A PILGRIM, AND WHAT BEFELL HER IN THE WAY. 299

letter together so wrought upon my mind, that they forced me to this way.

INTER. But met you with no opposition before you set out of doors?

CHR. Yes, a neighbour of mine, one Mrs. Timorous (she was kin to him that would have persuaded my husband to go back, for fear of the lions,) she also so befooled me,* for, as she called it, my intended desperate adventure; she also urged what she could to dishearten me from it; the hardships and troubles that my husband met with in the way: but all this I got over pretty well. But a dream that I had of two ill. looking ones, that I thought did plot how to make me miscarry in my journey, that hath troubled me: yea, it still runs in my mind, and makes me afraid of every one that I meet, lest they should meet me to do me a mischief, and to turn me out of my way. Yea, I may tell my Lord, though I would not have every body know it, that between this and the gate by which we got into the way, we were both so sorely assaulted, that we were made to cry out murder; and the two that made this assault upon us, were like the two that I saw in my dream.

Then said the Interpreter, "Thy beginning is good, thy latter end shall greatly increase." So he addressed him to Mercy, and said unto her, "And what mo ved thee to come hither, sweet heart?”

Then Mercy blushed and trembled, and for a while continued silent.

Then said he, Be not afraid, only believe, and speak thy mind.

Then she began and said, Truly, Sir, my want of experience is that which makes me covet to be in si

Ah, Mrs. Timorous! How many professed pilgrims hast thou befooled and turned back! How often does she attack and affright many real pilgrims! O may we say to every incitement to self-complacency, in our Lord's words, "Get thee behind me, Satan; thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that he of men." Mat. xvi. 23.

300

MERCY'S ACCOUNT OF HERSELF:

lence, and that also that filleth me with fears of coming short at last. I cannot tell of visions and dreams, as my friend Christiana can; nor know I what it is to mourn for my refusing of the counsel of those that were good relations.*

INTER. What was it then, dear heart, that hath pre. vailed with thee to do as thou hast done?

MERCY. Why, when our friend here was packing up to be gone from our town, I and another went accidentally to see her. So we knocked at the door, and went in, When we were within, and seeing what she was doing, we asked her what she meant? She said, she was sent for to go to her husband; and then she up and told us how she had seen him in a dream, dwelling in a curious place, among immortals, wearing a crown, playing upon a harp, eating and drinking at his Prince's table, and singing praises to him for the bringing him thither, &c. Now methought while she was telling these things unto us, my heart burned within me. And I said in my heart, If this be true, I will leave my father and my mother, and the land of my nativity, and will, if I may, go along with Christiana.

So I asked her further of the truth of these things, and if she would let me go with her; for I saw now, that there was no dwelling, but with the danger of ruin, any longer in our town. But yet I came away with a heavy heart; not for that I was unwilling to come away, but for that so many of my relations were left behind. And I am come with all my heart, and will, if I may, go with Christiana to her husband, and his King.

A very simple and artless confession. The Lord works very differently upon the hearts of sinners, but always to one and the same end, namely, to cause us to prize Christ, his salvation, and his ways, and to abhor ourselves, the paths of sin, and to cast off all self-righteous hopes. If this is effected in thy heart, Reader, no matter whether thou canst tell of visions and dreams, and talk high of experiences. Many are, and have been deceived by these things, and come to nothing. But where the soul is rooted and grounded in the knowledge of precious Christ, and love to his ways, though there may be many fears, yet this is an indubitable proof of a real and sincere pilgrim.

SHE IS ENCOURAGED BY THE INTERPRETER. 301

INTER. Thy setting out is good, for thou hast given credit to the truth;* thou art a Ruth, who did, for the love she bare to Naomi, and to the Lord her God, leave father and mother, and the land of her nativity, to come out and go with a people that she knew not before. "The Lord recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the Lord God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust."(a)

Now supper was ended, and preparation was made for bed; the women were laid singly alone, and the boys by themselves. Now when Mercy was in bed, she could not sleep for joy, for that now her doubts of missing at last were removed further from her than ever they were before. So she lay blessing and praising God, who had such favour for her.†

Thou hast given credit to the truth. What is this but faith; the faith of the operation of God? But some may ask, What is justifying, saving faith; nothing more than a belief of the truth? If so, the very devils believe; yea, more, they tremble also. True: but mind how Mercy's faith wrought by her works. True, she did not tremble, like a devil, without hope, but she fled for refuge to the hope set before her in the gospel. She fled from sin, from the city of destruction, to Christ for salvation. Though she had not the joy of faith, yet she followed on to know the Lord, walking in his ways, and hoping for comfort from the Lord in his due time. O how are many poor pilgrims' hearts dejected and distressed about the faith of the gospel, by the strange perplexing, unscriptural definitions which have been given of it! whereas faith is the most simple thing in the world, it is the belief of the truth as it is in Jesus; that we are lost sinners in ourselves, and that there is salvation for us in him. Where this is believed in the heart, it causes a sinner to become a pilgrim; believing the exceeding sinfulness of sin, the perfect purity of God's law, his own ruined state, the preciousness of Christ, the glory of his salvation, the necessity of holiness, and the hope of glory; this faith will influence the conduct, bring love into the heart, and cause the soul to persevere, looking to Jesus the author and finisher of our faith. O Reader, if thou hast a grain of this precious faith in thy heart, bless Jesus for it, and go on thy way rejoicing,

† Here now is the comfort of faith. As by constant exercise of our faith, it grows strong, so it expels our doubts, enlivens our hearts, and sets our souls a blessing and praising our Immanuel. This prayer, "Lord increase our faith!" is ever needful for God's glory, and our soul's comfort.

(a) Ruth ii. 11, 12.

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THE PILGRIMS PREPARE TO DEPART.

CHAPTER IV.

THE PILGRIMS CONDUCTED BY GREAT-HEART, PROCEED ON THEIR JOURNEY.

IN the morning they arose with the sun, and prepared themselves for their departure; but the Interpreter would have them tarry awhile: "for," said he, "you must orderly go from hence." Then said he to the damsel that first opened unto them, "Take them and have them into the garden to the bath, and there wash them and make them clean from the soil, which they have gathered by travelling." Then Innocent the damsel took them, and led them into the garden, and brought them to the bath; so she told them, that there they must wash and be clean, for so her Master would have the women to do, that called at his house as they were going on pilgrimage. Then they went in and washed, yea, they and the boys and all; and they came out of that bath not only sweet and clean, but also much enlivened and strengthened in their joints. Sa when they came in, they looked fairer a deal than when they went out to the washing.*

When they were returned out of the garden from the bath, the Interpreter took them, and looked upon them, and said unto them, "Fair as the moon." Then he called for the seal, wherewith they used to be sealed that were washed in his bath. So the seal was brought, and he set his mark upon them, that they might be known in the places whither they were yet to go. Now the seal was the contents and sum of the passo

There are no pilgrims but daily need to have recourse to this bath. What may we understand by it? The blood of Jesus, which cleanses us from all sin, 1 John i. 7. Christ is the fountain opened for sin, and for uncleanness, Zech. xiii. 1. Christ is the soul's only bath. The Holy Spirit, the Sanctifier, leads us to the blood of the Lamb. The Spirit bears witness to this blood, and purifies and comforts by the application of this blood only.

THE SEAL AND WHITE RAIMENT.

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ver which the children of Israel did eat when they came out of the land of Egypt;(a) and the mark was set between their eyes. This seal greatly added to their beauty, for it was an ornament to their faces. It also added to their gravity, and made their countenances more like those of angels.*

Then said the Interpreter again to the damsel that waited upon the women, "Go into the vestry, and fetch out garments for these people." So she went and fetched out white raiment, and laid it down before him so he commanded them to put it on:† it was "fine linen, white and clean." When the women were thus adorned, they seemed to be a terror one to the other; for that they could not see that glory each one in herself, which they could see in each other. Now therefore they began to esteem each other better than themselves. "For you are fairer than I am," said one; and, "You are more comely, than I am," said another. The children also stood amazed, to see into what fashion they were brought.

The Interpreter then called for a man-servant of his, one Great-heart,‡ and bid him take a sword, and helmet, and shield; "and take these my daughters," said he, "conduct them to the house called Beautiful, at

*This means the sealing of the Spirit, Eph. iv. 30. O this is blessed sealing? None know the comfort and joy of it, but those who have experienced it. It confirms our faith, establishes our hope, and inflames our affections to God the Father for his love, to God the Son, for his gracious atonement and righteousness, and to God the Spirit for his enlightening mercy, regenerating grace, quickening, sanctifying, testifying, and assuring influences, whereby we know that we are the children of God, for "the Spirit itself beareth witness with our Spirits that we are the children of God." Rom. viii. 16. Therefore grieve not the Holy Spirit.

Mind, they are commanded to put it on. Though God imparts the righteousness of his beloved Son to sinners, yet it is received and put on by faith. Hence it is called the righteousness of God, 2 Cor. v. 21. and the righteousness of faith, Rom. x. 6.

Great-heart, may represent the stated pastoral care of a vigilant Minister, who is strong in the faith, and courageous in the cause of God. How thankful should we be for a pure ministry, and carefully improve all the blessings consequent thereupon.

(a) Exod xiii. 8-10.