Rev. 3, 4. They may, quoth I, well think, if they think any Thing that is true, that he liveth well where he is, for he now lives at, and in the Fountain of Life, and has what he has without Labour and Sorrow, for there is no Grief mixed therewith. But pray, what Talk have the People about him? Sag. Talk! The People talk ftrangely about him: Some fay, that he now walks in White! that he has a Chain of Gold about his Neck, that he has a Crown of Gold, Chap. 6. 11. befet with Pearls, upon his Head: Others fay, That the Shining Ones that sometimes fhewed themselves to him in his Journey, are become his Companions, and that he is as familiar with them in the Place where he is, as here one Neighbour is with another. Befides, it is confidently affirmed concerning him, that the King of the Place where he is, has bestowed upon him already a very rich and pleasant Dwelling at Court, and that he very Day eateth and drinketh, and vaiketh and talketh with him, and receiveth the Smiles and Favours of him that is Judge of all there. Moreover, it is expected of fome, that this Prince, the Lord of that Country, will fhortly come into these Parts, and will know the Reason, if they can give any, why his Neighbour fet fo little by him, and Judg. 14. 15. had him fo much in Derifion, when they perceived that he would be a Pilgrim. Zec, 3. 7. Christian's 1 Chriftian's For they fay, That now he is fo in the King will take Affections of his Prince, and that his Sovereign is fo much concerned with the Indignities that were caît upon Christian, when he became a Pilgrim, that he will Part look look upon all as done to himself; and no marvel, for it was for the Love that he had to his Prince, that he ventured as he did. I dare fay, quoth I, I am glad on it; I am glad for the poor Man's Sake, for that 5. 6. now he has Reft from his Labour, and for Luke 10. 16. that he now reaps the Benefits of his Tears Rev. 14. 13. with Joy And for that he has got beyond Pfal. 126. the Gun-fhot of his Enemies, and is out of the Reach of them that hate him. I alfo am glad, for that a Rumour of these Things is noifed abroad in this Country; who can tell but that it may work fome. good Effect on fome that are left behind; But, pray, Sir, while it is fresh in my Mind, do you hear any Thing of his Wife and Children? Poor Hearts, I wonder in my Mind what they do! Sag. Who! Chriftiana and her Sons! and Childran. They are like to do well, as did Chri- + Good TidStian himself; for though they all played ings of Chriftian's Wife the Fool at first, and would by no Means be perfuaded either by the Tears or Entreaties of Chriftian, yet fecond Thoughts have wrought wonderfully with them; fo they have packed up, and are alfo gone after him. Better and better, quoth I: But, what! Wife and Children and all! Sag. It is true, I can give you an Account of the Matter, for I was upon the Spot at the Inftant, and was thoroughly acquainted with the whole Affair. Then, faid 1, a Man may report a Truth. Q4 it for Sag, Part I. Page 205. Mark this you that are charlish to your goodly Relations. Sag. You need not fear to affirm it. I mean that they are all gone on Pilgrimage, both the good Woman and her four Boys. And being we are, as I perceive, going fome confiderable Way together, I will give you an Account of the whole Matter. This Chriftiana (for that was her Name) from the Day that the with her Children betook themselves to a Pilgrim's Life, after her Husband was gone over the River, and she could hear of him no more, her Thoughts began to work in her Mind. First, for that he had loft her Husband, and for that the loving Bond of that Relation was utterly broken betwixt them. For you know, faid he to me, Nature can do no less but entertain the Living with many a heavy Cogitation in the Remembrance of the Lofs of loving Relations. This therefore of her Husband did cost her many a Tear. But this was not all, for Chriftiana did alfo begin to confider with herself, Whether her unbecoming Behaviour towards her Husband was not one Cause that she saw him no more; and that in fuch Sort he was taken away from her. And upon this, came into her Mind by Swarms, all her Unkind, Unnatural, and Ungodly Carriage to her dear Friend; which alfo clogged her Conscience, and did load her with Guilt. She was moreover much broken with calling to Remembrance the reftlefs Groans, the brinish Tears, and Self-bemoaning of her Husband, and how fhe did harden her Heart against all his Entreaties, and loving Perfuafions Perfuafions (of her and her Sons) to go with him; yea, there was not any Thing that Chriftian either faid to her, or did before her, all the while that his Burden did hang on his Back, but it returned upon her like a Flash of Lightening, and rent the Caul of her Heart in funder; especi- Part I. pag. ally that bitter Out cry of his, What fall 1. 3. I do to be faved? did ring in her Ears most dolefully. Then faid fhe to her Children, Sons, we are all undone. I have finned away your Father, and he is gone; he would have had us with him, but I would not go myself; I also hindered you of Life. With that the Boys fell into Tears, and cried to go after their Father. Oh! faid Chriftiana, that it had been but our Lots to go with him, then it had fared well with us, beyond what it is like to do now. For though I formerly foolishly imagined concerned the Troubles of your Father, that they proceeded of a foolish Fancy that he had, or for that he was over-run with melancholy Humours; yet now it will not out James 1. 23, of my Mind, but that they sprang from 24, 25. another Cause, to wit, for that the Light of Life was given him; by the Help of which, as I perceive, he has escaped the Snares of Death. Then they wept all again, and cried out, Oh, Wo worth the Day! The next Night, Chriftiana had a Dream; Chriftiana's and behold, the faw as if a broad Parch- Dream. ment was opened before her, in which Luke 18. 13. were recorded the Sum of her Ways, and the Crimes, as she thought, looked very black upon her. Then the cried out aloud in her this is the Quinteffence of Heil her Sleep, Lord have Mercy upon me, a Sinmer; and the little Children heard her. After this, fhe thought fhe faw two very ill-favoured Ones ftanding by her Bed* Mark_this, fide and faying, * What shall we do with this Woman? For he cries out for Mercy waking and fleeping: If he be fuffered to go on as he begins, we fall lofe her as we have loft ber Hufband. Wherefore we muft, by fome Way, feek to take her off, from the Thoughts of what fhall be hereafter, elfe all the World cannot help but fhe will become a Pilgrim. Now the awoke in a great Sweat, also a Trembling was upon her; but after a While + Help against the fell to fleeping again. + And then fhe Difcourage thought fhe faw Chriftian her Hufband in ment. a Place of Blifs among many Immortals, with a Harp in his Hand, ftanding and playing upon it before one that fat on a Throne, with a Rainbow about his Head. She faw alfo as if he bowed his Head with his Face to the Paved-Work that was under his Prince's Feet, faying, I heartily thank my Lord and King for bringing me into this Place Then fhouted a Company of them that flood round about and harped with their Harps: But no Man living could tell what they faid, but Christian and his Companions. Next Morning, when he was up, had prayed to God, and talked with her Children a While, one knocked hard at the Door; to whom fhe fpake out, faying, If thou comeft in God's Name, come in. So he faid Amen; and opened the Door and falured her with Peace on this Houfe. The |