THE FAITHFUL HELPMATE. the law ? Bunyan calmly replied, that he could both follow his calling, and preach the Word ; -for he had then freely preached the Gospel without any serious interruption for a space of five or six years. He was then required to find sureties, which he was speedily enabled to do ; but on their stepping forward, they were cautioned that if they did not prevent him from preaching, their bonds would be forfeited. Bunyan declared that he would not desist from preaching the Word of God ; and consequently he was committed to Bedford gaol, there to remain till the quarter sessions. While his " mittimus " was making out, " an old enemy of the truth," a certain Dr. Lindale, began speaking with him, and said, contemptuously, that he had read of one Alex- ander the Coppersmith, who troubled the Apostles,- " Aiming, 'tis like, at me," says Bunyan, "because I was a tinker, to which I answered, that I also had read of Priests and Pharisees that had their hands in the blood of our Lord." " Aye," was the re- joinder, " and you are one of those Pharisees, for you make long prayers to devour widows' houses." " I answered," says he, " that if he had got no more by preaching and praying than I had done, he would not be so rich as now he was." Some others who were there ridiculedhim, and informed him that he undoubtedly had " a gift," but it was a gift for repairing old pots and kettles. Elizabeth, with four young children,-the eldest scarcely ten years old, and one of whom, being blind, 15
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