He is very popular and successful.

those that were apt and ready so to do: "They have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints." This scripture in these days did continually run in my mind to encourage me, and strengthen me in this my work for God; I have also been encouraged from several other scriptures and examples of the godly, both specified in the word, and other ancient histories: "Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.—And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man and mighty in the Scriptures, came to Ephesus. This man was instructed in the way of the Lord, and being fervent in the Spirit he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; or ministry, let us wait on our ministering; or he that teacheth on teaching; or he that exhorteth, on exhortation," Acts viii. 4. xviii. 24, 25. 1 Pet. iv. 10. Rom. xii. 6. Fox's Acts and Monuments.

'Wherefore, though of myself of all the saints the more unworthy, yet I, but with great fear and trembling at the sight of my own weakness, did set upon the work, and did according to my gift, and the proportion of my faith, preach that blessed gospel that God had shewed me in the holy word of truth: which when the country understood, they came in to hear the word by hundreds, and that from all parts, though upon divers and sundry accounts.

"And I thank God, he gave unto me some measure of bowels and pity for their souls, which also did put me forward to labour, with great diligence and earnestness, to find out such a word as might, if God would bless it, lay hold of, and awaken the conscience: in which also the good Lord had respect to the desire of his servant; for I had not preached long, before some began to be touched, and be greatly afflicted in their minds at the apprehension of the greatness of their sin, and of their need of Jesus Christ.

He preaches the Law,

But I first could not believe that God should speak by me to the heart of any man, still counting myself unworthy; yet those who were thus touched, would love me, and have a particular respect for me; and though I did put it from me, that they should be awakened by me, still they would confess it, and affirm it before the saints of God. They would also bless God for me, (unworthy wretch that I am! and count me God's instrument that shewed to them the way of salvation.

'Wherefore seeing them in both their words and deeds to be so constant, and also in their hearts so earnestly pressing after the knowledge of Jesus Christ, rejoicing that ever God did send me where they were: then I began to conclude it might be so, that God had owned in his work such a foolish one as I; and then came that word of God to my heart, with much sweet refreshment, "The blessing of them that were ready to perish, is come upon me; yea, I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy," Job xxix. 13.

'At this therefore I rejoiced; yea, the tears of those whom God did awaken by my preaching would be both solace and encouragement to me: I thought on those sayings, "Who is he that maketh me glad, but the same that is made sorry by me?" 2 Cor. ii. 2. And again, "Though I be not an Apostle to others, yet doubtless, I am unto you for the seal of my apostleship are ye in the Lord." 1 Cor. ix. 2. These things therefore, were as another argnment unto me, that God had called me to, and stood by me in, this work.

In my preaching of the word, I took special notice of this one thing, namely, that the Lord did lead me to begin where his word begins with sinners; that is, to condemn all flesh, and to open and allege, that the curse of God, by the law, doth belong to, and lay hold on all men as they come into the world, because of sin. Now this part of my work I fulfilled with great sense; for the terrors of the law, and guilt for my transgressions, lay heavy on my con

and holds forth Jesus Christ.

science: I preached what I felt, what I smartingly did feel; even that under which my poor soul did groan and tremble to astonishment.

'Indeed, I have been as one sent to them from the dead; I went myself in chains, to preach to them in chains; and carried that fire in my own conscience, that I persuaded them to be aware of. I can truly say, and that without dissembling; that when I have been to preach, I have gone full of guilt and terror, even to the pulpit-door, and there it hath been taken off, and I have been at liberty in my mind until I have done my work; and then immediately, even before I could get down the pulpit stairs, I have been as bad as I was before; yet God carried me on, but surely with a strong hand, for neither guilt nor hell could take me off my work.

'Thus I went on for the space of two years, crying out against men's sins, and their fearful state because of them. After which, the Lord came in upon my own soul, with some sure peace and comfort through Christ; for he did give me many sweet discoveries of his blessed grace through him. Wherefore now I altered in my preaching; (for still I Preached what I saw and felt ;) now therefore I did much labour to hold forth Jesus Christ in all his offices, relations, and benefits unto the world, and did strive also to discover, to condemn, and remove those false supports and props on which the world doth both lean, and by them fall and pe rish. On these things also I staid as long as on the other.

'After this, God led me into something of the mystery of the union of Christ; wherefore that I discovered and showed to them also. And, when I had travelled through these three chief points of the word of God, about the space of five years or more, I was caught in my present practice, and cast into prison; where I have lain above as long again, to confirm the truth by way of suffering, as I was before in testifying of it according to the Scriptures, in a way of preaching.

'When I have been preaching, I thank God, my heart

Remarkable Instance of Conversion.

hath often all the time of this and the other exercise, with great earnestness cried to God that he would make the word effectual to the salvation of the soul; still being grieved lest the enemy should take the word away from the conscience, and so it should become unfruitful. Wherefore I did labour to speak the word, as that thereby, if it were possible, the sin and person guilty might be particularized by it.

And when I have done the exercise, it hath gone to my heart, to think the word should now fall as rain on stony places; still wishing from my heart, Oh! that they who have heard me speak this day, did but see as I do, what sin, death, hell, and the curse of God is; and also what the grace, and love, and mercy of God is, through Christ, to men in such a case as they are, who are yet estranged from him. And indeed, I did often say in my heart before the Lord, "That if to be hanged up presently before their eyes, would be a means to awaken them, and confirm them in the truth, I glady should be contented.

For I have been in my preaching, especiany when 1 have been engaged in the doctrine of life by Christ, without works, as if an angel of God had stood by at my back to encourage me; Oh! it hath been with such power and heavenly evidence upon my own soul, while I have been labouring to unfold it, to demonstrate it, and to fasten it upon the consciences of others; that I could not be contented with saying, "I believe, and am sure;" methought I was more than sure (if it be lawful to express myself) that those things which then I asserted, were true.'

One remarkable instance of the success of his ministry must be recorded here. Being to preach in a church in a country village in Cambridgeshire (before the restoration of King Charles) and the people being gathered together in the churchyard, a Cambridge scho ar, who was not very eminent for his sobriety, inquired what was the meaning of that concourse of people. Being told that one BUNYAN, a tinker, was to preach there, he gave a boy twopence to hoid his horse, saying, he was resolved to hear the tinker

He attempts to preach at Samsell.

prate. He accordingly went into the church, and it pleased God to meet with him there, for he came out evidently much changed, would hear none but Mr. Bunyan for a long time after, and himself became an eminent preacher in that country afterwards.

But the successful career of his ministry was soon arrested by the hand of persecution. Having preached the gospel about five years, he was apprehended at a meeting, and carried before a justice of peace, who committed him to prison, though he offered security for his appearance at the next sessions. The reason assigned for his commitment was, because his security would not consent to be bound so that he should preach no more to the people.

'At Bedford quarter sessions, in 1660, he was indicted for an upholder and maintainer of unlawful assemblies and conventicles, and for not conforming to the Church of England. The following is his own account of this transaction.

"When, by the good hand of my God, I had for five or six years together, without any interruption, freely, preached the blessed gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: and had also, through his blessed grace, some encouragement by his blessing thereupon; the devil, that old enemy of man's salvation, took his opportunity to inflame the hearts of his vassals against me, insomuch that at the last, I was laid out for by the warrant of a justice, and was taken and committed to prison. The relation thereof is as followeth :

Upon the 12th of this instant, November, 1660, I was desired by some of the friends in the country to come to teach at Samsell, by Harlington, in Bedfordshire. Το 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 a 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 fearfu