CHAPTER 3
Now I saw that the Keeper, followed by Pilgrim,
entered his dwelling by the side of the gate. They ascended together, by
a winding stair, to a turret overlooking the rest of the buildings, and
whose window commanded an extensive prospect of the whole Narrow way.
The walls of this chamber were hung with pieces of armor and coats of mail,
which, from their high polish, shone brilliantly in the morning sun. In the
center of the apartment stood a table, with some rolls of parchment lying
upon it, and writing materials.
"Here it is," said the Conductor, "that travelers
receive the whole armor of God, that they may be able to stand in the evil
day. See," continued he, pointing to the walls around him, "how amply the
Lord of the Way has provided for the equipment of wayfarers; and, truly,
this is not too much, considering what is before them."
"What!" said the other in astonishment, "methought, when
once within this gate those enemies which infest the Broad way would
annoy its travelers no more."
"Ah!" said Free Grace, "you will before long
discover your mistake. Even he who has been allowed to be the boldest
champion that ever trod this way, when he reached the gate of heaven, having
fought the good fight of faith, was covered with the blood and dust of
battle. Ofttimes was he heard, in the course of his journey, to exclaim:
'Let us labor, therefore, to enter into rest.' 'I fight not as one that
beats the air, but I keep my body under, lest that by any means I myself
should be a castaway.'"
Encouraging his fellow-soldiers, he used to say, "Let us
who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love,
and for a helmet the hope of salvation." "Fight the good fight of faith, lay
hold on eternal life."
"But who are my enemies?" said Pilgrim; "so
that when they come upon me I may be prepared to meet them."
"That I cannot tell," said the Keeper; "their name
is Legion, for they are many. You will have to 'wrestle not against flesh
and blood, but against principalities and powers, against the rulers of the
darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.' Their
wiles and stratagems will be numerous; sometimes they will contend with you
in open warfare; sometimes they will try to decoy you from your path;
sometimes they will use flattery; sometimes deceit; sometimes threatening.
The great adversary, the devil, you may encounter, at one time, in the form
of an angel of light, at another, as a roaring lion."
"Alas!" exclaimed Pilgrim, greatly alarmed at what
he had just heard, "if our foes be thus numerous, which of us can stand? "I
much fear," said he, with tremulous voice, "that I must resign the
conflict."
"Yes, truly," said the Keeper, "if you went the
warfare on your own charges; but I should have told you, that the great
Captain of salvation, who has been made perfect through suffering, has
himself trodden all the way. He has stopped the mouths of many ravenous
lions; quenched with his own blood the violence of many fires; turned to
flight the armies of many aliens; through death, he has destroyed him that
had the power of death, and dragged him in triumph, covered with wounds, at
the wheels of his chariot. And now, having thus paved the way, he assures
every desponding traveler, that if he only 'put on the whole armor of God,
he will be able to stand in the evil day.'"
So saying, Free Grace took down, one by one, the
pieces of armor which hung round the walls of the Prospect Chamber,
and assisted Pilgrim in girding them on. The first he presented to
him was a large oval shield of burnished steel. On the front of it was
inscribed a selection of the divine promises; and, in the inside, carved in
larger characters, "FEAR NOT, FOR I AM WITH YOU; BE NOT DISMAYED, FOR I AM
YOUR GOD."
"This," said he, "is the Shield of Faith,
burnished with the imputed righteousness of the Lord Immanuel. So
hard is its metal, that the missiles of the adversary will rebound as they
touch it, and be able to do you no harm. Here, again," continued he, "is
another part of your panoply;" and he put a massive bronze helmet on his
head, whose plumes nodded over his brow. "This is called the Helmet of
Salvation, with which to cover your head in the day of battle. And
this," continued he, "is the Breastplate of Righteousness. With it
you will protect your heart, against which (being most vulnerable) the fiery
darts of the wicked will frequently be directed."
"And here, again," said he, reaching his hand to a higher
part of the wall, "here is a weapon of-fensive as well as de-fensive.
It is the Sword of the Spirit, without which the rest of the armor
would prove ineffectual." The Keeper drew out the naked weapon from
its sheath. It gleamed flashes of light on the other pieces of armor. "Take
this," said he, "in your hand, and never let it go until you be safe within
the walls of the New Jerusalem."
"Will you be pleased," said Pilgrim, "to fasten
the sheath by the belt which surrounds my waist?"
"Not so," replied the other; "the sheath must remain with
me; never can there be a moment in your journey when that sword can, with
safety, be returned to its scabbard, and forsake the hand which grasps it."
"But how then," inquired Pilgrim, "can I retain
its polish, and keep in their present brightness the rest of my armor? If
they have no covering or preservative, a few hours will corrode them, and
render them unfit for use."
"You are right," said Free Grace; "and I was about
to supply you with what you desire." So I saw that he opened with a key,
suspended by his side, an ancient oaken cupboard, from one of the shelves of
which he brought down a box, carefully sealed. "Here," said he, "is a box of
polish, which you must never omit morning and evening to use. It is
called Prayer; and with it you will be able to keep bright and
shining 'the whole armor of God.' Be careful, especially in seasons of
peculiar danger and temptation, when the enemy is at hand, to keep rubbing
your shield, so as to preserve its brilliancy, and not allow the rust
to dim its luster, or obliterate the promises inscribed on it. These," he
continued, "form the principal part of your attire. Here, too, is the golden
Belt of Truth, to fasten round your waist; to which I shall presently
attach a drinking-cup, by which you may refresh yourself at the fountains in
the way. Also, the Sandals of Gospel peace, which will preserve your
feet from the rough and rugged stones scattered in your path. And this, last
of all, is the Ring of Adoption," taking a richly-chased gem from his
jewel-box, and putting it on the same hand with which Pilgrim held
the shield; "this is the pledge of your sonship, the earnest of your
admission into the royal family of heaven, and the glorious liberty of the
sons of God."
"Behold," said Pilgrim, in a transport of adoring
wonder, as he listened to the last words which fell from the lips of Free
Grace; "Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed upon me, that
I should be called the son of God!"
"Yes," replied the other, "it is a glorious
privilege; the highest seraph in the Celestial City knows no higher.
But remember, that though an adopted son, you are yet a far way off from
your heavenly Father's house, and it becomes you now to prepare well for the
journey before you. But come with me," said his Conductor, "and
before you proceed, I shall point out, by means of this large telescope, the
country through which your road lies, and the different landmarks which may
serve to guide you in safety to Mount Zion." So saying, he opened the
window of the turret, which led out to a little balcony. It commanded an
extensive prospect. Lofty mountains in the far distance, on the right and on
the left, sparkled in the rays of the midday sun; their undulating slopes
were studded here and there with towns, villages, and hamlets; the whole
forming one great valley, terminated by the blaze of glory which hid from
mortal vision the palaces of Zion. In the midst of this scene a
mountain soared majestically above the rest of the landscape; and Pilgrim
observed with the naked eye, and more distinctly with the telescope,
that the Narrow way led directly up its steeps.
"This valley," said Free Grace, "through which
your path lies, is still the Valley of Tears--a continuation of the
same which was the place of your birth, bounded by those bright portals
which no human eye has ever penetrated."
Pilgrim endeavored to direct the telescope to the
Gate of Heaven. His eyes, however, could not endure the brightness; but,
from the momentary glance, he caught a view of countless myriads of blessed
spirits, arrayed in vestures of white, with harps in their hands, and crowns
on their heads.
"Who are these," said he, "arrayed in white robes? and
whence came they?"
"These are they," answered the other, "who have come out
of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in
the waters of this same fountain; therefore are they now before the throne
of God, and serve him day and night in his temple. They shall hunger no
more, neither thirst any more, neither shall the sun light on them, nor any
heat; for the Lamb that is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and
shall lead them to living fountains of water; and God shall wipe away all
tears from their eyes."
"And methinks," said Pilgrim, still looking
through the telescope, "that I see, ranged on the turrets of its golden
palaces, crowds of spectators, their eyes directed on this Valley of
Tears, watching the travelers as they journey to Zion."
"These," replied the other, "are the redeemed from the
earth--the patriarchs, and saints, and prophets of former generations, who,
'through faith and patience, are now inheriting the promises.' Their warfare
is accomplished; but they still delight to follow the travelers they have
left behind. 'Wherefore, seeing you also are compassed about with so great a
cloud of witnesses, lay aside every weight, and the sin that does so easily
beset you, and run with patience the race that is set before you.'"
"After leaving this gate," said Free Grace,
"continue to follow the strait and narrow path, without deviating to the
right hand or to the left. Do not forsake it because of its becoming too
narrow, or of its assuming a dreary and wilderness aspect. Was it not this
which tempted you at first to stray down the Broad road, that there
was no seeming beauty nor loveliness in the Narrow one to make it
desirable?"
"True," replied Pilgrim; "I shall faithfully
follow your directions."
"Well," continued the other, "prosecute this narrow path
until it brings you to the Mount of Ordinances. There you will find a
lodging-place, prepared by the Lord of the Way for the rest and
refreshment of travelers, where you will receive further directions for
prosecuting the journey."
On returning to the chamber, the Keeper took one
of the rolls of parchment which lay on the table, and folding it carefully
up, requested Pilgrim to deposit it in his bosom, underneath his
breastplate. "This," said he, "is your Passport and Charter,
written with blood, shed by Immanuel, the Son of the Highest, which
will be demanded of you at the Gate of Heaven, and without which entrance
cannot be obtained. Beware lest you lose it and perish by the way. Many who,
like yourself, wish to arrive at the Celestial City by a short way
from the Broad road, try to avoid the Narrow gate by climbing
over the wall; but having no passport when they arrive at the portals of
Mount Zion, their plea is rejected, and they are shut out at last."
Pilgrim, on unfolding this charter of his spiritual
privileges, found it to contain these amazing words--"SON, BE OF GOOD CHEER;
YOUR SINS BE FORGIVEN YOU." "BE FAITHFUL UNTO DEATH, AND I WILL GIVE YOU A
CROWN OF LIFE."
Being now fully equipped, and ready for his journey, he
descended, in company with his Conductor, the stair which led from
the armory. He was just about bidding Free Grace farewell, when the
latter said: "Hark! hear you that distant music?"
Pilgrim listened, and a melodious sound came floating
to his ear; but wafted from such a distance as to be scarcely audible.
"What anthem of triumph is that?" inquired Pilgrim.
"It is," replied the other, "the joy in heaven over
another returning sinner. The first glimpse the heavenly watchmen, who crowd
the battlements of Zion, caught of your burnished armor, was the signal for
that burst of jubilee. Your entrance within the Narrow Gate will not
suffer a harp, this day, there to be silent."
Pilgrim felt greatly strengthened by such a thought;
and his Conductor, once more pressing his hand, committed him to the
keeping of the King of the Way.
"The Lord be with you," said he, still keeping his arms
extended as he pronounced his benediction on the departing traveler; "the
Lord be with you, and keep you; the Lord cause his face to shine upon you;
the Lord give you peace. The Lord be your stay on your right hand; the Lord
suffer not the sun to smite you by day, nor the moon by night."
Then went Pilgrim on his way rejoicing, and
saying: "The Lord is on my side; I will not fear what man shall do unto me.
The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want. The Lord is my light and my
salvation, whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life, of whom
shall I be afraid? Who shall separate me from the love of Christ? Shall
tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril,
or sword? No, in all these things I shall be more than conqueror. Thanks be
to God, who gives me the victory!"