who had heard his circumstances came many miles to hear him, and were highly satisfied; so that, telling their neighbours, more crowded after him, insomuch that the place was many times too strait for them; for although he often confessed he had fears upon him, and doubts, and sometimes tremblings, inward evil suggestions, and temptations, before he stood up to speak, yet he no sooner began to utter the word of God than they all vanished; he grew warm with a fervent zeal, and nothing obstructed his delivery.

"His congregation, as I said, increasing, a stop was put to that liberty of conscience, that is, freedom in congregating and teaching, which had been indulged by proclamation in the former part of the reign of King Charles II.; and the penal laws against dissenters being strictly put in execution against them, many were encouraged by rewards to inform against and prosecute those that met.

"This hot prosecution silenced many, who fled because they were but hirelings, and cared not what became of the flock, so they got their fleeces; but our true champion stood, resolved not to let go what God had so mercifully put into his hands; yet that he might not appear contemptuous to the government he lived under, he thought fit to move in this with caution, and therefore assembled more privately, sometimes in a barn, at other times in a milk-house or stable, and indeed such convenient places as they could, to avoid giving offence: considering it is not the place that God regards, but the purity of heart and intention. But these places were not so secret but prying eyes got an inlet, and some disturbances they had by the order of the justices, with louder threats, that, if they repeated the like again, they must expect to find no favour.

"He finding he could not go on with his proceedings here, resolved, as it was commanded the apostles in such cases by our blessed Saviour, to fly unto another city or place; and so acquainting most of his hearers whither he intended to retire, many followed him, and in his journeyings he visited many at their houses, and gave them consolation, arming them with a steady resolve to be patient in suffering, and trust to God for their reward, and promised them he would discuss some points in that nature at a private meeting, where their joint prayers being put up to God might be more available.

"In short, they met one evening, to the number of about forty, yet could not do it so obscurely but that spies were upon them, and a justice in those parts being informed of it, came

immediately upon them with several constables, and such as had promised to be aiding to them, and beset the house; and upon the first demand the doors were opened; and although Mr. Bunyan was persuaded (when news was brought they ap. proached) to fly by a back door into an adjacent wood, he would not be prevailed withal to do it in so good a work, but kept his standing, and continued speaking to the people when they entered. The justice commanded him down from his stand, but he mildly told him he was about his Master's business, and must rather obey his voice than that of man. Then a constable was ordered to fetch him down, who coming up and taking hold on his coat, no sooner did Mr. Bunyan fix his eyes steadfastly upon him, having his Bible then open in his hand, but the man let go, looked pale, and retired; upon which said he to his auditors, See how this man trembles at the Word of God!' But knowing it in vain to contend, being commanded in the king's name to be obedient, he came down, and was carried to the justice's house, the rest of the people being dismissed; where finding he must go to prison, and being startled a little at that, more for his family's sake than his own concern, he offered sufficient bail to appear and answer what charge should be laid against him, the next assizes or sessions, unless it would be given for his good behaviour, which was in their terms- That he should teach no more:' but rather than any such thing should be engaged on his behalf, that he never intended to keep, he resolved to cast himself and his cause upon God, what would come of it.

"To be brief, though many intercessions and entreaties were made on his behalf, he was sent to Bedford jail, where sometimes he sighed, and sometimes, with Paul and Silas, he sung in prison psalms and hymns to his Maker, that in his good time he would deliver him out of all his trouble; and sent comfortable letters to his family, that they should not be cast down at his afflictions; for that God, who had suffered him to fall unto them, would deliver him out of them.

"The assizes come, amongst other prisoners, he was brought to answer for himself. He declared he had not, or ever designed any injury or prejudice to the government; but his mean endeavour was to show the ignorant the way to Christ and saving knowledge, which through mercy he hoped himself had found out; and that although he could not comply with the ceremonies of the Church of England, though it was the national religion, he hoped that was no sin; and as for his

doctrine, he challenged all that had heard him, to prove it in any point or particular disconsonant to the word of God.

"For they had charged him as a maintainer and upholder of routous and riotous meetings, unlawful conventicles and assemblies, and not being in conformity with the church established; and urged him to know whether he would now conform or not, and leave off for ever his way of teaching: but he resolutely refusing so to do, and not denying that he had followed this way for about five years, they took it, pro confessio, that he was guilty of his charge, and proceeded, after they had laid their heads together for a time, to pass upon him a sentence of banishment out of the kingdom, not for limitation, but for ever and so he was returned to prison, in expectation of its being put in execution. And whilst he was suffering under this affliction, between cold stone walls, in a close confinement, his enemies abroad were labouring to press down and stifle his reputation with calumnies and reproaches. They not only reaped up what was true of his former wicked life, but added many grievous things to his charge that he was utterly innocent and ignorant of.

"Under this affliction his thoughts were many times various, and fears broke in upon him, for he knew not but, by the same rule they had power to banish him, they might cause him to be executed; and this was buzzed into his ears by one of his jailors, thinking by this means to oblige him to raise a sum of money among his friends abroad, to purchase a reprieve or pardon, and that then he might come in for snack: yet he prepared for the worst, and resolved, if it came to be his hard fortune, by the assistance of God, he would die like a valiant Christian in such a cause. But when he came up to these resolves, the care of his family would come upon him, and with a feeble tenderness disarm him of his resolution, so that he would be at a stand, to think what would become of his wife and poor children, if he were taken away from them, one of his children especially being blind and helpless: yet in the end, growing full of courage, and finding his former weakness but a temptation of Satan, he confirmed himself to seal his tes timony, which way soever he should be called unto it. But having in expectation of the issue, continued upwards of twelve years, where he writ some good books, and found abundance of God's goodness to his soul, the Rev. Dr. Barlow, Bishop of Lincoln, coming into those parts, and being truly informed of Mr. Bunyan's sufferings, he, out of a true Christian compassion,

took a speedy care to be the main and chief instrument in his deliverance; for which, as a hearty acknowledgment, Mr. Bunyan returned him his unfeigned thanks, and often remembered him in his prayers, as, next to God, his deliverer."

This account, although imperfect, is worthy of preservation; for if it did not come from the pen of his Cambridge convert, it was written by an Episcopal Clergyman, and is thus still more interesting, because the author was under no obligations to defend Bunyan.

Bunyan's own Narrative of these events, is in his best style. It will show, indeed, that he had undue prejudices against the Liturgy; but it will not prove him to have been a “high-minded,” nor a "hot-minded man," in the sense Dr. Southey has called him so. He was too high-minded to submit to dictation, as to how he should pray, or where he should preach; and too hot-minded (for his "heart had been kindled at the Book of Martyrs," Dr. Southey says) to heed the ban of a Bench, or the opinion of a Squirearchy, in matters of conscience and duty. And he was right! For, what is the humour of a Court, the authority of a Conclave, or the whim of a Magistrate, when they interdict the preaching of the Gospel? Impertinences to be despised by all free-men, and to be calmly defied by all conscientious men. Bunyan did both ;-and was

the first to do so in Bedfordshire.

This fact, that he was the first, although not overlooked by his Biographers, has never been placed in a proper light, by any of them; and yet it is the key to both his doings and darings on this occasion. He was not acting for himself alone, nor for his Church in Bedford only; but for the whole body of his adherents and converts throughout the wide range of his Itineracy. He felt this, and nobly resolved to set them an example of unflinching steadfastness. For his village flocks did not appear to him, what Dr. Southey calls them, "Conventicles" for diffusing "abhorrence of the Protestant Church;" but for the diffusion of the great Protestant doctrine of Salvation, "by grace, through faith." By preaching this doctrine in the villages, Bunyan had won many hearts to love Christ and Holiness; and that he might keep all he had won, he was ready to sacrifice himself in the service of their faith. He reasoned with himself thus,-"I have showed myself hearty and courageous in my preaching, and made it my bu siness to encourage others: if, therefore, I should run now, and make an escape, it will, thought I, be of a very ill savour

in the country. For what will my weak and newly converted brethren think of it; but that I was not so strong in deed, as I was in word? Also I feared that, if I should run now there was a warrant out for me, I might, by so doing, make them afraid to stand, when great words only should be spoken to them. Besides, I thought that (seeing God, of his mercy, had chosen me to go upon the Forlorn Hope in this country,) if I should fly, it might be a discouragement to the whole body that might follow after; I being (chosen) to be the first that should be opposed for the Gospel." This was Bunyan's chief reason for refusing to concede to Law or Advice, one iota of the rights of conscience.

He had also public reasons for making a determined stand. "I thought further, If I fly, the world will take occasion at my cowardliness to blaspheme the Gospel, and have some ground to suspect worse of me and my profession than I deserved: for, blessed be the Lord, I knew of no evil I had said or done." Bunyan was not over-rating himself when he "thus judged :" for, although still a Tinker, he had more influence as a Minister than the Bishop of the diocese. His hammer had more moral weight than the Crozier, and his kit than the Mitre. He was no obscure nor uninfluential man, although still a very poor man; and both the State and Church knew this, when they singled him out as one of their first victims: for he was apprehended before any Proclamation against the meetings was issued.

But it is high time to allow Bunyan to tell his own story: for no man could tell it so well. "In November, 1660," (only five months after the return of the King,) "I was desired by some of the friends in the country to come to teach at Samsell, by Harlington, in Bedfordshire. To whom I made a promise, if the Lord permitted, to be with them at the time aforesaid. The justice hearing thereof (whose name is Mr. Francis Wingate,) forthwith issued out his warrant to take me, and bring me before him, and in the mean time to keep a very strong watch about the house where the meeting should be kept ;- -as if we that were to meet together in that place did intend to do some fearful business, to the destruction of the country; when alas, the constable when he came in, found us only with our Bibles in our hands ready to speak and hear the word of God: for we were just about to begin our exercise. Nay, we had begun in prayer for the blessing of God upon our opportunity, I intending to have preached the word of the