The Pilgrim's Progress in Words of One SyllableBunyan, John
Religion
The Pilgrim's Progress in Words of One Syllable
Bunyan, John
Christian fiction; Christian pilgrims and pilgrimages -- Fiction
Christian.--But is there no turn or bend by which one who knows not the
road might lose his way?
Good-will.--My friend, there are not a few that lead down to it, and
these paths are wide: yet by this you may judge the right from the
wrong--the right are straight and are by no means wide.
Then I saw in my dream that Christian said: Could you not help me off
with this load on my back?--for as yet he had not got rid of it. He was
told: As to your load, you must bear it till you come to the place of
Deliverance, for there it will fall from your back.
Then Christian would have set off on the road; but Good-will said: Stop
a while and let me tell you that when you have gone through the gate you
will see the house of Mr. Interpreter, at whose door you must knock, and
he will show you good things. Then Christian took leave of his friend,
who bade him God speed.
He now went on till he came to the house at the door of which he was to
knock; this he did two or three times. At last one came to the door and
said: Who is there?
Christian.--I have come to see the good man of the house.
So in a short time Mr. Interpreter came to him and said: What would you
have?
Christian.--Sir, I am come from The City of Destruction, and am on my
way to Mount Zion. I was told by the man that stands at the gate, that
if I came here you would show me good things that would help me.
Then Interpreter took Christian to a room, and bade his man bring a
light, and there he saw on the wall the print of one who had a grave
face, whose eyes were cast up to the sky, and the best of books was in
His hand, the law of truth was on His lips, and the world was at His
back. He stood as if He would plead for men, and a crown of gold hung
near his head.
Christian.--What does this mean?
Interpreter.--I have shown you this print first, for this is He who
is to be your sole guide when you can not find your way to the land to
which you go; so take good heed to what I have shown you, lest you meet
with some who would feign to lead you right; but their way goes down to
death.
Then he took him to a large room that was full of dust, for it had not
been swept; and Interpreter told his man to sweep it. Now when he did
so, such clouds of dust flew up, that it made Christian choke.
Then said Interpreter to a maid that stood by; Make the floor moist that
the dust may not rise; and when she had done this, it was swept with
ease.
Christian.--What means this?
Interpreter.--This room is the heart of that man who knows not the grace
of God. The dust is his first sin and the vice that is in him. He that
swept first is the Law, but she who made the floor moist is The Book
which tells Good News to Man. Now as soon as you saw the first of these
sweep, the dust did so fly that the room could not be made clean by him;
this is to show you that the law as it works does not cleanse the heart
from sin, but gives strength to sin, so as to rouse it up in the soul.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account