Untitled Season 6 Podcast 6 John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress, Episode 50 Chapter 9 G, “Hopeful Learns of Christ.”

Season 6 Podcast 6 John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress, Episode 50 Chapter 9 G, “Hopeful Learns of Christ.”

In recent episodes Christian and Hopeful meet the Flatterer and Atheist who try to lead them from the straight path. They also come to the Enchanted Ground which makes them drowsy. They keep each other awake by relating stories of their Past. In this podcast Christian quizzes Hopeful on how he came to Christ. We learn of Hopeful’s long struggle to find Jesus.

“CHRIS. And could you at any time with ease get off the guilt of sin, when by any of these ways it came upon you?

HOPE. No, not I; for then they got faster hold of my conscience; and then, if I did but think of going back to sin (though my mind was turned against it,) it would be double torment to me.

CHRIS. And how did you do then?

HOPE. I thought I must endeavor to mend my life; for else, thought I, I am sure to be lost forever.”

One unique thing about Bunyan’s philosophy is that the way to the Celestial City is not easy. It is not just a matter of accepting Christ. The entire journey of Pilgrim’s progress is to unveil the cunning of Satan, the craftiness of man, and the temptations of the natural man, the three great enemies of God, particularly aimed at destroying those who try to follow Christ. For example, in the above, it was extremely hard for Hopeful to overcome the natural man and to change his ways. The more he tried the more Satan fought against him. To Bunyan the correction had to first come from Hopeful.

“CHRIS. And did you endeavor to mend?

HOPE. Yes, and fled from not only my sins, but sinful company too, and betook me to religious duties, as praying, reading, weeping for sin, speaking truth to my neighbors, etc. These things did I, with many others, too much here to tell.”

To many Christian leaders that would have been more than sufficient, but not to Bunyan.

“CHRIS. And did you think yourself well then?

HOPE. Yes, for a while; but, at the last, my trouble came tumbling upon me again, and that over the neck of all my trying to do right.”

Another great Christian writer, C.S Lewis, addresses the same issue in his popular book, The Screwtape Letters, in which a devil, Screwtape, teaches his nephew, Wormwood, an apprentice devil, how to tempt a new convert. The following is the last paragraph of Chapter Twelve.

“You will say that these are very small sins; and doubtless, like all young tempters, you are anxious to be able to report spectacular wickedness. But do remember, the only thing that matters is the extent to which you separate the man from the Enemy. It does not matter how small the sins are provided that their cumulative effect is to edge the man away from the Light and out into the Nothing. Murder is no better than cards if cards can do the trick. Indeed, the safest road to Hell is the gradual one—the gentle slope. Soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts,” Your affectionate uncle, Screwtape.

Christian continues to interrogate Hopeful, wondering why his old troubles returned. Hopeful’s answer reveals how cunning Satan is.

“CHRIS. How came that about, since you were now doing right, as far as you knew?

HOPE. There were several things brought it upon me; especially such sayings as these: "All our righteousness are as filthy rags;" "By the works of the law shall no flesh be made righteous;" "When ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable;" with many more such like. From whence I began to reason with myself thus: If all my righteousness are filthy rags, if by the deeds of the law no man can be made righteous, and if, when we have done all, we are yet unprofitable, then it is but a folly to think of heaven by the law. I further thought thus;