John Bunyan’s (1628–88) pursuit in all of life—especially in preaching and in writing—was personal piety. With the help of the Holy Spirit, he made every effort to “be a pattern, and example of piety.” From Bunyan’s own testimony:
“Singularity in godliness, if it be in godliness, no man should be ashamed of. For that is no more than to be more godly, than to walk more humbly with God than others: and for my part, I had rather be a pattern, and example of piety: I had rather that my life should be instructing to the Saints, and condemning to the world, with Noah and Lot; than to hazard myself among the multitude of the dross[y].” [“A Holy Life”, ed. Richard L. Greaves in The Miscellaneous Works of John Bunyan, vol. 9 (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1981), 346].
When by faith Bunyan came to know the redeeming Jesus, his life began to manifest genuine godliness. In his Israel’s Hope Encouraged, written about 1680-81, but only published in 1692, Bunyan attests this truth: “The Knowledge & Faith of this Redemption prepareth Man to an holy life.” [“Israel’s Hope Encouraged”, ed. W.R. Owens in The Miscellaneous Works of John Bunyan, vol. 13 (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1994), 79].
In other words, it is only when one truly understands by faith Christ’s redemptive work that he can sincerely start to live a pious life. Bunyan confesses in his spiritual autobiography that before he came to the saving knowledge of Christ, he had experienced “some outward Reformation,” but since this outward change was not rooted in the gospel it did not last:
“[O]ur Neighbours did take me to be a very godly man, a new and religious man, and did marvel much to see such a great and famous alteration in my life and manners; and indeed so it was, though yet I knew not Christ, nor Grace, nor Faith, nor Hope; and truly as I have well seen since, had I then died, my state had been most fearful: well, this I say, continued about a twelve-month, or more.” [Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners, ed. Roger Sharrock (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1962), 12-13.]
At this time, Bunyan, in his own words, “was nothing but a poor painted Hypocrite, yet,” he admits, “I loved to be talked of as one that was truly Godly. I was proud of my Godliness; and, I did all I did, either to be seen of, or to be well spoken of, by men.” (Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners, 13). But in “the good providence of God” as Bunyan calls it, he began to desire “the true tokens of a truly godly man.” (Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners, 14, 15).
Later, he elucidates what he means by a truly holy life:
By an holy life I mean, a life according to the moral Law, flowing from a Spirit of thankfulness to God, for giving of his Son to be my Redeemer. This I call an holy life, because it is according to the rule of holiness, the law; and this I call a holy life, because it floweth from such a principle as giveth to God the heart, and life, for the gift bestowed on us. (“Israel’s Hope Encouraged,” 79).
