The Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan Every Child Can Read
CHRIS. Indeed, I cannot commend my life, for I am conscious to myself of
many failings therein. I know also, that a man, by his actions may soon
overthrow what, by proofs or persuasion, he doth labor to fasten upon
others for their good. Yet this I can say, I was very wary of giving
them occasion, by any unseemly action, to make them averse to going on
pilgrimage. Yea, for this very thing they would tell me I was too
precise, and that I denied myself of things (for their sakes) in which
they saw no evil. Nay, I think I may say that, if what they saw in me
did hinder them, it was my great tenderness in sinning against God, or
of doing any wrong to my neighbor.
CHAR. Indeed, Cain hated his brother because his own works were evil,
and his brother's righteous; and, if thy wife and children have been
offended with thee for this, they thereby show themselves to be
resolutely opposed to good: thou hast freed thy soul from their blood.
Now I saw in my dream, that thus they sat talking together till supper
was ready. So, when they had made ready, they sat down to meat. Now, the
table was furnished with fat things, and wine that was well refined; and
all their talk at the table was about the Lord of the hill; as, namely,
about what He had done, and wherefore He did what He did, and why He had
builded that house; and by what they said, I perceived that He had been
a great warrior, and had fought with and slain him that had the power of
death, but not without great danger to Himself, which made me love Him
the more.
For, as they said, and as I believe (said Christian), He did it with the
loss of much blood. But that which puts the glory of grace into all He
did, was, that He did it out of pure love to this country. And, besides,
there were some of them of the household that said they had seen and
spoken with Him since He did die on the cross; and they have declared
that they had it from His own lips, that He is such a lover of poor
pilgrims, that the like is not to be found from the east to the west.
They moreover gave an instance of what they affirmed; and that was, He
had stripped Himself of His glory, that He might do this for the poor;
and that they had heard Him say and affirm that He would not dwell in
the mountains of Zion alone. They said, moreover, that He had made many
pilgrims princes, though by nature they were beggars born, and their
home had been the dunghill.
Thus they talked together till late at night; and after they had
committed themselves to their Lord for protection, they betook
themselves to rest. The Pilgrim they laid in a large upper chamber,
whose window opened towards the sunrising. The name of the chamber was
Peace, where he slept till break of day, and then he awoke and sang:
"Where am I now? Is this the love and care
Of Jesus, for the men that pilgrims are,
Thus to provide that I should be forgiven,
And dwell already the next door to heaven?"
[Sidenote: THE VIRGINS READ TO CHRISTIAN]
So in the morning they all got up; and after some more talking together,
they told him that he should not depart till they had shown him the
rarities of that place. And first they took him into the study, where
they showed him records of the greatest age; in which, as I remember in
my dream, they showed him first the history of the Lord of the hill,
that He was the son of the Ancient of Days, and had lived from the
beginning. Here also were more fully written the acts that He had done,
and the names of many hundreds that He had taken into his service; and
how he had placed them in such houses that could neither by length of
days nor decays of nature be destroyed.
Then they read to him some of the worthy acts that some of His servants
had done; as, how they had conquered kingdoms, wrought righteousness,
obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of
fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong,
waxed valiant in fight, and turned to flight the armies of the enemies.
They then read again in another part of the records of the house, where
it was shown how willing their Lord was to receive into His favor any
even any, though they in time past had done great wrongs to His person
and rule. Here also were several other histories of many other famous
things, of all which Christian had a view; as of things both ancient and
modern, together with prophecies and foretellings of things that surely
come to pass, both to the dread and wonder of enemies, and the comfort
and happiness of pilgrims.
The next day they took him and led him into the armory, where they
showed him all manner of weapons which their Lord had provided for
pilgrims; as sword, shield, helmet, breast-plate, all-prayer, and shoes
that would not wear out. And there was here enough of this to harness
out as many men for the service of their Lord as there be stars in the
heaven for multitude.
They also showed him some of the things with which some of His servants
had done wonderful things. They showed him Moses' rod; the hammer and
nail with which Jael slew Sisera; the pitchers, trumpets, and lamps too,
with which Gideon put to flight the armies of Midian. Then they showed
him the ox's goad wherewith Shamgar slew six hundred men. They showed
him also the jaw-bone with which Samson did such mighty feats. They
showed him, moreover, the sling and stone with which David slew Goliath
of Gath, and the sword also with which their Lord will kill the Man of
Sin, in the day that He shall rise up to the battle. They showed him,
besides, many excellent things, with which Christian was much delighted.
This done, they went to their rest again.
Then I saw in my dream that on the morrow he got up to go forward, but
they desired him to stay till the next day also; "and then," said they,
"we will, if the day be clear, show you the Delectable Mountains;" which
they said would yet further add to his comfort, because they were nearer
the desired haven than the place where at present he was. So he
consented and stayed. When the morning was up, they led him to the top
of the house, and bid him look south. So he did, and behold, at a great
distance he saw a most pleasant mountainous country, beautified with
woods, vineyards, fruits of all sorts, flowers also, with springs and
fountains, very lovely to behold. Then he asked the name of the country.
They said it was Immanuel's Land; "and it is as common," said they, "as
this hill is, to and for all the pilgrims. And when thou comest there,
from thence thou mayest see to the gate of the Celestial City, as the
shepherds that live there will make appear."
Now he bethought himself of setting forward, and they were willing he
should. "But first," said they, "let us go again into the armory." So
they did; and when he came there, they dressed him from head to foot
with armor of proof, lest perhaps he should meet with assaults in the
way. He being, therefore, thus armed, walked out with his friends to the
gate; and there he asked the Porter if he saw any pilgrim pass by. Then
the Porter answered, "Yes."
CHRIS. "Pray, did you know him?" said he.
PORT. I asked his name, and he told me it was Faithful.
CHRIS. "Oh," said Christian, "I know him, he is my townsman, my near
neighbor; he comes from the place where I was born. How far do you think
he may be before?"
PORT. He has got by this time below the hill.
CHRIS. "Well," said Christian, "good Porter, the Lord be with thee, and
add to all thy blessings much increase for the kindness thou has shown
to me!"
Then he began to go forward; but Discretion, Piety, Charity, and
Prudence would accompany him down to the foot of the hill. So they went
on together repeating their former discourses, till they came to go down
the hill. Then said Christian, "As it was difficult coming up, so far so
as I can see, it is dangerous going down." "Yes," said Prudence, "so it
is; for it is a hard matter for a man to go down the Valley of
Humiliation, as thou art now, and to catch no slip by the way;
therefore," said they, "are we come out to accompany thee down the
hill." So he began to go down, but very warily; yet he caught a slip or
two.
Then I saw in my dream that these good companions, when Christian was
gone down to the bottom of the hill, gave him a loaf of bread, a bottle
of wine, and a cluster of raisins; and then he went his way.
CHAPTER IV.
But now, in this Valley of Humiliation, poor Christian was hard put to
it; for he had gone but a little way before he espied a foul fiend
coming over the field to meet him: his name is Apollyon. Then did
Christian begin to be afraid, and to cast in his mind whether to go back
or to stand his ground. But he considered again that he had no armor for
his back, and therefore thought that to turn the back to him might give
him greater advantage with ease to pierce him with darts; therefore he
resolved to venture and stand his ground; for, thought he, had I no more
in mine eye than the saving of my life, it would be the best way to
stand. So he went on, and Apollyon met him. Now, the monster was hideous
to behold: he was clothed with scales like a fish, and they are his
pride; he had wings like a dragon, and feet like a bear, and out of his
belly came fire and smoke; and his mouth was as the mouth of a lion.
When he was come up to Christian, he beheld him with a disdainful
countenance, and thus began to question with him:
[Sidenote: APOLLYON STAYS CHRISTIAN]
APOLLYON. Whence come you, and whither are you bound?
CHRIS. I am come from the City of Destruction, which is the place of all
evil, and am going to the City of Zion.
APOL. By this I perceive that thou art one of my subjects; for all that
country is mine, and I am the prince and God of it. How is it then that
thou hast run away from thy king? Were it not that I hope that thou
mayest do me more service, I would strike thee now at one blow to the
ground.
CHRIS. I was indeed born in your kingdom; but your service was hard, and
your wages such as a man could not live on; for the wages of sin is
death; therefore, when I was come to years, I did as other thoughtful
persons do, look out, if perhaps I might mend myself.
APOL. There is no prince that will thus lightly lose his subjects,
neither will I as yet lose thee; but, since thou complainest of thy
service and wages, be content to go back, and what our country will
afford I do here promise to give thee.
CHRIS. But I have let myself to another, even to the King of princes;
and how can I with fairness go back with thee?
APOL. Thou hast done in this according to the proverb, "changed a bad
for a worse;" but it is common for those that have called themselves His
servants, after awhile to give Him the slip, and return again to me. Do
thou so too, and all shall be well.
CHRIS. I have given Him my faith, and sworn my service to Him; how,
then, can I go back from this, and not be hanged as a traitor?
APOL. Thou didst the same to me, and yet I am willing to pass by all,
if now thou wilt yet turn again and go back.
CHRIS. What I promised thee was in my youth, and besides, I count that
the Prince under whose banner I now stand is able to set me free, yea,
and to pardon also what I did as to my service with thee. And besides, O
thou destroying Apollyon, to speak the truth, I like His service, His
wages, His servants, His government, His company, and country, better
than thine; therefore leave off to persuade me further: I am His
servant, and I will follow Him.
APOL. Consider again when thou art in cold blood, what thou art likely
to meet with in the way that thou goest. Thou knowest that for the most
part His servants come to an ill end, because they are disobedient
against me and my ways. How many of them have been put to shameful