Part two, the seventh stage. Well, the time grew on that the
Pilgrims must go on their way. Wherefore they prepared for their journey. They
sent for their friends. They conferred with them they had some time set a
part therein to commit each other to the protection of their prince. There were
again that brought them of such things as they had that were fit for the
weak and the strong, for the women and the men, and so laded
them with such things as were necessary Acts twenty eight ten. Then they set
forward on their way, and their friends accompanying them so far as was convenient.
They again committed each other to the protection of their king, and parted.
They therefore that were of the Pilgrim's company went on, and mister Greatheart
went before them. Now, the women and children, being weakly, they
were first to go as they could bear, by which means mister Ready to
Halt and mister Feeblemind had more to sympathize with their condition. When they were
gone from the townsmen, and when their friends had bid them farewell, they
quickly came to the place where Faithful was put to death. Therefore they made
a stand and thanked him that had enabled him to bear his cross so well,
and the rather because they now found that they had a benefit by such
a manly suffering as his was. They went on therefore after this a good
way further, talking of Christian and Faithful, and how Hopeful joined himself to
Christian, after that Faithful was dead. Now they came up with the hill
Lucre, where the silver mine was, which took Damis off from his pilgrimage,
and into which, as some think, Bayennes fell, And wherefore they
considered that. But when they were come to the old monument that stood over
against the hill Lucre, to wit to the pillar of salt that stood also
within view of Sodom and its stinking lake, they marveled, as did Christian
before, that men of such knowledge and ripeness of wit as they were,
should be so blinded as to turn aside. Here. Only they considered again
that nature is not affected with the harms that others have met with, especially
if that thing upon which they look has an attracting virtue upon the foolish eye.
I saw now that they went on till they came to the river that
was on this side of the delectable mountains, to the river where the fine
trees grow on both sides, and whose leaves, if taken inwardly, are
good against surfeits. Where the meadows are green all the year long, and
where they might lie down safely Psalm twenty three. By this riverside in the
mountains there were coats and folds for sheep, a house built for the nourishing
and bringing up of those lands the babes of those women that go on pilgrimage.
Also there was here one that was entrusted with them, who could have
compassion, and that could gather these lands with his arm, and carry them
in his bosom, and gently lead those that were with young Hebrews five two
Isaiah forty eleven. Now to the care of this man. Christiana admonished her
four daughters to commit their little ones, that by these waters they might be
housed, harbored, succored, and nourished, that none of them might be
lacking in time to come. This man, if any of them go astray
or be lost, will bring them again. He will also bind up that
which is broken, and will strengthen them that are sick. Jeremiah twenty three
four Ezekiel thirty four eleven to sixteen. Here there will never want meat,
drink, and clothing. Here there will be kept from thieves and robbers,
For this man will die before one of those committed to his trust shall be
lost. Besides, here they shall be sure to have good nurture and admonition,
and shall be taught to walk in right paths, And that you know,
is a favor of no small account. Also here, as you see,
are delicate waters, pleasant meadows, dainty flowers, variety of trees,
and such as bear wholesome fruit. Fruit not like that which Matthew ate off,
nor fell over the wall out of Beelzebeb's garden, but fruit that procureth
health where there is none, and that continueth and increaseth it where it is.
So, they were content to commit their little ones to him, And
that which was all so an encouragement to them so to do was for that
all this was to be at the charge of the king. And so was
an hospital to young children in orphans. Now they went on, and when
they were come to buy path meadow to the style over which Christian went with
his fellow hopeful, when they were taken by giant despair and put into doubting
castle, they sat down and consulted what was best to be done to wit.
Now they were so strong, and had got such a man as mister
Greatheart for their conductor, whether they had not best to make an attempt upon
the giant demolish his castle, and if there were any pilgrims in it,
to set them at liberty before they went any further. So one said one
thing, and another said the contrary. One questioned if it was lawful to
go about unconsecrated ground. Another said they might, provided their end was good.
But mister Greatheart said, though that assertion offered last cannot be universally true.
Yet I have a commandment to resist sin, to overcome evil, to
fight the good fight of faith. And I pray with whom should I fight
this good fight? If not with giant despair. I will therefore attempt the
taking away of his life and the demolishing of doubting castle. Then said he
who will go with me? Then said old honest I will, And so
will we too, said Christiana's four sons, Matthew, Samuel, Joseph,
and James, for they were young men and strong, first John two thirteen
and fourteen. So they left the women in the road and with them,
mister Feeble Mind and mister Ready to halt with his crutches to be their guard
until they came back, For in that place the giant Despair dwelt so near
they being in the road, a little child might lead them Isaiah eleven six.
So mister Greatheart, old Honest, and the four young men went to
go up to Doubting Castle to look for Giant Despair. When they came at
the castle gate, they knocked for entrance with an unusual noise. At that
the old giant comes to the gate, and diffidence his wife follows. Then
said he who and what is he that is so hardy as after this manner
to molest the giant despair. Mister Greatheart replied, it is I, Greatheart,
one of the king of the celestial Country's conductors of pilgrims to their place.
And I demand of thee that thou open thy gates for my entrance.
Prepare thyself also to fight, for I am come to take away thy head
and to demolish Doubting Castle. Now giants, because he was a giant,
thought no man could overcome him. And again thought he, since heretofore I
have made a conquest of angels, shall Great Heart make me afraid? So
he harnessed himself and went out. He had a cap of steel upon his
head, a breastplate of fire girded to him, and he came out in
iron shoes with a great club in his hand. Then these six men made
up to him and beset him behind. And before also when Diffidence the giantest
came up to help him, old mister Honest cut her down at one blow.
Then they fought for their lives, and Giant Despair was brought down to
the ground, but was very loath dye. He struggled hard and hard,
as they say, as many lives as a cat. But great Heart was
his death, for he left him not till he had severed his head from
his shoulders. Then they felt a demolishing, doubting car So and that you
know, might with ease be done. Since Giant Despair was dead. There
were seven days in destroying of that and in it of pilgrims. They found
one mister Despondency, almost starved to death, and one much afraid his daughter.
These two they saved alive. But it would have made you wonder to
have seen the dead bodies that lay here and there in the castle yard,
and how full of dead men's bones the dungeon was. When mister Greatheart and
his companions had performed this exploit, they took mister Despondency and his daughter,
much afraid, into their protection, for they were honest people, though they
were prisoners in doubting castle. So that tyrant giant despair. They, therefore,
I say, took with them the head of the giant, for his
body they had buried under a heap of stones, and down to the road,
and to their companion they came and showed them what they had done.
Now, when feeble mind and ready to halt, saw that it was the
head of giant despair. Indeed, they were very jocund and merry. Now
Christiana, if need was, could play upon the viol and her daughter Mercy
upon the lute. So since they were so merry disposed, she played them
a lesson, and ready to halt, would dance. So he took Despondency's
daughter, much afraid, by the hand, and to dancing they went in
the road. True, he could not dance without one crutch in his hand,
but I promise you he footed it well. Also, the girl was
to be commended, for she answered the music handsomely. As for mister Despondency,
the music was not so much to him. He was for feeding rather
than dancing. For that he was almost starved. So Christiana gave him some
of her bottle of spirit for present relief, and then prepared him something to
eat. And in the little time the old gentleman came to himself and began
to be finely revived. Now I saw in my dream, when all these
things were finished, mister Greatheart took the head of Giant Despair and set it
upon a pole by the highwayside, right over against the pillar that Christian erected
for a caution to pilgrims that came after to take heed of entering into his
grounds. Then he writ under it upon a marble stone these verses following,
This is the head of him whose name only in former times did pilgrims terrify
his castles down and diffidence. His wife brave, mister Greatheart has bereft of
life, Despondency, his daughter much afraid great Heart for them. Also the
man has played who hereof doubts. If Hilbert cast his eye up hither may
his scruple satisfy this head. Also, when doubting cripples dance, thus show
from fears, they have deliverance. When these men had thus bravely showed themselves
against doubting castle, and had slain great giant despair, they went forward and
went on till they came to the selectable 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 mister Greatheart,
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 mister Greatheart replied, First, here is Christiana, and
her train has sons and her son's 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 is old Honest, come on pilgrimage,
ready to halt. Two who I dare engage? True heart it is,
and so is feeble Mind, who willing was not to be left behind.
Despondency good man is come after, and so also is much afraid his
daughter. May we have entertainment here, or must we further go? Let's
know where on to trust, Then said the shepherds, this is a comfortable
company. You are welcome to us, for we have for the feeble as
well as for the strong. Our Prince has an eye to what is done
to the least of these. Therefore infirmity must not be a block to our
entertainment Matthew twenty five forty. So they had them to the palace door,
and then said unto them, come in, mister feeble mine, come in,
mister Reddy to halt, come in, mister despondency, and missus much
afraid his daughter. These, mister Greatheart, 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 wanted liberty. Then said mister Greatheart, 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 to the palace with flowers, as
you should, Ezekiel, thirty four twenty one. So the feeble and weak
went in, and mister Greatheart and the rest did follow. When they were
also set down, the shepherds said to those of the weaker sort, what
is it that you would have? For? Said they, all things must
be managed here to the supporting of the week, as well as to 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, through 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 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 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 mister 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
should meet with by faith Mark eleven, twenty three and twenty four. Then
said mister Greatheart, I know him. He is a man above many.
Then they had them to another place called Mount Innocence, 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 a 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 liveth innocently in the world, whoever they
be that would make such men dirty. They labor all than vain for God,
by that a little time is spent or 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 nevertheless, then said they, what should this be? This
is, said the shepherds, to show you that he who has a heart
to give of his labor to the poor shall never want, wherewithal he that
water with shall be watered himself. And the cake that the widow gave to
the prophet did not cause that she had the less in her barrel. They
had them also to the place where they saw one fool and one want wit
washing in Ethiopian, with intention to make him white. But the more they
washed him, the blacker he was. Then they asked the shepherds what that
should mean. So they told them, saying, thus it is with the
vile person. All means used to get such a 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 bye way to hell. So her mother broke her mind to the
shepherds. Then they went to the door. It was on the side of
an hill, and they opened it and bid Mercy hearken. Awhile, so
she hearkened, and heard one saying, cursed be my father for holding of
my feet back from the way of peace and life. 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 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 shown 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 married 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 which I cannot take
my mind. If therefore I have it not, I think I shall miscarry.
Then said her mother, I will mention thy wants to the shepherds,
and they will not deny 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 features
exactly, and turn it but another way, and it would show one the
very face and similitude of the Prince of Pilgrims himself. Yes, 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, his feet, and his side.
YEA, such an excellency is there in this glass, that it will
show him to one where they have a mind to see him, whether living
or dead, whether in earth or in heaven, whether in a state of
humiliation or in his exaltation, whether coming to suffer or coming to reign James
one twenty three, First Corinthians thirteen twelve, Second Corinthians three eighteen. Christiana
therefore went to the birds apart. Now the names of the shepherds were 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 that 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 sincea 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 favor in your
eyes. They also gave to the other young women such things as they desired,
and to their husband's great commendations, for that they had joined with mister
Greatheart in the slaying of Giant Despair and the demolishing of Doubting Castle. About
Christiana's neck the shepherds put a bracelet, and so did they 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
when the danger was neither 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 was the advantage that
this company had over the other. From thence 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?
End Part two, The seventh Stage