The last words that she was heard to say were, I come, Lord, to be with thee and bless thee! So her children and friends returned to their place, for those that waited for Christiana had carried her out of their sight. So she went and called, and entered in at the gate with all the ceremonies of joy that her husband Christian had entered with before her. At her departure, the children wept. But Mr. Great-heart and Mr. Valiant played upon the well-tuned cymbal and harp for joy. So all departed to their respective places.*

MR. READY-TO-HALT
SUMMONED.

In process of time, there came a post to the town again, and his business was with Mr. Ready-to-halt. So he inquired him out, and said, I am come from Him whom thou hast loved and followed, though upon crutches; and my message is to tell thee that he expects thee at his table to sup with him in his kingdom, the next day after Easter; wherefore prepare thyself for this journey. Then he also gave him a token that he was a true messenger, saying, "I have broken thy golden bowl, and loosed thy silver cord."

After this, Mr. Ready-to-halt called for his fellowpilgrims, and told them, saying, I am sent for, and God shall surely visit you also. So he desired Mr. Valiant to make his will. And because he had nothing to bequeath to them that should survive him but his crutches and his good wishes, therefore thus

PROMISES.

c Eccles, xiii. 6.

O how blessed is the death of the righteous, who die in the Lord! Even a wicked Balaam could wish for this. But it will be granted to none but those who have lived in the Lord, whose souls have been quickened by his Spirit to come unto Jesus, believe in him, and glory of him as their righteousness and salvation, and desire to be found in him, in life, in death, and at the bar of judgment. O may we cry to the Lord, to make us of this happy number!

he said, These crutches I bequeath to my son that shall tread in my steps, with an hundred warm wishes HIS WILL. that he may prove better than I have been. Then he thanked Mr. Great-heart for his conduct and kindness, and so addressed himself to his journey. When he came to the brink of the river he said, Now I shall have no more need of these crutches, since yonder are chariots and horses for me to ride on. The last HIS LAST WORDS. words he was heard to say were, Welcome life!* So he went his way.

After this, Mr. Feeble-mind had tidings brought him that the post sounded his horn at his

chamber-door.

Then he came in, and

FEEBLE-MIND

SUMMONED.

told him, saying, I am come to tell thee that thy Master hath need of thee, and that in a very little time thou must behold his face in brightness. And take this as a token of the truth of my message: "Those that look out at the windows shall be darkened." Then Mr. Feeble-mind called for his friends, and told them what errand had been brought unto him, and what token he had received of the truth of the message. Then he said, Since I have nothing to bequeath to any, to what purpose should I make a will? As for my feeble mind, that I will leave behind me, for that I shall have no need of in the place whither I go, nor is it worth bestowing upon the poorest pilgrims: wherefore, when I am gone, I desire that you, Mr. Valiant, would bury it in a dunghill. This done, and the day being come on which he was to depart, he entered the river as the rest. His last words were, Hold out, faith HIS LAST WORDS. and patience! So he went over to the other side.

HE MAKES NO WILL.

* See the joyful end of one ready to halt at every step, Take courage hence, ye lame, halting pilgrims.

When days had many of them passed away, Mr. Despondency was sent for; for a post was come, and

MR. DESPONDENCY

SUMMONED.

brought this message to him: Trembling man! these are to summon thee to be ready with the King by the next Lord's day, to shout for joy for thy deliverance from all thy doubtings. And, said the messenger, that my message is true, take this for a proof: so he gave him a grasshopper to be a burden unto him.d

HIS DAUGHTER
GOES TOO.

Now, Mr. Despondency's daughter, whose name was Much-afraid, said, when she heard what was done, that she would go with her father. Then Mr. Despondency said to his friends, Myself and my daughter you know what we have been, and how troublesomely we have behaved ourselves in HIS WILL. every company. My will and my daughter's is, that our desponds and slavish fears be by no man ever received, from the day, of our departure for ever; for I know that after my death they will offer themselves to others. For to be plain with you, they are ghosts which we entertained when we first began to be pilgrims, and could never shake them off after; and they will walk about, and seek entertainment of the pilgrims: but for our sakes, shut the doors upon them.* When the time

was come for them to depart, they went up to the brink HIS LAST WORDS. of the river. The last words of Mr. Despondency were, Farewell, night; welcome day! His

d Eccles. xii. 5.

Pilgrims, mind this. It is as much your duty to strive, in the strength of the Lord, against unreasonable doubts and slavish fears, as against sin. Nay, are they not, in their own nature, the worst of sins? as they spring from infidelity, and dishonour God's precious truth, glorious grace, and everlasting salvation. Never, never, then, cherish or give way to them, but resist, and shut the door of your hearts against them.

daughter went through the river singing, but none could understand what she said.

MR. HONEST

SUMMONED.

And

Then it came to pass a while after, that there was a post in the town that inquired for Mr. Honest. So he came to the house where he was, and delivered to his hand these lines: Thou art commanded to be ready against this day sevennight, to present thyself before thy Lord, at his Father's house. for a token that my message is true, "All the daughters of music shall be brought low." Then Mr. Honest called for his friends, and said unto them, I die, but shall make no will. As for my honesty, it shall go with me; let him that comes after be told of this. When the day that he was to be gone was come, he addressed himself to go over the river. river at that time overflowed its banks in but Mr. Honest in his life-time had spoken to one Good-conscience to meet him there, the which he also did, and lent him his helped him over. The last words of Mr. Honest were, Grace reigns! So he left the world.*

HE MAKES

NO WILL.

Now, the some places;

GOOD-CONSCIENCE HELPS MR. HONEST OVER THE RIVER.

hand, and so

MR. VALIANT-FOR-
TRUTH SUMMONED.

true, "That his pitcher When he understood it,

After this it was noised abroad that Mr. Valiant-fortruth was taken with a summons by the same post as the other, and had this for a token that the summons was was broken at the fountain."f he called for his friends, and told them of it. Then said he, I am going to my Father's; and though with great difficulty I have got hither, yet now I do not

* O how happy to die, under a sweet sense of the reign of grace! Such have their consciences purified by the blood, and made good by the faith of the resurrection, of Jesus. And they shall reign with him, in his kingdom.

HIS WILL.

repent me of all the trouble I have been at to arrive where I am. My sword I give to him that shall sueceed me in my pilgrimage, and my courage and skill to him that can get it. My marks and scars I carry with me, to be a witness for me that I have fought His battles who now will be my rewarder. When the day that he must go hence was come, many accompanied him to the river-side, into which as he went he said, "Death, where is thy sting?" And as he went down deeper, he said, "Grave, where is thy victory ?" So he passed over, and all the trumpets sounded for him on the other side.*

HIS LAST
WORDS.

Then there came forth a summons for Mr. Standfast. MR. STANDFAST. This Mr. Standfast was he that the rest of the pilgrims found upon his knees in the Enchanted Ground. And the post brought it him open in his hands; the contents thereof were, that he must prepare for a change of life, for his Master was not willing that he should be so far from him any longer. At this Mr. Standfast was put into a muse. Nay, said the messenger, you need not doubt of the truth of my message; for here is a token of the truth thereof: Thy wheel is broken at the cistern. Then he called to him Mr. Great-heart, who was their guide, and said unto him, Sir, although it was not my hap to be much in your good company during the days of my pilgrimage, yet, since the time I knew you, you have been profitable to me. When I came from home, I left behind me a wife and five small children; let me entreat you at your return, (for I know

HE CALLS FOR MR. GREAT-HEART.

HIS SPEECH
TO HIM.

.6

* In the truth of Jesus, is victory. He who is most valiant for it, shall share most of its comforts in life and in death. O Lord, increase our faith in the never-failing word of truth and grace, for thy glory and our soul's triumph!