HYMN OF THE MONTH
To Be a Pilgrim
John Bunyan (1684)
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Who would true valour see,
let him come hither;
one here will constant be,
come wind, come weather;
there's no discouragement
shall make him once relent
his first avowed intent
to be a pilgrim.
Whoso beset him round
with dismal stories,
do but themselves confound,
his strength the more is.
No lion can him fright:
he'll with a giant fight,
but he will have the right
to be a pilgrim.
Hobgoblin nor foul fiend
can daunt his spirit;
he knows he at the end
shall life inherit.
Then, fancies, fly away;
he'll not fear what men say;
he'll labour night and day
to be a pilgrim.
alternate lyrics, modified by Percy Dearmer in 1906:
He who would valiant be
'gainst all disaster,
let him in constancy
follow the Master.
There's no discouragement
shall make him once relent
his first avowed intent
to be a pilgrim.
Who so beset him round
with dismal stories,
do but themselves confound—
his strength the more is.
No foes shall stay his might,
though he with giants fight;
he will make good his right
to be a pilgrim.
Since, Lord, Thou dost defend
us with Thy Spirit,
we know we at the end
shall life inherit.
Then, fancies, flee away!
I'll fear not what men say,
I'll labor night and day
to be a pilgrim.
THE PILGRIM'S PROGRESS
Many PIlgrim's Progress related resources exist to help you appreciate this even more. These include versions for every reading level and even devotional study books centered around this classic piece of literature.
HYMN BACKGROUND
Reflect a moment on the truth found in this hymn and learn more about its historical background.
MUSIC
Experience this month's hymn even more fully by playing or singing along. Download the sheet music from Hymnary.org.
HOBGOBLINS, REALLY?
Yes, it's true. The word "hobgoblins" appears in this hymn and as funny as it might sound to actually sing in a worship service, it's been sung that way by many since John Bunyan originally penned the words while in prison for preaching the gospel.
But not everyone has preferred to do so. More recently, this hymn has appeared in hymnals as "He Who Would Valiant Be," reflecting several edits made around the turn of the twentieth century. I almost don't blame Percy Dearmer for changing the text to make it more singable but a closer look at the lyrics alone makes me more of a fan of the original version.
I can identify with a hymnal commentator who wrote in 1940, "Bunyan's burly song strikes a new and welcome note in our Hymnal. The quaint sincerity of the words stirs us out of our easygoing dull Christianity to the thrill of great adventure."
To be fair, Bunyan never intended it to be sung as a hymn in the first place. In Part Two of his classic work, The Pilgrim's Progress, Bunyan wrote it as a spoken poem that comes following a conversation between Mr. Valiant-for-Truth and Mr. Great-Heart. Before speaking the lines of verse, Mr. Valiant-for-Truth says, “I believed, and therefore I came out [of the City of Destruction], got into the Way, fought all that set themselves against me, and, by believing am come to this place.”
Recent events, more than ever, are stirring me to embrace my true pilgrim identify much stronger and longer than before. I'm constantly looking toward that Celestial City and viewing my life here more as a pit-stop. I'm also becoming more and more aware of a much greater spiritual battle taking place in the world -- one that God has equipped me to fight with His spiritual armor.
John Bunyan's hymn helps give me courage for the fight and hope for the future and I hope it does the same for you.
- Kristen Iaffaldano, Editor
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