The Pilgrim's Progress - part a

I can't believe I haven't read The Pilgrim's Progress before this week!  Ambleside Online schedules it for 2nd grade, and I have been thinking of trying it out with R.  But first, I needed to read it.  I had mentally put this book on the read-before-I-turn-30 shelf in my mind.  And I succeeded with a month to spare! This will definitely be a re-read.  I had started it before several times, even trying the audio version, but couldn't get into it. I have no idea why.  This week I kept saying to Jared, "I can't believe how good this is!  Why have I never read this?" to which he would reply, "I tried to get you to read it when we first got married."  I don't know what my problem was.  Sometimes I think maybe it's Divine timing, other times maybe just my laziness.
Well, enough of this rambling....This book is an allegory (quickly becoming one of my favorite genres since reading Hinds Feet on High Places and several books by George MacDonald).  Here are some of my favorite descriptions:

Picture of the law as a broom sweeping up dust that flies all over, but doesn't clean -  
"The Interpreter answered, This parlour is the heart of a man that was never sanctified by the sweet grace of the gospel; the dust is his original sin and inward corruptions, that have defiled the whole man.  He that began to sweep at first, is the Law; but she that brought water, and did sprinkle it, is the Gospel." Kindle location 385

The Holy Spirit, our earnest -
..."gave him a roll with a seal upon it, which he bade him look on as he ran, and that he should give it in at the Celestial Gate." (reference to Eph. 1:13) location 495


The armor of God -
"The next day they took him and had him into the armoury, where they showed him all manner of furniture, which their Lord had provided for pilgrims, as sword, shield, helmet, breastplate, ALL-PRAYER, and shoes that would not wear out.  And there was here enough of this to harness out as many men for the service of their Lord as there be stars in the heaven for multitude." location 714

 On pride -
"At this, Christian was somewhat moved, and putting to all his strength, he quickly got up with Faithful, and did also overrun him; so the last was first.  Then did Christian vain-gloriously smile, because he had gotten the start of his brother; but not taking good heed to his feet, he suddenly stumbled and fell, and could not rise again until Faithful came to help him." (885)

On shame -
"But, indeed, this Shame was a bold villain; I could scarce shake him out of my company; yea, he would be haunting of me, and continually whispering me in the ear, with some one or other of the infirmities that attend religion; but at last I told him it was but in vain to attempt further in this business; for those things that he disdained, in those did I see most glory; and so at last I got past this importunate one." (location 980)

On hypocrisy -
"religion hath no place in his heart, or house, or conversation; all he hath lieth in his tongue, and his religion is, to make a noise therewith." (location 1038)


That's enough for now...more to come...