This charming collection of 49 poems by John Bunyan was first advertised in 1688 as "Country Rhymes for Children, upon seventy-four things," which was later changed to "Divine Emblems, or Temporal Things Spiritualized." In it, Bunyan derives simple spiritual lessons from everyday situations or objects such as the bee, a fish in the water, the frog, the spinning of a top, a box of candles falling to the ground, or the cackling of a hen.
Bunyan has always been one of the most popular of the Puritans—no doubt because, while possessing the Word-centeredness as well as the depth of doctrine and experience of other Puritans, he also possessed a warm simplicity of style.
—Reformation and Revival Ministries, Reformation and Revival Volume 5, 2003
Bunyan is best known for his ageless classic, The Pilgrim's Progress. His literary genius in this work [is such] that people are prone to forget that this tinker from Bedford was first and foremost a Pastor and preacher...
—Thomas K. Ascol, The Founders Journal
For over 150 years the accepted edition of The Works of John Bunyan has been that edited by George Offor... This scholarly labor has contributed much toward a better appreciation of Bunyan's gospel motivated writings...
—From Bunyan Ministries