they made their escape over the wall into the garden of the man to whom the great dog belonged; fo the dog became their protector. This reliever then came up to the women, and asked them how they did? They answered, We thank thy Prince, pretty well; only we have been somewhat affrighted: we thank thee alfo, for coming to our help, otherwise we had been overcome. After a few more words, this reliever faid, as followeth: I marvelled much when you was entertained at the gate above, knowing yourselves to be but weak women, that you petitioned not the Lord for a conductor: you might then have avoided these troubles and dangers: he would have granted you one. Alas! faid Chriftiana, We were fo taken with our present bleffing, that the dangers to come were forgotten by us befides, who could have thought that fo near the King's palace there should have lurked fuch naughty ones? Indeed, it had been well for us, had we asked our Lord for a conductor; but fince our Lord knew it would be for our profit, I wonder he fent not one along with us! Rel. It is not always neceffary to grant things not asked for, left by fo doing they become of little esteem. When the want of a thing is felt, it will then be duly esteemed in the eyes of him who feels his need, and consequently will be used accordingly', Had * This answer clearly explains the nature and use of prayer; which is, not only to make us fenfible of our wants, but to Had my Lord granted you a conductor, you would not have fo bewailed this oversight of yours, in not afking for one, as now you have occafion to do. Thus all things work for good, and tend to make you more wary. Christ. Shall we go back again to my Lord, and confefs our folly, and ask one? Rel. This confeffion of your folly I will prefent. to him. You need not go back again"; for in all places where you fhall come, you will find no want at all; for in every one of my Lord's lodgings, which he has prepared for the reception of his pilgrims, there is fufficient to furnish them againft all attempts whatsoever. But, as I faid, he will be enquired of by them: and that is a poor thing which is not worth asking for. When he had thus faid, he went back to his place, and the pilgrims went on their way. Then faid Mercy, What a fudden blank is here! I made account that we had been past all danger *, and that we should never forrow more. Christ. make us fenfible from whence those wants are supplied. God cannot be moved by our prayers, for he is of one mind, and none can turn him. Yet prayer is appointed to convey the bleffings God intends to give. " The remembrance of past faults is no otherwife needful, than to make us fenfible of the Lord's grace and goodness in pardoning them; and to make us continually fenfible of our finfulness and infirmities all our journey through, whereby we may fee the neceffity of being kept by a divine power. * When a foul is happy in the love of God, it is ready to conclude Christ. Thy innocency, my fifter, may excuse thee much; but as for me, my fault is fo much the greater, for I faw this danger before I came out of doors, and yet did not provide for it where provifion might have been had. I am much to be blamed. Mercy. How knew you this before you came from home? Pray open to me this riddle. Christ. Why, I will tell you: before I fet foot out of doors, one night, as I lay in my bed, I had a dream about this: Methought I faw two men, as like these as ever they could look, standing at my bed's feet, plotting how they might prevent my falvation. I will tell you their very words: they faid (it was when I was in my troubles), What fhall we do with this woman, for fhe cries out waking and fleeping for forgiveness? If fhe is fuffered to go on as fhe begins, we fhall lofe her as we have loft her husband. This, you know, fhould have made me take heed to have been provided, when provifion might have been had. Mercy. Well, as by this neglect we have an occafion miniftered unto us to behold our imperfections; fo our Lord has taken occafion thereby to make manifeft the riches of his grace. He, as we fee, has followed us with unafked kindness, and has conclude that dangers are past, that doubts and fears are entirely removed; but, as long as we are in this world, we shall find the expediency of our Lord's exhortation, "Watch and pray." S 4 delivered delivered us from their hands who were ftronger than we, of his mere good pleasure. When they had 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 Progrefs.) As they drew on towards the house of the Interpreter, and as they came to the door, they heard a great talk in the house, to which they gave ear, and heard, as they thought, Christiana mentioned by name. For you must know, that there went, even before her, a talk of her and her children going on pilgrimage. And this was the more pleafing to them, because they had heard that he was Chriftian's wife, that - very woman who fome time ago was fo unwilling to hear of going on pilgrimage. Therefore, they ftood still, and heard the good people within commending her, who, they little thought, stood at the door. At laft, Chriftiana knocked, as fhe had done at the gate. When she had knocked, there came to the door a young damfel, named Innocent, who opened the door, and looked, and, behold, two wo→ men were there. Then faid the damfel to them, With whom would you speak in this place? y. This is a pure language; this is the language of every believer in this life; and this will be the language of the redeemed through eternity, afcribing every bleffing to free grace and mere good pleasure. Chrift. |