fear doth farther confirm me that things are right betwixt the Prince of pilgrims and your soul. For He saith, "Blessed is the man that feareth always.* VALIANT. Well but, brother, I pray thee tell us what was it that was the cause of thy being upon THEY FOUND HIM AT PRAYER. FETCHED HIM UPON HIS KNEES. thy knees even now; was it for that some special mercy laid obligations upon thee, or how? STAND. Why, we are, as you see, upon the Enchanted WHAT IT WAS THAT Ground; and as I was coming along, I was musing with myself of what a dangerous nature the road in this place was, and how many that had come even thus far on pilgrimage had here been stopped and been destroyed. I thought also of the manner of the death with which this place destroyeth men. Those that die here, die of no violent distemper: the death which such die is not grievous to them. For he that goeth away in a sleep, begins that journey with desire and pleasure. Yea, such acquiesce in the will of that disease. HON. Then Mr. Honest interrupting him, said, Did you see the two men asleep in the arbour? STAND. Ay, ay, I saw Heedless and Too-bold there; and, for aught I know, there they will lie till they rot.* But let me go on with my tale. As I was thus musing, as I said, there was one in very pleasant attire, but old, who presented herself to me, and offered me three things, to wit, her body, her purse, and her bed. Now, the truth is, I was both weary and sleepy: I am also as poor z Prov. x. 7. The fear of the He who fears to be or go He who feareth always, will pray evermore. heart will bring pilgrims on their knees. wrong, will pray to be set right. The Lord will direct the heart, and order the goings, of all who cry to him. Fear and prayer go hand in hand. Joys shall attend them. Then I asked MADAM BUBBLE, OR as an owlet, and that perhaps the witch knew. Well, I repulsed her once and again, but she put by my repulses, and smiled. Then I began to be angry; but she mattered that nothing at all. Then she made offers again, and said if I would be ruled by her, she would make me great and happy; for, said she, I am the mistress of the world, and men are made happy by me. her name, and she told me it was Madam Bubble. This set me further from her; but she still followed me with enticements. betook me, as you saw, to my knees, and with hands lifted up, and cries, I prayed to Him that had said he would help. So just as you came up, the gentlewoman went her way. Then I continued to give thanks for this my great deliverance; for I verily believe she intended no good, but rather sought to make stop of me in my journey.* Then I HON. Without doubt her designs were bad. But, stay, now you talk of her, methinks I either have seen her, or have read some story of her. STAND. Perhaps you have done both. HON. Madam Bubble! Is she not a tall, comely dame, something of a swarthy complexion. STAND. Right, you hit it; she is just such a one. HON. Doth she not speak very smoothly, and give you a smile at the end of a sentence? Know and consider O pilgrims beware of this Madam Bubble. well, that you have a nature exactly suited to accept of her offers, and to fall in love with her promises. The riches, honours, and pleasures of the world, what mortal can withstand? or who can forego them? No one but he who sees more charms in Jesus, more glory in his cross, and more comfort in the enjoyment of his love and presence; and therefore is continually looking and crying to him, "Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity. Instruct my soul in thy way. Keep me closely following thee. Lord, thou art the portion of my soul!" STAND. You fall right upon it again, for these are her very actions. HON. Doth she not wear a great purse by her side, and is not her hand often in it, fingering her money, as if that was her heart's delight? STAND. 'Tis just so; had she stood by all this while, you could not more amply have set her forth before me, and have better described her features. HON. Then he that drew her picture was a good limner, and he that wrote of her said true. THE WORLD. GREAT. This woman is a witch, and it is by virtue of her sorceries that this ground is enchanted. Whoever doth lay his head down in her lap, had as good lay it down on that block over which the axe doth hang; and whoever lay their eyes upon her beauty, are counted the enemies of God." This is she that maintaineth in their splendour all those that are the enemies of pilgrims. Yea, this is she that hath bought off many a man from a pilgrim's life. She is a great gossiper; she is always, both she and her daughters, at one pilgrim's heels or another, now commending, and then preferring the excellencies of this life. She is a bold and impudent slut: she will talk with any man. She always laugheth poor pilgrims to scorn, but highly commends the rich. If there be one cunning to get money in a place, she will speak well of him from house to house. She loveth banqueting and feasting mainly well; she is always at one full table or another. She has given it out in some places that she is a goddess, and therefore some do worship her. She has her time, and open places of cheating; and she will say and avow it, that none can show a good comparable to hers. She promiseth to dwell with children's children, if they a James iv. 4. 1 John ii. 14, 15. if they will but love her and make much of her. She will cast out of her purse gold like dust in some places and to some persons. She loves to be sought after, spoken well of, and to lie in the bosoms of men. She is never weary of commending her commodities, and she loves them most that think best of her. She will promise to some crowns and kingdoms, if they will but take her advice; yet many hath she brought to the halter, and ten thousand times more to hell. STAND. Oh! said Standfast, what a mercy is it that I did resist her; for whither might she have drawn me! GREAT. Whither! nay, none but God knows whither. But in general, to be sure, she would have drawn thee into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition." "Twas she that set Absalom against his father, and Jeroboam against his master. 'Twas she that persuaded Judas to sell his Lord; and that prevailed with Demas to forsake the godly pilgrim's life. None can tell of the mischief that she doth. She makes variance betwixt rulers and subjects, betwixt parents and children, betwixt neighbour and neighbour, betwixt a man and his wife, betwixt a man and himself, betwixt the flesh and the spirit. Wherefore, good Mr. Standfast, be as your name is; and when you have done all, stand. At this discourse there was among the pilgrims a mixture of joy and trembling; but at length they broke out and sang: What danger is the pilgrim in! How many are his foes! How many ways there are to sin No living mortal knows. b 1 Tim. vi. 9. Some in the ditch are spoiled, yea, can Lie tumbling in the mire: Some, though they shun the frying-pan, After this, I beheld until they were come into the land of Beulah, where the sun shineth night and day. Here, because they were weary, they betook themselves a while to rest. And because this country was common for pilgrims, and because the orchards and vineyards that were here belonged to the King of the Celestial Country, therefore they were licensed to make bold with any of his things. But a little while soon refreshed them here; for the bells did so ring, and the trumpets continually sound so melodiously, that they could not sleep, and yet they received as much refreshing as if they slept their sleep never so soundly. Here also all the noise of them that walked the streets was, More pilgrims are come to town! And another would answer, saying, And so many went over the water, and were let in at the golden gates to-day! They would cry again, There is now a legion of shining ones just come to town, by which we know that there are more pilgrims upon the road; for here they come to wait for them, and to comfort them after all their sorrow! Then the pilgrims got up, and walked to and fro. But how were their ears now filled with heavenly noises, and their eyes delighted with celestial visions! In this land they heard nothing, saw nothing, felt nothing, smelt nothing, tasted nothing, that was offensive to their stomach or mind; only when they tasted of the water of the river over which they were to go, they thought that it tasted a little bitterish DEATH BITTER TO to the palate; but it proved sweeter when it was down. |