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John Newton penned a brief preface to The Pilgrim’s Progress that expresses his appreciation for Bunyan and his work.

Click here to see the numerous references Bunyan makes to The Pilgrim’s Progress in his own journal and vast correspondence.

 

Part 2: Christiana

Since our study of this portion of the story will be briefer and more introductory than was our study of Part 1, some may find it helpful to read an abridged version, prepared by Bill Lovegrove, which has been shortened to 15 pages and 10,000 words (original is more than 80,000 words). Some of the longer dialogues, minor characters, and review sections have been omitted. 

Celestial Railroad (1843)

This is a piece of literature written by Nathaniel Hawthorne that I think you will find fascinating in light of our study in The Pilgrim’s Progress. It is not long (maybe a twenty minute read), but it is quite a masterpiece and engagingly written. Effectively borrowing from the familiar imagery of John Bunyan’s The Pilgrim’s Progress, Hawthorne retraces Bunyan’s harrowing journey from the comfort of a railroad car, noting all the while the improvements and sophisticated refinements now available to people who long to arrive at the Celestial City by a less troublesome route than the one followed by Christian. He recounts a “new and improved” journey to the Celestial City – an easier, less burdensome, more refined journey that appeals to more people. For example, efforts have been made to improve the Slough of Despond, to carry passengers’ burdens for them, to upgrade the Wicket Gate, to bypass the Cross and Interpreter’s House, to smooth the journey through the Valley of the Shadow of Death and Vanity Fair, and to ferry passengers across the final river. All the while, passengers on the train are mocking those pilgrims who have chosen to make the journey on foot. The train is engineered by none other than Apollyon himself, who now instead of impeding travelers on the journey, now convinces them that he wants to take them there, but in the end, they learn of his true intention.

Study Helps

Dramatized, Abridged Version of The Pilgrim's Progress

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Permission granted on 12/1/2006 from the pastors at Trinity Baptist Church (Montville, NJ) to disseminate recordings.

Sermons by Pastor Minnick

The World a Wilderness (7/19/1998)

More Worldly Wisdom (7/26/1998)

Vanity Fair (8/30/1998)

Children's Handouts
1) Introduction (no handout)
2) Slough of Despond & Help – Sinai & Evangelist	K5-2	3-6
3) Goodwill – Valiant Man	K5-2	3-6
4) Man in Iron Cage – Formalist & Hypocrisy	K5-2	3-6
5) Timorous & Mistrust – Piety, Prudence, & Charity	K5-2	3-6
6) Peace in the Palace – Valley of Shadow of Death	K5-2	3-6
7) Faithful & Talkative – Vanity Fair, Hubbub in the Fair, In the Cage	K5-2	3-6
8) Trial of Faithful, Defense & Death – Money-love vs. Christian	K5-2	3-6
9) Hill Lucre & Demas – Castle-yard Bones, Escape from Castle	K5-2	3-6
10) Mountains & Shepherds – Christian & Hopeful, Great-Grace	K5-2	3-6
11) Flatterer & Shining One, Atheist – Argument with Ignorance, Of Ignorance	K5-2	3-6
12) Temporary, Beulah Land – Celestial City, Conclusion	K5-2	3-6

Date	Subject & Adult Reading Guides (prepared by Bill Lovegrove)
2/7/16	Introduction to book: Life and Times of John Bunyan, Author’s Apology – Obstinate & Pliable
2/14/16	Slough of Despond & Help – Sinai & Evangelist
2/21/15	Goodwill – Valiant Man
2/28/16	Man in Iron Cage – Formalist & Hypocrisy
3/6/16	Timorous & Mistrust – Piety, Prudence, & Charity
3/13/16	Peace in the Palace – Valley of Shadow of Death
3/20/16	Faithful, Adam & Moses – Talkative, Christian & Faithful
3/27/16	Easter Sunday Service (No Sunday School)
4/3/16	Faithful & Talkative – Vanity Fair, Hubbub in the Fair, In the Cage
4/10/16	Trial of Faithful, Defense & Death – Money-love vs. Christian
4/17/16	Hill Lucre & Demas – Castle-yard Bones, Escape from Castle
4/24/16	Mountains & Shepherds – Christian & Hopeful, Great-Grace
5/1/16	Flatterer & Shining One, Atheist – Argument with Ignorance, Of Ignorance
5/08/16	Temporary, Beulah Land – Celestial City, Conclusion
The children’s and youth classes will not progress on to Part 2 of the story.  These lessons cover much more ground than the lessons through Part 1 (approx. 50 pages per week).
5/15/16	Introduction of Christiana - Clothed with White Raiment at Interpreter’s House
5/22/16	Departure from Interpreter’s House with Great Heart – Valley of Humiliation
5/29/16	Valley of the Shadow of Death – Conversation with Ready-to-Halt
	After Ready-to-Halt – Celestial City

 

Holy War