The Pilgrim's Progress from This World to That Which Is to Come (18)

'As I walked through the wilderness of this world, I lighted on a certain place where was a den, and I laid me down in that place to sleep; and as I slept I dreamed a dream.' So began 'The Pilgrim's Progress from This World to That Which Is to Come; Delivered under the Similitude of a Dream', written by John Bunyan. First published in 1678, this great allegory, is considered by some, second only to the Bible in published literature.' Many illustrations of Bunyan's own Christian pilgrimage are used in this book, and Pastor Chris Hand, in a series of children's talks, takes us, with Pilgrim, on his journey from the City of Destruction to the object of his pilgrimage, arrival at the Celestial City.

....... Moving on from The Delectable Mountains, and having been warned by the shepherds that they would meet Mr. Deceiver along the way, our pilgrims travel on. Another character they soon meet is Mr. Ignorance, they discover that he too is travelling to The Celestial City, but unfortunately he is putting all his hopes of getting there on good works, something that will not help him arrive. They also meet Mr. Little Faith. Little faith he may have, but as slow as he is travelling towards The Celestial City he will most surely arrive. Our pilgrims come to a crossroads, and it is there that they meet someone dressed in white. He directed them along one of the paths, but unfortunately it was the wrong one. Our pilgrims had forgotten the shepherds warning about Mr. Deceiver. The devil we learn often comes to us as an angel of light. We should not follow wrong teachers, but look for our instructions in The Bible.