the world, but with saints of other denominations. As this plunged him
into a fearful controversy with his Dissenting brethren (Baptists,
Independents, and Presbyterians), a notice of it will more properly be
introduced in our account of that conflict. He had been incarcerated
nearly twelve years, and had determined to suffer to the end. Here
he found time 'to weigh, and pause, and pause again, the grounds
and foundations of those principles for which he suffered,' and
he was a Nonconformist still. 'I cannot, I dare not now revolt or
deny my principles, on pain of eternal damnation,'[267] are his
impressive words. 'Faith and holiness are my professed principles,
with an endeavour to be at peace with all men. Let they themselves be
judges, if aught they find in my writing or preaching doth render
me worthy of almost twelve years' imprisonment, or one that deserveth
to be hanged or banished for ever, according to their tremendous
sentence. If nothing will do unless I make of my conscience a
continual butchery and slaughter-shop, unless putting out my own
eyes, I commit me to the blind to lead me, I have determined, the
Almighty God being my help and shield, yet to suffer, if frail life
might continue so long, even until the moss shall grow over mine
eye-brows, rather than to violate my faith and principles.'[268]
The allusion to moss growing on his eye-brows most probably referred
to the damp state of his den or dungeon.

The continuation to the Grace Abounding, written by a friend, and
published four years after his decease, divides his imprisonment into
three periods; but as Bunyan makes it one continued imprisonment,
there can be no doubt but that it was a long, dreary confinement;
during which the testimony of his friend, Samuel Wilson, is, that
it was 'an uncomfortable and close prison, and sometimes under
cruel and oppressive jailers.' The division into three parts most