Latest / Sacred Texts Archive / 15 - Part 2 - The Pilgrim's Progress - John Bunyan
Transcript
- Part two, the seventh stage. Well, the time brew on that the pilgrims must go on their way. Wherefore they prepared for their journey. They sent for their friends. They conferred with them they had some time set a part therein to commit each other to the protection of their prince. There were again that brought them of such things as they had that were fit for the weak and the strong, for the women and the men, and so laden them with such things as were necessary Acts twenty eight ten. Then they set forward on their way, and their friends accompanying them so far as was convenient. They again committed each other to the protection of their king, and parted. They therefore that were of the pilgrim's company went on, and mister Greatheart went before them. Now, the women and children, being weakly, they were first to go as they could bear, by which means mister ready to halt and mister feeble mind had more to sympathize with their condition. When they were gone from the townsmen, and when their friends had bid them farewell, they quickly came to the place where Faithful was put to death. Therefore they made a stand and thanked him that had enabled him to bear his cross so well, and the rather because they now found that they had a benefit by such a manly suffering as his was. They went on therefore after this a good way further, talking of Christian and Faithful, and how Hopeful joined himself to Christian, after that Faithful was dead. Now they came up with the hill Lucre, where the silver mine was, which took Damus off from his pilgrimage, and into which, as some think, by ends, fell and pa Wherefore they considered that. But when they were come to the old monument that stood over against the hill Lucre, to wit to the pillar of salt that stood also within view of Sodom and its stinking lake, they marveled, as did Christian before, that men of such knowledge and ripeness of wit as they were, should be so blinded as to turn aside. Here. Only they considered again that nature is not affected with the harms that others have met with, especially if that thing upon which they look has an attracting virtue upon the foolish eye. I saw now that they went on till they came to the river that was on this side of the delectable mountains, to the river where the fine trees grow on both sides, and whose leaves, if taken inwardly, are good against surfeits. Where the meadows are green all the year long, and where they might lie down safely Psalm twenty three. By this riverside in the mountains there were coats and folds for sheep, a house built for the nourishing and bringing up of those lands, the baths of those women that go on pilgrimage. Also there was here one that was entrusted with them, who could have compassion, and that could gather these lambs with his arm and carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that were with young Hebrews five two Isaiah forty eleven. Now to the care of this man. Christiana admonished her four daughters to commit their little ones, that by these waters they might be housed, harbored, suckered, and nourished, that none of them might be lacking in time to come. This man, if any of them go astray or be lost, will bring them again. He will also bind up that which is broken, and will strengthen them that are sick. Jeremiah twenty three four Ezekiel thirty four eleven to sixteen. Here they will never want meat, drink, and clothing. Here they will be kept from thieves and robbers, For this man will die before one of those committed to his trust shall be lost. Besides, here they shall be sure to have good nurture and admonition, and shall be taught to walk in right paths, And that you know, is a favor of no small account. Also here, as you see, are delicate waters, pleasant meadows, dainty flowers, variety of trees, and such as bear wholesome fruit. Fruit not like that which Matthew ate of nor fell over the wall out of Beelzebub's garden, but fruit that procureth health where there is none, and that continueth and increaseth it where it is. So they were content to commit their little ones to him, And that which was all and encouragement to them so to do was for that all this was to be at the charge of the king, And so was an hospital to young children and orphans. Now they went on, and when they were come to bypath meadow to the style over which Christian went with his fellow hopeful, when they were taken by giant despair and put into doubting castle, they sat down and consulted what was best to be done to wit. Now they were so strong and had got such a man as mister Greatheart for their conductor, whether they had not best to make an attempt upon the giant demolish his castle, and if there were any pilgrims in it, to set them at liberty before they went any further. So one said one thing, and another said the contrary. One questioned if it was lawful to go about on consecrated ground. Another said they might, provided their end was good. But mister Greatheart said, though that assertion offered last cannot be universally true. Yet I have a commandment to resist sin, to overcome evil, to fight the good fight of faith. And I pray with whom should I fight this good fight? If not with giant despair. I will therefore attempt the taking away of his life and the demolishing of doubting castle. Then said he who will go with me? Then said old honest I will, and so will we too, said Christiana's four sons, Matthew, Samuel, Joseph, and James, for they were young men and strong, first John two thirteen and fourteen. So they left the women in the road, and with them, mister Feeblemind and mister Ready to halt with his crutches to be their guard until they came back, For in that place the giant Despair dwelt so near in the road a little child might lead them Isaiah eleven six. So mister Greatheart, old Honest and the four young men went to go up to Doubting Castle to look for Giant Despair. When they came at the castle gate, they knocked for entrance with an unusual noise. At that the old giant comes to the gate, and diffidence his wife follows. Then said he who and what is he that is so hardy as after this manner to molest the giant despair. Mister Greatheart replied, it is I, great Heart, one of the king of the celestial Country's conductors of pilgrims to their place. And I demand of thee that thou open thy gates for my entrance. Prepare thyself also to fight, for I am come to take away thy head and to demolish Doubting Castle. Now giants, because he was a giant, thought no man could overcome him. And again thought he, since heretofore I have made a conquest of angels, shall Great Heart make me afraid? So he harnessed himself and went out. He had a cap of steel upon his head, a breastplate of fire girded to him, and he came out in iron shoes, with a great club in his hand. Then these six men made up to him and beset him behind. And before also when Diffidence the Giantess came up to help him, old mister Honest cut her down at one blow. Then they fought for their lives, and Giant Despair was brought down to the ground, but was very loth die. He struggled hard and heard, as they say, as many lives as a cat. But great Heart was his death, for he left him not till he had severed his head from his shoulders. Then they felt a demolishing, doubting cart, and that, you know, might with ease be done. Since Giant Despair was dead, there were seven days in destroying of that and in it of pilgrims. They found one mister Despondency, almost stafter death, and one much afraid his daughter. These two they saved alive. But it would have made you wonder to have seen the dead bodies that lay here and there in the castle yard, and how full of dead men's bones the dungeon was. When mister Greatheart and his companions had performed this exploit, they took mister Despondency and his daughter, much afraid, into their protection, for they were honest people, though they were prisoners in doubting castle, to that tyrant giant Despair. They therefore, I say, took with them the head of the giant, for his body they had buried under a heap of stones, and down to the road, and to their companion they came and showed them what they had done. Now, when feeble mind and ready to halt, saw that it was the head of Giant Despair. Indeed, they were very jocunde and merry. Now Christiana, if need was, could play upon the viole, and her daughter Mercy upon the lute. So since they were so merry disposed, she played them a lesson, and ready to halt, would dance. So he took Despondency's daughter, much Afraid, by the hand, and to dancing they went in the road. True, he could not dance without one crutch in his hand, but I promise you he footed it well. Also, the girl was to be commended for she answered the music handsomely. As for mister Despondency, the music was not so much to him. He was for feeding rather than dancing. For that he was almost starved. So Christiana gave him some of her bottle of spirit for present relief, and then prepared him something to eat. And in a little time the old gentleman came to himself and began to be finely revived. Now I saw in my dream, when all these things were finished, mister Greatheart took the head of Giant Despair and set it upon a pole by the highwayside, right over against the pillar that Christian erected for a caution to pilgrims that came after to take heed of entering into his grounds. Then he writ under it upon a marble stone these verses following, This is the head of him whose name only in former times did pilgrims terrify his castles down and diffidence. His wife brave, mister Greatheart has bereft of life, Despondency, his daughter much afraid great Heart for them. Also the man has played who hereof doubts. If Hilbert Cassa's eye up, hither may his scrup or satisfy this head. Also, when doubting cripples dance, thus show from fears, they have deliverance. When these men had thus bravely showed themselves against doubting castle, and had slain giant despair, they went forward and went on till they came to the electable mountains, where Christian and Hopeful refreshed themselves with the varieties of the place. They also acquainted themselves with the shepherds there, who welcomed them as they had done Christian before, unto the delectable mountains. Now the shepherds, seeing so great a train, follow mister Greatheart, for with him they were well acquainted. They said, unto him, good sir, you have got a goodly company here. Pray where did you find all these? Then mister Greatheart replied, First, here is Christiana, and her train has sons and her son's wives, who like the wain, keep by the pole and do by compass steer from sin to grace. Else they had not been here. Next, here is old honest Come on pilgrimage, ready to halt too. Who I dare engage true hearted is and so is feeble mind, who willing was not to be left behind despondency, good man is come after, and so also is much afraid his daughter. May we have entertainment here, or must we further go? Let's know whereon to trust. Then said the shepherds, this is a comfortable company. You are welcome to us, for we have for the feeble as well as for the strong. Our Prince has an eye to what is done to the least of these. Therefore infirmity must not be a block to our entertainment Matthew twenty five forty. So they had them to the palacetine all and then said unto them, come in, mister feeble mind, come in, mister ready to halt, Come in, mister despondency, and missus much afraid his daughter. These, mister Greatheart, said the shepherds to the guide we call in by name, for that they are most subject to draw back. But as for you and the rest that are strong, we leave you to your wonted liberty. Then said mister Greatheart, this day I see that grace doth shine in your faces, and that you are my Lord's shepherds. Indeed, for that you have not pushed these diseased, neither with side nor shoulder, but have rather strewed their way into the palace with flowers, as ye should Ezekiel thirty four twenty one. So the feeble and weak went in, and mister Greatheart and the rest did follow. When they were also set down, the shepherd said to those of the weaker sort, what is it that you would have? For? Said they, all things must be managed here to the supporting of the week, as well as to the warning of the unruly. So they made them a feast of things easy of digestion and that were pleasant to the pallate and nourishing, the which when they had received, they went to their rest, each one respectively unto his proper place. When morning was come, because the mountains were high and the day clear, and because it was the custom of the shepherds to show the pilgrims before their departure some rarities. Therefore, after they were ready and had refreshed themselves, the shepherds took them out into the fields and showed them first what they had shown to Christian before. Then they had them to some new places. The first was Mount Marvel, where they looked and beheld a man at a distance that tumbled the hills about with words. Then they asked the shepherds what that should mean. So they told them that that man was the son of one mister Great Grace, of whom you read in the first part of the records of the Pilgrim's Progress, And he is set there to teach pilgrims how to believe down or to tumble out of their ways, what difficulties they should meet with by faith Mark eleven, twenty three and twenty four. Then said mister Greatheart, I know him. He is a man above many. Then they had them to another place called Mount Innocence, and there they saw a man clothed all in white, and two men prejudice and ill will, continually casting dirt upon him. Now, behold, the dirt whatsoever they cast at him, would in a little time fall off again, and his garment would look as clear as if no dirt had been cast thereat, Then, said the pilgrims. What means this? The shepherds answered, this man is named godly man, and this garment is to show the innocency of his life. Now those that throw dirt at him are such as hate his well doing. But as you see, the dirt will not stick upon his clothes, so it shall be with him that liveth innocently in the world, whoever they be that would make such men dirty. They labor all in vain, for God, by that a little time is spent will cause that their innocence shall break forth as the light, and their righteousness as the noonday. Then they took them and had them to Melcharity, where they showed them a man that had a bundle of cloth lying before him, out of which he cut coats and garments for the poor that stood about him. Yet his bundle or roll of cloth was nevertheless, then said they, what should this be? This is, said the shepherds, to show you that he who has a heart to give of his labor to the poor shall never want, wherewithal he that water with shall be watered himself. And the cake that the widow gave to the prophet did not cause that she had the less in her barrel. They had them also to the place where they saw one fool and one want wit washing in Ethiopian, with intention to make him white. But the more they washed him, the blacker he was. Then they asked the shepherds what that should mean. So they told them, saying, thus it is with the vile person. All means used to get such a one a good name shall in conclusion tend but to make him more abominable. Thus it was with the Pharisees, and so it shall be with all hypocrites. Then said Mercy, the wife of Matthew, to Christiana, her mother mother, I would, if it might be, see the hole in the hill, or that commonly called the byeway to hell. So her mother break her mind to the shepherds. Then they went to the door. It was on the side of an hill, and they opened it and bid Mercy hearken. Awhile, so she hearkened, and heard one saying, cursed be my father for holding of my feet back from the way of peace and life. Another said, oh, that I had been torn in pieces before I had to save my life, lost my soul. And another said, if I were to live again, how would I deny myself rather than come to this place. Then there was as if the very earth groaned and quaked under the feet of this young woman for fear. So she looked white and came trembling away, saying, blessed be he and she that is delivered from this place. Now, when the shepherds had shown them all these things. Then they had them to the palace and entertained them with what the house would afford. But Mercy, being a young and married woman, longed for something that she saw there, but was ashamed to ask. Her mother in law then asked her what she ailed for. She looked as one not well. Then said Mercy, there is a looking glass hangs up in the dining room of which I cannot take my mind. If therefore I have it not, I think I shall miscarry. Then said her mother, I will mention thy wants to the shepherds, and they will not deny thee. But she said, I am ashamed that these men should know that I longed. Nay, my daughter, said she. It is no shame, but a virtue to long for such a thing as that. So Mercy said, then, mother, if you please ask the shepherds if they are willing to sell it. Now the glass was one of a thousand. It would present a man one way with his own features exactly, and turn it but another way, and it would show one the very face and similitude of the Prince of Pilgrims himself. Yes, I have talked with them that can tell, and they have said that they have seen the very crown of thorns upon his head by looking in that glass. They have therein also seen the holes in his hands, his feet, and his side. YEA, such an excellency is there in this glass, that it will show him to one where they have a mind to see him, whether living or dead, whether in earth or in heaven, whether in a state of humiliation or in his exaltation, whether coming to suffer or coming to rain James one, twenty three, First Corinthians thirteen twelve, Second Corinthians three eighteen. Christiana therefore went to the sheps apart. Now the names of the shepherds were Knowledge, Experience, Watchful, and Sincere, and said unto them, there is one of my daughters, a breeding woman, that I think doth long for something that she hath seen in this house. And she thinks that she shall miscarry if she should, by you be denied. Experience, call her, call her, she shall assuredly have what we can help her to. So they called her and said to her, mercy, what is that thing thou wouldst have? Then she blushed and said, the great glass that hangs up in the dining room. So Sincere ran and fetched it, and with a joyful consent it was given her. Then she bowed her head and gave thanks, and said, by this I know that I have obtained favor in your eyes. They also gave to the other young women such things as they desired, and to their husbands great commendations, for that they had joined with mister Greatheart in the slaying of Giant Despair and the demolishing of Doubting Castle. About Christiana's neck the shepherds put a bracelet, and so did they about the necks of her four daughters. Also they put earrings in their ears, and jewels on their foreheads when they were minded to go. Hence, they let them go in peace, but gave not to them those certain cautions which before were given to Christian and his companion. The reason was for that these had great Heart to be their guide, who was one that was well acquainted with things, and so could give them their cautions more seasonably to wit, even when the danger was nigh the approaching. What cautions Christian and his companion had received of the shepherds, they had also lost. By that the time was come that they had need to put them in practice. Wherefore he was the advantage that this company had over the other. From thence they went on singing, and they said, behold, how fitly are the stages set for their relief that pilgrims are become, And how they us receive without one let that make the other life our mark and home. What novelties they have to us they give, that we, though pilgrims, joyful lives, may live. They do upon us too, such things bestow that show we pilgrims are where'er we go? End Part two, The seventh Stage