When we ended Chapter 7, Christian was facing the prospect of passing the two lions ahead of him at the top of the Hill of Difficulty. Having lost several hours due to an untimely nap, and losing his Document and having to retrieve it, he was now proceeding in twilight, and wondering if he might have to face the lions in the dark. Looking up he sees a magnificent palace.
Christian proceeds toward the palace, and soon sees the lions in the path. Christian pauses, afraid to continue, and seriously considers turning back. A voice calls out from up ahead, "Is your strength so small? Don't fear the lions, for they're chained. They're placed there for the trial of faith, to find out where it is and to reveal those who have none. Stay in the middle of the path, and no injury will come to you." The voice comes from the Porter, whose name is Watchful. Christian heeds the Porter's advice and walks, trembling, past the lions, who roar at him but cannot touch him.
Christian arrives at the gate where the Porter is, and asks about the house and if he can stay. The Porter says that the house was built by the Lord of the Hill for the safety and security of pilgrims. The Porter asks Christian the nature of his business, his name, and why he is arriving so late. The Porter calls a beautiful and serious-looking girl, Discretion from the house, and tells her about Christian and asks her to talk with him and deal with him according to the laws of the house. Discretion asks Christian for all the details of his journey, which he supplies, and then she calls for three more members of her family to join the conversation, Prudence, Piety, and Charity. At this point he is invited to come into the house, meeting several other members of the Family at the threshhold. While they are waiting for supper, Piety asks Christian all sorts of questions: his reasons for becoming a pilgrim, how he found the way, about the house of the Interpreter, the Cross and the shining individuals who gave him the Document and his coat, about his journey. Prudence then takes up the questioning: whether he thinks of his old country, the things he left behind, why he is going to Mount Zion. Charity then asks him about the family he left behind, why they weren't going on the pilgrimage with him, and what sort of witness Christian provided for them.
Supper is served, and it is the girls' turn to tell Christian of the Lord of the Hill, what He did, why He did it, and why He had built the house. They described Him as a great warrior who fought with and slayed the one who had the power of death, and did it by shedding a great deal of blood. Some in the Household said they had seen and spoken with Him since He died on the Cross. They also said that He had stripped Himself of His glory to serve the Poor, that He would not live in the Mountain of Zion alone, and that He had made many Pilgrims into princes even though they came from humble origins. They talk into the night, and then Christian is shown to his room where he retires for the night.
The next day Christian is led to see all the excellent things stored in the house. Christian is led into the study where he is shown records of great antiquity showing the lineage of the Lord of the Hill, how he was the Son of the Ancient of Days. He is shown the accounts of the Lord's acts and the acts of hundreds whom He had taken into His service. They read records both ancient and modern, together with records of deeds past, and prophecies and predictions of things that are certain to be fulfilled.
The next day Christian is led to the Armory where they show him all kinds of equipment that the Lord has provided for Pilgrims. Christian sees the Sword, Shield, Helmet, Breastplate, Prayers, and Shoes that will not wear out. There is enough equipment to serve as many people as there are stars in the sky. They also show him weapons of times past: Moses' Staff, the jars, trumpets, and torches used by Gideon to vanquish the armies of Midian, the sling and stone used by David to slay Goliath.
The next day, Christian is ready to travel on, but the Family desires him to stay yet another day to show him the Delightful Mountains. He is led to the top of the house, and told to look south. He sees a pleasant looking mountainous region, "made beautiful with woods, vineyards, fruits of all kinds, flowers, springs, and fountains." Christian asks the name of the country, and is told that it is called Immanuel's Land, and it is just as common for Pilgrims to walk there as it is for them to walk on this hill (the Hill of Difficulty), and when he gets there he will be able to see the gate of Celestial City.
Now Christian is ready to go, but first he is taken to the Armory and outfitted with armor and a sword so that he would be prepared in the event he might be assaulted in the Way. At the Porter's gate, he asks the Porter if any other Pilgrims have passed this way. Christian is told of another Pilgrim just ahead of him, named Faithful. Christian recognizes him as a former neighbor from his old city, and asks how far ahead he is; apparently Christian desires to catch up with him. He is told that Faithful is not too far ahead. Discretion, Piety, Charity, and Prudence accompany Christian to the foot of the hill, continuing their previous discussions. Christian notes that it is just as dangerous going down as it was going up. Prudence replies that it is very difficult to go down into the Valley of Humiliation without losing one's footing, therefore they are accompanying him. Christian loses his footing a couple of times, but they reach the bottom of the hill safely, where Christian is given bread, wine, and raisins to sustain him and then he proceeds from there alone.
Thoughts on this chapter
The lions are chained! They present no danger to Christian as long as he stays in the middle of the path, though at first he could not see the chains. He is fortunate that someone called out to him to proceed. Did that voice advise Fearful and Mistrust as well, but not penetrate their fear? Perhaps there are people calling out for us to proceed in our walk with God in spite of the lions we face. Are you listening to them?
The palace Beautiful is the Church. Christian is offered fellowship here, but not before being presented with questioning, showing that while the Church's mission is to minister and encourage, it is also up to the Church to exercise discretion and examine the sincerity of the traveler. The Apostle Paul faced such discretion after his conversion. The study represents the Bible and all its lessons for us, as well as all the historical records of Christians who have traveled before us. The Armory represents the armor of God as described by Paul in Ephesians 6:10-18.
Posted by joelfuhrmann at March 16, 2003 09:41 PM