Season 6 Podcast 12 John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress, Episode 52 Chapter X A, “Ignorance.”

A New Voice of Freedom

Season 6 Podcast 12 John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress, Episode 52 Chapter X A, “Ignorance.”

In last week’s podcast Hopeful tells how he struggled to overcome the natural man while living in the city of Vanity Fair. He recounts how difficult it is to put away the temptations of the flesh; however, through trials, temptations, and perseverance he was able to put away his past sins and come unto Christ.

Meanwhile Christian and Hopeful are still traveling through ‘The Enchanted Ground.’ If they tarry too long, they will fall asleep and never waken. They feel they must continue to talk of holy things to stay awake. Meanwhile, again, they see a former acquaintance, Ignorance. Ignorance, too, is on a pilgrimage to the Celestial City; however, Ignorance took a short cut. He avoided the Wicket Gate, The House of the Interpreter, The Cross, and The Palace. He has missed out on many necessary things. For example, he hasn’t met The Shining Ones, Discretion, Piety, Prudence, or Charity. In addition, he doesn’t have a certificate to enter the Celestial City. He doesn’t read the scriptures daily, and he always takes the easiest way.

Bunyan uses Ignorance to teach us that appealing only to the heart is not sufficient to enter the Celestial Kingdom, which is the highest kingdom of all.

“I saw then in my dream that Hopeful looked back, and saw Ignorance, whom they had left behind, coming after. "Look," said he to Christian, "how far yonder youngster loitereth behind."

Chris. Ay, ay, I see him: he careth not for our company.

Hope. But I think it would not have hurt him, had he kept pace with us hitherto.

Chris. That is true; but I warrant you he thinks otherwise.

Hope. That I think he doth; but, however, let us tarry for him. So they did.

Chris. Then Christian said to him, "Come away, man; why do you stay so behind?”

Ignorance is trying to take the journey alone. He avoids the company of Christian and Hopeful. In fact, he is rather slothful and lingers far behind. It is an allusion to the fact that he doesn’t like to associate himself with other Christians or attend church or participate in any of the principles of the gospel of Christ or the saving ordinances such as faith, repentance, baptism, and the gift of the Holy Ghost. The fact that he always remains far behind suggests that he does not endure to the end. He doesn’t learn anything from his journey because he avoids all trials. Bunyan understands Peter’s words that the trials of our faith are more precious than gold.

Ignorance responds.

Ignor. “I take my pleasure in walking alone, even more a great deal than in company, unless I like it the better.”

Ignorance thinks that he doesn’t need the church. He doesn’t need the gospel. He doesn’t need the fellowship of Christians. He doesn’t need the ordinances. He doesn’t even need the Holy Bible.

“Then said Christian to Hopeful (but softly), "Did I not tell you he cared not for our company? But, however," said he, "come up, and let us talk away the time in this solitary place."

“Our company,” refers to the company of Christians or the fellowship of the Church of Christ. Christian Quizzes Ignorance.

“Then, directing his speech to Ignorance, he said, "Come how do you? How stands it between God and your soul now?”

Notice Ignorance’s answer.

“Ignor. I hope well; for I am always full of good thoughts, that come into my mind to comfort me as I walk."

Ignorance is not focused on the virtues of Christ, but on the philosophies of man. His mind is full of “good thoughts.” The irony is that Ignorance, who is in his youth, is an honorable man, a good man, but he thinks that the ethics of man rather than the commandments of God will get him into the Celestial City. Bunyan’s stand is that only Christ can get him into the Celestial City, that man’s philosophies are insufficient.