gument to perfuade her to lay at home (to wit, the trou bles he was like to meet with in the way) is one great argument with her to put her forward on her journey; for he told me in fo many words, The bitter goes before the fweet; yea, and forafmuch as it doth, it makes the fweet the sweeter.

Mrs. Bat's-eyes. Oh, this blind and foolish woman, faid the; and will the not take warning by her husband's afflictions? For my part, I fee, if he were here again, he would reft himself content in a whole skin, and never run fo many hazards for nothing.

Mrs. Inconfiderate alfo replied, faying, Away with fuch fantaftical fools from the town; a good riddance for my part, I fay of her; fhould the ftay where the dwells, and retain this mind, who could live quietly by her? for the will either be dumpifh or unneighbourly, or talk of fuck matters as no wife body can abide: Wherefore, for my part, I fhall never be forry for her departure; let her go, and let better come in her room: It was never a good world fince thefe whimsical fools dwelt in it.

Then Mrs. Light-mind added as followeth Come, put this kind of talk away, I was yesterday at Madam Wakton's, where we were as merry as the maids. For who do you think should be there but I and Mrs. Love-the-Fleth, and three or four more, with Mrs, Leachery, Mrs Frich, and fome others? So there we had mufic and dancing, and what elfe was meet to fill up the pleasure; and I dare lay my lady herself is an admirable well-bred gentlewoman, and Mr. Leachery is a pretty fellow. By this time Chriftiana was got on her way, and Mercy went along with her; fo as they went, her children being there alfo, Christiana began to difcourfe. And Mercy, faid Chriftiana, I take this as an unexpected favour, that thou fholdett fet toot out of doors with me, to accompany me a little in my way. Mercy. Then faid young Mercy, (tor fhe was but young) if I thought it would be to the purpoíe to go with you, I would go near the town.

Chrift. Well, Mercy, faid Chrifliana, caft in thy lot with me, I well know what will be the end of our pilgri mage; my husband is where he would not but be for all the gold in the Spanish mines; nor thalt thou be rejected, tho' thou goest but upou my invitation. The King, who

hath fent for me and my children, is one that delighteth in mercy. Beudes, if thou wilt, I will hire thee, and thou fhalt go along with me as my fervant; yet we will have all things in common betwixt thee and me, only go along with me.

Mercy doubts of acceptance.

Mercy. But how fhall I be ascertained that I alfo fhall be entertained? Had I this hope from one that could tell, I would make no flick at all, but would go, being helped by him that can help, tho' the way was never fo tedious.

Chrift. Well, loving Mercy, I will tell Chriftiana al- what thou'fhalt do; go with me to the wickLures her to the ed-gate, and there I will further enquire for gate, wich is thee; and if there thou shalt not meet with Chrift, and pro- encouragement, I will be content that thou mifes there to return to thy place; I also will pay thee for enquire for her, thy kindness which thou fhewed it to me and my children in the accompanying of us in doft.

Our way as thou

Mercy prays.

King of heaven

Chriftiana glad of Mercy's company.

gan to weep.

Mercy griev for her carnal relations.

Mercy. Then will I go thither, and will take what fhall follow, and the Lord grant that my lot may fall there, even as the fhall have his heart upon me.

Chrifliana then was glad at heart, not only that fhe had a companion, but also for that the had prevailed with this poor maid to fall in love with her own falvation, fo they went on together, and Mercy beThen faid Chriftiana, Wherefore weepeth my fifter io?

Mercy Alas, faid fhe, who can but lament, fhall but rightly confider what a fte and condition my poor relations are in, that yet remain in our finful town; and that which makes my grief the more is, because they have no instruction, nor any to tell them what is to come. Chrift. Bowels become pilgrims: And thou doft for thy friends as my good Chriftian did for me when he left me; he mourned for that I would not heed nor regard him, but his Loru and ours did gatker up his tears, and put them into his bottle;

Chriftian's prayers were anfwered for his relations after he was dead,

and

d now both I and thou, and thou, and these my sweet bes, are reaping the fruit and benefi of them. I hope, ercy, that thefe tears of thine will not be`

1; for the truth hath faid, They that for Pf. 126. 5. 6. tears fall reap in joy and finging. And be

goth forth and weepeth, bearing precious feed, shall doubtcome again with rejoicing, bringing his fheaves with him. en faid Mercy,

Let the mot bleffed be my guide,

If't be his bleffed will,

Unto his gate, into his fold,

Up to his holy hill;

And let him never fuffer me
To fwerve, or turn afide
From his free grace and holy ways,
Whate'er fhall me betide:

And let him gather them of mine,
That I have left behind;

Lord, make them pray they may be thine,
With all their heart and mind.

Now my old friend proceeded, and faid-But when riftiana came to the flough of Defpond,

began to be at a ftand; for, faid the, Their own carhis is the place in which my dear husband nal conclufiom d like to have been fmothered with mud. instead of the e perceived alfo, that, notwithstanding word of life. e command of the King to make this

ace for pilgrims good, yet it was rather worfe than forerly; fo I asked if it was true? Yes, faid the old gentlean, too true; for many there be that pretend to be the nge labourers, and fay they are for mending the King's ghway, that bring dirt and dung instead of ftones, and marr instead of mending. Here Chriftiana, therefore, d her boys did make a stand; but faid Mercy, come let venture, only let us be wary. Then they looked well their steps, and made a fift to get staggering over. Yet Chriftiana had like to have been in, and that not ice or twice. Now they had no fooner got over but they ught they heard words that faid unto them, Bleed is that believeth, for there fhall be a performance of hat has been told her from the Lord.

Then

Then they went on again; and faid Mercy to Christian Had I as good ground to hope for a loving reception at th wicked-gate as you, I think no flough of Defpond would difcourage me.

Well, faid the other, you know your fore, and I know mine; and, good friend, we fhall all have enough of evil before we come to our journey's end; for it cannot be ima gined that the people that defign to attain fuch excellent glories as we do, and that are fo, envied that happines we are, but that we fhall meet with what fears and fwares, with what troubles and afflictions they can poffibly affault us with that hate us.

Prayer Should be made with confideration

And now Mr. Sagacity left me to dream out my dream by myself. Wherefore, methought I faw Chriftiana and Mercy, and the boys, to go all of them up to the gate; to which when they came, they betook themselves to a short debate about how they must manage their calling and fear, as well at the gate, and what should be faid unto as in faith and him that did open unto them: So it was bope. concluded, fince Chriftiana was the elde that the fhould knock for entrance, and that she should fpeak to him that did open for the reft. So Chriftiana began to knock, as her poor husband did, fe knocked, and knocked again: But, inftead of any that an fwered, they all thought that they heard as if a dog cam barking upon them; a dog, and a great one too, and made the women and the children afraid; nor durft they for a while to knock any more, for fear the mastiff should fly upon them. Now therefore they wer greatly tumbled up and down in their minds, and knew not what to do; knock they durft not, for fear of the dog; go back they durit not for fear of the keeper of that gate fhould efpy them as they fo went, and be offended with them; at laft they thought of knocking again, and knocking more vehemently than they did at firit. Then faid the keeper of the gate, Who is there? So the dog left off to bark, and he opened unto them.

Chriftiana and ber companions perplexed about prayer.

Then Chriftiana made low obeifance, and faid, Let net our Lord be offended with his handmaidens, for that we have knocked at his princely gate. Then faid the keeper,

Whence

hence came ye? and what is that ye would have? Chriftiana anfwered, We are come from whence Chriftian come, and upon the fame errand as he; to wit, to be, it fhall pleafe you, graciously admitted by this gate, inthe way that leads unto the celeftial city: And I answer, Lord, in the next place, that I am Chriftiana, once the fe of Chriftian, that now if gotten above.