Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners: In a Faithful Account of the Life and Death of John Bunyan: John Bunyan: CosimoBooks.com

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Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners: In a Faithful Account of the Life and Death of John Bunyan
by John Bunyan

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Editorial Review

Editorial Review

"Grace Abounding continues the tradition of Christian testimonial classics tracing back to the Confessions of Saint Augustine. John Bunyan¿s autobiography, written while he was imprisoned for holding unsanctioned religious services and first published in 1666, is the unsparing account of one man¿s spiritual journey from atheism and blasphemy to devout Christianity. A reckless and profane youth leads Bunyan to despair in the belief that he has committed unforgivable sins. But two religious books belonging to his wife set Bunyan on the straight and narrow and a lifetime of pious devotion. Honest and unblinking in his self-assessment, Bunyan saw it as his duty to tell his story, warts and all, in order to comfort all those struggling with their faith. This classic of religious literature continues to be essential reading for the faithful and for students of great English literature. English preacher and writer JOHN BUNYAN (1628¿1688) is the author of nearly sixty books, nine of which were written while he was in prison for unlicensed preaching. His works include The Pilgrim¿s Progress (1678¿84), The Life and Death of Mr. Badman (1680), and The Holy War (1682)."

Product Details

Publisher: Cosimo Classics
ISBN-10: 1-60206-457-1
ISBN-13: 978-1-60206-457-7
Amazon.com Sales Rank #1019146
Published on: May 01, 2007
Number of items: 1
Binding: Paperback
244 pages

Customer Review

C. McPherson: Hope for the sinner in John Bunyan's "Grace Abounding"

A lot of us are familiar with John Bunyan as the author of The Pilgrim's Progress, whose influence in Christendom is second to the Bible. Bunyan was a preacher, a prolific writer and a shining saint for God. However when we read this book we find out that he was an atheist and infidel in his youth, enjoying sin and rebellious towards God. Inwardly he suffered from tormented nightmares of demons and judgment, but outwardly he went on pretty much as any other sinner, taking delight in sin and being the ringleader of mischief. Several times he nearly lost his life, and even though there were several close calls, still he did not turn to God. After his marriage, he participated in religious activities, went through the motions of attending church and generally lived as he pleased, each time successfully shrugging off pangs of guilt. One day, after church, while playing a sport, a voice seemed to call out to him from heaven to his soul, which said, "Wilt thou leave thy sins and go to heaven, or have thy sins and go to hell?" Bunyan was convinced it was the Lord Jesus looking down on him in displeasure. What follows details his sinking into despair, his desperate attempts at working his way into God's good graces, and his struggles with temptation and doubt. In a strange sort of way, it is comforting to read about Bunyan's struggles and identify with them because you can see how he turned out so greatly used by God. He rationalized, made excuses and tried every way to justify himself. In "Grace Abounding", Bunyan gave an honest account of his struggles, describing in great detail his doubts and despair, his yearning to be converted, and the reassurance he received through Bible study and prayer. Read "Grace Abounding"--it will help you realize how God's grace can abound and save even the most wretched of sinners and gives us abounding hope.

David Craig: I can relate to John Bunyan!

John Bunyan's journey toward saving faith parallels my own more closely than any other fellow sinner's. I had hardly begun reading "Grace Abounding" when I felt the need to grab a pen and start taking notes. Though John Bunyan is long gone, I have been comforted by the knowledge that there had been another human being who had known the same fearsome battles waged on our behalf by the God who never relinquishes what belongs to Him. Even when I have felt estranged from other believers, God was still working on my behalf. For anyone who is still holding on to the belief that a person chooses God, rather than the other way around, John Bunyan's story is for you. "Grace Abounding" puts all arguments to rest, leaving only humility and worship in its wake.

Mike Robinson: Sinners in Need of Great Grace

John Bunyan's "Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners," is a priceless literary classic that communicates the author's anguish over his sin, the confession thereof, and the life-changing impact of God's saving grace. This masterwork was written while Bunyan (1628-1688) was imprisoned for holding unlicensed church services and was published in 1666.

Bunyan's eyes were opened to the wonder God's grace and Christ's imputed righteousness when he mused: "But one day, as I was passing in the field, and that too with some dashes on my conscience, fearing lest yet all was not right, suddenly this sentence fell upon my soul, Thy righteousness is in heaven; and methought withal, I saw, with the eyes of my soul, Jesus Christ at God's right hand; there, I say, as my righteousness; .. I also saw, moreover, that it was not my good frame of heart that made my righteousness better, nor yet my bad frame that made my righteousness worse; for my righteousness was
Jesus Christ himself, the same yesterday, and today, and for ever."

This treatise is a confessional account of John Bunyan's religious flight from unbelief and sacrilege to a lover of Jesus Christ.

He agonizingly records how the law revealed his sinfulness and his need of a Savior: "In my preaching of the Word, I took special notice of this one thing, namely that the Lord did lead me to begin where his Word begins with sinners; that is, to condemn all flesh, and to open and allege that the curse of God, by the law, doth belong to, and lay hold on all men as they come into the world, because of sin."

Bunyan is mostly known for his enormous bestselling classic "Pilgrim's Progress." This is a wonderful addition and makes for a stirring and edifying devotional.
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