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[The Pilgrims at the house of the Interpreter-Parable of the Hen and Chickens.] So one of the chickens went to the trough to drink, and, every time she drank, she lifted up her head and her eyes towards heaven. See, said he, what this little chick doth, and learn of her to acknowledge whence your mercies come, by receiving them with looking up. Yet again, said he, observe and look. So they gave heed, and perceived that the hen did walk in a fourfold method towards her chickens: 1. She had a "common call," and that she hath all day long. 2. She had a "special call," and that she had but sometimes. 3. She had a "brooding note." And, 4. She had an "outcry."

Now, said he, compare this hen to your King, and these chickens to his obedient ones. For, answerable to ner, himself has his methods which he walketh in towards his people. By his common call, he gives nothing; by his special call, he always has something to give; he has also a brooding voice for them that are under his wing; and he has an outcry, to give the alarm when he seeth the enemy come. I chose, my darlings, to lead you into the room where such things are, because you are women, and they are easy for you.

And, sir, said Christiana, pray let us see some Of the butcher and more; so he had them into the slaughter-house, the sheep. where was a butcher killing a sheep; and behold

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the sheep was quiet, and took her death patiently. Then said the Interpreter, you must learn of this sheep to suffer, and to put up with wrongs without murmurings and complaints. Behold how quietly she takes her death, and, without objecting, she suffereth her skin to be pulled over her eyes. Your King doth call you his sheep.

Of the garden.

After this, he led them into his garden, where was great variety of flowers, and he said, Do you see all these? So Christiana said, Yes. Then said he again, Behold the flowers are diverse in stature, in quality, and colour, and smell, and virtue; and some are better than others; also, where the gardener had set them, there they stand, and quarrel not with one another.

Of the field.

Again, he had them into his field, which he had sown with wheat and corn; but when they beheld, the tops of all were cut off, only the straw remained. He said again, This ground was dunged, and ploughed, and sowed, but what shall we do with the crop? Then said Christiana, burn some, and make muck of the rest. Then said the Interpreter again, Fruit, you see, is that thing you look for, and for want of that you condemn it to the fire, and to be trodden under foot of men; beware that in this you condemn not yourselves!

Of the robin and the spider.

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Then, as they were coming in from abroad, they espied a little robin with a great spider in his mouth: so the Interpreter said, Look here; so they looked, and Mercy wondered; but Christiana said, What a disparagement it is to such a pretty little bird as robin red-breast is, he being also a bird above many, that loveth to maintain a kind of sociableness with men! I had thought they had lived upon crumbs of bread, or upon other such harmless matter; I like him worse than I did.

The Interpreter then replied, This robin is an emblem very apt to set forth some professors by; for, to sight, they are as this robin, pretty of note, colour, and carriage: they seem also to have a very great love for professors that are sincere; and, above all others, to desire to sociate with them, and to be in their company, as if they could live upon the good man's crumbs. They pretend also that therefore it is that they frequent the house of the godly, and the appointments of the Lord; but when they are by themselves, as the robin, they can catch and gobble up spiders; they can change their diet, drink iniquity and swallow down sin like water.

So, when they were come again into the house, because supper as yet was not ready, Christiana again desired that the Interpreter

would either show or tell of some other things that are profitable.

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get at that which

yet lies unrevealed.

Then the Interpreter began, and said, The fatter the sow is, the more she desires the mire; the fatter the ox is, the more gamesomely he goes to the slaughter; and the more healthy the lustful man is, the more prone he is unto evil.

There is a desire in women to go neat and fine; and it is a comely thing to be adorned with that which in God's sight is of great price.

'Tis easier watching a night or two than to sit up a whole year together; so 'tis easier for one to begin to profess well, than to hold out as he should to the end.

Every shipmaster, when in a storm, will willingly cast that overboard which is of the smallest value in the vessel; but who will throw the best out first? None but he that feareth not God.

One leak will sink a ship, and one sin will destroy a sinner. He that forgets his friend is ungrateful unto him; but he that forgets his Saviour is unmerciful to himself.

He that lives in sin, and looks for happiness hereafter, is like him that soweth cockle, and thinks to fill his barn with wheat or barley.

If a man would live well, let him fetch his last day to him, and make it always his company-keeper.

Whispering and change of thoughts prove that sin is in the

world.

If the world, which God sets light by, is counted a thing of that worth with men, what is heaven, that God commendeth?

If the life that is attended with so many troubles is so loath to be let go by us, what is the life above?

Every body will cry up the goodness of men; but who is there that is, as he should be, affected with the goodness of God?

We seldom sit down to meat, but we eat and leave: so there is in Jesus Christ more merit and righteousness than the whole world has need of.

Of the tree that is rotten at heart.

When the Interpreter had done, he takes them out into his garden again, and had them to a tree whose inside was all rotten and gone, and yet it grew, and had leaves. Then said Mercy, What means this? This tree, said he, whose outside is fair, and whose inside is rotten, is it, to which many may be compared that are in the garden of God; who with their mouths speak high in behalf of God, but indeed will do nothing for him; whose leaves are fair, but their heart good for nothing but to be tinder for the devil's tinder-box.

Mercy's good night's rest.

was in bed, she could not sleep for joy, for that now her doubts of missing at last, were removed further from her than ever they were before. So she lay blessing and praising God, who had had such favour for her.

cation.

In the morning, they arose with the sun, and prepared themselves for their departure; but the Interpreter would have them tarry a while; for, said he, you must orderly go from hence. Then said The bath sanctifi- he to the damsel that first opened to them, Take them, and have them into the garden to the bath, and there wash them, and make them clean from the soil which they have gathered by travelling. Then Innocent, the damsel, took them and had them into the garden, and brought them to the bath; so she told them, that there they must wash and be clean, for so her Master would have the women to do that called at his house, as they were going on pilgrimage. Then They wash in it. they went in and washed, yea, they and the boys and all; and they came out of the bath not only sweet and clean, but also much enlivened and strengthened in their joints. So, when they came in, they looked fairer a deal than when they went out to the washing.

They are sealed.

When they were returned out of the garden from the bath, the Interpreter took them, and looked upon them, and said unto them, "Fair as the moon." Then he called for the seal, wherewith they used to be sealed that are washed in his bath. So the seal was brought, and he set his mark upon them, that they might be known in the places whither they were yet to go. Now, the seal was the contents and sum of the Passover which the children of Israel did eat* when they came out of the land of Egypt; and the mark was set between their eyes. This seal added greatly to their beauty, for it was an ornament to their faces. It also added to their gravity, and made their countenance more like that of Angels.

Then said the Interpreter again to the damsel that waited upon these Women, Go into the vestry, and fetch out garments for these people; so she went and fetched out white Raiment, and laid it down before him; so he commanded them to put They are clothed. it on. It was fine linen, white and clean. When the women were thus adorned, they seemed to be a terror one to the other; for that they could not see that glory True humility. each one had in herself, which they could see in each other. Now, therefore, they began to esteem each other better than themselves. For you are fairer than I am, said one; and you

* Exod. xiii. 8-10

are more comely than I am, said another. The children also stood amazed, to see into what fashion they were brought.

The Interpreter then called for a Man-Servant of his, one Greatheart, and bid him take sword, and helmet, and shield; and take these, my daughters, said he, and conduct them to the house called Beautiful, at which place they will rest next. So he took his weapons, and went before them: and the Interpreter said, God speed. Those also that belonged to the family sent them away with many a good wish. So they went on their way, and sang:

This place hath been our second stage;

Here we have heard and seen
Those good things that from age to age
To others hid have been.

The dunghill-raker, spider, hen,

The chicken, too, to me

Have taught a lesson; let me then

Conformed to it be.

The butcher, garden, and the field,
The Robin and his bait,

Also the rotten tree doth yield

Me argument of weight;

To move me for to watch and pray,
To strive to be sincere;

To take my Cross up day by day,
And serve the Lord with fear.

Now I saw in my dream, that they went on, and Great-heart before them; so they went and came to the place where Christian's Burden fell off his back, and tumbled into a Sepulchre. Here, then, they made a pause; and here also they blessed God. Now, said Christiana, it comes to my mind what was said to us at the Gate, to wit: That we should have pardon by word and deed: by word, that is, by the promise; by deed, to wit, in the way it was obtained. What the promise is, of that I know something: but what it is to have pardon by deed, or in the way that it was obtained, Mr. Great-heart, I suppose, you know; wherefore, if you please, let us hear you discourse thereof.

A comment upon what was said at the Gate, or a dis

course of our be

ing justified by Christ.

Great-heart. Pardon by the deed done, is pardon obtained by some one for another that hath need thereof; not by the person pardoned, but in the way, saith another, in which I have obtained it: so then, to speak to the question more at large, the pardon that you and Mercy, and these boys, have attained, was obtained by another, to wit by Him that let you in at the Gate. And He has obtained it in this double way. He has performed righteousness to cover you, and spilt his blood to wash you in.

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