believed by some that this beast will certainly die of his wounds. This therefore made Mr. Great-heart and his fellows of great fame in this town; so that many of the people, that wanted their taste of things, yet had a reverent esteem and respect for them. Upon this account therefore it was that these pilgrims got not much hurt there. True, there were some of the baser sort, that could see no more than a mole, nor understand any more than a beast; these had no reverence for these men, nor took they notice of their valour and adventures.

Well, the time drew on that the pilgrims must go on their way; therefore they prepared for their journey. They sent for their friends; they conferred with them; they had some time set apart therein to commit each other to the protection of their Prince. There were again that brought them of such things as they had, that were fit for the weak and the strong, for the women and the men, and so laded. Acts 28. 10. them with such things as were necessary. Then they set forward on their way; and their friends accompanying them as far as was convenient, they again committed each other to the protection of their King, and parted.

They, therefore, that were of the pilgrims' company went on, and Mr. Great-heart went before them. Now the women and children being weakly, they were forced to go as they could bear. By this means Mr. Ready-to-halt and Mr. Feeble-mind had more to sympathise with their condition.

When they were gone from the townsmen, and when their friends had bid them farewell, they quickly came to the place where Faithful was put to death: therefore they made a stand, and thanked Him that had enabled him to bear his cross so well; and the rather, because they now found that they had a benefit by such a man's sufferings as his were. They went on, therefore, after this a good way further, talking of Christian and Faithful; and how Hopeful joined himself to Christian after that Faithful was dead.

Now they were come up with the hill Lucre, where the silver mine was which took Demas off from his pilgrimage, and into which, as some think, By-ends fell and perished: wherefore they considered that. But when they were come to the old monument that stood over

during that period, including the "Morning son's Preservative against Popery." The writers Exercises," delivered at Cripplegate, and the of these works, no doubt, were the GREATseries of tracts or essays afterwards compiled HEARTS and HONESTS of the day, who went by Dr. Gibson, Bishop of London, and recently forth to subdue the spirit of the wrathful and re-issued in a series of volumes entitled "Gib-destructive monster of the woods.

The River of the Water of Life.

against the hill Lucre, to wit, to the pillar of salt, that stood also within view of Sodom and its stinking lake, they marvelled, as did Christian before, that men of that knowledge and ripeness of wit, as they were, should be so blind as to turn aside here. Only they considered again, that nature is not affected with the harms that others have met with, especially if that thing upon which they look has an attracting virtue upon the foolish eye.

CHAPTER X.

THE DELECTABLE MOUNTAINS AND THE SHEPHERDS.

THIS chapter contains a record of some bold and manly exploits of the Pilgrim-band. Their numbers are many, and their faith is strong; and therefore they feel disposed to leave their foot-prints on the way, not way-marks of weakness, but permanent records of their strength and Christian prowess. The experiments of believing faith are always bold ventures, designed for the removal of some wrong, or the prevention of some evil, or the establishment of some good thing-to be in after-times a help and assistance to other Pilgrims who may pass that way. Accordingly, the lot of the Pilgrims having just now fallen in pleasant places, they are invigorated for the march; and, as the result of the large provision and refreshment they have received, they propose a very manly and Christian undertaking-the destruction of Doubting Castle and its great master, Giant DESPAIR. Here there is great play allowed to the diverse characters of the company-the strong men fighting, and the weak ones tarrying among the baggage, showing that there is work for each and for all, not only in the Lord's vineyard, but also in the Lord's battle-field.

The account of the interview with the Shepherds in the Second Pilgrimage falls short of the former narrative, both in depth of sentiment and in vigour of conception. It is less simple, and therefore less sublime. It fails to note any prospect of the Celestial City as having been seen through the telescope. Perhaps CHRISTIANA and her companions were so strong in faith and so constant in hope as not to need this additional evidence, which was granted to CHRISTIAN and HOPEFUL as a compensation for their sorrows of despair, and to comfort them while their hands yet trembled from the fearful sights they had seen from the Mount of Error and the Hill of Caution. But, surely, it would have been a stroke worthy of Bunyan's pen to have pictured FEEBLE-MIND and READY-TO-HALT permitted to see the golden gates of the City. Such a sight of far-seeing faith would perhaps have enabled the former to put away his "fears," and the latter to cast away his "crutches," and no longer, as weak Pilgrims, to fall back upon the promises as an external help, but, as strong men, to journey on in the inward strength of the promises of God, and in the sure faith of his Word. But feeble and halting Pilgrims never do see very distant prospects. Their faith is too faint for that; and yet at last they enter into rest.

SAW now that they went on till they came to the river that was on this side of the Delectable Mountains: to the river where the fine trees grow on both sides, and whose leaves, if taken inwardly, are good

Ps. 23.

against surfeits; where the meadows are green all the year long, and where they might lie down safely.

By this river-side, in the meadows, there were cotes and folds for sheep, a house built for the nourishing and bringing up of those lambs,

Jer. 23, 4. 34. 11-16.

the babes of these women that go on pilgrimage. Also there was here One that was entrusted with them, who could have compassion, and Heb. 5. 2. Isa. 40. 11. that could gather these lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and that could gently lead those that were with young. Now to the care of this man Christiana admonished her four daughters to commit their little ones, that by these waters they might be housed, harboured, succoured, and nourished, and that none of them might be lacking in time to come. This man, if any of them go Ezek. astray, or be lost, he will bring them again; he will also bind up that which was broken, and will strengthen them that are sick. Here they will never want meat, drink, and clothing; here they will be kept from thieves and robbers; for this man will die before one of those committed to his trust shall be lost. Besides, here they shall be sure to have good nurture and admonition, and shall be taught to walk in right paths; and that you know is a favour of no small account. Also here, as you see, are delicate waters, pleasant meadows, dainty flowers, variety of trees, and such as bear wholesome fruit; fruit not like that which Matthew ate of, that fell over the wall out of Beelzebub's garden; but fruit that procureth health where there is none, and that continueth and increaseth it where it is. So they were content to commit their little ones to him; and that which was also an encouragement to them so to do was, that all this was to be at the charge of the King; and so was as an hospital for young children and orphans.

Now they went on; and when they were çome to By-path meadow, to the stile over which Christian went with his fellow Hopeful, when they were taken by Giant Despair and put into Doubting Castle, they sat down, and consulted what was best to be done: to wit, now they were so strong, and had got such a man as Mr. Great-heart for their conductor, whether they had not best to make an attempt upon the giant, demolish his castle, and if there were any pilgrims in it, to set them at liberty, before they went any further. So one said one thing,

They came to the river. - This is "the river of the water of life," beside whose streams the former Pilgrims had for a season enjoyed such quietude and rest. To the present company also this "river of God" is pleasant and refreshing; its evergreens cover the Pilgrims with their peaceful shade; and they can lie down, and sleep, and be in safety. There is further added to the scene, as here described, the tender care bestowed by our good heavenly Father upon the little ones of his flock. This

allusion is suggested by the circumstances of the Pilgrims-children having been born to those God-fearing coupies who have, as narrated in the preceding scenes, been married in the Lord. Here, then, are their children cared for and tended by the loving Lord of the hill; and provision is made both to "feed the sheep' and to "feed the lambs" of the flock. “So," says Bunyan, "they were content to commit their little ones to him."

By-path meadow, to the stile. - How dif