return, (for I know that you go and return to your Master's houfe, in hopes that you may be a conductor to more of the holy pilgrims,) that you fend to my family, and let them be acquainted with all that hath and fhall happen unto me. Tell them moreover of my happy arrival at this place, and of the prefent and late bleffed condi tion that I am in. Tell them alfo of Chriftian and Chriftiana his wife, and how the and her children came after her husband. Tell them alfo of what a happy end fhe made, and whither the is gone. I have little or nothing to fend to my family, except it be my prayers and tears for them; of which it will fuffice, if you acquaint them, if peradventure they may prevail.

When Mr Stand- faft had thus fet things in order, and the time being come for him to hafte him away, he alfo went down to the river. Now there was a great calm at that time in the river; wherefore Mr Stand-faft, when he was about half way in, flood a while, and talked to his companions that had waited upon him this ther and he faid,

This river has been a terror to many, yea, the thoughts of it alto have often frighted me: now methinks I ftand easy, my foot is fixed upon that on which the feet of the priefts that bare the ark of the covenant stood, while frack went over this Jordan. The waters indeed are to the palate bitter, and to the ftomach cold; yet the thoughts of what I am going to, and of the conduct that waits for me on the other fide, doth lie as a glowing coal at my heart. I fee myself now at the end of my jouse

my toilfome days are ended. I am going to fee that head that was crowned with thorns, and that face that was fpit upon for me.

I have formerly lived by hearsay and faith; but now I go where I fall live by fight, and fhall be with him in whofe company I delight myself.

I have loved to hear my Lord fpoken of, and wherever I have feen the print of his fhoe in the earth, there have I coveted to fet my foot

too.

His name has been to me as a civet-box; yea, fweeter than all perfumes. His voice to me has been moft sweet; and his countenance I have more defired than they that have moft defired the light of the fun. His words I did use to gather for my food, and for antidotes againft my faintings. He has held me, and hath kept me from mine iniquities; yea, my fteps have been ftrengthened in his way.

Now, while he was thus in difcourfe, his countenance changed, his strong man bowed under him and after he had faid, Take me, for I come unto thee, he ceafed to be feen of them.

But glorious it was to fee how the open region was filled with horfes and chariots, with trumpeters and pipers, with fingers and players' on ftringed instruments, to welcome the pilgrims as they went up, and followed one another in at the beautiful gate of the city.

As for Chriftiana's children, the four boys that Chriftiana brought, with their wives and children, I did not itay where I was till they were gone over. Alfo fince 1 came away, I

heard

heard one fay they were yet alive, and so would be, for the increase of the church in that place where they were, for a time.

Shall it be my lot to go that way again, I may give thofe that defire it an account of what I here am filent about.

reader

Mean time I bid my

The End of the Second Part.

FAREWEL.

THE

PILGRIM'S PROGRESS,

From this World to that which is to come.

In the Similitude of a

DREA

M.

Shewing the feveral dangers and difficul ties he met with, and the many victories he obtained over the world, the flesh, and the devil: Together with his happy arrival at the celeftial city, and the glory and joy he found, to his eternal comfort.

PART

III.

The PREFACE to the Chriftian Reader.

READER,

IN

'N this book is fet forth a tedious pilgrimage, through the many dangerous hazards of the wilderness of this world, to the heavenly Canaan of eternal reft and peace: in which, tho' in the fimilitude of a dream, is lively reprefented the ftate of our Christian warfare; wherein, fighting valiantly under the banner of Chrift,

great Captain of our falvation, we fhall af

furedly overcome our fpiritual enemies, and be victorious conquerors over thofe temptations. that beset frail human nature, and would hinder us from leaving, in a good time, the city of Destruction, (which is this world, and its fruitlefs pleasures, cares, and incumbrances,) to journey towards the heavenly Jerufalem, which ist the true centre of our endless happiness in the fruition of unfpeakable and foul-ravifhing joys, that know no date or confummation.

This has been, in the former as well as prefent age, a way of writing that has been extremely taking, reprefenting to the mind, things that command our most serious thoughts and attention, and work more upon the minds of men than if delivered in plainer terms: however, to the difcerning Chriftian, there is nothing in this that is obfcure or difficult to be underflood, nothing but what is grounded upon facred truths, and the mercies of God in Jefus Chrift, held forth to us by his affured word.

It is a piece fo rare and tranfcending what has hitherto been published of this kind, that I dare, without any farther apology, leave it to the cenfure of all mankind, who are not partial or biaffed; and, so not doubting but it will render comfort and delight, I fubfcribe myself as heretofore, your foul's hearty well-wisher and fellow-labourer in the Vineyard of our Lord Jefus Chrift.

J. B.