rance. name is Secret, I dwell with those who are on high; among whom it is talked of as if thou hadft a defire to go up thither alfo; there is likewise a report that thou art aware of the evil which thou formerly hadst done to thy husband, in hardening thy heart against his way, and in keeping these babes in their ignoYet, Chriftiana, the Merciful One hath fent me to tell thee, That he is a God ready to forgive, and that he taketh delight to multiply the pardon of offences. He also would have thee to know, that he inviteth thee to come into his prefence, and to his table, where he will feed thee with the fat of his house, and with the heritage of Jacob thy father, There is Chriftian, thy late husband, with legions more, his companions, ever beholding that facę which doth minifter life to beholders; who will all be glad when they fhall hear the found of thy feet ftepping over thy father's threshold. Christiana, at this, was greatly abafhed in herself, and bowed her head to the ground. The vifiter proceeded, and faid, Chriftiana, here is also a letter for thee, which I have brought from thy husband's King: fhe took it and opened it, but it fmelt after the manner of the best perfume. It was alfo written in letters of gold. The contents of the letter was this: That the King would have her do as Chriftian her hufband had done; for that was the way to come to his city, and to dwell in his prefence with joy for ever. At this the good woman was quite overcome: fhe cried out to her vifiter, Sir, will will you carry me and my children with you, that we may alfo go and worship the King? Then faid the vifiter, Chriftiana, the bitter is before the fweet. Thou muft, as he did who went before thee, enter the celeftial city through tribulations. 'Wherefore I advife thee to do as Chriftian thy husband did: go to the wicket-gate yonder, over the plain, for that stands at the head of the way by which thou muft go; and I wish thee good speed, I advise thee also, that thou put this letter in thy bofom; that thou read therein to thyself, and to thy children, until they have got it by heart: for it is one of the fongs which thou must fing whilst thou art in this house of thy pilgrimage: also thou must deliver it in at the farther gate. Now I faw, in my dream, that this old gentleman, as he told me this ftory, did himself feem to be greatly affected therewith. He moreover proceeded and said, that Chriftiana called her fons together, and began thus to addrefs herfelf unto them; My fons, I have, as you may perceive, been of late under much exercise in my foul, about the death of your father; not that I doubt at all of his happinefs; for I am fatisfied now that he is well. I have likewife been much affected with thoughts concerning mine own ftate and yours, which I verily believe by nature is miferable. My carriage also to your father in his diftrefs is a great load to my conscience; for I hardened both my own heart and yours against him, and refused to go with him on pilgrimage, The The thoughts of these things would now kill me outright, but for a dream which I had last nights, and for the encouragement which this ftranger has given me this morning. Come, my children, let us pack up, and go to the gate which leads to that celeftial country, that we may fee your father, and be with him and his companions in peace, according to the laws of that land. Then did her children burft out into tears, for joy that the heart of their mother was fo inclined; fo that the vifiter bade them farewell: and they began to prepare for their journey. But while they were thus about to fet out, two women who were Chriftiana's neighbours, came up to her house, and knocked at the door. To whom fhe faid as before. At this the women were stunned; for they had not been used to hear this kind of language, or perceive any thing like this to drop from the lips of Chriftiana. So they came in; and be hold, they found the good woman preparing to go from her house. Upon this they began their dif course, and faid, Neighbour, pray what is your meaning by this? Though dreams, in general, may be confidered as nothing more than confufed, inconfiftent, and incoherent vagaries of the imagination, yet the Lord has certainly spoken to his people in dreams, in vifions of the night, when deep fleep falleth upon men: but, in fuch dreams and vifions as thefe, there is not only a deep impreffion; but the representation made to the mind is uniform and confiftent. Chriftiana Chriftiana answered and faid to the eldeft of them, whofe name was Mrs. Timorous, I am preparing for a journey. (This Timorous was daughter to him who met Chriftian upon the hill Difficulty, and would have had him have gone back for fear of the lions.) Tim. For what journey, I pray you? Chrift. Even to go after my late husband: with that she fell a weeping, Tim. I hope not fo, good neighbour; pray, do not fo unwomanly caft away yourfelf, for your poor children's fake. Christ. Nay, my children fhall go with me: not one of them is willing to ftay behind. Tim. I wonder in my heart, what or who has brought you into this mind ". h. Christ. Oh, neighbour, did you but know as much as I do, I doubt not but you would go along with me. Tim. Prithee, what new knowledge haft thou got which fo taketh off thy mind from thy friends, and tempteth thee to go, no body knows where? Christ. I have been forely afflicted fince my hufband's departure from me; but efpecially fince he Thofe who are ftrangers to the powerful influence of the fpirit of grace upon the heart, afcribe the change which is made on the renewed foul, to the perfuafion of men, or to some foolish fancy, or to fome diforder of the brain. Herein they err, not knowing the fcriptures nor the power of God; not knowing the neceffity nor the nature of fuch a change. went |