The thoughts of these things would now kill me outright, but that for a dream which I had last night, and but that for the encouragement this stranger has given me this morning. Come, my children, let us pack up, and be gone to the gate that leads to the Celestial country, that we may see your father, and be with him and his companions in peace, according to the laws of that land. Then did her children burst out into tears, for joy that the heart of their mother was so inclined. So their visitor bid them farewell; and they began to prepare to set out for their journey. TIMOROUS AND MERCY COME TO VISIT CHRISTIANA, But, while they were thus about to be gone, two of the women, that were Christiana's neighbours, came up to her house, and knocked at her door. To whom she said as before, If you come in God's name, come in. At this the women were stunned, for this kind of language they used not to hear, from the lips of Christiana.* behold, they found the good gone from her house. CHRISTIANA'S NEW or to perceive to drop Yet they came in but woman preparing to be So they began, and said, Neighbour, pray what is your meaning by this? Christiana answered and said to the eldest of them, whose name was Mrs. Timorous, I am preparing for a Reader, stop and examine: did never any of your former friends and carnal acquaintance take knowledge of a difference in your language and conduct? Do they still like and approve of you as well as ever? What reason, then, have you to think yourself a pilgrim? for no sooner does any one commence a pilgrim, but that word is fulfilled, "For then I will turn to the people a pure language," Zeph. iii.9. If the heart be ever so little acquainted with the Lord, the tongue will discover it, and the carnal and profane will ridicule and despise you for it. This will ever be found true. journey. (This Timorous was daughter to him that met Christian upon the hill of Difficulty, and would have had him go back for fear of the lions.) TIM. For what journey, I pray you? CHR. Even to go after my good husband. And with that she fell a weeping. TIM. I hope not so, good neighbour; pray, for your poor children's sake, do not so unwomanly cast away yourself. CHR. Nay, my children shall go with me; not one of them is willing to stay behind. TIM. I wonder in my very heart, what or who has brought you into this mind? CHR. O neighbour! knew you but as much as I do, I doubt not but that you would go along with me. TIM. Pr'ythee, what new knowledge hast thou got, that so worketh off thy mind from thy friends, and that tempteth thee to go nobody knows where? DEATH. CHR. Then Christiana replied, I have been sorely afflicted since my husband's departure from me; but especially since he went over the river. But that which troubleth me most, is my churlish carriage to him, when he was under his distress. Besides, I am now as he was then; nothing will serve me but going on pilgrimage. I was dreaming last night that I saw him. O that my soul was with him! He dwelleth in the presence of the King of the country; he sits and eats with him at his table; he is become a companion of immortals; and has a house now given him to dwell in, to which the best palace on earth, if compared, seems to me but as a dunghill.' The Prince of the place has also sent for me, with promise of entertainment, if I shall come to him: his messenger was here even now, 1 2 Cor. v. 1—4. and has brought me a letter, which invites me to come. And with that she plucked out her letter,* and read it, and said to them, What now will you say to this? TIM. Oh, the madness that has possessed thee and thy husband, to run yourselves upon such difficulties ! You have heard, I am sure, what your husband did meet with, even in a manner at the first step that he took his way, as our neighbour Obstinate can yet testify, for he went along with him; yea, and Pliable too, until they, like wise men, were afraid to go any further. We also heard, over and above, how he met with the lions, Apollyon, the Shadow of Death, and many other things. Nor is the danger that he met with at Vanity Fair to be forgotten by thee. For if he, though a man, was so hard put to it, what canst thou, being but a poor woman, do? Consider also, that these four sweet babes are thy children, thy flesh, and thy bones. Wherefore, though thou shouldest be so rash as to cast away thyself; yet for the sake of the fruit of thy body, keep thou at home.† THE REASONINGS OF THE FLESH. But Christiana said unto her, Tempt me not, my neighbour I have now a price put into my hand to get * This was a love-letter, full of the love of Jesus, and the precious invitation of his loving heart to sinners to come unto him, as recorded in his blessed word. Happy sinners, whose eyes are opened to read them! But this the world calls madness. The Lord, who quickens us by his Spirit, and calls us by his word, well knows the carnal enemies who will oppose our progress in the divine life therefore he tells us, "If thy brother, or the wife of thy bosom, or thy friend, which is as thine own soul, entice thee secretly from the Lord, thou shalt not hearken unto him," &c. Deut. xiii. 6. Let the word of God be the rule, and Christiana's conduct an example to all who are setting their faces Zion-ward. O beware of the reasoning of the flesh. Dread to look back. Tremble at the thought of going back; for the Lord hath no pleasure in such. Heb. x. 38. A PERTINENT RE- gain, and I should be a fool of the greatest size if I should have no heart to strike in with the opportunity. And for that you tell me of all these troubles that I am like to meet with in the way, they are so far from being to me a discouragement, that they show I am in the right. "The bitter must come before the sweet," and that also will make the sweet the sweeter. Wherefore since you came not to my house in God's name, as I said, I pray you to be gone, and not to disquiet me further.* MERCY'S ROWELS YEARN OVER CHRISTIANA. Then Timorous reviled her, and said to her fellow, Come, neighbour Mercy, let us leave her in her own hands, since she scorns our counsel and company. But Mercy was at a stand, and could not so readily comply with her neighbour; and that for a twofold reason. 1. Her bowels yearned over Christiana. So she said within herself, If my neighbour will needs be gone, I will go a little way with her, and help her. 2. Her bowels yearned over her own soul; for what Christiana had said, had taken some hold upon her mind. her mind. Wherefore she said within herself again, I will yet have more talk with this Christiana; and, if I find truth and life in what she shall say, myself with my heart shall also go with her. Wherefore Mercy began thus to reply to her neighbour Timorous. MER. Neighbour, I did indeed come with you to see Christiana this morning; and, since she is, as you see, * That is right. It is well to be bold in the name of the Lord, and blunt with those who seek to turn us away from following on to know the Lord for nothing less than life and salvation, or death and damnation, will be the issue of it. O pilgrims, beware, beware of parleying with the carnal. Ever remember, you have a nature prone to catch the falling spark from their flint and steel, and tinder about you ever ready to take the fire. a taking her last farewell of the country, I think to walk this sunshiny morning a little with her, to help her on her way. But she told her not of her second reason, but kept it to herself. TIM. Well, I see you have a mind to go a fooling too; but take heed in time, and be wise: while we are out of danger, we are out; but, when we are in, we are in. TIMOROUS FORSAKES HER, BUT MEYCY CLEAVES TO HER. Mrs. Bat's So Mrs. Timorous returned to her house, and Christiana betook herself to her journey.* But, when Timorous was got home to her house, she sends for some of her neighbours, to wit, Eyes, Mrs. Inconsiderate, Mrs. Light-Mind, and Mrs. Know-Nothing. So, when they were come to her house, she falls to telling of the story of Christiana, and of her intended journey. And thus she began her tale. TIMOROUS AC QUAINTS HER WHAT THE GOODCHRIS- TIM. Neighbours, having had little to do this morning, I went to give Christiana a visit; and, when I came at the door, I knocked, as you know it is our custom and she answered, If you come in God's name, come in. So in I went, thinking all was well: but, when I came in, I found her preparing herself to depart the town, she, and also her children. So I asked her, what was her meaning by that? And she told me in short, that she was now of a mind to go on pilgrimage, Here we see our Lord's word verified, "The one shall be taken, and the other left," Matt. xxiv. 41. Mercy is called, and Timorous left. All to appearance seems chance and accident, that any come to the knowledge of the truth; but electing love directs all things, and sovereign grace overrules all things: and "all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ," 2 Cor. v. 18. Oh, ever bow to divine sovereignty! ever adore discriminating grace! what shall we say to these things? "If God be for us, who shall be against us?" Rom. viii. 31. |