know that you go and return to your Master's house in hopes that you may be a conductor to more of the holy pilgrims), that you send to my family, and let them be acquainted with all that hath, and fhall happen unto me: tell them, moreover, of my happy arrival to this place, and of the present and late bleffed condition I am in: tell them alfo, of Chriftian and Chriftiana his wife, and how fhe and her children came after her husband: tell them also, of what a happy end fhe made, and whither fhe is gone: I have little or nothing to fend to my family, except it be my prayers and tears for them; of which, if you acquaint them, it will fuffice, if peradventure they may prevail.

When Mr. Standfaft had thus fet things in order, and the time being come for him to hafte him away, he also went down to the river. Now there was a great calm at that time in the river; wherefore Mr. Standfaft, when he was about half way in, stood a while, and talked to his companions who had waited upon him thither and faid, This river has been a terror to many; yea, the thoughts of it have often frighted me; now methinks I ftand easy, my foot is fixed upon that on which the feet of the priests who bare the ark of the covenant ftood, while Ifrael went over this Jordan. The waters indeed are to the palate bitter, and to the ftomach cold; yet the thought of what I am going to, and of the conduct that waits for me on the other fide, doth lie as a glowing coal at my heart. I fee myself now at the Ff3 end

end of my journey; my toilfome days are ended.
I am going to fee that head which was crowned with
thorns, and that face which was fpit upon for me.
I have formerly lived by hearsay and faith; but now
I go where I fhall live by fight, and fhall be with
him in whofe company I delight myself. I have
loved to hear my Lord fpoken of; and wherever I
have seen the print of his fhoe in the earth, there
have I coveted to fet my foot too.
His name has
been to me as a civet-box; yea, fweeter than all
perfumes. His voice to me has been moft fweet;
and his countenance I have more defired than they
who have moft defired the light of the fun. His
words I did use to gather for my food, and for an
antidote against my faintings. He has held me, and
hath kept me from mine iniquities; yea, my steps
have been strengthened in his way.

While he was thus in difcourfe, his countenance changed, his strong man bowed under him; and after he had faid, Take me, for I come unto thee, he ceafed to be feen of them.

Glorious it was to fee, how the open region was filled with horfes and chariots, with trumpeters and pipers, with fingers and players on stringed inftruments, to welcome the pilgrims as they went up, and followed one another in at the beautiful gate of the city *. As

* As these are for ever entered into the joy of their Lord, I have now only one question to ask thee, reader. What is thy

hope?

As for Christiana's children, the four boys whom Chriftiana brought, with their wives and children, I did not stay to fee them go over. Yea, fince I came away, I have heard one say that they were yet alive, and fo would be for the increase of the church in that place where they were, for a time. Should it be my lot to go that way again, I may give those who defire it, an account of what I am now filent about: mean time I bid my reader

FAREWEL L.

hope? There is a hope that maketh not ashamed, but that arif, eth from the love of God, fhed abroad in the heart by the power of the Holy Ghoft. The hope of the hypocrite shall perish this is that vain, delufive hope which arifeth from some fuppofed power or goodness in ourfelves. That hope which is as an anchor of the foul, fure and ftedfast, enters into that which is within the vail: that vail means the flesh, or human nature, of the Lord Jefus Chrift, in which dwelt all the fulness of the Godhead bodily; fo that true hope arifes from faith in Christ, who is able to fave to the uttermoft all them that come unto God by him: and whofoever cometh unto him, he will in no wife caft out, but will receive him graciously, love him freely, reward him eternally with the unclouded vifion and uninterrupted enjoyment of himself in glory. This is the recompenfe of the fervants of the Lord, and this fhall be their portion for ever.