John Bunyan (1628 - 1688)
John Bunyan (1628 - 1688)
John Bunyan is a perfect example of Act 4:13, "an ignorant and unlearned man, who had been with Jesus."
He was affectionately and derisively called "The Tinker".
Those who loved and esteemed him called him "The Tinker" with great affection, for though tinkering was his trade (a tinker was a mender of household wares, metal goods, a handyman), yet they saw in him that stamp of greatness which only the Spirit of God can impress upon a man.
Those who hated him derided him as "just a tinker," just as the Pharisees derided Jesus saying "just a carpenter," and James and John in Act 4, in the verse above. Bunyan’s foes could not bear with the preaching of an un-ordained tinker. But though un-ordained by men, John Bunyan was ordained of God, and equipped by Him to preach His Word. He pastored several Baptist churches in his home district of Bedfordshire, and itinerated through the less populated areas nearby. He spent 12 years in prison because he would not give up preaching, at one point his wife even told the magistrate, "My lord, he dares not leave preaching, as long as he can speak." And she suffered greatly during the years of his imprisonment, having to care for all of their six children.
After his release from prison, during which time he had written "Pilgrims Progress," and as a result had achieved a measure of notoriety throughout England, he made it a yearly practice to visit London and preach in the churches there. Sunday meetings drew over 3000, and weekday early morning meetings, even in the cold of winter, over 1000. His giftedness by the Holy Spirit was attested to by the great theologian John Owen, who when asked by King Charles II, "how a learned man, such as yourself, could sit and listen to an illiterate tinker," Owen replied, "May it please your majesty, could I possess that tinker's abilities for preaching, I would most gladly relinquish all my learning."
Bunyan’s passage from spiritual death to life was a long process of great inner turmoil. He spent 2 years under great conviction of personal sin and fear of damnation. He was a swearer and Sabbath breaker due to his love of sports (not unlike many today), but the Lord began dealing with him with the "audible" question, "Wilt thou leave thy sins and go to heaven, or have thy sins and go to hell?" This drove him to the Bible, and produced a good outward reformation, favorably admired by even his neighbors, but as he says, "I was nothing but a poor, painted hypocrite." After awhile he chanced to hear 3 women speaking on the of things of Christ. Their love and earnestness regarding spiritual things convinced him that he, "wanted the true token of a true godly man, (a new heart)" and made him realize how blessed indeed it was to be a true Christian, which he knew that at that time, he was not.
While in the throws of his agony, a copy of Luther’s "Commentary on Galatians" came his way. Hear how it affected him, "I had but a little way perused it, when I found my condition in his experience so largely and profoundly handled as if his book had been written out of my heart." Bunyan preferred this book to all others, except his Bible.
This 2 year ordeal ended when God spoke peace to his soul with the words, "My grace is sufficient for thee," and caused him to see that Christ could save a sinner as bad as he knew himself to be.
His book, "Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners," is about the Lord's dealings with him.
https://archive.org/details/graceaboundingto00bunyuoft
His most famous book is of course "Pilgrims Progress". Sadly most adults confine it to the children’s shelf; better to be as Spurgeon who claims to have read it over 100 times, and considered it the most important book he owned, next to his Bible. If you have ever wallowed in the Slough of Despond, or struggled up Hill Difficult, battled Appolyon, or lost your way in the night, read "Pilgrims Progress" for help and hope.
John Bunyan wrote over 60 other books on various portions of Scripture: such as "Lazarus and The Rich Man," "The Barren Fig Tree," "The Doctrine of Law and Grace Unfolded," "The Ruin of Anti-Christ," "The House of God," "Exhortation to Unity and Peace," and ff course "Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners." But I like best the closing part of "Pilgrims Progress", which is about Pilgrim's death, and his passing over into heaven; I can hardly read it without tears!
"Now, upon the bank of the river, on the other side, they (Pilgrim and Hopeful) saw the two shining men again, who waited for them. ... Now, while they were thus drawing towards the gate, behold, a company of the heavenly host came out to meet them. ... Then I saw, in my dream, that the shining men bid them call at the gate. ... Now I saw, in my dream, that those two men, Pilgrim and Hopeful, went in at the gate; and lo, as they entered, they were transfigured; and they had raiment put on that shone like gold."
27 April 2025