A Guide to John Bunyan's The Pilgrim's Progress

Notes and Commentary

by Ken Puls

on John Bunyan's The Pilgrim's Progress

Part Two

Christiana encourages Mercy

12. Uncertainties as the Journey Begins

By this time Christiana was got on her way; and Mercy went along with her. So as they went, her children being there also, Christiana began to discourse. And, “Mercy," said Christiana, “I take this as an unexpected favor that you should set foot out of doors with me, to accompany me a little in my Way.”

Mercy: Then said young Mercy (for she was but young), “If I thought it would be to purpose to go with you, I would never go near the town any more.”

Christiana: “Well, Mercy,” said Christiana, “cast in your lot with me. I well know what will be the end of our pilgrimage: my husband is where he would not but be for all the gold in the Spanish mines. Nor shall you be rejected, though you go but upon my invitation. The King who has sent for me and my children is one that delights in mercy. Besides, if you are willing, I will hire you, and you shall go along with me as my servant. Yet we will have all things in common between you and me; only go along with me.”

Mercy: “But how shall I be ascertained that I also shall be entertained? Had I this hope but from one that can tell, I would make no stick at all; but would go, being helped by him that can help, though the way was never so tedious.”

Christiana: “Well, loving Mercy, I will tell you what you should do. Go with me to the Wicket Gate, and there I will further inquire for you; and if there you should not meet with encouragement, I will be content that you should return to your place. I also will pay you for your kindness which you showed to me and my children, in your accompanying of us in our way as you are doing.”

Mercy: “Then will I go thither, and will take what shall follow; and the Lord grant that my lot may there fall even as the King of heaven shall have his heart upon me!”

Christiana then was glad in her heart, not only that she had a companion, but also for that she had prevailed with this poor maid to fall in love with her own salvation.

 

Notes and Commentary

One of the lessons Bunyan emphasizes often in The Pilgrim’s Progress (both Part One and Part Two), is our need to walk the journey together. We need Christian fellowship. We need our brothers and sisters in Christ. We need their wisdom, strength, love, and encouragement. And they need ours! In Part One Faithful and then Hopeful became Christian’s companions. Here in Part Two Christiana from the outset walks with Mercy.

As Christiana begins her journey to the Celestial City, she is delighted that Mercy has decided to accompany her. Mercy is most willing to go, but is hesitant, not knowing how she will be received when they reach their destination. Mercy does not want to return to Destruction. If she could be certain that her journey would “be to purpose” (be successful), she would “never go near the town any more.” Though she is troubled by uncertainty, she still agrees to go on the journey.

What convinces her to go? What overcomes her doubts and persuades her to leave the life she has always known? It’s not the evils of Destruction, though she is repelled by evil. Nor is it the promise of reward at the journey’s end; she can scarcely hope for reward. Rather it is the entreating and support of Christiana that encourages her and strengthens her resolve. Mercy’s weak and hesitant faith is emboldened by Christiana’s strong and confident faith.

Though their pilgrimage is fraught with uncertainties and unknowns, Christiana is certain of the outcome. She knows that her husband, Christian, reached his journey’s end and is even now enjoying life in the presence of his King. And she knows and believes that the promises of the King are true. She has assurance that she as well will be welcomed by Him. And not just her—Christiana is certain that Mercy will be received as well.

Secret, when he came to visit Christiana, spoke of the King as “the merciful One.” He assured her that the King “has sent me to tell you that He is a God ready to forgive; and that He takes delight to multiply pardon to offenses.” If God is willing to forgive and receive her, certainly He will extend His welcome to Mercy.

God delights in mercy! He declared the wideness of His mercy when He met with Moses on Mount Sinai:

And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, unto the third and to the fourth generation (Exodus 34:6–7).

It is not presumptuous for us to humble ourselves and go to God for forgiveness and pardon. The prophet Micah closes his book with these hopeful words:

Who is a God like You,
Pardoning iniquity
And passing over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage?
He does not retain His anger forever,
Because He delights in mercy.
He will again have compassion on us,
And will subdue our iniquities.
You will cast all our sins
Into the depths of the sea.
You will give truth to Jacob
And mercy to Abraham,
Which You have sworn to our fathers
From days of old.
Micah 7:18–20

Christiana knows this to be true of the King. She invites Mercy to “cast in your lot with me.” And she assures her: “Nor shall you be rejected, though you go but upon my invitation. The King who has sent for me and my children is one that delights in mercy.” Christiana also tries to remove obstacles that might hinder Mercy from going. She tells her: “if you are willing, I will hire you, and you shall go along with me as my servant. Yet we will have all things in common between you and me; only go along with me.”

When Mercy still has doubts, Christiana responds with more encouragement: "Well, loving Mercy, I will tell you what you should do. Go with me to the Wicket Gate, and there I will further inquire for you.” She promises: “if there you should not meet with encouragement, I will be content that you should return to your place. I also will pay you for your kindness which you showed to me and my children, in your accompanying of us in our way as you are doing.”

Christiana is ready to intercede in behalf of Mercy. She is certain that if Mercy will but go with her to the Wicket Gate, they will both be welcomed. Bunyan here echos the relationship of Faithful and Hopeful in Part 1 of The Pilgrim’s Progress. [PP119] Hopeful doubted that he would be received, but Faithful encouraged him: “He bid me go to him and see.”

Christiana and Mercy demonstrate the love, trust, concern, and compassion that we need to extend to one another in the body of Christ. Mercy agrees to go despite lingering doubts. Though she still harbors uncertainty, she is enraptured by the confidence and comfort that anchored Christiana’s hope. Though her faith is weak, Christiana’s concern and compassion for her serve to strengthen and build up her faith. Christian friendship and fellowship are means of grace that God uses to encourage and edify us on the way. Christiana rejoices because her love for her King has caused Mercy “to fall in love with her own salvation.”

Mercy understands that she is a sinner from the City of Destruction. She is undeserving of the King’s favor and has no sense of entitlement or presumption that she should be welcomed. But she believes that the King is good, even as Christiana has told her. And she is willing to trust herself to His mercy and grace. She is not resting her hope in what she can reason with her mind, say with her lips, or do with her hands. Rather she is entrusting herself to God to do “even as the King of heaven shall have his heart upon me.”

Continue Reading 13. Tears in a Bottle

Return to 11. Scorned by the World

 

The text for The Pilgrim's Progress
and images used are public domain
Notes and Commentary for Part II ©2014, 2021–2022 Ken Puls

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from
the New King James Version (NKJV) ©1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.

Return to A Guide to John Bunyan's The Pilgrim's Progress Part II

Return to A Guide to John Bunyan's The Pilgrim's Progress Main Index