John Bunyan—author of Pilgrim's Progress, at one time second only to the Bible in its popularity—writes on Jesus' parable of the "barren fig tree" which was given a second chance: three years to bear fruit. Bunyan himself was imprisoned for the Gospel, and uses his broad knowledge of Scripture to paint a worthy picture of God's mercy and justice in this parable: he gives every man and woman time and a chance to seek repentance, but the time does not last forever.