Charity, where they fhewed them a man who had a bundle of cloth lying before him, out of which he cut coats and garments for the poor who stood about him; yet his bundle or roll of cloth was never the lefs. Then faid they, What fhould this be? This is, faid the fhepherds, to fhew you, that he who has a heart to give of his labour to the poor, fhall never want wherewithal. He that watereth, fhall be watered himself. And the cake which the widow gave the prophet, did not cause that she had ever the lefs meal in her barrel.

They had them alfo to the place, where they faw one Fool, and one Want-wit, washing an Ethiopian their intention was to make him white; but the more they washed him, the blacker he was. Then they asked the shepherds, What that should mean? They told them, that thus it is with the vile perfon; all means used to get fuch a one a good name, fhall in conclufion tend but to make him more abominable. Thus it is with the Pharifees; and thus it fhall be with all hypocrites.

Then faid Mercy, the wife of Matthew, to Chriftiana her mother, I would, if it might be permitted, fee the hole in the hill; or that which is commonly called the By-way to Hell. So her mother brake

z This reprefents the folly of thofe who go about to reform the manners, without aiming at the converfion of the heart. Nature, in its higheft ftate of cultivation and improvement, is nature ftill. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is fpirit.

8

her

her mind to the fhepherds. Then they went to the door; it was on the fide of an hill; they opened it, and bad Mercy hearken a while. So fhe hearkened, and heard one saying, Curfed be my father for holding of 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 myself, rather than come to this place. Then it was, as if the very earth groaned and quaked under the feet of this young woman for fear; fo fhe looked white, and came trembling away, faying, Bleffed be he and fhe, who is delivered from this place.

When the fhepherds had fhewn them all these things, they had them back to the palace, where they entertained them with what the house would afford: but Mercy, being a young and breeding woman, longed for fomething which fhe faw there, but was afhamed to ask for it. Her mother-in-law then afked her what fhe ailed, for fhe looked as one not well.. Then faid Mercy, There is a looking-glafs which hangs up in the dining-room, from off which I cannot take my mind; if I have it not, I think I shall miscarry. Then faid her mother, I will mention thy wants to the fhepherds, and they will not deny it thee. But she said, I am ashamed that these men should know that I long. Nay, my daughter, faid fhe, it is no fhame, but a virtue, to long for fuch a thing as that. So Mercy faid, Then, mother, if you please, afk the fhepherds, if they are willing D d 2

to

to fell it. The glafs was one of a thousand. It would prefent a man, one way with his own features exactly; and turn it another way, it would fhew you the very face and fimilitude of the Prince of pilgrims himfelf. Yes, I have talked with them who do know, and can tell, and these have faid, that they have seen the very crown of thorns upon his head, by looking in that glafs; that they have also seen therein the holes in his hands, in his feet, and in his fide. Yea, fuch an excellency is there in that glass, that it will fhew him in whatever state they have a mind to see him, whether living or dead; whether in earth or in heaven; whether in a state of humiliation or exaltation; whether coming to fuffer or coming to reign ".

Christiana therefore went to the shepherds apart (now the names of the fhepherds were Knowledge, Experience, Watchful, and Sincere), and faid unto them, One of my daughters is a breeding woman, and, I think, doth long for fomething which the hath seen in this house; and fhe thinks fhe fhall miscarry, if the fhould be denied it by you.

Experience. Call her, call her; fhe fhall affuredly

This glass fitly reprefents the Word of God, which on one hand fhew's what we are by nature, and on the other hand reveals the grace and glory of the gospel in the perfon, work, sufferings and death, refurrection and afcenfion, interceffion and future advent, of the Son of God. This makes the Bible fo precious and fo earnestly longed for by those who know something of its value.

have

have what we can help her to. So they called her, and faid to her, Mercy, what is that thing which thou wouldst have?

She blushed, and faid, The great glass which hangs up in the dining-room. Sincere then ran and fetched it, and with joyful confent it was given her. Then she bowed her head, and gave thanks, and faid, By this I know that I have obtained favour in your eyes.

They alfo gave to the other young women fuch things as they defired, and to their husbands great commendations, for joining with Mr. Great-heart, and flaying giant Defpair, and demolishing Doubting-castle.

About Chriftiana's neck the fhepherds put a bracelet, and fo they did about the necks of her four daughters; they alfo put ear-rings in their ears, and jewels on their foreheads.

When they were minded to go hence, they let them go in peace, but gave not to them thofe certain cautions which before were given to Chriftian and his companion. The reafon was, that these had Great-heart to be their guide, who was well acquainted with things, and fo could give them their cautions more feasonably; to wit, even then when the danger was nigh approaching: for what cautions Christian and his companion had received of the fhepherds, they had loft when the time was come that they had need to put them in practice. Wherefore

Dd 3

Wherefore here was the advantage which this company had over the other.

From hence they went on finging, and they said,
Behold, how fitly are the tables fet

For their relief who pilgrims are become;
And how they us receive, without one let,

Who make the other life our mark and home!
What novelties they have, to us they give,
That we, though pilgrims, joyful lives may live;
They do upon us too fuch things bestow
Which fhew we pilgrims are where'er we go.

When they were gone from the fhepherds, they quickly came to the place where Chriftian met with one Turn-away, who dwelt in the town of Apoftafy. Wherefore of him Mr. Great-heart, their guide, did now put them in mind, faying, This is the place where Chriftian met with one Turn-away, who carried with him the character of his rebellion at his back. And this I have to fay concerning this man, he would hearken to no counfel, but when he began to fall, perfuafion could not stop him. When he came to the place where the crofs and fepulchre was, he did meet with one who bad him look there, but he gnashed with his teeth, and stamped; and faid he was refolved to go back to his own town. Before he came to the gate, he met with Evangelift, who offered to lay hands on him, to turn him into the way again. But this Turn-away refifted him, and having done much defpite unto him, he got away over the wall, and fo efcaped his hand,

Then