Although John Bunyan was imprisoned in 1660 for preaching the gospel without a license from the state-authorized Church of England, that was merely one of the many charges brought against this pious disciple of Christ. Another of the charges against Bunyan was his outspoken and vehement objection to the Church of England's "Common Book of Prayer."
Bunyan was opposed to the "papistical form" and liturgies provided in the Common Book of Prayer, which he saw as opposed to the Scriptures... and actually, blasphemed the Holy Spirit.
Years ago, I actually had a 100+ year old copy of a little, leather-bound Common Book of Prayer published by the Anglican Church. I liked it because of the leather binding and the age of the book, however, I never used it, and wondered about some of the prayers myself. It has long since departed from my library after so many moves and missions. Yet, I am reminded of it so often as I read this treatise, one of John Bunyan's best (in my humble opinion).
This treatise is worth reading over and over. I am blessed (and often convicted) every time I read it; and although my reading of this treatise may not be the best oration, or the most powerful, I so enjoy listening to it in the evening... because of the timeless power and spiritual truth still conveyed by Bunyan's pen and his overflowing love for His Lord.
Many of the treatises from John Bunyan's pen (and this one is probably and most definitely included) prompted Charles Spurgeon to write in the Sword and Trowel about Bunyan:
"Prick him anywhere; and you'll find that his blood is Bibline, the very essence of the Bible flows from him. He cannot speak without quoting a text, for his soul is full of the Word of God."
May we also endeavor, by God's grace, to have our souls so filled with prayer and full of the Word of God.
I am ever...
at the Cross and in God's Word by God's sovereign grace,
