"As I walked through the wilderness of this world, I lighted on a certain place where was a den, and laid me down in that place to sleep; and as I slept, I dreamed a dream..."
The dreamer? John Bunyan. The dream? The Pilgrim's Progress, one of history's bestsellers, published on Feb. 18, 1678. Bunyan tells the story of a pilgrim named Christian who encounters many trials, toils, and triumphs while traveling from the City of Destruction to the Celestial City.
Princeton's Dr. Emile Gaillet, who read this book 50 times, said, "Next to the Bible, The Pilgrim's Progress rates highest among the classics...The reason is that as I proceed along the appointed course, I need not only an authoritative book of instruction; I need a map. Bunyan's masterpiece has provided us with the most excellent map found anywhere."
Children love it, adults love it, and if you're a Christian and haven't read it treat yourself to great read. Let me recommend this version in modern english. Or if you're not a big reader but spend a lot of time in your car, these CD's or MP3 downloads are nice.
You may know that the book is also interspersed with little poems. Here are some of my personal favorites:
The hill though difficult I covet to ascend,
The difficulty will not me offend,
For I perceive that the way to life lies here,
Come, pluck up heart, let's neither faint nor fear,
Better though difficult the right way to go,
Than wrong though easy where the end is woe.
---
Shall they who wrong begin yet rightly end?
Shall they at all have safety for their friend?
No, no, in headstrong manner they set out,
And in headlong will they fall at last, no doubt.
---
Poor man, where art thou now, thy day is night.
Good man, be not cast down, thou yet art right.
Thy way to heaven lies by the gates of hell.
Cheer up, hold out, with thee it shall go well.
No comments:
Post a Comment