His spirit was
greatly refreshed by finding that his precept and example had been blessed to
his son Thomas. On the 6th of the 11th month, 1673, he passed the lions and
was welcomed into the house called Beautiful, uniting in full communion with
his father's church. There doubtless was, as Mercy expresses it, 'music in the
house, music in the heart, and music also in heaven, for joy that he was here. 'He
afterward became a village preacher.
Bunyan was by no
means a latitudinarian. No one felt a greater decision than he did for the truths
of our holy faith. When his Lord's design in Christianity was, as he thought,
perverted by a beneficed clergyman, then he sent forth from his prison an
answer as from a son of thunder, even at the risk of his life. His love for the
pure doctrines of the gospel was as decided as his aversion to sectarian
titles. 'As for those factious titles of Anabaptists, Independents,
Presbyterians, or the like, I conclude that they came neither from Jerusalem,
nor from Antioch, but rather from hell and Babylon, for they naturally tend to
divisions.' The only title that he loved was that of Christian.
'It is strange to see how men are wedded to
their own opinions, beyond what the law of grace and love will admit. Here is a
Presbyter—here an Independent and a Baptist, so joined each man to his own
opinions, that they cannot have that communion one with another as by the
testament of the Lord Jesus they are commanded and enjoined.' The meaning which
he attached to the word 'sectarian' is very striking—Pharisees are sectarians,
they who in Divine worship turn aside from the rule of the written Word, and in
their manner do it to be seen of men—these are sectaries. Bunyan was most
decided as to the importance of baptism and the Lord's Supper.
'Do you think that love letters are not
desired between lovers? Why these, God's ordinances, they are his love letters,
and his love tokens, too. No marvel, then, if the righteous do so desire them.
"More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold; sweeter
also than honey, and the honeycomb." Christ made himself known to his
disciples in the breaking of bread; who would not, then, that loves to know him, be
present at such an ordinance? Oftentimes the Holy Ghost, in the comfortable
influence of it, has accompanied the baptized in the very act of administering
of it.' His views of the fellowship of the saints were equally explicit—'Church
fellowship, rightly managed, is the glory of all the world. No place, no
community, no fellowship, is adorned and bespangled with those beauties, as is
a church rightly knit together to their Head, and lovingly serving one
another.' Such he admitted to the table of their common Lord; but, in his
esteem, to communicate with the profane was all one with sacrificing to the
devil.
All this liberality
was accompanied by very strict notions of church fellowship, not allowing
private judgment in the withdrawing of any member of the church withheld its
approbation. Mary Tilney had been cruelly robbed by the persecuting Justice
Porter, for not attending the parish church. He carted away all her goods,
beds, and bedding, even to the hangings of her rooms. She was a most benevolent
widow and was more troubled with the crying and sighing of her poor neighbors than with the loss of her goods. Harassed by persecution at Bedford, she
removed to London and requested her dismission to a church of which her
son-in-law was pastor, which was refused. As the letter announcing this to her
is a good example of Bunyan's epistolary correspondence, it is carefully
extracted from the church book.
'Our dearly beloved
sister Tilney.
'Grace, mercy, and
peace be with you, by Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
'I received your letter
and have presented it to the sight of the brethren, who, after due
consideration of your motion, have jointly concluded to give you this answer.
This for yourself (honored sister), you are of high esteem with the church of
God in this place, both because his grace hath been bestowed richly upon you,
and because of your faithful fellowship with us; for you have been rightly a
daughter of Abraham while here, not being afraid with any amazement. Your holy
and quiet behavior, also, while with patience and meekness, and in the
gentleness of Christ, you suffered yourself to be robbed for his sake, hath the
more united our affections to you in the bowels of Jesus Christ. Yea, it hath
begotten your reverence, also, in the hearts of them who were beholders of your
meekness and innocence while you suffered; and a stinging conviction, as we are
persuaded, in the consciences of those who made spoil for themselves; all which
will redound to the praise of God our Father, and to your comfort and
everlasting consolation by Christ, in the day he shall come to take vengeance
for his people and to be glorified in them that believe.
Wherefore we cannot
(our honored sister) but care for your welfare, and increase of all good in
the faith and kingdom of Christ, whose servant you are, and whose name is
written in your forehead; and do therefore pray God and our Father, that he
would direct your way, and open a door in his temple for you, that you may eat
his fat and be refreshed, and that you may drink the pure blood of the grape.
And be you assured that, with all readiness, we will help and forward you what
we can therein, for we are not ashamed to own you before all the churches of
Christ.
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