Tender-conscience astonished at the glorious things he saw.

pure gold, and the walls of precious stones, the inhabitants walking up and down in long robes, and glittering like the stars: also it represented the King of that place sitting on a throne of glory, a fiery stream issuing from before him; thousands of thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him, whose faces were like the lightning, and their eyes like lamps of fire, their arms and their feet were like polished brass; in short the whole appearance was full of lustre and magnificence.

Tender conscience was astonished above measure at the sight of these glorious things, and ravished with an inexpressible delight, insomuch that he wished to live and die in that place, for he had never yet seen such a goodly sight before in all his life; he continued gazing on the lovely objects, neither could he take his eyes off from looking, till such time as Good-resolution drew the curtain again, and so veiled them from his sight; for he was afraid lest, by too long gazing on so much brightness, his eyes might receive some damage, remembering that saying of the wise man, "He that gazeth upon majesty, shall be oppressed with glory." So he had him back again through the passage that led to his own cave; and when they were come into the cave, he desired Tender conscience to sit down and meditate on what he had seen: so Tender-conscience sat down to meditate, while Good-resolution got ready a small collation of fruits, of herbs, and of wine, to refresh him, and make him more vigorous and active in going up the rest of the hill.

O sir! said Tender-conscience, trouble not yourself for me, nor take any care about meat or drink, for what I have seen since my coming into this place is both meat and drink to me: 1 feel myself

He is admonished by Good-resolution.

strengthened by it, and my spirits enlivened, so that methinks I could even fly up the rest of the hill.

Then Good-resolution made answer, If the bare sight of the glorious things has wrought such a wonderful effect upon you, how much greater influence may be expected from the mature consideration and application of them? If the bare view of the landscape be so pleasant, how much more fruitful will it be to think the city there represented is the place whither you are going, and that you shall live there for ever, and be clothed and crowned with robes and crowns of endless glory? But I must warn you of one thing that will happen to you a little after your departure from this place, as it does usually happen to all pilgrims who have seen the glorious things of this cave; for, lest they should be exalted above measure through the abundance of revelations, there is generally given unto them a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan, to buffet them, because they should not be exalted above measure; and thus it is likely to befal you when you are gone from this place. Now, to the end you may not be disheartened when this thing comes to pass, I tell you of it now, that, being forewarned, you may also be forearmed; and I exhort you to have always in your mind the fanious examples of those worthies which you see represented before your eyes, who stemmed the tide of worldly crosses and persecution, stood the brunt of all manner of temptations, till having at last weathered the point, and got the start of the world, the flesh, and the devil, they entered into the joy of their Lord, and took possession of an everlasting inheritance. These things, you ought always to have in remembrance as you travel along, and especially when you meet with any temptation or danger, as you must expect

Tender-conscience met and accosted by Spiritual-pride.

in this journey: at such a time you ought to reflect on the glorious things you saw in the cave, and in the cave of Contemplation, and in so doing you will find great comfort and relief.

So he desired Tender-conscience to refresh himself with such entertainment as his cave afforded; assuring him, that though it was plain and homely diet, yet he was heartily welcome to it, and would find the benefit of it as he went up the rest of the hill. Then Good-resolution, after the repast was over, renewed his counsel to Tender-conscience, and told him what houses and inns he should use thereabouts in his way, and what he should refuse and avoid, adding many wholesome instructions. At length, Tender-conscience, full of courage and joy, took his leave, giving him humble thanks for the favours he had done him.

Now I saw in my dream, that by that time Tender-conscience was got a pretty distance upward from the cave, he was met by a man whose name was Spiritual-pride, but Tender-conscience knew not his name at first; so the man saluted him in this manner: "Hail, thou beloved among the sons of men, thou darling of the King of Heaven, who hast undertaken a great and tedious pilgrimage from the Valley of Destruction, toward the region of life and glory; who hast escaped the temptations of the House of Mirth, and rather chosen to go into the House of Mourning; who hast escaped the paths of Danger and Destruction, and hast nobly ventured to ascend up the unpleasant and rugged path of the steep hill Difficulty; and hast entered into the cave of Good-resolution, and seen the glorious things of his cave, and the more glorious things in the cave of Contemplation. Now I am sent to congratulate thee on thy success, and to tell thee thy journey is at an end; thou hast all along

He runs away from him.

fought the good fight, thou hast kept the faith, and now thy course is finished, and there is laid up for thee a crown of righteousness; come, turn in with me, and I will shew thee thy reward, which is secured for thee, and thou needest not travel or toil thyself any more, but take up thy rest with me."

Then Tender-conscience was much astonished at the man's words, and wondered how he could tell him so exactly what he had done, and where he had been: and he said within himself, Surely this man is a prophet or greater than a prophet. So he began to be puffed up in his mind, to think how the man called him the beloved among the sons of men, and the darling of the King of Heaven. Surely, (said he in his heart) my lot is fallen in goodly places, I have a fair inheritance. So he followed the man, who led him aside out of the path that led him directly up the hill, and brought him to an exceeding high tower, whose top was much higher than the top of the hill itself; but before they came to the Tower, even as they were going along, Tender-conscience cast his eye upon the back of the man, and there he saw written, "SPIRITUAL-PRIDE;" so he remembered the counsel of Good-resolution, how, among the rest of his wholesome instructions, he bade him beware of Spiritual-pride, who would certainly meet him on the way, and endeavour to seduce him to the tower of Lofty thoughts, and when he had him to the top, would cast him down head-long, and break him to pieces. So Tender

conscience made no more ado, but ran away so fast as he could back to the path again, and so went forward up the hill, rejoicing that he had escaped from Spiritual-pride, who with flattering speeches and deceitful words, sought to entice him out of the way, and bring him to ruin and swift destruction.

He is met by Carnal-security.

Then I looked after Tender-conscience, and saw that he went a great pace upward till he came to the top of the hill, even to the stage that was built to punish such upon, who should be afraid to go farther upon pilgrimage, where Mistrust and Timorous had their tongues bored through with an hot iron, for to endeavour to hinder Christian in his journey, as was to be read on the plates that hung before the stage.

Now I saw in my dream, that as Tender-conscience went along, an old man met him in the way, whose name was Carnal-security, and he spake to Tender conscience in this manner: Friend, whence comest thou, and whither art thou going?

Tender-conscience replied, Sir, I am come from the Valley of Destruction, and am travelling toward the Heavenly Country.

Carnal-security. Truly you have undertaken a great and hazardous journey, and the perils you have gone through are many: but now the worst of your way is past, the rest being pleasant, safe, and easy, it is convenient for you to rest yourself awhile after your toils, and the wearisome steps you have trodden since you first set forth from your native country, and especially since you must needs be tired and quite out of breath, through the extreme steepness of the hill Difficulty, which you last ascended; therefore, if you please to take up your quarters with me, you shall be heartily welcome, and you will be better strengthened and enabled to go forward on your journey; my house stands not far off from this place, and if you will accept of my offer, I will be your guide to my habitation.

Tender. Sir, 1 must confess your civility is very acceptable to me, and very seasonable at this time; for indeed I am pretty well beat out with travel,