gives way to revenge; he leaves the persecutor in the hands of God.
Stand off, Christian; pity the poor wretch that brings down upon
himself the vengeance of God. Your pitiful arm must no strike
him--no, stand by, 'that God may have his full blow at him in his
time. Wherefore he saith avenge not yourself--"Vengeance is mine,
saith the Lord." Give place, leave such an one to be handled by
me.'[262]

'There are several degrees of suffering for righteousness--the
scourge of the tongue, the ruin of an estate, the loss of liberty,
a gaol, a gibbet, a stake, a dagger. Now answerable to these are the
comforts of the Holy Ghost, prepared like to like, part proportioned
to part, only the consolations are said to abound.'[263] The mind
of Bunyan was imbued with these sentiments; baptized into them,
and consequently elevated far above the fear of what man could do
unto him. Yes, he knew the power of God. 'He can make those things
that in themselves are most fearful and terrible to behold, the
most delightful and most desirable things. He can make a gaol more
beautiful than a palace, restraint more sweet by far than liberty,
and the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of
Egypt.'[264]

The Bible, that heavenly storehouse, was opened to him: 'I
never had, in all my life, so great an inlet into the Word of God
as now.'[265] 'I have had sweet sights of forgiveness and of the
heavenly Jerusalem. I have seen here that which, while in this
world, I shall never be able to express.'

About a year before he was set at liberty he received a very popular
work, written by Edward Fowler, a Bedfordshire clergyman, who was