Pilgrim's Progress - An Adventure Book

by Chris Wright

  "Now I can walk as quickly as I like," I said to myself. But although the Cross was empty, I stayed by it for a long time, full of joy and thanks.

  I remembered reading in my Book how the King's Son once came to live in the City of Destruction. Although he was loving and good, some of the people hated him. At last they put him to death by nailing him to a wooden cross. But he came alive again, and now lives in the Celestial City.

  I stood quietly, knowing that this must be that Cross. It was here that the King's Son was punished, instead of me. The King would no longer be angry with me. As I looked, tears came into my eyes.

  The top picture shows Christian at the Cross, just before he lost his burden. There are three changes in the second picture. Can you find them?

  Christian has lost his burden, the grass has gone underneath the Cross, and the top of the Cross is shorter.

  I heard voices behind me, saying, "We bring you peace."

  I turned round quickly and saw three figures in robes that shone so brightly that the light hurt my eyes, and I had to look away.

  "Christian, you have often displeased the King," the first one said, "but I have come to tell you that you are forgiven, and the wrong things you have done will not be remembered anymore."

  I turned back to look again, for surely the only person who could forgive me like this was the King's Son. But the light still dazzled me.

  The second figure said, "Christian, your clothes are torn and dirty. I wish my pilgrims to wear clothes that are clean, so I am giving you new ones."

  And before I had time to think what to say, my old clothes were taken away and I found myself dressed in clothes from the King.

  Then the third figure set the mark of the King on my forehead, and gave me a roll of parchment with a seal on it. He called it a Roll of Faith, with the Seal of Promise, and told me to read it and be sure to take care of it, for I would have to show it at the Gates of the Celestial City.

  After this, the three went away, leaving me to rub my eyes and think about everything the King had done for me. I gave three leaps for joy and started to sing a song about the King's Son. I had lost my burden, and I belonged to the King forever -- I really was one of the King's own children!

  As I continued my journey in my new clothes, I came to a wall by the side of the Way. Two boys climbed over it, dropping onto the Way of the King and making me jump.

  "Where have you two come from?" I asked in surprise.

  The boys told me they were starting their journey to the Celestial City to see the King.

  "But don't you know you have to come in at the Wicket Gate," I said, remembering what Evangelist has told me.

  "Oh," the boys said, "everyone we know cuts across the fields and climbs over the wall. It's much easier."

  The two boys are in the same place as Christian. So do you think it matters how you get onto the path?

  The more I thought about it, the more sure I was that the King didn't want people starting their pilgrimage like this, so I said, "You're wrong. People can't do that."

  That made them laugh. "Oh, don't you bother about it," they said. "Our people have been doing it for years. Anyway, does it matter, as long as we're on the right road now? You came through the Wicket Gate, and we came over the wall. We're all in the same place, aren't we?"

  "I still don't think you should have done it," I said.

  "That's nonsense," they told me. "We're just as good pilgrims as you are, except that you have such fine clothes, which we expect somebody had to give you, because your own were like rags!"

  Those words hurt me, and I wanted to be rude back to them. But I'd read in my Book that the King's servants must speak gently, even when angry words are spoken to them.

  So I waited a moment, then said quietly, "That's quite true. The King gave me these clothes because my own were indeed like rags. I'm glad he did, because now when I get to the King's City he'll know I'm one of his pilgrims. And I have this Roll of Faith to show at the end of my journey. Do you have one?"

  The boys kept laughing and shook their heads. They smiled to each other as they walked with me to the foot of a steep hill. A signpost said this was Hill Difficulty, and its finger pointed to a narrow track that ran straight up. The Way of the King, it said. I could see two others paths running round each side of the hill. One path was marked Danger and the other had a sign saying Destruction.

  The Way of the King was rocky and steep, but I had to take it. I looked back to see if the two boys were following me, but they'd already taken the other paths, one going to the right and the other to the left.

  "What's the good of climbing up there?" they called out. "Our two paths are smooth and easy. They go round the hill. We'll see you on the other side."

  Danger and Destruction. How could anyone read the names of those two paths, and still go along them? Surely the only safe path was the one going straight up the hill. Well, the two boys would have known -- if they'd only taken the trouble to obey the King and begin their journey in the right way.

  They could put on a show of following the Way of the King when things were easy, and now they thought they had found an easy path round the hill.

  Do you think they will? Well, I didn't think so. As I climbed Hill Diffi­culty, I look down to see what was happening to the two boys. One boy was following his path into a dark forest. Surely he would never find his way out.

  The path on the other side of the hill, the one the other boy had chosen, led between two dangerous cliffs. The boy slipped and fell, cutting himself on some sharp rocks.

  As I got near the top of the hill, two other boys came racing down towards me. "There are two huge lions on the path!" they shouted. "Quick, turn back before they eat you!"

  I knew that the way to the King's City led up the hill, so I kept climbing. The higher I climbed, the darker the evening got, and the path was soon difficult to see.

  Just before night came, I noticed a large house in the distance. I hurried towards it, hoping I could stay there for the night.

  The path became more and more narrow, and suddenly I saw the two lions standing each side of the path. I stopped, wondering what to do, for there was only a small space between them. If I tried to slip through, I was sure they'd attack me.

  "Don't be frightened," a man called out. "The lions are chained. Keep in the middle of the path, and they cannot hurt you."

  The man had come from the house, so he probably knew what he was talking about. So I went on, even though I was afraid, taking care to keep in the very middle of the path. Then I noticed some chains holding the great creatures back. So although they roared as I walked between them, they were not able to stretch out their huge paws to touch me.

  I passed the lions and ran to man. "This is one of the King's houses," the man said. "If you are a pilgrim you are very welcome, and can stay here tonight. Four young sisters live here. The whole family are friends of pilgrims."

  I went into the house to meet the four sisters. "You must stay with us for a few days," they insisted. "Do you have your family with you?"

  I shook my head. "My mother is already with the King in his City, and my father is too busy at work to travel."

  "Do you have any friends with you?" they asked.

  I shook my head again. "All my friends laughed at me when I told them I was going to find the King. No, not all my friends. Christiana didn't laugh, but she has four young brothers to look after. I'm hoping she will start her journey soon."

  As I went up to my room, I stopped on the stairs. "What is the name of this house?" I asked.

  The name of the house is:

  Can you read it backwards? You may need to use a mirror.

  I spent three whole days at the House Beautiful learning about the King and his Son, for there was so much I didn't know. On the second day the sisters took me to a room filled with shining helmets, shields, amour of the finest metal, swords, and shoes that would never wear out.

  "These are for pilgrims to use," the
sisters told me.

  I wanted a sword and shield of my own, so I could be one of the King's soldiers, but I kept quiet.

  They then took me to a room full of books, where the sisters told the story of a boy called David, who fought with a great giant.

  "The giant was called Goliath, and he was one of the King's enemies," they explained. "Goliath was covered with his own amour from head to foot. David wore only a shepherd's clothes, so the giant thought it would be easy to kill him."

  "Didn't David have a sword and a spear?" I asked.

  The sisters shook their heads.

  "What did he fight with?" I wondered why anyone would try to fight a giant without any sort of weapon.

  The sisters knew the answer. "David had a sling and a stone. When he threw the stone at the giant, the King helped him. The stone hit Goliath on the head and killed him. Then David cut the giant's head off with the giant's own sword."

  That made me feel good. If the King helped David, he would surely be ready to help any other pilgrim who trusted in him.

  When I woke up the next morning I looked out of my window. In the far distance I could see green hills and sparkling rivers, and the Way of the King ran right through the hills. Perhaps all my troubles were over, and there were no more dangers to face.

  But I had a surprise after breakfast. "We have something for you," the sisters said, looking at each other and smiling. "Between this house and the King's City, the King's enemies can be very dangerous, so all the King's pilgrims need to be ready to fight."

  They took me to the room full of amour. "These are for you," the sisters said, picking up some pieces that were the right size for me.

  Christian is given six things. Which one on this list isn't he given?

  Christian is given everything, except the chariot.

  "You must have this key, as well as the amour," one of the sisters told me. "We call it the Key of Promise. There are many promises hidden on it. One day you may need it to escape from the darkness of a giant's dungeon."

  I examined the key closely. I could see one promise: 'I have come as Light into the world, so that everyone who believes in Me will not remain in darkness.'

  As I went to the gates of the House Beautiful, the man who helped me get past the lions called out, "There is another young pilgrim not far ahead, although he didn't stay here last night. His name is Faithful. If you hurry, you will be able to catch him up."

  I knew it would be good to travel with a friend, so I hurried down the path.

  "Wait for us," the four sisters called. "We'll go down with you. The path is ever so slippery."

  In spite of the warning I fell over four times, but I didn't hurt myself badly. At the bottom of the hill the sisters said they had to leave me, and I felt so alone -- as well as bruised. The valley was quiet and cool, and I walked on quickly hoping to see Faithful in the distance. But instead of finding Faithful, I came to a dark place where I met a terrible monster with wings like a dragon. Smoke and fire poured out of his body.

  I was going to turn round and run back to the four sisters, but I had a breastplate and shield to protect my front -- and nothing to protect my back. Perhaps the creature would go past without noticing me.

  I walked on steadily, and in a minute the thing was close.

  "My name is the Destroyer," the monster roared, blocking the path and looking down at me. "I would like to know where you're going."

  "To the City of the King," I said boldly.

  The Destroyer smiled, but it wasn't a nice smile. "Don't be so foolish," he said. "I can be kind to people when I like them. You can live in my house and be one of my servants."

  I shook my head "I'm one of the King's servants, so how can I go back with you?"

  "Oh, that doesn't matter," the Destroyer said, still smiling. "I won't be angry with you."

  I could feel my knees shaking, but I managed to say, "I love the King, and I'd rather be his servant than yours. Now, let me go on my way."

  The King's enemy seemed to have made up his mind that I was going home with him. "Don't be silly," he said. "You've not been a good pilgrim since starting out. You've done things that have upset the King."

  "I've told the King I'm sorry," I said, "and he's promised to forgive me."

  Christian has some amour

  To protect him from attack.

  But if he turns and runs away,

  What about his back?

  Hint: Are you really thinking about running away?

  The Destroyer became fierce with rage. "I hate your King, and I hate his Son," he screamed. "And I hate everybody and everything belonging to him. You're my servant now, Christian, and you will never get to the Celestial City -- because I'm going to kill you!"

  I decided it was safer to stay and fight, for how could I protect my back if I ran away? I only just had time to hold up my shield, before the Destroyer began to throw fiery darts. There were so many that they hit my shield like hail. That was when I remembered the story I heard at the House Beautiful, of David and the giant.

  "David only had his shepherd's clothes," I said aloud, "and I have the sword and shield. I will trust in the King's Son, and not to be afraid. I belong to the King now."

  So I held my shield firmly on my arm, and stopped nearly all the Destroyer's darts, although some hit my hands and feet. The evil enemy rushed at me and seized me in his strong claws, cutting into my arms and legs.

  Then he flung me to the ground, and my sword fell from my hand. Just as the Destroyer tried to strike his last blow, I called to the King. At that moment I remembered some words in my Book spoken by the King's Son. "Take courage, I have overcome the world."

  I realized that the sword was within my reach. I put out my hand and picked it up, and before the Destroyer had time to see what I was doing, I pushed it deep into his body.

  The King's enemy can't bear the pain of a wound given with one of the King's swords, and he screamed loudly. My courage returned, and I thrust the weapon at the enemy again. With a terrible roaring the Destroyer fled across the valley, leaving me alone.

  I lay for a minute on the path, then stood up slowly and looked around. All over the grass I could see the sharp darts the Destroyer had thrown, but the King's enemy had gone.

  "It was the King who helped me," I realized, my heart full of thanks.

  But I'd been badly wounded. I fell onto the grass and rested my head against a great rock. After a few minutes I fell asleep, and dreamt that the King's Son was with me, rubbing my wounds with healing leaves.

  When I woke up, I was amazed to see that my arms and legs had stopped bleeding and didn't even hurt.

  I knew I have to hurry away from there, for perhaps the Destroyer would come back to look for me again.

  Keeping my sword in my hand, and looking carefully from side to side among the rocks and bushes, I continued along the Way of the King.

  Can you remember what two things poured out of the Destroyer's body, when he met Christian?

  (There is a hint on the next page if you're stuck.)

  Hint: Look back for the answer.

  I was glad I stayed to fight the Destroyer. I had no amour for my back, and those fiery darts would have hit me, instead of landing on my shield.

  Soon I came to a small hill, and climbed up to see what was ahead. Not far away I could see a boy about my age, so I ran as fast as I could and quickly caught up with him. But in my rush I raced past, unable to stop. The next thing I knew I was flat on the ground!

  The boy laughed as he helped me to my feet. He said his name was Faithful, and he was going to the King's City. I remembered seeing him in the City of Destruction, and I told him I would be a good idea if we travelled together now.

  "I wanted to leave the City of Destruction when you did, Christian," Faithful said, as we walked along, "but you left in such a hurry that I couldn't catch up with you. So I've been walking by myself."

  "Did you stay long?"

  "Only a few days. Everybody was talkin
g about you, and I kept wishing I'd left when you did."

  "What were people saying about me?" I wanted to find out, for I was surprised that anybody had even noticed I'd gone.

  Faithful looked embarrassed. "Well," he said, "if you must know, most of them said you were stupid."

  I laughed. "I don't mind. That's what they kept telling me when I lived there. What happened to Pliable, after he got stuck in the marsh with me?"

  "When his friends heard he'd only gone that far, they made fun of him for turning back."

  "That's strange," I said, frowning. "They laughed at me because:

  and they laughed at Pliable because:

  (Hint on the next page.).

  Hint: You must read each word backwards

  Yes, they laughed at me because I kept going, and they laughed at Pliable because he went back!

  *

  From my room in the House Beautiful I had seen some green hills and sparkling rivers. But so far the Way of the King was only taking us through dry, dangerous ground -- with no sign of anything green.

  We walked on together, talking about the King and his Son. After a time I turned round to see how far we'd come, and noticed someone hurrying towards us.

  "It's Evangelist," I shouted in excitement, pleased to see my friend again. I was so grateful that Evangelist had taken the time to talk to me in the City of Destruction, and help me start my journey, but I'd not had a chance to thank him properly.

  As Evangelist caught up with us, I told him all the things that had happened to me, including all the mistakes I'd made.

  Evangelist smiled. "The King has brought you here safely, Christian, and he will always help you."

  "I'm sure he will," I agreed.

  Evangelist turned to Faithful. "Tell me about your adventures."

  Faithful looked embarrassed, and half-afraid to speak. "I haven't fought any battles yet," he said quietly.

  Evangelist obviously knew this. "You love and trust the King with all your heart," he told Faithful. "I'm sure you will be just as brave as Christian if the servants of the evil prince attack you."