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This Christiana (for that was her name from the day that she with her Children betook themselves to a Pilgrim's life) after her husband was gone over the river, and she could hear of him no more, her thoughts began to work in her mind. First, for that she had lost her husband, and for that the loving bond of that relation was utterly broken betwixt them. For you know, said he to me, Nature can do no less but entertain the living with many a heavy cogitation in the remembrance of the loss of loving relations. This therefore of her husband did cost her many a tear. But this was not all, for Christiana did also begin to consider with herself, whether her unbecoming behaviour towards her husband was not one cause that she saw him no more, and that in such sort he was taken away from her. And upon this came into her mind by swarms, all her unkind, unnatural, and ungodly carriages to her dear friend; which also clogged her conscience, and did load her with guilt. She was moreover much broken with calling to remembrance the restless groans, brinish tears, and self-bemoanings of her husband, and how she did harden her heart against all his entreaties and loving persuasions (of her and her sons) to go with him; yea, there was not anything that Christian either said to her, or did before her all the while that his burden did hang on his back, but it returned upon her like a flash of lightning, and rent the call of her heart in sunder. Specially that bitter outcry of his, What shall I do to be saved? did ring in her ears most dolefully.
Then said she to her children, sons, we are all undone. I have sinned away your father, and he is gone: he would have had us with him; but I would not go myself, I also have hindered you of Life.
With that the boys fell all into tears, and cried out to go after their father. Oh! said Christiana, that it had been but our lot to go with him, then had it fared well with us, beyond what 'tis like to do now; for tho' I formerly foolishly imagined concerning the troubles of your Father, that they proceeded of a foolish fancy that he had, or for that he was overrun with melancholy humours; yet now 'twill not out of my mind but that they sprang from another cause, to wit, that the Light of Light was given him, by the help of which, as I perceive, he has escaped the snares of death. Then they all wept again, and cried out, O Wo worth the day.
Interpretation:
It is God's will that the whole family including the spouse, the children and the parents should come to the saving knowledge of Christ Jesus. Though Christian is portrayed by John Bunyan as one who had been in rags carrying a big burden on his back, Christiana is shown as one whose conscience was troubled because of her sins and was loaded with guilt. Today, there are many Christians who might not feel the burden of sin like Christian bore it on his back but whose conscience continue to prick them. They should cry out, what shall I do to be saved?
Saved spouses should have a burden for their unsaved family members and should pray to God continually. They should keep testifying to them about the dangers lurking in the City of Destruction.
Next....Christiana's dream
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