Pilgrim's progress - Bunyan - II

Required readingPilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan (available from Amazon or free on the internet, here for example) - Up to the paragraph that begins: 'At last there came a grave person to the Gate named Good Will, who asked who was there, and whence he came, and what he would have.'

My notes and thoughts
And so the journey really begins.  Today we meet a few characters that I'm sure are very familiar to us if we have been a Christian for any length of time.

Obstinate represents those who refuse to understand why anyone is a Christian: 'I will be no companion of such misled fantastical fellows.'

Pliable represents those who are happy to 'walk the walk' when hearing about all the treasures of heaven.  But as soon as they meet any hardship (represented in the slough of despond) they flee: 'Is this the happiness you have told me all this while of?  If we have such ill speed at our first setting out, what may we expect, 'twixt this and our journey's end?'

Worldly-Wiseman represents those who trust in their own morality to relieve themselves of the burden of sin and thus encourage legalism and civility.  Yet Evangelist is right: '...for by the deeds of the law no man living can be rid of his burden: therefore Mr Worldly-Wiseman is an alien, and Mr Legality a cheat, and for his son Civility, notwithstanding his simpering looks, he is but an hypocrite, and cannot help thee.'

One of the sad parts of this section for me was when Pliable was ridiculed for turning back and then joins the others in slandering Christian: 'So Pliable sat sneaking among them.  But at last he got more confidence, and then they all turned their tales, and began to deride poor Christian behind his back.'  How many of our friends became Christians for a time and then turned on us when peer pressure kicked in?

Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.