The Works of John Bunyan, vol 1, John Bunyan [reading like a writer TXT] 📗

aracter; but he goes further, when he asserts that'Bunyan's heart never was hardened.'[22] This is directly opposedto his description of himself:--'I found within me a great desireto take my fill of sin, still studying what sin was yet to becommitted; and I made as much haste as I could to fill my bellywith its delicates, lest I should die before I had my desire.' Hethus solemnly adds, 'In these things, I protest before God, I lienot, neither do I feign this sort of speech; these were really,strongly, and with all my heart, my desires; the good Lord, whosemercy is unsearchable, forgive me my transgressions.' The wholeof his career, from childhood to manhood, was, 'According to thecourse of this world, according to the prince of the power of theair, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience'(Eph 2:2).

These reminiscences are alluded to in the prologue of the HolyWar:--

'When Mansoul trampled upon things Divine,And wallowed in filth as doth a swine,Then I was