Bunyan as Reader: The Record of "Grace Abounding"

• Published in: Bunyan studies Vol. 5; no. 5; p. 68
• Main Author: Hancock, Maxine
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Bunyan Studies 01.10.1994; Northumbria University, Department of Humanities, Faculty of Arts, Design and Social Sciences
• Subjects: British & Irish literature; Bunyan, John (1628-1688); Bunyan, John (1628-88); English literature; Reading
• ISSN: 0954-0970

For Bunyan and his readers, the Bible is one book, the two Testaments linked by type and fulfillment, and thematically unified in the person and redemptive work of Christ Bunyan and his readers were the heirs of the Reformation attitude that 'the canon is one because the meaning of all of it is salvation in Jesus Christ'.6 Old Testament characters could therefore exemplify Christian truth: Mannasseh, an Old Testament king, is like the backslidden Christian who can still be saved;7 Samson regaining his strength is like the backslider who rouses himself to spiritual action.8 Examples can be drawn with ease from both the Old Testament and the New to prove a point: 'the greatness of Sense of Sin, the hideous Roarings of the Devil, yea, and abundance of Revelations, will not prove that God is bringing the Soul to Jesus Christ: As Balaam, Cain, Judas and others can witness'.9 Landscape descriptions draw on biblical imagery from the whole Bible, fusing Old and New Testament 'visions of blessedness'.10 Whenever Bunyan cites a text, he is expecting his reader to be as aware as he himself is of the place ofthat text in a complete biblical context, both as it is located in aparticular chapter, psalm, or story; and as it is a part of the sweep of Bible story from creation to the consummation of history. [...]having an overview of Scripture and the truth personally authorized to him through at least some moments when he feels a subjective sense of being among the elect, Bunyan is ready for a careful study of texts within their contexts to 'weigh their scope and tendence' (222); to ascertain 'the New Testament style and sense' of Old Testament passages - that is, to interpret them in the light of typology and fulfillment; or to determine the 'the natural force' of the text (249). Even after his period of faith-testing and his entry into more fruitful reading and study, Bunyan is honest about the variability of his subjective enjoyment of scripture: I have sometimes seen more in a line of the Bible than I could well tell how to stand under, and yet at anotiier time the whole Bible hatii been to me as drie as a stick, or rather, my heart ham been so dead and drie unto it that I could not conceive die least dram of refreshment, though I have lookt it all over (Conclusion, 4) This awareness of the difficulties which may be encountered in reading, especially in material having spiritual import, keeps Bunyan sharply aware of the need of ttie reader to be prompted, reminded, encouraged, now drawn forward by the story and now compelled to examine its meanings.