Our party of Pilgrims head off from the Gate walking along a walled path. On the other side of the wall is Beezebub's land, on which several trees grow, whose branches hang over the path. Christiana's boys jump up and grab some of the fruit from the trees and eat. Christiana rebukes them for stealing what isn't theirs, but she does not stop them in time. (We will see consequences of their actions later, but not today).
Continuing on, they encounter two men who assault the women, and the women cry out. Since they are still close to the Gate, some individuals come out and find the men in a great scuffle with Christiana and Mercy. The boys are nearby, powerless to intervene. The man coming to help them attempts to take the ruffians, but they escape and climb over the wall. The author notes that the dog which threatened the Pilgrims now becomes their (the bad guys') protector.
The Reliever then asks the women how they are, and they say they are alright. The Reliever then says that he is amazed that they did not ask for a Guide to assist them in their journey. Christiana says she did not know they would face danger so soon, but since it would have been good to have a Guide, she wonders why one was not sent with them. The Reliever says that it is not necessary to grant that which is not asked for "lest by doing so, they become of little value." Christiana asks if they should go back and ask for a Guide, but the Reliever says that will not be necessary, for in all of the Lord's lodgings there are sufficient things there to equip them with everything they need.."But as I said, He will be asked of them to do it for them, and it is a worthless thing that is not worth asking for."
They continue on their journey, and Mercy expresses amazement that they have faced such violent danger so soon. Christiana says that she should have recognized the danger. The men were similar in appearance to the two she saw in her dream back in Chapter 20, the two who were wondering how to thwart her pilgrimage before she received her invitation from the King.
As they continue, they come to the house of the Interpreter (compare with Chapter 5). They stop at the door, and hear people inside talking about Christiana. The news has gone forth that she is on pilgrimage, and the Interpreter's household is rejoicing at the news. Christiana knocks at the door, and a young girl, Innocent answers. She asks who is calling, and Christiana identifies herself and her party. The girl is overjoyed, and rushes in to announce the visitors. The Interpreter comes to the door, and welcomes them into the home.
In the house, they are shown the same images which were shown to Christian earlier, plus some additional ones. They are shown an image of a man holding a muckrake [a muckrake is a rake used for moving heavy, moist earth, most usually mixed with manure. -Hazelbaker]. Above his head, an individual holds a celestial crown and offers to trade the man the crown for his muckrake. The man does not look up or regard it, but continues to rake the straw, sticks, and dust of the ground. This is a figure of a man of this world, and the muckrake shows his sinful mind. The fact that he disregards the one calling from above shows that Heaven is only a fable to some and that things here are accounted the only things substantial.
They are then led to a fine room of the house, and told to look for anything profitable there. They see nothing, but are asked to look again. Mercy then sees an ugly spider hanging by its hands upon the opposite wall. When asked if there is only one, they notice that there is indeed more than one spider, and venomous ones at that. This shows that no matter how much one is infected with the venom of sin, one may still lay hold of and dwell in the best room which belongs to the King's house above.
They are then led into a room with a hen and chicks, and asked to observe for a while. They see a chick drinking water, and as it drinks it lifts its head and eyes up to heaven. They note the way the hen takes care of her chicks. She has a fourfold manner-- first, she has a common call, and she has this all day long; second, she has a special call, only used occasionally; third, a brooding call; and fourth, an outcry of alarm. The King has a similar manner with His people: a common call by which He gives nothing; a special call by which He always has something to give; a brooding voice for those under His wing; and finally an outcry when He sees the enemy come.
They are then led into a room where a butcher is killing a sheep. The sheep is quiet, taking its death patiently. They are reminded to learn from the sheep to suffer and to put up with wrongs without murmurings and complaints. "Your King calls you His Sheep."
They are led outside to a flower bed full of many flowers; some more spectacular than others, yet there are no complaints heard from them, nor do they argue with one another.
They are then led to a field of grain, from which the tops have all been cut off so that only the straw remains. Christiana asks what should be done with the crop. She answers, "Burn some of it, and make compost of the rest". The Interpreter notes that fruit is the thing to be looked for, and for the lack of it, the field is condemned to be burned or be trodden under foot by men. "Beware that in this you don't condemn yourselves."
They are shown a robin with a spider in its mouth. Christiana notes that she is not used to seeing a robin this way, she is used to seeing them feed on crumbs of bread or other harmless matter. "I don't like him as much as I did." She is told that the robin is an emblem very suited to be likened to some professors of faith, who are pretenders in that they frequent the house of the godly and the appointments of the Lord, but when they're by themselves, they can gobble up spiders like the robin.
They are then led into dinner, where they are presented with many proverbs before dinner is served. A sampling of those presented in the book:
"He who lives in sin and looks for happiness thereafter is like him who sows cockleburs and thinks to fill his barn with wheat or barley."
"If a man intends to live well, let him fetch his last day to himself and make it always his companion."
"Whispering and change of mind prove that sin is in the world."
Dinner is served, and the Interpreter engages Christiana and Mercy in conversation. He asks Christiana about her motivation for her pilgrimage, and she tells of her feelings for her husband, her dream, and the invitation she received. The Interpreter asks her about opposition from her city, and she tells how Mrs. Fearful tried to talk her out of coming. She tells of their assault on the way to the Interpreter's house, and he notes that their beginning has been good, and their latter end will greatly increase. He asks Mercy about her pilgrimage, and Mercy again answers timidly, and states that her lack of experience makes her desire to be silent; she cannot talk of dreams and visions, she has none to talk about. The Interpreter presses on her for her reason for coming, and Mercy states that her heart burned within her as she listened to Christiana defend her reasons for pilgrimage against Mrs. Fearful. Mercy decided then that if Christiana would accept her as a companion, she would accompany her on the pilgrimage. The Interpreter gives her a special blessing, "Your leaving is good, for you've given credit to the truth. You're a Ruth, who for the love she had for Naomi and the Lord her God left father, mother, and the land of her birth to leave and go with a people whom she didn't know before. 'May the Lord repay you for what you have done. May you be richly rewarded by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge.' Ruth two, twelve"
Supper is over, and everyone goes to bed, but Mercy has trouble sleeping because of her joy, for her doubts are removed from her farther than ever before.
The next day, they prepare to go, but Innocent is told to take them to the garden for a final Bath, where they are all washed, then given a special Seal on their forehead, and given new garments. The Interpreter calls a manservant of his, Great Heart, and tells him, "Take Sword, Helmet, and Shield; and these, my daughters, and guide them to the house called Beautiful, where they will next rest."
Thoughts on this chapter
God knows our needs before we pray, yet He still wants us to pray, and ask Him for what we need. Why? So we will have a thankful heart and not take Him for granted. Christiana neglects to ask for a guide, yet a guide would have been handy so close to Beelzebub's castle. Don't try the Christian walk alone. We have help from God available, ask for it. Also seek fellowship in a God-fearing Church, where He is worshipped in Spirit and truth.
Mercy finally seems to understand that she is accepted by the King. She has no vision, no dream, to support her decision to come on the pilgrimage, but she finally understands that she is welcomed by the King. Many of us have no special conversion experiences, no shouting, no crying; just a simple, yet sincere, prayer of repentance and asking for God's forgiveness. Don't let the lack of feeling mislead you to think your prayer wasn't heard. Jesus does not turn anyone away.
Posted by joelfuhrmann at April 8, 2003 11:08 PM