chuse never to think of those things more: but when I would be a doing of that which is best, that which is worst is with me. * Christian's if those choice. Pru. Do you not find sometimes, as if those things were vanquished, which at other times are your perplexity? + Rom. 7. Chr. Yes, but that is but seldom; but they are to me golden hours, in which such things happen to me. * Christian's golden hours. Pru. Can you remember by what means you find your annoyances at times, as if they were vanquished? Chr. Yes, when I think what I saw at the Cross, that will do it; and when I look upon my Broidred Coat, that will do it; and when I look into the Roll that I carry in my Bosom, that will do it; and when my thoughts wax warm about whither I am going, that will do it. + How gets power Pru. And what is it that makes you so desirous to go to Mount Zion? * Why Christian would be at Mount Zion. Chr. Why, there I hope to see him alive, that did hang dead on the Cross; and there I hope to be rid of all those things, that to this day are in me an annoyance to me; there, they say, there is no †death, and there I shall dwell with such Company as I like best. For to tell you truth, I love him, because I was by him eased of my burden, Rev. 21. 4. and I am weary of my inward sickness: I would fain be where I shall die no more, and with the Company that shall continually cry, Holy, Holy, Holy. * Then said Charity to Christian, Have you a Family? Are you a married man? (Fam + Isa. 25. 8. * Charity discourses him. you ? Chr. I have a Wife and four small Children. Cha. And why did you not bring them along with Chr. Then Christian *wept, and said, Oh, how willingly would I have done it, but they were all of them utterly averse to my going on Pilgrimage. Cha. But you should have talked to them, and have endeavoured to have shown them the danger of being behind. * Christian's love to his Wife and Children. Chr. So I did, and told them also what God had shewed to me of the Destruction of our City: but I seemed to them as one that mocked; and they believed Gen. 19. 14. me not. Cha. And did you pray to God that he would bless your Counsel to them? Chr. Yes, and that with much affection; for you must think that my Wife and poor Children were very dear unto me. Cha. But did you tell them of your own sorrow, and fear of destruction? for I suppose that destruction was visible enough to you? Chr. Yes, over, and over, and over. They might also †see my fears in my Countenance, in my Tears, and also in my trembling under the apprehension of the Judgment that did hang over our heads; but all was not sufficient to prevail with them to come with me. + Christian's fear of perishing might be read in his very countenance. Cha. But what could they say for themselves, why they came not? Chr. Why, *my Wife was afraid of losing this World; and my Children were given to the foolish delights of youth so what by one thing and what by another, they left me to wander in this manner alone. *The cause why his Wife and Children did not go with him. Cha. But did you not with your vain life damp all that you by words used by way of persuasion to bring them away with you? Chr. Indeed I cannot commend my life, for I am conscious to my self of many failings therein: I know also that a man by his Conversation may soon overthrow what by Argument or Persuasion he doth labour to fasten upon others for their good. Christians good conversation before his Wife and Children. Yet, this I can say, I was very wary of giving them occasion, by any unseemly action, to make them averse to going on Pilgrimage. Yea, for this very thing, they would tell me I was too precise, and that I denied my self of things (for their sakes) in which they saw no evil. Nay, I think I may say, that if what they saw in me did hinder them, it was my great tenderness in sinning against God, or of doing any wrong to my Neighbour. * Christian Cha. Indeed Cain hated his Brother, because his own works were evil, and his Brothers righteous; and if thy Wife and Children have been offended with thee for this, they thereby shew themselves to be implacable to good, and thou hast delivered thy Soul from their blood. * clear of their Blood, if they perish. * Ezek. 4. 19. * What Christian had Now I saw in my Dream, that thus they sat talking together until Supper was ready. So when they had made ready, they sat down to meat: Now the Table was furnished with *fat things, and with Wine that was well refined, and all their talk at the Table was about the LORD of the Hill: as namely, to his Supper. about that HE had done, and whereof HE did what HE did, and why he had builded that House and by what they said, I perceived that HE had been a great Warriour, and had fought with, and slain *him that had the power of Death, but not without great danger to himself: which made me love him the more. : + Their Talk at Supper time. * Heb. 2. 14, 15. For, as they said, and as I believe (said Christian) he did it with the loss of much blood: but that which put glory of Grace into all he did, was, that he did it out of pure love to this Countrey. And beside, there were some of them of the Houshold that said, they had been and spoke with him since he did dye on the Cross; and they have attested, that they had it from his own lips, that he is such a lover of poor Pilgrims, that the like is not to be found from the East to the West. They said They moreover gave an instance of what they affirm'd, and that was, He had stript himself of his glory, that he might do this for the Poor; and that they heard him say and affirm, That be would not dwell in the Mountain of Zion alone. moreover, That he had made many Pilgrims *Princes, though by nature they were Beggars born, and their original had been the Dunghil. * Christ makes Princes of I Sam. 2. 8. Psal. 113. 7. Thus they discoursed together till late at night, and after they had committed themselves to their Lord for Protection, they betook themselves to rest: The Pilgrim they laid in a large upper * Chamber, whose Window opened towards the Sun-rising: the name of the Chamber was Peace, where he slept till break of day, and then he awoke, and sung, * Christians Bed-Chamber. Where am I now! is this the love and care So in the morning they all got up, and after some more discourse, they told him that he should not depart till they had shew'd him the Rarities of that place. And first they had him * Christian had into the Study, and what he saw there. into the Study, where they shewed Records of the greatest Antiquity; in which, as I remember my Dream, they shewed him the first Pedegree of the Lord of the Hill, that he was the Son of the Ancient of Days, and came by that eternal Generation. Here also was more fully Recorded the Acts that he had done, and the names of many hundreds that he had taken into his Service; and how he had placed them in such Habitations that could neither by length of Days, nor decays of Nature be dissolved. Then they read to him some of the worthy Acts that some of his Servants had done. As how they had subdued Kingdoms, wrought Righteousness, obtained Promises, stopped the mouths of Lions, quenched the †violence of Fire, escaped the edge of the Sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, and turned to flight the Armies of the Aliens. + Heb. 11. 33, 34. Then they read again in another part of the Records of the House, where it was shewed how willing their Lord was to receive into his favour, any, even any, though they in time past had offered great affronts to his Person and Proceedings. Here also were several other Histories of many other famous things, of all which Christian had a view: as of things both Ancient and Modern, together with Prophecies and Predictions of things that have their certain accomplishment, both to the dread and amazement of Enemies, and the comfort and solace of Pilgrims. + Christian had into the Armory. The next day they took him, and had him into the Armory, where they shewed him all manner of Furniture, which their Lord had provided for Pilgrims, as Sword, Shield, Helmet, Brest-plate, All Prayer, and Shoes that would not wear out. And there was here enough of this to harness out as many men for the service of their Lord, as there be Stars in the Heaven for multitude. * Christian is made to see ancient things. They also shewed him some of the Engines with which some of his Servents had done wonderful things. *They shewed him Moses's Rod, the Hammer and Nail with which Jael slew Sisera, the Pitchers, Trumpets, and Lamps too, with which Gideon put to flight the Armies of Midian. Then they shewed him the Oxes Goad wherewith Shamgar slew six hundred men. They shewed him also the Jaw-bone with which Sampson did such mighty feats; they shewed him moreover the Sling and Stone with which David slew Goliah of Gath: and the Sword also with which their Lord will kill the man of Sin in the day that he shall rise up to the Prey. They shewed him besides, many excellent things, with which Christian was much delighted. This done, they went to their rest again. you * Christian shewed the delectable Mountains. top of the + Isa. 33.16,17. Then I saw in my Dream, that on the morrow he got up to go forwards, but they desired him to stay till the next day also; and then said they, we will (if the day be clear) shew the * delectable Mountains, which they said, would yet further add to his comfort, because they were nearer the desired Heaven, than the place where at present he was. So he consented and staid. When the morning was up, they had him to the House, and bid him look South, so he did: and behold at a great distance he saw a most pleasant Mountainous Country, beautified with Woods, Vine-yards, Fruits of all sorts; Flowers also, with Springs and Fountains, very delectable to behold. Then he asked the name of the Country; they said it was Immanuels Land: and it is as Common, say they, as this Hill is, to and for all the Pilgrims. And when thou comest there, from thence thou mayest see to the Gate of the Coelestial City; as the Shepherds that live there will make appear. Now he bethought himself of setting forward, were willing he should: but first, said they, let us go again into the Armory; so they did, and when he came there, they +harnessed him from head to foot, with what was of proof, lest perhaps he should meet with assaults in the way. He being therefore thus accoutred, walketh out with and they * Christian set forward. Christian sent away |