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make the man of God perfect in all things through faith in Jesus Christ; and thoroughly to furnish him unto all good works。 2 Tim。 iii。 17。 Also how I having; I say; somewhat more liberty; did go to see the Christians at LONDON; which my enemies hearing of; were so angry; that they had almost cast my jailor out of his place; threatening to indict him; and to do what they could against him。 They charged me also; that I went thither to plot and raise division; and make insurrection; which; God knows; was a slander; whereupon my liberty was more straitened than it was before; so that I must not now look out of the door。 Well; when the next sessions came; which was about the 10th of the 11th month (1661); I did expect to have been very roundly dealt withal; but they passed me by; and would not call me; so that I rested till the assizes; which was held the 19th of the first month (1662) following; and when they came; because I had a desire to come before the judge; I desired my jailor to put my name into the calendar among the felons; and made friends of the judge and high…sheriff; who promised that I should be called: so that I thought what I had done might have been effectual for the obtaining of my desire: but all was in vain; for when the assizes came; though my name was in the calendar; and also though both the judge and sheriff had promised that I should appear before them; yet the justices and the clerk of the peace; did so work it about; that I; notwithstanding; was deferred; and was not suffered to appear: and although I say; I do not know of all their carriages towards me; yet this I know; that the clerk of the peace (Mr Cobb) did discover himself to be one of my greatest opposers: for; first he came to my jailor and told him that I must not go down before the judge; and therefore must not be put into the calendar; to whom my jailor said; that my name was in already。 He bid him put it out again; my jailor told him that he could not: for he had given the judge a calendar with my name in it; and also the sheriff another。 At which he was very much displeased; and desired to see that calendar that was yet in my jailor's hand; who; when he had given it him; he looked on it; and said it was a false calendar; he also took the calendar and blotted out my accusation; as my jailor had written it (which accusation I cannot tell what it was; because it was so blotted out); and he himself put in words to this purpose: That John Bunyan was committed to prison; being lawfully convicted for upholding of unlawful meetings and conventicles; etc。 But yet for all this; fearing that what he had done; unless he added thereto; it would not do; he first ran to the clerk of the assizes; then to the justices; and afterwards; because he would not leave any means unattempted to hinder me; he came again to my jailor; and told him; that if I did go down before the judge; and was released; he would make him pay my fees; which he said was due to him; and further; told him; that he would complain of him at the next quarter sessions for making of false calendars; though my jailor himself; as I afterwards learned; had put in my accusation worse than in itself it was by far。 And thus was I hindered and prevented at that time also from appearing before the judge: and left in prison。
Farewell。
JOHN BUNYAN。
A CONTINUATION OF Mr BUNYAN'S LIFE; BEGINNING WHERE HE LEFT OFF; AND CONCLUDING WITH THE TIME AND MANNER OF HIS DEATH AND BURIAL: TOGETHER WITH HIS TRUE CHARACTER; ETC。
READER; the painful and industrious author of this book; has already given you a faithful and very moving relation of the beginning and middle of the days of his pilgrimage on earth; and since there yet remains somewhat worthy of notice and regard; which occurred in the last scene of his life; the which; for want of time; or fear; some over…censorious people should impute it to him as an earnest coveting of praise from men; he has not left behind him in writing。 Wherefore; as a true friend; and long acquaintance of Mr BUNYAN'S that his good end may be known; as well as his evil beginning; I have taken upon me; from my knowledge; and the best account given by other of his friends; to piece this to the thread too soon broke off; and so lengthen it out to his entering upon eternity。
He has told you at large; of his birth and education; the evil habits and corruptions of his youth; the temptations he struggled and conflicted so frequently with; the mercies; comforts; and deliverances he found; how he came to take upon him the preaching of the Gospel; the slanders; reproaches and imprisonments that attended him; and the progress he notwithstanding made (by the assistance of God's grace) no doubt to the saving of many souls: therefore take these things; as he himself hath methodically laid them down in the words of verity; and so I pass on to what remains。
After his being freed from his twelve years' imprisonment and upwards; for nonconformity; wherein he had time to furnish the world with sundry good books; etc。; and by his patience; to move DR BARLOW; the then Bishop of LINCOLN; and other church…men; to pity his hard and unreasonable sufferings; so far as to stand very much his friends; in procuring his enlargement; or there perhaps he had died; by the noisomeness and ill usage of the place。 Being now; I say; again at liberty; and having through mercy shaken off his bodily fetters; … for those upon his soul were broken before by the abounding grace that filled his heart; … he went to visit those that had been a comfort to him in his tribulation; with a Christian…like acknowledgment of their kindness and enlargement of charity; giving encouragement by his example; if it happened to be their hard haps to fall into affliction or trouble; then to suffer patiently for the sake of a good conscience; and for the love of God in Jesus Christ towards their souls; and by many cordial persuasions; supported some whose spirits began to sink low; through the fear of danger that threatened their worldly concernment; so that the people found a wonderful consolation in his discourse and admonitions。
As often as opportunity would admit; he gathered them together (though the law was then in force against meetings) in convenient places; and fed them with the sincere milk of the Word; that they might grow up in grace thereby。 To such as were anywhere taken and imprisoned upon these accounts; he made it another part of his business to extend his charity; and gather relief for such of them as wanted。
He took great care to visit the sick; and strengthen them against the suggestions of the tempter; which at such times are very prevalent; so that they had cause for ever to bless God; Who had put it into his heart; at such a time; to rescue them from the power of the roaring lion; who sought to devour them; nor did he spare any pains or labour in travel; though to remote counties; where he knew or imagined any people might stand in need of his assistance; insomuch that some; by these visitations that he made; which was two or three every year (some; though in a jeering manner no doubt; gave him the epithet of Bishop BUNYAN) whilst others envied him for his so earnestly labouring in Christ's vineyard; yet the seed of the Word he (all this while) sowed in the hearts of his congregation; watered with the grace of God; brought forth in abundance; in bringing in disciples to the church of Christ。
Another part of his time is spent in reconciling differences; by which he hindered many mischiefs; and saved some families from ruin; and in such fallings…out he was uneasy; till he found a means to labour a reconciliation; and become a peace…maker; on whom a blessing is promised in holy writ; and indeed in doing this good office; he may be said to sum up his days; it being the last undertaking of his life; as will appear in the close of this paper。
When in the late reign; liberty of conscience was unexpectedly given and indulged to dissenters of all persuasions; his piercing wit penetrated the veil; and found that it was not for the dissenters' sakes they were so suddenly freed from the hard prosecutions that had long lain heavy upon them; and set in a manner; on an equal foot with the Church of ENGLAND; which the papists were undermining; and about to subvert: he foresaw all the advantages that could have redounded to the dissenters would have been no more than what POLYPHEMUS; the monstrous giant of SICILY; would have allowed ULYSSES; VIZ。: That he would eat his men first; and do him the favour of being eaten last: for although Mr BUNYAN; following the examples of others; did lay hold of this liberty; as an acceptable thing in itself; knowing God is the only Lord of conscience; and that it is good at all times to do according to the dictates of a good conscience; and that the preaching the glad tidings of the Gospel is beautiful in the preacher; yet in all this he moved with caution and a holy fear; earnestly praying for the averting impending judgments; which he saw; like a black tempest; hanging over our heads for our sins; and ready to break in upon us