John Bunyan was an influential English author and preacher; his writing reflects his spiritual journey and provides a powerful example of faith and a reminder to live our lives in service to God.
Throughout his works, Bunyan weaves in inspiring quotes that continue to inspire readers today. This article will explore some of the most memorable quotes from John Bunyan, providing insight into his life and ideas.
About John Bunyan’s Life
John Bunyan was an English writer and Puritan preacher best known for his allegorical novel “The Pilgrim’s Progress.” He was born on November 28, 1628, in Elstow, Bedfordshire, England, the son of a tinker.
He had very little formal education and began working as a tinker (a person who mends pots and pans) like his father when he was young. However, he had a deep interest in religion and spent much of his time reading and studying the Bible.
Bunyan became a member of the Puritan movement, which sought to reform the Church of England and purify it of what they saw as the remaining corruptions of Roman Catholicism. He was deeply affected by the preaching of the Puritan minister John Gifford and became a preacher himself, eventually becoming a pastor at the Bedford Meeting House.
He is best known for his allegorical novel “The Pilgrim’s Progress,” which was published in two parts in 1678 and 1684. The book is a classic of English literature and has been translated into over 200 languages. It tells the story of a man named Christian who is on a journey to reach the celestial city, representing heaven.
Along the way, he encounters various obstacles and characters who symbolize various virtues and vices. The book has been widely read and has significantly influenced literature and Christianity.
Bunyan also wrote several other religious works, including “Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners” (1666), a spiritual autobiography, and “The Holy War” (1682), an allegorical work about the struggle between good and evil.
He was imprisoned for preaching and writing during the English Restoration when the government sought to suppress nonconformist religious groups. He spent 12 years in prison, during which time he continued to write and produce works such as “The Life and Death of Mr. Badman” (1680) and “The Holy City” (1665).
Bunyan was released from prison in 1672 and continued to preach and write until his death on August 31, 1688. He is remembered as a significant figure in English literature and as an influential figure in the history of Protestantism.
Here are the best John Bunyan Quotes
John Banyan was one of the most influential thinkers of his time. His words have inspired generations, and he left behind a legacy that continues to influence us today. His quotes are some of the most powerful and inspiring pieces of wisdom we have ever heard.
“If my life is fruitless, it doesn’t matter who praises me, and if my life is fruitful, it doesn’t matter who criticizes me.”
This inspiring quote encourages us to take ownership of our lives and strive for success no matter what. The phrase “If my life is fruitless” implies that it isn’t yielding any value or result; in other words, it doesn’t have a positive outcome. On the flip side, having a fruitful life means achieving something with positive results.
The quote emphasizes the importance of not relying on external validation from others, such as praise or criticism. Instead, we should strive to fill our lives with valued activities and make decisions based on logic rather than emotions; this way, we can reach our goals regardless of someone else’s opinion.
“You have not lived today until you have done something for someone who can never repay you.”
“In prayer it is better to have a heart without words than words without a heart.”
“You can do more than pray after you have prayed, but you cannot do more than pray until you have prayed. Pray often, for prayer is a shield to the soul, a sacrifice to God, and a scourge to Satan.”
“Conversion is not the smooth, easy-going process some men seem to think… It is wounding work, this breaking of the hearts, but without wounding there is no saving… Where there is grafting there will always be a cutting, the graft must be let in with a wound; to stick it onto the outside or to tie it on with a string would be of no use. Heart must be set to heart and back to back or there will be no sap from root to branch. And this, I say, must be done by a wound, by a cut.”
“The difference between true and false repentance lies in this: the man who truly repents cries out against his heart; but the other, as Eve, against the serpent, or something else.”
“No man, without trials and temptations, can attain a true understanding of the Holy Scriptures.”
With this quote, Bunyan drew attention to the importance of experience and struggle in comprehending scripture. Trials and temptations in life can help us develop a deeper understanding of how to apply scriptural truths to our lives.
Bunyan explained that when we face difficult times in life, it allows us to experience God’s faithfulness, allowing us to grow closer to Him. We gain wisdom from recognizing how He has delivered us from certain situations or trials, which strengthens our faith and deepens our knowledge of His Word.
“I seek a place that can never be destroyed, one that is pure, and that fadeth not away, and it is laid up in heaven, and safe there, to be given, at the time appointed, to them that seek it with all their heart. Read it so, if you will, in my book.”
“Just as Christian came up to the Cross, his burden loosed from off his shoulders, fell from off his back, and began to tumble down the hill, and so it continued to do till it came to the mouth of the sepulchre. There it fell in, and I saw it no more!”
“Pray and read, read and pray; for a little from God is better than a great deal from men.”
“In times of affliction we commonly meet with the sweetest experiences of the love of God.”
“What God says is best, indeed is best, though all men in the world are against it. Seeing, then, that God prefers his religion; seeing God prefers a tender conscience; seeing they that make themselves fools for the kingdom of heaven are wisest; and that the poor man that loveth Christ is richer than the greatest man in the world that hates him: Shame, depart, thou art an enemy to my salvation.”
“What God says is best, is best, though all the men in the world are against it.”
“He who runs from God in the morning will scarcely find Him the rest of the day.”
This quote provides an important understanding that faith should be sought and cultivated every day. The quote implies that if one shies away from God in the morning, one may struggle to find Him later in the day. Essentially, this is a warning against delaying or neglecting spiritual practices such as prayer or scripture reading.
Rather than running away from God in the morning, Bunyan encourages us to approach Him with humility and reverence. An intentional start to the day by focusing on our relationship with God can help set us up for success spiritually throughout the rest of our day. Additionally, it can provide us with direction and guidance that will bring clarity to our daily decisions.
“The truths that I know best I have learned on my knees. I never know a thing well, till it is burned into my heart by prayer.”
“I have often thought that the best Christians are found in the worst of times.”
“Hope is never ill when faith is well.”
“The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom, and they that lack the beginning have neither middle nor end”
“At the day of Doom men shall be judged according to their fruits. It will not be said then, did you believe? But, were you doers or talkers only?”
“Run when I can, walk when I cannot run, and creep when I cannot walk.”
9 John Bunyan Quotes On Sin
“Prayer will make a man cease from sin, or sin will entice a man to cease from prayer.”
This quote is one of the most popular quotes used by those who practice Christianity. This quote has been attributed to John Bunyan; it is believed that this quote was taken from one of his sermons in which he discusses how prayer and faith can help lead someone away from sinful behavior.
At its core, the message behind this quote is that prayer can be used as a tool to combat temptations and urges to do wrong. Prayer helps strengthen one’s relationship with God and can provide individuals with guidance on how to lead their lives according to His teachings.
“He that lives in sin and looks for happiness is like him that soweth cockle and thinks to fill his barn with wheat or barley.”
“Man indeed is the most noble of all the creatures in the visible World; but by sin the most ignoble.”
“The man who does not know the nature of the Law, cannot know the nature of sin.”
“Great sins do draw out great grace, where guilt is most terrible the mercy of God in Christ appears most high and mighty.”
“One leak will sink a ship: and one sin will destroy a sinner.”
This quote emphasizes the importance of being mindful of even the smallest details. Small mistakes or transgressions can have significant consequences, whether in practical matters or in our spiritual lives.
The phrase “one leak will sink a ship” speaks to the reality that small problems, such as a tiny hole in the side of a boat, if left unchecked, can lead to catastrophic outcomes. Similarly, “one sin will destroy a sinner” reminds us of how serious any wrongdoing can be regarding its implications for our eternal destiny.
“The law, instead of cleansing the heart from sin…put strength into…for it doth not give power to subdue.”
“The best prayer had enough sin to damn the whole world.”
“Nothing can hurt you except sin; nothing can grieve me except sin; nothing can defeat you except sin. Therefore, be on your guard, my Mansoul.”
FAQs
After the restoration of the monarch, Bunyan was arrested and spent the next twelve years in prison as he refused to give up preaching.
He was haunted by John Calvin’s doctrine of predestination which underlay the beliefs of most non-conformist creeds.
Yes, he did have OCD. Bunyan’s obsessional thoughts were driven by anxiety over the genuineness of his faith.
Bunhill Fields Burial Ground, London, United Kingdom.
Let’s Wind Up…
The life, work, and words of John Bunyan have continued to influence generations. The impact of his writing has been felt far and wide and is still relevant today. His quotes are valuable tools for dealing with the struggles of everyday life and serve as timeless reminders to never give up hope.
His wisdom can be appreciated by people from all walks of life, regardless of their religious beliefs or background.