The story of the author's life and religious experience. He was born in 1628 and died in 1688.

THis is John Bunyan's account of he came to rest in Christ for his eternal security. It took him a long time to get there, with many doubts and much searching of scripture. He was extremely familiar with the Bible long before he came to the end of this process, though some places (especially Hebrews) he misunderstood to be sentencing him to ruin, beyond Christ's reach. By God's grace, he was eventually able to understand each passage in context and realise that no sinner can exhaust the sacrifice of Jesus.

I found it encouraging to have a glimpse into the heart of a great Christian and see that riding the pinnacle of joy is not our constant experience. Even after this, John was often troubled with depression and heavy attacks of doubts. To quote from his conclusion:

> I have wondered much at this one thing, that though God doth visit my soul with never so blessed a discovery of himself, yet I have found again, that such hours have attended me afterwards that I have bewen in my spirit so filled with darkness that I could not so much as once conceive. what that God, and that comfort was, with which I have been refreshed. [tldr: sometimes he was given a great sight of God, yet often immediately after he had a terrible period of darkness]

> I have sometimes seen more in a line of the Bible than I could well tell how to stand under, and yet at another time the whole Bible hath been to me as a dry stick -- or rather, my heart hath been so dead and dry unto it, that I could not conceive the least dram of refreshment though I have looked it all over.

But he realised these were given by God for his good, to keep him humble, to remind him how necessary Christ is, to watch, and to pray always. ( )

An interesting account of the inner peremeations of Bunyan's soul. Although I am not religious, I did consider it enlightening and highly personal. Bunyan puts everything on the page here, for the reader to bestow, and attempts to make it legible and clear. The writing is fairly clear as well. There are a lot of religious connotations and references that might go over one's head, but he provides the basic supplementary quotations that provide understanding to the whole. ( )

Maybe it is just the modern world in which I grew up, but Mr. Bunyan's journey to conversion in Christ was a lot of work. Much more work than most faithful people I know seem to think it takes to become converted to Christ. Mr. Bunyan relates a fearful back and forth mental journey from desiring to be wicked to rejoicing in the saving love of Christ. He genuinely struggles with his desire to be saved and his fear that he will be found wanting. It inspired me to put more effort into my relationship with Christ - to examine my life more closely and not take for granted the easiness of obtaining grace. I also found it interesting that Mr. Bunyan's conversion was a long process. There is the impression "out there" that one must "accept" Christ and then that's it. I think Mr. Bunyan had it right. Man is a variable creature, and must be engaged in the process of conversion probably his whole life. Great book. ( )

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