Michael Marcel shares the story of the man who wrote the book that is second only to the Bible in the number of copies it has sold worldwide.

God would tell him which people were going to be converted in his meetings. From experience he realised that if Holy Spirit put something on his heart then it would be wise for him to follow that direction rather than his own - something we would be wise to follow!

This was a time of freedom of religion under Oliver Cromwell, but this changed dramatically when Charles II came to the throne in 1660, when there was great persecution of anyone who was not an Anglican.

During the years of persecution, Non-conformists would have to preach in secret and risked imprisonment every time they did so. Bunyan would often preach in secluded places away from prying eyes.

In November 1660 Bunyan was asked to speak at a farm, but on his arrival there was a warrant for his arrest. The magistrates found him guilty of not attending the Anglican Church regularly and for preaching without a license. Bunyan was told not to preach again, but his response was, "If I am out of prison today, I will preach the gospel again tomorrow."

He believed God had called him to preach, therefore man could not tell him to refrain. Consequently, he was jailed for three months. His wife went everywhere to get him released, even to the House of Lords, but Bunyan remained in prison for 12 years, because he would not refrain from preaching.

In prison he was allowed visits and was even let out occasionally, because the jailer trusted him. He made shoelaces and wrote books to support his family.

Before being imprisoned he had published two books, but in prison he wrote many more, including the autobiography, which became very popular.

In 1672 the king relaxed religious persecution for a time, so Bunyan was released from prison.

The next three years were very full. He was pastor of his church, a preacher, a writer, a celebrity as a result of his books and he looked after his growing family. However, this was all interrupted when he was imprisoned again in 1675, this time above a gate on Bedford Bridge. It was here that he wrote his famous book, Pilgrims Progress, a Christian allegory that is reputed to be the first novel written in English.

Bunyan was released the following year and the years until his death were spent writing books and preaching all over the country. His gift of preaching came into its own, with sometimes thousands coming to hear him. He wrote over 40 books, including 'Visions of Heaven and Hell', which was the book that led another of my Forgotten Heroes to the Lord - Billy Bray.

A quick look on the Internet shows over a dozen of his books are still in print today, also his complete works. In 1688 he caught pneumonia as a result of riding in the rain to minister to a family and he died in London aged 59.

I am amazed that someone with so little formal education could become one of England's most prominent writers and gifted preachers. The great theologian, John Owen, said he would give all his knowledge to be able to preach like Bunyan.

John Bunyan was also a brave man. He knew he was called to preach and would not allow persecution to deter him.

We must remember not to allow anything to stop our fulfilling God's call on our lives.