Listen to Episode 20

Listen to Episode 19

Listen to Episode 18

Listen to Episode 17

Listen to Episode 16

Listen to Episode 15

Listen to Episode 14

Listen to Episode 13

Listen To Episode 12

Listen To Episode 11

Listen To Episode 10

Listen To Episode 9

Listen To Episode 8

Listen to Episode 7

Listen to Episode 6

Listen to Episodes 1-5 all in one

Pilgrim’s Progress text to follow along with

CHRISTIAN. My honoured and well-beloved brother,
Faithful, I am glad that I have overtaken you; and that God
has so tempered our spirits, that we can walk as companions
in this so pleasant a path.
FAITHFUL. I had thought, dear friend, to have had your
company quite from our town; but you did get the start of
me, wherefore I was forced to come thus much of the way
alone.
CHRISTIAN. How long did you stay in the City of De-
struction, before you set out after me on your pilgrimage
FAITHFUL. Till I could stay no longer; for there was great
talk presently after you were gone out, that our city would, 76
The Pilgrim’s Progress
in short time, with fire from Heaven, be burned down to
the ground.
CHRISTIAN. What! did your neighbours talk so?
FAITHFUL. Yes, it was for a while in everybody’s mouth.
CHRISTIAN. What! and did no more of them but you
come out to escape the danger?
FAITHFUL. Though there were, as I said, a great talk
thereabout, yet I do not think they did firmly believe it. For
in the heat of the discourse, I heard some of them deridingly
speak of you, and of your desperate journey (for so they
called this your pilgrimage), but I did believe, and do still,
that the end of our city will be with fire and brimstone from
above; and therefore I have made my escape.
CHRISTIAN. Did you hear no talk of neighbour Pliable?
FAITHFUL. Yes, Christian, I heard that he followed you
till he came at the Slough of Despond, where, as some said,
he fell in; but he would not be known to have so done; but
I am sure he was soundly bedabbled with that kind of dirt.
CHRISTIAN. And what said the neighbours to him?
FAITHFUL. He hath, since his going back, been had
greatly in derision, and that among all sorts of people; some
do mock and despise him; and scarce will any set him on
work. He is now seven times worse than if he had never
gone out of the City.
CHRISTIAN. But why should they be so set against him,
since they also despise the way that he forsook?
FAITHFUL. O! they say, Hang him, he is a turn-coat; he
was not true to his profession. I think God has stirred up
even his enemies to hiss at him, and make him a proverb,
because he hath forsaken the way.105
CHRISTIAN. Had you no talk with him before you came
out?
105 Jer. 29:18, 1977
Christian Overtakes Faithful
FAITHFUL. I met him once in the streets, but be leered
away on the other side, as one ashamed of what he had done;
so I spake not to him.
CHRISTIAN. Well, at my first setting out, I had hopes
of that man; but now I fear he will perish in the overthrow
of the city; For it is happened to him according to the true
proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the
sow that was washed, to her wallowing in the mire”.106
FAITHFUL. These are my fears of him too; but who can
hinder that which will be?
CHRISTIAN. Well, neighbour Faithful, said Christian, let
us leave him, and talk of things that more immediately con-
cern ourselves. Tell me now, what you have met with in the
way as you came; for I know you have met with some things,
or else it may be writ for a wonder.
FAITHFUL. I escaped the Slough that I perceived you fell
into, and got up to the gate without that danger; only I met
with one whose name was Wanton, who had like to have
done me a mischief.
CHRISTIAN. It was well you escaped her net; Joseph was
hard put to it by her, and he escaped her as you did; but it
had like to have cost him his life.107 But what did she do to
you?
FAITHFUL. You cannot think, but that you know some-
thing, what a flattering tongue she had; she lay at me hard
to turn aside with her, promising me all manner of content.
CHRISTIAN. Nay, she did not promise you the content of
a good conscience.
FAITHFUL. You know what I mean; all carnal and fleshly
content.
106 2 Peter 2:22
107 Gen. 39:11—1378
The Pilgrim’s Progress
CHRISTIAN. Thank God you have escaped her; “the ab-
horred of the Lord shall fall into her ditch” (Pro. 22:14).
FAITHFUL. Nay, I know not whether I did wholly escape
her or no.
CHRISTIAN. Why, I trow you did not consent to her de-
sires?
FAITHFUL. No, not to defile myself; for I remembered
an old writing that I had seen, which said, “Her steps take
hold on hell”.108 So I shut mine eyes, because I would not
be bewitched with her looks.109 Then she railed on me, and
I went my way.
CHRISTIAN. Did you meet with no other assault as you
came?
FAITHFUL. When I came to the foot of the hill called
Difficulty, I met with a very aged man, who asked me what
I was, and whither bound. I told him that I am a pilgrim,
going to the Celestial City. Then said the old man, Thou
lookest like an honest fellow; wilt thou be content to dwell
with me for the wages that I shall give thee? Then I asked
him his name, and where he dwelt. He said his name was
Adam the First, and that he dwelt in the town of Deceit.