THE PILGRIM’S PROGRESS
FROM THIS WORLD, TO THAT WHICH IS TO COME
CHAPTER 2
WEEK 1 – WEDNESDAY
Read and pray: “We look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:18)
The Slough of Despond (2)
Pliable went back alone to the city, blaming the mistakes and follies of his two neighbors; the other continued walking through the plain and conversed as follows:
Christian – Friend Pliable, I haven’t asked you yet how you are doing. You can’t imagine how much joy your company brings me. If poor Obstinate felt, as I do, the power and terror of the invisible, and the greatness of the things that await us, he surely would not have left us so lightly.
Pliable – Since we are alone now, tell me what these things are that you’re talking about, how we will enjoy them, and where we are heading.
Christian – It is easier for me to understand them in my mind than to express them with words. However, if you truly want to know what I think, I will read to you from my book.
Pliable – And are you sure the words of that book are true?
Christian – Yes, because its author is the One who cannot lie (Titus 1:2).
Pliable – Very well. Then read to me.
Christian – We are going to inherit a kingdom that will have no end and receive eternal life¹, so that we may possess it forever (Isaiah 65:17; John 10:27-29).
We will be given crowns of glory and garments as radiant as the sun in the firmament (2 Timothy 4:8; Revelation 22:5; Matthew 13:43). There will be no more tears or pain (Isaiah 25:8; Revelation 7:16-17; 21:4), for the Lord of that kingdom will wipe every tear from our eyes.
Pliable – What a magnificent picture! And who will be our companions?
Christian – We will be with the cherubim and seraphim (Isaiah 6:2; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17; Revelation 5:11), creatures of dazzling light; we will also meet thousands upon thousands who went before us, all innocent, lovely, and holy, living eternally in God’s presence.
We will see the elders with their golden crowns (Revelation 4:4), the holy virgins singing sweet hymns accompanied by their golden harps (Revelation 14:1-5), and men who were torn apart by the world, burned at the stake, devoured by beasts or thrown into the depths of the sea because of their love for the Prince of that kingdom; all living happily, clothed with immortality (John 12:25; 2 Corinthians 5:2, 3, 5).
Pliable – Your description delights me! And shall we enjoy all these things? What must we do to partake of them?
Christian – The Lord of the kingdom declares in this book (Isaiah 55:1-2; John 4:37; 7:37; Revelation 16:6; 22:17) the conditions for it; they are summed up in these words: “If we truly desire them, He will grant them to us freely.”
Pliable – Very well, my friend. My heart overflows with joy; let us continue our journey and hasten our steps.
Christian – Unfortunately, I can’t walk as quickly as I would like because of this heavy burden on my back.
As they talked, I saw them come to the edge of a swampy bog in the middle of the plain, into which they fell without seeing it, absorbed as they were in conversation. It was the Slough of Despond. Poor souls! They sank into the mire, and Christian sank deeper and deeper because of his heavy burden.
– Where have we fallen? cried Pliable.
– I don’t know, replied Christian.
– Well then, said Pliable, is this the happiness you spoke of? If our journey begins like this, I don’t foresee a good end to it. But I promise you that if I manage to get out, I will gladly give up my share in that famous country.
And, making an effort, he managed to reach the edge on the side of his house. As soon as he saw himself out of the bog, he ran toward his home, and Christian never saw him again.
Meanwhile, Christian was struggling in the middle of the mire, trying to reach the other side; but the burden he bore hindered him so much that he would undoubtedly have perished if, very providentially, a man named Help had not arrived. He asked him what he was doing there.
Christian – Sir, a man named Evangelist directed me to this path to reach the narrow gate, saying that I would be delivered there from the wrath to come. And while I walked, I fell in here unexpectedly.
Help – All right. But why didn’t you use the stepping-stones that were placed there to cross more easily?
Christian – Such fear seized me that, without paying attention to anything, I took the shortest path and fell into the bog.
Help – Come. Give me your hand.
Christian saw the heavens open. He took Help’s hand, came out of that dreadful place, and once on solid ground, continued on his way, as his deliverer had directed him.
I then approached Help and asked him: — Since this path leads directly from the City of Destruction to that gate, why not improve this place to make it more convenient for poor travelers?
— That is impossible, he replied; it is the bog where the filth and impurities of those heading toward conviction of sin pour in; that’s why it is called the Slough of Despond. When the sinner awakens to the awareness of his guilt and lost state, doubts, fears, and crushing anxieties arise in his soul and collect here. That is why this place is so neglected and so difficult to improve. It is certainly not the King’s will that it remain in such a poor condition (Isaiah 35:3-4).
Many workers, by order of His Majesty and under the direction of his stewards, have, for centuries, done everything possible to improve it. Countless loads of wholesome material have been sent here from all corners of His Majesty’s domain! But despite the opinion of experts who claim these are the best materials for the moral sanitation desired, it has never been possible, and never will be.
The Slough exists and always will! Everything possible has been done. By order of the Lawgiver, strong and solid stones have been placed in the middle of the bog to allow passage; but when the mire is stirred up — which happens whenever the weather changes — it emits mists that blind travelers, and they, not seeing the stones, fall into the bog. What saves them is that when they reach the gate, the ground is already good and firm.
I then saw that Pliable arrived home, and his neighbors rushed to see him. Some called him wise for abandoning the venture in time; others blamed him for being duped by Christian; a few called him a coward, saying that once on the path, he shouldn’t have turned back because of a few small difficulties. Pliable felt dejected and ashamed, but soon recovered, and then all joined in mocking Christian in his absence. And so, I think I won’t have to speak of Pliable again.
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¹ More precisely, in John 10:28 the Lord speaks in the present, not the future: “I give unto them eternal life” – eternal life is the Lord Himself, given immediately to man when he believes.
Enjoy more:
Hymn 161
“Arise, my soul, arise, shake off thy guilty fears”
https://hinario.org/detail.php?tab=1\&mainmp3=admin/Uploaded-mp3-Files/0300.1.voz\_piano.mp3\&id=365
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