THE PILGRIM’S PROGRESS
FROM THIS WORLD, TO THAT WHICH IS TO COME
CHAPTER 15
WEEK 5 – WEDNESDAY
Read and pray: “And I will place on his shoulder the key of the house of David. He shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open.” (Isaiah 22:22)
Christian and Hopeful imprisoned by Giant Despair (2)
But having called upon the Lord, they regain
their freedom through the key of the promises
So, as soon as the giant rose, he took up a dreadful whip and went down to the dungeon. He began by insulting them, calling them dogs, and though they did not reply with anything offensive, he fell upon them and beat them so severely that they could no longer move or even turn from one side to the other on the ground. After doing this, he withdrew, leaving them to their misery and to weep over their misfortune. Thus they spent that day alone, in sobs and bitter lamentation.
The following night, when Distrust heard what had happened, she told her husband that he should advise them to end their own lives.
Morning came. The giant went to the dungeon with the same roughness as the day before, and seeing how much the prisoners suffered from the blows he had given them, he said:
—Since you will never leave this place, the best thing you can do is to end your lives—by the sword, by the rope, or by poison—for truly, how can you endure such a bitter life?
But they pleaded with the giant to let them go on their way.
Despair looked at them angrily and fell upon them with such fury that he surely would have torn them apart had he not been seized by one of his fits, which deprived him of the use of his hands, forcing him to withdraw and leave them alone to their thoughts.
Then they began to deliberate whether it might be better to follow the giant’s advice, and held the following conversation:
Christian —What shall we do, brother? The life we’re living is full of misery, and I don’t know if it’s better to live like this or end it once and for all. My soul prefers death to life, and the grave to this dungeon (Job 7:15). Should we follow the giant’s counsel?
Hopeful —It is true our condition is terrible, and I would prefer death myself if we must remain here forever; however, we must remember that the Lord of the country we are going to said, “You shall not kill,” and if He gave this command regarding others, how much more does it apply to ourselves. Besides, one who kills another only kills the body, but whoever kills himself destroys both body and soul in one blow. Do you speak of the rest of the grave?
Have you forgotten where those who murder go? “Remember that no murderer has eternal life” (1 John 3:15). We must consider that not all authority is in the hands of this giant. I believe others have fallen into his power like we have and yet have escaped.
Who knows whether God, who made the world, might kill this Giant Despair or allow him one day to forget to lock the door, or again be struck by a seizure that prevents him from using his feet? If that should happen, I am determined to act with courage and do all I can to escape from his grasp. I was foolish not to have tried before, but let us be patient and endure a little longer; the time of our deliverance will surely come. Let us not be murderers of ourselves.
With these words, Hopeful was able to calm his brother’s spirit for the moment, and so they passed that day together in darkness, in the most sorrowful state.
Toward evening, the giant came down again to see if the prisoners had taken his advice. Though they had not committed suicide, he found them nearly lifeless, for between their wounds and the lack of food, they were so weakened they could hardly breathe.
Seeing them still alive, the giant grew furious and told them it would have been better had they never been born than to have scorned his advice.
This threat greatly frightened the two prisoners, and Christian nearly fainted. But as they regained a bit of strength, they discussed once again the advice the giant had given them.
Christian seemed inclined to follow it, but Hopeful said:
—Dear brother, have you forgotten the courage you have shown on so many occasions? Apollyon could not defeat you, nor all that you saw, heard, and felt in the Valley of the Shadow of Death. What trials, what terrors, what fears you have overcome! And now, I see only weakness and fear in you. Am I not here in the same prison, I who by nature am much weaker than you? Did the giant not strike me as he did you? Did he not deprive us of bread and water? Do I not lament, as you do, being surrounded by deep darkness? Let us apply a little more patience. Remember the courage you showed at Vanity Fair. Remember how neither chains, nor prison, nor the threat of a terrible death could frighten you. Let us bear our present troubles with patience, as much as we can, to avoid shame.
Thus another day passed. That night, the giant’s wife again asked him about the prisoners, wanting to know if they had followed his advice. He told her they were men without pride or shame, choosing to suffer rather than to take their own lives.
Then she said:
—Tomorrow morning, take them out into the castle courtyard, show them the bones and skulls of those you’ve torn apart, and tell them that within a week, they too shall suffer the same fate.
So it was done. The next morning, the giant brought them to the castle courtyard, according to his wife’s suggestion, and said:
These bones belonged to pilgrims like you, who trespassed in my lands as you have done. I tore them apart when it pleased me, and I will do the same to you in just a few days. Now go back to the dungeon.
He drove them back to the prison door, beating them heavily. There they remained sorrowful all day Saturday, in as pitiful a state as before. At nightfall, the giant again discussed the pilgrims with his wife, wondering why neither beatings nor counsel had defeated them.
—I fear —said the woman— that they are still hoping someone will come and rescue them, or that they may have some false key by which they hope to escape.
—I will search them tomorrow —replied the giant.
It was near midnight on that Saturday when the pilgrims began to pray, and they continued in prayer almost until dawn.
Moments before sunrise, Christian suddenly cried out with great fervor, as if seized with a revelation: What a fool I am to lie here in this dungeon, when I could be enjoying liberty! I have in my bosom a key called Promise, which, I am persuaded, can open any lock in Doubting Castle. —Really? said Hopeful. What wonderful news, brother! Take it out of your bosom and let us try it.
Christian took out the key and tried it on the dungeon door. Moments later, the lock gave way, and the door opened wide with great ease. Christian and Hopeful stepped out.
They reached the outer door to the castle courtyard, which also opened with ease. Then they approached the large iron gate that secured the entire fortress. Though its lock was very strong and complex, they were able to open it with the key. They pushed the gate to flee quickly, but the hinges creaked so loudly that they woke Giant Despair, who immediately rose to pursue them. However, his strength failed him, for he was struck by one of his seizures, which kept him from chasing after them. Meanwhile, they ran, and reached the King’s highway, free from all fear, for they were now beyond the giant’s jurisdiction.
Having crossed the bridge that led to the lands of the castle, they began to reflect on how they might warn others of the danger of falling under the giant’s power. So they agreed to erect a pillar with this inscription at the top: This path leads to Doubting Castle, owned by Giant Despair, who despises the King of the Celestial Country and seeks to destroy His holy pilgrims.
This warning was helpful to many who later came to that place and, reading the inscription, avoided the danger.
And after they erected the pillar, they sang a hymn with words that went something like this: “What a terrible condition we found ourselves in when we left the narrow way! Then we learned what it is to tread forbidden ground. You who follow after us in this pilgrimage, be watchful, learn from our example, and always flee from Doubting Castle, for you will fall into the hands of the dreadful Giant Despair.”
Enjoy more:
Hymn – Prayer – “Waiting on God”
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