THE PILGRIM’S PROGRESS
FROM THIS WORLD, TO THAT WHICH IS TO COME
CHAPTER 1
WEEK 1 – MONDAY
Read and pray: “Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament, and those who turn many to righteousness like the stars forever and ever.” (Daniel 12:3)
WALKING through the wilderness of this world, I came to a place where there was a cave¹; there I lay down to rest. Soon I fell asleep and had a dream.
I saw a man clothed in rags², standing with his back turned to his home, bearing a heavy burden on his shoulders and holding a book in his hands (Isaiah 64:6; Luke 14:33; Psalm 38:4; Habakkuk 2:2). I looked at him carefully and saw that he opened the book and read it; and as he read, he wept and trembled, until he could no longer restrain himself, let out a painful groan, and cried out: “What shall I do?” (Acts 2:37 and 16:30; Habakkuk 1:2-3).
In this state, he went back to his house, trying to contain himself as much as possible so that his wife and children would not perceive his distress. However, as his misery worsened, he could no longer hide it, and opening up to his loved ones, he spoke in this manner:
“Dear wife, beloved children, I can no longer bear the weight of this burden that crushes me. I know for certain that the city we live in will be consumed by fire from heaven, and that we will all perish in such a dreadful catastrophe if we do not find a way to escape. My fear increases at the thought that I might not find such a way.”
Upon hearing these words, great fear took hold of his family—not because they believed the prediction would come true, but because they thought their head of household had lost his senses.
And as night approached, they urged him to go to bed, hoping that sleep and rest would calm his mind. Yet his eyelids did not close all night, which he spent in tears and sighs.
In the morning, when they asked if he was feeling better, he answered no, saying that his affliction only worsened. He continued to lament, and his family, instead of sympathizing with his suffering, treated him harshly.
No doubt he hoped to obtain this way what gentleness had not achieved until then: sometimes they mocked him, at other times they scolded him, and most often they despised him. His only remaining refuge was to shut himself in his room to pray and weep over his misery, or to go out into the fields, seeking in prayer and reading a relief³ for such indescribable pain.
One day, as he walked through the fields, I noticed that he was deeply downcast, reading as usual, and I heard him again exclaim: “What must I do to be saved?”
His wild gaze turned from side to side, as if seeking a way to flee; but not finding one at once, he remained still, not knowing which way to go.
Then I saw a man named Evangelist (Acts 16:30-31; Job 33:23) approach him and speak to him, and the following dialogue took place:
Evangelist – Why are you crying?
Christian – (That was his name). – Because this book tells me that I am condemned to die, and that after that I will be judged (Hebrews 9:27), and I don’t want to die (Job 16:21-22), nor am I ready to appear for judgment! (Ezekiel 22:14).
Evangelist – And why don’t you want to die, since your life is so full of evil?
Christian – Because I fear that this heavy burden on my back will sink me lower than the grave, and that I will fall into Tophet (Isaiah 30:33). And if I am not ready to go into that dreadful prison, even less am I ready to appear in judgment or to endure that torment. That’s why I’m crying.
Evangelist – Then what are you waiting for, now that you are in this condition?
Christian – I don’t know where to go.
Evangelist – Take this and read. (And he gave him a scroll on which were written the words: “Flee from the wrath to come”). (Matthew 3:7).
Christian – (After reading). And where should I flee?
Evangelist – (Pointing to a very wide field). Do you see that narrow gate? (Matthew 7:13-14).
Christian – I don’t see it.
Evangelist – Don’t you see a shining light over there? (Psalm 119:105; II Peter 1:19).
Christian – I think I see it.
Evangelist – Then don’t take your eyes off it; go straight to it, and you will find a gate. Knock, and there you will be told what to do.
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¹ A reference to Bedford prison, where he was imprisoned.
² Rags, tatters.
³ Relief or comfort for pain.
Enjoy more:
Hymn “Prayer – Telling the Lord”
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