Required reading
Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan (available from Amazon or free on the internet,
here for example)
- Up to the paragraph that begins: 'When these men had thus bravely showed themselves against Doubting-Castle, and had slain Giant Despair, they went forward and went on till they came to the Delectable Mountains, where Christian and Hopeful refreshed themselves with the varieties of the place.'
My notes and thoughts
Today the pilgrims leave Gaius' house, stay at Vanity-Fair, pass Hill Lucre, travel along the River, defeat Giant Despair and demolish Doubting Castle.
The stay at Vanity-Fair shows a place that has changed dramatically since we visited it with Christian and Faithful. One of the townsmen, Contrite, says that the people of the town are 'much more moderate now than formerly. You know how Christian and Faithful were used at our town; but of late, I say, they have been far more moderate. I think the blood of Faithful lieth with load upon them till now; for since they burned him, they have been ashamed to burn any more: in those days we were afraid to walk the streets, but now we can show our heads. Then the name of a professor was odious, now, specially in some parts of our town (for you know our town is large) religion is counted honourable.' Again and again church history shows that instead of slowing down the kingdom's advance, persecution can actually speed up the kingdom's advance. A great encouragement to those Christians experiencing immense persecutions for their faith in certain parts of the world even as I write this.
Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.
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