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Sagacity's account of Christiana.

wonderfully with them; so they have packed up, and are also gone after him. (d)

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, a man may 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, as I perceive we are, 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 her self, 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

(d) Though moral persuasions, and all the affectionate arguments from a tender husband, or an affectionate parent, may prove ineffectual for the present; yet, when the Lord works by his mighty power, then only they prove effectual to saving purposes. Yet let us not neglect our duty, but be in earnest in it, and leave the event to sovereign grace.

Unhappy state of Christiana after the departure of her husband.

swarms, all her unkind, unnatural, and ungodly carriages 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 now 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. (e)

Then said Christiana to her children, Sons, we are all undone. I have sinned away your father, and he is gone: he would have had us to go with him, but I would not go myself. I also 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 over-run 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. (f)

* Janies i. 23, 24, 25.

(e) Here see, what those who cruelly and unkindly treat their godly relations and friends on account of their religion, must come to feel in the bitterness of their spirits, and groan under the sorrow of their soul, if ever the Lord grants them repentance unto life.

(f) Is it any marvel, that a quickened enlightened sinner should

Her encouraging dreams.

Then they wept all again, and cried, Oh, woe worth the day!

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 sinner: (g) the little children heard her.

After this, she thought she saw two very illfavoured 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.'

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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 immor

* Luke xviii. 30.

be judged by those around him, who are yet dead in their sins, to be full of whims and melancholy? No: it is very natural for them to think us fools and mad; but we know that they really are so. For when it pleases the Lord to take the veil of unbelief off the heart, and remove the scales of ignorance from the eyes, then they will confess with Christians, that the light of life is given to us.

(g) This is the very first cry of an awakened sinner, meroy for the lost and miserable: and no sooner are the sinner's eyes opened to see his ruined desperate state, and to cry for mercy, but the god of this world, who hitherto hath blinded the eyes,and kept the heart secure by presumption, now opposes the sinner's progress to a throne of grace, to a God of mercy, and to the Saviour of the lost. Satan does not easily part with his prey. But Jesus the strong man, armed with almighty power and everlasting love, will conquer and cast him out. This is the sinner's mercy, or none could ever be saved.

Christiana is visited by Secret.

tals, with a harp in his hand, standing and playing upon it, before one that sat on the throne, with a rainbow about his head. She saw also, as if he bowed his head with his face to the paved work that was under his Prince's feet, saying, I heartily thank thee 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, except Christian and his companions.

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Next morning, when she was up, and 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, (h) I dwell with those that are on 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 Merciful One has sent me to tell thee, that he is a God ready to forgive, and that he taketh delight to multiply the pardon of offences.

(h) "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom," Psalm cxì. 10. and "the secret of the Lord is with them who fear him," Psalm. xxv. 14. The Spirit, the Comforter, never convinces the soul of sin, but he also revives and comforts the heart with glad tidings of free and full pardon of sin, through the blood of the LAMB.

Secret's advice to Christiana.

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 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 proceeded and said, Christiana, here is also a letter for thee, which I have brought from thy husband's King, so she took it, and opened it, but it smelt after the manner of the best perfume. Also it was written in letters of gold. The contents of the letter were these: That the King would have her to do as did Christian her husband, for that was the way to come to this city, and to dwell in his presence with joy for ever. At this the good woman was quite overcome; so she cried out to her visitor, Sir, will you carry me and my children with you, that we may also go and worship the King?

Then said the visitor, Christiana, the bitter is before the sweet. Thou must through troubles, as he did that went before thee, enter the celestial City. Wherefore I advise thee to do as did Christian thy husband: Go to the Wicket-gate yonder over the plain, for that stands in the head of the way up which thou must go, and I wish thee good speed. Also, I advise thee, that thou put this letter in thy bosom: that thou read therein to thyself and children, until they have got it by heart; for it is one of the songs thou must sing while thou art in this house of thy pilgrimage: also this thou must deliver in at the farther gate. (i)

(i) Says our Lord, "When the Spirit is come, he shall testify of

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