Saturday, February 15, 2020

Seventh Lesson - Understanding Pilgrim's Progress

SEVENTH LESSON

Great-Heart

After many lessons at the Interpreter’s House, and being washed (baptism), Great-Heart went with them, as protection. P. 233

GREAT-HEART. With all my heart; but first I must premise, that He of whom we are now about to speak is one that has not His fellow. He has two natures in one Person, plain to be distinguished, impossible to be divided. Unto each of these natures a righteousness belongeth, and each righteousness is essential to that nature; so that one may as easily cause the nature to be extinct, as to separate its justice or righteousness from it. P. 234

Later, at Beautiful Palace, Great-Heart went back to the Interpreter’s House. Prudence asked the sons of Christiana basic catechism questions – James, Samuel, and Matthew.

The Two Valleys

They left to enter the Valley of Humiliation and the Valley of the Shadow of Death.

GREAT-HEART. It is true, said their guide, I have gone through this Valley many a time, and never was better than when here. I have also been a conductor to several pilgrims, and they have confessed the same. ‘To this man will I look (saith the King), even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at My Word’ (Isa. 66:2). P. 269

In the second valley, they were pursued by a lion –

The lion also came on apace, and Mr. Great-heart addressed himself to give him battle. But when he saw that it was determined that resistance should be made, he also drew back, and came no further (1 Peter 5:8, 9). P. 271

Honest Blessed the Four Sons and Mercy

HONEST. I have heard much of your husband, and of his travels and wars, which he underwent in his days. Be it spoken to your comfort, the name of your husband rings over all these parts of the world: his faith, his courage, his enduring, and his sincerity under all, has made his name famous. Then he turned him to the boys, and asked them of their names, which they told him. And then said he unto them: Matthew, be thou like Matthew the publican, not in vice, but in virtue (Matt. 10:3). Samuel, said he, be thou like Samuel the Prophet, a man of faith and prayer (Psa. 99:6). Joseph, said he, be thou like Joseph in Potiphar’s house, chaste, and one that flees from temptation (Gen. 39). And James, be thou like James the Just, and like James the brother of our Lord (Acts 1:13, 14). Then they told him of Mercy, and how she had left her town and her kindred to come along with Christiana and with her sons. At that the old honest man said, Mercy is thy name; by Mercy shalt thou be sustained, and carried through all those difficulties that shall assault thee in thy way, till thou shalt come thither, where thou shalt look the Fountain of Mercy in the face with comfort. P. 279

Later, Mercy Married Matthew, Phoebe Married James

Then Samuel whispered to Christiana, his mother, and said, Mother, this is a very good man’s house, let us stay here a good while, and let my brother Matthew be married here to Mercy, before we go any further. The which Gaius the host overhearing, said, With a very good will, my child. So they staid there more than a month, and Mercy was given to Matthew to wife. P. 297

Now, about this time, Matthew and Mercy were married. Also Gaius gave his daughter Phoebe to James, Matthew’s brother, to wife; after which time they yet staid above ten days at Gaius’ house, spending their time, and the seasons, like as pilgrims used to do. P. 303

Two More Marriages, Mnason

Thus they sat talking and spending the time, until supper was set upon the table; unto which they went and refreshed their weary bodies; so they went to rest. Now they stayed in this fair a great while, at the house of this Mr. Mnason, who, in process of time, gave his daughter Grace unto Samuel, Christiana’s son, to wife, and his daughter Martha to Joseph. P. 310

Christiana Crossed the Dark River

Now the day drew on, that Christiana must be gone. So the road was full of people to see her take her journey. But, behold, all the banks beyond the river were full of horses and chariots, which were come down from above to accompany her to the city gate. So she came forth, and entered the river, with a beckon of farewell to those that followed her to the river side. The last words that she was heard to say here, were, I come, Lord, to be with Thee, and bless Thee. P. 342

So her children and friends returned to their place, for that those that waited for Christiana had carried her out of their sight. So she went and called, and entered in at the gate with all the ceremonies of joy that her husband Christian had done before her. At her departure her children wept. But Mr. Great-heart and Mr. Valiant played upon the well-tuned cymbal and harp for joy. So all departed to their respective places. P. 342

The Four Sons and Their Wives

As for Christian’s children, the four boys that Christiana brought with her, with their wives and children, I did not stay where I was till they were gone over. Also, since I came away, I heard one say that they were yet alive, and so would be for the increase of the CHURCH in that place where they were, for a time. Shall it be my lot to go that way again, I may give those that desire it an account of what I here am silent about. Meantime, I bid my reader Adieu.

Concluding Thoughts about The Pilgrim’s Progress

History has already decided that this book has had enormous impact on Western culture, with 2000+ editions, movies, cartoons, free Kindles, children’s editions, modern language editions, and translation. The used book market shows that other works are considered far more valuable, when issued by the same press in the same number – Limited Editions Book Club copies of The Pilgrim’s Progress are priced from $30 to $100. Copies of Moby Dick from the same source are $5,000 on eBay. Both titles were limited to 1500 numbered copies. Muck-raker would buy Moby Dick as an investment, sure to grow in value.

This book is entertaining, with a lot of wry comments about human failings, but also edifying, with its unusual concentration of Biblical material expressed visually with descriptive names of people and short stories about their challenges and losses. I know from German-speaking boys that dramatic stories and transparent names are easy to remember and repeat – Struwwelpeter is an example. Caspar-Suppe would not eat his soup, so he shriveled up. They laughed at the extreme stories. So The Pilgrim’s Progress has lions, giants, swords, and beheadings.

The Pilgrim’s Progress should be read a little at a time, because the lessons are not at the end but on every page. Bunyan’s favoring Luther’s Galatians over any other book except the Bible is clearly evidenced among those who love both works, but not by those who have read neither one.