Christiana and Mercy with the Reliever

Reliever: So after a few more words, this Reliever said as followeth; I marvelled much when you were entertained at the Gate above, being ye know that ye were but weak women, that you petitioned not the Lord there for a conductor; then might you have avoided these troubles and dangers, for He would have granted you one.

Christiana: Alas! said Christiana, we were so taken with our present blessing, that dangers to come were forgotten by us; besides, who could have thought that so near the King's Palace there should have lurked such naughty ones? Indeed it had been well for us, had we asked our Lord for one; but since our Lord knew 'twould be for our profit, I wonder He sent not one along with us!

Reliever: It is not always necessary to grant things not asked for, lest by so doing they become of little esteem; but when the want of a thing is felt, it then comes under, in the eyes of him that feels it, that estimate that properly is its due, and so consequently will be thereafter used. Had my Lord granted you a conductor, you would not neither so have bewailed that oversight of yours in not asking for one as now you have occasion to do. So all things work for good, and tend to make you more wary.

Christiana: Shall we go back again to my Lord, and confess our folly, and ask one?

Reliever: "Your confession of your folly I will present Him with. To go back again you need not; for in all places where you shall come, you will find no want at all, for in every of my Lord's Lodgings which He has prepared for the reception of His Pilgrims, there is sufficient to furnish them against all attempts whatsoever. But as I said, He will be enquired of by them to do it for them: and 'tis a poor thing that is not worth asking for".

When he had thus said, he went back to his place, and the Pilgrims went on their way.

Mercy: Then said Mercy, What a sudden blank is here! I made account we had now been past all danger, and that we should never see sorrow more.

Christiana: Thy innocency, My Sister, said Christiana to Mercy, may excuse thee much; but as for me, my fault is so much the greater, for that I saw this danger before I came out of the doors, and yet did not provide for it where provision might have been had. I am therefore much to be blamed.

Mercy: Then said Mercy, How knew you this before you came from home? Pray open to me this riddle.

Christiana: Why, I will tell you. Before I set foot out of doors, one night as I lay in my bed, I had a dream about this; for methought I saw two men as like these as ever the world they could look, stand at my bed's feet, plotting how they might prevent my salvation. I will tell you their very words. They said ('twas when I was in my troubles) What shall we do with this woman? for she cries out walking and sleeping, for forgiveness: if she be suffered to go on as she begins, we shall lose her as we have lost her husband. This you know might a made me take heed, and have provided when provision might have been had.

Mercy: Well, said Mercy, as by this neglect we have an occasion ministered unto us to behold our own imperfections, so our Lord has taken occasion thereby to make manifest the riches of His Grace. For He, as we see, has followed us with unasked kindness, and has delivered us from their hands that were stronger than we, of His mere good pleasure.

Interpretation:

The Reliever told Christiana, "I marvelled much when you were entertained at the Gate above, being ye know that ye were but weak women, that you petitioned not the Lord for a conductor; then might you have avoided these troubles and dangers, for He would have granted you one".

Women being weak vessels need a conductor, a special ministry to guide them during their spiritual journey. It is a prophetic ministry specially meant for them to avoid snares and pits.

There is no want at all, for in every of the Lord's lodgings which He has prepared for the reception of His Pilgrims, there is sufficient to furnish them against all attempts whatsoever. The Lord has made all provisions for them. It is for them to seek His help in finding such lodgings (ministries) for their safety.

Women seeking life-partners should be wary of such ill-favoured ones who entice them into marriages by fraud or by concealment of material facts. After marriage with such ill-favoured ones, they had landed in hell life. They need ministers like the Reliever of the Pilgrim's Progress to save them from the hands of such ill-favoured ones. In USA, there are some unique ministries to guide them on divorce and remarriage.

Next.......House for relief of pilgrims