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They are received at the House Beautiful.

Then the Porter, Mr. Watchful, asked Christiana of her country, and of her kindred. And she said, "I come from the city of Destruction. I am a widow woman, and my husband is dead; his name was Christian the pilgrim." "How," said the Porter, "was he your husband?" "Yes," said she," and these are his children; and this, pointing to Mercy, is one of my townswomen." Then the Porter rang his bell, as at such times he is wont, and there came to the door one of the damsels, whose name was Humble-mind; and to her the Porter said, "Go tell it within, that Christiana, the wife of Christian, and her children, are come hither on pilgrimage." She went in therefore, and told it. But oh, what noise for gladness was there when the damsel did but drop that word out of her mouth!

So they came with haste to the Porter, for Christiana stood still at the door. Then some of the most grave said unto her, "Come in, Christiana, come in, thou wife of that good man; come in, thou blessed woman, come in, with all that are with thee." So she went in, and they followed her that were her children and

their respectable and faithful minister, with whom the pastor had been well acquainted, and whose testimony respecting their christian character was a sufficient recommendation. Thus Barnabas introduced Saul to the attention and confidence of the church at Jerusalem, Acts ix. 27.-The prospect of losing the counsels and protection of a favourite minister gives pain of heart, especially to young christians, who are sometimes taught by the loss of their privileges, that they have undervalued their mercies. Genuine servants of Christ are at the disposal of their divine Lord and Master, and are willing even to part with those whom they love and esteem, if their uniting with another congregation appears necessary to their further edification, or for the promotion of the glory of God. The character of Great-heart is that of an evangelist, and is founded perhaps upon the itinerating labours of Mr Bunyan, who had several neighbouring congregations under his superintendence, the pious people of which were members of the parent church at Bedford. The congregations collected by his labours at Gamlingay, Steventon, Keysoe, Hitchin, &c. continued in connection with the church at Bedford till after the death of Mr. Bunyan, and were after the Revolution in 1688 formed into distinct churches.

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They go to rest at the House Beautiful.

her companions. Now when they were gone in, they were had into a very large room, where they were bidden to sit down: so they sat down, and the chief of the house were called to see and welcome the guests. Then they came in, and understanding who they were, did salute each one with a kiss, and said, "Welcome, ye vessels of the grace of God; welcome to us, our faithful friends.'

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Now, because it was somewhat late, and because the pilgrims were weary with their journey, and also made faint with the sight of the fight, and of the terrible lions, therefore they desired, as soon as might be, to prepare to go to rest. "Nay," said those of the family," refresh yourselves with a morsel of meat;" for they had prepared for them a lamb, with the accustomed sauce belonging thereto, (Exod. xii. 21. John i. 29.) the Porter having heard before of their coming, and having told it to them within. So when they had supped, and after prayer had sung a psalm, they desired they might go to rest. "But let us," said Christiana, "if we may be so bold as to choose, be in that chamber that was my husband's when he was here:" so they had them up thither, and they lay all in a room. When they were at rest, Christiana and Mercy entered into discourse about things that were couvenient.

CHR. Little did I think once, when my husband went on pilgrimage, that I should ever follow him. MER. And you as litttle thought of lying in his bed, and in his chamber to rest, as you do now.

CHR. And much less did I ever think of seeing his face with comfort, and of worshipping the Lord the King with him; and yet now I believe 1 shall. MER. Hark! don't you hear a noise?

CHR. Yes, it is, as I believe, a noise of music, for joy that we are here.

The love of christians is kindled at the sight of one another. ▷ Christ's bosom is for all pilgrims

Mercy relates her Dream.

MER. Wonderful! Music in the house, music in the heart, and music also in heaven, for joy that we are here!-Thus they talked a while, and then betook themselves to sleep.

So in the morning, when they were awakened, Christiana said to Mercy,

CHR. What was the matter that you did laugh in your sleep to-night? I suppose you were in a dream. MER. So I was, and a sweet dream it was; but are you sure I laughed ?

CHR. Yes, you laughed heartily; but prithee, Mercy, tell me thy dream.

MER. I was dreaming that I sat all alone in a solitary place, and was bemoaning the hardness of my heart. Now I had not sat there long, but methought many were gathered about me to see, and to hear what it was that I said. So they hearkened, and I went on bemoaning the hardness of my heart. At this some of them laughed at me, some called me fool, and some began to thrust me about. With that, methought I looked up and saw one with wings coming towards me. So he came directly to me, and said, Mercy, what aileth thee?" Now when he had heard me make my complaint, he said, " Peace be to thee;" he also wiped my eyes with his handkerchief, and clad me in silver and gold. (Ezek. xvi. 8-11.) He put

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d On the pilgrims' application the pastor, having ascertained their natnes and characters, makes it publicly known to the meinbers of the church, who with suitable dispositions attend to his recommendation, rejoice at the prospect of such an accession to their number, and give them the most hearty welcome to their fellowship, which is shown by their ready admission to the Lord's table, and their partaking with them of the memorials of our Lord's passion, the antitype of the feast of the passover-The pleasures flowing from the communion of the saints are described by the pilgrims' resting in the chamber of "Peace," leaning as it were upon the "bosom of Christ ;" and by their spiritual conversation, and unusual delight of souls. It is indeed "wonderful," and so it appears to be when the hearts of believers are suitably impressed with the divine mercy towards them, that there should "be musie In the house, music in the heart, and music also in heaven."

The Pilgrims remain some time

a chain about my neck, and ear-rings in my ears, and a beautiful crown upon my head. Then he took me by the hand, and said, "Mercy, come after me." So he went up, and I followed till we came to a golden gate. Then he knocked; and when they within had opened, the man went in, and I followed him up to a throne, upon which one sat; and he said unto me, "Welcome, daughter." The place looked bright and twinkling, like the stars, or rather like the sun, and I thought that I saw your husband there: so I awoke from my dream. But did I laugh?

CHR. Laugh? ay, and well you might to see yourself so well off. For you must give me leave to tell you, that it was a good dream; and that as you have begun to find the first part true, so you shall find the second at last. "God speaketh once, yea twice, yet man perceiveth it not; in a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed,". Job. xxxiii. 14, 15. We need not, when abed, lie awake to talk with God; he can visit us while we sleep, and cause us then to hear his voice. Our heart ofttimes wakes when we sleep, and God can speak to that, either by words, by proverbs, or by signs and similitudes, as well as if one were awake.

MER. Well, I am glad of my dream; for I hope ere long to see it fulfilled, to the making me laugh again.

CHR. I think it is now, high time to rise, and to know what we must do.

MER. Pray, if they invite us to stay a while, let us willingly accept the proffer. I am the more willing to stay a while here, to grow better acquainted with these maids: methinks Prudence, Piety, and Charity, have very comely and sober countenances.

CHR. We shall see what they will do.

The salvation of a sinner is from first to last a display of rich and sovereign mercy; and a discovery of personal interest in the righteousness of Christ, and of all the blessings connected with it, brings joy unspeakable to the believer's heart. The beautiful ima

at the House Beautiful.

So when they were up and ready, they came down, and they asked one another of their rest, and if it was comfortable or not.

MER. Very good, said Mercy: it was one of the best night's lodgings that ever I had in my life.

Then said Prudence and Piety, "If you will be persuaded to stay here a while, you shall have what the house will afford."

CHAR. Ay, and that with a very good will, said Charity. So they consented, and staid there about a month, or above, and became very profitable one to another. And because Prudence would see how Christiana had brought up her children, she asked leave of her to catechise them. So she gave her free consent. Then she began with the youngest, whose name was James.

PRUD. And she said, Come, James, canst thou tell me who made thee:

JAMES. God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost.

PRUD. Good boy, And canst thou tell who saved thee?

JAMES. God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost.

gery employed by the prophet Ezekiel to describe the distinguishing favour of God towards the Jewish church, in taking it from the depths of misery in Egypt, and bringing it into covenant with himself, and investing it with glory in Jerusalem the city of God, is admirably adapted to represent the degradation of man by nature, the union of believers by faith to Jesus Christ, the dignity to which they are exalted as the adopted sons and daughters of the Lord God Almighty, and the future state of felicity which is prepared for them.—Our author intimates that God sometimes communicates spiritual knowledge and heavenly joy to the mind by "dreams and visions of the night;" "he can visit us," says Christiana, "while we sleep, and cause us then to hear his voice." It would be very unwise to limit the Holy One of Israel, "who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will," and therefore employs whatever means he pleases to bring into captivity every hought to the obedience of Christ. The effects produced by dreams, s well as by every thing else, must be brought to this test. It is good maxim,-that what leads to God, must have come from God

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