Season 5 Podcast 112 John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress, Episode 33 Chapter 6 E, “The Martyr.”

Season 5 Podcast 112 John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress, Episode 33 Chapter 6 E, “The Martyr.” 

This segment is John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress, Podcast 112 Episode 33 Chapter 6 E, “The Martyr.”

In last week’s episode, Faithful and Christian were arrested. Faithful was put on trial before an unjust judge, Judge Hate-Good, and three false witnesses, Envy, Superstition, and Pickthank. In this episode he is condemned by twelve biased jurors: Mr. Blind-man, Mr. No-good, Mr. Malice, Mr. Love-lust, Mr. Live-Loose, Mr. Heady, Mr. High-mind, Mr. Enmity, Mr. Liar, Mr. Cruelty, Mr. Hate-light, and Mr. Implacable who every one gave in his private voice against him among themselves, and afterwards unanimously concluded to bring him in guilty before the Judge.”

Faithful is tortured and martyred. Christian miraculously escapes Vanity Fair. The judge’s models are idol worshipers. From the names of the jurors we already know the verdict.

And first among themselves, Mr. Blind-man, the foreman, said, "I see clearly that this man is a heretic." Then said Mr. No-good, "Away with such a fellow from the earth!" "Ay," said Mr. Malice, "for I hate the very look of him." Then said Mr. Love-lust, "I could never endure him." "Nor I," said Mr. Live-loose; "for he would always be condemning my way." "Hang him, hang him!" said Mr. Heady. "A sorry scrub," said Mr. High-mind. "My heart riseth against him," said Mr. Enmity. "He is a rogue," said Mr. Liar. "Hanging is too good for him," said Mr. Cruelty. "Let us dispatch him out of the way," said Mr. Hate-light. Then said Mr. Implacable, "Might I have all the world given to me, I could not be reconciled to him; therefore let us forthwith bring him in guilty of death."

Pilgrim’s Progress, of course, is an allegory. People are types rather than actual persons. However, Bunyan presents a perfect model of an entirely corrupt justice system. If even one were allowed—a corrupt judge, a false witness, or a corrupt jury—then justice cannot be done. But when all three bodies are corrupt, the justice system itself is entirely corrupt and no one can receive a fair trial who does not conform to the system. Under such a system the laws become corrupted, and any society that condones such a system will soon collapse and from its ashes will arise total tyranny. It has nowhere else to go. The downfall of Israel began the moment they turned their backs on the Ten Commandments and did away with their system of judges and anointed a king, putting him above the prophet. Even the three greatest kings in history—Saul, David, and Solomon—righteous in the beginning, were corrupted by absolute power which caused the destruction of one of the greatest nations on earth. 

Predictably they gave Faithful the death penalty.

“And so they did: therefore he was presently condemned to be had from the place where he was, to the place from whence he came, and there to be put to the most cruel death that could be invented.

They therefore brought him out, to do with him according to their law; and first they scourged him, then they buffeted him, then they lanced his flesh with knives; after that they stoned him with stones, then pricked him with their swords, and, last of all, they burned him to ashes at the stake. Thus came Faithful to his end.”

Bunyan is perhaps making reference to Babylon. John records.

Revelation 18:24

“And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth.”

However, being an allegory, Bunyan follows Faithful from death to exaltation in the Celestial Kingdom.

“Now, I saw that there stood behind the multitude a chariot and a couple of horses waiting for Faithful, who (so soon as his enemies had slain him) was taken up into it, and straightway was carried up through the clouds with sound of trumpet the nearest way to the Celestial Gate.”