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SHE PASSES THE RIVER TRIUMPHANTLY.

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After him came in Mr. DESPONDENCY, and his daughter MUCH-AFRAID; to whom she said, You ought, with thankfulness, for ever to remember your deliverance from the hand of giant DESPAIR, and out of DOUBTING-CASTLE. The effect of that mercy is, that you are brought with safety hither. Be yet watchful, and cast away fear; be sober, and hope to the end.'

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Thou wast

Then she said to Mr. FEEBLE-MIND, delivered from the mouth of giant SLAY-GOOD, that thou mightest live in the light of the living for ever, and see the King with comfort: only I advise thee to 6 repent thee of thy aptness to fear, and doubt of his goodness, before he sends for thee; lest thou shouldst, when he comes, be forced to stand before him, for ⚫ that fault, with blushing.'

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Now the day drew on, that CHRISTIANA must be gone. So the road was full of people, to see her take her journey. But behold, all the banks beyond the river were full of horses and chariots, which were come down from above to accompany her to the city gate. So she came forth, and entered the river, with a beckon of farewel to those that followed her to the river side. The last words that she was heard to say, were, I come, Lord, to be with thee, and bless thee.'

So her children and friends returned to their place, for that those that waited for CHRISTIANA had carried her out of their sight. So she went and called, and entered in at the gate, with all the ceremonies of

READY-TO-HALT SUMMONED TO PASS THE RIVER. 175

joy that her husband CHRISTIAN had entered with before her.

At her departure the children wept. But Mr. GREAT-HEART and Mr. VALIANT played upon the well tuned cymbal and harp for joy. So all departed to their respective places.

In process of time, there came a post to the town again, and his business was with Mr. READYTO-HALT. So he enquired him out, and said, I

am come to thee in the name of him whom thou ◄ hast loved and followed, though upon crutches: • and my message is, to tell thee, that he expects thee at his table, to sup with him in his kingdom, the next day after Easter: wherefore prepare thyself for thy journey.'-Then he also gave him a token that he was a true messenger, saying, "I have broken "the golden bowl, and loosed the silver cord'."

After this, Mr. READY-TO-HALT called for his fellow pilgrims, and told them, saying, I am sent for, and GoD shall surely visit you also.' So he desired Mr. VALIANT to make his will; and because he had nothing to bequeath to them that should survive him, but his crutches and his good wishes, therefore thus he said, These crutches I bequeath to my son that shall tread in my steps, with an hundred warm wishes that he may prove better than I have been.'

Then he thanked Mr. GREAT-HEART for his conduct and kindness, and so addressed himself to his

Eccles. xii. 1-7.

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FEEBLE-MIND'S DEPARTURE:

journey. When he came to the brink of the river,

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he said, Now I shall have no more need of these

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After this, Mr. FEEBLE-MIND had tidings brought him, that the post sounded his horn at his chamber door. Then he came in, and told him, saying, I am come to tell thee, that thy master hath need of thee; and that in a very little time thou must behold his face in brightness. And take this as a token of the truth of my message: "Those that "look out at the windows, shall be darkened."

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Then Mr. FEEBLE-MIND called for his friends and told them what errand had been brought unto him, and what token he had received of the truth of the Then he said, Since I have nothing to message. bequeath to any, to what purpose should I make a will? As for my feeble mind, that I will leave behind, ' for that I have no need of it in the place whither I go; nor is it worth bestowing upon the poorest pilgrims: wherefore, when I am gone, I desire that you Mr. VALIANT, would bury it in a dung-hill.' This done, and the day being come in which he was to depart, he entered the river as the rest: his last words were, Hold out, faith and patience.' So he went over to the other side.

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When days had many of them passed away, Mr. DESPONDENCY was sent for; for a post was come, and brought this message to him: Trembling

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AND THAT OF DESPONDENCY AND MUCH-AFRAID. 177

man, these are to summon thee to be ready with the King by the next Lord's day, to shout for joy, for thy deliverance from all thy doubtings.'-And, said the messenger, that my message is true, take this for a proof; so he 66 gave a grass-hopper to be

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a burden unto him."-Now Mr. DESPONDENCY'S daughter, whose name was MUCH-AFRAID, said, when she had heard what was done, that she should go with her father.' Then Mr. DESPONDENCY said to his friends, Myself and my daughter, you know what we have been, and how troublesomely we have • behaved ourselves in every company;-my will, and ⚫ my daughter's is that our desponds and slavish fears be by no man ever received, from the day of our departure, for ever: for I know that after my death, they will offer themselves to others. For, to ⚫ be plain with you, they are guests which we enter⚫tained when we first began to be pilgrims, and could • never shake them off after: and they will walk about ⚫ and seek entertainment of the pilgrims; but, for our sakes, shut the doors upon them.'

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When the time was come for them to depart, they went up to the brink of the river. The last words of Mr. DESPONDENCY were, Farewel, night! Welcome day!'-His daughter went through the river singing, but none could understand what she said.

Then it came to pass a while after, that there was a post in the town, that enquired for Mr. HONEST. So he came to his house, where he was, and delivered

$78 HONEST AND VALIANT-FOR-TRUTH PASS THE RIVER.

to his hands these lines:

Thou art commanded to be ready against this day se'nnight, to present thyself before thy Lord, at his Father's house.' And, for a token that my message is true, "All the daughters "of music shall be brought low."-Then Mr. HONEST called for his friends, and said unto them, • I die, but shall make no will. As for my honesty, it shall go with me; let him that comes after be told of this.'

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When the day that he was to be gone was come, he addressed himself to go over the river, Now the river at that time overflowed the banks in some places; but Mr. HONEST, in his life-time, had spoken to one GOOD-CONSCIENCE to meet him there; the which he also did, and lent him his hand and so helped him The last words of Mr. HONEST were, "Grace

over.

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reigns!" So he left the world.

After this, it was noised about that Mr, VALIANTFOR-TRUTH was taken with a summons by the same post as the other: and had this for a token, that the summons was true, that "his pitcher was broken "at the fountain." When he understood it, he called for his friends, and told them of it. Then said he, I am going to my Father's; and though with great difficulty I got hither, yet now I do not repent me of all the trouble I have been at to arrive where I am. My sword I give to him that shall succeed me in my pilgrimage, and my courage and skill to him that can get it. My marks and scars I carry with me, to be a witness for me, that I have fought his battle, who now will be my rewarder.'

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When the day that he must go hence was come, many

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