Currently Reading..."The Pilgrims Progress" by
John Bunyan
1} When at the first I took my pen in hand Thus for to write, I did not understand That I at all should make a little book In such a mode; nay, I had undertook To make another; which, when almost done, Before I was aware, I this begun.
4} May I not write in such a style as this? In such a method, too, and yet not miss My end -- thy good? Why may it not be done? Dark clouds bring waters, when the bright bring none.
Taken from the Apology leading to the Book the Pilgrims Progress
I am reading this text lazily or at least conveniently through on-line format thanks to the reliable methods of the Project Gutenberg. Classical Text Provider. http://www.gutenberg.net/etext94/plgrm10.txt
I welcomed someone else a friend and hope future ally to read this along with me, something I referred to as honestly inspiring. Simple but yet deep. From an author who not only knows his scriptures but has joy in, and from it. Both from Old and New Testament. A joy, a love, a personal love of inspired scriptures which has life to him, and he hopes to the reader. He passes this on artfully not distorting light but artfully healing social religious and personal convictions into a beautiful, or what he says - allegorical - or others may say prosaic form. Which makes it light reading something to enjoy, and charm. This of course does not mean that it does not construct or the old-fashioned term "edify" me into personal contemplation. Because to edify is what I feel was its primary purpose. To edify I suppose in a way in which has not been written before at that time, in Britain. I don't bother myself much with Shakespeare's hype as it will always be around but from the position of Bunyan the author of this book’s apology I get a glimpse that his book is going to be quite a poetic ride, adventurous thrill slowly tearing away the pasty dry cast to reveal an engraved masterpiece within or as he Bunyan says: "This book will make a traveller of thee, If by its counsel thou wilt ruled be;"
It is a ride, but not a standard one. Hearing the gospels and some readings of the apostle Paul, most believers and hearers I call to mind would think they have heard it all. Whatever happens as a believer is already known to us. Temptations, struggle, thanksgiving are to be the norm. But Bunyan, rides this story out in a search for a land seemingly geographical yet with spiritual significance and bearing. Leading to salvation. Personal salvation. In phases, and in stages. What the lead believes of this search his search, is a reaction to where he is in the journey to the promise land and where he is in himself and in his faith. The stages he passes create meetings the meetings bring out characters. Colourful ones. Ones to react to and from. To help him along the way and to help him by resisting. Remember Apollyon in the Bible? This isn't written as a person that speaks yet when the Christian Pilgrim reaches or advances further into the sacred land he meets the embodiment of temptation, sloth, and fear who is called Apollyon. Here he is described:
Apollyon:
{142}
So he went on, and Apollyon met him. Now the monster was hideous to behold; he was clothed with scales, like a fish, (and they are his pride,) he had wings like a dragon, feet like a bear, and out of his belly came fire and smoke, and his mouth was as the mouth of a lion. When he was come up to Christian, he beheld him with a disdainful countenance, and thus began to question with him.
And what he does to the Christian, who Bunyan has made us in form to relate to:
{143, 144, 151}...
APOL. By this I perceive thou art one of my subjects,
for all that country is mine, and I am the prince and god of it.
How is it, then, that thou hast run away from thy king?
CHR. I was born, indeed, in your dominions, but your service was hard, and your wages such as a man could not live on, "for the wages of sin is death" [Rom 6:23]; therefore, when I was come to years, I did, as other considerate persons do, look out, if, perhaps, I might mend myself.
Then Apollyon, espying his opportunity, began to gather up close to Christian, and wrestling with him, gave him a dreadful fall; and with that Christian's sword flew out of his hand. Then said Apollyon, "I am sure of thee now." And with that he had almost pressed him to death, so that Christian began to despair of life; but as God would have it, while Apollyon was fetching of his last blow, thereby to make a full end of this good man, Christian nimbly stretched out his hand for his sword, and caught it, saying, "Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy;
when I fall I shall arise" [Micah 7:8];
Christian, the lead pilgrim is who we see through, who we are in a way.
He is that representative of us that we all assume we know. Or I believe Bunyan would prefer we all assumed we knew. This is where the thrill of this story of stages comes from. And may then be seen as a artistic or prosaic piece even though the author protests against that view. But more importantly it may be seen for what it gracefully is, a graceful edification for believers to absorb for both the literal value, and for reflection on their spiritual lives.
One interesting feature not hidden and quite tasteful from this book that happens to entwine with the overall feel the author paces for us is his naming of the characters.
I am speaking about their very names in turn representing their identities or types. The Talkatives, the Superstitious, Giant Despairs and the rest we read about in progressing stages. Each one more or less of some spiritual essence. Character development I don’t feel is necessary in their cases, as the lead goes through quite a lot of them. It gives us who see things - like the dreamer narrating - the view in which the pilgrim or Christian finds his way, by who he meets.
He keeps it simple, and their names lead us to what they say and what they do. There is an interesting moment in his travel whereby the lead Pilgrim Christian and his friend Faithful are at trial, Faithful is about to be sentenced when the supposed Jury of his case each give their denouncing verdict. Now the prior to this moment there has been no mention of the members of the jury during the journey but when the time of trial comes we see them first mentioned each with a fitting verdict to go with their names as negative, predictable or as bias as their verdict may be. Indeed there is something in a name. At least according to Bunyan in this piece of his. Perhaps the author is hinting to us that in this way “by their fruits you shall know them.” Or “Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.
A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.” (See Mathew 7:16, 7:17-18)... As the scriptures clearly states.
And this is the magic of this book, and with a faithful believer in Christ. That is the clarity in which believers in God can view the world lit by Gods spirit and not the way we would ordinarily see. And from this it is reflected that by our actions and heartfelt will we are either for God or against him and the consequences from is just that clear.
Is there any reason to read this book today?
Yes it was perhaps written in the 1600's, and in old English style. So as a task? Perhaps. But is there any reason to read this book for and with pleasure? I believe the true question is, is there any reason not to? But there is more relevance to be dug from this classic prose. There was a peculiar part of this book where “By-Ends” a character of negotiation, talks himself out of daring to walk the narrow or the straight way described as the "carrying of the cros"s... And from him we read into the popular question of the faith concerning riches. By-ends meets up with some of his negotiating mates such as “Save All” and begins to discuss what the implications are for aspiring believers who which to use religion as a profession for income, he asks: “is it right?” Bunyan in turn was asking; "is it right to seek worldly riches with God in mind?" So has Bunyan given us quite a glimpse of how it was then concerning the sincerity in the ministeries of Christ in his time? Well surely this is something we of this age can relate to. So when there are reports of a sport stadium being used as a mega-church the light of his cause is clearly reflected in our day. Of course with names like Save-All and By-Ends they obviously answered themselves that we could have a good conscience by clinging for and with riches in the name of God. They both later fall into a silvery sharp pit and were never heard of again. So Bunyan lets us know that ?"God is not to be mocked. "
This work struck me as timeless. Timeless temptations with the same timeless reactions. And not only with the rich question do we get some insight but also with issues concerning perseverance in time of trouble, and concerning doubt even when chosen. Also concerning past influences in ones life and its negative shadow when searching for deliverance from it. Pits after pits good looking tempting wrong ways - yet dark and fearful straight paths - this is how it was but also is, not according to popular beliefs though this is how it should be.
At a time when the freedom of speech which we know of today was not in practice I read this and know that the author may have paid a price for writing it. Perhaps he lets us know this after his apology with the words in the beginning: “As I walked through the wilderness of this world, I lighted on a certain place where was a Den, (a Jail).” I believe that those of us who as of now choose or find themselves somewhat on the same journey as the Christian pilgrim does spiritually in this book, and do look into their own reflection and weakness may find that in the end we will have to pay something of the same price.
"This book will make a traveller of thee,
If by its counsel thou wilt ruled be;
It will direct thee to the Holy Land,
If thou wilt its directions understand:
Yea, it will make the slothful active be;
The blind also delightful things to see." Bunyan
Prisoner 1948:
Currently Reading..."The Pilgrims Progress" by
The Late John Bunyan
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