Page:The Pilgrim's Progress, the Holy War, Grace Abounding Chunk3.djvu/125

Rh found in their persons, friends, relations, or estates; for God will hear the prayer of the faithful, and answer them, even for them that vex them, as it happened in the case of Job's praying for the three persons that had been grievous in their reproaches against him even in the day of his sorrow.

But yet let me come a little nearer to particulars and periods of time, for the better refreshing the memories of those that knew his labour and sufferings, and for the satisfaction of all that shall read this book.

After he was sensibly convicted of the wicked state of his life, and converted, he was baptized into the congregation, and admitted a member thereof—namely, in the year 1655—and became speed in a very zealous professor. But upon the return of King Charles to the crown in 1660, he was, the 12th of November, taken as he was edifying some good people that were got together to hear the word, and confined in Bedford gaol for the space of six years, till the Act of Indulgence to dissenters being allowed, he obtained his freedom by the in tercession of some in trust and power that took pity lion his sufferings. But within six years afterwards he was again taken up—namely,in the year 1666—and was then confined for six years more, when the gaoler took such pity of his rigorous suffering that he did as the Egyptian gaoler did to Joseph—put all the care and trust in his hand. When he was taken this last time, he was preaching on these Words—namely, "Dost thou believe the Son of God?" And this imprisonment continued six years; and when this was over, another short affliction, which was an imprisonment of half a year, fell to his share. During these confinements he wrote the following books namely, "Of Prayer by the Spirit," "The Holy City's Resurrection," "Grace Abounding," "Pilgrim's: Progress," the first part.

In the last year of his twelve years' imprisonment the pastor of the congregation at Bedford died, and he was chosen to that care of souls on the 12th of December 1671.