The Pilgrim’s Progress, John Bunyan [most popular novels .txt] 📗

consequences of listening to the reasonings of the flesh. —⁠Mason ↩

And “wotted:” and knew. From the Saxon witen, to know; see Imperial Dictionary. —⁠Editor ↩

Exodus 19:16, 18. ↩

Hebrews 12:21. ↩

Beware of taking men by their looks. They may look as gentle as lambs, while the poison of asps is under their tongue; whereby they infect many souls with pernicious errors and pestilent heresies, turning them from Christ and the hope of full justification and eternal life through Him only, to look to, and rely upon, their own works, in whole, or in part, for salvation. —⁠Mason ↩

As the belief of the truth lies at the fountain of the hope of eternal life, and is the cause of anyone becoming a pilgrim; so the belief of a lie is the cause of anyone’s turning out of the way which leads to glory. —⁠Mason ↩

Hebrews 12:25. ↩

Hebrews 10:38. ↩

Matthew 12:31; Mark 3:28. ↩

John 20:27. ↩

See the glory of Gospel grace to sinners. See the amazing love of Christ in dying for sinners. O remember the price, which obtained the pardon of our sins, at nothing less than His most precious blood! Believe His wonderful love. Rejoice in His glorious salvation. Live in the love of Him, in the hatred of your sins, and in humbleness of mind before Him. —⁠Mason ↩

1 John 4:5. ↩

Galatians 6:12. ↩

Luke 13:24. ↩

Matthew 7:14. ↩

Hebrews 11:25, 26. ↩

Mark 8:35; John 12:25; Matthew 10:39. ↩

Luke 14:26. ↩

Galatians 4:21⁠–⁠27. ↩

Galatians 3:10.

Legality is as great an enemy to the cross of Christ as licentiousness; for it keeps the soul from coming to, believing in, and trusting wholly in the blood of Christ for pardon, and the righteousness of Christ for justification! so that it keeps the soul in bondage, and swells the mind with pride, while licentiousness brings a scandal on the cross. —⁠Mason ↩

Psalms 2:12. ↩

Matthew 7:8. ↩

The straitness of this gate is not to be understood carnally, but mystically. This gate is wide enough for all the truly sincere lovers of Jesus Christ, but so strait that it will keep all others out. The gate of Eden was wide enough for Adam and his wife to go out at, yet it was too strait for them to go in at. Why? They had sinned; and the cherubim and the flaming sword made it too strait for them. The gates of the temple were six cubits wide, yet they were so strait that none who were unclean might enter them. —⁠Bunyan’s Strait Gate, vol. 1, p. 367 ↩

Here behold the love of Jesus, in freely and heartily receiving every poor sinner who comes unto Him; no matter how vile they have been, nor what sins they have committed, He loves them freely and receives them graciously; for He has nothing but goodwill to them. Hence, the heavenly host sang at his birth, “Goodwill towards men” (Luke 2:14). —⁠Mason ↩

As sinners become more decided in applying to Christ, and assiduous in the means of grace, Satan, if permitted, will be more vehement in his endeavours to discourage them, that, if possible, he may induce them to desist, and so come short of the prize. —⁠Scott A whole Heaven and eternal life is wrapped up in this little word⁠—“Strive to enter in;” this calls for the mind and heart. Many professors make their striving to stand rather in an outcry of words, than in a hearty labour against the lusts and love of the world. But this kind of striving is but a beating the air, and will come to nothing at last. —⁠Bunyan’s Strait Gate, vol. 1, p. 866 Coming souls will have opposition from Satan. He casts his fiery darts at them; wanderings in prayer, enticements to old sins, and even blasphemous thoughts, assail the trembling penitent, when striving to enter into the strait gate, to drive him from “the way and the life.” —⁠Editor ↩

“No betterment” is an admirable expression of the Christian’s humility⁠—he set out in company, but reached the gate alone; still it is not unto me, but unto Thy name be all the glory. —⁠Editor ↩

“Carnal arguments” is altered to “carnal agreement,” in several of Mr. Bunyan’s editions: see third to the ninth. —⁠Editor ↩

John 6:37. ↩

Christian, when admitted at the strait gate, is directed in the narrow way; not in the broad fashionable religion. In the broad road, every man may choose a path suited to his inclinations, shift about to avoid difficulties, or accommodate himself to circumstances; and he may be sure of company agreeable to his taste. But Christians must follow one another in the narrow way on the same track, facing enemies, and bearing hardships, without attempting to evade them; nor is any indulgence given to different tastes, habits, or propensities. —⁠Scott ↩

Matthew 7:14. ↩

With great propriety Bunyan places the house of the Interpreter beyond the strait gate; for the knowledge of Divine things, that precedes conversion to God by faith in Christ, is very scanty, compared with the diligent Christian’s subsequent attainments. —⁠Scott ↩

It would be difficult to find 12 consecutive pages in the English language, that contain such volumes of meaning, in such beautiful and instructive lessons, with such heavenly imagery, in so pure and sweet a style, and with so thrilling an