Porter's Lodge

Now then they were within sight of the Porter's Lodge, and they soon came up unto it; but they made the more haste after this to go thither, because 'tis dangerous travelling there in the night. So when they were come to the Gate, the Guide knocked, and the Porter cried, Who is there? But as soon as the Guide had said, It is I, he knew his voice, and came down (for the Guide had oft before that come thither as a conductor of Pilgrims). When he was come down, he opened the Gate, and seeing the Guide standing just before it (for he saw not the women, for they were behind him) he said unto him, How now, Mr Great-heart, what is your business here so late to-night? I have brought, said he, some Pilgrims hither, where by my Lord's commandment they must lodge. I had been here some time ago, had I not been opposed by the Giant that did use to back the lions' but I after a long and tedious combat with him, have cut him off, and have brought the Pilgrims hither in safety.

Porter: Will you not go in, and stay till morning?

Great-heart: No, I will return to my Lord tonight.

Christiana: Oh Sir, I know not how to be willing you should leave us in our Pilgrimage, you have been so faithful and so loving to us, you have fought so stoutly for us, you have been so hearty in counselling of us, that I shall never forget your favour towards us.

Mercy: Then said Mercy, O that we might have thy company to our journey's end. How can such poor women as we hold out in a way so full of troubles as this way is, without a friend and defender?

James: Then said James, the youngest of the boys, Pray Sir, be persuaded to go with us, and help us, because we are so weak, and the way so dangerous as it is.

Great-heart: I am at my Lord's commandment. If he shall allot me to be your Guide quite through, I will willingly wait upon you. But here you failed at first; for when he bid me to come thus far with you, then you should have begged me of Him to have gone quite through with you, and He would have granted your request. However at present I must withdraw, and so, good Christiana, Mercy, and my brave children Adieu.

Then the Porter, Mr Watchful, asked Christiana of her country, and of her kindred. And she said, I came from the City of Destruction, I am a widow woman, and my husband is dead, his name was Christian the Pilgrim. How, said the Porter, was he your husband? Yes, said she, and these are his children; and this, pointing to Mercy, is one of my Towns-women.

Then the Porter rang his bell, as at such times he is wont, and there came to the door one of the Damsels, whose name was Humble-mind. And to her the Porter said, Go tell it within that Christiana the wife of Christian, and her children, are come hither on Pilgrimage. She went in therefore and told it. But O what a noise for gladness was there within, when the Damsel did but drop that word out of her mouth.

So they came with haste to the Porter, for Christiana stood still at the door. Then some of the most grave said unto her, Come in Christiana, come in thou wife of that good man, come in thou blessed woman, come in with all that are with thee. So she went in, and they followed her that were her children and her companions.

Now when they were gone in, they were had into a very large room, where they were bidden to sit down, so they sat down; and the chief of the house was called to see and welcome the guests. Then they came in, and understanding who they were, did salute each other with a kiss, and said, Welcome ye Vessels of the Grace of God, welcome to us your friends.

Interpretation:

Porter's lodge is a temporary place of rest for pilgrims which is also a local church. This church is somewhat different from the one in which Christiana and her entourage took relief. The earlier place of rest where Christiana and her entourage stayed overnight is also a local church wherein basic doctrines are taught through parables by a mature minister called Interpreter. However, in this place of rest, the stay of the pilgrims is for a longer period and deep truths are taught. It is a place of fellowship for prayer, Bible study and fellowship. Here, we find specialized ministers like Prudence, Charity and Piety. In his church, necessary help for marriage and education of chldren is also given. Great-heart entrusts the pilgrims to the care of Watchful, the Porter in the Porter's lodge and then leaves for the time being. Great-heart does not have any work in this place.

A local church should mature into a strong church by offering specialized services to the pilgrims who make their way into this church after facing afflictions in the hands of the Devil. Today, we find that a local church though becoming a mega church does not grow qualitatively but only guantitively. We do not find ministers like apostles, prophets, in this church.

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