when Timorous was got home to her house, she sends for some of her neighbours, to wit, Mrs. Bat's-eyes, Mrs. Inconsiderate, Mrs. Light-mind, and Mrs. Knownothing. So when they were come to her house, she falls to telling of the story of Christiana, and of her intended journey. And thus she began her tale.

TIMOROUS ACQUAINTS

HER FRIENDS WHAT
THE GOOD CHRISTIANA

INTENDS TO DO.

Neighbours, having had little to do this morning, I went to give Christiana a visit, and when I came at the door, I knocked, as you know 't is our custom; and she answered,' If you come in God's name, come in.' So in I went, thinking all was well; but when I came in, I found her preparing herself to depart the town, she and also her children. So I asked her, what was her meaning by that? and she told me in short, That she was now of a mind to go on Pilgrimage, as did her Husband. She told me also of a dream that she had, and how the King of the Country where her husband was had sent her an inviting letter to come thither.

Then said Mrs. Know-nothing, And MRS. KNOWwhat! do you think she will go?

NOTHING.

Tim. Ay, go she will, whatever comes on 't; and methinks I know it by this;-for that which was my great argument to persuade her to stay at home (to wit, the troubles she was like to meet with on the way) is one great argument with her to put her forward on her journey. For she told me, in so many words, 'The bitter goes before the sweet; yea, and for as much as it so doth, it makes the sweet the sweeter.' Mrs. Bat's-eyes. Oh! this blind and foolish woman! said she; and will

MRS. BAT'S-EYES.

she not take warning by her Husband's afflictions? For my part, I see, if he were here again, he would rest himself content in a whole skin, and never run so many hazards for nothing.

MRS. INCONSIDERATE.

Mrs. Inconsiderate also replied, saying, Away with such fantastical

fools from the town; a good riddance, for my part, I say, of her. Should she stay where she dwells, and retain this her mind, who could live quietly by her? for she will either be dumpish or unneighbourly, or talk of such matters as no wise body can abide; wherefore, for my part, I shall never be sorry for her departure; let her go, and let better come in her room: 'twas never a good world since these whimsical fools dwelt in it.

MRS. LIGHT-MIND.

MADAM WANTON,
SHE THAT HAD
LIKE TO HAVE
BEEN TOO HARD
FOR FAITHFUL, IN
TIME PAST.

Then Mrs. Light-mind added as followeth Come, put this kind of talk away. I was yesterday at Madam Wanton's, where we were as merry as the Maids. For who do you think should be there, but I and Mrs. Love-the-flesh, and three or four more, with Mrs. Lechery, Mrs. Filth, and some others; so there we had music and dancing, and what else was meet to fill up the pleasure. And I dare say my lady herself is an admirably well-bred gentlewoman, and Mr. Lechery is as pretty a fellow.

By this time Christiana was got on her way, and DISCOURSE BETWIXT Mercy went along with her. So MERCY AND GOOD as they went, her children being there also, Christiana began to discourse. And Mercy, said Christiana, I take this as an unexpected favour, that thou shouldst set forth

CHRISTIANA.

out of doors with me, to accompany me a little in

my way.

Then said young Mercy (for she was but young), if I thought

MERCY INCLINES TO GO.

it would be to purpose to go with you, I would never go near the Town any more.

Well, Mercy, said Christiana, cast in thy lot with me; I well know what will be the end of our pilgrimage. My Husband is where he would not but be for all the gold in the Spanish mines; nor shalt thou be rejected, though thou goest but upon my invitation. The King, who hath sent for me and my children, is one that delighteth in mercy. Besides, if thou wilt, I will hire thee, and thou shalt go along with me as my servant; yet we will have all things in common betwixt thee and me; only go along

with me.

MERCY DOUBTS
OF ACCEPTANCE.

Mercy. But how shall I be ascertained that I also shall be entertained? Had I this hope but from one that can tell, I would make no stick at all, but would go, being helped by Him that can help, though the way was never so tedious.

HER TO THE GATE,
WHICH IS CHRIST, AND

PROMISES THERE TO
ENQUIRE FOr her.
meet with encou-

Chr. Well, loving Mercy, I will CHRISTIANA ALLURES tell thee what thou shalt do: go with me to the Wicket-Gate, and there I will further inquire for thee; and if there thou shalt not ragement, I will be content that thou return to thy place; I will also pay thee for thy kindness which thou shewest to me and my children in the accompanying of us in our way as thou dost.

R

Mercy. Then will I go thither, and MERCY PRAYS. will take what shall follow; and the Lord grant that my lot may there fall, even as the King of heaven shall have his heart upon me.

CHRISTIANA GLAD OF Christiana then was glad at her MERCY'S COMPANY. heart, not only that she had a companion, but also for that she had prevailed with this poor Maid to fall in love with her own Salvation. So they went on together, and Mercy began to weep. Then said Christiana, Wherefore weepeth my sister so?

MERCY GRIEVES

RELATIONS.

Alas! said she, who can but lament

FOR HER CARNAL that shall but rightly consider what a state and condition my poor relations are in, that yet remain in our sinful Town? And that which makes my grief the more heavy is, because they have no instructor, nor any to tell them what is

to come.

CHRISTIAN'S PRAYERS
WERE ANSWERED FOR

HE WAS DEAD.

Chr. Bowels become Pilgrims: and thou dost weep for thy friends, as my good Christian did for me when he left me; he mourned for that I would not heed nor regard him; but his Lord and ours did gather up his tears, and HIS RELATIONS AFTER put them into His bottle; and now both I and thou, and these my sweet babes, are reaping the fruit and benefit of them. I hope, Mercy, that these tears of thine will not be lost; for the Truth hath said, that "they that sow in tears shall reap in joy; and he that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.”1

1 Psalm cxxvi. 5, 6.

Then said Mercy,

Let the most Blessed be my guide,

If it be His blessed will,

Unto his gate, into his fold,
Up to his Holy Hill.

And let Him never suffer me

To swerve or turn aside

From his Free Grace and holy Ways,
Whate'er shall me betide.

And let Him gather them of mine

That I have left behind;

Lord, make them pray they may be thine,
With all their heart and mind.

THEIR OWN CARNAL

Now, my old friend proceeded, and said-But when Christiana came to the Slough of Despond, she began to be at a stand; for, said she, this is the place in which my dear Husband had like to a been smothered with mud. She perceived also that notwithstanding the command of the King to make this place for Pilgrims good, yet it was rather worse than formerly; so I asked if that was true? Yes, said the old Gentleman, too true; for that many there be that pretend to be the King's Labourers, and that say they are for mending the King's high-ways, that bring dirt and dung instead of stones, and so marr instead of mending. Here Christiana therefore with her boys did make a stand; but, said Mercy, Come, let us venture; only let us be wary. Then they looked well to their steps, and made a shift to get staggeringly over.

CONCLUSIONS, in-
STEAD OF THE WORD

OF LIFE.

MERCY BOLDEST

AT THE SLOUGH
OF DESPOND.

Yet Christiana had like to a been in, and that