Christian with Porter and Damsel
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Christian with Porter and Damsel Discretion in the Family
Christian: I am come from the City of Destruction, and am going to Mount Zion;but because the sun is now set, I desire, if I may, to lodge here tonight.
Porter: What is your name?
Christian: My name is now Christian, but my name at the first was Graceless; I came of the race of Japheth, whom God will persuade to dwell in the Tents of Shem.
Porter: But how doth it happen that you come so late? The sun is set.
Christian: I had been here sooner, but that, wretched man that I am! I slept in the Arbor that stands on the Hillside; nay, I had notwithstanding that, been here much sooner, but that in my sleep I lost my evidence, and came without it to the brow of the Hill; and then feeling for it, and finding it not, I was forced with sorrow of heart to go back to the place where I had slept my sleep, where I found it, and now I am come.
Porter: Well, I will call out one of the Virgins of this place, who will, if she likes your talk, bring you in to the rest of the Family, according to the rules of the house.
So Watchful the Porter, rang a bell, at the sound of which came out at the door of the house, a grave and beautiful damsel named Discretion, and asked why she was called.
The Porter answered, This man is in a journey from the City of Destruction to Mount Zion, but being weary and benighted, he asked me if he might lodge here tonight; so I told him I would call for thee, who, after discourse had with him, mayest do as seemeth thee good, even according to the Law of the house.
Interpretation:
Christian takes refuge in the Porter's Lodge as the sun is set. At night, we have to find refuge in a lodge. The church is a place of refuge when we face the darkness at night. Tonight is a short duration as it is not a place of long stay. It is a night shelter and not a day shelter. Our evangelical ministry lies outside the night shelter. In this night shelter, the disciples are being equipped by the ministry of Damsel, likened to a pastor who has to be beyond reproach as a virgin. Our journey is long
and our destination is not the church. It is merely a place for our relief and security during our spiritual journey. Many Christians stop in this lodge and do not proceed further. The Porter testifies that the traveller, Christian, was in a journey from the City of Destruction to Mount Zion. Do not make the church your permanent home for your spiritual life. It is described as the Stately Palace because the princes of the King of Kings are equipped in this palace.
The Porter calls a grave and beautiful damsel named Discretion to minister to the Christian. The damsel is symbolical of a minister in the church other than the Porter who wanted Discretion to minister to the weary traveller. The damsel has to minister to the Christian "as seems good, even according to the law of the house". It is for the damsel to find out what is good for the Christian. The Porter does not give any instructions to the damsel as to how to minister. The Porter leaves it to
the damsel to minister even according to the law of the house.
The porter gives entry to the traveller only after interviewing him and hearing his testimony. Every pastor while admitting a believer in his church should ensure that the person concerned has come through the Gate and the Cross and the Sepulchre.
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