THE PILGRIM’S PROGRESS
FROM THIS WORLD, TO THAT WHICH IS TO COME
CHAPTER 8
WEEK 2 - SATURDAY
Read and pray: “But now they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.” (Hebrews 11:16)
Christian at the Beautiful Palace (1)
Piety – Go on. You must have seen something more.
Christian – I have already told you the main and the best. I also met three men, Simple, Sloth, and Presumption, asleep off the road, with chains on their feet, and I tried in vain to wake them up.
Later, I met Hypocrisy and Formalist, who had climbed over the wall, intending to go to Zion; but they were lost shortly afterward because they refused to listen to me. I also found the ascent of the ravine very painful, and even more terrible was the passage between the lions’ mouths. Had it not been for the porter, who encouraged me with his words, I might have turned back. But, thank God, here I am safely, and I thank you for the kind hospitality you have shown me. Prudence then spoke and asked him:
Prudence – Do you sometimes think of the country you left behind?
Christian – Yes, ma’am, though with much reluctance and shame. Had I desired, I could have gone back, for I had plenty of time and opportunity to do so; but I long for a better country, a heavenly one (Hebrews 11:15–16).
Prudence – Do you carry with you anything you were familiar with before leaving?
Christian – I do, ma’am; but very much against my will, especially my carnal thoughts, which were once so pleasing to me and my fellow countrymen. Now, however, all these things are such a burden to me that, if it were up to me, I would never think of them again. Yet, the more I desire to do what is right, the more I end up doing what is wrong (Romans 7:15–21).
Prudence – And don’t you sometimes feel that the things that once embarrassed you almost overcome you again?
Christian – I do, but not often; even so, when that happens, those hours seem like gold to me.
Prudence – And do you remember the means by which you overcome such evils at those times?
Christian – Do I remember? When I meditate on what I saw, and what happened at the Cross; when I look at this embroidered garment; when I rejoice in looking at this certificate, and when I think about what awaits me, if I’m blessed to reach the place I’m headed for, then it seems that those evils, which trouble me so much, all vanish.
Prudence – And why do you so long to reach Mount Zion?
Christian – Oh! because I hope to meet there, alive, the One I recently saw nailed to the cross; I hope, when I arrive there, to be free from what now oppresses me, because death does not enter that place, and I will have the company that pleases me most (Isaiah 25:8; Revelation 21:3–4). I greatly love the One who, through His death, freed me from the burden that weighed me down. My inward weaknesses have troubled me greatly. I desire to reach the country where there will be no more death, and I long to have companions like those who are always singing: Holy, Holy, Holy! Charity then spoke:
Charity – Do you have a family? Are you married?
Christian – I have a wife and four children.
Charity – Then why didn’t you bring them with you?
Christian – (Weeping.) I would have brought them with the best will in the world; but, sadly, all five were opposed to my journey and resisted it with all their strength.
Charity – But surely you should have talked to them and tried to convince them of the danger they were in.
Christian – I did so, also showing them what God had revealed to me concerning the ruin of our city. But they thought I was mad and would not listen to me (Genesis 19:14); I also added fervent prayer to the Lord to that counsel, for I deeply loved my wife and children.
Charity – I suppose you spoke with great earnestness about your sorrow and the fear you had of destruction, for I believe you clearly saw how imminent your ruin was.
Christian – Indeed, I did so, not once, but many times; and my fear was plain to see on my face, in my tears, and in the dread I felt at the thought of the judgment hanging over our heads. But none of it was enough to persuade them to follow me.
Charity – And what reasons did they give for not coming with you?
Christian – My wife feared losing this world, and my children were entirely given to the pleasures of youth; that’s why they let me set out on my journey alone.
Charity – And wasn’t it perhaps you, by your vain life, who made void the counsel you gave them to follow you?
Christian – Truly, I can say nothing in defense of my life, for I know how imperfect it has been, and I also know that a man may undo by his conduct what he tries to teach others by word for their good. But what I can affirm is that I was very careful not to give them any reason, through any improper action, to reject accompanying me on my pilgrimage; so much so that they accused me of being overly strict and of depriving myself, because of them, of things they thought harmless; and I can further say that what they saw in me was my deep concern not to sin against God and not to harm my neighbor.
Charity – It is certain that Cain hated his brother (1 John 3:12), because Abel’s works were good and his own were evil; and that is why your wife and children turned against you; by such behavior, they proved themselves hostile to what is good, and you delivered your soul from their blood (Ezekiel 3:19).
Enjoy more:
Hymn 439 “Family Salvation”
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