The Pilgrim’s Progress

The Pilgrim’s Progress __________Instructor: Evangelist Carlton Knott________ Lesson 1 – Meeting the Man Birth: John Bunyan was born in 1628 in Elstow, England. [Dark Ages 538-1798] Poverty: His grandfather, after his death, left his father six pence or six pennies. Occupation: His father was a brazier - one who makes and mends kettles, pots and pans, this trade was called a “tinker.” John Bunyan later took on this trade. Bunyan wrote of his modest origins, "My descent was of a low and inconsiderable generation, my father's house being of that rank that is meanest and most despised of all the families of the land.” Lifestyle: ''Grace Abounding'' - He was known as an adept linguist as far as profanity was concerned, even the most proficient swearers were known to remark that Bunyan was "the ungodliest fellow for swearing they ever heard.” Conversion: While playing a game, [[Tip-cat]], on the village square, Bunyan claimed to have heard a voice, which asked: "Wilt thou leave thy sins and go to heaven or have thy sins and go to hell?” Era: In 1620, the Pilgrims came to America. It was also an era in which the Pilgrims were protesting against the Church of England, they were called “Puritans.” Many however found out that they could not reformed the Church of England, so they withdrew from the Church of England and called themselves “Non-conformist” or “Separatists.” He was also a contemporary with Shakespeare, and lived when the KJV Bible was translated in 1611. Education: Bunyan did not receive a formal education, however, he was able to master the English language. [Proverbs 2:6;Ecclesiastes 2:26, James 1:5] Family: In 1649 he was married, however, in 1655 his wife died leaving him with four small children (Mary-born blind, Elizabeth, John and Thomas). Remarried- 1659 Prison: 1660 at the age of 32, Banyan was sentence to twelve years in prison for preaching without a license. [2 Timothy 3:12] Trade: While in prison he used his trade to help support his family. Several other Christian friends also came to the aid of his family so they did not starve. [Psalm 40:17, Isaiah 41:17] 2 The Pilgrim’s Progres s: The book was written in a Bedford jail. Death: He died in 1688 at the age of 60. Famous Christians’ thoughts about John Bunyan and The Pilgrim’s Progress John Owen: “I would exchange all my knowledge and power, for the tinker’s power to touch human hearts” Charles H. Spurgeon: He read the pilgrims Progress one hundred times Ellen G. White’s thoughts on John Bunyan and The Pilgrims Progress “In human hearts today as great a transformation may be wrought as has ever been wrought in generations past. John Bunyan was redeemed from profanity and reveling, John Newton from slave dealing, to proclaim an uplifted Saviour. A Bunyan and a Newton may be redeemed from among men today.” [Christ Object Lessons 235] “Again, as in apostolic days, persecution turned out to the furtherance of the gospel. In a loathsome dungeon crowded with profligates and felons, John Bunyan breathed the very atmosphere of Heaven, and there he wrote his wonderful allegory of the pilgrim's journey from the land of destruction to the celestial city. For two hundred years that voice from Bedford jail has spoken with thrilling power to the hearts of men. Bunyan's “Pilgrim's Progress” and “Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners” have guided many feet into the path of life.” [The Great Controversy 252.2] “Success in the winning of souls does not depend upon age or circumstances, but upon the love one has for others. Consider John Bunyan imprisoned in the Bedford jail. His enemies think they have placed him where his work for others must cease. But not so. He is not idle. The love for souls continues to burn within him, and from the loath-some dungeon there is sent forth a light that has shone to all parts of the civilized world. There he wrote his wonderful allegory of the pilgrim's journey from the land of destruction to the celestial city. This book, "The Pilgrim's Progress," portrays the Christian life so accurately, and presents the love of Christ so attractively, that through its instrumentality hundreds and thousands have been converted.” [RH, May 30, 1912 par. 11] FACTS ABOUT THE BOOK • Next to the Bible many believe that it is the greatest book to be written. • It is the Bible with pictures. • It is very practical in nature. • This book describes the life of a Christian travelling between two worlds, “The City of Destruction,” which he is leaving and “ the Celestial City” to which he is heading. • The book was written in the form of an “allegory” [Galatians 4]…. story, poem, or picture which can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning, typically a moral one. • It has been translated in 198 languages and dialects. 3 • It sets the contrast between the genuine and false Christian. Therefore this book has no appeal to the worldly Christian. • The reality of the characters in this book, and their adaptableness to ourselves. • Not all of the experiences in this book will you go through, and not all of the characters in this will describe you. THE MAIN CHARACTER IN THE BOOK 1. Who is the main character in the book? _______________________ [Acts 11:26] He is married to Christiana and they have four children: Matthew, James, Samuel, and Joseph. 2. Where does he live? ____________________________________ [Isaiah 19:18] NOTE: This city stands as a symbol of the entire world as it is, with all of its sins, corruptions, and sorrows. No one living there can have any hope of salvation. a. “As I walked through the wilderness of this world, I found a place to sleep; and as I slept, I dreamed a dream. I dreamed, and behold, I saw a man clothed with rags [Isa. 64:6] standing in a certain place, with his face from his own house, [Luke 14:33] a book in his hand, and a great burden upon his back.” [Psalm 38:4] b. I looked and saw him open the book, and read therein; and as he read, he wept and trembled?” and not being able longer to contain, he brake out with a lamentable cry, saying, “What shall I do; [Acts 2:37; 16:30, Habak. 1:2,3] c. In this plight, therefore, he went home, and restrained 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 lieth hard upon me; moreover, I am certainly informed that this our city will be burnt 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. 3. Has the Bible predicted that this world will be destroyed, and what should we do? [2 Peter 3:10 1 Thessalonians 5:3] [Genesis 19:17] Ans. A. _______________________ B. __________________________ d. Now I saw, upon a time, when he was walking in the fields, that he was reading in his book, and greatly distressed in his mind; and as he read, he burst out, as he had done before, crying, “What shall I do to be saved?” [Acts 16:30,31]

e. I saw also that he looked this way, and that way, as if he would run; yet he stood still because (as I perceived) he could not tell which way to go. I looked then, and saw a man named Evangelist coming to him, and he asked, “Wherefore dost thou cry?” NOTE: The Evangelist represents Pastor John Gifford, who greatly helped Bunyan at his time of conversion. f. He answered, “Sir, I perceive, by the book in my hand, that I am condemned to die, and after that to come to judgment, [Heb. 9:27] and I find that I am not willing to do the first, [Job 10: 21,22], nor able to do the second.” [Ezek. 22:14] g. Then said Evangelist, “Why not willing to die, since this life is attended with so many evils?” The man answered, “Because, I fear that this burden that is upon my back will sink me lower than the grave, and I shall fall into Tophet. [Isa. 30:33] And Sir, if I be not fit to go to prison, I am not fit to go to judgment, and from thence to execution; and the thoughts of these things make me cry.” h. Then said Evangelist, “If this be thy condition, why standest thou still?” He answered, “Because I know not whither to go.” Then he gave him a parchment roll, and there was written within, “Fly from the wrath to come.” [Matt. 3:7] i. The man therefore read it, and looking upon Evangelist very carefully, said, “Whither must I fly?” Then said Evangelist (pointing with his finger over a very wide field), “Do you see yonder wicketgate?” [Matt. 7:13,14]. The man said, “No.” Then said the other, “Do you see yonder shining light?” [Psalm 119:105; 2 Pet. 1:19.] He said, “I think I do.” Then said Evangelist, “Keep that light in your eye, and go up directly thereto, so shalt thou see the gate; at which, when thou knockest, it shall be told thee what thou shalt do.” j. So I saw in my dream that the man began to run. Now he had not run far from his own door when his wife and children, perceiving it, began to cry after him to return; but the man put his fingers in his ears, and ran on crying, Life! Life! Eternal life! [Luke 14:26] So he looked not behind him, [Gen. 19:17], but fled towards the middle of the plain. Note: Convinced that the city is about to be blasted by the wrath of God, Christian flees and sets out alone on a pilgrimage which he hopes will lead him to Mount Zion, to the Celestial City, where he can enjoy eternal life in the happy company of God and the Heavenly Host. 4. Are you willing to go alone for Jesus? YES or NO