Christian proceeds with difficulty due to the burden on his back. The path is bordered by a wall called Salvation. Soon he reaches a place which is somewhat elevated. Up above him is a Cross, at the bottom is a Tomb. As Christian approaches the Cross, his burden comes off his back, and rolls down into the Tomb, and is seen no more. Christian stops to look at the Cross for a while, surprised that the sight of it should relieve his burden in this way. "He has given me rest from my sorrow and life through His death." As he continues to look at the Cross, he begins to weep. Three angels appear to him, and say "Peace be to you!". One says "Your sins are forgiven", the second one strips off the rags he is wearing and clothes him with rich garments, and the third sets a mark on his forehead and gives him a Document with a seal on it. Christian is instructed to look at the Document as he continues and to present it at the Celestial Gate. Christian leaps for joy and continues on the path, singing a song of praise and thanksgiving.
At the bottom of the hill, he sees three men with shackles on their feet, fast asleep a little way off the path. They are named Simple, Sloth, and Presumption. He tries to wake them, but they disregard his warnings of danger. Christian decides they are not worth the trouble and continues alone.
As Christian is pondering the three lazy fools, he sees two men Formality and Hypocrisy climb over the wall. Christian asks where they are from and where they are going. They reply in unison, "We were born in the Land of Boasting and we're going to Mount Zion for praise." Christian asks why they didn't come in at the Gate. They reply that it is too far for them to come in that way; that people from their country just find a shortcut and climb over the wall, as they had done. Christian asks if it wouldn't be considered a trespass to enter the Path that way, but the two men say that they don't worry about such details, as theirs is an established tradition, done for over a thousand years. Such traditions would surely be admitted as a legal thing by an impartial judge. "And besides," they say, "if we get into the pathway, what does it matter which way we get in? If we're in, we're in. You're in the Way--as we understand--by just coming in at the Gate, and we're also in the Way by coming over the Wall. How is your condition better than ours?"
Christian warns them that the Lord of the Way considers them to be thieves, and says he doubts that they will be found worthy at the end of the Way. They have nothing to say to this, but just advise Christian to take care of himself. They then go on in silence, except that the men soon tell Christian that they are just as conscientious to keep laws and ordinances as Christian is. Then they say, "we don't see how you differ from us except for the coat on your back, it was probably given to you by some of your friends to hide the shame of your nakedness."
Christian then replies, "You'll not be saved by laws and ordinances since you didn't come in through the Door. And as for this coat on my back, it was given to me by the Ruler of the place where I'm going. And, as you say, it is for the purpose of covering my nakedness. Furthermore, I take it as a token of His kindness toward me; for I had on nothing but rags before. And besides, as I go, I comfort myself with the thought that when I come to the gate of the City, the Ruler of the City will easily recognize me since I have this coat on my back--a coat He freely gave me the day He stripped me of my rags. In addition, I have a mark in my forehead, which perhaps you haven't noticed. One of my Lord's closest associates placed it there the day my burden fell off my shoulders. Furthermore, I'll tell you I was given a sealed Document to comfort me by reading it as I travel in the Way. I was also instructed to present it at the Celestial Gate as a token of the certainty of my entrance. I doubt you even want all these things, since you didn't come in through the Gate."
Formality and Hypocrisy have no response except to look at each other and laugh. Christian continues the journey in front, talking with them no more. He often reads his Document, and is renewed by it.
Thoughts on this chapter
Bunyan places the Place of Deliverance apart from the Gate because he wants to emphasize that those who are newly-born-again may not understand the workings of the Cross, even though they are saved. Christian carries the burden of his sin even past the Interpreter's house, and the burden comes off his back, through no effort of his own, once he sees the Cross. He then understands what price was paid to free him of his sin.
The scripture reference for being clothed with a fine coat is Zechariah 3:1-5. The scripture reference for the Document with the seal is Ephesians 1:13-14. "Bunyan draws attention to the work and presence of the Holy Spirit with his reference to both the seal placed upon Christian's forehead and the sealed document given to him." (from the footnotes by L. Edward Hazelbaker)
Formality and Hypocrisy represent those who disregard the Cross of Christ, who believe that following rules, traditions, or ceremony will suffice just as well. Now this isn't to say that traditions and rules are inherently wrong; just that they are meaningless unless one begins with the Cross.
Posted by joelfuhrmann at March 13, 2003 10:37 PM