Pilgrim's Progress

Three centuries have passed since the

publication of John Bunyan's book

pilgrims progress yet second and volume

of sales only to the Bible itself

pilgrims progress continues to be one of

the most widely read and influential

books ever written

translated into many languages released

in a continuing variety of editions the

books influence reaches from the

university classroom to the nursery.

Bedford England now a thriving

industrial community looked like this

when John Bunyan walked these very

streets during the mid to latter years

of the 17th century one remarkably

well-preserved building where some say

the writer took part in parachurch

worship now serves as the Bunyan museum

here the visitor finds a replica of the

kind of living room one might have seen

in the Bunyan home both his birthplace

and the house where he lived no longer

exist the museum known as moot Hall does

contain such Bunyan memorabilia as the

actual pulpit from which the young man

heard sermons which profoundly

influenced his life and thought also the

door to one of the two Bedford prisons

where he spent one-fifth of his life and

where he wrote his famous book faithful

to his church this church Bunyan was not

content to receive his spiritual food

from sermons alone though he brought his

family to this sanctuary faithfully each

Sunday he also became an avid student of

the Scriptures himself it was this study

of the Bible which caused him to ask

many questions about the conduct of the

church as well as of his own lifestyle

for example he served for a time as the.

Sunday morning bell ringer

a task he enjoyed so immensely he came

to think of it as sinful he feared lest

one day when he entered the tower to

ring the bell

it might come crashing down upon him in

divine judgment Elst oh the little

village adjacent to Bedford where Bunyan

actually lived was a religious center in

his day this spacious Abbey became a

kind of community social structure as

well as religious though a stained-glass

window in the church now commemorates

the author and his book John Bunyan from

his study of the Bible came into sharp

disagreement with the church many of the

scenes in his pilgrims progress not only

depict Bunyan's personal struggles but

also the inequities he saw in the

established Church as this plaque

commemorates he paid dearly for his

disagreements with the religious leaders

of his day a small jail part of the

entrance to Bedford stood on this bridge

here during the year he spent as a

prisoner John Bunyan began the writing

of pilgrims progress today the

descendants of the community hold him in

honor then it was a different story

for John Bunyan dared to speak out

against hypocrisy although never brought

to a proper trial he spent eleven more

years in the main prison of Bedford it

was during this time he completed his

book John Bunyan lies buried and one of

the storied old cemeteries to be found

in the City of London nearby rest the

remains of another famous author who is

said to have been strongly influenced by.

Bunyan's writings in a much less

pretentious resting place overlooked by

most visitors to the cemetery can be

found the grave of Susanna Wesley mother

of the two famous brothers John and.

Charles still one more famous man lies

buried here a man profoundly influenced

by the book pilgrims progress his name

Isaac Watts writer of many of the most

treasured hymns in the Christian Church

today scholars still try to fathom the

motivations and to understand the

greatness of the man John Bunyan we

shall simply occupy ourselves with a

visualization of his famous story

pilgrims progress

Wages of sin wages been wages wages

wages death death the wages of sin is

death is death wages death wages wages

wages death death.

Oh Lord

what must I do to be saved

the wages of sin wages wages wages wages

death the wages of sin is death is death

the soul that sins must die

must die the wages of sin is death soul

that sins must die must die the wages of

sin is death the burden of his sins sore

and heavy upon his back pilgrim had

forsaken the city of destruction to set

out in search of the celestial City he

was prepared to face whatever obstacle

might come in his way even death itself

not only did pilgrim bear the heavy

burden upon his back but the road he

must travel held many pitfalls and

dangers many trials and disappointments

and added to these indeed the cause of

much of these would be his great enemy

the enemy of his very soul

In contrast to the burden upon his back

the traveler carried a book the very

book of life it was the message of this

book which had caused him to leave the

city of destruction

but although the enemy of his soul would

continually seek to disrupt his journey

there would also be those to counsel and

guide him may I help you

I have been watching you you seem very

troubled

I am very troubled this book tells me of

a great judgment coming down from heaven

I tried to warn my wife and children my

friends and neighbors but they wouldn't

listen to me the judgment of which you

speak is true you are wise to heed the

warning let me introduce myself my name

is evangelist evangelist then perhaps

you can help me you see I'm not ready

for God's judgement that's why I left

the city of destruction why do you stand

here because I don't know where to go

How kind sir how can I escape God's

judgment

here is a key it is the key of promise

Do you see that gate in the distance

no sir I don't do you see a light I

think I do

cutter go directly to a bad word it will

lead you to a gate when you come to the

gate knock and you will be told what to

do.

People may be in darkness in darkness in

darkness have seen a great light a great

night even the shadow of death but

shadow a light has darlin a light has

dawned a light has dawned

A neighbor in the city of destruction

flyable my main took it upon himself to

find pilgrim and bring him back to his

wife and family

In reality pilgrim had not left his

family instead his wife influenced by

the scoffing of their neighbors refused

to play with her husband from the

condemned.

Dynamic.

Oh allow me to introduce myself my name

is obstinate

my name is pliable the pliable pliable

oh yes yes yes yes fine family the

pliable I know the name fine family I'm

trying to catch up to pilgrim pilgrim

pilgrim I don't believe I ever heard the

name

he just left this morning he left his

wife and his children and his friends

pity pity such a pity much too much of

that sort of thing these days isn't

there

oh yes yes much too much can you help me

I've got to bring pilgrim back to his

wife and children bring him back to

sanity or me to say but of course I can

help you I specialize in helping chaps

like you I do I do

oh yes yes yes

now when we catch up with this

weak-minded fellow you might best leave

the talking to me I've had a lot of

experience with his kind be sober be

vigilant your adversary the devil walks

along your adversary the devil walks of

love your adversary I've come all the

way I told you to let me do the talking

oh yes mr. Obstinate sorry sir yes sir

yes sir well well what a pleasure

you are pilgrim I believe pilgrim oh yes