the market-cross seems to have prevailed in Bedfordshire almost to the present time, and to have been merely a mode of advertisement to the public, that the husband would not pay the debts of his wife, contracted subsequent to the time when it occurred.'

The character of Mr. Brisk is wittily drawn in
Bunyan's Emblems:-

-Candles that do blink within the socket,
And saints whose eyes are always in their pocket,
Are much alike; such candies make us fumble;
And at such saints, good men and bad do stumble.'

And he has thus shown the value of its sacred pages, to guide the benighted travellers: 'Greatheart struck a light, and took a view of his book or map.'

"The Bible! That's the book. The book indeed, The book of books!

On which who looks,

As he should do aright, shall never need
Wish for a better light

To guide him in the night.'2

The Christian reader can scarcely know, after having read the whole volume, which gave the greatest enjoyment-whether travelling in comBunyan enjoyed the beauties of nature, espe- pany with Christian and his bosom friend, or the cially the singing of birds; thus when Christiana delightful feelings excited by witnessing the maleaves the Palace Beautiful, the songs of the birds tronly conduct of Christiana; seeing her modest are reduced to poetry, to comfort the pilgrims. A friend, Mercy, a lovely companion, or the excellent bird furnished him with one of his Divine Emblems. picture of child-like behaviour in the four boys: It is upon the lark:retracing the road, every step becomes delightfully interesting, and the Valley of Humiliation the most lovely picture of the whole. The courtship of Mr. Brisk-the additions to their company-the weddings, and the happy close-this, with the final perseverance of the whole party, leads every reader earnestly to wish for a Third Part, more adventures, more of the Divine goodness, more proofs that in this world, with all its bitterness, the gospel of Jesus Christ makes its possessors happy; yes, we have the promise of the life that now is, as well as of that which is to come.' But death, probably from the latent effects of his imprisonment, cut short the valuable life of the pilgrim's friend. And now, after long neglect, his country is teeming with his name as a national honour, and scarcely knows how sufficiently to show respect and admiration to his memory. Mag

This pretty bird, oh! how she flies and sings But could she do so if she had not wings? Her wings bespeak my faith, her songs my peace; When I believe and sing, my doubtings cease.' Mercy longs for that mirror which flatters not, and the shepherds give her a Bible. Modern Christians may wonder that she had not previously furnished herself with one; doubtless she had the use of one, and all her pocket-money went to relieve the distresses of the poor of Christ's flock. Think of the thousands of pious men and women incarcerated in dungeons, because they loved Christ, and dared not violate conscience. What a charge upon those saints who possessed the means of rendering them assistance! The revenues of the Church by law established were never used for the distribution of Bibles. The Church had obtained a most enormous and in-nificent merchant-ships bear that name to oriental jurious privilege, for the sole printing of Bibles in all languages, to withhold altogether, or give a supply as they chose. The natural consequence of this was, a high price for books printed on bad paper, and miserably incorrect. Of late years, part of the wealth she derived from her monopoly in printing incorrect Bibles has been wrung from her, and the Word of life now flows all pure as a mighty river, to refresh the earth. All honour be paid to those who fought that battle, and obtained that important victory. In Bunyan's time, the Church allowed it only in a niggard stream, and that polluted.' Herbert has well expressed the value of the mirror which Mercy longed for:

and transatlantic countries. Several thousand
pounds have been subscribed to adorn the scene
of his labours at Bedford, with a BUNYAN CHAPEL,
capable of seating about twelve hundred worship-
pers-a more appropriate monument to his memory
than a statue or a splendid tomb.
The pens of
our greatest literary men have been employed to
exhibit his singular piety, his extraordinary talent,
and his extensive usefulness, and his image is to
be placed with those of Milton, Shakspeare, Hamp-
den, and the giant men who have shed glory upon
this nation, in the splendid new house in which the
Commons of England are to hold their sittings.
GEO. OFFOR.

HACKNEY, Sept. 1850.

Tuis edition is prepared from a careful collation of the twelve editions published by the author during his life. It embraces the whole allegory in its native simplicity and beauty; illustrated 'with appropriate engravings; and VARIORUM NOTES; being extracts from Bunyan's various treatises which illustrate the Pilgrim's Progress,' together with the most striking and valuable Notes by Cheever, Macaulay, Newton, Mason, Scott, Ivimey, Burder, M'Nicoll, Dr. Dodd, and other Commentators, with a few by the Editor. To preserve the uniformity of the text, the fac-similes of all the original woodcuts, with the verse under each, are placed together in the order in which they first appeared; presenting a short pictorial outline of the principal scenes of this spiritual pilgrimage, in those rude representations which so delighted and interested us in our childhood.

SYNOPSIS OF THE ALLEGORY BY THE EDITOR.

FIRST PART.

Apollyon; comes to the Valley of the Shadow of Death; terrified by the spies; assaulted with foes who care not for his sword; betakes himself to another weapon, All-prayer;' comes out of the Valley, and passes the old giants, Pagan and Pope; overtakes Faithful, a fellow-pilgrim; hold communion with each other; converse with Talkative; Evangelist forewarns them of persecution; enter Vanity Fair; are maltreated; im

THE Author's Apology, a poem. Graceless becomes a Christian; alarmed for the safety of his soul; is treated by his family as one diseased; guided by Evangelist; runs towards the Wicket-gate; is overtaken by Obstinate and Pliable; persuades Pliable to fly with him; fall into the Slough of Despond; Pliable returns; Christian, assisted by Help, goes on; meets Worldly-prisoned; Faithful is tried and burned; Christian purwiseman; complains of his burden, and is sent out of his way to the house of Legality; terrified at Mount Sinai; Evangelist appears and puts him again into the right road; arrives at the Wicket-gate; is admitted by Good-will, and sent to the Interpreter's house; is shown a picture; a dusty room; Passion and Patience; the fire of grace; the valiant man; the man in despair; the trembler; proceeds to the cross; loses his burden; angels give him a pardon, new clothing, a mark, and a roll; tries to alarm three men asleep, but in vain; meets Formalist and Hypocrisy; ascends the hill Difficulty; sleeps in the Arbour, and drops his roll; is awakened, and pursues his journey; meets Mistrust and Timorous; misses his roll; returns in grief, and recovers it; goes on to the Palace Beautiful; encouraged by Watchful, he passes the lions, and, after examination, is admitted according to the laws of the house; entertained; sleeps in the Chamber of Peace; sees the study; the armoury; the Delectable Mountains; enters the Valley of Humiliation; fights with and overcomes

sues his journey, and is joined by Hopeful; By-ends wishes to join them; the sophistry of Hold-the-world detected; Demas tempts them to the hill Lucre, but they refuse; arrive at the River of the Water of Life; they go into By-path Meadow; follow Vain-Confidence; are taken by Giant Despair, and imprisoned in Doubting Castle; arguments for and against suicide; escape by the Key of Promise; erect a pillar to caution others; arrive at the Delectable Mountains; entertained by the shepherds; are shown Mounts Error, Caution, and Clear; see the Celestial Gate; receive some cautions; fail in attempting to convert Ignorance; robbery of Little-faith; meet the Flatterer, and are caught in his net; released by a Shining One; meet Atheist; adventures on the Enchanted Ground; means of watchfulness; enter the Land of Beulah; are sick with love; approach the River of Death; no bridge; full of fear and dread, but get safely over; received by angels; admitted to glory.