The Pilgrim's Progress

by John Bunyan

The Pilgrim's Progress, subtitled, "from This World, to That Which Is to Come" was published in 1678. It is a Christian allegory, a blueprint for a young person's moral journey. The book is one of the most translated (100 languages) and most-read books after The Bible (but that was before best-selling mystery writer, Agatha Christie sold 2 billion books). We offer the 1909 edition, subtitled, "Every Child Can Read" edited by Rev. Jesse Lyman Hurlbut, D.D. We feature the book in our collection of Books for Young Readers, though its popularity has waned in recent generations.

The trials that those men do meet withal,
That are obedient to the heavenly call,
Are manifold, and suited to the flesh,
And come, and come, and come again 
afresh;
That now, or some time else, we by 
them may
Be taken, overcome, and cast away.
Oh, let the pilgrims, let the pilgrims 
then,
Be vigilant and quit themselves 
like men!
          -- Part I, Chapter V

The Pilgrim's Progress, Christian feeling guilty