merly foolishly imagined, 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 it will not out of my mind but that they sprang from another cause, to wit, for that the Light of Light was given him:5 by the help of which, as I perceive, he has escaped the snares of Death. Then they all wept again, and cried out, "Oh woe worth the day!" DREAM. The next night Christiana had a dream; CHRISTIANA'S and behold she saw as if a broad Parchment was opened before her, in which was recorded the sum of her ways; and the times, as she thought, looked very black upon her. Then she cried out aloud in her sleep, "Lord have mercy upon me a sinner !”6 and the little children heard her. ill-favoured MARK THIS; THIS IS OF HELL. After this, she thought she saw two very Ones standing by her bed-side, and saying, 'What shall we do with 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 but she will become a Pilgrim.' Now she awoke in a great sweat, also a trembling was upon her; but after a while, she fell to sleeping again. And then she thought she HELP AGAINST DISsaw Christian, her Husband, in a place of bliss, among many Immortals, with a Harp 5 James, i. 23, 24, 25. 6 Luke, xvii. 13. COURAGEMENT. in his hand, standing and playing upon it before One that sat upon a Throne, with a rainbow about His head. She saw also as if he bowed his head, with his face to the paved work that was under his Prince's feet, saying, 'I heartily thank my Lord and King for bringing me into this place.' Then shouted a company of them that stood round about, and harped with their harps; but no man living could tell what they said, but Christian and his companions. Next morning, when she was up, had prayed to God, and talked with her children a while, one knocked hard at the door; to whom she spake, saying, If thou comest in God's name, come in. So he said, Amen, and opened the door, and saluted her with 'Peace be to this house. The which when he had done, he said, Christiana, knowest thou wherefore I am come? Then she blushed and trembled; also her heart began to CONVICTIONS SE- PARDON. wax warm with desires to know from whence he came, and what was his errand to her. So he said unto her, My name is Secret; I dwell with those that are on high. It is talked of where I dwell, as if thou hadst 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 babes in their ignorance. Christiana, the Merciful One hath sent me to tell thee, that He is a God ready to forgive, and that He taketh delight to multiply the pardon of offences. He also would have thee to know, that He inviteth thee to come into His presence, to his table, and 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 all be 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 brought to thee from thy husband's King. So she took it, and opened it, but it smelt after the manner of the best perfume; also it was written in letters of gold. The contents of the letter were these: That the King would have her to do as did Christian her husband, for that was the way to come to his City, and to dwell in his Presence with 7 Song, i. 3. OVERCOME. CHRISTIANA QUITE joy for ever.' At this the good woman was quite 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 the King?' FARTHER IN- Then said the Visitor, Christiana, the bitter is before the sweet. Thou must through troubles, as did he that went before thee, enter this Celestial City. Wherefore I advise thee to do as did Christian thy husband; go to the Wicket-Gate yonder over the plain, for that stands at 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 thou must sing while thou art in this House of thy Pilgrimage; also this thou must deliver in at the farther Gate. CHRISTIANA PRAYS sons, Now I saw in my dream, that this old Gentleman, as he told me the story, did himself seem to be greatly affected therewith. He moreover proceeded and said, So Christiana called her sons together, and began thus to address herself unto them: My I have, as you may perceive, been of 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 affected with the thoughts of mine own state and yours, which I verily believe is by nature miserable. My carriage 8 Psalm cxix, 54. |