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70. JOHN BUNYAN.

THIS celebrated and valuable man was born A. D. 1628, at Elstow, a small village near Bedford, Eng. His father was by occupation a tinker, who bore a fair character, and brought up his son to the same business; and was anxious, also, that he should be taught to read, write, &c. But being a profligate youth, we are told, he soon forgot nearly all he had learned; yet, it is probable that he retained so much as enabled him to recover, in part, the rést, when his mind became better disposed; which was useful to him in the subsequent part of his life.

Notwithstanding he had been addicted to gross vice and impiety from his youth, still he was the subject of continual alarms and convictions, which at times were peculiarly overwhelming. But these produced no lasting good effect at the time. A copious narrative of these conflicts, temptations, and crimes, is contained in a treatise published by himself, under the title of “ Grace abounding to the Chief of Sinners.'

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During this part of his life he was twice preserved from the most imminent danger of drowning. He was a soldier in the parliament's army, at the siege of Leicester, in 1645. At one time he was drawn out to stand sentinel; but one of his comrades, by choice, took his place, and was shot through the head!

After this his mind was deeply exercised on the subject of religion; and he was enabled to believe to the saving of his soul; and was admitted, by baptism, a member of Mr. Gifford's church, at the age of twentyseven, A. D. 1655. Soon after he was set apart, by fasting and prayer, to the ministerial office; after much reluctance on his part. At a certain time, previous to the restoration of Charles II., he was expected to preach in a church, near Cambridge. A student of that university, not remarkable for sobriety, was induced by curiosity to hear "the tinker prate;" the discourse made a deep impression on his mind; he sought every opportunity to hear Mr. Bunyan, and at length became an eminent preacher in Cambridgeshire.

When the restoration took place, the laws were framed and executed with a severity evidently intended to exclude every man who scrupled the least tittle of the doctrine, liturgy, discipline, or government of the established church. Mr. Bunyan was one of the first who suffered by them; for being courageous and unreserved, he went on his ministry, without any disguise, until Nov. 12, 1660; when he, with sixty others, was apprehended and committed to the county jail! Security was offered for his appearance at the sessions; but it was refused, as his sureties would not consent that he should be restricted from preaching. He was accordingly confined till the quarter-sessions, when his indictment stated, "That John Bunyan, of the town of Bedford, labourer, had devilishly and perniciously abstained from coming to church, to hear divine service; and was a common upholder of several unlawful meetings and conventicles, to the great disturbance and distraction of the good subjects of this kingdom, contrary to the laws of our sovereign, lord the king." The charges in this absurd indictment were never proved. He had confessed he was a dissenter, and had preached; this was considered equivalent to conviction, and recorded against him; and as he refused to conform, he was sentenced to perpetual banishment. This sentence, indeed, was not executed; but he was confined in Bedford jail more than twelve years.

During this tedious imprisonment, he had no books, save a Bible and Fox's Martyrology; yet, in this situation, he penned the "Pilgrim's Progress," which ranks high among the works of original genius, and which probably will be read with admiration and profit till the consummation of all things. He is the author of "The Holy War," "Solomon's Temple Spiritualized," Tracts, &c. &c., which are held in high estimation by the religious community.

In 1671 he was chosen pastor of the Baptist church at Bedford, and continued to exercise his ministry until his death, which took place August 31st, 1688, having arrived at the age of sixty years.

71. PIESTICAL CONTROVERSY.

THE Commencement of Pietism was laudable and decent. It was set on foot by the pious and learned Spener, who, by the private societies he formed at Frankfort, with a design to promote vital religion, roused the lukewarm from their indifference, and excited a spirit of vigour in those who had been satisfied to lament, in silence, the progress of impiety. The remarkable effect of these religious meetings was increased by a book published by this well-meaning man, under the title of Pious Desires, in which he exhibited a striking view of the disorders of the church, and proposed the remedies that were proper to heal them. Many persons of good and upright intentions were highly pleased both with the proceedings and writings of Spener; and indeed the greatest part of those who had the cause of virtue and practical religion truly at heart applauded his designs, though an apprehension of abuses retained numbers from encouraging them openly. These abuses actually happened. The remedies proposed by Spener to heal the disorders of the church fell into unskilful hands, were administered without sagacity or prudence, and thus, in many cases, proved to be worse than the disease itself. The religious meetings above mentioned (or the Colleges of Piety, as they were usually called by a phrase borrowed from the Dutch) tended in many places to kindle in the breasts of the multitude the flames of a blind and intemperate zeal, whose effects were impetuous and violent, instead of that pure and rational love of God whose fruits are benign and peaceful. Hence complaints arose against these institutions of pietism, as if under a striking appearance of piety they led people into false notions of religion, and fermented, in those who are of a turbulent and violent character, the seeds and principles of mutiny and sedition.

These first complaints would have been undoubtedly hushed, and the tumults they occasioned have subsided

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the "Apostle to the Indians" successfully preached the Gospel to the Indians in New England. He began his labors about the year 1646..

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