Refusing To Make 'My Conscience a Continual Butchery'

In John Piper's The Hidden Smile of God: The Fruit of Affliction In the Lives of John Bunyan, William Cowper, and David Brainerd, he recounts a great quote from John Bunyan. Bunyan served 12 years in prison for refusing to cease preaching. He could have gained his freedom at any time if only he agreed to stop preaching.

When he was asked to recant and to not preach, Bunyan replied,

If nothing will do unless I make of my conscience a continual butchery and slaughtershop, unless putting out my own eyes, I commit me to the blind to lead me, as I doubt not is desired by some, I have determined, the Almighty God being my help and shield, yet to suffer, if frail life might continue so long, even till the moss shall grow on mine eyebrows, rather than to violate my faith and principles.