Today's chapter is a transition chapter, consisting mainly of a conversation between Christian and Hopeful about another Pilgrim who is otherwise not in the story.
The chapter begins with our Pilgrims walking along, when to their left, another path merges into their own, and that path comes from the Country of Conceit. Along that path comes another pilgrim, Ignorance. Just as Formality and Hypocrisy did earlier, this character thinks he can just saunter onto the Path without going in through the gate. Christian asks, "But how do you think you'll get in at the gate? For you may find some difficulty there." Ignorance answers, "As other people do." "But what do you have to show at that gate in order for it to be opened to you?" "I know my Lord's will, and I've lived a good life. I pay every man what I owe him; I pray, fast, pay tithes, and give offerings; and I've left my country to go where I'm now going."
Christian tells Ignorance that he will be considered a thief and a robber when the day of reckoning comes. Ignorance shrugs off the rebuke, saying, "Gentlemen, you are absolute strangers to me. I don't know you. Be content to follow the religion of your country, and I will follow that of mine. I hope all will be well. And as for the Gate that you talk about, all the world knows that it's a great distance away from our country. I can't imagine that anyone in all our parts even so much as knows the way to it. Nor does it matter whether they do or not since, as you see, we have a fine pleasant green lane coming down from our country the next way into it."
Christian whispers to Hopeful, "There is more hope for a fool than for him". They decide to walk ahead and leave Ignorance alone. They'll talk to him again later, if he can stand it.
As they all continue, they enter a dark lane, and come upon a man bound with seven strong cords, being carried by seven evil spirits to the door they saw in the side of the hill in the previous chapter [the door to Hell]. Christian tries to see if he can recognize the man, perhaps he is Turn Away from the Town of Apostasy but the face is shrouded, but as they all pass each other, Hopeful can read on his back a paper which says, "Wanton professor and damnable apostate".
Now Christian and Hopeful start talking about another Pilgrim who walked this way earlier, named Little Faith, from the Town of Sincere. Little Faith sat down to rest and fell asleep. Three hoodlums happened to come down the path, Faint Heart, Mistrust, and Guilt; and with threatening language, Faint Heart ordered him to stand and hand over his money. Little Faith was slow to respond, and Mistrust runs up pulls a bag of silver out of the victim's pocket. Little Faith cries out "Thieves! Thieves!" and Guilt knocks him out with a blow to the head. The thieves hear someone coming, and thinking it might be Great Grace from the City of Good Confidence, they run off. Little Faith eventually comes to, and struggles on.
Little Faith had not lost everything he owned, however. He still had some Jewels and his Certificate, by good providence. All of his spending money was gone, as he did not dare part with the Jewels, so for the duration of his journey to Celestial City, he was forced to beg to keep himself alive.
Hopeful says that it was a good thing that the Thieves did not take Little Faith's certificate, but Christian replies that Little Faith should have taken care to use it more often (when Christian got his at the Cross, he was told to read it regularly and take comfort from it). Indeed, for the rest of Little Faith's journey, he rarely looks at his Certificate, being so upset over the loss of his money. He is so upset in fact, that his conversation from that point on is full of complaints of his loss.
Hopeful then asks Christian why Little Faith could not have sold or pawned his Jewels. Christian replies that in the country where he was robbed, the Jewels were of no importance, but if Little Faith had not had them when he reached Celestial City, he would have been excluded from an inheritance. "But Little Faith -- though it was his lot to have only a little faith -- was kept by his little faith from such wastefulness and made to see and prize his Jewels more than to sell them as Esau did his birthright..."
Hopeful then comments on the character of the three robbers and asks why Little Faith did not respond with a greater heart. Christian tells him it is easy to talk that way apart from the event "and should they appear to you as they did to him, they might cause you second thoughts." Also, they serve under the King of the Abyss, who will come to their aid if called, so dealing with them is no trivial matter. Christian tells of an encounter he himself had (which is not otherwise mentioned in the book) and how he survived only being clothed with proven armor. Hopeful replies that the robbers ran off when they supposed that Great Grace was coming, and Christian agrees, but also says, "All the King's subjects are not His champions, nor when tried can they do such feats of war as he. Is it right to think that a little child should handle Goliath as David did, or that there should be the strength of an ox in a bird? Some are strong; some are weak. Some have great faith; some have little. This man was one of the weak, and therefore, he was pressed to the walls." Christian also replies that even for Great Grace, a fight with these robbers and their king would provide quite a challenge, and "Whoever looks close upon Great Grace's face will see those scars and cuts there that will easily demonstrate what I say..."
Christian also tells Hopeful to not be overconfident and to never desire to meet with an enemy nor "brag as if we could better when we hear of others who have been foiled..." He tells of Peter who "would stand up for his Master more than all men. But who was so foiled and run down by these villains as he?" "Therefore, when we hear that such robberies are committed on the King's Highway, it behooves us to do two things; First -- to go out equipped, and to be sure to take a shield with us;.....Second, it's also good that we desire of The King that He give us an escort. Yes, that He go with us himself...."
Thoughts on this chapter
Ignorance represents the belief that any religion is as good as any other. He practices good works, but has not entered the gate. Even though he claims to "know my Lord's will", he has no idea who the Lord is. We will spend more time with him later.
Little Faith is robbed by Faint Heart, Mistrust, and Guilt, and loses all his spending money. His journey is made more difficult, and with much complaining, but he does not sell his inheritance, and he continues on the way. Guilt can still waylay us, even though our sins have been forgiven. It can interfere with our walk with God if we let it fester. Remember what Christ did for you and claim that forgiveness again. If you've been holding out from God on some disobedience, confess it and get right with Him. If you're holding resentments against someone else, forgive it and let it go.
Christian tells us to be prepared; carry a shield. The shield of course, is our faith as Paul says in Ephesians 6. We also need a sword, the word of God, to provide an offensive weapon in our spiritual warfare. We also need an escort, provided by the Lord Himself. He, of course, is the Holy Spirit, who indwells the believer, leading and guiding us, and making our way straight. In Part 2 of The Pilgrim's Progress, which we will be covering soon, our second set of Pilgrims will have an actual escort on their journey.
And one more thought: Having just a little faith doesn't condemn you -- it may make your Christian discipleship a bit more difficult for you (and for those around you), but it doesn't mean that God doesn't love you any less, or is concerned for you any less. That love is great, marvelous, and steadfast. It is not dependent on the size of your faith.
Oh, how great is Your goodness, Which You have laid up for those who fear You, Which You have prepared for those who trust in You In the presence of the sons of men! You shall hide them in the secret place of Your presence From the plots of man; You shall keep them secretly in a pavilion From the strife of tongues. Blessed be the LORD, For He has shown me His marvelous kindness in a strong city! For I said in my haste, "I am cut off from before Your eyes"; Nevertheless You heard the voice of my supplications When I cried out to You. Oh, love the LORD, all you His saints! For the LORD preserves the faithful, And fully repays the proud person. Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart, All you who hope in the LORD. Psalm 31:19-24 NKJVPosted by joelfuhrmann at March 28, 2003 12:15 AM