John Bunyan (1628–88) was an English Puritan preacher and religious writer of sixty volumes. He is the author of The Pilgrim’s Progress (1678,) the most characteristic expression of the Puritan religious outlook. His earnest evangelical urgency and the vivid clarity of his prose won wide admiration.
Born in Elstow, Bedfordshire, Bunyan first worked as a tinker. During the English Civil War (1642–52,) he fought as a Parliamentarian, and in 1653, he joined a Christian fellowship and began preaching at a Baptist Church in Bedford. There, he clashed with the Quakers and wrote his first book, Some Gospel Truths Opened (1656,) a vigorous attack on Quakerism. When the Quakers retorted, Bunyan countered in A Vindication of Gospel Truths Opened (1657.)
In 1660, Bunyan was arrested for unlicensed preaching. Bunyan spent the next 12 years in prison, where he wrote Profitable Meditations (1661,) I Will Pray with the Spirit (1663,) Christian Behaviour (1663,) The Holy City (1665,) The Resurrection of the Dead (1665,) Grace Abounding (1666,) and a few other works. In 1672, he was imprisoned again and started work on his masterpiece, The Pilgrim’s Progress (1684,) an allegory that narrates the spiritual journey of its hero, Pilgrim.
Bunyan became pastor at Bedford Separatist Church, was nicknamed ‘Bishop Bunyan’ for his zeal in pastoral work and preaching, and he continued to write. He died after a ride through the rain from Reading to London.
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by John Bunyan
He that is down needs fear no fall.
—John Bunyan
Topics: Misfortune
Prayer is a shield to the soul, a sacrifice to God, and a scourge for Satan.
—John Bunyan
Topics: Prayer
The best prayers have often more groans than words.
—John Bunyan
Topics: Prayer
I love to hear my Lord spoken of, and wherever I have seen the print of His shoe in the earth, there have I coveted to put mine also.
—John Bunyan
Topics: Christianity
Nothing can render affliction so insupportable as the load of sin. Would you then be fitted for afflictions? Be sure to get the burden of your sins laid aside, and then what affliction soever you may meet with will be very easy to you.
—John Bunyan
Topics: Justice, Trials
My sword I give to him that shall succeed me in my pilgrimage, and my courage and skill to him that can get it.
—John Bunyan
Topics: Inheritance
The more he cast away the more he had.
—John Bunyan
Topics: Generosity
In prayer it is better to have a heart without words, than words without a heart.
—John Bunyan
Topics: Heart, Prayer, Words, Compassion, Faith, Religion, Love
Sleep is sweet to the labouring man.
—John Bunyan
Topics: Sleep
Hanging is too good for him said Mr. Cruelty.
—John Bunyan
Topics: Punishment
A man there was, and they called him mad; the more he gave, the more he had.
—John Bunyan
Topics: Giving, Generosity
A sensible thanksgiving for mercies received is a mighty prayer in the Spirit of God. It prevails with Him unspeakably.
—John Bunyan
Topics: Prayer, Mercy, Thankfulness, Gratitude
Temptations, when we meet them at first, are as the lion that roared upon Samson; but if we overcome them, the next time we see them we shall find a nest of honey within them.
—John Bunyan
Topics: Temptation
What a fool, quoth he, am I, thus to lie in a stinking dungeon, when I may as well walk at liberty! I have a key in my bosom, called Promise, that will, I am persuaded, open any lock in Doubting Castle.
—John Bunyan
Topics: Confidence
Let dissolution come when it will, it can do the Christian no harm, for it will be but a passage out of a prison into a palace; out of a sea of troubles into a haven of rest; out of a crowd of enemies, to an innumerable company of true, loving, and faithful friends; out of shame, reproach, and contempt, into exceeding great and eternal glory.
—John Bunyan
Topics: Death
When you pray, rather let your heart be without words than your words without heart.
—John Bunyan
Topics: Prayer
The house of the formalist is as empty of religion as the white of an egg is of savor.
—John Bunyan
He who runs from God in the morning will scarcely find Him the rest of the day.
—John Bunyan
Topics: Prayer
Prayer is a sincere, sensible, affectionate pouring out of the soul to God, through Christ, in the strength and assistance of the Spirit, for such things as God has promised.
—John Bunyan
Topics: Prayer
He that forgets his friend is ungrateful to him; but he that forgets his Saviour is unmerciful to himself.
—John Bunyan
Topics: Ingratitude
I am content with what I have, little be it, or much.
—John Bunyan
Topics: Contentment
He who bestows his goods upon the poor shall have as much again, and ten times more.
—John Bunyan
Topics: Charity, Giving
Saint abroad and devil at home.
—John Bunyan
Topics: Hypocrisy
There was a castle called Doubting Castle, the owner whereof was Giant Despair.
—John Bunyan
Topics: Doubt
Our heart oft times wakes when we sleep, and God can speak to that, either by words, by proverbs, by signs and similitudes, as well as if one was awake.
—John Bunyan
Topics: Dreams
If we have not quiet in our minds, outward comfort will do no more for us than a golden slipper on a gouty foot.
—John Bunyan
Topics: Contentment
One leak will sink a ship: and one sin will destroy a sinner.
—John Bunyan
Topics: Sin
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