how the river to some had had its flowings, and what ebbings has had while others have gone over. It has been 'in a manner dry for scme, while it has overflowed its banks for others..

B

In this place the children of the town would go into the King's gardens, and gather nosegays for the pilgrims, and bring them to them with much affection: Here also grew camphire with spikenard and saffron, calamus, and cinnamon, with all the trees of frankincense, myrrh, and aloes, with all chief spices. With these the pilgrims' chambers were perfumed while they stayed here; and with these were their bodies anointed, to prepare them to go over the river, when the time appointed was come.

Now while they lay here, and waited for the good hour, there was a noise in the town that there was a post come from the Celestial City, with matter of great importance to one Chrisana, the wife of Christian the pilgrim. So inquiry was made for her, the house was found out where she was. So the post presented her with a letter. The contents were, Hail, good woman; I bring thee tidings that the Master calleth for thee, and expects that thou shouldst stand in his presence, in clothes of immortality, within these ten days.

When he had read this letter to her, he gave her therewith a le sure token that he was a true messenger, and was come to bid her make haste to be gone. The token was, an arrow with a ti point sharpened with love, let easily into her heart, which by degrees wrought so effectually with her, that at the time apsepointed she must be gone.

and When Christiana saw that her time was come, and that she Like was the first of this company that was to go over, she called be for Mr. Great-heart, her guide, and told him how matters were. So he told her he was heartily glad of the news, and could have ap been glad had the post come for him. Then she bid him that she should give advice how all things should be prepared for her ice journey. So he told her, saying, thus and thus it must be; and awe that survive will accompany you to the river side.

and daughters to be ready against the messenger should come for them.

When she had spoken these words to her guide, and to her children, she called for Mr.. Valiant-for-truth, and said unto him, Sir, you have in all places showed yourself true-hearted be faithful unto death, and my King will give you a'crown of life, Rev. ii. 10. I would also entreat you to have an eye to my children; and if at any time you see them faint, speak comfortably to them. For my daughters, my sons' wives, they have been faithful, and a fulfilling of the promise upon them will be their end. But she gave Mr. Standfast a ring.

Then she called for old Mr. Honest, and said of him, "Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile !" John i. 47.. Then said he, I wish you a fair day when you set out for Mount Sion, and shall be glad to see that you go over the river dry-shod. But she answered, Come wet, come dry, I long to be gone; for however the weather is in my journey, I shall have time enough when I come there to sit down and rest me, and dry me.

Then came in that good man, Mr. Ready-to-halt, to see her. So she said to him, Thy travel hitherto has been with difficulty; but that will make thy rest the sweeter. Watch, and be ready; for at an hour when ye think not, the messenger may come.

After him came Mr. Despondency and his daughter, Much-afraid;

to

whom she said, You ought with thankfulness for ever to remember your deliverance from the hands of Giant Despair.

and out of Doubting Castle. The effect of that mercy is, that you are brought with safety hither. Be ye watchful, and cast away fear; be sober, and hope to the end.

Then she said to Mr. Feeble-mind, Thou wast delivered from the mouth of Giant Slay-good that thou mightest live in the light of the living, and see thy King with comfort. Only, I advise thee to repent for thine aptness to fear and doubt of his goodness, before he sends for thee; lest thou shouldst, when he comes, be forced to stand before him for that fault, with blushing.

Now the day drew on that Christiana must be gone. So the road was full of people to see her take her journey. But behold, all the banks beyond the river were full of horses and chariots, which were come down from above to accompany her to the city gate. So she came forth, and entered the river, with a beckon of farewell to those that followed her. The last words that she was heard

to

say were, 1 come, Lord, to be with thee, and bless thee! So her children and friends returned to their places, for those that waited for Christiana had carried her out of their sight. So she went and called, and entered in at the gate with all

the ceremonies of joy that her husband Christian had entered with before her. At her departure the children wept. But Mr. Great-heart and Mr. Valiant played upon the well-tuned cymbal and harp for joy. So all departed to their respective places.

In process of time, there came a post to the town again, and his business was with Mr.Ready-to-halt. So he inquired him out, and said, I am come from Him whom thou hast loved and followed, though upon crutches; and my message is to tell thee that he expects thee at his table to sup with him in his king. dom, the next day after Easter; wherefore prepare thyself for this journey. Then he also gave him a token that he was a true messenger, saying, "I have broken thy goldon bowl, and loosed thy silver cord," Eccles. xii. 6.

After this, Mr. Ready-to-halt called for his fellow-pilgrims, and told them, saying, I am sent for, and God shall surely visit you also. So he desired Mr. Valiant to make his will. And because he had nothing to bequeath to them that should survive

Pkw told him but his crutch970 min Lenses, and his good wishes, therefore bethus he said, These on crutches I bequeath to my son, that shall tread in my ball steps, with a hunnion dred warm wishes that he may prove better than I have been. Then he thanked Mr. Greatheart for his conduct and kindness, and so add essea

himself to his journey. When he came to the brink of the river, He said, Now I shall have no more need of these crutches, since yonder are chariots and horses for me to ride on. The last words he was heard to say were, Welcome life! So he went his way.

After this Mr. Feeble-mind had tidings brought him that the post sounded his horn at his chamber-door. Then he came in, and told him saying, I am come to tell thee that thy Master hath need of thee, and that in a very little time thou must behold his face in brightness. And take this as a token of the truth of my message: "Those that look out at the windows shall be darkened," Eccles. xii. 3. Then Mr. Feeble-mind called for his friends, and told them what errand had been brought unto him, and what token he had received of the truth of the message. Then he said, Since I have nothing to bequeath to any, to what purpose should I make a will? As for my feeble mind, that I will leave behind me, for that I shall have no need of in the place whither I go, nor is it worth bestowing upon the poorest pilgrims: wherefore, when I am gone, I desire that you, Mr. Valiant, would bury it in a dunghill. This done, and the day being come on which he was to depart, he entered the river as the rest. His last words were, Hold out, faith and patience! So he went over to the other side.

When days had many of them passed away, Mr. Despondency

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was sent for; for a post was come, and brought this message to him: Trembling man! these are to summon thee to be ready with the King by the next Lord's day, to shout for joy for thy deliverance from all thy doubtings. And, said the messenger, that my message is true, take this for a proof: so he gave him a grasshopper to be a burden unto him, Eccles. xii. 5. Now Mr. Despondency's daughter, whose name was Muchafraid, said, when she heard what was done, that she would go with her father. Then Mr. Despondency said to his friends, Myself and my daughter you know what we have been, and how troublesomely we have behaved ourselves in every company. My will and my daughter's is, that our desponds and slavish fears be by no man ever received, from the day of our departure for ever; for I know that after my death they will offer themselves to others. For, to be plain with you, they are ghosts which we entertained when we first began to be pilgrims, and could never shake them off after; and they will walk about, and seek entertainment of the pilgrims: but for our sakes, shut the doors upon them.

When the time was come for them to depart, they went up to the brink of the river. The last words of Mr. Despondency were, Farewell, night; welcome, day! His daughter went through the river singing, but no one could understand what she said. Then it came to pass a while after, that there was a post in the town that inquired for Mr. Honest. So he came to the house where he was, and delivered to his hand these lines: Thou art commanded to be ready against this day sevennight, to present thyself before thy Lord, at his Father's house. And for a token that my message is true, "All the daughters of music shall be brought low," Eccles. xii. 4. Then Mr. Honest called for his friends, and said unto them, I die, but shall make no will. As for my honesty, It shall go with me; let him that comes after be told of this. When the day that he was to be gone was come, he addressed himself to go over the river. Now the river at that time overflowed its banks in some places; but Mr. Honest in his life-time had spoken to one Good-con science to meet him there, the which he also did, and lent him his hand, and so helped him over. The last words of Mr. Honest were, Grace reigns! So he left the world.

After this it was noised abroad that Mr. Valiant-for-truth was sent for by a summons by the same post as the other, and had this for a token that the summons was true, "That his pitcher was broken at the fountain," Eccles. xii. 6. When he understood it, he called for his friends, and told them of it. Then said he, I am going to my Father's; and though with great difficulty I have got hither, yet now I do not repent me of all the troubles I have been at to arrive where I am. My sword I give to him that shall succeed me in my pilgrimage, and my courage and skill to him that can get it. My marks and scars I carry

4

with me, to be a witness for me that I have fought His battles who will now be my rewarder. When the day that he must go hence was come, many accompanied him to the river side, into which, as he went, he said, "Death, where is thy sting?" And, as he went down deeper, he said, "Grave, where is thy victory ?" 1 Cor. xv. 55. So he passed over, and all the trumpets sounded for him on the other side.

Then there came forth a summons for Mr. Standfast. This Mr. Standfast was he whom the pilgrims found upon his knees in the Enchanted Ground. And the post brought it him open in his hands; the contents whereof were, that he must prepare for a change of life, for hia Master was not willing that he

should be so far from him any longer. At this Mr. Standfa was put into a muse. Nay, said the messenger, you need n doubt the truth of my message; for here is a token of the tru thereof: "Thy wheel is broken at the cistern," Eccles. xii Then he called to him Mr. Great-heart, who was their guid and said unto him, Sir, although it was not my hap to be m in your good company in the days of my pilgrimage, yet, sin the time I knew you, you have been profitable to me. When' came from home, I left behind me a wife and five small chi dren; let me entreat you at your return (for I know that y go and return to your Master's house, in hopes that you m yet be a conductor to more of the holy pilgrims) that you se to my family, and let them be acquainted with all that hat.. and shall happen unto me. Tell them moreover of my preser blessed condition, and of my happy arrival at the Celes City. Tell them also of Christian and Christiana his wife, and how she and her children came after her husband. Tell them also what a happy end she made, and whither she is gone. I have little or nothing to send to my family, unless it be my prayers and tears for them; of which it will suffice that you acquaint them, if peradventure they may prevail. When Mr Standfast had thus set things in order, and the time being come for him to haste him away, he also went down to the river. Now there was a great calm at that time in the river; wherefore Mr. Stand fast, when he was about half way in, stood awhile, and talked to his companions that had waited upon Kim thither. And he said, This river has been a terro many; yea, the thoughts of it also have often frightened, but now methinks I stand easy, my foot is fixed upon that on which the feet of the priests that bare the ark of the covenant stood while Israel went over Jordan, Josh. iii. 17. The waters indeed are to the palate bitter, and to the stomach cold; yet the thoughts of what I am going to, and of the convoy that wai for me on the other side, lie as a glowing coal at my heart I see myself now at the end of my journey; my toilsome days are ended. I am going to see that head which was crowned with thorns, and that face which was spit upon for me. I have formerly lived by hearsay and faith; but now I go where I shall live by sight, and shall be with him in whose company I delight myself. I have loved to hear my Lord spoken of; and wherever I have seen the print of his shoe in the earth, there I have coveted to set my foot too. His name has been to me a civet-box; yea, sweeter than all perfumes. His voice to me has been most sweet; and his countenance I have more desired than they that have most desired the light of the sun. His words I did use to gather for my food, and for antidote against my faintings. He has held me, and hath kept me f mine iniquities; yea, my steps have been strengthened in way.

Now while he was thus in discourse, his countenance changed, his strong man bowed under him: and after he had said, Take me, for I come unto thee, he ceased to be seen of them.

But glorious it was to see how the upper region was filled with horses and chariots, with trumpeters and pipers, with singers and players on stringed instruments, to welcome the pilgrims as they went up, and followed one another in at the beautiful gate of the city.

As for Christian's children, the four boys that Christiana brought, with their wives and children, I did not stay where I was till they were gone over. Also since I came away, I heard one say that they were yet alive, and so would be for the increase of the church in that place where they were for a time.

Should it be my lot to go that way again, I may give those that desire it an account of what I here am silent about: mean. time I bid my reader