Book Reviews
Biographical Book Reviews – Bunyan’s Blind Daughter Mary
Reviewed by Mrs. Therese McMahon
Bunyan’s Blind Daughter Mary
by S.R. Ford
Triangle Press, Conrad, MT: No date
488 Pages, Paperback
What would it be like to be in prison for a number of years because of preaching the Gospel? You would not be able to support your family. They may have to beg for food or money, and do what they could to bring you food and clothes while in prison. What would it then be like to be the blind daughter of someone thrown into prison for preaching the Gospel and having to make long treks each day to your father to bring him food or clothes? What would your life be like if you were unconverted? What would it then be like if you were born again under the same circumstances? Here is the story of Mary Bunyan.
Three hundred years ago in the small town of Bedfordshire England, experience the true story of the life of faith in the John Bunyan household. Walk along side the trials and triumphs of the lives of these faithful saints: John and his wife Elizabeth and their children Mary, Thomas, Joseph and Sara. The story begins as Mr. Bunyan is leading a prayer meeting when he is interrupted by the whisper of the owner of the house who appeals to him that he must flee as the officers are seeking his arrest for teaching the Scriptures. Read of how it was that Mr. Bunyan could say: “Were it lawful, I would pray for greater trouble, for the greater comfort sake,” and yet again, “I have been able to laugh at destruction, and to fear neither the horse nor his rider.” Walk with Mary, the Bunyan’s twelve year old daughter who is blind, and watch the hand of God graciously unfold this dear one as His own as well as the strength and faith she portrays in the livelihood of her family.
Your heart will break when you read of the very dark providences that this family endured because of their love and commitment to God in faith through the Lord Jesus Christ as they obeyed God rather then man. The faith of these faithful saints will surely give an exhortation to all who would compare one’s trials as to the trials of this godly family. May the living God and the everlasting King minister to your soul through the triumphant faith of God through the lives of the Bunyan’s family. (John Bunyan is the author of the highly acclaimed book entitled “Pilgrim’s Progress” as well as many other works.)
The work is written in a narrative style, as if reading a story rather than a biography, but it is a biography nonetheless. It is an excellent book which may help Christians understand their “easy” Christianity in relation to the suffering and persecution Bunyan and his family were placed under in the frowning providence of God. This is an excellent book; sad in many ways, but very helpful to the soul.
Some quotes:
“Scarcely conscious of what I did, and with but little hope of succeeding in my attempt, I suffered myself to be led by my sister whithersoever she chose. We gained the outer prison, and in safety passed the sleeping guard. The hand of God guided us beyond danger, and I was saved!”
“Brother Bunyan is in prison, but it is for the Gospel’s sake.”
“Sixteen years elapsed from the time of Bunyan’s release to the time of his death. During this period he was a man of toil; not that he worked at his trade as a tinker – of this we have no evidence – but he was a laborer in the vineyard of the Lord.”
“It was a calm lovely day, in the summer of 1675. Bunyan has been with his people, setting in order the things that pertain to the house of God and expounding to them the Scriptures. His faithful Elizabeth, Mary, and Sarah, had accompanied him. As they passed the old jail on their return home, what visions of long, dull days of heart-aching dread, and dark forebodings, and weary of night watchings, when his distress of his suffering family, and of the fearful temptations of Satan, who would have lead him to despair, flashed before their father’s mind. There he had known agony- intense agony; and the remembrance of it was never to be forgotten.”
