Section 17

182
A WARRANT ISSUED
A RELATION OF MY IMPRISONMENT IN THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER 1660
WHEN, by the good hand of my God, I had for five or six years together, without any interruption, freely preached the blessed gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ; and had also, through His blessed grace, some encouragement by His blessing thereupon ; the devil, that old enemy of man's salvation, took his opportunity to inflame the hearts of his vassals against me, insomuch that at the last, I was laid out for by the warrant of a justice, and was taken and committed to prison. The relation thereof is as followeth : —
Upon the i2th of this instant, November 1660, I was desired by some of the friends r go to samseii, in the country to come to teach at Beds., to teach Samsellj by Har/ington, in Bedfordshire. To whom I made a promise, if the Lord permitted, to be with them on the time aforesaid. The justice hearing thereof (whose name is Mr Francis Wingate), forth- with issued out his warrant to take me, and bring me before him, and in the meantime to keep a very strong watch about the house where the meeting should be kept, as if we that were to meet together in that place did intend to do some fearful business, to the destruction of the country ; when alas ! the constable, when he came in, found us only with our
GRACE ABOUNDING
Bibles in our hands, ready to speak and hear the word of God ; for we were just about to begin our exercise. Nay, we had begun in prayer for the bless- ing of God upon our opportunity, intending to have preached the word of the Lord unto them there present:1 but the constable coming in preventedus. So
that I was taken and forced to depart I was taken, but , -r> i i T i • j i
had I been the room. But had I been minded to
have PlaYed the coward, I could have
coward, I could escaped and kept out of his hands. have escaped r
For when I was come to my friend s
house, there was whispering that that day I should be taken, for there was a warrant out to take me ; which when my friend heard, he being somewhat timorous, questioned whether we had best have our meeting or not ; and whether it might not be better for me to depart, lest they should take me and have me before the justice, and after that send me to prison (for he knew better than I what spirit they were of, living by them) : to whom I said, No, by no means, I will not stir, neither will I
have the meeting dismissed for this. Come, be of good r { . ,
cheer ; let us not Come, be or good cheer ; let us
not be daunted ; our cause is good, we need not be ashamed of it; to preach God's Word, is so good a work, that we shall be well re-
1 The text from which he intended to preach was, Doth thou believe on the Son of God ? Jn. ix. 35. See Preface to his Confession of Faith.
l84
RESOLVED TO KEEP THE MEETING
warded, if we suffer for that ; or to this purpose — (But as for my friend, I think he was more afraid of me, than of himself.) After this I walked into the close, where I somewhat seriously considering the matter, this came into my mind, That I had showed myself hearty and courageous in my preach- ing, and had, blessed be grace, made it my business
to encouraere others-, therefore.
T .r T , ' Therefore,
thought I, if I should now run, thought I, if I
and make an escape, it will be of a g^gS?*
very ill savour in the country. For yery ill savour in
' ' the country
what will my weak and newly-con- verted brethren think of it, but that I was not so strong in deed as I was in word? Also I feared that if I should run now there was a warrant out for me, I might by so doing make them afraid to stand, when great words only should be spoken to them. Besides I thought, that seeing God of His mercy should choose me God of His
to go upon the forlorn hope in this mercy had
, i r i chosen me as the
country ; that is, to be the first, that forlorn hope in
should be opposed, for the gospel; this country if I should fly, it might be a discouragement to the whole body that might follow after. And further, I thought the world thereby would take occasion at my cowardliness, to have blasphemed the gospel, and to have had some ground to suspect worse of me and my profession, than I deserved. These things with others considered by me, I came in again to
185
GRACE ABOUNDING
the house, with a full resolution to keep the meet- ing, and not to go away, though I could have been gone about an hour before the officer apprehended me ; but I would not ; for I was resolved to see the utmost of what they could say or do unto me. For blessed be the Lord, I knew of no evil that I had said or done. And so, as aforesaid, I begun the
meeting. But being prevented by I begun the , , , . P r . . . , /
meeting, but the the constable s coming in with his
wSi^wi016 warrant to take me, I could not
rant, so I could proceed. But before I went away,
not proceed * /J
1 spake some few words of counsel
and encouragement to the people, declaring to them, that they saw we were prevented of our opportunity to speak and hear the Word of God, and were like to suffer for the same; desiring them that they would not be discouraged, for it was a mercy to suffer upon so good account. For we might have been apprehended as thieves or murderers, or for other wickedness ; but blessed be God it was not so, but we suffer as Christians for well doing : and we had better be the persecuted, than the perse- The constable cutors, etc. But the constable and
and the justice's the justice's man waiting on us, man would not ,J. , . .., . .
be quiet till they would not be at quiet till they had had me away
house. But because the justice was not at home that day, there was a friend of mine engaged for me to bring me to the constable on the morrow
186
'MY CALLING/ AND THE LAW
morning. Otherwise the constable must have charged a watch with me, or have secured me some other way, my crime was so great. So on the next morning we went to the constable, and so to the justice.1 He asked the constable what we did, where we was met together, and what we had with us? I trow, he meant whether we had armour or not; but when the constable told him that there were only met a few of us together to preach and hear the Word, and no sign of anything else, he could not well tell what to say : yet because he had sent for me, he did adventure to put out a few proposals to me, which were to this effect, namely, What I did there? And why I did not content myself with following my calling? for it was against the law, that such as I should be admitted to do as I did.
John Bunyan. To which I answered, That the intent of my coming thither, and to other places, was to instruct, and counsel people to forsake their sins,
and close in with Christ, lest they sin and accept
. , ' , \ Christ
did miserably perish; and that I
could do both these without confusion (to wit), follow my calling, and preach the Word also.
At which words, he 2 was in a chafe, as it
1 Justice Wingate. 2 Ibid.
187
GRACE ABOUNDING
appeared; for he said that he would break the neck of our meetings.
Bun. I said, It may be so. Then he wished me to get sureties to be bound for me, or else he would send me to the jail.
My sureties being ready, I called them in, and
when the bond for my appearance I answered, I , , u i_ i_ i
should not leave ^^s made, he told them, that they
Wwd'of God was bounci to keep me fr°m preach- ing ; and that if I did preach, their bonds would be forfeited. To which I answered, that then I should break them; for I should not leave speaking the Word of God : even to counsel, comfort, exhort, and teach the people among whom I came ; and I thought this to be a work that had no hurt in it : but was rather worthy of commenda- tion, than blame.
Wingate. Whereat he told me, that if they would not be so bound, my mittimus must be made, and I sent to the jail, there to lie to the quarter sessions.
Now while my mittimus was making, the justice
. was withdrawn ; and in comes an old An old enemy of the truth fell to enemy to the truth, Dr Lmdale,
who, when he was come in, fell to taunting at me with many reviling terms.
Bun. To whom I answered, that I did not come thither to talk with him, but with the justice. Whereat he supposed that I had nothing to say for myself, and triumphed as if he had got the victory;
188
RECEIVING GIFTS FROM GOD
charging and condemning me for meddling with that for which I could show no warrant ; and asked me, if I had taken the oaths ? and if I had not, it was pity but that I should be sent to prison, etc.
I told him, that if I was minded, I could answer to any sober question that he should put to me. He then urged me again, how I could prove it law- ful for me to preach, with a great deal of confidence of the victory.
But at last, because he should see that I could answer him if I listed, I cited to him that verse in Peter, which saith, As every man hath received the gift, even j-"^er him if l so let him minister the same, etc.
Lind. Aye, saith he, to whom is that spoken?
Dun. To whom, said I, why to every man that hath received a gift from God. Mark, saith the apostle, As every man that hath received a gift from God, etc. ; and again, You may all prophesy one by one. Whereat the man was a little stopt, and went a softlier pace : but not being willing to lose the day, he began again, and said : —
Lind. Indeed, I do remember that I have read of one Alexander a coppersmith, who did much oppose, and disturb the apostles ; — (aiming it is like at me, because I was a tinker).
Bun. To which I answered, that I also had read of very many priests and pharisees, that had their hands in the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ.
189
GRACE ABOUNDING
Lind. Aye, saith he, and you are one of those scribes and pharisees : for you, with a pretence, make long prayers to devour widows' houses.
Bun. I answered, that if he had got no more by
preaching and praying than I had I said if he got * i . ,
no more by done, he would not be so rich as now
praying?htndl ne was« But that scripture coming
wlwSomso int° m7 mind> Answer mt a f°°l rich as now he according to his folly, I was as spar-
ing of my speech as I could, without prejudice to truth.
Now by this time my mittimus was made, and I committed to the constable, to be sent to the jail in Bedford, etc.
But as I was going, two of my brethren met with
me by the way, and desired the If I would come ^ i , ,
to him again (the constable to stay, supposing that
the7 should Prevail with the justice,
words I should through the favour of a pretended friend, to let me go at liberty. So we did stay, while they went to the justice ; and after much discourse with him, it came to this : that if I would come to him again, and say some certain words to him, I should be released. Which when they told me, I said if the words was such that might be said with a good conscience, I should or else I should not. So through their importunity went back again, but not believing that I should be delivered : for I feared their spirit was too full of
190
AN INSINCERE JUSTICE
opposition to the truth to let me go, unless I should,
in something or other, dishonour my God and
wound my conscience. Wherefore,
as I went, I lifted up my heart to
God, for light and strength to be heart to God to
kept, that I might not do any thing
that might either dishonour Him, or wrong my own
soul, or be a grief or discouragement to any that
was inclining after the Lord Jesus Christ.
Well, when I came to the justice again, there was Mr Foster of Bedford, who, coming out of another room, and seeing me by the light of the candle (for it was dark night when I went thither), he said unto me, Who is there ? John Bunyan ? with such seem- ing affection, as if he would have leaped on my neck and kissed l me, which made me somewhat wonder, that such a man as he, with whom I had so little acquaintance, and, besides, that had ever been a close opposer of the ways of God, should carry him- self so full of love to me ; but, after- ^^^ z saw wards, when I saw what he did, it what he did» l
7 . 7 remembered the
caused me to remember those sayings, words, 'Their
Their tongues are smoother than oil,
but their words are drawn swords.
And again, Beware of men, etc. drawn swords'
When 1 2 had answered him, that blessed be God, I
was well; he said, What is the occasion of your
being here? or to that purpose. To whom I
1 A right Judas. 2 Bunyan.
N 191
GRACE ABOUNDING
answered, that I was at a meeting of people a
little way off. intending to speak 1 was ata meet- •'-*•« •
ing a little way a word of exhortation to them ;
the justice hearing thereof, said I, was pleased to send his warrant to fetch me before him, etc.
Post. So (said he), I understand : but well, if you will promise to call the people no more together, you shall have your liberty to go home ; for my brother is very loath to send you to prison, if you will be but ruled.
Bun. Sir (said I), pray what do you mean by calling the people together ? my busi- ness is not anything among them, w^en tnev are come together, but to exhort them to look after the salvation of their souls, that they may be saved, etc.
Fost. Saith he, We must not enter into explica- tion, or dispute now; but if you will say you will call the people no more together, you may have your liberty ; if not, you must be sent away to prison.
Bun. Sir, said I, I shall not force or compel any man to hear me ; but yet, if I come into any place where there is a people met together, I should, according to the best of my skill and wisdom, exhort and counsel them to seek out after the Lord Jesus Christ, for the salvation of their souls.
Fost. He said, That was none of my work ; I 192
MY DUTY TO ALL PEOPLE
must follow my calling ; and if I would but leave off preaching, and follow my calling, I should have the justice's favour, and be acquitted presently.
Bun. To whom I said, that I could follow my calling, and that too, namely, preach- , said l could iner the Word: and I did look upon follow my caii-
. i i i i_ \. T iflg' namely,
it as my duty to do them both, as 1 preaching the . . . word
had an opportunity.
Post. He said, To have any such meetings was against the law ; and, therefore, he would have me leave off, and say, I would call the people no more together.
Bun. To whom I said, that I durst not make any further promise ; for my conscience would not suffer me to do it. And again, I did look upon it as my duty to do as much good as I could, not only in my trade, but also in communicating to all people wheresoever I came the best knowledge I had in the Word.
Post. He told me that I was the nearest the Papists of any, and that he would convince me of immediately.
Bun. I asked him, Wherein ?
Post. He said, In that we understood the Scrip- tures literally.
Bun. I told him that those that were to be understood literally, we understood