THE AUTHOR'S WAY

OF SENDING FORTHI

HIS SECOND PART OF THE PILGRIM.

Go

now, my little Book, to every place,

Where my First Pilgrim has but shown his face:
Call at their door: if any say, Who's there?
Then answer thou, CHRISTIANA is here.

If they bid thee come in, then enter thou,

With all thy boys: and then thou knowest how;
Tell who they are, also from whence they came;
Perhaps they know them by their looks or name:
But if they should not, ask them yet again,

If formerly they did not entertain

One Christian, a Pilgrim? If they say

They did, and were delighted in his way,

Then let them know, that those related were

Unto him; yea, his wife and children are.

Tell them that they have left their house and home,

Are turned Pilgrims, seek a world to come:

That they nave met with hardships in the way,

That they do meet with troubles night and day;

That they have trod on serpents, fought with devils,
Have also overcome a many evils.

Yea, tell them also of the next who have,
Of love to pilgrimage, been stout and brave
Defenders of that way, and how they still
Refuse this world, to do their Father's will.

Go, tell them also of those dainty things,
That pilgrimage unto the Pilgrims brings :
Let them acquainted be too, how they are
Beloved of their King, under his care;

What goodly mansions he for them provides,
Though they meet with rough winds and swelling tides;
How brave a calm they will enjoy at last,

Who to the Lord, and by his ways hold fast.

Perhaps, with heart and hand they will embrace
Thee, as they did my firstling, and will grace
Thee, as thy fellows, with good cheer and fare,
As show well, they of Pilgrims lovers are.

1. OBJECTION.

But how, if they will not believe of me
That I am truly thine; 'cause some there be
That counterfeit the Pilgrim and his name,
Seek, by disguise, to seem the very same:
And by that means have brought themselves into
The hands and houses of I know not who?

ANSWER.

'Tis true, some have of late to counterfeit
My Pilgrim, to their own, my title set;
Yea, others half my name and title too
Have stitched to their books, to make them do;
But yet they by their features do declare
Themselves not mine to be, whose e'er they are.

If such thou meet'st with, then thine only way
Before them all, is to say qut thy say,
In thine own native language, which no man,
Now useth, nor with ease dissemble can.
If, after all, they still of you shall doubt,
Thinking that you, like gipsies, go about,
In naughty wise, the country to defile,
Or that you seek good people to beguile
With things unwarrantable, then send for me,
And I will testify you Pilgrims be

Yea, I will testify that only you

My Pilgrims are, and that alone will do.

2. OBJECTION.

But yet, perhaps, I may inquire for him,
Of those who wish him damned life and limb.
What shall I do, when I, at such a door

For Pilgrims ask, and they shall rage the more?

ANSWER.

Fright not thyself, my Book, for such bugbears
Are nothing else but ground for groundless fears.
My Pilgrim's book has travelled sea and land,
Yet could I never come to understand

That it was slighted, or turn'd out of door,

By any kingdom, were they rich or poor.

In France and Flanders, where men kill each other, My Pilgrim is esteem'd a friend, a brother.

In Holland too, 'tis said, as I am told,
My Pilgrim is, with some, worth more than gold.

Highlanders and wild Irish can agree My Pilgrim should familiar with them be.

'Tis in New-England under such advance,
Receives there so much loving countenance,

As to be trimm'd, new-cloth'd, and deck'd with gems,
That it may show its features and its limbs.
Yet more; so commonly doth my Pilgrim walk,
That of him thousands daily sing and talk.

If you draw nearer home, it will appear,

My Pilgrim knows no ground of shame or fear;

City and country both will entertain

With, Welcome, Pilgrim; yet, they can't refrain

From smiling, if my Pilgrim be but by,

Or show its head in any company.

Brave gallants do my Pilgrim hug and love, Esteem it much, yea, value it above

Things of a greater bulk; yea, with delight,
Say, my lark's leg is better than a kite.

Young ladies, and young gentlewomen too,
Do not small kindness to my Pilgrim show;
Their cabinets, their bosoms, and their hearts,
My Pilgrim has, 'cause he to them imparts
His pretty riddles, in such wholesome strains,
As yield them profit double to their pains
Of reading; yea, I think I may be bold
To say, some prize him far above their gold.

The very children that do walk the street,
If they do but my holy Pilgrim meet,
Salute him will, will wish him well, and say,
He is the only stripling of the day.

They that have never seen him, yet admire
What they have heard of him, and much desire
To have his company, and hear him tell
Those Pilgrim Stories, which he knows so well.

Yea, some that did not love him at the first, But call him fool and noddy, say they must, Now they have seen and heard him, him commend And to those whom they love they do him send.

Wherefore, my Second Part, thou need'st not be Afraid to show thy head; none can hurt thee, That wish but well to him that went before, 'Cause thou cam'st after with a second store Of things as good, as rich, as profitable, For young, for old, for stagg'ring, and for stable.

3. OBJECTION

But some there be that say, he laughs too loud;

And some do say, his head is in a cloud.

Some say, his words and stories are so dark,

They know not how by them to find his mark.

ANSWER.

One may (I think) say, both his laughs and cries May well be guess'd at by his watʼry eyes. Some things are of that nature, as to make One's fancy chuckle, while his heart doth ache When Jacob saw his Rachel with the sheep, He did at the same time both kiss and weep.

Whereas some say, a cloud is in his head,
That doth but show his wisdom's covered
With his own mantle, and to stir the mind
To search well after what it fain would find.
Things that seem to be hid in words obscure,
Do but the godly mind the more allure,
To study what those sayings should contain,
That speak to us in such a cloudy strain.

I also know a dark similitude

Will on the curious fancy more intrude,
And will stick faster in the heart and head,
Than things from similies not borrowed.

Wherefore, my book, let no discouragement Hinder thy travels: behold, thou art sent To friends, not foes; to friends that will give place To thee, my Pilgrim, and thy words embrace.

Besides, what my first Pilgrim left conceal'd, Thou, my brave Second Pilgrim, hast reveal'd; What Christian left lock'd up, and went his way, Sweet Christiana opens with her key.

4. OBJECTION.

But some love not the method of your first: Romance they count it, throw't away as dust. If I should meet with such, what should I say? Must I slight them as they slight me, or nay?