THE PILGRIM'S PROGRESS

FROM THIS WORLD TO THAT WHICH IS TO COME.

PART II.

DELIVERED UNDER THE SIMILITUDE OF A DREAM:

WHEREIN IS SET FORTH

THE MANNER OF THE SETTING OUT

OF CHRISTIAN'S WIFE AND CHILDREN;

THEIR DANGEROUS JOURNEY;

AND SAFE ARRIVAL AT THE DESIRED COUNTRY.

"I HAVE USED SIMILITUDES." HOSEA, C. XII. V. X.

LONDON: JOHN MURRAY. M.DCCC.XXXIX.

THE

AUTHOR'S WAY OF SENDING FORTH

HIS

SECOND PART OF THE PILGRIM.

Go now, my little Book, to every place,

Where my First Pilgrim has but shewn his face:
Call at their door: if any say, Who's there?
Then answer thou, CHRISTIANA is here.

If they bid thee come in, then enter thou,

With all thy boys; and then, as thou know'st how,
Tell who they are, also from whence they came;
Perhaps they'll know them by their looks, or name:
But if they should not, ask them yet again,

If formerly they did not entertain
One CHRISTIAN, a Pilgrim? If they say,

They did, and were delighted in his way;

Then let them know that these related were

Unto him; yea, his wife and children are.

Tell them, that they have left their house and home;

Are turned Pilgrims; seek a world to come;

That they have met with hardships in the way;

That they do meet with troubles night and day;

That they have trod on serpents; fought with Devils;
Have also overcome a many evils.

Yea, tell them also of the next who have,

Of love to pilgrimage, been stout and brave

L

Defenders of that way; and how they still
Refuse this world to do their Father's will.
Go tell them also of those dainty things
That pilgrimage unto the Pilgrim brings.
Let them acquainted be, too, how they are
Beloved of their King, under His care;
What goodly mansions for them He provides;
Though they meet with rough winds and swelling tides,
How brave a calm they will enjoy at last,

Who to their Lord, and by His ways, hold fast.
Perhaps, with heart and hand, they will embrace
Thee, as they did my Firstling; and will grace
Thee and thy fellows with such cheer and fare,
As shew will, they of Pilgrims lovers are.

FIRST OBJECTION.

But how, if they will not believe of me ;
That I am truly thine? 'cause some there be
That counterfeit the Pilgrim and his name,
Seek, by disguise, to seem the very same;

And by that means have wrought themselves into
The hands and houses of I know not who.*

ANSWER.

'Tis true, some have, of late, to counterfeit

My Pilgrim, to their own my title set;

Yea, others half my name, and title too,
Have stitched to their books, to make them do.
But yet they, by their features, do declare
Themselves not mine to be, whose e'er they are.

If such thou meet'st with, then thine only way,
Before them all, is to say out thy say,
In thine own native language, which no man
Now useth, nor with ease dissemble can.

If, after all, they still of you shall doubt,
Thinking that you, like Gipsies, go about
In naughty-wise the country to defile;
Or that you seek good people to beguile

With things unwarrantable; send for me,
And I will testify you Pilgrims be;
Yea, I will testify that only you

My Pilgrims are; and that alone will do.

SECOND OBJECTION.

But yet, perhaps I may inquire for him
Of those who wish him damned life and limb.
What shall I do, when I at such a door

For Pilgrims ask, and they shall rage the more?

ANSWER.

Fright not thyself, my Book, for such bugbears Are nothing else but ground for groundless fears. My Pilgrim's Book has travell'd sea and land, Yet could I never come to understand

That it was slighted or turn'd out of door,

By any kingdom, were they rich or poor.

In France and Flanders, where men kill each other, My Pilgrim is esteem'd a friend, a brother.

In Holland too, 'tis said, as I am told,

My Pilgrim is, with some, worth more than gold.
Highlanders and wild Irish can agree,

My Pilgrim should familiar with them be.

'Tis in New England under such advance,
Receives there so much loving countenance,
As to be trimm'd, new cloth'd, and deck'd with gems,
That it might shew its features and its limbs.
Yet more; so comely doth my Pilgrim walk,
That of him thousands daily sing and talk.

If you draw nearer home, it will appear,
My Pilgrim knows no ground of shame or fear:
City and country will him entertain,

With welcome Pilgrim'; yea, they can't refrain
From smiling, if my Pilgrim be but by,

Or shews his head in any company.

Brave gallants do my Pilgrim hug and love, Esteem it much, yea, value it above