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FROM GRACE TO GLORY: A Present Day Journey Through John Bunyan's 'Pilgrim's Progress'
CAROLYN STALEY
BRAND NEW TITLE IS NOW IN PRINT!
Carolyn Staley has been serving as a pastor's wife for over 45 years and she has been laboring over this exposition of PILGRIM'S PROGRESS for the last ten years.
In her own words from her Preface we read: 'My journey to the Celestial City began at the age of nineteen when the Lord opened my heart, brought me to the Lord Jesus Christ, and saved me by his grace. In those early days as a young Christian, my tendency toward morbid introspection caused great mental anguish concerning the assurance of my salvation. During that dark period, I first became acquainted with John Bunyan when I was given two of his books, Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners and The Pilgrim's Progress. At first I was actually afraid to read them, afraid that they would confirm my worst fears.
However, as I began to read and ponder these works written so long ago, a glimmer of hope began to arise in my mind. I was not alone after all! John Bunyan suffered the very same things and wrote of them. At last I could give a name to the spiritual turmoil I had so often experienced. It was the murky Slough of Despond. The tormenting fear that so often held my heart and mind captive also had a name, Doubting Castle, baronial estate of Giant Despair. Thus I felt an immediate affinity with the humble tinker of Bedford that greatly encouraged me in those first days of my own pilgrimage.
Many years later when I was asked to teach The Pilgrim's Progress to our teenagers in Sunday school, I gladly accepted the challenge and began an in-depth study of that great work. Using those early lessons as a foundation, I later expanded and revised them into a series of thirty meditational studies that were published in Adam's Rib, a monthly periodical especially designed for Christian women. These meditations provided the framework for an even more comprehensive study that resulted in the writing of this book.
I truly believe that we write best of what we have learned from personal experience. At this point in my own journey, I have covered much of the ground that John Bunyan's pilgrim did and met the same characters he encountered along the way. As a result, I am well acquainted with the places Christian visited, as well as the trials, temptations, and difficulties he faced. An added benefit from the Lord is the privilege of being married to a godly pastor who faithfully expounds and teaches the Word of God. For the past forty-five years, I have served by my husband's side as his helper and co-laborer. The experience I have gained through the years and the spiritual lessons learned have been of invaluable assistance in giving me a more thorough understanding of The Pilgrim's Progress.
This best known work by John Bunyan is a captivating story told in a highly dramatic setting; but for those with eyes to see, it is much more than that. The truths of which he wrote are just as relevant to the people of God today as when he penned them in the 17th century. Therefore, every true child of God will find that he is on familiar ground when reading of Christian and his journey to the Celestial City."
A strong endorsement was sent by Mack Tomlinson, Pastor of Providence Chapel, Denton, Texas-
"I am so glad this wonderful commentary on John Bunyan's 'The Pilgrim's Progress' will soon be available! I have been looking forward to it for a long time. When I first read through the manuscript, some of my first thoughts were, "This is wonderful! Here is insightful interpretation, rich exposition, and wonderful practical application for the Christian life--this is truly quality, insightful, and excellent in every way!" Carolyn Staley has truly captured Bunyan's heart in understanding his classic work.
From the introduction and all the way through all fifty-three chapters of the wonderful work, Mrs. Staley has provided a marvelous gift to God's people in writing this superb work of exposition on Bunyan's masterful allegory. This book possibly breaks brand new ground in expounding on Bunyan's character of Christian as he journeys to the celestial city. While reading, I gained valuable new insights on certain points I have never seen or considered, and Bunyan's views on certain points were opened to me more than ever.
As is stated in the preface, the author considers at length the characters and places of Christian's pilgrimage, and has successfully endeavored to interpret Bunyan's lessons in light of the truth of Scripture. One of the great blessings of the book is the great number of scripture passages Mrs. Staley uses to interpret Bunyan's truth on the Christian life and journey. What a marvelous group study this volume will make! I heartily recommend it for that specifically.
Especially for those who have never read The Pilgrim's Progress, this book will yield rich treasures as one reads it along with Bunyan's work or just reads it by itself. Carolyn Staley has given Christ's church a marvelous book for generations to come, and I hope everyone who hears of it will buy it. I am persuaded that those who read it will be very thankful they did!"
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Preface
Introduction
Prologue
PART ONE: THE JOURNEY COMMENCES
1. The City of Destruction Complex: Its Description, Nature, and Citizens
2. Escape from the City!
3. Trouble at the Outset
4. Unexpected Fall into the Slough of Despond
PART TWO: ENCOUNTER WITH A STRANGER
5. Sidetracked by Dangerous Counsel
6. By-Path to the Village of Morality
7. The Secret Place of Thunder
PART THREE: WITH THE FORCE OF A LODESTONE
8. The Light that Leads to the Wicket Gate
9. Beatitude of Sovereign Grace
10. Through the Wicket Gate!
PART FOUR: THE JOURNEY CONTEMPLATED
11. Our Race to Eternal Glory
12. Onward to Zion by the Road Less Traveled
PART FIVE: A VAST TREASURE HOUSE
13. Portrait in the Entrance Hall
14. Invaluable Instruction by the Master Teacher
PART SIX: DELIVERANCE AND RELEASE
15. Gateway to the City
16. A Troubling Question
PART SEVEN: WAYFARING STRANGERS BUT NOT TRUE PILGRIMS
17. The Ever-Present Danger of Carnal Security: Simple, Sloth, and Presumption
18. The Ever-Present Danger of Carnal Security: Formalist and Hypocrisy
PART EIGHT: WHEN TROUBLES SEEM LIKE MOUNTAINS
19. An Unexpected Impediment!
20. Incident in the Arbor
21. Alone in the Dark!
PART NINE: A TABLE IN THE WILDERNESS
22. Haven by the Wayside
23. Family Life in the Palace Beautiful
24. The Palace Framework and Remarkable History
PART TEN: OUT OF THE DEPTHS
25. Descent into the Valley of Humiliation
26. The Valley of Humiliation Contemplated
27. Into the Valley of the Shadow of Death
28. Journey out of Darkness
PART ELEVEN: CHANCE ENCOUNTERS ALONG THE WAY
29. The Cave of the Giants
30. One Brother Meets Another
31. Anatomy of a Hypocrite
32. Profitable Encounter with a Beloved Friend
PART TWELVE: "NO MAN CAN SERVE TWO MASTERS"
33. Incident in the Town of Vanity
34. Tried in the Court of Vanity Fair!
35. Beauty for Ashes
36. The Subtle Snare of Covetousness: By-ends of Fair-speech
37. The Subtle Snare of Covetousness: A Man Named Demas
PART THIRTEEN: BESIDE THE STILL WATERS
38. A Season of Refreshing
PART FOURTEEN: BEWARE THE "WAY THAT SEEMETH RIGHT"
39. Remove Not the Ancient Landmark!
40. Stile into By-Path Meadow
41. Prisoners in Doubting Castle!
42. Warning to Future Travelers
PART FIFTEEN: THE HEART OF EMMANUEL'S LAND
43. Between Two Vastly Different Worlds
44. The Shepherds of the Delectable Mountains
45. A Call to Higher Ground
PART SIXTEEN: THROUGH MANY A DANGER, TOIL, AND SNARE
46. Spiritual Ignorance and its Bitter Fruit
47. The Assault and Robbery of Little-Faith
48. Beware of the Flatterer!
49. Dangerous Trek Across the Enchanted Ground
50. A Tribute to God’s Amazing Grace
51. The Never-Ending Battle for the Christian’s Mind
PART SEVENTEEN: IN THE PRESENCE OF THE KING!
52. Almost Home! The Delights of Beulah Land
53. Nearing the Shore! The Passing of a Pilgrim
54. Jerusalem the Golden!
Epilogue
End Notes
OUR PILGRIM'S PROGRESS TRILOGY INCLUDES:
THE 1891 ILLUSTRATED HARDCOVER EDITION (List Price $40.00)
LECTURES ON PILGRIM'S PROGRESS by George Cheever (Hardcover, List Price $25.00)
PILGRIM'S PROGRESS with Marginal Notes edited by Offor (Paperback, List Price $15.00)
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NEARLY 40% DISCOUNT - NEW PUBLICATION SALE EXTENDED
 SGCB Price: $24.95 (list price $40.00)
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