The Pilgrim's Progress
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THE PILGRIM’S PROGRESS i ii JOHN BUNYAN Reformation Press th 160 37 Street Lindenhurst, NY 11757 516.956.0606 [email protected] www.reformationpress.com ISBN 0-9670840-2-4 ©1999 Barry E. Horner All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems without the expressed permission from the publisher in writing, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or critical reviews. For information address the publishers: th Reformation Press 160 37 Street, Lindenhurst, NY 11757 Book Cover Design by Michael Rotolo Manufactured in the United States of America 12345678910 99 00 01 02 03 THE PILGRIM’S PROGRESS iii THE Pilgrim’s Progrefs F R O M T H I S W O R L D, T O That which is to come: Delivered under the Similitude of a DREAM Wherein is Difcovered, The manner of his fetting out, His Dangerous Journey, And fafe Arrival at the Defired Countrey. I have ufed Similitudes, Hof. 12:10. By John Bunyan. Licenfed and Entred according to Order. L O N D O N, Printed for Nath. Ponder at the Peacock in the Poultrey near Cornhil, 1678. Original Title Page, First Edition iv JOHN BUNYAN The Sleeping Portrait Engraved by Robert White, it was most likely intended for the first edition of 1678, though withdrawn due to the name ‘Destruction’ being incorrectly titled ‘Vanity’. The above corrected picture was included in the third edition of 1679. THE PILGRIM’S PROGRESS v Principles of the ACCURATE REVISED TEXT 1. The basis of this revision is the definitive text of The Pilgrim’s Progress edited by J. B. Wharey and Roger Sharrock, and published by Oxford Press (Clarendon) in 1960. 2. Of foremost consideration has been a style of simple conversational English that, while not being racy, yet maintains faithfulness to the style, meaning, doctrine, and purposes of John Bunyan. This editor welcomes suggestions and constructive criticism in this regard. 3. A select variety of archaisms has been retained, with modern equivalent terms in brackets, since these expressions have gained a particular timeless quality and quaintness about them that are intrinsic to The Pilgrim’s Progress. Certain other antiquated modes of sentence construction have been modified to produce a more contemporary style of expression. 4. Chapter headings, as well as occasional subdivisions, have been added to assist in the understanding of The Pilgrim’s Progress. 5. The marginal Scripture references and most notations included by John Bunyan have been retained as footnotes and also revised. In certain instances, where an item appears to be redundant, the notation has been excluded. Of course the text includes countless other allusions to Bible passages, and a number of these are referenced in italics as footnotes. Some additional clarifying comments on the text have been added as well. Barry E. Horner vi JOHN BUNYAN THE PILGRIM’S PROGRESS vii TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction ix The Author’s Apology for His Book 1 The Pilgrim’s Progress in the Similitude of a Dream 9 1. Christian flees from the City of Destruction 9 2. Christian is pursued by Obstinate and Pliable 13 3. Christian and Pliable converse along the way 16 4. Christian and Pliable confront the Slough of Despond 19 5. Christian encounters Mr. Worldly-Wiseman 22 6. Christian seeks after the Town of Morality 26 7. Christian arrives at the Wicket-gate 32 8. Christian is instructed at the house of the Interpreter 36 A. The portrait of the godly pastor 36 B. The distinction between the law and the gospel 37 C. The virtue of patience contrasted with passion 38 D. The grace of Christ conquers the assailed heart 40 E. The persevering valiant pilgrim 41 F. The despairing reprobate in the iron cage 42 G. The warning of the final day of judgment 44 9. Christian arrives at the Place of Deliverance 47 10. Christian overtakes Simple, Sloth, and Presumption 49 11. Christian converses with Formalist and Hypocrisy 50 12. Christian ascends the Hill Difficulty 53 13. Christian is approached by Timorous and Mistrust 55 14. Christian meets lion-sized opposition 58 15. Christian resides at the Palace Beautiful 59 viii JOHN BUNYAN 16. Christian enters into battle with Apollyon 71 17. Christian confronts the Valley of the Shadow of Death 77 18. Christian overtakes and converses with Faithful 84 19. Christian and Faithful converse with Talkative 94 20. Evangelist reappears to give timely warning 107 21. Christian and Faithful on trial at Vanity Fair 110 22. Christian and Hopeful converse with Byends 121 23. The silver mine at the hill Lucre 130 24. The monument to Lot’s wife 133 25. Christian and Hopeful are captured by Giant Despair 136 26. Christian and Hopeful at the Delectable Mountains 146 27. Christian and Hopeful first encounter Ignorance 151 28. The terrifying end of Turn-away 153 29. The colorless testimony of Little-faith 154 30. Christian and Hopeful snared by the Flatterer 163 31. Christian and Hopeful meet returning Atheist 166 32. Christian and Hopeful cross the Enchanted Ground 169 A. Hopeful testifies to his conversion at Vanity Fair 170 B. Closer reacquaintance is made with Ignorance 177 C. Christian recalls his acquaintance with Temporary 186 33. The comforting delights of Beulah Land 190 34. Christian and Hopeful encounter the River of Death 193 35. Christian and Hopeful are welcomed into heaven 196 36. The fearful end of Ignorance 201 The Conclusion 203 A Further Defense 204 THE PILGRIM’S PROGRESS ix INTRODUCTION URING the latter half of this twentieth century, numerous revisions of The Pilgrim’s Progress have been published. However, while several of these publications have proved to be accurate and useful, many have been lacking in precision, not only in linguistic style, but also with regard to the author’s doctrinal intentions. Doubtless John Bunyan would have heartily agreed that his allegory should be made as clear as is possible to this modern generation, though without sacrificing truth and his attractive plainness of writing. With this in mind, yet another contemporary rendering is offered with the earnest desire that it will prove faithful to the Bedford tinker’s expressed purpose, namely that the reader perceive the substance of Bible and gospel truth that lies beyond the veil of allegorical style. Barry E. Horner x JOHN BUNYAN THE PILGRIM’S PROGRESS 1 THE AUTHOR’S APOLOGY FOR HIS BOOK WHEN at first I took my pen in hand, To write this way, I did not understand That I at all should make a little book In such a style; no, I had undertook To make another, which when almost done,1 Before I was aware, I this begun. And so it was: I writing of the way And race of saints in this our gospel day, Fell suddenly into an allegory2 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. Then no, I thought since if you breed so fast, I’ll put you by yourself, 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 show to all the world my pen and ink In such a style; I only thought to make I knew not what, nor did I undertake Thereby to please my neighbor; no, not I, I did it my own self to gratify. _________________ 1 Probably The Heavenly Footman based on I Corinthians 9:24. 2 Bunyan also refers to his allegorical style, in this and his concluding poem, as similitude, metaphor, parable, figure, type, fable, and shadow. 2 JOHN BUNYAN 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 [tail], Still as I pulled it came,3 and so I penned It down, until it came at last to be For length and breadth the bigness that you see. Well, when I had thus put my ends together, I showed 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 straight [plight], and did not see Which was the best thing to be done by me; At last I thought, since you are thus divided, I will print it, and so the case decided. 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 that were not for its coming forth, I said to them, “Offend you I am loath; Yet since your brethren pleased with it be. Forbear to judge till you do further see.” _________________ 3 Bunyan is probably alluding to a woman pulling thread from a spinning-wheel.