Christiana ana her sons enter the Gate.

229

knock they durst not, for fear of the dog; go back they durst not, for fear the Keeper of the Gate should espy them as they went, and so be offended with them; at last they thought of knocking again, and knocking more vehemently than they did at first. Then said the Keeper of the Gate, Who is there?' So the dog left off to bark, and he opened unto them. (m)

Then Christiana made low obeisance, and said, 'Let not our Lord be offended with his handmaidens, for that we have knocked at his princely Gate.'. Then said the Keeper, Whence come ye? And what is it that you would have?'

Christiana answered, We are come from whence Christian did come, and upon the same errrand as he; to wit, to be, if it shall please you, graciously admitted, by this Gate, into the way that leads into the Celestial City. And I answer, my Lord, in the next place, that I am Christiana, once the wife of Christian, that now is gotten above

With that the Keeper of the Gate did marvel, saying, is she now become a pilgrim, that but a while ago abhorred that life?' Then she bowed her head, and said, 'Yea; and so are these my sweet babes also.'

Then he took her by the hand, and led her in, and said also, "Suffer the little children to come unto me ;" and with that he shut up the Gate. This done, he called to a trumpeter that was above over the Gate, to entertain Christiana with shouting and sound of trumpet, for joy. So he obeyed, and sounded, and filled the air with his melodious notes.

Now all this while poor Mercy did stand without, trembling and crying for fear that she was rejected. But when Christiana, had gotten admittance for herself and her boys, then she began to make intercession for Mercy.

And she said, My Lord, I have a companion of mine that stands yet without, that is come hither upon the same account as myself: one that is much dejected in her mind, for that she comes, as she thinks, without sending for: whereas I was sent to by my husband's King to come.

(m) The greater fervency new converts manifest in prayer for themselves and each other, the more violent opposition will they experience from the powers of darkness. Many have felt such terrors whenever they attempted to pray, that they have for a time been induced wholly to desist and doubtless numbers, whose convictions were superficial, have thus been finally driven back to their former course of ungodliness. But when the fear of God, and a real belief of his word possess the heart, such disturbances cannot long prevent earnest cries for mercy; nay, they will eventually render them more fervent and important than ever.

230

Mercy is admitted and comforted.

Now Mercy began to be very impatient, and each minute was as long to her as an hour; wherefore she prevented Christiana from a fuller interceding for her, by knocking at the Gate herself. And she knocked then so loud, that she made Christiana to start. Then said the Keeper of the Gate, ' Who is there?' And Christiana said, 'It is my friend.'

So he opened the Gate and looked out, but Mercy was fallen down without in a swoon, for she fainted, and was afraid that no Gate would be opened to her.

Then he took her by the hand, and said, “Damsel, I bid thee arise."

O Sir,' said she, I am faint; there is scarce life left in me.' But he answered, that one said, "When my sould tainted within me, I remembered the Lord, and my prayer came unto thee, into thy holy temple." Fear not, but stand upon

thy feet, and tell me wherefore thou art come.'

Mer. I am come for that unto which I was never invited, as my friend Christiana was. Her's was from the King, and mine was but from her. Wherefore I presume.

Good. Did she desire thee to come with her to this place? Mer. Yes; and, as my Lord sees, I am come; and if there is any grace and forgiveness of sins to spare, I beseech that thy poor handmaid may be partaker thereof.

Then he took her again by the hand, and led her gently in, and said, I pray for all them that believe on me, by what means soever they come unto me.' Then said he to those that stood by, Fetch something, and give it Mercy to smell on, thereby to stay her faintings.' So they fetched her a bundie of myrrh. A while after she revived.

6

And now was Christiana, and her boys, and Mercy, received of the Lord at the head of the way, and spoke kindly unto by him. Then said they yet further unto him, We are sorry for our sins, and beg of our Lord his pardon, and further information what we must do.'

'I grant pardon,' said he, by word and deed; by word in the promise of forgiveness; by deed in the way I obtained it. Take the first from my lips with a kiss, and the other as it shall be revealed.'†

Now I saw in my dream, that he spake many good words unto them, whereby they were greatly gladded. He also had them up to the top of the Gate, and showed them by what † Sol. Song i, 2 John xx. 19.

*Jonah ii. 7.

The Pilgrims converse together.

231

deed they were saved; and told them withal, that that sight they would have again as they went along in the way, to their comfort. (n)

So he left them awhile in a summer-parlour below, where they entered into talk by themselves: and thus Christiana began: O Lord how glad am I that we are got in hither!' Mer. So you well may: but I of all have cause to leap for joy.

Chr. I thought one time as I stood at the Gate, (because I had knocked and none did answer,) that all our labour had been lost, especially when that ugly cur made such a heavy barking at us.

Mer. But my worst fear was, after I saw that you was taken into his favour, and that I was left behind. Now, thought I, it is fulfilled which is is written. "Two women shall be grinding together, the one shall be taken and the other left."* I had much ado to forbear crying out, Undone ! And afraid I was to knock any more: but when looked up to what was written over the Gate, I took courage. I also thought, that I must either knock again or die; so I knocked, but I cannot tell how; for my spirit now struggled between life and death. (0)

(n) Pardon by word seems to denote the general discovery of free salvation by Jesus Christ to all that believe; which, being depended on by the humble sinner, is sealed by transient comforts and lively affections. Pardon by deed may relate to the manner, in which the blessing was purchased by the Saviour; and when this is clearly understood, the believer attains to stable peace and hope. This coincides with the explanation already given of the Gate, the Cross, and the Sepulchre; and it will be further confirmed in the sequel. The 'pardon by deed' must be waited for; yet the Pilgrims obtained a distant glimpse of the deed by which they were saved; for some general apprehensions of redemption by the cross of Christ are commonly conuected with the believer first comfort, though the nature and glory of it be more fully perceived as he proceeds. (0) The express words of scriptural invitations, exhortations and promises prove more effectual to encourage those who are ready to give ap their hopes, than all the consolatory topics that can possibly be substituted in their place. It is, therefore, much to be lamented, that pious men, by adering to a systematical exactness of expression, should clog their addresses to sinners with exceptions and limitations, which the Spirit of God did not see good to insert. They will not say that the omission was an oversight in the inspired writers; or admit the thought for a moment, that they can improve on their plan; why then cannot they be satisfied to "speak according to the oracles of God," without affecting a more en

232

Mercy's reasons for knocking loudly.

Chr. Can you not tell how you knocked? I am sure your knocks were so earnest, that the very sound made me start: I thought I never heard such knocking in all my life: I thought you would come in by a violent hand, or take the kingdom by storm.*

Mer. Alas, to be in my case! who that so was could but have done so? You saw that the door was shut upon me, and that there was a most cruel dog thereabout. Who, I say, that was so faint-hearted as I, would not have knocked with all their might ?—But pray, What said my Lord unto my rudeWas he not angry with me?

ness?

Chr. When he heard your lumbering noise, he gave a wonderful innocent smile: I believe what you did pleased him well, for he showed no signs to the contrary. (p) But I marvel in my heart why he keeps such a dog had I known that before, I should not have had heart enough to have ventured myself in this manner. (9) But now we are in, we are in, and I am glad with all my heart.

:

Mer. I will ask, if you please, next time he comes down, why he keeps such a filthy cur in his yard; I hope he will not take it amiss.

Do so, said the children, and persuade him to hang him. for we are afraid he will bite us when we go hence.

So at last he came down to them again, and Mercy fell to

*Matt. xi. 12.

tire consistency? Great mischief has thus been done by very different descriptions of men, who undesignedly concur in giving atan an occasion of suggesting to the trembling inquirer, that perhaps he may persevere in asking, seeking and knocking, with the greatest earnestness and importunity, and yet finally be a cast-away!

(p) When the sinner prays ander the urgent fear of perishing, he is excited to peculiar fervency of spirit: and the more fervent our prayers are, the better are they approved by the Lord, how much soever men may object to the manner or expressions of them.

(q) Could soldiers, when they enlist, foresee all the dangers and hardships to be encountered; or could mariners, when about to set sail, be fully aware of all the difficulties of the voyage; their reluctancy or discouragement would be increased by the prospect. But, when they have engaged, they find it impossible to recede; and thus they press forward through one labour and eril after another, till the campaign or voyage be accomplished. Thus it is with the Christian: but they strive for corruptible things, which they may never live to obtain; while he seeks for an incorruptible crown of glory, of which no event can deprive him. If he knew all from the first, it would be his only wisdom to venture: whereas the case with them is often widely different.