Pictures from Pilgrim’s Progress

Introduction

W HEN it was first reported to me that a series of addresses on The Pilgrim’s Progress had been discovered, I rejoiced as one that findeth great spoil, for I hoped that after enriching the pages of The Sword and the Trowel these fragrant flowers might be gathered together into a delightful nosegay. In the mercy of God, my hopes have been fulfilled. Month by month, the ‘Pictures’ have appeared, for nearly a year and a half, in the magazine, and abundant testimony is to hand that they have proved welcome to its readers. And now the full time has come for the issue of the book, and here it is—a sparkling circlet now that the gems are strung together. Three additional ‘Pictures’ will be found herein, to wit: ‘Christian at the Cross,’ ‘Christian and Apollyon,’ and ‘Vanity Fair.’ It is not a little surprising that no trace could be found of any reference in the course of lectures to these outstanding features of the story. It does not follow, however, that the great preacher passed them by. Possibly they were not reported, or the manuscripts may have gone astray. A little search in C. H. Spurgeon’s

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