Joy at the Noife of the Pilgrims coming. this Way is, without a Friend and Defender? James. Then faid James, the youngest of the Boys, Pray, Sir, be perfuaded to go with us, and help us, becaufe we are fo weak, and the Way fo dangerous as it is. "Great-beart. I am at my Lord's Commandment: If he fhall allot me to be your Guide quite through, I will willingly wait upon you; but here you failed at firft; for when he bid me come thus far with you, then you should have begged me of him to have gone quite through with you, and he would have granted your Requeft. However at present I muft-withdraw; and fo, good Chriftiana, Mercy, and my brave Children, Adieu. Then the Porter, Mr. Watchful, asked Chriftiana of her Country, and of her Kindred, and fhe faid, I come from the City of Deftruction; I am a Widow Woman, and my Hufband is dead, his Name was Chriftian' the Pilgrim. How, faid the Porter, was he your Hufband? Yes, faid fhe, and thefe are his Children; and this, pointing to Mercy, is one of my Town's Women. Then the Porter rang his Bell, as at fúch Times he is wont, and there came to the Door one of the Damfels, whofe Names was Hum ble-mind. And to her the Porter faid, Go tell it within, That Chriftiana, the Wife of Chriftian, and her Children are come hither on Pilgrimage. She went in therefore, and told it. But, óh, what Noife for Gladness was there, when the Dam fel fel did but drop that Word out of her Mouth! So they came with Hafte to the Porter, for Chriftiana ftood ftill at the Door. Then fome of the most grave faid unto her, Come in, Chriftiana, come in, thou Wife of that good Man; come in, thou blessed Woman, come in, with all that are with thee. So the went in, and they followed her that were her Children and her Companions. Now when they were gone in, they were had into a very large Room, where they were bidden to fit down: So they fat down, and the Chief of the Houfe was called to fee and welcome the Guests. Then they Chriftiana's came in, and understanding who they Love is kindwere, did falute each other with a Kifs, led at the and faid, Welcome, ye Veffels of the Grace Sight of one of God; Welcome to us your faithful another.. Friends. Now, because it was fomewhat late, and because the Pilgrims were weary with their Journey, and alfo made faint with the Sight of the Fight, and of the terrible Lions, therefore they desired, as foon as might be, to prepare to go to Reft, Exod. 12. 31. Nay, faid thofe, of the Family, refresh yourselves with a Morfel of Meat, For they had prepared for them a Lamb, with the accustomed fauce belonging thereto, John 1. 29. For the Porter had heard before of their Coming, and had told it to them within. So when they had fupped, and ended their Prayer with a Pfalm, they defired they might go to Reft. But let us, faid Chriftiana, if we may be fo bold as to choose, be in that Chamber that was Part I. p. 61. my Hufband's, when he was here; fo they had them up thither, and they lay all in a Room. When they were at Rest, Chriftiana and Mercy entered into Difcourfe about Things that were convenient. Chrift. Little did I think once, when my Hufband went on Pilgrimage, that I fhould ever have followed him. Mercy. And you as little thought of lying in his Bed, and in his Chamber to rest, as you do now. Ckrift. And much lefs did I ever think of feeing his Face with Comfort, and of worshipping the Lord the King with him; and yet now I believe I fhall. Mercy. Hark! do not you hear a Noise? Chrift. Yes, it is, as I believe, a Noise of Mufic, for Joy that we are here. Mercy. Wonderful Mufic in the House, Mufic in the Heart, and Mufic alfo in Heaven, for Joy that we are here. Thus they talked a While, and then betook themselves to Sleep. So in the Morning, when they were awaked, Chriftiana faid to Mercy. Christ. What was the Matter that you did laugh in your Sleep to Night? I fuppofe you was in a Dream. Mercy. So I was, and a sweet Dream it was; but are you fure I laughed ? Christ. Yes; you laughed heartily; but prithee, Mercy, tell me thy Dream. Mercy. I was a dreaming that I fat all alone in a folitary Place, and was bemoaning of the Hardness of my Heart. Now I had not fat there long, but methought many were gathered about me to fee fee me, and to hear what it was that I faid. So they hearkened, and I went on bemoaning the Hardness of my Heart. At this fome of them laughed at me, fome called me Fool, and fome began to thrust me about. With that, methought I looked up, and faw one coming with Wings to What her wards me. So he came directly to me, Dream was. and faid, Mercy,: What aileth thee? Now when he heard me make my Complaint, he faid, Peace be to thee: He alfo wiped mine Eyes with his Handkerchief, and clad mé in Silver and Gold, Ezek. 16. 8, 9, 10, 11. He put a Chain about my Neck, and Ear-rings in mine Ears, and a beautiful Crown upon my Head. Then he took me by the Hand, and faid, Mercy, Come after me. So he went up, and I followed till he came at a golden Gate. Then he knocked, and when they within had opened, the Man went in, and I followed him up to a Throne, upon which one fat; and he faid to me, Welcome, Daughter, The Place looked bright and twingling, like the Stars, or rather like the Sun, and I thought that I faw your Hufband there; fo I awoke from my Dream. But did I laugh? Christ. Laugh! ay, and well you might, to fee yourself fo well. For you must give me Leave to tell you, that it was a good Dream; and that as you have begun to find the firft Part true, fo you will find the fecond at laft. God speaks once, yea twice, yet Man perceiveth it not, in a Dream, in a Vifion of the Night, when deep Sleep falleth upon Men, in Slumbering upon U 4 the the Bed, Job. 33. 14, 15. We need not, when a Bed, to lie awake to talk with God he can vifit us while we fleep, and cause us then to hear his Voice. Our Heart oft-times wakes when we fleep, and God can fpeak to that, either by Words, by Proverbs, by Signs, and Similitudes, as well as if one was awake, Mcrey glad of Mercy. Well, I am glad of my Dream, ker Dream, for I hope, ere long, to fee it fulfilled, to the making me laugh again. They stay fome Prudence Chrift. I think it is now high Time to rife, and to know what we must do. Mercy. Pray, if they invite us to stay a while, let us willingly accept of the Proffer. I am the willinger to stay a while here, to grow better acquainted with these Maids; methinks Prudence, Piety, and Charity, have very comely and fober Coun tenances. Chrift. We fhall fee what they will do. So when they were up and ready, they came down, and they afked one another of their Reft, and if it was comfortable or not. Mercy. Very good, faid Mercy, it was one of the beft Night's Lodging that ever I had in my Life. Then faid Prudence and Piety, if you will be perfuaded to ftay here a while, you fhall have what the Houfe will afford. Char. Ay, and that with a very good Will, faid Charity. So they confented and ftaid there about a Month or above, and bedefires to cate- came very profitable one to another. And chise Chribecause Prudence would fee how Chriftiana tiana's Chil άτομα had brought up her Children, the afked |