The Children's Hour Volume V Part 3

_Prud._ Can you remember by what means you find your annoyances at times, as if they were vanquished?

_Chr._ Yes, when I think what I saw at the Cross, that will do it; and when I look upon my broidered Coat, that will do it; also when I look into the Roll that I carry in my bosom, that will do it; and when my thoughts wax warm about whither I am going, that will do it.

_Prud._ And what is it that makes you so desirous to go to Mount _Zion_?

_Chr._ Why, there I hope to see him alive that did hang dead on the Cross; and there I hope to be rid of all those things that to this day are in me an annoyance to me; there, they say, there is no death; and there I shall dwell with such Company as I like best. For to tell you truth, I love him, because I was by him eased of my Burden, and I am weary of my inward sickness; I would fain be where I shall die no more, and with the Company that shall continually cry, _Holy, Holy, Holy_.

Then said _Charity_ to _Christian_, Have you a family? Are you a married man?

_Chr._ I have a Wife and four small Children.

_Char._ And why did you not bring them along with you?

_Chr._ Then _Christian_ wept, and said, Oh, how willingly would I have done it, but they were all of them utterly averse to my going on Pilgrimage.

_Char._ But you should have talked to them, and have endeavoured to have shewen them the danger of being behind.

_Chr._ So I did, and told them also what G.o.d had shewed to me of the destruction of our City; but I seemed to them as one that mocked, and they believed me not.

_Char._ And did you pray to G.o.d that he would bless your counsel to them?

_Chr._ Yes, and that with much affection; for you must think that my Wife and poor Children were very dear unto me.

_Char._ But did you tell them of your own sorrow, and fear of destruction? For I suppose that destruction was visible enough to you.

_Chr._ Yes, over, and over, and over. They might also see my fears in my countenance, in my tears, and also in my trembling under the apprehension of the Judgment that did hang over our heads; but all was not sufficient to prevail with them to come with me.

_Char._ But what could they say for themselves, why they came not?

_Chr._ Why, my Wife was afraid of losing this World, and my Children were given to the foolish Delights of youth: so what by one thing, and what by another, they left me to wander in this manner alone.

_Char._ But did you not with your vain life, damp all that you by words used by way of persuasion to bring them away with you?

_Chr._ Indeed I cannot commend my life; for I am conscious to myself of many failings therein: I know also, that a man by his conversation may soon overthrow, what by argument or persuasion he doth labour to fasten upon others for their good. Yet this I can say, I was very wary of giving them occasion, by any unseemly action, to make them averse to going on Pilgrimage. Yea, for this very thing they would tell me I was too precise, and that I denied myself of things (for their sakes) in which they saw no evil. Nay, I think I may say, that if what they saw in me did hinder them, it was my great tenderness in sinning against G.o.d, or of doing any wrong to my Neighbour.

_Char._ Indeed _Cain_ hated his Brother, because his own works were evil, and his Brother's righteous; and if thy Wife and Children have been offended with thee for this, they thereby shew themselves to be implacable to good, and thou hast delivered thy soul from their blood.

Now I saw in my Dream, that thus they sat talking together until supper was ready. So when they had made ready, they sat down to meat.

Now the Table was furnished with fat things, and with Wine that was well refined: and all their talk at the Table was about the LORD of the Hill; as namely, about what HE had done, and wherefore HE did what HE did, and why HE had builded that House: and by what they said, I perceived that he had been a _great Warriour_, and had fought with and slain him that had the power of Death, but not without great danger to himself, which made me love him the more.

For, as they said, and as I believe (said _Christian_), he did it with the loss of much blood; but that which put Glory of Grace into all he did, was, that he did it out of pure love to his Country. And besides, there were some of them of the Household that said they had seen and spoke with him since he did dye on the Cross; and they have attested that they had it from his own lips, that he is such a lover of poor Pilgrims, that the like is not to be found from the East to the West,

They moreover gave an instance of what they affirmed, and that was, He had stript himself of his glory, that he might do this for the Poor; and that they heard him say and affirm, That he would not dwell in the Mountain of _Zion_ alone. They said moreover, that he had made many Pilgrims Princes, though by nature they were Beggars born, and their original had been the Dunghill.

Thus they discoursed together till late at night; and after they had committed themselves to their Lord for protection, they betook themselves to rest. The Pilgrim they laid in a large upper chamber, whose window opened towards the Sun-rising; the name of the chamber was _Peace_, where he slept till break of day; and then he awoke and sang,--

"Where am I now? Is this the love and care Of Jesus for the men that Pilgrims are Thus to provide! That I should be forgiven!

And dwell already the next door to Heaven!"

So in the morning they all got up, and after some more discourse, they told him that he should not depart till they had shewed him the _Rarities_ of that place. And first they had him into the Study, where they shewed him Records of the greatest Antiquity; in which, as I remember my Dream, they shewed him first the _Pedigree_ of the Lord of the Hill, that he was the Son of the Ancient of Days, and came by an Eternal Generation. Here also was more fully recorded the Acts that he had done, and the names of many hundreds that he had taken into his service; and how he had placed them in such Habitations that could neither by length of Days, nor decaies of Nature, be dissolved.

Then they read to him some of the worthy Acts that some of his Servants had done: as, how they had subdued Kingdoms, wrought Righteousness, obtained Promises, stopped the mouths of Lions, quenched the violence of Fire, escaped the edge of the Sword; out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, and turned to flight the Armies of the _Aliens_.

Then they read again in another part of the Records of the house, where it was shewed how willing their Lord was to receive into his favour any, even any, though they in time past had offered great affronts to his Person and proceedings. Here also were several other Histories of many other famous things, of all which _Christian_ had a view; as of things both Ancient and Modern; together with Prophecies and Predictions of things that have their certain accomplishment, both to the dread and amazement of Enemies, and the comfort and solace of Pilgrims.

The next day they took him and had him into the Armory, where they shewed him all manner of Furniture, which their Lord had provided for Pilgrims, as Sword, Shield, Helmet, Brestplate, _All-prayer_, and Shooes that would not wear out. And there was here enough of this to harness out as many men for the service of their Lord as there be Stars in the Heaven for mult.i.tude.

They also shewed him some of the Engines with which some of his Servants had done wonderful things. They shewed him _Moses'_ Rod; the Hammer and Nail with which _Jael_ slew _Sisera_; the Pitchers, Trumpets, and Lamps too, with which _Gideon_ put to flight the Armies of _Midian_. Then they shewed him the Oxes goad wherewith _Shamger_ slew six hundred men. They shewed him also the Jaw-bone with which _Samson_ did such mighty feats. They shewed him moreover the Sling and Stone with which _David_ slew _Goliath_ of _Gath_; and the Sword also with which their Lord will kill the Man of Sin, in the day that he shall rise up to the prey. They shewed him besides many excellent things, with which _Christian_ was much delighted. This done, they went to their rest again.

Then I saw in my Dream, that on the morrow he got up to go forwards, but they desired him to stay till the next day also; and then, said they, we will (if the day be clear) shew you the Delectable Mountains, which, they said, would yet further add to his comfort, because they were nearer the desired Haven then the place where at present he was.

So he consented and staid. When the morning was up, they had him to the top of the House, and bid him look South; so he did: and behold at a great distance he saw a most pleasant Mountainous Country, beautified with Woods, Vinyards, Fruits of all sorts, Flowers also; Springs and Fountains, very delectable to behold. Then he asked the name of the Country. They said it was _Immanuel's Land_; and it is as common, said they, as this _Hill_ is, to and for all the Pilgrims. And when thou comest there, from thence, said they, thou maist see to the gate of the Coelestial City, as the Shepheards that live there will make appear.

Now he bethought himself of setting forward, and they were willing he should: but first, said they, let us go again into the Armory. So they did; and when they came there they harnessed him from head to foot with what was of proof, lest perhaps he should meet with a.s.saults in the way. He being therefore thus acoutred, walketh out with his friends to the Gate, and there he asked the Porter if he saw any Pilgrims pa.s.s by. Then the Porter answered, Yes.

[Ill.u.s.tration: NOW HE BETHOUGHT HIMSELF OF SETTING FORWARD, AND THEY WERE WILLING HE SHOULD: BUT FIRST, SAID THEY, LET US GO AGAIN INTO THE ARMORY. SO THEY DID; AND WHEN THEY CAME THERE THEY HARNESSED HIM FROM HEAD TO FOOT WITH WHAT WAS OF PROOF, LEST PERHAPS HE SHOULD MEET WITH a.s.sAULTS IN THE WAY. HE BEING THEREFORE THUS ACOUTRED, WALKETH OUT WITH HIS FRIENDS TO THE GATE, AND THERE HE ASKED THE PORTER IF HE SAW ANY PILGRIMS Pa.s.s BY]

_Chr._ Pray, did you know him?

_Por._ I asked his name, and he told me it was _Faithful_.

_Chr._ O, said _Christian_, I know him; he is my Townsman, my near Neighbour, he comes from the place where I was born. How far do you think he may be before?

_Por._ He has got by this time below the Hill.

_Chr._ Well, said _Christian_, good Porter, the Lord be with thee, and add to all thy blessings much increase, for the kindness that thou hast shewed to me.

Then he began to go forward; but _Discretion_, _Piety_, _Charity_, and _Prudence_ would accompany him down to the foot of the Hill. So they went on together, reiterating their former discourses, till they came to go down the Hill. Then said Christian, As it was difficult coming up, so (so far as I can see) it is dangerous going down. Yes, said _Prudence_, so it is, for it is an hard matter for a man to go down into the Valley of _Humiliation_, as thou art now, and to catch no slip by the way; therefore, said they, are we come out to accompany thee down the Hill. So he began to go down, but very warily; yet he caught a slip or two.

Then I saw in my Dream that these good Companions, when _Christian_ was gone down to the bottom of the Hill, gave him a loaf of Bread, a bottle of Wine, and a cl.u.s.ter of Raisins; and then he went on his way.

CHRISTIAN'S FIGHT WITH APOLLYON

_By John Bunyan_

In this Valley of _Humiliation_, poor _Christian_ was hard put up to it; for he had gone but a little way, before he espied a foul _Fiend_ coming over the field to meet him; his name is _Apollyon_. Then did _Christian_ begin to be afraid, and to cast in his mind whither to go back or to stand his ground. But he considered again that he had no Armour for his back, and therefore thought that to turn the back to him might give him greater advantage with ease to pierce him with his Darts. Therefore he resolved to venture and stand his ground. For, thought he, had I no more in mine eye then the saving of my life, 't would be the best way to stand.

So he went on, and _Apollyon_ met him. Now the Monster was hidious to behold; he was cloathed with scales like a Fish (and they are his pride); he had wings like a Dragon, and out of his belly came Fire and Smoak; and his mouth was as the mouth of a Lion. When he was come up to _Christian_, he beheld him with a disdainful countenance, and thus began to question with him.

_Apol._ Whence come you? and whither are you bound?

_Chr._ I come from the City of _Destruction_, which is the place of all evil, and am going to the City of _Zion_.

_Apol._ By this I perceive thou art one of my Subjects, for all that Country is mine, and I am the Prince and G.o.d of it. How is it then that thou hast run away from thy king? Were it not that I hope thou maiest do me more service, I would strike thee now at one blow to the ground.

_Chr._ I was born indeed in your dominions, but your service was hard, and your wages such as a man could not live on, _for the Wages of Sin is death_; therefore when I was come to years, I did as other considerate persons do, look out, if perhaps I might mend myself.