Ken Puls is a follower of Jesus, husband, father, worship leader, pastor and song writer. Over the past 27 years of ministry he has composed over 50 songs and hymns. He directs the music and media ministries at Grace Baptist Church, Cape Coral, FL.
“Lord, make me to know my end, And what is the measure of my days, That I may know how frail I am. Indeed, You have made my days as handbreadths, And my age is as nothing before You; Certainly every man at his best state is but vapor.” (Psalm 39:4–5)
Behold, O Lord, My Days
1. Behold, O Lord, my days are made A handbreadth as their span. Before the noon, my flow’r must fade, The end of ev’ry man.
2. So teach me Lord, to know my end And know that I am frail. To heav’n let all my thoughts ascend And let not earth prevail.
3. What love of earth can keep me here? I hope in You alone. When will You open glory’s gates And call me to Your throne?
4. A stranger in this land am I, A pilgrim far from rest. O be not silent to my cry, My yearning soul’s request.
5. Though I’m exiled from glory’s land, I dwell with glory’s King. My God is ever near at hand; He wakes my voice to sing.
I just added more titles to the growing collection of Hymns for Classical Guitar. New hymn transcriptions include:
To God Be the Glory
This Is My Father’s World
Grace Greater Than Our Sin
Sing Praise to God Who Reigns Above
These Hymns for Classical Guitar are arranged to be concise, accessible, and useful for several occasions including preludes and offertories, accompanying congregational singing, or simply playing for your own enjoyment. The sheet music for each hymn is available as a free PDF download.
You are welcome to copy and share these hymns with friends and fellow guitar enthusiasts. Please copy the full page of sheet music with the website address and the “Used by Permission” notice at the bottom (see Permissions).
He had them then into another room where was a hen and chickens, and bid them to observe awhile. So one of the chickens went to the trough to drink; and every time she drank, she lifted up her head and her eyes towards heaven. “See,” said he, “what this little chick doth; and learn of her to acknowledge whence your mercies come, by receiving them with looking up. Yet again, said he, “observe and look.” So they gave heed, and perceived that the hen did walk in a fourfold method towards her chickens.
1. She had a common call; and that she has all day long.
2. She had a special call; and that she had but sometimes.
3. She had a brooding note.
And, 4. She had an outcry.
Interpreter: “Now,” said he, “compare this hen to your King, and these chickens to his obedient ones. For answerable to her, himself has his methods, which he walks in towards his people. By his common call, he gives nothing; by his special call, he always has something to give; he has also a brooding voice for them that are under his wing; and he has an outcry, to give the alarm when he sees the enemy come. I choose, my darlings, to lead you into the room where such things are, because you are women, and they are easy for you.”
Christiana: “And, sir,” said Christiana, “pray let us see some more.”
Notes and Commentary
Now the Interpreter shows the pilgrims a room in which they see a hen and her chicks. They watch awhile and observe how the hen calls and cares for her brood. Unlike the previous room, where the meaning of the lesson was not immediately apparent, this room offers a lesson that is “easy” for the pilgrims to understand. Christiana is a mother with children of her own. Mercy has joined the family to help them on the journey. They readily understand the need for watchfulness, nurture, and care.
The room with the hen and her chicks teaches us how God sends forth His mercies as well as how we are to receive His mercies. God’s mercies come to us through His Word—His written Word (the Scriptures) and the incarnate Word (the Lord Jesus, to whom the written Word points as the only Way of salvation).
When the Interpreter had showed them this, he has them into the very best room in the house (a very brave room it was); so he bade them look round about, and see if they could find anything profitable there. 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 spiders whose venom is far more destructive than that which is in her.” The Interpreter then looked pleasantly upon her, and said, “You have 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 takes hold with her hands, as you see, and is in kings’ palaces. And wherefore is this recorded, but to show 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 something 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-favored creature, we were to learn how to act faith, that 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.
Notes and Commentary
The Interpreter now takes the pilgrims into the best room in house. It is described as “a very brave room,” meaning it was most splendid and magnificent. The pilgrims survey the room and their reaction is telling. The room is wonderfully arrayed, yet they see nothing extraordinary. The only thing that is obviously out of place is “a very great spider on the wall” and at first the pilgrims don’t see it (or choose not to see it). Mercy tells the Interpreter, “Sir, I see nothing.” Christiana notices the spider but hesitates to say anything.
The Interpreter, then, has them take a harder look. Mercy notices the spider and exclaims, ““Here is not anything but an ugly spider, who hangs by her hands upon the wall.”
After awhile—because supper was not ready—the Interpreter took them into his significant rooms, and showed 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 to give 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 somewhat the meaning of this; for this is a figure of a man of this world. Is it not, good sir?”
Interpreter: “You have said the right,” said he: “and his muck rake does show his carnal mind. And whereas you see 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 show that heaven is but as a fable to some, and that things here are counted the only things substantial. Now, whereas you were also shown that the man could look no way but downwards, it is to let you know that earthly things, when they are with power upon men’s minds, quite carry their hearts away from God.”
Christiana: Then said Christiana, “Oh, deliver me from this muck rake!”
Interpreter: “That prayer,” said the Interpreter, “has been lain by till ’tis almost rusty. ‘Give me not riches’ is scarce 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.”
Notes and Commentary
The Interpreter begins by showing Christiana, Mercy, and the children the significant rooms that Christian had seen in Part 1 of The Pilgrim’s Progress. Those lessons proved to be invaluable to Christian, helping him overcome dangers and obstacles as he journeyed to the Celestial City. Once the pilgrims have had some time to digest (meditation on) the truths of those lessons, the Interpreter shows them even more. The wisdom in God’s Word can never be exhausted.
They see a man in a room who looks only downward. He has a muck rake in his hand. There is One standing over him, offering him a celestial crown. If he would but look up, he could cast away the muck rake in exchange for the crown. The man, however, pays no heed to the crown and contents himself with pushing around the straw, sticks, and dirt on the floor, endeavoring to pile up a mound of muck he can call his own.
Thus now, when they had talked away a little more time, they drew nigh to a house which stood in the way, which house was built for the relief of pilgrims; as you will find more fully related in the first part of these records of the “Pilgrim’s Progress.” So they drew on towards the house (the house of the Interpreter); and when they came to the door, they heard a great talk in the house. They then gave ear, and heard, as they thought, Christiana mentioned by name; for you must know that there went along, even before her, a talk of her and her children’s going on pilgrimage. And this thing was the more pleasing to them, because they had heard that she was Christian’s wife—that woman who was some time ago so unwilling to hear of going on pilgrimage. Thus, therefore, they stood still; and heard the good people within commending her who, they little thought, stood at the door. At last Christiana knocked, as she had done at the gate before. Now when she had knocked, there came to the door a young damsel named Innocent, and opened the door, and looked, and behold two women were there.
Damsel: Then said the damsel to them, “With whom would you speak in this place?”
Christiana: Christiana answered, “We understand that this is a privileged place for those that are become pilgrims, and we now at this door are such; wherefore, we pray that we may be partakers of that for which we at this time are come. For the day, as you see, is very far spent, and we are loath tonight to go any farther.”
Damsel: Pray what may I call your name, that I may tell it to my Lord within?
Christiana: My name is Christiana. I was the wife of that pilgrim that some years ago did travel this way; and these be his four children. This maiden also is my companion, and is going on pilgrimage too.
Innocent: Then ran Innocent in (for that was her name), and said to those within, “Can you think who is at the door? There is Christiana and her children, and her companion, all waiting for entertaining here.”
Then they leaped for joy, and went and told their master. So he came to the door, and looking upon her, he said, “Are you that Christiana whom Christian, the good man, left behind him when he betook himself to a pilgrim’s life?”
Christiana: I am that woman that was so hard hearted as to slight my husband’s troubles, and that left him to go on in his journey alone, and these are his four children; but now I also am come, for I am convinced that no way is right but this.
Interpreter: Then is fulfilled that which also is written of the man that said to his son, “Go, work today in my vineyard.” And he said to his father, “I will not,” but afterwards repented and went.
Christiana: Then said Christiana, “So be it. Amen. God make it a true saying upon me; and grant that I may be found at the last of him in peace without spot and blameless.”
Interpreter: “But why do you stand thus at the door? Come in, you daughter of Abraham. We were talking about you just now, for tidings have come to us before how you have become a pilgrim. Come, children, come in; come, maiden, come in.” So he had them all into the house.
So when they were within, they were bidden to sit down and rest; the which when they had done, those that attended upon the pilgrims in the house came into the room to see them. And one smiled, and another smiled, and they all smiled for joy that Christiana had become a pilgrim. They also looked upon the boys; they stroked them over the faces with the hand, in token of their kind reception of them; they also carried it lovingly to Mercy, and bade them all welcome into their master’s house.
Notes and Commentary
The pilgrims now arrive at “a house which stood in the way, which house was built for the relief of pilgrims.” The House of the Interpreter is a familiar place in ThePilgrim’s Progress. Christian spent much time here in Part 1, learning lessons and seeing “excellent things.”
The House of the Interpreter is a splendid representation of God’s Word. Each room and object in the house points to profitable truths from the Bible. The Interpreter, who welcomes the pilgrims to “come in,” is the Holy Spirit, who illumines Scripture and helps us rightly understand and apply its truths.
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: “Your innocency, my sister,” said Christiana to Mercy, “may excuse you 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 did you know 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 I thought to myself that 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, waking 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 have 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.”
Notes and Commentary
As Christiana and Mercy resume their journey, they reflect on their recent peril. Though neither one was expecting danger, they were caught off guard for different reasons.
Mercy was truly surprised by the encounter. She did not see the danger coming. She had been accepted at the Gate and was joyfully following the Way to Life. Her expectations were unrealistic, believing that now safely through the Gate, the dangers of the journey were past. She confesses to Christiana, “What a sudden blank is here!”
Now they being, as I said, not far from the gate in at which they came, their voice was heard from where they were, thither: wherefore some of the house came out, and knowing that it was Christiana’s tongue, they made haste to her relief; but by that they were got within sight of them, the women were in a very great scuffle, the children also stood crying by. Then did he that came in for their relief call out to the ruffians, saying, “What is that thing that you do? Would you make my Lord’s people to transgress?” He also attempted to take them; but they did make their escape over the wall into the garden of the man to whom the great dog belonged: so the dog became their protector. This Reliever then came up to the women, and asked them how they did. So they answered, “We thank your Prince, pretty well, only we have been somewhat affrighted; we thank you also for that you came into our help, for otherwise we had been overcome.”
Reliever: So after a few more words, this Reliever said as follows: “I marveled much when you were entertained at the gate above, seeing you knew that you 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 it would 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 for 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 everyone 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 inquired 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.
Notes and Commentary
In the previous post, Christiana and Mercy were in the midst of great peril. They were traveling on the Way, still near the Gate, when they were assaulted by two ill-favored ones. Unable to flee, they both cried out for help.
Thankfully, their voice is heard and a Reliever comes in answer to their prayers. He confronts the ruffians and pursues them until they make their escape over the wall.
Who is this Reliever who hastens to help the pilgrims? Bunyan offers some clues in the story as to his identity.
Now by that they were gone about two bow-shots from the place that let them into the way, they espied two very ill-favored ones coming down apace to meet them. With that Christiana, and Mercy her friend, covered themselves with their veils; and so kept on their journey. The children also went on before; so that at last they met together. Then they that came down to meet them came just up to the women as if they would embrace them; but Christiana said, “Stand back, or go peaceably by, as you should.” Yet these two, as men that are deaf, regarded not Christiana’s words; but began to lay hands upon them. At that Christiana, waxing very wroth, spurned at them with her feet. Mercy also, as well as she could, did what she could to shift them. Christiana again said to them, “Stand back, and be gone; for we have no money to lose, being pilgrims, as you see, and such too as live upon the charity of our friends.”
Ill-favoured Ones: Then said one of the two men, “We make no assault upon you for money; but are come out to tell you, that if you will but grant one small request which we shall ask, we will make women of you forever.”
Christiana: Now Christiana, imagining what they should mean, made answer again, “We will neither hear, nor regard, nor yield to what you shall ask. We are in haste, cannot stay; our business is a business of life and death.” So again, she and her companions made a fresh essay to go past them: but they hindered them in their way.
Ill-favoured Ones: “We intend no hurt to your lives; it is another thing we would have.”
Christiana: “Aye,” said Christiana, “you would have us body and soul, for I know it is for that you are come; but we will die rather upon the spot than suffer ourselves to be brought into such snares as shall hazard our wellbeing hereafter.” And with that they both shrieked out, and cried, “Murder! murder!” and so put themselves under those laws that are provided for the protection of women.
But the men still made their approach upon them, with design to prevail against them; they therefore cried out again.
Notes and Commentary
Once again, the pilgrims are not far from the Gate, when they are confronted with temptation and sin. They heard the barking dog and saw the alluring fruit from Beelzebub’s garden. Now the evil they encounter is even more threatening and hostile. The pilgrims are shamelessly assaulted by two “ill-favored ones” who are intent on defiling their bodies, derailing their faith, and discouraging any hope that they will complete their journey to the Celestial City.
Now there was on the other side of the wall that fenced in the way up which Christiana and her companions were to go, a garden; and that garden belonged to him whose was that barking dog of whom mention was made before. And some of the fruit trees that grew in that garden shot their branches over the wall; and being mellow, they that found them did gather them up, and oft ate of them to their hurt. So Christiana’s boys—as boys are apt to do—being pleased with the trees, and with the fruit that did hang thereon, did pluck them, and began to eat. Their mother did also chide them for so doing; but still the boys went on.
“Well,” said she, “my sons, you transgress; for that fruit is none of ours.” But she did not know that they did belong to the enemy; I’ll warrant you if she had, she would have been ready to die for fear. But that passed, and they went on their way.
Notes and Commentary
No sooner had the pilgrims left the comforts of the Gate than they again faced impending danger. When they were approaching the Gate, danger had been evident. The barking of the dog sounded fierce and menacing. But now danger is craftily disguised and dressed up as delight. The pilgrims would not flee from terror, so perhaps they will fall in temptation.
