THE FAITHFUL HELPMATE. destined to suffer. Bunyan was among the first who were punished for nonconformity. A. warrant was issued against him as if he had been a dan- gerous person, because he went about preaching the Gospel, as certain illiterate fishermen had done before him. Being but an unlettered tinker, whose opinions were inimical to the restored Church, he must receive a wholesome warning to discontinue the practice. Winter was setting in, -it was the 12th of November, 1660,-when a group of rustics were gathered together in the roomy kitchen of a farm- steading, adjoining the village of Harlington, in Bedfordshire. The labours of the day over, old men, grand-dames, youths, maidens, and children, had assembled on a peculiarly interesting occasion. John Bunyan had been invited to preach, and he was awaited by them with an anxiety not unmixed with misgivings for himself; for avague, mysterious whisper was abroad that a. warrant was out, to silence their favourite, and hurry him off to jail. One or two constables had been observed lurking about the -` house, as if they that were to meet together in that place did intend to da some fearful business, to the destruction of the country." Upon the arrival of the Baptist minister, therefore, the farmer has- tened up to him, in an agitated manner, to warn him that " the officers were about," but that he had ample time to escape if he would depart at once, without performing the duty for which he came. 13
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