"PRUDENCE: ‘Do you not yet bear away with you some of the things that then you were conversant withal?’
CHRISTIAN: ‘Yes, but greatly against my will, especially my inward and carnal cogitations with which all my countrymen, as well as myself, were delighted. But now all those things are my grief, and might I but choose mine own things I would choose never to think of those things more; but when I would be doing that which is best that which is worst is with me.’
PRUDENCE: ‘Do you not find sometimes as if those things were vanquished which at other times are your perplexity?’
CHRISTIAN: ‘Yes, but that is but seldom, but they are to me golden hours in which such things happens to me.’
PRUDENCE: ‘Can you remember by what means you find your annoyances at times as if they were vanquished?’
CHRISTIAN: ‘Yes, when I think what I saw at the cross, that will do it; and when I look upon my broidered coat, that will do it. Also when I look into the roll that I carry in my bosom, that will do it; and when my thoughts wax warm about wither I am going, that will do it’
PRUDENCE: ‘And what is it that makes you so desirous to go to Mount Zion?’
CHRISTIAN: ‘Why, there I hope to see Him alive that did hang dead on the cross, and there I hope to be rid of all those things that to this day are in me an annoyance to me. There they say there is no death, and there I shall dwell with such company as I like best. For to tell you truth, I love Him, for because I was by Him eased of my burden, and I am weary of my inward sickness. I would feign be where I should die no more, and with the company that should continually cry, “Holy, holy, holy”.’"
From The Pilgrim’s Progress, by John Bunyan
I transcribed this from an audio recording, so the punctuation and capitalization is all mine. Please excuse it.
I don’t have a hard copy of the original in my home (*horror*).
3 comments:
Oh. My eyes just filled right up with tears over the beauty of these well-beloved words. Simple and glorious and true. And in Christian's voice.:)
I'm mortified to think that you don't have a copy of Pilgrim's Progress in your house! What sort of parents send their daughter into the wide world without it?! Please be sure that two extra copies are in my take-to-church basket, ready to bring to you tonight. Good heavens. Let us hasten to remedy such an oversight...
Thank you for taking the time to transcribe these lines. The heart takes courage even in the reading of them! The help to be found in remembering the cross, the comfort in Christ's imputed righteousness and God's promises, our hope of heaven---it's all there. Amen to Christian's weariness of 'inward sickness, and desire to be with the company, crying 'holy, holy, holy'!
Have a happy listening afternoon.
Love always,
Motherdy
These words are so beautiful. I was so excited to see this here, because I just read a small part of The Pilgrim's Progress for my Restoration Lit. class! But the part you have put up here is far better still. Thank you for writing it down for us.
The warfare continues, Thank God for the Bunyan who mapped out the course for us and thank you for the reminder. Bless this blog!
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