John Bunyan was born in Bedfordshire, England in 1628 to a working-class family. His early life included poverty, a good deal of degradation, and a stint in the army. Even after he had married, Bunyan was what we might today call a “wayward Christian.” He later realized he was no Christian at all. The story is often told of how Bunyan heard a sermon one Sunday morning against the evils of Sunday sports. That afternoon, while playing “cats,” Bunyan heard a voice in his heart that said, “Wilt thou leave thy sins and go to Heaven, or have thy sins and go to hell?” Those words would not leave him over the next few months.

One day Bunyan tried to join in on a conversation about religion with several women he heard talking as he walked down the street. He thought himself to be quite knowledgeable about such things, so he attempted to reason along with these godly women. Instead, Bunyan had no idea what they were speaking of. He wrote:

“Their talk … was about a new birth, the work of God on their hearts, also how they were convinced of their miserable state by nature. They talked about how God had visited their souls with His love in the Lord Jesus, and with what words and promises they had been refreshed, comforted, and supported against the temptations of the devil.”

Later those same women introduced Bunyan to their pastor, John Gifford. His church was comprised of both Congregational and Baptist believers, and it was under Gifford’s preaching and teaching that Bunyan, at last, came to Christ. In Bunyan’s spiritual biography, Grace Abounding, he tells how Colossians 1:20, “He hath made peace by the blood of His cross,” finally broke through to his heart, and he was truly saved.

Several years after coming to Christ, Bunyan began to preach at the same church Gifford had pastored. He was, above all, a preacher who would proclaim God’s Word anywhere and everywhere: in the open air on village greens, in barns, in private houses, and sometimes even in parish churches. Bedfordshire and neighboring shires are full of traditions of his preaching and claims that several Congregational and Baptist churches were founded through his sermons.

It was not long before Bunyan’s willingness and drive to preach the gospel got him into trouble. By 1660 it became illegal to preach in a non-sanctioned place. On November 12th of that year, Bunyan was arrested for preaching in a field near a farmhouse. Upon his arrest, Bunyan was told that if he would apologize to the magistrates and refrain from preaching, he would be released. Bunyan replied that such a promise was not possible and thus began a twelve-year imprisonment.

During his years in prison, Bunyan wrote Grace Abounding, Confessions of Faith, and A Defense of the Doctrine of Justification by Faith. Ernest Bacon speculates that it was in the last part of his imprisonment that Bunyan began to formulate his greatest work, Pilgrim’s Progress. Eventually, King Charles II released most religious prisoners, including Bunyan.

Bunyan emerged as a leader among non-conformists and the pastor of the church at Bedford. He wouldn’t have long to spend with his wife and seven children, however. On Feb. 1675 Charles II changed his mind, and Bunyan and many others were arrested again. After a short time, Bunyan’s more legally-minded friends accomplished his release. On leaving prison this second time, Bunyan published part one of his monumental Pilgrim’s Progress in 1678.

What may seem like a question for church historians and no one else, is whether Bunyan was really a Baptist at all. There can be no doubt that Bunyan had little use for denominational titles. He once said: “As for those titles of Anabaptists, Independents, Presbyterians, or the like, I conclude that they come neither from Jerusalem nor from Antioch, but rather from hell and Babylon, for they naturally tend to division.” He was far more interested in God’s glory and man’s salvation than in restrictive denominational tags.

By the time of Bunyan’s death in 1688, eleven editions of Pilgrim’s Progress had been published, with over 100,000 copies in print along with a legacy of many other great books and poems. Bunyan’s books are full of Christ—His welcome, His unshakable truth, and His advocacy for sinners. Bunyan’s preaching and writings were Christ-centered, and it was this that carried men’s hearts captive to Christ. Bunyan’s greatest legacy therefore was that, above all, he loved Christ and cherished God’s grace that saves wayward men and women like himself.

The Heavenly Footman written by John Bunyan and first published in 1698

The following are the author’s own words:

The doctrine is this: THEY THAT WILL HAVE HEAVEN, MUST RUN FOR IT … [I Cor. 9:24 “Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.” So run; the prize is heaven: and if you will have it you must run for it.] What, do you think that every heavy-heeled professor will have heaven? What, every lazy one; every wanton and foolish professor, that will be stopped by anything, kept back by anything, that scarce runneth so fast heaven-ward as a snail creepeth on the ground? Nay, there are some professors do not go on so fast in the way of God as a snail doth go on the wall; and yet these think, that heaven and happiness is for them. But stay, there are many more that run than there be that obtain; therefore he that will have heaven must RUN for it.

https://www.biblebb.com/files/bunyan/heavenlyfootman.htm

Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners is an autobiography by John Bunyan first published in 1666. The following is an updated English version of the author’s thoughts concerning this book.

For my descent then, it was, as is well known by many, of a low and inconsiderable generation; my father’s house being of that rank that is meanest, and most despised of all the families in the land. Wherefore, I have not here, as others, to boast of noble blood, or of any high-born state, according to the flesh… As for my own natural life, for the time that I was without God in the world, it was indeed ‘according to the course of this world,’ and ‘by nature the children of wrath’ (Ephesians 2:2-3). It was my delight to be ‘taken captive by [the devil] at his will’ (II Timothy 2:26);  being filled with all unrighteousness; the which did also so strongly work, and put forth itself, both in my heart and life, that from a child, I had but few equals (especially considering my years, which were tender, being but few) both for cursing, swearing, lying, and blaspheming the holy name of God.

Romans 5:20b But where sin abounded, great did much more abound.

I Timothy 1:15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners: of whom I am chief.

The Work of Jesus Christ as an Advocate was written by John Bunyan and first published in 1688. The following is an updated English version of the author’s thoughts concerning this book.

 Of all the excellent offices which God the Father has conferred upon Jesus Christ our Lord, this of his being an Advocate with him for us is not the least, though, to the shame of saints it may be spoken, the blessed benefits thereof have not with that diligence and fervent desire been inquired after as they ought.

Christ, as sacrifice, priest, and king, with the glories in, and that flow from, him as such, has, God be thanked, in this our day, been much discovered by our seers, and as much rejoiced in by those who have believed their words; but as he is an Advocate with the Father, an Advocate for us, I fear the excellency of that doth still too much lie hid…

Wherefore, when I thought on this, and had somewhat considered also the transcendent excellency of the advocateship of this our Lord; and again, that but little of the glory thereof has by writing been, in our day, communicated to the church, I adventured to write what I have seen thereof, and do, by what doth follow, present it unto her for good.

 I John 2:1 And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.

Journey to Hell was written by John Bunyan. Under the original title, The Life and Death of Mr. Badman, it was first published in 1680. The following is an updated English version of the author’s thoughts concerning this book.  

As I was considering with myself, what I had written concerning the progress of the pilgrim from this world to glory; and how it had been acceptable to many in this nation; it came again into my mind to write, as then, of him who was going to heaven, so now, of the life and death of the ungodly, and of their travel from this world to hell. The which in this I have done, and have put it, as thou seest, under the name and title of Mr. Badman, a name very proper for such a subject: I have also put it in the form of a dialogue, that I might, with more ease to myself, and pleasure to the reader, perform the work.