We left Christian at the house of the Interpreter, learning lessons he would do well to remember all through his journey. It will help us to understand better if we keep in mind that the wonderful book we are enjoying together, The Pilgrim's Progress, was written by its author under the figure of a dream, in which the varied states of soul of which he writes are often so truthfully described that it reads more like a waking dream than "a vision of the night."
Space will not allow us to linger over many other things that our pilgrim saw and heard in the house of the Interpreter, for a long journey yet lay before him, so with words of faithful warning and wise counsel he was allowed to depart.
The way he was to take was clearly pointed out to him. It was a road or highway fenced in on both sides by high walls; these walls were called Salvation. If we open our Bibles to Isa. 26:1,1In that day shall this song be sung in the land of Judah; We have a strong city; salvation will God appoint for walls and bulwarks. (Isaiah 26:1) we shall understand better what was in the mind of John Bunyan as he wrote. He was doubtless looking onward to a day yet to come when the sons of Jacob (the nation of Israel), restored to their own land and having owned that the lowly Jesus, who by wicked hands was crucified and slain, was their own long-promised Messiah, will sing with heart as well as voice, "We have a strong city; salvation will God appoint for walls and bulwarks."
Christian found the road he had been directed to take was somewhat uphill, and as he was still carrying his burden, the weight of which seemed to grow heavier the farther he carried it, he only made slow and toilsome progress. But a glad and never-to-be-forgotten moment in the history of his soul was drawing very near. As soon as he came in sight of a cross, near which was an open grave, his burden began to get loose, and as he gazed with wonder and delight it fell into the open grave, and he saw it no more.
Happy Christian! He had taken a faith look, not at an actual cross of wood, but at the work that had long, long ago been done upon the cross on Mount Calvary by the Son of God.
So Christian knew that his sins were gone, for they had been borne by the Lord Jesus upon the cross, and looking up to God as his Father, he was able to say in the words of Scripture, "Thou hast cast all my sins behind Thy back" (Isa. 38:1717Behold, for peace I had great bitterness: but thou hast in love to my soul delivered it from the pit of corruption: for thou hast cast all my sins behind thy back. (Isaiah 38:17)). We, to whom a very clear gospel, the gospel of the grace of God, is so often preached, are almost tempted to wonder how it was that Christian took such a roundabout way before he, by faith, saw Jesus, the Lamb of God, as having not only borne his sins but received their just judgment. Looking unto Jesus, "The child of faith perceives Judgment all gone by; And reads the sentence fully met, `The soul that sins shall die."
At last Christian was really a pilgrim, ready to run with patience the race that was set before him, and no one runs either fast or far until sure where they are going. Christian, knowing that his sins were all forgiven, was free to go on his way with a glad heart, singing softly to himself, "He has given me rest by His sorrow and life by His death."
Now and then he stood still for a few moments to look and wonder why such grace and favor had been shown to him, and in his dream a strange thing happened: a shining one came to him, the rags of the "far country" were exchanged for the "best robe," a mark was set upon his forehead, and a book given to him, of which he was told to take great care and to read very often as he journeyed.
Christian, whose pilgrim journey had really only just begun, had not gone far before he saw in a house, just a little off the strait road he was taking, three men fast asleep, their feet bound with fetters. Their names were Slothful, Simple and Presumption. Christian, seeing that they were in a place of danger and wishing to rouse and, if he could, to help them, went to them, crying out, "Awake, awake and escape. You are like men who sleep on the shores of the Dead Sea, which may at any moment open and swallow you up, and if the one who walks about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour, should come your way, I am afraid you would fall an easy prey to his teeth. Come, rouse up, and let me help you off with your fetters."
Simple, who seemed only half awake, replied, "I see no danger." Slothful said, "Yet a little more sleep, and a little more slumber." And Presumption answered, "I'm as good as most people." So Christian, finding that his kind offer of help was not accepted and his words of warning unheeded, went on his way.
He had not gone far before he saw two men climbing over the left-hand wall. The name of one was Formalist, and the name of the other Hypocrisy. They went up to Christian and seemed anxious to enter into conversation.