The Book

By the Gracious Management of Divine Providence, God has allowed us to publish another facsimile reproduction; the Lectures on the Pilgrim's Progress, last published in the mid or late Eighteen-hundreds. We find this volume to be beneficial and soundly Scriptural. This excellent commentary by G.B.Cheever, D.D. focuses the reader to self-application of the Scriptural truths found in John Bunyan's classic work about the life of the Chirstian, The Pilgrim's Progress.
Also available in unabridged Pilgrim's Progress in paperback. For a limited time, we can offer you a paperback version of the classic to aid in your studies.

Excerpt
     The next sight which the Interpreter showed Christian, is in many respects the most animating and ravishing passage to be found in all the Pilgrim's Progress. It set Christian's own heart on fire to run forward on his journey. Those who have read this book in early childhood, can well remember the powerfull effect which this picture had upon the imagination. "The Interpreter took Christian by the hand, and led him into a pleasant place, where was built a stately palace, beautiful to behold; at the sight of which Christian was greatly delighted; he saw also upon the top thereof certain persons walking, who were clothed all in gold. So the Interpreter took Christian, and led him up towards the door of the palace; and behold, at the door stood a great company of men, as desirous to go in, but durst not. There also sat a man at a little distance from the door, at a table-side, with a book and his ink-horn be-fore him, to take the names of them that should enter therein; he saw also that in the door-way stood many men in armour to keep it, being re-solved to do to the men that would enter, what hurt and mischief they could. Now was Christian somewhat in amaze: at last, when every man started back for fear of the armed men, Christian saw a man of a very stout countenance come up to the man that sat there to write, saying, Set down my name, sir; the which when he had done, he saw the man draw his sword, and put a helmet upon his head, and rush towards the door upon the armed men, who laid upon him with deadly force; but the man, not at all discouraged, fell to cutting and hacking most fiercely. So after he had received and given many wounds to those who attempted to keep him out, he cut his way through them all, and pressed forward into the palace; at which there was a pleasant voice heard from those that were within, even of those that walked upon the top of the palace, saying,

                                                 Come in, come in,
                                                 Eternal glory thou shalt win!

So he went in, and was clothed with such garments as they. Then Christian smiled and said, I think verily I know the meaning of this."

      Verily thou didst, noble Christian! And who is there that does not know the meaning of it, and what heart so cold as not to be enraptured by it! Yea, we should think that this passage alone might set any man out on this pilgrimage, might bring many a careless traveller up to the gate of this glorious palace to say, Set down my name, sir! How full of instruction is this passage! What mingled encouragement and warning did it convey to Christian's mind, to prepare him for the many trials before him! It was necessary that the Holy Spirit should show him in some measure what he would have to encounter, should make him feel that if he gained heaven, it must be by a great conflict and a great victory. Mr. Worldly Wiseman had predicted some of the dangers he was to meet with; but Mr. Worldly Wiseman could have no conception of the exceed-ing weight of glory that was to follow; but here the vision of the glory follows so close upon the sight of the conflict, that the conflict even adds to its charms, and makes it a thousand times the more exciting. Here is the sentence, "Through much tribulation," but here is also "the kingdom of heaven;" and who so pitiful as not to be willing to undergo the tribulation, to encounter the hazard, to run the gauntlet of these armed men against him, for the glory of that kingdom!

      Yea, saith Christian, verily I think I can un-derstand this. But here you will remark how great a multitude stood round the gate of this palace, fearing, yet desiring-desiring, yet fearing, to enter in. And you see that Christian found, while he was there, only one among them of like spirit with himself, only one who would come up and say, Set down my name, sir. Ah, what a multitude there are, who have some faint desires after heaven, and half a mind, a thousand times, to set out in the way thither, but who never do it, who always shrink back! These men around the gate were so many Pliables, who were sure to go back to the City of Destruction; and we would say to those many persons in just their situation, Unless you come to a fixed resolution, unless you step quickly and boldly to the gate, with your heart on fire, and say, Set down my name, sir, in a tone that shall make Christian rejoice, and the armed men tremble, you are not likely ever to fight your way into this palace, or ever to be walking with those upon its top in glory.

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