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have had us with him; but I would not go myself, I also have hindred you of Life. With that the boys fell all into Tears, and cried out to go after their Father. Oh! Said Christiana, that it had been but our lot to go with him, then had it fared well with us beyond what 'tis like to do now. For tho' I formerly foolishly imagin'd concerning the troubles of your Father, that they proceeded of a foolish Fancy that he had, or for that he was overrun with Melancholy Humours; yet now 'twill not out of my mind, but Io that they sprang from another cause, to wit, for that James 1. 23, the Light of Light was given him, by the help of which, 24, 25. as I perceive, he has escaped the Snares of Death. Then they all wept again, and cryed out: Oh, Wo worth the day.

Dream.

The next night, Christiana had a Dream, and behold she Christiana's saw as if a broad Parchment was opened before her in which were recorded the sum of her ways, and the times, as she thought, lookt very black upon her. Then she cried out aloud in her sleep, Lord have Mercy upon

20 Children heard her.

me a Sinner, and the little Luke 18. 13.

this is the quintescence of Hell.

After this she thought she saw two very ill-favoured ones standing by her Bed-side, and saying, What shall we do with Mark this, this Woman? For she cries out for Mercy waking and sleeping: If she be suffered to go on as she begins, we shall lose her as we have lost her Husband. Wherefore we must by one way or other, seek to take her off from the thoughts of what shall be hereafter: else all the World cannot help it, but she will become a Pilgrim.

Discourage

Now she awoke in a great Sweat; also a trembling was 30 upon her, but after a while she fell to sleeping again. And then she thought she saw Christian her Husband in a place of Bliss Help against among many Immortals, with an Harp in his Hand, standing ment. and playing upon it before one that sate on a Throne with a Rainbow about his Head. She saw also as if he bowed his Head with his Face to the Pav'd-work that was under the Prince's Feet, saying, I heartily thank my Lord and King for bringing of me into this Place. Then shouted a company of them that stood round about, and harped with their Harps:

seconded

Tidings of

God's readi

ness to Pardon.

but no man living could tell what they said, but Christian and his Companions.

Next morning when she was up, and prayed to God, and talked with her Children a while, one knocked hard at the door; to whom she spake out saying, If thou comest in God's name, come in. So he said Amen, and opened the Door, and Convictions saluted her with Peace be to this House. The which when he with fresh had done, he said, Christiana, knowest thou wherefore I am come? Then she blusht and trembled, also her heart began to wax warm with desires to know whence he came, and what 10 was his Errand to her. So he said unto her; my name is Secret, I dwell with those that are high. It is talked of where I dwell, as if thou had'st a desire to go thither: also there is a report that thou art aware of the evil thou hast formerly done to thy Husband in hardening of thy Heart against his way, and in keeping of these thy Babes in their Ignorance. Christiana, the merciful one has sent me to tell thee that he is a God ready to forgive, and that he taketh delight to multiply to pardon offences. He also would have thee know that he inviteth thee to come into his presence, to his Table, and 20 that he will feed thee with the Fat of his House, and with the Heritage of Jacob thy Father.

There is Christian, thy Husband that was, with Legions more his Companions, ever beholding that face that doth minister Life to beholders: and they will be all glad when they shall hear the sound of thy feet step over thy Father's Threshold.

Christiana at this was greatly abashed in herself, and bowing her head to the ground, this Visitor proceeded and said, Christiana! Here is also a Letter for thee which I have 30 brought from thy Husband's King. So she took it and opened Cant. 1. 3. it, but it smelt after the manner of the best Perfume, also it was written in Letters of Gold. The contents of the Letter was, That the King would have her do as did Christian her Husband; for that was the way to come to his City, and to dwell in his Presence with Joy, for ever. At this the good Woman was overcome. So she cried out to her Visitor, Sir, will you carry me and my Children with you, that we also may go and worship this King.

Christiana quite over

come.

struction to

Then said the Visitor, Christiana! The bitter is before the Further Insweet: Thou must through Troubles, as did he that went Christiana. before thee, enter this Coelestial City. Wherefore I advise thee, to do as did Christian thy Husband: go to the Wicket Gate yonder, over the Plain, for that stands in the head of the way up which thou must go, and I wish thee all good speed. Also I advise that thou put this Letter in thy Bosom. That thou read therein to thyself and to thy Children, until you have got it by root-of-Heart. For it is one of the Songs that 10 thou must Sing while thou art in this House of thy Pilgrimage. Ps. 119. 54 Also this thou must deliver in at the further Gate.

for her

Now I saw in my Dream, that this Old Gentleman, as he told me this Story, did himself seem to be greatly affected therewith. He moreover proceeded and said, So Christiana Christiana called her Sons together, and began thus to Address herself rays well unto them. My Sons, I have as you may perceive, been of Fourney. late under much exercise in my Soul about the Death of your Father; not for that I doubt at all of his Happiness; for I am satisfied now that he is well. I have also been much 20 affected with the thoughts of mine own State and yours, which I verily believe is by nature miserable. My Carriages also to your Father in his distress, is a great load to my Conscience. For I hardened both my own heart and yours against him, and refused to go with him on Pilgrimage.

The thoughts of these things would now kill me out-right; but that for a Dream which I had last night, and but that for the encouragement that this Stranger has given me this Morning. Come my Children, let us pack up, and be gone to the Gate that leads to the Cœlestial Country, that we may 30 see your Father, and be with him, and his Companions in Peace, according to the Laws of that Land.

Then did her Children burst into Tears for Joy that the Heart of their Mother was so inclined. So their Visitor bid them farewell: and they began to prepare to set out for their Journey.

But while they were thus about to be gone, two of the women that were Christiana's Neighbors, came up to her House and knocked at her door. To whom she said as before,

new Lan

guage

stunds her

Christiana's If you come in God's name, come in. At this the Women were stun'd, for this kind of Language, they used not to hear, or to perceive to drop from the Lips of Christiana. Yet they came in; but behold they found the good Woman a preparing to be gone from her House.

old Neigh bours.

41. 42.

So they began and said, Neighbor, pray what is your meaning by this.

Christiana answered and said to the eldest of them whose name was Mrs. Timorous, I am preparing for a Journey.

1 part, page (This Timorous was daughter to him that met Christian upon 10 the Hill Difficulty: and would a had him gone back for fear of the Lyons.)

Timorous

Christiana

TIMOROUS. For what Journey I pray you?

CHRIS. Even to go after my good Husband; and with that she fell a weeping.

TIM. I hope not so, good Neighbor, pray for your poor comes to visit Children's sakes, do not so unwomanly cast away yourself. CHRIS. Nay, my Children shall go with me; not one of them Neighbors. is willing to stay behind.

with Mercy,

one of her

Death.

2 Cor. 5. I,

2, 3, 4

TIM. I wonder in my very heart, what, or who has brought 20 you into this mind.

CHRIS. Oh, Neighbor, knew you but as much as I do, I doubt not but that you would go with me.

TIM. Prithee what new knowledge hast thou got that so worketh off thy mind from thy Friends, and that tempteth thee to go nobody knows where?

CHRIS. Then Christiana reply'd, I have been sorely afflicted since my Husband's departure from me; but specially since he went over the River. But that which troubleth me most, is my churlish carriages to him when he was under his 30 distress. Besides, I am now, as he was then; nothing will serve me but going on Pilgrimage. I was a dreaming last night that I saw him. O that my Soul was with him. He dwelleth in the presence of the King of the Country, he sits and eats with him at his Table, he is become a Companion of Immortals, and has a House now given him to dwell in, to which, the best Palaces on Earth, if compared, seem to me to be but as a Dunghill. The

[graphic]

Prince of the Place has also sent for me with promise of entertainment if I shall come to him; his messenger was here even now, and has brought me a Letter, which invites me to come. And with that she pluck'd out her Letter, and read it, and said to them, what now will you say to this?

13-16.

TIM. Ob the madness that has possessed thee and thy Husband, to run yourselves upon such difficulties! You have heard, I am sure, what your Husband did meet with, even in a manner at the first step, that he took on his way, as our Neighbour Obstinate 1 part, page 10 can yet testifie; for he went along with him, yea and Pliable too until they, like wise men, were afraid to go any further. We also heard over and above, how he met with the Lions, Apollyon, the Shadow of Death, and many other things. Nor is the danger that be met with at Vanity fair to be forgotten by thee. For if he, The reasontho' a man, was so hard put to it, what canst thou, being but a flesh. poor Woman, do? Consider also that these four sweet Babes are thy Children, thy Flesh and thy Bones. Wherefore, though thou shouldest be so rash as to cast away thyself: Yet for the sake of the Fruit of thy Body, keep thou at home.

20

30

ings of the

But Christiana said unto her, tempt me not, my Neighbor: I have now a price put into mine hand to get gain, and I should be a Fool of the greatest size, if I should have no heart to strike in with the opportunity. And for that you tell me of all these Troubles that I am like to meet with in the way, they are so far off from being to me a discouragement, that they shew I am in the right. The bitter must come before the A pertinent reply to sweet, and that also will make the sweet the sweeter. Where-shly reafore since you came not to my House in God's name, as I said, sonings. I pray you to be gone, and not to disquiet me farther.

Then Timorous also revil'd her, and said to her Fellow, come Neighbor Mercy, let's leave her in her own hands, since she scorns our Counsel and Company. But Mercy was at a stand, and could not so readily comply with her Neighbor: and that for a two-fold reason. First, her Bowels yearned over Mercy's Christiana: so she said with in herself, If my neighbor will needs be gone, I will go a little way with her, and help her. Christiana. Secondly, her Bowels yearned over her own Soul, (for what Christiana had said, had taken some hold upon her mind.)

Bowels

yearn over

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