Rarities of Good-Resolution's Cave.

yet greater things than these to shew him, such as would even ravish his soul with joy to behold. So he had him out of that room by a long entry, or passage, cut out of the rock, and full of sky-lights that were let in at the top, and brought him to another cave, where dwelt a man named Contemplation. The man sat still in a chair of pure diamond, musing and silent; neither said they any thing to him, or he to them: but just as he saw them enter he drew back a curtain which hung before the farthest part of the room, and veiled half the room, so that when any one came in, at first he could not see what was in the farthest part of the room; but so soon as the man Contemplation had, with a string which he held in his hand, drawn back the curtain, what a goodly and glorious sight was there; for that part of the room was so contrived, that by letting in a certain sky-light from the roof of the cave, your eyes are immediately surprised with a thousand splendours; and that part of the cave, though an entire rock of diamond, was so artificially polished, that by the reflection of the sunbeams it represented to you a most glorious city, whose streets are paved with pure gold, and the walls of precious stones, the inhabitants walking up and down in long robes, and glittering like the stars: also it represented the King of that place sitting on a throne of glory, a fiery stream issuing from before him; thousands of thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him, whose faces were like the lightning, and their eyes like lamps of fire, their arms and their feet were like polished brass; in short the whole appearance was full of lustre and magnificence.

Tender-Conscience was astonished above measure at the sight of these glorious things, and ravished with an inexpres sible delight: he continued gazing on the lovely objects, neither could he take his eyes off from looking, till such time as Good-Resolution drew the curtain again, and so veiled them from his sight; for he was afraid lest, by too long gazing on so much brightness, his eyes might receive some damage. So he had him back again through the pas sage that led to his own cave; and when they were come into the cave, he desired Tender-Conscience to sit down and meditate on what he had seen: so Tender-Conscience sat down to meditate, while Good-Resolution got ready a small collation of fruits, of herbs, and of wine, to refresh him, and make him more vigorous and active in going up the rest of the hill.

O Sir, said Tender-Conscience, trouble not yourself for me

Good-Resolution gives advice to Tender-Conscience.

nor take any care about meat or drink, for what I have see since my coming into this place is both meat and drink te me; I feel myself strengthened by it, and my spirit enlivened, so that methinks I could even fly up the rest of the hill.

Then Good-Resolution made answer, If the bare sight of these glorious things has wrought such a wonderful effect upon you, how much greater influence may be expected from the mature consideration and application of them? But I must warn you of one thing that will happen to you a little after your departure from this place, as usually happens to all pilgrims who have seen the glorious things of this cave; for lest they should be exalted above measure through the abundance of revelations, there is generally given unto them a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan, to buffet them. Now, to the end you may not be disheartened when this thing comes to pass, I tell you of it now, that, being forewarned, you may also be fore-armed; and I exhort you to have always in your mind the famous examples of those worthies which you see represented before your eyes, who stem med the tide of worldly crosses and persecution, stood the brunt of all manner of temptations, till having at last wea thered the point, and got the start of the world, the flesh, and the devil, they entered into the joy of their Lord, and took possession of an everlasting inheritance. These things you ought to have in remembrance as you travel along, and espe cially when you meet with any temptation or danger, as you must expect in this journey; at such a time you ought to reflect on the glorious things you saw in the cave, and in the cave of Contemplation, and in so doing you will find great comfort and relief.

So he desired Tender-Conscience to refresh himself with such entertainment as his cave afforded; assuring him, that though it was plain and homely diet, yet he was heartily wel come to it, and would find the benefit of it, as he went up the rest of the hill. Then Good-Resolution, after the repast was over, renewed his counsel to Tender-Conscience, and told him what houses and inns he should use thereabouts in his way what he should refuse and avoid adding many wholesome i structions. At length Tender-Conscience, full of courage an joy, took his leave, giving him humble thanks for the favour he had done him.

Now I saw in my dream, that by that time Tender-Conscience was got a pretty distance upward from the cave, he was met by a man whose name was Spiritual-Pride, but Tender

Tender-Conscience meets with Spiritual Pride.

Conscience knew not his name at first; so the man saluted him in this manner: "Hail thou beloved among the sons of men, thou darling of the King of heaven, who hast undertaken a great and tedious pilgrimage from the Valley of Destruction, toward the region of life and glory; who hast escaped the temptations of the House of Mirth, and rather chosen to go into the House of Mourning; who hast escaped the paths of Danger and Destruction, and hast nobly ventured to ascend up the unpleasant and rugged path of the steep hill Difficulty; and hast entered into the cave of Good-Resolution, and seen the glorious things of his cave, and the more glorious things in the cave of Contemplation. Now I am sent to congratulate thee on thy success, and to tell thee thy journey is at an end; thou hast all along fought the good fight, thou hast kept the faith, and now thy course is finished, and there is laid up for thee a crown of righteousness: come, turn in with me, and I will shew thee thy reward, which is secured for thee, and thou needest not travel or toil thyself any more, but take up thy rest with me."

Then Tender-Conscience was much astonished at the man's words, and wondered how he could tell him so exactly what he had done, and where he had been; and he said within himself, Surely this man is a prophet, or greater than a prophet. So he began to be puffed up in his mind, to think how the man called him the beloved among the sons of men, and the darling of the King of heaven. Surely (said he in his heart) my lot is fallen in goodly places, I have a fair inheritance. So he followed the man, who led him aside out of the path that led him directly up the hill, and brought him to an exceeding high tower, whose top was much higher than the top of the hill itself; but before they came to the tower, even as they were going along, Tender-Conscience cast his eye upon the back of the man, and there he saw written "Spiritual-Pride:" so he remembered the counsel of Good-Resolution, how, among the rest of his wholesome instructions, he bade him beware of Spiritual-Pride, who would certainly meet him on the way, and endeavour to seduce him to the tower of Lofty-Thoughts, and when he had got him to the top, would cast him down headlong, and break him to pieces. So Tender-Conscience made no more ado, but ran away as fast as he could back to the path again, and so went forward up the hill, rejoicing that he had escaped from Spiritual-Pride, who, with flattering speeches and deceitful words, sought to entice him out of the way, and ring him to ruin and swift destruction.

Tender-Conscience meets with Carnal-Security.

Then I looked after Tender-Conscience, and saw that he went a great pace upward till he came to the top of the hill, even to the stage that was built to punish such upon, who should be afraid to go farther upon pilgrimage; where Mistrust and Timorous had their tongues bored through with a hot iron, for endeavouring to hinder Christian in his journey, as was to be read on the plates that hang before the stage.

Now I saw in my dream, that as Tender-Conscience went along, an old man met him in the way, whose name was Carnal-Security, and he spake to Tender Conscience in this manner: Friend, whence comest thou, and whither art thou going?

Tender-Conscience replied, Sir, I am come from the Valley of Destruction, and am travelling toward the heavenly country.

CARNAL. Truly you have undertaken a great and hazardous journey, and the perils you have gone through are many: but now the worst of your way is past, the rest being pleasant, safe, and easy; it is convenient for you to rest yourself awhile after your toils, and the wearisome steps you have trodden since you first set forth from your native country, and especially since you must needs be tired and quite out of breath, through the extreme steepness of the hill Difficulty, which you last ascended: therefore, if you please to take up your quarters with me, you shall be heartily welcome, and you will be better strengthened and enabled to go forward on your journey: my house stands not far off from this place, and, if you will accept of my offer, I will be your guide to my habitation.

TENDER. Sir, I must confess your civility is very acceptable to me, and very seasonable at this time; for indeed I am pretty well beat out with travel, and, besides, it grows towards night; therefore, If you please, I will go along with you.

So they went along together, and the old man had him through a lane on the left hand of the high road, which brought him to a stately palace, whose gate stood wide open; and they came unto the first court, which was all green and full of flowers, having several delightful arbours artificially built round it, and a crystal fountain in the middle of the court: there were also beautiful trees planted round it, on whose boughs innumerable birds of several kinds sat chirping and singing with admirable harmony. So, as they walked together across the court, there met him an ancient lady, accompanied by two beautiful young damsels, on whom she leaned: the name of the lady was Intemperance, and she was the wife of Carnal-Security. Now

Tender Conscience goes to the House of Carnal-Security.

it seems these two had built this palace to inveigle pilgrims, and seduce them out of their way to the heavenly country; as the palace called Beautiful, was built for the relief, comfort, and direction of pilgrims in their journey But But poor Tender-Conscience knew nothing of all this: he that had so lately escaped the snare Spiritual-Pride had laid for him, was now caught in the gins of Carnal-Security.

Now I saw in my dream, that the Lady Intemperance bid Tender-Conscience welcome to her house, and so did the two young dansels who attended her, who were her daughters; the name of the one was Wantonness, and the name of the other was Forgetfulness.

Then she desired him to approach nearer the house; so they all walked together through the first court, and came to the entrance of the second: there the Lady Intemperance desired them all to sit down, whilst she reaclied several bunches of grapes which hung down from a vine that covered the place where they sat, and she squeezed them into a golden cup which she held in her hand, and, having tasted thereof, presented it to Tender-Conscience, bidding him to drink it off; so he did accordingly, and presently he was intoxicated therewith, and began to dally with Mrs. Wantonness: at which the Lady Intemperance, and her husband Carnal-Security, seemed not to be displeased, but rather to encourage him, by giving him another cup of the juice of the grapes, which worked so mightily in his weak head, that having tumbled and dallied awhile with Mrs. Wantonness on a bank of sweet flowers, at last he fell asleep in the arms of Mrs. Forgetfulness. Then they caused him to be carried into the palace by two of their servants, and laid on a soft bed in the best chamber of the whole house, re solving if possible to win him by all means to tarry with them, and not to go forward in his journey: to this end they prepared an excellent concert of music, who were planted out of the sight of the bed where Tender-Conscience lay, yet so as they might be heard as plain as though they had been by his bed-side, but could not be seen by him, if he should awake out of his sleep: and they were ordered to play the sweetest airs and most melodious tunes their art could furnish them with, all the while he was asleep, and likewise to keep on playing if he should chance o awake, for it was the nature of these grapes, of whose liquor they had drank so plentifully, to make some people sleep many years together, and others to sleep all their life-time: and very few had the power to awaken, especially in any short time; and it was the nature of the music to create dreams in them that