A messenger of Death sent to Christiana. 131 nard and saffron; calamus and cinnamon, with all the trees of frankincense, myrrh, and aloes, with all chief spices. With these the pilgrims' chambers were perfumed while they staid here; and with these were their bodies anointed, to prepare them to go over the river, when the time appointed was come. Now, while they lay here, and waited for the good hour, there was a noise in the town, that there was a Post come from the Celestial city, with matter of great importance to one Christiana, the wife of Christian the pilgrim. So inquiry was made for her, and the house was found out where she was. So the Post presented her with a letter; the contents were, "Hail, good woman! I bring thee tidings that the Master calleth for thee, and expecteth that thou shouldst stand in his presence, in clothes of immortality, within these ten days." When he had read this letter to her, he gave her therewith a sure token that he was a true messenger, and was come to bid her make haste to be gone. The token was, "An arrow with a point sharpened with love, let easily into her heart, which by degrees wrought so effectually with her, that, at the time appointed, she must be gone.”1 When Christiana saw that her time was come, and that she was the first of this company that was to go over, she called for Mr. Great-heart her guide, and told him how matters were. So he told her he was heartily glad of the news, and could have been glad had the Post come for him. Then she bid him that he should give advice how all things should be prepared for her journey. So he told her, saying, Thus and thus it must be; and we that survive will accompany you to the river-side. Then she called for her children, and gave them her blessing, and told them, that she read with comfort the mark that was set in their foreheads, and was glad to see them with her there, and that they had kept their garments so white. 1 These messengers seem to be merely emblems of the different diseases or decays, by which the Lord takes down the earthly tabernacle, when he sees good to receive the souls of his people into his immediate presence. In plain language, it was reported that Christiana was sick and near death, and she herself became sensible of her situation. The arrow sharpened by love,' implies that the time, manner, and circumstances of the believer's death are appointed by him "who loved us, and gave himself for us:" He, as it were, says to the dying saint, "It is I, be not afraid." |