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04 - The Pilgrim's Progress - John Bunyan · Wisdom of the Ages Library

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Part two, the second stage. So I saw in my dream that they
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walked on their way, and had the weather very comfortable to them. Then
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Christiana began to sing, saying, blessed be the day that I began a
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pilgrim for to be, And blessed also be the man that thereto moved me.
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Tis true twas long ere I began to seek to live forever, But
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now I run fast as I can. Tis better late than never. Our
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tears to joy, our fears to faith, are turned as we see.
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Thus our beginning, as one saith, shows what our end will be.
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Now there was on the other side of the wall that fenced in the way
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up which Christiana and her companions were to go, a garden, And that
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garden belonged to him whose was that barking dog of whom mention was made before.
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And some of the fruit trees that grew in that garden shot their branches
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over the wall, and being mellow, they that found them, did gather
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them up and eat of them to their hurt. So Christiana's boys, as
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boys are apt to do, being pleased with the trees and with the fruit
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that hung thereon, did pluck them and began to eat. Their mother did
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also chide them for so doing, But still the boys went on. Well,
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said she, my sons, you transgress, for that fruit is none
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of ours. But she did not know that it belonged to the enemy.
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I'll warrant you if she had, she would have been ready to die for
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fear. But that passed, and they went on their way. Now by
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that they were gone about two bow shots from the place that led them into
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the way, they espied two very ill favored ones coming down a pace to
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meet them. With that, Christiana and Mercy, her friend, covered themselves
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with their veils, and so kept on their journey. The children also went
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on before, so that at last they met together. Then they that came
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down to meet them came just up to the women, as if they would
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embrace them. But Christiana said, stand back, or go peaceably as you
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should. Yet these two, as men that are deaf, regarded not Christiana's
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words, but began to lay hands upon them. At that Christiana, waxing
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very wrath, spurned at them with her feet. Mercy also, as well
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as she could, did what she could to shift them. Christiana again said
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to them stand back and be gone, for we have no money to lose,
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being pilgrims as you see, and such two as live upon the charity
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of our friends. Ill favored ones then said one of the two men,
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we may make no assault upon you for money, But I come out to
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tell you that if you will but grant one small request which we shall ask,
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we will make women of you forever. Christiana. Now Christiana, imagining
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what they should mean, made answer again, we will neither hear, nor
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regard, nor yield to what you shall ask. We are in haste and
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cannot stay. Our business is a business of life and death. So again
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she and her companion made a fresh essay to go past them, but they
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lettered them in their way, ill favored once, and they said, we
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intend no hurt to your lives. It is another thing we would have Christiana.
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I quoth Christiana, you would have us body and soul, for I
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know it is for that you are come. But we will die rather upon
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the spot than to suffer ourselves to be brought into such snares as shall hazard
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our well being hereafter. And with that they both shrieked out and cried murder,
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murder, and so put themselves under those laws that are provided for the
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protection of women Deuteronomy twenty two, twenty five to twenty seven. But the
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men still made their approach upon them, with design to prevail against them.
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They therefore cried out again. Now they being as I said, not far
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from the gate in at which they came, their voice was heard from whence
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they were thither. Wherefore some of the house came out, and, knowing
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that it was Christiana's tongue, they made haste to her relief. But by
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that they were got within sight of them. The women were in a very
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great scuffle. The children also stood crying. Guy then did he that came
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in for their relief call out to the Ruffians, saying, what is that
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thing you do? Would you make my lord's people to transgress? He also
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attempted to take them, but they did make their escape over the wall into
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the garden of the man, to whom the great dog belonged, So the
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dog became their protector. This reliever then came up to the women and asked
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them how they did so. They answered, we thank thy Prince pretty well.
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Only we have been somewhat affrighted. We thank thee also for that thou
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camest end to our help. Otherwise we had been overcome, reliever. So
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after a few more words, this reliever said, as followeth, I marveled
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much when you were entertained at the gate above, seeing ye knew that ye
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were but weak women, that you position not the Lord for a conductor?
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Then might you have avoided these troubles and dangers, for he would have granted
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you one. Christiana, Alas said Grist, we were so taken with our
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present blessing that dangers to come were forgotten by us. Besides, who could
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have thought that, so near the King's palace they could have lurked such naughty
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ones. Indeed, it had been well for us had we asked our Lord
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for one. But since our Lord knew it would be for our profit,
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I wonder if he said not one along with us, reliever. It is
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not always necessary to grant things not asked for, lest by so doing they
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become of little esteem. But when the want of a thing is felt,
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it then comes under in the eyes of him that feels it that estimate that
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properly is its due, and so consequently will be thereafter used. Had my
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Lord granted you a conductor, you would not either, So have bewailled that
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oversight of yours. In not asking for one as now you have occasion to
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do so, all things work for good and tend to make you more wary.
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Christiana, Shall we go back again to my Lord and confess our folly?
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And ask one reliever your confession of your folly? I will present him
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with to go back again. You need not, for in all places where
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ye shall come, you will find no want at all. For in every
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one of my Lord's lodgings, which he has prepared for the reception of his
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pilgrims, there is sufficient to furnish them against all attempts whatsoever. But as
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I said, he will be inquired of by them to do it for them
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Ezekiel thirty six thirty seven. And tis a poor thing that is not worth
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asking for. When he had thus said, he went back to his place,
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and the pilgrims went on their way. Mercy then said, Mercy,
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what a sudden blank is here? I made a count that we had been
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past all danger, and that we should never see sorrow or more. Christiana,
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thy innocency, my sister, said, Christiana to Mercy may excuse thee
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much, but as for me, my fault is so much. The greater
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for that I saw this danger before I came out of the doors, and
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yet did not provide for it when provision might have been had. I am
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much to be blamed. Mercy then said Mercy, how knew you this before
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you came from home? Pray open to me this riddle, Christiana, Why
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I tell you before I set foot out of doors, one night, as
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I lay in my bed, I had a dream about this. For methought,
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I saw two men as like these as ever any in the world could
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look, stand at my bed's feet, plotting how they might prevent my salvation.
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I will tell you their very words, they said. It was when
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I was in my troubles. What shall we do with this woman? For
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she cries out, waking and sleeping for forgiveness. If she be suffered to
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go on as she begins, we shall lose her as we have lost her
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husband. This, you know, might have made me take heed and have
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provided when provision might have been had. Mercy, well said Mercy, as
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by this neglect we have an occasion ministered unto us to behold our own imperfections.
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So our Lord has taken occasion thereby to make manifest the riches of his
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grace, for he, as we see, has followed us with unasked kindness,
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and has delivered us from the hands that were stronger than we of his
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mere good pleasure. Thus, now, when they had talked away a little
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more time, they drew near to a house which stood in the way.
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Which house was built for the relief of pilgrims, as you will find more
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fully related in the first part of these records of the Pilgrim's progress. So
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they drew on towards the house, the house of the interpreter. When they
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came to the door, they heard a great talk in the house. Then
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they gave ear and heard, as they thought Christiana mentioned by name. For
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you must know that they went along even before her a talk of her and
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her children's going on pilgrimage. And this was the most pleasing to them,
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because they had heard that she was Christian's wife, that woman who was some
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time ago so unwilling to hear of going on pilgrimage. Thus, therefore they
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stood still and heard the good people within commending her, who they little thoughts
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stood at the door. At last Christiana knocked, as she had done at
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the gate before. Now, when she had knocked they came to the door
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a young damsel and opened the door and looked, and behold two women were
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there. The damsel then said the damsel to them, with whom would you
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speak in this place? Christiana? Christiana answered, we understood that this is
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a privileged place for those that are become pilgrims, and we now at this
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door are such. Wherefore we pray that we may be partakers of that for
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which we, at this time are come. For the day, as thou
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seest is very spent, and we are loathed tonight to go any further.
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The damsel pray, what may I call your name? That I may tell
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it to my lord within? Christiana? My name is Christiana. I was
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the wife of that pilgrim that some years ago did travel this way, and
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these be his four children. This maiden also is my companion, and is
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going on pilgrimage too. Innocent then, Innocent ran in, for that was
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her name, and said to those within, can you think who is at
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the door? There is Christiana and her children and her companion, all waiting
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for entertainment here. Then they leapt for joy and went and told their master.
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So he came to the door, and looking upon her. He said,
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art thou the Christiana, whom Christian the good Man left behind him when
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he betook himself to a pilgrim's life. Christiana, I am that woman that
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was so hard hearted as to slight my husband's trouble, and that left him
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to go on his journey alone. And these are his four children. But
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now I also am come, for I am convinced that no way is right.
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But this interpreter then is fulfilled that which is written of the man that
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said to his son, go work to day in my vineyard. And he
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said to his father, I will not, but afterwards repented and went Matthew
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twenty one twenty nine. Christiana then said, Christiana, so be it,
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amen, God made it a true saying upon me, and grant that I
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may be found at the last of Him in peace, without spot and blameless
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interpreter. But why standest thou thus at the door? Come in, thou,
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daughter of Abraham. We were talking of thee. But now for tidings
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have come to us before, how thou art become a pilgrim? Come?
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Children, come in, Come, maiden, come in. So he had
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them all into the house, so when they were within, they were bidden
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to sit down and rest them the witch. When they had done, those
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that attended upon the pilgrims in the house came into the room to see them,
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and one smiled and another smiled, and they all smiled for joy that
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Christiana was become a pilgrim. They also looked upon the boys. They stroked
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them over their faces with the hand in token of their kind reception of them.
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They also carried it lovingly to mercy and bid them all welcome into their
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master's house. After a while, because supper was not ready, the interpreter
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took them into his significant rooms and showed them what Christian, Christiana's husband had
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seen some time before. Here therefore they saw the man in the cage,
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the man and his dream, the man that cut his way through his enemies,
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and the picture of the biggest of them, all together with the rest
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of those things that were then so profitable to Christian. This done, and
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after those things had been somewhat digested by Christiana and her company, the interpreter
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takes them apart again and has them first into a room where was a man
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that could look no way but downwards, the muckrake in his hand. There
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stood also one over his head with a celestial crown in his hand, and
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proffered him that crown for his muckrake. But the man did neither look up
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nor regard, but wrecked to himself the straws, the small sticks, and
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the dust of the floor. Then said Christiana, I persuade myself that I
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know somewhat the meaning of this, For this is a figure of a man
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of this world? Is it not good? Sir, interpreter thou hast said
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right, said he and his muckrek doth show his carnal mind. And whereas
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thou seest him rather give heed to rake up straws and sticks and the dust
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of the floor, than to do what he says that calls to him from
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above, with the celestial crown in his hand, it is to show that
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heaven is but as a fable to some, and that things here are counted
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the only thing substantial. Now, whereas it was also showed THEE that the
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man could look no way but downwards, it is to let THEE know that
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earthly things, when they are with power upon men's minds, quite carry their
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hearts away from God. Christiana then said Christiana, O deliver me from this
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mock brake, Proverbs thirty eight. Interpreter that prayer, said, the interpreter
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has lain by till it is almost rusty. Give me not riches is scarce
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the prayer of one in ten thousand straws and sticks and dust, with most
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are the great things now looked after. With that, Christiana and Mercy wept
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and said, it is alas too true. When the interpreter had shown them
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this, he had them into the very best room in the house, a
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very brave room, it was. So he bid them look round about and
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see if they could find anything profitable there. Then they looked round and round,
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for there was nothing to be seen but a very great spider on the
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wall, and that they overlooked. Mercy then said, Mercy, Sir,
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I see nothing. But Christiana held her peace interpreter, but said the interpreter
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look again. She therefore looked again, and said, here is not anything
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but an ugly spider who hangs by her hands upon the wall. Then said
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he is there but one spider in all this spacious room. Then the water
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stood in Christiana's eyes, for she was a woman quick of apprehension, and
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she said, yea, Lord, there are more here than one. Yea,
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And spiders, whose venom is far more destructive than that which is in
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her, then looked pleasantly on her, and said thou hast said the truth.
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This made Mercy to blush, and the boys to cover their faces,
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for they all began now to understand the riddle. Then said the interpreter again.
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The spider taketh hold with her hands, as you see, and is
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in king's palaces Proverbs thirty twenty eight. And wherefore is this recorded but to
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show you that how full of the venom of sin soever you be, yet
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you may by the hand of faith, lay hold of and dwell in the
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best room that belongs to the king's house. Above Christiana, I thought,
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said Christiana, of something of this, but I could not imagine it at
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all. I thought that we were like spiders, and that we looked like
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ugly creatures in what fine roomsoever we were, But that by this spider,
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that venomous and ill favored creature, we were to learn how to act faith.
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That came not into my thoughts. And yet she had taken hold with
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her hands, And as I see, dwelleth in the best room in the
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house. God has made nothing in vain. Then they seemed all to be
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glad, but the water stood in their eyes. Yet they looked one upon
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another, and also bowed before the interpreter. He had them into another room,
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where were a hen and chickens, and bid them observe. Awhile,
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so one of the chickens went to the trough to drink, And every time
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she drank, she lifted up her head and her eyes towards heaven. See,
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said he, what this little chick doth, and learn of her to
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acknowledge whence your mercies come by receiving them with looking up. Yet again said
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he, observe and look. So they gave heed and perceived that the hen
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did walk in a fourfold method towards her chickens. One she had a common
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call, and that she hath all the day long. Two she had a
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special call, and that she had but sometimes, Three she had a brooding
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note Matthew twenty three thirty seven, And four she had an outcry. Now
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said he compare this hen to your king, and these chickens to his obedient
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ones. For answerable to her, he himself hath made his methods which he
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walketh in towards his people. By his common call. He gives nothing by
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his special call. He always has something to give. He has also a
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brooding voice for them that are under his wing, and he has an outcry
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to give the alarm when he seeth the enemy come. I choose my darlings
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to lead you into the room where such things are, because you are women,
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and they are easy for you. Christiana, and Sir, said Christiana,
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pray, let us see some more. So he had them into the
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slaughterhouse, where was a butcher killing a sheep. And behold, the sheep
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was quiet and took her death patiently. Then said the interpreter, you must
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learn of this sheep to suffer and to put up with wrongs without murmurings and
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complaints. Behold how quietly she takes her death, and without objecting, she
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suffereth her skin to be pulled over her ears. Your king doth call you
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his sheep. After this, he led them into his garden, where was
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great variety of flowers. And he said, do you see all these?
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So Christiana said yes. Then said he again, Behold the flowers are diverse
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in stature, in quality and color, and smell and virtue, and some
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are better than others. Also, where the gardener has set them. There
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they stand and quarrel, not one with another. Again, he had them
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into his field, which he had sown with wheat and corn. But when
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they beheld the tops of all were cut off, and only the straw remained.
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He said again, this ground was dunged and plowed and sewed. But
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what shall we do with the crop, then said Christiana, Burn some and
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make muck of the rest. Then said the interpreter again, fruit you see,
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is that thing you look for and for want of that you condemn it
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to the fire and to be trodden under foot of men. Beware that in
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this you condemn not yourselves. Then, as they were coming in from abroad,
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they espied a little robin with a great spider in his mouth. So
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the interpreter said, look here. So they looked, and Mercy wondered.
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But Christiana said, what a disparagement is it to such a pretty little bird
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as the robin red breast? He being also a bird above many that loveth
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to maintain a kind of sociableness with men. I had thought they had lived
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upon crumbs of bread, or upon other such harmless matter. I like him
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worse than I did. The interpreter then replied, the robin is an emblem
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very apt to set forth some professors by for to sight they are as this
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robin, pretty of note, color and carriage. They seem also to have
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a very great love for professors that are sincere, and above all to desire
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to associate with them and to be in their company, as if they could
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live upon the good man's crumbs. They pretend also that therefore it is that
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they frequent the house of the godly and the appointments of the Lord. But
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when they are by themselves, as the robin, they can catch and gobble
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up spiders, they can change their diet, drink iniquity, and swallow down
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sin like water. So when they were come again into the house, because
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supper, as yet was not ready, Christiana again desired that the interpreter would
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either show or tell some other things that are profitable. Then the interpreter began
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and said, the fatter the sours, the more she desires the mayre,
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the fatter the ox is, the more gamesomely he goes to the slaughter.
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And the more healthy the lustful man is, the more prone he is unto
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evil. There is a desire in women to go neat and find and it
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is a comely thing to be adorned with that which, in God's sight is
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of great price. Tis easier watching a night or two than to sit up
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a whole year together. So tis easy for one to begin to profess well
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than to hold out as he should to the end. Every shipmaster, when
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in a storm, will willingly cast that overboard which is of the smallest value
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in the vessel. But who will throw the best out first? None but
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he that feareth not God. One leak will sink a ship, and one
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sin will destroy a sinner. He that forgets his friend is ungrateful unto him,
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But he that forgets his savior is unmerciful to himself. He that lives
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in sin and looks for happiness hereafter is like him that seth cockle and thinks
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to fill his barn with wheat or barley. If a man would live well,
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let him fetch his last day to him, and make it always his
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company keeper. Whispering and change of thoughts prove that sin is in the world.
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If the world which God sets light by is counted a thing of that
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worth which men, what is heaven that God commendeth. If the life that
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is attended with so many troubles, is so loath to be let go by
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us? What is the life above? Everybody will cry up the goodness of
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men, But who is there that is as he should be affected with the
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goodness of God. We seldom sit down to meet, but we eat and
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leave. So there is in Jesus Christ more merit and righteousness than the whole
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world has need of. When the interpreter had done, he takes them out
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into his garden again, and had them to a tree whose inside was all
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rotten and gone, and yet it grew and had leaves. Then said,
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mercy, what means this? This tree? Said? Here, whose outside
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is fair and whose inside is rotten? Is that to which many may be
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compared that are in the garden of God, who with them their mouths speak
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high in behalf of God, but indeed will do nothing for him whose leaves
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are fair, but their heart good for nothing but to be tinder for the
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devil's tinder box. Now supper was ready, the table spread, and all
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things set on the board. So they sat down and did eat when one
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had given thanks. And the interpreter did usually entertain those that lodged with him
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with music at meals, So the minstrels played. There was also one that
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did sing, and a very fine voice he had. His song was this,
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The Lord is only my support, and he that doth me feed.
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How can I then want anything whereof I stand in need? When the song
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and music were ended, the interpreter asked Christiana what it was that at first
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did move her thus to betake herself to a pilgrim's life. Christiana answered,
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first, the loss of my husband came into my mind, at which I
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was heartily grieved, But all that was but natural affection. Then after that
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came the troubles and pilgrimage of my husband into my mind. And also how
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like a churl I had carried it to him. As to that, so
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guilt took hold of my mind and would have drawn me into the pond.
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But that opportunely I had a dream of the well being of my husband,
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and a letter sent me by the king of that country where my husband dwells,
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to come to him. The dream and the letter together so wrought upon
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my mind that they forced me to this way, interpreter, but met you
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with no opposition before you set out of doors. Christiana, Yes, a
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neighbor of mine, one missus Timmerius, she was akin to him that would
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have persuaded my husband to go back for fear of the lions. She also
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befooled me, as she called it my intended desperate adventure. She also urged
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what she could to dishearten me from it, the hardships and troubles that my
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husband met with in the way. But all this I got over pretty well.
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But a dream that I had of two ill looking ones that I thought
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did plot how to make me miscarry in my journey, that had troubled me
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much. Yea, it still runs in my mind and makes me afraid of
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every one that I meet, lest they should meet me to do me a
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mischief and to turn me out of my way. Yea, I may tell,
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my Lord, though I would not have everybody know of it, that
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between this and the gate by which we got into the way, we were
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both so sorely assaulted that we were made to cry out murder. And the
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two that made this assault upon us were like the two that I saw in
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my dream. Then said the interpreter, thy beginning is good, Thy latter
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end shall greatly increase. So he dressed himself to mercy and said unto her,
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and what moved THEE to come hither? Sweetheart? Mercy. Then Mercy
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blushed and trembled, and for a while continued silent. Interpreter then said he
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be not afraid, only believe and speak thy mind, Mercy. So she
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began and said, truly, sir, my want of experience is that which
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makes me covet to be in silence, and that also that fills me with
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fears of coming short at last. I cannot tell of visions and dreams,
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as my friend Christiana can, nor know I what it is to mourn for
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my refusing the counsel of those that with good relations. Interpreter, what was
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it, then, dear heart, that hath prevailed with THEE to do as
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thou hast done, Mercy? Why, when our friend here was up to
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be gone from our town, I and another went accidentally to see her.
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So we knocked at the door and went in. When we were within,
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and seeing what she was doing, we asked her what was her meaning.
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She said she was sent for to go to her husband, And then she
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up and told us how she had seen him in a dream, dwelling in
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a curious place among immortals, wearing a crown, playing upon a harp,
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eating and drinking at his prince's table, and singing praises to him for bringing
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him thither, et cetera. Now, methought, while she was telling these
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things unto us, my heart burned within me, and I said in my
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heart, if this be true, I will leave my father and my mother
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and the land of my nativity, and will if I may go along with
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Christiana. So I asked her further of the truth of these things, and
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if she would let me go with her. For I saw now that there
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was no dwelling, but with the danger of ruin any longer in our town.
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But yet I came away with a heavy heart. Not for that I
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was unwilling to come away, but for that so many of my relations were
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left behind. And I am come with all the desire of my heart,
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and will go if I may with Christiana. Unto her husband and his king
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interpreter, thy setting out is good, for thou hast given credit to the
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truth. Thou art a ruth who did for the love she bear to Naomi
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and to the Lord her God, lee father and mother, and the land
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of her nativity, to come out and go with a people. She knew
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not Heretofore the Lord recompensed thy work, and a full reward be given thee
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of the Lord, God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to
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trust Ruth. Two eleven and twelve. Now supper was ended, and preparation
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was made for bed. The women were laid singly alone, and the boys
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by themselves. Now, when Mercy was in bed, she could not sleep
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for joy, for that now her doubts of missing at last were removed further
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from her than ever they were before. So she lay blessing and praising God,
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who had such favor for her. In the morning, they arose with
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the sun and prepared themselves for their departure. But the interpreter would have them
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tarry awhile, for said he, you must orderly go from Hence, then
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said he to the damsel that first opened unto them, take them and have
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them into the garden to the bath, and there washed them and make them
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clean from the soil which they had gathered by traveling. Then innocent the damsel
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took them and led them into the garden and brought them to the bath.
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So she told them that there they must wash and be clean. For so
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her master would have the women to do that called at his house as they
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were going on pilgrimage. Then they went in and washed. Yea, they
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and the boys and all. And they came out of that bath not only
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sweet and clean, but also much enlivened and strengthened in their joints. So
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when they came in they looked fairer a deal than when they went out to
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the washing. When they were returned out of the garden from the bath,
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the interpreter took them and looked upon them, and said, unto them,
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fair as the moon. Then he called for the seal wherewith they used to
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be sealed, that were washed in his bath. So the seal was brought,
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and he set his mark upon them, that they might be known in
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the places whither they were yet to go. Now the seal was the contents
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and some of the passover which the children of Israel did eat Exodus thirteen eight
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to ten. When they came out of the land of Egypt, and the
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mark was set between their eyes. This seal greatly added to their beauty,
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for it was an ornament to their faces. It also added to their gravity,
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and made their countenance more like those of angels. Then said the interpreter
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again to the damsel that waited upon these women, go into the vestry and
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fetch out garments for these people. So she went and fetched out white raiment
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and laid it down before him. So he commanded them to put it on.
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It was fine, linen, white and clean. When the women were
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thus adorned, they seemed to be a terror one to the other, for
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that they could not see that glory each one had in herself, which they
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could see in each other. Now, therefore they began to esteem each other
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better than themselves. For you are fairer than I am, said one,
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and you are more comely than I am, said another. The children also
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stood amazed to see into what fashion they were brought. End Part two,
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The second stage.