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The Shepherds take Christian and Hopeful to the top of the Hill of Error

Illustration by Frank C Papé

This extraordinarily powerful illustration from Frank C Papé was the basis of one of the colour plates appearing in

the 1910 Edition of Paul Bunyan's classic, The Pilgrim's Progress.

The Pilgrim's Progress is a Christian allegory written by John Bunyan (it was first published in 1678). The tales

central protagonist is, fittingly, named Christian, and Bunyan takes the read on Christian journey from his home,

styled the "City of Destruction" (representing earthly existence) to the "Celestial City" (representing Heaven) atop

Mt Zion.

This particular image is associated with the following text from The Pilgrim's Progress:

Then I saw in my dream, that in the morning the shepherds called up Christian and Hopeful

to walk with them upon the mountains. So they went forth with them, and walked a while,

having a pleasant prospect on every side. Then said the shepherds one to another, "Shall we

show these pilgrims some wonders?" So, when they had concluded to do it, they had them

first to the top of a hill called Error, which was very steep on the farthest side, and bid them

look down to the bottom. So Christian and Hopeful looked down, and saw at the bottom

several men dashed all to pieces by a fall that they had from the top. Then said Christian,

"What meaneth this?" Then the shepherds answered, "Have you not heard of them that were

made to err, by hearkening to Hymeneus and Philetus, as concerning the faith of the

resurrection of the body?" They answered, "Yes". Then said the shepherds, "Those that you

see lie dashed in pieces at the bottom of this mountain, are they; and they have continued

to this day unburied, as you see, for an example to others to take heed how they clamber

too high, or how they come too near the brink of this mountain".

 

Full Image	Single Greeting Card (with matching Envelope) Code: FCP SCHHE SGC Price: US$5.00	Detail (for reference)
	Reproduction on 18x24" sheet Code: FCP SCHHE 18x24 Price: US$150.00

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