At one time, second only to the Bible in popularity, The Pilgrim’s Progress is the most famous Christian allegory still in print. The story chronicles the epic adventure of a man named Christian who leaves his home in the City of Destruction and begins a life-long quest to the Celestial City. Set against the backdrop of a hazardous journey, this powerful drama unfolds as Christian’s adventures lead him into fascinating lands and encounters with interesting people who either help or hinder his progress along a narrow way. With a gallery of memorable characters and visits to colorful places, Bunyan’s allegorical narrative describes one man’s extraordinary adventure on his journey to faith.

Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners is the spiritual autobiography of Bunyan, the traveling tinker who became an eminent preacher and author. It is in the genre of Augustine’s Confessions and Thomas a Kempis’s Imitation of Christ. Written in 1666, Grace Abounding chronicles Bunyan’s spiritual journey from a profane life filled with cursing, blasphemy, and Sabbath desecration to a new creation in Christ Jesus.

The Narrow Gate was written by John Bunyan and first published in 1676. This book is an in-depth investigation of Matthew 7:13-14.

Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

It is the author’s intent to prove plainly by scripture, that not only the corrupt and hostile but also many who have declared to have faith, will come short of entering heaven’s gate. No one can read this book and not be awakened to the fact that there is a narrow entrance into heaven; it will cause the reader to take a hard look into their own ideas of what is necessary to be saved. Few books can compare with this warning that narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction.

“A description of the man that gets to Heaven: With directions how to run so as to obtain.” The Heavenly Footman is John Bunyan’s thundering description of how Heaven is to be pursued. Fought for. Run for with all our strength. This is a portrait of the faithful zeal that leads to the gates of glory. Modern man and the modern church would do well to read these words and be changed. “So run, that ye may obtain.”-1 Cor. 9:24

When Journey to Hell was first published in 1680, the original title was The Life and Death of Mr. Badman. Another book by John Bunyan, The Pilgrim’s Progress, has inspired many in their Christian walk. Now, you can follow another man. Mr. Badman, on his life journey, which leads him ultimately to hell. In this allegory, the wickedness, depravity, and carnality in the life and death of Mr. Badman are contrasted with biblical standards of living and the path that leads to heaven. The wisdom of Mr. Wiseman will strike you as he explains a godly life in all situations, including home, business, and relationships.

The Acceptable Sacrifice or The Excellency of a Broken Heart is a doctrinally-driven and spiritually-inspired book written by John Bunyan and published in 1688.

Charles Spurgeon once said, “I would quote John Bunyan as an instance of what I mean. Read anything of his, and you will see that it is almost like reading the Bible itself. He had read it till his very soul was saturated with Scripture; and though his writings are charmingly full of poetry, yet he cannot give us his Pilgrim’s Progress—that sweetest of all prose poems—without continually making us feel and say, ‘Why, this man is a living Bible!’ Prick him anywhere—his blood is Bibline, the very essence of the Bible flows from him. He cannot speak without quoting a text, for his very soul is full of the Word of God.” It is true that Bunyan possessed a very great love for the Word of God, which is evident in this comprehensive script on Psalm 51:17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. In this work the writer does not simply provide information to the reader but drives home the truth with precision and accuracy on what is acceptable to God, which is possessing a broken heart and contrite spirit before Him. To quote the preface, “The following treatise may be of great use to the people of God, through his blessing accompanying it, to keep their hearts tender and broken, when so many, after their hardness and impenitent heart, are treasuring up wrath against the day of wrath (Rom 2:5).” Ultimately, the reader will be led to not only take a deeper look into the Word of God, but also a personal inspection of his own soul, to determine if his heart is, according to God’s Word, found acceptable in God’s sight.

Albert Barnes, a trusted theologian of the 19th century, published this compilation of sermons in 1855. The title The Way of Salvation was selected to indicate the ultimate purpose and scope of the book. Those Barnes had in mind while preparing these lectures were those who possessed honest questions about Christianity and the plan of salvation. Thus, it was written for any who hold genuine questions about the authenticity of the Bible, the Christian religion, God’s mercy, the value of faith, and the merits of Christ. For such persons as these, this book is a must-read. The chapters written hold relevancy to these great topics and will help to remove some obstacles or explain some difficulties concerning both the way and how of salvation.  

While the world knows Matthew Henry best for his time-enduring Exposition of the Old and New Testaments, the cultivation of personal piety in himself and others was the great business of his practical life; and his treatises on the godly life, while little known today, are among the finest ever written. Rich in and alert to the things of the spirit, they reveal, as so impressively shown in this volume, a spiritual mind of preeminent degree in the full and deliberate worship of God. The author here pleads with us to avail ourselves of the “ornament of a meek and quiet spirit” and to apply this precious and comely grace in all our contacts in everyday living. No message could be more practical or fitting for this age, when the world, more than ever, is too much with us. This is a deep and tender, altogether winsome plea. Would you know the nature, excellence, and application of this meekness and quietness? Come then with the author to Him who said ” . . . learn of me, for I am meek and lowly” And all the world will see and know that we have been with Jesus. Living and dying, let us be found among the “quiet in the land” We all wish to see quiet families, and quiet churches, and quiet neighborhoods, and quiet nations; and it will be so if there be quiet hearts; and not otherwise.

One of the finest, but little known, treatises on the godly life ever written, by the author of the justly popular Matthew Henry’s Commentary. This little gem teaches how to begin the day with God, how to spend the day with God, and how to end the day with God. C.H. Spurgeon said, “Matthew Henry is most pious and pithy, sound and sensible, terse and trustworthy.”

This is a sermon given by Johnathan Edwards on July 8th, 1741, in Enfield, Connecticut. Edwards was invited by the minister to preach to this assembly because they were particularly stubborn to the message of the gospel. One minister characterized them as “thoughtless and vain.” The main text of this discourse was Deuteronomy 32:35.

To me belongeth vengeance and recompence; their foot shall slide in due time: for the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things that shall come upon them make haste.

It is reported that the sermon was preached in level tones and that he did not try to rile up the crowd. And yet, before the end of the sermon, people were moaning, groaning, and crying out such things as, “What shall I do to be saved?” E.H. Cady points out, “the focus of the sermon is on the predicament of the sinner, how dreadfully he dangles just before he plunges into eternal agony, and while he has time to repent and be saved.”

Proverbs 4:23 says to keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. Our hearts are like fortresses under attack, and we must guard them accordingly. Most people will diligently guard their fortunes and homes, which are of temporal value, but they are very careless about guarding that which is of eternal value their very souls! In this work, originally titled A Saint Indeed or the Great Work of a Christian in Keeping the Heart, John Flavel looks at what it means to keep the heart, how to keep the heart, and why keeping the heart is the greatest business of every person.

John Flavel was an English Presbyterian clergyman, puritan and popular author. Flavel opens up Christ altogether lovely with Song of Songs 5:16 ” Yes, He is altogether lovely.”. He then goes on to marvel at all the ways Christ reveals himself to us. How Jesus Christ is beauty, majesty, righteousness, love, and total perfection.

The Practice of Piety is Lewis Bayly’s guide to living a more pious life. Inside he gives us a series of meditations on personal growth in God’s Grace. He offers meditations for the sick, the dying, fear and ways to begin the day. “Now let us see how happy a godly man is in his state of renovation, being reconciled to God in Christ. “The godly man whose corrupt nature is renewed by grace in Christ and become a new creature, is blessed in a threefold respect-First, in his life; Secondly, in his death; Thirdly, after death.”

In 1889 D. E. W. Bullinger wrote a series of articles in the magazine Things to Come on the church epistles. In 1902 the articles were published together as a book. The church Epistles contains a good overview of Romans, First and Second Corinthians, Galations, Ephesians, Colossians, and First and Second Thessalonians. Each book and its importance are discussed as well as the divine order of their inter-relationship, structure, scope, and interpretation.

Bullinger was a lifelong scholar and voluminous writer. His books are excellent study materials for ministers and students who alike desire a deeper knowledge of the seven epistles penned by the Apostle Paul to the churches throughout Asia Minor. Their doctrinal content is worthy of study, in order that a full view of the gospel of Jesus Christ is both known and believed. This book assists in that goal.

Great Cloud of Witnesses was written by Dr. E. W. Bullinger and published in 1911. It is a must-read for those who desire a greater understanding of faith as outlined in Hebrews 11. For by it (faith) the elders obtained a good report. (Heb. 11:2) This book is an exegetical commentary on these biblical heroes listed in Hebrews 11 and the faith that distinguished each of them.  From Abel, Enoch, Moah, Abraham, Sara, Joseph, Moses, and others, critical lessons concerning faith are taught, including faith’s worship of God, faith’s walk with God, faith’s witness for God, and faith’s obedience to God.

Bullinger was a diligent and methodical student of the Word of God as well as a recognized and distinguished scholar in the field of Biblical languages. His books are best received by the serious-minded student willing to study and digest the material in a thoughtful and purposeful manner. Because of Bullinger’s love for the Word of God, those who study his works can do nothing but grow into a greater love for the Bible and its divine inspiration. 

From the Introduction: The root of all evils which abound in the spiritual sphere at the present day lies in the fact that the Word and the words of God are not fed upon, digested, and assimilated, as they ought to be. If we ask the question, Why is this the case? the answer is, The Bible is not enjoyed because the Bible is not understood. The methods and rules by which alone such as understanding may be gained are not known or followed; hence the Bible is a neglected book.” – Book Preface

Arthur Dent was an English Puritan author and preacher that wrote The Plain Man’s Pathway to Heaven in 1601. This book is a dialogue that contains six principles; first, it shows man’s misery in nature with the means of recovery; second, it sharply inveighed against the iniquity of time and common corruptions of the world; thirdly, it shows the marks of the children of God, and the reprobates, together with the apparent signs of salvation and damnation; fourthly, it declareth how hard a thing it is to enter into life, and how few shall enter; fifthly, it layeth open the ignorance of the world, with the objections of the same; lastly, it publisheth and proclaims the sweet promises of the gospel, with the abundant mercy of God, to that repent, believe, and truly turn unto Him.

“In the classic Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis, the most important writer of the 20th century, explores the common ground upon which all of those of Christian faith stand together. Bringing together Lewis’ legendary broadcast talks during World War Two from his three previous books The Case for Christianity, Christian Behavior, and Beyond Personality, Mere Christianity provides an unequaled opportunity for believers and nonbelievers alike to hear this powerful apologetic for the Christian faith.” -C.S. Lewis Official Website.