The "Pilgrim's Progress" stole silently into the world.Not a single copy of the first edition is known to be in existence.
The year of publication has not been ascertained.It is probable that, during some months, the little volume circulated only among poor and obscure sectaries.But soon the irresistible charm of a book which gratified the imagination of the reader with all the action and scenery of a fairy tale, which exercised his ingenuity by setting him to discover a multitude of curious analogies, which interested his feelings for human beings, frail like himself, and struggling with temptations from within and from 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 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 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.
