Pilgrim’s Progress Inspires America’s Founders | American Clarion

Pilgrim’s Progress Inspires America’s Founders | American Clarion

February 18, 2012 · By William J. Federer · 2 Comments

Statue Of John Bunyan, Southampton Row, London (Source: Wikimedia Commons)

American Minute from William J. Federer

Pilgrim’s Progress was published FEBRUARY 18, 1678.

An allegory of a pilgrim’s journey to the Celestial City, it was written by John Bunyan, born in Bedford, England.

At age 29, Bunyan became a Baptist minister and was imprisoned for over 12 years for preaching without a license.

While in jail, he supported his family by making shoelaces.

His book, found in nearly every colonial New England home, was the world’s best-seller for centuries.

Benjamin Franklin wrote in his Autobiography:

“From a child I was fond of reading, and all the little money that came into my hands was ever laid out in books. Pleased with the Pilgrim’s Progress, my first collection was of John Bunyan’s works in separate little volumes.”

Franklin continued:

“My old favorite author, Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress…has been translated into most of the languages of Europe, and suppose it has been more generally read than any other book, except perhaps the Bible.”

In it, John Bunyan wrote:

“Christian ran thus till he came at a place somewhat ascending, and upon that place stood a cross…So I saw in my dream, that just as Christian came up with the cross, his burden loosed from off his shoulders, and fell from off his back.”

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• thisoldspouse
  For anyone contemplating reading this Christian classic for the first time, I would strongly suggest avoiding one of the new “improved” paraphrased modern-language versions that are being heavily marketed and try to get a copy of the original, unabridged version, written in Bunyan’s own words (it WAS written in English, after all.)  It might be a little more work interpreting the archaic meanings of some of the less familiar terms, but well worth it.
  I think you lose something with sullied modern minds working on a sterling work written by a white-hot soul.  You can’t improve on that.
• WXRGina
  I very much agree, Spouse!
  We have a worn, paperback copy from a 1957 edition in his original words (our reprint is from ’64.)  You only want the original.  It’s a precious story

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William J. Federer is a nationally recognized author, speaker, and president of Amerisearch, Inc, which is dedicated to researching our American heritage. The American Minute radio feature looks back at events in American history on the dates they occurred, is broadcast daily across the country and read by thousand on the internet.

William J. Federer

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