4 ENQUIRIES CONCERNING CHRISTIAN'S FAMILY.

of all there. Moreover, it is expected of some, that his Prince, the Lord of that country, will shortly come into these parts, and will know the reason, if they can give any, why his neighbours set so little by him, and had him so much in derision, when they perceived that he would be a pilgrim'.

For they say, that now he is so in the affections of his Prince, and that his Sovereign is so much concerned with the indignities that were cast upon CHRISTIAN, when he became a pilgrim, that he will look upon all as if done to himself: and no marvel, for it was for the love that he had to his Prince, that he ventured as he did.

I dare say, quoth I, I am glad of it; I am glad for the poor man's sake, for that now he has rest from his labour', and for that he now reaps the benefits of his tears with joy; and for that he has got beyond the gun-shot of his enemies, and is out of the reach of them that hate him. I also am glad, for that a rumour of these things is noised abroad in this country; who can tell but that it may work some good effect on some that are left behind?-But pray, Sir, while it is fresh in my mind, do you hear any thing of his wife and children? Poor hearts, I wonder in my mind what they do.

SAG. Who? CHRISTIANA and her sons? They are like to do as well as did CHRISTIAN himself; for, though they all played the fool at first, and would by no means be persuaded by either the tears or entreaties of CHRISTIAN, yet second thoughts have wrought * Jude, 14, 15. ? Luke x. 16. 3 Rev. xiv 13.. 4 Pf. cxxvi. 5, 6.

HIS WIFE AND CHILDREN BECOME PILGRIMS.

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wonderfully with them: so they have packed up, and after him.

are also gone

Better and better, quoth I: but, what! wife and children and all?

SAG. It is true: I can give you an account of the matter, for I was upon the spot at the instant, and was thoroughly acquainted with the whole affair.

Then, said I, may a man report it for a truth?

SAG. You need not fear to affirm it: I mean, that they are all gone on pilgrimage, both the good woman and her four boys. And being we are, as I perceive, going some considerable way together, I will give you an account of the whole matter.

This CHRISTIANA, (for that was her name from the day that she with her children betook themselves to a pilgrim's life,) after her husband was gone over the river', and she could hear of him no more, her thoughts began to work in her mind. First, for that she had lost her husband, and for that the loving bond of that relation was utterly broken betwixt them. For you know, said he to me, nature can do no less but entertain the living with many a heavy cogitation, in the remembrance of the loss of loving relations. This, therefore, of her husband did cost her many a tear. But this was not all, for CHRISTIANA did also begin to consider with herself, whether her unbecoming behaviour towards her husband was not one cause that she saw him no more; and that in such sort he was taken away from her. And upon this came into her mind, by swarms, all her unkind, unnatural, and un

Part i. p 193-196.

6

CHRISTIANA'S DISCOURSE TO HER SONS.

godly carriage to her dear friend; which also clogged her conscience, and did load her with guilt. She was moreover much broken with calling to remembrance the restless groans, the brinish tears, and self-bemoaning of her husband, and how she did harden her heart against all his entreaties, and loving persuasions, of her and her sons, to go with him; yea, there was not any thing that CHRISTIAN either said to her, or did before her, all the while that his burden did hang on his back, but it returned upon her like a flash of lightning, and rent the caul of her heart in sunder; especially that bitter outcry of his, "What shall I do to be "saved?" did ring in her ears most dolefully'.

Sons, we are all

Then said she to her children, ⚫ undone. I have sinned away your father, and he is < gone: he would have had us with him, but I would

not go myself: I also have hindered you of life.' With that the boys fell into tears, and cried to go after their father. Oh!' said CHRISTIANA, that • it had been but our lots to go with him; then it had 'fared well with us, beyond what it is like to do now. For, though I formerly foolishly imagined concerning the troubles of your father, that they proceeded of a foolish fancy that he had, or for that he was overrun with melancholy humours; yet now it will not out of my mind, but that they sprang from another cause; to wit, for that the light of life was given him; by the help of which, as I perceive, he has escaped the snares of death.' Then they wept all and cried out, Oh, wo worth the day!'

HER ALARMING AND ENCOURAGING DREAMS.

The next night CHRISTIANA had a dream; and behold, she saw as if a broad parchment was opened before her, in which were recorded the sum of her ways, and the crimes, as she thought, looked very black upon her. Then she cried out aloud in her sleep, "Lord have mercy upon me a sinner1:”—and the little children heard her.

After this, she thought she saw two very ill-favoured ones standing by her bed-side, and saying, • What ⚫ shall we do with this woman? for she cries out for mercy waking and sleeping: if she be suffered to go on as she begins, we shall lose her as we have lost her husband. Wherefore we must, by some way, seek to take her off from the thoughts of what shall be hereafter, else all the world cannot help but she will become a pilgrim.'

Now she awoke in a great sweat; also a trembling was upon her: but after a while she fell to sleeping again. And then she thought she saw CHRISTIAN her husband in a place of bliss among many immortals, with an harp in his hand, standing and playing upon it before One that sat on a throne, with a rainbow about his head. She saw also, as if he bowed his head with his face towards the paved work that was under his Prince's feet, saying, I heartily thank my • Lord and King for bringing me into this place." Then shouted a company of them that stood round about and harped with their harps: but no man living could tell what they said, but CHRISTIAN and his companions.

Luke, xviii. 13:

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SECRET'S VISIT AND MESSAGE TO CHRISTIANA:

Next morning, when she was up, had prayed to GOD, and talked with her children awhile, one knocked hard at the door; to whom she spake out, saying, 'If ⚫ thou comest in God's name, come in.' So he said,

Amen;' and opened the door, and saluted her with, "Peace on this house." The which when he had done, he said, CHRISTIANA, knowest thou wherefore I am come?' Then she blushed and trembled; also her heart began to wax warm with desires to know from whence he came, and what his errand was to her. So he said unto her, My name is SECRET; I dwell • with those that are high. It is talked of, where I dwell, as if thou hadst a desire to go thither: also there is a report, that thou art aware of the evil thou hast formerly done to thy husband, in hardening of ⚫thy heart against his way, and in keeping of these babes in their ignorance. CHRISTIANA, the Mer⚫ciful One has sent me to tell thee, that he is a GoD ready to forgive, and that he taketh delight to mul

tiply the pardon of offences. He also would have thee to know, that he inviteth thee to come into his presence, to his table, and that he will feed thee with the fat of his house, and with the heritage of JACOB thy father.

There is CHRISTIAN, thy husband that was, with legions more, his companions, ever beholding that face that doth minister life to the beholders: and they will all be glad, when they shall hear the sound of thy feet step over thy father's threshold.' CHRISTIANA at this was greatly abashed in herself, and bowed her head to the ground. This Vision

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