THE
PILGRIM'S PROGRESS
from This World
to That Which is to Come
Delivered
Under the Similitude of a Dream Wherein Is Discovered the Manner of His
Setting Out, His Dangerous Journey, and Safe Arrival at the Desired Country
JOHN
BUNYAN
Section
1
Author's
Apology for his Book - Christian's deplorable condition - Evangelist
directs him - Obstinate
and Pliable - Slough
of Despond - Worldly
Wiseman -
Mount
Sinai
- Conversation
with Evangelist
CHRISTIAN'S
DEPLORABLE CONDITION
As I walked through
the wilderness of this world, I
lighted on a certain place where was a den (the gaol), and I laid me down in
that place to sleep: and as I slept, I dreamed a dream. I dreamed; and
behold, I saw 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. I looked, and saw him open the book, and read therein; and as he read,
he wept and trembled;
"For
mine iniquities are gone over mine head: as an heavy burden they are too
heavy for me." Psalm 38:4
"But
we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy
rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have
taken us away." Isaiah 64:6
"So
likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he
cannot be my disciple." Luke 14:33
"For
if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and
disobedience received a just recompence of reward; How shall we escape, if
we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the
Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;" Hebrews
2:2, 3
and, not being able longer to contain, he brake
out with a lamentable cry, saying, "What shall I do?"
"Now
when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto
Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall
we do?" Acts 2:37
In this plight, therefore, he went home, and
refrained himself as long as he could, that his wife and children should not
perceive his distress; but he could not be silent long, because that his
trouble increased: wherefore at length he brake his mind to his wife and
children; and thus he began to talk to them: "O my dear wife,"
said he, "and you the children of my bowels, I, your dear friend, am in
myself undone, by reason of a burden that lies hard upon me; moreover, I am
for certain informed, that this our city will be burned with fire from
heaven; in which fearful overthrow, both myself, with thee, my wife, and you
my sweet babes, shall miserably come to ruin; except (the which yet I see
not) some way of escape can be found, whereby we may be delivered." At
this his relations were sore amazed; not for that they believed that what he
had said to them was true, but because they thought that some frenzy
distemper had got into his head; therefore, it drawing towards night, and
they hoping that sleep might settle his brains, with all haste they got him
to bed: but the night was as troublesome to him as the day; wherefore,
instead of sleeping, he spent it in sighs and tears. So, when the morning
was come, they would know how he did: he told them, "Worse and
worse." He also set to talking to them again; but they began to be
hardened. They also thought to drive away his distemper by harsh and surly
conduct to him: sometimes they would deride; sometimes they would chide; and
sometimes they would quite neglect him. Wherefore he began to retire himself
to his chamber, to pray for and pity them, and also to condole his own
misery. He would also walk solitarily in the fields, sometimes reading and
sometimes praying; and thus for some days he spent his time.
The
Pilgrim's Progress - Evangelist directs him
The
Pilgrim's Progress - Contents
