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The Pilgrims are kindly entertained by Mr. Mnason.

an old disciple, at whose house we may lodge. hink good, we will turn in there."

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If you

Content," said old Honest; " Content," said Christiana; "Content," said Mr. Feeble-mind; and so they said all. Now you must think it was even-tide by that they got to the outside of the town; but Mr. Great-heart knew the way to the old man's house. So thither they came; and he called at the door, and the old man within knew his tongue as soon as ever he heard it; so he opened the door, and they all came in. Then said Mnason their host, "How far have ye come to-day?" They replied, "From the house of Gaius your friend." "I promise you," said he, "you have come a good stretch. You may well be weary; sit down." So they sat down.

GREAT. Then said their guide, Come, what cheer good Sir? I dare say (turning to the pilgrims) you are welcome to my friend.

MNAS. I also, said Mr. Mnason, do bid you welcome; and whatever you want, do but say, and we will do what we can to get it for you.

HON. Our great want a while since was harbour and good company, and now I hope we have both. MNAS. For harbour, you see what it is; but for good company, that will appear in the trial.

GREAT. Well, said Mr. Great-heart, will you have the pilgrims into their lodging?

MNAS. I will, said Mr. Mnason. So he had them to their respective places; and also showed them a very fair dining-room, where they might be, and sup together until time should come to go to rest.

Now when they were seated in their places, and were a little refreshed after their journey, Mr. Honest asked his landlord, if there was any store of good people in the town.

MNAS. We have a few; and indeed they are but a few, when compared with them on the other side. HON. But how shall we do to see some of them? for the sight of good men to them that are going on

Mr. Mnason introduces his Friends to the Pilgrims.

pilgrimage, is like the appearing of the moon and stars to them that are sailing upon the seas.

MNAS. Then Mr. Mnason stamped with his foot, and his daughter Grace came up. So he said unto her, Grace, go you, tell my friends, Mr. Contrite, Mr. Holy-man, Mr. Love-saints, Mr. Dare-not-lie, and Mr. Penitent, that I have a friend or two at my house who have a mind this evening to see them. So Grace went to call them, and they came; and after salutation made, they sat down together at the table.

Then said Mr. Mnason their landlord, "My neighbours, I have, as you see, a company of strangers come to my house; they are pilgrims: they come from afar, and are going to mount Sion. But, who," said he, "do you think this is?" pointing his finger to Christiana. "It is Christiana, the wife of Christian, that famous pilgrim, who with Faithful his brother was so shamefully handled in our town." At that they stood amazed, saying, "We little thought to see Christiana, when Grace came to call us; wherefore this is a very agreeable surprise." Then they asked her about her welfare, and if these young men were her husband's sons. And when she had told them they were, they said, "The King whom you love and serve make you as your father, and bring you where he is in peace."

P The town of Vanity represents the world; and its inhabitants, worldly-minded persons, or those who walk according to the course of this world, and are aiming at nothing higher than a portion in this life. But dwelling among these, though they are not of them, there are disciples of Christ to be found; and, occasionally, "an old disciple" may be much distinguished for providing boarding and lodging for christian people, who are strangers in the place where he lives. Such a man's character may be learned from his knowledge of evangelical ministers; from the hearty reception with which he entertains religious people; and from the character of his children, and of those whom he considers as his "friends." It is pleasant for those who are true christians to meet with persons in a strange town, who know the grace of God in truth; and it is as agreeable to them to receive an invitation to sup with godly strangers, especially when they find them to be the near relatives of distinguished christians, whose names have been held in reputation among the churches.

The Pilgrims converse with their Friends.

HON. Then Mr. Honest (when they had all sat down) asked Mr. Contrite and the rest, in what posre their town was at present.

CONTR. You may be sure we are full of hurry in ir-time. It is hard keeping our hearts and spirits in Dod order when we are in a cumbered condition. He

at lives in such a place as this, and has to do with such as we have, has need of an item to caution him to take heed every moment of the day.

HON. But how are your neighbours now for quietness?

CONTR. They are much more moderate now than formerly. You know how Christian and Faithful were used at our town; but of late, I say, they have been far more moderate. I think the blood of Faithful lieth as a load upon them till now; for since they burned him, they have been ashamed to burn any more. In those days we were afraid to walk the streets; but now we can show our heads. Then the name of a professor was odious; now, especially in some parts of our town, (for you know our town is large,) religion is counted honourable.-Pray, continued Mr. Contrite, how fareth it with you in your pilgrimage? how stands the country affected towards you?

HON. It happens to us, as it happeneth to wayfaring men;-sometimes our way is clean, sometimes foul; sometimes up hill, sometimes down hill; we are seldom at a certainty. The wind is not always on our backs, nor is every one a friend that we meet with in the way. We have met with some notable rubs already, and what are yet behind we know not; but for the most part we find it true that was said of old, "A good man must suffer trouble."

CONTR. You talk of rubs; what rubs have you met with?

HON. Nay, ask Mr. Great-heart our guide; for he can give the best account of that.

GREAT. We have been beset three or four times already. First, Christiana and her children wer

Great-heart relates the Assaults they had met with.

beset by two ruffians, who they feared would take away their lives. We were beset by Giant Bloodyman, Giant Maul, and Giant Slay-good. Indeed, we did rather beset the last than were beset by him. And thus it was: after we had been some time at the house of Gaius mine host, and of the whole church, we were minded upon a time to take our weapons with us, and go see if we could light upon any of those that were enemies to pilgrims; for we heard that there was a notable one thereabouts. Now Gaius knew his haunt better than I, because he dwelt thereabout. So we looked, and looked, till at last we discerned the mouth of his cave: then were we glad, and plucked up our spirits. So we approached up to his den; and lo, when we came there, he had dragged, by mere force, into his net, this poor man Mr. Feeble-mind, and was about to bring him to his end. But when he saw us, supposing, as he thought, he had another prey, he left the poor man in his house, and came out. So we fell to it full sore, and he lustily laid about him; but, in conclusion, he was brought down to the ground, and his head was cut off, and set up by the way-side, for a terror to such as should af ter practise such ungodliness. That I tell you the truth, here is the man himself to affirm, who was as a lamb taken out of the mouth of the lion.

FEEBLE. Then said Mr. Feeble-mind, I found this true, to my cost and comfort: to my cost, when he threatened to pick my bones every moment; and to my comfort, when I saw Mr. Great-heart and his friends, with their weapons, approach so near for my deliverance.

HOLY. Then said Mr. Holy-man, There are two things that they have need to possess who go on pilgrimage; courage, and an unspotted life. If they have not courage, they can never hold on their way; and if their lives be loose, they will make the very name of a pilgrim stink.

LOVE. Then said Mr. Love-saint, I hope this cau

The Pilgrims converse with their Friends.

tion is not needful among you. But truly there are many that go upon the road, who rather declare themselves strangers to pilgrimage, than strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

DARE. Then said Mr. Dare-not-lie, It is true. They have neither the pilgrim's weed, nor the pilgrim's courage; they go not uprightly, but all awry with their feet; one shoe goeth inward, another outward; and their hosen are torn; there is here a rag, and there a rent, to the disparagement of their Lord.

PEN. These things, said Mr. Penitent, they ought to be troubled for; nor are the pilgrims like to have that grace upon them and their Pilgrim's Progress they desire, until the way is cleared of such spots and blemishes.-Thus they sat talking and spending the time until supper was set upon the table, unto which they went, and refreshed their weary bodies, and then retired to rest.

Now they staid in the fair a great while at the house of Mr. Mnason, who in process of time gave his daughter Grace unto Samuel, Christiana's son, to wife, and his daughter Martha to Joseph."

The time, as I said, that they staid here, was long, for it was not now as in former times. Wherefore the pilgrims grew acquainted with many of the good people of the town, and did them what service they could. Mercy, as she was wont, laboured much for the poor: wherefore their bellies and backs blessed her, and she

The alteration in the spirit and conduct of the people of Vanity Fair towards the pilgrims, will be accounted for from the circumstance, that Mr. Bunyan is now giving the history of another period; and is fully borne out by the vast difference with which the nonconformists were treated at different periods, according as it suited the policy of the court, between 1660 and 1685. The remarks of these excellent christians, whose dispositions are marked by their appropriate names, demand the serious attention of all professors; and should lead them to self-examination, vigilance, and circumspection, lest their unworthy conduct should prove them to be rather "strangers to pilgrimage, than strangers and pilgrims on the earth."

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