The state of the town of Vanity.

not lie, and Mr. Penitent: that I have a friend or two at my house, that have a mind this evening to see them.

So Grace went to call them, and they came; and after salutation made, they sat down together at the table,

Then said Mr, Mnason, their landlord, My neighbours, I have, as you see, a company of strangers come to my house they are pilgrims; they came from afar, and are going to Mount Zion, But who, quoth he, do you think this is? pointing his finger at Christiana: it is Christiana, the wife of Christian, that famous pilgrim, who with Faithful his brother, were so shamefully handled in our town.

At that they stood amazed, saying, We little thought to see Christiana, when Grace came to call us; wherefore this is a very comfortable surprise. Then they asked her about her welfare, and if these young men were her husband's sons?

And when she told them they were, they said, The King, whom you love and serve, make you as your father, and bring you where he is, in peace. (a)

Hon. Then Mr. Honest (when they were all set down) asked Mr. Contrite, and the rest, in what posture their town was at present.

Contrite. You may be sure, we are full of hurry in fair time. It is hard keeping our hearts and spirits in good order, when we are in a cumbered condition. He that lives in such a place as this, and has to do with such as we have, has need of an item, to caution him to take heed every moment of the day. (b)

(a) A precious prayer for the best of blessings.

b) Mind this hint. May it kindle a sense of danger, and excite caution!

Great-heart relates their adventures.

Hon. But how are your neighbours now for quietness?

Contrite. They are much more moderate now than formerly. You know how Christian and Faithful were used at our town: but of late, I say, they have been far more moderate. I think the blood of Faithful lieth as a load upon them till now; for since they burned him, they have been ashamed to burn any more; in those days, we were afraid to walk the streets, but now we can shew our heads. Then the name of a professor was odious; now, especially in some parts of our town, (for you know our town is large) religion is counted honourable. (c)

Then said Mr. Contrite to them, Pray, how fareth it with you in your pilgrimage? How stands the country affected towards you?

Hon. It happens to us, as it hath happened to wayfaring men: sometimes our way is clean, sometimes foul, sometimes up-hill, sometimes down-hill; we are seldom at a certainty: the wind is not always on our backs, nor is every one a friend that we meet with in our way. We have met with some notable rubs already; and what are yet behind, we know not; but, for the most part, we find it true that has been talked of old, A good man must suffer trouble.

Contrite. You talk of rubs: What rubs have you met withal?

Hon. Nay, ask Mr. Great-heart, our guide; for he can give the best account of that.

Great-heart. We have been beset three or four

(c) It is a mercy, when open persecution for the word abates, and religion is more respected; but alas! how do professors in such times get cold and dead, grow formal and worldly! The smiles of the town of Vanity, often prove more injurious than its frowns. Be on your guard, O pilgrims!

Great-heart relates their adventures.

times already. First, Christiana and her children were beset with two ruffians, that they feared would take away their lives. We were beset with Giant Bloody-man, Giant Maul, and Giant Slay-good.Indeed, we did rather beset the last, than were beset of him. And thus it was:

After we had been some time in the house of Gaius, mine host, and of the whole church, we were minded upon a time to take our weapons with us, and to see if we could light upon any of those that were enemies to pilgrims, (for we heard that there was a notable one thereabouts)

Now Gaius knew his haunt better than I, because he dwelt thereabout; so we looked and looked, till at last, we discerned the mouth of his cave; then were we glad, and plucked up our spirits. So we ap proached up to his den; and lo! when we came there, he had dragged, by mere force, into his net, this poor man, Mr. Feeble-mind, and was about to bring him to his end.

But when he saw us, supposing, as he thought, he had another prey, he left the poor man in his house, and came out. So we fell to it full sore, and we lustily laid about him; but in conclusion, he was brought down to the ground, and his head cut off, and set up by the way side, for a terror to such as should after practice such uugodliness.That I tell you the truth, here is the man himself to affirm it, who was a lamb taken out of the mouth of the lion.

Feeble mind. Then said Mr. Feeble-mind, I find this true to my cost and comfort: to my cost, when he threatened to pick my bones every moment: and to my comfort, when I saw Mr. Great-heart and his friends, with their weapons, approach so near to my deliverance.

Instructive and profitable conversation.

Holy-man. Then said Mr. Holy-man, There are two things that they have need to be possessed of, that go on pilgrimage: courage, and an unspotted lite. If they have not courage, they can never hold on their way; and if their lives be loose, they will make the very name of a pilgrim stink. (d)

Love-saint. Then said Mr. Love-saint, I hope this caution is not needful among you. But truly, there are many that go upon the road, that rather declare themselves strangers to pilgrimage, than strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

Dare-not-lie. Then said Mr. Dare-not-lie, It is true, they neither have the pilgrim's weed nor the pilgrim's courage; they go not uprightly, but all awry with their feet; one shoe goeth inward, another outward, and their hosen out behind; here a rag, and there a rent, to the disparagement of their Lord. (e)

Penitent. These things, said Mr. Penitent, they ought to be troubled for: nor are the pilgrims like to have that grace upon them and their pilgrim's progress, as they desire, until the way is cleared of such spots and blemishes.

Thus they sat talking snd spending their time until supper was set upon the table. Unto which they went, and refreshed their weary bodies: so they went

to rest.

Now they stayed in the fair a great while, at the house of Mr. Mnason, who in process of time, gave his daughter Grace unto Samuel. Christiana's son to wife, and his daughter Martha, to Joseph.

The time, as I said, that they lay here, was long:

(d) This is a sound speech. Lord grant that we, who profess thy holy name, may take good heed to this.

viction to many.

It is a word of con

(e) An excellent observation, and just reproof. May it carry conviction to the heart of those it suits.

The people of the town alarmed by a Monster.

for it was not now as in former times. Wherefore the pilgrims grew acquainted with many of the good people of the town, and did them what service they could. Mercy, as she was wont, laboured much for the poor; wherefore their bellies and backs blessed her, and she was there an ornament to her profession.

And, to say the truth for Grace, Phoebe, and Martha, they were all of a very good nature, and did much good in their places. They were also all of them very faithful: so that Christiana's name, as was said before, was like to live in the world.

While they lay here, there came a monster out of the woods, and slew many of the people of the town. It would also carry away their children, and teach them to suck its whelps.

Now no man in the town durst so much as face this monster; but all men fled when they heard of the noise of his coming.

The monster was like unto no one beast upon the earth its body was like a dragon, and it had seven horns. It made great havock of children, and yet it was governed by a woman, Rev. xii. 3.

This monster propounded conditions to men; and such as loved their lives more than their souls, accepted of those conditions." (f)

Now Mr. Great-heart, together with those who came to visit the pilgrims at Mr. Mnason's house, entered into a covenant, to go and engage this beast, if perhaps they might deliver the people of this town, from the paws and mouth of this so devouring a serpent.

Then did Mr. Great-heart, Mr. Contrite, Mr. Holyman, Mr. Dare-not-lie, and Mr. Penitent, with their weapons, go forth to meet him.

(f) I suppose the author here means that horrid monster Popery.