Now I faw in my Dream, That thus they fat talking together until Supper was ready. So when they had made ready, they fat down to Meat: Now the Table What Chri- was furnished with fat Things, and ftian bad for with Wine that was well refined; and all bis Support, their Talk at the Table was about the ↑ Their Talk at Supper LORD of the Hill; as, namely, about Time. what HE had done, and wherefore HE did what He did, and why HE had built that House; and by what they faid, I perceived that He had been

great Warrier, and had fought with, and || Heb. 2. 14, flain || him that had the Power of Death, but not without great Danger to himself, which made me love him the more.

15.

For, as they faid, and, as I believe, (faid Chriftian) he did it with the Lofs of much Blood; but that which put Glory of Grace into all he did, was, that he did it of pure Love to his Country. And befides, there were fome of them of the Houfhold that faid, they had been, and spoke with him fince he did die on the Crofs; and they have attested, that they had it from his own Lips, that he is fuch a Lover of poor Pilgrims, that the like is not to be found from the Eaft to the Weft.

They moreover gave an Inftance of what they affirmed, and that was, He had ftript himfelf of that Glory, that he might do this for the Poor; and that they heard him fay and affirm, That he would not dwell in the Mountain of Zion alone. They faid moreover, That he had

made

*

made many Pilgrims * Princes, though by Chrift makes Nature they were Beggars born, and their Original had been the Dunghill.

Princes of
Beggars.

I Sam. 2. 8.

Thus they difcourfed together till late Pfal. 113. 7. at Night; and after they had committed themselves to their Lord for Protection, they betook themselves to Reft: The Pilgrim they laid in a large upper + Cham- + Chriftian's ber, whofe Window opened towards the Bed-chamber. Sun-rifing: The Name of the Chamber

was Peace, where he slept till break of Day,
and then he awoke and fang,

Where am I now! Is this the Love and
Care

Of Jefus, for the Men that Pilgrims are,
Thus to provide! That I fhall be forgiven,
And dwell already the next Door to Heaven.

So, in the Morning, they all got up; and,
after fome more Difcourfe, they told him
that he fhould not depart till they had
fhewed him the Rarities of that Place.
And first they had him into the Study,
where they fhewed him Records of the Chriftian
greatest Antiquity; in which, as I remem- had into the
ber my Dream, they fhewed him firft the what he faw
Study, and
Pedigree of the Lord of the Hill, that there.
he was the Son of the Ancient of Days,
and came by that eternal Generation:
Here alfo was more fully recorded the
Acts that he had done, and the Names
of many Hundreds that he had taken in-
to his Service; and how he had placed
them in fuch Habitations, that could

neither

+Heb. 11.33. 34.

↑ Chriflian had into the Armory.

neither by Length of Days, nor Decays of Nature, be diffolved.

Then they read to him fome of the worthy Acts that fome of his Servants had done: As how they had fubdued Kingdoms, wrought Righteoufnefs, obtained Promises, stopped the Mouths of Lions, quenched the + Violence of Fire, escaped the Edge of the Sword, out of Weakness were made ftrong, waxed valiant in Fight, and turned to Flight the Armies of the Aliens.

Then they read again in another Part of the Records of the Houfe, where it was fhewed how willing their Lord was to receive into his Favour, any, even any, though they in Time paft had offered great Affronts to his Perfon and Proceedings. Here alfo were feveral other Hiftories of many other famous Things, of all which Chriftian had a View: As of Things both Ancient and Modern; together with Prophecies and Predictions of Things that have their certain Accomplishment, both to the Dread and Amazement of Enemies, and the Comfort and Solace of Pilgrims.

The next Day they took him, and had him into the Armory where they fhewed him all Manner of Furniture, which their Lord had provided for Pilgrims, as Sword, Shield, Helmet, Breaft-plate, All Prayer, and Shoes that would not wear out. And there was here enough of this to harnefs out as many Men, for the Service of their Lord, as there be Stars in the Heaven for Multitude.

They

They also fhewed him fome of the Engines with which fome of his Servants had done wonderful Things.

*

They fhewed Christian him Mofes's Rod, the Hammer and Nail made to jee with which feel flew Sifera, the Pitchers, ancient Things. Trumpets, and Lamps too, with which Gideon put to Flight the Armies of Midian. Then they fhewed him the Ox's Goad, wherewith Shamgar flew fix Hundred Men. They fhewed him alfo the Jaw-Bone with which Sampfon did fuch mighty Feats: Thev fhewed him moreover the Sling and Stone with which David flew Goliah of Gath; and the Sword alfo with which their Lord will kill the Man of Sin, in the Day that he fhall rife up to the Prey. They fhewed him befides many excellent Things, with which Chriftian was much delighted. This done, they went to their Reft again.

Then I faw in my Dream, That on the Morrow he got up to go forwards, but they defited him to ftay till the next Day alfo; and then faid they, we will (if the Day be clear) fhew you the + Delectable + Chriftian Mountains; which, they faid, would yet herved the farther add to his Comfort, because they Delectable were nearer the defired Haven than the Place where at prefent he was; fo he confented and ftaid. When the Morning was up, they had him to the Top

Mountains.

of the House, and bid him look South: Ifa. 33. 16, So he did; and behold at a great Dift- 17. ance, he faw a moft pleasant mountainous Country, beautified with Woods, Vineyards, Fruits of all Sorts, Flowers alfo, with Springs and Fountains, very

delectable

* Chriftian

+ Chriftian Jent away armed.

delectable to behold. Then he afked the Name of the Country. Then faid, It was Emanuel's Land; and it is as common, faid they, as this Hill is to and for all the Pilgrims. And when thou camest there, from thence thou mayeft fee to the Gate of the Coeleftial City, as the Shepherds that live there will make appear.

Now he bethought himfelf of fetting forward, and they were willing he

*

Jets forward. fhould. But firft, faid they, let us go again into the Armory: So they did; and when he came there, they harnessed him from Head to Foot, with what was of Proof, left perhaps he fhould meet with Affaults in the Way. He being therefore thus accoutred, walked out with his Friends to the Gate, and there he afked the Porter, If he faw any Pilgrim pafs by? Then the Porter anfwered, Yes.

1

How Chriftian and the

Porter greet at parting.

Chr. Pray, Did you know him? faid he..

Port, I afked his Name, and he told me it was Faithful.

Chr. O, faid Chriftian, I know him; he is my Townfman, my near Neighbour, he comes from the Place where I was born: How far do you think he may be before?

Port. He is got by this Time below the Hill.

Chr. Well, faid ‡ Chriftian, good, Porter, the Lord be with thee, and add to all thy Bleffings much Increafe for the Kindness thou haft fhewed to me.

Then