TURNING PAINS TO GAINS
THROUGH WORSHIP
(A BRIEF LOOK AT THE LIFE OF JOHN BUNYAN)-By Benjamin Anabaraonye
John Bunyan (1628-1688),the Bedford tinker, was
born in the
hamlet of Harrowden at Elstow approximately 1.5 miles
south of Bedford in Britain. He was
the son of a tinker-a maker and mender of pots and kettles. Although the
family
was poor, they owned a cottage in Harrowden. As a child, he travelled
the
district helping his father and learning the trade.
CRISIS AND CROSSROADS
In 1644,when John Bunyan was 16,his mother died and his father remarried
within
a year. That same year, Bunyan was conscripted into the parliamentary
army
because of the civil war that erupted at that time. He spent most of his
military service in garrison duty at Newport Pagnell. He later spoke of
narrowly escaping death in one of those encounters.
Returning to Elstow in 1647 Bunyan resumed his work
as a
tinker. Two years later he married his wife who bore him four children,
the
first called Mary was born blind. The arrival of Mary made Bunyan
reflect
seriously on his life for the first time.
In “Grace Abounding” published in 1666, Bunyan
describes
this period of spiritual crisis admitting, ”Even as a child I had few
equals in
cursing, swearing, lying and blaspheming the name of God”.
CONVERSION AND CONVICTIONS
The civil war was
over but it left indelible marks on John Bunyan. One Sunday, Bunyan
heard a
sermon on the evil of breaking the Sabbath, then he heard a voice within
asking, ”Wilt thou leave thy sins and go to heaven? or have thy sins and
go to
hell?” This marked a turning point in his life. Following his
conversion, he
began to preach with great conviction and received a welcome hearing.
CONGREGATION AND CONFINEMENT
In the belief that national unity could only be
achieved by religious
uniformity, the state attempted to restrain the developing independent
congregations by forbidding preaching. Bunyan was arrested in the hamlet
of
samsell just after he had begun a
meeting. He appeared before the local justices the next morning and was
sentenced to three months in prison.
Since Bunyan refused to give an assurance not to
preach, he
remained in the prison for 12 years from
1661 to 1672.He was allowed several privileges as a prisoner, since he
was not
a common criminal.
During imprisonment, He made shoelaces to raise
support for
his family and preached to the inmates. His spiritual autobiography,
”Grace
Abounding to the Chief of Sinners” was written at that time becoming one
of
Bunyan’s several classics. However, his magnum opus, The Pilgrim’s
Progress was
also written while a prisoner, and then following his release in 1672
was
published in 1678.
GAINS FROM PAINS
John Bunyan is known as one of the most influential writers in human
history. Consider
the fact that after the undoubted supremacy in circulation of the
English
Bible. Bunyan’s classic allegory ”The Pilgrim’s Progress” has commonly
ranked
second.This has led it to be called “The second best book in the world”.
Even secular critics have agreed that this
uneducated mender
of pots and pans was a writer of uncommon genius. Some eleven editions
of the Pilgrim’s Progress were
published during Bunyan’s lifetime, this popularity being
stimulated by the enthusiastic readership of the common
people. Having gained extra-ordinary universal acceptance, its style
being both
simple yet engaging in its ability to communicate vital biblical truth.
Many believers over the centuries have expressed
deep
gratitude for new found enlightenment concerning what biblical
Christianity is
all about. Many others (which I’m one of them) have had their faith and
courage
boosted by simply reading The Pilgrim’s Progress.
For Further Reading on John Bunyan:
i)Heroes of faith series
John Bunyan: Author of the Pilgrim's Progress by Sam Wellman
Barbour Publishing Inc,Ohio
Other classic books by John Bunyan include:
Grace abounding to the chief of sinners, The Holy
War,
Visions of heaven and hell, How to pray in the spirit, The life and
death of
Mr.Badman.
Copyright 2013 by Benjamin Anabaraonye. All rights
reserved.
