Christiana's dream

Christiana's dream and her foray into the Celestial city

The next night Christiana had a dream; and behold she saw as if a broad Parchment was opened before her, in which were recorded the sum of her ways; and the times, as she thought, looked very black upon her. Then she cried out aloud in her sleep, Lord have Mercy upon me a sinner; and the little children heard her.

After this she thought she saw two very ill-favoured ones standing by her bedside, and saying, What shall we do with this woman? for she cries out for mercy waking and sleeping; if she be suffered to go on as she begins, we shall lose her as we have lost her husband. Wherefore we must by one way or other, seek to take her off from the thoughts of what shall be hereafter, else all the world cannot help it but she will become a Pilgrim.

Now she awoke in a great sweat, also a trembling was upon her, but after a while she fell to sleeping again. And then she thought she saw Christian her husband in a place of bliss among many Immortals, with an harp in his hand, standing and playing upon it before One that sat on a Throne with a Rainbow about His Head. She saw also as if he bowed his head with his face to the paved-work that was under the Prince's feet, saying, I heartily thank my Lord and King for bringing of me into this Place. Then shouted a company of them that stood round about, and harped with their harps; but no man living could tell what they said, but Christian and his Companions.

Next morning when she was up, had prayed to God, and talked with her children a while, one knocked hard at the door, to whom she spake out, saying, If thou comest in God's name, come in. So he said Amen, and opened the door, and saluted her with Peace be to this house. The which when he had done, he said, Christiana, knowest thou wherefore I am come? Then she blushed and trembled, also her heart began to wax warm with desires to know whence he came, and what was his errand to her. So he said unto her, My name is Secret, I dwell with those that are high. It is talked of where I dwell, as if thou hadst a desire to go thither; also there is a report that thou art aware of the evil thou hast formerly done to thy husband, in hardening of thy heart against his way, and in keeping of these thy babes in their ignorance. Christiana, the Merciful One has sent me to tell thee that he is a God ready to forgive, and that He taketh delight to multiply to pardon offences. He would also have been thee know that He inviteth thee to come into His presence, to his Table, and that He will feed thee with the fat of his house, and with the heritage of Jacob thy father.

"There is Christian thy husband that was, with legions more his companions, ever beholding that face that doth minister Life to beholders; and they will all be glad when they shall hear the sound of thy feet step over thy father's threshold".

Christiana at this was greatly abashed in herself, and bowing her head to the ground, this visitor proceeded and said, Christiana, here is also a letter for thee, which I have brought from thy husband's King. So she took it and opened it, but it smelt after the manner of the best perfume, also it was written in letters of Gold. The contents of the letter was, That the King would have her do as did Christian her husband; for that was the way to come to his City, and to dwell in His Presence with joy for ever. At this the good woman was quite overcome; so she cried out to her visitor, Sir, will you carry me and my children with you, that we also may go and worship this King?

Then said the visitor, Christiana, the bitter is before the sweet: thou must through troubles, as did he that went before thee, enter this Celestial City. Wherefore I advise thee to do as did Christian thy husband: Go to the Wicket-gate yonder, over the plain, for that stands in the head of the way up which thou must go, and I wish thee all good speed. Also I advise that thou put this Letter in thy bossom; that thou read therein to thyself and to thy children, until you have got it by rote of heart, for it is one of the songs that thou must sing while thou art in this House of thy Pilgrimage; also this thou must deliver in at the further Gate.

Interpretation:

God does send His servants like Secret who visit us and give us warnings from time to time when we do not set our eyes on the Celestial City but want to continue living in the City of Destruction. We do have the King's letter in letters of gold with us but we do not open and read it ourselves. It is an invitation to His Kingdom to seek it and it's righteousness. Many of the church going Christian community have not entered this Wicket-gate. It is a narrow gate. At the Wicket-gate only, they receive the true gospel of Christ. They should wade through the rough path to enter the Wicket-gate. They have to put this Letter, the Word of God in their bosom to reach the Gate. With a burden on their heart and with weeping and groaning, they should go to the Wicket-gate as instructed in the Letter. True repentance leads us to the Wicket-gate. Some one's prayer or instructions of false teachers would not help you at all. You have to go alone.

Next......Christiana's entreaty to her children