The Struggle Near the End - John Bunyan's The Pilgrim's Progress

 

Christian brake out with a loud voice, "Oh! I see Him again!"
Christian is wearing the spiritual armor of Ephesians 6.

Now, I further saw, that betwixt them and the gate was a river, but there was no bridge to go over: the river was very deep. At the sight, therefore, of this river, the Pilgrims were much stunned; but the men that went in with them said, You must go through, or you cannot come at the gate. The Pilgrims then began to inquire if there was no other way to the gate; to which they answered, Yes; but there hath not any, save two, to wit, Enoch and Elijah, been permitted to tread that path since the foundation of the world, nor shall, until the last trumpet shall sound. [1 Cor. 15:51,52] The Pilgrims then, especially Christian, began to despond in their minds, and looked this way and that, but no way could be found by them by which they might escape the river. Then they asked the men if the waters were all of a depth. They said: No; yet they could not help them in that case; for, said they, you shall find it deeper or shallower as you believe in the King of the place. They then addressed themselves to the water and, entering, Christian began to sink, and crying out to his good friend Hopeful, he said, I sink in deep waters; the billows go over my head, all his waves go over me! Selah. Christian’s conflict at the hour of death Then said the other, Be of good cheer, my brother, I feel the bottom, and it is good. Then said Christian, Ah! my friend, the sorrows of death hath 245 compassed me about; I shall not see the land that flows with milk and honey; and with that a great darkness and horror fell upon Christian, so that he could not see before him. Also here he in great measure lost his senses, so that he could neither remember nor orderly talk of any of those sweet refreshments that he had met with in the way of his pilgrimage. But all the words that he spake still tended to discover that he had horror of mind, and heart fears that he should die in that river, and never obtain entrance in at the gate. Here also, as they that stood by perceived, he was much in the troublesome thoughts of the sins that he had committed, both since and before he began to be a pilgrim. It was also observed that he was troubled with apparitions of hobgoblins and evil spirits, for ever and anon he would intimate so much by words. Hopeful, therefore, here had much ado to keep his brother’s head above water; yea, sometimes he would be quite gone down, and then, ere a while, he would rise up again half dead. 

Hopeful also would endeavor to comfort him, saying, Brother, I see the gate, and men standing by to receive us: but Christian would answer, It is you, it is you they wait for; you have been Hopeful ever since I knew you. And so have you, said he to Christian. Ah! brother! said he, surely if I was right he would now arise to help me; but for my sins he hath brought me into the snare, and hath left me. Then said Hopeful, My brother, you have quite forgot the text, where it is said of the wicked, "There are no bands in their death, but their strength is firm. They are not in trouble as other men, neither are they plagued like other men. [Ps. 73:4,5] These troubles and distresses that you go through in these waters are no sign that God hath forsaken you; but are sent to try you, whether you will call to mind that which heretofore you have received of his goodness, and live upon him in your distresses.

Then I saw in my dream, that Christian was as in a muse a while. To whom also Hopeful added this word, Be of good cheer, Jesus Christ maketh thee whole; and with that Christian brake out with a loud voice, Oh, I see him again! and he tells me, “When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee, and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee.” [Isa. 43:2] Then they both took courage, and the enemy was after that as still as a stone, until they were gone over. Christian therefore presently found ground to stand upon, and so it followed that the rest of the river was but shallow. Thus they got over. Now, upon the bank of the river, on the other side, they saw the two shining men again, who there waited for them; wherefore, being come out of the river, they saluted them, saying, We are ministering 246 spirits, sent forth to minister for those that shall be heirs of salvation. Thus they went along towards the gate.

 "Thus they got over."

The talk they had with the Shining Ones was about the glory of the place; who told them that the beauty and glory of it was inexpressible. There, said they, is the Mount Zion, the heavenly Jerusalem, the innumerable company of angels, and the spirits of just men made perfect. [Heb. 12:22-24] You are going now, said they, to the paradise of God, wherein you shall see the tree of life, and eat of the never-fading fruits thereof; and when you come there, you shall have white robes given you, and your walk and talk shall be every day with the King, even all the days of eternity. [Rev. 2:7, 3:4, 21:4,5] There you shall not see again such things as you saw when you were in the lower region upon the earth, to wit, sorrow, sickness, affliction, and death, for the former things are passed away. You are now going to Abraham, to Isaac, and Jacob, and to the prophets—men that God hath taken away from the evil to come, and that are now resting upon their beds, each one walking in his righteousness. [Isa. 57:1,2, 65:17] The men then asked, What must we do in the holy place? To whom it was answered, You must there receive the comforts of all your toil, and have joy for all your sorrow; you must reap what you have sown, even the fruit of all your prayers, and tears, and sufferings for the King by the way. [Gal. 6:7] In that place you must wear crowns of gold, and enjoy the perpetual sight and vision of the Holy One, for there you shall see him as he is. [1 John 3:2] There also you shall serve him continually with praise, with shouting, and thanksgiving, whom you desired to serve in the world, though with much difficulty, because of the infirmity of your flesh. There your eyes shall be delighted with seeing, and your ears with hearing the pleasant voice of the Mighty One. There you shall enjoy your friends again that are gone thither before you; and there you shall with joy receive, even every one that follows into the holy place after you. There also shall you be clothed with glory and majesty, and put into an equipage fit to ride out with the King of Glory. When he shall come with sound of trumpet in the clouds, as upon the wings of the wind, you shall come with him; and when he shall sit upon the throne of judgment; you shall sit by him; yea, and when he shall pass sentence upon all the workers of iniquity, let them be angels or men, you also shall have a voice in that judgment, because they were his and your enemies. [1 Thes. 4:13-16, Jude 253 1:14, Dan. 7:9,10, 1 Cor. 6:2,3] Also, when he shall again return to the city, you shall go too, with sound of trumpet, and be ever with him. 

Now while they were thus drawing towards the gate, behold a company of the heavenly host came out to meet them; to whom it was said, by the other two Shining Ones, These are the men that have loved our Lord when they were in the world, and that have left all for his holy name; and he hath sent us to fetch them, and we have brought them thus far on their desired journey, that they may go in and look their Redeemer in the face with joy. Then the heavenly host gave a great shout, saying, “Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb.” [Rev. 19:9] There came out also at this time to meet them, several of the King’s trumpeters, clothed in white and shining raiment, who, with melodious noises, and loud, made even the heavens to echo with their sound. These trumpeters saluted Christian and his fellow with ten thousand welcomes from the world; and this they did with shouting, and sound of trumpet.

Hebrews 12:1ff

King James Version

1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

Pilgrim's Progress - by John Bunyan - The Most Printed Book in the English Language - Apart from the KJV. - Bunyan's Favorite Book, After the Bible, Luther's Galatians!

 

Besides, what my first Pilgrim left conceal’d Thou, my brave second Pilgrim, hast reveal’d; 

What CHRISTIAN left lock’d up, and went his way, Sweet CHRISTIANA opens with her key. 

When Christiana saw that her time was come, and that she was the first of this company that was to go over, she called for Mr. Great-heart her guide, and told him how matters were. So he told her he was heartily glad of the news, and could have been glad had the post come for him. Then she bid that he should give advice how all things should be prepared for her journey. So he told her, saying, thus and thus it must be; and we that survive will accompany you to the river side.

Then came in that good man Mr. Ready-to-halt, to see her. So she said to him, Thy travel hither has been with difficulty; but that will make thy rest the sweeter. But watch and be ready; for at an hour when you think not, the messenger may come. After him came in Mr. Despondency, and his daughter Much-afraid, to whom she said, You ought with thankfulness, forever to remember your deliverance from the hands of Giant Despair, and out of Doubting Castle. The effect of that mercy is, that you are brought with safety hither. Be ye watchful, and cast away fear; ‘be sober and hope to the end.’

 Christian did not grasp forgiveness through faith in Christ until he saw the cross. Then his burden of sins tumbled down until they rested in the Empty Tomb. His wife Christiana came later, Part Two, quoted above.

 Map for Part Two

Free PDF of Understanding Pilgrim's Progress

 This is the Dropbox link to Understanding Pilgrim's Progress.

The Author of Pilgrim's Progress Is More Lutheran than the Faux-Lutherans of LCMS-ELS-CLC-LQ

Bunyan came across a copy of Luther’s commentary on the book of Galatians. It was the most well-suited thing imaginable for Bunyan at this time, for Luther was a man who had similar passion and emotional contrasts. No other book was ever so precious to him, except the Word of God. Bunyan’s turmoil continued, and it is told in Grace Abounding.[1]

---

[1] Bunyan, John. Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners (Updated, Illustrated): A Brief Account of God’s Exceeding Mercy through Christ to His Poor Servant, John Bunyan . Aneko Press. Kindle Edition. Luther’s Galatians Lectures (also called Galatians Commentary) is recommended by the Formula of Concord for additional study of Justification by Faith.

***
GJ - Are we able to find a single Objective Justification expert who has read the final version of Luther's Galatians? No?

Then they should be deprived of food, chased out of town, baited with dogs, and pelted with manure, according to the Book of Concord, which they wave around like their family trees.

Information for the First Pilgrim's Progress Class, January 8, 2020, 7 PM Central

Understanding Pilgrim’s Progress

By John Bunyan

Edited By

Gregory L. Jackson, PhD

Non-Profit – Public Domain

Illustrated by Norma A. Boeckler, 2020

Special Thanks 

Contents

Special Thanks 

Biography of John Bunyan. 3

Second Part, Restoration and Imprisonment 4

The Pilgrim’s Progress as an Allegory. 6

Part One Begins – The Dream and the City of Destruction. 8

The Slough of Despond. P. 47. 8

Worldly Wise Directs Christian to the Village of Morality and Mr. Legality’s House. 9

Biography of John Bunyan

The origin of The Pilgrim’s Progress defies logic. We would expect the greatest of English classics, after the King James Bible, to come from someone with an excellent bloodline, education, and scholarly surroundings. He was born in Bedfordshire, England, in humble circumstances, around 1628. His father was a tinker, someone who repaired and fashioned metal objects. His parents were very poor, but they sent John to a free school, to improve his lot in life, but he was an inattentive student.

His early behavior was legendary, but for the wrong reasons:

John’s ungodliness was as advanced as it was offensive. Few could equal him in cursing, swearing, lying, and blaspheming. He was the ringleader of the village immoralities – a great sin-breeder, infecting all the youth of the neighborhood with all manner of youthful vanities. He cared nothing for Holy Scripture, preferring a ballad or the local news.[1]

He was already a soldier when he was 16 years old. Most likely he fought for the King, which is ironic. The restoration of the monarchy led to his later imprisonments. Meanwhile, he was tortured by his wanton behavior and feelings of doom. Friends suggested marriage and he wed. We do not know the young woman’s name, but she brought two books with her – The Practice of Piety, by Lewis Bayly and Arthur Dent’s The Plain Man’s Pathway to Heaven. She helped him learn to read again, but he remained fixed between some adherence and his bad habits. This continued for some time.

Bunyan came across a copy of Luther’s commentary on the book of Galatians. It was the most well-suited thing imaginable for Bunyan at this time, for Luther was a man who had similar passion and emotional contrasts. No other book was ever so precious to him, except the Word of God. Bunyan’s turmoil continued, and it is told in Grace Abounding.[2]

During this time Bunyan lost his first wife and also moved gradually into serving as a church deacon, then pastor in 1657. His church was Nonconformist, which meant they were independent of the Church of England.

Bunyan’s change from his old days was so complete that people gave credit to God’s powerful grace in this conversion, which was aided by his first wife’s Christian faith, his learning to read Christian books, and attendance in worship. Even so, he suffered great turmoil during this transition.

Second Part, Restoration and Imprisonment

The Restoration of the monarchy in 1560 created a danger to all clergy who were not Church of England. He was soon arrested and brought before a judge. Bunyan only had to cease preaching and he would be let go, but he refused and went to prison.

The result was that on November 13, 1660, Bunyan was committed to jail on the charge of going about to several illegal religious meetings in the country to the great discredit of the government of the Church of England.[3]

His second wife and friends worked to free him, but it was 12 years before Charles II let Nonconformist preachers out of prison. Bunyan suffered greatly during this time, but still continued in his work as a tinker and writer. Added to his suffering was the plight of his wife and his four children from his first marriage, the oldest one blind. His home was close to the jail, and his eldest child brought him soup and books to read. He also had short releases from his confinement and two more children born. Although he began his ministry, another persecution began and he was put in prison for another six months. His famous works - Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners and The Pilgrim’s Progress - were written in prison and published afterwards. The Pilgrim’s Progress has been published in 2001 editions, and in languages all over the world, making it the most influential book, after the King James Bible, in the English language. The first part deals with Christian and his escape from the City of Destruction, his journey toward the Celestial City. The second part concerns his wife Christiana and their children. We will cover the first part only. A third part was authored by another writer.

The Pilgrim’s Progress as an Allegory

We use figures of speech in our normal conversation, but seldom think about their use. Some come from the Bible, where the best known ones are called parables. Luke 15 is an example of parables used to introduce one of the most significant parables.

Luke 15:1-7 is the Parable of the Lost Sheep.

Luke 15:8-10 is the Parable of the Lost Coin.

Luke 15:11 begins the Parable of the Prodigal Son, illustrating the Old Testament custom of moving from the lesser (the sheep and the coin) to the greater – the Prodigal Son. The two introductory stories get us accustomed to the feelings of loss and recovery. The story of the impetuous son, the forgiving father, and the self-righteous brother teaches us the nature of our gracious heavenly Father. Concrete images and associated emotions embed the Biblical lesson.

We are heirs of Greek and Latin literature as well. We use these figures of speech or tools of rhetoric daily:

·        I almost died – Exaggeration or hyperbole.

·        The salad was like twigs and pine cones – simile.

·        He is a dog – metaphor.

·        That was no small task – litotes, a double negative used as a positive description, considered an understatement for effect.

·        He gave the wrong reason for the wrong evidence to the wrong person – anaphora, repetition of a phrase for emphasis.

Many more figures could be listed.

The allegory is the grandest tool of our language. An entire book can be an allegory. Used poorly, the result is odd or tedious. The Marriage of Mercury to Philology by Jupiter belongs in a special class – unread, unloved, and largely unknown, except among Medieval scholars. The Lord of the Rings can be seen as an extensive religious allegory, especially because J. R. R. Tolkien was a Roman Catholic. Likewise, the movie E. T. suggests similar themes, the script written by a Roman Catholic. Some allegories are quite obvious in their intent:

1.      Animal Farm, by George Orwell

2.      The Chronicles of Narnia, by C. S. Lewis – children see Aslan as Jesus, but adults miss that entirely, as Lewis noted.

3.      Plato’s Allegory of the Cave

4.      The Faerie Queen – by Spencer

5.      Herman Melville – Moby Dick

6.      St. Paul – the armor of God – Ephesians 6

The Pilgrim’s Progress is an allegory, which might be described as a parable with fictional characters. This means we should read The Pilgrim’s Progress slowly and considers its lessons. This work is not a novel, but a way to explain essential lessons from the Bible. The wealth of the book comes from its details. The author explored the challenges and temptations of Christian, the allegorical hero, on his way from the City of Destruction to the Celestial City. The names and mishaps are often humorous and always instructive.

The free online version of The Pilgrim’s Progress is found here:

https://www.lutheranlibrary.org/564-bunyan-pilgrim-s-progress/

The printed version of The Pilgrim’s Progress is found here:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1708095578

Part One Begins – The Dream and the City of Destruction

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] p. 31.

Christian is symbolic for all those who struggle with the temptations of the time and the revelation of God’s Word. He tells his family about this crisis and leaves. P. 33, 39.

Evangelist serves as the gentle, gracious person who explains what must be done to escape destruction. P. 37.

The Wicket-Gate is a feature in many buildings or entrances where a smaller gate is provided for individuals. It is the narrow gate that leads to eternal life.

Pliable is easily persuaded at any given moment, but not steadfast.

Obstinate opposes whatever is suggested. P. 43.

The names represent characteristics of various people, and their actions are comical, especially in the light of the crisis of the moment, so the text is instructive and entertaining at the same time. Every part is so connected with the Scriptures that many editions have those Biblical citations noted in the text or margins.

The Slough of Despond. P. 47.

PLIABLE. At this Pliable began to be offended, and angrily said to his fellow, Is this the happiness you have told me all this while of? If we have such ill speed at our first setting out, what may we expect betwixt this and our journey’s end? May I get out again with my life, you shall possess the brave country alone for me. And, with that, he gave a desperate struggle or two, and got out of the mire on that side of the slough which was next to his own house: so away he went, and Christian saw him no more. P. 47.

HELP: Then I stepped to him that plucked him out, and said, Sir, wherefore, since over this place is the way from the City of Destruction to yonder gate, is it that this plat is not mended, that poor travelers might go thither with more security? And he said unto me, This miry slough is such a place as cannot be mended; it is the descent whither the scum and filth that attends conviction for sin doth continually run, and therefore it is called the Slough of Despond; for still, as the sinner is awakened about his lost condition, there ariseth in his soul many fears, and doubts, and discouraging apprehensions, which all of them get together, and settle in this place. And this is the reason of the badness of this ground. P. 50.

Isaiah 40:2 is one of the steps for getting out of the Slough of Despond. At the same time, Pliable is back at the City of Destruction and he is wise for coming back, a fool for hazarding his life. P. 51.

Worldly Wise Directs Christian to the Village of Morality and Mr. Legality’s House

---

[1] Bunyan, John. Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners (Updated, Illustrated): A Brief Account of God’s Exceeding Mercy through Christ to His Poor Servant, John Bunyan . Aneko Press. Kindle Edition.

[2] Bunyan, John. Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners (Updated, Illustrated): A Brief Account of God’s Exceeding Mercy through Christ to His Poor Servant, John Bunyan . Aneko Press. Kindle Edition. Luther’s Galatians Lectures (also called Commentary) is recommended by the Formula of Concord for additional study of Justification by Faith.

[3] Bunyan, John. Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners (Updated, Illustrated): A Brief Account of God’s Exceeding Mercy through Christ to His Poor Servant, John Bunyan . Aneko Press. Kindle Edition.

First Part - The Life of John Bunyan - The Pilgrim's ProgressWednesday, 7 PM, January 8th

 Bunyan understood the Slough of Despond. The fun part comes from the names of those who left Christian and went back.

 Bunyan loved Luther's Galatians, unlike the great and wise leaders of Lutherdom today. They teach against Luther's great book.

Biography of John Bunyan

The origin of The Pilgrim’s Progress defies logic. We would expect the greatest of English classics, after the King James Bible, to come from someone with an excellent bloodline, education, and scholarly surroundings. He was born in Bedfordshire, England, in humble circumstances, around 1628. His father was a tinker, someone who repaired and fashioned metal objects. His parents were very poor, but they sent John to a free school, to improve his lot in life, but he was an inattentive student.

His early behavior was legendary, but for the wrong reasons:

John’s ungodliness was as advanced as it was offensive. Few could equal him in cursing, swearing, lying, and blaspheming. He was the ringleader of the village immoralities – a great sin-breeder, infecting all the youth of the neighborhood with all manner of youthful vanities. He cared nothing for Holy Scripture, preferring a ballad or the local news.[1]

He was already a soldier when he was 16 years old. Most likely he fought for the King, which is ironic. The restoration of the monarchy led to his later imprisonments. Meanwhile, he was tortured by his wanton behavior and feelings of doom. Friends suggested marriage and he wed. We do not know the young woman’s name, but she brought two books with her – The Practice of Piety, by Lewis Bayly and Arthur Dent’s The Plain Man’s Pathway to Heaven. She helped him learn to read again, but he remained fixed between some adherence and his bad habits. This continued for some time.

Bunyan came across a copy of Luther’s commentary on the book of Galatians. It was the most well-suited thing imaginable for Bunyan at this time, for Luther was a man who had similar passion and emotional contrasts. No other book was ever so precious to him, except the Word of God. Bunyan’s turmoil continued, and it is told in Grace Abounding.[2]

During this time Bunyan lost his first wife and also moved gradually into serving as a church deacon, then pastor in 1657. His church was Nonconformist, which meant they were independent of the Church of England.

Bunyan’s change from his old days was so complete that people gave credit to God’s powerful grace in this conversion, which was aided by his first wife’s Christian faith, his learning to read Christian books, and attendance in worship. Even so, he suffered great turmoil during this transition.

Second Part, Restoration and Imprisonment

---

[1] Bunyan, John. Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners (Updated, Illustrated): A Brief Account of God’s Exceeding Mercy through Christ to His Poor Servant, John Bunyan . Aneko Press. Kindle Edition.

[2] Bunyan, John. Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners (Updated, Illustrated): A Brief Account of God’s Exceeding Mercy through Christ to His Poor Servant, John Bunyan . Aneko Press. Kindle Edition. Luther’s Galatians Lectures (also called Commentary) is recommended by the Formula of Concord for additional study of Justification by Faith.

 LCMS seminary graduates say, "Really? Let's join Rome"

Unusual Promise in Mark 10

KJV Mark 10 28 Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee.

29 And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's,

30 But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.

Peter made a statement -

ιδου ημεις αφηκαμεν παντα και ηκολουθησαμεν σοι

Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee.

The non-Greek readers can easily see, by matching letters, that Jesus answered, using the same verb.

αμην λεγω υμιν ουδεις εστιν ος αφηκεν...

Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left...

As Lenski has written in his Interpretation of Mark, the list from Jesus is not supposed to include every item for each person, but a selection of what followers could leave behind in following Him - yet having one hundred fold "now, in this time..."

One example from the Reformation was Philip Melanchthon. Because he identified with Luther, his uncle disinherited from his own library of extremely valuable books, each one worth a small fortune. In those days, books were chained to the wall of libraries because of their value. Any book collector can identify with the pain of loss. We love special books, even if they were snatched from the used market for a few dollars.

Family and friends will abandon someone who takes the Gospel seriously. Missouri and WELS have long craved being accepted by the apostate mainline groups. Instead of clinging to their first love, Justification by Faith, initially approved and published in both synods, they have made Justification without Faith - OJ their fool's gold, marketed as the pearl of great price.

Objective Justification is a hellish dogma, as proven by its adoption in ELCA, the Vatican, and various other Synagogues of Satan. They may feature this or that absurd practice, but the root of it all is the denial of faith. Jesus said, "The Holy Spirit will convict the world of sin, because they believe not on Me." John 16. Thus unbelief is the foundation of all sin, not the springboard into Justification.

I have found family and friends disappearing over the decades, but they have been replaced many times over. Jesus defined the family by faith in Him, but not by blood relationship or superficial friendship (Mark 3:31-35) The economy downsized us, too, but we ended up with the right home and car for us, so we are no longer slaves to bigness, newness, or impressiveness.

Lutheran Librarian - Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress.

That is why Pilgrim's Progress has meant so much to generations of believers. Christian sets off on a journey, leaving the City of Destruction - and his family - behind, trudging toward the Celestial City, bearing an enormous burden of sin while studying the Scriptures. That is why the peculiar image above is often used as the symbol of the book. In the second installment, his wife and children follow.

The journey is one which any believer can understand. We fall into the Slough of Despond and get trapped in the Doubting Castle by Giant Despair. The allegory has plenty of ironic humor to pry us away from the dangerous side-trips of Christian. Luther wrote, "Only someone who has suffered spiritual onslaughts can comfort me." Thus Luther and Bunyan still provide comfort for Christians today. Spiritual wisdom from the Scriptures does not emerge from the happy-clappy popcorn and soda class of clergy.

If someone wants to teach the Scriptures - and there are many ways and opportunities to do so - that person must take the same journey as Christian.

Mark 8:34 And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

35 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it.

36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?

37 Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

38 Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.

Quotations from John Bunyan - Author of Pilgrim's ProgressFrom Goodreads

John Bunyan quotes Showing 1-30 of 399

“You have not lived today until you have done something for someone who can never repay you.”
― John Bunyan

tags: benevolence, charity, compassion, generosity, helping-others

831 likes

Like

“In prayer it is better to have a heart without words than words without a heart. ”
― John Bunyan

tags: christian, inspirational, prayer, words

462 likes

Like

“What God says is best, is best, though all the men in the world are against it.”
― John Bunyan, The Pilgrims Progress

tags: obedience, ridicule

170 likes

Like

“Prayer will make a man cease from sin, or sin will entice a man to cease from prayer.”
― John Bunyan

tags: bible, biblical, church, god, jesus, prayer, spiritual

111 likes

Like

“This hill though high I covent ascend;
The difficulty will not me offend;
For I perceive the way of life lies here.
Come, pluck up, heart; let's neither faint nor fear. ”
― John Bunyan, The Pilgrim's Progress

tags: inspirational

74 likes

Like

“He who runs from God in the morning will scarcely find Him the rest of the day.”
― John Bunyan

63 likes

Like

“This hill, though high, I covet to ascend;
The difficulty will not me offend.
For I perceive the way to life lies here.
Come, pluck up, heart; let's neither faint nor fear.
Better, though difficult, the right way to go,
Than wrong, though easy, where the end is woe.”
― John Bunyan, The Pilgrim's Progress

tags: god, inspirational

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“a man there was, though some did count him mad, the more he cast away the more he had.”
― John Bunyan, The Pilgrim's Progress

60 likes

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“When you pray, rather let your heart be without words then your words without heart. ”
― John Bunyan

55 likes

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“One leak will sink a ship, and one sin will destroy a sinner.”
― John Bunyan

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“It is said that in some countries trees will grow, but will bear no fruit because there is no winter there.”
― John Bunyan

tags: puritan, reformed

50 likes

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“Dark clouds bring waters, when the bright bring none.”
― John Bunyan, The Pilgrim's Progress

tags: hope

47 likes

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“If we have not quiet in our minds, outward comfort will do no more for us…”
― John Bunyan

45 likes

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“I will stay in prison till the moss grows on my eye lids rather than disobey God.”
― John Bunyan

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“I have given Him my faith, and sworn my allegiance to Him; how, then, can I go back from this, and not be hanged as a traitor?”
― John Bunyan, The Pilgrims Progress

tags: bold, bravery, christian, truthful

41 likes

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“Conversion is not the smooth, easy-going process some men seem to think... It is wounding work, this breaking of the hearts, but without wounding there is no saving... Where there is grafting there will always be a cutting, the graft must be let in with a wound; to stick it onto the outside or to tie it on with a string would be of no use. Heart must be set to heart and back to back or there will be no sap from root to branch. And this, I say, must be done by a wound, by a cut.”
― John Bunyan

tags: affection, conversion, wounding

38 likes

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“Pray often, for prayer is a shield to the soul, a sacrifice to God, and a scourge for Satan.”
― John Bunyan

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“The man that takes up religion for the world will throw away religion for the world.”
― John Bunyan, The Pilgrim's Progress

tags: religion, world

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“Though there is not always grace where there is the fear of hell, yet, to be sure, there is no grace where there is no fear of God.”
― John Bunyan

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“Just as Christian came up to the Cross, his burden loosed from off his shoulders, fell from off his back, and began to tumble down the hill, and so it continued to do till it came to the mouth of the sepulchre. There it fell in, and I saw it no more!”
― John Bunyan

tags: burdens, christianity, the-cross

30 likes

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“I seek a place that can never be destroyed, one that is pure, and that fadeth not away, and it is laid up in heaven, and safe there, to be given, at the time appointed, to them that seek it with all their heart. Read it so, if you will, in my book.”
― John Bunyan, The Pilgrim's Progress

29 likes

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“Nothing can hurt you except sin; nothing can grieve me except sin; nothing can defeat you except sin. Therefore, be on your guard, my Mansoul.”
― John Bunyan, The Holy War

tags: sin, temptation

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“It is always hard to see the purpose in wilderness wanderings until after they are over.
6.”
― John Bunyan, The Pilgrim's Progress: From This World to That Which Is to Come

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“The road of denial leads to the precipice of destruction”
― John Bunyan

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“It is profitable for Christians to be often calling to mind the very beginnings of grace with their souls.”
― John Bunyan

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“What God says is best, indeed is best, though all men in the world are against it. Seeing, then, that God prefers his religion; seeing God prefers a tender conscience; seeing they that make themselves fools for the kingdom of heaven are wisest; and that the poor man that loveth Christ is richer than the greatest man in the world that hates him: Shame, depart, thou art an enemy to my salvation.”
― John Bunyan

tags: boldness, idolatry, opinions, shame, wisdom

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“My name is now Christian, but my name used to be Graceless.”
― John Bunyan, The Pilgrim's Progress: From This World to That Which Is to Come

 Christian leaves the City of Destruction with a huge burden on his back - his sins - led by the Scriptures on his trip to the Celestial City.

 Christian meets Evangelist, who explains the symbolic actions to him.