The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-02-10
THE PILGRIMS PROGRESS
First Of Rev. ". II. Stubblcbine's S
Series of Illustrated Sermons.
SHOWN WITH OIL PAINTINGS
Result Was Gratifying aud Effective
Pilgrims Struggle to Rid Himself
Of His Burden Of Sin. Ap-
Piled to the Present

than ordinary interesting character
The pastor, Rev. w. II. Stubblebine be-
gan course of sermons on Bunyan's
Pilgrims Progress" the subject being,
Leaving the City of Destruction"
Three handsome oil paintings six feet
high were used to illustrate the sermon.
All the lights of the room We're put out
with the exception of those used to illu-
mine the paintings and the effect was
very gratifying. The sermon was very
effective.
John Bunyan. the tinker. was cast
into prison, and during his twelve years
confinement, he gathered together all
the metaphors. figures and other Scrip
tural imagery concerning the Christian,
and his pilgrimage" said MIR. Stubble-
bine. 'The result OF these labors he
gave to the world in a book under the
form Of II dream entitled 'Pilgrlm's
Progress. This work has become u
classic in the English language. and
next to the Bible has been translated
into more languages than any other
book. 1t Is worthy Of place in every
library and should be read by every
person"
He then spoke as follows:
The first scene shows us the starting
point in the Christian life. II sa w a man."
says Bunyan, clothed with rags standing
in a certain place with his face turned
from his house. and a book in his hand.
anu u DuTuen Oh MS DACh. looACu
saw him open the book, and read from
1t, and as he read he wept and trembled; +;
and not being able to contain his Feelings,
be brake out with lamentable cry. say
been the first agonizing cry of the awak-
ened soul. On the day of Pentecost when
the bultitude was pricked to their hearts
by the preaching of Peter they cried out.
the dust BY the wonderful vision of
glory, cried out, 'Lord, what wilt Thou
have me to do?' From the midnight
darkness OF the earthquake shaken prison
house At Phillip the jailor cries out,
"What shall l do to be saved?'
Soul Filled With Eear.
The first feeling OF the awakened soul
II one OF fear. The eyes are opened TO see
the greatness Of their sins. They have
been SO accustomed to look upon their
sins a. such Insignificant things AS long
as they have not broken any OF the greater
Of Gods commandments. such as steal
ing. or committing murder. they try TO get
comfort from the thought that they are
not such terribly great sinners. But when
the, voice Of God speaks, and they are
brought into the presence of the great
Judge they are smitten with confusion Of
face. Then there Is u, casting about for u
way OF escape.
What shall you do to be saved? How
many souls when thus convicted of sin
do Just what Pilgrim did. try to smother
up their feelings; keep all your anguish
u
voice OF God in drink; women try to get
away from God by indulging in Il giddy
round Of pleasures. But let me entreat
you for Gods sake. yes, for the sake of
the voice of God that Is tonight calling
you to repentance. There is danger, yes,
there Is eternal death in delay.
When he could no longer bear the heavy
burden. Pilgrim spoke thus to his wife,
80, my dear wife, ] am undOne by rea-
son of The burden that lieth hard upon
me-" Wherever he went that burden
went too. He could not BY any means get
n guilty conscience. OF heart that Is
nlled with sin. Did you ever flnd any
peace In the pursuit OF sin? Think YOU
that the murderer can ever rid himself OF
any chemical solution that effaces the sins
and iniquities of life time?
Long Induiecuce in Sin.
At the bottom OF all life's pleasures
there Is the inevitable dregs. And yet
1t is hard to get men to realize their
this greatest cry. You don't seem quite
sure whether you want to be saved. Long
indulgence In sin deadnes the sensibilits
of the soul, so that you can live on from
day to day In comparative unconcern
about your soul while the cloud of God
wrath gathers thick about YOU. Dare you
live another day in such Indifference, with
such a load of sin resting uDon you"
When Pilgrims family and friends heard
of his conduct they were afraid that n
frenzy OF distemper had gotten into his
head. They thought that he needed quiet
and rest, so they quickly hustled him off
to bed. covered him up. the while whis-
pering into his ears that all would be right
In o little while. These feelings were due
to weakness 1t don't do for a person
to get too much excited on the subject of
religion. II you do YOU are liable to lay
yourself open to criticism.
People will shake their heads and say
that you are little of-color; RELIGION
the devil uses to lull the conscience to
sleep. Samson lost his life by falling TO
sleep in the lap Of pelilah, Rut heware
no awakening. Pilgrims friends did not
succeed In getting him to sleep off his
feeling. He brushed them all awav with
the excla nation. miserable com forters
are We ALL" The heavier h'e burden he
cave the louder he cried what shall /
do?''
Wherefore Dost Thou Cry?
In this condition of mind he was walk
ing through the field one day with his
mind In a tumult and knowing not what
undertook to show him what to do. He
asked him the question, wherefore dOst
thou cry?" To which Pilgrim replied.
Sir. ] perceive by the book in my hand
that I am condemned to Gle. and after
that to come to Judgment, and therefor
! fear that this burden on my back will
sink me lower than the grave Then
said Evangelist. III that be your con-
dition, why standest thou still % BE
cause know not whittier to co. said Pill
grim.
Thereupon Evangelist hands him book
with these words written >, upon It. Flee
seek to allay his fears, but he bids him
to flee from his danger There is a warn
ing voice calling every sinner today to
fee. from the wrath TO come. There is an
track and if do
not rise and away to the Rock of Refuge
you will pay the penalty of your sins.
The Wicket Gnte.
Evangelist tries to show Pilgrim the
wicket gate In the next picture. But as
yet he could not see it. The scales had
not fallen from off his eyes. But he
could see the glory light of the city
streaming through it, and sustained with
the hope of relief beyond. he presses on.
So. tonight there streams through the
gate OF the heavenly city. rays of divine
light. A voice speaks saying, This is the
way. walk thou therein Like Pilgrim,
you may not be able to understand all
about the way of salvation. but Will you
be SO foolish as to refuse to walk therein
on this account? If you were sick with
a disease and an operation was neces,
sary to save your life would you refuse
to let the physician perform the opera
ton because you did not understand all
about the way In which II was to be done?
No all that concerned you was your life:
you wanted that saved at any cost. But
in this case there is something more q;
stake than your life. it is the life of your
immortal soul Is II not sufficient that
the gate OF heaven swings wide open 10
you tonight and the light of divine love
and mercy streams through 1t for you?
God Is ready to relieve you from the
awful burden and curse Of sin: he w ats to
be gracious.
wife Pleads with Pilgrim.
Pilgrim was not long In making up his
mind as to what he should do. He starts
out at once. The next picture shows PHI,
grim leaving wife and children and
friends. 1t was question of vital i'm.
portance to him to get rid of this awful
burden. 1t robbed life of all it's joy,
and filed his soul with terror. What were
wife and children and home to him with