suaded to go with us, and help us, because we are so weak, and the way so dangerous as it is. Help lost for want of asking for. Great-heart. I am at my Lord's commandment. If he shall allot me to be your guide quite through, I will willingly wait upon you; but here you failed at first; for when he bid me come thus far with you, then you should have begged me of him to have gone quite through with you, and he would have granted your request. However, at present, I must withdraw; and so, good Christiana, Mercy, and my brave children, Adieu! Then the porter, Mr. Watchful, asked Christiana of her country and of her kindred; and she said, I come from the city of Destruction; I am a widow woman, and my husband is dead; his name was Christian the Pilgrim. How, said the porter, was he your husband? Yes, said she; and these are his children; and this, pointing to Mercy, is one of my townswomen. Then the porter rang his bell, as at such times he is wont, and there came to the door one of the damsels, whose name was Humble-mind; and to her the porter said, Go tell it within, that Christiana, the wife of Christian, and her children, are come hither on pilgrimage. She Joy at the noise of went in, therefore, and told it. But, oh! what a the Pilgrims' com- noise for gladness was there within, when the damsel did but drop that word out of her mouth! So they came with haste to the porter, for Christiana stood still at the door. Then some of the most grave said unto her, Come in, Christiana; come in, thou wife of that good man; come in, thou blessed woman; come in, with all that are with thee! So she went in, and they followed her that were her children and companions. Now, when they were gone in, they were had into a very large room, where they were bidden to sit down; so they sat down, and the chief of the house were called to see and welcome the guests. Then they came in, and, understandkindled at the sight ing who they were, did salute each one with a kiss, and said, Welcome, ye vessels of the grace of God! ing. Christians' love is of one another. welcome to us your friends! Now, because it was somewhat late, and because the Pilgrims were weary with their journey, and also made faint with the sight of the fight, and of the terrible Lions, therefore they desired, as soon as might be, to prepare to go to rest.* Nay, said those of the family, refresh yourselves first with a morsel of meat; for they had prepared for them a lamb, with the accustomed sauce belonging thereto;† for the porter had heard before of their coming, and had told it to them within. So when they had supped, and ended their prayer with a psalm, they desired they might go to rest. But let us, said Christiana, if we may be so bold as to choose, be in that chamber that was my husband's, when he was here; so they had them up thither, and they lay all in a room. When they were at rest, Christiana and Mercy entered into discourse about things that were convenient. Chr. Little did I think once, when my husband went on pilgrimage, that I should ever have followed. Mercy. And you as little thought of laying in Christ's bosom is his bed, and in his chamber to rest, as you do now. for all Pilgrims. Chr. And much less did I ever think of seeing his face with comfort, and of worshipping the Lord the King with him; and yet now I believe I shall. Mercy. Hark! Don't you hear a noise? Chr. Yes; t'is, I believe, a noise of music, for joy that we are here. Music. Mercy. Wonderful! Music in the house, music in the heart, and music also in Heaven for joy that we are here! Thus they talked awhile, and then betook themselves to sleep. So in the morning, when they were awake, Chris- Mercy did laugh in tiana said to Mercy, What was the matter that her sleep. you did laugh in your sleep to-night? I suppose you was in a dream? Mercy. So I was, and a sweet dream it was; but are you sure I laughed ? Chr. Yes; you laughed heartily: but pr'ythee, Mercy, tell me thy dream. Mercy's dream. Mercy. I was a-dreamed that I sat all alone in a solitary place, and was bemoaning of the hardness of my heart. Now, I had not sat there long, but methought many were gathered about me to see me, and to hear what it was that I said. So they hearkened, and I went on bemoaning the hardness of my heart. At this, some of them laughed at me, some called me fool, and some began to thrust me about. With that, What her dream methought I looked up, and saw one coming with was. wings towards me. So he came directly to me, and said, Mercy, what aileth thee? Now, when he had heard me make my complaint, he said, "Peace be to thee;" he also wiped mine eyes with his handkerchief, and clad me in silver and gold.* He put a chain about my neck, and ear-rings in mine ears, and a beautiful crown upon my head. Then he took me by the hand, and said, Mercy, So he went up, and I followed, till we came at a come after me. * Ezek. xvi. 8-12 golden Gate. Then he knocked; and when they within had opened, the Man went in, and I followed him up to a throne upon which One sat; and he said to me, Welcome, daughter. The place looked bright and twinkling like the stars, or rather like the sun, and I thought that I saw your husband there: so I awoke from my dream. But did I laugh? Chr. Laugh! ay, and well you might, to see yourself so well. For you must give me leave to tell you that I believe it was a good dream, and that as you have begun to find the first part true, so you shall find the second at last. "God speaks once, yea twice, yet man perceiveth it not; in a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumbering upon the bed.”† We need not, when a-bed, lie awake to talk with God; He can visit us while we sleep, and cause us then to hear His voice. Our heart oftentimes wakes while we sleep, and God can speak to that either by words, by proverbs, by signs and similitudes, as well as if one was awake. Mercy glad of her dream. Mercy. Well, I am glad of my dream, for I hope ere long to see it fulfilled, to the making of me laugh again. Chr. I think it is now time to rise, and to know what we must do. Mercy. Pray, if they invite us to stay a while, let us willingly accept of the proffer. I am the willinger to stay a while here, to grow better acquainted with these Maids; methinks Prudence, Piety, and Charity, have very comely and sober countenances. Chr. We shall see what they will do. So, when they were up and ready, they came down; and they asked one another of their rest, and if it was comfortable or not. Very good, said Mercy; it was one of the best night's lodging that ever I had in my life. Then said Prudence and Piety, If you will be persuaded to stay here a while, you shall have what the House will afford. Ay, and that with a very good will, said Charity. They stay here some time. So they consented, and stayed there about a month or above, and became very profitable one to another. And because Prudence would see how Christiana to catechise Chris had brought up her children, she asked leave of her to catechise them; so she gave her free consent. Prudence desires tiana's children. Then she began with the youngest, whose name was James. And she said, Come, James, canst thou tell me who made thee? James catechised. James. God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost, Job xxxiii. 14, 15. Prud. Good boy. And canst thou tell who saves thee? Prud. How doth God the Son save thee? James. By his righteousness, death and blood, and life. Prud. And how doth God the Holy Ghost save thee? James. By his illumination, by his renovation, and by his preservation. Then said Prudence to Christiana, You are to be commended for thus bringing up your children. I suppose I need not ask the rest these questions, since the youngest of them can answer them so well. I will therefore now apply myself to the youngest next. Then she said, Come, Joseph, (for his name was Joseph,) will you let me catechise you? Jos. With all my heart. Prud. What is man. Joseph catechised, Jos. A reasonable creature, so made by God, as my brother said. Prud. What is supposed by this word saved? Jos. That man by sin has brought himself into a state of captivity and misery. Prud. What is supposed by his being saved by the Trinity? Jos. That sin is so great and mighty a tyrant, that none can pull us out of its clutches but God; and that God is so good and loving to man, as to pull him indeed out of this miserable state. Prud. What is God's design in saving of poor men? Jos. The glorifying of his name, of his grace and justice, &c., and the everlasting happiness of his creature. Prud. Who are they that must be saved? Jos. Those that accept of his salvation. Prud. Good boy, Joseph; thy mother hath taught thee well, and thou hast hearkened unto what she has said unto thee. Then said Prudence to Samuel, who was the eldest but one, Come, Samuel, are you willing that I should cate chise you? Sam. Yes, forsooth, if you please. Prud. What is heaven? Samuel catechised. Sam. A place and state most blessed, because God dwelleth there. Prud. What is hell? Sam. A place and state most woful, because it is the dwellingplace of sin, the devil, and death. Prud. Why wouldest thou go to heaven? Sam. That I may see God, and serve him without weariness; that I may see Christ, and love him everlastingly: that I may have the fulness of the Holy Spirit in me, which I can by no means here enjoy. Prud. A very good boy also, and one that has learned well. Matthew cate- Then she addressed herself to the eldest, whose name was Matthew; and she said to him, Come, Matthew, shall I also catechise you? chised. Matth. With a very good will. Prud. I ask then, if there was ever any thing that had a being antecedent to, or before God? Matth. No; for God is eternal; nor is there any thing, excepting himself, that had a being, until the beginning of the first day: "For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is." Prud. What do you think of the Bible? Matth. It is the Holy Word of God. Prud. Is there nothing written therein but what you understand? Matth. Yes, a great deal. Prud. What do you do when you meet with such places therein that you do not understand? Matth. I think God is wiser than I; I pray also that he will please to let me know all therein that he knows will be for my good. Prud. How believe you as touching the resurrection of the dead? Matth. I believe they shall rise the same that was buried, the same in nature, though not in corruption. And I believe this upon a double account: First, Because God has promised it; secondly, Because he is able to perform it. Prudence's conclusion upon the Then said Prudence to the boys, You must still hearken to your mother, for she can learn you more. catechising of the You must also diligently give ear to what good boys. talk you shall hear from others: for, for your sakes do they speak good things. Observe also, and that with carefulness, what the heavens and the earth do teach you; but especially be much in the meditation of that book which was the cause of your Father's becoming a Pilgrim. I, for my part, my children, will teach you what I can while you are here, and shall be glad if you will ask me questions that tend to godly edifying. Now, by that these Pilgrims had been at this place a week, Mercy had a visiter, that pretended some good-will unto her, and his name was Mr. Brisk, a man of some breeding, and that pretended to religion, but Mercy has sweetheart. a |