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    The Pilgrim's Progress
    The Pilgrim's Progress
    The Pilgrim's Progress
    Ebook191 pages3 hours

    The Pilgrim's Progress

    By John Bunyan

    3.5/5

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    The Pilgrim's Progress from This World to That Which Is to Come is a Christian allegory written by John Bunyan and published in February, 1678. It is regarded as one of the most significant works of English literature, has been translated into more than 200 languages, and has never been out of print.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherBooklassic
    Release dateJun 22, 2015
    ISBN9789635248797
    Author

    John Bunyan

    John Bunyan (1628–1688) was a Reformed Baptist preacher in the Church of England. He is most famous for his celebrated Pilgrim's Progress, which he penned in prison. Bunyan was author of nearly sixty other books and tracts, including The Holy War and Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners. 

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    Reviews for The Pilgrim's Progress

    3.5/5

    63 ratings57 reviews

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    • 3/5
      A lucid story that weaves and flows its way through inception to conclusion.Recommended for everyone
    • 3/5
      Yes, I liked this book. Although I am not normally interested in this kind of Christian literature, I own that it is cleverly written, with plain and simple words which make you feel in peace. Perhaps the best way to enjoy this book would be to read it aloud for the musicality of the sentences.
    • 4/5
      Read the children's version half a dozen times as a child. I believe this is the first time I have read the original... I'm sure it isn't the last.
    • 5/5
      One of the old Christian classics that I thought was going to be tedious but I ought to read...instead within a few pages, I found it extremely engrossing and wound up loving it. It presents an amazingly colorful allegory of the Christian life.
    • 5/5
      A Must Read...sure to entertain and enlighten, read slowly, savor every word. A true life study guide...the perfect heirloom gift for parents to give to their children...as they graduate in life. *Plus in the back there is included, a fold out Color Historical Time-line and a chapter on The Life of John Bunyan...what an insightful. timeless dream!I want this book with me everywhere and always...wish it was hardcover. ... thank you so much Mr Hazelbaker!
    • 5/5
      This is a classic for good reason. While it was written three hundred years ago, the characters come to life and shed light on the struggle of living as a Christian. This is a must read.
    • 5/5
      Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan is a landmark work in both Christian theology and English literature. Since its publication in 1678, it has encouraged countless Christians on their journey from this world to the next, and its impact on the literary tradition of England has been profound.Pilgrim's Progress is an allegory in the purest sense of the word; everything in the book has a one-to-one correlation with a spiritual principle. In part one, a man living in the City of Destruction becomes troubled by what he reads in a book (the Bible) and leaves his home, warning his scoffing family and neighbors that their city is going to be destroyed. He carries a heavy weight on his back and initially undertakes his journey to find a way to take it off. Along the way he meets a man named Evangelist who speaks truth to him, but not all fellow travelers are so congenial. He meets with characters with names like Mr. Worldly-wiseman, Formalist, Hypocrisy, Timorous, Mistrust, and Wanton, as well as Apollyon (an archdevil) and the Giant Despair, among others. Through a landscape of theological traps and oases Christian (for that is now his name) must make his way ever onward to the Celestial City, sustained on his travels by the Lord of Pilgrims.The second part recounts the story of Christiana, Christian's wife, who eventually follows her husband's path from the City of Destruction to eternal life in the Celestial City. In terms of sheer dramatic effect, part two is far inferior to part one; instead of fleeing her city in despair over its coming destruction, Christiana receives an invitation from the Lord of Pilgrims to join Him and her husband in His city. She takes along her four sons and her handmaid Mercy, and they are aided on their journey by a Mr. Great-heart. There seems to be less action and more catechizing in this section of the book, but there are some valuable theological refinements as well. There are some pilgrims who probably wouldn't have been considered worthy of pilgrimage in the first part, like Mr. Fearing, Mr. Despondency, and his daughter Much-Afraid. These pilgrims are characterized by fear and weakness, but they are still loved by their Lord and they too eventually come to the Celestial City.Nowadays I think there is an attitude of amused condescension that many feel toward Pilgrim's Progress because of its theological themes sticking out in plain sight under the see-through fictional covering. I know I felt that way... oh Bunyan, my dear man, you mean well but must you be so hamfisted? Can't you cover things up a little more artistically, add some adornment to your catechismic dialogues? Don't you know that straight allegory is far, far out of fashion just now? But this was before I read it, before I understood the narrative power that can come from an author being completely honest about his themes and intentions. By stripping away every non-essential, Bunyan can get down to the theology while still working within his fictional frame. The result is rich doctrine with the immediacy of a gripping story — a heady mix that is very rarely imitated successfully.And you can't doubt the man's sincerity. Bunyan knew what it meant to be persecuted; he started the book from a prison cell where he ultimately spent twelve years of his life, imprisoned for holding church services outside the bounds of the Church of England. His imprisonment was costly not just to him, but to his family. His message is given weight by his experiences — here is a man who knows what it means to be on pilgrimage through lands ruled by the enemy. Persecution is inevitable; Christians will suffer in this world. But equally true is our reward in the Celestial City, where our Lord Himself will welcome us home. What a hope, what a joy on our journey!I have said that Pilgrim's Progress is stripped down, but maybe a truer statement would be that our conceptions of the Christian life are covered in needless accretions that both complicate and hinder our journey. Vanity Fair, the Slough of Despond, Doubting Castle, the Valley of the Shadow of Death — these are universal places we all visit. Bunyan's characters also have their counterparts in our world. Bunyan dramatizes the Christian life not to change it or present it as something it's not, but to show us where our experience is deceptive. Things are clearer in the realm of allegory. If we have never had pilgrimage experiences like those of Christian, we ought to check that we're on the right road and that we've come in through the right gate.The language is beautiful and not at all hard to understand. It has its quaint 1678-isms, but for me they added to the flavor. In many places I just stopped to savor it. I read this with my adult Bible fellowship, and most people read a version that was updated with modern English. I wouldn't advise that. The original writing is not that difficult, and while the updated version isn't terrible, it does lack Bunyan's indefinable force of language. Also there were some odd additions in the new version, theology I agreed with but that was not part of the original text. Hmm.I had read an abridged version as a child which didn't really grab me, but now I'm a pilgrim and have had some experience of the road. And now I see how powerful this story is and why it has informed the Christian imagination for centuries. In some sections I would just stop and marvel at Bunyan's fantastic theology and fertile imagination. And it doesn't hurt that the narrative is soaked in Scripture! Of Bunyan, Charles Spurgeon said, "'Prick him anywhere, his blood is Bibline, the very essence of the Bible flows from him. He cannot speak without quoting a text, for his very soul is FULL of the Word of God.'" I couldn't get enough of it; who knew that Pilgrim's Progress could induce late-night reading vigils? I will certainly be rereading this!In the "apology" poem at the beginning, Bunyan writes, "this book will make a traveler of thee." Indeed it will.
    • 4/5
      Written in the 1600's while John Bunyan was in prison for his criticism of the "Church". The book however, supports the "Church" ... maybe he had a change of heart while in prison? It begins with the author entering into a dream where Christian foresees the destruction of his city and desires to travel to the Celestial city. He longs for his family to join him but they aren't convinced and refuse to go. Along the way he meets many different characters which try to distract him and convince him to turn back. Some of whom he comes in contact with are: good will, faith, by-ends, hope, ignorance, giant despair, etc. All of which teach him a different lesson. Eventually he does make it to the Celestial city and is welcome in. Part two is Christian's wife Christiana who decides she was foolish to stay behind and longs to join her husband. She sets off with her 4 sons along the same journey with Mercy accompanying her. They come across some of the same challenges as Christian but have more help along the way. An interesting read on the struggles in life and the desire to live with God again.
    • 5/5
      By reputation John Bunyan's The Pilgrim's Progress is one of the classics of English literature, being in print continuously since 1678 and being translated into over 200 languages. In its essence it is the story of Christian faith, following a person of faith as he journeys through life until he arrives at his heavenly home. It is told from the vantage point of a dream and makes excellent use of the method of allegory. Bunyan wrote this masterpiece in two parts, the first being the story of the journey of a pilgrim, Christian, from the City of Destruction to the Celestial City. The second part is the story of his wife, Christiana, and their four children taking the same journey several years later. Christiana had mocked her husband when he left and she delights in learning the details of his travel as she finds herself being led along the same road. I found Christiana's travels more compelling, perhaps due to the way in which vibrant faith was also expressed in the children.While Bunyan used allegory to tell this story everything about it comes across as something he knows first-hand, either from his own personal experience as a Christian who was jailed for his faith, or that he learned while serving as a pastor. The struggles that Christian and Christiana go through, although written over 300 years ago, are the struggles of Christians today. And so are the joys and delights that are found in the Christian life. I received this book three years ago as a gift from someone who said he read from it often. And now, having read it myself, I am beginning to understand why, and I anticipate I will follow his habit.
    • 2/5
      Honestly, I love Christian Allegory, but I felt this was a diluted rip off of the Everyman moral play. I was looking forward to a provocative tale but this came up short with blatant imagery pulled together with the smallest bit of finesse. Sorry to be so scathing Mr. Bunyan. I get that it was to be accessible to the common man, but this is more a pamphlet than a serious piece of literature.The only reason I think I'll keep reading it is so that I know the references and allusions people take from it. It's an easy enough read.
    • 3/5
      The classic 17th century Christian allegory.I thought this was worth reading for its literary significance and classic status. I'm glad that I read it, but I'm not sure I'll read it again.A couple of things I didn't like were:1. Christian seems to have no great connection with his family, friends or companions. He seems too quick to abandon people, and this made it difficult for me to connect with the character.2. The allegory is too direct. Yes, we all know it's an allegorical work, but it just seems too specific and everything has a one-to-one relationship with Christian theology.
    • 5/5
      I throughly enjoyed this book. There are so many references to this work throughout modern and classic literature that it was interesting to finally hear the original work. Furthermore, I highly recommend listening to the public domain audio recording of this book found at librivox.com. Although these audio files are not professionally done, the English woman who reads this work for Librivox has a wonderful voice that really compliments the work and brings the book to life.
    • 3/5
      The first was a whole heap of fun, but the second was a little tedious. I'm sure it's a perfectly good book if you are a puritan Christian, but as I am neither of the two, I found it quite mediocre.
    • 5/5
      This is an amazingly helpful book for Christians. It's a reminder that we are on a constant journey which only began at the wicket gate and continues until our death. I'll be reading this again and again!
    • 5/5
      Classic allegory about the Christian journey thorugh life. Belongs in every Christian library.
    • 3/5
      Bunyan begins his allegory with an interesting argument that fiction can be used to strengthen Christian faith. By giving examples from the Bible he demonstrates a need to silence critics of fiction who apparently would limit spiritual training to reading the Bible. He also inoculates the reader by stating that the book was written primarily for the author's own spiritual development.Beginning the story in the wilderness brings Dante to mind at the start of the allegory. Christian seems to learn various things in the course of his pilgrimage, but throughout it he hardly appears to change at all. This was just one aspect that disappointed me. I did not find the book as impressive an argument for spiritual growth as other more personal memoirs from writers like Augustine or Thomas Merton. Perhaps this classic may be best appreciated by those who are true believers rather than those who are truly seeking wisdom.
    • 4/5
      I started it once and put it down. Too boring. I picked it up a few years later and found it interesting - the tedious journey no longer seemed so. A puritanical pursuit of the good.
    • 1/5
      This has to be one of the most tedious books ever written. The imagery used such as the Slough of Despondency is great but that's about it. It's the second time I've read it and don't think I'll manage a third.
    • 5/5
      I know exactly how Christian feels. His non-conformity has estranged him not only from the world, but from his wife and children, who laugh at him and his philosophy with the others. Why would Christian choose this lonely path? It is because he has had revelation of the future, which brings realization of the present and past. He simply does not find his lifestyle appealing anymore. It was not a fondness of isolation that brought Christian to his pilgrimage, it was Divine Providence--the Revealer. He did not ignore it and go back to his life of illusion. He asked "What shall I do?", and he was given answer. As we come to learn, setting forth on the pilgrimage is only a first step. Bunyan was not only allegory, Bunyan was life, truth, experience. Spending much of his time in prison, Bunyan related to us why his choices were right. He brought to Christianity something no one had. He brought simple truth, logical reasoning, a map to a map. As our protangonist, Christian, comes to his last step, the world and his family take note of his accomplishments. They become open to the Holy Spirit's whispers. They follow, as Christian showed them how, as Christian learned from Christ. They go from this world, to that which is to come. All Faiths will enjoy this read, as all Faiths have. The book's age is a testament to the wisdoms within. You will recognize all of the characters here--their names reveal them.
    • 5/5
      love every minute. Names are so poignant!
    • 3/5
      This book is ancient! As an allegory of the Christian life, it still makes (almost?) perfect sense today. The second part with Christian's wife and children was kind of boring, probably because it's the retelling of the same story.
    • 2/5
      I didn't really get on with this book, for three main reasons:1) An allegory for edification written in 16-mumble is not going to be a page turning plot or character driven romp. It was quite heavy going in places, and the number of times Christian spent much of the chapter telling someone what happened to him last chapter left me going 'I know! I just read that!'2) I didn't really agree with the theology that it was proposing. I spent a lot of the book wanting to clobber the author with 'there's a wideness in God's mercy'. There is one gate, and you must come in through that gate, even at the gates of heaven if you've Done It Wrong you'll be cast into Hell, and there are very precise things that make Good Christians and Fake Christians (the sections with Ignorance and Talkative make me twitch, lots). Most of these things involve constantly feeling utterly sinful and definitely having a Revelation TM. Still, 16 century protestants, it's hardly a surprise (and the fault may be with me and not the author...)3) Some of the time I was just plain confused - what are the wicker gate and scroll analogies for? [I have done some googling and looked at the Spark notes and am still confused]. The wicker gate is the Only Way to Heaven TM, and you Must have your Scroll or you won't get in (and you can drop it on the way)... for a book that is so painfully a direct analogy then I really feel I ought to know what these things are an analogy _of_!That aside, there are some lovely bits to it. The Pilgrims are not supermen - they are flawed and human, and mess up, and get back to things again, and the passage when they are trapped by Giant Despair really touched me. And it gets plus points for being the source of vast amounts of Stuff though, including 'Vanity Fair', the Slough of Despond, and even the holy text from Bujold's Borders of Infinity (It quite surprised me when I stumbled across the latter!)
    • 2/5
      I'll be brutally honest. I didn't understand this book at all. It seems to be the symbolic journey of a Christian, who meets various challenges and emotions in human form. A lot of people loved it, I didn't get it. The language put me off - it's written in a sort of King James English, which I didn't have the energy to follow.
    • 1/5
      Early chrisitan brain washing and gobbledy-gook.
    • 4/5
      Pilgrim's Progress is one of the most influential Christian allegories. Long before Narnia, Bunyan put pen to parchment to record his dream while being held in prison. The end result was Pilgrim's Progress.PP takes us on a journey through the life of a Christian, that is, the allegorical life of a Christian. The trials faced by a Christian are all anthropomorphisms here. The main character must navigate away from the City of Destruction, and eventually arrive at his final destination, The Celestial City.Definitely an enjoyable read for those who appreciate renowned and well-written religious allegories.
    • 2/5
      John Bunyan writes, Pilgrim’s Progress; his allegory, his dream; depicting a spiritual journey leading to everlasting freedom while he himself was in prison. Dreams were given great significance in the ancient world. Pilgrim’s Progress is a dream, with characters and events symbolizing knowledge, and lessons learned throughout the story, which is quite an adventure. An adventure, that would appeal to both adult and child.
    • 3/5
      Summary: In this allegorical novel, a pilgrim named Christian travels a journey in which he loses the heavy weight of his sins, is tempted to sin again, and eventually reaches paradise.My thoughts: I’m not sure why this is the most printed book in English, other than the Bible. I love allegory generally, but this allegory beat you over the head with obviousness. Everyone and everything was given a name (like Christian) that said explicitly what the character or impediment represented. The story itself was interesting enough, I suppose, as a concept, I just wish it were more subtle. This is also not a book for non-Christians, unless they are reading for the sake of learning about classic literature.
    • 3/5
      When I was in my early high school, I read Little Pilgrim's Progress and thought it was a quite a fun story with swords and battles and adventures. Reading the 'adult' version of the book has brought back memories as I try and align the two.
      This version was still quite readable and the first part of the book followed Christian as he journeyed to the wicket gate to start walking on the narrow path. He struggled with or fought of or was almost misled by various characters and trials. Each of the people was given a name that reflected their character, such as Faithful, Hopeful, Ignorance, Evangelist and Pliable.
      However, after passing through Vanity Fair and the Celestial Mountains, the story started to slow down with several lengthy theological explanations as they walked along. The end of the journey appeared suddenly and the characters walked a pretty easy path near the end, with not many challenges.
      And of course, in the end, they successfully reach heaven and are allowed to enter in.
      One thing that concerned me as I read was that the book was running out of pages to cover his wife's story. From what I recall, Little Pilgrim's Progress covers both Christian and Christiana's stories. According to Wikipedia, there is a second book that covers her story, although it is possible the edition I read was slightly abridged and did not include it.
    • 4/5
      Good and very readable allegory.
    • 1/5
      The book is composed of two stories. The story of the pilgrimage of Christian is followed by a story of his wife Christiana's pilgrimage with her children. The story has similarities to that of paradise lost. Bunyan's story is tedious and boring. I cannot recommend the book to anyone but the fanatic.

    Book preview

    The Pilgrim's Progress - John Bunyan

    978-963-524-879-7

    THE PILGRIM'S PROGRESS

    From This World To That Which Is To Come

    by

    John Bunyan

    DELIVERED UNDER THE SIMILITUDE OF A DREAM BY JOHN BUNYAN

    The Author's Apology for his Book

    {1} When at the first I took my pen in hand

    Thus for to write, I did not understand

    That I at all should make a little book

    In such a mode; nay, I had undertook

    To make another; which, when almost done,

    Before I was aware, I this begun.

    And thus it was: I, writing of the way

    And race of saints, in this our gospel day,

    Fell suddenly into an allegory

    About their journey, and the way to glory,

    In more than twenty things which I set down.

    This done, I twenty more had in my crown;

    And they again began to multiply,

    Like sparks that from the coals of fire do fly.

    Nay, then, thought I, if that you breed so fast,

    I'll put you by yourselves, lest you at last

    Should prove ad infinitum, and eat out

    The book that I already am about.

    Well, so I did; but yet I did not think

    To shew to all the world my pen and ink

    In such a mode; I only thought to make

    I knew not what; nor did I undertake

    Thereby to please my neighbour: no, not I;

    I did it my own self to gratify.

    {2} Neither did I but vacant seasons spend

    In this my scribble; nor did I intend

    But to divert myself in doing this

    From worser thoughts which make me do amiss.

    Thus, I set pen to paper with delight,

    And quickly had my thoughts in black and white.

    For, having now my method by the end,

    Still as I pulled, it came; and so I penned

    It down: until it came at last to be,

    For length and breadth, the bigness which you see.

    Well, when I had thus put mine ends together,

    I shewed them others, that I might see whether

    They would condemn them, or them justify:

    And some said, Let them live; some, Let them die;

    Some said, JOHN, print it; others said, Not so;

    Some said, It might do good; others said, No.

    Now was I in a strait, and did not see

    Which was the best thing to be done by me:

    At last I thought, Since you are thus divided,

    I print it will, and so the case decided.

    {3} For, thought I, some, I see, would have it done,

    Though others in that channel do not run:

    To prove, then, who advised for the best,

    Thus I thought fit to put it to the test.

    I further thought, if now I did deny

    Those that would have it, thus to gratify.

    I did not know but hinder them I might

    Of that which would to them be great delight.

    For those which were not for its coming forth,

    I said to them, Offend you I am loth,

    Yet, since your brethren pleased with it be,

    Forbear to judge till you do further see.

    If that thou wilt not read, let it alone;

    Some love the meat, some love to pick the bone.

    Yea, that I might them better palliate,

    I did too with them thus expostulate:—

    {4} May I not write in such a style as this?

    In such a method, too, and yet not miss

    My end—thy good? Why may it not be done?

    Dark clouds bring waters, when the bright bring none.

    Yea, dark or bright, if they their silver drops

    Cause to descend, the earth, by yielding crops,

    Gives praise to both, and carpeth not at either,

    But treasures up the fruit they yield together;

    Yea, so commixes both, that in her fruit

    None can distinguish this from that: they suit

    Her well when hungry; but, if she be full,

    She spews out both, and makes their blessings null.

    You see the ways the fisherman doth take

    To catch the fish; what engines doth he make?

    Behold how he engageth all his wits;

    Also his snares, lines, angles, hooks, and nets;

    Yet fish there be, that neither hook, nor line,

    Nor snare, nor net, nor engine can make thine:

    They must be groped for, and be tickled too,

    Or they will not be catch'd, whate'er you do.

    How does the fowler seek to catch his game

    By divers means! all which one cannot name:

    His guns, his nets, his lime-twigs, light, and bell:

    He creeps, he goes, he stands; yea, who can tell

    Of all his postures? Yet there's none of these

    Will make him master of what fowls he please.

    Yea, he must pipe and whistle to catch this,

    Yet, if he does so, that bird he will miss.

    If that a pearl may in a toad's head dwell,

    And may be found too in an oyster-shell;

    If things that promise nothing do contain

    What better is than gold; who will disdain,

    That have an inkling of it, there to look,

    That they may find it? Now, my little book,

    (Though void of all these paintings that may make

    It with this or the other man to take)

    Is not without those things that do excel

    What do in brave but empty notions dwell.

    {5} 'Well, yet I am not fully satisfied,

    That this your book will stand, when soundly tried.'

    Why, what's the matter? 'It is dark.' What though?

    'But it is feigned.' What of that? I trow?

    Some men, by feigned words, as dark as mine,

    Make truth to spangle and its rays to shine.

    'But they want solidness.' Speak, man, thy mind.

    'They drown the weak; metaphors make us blind.'

    Solidity, indeed, becomes the pen

    Of him that writeth things divine to men;

    But must I needs want solidness, because

    By metaphors I speak? Were not God's laws,

    His gospel laws, in olden times held forth

    By types, shadows, and metaphors? Yet loth

    Will any sober man be to find fault

    With them, lest he be found for to assault

    The highest wisdom. No, he rather stoops,

    And seeks to find out what by pins and loops,

    By calves and sheep, by heifers and by rams,

    By birds and herbs, and by the blood of lambs,

    God speaketh to him; and happy is he

    That finds the light and grace that in them be.

    {6} Be not too forward, therefore, to conclude

    That I want solidness—that I am rude;

    All things solid in show not solid be;

    All things in parables despise not we;

    Lest things most hurtful lightly we receive,

    And things that good are, of our souls bereave.

    My dark and cloudy words, they do but hold

    The truth, as cabinets enclose the gold.

    The prophets used much by metaphors

    To set forth truth; yea, who so considers Christ,

    his apostles too, shall plainly see,

    That truths to this day in such mantles be.

    Am I afraid to say, that holy writ,

    Which for its style and phrase puts down all wit,

    Is everywhere so full of all these things—

    Dark figures, allegories? Yet there springs

    From that same book that lustre, and those rays

    Of light, that turn our darkest nights to days.

    {7} Come, let my carper to his life now look,

    And find there darker lines than in my book

    He findeth any; yea, and let him know,

    That in his best things there are worse lines too.

    May we but stand before impartial men,

    To his poor one I dare adventure ten,

    That they will take my meaning in these lines

    Far better than his lies in silver shrines.

    Come, truth, although in swaddling clouts, I find,

    Informs the judgement, rectifies the mind;

    Pleases the understanding, makes the will

    Submit; the memory too it doth fill

    With what doth our imaginations please;

    Likewise it tends our troubles to appease.

    Sound words, I know, Timothy is to use,

    And old wives' fables he is to refuse;

    But yet grave Paul him nowhere did forbid

    The use of parables; in which lay hid

    That gold, those pearls, and precious stones that were

    Worth digging for, and that with greatest care.

    Let me add one word more. O man of God,

    Art thou offended? Dost thou wish I had

    Put forth my matter in another dress?

    Or, that I had in things been more express?

    Three things let me propound; then I submit

    To those that are my betters, as is fit.

    {8} 1. I find not that I am denied the use

    Of this my method, so I no abuse

    Put on the words, things, readers; or be rude

    In handling figure or similitude,

    In application; but, all that I may,

    Seek the advance of truth this or that way

    Denied, did I say? Nay, I have leave

    (Example too, and that from them that have

    God better pleased, by their words or ways,

    Than any man that breatheth now-a-days)

    Thus to express my mind, thus to declare

    Things unto thee that excellentest are.

    2. I find that men (as high as trees) will write

    Dialogue-wise; yet no man doth them slight

    For writing so: indeed, if they abuse

    Truth, cursed be they, and the craft they use

    To that intent; but yet let truth be free

    To make her sallies upon thee and me,

    Which way it pleases God; for who knows how,

    Better than he that taught us first to plough,

    To guide our mind and pens for his design?

    And he makes base things usher in divine.

    3. I find that holy writ in many places

    Hath semblance with this method, where the cases

    Do call for one thing, to set forth another;

    Use it I may, then, and yet nothing smother

    Truth's golden beams: nay, by this method may

    Make it cast forth its rays as light as day.

    And now before I do put up my pen,

    I'll shew the profit of my book, and then

    Commit both thee and it unto that Hand

    That pulls the strong down, and makes weak ones stand.

    This book it chalketh out before thine eyes

    The man that seeks the everlasting prize;

    It shews you whence he comes, whither he goes;

    What he leaves undone, also what he does;

    It also shows you how he runs and runs,

    Till he unto the gate of glory comes.

    {9} It shows, too, who set out for life amain,

    As if the lasting crown they would obtain;

    Here also you may see the reason why

    They lose their labour, and like fools do die.

    This book will make a traveller of thee,

    If by its counsel thou wilt ruled be;

    It will direct thee to the Holy Land,

    If thou wilt its directions understand:

    Yea, it will make the slothful active be;

    The blind also delightful things to see.

    Art thou for something rare and profitable?

    Wouldest thou see a truth within a fable?

    Art thou forgetful? Wouldest thou remember

    From New-Year's day to the last of December?

    Then read my fancies; they will stick like burs,

    And may be, to the helpless, comforters.

    This book is writ in such a dialect

    As may the minds of listless men affect:

    It seems a novelty, and yet contains

    Nothing but sound and honest gospel strains.

    Wouldst thou divert thyself from melancholy?

    Wouldst thou be pleasant, yet be far from folly?

    Wouldst thou read riddles, and their explanation?

    Or else be drowned in thy contemplation?

    Dost thou love picking meat? Or wouldst thou see

    A man in the clouds, and hear him speak to thee?

    Wouldst thou be in a dream, and yet not sleep?

    Or wouldst thou in a moment laugh and weep?

    Wouldest thou lose thyself and catch no harm,

    And find thyself again without a charm?

    Wouldst read thyself, and read thou knowest not what,

    And yet know whether thou art blest or not,

    By reading the same lines? Oh, then come hither,

    And lay my book, thy head, and heart together.

    JOHN BUNYAN.

    {10} As I walked through the wilderness of this world, I lighted on a certain place where was a Den, and I laid me down in that place to sleep: and, as I slept, I dreamed a dream. I dreamed, and behold, I saw a man clothed with rags, standing in a certain place, with his face from his own house, a book in his hand, and a great burden upon his back. [Isa. 64:6; Luke 14:33; Ps. 38:4; Hab. 2:2; Acts 16:30,31] I looked, and saw him open the book, and read therein; and, as he read, he wept, and trembled; and, not being able longer to contain, he brake out with a lamentable cry, saying, What shall I do? [Acts 2:37]

    {11} In this plight, therefore, he went home and refrained himself as long as he could, that his wife and children should not perceive his distress; but he could not be silent long, because that his trouble increased. Wherefore at length he brake his mind to his wife and children; and thus he began to talk to them: O my dear wife, said he, and you the children of my bowels, I, your dear friend, am in myself undone by reason of a burden that lieth hard upon me; moreover, I am for certain informed that this our city will be burned with fire from heaven; in which fearful overthrow, both myself, with thee my wife, and you my sweet babes, shall miserably come to ruin, except (the which yet I see not) some way of escape can be found, whereby we may be delivered. At this his relations were sore amazed; not for that they believed that what he had said to them was true, but because they thought that some frenzy distemper had got into his head; therefore, it drawing towards night, and they hoping that sleep might settle his brains, with all haste they got him to bed. But the night was as troublesome to him as the day; wherefore, instead of sleeping, he spent it in sighs and tears. So, when the morning was come, they would know how he did. He told them, Worse and worse: he also set to talking to them again; but they began to be hardened. They also thought to drive away his distemper by harsh and surly carriages to him; sometimes they would deride, sometimes they would chide, and sometimes they would quite neglect him. Wherefore he began to retire himself to his chamber, to pray for and pity them, and also to condole his own misery; he would also walk solitarily in the fields, sometimes reading, and sometimes praying: and thus for some days he spent his time.

    {12} Now, I saw, upon a time, when he was walking in the fields, that he was, as he was wont, reading in his book, and greatly distressed in his mind; and, as he read, he burst out, as he had done before, crying, What shall I do to be saved?

    {13} I saw also that he looked this way and that way, as if he would run; yet he stood still, because, as I perceived, he could not tell which way to go. I looked then, and saw a man named Evangelist coming to him and asked, Wherefore dost thou cry? [Job 33:23]

    {14} He answered, Sir, I perceive by the book in my hand, that I am condemned to die, and after that to come to judgement [Heb. 9:27]; and I find that I am not willing to do the first [Job 16:21], nor able to do the second. [Ezek. 22:14]

    CHRISTIAN no sooner leaves the World but meets EVANGELIST, who lovingly him greets With tidings of another: and doth show Him how to mount to that from this below.

    {15} Then said Evangelist, Why not willing to die, since this life is attended with so many evils? The man answered, Because I fear that this burden is upon my back will sink me lower than the grave, and I shall fall into Tophet. [Isa. 30:33] And, Sir, if I be not fit to go to prison, I am not fit, I am sure, to go to judgement, and from thence to execution; and the thoughts of these things make me cry.

    {16} Then said Evangelist, If this be thy condition, why standest thou still? He answered, Because I know not whither to go. Then he gave him a parchment roll, and there was written within, Flee from the wrath to come. [Matt. 3.7]

    {17} The man therefore read it, and looking upon Evangelist very carefully, said, Whither must I fly? Then said Evangelist, pointing with his finger over a very wide field, Do you see yonder wicket-gate? [Matt. 7:13,14] The man said, No. Then said the other, Do you see yonder shining light? [Ps. 119:105; 2 Pet. 1:19] He said, I think I do. Then said Evangelist, Keep that light in your eye, and go up directly thereto: so shalt thou see the gate; at which, when thou knockest, it shall be told thee what thou shalt do.

    {18} So I saw in my dream that the man began to run.

    Now, he had not run far from his own door, but his wife and children, perceiving it, began to cry after him to return; but the man put his

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