The text selected for Part II, the story of Christiana and her children, is that of the second edition, published in 1687, the one which received the author's latest additions and emendations. Some of Bunyan's most characteristic touches are to be found in the marginal notes he appended to the text. In Part II there are no fewer than 384 of these, in addition to Scripture references, and of these 384 as many as 148 were added for the first time to this second edition of 1687. The present work has been printed from a perfect and rare copy of this edition kindly lent for the purpose by Eliot Pye-Smith Reed, Esq., of Earlsmead, Hampstead Heath, son of the late Sir Charles Reed, a well-known expert in everything relating to Bunyan. 15 June, 1907. J. B. TO THE CHIEF OF SINNERS: OR, A Brief and Faithful Relation of the exceeding Mercy of God in Christ to His poor Servant, JOHN BUNYAN; Wherein is particularly showed the manner of his conversion, his sight and trouble for sin, his dreadful temptations, also how he despaired of God's mercy, and how the Lord at length through Christ did deliver him from all the guilt and terror that lay upon him. Whereunto is added a brief relation of his call to the work of the ministry, of his temptations therein, as also what he hath met with in prison. All which was written by his own hand there, and now published for the support of the weak and tempted people of God. 'Come and bear, all ye that fear God, and I will declare what he hath done for my soul.-Psal. lxvi. 16. London: Printed by George Larkin, 1666. TO THE CHIEF OF SINNERS: OR, A Brief and Faithful Relation of the exceeding Mercy of God in Christ, to His poor Servant JOHN BUNYAN. NAMELY, In his Taking of him out of the Dunghil, and HERE Is also particularly shewed, what Sight of, and what Trouble he had for Sin; and also, what various Temptations he hath met with, and how God hath carried him through them. Corrected, and much Enlarged now by the The Sixth Edition, Corrected. Come and bear, all ye that fear God, and I will declare what LONDON, Printed for Nath. Ponder, at the Pea-cock in the Poultry, over against the Stocks-Market, 1688. A PREFACE: OR, Brief Account OF THE PUBLISHING this WORK. WRITTEN By the Author thereof, and dedicated to those whom God hath counted him worthy to beget to Faith, by his Ministry in the Word. I Children, Grace be with you, Amen being taken from you in presence, and so tied up, that I cannot perform that duty, that from God doth lie upon me, to you-ward, for your further edifying and building up in Faith and Holiness, &c. yet that you may see my Soul bath fatherly care and desire after your spiritual and everlasting welfare, I now once again, as before from the top of Shenir and Hermon, so now from the Lions Dens, and from the Mountains of the Leopards (Song 4. 8.) do look yet after you all, greatly longing to see your safe Arrival into THE desired Haven. I thank God upon every Remembrance of you, and rejoice even while I stick between the Teeth of the Lions in the Wilderness, at the Grace, and Mercy, and Knowledge of Christ our Saviour, |