Millenarianism and the Restoration Politics of Active Waiting in Bunyan and Milton

• Published in: Bunyan studies no. 19; p. 35
• Main Author: Ritcheson, Sarah Marie
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Newcastle Upon Tyne Northumbria University, Department of Humanities, Faculty of Arts, Design and Social Sciences 01.01.2015
• Subjects: British & Irish literature; Bunyan, John (1628-1688); Bunyan, John (1628-88); Christianity; Christians; English literature; God; Milton, John (1608-1674); Pacifism; Politics; Religious wars; Spirituality; Theology; Violence
• ISSN: 0954-0970

[...]a binary with regard to violence might be the result of a modem framework applied anachronistically to the period. A number of Quakers, in contrast to their leaders' official position, refused to adopt a pacifist tone and continued to call down God's wrath upon their enemies, including those in positions of authority. Besides the fact that religious violence continued, the position of comparatively moderate figures such as Milton and Bunyan should also be understood outside of a binary framework of violence and passive acquiescence, despite their rebukes to those who engaged in violent resistance, such as the Fifth Monarchy Men. Paul is not suggesting that people be blind to human wickedness or confused about who should be perceived as righteous, but that people understand that the forces of evil in the world are empowered by spiritual evil, and in order to deal properly with the former, you must in fact contend with the latter. [...]people who imagine that they will eliminate spiritual wickedness by way of the flesh without dealing with the spiritual side of the equation are deeply misguided. According to Sharon Achinstein, '[rjeading Bunyan becomes a form of action, a collective identification through shared myths'.17 One must always be vigilant against evil and the deceptiveness of sin, but in the last days, it is implied in Paul's Epistles, this deception will become especially acute, threatening to destroy even the 'very elect', to use Christ's terms.18 Restoration Dissenters could find much in common with such passages; like the early Christians they were a small minority surrounded by enemies and persecuting forces and enduring great suffering.