From This World, To That Which Is To Come

The Pilgrim’s Progress from This World, to That Which Is to Come is a 1678 Christian allegory written by John Bunyan. It traces the journey of Christian from his first conviction of sin, through his conversion, trials, suffering, and victorious joy, and ultimately across the River of Death to the Celestial City. It is regarded as one of the most significant works of religious English literature, has been translated into more than 200 languages, and has never been out of print.

John Bunyan (1628-1688) was born near Bedford at Elstow, England, of a poor family. He earned a meager living as a repairer of pots and pans, and served in Cromwell’s army during the British Civil War. In 1655, Bunyan was called to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He was arrested in 1660 for preaching without a license from the Anglican Church, charged with “teaching men to worship God contrary to the law.” He was in jail more than twelve years, during which time he could have been released if he would have agreed to compromise on certain points in preaching the Gospel. His most well-known work, The Pilgrim’s Progress, was written in the Bedford jail.

“Next to the Bible, the book that I value most is Pilgrim’s Progress. I believe I have read it through at least a hundred times…Prick him anywhere, and you will find that his blood is “bibline,” the very essence of the Bible flows from him.” – Charles H. Spurgeon (1834-1892)

Pilgrim’s Progress is read with the greatest pleasure. – George Whitefield (1714-1770)

I find this book so full of matter, that I can seldom go through more than a page or half a page at a time. – John Newton (1725-1807)