whether God would give him comfort at the hour of death, he stayed
himself up with such bold words as these. "I was bound, but He was free.
Yea, 'twas my duty to stand to His word whether He would ever look on me
or no, or save me at the last. If God doth not come in, thought I, I
will leap off the ladder even blindfold into Eternity, sink or swim, come
heaven, come hell. Lord Jesus, if Thou wilt catch me, do. If not, I
will venture for Thy name."

Bunyan being precluded by his imprisonment from carrying on his brazier's
craft for the support of his wife and family, and his active spirit
craving occupation, he got himself taught how to make "long tagged
laces," "many hundred gross" of which, we are told by one who first
formed his acquaintance in prison, he made during his captivity, for "his
own and his family's necessities." "While his hands were thus busied,"
writes Lord Macaulay, "he had often employment for his mind and for his
lips." "Though a prisoner he was a preacher still." As with St. Paul in
his Roman chains, "the word of God was not bound." The prisoners for
conscience' sake, who like him, from time to time, were cooped up in
Bedford gaol, including several of his brother ministers and some of his
old friends among the leading members of his own little church, furnished
a numerous and sympathetic congregation. At one time a body of some
sixty, who had met for worship at night in a neighbouring wood, were
marched off to gaol, with their minister at their head. But while all
about him was in confusion, his spirit maintained its even calm, and he
could at once speak the words of strength and comfort that were needed.
In the midst of the hurry which so many "newcomers occasioned," writes
the friend to whom we are indebted for the details of his prison life, "I
have heard Mr. Bunyan both preach and pray with that mighty spirit of
faith and plerophory of Divine assistance that has made me stand and
wonder." These sermons addressed to his fellow prisoners supplied, in