The Sojourner's Adventure through Pilgrim's Progress • Chapter 4

Added: 2026-05-19

[00:00:01][music] >> Did you notice [music] that chapter 3 ends with apple crisp?

[00:00:16]Well, here's our apple crisp.

[00:00:18]Wow.

[00:00:20]Perfect, Grandma. I agree.

[00:00:23]Do you have any wooden spoons?

[00:00:26]You'll have to pretend that part.

[00:00:31]JB, have you ever had any friends like Obstinate or Pliable?

[00:00:36]Well, I think I have. Those kind make fun of you for trying to find what is true and good. Oh, I sure have had some friends like that. Did you notice [music] that Pliable and Obstinate are missing something? Hmm, let me see. This is a detective question.

[00:00:53]>> [music] >> You still have your truth stalker hat on. What do you think?

[00:00:57]I think I need another clue.

[00:01:00]What are they carrying?

[00:01:03]Oh, they don't [music] have a burden pack on their back. Right. And they didn't want to read the book that would help them know the danger they were in.

[00:01:11]So, they can't understand Graceless because they don't have a burden like him. Right. Pliable listened to the book a little, but he just wanted the treasure and beautiful things Graceless tells him are in the Celestial City.

[00:01:23]Let's do another detective question.

[00:01:25][music] Do you know why he was called Pliable?

[00:01:29]Watson, [music] help me out, my sleuth hound.

[00:01:38]You know, JB, the word pliable comes from the word plastic, [music] something that can be easily bent.

[00:01:44]Remember when you had a toy plastic fishing rod? And it wasn't [music] strong and it bent a lot. And it broke, too. Yes, it was like Pliable. He was easily convinced, but he didn't last long.

[00:01:57]What about Obstinate?

[00:01:59]Well, old Obstinate, he sure is a stubborn one, and that's what his name means. Not only does he not see his own sin, he loves the city of destruction.

[00:02:10][music] Sometimes people mock others because they realize that if someone like Graceless is right, they know they are in trouble. So, Obstinate [music] shuts his ears. He doesn't want to hear anything that makes him uncomfortable.

[00:02:25]What about the swamp, Grandpa? Oh, that swamp. That's a part of John Bunyan's story I remember so clearly from when I first [music] read Pilgrim's Progress when I was a boy about your age. When I first [music] read it, I thought he wouldn't make it out.

[00:02:40]But what is the swamp in the alleg- alleg- Oh, that word you [music] told me.

[00:02:43]>> The word you're trying to remember is the word allegory. Good question. Well, the swamp of despair is an allegory of the discouragement we feel when we realize we are sinful. [music] We feel guilty and maybe like there is no hope. Graceless was having these feelings of unbelief and fear, and with his burden, he could not get out without the Lord of the Pilgrim's Path sending help.

[00:03:10]But Pliable got out. Right, but remember [music] Pliable did not have the burden of sin.

[00:03:16]He did not realize he was a sinner.

[00:03:19]He got one taste [music] of sin guilt and ran back to destruction rather than forward to freedom [music] and salvation. Pliable reminds me of Luke 9:62.

[00:03:30]>> [music] >> No man, having put his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit [music] for the kingdom of God.

[00:03:38]Good thing Help came along.

[00:03:40]>> Yes.

[00:03:41]Help is an allegory of encouragement that is reliable and true. This encouragement comes from knowing what the Bible says about the sin that Jesus took upon himself at the cross and our inability to save ourselves or add anything to [music] what the Lord has accomplished for us. It was with that message that the strong man named help was sent to encourage [music] Graceless and get him back on the road and headed for the narrow gate. But Great-heart and Evangelist know Graceless [music] still has miles and miles to go even after the narrow gate.

[00:04:15]He sure does.

[00:04:18]And Watson and I will be watching on the trail the entire way.

[00:04:24]I'm sure you will detectives.

[00:04:26]Okay, we've had our apple crisp and we have [music] time for chapter 4 before it's time for you to go to bed.

[00:04:35]Then right to bed or we'll all feel like we need help to get out of bed in the morning just like Graceless trying to get out of that swamp.

[00:04:46]Grandma is right again [music] of course.

[00:04:49]Just before I start reading chapter 4, I would like to share Psalm 40:2.

[00:05:00]He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock and established my goings.

[00:05:14]It was a little before dusk when Faithless finally made his way into the city of destruction. The following is what he reported to Great-heart when next they met. As I was on my way home, situated in the center of the city, I heard a great hubbub.

[00:05:28]Curious as to the meaning of this uproar, I headed toward the gathered crowd.

[00:05:33]At first, I could not see what was causing the uproar, but gathered from the insults and abuse that some criminal or miscreant had suddenly aroused the ire of the city folk.

[00:05:45]As I elbowed my way through the crowd, I was amazed to see the man who had caused the disturbance.

[00:05:50]The crowd was in a fever, heaping insults, mocking and laughing at the poor man who was down on one knee with his hands covering his shamed face.

[00:06:01]"What a spineless worm you are." shouted one.

[00:06:04]"Coward." shouted another.

[00:06:07]In the center of the mocking crowd, with his hands covering his shamed face, was a man I thought I recognized.

[00:06:15]The man deflected a large rotten onion that was hurled in his direction.

[00:06:20]It was then that I saw the face of Pliable, the very man that I had seen in my dream.

[00:06:26]It soon became clear to me that the crowd, who had no sympathy for the pilgrimage of Graceless, was incensed by the cowardice of the turncoat Pliable, who had showed his backside as he fled at the first sign of difficulty.

[00:06:40]And who do you suppose I saw at the center of all this commotion, leading the choir of abuse, inciting the crowd with his own unrepeatable insults and name-calling?

[00:06:51]It was none other than Obstinate, who was happily having his revenge on Pliable, who thought himself the wiser one by ignoring the good advice of the arrogant bully, Obstinate.

[00:07:02]I watched as Pliable finally plucked up his courage a little and began blaming his misadventure on Graceless.

[00:07:09]The crowd booed at Pliable's cowering defense as they slowly ran out of insults and drifted off to their own homes as the shadows that announced the end of the day crept over the city square.

[00:07:21]Within the space of a couple of minutes, there was only Pliable and myself standing in the square, looking at each other as the gray shades of night loomed over the city of destruction.

[00:07:32]Finally, Pliable shook his head in disbelief and drifted into the back alley that provided an obscured passageway to his home.

[00:07:41]I was well aware of the policies that guided the behavior of Pliable, Obstinate, and the other city folk.

[00:07:47]I was not surprised that in the following days scandalous tales ripe with falsehood, innuendo, and gossip about Graceless began circulating around the city of destruction.

[00:07:58]Nor was I surprised to discover that the source of all this malicious gossip was none other than Pliable, who became a slandering raw gabbert.

[00:08:07]Pliable, who was for a short season a false pilgrim, spends the rest of his life revealing untruths about the pilgrimage he abandoned at the first sign of trouble in order to try and regain his reputation.

[00:08:21]Faithless opened the door to his [music] home and was greeted by his two children and wife who were waiting for him to return with news of his adventure with Great-heart.

[00:08:31]Faithless took a cup of tea and nibbled on a biscuit. He then recited the day's adventures to his wife [music] and two children.

[00:08:38]He went to bed wondering when the next chapter of his dream would be revealed to him.

[00:08:43]Faithless wondered if Graceless would finally find himself at the small sheep gate that seemed to hold so much promise and importance.

[00:08:55]>> [music] [music] >> With this in mind and other mysterious things regarding the dream and the curious words of both Great-heart and Evangelist echoing in his head, he tried to go to sleep and rose up early the next morning after having spent a dreamless and sleepless night.

[00:09:23]Back at King's Cottage, the mood of the two brothers and the two daughters was prayerful and hopeful.

[00:09:29]Great-heart and his brother Evangelist spent that evening discussing the King's business and wondering out loud at the circumstance regarding Faithless and his great dream. His vision had arrested their attention, but it both had encouraged and dismayed them.

[00:09:45]I must leave in the morning at first light. I know you have urgent business.

[00:09:49]Yes, indeed. Business that will, I am certain, make its way into the next dream of Faithless.

[00:09:55]>> Yes, I do believe our king has given us both this most miraculous vision as a window into the hearts of two men who, it appears, our Lord means to save from the wrath to come. True, true. Our king has already informed me by means of one of his faithful messengers that I will be needed at the way that leads to Mount Sinai this very week. Is it Graceless that needs your aid? I can only wonder as the message was not ripe with details, but only that I should make my way to Mount Sinai as soon as my business here has come to a fruitful end.

[00:10:32]So, Constance will stay here and have happy fellowship with her favorite cousin until you return to us?

[00:10:39]Evangelist cocked his head as he considered the plan his brother had put forward. I imagine that I will be back here just in time to listen to the next episode in the vision of Faithless.

[00:10:50]Without any further discussion, this was all Great-heart needed in way of approval.

[00:10:55]He clapped his hands together, stood up, and pulled Evangelist out of his chair and sent him off to bed with a warm benediction and a brotherly embrace.

[00:11:04]Evangelist awoke [music] before the sun came up and made his way to the bedroom where Constance and Fidelity were still asleep. He kissed his daughter on her cheek and whispered his goodbyes.

[00:11:15]Great-heart awoke in time to wish his brother Godspeed. The days that followed at Great-heart's cottage passed with peace and tranquility.

[00:11:25]Fidelity and Constance never tired of each other's company.

[00:11:29]Great-heart delighted in his private [music] times of study, preparing his Bible lessons and sermons for his small congregation, as well as attending to his other pastoral duties that included a bi-weekly [music] service in his home.

[00:11:43]He was also glad for the extra time to care for his garden.

[00:11:47]And as time permitted, setting his little traps in hopes of relishing another rabbit stew before fall was upon them.

[00:11:55]The King's Cottage, as it was known to the eight families that regularly attended the Nonconformist [music] home church, were all near neighbors of Great-heart.

[00:12:05]They loved and supported Great-heart in fidelity, and were happy to be employed in regular prayer for the cares and concerns that seemed to make their way to the King's Cottage on a pretty regular, but never overburdening schedule.

[00:12:19]One man in particular had become a close friend of Great-heart. His name was Mr. Merciful, who upon hearing about the vision of Faithless was determined to make it a matter of vigilant and constant prayer.

[00:12:32]The King's Cottage seemed to Great-heart to have a happy rhythm designed by the King himself to cheer his heart, fill his days with labor that had eternity in sight, and never ever produce anything even close to a dull moment.

[00:12:46]The home of Faithless, on the other hand, was neither happy nor tranquil.

[00:12:51]The dream had become an obsession he shared with his wife.

[00:12:56]At first, it seemed to her like a harmless whimsical dream with little importance, and she considered it the object of fruitless speculation.

[00:13:04]It had become for Faithless and his family something of an unwelcome obsession to everyone but Faithless, who was determined to find out its true meaning.

[00:13:15]After several days and no further visions, Faint-hope, for that was the name of the wife of Faithless, was convinced that the night visions she now viewed as nightmares had come to an end.

[00:13:26]And with the end of the dreams, she was sure that Faithless would return to his trade as the city's metal fabricator and mender of [music] pots and pans.

[00:13:35]She was anxious to be done with the dream that had become an obsession, crowding out everything she thought was important to their happiness and welfare. She fancied herself the matriarch of a family seeking prominence among the citizens living in the city of destruction.

[00:13:52]Faintheart was disappointed [music] when the following morning Faithless ignored all her pleas to return [music] to his business trade as he prepared to make another trek to the cottage of Greatheart in search of answers.

[00:14:06]Faithless gave his wife a kiss on the forehead and told her he [music] would return before the supper meal, which was usually served piping hot just after sunset.

[00:14:16]Faintheart held his hand tight, not wanting to let him go, but Faithless could not be persuaded to stay. He was determined to find out what mysteries he might discover in the latest episode of his dream.

[00:14:29]Back at the cottage, there was a knock at the door. The knock was quickly answered just before the sun peeked over the little hill that graced the rear of the king's cottage.

[00:14:39]The door opened wide and the two brothers, Greatheart and Evangelist, stood facing each other, both with a welcoming smile that needed no explanation.

[00:14:49]The prodigal son has returned.

[00:14:52]Evangelist laughed at the reference and added, >> Prepare the fatted calf and invite all the neighbors. Fidelity and Constance, who were used to the gentle and harmless banter that was always apparent when the two brothers met, rushed to the front door armed with hugs and kisses. [music] Evangelist finally put an end to the commotion as he raised his arms in surrender.

[00:15:15]And what have you two cousins been doing while I was away? Oh, the usual hugger-mugger.

[00:15:20]The two cousins made their way to the kitchen without even being asked in order to prepare a cup of tea and biscuits to celebrate the arrival of Evangelist.

[00:15:30]Have you heard from Faithless? Not yet, but your arrival signals that we can soon expect him to come knocking on our cottage door. Indeed.

[00:15:41]What news do you bring?

[00:15:43]The two brothers settled into their familiar spots in the living room. I have just now returned from Mount Sinai.

[00:15:51]Was it as you expected?

[00:15:53]Worse than I expected. Worse? I will report the news to you in one breath.

[00:15:58]Great-heart looked expectantly at his brother, patiently waiting for him to reveal what would unravel the mystery of his latest adventure as an ambassador for the king of the country that lies above and beyond.

[00:16:13]As if he had just bitten into a sour apple, Evangelist reported, Mr. Worldly-Wiseman.

[00:16:19]Great-heart winced.

[00:16:22]Is that old Snollygoster still lurking about? Yes, lurking about in search of poor pilgrims like Graceless, sneering as usual at the true way as he misdirects burdened pilgrims to the gilded gateway that opens up to hell itself. Great-heart shook his head and then looked up at his brother and smiled a hopeful smile.

[00:16:45]Was that the king's business that took you to Mount Sinai?

[00:16:50]Before Evangelist could say a word, there was an earnest rap on the door of the king's cottage, repeated three times with urgency. I believe the answer to your question has arrived.

[00:17:11]The Sojourner's Adventure through Pilgrim's Progress, over 150 exciting illustrations and a fresh and unique view allowing for a modern audience to read and understand yet preserving the deep and beloved truths of Bunyan's timeless tale. Ask for yours in rockislandbooks.com.

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