Required reading
Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan (available from Amazon or free on the internet,
here for example)
- Up to the paragraph that begins: 'Thus now when they had talked away a little more time, they drew night to an House which stood in the way, which House was built for the relief of pilgrims...'
My notes and thoughts
Today we see our pilgrims enter through the gate, the boys eat some forbidden fruit, and the women have a scuffle with some Ill-favoured ones.
I loved the bit about Mercy getting left outside the gate. Thinking she had been left behind she knocked (prayed) so loudly to the keeper of the Gate that she startled Christiana who had begun to intercede to the Keeper on Mercy's behalf. Then when the gate is opened Mercy is there but passed out on the ground. The climax of the incident for me was when Mercy then asked Christiana in confidence what the was the effect of her loud knocking: 'But pray what said my Lord to my rudeness, was he not angry with me?' Christiana's answer is truly delightful: 'When he [keeper of the Gate/Jesus] heard your lumbering noise he gave a wonderful innocent smile. I believe what you did pleased him well enough, for he showed no sign to the contrary.' I love it! Jesus was far from disgruntled, but actually pleased with Mercy's loud and anxious pleas for entrance to salvation.
Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.
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