OneoftheexileshadbeensohappyastobearachiefpartintherestorationoftheRoyalhouse。Allthattheothercouldnowdowastodieassertingtherightsofthathousetothelast。A
fewweeksafterthisletterwaswrittenAtterburydied。Hehadjustcompletedhisseventiethyear。
HisbodywasbroughttoEngland，andlaid，withgreatprivacy，underthenaveofWestminsterAbbey。Onlythreemournersfollowedthecoffin。Noinscriptionmarksthegrave。ThattheepitaphwithwhichPopehonouredthememoryofhisfrienddoesnotappearonthewallsofthegreatnationalcemeteryisnosubjectofregret:fornothingworsewaseverwrittenbyColleyCibber。
ThosewhowishformorecompleteinformationaboutAtterburymayeasilycollectitfromhissermonsandhiscontroversialwritings，fromthereportoftheparliamentaryproceedingsagainsthim，whichwillbefoundintheStateTrials，fromthefivevolumesofhiscorrespondence，editedbyMrNichols，andfromthefirstvolumeoftheStuartpapers，editedbyMrGlover。
Averyindulgentbutaveryinterestingaccountofthebishop’spoliticalcareerwillbefoundinLordMahon’svaluableHistoryofEngland……
JOHNBUNYAN。
（May1854。）
JohnBunyan，themostpopularreligiouswriterintheEnglishlanguage，wasbornatElstow，aboutamilefromBedford，intheyear1628。Hemaybesaidtohavebeenbornatinker。Thetinkersthenformedanhereditarycaste，whichwasheldinnohighestimation。Theyweregenerallyvagrantsandpilferers，andwereoftenconfoundedwiththegipsies，whomintruththeynearlyresembled。Bunyan’sfatherwasmorerespectablethanmostofthetribe。Hehadafixedresidence，andwasabletosendhissontoavillageschoolwherereadingandwritingweretaught。
TheyearsofJohn’sboyhoodwerethoseduringwhichthepuritanspiritwasinthehighestvigouralloverEngland;andnowherehadthatspiritmoreinfluencethaninBedfordshire。Itisnotwonderful，therefore，thataladtowhomnaturehadgivenapowerfulimagination，andsensibilitywhichamountedtoadisease，shouldhavebeenearlyhauntedbyreligiousterrors。
Beforehewasten，hissportswereinterruptedbyfitsofremorseanddespair;andhissleepwasdisturbedbydreamsoffiendstryingtoflyawaywithhim。Ashegrewolder，hismentalconflictsbecamestillmoreviolent。ThestronglanguageinwhichhedescribedthemhasstrangelymisledallhisbiographersexceptMrSouthey。IthaslongbeenanordinarypracticewithpiouswriterstociteBunyanasaninstanceofthesupernaturalpowerofdivinegracetorescuethehumansoulfromthelowestdepthsofwickedness。Heiscalledinonebookthemostnotoriousofprofligates;inanother，thebrandpluckedfromtheburning。HeisdesignatedinMrIvimey’sHistoryoftheBaptistsasthedepravedBunyan，thewickedtinkerofElstow。MrRyland，amanonceofgreatnoteamongtheDissenters，breaksoutintothefollowingrhapsody:——"NomanofcommonsenseandcommonintegritycandenythatBunyanwasapracticalatheist，aworthlesscontemptibleinfidel，avilerebeltoGodandgoodness，acommonprofligate，asoul—despising，asoul—murdering，asoul—
damning，thoughtlesswretchascouldexistonthefaceoftheearth。Nowbeastonished，Oheavens，toeternity！andwonder，O
earthandhell！whiletimeendures。Beholdthisverymanbecomeamiracleofmercy，amirrorofwisdom，goodness，holiness，truth，andlove。"Butwhoevertakesthetroubletoexaminetheevidencewillfindthatthegoodmenwhowrotethishadbeendeceivedbyaphraseologywhich，astheyhadbeenhearingitandusingitalltheirlives，theyoughttohaveunderstoodbetter。
Therecannotbeagreatermistakethantoinfer，fromthestrongexpressionsinwhichadevoutmanbemoanshisexceedingsinfulness，thathehasledaworselifethanhisneighbours。
Manyexcellentpersons，whosemoralcharacterfromboyhoodtooldagehasbeenfreefromanystaindiscernibletotheirfellow—
creatures，have，intheirautobiographiesanddiaries，appliedtothemselves，anddoubtlesswithsincerity，epithetsassevereascouldbeappliedtoTitusOatesorMrsBrownrigg。ItisquitecertainthatBunyanwas，ateighteen，what，inanybutthemostausterelypuritanicalcircles，wouldhavebeenconsideredasayoungmanofsingulargravityandinnocence。Indeed，itmayberemarkedthathe，likemanyotherpenitentswho，ingeneralterms，acknowledgedthemselvestohavebeentheworstofmankind，firedupandstoodvigorouslyonhisdefence，wheneveranyparticularchargewasbroughtagainsthimbyothers。Hedeclares，itistrue，thathehadletloosethereinsontheneckofhislusts，thathehaddelightedinalltransgressionsagainstthedivinelaw，andthathehadbeentheringleaderoftheyouthofElstowinallmannerofvice。But，whenthosewhowishedhimillaccusedhimoflicentiousamours，hecalledonGodandtheangelstoattesthispurity。Nowoman，hesaid，inheaven，earth，orhell，couldchargehimwithhavingevermadeanyimproperadvancestoher。Notonlyhadhebeenstrictlyfaithfultohiswife;buthehadevenbeforehismarriage，beenperfectlyspotless。Itdoesnotappearfromhisownconfessions，orfromtherailingsofhisenemies，thatheeverwasdrunkinhislife。
Onebadhabithecontracted，thatofusingprofanelanguage;buthetellsusthatasinglereproofcuredhimsoeffectuallythatheneveroffendedagain。Theworstthatcanbelaidtothechargeofthispooryouth，whomithasbeenthefashiontorepresentasthemostdesperateofreprobates，asavillageRochester，isthathehadagreatlikingforsomediversions，quiteharmlessinthemselves，butcondemnedbytherigidprecisiansamongwhomhelived，andforwhoseopinionhehadagreatrespect。Thefourchiefsinsofwhichhewasguiltyweredancing，ringingthebellsoftheparishchurch，playingattipcat，andreadingthehistoryofSirBevisofSouthampton。A
rectoroftheschoolofLaudwouldhaveheldsuchayoungmanuptothewholeparishasamodel。ButBunyan’snotionsofgoodandevilhadbeenlearnedinaverydifferentschool;andhewasmademiserablebytheconflictbetweenhistastesandhisscruples。
Whenhewasaboutseventeen，theordinarycourseofhislifewasinterruptedbyaneventwhichgavealastingcolourtohisthoughts。Heenlistedintheparliamentaryarmy，andservedduringthedecisivecampaignof1645。Allthatweknowofhismilitarycareeristhat，atthesiegeofLeicester，oneofhiscomrades，whohadtakenhispost，waskilledbyashotfromthetown。BunyaneverafterconsideredhimselfashavingbeensavedfromdeathbythespecialinterferenceofProvidence。Itmaybeobservedthathisimaginationwasstronglyimpressedbytheglimpsewhichhehadcaughtofthepompofwar。Tothelasthelovedtodrawhisillustrationsofsacredthingsfromcampsandfortresses，fromguns，drums，trumpets，flagsoftruce，andregimentsarrayed，eachunderitsownbanner。HisGreatheart，hisCaptainBoanerges，andhisCaptainCredence，areevidentlyportraits，ofwhichtheoriginalswereamongthosemartialsaintswhofoughtandexpoundedinFairfax’sarmy。
InafewmonthsBunyanreturnedhomeandmarried。Hiswifehadsomepiousrelations，andbroughthimasheronlyportionsomepiousbooks。Andnowhismind，excitablebynature，veryimperfectlydisciplinedbyeducation，andexposed，withoutanyprotection，totheinfectiousvirulenceoftheenthusiasmwhichwasthenepidemicinEngland，begantobefearfullydisordered。
InoutwardthingshesoonbecameastrictPharisee。Hewasconstantinattendanceatprayersandsermons。Hisfavouriteamusementswereoneafteranotherrelinquished，thoughnotwithoutmanypainfulstruggles。Inthemiddleofagameattipcathepaused，andstoodstaringwildlyupwardswithhisstickinhishand。Hehadheardavoiceaskinghimwhetherhewouldleavehissinsandgotoheaven，orkeephissinsandgotohell;
andhehadseenanawfulcountenancefrowningonhimfromthesky。Theodiousviceofbellringingherenounced;buthestillforatimeventuredtogotothechurchtowerandlookonwhileotherspulledtheropes。Butsoonthethoughtstruckhimthat，ifhepersistedinsuchwickedness，thesteeplewouldfallonhishead;andhefledinterrorfromtheaccursedplace。Togiveupdancingonthevillagegreenwasstillharder;andsomemonthselapsedbeforehehadthefortitudetopartwiththisdarlingsin。Whenthislastsacrificehadbeenmade，hewas，evenwhentriedbythemaximsofthatausteretime，faultless。AllElstowtalkedofhimasaneminentlypiousyouth。Buthisownmindwasmoreunquietthanever。Havingnothingmoretodointhewayofvisiblereformation，yetfindinginreligionnopleasurestosupplytheplaceofthejuvenileamusementswhichhehadrelinquished，hebegantoapprehendthathelayundersomespecialmalediction;andhewastormentedbyasuccessionoffantasieswhichseemedlikelytodrivehimtosuicideortoBedlam。
AtonetimehetookitintohisheadthatallpersonsofIsraelitebloodwouldbesaved，andtriedtomakeoutthathepartookofthatblood;buthishopeswerespeedilydestroyedbyhisfather，whoseemstohavehadnoambitiontoberegardedasaJew。
AtanothertimeBunyanwasdisturbedbyastrangedilemma:"IfI
havenotfaith，Iamlost;ifIhavefaith，Icanworkmiracles。"
HewastemptedtocrytothepuddlesbetweenElstowandBedford，"Beyedry，"andtostakehiseternalhopesontheevent。
ThenhetookupanotionthatthedayofgraceforBedfordandtheneighbouringvillageswaspast:thatallwhoweretobesavedinthatpartofEnglandwerealreadyconverted;andthathehadbeguntoprayandstrivesomemonthstoolate。
ThenhewasharassedbydoubtswhethertheTurkswerenotintheright，andtheChristiansinthewrong。Thenhewastroubledbyamaniacalimpulsewhichpromptedhimtopraytothetrees，toabroom—stick，totheparishbull。Asyet，however，hewasonlyenteringtheValleyoftheShadowofDeath。Soonthedarknessgrewthicker。Hideousformsfloatedbeforehim。Soundsofcursingandwailingwereinhisears。Hiswayranthroughstenchandfire，closetothemouthofthebottomlesspit。Hebegantobehauntedbyastrangecuriosityabouttheunpardonablesin，andbyamorbidlongingtocommitit。Butthemostfrightfulofalltheformswhichhisdiseasetookwasapropensitytoutterblasphemy，andespeciallytorenouncehisshareinthebenefitsoftheredemption。Nightandday，inbed，attable，atwork，evilspirits，asheimagined，wererepeatingclosetohisearthewords，"Sellhim，sellhim。"Hestruckatthehobgoblins;hepushedthemfromhim;butstilltheywereeverathisside。Hecriedoutinanswertothem，hourafterhour:"Never，never;notforthousandsofworlds，notforthousands。"Atlength，wornoutbythislongagony，hesufferedthefatalwordstoescapehim，"Lethimgo，ifhewill。"Thenhismiserybecamemorefearfulthanever。Hehaddonewhatcouldnotbeforgiven。Hehadforfeitedhispartofthegreatsacrifice。LikeEsau，hehadsoldhisbirthright;andtherewasnolongeranyplaceforrepentance。"None，"heafterwardswrote，"knowstheterrorsofthosedaysbutmyself。"Hehasdescribedhissufferingswithsingularenergy，simplicity，andpathos。Heenviedthebrutes;
heenviedtheverystonesinthestreet，andthetilesonthehouses。Thesunseemedtowithholditslightandwarmthfromhim。Hisbody，thoughcastinasturdymould，andthoughstillinthehighestvigourofyouth，trembledwholedaystogetherwiththefearofdeathandjudgment。Hefanciedthatthistremblingwasthesignsetontheworstreprobates，thesignwhichGodhadputonCain。Theunhappyman’semotiondestroyedhispowerofdigestion。HehadsuchpainsthatheexpectedtoburstasunderlikeJudas，whomheregardedashisprototype。
NeitherthebookswhichBunyanread，northeadviserswhomheconsulted，werelikelytodomuchgoodinacaselikehis。Hissmalllibraryhadreceivedamostunseasonableaddition，theaccountofthelamentableendofFrancisSpira。Oneancientmanofhighreputeforpiety，whomthesuffererconsulted，gaveanopinionwhichmightwellhaveproducedfatalconsequences。"Iamafraid，"saidBunyan，"thatIhavecommittedthesinagainsttheHolyGhost。""Indeed，"saidtheoldfanatic，"Iamafraidthatyouhave。"
Atlengththecloudsbroke;thelightbecameclearerandclearer;
andtheenthusiast，whohadimaginedthathewasbrandedwiththemarkofthefirstmurderer，anddestinedtotheendofthearchtraitor，enjoyedpeaceandacheerfulconfidenceinthemercyofGod。Yearselapsed，however，beforehisnerves，whichhadbeensoperilouslyoverstrained，recoveredtheirtone。WhenhehadjoinedaBaptistsocietyatBedford，andwasforthefirsttimeadmittedtopartakeoftheEucharist，itwaswithdifficultythathecouldrefrainfromimprecatingdestructiononhisbrethrenwhilethecupwaspassingfromhandtohand。Afterhehadbeensometimeamemberofthecongregation，hebegantopreach;andhissermonsproducedapowerfuleffect。Hewasindeedilliterate;buthespoketoilliteratemen。Theseveretrainingthroughwhichhehadpassedhadgivenhimsuchanexperimentalknowledgeofallthemodesofreligiousmelancholyashecouldneverhavegatheredfrombooks;andhisvigorousgenius，animatedbyaferventspiritofdevotion，enabledhim，notonlytoexerciseagreatinfluenceoverthevulgar，buteventoextortthehalfcontemptuousadmirationofscholars。Yetitwaslongbeforeheceasedtobetormentedbyanimpulsewhichurgedhimtoutterwordsofhorribleimpietyinthepulpit。
Counter—irritantsareofasgreatuseinmoralasinphysicaldiseases。ItshouldseemthatBunyanwasfinallyrelievedfromtheinternalsufferingswhichhadembitteredhislifebysharppersecutionfromwithout。Hehadbeenfiveyearsapreacher，whentheRestorationputitinthepoweroftheCavaliergentlemenandclergymenalloverthecountrytooppresstheDissenters;andofalltheDissenterswhosehistoryisknowntous，hewasperhapsthemosthardlytreated。InNovember1660，hewasflungintoBedfordgaol;andthereheremained，withsomeintervalsofpartialandprecariousliberty，duringtwelveyears。
Hispersecutorstriedtoextortfromhimapromisethathewouldabstainfrompreaching;buthewasconvincedthathewasdivinelysetapartandcommissionedtobeateacherofrighteousness;andhewasfullydeterminedtoobeyGodratherthanman。Hewasbroughtbeforeseveraltribunals，laughedat，caressed，reviled，menaced，butinvain。Hewasfacetiouslytoldthathewasquiterightinthinkingthatheoughtnottohidehisgift;butthathisrealgiftwasskillinrepairingoldkettles。HewascomparedtoAlexanderthecoppersmith。Hewastoldthat，ifhewouldgiveuppreaching，heshouldbeinstantlyliberated。Hewaswarnedthat，ifhepersistedindisobeyingthelaw，hewouldbeliabletobanishment，andthat，ifhewerefoundinEnglandafteracertaintimehisneckwouldbestretched。Hisanswerwas，"Ifyouletmeoutto—day，Iwillpreachagainto—morrow。"
Yearafteryearhelaypatientlyinadungeon，comparedwithwhichtheworseprisonnowtobefoundintheislandisapalace。
Hisfortitudeisthemoreextraordinary，becausehisdomesticfeelingswereunusuallystrong。Indeed，hewasconsideredbyhissternbrethrenassomewhattoofondandindulgentaparent。Hehadseveralsmallchildren，andamongthemadaughterwhowasblind，andwhomhelovedwithpeculiartenderness。Hecouldnot，hesaid，beareventoletthewindblowonher;andnowshemustsuffercoldandhunger;shemustbeg;shemustbebeaten;"yet，"
headded，"Imust，Imustdoit。"Whilehelayinprisonhecoulddonothinginthewayofhisoldtradeforthesupportofhisfamily。Hedetermined，therefore，totakeupanewtrade。
Helearnedtomakelongtaggedthreadlaces;andmanythousandsofthesearticleswerefurnishedbyhimtoth...完整阅读请扫描二维码下载丁香书院APP免费看：