1/ Class J?£illO_ Hunk .A^5R4 Cojpghl X° COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT. Young People's Pilgrim's Progress CHRISTIAN CLOTHED IN ARMOUR They harnessed him from head to foot with what was of proof. Young People's Pilgrim's Progress WITH EXPOSITION By REV. S. J. REID, D.D. With Introduction by GEORGE W. TRUETT, D.D. ILLUSTRATED New York Chicago Toronto Fleming H. Revell Company London and Edinburgh Copyright, 1914, by FLEMING H. REVELL COMPANY New York: 158 Fifth Avenue Chicago: 125 North Wabash Ave. Toronto: 25 Richmond Street, W. London: 21 Paternoster Square Edinburgh: 100 Princes Street JUN 19 1914 ©CI.A376354 jfy^ 4- tf To my Wife Introduction IT was my happy privilege to introduce Dr. S. J. Keid to the B. Y. P. U. Convention at Palacios, Texas, in 1911, when he came to us fresh from Ireland, on a preaching and lecturing tour through the United States. At our convention, his theme for ten lectures was the immortal allegory of John Bunyan; and so great was the impression created, that it was after- wards suggested by friends, including the editor of a great religious paper, that a Young People's " Pilgrim's Progress " might prove of inestimable service in advancing the standard of Christian living among the young members of our churches. Dr. Keid's book is the outcome of that suggestion. It does not contain the lectures given at Palacios, but is an attempt to introduce Bunyan's work in a form and style likely to commend itself to the young people of the present generation. The allegory is broken up into chapters suitably headed, and each chapter contains at the end an exposition on the subject matter. The plan is to provide a spiritual interpretation, suggestive rather than exhaustive, as an incentive to encourage the worthy study of this book, among young Chris- tians of the present day. The design of this book appeals to me, because the members of our junior Sunday-school classes can read and understand 7 8 Introduction both book and exposition with ease, while there is abundant food for thought and study to engage profitably the energies of the senior classes of our Sunday-schools, and the study circles of our various young people's organizations. A few of the longer doctrinal discourses have been omitted, as beyond the scope and purpose of the author. Otherwise, all Bunyan is there ; and if some slight changes in the terminology and language are apparent, they have been introduced to suit readers of a tender age. The " Pilgrim's Progress " is an inexhaustible mine of Christian stimulus and example. It is one of the age-long books. From it each new gener- ation finds strength and consolation for all its varied needs, because of the essential humanity of the work, and its unchanging witness to the experiences of the Christian life under all circumstances. No book on the Christian life can be compared to this classic ; it has never been superseded. If by this effort Dr. Reid can stimulate a new interest in our young people to acquaint themselves with the lessons and duties of the Christian life, he will have rendered a valuable service to the churches and the lambs of the Master's fold. May God grant it, for His Name's Sake ! Geo. W. Teuett. Pastor 1 s Study, First Baptist Church, Dallas, Texas. Contents Short Sketch of the Life of John Bunyan i 3 I. Christian Begins His Journey, — Obsti- nate, Pliable and the Slough of Despond 25 II. Christian Trapped by Mr. Worldly Wise man ...... III. The Wicket Gate and the Interpreter* House ..... IV. The House of the Interpreter — More Pictures ..... V. The Cross and the Hill Difficulty VI. The Palace Beautiful VII. The Fight With Apollyon VIII. The Valley of the Shadow of Death IX. Christian, Faithful and Talkative X. Vanity Fair ..... XI. Faithful's Trial and Death . XII. The Fate of By-Ends and His Friends XIII. By-Path Meadow .... XIV. Giant Despair and Doubting Castle XV. The Delectable Mountains XVI. Little Faith, the Flatterer, Atheist and Enchanted Ground XVII. Beulah Land ..... XVIII. Crossing the River XIX. Entering the Gate of the City 36 47 59 68 79 90 97 107 117 125 134 142 150 159 169 178 186 194 Illustrations Christian Clothed in Armour . . . Frontispiece v' They harnessed him from head to foot with what was of proof Facing page . Evangelist Points the Way . . . . 28 ^ "Do you see yonder shining light ? " The Wicket Gate ...... 50 u^ So when Christian was stepping in, the other gave him a pull. Climbing the Hill Difficulty . . .68 <-" He fell from running to going, and from going to clambering upon his hands and knees, because of the steepness of the place. In the Valley of the Shadow of Death . . 100 > So he cried in my hearing, "O Lord, I beseech Thee, deliver my soul" Faithful's Martyrdom 130 ^ Last of all they burned him to ashes at the stake. Thus came Faithful to his end. In the Dungeon of Giant Despair . . 154 ^ Here, then, they lay from Wednesday morning till Saturday night without one bit of bread, or drop of drink, or light. Crossing the River . . . . . .188 Hopeful also would endeavour to comfort him, saying, " Brother, I see the gate" 11 Short Sketch of the Life of John Bunyan JOHN BUNYAN was born in 1628 at Elstow, England, a mile from Bedford. His lot was cast in troublous times, an age of excitement and revolution. His history extends over three reigns, those of Charles I, Charles II, and James II, and the Protectorate of Oliver Cromwell. Eaely Life His father was a brazier, a mender of pots, pans and kettles. In common with all workers in tin who did not carry on their business all the year round at the same bench, or within the same four walls, Bunyan's father has been dubbed a tinker, and considered by some writers as of gipsy descent. The education and moral influence of home to young Bunyan was a blank. He tells us himself that " his descent was of a low and inconsiderable generation," his father's house being of that rank which is meanest and most despised in the land. His child- hood and boyhood were such as told against him in his after struggles for light and peace. He was educated at Bedford at a school for the poor. There was no compulsory education in those *3 14 Short Sketch of days, and legal inability to leave school till the age of fourteen years was reached would have been laughed to scorn. Kude as was Bunyan's home, religious notions of some kind had been early and vividly impressed on him. Of course, it must be admitted that he was like the rest of the boys among whom he lived, in that he used bad language, often lied, and was a violent, passionate boy besides. Of himself he says that for lying and swearing he had no equal. Wickedness, he declares, became a second nature to him. Yet allowance must be made for Bunyan's overheated imagination concerning his depravity and sinfulness. When he left school his father brought him up at his own trade. Thus he lived at home and grew to manhood there, forming his own ideas of men and things out of such opportunities as the Elstow neighbourhood afforded. He was not a drunkard nor a man of loose character. Profane in his language, and coarse in his tastes, his native force of character would make him a ringleader among his associates. But even at that time he had his misgivings. In his moments of boisterous mirth and profane merri- ment he would be haunted by terror. He had forebodings of coming judgment which, like a fiend, would grasp him with an iron hand. These most sinful, most awful days were days of preparation, to tell upon an after history unspeakably precious to the world. The Life of John Bunyan 1 5 Married Life Bunyan married at the age of nineteen, wisely and therefore well. Speaking of his marriage he says : " And my mercy was to light upon a wife whose father was counted godly. This woman and I, though we came together as poor as might be — not having so much as a dish or a spoon be- twixt us — yet this she had for her portion, 'The Plain Man's Pathway to Heaven,' and 'The Prac- tice of Piety,' which her father had left her when he died. These books, though they did not change my heart, did light in me some desire to religion." The eifect of his change of state was soon seen. On his marriage he became regular and respectable in his habits. " I fell in with the times to go to church twice a day, very devout to say and sing as the others did, yet retaining my wicked life. I was so overrun with superstition that I adored with great devotion even all things, both the high place, priest, cloak, vestment and service, and what else belonging to the church." Conviction of Sin At this stage Bunyan was a formalist. He re- vered priest and vestment and service, but continued to swear and break the Sabbath with unholy pleasures. Then the Bible came in for a share of his time, and, with other good books, gradually absorbed his attention and thoughts. One Sunday morning, when Bunyan was at church with his wife 16 Short Sketch of (by church is meant the Church of England), the clergyman preached on the ungodliness of the Sabbath amusements, which was so pointed a mes- sage that Bunyan felt it was addressed to himself, and was much affected. He shook off the impression, and after dinner went as usual to the village green. He was on the point of striking a ball when a voice sounded in his ears, " Wilt thou leave thy sins and go to heaven, or have thy sins, and go to hell ? " He looked up. He imagined he saw Christ looking down at him from the sky. He concluded that it was too late for him to repent. He was past pardon. Did he welcome the heavenly admonition ? No, he flung from him any sobering thoughts which strug- gled for mastery in him, struck again at the ball, and, probably with a fierce oath, gave himself up to an irreligious life with more resolution than ever. Yet he had wild dreams and midnight visitations which could by no means be ignored. Once he saw the face of the heavens on fire, and heard a crackling and thundering firmament and the blast of the Archangel's trumpet ; he thought himself at the bar of God, and the world at an end. He cried out, " What shall I do ? The Day of Judgment is come, and I am not prepared." Im- mediately he heard a voice behind him exclaiming, " Bejpent ! " Bunyan's close study of the Bible only added fuel to the fire as yet. It furnished his fervid imagination with material by which he was at one time on the mountain tops and at another time deep down in the depths ; at one time his The Life of John Bunyan 17 mind was full of the splendour of light, and the next full of the most abject terrors. So the fight of good and evil went on in the soul of the young man. The influence which women exercise for good is remarkably illustrated in Bun- yan's case. The patient and God-fearing wife of Bunyan must have been deeply distressed in mind in beholding the spiritual conflict which went on in his soul. But she had her consolations. She saw him grow into a passionate reader. In spite of his many backslidings into various forms of sin, she could discern the steady growth of an earnest striving after goodness and truth. He gave up, after a terrific struggle, his much loved dancing, the ringing of the church bells, the playing of tip- cat, and such-like on Sundays. But the habit of cursing — inveterate, as it seemed — remained. One day, when cursing and swearing after his wonted manner, standing at a neighbour's shop window, a woman of loose and abandoned habits rebuked him roundly. She said she trembled to hear him, and declared him bad enough to corrupt the youth of all the town. He was silenced. For very shame he hung his head, blushing that rebuke should come from such a quarter, and resolved from that moment to break away from the filthy and sinful habit. If the rebuke of a bad woman was the means of put- ting a check to his swearing and cursing, the kindly help of good women was the means of much assist- ance into the light. To his own wonder he did leave off swearing, and found he could speak better 18 Short Sketch of and pleasanter than before. He set himself to re- form his life. He became strict in word and deed. His neighbours took him to be a new man, and marvelled at the change. "All this while," he says, " I knew not Christ, nor grace, nor hope, nor faith, and had I then died my state had been most fearful. I was but a poor, painted hypocrite, going about to establish my own righteousness." One day, when going about his calling in a street in Bedford, he fell in with three or four poor women, sitting at a door in the sun, talking about the things of God. Their expressions were wholly unintelli- gible to him. They were speaking of the wretched- ness of their own hearts, and did abhor their right- eousness as filthy rags and insufficient to do any good. They spoke of the new birth, and of the work of God in their hearts, which comforted and influenced them against the temptations of the Devil. Bunyan's heart tarried with them as they spoke, and true conviction set itself finally in his heart. He saw he lacked the tokens of a godly man. He sought them out, and spoke to them again and again. He could not stay away. He was on the threshold of a higher life. The women mentioned Bunyan to Mr. Gifford, the minister of the Baptist church at Bedford. Contact with that good man and conversation with him in the first instance only made Bunyan feel his condition more acutely than ever. The struggle grew fiercer and still more The Life of John Bunyan 19 fierce, till the poor seeker after truth was distracted and bewildered beyond endurance. His turning point came one day when walking through the country lanes. He was musing on the wickedness of his heart and the enmity that was in him to God, when the Scripture came to his mind, " He hath made peace through the blood of His cross." He says : " I saw the justice of God and my sinful soul could embrace and kiss each other." Everything soon became clear, and he realized the meaning of his struggles and trials. Bunyan's Ministry From this moment Bunyan was a worker for Christ. He became a member of good Mr. Gifford's church, and at the latter 's death succeeded him in the office of pastor. His ministry was a most successful one. What he passed through had fitted him for the work of preaching to perishing sinners. His wonderful imagination, his power over the Saxon mother tongue, his intense earnestness, brought crowds to hear him. This went on for five years, till the [Res- toration involved him in danger. In 1660 he was arrested for holding an unlawful assembly for public worship. His sentence was : " You must be had back again to prison and there lie for three months following, and then, if you do not submit, and leave your preaching, you must be banished the realm ; and after that, if you are found in the realm without special license from the king, you must be 20 Short Sketch of stretched by the neck for it." "If I was out of prison to-day," replied Bunyan, " I would preach the Gospel again to-morrow by the help of God." For twelve years Bunyan was confined in the county prison of Bedford. Subsequently he suffered a short imprisonment at the recreated gate-house of the old bridge which formerly spanned the Ouse. During the latter imprisonment he wrote the " Pil- grim's Progress " and " Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners " — the one an allegory, the other an auto- biography. He was released, and continued to preach until the proclamation of liberty of conscience was made in the reign of the second Charles. Then he preached in a meeting house of his own, and pro- claimed the Gospel until at length, in the sixty-first year of his age, with triumphant joy he entered the gates of the celestial city. He lived for sixteen years after his release from prison, and those years were fruitful with service for the Master. He visited London annually to preach for the Baptist churches, and if a day's notice of his coming were given the meeting house would be crowded to overflowing. Twelve hundred people would be found collected on a dark winter's morning before seven o'clock to hear a lecture from him. In Zoar Street, Southwark, London, the church was sometimes so crowded that he had to be lifted to the pulpit stairs over the heads of the people. In appearance he was a somewhat striking person- ality. " In countenance," wrote a friend, " he The Life of John Bunyan 2 1 appeared to be of a somewhat stern and rough temper, but his conversation mild and affable, not given to much loquacity or discourse in company, unless some urgent occasion required it, observing never to boast of himself or his parts, but rather to seem low in his own eyes and to submit himself to the judgment of others. He had a sharp eye and an excellent judgment, and a lively, quick wit. He was tall of stature, strongly built, though not corpulent, somewhat of a ruddy face, with sparkling eyes, his hair reddish, but in his latter days time had sprinkled it plentifully with gray; his nose well set, but not declining nor bending ; his mouth moderately large ; his forehead somewhat high, and his habit [dress] plain and modest." Stories Like many a wild boy, he had very narrow escapes from death. Once he fell out of a boat into the Kiver Ouse. At another time he fell into the sea, on both occasions narrowly escaping with his life. Such nearness to death had a good effect for the time, but his contrition and thankfulness were short- lived. When about seventeen years of age he entered the army. Macaulay says he was a Parliamentarian, while Offer, another biographer, asserts that he belonged to the Eoyalists. As he tells us himself that he " feared God and honoured the king," it is probable that the latter statement is correct. Dur- ing his soldiering he had another providential escape 22 Short Sketch of from death, which made a deep impression on him. At the siege of Leicester, in June, 1645, when he was about to take his turn of service, a comrade begged to be allowed to go in his stead. His sub- stitute, stationed in front of the besieging army, was shot through the head. Such an experience could not easily be forgotten. Another striking story is told of him in connec- tion with his prison life. A Quaker called upon him in jail one day. " Friend Bunyan," said he, " the Lord hath sent me to seek for thee, and I have been through several counties in search of thee. After searching half the jails of England I am glad to have found thee at last." Bunyan's reply reveals his humour. " If the Lord sent thee you would not have needed to take so much trouble to find me out, for He knows I have been in Bedford jail these seven years past." When Bunyan, after his release from jail, became a popular and powerful preacher, crowds flocked to hear him. Dr. Owen was once asked by Charles II how a man of his education could sit under a preach- ing tinker. He replied, " May it please your Majesty, I would give all my learning in exchange for the tinker's abilities." When the Bunyan statue was unveiled at Bedford the Dean of Westminster said : " Ladies and gentle- men, the Mayor has asked me to say a few words, and I shall obey him by making them very few. The Mayor has done his work this day, the Duke of Bedford has done his work, the sculptor and The Life of John Bunyan 23 artist have done their work, and now I ask you to do your part in commemorating John Bunyan. Let every one of you who has not read the ' Pilgrim's Progress,' if there be any such person present, read it without delay. Let those who have read it one hundred times read it again for the one hundred and first time, and then follow out in your lives the lessons it teaches. You will then all be better monuments of John Bunyan than even this mag- nificent statue." When in prison he sometimes got permission to visit his family. Once, when he was with them, he meant to stay over night with his dear ones, but an inward monitor made him uneasy to get back to his " den," so he returned. At midnight a magis- trate's messenger arrived to spy the land. " Are all the prisoners safe ? " he asked the jailer. " Yes." " Is John Bunyan safe ? " " Yes." " Let me see him." He was called up and all passed off well. He was once going somewhere disguised as a wagoner. He was overtaken by a constable who had a warrant to arrest him. The constable asked him if he knew that devil of a fellow Bunyan. "Know him?" Bunyan said. "You might call him a devil if you knew him as well as I once did." The " Pilgrim's Progress " as Literature The " Pilgrim's Progress " ranks among the masterpieces of English literature. From among countless testimonies to its value and power three may be chosen as showing how far-reaching are 24 Short Sketch the influence and genuineness of this matchless allegory. Dr. Samuel Johnston said that the " Pilgrim's Progress " " was one of the two or three works which he wished longer, and said that it had great merit, both for invention, imagination and the conduct of the story, and it has the best evidence of its merit, the general and continued approbation of mankind." Macaulay said : " We are not afraid to say that though there were many clever men in England during the latter half of the seventeenth century, there were only two minds which exhibited the imaginative faculty in a very eminent degree. One of them produced ' Paradise Lost,' and the other the ' Pilgrim's Progress.' " R. L. Stevenson, when mentioning his best loved books, says : " Lastly, I must name the ' Pilgrim's Progress,' a book which breathes of every beautiful and valuable emotion." A profound thinker like Coleridge wrote : " I know of no book, the Bible excepted as above all comparison, which I in my judgment could so safely recommend, as teaching and enforcing the whole saving truth, according to the mind that is in Christ Jesus, as the ' Pilgrim's Progress.' " CHKISTIAN BEGINS HIS JOUKNEY— OBSTINATE, PLIABLE AND THE SLOUGH OF DESPOND IN a desolate place, called " the wilderness of this world," there was a Den, in which a man lay down to sleep, and as he slept he dreamed a dream. He saw in his dream 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. 1 As he read the book he cried and wept, and trembled, and called out in his pain, " What shall I do ? " 2 At last he went home and tried to hide his grief, that his wife and children might not know his sad- ness ; but he could not be silent long, for his trouble became worse. So he said to his dear ones : " Oh, my dear wife and children, I am in great trouble because a load is pressing me down, and I am told the city we live in will be burned with fire from heaven, and unless we go away, you, my dear wife, and you, my dar- ling children, and I will all be ruined. And I can- not see any way of escape." 1 Isa. lxiv. 6 ; Luke xiv. 33 ; Ps. xxxviii. 4. 2 Aotsii. 37; xvi. 30. 25 26 Christian Begins His Journey When all the friends heard him say these things they were surprised. They did not believe what he said, but thought he was sick or mad, and said he had better go to bed and he would be better the next day. But finding this plan fail, they were angry, and some coaxed him and others laughed at him. For he could not sleep, but passed the long hours of the night in sighs and tears, and in the morning told his wife and friends that he felt "worse and worse." So he could get no peace night or day, and all that was said to him only made him worse, because he was sure he must leave the place where he lived, and the load of sin on his back became heavier every day. Much of his time he spent walking alone in the fields, and there he read his book and often prayed. One day, as he walked along, reading from his book, he cried out aloud in great pain of mind, " What shall I do to be saved ? " " He looked this way and that as if he would run ; yet he stood still because he did not know which way to go. At last he saw a man coming to him whose name was Evangelist, who asked him, " Why are you crying ? " " Sir," said the man, " I read in this book that I must die, and after death I must be judged, 2 and I do not like to die, 3 and I am too sinful to be judged." 4 " But why, then," said Evangelist, " do you stand still ? " He replied, " Because I know not where to go." 1 Acts xvi. 29, 30. 2 Heb. ix. 27. 3 Job xvi. 20-22. * Ezek. xxii. 14. Obstinate, Pliable and Slough of Despond 27 Then Evangelist gave him a parchment roll, and on it was written : " Flee from the wrath to come." 1 The man looked at it and looked at Evangelist, and said : " Where, then, must I fly ? " Evangelist pointed across a very wide field, and said : " Do you see that wooden gate ? " a The man said, " No," for the gate was very far away. " Do you see that light shining in the dis- tance?" 3 " I think I do." Then said Evangelist : " Keep that light in your eye, and go up directly to it ; so you shall see the gate, at which, when you knock, you will be told what to do." So the dreamer saw that the man began to run. Now he had not run very far from his own door, but his wife and little ones saw it and began to call after him to return. But the man put his fingers in his ears and ran on, crying : " Life ! Life ! Eternal Life ! " 4 So he looked not behind him, but fled towards the middle of the plain. 5 Christian — for that was his name — did not once look behind him. His friends came out to watch him, and as he ran some laughed and others cried 1 Matt. iii. 7. 9 Matt. vii. 13, 14. 3 Ps. cxix. 105 ; 2 Pet. i. 19. * Luke xiv. 26. 6 Gen. xix. 12. 28 Christian Begins His Journey out for him to return. Two, bolder than the rest, followed him to bring him back by force. The name of one was Obstinate, and the other Pliable. In a little time they caught up with him. Then said the man : " Friends, why do you come after me ? " " To take you back with us," they answered. But he said, " That can never be. Better for you to come away from this city, that will be burned up some day." " What," said Obstinate, " and leave all our friends and comforts behind us ? " " Yes," said Christian, " for all that you leave behind you and give up is not nearly so good as a little of that which I hope to enjoy. 1 Come with me, and see if I do not speak the truth." " What are the things you seek, since you leave all the world to find then ? " said Obstinate. "I seek," said Christian, "riches that shall last forever and ever, 2 which are safely kept in heaven, 3 and will be given at the right time to those who earnestly seek them. Read what my book says, if you like." " Take your book away," said Obstinate. " Will you go back with us or not ? " " ISTo," said Christian, " I will not. I have begun and I will not go back." 4 "Come, then, friend Pliable," said Obstinate, 1 2 Cor. iv. 18. 2 1 Pet. i. 4. 3 Heb. xi. 16. *Lukeix. 62. EVANGELIST POINTS THE WAY Do you see yonder shining light?" Obstinate, Pliable and Slough of Despond 29 " let us turn again and go home without him. There are many who, when they become like him, are wiser in their own eyes than anybody else." Then said Pliable : " Don't scold. If what good Christian says is true, the things he seeks are better than what we have. I believe I shall go with him." " What ! " cried Obstinate, " more fools still ! Be guided by me and go back. You don't know where such a madman will lead you. Go back, go back, and be wise." But Christian said : " Come with me, and do not go back, for there are such great and lovely things to be had, and many more glories besides, as I told you already. If you do not believe me, read here in this book." " Well, friend Obstinate," said Pliable, " I have made up my mind ; I intend to go with this good man and to share all things with him. But, friend Christian, do you know the way to this place ? " Christian replied : " The way was pointed out by a man whose name is Evangelist. He said for me to hasten to a little gate that is in front of us, where we shall be told all we need to know." Pliable said, " Come, then, good friend, let us be going." So Christian and Pliable went talking over the fields, and thus they spoke to one another : " Come, friend Pliable, how are you ? I am glad you are going along with me. If Obstinate had felt the pains and troubles which hurt me he would not have gone back." 30 Christian Begins His Journey " Well, Christian," said Pliable, alone, tell me more about the things which we are to enjoy where we are going. Do you think that the words of your book are true ? " Christian answered, "Yes, indeed, for it was made by One that cannot lie." 1 " Well answered ; and what are they ? " said Pliable. " There is a kingdom that will never end for us to live in, and life that will never end to be given to us, so that we may live there forever." 2 " Well said ; and what else ? " " There are crowns of glory to be given us, and robes that will make us shine like the sun. 3 There shall be no more crying nor sorrow, for He that is the owner of that place will wipe away all tears from our eyes." 4 " And," said Pliable, " what friends shall we have there?" " There we shall be with angels so lovely and bright that you can hardly look on them. 5 There also shall you meet with thousands and tens of thousands that have gone before us to that place. All of them are loving and holy, every one walking in the sight of God, and not one ever doing any- thing to make Him angry. There we shall see holy virgins with their harps ; 6 there we shall see 1 Titus i. 2. 2 Isa. xlv. 17 ; John x. 27-29. 3 2 Tim. iv. 8; Rev. iii. 4; Matt. xiii. 43. * Isa. xxv. 8 ; Rev. vii. 16, 17 ; xxi. 4. 5 Isa. vi. 2 ; 1 Thess. iv. 16, 17 ; Rev. v. 11. 6 Rev. xiv. 1-5. Obstinate, Pliable and Slough of Despond 31 men that by the world were cut in pieces, burned in flames, drowned in seas, for the love that they had to the Lord of heaven." * All this made Pliable very happy, and he was eager to go on. He asked how they were to share in such lovely things. "The Lord, the owner of the country," said Christian, " has told us how in this book. 2 If we are in earnest He will give them to us freely." " Well, good Christian," said Pliable, " glad I am to hear these things. Come on, let us mend our pace." " I cannot go as fast as I would like," said Chris- tian, " because of the load on my back." Now the dreamer saw that, just as they had ended this talk, they drew near to a very muddy hole that was in the midst of the fields. And be- cause they were not looking where they were going both fell suddenly in. It was called the Slough or pit of Despond. Here they struggled for a time, being very much covered with mud, and Christian, because of the heavy load on his back, began to sink in the mire. Then said Pliable : " Ah, friend Christian, where are you now ? " "Keally," said Christian, " I do not know." At this Pliable began to get very angry, and said : " Is this the happiness you have told me of all the while ? If we get on so badly at the first, what may we expect from now till our journey's end ? If I escape from this place with my life you 1 John xii. 25. 2 Isa. lv. 1-2. 32 Christian Begins His Journey may go on alone, for I shall not go with you." And with that he gave a great struggle or two and got out of the mud on that side of the hollow which was next his own house. So he went away, and Christian saw him no more. Thus Christian was left to tumble in the Slough of Despond alone, but he still tried to struggle to that side of the pit which was farthest away from his own home and nearest to the wicket gate. But he could not get out because of the burden on his back. At last a man came to him whose name was Help, who asked him what he was doing there. " Sir," said Christian, " a man named Evangelist bid me go this way. He also showed me yonder gate, that I might escape the wrath to come, and as I was going I fell in here." " But," said Help, " why did you not look for the steps?" " I was so afraid," said Christian, " that I did not look where I was going, and so I fell in." " Then," said Help, " give me your hand." So he gave him his hand and Help drew him out, 1 and set him on firm ground and bade him go on his way. Exposition The man who went to sleep and dreamed was John Bunyan. All he tells us that happened to Christian were the things he saw in his dream. 1 Ps. xl. 2. Obstinate, Pliable and Slough of Despond 33 The Den was Bedford jail, where the " Pilgrim's Progress " was written. The rags which Christian wore were his good deeds ; the book he held in his hand was the Bible, and the great bundle on his back the sins of many years. The parchment roll given to Christian was a text from the Bible. The Word of God is still the sure way to Christ. The wooden gate to which Evan- gelist points Christian is Christ, to whom we must all go, for He is the Door into the fold of God. Christian could not see the gate, but he saw a light, and that was his guide. God gives us light in our souls to guide us to Christ. " Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord." Obstinate and Pliable are like men we meet every day. Obstinate is a man who laughs at the Word of God and jests at goodness, and thinks all are fools who follow the Lord Jesus Christ. He im- agines he cannot go wrong, and that he knows everything. He believes he is so wise that all who do not agree with him are stupid and blind. He has a very bad temper, and will not listen to what others say. In the end he becomes a sour, unkind and unhappy man. Pliable is a man easily coaxed to do what is right. He makes a good start to become a child of God. At first he is one of the most hopeful of young people. He agrees to all he hears about God, the Bible, sin and heaven. But he does not feel the load on his back like Christian, for he does not think 34 Christian Begins His Journey he is a great sinner in the sight of God. It is when we feel our sins that there is a great load of guilt on our souls. Yet Pliable likes to hear about heaven, and is quite willing to go there if it does not take too much trouble. And he is always in a hurry. He was in a hurry to go with Christian, and he was in a great hurry to get away again. Evangelist is a name given to one who brings good news, a preacher of the Gospel. Even the great Martin Luther was glad to be helped by Evangelist when he had tried to find the way and could not. Staupitz, a good monk, after he had heard all Martin Luther told him about his troubles and fears and trials, said : " Look at the wounds of Jesus Christ, to the blood that He shed for you ; it is there that the grace of God will appear to you." And there he found peace. The Slough of Despond was the first test. Pliable did not like it, so he gave up his hopes of heaven rather than face this trial. This muddy pit is a picture of dark times of doubts and fears which all of us feel when we are trying to find our way to Christ. Then we think we shall never be able to reach Him, and we grow sad, and still sadder. And if we give up hope, we sink down deeper than ever. But God does not forget. He sent a good man whose name was Help to get Christian out of the mud. And you will notice that Christian had to do his part, for Help could never have pulled him out if he had not tried his best also. So God helps those who help themselves. Obstinate, Pliable and Slough of Despond 35 But what about the steps? They were there, just like stepping-stones across a stream, yet Chris- tian did not see them because he did not look. Now the steps are the promises of God in His own holy Word. Here is one: "When thou passest through the waters I will be with thee ; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee; when thou walkest through the fire thou shalt not be burned." Also: "I, even I, am He that blotteth out thy transgressions for My own sake, and will not re- member thy sins." Questions How was the man dressed, and what was his name? What did he carry on his back ? What did he cry out, and what did he tell his wife and children ? Who met Christian as he walked in the fields ? What did Evangelist give Christian and what was written on it ? Where did Evangelist tell Christian to go ? Who followed Christian in order to bring him back? What became of Obstinate ? What did Christian and Pliable talk about ? What became of Pliable ? Who helped Christian out of the Slough of Despond ? Describe the Slough of Despond. II CHRISTIAN TEAPPED BY MR. WORLDLY WISEMAN NOW as Christian was walking by himself, he saw far off some one crossing over the field to meet him ; and they came face to face where their paths met. The gentleman's name was Mr. Worldly Wiseman. He lived in the town of Carnal Policy, a very large town, and quite near to the place whence Christian came. This man, then, meeting with Christian, and having a good idea who he was, for Christian's going away from the City of Destruction was much talked about ; not only in the town where he lived, but also in many other places, saw that Christian was in trouble and very sad, and began to talk with him. " How now, good fellow," said he, " where are you going with your heavy burden ? " " A heavy load, indeed," said Christian, " as ever a poor creature carried. And you ask me where I am going? I will tell you, sir. I am going to yon wicket gate before me, for I am told that when I get there I shall be shown how I may get rid of my heavy burden." " Have you a wife and children ? " said Mr. Worldly Wiseman. 3« Mr. Worldly Wiseman 37 " Yes," said Christian, " but I am so tired of this heavy load that I do not enjoy them as I once did ; sometimes I feel as if I had none." 1 " Will you listen to me," said Mr. Worldly Wise- man, " if I give you good advice ? " " If it be good I will," said Christian, " f or I am very much in need of it." Mr. Worldly Wiseman : " I would advise you then that you get rid of your load with all haste, for you will never be happy in your mind till then ; nor can you enjoy the blessings of God till then." Christian : " That is what I seek ; to be rid for- ever of this heavy burden ; but get it off my back myself I cannot, nor is there any man in our country that can take it off my shoulders; so I am going this way, as I told you, that I may be rid of my burden." Worldly Wiseman : " Who told you to go this way to get rid of your burden ? " Christian : "A man who seemed to me to be a great and good person. His name was Evan- gelist." Worldly Wiseman : " He gave you very bad ad- vice ! There is not a more dangerous way in the world than this he showed to you ; and that you shall find if you heed what he says. You have been in trouble already, for I see the mud of the Slough of Despond is on you, and that is only the beginning of the sorrows that do attend those that go on that way. Listen to me. I am much older 1 1 Cor. vii. 29. 38 Christian Trapped by than you. If you go on this road, you will be hungry, tired, in pain, and in great danger. You will meet with lions, dragons and many other fear- ful things, and even death. These things are true, and many men have said so who ought to know. Now why should you destroy yourself on the ad- vice of a person you did not know ? " Christian : " Why, sir, this burden on my back is more terrible than all these things ; and I do not care what I meet with, if I can get rid of my heavy load." Worldly Wiseman : " How did you find out you had a burden at first ? " Christian : "By reading this book in my hand." Worldly Wiseman : "I thought so, and you made the same mistake of other weak men, reading things you cannot understand, and now you are going on a very dangerous journey to get something you know not what." Christian : " I know what I want. It is to be rid of my heavy burden." Worldly Wiseman : " But why go this way, which is so dangerous, when I can tell you how to get rid of your burden without running into any dangers ? And this way is quite near by, and you will be safe and happy and find many friends." Christian : " Oh, sir, tell me this way ! " Worldly Wiseman : " In yonder village called Morality there lives a gentleman whose name is Legality, a very wise man of good name, who can help you off with your burden. He has helped Mr. Worldly Wiseman 39 many in this way, and besides he has cured those who are almost mad because of their heavy bur- dens. If you go to him you will be helped at once. His house is not quite a mile from where we stand, and if he is not at home, he has a son, whose name is Civility, who can do as well as the old gentleman himself. And if you wish to stay in this town you can send for your wife and children. There are houses standing empty and you may have one at a cheap rent. Food is cheap and good, and you are sure to make many kind friends." Now Christian said to himself, that if this were true he had better take Mr. Worldly Wiseman's ad- vice, so he asked the way to Legality's house. Worldly Wiseman : " Do you see yonder high hill?" Christian : " Yes, very well." Worldly Wiseman : " By that hill you must go, and the first house you come to is his." So Christian turned out of his way to go to Mr. Legality's house for help ; but when he got close to the hill it seemed so high, and that side of it which was next the pathway hung over so much that he was afraid to go on, lest it should fall on his head. Also his burden now seemed heavier to him than when he was on his way. Flashes of fire ' came out of the hill that made Christian afraid he would be burned, and he shook with fear. 2 And now he began to be sorry that he had taken Mr. Worldly Wiseman's advice; and 1 Ex. xix. 16, 18. 2 Heb. xii. 21. 4