The Children's Hour Volume V Part 2

_Man._ G.o.d hath denied me repentance: his Word gives me no encouragement to believe; yea, himself hath shut me up in this Iron Cage; nor can all the men in the world let me out. O Eternity!

Eternity! how shall I grapple with the misery that I must meet with in Eternity!

_Inter._ Then said the _Interpreter_ to _Christian_, Let this man's misery be remembred by thee, and be an everlasting caution to thee.

_Chr._ Well, said _Christian_, this is fearful; G.o.d help me to watch and be sober, and to pray that I may shun the cause of this man's misery. Sir, is it not time for me to go on my way now?

_Inter._ Tarry till I shall shew thee one thing more, and then thou shalt go on thy way.

So he took _Christian_ by the hand again, and led him into a Chamber, where there was one rising out of bed; and as he put on his Rayment, he shook and trembled. Then said _Christian_, Why doth this man thus tremble? The _Interpreter_ then bid him tell to _Christian_ the reason of his so doing. So he began and said, This night, as I was in my sleep, I dreamed, and behold the Heavens grew exceeding black; also it thundered and lightned in most fearful wise, that it put me into an Agony; so I looked up in my Dream, and saw the Clouds rack at an unusual rate, upon which I heard a great sound of a Trumpet, and saw also a Man sit upon a Cloud, attended with the thousands of Heaven; they were all in flaming fire, also the Heavens was on a burning flame. I heard then a voice saying, _Arise ye Dead, and come to Judgement_; and with that the Rocks rent, the Graves opened, and the Dead that were therein came forth. Some of them were exceeding glad, and looked upward; and some sought to hide themselves under the Mountains. Then I saw the Man that sat upon the Cloud open the Book, and bid the World draw near. Yet there was, by reason of a fierce Flame which issued out and came from before him, a convenient distance betwixt him and them, as betwixt the Judge and the Prisoners at the bar. I heard it also proclaimed to them that attended on the Man that sat on the Cloud, _Gather together the Tares, the Chaff, and Stubble, and cast them into the burning Lake._ And with that, the bottomless pit opened, just whereabout I stood; out of the mouth of which there came in an abundant manner, Smoak and Coals of fire, with hideous noises. It was also said to the same persons, _Gather my Wheat into my Garner_. And with that I saw many catch't up and carried away into the Clouds, but I was left behind. I also sought to hide myself, but I could not, for the Man that sat upon the Cloud still kept his eye upon me: my sins also came into my mind; and my Conscience did accuse me on every side. Upon this I awaked from my sleep.

_Chr._ But what was it that made you so afraid of this sight?

_Man._ Why, I thought that the day of Judgement was come, and that I was not ready for it: but this frighted me most, that the Angels gathered up several, and left me behind; also the pit of h.e.l.l opened her mouth just where I stood: my Conscience too within afflicted me; and as I thought, the Judge had always his eye upon me, shewing indignation in his countenance.

Then said the _Interpreter_ to _Christian_, Hast thou considered all these things?

_Chr._ Yes, and they put me in hope and fear.

_Inter._ Well, keep all things so in thy mind that they may be as a Goad in thy sides, to p.r.i.c.k thee forward in the way thou must go. Then Christian began to gird up his loins, and to address himself to his Journey. Then said the _Interpreter_, The Comforter be always with thee, good _Christian_, to guide thee in the way that leads to the City. So _Christian_ went on his way, saying--

Here I have seen things rare and profitable; Things pleasant, dreadful, things to make me stable In what I have began to take in hand; Then let me think on them, and understand Wherefore they shew'd me was, and let me be Thankful, O good Interpreter, to thee.

AT THE HOUSE BEAUTIFUL

_By John Bunyan_

Behold there was a very stately Palace before him, the name of which was _Beautiful_; and it stood just by the High-way side.

So I saw in my Dream that he made haste and went forward, that if possible he might get Lodging there. Now before he had gone far, he entered into a very narrow pa.s.sage, which was about a furlong off of the Porter's lodge; and looking very narrowly before him as he went, he espied two Lions in the way. Now, thought he, I see the dangers that _Mistrust_ and _Timorus_ were driven back by. (The Lions were chained, but he saw not the chains.) Then he was afraid, and thought also himself to go back after them, for he thought nothing but death was before him: But the Porter at the lodge, whose name is _Watchful_, perceiving that _Christian_ made a halt as if he would go back, cried unto him, saying, Is thy strength so small? Fear not the Lions, for they are chained, and are placed there for trial of faith where it is, and for discovery of those that have none. Keep in the midst of the Path, and no hurt shall come unto thee.

Then I saw that he went on, trembling for fear of the Lions, but taking good heed to the directions of the Porter; he heard them roar, but they did him no harm. Then he clapt his hands, and went on till he came and stood before the Gate where the Porter was. Then said _Christian_ to the Porter, Sir, what House is this? and may I lodge here to-night? The Porter answered, This House was built by the Lord of the Hill, and he built it for the relief and security of Pilgrims.

The Porter also asked whence he was, and whither he was going?

_Chr._ I am come from the City of _Destruction_, and am going to Mount _Zion_; but because the Sun is now set, I desire, if I may, to lodge here to-night.

_Por._ What is your name?

_Chr._ My name is now _Christian_, but my name at the first was _Graceless;_ I came of the race of _j.a.phet_, whom G.o.d will perswade to dwell in the Tents of _Shem_.

_Por._ But how doth it happen that you come so late? The Sun is set.

_Chr._ I had been here sooner, but that, wretched man that I am! I slept in the _Arbour_ that stands on the Hillside; nay, I had notwithstanding that been here much sooner, but that in my sleep I lost my Evidence, and came without it to the brow of the Hill; and then feeling for it, and finding it not, I was forced with sorrow of heart to go back to the place where I slept my sleep, where I found it, and now I am come.

_Por._ Well, I will call out one of the Virgins of this place, who will, if she likes your talk, bring you in to the rest of the Family, according to the rules of the house. So _Watchful_ the Porter rang a bell, at the sound of which came out at the door of the house, a grave and beautiful Damsel named _Discretion_, and asked why she was called.

The Porter answered, This man is in a Journey from the City of _Destruction_ to Mount _Zion_, but being weary and benighted, he asked me if he might lodge here to-night; so I told him I would call for thee, who, after discourse had with him, mayest do as seemeth thee good, even according to the Law of the House.

Then she asked him whence he was, and whither he was going; and he told her. She asked him also, how he got into the way; and he told her. Then she asked him what he had seen and met with in the way; and he told her. And last she asked his name; so he said, It is _Christian_; and I have so much the more a desire to lodge here to-night, because, by what I perceive, this place was built by the Lord of the Hill, for the relief and security of Pilgrims. So she smiled, but the water stood in her eyes; and after a little pause, she said, I will call forth two or three more of the Family. So she ran to the door, and called out _Prudence_, _Piety_, and _Charity_, who after a little more discourse with him, had him in to the Family; and many of them, meeting him at the threshold of the house, said, Come in, thou blessed of the Lord; this house was built by the Lord of the Hill, on purpose to entertain such Pilgrims in. Then he bowed his head, and followed them into the house. So when he was come in and set down, they gave him something to drink, and consented together, that until supper was ready, some of them should have some particular discourse with _Christian_, for the best improvement of time; and they appointed _Piety_, and _Prudence_, and _Charity_ to discourse with him; and thus they began:--

_Piety._ Come, good _Christian_, since we have been so loving to you, to receive you into our house this night, let us, if perhaps we may better ourselves thereby, talk with you of all things that have happened to you in your Pilgrimage.

_Chr._ With a very good will, and I am glad that you are so well disposed.

_Piety._ What moved you at first to betake yourself to a Pilgrim's life?

_Chr._ I was driven out of my Native Country, by a dreadful sound that was in mine ears, to wit, That unavoidable destruction did attend me, if I abode in that place where I was.

_Piety._ But how did it happen that you came out of your Country this way?

_Chr._ It was as G.o.d would have it; for when I was under the fears of destruction, I did not know whither to go; but by chance there came a man, even to me, as I was trembling and weeping, whose name is _Evangelist_, and he directed me to the Wicket-gate, which else I should never have found, and so set me into the way that hath led me directly to this house.

_Piety._ But did you not come by the House of the _Interpreter_?

_Chr._ Yes, and did see such things there, the remembrance of which will stick by me as long as I live; specially three things: to wit, How Christ, in despite of Satan, maintains his work of Grace in the heart; how the Man had sinned himself quite out of hopes of G.o.d's mercy; and also the Dream of him that thought in his sleep the day of Judgement was come.

_Piety._ Why, did you hear him tell his Dream?

_Chr._ Yes, and a dreadful one it was. I thought it made my heart ake as he was telling of it; but yet I am glad I heard it.

_Piety._ Was that all that you saw at the House of the _Interpreter_?

_Chr._ No, he took me and had me where he shewed me a stately Palace, and how the people were clad in Gold that were in it; and how there came a venturous man and cut his way through the armed men that stood in the door to keep him out, and how he was bid to come in, and win eternal Glory. Methought those things did ravish my heart; I could have stayed at that good man's house a twelve-month, but that I knew I had further to go.

_Piety._ And what saw you else in the way?

_Chr._ Saw! Why, I went but a little further, and I saw one, as I thought in my mind, hang bleeding upon the Tree; and the very sight of him made my Burden fall off my back (for I groaned under a weary Burden), but then it fell down from off me. 'Twas a strange thing to me, for I never saw such a thing before; yea, and while I stood looking up (for then I could not forbear looking) three s.h.i.+ning Ones came to me. One of them testified that my sins were forgiven me; another stript me of my Rags, and gave me this broidred Coat which you see; and the third set the Mark which you see, in my forehead, and gave me this sealed Roll (and with that he plucked it out of his bosom).

_Piety._ But you saw more then this, did you not?

_Chr._ The things that I have told you were the best; yet some other matters I saw, as namely I saw three men, _Simple_, _Sloth_, and _Presumption_, lye asleep a little out of the way as I came, with Irons upon their heels; but do you think I could awake them? I also saw _Formalist_ and _Hypocrisie_ come tumbling over the wall, to go, as they pretended, to _Sion_; but they were quickly lost; even as I myself did tell them, but they would not believe. But, above all I found it hard work to get up this Hill, and as hard to come by the Lion's mouths; and truly if it had not been for the good man, the Porter that stands at the Gate, I do not know but that after all I might have gone back again; but now I thank G.o.d I am here, and I thank you for receiving of me.

Then _Prudence_ thought good to ask him a few questions, and desired his answer to them.

_Prud._ Do you not think sometimes of the Country from whence you came?

_Chr._ Yes, but with much shame and detestation: Truly, if I had been mindful of that Country from whence I came out, I might have had opportunity to have returned; but now I desire a better Country, that is, an Heavenly.

_Prud._ Do you not yet bear away with you some of the things that then you were conversant withal?

_Chr._ Yes, but greatly against my will; especially my inward and carnal cogitations, with which all my countrymen, as well as myself, were delighted; but now all those things are my grief; and might I but chuse mine own things, I would chuse never to think of those things more; but when I would be doing of that which is best, that which is worst is with me.

_Prud._ Do you not find sometimes, as if those things were vanquished, which at other times are your perplexity?

_Chr._ Yes, but that is seldom; but they are to me golden hours in which such things happen to me.