The Pilgrim's Progress from This World to That Which is to Come (16)

'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.

........... Having gone off the correct path, and having found themselves in Bypath Meadow, our pilgrim, Christian, and his companion Hopeful are detained and held captive by Giant Despair, who along with his wife Gloom make them endure hardship and suffering in the dungeons of Doubting Castle. Before more suffering is inflicted, Christian remembers he has a 'key', and using this key they escape and are able to find their way back onto the true path that they should never have left in the first place. What about you, are you on the true path to the Celestial City (Heaven)?