666 Nay,' said the messenger, 'you need not fear, "Take, read this letter, for the welcome's here.'* "Sweet the perfume it shed around the place! [grace. ""Twas pardoning love; 'twas rich and sovereign "Like Simeon she exclaimed, Now let me go!' "But He replied in calmness, No, not so,* 666 6 Thy husband's toilsome journey must be pass'd, "Ere thou canst taste with him the joys at last. "Take now this letter, for it will engage 66 6 Thy happy thoughts on this thy pilgrimage.' "No time she lost, she called her sons around, "And told them of the joy and peace she'd found: 66 Urged them to go on pilgrimage with her, "And told them, she no longer would defer. "O happy mother! they were all inclined "To seek with her the path of life, and find. "While thus preparing to set out from home, "To Christiana's house two neighbours come. * This letter is intended to signify the written word, which is the true and only foundation for the soul to rest on for comfort. †Though the wilderness may be toilsome, it is profitable discipline to the soul to pass through it. Deut. 8. Ps. 119. 54. Thy statutes have been my songs in the house of my pilgrimage. When the soul has found peace, its first desire is to induce others to taste the same joy. It is sometimes the happy experience of a mother to have all her children walk in the way of life with her. "One was called Tim'rous, (daughter of the man "Who down the hill of Difficulty ran, “And tried to turn good Christian from the way) Who, when she now heard Christiana say "That they were all preparing to be off, "Dissuaded first; - and then began to scoff. 666 Come, neighbour,' (to the younger,) 'let's be gone, "And leave them, as advice from us they scorn,' "Said she; but Mercy was inclined to stay :"I'll walk with them,' she said, 'a little way.' "The Lord had touch'd her heart by what was said,* "And shewn His mercy to the little maid. "Tim'rous reviling, as she'd done before, "Now left them both, and entered her own door. "While Christiana, on that very day, "With Mercy and the boys, went on their way. *The Lord often directs the arrow where it was not intended. By this time Christiana with Mercy were gat on their way. Christiana said, "I take this as an unexpected favour that thou shouldest set forth out of doors to accoinpany me." THE PILGRIM'S PROGRESS. PART II. THE SECOND BOOK. THE HAPPY FEELINGS OF THE PILGRIMS CONTRASTED WITH THE GOSSIP OF THE TOWN THEY HAD LEFT THEY PASS THE SLOUGH OF DESPOND, AND ENTER THE WICKET GATE ARE MUCH DISTRESSED BY A DOG THERE, BUT ARE MADE TO UNDERSTAND TO WHOM IT BELONGS HERE THEY GET THE FIRST SIGHT OF THE CROSS -ARE REFRESHED AND CON TINUE THEIR JOURNEY. SCANDAL and lies the prating neighbours talk; While in their happier path the pilgrims walk. Young Mercy is persuaded not to fear, By one whose faith could read her title clear; Sweetly they conversed as they went along, While Mercy warbled forth this plaintive song: |