by Chris Wright
I turned to look again, but the light still dazzled me.
Then the second figure said, "Christian, your clothes are torn and dirty. I wish my pilgrims to wear clothes that are clean, so I am giving you new ones."
Before I had time to think what to say, my shabby clothes were gone, and I found myself dressed in new clothes from the King.
Then the third figure set the mark of the King on my forehead, and gave me a roll of parchment with a seal on it. He called it a Roll of Faith with the Seal of Promise, and told me to read it and be sure to take care of it, for I would need to show it at the Gates of the Celestial City.
After this, the three went away, leaving me to rub my eyes and think about everything the King had done for me.
I gave three leaps for joy and started singing a song of joy. Surely I had just met the King's Son who took my burden, the King who gave me new clothes, and his Spirit who sealed me with the King's mark. I really was one of the King's own children!
CHAPTER 12
Simple, Sloth and Presumption
I never thought I could feel so happy. I realised I would have started this journey long ago if I'd known how good it was to be a pilgrim. Then I remembered Christiana, and thought what a pity it was that she'd not come with me. But I wondered how she could have managed it anyway, for she had four younger brothers to look after, because her parents were living with the King. And I knew that those four could sometimes be a bit of a handful.
I was walking on with my mind full of these things, when I came across three boys fast asleep by the side of the road, with their ankles bound together with chains. They must have been trapped by a servant of the evil Prince, but didn't seem bothered about it.
The day was hot, and they probably left the path to lie down to rest for a while. I remembered Interpreter's warning, and knew I had to rouse them.
"Get up," I said urgently. "This isn't a safe place. Can't you see someone's fastened your ankles together?"
One of them spoke without even opening his eyes, "I don't see anything to worry about. My name is Simple. Let me have a minute's peace."
But I said, "I'm sure you're in great danger. Quick, let me help you to undo those chains."
The second boy sat up and began to rub his eyes. He looked at me. "My name is Sloth, so what's the use of disturbing me?" he said. "Just go away. We'll be moving along later -- when we've had a good rest."
The third boy said he was called Presumption. He tried to stand up, but because of the chains round his ankles he fell over. "Aren't we allowed to do as we like?" he complained, settling down again. "If we choose to sleep here it's our business, not yours. Get on with your own journey, and don't meddle with other people."
In a few minutes they were all sleeping as soundly as before. I turned away, feeling sorry that they wouldn't listen to me, or believe they were in the power of the evil prince.
At that moment I heard a noise, and saw two boys climbing over the wall. They dropped onto the Way of the King, and ran up to me.
"Where have you come from?" I asked in surprise.
The boys said their names were Formality and Hypocrisy. "We've been living in the land of Vainglory," Formality said. "And now we're starting our journey to the Celestial City to see the King."
"But don't you know you have to come in at the Wicket Gate?" I asked. It wasn't as though I was any sort of expert on this, but I remembered what Evangelist had told me.
"Oh," the boys said, "that Gate is much too far from our country. Everyone cuts across the fields and climbs over the wall."
The more I thought about it, the more certain I was that the King wouldn't want people to start their pilgrimage like this, so I said, "You're wrong. People can't do that."
"Oh, don't you bother about it," they said scornfully "Our people have been doing it for nearly two thousand years. Anyway, does it matter, as long as we're on the right road now? You came in by the Gate, and we came over the wall. Are you in any better place than we are?"
"I still don't think you should have done it," I said.
"That's nonsense," they told me. "We're just as good pilgrims as you are, except that you have such fine clothes -- which likely somebody had to give you, because your own were like rags!"
These words hurt me, and I wanted to be rude back to them. But I'd read in my Book that the King's servants must speak gently, even when angry words are spoken to them.
So I waited a minute, then said quietly, "That's quite true. The King gave me these clothes because my own were indeed like rags. I'm glad he did, because when I get to the Celestial City he'll know I'm one of his pilgrims. And you may not have noticed it, but I have the mark of the King on my forehead, and I have a Roll of Faith to read now and to show at the end of my journey. Do you have any of these?"
The boys laughed and shook their heads.
"That's because you didn't come in at the Gate," I said quietly.
But the boys only laughed again as they walked with me. Soon we came to the foot of a steep hill. A signpost said this was Hill Difficulty, and its finger pointed to a narrow track that ran straight up. The Way of the King, it said. I'd had enough of trying to climb mountains, and hesitated. I could see two smooth paths running around the hill, one on each side. One path was marked Danger and the other had a sign saying Destruction.
The Way of the King looked steep and rocky, but this time I knew I had to take it. A spring of cool water bubbled up in a pool by the wayside. As I felt thirsty, I paused for a refreshing drink before starting the difficult climb.
I looked back to see if Formality and Hypocrisy were following me, but they had already taken the other paths, one going to the right and the other to the left.
"What's the good of climbing up that steep place?" they called to me. "These two paths are much easier. They go round the hill, so we'll join up with the Way of the King again on the other side. We'll see you there."
I wondered how anyone could read the names of those paths, yet still go along them. Surely Formality and Hypocrisy must understand that the only safe path was the one going straight over the hill. Well, they would have known if they'd only taken the trouble to obey the King and begin their pilgrimage in the right way. Formality and Hypocrisy, I thought. Show and Pretence. They were certainly able to put on a show of following the Way of the King when things were easy, and now they thought they were taking a shortcut round the hill.
As I climbed, I looked down to see what was happening to these two. Far from going safely, I could see Formality following his path into a dark forest that seemed to go on for ever. He was unlikely to find his way out, and would probably collapse with hunger and cold.
The path on the other side of the hill, the one Hypocrisy had chosen, looked no safer. It led between two steep cliffs. The last I saw of him, Hypocrisy had slipped and fallen onto some jagged rocks, where he lay without help.
CHAPTER 13
Hill Difficulty
The path up the hill was certainly a hard one. The rough stones and sharp pieces of rock that covered the ground hurt my feet. As it became steeper, the only way I could keep climbing was by going on my hands and knees. The sun shone fiercely, for it was already the middle of the day. As it beat down on my head, I felt hot and tired.
"I'm glad I didn't try to climb this hill yesterday," I said aloud. "I could never have carried my burden up here." Again, I thanked the King's Son aloud that he had taken it from me for ever.
When I was halfway up the hill, the path became easier and I was able to stand up and walk again, and the stones didn't seem quite so sharp. Still, it was hard work climbing, and when I came to a small shelter I felt so glad. A notice said the shelter had been built by order of the King, so his pilgrims could have a place to rest.
I went in and sat down. It felt cool and quiet inside, and I thought I'd take the time to look at my Roll of Faith. I read it for a while, but instead of then making my way to the top of the hill, I sat admiring my new clothes and thinking of ma
ny things, until my eyes closed and I fell asleep.
I didn't wake until the sky was already beginning to grow crimson with the sunset. I thought I heard a voice calling to me not to be lazy, so I jumped up and continued to climb the steep path.
Near the top of the hill I met two boys running down towards me. When they saw me, they stopped.
"What's the matter?" I asked. "You're running the wrong way."
"My name is Timorous," cried the larger of the two, shaking with fear. "We were going to the Celestial City, but the farther we go, the more danger we find. So we're going home. This is my friend, Mistrust."
"Yes," Mistrust told me, "we've just seen two enormous lions lying on the path. We don't know if they're asleep or not, but I'm sure if we try to pass them they'll rip us to pieces."
This made me frightened, and I said, "What shall I do?"
"Why, come back with us, of course," Timorous said in surprise. "You can't be so foolish as to go anywhere near those great beasts."
"I don't know," I replied. "If I go back, I'll never see the King."
"Well, you certainly won't see him if you go on," Mistrust told me. "Those lions will kill you, that's for sure."
Would they? Evangelist and Goodwill and Interpreter had all told me that although I might often be frightened and in trouble, the King would help me and take care of me. "I'm not going back," I said. "The lions might be asleep. Come on, let's all go together and see."
"Not us," Timorous and Mistrust cried. "We're going home, and hope we can get there safely."
So they ran back down the hill, and left me to go on my way.
I couldn't help being worried, and I said to myself, "I'll look at my Roll of Faith, and see if there's anything in it about these lions."
But when I put my hand in my pocket the Roll wasn't there, and though I felt all through my clothes I couldn't find it anywhere.
I remembered how I'd been warned to take care of the Roll, for I would need to show it at the Gate of the Celestial City.
"I can't go on without it," I said aloud. "What can I do?"
I felt really scared.
CHAPTER 14
The House Beautiful
I soon forgot about the lions, and could only think how careless I'd been in losing the most precious of the King's gifts. Then I remembered the small shelter where I'd spent the afternoon. Perhaps the Roll had fallen there. I had jumped up so quickly that maybe I'd not seen it fall.
"Oh, how could I be so foolish?" I cried, dropping down on my knees and asking the King to forgive me. "I ought to have rested there only a little while, and I wasted so much time. Now it will be dark before I reach the top of the hill."
I turned round and went back, looking carefully everywhere along the path in case I'd dropped my Roll of Faith on the Way. At last I reached the shelter, and there on the floor, just under the bench where I'd been sitting, I saw my lost treasure.
Quickly I picked it up, thanking the King out loud for letting me find it. But going back for the Roll had delayed me, and although I climbed back up the steep path as quickly as I could, the sun had set before I reached the top.
"It's my own fault," I said aloud. "If I'd thought more about the King, and less about my new clothes, I would never have lost it. I'm sorry," I said, dropping to my knees again. "I was thinking about the gift and not the Giver."
Then I remembered the lions, and wondered how far I was from them. I knew that these savage beasts were likely to prowl about in search of prey during the darkness, and as the shadows grew deeper and deeper round me, I felt even more anxious.
Just before night came, I saw a large building in the distance. As I hurried along, I saw that it was a great house, and the Way of the King would lead me close to it. A cottage stood just inside the gates. I supposed this must be the caretaker's lodge, and I walked quickly, hoping I might be allowed to stay there for the night.
The path became more and more narrow, and when I'd almost reached the gates to the house I saw the two lions that had frightened Mistrust and Timorous. The great beasts stood just in front of me, one on each side of the path. There was only a small space between them, and I thought that if I tried to slip through it, they would be sure to attack me.
"Do not be frightened," the voice of a man called out suddenly. "My name is Watchful. The lions are chained. Keep in the middle of the path, and they cannot reach you."
I looked at the lodge, and saw that a man had come out of the door carrying a lantern. So I went on, even though I was afraid, taking care to keep in the middle of the path. At that moment I noticed chains glistening in the light from Watchful's lamp, keeping the great creatures back. So although they roared as I walked between them, they were not able to stretch out their huge paws to touch me.
As soon as I'd passed the lions, I clapped my hands for joy and ran quickly towards man standing outside the lodge.
"Are they your lions?" I asked.
The man smiled. "They belong to the enemy. I know pilgrims are often afraid of them, and cannot see the chains until they get close. That is why I come out to help people like you. I am glad you were brave enough to get past."
"I'm glad too. What's the name of this house?" I asked.
"It is called the House Beautiful," Watchful told me. "It belongs to the King. He built it as a place for his pilgrims to stay on their journey. Are you going to the Celestial City?"
I nodded, feeling much bolder now that the lions were behind me. I told Watchful how I'd left the City of Destruction and come through the Wicket Gate. "Last night I slept at the house of Interpreter," I said. "Can I stay here for the night?"
"It is already dark," Watchful said, not answering my question immediately. "Why are you travelling so late?"
I told him how I'd dropped off to sleep on Hill Difficulty and lost my Roll of Faith, and how I'd gone back to look for it.
"Well," Watchful said, "I will call the young ladies of the house. As you are one of the King's pilgrims, I am sure they will be able to take care of you."
So we walked together to the door of the large house, and Watchful rang the bell.
CHAPTER 15
The Four Sisters
"There are four young sisters living in this house," Watchful said as we waited in the porch of the House Beautiful. "The oldest one is called Discretion. Here she is now."
"Why did you call me?" Discretion asked Watchful, then seeing me, she put out her hand and shook mine.
Watchful said, "This young pilgrim is on his way to the Celestial City, and it is too late for him to walk any farther tonight. So he would be glad to stay here, if you are willing to take him in."
Then Discretion asked me many questions. She wanted to know where I'd come from, and why I'd left my home. She also asked me who had shown me how to get onto the Way of the King. I told her all that had happened on my journey.
"And what is your name?" she asked at last.
"Christian," I said, hoping I'd be allowed to stay. "I'm tired and I really would like to sleep here tonight."
"Yes, of course," Discretion said, with a smile. "I'll call my sisters."
She went back into the house and brought them out. Two looked quite a bit older than me. Their names were Piety and Prudence. Charity, the youngest, was about my age.
"This is one of the King's pilgrims," Discretion said to her sisters. "I think we can make room for him in the house, can we not?"
"Oh, yes," Prudence said.
"Come in," Piety said. "We're really glad to see you."
A number of people were talking in the hall of the house, and they smiled at me as I walked past.
"These are pilgrims as well. We take care of them," Charity explained.
"It's not quite time for supper," Discretion said to her sisters, "so why don't you let Christian tell you all about his journey."
The three girls led me to a large room, where a lamp cast its cheerful light on the walls that were covered with pictures.
"If you're not
too tired to talk," Piety said, "we really would like to hear about your journey. What made you leave your home?"
"I was too frightened to stay," I said. "The visitors who came to our city used to tell us it would be destroyed, and we were in great danger."
"And why did you think of coming into the Way of the King?"
I knew exactly why. "I read about the King and his Son in my Book, and one day Evangelist met me and showed me the way to the Wicket Gate."
I told the sisters about Obstinacy and Pliable, about the Slough of Despond, young Worldly-Wiseman, and Goodwill at the Wicket Gate.
Charity brought a footstool and sat down near me. She reminded me a bit of Christiana. Charity's name meant "Caring love," and I was starting to see that there was a good reason for everyone's names. These four girls probably spent their time helping their guests.
"Did you visit the house of Interpreter?" Charity asked.
"Oh, yes," I replied enthusiastically. "He showed me so many things. There was a filthy room that no one could clean by sweeping it. The dust flew everywhere when the floor was swept, making everything much worse. But it was quickly washed clean with water."
"Why was that?" Prudence asked.
I knew why. "Interpreter said it's like our hearts that need to be washed clean by the King's Son. I saw a picture of the Good Shepherd, and I saw a boy fussing to have all his presents now. One of the best things I saw was a fire that the King's enemy tried to put out with water. But the King's Son was standing behind the fire, putting oil on the flames to make sure they stayed burning brightly."
I paused, and the three sisters just looked at me, as though wanting me to explain this.
"I suppose it's like our lives once we start to follow the King," I said. "He will keep us burning for him, even though his enemy tries to stop us. Then I watched a soldier fight his way into a palace. I spent the night in the large house, but I wish I could have stayed longer."
The three girls were laughing, but not unkindly. I think they were amused by the way I told everything in such a rush.
"And what have you done today?" Prudence asked, as soon as I got my breath back.
"First, I passed by the Cross, and there I lost my burden. I even thought I saw the King's Son on that Cross for a moment. But it was empty. The King's Son forgave me for everything I've ever done wrong. Look at these new clothes the King gave me. I also had a Roll of Faith with a message from the King, and this mark on my forehead."
