And let them that come after have a care Left they for trefpaffing his Prisoners are, They went then till they came to the The delectDelectable Mountains, which Mountais able Moun -belong to the Lord of that Hill, of which tains. we have fpoken before; fo they went up to the Mountains, to behold the Gardens and Orchards, the Vineyards, the Fountains of Water, where alfo they drank and washed They are themselves, and did freely eat of the Vice- ref eft'd in yards. Now there was on the Tops of thofe the MounMountains, Shepherds feeding their Flocks, tains. and they ftood by the Highway-fide. The Pilgrims therefore went to them, and leaning upon their Staves (as is common with weary Pilgrims, when they ftand to tak with any in the Way) they asked, delectable Mountains are these? And whose be the Sheep that feed upon them? * Whole Shep The Mountains are Emanuel's Land, and they are within fight of his City; and the Sheep alfo are his, and he laid down his Life for them.^ Ch. Is this the Way to the Cœleftial City? Chr How far is it thither ? Shep. Too far for any, hall get thither indeed. but thofe that Ch. Is the Way fafe or dang rous ? Shep. Safe for thofe for whom it is to be fate. but Tranfg effor fhall fall therein? They talk with the Shepherds. Hof.14.9. Ch. Is there an hs Place any Relief for Pilgrims that are weary and fint in the way Shep. The Lord of these Mo ntains hath given us a Change nor to be forgetful to enter. Heb.1, 2. tain S rangers; therefore the Good of the Place is before you. I Mountains delectable they now afcend, I afo I alfo faw in my Dream, That when the Shepherds perceiv'd that they were way-faing Man, they alfo put Queftions to them, (to which they made Answer as in other Places) as Whence came you? And how got you into the Way? And by what means, ave you fo perfevered therein? For but Few of them that begin to come hither, do hew their Faces on this Mountain. But when the Shepherds heard their Answers, being pleafed the ewith, they looked very lovingly upon them, and fid, Welcome Shepherds to the Delectable Mountains welcome The Shepherds, I fay, whefe Names were them. Knowledge, Experience, Watchful and sincere, Shepherd's took them by the Hand, and had them to Names. thir Tents, and made them partake of that which was ready at prefent. They faid, morogver, We would that you should fay here a while, to be acquainted with us, ad yet more to folace your felves with the Good of thefe De'ectable Mountains, They then told them, That they were con tent to ftav; To they went to their Rent at Night, because it was very late. Then faw in my Dream, Tha inth Morning the Shepherds.called up Chriftian and Hopeful to walk with hem upon the Mountains: So they went forth with them, and walked a while, having a pleafar t Prospect on every fide. Then faid the Shepherds one* They are to anther, Shil we fhew thefe Pilgrims frewn fome* Wonders? So when they had conclu- Wonders, ded to do it, they had them fit to the Top The Mounof an Hill called Error, whi b was very steep rains of on the furthest Sde, and bid them lock Ertor. down to the Bottom.So Chriftian and Hopeful looked * looked down; and faw at the Bortom feve ral Men dashed all to Pieces by a Fall hat they had from the Top Then said Chriflian, What mes eth this? Te Shepherds au fwered Have not you heard of them that Tim. 2. wer made to err, by hearkning o Hymenus 7.:8 8. and Philerus, as concerning the Faith of the Refurrection of the Body? They answered Yes. Then fa d the Shepherds, Thofe that you fee le dafh'd in pieces at the Bottom of this Mountain are they; and they have conti ued to this Day unburied as you fe for Example to others to take heed baw they clamber too high, or how they come too near the Brink of this Mountain. * Mount is Then I faw they had them to the Top.of another Mountain, and the Name of that Caution, and bid them look afar off: Caution. Which when they did, they perceived as they thought, fever: Men walking up, and down among the Tombs that were there. And they perceived that the Men were blind, because they ftumbled fmetimes upon the Tombs, and bec ufe they could not get out from among them. Then faid Christian, What means this? The Shepherds then answered, Did you not fee a little below thefe Mountains, & Stile that leads into a Meadow, on the left Hand of this Way? They anfwer'd, Yes, Then faid the Shepherds, From that Sole. there goes a Path that leads direaly to Doubting-Caftle, which is kept by Giane Despair, and thefe Men, (pointing to them among the Tombs) came once on Pilgrimage, as you do now, even 'till they came to that fame Stile. And because the right Way ay was fo rough in thatplace,they chofeto › out of it into that Mearow, and there ere taken by Giant Despair, and caft into subting Cafile; where after they had a hile been kept in the Dungeon, he at last d put our their Eyes,and led them among ofe Tombs, where he had left them to ander to this ve y Day, that the Saying the Wife Man might be fulfilled He that Prov. 22. underet b out of the way of Understanding, shall 26. main in the Congregation of the Dead. Then riftian and Hopeful looked one upon ano er, with Tears gufhing out: but yet faid othing to the Shepherds. Then I faw in my Dream, that the Shop. erds bad them to another place in a Bit. om, where was a Dcor in the fide of an hill nd they opened the Door, and bid them ok in: They looked in therefore, and faw hat within it was very dark and fmoaky ; hey alfo thought that they heard there a umbling No fe, as of Fire, and a Cry of me tormented, and that they felt the cent of Brimflone. Then faid Chriftian, What A By-way neans this! The Shepherds told them, This sa By-way to Hell, a way that Hypocrites o in at ; namely, fuch as fel their Birthight, with Efan; fuch as fel their Mafter, vich Judas; fuch as blafpheme the Gefpel, with Alexander; and that lie and diffemble vich Annanias and Saphira his Wife. to Hell. Then faid Hopeful to the Shepherds, I per vive that these bad on them, even every one a bew of Pilgrimage as we have now,bad:beynot? Shep. Yea, and he'd it a long time too. Hope. How far might they go onPilgrimage v their Days, fince they notwithstanding were bus mijerably caft away. Shep |