Gambar halaman
PDF
ePub

frankincense, myrrh, and aloes, with all chief spices. With these the Pilgrims' chambers were perfumed while they stayed here; and with these were their bodies anointed, to prepare them to go over the river, when the time appointed was come.

Christiana.

Now, while they lay here, and waited for the good hour, there was a noise in the town, that there was a Post A messenger of death sent to come from the Celestial City, with matter of great importance to one Christiana, the wife of Christian the Pilgrim. So inquiry was made for her, and the house was found out where she was. So the Post presented her with a letter; the contents were, "Hail, good woman! I bring thee tidings that the Master calleth for thee, and expecteth that thou shouldst stand in his presence, in clothes of immortality, within these ten days."

His message.

How welcome

[ocr errors]

When he had read this letter to her, he gave her therewith a sure token that he was a true messenger, and was come to bid her make haste to be gone. The token was, An arrow with a point sharpened with love, let easily into her heart, which by degrees wrought so effectually with her, that, at the time appointed, she

Death is to them that have nothing

to do but to die.

must be gone."

Her speech to her guide.

When Christiana saw that her time was come, and that she was the first of this company that was to go over, she called for Mr. Great-heart her guide, and told him how matters were. So he told her he was heartily glad of the news, and could have been glad had the Post come for him. Then she bid him that he should give advice how all things should be prepared for her journey. So he told her saying, Thus and thus it must be; and we that survive will accompany Then she called for her To her children. you to the river-side. children, and gave them her blessing, and told them, that she had read with comfort the mark that was set in their foreheads, and was glad to see them with her there, and that they had kept their garments so white. Lastly, she bequeathed to the poor that little she had, and commanded her sons and daughters to be ready against the messenger should come for them. When she had spoken these words to her guide, and to her children, she called for Mr. Valiant-for-truth, and said unto him, Sir, you have in all places showed yourself true-hearted; be faithful unto death, and my King will give you a crown of life. I would also entreat you to have an eye to my children; and, if at any time you see them faint, speak comfortably to them. For my daughters, my sons' wives,

To Mr. Valiant-fortruth.

they have been faithful, and a fulfilling of the promise upon them will be their end. But she gave Mr. Standfast a ring.

To Mr. Stand-fast

To old Honest.

To Mr. Ready-to

halt.

Then she called for old Mr. Honest, and said of him, "Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile !" Then said he, I wish you a fair day when you set out for mount Zion, and shall be glad to see that you go over the river dry-shod. But she answered, Come wet, come dry, I long to be gone; for, however the weather is in my journey, I shall have time enough, when I come there, to sit down, and rest me, and dry me. Then came in that good man, Mr. Ready-to-halt, to see her. So she said to him, Thy travel hitherto has been with difficulty, but that will make thy rest the sweeter. But, "watch and be ready; for, at an hour when ye think not, the messenger may come." After him came Mr. Despondency, and his daughter Much-afraid; to To Mr. Desponwhom she said, "You ought with thankfulness for dency and ever to remember your deliverance from the hands daughter. of Giant Despair, and out of Doubting Castle. The effect of that mercy is, that you are brought with safety hither. Be ye watchful, and cast away fear; be sober, and hope to the end." Then she said to Mr. Feeble-mind, Thou wast delivered from the mouth of Giant Slay-good, that thou mightest live in the light of the living, and see thy King with comfort; only I advise thee to repent of thine aptness to fear and doubt of his goodness before he sends for thee; lest thou shouldest, when he comes, be forced to stand before him for that fault, with blushing.

his

To Mr. Feeble

mind.

Now the day drew on that Christiana must be gone. So the road was full of people to see her take her journey. Her last day, and But, behold, all the banks beyond the river were manner of departful of horses and chariots, which were come down ure. from above to accompany her to the City-Gate. So she came forth, and entered the river with a beckon of farewell to those that followed her. 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 her 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.

[ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][graphic][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors]

Mr. Ready-to-halt summoned.

[Christiana passing the river.]

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 fellow Pilgrims, 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

[ocr errors]

his crutches and his good wishes, therefore thus he said: These crutches I bequeath to my son that shall tread in my steps, with a hundred warm wishes that he may prove better than I have been.

Promises.

His will.

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 works he was heard to say were, "Welcome life!" So he went his way.

His last words.

After this, Mr. Feeble-mind had tidings brought Feeble-mind sum. him, that the Post sounded his horn at his chamber moned. door. Then he came in, and 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: 66 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, He makes his will. 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 and patience!" So he went over to the other side.

His last words.

When days had many of them passed away, Mr, Despondency was sent for; for a Post was come, and brought this message to him: "Trembling man, these are to summon thee Mr. Despondency's to be ready with the King by the next Lord's day, summons, to shout for joy for thy deliverance from all thy doubtings."

[ocr errors]

་་་

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."* Now, Mr. Despondency's daughter, whose His daughter goes name was Much-afraid, said, when she heard what too.

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

* Eccl. xii. 5.

His will.

in 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.

His last words.

When the time was come for them to depart, they went up to the brink of the river. The last words of Mr. Despondency were, "Farewell night, welcome day!" His daughter went through the river singing, but none could understand what she said.

moned.

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 Mr. Honest sum- he was, and delivered to his hand these lines: "Thou art commanded to be ready against this day seven-night, to present thyself before the Lord at his Father's house." And for a token that my message is true, 66 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.

He makes no will.

When the day that he was to be gone was come, he addressed himself to go over the river. Now the river at that time overflowed its banks in some places; but Mr. Honest, in his lifetime, had spoken to one Good-conscience to meet him there; the which he also did, and lent him his hand, and so helped him over. The last words of Mr. Hon "Grace reigns," so he left the world.

Good-conscience helps Mr. Honest over the river.

est were, After this, it was noised abroad that Mr. Valiant-for-truth was Mr. Valiant-for- 'taken with a summons by the same Post as the truth summoned. other, and had this for a token that the summons was true, "That his pitcher was broken at the fountain." When he understood it, 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 repent me of all the

His will.

trouble I have been at to arrive where I am. My sword I give to him that shall succeed 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

* Eccl. xii 4. † Eccl. xii. 6.

« SebelumnyaLanjutkan »