The Riches of Bunyan: Selected from His WorksBunyan, John
Religion
The Riches of Bunyan: Selected from His Works
Bunyan, John
Theology, Doctrinal
them purified and pacified by the blood of the great sacrifice on
Calvary; the other of them steadily and cheerfully soaring to the
glories and rest of the mount Zion above. Faithful, in his cage,
bearing the gibes and flouts of the rabble who thirsted for his
blood, was one of the happiest men in all Vanity Fair, even ere the
hour when his spirit mounted the fiery chariot that hurried him to
his celestial home.
The style of Bunyan, it may be further said, is one of the countless
and brilliant testimonials to the merit and power of our excellent
received version of the Bible. Shut out, as Bunyan was, from direct
contact with much other literature, he was most thoroughly
conversant with the remains of prophets and apostles, embalmed in
that venerable work. With those scriptures his mind was imbued,
saturated, and tinged, through its whole texture and substance. Upon
the phraseology and imagery and idioms of that book was formed his
own vernacular style, so racy, glowing, and energetic--long indeed
underrated and decried, but now beginning to receive its due honors,
and winning the praise of critics whose judgment and taste few will
have the hardihood to impeach. No immaculate perfection, indeed, is
claimed for the English version of the Scriptures. No perfect
version has the world ever seen, or is it ever like to see; but the
writings of Bunyan must be admitted to stand among the many crowding
trophies of the power of our common Bible to furnish the mind with
"thoughts that breathe and words that burn"--with holiest
conceptions and mightiest utterances.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account