Many Christians today are unaware that John Bunyan ever wrote a sequel to The Pilgrim’s Progress. This is unfortunate, as Part II plays an important role in both fulfilling and balancing out Bunyan’s first and most famous allegory.
In Part II, Bunyan retraces Christian’s footsteps to help his readers understand the allegory at a deeper level. In his rhyming introduction for Part II, he writes:
“Besides, what my first pilgrim left concealed,
You, my brave second pilgrim, have revealed.
What Christian left locked up, and went his way,
Sweet Christiana opens with her key."
You, my brave second pilgrim, have revealed.
What Christian left locked up, and went his way,
Sweet Christiana opens with her key."
When both parts are read together, they provide a balanced vision of Christian life. These complementary allegories depict two facets of our journey: the individual and communal.
Bunyan presents a great variety of pilgrims on this communal journey, with varying levels of maturity and strength. Bunyan’s pastoral heart is beautifully displayed in Great-Heart’s statement:
“I am commissioned to comfort the feeble-minded and to support the weak. You must come along with us. We will wait for you. We will lend you our help. We will deny ourselves of some things for your sake.”
Our hope is that this legacy edition of Part II will find its rightful place beside Part I. May your heart be encouraged that none of us journeys alone. Many pilgrims have walked this path before us, and God has provided many to walk alongside us.
Pre-order The Pilgrim's Progress, Part II: Legacy Edition on November 5th!
