What isThe Pilgrim's Progressby John Bunyan?

It has been remarked that the literary possessions of our ancestors were completed in three books; the Holy Bible, Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress and Foxe's Book of Martyrs. The second of these is a noble allegory drawn from the Bible, and the third is an awful history of the persecution of lovers of the Bible. But it all goes to prove the divine dignity and power of the Bible.

We left Christian at the house of the Interpreter, learning lessons he would do well to remember all his journey through. It will help us to understand better if we keep in mind that the wonderful book we are reading together, “THE PILGRIM’S PROGRESS,” was written by its author under the figure of a dream, in which the varied states of soul of which he writes are often so truthfully described, that it reads more like a waking dream than “a vision of the night.”

It is under the likeness or figure of a dream that the gifted writer chose to tell his story. Now and then, perhaps, we may read between the lines, and it is not unlikely that the “den” where, in his own words, he lay down and slept refers to his cell in the old Bedford prison, where the book was written. He says, “I saw a man clothed in rags, standing in a certain place with his face from his own house, with a book in his hand, and a heavy burden upon his back.” We will use the names Bunyan used, and though from the first he calls the man “Christian,” he seems more like one in whose soul the Holy Spirit had begun to work by awakening him to a sense of need and danger. He felt the burden of his sins, but being still a stranger to the finished work of the Lord Jesus, did not know how to get rid of them.

And now we must bid farewell to John Bunyan. Many of you will, I expect, one day read “The Pilgrim’s Progress” for yourselves, and if you do, do not forget that its author wrote it under the figure of a dream, and that some portions of scripture, on which in these closing days clearer light has been given, the writer could only have seen dimly. John Bunyan wrote a second part to the book in which we are told that the wife and children of Christian, who were at first so unwilling that he should become a pilgrim, with a friend whose name was Mercy, afterwards left the City of Destruction and became pilgrims too.

This was his allegory. It well illustrates the gospel truth very clearly

John Bunyan did not give the hero of his dream much fellowship on his pilgrimage to the Celestial City. His only companions were Faithful who suffered martyrdom in Vanity Fair, and Hopeful who crossed the river with him, and shared in the welcome he received when the bells of the City rang for joy, and it was said to them, "Enter into the joy of your Lord. He had advanced in knowledge when his fertile mind produced the second part of his book, for Christiana fared better than her husband. She had her boys for company, and had not travelled far before the pilgrim band had grown to a considerable company with the splendid leader, Greatheart, for instructor, protector and guide. I have a notion that if he had lived to add a third part to his immortal work, he would have improved upon the second part and given us an army marching to Zion with the Prince Himself, the Captain of our salvation, as the great and infallible Leader.

John Bunyan did not give the hero of his dream much fellowship on his pilgrimage to the Celestial City . His only companions were Faithful who suffered martyrdom in Vanity Fair, and Hopeful who crossed the river with him, and shared in the welcome he received when the bells of the City rang for joy, and it was said to them, “Enter into the joy of your Lord. He had advanced in knowledge when his fertile mind produced the second part of his book, for Christiana fared better than her husband. She had her boys for company, and had not travelled far before the pilgrim band had grown to a considerable company with the splendid leader, Greatheart, for instructor, protector and guide. I have a notion that if he had lived to add a third part to his immortal work, he would have improved upon the second part and given us an army marching to Zion with the Prince Himself, the Captain of our salvation, as the great and infallible Leader.

I hope you all read Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress, especially the second part of that immortal story; in it you will find much profitable talk, and especially from the mouth of Greatheart, the warrior pilgrim. Well, when in that story old Honest desired to join the pilgrim band, he had to give an account of himself to them, and he said, "I come from the town of Stupidity, it lies about four degrees beyond the city of Destruction."

You have all read Bunyan's immortal allegory, and may remember that when the pilgrims on their journey to the Celestial City reached the house of the good Gaius, where they were entertained after a godly sort, they had much profitable talk. The 53rd chapter of Isaiah was read, and old, white-haired Mr. Honest who was one of the pilgrim band enquired, Why was it that they saw no beauty in Him? And that is the question, surely, that must spring up in every honest, enquiring heart. Why? Greatheart who was the warrior and the instructor of the party — and no one can be a successful Christian warrior who is not instructed — answered, "Those of whom that is said lacked the eyes that could look into the heart of our Prince." That was a shrewd and inspired answer.

You have all read Bunyan's immortal allegory, and may remember that when the pilgrims on their journey to the Celestial City reached the house of the good Gaius, there they were entertained after a godly sort, and they had much profitable talk. The 53rd chapter of Isaiah was read, and old, white-haired Mr. Honest who was one of the pilgrim band enquired, Why was it that they saw no beauty in Him? And that is the question, surely, that must spring up in every honest, enquiring heart. Why? Now Greatheart who was the warrior and the instructor of the party — and no one can be a successful Christian warrior who is not instructed — answered, "Those of whom that is said lacked the eyes that can look into the heart of our Prince." That was a shrewd and inspired answer.