A Short History of a Long Travel from Babylon to Bethel

by Stephen Crisp

This book is part of the TREDITION CLASSICS series. The creators of this series are united by passion for literature and driven by the intention of making all public domain books available in printed format again - worldwide. At tredition we believe that a great book never goes out of style. Several mostly non-profit literature projects provide content to tredition. To support their good work, tredition donates a portion of the proceeds from each sold copy. As a reader of a TREDITION CLASSICS book, you support our mission to save many of the amazing works of world literature from oblivion.

52 pages, Paperback

First published October 4, 2009

Reviews

[Cem Yüksel · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was written/published in 1711 by a Quaker. However it is interesting to see how the journey is similar for the ones going through a pilgrimage , trying to find the essence , discovering inner self. He writes about wrong guides , wrong destinations, blockers , ones to discourage , liars and other dangers on the way. Eventually, the real guide becomes the light for him , probably inner light and passion/faith? . It is so similar to the spiritual journeys described in many traditions for many ages. It is a short and a simple one about a virtual pilgrimage having same attributes of many others.

[Matthew J. Winbow · Rating 5 out of 5]

This wonderful little book is the Quaker version of Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress. I love Pilgrim’s Progress and read it every year so I was intrigued to see where Stephen Crisp, a contemporary of Bunyan, would go with his version.

Crisp begins in Babylon with the protagonist wanting to locate the House of God but not knowing how to get there. He tries to find it in his books, which does not work, then he tries hiring a guide to take him to the House of God. The guide takes him so far but then looks lost and is again checking the books for direction to a place he has never been.

The protagonist then meets a second guide under a tree who assures him that he knows the way to the House of God because he has been there. They walk down a hill and through a river. On the far side they behold the House of God, it is a fine building with beautiful architecture and paintings etc… yet inside it is filled with arguments, strife and division. Though it looks grand on the outside it is dirty and filthy inside. The protagonist is disillusioned now and sets out not knowing which way to go.

Eventually a great storm comes and he finds himself sheltering under a great tree. When he awakens he sees a Light that he chooses to follow as his guide. They travel onwards across the wilderness in a straight line.

They arrive at a great mountain filled with vipers, adders, serpents, and beasts, that seek to devour those on the way. However the snakes and beasts fear the Light and flee from it. On the far side of the mountain is a great valley filled with bogs with a narrow path through its centre, many have fallen off the narrow path and throw mud at those trying to keep to it.

Eventually the protagonist is led up a high mountain to Bethel the House of God, it has a single tower and an outer court with the Tree of Life and a great cistern in the centre of the courtyard for the healing of the nations. The protagonist is led through the courtyard and through a narrow door into the tower, he must become naked and then re-clothed to enter it. This is the true House of God.

Crisp in his telling of the Pilgrims quest is focused on the path of the spiritual seeker finding out that books cannot lead you to God, nor will the institutional church, but only the Light of Christ, the leading of the Spirit. Many there are who will throw mud but the sheep know the Shepherd’s voice and He will guide them home.

[Duarte Grilo · Rating 4 out of 5]

6/10
50m