The Pilgrim's Progress - Part Two
The Author's Way of Sending Forth His Second Part
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With the Shepherds of the Delectable Mountains
When these men had thus bravely showed themselves against Doubting Castle, and had
slain Giant DESPAIR, they went forward; and went on till they came to the Delectable
Mountains, where CHRISTIAN and HOPEFUL refreshed themselves with the varieties of
the place. They also acquainted themselves with the shepherds there; who welcomed
them, as they had done CHRISTIAN before, unto the Delectable Mountains.
Now the shepherds seeing so great a train follow Mr. GREAT-HEART (for with him they
were well acquainted), they said unto him, "Good sir, you have got a goodly
company here; pray where did you find all these?"
Then Mr. GREAT-HEART replied:
"First, here's CHRISTIANA and her train:
Her sons, and her sons' wives; who, like the wain,
Keep by the pole, and do by compass steer
From sin to grace, else they had not been here.
Next, here's old HONEST come on pilgrimage.
READY-TO-HALT too, who, I dare engage,
True hearted is: and so is FEEBLE-MIND,
Who willing was not to be left behind.
DESPONDENCY, good man is coming after;
And so also is MUCH-AFRAID, his daughter.
May we have entertainment here, or must
We farther go? let's know whereon to trust."
Shepherds. Then said the shepherds, "This is a comfortable company: you
are welcome to us, for we have for the feeble as for the strong; our Prince has an
eye to what is done to the least of these.
"And the King shall answer and say unto
them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least
of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me."
~ Matthew 25:40 ~
Therefore infirmity must not be a block to our entertainment."
So they had them to the palace door, and then said unto them, "Come in, Mr.
FEEBLE-MIND; come in, Mr. READY-TO-HALT; come in, Mr. DESPONDENCY, and Mrs. MUCH-AFRAID,
his daughter. These, Mr. GREAT-HEART," said the shepherds to the guide, "we
call in by name; for that they are most subject to draw back: but as for you, and
the rest that are strong, we leave you to your wonted liberty." Then said Mr.
GREAT-HEART, "This day I see that grace doth shine in your faces, and that you
are my Lord's shepherds indeed; for that you have not pushed these diseased neither
with side nor shoulder, but have rather strewed their way into the palace with flowers,
as you should".
"Because ye have thrust with side and with
shoulder, and pushed all the diseased with your horns, till ye have scattered them
abroad;"
~ Ezekiel 34:21 ~
So the feeble and weak went in; and Mr. GREAT-HEART and the rest did follow. When
they were also set down, the shepherds said to those of the weakest sort, "What
is it that you would have? for," said they, "all things must be managed
here to the supporting of the weak, as well as the warning of the unruly."
So they made them a feast of things easy of digestion, and that were pleasant to
the palate, and nourishing; the which, when they had received, they went to their
rest, each one respectively unto his proper place. When morning was come, because
the mountains were high and the day clear, and because it was the custom of the shepherds
to show to the pilgrims, before their departure, some rarities; therefore, after
they were ready, and had refreshed themselves, the shepherds took them out into the
fields, and showed them first what they had shown to CHRISTIAN before.
Then they had them to some new places. The first was to Mount Marvel; where they
looked, and beheld a man at a distance that tumbled the hills about with words. Then
they asked the shepherds what that should mean. So they told them that that man was
the son of one GREAT-GRACE, of whom you read in the first part of the records of
the "Pilgrim's Progress "; and he is set there to teach pilgrims how to
believe down, or to tumble out of their ways, what difficulties they shall meet with,
by faith.
"For verily I say unto you, That whosoever
shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and
shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith
shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. Therefore I say unto you,
What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them,
and ye shall have them."
~ Mark 11:23 ~
Then said Mr. GREAT-HEART, "I know him; he is a man above many."
Then they had them to another place, called Mount Innocent; and there they saw a
man clothed all in white, and two men, PREJUDICE and ILL-WILL, continually casting
dirt upon him. Now, behold, the dirt, whatsoever they cast at him, would in little
time fall off again; and his garment would look as clear as if no dirt had been cast
thereat.
Then said the pilgrims, "What means this?" The shepherds answered, "This
man is named GODLY-MAN; and this garment is to show the innocency of his life. Now
those that throw dirt at him are such as hate his well doing; but, as you see, the
dirt will not stick upon his clothes: so it shall be with him that lives truly innocently
in the world. Whoever they be that would make such men dirty, they labour all in
vain; for God, by that a little time is spent, will cause that their innocence shall
break forth as the light, and their righteousness as the noonday."
Then they took them, and had them to Mount Charity, where they showed them a man
that had a bundle of cloth lying before him, out of which he cut coats and garments
for the poor that stood about him; yet his bundle or roll of cloth was never the
less.
Then said they, "What should this be?" "This is," said the shepherds,
"to show you that he that has a heart to give of his labour to the poor shall
never want wherewithal. He that waters shall be watered himself. And the cake that
the widow gave to the prophet did not cause that she had ever the less in her barrel."
They had them also to a place where they saw one FOOL and one WANT-WIT washing of
a filthy man with intention to make him clean; but the more they washed him the dirtier
he became. They then asked the shepherds what that should mean. So they told them,
saying, "Thus shall it be with the vile person; all means used to get such one
a good name shall, in conclusion, tend but to make him more abominable. Thus it was
with the Pharisees; and so it shall be with all hypocrites."
Then said MERCY, the wife of MATTHEW, to CHRISTIANA, her mother, "Mother,
I would, if it might be, see the hole in the hill; or that commonly called the By-way
to Hell." So her mother brake her mind to the shepherds. Then they went to the
door; it was in the side of a hill, and they opened it, and bid MERCY hearken awhile.
So she hearkened; and heard one saying, "Cursed be my father for holding my
feet back from the way of peace and life"; and another said, "Oh that I
had been torn in pieces before I had, to save my life, lost my soul"; and another
said, "If I were to live again, how would I deny myself rather than come to
this place!" Then there was as if the very earth had groaned and quaked under
the feet of this young woman for fear; so she looked white, and came trembling away,
saying, "Blessed be he and she that is delivered from this place."
Now when the shepherds had showed them all these things, then they had them back
to the palace, and entertained them with what the house would afford; but MERCY,
being a young and breeding woman, longed for something that she saw there, but was
ashamed to ask. Her mother-in-law then asked her what she ailed, for she looked as
one not well. Then said MERCY, "There is a looking glass hangs up in the dining
room, off of which I cannot take my mind; if, therefore, I have not, I think I shall
miscarry." Then said her mother, "I will mention thy wants to the shepherds;
and they will not deny it thee." But she said, "I am ashamed that these
men should know that I longed." "Nay, my daughter," said she, "it
is no shame but a virtue to long for such a thing as that;" so MERCY said, "Then,
mother, if you please, ask the shepherds if they are willing to sell it."
Now the glass was one of a thousand. It would present a man, one way, with his own
feature exactly; and turn it but another way, and it would show one of the very face
and similitude of the Prince of pilgrims himself. Yea, I have talked with them that
can tell; and they have said, that they have seen the very crown of thorns upon his
head by looking in that glass; they have therein also seen the holes in his hands,
in his feet, and his side. Yea, such an excellency is there in that glass, that it
will show him to one where they have a mind to see him-- whether living or dead;
whether in earth or heaven; whether in a state of humiliation or in his exaltation;
whether coming to suffer or coming to reign.
"For if any be a hearer of the word, and
not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:"
~ James 1:23 ~
"For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in
part; but then shall I know even as also I am known."
~ 1 Corinthians 13:12 ~
"But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are
changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of
the Lord."
~ 2 Corinthians 3:18 ~
CHRISTIANA, therefore, went to the shepherds apart (now the names of the shepherds
are KNOWLEDGE, EXPERIENCE, WATCHFUL, and SINCERE); and said unto them, "There
is one of my daughters, a breeding woman, that I think doth long for something that
she hath seen in this house; and she thinks she shall miscarry if she should by you
be denied."
Experience. "Call her, call her; she shall assuredly have what we can
help her to." So they called her, and said to her, "MERCY, what is that
thing thou wouldst have?" Then she blushed and said, "The great glass that
hangs up in the dining room." So SINCERE ran and fetched it; and with a joyful
consent it was given her. Then she bowed her head and gave thanks, and said, "By
this I know that I have obtained favour in your eyes."
They also gave to the other young women such things as they desired; and to their
husbands great commendations for that they joined with Mr. GREAT-HEART to the slaying
of Giant DESPAIR and the demolishing of Doubting Castle.
About CHRISTIANA'S neck the shepherds put a bracelet; and so they did about the necks
of her four daughters; also they put earrings in their ears and jewels on their foreheads.
When they were minded to go hence, they let them go in peace; but gave not to them
those certain cautions which before were given to CHRISTIAN and his companion. The
reason was, for that these had GREAT-HEART to be their guide, who was one that was
well acquainted with things; and so could give them their cautions more seasonably,
to wit, even then when the danger was nigh the approaching.
What cautions CHRISTIAN and his companion had received of the shepherds, they had
also lost by that the time was come that they had need to put them in practice. Wherefore
here was the advantage that this company had over the other.
From hence they went on singing; and they said:
"Behold, how fitly are the stages set
For their relief that pilgrims are become;
And how they us receive without one let,
That make the other life our mark and home.
What novelties they have to us they give,
That we, though pilgrims, joyful lives may live;
They do upon us too such things bestow,
That show we pilgrims are where'er we go."
When they were gone from the shepherds, they quickly came to the place where CHRISTIAN
met with one TURN-AWAY, that dwelt in the town of Apostasy. Wherefore of him Mr.
GREAT-HEART their guide did now put them in mind; saying, "This is the place
where CHRISTIAN met with one TURN-AWAY, who carried with him the character of his
rebellion at his back. And this I have to say concerning this man: He would hearken
to no counsel; but once a-falling, persuasion could not stop him.
"For if we sin wilfully after that we have
received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall
devour the adversaries. He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two
or three witnesses: Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought
worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of
the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite
unto the Spirit of grace?"
~ Hebrews 10:26-29 ~
When he came to the place where the cross and the sepulchre was, he did meet with
one that bade him look there; but he gnashed with his teeth, and stamped, and said
he was resolved to go back to his own town. Before he came to the gate, he met with
EVANGELIST, who offered to lay hands on him, to turn him into the way again. But
this TURN-AWAY resisted him; and having done much despite unto him, he got away over
the wall, and so escaped his hand."
The Pilgrim's Progress - Part Two
The Author's Way of Sending Forth His Second Part
of the Pilgrim | 1 | 2 | 3
| 4 | 5 | 6 | 7
| 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23
| 24 | 25 | 26
Back to Pilgrim's Homepage