Season 5 Podcast 43 John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress, Episode 10 Chapter 3 B, “The Hill of Difficulty.”

A New Voice of Freedom

Season 5 Podcast 43 John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress, Episode 10 Chapter 3 B, “The Hill of Difficulty.”

In last week’s episode, Christian laid his burdens at the cross where he met The Three Shining Ones who gave him gifts to prepare him for his journey to the Promised Land. As Christian resumed his journey, he met Simple, Sloth, and Presumption fettered to the ground. They refused Christian’s counsel. Then Christian meets Formalist and Hypocrisy who sneak over the wall rather than enter through the Wicket Gate. A Formalist is a type of Christian who adheres to prescribed or external forms rather than doctrine. In other words, rather than study the Bible, they rely upon traditions. Remember that the Shining Ones commanded Christian to keep the script, meaning the Holy Bible, with him and read it often. Hypocrisy is a type of Christian who says what others should do but does not follow his own counsel.

In this episode we begin with Christian’s conversation with Formalist and Hypocrisy.

“So as I said, they drew up unto him, who thus began talking with them:

Chris. Gentlemen, whence came you, and whither go you?

Form. and Hyp. We were born in the land of Vain-glory, and are going for praise to Mount Zion.

Chris. Why came you not in at the gate which standeth at the beginning of the way? Know ye not that it is written, "He that cometh not in by the door, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber?"

Form. and Hyp. They said that to go to the gate for entrance was, by all their countrymen, counted too far about; and that therefore their usual way was to make a short cut of it, and to climb over the wall as they had done.

Chris. But will it not be counted a trespass against the Lord of the city whither we are bound, thus to disobey His will?

Form. and Hyp. They told him, that as for that, he needed not trouble his head thereabout; for what they did they had custom for, and could show, if need were, testimony that could prove it for more than a thousand years.

Chris. "But," said Christian, "will it stand a trial at law?"

As we listen to the argument of Formalist and Hypocrisy, it is useful to remember the counsel of Worldly Wiseman, Legality, and Civility, citizens of the City of Morality. Formalist and Hypocrisy appeal to Legality as justification for their cheating.

FORM. and HYP. They told him that custom, it being of so long standing as above a thousand years, would doubtless now be admitted as a thing according to law by a fair judge. "And besides," said they, "if we get into the way, what matter is it which way we may get in? If we are in, we are in: thou art but in the way, who, as we perceive, came in at the gate; and we are also in the way, that came tumbling over the wall: wherein, now, is thy condition better than ours?"

Bunyan is drawing our attention to the cunning of Satan. On the one hand, Worldly Wiseman, Legality, and Civility do not even pretend to take the journey; however, Formalist and Hypocrisy, who do take the journey, use the slick counsel of Legality to take shortcuts. You can see how they get their names.

Christian, having learned his lesson the hard way by listening to Worldly Wiseman and nearly losing his life disputes with Formalist and Hypocrisy.

Chris. I walk by the rule of my Master; you walk by the rude working of your fancies. You are counted thieves already by the Lord of the way; therefore I doubt you will not be found true men at the end of the way. You come in by yourselves without His word, and shall go out by yourselves without His mercy.

Formalist and Hypocrisy ignore the advice of Christian. They rely upon Legality rather than upon the spirit.