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secure the aid of Bunyan。 They probably knew that he had written in
praise of the indulgence of 1672； and therefore hoped that he might be
equally pleased with the indulgence of 1687。 But fifteen years of thought；
observation； and commerce with the world had made him wiser。 Nor were
the cases exactly parallel。 Charles was a professed Protestant： James was a
professed Papist。 The object of Charles's indulgence was disguised； the
object of James's indulgence was patent。 Bunyan was not deceived。 He
exhorted his hearers to prepare themselves by fasting and prayer for the
danger which menaced their civil and religious liberties； and refused even
to speak to the courtier who came down to remodel the corporation of
Bedford； and who； as was supposed； had it in charge to offer some
municipal dignity to the Bishop of the Baptists。
Bunyan did not live to see the Revolution。 In the summer of 1688 he
undertook to plead the cause of a son with an angry father； and at length
prevailed on the old man not to disinherit the young one。 This good work
cost the benevolent intercessor his life。 He had to ride through heavy rain。
He came drenched to his lodgings on Snow Hill； was seized with a violent
fever； and died in a few days。 He was buried in Bunhill Fields； and the
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THE MISCELLANEOUS WRITINGS AND SPEECHES OF LORD MACAULAY。
spot where he lies is still regarded by the Nonconformists with a feeling
which seems scarcely in harmony with the stern spirit of their theology。
Many Puritans； to whom the respect paid by Roman Catholics to the
reliques and tombs of saints seemed childish or sinful； are said to have
begged with their dying breath that their coffins might be placed as near as
possible to the office of the author of the 〃Pilgrim's Progress。〃
The fame of Bunyan during his life； and during the century which
followed his death； was indeed great； but was almost entirely confined to
religious families of the middle and lower classes。 Very seldom was he
during that time mentioned with respect by any writer of great literary
eminence。 Young coupled his prose with the poetry of the wretched
D'Urfey。 In the Spiritual Quixote； the adventures of Christian are ranked
with those of Jack the Giant…Killer and John Hickathrift。 Cowper ventured
to praise the great allegorist； but did not venture to name him。 It is a
significant circumstance that； till a recent period； all the numerous editions
of the 〃Pilgrim's Progress〃 were evidently meant for the cottage and the
servants' hall。 The paper； the printing； the plates； were all of the meanest
description。 In general； when the educated minority and the common
people differ about the merit of a book； the opinion of the educated
minority finally prevails。 The 〃Pilgrim's Progress〃 is perhaps the only
book about which； after the lapse of a hundred years； the educated
minority has come over to the opinion of the common people。
The attempts which have been made to improve and to imitate this
book are not to be numbered。 It has been done into verse： it has been done
into modern English。 〃The Pilgrimage of Tender Conscience；〃 〃The
Pilgrimage of Good Intent；〃 〃The Pilgrimage of Seek Truth；〃 〃The
Pilgrimage of Theophilus；〃 〃The Infant Pilgrim；〃 〃The Hindoo Pilgrim；〃
are among the many feeble copies of the great original。 But the peculiar
glory of Bunyan is that those who most hated his doctrines have tried to
borrow the help of his genius。 A Catholic version of his parable may be
seen with the head of the Virgin in the title…page。 On the other hand； those
Antinomians for whom his Calvinism is not strong enough may study the
pilgrimage of Hephzibah； in which nothing will be found which can be
construed into an admission of free agency and universal redemption。 But
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THE MISCELLANEOUS WRITINGS AND SPEECHES OF LORD MACAULAY。
the most extraordinary of all the acts of Vandalism by which a fine work
of art was ever defaced was committed so late as the year 1853。 It was
determined to transform the 〃Pilgrim's Progress〃 into a Tractarian book。
The task was not easy： for it was necessary to make the two sacraments
the most prominent objects in the allegory； and of all Christian theologians；
avowed Quakers excepted； Bunyan was the one in whose system the
sacraments held the least prominent place。 However； the Wicket Gate
became a type of Baptism； and the House Beautiful of the Eucharist。 The
effect of this change is such as assuredly the ingenious person who made it
never contemplated。 For； as not a single pilgrim passes through the Wicket
Gate in infancy； and as Faithful hurries past the House Beautiful without
stopping； the lesson which the fable in its altered shape teaches； is that
none but adults ought to be baptised； and that the Eucharist may safely be
neglected。 Nobody would have discovered from the original 〃Pilgrim's
Progress〃 that the author was not a Paedobaptist。 To turn his book into a
book against Paedobaptism was an achievement reserved for an Anglo…
Catholic divine。 Such blunders must necessarily be committed by every
man who mutilates parts of a great work； without taking a comprehensive
view of the whole。
。。。
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THE MISCELLANEOUS WRITINGS AND SPEECHES OF LORD MACAULAY。
OLIVER GOLDSMITH。
（February 1856。）
Oliver Goldsmith； one of the most pleasing English writers of the
eighteenth century。 He was of a Protestant and Saxon family which had
been long settled in Ireland； and which had； like most other Protestant and
Saxon families； been； in troubled times； harassed and put in fear by the
native population。 His father； Charles Goldsmith； studied in the reign of
Queen Anne at the diocesan school of Elphin； became attached to the
daughter of the schoolmaster； married her； took orders； and settled at a
place called Pallas in the county of Longford。 There he