A Treatise of the Fear of God

John Bunyan's "A Treatise of the Fear of God" (1679) presents the benefits of fearing God Almighty. Bunyan argues that if the fear of God takes root in the heart of believers, they will remedy their ways and come to the path of righteousness. He states that only a humble mind and heart will be the abode of God's fear. Those who deem themselves lofty will never be able to benefit from it. Bunyan, author of the great Christian allegory Pilgrim's Progress, was born into a tinker family. As a youth, he was tormented by fits of depression, dreams of fiends trying to fly away with him, and voices telling him to "sell Christ." He joined and preached to a Baptist society in Bedford, for which he was arrested and jailed for nearly 12 years. While in prison he wrote Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners and began his allegorical masterpiece.