Part 13 (2/2)

_A brief Character of Mr_ JOHN BUNYAN

HE appeared in countenance to be of a stern and rough temper, but in his conversation mild and affable; not given to loquacity or much discourse in company, unless some urgent occasion required it; observing never to boast of himself or his parts, but rather seem low in his own eyes, and submit himself to the judgment of others, abhorring lying and swearing, being just in all that lay in his power to his word, not seeming to revenge injuries, loving to reconcile differences, and make friends.h.i.+p with all; he had a sharp quick eye, accompanied with an excellent discerning of persons, being of good judgment and quick wit. As for his person, he was tall of stature, strong boned, though not corpulent, somewhat of a ruddy face, with sparkling eyes, wearing his hair on his upper lip, after the old British fas.h.i.+on; his hair reddish, but in his latter days, time had sprinkled it with grey; his nose well set, but not declining or bending, and his mouth moderate large; his forehead somewhat high, and his habit always plain and modest. And thus have we impartially described the internal and external parts of a person, whose death hath been much regretted; a person who had tried the smiles and frowns of time; not puffed up in prosperity, nor shaken in adversity; always holding the golden mean.

In him at once did three great worthies s.h.i.+ne, Historian, poet, and a choice divine: Then let him rest in undisturbed dust, Until the resurrection of the just.

POSTSCRIPT

IN this his pilgrimage, G.o.d blessed him with four children, one of which, named _Mary_, was blind, and died some years before; his other children were _Thomas_, _Joseph_, and _Sarah_; his wife _Elizabeth_ having lived to see him overcome his labour and sorrow, and pa.s.s from this life to receive the reward of his work, long survived him not; but in 1692 she died, to follow her faithful pilgrim from this world to the other, whither he was gone before her; whilst his works, which consist of sixty books, remain for the edifying of the reader, and praise of the author.

_Vale_.

FINISH

FOOTNOTES

{7} The marginal summaries have not been included in this Project Gutenberg eText.-DP.

{184} The text from which he intended to preach was, _Doth thou believe on the Son of G.o.d_? Jn. ix. 35. See Preface to his _Confession of Faith_.

{187a} Justice Wingate.

{187b} _Ibid._

{191a} A right Judas.

{191b} Bunyan.

{210} The Venner insurrection is here referred to.

{214} Bunyan here refers to a translation of Wickliffe's doctrine in John Foxe's _Martyrology_, a favourite book of his.

{219} April 23, 1661.

{224} 'Smayed,' an obsolete contraction of 'dismayed,'

{241} It is an established fact that John Bunyan died on Friday, August 31, 1688. He is recorded to have preached his last sermon on August 19.

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