For Christmas, we got David an unabridged audio version of Pilgrim’s Progress. The children are familiar with the story and main characters, so they have enjoyed listening, even though much of it goes over their head. Bunyan weaves Scripture through the story so skillfully a person unfamiliar with the Bible will be unaware how saturated with Scripture the story is. But catching these allusions is great fun for the children as they hear the familiar words they have memorized.
As we were listening last weekend, I was particularly interested in a discussion about how to distinguish God-honoring fear and sinful fear. Since this has been a recurring topic that I think of during quiet moments, the discussion caught my ear. We tend to think all fear in a parent is sinful, not trusting God. I think we overlook fear that is God-given and profitable spiritually, including, but not limited to, the fear of God. Lee found the excerpt on Project Gutenburg. I don’t have any answers, but at some point I’ll write another installment in the parenting by fear series. Here is the excerpt.
CHR. Indeed the Word saith, “He hath blinded their eyes, lest they should see”, &c. But now we are by ourselves, what do you think of such men? Have they at no time, think you, convictions of sin, and so consequently fears that their state is dangerous?
HOPE. Nay, do you answer that question yourself, for you are the elder man.
CHR. Then I say, sometimes (as I think) they may; but they being naturally ignorant, understand not that such convictions tend to their good; and therefore they do desperately seek to stifle them, and presumptuously continue to flatter themselves in the way of their own hearts.
{369} HOPE. I do believe, as you say, that fear tends much to men’s good, and to make them right, at their beginning to go on pilgrimage.
CHR. Without all doubt it doth, if it be right; for so says the Word, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” [Prov. 1:7, 9:10, Job 28:28, Ps. 111:10]
{370} HOPE. How will you describe right fear?
CHR. True or right fear is discovered by three things:–
1. By its rise; it is caused by saving convictions for sin.
2. It driveth the soul to lay fast hold of Christ for salvation.
3. It begetteth and continueth in the soul a great reverence of God, his Word, and ways, keeping it tender, and making it afraid to turn from them, to the right hand or to the left, to anything that may dishonour God, break its peace, grieve the Spirit, or cause the enemy to speak reproachfully.
HOPE. Well said; I believe you have said the truth. Are we now almost got past the Enchanted Ground?
CHR. Why, art thou weary of this discourse?
HOPE. No, verily, but that I would know where we are.
{371} CHR. We have not now above two miles further to go thereon. But let us return to our matter. Now the ignorant know not that such convictions as tend to put them in fear are for their good, and therefore they seek to stifle them.
HOPE. How do they seek to stifle them?
{372} CHR. 1. They think that those fears are wrought by the devil, (though indeed they are wrought of God); and, thinking so, they resist them as things that directly tend to their overthrow.
2. They also think that these fears tend to the spoiling of their faith, when, alas, for them, poor men that they are, they have none at all! and therefore they harden their hearts against them.
3. They presume they ought not to fear; and, therefore, in despite of them, wax presumptuously confident.
4. They see that those fears tend to take away from them their pitiful old self-holiness, and therefore they resist them with all their might.
As you can see, Pilgrim’s Progress was written a long time ago (1678). It is not impossible to understand, but it is similar in style to the King James Version of the Bible. For this reason, obtaining it in audio is an excellent approach to learning the original edition.
There are some good abridged versions also. We have read this one before, when David was about five. Little Pilgrim’s Progress is the same storyline as the original, but the main characters are children, and the language and concepts are simplified and explained so that children readily understand them. It is excellent, and I think an important introduction to the story. It has adequate pictures to help children follow along. This is a good one to read to your children first.
Last year, I purchased Dangerous Journey, which is a picture book version that I purchased primarily for the artwork. The story is adapted, presenting the major events in Pilgrim’s journey, with full page color pictures throughout. The pictures are of excellent quality, British in style. (Two or three of the pictures are scary: page 67, for example. A sensitive preschooler might not like a few of the pictures.) I like it very much for the artwork; but for the story, I think that Little Pilgrim’s Progress is better.
laura says
I too liked dangerous journey and our kids liked it as well. I find it easy to refer to when I need a good visual learning tool. I read aloud to my kids a very good biography od John bunyon and find it so helpful in understanding what he was going through as he wrote pilgrams progress. I’m sure as he wrote about fear he was thinking of his own fears being in prison, his fear of God were he to take the easy path and agree to not preach so he could go home to be with his family, fears for his wife at home Alone with their children while he in prison. So much more real when of think of our own fears.
Michelle says
What biography did you read? I have one that I don’t care for all that much. I think you’re right about dangerous journey as a visual aid. Perhaps because my oldest child is such an auditory learner I’ve appreciated the audio, but I can see the pictures being important as my younger two get older.
stephane says
I loved Little Pilgrim’s Progress as a child. I also have an interesting bio of Mary Bunyan, his blind daughter. It is probably a little advanced for your children as it does get into the political situations of the time.
Years ago at church we would watch Pilgrim’s Progress every year. One thing I appreciated was that Satan/Appolyon would assume the form of Worldly Wiseman, etc so you knew that their advice was not from God.
laura says
It’s called A Pilgrim Who Made Progress: the life story of John bunyon by William deal. Good news publishers. About 150 pages. It begins really with his birth and conversion. Very short chapters so I read one a night to the kids. I forgot to mention another good visual and good read…it’s called The Family Pilgram’s Progress by Jean Watson. It’s specifically for kids and we read it over and over.