Christiana with her neighbours

But while they were thus about to be gone, two of the women that were Christiana's Neighbors, came up to her house and knocked at her door. To whom she said as before, If you come in God's name, come in. At this the women were stunned, for this kind of language they used not to hear, or to perceive to drop from the lips of Christiana. Yet they came in: but behold they found the good woman a preparing to be gone from her house.

So they began and said, Neighbor, pray what is your meaning by this?

Christiana answered and said to the eldest of them, whose name was Mrs. Timorous, I am preparing for a journey. (This Timorous was daughter to him that met Christian upon the Hill Difficulty, and would had him gone back for fear of the lions.)

Timorous: For what journey I pray you?

Christiana: Even to go after my good husband. And with that she fell a weeping.

Timorous: I hope not so, good Neighbor, pray for your poor children's sake, do not so unwomanly cast away yourself.

Christiana: Nay, my children shall go with me, not one of them is willing to stay behind.

Timorous: I wonder in my very heart, what or who has brought you into this mind.

Christiana: Oh, Neighbor, knew you but as much as I do, I doubt not but that you would go with me.

Timorous: Prithee what new knowledge hast thou got, that so worketh off thy mind from thy friends, and that tempteth thee to go nobody knows where?

Christiana: Then Christiana replied, I have been sorely afflicted since my husband's departure from me, but specially since he went over the River. But that which troubleth me most, is my churlish carriages to him when he was under his distress. Besides, I am now as he was then; nothing will serve me but going on Pilgrimage. I was dreaming last night that I saw him. O that my soul was with him. He dwelleth in the presence of the King of the Country, he sits and eats with Him at His table, he is become a companion of Immortals, and has a house now given him to dwell in, to which the best palaces on Earth if compared, seem to me to be but as a dunghill. The Prince of the place has also sent for me, with promise of entertainment if I shall come to Him; His messenger was here even now, and has brought me a Letter, which invites me to come. And with that she plucked out her Letter, and read it, and said to them, What now will you say to this?

Timorous: Oh the madness that has possessed thee and thy husband, to run yourselves upon such difficulties! You have heard, I am sure, what your husband did meet with, even in a manner at the first step that he took on his way, as our Neighbor Obstinate can yet testify, for he went along with him; yea and Pliable too, until they like wise men, were afraid to go any further. We also heard over and above, how he met with the lions, Apollyon, the Shadow of Death, and many other things. Nor is the danger that he met with at Vanity Fair to be forgotten by thee; for if he, tho' a Man, was so hard put to it, what canst thou, being but a poor woman, do? Consider also that these four sweet babes are thy children, thy flesh and thy bones. Wherefore though thou shouldest be so rash as to cast away thyself, yet for the sake of the fruit of thy body keep thou at home.

But Christiana said unto her, tempt me not, my Neighbor. I have now a price put into mine hand to get again, and I should be a fool of the greatest size if I should have no heart to strike in with the opportunity. And for that you tell me of all these troubles that I am like to meet with in the way, they are so far off from being to me a discouragement, that they shew I am in the right. The bitter must come before the sweet, and that also will make the sweet the sweeter. Wherefore since you came not to my house in God's name, as I said, I pray you to be gone, and not to disquiet me farther.

Then Timorous also reviled her, and said to her fellow, Come Neighbor Mercy, let us leave her in her own hands, since she scorns our counsel and company.

But Mercy was at a stand, and could not so readily comply with her Neighbor, and that for a twofold reason. First, her bowels yearned over Christiana: so she said within herself, If my Neighbor will needs be gone, I will go a little way with her and help her. Secondly, her bowels yearned over her own soul, (for what Christiana had said had taken some hold upon her mind.) Wherefore she said within herself again, I will yet have more talk with this Christiana, and if I find Truth and Life in what she shall say, myself with my heart shall also go with her. Wherefore Mercy began thus to reply to her Neighbor Timorous.

Interpretation:

There are many like the neighbour Timorous to ridicule the pilgrims as they set their eyes on the path to the Celestial City. The neighbours are those who are close to the pilgrims so as to influence their lives. They are discouraged to deny themselves, take up their crosses and follow Jesus Christ in this world. They have wonderful ministries to preach the gospel to their neighbours who have not known Jesus as their personal Saviour and Lord. If people like Timorous are reluctant to hearken to them, there are yet good neighbours like Mercy to hearken to their advice to accompany them to the divine destination. Ministry to women is equally important as ministry to men. There needs to be a special ministry for women in every local church under the care of a woman elder or a woman pastor.

Next.......Christiana and Mercy entering the gate