that he may be our Conductor the rest of our way. Good boy, said she, I had almost forgot! So hes drew up a petition, and prayed Mr. Watchful, the

THE WEAK MAY
SOMETIMES CALL
THE STRONG TO
PRAYERS.

Porter, to send it by some fit man to her good friend Mr. Interpreter; who, when it was come, and he had seen the contents of the petition, said to the messenger, Go tell them that I will send him.

THEY PROVIDE

TO BE GONE ON
THEIR WAY.

for sending of

When the family where Christiana was saw that they had a purpose to go forward, they called the whole house together, to give thanks to their King them such profitable guests as these. Which done, they said unto Christiana, And shall we not shew thee something, as our custom is to do to Pilgrims, on which thou mayst meditate when thou art upon the way? So they took Christiana, her children, and Mercy, into the closet, and shewed them one of the apples that Eve ate of, and that she also did give unto her husband, and that for the eating of which they were both turned out of Paradise, and asked her what she thought that was? Then Christiana said, It is food or poison; I know not which. So they opened the matter to her, and she held up her hands, and wondered.8

EVE'S APPLE.

A SIGHT OF SIN
IS AMAZING.

JACOB'S LADDER.

Then they had her to a place, and shewed her Jacob's ladder. Now, at that time, there were some Angels ascending upon it." So Christiana looked and looked to see the Angels go up so did the rest of the company. Then they were going into another place to shew them something else;

7 Gen. iii. 6.

6 Rom. vii. 24.

9 Gen. xxviii. 12.

but James said to his mother, Pray bid them stay here a little longer, for this is a curious sight.1 So A SIGHT OF CHRIST they turned again, and stood feeding their eyes with this so pleasing a pros

IS TAKING.

GOLDEN ANCHOR.

OF ABRAHAM OF

FERING UP ISAAC.

ther offered up

pect. After this they had them into a place where did hang up a golden anchor: so they bid Christiana take it down; for, said they, you shall have it with you; for 'tis of absolute necessity that you may lay hold of that within the veil, and stand stedfast, in case you should meet with turbulent weather; so they were glad thereof. Then they took them, and had them to the Mount upon which Abraham our faIsaac his son, and shewed them the altar, the wood, the fire, and the knife; for they remain to be seen to this very day. When they had seen it, they held up their hands, and blessed themselves, and said, Oh what a man, for love to his Master, and for denial to himself, was Abraham! After they had shewed them all these things, Prudence took PRUDENCE'S them into a dining-room, where stood a pair of excellent virginals; so she played upon them, and turned what she had shewed them into this excellent song, saying,

7

VIRGINALS.

Eve's apple we have shewed you;

Of that be you aware!

You have seen Jacob's ladder too,

Upon which Angels are.

An anchor you received have;

But let not these suffice,

Until with Abraham you have gave

Your best a sacrifice.

1 John i. 14.

2 John i. 15. Heb. vi. 19.

3 Gen. xxii. 9.

MR. GREAT-HEART
COMES AGAIN.

Now, about this time, one knocked at the door; so the Porter opened, and behold, Mr. Great-heart was there but when he was come in, what joy was there! For it came now afresh again into their minds, how but a while ago he had slain old Grim Bloody-man the Giant, and had delivered them from the Lions.

HE BRINGS A
TOKEN FROM

HIS LORD WITH
HIM.

Then said Mr. Great-heart to Christiana and to Mercy, My Lord has sent each of you a bottle of wine, and also some parched corn, together with a couple of pomegranates; he has also sent the boys some figs and raisins, to refresh you in your way.

Then they addressed themselves to their journey, and Prudence and Piety went along with them. When they came to the gate, Christiana asked the Porter, if any of late went by? He said, No; only one some time since, who also told me that of late there had been a great robbery committed on the King's highway as you go; but, said he, the thieves are taken, and will shortly be tried for their lives. Then Christiana and Mercy were afraid; but Matthew said, Mother, fear nothing as long as Mr. Great-heart is to with us, and to be our Conductor. Then said Christiana to the Porter, Sir, I am much obliged to you for all the kindnesses that you have shewed me since I came hither, and also for that you have been so loving and kind to my children. I know not how to gratify your kindness; wherefore pray, as a token of my respect to you, accept of this small mite. So she put a gold angel in his hand; and he

go

CHRISTIANA TAKES
HER LEAVE OF THE
PORTER.

THE PORTER'S
BLESSING.

made her low obesiance, and said, "Let thy garments be always white, and let thy head want no ointment. Let Mercy live, and not die; and let not her works be few." And to the boys he said, “Do you fly youthful lusts, and follow after godliness with them that are grave and wise ; so shall you put gladness into your mother's heart, and obtain praise of all that are sober-minded." So they thanked the Porter, and departed.

Now I saw, in my dream, that they went forward until they were come to the brow of the hill, where Piety, bethinking herself, cried out, Alas! I have forgot what I intended to bestow upon Christiana and her companions. I will go back and fetch it so she ran and fetched it. While she was gone, Christiana thought she heard, in a grove a little way off on the right hand, a most curious melodious note, with words much like these:

Through all my life thy favour is

So frankly shewed to me;

That in thy house for evermore

My dwelling-place shall be.

And, listening still, she thought she heard another answer it, saying,

For why the Lord our God is good;

His mercy is for ever sure:

His truth at all times firmly stood,

And shall from age to age endure.

So Christiana asked Prudence, Who it was that made those curious notes? They are, said she, our country birds; they sing these notes but seldom, except it be at the spring, when the flowers appear,

4 Cant. ii. 11, 12.

and the sun shines warm; and then you may hear them all day long. I often, said she, go out to hear them; we also ofttimes keep them tame in our house. They are very fine company for us when we are melancholy; also they make 'the woods, and groves, and solitary places, places desirous to be in.

PIETY BESTOWETH

THEM AT PARTING.

By this time Piety was come again; so she said to Christiana, Look here, I have brought thee a scheme of all those things that SOMETHING ON thou hast seen at our house; upon which thou mayst look when thou findest thyself forgetful, and call those things again to remembrance for thy edification and comfort.

Now they began to go down the hill into the Valley of Humiliation. It was a steep hill, and the way was slippery; but they were very careful; so they got down pretty well. When they were down in the Valley, Piety said to Christiana, This is the place where Christian your husband met with that foul fiend Apollyon, and where they had that dreadful fight that they had. I know you cannot but have heard thereof. But be of good courage; as long as you have here Mr. Greatheart to be your Guide and Conductor, we hope you will fare the better. So when these two had committed the Pilgrims unto the conduct of their Guide, he went forward, and they went after.

MR. GREAT-HEART

HUMILIATION.

Then said Mr. Great-heart, We need not be so afraid of this Valley, AT THE VALLEY OF for here is nothing to hurt us, unless we procure it to ourselves. 'Tis true, Christian did here meet with Apollyon, with whom he also had a sore combat; but that fray was the fruit of those