slight my Husbands Troubles, and that left him to go on in his Journey alone, and these are his four Children; but now I also am come, for I am convinced that no way is right but this. Inter. Then is fulfilled that which also is written of the Man that said to his Son, go work to day in my Vineyard, and he said to his Father, I will not; but afterwards repented

Mat. 21. 29.

and went.

Christ. Then said Christiana, So be it, Amen, God make it a true saying upon me, and grant that I may be found at the last, of him in peace without spot and blameless.

Inter. But why standest thou thus at the Door, come in thou Daughter of Abraham, we was talking of thee but now: For tidings have come to us before, how thou art become a Pilgrim. Come Children, come in; come Maiden, come in; so he had them all into the House.

So when they were within, they were bidden sit down and rest them, the which when they had done, those that attended upon the Pilgrims in the House, came into the Room to see them. And one smiled, and another smiled, and they all smiled for Joy that Christiana was become a Pilgrim. They also looked upon the Boys, they stroaked them over the Faces with the Hand, in token of their kind reception of them: they also carried it lovingly to Mercy, and bid them all welcome into their Masters House.

Old Saints glad to see the young ones walk in Gods ways.

* The Significant Rooms.

After a while, because Supper was not ready, * the Interpreter took them into his Significant Rooms, and shewed them what Christian, Christiana's Husband had seen sometime before. Here therefore they saw the Man in the Cage, the man and his Dream, the man that cut his way thorough his Enemies, and the Picture of the biggest of them all together with the rest of those things that were then so profitable to Christian.

This done, and after these things had been somewhat digested by Christiana, and her Company: the Interpreter takes them apart again, and has them first into a Room, where was a man that could look no way but downwards, with a Muck-rake in his hand. There stood also one over his head with a Celestial Crown in his Hand, and proffered to give him that Crown for his

The man with the Muck-rake expounded.

Muck-rake; but the man did neither look up, nor regard; but raked to himself the Straws, the small Sticks, and Dust of the Floor.

Then said Christiana, I perswade my self that I know somewhat the meaning of this: For this is a Figure of a man of this World: Is it not, good Sir?

Inter. Thou hast said the right, said he, and his Muck-rake doth show his Carnal mind. And whereas thou seest him rather give heed to rake up Straws and Sticks, and the Dust of the Floor, then to what he says that calls to him from above with the Celestial Crown in his Hand; it is to show, That Heaven is but as a Fable to some, and that things here are counted the only things substantial. Now whereas it was also shewed thee, that the man could look no way but downwards: It is to let thee know that earthly things when they are with Power upon Mens minds, quite carry their hearts away from God.

Chris. Then said Christiana, O! deliver me from this Muck-rake.

Inter. That Prayer said the Interpreter, has lain by till 'tis almost rusty: Give me not Riches, is scarce the Prayer of one of ten thousand. Straws, and Sticks, and Dust, with most, are the great things now looked after.

* Christiana's

prayer against the Muck-rake.

Pro. 30. 8.

With that Mercy, and Christiana wept, and said, It is alas!

too true.

When the Interpreter had shewed them this, he has them into the very best Room in the house, (a very brave Room it was) so he bid them look round about, and see if they could find any thing profitable there. Then they looked round and round: For there was nothing there to be seen but a very great Spider on the Wall: and that they overlook't.

Mer. Then said Mercy, Sir, I see nothing; but Christiana held her peace.

the

Inter. But said the Interpreter, look again: she therefore lookt again and said, Here is not any thing, but an ugly Spider, who hangs by her Hands upon Of the Spider. Wall. Then said he, Is there but one Spider in all this spacious Room? Then the water stood in Christiana's Eyes, for she was a Woman quick of apprehension: and she said, Yes Lord,

there is more here then one.

Talk about

Yea, and Spiders whose Venom is far more destructive than that which is in her. The Interpreter then looked pleasantly upon her, and said, Thou hast said the Truth. This made Mercy blush, and the Boys to cover their Faces. For they all began now to understand the Riddle.

the Spider.

Pro. 30. 28.

Then said the Interpreter again, The Spider taketh hold with her hands, as you see, and is in Kings Pallaces. And wherefore is this recorded; but to show you, that how full of the Venome of Sin soever you be, yet you may by the hand of Faith lay hold of, and dwell in the best Room that belongs to the Kings

The Interpretation.

House above?

Chris. I thought, said Christiana, of something of this; but I could not imagin it all. I thought that we were like Spiders, and that we looked like ugly Creatures, in what fine Room soever we were: But that by this Spider, this venomous and ill favoured Creature, we were to learn how to act Faith, that came not into my mind. And yet she has taken hold Iwith her hands as I see and dwells in the best Room in the House. God has made nothing in vain.

Then they seemed all to be glad; but the water stood in their Eyes: Yet they looked one upon another, and also bowed before the Interpreter.

Of the Hen and Chickens.

He had them then into another Room where was a Hen and Chickens, and bid them observe a while. So one of the Chickens went to the Trough to drink, and every time she drank she lift up her head and her eyes towards Heaven. See, said he, what this little Chick doth, and learn of her to acknowledge whence your Mercies come, by receiving them with looking up. Yet again, said he, observe and look: So they gave heed, and perceived that the Hen did walk in a fourfold Method towards her Chickens. 1. She had a common call, and that she hath all day long. 2. She had a special call, and that she had but sometimes. 3. She had a brooding note. And 4. she had an out-cry.

Now, said he, compare this Hen to your King, and these Chickens to his Obedient ones. For answerable to her, himself has his Methods, which he walketh

Mat. 23. 37.

in towards his People. By his common call, he gives nothing, by his special call, he always has something to give, he has also a brooding voice, for them that are under his Wing. And he has an out-cry, to give the Alarm when he seeth the Enemy come. I chose, my Darlings, to lead you into the Room where such things are, because you are Women, and they are easie for you. Chris. And Sir, said Christiana, pray let us see some more: So he had them into the Slaughter-house, where was a Butcher a killing of a Sheep: And behold the Sheep was quiet, and took her Death patiently. Then said the Interpreter: You must learn of this Sheep, to suffer: And to put up wrongs without murmurings and complaints. Behold how quietly she takes her Death, and without objecting she suffereth her Skin to be pulled over her Ears. Your King doth call you his Sheep.

Of the

Butcher and the Sheep.

After this, he led them into his Garden, where was great variety of Flowers: and he said, do you see all Of the Garden. these? So Christiana said, yes. Then said he again, Behold the Flowers are divers in Stature, in Quality, and Colour, and Smell, and Virtue, and some are better then some: Also where the Gardiner has set them, there they stand, and quarrel not one with another.

Of the Field.

Again he had them into his Field, which he had sowed with Wheat and Corn: but when they beheld, the tops of all was cut off, only the Straw remained. He said again, this Ground was Dunged, and Plowed, and Sowed; but what shall we do with the Crop? Then said Christiana, burn some and make muck of the rest. Then said the Interpreter again, Fruit you see is that thing you look for, and for want of that you condemn it to the Fire, and to be trodden under foot of men: Beware that in this you condemn not your selves.

Then, as they were coming in from abroad, they espied a little Robbin with a great Spider in his mouth. So the Interpreter said, look here. So they looked, of the Robbin and Mercy wondred; but Christiana said, what

and the Spider.

a disparagement is it to such a little pretty Bird as the Robbinred-breast is, he being also a Bird above many, that loveth to maintain a kind of Sociableness with men? I had thought

they had lived upon crums of Bread, or upon other such harmless matter. I like him worse then I did.

The Interpreter then replied, This Robbin is an Emblem very apt to set forth some Professors by; for to sight they are as this Robbin, pretty of Note, Colour and Carriages, they seem also to have a very great Love for Professors that are sincere ; and above all other to desire to sociate with, and to be in their Company, as if they could live upon the good Mans Crums. They pretend also that therefore it is, that they frequent the House of the Godly, and the appointments of the Lord: but when they are by themselves, as the Robbin, they can catch and gobble up Spiders, they can change their Diet, drink Iniquity, and swallow down Sin like Water.

So when they were come again into the House, because Supper as yet was not ready, Christiana again desired that the Interpreter would either show or tell of some other things that are Profitable.

Pray, and you will get at that which yet lies unrevealed.

Then the Interpreter began and said, The fatter the Sow is, the more she desires the Mire; the fatter the Ox is, the more gamesomly he goes to the Slaughter; and the more healthy the lusty man is, the more prone he is unto Evil. There is a desire in Women, to go neat and fine, and it is a comely thing to be adorned with that, that in Gods sight is of great price.

'Tis easier watching a night or two, then to sit up a whole year together: So 'tis easier for one to begin to profess well, then to hold out as he should to the end.

Every Ship-Master, when in a Storm, will willingly cast that over Board that is of the smallest value in the Vessel; but who will throw the best out first? none but he that feareth not God.

One leak will sink a Ship, and one Sin will destroy a Sinner. He that forgets his Friend, is ungrateful unto him; but he that forgets his Saviour is unmerciful to himself.

He that lives in Sin, and looks for Happiness hereafter, is like him that soweth Cockle, and thinks to fill his Barn with Wheat, or Barley.

If a man would live well, let him fetch his last day to him, and make it always his company-Keeper.

Whispering and change of thoughts, proves that Sin is in the

World.