The Pilgrim's Progress

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LibriVox

Mary Ann Spiegel

The Pilgrim's Progress, Part 2: Christiana

01 - The Author’s Apology For His Book

02 - The First Stage

03 - The Second Stage

04 - The Third Stage

05 - The Fourth Stage

06 - The Fifth Stage

07 - The Sixth Stage

08 - The Seventh Stage

09 - The Eighth Stage

10 - The Ninth Stage

The second stage. By this time Christiana was got on her way and Mercy went along with her. So as they went, her children being there also, Christiana began to discourse and Mercy said, Christiana, I take this as an unexpected favor. Thou should set forth out of doors with me to accompany me in a little of the way. Then said Young Mercy, before she was but young, if I thought it would be to purpose to go with you, I would never go near the town anymore. Well, mercy Christiana cast ink with me. I know well what will be the end of our pilgrimage? My husband is where he would not but be for all the gold in the Spanish minds. Nor shall thou be rejected though th but upon my invitation, the king who has sent for me and my children is one that delighted in mercy. Besides if thou wilt, I will hire thee and thou should go along with me as my servant. Yet we will have all things in common between thee and me. Only go along with me mercy. But how shall I be ascertained that I also shall be entertained? Had I this hope but from one that can tell I would make no stick at all but would go being helped by him That can help though the way was never so tedious, Christiana, well loving mercy, I will tell the what thou shalt do. Go with me to the wicked gate and there I will further inquire for the and if their thou shalt not meet with encouragement, I will be content that thou return to thy place. I will also pay the for thy kindness which thou show us to me and my children in accompanying of us in our way. As thou dust mercy, then will I go thither and will take what shall follow And the Lord grant that my lot there fall even as the king of heaven shall have his heart upon me. Christiana then was glad at heart not only that she had a companion, but also that she had prevailed with this poor maid to fall in love with her own salvation. So they went on together and Mercy began to weep, then said Christiana, where for Weith my sister? So aas said Mercy. Who can Butler meant that shall rightly consider what a state and condition my poor relations are in that yet remain in our sinful town? And that which makes my grief the more heavy is because they have no instructor nor any to tell them what is to come. Christiana pity becomes pilgrims and thou sweet for thy friends as my good Christian did for me. When he left me, he mourned for that I would not heed nor regard him but his Lord and ours to gather up his tears and put them into his bottle. And now both I and thou and these my sweet babes are reaping the fruit and benefit of them. I hope mercy, that these tears of thine will not be lost for the truth has said that they that sow in tears shall reap joy and he that go with forth weeping, bearing precious seed shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him. Psalm 126 verses five and six then said, mercy, let the most blessed be my guide. If it be his blessed will unto his gate, into his fold up to his holy hill and let them never suffer me to swerve or turn aside from his free grace and holy ways, what shall me be tied and let him gather them of mind that I have left behind. Lord, make them pray they may be thine with all their heart and mind. Now my old friend proceeded and said, but when Christiana came to the slew of despondent, she began to be at a stand four. She said, this is the place in which my dear husband had liked to have been smothered with mud. She perceived also that notwithstanding the command of the king to make this place for pilgrim's good. Yet it was rather worse than formerly. So I asked if that was true. Yes. So the old gentleman, two true for many there be that pretend to be the king's laborers and they say that they're amending the king's highways who bring dirt and dung instead of stones. And so mar instead of mending here, Christiana therefore with her boys did make a stand but said Mercy come let us Spencer only let us be wary. Then they looked well to their steps and made a shift to get staggering over. Yet Christiana had liked to have been in and that not once or twice now, they had no sooner got over, but that they thought they heard words that said unto them, blessed is she that believeth for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord. Luke chapter one, verse 45. Then they went on again and said Mercy to Christiana, had I as good ground to hope for loving reception at the wicked gate as you? I think no slew of despondent would discourage me. Well, so the other you know your soar and I know mine and good friend, we shall all have enough evil before we come to our journey's end. For can it be imagined that the people who designed to attain such excellent glories as we do and who are so envied that happiness as we are, but that we shall meet with what fears and snares, with what troubles and afflictions they can possibly assault us with that hate us. And now Mr. Sagas left me to dream out my dream by myself. Therefore me thought I saw Christiana and mercy and the boys go all of them up to the gate to Which when they were come they bet took themselves to a short debate about how they must manage their calling at the gate and what should be said unto him that did open to them. So it was concluded since Christiana was the eldest that she should knock for entrance and that she should speak to him that did open for the rest. So Christiana began to knock and as her poor husband did, she knocked and knocked again. But instead of any that answered, they all thought that they heard as if a dog came barking upon them, a dog and a great one too. And this made the women and children afraid nor durst they for a while to knock any more for fear, the master should fly upon them now. Therefore, they were greatly tumbled up and down in their minds and knew not what to do. Knock the durst knot for fear of the dog. Go back. They durst knot for fear. The keeper of that gate should a spy them as they went and should be offended with them. At last they thought of knocking again and knocked more vehemently than they did at first. Then said the keeper of the gate who is there? So the dog left off to bark and he opened unto them. Then Christiana made lo bisons and said, let not our Lord be offended with his hand. Maidens for that we have knocked at his princely gate. Then said the keeper once come ye and what is it that you would have Christiana answered? We are come from when Christian did come and upon the same errand as he to it to be. If it shall please you graciously admitted by this gate into the way that leads into the celestial city. And I answer my Lord in the next place that I'm Christiana. Once the wife of Christian that has now gotten above with that the keeper of the gate did Marvel saying, what has she now become a pilgrim that had but a while ago abor that life. Then she bowed her head and said, yay. And so are these my sweet babes Also. Then he took her by the hand and let her in and said, also suffered little children to come unto me. And with that he shut up the gate. This done, he called to a trumpeter that was above over the gate to entertain Christiana with shouting and the sound of the trumpet for joy. So he obeyed and sounded and filled the air with melodious notes. Yet all this while poor mercy did stand without trembling and crying for fear that she was rejected. But when Christiana had got admitted for herself and her boys, then she began to make intercessions for mercy. And Christiana said, my Lord, I have a companion of mine that stands yet without that has come Heather upon the same account as myself, one that is much dejected in her mind for that she comes as she thinks without sending for whereas I was sent for by my husband's king to come. Now Mercy began to be very impatient and each minute was as long to her as an hour. Therefore she prevented Christiana from further interceding for her by knocking at the gate herself. And she knocked then so loud that she made Christiana start then said the gatekeeper of the gate, who is there? And Christiana said, it is my friend. So he opened the gate and looked out, but Mercy was fallen down without in a swoon before she fainted and was afraid that no gate should be open to her. Then he took her by the hand and said, damsel, I bit the arise. Oh sir, she said, I am faint. There's scarce life left in me. But he answered that one once said, when my soul fainted within me, I remembered the Lord and my prayer came unto the into the holy temple. Jonah chapter two, verse seven, fear not, but stand upon thy feet and tell me where for thou art come. Mercy, I'm come for that under which I was never invited as my friend Christiana was. Hers was from the king and mine was but from her, therefore I fear I presume Keeper, did she desire the to come with her to this place? Mercy? Yes. And as my Lord sees, I'm come and if there's any grace and forgiveness of sins to spare, I besie that thy poor handmade may be a partaker thereof. Then he took her again by the hand and let her gently in and said, I pray for all them that believeth on me by what means. So they come unto me, then said he to those that stood by fetch something and give it to mercy to smell on, thereby to stay her faintings. So they fetched her a bundle of mer and a while after she was revived and now we're Christiana and her boys and mercy received of the Lord at the head of the way and spoken kindly unto by him. Then they said, yet further unto him, we are sorry for our sins and beg of our Lord his pardon and further information what we must do. I grant Pardon said he by word, deed by word in the promise of forgiveness by deed in the way I obtained it. Take the first from my lips with a kiss and the other as it shall be revealed. Song Solomon chapter one, verse two, John chapter 20, verse 20. Now, I saw in my dream that he spoke many good words unto them whereby they were greatly gladdened. He also had them up to the top of the gate and showed them by what deed they were saved and told them with all that that site they would have again as they went along in the way to their comfort. So he left them a while in a summer parlor below where they entered Into by themselves and thus Christiana began, oh, how glad I am that we are God in Heather Mercy. So you well may, but I of all have caused to leap for joy. Christiana, I thought one time as I stood at the gate because I had knocked and Nu did answer that all our labor had been lost, especially when that ugly curve made such a heavy barking against us. Mercy. But my worst fear was after I saw that you was taken into his favor and that I was left behind. Now thought I it is fulfilled, which is written. Two women shall be grinding at the mill, the one shall be taken and the other left. Matthew chapter 24, verse 41. I had much ado to fore bear crying out undone and afraid I was to knock anymore. But when I looked up to what was written over the gate, I took courage. I also thought that I must either knock again or die. So I knocked, but I cannot tell how for my spirit now struggled between life and death. Christiana, can you not tell how you knocked? I'm sure your knocks were so earnest. So the very sound of them made me start. I thought I never heard such knocking in all my life. I thought you would come in by a violent hand or take the kingdom by storm. Matthew chapter 11 verse 12, mercy alas to be in my case who that so was but could have done. So you saw that the door was shut upon me and there was a most cruel dog there about who I say that was so fainthearted as I would not have knocked with all their might. But I pray what said my Lord to my rudeness? Was he not angry with me? Christiana, when he heard your lumbering noise, he gave a wonderful innocent smile. I believe what you did pleased him well for he showed no sign to the contrary. But I marvel in my heart why he keeps such a dog. Had I known that before, I should not have had heart enough to have ventured myself in this manner. But now we are in. We are in, and I am glad with all my heart, mercy, I will ask if you please next time he comes down, why he keeps such a filthy ke in his yard. I hope he will not take a to miss do so, so the children and persuade him to hang him for we are afraid he will bite us when we go. Hence. So at last, he came down to them again and mercy fell to the ground on her face before him and worshiped and said, let my Lord accept the sacrifice of praise which I now offer unto him with the calves of my lips. So he said unto her, peace be unto the stand up. But she continued upon her face and said, righteous art thou oh Lord, when I played with you yet, let me talk with the of the judgements. Jeremiah chapter 12 verse One. Therefore, does thou keep so cruel a dog in the yard at the sight of which such women and children as we are ready to fly from th gate for fear? He answered and said, that dog has another owner. He is also kept close in another man's ground. Only my pilgrims hear his barking. He belongs to the castle, which you see there at a distance, but which can come up to the walls of this place. He's frightened to many and honest pilgrim from worse to better by the great voice of his roaring. Indeed he that onth him does not keep him out of any goodwill to me or mine, but with intent to keep the pilgrims from coming to me and that they may be afraid to come and knock at this gate for entrance. Sometimes also, he has broken out and has worried some that I loved. But I take all at present patiently. I also give my pilgrim's timely help so that they are not delivered to his power to do with them what his doggish nature would prompt him to do. But what my purchased one Iro has known never so much beforehand that would not have been afraid of a dog. The beggars that go from door to door will rather than lose a supposed alms, run the hazard of the howling, barking and biting two of a dog and shall a dog, a dog in another man's yard, a dog who's barking. I turn to the prophet of pilgrims, keep any from coming to me. I deliver them from the lions and my darling from the power of the dog. Psalm 22, verse 21 and 22 then said, mercy, I confessed my ignorance. I spoke what I understood, not I acknowledged that thou dust all things well. Then Christiana began to talk of their journey and to inquire after the way. So he fed them and washed their feet and set them upon the way of his steps according as he had dealt with her husband before.

John Bunyan

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The Pilgrim's Progress, Part 2: Christiana

03 - The Second Stage

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Other Teachings in Series

01 - The Author’s Apology For His Book

02 - The First Stage

03 - The Second Stage

04 - The Third Stage

05 - The Fourth Stage

06 - The Fifth Stage

07 - The Sixth Stage

08 - The Seventh Stage

09 - The Eighth Stage

10 - The Ninth Stage

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