Works of John Bunyan —BUNYAN IS BAPTIZED, AND ENTERS INTO COMMUNION WITH A CHRISTIAN CHURCH AT BEDFORD- PERIOD SIXTH

 

BUNYAN IS DELIVERED FROM PRISON—CONTROVERSY WITH THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH ON Works of John Bunyan —BUNYAN IS BAPTIZED, AND ENTERS INTO COMMUNION WITH A CHRISTIAN CHURCH AT BEDFORD- PERIOD SIXTH. THE SUBJECT OF THE LORD'S SUPPER—PUBLISHES THE PILGRIM'S PROGRESS, AND MANY BOOKS, AND BECOMES EXTREMELY POPULAR—HIS DEATH AND CHARACTER.

 

This godly jealousy made him sacrifice worldly interests to an extent not justifiable if all the facts appear. When told that a very worthy citizen of London would take his son Joseph as an apprentice without fee, and advance his interests, he refused, saying, 'God did not send me to advance my family, but to preach the gospel.'

At this time, he manifested his lion heart by writing and preparing for the press a fearless treatise on Antichrist and his Ruin. In this, he shows that human interference with Divine worship, by penal laws or constraint, is 'Antichrist'—that which pretends to regulate thought and thus reduce the kingdom of Christ to a level with the governments of this world. In this treatise, he clearly exhibits the meaning of that passage, so constantly quoted by the advocates of tyranny and persecution (Ezra 7:26), and shows that the laws interfered not with Divine worship, but that they upheld to the fullest extent the principle of voluntary obedience (v 13); so that any man putting constraint upon another in religious affairs, would be guilty of breaking the law, and subject him to extreme punishment. This was one of the last treatises that Bunyan prepared for the press as if in his dying moments he would aim a deadly thrust at Apollyon. Reader, it is worth your most careful perusal, as showing the certain downfall of the Antichrist, and the means by which it must be accomplished.

Feeling the extreme uncertainty of life, and that he might be robbed of all his worldly goods, under a pretense of fines and penalties, he, on the 23rd of December 1685, executed a deed of gift, vesting what little he possessed in his wife. It is a singular instrument, especially as having been sealed with a silver two-penny piece. The original is in the church book, at Bedford:—

'To all people to whom this present writing shall come, J. Bunyan of the parish of St. Cuthbert’s, in the Towne of Bedford, in the county of Bedford, Brazier sends greeting. Know ye, that I the said John Bunyan as well for, and in consideration of the natural affection and Love which I have, and bear unto my well-beloved wife, Elizabeth Bunyan, as also for divers other good causes and concerns, me at this present especially morning, have given and granted, and by these presents, do give, grant, and confirm unto the said Elizabeth Bunyan, my said wife, all and singular my goods, chattels, debts, ready money, plate, rings, household stuff, apparel, utensils, brass, pewter, bedding, and all other my substance, whatsoever movable and immovable, of what kind, nature, quality, or condition soever the same are or be, and in what place or places soever the same be, shall or may be found as well in mine own custody, possession, as in the possession, hands, power, and custody of any other person, or persons whatsoever.

To have and to hold all and singular the said goods, chattels, debts, and all other, the aforesaid premises unto the said Elizabeth, my wife, her executors, administrators, and assigns to her and their proper uses and behooves, freely and quietly without any matter of challenge, claim, or demand of me the said John Bunyan, or of any other person, or persons, whatsoever for me in my name, by my means caves or procurement, and without any money or other thing, therefore to be yielded, paid or done unto me the said John Bunyan, my executors, administrators or assigns. And I, the said John Bunyan, all and singular, the aforesaid goods, chattels, and premises to the said Elizabeth my wife, her executors, administrators, and assign to the use aforesaid, against all people do warrant and forever defend by these presents. And further, know ye, that I the said John Bunyan have put the said Elizabeth, my wife, in peaceable and quiet possession of all and singular the aforesaid premises, by the delivery unto her at the unsealing hereof one coin piece of silver, commonly called two pence, fixed on the seal of these presents.

'In witness whereof, I the said John Bunyan have hereunto set my hand and seal this 23d day of December, in the first year of the reign of our sovereign lord, King James the Second of England, &c., in the year of our lord and saviour, Jesus Christ, 1685.