The world knows John Bunyan as the author of Pilgrim's Progress. And indeed, this is his most famous work. But like King David of old, John Bunyan was a man of many talents.
He was a tinker, which in England in the 1600's meant that he traveled from village to village, repairing metal pots and pans. In other words, he was an itinerant blacksmith. The John Bunyan Museum notes he was a tall man, a strong man, and too poor to own a horse - so he had to carry the anvil from place to place himself. This 60-pound anvil, engraved with his name, is on display at the museum in Bedford, England.
John Bunyan was a soldier for a time, in the Parlimentary army during England's Civil War.
He was also a bold, uncompromising Puritan preacher of God's Word, and this resulted in his being jailed for preaching without a license. He was in and out of prison for a total of twelve years. While in prison, he wrote books. When released from prison, he continued boldly preaching. He was a popular preacher; crowds would gather to hear him as he preached - sometimes outside in the open air. He was a faithful pastor, visiting the people of his congregation, encouraging their hearts, and diligently looking to the ways of his people.
John Bunyan loved music. Though authors who hate what the Puritans stood for have tried to portray them as severe, drab haters of music, historical facts prove otherwise. John Bunyan, somehow, in the midst of raising a large family, traveling as a blacksmith, writing multiple books (including on of the most famous of all time), diligently studying God's Word, preaching faithfully, and spending years in prison, also managed to find time to construct a beautiful violin out of metal. This unique violin is on display at the John Bunyan Museum. It is known to produce good tone and is a rare treasure indeed. He made a flute out of the leg of a stool - presumably while he was in prison - this also is on display at the museum.
Here are two poems John Bunyan wrote referring to music:
An Instrument of Musick in an Unskillful Hand
by John Bunyan
Suppose a Viol, Cittern, Lute or Harp
Committed unto him that wanted Skill;
Can he by strokes, suppose them flat or sharp,
The Ear of him that hears with Musick fill?
No, no, he can do little else than scrape
Or put all out of tune, or break a string:
Or make thereon a muttering like an Ape,
Or like one which can neither say nor sing.
Comparison
The unlearned Novices in Things Divine
With this unskilled Musician I compare,
For such, instead of making Truth to shine,
Abuse the Bible and unsavory are.
A Skilful Player On an Instrument
(and those who listen) by John Bunyan
He that can play well on an instrument,
Will take the Ear and captivate the Mind,
With Mirth or Sadness: For that is bent
Thereto as Musick, in it, place doth find.
But if one hears therein that hath no skill,
(As often Musick lights of such a chance)
Of its brave Notes, they soon be weary will;
And there are some can neither sing nor dance.
Comparison
Unto him that thus skillfully doth play,
God doth compare a Gospel-Minister,
That rightly preacheth (and doth Godly pray)
Applying truly what doth thence infer.
This man whether of Wrath or Grace he preach
So skillfully doth handle every word;
And by his Saying, doth the Heart so reach,
That it doth joy or sigh before the Lord.
But some there be, which, as the Bruit, doth lie,
Under the Word, without the least advance.
God-ward; Such do despise the Ministry,
They weep not at it, neither to it dance.
Sources:
*The Puritans and Their Music by Percy A. Scholes, Oxford University Press, England, 1934
*John Bunyan Museum, Bedford, England
*Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan