Turn back! You fool...turn back! Leave this foolishness... You're abandoning all... for nothing... Auuughhh... Where did you come from and where are you going...??? I have come from the City of Destruction... My city.... ... and I am going to that which is Celestial. Its Prince bids me go- PRINCE!!!???? I am an enemy of ... this... ...prince! I hate his laws... his people! I come here to oppose you! Beware what you do, Apollyon! For I am on the road that belongs to the
Celestial Prince- SILENCE! Prepare to die... pilgrim! ... ...for I swear by my infernal abode... ...that I shall spill your soul, where you
stand! ...As - I slept... I- had a dream... Get yer filthy hands off me you... Shut your mouth! Auuugh- - And I want no trouble from you! Are you all right, friend? Forgive me- I didn't realize anyone was there- I... Auughh- Let me h- I'm all right! - Are you? Well... I'm in jail am I not? Yes we are. Ha, ha, ha! And right you are! And you... for what? Murder? Theft? What treachery brings us together? Preaching. Ahhh...ha, ha, ha, ha! An errant Christian! What did you do, take a wrong turn, good
pilgrim? ' Lose your way? No. I'm on my way. Blast if they haven't locked me up with a
lunatic! And I suppose God's map to Heaven leads
through Bedford jail... ...perhaps. Ah! Then do tell ... Pilgrim ...perhaps I too may find my way out of this... ...STINKING PIT! Quiet in there! Aauugh! If you would hear me, then I shall begin at
the beginning. Ah! A storyteller as well! A story might be just the thing to pass the
time away- Do tell Pilgrim! I and the rats shall listen. My journey begins in Elstow. A place not far
from here... I was quite a troublemaker in those days... a
real menace! Pass it over here fool! - Throw the ball to me! Throw the ball to me! THROW IT! Here- Catch! Ow! That hurt! You... Take THAT! And that... Aauughh! Stop! STOP! Fight! Fight! Fight! I hope that teaches you a lesson, Philip
Smith- you no good - No one hits me! No sir! Not ... JOHN BUNYAN! OWWWWWWW! I shall have that filthy mouth of yours washed out once and for all if it's the last
thing I do... ...that really hurts... No son of mine... no Bunyan ... poor as we may be will have a gutter for a
mouth. You will get to your chores or it will be the
whip at your back... What am I to do with you, John? You were to be about your chores. And that filthy language...! I’m sorry, father! Are you? I promise! I shall never swear or use foul
language again! I promise... And you will get to your chores... Yes father... right away. All right then. But, you will not be allowed to
play for the remainder of the day You will remain in this room. You must think about your actions, John! Yes, Father. Oh, and John, about the chores... John? JOHN! JOHN BUNYAN! JOHN BUNYAN! C'mon! Let's go steal some of Master
Bevans' cheese! I caused my parents many a heart ache And, did no better when I grew to be a young
man. My friends and I were known ruffians and I
was chief among them... In fact, one of our band once said of me Ha, ha! Why - if it weren't for people like
Johnny here - the devil would have no company in Hell! I was a happy go-lucky fellow but I knew I
was bad... real bad! The thought of hell tormented me always. And night time was the worst! AAAUUUGGGHHH..... AAAUUUGGGHHH..... I thought I should change for the better; do something helpful to others, a cause. Something that would save me from Hell
and give me a place in ... ... Heaven. So, I did what I thought to be the most
sacrificial thing... I joined the army. I joined the army. This is madness! What's the good of all this? For our people! And for our country. And why do you think the other side fights? Huh? For the same thing, dunce! They do it for
country as well! But in the end, young Bunyan... we are all just killing each other just the
same. And going straight from this hell to another! Bunyan!!! Sir! Go to the garrison to your right! Sir, l-l...can- John! I will go. No, I- GO! No ... Wait! Auuuughhh... no NO! NOOO!!! I realized that day that both good men and
bad men die side by side in war. The real battle was the one within my own
heart. ...and I longed for peace. I longed for peace... ... for someone to show me the way! Why are you crying? I am afraid! Afraid of what? Of death... For I know that as all men I shall
one day die and that thereafter I shall face God's
judgment ! Try as I might... I am sinful and I don't know what to do! Flee from the coming wrath. What? Where must I fee? See that narrow gate? I cannot! Look through your tears. Do you see the shining light? I- I believe I do... Keep that light in your eye and go straight to
it. There you shall find The Gate... and at The Gate you shall be told what to do. War brought me face to face with death and I
was scared... scared that I would die and end up in Hell. So... I tried as much as any man could to be
good. I attended church regularly, stopped using
foul language, read the Bible, got married and began to
work. No one in all of England would be as
deserving of Heaven as I! And? And nothing! I was empty. No matter how good I thought I had become,
there was something missing... ...but God led me on.... Perhaps I’ll find work here. Oh, and I had a most wonderful experience
whilst reading Matthew this morning... Do tell! Come unto Me all who are weary and heavy
laden... ...and I shall give you rest! Dear me, I too have been blessed by that
promise and have felt Jesus so near to me. Oh yes wh- Oohh! Pardon me, ladies! Well... good day, good sir! If you seek work I do have a pot or two that
needs mending! I beg your pardon. But it is I that would seek
your help kind lady. Oh? You see, I too think of myself as a
Christian.... I am not one to eavesdrop but, I must
confess... to hear you speak of the Lord is to hear you
speak of a very dear and close acquaintance. Well of course! And what is your experience dear tinker? ls it not the same? I have tried, hard- very hard-- to do good. To obey God- as my master- to fear and honor Him and try to please Him
but... .... it is to me, dear ladies, as if my goodness is but a new coat of paint
on the same old building! I try to do what is right... what is good-- yet-- ...your heart is still the same? Ohh, Pastor Gilford! Just in time! You were saying, master..? Bunyan! --that my goodness is but a new coat of paint
on the same old building but you... ... Yes? You madams seem to me to be a new
building altogether! Ohhhhh... ha ha ha ha Bless you, dear boy! Bless you! You need to lay down your burden, young
Bunyan! Ah yes... ha! No, young Bunyan. You need to... ...lay down your burden. It is through Christ's goodness that we are
saved-- --not our own. "For by grace are we saved... through faith." Christ said: "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. He is your savior, master Bunyan. Which
means... He saves those who cannot save
themselves. Again I say lay down your burdens! That burden... there is one on every man and
woman. I carry my own. Your load is lightened... Heaven's light fills
your heart. Your journey ends... Oh no, dear friend, once the light penetrated
my heart, the journey was just beginning. And I saw clearly that one must journey on
toward the light and the way is not always easy! Ow! Hold still father. Done! Now you’re ready to preach! Wonderful! My eldest daughter is the best
assistant in Elstow ... and the prettiest I might add! Ha, ha, ha! And you are the most handsome preacher! Oh? Are you certain? Hmmmmm.... Yes! You still are! I don't need sight to know that, father! Alright! We are ready! Where's Johnny? Ready! Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha! I gather I have come to the right place to hear
the illegal preacher? If you mean the tinker-preacher, indeed you
have. But you needn't worry. We meet every day and the authorities
haven’t bothered us yet. Then I shall soon see if he lives up to his
fame and his writings! Ah! His pen is but his sword! So, truly a man of conviction! I crave that! I am weary of empty preaching
from the Official Church! Come, then! Enter with us for he shall be
here shortly! This man Bunyan knows that any
unauthorized preaching is against the law. This man Bunyan knows that any
unauthorized preaching is against the law. He is guilty of breaking the statute against
unlawful assembly. That tinker-preacher need only speak one
word ... and this arrest warrant will suffice to put
an end to his so called... church. I must warn John, I must warn him. John! Thank goodness I have found you! Found me?! I’m on my way to pr- Listen to me, John! You must not preach
today! What? The magistrate of Harlington has sworn a
warrant for your arrest... Oh, John! - if you so much as utter one word. I will not dismiss the meeting on that
account. But John, you mustn't - Father! My dears.... Listen to me, we must be brave! No, father... John... Shhhh.... Listen now. How will the people keep the faith if their
pastor is unwilling to suffer loss for it? I shall preach God's word-- come what may! You knew that you would be arrested? That
is madness! The Scripture saith: "Whom Christ has set
free is free indeed! And the time will come when you will not
worship in this building or that place... but the true worshipers.... JOHN BUNYAN! ... the true worshipers will worship in
sincerity and in truth! John Bunyan!! The scripture saith "It is better to put... ... I have here a warrant for your arrest. ...for vain is the help of man!" Be brave, my darling! God be with you, Father! God be with you!! From where do you presume to get the
authority to preach, tinker? From the scripture, sir... Indeed? The Scriptures tell us, "If any man minister, let him do it in the ability which God gives
him." Surely you are familiar with the epistle of
Peter? I am a judge, not clergy. Be that as it may, you have the right to
exercise that uh... "gift"- - within the privacy of your own family ...
otherwise- Otherwise? You may not! Yet God's Word compels me to share it with
others. Your word conflicts with God's which says- That is enough! You will take three months to think about
this, tinker. In prison. And then you will decide whether you are
willing to submit to our decision That is, to attend the Parish church and
abandon your preaching and incessant writings! If you refuse, you will be banished from the
realm and if you are ever found in again in
England- - you will be hanged by the neck until you are
dead! But... -THAT IS OUR VERDICT! Take him away! And Betsy... Johnny? How are they? They're fine, father. Johnny found another frog and put it in the
teakettle and ... well... he's doing extra chores today! Father...when will you.. I’m sure I will be home soon, darling. I pray
so... I’m proud of you, father. Sorry little miss.. ...but you need to go now. Yes sir. I’d best be showing you to the door. Mother or I will be back tomorrow and we will bring you some more paper for
your writing! Ah! That I know he needs! The man writes
day and night! Stay warm my little one. Yes, father. You too! I love you. I love you, my little one. John Bunyan, I am here to inquire whether you are now willing to submit to the laws of
this land and desist from holding public meetings
which are an unlawful assembly. If you refuse, you shall remain in this prison.
What say you, Bunyan? Sir, as God is my witness, I have not... What say you, Bunyan? I cannot go against God's Word ...God has
made me a pastor! How can I go against His Will? So you could walk out of here a free man if
you just agree not to preach? I know what I would do! You have lost everything, John Bunyan! Are you so certain you are on God's path? God does not promise us an easy road. The
truth is ... difficulties come to each one of us. Lord, have mercy on us. Bunyan. What is happening? It's the plague! It has infected London and people are
coming to the country to escape it. We cannot sit around and wait to be infested
in these small quarters. We are letting some of the prisoners go
home... Home! Now wait a minute! You must not leave Bedford! You are still a prisoner but I know I can trust
you! Bunyan! Once this is over you will return. And may God have mercy on us all!... The plague killed over 100,000 people...
many more than the war. Everyone in Bedford was affected in one way
or another. As promised, I have returned. I am glad to
see you well. True to your word, Bunyan! But I had no
doubt. And your family... are they well? Ahh, yes! And I have wonderful news! I will be a father once more. Elizabeth is with
child again! And I also have good news for you! You have been granted a parole! Paroled? With all the conflicts this country is having
the government changes the law frequently... depending who is in power! You are free to live at home. ...but beware Bunyan and take heed, the laws
could change overnight! Those that have gone before us, loved the
word of God and confessed that they were pilgrims and
foreigners on this earth... John Bunyan! Yes. I am he. And I am a constable. And this is an illegal meeting... And? ... is that the end? ls that your journey, your pilgrimage? Back in this foul prison... for 12 years? In truth Bunyan, a pilgrim that never gets to
his destination is on no pilgrimage at all! It seems to me you have been walking in
circles! A professional prisoner would be a more
fitting title for you! Perhaps! .. But many people carry their
cages with them no matter how freely they roam. That is true enough... I have prayed fervently and asked God for
what other purpose I had been set aside. When I finally realized my purpose, the words flowed faster than I could write. ....One night... as I slept... I had a dream ... ....One night... as I slept... I had a dream ... I was a pilgrim... ...living near the city of destruction wondering which way to go... ...when I was brought into contact with a man
named Evangelist who set me on the right course. Eventually I met with several opponents... some of which were Judge Hate Good and
one ... a fiendish Apollyon. ... in the name of the Lord... ...I WILL RISE! Pastor Bunyan. Pastor Bunyan. Pastor Bunyan! What, are you done? ls your sentence over? Oh no! When the law changed and the
church was given the freedom to meet in
public. I was chosen by the Free Church to be it's
pastor. While in jail? Yes...he goes to preach his sermon, talks
with the people... and then... ... he returns, the honest man that he is.
John's sentence has not yet been
overturned. You see... every Pilgrim has a resting place. For now... God has seen to it that this is
mine. This is the fruit of my time here. I think you
will enjoy it. Remember friend. A pilgrimage with God
never goes in circles. He always gets us to his destination... no
matter what the road reveals. There goes ...a truly free man. Who can know the length of his life! I do not know if I shall remain a free man to
preach the Gospel of Christ, be locked in prison... or end with the
hangman's noose about my neck! Whichever it may be, if through my freedom or imprisonment or
yet by my death I can convert but one soul to Christ, my life shall have been well spent! Prison or death or liberty and life--- I shall stand by my God ... and with boldened heart do pray that as
this pilgrim... ...this unworthy traveler ... comes at last to that great and celestial
city to which his Lord has beckoned him
come ... his footsteps ... his falls, scrapes and
tumbles ... may chart the path for other weary
travelers... ... and thus at last, one firm step at a time... ... may guide them home ... to God.
