Pilgrim's Progress - An Adventure Book

About this Book

  Travel with young Christian as he sets out on a difficult and perilous journey to find the King. Solve the optional puzzles and riddles along the way, and help Christian reach the Celestial City. Then travel with his friend Christiana and her young brothers who can sometimes be a bit of a problem.

  Be warned, you will meet giants and lions -- and even dragons! There are people who don't want Christian and Christiana to reach the city of the King and his Son. But not everyone is an enemy. There are plenty of friendly people. It's just a matter of finding them.

  Are you prepared to help? Are you sure? The journey can be very dangerous! As with our book Mary Jones and Her Bible, you can enjoy the story even if you don't want to try the puzzles.

  This is a simplified and abridged version of Pilgrim's Progress -- Special Edition, containing illustrations and a mix of puzzles. Older readers, including adults, will find the same story told in much greater detail in Pilgrim's Progress -- Special Edition.

  Pilgrim's Progress

  An Adventure Book

  by

  Chris Wright

  eBook ISBN 13: 978-0-9933941-6-4

  First Published in the United State of American 2007

  by Lighthouse Christian Publishing as

  Pilgrim's Progress Puzzle Book © 2007 Chris Wright

  This revised eBook edition © 2015 Chris Wright

  Also available as a paperback ISBN: 978-0-952595663

  Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1960,1962,1963,1968,1971,1972,1973,1975,1977,1995

  by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.

  This book is a work of fiction. Characters and incidents are the product of the author's imagination. Any resemblance to actual events or places or persons, living or dead,

  is entirely coincidental.

  All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise), without the prior written permission of the copyright owner of this book.

  White Tree Publishing Bristol email

  [email protected]

  More White Tree Publishing books on

  www.whitetreepublishing.com

  and the Author’s Website

  www.rocky-island.com

  Published by

  White Tree Publishing

  Bristol

  UNITED KINGDOM

  TABLE OF CONTENTS

  About this Book

  Introduction

  Part 1 Christian's Journey

  Part 2 Christiana's Story

  Epilogue

  More Books

  About White Tree Publishing

  About the Author

  INTRODUCTION

  A pilgrim is someone who sets out on a special journey, and this is a story about some young pilgrims. John Bunyan wrote a book called The Pilgrim's Progress over three hundred years ago. This is his story, retold for young readers, with children taking the part of some of the main characters.

  All through this book there are puzzles to solve and questions to answer. Some may be hard, and some will be easy. You don't have to solve each one before turning the page, but it will make the story more fun if you spend a little time trying to work out the answers. If you're stuck, the answer will be somewhere on the next page, often in bold type.

  You may want to read this book again later, or lend it to a friend. So I suggest you don't write the answers on the pages, but use a piece of paper instead.

  PART 1

  CHRISTIAN'S JOURNEY

  MY NAME IS CHRISTIAN. I used to live with my father in a terrible city called Destruction. There were just the two of us, because my mother was living with the King in the Celestial City. Of course, she wanted me and my father to join her there, but my father always said he was too busy with his work. So one day I decided to go there on my own.

  My friends laughed, and said, "There is no King, and there's no Celestial City!" The only person who didn't laugh was my friend Christiana. She had to look after her four younger brothers, because both her parents were already living with the King.

  I had a special Book. It told me that there really is a King, and he lives with his Son in the Celestial City. One day I met a man called Evangelist who explained how to get there. "Can you see a light shining a long way off?" Evangelist asked, pointing across the fields.

  I said I thought I could see something.

  "Go over the fields to the light," Evangelist said, "and when you get there you'll find a high wall, and a door in it with a Wicket Gate. Knock, and you'll be let in. But make sure no one tries to stop you on the way."

  On the day I was leaving, some of my friends called and wanted me to play with them. I shook my head and told them I was going to see the King. I had a heavy weight on my back, but no one else could see it. I called it my burden, and my Book said the King's Son could remove it for me.

  "You'll get lost," they said. "The path is very dangerous. There are lions and giants, and even dragons. Stay here with us."

  But I'd made up my mind. "I'm going to the King," I told them, "and you can come with me if you like."

  Two of my friends said they might as well give it a go. Their names were Obstinate and Pliable. Obstinate got his name because he always wanted to have his own way.

  "Are you sure you know where you're going?" Obstinate asked me.

  "I'm going to…" I stopped. I couldn't remember where I was going.

  What is the missing word?

  Then it came back to me. "I'm going to the shining light."

  The three of us had only walked a short way, when Obstinate said he was going back. Pliable, who usually did what Obstinate told him to do, said he would stay with me.

  Obstinate looked ever so surprised, and he ran away in a bad temper.

  As Obstinate disappeared from sight, my feet started sinking into some soft ground. I tried to pull myself free, but I kept sinking deeper and deeper into the horrible mud.

  Pliable was already up to his knees, and he shouted in panic, "I'm sinking! I'm sinking! This marsh is sucking me under!"

  That's when I remembered this place was called the Slough of Despond, where people often give up because they think it's hopeless to go any further. Somehow Pliable managed to pull himself out of the deep mud and ran home, leaving me stuck firmly in the Slough of Despond.

  "Help me," I called, "Anybody, please help me!"

  "Grab hold of my hand," I heard someone shout.

  I looked round, and saw a boy reaching out to me. "My name is Help," the boy said. "Be quick and hold on tightly, before you sink any deeper."

  Help pulled and pulled, and I slowly came free.

  "What are you doing here?" Help asked, as soon as I was safe.

  "I'm going to the shining light above the Wicket Gate," I said. "But … but I can't see it any more."

  Help pointed across the fields. "There it is," he said. "Can you see it now?"

  Yes, there it was, shining more brightly than the sun. "Is the way safe?" I asked. "This mud is bad enough, and my friends told me there are lions and giants and dragons along the way."

  "Are you going to see the King?" Help asked.

  "I am."

  He smiled. "Then you need not be afraid. I have already been as far as the Gates to the King's City. Yes, you will meet all sorts of dangers on the way, but the King's Son will watch over you every step you take. He sent me here to rescue you from the Slough of Despond."

  This made me feel happier, so I said goodbye to Help and walked t
owards the light. As I got closer, I heard another boy calling to me.

  "Where are you going?" the boy asked.

  "I'm going to see the King," I said. "Can you see a heavy load on my back? I want to get rid of it as soon as possible."

  What can the boy can see on Christian's back?

  The boy told me he could see nothing. "You don't want to go the King," he said, taking hold of my arm and sounding friendly. "It's very dangerous."

  "Help promised the King's Son will watch over me," I said, and I hoped Help was telling the truth. I wasn't looking forward to meeting lions and giants and dragons on my own.

  "My name is Worldly," the boy said. "Don't believe everything people tell you about the King. Can you see that high mountain?"

  I looked to where young Worldly was pointing. "Yes."

  "It's called Law Mountain. To climb it you have to always be doing good things and never making mistakes. If you manage to climb to the top, you'll see a town on the other side. I have some friends who live there. They'll soon help you forget all about the King and his City, and then you won't feel that burden on your back."

  "I don't want to forget about the King," I said. "But perhaps you're right. Maybe I should try to climb the mountain."

  Young Worldly smiled. "It's good for everyone to try. It will make you very happy."

  "Will I see the light from the top?" I wanted to know. "I have to go to the light."

  "Go to the top and find out," Worldly said with a smile.

  Well, it sounded as though young Worldly knew what he was talking about, especially as he lived near Law Mountain.

  The way up looked ever so steep, but there was a clear path, so I imagined lots of people had been up it already. I wondered if any of them got to the top without going wrong. I had a feeling deep inside that no one had ever managed it.

  Can you find your way safely from the City of Destruction to the Wicket Gate, without going anywhere near Law Mountain or passing through the Slough of Despond?

  So I started to climb, wishing my friend Christiana had come with me -- but she was too busy looking after her four brothers. I hoped she'd come later, and we could meet in the King's City.

  The path up the mountain got steeper and steeper, and a sudden thunder storm shook the rocks. For a moment I thought the rocks were going to fall on me, and I cried out in fright.

  "Keep going," young Worldly called from the bottom of the path. "It may be hard now, but the King will be pleased to see you trying so hard."

  I stopped in fright. "I don't want to go on," I said to myself, "but Help told me the way is difficult. Maybe this is what he meant, and I have to keep going. What shall I do?"

  "Where are you going, Christian?" a man called out.

  I held tightly to the rocks and turned round. Evangelist was standing in the path. "Young Worldly told me this is the way to the King," I said.

  Evangelist shook his head. "Don't you remember that I told you to go to the light?"

  My voice and my legs were shaking. "Worldly told me that this is the way," I said.

  Evangelist shook his head. "Worldly is leading you astray. I warned you not to listen to anyone." Evangelist came close to me. "Go back down, Christian, and walk to the light above the little Wicket Gate."

  So I turned round and walked back down the hill. And there, across the fields, I could see the light again, burning brightly even in the daylight.

  I ran towards it, and as I got close I could see a notice, above a large door in the wall.

  Christian's eyes are dazzled by the bright light which is making the sign look a strange shape. He has trouble reading the letters C, D and O. What does the notice say?

  The notice says: Knock, and the door will be opened to you.

  Who are these two boys, and where they are?

  The picture shows Help pulling Christian out of the Slough of Despond.

  "This must be the right place," I said aloud. "Evangelist told me to knock." So I knocked loudly.

  "What do you want?" a man asked as he opened a small door inside the large one. It was called the Wicket Gate. The man had the kindest face I'd ever seen.

  "My name is Christian, and I want to go to the King," I said "My mother is already with him."

  "Then you must come in quickly." The man reached out and pulled me through the little Wicket Gate.

  "Why did you do that?" I asked in surprise.

  The man pointed to an arrow sticking in the ground, just outside the door. "My enemy shot that arrow at you," he said. "He gets angry when people want to come through here."

  "Who are you?" I asked.

  "They call me Goodwill," the man said. "The King is my Father, and this Wicket Gate is my door."

  I felt very safe when I heard those words. "How do I get to your Father's City?" I asked.

  Goodwill smiled "Stay here tonight, Christian, and tomorrow I will show you the Way to the Celestial City where my Father lives."

  Christian has entered through the door,

  And now is on the Way;

  Should he keep on with his walk,

  Or is it safe to stay?

  I felt tired, and decided to stay for the night. Goodwill is the King's Son, so I knew I'd be safe. After a long night's sleep, I decided I was ready for any lion or giant I might meet. Maybe even ready for a dragon.

  After breakfast, Goodwill took me outside and pointed along the road. "Keep close to the wall," he said, "and don't take any paths to the side. The Way to the King is always straight ahead. If you need to rest, you can stop at the large house you will come to in the middle of the day."

  The morning air felt fresh, and I enjoyed the walk. So far there were no lions, no giants and no dragons. Everything seemed good.

  The sun rose higher and higher in the blue sky, and I began to feel tired and hungry as the morning went on. I'd been walking for three hours.

  "I wonder where the large house is," I said to myself. "I must be close."

  And I was right. Not far ahead, between some trees, I saw the house. I went up to the front door and knocked.

  The man who opened it told me his name was Interpreter, and he invited me in. "I can see you're one of the King's pilgrims," he said. "I have some food for you, but first there are some things that the King wants you to see."

  He took me into a room and showed me a painting of someone he called the Good Shepherd, walking over a mountain path. All around the Good Shepherd, among the rocks, were thorns that had torn his clothing. In his arms the Shepherd carried a sheep.

  "Was it lost?" I asked.

  "Yes," Interpreter said. "Can you see how tired it looks, and how its fleece is torn? But the Good Shepherd heard its cry, and he never rested until he found it. And now he's carrying it home in his arms."

  "It must have been a hard path," I said. "Look, the stones have cut the Shepherd's feet."

  "It was a hard path, but he didn't mind, because he loved that sheep."

  "Who is the Good Shepherd?" I asked. "He looks exactly like Goodwill."

  Interpreter held the lamp high so I could see the picture more clearly. "The Good Shepherd is our King's Son, and he is the man who let you in at the Wicket Gate. Just as a shepherd loves his flock, so the King's Son loves you, Christian. The pilgrims are like that sheep. You must always remember who is watching over you."

  "I'm a pilgrim now," I said, looking up at Interpreter. "And I was lost, just like that sheep."

  "A pilgrim, and a sheep in the flock of the Good Shepherd," Interpreter said. "Tell me, Christian, can you remember why the Good Shepherd went looking for the lost sheep?"

  "Because it was lost, and he loved it," I said, and Interpreter told me it was the right answer.

  Interpreter's house had rooms with many exciting things to see. He showed me a room where a man was sweeping a dusty floor. But as the man used the brush, the dust rose in the air and made us sneeze.

  A servant hurried in with some water and splashed it all over the floor. Then the dust sett
led and the man was able to sweep the room clean.

  "The room is like us," Interpreter explained. "There is no way we can make ourselves good enough to please the King. The more we try to do it, the more we make a mess. The King's Son is the only one who can make our hearts clean."

  We ate a good meal together, and soon I was back on the path, heading for the King's City. My burden had bothered me since I first read about the King and his Son in my Book. I thought I'd lose it as soon as I went through the Wicket Gate, but I knew it was still there.

  Does it contain:

  1. Some food and drink for his lunch?

  2. All the things he has ever done wrong that have hurt the King

  3. All the things that worry him?

  4. All the things he is afraid of?

  5. Some spare clothes?

  All the wrong things I had ever done were wrapped up in that bundle on my back, as well as my worries and the things I was afraid of. The weight was slowing me down, and I had to get rid of it as soon as possible.

  As the day got hotter, the weight of the burden felt heavier and heavier. Presently I came to a small hill by the side of the road, with a Cross on the top. I began to climb the path to look at it, and just for a moment I imagined I could see someone hanging on it, his hands and feet bleeding.

  As I looked, I felt the burden fall from my shoulders and heard it tumble to the bottom of the hill. I turned round and watched it fall into a deep pit and roll out of sight.

  I was so surprised I could hardly believe that the person who had been on the Cross had made me lose the burden, for it had been such a trouble to me.

  I stood wondering who was on the Cross.

  Who did Christian see on the Cross? His name is hidden in the sentence below:

  THEre he stood in thanKs, knowING that hiS burden waS gONe for ever.

  (There is a hint on the next page if you're stuck.)

  Hint: Check out the capital letters

  "It was the King's Son" I said aloud. "Has my burden really gone?"

  I waited a few minutes and there was no sign of it coming back. The King's Son had taken the weight from my shoulders for ever. It was such a wonderful feeling to know I would never see it again.