INTERPRETER'S HOUSE.

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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 (it was when I was in my troubles),

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What shall we do with this

Her dream repeated.

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.

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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 Mercy makes good of His grace; for He, as we of duty. see, has followed us with unasked kindness, and has delivered us from their hands that were stronger than we, of His mere good pleasure."

use of their neglect

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

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CHRISTIANA KNOCKS AT THE DOOR.

Talk in the Interpreter's house about Christiana's going

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 on pilgrimage. 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 sometime 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. She knocks at the 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.

door, and Innocent

opens it.

Then said the damsel to them, “With whom would you speak in this place ?"

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 thou seest, is very far spent, and we are loth to-night to go any further."

DAMSEL. Pray, what may I call your name, that I may tell it to my Lord within?

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GREAT REJOICING

I

CHRIS. My name is Christiana ; was the wife of that pilgrim that some years ago did travel this way, and these be his four children. This maiden is also my companion, and is going on pilgrimage too.

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Great

that Christiana is

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, rejoicing and her companion, all waitturned pilgrim. ing for entertainment here." Then they leaped for joy, and went and told their master. So he came to the door, and, looking upon her, he said, Art thou that Christiana whom Christian, the good man, left behind him, when he betook himself to a pilgrim's life?"

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CHRIS. 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.

INTER. Then is fulfilled that which also is written of the man that said to

AMONG THE OLD SAINTS.

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his son, "Go, work to-day in my vineyard. He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented and went.”;

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!"

INTER. But why standest thou thus at the door? Come in, thou daughter of Abraham. We were talking of thee but now; for tidings have come to us before, how thou art 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 sit down and rest them; 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 was become a pilgrim. They also looked upon the boys. They stroked Old saints glad to them over the faces with the walk in God's ways. hand, in token of their kind reception

Matt. 21: 28, 29.

see the young ones