Season 5 Podcast 82 John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress, Episode 23 Chapter 5 BA, “The Wages of Sin.”

A New Voice of Freedom

Season 5 Podcast 82 John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress, Episode 23 Chapter 5 BA, “The Wages of Sin.”

In last week’s episode, Christian meets Faithful. Christian was in such a hurry to leave the City of Destruction that he left Faithful behind. Faithful followed Christian; however, because Christian became embroiled in the snares constructed by Satan, beginning with the Slough of Despond, Faithful outran Christian. It is not until now that Christian catches up with Faithful who himself was being pursued by The Avenger of Blood. Christian rushes to help Faithful but in his haste falls, and it is Faithful who helps Christian to his feet. Faithful relates to Christian what has happened in the City of Destruction since Christian left. Christian then inquires about Faithfull’s adventures.

Chris. "Well, neighbor Faithful," said Christian, "let us leave him, and talk of things that more immediately concern ourselves. Tell me now what you have met with in the way as you came; for I know you have met with some things, or else it may be writ for a wonder."

Though Faithful was able to avoid some of the trials of Christian, he met with trials of his own. Bunyan, of course, is teaching us that Satan cunningly tailors our obstacles to meet our own weaknesses.

Faith. I escaped the slough that I perceive you fell into, and got up to the gate without that danger; only I met with one whose name was Wanton, that had like to have done me a mischief.

Wanton symbolizes the lusts of the flesh. Rodale’s Synonym Finder gives us the following synonyms: malicious, spiteful, vicious, cruel, malevolent, calculated. Perverse, reckless, rash, lewd, lecherous, prurient, carnal, sensual, voluptuous, erotic, opulent, profligate, licentious. Bunyan uses as his symbol the wife of Potiphar who tried to seduce Joseph of Egypt.

Chris. It was well you escaped her net: Joseph was hard put to it by her, and he escaped her as you did; but it had like to have cost him his life. But what did she do to you?

Faith. You cannot think (but that you know something) what a flattering tongue she had; she lay at me hard to turn aside with her, promising me all manner of enjoyment.

Chris. Nay, she did not promise you the enjoyment of a good conscience.

Faith. You know what I mean—not the enjoyment of the soul, but of the body.

Chris. Thank God you have escaped her: the abhorred of the Lord shall fall into her ditch.

Faith. Nay, I know not whether I did wholly escape her or no.

Chris. Why, I suppose you did not consent to her desires?

Faith. No, not to defile myself; for I remembered an old writing that I had seen which saith, "Her steps take hold of hell." So I shut mine eyes, because I would not be bewitched with her looks. Then she railed on me, and I went my way.

Pilgrim’s Progress was written 400 years ago. One wonders what Bunyan would say about the licentious abandonment of our wanton age, the ubiquitous pornography and the salacious images and obscene language of modern media. Faithful was saved from the grasp of lustful wantonness simply by shutting his eyes. Today that would be the equivalent of turning off any media that promoted promiscuity, including, television, internet, or major motion pictures.

At the forefront of our minds, we must consider the other pilgrims. We may divide the characters of Pilgrim’s Progress into three types: Type 1 includes the virtues necessary to help us on our pilgrimage. Some appear as angels of light such as the Shining Ones. Others appear as virtues that we must acquire such as Discretion, Piety, Prudence, and Charity. Others appear as the servants of God such as Evangelist, the Interpreters, and Watchful. Type 2 includes the vices that stand in our way. Some appear as angels of darkness such as Beelzebub, Apollyon, and Abaddon. Others appear as servants of Satan such as Worldly Wiseman, Mr. Legality, and Civility.