Yes, said the scholar.
Nay, but, said Mr. Bunyan, have you the very self-same original copies that were written by the penmen of the scriptures, prophets and apostles?
No, said the scholar, but we have the true copies of those originals.
How do you know that? said Mr. Bunyan.
How? said the scholar. Why, we believe what we have is a true copy of the original.
Then, said Mr. Bunyan, so do I believe our English Bible is a true copy of the original.
Then away rid the scholar.
Another dispute with a scholar.
As Mr. Bunyan was preaching in a barn, and showing the fewness of those that should be saved, there stood one of the learned to take advantage of his words; and having done preaching, the schoolman said to him, You are a deceiver, a person of no charity, and therefore not fit to preach; for he that in effect condemneth the greatest part of his hearers hath no charity, and therefore not fit to preach.
Then Mr. Bunyan answered—The Lord Jesus Christ preached in a ship to his hearers on the shore (Matt 13); and showed that they were as four sorts of ground—The high-way, The stony, The thorny, and The good ground; whereof the good ground was the only persons to be saved.