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Then the Interpreter began, and said: The fatter the sow is, the more she desires the mire; the fatter the ox is, the more gamesomely he goes to the slaughter; and the more healthy the lusty man is, the more prone is he unto evil.

There is a desire in women to go neat and fine, and it is a comely thing to be adorned with that, which in God's sight is of great price.

"Tis easier watching a night or two, than to sit up a whole year together: so 'tis easier for one to begin to profess well, than to hold out as he should to the end.

Every ship-master, when in a storm, will willingly cast that overboard that is of the smallest value in the vessel but who will throw the best out first? None but he that feareth not God.

One leak will sink a ship; and one sin will destroy a sinner.

He that forgets his friend, is ungrateful unto him: but he that forgets his Saviour, is unmerciful to himself.

He that lives in sin and looks for happiness hereafter, is like him that soweth cockle, and thinks to fill his barn with wheat or barley.

If a man would live well, let him fetch his last day to him, and make it always his company-keeper.

Whispering and change of thoughts prove that sin is in the world.

If the world, which God sets light by, is counted a thing of that worth with men ; what is heaven, that God commendeth ?

If the life that is attended with so many troubles, is so loath to be let go by us, what is the life above?

Every body will cry up the goodness of men; but who is there, that is, as he should be, affected with the goodness of God?

We seldom sit down to meat, but we eat and leave: so there is in Jesus Christ more merit and righteousness than the whole world has need of.

When the Interpreter had done, he takes them out into his garden again, and had them to a tree, whose inside was all rotten and gone, and yet it grew and had leaves. Then said Mercy, 'What means this?'' This

tree,' said he, whose outside is fair, and whose inside is rotten, is it, to which many may be compared that are in the garden of God: who with their mouths speak high in behalf of God, but in deed will do nothing for him; whose leaves are fair, but their heart good for nothing, but to be tinder for the devil's tinder-box.'*

Now supper was ready, the table spread, and all things fet on board; so they sat down and did eat: when one had given thanks. And the Interpreter did usually entertain those that lodged with him, with music at meals; so the minstrels played. There was also one that did sing, and a very fine voice he had. His song was this

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The Lord is only my support,

And he that doth me feed;
How can I then want any thing

Whereof I stand in need?

When the song and music were ended, the Interpreter asked Christiana, what it was that at first did move her thus to betake herself to a pilgrim's life? Christianu answered: First, the loss of my husband came into my mind, at which I was heartily grieved: but all that was but natural affection. Then, after that, came the troubles and pilgrimage of my husband into my mind, and also how like a churl I had carried it to him as to that. So guilt took hold of my mind, and would have drawn me into the pond: but that opportunely I had a dream of the well-being of my husband, and a letter sent me by the King of that country where my husband dwells, to come to him. The dream and the letter together so wrought upon my mind, that they forced me to this way.

Tinder for the devil's tinder-box.] This homely and quaint allusion will not excite surprise, when the singular style of the puritan divines of the 17th century is considered. Books were then published under such titles as these, "Heaven taken by Storm." "A Hook and Eye for a Believers Breeches," "Crumbs of Comfort for the Chickens of the Covenant." "A Drop of Honey from the Rock Christ." In the sermons of that venerable Father in God, and eminent martyr, Bishop Latimer, we find many passages which sound very whimsical to a modern ear. Mr. Taverner, an eminent protestant preacher of the same age, in a sermon he preached, thus expressed himself: "I have brought you some biscuits baked in the oven of charity for the chickens of the covenant, and the sweet swal lows of salvation."

Inter. But met you with no opposition before you out of doors?

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Chr. Yes, a neighbour of mine, one Mrs. Timorous, (she was kin to him that would have persuaded my husband to go back for fear of the lions), she also so befooled me, for, as she called it, my intended desperate adventure; she also urged what she could to dishearten me from it; the hardship and troubles that my husband met with in the way: but all this I got over pretty well. But a dream that I had of two ill-looked ones, that I thought did plot how to make me miscarry in my journey, that hath troubled me: yea, it still runs in my mind, and makes me afraid of every one that I meet, lest they should meet me to do me a mischief, and to turn me out of my way. Yea, I may tell my Lord, though I would not every body knew it, that between this and the gate by which we got into the way, we were both so sorely assaulted, that we were made to cry out murder; and the two, that made this assault upon us, were like the two that I saw in my dream.

Then said the Interpreter, 'Thy beginning is good, thy latter end shall also greatly increase.' So he addressed him to Mercy, and said unto her, ' And what moved thee to come hither, sweet heart?'

Then Mercy blushed and trembled, and for a while continued silent.

Then said he, Be not afraid, only believe, and speak thy mind.

Then she began, and said, Truly, sir, my want of experience is that which makes me covet to be in silence, and that also that filleth me with fears of coming short at last. I cannot tell of visions and dreams, as my friend Christiana can: nor know I what it is to mourn for my refusing of the counsel of those that were good relations. Inter. What was it then, dear heart, that hath prevailed with thee to do as thou hast done?

Mercy. Why, when our friend here was packing up to be gone from our town, I and another went accidentally to see her. So we knocked at the door, and went in. When we were within, and seeing what she was doing, we asked her what she meant? She said, she was sent for

190

The PILGRIM's PROGRESS.

ᏢᎪᎡᎢ ᎥᎢ.

to go to her husband; and then she up and told us how she had seen him in a dream, dwelling in a curious place among immortals, wearing a crown, playing upon a harp, eating and drinking at his Prince's table, and singing praises to him for the bringing him thither, &c. Now methought while she was telling these things unto us, my heart burned within me. And I said in my heart, If this be true, I will leave my father and my mother, and the land of my nativity, and will, if I may, go along with Christiana.

So I asked her further of the truth of these things, aud if she would let me go with her; for I saw now that there was no dwelling, but with the danger of ruin, any longer in our town. But yet I came away with a heavy heart; not for that I was unwilling to come away, but for that so many of my relations were left behind.And I am come with all my heart, and will, if I may. go with Christiana, to her husband, and his King.

Inter. Thy setting out is good, for thou hast given credit to the truth; thou art a Ruth, who did, for the love she bare to Naomi, and to the Lord her God, leave father and mother, and the land of her nativity, to come out and go with a people she knew not before. "The Lord recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the Lord God of Israel, under whose wings thou

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Now supper was ended, and preparation was made for bed: the women were laid singly alone, and the boys by themselves. Now when Mercy was in bed, she could not sleep for joy, for that now her doubts of missing at last were removed further from her than ever they were before. So she lay blessing and praising God, who had such favour for her.

CHAP IV.

The Pilgrims, conducted by Great-heart, proceed on their

journey.

In a coperture; but the Interpreter

N the morning they arose with the sun, and prepared

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would have them tarry awhile; for,' said he, 'you

1 Ruth ii. 11, 12.

must orderly go from hence.' Then said he to the damsel that first opened unto them, 'Take them and have them into the garden to the Bath, and there wash them and make them clean from the soil which they have ga thered by travelling.' Then Innocent the damsel took them, and led them into the garden, and brought them to the Bath; so she told them, that there they must wash and be clean, for so her master would have the women to do, that called at his house as they were going on pilgrimage. Then they went in and washed, yea, they and the boys and all; and they came out of that Bath not only sweet and clean, but also much enlivened and strengthened in their joints. So when they came in, they looked fairer a deal than when they went out to the washing.

When they were returned out of the garden from the Bath, the Interpreter took them, and looked upon them, and said unto them, "Fair as the moon." Then he called for the Seal, wherewith they used to be sealed that were washed in his Bath. So the seal was brought, and he set his mark upon them, that they might be known in the places whither they were yet to go. Now the Seal was the contents and sum of the passover which the children of Israel did eat when they came out of the land of Egypt ; and the mark was set between their eyes. This Seal greafly added to their beauty, for it was an ornament to their faces. It also added to their gravity, and made their countenances more like them of angels.

Then said the Interpreter again to the damsel that waited upon the women, 'Go into the vestry, and fetch out garments for these people.' So she went and fetched out white raiment, and laid it down before him: so he commanded them to put it on: it was "fine linen, white and clean." When the women were thus adorned, they seemed to be a terror one to the other; for that they could not see that glory each one in herself, which they could see in each other. Now therefore they began to esteem each other better than themselves. For you are fairer than I am,' said one; and, you are more comely

1 Exod. xiii. 8---10.

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