276

THEY PASS THE SLOUGH SAFELY,

CHAPTER II

CHRISTIANA, MERCY, AND THE CHILDREN, PASS THE SLOUGH WIT SAFETY, AND ARE KINDLY RECEIVED AT THE WICKET-GATE.

NOW my old friend proceeded and said,--But, when Christiana came to the slough of Despond, (a) she began to be at a stand; "For," said she, "this is the place in which my dear husband had like to have 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 many there be, that pretend to be the King's labourers, and say they are for mending the King's highways, that bring dirt and dung instead of stones, and so mar, instead of mending. Here Christiana therefore, and 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 staggering over.

Yet Christiana had like to have been in, and that not once or 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."(b)

But instead of being what they profess, the King's labourers, Paul calls them gospel-perverters, and soul troublers, Gal. v. 10. For instead of preaching a free and full salvation, graciously bestowed upon poor sinners, who can do nothing to entitle themselves to it, or to gain an interest in it ; behold, these wretched daubers set forth salvation to sale upon certain terms and conditions, which sinners are to perform and fulfil. Thus they distress the upright and sincere, and deceive the self-righteous and unwary into pride and delusion. Thus they mar, instead of mend the way; and bring dirt and dung, instead of stones, to make the way sound and safe for pilgrims. Beware of the sophistry of such preachers.

AND ARRIVE AT THE WICKET-GATE.

277

Then they went on again; and said Mercy to Christiana, Had I as good ground to hope for a loving re、 ception at the Wicket-gate, as you, I think no slough of Despond could 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 it cannot be imagined, that the people that 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 dream by myself. Wherefore, methought I saw Christiana, and Mercy, and the boys, go all of them up to the gate to which when they came 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 unto 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. (a) But 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 this made the women and children afraid. Nor durst they for a while to knock any more, for fear the mastiff should fly upon them. Now therefore 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 that gate should espy them as they so went, and be offended with them at last they thought of knocking again, and knocking more vehemently than they did at first.

(a) Part I. p. 71, 72.

278 MERCY LEFT WITHOUT, WHILE THE OTHERS ENTER.

Then said the keeper of the gate, "Who is there?" So the dog left off to bark, and he opened unto them.* Then Christiana made low obeisance, and said, Let not our Lord be offended with his hand-maidens, 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 unto 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, "Yea; and so are these my sweet babes

also."

Then he took her by the hand, and let her in, and said also, "Suffer the 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 gotten admittance for herself and her boys, then she began to make intercession for Mercy.

* No sooner does a poor sinner open his lips in prayer to Jesus, but the devil will bark and roar at him, and by all means try to terrify and discou rage him. Do you find this? What is your remedy? Resist the devil, and he will fly from you, James iv. 7. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you, James iv. 8. O ever remember our Lord's word, men should pray always, and not faint, Luke xviii. 1.

MERCY FALLS DOWN IN A SWOON.

279

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 to by my husband's King to come.

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."

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 would be opened to her.

Then he took her by the hand, and, said, "Damsel, I bid thee arise."

"O sir," said she, "I am faint; there is scarce life left in me.' But he answered, that one said, “When my soul fainted within me, I remembered the Lord, and my prayer came unto thee, into thy holy temple."(a) Fear not, but stand upon thy feet, and tell me wherefore thou art come.

MER. I am come for that unto which I was never invited, as my friend Christiana was. Hers was from the King, and mine was but from her. presume.*

Wherefore I

Mercy's case is not singular. Many have set out just as she did, and have been discouraged by the same reason as she was. She, as many have been, was encouraged to set out in the ways of the Lord, by her neighbour and friend. Hence she thought there was no cause to conclude that she was called by the Lord, but that it was only the effect of human power, or moral persuasion, and therefore doubted and fainted lest she should not meet with acceptance. But her very doubts, fears and distress proved the earnestness of her heart, and the desire of her soul after the Saviour; and also, that his mercy, love, and gracious power, had a hand in the work. Mark this, ye poor, doubting, fearing, trembling souls, who are halting every step, and fearing you have not set out aright, hear what Christ's angel said, and be not discouraged. Fear not, for ye seek Jesus, Matt. xxviii. 5.

(a) Jonah ii. 7.

280

GOOD-WILL LEADS MERCY IN.

GOOD-WILL. Did she desire thee to come with her

to this place?

MER. Yes; and, as my Lord sees, I am come : and if there is any grace and forgiveness of sins to spare, I beseech that thy poor handmaid may be par

taker thereof.

Then he took her again by the hand, and led her gently in, and said, "I pray for all them that believe on me, by what means soever they come unto me." Then said he to those that stood by, "Fetch something, and give it Mercy to smell on, thereby to stay her faintings." So they fetched her a bundle of myrrh. A while after she was revived.

And now was Christiana, and her boys, and Mercy, received of the Lord at the head of the way, and spoke kindly unto by him. Then said they yet further unto him, "We are sorry for our sins, and beg of our Lord his pardon, and further information what we must do."

I grant pardon, said he, by word and deed; by word; in the promise of forgiveness; by deed, in the way I obtained it. Take the first from my lips with a kiss, and the other as it shall be revealed. (a)

Now I saw in my dream, that he spake many good words unto them, whereby they were greatly gladdened. He also had them up to the top of the gate, and showed them by what deed they were saved; and told them withal, that that sight they would have again as they went along in the way, to their comfort.

So he left them awhile in a summer parlour below, where they entered into talk by themselves: and thus Christiana began: "O Lord, how glad am I that we are got in hither!"

MER. So you well may: but I of all have cause to leap for joy.

CHR. I thought one time as I stood at the gate, (be cause I had knocked and none did answer,) that all our