The Heavenly Footman

by John Bunyan

Throughout Bunyan's great allegories his prime concern was that people would be able to discern the way to heaven. The 'Footman' is an athlete dogged in the pursuit of 'winning' the race. Bunyan wants us to be able run the race of the Christian life and finish the course so that we might all meet in Heaven. As he states in this 'Farewell, I wish our souls may meet with comfort at the journey's end.' Based on the text 'so run that ye may obtain' (1 Cor 9v24), Bunyan's terse and racy style gives us vital guidance on how to complete the journey. This is regarded as one of the classic texts to have come from the Puritan era on Christian living. Bunyan is well known for his perceptiveness in describing human motivation and thought processes with discernment as he gives us the 'description of the man who gets to heaven.'

Genres: Christian, Nonfiction, Classics, Christian Living, Theology, Religion

64 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1698

About the author

John Bunyan, a Christian writer and preacher, was born at Harrowden (one mile south-east of Bedford), in the Parish of Elstow, England. He wrote The Pilgrim's Progress, arguably the most famous published Christian allegory. In the Church of England he is remembered with a Lesser Festival on 30 August.

Reviews

[Majenta · Rating 5 out of 5]

So, RUN!!!!! "Hi-Tops," anyone?

[ValeReads Kyriosity · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a book (just one sermon, really) about not being lazy. Yet I decided not to bother with adding the narrator's name when I created the Goodreads page for this edition. Because it's also a book (just a booklet, really) about not getting distracted, and no way was I going to spend the whole afternoon going down the rabbit trail of disambiguating all of the John Smiths on Goodreads! Maybe if he'd been a stellar John Smith...for a righteous John Smith someone might even dare to disambiguate...but he was a pretty painfully bad John Smith who appeared to have little comprehension of what he was reading, so I'm just not willing to make the sacrifice. If your name is Smith, have the courtesy to at least use a middle initial. There are other people with common surnames that ought to have done likewise, but the U.S.S. Wilson has sailed. 😉

Aaaaaanyhoo...this was an urgent message about making sure you're actively and eagerly pursuing Christ. So, yeah. Do that!

[Matt Pitts · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was likely while writing this work that the idea for Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress was born. That's the conclusion that biographer Faith Cook came to based on Bunyan's own testimony. Somewhere between a book and a sermon, this work of Bunyan's is an exposition of Paul's words in 1 Corinthians 9:24 which read in part "so run that you may obtain [the prize]" (ESV). It is not hard to see the connection. If Pilgrim's Progress were a sermon, this is probably what it would sound like.

Definately worth reading to encourage you to run hard in the race toward Heaven.

*I read a kindle edition

[Joy · Rating 1 out of 5]

Bunyan's analogy here (similar to the one in Pilgrim's Progress) is overdrawn and repetitive. He writes from a perspective outside of the "salvation by grace" framework, which I found to be depressing and fear-provoking rather than inspiring.

[Shawn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good encouragement to “run the race” and “finish the course so that we might meet in Heaven.”

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a wonderful little book on how to run the Christian race in such a way as "to obtain." I think this would be good to read every New Year! And where else would you find such a sentence: "Cry hard to God for an enlightened heart, and a willing mind, and God give thee a prosperous journey. Yet before I do quite take leave of thee, let me give thee a few motives along with thee. It may be they will be as as good as a pair of spurs to prick on thy lumpish heart in this rich voyage." Lumpish heart indeed! :)

[Marty Clevenger II · Rating 5 out of 5]

John Bunyan provides a challenging and fearful motivation for pursuing Godly things. I thought it was very inspiring, although he is repetitive. I appreciate the challenge and perspective, and I recommend it to all readers; consider the contents, for he's dealing with the most important of all issues.

[John Yelverton · Rating 4 out of 5]

John Bunyan has some very interesting and poignant takes on the simple concept that some people think that they have all the time in the world to get themselves right with God, and in their slothfulness discover that the doors to Heaven have been closed to them like the ill prepared virgins and their oil in Jesus' parable.

[Gabie Peacock · Rating 5 out of 5]

A short and edifying read on persevering in the Christian life. I was especially convicted by the later chapters, which cautioned against slothful or lazy spiritual "running". I have loved all of the books I've read by Bunyan. He is so warm and pastoral. Highly recommend.

[Lynda Newman · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good reminder to keep running the race, not to slow down or look back.

[Trisha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent exhortation to run the Christian race. To say that Bunyan offers anything other than the gospel, because he reminds us to work out our salvation with fear and trembling, is ridiculous.

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reading Bunyan

Reading Bunyan is very allegorical in his writing and quite thought provoking. Out of all the Puritans I like him the best.

[Kevin Charman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sub-titled 'How to get to Heaven' it is about completing the journey - through and through the book is the urging to run, and run in order to win the race, not just be a participant, but to run to gain the winner's prize and let nothing get in the way of achieving it.
Bunyan gives a lot of insightful advice with plenty of reasons to run to win, and reasons not to slow down, or try and get by with a bit of jogging, but to go for the prize - what reason is there otherwise to run? - And what a prize!

[Anthony · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s good, but it pales in comparison to Pilgrims Progress. My issue was that there was a long introduction that actually confused me a bit. It seemed as though in the intro that this book was actually part of Pilgrims Progress, but it wasn’t. It’s still good. It still has an urgency to all believers and non believers to follow Christ and do it with all your heart! As a Christian it’s difficult to not have that resonate in your heart and therefore love the book. As a critic, well, as a critic the book is simply so-so.

[Zachary Cowie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Prefect short read to get a taste of John Bunyan’s work and style. Loved it, second favorite after Pilgrims Progress.

“Yet nevertheless, it is in this case as it was with the harlot of Jericho. She had one scarlet thread tied in her window, by which her house was known; so it is here. The scarlet stream of Christ's blood runs throughout the way to the kingdom of heaven. Therefore mind that: see if thou do find the besprinkling of the blood of Christ in the way; and if thou do, be of good cheer; thou art in the right way.”

[Christian Briggs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brief, excellent, and worthy of another read. Hurry! Run! Flee from the wrath to come! The way of the Lord is not a leisurely, slothful stroll but a multiday ultramarathon with "few" that will overcome and win. And we must keep as fast a pace as we can. So says the Holy Spirit (Luke 9:62, Luke 17:32, Acts 20:24, 1 Cor 9:24-26, Phil 3:13-14, 2 Tim 2:4-5, 2 Tim 4:7-8, Heb 12:1-3, Heb 6:18-20, James 1:11-12).

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short one from Bunyan, written before the Pilgrims Process and include a lot of ideas later implemented there in allegory style. Not a bad book, but pretty simple. He looks at being Christian as a race that you have to win, how to do it, and what to avoid.

[Derek van Vliet · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would encourage people to read this before reading Pilgrim's Progress. Seeing this is the inspiration behind it - if I am not mistaken.

Good sermon. A real Bunyan classic. Not his best work in my opinion, but very good nonetheless.

[Sheila · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found the old language slightly challenging but more challenging than this was the frequent expositions to run your race to heaven with dedication and purpose. It was enough to make one feel a little inadequate and unworthy but perhaps the style is of its age.

[Christie Canlas · Rating 5 out of 5]

WAKE-UP CALL

Simple, Stunning, Powerful are a few words I would use to this Christian masterpiece. It is in old English but is so very relevant for today!

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reminds me of the book "Talks To Farmers" by Charles Spurgeon. Wisdom within the pages.

[Joan F · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great book, especially for those who like comparing the Christian life to a race.

[Jaylene Kornelsen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good encouragement to lay aside everything that hinders us from reaching the one goal, heaven!

[MJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Old English, but very readable.

[Eli · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sobering exhortation to run.