
Transcribed from the 1895 Oliphant, Anderson and Ferrier edition by David Price, email ccx074@coventry.ac.uk
BUNYAN CHARACTERS—THIRD SERIES Lectures Delivered in St. George’s Free Church Edinburgh By Alexander Whyte, D.D. - CHAPTER I—THE BOOK
CHAPTER II—THE CITY OF MANSOUL AND ITS CINQUE PORTS
CHAPTER III—EAR-GATE
CHAPTER IV—EYE-GATE
CHAPTER V—THE KING’S PALACE
CHAPTER VI—MY LORD WILLBEWILL
CHAPTER VII—SELF-LOVE
CHAPTER VIII—OLD MR. PREJUDICE, THE KEEPER OF EAR-GATE, WITH HIS SIXTY DEAF MEN UNDER HIM
CHAPTER IX—CAPTAIN ANYTHING
In this vivid lecture the speaker explores John Bunyan’s lesser‑known allegory of spiritual conflict, a work that frames the Christian life as a grand battlefield. Drawing on biblical imagery of armies, armor, and siege, the talk shows how Bunyan’s own experience of the English Civil War shaped a narrative where towns and characters become symbols of faith, doubt, and triumph. Listeners will hear why the author’s plain‑spoken English and vivid imagination have earned the piece a place beside his more famous journey, offering a fresh perspective on the power of holy warfare.
The presentation also situates Bunyan’s vision within a broader literary tradition, comparing his martial metaphors to those of Dante and the biblical prophets. By highlighting the text’s rich scriptural grounding and its appeal to ordinary believers, the lecture invites anyone interested in classic allegory, religious history, or imaginative storytelling to discover how this “military history of the soul” continues to inspire and challenge readers today.
Language
en
Duration
~7 hours (451K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Release date
2000-09-01
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1836–1921
Raised in modest circumstances in Kirriemuir, this Scottish preacher became one of the best-known church voices in Edinburgh and a widely read devotional writer. His books on Bible figures, prayer, and classic Christian authors carried his vivid, searching style far beyond the pulpit.
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by Alexander Whyte

by Alexander Whyte