argum ents w ith the j u s t i c e s and o f f i c i a l s , u s u a l l y c i t e d by b io g r a p h e rs a s in s ta n c in g h i s s k i l l in argument and h i s s t e a d f a s t n e s s o f mind, Southey reg ard ed i n a t o t a l l y d i f f e r e n t l i g h t . In none o f h i s w r i t i n g s , s t a t e d Southey, does Bunyan ap p ear "so l i t t l e re a s o n a b le , o r so l i t t l e t o l e r a n t , a s upon th e s e e x a m in a tio n s .”® ® And, co n c ern in g th e p l e a o f Bunyan1s w ife , t h a t the a u t h o r i t i e s send f o r Bunyan, t h a t he might speak f o r h im s e lf in h i s d e fe n s e , Southey commented, r a t h e r c u rio u s ly : % . . . h i s appearance however would r a t h e r have confirm ed th o s e in t h e i r o p in io n s who s a id t h a t t h e r e was not such a n o th e r p e s t i l e n t f e llo w in th e c o u n try , th a n have moved th e judges in h i s f a v o u r .86 S o u th e y 's a tta c h m e n t to th e e s t a b l i s h e d p o l i t i c a l o r d e r , w hich, l i k e h i s d e v o tio n to th e e s t a b l i s h e d ch u rch , came about in h i s m a tu r ity as a r e a c t i o n a g a i n s t th e r a d ic a lis m and unorthodoxy of h i s youth, i s c l e a r l y e v id e n t in h i s a p p ro v al of th e c irc u m sta n c es t h a t removed th e "high-m inded and h o t-m in d e d ” Bunyan from a "course of dangerous a c t i v i t y ” : The man who d is t i n g u i s h e d a h a n d fu l of B a p t i s t s i n London as th e C h r is t ia n s o f t h a t g r e a t m etro p o l i s , and who, when l e t o u t by fav o u r from h is p r i s o n , ex h o rte d th e people of God, as he c a l l s 85 R obert Southey, "L ife of John B unyan,” on. c i t . . 142. 86 I h i d . , 145. 431 them, t o ta k e heed t h a t th e y to u c h e d -n o t th e Common P ra y e r , was n o t employed i n prom oting u n i t y , nor in making good s u b j e c t s , however good h i s i n t e n t i o n s , however orthodox h i s c re e d , however s in c e r e and f e r v e n t h i s piety.87 S ir W alter S c o tt made l i t t l e comment on Bunyan*s im p riso n m e n t, m erely s t a t i n g t h a t as a r e s u l t o f h i s a c tio n s th e p re a c h e r was "of c o u rs e ” s e n t t o j a i l , where he r e m ained, “re s ig n e d and c o n te n te d w ith h i s c a p t i v i t y , ” so lo n g a s he f e l t t h a t i t was conducive to th e awakening 88 o f r e l i g i o n among th e s a i n t s . S c o t t 's words c o n ta in e d b u t a f a i n t r e f l e c t i o n of th e o p in io n e m p h a tic a lly s t a t e d by Southey, t h a t Bunyan*s im prisonm ent was by no means e n t i r e l y u n d e s ire d by him. Bunyan*s w illin g n e s s to s u f f e r confinem ent r a t h e r th a n r e f r a i n from p r e a c h in g , which form er b io g ra p h e rs had la u d ed as showing th e s t e a d f a s t n e s s o f a noble s p i r i t , Southey saw r a t h e r as a lo n g in g f o r martyrdom and s e l f - abasem ent. " N o th in g ,” he w ro te , “i s more c e r t a i n than t h a t th e g r a t i f i c a t i o n which a r e s o l u t e s p i r i t f e e l s in Q Q s a t i s f y i n g i t s conscience^ exceeds a l l o t h e r s . " Bunyan, s a id S outhey,"had been re a d in g th e Book 87 R obert Southey, "L ife o f John B u n y an ,” op. c i t . . 146. S ir W alter S c o tt, " S o u th e y 's L ife o f John Bunyan," o p . c i t . , 91. oq Robert Southey, "Life of John Bunyan," o p , , cit. . 148. 432 of M artyrs and had "th o ro u g h ly conformed h i s own frame o f mind to t h a t which he th u s a d m ire d ." 99 John Bunyan d id not ask h im s e lf how f a r th e ca se o f th e se M artyrs whose example he was p r e p a re d to fo llo w resem bled th e s i t u a t i o n in which he was p la c e d . Such a q u e s tio n , had he been c o o l enough to e n t e r t a i n i t , m ight have shown him t h a t they had no o th e r a l t e r n a t i v e th a n i d o l a t r y o r the s ta k e : b u t t h a t he was n e i t h e r c a l l e d upon to renounce a n y th in g t h a t he d id b e l i e v e , nor to p r o f e s s a n y th in g t h a t he d id n o t; t h a t th e c o n g re g a tio n to which he belonged h e ld a t t h a t tim e t h e i r m eetings unm olested; t h a t he m ight have w orshipped when he p le a s e d , where he p le a s e d , and how he p le a s e d ; t h a t he was only r e q u ir e d not to go about th e c o u n try h o ld in g c o n v e n tic le s ; and t h a t th e cause f o r t h a t i n t e r d i c t i o n was— no t t h a t p e rso n s were admonished in such c o n v e n tic le s to la b o u r f o r s a l v a t i o n , b u t t h a t th e y were ex h o rte d th e r e to re g a rd w ith a b h o rren ce t h a t P r o t e s t a n t church which i s e s s e n t i a l l y p a r t o f th e c o n s t i t u t i o n of t h i s kingdom; from th e d o c t r in e s of which Ohurch, e x c e p t i n th e p o in t o f i n f a n t b a p tism , he d id n o t d i f f e r a h a i r ’ s b r e a d t h . 91 "T his I am bound t o o b s e rv e ," added Southey, "because Bunyan h as been and no doubt w i l l co n tin u e t o b e , most w ro n g fu lly re p r e s e n te d a s h av in g been th e v ic tim of i n t o l e r a n t law s, and p r e l a t i c a l o p p r e s s i o n ." 9^ Southey was not in s e n s ib le to B unyan's p a t h e t i c account o f h i s p a r t i n g w ith h i s w ife and c h i l d r e n , which 90 R obert S outhey, "L ife o f John Bunyan," op. c i t . , 148. 91 I b i d . , 150. 92 h o c . c i t . 433 was to him “as the p u l l i n g th e f l e s h 1 1 from h i s bones; b u t Southey f e l t t h a t Bunyan*s confinem ent was by no means se v e re and t h a t i t c o n t r ib u t e d , m oreover, to h i s u ltim a te u s e f u ln e s s and fame, i n g iv in g h i s u n d e rsta n d in g th e 93 “l e i s u r e to r ip e n and to c o o l." At th e end o f th e tw elve y e a r s , w rote Southey, th e “f e v e r rt of Bunyan*s en th u siasm had sp e n t i t s e l f ; “th e a s p e r i t y of h i s o p in io n s was s o f te n e d as h i s mind e n la rg e d ; and th e P i l g r i m 's P ro g re s s was one o f th e f r u i t s o f h i s im p riso n m en t."94 This p a ra g ra p h s e rv e s r a t h e r a d e q u a te ly to i l l u s t r a t e S o u th e y 's a t t i t u d e toward Bunyan: He adm ired him— in d e ed , as he d e c la r e d , he lo v e d him— as th e a u th o r of The P i l g r i m 1s P ro g re s s which had p la c e d h i s name “among th o s e who may be c a l l e d the im m ortals of th e e a r t h . " 95 But a s th e a u th o r of Grace Abounding to th e C hief of S in n e r s — th e t i t l e of which work, as a m a tte r of f a c t , Southey a d r o i t l y c o n tr iv e d n ev er once to m ention d u rin g h i s b io g ra p h y — Bunyan was to Southey a t y p i c a l se v e n te e n th c e n tu ry e n t h u s i a s t . The a u to b io g ra p h ic a l ac co u n t of B unyan's r e l i g i o u s e x p e rie n c e s was to Southey a c u r io u s ly 9^ R obert S o u th e y ,1 1 L ife o f John Bunyan," o p . c i t . . 147. 94 I b i d . , 152. Ibid., 90. 434 i n t e r e s t i n g p s y c h o lo g ic a l document, which an orthodox churchman co u ld a p p r e c i a t e f o r i t s q u a in tn e e s , b u t w ith th e a u th o r of which he could f e e l b u t im p e rfe c t sym p ath ies. In th e l i g h t of t h i s a t t i t u d e th e r e i t e r a t e d a s s e r tio n s of th e e v a n g e l i s t i c C h r i s t i a n O bserver t h a t Southey was '‘incompetent"®® and "very u n f i t " 97 to be a b io g ra p h e r o f Bunyan can be u n d e rsto o d . A Hannah More o r a W illiam W ilb e rfo rc e , d e c la re d t h a t p e r i o d i c a l , sh o u ld r a t h e r have 98 u n d e rta k e n th e w r i t i n g o f Bunyan1s l i f e . Indeed, even C h a rles Lamb, though he p o l i t e l y com plimented Southey on h i s " b e a u t i f u l " l i f e o f Bunyan,99 looked w ith a p p re h e n sio n on t h a t w r i t e r a s a s e c t a r i a n b i o g r a p h e r ,I and longed in h i s h e a r t to see th e l i f e of 9® " S o u th e y 's E d iti o n o f th e P i l g r i m 's P r o g r e s s ," C h r i s t i a n O b se rv e r. XXXII (Septem ber, 1833), 603. 97 I b i d . , 601. 98 I b i d . . 630. qq C harles Lamb t o R obert Southey, May 10, 1830. Work, V II, 847. I "I r a t h e r grudge t h a t S [o u th e y ] h as ta k en up th e h i s t o r y of your p e o p le ," w rote C harles Lamb to B ernard B a rto n ; "I am a f r a i d he w i l l p u t in some L e v ity " (December 33, 1832. Works, V II, 588). In h i s famous open l e t t e r to Southey, Lamb a g a in touched upon th e s u b je c t: "The Quakers trem b le a t th e s u b j e c t in your hands. The M e th o d ists a re shy of you upon acco u n t o f t h e i r fo u n d er" (Works. I , 238). 435 Bunyan w r i t t e n — n o t by th e L a u re a te —b u t by h i s non- 2 c o n fo rm ist f r i e n d W alter W ilson. '•The c u r r e n t p h r a s e , 'D r. Southey has made a most i n t e r e s t i n g book about Mr. W e sle y ,1 was a v e ry good d e s c r i p t i o n , " w rote th e C h r is t ia n O b serv er: "and, now t h a t he has 'made a book* about John Bunyan, we need on ly r e i t e r a t e i t . " N e v e rth e le s s , conceded t h a t p e r i o d i c a l g e n e ro u s ly , though S outhey’ s b io g ra p h y was d e c id e d ly "not what a l i f e o f Bunyan ought to b e , " i t m ight induce some r e a d e r s t o pay t h e i r r e s p e c ts to a g r e a t w r i t e r who would n e v e r have been a d m itte d to t h e i r a c q u a in ta n c e "w ithout 4 th e L a u r e a t e 's c a rd i n h i s hand." ^ C h arles Lamb to W alter W ilson, November 15, 1829. W orks, VII, 8 1 9 -2 0 .S e e , s u p ra , page 406, n o te 21. 3 "S o u th e y 's E d iti o n of th e P i l g r i m 's P r o g r e s s ," C h r i s t i a n O b s e rv e r. XXXII (Septem ber, 1832:), 598. 4 I b i d . (O cto b er, 1832), 676. BUNYAN AS ALLEGORIST AND NARRATIVE WRITER "PRINCE OF ALL ALLEGORISTS IN PROSE'* D uring t h i s p e r io d , as d u rin g th e p re c e d in g , John Bunyan was " c h i e f l y known as th e A uthor of th e j u s t l y c c e l e b r a t e d A lle g o ry of th e P i l g r i m 's P r o g r e s s ." In th e t h i r d e d i t i o n of th e E n cy c lo p ae d ia B r ita n n ic a he was i d e n t i f i e d as " a u th o r o f th e P i l g r i m 's P r o g r e s s ," and in th e G reat B io g ra p h ic a l D ic tio n a ry lik e w is e . The s t a t u s of g e n e ra l knowledge o f , o r i n t e r e s t in , Bunyan*s o th e r im p o rta n t a l l e g o r i c a l and n a r r a t i v e w r i t i n g s i s r a t h e r w e ll t y p i f i e d by the a r t i c l e in th e form er of th e s e books of r e f e r e n c e , which m entioned Bunyan’ s famous work and th e n added: "He a ls o w rote an a l l e g o r y , c a lle d The Holy War."® N e ith e r Mrs. B arbauld in h e r s h o r t s k e tc h of E n g lis h p ro se w r i t i n g s , ^ nor John Dunlop in h i s more 5 R obert W att, o p . c i t . . I , c o l. 170 c. R E n cy c lo p ae d ia B r i t a n n i c a . t h i r d e d i t i o n , I I I , 776. 7 Anna L a e t i t i a B arb au ld , "L ife of Samuel R ich ard so n , w ith Remarks on h i s W r itin g s ," p re fa c e d to The Correspondence of Samuel R ic h a rd so n . ♦. (London: P r in t e d f o r R ich ard P h i l l i p s , 1804). T his p r e fa c e c o n ta in s a s h o r t h i s t o r y o f prose f i c t i o n , i n which The P i l g r i m 's P ro g re s s i s m entioned. Much of t h i s m a t e r i a l Mrs. B arbauld l a t e r u t i l i z e d in h e r more p r e t e n t i o u s e s s a y "On th e O rig in and P ro g re s s of N o v e l-w ritin g ," p r e f a c e d to Samuel R ich ard so n , C l a r i s s a : o r , The H is to ry o f a Young Lady (Vol. I of The B r i t i s h N o v e lis ts T . b u t th e r e f e r e n c e to Bunyan she o m itte d . 437 im p o rta n t H is to ry of F i c t i o n , made m ention o f th e a l l e g o r y t h a t Bunyan "a lso w r o t e .'1 L ik ew ise, n e i t h e r o f th e se w r i t e r s r e f e r r e d to The L ife and Death of Mr. Badman. w hile Southey, in h i s l i f e o f Bunyan, d isp o s e d of b o th works w ith rem arkable b r e v i t y . N e v e rth e le s s , i n t e r e s t i n th e s e w r i t i n g s was on th e in c r e a s e . Both c a l l e d f o r t h th e a d m ira tio n of r e l i g i o u s w r i t e r s and even th e c r i t i c i s m of men of l e t t e r s , and th e f i r s t o f them, in d e ed , was acco rd ed h ig h commendation by so f i n e a c r i t i c a s C h arles Lamb. I t was, however, on The P ilgrim * s P ro g re s s t h a t Bunyan*s r e p u t a t i o n r e s t e d , and i t was t h i s work t h a t earn ed him the t i t l e "P rin ceo f a l l a l l e g o r i s t s in p r o s e ." As Southey remarked i n 1830, " I t i s im p o ssib le to 8 s t a t e th ro u g h how many e d i t i o n s t h a t work h as p a s s e d ;" n e v e r t h e l e s s , i t i s known t h a t , in a d d i t i o n to th e numer ous e d i t i o n s in sm all fo rm a t, some tw enty o ctav o e d i t i o n s were p u b lis h e d in E ngland betw een th e appearance of H e p t i n s t a l l ’ s e d i t i o n of 1796 and t h a t of Major and Murray Q i n 1830. Many of th e s e were w e ll p r i n t e d , and were i l l u s t r a t e d by famous a r t i s t s . 8 R obert Southey, "L ife o f John Bunyan," o£. c i t . , 177. 9 John Brown, John Bunyan. 448. An e d i t i o n is s u e d in 1805, f o r in s t a n c e , co n ta in e d i l l u s t r a t i o n s by Is a a c T aylor; a n o th e r , p u b lis h e d in th e fo llo w in g y e a r, was i l l u s t r a t e d by th e w e ll known Thomas Bewick, a f t e r T h u rsto n . An e d i t i o n iss u e d in 1811 con ta i n e d i l l u s t r a t i o n s by L. O len n el, one o f Bewick’s p u p i l s , and a n o th e r in 1820 d is p la y e d th e a r t i s t r y o f R. W e s ta ll. A w e l l - p r i n t e d e d i t i o n was p u t f o r t h by Henry F is h e r from th e Caxton P re ss i n 1824, and one i n 1830 by George V irtu e of Ivy Lane. In th e e d i t i o n is s u e d a t Glasgow in 1828 ap p e a re d what Southey c a l l e d th e “v e ry a b le I n tr o d u c to r y E ssay"*^ o f James Montgomery. The e d i t i o n p u b lis h e d by Major and Murray in 1830 marks th e b e g in n in g , a s John Brown o b s e rv e s , "of th e more modern s e r i e s re a c h in g down to our own t i m e . " H i t i s a landmark in Bunyan l i t e r a t u r e n o t only becau se of i t s i l l u s t r a t i o n s and i t s a tte m p t a t a s c h o l a r l y t e x t , b u t p r i m a r i l y because i t was p re fa c e d by Robert Southey. "T ruly i t i s one o f th e w onderful th in g s of a w onderful a g e ," remarked the C h r i s t i a n O bserver s a r c a s t i c a l l y , " th a t a P o et L au rea te sh o u ld w r ite th e L ife of th e poor p e r s e - 1 ? cu ted N on-conform ist T inker o f B e d f o r d . . . . " a 1® R obert Southey, "L ife of John Bunyan," o£. c i t . . 170. H John Brown, John Bunyan, 448. 12 « s o u th e y 's E d itio n of th e P i l g r i m ’s P r o g r e s s ," C h r i s t i a n O b s e rv e r, XXXII (Septem ber, 1832), 597. 439 This e d i t i o n o f Bunyan1s a l l e g o r y was i l l u s t r a t e d b y wood en g rav in g s by H eath, which c r i t i c s pronounced to be ad m irab ly d esig n ed and ex e c u te d , ^ and by two s t e e l e n g ra v in g s by John M a rtin , which d id not f i n d such f a v o r a b le r e c e p tio n . That a r t i s t ' s tendency to m inim ize p e rso n s i n fa v o r of la n d sc a p e , a d v e rs e ly c r i t i c i z e d by H a z l i t t in 14 o th e r of M a rtin 's p i c t u r e s , was a l s o a pronounced c h a r a c t e r i s t i c in h is p i c t o r i a l co n c e p t of "The V a lle y of th e Shadow o f D eath," which drew f o r t h th e cen su re of b o th C o lerid g e* ^ and M acaulay. Indeed, C o lerid g e c r i t i c i z e d not o n ly M a r ti n 's i l l u s t r a t i o n s , b u t a ls o th e fo rm a t of th e book in genera,!. "This new e d i t i o n o f th e P i l g r i m 's P ro g re ss i s to o f i n e a book f o r i t , " he s a i d . " I t sh o u ld be much l a r g e r , and on six -p en n y p a p e r ." 17 The v ery eleg an ce and r e s p e c t a b i l i t y T. B. M acaulay, "John Bunyan" (1831) M iscellan e o u s Works. I I , 253. W illiam H a z l i t t , "C o n v ersatio n s o f James N o rth c o te ," (T w elfth C o n v e rs a s io n ), Works, XI, 251-2; a l s o , "Common p la c e s " ( f i r s t p u b lis h e d in L i t e r a r y E xam iner. 1823), W orks. XX, 134. Samuel T ay lo r C o le rid g e , "Table T a lk ," Works, 326. T. B. M acaulay, "John Bunyan" (1 8 3 1 ), o p . c i t . . 253-4. ^ Samuel T aylor C o le rid g e , l o c . c i t . Cf. C h arles Lamb's in d ig n a tio n on h e a rin g t h a t Major was to b r in g f o r t h a " s p le n d id " e d i t i o n o f th e a l l e g o r y ; s u p r a , page 373. 440 o f th e e d i t i o n , however, give i t an im p o rta n t p la c e in Bunyan l i t e r a t u r e . In l e e s s p le n d id e d i t i o n s th a n th e s e The P i l g r i m ^ P ro g re s s a ls o c o n tin u e d to f i n d r a p id p u b l i c a t i o n , not 1 R o n ly i n London, b u t in o th e r E n g lis h towns as w e ll. I t s p o p u l a r i t y was u n c o n te s te d , and i t s wide s a le made i t , d u rin g t h i s p e r io d , as d u rin g th e e ig h te e n th c e n tu r y , th e s ta n d a rd o f .p o p u la r a p p e a l. R ich ard Cumberland, f o r in s ta n c e , s t a t e d t h a t "th e mighty D octor H i l l , " w r i t i n g r e c i p e s under th e name "Hannah G l a s s , ” a c h ie v e d such a r a p id s a le f o r h i s books t h a t he was acknowledged by th e 19 p r e s s as "second i n fame only to John B unyan.” The P i l g r i m *s P r o g r e s s , w rote Bogue and B ennett 18 As th e d a te of f i r s t p u b l i c a t i o n of The P i l g r i m 1s P ro g re s s in o th e r c i t i e s th a n London d u rin g t h i s p e r io d , John Brown (John Bunyan, 451) l i s t s th e fo llo w in g ; in some of th e p l a c e s , he s t a t e s , more th a n one e d i t i o n was is s u e d : M anchester. 1799; Berwick, 1801; Leeds, 1802; Bungay, 1805; Taunton (w ith f r o n t i s p i e c e and woodcuts by Thomas Bew ick), 1806; Rotherham, 1806; L iv e rp o o l, 1807; Durham, 1807; S to u rb r id g e , 1809; H a lifa x and Burslem , 1810; Buckingham arid W e llin g to n (S a lo p ), 1811; Birmingham, 1812; O xford, 1814*; C helsea [1815}, Romsey, 1816; B oston, 1817; Plymouth and O xbridge, 1822; Derby, 1829. 19 R ichard Cumberland, Memoirs o f R ich ard Cum berland, w r i t t e n by h i m s e l f , c o n ta in in g an acco u n t of h i s L ife and W r i t i n g s , i n t e r s p e r s e d w ith A necdotes and C h a ra c te rs of s e v e r a l o f th e most d i s t i n g u i s h e d p erso n s of h i s t i m e , w ith whom he h as had in t e r c o u r s e and connexion {Tondon: P r in t e d f o r L ac k in g to n , A lle n and Company, 1807) " I , 353. 441 i n 1809, has p assed through "more e d i t i o n s th a n any o th e r book e x c e p t th e B i b l e . . . . " 2® "No work of human composi t i o n can c e r t a i n l y be compared w ith i t in u n i v e r s a l i t y and e x te n t of p o p u l a r i t y , " em phasized Chalmers in 1813; " s c a rc e a y e a r has p a s s e d , s in c e i t s . f i r s t a p p e a ra n c e , in which th e PI p u b lic has not c a l l e d f o r a new e d i t i o n . " Southey was o f th e o p in io n t h a t "p ro b ab ly no o th e r book in th e E n g lis h language" had o b ta in e d "so c o n s ta n t and so wide a s a l e ,"22 and Thomas S c o tt w rote: . . . i t i s u n d e n ia b le , t h a t Bunyan’s P ilg r im c o n tin u e s to be re a d and adm ired by v a s t m u lti tu d e s ; w hile p u b l i c a t i o n s on a s i m i l a r p la n , by p e rso n s of r e s p e c ta b le l e a r n in g and t a l e n t s , are co n sig n ed to alm ost t o t a l n e g l e c t and o b l i v i o n .23 Commentators of th e p e r io d a c c e p te d t h i s u n iv e r s a l p o p u l a r i t y as an i n d i c a t i o n of th e e x c e lle n c e of the a l l e g o r y , c i t i n g Jo h n s o n 's dictum t h a t a book which had g ain ed th e g e n e ra l and co n tin u ed a p p ro b a tio n o f mankind 20 David Bogue and James B e n n e tt, opt. c i t . , I , 467. 21 A lexander Chalm ers, o p . c i t . , 289-90. 22 R obert Southey, "L ife o f John Bunyan," op. c i t . , 177. 23 Thomas S c o tt, " P re fa c e ," o p . c i t . . iv . 442 24 had th e b e s t evidence of i t s m e r it . The e n t h u s i a s t i c Joseph Ivimey d e c la r e d : I f th e u n i v e r s a l a p r o b a tio n o f C h r i s t i a n s of a l l d en o m in atio n s, d u rin g n e a r ly one hundred and f i f t y y e a r s , and which rem ains u n a b a te d , and the te s tim o n ie s of th e most em inent l i t e r a r y men to i t s m e r it , a re s u f f i c i e n t t o stamp a book w ith th e c h a r a c te r o f u n r iv a le d w o rth , th e n Bunyan’s " P ilg r im 1 * i s th e book.25 Thomas S c o tt w rote in th e same s p i r i t , and, l i k e James Montgomery, added a p r e d i c t i o n as to th e im m o rta lity o f Bunyan’ s fame on th e b a s i s o f t h i s a l le g o r y : The high e s tim a tio n , in which th e P i l g r i m ’ s P ro g re s s has b e e n h e ld f o r above a c e n tu r y , s u f f i c i e n t l y ^ e v in c e d ; i t s i n t r i n s i c v a lu e : and th e r e i s ev ery re a s o n t o suppose, t h a t i t w i l l be read w ith a d m ira tio n and advantage f o r ages to come p ro b a b ly t i l l th e consum ation of a l l t h i n g s . 26 " I t has been th e l o t of John Bunyan, an u n l e t t e r e d a r t i z a n , to do more th a n one i n a hundred m i l l i o n s of 24 Alexander Chalm ers, 289. Jo h n so n ’ s s ta te m e n t, t h a t The Pilgrim * s P ro g re s s was one of th e few books t h a t a re a d e r w ished were lo n g e r , was a l s o f r e q u e n t l y c i t e d d u rin g t h i s p e r io d , a s by Thomas S c o tt, "The L ife of John Bunyan" (1 8 0 1 ), p r e f a c e d to John Bunyan, The Pilgrim * s P ro g r e s s (H a rtfo rd : S i l a s Andrus, 1828), xv; by Ivimey, The L ife of John Bunyan. 205; and by " C le ric u s L e i c e s t r i e n s i s ," i n the gentleman* s M agazine, LXXVI, P t. i ( A p r il, 1806), 301. 25 Joseph Ivim ey, A H is to r y of th e E n g lis h B a p t i s t s , I I , 412. Ivim ey’ s sta te m e n t t h a t th e a l l e g o r y had "passed th ro u g h upwards o f f i f t y e d i t i o n s " ( The L ife of John Bunyan, 204) i s o f course a g ro s s u n d e rs ta te m e n t. I t i s copied d i r e c t l y from Kippis* B io g ra p h ia B r i t a n n i c a . I l l , 13 n . ), a s i s e v id e n t from th e sta te m e n t i t s e l f and from the c o n te x t i n which i t o c c u rs . 36 Thomas Scott, "Preface," op. cit. . iii. 443 human b e i n g s , even in c i v i l i s e d s o c i e t y , i s u s u a l l y a b le to d o ," d e c la r e d James Montgomery. "He has produced a work o f im a g in a tio n , o f such d ecided o r i g i n a l i t y " t h a t i t not on ly "commanded p u b lic a d m ira tio n on i t s f i r s t a p p e a ra n c e ," b u t "am idst a l l changes of tim e , and s t y l e , and modes of t h i n k i n g , n tm a in ta in e d i t s p la c e " in th e p o p u la r l i t e r a t u r e of ev ery su c cee d in g a g e ," w ith th e p r o b a b i l i t y t h a t "so lo n g a s th e language i n which i t i s w r i t t e n e n d u re s ," i t w i l l n o t ce a se to f i n d r e a d e rs : I t i s im p o s sib le t h a t a p ro d u c tio n o f fan cy w ith o u t some e x tr a o r d in a r y m e rit of i t s own, s ta n d in g p e r f e c t l y a p a r t from e v e ry th in g e l s e o f th e s o r t , could have rem ained so lo n g and triu m p h a n tly .p o p u la r.®7 P o p u lar th e a l l e g o r y rem ained, f in d in g n o t only re a d e rs b u t a l s o i m i t a t o r s . Among th e "many r i v a l s " and "many i m i ta t io n s " o f The P i l g r i m 1s P ro g re ss t h a t Chalmers rem arked had ap p eared "of l a t e y e a r s ," p e rh a p s th e most p o p u la r was The P ro g r e s s of th e P ilg r im G o o d -In ten t th ro u g h 28 th e Land of J a c o b in s o n . w r i t t e n by Mary Ann B urges, b u t p u b lis h e d anonymously i n 1800, and g e n e r a lly a s c r ib e d to 37 James Montgomery, " I n tr o d u c to r y E s s a y ," op. c i t . , i i i . 38 W illiam P rid e a u x C ourtney, The S e c r e ts of our N a tio n a l L i t e r a t u r e , C hapters in th e H is to r y of th e Anonymous and Pseudonymous W ritin g s o f our Countrymen (London: A rc h ib ald C onstable and Company, 1908), 55. 444 Hannah More.^® O ther a d a p ta t io n s of th e a lle g o r y , of a r e l i gio u s r a t h e r than a p o l i t i c a l n a tu re , in c lu d e d The S a ilo r P ilg rim in 1806; The T ra v e ls o f Humanltas i n S earch o f th e Temple of H appiness i n 1809; and Z io n 1s 30 P i l g r i m , i n th e same y e a r. Both Mrs. Sherwood and h e r b r o th e r t r i e d t h e i r hand a t i m i t a t i o n s of th e a lle g o r y f o r r e l i g i o u s p u rp o se s, George M artin B u tt p u b lis h in g The P ilg rim a g e 31 of T heophllus to th e C ity o f God i n 1812. Mrs. Sherwood 29 Mrs. P io z z i w rote to Mrs. P enn in g to n , from B ry n b e lla , May 1, 1800: ’’There i s g re a t t a l k o f a new book w r i t t e n by Hannah More, The P ro g re ss o f P ilg rim G o o d -in te n t th ro u g h th e Land of Jacobinism ; have you re a d l t t and i s i t charm ing?" ( The I n tim a te L e t t e r s of H e s te r P io z z i & P enelope P ennington^ 190)• C h a r lo tte M. Yonge, i n h e r b io g rap h y of Hannaja More, speaks o f The P ilg rim Good- I n t e n t a s a " c le v e r i m i t a t i o n of th e 'P i l g r i m ’s P r o g r e s s , ’ ad ap ted to th e days o f f a l s e p h ilo s o p h y ." I t i s n o t c l e a r w hether or n o t she was under th e Im p re ssio n th a t t h i s work had b e e n w r i t t e n by Hannah More. John Brown, John Bunyan, 459. T his book was e v id e n tly p u b lis h e d anonymously; John Brown does n o t m ention th e a u th o r, b u t th e b io g ra p h er o f Mrs. Sherwood speaks o f i t a s ”a l i t t l e book by h e r b r o th e r " ( F .J . Harvey D arton, e d i t o r , The L if e and Times of Mrs. Sherwood (1775-1851)♦ From th e D ia r ie s of C a p tain and Mrs. Sherwood, 400f. 445 h e r s e l f , th e once famous w r i t e r of c h i l d r e n ’ s books, made two a tte m p ts to u t i l i z e Bunyan's a l l e g o r y f o r p io u s i n s t r u c t i o n a l p u rp o s e s , The' I n f a n t 1s P ro g re s s from the V a lle y of D e s tru c tio n t o E v e r la s tin g G lo ry . which she 33 began i n 1806, a t th e s p e c ia l d e s i r e of h e r b r o t h e r , 32 Martha Mary (B u tt) Sherwood, 1775-1851, b e s t known f o r h e r c h i l d r e n 's book, The H is to ry of th e F a i r c h i l d Fam ily (1818), was th e a u th o r of more th a n th r e e hundred f i f t y books, t r a c t s , and p am p h lets, c h i e f l y o f a r e l i g i o u s n a tu re (F. J . Harvey D arton, o£. c i t . . x i i ) . Soon a f t e r h e r m a rriag e to C a p tain Henry Sherwood, she accom panied h e r husband to I n d ia , where she d id much o f h e r w r i t i n g . Her d i a r i e s re c o rd th e co m p o sitio n of b o th h e r I n f a n t ' s P ro g re ss and h e r In d ia n P i l g r i m . 33 " I t was by th e s p e c i a l d e s i r e o f my d e a r b r o t h e r ," re c o rd e d Mrs. Sherwood, " th a t I plan n ed t h i s work, and I w rote a p a r t of i t a t Berham pore, f i r s t i n q u a r t e r s and a f te r w a r d s a t Mr. P a rs o n s . I recommenced th e work in th e budgerow, and had a.dvanced a lo n g way beyond the V a lle y of A d v e rsity ; indeed I had n e a r ly re ac h e d th e end of i t , when suddenly, one q u i e t m orning, i t s tr u c k me t h a t I would p e r s o n if y In b red or O r ig in a l S in , and make him th e companion of the l i t t l e p ilg r im s through a l l t h e i r wander in g s . I a t once ce ase d w r i tin g in th e s t y l e in which I had begun, tu rn ed to th e b e g in n in g , and commenced th e r e w r i t i n g o f th e whole work in a b la n k book of t h i n In d ia n p ap er which I had by me" ( i b i d . « 308, n . ). Mrs. Sherwood began t h i s work i n 1806, and h e r d i a r i e s re c o r d h e r sending th e f i r s t f o u r c h a p te r s to England in 1810. The a c t u a l d a te o f p u b l i c a t i o n I am u n ab le to f i n d . E liz a b e th Lee, in th e D ic tio n a r y o f N a tio n a l Biography (XVII, 1 0 3 ), s t a t e s t h a t th e work was composed "about 1814," b u t g iv e s no d a te of p u b l i c a t i o n . John P. Anderson, " B ib lio g ra p h y ," o p . c i t . , x x ix , r e c o r d s o n ly th e p u b l i c a t i o n o f th e work a t W e llin g to n , S alop, 1835. 446 and The In d ia n P i l g r i m , p u b lis h e d i n 1817. The l a t t e r of th e s e two works she found h e r s e l f o b lig e d to compose when i t was d e c id e d t h a t a l i t e r a l t r a n s l a t i o n of th e a l l e g o r y a s Bunyan had w r i t t e n i t would be in c o m p reh en sib le to 34 In d ia n r e a d e r s . The In d ia n P ilg r im was t r a n s l a t e d in to H in d u s ta n i, and was a l s o p o p u la r in E n g lis h , going th ro u g h e i g h t e d i t i o n s by th e y e a r 1 8 3 8 . ^ The Bunyan e n t h u s i a s t Joseph Ivim ey, not c o n te n t 34 M is s io n a rie s in C a lc u t ta , as Mrs. Sherwood r e l a t e d , were a tte m p tin g to t r a n s l a t e some o f th e b e s t E n g lis h works on r e l i g i o n in to H in d u sta n i. "Amongst some o t h e r works th e y had t r i e d John Bunyan1s 'P i l g r i m 's P r o g r e s s, 1 b u t i f ev e r th e r e was a work i l l - s u i t e d to th e g e n iu s o f th e E a s t , i t was t h i s work o f h o n e s t old J o h n 's . When a few pages had been com pleted th e incom- p a t a b i l i t y of B unyan's homespun s t y l e w ith th e flo w ery O r i e n t a l t a s t e so s tr u c k everybody t h a t i t was th o u g h t t h e th in g must be g iv e n up. What could be made of 'Mrs. B a t 's - e y e s , ' o r 'Mr. W orldly Wiseman' and 'Mr. B y-ends' i n a n a r r a t i v e f o r Hindus and Mussulmans?" D an iel C o rrie ( a f te r w a r d s b ish o p o f Madras) t h e r e f o r e conceived the id e a o f " f a b r i c a t i n g an In d ia n P i l g r i m 's P r o g r e s s ," Mrs. Sherwood to do th e w r i t i n g , and he and Henry Martyn (th e m is sio n a ry ) th e c r i t i c i z i n g . ( The L ife and Times of M rs. Sherwood, 3 8 1 ). A ccording to Mrs. Sherw ood's d i a r i e s , th e work was f i n i s h e d and so ld in 1817 ( i b i d . , 438). E liz a b e t h Lee, in th e D ic tio n a r y of n a t io n a l B iography, i s p ro b a b ly wrong i n g iv in g th e d a te o f p u b l i c a t i o n as 1815. 35 F. J . Harvey D arton, op. c i t . . 438 n. 447 w ith co m p ilin g a l i f e of Bunyan, e d i t i n g th e anonymous b io g ra p h y of 1692, ° and d e a lin g w ith th e a l l e g o r i s t a t some le n g th i n h i s H is to ry of th e E n g lish B a p t i s t s . a ls o a tte m p te d an i m i t a t i o n , o r r a t h e r what he c a l l e d a "con t i n u a t i o n " o f The P ilg rim * s P r o g r e s s , under th e t i t l e 37 P ilg r im s of th e N in e te e n th C e n tu ry * V arious of th e s e w orks, which Macaulay i n 1854 c h a r a c t e r i z e d in g e n e ra l as " fe e b le co p ies o f th e g r e a t o r i g i n a l ,'1 '58 Chalmers t r e a t e d more l e n i e n t l y in 1813, a llo w in g them to be w r i t t e n " in some in s ta n c e s " w ith good i n t e n t i o n and in "a s t y l e which prom ises to be u s e f u l . " At th e same tim e , he added, th e y f a l l v ery s h o r t of Bunyan1 s perform ance i n alm ost e v e ry r e q u i s i t e ." 58 But i t was no t on ly The P i l g r i m 1s P ro g r e s s t h a t was deemed w orthy o f i m i t a t i o n d u r in g t h i s p e r io d . The Holy War was a ls o acco rd ed t h i s honour, i t s in c id e n t s and c h a r a c t e r s a p p e a rin g i n a f i v e - a c t drama in v e r s e , e n t i t l e d Ivimey*s r e p r i n t of t h i s l i f e was p u b lis h e d in 1832; i t was review ed in the C h r i s t i a n O b s e rv e r. XXXII (December, 1832), 805-813. 37 Joseph Ivim ey, P ilg rim s o f the N in e te e n th C e n tu ry : a c o n t in u a t io n of th e Pilgrim * s P r o g r e s s . upon th e p la n p ro .ie c te d by Mr. Bunyan: co m p risin g th e h i s t o r y o f a v i s i t to th e town of T o l e r a t i o n . . . . With e n g rav in g s and n o t e s . London, 1827"TJohn P. Anderson^ ^ B ib lio g ra p h y ," o p . c i t . . x x i x ) . 38 t . B. M acaulay, "John Bunyan" (1 8 5 4 ), M iscellan eo u s Works. V II, 42. Alexander Chalmers, op. cit., 292-3. 448 The S iege of M ansoul. ^ P o e t i c a l v e r s io n s o f The Pilgrim * s P ro g re s s a ls o seemed d e s i r a b l e to r e a d e r s of t h i s p e r io d . Adam C lark e, f o r i n s t a n c e , begged le a v e to e x p re s s h i s o p in io n ( “which has in d eed th e form o f a wish in my mind“ ) t h a t t h i s a l le g o ry would be more g e n e r a lly re a d and would be “more ab u n d an tly u s e f u l to a p a r t i c u l a r c l a s s of readers^' were i t tu rn e d in to “d ec e n t v e r s e . “ And th e t a s k , he f e l t c e r t a i n , "would n o t be d i f f i c u l t , " inasmuch as th e a l l e g o r y had “the com plete form o f an e p ick poem, the v e r s i f i c a t i o n alo n e ex c e p te d . But a p o e t, and a p o et o n ly , can do t h i s w ork," he added, “and such a p o e t to o , as i s e x p e rim e n ta lly a c q u a in te d w ith th e work of Cod on h i s s o u l. Even a L a u re a t, i f u n c o n v e rte d , would m is c a rry h e re ; and a p o e t a s t e r , however p io u s , would d eg rad e , by h i s ' Bouts R im ees, ' th e sublim e, though rugged o r i g i n a l . Tke Siege of M ansoul. a dram a, in f i v e a c t s . The d i c t i o n of which c o n s i s t s a l t o g e t h e r o f an accommoda t i o n o f words from Shakespeare and o th e r p o e t s . By a Lady. B r i s t o l , 1801. T h is work was accompanied by a p r e f a t o r y n o tic e by H. S u lg er (B r i t i s h Museum C a talo g u e ) . Adam C la rk e , " P o s ts c r i p t to a L ife o f John Bunyan," o p . c i t / , 45. C l a r k e 's p io u s w ish , in d eed , s p e c i f i c a l l y m o tiv a te d such a p o e t i c a l v e r s i o n , t h a t w r i t t e n by Mrs. Dawson W e th e re lt, w r i t i n g under th e non-de-plum e "C.C.V.G." i n 1844. “On th e p e r u s a l of Dr. Adam C l a r k e 's P o s t s c r i p t , " w rote Mrs. W e th e re lt, “i t s tru c k me f o r c i b l y , t h a t i f h i s w ish were com plied w ith , by any p e rs o n u n d e rta k in g th e ta s k he had p o in te d o u t, n o t only would the work be more g e n e r a lly r e a d , by ' a p a r t i c u l a r c l a s s ' o f p e r s o n s , b u t t h a t would make a g r e a t e r im p re s sio n , and prove more a c c e p ta b le to a l l c l a s s e s " ("A ddress of th e P a r a p h r a s e r , “ i b i d . , 5 ). 449 At l e a s t t h r e e o th e r w r i t e r s were o f th e same o p in io n as Clarke co n c ern in g th e d e s i r a b i l i t y o f a v e r s i f i e d P i l g r i m 1s P r o g r e s s . and a p p a r e n tly f e l t them selves g i f t e d w ith th e q u a l i f i c a t i o n s t h a t C larke s p e c i f i e d as r e q u i s i t e f o r th e u n d e rta k e r o f such a t a s k . One of th e s e was Is a a c James, who re n d ered th e a l le g o r y in t o f a m i l i a r 4.2 v e r s e ; a n o th e r was J . B. D rayton, who s e l e c t e d only c e r t a i n " le a d in g in c id e n t s " from th e f i r s t p a r t of th e 43 a l l e g o r y a s a b a s i s f o r h i s p o e t i c f l i g h t s ; and a t h i r d A A was V ic to ry Purdy. * The P i l g r i m 1s P r o g r e s s . Rendered in t o f a m i l i a r v e r s e , w ith a c lo s e adherence to th e o r i g i n a l . by Isa a c Jam es. B r i s t o l , 1813 (John P. A dderson, " B ib lio g ra p h y ," o p . c i t . , x x i x ) . 4 3 J . B. D rayton, P o e tic S ketches from Bunyan; co m p risin g some of th e le a d in g in c id e n t s i n th e f i r s t p a r t o f th e Pilgrim * s P r o g r e s s . With a b r i e f memoir of Bunyan, and n o te s s e l e c t e d and ab rid g e d from the R ev. T. S c o t t . . . Cheltenham . 1831 ( l o c . c i t . ) . In a d d i tio n to t h i s p o e t i c a l v e r s io n , Anderson a l s o c i t e s J . B. D rayton, A F ree P o e tic V ersio n of th e F i r s t P a r t of th e Pilgrim * s P ro g re s s i n Ten Books. With a b r i e f memoir and n o te s s e l e c t e d and a b rid g e d from th e Rev. T. S c o t t . Cheltenham, n. d. (T oe. c i t . ) . A p p aren tly J . B. D rayton p u b lis h e d two p o e t i c a l v e r s io n s of th e a l l e g o r y . 44 V ic to ry P urdy, P o e t i c a l M i s c e l l a n i e s . B r i s t o l , 1835. Pp. 159-352 o f t h i s book c o n ta in what i s "in te n d ed p a r t l y as a Key to open t h a t most e x c e l l e n t b u t m y ste rio u s b o o k ," The P ilg rim * s P ro g re s s (John P. A nderson, " B ib lio graphy , ^ T oe, c i t T)7 450 R obert Southey, d is c u s s in g th e m a tte r o f p o e t i c a l v e r s io n s of The P i l g r i m 1s P r o g r e s s , w rote good n a tu re d ly : Though th e s t o r y c e r t a i n l y i s not improved by v e r s i f y i n g i t , i t i s l e s s in ju r e d th a n might have been supposed i n th e p r o c e s s ; and p erh ap s most r e a d e rs would read i t w ith as,_much i n t e r e s t in th e one d r e s s a s i n the o t h e r . b S o u th e y 's i n t e r e s t i n g comment d e f i n i t e l y im p lie s t h a t i t was not th e l i t e r a r y m e rit of The P i l g r i m 1s P r o g r e s s — f o r which q u a l i t y Southey h im s e lf v alu ed the work— t h a t made i t p o p u la r w ith "most r e a d e r s ." Indeed, i t was th e r e l i g i o u s background and th e moral u s e fu ln e s s o f th e a l le g o r y t h a t b ro u g h t i t some o f i t s h ig h e s t p r a i s e from p io u s r e a d e r s o f th e p e r io d . The t h e o l o g i c a l a s p e c t of th e work a l s o re c e iv e d some c o n s id e r a ti o n , p a r t i c u l a r l y from C o le rid g e , who w rote: This w onderful work i s one o f th e few books which may be re a d over r e p e a te d ly a t d i f f e r e n t tim e s , and each tim e w ith a new and a d i f f e r e n t p l e a s u r e . I re a d i t once a s a th e o lo g ia n — and l e t me a s s u re you, t h a t t h e r e i s g r e a t th e o l o g i c a l acumen in th e work— once w ith d e v o tio n a l f e e l i n g s — and once as a p o e t ; 4® b u t Thomas S c o tt and Joseph Ivim ey, m ainly i n t e r e s t e d in th e m oral purpose and r e l i g i o u s im p l ic a tio n o f th e a l l e g o r y , a ls o acco rd ed t h i s a s p e c t some a t t e n t i o n . 45 R obert Southey, "L ife of John B u nyan,” o p . c i t . , 178. 46 Samuel T ay lo r C o le rid g e , "Table T a l k , ” Works, VI, 326. 451 Looking a t The P i l g r i m 1s P ro g re s s from th e th e o l o g i c a l a n g le , Thomas S c o tt e x p re s s e d h i s a p p r e c i a t i o n of th e m a rv e llo u s f a c t t h a t "a r e l i g i o u s t r e a t i s e , e v i d e n tl y i n c u l c a t i n g d o c t r i n e s always o f f e n s i v e , b u t now more un f a s h io n a b le th a n f o r m e r ly ," c o u ld a t t r a c t r e a d e r s in a 4? " p o lis h e d age and n a t i o n ." C o n sid erin g th e a l le g o r y as a p o r t r a y a l of th e C a l v i n i s t i c view of l i f e , Thomas S c o tt w rote: I t i s above a l l th in g s w o n d e rfu l, t h a t Bunyan*s im a g in a tio n , f e r t i l e and v ig o ro u s in a v e ry g r e a t d e g re e , and w h o lly u n tu to re d by th e r u l e s o f l e a r n i n g , should i n t h i s in s ta n c e have b ee n so d i s c i p l i n e d by sound judgm ent, and deep a c q u a in t ance w ith th e S c r i p t u r e , a s to produce, in th e form of an a l l e g o r y , one of th e f a i r e s t and most u n e x c e p tio n a b le t r e a t i s e s on th e system o f C al- v in is m , t h a t can be found in th e E n g lis h language i 48 In s e v e r a l o f h i s o t h e r p u b l i c a t i o n s Bunyan had l e t h i s im a g in a tio n c a rr y him "beyond j u s t bounds," f e l t Thomas S c o tt, b u t in The P ilg rim * s P ro g re s s he th o u g h t t h a t th e a u th o r had avoided a l l e x tre m e s, e x c e p t t h a t he p re s e n te d C alvinism in somewhat to o gloomy a garb: P e rh a p s, as he was h im s e lf l i a b l e t o d e p re s s io n s o f s p i r i t , and had p a sse d through deep d i s t r e s s e s , th e views he g iv e s of th e P i l g r i m 's te m p ta tio n s may be to o gloomy; b u t he has shown in th e co u rse o f th e work, t h a t t h i s a ro s e p r i n c i p a l l y from in a d e q u a te views o f e v a n g e li c a l t r u t h , and th e want o f C h r i s t i a n communion, w ith th e 47 Thomas S c o t t , " P re fa c e ," 0£ . c i t . , iv . 48 Thomas Scott, "The Life of John Bunyan," op. cit., xv. 452 b e n e f i t s to be d e r iv e d from th e c o u n s e ls o f a f a i t h f u l m i n i s t e r . 49 / S ir W alter S c o tt, Southey, and C o le rid g e , however, found th e C a l v i n i s t i c s p i r i t o f Bunyan’ s works a v ery m ild and u n o b je c tio n a b le one. S c o tt, n o tin g t h a t Bunyan's a l l e g o r y embodied C a l v i n i s t i c t e n e t s , y e t s t a t e d t h a t th e work was n o t of a c o n t r o v e r s i a l c h a r a c t e r , and "might be p e ru se d w ith o u t o ffe n c e by sober-m inded C h r i s t i a n s of a l l 50 p e r s u a s i o n s ." Southey f e l t t h a t i f C alvinism had never worn a b la c k e r ap p earance th a n i n Bunyan's w r i t i n g s in c * j g e n e r a l, i t would n ev er have beoome a term of re p ro ac h ; and C o le rid g e , w r i t i n g in p a r t i c u l a r o f The P i l g r i m 's P r o g r e s s , exclaim ed: I co u ld n o t have b e lie v e d b efo reh an d t h a t C alvinism co u ld be p a i n te d in such e x q u i s i t e l y d e l i g h t f u l c o l o r s . 52 In d eed , C o lerid g e was no t s a t i s f i e d to c a l l Bunyan a C a l v i n i s t , f e e l i n g t h a t in th e s p i r i t and d o c t r in e of h i s th e o lo g y Bunyan le a n e d to th e L u th e ran r a t h e r th a n to th e ® Thomas S c o t t , "The L ife o f John Bunyan," o p . c i t . , xv. 50 S ir W alter S c o tt, " S o u th e y 's L ife o f John Bunyan," o p . c i t . . , 107. 5 1 R obert S outhey, "L ife of John Bunyan," op. c i t . , 155. ^ Samuel T ay lo r C o le rid g e , "Table T a lk ," Works, V I, 326. 453 C a l v i n i s t i c s i d e . ^ C o lerid g e re g a rd e d The P i l g r i m 1s P ro g r e s s as a 54 work of " g re a t t h e o l o g i c a l acumen," t h a t q u a l i t y toeing toest e x e m p lifie d , p e rh a p s , in Bunyan1s sound a t t i t u d e tow ard c o n t r o v e r s i a l d o c t r i n e s and i n t e r p r e t a t i o n s r e p re s e n te d toy s e v e n te e n th c e n tu ry s e c t s . C o le rid g e h e l d , f o r i n s t a n c e , t h a t th e median way toetween th e d o c t r in e of s a l v a t io n by works and s a l v a t i o n toy f a i t h had never been s t a t e d more soundly and c l e a r l y th a n in C h r i s t i a n 's words to T a lk a tiv e : . . . a n d l e t u s a s s u re our s e l v e s , t h a t a t th e day o f Doom men s h a l l toe judged a c c o rd in g to t h e i r f r u i t . I t w i l l no t toe s a i d th e n , Did you b e l i e v e ? tout, were you Doers o r T a lk e rs only? and a c c o r d in g ly s h a l l th e y be judged.55 "A ll th e d o c to rs o f th e Sortoonne," commented C o le rid g e , "could not have b e t t e r s t a t e d th e Gospel medium toetween P e la g ia n ism and A n tin o m ia n -S o lifid ia n is m , more p ro p e r ly named S t e r i l i f i d i a n i s m . " I t i s , in d e ed , f a i t h a lo n e t h a t sav es u s; tout i t i s such a f a i t h as can n o t toe a lo n e . P u r i t y and to en eficien ce a re th e e p i d e r m is . f a i t h and lo v e th e c u t i s v e r a o f C h r i s t i a n i t y . M o ra lity i s th e outw ard c l o t h , f a i t h th e l i n i n g . ...5 ® See s u p r a , page 368. 5 4 Samuel T ay lo r C o le r id g e , l o c . c i t . 55 John Bunyan, The P ilgrim * s P r o g r e s s . 205. 55 Samuel T ay lo r C o le rid g e , " L i t e r a r y R em ains," W orks. V, 263. 454 J u s t what Bunyan meant by C h r i s t i a n ’ s d is p u t e w ith F o rm a lis t and H ypocrisy co n cern in g th e r i g h t manner of e n t e r i n g " in to th e way," C o lerid g e was not c e r t a i n . "Did Bunyan r e f e r to th e Quakers as r e j e c t i n g th e outward Sacram ents of Baptism and th e L o rd ’ s Supper?" he q u e rie d . I f so , i t i s th e only u n s p i r i t u a l p assa g e in th e whole b e a u t i f u l a l l e g o r y , th e on ly t r a i t of s e c t a r i a n narrow -m indedness; and, in Bunyan’s own la n g u ag e, o f l e g a l i t y . 57 But C o le rid g e concluded t h a t t h i s was no t th e a l l e g o r i s t ’ s i n t e n t i o n , and t h a t i n t h i s p assa g e Bunyan meant r a t h e r to r e f e r to the A rm inians and o t h e r P e la g ia n s "who r e l y on th e c o in c id e n c e of t h e i r a c t i o n s w ith th e Gospel p r e c e p ts f o r t h e i r s a l v a t i o n , w hatever th e ground o r r o o t of 58 t h e i r conduct may b e ." The p o in t a t is s u e betw een th e C a l v i n i s t s and th e A rm inians was r i g h t l y u n d e rsto o d , f e l t C o le rid g e , by n e i t h e r s id e . B oth, he s a id , "a re p a r t i a l l y r i g h t in what 59 th e y a f f i r m , and w holly wrong in what th ey d e n y . . . . " B unyan's p i c t u r e of C h r is t p o u rin g o i l on th e f i r e and th e re b y m a in ta in in g th e work of g ra c e in th e h e a r t , one 57 Samuel T ay lo r C o le rid g e , " L ite r a r y Rem ains," Works. V, 260. 58 I b i d . . 260-1. 59 I b i d . , 259. 455 e d i t o r of th e a l l e g o r y had u n d e rsto o d as im p ly in g t h a t th e s in n e r who i s the s u b je c t of g ra c e had no hand i n keep in g 60 up th e work of g ra c e in th e s o u l. C o le rid g e , however, f e l t t h a t t h a t one p a ssa g e d id no t w holly r e p r e s e n t Bunyan’ s view s on th e s u b j e c t , and t h a t th e words spoken by th e Man in th e I ro n Cage— I l e f t o ff to w atch, and be so b e r, I l a i d th e E eins upon th e neck of my L u s t s . . . , im p lie d t h a t , i n B unyan's judgm ent, th e re was " a t l e a s t a n e g a tiv e c o o p e ra tio n of th e w i l l of man w ith th e d iv in e g r a c e , an energy of n o n - r e s i s t a n c e to th e w orkings of th e go Holy S p i r i t . " T h e o lo g ic a l s u b t l e t i e s a s i d e , C o lerid g e re g ard ed The P i l g r i m 's P ro g re s s as an a c c u r a te and w e l l - s t a t e d summation of e v a n g e li c a l r e l i g i o n . "I know of no book," he w ro te , "th e B ib le e x c e p te d , a s above a l l com parison, which I , a c c o rd in g to my judgment and e x p e rie n c e , could so s a f e l y recommend as te a c h in g and e n fo rc in g th e whole sa v in g t r u t h a c c o rd in g t o th e mind t h a t was in Je su s C h r i s t , as th e P i l g r i m 's P ro g r e s s . I t i s , in ray c o n v i c ti o n , incom parably th e b e s t Summa T h eologiae E v a n g e lic a e e v e r 60 R. Edwards, c i t e d by C o le rid g e , l o c . c i t . 61 John Bunyan, The P i l g r i m ’ s P r o g r e s s . 165. flp Samuel T aylor C o le rid g e , l o c . c i t . 456 produced toy a w r i t e r n o t m ira c u lo u s ly i n s p i r e d . " And, a g a in from th e e v a n g e li c a l p o in t o f view, C o le rid g e ranked The P i l g r i m 1s P ro g re s s h ig h i n com parison w ith th e works of th e Church F a th e r s . "The c a ta lo g u e of th e works w r i t t e n toy th e Reform ers and in th e two c e n t u r i e s a f t e r th e R efo rm atio n , c o n ta in many, many volumes f a r s u p e r i o r in C h r i s t i a n l i g h t and u n c tio n to th e toest of th e F a t h e r s ," he w ro te , and th e n , toy way o f i l l u s t r a t i o n , c o n tin u e d : "How poor and u n e v a n g e lic a l i s Hermas in com parison w ith our P i l g r i m ’ s P ro g re s s I " The e v a n g e li c a l a s p e c t o f The P i l g r i m ’ s P ro g re ss a p p e a le d a l s o to Thomas S c o tt, who found e x h i b i t e d in b o th p a r t s of th e a l le g o r y th e "grand p r i n c i p l e s o f e v a n g e lic a l and p r a c t i c a l r e l i g i o n . Bunyan, i n w r i t i n g th e book, f e l t S c o t t , must have been "fav o u red w ith a p e c u l i a r measure o f d iv in e a s s i s t a n c e , " which had e n a b le d him to p o r t r a y co m p letely and u n i v e r s a l l y th e d i f f i c u l t i e s , p e r i l s , c o n f l i c t s , and s p i r i t u a l a s s i s t a n c e t h a t are th e l o t o f e v a n g e li c a l C h r is t ia n s : 63 Samuel T ay lo r C o le rid g e , " L ite r a r y Rem ains," Works, V, 252. I b i d . , 266. "The Sliepherd of Herm as," a second- c e n tu r v work in G reek, c o n ta in in g v i s i o n s , m andates, and p a r a b l e s , i s in c lu d e d among th e works of th e A p o sto lic F a th e r s . 65 Thomas Scott, "Preface," op. cit. . iv. 457 Indeed, th e a c c u r a te o b s e rv e r of th e church in h i s own d a y s , and th e le a r n e d s tu d e n t of e c c l e s i a s t i c a l h i s t o r y , must be e q u a lly s u r p r i s e d to f i n d , t h a t h a r d ly one rem arkable c h a r a c t e r , good o r bad, o r mixed in any measure o r p r o p o r tio n im a g in a b le; o r one f a t a l d e l u s io n , b y - p a th , or i n j u r i o u s m is ta k e , can be s in g le d o u t, which may n o t be p a r a l l e l e d i n th e P i l g r i m ^ P r o g r e s s : t h a t i s , as to the grand o u t l i n e s ; f o r the m i n u t i a e . about which b ig o te d and f r i v o l o u s minds w aste t h e i r z e a l and f o r c e , a re ^ w ith v e ry few e x c e p tio n s , w is e ly p assed o v e r . 06 "The circ u m sta n c e i s n o t on ly v e ry s u r p r i s i n g , " c o n tin u e d S c o tt, "but i t su g g e s ts an argum ent, p erh ap s un an sw erab le, i n c o n f irm a tio n o f th e d iv in e a u t h o r i t y o f th o s e r e l i g i o u s s e n tim e n ts , which a re now o f t e n d e rid e d under th e t i t l e of o rth o d o x y " : For every p a r t of t h i s s i n g u l a r book e x c lu s iv e ly s u i t s th e d i f f e r e n t d e s c r i p t i o n s o f such as p r o f e s s th o s e d o c t r i n e s ; and r e l a t e s th e e x p e rie n c e s , mis t a k e s , f a l l s , r e c o v e r i e s , d i s t r e s s e s , te m p ta tio n s , and c o n s o la tio n s o f s e rio u s p e rs o n s o f t h i s c l a s s in our own tim e s , a s e x a c tl y a s i f i t had b een penned from th e o b s e r v a tio n o f them, and f o r t h e i r immediate b e n e f i t ; w h ile , l i k e th e sa c re d S c r i p t u r e s , i t rem ains a s e a le d book to a l l who a re s t r a n g e r s to e v a n g e lic a l r e l i g i o n . 67 Ivim ey1s e v a n g e l i c a l i n t e r p r e t a t i o n o f The P ilg rim * s P ro g r e s s was more p e rs o n a l th a n t h a t of Thomas S c o tt. The B a p t i s t h i s t o r i a n read th e a l l e g o r y n o t so much as a d e p i c t i o n o f th e t r i a l s of e v a n g e li c a l C h r i s t i a n s i n gg Thomas S c o t t , " P r e fa c e ," op_. c i t . . iv - v . 6? I b i d . , v. 458 g e n e r a l , b u t r a t h e r a s th e jo u rn ey o f one C h r i s t i a n in p a r t i c u l a r — t h a t i s , Bunyan h im s e lf . Ivimey was one of th e f i r s t com mentators to see in e v e ry s c e n e -o f the a l le g o ry a r e f l e c t i o n o f Bunyan’ s own r e l i g i o u s t r i a l s and te m p ta tio n s . The p la n of Bunyan1s a l l e g o r y , he w ro te , i s '’a d m ira b le ," b e in g drawn from th e c irc u m s ta n c e s of h i s own l i f e , a s a s t r a n g e r and p i l g r i m , who had l e f t the ’ C ity o f D e s t r u c t i o n , ’ upon a jo u rn ey tow ards th e ’C e les t i a l C o u n try .' The d i f f i c u l t i e s he met w ith in h i s d e te rm i n a t io n to se rv e J e s u s C h r i s t , su g g e sted th e many c irc u m sta n c e s of danger th ro u g h which t h i s p ilg r im passed. C arry in g o u t t h i s id e a in g r e a t d e t a i l , Ivimey n o te d t h a t "th e v e r s a t i l e conduct" of c e r t a i n " p ro fe s s o rs " su g g e ste d to Bunyan th e v a rio u s c h a r a c t e r s whom C h r i s t i a n met i n h i s jo u rn ey . These, Ivimey f e l t , were p e rso n s whom Bunyan w e ll knew, "and who, p e rh a p s , could be i n d i v i d u a l l y re a d a t the tim e ." Bunyan’s deep and t r y i n g e x p e r ie n c e , a r i s i n g from h i s c o n v ic tio n s o f s i n , in s p i r e d him w ith th e p i c t u r e of th e man w ith th e b u rd en on h i s Joseph Ivim ey, The L ife o f John Bunyan, 166. 69 I b i d . , 166-7. 459 s h o u ld e rs . John G if fo r d was h i s E v a n g e lis t; Bunyan's tr o u b le o f mind t h a t a ro s e a f t e r h i s h e a rin g of th e g o sp e l was h i s Slough of Despond. G i f f o r d 's m i n i s t r y , a g a in , t y p i f i e d th e te a c h in g s h e a rd in th e House of th e I n t e r p r e t e r , and B unyan's j o i n i n g th e Bedford Church was sym bolized by C h r i s t i a n 's e n tra n c e in to th e House B e a u ti- 70 f u l . To th e P o r t e r a t th e Gate and th e Four Damsels Ivimey a ls o gave meaning i n B unyan's r e l i g i o u s l i f e . The V alley of H u m ilia tio n he i n t e r p r e t e d somewhat more u n i v e r s a l l y , say in g t h a t th e “few s l i p s " t h a t C h r i s t i a n e x p e rie n c e d in h i s d e s c e n t t h e r e i n t o were i l l u s t r a t i v e of th e f a c t t h a t a C h r i s t i a n , d e sc e n d in g in to "c irc u m sta n c e s 71 d ee p ly h u m i l i a t i n g , " i s v ery l i k e l y to be le d i n t o s in . The combat w ith A po lly o n , sym bolized, of c o u r s e , Bunyan*s r e l i g i o u s s tr u g g le s and te m p ta tio n s ; C h r i s t i a n 's companion s h ip w ith F a i t h f u l t y p i f i e d Bunyan*s a f f e c t i o n f o r devout C h r i s t i a n s , even though o f d i f f e r e n t denom inations from h i s own. The ep iso d e a t V an ity F a i r r e p r e s e n te d Bunyan*s p e r s e c u t i o n as a d i s s e n t i n g m i n i s t e r , w h ile th e d e a th of 70 At t h i s p o in t Ivimey*s i n t e r p r e t a t i o n i s v ery am usingly worded, when he m entions Bunyan*s a p p l i c a t i o n f o r membership in to th e Bedford Church and speaks of th e " a f f e c t i o n , p ru d en ce, and re g a rd to p u r i t y which th e church m a n ife s te d , b e f o r e he was ad m itte d a m em b er..." ! 71 I b i d . , 167-8. 460 F a i t h f u l was "em blem atical of th e many C h r i s t i a n s who a t t h a t tim e went to heaven in f i e r y c h a r i o t s ."72 F u rth e r: The acoount Mr. Bunyan g iv e s in h i s e x p e rie n c e of h i s f e a r s of d e a th , and th e manner in which he was d e l iv e r e d by f a i t h i n th e p ro m ise s, r e p r e s e n t s to us th e scene o f th e "V alley of th e Shadow o f D ea th ," and o f th e p ilg r im s in "D oubting C a s t l e ," b e a te n and ad v ise d to s e l f - m urder by " g ia n t D e s p a ir ." 73 For th e Shepherds and th e D e le c ta b le M o u n ta in s, th e F l a t t e r e r and th e Enchanted Ground, Ivimey found a p p r o p r ia te i n t e r p r e t a t i o n s to f i t Bunyan’ s r e l i g i o u s e x p e rie n c e — th e e x p l a n a t io n of th e l a s t o f th e s e b ein g indeed in g e n io u s: I t i s not u n l i k e l y b u t he knew th e s n a re s co n n ected w ith p r o s p e r i t y , f o r though never r i c h , y e t he was v e ry p o p u la r. This m ight su g g e st the scene o f th e "Enchanted g ro u n d ," an d , a l s o a r e f l e c t i o n on p a s t e x p e rie n c e s of m ental d i s t r e s s e s , and of th e L o rd 's goodness in g r a n tin g su p p o rt and d e l iv e r a n c e , i s th e b e s t p r e s e r v a t i v e from s le e p in g away tim e , and m is- im proving th e t a l e n t s we have re c e iv e d to occupy and improve in th e s e r v i c e , and f o r th e honour o f our L o rd .7* ! L a st o f a l l , B unyan's commendable d e s c r i p t i o n of th e v a r io u s ty p e s o f C h r is t ia n s c r o s s in g th e R iv er of Death th a t w r i t e r had b a s e d , a c c o rd in g t o Ivim ey, on h i s o b s e r v a tio n s a t th e 72 Joseph Ivim ey, The L ife of John Bunyan, 168. 73 Loc. c i t . 74 Ibid., 170. 461 d e a th -b e d s of C h r i s t i a n s of v a r io u s d e g ree s o f h o lin e s s and f a i t h . 75 A ccording to th e e v a n g e li c a l view, as s t a t e d above by Thomas S c o tt, The P i l g r i m 1s P ro g re s s rem ained a c lo s e d book t o a l l who were '‘s tr a n g e r s to e v a n g e li c a l r e l i g i o n ."75 Montgomery ex p re ssed th e same id e a in s t a t i n g t h a t many o f th e t r u t h s ta u g h t by Bunyan could be u n d e rsto o d only by th o s e who th em selv es had had r e l i g i o u s e x p e rie n c e . The sc en e, f o r i n s t a n c e , in which th e b u rd en s l i p s from C h r i s t i a n 's back, he f e l t , could be " f u l l y " comprehended o n ly by him "who has h im s e lf been th u s d e l i v e r e d from a 77 lo a d o f s i n . " Even f o r th e u n e n lig h te n e d , however, th e a l l e g o r y was allo w ed to h o ld much of m oral i n s t r u c t i o n and sound d o c t r i n a l te a c h in g , s e v e r a l exam ples of which were p o in te d out by James Montgomery. B unyan's i n tr o d u c t o r y p a ra g ra p h , f o r in s t a n c e , in which th e a u th o r r e p r e s e n t s h im s e lf as l y i n g down in a "den" to dream, Montgomery found n o t only m a g n ific e n t in im agery b u t a ls o " s i g n i f i c a n t i n h id d en t r u t h . " 7® The 75 Joseph Ivim ey, The L ife of John Bunyan. 170. 75 T his a t t i t u d e was h e ld by many r e l i g i o u s l y minded c r i t i c s . George B. Cheever, f o r in s t a n c e , e x p re s se d i t w e ll when he w ro te: "We r e p e a t i t , t h e r e f o r e , a s a t r u t h which to us seems v e ry e v i d e n t, t h a t th e t r u e b e a u ty o f th e a l l e g o r y i n th e P i l g r i m 's P ro g re s s can o n ly be f e l t by a r e l i g i o u s mind" (" S o u th e y 's L ife of Bunyan," Worth American Review, XXXVI, 454). 77 James Montgomery, " I n tr o d u c to r y E s s a y ," o£. c i t . , x x i i . 78 I b i d . , xx. 462 c a p tu re o f th e p ilg r im s by G iant D esp air th e c r i t i c h e ld to be th e most ro m an tic “and y e t one o f th e most i n s t r u c t i v e e v e n t s ” in th e whole n a r r a t i v e ; 79 and th e f i n a l i n c i d en t in th e a l l e g o r y — th e r e l e n t l e s s c a r r y in g o f poor Ignorance t o th e ominous door ”i n th e sid e o f th e H i l l ”— Montgomery c i t e d a s an in s ta n c e o f th e r ig h te o u s and s t e r n j u s t i c e of th e a l l e g o r i s t . In d eed , th ro u g h o u t th e con v e r s a t i o n s o f the a l l e g o r y Montgomery found much o f p r o f i t a b l e d is c o u r s e , w orthy o f s e r io u s c o n s i d e r a t i o n by r e a d e r s . Commendations o f Bunyan’ s m oral purpose in w r i t i n g The P ilgrim * s P r o g r e s s , and of th e em inent u s e f u ln e s s o f t h a t work in in f lu e n c in g re a d e rs toward r ig h te o u s conduct and p io u s l i v e s , a l s o abound d u rin g t h i s p e r i o d . Indeed, th e o u ts ta n d in g m e rit of th e a l l e g o r y , in th e o p in io n of Bogue and B e n n e tt, l a y in th e c o n s id e r a ti o n t h a t i t had "extended and p e r p e t u a t e d ” B u n y an 's " u s e f u l n e s s ” to an " i n c a l c u l a b l e e x t e n t . "80 S ir W alter S c o tt re g ard ed th e a u th o r of The P i l grim* s P ro g re s s as "a b e n e fa c to r to th e C h r i s t i a n w o rld , and h ig h ly commended th e m oral p u rp o se o f th e a l l e g o r y 79 James Montgomery, " In tr o d u c to r y E s s a y , ” op. c i t . . x x iv . 80 David Bogue and James B e n n e tt, op. c i t . , I , 465. 81 3i r w a it e r S c o tt, " S o u th e y 's L ife o f John Bunyan," o p . c i t . , 92. 463 w hich— r a t h e r th a n i t s s t y l e , he f e l t — had r a i s e d i t "to so h ig h a rank among our g e n e ra l r e a d e r s . " ^ S c o tt d is c u s s e d th e "moral u se s" o f a l l e g o r y and p a r a b l e , p o in tin g o u t how o f t e n t h i s type o f w r i t i n g had "g a in ed , w ith o u t s u s p ic io n , th o s e p a s s e s o f th e human h e a r t which were v i g i l a n t l y guarded a g a i n s t th e d i r e c t f o r c e o f t r u t h by s e l f - i n t e r e s t , p r e j u d i c e , or p r i d e , and awarded to Bunyan s u p e r i o r i t y o v er S penser as a m oral a l l e g o r i s t . Indeed, th e two a u t h o r s , he s t a t e d , w rote w ith v e ry d i f f e r e n t n o tio n s of th e im portance of t h e i r s u b je c t: S penser d e s i r e d , no d o u b t, to a i d th e cause of v i r t u e , b u t i t was in th e c h a r a c t e r of a c o ld and unim passioned m o r a l i s t , e a s i l y seduced from t h a t p a r t of h is t a s k by th e d e s i r e to pay a compliment to some c o u r t i e r , o r some l a d y , o r th e mere w ish to g iv e a w ider scope to h i s own fa n c y . Bunyan, on th e c o n t r a r y , i n recommending h i s own r e l i g i o u s o p in io n s to th e r e a d e r s of h i s romance, was im p r e s s e d th ro u g h o u t w ith th e sense of th e sa c re d im portance of th e ta s k f o r which he had l i v e d th ro u g h p o v e rty and c a p t i v i t y , and was, we doubt n o t , p re p a re d to d ie . To g a in th e fa v o u r of C h a rle s and a l l h i s c o u rt he would n o t, we a re c o n f id e n t, have g u id e d C h r i s t i a n one f o o t o ff th e narrow and s t r a i g h t p a th ; and h i s e x c e lle n c e above S p e n s e r's i s , t h a t h i s pow erful th o u g h ts were a l l d i r e c t e d to one solemn end, and h is f e r t i l e im a g in a tio n tax ed f o r e v e ry t h in g which could g iv e l i f e and v i v a c i t y to h i s n a r r a t i v e , v ig o u r and c o n s is te n c y to th e s p i r i t of h i s a l l e g o r y .84 82 s i r W alter S c o t t , " S o u th e y 's L ife of John Bunyan," o p . c i t . , 101. ^ Loc. c i t . 84 rofd., 105. 4641. The b e n e f i c i a l in f lu e n c e o f th e a l l e g o r y on v a r io u s ty p e s o f r e a d e r s — e s p e c i a l l y th e young— was p o in te d ou t by Thomas S c o tt, who f e l t t h a t th e work ap p e ale d to p eo p le o f a l l ty p e s : to th e p io u s C h r i s t i a n , who “d e r i v e s more and more i n s t r u c t i o n from re p e a te d p e r u s a l s of t h i s rem arkable b o o k ;” to th e “c a r e l e s s r e a d e r" who “i s f a s c i n a t e d to a t t e n t i o n , by th e sim ple and a r t l e s s manner" in which th e s t o r y i s t o l d ; and even to young p e o p le , who would th e re b y be u n o b tr u s iv e ly in c u lc a te d w ith sound i n s t r u c t i o n and m oral p r e c e p ts : I t h as been o b se rv e d , by men o f g r e a t d i s c e r n ment and a c q u a in ta n c e w ith th e human mind, t h a t young p e rs o n s , h av in g p e ru se d th e P ilg r im as a p l e a s i n g t a l e , o f t e n r e t a i n a remembrance of i t s le a d in g i n c i d e n t s , w hich, a f t e r c o n tin u in g p e rh a p s i n a dormant s t a t e f o r s e v e r a l y e a r s , has a t le n g th g erm in a ted , a s i t w ere, in to th e more im p o rta n t and se a so n a b le i n s t r u c t i o n ; w h ile th e e v e n ts o f t h e i r own l i v e s p la c e d i t b e f o r e t h e i r minds i n a new and a f f e c t i n g p o in t o f view.85 Ivimey was of th e same o p in io n w ith re g a rd to the b e n e f i c i a l in f lu e n c e of th e a l l e g o r y . “I t i s so c o n tr iv e d ," he w ro te , “as to a l l u r e th e young to read th e most i n t e r e s t i n g r e l i g i o u s d i s c u s s i o n w ith o u t f a t i g u e ; to a f f o r d in s t r u c t i o n to th e e n q u i r e r a f t e r t r u t h , and t o e d i f y th e 86 aged and most established Christian." 85 Thomas S c o t t , “P r e f a c e ," otd. c i t . . i i i . 86 Joseph Ivim ey, A H is to r y o f the E n g lis h B a p t i s t s . II, 42. 465 B ernard B a rto n a l s o o f f e r e d h i s p o e t i c t r i b u t e t o Bunyan as a m oral te a c h e r f o r C h r is t ia n s o f ev ery s ta g e o f l i f e and every p e r io d of growth: And s t i l l f o r m a rv e llin g C hildhood, bloom ing Youth, Ripe Manhood, s i l v e r - t r e s s ' d and s e r io u s a g e ,— In g e n io u s Fancy and i n s t r u c t i v e T ru th , R ic h ly adorn th y a l l e g o r i c page, P a in ti n g th e w a rfa re C h r i s t i a n s y e t must wage, Who w ish to jo u rn e y on t h a t h e a v en ly ro ad ; And t r a c i n g c l e a r l y each s u c c e s s iv e s ta g e Of th e rough p a th th y h o ly T r a v e ll e r s t r o d , qq The P i l g r i m 's P ro g re s s marks to g lo ry and to Cod. And James Montgomery w rote: Indeed, i t would be d i f f i c u l t to name a n o th e r work, of any k in d , i n our n a t iv e t o n g u e . . . o f which so many r e a d e rs have l i v e d and d ie d ; th e c h a r a c t e r s of whose l i v e s and d e a th s must have been, more o r l e s s a f f e c t e d by i t s le s s o n s and exam ples, i t s f i c t i o n s and r e a l i t i e s . ® B ernard B a rto n (1784-1849), Quaker p o e t , i s c h i e f l y remembered f o r h i s f r i e n d s h i p w ith Lamb, who a d d re s s e d some o f h is b e s t l e t t e r s to “d e a r B. B." B a rto n was th e a u th o r of some e le v e n volumes o f poems, now f o r g o t t e n and d i f f i c u l t to o b ta in . He was an e n t h u s i a s t i c ad m ire r of Bunyan— whose name p ro b a b ly o c c u rs i n o th e r o f B a r t o n 's poems th a n th o s e m entioned i n t h i s stu d y . 88 B ernard B a rto n , p r e f a t o r y poem to S o u th e y 's e d i t i o n of The P i l g r i m 's P ro g re ss (1830), quoted by John A lfre d L angford, P ris o n Books and t h e i r A uthors (London: W illiam Tegg, 1861), 239. 89 James Montgomery, " I n tr o d u c to r y E s s a y ," o p . c i t . , i i i . 466 So lo n g as th e E n g lis h language en d u red , s t a t e d Montgomery, i t was p ro b a b le t h a t th e a l l e g o r y would "not cease to be re a d by a g r e a t number of th e yo u th of a l l f u t u r e g en e ra t i o n s , a t t h a t p e r io d o f l i f e when t h e i r m inds, t h e i r im a g in a tio n s , and t h e i r h e a r t s , a re most im p r e s s ib le w ith m oral e x c e lle n c e , s p le n d id p i c t u r e s , and r e l i g i o u s s e n t i m e n t . I n d e fe n s iv e a t t i t u d e , Montgomery con tin u e d : When a l l h a s b ee n s a id a g a i n s t i t t h a t w it can d e v is e , o r m a lig n ity u t t e r , i t w i l l s t i l l rem ain such a monument of th e f e l i c i t o u s ap p l i c a t i o n of a s i n g u l a r t a l e n t , to a s u b je c t e q u a lly , and f o r e v e r e q u a lly , i n t e r e s t i n g , on one main p o i n t , a t l e a s t — th e s o u l 's s a l v a t i o n — to th o se who a re le d to p e ru se i t , o f w hatever d eg ree o f i n t e l l i g e n c e o r c u l t i v a t i o n th e y may b e ; — i t w i l l c o n tin u e t o be a book e x e r c i s i n g more in f lu e n c e over minds of e v ery c l a s s th a n th e most r e f i n e d and sublim e g e n iu s , w ith a l l th e ad v an tag es o f e d u c a tio n and good f o r t u n e , has been a b le t o r i v a l , in t h i s r e s p e c t , s in c e i t s p u b l i c a t i o n . 91 Joseph Ivimey re g a rd e d The P i l g r i m 's P ro g re s s as a work "which has been of i n c a l c u l a b l e b e n e f i t t o th e church of God; and adm ired by th e so u n d e st ju d g e s , no l e s s f o r th e s t r e n g t h o f g en iu s i t d i s p l a y s , th a n f o r 93 th e sublim e system of r e l i g i o n i t u n fo ld s t o o u r v ie w ." Indeed, he w rote: James Montgomery, l o c . c i t . Loc. c i t . ^ Joseph Ivim ey, The L ife o f John Bunyan, 166. 4 6 7 I t i s p e rh a p s , no t to o much to a s s e r t t h a t no book of human co m p o sitio n has been o f g r e a t e r use to th e church of God.93 The same h ig h c o n c e p tio n o f th e a l l e g o r y as a u s e f u l p ie c e o f w r i t i n g was h e ld by " O le ric u s L e i c e s t r i e n s i s ," who p r a i s e d The P ilgrim * s P ro g re s s f o r i t s o r i g i n a l i t y , b u t added: . . .m erely to amuse th e f a n c y , i s th e l e a s t p a r t of the p r a i s e o f t h i s c e l e b r a t e d book; i t i s most h a p p ily c a l c u l a t e d to e x c i t e p e n i te n c e , to in v ig o r a te f a i t h , and to e n l iv e n our b e s t hopes; and, n e x t to th e S acred O ra c le s , p e rh a p s , t h e r e i s no book i n o u r language t h a t h a th been so e x t e n s i v e l y u s e f u l a s th e P i l g r i m ’s P r o g r e s s . 9 4 S im il a r ly , B ernard B a rto n , though p le a s e d w ith th e " ra re in v e n tio n " o f th e "Im m ortal D ream er," re s e rv e d h i s warmest p r a i s e f o r th e " s e r io u s T ruth" u n d e r ly in g th e f i c t i o n , w herein Bunyan . . . sought the s o u l to save From e a r th and s i n f o r heaven and h a p p i n e s s . . . . I n B a rto n ’ s eyes i t was Bunyan1s . . .b le n d in g h a rm le ss m irth With s a g e s t c o u n s e l’s h i g h e r , h o l i e r aim , t h a t had won him an "honourable Fame" among th e "wise and q g good" of mankind. ^3 Joseph Ivim ey, A H is to r y o f th e E n g lis h B a p t i s t s , I I , 42. 94 "O le ric u s L e i c e s t r i e n s i s , " "Tour to th e N e th e rla n d s , i n th e Autumn o f 1793," G entlem an’ s M agazine. LXXVI, P t . i ( A p r i l , 1 8 0 6 ), 301. 95 B ernard B a rto n , p r e f a t o r y poem to S o u th e y ’ s e d i t i o n o f The P i l g r i m 's P r o g r e s s . op. c i t . , 238. 96 I b i d . , 239. 468 Commendations o f Bunyan1s m oral and i n s t r u c t i o n a l u s e f u ln e s s were n o t l i m i t e d , how ever, m e re ly to a con s i d e r a t i o n o f The P ilg rim * s P r o g r e s s . The L if e and Death o f Mr. Badman and The Holy War were a ls o a c co rd ed p r a i s e a s b e n e f i c i a l p ie c e s o f w r i t i n g . Joseph Ivim ey, re a d in g The L ife and D eath o f Mr. Badman as Bunyan1s r e f l e c t i o n on th e g ro ss im m o ra lity o f th e s e v e n te e n th c e n tu r y E ngland, saw th e a u th o r of t h i s work s ta n d in g H l i k e M o se s,. . -betw een God and th e p e o p le , i n t e r c e d i n g f o r them, and f a i t h f u l l y w arning them o f th e m ise ry to which t h e i r g u i l t y conduct exposed th e n a tio n . In t h i s h i s i n t r e p i d i t y and z e a l were v ery g r e a t , when i t i s r e c o l l e c t e d in what a p e r i l o u s s i t u a t i o n th e nonconform i s t s were about t h i s tim e ." * ^ Ivimey*s main i n t e r e s t i n The Holy War la y in h is i n t e r p r e t a t i o n of th e manner of c o n v e rs io n as re v e a le d t h e r e i n . In t h i s book th e B a p t i s t h i s t o r i a n saw 'lum inously and s t r o n g ly i l l u s t r a t e d ' 1 th e " f r e e i n v i t a t i o n s o f th e g o sp e l to u n co n v erted men, a s w e ll a s th e s p e c i a l g race o f th e Holy S p i r i t i n making th o se c a l l s e f f i c a c i o u s to th e c o n v e rs io n of th e elect."® ® George B u rd er, s a t i s f y i n g h im s e lf f i r s t of a l l t h a t 97 Joseph Ivim ey, The L ife o f John B unyan, 181. 98 Joseph Ivim ey, A H is to r y o f th e E n g lis h B a p t i s t s . II, 261. 469 Bunyan’ b " m i l i t a r y view of th e s u b je c t" was " s t r i c t l y consonant w ith th e s a c re d s c r i p t u r e s , which r e p r e s e n t th e C h r i s t i a n l i f e as a w a r f a r e ," found i n s t r u c t i o n a l d o c t r i n e , as w e ll a s "a v a s t fund of e x p e rim e n ta l r e l i g i o n . . . t r e a s u r e d up" i n The Holy War. Throughout th e book he b e h e ld Bunyan d is p l a y i n g . . . h i s a c c u r a te knowledge of th e B ib le and i t s d i s t i n g u i s h i n g d o c t r i n e s ; h i s deep a c q u a in ta n c e w ith th e h e a r t ; and i t s d e s p e r a te w ick ed n ess; h i s knowledge of th e d e v ic e s o f S a ta n , and of th e p r e j u d i c e s of th e c a r n a l mind a g a i n s t th e g o s p e l. He p ro v e s h im s e lf to have had an e x te n s iv e knowledge of C h r i s t i a n e x p e rie n c e , of th e power of c o n s c ie n c e , of th e e x c e lle n c y of f a i t h , of th e m isery a r i s i n g from d o u b ts and f e a r s , of th e d a n g e rs of c a r n a l - s e c u r i t y , and of th e n e c e s s i t y of c r u c i f y in g th e f l e s h , w ith a l l i t s a f f e c t i o n s and l u s t s . 99 But though d i v i n e s and o th e r r e l i g i o u s l y i n c lin e d p e rs o n s d is p la c e d g r e a t i n t e r e s t i n th e t h e o l o g i c a l a s p e c t and m oral purpose of Bunyan's a l l e g o r i c a l and n a r r a t i v e w r i t i n g s , s e c u la r c r i t i c s , such a s Southey and S c o tt, H a z l i t t and Lamb, i n t e r e s t e d th e m selv es m ainly o r en t i r e l y in th e l i t e r a r y a s p e c t . C o n s id e ra tio n s o f The P i l g r i m 's P ro g r e s s as a work o f l i t e r a t u r e a re f r e q u e n t d u rin g t h i s p e r i o d , and even The Holy War and The L ife and D eath o f Mr. Badman. alm ost e n t i r e l y n e g le c te d by p re v io u s com m entators, began to a ro u se some c r i t i c a l n o tic e and a p p r e c i a t i o n . The 99 George B u rd e r, " P re fa c e by th e E d i t o r , " o p . c i t . , i i i . 470 i n t e r e s t i n g s p e c u l a t i o n of what Bunyan “m ight have d o n e” had he had an e d u c a tio n was n o t y e t dead,'1 ’ b u t c r i t i c s , f o r th e most p a r t , e x p re s se d th e m selv es as s a t i s f i e d w ith what th e a l l e g o r i s t had a c t u a l l y done, by a c c o rd in g t h a t work th e d i s t i n c t i o n of c r i t i c a l d i s c u s s io n . The c o n s i d e r a t i o n of Bunyan by men ,of l e t t e r s b ro u g h t about a s c h o l a r l y i n t e r e s t i n th e canon o f h i s w r i t i n g s and i n th e t e x t of h i s w orks, as w e ll as a con tin u e d and em phasized a t t e n t i o n t o th e m a tte r o f so u rce s and a n a lo g u e s f o r h i s a l l e g o r i e s . Though R obert W att i n 1824 r e f e r r e d to th e t h i r d p a r t o f The P i l g r i m 1s P ro g re s s m erely as a work “S aid to be S p u r i o u s ,”* * t h i s a d d i t i o n to th e a l l e g o r y was g e n e r a lly a g re e d t o be s p u r io u s ly a s s ig n e d to Bunyan. Ivim ey, who, a s has been n o te d , d is c u s s e d th e a u t h e n t i c i t y o f th e “Dying S a y in g s” and H e a r t 1s Ease in H e a r t - t r o u b l e , a ls o commented on th e t h i r d p a r t o f The P i l g r i m 1s P ro g r e s s a s not a genuine work o f Bunyan.^ A lexander Chalmers lik e w is e m entioned th e t h i r d p a r t , c a l l i n g a t t e n t i o n to Bogue and B e n n ett (o£. c i t . . I , 46S), f o r i n s t a n c e , f e l t t h a t Bunyan1 s im a g in a tio n , *'if c u l t i v a t e d by l e a r n i n g , and d ev o ted to th e m uses, would have borne him t o th e l o f t i e s t summit of P a r n a s s u s .” ^ R obert W att, oj>. c i t . . I , c o l . 170 c. 3 Joseph Ivimey, The Life of John Bunyan. 308. 471 th e work on purpose to ’ ’guard our r e a d e r s a g a i n s t i t a s a v e ry g r o s s i m p o s itio n , ”4 and Southey r e f e r r e d to i t as a work by an unknown hand, which had had th e good f o r tu n e to 5 he in c lu d e d in many e d i t i o n s o f Bunyan1s genuine a l l e g o r y . The Second P a r t o f th e P i l g r i m 1s P ro g re s s (1S83) by ”T. S . ” was a l s o d is c u s s e d a t some le n g th by S outhey, a s b e in g “p ro b a b ly a t r i c k o f th e p u b l i s h e r s ” to g iv e s a l e to th e 6 book by a d o p tin g B unyan's t i t l e . S o u th e y 's e d i t i o n of The P i l g r i m 's P ro g re s s was im p o r ta n t, a s has been s t a t e d , f o r i t s a tte m p t to p r e s e n t a c o r r e c t and s c h o l a r l y t e x t . At th e tim e o f h i s e d i t i n g t h i s work no copy of th e f i r s t e d i t i o n of P a r t I had y e t been d is c o v e r e d , b u t b o th Southey and Thomas S c o tt made an endeavour to rep ro d u ce th e work ap p ro x im a tely a s Bunyan had w r i t t e n i t . 4 A lexander Chalm ers, o p . c i t . „ 293. 5 C o lerid g e e x p re s se d h im s e lf a s s u r p r i s e d t h a t Southey "should n o t have se en , o r having se e n , have f o r g o t t e n to n o t i c e , t h a t t h i s t h i r d p a r t i s e v i d e n t l y w r i t t e n by some Romish p r i e s t o r m is s io n a ry i n d i s g u i s e ” ( " L i t e r a r y R e m ain s,” Works. V, 2 5 6 ). C o le rid g e n e i t h e r commended nor condemned t h i s s p u rio u s a d d i t i o n to th e a l l e g o r y , b u t i t i s c l e a r t h a t th e id e a of a P i l g r i m 's P ro g re s s w r i t t e n from th e C a th o lic p o in t o f view ap p e ale d s t r o n g l y to him. He even had i n mind th e w r i t e r who should u n d e rta k e such a work: ”0 t h a t Blanco White would w r i t e i n Spanish th e p ro g re s s o f a p ilg r im from the P o p e 's cave t o the E v a n g e l i s t 's w ic k e t- g a te and th e I n t e r p r e t e r ' s h o u s e .” ( i b i d . . 2 6 3 ). 6 R obert Southey ,”!life o f Jo h n B unyan,” o£. c i t . , 166-7. 4 7 2 Thomas S c o tt s t a t e d t h a t he had used th e t e x t of th e ’’o l d e s t e d i t i o n s ” a v a i l a b l e from which to rep ro d u ce h i s e d i t i o n o f th e a l l e g o r y , t h a t he had c o l l a t e d v a rio u s c o p ie s , and had t r i e d i n g e n e ra l to make h i s v e r s io n as c o r r e c t as p o s s i b l e . 7 R obert Southey d e c la r e d t h a t h i s c o l l a t i o n of th e f i r s t p a r t o f the a l l e g o r y w ith th e " e a r l i e s t a t t a i n a b l e c o p i e s ” had en a b led him " in many p la c e s to r e s t o r e good o ld v e r n a c u la r E n g lis h , which had been i n j u d i c i o u s l y a l t e r e d , o r c a r e l e s s l y c o r r u p t e d . ”8 Southey a l s o fo llo w e d t h i s p ro c e d u re in th e case of th e second p a r t o f th e a l l e g o r y , though h e re he had a c c e s s t o a copy of th e f i r s t e d i t i o n w hich, he f e l t , had n o t been in s p e c te d , e i t h e r i n manu s c r i p t o r w h ile p a s s in g through th e p r e s s , by any p e rs o n c a p a b le o f c o r r e c t i n g i t , and t h e r e f o r e c o n ta in e d c e r t a i n e r r o r s which he d id n o t r e s t o r e : I t i s p l a i n t h a t Bunyan had w i l l i n g l y a v a ile d h im s e lf of such c o r r e c t i o n s i n th e F i r s t P a r t ; and t h e r e f o r e i t would have b e e n im proper to have r e s t o r e d a c e r t a i n v u lg a ris m of d i c t i o n in th e Second, which th e e d i t o r of th e f o l i o e d i t i o n had amended. Had i t n o t been f o r t h i s c o n s i d e r a t i o n , I should p e rh ap s have r e s t o r e d h i s own t e x t . 9 7 Thomas S c o t t , " P r e f a c e , ” op. c i t . , i i i . As n o ted below (page 547), how ever, S c o tt f e l t t h a t th e a l le g o r y needed a l i t t l e p o l i s h i n g from th e e d i t o r ’ s hand, to s u i t th e p o l i t e t a s t e of th e age. 8 R obert Southey," L ife o f John B unyan,” op. c i t . . 167. 9 I b i d . , 167-8. 473 Southey took some p r i d e in th e f a c t t h a t h i s e d i t i o n of “ t h i s famous bo o k '1 was n o t only “th e most b e a u t i f u l ” t h a t h ad y e t ap p e a re d , b u t a l s o “th e most c o r r e c t . " ^ In a d d i t i o n to th e a t t e n t i o n given to rep ro d u c in g th e c o r r e c t t e x t o f B unyan's works and e s t a b l i s h i n g th e canon o f h i s w r i t i n g s , much i n t e r e s t was a l s o shown, d u rin g t h i s p e r i o d , in th e m a tte r of B unyan's p r e d e c e s s o rs and p o s s i b l e exem plars i n th e f i e l d of v i s i o n a r y a l l e g o r y . A ll th e works m entioned by p r e v io u s w r i t e r s as showing a s i m i l a r i t y t o th e a l l e g o r i e s of Bunyan were a g a in m entioned, and, i n a d d i t i o n , th e a l l e g o r i e s o f De G u i l e v i l l e , C artheny, B o lsw e rt, and th e w r i t i n g s of H e r b e r t, W hitney, and Dent were b ro u g h t forw ard f o r com parison, as h av in g p o s s i b ly p ro v id e d a h i n t o r su g g e sted a method to Bunyan. Such comments d e a l t m ainly w ith th e p o s s i b le s o u rc e s o f The P i l g r i m 's P r o g r e s s , though some sugges t i o n s were a l s o made c o n c ern in g an o r i g i n a l f o r The Holy War. For th e most p a r t , however, com mentators were ex c e e d in g ly c a r e f u l to s t a t e t h a t th e m ention of such sim i l a r works i n no way le s s e n e d t h e i r c o n c e p tio n o f th e o r i g i n a l i t y o f B unyan's g e n iu s . R obert S outhey, “L ife o f John B unyan,” op. c i t . , 180. An in s ta n c e o f S o u th e y 's in a c c u r a te e d i t i n g has b e e n n o te d by c r i t i c s i n h is s u b s t i t u t i n g th e name Mordeoai f o r B unyan's Heman ( The P i l g r i m 's P r o g r e s s . 25 0 ). Southey was a p p a r e n tly u n f a m il ia r w ith th e S c r i p t u r a l c h a r a c t e r m entioned i n 1 K ings, 4 :3 1 , and Psalm 88. 474 The f a c t t h a t th e d a te o f p u b l i c a t i o n of th e f i r s t p a r t o f The P i l g r i m 1s P ro g re ss was no t known gave some u n c e r t a i n t y to th e m a tte r o f r e f e r r i n g to Simon P a t r i c k a s h av in g had an in f lu e n c e on Bunyan. S ir W a lte r S c o tt, who e x p re s se d h i s s u r p r i s e t h a t Southey i n h i s l i f e of Bunyan had n o t m entioned P a t r i c k ' s a l l e g o r y , was of th e o p in io n t h a t th e f i r s t e d i t i o n o f The P ilgrim * s P ro g re s s "had u n q u e s tio n a b ly made i t s ap p earan ce" b e f o r e 1678, th e d a te of p u b l i c a t i o n of The P a r a b le o f th e P i l g r i m ,11 b u t though he reg a rd e d t h i s as a work from which Bunyan might " c e r t a i n l y " have ta k e n "the g e n e ra l n o tio n of h i s a l l e g o r y , " he e x o n e ra te d b o th Bunyan and P a t r i c k "from copying a th o u g h t o r id e a from each o t h e r . " 1* * The resem blance of P a t r i c k ' s a l l e g o r y t o The Pilgrim * s P ro g re s s was a ls o n o te d by Montgomery who, however, a tta c h e d no im portance to th e m a tte r and d oubted w hether Bunyan had se en The P a ra b le of th e P i l g r i m .12 Two o th e r works— The F a e r ie Queene and The I s l e o f Man— m entioned d u r in g th e e i g h te e n th c e n tu ry as showing 11 S c o t t 's i m p l ic a tio n t h a t Southey was p erh ap s un f a m i l i a r w ith The P a ra b le o f th e P ilg r im was o f co u rse un fo unded, s in c e S o u th e y 's P ilg r im o f C om postella was b a se d on a s t o r y found i n Simon P a t r i c k . 3-2 g^r ^a i-fce r S c o tt, "S o u th e y 's L ife of John Bunyan," o p . c i t . . 95 -6 . S c o tt p o s s e s s e d a copy of P a t r i c k ' s a l le g o r y ( C atalogue of th e L ib r a r y a t A b b o ts fo rd . 83)— where f o r e h i s ex ten d ed d i s c u s s i o n o f t h i s work. 3-3 James Montgomery, "Introductory Essay," op. cit., ix. 475 a s i m i l a r i t y to Bunyan*s a l l e g o r i e s , were a g a in b ro u g h t forw ard f o r i n s p e c ti o n d u rin g t h i s p e r i o d . ^ Adam O larke i n 1809 r e f e r r e d t o B e r n a r d 's I s l e o f Man a s a p r o to ty p e o f two of B unyan's w orks. The "whole plan " of The P i l g r i m 's P ro g r e s s and The Holy War, "th e l a t t e r e s p e c i a l l y , " Cla.rke p o in te d o u t to be "very similar** to B e rn a rd 's work and a l s o to S p e n s e r 's . On th e b a s i s of such resem blance C larke f e l t t h a t th e r e was "much re a s o n to b e l i e v e " t h a t e i t h e r The F a e r ie Queene or The I s l e of Man, " i f not b o t h ," had g iv e n " b i r t h " to The P i l g r i m 's P r o g r e s s . "This must be g r a n t e d , ” he s t a t e d , "u n le ss i t co u ld be r a t i o n a l l y supposed, which i s n o t l i k e l y , t h a t Mr. Bunyan n e v e r saw e i t h e r th e book of S p en se r, or t h a t of B arnard [ s i c ! ♦ 14 John Dunlop (o£>. c i t . . 5 6 ) , l i k e Johnson, p o in te d o u t th e s i m i l a r i t y of B unyan's opening pages t o th o se of D ante, b u t a tta c h e d no im portance to t h i s s i m i l a r i t y in th e way o f i n d i c a t i n g an in f lu e n c e o f one w r i t e r on th e Othfer. 15 Adam C la rk e , " P o s t s c r i p t to a L if e o f John Bunyan," o p . c i t . , 44. Three y e a rs l a t e r C larke re c o rd e d in h i s d i a r y a somewhat d i f f e r e n t p l a n of i n f l u e n c e , c o n s i s t i n g , i n f a c t , o f a v e r i t a b l e s u c c e s s io n of b o rro w in g s. "A th o u g h t s t r i k e s m e ," 'h e w ro te: "John Bunyan seems to have borrow ed h i s P i l g r i m ' s P ro g re s s from B e rn a rd 's I s l e o f Man: B ernard, k i s I s l e of Man from F l e t c h e r 's P u rp le I s l a n d ; F l e t c h e r took h i s p la n from S p e n c e r 's F a ir y Queen: S p e n c e r. h i s F a ir y Queen, from Gawin D o u g las' King H a r t : and D o u g las, h i s p la n from th e o ld m y s te r ie s and m o r a l i t i e s which p r e v a i l e d i n , and b e f o r e h i s tim e."’ - (-An Account of th e I n f a n c y , R e lig io u s and L i t e r a r y L i f e . o f Adam C la rk e , I I , 156JT 476 The s i m i l a r i t y betw een The I s l e of Man and The P i l g r i m 1s P ro g re s s was a ls o n o ted by Henry John Toddl^ and John Dunlop , ^ as w e ll a s by Montgomery and Southey. Southey, rem arking n o t o n ly on th e resem blance of t h i s work, to The P i l g r i m 1 s P ro g r e s s b u t a l s o on i t s popu l a r i t y and g e n e ra l a v a i l a b i l i t y i n Bunyan’s tim e , a r r i v e d a t th e c o n c lu s io n t h a t Bunyan must " c e r t a i n l y ” have seen it.-*-® "No one who re a d s t h i s l i t t l e b o o k ,” he w ro te, "can doubt t h a t i t had a c o n s id e r a b le e f f e c t upon th e 19 s t y l e of B unyan's i n v e n tio n ." Montgomery a l s o f e l t t h a t i t might be " re a s o n a b ly assumed" t h a t Bunyan had been f a m i l i a r w ith th e "in g e n io u s" I s l e of Man: And t h i s may be assumed th e more g r a t u i t o u s l y , b e c a u s e , however i t may have k in d le d h i s im agina t i o n , and awakened d e s i r e in him to e x c e l l i t in i t s own way, i t i s s c a r c e l y p o s s i b le f o r a w r i t e r to be l e s s in d e b te d to a p r e d e c e s s o r th a n Bunyan h as been to B ern ard in th e P i l g r i m 1s P r o g r e s s : th e whole p la n and s t o r y of each work d i f f e r i n g as w id e ly from th e o th e r a s th e r e p o r t of a cause i n a c o u rt of j u s t i c e , and th e logbook of a voyage round th e world.20 1® Henry John T o d d , ' e d i t o r , . The Works of Edmund S penser (London: p r i n t e d f o r F. 0. and J . R iv in g to n , T. Payne, C a d ell and D av ie s, and R. H. Evans, 1 8 0 5 ), I I , cxxv. ^ John Dunlop, o p . c i t . , 55. 1® R obert S o u th ey , "L ife o f John Bunyan," o£ . c i t . . 170. 19 lto id * , 1 7 2. James Montgomery, "Introductory Essay," op. cit.. vii. 477 But though Bunyan, in w r i t i n g The P i l g r i m 1s P r o g r e s s . borrow ed h u t l i t t l e from h i s p r e d e c e s s o r , i n w r i t i n g The Holy War he “a v a ile d h im s e lf o f more th a n an a c c i d e n t a l name o r tw o," s t a t e d th e c r i t i c . Montgomery p o in te d out more s p e c i f i c a l l y th a n any c r i t i c had y e t done th e sim i l a r i t y betw een The I s l e of Man and The Holy War, ta k in g c a re to i n s i s t , how ever, t h a t even h ere Bunyan d id no t l a y h im s e lf "under any im p u ta tio n o f h aving d i s h o n e s t l y borrow ed" any of th e elem en ts t h a t c o n s t i t u t e th e s im i- P T l a r i t i e s betw een th e two a l l e g o r i e s . In a d d i t i o n to th e s e a l l e g o r i e s , which had been p r e v io u s l y m entioned by e ig h te e n th c e n tu ry com m entators a s showing a resem blance to B unyan's w r i t i n g s , o th e r works o f v a r io u s k in d s were a l s o su g g ested as having p e rh a p s p ro v id ed th e a l l e g o r i s t w ith an i n s p i r a t i o n . Most i n t e r e s t in t h i s m a tte r was shown by James Montgomery, who m entioned "The P ilg r im ," w ith i t s accompanying p r i n t , in G e o ffrey W h itn ey 's 21 James Montgomery, " I n tr o d u c to r y E s s a y ," o t>» c i t . , v i i . 478 22 P % Emblems, "The P ilg r im a g e ” by George H e r b e r t, and The P l a i n Man1s Pathway to Heaven by A rth u r D e n t,24 a s w orks, 32 Montgomery f e l t t h a t t h i s poem and p r i n t ”m ight p e rh a p s have in s p i r e d th e f i r s t id e a o f th e e x t r a o r d i n a r y work now under c o n s i d e r a t i o n , ” f o r , ”i f our a u th o r had had W hitney’ s p i c t u r e b e f o r e him, he c o u ld not more a c c u r a t e l y have co p ied i t in w o rd s” ( " I n t r o d u c to r y E s s a y ," op. c i t . , x i i ) . S i m i l a r i t y betw een th e two works Montgomery found p a r t i c u l a r l y in th e p r i n t of Bunyan*s C h r i s t i a n jo u rn e y in g tow ard th e Wicket Gate and t h a t o f W hitney’ s P ilg r im t r a v e l in g tow ard th e symbol o f th e d iv in e name. Montgomery a l s o e n la r g e d on a " c o n j e c t u r e , ” w hich, he i n s i s t e d , was "not so f a r - f e t c h e d a s i t may a t f i r s t a p p e a r , ” sa y in g : " I t i s r e m a r k a b le .. . t h a t th e v e r s e s , u n d er W h itn e y 's p r i n t , a r e accom panied by th e m a rg in a l n o te — ’P ereg rim u s C h r is tia n u s l o q u i t o r ’— 't h e C h r i s t i a n P ilg r im s p e a k s ,' which B unyan's in g e n u ity might e a s i l y have tu rn e d in to 'C h r i s t i a n , the P ilg r im , s p e a k s ,' and th u s e l i c i t e d th e name o f h i s hero" ( l o c . c i t . . ) . In h i s a n th o lo g y , The C h r i s t i a n P o et (Glasgow: C o l l i n s ) , Montgomery had p r e v io u s l y su g g e sted a s i m i l a r i t y betw een W hitney and Bunyan. 23 Montgomery f e l t t h a t i t m ight be " ta k e n f o r g ra n te d " t h a t Bunyan had b een w e ll a c q u a in te d w ith th e w r i t i n g s o f H e r b e r t , "th e f a v o r i t e p o e t of th e p io u s of h i s a g e . ” The c r i t i c a d m itte d t h a t th e re was a s l i t t l e s i m i l a r i t y betw een H e r b e r t 's l i t t l e poem and B unyan's a l le g o r y , as th e r e was p r o p o r ti o n , and t h a t "th e o n ly f a c t common t o b o th i s th e o u t s e t o f th e P ilg r im , i n each case tow ards a d i s t a n t o b j e c t in s i g h t ” ; b u t he n e v e r t h e le s s h e ld t h a t i t was "n o t im p o s s ib le , t h a t t o th e s e q u a in t s ta n z a s th e w orld i s in d e b te d f o r th e P i l g r i m 1s P r o g r e s s " . ( i b i d . , x i i i ) . 24 In th e i n c i d e n t s of A rth u r D e n t's work Mont gomery th o u g h t to f i n d p ro b ab ly " th e e a r l i e s t cirexamstances" t h a t l e d , "throxagh a s e r i e s o f many o t h e r s , " to th e is s u a n c e of The P i l g r i m 's P ro g re s s ( i b i d . , x i v ) . E x a c tly in what way Montgomery f e l t t h a t t h i s book had in f lu e n c e d t h i s a l l e g o r y he d id n o t make c l e a r , nor d id he p o in t o u t th e im p o rta n t f a c t t h a t th e in f lu e n c e of D e n t's book i s p l a i n l y e v id e n t The L ife and Death o f Mr. Badman. (B unyan's in d e b te d n e ss to Dent i s d is c u s s e d by J . B. Wharey, "B unyan's Mr. Badman," Modern Language N o te s . XXXVI, 6 5 -7 9 .) 479 any one of which m ight w e ll have su g g e ste d to Bunyan th e id e a of h i s P i l g r i m 's P r o g r e s s . S o u th e y 's re f e r e n c e to L u c ia n 's Herm otim us, a s c o n ta in in g a ’ "com pleat d e s ig n o f a P ilg r im ' s'- P r o g r e s s , 1 ,2 3 5 was, o f c o u r s e , m erely a m ention of an i n t e r e s t i n g resem b lan c e, w ith no id e a o f im p lied i n f l u e n c e . Of a l l e g o r i c a l works n o t su g g e ste d by e ig h te e n th c e n tu r y com m entators a s p o s s i b le p r o to ty p e s f o r The P i l g r i m 's P r o g r e s s , f o u r found m ention d u r in g t h i s p e r i o d — D e G u ile v ill e ' s P ilg rim a g e o f Man and h i s P ilg rim a g e of th e S o u l. 2 3 5 C a rth e n y '

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