The Pilgrim's Progress

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LibriVox

Mary Ann Spiegel

The Pilgrim's Progress, Part 1: Christian

01 - The Author’s Apology

02 - The First Stage

03 - The Second Stage

04 - The Third Stage

05 - The Fourth Stage

06 - The Fifth Stage

07 - The Sixth Stage

08 - The Seventh Stage

09 - The Eighth Stage

10 - The Ninth Stage

11 - The Tenth Stage

The eighth stage, they went till they came to the Delectable Mountains, which mountains belonged to the Lord of that hill of which we have spoken before. So they went up to the mountains to behold the gardens and orchards, the vineyards and fountains of water where also they drank and washed themselves and did freely eat to the vineyards. Now they were on the tops of these mountains shepherds feeding their flocks and they stood by the highway side. The pilgrims therefore went to them and leaning on their staffs as is common with weary pilgrims. When they stand to talk with any, by the way, they asked whose delectable mountains are these and whose be the sheep? They feet upon them shepherds. These mountains are Emmanuel's land and they're within sight of his city and the sheep also are his, and he laid down his life for them. John chapter 10 verses 11 and 15, Christian, is this the way to the celestial city Shepherds, you are just in your way. Christian. How far is it? Thither Shepherds too far for any, but those who shall get there thither, indeed Christian is the way safe or dangerous. Shepherds safe for those for whom it is to be safe, but transgressors shall fall therein. Jose chapter 14, verse nine, Christian is there in this place any relief for pilgrims that are weary and faint in the way shepherds the Lord of these mountains have given us charge not to be forgetful, to entertain strangers. Hebrews chapter 13 verse two. Therefore, the good of the place is before you. I saw also in my dream that when the shepherds perceived that they were warfaring men, they also put questions to them to which they made answer. As in other places as once come you and how got you into the way and by what means have you so persevered therein for but few of them that begin to come hither do show their face on these mountains. But when the shepherds heard their answers being pleased their with, they looked very lovingly upon them and said, welcome to the delectable mountains, the shepherds I say whose names were knowledge, experience, watchful and sincere took them by the hand and had them to their tents and made them partake of that which was ready at present. They said, moreover we would that you should stay here a while to be acquainted with us and yet more to solace yourselves with the good of these electable mountains than they told them that they were content to stay. So they went to their rest that night because it was very late then. I saw in my dream that in the morning the shepherds called up Christian and hopeful to walk with them upon the mountains. So they went forth with them and walked A while having a pleasant prospect on every side. Then said the shepherds one to another. Shall we show these pilgrims some wonders? So when the had concluded to do it, they had them first to the top of a hill called air, which was very steep on the farthest side and bit them. Look down to the bottom. So Christian and hopeful looked down and saw at the bottom, several men dashed all to pieces by a fall that they had from the top. Then said, Christian, what the shepherds answered. Have you not heard of them? That were made to air by hearkening to jais and polis as concerning the faith of the resurrection of the body. Second Timothy chapter two verses 17 and 18. They answered yes, then said the shepherds, those that you see lie dashed in pieces at the bottom of this mountain. Are they for they have continued to this day unburied, as you see for an example to others to take heed how they clambered too high or how they come too near the brink of this mountain. Then I saw that they had them to the top of another mountain and the name of that is caution and bit them look afar off, which when they did, they perceived as they thought, several men walking up and down among the tombs that were there and they perceived that the men were blind because they stumbled sometimes upon the tombs and because they could not get out from among them then a Christian. What means this? The shepherds answered. Did you not see a little below these mountains a style that led into a meadow on the left hand of the way? They answered yes. Then said the shepherds. From that style there goes a path that leads directly to doubting castle, which is kept by giant despair and these men pointing to them among the tombs came once on pilgrimage as you do now, even until they came to that same style and because the right way was rough in that place, they chose to go out of it into the meadow and there were taken by giant despair and cast into doubting castle where after they had a while been kept in the dungeon, he at last had put out their eyes and led them among the tombs where he has left them to wander to this very day that the saying of the wise man might be fulfilled. He that wrath out of the way of understanding shall remain in the congregation of the dead. Proverbs chapter 21, verse 16. Then Christian and hopeful looked upon one another with tears gushing out, but they said nothing to the shepherds. And then I saw in my dream that the shepherds had them to another place in a bottom where there was a door on the side of the hill and they opened the door and bit them. Look in. They looked in therefore and saw that within it was very dark and smokey. They Also thought that they heard their a rumbling noise as a fire and a cry of some tormented and that they smelt the scent of brimstone. Then said, Christian, what means this? The shepherds told them, this is a byway to hell. A way that hypocrites go in at namely such as sell their birthright with Esau, such as sell their master with Judas such as blaspheme the gospel with Alexander and that lie and disassemble with an Anais and zafari. His wife then said, hopeful to the shepherds. I perceive that these had on them, even everyone a show of pilgrimage as we have now. Had they not shepherds yes and held it a long time too hopeful, how far might they go on in pilgrimage in their day since they not withstanding were miserably cast away shepherds some farther and some not. So far as these mountains then set the pilgrims one to the other. We had need cry to the strong for strength shepherds I, and you will have need to use it when you have it too. By this time the pilgrims had a desire to go forward and the shepherds a desire they should. So they walked together towards the end of the mountains, then set the shepherds one to another. Let us hear, show the pilgrims the gates of the celestial city if they have skill to look through our perspective. Glass. The pilgrims lovingly accepted the motion. So they had them to the top of a high hill called clear and gave them the glass to look. Then they tried to look, but the remembrance of that last thing that the shepherds had shown them made their hands shake by means of which impediment they could not look steadily through the glass. Yeah, they thought they saw something like the gate and also some of the glory at the place. Then they went away and sang. Thus by the shepherd's secrets are revealed, which from all other men are kept concealed, come to the shepherds. Then if you would see things, deep things hid and that mysterious bee when they were about to depart one of the shepherds gave them a note of the way another of them bid them. Beware of the flatterer. A third bid them take heed that they slept not upon the enchanted ground and the fourth bit them God speed. So I awoke from my dream.

John Bunyan

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The Pilgrim's Progress, Part 1: Christian

09 - The Eighth Stage

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Other Teachings in Series

01 - The Author’s Apology

02 - The First Stage

03 - The Second Stage

04 - The Third Stage

05 - The Fourth Stage

06 - The Fifth Stage

07 - The Sixth Stage

08 - The Seventh Stage

09 - The Eighth Stage

10 - The Ninth Stage

11 - The Tenth Stage

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