They arrive at the House of the Interpreter.

When they had thus talked away a little more time, they drew near to a house which stood in the way, which house was built for the relief of pilgrims, as you will find more fully related in the first part of the records of the Pilgrim's Progress. So they drew on towards the house, (the house of the Interpreter); and when they came to the door, they heard a great talk in the house. Then they gave ear, and heard, as they thought, Christiana mentioned by name; for you must know, that there went along, even before her, a talk of her and her children's going on pilgrimage. And this was the more pleasing to them, because they had heard that she was Christian's wife, that woman who was some time ago so unwilling to hear of going on pilgrimage. Thus therefore they stood still, and heard the good people within commending her, who they little thought stood at the door. At last Christiana knocked, as she had done at the gate before. Now, when she had knocked, there came to the door, a young damsel, named Inis carried away with divine enjoyments, such attacks upon virtue are not expected by females, especially from those, who, by reason of their profession, may have been thought the servants of Jesus Christ, but are in fact among the basest servants of the devil.-To teach Christians their dependence upon God for protection, they are enjoined "in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgivings to make known their requests unto God;" and of many things which are not granted it might be said, "Ye have not, because ye ask not," James iv. 2. When believers are convinced of this, even trials brought upon them by their own folly will work together for good; as they will by then be taught the necessity and utility of constantly praying for those covenant blessings which are essential to their safety and comfort.-Mercy, an innocent young woman, was surprised to find herself exposed to such infamous temptations, having never expected them; but Christiana, a woman advanced in life, and who might have foreseen that she would be liable to base solicitations, should have provided against it, by placing herself and her companion under the care and protection of an experienced and judicious minister.-The consideration of great deliverances from imminent dangers, especially if those deliverances have not been the subject of prayer, will impress the minds of Christians with abundant gratitude to God for his undeserved goodness.

They are received by Innocent.

nocent, who opened the door, and looked, and be hold, two women were there.

DAM. Then said the damsel to them, With whom would you speak in this place?

CHR. Christiana answered. We understand that this is a privileged place for those that are become pilgrims, and we now at this door are such: wherefore we pray that we may be partakers of that for which we at this time are come; for the day, as thou seest, is very far spent, and we are loath tonight to go any farther.

DAM. Pray what may I call your name, that I may tell it to my Lord within?

CHR. My name is Christiana; I was the wife of that pilgrim who some years ago did travel this way, and these are his four children. This maiden also is my companion, and is going on pilgrimage too.

INNOCENT. Then ran Innocent in, (for that was her name,) and said to those within, Can you think who is at the door? There are Christiana, and her children, and her companion, all waiting for entertainment here. Then they leaped for joy, and went and told their master. So he came to the door, and, looking upon her, said, Art thou that Christiana whom Christian the good man left behind him, when he betook himself to a pilgrim's life?

CHR. I am that woman that was so hardhearted as to slight my husband's troubles, and that left him to go on his journey alone, and these are his four children; but now I also am come, for I am convinced that no way is right but this.

INTER. Then is fulfilled that which is written of the man that said to his son, "Go work to-day in my vineyard; and he said to his father, I will not; but afterward he repented and went." Matt. xxi. 29.

CHR. Then said Christiana, So be it, Amen. God make it a true saying respecting me, and grant that I may be found at the last of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.

Entertainment of the Pugrims at the House of the Interpreter.

INTER. But why standest thou at the door? Come in, thou daughter of Abraham; we were talking of thee but now, for tidings have come to us before that thou art become a pilgrim. Come, children, come in; come, maiden, come. So he had them all into the house.

When they were within, they were bidden to sit down and rest them; the which when they had done, they that attended upon the pilgrims in the house, came into the room to see them. And one smiled, and another smiled, and another smiled, and they all smiled for joy that Christiana was become a pilgrim. They also looked upon the boys, and stroked them over their faces with their hand in token of their kind reception of them: they also carried it lovingly to Mercy, and bid them all welcome into their master's house."

After a while, because supper was not ready, the Interpreter took them into his Significant Rooms, and showed them what Christian, Christiana's hus

m The Holy Spirit, the Interpreter, who was promised by the Lord Jesus to be sent in his name, guides believers into all truth. "It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God," John vi. 45. For this purpose he employs the public ministry of the word; and "where two or three are gathered together in the name of Christ," there is he by the influence of the Holy Spirit, "in the midst of them." They who earnestly pray that his enlightening influence may attend the preaching of the gospel, will be graciously heard; for their "heavenly Father will give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him."-The "damsel named Innocent," is an allegorical person, and may denote primitive Christianity, both as it respects doctrine and discipline; "the simplicity that is in Christ," the uncorrupted "truth as it is in Jesus." 2 Cor. xi. 3. Eph. iv. 21.-If a whole family, which has been opposed to religion, is converted, the news will soon spread; and when they are seen attending the preaching of the gospel, it will cause great joy in the church, which will with pleasure unite in prayer and praise on their account.-Humble confession, and serious consecration of heart, are sacrifices acceptable, well-pleasing to God; and such simplehearted pilgrims are received by the church with a hearty welcome. "The Spirit and the bride say Come; let him that heareth say, Come." Rev. xxii. 17.

The Man with the Muck-rake.

Here therefore

band, had seen some time before. they saw the man in the cage, the man and his dream, the man that cut his way through his enemies, and the picture of the biggest of all," together with the rest of those things that were then so profitable to Christian.o

This done, and after those things had been somewhat digested by Christiana and her company, the Interpreter took them apart again, and had them first into a room, where was a man that could look no way but downwards, with a muck-rake in his hand. There stood also one over his head, with a celestial crown in his hand, who proffered him that crown for his muck rake; but the man did neither look up, nor regard, but raked to himself the straws, the small sticks, and the dust of the floor.

Then said Christiana, "I persuade myself that I know somewhat of the meaning of this: this is the figure of a man of this world; is it not, good Sir ?"

INTER. Thou hast said right, said he; and his muck-rake doth show his carnal mind.. And whereas thou seest him rather give heed to rake up straws and sticks, and the dust of the floor, than do what he says that calls to him from above with the celestial crown

" Does not the biggest of all mean Charity, of which so excellent a picture is to be seen in the thirteenth chapter of the first epistle to the Corinthians? See the thirteenth verse.

• In the primitive churches none were admitted to membership but they who had tasted that the Lord was gracious. This was also the case with the church at Bedford, to which allusion is constantly made, as it still is with all those evangelical churches which are constructed according to the New Testament model. In such congregations, candidates for church-membership are previously instructed in the truths of the gospel; which instruction they gain by attending seriously and constantly upon an evangelical ministry. The subjects of the danger of apostasy, the future judgment, the character of a gospel minister, and other similar topics, are discussed, for the information of young converts; and if these leading truths, "the first principles of the oracles of God," are in any measure understood, then the mind is led on to other interesting themes, care being taken to suit the subjects to the characterr and capacities of the hearers.

The Spider upon the Wall.

.n his hand; it is to show, that heaven is but as a fable to some, and that things here are counted the only things substantial. Now, whereas it was also showed thee that the man could look no way but downwards; it is to let thee know that earthly things, when they act with power upon men's minds, quite carry their hearts away from God.

CHR. Then said Christiana, Oh! deliver me from this muck-rake. Prov. xxx. 8.

INTER. That prayer, said the Interpreter, has lain by till it is almost rusty; "Give me not riches," is scarcely the prayer of one in ten thousand. Straws, and sticks, and dust, with most are the great things now looked after.

With that Mercy and Christiana wept, and said, "It is, alas! too true"?

When the Interpreter had showed them this, he had them into the very best room in the house ;—a very noble room it was. So he bid them look round about, and see if they could find any thing profitable there. Then they looked round and round; for there was nothing to be seen but a very great spider on the wall, and that they overlooked.

MER. Then said Mercy, Sir, I see nothing but Christiana held her peace.

INTER. But, said the Interpreter, look again. She therefore looked again, and said, "Here is not any thing but an ugly spider, who hangs by her hands upon the wall." Then said he, Is there but one spider

P When the mind is entirely fixed upon the world, instead of being set on things above, it is beneath the dignity of the Christian character. Pious lively Christians will pray to be preserved from a mean muck-rake disposition. To be contented with poverty, and indifferent about riches, is a disposition which but few manifest and the prayer of Agur, "Give me not riches," is seldom heard. Serious Christians must acknowledge, and they should do it with tears, that they are justly chargeable with worldly mindedness. The acknowledgment and prayer of David upon this subject are exceedingly proper; " My soul cleaveth unto the dust: quicken thou me according to thy word," Psa. cxix. 25.