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not once nor twice. Now, they had no sooner got over, but they thought they heard words that said unto them," Blessed is she that believeth, for there shall be a performance of what has been told her from the Lord."2

Then they went on again, and said Mercy to Christiana, Had I as good ground to hope for a loving reception at the Wicket-Gate as you, I think no Slough of Despond would discourage me.

Well, said the other, you know your sore, and I know mine; and, good friend, we shall all have enough evil before we come to our journey's end. For can it be imagined that the people who design to attain such excellent glories as we do, and that are so envied that happiness as we are, but that we shall meet with what fears and snares, with what troubles and afflictions, they can possibly assault us with, that hate us.

And now Mr. Sagacity left me to dream out my PRAYER SHOULD BE dream by myself. Wherefore, meMADE WITH CONSI- thought, I saw Christiana, and Mercy, and the boys, go all of them

DERATION AND
FEAR, AS WELL AS IN
FAITH AND HOPE.

up to the Gate; to which when they were come, they betook themselves to a short debate about how they must manage their calling at the Gate, and what should be said unto him that did open to them. So it was concluded, since Christiana was the eldest, that she should knock for entrance, and that she should speak to him that did open, for the rest. So Christiana began to knock; and, as her poor Husband did, she knocked and knocked again. But,

2 Luke i. 45.

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Now, there

CHRISTIANA AND

instead of any that answered, they all thought that they heard as if a Dog came barking upon them; a Dog, and a great one too; and THE DOG, THE DEVIL, this made the women and children AN ENEMY TO PRAYER. afraid; nor durst they for a while to knock any more, for fear the Mastiff should fly upon them. fore, they were greatly tumbled up and down in their minds, and knew not what to do: knock they durst not for fear of the Dog; go back they durst not, for fear the Keeper of the Gate should espy them as they so went, and should be offended with them. At last they thought of knocking again, and knocked more vehemently than they did at first. Then said the Keeper of the Gate, Who is there? So the Dog left off to bark, and he opened unto them.

HER COMPANIONS
PERPLEXED

ABOUT PRAYER.

Then Christiana made low obeisance, and said, Let not our Lord be offended with his handmaidens, for that we have knocked at his princely Gate. Then said the Keeper, Whence come ye? and what is it that you would have?

Christiana answered, We are come from whence Christian did come, and upon the same errand as he, to wit, to be, if it shall please you, graciously admitted, by this Gate, into the Way that leads to the Celestial City. And I answer, my Lord, in the next place, that I am Christiana, once the Wife of Christian, that now is gotten above.

With that the Keeper of the Gate did marvel, saying, What! is she now become a Pilgrim, that, but a while ago, abhorred that life? Then she bowed her head, and said, Yes; and so are these my sweet babes

HOW CHRISTIANA

AT THE GATE.

also. Then he took her by the hand, IS ENTERTAINED and led her in, and said also," Suffer little children to come unto me:" and with that he shut up the Gate. This done, he called to a trumpeter, that was above, over the Gate, to entertain Christiana with shouting and sound of trumpet for joy. So he obeyed, and sounded, and filled the air with his melodious notes.

Now, all this while, poor Mercy did stand without trembling and crying, for fear that she was rejected. But when Christiana had got admittance for herself and her boys, then she began to make intercession for Mercy.

CHRISTIANA'S PRAYER
IS FOR HER FRIEND
MERCY.

And she said, My Lord, I have a companion of mine that stands yet without, that is come hither

upon the same account as myself; one that is much dejected in her mind, for that she comes,as she thinks, without sending for; whereas I was sent for by my husband's King to come.

DELAYS MAKE THE
HUNGERING SOUL

THE FERVENTER.

Now Mercy began to be very impatient, and each minute was as long to her as an hour; wherefore she prevented Christiana from a fuller interceding for her, by knocking at the Gate herself. And she knocked then so loud, that she made Christiana to start. Then said the Keeper of the Gate, Who is there? and Christiana said, It is my friend.

MERCY FAINTS.

So he opened the Gate, and looked out; but Mercy was fallen down without in a swoon; for she fainted, and was afraid that no Gate should be opened to her.

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