Now the shepherds feeing fo great a train follow Mr. Great-heart (for with him they were all acquainted) they faii unto him, Good fir, you have got a goodly company; pray where did you find all these t ment. (The GUIDE's Speech to the Shepherds. ) First, here is Chriftiana and her train, Mat. 25. 40. Then faid the shepherds, This is a com Their entertain- fortable company; you are welcome to u for we have for the feeble as for the ftrong our Prince has an eye to what is done the least of thefe; therefore infirmity m not be a block to our entertainment: So they had them the palace-doors, and then faid unto them, Come in Feeble mind, come in Mr. Ready-to-halt, come in Mr. Defpo dency, and Mrs. Much-afraid, his daughter: Thefe M Great-heart faid the faepherds to the guide, we call in name, for that they are most subject to draw back; but for you and the reft that are ftrong, we leave you to yo wonted liberty. Then faid Mr. Great-heart, This day fee that grace doth thine in your faces, and that you a my Lords fhepherds indeed: for that you have not puh thofe difeafed neither with fide nor fhoulder, but have Though Doubting-caftle be demolished, th ftrewed their way into the palace with flowers, as you la. the feeble and weak went in, and Mr. Great-heart the reft did follow. When they were alfo fet down, hepherds faid to thofe of the weaker fort, What is it ye would have? For, faid they, all things must be aged here to the fupporting of the weak, as well as the ing of the unruly. they made them a feast of things eafy of digeftion, that were pleafant to the palate, and nourishing; the ch when they had received they went to their reft, each refpectively unto his proper place. When morning come, because the mountains were high, and the day r, and because it was the cullom of the shepherds to ✓ the pilgrims, before their departure, fome rarities, efore, after they were ready, and had refiefhed themes, the fhepherds took them out into the fields, and ved them firft what they had fhewed to Chriftian before. Then they had them to fome new places. The first was unt Marvel, where they looked, and behold a man at flance, that rumbled the hills about with words. Then y asked the fhepherds what that fhould mean? So they them that that was the fon of one Mr. Great-grace, whom you may read in the first part of the records of pilgrims progrefs: And he is fet there to teach pilgrima believe down, or tumble out of their ways, what diffiIties they fhould meet with by faith. Then faid Mr. reat-heart, I know him, he is a man above many. Then ty had them to another place, called Mount Innocence ;. d they faw a man cloathed all in white; and two men ejudice and Ill-will, continually cafting dirt upon him. ow behold the dirt, whatfoever they cait at him, would, a little time, fall off again, and his garment, would look clear as if no dirt had been caft thereat. Then faid the pilgrims, What means this? The fheperds anfwered, This man is samed Godly-man, and the arment is to fhew the innocency of his dite. Now thofe at throw dirt at him, are fuch as hate his well-doing; ut, as you fee, the dirt will not tick upon his cloaths; it fhall be with him that lives innocently in the world. Whoever they be that would make fuch men dirty, they abour all in vain; for God, by that a little time is spent, will caufe that their innocence shall break forth as the light, and their righteoufnefs as the noon day. Then they took them and had them to Mount Charity where they fhewed them a man that had a bundle of cla lying before him, out of which he cut garments for th poor that flood about him; yet his bundle or roll of cled was never the lefs. Then faid they, What fhould this be? This is, faid fhepherds, to fhew you, that he that has a heart to gi of his labour to the poor fhall never want wherewitha He that watereth fall be watered himself: And the cak that the widow gave to the prophet, did not cause that had ever the lefs in her barrel. They had them alfo to the place where they faw of Fool, and one Want-wits washing of an Ethiopian, wi an intention to make him white; but the more they wal ed him the blacker he was, Then they asked the fhepher what that fhould mean? So they told them, faying, The it is with the vile perfon; all means used to get fuch one a good name, fhall in conclufion tend but to make him more abominable: Thus it was with the-Pharifees, and fo it fall be with all hypocrites. Then faid Mercy, the wife of Matthew, to Chriftiana her mother, I would, if it might be, fee the hole in the hill, or that commonly called the by-way to hell: So he mother brake her mind to the fhepherds. Then they wer to the door; it was on the fide of a hill, and they opene it, and bid Mercy hearken a while: So the hearkened, and heard one faying, Curfed be my father for holding my feet back from the way of peace and life; and another faid, O that I had been torn in pieces before I had, to fave my life, loft my foul; and another faid, If I were to live again, how would I deny myfelf rather than come to this place Then there was as if the very earth groaned and quaked under the feet of this young woman for fear; fo fhe looked white, and came away trembling, faying, Bleffed be he and the that is delivered from this place. Now when the shepherds had fhewed them all things then they had them back to the palace, and entertained them with what the houfe would afford; but Mercy, being a young and breeding woman, longed for fomething that he faw there, but was afhamed to alk. Her mother-in law y then asked her what the ailed, for fhe looked as one t well: Then faid Mercy, There is a looking-glafs hangs in the dining-room, of which I cannot take my mind; herefore I have it not, I think I shall mifcarry. Then I her mother, I will mention thy wants to the thepherds, they will not deny it thee: But the faid, I am ashamed tthefe men fhould know that I longed. Nay, my ghter, faid fhe, it is no fhame, but a virtue too long for a thing as that; fo Mercy aid, Then mother, if you afe, afk the shepherds if they are willing to fell it. Now the glass was one of a thoufand: vould prefent a man, one way with his It was the word a features exactly; and turn it but anoof God. t way, and it would fhew one the very and fimilitude of the Prince af pilgrims himfelf.-Yes, ave talked with them that can tell, and y have faid, That they have feen the James 1. 33. y crown of thorns upon his head, by 1 Cor. 13. 12. king in that glafs; they have herein al- 2 Cor. 3. 18. feen the holes in his hands, his feet, in his fide. Yea, fuch an excellency is there in that fs, that it will fhew him to one, where they have a mind fee him, whether living or dead; whether in earth or heaven; whether in a fate of humiliation, or in his exation; whether coming to fuffer, or coming to reign. Chriftiana therefore went to the fhepherds apart, (now names of the shepherds were Knowledge, Experience, atchful, and Sincere) and faid unto them, There is one my daughters, a breeding woman, that, I think, doth ng for fomething that the hath feen in this houfe, and e thinks the fhail mifcarry if the fhould by you be denied. Experience. Call her, call her, the fhall affuredly have hat we can help her to; fo they called her, and said to r, Mercy, What is that thing thou would't have? Then blushed and faid, The great glass that angs up in the dining-room; fo Sincere She doth not lofe in and fetched it, and with a joyful con- her longing. given her: Then the bowed her ead, and gave thanks, and faid, By this I know that I ave obtained favor in your eyes. ent it was They alfo gave to the other young women fuch things they defired, and to their husband's great commenda tions, for that they had joined with Mr. Great-heart o flaying of giant Deipair, and the demolifting of Doub cafle. How the hep berás adorned the pegrims. About Chriftiana's neck the fhepherd a bracelet, and fo they did about the of her tour daughters; also they put rings in their ears, and jewels on foreheads. When they were minded to go hence they let the in peace, but gave not to them thoie certain cautions before were given to Chriftian and his companion. reafon was, for that these had Great-heart to be their g who was one that was well acquainted with things, a could give them their cautions more feafonable; to even then when danger was nigh the approaching, What cautions Chriftian and his companions had t ved of the shepherds, they had alfo loft by that the was come that they had need to put them in prac wherefore here was the advantage that this company ever the other. From hence they went on finging, and they fai Behold how fitly are the tables set, For their relief that pilgrims are become! And how they us receive without one let, That make the other life the mark and home! What novelties they have, to us they give, That we, tho' pilgrims, joyful lives may live, They do upon us too fuch things bestow, That fhew we pilgrims are where'er we go. When they were gone from the fhepherds, they qui came to the place where Chriftian met with one Tarnthat dwelt in the town of Apoftacy: Wherefore of Mr. Great-heart their guide, did now put them in m faying, This is the place where Chriftian met with Turn away, who carried with him the character of his bellion at his back. And this I have to fay concer this man, he would hearken to no counfel, but once & ding, perfuafion could not ftop him. When he came to the place where the crofs and f |