August 18, 1688 - John Bunyan Preaches Last Sermon

Thomas Sadler, John Bunyan, 1684. Public domain. Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

John Bunyan is remembered as the author of The Pilgrim’s Progress, one of the most influential works of Christian literature ever written. Although he had little formal education, Bunyan became a gifted preacher whose unwavering commitment to proclaiming the Gospel placed him in direct conflict with the authorities of the Church of England. His refusal to stop preaching without a government license led to years of imprisonment, during which he began writing the allegorical masterpiece that would shape Christian thought for centuries.

The Pilgrim’s Progress follows the journey of "Christian" from the City of Destruction to the Celestial City, illustrating the struggles, temptations, and victories of the Christian life. First published in 1678, the book quickly became one of the best-selling books in history after the Bible. It has since been translated into more than 200 languages and continues to be printed, read, and adapted around the world.

Even after his release from prison, Bunyan continued preaching throughout England. On August 18, 1688, he preached what would become his final sermon. A few days later, after riding through severe weather to reconcile a dispute between two friends, he became ill with a fever. He died on August 31, 1688, at the age of sixty.

Why it matters:

John Bunyan demonstrated that faithfulness to Christ is often accompanied by suffering. Rather than allowing imprisonment to silence him, he used that time to produce a work that has encouraged countless believers for more than three centuries. His life reminds Christians that God can use seasons of hardship to accomplish eternal purposes, and The Pilgrim’s Progress remains a timeless picture of the Christian journey from salvation to glory.