Evidence, and came without it to the Brow, of the Hill, and then feeling for it, and finding it not, I was forced, with Sorrow of Heart, to go back to the Place where I flept my Sleep, where I found it, and now I am come. : Porter. Well, I will call out one of the Virgins of this Place, who will (if she likes your Talk) bring you in to the reft of the Family, according to the Rules of the Houfe. So Watchful the Porter rang a Bell, at the Sound of which came out of the Door of the Houfe a grave and beautiful Damfel, named Difcretion, and asked why he was called? The Porter anfwered, This Man is in a Journey from the City of Deftru&tion to Mount Zion, but being weary and benighted, he asked me if he might lodge here to Night: So I told him I would call for thee, who, after Discourse had with him, mayeft do as feemeth thee good, even according to the Law of the House. Then he asked him, whence he was, and whither he was going? And he told her. She asked him alfo, how he got into the Way? and he told her. Then the afk ed him, what he had feen and met with in the Way? and he told her. And at laft fhe afked his Name? So he faid, It is Chrifiian; and I have so much the more a Defire to lodge here to Night, because by what I perceive, this Place was built by the Lord of the Hill, for the Relief and Security of Pilgrims: So fhe fmiled, but the Water stood in her Eyes: And after a little Paufe, fhe faid, I will call forth two two or three more of my Family. So fhe ran to the Door, and called out Prudence, Piety and Charity, who after a little more Difcourfe with him, had him into the Family; and many of them meeting him at the Threshold of the House, faid, Come in, Thou Bleffed of the Lord; this Houfe was built by the Lord of the Hill, on purpose to entertain fuch Pilgrims in. Then he bowed his Head, and followed them. into the Houfe: So when he was come in, and fat down, they gave him fomething to drink, and confented together that until Supper was ready, fome of them should have fome particular Difcourfe with Chriftian, for the beft Improvement of Time, and they appointed Piety, and Prudence, and Charity, to difcourfe with him; and thus they began : Piety. Come good Chriftian, fince we Piety difcourhave been fo loving to you, to receive you fes him. into our House this Night, let us, if perhaps we may better ourlelves thereby, talk with you of all Things that have happened to you in your Pilgrimage. Chr. With a very good Will, and I am glad that you are fo well difpofed. Piety. What moved you at first to betake yourself to a Pilgrim's Life? E 3 Shall they who wrong begin, yet rightly end? Chr. *How Chri ven out of his * Chr. I was driven out of my Native ftian was dri- Country by a dreadful Sound that was in own Country. my Ears; to wit, That unavoidable Deftruction did attend me, if I abode in that Place where I was. + How he got into the Way to Zion. Piety. But how did it happen that you came out of your Country this Way? Chr. It was as God would have it; for when I was under the Fears of Deftruction, I did not know whither to go; but by Chance there came a Man, even to me, as I was Trembling and Weeping, whofe Name is + Evangelift, and he directed me to the Wicket-Gate, which elfe I fhould never have found, and fo fet me into the Way that hath led me directly to this House. Piety. But did you not come by the Houfe of the Interpreter ?: * Chr. Yes, and did fee fuch Things there, the Remembrance of which will stick by me as long as I live; especially three Things, to wit, How Chrift, in Despite of Satan, maintains his Work of Grace in the Heart; how the Man had finned himself quite out of Hopes of God's Mercy; and alfo the Dream of him that thought in his Sleep the Day of Judgment was come. Piety. Why, Did you hear him tell his Dream? Chr. Yes, and a dreadful one it was, I thought; it made my Heart ach as he was telling of it; but yet I am glad I heard it. Piety. Was this all you faw at the House of the Interpreter ? Chr. |