John
Bunyan was an English Puritan
minister born at Elstow, near
Bedford,
in 1628, his father's house "being of that rank that is meanest and most
despised of all the families in the land". As a boy he was given
instruction in reading and writing, but he was almost unparalleled for lying,
swearing and cursing. Although he at first felt much terror because of the
"wrath to come", in time he began to harden, so that even several
remarkable works of providence - which saved his life - left him spiritually
asleep. Mr Bunyan's father-in-law, however, was a devout and godly man
who had given to Mrs Bunyan two Christian books - "The Plain Man's Pathway
to Heaven", and "The Practice of Piety". John Bunyan
therefore began to seek after an outward holiness, but soon found he could not
give up his swearing and Sabbath-breaking, and he despaired of pardon from
God. Through the influence of a poor Christian man who befriended him he
began to read the Bible, and upon hearing the conversation of some godly women
at the door of a house in Bedford he was convinced of the reality of the work
of God in the heart, and that he did not yet know it. This was the turning
point of John Bunyan's life, and from then on he sought the Lord until with
great joy, he found the Christ who was crucified for sinners.
Grace
Abounding to the Chief of Sinners
The
Pilgrim's Progress
Esan
tha shios cha'n ion da fiamh (Gaelic
translation of Bunyan's poem)
