Guide to The Pilgrim's Progress Part Two

In the morning they arose with the sun, and prepared themselves for their departure; but the Interpreter would have them tarry awhile, “For,” said He, “you must orderly go from hence.” Then said He to the damsel that at first opened unto them, "Take them, and have them into the garden to the bath; and there wash them, and make them clean from the soil which they have gathered by traveling.” Then Innocent, the damsel, took them, and had them into the garden, and brought them to the bath; so she told them that there they must wash and be clean, for so her master would have the women to do that called at his house as they were going on pilgrimage. Then they went in and washed, yea, they and the boys and all; and they came out of that bath, not only sweet and clean, but also much enlivened and strengthened in their joints. So when they came in, they looked fairer a deal than when they went out to the washing.

Notes and Commentary

The next morning the pilgrims awake and prepare to resume their journey. Bunyan notes that they “arose with the sun.” After spending time in the House of the Interpreter, Christiana, her four boys, and Mercy arise with light for their path.

They have the light of Christ.

Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life” (John 8:12).

For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake. For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 4:5–6).

And they have His Word that they might walk in its light and know what is pleasing to the Lord.

For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), finding out what is acceptable to the Lord (Ephesians 5:8–10).

In Part 1 Christian discovered the folly of sleeping while it is day and the blessing of walking in the light . Here in Part 2 it is daylight and the pilgrims are ready to journey while it is light.

Tarry Awhile in the Word

The pilgrims are heartened by the light, but the Interpreter has more to teach them. He encourages them to “tarry awhile” and not be in a hurry to resume their journey. He insists that they “must go orderly from hence.” If we are to be prepared to battle sin and navigate this life in an “orderly” way, we must spend sufficient time in God’s Word. There is much we need if we are to have provisions ready for journey, but we too often are eager to embark with just a little. And so God takes us to His Word and beckons us to “tarry awhile.”

When Christian thought he had seen enough in Part 1, the Interpreter offered the same wise counsel. Though Christian could not foresee the dangers that would threaten his journey, the Interpreter knew best what he would need to complete his journey. Some of the most valuable lessons that Christian learned in Part 1 came after he heeded the Interpreter’s words: “Tarry till I shall show you one thing more, and you shall go on your way."

Into the Garden to the Bath

The Interpreter then instructs Innocent to take the pilgrims “into the garden to the bath.” There they are to bathe and be washed and cleansed from the filth and grime of the world. Some have suggested that the Bath here represents baptism. The Garden, after all, represents the church and bathing suggests immersion. But Bunyan is pointing to something deeper than baptism.

Baptism is a public profession of faith in obedience to Christ’s command, but it cannot itself cleanse us.
Baptism is a testimony of our confidence that God is doing a saving work within us, but it does not itself have power to save or sanctify us.
We are baptized only once when we become a follower of Christ and join with a community of faith, but we need washing daily from the dirt and dust that settles on us as we journey through life.

The Bath represents the deeper and inward work of sanctification. It is the “washing of water by the word.” Christ alone, through the working of the Spirit and the Word, can cleanse us from sin.

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word (Ephesians 5:25–26).

But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin (1 John 1:7).

If we are to be cleansed and forgiven of sins, we must come to Christ.

He alone is the promised fountain.

In that day a fountain shall be opened for the house of David and for the inhabitants of Jerusalem, for sin and for uncleanness (Zechariah 13:1).

He alone can cleanse us and give us new hearts.

I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules (Ezekiel 36:25–27).

He alone can sanctify us and make us acceptable to come into God’s presence.

Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, and having a High Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water (Hebrews 10:19–22)

Bunyan places the bath in garden, and the garden in the House of the Interpreter. It is in the church where we can regularly sit under the teaching and preaching of God’s Word. There, gathered with God’s people, we can linger long in the Word, bathing our souls in its truths, precepts, and promises. We can profit from the Word as the Spirit illumines its truth and fits us for the journey.

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16–17)

As the Word washes and cleanses us, we are strengthened and enlivened.

Make me understand the way of Your precepts;
So shall I meditate on Your wonderful works.
My soul melts from heaviness;
Strengthen me according to Your word.
(Psalm 119:27–28)

This is my comfort in my affliction,
For Your word has given me life.
(Psalm 119:50)

Uphold me according to Your word, that I may live;
And do not let me be ashamed of my hope.
(Psalm 119:116)

Make it your aim regularly and faithfully to gather with the church. Spend ample time in God’s Word. Hear it, study it, remember it, and rejoice in it. Wash away the vain and empty philosophies of the world and be refreshed and renewed in the words of life.

Teach me, O Lord, the way of Your statutes,
And I shall keep it to the end.
Give me understanding, and I shall keep Your law;
Indeed, I shall observe it with my whole heart.
Make me walk in the path of Your commandments,
For I delight in it.
(Psalm 119:33–35)

Continue reading 38. Fair as the Moon

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The text for The Pilgrim's Progress
and images used are public domain
Notes and Commentary for Part II ©2014, 2021–2024 Ken Puls

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

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