An Arbour on

Ground.

PART II. Now they had not gone far, but a great Mift and Darkness fell upon them all; fo that they could fcarce for a great While, one fee the other. Wherefore they were forced for fome Time, to feel for one another, by Words; for they walked not by Sight.

But any one must think, that here was but forry going for the beft of them all; but how much worfe for the Women and Children, who both of Feet and Heart were but tender. Yet fo it was, that through the encouraging Words of him that led in the Front, and of him that brought them up behind, they made a pretty good Shift to wag alone.

The Way was alfo here very wearifome through Dirt and Slabbinefs. Nor was there on all this Ground, fo much as one Inn or Victualling-house, wherein to refresh the Feebler Sort. Here therefore was Grunting and Puffing, and Sighing: While one tumbled over a Bufh, another sticks faft in the Dirt; and the Children, fome of them, loft their Shoes in the Mire: While one cries out, I am down; and another, Ho, where are you? And a third, the Bufhes have got fuch fast hold on me, I think I cannot get away from them.

Then they came at an Arbour, warm, and promifing much Refreshing to the the Inchanted Pilgrims: For it was finely wrought abovehead, beautified with Greens, furnished with Benches and Settles. It had in it a foft Couch, where the weary might lean. This, you must think, all Things confi

dered,

dered, was tempting; for the Pilgrims already began to be foiled with the Badnefs of the Way; but there was not one of them that made fo much as a Motion to stop there. Yea, for ought I could perceive, they continually gave so good Heed to the Advice of their Guide, and he did fo faithfully tell them of Dangers, and of the Nature of Dangers when they were at them, that ufually when they were nearest to them, they did most pluck up their Spirits, and hearten one another to deny the Flesh. This Arbour was called, The Slotbful's Friend, on purpofe to allure, if it might be, fame of the Pilgrims there, to take up their Reft, when weary.;

I faw then in my Dream, that they went on in this their folitary Ground, till they came to a Place at which a Man is apt to lofe his Way. Now, though when it was The Way is Light, their Guide could well enough difficult to find tell how to mifs thofe Ways that lead The Guide has a Map of wrong, yet in the Dark he was put to a Stand: But he had in his Pocket a ing to or from all Ways leadMap of all Ways leading to or from the the City. Coeleftial City; wherefore he truck a Light, (for he never goes alfo without his Tinder-Box) and takes a View of his Book or Map, which bids him be careful in that Place, to turn to the right Hand. And had he not here been careful to look in his Map, they had in all Probability been fmothered in the Mud; for just a little before them, and that at the End of the cleanest Way too, was a Pit, none knows how deep, full of nothing but

Dd

Much

God's Book.

An Arbour,

therein.

Mud, there made on Purpose to deftroy the Pilgrims in.

Then thought I with myself, who, that goeth on Pilgrimage, but would have one of these Maps about him, that he may look when he is at a Stand, which is the Way he must take.

They went on them in this Inchanted and two afleep Ground, till they came to where there was another Arbour, and it was built by the Highway-Side. And in that Arbour there lay two Men, whofe Names were Heedlefs and Too-bold: Thefe two went thus far on Pilgrimage; but here, being wearied with their Journey, fat down to reft themselves, and fo fell faft asleep. When the Pilgrims faw them, they ftood ftill, and fhook their Heads; for they knew that the Sleepers were in a pitiful Cafe. Then they confulted what to do, whether to go on, and leave them in their Sleep, or ftep to them, and try to wake them. So they concluded to go to them, and awake them, that is, if they could; but with this Caution, namely, to take Heed that themselves did not fit down nor embrace the offered Benefit of that Arbour:

The Pilgrims. try to wake them.

So they went in, and spake to the Men, and called each by his Name (for the Guide it seems did know them) but there was no Voice, nor Anfwer. Then the Guide did fhake them, and do what he could to difturb them. Then faid one of them, I will pay you when I take my Money. At which the Guide fhook his Head:

I will fight fo long as I can hold my Sword in my Hand, faid the other. At that, one of the Children laughed.

brov. 23. 34,

Then faid Chriftiana, What is the Mean- Their Endea ing of this? The Guide faid, They talk our is Fruitlefs. in their Sleep; if you ftrike them, beat them, or whatever else you do to them, 35they will answer you after this Fashion; or as one of them faid in old Time, when the Waves of the Sea did beat upon him, and he flept as one upon the Maft of a Ship: When I awake, I will feek it again. You know, when Men talk in their Sleep, they fay any Thing, but their Words are not governed either by Faith or Reason. There is an Incoherency in their Words now, as there was before betwixt their going on Pilgrimage, and fitting down. here. This then is the Mischief on it, when heedless Ones go on Pilgrimage. Twenty to one but they are ferved thus. For this Inchanted Ground is one of the last Refuges that the Enemy to Pilgrims has; wherefore it is, as you fee, placed almost at the End of the Way, and so it standeth against us with the more Advantage. For when, thinks the Enemy, will these Fools be fo defirous to fit down, as when they are weary? And when fo like to be weary, as when almoft at their Journey's End? Therefore it is, I fay, that the Inchanted Ground is placed fo nigh to the Land Beulah, and fo near the End of their Race. Wherefore, let Pilgrims look to themselves, left it happen to them, as it has done to thefe, that, as you fee, are fallen afleep, and none can awake them. Dd2

Then

The Light of the World.

2 Pet. 1. 19.

The Children

nejs.

Then the Pilgrims defired with Trembling to go forward, only they prayed their Guide to ftrike a Light, that they might go the Reft of their Way by the Help of the Light of a Lanthorn. So he ftruck a Light, and they went by the Help of that through the Reft of this Way, though the Darkness was very great.

But the Children began to be forely ery for Weari- weary, and they cried out unto him that loveth Pilgrims, to make their Way more comfortable. So by that they had gone a little farther, a Wind arofe, that drove away the Fog, fo the Air became more

clear.

Yet they were not off (by much) of the Inchanted Ground, only now they could fee one another better, and the Way wherein they fhould walk.

Now, when they were almoft at the End of this Ground, they perceived that a little before them was a folemn Noife, of one that was much concerned. So they went on, and looked before them: And behold they faw, as they thought, Standfalt upon a Man upon his Knees, with Hands bis Knees on and Eyes lifted up, and fpeaking, as they the Inchanted thought, carneftly to one that was above

Ground.

they drew nigh, but could not tell what he faid; fo they went foftly till he had done. When he had done, he got up, and began to run towards the Coeleftial City. Then Mr. Great-beart called after him, faying, Soho, Friend, let us have your Company, if you go, as I fuppofe you do, to the Coeleftial City. So the Man stopped, and they came up to him.

Bur