Suppose you lived in England in the 1660s. Suppose you wished to gather a small group of Christians together in your home to teach them the Bible. Now imagine that this small group is larger than five people. Imagine also that you and your friends are not Anglican, meaning you are not members of the state church because your consciences will not allow you to sign the confessional documents of the Church of England. If the above conditions are all met, you would be engaged in illegal activity and would be considered an enemy of the state. Because John Bunyan engaged in such activity, seeking to preach the gospel to his small church in Bedford outside the auspices of the Church of England, he was thrown in prison for a total of 14 years.
“As I walked through the wilderness of this world…”
There were many who suffered as a result of Bunyan’s imprisonment. Certainly his congregation suffered as they were deprived of the ministry of their beloved pastor. Bunyan’s family suffered terribly as his wife and four children (one of whom, daughter Mary, was born blind) had to learn how to survive without a husband and father. And perhaps no one suffered more than Bunyan himself who was robbed of his liberty, the joys of home and family, and the comforts and helps of his local church. Beyond that, he was surely tormented by trials of conscience, perhaps wondering if his godly stand for the preaching of the pure gospel was worth all the sacrifice and sorrow. Few of us can appreciate just how great this trial must have been for Bunyan. We may feel as though religious toleration and free speech are under attack in our day, but we are still far removed from the difficulties that faced Bunyan and his friends.
Yet these were the circumstances appointed by God to bring to life one of the greatest works of literature ever produced. For it was while in prison that Bunyan penned a work that deserves pride of place among the annals of Christian classics, and indeed world classics. This book is his famous allegory, Pilgrim’s Progress. Inestimable in its value and peerless in its depth, Pilgrim’s Progress has provided comfort, conviction, and consolation to millions of people over the last three and a half centuries. It has been published in over 200 languages and in over 2,000 editions, and has never been out of print since it first appeared in 1678. Bunyan’s work has had a tremendous influence on the development of the English language and of western literature as a whole. It has also had an immense impact on the development of Christian spirituality in the west. It is not uncommon for Christians to conceive of their own spiritual lives in terms of the book’s narrative.
“I dreamed, and behold, I saw a man…”
Pilgrim’s Progress tells the story of Christian, a man who leaves the City of Destruction after reading in “the book in his hand” (the Bible) that all of its inhabitants are destined for ruin. Through the help of a man named Evangelist, he makes for the Celestial City where he is promised eternal life. Christian meets many interesting and eclectic characters along the way such as Pliable, Worldly Wiseman, and Talkative. He also meets with great trials at the hands of enemies like Apollyon and Giant Despair. However, Christian is not without friends in characters like Faithful and Hopeful who help him at key points along his journey leading ultimately to his safe arrival at the Celestial City. The second part of Pilgrim’s Progress tells the story of Christian’s wife, Christiana, who follows after him, and also finds her way to the Celestial City, though she too meets with various trials and difficulties along the way.
A number of Christian leaders, pastors, and theologians over the years have suggested that Pilgrim’s Progress should be required reading for Christians (if there were such a thing). J. I. Packer has gone so far as to encourage Christians to read the book at least once every year. C. H. Spurgeon, the Prince of Preachers, said that he himself read the book over 100 times throughout his life.
“When I had seen, I wished myself among them…”
It is worth asking how this book has captivated the imaginations of so many millions of people across the world for so many years. Some have spoken of feeling almost entranced by the book, enthralled with its various heroes and villains, and profoundly affected by many of its passages and scenes. Could it be that we recognize that in the narratives of Christian and Christiana we are actually reading about ourselves – about our battles with Apollyon, our struggles with Giant Despair, our fumbling through the Valley of the Shadow of Death, and our experiences of help from friends like Faithful and Hopeful. We realize that Christian’s story is our story, and in a most unusual way, our pilgrimage to the Celestial City is being narrated to us.
Pilgrim’s Progress reminds us that the Christian life is a journey, and one fraught with many danger, toils, and snares. Our pilgrimage to heaven will require endurance and perseverance. And yet Bunyan also reminds us that there is reward held out for all those who finish the journey. The Christian life is not an endless maze that leads us nowhere. We are headed for a paradise forever with Christ, a Celestial City whose builder and maker is God.
Other Recommended Books by Bunyan: The Holy War, Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners
Some sites we’ll visit on the tour:
· Elstow – The birthplace of John Bunyan and where he grew up
· Bedford – The site of Bunyan’s ministry and also the jail where he wrote Pilgrim’s Progress; we’ll also visit the museum in Bedford that celebrates his legacy
· Bunhill Fields in London – The Dissenters graveyard where Bunyan is buried just a few yards off from his friend John Owen
