he had none of the narrowness or bitter spirit of a controversialist. It
is true that his zeal for what he deemed to be truth led him into
vehemence of language in dealing with those whom he regarded as its
perverters. But this intensity of speech was coupled with the utmost
charity of spirit towards those who differed from him. Few ever had less
of the sectarian temper which lays greater stress on the infinitely small
points on which all true Christians differ than on the infinitely great
truths on which they are agreed. Bunyan inherited from his spiritual
father, John Gifford, a truly catholic spirit. External differences he
regarded as insignificant where he found real Christian faith and love.
"I would be," he writes, "as I hope I am, a Christian. But for those
factious titles of Anabaptist, Independent, Presbyterian, and the like, I
conclude that they come neither from Jerusalem nor from Antioch, but from
Hell or from Babylon." "He was," writes one of his early biographers, "a
true lover of all that love our Lord Jesus, and did often bewail the
different and distinguishing appellations that are among the godly,
saying he did believe a time would come when they should be all buried."
The only persons he scrupled to hold communion with were those whose
lives were openly immoral. "Divisions about non-essentials," he said,
"were to churches what wars were to countries. Those who talked most
about religion cared least for it; and controversies about doubtful
things and things of little moment, ate up all zeal for things which were
practical and indisputable." His last sermon breathed the same catholic
spirit, free from the trammels of narrow sectarianism. "If you are the
children of God live together lovingly. If the world quarrel with you it
is no matter; but it is sad if you quarrel together. If this be among
you it is a sign of ill-breeding. Dost thou see a soul that has the
image of God in him? Love him, love him. Say, 'This man and I must go
to heaven one day.' Serve one another. Do good for one another. If any
wrong you pray to God to right you, and love the brotherhood." The