The first edition of The Pilgrim's Progress, of which an exact reproduction is now placed before the public, was issued by "Nath. Ponder at the Peacock in the Poultrey near Cornhill, 1678." For many years, only one copy was known to exist, viz., that in the library of R. S. Holford, Esq.; it is from this that the present facsimile is produced. At the present time, four copies are known to exist. The example from which the present edition is printed is a compact volume, printed on yellowish grey paper, from, apparently, new type; and so perfectly has it been preserved, that it seems to be in precisely the state in which it left the publisher's shelves. It is a book as full of material peculiarities as any that ever taxed the correctness of a fac-similist; and it may not be out of place to draw attention to some of them.
The spelling and grammar are frequently both inaccurate and inconsistent, from a modern point of view; but to this, which is scarcely a peculiarity, we have to add a very irregular use of capital letters, the greatest profusion of italics, the employment now of asterisks and now of letters for reference to the notes, and the use of certain characters differing in form from modern letters, and not commonly used in books of the seventeenth century. The italic k and the st which occur in the Introduction, are examples of these obsolete letters; and the ꝛ in the word Pꝛogreſs, at the head of every page, is of very rare occurrence.
But this edition has other characteristics which render its interest still more vital. The marginal comments, which some modern editors have seen fit to omit, are there in all their quaint force: in one case the temper of Christian, as described in the text, is summarized in the sidenote thus "Christian snibbeth his Fellow"; in another place Bunyan ejaculates in the margin, "O brave Talkative"; and in numerous instances these notes have a value of their own, either as samples of the rough vernacular of the author's original book, or as indications of his mode of thought.
This first edition, more than any subsequent one, is replete with quaint expressions in rugged Saxon-English, and with other elements of style which induced Bunyan to say in his "Apology":—
"This Book is writ in such a Dialect
As may the minds of listless men affect."
And although the great allegorist never materially changed his handiwork, he did make alterations in his grammar and orthography in the course of the eight editions which he lived to revise. Add to this that his numerous editors have also carried on the work of modification for nearly two centuries; and it will at once be evident that it is a matter of real importance for the reading public of to-day to see what Bunyan really wrote and issued in the first instance.
To compass this end, no pains have been spared. In all those matters of orthography, grammar, rough or quaint expression, typographical peculiarity, &c., above referred to, absolute reproduction has been the one aim. Indeed, as regards typography, the present edition is strictly a lineal descendant of that of 1678; for the type now used has been cast from moulds made in 1720, which were taken from the Dutch type used for that first issue. The paper, too, is a close imitation of that manufactured two centuries ago.
The almost complete disappearance of the first edition, all but four copies, may not perhaps indicate the exact measure of avidity with which the book was taken up; but the subsequent history of the work leaves no doubt as to the effectual manner in which the fertile ground of English religious sentiment absorbed the first seeds cast abroad by the homely Bunyan; and, at all events, those seeds produced such a plentiful crop that it were futile now to attempt to compute how many millions of copies of the world- renowned allegory have been read and thumbed and pondered over in the course of the last two centuries.
FROM
TO
Delivered under the Similitude of a
DREAM
Wherein is Diſcovered,
The manner of his setting out
His Dangerous Journey; And ſafe
Arrival at the Deſired Countrey.
I have uſed Similitudes Hoſ. 12. 10.
By John Bunyan.
LONDON
Printed for Nath. Ponder at the Peacock
in the Poultrey near Cornhil, 1678.
THE
Author's Apology
For his BOOK.
When at the firſt I took, my Pen in hand,
Thus for to write; I did not underſtand
That I at all should make a little Book.
In ſuch a mode Nay, I had undertook
To make another, which when almoſt done;
Before I was aware, I this begun.
And thus it was: I writing of the Way
And Race of Saints, in this our Goſpel-Day
Fell ſuddenly into an Allegory
About their Journey, and the way to Glory,
In more than twenty things, which I ſet down;
This done, I twenty more had in my Crown,
And they again began to multiply,
Like ſparks that from the coals of fire do fly.
Nay then, thought I, if that you breed ſo faſt
I'll put you by your selves, left you at laſt
Should prove ad infinitum, and eat out
The Book that I already am about.
Well, ſo I did; but yet I did not think
To ſhew to all the World my Pen and Ink
In ſuch a mode I only thought to make
I knew not what: nor did I undertake
Thereby to pleaſe my Neighbour no not I;
I did it mine own ſelf to gratiſie.
Neither did I but vacant ſeaſons ſspend
In this my Scribble; nor did I intend
But to divert my ſelf in doing this,
From worſer thoughts, which make me do amiſs.
Thus I ſet Pen to Paper with delight,
And quickly had my thoughts in black and white.
For having now my Method by the end,
Still as I pull' d, it came; and ſo I penned
It down, until it came at laſt to be
For length and breadth the bigneſs which you ſee.
Well, when I had thus put mine ends together,
I ſhew'd them others, that I might ſee whether
They would condemn them, or them juſtifie:
And some said, let them live some, let them die.
Some ſaid, John, print it; others ſaid, Not ſo:
Some ſaid, It might do good; others ſaid, No.
Now was I in ſtraight, and did not ſee
Which was the beſt thing to be done by me:
At laſt I thought, Since you are thus divided,
I print it will; and ſo the caſe decided.
For, thought I; Some, I ſee, would have it done,
Though others in that Channel do not run;
To prove then who adviſed for the beſt,''
Thus I thought fit to put it to the teſt.
I further thought, If now I did deny
Those that would have it thus, to gratifie,
I did not know but hinder them I might
Of that which would to them be great delight.
For thoſe that were not for its coming forth,
I said to them, Offend you I am loth;
Yet ſince your Brethren pleased with it be,
Forbear to judge, till you do further ſee.
If that thou wilt not read, let it alone;
Some love the meat, ſome love to pick, the bone:
Yea, that I might them better palliate,
I did too with them thus Expoſtulate.
May I not write in ſuch a ſtile as this?
In such a method too, and yet not miſs
Mine end, thy good? why may it not be done?
Dark. Clouds bring Waters, when the bright bring
Yea, darker bright, if they their Silver drops (none
Cauſe to deſcend, the Earth, by yielding Crops,
Gives praise to both, and carpeth not at either,
But treaſures up the Fruit they yield together:
Yea, ſo commixes both, that in her Fruit
None can distinguiſh this from that, they ſuit
Her well, when hungry: but if ſhe be full,
She ſpues out both, and makes their bleſſings null.
You ſee the ways the Fiſher-man doth take
To catch the Fiſh; what Engins doth he make?
Behold how he ingageth all his Wits,
Alſo his Snares, Lines, Angles, Hooks and Nets.
Yet Fiſh there be, that neither Hook, nor Line,
Nor Snare, nor Net, nor Engin can make thine;
They must be grop't for, and be tickled too,
Or they will not be catcht, what e're you do.
How doth the Fowler ſeek to catch his Game,
By divers means, all which one cannot name?
His Gun, his Nets, his Lime-twigs, light, and bell:
He creeps, he goes, he ſtands; yea who can tell
Of all his poſtures, Yet there's none of theſe
Will make him maſter of what Fowls he please.
Yea, he muſt Pipe, and Whiſtle to catch this
Yet if he does ſo, that Bird he will miss.
If that a Pearl may in a Toads-head dwell,
And may be found too in an Oiſter-ſhell,
If things that promiſe nothing, do contain
What better is then Gold; who will diſdain.
(That have an inkling of it,) there to look,
That they may find it. Now my little Book,
(Tho void of all thoſe paintings that may make
It with thiſ or the other Man to take)
Is not without those things that do excel
What do in brave, but empty notions dwell.
Well, yet I am not fully ſatisfied,
That this your Book will ſtand; when ſoundly try'd
Why, what's the matter! it is dark what tho?
But it is feigned. What of that I tro?
Some men by feigning words as dark as mine,
Make truth to spangle, and its rayes to ſhine.
But they want ſolidneſs: Speak man thy mind.
They drown'd the weak',Metaphors make us blind.
Solidity, indeed becomes the Pen
Of him that writeth things Divine to men;
But must I needs want ſolidneſs, becauſe
By Metaphors I ſpeak; Was not Gods Laws,
His Goſpel-Laws, in oldertime held forth
By Types, Shadows and Metaphors? Yet loth
Will any ſober man be to find fault
With them, leſt he be found for to aſſault
The higheſt Wiſdom. No, he rather ſtoops,
And ſeeks to find out what by pins and loops,
By Calves; and Sheep; by Heifers, and by Rams
By Birds, and Herbs, and by the blood of Lambs,
God ſpeaketh to him. And happy is he
That finds the light, and grace that in them be.
Be not too forward therefore to conclude,
That I want ſolidneſs, that I am rude:
All things ſoild in ſhew, not ſolid be;
All things in parables deſpiſe not we,
Leſt things moſt hurtful lightly we receive,
And things that good are, of our ſouls bereave,
My dark and cloudy words they do but hold
The Truth, as Cabinets incloſe the Gold.
The Prophets uſed much by Metaphors
To ſet forth Truth; Yea, who so considers
Chriſt, his Apoſtles too, shall plainly ſee,
That Truths to this day in such Mantles be.
Am I afraid to ſay that holy Writ
Which for its Stile, and Phraſe puts down all Wit
Is every where ſo full of all theſe things,
(Dark Figures, Allegories) yet there ſprings
From that ſame Book that lustre, and thoſe rayes
Of light, that turns our darkeſt nights to days.
Come, let my Carper, to his Life now look,
And find There darker lines then in my Book
He findeth any. Tea, and let him know,
That in his beſt things there are worse lines too.
May we but stand before impartial men,
To his poor One, I durſt adventure Ten,
That they will take my meaning in theſe lines
Far better then his Lies in Silver Shrines.
Come, Truth, although in Swadling-clouts, I find
Informs the Judgement, rectifies the Mind,
Pleases the Underſtanding, makes the Will
Submit; the Memory too it doth fill
With what doth our Imagination pleaſe;
Likewiſe, it tends our troubles to appeaſe.
Sound words I know Timothy is to uſe;
And old Wives Fables he is to refuſe,
But yet grave Paul, him no where doth forbid
The uſe of Parables; in which lay hid
That Gold thoſe Pearls, and precious ſtones that were
Worth digging for; and that with greateſt care.
Let me add one word more, O man of God'
Art thou offended? dost thou wiſh I had
Put forth my matter in an other dreſs,
Or that I had in things been more expreſs?
Three things let me propound, then I ſubmit
To thoſe that are my betters, (as is fit)
1. I find not that I am denied the uſe
Of this my method, ſo I no abuſe
Put on the Words, Things, Readers, or be rude
In handling Figure, or Similitude,
In application; but, all that I may,
Seek the advance of Truth, this or that way:
Denyed, did I ſay? Nay, I have leave,
(Example too,and that from them that have
God better pleaſed by their words or ways,
Then any man that breatheth now adays,)
Thus to expreſs my mind, thus to declare
Things unto thee, that excellentest are.
2. I find that men (as high as Trees) will write
Dialogue-wiſe; yet no man doth them ſlight
For writing so: Indeed if they abuſe
Truths curſed be they, and, the craft they uſe
To that intent; But yet let Truth be free
To make her Salleys upon Thee, and Me,
Which way it pleaſes God. For who knows how,
Better then he that taught us firſt to Plow,
To guide our Mind and Pens for his Deſign?
And he makes base things uſher in Divine.
3. I find that holy Writ in many places (caſes
Hath ſemblance with this method, where the
Doth call for one thing, to ſet forth another:
Use it I may then, and yet nothing ſmother
Truths golden Beams Nay, by this method may
Make it caſt forth its rayes as light as day.
And now, before I do put up my Pen,
I'le ſhew the profit of my Book, and then
Commit both thee, and it unto that hand
That pulls the strong down, and makes weak ones ſtand
This Book it chaulketh out before thine eyes
The man that ſeeks the everlaſting Prize:
It ſhews you whence he comes, whither he goes.
What he leaves undone also what he does:
It also ſhews you how he runs, and runs
Till he unto the Gate of Glory comes.
It vhews too, who fits out for life amain,
As if the laſting Crown they would attain:
Here also you may ſee the reaſon why
They looſe their labour, and like Fools do die.
This Book, will make a Travailer of thee.
If by its Counſel thou wilt ruled be;
It will direct thee to the Holy Land,
If thou wilt its Directions underſtand:
Yea, it will make the ſloathful, active be
The Blind also, delightful things to see.
Art thou for something rare, and profitable?
Wouldeſt thou see a Truth within a Fable?
Art thou forgetful? wouldeſt thou remember
From New-years-day to the laſt of December?
Then read my fancies, they will ſtick like Burs,
And may be to the Helpleſs, Comforters.
This Book is writ in ſuch a Dialect,
As may the minds of listleſs men affect;
It ſeems a Novelty, and yet contains
Nothing but found, and honeſt Goſpel-ſtrains.
Wouldſt thou divert thy ſelf from Melancholly?
Would'ſt thou be pleaſant, yet be far from folly?
Would'ſt thou read Riddles, & their Explanation?
Or else be drownded in thy Contemplation?
Dost thou love picking meat? or would'ſt thou see
A man i'th Clouds, and hear him ſpeak to thee?
Would'ſt thou be in a Dream, and yet not ſleep?
Or would'ſt thou in a moment laugh, and weep?
Would'ſt thou loose thy ſelf, and catch no harm?
And find thy ſelf again without a charm?
Would'ſt read thy self, and read thou know'st not what
And yet know whether thou art bleſt or not,
By reading the ſame lines? O then come hither,
and lay my Book, thy Head,and Heart together.
In the ſimilitude of a
As I walk'd through the wilderneſs of this world, I lighted on a certain place, where was a Denn; And I laid me down in that place to ſleep: And as I ſlept I dreamed a Dream. I dreamed , and behold I ſaw a Man * *Iſa 64. 6 Lu. 14. 33 Pſ. 38. 4. Hab 2. 2. Act. 16 31. cloathed with Raggs, ſtanding in a certain place, with his face from his own Houſe, a Book in his hand, and a great burden upon his back. I looked, and ſaw him open the Book, and Read therein; and as he Read, he wept and trembled: and not being able longer to contain, he brake out with a lamentable cry; ſaying, what ſhall I do?
I ſaw alſo that he looked this way, and that way, as if he would run; yet he ſtood ſtill, because as I perceived, he could not tell which way to go. I looked then, and saw a Man named Evangeliſt coming to him,and asked, Wherefore doſt thou cry? He answered, Sir, I perceive, by the Book in my hand, that I am Condemned to die, and * Heb. 9. 27. * after that to come to Judgement; and I find that I am not * * Job 26. 21. 22. willing to do the firſt, norEzek. 22,14.able to do the ſecond.
Then ſaid Evangeliſt, Why not willing to die? ſince this life is attended with ſo many evils? The Man anſwered, Because I fear that this burden that is upon my back, will ſinck me lower then the Grave; and I ſhall fall into * Iſa. 30. 33. * Tophet. And Sir, if I be not fit to go to Priſon, I am not fit (I am sure) to go to Judgement, and from thence to Execution; And the thoughts of these things make me cry.
Then ſaid Evangeliſt, If this be thy condition, why ſtandest thou ſtill? He anſwered, Becauſe I know not whither to go. Then he gave him a Parchment-Roll, and there was written within, Mat. 3. 7.* Fly from the wrath to come.
The Man therefore Read it, and looking upon Evangeliſt very carefully; ſaid, Whithermuſt I fly? Then ſaid Evangeliſt, pointing with his finger over a very wide Field, Do you ſee yonder Mat. 7. Psal 119. 105. 2 Pe. 1. 29. * Wicket-gate? The Man ſaid, No. Then ſaid the other, Do you ſee yonder Chriſt and the way to him cannot be found without the word. * ſhining light? He ſaid, I think I do. Then ſaid Evangeliſt, Keep that light in your eye, the way to and go up directly thereto, * * Luk. 14. 16. ſhalt thou see the Gate; at which when thou knockeſt, it ſhall be told thee what thou ſhalt do.
So I ſaw in my Dream, that the Man began to run; Now he had not run far from his own door, but his Wife and Children perceiving it, began to cry after him to return: ** Gen . 17. 19. but the Man put his fingers in his Ears, and ran on crying, Life, Life, Eternal Life: ſo he looked not behind him, **They that fly from the wrath to come, are a grazing stock to the world Jer 20.10 but fled towards the middle of the Plain.
The Neighbours alſo came out to ſee him run, and as he ran ſome mocked others threatned; and ſome cried after him to return: Now among those that did ſo, there were two that were reſolved to fetch him back by force: The name of the one was Obſtinate, and the name of the other Pliable, Now by this time the Man was got a good diſtance from them; But however they were reſolved to pursue him; which they did, and in little time they overtook him. Then ſaid the Man, Neighbours, Wherefore are you come? They said, To perſwade you to go back with us; but he said, That can by no means be: You dwell, ſaid he, in the City of Deſtruction (the place alſo where I was born,) I ſee it to be ſo; and dying there, ſooner or later, you will ſink lower then the Grave, into a place that burns with Fire and Brimſtone; Be content good Neighbours, and go along with me.
ObſtinateWhat! ſaid Obſtinate, and leave our Friends and our comforts behind us!
ChriſtianYes, ſaid Chriſtian (for that was his name) because that all is not 2 Cor. 4. 18. worthy to be compared with a little of that that I am ſeeking to enjoy, and if you will go along with me, you ſhall fare as I my ſelf; for there where I go, is ** Luk. 15 . enough, and to ſpare; Come away, and prove my words.
Obſt. What are the things you ſeek, ſince you leave all the World to find them?
Chr. I ſeek an **1 Pet. 1.4. Inheritance, inorruptible, undefiled, and that fadeth not away; and it is laid up in Heaven, and faſt there, to be beſtowed at the * Heb. 11. 16. time appointed, on them that diligently ſeek it.
Ob. Tush said Obſtinate, away with your Book; will you go back with us, or no?
Ch. No, not I, ſaid the other; because I have laid my hand to the * * Luk. 9. 62 Plow.
Ob. Come then, Neighbour Pliable, let us turn again, and go home without him; There is a Company of these Crazd-headed Coxcombs, that when they take a fancy by the end, are wiser on their own eyes then seven men that can render a Reason.
Pli. Then said Pliable, Don't revile; if what the good Chriſtian ſays is true, the things he looks after, are better then ours: my heart inclines to go with my Neighbour.
Obſt. What! more Fools ſtill? be ruled by me and go back; who knows whither ſuch a brain-ſick fellow will lead you? Go back, go back, and be wise.
Ch. Come with me Neighbour Pliable; there are ſuch things to be had which I ſpoke of, and many more Glories besides. If you believe not me, read here in this Book; and for the truth of what is expreſt therein, behold all is confirmed by the †† Heb. 13. 20. 21 blood of him that made it.
Pli. Well Neighbour Obſtinate (said Pliable) I begin to come to a point; I intend to go along with this good man and to caſt in my lot with him: But my good Companion, do you know the way to this deſired place?
Ch. I am directed by a man whose name is Evangeliſt, to ſpeed me to a little Gate that is before us, where we ſhall receive inſtruction about the way.
Pli. Come then good Neighbour, let us be going.
Then they went both together.
Obſt. And I will go back to my place, ſaid Obſtinate. I will be no Companion of ſuch mis-led fantatical Fellows.
Now I ſaw in my Dream, that when Obſtinate was gon back, Chriſtian and Pliable went * * Talk between Chriſtainand Pliable. talking over the Plain: and thus they began their diſcourse,
Chriſt. Come Neighbour Pliable,how do you do? I am glad you are perſwaded to go along with me; and had even Obſtinate himself, but felt what I have felt of the Powers and Terrours of what is yet unſeen, he I would not thus lightly have given us the back.
Pliable. Come Neighbour Chriſtian, ſince there is none but us two here, tell me now further, what the things are and how to be enjoyed whither we are going?
Ch. I can better conceive of them with my Mind, then ſpeak of them with my Tongue: But yet ſince you are deſirous to know, I will read of them in my Book.
Pli. And do you think that the words of your Book are certainly true?
Ch, Yes verily, for it was made by him that ††Tit. 1. 2. cannot lye.
Plia: Well said; what things are they?
Ch. There is an ** Iſ.4 .5. 17. endless Kingdom to be Inhabited,John 10. 27, 28, 29 and everlaſting life to be given us; that we may Inhabit that Kingdom for ever.
Pli. Well ſaid; and what elſe?
Chr. There are Crowns of Glory to be given us; ††2 Tim. 4. 8. Rev. 3. 4. Matth 14.and Garments that will make us ſhine like the Sun in the Firmament of Heaven.
Plia. This is excellent; And what elſe?
Ch. There mall be no more crying, **Iſa. 25. 8. Rev 7.16.17. Cap. 21.4, nor ſorrow: For he that is owner of the places, will wipe all tears from our eyes.
Pli. And what company ſhall we have there?
Ch. There we ſhall be with Seraphims, **Isa 6. 2. 1 Thifs. 4. 16. 17. Rev. 7. 17. and Cherubins, Creatures that will dazzle your eyes to look on them: There also you ſhall meet with thousands, and ten thousands that have gone before us to that place; none of them are hurtful, but loving, and holy: every one walking in the ſight of God; and ſtanding in his presence with acceptance for ever: In a word, there we shall see the †† Rev. 4.4. Elders with their Golden Crowns: There we shall ſee the Holy * *Cha. 14. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.Virgins with their Golden Harps. There we ſhall see aa Joh. 12 25.Men that by the World were cut in pieces, burned in flames, eaten of Beasts, drownded in the Seas, for the love that they bare to the Lord of the place; all well, and cloathed with bb 2 Cor. 5 2, 3, 5. Immortality, as with a Garment.
Pli. The hearing of this is enough to ravish ones heart; but are these things to be enjoyed? how ſhall we get to be Sharers hereof?
Ch. The Lord, the Governour of that Countrey, hath Recorded that cc Iſa 55. 12. Joh.7. 37. Chap 6.37 Rev.21.6 Cap.22.17 in this Book: The subſtance of which is, If we be truly willing to have it, he will bestow it upon us freely.
Pli. Well my good Companion, glad am I to hear of theſe things: Come on, let us mend our pace.
Ch. I cannot go so fast as I would, by reason of this burden that is upon my back.
Now I saw in my Dream, that just as they had ended this talk, they drew near to a very Miry Slough, that was in the midst of the Plain, and they being heedleſs, did both fall ſuddenly into the bogg. The name of the Slow was Diſpond. Here therefore they wallowed for a time, being grieviouſly bedaubed with the dirt; And Chriſtian, because of the burden that was on his back, began to sink in the Mire.
Pli. Then said Pliable, Ah, Neighbour Chriſtian, where are you now?
Ch. Truly, said Christian, I do not know.
Pli. At that, Pliable began to be offended; and angerly ſaid to his Fellow, Is this the happiness you have told me all this while of? if we have such ſpeed at our firſt ſetting out, what may we expect, 'twixt this, and our Journeys end? dd It is not enough to be Pliable. May I get out again with my life, you shall poſſes the brave Country alone for me. And with that he gave a desperate ſtruggle or two, and got out of the Mire, on that ſide of the Slough which was next to his own Houſe: So away he went, and Chriſtian ſaw him no more.
Wherefore Chriſtian was left to tumble in the Slough of Diſpondency alone, but still he endeavoured to struggle in trouble, to that side of the Slough, that was ſtill, further ee Chriſtian in trouble ſeeks to get further from his Houſe. from his own Houſe and next to the Wicket-gate; the which he did, but could not get out cauſe of the burden that was upon his back. But I beheld in my Dream, that a Man came to him, whoſe name was Help, and asked him, What he did there?
Chr. Sir, ſaid Chriſtian, I was directed this way by a Man called Evangeliſt; who directed me alſo to yonder Gate, that I might eſcape the wrath to come: And as I was going thither, I fell in here.
Help. But why did you not look for the ſteps? ffThe Promiſes
Ch. Fear followed me ſo hard, that I fled the next way, and fell in.
Help. Give me thy hand. So he gave him his hand, and, gg Pſ. 40. 2 he drew him out, and ſet him upon found ground, and bid him go on his way.
Then I ſtepped to him that pluckt him out; and ſaid; Sir, Wherefore (ſince over this place,is the way from the City of Deſtruction, to yonder Gate) is it, that this Plat is not mended, that poor Travellers might go thither with more ſecurity? And he ſaid unto me, this Miry ſlough is ſuch a place as cannot be mended: It is the deſcent whither the ſcum and filth that attends conviction for ſin,