read what was written, and efcaped the danger. This done, they fang as follows: Out of the way we went, and then we found They went then till they came to the Delectable mountains; which mountains belong to the Lord of that hill of which we have spoken before; fo they went up to the mountains, to behold the gardens and orchards, the vineyards and fountains of water; where also they drank and washed themselves, and did freely eat of. the vineyards Now there was on the tops of thofe mountains, fhepherds feeding their flocks,' and they flood by the highway-fide. The pilgrims therefore went to them, and leaning upon their staves, (as is common with weary pilgrims, when they stand to talk with any by the way,) they afked, Whofe Delectable mountains are thefe and whose be the fheep that feed upon them. Shep. Thefe mountains are Emanuel's land, and they are within fight of his city; and the fheep alfo are his, and he laid down his life for them. Chr. Is this the way to the celeftial city? way. Chr. How far is it thither? Shep. Too far for any but thofe that fhall get. thither indeed. Che Mountains delectable they now afcend, Where fhepherds be, which to them do commend, Alluring things, and things that cautious are ; Pilgrims are feady kept, by faith and fear. K Chr. Is the way fafe or dangerous? Shep. Safe for those for whom it is to be fafe, but tranfgreffors fhall fall therein, Hof xiv. 19. Chr. Is there in this place any relief for pil grims that are weary and faint in the way? Shep. The Lord of these mountains hath given us a charge, not to be forgetful to entertain ftrangers, Heb. xiii. 1, 2. Therefore the good of the place is before you. I faw alfo in my dream, that when the fhepherds perceived that they were wayfaring men, they also put queftions to them, (to which they made anfwer as in other places,) as, Whence came you? And how got you into the way? And by what means have you fo perfevered therein? For but few of them that begin to come hither do fhew their faces on thefe mountains. But when the fhepherds heard their answers, being pleafed therewith, they looked very lov-. ingly upon them, and faid, Welcome to the Dele&table Mountains. The fhepherds, I fay, whofe names were, Knowledge, Experience, Watchful, and Sincere, took them by the kand: and had them to their tents, and made them partake of what was ready at prefent. They faid, moreover, We would that you should ftay here a while, to be acquainted with us, and yet more to folace yourselves with the good of the Delectable Mountains. They then told them that they were content to ftay; fo they went to their reft that night, because it was very late. Then I faw in my dream, that in the morn❤ ng the shepherds called up Chriftian and Hope ful They are Shewn won ders. ful to walk with them upon the mountains: fo they went forth with them, and walked a while having a pleasant profpect on every fide. Then faid the fhepherds one to another, Shall we fhew thefe pilgrims fome wonders? So when they had concluded to do it, they had them firft to the top of an hill, called Error, which was very fteep on the farthest fide, and bid them look down to the bottom. So Chriftian and Hopeful looked down, and faw at the bottom several men dashed all to pieces by a fall that they had from the top. Then faid Chriftian, What meaneth this? The fhepherds anfwered, Have you not heard of them that were made to err, by hearkening to Hymeneus and Philetus, z Tim ii. 17, 18. as concerning the faith of the refurrection of the body? They answered, Yes. Then faid the fhepherds, Thofe that you fee ly dathed in pieces at the bottom of this mountain are they; and they have continued to this day unburied, (as you fee,) for an example for others to take heed how they clamber too high, or how they come too near to the brink of this mountain. Then I faw that they had them to the top of another mountain, and the name of that is Caution, and bid them look afar off: which when they did, they perceived, as they thought, feveral men walking up and down among the tombs that were there. And they perceived that the men were blind, because they ilumbled fometimes upon the tombs, and because they cod not get out from among them. Then faid tian, What means this? The fhepherds then anfwered, Did you not fee a little below the fe mountains a file that led into a meadow, on the left hand of this way? They answered, Yes. Then faid the fhepherds, From that file there goes a path that leads directly to Doubting caftle, which is kept by Giant Defpair; and thefe men (pointing to them among the tombs) came once on a pilgrimage, as you do now, ven till they came to that fame file; and because the right way was rough in that place, they chofe to go out of it into that meadow, and there were taken by Giant Defpair, and caft into Doubting cafle; where, after they had a while been kept in the dungeon, he at last did put out their eyes, and led them among those tombs, where he has left them to wander to this very day, that the faying of the wife man might be fulfilled, He that wandereth out of the way of understanding, fhall remain in the congregation of the dead, Prov. xxi. 26. Then Chriftian and Hopeful looked upon one another, with tears gufhing out, but yet faid nothing to the fhepherds. Then I faw in my dream, that the shepherds had them to another place in a bottom, where was a door in the fide of an hill; and they os pened the door, and bid them look in: They looked in therefore, and faw that, within it was very dark and fmoky; they all thought that they heard there a rumbling noife, as of fire, and a cry of fome tormented, and that they finelt the fcent of brimstone. Then faid Chrif tian, What means this? The fhepherds told them |