232

Their own carnal conclu

sions, instead of the Word of

Life.

mending the

At the Wicket-gate.

the King to make this place for pilgrims good, yet it was rather worse than formerly. So I asked if that was true? Yes, said the old gentleman, too true; for that many there be that pretend to be the King's labourers, and that say they are for King's highway, that bring dirt and dung instead of stones, and so mar, instead of mending. Here Christiana, therefore, with her boys, did make a stand. But, said Mercy, Come, let us venture; only let us be wary. Then they looked well to the steps, and made a shift to get staggeringly over. Yet Christiana had like to have been in, and that not once nor twice. Now they had no sooner got over, but they thought they heard words that said unto them, "Blessed is she that believed, for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord" (Luke i. 45).

Mercy the boldest at the Slough of De

spond.

Then they went on again; and said Mercy to Christiana, Had I as good ground to hope for a loving reception at the Wicket-gate as you, I think no Slough of Despond would discourage me.

Well, said the other, you know your sore, and I know mine; and, good friend, we shall all have enough evil before we come at our journey's end. For can it be imagined, that the people that design to attain such excellent glories as we do, and that are so envied that happiness as we are, but that we shall meet with what fears and scares, with what troubles and afflictions they can possibly assault us with that hate us?

Prayer should be made with consideration and fear, as well as in faith and hope.

And now Mr. Sagacity left me to dream out my dream by myself. Wherefore, methought I saw Christiana and Mercy, and the boys, go all of them up to the gate; to which when they were come they betook themselves to a short debate about how they

The Keeper of the Gate.

233

Part I., p. 44.

The dog, the Devil, an enemy to prayer.

must manage their calling at the gate, and what should be said to him that did open to them. So it was concluded, since Christiana was the eldest, that she should knock for entrance, and that she should speak to him that did open, for the rest. So Christiana began to knock; and, as her poor husband did, she knocked and knocked again. But, instead of any that answered, they all thought that they heard as if a dog came barking upon them, a dog, and a great one too: and this made the women and children afraid, nor durst they for a while to knock for fear the mastiff should fly upon them. fore, they were greatly tumbled up and down in their minds, and knew not what to do: knock they durst not, for fear of the dog; go back they durst not, for fear the Keeper of that gate should espy them as they so went, and should be offended with them : at last they thought of knocking again, and knocked more vehemently than they did at the first. Then said the Keeper of the gate, Who is there? So the dog left off to bark, and he opened unto them.

any more, Now, there

Christiana and her companions per plexed about prayer.

Then Christiana made low obeisance, and said, Let not our Lord be offended with his handmaidens, for that we have knocked at his princely gate. Then said the Keeper, Whence come ye, and what is that you would have?

Christiana answered, We are come from whence Christian did come, and upon the same errand as he; to wit, to be, if it shall please you, graciously admitted by this gate into the way that leads to the Celestial City. And I answer, my Lord, in the next place, that I am Christiana, once the wife of Christian, that now is gotten above.

With that the Keeper of the gate did marvel, saying, What is she now become a pilgrim, that but a while

ago abhorred that life? Then she bowed her head, and said, Yes, and so are these my sweet babes also.

How Christiana is entertained at the gate.

Then he took her by the hand and led her in, and said also, Suffer the little children to come unto me;" and with that he shut up the gate. This done, he called to a trumpeter that was above, over the gate, to entertain Christiana with shouting and sound of trumpet for joy. So he obeyed, and sounded, and filled the air with his melodious notes (Luke xv. 7).

Now all this while poor Mercy did stand without, trembling and crying, for fear that she was rejected. But when Christiana had gotten admittance for herself and her boys, then she began to make intercession for Mercy.

Christiana's prayer for her friend Mercy.

Chr. And she said, My Lord, I have a companion of mine that stands yet without, that is come hither upon the same account as myself; one that is much dejected in her mind, for that she comes, as she thinks, without sending for; whereas I was sent to by my husband's King to come.

The delays make the hungering soul the ferventer.

Now Mercy began to be very impatient, for each minute was as long to her as an hour; wherefore she prevented Christiana from a fuller interceding for her, by knocking at the gate herself. And she knocked then so loud, that she made Christiana to start. Then said the Keeper of the gate, Who is there? and said Christiana, It is my friend.

So he opened the gate, and looked out; but Mercy was fallen down without, in a swoon, for

Mercy faints.

she fainted, and was afraid that no gate would be opened to her.

Then he took her by the hand, and said, Damsel, I bid thee arise.

O sir, said she, I am faint; there is scarce life left in

me. But he answered, that one once said, "When my soul fainted within me, I remembered the Lord; and my prayer came in unto thee, into thine holy temple" (Jonah ii. 7). Fear not, but stand upon thy feet, and tell me wherefore thou art come.

The cause of her fainting.

Mer. I am come for that unto which I was never invited, as my friend Christiana was. Hers was from the King, and mine was but from her. Wherefore I fear I presume. Keep. Did she desire thee to come with her to this place?

236

The Pilgrims' Gladness.

Mer. Yes; and, as my Lord sees, I am come; and if there is any grace or forgiveness of sins to spare, I beseech that I, thy poor handmaid, may be partaker thereof. Then he took her again by the hand, and led her gently in, and said, I pray for all them

Mark this.

that believe on me, by what means soever they come unto me. Then said he to those that stood by, Fetch something, and give it to Mercy to smell on, thereby to stay her fainting. So they fetched her a bundle of myrrh; and, a while after, she was revived.

And now was Christiana and her boys, and Mercy, received of the Lord at the head of the way, and spoke kindly unto by him. Then said they yet further unto him, We are sorry for our sins, and beg of our Lord his pardon, and further information what we must do.

I grant pardon, said he, by word and deed: by word, in the promise of forgiveness; by deed, in the way I obtained it. Take the first from my lips with a kiss (Song i. 2), and the other as it shall be revealed (John xx. 20). Now I saw in my dream that he spake many good words unto them, whereby they were fied seen afar greatly gladdened. He also had them off. up to the top of the gate, and showed them by what deed they were saved; and told them withal, that that sight they would have again, as they went along the way, to their comfort.

Christ cruci

Talk between

the Christians.

So he left them a while in a summer parlour below, where they entered into a talk by themselves; and thus Christiana began: O Lord, how glad am I that we are got in hither!

Mer. So you well may; but I of all have cause to leap for joy.

Chr. I thought one time, as I stood at the gate (because I had knocked, and none did answer), that all our labour had been lost, especially when that ugly cur made such a heavy barking against us.