Latest / Philosophy and Faith / 08 - The Pilgrim's Progress - John Bunyan
Transcript
- 0:00Speaker 1: Part two, the fourth stage. Now, when they had eaten
- 0:05Speaker 1: and drank and had chattered a little longer, their guide
- 0:09Speaker 1: said to them, the day wears away. If you think good,
- 0:14Speaker 1: let us prepare to be going. So they got up
- 0:17Speaker 1: to go, and the little boys went before. But Christiana
- 0:21Speaker 1: forgot to take her bottle of spirits with her, so
- 0:24Speaker 1: she sent her little boy back to fetch it. Then said, Mercy,
- 0:29Speaker 1: I think this is a losing place. Here Christian lost
- 0:33Speaker 1: his role, and here Christiana left her bottle behind her. Sir,
- 0:38Speaker 1: what is the cause of this? So their guide made
- 0:42Speaker 1: answer and said the cause is sleep or forgetfulness. Some
- 0:46Speaker 1: sleep when they should keep awake, and some forget when
- 0:50Speaker 1: they should remember. And this is the very cause why
- 0:54Speaker 1: often at the resting places some pilgrims and some things
- 0:58Speaker 1: come off losers. Pilgrims should watch and remember what they
- 1:03Speaker 1: have already received under their greatest enjoyments, but for want
- 1:07Speaker 1: of doing so, oftentimes their rejoicing ends in tears and
- 1:12Speaker 1: their sunshine in a cloud. Witness the story of Christian
- 1:15Speaker 1: at this place. When they were come to the place
- 1:20Speaker 1: where mistrust and Timrius met Christian to persuade him to
- 1:24Speaker 1: go back for fear of the lions. They perceived as
- 1:27Speaker 1: it were a stage, and before it towards the road
- 1:31Speaker 1: a broad plate with a copy of verses written thereon,
- 1:35Speaker 1: and underneath the reason of raising up that stage in
- 1:37Speaker 1: that place rendered. The verses were, let him that sees
- 1:42Speaker 1: this stage take heed unto his heart and tongue, lest
- 1:46Speaker 1: if he do not hear, he speed. As some have
- 1:49Speaker 1: long agone, The words underneath the verses were, this stage
- 1:56Speaker 1: was built to punish those upon who, through timorousness or mistrust,
- 2:01Speaker 1: shall be afraid to go further on pilgrimage. Also on
- 2:05Speaker 1: this stage, both mistrust and timorous were burned through the
- 2:09Speaker 1: tongue with a hot iron for endeavoring to hinder Christian
- 2:12Speaker 1: on his journey. Then said Mercy, this is much like
- 2:19Speaker 1: to the saying of the Beloved, what shall be given
- 2:22Speaker 1: unto thee, or what shall be done unto thee? Thou
- 2:25Speaker 1: false tongue, sharp arrows of the Mighty with coals of
- 2:29Speaker 1: juniper Psalm one hundred and twenty three and four. So
- 2:34Speaker 1: they went on till they came within sight of the lions.
- 2:38Speaker 1: Now mister Greatheart was a strong man, so he was
- 2:41Speaker 1: not afraid of a lion. But yet When they were
- 2:44Speaker 1: come up to the place where the lions were, The
- 2:46Speaker 1: boys that went before were now glad to cringe behind,
- 2:50Speaker 1: for they were afraid of the lions. So they stepped
- 2:53Speaker 1: back and went behind. At this, their guide smiled and said,
- 2:58Speaker 1: how now, my boys, do you love to go before
- 3:01Speaker 1: when no danger doth approach, and love to come behind
- 3:05Speaker 1: so soon as the lions appear. Now as they went on,
- 3:10Speaker 1: mister great Heart drew his sword with intent to make
- 3:13Speaker 1: away for the pilgrims in spite of the lions. Then
- 3:16Speaker 1: they appeared one that it seems, had taken upon him
- 3:20Speaker 1: to back the lions. And he said to the pilgrim's guide,
- 3:24Speaker 1: what is the cause of your coming hither? Now? The
- 3:28Speaker 1: name of that man was Grim or bloody man, because
- 3:31Speaker 1: of his slaying of pilgrims, and he was of the
- 3:34Speaker 1: race of the giants. Mister Greatheart then said the Pilgrim's guide,
- 3:40Speaker 1: these women and children are going on pilgrimage, and this
- 3:44Speaker 1: is the way they must go, and go it they shall,
- 3:47Speaker 1: in spite of thee and the lions. Grim, this is
- 3:52Speaker 1: not their way, neither shall they go Therein I am
- 3:56Speaker 1: come forth to withstand them, and to that end will
- 3:59Speaker 1: back the lion. Now to say the truth, by reason
- 4:03Speaker 1: of the fierceness of the lions and of the grim
- 4:06Speaker 1: carriage of him that did back them, this way had
- 4:09Speaker 1: of late lane much unoccupied, and was almost grown over
- 4:12Speaker 1: with grass. Christiana then said Christiana. Though they highways had
- 4:19Speaker 1: been unoccupied, heretofore. And though the travelers have been made
- 4:23Speaker 1: in times past to walk through by paths, it must
- 4:26Speaker 1: not be so. Now. I am risen. Now I am risen,
- 4:29Speaker 1: a mother in Israel Judges five, six and seven. Grim
- 4:35Speaker 1: then he swore by the lions that it should, and
- 4:38Speaker 1: therefore bid them turn aside, for they should not have
- 4:41Speaker 1: passage there. But great Heart, their guide, made first his
- 4:45Speaker 1: approach unto Grim, and laid so heavily on him with
- 4:49Speaker 1: his sword that he forced him to retreat. Grim then said,
- 4:54Speaker 1: he that attempted to back the lions, will you slay
- 4:57Speaker 1: me upon mine own ground? Mister Greatheart. It is the
- 5:03Speaker 1: King's highway that we are in, and in this way
- 5:06Speaker 1: it is that thou hast placed the lions. But these
- 5:09Speaker 1: women and these children, though weak, shall hold on their
- 5:13Speaker 1: way in spite of thy lions. And with that he
- 5:16Speaker 1: gave him again a downright blow. And brought him upon
- 5:19Speaker 1: his knees. With this blow, also he broke his helmet,
- 5:24Speaker 1: and with the next he cut off an arm. Then
- 5:27Speaker 1: did the giant roar so hideously that his voice frightened
- 5:31Speaker 1: the women, And yet they were glad to see him
- 5:34Speaker 1: lie sprawling upon the ground. Now the lions were chained,
- 5:38Speaker 1: and so of themselves could do nothing. Wherefore, when old
- 5:42Speaker 1: grim that intended to back them was dead, mister Greatheart
- 5:46Speaker 1: said to the pilgrims, come now and follow me, and
- 5:49Speaker 1: no hurt shall happen to you from the lions. They
- 5:53Speaker 1: therefore went on, but the women trembled as they passed
- 5:56Speaker 1: by them. The boys also looked as if they would die,
- 6:00Speaker 1: but they all got by without further hurt. Now, when
- 6:04Speaker 1: they were within sight of the porter's lodge, they soon
- 6:07Speaker 1: came up unto it. But they made them more haste
- 6:10Speaker 1: after this to go thither, because it is dangerous traveling
- 6:13Speaker 1: there in the night. So when they were come to
- 6:16Speaker 1: the gate, the guide knocked, and the porter cried, who
- 6:20Speaker 1: is there? But as soon as the guide had said
- 6:23Speaker 1: it is I, he knew his voice and came down,
- 6:27Speaker 1: For the guide had off before that, come thither as
- 6:29Speaker 1: a conductor of pilgrims. When he was come down, he
- 6:33Speaker 1: opened the gate, and, seeing the guide standing just before it,
- 6:37Speaker 1: for he saw not the women, for they were behind him,
- 6:41Speaker 1: he said unto him, how now, mister greatheart, what is
- 6:45Speaker 1: your business here so late at night? I have brought,
- 6:49Speaker 1: said he, some pilgrims hither where by my Lord's commandment
- 6:53Speaker 1: they must lodge. I had been here some time ago,
- 6:57Speaker 1: had I not been opposed by the giant that it
- 7:00Speaker 1: used to back the lions. But I, after a long
- 7:03Speaker 1: and tedious combat with him, have cut him off, and
- 7:06Speaker 1: have brought the pilgrims hither in safety the porter. Will
- 7:11Speaker 1: you not go in and stay till morning, mister Greatheart? No,
- 7:17Speaker 1: I will return to my Lord to night. Christiana, oh, sir,
- 7:23Speaker 1: I know not how to be willing you should leave
- 7:25Speaker 1: us in our pilgrimage. You have been so faithful and
- 7:29Speaker 1: loving to us, You have fought so stoutly for us,
- 7:32Speaker 1: You have been so hearty in counseling of us, that
- 7:35Speaker 1: I shall never forget your favor towards us. Mercy then said, Mercy, oh,
- 7:43Speaker 1: that we might have thy company to our journey's end.
- 7:46Speaker 1: How can such poor women as we hold out in
- 7:49Speaker 1: a way so full of troubles as this way is
- 7:52Speaker 1: without a friend and defender. James then said James, the
- 7:58Speaker 1: youngest of the boys, Gray, Sir, be persuaded to go
- 8:02Speaker 1: with us and help us, because we are so weak
- 8:05Speaker 1: and the way so dangerous as it is. Mister greatheart,
- 8:11Speaker 1: I am at my Lord's commandment. If he shall allot
- 8:15Speaker 1: me to be your guide quite through, I will willingly
- 8:18Speaker 1: wait upon you. But here you failed at first, for
- 8:22Speaker 1: when he bid me come thus far with you, then
- 8:25Speaker 1: you should have begged me of him to have gone
- 8:27Speaker 1: quite through with you, and he would have granted your request. However,
- 8:32Speaker 1: at present I must withdraw, and so good Christiana, Mercy,
- 8:37Speaker 1: and my brave children adieu. Then the porter, mister Watchful,
- 8:43Speaker 1: asked Christiana of her country and of her kindred, and
- 8:47Speaker 1: she said, I am come from the city of Destruction.
- 8:51Speaker 1: I am a widow woman, and my husband is dead.
- 8:54Speaker 1: His name was Christian the pilgrim. How said porter, was
- 8:59Speaker 1: he your husband? And yes, said she? And these are
- 9:03Speaker 1: his children, And this pointing to Mercy, is one of
- 9:07Speaker 1: my townswomen. Then the porter rang his bell, as at
- 9:11Speaker 1: such times he is wont and there come to the
- 9:13Speaker 1: door one of the damsels whose name was Humble Mind.
- 9:17Speaker 1: And to her the porter said, go tell it within,
- 9:21Speaker 1: that Christiana, the wife of Christian, and her children are
- 9:24Speaker 1: come hither on pilgrimage. She went in therefore and told it.
- 9:29Speaker 1: But oh, what noise for gladness was there within when
- 9:32Speaker 1: the damsel did but drop that out of her mouth.
- 9:36Speaker 1: So they came with haste to the porter. For Christiano
- 9:40Speaker 1: stood still at the door. Then some of the most
- 9:43Speaker 1: graves said, unto her, come in, Christiana, Come in, thou
- 9:47Speaker 1: wife of that good man, Come in, thou blessed woman,
- 9:51Speaker 1: Come in with all that are with thee. So she
- 9:54Speaker 1: went in, and they followed her, that were her children
- 9:57Speaker 1: and companions. Now, when they were gone in, they were
- 10:01Speaker 1: had into a large room, where they were bidden to
- 10:04Speaker 1: sit down. So they sat down, and the chief of
- 10:08Speaker 1: the house were called to see and welcome the guests.
- 10:12Speaker 1: Then they came in, and, understanding who they were, did
- 10:15Speaker 1: salute each other with a kiss, and said, welcome, ye,
- 10:19Speaker 1: vessels of the grace of God. Welcome to us, your friends. Now,
- 10:25Speaker 1: because it was somewhat late, and because the pilgrims were
- 10:28Speaker 1: weary with their journey, and also made faint with the
- 10:30Speaker 1: sight of the fight and of the terrible lions. They
- 10:34Speaker 1: desired as soon as might be, to prepare to go
- 10:37Speaker 1: to rest. Nay, said those of the family, refresh yourselves
- 10:42Speaker 1: first with a morsel of meat, for they had prepared
- 10:45Speaker 1: for them a lamb with the accustomed source belonging there
- 10:48Speaker 1: to Exodus twelve twenty one, John one twenty nine. For
- 10:54Speaker 1: the porter had heard before of their coming, and had
- 10:57Speaker 1: told it to them within. So when they had supped
- 11:00Speaker 1: and ended their prayer with a psalm, they desired they
- 11:03Speaker 1: might go to rest. But let us, said Christiana, if
- 11:07Speaker 1: weigh me. But let us, said Christiana, if we may
- 11:19Speaker 1: be so bold as to choose be in that chamber
- 11:22Speaker 1: that was my husband's when he was here. So they
- 11:25Speaker 1: had them up thither, and they all lay in a room.
- 11:29Speaker 1: When they were at rest. Christiana and Mercy entered into
- 11:33Speaker 1: discourse about things that were convenient. Christiana, little did I
- 11:40Speaker 1: think once, when my husband went on pilgrimage, that I
- 11:43Speaker 1: should ever have followed him, Mercy, and you as little
- 11:49Speaker 1: thought of lying in his bed and in his chamber
- 11:52Speaker 1: to rest, as you do now, Christiana. And much less
- 11:57Speaker 1: did I ever think of seeing his face with comfort,
- 12:00Speaker 1: and of worshiping the Lord the King with him. And
- 12:03Speaker 1: yet now I believe I shall Mercy hark. Don't you
- 12:08Speaker 1: hear a noise, Christiana? Yes, it is, as I believe,
- 12:14Speaker 1: a noise of music for joy that we are here, Mercy,
- 12:20Speaker 1: wonderful music in the house, music in the heart, and
- 12:24Speaker 1: music also in heaven, for joy that we are here.
- 12:28Speaker 1: Thus they talked awhile, and then betook themselves to sleep.
- 12:32Speaker 1: So in the morning, when they were awake, Christiana said
- 12:35Speaker 1: to Mercy, what was the matter that you did laugh
- 12:38Speaker 1: in your sleep tonight? I suppose you were in a dream, Mercy.
- 12:43Speaker 1: So I was, and a sweet dream it was. But
- 12:46Speaker 1: are you sure I laughed, Christiana, Yes, you laughed heartily.
- 12:52Speaker 1: But prithee, Mercy, tell me thy dream, Mercy, I was
- 12:58Speaker 1: a dreaming that I sat all alone in a solitary
- 13:00Speaker 1: place and was bemoaning of the hardness of my heart.
- 13:04Speaker 1: Now I had not sat there long, but methought many
- 13:07Speaker 1: were gathered about me to see me and to hear
- 13:09Speaker 1: what it was that I said. So they hearkened, and
- 13:12Speaker 1: I went on bemoaning the hardness of my heart. At this,
- 13:17Speaker 1: some of them laughed at me, some called me fool,
- 13:20Speaker 1: and some began to thrust me about with that methought,
- 13:24Speaker 1: I looked up and saw one coming with wings towards me.
- 13:28Speaker 1: So he came directly to me and said, mercy, what
- 13:31Speaker 1: aileth thee? Now, when he had heard me make complaint,
- 13:35Speaker 1: he said, peace be to thee. He also wiped my
- 13:39Speaker 1: eyes with his handkerchief, and clad me in silver and gold.
- 13:43Speaker 1: Ezekiel sixteen eight to eleven. He put a chain about
- 13:48Speaker 1: my neck, and earrings in mine ears, and a beautiful
- 13:51Speaker 1: crown upon my head. Then he took me by the
- 13:55Speaker 1: hand and said, Mercy, come after me. So he went up,
- 14:00Speaker 1: and I followed till we came at a golden gate.
- 14:03Speaker 1: Then he knocked, and when they within had opened, the
- 14:07Speaker 1: man went in, and I followed him up to a
- 14:09Speaker 1: throne upon which one sat, and he said to me,
- 14:14Speaker 1: welcome daughter. The place looked bright and twinkling, like the stars,
- 14:19Speaker 1: or rather like the sun, and I thought that I
- 14:21Speaker 1: saw your husband there. So I awoke for my dream.
- 14:26Speaker 1: But did I laugh? Christiana? Laugh, ay? And well you
- 14:31Speaker 1: might to see yourself so well, For you must give
- 14:35Speaker 1: me leave to tell you that it was a good dream,
- 14:38Speaker 1: and that as you have begun to find the first
- 14:40Speaker 1: part true, so you shall find the second. At last.
- 14:44Speaker 1: God speaks once, yea twice. Yet man perceiveth it not
- 14:49Speaker 1: in a dream, in a vision of the night, when
- 14:53Speaker 1: deep sleep falleth upon men in slumberings upon the bed
- 14:57Speaker 1: job thirty three, fourteen and fifteen. We need not when
- 15:02Speaker 1: a bed to lie awake to talk with God. He
- 15:05Speaker 1: can visit us while we sleep and cause us then
- 15:08Speaker 1: to hear His voice. Our heart oftentimes wakes when we sleep,
- 15:12Speaker 1: and God can speak to that either by words, by proverbs,
- 15:16Speaker 1: by signs and similitudes, as well as if one was awake. Mercy, well,
- 15:23Speaker 1: I am glad of my dream, for I hope ere
- 15:25Speaker 1: long to see it fulfilled, to the making me laugh again, Christiana,
- 15:32Speaker 1: I think it is now high time to rise and
- 15:34Speaker 1: to know what we must do. Mercy, pray, if they
- 15:39Speaker 1: invite us to stay awhile, let us willingly accept of
- 15:43Speaker 1: the proffer. I am the more willing to stay awhile
- 15:46Speaker 1: here to grow better acquainted with these maids. Methinks, Prudence, piety,
- 15:50Speaker 1: and charity have very comely and sober countenances. Christiana. We
- 15:57Speaker 1: shall see what they will do. So when they were
- 16:01Speaker 1: up and ready, they came down, and they asked one
- 16:04Speaker 1: another of their rest, and if it was comfortable or not.
- 16:08Speaker 1: Mercy very good, said Mercy. It was one of the
- 16:12Speaker 1: best night's lodgings that ever I had in my life.
- 16:16Speaker 1: Then said Prudence and Piety, if you will be persuaded
- 16:20Speaker 1: to stay here, awhile ye shall have what the house
- 16:23Speaker 1: will afford. Charity ay, And that with a very good will,
- 16:27Speaker 1: said Charity. So they consented and stayed there about a
- 16:31Speaker 1: month or above, and became very profitable one to another.
- 16:36Speaker 1: And because Prudence would see how Christiana had brought up
- 16:38Speaker 1: her children, she asked leave of her to catechise them.
- 16:43Speaker 1: So she gave her free consent. Then she began with
- 16:46Speaker 1: her youngest, whose name was James Prudence, and she said, come, James,
- 16:53Speaker 1: canst thou tell me who made thee James, God, the Father, God,
- 16:59Speaker 1: the Son, and God the Holy Ghost? Prudence, good boy?
- 17:04Speaker 1: And canst thou tell me who saved thee James? God,
- 17:09Speaker 1: the Father, God, the Son, and God the Holy Ghost? Prudence,
- 17:15Speaker 1: good boy? Still? But how doth God the Father save
- 17:18Speaker 1: thee James by his grace? Prudence? How doth God the
- 17:25Speaker 1: Son save thee James by his righteousness, death, and blood
- 17:31Speaker 1: and life? Prudence? And how doth God the Holy Ghost
- 17:36Speaker 1: save thee James by his illumination, by his renovation, and
- 17:42Speaker 1: by his preservation? Then said Prudence to Christiana, you are
- 17:48Speaker 1: to be commended for thus bringing up your children. I
- 17:51Speaker 1: suppose I need not ask the rest these questions, since
- 17:55Speaker 1: the youngest of them can answer them so well. I
- 17:58Speaker 1: will therefore now apply myself to the next youngest Prudence.
- 18:03Speaker 1: Then she said, come, Joseph, for his name was Joseph.
- 18:07Speaker 1: Will you let me catechise you, Joseph with all my heart? Prudence?
- 18:14Speaker 1: What is man, Joseph, a reasonable creature, so made by God?
- 18:20Speaker 1: As my brother said, Prudence, what is supposed by this
- 18:25Speaker 1: word saved Joseph, that man, by sin has brought himself
- 18:30Speaker 1: into a state of captivity and misery? Prudence? What is
- 18:36Speaker 1: supposed by his being saved by the Trinity? Joseph, That
- 18:41Speaker 1: sin is so great and mighty a tyrant, that none
- 18:44Speaker 1: can pull us out of its clutches but God. And
- 18:47Speaker 1: that God is so good and loving to man as
- 18:50Speaker 1: to pull him indeed out of this miserable state. Prudence?
- 18:55Speaker 1: What is God's design in saving poor men? Joseph? The
- 19:01Speaker 1: glorifying of his name, of his grace and justice, et cetera,
- 19:05Speaker 1: and the everlasting happiness of his creature. Prudence, Who are
- 19:11Speaker 1: they that will be saved, Joseph, they that accept of
- 19:15Speaker 1: his salvation? Prudence, good boy, Joseph, Thy mother hath taught
- 19:22Speaker 1: thee well, and thou hast hearkened unto what she has
- 19:25Speaker 1: said unto thee. Then said Prudence to Samuel, who was
- 19:29Speaker 1: the eldest but one, Prudence, Come, Samuel, are you willing
- 19:34Speaker 1: that I should catechise you? Samuel? Yes, forsooth, if you please, Prudence.
- 19:42Speaker 1: What is Heaven, Samuel, a place and state most blessed
- 19:48Speaker 1: because God dwelleth there? Prudence? What is Hell, Samuel, a
- 19:56Speaker 1: place and state most woeful? Because it is the place
- 20:00Speaker 1: of sin, the devil and death? Prudence? Why wouldst thou
- 20:05Speaker 1: go to heaven, Samuel? That I may see God and
- 20:11Speaker 1: serve Him without weariness, That I may see Christ and
- 20:15Speaker 1: love Him everlastingly, that I may have that fullness of
- 20:18Speaker 1: the Holy Spirit in me, which I can by no
- 20:20Speaker 1: means here enjoy, Prudence, a very good boy and one
- 20:27Speaker 1: that has learned well. Then she addressed herself to the eldest,
- 20:31Speaker 1: whose name was Matthew, and she said to him, come, Matthew,
- 20:36Speaker 1: shall I also catechise you, Matthew, with a very good will? Prudence?
- 20:44Speaker 1: I ask then, if there was ever anything that had
- 20:47Speaker 1: a being anticidentt to or before God, Matthew, No, for
- 20:54Speaker 1: God is eternal, Nor is there anything excepting himself that
- 20:58Speaker 1: had a being until the beginning of the first Day.
- 21:02Speaker 1: For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth,
- 21:04Speaker 1: the sea, and all that in them is prudence. What
- 21:09Speaker 1: do you think of the Bible, Matthew? It is the
- 21:13Speaker 1: holy word of God? Prudence. Is there nothing written therein
- 21:18Speaker 1: but what you understand? Matthew? Yes, a great deal prudence.
- 21:25Speaker 1: What do you do when you meet with places therein
- 21:27Speaker 1: that you do not understand? Matthew? I think God is
- 21:32Speaker 1: wiser than I. I pray also that He will please
- 21:35Speaker 1: to let me know all therein that he knows will
- 21:38Speaker 1: be for my good prudence. How believe you as touching
- 21:43Speaker 1: the resurrection of the dead, Matthew? I believe they shall
- 21:48Speaker 1: rise the same that was buried, the same in nature,
- 21:51Speaker 1: though not in corruption. And I believe this upon a
- 21:54Speaker 1: double account. First because God has promised it. Secondly, because
- 21:59Speaker 1: He is able to perform it, then, said Prudence to
- 22:03Speaker 1: the boys. You must still hearken to your mother, for
- 22:07Speaker 1: she can teach you more. You must also diligently give
- 22:10Speaker 1: ear to what good talk you shall hear from others,
- 22:13Speaker 1: for your sake they do speak good things. Observe also,
- 22:17Speaker 1: and that with carefulness what the heavens and the earth
- 22:20Speaker 1: do teach you. But especially be much in the meditation
- 22:24Speaker 1: of that book which was the cause of your father's
- 22:26Speaker 1: becoming a pilgrim. I, for my part, my children will
- 22:31Speaker 1: teach you what I can while you are here, and
- 22:34Speaker 1: shall be glad if you will ask me questions that
- 22:36Speaker 1: tend to godly edifying Now by that these pilgrims had
- 22:41Speaker 1: been at this place a week, Mercy had a visitor
- 22:44Speaker 1: that pretended some good will unto her, and his name
- 22:47Speaker 1: was mister Brisk, a man of some breeding and that
- 22:51Speaker 1: pretended to religion, but a man that stuck very close
- 22:54Speaker 1: to the world. So he came once or twice or
- 22:58Speaker 1: more to Mercy and offered love to her. Now Mercy
- 23:02Speaker 1: was of a fair countenance, and therefore the more alluring
- 23:06Speaker 1: her mind also was to be always busying herself in
- 23:09Speaker 1: doing for when she had nothing to do for herself.
- 23:13Speaker 1: She would be making hose and garments for others, and
- 23:16Speaker 1: would bestow them upon those that had need. And mister Brisk,
- 23:20Speaker 1: not knowing where or how she disposed of what she made,
- 23:23Speaker 1: seemed to be greatly taken. For that he found her
- 23:26Speaker 1: never idle. I will warrant her a good housewife, quoth
- 23:30Speaker 1: he to himself. Mercy then revealed the business to the
- 23:36Speaker 1: maidens that were of the house, and inquired of them
- 23:38Speaker 1: concerning him, for they did know him better than she.
- 23:43Speaker 1: So they told her that he was a very busy
- 23:45Speaker 1: young man, and one who pretended to religion, but was,
- 23:49Speaker 1: as they feared, a stranger to the power of that
- 23:51Speaker 1: which is good. Nay, then said Mercy, I will look
- 23:56Speaker 1: no more on him, for I purposed never to have
- 23:59Speaker 1: a clog to my soul. Prudence then replied that there
- 24:03Speaker 1: needed no matter of great discouragement to be given to him.
- 24:07Speaker 1: Her continuing so as she had begun to do for
- 24:09Speaker 1: the poor, would quickly cool his courage. So the next
- 24:14Speaker 1: time he comes he finds her at her old work
- 24:16Speaker 1: making things for the poor, Then said he what always
- 24:20Speaker 1: at it? Yes, said she either for myself or for others.
- 24:26Speaker 1: And what canst thou earn a day, said he. I
- 24:30Speaker 1: do these things, said she, that I may be rich
- 24:32Speaker 1: in good works, laying up in store for myself a
- 24:35Speaker 1: good foundation against the time to come, that I may
- 24:39Speaker 1: lay hold on eternal life. First Timothy six seventeen to nineteen. Why, Prithee,
- 24:46Speaker 1: what doest thou with them? Said he clothe the naked?
- 24:49Speaker 1: Said she? With that His countenance fell, so he forbore
- 24:54Speaker 1: to come at her again. And when he was asked
- 24:56Speaker 1: the reason why, he said that Mercy was a pretty lass,
- 25:01Speaker 1: but troubled with ill conditions. When he had left her,
- 25:05Speaker 1: Prudence said, did I not tell thee that mister brisk
- 25:09Speaker 1: would soon forsake thee? Yea, he will rise up an
- 25:12Speaker 1: ill report of thee. For notwithstanding his pretense to religion
- 25:16Speaker 1: and his seeming love to Mercy, yet Mercy and he
- 25:20Speaker 1: are of tempers so different that I believe they will
- 25:23Speaker 1: never come together. Mercy, I might have had husbands before now,
- 25:29Speaker 1: though I spoke not of it to any, But they
- 25:32Speaker 1: were such as did not like my conditions, though never
- 25:35Speaker 1: did any of them find fault with my person. So
- 25:39Speaker 1: there and I could not agree, Prudence, Mercy in our
- 25:44Speaker 1: days is but little set by any further than as
- 25:46Speaker 1: to its name, the practice which is set forth by
- 25:49Speaker 1: thy conditions. There are but few that can abide mercy.
- 25:56Speaker 1: Well said Mercy. If nobody will have me, I will
- 25:59Speaker 1: die on my married or my conditions shall be to
- 26:02Speaker 1: me as a husband. For I cannot change my nature
- 26:06Speaker 1: and to have one who lies cross to me. And
- 26:07Speaker 1: thus that I purposed never to admit of as long
- 26:10Speaker 1: as I live. I had a sister named Bountiful, that
- 26:15Speaker 1: was married to one of these chails. But he and
- 26:18Speaker 1: she could never agree. But because my sister was resolved
- 26:21Speaker 1: to do as she had begun, that is, to show
- 26:25Speaker 1: kindness to the poor. Therefore her husband first cried her
- 26:29Speaker 1: down at the cross, and then turned her out of
- 26:31Speaker 1: his doors prudence. And yet he was a professor. I
- 26:36Speaker 1: warrant you, Mercy. Yes, such a one as he was,
- 26:42Speaker 1: and of such as he, the world is now full.
- 26:45Speaker 1: But I am for none of them all. Now, Matthew,
- 26:49Speaker 1: the eldest son of Christiana, fell sick, and his sickness
- 26:53Speaker 1: was sore upon him, for he was much pained in
- 26:56Speaker 1: his bowels, so that he was with it at times
- 26:59Speaker 1: pulled as it were both ends together. There Dwell also
- 27:03Speaker 1: not far from thence one mister Skill, an ancient and
- 27:07Speaker 1: well approved physician. So Christiana desired it and entered the
- 27:11Speaker 1: room and had a little observed the boy. He concluded
- 27:15Speaker 1: that he was sick of the gripes. Then he said
- 27:18Speaker 1: to his mother, what diet has Matthew late fed upon? Diet?
- 27:23Speaker 1: Said Cristiana, nothing, but what is wholesome. The physician answered,
- 27:29Speaker 1: the boy has been tampering with something that lies in
- 27:31Speaker 1: his stomach undigested, and that will not away without means.
- 27:35Speaker 1: And I tell you he must be purged, or else
- 27:38Speaker 1: he will die. Samuel then said Samuel, mother, what was
- 27:44Speaker 1: that which my brother did gather up and eat? As
- 27:47Speaker 1: soon as we were come from the gate that is
- 27:49Speaker 1: at the head of this way. You know that there
- 27:52Speaker 1: was an orchard on the left hand, on the other
- 27:54Speaker 1: side of the wall, and some of the trees hung
- 27:57Speaker 1: over the wall, and my brother did pluck and eat, Christiana, True,
- 28:03Speaker 1: my child, said Christiana, he did take thereof and did
- 28:07Speaker 1: eat naughty boy as he was. I chid him, And
- 28:10Speaker 1: yet he would eat thereof. Mister Skill, I knew he
- 28:15Speaker 1: had eaten something that was not wholesome food, and that
- 28:18Speaker 1: food to wit, that fruit is even the most hurtful
- 28:21Speaker 1: of all. It is the fruit of Beelzebub's orchard. I
- 28:25Speaker 1: do marvel that none did warn you of it. Many
- 28:28Speaker 1: have died thereof Christiana. Then Christiana began to cry, and
- 28:37Speaker 1: she said, Oh, naughty boy, and O careless mother, what
- 28:42Speaker 1: shall I do for my son? Mister Skill, come, do
- 28:47Speaker 1: not be too much dejected. The boy may do well again,
- 28:50Speaker 1: but he must purge and vomit. Christiana, pray, sir, try
- 28:56Speaker 1: the utmost of your skill with him, whatever it costs.
- 29:00Speaker 1: Mister Skill, nay, I hope I shall be reasonable. So
- 29:04Speaker 1: he made him a purge, but it was too weak.
- 29:08Speaker 1: It was said it was made of the blood of
- 29:09Speaker 1: a goat, the ashes of a heifer, and some of
- 29:12Speaker 1: the juice of hissop Hebrews nine thirteen and nineteen ten
- 29:19Speaker 1: one to four. When mister Skill had seen that that
- 29:22Speaker 1: purge was too weak, he made one to the purpose.
- 29:26Speaker 1: It was made ex carne etzanguini Christie John six fifty
- 29:31Speaker 1: four fifty seven, Hebrews nine fourteen. You know physicians give
- 29:37Speaker 1: strange medicine to their patients. And it was made into
- 29:40Speaker 1: pills with a promise or two and a proportionable quantity
- 29:44Speaker 1: of salt mark nine forty nine. Now he was to
- 29:49Speaker 1: take them three at a time, fasting in half a
- 29:52Speaker 1: quarter of a pint of the tears of Repentance Zechariah
- 29:55Speaker 1: twelve ten. When this persian was prepared and brought the boy,
- 30:00Speaker 1: he was loath to take it, though torn with the gripes,
- 30:04Speaker 1: as if he should be poured in pieces. Come, Come,
- 30:07Speaker 1: said the physician. You must take it. It goes against
- 30:11Speaker 1: my stomach, said the boy. I must have you take it,
- 30:15Speaker 1: said his mother. I shall vomit it up again, said
- 30:18Speaker 1: the boy. Pray says, said Christiana to mister Skill. How
- 30:23Speaker 1: does it taste? It has no ill taste, said the doctor,
- 30:28Speaker 1: And with that she touched one of the pills with
- 30:30Speaker 1: the tip of her tongue. O Matthew said she. This
- 30:34Speaker 1: potion is sweeter than honey. If thou lovest thy mother,
- 30:37Speaker 1: if thou lovest thy brothers, if thou lovest mercy, if
- 30:41Speaker 1: thou lovest thy life, take it. So with much ado,
- 30:46Speaker 1: after a short prayer for the blessing of God upon it,
- 30:48Speaker 1: he took it, and it wrought kindly with him. It
- 30:52Speaker 1: caused him to purge, It caused him to sleep and
- 30:56Speaker 1: to rest quietly. It put him to him a fine
- 30:59Speaker 1: heat and breathing sweat, and did quite rid him of
- 31:03Speaker 1: his gripes. So in a little time he got up
- 31:06Speaker 1: and walked about with a staff, and would go from
- 31:09Speaker 1: room to room and talk with prudence, piety, and charity
- 31:13Speaker 1: of his distemper and how he was healed. So when
- 31:17Speaker 1: the boy was healed, Christiana asked mister Skill, saying, sir,
- 31:22Speaker 1: what will content you for your pains and care to
- 31:24Speaker 1: you and of my child? And he said, ye must
- 31:28Speaker 1: pay the master of the college of Physicians Hebrews thirteen
- 31:32Speaker 1: eleven to fifteen, according to Rule's maid in that case,
- 31:35Speaker 1: and provided Christiana. But sir, said she, what is this
- 31:41Speaker 1: pill good for else? Mister Skill. It is a universal pill.
- 31:49Speaker 1: It is good against all the diseases that pilgrims are
- 31:52Speaker 1: incident to, and when it is well prepared, it will
- 31:56Speaker 1: keep good time out of mind. Christiana, pray, sir, make
- 32:02Speaker 1: me up twelve boxes of them, for if I can
- 32:04Speaker 1: get these, I will never take other physic Mister Skill.
- 32:10Speaker 1: These pills are good to prevent diseases as well as
- 32:13Speaker 1: to cure when one is sick. YEA, I dare say
- 32:16Speaker 1: it and stand to it that if a man will
- 32:18Speaker 1: but use this physic as he should, it will make
- 32:21Speaker 1: him live forever John six fifty one. But good Christiana,
- 32:27Speaker 1: thou must give these pills no other way, but as
- 32:29Speaker 1: I have prescribed, for if you do, they will do
- 32:32Speaker 1: no good. So he gave unto Christiana physic for herself
- 32:36Speaker 1: and her boys, and for mercy, and bid Matthew take heed,
- 32:40Speaker 1: how he ate any more green plums, and kissed them,
- 32:44Speaker 1: and went his way. It was told you before that
- 32:48Speaker 1: Prudence bid the boys that if at any time they would,
- 32:52Speaker 1: they should ask her some questions that might be profitable,
- 32:55Speaker 1: and she would say something to them. Matthew. When Matthew,
- 33:00Speaker 1: who had been sick, asked her, why, for the most
- 33:05Speaker 1: part physic should be bitter to our palates? Prudence to
- 33:10Speaker 1: show how unwelcome the word of God and the effects
- 33:13Speaker 1: thereof are to our carnal heart, Matthew. Why does physic,
- 33:18Speaker 1: if it does good, purge and cause to vomit? Prudence
- 33:23Speaker 1: to show that the Word, when it works, effectually cleanseth
- 33:27Speaker 1: the heart and mind. For look what the one doth
- 33:30Speaker 1: to the body, the other doth to the soul. Matthew,
- 33:38Speaker 1: What should we learn by seeing the flame of our
- 33:40Speaker 1: fire go upwards, and by seeing the beams and sweet
- 33:43Speaker 1: influences of the Sun strike downwards Prudence. By the going
- 33:49Speaker 1: up of the fire, we are taught to ascend to heaven.
- 33:52Speaker 1: By fervent and hot desires, and by the Sun sending
- 33:56Speaker 1: his heat, beams and sweet influences downwards. They are taught
- 34:00Speaker 1: the Savior of the world, though high, reaches down with
- 34:04Speaker 1: his grace and love to us below. Matthew. Whence have
- 34:09Speaker 1: the clouds their water prudence? Out of the sea, Matthew,
- 34:16Speaker 1: What may we learn from that prudence that ministers should
- 34:20Speaker 1: fetch their doctrine from God? Matthew? Why do they empty
- 34:26Speaker 1: themselves upon the earth? Prudence to show that ministers should
- 34:30Speaker 1: give out what they know of God to the world, Matthew.
- 34:35Speaker 1: Why is the rainbow caused by the sun? Prudence to
- 34:40Speaker 1: show that the covenant of God's grace is confirmed to
- 34:43Speaker 1: us in Christ, Matthew. Why do the springs come from
- 34:48Speaker 1: the sea to us through the earth? Prudence to show
- 34:52Speaker 1: that the grace of God comes to us through the
- 34:54Speaker 1: body of Christ, Matthew. Why do some of the springs
- 34:59Speaker 1: rise out of the tops of high hills? Prudence to
- 35:04Speaker 1: show that the spirit of grace shall spring up in
- 35:06Speaker 1: some that are great and mighty, as well as in
- 35:09Speaker 1: many that are poor and low. Matthew. Why doth the
- 35:14Speaker 1: fire fasten upon the candlewick prudence? To show that unless
- 35:19Speaker 1: grace doth kindle upon the heart, there will be no
- 35:22Speaker 1: true light of life in us? Matthew? Why are the
- 35:28Speaker 1: wick and tallow and all spent to maintain the light
- 35:31Speaker 1: of the candle prudence? To show that body and soul
- 35:36Speaker 1: and all should be at the service of and spend
- 35:39Speaker 1: themselves and maintain in good condition that grace of God
- 35:42Speaker 1: that is in us, Matthew. Why doth the Pelican pierce
- 35:47Speaker 1: her own breast with her bill prudence to nourish her
- 35:52Speaker 1: young ones with her blood, and thereby to show that
- 35:55Speaker 1: Christ the Blessed so loved as young his people as
- 35:59Speaker 1: to save them from death by his blood. Matthew. What
- 36:07Speaker 1: may one learn by hearing the cock to crow prudence?
- 36:12Speaker 1: Learn to remember Peter's sin and Peter's repentance. The cock's
- 36:18Speaker 1: crerying shows also that day is coming on. Let then
- 36:23Speaker 1: the crearing of the cock put thee in mind of
- 36:25Speaker 1: that last and terrible day of judgment. Now about this
- 36:30Speaker 1: time their month was out wherefore they signify to those
- 36:33Speaker 1: of the house that it was convenient for them to
- 36:36Speaker 1: be up and be going. Then said Joseph to his mother,
- 36:40Speaker 1: it is proper that you forget not to send to
- 36:42Speaker 1: the house of mister Interpreter to pray him to grant
- 36:46Speaker 1: that mister Greatheart should be sent unto us, that he
- 36:49Speaker 1: may be our conductor for the rest of the way.
- 36:53Speaker 1: Good boy, said she, I had almost forgot, So she
- 36:57Speaker 1: drew up a petition and prayed mister Watchful the porter
- 37:00Speaker 1: to send it by some fit man to her good friend,
- 37:03Speaker 1: mister Interpreter, who, when it was come and he had
- 37:07Speaker 1: seen the contents of the petition, said to the messenger,
- 37:11Speaker 1: go tell them that I will send him. When the
- 37:15Speaker 1: family where Christiana was saw that they had a purpose
- 37:18Speaker 1: to go forward, they called the whole house together to
- 37:21Speaker 1: give thanks to their king for sending of them such
- 37:24Speaker 1: profitable guests as these which done, They said, unto Christiana,
- 37:29Speaker 1: and shall we not show thee something as our custom
- 37:32Speaker 1: is to do to pilgrims, on which thou mayst meditate
- 37:35Speaker 1: when thou art upon the way. So they took Christiana,
- 37:39Speaker 1: her children and Mercy into the closet and showed them
- 37:43Speaker 1: one of the apples that eve ate of, and that
- 37:45Speaker 1: she also did give to her husband, and that for
- 37:49Speaker 1: the eating of which they were both turned out of paradise,
- 37:52Speaker 1: and asked her what she thought that was. Then Christiana said,
- 37:58Speaker 1: it is food or I know not which. So they
- 38:03Speaker 1: opened the matter to her, and she held up her
- 38:06Speaker 1: hands and wondered Genesis three six Romans seven twenty four.
- 38:14Speaker 1: Then they had her to a place and showed her
- 38:16Speaker 1: Jacob's ladder Genesis twenty eight twelve. Now at that time
- 38:22Speaker 1: there were some angels ascending upon it. So Christiana looked
- 38:26Speaker 1: and looked to see the angels go up. So did
- 38:29Speaker 1: the rest of the company. Then they were going into
- 38:32Speaker 1: another place to show them something else. But James said
- 38:35Speaker 1: to his mother, pray, bid them stay here a little longer,
- 38:40Speaker 1: for this is a curious sight. So they turned again
- 38:44Speaker 1: and stood feeding their eyes with this so pleasant a prospect.
- 38:48Speaker 1: After this, they had them into a place where it
- 38:50Speaker 1: did hang up a golden anchor. So they bid Christiana
- 38:54Speaker 1: take it down, for said they you shall have it
- 38:58Speaker 1: with you, for it is of absent salute necessity that
- 39:01Speaker 1: you should that you may lay hold of that within
- 39:03Speaker 1: the veil Hebrews six nineteen, and stands deadfast in case
- 39:09Speaker 1: you should meet with turbulent weather Joel three sixteen. So
- 39:14Speaker 1: they were glad thereof Then they took them and had
- 39:18Speaker 1: them to the mount upon which Abraham our father offered
- 39:22Speaker 1: up Isaac his son, and showed them the altar, the wood,
- 39:26Speaker 1: the fire, and the knife, for they remained to be
- 39:29Speaker 1: seen to this very day Genesis twenty two nine. When
- 39:34Speaker 1: they had seen it, they held up their hands and
- 39:36Speaker 1: blessed themselves, and said, oh, what a man for love
- 39:39Speaker 1: to his master and for denial to himself was Abraham.
- 39:45Speaker 1: After they had showed them all these things, Prudence took
- 39:48Speaker 1: them into a dining room, where stood a pair of
- 39:50Speaker 1: excellent virginals. So she played upon them and turned what
- 39:55Speaker 1: she had showed them into this excellent song, saying, Eve's
- 39:59Speaker 1: apple we have showed you of that. Be you aware
- 40:03Speaker 1: you have seen Jacob's ladder too, upon which angels are
- 40:07Speaker 1: an anchor. You received have. But let not these suffice
- 40:14Speaker 1: until with Abron you have gave your best a sacrifice.
- 40:19Speaker 1: Now about this time one knocked at the door. So
- 40:22Speaker 1: the porter opened, and behold, mister Greatheart was there. But
- 40:27Speaker 1: when he was come in what joy was there? For
- 40:29Speaker 1: it came now fresh again into their minds. How but
- 40:33Speaker 1: a while ago he had slain old grim, bloody man
- 40:36Speaker 1: the Giant, and had delivered them from the lions. Then
- 40:40Speaker 1: said mister Greatheart to Christiana and to Mercy, my Lord
- 40:44Speaker 1: has sent each of you a bottle of wine, and
- 40:47Speaker 1: also some parched corn, together with a couple of pomegranates.
- 40:51Speaker 1: He has also sent the boys some figs and raisins
- 40:53Speaker 1: to refresh you in your way. Then they addressed themselves
- 40:57Speaker 1: to their journey, and Prudence and Pie went along with them.
- 41:02Speaker 1: When they came to the gate, Christiana asked the porter
- 41:05Speaker 1: if any of late went by. He said, no, only
- 41:10Speaker 1: one some time since, who also told me that of
- 41:13Speaker 1: late there had been a great robbery committed on the
- 41:16Speaker 1: King's Highway. As you go, but said he, the thieves
- 41:20Speaker 1: are taken and will shortly be tried for their lives.
- 41:26Speaker 1: Then Christiana and Mercy were afraid, but Matthew said, mother,
- 41:31Speaker 1: fear nothing, as long as mister Greatheart is to go
- 41:34Speaker 1: with us and to be our conductor. Then said Christiana
- 41:38Speaker 1: to the porter, Sir, I am much obliged to you
- 41:42Speaker 1: for all the kindnesses that you have showed to me
- 41:44Speaker 1: since I came hither, And also for that you have
- 41:47Speaker 1: been so loving and kind to my children. I know
- 41:50Speaker 1: not how to gratify your kindness. Wherefore pray as a
- 41:54Speaker 1: token of my respect to you, except of this small mite.
- 41:59Speaker 1: So she put a gold angel in his hand, and
- 42:01Speaker 1: he made her a low obeisance, and said, let thy
- 42:04Speaker 1: garments be always white, and let thy head want no
- 42:08Speaker 1: ointment Ecclesiastes nine eight. Let mercy live and not die,
- 42:14Speaker 1: and let not her works be few Deuteronomy thirty three six.
- 42:18Speaker 1: And to the boys, he said, do you fly youthful
- 42:21Speaker 1: lusts and follow after Godliness with them that are grave
- 42:25Speaker 1: and wise tewod Timothy two twenty two. So shall you
- 42:30Speaker 1: put gladness into your mother's heart and obtain prayers of
- 42:33Speaker 1: all that are sober minded. So they thanked the porter
- 42:37Speaker 1: and departed. End Part two, the fourth stage