John Bunyan

Presented here is the third edition of John Brown's definitive biography of the great English preacher and writer John Bunyan (1628-1688). Bunyan is best known for his allegory 'The Pilgrim's Progress' but wrote numerous other works including Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners. A tinker by trade, he was a popular preacher whose call to preach was recognized by his congregation. This was no formal recognition and upon the restoration of 1660, Bunyan was imprisoned when he refused to cease preaching without a license. A twelve-year imprisonment followed, during which Bunyan did much of his writing. During his later years Bunyan enjoyed immense influence, and his services were demanded in almost every part of England. He died August 31, 1688, in London.

John Brown (1830-1922) was a Congregational minister who served at Park Chapel, Manchester, from 1855 to 1864 and at Bunyan Church, Bedford, from 1864 to 1903. He was the Lyman Beecher lecturer at Yale in 1899. Brown wrote broadly in history and biblical studies but is best known for his Bunyan work. He edited Bunyan's 'The Pilgrim's Progress', 'Holy War', and 'Grace Abounding' (3 vols., London, 1887-88) and Bunyan's complete works for the Cambridge University Press (2 vols., Cambridge, 1905-06).