Man with Muckrake

After a while, because supper was not ready, the Interpreter took them into his significant rooms, and shewed them what Christian, Christiana's husband, had seen some time before. Here therefore they saw the man in the Cage, the man and his dream, the man that cut his way through his enemies, and the picture of the biggest of them all, together with the rest of those things that were then so profitable to Christian.

This done and after these things had been somewhat digested by Christiana and her company, the Interpreter takes them apart again, and has them first into a Room where was a man that could look no way but downwards, with a Muck - rake in his hand. There stood also one over his head with a Celestial Crown in his hand, and proffered him that Crown for his Muck-rake; but the man did neither look up, nor regard, but raked to himself the straws, the small sticks and dust of the floor. Then said Christiana, I persuade myself that I know something of the meaning of this; for this is a figure of a man of this world, is it not, good Sir?

Interpreter: Thou hast said the right said he, and his Muck-rake doth shew his carnal mind. And whereas thou seest him rather give heed to rake up straws and sticks and the dust of the floor, than to what he says that calls to him from above with the Celestial Crown in his hand, it is to shew that Heaven is but as a fable to some, and that things here are counted the only things substantial. Now whereas it was also shewed thee that the man could look no way but downwards, it is to let thee know that earthly things when they are with power upon men's minds, quite carry their hearts away from God.

Christiana: Then said Christiana, O deliver me from this Muck-rake.

Interpreter: That prayer, said the Interpreter, has lain by till 'tis almost rusty. Give me not riches, is scarcely the prayer of one of ten thousand. straws and sticks and dust with most are the great things now looked after.

With that Mercy and Christiana wept, and said, It is alas! too true.

When the Interpreter had shewed them this, he had them into the very best Room in the House (a very brave room it was) so he bid them to look round about, and see if they could find anything profitable there.

Interpretation:

There are thousands in the Christian world who work like the man with the muck-rake looking on the earthly things and not looking upward towards the Heaven where a crown of gold is awaiting them. They work round the clock for their livelihood without bothering about their spiritual lives. But Jesus has promised them all these things to them if they seek the Kingdom of God and His righteousness (Matthew 6:33). Their eyes are fixed only on this earth with a muck-rake in their hands. If they take the Bible in their hands to know the truth, they would be blessed in material things also as they seek the Kingdom of God.

Pastors should teach their congregation members on the futility of wasting all their money and energy in pursuit of worldly pleasures and benefits at the cost of the heavenly blessings.

A spider on the wall

Then they looked round and round, for there was nothing there to be seen but a very great spider on the wall, and that they overlooked.

Mercy: Then said Mercy, Sir, I see nothing; but Christiana held her peace.

Interpreter: But said the Interpreter, Look again; she therefore looked again and said, Here is not anything but an ugly spider, who hangs by her hands upon the wall. Then said he, Is there but one spider in all this spacious Room? Then the water stood in Christiana's eyes, for she was a woman quick of apprehension; and she said, Yes, Lord, there is here more than one. Yea, and spider's whose venom is far more destructive than that which is in her.

The Interpreter then looked pleasantly upon her, and said, Thou hast said the truth. This made Mercy blush, and the boys to cover their faces, for they all began now to understand the riddle.

Then said the Interpreter again, The spider taketh hold with her hands as you see, and is in King's Palaces. And wherefore is this recorded, but to shew you, that how full of the venom of sin soever you be, yet you may by the hand of faith lay hold of and dwell in the best room that belongs to the King's House above?

Christiana: I thought, said Christiana, of some thing of this, but I could not imagine it all. I thought that we were like spiders, and that we looked like ugly creatures, in what fine Room soever we were; but that by this spider, this venomous and ill-favoured creature, we were to learn how to act faith, came not into my mind.

And yet she has taken hold with her hands, as I see, and dwells in the best room in the House. God has made nothing in vain.

Then they seemed all to be glad, but the water stood in their eyes; yet they looked one upon another, and also bowed before the Interpreter.

Author Interprets:

Interpreter taught Christiana and her companions showing an ugly spider in the King’s palace. The sin in the life of a pilgrim is like this ugly, dreaded spider. Pastors should explain truths through parables so as to be easily understood by parishioners.

Next......Room of chickens