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without； which every moment drew a smile from him by some stroke of
quaint yet simple pleasantry； and nevertheless left on his mind a sentiment
of reverence for God and of sympathy for man； began to produce its effect。
In puritanical circles； from which plays and novels were strictly excluded；
that effect was such as no work of genius； though it were superior to the
Iliad； to Don Quixote； or to Othello； can ever produce on a mind
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THE MISCELLANEOUS WRITINGS AND SPEECHES OF LORD MACAULAY。
accustomed to indulge in literary luxury。 In 1678 came forth a second
edition with additions； and then the demand became immense。 In the four
following years the book was reprinted six times。 The eighth edition；
which contains the last improvements made by the author； was published
in 1682； the ninth in 1684； the tenth in 1685。 The help of the engraver had
early been called in； and tens of thousands of children looked with terror
and delight on execrable copper plates； which represented Christian
thrusting his sword into Apollyon； or writhing in the grasp of Giant
Despair。 In Scotland； and in some of the colonies； the Pilgrim was even
more popular than in his native country。 Bunyan has told us； with very
pardonable vanity； that in New England his dream was the daily subject of
the conversation of thousands； and was thought worthy to appear in the
most superb binding。 He had numerous admirers in Holland； and among
the Huguenots of France。 With the pleasures； however； he experienced
some of the pains of eminence。 Knavish booksellers put forth volumes of
trash under his name； and envious scribblers maintained it to be
impossible that the poor ignorant tinker should really be the author of the
book which was called his。
He took the best way to confound both those who counterfeited him
and those who slandered him。 He continued to work the gold…field which
he had discovered； and to draw from it new treasures； not indeed with
quite such ease and in quite such abundance as when the precious soil was
still virgin； but yet with success which left all competition far behind。 In
1684 appeared the second part of the 〃Pilgrim's Progress。〃 It was soon
followed by the 〃Holy War；〃 which； if the 〃Pilgrim's Progress〃 did not
exist； would be the best allegory that ever was written。
Bunyan's place in society was now very different from what it had
been。 There had been a time when many Dissenting ministers； who could
talk Latin and read Greek； had affected to treat him with scorn。 But his
fame and influence now far exceeded theirs。 He had so great an authority
among the Baptists that he was popularly called Bishop Bunyan。 His
episcopal visitations were annual。 From Bedford he rode every year to
London； and preached there to large and attentive congregations。 From
London he went his circuit through the country； animating the zeal of his
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THE MISCELLANEOUS WRITINGS AND SPEECHES OF LORD MACAULAY。
brethren； collecting and distributing alms； and making up quarrels。 The
magistrates seem in general to have given him little trouble。 But there is
reason to believe that； in the year 1685； he was in some danger of again
occupying his old quarters in Bedford gaol。 In that year the rash and
wicked enterprise of Monmouth gave the Government a pretext for
persecuting the Nonconformists； and scarcely one eminent divine of the
Presbyterian； Independent； or Baptist persuasion remained unmolested。
Baxter was in prison： Howe was driven into exile： Henry was arrested。
Two eminent Baptists； with whom Bunyan had been engaged in
controversy； were in great peril and distress。 Danvers was in danger of
being hanged； and Kiffin's grandsons were actually hanged。 The tradition
is that； during those evil days； Bunyan was forced to disguise himself as a
waggoner； and that he preached to his congregation at Bedford in a smoke…
frock； with a cart…whip in his hand。 But soon a great change took place。
James the Second was at open war with the Church； and found it necessary
to court the Dissenters。 Some of the creatures of the government tried to
secure the aid of Bunyan。 They probably knew that he had written in
praise of the indulgence of 1672； and therefore hoped that he might be
equally pleased with the indulgence of 1687。 But fifteen years of thought；
observation； and commerce with the world had made him wiser。 Nor were
the cases exactly parallel。 Charles was a professed Protestant： James was a
professed Papist。 The object of Charles's indulgence was disguised； the
object of James's indulgence was patent。 Bunyan was not deceived。 He
exhorted his hearers to prepare themselves by fasting and prayer for the
danger which menaced their civil and religious liberties； and refused even
to speak to the courtier who came down to remodel the corporation of
Bedford； and who； as was supposed； had it in charge to offer some
municipal dignity to the Bishop of the Baptists。
Bunyan did not live to see the Revolution。 In the summer of 1688 he
undertook to plead the cause of a son with an angry father； and at length
prevailed on the old man not to disinherit the young one。 This good work
cost the benevolent intercessor his life。 He had to ride through heavy rain。
He came drenched to his lodgings on Snow Hill； was seized with a violent
fever； and died in a few days。 He was buried in Bunhill Fields； and the
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THE MISCELLANEOUS WRITINGS AND SPEECHES OF LORD MACAULAY。
spot where he lies is still regarded by the Nonconformists with a feeling
which seems scarcely in harmony with the stern spirit of their theology。
Many Puritans； to whom the respect paid by Roman Catholics to the
reliques and tombs of saints seemed childish or sinful； are said to have
begged with their dying breath that their coffins might be placed as near as
possible to the office of the author of the 〃Pilgrim's Progress。〃
The fame of Bunyan during his life； and during the century which
followed his death； was indeed great； but was almost entirely confined to
religious families of the middle and lower classes。 Very seldom was he
during that time mentioned with respect by any writer of great literary
eminence。 Young coupled his prose with the poetry of the wretched
D'Urfey。 In the Spiritual Quixote； the adventures of Christian are ranked
with those of Jack the Giant…Killer and John Hickathrift。 Cowper ventured
to praise the great allegorist； but did not venture to name him。 It is a
significant circumstance that； till a recent period； all the numerous editions
of the 〃Pilgrim's Progress〃 were evidently meant for the cottage and the
servants' hall。 The paper； the printing； the plates； were all of the meanest
description。 In general； when the educated minority and the common
people differ about the merit of a book； the opinion of the educated
minority finally prevails。 The 〃Pilgrim's Progress〃 is perhaps the only
book about which； after the lapse of a hundred years； the educated
minority has come over to the opinion of the common people。
The attempts which have been made to improve and to imitate this
book are not to be numbered。 It has been done into verse： it has been done
into modern English。 〃The Pilgrimage of Tender Conscience；〃 〃The
Pilgrimage of Good Intent；〃 〃The Pilgrimage of Seek Truth；〃 〃The
Pilgrimage of Theophilus；〃 〃The Infant Pilgrim；〃 〃The Hindoo Pilgrim；〃
are among the many feeble copies of the great original。 But the peculiar
glory of Bunyan is that those who most hated his doctrines have tried to
borrow the help of his genius。 A Catholic version of his parab