In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths. Proverbs 3:6

 And did those feet in ancient time Walk upon England’s mountains green?

And was the holy Lamb of God On England’s pleasant pastures seen?

And did the Countenance Divine Shine forth upon our clouded hills?

And was Jerusalem builded here Among these dark Satanic mills?

Bring me my bow of burning gold:

Bring me my arrows of desire:

Bring me my spear: O clouds unfold!

Bring me my chariot of fire.

I will not cease from mental fight,

Nor shall my sword sleep in my hand

Till we have built Jerusalem

In England’s green and pleasant land.

by William Blake from the preface to Milton

Pilgrim's Progress.

Paul Bunyan (1628- 1688)

The Pilgrim’s Progress from This World to That Which is to Come, is a 1678 (Part One), 1684 (Part Two) Christian allegory written by John Bunyan 

Pilgrim’s Progress

‘Tolle Lege’ - Take Up and Read

Near the beginning, after leaving the City of Destruction, still carrying his burden, in Book One:

Christian struggled through the muck little by little toward the side of the bog farthest from his house, the side next to the wicket gate. He finally reached that side, but he couldn’t get out because of the burden he carried on his back. But in my dream, a man came to him whose name was Help. “What are you doing here?” Help asked Christian. “Sir, I was encouraged to go this way by a man called Evangelist.” Christian pointed a muddy finger toward the wicket gate. “He directed me to that gate over there, so I might escape the wrath to come. And as I headed toward it, I fell in here.” He flicked mud from his fingertips into the mire. “But why didn’t you look for the steps?” Help asked. “We were talking and I never thought to look for stairs.” Help reached out toward Christian. “Then give me your hand.” Christian reached out and grabbed his hand and Help pulled him out of the mucky mire (He brought me up out of the pit of destruction, out of the miry clay, And He set my feet upon a rock making my footsteps firm. – Psalm 40:2) and set him upon solid ground. “Now go on your way.” 

In my dream, I stepped toward the man who plucked Christian out of the slough and asked, “Sir, why isn’t this hazard fixed so poor travelers can cross it safely, since it is on the way from the City of Destruction to the gate over there?” “This miry slough is a place that can’t be repaired. It is a low-lying place where the scum and filth that come with the conviction of sin drain and collect as the traveling sinner becomes aware of his lost condition. It is the fears, doubts, and discouraging apprehensions about oneself that arise in his soul. “The King is not happy that this place remains so bad. (Encourage the exhausted, and strengthen the feeble. Say to those with anxious heart, “Take courage, fear not. Behold, your God will come with vengeance; The recompense of God will come, But He will save you. – Isa. 35:3-4) Based on the direction offered by His Majesty’s surveyors, His workers have also tended to this patch of ground for more than two thousand years, to see if it could possibly be fixed.” Sadness filled Help’s eyes. “To my knowledge, at least twenty thousand cartloads have been swallowed up by this mire. Cartloads of millions of wholesome instructions have been delivered at all seasons from all around the King’s dominions. It is said these instructions are made of the best materials in order to create good, solid ground in this place, if it could be fixed. But this is the Slough of Despond, and it will remain so even after they have done all they can. “By the direction of the Lawgiver, there are certain good and substantial steps placed through the very midst of this bog to offer a sure way, but this place spews out so much filth and changes with the weather, so that these steps are hardly seen. And often when men find the steps, they grow dizzy from their own guilt and their feet miss the steps and they become covered and stained with mud. But the steps are there and the ground is good once they get in at the gate.” (In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight. – Prov. 3:6).

The man said, “My name is Valiant-for-Truth. I am a pilgrim on my way to the Celestial City. Now, as I was in my way, there were three men who attacked me and offered me three options. The first was to join with them. The second was for me to go back from where I came, and the third was to decide whether or not I was ready to die right then and there....Then these three, namely, Wild-head, Inconsiderate, and Pragmatic, drew weapons and I also drew mine...Then Great Heart asked, “Why didn’t you cry out, so someone might have heard you and come to your aid sooner?” “I called out to my King, whom I knew could hear me and provide invisible help,” Valiant-for-Truth said. “That was sufficient for me.” Great Heart said to Valiant-for-Truth, “You have behaved in a worthy manner; let me see your sword.” So Valiant-for-Truth showed it to him and he took it into his hand. He studied the blade closely for a moment and said, “Aha, it is a straight Jerusalem blade.” Valiant-for-Truth nodded and said, “That’s right, it is. Let a man have one of these blades, with a hand to wield it, and skill to use it, and he may venture upon an angel with it. He has no need to fear holding it, as long as he knows how to apply it. Its edge will never blunt. It will cut flesh and bones, and soul, and spirit, and all.” (For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. – Heb. 4:12) “You fought a long time,” Great Heart said. “I am surprised you didn’t grow weary.” “I fought until my sword clung to my hand. The two melded as if a sword grew out of my arm. When the blood ran through my fingers, I fought with the most courage.” Great Heart said, “You have done well. You have resisted to the point of shedding your blood while striving against sin. Come, you shall live along with us, for we are your companions.” Then they took him in, washed his wounds, and gave him what they could from what they had, to refresh him, and from that point they traveled together... (Eighth Stage Book Two)

Now in about the middle of this valley I observed the mouth of hell. It stood hard against the narrow way. When Christian saw it, he wondered what he should do because of the flames and smoke that poured from it, not to mention the sparks and hideous noises. These things had no respect for Christian’s sword such as Apollyon had shown. He was forced to put up his sword and to take another weapon, called all-prayer. (With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints. – Eph. 6:18)

When Christian had traveled in this depressed condition for a significant amount of time, he thought he heard the voice of a man on the way ahead of him, saying, Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me (Psalm 23:4). As a result, gladness filled Christian’s heart for these reasons: First, because he gathered from what he heard that others who feared God were in this valley along with him. Secondly, since he understood that God was with them, even in such a dark and dismal place, he reasoned that his invisible presence was with him in spite of the hindrances of such a place. (Were He to pass by me, I would not see Him; were He to move past me, I would not perceive Him. – Job 9:11) 

Thirdly, he hoped to catch up and enjoy some fellowship with the man ahead and thought about calling to him, though he didn’t know what to say, for he had also thought himself to be alone. Finally, the light of morning dawned and Christian said, “He has turned the shadow of death into morning.” (He who made the Pleiades and Orion and changes deep darkness into morning, who also darkens day into night, who calls for the waters of the sea and pours them out on the surface of the earth, The Lord is His name. – Amos 5:8)

Now in my dream, the highway on which Christian was to travel was fenced in on both sides with a wall called Salvation. The burdened Christian ran up this way with great difficulty because of the load on his back. He ran like this until he came to a place where the road climbed up a small hill. At the top of the hill stood a cross, and a little below at the bottom was a stone tomb. In my dream, just as Christian came up to the cross his burden loosened from his shoulders and fell off his back. It tumbled and continued to do so down the hill until it came to the mouth of the tomb where it fell inside and was seen no more. Christian was so glad and overjoyed, and in his excitement he said, “He has given me rest by his sorrow and life by his death.”

He stood still for a while and looked with astonishment at the cross. It surprised him that the sight of the cross released him of his burden. He looked and looked again as tears ran down his cheeks. Now as he stood looking and weeping, behold, three Shining Ones approached him and greeted him with “Peace be to thee.” The first of the Shining Ones said to him, “Your sins are forgiven.” The second stripped Christian of his rags and clothed him with a complete change of clothes. The third placed a mark on Christian’s forehead and gave him a scroll with a seal upon it. The third Shining One said, “Look on this as you run, and deliver it when you arrive at the gate of the Celestial City.”

“Faithful continued to give his account as the two of them walked. He said, “When I came to the foot of the hill called Difficulty, I met with a very aged man who asked me who I was and where I was going. I told him I was a pilgrim, going to the Celestial City. “Then the old man said to me, ‘You look like an honest fellow; would you be content to live with me if I pay you?” “So I asked his name and about where he lived. He said his name was Adam the First and that he lived in the town of Deceit. (That, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit. – Eph. 4:22) I asked him about what type of work and exactly what wages he offered...

...He explained how his house was maintained with all the luxuries of the world and that his servants were his own children. I asked how many children he had, and he said that he had but three daughters, the Lust of the Flesh, the Lust of the Eyes, and the Pride of Life. (For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. – 1 John 2:16)...

“It came burning hot into my mind, whatever he said and however he flattered, when he got me home to his house, he would sell me for a slave. So I insisted that he stop talking to me, for I had no intention to even go near the door of his house. Then he scorned and insulted me.”

Pilgrim’s Progress (5th Stage Part One)

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...Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:37-39

KJV 

William Blake: Illustration of Pilgrim’s Progress, Christian in the Arbour, 1824–1827

Now when they came up to the gate, there was inscribed over it in letters of gold: “Blessed are those who do his commandments, those who have rightful access to the Tree of Life and may enter in through the gates into the city.” Then I saw in my dream that the shining men told the pilgrims to call out at the gate. When they did, some from above looked over the gate, namely, Enoch, Moses, and Elijah. The Shining Ones said, “These pilgrims have come from the City of Destruction for the love they bear to the King of this place.” Then each of the pilgrims gave his certificate which he had received at the beginning. These were carried in to the King who, when he read them, said, “Where are these men?” To whom it was answered, “They are standing outside the gate.” The King commanded the gate to open, (and he declared, the righteous nation may enter, the one that remains faithful Isa. 26:2). Now I saw in my dream that Christian and Hopeful went in at the gate and as they entered they were transfigured; and they were dressed in garments that shone like gold. They were also met by those who gave them harps and crowns. The harps were given to offer praise with and the crowns were a token of honor. Then I heard in my dream all the bells in the city ringing again for joy and that it was said to the pilgrims to “enter into the joy of your Lord.” I also heard the men themselves singing out with a loud voice, “Blessing, honor, glory, and power be unto Him who sits upon the throne and unto the Lamb, forever and ever.” Now, just as the gates were opened to let the men inside, I looked in after them and witnessed the city shining like the sun! The streets were paved with gold, and many men walked along them with crowns on their heads and palms in their hands, and carrying golden harps which they used to sing praises.

Among the inhabitants there were also those who had wings, and they answered one another without pause, saying, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord.” Following that they shut the gates, and after what I had seen, I wished that I had been among them. 

(At the end of part one)

https://www.amazon.com/Pilgrims-Progress-Illustrated-English-Illustrations-ebook/dp/B00Q8NFZY4

PSALM 23 

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.   

He makes me lie down in green pastures. 

He leads me beside still waters. 

He restores my soul. 

He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. 

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, 

I will fear no evil, for you are with me;    

your rod and your staff,    

they comfort me. 

You prepare a table before me    

in the presence of my enemies; 

you anoint my head with oil;    

my cup overflows. 

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me    

all the days of my life, 

and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

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