“The Pilgrim”

John Bunyan (1628-1688) lived in England in a time of religious turmoil and civil war. Ignoring the magistrates order to stop preaching, he was imprisoned over a period of twelve years. John Bunyan was a man who had very little education. Yet, he has touched millions of lives over the centuries and inspired millions with his writings. Sometime around 1653, Bunyan became involved with preaching and several years later, he was arrested—not because of the content of his message, (though one could make a strong case) of things, preaching without a license. I guess if the Apostles were around in the 1600’s, they would’ve been arrested as well. Consequently, Bunyan spent twelve years in prison for the crime. An edict was issued in 1672 that saw Bunyan released from prison. But then in 1673, the “Declaration of Indulgence” was revoked and Bunyan was once again imprisoned. During the second imprisonment, Bunyan penned his masterpiece, “The Pilgrim’s Progress”—which was published years later. to understand the power of Bunyan’s masterpiece, it has been said “The Pilgrim’s Progress” is second only to the Bible in terms of publication. Bunyan passed away in 1688, but his work lives on. In prison he wrote these stirring words of courage.

Who would true valor see,
Let him come hither;
One here will constant be,
Come wind, come weather;
There’s no discouragement
Shall make him once relent
His first avowed intent
To be a Pilgrim.

Whoso beset him round
With dismal stories
Do but themselves confound;
His strength the more is.
No lion can him fright,
He’ll with a giant fight,
But he will have a right
To be a Pilgrim.

Hobgoblin nor foul fiend
Can daunt his spirit;
He knows he at the end
Shall life inherit.
Then fancies fly away,
He’ll fear not what men say;
He’ll labor night and day
To be a Pilgrim.

(Christian Values: Briscoe, 20; The Pilgrim’s Progress, 7)